On November 4, the Chamber launched the crowdfunding campaign “Together for our Chinatown,” an initiative to support the commercial fabric of Chinatown and the relaunch of businesses and retailers in this area, which was hit hard by the pandemic.
Financed by the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec as part of the My Store Next Door initiative, the campaign, which ran on the La Ruche platform, was a resounding success. Every $30 coupon was topped up by the Chamber with an additional $20, giving contributors $50 to spend in some 50 participating businesses. A total of $111,930 was raised through the participation of over 1,200 contributors, which enabled the campaign to reach its objective in just one week!
The origins of the project
Chinatown is a unique place that is emblematic of downtown Montréal. It is known for its tourism and gastronomical offer and for the many businesses and retailers that contribute to its vibrant, dynamic character. However, the area was abandoned by its clientele because of pandemic heath restrictions and remote working.
In May 2021, the Chamber held a Strategic Meeting on the present and future of Chinatown. This event, which mobilized actors from different backgrounds, made it possible to learn more about the sector’s challenges and issues following the crisis. At the end of the meeting, participating representatives of the business community, community organizations, and Chinatown committed to fostering a lasting, prosperous, and inclusive relaunch of the neighbourhood. The “Together for our Chinatown” campaign comes in the wake of this commitment and encourages Montrealers to visit the area to discover or rediscover the many attractions that contribute to its unique character.
The campaign objective
The campaign is designed to increase traffic in this area by promoting its products and services. It is meant to create ties between merchants and new customers, generating direct revenue for its commercial fabric.
“Together for our Chinatown” is one more opportunity to get back in touch with this key area of downtown Montréal, by establishing trust between the Chinatown community, Montrealers, and the business community.
What now?
Whether or not you contributed to this campaign, you can now show your solidarity with and commitment to Chinatown merchants. We strongly encourage you to visit the area and explore its restaurants, grocery stores, and variety shops. A successful relaunch of Chinatown depends on the contribution, mobilization, and engagement of all Montrealers. Join forces with us!
About the local buying campaign “Together for our Chinatown”
The local buying campaign “Together for our Chinatown” is a Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal initiative, financed by the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec as part of the My Store Next Door program. It was deployed on the crowdfunding platform La Ruche.