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. 

This time last year, I was packing my bags and gearing up to leave the country on Canada Day  to visit a very special someone. This Canada Day, the reason that I left the country last year, will be sitting at my side in Southern Manitoba! It will be a brilliant day! Environment Canada  is forecasting a sunny and sultry thirty degrees for Sunday afternoon here. The problem is not the weather but what we could be doing, as there are so many Canada Day activities within thirty minutes of where we sit.

Emerson Manitoba  is having a weekend celebration starting with a pancake breakfast Saturday morning and a large firework show Sunday night. There are some great events including a belly dancing performance , a chain saw wood sculptor and pony rides!! Altona has a Sunday celebration ending in fireworks that includes free swimming at the Aquatic centre . Altona will also host a find-the-flag contest, Mennonite foods, a chalk drawing contest and cake at  five pm! In fact, many Manitoba towns have a lot to offer for Canada Day Celebrations and I am partial to the small town festivals. The crowds are tolerable and it doesn't take ages to leave once it's done.

There are some must-have, Canadian-made items that one needs for Canada Day! We need to keep snacks and beverages cool on the side of the road while enjoying the parade. Buy Canadian First member, Cascades, has their ThermaFresh^TM recycled cardboard picnic cooler . Made of seventy per cent recycled materials, it is also recyclable, unlike other temporary cooling units. Of course, Canada Day is often an outdoor event and being outside from pancake breakfast to fireworks leaves you vulnerable to the elements. Sun care is important and Buy Canadian First Member, Heiko, has a great selection of sunscreens including this SPF 40 for children. Once dusk arrives, make sure that you are wearing loose fitting clothing to help prevent mosquito bites but if you find that they are getting really nasty, Buy Canadian First member Muskol  to keep the insects away.

Whatever I may be doing on Canada Day, I will be doing it with loved ones and friends, as well as thirty million other fabulous Canadians. Cheers Canada, Happy 145th Birthday!! Don't forget to enter our fabulous Canada Day giveaway!

What are you doing this Canada Day? 

Photo credits: Buy Canadian First Members Cascades, Heiko and Muskol 

I am told that this weekend is the time to get my seeds in the ground in Southern Manitoba . So, the girls and I are heading outside and we'll officially start our garden this Mother's Day weekend! Once we get the beds ready, we will be planting them with some red onions, pumpkin, zucchini and radishes and in our container's we will be growing red and blue potatoes, carrots, beans and peas.

We are very excited as this week, I received two yards of dirt from Brunet, a local construction company. We were also given nearly a dozen, five gallon pails from the school my middle child attends, as the pails would just have been thrown away otherwise. Last night I visited Hillbilly's Garden Centre . I couldn't resist it when I saw the "shamrocks" and ivy and knew that planting them would be a great activity for us this evening.

As we move through Spring, the girls will be a great source of help in the garden and will, I hope, feel a sense of pride and accomplishment when the vegetables start coming. I would like to give them something that they can plant on their own and nurture. So, when the risk of frost has waned, the girls and I will go back to Hillbilly's Garden Centre and they will each have a chance to make their own container gardens. I saw the Tubby Containers  by Buy Canadian First member Garant in several awesome colours there and the girls will have the opportunity to choose their own plants and colours for their Tubby.

I love the idea of a child's garden and envision it as a space they can call their own, to dig in, plant and tend to plants. While space is limited, I would like to cordon off a corner of the yard and fill it with their Tubby containers and large natural elements like logs, stumps, large rocks and maybe even a pile of dirt to dig in and explore. I would adore watching them within this mini, natural playscape. One final detail I keep forgetting about is getting some catnip and cat grass seeds to plant. My handsome Mitty Kleeburger loves to play outside with us and his latest joy is to dig, burrow and play in my two yards of soil. I'm sure that cat grass would be preferable to just soil!

Are you going to plant a child's or a pet garden in your yard this Spring?

Image source: Andrea Williowcat, Melissa Lacelle and Buy Canadian First member Garant. 

I live in a small, French-Canadian town  in Southern Manitoba. I was a little apprehensive when I moved here, but six years have passed and I can't come up with enough reasons to move back to the city. Back then, as pretty as this place is, my first glimpse left me unimpressed. I was missing my coffee haunts, the zoo, the book and art supply store as well as the anonymity of city living. I now see that this small section of Manitoba has all one needs; a grocery store, hardware/liquor store with a post office, restaurant and bar, K-12 school, bank, insurance company, arena, curling rink, campground and social hall. Recently a health centre and daycare opened. Life in this friendly town is very comfortable.

When I lived in the city, I often saw the Co-op gasoline stations, but thought nothing of it until I moved to the country. In my area, there are about six Co-op locations. All are a part of a small, regional group offering petrol, food, farm supplies, hardware and more. Throughout the Western provinces, there are about two hundred and fourty retail Co-op locations , all of which form the Co-operative Retailing System. Co-ops are owned and operated by members of the community that they service. Each member has a vote to elect members, who also live and work in the community, to the board of directors . Co-ops bolster the local economy, employ locally and support community projects or charitable organisations.

I have to admit that I do shop at the Real Canadian Superstore, about every six weeks, as some things are unavailable at my Co-op food store, like cilantro and Buy Canadian First member So Good and their yummy chocolate beverage.  The best thing about my local Co-op is the Manitoba-produced products available on its shelves that include eggs, carrots, honey, cheese and pork. It doesn't stop there! My Co-op also has Canadian products that includes beef, salmon, milk, apples, tomato paste, soup, potatoes, locally baked items, prepared pizzas and fresh-made perogies. How awesome is that?  I wouldn't trade in for the world, being able to buy local Canadian-made products in rural Manitoba at a reasonable price, from people who greet me with a huge smile and by name. Now ,if only they would sell me the winning lotto 6-49 Quick Pick...

So Canada, I encourage you to support your local businesses, seek out homegrown enterprise and continue to shop for local and Canadian made product.

Do you have a favourite local business?

image credit: Andrea Willowcat and Buy Canadian First member So Good 

A plan for health and fitness that is made in Canada...how wonderful would that be? Why not take a little initiative and do it yourself! School, work, homework for both, house work, three children and managing time zones to talk to my friend, can leave a girl spent, despite how wonderful it all is. So, towards the end of 2011, I dove head first into a healthier lifestyle. My main motivation was to lose weight, manage stress and have more energy so that I wouldn’t end up a bear at the end of the day. 

My friend joined the Tyson Method Boot Camp for Moms. The program is based out of L.A. but Tami Tyson , a mom of three from Steinbach, Manitoba, brought it back home. It is taking over southern Manitoba. I didn’t join her for the program but I watched my friend shrink in some places, get a boost in others and she raved about her strength. I joined the next session with a local trainer and after six weeks I lost a total of 8 inches!

I am now doing their nutrition program and, while I falter some days, I am enjoying my new view of foods. The one food that I am missing and seem to have the worst time finding are alfalfa sprouts, I don’t know why they are so hard to find, so I decided to grow my own.  So, I took a quick walk over to Roy Legumex  and bought some lentils and took them home. Lentils are easy to sprout. You need to soak them over night, fill a jar 1/3 full of lentils and cover the top with cheese cloth. They need to be rinsed twice a day for two to three days and then they are ready to eat. The wonderful thing about sprouts is that they improve cardiovascular health, prevent heart disease and stroke and can improve bone density. I liked, but did not love, the lentil sprouts so I am going back to Roy’s and buying five pounds of sunflower seeds to see if I enjoy the sprouted seeds more.

I have changed other aspects of my diet as well, and have fallen in love with Greek-style yoghurt and Buy Canadian First member Almond Fresh unsweetened almond milk, which is  the perfect start to any smoothie and provides eighty per cent of your calcium needs!

The very best part of my lifestyle change, besides being fit and healthy, is modelling a healthy lifestyle for my two young girls, as well as my son. I believe this to be one of the best gifts to give them; the tools to eating well and living a healthy life. 

Have you changed your lifestyle in any way this January?

:: images courtesy of Buy Canadian First member Almond Fresh and Andrea Willowcat 

When I told my editor that this summer I was teaching a friend to make perogies for her wedding, I was a little apprehensive to be assigned a made-in-Canada wedding post. What do I focus on? Dresses, wedding favours, flowers or bridesmaids' gifts? I could feel the grim realisation that I wasn't meant to write about weddings. This prairie girl loves the simplicity of the outdoors, pretty lights, a sun dress, good friends, food and drink, family, and daisies . No seating arrangements, rehearsal dinners, or stressful snafus; just a mellow, fun and loving day. Then it dawned on me, something so fun and undoubtedly Manitoban; the wedding social!

I recall, as a child, attending several socials. When I was 9, my aunt, uncle and cousin took me to one held in a new barn. It was  huge and had fabulous lighting and a DJ, the room glowed a golden hue with the natural wood walls and floor. All of a sudden Old Time of Rock and Roll by Bob Segar (part of a long list of manditory social songs ) blared from the speakers. There was not a soul sitting as the the floor thumped and vibrated. Everyone was stomping and singing and it was magnificent and a wonder the barn didn't fall to the ground. 

It was a great surprise to me to discover that not only was the social, Manitoban, but only us Manitobans practice it! It is known by several names; the wedding social, the Winnipeg social or the Manitoba social but it's most commonly referred to as just a social. Organised by the couple's friends, the social  is the most fruitful fundraiser to help pay for the wedding ceremony. The recipe for a social  is fairly simple; one engaged couple, one rented hall, barn or community centre, a temporary liquor licence, raffle prizes, a DJ or a live cover band and a small army of people to sell tickets to anyone who wishes to come. 

The night is far from complete without some Canadian made beer such as Labatts Lite, Kokanee, or Molson Canadian and spirits like Canadian Club whiskey , vodka and dark and light rum. The night is capped by a midnight snack tray. Traditionally the fare is keilbasa, Manitoba Kub Bread, cold cuts, cheese, mustard and polish dill pickles, all of which are made in Canada, some are made right in Manitoba and I suspect that the pickles were taken from someone's grandmother's cold room. There you go, one fabulous, home grown, made in Manitoba, wedding social! 

Do you have a favourite social story? Tell us!    

:: images courtesy of Andrea Willowcat

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

Only 3 days after I boasted that Southern Manitoba had yet to get snow, the snow started to fall Thursday morning and just hasn't stopped. I peeked at the Environment Canada website and the forecast for the rest of the week consists of temperatures at least 10 degrees cooler than last week. Winter in Manitoba has arrived. Tomorrow we will have to leave early, my girls will have more to wear and it will take much more time to walk and inspect their new landscape. They will want to count the snowflakes (at most to 20), taste the snow, admire their footprints, then run around to admire more and giggle in the sheer newness of it all. Despite all my bellyaching, I do not hate winter; in fact winter is one of the best times to start a new project. Once the snow falls, my focus falls to Christmas and the planning and creation of hand-crafted Christmas gifts and winter necessities. It seems early, but when you are creating by hand, time is your best friend.

It wasn't until I moved to the country that I started receiving homemade food items as gifts; canned items like jelly, relish and salsa, a delicious selection of cookies and salty handmade treats. It was the season after my first Christmas here that I followed suit. The quest for the perfect homemade and unique food item has since haunted me. This year I am toying with barks and brittles, savoury crackers with homemade yogurt cheese spread and the relish I canned this summer or my hot chocolate mix with (something I have never tried before) homemade marshmallows . This list is not written in stone; coconut macaroons are one of my favourites, spiced nuts and biscotti are other treats I would like to try. This is why I start now, test the recipes, see what works and what flops, then mass produce the best.

Homemade Hot Chocolate (Pegg, is this your recipe?)

2.5 cups dry milk solids
3/4 -1.5 cups of icing sugar
1 to 2 cups cocoa
pinch of salt
optional (ground cloves, anise, nutmeg, black or red pepper, cinnamon, all spice, or any other spice and any combination)
Sift together. Keep in airtight container. Add mix (to your desired taste) to hot water or, for extra creamy hot chocolate, add to hot milk.

I love mittens and with two little girls (and myself) in the house, we lose a lot of mittens. So this year, the plan is to make extra mittens, so that in the morning rush of ski pants, boots, scarves, hats, screams of discontent and trying to remember lunch, we always have a pair of mittens. My materials are old fleece and old 100% wool sweaters. The fleece you can use as is, but the wool needs to be felted  so that the knit doesn't run. I intend to trace the girls' hands on to card stock and use that as a pattern to create simple, woolly mittens designed to keep our fingers warm during our walks to and from the centre. You can find patterns for fleece and felted wool mittens online for just a few dollars. With a trip to the secondhand store and a little time, we could all have a basket of mittens. Of course, these make great little stocking suffers that can be filled with little toys, goodies or....coal!

Yes I know this is a pretty short list but I have a lot on the go, school, work, kids, house, well.. you know. If I can make all the above and get some cards out before the new year, I am ahead of the game! That would be a first!

Do you make or bake gifts during the holidays? 

photo credits: willowcat, flickr becky_mckimmy and andrea_r

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.