Recent headlines have brought awareness of many small businesses in the throes of trying to find a way to pay back their Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) loans, which are coming due on Jan. 18 after two extensions. Despite calls by business associations and the NDP to delay the payback, the federal government has not taken any action.

 

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) says that up to 20 per cent of restaurants are at risk of closing if they must pay back that loan this month, and that may be just the tip of the iceberg. Headlines have let us know that movie theatres, the arts, retail, tourism and, yes, newspapers are all struggling to find post-pandemic revenue.

 

In 2020, the loan was a lifeline that many businesses needed to survive, but no one at the time could forecast the length and severity of the pandemic, nor the inflation that would hit in its wake. Few businesses have regained momentum, as many have dealt with labour shortages, supply chain interruptions, double-digit price hikes and shifts in their customers’ buying patterns.

The government needs to return to the out-of-the-box thinking that enabled so many to get through the pandemic and find out what small businesses need to get over the hump. Some may be able to pay back their loans, some may be able to obtain financing, but need a longer term to lower the monthly payments, some might need a further deferral and some may need to default. Canada needs small businesses so just letting them flounder does not seem to be a solution. – DS

Late last week, OpenTable, a dinner reservation platform, released its “Top 100 Restaurants with Healthy Bites” list for Canada and on the list is Huron County’s own Eddington’s of Exeter, which has been a beacon for food fans in the county and beyond for years.

 

Chef/owner James Eddington has been clear about his commitment to growing his own food for the restaurant, maintaining his own small farm as part of a higher calling than just serving people good-tasting food and that work seems to be paying off. And while, there are plenty of ways for a chef and restaurateur to be recognized that are sure to make him or her blush, being a destination for healthy options is one that comes with a certain degree of esteem. According to OpenTable, 55 per cent of Canadians identified eating healthier as their top New Year’s resolution. For Huron County residents to know that someone is making that easier for them, all while preserving a healthy, social dining experience, is something that surely should be admired.

For a restaurant thriving in a relatively small community (the Exeter restaurant is joined by Crossroads Restaurant in tiny Rosseau as the only two Ontario establishments not in a bigger city centre) and within the heart of an area focused on agriculture, showcasing the importance and value of good, healthy ingredients and, thus, competent farming, can only serve to raise the community’s profile in the food world.

 

Congratulations to James and his team at Eddington’s. As the world continues to become more health-conscious, this achievement will only grow in stature and importance as the years go on. – SL 

The 2024 Golden Globes witnessed a historic moment as actor Lily Gladstone secured the award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama for her role in Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon. By being the first Indigenous actor to win the category, Gladstone has etched her name in the annals of cinematic history. Her bilingual acceptance speech elevated the night into more than just a celebration of excellence in entertainment; it was a watershed moment for Indigenous representation and linguistic diversity.

 

Before transitioning into English, Gladstone spoke first in the Blackfeet language - a gesture made all the more powerful by her acknowledgment that she does not speak her ancestral tongue fluently. She expressed great gratitude and joy as she reflected on her remarkable journey, tearing up at the transformative impact of her win.

 

She dedicated her victory to “every little Native kid out there who has a dream, who is seeing themselves represented in our stories told by ourselves in our own words with tremendous allies and tremendous trust from within from each other.” Gladstone also thanked director Scorsese and co-stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro for their roles in reshaping the American film industry, emphasizing the importance of allies taking action.

 

Gladstone’s historic win illustrates that representation is not just about seeing oneself on the screen; it is about rewriting the narratives that have long excluded diverse voices. May her call for inclusion in the entertainment industry act as the catalyst that brings about a richer cinematic future - one that embraces cultural diversity, amplifies unheard voices and inspires the storytellers of tomorrow to break barriers and follow their dreams. – SBS