Meridian Credit Union has launched a new initiative to continue to help Canadian small businesses.
The company said seven in 10 Canadians confirm they’re buying more from local businesses since the most recent round of tariffs and it is giving out $250,000 in awards to boost small businesses in the country.
It said awards will go to 20 businesses making a meaningful impact in their communities across Ontario, including Indigenous-owned businesses.
“Meridian believes that together we are stronger, and we’re proud to help thousands of small businesses grow, thrive and help our communities prosper,” said Paul Casey, Meridian’s Director of Small Business.
“Despite the ever-evolving challenges, every day we see Meridian small business Members demonstrating a tremendous amount of creativity and resilience, and Meridian is here to support them as they build and focus on the future.”
Meridian said its newly-released 2026 Small Business Big Impact survey found that 77% of Canadians view buying from small business is their way of “standing up for my community in the face of US tariffs,” with seve-in-10 reporting that “supporting small businesses is a more frequent conversation” with their friends and family.
According to the survey:
- 84% of Canadians – and 91% of business owners – agree buying from small business “delivers big impact” for their communities and 87% agree supporting small business is an investment in Canada’s economy and future;
- 85% of those surveyed agree that it makes them “feel good to buy from local small businesses” – and 85% hope the current “buy Canadian” groundswell is here to stay;
- The next two years likely to be challenging for small businesses
- Despite the positivity, those surveyed showed they aren’t wearing rose-coloured glasses, with 72% agreeing that it’s harder for small businesses to grow compared to 10 years ago.
- Of the one-in-three surveyed who’ve considered becoming an entrepreneur, 56% said the current economy has caused them to put their dreams of starting a business on hold.
- While three-quarters (75%) of those surveyed expect the next two years to be “a rough ride” for local small businesses, 58% of Canadians surveyed are optimistic that over the next few years, local small businesses “will ultimately emerge stronger than ever.”
Nominations for the Meridian 2026 Small Business Big Impact Awards are being accepted until November 30. Learn more here.
More from Retail Insider:
