Buy Canadian First - Your destination for good shopping

I love Christmas stockings! For adults or kids, they're so much fun! And I love finding great inexpensize items made in Canada to fill them! Here's a few suggestions:

1) For the meat lover, a selection of high-quality meats snacks made in Alberta (show here $ 1.99):

2) For the proud Canadian, a Strong & Free pewter keychain  made in New Brunswick ($ 9.99):

3) For the handy-dandy, a super resistant mini multi-bit screwdriver  made in B.C. ($ 4.99):

 

4) Perfect for Christmas morning: the dairy-free and egg-free way to celebrate the holidays! Healthy replacement  for eggnog, made in B.C.: ($ 2.99)

5) Natural beeswax candles made in B.C. A warm and luxurious addition to any table ($ 11.99):

 

6) To keep those lips nice and kissable with this all natural apres-ski lip balm  made in Ontario ($ 4.69):

7)  For a sweet smelling bath and super smooth skin, nothing beats these orange vanilla cream scented handmade soaps  from Alberta ($ 5.25):

8) Make bath-time fun-time with this all-natural bubble bath made in Ontario ($ 8.99):

 

9) Professor Noggin's fun and educational card games made in B.C. Choose from a variety of subjects, including Outer Space  ($ 12.99):

10) A beautiful alphabet book  from the Maritimes, It will become a classic in your family! ($ 7.95):

So here you go! Lots of great ideas that are sure to put a smile on that special someone's face on Christmas morning!

Animals are great companions, guardians and friends. We want the best for them, and we want to spoil them a little over the Holidays. Here's a few gift ideas made in Canada for the furry friends in your life!

1) Holistic dog biscuits slow baked in Ontario with fresh, food-grade meats and vegetables sourced from Canadian growers. Comes in a variety of great flavours including Turkey-Cranberry! ($ 7.99):

 

2) Essentia Natural Memory Foam Luxury Dog Bed made in Quebec ($ 189.00):

3) How about some bling for that sophisticated feline in your life? Mouse and cheese sterling silver charm made in B.C.             ($ 99.90):

4) Most dogs LOVE water, but it's sometimes hard to keep them safe and within reach. Get peace of mind with this doggy safety vest made in Ontario ($ 79.95):

 

5) Making natural eco-friendly pet products has never been this easy! A great DIY project to do with the kids, made in Quebec    ($ 12.95):

So go ahead and spoil your pets this Christmas. After all, they're family!

Who says guys are hard to buy for? Nowadays, there are so many choices to spoil that special man in your life. And many of these items are made in Canada!

Here are just a few:

1) Keep his skin soft and kissable with this great shaving set made in Ontario ($ 35.00):

2) He will surely appreciate the workmanship that went into making this wine rack. Will last a lifetime. Made in B.C. ($ 145.00):

3) And since he enjoys wine, surprise him with this awesome wine refresher made in Quebec. Instantly cools your wine to the ideal temperature ($ 39.95):

4)  For the handy guy that likes to spend time in the workshop. This Lee Valley apron will look great on him! ($ 36.50:

 

5) Keep his footsies warm with these great soft and comfy alpaca socks made in Quebec ($ 42.00):

6) For the movie buff, nothing beats a home theatre to enjoy the magic of the cinema. Now your guy can enjoy his action flicks with these reclining theatre seats made in Manitoba:

7) Store all his CDs and DVDs in this great early-Canadian style cabinet made in Ontario:

Spoil the man in your life this Holiday Season. I'm sure he deserves it!

Whether it's for your Mom, your wife, your sister or any other special woman in your life, it's easy to pick great gifts made in Canada.

 Here's a few suggestions:

1) These designer handbags & wallets handmade in Cape Breton are so unbelievably special with their inlaid Swarovski crystal. Stunning! ($ 129.00):

 

2) This beautiful jewelry is made in Alberta and looks like a million bucks! ($ 48.98):

3) A great fragrance company working on making the world a better place. Inspirational & delightful! ($ 70.00):

 

4) This luxurious all-natural facial cream protects and promotes a youthfull complexion. Made with love in B.C. ($ 34.99):

 

 5) A stylish and eco-friendly version of the traditional briefcase. Made in Ontario from wool felt. ($ 129.00):

 6) Give the gift of a good night's sleep with these natural Kapok fiber pillows made in B.C. ($ 34.00):

 

7) For the gardener, nothing beats this flower press which allows the summer's flowers to get a second life! ($ 29.50):

8) The perfect gift for every woman who hates to scrape the ice off her car windshield: wiper covers that slip over your wiper blades to keep them from freezing to your windshield! A new product, made in Ontario. ($ 18.99):

I hope this will demonstrate the variety of great products still made in Canada today. Amazing isn't it? And they really are gifts that keep on giving...back to the local communities in which they are made!

Christmas is for kids of all ages! There's nothing quite as magical as seeing the excitement and anticipation in their eyes on Christmas morning! and you'll be even happier knowing some of the gifts under the tree are made in Canada!

If you're looking for that special something, may we suggest:

1) Give the gift of pain relief to a precious little one, with this maple wood and organic cotton teether handmade in Ontario ($ 15.99):

2) Keep their little tootsies warm on Christmas morning with these cute infant slippers made in Ontario ($ 17.99):

 

3) Hours of fun & creativity with this playhouse made in Quebec from recycled cardboard. Kids can draw or paint it inside and out!   ($ 48.00):

4) Great to develop dexterity and creativity in kids, these soft building kits come in a variety and models and are made in Quebec ($ 25.00):  

5) Board games are great for kids of all ages. This one is fun and encourages cooperation instead of competition. The Harvest Time game is made in Ontario ($ 15.99):

6) Keep your little princess safe (and looking great!) on the slopes this winter with this Princess helmet cover made in Ontario ($ 40.00):

7) This will become a family heirloom, without a doubt. Good old-fashioned Canadian wooden sleigh, made to last in Ontario. It even converts to a wheeled wagon in the summer! ($ 129.99):

8) For the teenager under your roof, what better way to keep them busy and moving than a handcrafted wooden longboard. Made in Alberta, it's a piece of art! ($ 185.00):

Quality gifts made in Canada for the kids in your life. And you can be sure they will not break before the day is over!

It's Christmas Day here in Canada and, as I look out the window, just the right amount of snow is falling.

 

We hope that you have a safe and happy Christmas and look forward to seeing you back here on Boxing Day!

On behalf of the Good Shopper team, and BuyCanadianFirst.ca, I wish all of our readers a very merry, made-in-Canada  Christmas! 

White meat or dark meat? 

It's Day 23 of our Cross Canada Countdown and we have a "head's up" for you!  Canadian-made television station CBC has a full line-up of entertainment this Christmas Eve and Day, Canada!

With the support of Tbooth, CBC will be running Christmas Specials all of Christmas day with limited commercial breaks.

CBC Television's December 25th Schedule:

• 12:00 p.m. The Queen's Christmas Message (a broadcast made by the sovereign of the Commonwealth realms to the Commonwealth Nations each Christmas)
• 12:05 p.m. Disney Parade
• 1:35 p.m. The Forgotten Toys
• 2:00 p.m. Léon in Wintertime
• 2:25 p.m. Mr. Magoo's Christmas
• 3:20 p.m. Booky & The Secret Santa
• 6:30 p.m. Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
• 8:00 p.m. The Queen's Christmas Message
• 8:05 p.m. Frosty Returns
• 8:30 p.m. A Heartland Christmas

A great day to get those PVRs going if you won't be home to watch!

You can also watch the entire Elf movie online on CBC's website! If you recall, Elf stars the hilarious Will Ferrell and Bob Newhart, and is about a man who was raised at the North Pole with elves. He is sent to the U.S. in search of his true identity. Head over there tonight to watch with the family!

The morning of the 24th, while everyone is getting ready for a big night and day, be sure to have the kids check out CBC Kids Holiday Morning. All across the country from 6 a.m. to noon (6:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. NT) see holiday episodes of some of your favourite Kids' CBC shows including Super WHY! episodes "The Nutcracker" and "'Twas the Night Before Christmas".

The night of the 24th, while you are preparing treats, presents and stocking, turn on Season of Song: Canadian Tenors & Friends. The Tenors are joined by stars like Canadian Paul Anka, David Foster and Justin Bieber.

What are some of your favourite Christmas Specials?

Welcome to Day 16 of our Cross Canada Countdown! Have you entered to win your Ganong Chicken Bones yet? Many people are looking for their Canadian-made gifts online this year. BMO reports that 43% of women are shopping for gifts online this year, up from 34% last year. VISA Canada reports that people are spending 3.9 hours online and 8.1 hours in the stores this year.

To keep shoppers in the malls retail businesses are going to greater lengths this year.

Many Canadian stores offered Black Friday deals this year in an effort to keep Canadians shopping more locally. Shops like Future Shop, Toys R Us and Walmart had folks waiting in line outside at 5am to grab the deals. Stores like Old Navy kept busy both online and in store with their Black Friday deals. I, myself, spent over an hour placing an Old Navy order as the site kep going down and timing out, but the sales prices were worth it!

The Chinook Centre in Calgary has attracted more consumers by bringing in different stores like Tiffany's and Victoria's Secret.

Some stores, like Zellers, are holding midnight madness sales to entice shoppers into the store. The Bay is keeping shoppers on their toes by holding exciting one day sales; we recently hit on one where they were selling 600 thread count sheets at an amazing price. They also had a 50% shoe sale a few weeks back. It was a mad house!!

Many retailers are hoping that the weather this year will help get everyone out of the house and off the computer. Many locations in Canada are starting to look towards a green Christmas. If you can remember, this time last year, some of Canada was struggling with "Snowmageddon" when over 140cm of snow fell in just a few days.

It's not easy to keep up with the great offers online retailers are coming up with this year. Cyber Monday was a big hit. Canadian shoppers bought 37% more items on eBay, for example, on the Monday following the U.S. Thanksgiving weekend this year compared with last year. 161 merchants participated in our first annual Free Shipping Day in Canada this year.

 Have you been spending more time shopping online or in the stores this year??

 

Images courtesy of The Bay, Future Shop and Free Shipping Day

It's Day 11 of our Cross Canada Countdown and we have some more gift suggestions for you. I am a HUGE coffee fan, and was in the market for a new pot for this Christmas. While I, of course, would like a Canadian-made one, the options just aren't there. My Mom found a Keurig for me at a great price at Sears Canada  and that is what will be wrapped up under the tree for me this year! Keurig coffee makers can also be found at local stores like Staples and Canadian Tire.

I'm excited about the single serve Keurig because I'm the biggest coffee drinker in the house and often, would love one in the morning of a busy day or at the 3 p.m. slump we all hit, but I'm not interested in making a full pot or in cleaning the whole thing after. I also love that, with the Keurig, you do not have to use the pre-filled K-Cups. You can buy a small basket called "My K-Cup", to use with your own coffee instead. While we don't have a lot of options on single serve coffee makers made in Canada, there are a few great Canadian companies offering coffee and accessories that would be perfect for a coffee lover in your life this Holiday Season.

Kicking Horse Coffee was one of the first ten companies in Canada to sign on with TransFair Canada in 1998 and in 2003 Kicking Horse Coffee went 100% organic, only purchasing and roasting 100% Certified Organic coffee beans. Then, in 2007, they became dedicated to 100% Organic Fair Trade. Kicking Horse Coffee continues to be Canada's #1 selling Organic Fair Trade. Their whole bean cans provide the best freshness in coffee, smell heavenly and come in a range of roasts, I like the Three Sisters myself.

 

Second Cup is Canada's largest Canadian-based specialty coffee retailer. Not only can you go in for a great cup of coffee or speciality drink, but they also have a wide range of products for sale. Pick up some whole beans or treat someone special to one of their Glass Mug Sets. They also have cans of a hot product this year - White Hot Chocolate, one of my personal favourites.

 

Always a favourite, Tim Hortons sells cans of their ground coffee and other hot drinks. They also have a new treat available this year, chocolate truffles! I miss the fudge they were selling the past couple of years; according to their website the fudge is only available in Quebec now, but I sure wouldn't mind a can of their famous coffee under the tree to use in my new Keurig.

 

What's all this coffee without a mug to put it in?! Browse Etsy for beautiful mugs made in Canada. I found this gorgeous canoe mug made in BC. I can't wait to be brewing in a few weeks.

What are you wrapping up for the coffee lover in your life?

 

Images courtesy of Dragon Pottery, Tim Hortons and Second Cup

It's Day 9 in our Cross Country Countdown and I found some great, made-in-Canada gifts for the men in the family. Who's done their Christmas shopping yet?  I've been scouring the web, reading reviews, lists and guides. Here are my Top 5 Canadian gift ideas for men!

A Red Canoe Ontario Tartan Scarf available from Buy Canadian First member Chapters Indigo is a thoughful, useful gift that is woven and manufactured in Canada. Keeping him warm, comfortable and looking good through the winter season.

 

A great go-to-gift is this Long Sleeved Turtleneck from Mountain Equipment Co-op. It insulates the body and is designed to quickly wick moisture out. Perfect for winter activities like skiing, skating or everyone's favourite - shovelling!

A hot item this year is Twittens! These are gloves with a hooded thumb and finger so that you can open them and still use your touch-screen electronics, such as your smart phone, iPod and tablet. Created by Lincoln McCardle, of London, Ontario just last year, they are developed by Impacto Protective Products, a Canadian manufacturer.

 

Canadian company and Dragon Den's favourite, BKH Jerky creates the best jerky you have ever had. A great gift idea, this will be unlike anything your husband, father, brother or anyone else will have had before. Nothing like the jerky you get in stores now, BKH Jerky is saucier, tastier, not chewy or tough, it is so good. This Singapore-style jerky would be a real treat this Holiday Season.

A favourite tool in my husband's tool box and something that would make a great gift or stocking stuffer, is a screw driver from Buy Canadian First member, Picquic. With their system, you're storing a bit and ejecting the newly selected bit simultaneously and with the same motion; there is no easier way and it's perfect for keeping everything together.

What do you have under the tree for the men in your life?

 

Images courtesy of BKH Jerky, Twittens, Mountain Equipment Co-op and Buy Canadian First members Chapters Indigo and Picquic.