Buy Canadian First - Your destination for good shopping

I am bound to the franchise train. My child watches television and loves her little characters as dolls, in videos and soon, I am certain, she’ll be begging to wear them. This is fine but there is more out there for them, unique and special items just for them, something they can play with now or keep forever!

10. Goat Milk Monkey Soap scented with Monkey Farts! Well not quite, this monkey shaped soap is scented with a blend of bananas and grapefruit mixed with bubblegum, kiwi and strawberries rounded out with a hint of vanilla. I have bought this product and I promise it smells good enough to eat! Carvel Country Soapworks also has mice, frogs, pigs and soapcicles!

9. We have always read to our children. It is a wonderful reason to steal a moment to curl up together and be taken far away. When our son was 7 we would all sit together at the end of the day and read a chapter from a favorite novel series we all enjoyed. Start a reading habit and check out the authors and publishers in our fabulous book section!

8. Let them build a kingdom of straws! Straws & Connectors Building Kits at P J Knickerbockers for kids looks fantasic, it says you can build many creative structures such as Hot Air Balloons, Boats, Houses, Bridges, or anything one can imagine!

7. These polar feet fleece socks from Mountain Equipment Co-op look absolutely cozy and so fun to wear! I adore socks in bright colors and fun prints these should fit the bill for any child who loves the same!

6. I don't think it matters how old you are everyone needs someone to love! Puncezilla a soft doll maker in Edmonton has created this adorable Cloth lamb and her little rag doll among other delights in her shop

5. Beneath The Rowan Tree has produced these stunning nativity characters. They are hand felted from 100% new, clean wools (corriedale, shetland, merino, with silk accents and cotswald locks),  suitable for all ages a wonderful treasure to play with and admire every christmas season.

4. Kisko/Crush Giants Combo Pack, comes in boxes of 45 freeze pops with a combo of the Kisco and Crush flavors! Even in the dead of winter frozen delights are still devine, and if you take them outside they won't melt! You can grab these at you local loblaws or sobeys stores.

3. Start an appreiciation for art early in life with Michelle Clement's art. She's an animator/afterEffects, artist/designer as well as a multi talented crafter with a love of monsters and these prints are too fun to skip.

2. At last, a fun accessory that has kids cheering to wear their helmets! At last in deed! Found at Lavish and Lime these helmet covers are made of fleece and designed to fit over all types of helmets including snowboard, skating and equestrian. Comes in devil, shark, bunny, turtle, zebra and more!

1. Miele designs and manufactures its beautiful bicycles here in Canada! Their website will help you size the right bike for you as well find a retailer that carries their bicycles. Take a look at these beauties and know that anyone of these would make your child a weepy happy screaming mess!

Happy Shopping and Happy Holidays!

Photo credis: carvel country soapworks, puncezilla, lavishandlime

Winter is upon us. Even though the official date of the winter solstice is December 21st, it seems that in most parts of this country winter-like conditions start in mid November (sometimes sooner here in Saskatchewan).

Winter means dry, cold air.  Our skin does seem to suffer more in the winter months. It is important to take special care of our skin at this time. 

As I suffer from dry and sensitive skin, especially in the winter, I thought I would give you my top winter skin care tips:

• My first tip is insuring you are not using a harsh cleanser on your skin.  These types of cleansers can aggravate already dry skin. Handmade soap is full of natural glycerine and is usually made with lots of skin-loving oils. This patchouli soap by Carmel Soaps looks very decadent and would definitely be a moisturizing treat for the skin.
  

• Another moisturizing treat in the bath or shower would be Crème de la crème Body Buffer from Cake.  Made with exfoliating apricot seeds that slough away dry skin and jojoba beads that release moisturizing oils on the skin this product would definitely be a luxury for the skin.

• My next tip is to moisturize your skin to prevent dryness.  There are many great lotions and creams on the market.  Trillium Soaps and Candles have many great products but the Crème Fraiche really stands out. This cream is made of shea and mango butters and also has aloe, vitamins C & E and even a hint of rosewater.  It is available in great scents like Raspberry leaf and Mango & Lime just to name a few.
  

• Another great tip I think is to make sure our lips are moisturized too.  Lots of people forget about this. Aroma Crystal Clear Lip Saver is a great product to help alleviate dry and cracked lips.

Well now that you have seen some products that will help to soothe and prevent dry winter skin, there's one last thing... Our forced air furnaces heat our homes all winter and can really lower the humidity inside our homes and dry out the air. 

• My last tip is to run a humidifier to help keep moisture in the air. There are many types to choose from. We don't know of any that are made in Canada, but if you do, please leave a comment. Canadian Tire has an assortment of humidifiers for all needs and that is a great place to start your search.

Winter brings icy winds and blowing snow. For a lot of people, winter also means expensive utility bills. Winterizing your home can help reduce these costs.

1. Seal up those pesky leaks. This has to be one of the easiest and best ways of reducing your energy costs this winter.  It is as simple as adding foam weather stripping or caulking around windows and doors.  Locate drafts and seal these areas.  It has been found that you can reduce your heating bill by 10 - 25% by properly sealing up your home.  Remember to check your electrical outlets too!  Drafts can come in through them.  There are foam gaskets you can purchase to help seal off outlets.
2. Check your insulation and add more if needed. Heat is lost through our attics.  If there isn't enough insulation in your attic, you may be losing substantial amounts of heat.  If you are unsure about your insulation, contact a local contractor.  They will be able to help you out.
3. Install a programmable thermostat. How many times have you left the house and forgot to turn down the thermostat?  Most of us are guilty of this.  Programmable thermostats can help to save on energy costs by automatically lowering the temperature when we are not at home.  There are many to choose from.  Ecobee is a Canadian company that manufactures programmable thermostats.  Their Smart thermostat looks to be a very user-friendly product.
4. Clean and maintain your furnace. Proper maintenance and cleaning ensures your furnace runs efficiently.  It also helps reduce dust in your home.  Furnace filters should be changed every 4 - 6 weeks in the winter to maximize your furnace's potential.  Many people also schedule a routine maintenance and cleaning once a year, usually in the fall.  Contact your utility company for more information about this.
5. Inspect your pipes and gutters. Make sure that your gutters and downspouts are free of leaves and debris. This will prevent ice buildup which could potentially turn into water damage if water formed when the ice melts cannot move freely in the gutter. Turn off water to outside taps for hoses as well.  Ensure that outside lines are properly drained too. This will prevent expansion and contraction of pipes when freezing and thawing which could lead to broken pipes and more water damage.  Also examine your home for pipes that are not insulated and insulate them.

By taking these five simple steps, you can have a house fit for a Canadian winter and maybe even save a few dollars too!

Image Source: Space Ritual on Flickr, Creative Commons

Hier fût une journée trépidante dans nos bureaux! Jessica Brown, journaliste à Radio-Canada (anglophone) nous a rendu visite pour une interview.

La fin Novembre est traditionnellement une période de magasinage très occupée, spécialement chez nos voisins du Sud avec le phénomène du Black Friday (le vendredi suivant l'Action de Grâce, ou les aubaines abondent). Les canadiens habitants près de la frontière américaine la traversent souvent en cette période de l'année pour leur magasinage des Fêtes. Mais cette année, dans le climat d'incertitude économique que l'on connaît, nous aimerions beaucoup voir les consommateurs canadiens demeurer au pays et faire leurs achats localement afin d'appuyer leur économie locale. C'est logique, non? C'est ce que j'ai exprimé à la journaliste de Radio-Canada. Visionner l'entrevue ici.

Je suis vraiment emballée que les médias s'intéressent à ce mouvement grandissant qui favorise l'achat de produits fabriqués au Canada. L'attention médiatique confirme cette tendance et met en évidence la nécessité d'appuyer les manufacturiers canadiens de toute taille.

Que pensez-vous du vendredi noir?  Rechercherez-vous des cadeaux faits au Canada durant la période des Fêtes? Faites-nous part de vos commentaires!

Late November is traditionally known as a huge shopping period, especially South of the border (Black Friday phenomenon), but in this time of economic uncertainty, we would love to see more shoppers stay closer to home and support the local economy! Doesn't that make more sense? That's what I told the CBC. Watch the segment here!

I can't tell you how delighted I am to see the media paying attention to the buy-Canadian movement. It confirms and bolsters the trend while raising awareness of the importance of supporting Canadian manufacturers large and small.

What do you think of Black Friday? Are you going to seek out made-in-Canada holiday gifts? Let us know!

Blog post written by: Sam Title

This one's for the parents out there. You know who you are (or not...but I don't judge). Not sure about the rest of the country, but winter arrived in the GTA with quite the flurry!

I suppose, as Canadians, we're expected to enjoy our winter wonderland whenever it comes a knockin'. For us parents, it's that time when we dust off the skates, skis and snowsuits and prepare the kids for all things icy and cold... but fun!

What if you're just not in the mood to go out? It happens. You might not have it in you to prepare for snow play by wrapping up each kid in three layers of clothing and THEN stuffing them into snow pants, boots, jacket, hats, mits, muffs...WHEW! I almost nodded off just writing about it here.

You could just put on their coats, throw them in the car, or bus and head over to places like the Ontario Science Centre. Great fun for the whole family...the first four visits. OR...you could find out if there are any neighbourhood indoor playgrounds that are open for play. Check out Amazon in mid-Toronto. They're open late on Tuesday nights! A godsend in winter!

What about staying home? "WHAT?!" you say? "The kids'll destroy the place!" Perhaps. But what if you tried something new? Something creative and imaginary.

Remember when your kids were much, much younger (last year!) and you bought them that nifty new toy, but what they chose to play with was the box? Yeah. Been there... witnessed that! They spent forever in that thing, making a house or a fort or a rocket ship! Awesome, I say... except for that lonely new toy.

Well parents (aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc.), I'm really excited to be introducing you Paperpod Cardboard Creations. one of our vendors. I saw their website and I think I had this look on my face akin to when my dad brought home the Atari 2600 gaming console as a family holiday gift... sheer bliss and awe!

Originally an English (U.K.) invention but now in Ottawa, simply put, this stuff is awesome! It's made from the same box-like cardboard you'd unpack a new T.V. from... but it's shaped like a chair or a house (for humans AND dolls) or a rocketship! And coming soon, as the site says: a fort! A teepee! A paperpod, which looks like more fun than words can describe.

You can draw on them! You can paint them! You can use them as spare furniture! Best of all - you can occupy your kids for ages! I'm giddy just thinking about the possibilities.

From what I can tell on the site, you can find this product in Ottawa at Red Chair Kids or in Toronto at Smartalik (in the beaches). You can also find it online at Natural Pod and dh love life, which is actress/activist Daryl Hannah's online foray into all things green.

Best of all about Paperpod is that it's all made from recycled materials, and when your kids have thoroughly loved theirs, you can recycle it as easily as that T.V. box.

As far as I can tell, the only downside to Paperpod is that the rocketship and fort don't come in adult sizes!

If you have any "dead of winter" activities you like to do with your kids, or places you like to go, please let us (me!) know.

Oui, c'est à vous que je m'adresse! Je sais que vous recherchez activement des produits fabriqués au Canada. La tendance est claire et c'est fantastique! Alors, est-ce que vous faites votre part? Avez-vous demandé aux détaillants de votre localité de remplir davantage leurs tablettes de produits fabriqués au Canada? Êtes-vous conscient du pouvoir que vous détenez en tant que consommateur pour influencer le type de produits qui se retrouveront dans les magasins au détail?

Cette tendance est un authentique mouvement communautaire, et doit faire son chemin à partir DE LA BASE jusqu'au sommet de la chaîne d'approvisionnement. La bonne nouvelle c'est que les consommateurs comme vous et moi détenons le vrai pouvoir face aux produits qui nous sont proposés; c'est donc à nous de l'utiliser! Avez-vous déjà demandé à votre épicier du coin de se procurer une de vos marques favorites et d'être surpris de la retrouver sur les tablettes à votre prochaine visite? Ne soyez pas surpris: les choses fonctionnent ainsi!

C'est donc à nous de demander aux commerçants d'offrir le type de produits que nous désirons voir sur les tablettes. Et s'ils vous répondent qu'ils ne savent pas où se procurer de tels produits, n'hésitez pas à les référer à achetonscanadiendabord.ca : nous avons plusieurs fabricants et artisans à leur présenter!

Dans le contexte de ralentissement économique actuel, nous devons porter une attention particulière à la façon dont nous dépensons notre argent. Ainsi, assurons-nous de soutenir notre propre économie afin de conserver nos emplois pour pouvoir continuer à acheter des produits fabriqués au Canada. C'est à nous de faire entendre nos voix! Laissez-nous savoir comment se déroule votre campagne personnelle!

Image courtoisie de Creative Commons, Flickr

When the ghouls and goblins pack up their sharp teeth and wings to head back to Halloween town, the Christmas season begins. Perhaps it is because I now have my own shop, that I noticed that the grocery store on November 1st had their Halloween candy one sale at the front of the store while their Christmas items were waiting for me in the aisles. I also heard my first carol on a television commercial later on that same night. So now we are ‘in the know’ Christmas is close, and shopping season has officially begun.

Unlike my husband, I love the bustle of the malls. Watching the shoppers meander about carrying their parcels, waiting in lines, loosing a mitten and enjoying the décor and music. Sadly this year I will miss the mall, it is just too much with 2 young children so I plan to do the bulk of my Christmas Shopping from home in my yoga pants with my feet up and a coffee in hand. Everyone on my list is a breeze to shop for but only in my dreams that is.

We will always have that one person that is impossible to shop for. S/he is seems to go through life giving the impression that they really require nothing at all, or maybe they do you a favour and tell you not to bother at all. Typically for me this person tends to be any man aged 30 and up, so I have created the...

Super-mega-fantastic-gifts-for-the-impossible-to-shop-for-man top 10 list

10 - Everyone has to eat! Food is a wonderful way to spoil someone by giving them scrumptious culinary vittles that they may not treat themselves to otherwise like Clearwater's lobster and more delivered right to their doorstep!

9 - Festive merry making is occasionally accompanied with some merry mead!! Check out some of the wonderful brews made within our borders and of course a bottle of the 'good stuff' can be a welcome gift as well. I would like to say that if you choose to drink alcohol, please do so responsibly!

8 - We certainly can't leave our house in a bad hygienic state and we can start by keeping our lips soft! Bath and body products aren't just for the ladies, All Things Jill, a Calgary based business has a fabulous collection for men in their Just for Jack line.

7 - Blank journals, planners and books are great here are a couple of my favorites; Oatmeal Leather Journal by myhandboundbooks, and Australia Travel Journal by PrairiePeasant.

6 - Lounging on a Sunday afternoon reading the paper, having a snack or watching the game in comfort & style by Roots.

5 - Cufflinks by enthral an eco friendly shop with her pieces created from refashioned vintage items, recycled pieces and new components.

4 - "There is music wherever there is harmony, order, or proportion" Thomas C Haliburton. How about the gift of Canadian song and music! Even if you don't know what they may like introduce them to something new!

3 - USB portable charger Powerstick ! We all know that men love gadgets, right? Well, the one(s) in your life will love this new one. It charges all kinds of mobile devices like BlackBerrys, cell phones, digital cameras, GPS and MP3 Players. You charge up the Powerstick through any USB port.

2 - Our country is filled with fabulously gifted Artists support them by giving a gift of original art.

1 - Finally my best suggestion for the impossible to shop for man is fossil fuels, specifically a big lump of coal in their stocking.

Good luck!

My desk is littered with little chocolate and candy wrappers, treats stolen from the toddler's Halloween goodie bag in the kitchen. It is located in the heart of my home and to get to any room on the main floor one must travel through there, clearly a bad place for sinful food and treats! I am determined to motivate myself and others to jump on the fitness bandwagon, clean out the refrigerator and cupboards and embrace raw foods and yoga, but not today. Instead we will explore some delightful home grown confectioners.

Looking at the vendors on our site Everything Maple, is perfect for those who adore a dash of sweet with their savory or spicy flavors, but what of us with not just a sweet tooth but sweet teeth? We shall not be disappointed, as we begin our confections journey with Ganong's chocolates in St. Stephens New Brunswick, Canada's Chocolate Town. Ganong Bros. Limited is Canada's oldest candy company founded in 1873 and its primary operations are still in St. Stephens. Their online shoppe has a great selection for weddings as well as candy packages for the children but I am itching to try these the original chicken bones. In fact if you live or head out that way you can learn all about the chocolate experience at the museum!

Diane McMillan of Winnipeg runs Sweet Truth Canadian Gourmet Candy Company with some wonderful delights including almond butter toffee with a ginger twist; a "spicy symphony" containing cinnamon and cardamom. Sweet truth is a company who stems from a long line of candy makers and she buys her butter from a Manitoba dairy producer. Winnipeggers who can't wait to try her toffee should go to Cherry Tree Lane they have most of her flavours including the newest cappuccino toffee with toasted pecans, yummy. Those of you in Toronto, she'll be at the One of a kind show!

I would like to share with you a little gem I stumbled upon. Earth Belly Candy Co. of Northern Ontario specializes in all natural, organic lollipops and brittles. These lavender lollipops especially caught my eye, what a wonderful thing for something so fun to be soothing as well. Some of her other fresh and intriguing flavors include Ginger Honey Orange, Old Fashioned Root Beer and coming soon chai, and peppermint/anise. I am very excited to see a naturally made candy and will be purchasing some for my family, but first the lavender lollipop for me.

So my fellow Canadian sweet teeth, whether you require chocolate, candy, or a little sweet and savory this country can take you to your sugar heavens, even organically.

Image sources: Ganong Bros. Ltd, Earth Belly Candy Co - etsy.com,

Yes, I'm talking to you! I know you're actively looking for Canadian-made products. How do I know? The trend is clear, every one agrees, and that's great! So what have you done about it? Have you asked your local retailers to stock more goods Made-in-Canada on their shelves? Do you know how much power you have as a consumer to influence what products end up in retail stores?

This is a true grassroots movement and therefore must make it's way UP the supply chain. The good news is that consumers like you and I have the most power in this game, so let's use it! Have you ever tried to request a favourite brand at your local grocer and been surprised to find it there next time you visit? Don't be surprised: that's how it works!

So let's all get out there and take the time to ask store managers for the kind of products we want to see on their shelves. And if they tell you they don't know where to find those products, feel free to direct them to BuyCanadianFirst.ca: we've got some great manufacturers and artisans to introduce them to!

As the economy slows down and we get more discerning about what we spend our hard-earned money on, let's make sure we support our own economy so we can keep our jobs and keep buying those Canadian products. It's up to all of us to make our voices heard. Make sure you come back and let us know how your own personal campaign is going!

Image source: Creative Commons, Flickr

 Blog post written by: Joseph Wilburn

I probably didn't have to tell you that, you already knew Canadians are a petty intelligent bunch. Now that I've paid you a compliment, I'm not actually talking about individual Canadians today, rather I'm talking about SMART Technologies located here in Calgary.

They've got some pretty cool high tech devices that some really "smart" people had to have spent long nights thinking about. Taking the office from low tech to high tech isn't easy especially when you're staff is busy and don't have time to train on new things.

What does SMART Technologies do?

They build unique visual tools for the education, business and government sectors.

 What does that mean?

It means they have taken your run-of-the mill visual devices and turned them into something really cool and useful.

One example of the revolutionary tools they have created is the SMART Board, an interactive whiteboard. This isn't your old whiteboard. Instead, the touch sensitive display allows you to control computer applications directly from the whiteboard, draw digital notes on it in "digital ink" and you can even save your work for later. No more having to erase your entire notes for the next group.

SMART Technologies has taken your old audio/visual tools and turned them on their heads. Many of their products are innovative and creative. You may not have thought about changing some of the old classroom and office standbys like the overhead projector, but they did.

Check out what I think must be the coolest solution they've designed, the SMART Table. They've created this video showing a prototype in action (you can watch it on YouTube here). The SMART table is an interactive table where students can actually solve problems in 3D action. It's way cool! I almost want to go back to school, so I can use this. It definitely beats the old pen, paper and workbooks.

SMART Technologies is definitely a Canadian leader in changing how the people see, hear and collaborate with one another.  Take a look at their full suite of products. They're sure to amaze you!

Photo by: Growl Roar, Flickr (Creative Commons)

 Blog post writen by: Joseph Wilburn

I'm talking seafood here folks! In all seriousness, I grew up on the west coast and now that I'm living in Ontario, I have to say my consumption of seafood has drastically dwindled. I need to change that.

Fortunately, Buy Canadian First does has some seafood retailer leads for you, on both coasts that can send you the best of what they have to offer if you're like me and not living on a coast.

First up, on the east coast, H&H Seafood located in Eastern Passage, Nova Scotia. H&H Seafood has a wide variety of seafood both fresh and frozen available. From fish, crab and clams to (what argubly the East Coast is known for) -- lobster, all shippable from their door to yours.

Seafood, unlike me on a sunny day, should not lay around too long. H&H Seafood has you covered because it's literally hours from the time the fresh fish is caught to time it gets to you.

Should you be local to H&H Seafood in Nova Scotia, they are able to assist you with your special events and catering needs, too. If buying from a Canadian isn't enough, you can also breathe easier and eat with a healthy conscience because H&H Seafood is a supporter of sustainable fishing.

Up next, also on the east coast, is Clearwater Seafoods, one of our largest seafood vendors. On their site, you can see complete price lists and pictures of the yummy seafood they have on offer. Clearwater even has entire dinner packs available for shipment to your door. How cool is that?! A complete dinner at your door. I love it when good things are made simple.

Clearwater is also a sustainable seafood provider. If you're interested take a look at their online brochure for their plan on providing good, sustainable food for Canadian tables.

Take a look at both of these great Canadian seafood vendors!

Have you ever had any of these products before? What's your favourite seafood (mine's salmon)? Be sure to tell me about it in the comments section. I'd love to hear from you!

 Photo credit: ojbyrne, Flickr-Creative Commons