Here Are All Of Montreal's Plans For The Holiday Shopping Season

With the holiday season fast approaching, the city has announced a series of measures to promote efficient and safe holiday shopping in Montreal.

At a press conference Thursday, Mayor Plante presented six initiatives that will benefit both shoppers and businesses in the months to come.

Here's what Montreal is planning for the holiday shopping season. 

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What measures are coming for Montreal's holiday shoppers?

From November 14 to December 31, all street parking in Montreal will be free on the weekends to encourage shoppers to head out to their local commercial centres.

The city is also planning some programming for the downtown core.

Its website promises "bright and warm winter stations" that "will offer relaxation areas close to the shops."

The mayor specifically mentioned the continued pedestrianization of rue Sainte-Catherine between rue de Bleury and boulevard Saint-Laurent in the Quartier des Spectacles.

Finally, Montreal will continue "projects to promote urban delivery for local merchants."

What about retail businesses? 

The city is giving retail stores the option to extend their business hours.

At a press conference, Mayor Plante said stores will be able to stay open until 10 p.m. on weekdays and 7:00 p.m. on weekends to welcome more customers and minimize lines.

And, in addition to continuing local delivery projects, an investment of $1.5 million will "support merchants in the digital shift and the physical adjustment of their place of business."

"Sociofinancing" (crowdfunding) campaigns will also launch.

What do officials have to say?

Mayor Plante issued a "challenge" to Montrealers to "use the holiday season to save Montreal's commercial vitality."

"I invite Montrealers to consume locally this holiday season," she said, adding that the city and its partners are "redoubling [...] efforts to support our merchants at this crucial time."

"But it is together that we will contribute to the survival of our businesses by buying locally."

Billy Walsh, president of the Association des sociétés de développement commercial de Montréal, underlined that we're "at the dawn of a period when sales will be crucial to their survival in 2021."

This article's cover image is used for illustrative purposes only