September 16, 2026

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On The Upside with Marley

Buying Local Means Supporting Each Other

We’ve been hearing a lot lately about the importance of buying Canadian, and I’m completely on board. But I think we can take it one step further while keeping the politics out of it.

Buy Canadian when you can… but buy local when you can, too.

Every time we spend money, we’re making a tiny decision about what kind of community we want to live in.

When you buy from the local hardware store, restaurant, printer, gift shop or service provider, that money doesn’t simply disappear into a corporate bank account somewhere. It helps pay local wages. It pays another local business. It sponsors a hockey team, supports a charity auction and helps keep the lights on in the businesses that make our towns feel like home.

And here’s something worth remembering.

The local business you drive past to save $6 online is probably the same business you’ll approach next month asking for a donation to your fundraiser.

Amazon probably isn’t buying an ad in your kid’s yearbook.

The giant national corporation probably isn’t donating a prize to your silent auction.

Your neighbour might.

Now, I’m not suggesting we should never shop online. Heck I’m a web developer and help businesses broaden their market. Sometimes it’s cheaper, sometimes it’s necessary and sometimes what we need simply isn’t available locally, or is a unique one of a kind product. Budgets matter, and convenience matters too.

But perhaps we could give our neighbours the first chance.

Before automatically clicking “Buy Now,” spend thirty seconds checking whether someone nearby sells it.

Because buying local isn’t charity. Local businesses still need to earn our business with good products, fair prices and great service. But communities die when people buy elsewhere and then local variety dies with it.

But when they do, choosing them means something.

Buying Canadian supports our country. Buying local supports our community.

And ultimately, that means supporting each other.

That’s something worth buying into.

— Marley

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Knowing the Owner — The Hidden Value

There was a time when knowing the person behind the counter was completely ordinary. The butcher knew what cut you liked, the mechanic knew your car and the hardware-store owner knew exactly which odd little screw you were trying to describe.

That kind of relationship still exists in many independent businesses—and it has value that doesn’t show up on a price tag.

A local shopkeeper may order something specifically for you. A restaurant owner remembers how you like your meal. A tradesperson who lives in the community knows that their reputation follows them everywhere.

There’s also accountability. If something goes wrong, you’re dealing with a person rather than a distant call centre or an automated chat window.

Of course, local doesn’t automatically mean better. Every business still has to provide good value and service. But when it does, there’s something reassuring about doing business with people who have a stake in the same community you do.

Sometimes knowing who you’re buying from is worth almost as much as knowing what you’re buying.

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Autumn Is Almost Here — But What Exactly Is An Equinox?

The calendar may already feel like fall, but astronomical autumn doesn’t officially begin until the September equinox.

An equinox occurs when the Sun crosses Earth’s equator. At that moment, neither the Northern nor Southern Hemisphere is tilted more toward the Sun.

The word equinox comes from Latin words associated with “equal” and “night,” although day and night aren’t exactly twelve hours everywhere because of the way Earth’s atmosphere bends sunlight and the way sunrise and sunset are measured.

In 2026, the autumnal equinox occurs on September 23 at 00:05 UTC—which works out to the evening of September 22 in Ontario.

From there, our daylight continues getting shorter until the December solstice.

So while September 1 might feel like the unofficial beginning of fall, Mother Nature operates on a slightly different calendar.

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The Professor’s Wish

A graduate student, a post-doctoral researcher and a professor were walking through a park when they discovered an antique lamp.

They rubbed it and a genie appeared.

“I normally grant three wishes,” said the genie, “so I’ll give each of you one.”

The graduate student jumped forward. “I want to be in the Bahamas, driving a speedboat without a care in the world.”

Poof! He disappeared.

The researcher said, “I want to be relaxing on a beautiful beach in Hawaii.”

Poof! Gone.

The genie turned to the professor.

“And your wish?”

The professor replied, “I want those two back in the lab after lunch.”

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The Job Interview

Employer: Everything looks good but how do you explain this 4 year gap in your resume?
Applicant: that’s when I went to Yale.
Employer: that’s impressive I think you’re hired.
Applicant: wow thank you, I really need the Yob.

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The Psychiatrist

A man walked into a psychiatrist’s office looking exhausted.

“Doctor, you’ve got to help me. One night I dream I’m a teepee and the next night I dream I’m a wigwam. Teepee, wigwam, teepee, wigwam. It’s driving me crazy!”

The psychiatrist nodded thoughtfully.

“Relax,” he said. “You’re two tents.”

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The Mechanic and the Surgeon

A Lexus mechanic was removing a cylinder head from the motor of an LS460 when he spotted a well-known cardiac surgeon in his shop. The surgeon was waiting for the service manager. The mechanic called to the Doc, “Hey Doc, want to take a look at this?” The cardiac surgeon, a bit surprised, walked over to where the mechanic was working. The mechanic straightened up, wiped his hands on a rag, and asked, “So Doc, look at this engine. I opened its heart, took the valves out, repaired or replaced anything that was damaged, and then put everything back in. When I finished, it worked like new. So how is it that I make $48,000 a year and you make $1.7M when you and I are doing basically the same work? The cardiac surgeon paused, leaned over and whispered to the mechanic… “Try doing it with the engine running.”

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The Missing Eggs

A worried man went to his doctor.

“Doctor, I’m concerned about my brother. He thinks he’s a chicken.”

The doctor looked surprised.

“Have you taken him to see a psychiatrist?”

“Of course not,” replied the man.

“We need the eggs.”

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Editor’s Quote Book

“A small business is an amazing way to serve and leave an impact on the world you live in.”

— Nicole Snow

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Trivia Quiz

(Click Question For Answer)

 

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Your Horoscope

For Amusement Only

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The Bowling Job

“I got a job down at the bowling alley.”

“What, tenpin?”

“No, it’s permanent.”

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The Butcher’s Part

A man asked the butcher, “Have you got a sheep’s head?”

The butcher replied, “No, it’s just the way I part my hair.”

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The Doctor’s Advice

A patient told his doctor, “It hurts whenever I raise my arm like this.”

The doctor replied, “Then don’t do that.”

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Wet Paint

Tell someone there are 400 billion stars in the universe and they’ll believe you.

Tell them a bench has wet paint and they’ll have green butt all day.

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The Boomerang

What do you call a boomerang that doesn’t come back?

A stick.

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Marley’s Video Pick

Supporting Small Business and Shopping Local

Small businesses do much more than sell products and services. They create jobs, support community organizations and help give our towns their individual character. This week’s video continues the conversation about why choosing independent and locally owned businesses can make a meaningful difference close to home.

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The Last Word

“Every dollar we spend is a small vote for the kind of community we want waiting outside our front door.”

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