Dominion City Brewing Co. is making available 500 printed window signs featuring local designer Steve St. Pierre's iconic 'We Heart Ottawa' image as a show of solidarity for those affected by the ongoing disruptions caused by the downtown protests.
Signs are available for pick up at no cost from the brewery and through the Glebe Community Association for Glebe residents, and are intended to give Ottawans an opportunity to demonstrate solidarity and love for our community in the face of great hardship experienced by so many in recent weeks.
"We know people are suffering due to disruption from the ongoing occupation, including ordinary downtown residents, many of our friends and customers operating local businesses and especially the city's most vulnerable," says Dominion City co-founder Josh McJannett. "This is a small thing we can do to bring our community together and to demonstrate the love we feel for the people who make this city home."
In addition to placing a sign in their window, Dominion City encourages everyone to take an action, no matter how small, to support their neighbours. This could include something as simple as shopping with a local shop or ordering takeout from their favourite downtown restaurant to support struggling businesses, or making a donation to a charity or social service provider helping those affected.
"We all love our city. Through the pandemic and right now, Ottawans have been coming together to help and support one another," said Laura Smith, president of the Glebe Community Association. "These signs are a tangible reminder of the little acts of kindness that happen everyday in this city. We hope seeing them across the city will remind people of the good that lives in Ottawa."
“This has been an extremely difficult situation for so many,” added McJannett. “Small kindnesses and acts of love are more important than ever to bring our community and its people together.”