At the start of the 2023 hockey season, Interac Debit became the official preferred payment method of the Bell Centre to enhance the experience of fans through secure and convenient payment options. This partnership with the Bell Centre extends beyond payments, supporting small businesses in the Quebec area. Since the start of this partnership, Interac and Quebec’s hockey team hosted three events and a contest to support small businesses in the Quebec area. One of these events was for Black-owned small businesses in the Montreal area to come together and share their insights, struggles, and experiences as entrepreneurs.
Interac has a long history of supporting small businesses, offering solutions that help streamline payments, connecting owners and founders to local communities, and providing educational resources including launching the From Dollar One Hub and sponsoring the Mindfulness & Money program. Small businesses are foundational to Canada’s economy and Interac is committed to helping them build financial confidence.
This year, Interac was the prize sponsor of a contest hosted by Quebec’s hockey team to recognize Quebec locals’ favourite small businesses, awarding winning businesses with some major in-game visibility.
Winners received tickets to a hockey game at the Bell Centre, advertising exposure within the Bell Centre and online, and an in-arena store pop-up to promote their brand and engage with fans.
Nominating fans of the winning businesses also received hockey tickets and gift cards for in-arena merchandise and to support the winning business.
The contest received more than 600 entries, with five local small business winners.
The local small business winners included:
Pixie Woo
Pixie woo is a female-owned small business that creates eco-friendly, top-notch quality claw clips for every hair style and hair type. The key for Pixie woo is durability and quality.
CPVision
CPVision Clinique d’optometrie is an independent optometry clinic and boutique. Their mission is to provide professional eye care and unique eyewear of superior quality, tailored to the needs of their patients, in a welcoming environment.
Velec
Velec is the first e-bike company to use lithium batteries, effectively reducing the weight of bikes, starting the build of their bikes from scratch, creating a new frame that better meets the needs of customers while offering a unique product. Additionally, the priority is the safety of the rider.
Sani-Fontaines
Sani-Fontaines offers drinking fountains, water coolers, and water bottle filling stations with quality drinking water, fresh tasting and bacteria free with a mission to eliminate single use plastic bottles and canned beverages.
Groupe Zitta
Groupe Zitta provides quality plumbing products specializing in showers, bathtubs, shower bases, walls and accessories. Their approach is based on innovation, integrity and the sustainability of their products, while being sustainable and eliminating the use of certain packaging materials to reduce their ecological footprint.
