the annual best of windsor essex contest (
bestofwindsoressex.ca), which opened for voting february 7, is another way to identify favourite local products and services, orr said.
windsor-essex regional chamber of commerce ceo/president ryan donally, whose organization helped launch programs such as shopyqg, said the chamber doesn’t have any new plans at this time to further push the buy local message.
donally said the chamber is currently focusing more on helping employers plan for the impact of any u.s. tariffs.
“we’ll continue what we’ve been doing to support buying local and making local products,” donally said. “if tariffs are put in place, then we’ll certainly look at new things we can do.”
a more comprehensive list of ontario made products, retailers and manufacturers, including local ones, can be found online at
supportontariomade.ca.
created in july 2020 by the canadian manufacturers and exporters (cme), the site lists over 17,000 ontario-made products, 4,500 provincial manufacturers and 550 retailers.
the site is also designed to connect manufacturers and retailers and expand their supply chains.
“we’ve seen a real increase in interest from people in where things are made in the last month,” said cme head dennis darby.