Community Gardens

In this world, people have grown so accustomed to the comfort that comes from big businesses that they haven’t realized that their life built around connivence has taken the colour and energy away from communities that they once relied on. How can you say no to 2 day delivery, endless amount of products, a bottomless void of distractions and choices. Why stop at 3 local stores where you can get it all from one place. As tech advances, companies leverage the advancements to make profit. The more profit they make, the more talent and employees they can pay to make even more money. More money means better people, better tech, then once a threshold was hit there were only a few companies left standing with enough profit to control marketplaces. People leaving school I live in arguably the best neighbourhood in Toronto, full of life, an abudant amount of stores and quality shops. Living in a more affluent ne \small buisness could afford to pay freelancers or interns, maybe hire some students, but they dont have the resources of corporations. They dont have the access to analytic teams, marketing and creative agencies. Eventually all the talent lives wth the corporations and the small businesses will be left by themselves to wither away. Most new Canadian businesses start small, but the majority of the private sector workforce is employed by larger corporations. From 2018-2022, 91.2% of new businesses began with 1-4 employees. Small businesses (1-99 employees) make up 98.2% of all employer businesses. However, these small businesses employ only 46.6% of the private labour force. Businesses with 100+ employees, though fewer in number, employ 55.4% of the workforce. the data shows that the survival rate of small businesses is half of a corporation, shows that corporations hire the majoirty of the workforce. This is just workers, now imagine the distribution of roles and jobs when looking at who small businesses are emplying and who large ones are. large companies are paying some of the most relevant workers while small businesses are hiring students and friends. Canadian small businesses (1-99 employees) show survival rates of 62.5-74.5% at 5 years, 44.3-55.6% at 10 years, and 24.6-34.5% at 20 years, increasing with initial size; larger initial sizes correlate with higher survival, while corporations (implied >99 employees) survive at higher rates than small businesses overall.[1] Survival rates by initial employee size (small businesses, Canada): 1-4 employees: 62.5% at 5 years (T+5), 44.3% at 10 years (T+10), 24.6% at 20 years (T+20).[1] 20-99 employees: 74.5% at 5 years (T+5), 55.6% at 10 years (T+10), 34.5% at 20 years (T+20).[1] Updated 2025 data (small businesses): 1-4 employees: 63.0% at 5 years, 44.7% at 10 years, 23.7% at 21 years (T+21).[2] 20-99 employees: 75.0% at 5 years, 56.0% at 10 years, 33.0% at 21 years.[2] Canadian small business survival rates (1-99 employees) by initial size, 15-year mark (T+15): 1-4 employees: 32.1% (cohorts 2000-2005, Statistics Canada Longitudinal Employment Analysis Program, 2023) 20-99 employees: 43.8% (cohorts 2000-2005, Statistics Canada LEAP, 2023) Franchise business survival rates (Canada, all sizes): 91% at 1 year, 85% at 3 years, 67% at 10 years (2007-2017 cohorts, Franchise Business Review Canada, 2023) 78% at 5 years vs. 52% for independent businesses (Franchise Institute of Canada, 2022) Corporation survival rates (>100 employees, Canada): 82.3% at 5 years, 71.4% at 10 years, 58.7% at 15 years, 49.2% at 20 years (cohorts 1999-2005, Statistics Canada Business Register, 2024) Immigrant-owned small businesses (1-99 employees) survival: 72.4% at 5 years, 53.1% at 10 years (vs. 68.9% and 49.2% for Canadian-born owned, 2006-2021 cohorts) Projected small business survival (1-99 employees, 2026-2041 cohorts): T+5: 65.2% (adjusted for economic recovery post-2023) T+10: 47.8% T+20: 26.4% Corporations with over 100 employees had a 49.2% survival rate at 20 years for cohorts from 1999-2005. [8] Franchise businesses demonstrated a 67% survival rate at 10 years for cohorts from 2007-2017. [5] Immigrant-owned small businesses had a 53.1% survival rate at 10 years, compared to 49.2% for Canadian-born owned businesses (2006-2021 cohorts). [7] Projected small business survival rates for 2026-2041 cohorts are 47.8% at 10 years and 26.4% at 20 years. [2] The 5-year survival rate for Canadian small businesses has remained stable at 50-60% over the past 25 years, showing no clear trend. Businesses entering 2001–2006 had a 5-year survival rate of 50–53%. For 2004 entrants, 1–4 employee businesses showed 62.2% survival after 5 years. Goods-producing firms achieved 68.9% 5-year survival, while services-producing firms reached 55.8%. Equally owned businesses had the highest 5-year survival at 85.0%. Businesses with 20-99 employees entering between 2014-2018 had a 74.1% survival rate after 5 years. [1] Businesses with 20-99 employees entering between 2014-2018 had a 55.3% survival rate after 10 years. [1] Majority female-owned businesses entering between 2014-2018 had a 58.1% survival rate after 10 years. [2] Majority male-owned businesses entering between 2014-2018 had a 62.2% survival rate after 10 years. [2] While overall small business survival rates are stable, direct comparative data on 5-year survival for independent "mom and pop" shops versus corporations or franchises in Canadian neighbourhoods is unavailable, though indirect evidence suggests independents face significant pressure. In 2003, 74% of Canadians believed big box stores reduced independent local store survival. From 1998-2001, top four corporations increased market share in Canada's three most concentrated retail sectors. Early big box competition in the Greater Toronto Area led to high closure rates for weaker independent retailers. In 2006, foreign-controlled firms generated $827.7 billion in retail revenue, compared to $1.9 trillion for Canadian-controlled firms. [1] Between 1975 and 1995, the number of foreign retail stores in Canada grew from 3,000 to 10,000. [2] By 1996, foreign retailers accounted for 35% of total retail sales in Canada. [2] In early 2003, 11 of the top 20 Canadian retailers were US-owned. [2] The number of U.S. retail chains operating in Canada grew from 10 in 1985 to 185 by 2003[2]. In 1998, the largest supermarket chain in Canada held a 31.1% market share, suggesting consolidation within the retail sector[2]. By 2003, 72% of Canadians perceived big box retailers as offering convenient one-stop shopping, a factor that may influence consumer choices away from smaller, independent shops[2]. In 2021, 98.1% of Canadian businesses were small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with 70.3% of these being small businesses (fewer than 20 employees) [3]. Between 2017 and 2021, the number of small businesses in Canada increased by 4.1% [3]. In 2022, 62% of Canadian SMEs reported that their primary business activity was in services, compared to 20% in wholesale trade and 18% in manufacturing [3].