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By CHAT News Today with files from Global News

Foodies unite

Show support for local restaurants on Canada Takeout Day

Apr 15, 2020 | 12:41 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Wednesdays have been dubbed Canada Takeout Day and people are asked to get takeout or delivery from their favourite local eatery to show support for one of the industries hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Today, April 15, is the launch of the initiative, and a virtual kickoff concert featuring Jim Cuddy, Alan Doyle, Ed Robertson, Barney Bentall and Tom Cochrane will help unite foodies from coast to coast to coast. The concert will be held live at 8 p.m. ET on Canada’s Great Kitchen Party’s Facebook page.

“It’s just encouraging Canadians that they should still actively be supporting local restaurants cross Canada, regardless of what town or city you live in,” Dan Clapson of EatNorth.com told Global News Morning Calgary today. “There’s also a lot of separate, regional campaigns — including one in Calgary — but this is a national one and I feel like it’s really going to catch on.

“What the takeout leg of their business gives [restaurants] is cash flow, which is really important to help a restaurant survive something like this – especially a smaller restaurant.”

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Clapson added the campaign is aimed at people who can still afford to order in food.

Things That Are Open and this CHAT News Today list of open restaurants can help you narrow down your choices.

According to Restaurants Canada, about 800,000 jobs have been lost in the industry nationwide.

The company, which represents restaurants nationwide, said nearly one in 10 restaurants in Canada have already closed and nearly one in five expect to close if conditions don’t get better in a month.