Not Amazon: Canadian website takes on the online giant

Ali Haberstroh's directory lists nearly 4,000 independent businesses in Toronto, Halifax, Calgary and Vancouver

In cities and towns around the world, darkened shopfronts and shuttered businesses have become an all-too-familiar symptom of the economic collapse triggered by the coronavirus pandemic.

But while small businesses and local retailers struggle with lockdowns and restrictions, e-commerce giants like Amazon have raked in billions in new profits.