Signs of Life supports the growth of healthy, happy communities impacted by COVID-19 across Durham Region by recognizing our creative economy, using art as a vehicle for participation to deepen public discussions and contemplation on core values and civic issues, through non-partisan regional-wide projects. We are a social hub for artists, organizations, and citizens who want to be more engaged in public life, and for our citizens to be proud of the place they call home. We want people to park their cars and feel safe to get out, walk around, connect with their neighbours, interact and be inspired by Signs of Life murals. We want them to spend money at local businesses that share in the current hardships our main streets are currently facing as we look to recover in the era of COVID-19.

The Wellington West Business Improvement Area (BIA) and Crowdfund Canada have launched LOVE.WellingtonWest.ca, a joint crowdfunding program to support more than 550 member businesses across Ottawa neighbourhoods.This is the first pilot for the Community Wealth Sharing Initiative, supported by the McConnell Foundation, and is offered at no charge. Residents can invest in the success of local merchants. In return, merchants can choose to offer rewards like store credit, services, or product giveaways to be redeemed whenever they decide.

McConnell Foundation is piloting a Community Wealth Sharing Initiative in Alberta to expand a crowdfunding site so any business in Alberta can launch a crowdfunding campaign without any fees so that businesses can keep all the money they raise, whether or not they reach their fundraising goal.