Celebrate Canada Day With 10 of Our Favourite Canadian Brands

Canada Day is the best time to celebrate being a Canuck. Why not do that by sharing some of our favourite Canadian brands? We have a lot to celebrate as our nation turns 159 years young. Along with some of the most beautiful scenery in the world, we also have some great Canadian brands that may not be on your radar, and we are here to change that. We’ve curated 10 of our favourite Canadian brands. There are so many more, but we can’t feature them all.

To get you in the mood for Canada Day, here are some fun facts about the Great White North:

• While hockey may be our most iconic sport, lacrosse is Canada’s official national summer sport.
• According to Historica Canada, 8 out of 10 Canadians use “eh” in conversation.
• Alberta is one of the few places in the world without an established wild rat population. The province has maintained an aggressive rat control program for decades, and pet rats are also prohibited.
• More than 70% of the world’s maple syrup is produced in Quebec. Sorry, Vermont!
• Kraft Peanut Butter is made exclusively in Canada.
• Canadians eat an average of more than three boxes of Kraft Dinner (KD) per person every year. It’s also different from the American version, which is sold simply as Kraft Mac & Cheese.
• Lay’s Ketchup Chips remain one of Canada’s most iconic snack foods and are always a must-try for visitors. Ketchup chips are credited to Cambridge, Ontario’s Hostess Potato Chips, which was later acquired by Frito-Lay. Hostess also developed fruit-flavoured chips (grape, orange and cherry) but luckily, they didn’t catch on.
• Santa Claus has his own Canadian postal code: H0H 0H0. Every year, volunteers with Canada Post help ensure children who write to Santa receive a reply.

Now that you’re feeling extra patriotic, here are 10 of our favourite Canadian brands:

Beauty

Vivier Intensive Hydrating Moisturizer – $190.00 Online*

I’ve tested a number of Vivier products over the years, and for the most part, they have become favourites. The Intensive Hydrating Moisturizer contains a Ceramide-Lipid Complex, Hyaluronic Hydration Complex, Squalane, Panthenol, and a Collagen Peptide Complex. I used this all winter long as my day moisturizer and it agreed with my sensitive skin. I use Tretinoin (Retin-A), and this helps relieve the dry patches it can cause. It’s a product I feel very comfortable recommending and yes, it’s a Canadian company and this product is made in Canada.

Marcelle Multi-Defense Replenishing Cream SPF 45 – $24.29 at Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmaprix*

I’ve never tried Marcelle skin cream before (the brand is almost the same age as Canada – it’s over 150 years old), and it is quickly becoming one of my favourite Canadian brands at the drugstore. Marcelle Multi-Defense Replenishing Cream SPF 45 worked on my sensitive skin. I’ve used it for about three weeks, and it is hydrating and doesn’t leave a white cast. I haven’t had any rashes or breakouts from it and it has SPF 45. If I’m out for long periods of time, I always bring sunscreen with me (my skin burns easily, and no matter what you use, it’s important to reapply), but for an hour here or there, I’ve had no sunburns. It is affordably priced too.

Watier Coquette Cream Blush Stick – $36 at Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmaprix*

I’ve become a cream blush fan. I find that it stays on longer, is more natural looking and doesn’t show off texture or dry patches. I tested Watier’s Coquette Cream Blush Stick in Charmante. It is the perfect pink neutral. Build it up slowly with a dense synthetic brush – it’s pigmented. This stick blush is ideal for travel and the packaging is perfect for summer. Fun fact – Watier (formerly Lise Watier) was founded in Montreal in 1972 making it another classic Canadian brand.

Cake Beauty Desserted Island Smoothing Body Butter – $13.99 at Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmaprix*

Speaking of favourite Canadian brands, I recently tried the Desserted Island Body Butter and its pistachio and salted caramel scent are vaguely familiar….but the price is much nicer. I fully tested the Body Butter (and the hand cream) with Shea Butter. The products are hydrating and the scents are as dessert-y as promised. The vegan, cruelty-free brand was founded in 2003 by Heather Reier in her Toronto kitchen. Isn’t that where the best brand stories come from?

Fashion

bluboho Glowing Hearts Reversible Passport Charm (Solid Gold) – $498.00 In-Store and Online

This adorable charm is bluboho’s self-described “love letter to Canada” through its Canadiana collection. Like their entire collection, the Glowing Hearts Reversible Passport Charm is made out of recycled metal (10K recycled yellow solid gold) and is handmade in Toronto. The other side of the charm features a whimsical “eh?” and each side has its own ruby. This is the perfect birthday gift for a July birthday or for someone looking to add something unique to their wardrobe. It also comes in silver. bluboho was founded in 2010 by two women with a passion for sustainable jewelry.

Reitmans Sleeveless V-Neck Midi Dress with Soutache Embroideries – $63.92 (On Sale) In-Store and Online

I saw this sundress online and had to have it! It’s a beautiful midnight blue midi-length dress with soutache embroideries (a flat, narrow decorative braid). It is 100% cotton poplin and the quality is definitely on point. I bought it in-store and it’s on sale. It looks even better in person and Reitmans is having a huge sale right now. Oh, and Reitmans, another of our favourite Canadian brands is celebrating its 100th birthday this year and has been upping their fashion game the last few years with collabs and great staples with a twist.

Mens Roots Canada Quarter Zip – $158.00 In-Store and Online

Show your Canadian pride on chilly summer nights or maybe while supporting your favourite soccer team during FIFA with this Roots Canada sweatshirt. Roots Canada was founded in 1973 by summer camp friends Michael Budman and Don Green. The beaver is their symbol – what could be more Canadian than that? Roots has helped generations of Canadians get through university with their comfortable sweats (including me) and are also known for their high-quality leather goods.

SHAN Classic Asymmetrical One-Piece $460.00 In-Store and Online

SHAN, founded in 1985 by Chantal Levesque, is a luxury Canadian clothing line. Their swimsuits are where SHAN really shines. They’re almost too beautiful to get wet. There are dozens of different colours and designs including this classic black on-shoulder. The sophisticated swimsuit comes with a shelf bra for added support.

DIVINE Tip: the one pieces can be worn as body suits with flowing pants or shirts.

Snacks

Nestle Coffee Crisp Wafer Bars Multipack – $7.19 at Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmaprix

Coffee Crisp may be owned by Nestle, but the nice light snack is proudly Canadian. Introduced in 1938, the bar is largely unavailable outside of Canada and is produced in Toronto. It’s our exclusive little secret even though there was a petition in the USA to bring Coffee Crisp Stateside. The treat features a blend of crispy wafers, coffee-crème, and a thin, chocolatey coating that has remained a favourite for decades.

President’s Choice Loads of Nanaimo Bar Ice Cream Bars – $5.00 In-Store and Online

Speaking of favourite Canadian brands, how could we leave out President’s Choice? The brand launched in 1983 by Loblaw Companies LTD., and they have been producing high-quality products ever since. This year, they paired a classic Canadian treat – Nanaimo bars with ice cream, creating a unique, delicious bar. It’s ice cream with chocolatey ripples and graham cracker crumble, coated in a chocolatey shell with shredded, toasted coconut. I had to try them, and they do taste like Nanaimo bars! It’s a perfect finale for your Canada Day BBQ.

Happy Canada Day, and here’s to supporting some incredible homegrown brands all year long!

*Products were supplied to me for review purposes. Opinions are my own.