The RV was big and imposing but the message being delivered was aimed at mom and pop commercial enterprises.

Tuesday morning was Barrie’s turn to welcome Scotiabank’s “Get Growing to a Million” cross-country tour that began on the West Coast and will wrap up in Nova Scotia on Oct. 3, said David Wilton, director of small business for the bank.

“We visited three locations in Barrie today, including Hovey’s Gourmet Meats,” said Wilton.

“The tour is a great way to meet people and stay connected to our customers. The small business community across Canada is thriving and they are very enthusiastic. In all, we’ll be in 80-plus cities on the tour.”

Proprietors Michael and Kathi Hovey were pleased to be included in the tour.

“Scotiabank has been with me since day one,” said Michael Hovey. “They’ve been very supportive with any problems or issues we’ve had. We’ve always worked things out.”

Now in his sixth year of operation in Barrie, the Hovey family has been in the meat business for five generations. The couple’s son, Kyle, is in his first year at the university of Guelph.

“He wants to build a meat empire,” Kathi Hovey said. “Today’s visit by Scotiabank is icing on the cake. It’s an added pleasure when you’re in the people business. It’s a pleasure to have a good relationship with your bank and your clients.”

Wilton said information provided by Barrie’s economic development office revealed approximately 83 per cent of local businesses have fewer than 20 employees and about 97 per cent have fewer than 100 employees.