N. Ont stores open Dec. 27 for Boxing Day sales — for now

Retail stores are open in Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie today for Boxing Day shopping, as a municipal bylaw doesn't allow them to open on Dec. 26.

The two cities are the only ones in the region that have such a law in place. That could change in Sudbury following a referendum vote in the next municipal election.

But small business owners like Sudbury entrepreneur Jan Browning don’t believe the vote results will affect her either way.

Browning said she wouldn't open on Boxing Day, even if she could.

"We really do like to give that time to all of that work in our stores," she said.

"The revenue, well, it comes and goes. But money isn't everything."

Not all business owners feel that way, however.

A spokesperson with Future Shop's head office in Vancouver said the company respects the current bylaw in Sudbury, but added, if it changes, the company will open its doors.

"It's a huge day for Future Shop," Elliott Chun said.

"In fact, it's one of our busiest shopping days in terms of traffic — both in store and online."

Chun said, regardless of the vote, the company is working to allow customers to shop on Boxing Day in Sudbury — whether it is in person or online.

The referendum vote is slated to be on the 2014 municipal ballot.

The vote will also ask for public input on whether stores should be able to open on the civic holiday in August as well as whether businesses should be able to choose their own hours.

The ability to choose their own store hours is important to business, Browning said.

"It's really special that Sudbury's unique in the fact that they care about the service industry workers and I consider that's what we are," she said.

"There's lots of things you can do online now if you're bored. You don't have to do a shopping spree."