Supporting our Community this Holiday Season
Tyler Watt speaks with a vendor at the Barrhaven Legion Christmas Craft Fair hosted on November 29, 2025.
Column published in the December 18, 2025 edition of Your Barrhaven Independent — Community Voice.
By: Tyler Watt, MPP
The weather may be cold, but the holiday spirit is warming up our streets as we approach Christmas and the New Year. From the festive decorations strung across our neighbourhoods, to the beautiful lights display on Greenbank Road courtesy of the Barrhaven BIA, bringing smiles to so many as they visit our local businesses, and the excitement in classrooms as students count down the days until holiday break, the joy is everywhere.
The holidays are a time when family, friends, and neighbours come together. It’s a season built on meaningful connection, generosity, and community spirit. One of the most meaningful ways to strengthen this spirit is by supporting our local businesses. When we shop locally, we are doing more than simply purchasing food or a gift. We’re helping a young entrepreneur hire their first employee. We’re helping a mom-and-pop shop save for their child’s skating lesson. We’re helping a family keep the lights on through the winter.
Nepean is home to a wide range of entrepreneurs, artisans, and small family-run businesses, and it is important at this time of year to focus on supporting them. These small businesses contribute so much to the fabric of our community. From the local independent grocer providing jobs to our neighbours, the baker who knows you by name, or the local service providers that work tirelessly all year long, these businesses are the heart of our neighbourhoods. These businesses employ our neighbours, support local charities, and help Nepean strengthen its sense of community.
But supporting our community isn’t just commerce. It’s also about compassion. The holidays, while joyful for many, can be a time of stress and hardship for others, and I encourage residents to think about the organizations in Nepean that work tirelessly to support them. Organizations like the Barrhaven Food Cupboard, a local food bank serving thousands of families each year. It relies on community donations to keep shelves stocked, especially during the winter months when demand is at its highest. A single contribution can make a profound impact on a family trying to get through the season.
The same is true for our long-term care homes, hospices, youth centres, recreation centres, and the many groups that support us and our neighbours. These organizations embody the spirit of Nepean, and during the holidays, they feel the weight of our community’s needs more than ever.
I encourage you to take time to reflect and ask yourself: How can I support my neighbours? How can I give back to the community that gives so much to me? Maybe it’s choosing to shop local; maybe it’s donating to a local group; maybe it’s checking in on a neighbour who needs some extra cheer this season.
Whatever you choose, know that it matters. Together, we can ensure the holidays shine brighter for everyone in Nepean.
