Buy Canadian First - Your destination for good shopping

Skin in general is always more vulnerable as the seasons change. Knowing how to care for your particular skin type is key. Acne or Acne vulgaris, as it is sometimes referred to, is a common skin condition affecting nearly everyone year-round.  Teens are particularly affected though and can have a tough time dealing with it. Acne can appear at any time, on any part of the body but are mostly visible on the face, neck, chest and back.

What causes acne?

The skin is our body's largest organ. Our skin is constantly renewing itself. As it does this, dead skin cells are shed. Sometimes these cells mix with the sebum or oil produced by our sebaceous glands. This forms a plug in the pore and subsequently bacteria and excess sebum collect here. They eventually form a blemish, pimple or in extreme cases a cyst. Puberty causes teens to produce excess sebum which can put them at risk for acne.

 

Although genetics does have influence on your likelihood of developing acne there are other causes as well. Hormonal changes can increase the production of oils which can trigger acne. Stress is also a cause. Diet influences acne as well. Certain foods can trigger an increase in acne as well. Hygiene is very important to help control acne and improper hygiene can cause it to flare up.

There are some excellent Canadian-made products available today. Some that are even award-winning and critically aclaimed, to help those suffering with acne. If your teen has acne, it would be a good idea to talk about proper hygiene and how to care for their skin and why it's important, so that they have the tools and knowledge to combat acne and keep flare ups under control. Canadian Living has a wonderful article on this very subject here.   

Acne care, made in Canada
Natural daily facial cleanser by The Green Beaver Company is made with grapefruit enzymes and chamomile to dissolve impurities and calm irritated skin.  Natural daily facial cleanser is paraben-free, biodegradable, vegan and gluten-free.  The Green Beaver Company recommends following up this skin care regimen with their Natural daily facial moisturizer containing aloe and green tea. 

Lush Cosmetics also has some great products for acne.  One in particular is Grease Lightning Cleanser.  Grease Lightning Cleanser is made of tea-tree, rosemary and witch hazel and is an excellent spot cleanser for acne-prone skin.

 

Award winning Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser is great for daily makeup removal.  It is also very gentle on the skin and is also fragrance-free and is excellent for daily use.  It is available in most pharmacies and at BuyCanadianfirst.ca member Well.ca.

 

DermaMed has a great acne fighting kit that includes vitamin supplements (that favour healthy skin), a cleansing gel and spot treatment gel. All 100% natural, no chemicals.

 

B. Kamins also has a wonderful line of products to fight acne. B. Kamins products are a bit on the pricey side, but for good reason. Their products are of high quality and they work. B. Kamins products regularly receive "Best Of" accolades and awards from magazines such as Self, Allure, Elle, Shape, to name a few.   

 

Blemishes and overall redness can be minimized using foundation, concealers and bronzers. Moms be sure to show your teen daughters how to apply these correctly, to not get that caked-on look that occurs when poorly applied. Suncoat has a natural liquid foundation that can be used as a concealer too. The foundation is free of chemicals that could actually make acne worst. The key is: Less is more ;) 

 

Acne can be an embarrassing problem for some teens and even adults. The good news about teen acne is that it usually only lasts through teen years and subsides as kids get older. Good hygiene helps to relieve symptoms and helps to manage acne. And with these great made-in-Canada products you can keep acne breakouts under control, if not, cleverly concealed.

Image sources: Wikipedia.org, The Green Beaver Company, Lush, BuyCanadianfirst.ca, DermaMed, B. Kamins, Suncoat

Blog post written by: Kirsten Bartel

 

As skies begin to darken and the lights are low, you stand outside in the approaching darkness and look around... the silence broken only by the rustling of dead leaves on gnarly tree branches...

 

Dark clouds, like long bony fingers, reach across the nearly full moon shining overhead, and your senses become heightened by eerie spirits and a touch of magic in the air... Hallowe'en is upon us once again.

The term Hallowe'en, now often spelled Halloween, is shortened from All Hallows' Eve (eve being an abbreviation of even, an older word for evening.) The "e'en" in Hallowe'en comes from "even" shortened to e'en, from the Old English term meaning "All Hallows' Evening".

 

The history of the celebrations are long and times have changed from when we would put an old bed sheet over our heads, grab a pillowcase or strong plastic bag and rush out to try to get as many candies as possible. Nowadays it has become a big celebration, filled with parties and theme events for children, adults and dogs alike. Hallowe'en activities include trick-or-treating, wearing costumes and attending costume parties, ghost tours, bonfires, visiting haunted attractions, reading scary stories, cornfield mazes, carving pumpkins, watching horror films — just to name a few.

A few tips on how to have a ghoulish good time for Hallowe'en:
Kids of all ages will still want to dress up so take a gander at the selection of costumes from Creative Education Canada. Since it may be chilly in some parts of the country, you  may want to pick up some of these adorable Winter Kitty Hats, add a tail and... Voilà ! your children have been transformed into one of the best known animals of the holiday.

 

Should you decide to dress up your dog, take care to ensure that the costumes do not have any small parts on which they can choke. Oh, and try to remember your dog's dignity, as they do have sensitive egos.

Treats will be a must for any get together. Check out the variety of goodies from Original Foods or, for a nice Canadian twist to the regular lollipops, try this sweet Maple Flavoured Sucker from Jakeman's. For Potato Chips, I suggest these 100% Canadian Hardbite Chips by Naturally Homegrown Foods, from British Columbia.

 

 They come in a variety of flavours, such as

• All Natural
• Smokin BBQ
• Chedder & Onion
• Salt & Vinegar
• Jalapeno
• Wild Onion & Yoghurt
• Creamy Coconut and Curry Oriental
• Honey Dijon

and even as sticks instead of chips, in Smokin and Jalapeno flavours. Not only are they 100% Canadian, but they are healthy as well. They can be found at many Health Food Stores across the country.

Another great Canadian company who manufactures tasty products such as Nougat Bars, Jelly Beans, Pal O Mine Bars, Bagged Candy and much much more is the Ganong Company, from Saint Stephen, New Brunswick.

 

What is even better is that Ganong contributes a portion of the proceeds of all their products marked with a pink ribbon to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. Something which makes every bite just so much sweeter.

 

I have seen many reusable eco-bags at local grocery stores with Hallowe'en themes, which can be used instead of the usual plastic bags should you go trick-or-treating. 

How about some homemade delights? Chef Michael Smith, a well known Canadian chef who encourages the use of local produce in his recipes, has some wonderful Hallowe'en treats:

• Devil’s Food Cupcake Ice Cream Cones
• Ghoulish Hallowe'en Punch
• Roast Eight Winged Bat

More fun recipes:

 

Witches Brooms
Ingredients
String cheese
Licorice strips
Pretzel sticks

Directions
Shred apart pieces of string cheese in long strips. Take a pretzel stick, and pressing the cheese strips around the end of the stick, tie a piece of string licorice around it, creating a sweep for the broom. Press the licorice and cheese firmly to the pretzel to secure. Continue with remaining pretzels. 

 

Hallowe'en Magic Wands
Ingredients
Pretzel Sticks
Chocolate (melted)
Granular Sugar

Directions
Take the pretzel sticks and dip them into the melted chocolate. Roll the chocolate end in the sugar sprinkles to make the glitter. Continue with remaining pretzels.

Be creative, have fun!

 

Tim Horton's  has Pumpkin Spiced Donuts as well. You can pick up a dozen for the party, or have one with your Pumpkin Spice Muffin and specialty Pumpkin Spice Tea each day until the weekend.  Either way, a great way to get your taste buds started toward all the other goodies.

Note: If you would like your dog to share in any Hallowe'en treats, please only give them small pieces of fresh apples and some mashed pumpkin. Sugar and chocolate is toxic for pooches. If you feel like baking special treats, Dogs in Canada magazine has a delicious looking Pumpkin Brownie recipe (without chocolate, of course). 

Tarot is another interesting activity to have at your party, either to perform readings or for meditation. The Spiritual Light Tarot by Canadian Marcia Masino is worth exploring. The artwork is inspiring and has the essence of the Aurora Borealis. Marcia Masino is the author of two best selling Tarot books: Easy Tarot Guide and Best Tarot Practices, available through Chapters Indigo and has designed two Tarot Decks.

No Hallowe'en would be complete without mentioning one of the many Haunted Tours across the country.  Here are some tours you can check out in Ontario and Quebec:

• Haunted Walk Tours
• Muddy York Tours
• Ghost Tours of Quebec
  

Find one in your local area or make a trip out of it. Hallowe'en tours are on now until October 31.

Now gather around the bonfire and look out for the Ghosts and Spirits all around us — can you sense them? Happy Hallowe'en! 

Image Sources: Flickr Creative Commons, John Morgan, Andy Hay, Allen Dale Thompson, BuyCanadianFirst.ca, Homegrown Foods, Ganong, Flicker Creative Commons, Tara Alton, Tim Horton's

Each year, thousands of Canadians are touched by breast cancer. It not only impacts the individuals living with the disease, but their families, friends and loved ones as well.  

These words are quoted from the member profile of Buy Canadian First member Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. It is hard not to be affected by breast cancer in one way or another and even men are not immune to this.

What is Breast Cancer?
If cancer is first found in the breast it is called breast cancer. There are various types of breast cancer and the region runs from the breast to the collarbone and from the armpit to the breast bone.

Cancer is a disease that strikes at a cellular level. Our bodies are made of up of cells that each contain our DNA which stores genetic information and the function of the cell. The DNA usually controls the function, growth and reproduction of a cell unless it is changed. Then the cells begin to grow in an uncontrolled manner. This cell growth becomes a lump and has two outcomes: They are benign (non-cancerous) and not life threatening,  or they begin to invade neighboring healthy cells and are thus called malignant. This condition is cancer. The process known as metastasis is when cancerous cells break free and spread to other parts of the body creating new malignant cell growths.

 

Be Breast Aware
The breasts change through life and being breast aware means that you are aware of how your breasts normally look and feel. This way if something does seem different you will (hopefully) notice them early.  Keep in mind that a change to the breast does not mean breast cancer, it could be a benign condition the key is to know what to look for and to discover malignant growth early. All women  of any age need to be aware. Become Breast Aware with these 5 simple steps.

 

All the Ways to Help.
Donating to the Canadian Breast Cancer foundation can be done as a single, monthly or tribute donation online, by email,  over the phone, fax or post.You could give through a personal giving or get your company involved. You could also donate to one of the many run participants of the CIBC run for the cure.

Blog post written by: Kirsten Bartel

 

Your dog was skunked? No problem! Read our recent post entitled Tackling Aromatic Encounters - Preparation for information on how to make a home remedy to combat this problem, roll up your sleeves and get ready for the fun part! Oh and don’t forget those all important items of lavender, hops and herbs.

The bath and beyond
After mixing up the ingredients previously recommended (recap: Hydrogen Peroxide 3% solution, sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and dishwashing liquid)

 

pour the solution over your dog, often using sponges will help in the process, and massage well into the fur. Make sure none of the bath water gets into your dog's eyes or face as it is a very strong irritant. Gently wash the face by using a paper towel and soft strokes, ensuring to keep it out of the eyes and mouth. Also Hydrogen Peroxide should not be digested internally, so no drinking out of the tub! Leave the solution on the dog's fur for about five minutes and then rinse well. Pour the water out and make a new solution and repeat the entire process.

 

Optional: Many people use vinegar for the first rinse, then clear water, then do the second washing and then they repeat again. If you are using white vinegar, it is best to dilute it with water to minimize skin irritation. Apple cider vinegar is a good alternate solution as it has some medicinal properties and helps the fur.

If your dog was sprayed directly in the face, make a thorough inspection of the eyes, call your veterinarian if at all possible, and rinse her eyes with a natural saline eye drops or artificial tears. You may want to use some drops for yourself to ease the effect on your eyes from the strong skunk vapours. The spray from the skunk is extremely irritating and can also cause some nausea.

Dry the dog off with some eco-friendly paper towels and old towels (it is best to not to use your best bath towels for this). Dispose of any items which are unsalvageable in bio-degradable bags.

After you get the smell out, it is a good idea to use natural Oatmeal and Aloe shampoo to revitalize the skin and fur. Your dog's fur may bleach from the solution and may shed more for about a month until it recovers, however, the wonderful aroma should be eliminated. Any lingering scent may come from the dog’s face but it will dissipate.

Lavender, Hops and Herbs

 

Now you are probably wondering where the lavender, hops and herbs come in? After such a wonderful ordeal, you will no doubt need to calm your nerves. Lavender oil is a great essential oil which calms the skin and nerves, for men, women and dogs. You can mix some up in water or try member's Tuscan Farm Gardens product Lavender Body Spray and spray it on the dog's bed and on yourself. Even better, use the spray for the dog and take a bath using their  Lavender Milk Bath, so you can relax and regain a sense of well-being while allowing the sodium bicarbonate to soothe your skin.

 

The solution is strong and although you should be wearing gloves, some solution may make it's way into your gloves and could roughen up your hands. If so, don't worry. You can get the care you need, all the while also supporting made-in-Canada brands: Buy Canadian First has members who manufacture and sell some pretty great hand and body lotions: Upper Canada Soap has an amazing hand care collection called All About Hands. Through our retailer Well.ca, try Ella's Botanicals Yummy Almond Hand and Body Lotion. You can also check out Canus Goat's Milk product Canus Goat's Milk Moisturizing Lotion with Shea Butter or Mont-Echo Naturels, Inc. product purSea Hand Lotion.

 

Afterwards, have a fine relaxing herbal tea, such as member Nature Bella's product Algonquin peace tea by Mother Earth herbal teas.

If you feel you need something stronger, hops is also a great herb for relaxation (seriously). You can buy some in bulk at your local health food store. Or perhaps a nice bottle of beer from one of our local microbreweries may fair you well. A Boréale perhaps? The Quebec-owned microbrewery, Les Brasseurs du Nord, have six ale-type beers with a lot of character to help you chill. Or maybe a choice selection from la microbrasserie Unibroue, such as a Maudite or Fin du Monde, since no doubt you thought it was the end of the world until you were completely free of that smell!

Source: Flickr Creative Commons, Oakley Originals, Flickr Creative Commons, Selma Broeder, BuyCanadianFirst.ca, Nature-Bella.com

Blog post written by: Kirsten Bartel

 

Even with the best intentions of preventing such an encounter, unexpected things can unfortunately happen — especially when you own a curious pooch — and your greatest fears may be realized:

You or your dog, or worse, both of you met a skunk!

Don’t panic. Just remember to be prepared and to know of a simple home remedy for that lovely aroma these creatures leave behind on our dogs and ourselves.

To recover, you will need the following:

• One skunked dog
• Hydrogen Peroxide 3% solution: You may want to  have two bottles of Canadian-made Résérvé Hydrogen peroxide 10 Volume 450ml, manufactured by Groupe Pharmessor in Boucherville, Quebec, in the house as a topical antiseptic for minor wounds and skunk emergencies
• Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda): Try Canadian made Eco-Pioneer Pure Baking Soda by Verve Naturals

• Dishwashing Liquid: Buy Canadian First member Attitude has amazing environmentally-friendly, biodegradable and non toxic dishwashing liquids, available in Grapefruit & Bergamot or Ylang Ylang & Lime. Any citric dishwashing will do, just make sure there is no tea tree oil in the product you choose as tea tree oil can be toxic to pets.

 

Other useful items:

• Rubber gloves & rubber boots: Try these Waterproof Rainboots available from Buy Canadian First member Rallye Footwear Inc.
• Vinegar: President's Choice The Natural Vinegar (white vinegar) can be used if diluted with water, or Apple Cider Vinegar. You can learn more about the Vinegar Market in Canada by reading articles on the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada web site.
• Bio-degradable Plastic bags
• Paper towels: Buy Canadian First member, Cascades Inc. makes some wonderful products. Check out their Cascades Enviro 100% Recycled Paper Towels, which are made without new tree pulp
• Old Towels
• Toothpaste: Any brand will do, but you may want to check out Buy Canadian First member Green Beaver's natural toothpastes, such as the Green Beaver Green Apple Toothpaste

• Sponges: Try Buy Canadian First member Polyad Industries Ltd. various collections of sponges, such as the The O’Maré® Seahorse™ Sponge Collection - sponges which will pamper the skin and foam up with minimal soap, Equest® Sponge Collection - great for bathing horses or skunked dogs, or the SOAKER® Sponge Collection, all by SOAKER® Seahorse™
• Dog Shampoo: an oatmeal and aloe shampoo would be good to soothe the skin and help the coat
• Lavender, hops and herbs

 

The procedure
Step one - Preparation

First do not let the dog, or anyone who was sprayed, in the house or car. Then mix the following concoction together:

1 litre Hydrogen Peroxide 3% solution
50 ml (1/4 cup) sodium bicarbonate (baking soda)
5 ml (1 tsp) dishwashing liquid

But wait! What about the tomato juice, you ask? The best thing to do with tomato juice when it comes to skunks, is to pour it in a glass and drink it, or even better, get some Canadian invented Clamato Juice and Canadian vodka, like Polar Ice and mix yourself a Bloody Caesar, and take a sip. It may help in bracing yourself for the next step ;)

 

It is best to wear old clothes, rubber boots and especially rubber gloves so that you do not get the smell on your hands. If you should already have some from catching your dog, you can either put some toothpaste on your hands and rinse or wash them in the solution you just mixed together, then dry them with some eco-friendly paper towels, roll up your sleeves and put on your gloves.

Ready? Okay, now remember this important concoction and stay tuned, as in the next segment I will give tips on how to survive the actual bath!

Image sources: Flickr Creative Commons, Oakley Originals, Attitude, labonneattitude.com, BuyCanadianFirst.ca, Flickr Creative Commons, Kristen Taylor

Blog post written by: Kirsten Bartel

 

A taste of Bavaria in Canada! This year marks the 41st anniversary of the German-Canadian Bavarian Oktoberfest in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario, an annual nine-day festival based on the original southern German Oktoberfest tradition and is the largest Oktoberfest celebration outside Munich, Germany. Be sure to take your jacket as it will be cool — and it is cool! so if you can make it down to southern Ontario, check out Oktoberfest 2009 which is still taking place until Saturday October 17, 2009.

Besides the usual beer-based celebrations and traditional festival attractions, there are some truly interesting cultural and entertaining events you should make a point to attend. No matter what kind of experience you are looking for, with over 40 events taking place across Kitchener-Waterloo through the week, there is something for everyone! You can find music, crafts, sports, traditional German culture in Canada or other family oriented festivities to make your Oktoberfest experience personal and filled with Gemütlichkeit!

 

Today, October 13, 2009, you can participate in the German Pioneers Day, a free event which explores the contributions of the local German immigrants to Ontario and Canada. Or perhaps you would like to take a Ride to Die For (Murder Mystery Train) which embarks the Waterloo Railway Station on October 15, 2009. You can take a sun set trip into North Waterloo County, where something terrible will happen just after dinner — a mystery which you will have to figure out. This trip includes a Bavarian style dinner, special prizes and much more. Adults only.

 

You can also experience Ernte (Harvest Festival) at the Joseph Schneider Haus, Kitchener's oldest Mennonite homestead, from October 10, 2009 to October 18, 2009. For nine days, you can see how the farming family prepared for winter in the 1850s. The house will be a flurry of activities as you observe them perform such duties as air drying meat, preserving, pickling, baking and so much more.

My favourite, of course, is the DOGtoberfest. Yes, that is right, you can enjoy the Oktoberfest festivities with your dog in the Kitchener-Waterloo Humane Society's (KWHS) Leash Free park. It is the 5th annual DOGtoberfest, and you are invited to visit the Hounds House Café on Saturday October 17, 2009, and see how to celebrate this Bavarian Festival canine style! Enjoy a pet friendly event with your favourite pup and help the animals at the same time, as all proceeds go toward the Kitchener-Waterloo Humane Society.

Here are some tips on how to have you own Oktoberfest at home:

Set up your Barbecue ... you don't have one? Check out these cool stainless steel outdoor grills by Napoleon® Grills (they are most likely on special at your local home improvement store) and be the envy of your street!

Grilling sausages are a must. I suggest you pick up some European style sausages from Pillars, makers of award winning European style sausages and delicatessen meats since 1957. Piller’s Sausages and Delicatessens Limited started in Waterloo as a small, humble butcher shop and has grown to one of North America’s largest producers of such award-winning products as Black Forest ham and air-dried salamis. And don't forget the barbecue sauce! Try these savoury barbecue sauces from Everything Maple and start your own unique Oktoberfest traditions — Canadian Style.

Both the Maple Barbecue Sauce and, for those wanting that extra punch, the Yikes! Maple Barbecue Sauce with a Kick! are medium heat barbecue sauces made from 40% pure maple syrup to give you that tangy sweet taste everyone loves.

Now what is Oktoberfest without beer? It is the festival of beer after all! You will need your own Steinkrug or more a Glaskrug such as these Crystal Beer Tankards (set of 6) from NovaScotian Crystal

 

these carefully crafted glasses will make your favourite Pilsner taste even better! Want to try a new beer for the festivities, why not check out one of the many micro breweries in your area. In Ontario, you can try the ever popular Creemore Springs Premium Lager, or better yet, try their new Creemore Springs Kellerbier, a limited edition beer available at select LCBO stores in Ontario. 

Creemore Springs is one of the beers available at the Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest, and their Kellerbier (Cellar Beer), is brewed in the same tradition as the fresh locally brewed German beers enjoyed by rural Germans, since the middle ages, straight from the Brewer's cellar. An aromatic beer said to have a wonderful hint of citrus.

We also wrote about local beers last August. You can read the post here: Bière!? Beer!? 

Now you have your grill, sausage, beer ... of course, you need sauerkraut.

Some tips:

• Rinse off the excess vinegar
• Add a good amount of white wine, such as the 2007 Noble Blanc, by Rancourt Winery, until covered
• Add some spices, herbs, fried onions, apples
• Mix it all in a clay Schlemmertopf, heat it up for at least an hour
• Serve with Sausage and Beer

Guten Appetit! & ein Prosit der Gemütlichkeit! (To All Good Cheer)

 

Source: Flickr Creative Commons Mango Escobar,  Joe Stump, Erich Ferdinand, BuyCanadianFirst

Blog post written by: Kirsten Bartel

 

One of the marvels of living in Canada, and occasionally its challenge, is how we live side by side with our wild neighbours. Our vast land from coast-to-coast-to-coast is the habitat for a wide diversity of flora and fauna. Summertime to early Autumn in Canada is often filled with many joyous and memorable adventures, however, probably its least appealing attribute is that it is also a great time to encounter a skunk.

 

Striped Skunks are found across the country and are well known by all Canadians, urban and rural alike, whether we live in the Maritimes to British Columbia or even Nunavut. There may be some of us who have never actually seen a live skunk, but it is doubtful anyone does not know the distinct scent that can travel up to a kilometre in the wind from its source.

In general, skunks are not aggressive creatures and would rather avoid people than confront them, something which can be used to our advantage.

Prevention is always the best method of avoiding the skunk's wonderful perfume. Lights and sounds can temporarily discourage them from moving in, however, they are rather persistent creatures and, thus, permanent measurements are required to keep them out. Always ensure you have no skunks in the areas you are sealing before you permanently close the opening.

As with any wild animal prevention, it is always advisable to make your home and land less appealing to them:

( ) Limit "ready made" dens by blocking openings with wood and metal screens, burying the screens at least 15-20 cm into the ground to discourage digging
( ) Keep your yard uncluttered
( ) Opt for secure garbage and compost bin that have tight lids
( ) Make pet food, water dishes and food scraps unavailable at night

If an unwanted visitor has entered any part of your home or sheds, leave the doors as wide open as possible to allow them easy access to exits. Give them wide berth, and do not try to chase them out or startle them and keep your pets away as well as you may end up being sprayed.

To properly skunk-proof your living area, besides the raw materials of lumber and metal screens, you may also require the following items:

 

( ) A pair of good work gloves (Try these Canadian Deer Grain Work Gloves from Buy Canadian First member Sterling Gloves Company Ltd.)
( ) A measuring tape and metal cutters
( ) A saw (also available from Buy Canadian First member Trail Blazer Products)
( ) Nails or Screws
( ) Hammer or Screwdriver (perhaps a Canadian invented Robertson screwdriver?)

 

( ) A shovel or gardening tools (try Trail Blazer Garden Tools)
( ) A new garbage can with lid & bags
( ) A compost with secure lid (you can check out the Envirocycle Composter by Envirolet compost bin which is manufactured and assembled in Canada and has a latching lid)

Now you should be equipped to properly deter and prevent skunks from becoming tenants — Happy skunk proofing!

Source: Flickr Creative Commons Kevin Collins, BuyCanadianFirst.ca, Envirolet

Blog post written by: Kirsten Bartel

 

Are you a student? Have you ever thought of taking a volunteer vacation? This may be just what you are searching for!

Me to We is an organization which works with youth to help promote change by action. Schools can register their students, thus giving them the opportunity to help such organizations as Free the Children and travelling abroad to places like Kenya, Africa, to build schools, dig wells for fresh water, plant trees and more.

 

We Day was recently hosted in Vancouver on September 29, 2009, and now We Day Toronto has moved to the Air Canada Centre for Monday, October 5, 2009. Registration for tickets is closed, however, you can still catch a LIVE webcast on Monday, from 09:00 to 14:30 EST at ctv.ca/weday. We Day Hamilton will return to Hamilton Place, for the second year in a row, on November 5, 2009. This unique event is a celebration of the power to change the world, and is always attended by inspirational speakers and performers. At We Day Vancouver, His Holiness the Dalai Lama spoke to the 16,000 students who filled GM Place. Every one of the attendees at a We Day event is committed to help make the world better.

If you are attending university and wondering what you should do during the next summer break, wonder no more. Me to We Trips will offer you something unique, something that will impact your life. You will be able to apply knowledge you have learned during your school year to real life applications.

 

 Embark on a trip to a place like Kenya, Africa, and:

• help build a school so children can have a place to learn
• work at providing clean, safe drinking water for the communities
• learn about the traditional culture of another land
• participate in hands-on workshops to learn about issues in Africa

That is only the beginning. While there, you also get to experience and be awed by the natural environment around you. Spend evenings under starry skies and days taking a safari to see the wildlife — lions, zebra, wildebeest — living on the vast savannah. This will definitely be a trip filled with memories which will last a lifetime.

 

If you plan to embark on such a volunteer vacation, you will need to bring quite a few items. You can purchase great and meaningful apparel directly from the Me to We Style online store where fifty percent of all the proceeds will go to the Free the Children organization (and you'll be happy to know that everything is made-in-Canada too).

 

And be sure to check out some of the items we have here through Buy Canadian First members.

• First of all, a strong backpack will come in handy to carry your personal items. Check out the medium backpack from Fort McPherson Tent & Canvas.
• You then have to consider that you will be working and walking a lot, thus a good pair of work gloves and well-fitting hiking boots are also a must.
• The sun is stronger in Africa, and many of the places to which you would travel, than it is here, so a supply of good Lip Balm will also be important. Try the Honey Trap Lip Balms by Lush. We also really like the idea behind their Charity Pot Body Lotion. Lush selects different non-profit organization and to which they donate all the proceeds of their sales to. Lush hand-makes their products in Ontario and British-Columbia to ensure quality, they source their ingredients ethically from around the world and they generously give proceeds to charities, so you can help a cause each time you buy their products.

• Since the work you will be doing will require that you can move freely and efficiently, you will need to have a good pair of pants, such as the Sport Fit Pant by Respecterre, which will allow you the flexibility you need.

• Lastly, organic cotton clothing, such as those made by Attraction in their facilities at Lac Drolet, Quebec, will help show your commitment to the environment and the betterment of the world, as well as, wearing something which will breathe while you work.

Go out and try something new, join the cause, learn while helping others and exploring the world and realize what impact you can have on those around you.

Image sources: Flickr Creative Commons Stevie Withers, Flickr Creative Commons Greg Westfall, BuyCanadianFirst.ca