Words & Photo Morgan Shaw, Executive Director, Sidney BIA
Walk through Sidney on any afternoon and you can feel the energy of a small town at work. Some storefronts change, with new professionals stepping into familiar spaces.
Others have held their place for decades, building relationships that span generations and creating a sense of continuity that anchors the community. Together, these longtime businesses and new arrivals give Sidney its unique mix of tradition and renewal. The people behind the counter are neighbours, and in a town like ours the economy is not an abstract idea. It is built on everyday choices, repeat customers and the resilience of people who keep showing up for one another.
October is Small Business Month, a time to pause and celebrate the impact of those choices. Across Canada, small and medium-sized businesses make up nearly all employer firms, supporting a large share of jobs. What looks like one decision to hire, train or buy services locally quickly becomes a ripple that reaches well beyond our streets.
British Columbia brings this story to life in a remarkable way. Entrepreneurship is everywhere here, and small businesses form the backbone of the provincial economy. They generate a third of B.C.’s GDP and employ more than a million people. The province also leads the country in small businesses per capita, proof that entrepreneurship is woven into the fabric of daily life. From exports to payrolls, small businesses carry an extraordinary share of the province’s growth and opportunity.
Closer to home, Sidney reflects that same strength. The marine cluster on Harbour Road shows how marinas, boatbuilders and suppliers work side by side. Professional services line our main streets, some brand new and some serving customers for generations. Tourism brings in new faces, while manufacturing and retail add further depth to the mix. It is a picture of resilience and diversity that continues to evolve.
Perhaps most inspiring is how quickly small towns adapt. Businesses relocate, expand or reinvent themselves to meet new needs, while longtime shops remain steady anchors. Spaces rarely sit empty for long because residents keep choosing local. Research in B.C. shows that when people spend with independent businesses, as much as 63 percent of that revenue stays in the community, moving through wages, local suppliers and community giving. Every transaction is part of a much larger story of resilience and renewal.
On the following pages, “The Professionals” is a way to celebrate the people who make this possible. They are accountants and stylists, therapists and designers, tradespeople and technologists. They shoulder the risk, create the jobs and make the Saanich Peninsula a place that feels vibrant and welcoming.
So this October, let’s celebrate them. Book the service here. Pick up the gift here. Recommend the newcomer here. Small choices add up to something remarkable, and together they keep Sidney growing with confidence and pride.
