CHARLOTTETOWN: Downtown districts across Canada are doubling down on local merchants for holiday shopping, with reports indicating more cities are joining a prepaid Visa card program called the Downtown Gift Card. This card is exclusively usable at participating local businesses. In Charlottetown alone, the card is accepted at over 140 shops and restaurants.
The report suggests that offering goods at a 20% discount helped attract more customers to small stores. Consumers emphasized the need to support the local community and artists rather than relying on online giants like Amazon.
Don Allen, CEO of Downtown Charlottetown Inc., reported that the card sale, which started at 9 AM, was sold out within an hour. She added that users are likely to spend more than the card’s value, which represents a significant benefit for merchants. As local commerce grows, the community also benefits through taxes and increased participation in local events.
As of November 2025, there are 41 Downtown Gift Card programs operating across Canada. MyConex, the national platform coordinating the initiative, stressed that the program is critical for local economies, especially as the importance of local shopping continues to grow.
