Buy Canadian First - Your destination for good shopping

The other day I was visiting with a friend and noticed an empty box of Mr. Freeze on the floor. I smiled then asked her if she knew they were made in Canada; she did not. Kisko has been creating fabulous freeze pops and premium juice products since 1977 and is synonymous with summertime.

Founded by Leslie and Glenor Josephs, Kisko is a family run Canadian business that tirelessly brings us new and fun products along with our classic favourites.

 

 

Kisko is very proud to manufacture the best tasting freeze pops on the market. All Kisko products are nut-free, gluten-free, dairy-free and kosher, in fact all Kisko and Mr.Freeze products are allergen-free. Kisko has full disclosure of their ingredients on each of their products on their Website. Mr. Freeze No Sugar Added Pops are sweetened with Splenda and the Motts Fruitsations 100% Ice Bars have no added sugar or color. They are created from juice concentrate, using only fruit and vegetables juices for color.

 

 

This summer Kisko has some brand new products ; Mr. Freeze Transformers freeze pops with a Transformers tattoo in every box, Soda Pop Flavoured Giant Freezies in Dr. Pepper, Crush Grape and Hires Root Beer and Nice 'N Juicy Freezies as well as the Motts Fruitsations 100% Ice Bars which are great for the very young and the young at heart alike.  

 

It was one of the greatest thrills of my summers as a kid to run all by myself to the corner store and buy a jumbo Mr. Freeze. I would nibble the top off and proceed to eat the pop, rolling up the bottom as the pop became shorter. When it was done I would unroll the wrap and try to squeeze every last drop of the juice out from the wrappers. As a kid any time was a perfect time for a 'Freezie' and frankly it still is to this day!

Kisko is all about fun, fun in the sun and fun online too. They have games to play and K-Tube videos right at their website!

What are your favourite summer memories with Kisko?

It seems like the prairies are in a cold snap. It's almost August and people are clad in flannel pjs, hooded sweaters and socks. I mean seriously! It is July and frankly I am a little irked that I cannot complain about the scorching heat and the relentless humidity. Incidentally, I also miss the seasonal air conditioning battles with my husband. So far, this has been the coldest July on record but Environment Canada senior climatologist David Phillips says that July is not over and things should heat up soon, but of course, we all know the weather is a fickle beast. Fortunately even in this less than ideal weather, we are still harvesting crops of local potatoes and berries. Alberta is familiar with severe weather and this year is no exception  but it's great to know that despite this, Albertans can still buy local.

Alberta
Alberta has a vast selection of foods ranging from bison, beef, lamb, duck, fruit, berries, vegetables, eggs, milk, sugar beets and more. These products are available in organic and free-range too. Here are some buy-local and other interesting links for Alberta:

• Alberta Farmers Market Association
• PickyourOwn.org
• Organic Growers Directory 
• Growing Alberta
• Food Alberta

Northwest Territories and Nunavut
Agriculture in the NWT is a new venture of sorts for the area. There are several projects and programs like the small scale food program, designed to explore the possibilities in "farming the Canadian north". To date, there are poultry farms as well as farmers with irrigated fields but most of the agriculture is conducted along the river systems, where the soil is much richer.

Traditionally, the Inuit of Nunavut are a nomadic people who followed the animals. Times have changed and sedentary lifestyles are more common place for Inuit communities. The permafrost of northern Canada is not generally good for agriculture but in the summer, the tundra is alive with over 200 species of small flowering plants like the fireweed, which is rich in vitamin A and C. Used for tea and medicine. Other local foods include arctic char, turbot, seal, caribou, bannock and muktuk (whale blubber).

It's possible that as our climate continues to change and our northern landscapes continue to prematurely thaw that farming and agriculture becomes more viable with the advent of longer growing seasons and warmer soils (do you think that this is the good thing about climate change? Let us know below)

I looked but could not seem to locate any farmers markets in the territories, so I ask Canada to help: If you know of any farmers markets in the NWT or Nunavut, let us know by leaving a comment below!

Yesterday, we harvested the first cucumbers from our garden, it was very exciting. And they were promptly consumed by my toddler. Our apples are also ripening on the tree and soon we will be transforming apples into pie filling and applesauce. I am happy to see that all that work we did as a family is finally paying off and what my garden doesn't grow, my local market will have, even in these lacklustre temperatures.

Image sources: Flickr: Jordan Pattern, MartinCathrae

Ah, sweet summertime, children running about all day playing in the sprinklers, skipping rope in the front street, street hockey in the back lane... what? What do you mean whose children am I talking about? Is the scene in your house more like a bunch of sloths sprawled across your floors and sofas, loafing around watching TV and playing video games? As a child I was playing outside in my neighbourhood rather than watching television or playing my Atari (!) system. Perhaps it is the 24/7 availability of children's programming, state of the art game systems, mind blowing graphics, busy parents, lazy parents, safety issues and whatever else but kids are less active these days and it shows with a growing rate of obesity and diabetes in children. In fact type 2 diabetes was once considered an illness for the aging is now affecting children and young adults at an alarming rate, see some statistics and information here.  

Here are some great items that are also made in Canada that will get the kids and their parents playing, creating and having fun!

• Test your slow pitch arm with Pro-Am Sand Bag Game from Buy Canadian First member Bojeux
• Boogie all day long with Bobs and Lolo available from member Organically Hatched
• Hone your putting skills or your slap shot with great products from our member DOM Sports
• Gather all the kids and have a neighborhood baseball game using Combat Youth Baseball Bat - B2YB  from member Combat Sports.

For more fantastic summer ideas be sure to check out these creative and talented Canadian bloggers too:

Outdoor Activities 

• How to play hopscotch by  Quiet Fish
• Butterfly Feeder by Our Big Earth
• Can Stilts from Hudsonny

In the Kitchen

• Rhubarb Juice Concentrate from Bovine Bubbles and Hogwash
• Popcorn Ball from FiveForty  
• Perfect Lemonade from Canadian Parent

Arts and Craft

• Stenciled T-Shirts from RikRak
• Secret Fold Note Book from My Hand Bound Books
• Cornstarch Clay Activity from High On craft

There is no excuse Canada to not get kids and grown-ups in motion! Be sure to inquire into the summer activities at your local community centers, parks and pools. Seek adventure and have fun!

PS: In case you still run out of ideas here are hundreds more from author, illustrator and guerilla artist Keri Smith 

 

So where are you going this summer? Do you have a destination or are you going to see where your spirit guides you? Regardless if you are going far or near a road trip is an original favourite for the summer vacation, it a thrill to just to head out on the highway! Let's assume that you have already taken your car in for a full check up; fluid top up, tire inspection, filters cleaned, hoses and belts checked as well as a spare tire and the knowledge to change it. This is usually done during your annual car tune up but if you have any questions call your mechanic. Once your transportation is purring like a kitten, it's time to pack the rest of the car.

Here are some road-trip essentials to bring along:

Sunscreen - The windows of your car will not protect you from the sun this includs your lips. Try the Livacious Lip Balms, by Glengarry Gardens the ingredient Sea Buckthorn has shown to be a natural sunscreen. Keep your lips safe and smoochy soft. 

Journal - A picture says 1,000 words but sometimes a few hilarious words are all that's needed. Along with snapping photographs keep a travel log to collect postcards, ticket stubs, pressed flowers and fun stories of your journey. Ecojot manufactures a varied selection of books and other paper products made entirely on 100% post consumer waste and vegetable based inks.

Food and Drinks - Eating truck stop and fast foods can not only get expensive but turn your belly too. To keep your moods, health and bellies happy stock up on water and snacks. Try Jakeman's Maple Almonds, bake some of Melissa's banana, cranberry, chocolate chip muffins or while on your journey, stop at local farmers markets (check-out our buy-local series of posts) to stock up on fresh fruits, vegetables and snacks.

Boredom busters - Long journeys can be a little dull while stuck in the car, so be sure to stock up on some mags by looking for the Genuine Canadian Magazine logo from member Magazine Canada.

Canadian books and music from Chapters Indigo. We love the audiobooks for driving at night on the highway. Here is my all canadian playlist for you, I want to know what you would add to it! 

                                  

1. The Poppy Family - Which Way you Going Billy
2. Rufus Wainwright- Across the Universe
3. 5440 - Ocean Pearl
4. Feist - Sealion
5. Simple Plan - When I'm Gone
6. Spirit of the West - If Venice is Sinking
7. Crystal Castles - Crimewave
8. Great Lake Swimmers - Your Rocky Spine
9. Tegan and Sara - Walking with a Ghost
10. Blue Rodeo - Lost Together
11. Big Sugar - Turn the Lights On
12. Lost Fingers -You Shook me all Night Long
13. Corb Lund - Time to Switch to Whiskey

Your road trip is all about fun but we cannot dismiss the value of safety and being prepared. Please ensure you have a first aid kit, GPS system or current maps and someone to check-in with whether they are at home or your destination. Be realistic about how long it will take you to reach your destination and allow for times to stretch and sleep and, of course, always buckle up.

Happy road tripping everyone! Be sure to leave us a comment about your road trip destinations and the songs on your playlists!

Camping and visiting in Canada's parks is truly a treasure for Canadians. When I was a girl my grandparents would take me camping to Nutimik Lake during the summer months. I associate Canada parks with childhood memories like running barefoot through clover, making sand castle kingdoms for my leopard frog friends and learning about the stars from my grandfather. So precious are these memories to me now as my grandparents have long since passed. Our National Parks are found in every province and territory they are for us to enjoy and protect.

Preparing for a camping trip is generally easy and as long as you remember everything you won't be found spending too much money at the lakeside's overpriced corner store. Another saving money tidbit is all parks have a fee freeze! From now until April 1 2011 the general public will be paying the 2008 fees and for Manitobans, all provincial parks will be free until April 30th 2011.

With this great news let's prepare for our trip. It's always good to know the climate you are camping in and what kind of potential natural hazards could affect your stay and be prepared for them (of course not all camping trips are littered with doom, nearly all are enjoyable family vacations! teehee). Find out what activities and events are going on in your province, book a reservation in selected parks or use the handy travel planner.

There is one key point we should be aware of when we enter our parks; our environmental footprint. It is very easy to change the delicate balance of nature, these changes can happens quickly or slowly, but there is no excuse for not being aware and taking measures to be responsible for our own actions.

Never transport firewood from your home to your campsite; it is prudent always get local firewood as it runs the risk of relocating a new insect or other organism into the existing ecosystem. This could have lasting and devastating effects.

It is always best to bring camping dishes rather than disposable dishes to reduce our trash but the right dish soap is important as well. Pick something that is free of dyes, petroleum based solvents and that is biodegradable in a short time, like this dishwashing liquid from Bio-Vert.

Be sure to read any news bulletins posted at the entrace of the park and keep to designated camping areas to not disturb plant and animal life. You can learn more about the Parks natural heritage here. 

The greatest camping list ever, well maybe not quite, but this check list is a great start to make sure you cover the basics (let me know what you would add to it in the comments below) and I also provide some great Made in Canada options in case you are refreshing some of your camping supplies and gear!

Shelter and bedding

( ) Tent
( ) Ground cloth/tarp  
( ) Shade tarp/poles/rope/stakes  
( ) Air pump  
( ) Air mattress/sleeping pad/cot/tarp  
( ) Sleeping bag/sheets/blankets
( ) Pillows (you HAVE to try Align-Right's camping pillow!)

Cooking

( ) Pots and frying pans with lids/dutch oven
( ) Potholders/oven mitts
( ) Utensils and cutlery-spatula/knife/spoon/tongs/forks/skewers
( ) Mixing bowl/measuring cups/cutting board (check out Eraware's incredible aray of products here)
( ) Reusable bottle/coffee pot
( ) Charcoal/firewood
( ) Fire starters/newspaper
( ) Plates/bowls/mugs/cups 
( ) Can opener/bottle opener/potato peeler
( ) Campfire grill/BBQ grill
( ) Stove with fuel/propane
( ) Big refillable water jug
( ) Coolers/ice/ice packs (check out the great selection from our member Cryopak)
( ) Heavy-duty aluminum foil
( ) Zipper sealed bags
( ) Paper towels (100% recycled paper towels from our member Cascades)
( ) Dish pan/dish soap/dish rags/towels/scrub pad
( ) Trash bags (try these biodegradable bags by Munger, available at your local supermarket)
( ) All your favourite camping foods, including cooking oil, condiments herbs and spices

Other essentials

( ) Sunscreen/lip balm 
( ) Flashlight/batteries
( ) Matches/lighter
( ) Pocket knife
( ) Axe/hammer
( ) Bug repellant (try members Gengarry Garden's Natural Bug Balm or All Things Jill's Big Joose)
( ) Rope
( ) Bungi cords/straps
( ) Hand wipes
( ) First aid kit
( ) Camera/battery/film/video
( ) Cards/games/toys/golf/books/magazines/notepad/pen/music instruments/bicycles/etc (Get one of these super cute note books for the kids from members Ecojot )
( ) Maps/directions/reservations info./confirmation/park map/ guidebooks/ trail maps
( ) Folding chairs
( ) Umbrella/Rain gear
( ) Sunglasses/hat
( ) Radio
( ) Fishing gear/license/bait

 

Handy Supply Box
Things you may need handy

( ) Extra stakes
( ) Repair kit for air mattress/tent
( ) Extra Batteries/bulbs/matches/lighters
( ) Duct tape/electrical tape
( ) Candles
( ) Misc. tools
( ) Small sewing kit
( ) Work gloves

 

Extras

( ) Mat for tent entrance
( ) Dust pan/brush
( ) Lantern with fuel/mantles
( ) Compass/GPS
( ) Binoculars
( ) Whistle (check out Fox40's array of Safety Whistles here)
( ) Water filters/purification/treatment
( ) Lantern pole or hanger
( ) Hammock (Kingcord Hammocks have some great ones)
( ) Travel alarm clock

Have a safe and wonderful camping season! Send us your favourite recipes, camping locations and eco camping tips! We love hearing from you.

  Do you like going to the gym? I hate it. Sooo much. Dudes flexing their muscles in the mirrors, the girls texting or talking to people through Bluetooth ear pieces while working out… Can’t stand it. I'd rather be outside or at home. So I recently started P90X. Have you heard of it? It’s an at-home fitness program designed to change your body in 90 days if you stick to it. It was created by this fitness god, Tony Horton. The program mixes plyometrics, weight training, cardio, kenpo and yoga and the goal is to create muscle confusion so that you never plateau, thus always building muscle and burning fat. I realize it’s not a Canadian program (Tony Horton, the creator, is from Rhode Island) but you should totally check it out.

Anyway, my point is that because of P90X, I started doing yoga. I have never practiced yoga before. I know, I know, I’m extremely late to the “yoga bandwagon” but I'm nevertheless thrilled and excited about how much I like it... and how good it burns. And yes, only now am I discovering the amazing benefits of yoga (read more on yoga in Canada's Alive magazine). Like how it's helping alleviate my allergies and asthma, how it improves my posture & flexibility, makes my headaches go away naturally, decreases the intensity of my menstrual cramps, helps me manage my stress and be "in the moment". And this is just from doing yoga for one month!

I also better understand why the need for proper attire to practice yoga. Boy do I ever! (nobody told me how much it makes you sweat!) I have a newfound appreciation for this multi-billion dollar industry and an even greater appreciation for the companies who have developed and who manufacture such awesome quality apparel right here in Canada!

Here are my favourites from the BuyCanadianFirst.ca catalogue. You will also notice that there is nothing shocking about the price tags. You would pay the same prices, if not more, for this kind of apparel but made overseas.

3/4 pants by Blank. Polycotton blend. Available in slate, brown, white and black - $33.50

 

Fitted elongated t-shirt by Blank. Polycotton blend. Available in white and black - $24

 

Folded belt capris by Respecterre. Certified fair-trade, organic cotton-blend. Available in white, charcoal, black and red - $49.99

 

Fashion hoody by Respecterre. Certified fair-trade, organic cotton-blend. Available in white/black seams and charcoal/black seams - $69.99

 

Sport bra cross-over heart by Respecterre. Bamboo-cotton-spandex blend. Available in black, brown, natural, burgundy and green - $33.99

 

Bamboo tank top by Me to We. Available in magenta and ash grey -  $24.99

 

TerraFrog Earth Capris by TerraFrog Clothing. Nylon-Spandex blend. Available in Blueberry, Caviar Black and Midnight Navy -  $56

 

TerraFrog Frogaliscious Funky Back Tank by TerraFrog Clothing. Nylon-Spandex blend. Available in Moody Blue, Graffiti, Pretty Plaids and Sweet Dots - $58

 

TerraFrog Sport Shorts by TerraFrog Clothing. Nylon-Spandex blend. Available in Blueberry, Caviar Black and Midnight Navy - $48

 

Diamant-10 by Oom Ethikwear. Certified organic cotton. Available in Asphalt and Grey Green - $34

 

My favourite items though are ones made with bamboo, specifically because of their natural and antimicrobial properties... Not to mention how decadently soft bamboo fabrics are. Organic cotton is amazing too. The last thing I want is chemicals clogging up my pores while I sweat.

What about you? What do you wear when you work out? Are you surprised at the Canadian-made items I listed or their prices? Let me know.

Namaste.

Author: Melissa Thibodeau

T-shirts are easy to collect. They are readily available in all stores, given away as free promotional item and just a loonie or two at the second hand store. What can we do with all these tees? We can do a lot more than just wear this fashion staple. So grab a t-shirt, scissors and your sewing machine because we are on a DIY adventure.

Reconstructed T-shirt
The reconstructed tee shirt is a perfect way to transform a large unshaped shirt into a one-of-a-kind fashion wonder. I attempted my own reconstructed t-shirt and I cut and sewed without hesitation and forethought and ended up with an interesting creation that will suit me well... when I clean my house. But do not be discouraged about my first attempts: I did not think to use instructions, and there are lots of instructions available for the reconstructed tee shirt.

I found a brilliant book at Chapters Indigo titled ‘99 Ways to Cut, Sew, Trim, And Tie Your T-shirt Into Something Special'. Here is idea number 17: Gaia, an innocent maiden look.

 

Necklace
Necklace? Yes make yourself a t-shirt necklace. Cucumbersome of Vancouver, BC, has an outstanding tutorial on instructables.com. Hip Eco fashion, give it a whirl.

 

Yarn
Yes, another delightful surprise from the lowly t-shirt. Turn your shirt into a continuous strand of yarn for all of your knitting and crochet projects. Watch this great you tube tutorial! [video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HN1Nt9SAcRw 350x300]

Not all of us have time to "create" so should you wish to have an upcycled t-shirt, you can purchase items alrady made, like this handwoven recycled t-shirt rug  from Five Forty of Terrace Bay, ON.

Image sources: 99 ways... book, Cucumbersome, FiveForty and MyGreyDog 

We’ll, I’m back from my mini-media tour!

I had the pleasure of appearing on 2 breakfast television shows last week, in time for Canada Day. It was my live TV debut and I must admit it was nerve wracking!

My first appearance was on “A” Morning in Ottawa, on Monday June 29th. Up at 5:30 AM (not that I slept much…) in order to appear at 6:50 AM. Angie Poirier, the host who handled the segment, was so sweet and seemed genuinely amazed at the website and the samples I had brought along. I have yet to find a Canadian who is not impressed with the great products we showcase on Buy Canadian First, yet it’s still nice to see that kind of enthusiasm. Thanks Angie for making me feel so welcomed!

If you missed the segment, you can watch it here

Here’s a recap of the Made-in-Canada products (and their makers) featured that morning:

1) Cryopak ice packs, made in Montreal (Qc) and Delta (BC)

2) Lois Jeans, made in St-Georges (Qc)

3) Ecosol Powerstick, made in Ottawa (On)

4) Park Pals stuffed animals, made in Mississauga (On)

5) Combat Sports baseball bat, made in Ottawa (On)

6) Kisko’s Mr. Freeze, made in Woodbridge (On)

7) Salus Marine personal floating devices, made in Kitchener (On) 

8) Sure Gro garden products, made in Brandford (On)

9) A.H.F. bedding products, made in Montreal (On)

10) Tuscan Farm Gardens natural skincare products, made in Langley (BC)

From there, on to Toronto for my second appearance!

Now I have to share something with you: when we launched Buy Canadian First last summer, I told my team that one day I would be on Canada AM talking with Seamus O’Reagan about our website. Don’t ask me how I knew it, I just felt it. So this really was a dream-come-true for me. He was so kind, approachable and natural, he made my entire year! If you doubt it, see how happy I was!

You can watch the segment here.

Here’s a recap of the Made-in-Canada products (and their makers) featured that morning:

1) Tristan apparel, made in Cookshire (Qc) 

2) Lois Jeans, made in  Saint-Georges (Qc)

3) Park Pals stuffed animals, made in Mississauga (On) 

4) DOM Sports hockey net & sticks, made in Toronto (On)

5) Salus Marine personal floating devices, made in Kitchener (On)

6) Combat Sports baseball bat, made in Ottawa (On) 

7) Ecosol Powerstick, made in Ottawa (On)

8) Kisko’s Mr. Freeze, made in Woodbridge (On) 

The poll question on Canada AM that day was “Do you make a special effort to buy Canadian?” Over 1,000 people answered the question and the results were phenomenal: 70% said YES! I encourage you to read the viewer comments here.

So overall, an excellent trip and many moments I will never forget. Thanks everyone who helped make it happen!