Shout out to our friends at Say Mercy here in Vancouver, who recently posted this: “How can you help small business? At the end of the hardest year we have seen as a business, we would love nothing more than to see family + friends, to get away for a few days and to celebrate this holiday the way we have in years past. Instead, we’re staying home, to support our community and the small businesses within it. We are doing it for the grocer at the end of our street, for the pizza place on the corner, for the coffee shop down the road, for small restaurants like ours. Staying home will help us all stay open. If numbers go up after the holidays, if more lockdowns continue, small businesses will not survive.”

Some wise words there. Let’s all heed them this holiday season and stick to the health and safety protocols in each of our provinces.

If these adorable little urchins don’t get you in the festive spirit on this Winter Solstice, we just can’t help you out.

From our pals at @seasons.bakery: “An early Merry Christmas to everyone!⁠ ⁠ 2020 has been quite a ride, but we're so grateful for our community, customers, team and family.⁠ ⁠ Thank you for making this year possible for us, and cheers to many more!⁠ ⁠ Please make sure to pick up your pastries in the next day or two as we will be closed from December 25-January 4, 2021.⁠”

A pre-Christmas Sunday shoutout to all those restaurants here in Vancouver and across the country that are continuing to do the right thing, adhering to COVID-19 safety protocols and providing ways for people to gather together safely to enjoy a meal this festive season.

Whether it’s dine-in, takeout, or delivery, we salute you. Hang in there. The future looks much brighter.