Buy Canadian First - Your destination for good shopping

Soaperie Main de Nature came to light when Nicole Poitras of Quebec began formulating a detergent-free soap. After four years of trial and error, with her co-workers as her testers and evaluators, Nicole came up with an all-natural formula using fresh vegetables and fruit, gentle enough for everyone to use, including her dogs and horses. Join their facebook page for updates and the activities of the Soaperie.

 

Do you buy skin care products made locally?

Image credits: Buy Canadian First members Whistler Naturals, Organically Hatched, Natural Plantation, Pure Anada, Vidoma Naturals, Soaperie Main de Nature,  The Great Canadian Soap Co. 

Results from a recent national study on consumer behaviour towards Canadian-made food products are clear: Canadians care where they food comes from and they prefer to buy Canadian.

Conducted by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the study notes that substantial sales increases were recorded for food products clearly identified as being from Canada. Canadian consumers have spoken: they want to "Eat Canadian"!

 

But the question is: "what food products are made here, and where can we find them?"

We are very pleased to announce the appointment of Karen Hope from The Marketing Edge as our new Food Marketing Specialist, in charge of developing our online Canadian Food & Drinks directory to help consumers find food products made in Canada.

                                             Karen Hope 

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Isabelle Remy, Founder & Managing Director of Buy Canadian First explains: "Karen brings years of experience in marketing, business development and brand building in the food industry. Based in Calgary, Karen will be responsible for reaching out to food processors across the country to invite them to list their products on its website to reach these highly-motivated consumers who are specifically looking for products made in Canada. She can be reached at The Marketing Edge".

 

Welcome to the family, Karen!

Images courtesy of Karen Hope & The Marketing Edge.

Hi. My name is Greta Walsh and I am part of the the Buy Canadian First behind-the-scene team. This week however, I found myself in front of the camera for a very exciting experience: presenting Made-in-Canada gift ideas for the whole family on CityTV's Breakfast Televison show in Winnipeg! 

My Air Canada flight was smooth and enjoyable. Once I landed, I was off to The Inn at the Forks for a good night’s sleep before my busy morning at CityTV studio for the BT Winnipeg show.

The Front Desk at The Inn at the Forks treated me as if I’d stayed there hundreds of times before and were well prepared for all the boxes that were shipped there before my arrival. They greeted me with smiles and made my stay very relaxing.

 

First thing in the morning I travelled to the CityTV studio for the segments which are always done live (no pressure...)!  Everyone at the studio was pleasant and welcoming. A special thanks goes out to Evan for being my rock and letting me stand on his toes in order for me not to miss a step!

The first segment was about Canadian-made Christmas gifts for your kids, stocking stuffers and the perfect gift for your pets!

 

You can watch the first segment here.

Here are the companies we featured on the 1st segment:

Bloco Toys, from Quebec

Picquic Tools, from Ontario & B.C.

Oven-Baked Tradition, from Quebec

While I was setting up the second segment, which was "Canadian-made Christmas gifts for him and her", everyone on set was in awe of the Ravi Solution, as they had never seen anything like it. An instant wine chiller: Christmas was suddenly all around us!

 

You can watch the second segment here. 

Here are the companies we featured on the second segment:

Closson Chase wines, from Ontario

Ravi Solution, From Quebec

Earth to Body, from Quebec

Opalescence Jewelry, from Alberta

I loved the experience and look forward to doing it again!

Greta

Images courtesy of Inn at The Forks and  BuyCanadianFirst.ca

From the moment I landed in Winnipeg, until I left, it snowed. And not just a light dusting. By the time I went to bed (around 11PM) and then left the hotel to make my way to the CityTV studio for the BT Winnipeg show, a block away (around 6AM), there was over a foot of snow and it was still falling. I'd left Montreal on Thursday and it was hot and sunny 6 degrees and landed to a cool -6 degrees and snowing. And to think I almost didn't bring my winter coat with me!

I was staying at my usual home-away from home - The Inn at the Forks. At the front desk, they knew me as the guest who "had all those boxes shipped to the hotel". I smiled and nodded. Indeed, that is I.

After having dinner at Current Restauramt and Lounge, the hotel's amazing restaurant, I went back to my room and assembled the products that needed assembling and rehearsed, as I always do.

I was expected at the studio at 6:15AM to be ready for 6:50AM, when the first segment would air. I have to admit, I was a little surprised at the amount of snow there was. That early, the show plows hadn't passed yet but not to worry I thought. I'll put all the products into the XC Charriot Carrier and cart it on over... I was excited at the idea that I was testing out the product, right before showcasing it on live TV. I  actually jogged, in my heels, pushing the carrier in the foot of snow all the way to the studio. I must've looked ridiculous but who cares... There was nobody around, except a cab driver who offered me a ride, which I didn't need.

The first segment was about making the best of winter - indoors. You can watch the first segment here or click on the image below.

 

Here are the companies we featured:  

• Luxurious Egyptian cotton towels by Cambridge Towel Corporation - Ontario
• Mouth blown, hand cut votive candles by NovaScotian Crystals - Nova Scotia
• Caprina Goat's Milk Skin Care Products by Canus - Quebec
  

A short while later, I was back on for the second segment. This time it was about making the best of winter - outdoors. You can watch the second segment here (or click on the image). 

• Icers, anti-slip soles by Lee Valley Tools - Ontario
• XC baby carrier, including the jogging kit and cross-country ski kit by Chariot Carriers - Alberta
• Cardio Coulou joger cover and mittens by P'tit Coulou - Quebec
  

While I was setting up the second segment, Luke Fritz, the Winnipeg Blue Bomber who was there to talk about his project for the Pepsi Refresh Challenge was eyeing the Chariot Carrier (he has a 1 year old)... To be honest, everyone was in love with it. And everyone loved the P'tit Coulou Cardio Cover and mittens. Genius and darling!

If you're note already following us on Facebook, come and join us. If you're on Twitter, find us at @buycndianfirst!

 How will you make the best on winter?

Images source: BT Winnipeg

Author: Melissa Thibodeau

I am not the only one who gripes about how many more hours are required in one day. If we really needed more we could fly to Venus for their generous 5,832 hour day, except that the air quality isn't so great. Luckily, we can save ourselves the 38 million kilometre journey and be thrilled to get an extra hour this weekend, albeit at 2 in the morning. For those at you with night lives, last call has been extended! Those of you with kids...you'll be up to see the dawn, I'll have the coffee brewing!

  

Daylight savings time was first implemented in Germany in 1915 and was soon adopted by Great Britain, Europe and Canada, though Benjamin Franklin had first suggested the idea a century earlier. Because the Sun shines while everyone is still asleep, pushing the clocks forward in the Spring causes people to wake up earlier and be able to better use the Sun's light. That is why we 'spring ahead' the second Sunday of March and "fall back' the first Sunday in November.

  

In Canada, it is up to each province to decide to use daylight time, and most follow the program. The exceptions are most of Saskatchewan, who has remained on standard time since 1966 and is joined by some border towns in Manitoba and Alberta. There are some pockets of Ontario and BC as well as Quebec, north of 63 degree west longitude, who remain on Atlantic time year round. Frankly, it's all a little confusing. I wonder if it is really worth the effort? In the winter it feels like you travel to work in the dark and you trudge home in dark, making the little sunlight you do see, bliss, as it sparkles on the snow.

In a nutshell,  daylight savings was designed to help save energy by timing our lives better to the times that the Sun is available.

Now that you have this elusive extra hour in your life there are a few things that you must accomplish. This is the time of year to think about your smoke alarms and to check their batteries. It is important to have a working smoke detector on every floor and in every room used for sleeping. For more information about smoke alarms please read this Health Canada page.  While you are carting around the ladder, why not exchange your regular bulbs with energy efficient CLFs bulbs? Each one will save you $40.00 over the course of it's lifetime!

  

So, Canada, fall back one hour this Sunday morning, check your smoke alarms and change your bulbs and when all is said and done, you'll be safer, energy efficient and without that one gained hour! Who's taken the map to Venus?

Do you have routines for when it's time to set the clocks back one hour?

::Images courtesy of Flickr.

When I am not writing for Buy Canadian First, I moonlight as an early childhood educator. I have seen all kinds of breakfasts, lunches and snacks come out of lunch boxes, and fortunately, most have been 'fantabulicious'. Don't get me wrong, we're not perfect in my house. Every now and again we nibble guiltlessly on our favourites, chocolate, ice cream, bacon, perogies and onion rings, along with our whole grains and veggies.

Proper nutrition all through the year is so critical to infants and children in all stages of development. Children who are well nourished have been shown to have improved memory, problem-solving skills and creative abilities - overall, they perform better in school. In Canada, though, 31% of our elementary kids and 65% of our high schoolers, are not eating breakfast (for more info read my last year's post on the Breakfast for Learning program). By the time lunch arrives, these children haven't eaten anything for at least 12 to 16 hours!!! As a parent of 3, I know how nutty mornings can be, but we never leave the house without breakfasts in our bellies or breakfast on the go.

Breakfast can be next to impossible with cranky, sleepy-eyed cuties causing riots and rebellion in the critical last few minutes before everyone is late. Sometimes, it's just better to take breakfast-to-go, whether to be eaten in transit or at your daycare provider's place. It eases the stress of the morning routine and may also be more agreeable to your children's natural waking rhythms. Here are some fabulous breakfast recipes you can prepare ahead of time for quick, nutritious and easy morning fare.

Breakfast pizza: Use either a homemade or bought 12 inch pizza crust (Calgarians  should check out out our member Engel's Bakeries for their fresh pizza crust  and baked goods). This bacon and egg pizza recipe looks fabulous from Canadian Living, and you can mix and match your ingredients. Like any other pizza this heats up great in the microwave to grab on the way out the door.

 

 

Oatmeal - In the winter we love eating oatmeal. I will make a crock pot full oats and divide them into single serve containers for breakfasts and snacks either at home or at the daycare. To serve four, your measurments are usually 1 cup steel cut oats to 4 1/2 cups water, a dash of salt and a dab of butter. In my house we triple the recipe. Place all your ingredients in a crock pot and let it cook over night on low for 6-8 hours. That first cold morning when you wake up to hot oats is divine! I've added dried fruit as well as fruit juice and milk along with the water during the cooking process. My next overnight crock pot adventure will be to make a multigrain hot cereal and our members New Life Organic Foods have an impressive selection of Cracked organic grain and mixed cereals to choose from.

Homemade pancakes and waffles - (No, I am not joking). Pancakes and waffles are awesome and can be prepared ahead of time, frozen and popped into the toaster for a quick breakfast. In my house, homemade toaster pancakes and waffles save us a bundle in money by not having to buy bread. I also scored my waffle iron at a rummage sale for $3.00! Once toasted, serve waffles in strips with apple sauce for dipping and a sippy cup of milk. I am all over this recipe from recipeshare.ca this weekend: Make-ahead whole-wheat blueberry pancakes. Buy Canadian First Member, Shoal Lake Wild Rice, has an awesome pancake and waffle mix made with wild rice flour in their Zizania line of products.

Breakfast can be awesome even when mornings are not. A little preparation and thought it all it takes to carry your kids through a successful morning. Watch for part 2 for some great lunch tips and ideas.

What are your favourite breakfast recipes and tricks?

I adore  burgers. In the summer our burgers need not be made indoors; they are slapped on the BBQ in our backyard and on the grill over our campfires. I am very fond of the standard, classic burger but as I was preparing to write this post it occurred to me that perhaps we could take the burger and create burgers to represent the flavours of our fabulous Canadian regions. What would the Manitoba or the Yukon burger taste like? So here it is, a walk throughout Canada, one glorious burger at a time.

The Yukon Caribou Burger - In the Yukon Dall sheep, mountain goat, caribou and even porcupine are often eaten as burgers; have you noshed a porcupine? Use the ground caribou as a beef substitute in your favourite burger recipe but for every 454g (1 lb.) of caribou add 113g (4oz) of pork; caribou meat is very lean. Serve on a sourdough bun. If you are ever cruising the streets of Dawson City and are not faint at heart, you may wish to have a glass of the infamous Sour Toe cocktail ...or perhaps not.

The British Columbia Salmon Burger - The Pacific Ocean yields a vast selection of seafood for west coast fishing industry including salmon  (coho, spring, chum, sockeye and pink). According to wikipedia, the salmon burger was invented by Peter A. Jensen of  Tsawwassen, British Columbia, but this fact is not confirmed. I found for you 2 tasty recipes; one from fresh water fishing Canada and the other from Canadian House and Home magazine from Buy Canadian First member, Magazines Canada.  Serve on a whole grain bun accompanied by a herbed fruit salad. Choose from a vast selection of fruit grown in the province that include apples, peaches, pears, plums, apricots, strawberries, blackberries, bing cherries and loganberries and add some mint, rosemary, chives and /or cilantro. 

 

The Alberta Beef Burger - Ahh, Canada's cowboy country! How can it be anything but a big fat juicy sirloin burger? The Canadian Beef web site has a wide selection of beef recipes including this tasty inside out sirloin bacon cheese burger . The cheese and bacon are hidden inside the patty and on top is a mountain of sauteed mushrooms and onions...yumm!

The Manitoba Bison Burger - The bison is Manitoba's symbol and they roamed the priairies as early as 4000 BC. Sadly, as our prairie landscape was peppered with roads and railway lines, the bison were all but hunted to extinction by the late 1800's. Today we have a herd of wild wood bison that live in our Interlake region but most of our bison are farmed livestock. Bison is a dense meat that is high in iron and protein and low in fat and calories. I dare you to resist this recipe for  Bison Burgers with Gorgonzola Cheese and Sun-Dried Tomatoes  from Best Health . You just put gorgonzola on your shopping list, didn't you?

 The Newfoundland Cod Cake Burger -Usually these little patties are served with a side of coleslaw, fiddleheads, chow chow or with spinach with hollandaise sauce and sliced hard boiled eggs. Any of these tasty sides could accompany your fish cake in the bun; imagine a cod cake burger with a scoop of creamy coleslaw on top or some fried cabbage and chow chow. The possibilities are endlessly delicious!

Cod Fish Cakes (Serves 6) from Northern Aqua Farms.com

Ingredients

1 lb. salt cod freshened, cooked and flaked;
2 tbs. margarine;
1 medium finely chopped onion,
6 raw potatoes
1 tsp. salt, 1/2 tsp. Pepper, 1 tbs. savoury.
Directions

Freshen salt cod by soaking it overnight by covering in cold water. Drain and place in a stew pot and cover with fresh water. Bring to simmer with low heat. Drain. If the fish is still too salty, add fresh cold water, and bring to simmer again, and drain.
Boil potatoes until tender and then mash.
Heat margarine in a frying pan until hot.
Add chopped onions and cook until translucent.
Blend cooked onion into mashed potatoes together with cooked flaked cod, savoury, salt, pepper.
Shape into cakes and dust lightly with flour.
Fry in a small amount of heated margarine 3 to 5 minutes until golden brown.

Serve hot, with freshly baked home made bread or rolls and butter and a garden salad.

Note: I have subsituted crab, salmon, Arctic char, tilapia and other fish in this recipe. If it isn't salted fish skip the freshen part and cook only once.

The great Canadian Veggie Burger - I could not complete this post without addressing the wonderful veggie burger, especially for Buy Canadian First's very own Melissa Thibodeau. My favourite veggie burger of all time is from the Underground Cafe, a restaurant in downtown Winnipeg's exchange district. It is called the Sunburger and, in my opinion, it is the grand pubah of the veggie burger realm. Of course we can't all live in Winnipeg so for you I will share this tasty recipe  from Food Network Canada. 

 

 

Happy Grilling and summer worshipping, Canada, and don't forget to eat your burgers!  Of course you must tell us {me} what your favourite burger is, and what sort of delectables you place upon it? Give up your treasured family burger secrets, everyone {ME} wants to know!

xo

April is Earth Month, a time for us to reflect on how we are treating our home planet and taking care of ourselves.

Water and energy conservation, recycling, reduction of toxins - there are many different ways of becoming 'green'.  Making the switch doesn't have to happen overnight, every little bit counts.

If you want to be green, reduce toxins and have a little fun while shopping, consider switching your beauty regimen.  From face cream to lipstick, read the ingredients to ensure you are truly getting an all-natural product.  Look for natural ingredients or those that have a limited number of ingredients.  Remember that even if it says 'organic' it doesn't necessarily mean there aren't harsh chemicals in it.

Manitoba-based Pure Anada has a wonderful line of foundation powder, blushes, lip colourings and eye shadows - many of which I've tried. I ordered the sample pack to start because I wasn't sure what colour of foundation would match my fair skin.  It was an easy, affordable way to try different products.

 

There is no limit on eyeshadow colours - you name it and you'll likely find it - including one of my personal favourites; purple (timely for spring!)

 

Other companies have organic or 'all natural' moisturizing lotions and lip care.  While I really love adding some colour to my lips, for everyday instant use, I prefer to carry a lip gloss like the All Things Jill brand from Alberta.  It is really velvetty and smells amazing.

 

Do something natural and healthy for your skin and reduce chemicals and toxins that enter our bodies and water ways. 

What will you do to celebrate Earth Month and beautify yourself in the process?

Image sources: Pure Anada, All Things Jill

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.