Latest news with #supportCanadian
CTV News
2 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
‘It's phenomenal:' Ottawa businesses seeing a boost from Canada Day, ‘buy Canadian' push
Gareth Davies, owner of Maker House on Wellington Street in Ottawa on July 5, 2025. (Kimberley Johnson/CTV News Ottawa) Canada Day has given customers another chance to think about buying local. Businesses in Ottawa say they are seeing more and more faces determined to keep their dollars local and buy Canadian. Darren Cassidy and his family came from Greely to spend the day taking in everything Carp has to offer. 'We like to go out to the Carp Market and then we like to come here and have a glass of wine,' he said. He says the ongoing trade war with the United States has him focusing his hard-earned dollars at home. 'We feel proud to be Canadian and so we'll do our best to support Canadian businesses.' Months on, Ottawa businesses say campaigns like 'buy local,' 'Buy Canadian' and 'Elbow's Up' have helped as they weather economic uncertainty. Liam Mastersmith is the retail sales manager at Kin Vinyards. His parents also own the winery. He says their wine sales are up and are seeing more people from across Ontario and Quebec. 'We've seen a 25 per cent increase overall. On our sales in general,' he said. He says it has also translated to more sales at the LCBO. Mastersmith says they've seen their in-store sales jump 325 per cent. They've also tripled the number of LCBO stores ordering from the vineyard and have sold bottles as far as Toronto and Mississauga. Kin Vineyards Liam Mastersmith with Kin Vineyards in Carp, Ont. on July 5, 2025. (Kimberley Johnson/CTV News Ottawa) 'We did $9,000 in sales to the LCBO and we're up to around $23,000 now. So, it's good,' he said. 'That's not huge numbers by any means but it's good. It's great to have that kind of sales channel for a small business like us. Those numbers that mean something.' He hopes it gives people a chance to consider wines from Ontario, where they may not have before. 'It's a great trend that you're seeing in the wine industry towards buying locally and buying Canadian wines,' he said. Gareth Davies, owner of Maker House on Wellington Street West in Hintonburg, says he's seen his sales skyrocket – jumping 70 to 80 per cent this year over last. 'Just phenomenal,' he said. 'Even in the last week, leading up to Canada day and the last few days, we've seen that continue, maybe even up a little higher for this period.' That is showing up both in-store and online, he explains. 'It's great to know that more people are finding us because they're looking for Canadian-made and in turn, our makers, hundreds of Canadian companies, are also getting more new customers and more attention.' The store sells only Canadian-made goods, half of which are from Ottawa artists, which is important for customers like Rebecca Seal. 'I know whenever I come here that's what I'm going to get,' she said. 'I'm really appreciative of that.'
CBC
5 days ago
- Politics
- CBC
'God bless this country.' Calgary residents reflect on how Canada Day feels different
Canada Day feels a little different this year to many Calgary residents. CBC News created a pop-up speakers' corner at the Seton library branch in south Calgary last week. When we asked library patrons how they were feeling, the most common response was one of pride. Christine Griffith said she's heading into Canada Day remembering the sense of unity that came in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs. "Just seeing everyone really come together and support Canadians, and buy Canadian, just seeing that pride. It felt really good," she said. Griffith is an artist and stay-at-home mom. For her, Canada Day has always been a time for family — BBQs and fireworks while growing up in Ontario. Now she's trying to share that with her daughter by teaching her the national anthem and continuing to be conscientious about Canadian brands as she shops. "I think it's still strong," she said. "We keep it strong in our family." CBC News spoke with dozens of people at the library, inviting them to write their thoughts for a public display and talk through what's influencing those feelings. Several people talked about the tariffs and how they are still expressing their support for Canada by buying Canadian whenever possible. For others, world events were top of mind — the tariff threats or the conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza and recently Iran. In light of these, some patrons spoke about being grateful for security and peace in Canada. Natali Maxwell is a Canadian who is originally from Peru. She said for her, the wars and also economic challenges here at home are weighing heavily and make this Canada Day feel different. "People are fighting for a piece of land.… People are fighting for a lot of things. There's no more love," she said. "But Canada is a strong country. If we stay united, everything will be good. It's just, God bless this country. I'm praying." For Madelene Bustard, provincial politics were top of mind and are making this Canada Day emotional for her. "Canada Day is feeling very different to me this year," she said. "I have grave concerns about [Premier] Danielle Smith and her sparking this separation talk. I find it gross and not in our best interest." "I feel like it's going to be the most emotional Canada Day I've ever had. Like, I have a military family and like I've always been such a proud Canadian. But now, I don't want my boys in the military. I don't know what's going on in this world. And I feel like if we separate, that's just going to put us more at risk of what's going on in the world." There were others with conflicted feelings around Canada Day, for both personal and political reasons. One woman wrote about the memories she has celebrating with her daughter and grandchildren, which are especially poignant this year because they recently moved away. A new immigrant wrote about celebrating his first Canada Day, and a man who immigrated more than a decade ago from the Philippines wrote about Canada being a place of both joy and struggle. He retired recently, he told CBC, but can't actually retire. He's still driving for a delivery app on the side. "Canada Day is good and not so," he wrote. "Overall Canada is a good place to live. Happy Canada Day." Do you feel differently about Canada Day this year? 2 days ago Duration 1:30 With everything going on in Canada and the world right now, we wanted to know if our country's birthday feels any different. The CBC's Elise Stolte posed that question to people visiting the Seton Library. A woman said she doesn't celebrate Canada Day because she really wants to see more progress toward truth and reconciliation with Indigenous communities first. Several others said the cost of living, especially since the pandemic hit, makes life much harder and makes it more difficult to feel like celebrating. Jonathan MacDonald grew up in a small, close-knit community in the Maritimes. He said he feels like the country has grown and changed. Immigration has brought diversity but also, he feels, isolation and he doesn't feel the same shared understanding and togetherness that he did before. Others had more straight-forward emotions around Canada Day. Several kids wrote about Stampede breakfasts and drew pictures of fireworks. One man wrote "fly your flag" and said he made a special effort this year to buy flags early and do just that. Michelle Anderson was listening to CBC's live updates from Seton on The Homestretch and knew this pop-up was at Seton. She stopped in and said reading all these notes made her think about when her dad moved the family here from Ireland 40 years ago. She sat down to write her thoughts: "Canada is a short word with a long meaning — hope, friends, health, open spaces, joy, pride and peace." Then after a bit, she came back to add: "Home is also a word that is short with a long meaning."
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
'God bless this country.' Calgary residents reflect on how Canada Day feels different
Canada Day feels a little different this year to many Calgary residents. CBC News created a pop-up speakers' corner at the Seton library branch in south Calgary last week. When we asked library patrons how they were feeling, the most common response was one of pride. Christine Griffith said she's heading into Canada Day remembering the sense of unity that came in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs. "Just seeing everyone really come together and support Canadians, and buy Canadian, just seeing that pride. It felt really good," she said. Griffith is an artist and stay-at-home mom. For her, Canada Day has always been a time for family — BBQs and fireworks while growing up in Ontario. Now she's trying to share that with her daughter by teaching her the national anthem and continuing to be conscientious about Canadian brands as she shops. "I think it's still strong," she said. "We keep it strong in our family." CBC News spoke with dozens of people at the library, inviting them to write their thoughts for a public display and talk through what's influencing those feelings. Several people talked about the tariffs and how they are still expressing their support for Canada by buying Canadian whenever possible. For others, world events were top of mind — the tariff threats or the conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza and recently Iran. In light of these, some patrons spoke about being grateful for security and peace in Canada. Natali Maxwell is a Canadian who is originally from Peru. She said for her, the wars and also economic challenges here at home are weighing heavily and make this Canada Day feel different. "People are fighting for a piece of land.… People are fighting for a lot of things. There's no more love," she said. "But Canada is a strong country. If we stay united, everything will be good. It's just, God bless this country. I'm praying." For Madelene Bustard, provincial politics were top of mind and are making this Canada Day emotional for her. "Canada Day is feeling very different to me this year," she said. "I have grave concerns about [Premier] Danielle Smith and her sparking this separation talk. I find it gross and not in our best interest." "I feel like it's going to be the most emotional Canada Day I've ever had. Like, I have a military family and like I've always been such a proud Canadian. But now, I don't want my boys in the military. I don't know what's going on in this world. And I feel like if we separate, that's just going to put us more at risk of what's going on in the world." There were others with conflicted feelings around Canada Day, for both personal and political reasons. One woman wrote about the memories she has celebrating with her daughter and grandchildren, which are especially poignant this year because they recently moved away. A new immigrant wrote about celebrating his first Canada Day, and a man who immigrated more than a decade ago from the Philippines wrote about Canada being a place of both joy and struggle. He retired recently, he told CBC, but can't actually retire. He's still driving for a delivery app on the side. "Canada Day is good and not so," he wrote. "Overall Canada is a good place to live. Happy Canada Day." A woman said she doesn't celebrate Canada Day because she really wants to see more progress toward truth and reconciliation with Indigenous communities first. Several others said the cost of living, especially since the pandemic hit, makes life much harder and makes it more difficult to feel like celebrating. Jonathan MacDonald grew up in a small, close-knit community in the Maritimes. He said he feels like the country has grown and changed. Immigration has brought diversity but also, he feels, isolation and he doesn't feel the same shared understanding and togetherness that he did before. Others had more straight-forward emotions around Canada Day. Several kids wrote about Stampede breakfasts and drew pictures of fireworks. One man wrote "fly your flag" and said he made a special effort this year to buy flags early and do just that. Michelle Anderson was listening to CBC's live updates from Seton on The Homestretch and knew this pop-up was at Seton. She stopped in and said reading all these notes made her think about when her dad moved the family here from Ireland 40 years ago. She sat down to write her thoughts: "Canada is a short word with a long meaning — hope, friends, health, open spaces, joy, pride and peace." Then after a bit, she came back to add: "Home is also a word that is short with a long meaning."
CTV News
31-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Vendors at the Brockville Farmers' Market feeling impact of ‘buy Canadian' push
A "Proudly Canadian" sign at the Brockville Farmers' Market on May 31, 2025. (Jack Richardson/CTV News Ottawa) The Brockville Farmers' Market returned for its 193rd year this month, running every Thursday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. until September Vendors say the push to support Canadian companies amid trade tensions with the United States has been felt positively by vendors. Darren McGuin is the co-owner of Birdie Blocks, a bird feed business from Iroquois, Ont. He says he's had an easier time convincing clients to buy from his business over his American competitors. 'I see lots of that coming through,' McGuin said. 'People are supporting Canadian products and that's what we gotta do.' Additionally, volunteers with the Brockville Rotary Club have been selling lawn signs that read 'Proudly Canadian' and 'Canada Proud' in an initiative leading up to Canada Day. More details to come.
