If there's a silver lining to the troubles caused by the work on the Île-aux-Tourtes bridge, it's that it's encouraging Vaudreuil-Soulange residents to buy local this holiday season.

Last week, Néomédia asked you: Does the work on the Île-aux-Tourtes bridge encourage you to buy more locally for your holiday gifts?

45.8% of respondents said yes, because the region's commercial offer is more than sufficient. Among respondents, 25% said they would avoid having to travel outside Vaudreuil-Soulanges as much as possible.

This is good news in itself, considering the importance of buying local, as Isabelle Mercier, Business Development Commissioner at DEV Vaudreuil-Soulanges, explains. "Local businesses play an essential role in our communities. They set the tone for commercial arteries, whether in a large city like Vaudreuil-Dorion or in smaller communities. They are the pride of their owners, and if people don't go there to spend and support them, they won't last. It's essential to shop there, because just like the larger chains, local businesses are also experiencing rising supply costs and labor shortages," she explains. 

Online shopping will also continue to be popular, with 25% of readers responding that they would probably shop online more often.

Finally, 4.2% felt they would need to travel outside Vaudreuil-Soulanges to complete their holiday shopping.