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Chamber of Commerce prepares for passport program

IMAGE. A layout of the Shop Local Holiday Passport. Supplied by the Fort McMurray Chamber of Commerce.

‘Tis the season to Shop Local.

Register for the 2019 Shop Local Passport Program.

The deadline for businesses to join the annual holiday program is Nov. 6, with the passport program beginning on Nov. 12, 2019.

Shop Local

Organized by the Fort McMurray Chamber of Commerce, members who qualify must be in good standing.

Also, participants must donate $50 or more in gift cards for inclusion on the Chamber of Commerce’s tree as part of the Festival of Trees.

Their tree will highlight local businesses, promote the value of shopping locally, and list participating businesses on the display card at the event.

Last year, the ‘Chamber Tree’ raised $12,000 for the Northern Lights Health Foundation.

There is an additional registration fee of $50 for Chamber members and $100 for non-members.

That funds would cover advertising, administration, printing, and McMurray Money prizes.

The YMM Chamber of Commerce shall pick up gift card donations and drop off passports and stamps on Nov. 8.

McMurray Money

The Shop Local Passport program runs from Nov. 12, 2019, to Jan. 1, 2020.

Shoppers receive one stamp on their passport for every $10 they spend at participating businesses.

After filling the passport and personal information, customers may drop off their passport there or at the Chamber’s office at Franklin Ave and Hardin St.

However, the office closes on Dec. 23, 2019, and reopens on Jan. 2, 2020 at 9:00 a.m.

The deadline to submit passports is Jan. 2, 2020.

The Fort McMurray Chamber of Commerce will draw McMurray Money winners from all collected and completed passports that same day at 5:00 p.m.

Tune into the draw on Facebook Live on Jan. 3, 2020, when the winners will receive $1750 in McMurray Money.

The grand prize winner will receive $1,000, second place gets $500, and third place $250.

Winners may only redeem McMurray Money, which has no cash value, at participating businesses.

For a full list of rules and regulations, a list of participating businesses, and more information on Shop Local go to the Chamber’s website.