{"id":10001,"date":"2026-09-01T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-01T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.restaurantscanada.org\/menu\/the-good-stuff-starts-local-how-restaurants-strengthen-communities\/"},"modified":"2026-10-21T09:58:20","modified_gmt":"2026-10-21T13:58:20","slug":"the-good-stuff-starts-local-how-restaurants-strengthen-communities","status":"publish","type":"menu","link":"https:\/\/www.restaurantscanada.org\/fr\/menu\/the-good-stuff-starts-local-how-restaurants-strengthen-communities\/","title":{"rendered":"The Good Stuff Starts Local: How Restaurants Strengthen Communities"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Article written by: Donald Guse Salah, Director of Workforce Development, Restaurants Canada<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In communities across Canada, restaurants are natural gathering places where people come together to socialize, connect and celebrate. Whether it\u2019s a quick hello, a catch-up with friends or a major life event, restaurants play an important role in bringing people together. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That role extends beyond the dining room.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Restaurants are also significant employers and economic contributors in communities across the country, creating opportunities for people to build skills, gain experience and participate in their local economies. Canada\u2019s restaurant industry employs approximately 1.2 million people, making it the fourth-largest private-sector employer in the country. The sector also employs 480,000 young people, and foodservice is Canada\u2019s number-one source of first-time jobs. These employment opportunities bring people from a wide range of backgrounds into restaurant teams and the communities they serve.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

 In this article, \u201clocal\u201d refers broadly to people who live within or near the communities where they work, regardless of where they are originally from. These employees are part of the diverse restaurant teams that build relationships with guests and their surrounding communities, creating a sense of familiarity and connection that keeps people coming back. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For many restaurant operators, building strong relationships with the communities they serve is an important part of their business. The people working in restaurants play an important role in creating those connections, building familiarity with guests through everyday interactions. Over time, these relationships can turn occasional customers into regulars while helping restaurants become familiar gathering places within their communities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These trends play out in urban communities like Toronto, as well as smaller communities like Morell in PEI or Yarmouth in Nova Scotia, where Rodd Hotel and Resorts operate restaurants within their properties staffed by locals, catering to a community and visitor economy. \u201cHiring locally is always our priority. Hiring local team members not only supports the local economy and strengthens our relationship with the community, but also brings valuable local knowledge, creates stronger connections with our guests, and helps build a stable, long-term workforce. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have made a significant effort to attract and retain local employees by investing in training and development, as well as offering enhanced pay and incentive programs, particularly at our more rural resort properties in PEI\u201d, declares Eriks Faccin, Director of People and Culture for Rodd Hotel and Resorts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the workforce needs and realities of every restaurant and community are different, the connection between restaurants and their surrounding economies is significant. Restaurants create employment opportunities for people from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences, while the people working within them help create the hospitality and sense of connection that guests associate with their favourite establishments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a country as large and diverse as Canada, we see the same forces at work in big cities and small towns. Despite rising costs and tighter household budgets, according to Square\u2019s Local Economy Report<\/strong><\/a> released in March 2026: <\/p>\n\n\n\n