Buy local: 17 Canadian businesses to support

Canadians are pissed. And rightfully so. The Cheeto-in-Chief has announced 25% tariffs on all goods coming from Canada and Mexico. And while this has been delayed for a few more weeks, it’s safe to say that the “polite” and “nice” Canadians are ready to clap back.

Aside from producing a tsunami of hilarious memes, Trump’s Tariffs have inspired a wave of Canadian solidarity. With all of the tariff talk, Premier’s across the country quickly put together countermeasure responses,  like British Columbia imposing a ‘red state’ liquor ban. 

‍Tl;dr Leading up to the tariffs, BC Premier David Eby directed the B.C. Liquor Distribution Branch to immediately stop purchasing American liquor from Republican-led "red states".

And it’s not the first time Canadians have taken a stance. Remember the 2016 ketchup war between Heinz and French's?

That’s why we’re taking a stance to help you buy from Canadian-first businesses, especially small ones. To make this easier, we’ve put together a list of Canadian companies we LOVE.

Physical products you can buy

Three Ships Beauty

Three Ships Beauty is a Toronto-based skincare brand that launched in 2017. This Growclass Alum is female-owned (by a duo of Connie Lo and Laura Thompson) and promises ‘next-level natural’ formulas. They aim to be fully transparent with their labeling and ingredients so their customers are in the know about what they’re using on their skin.

You can shop by skin type or by your desired skin benefit, and if you’re not sure where to start, you can do a virtual skin consultation on their website. How cool is that?

🍁 If you’re looking for a guilt-free glow, try Toronto’s Three Ships Beauty.

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Blume

If the political situation in the US has got you feeling a bit queasy, there’s no better time to check out Vancouver-based Blume, run by the lovely Lauren Ryan (another Growclass alum!). Their superfood supplements aim to boost your gut health and hype up your hydration. They use probiotics, prebiotics, and apple cider vinegar in their Superbelly sachets to help you feel your best.

Blume also boasts yummy Latte Blends such as Mint Cocoa and Matcha Coconut that help boost your energy, improve your sleep quality, and aid your digestion. What’s not to love?

A product of Canada, you can feel good about feeling good when you buy Blume. Also, they’re committed to caring about the environment too and are proudly plastic-neutral. Yay for the planet!

🍁 Put down the Arbonne EnergyFizz and start a new journey to gut health with Blume.

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Chaos Calling

If you want to support more creative outputs from Canada, read Chaos Calling. Ontario-born E.M. Williams penned much of the first installment in The Xenthian Cycle on the Toronto subway during her commute to work. A true product of the 6ix.

The novel is also set in Toronto and follows its protagonist Anna Lin as she juggles the familial and financial struggles of adult life. These frustrations are eclipsed, though, when Anna realizes something sinister stalks her city and the key to saving it lies with herself, her brother Jason, and their childhood friend.

E.M. Williams is a proud Growclass Career Strategist, so let’s show her some support!

🍁 Find out more about the book and how you can add Chaos Calling to your library.

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Mama Earth

At times like these going outside might not be particularly appealing. Even to get groceries. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the produce box industry has exploded and shows no signs of slowing down.

Due to the climate, many Canadian produce box companies have to supplement their local produce with imports. But not all is lost. If you live in the Greater Toronto Area, Mama Earth is an excellent Ontario-based alternative and their Director of Marketing, Michael Ly, is one of our trusted Growclass Alum.

Mama Earth provides you with the convenience of a grocery delivery service with an extra focus on local produce and sustainability. You can choose from the best meat, dairy, seafood, and produce Ontario has to offer. The selection is updated weekly too.

It’s a win-win. You can keep ordering groceries from your couch AND you can feel good about it.

🍁 Check Mama Earth out.

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Taylored Granola

Now your fruits and veggies are safe, let’s talk about breakfast. Taylored Granola was founded by Quebec-based food entrepreneur and Growclass alum, Taylor Pogue. What started as a ready-made meal business in 2020 has since transformed into its current state thanks to Pogue’s super tasty granola mixes.

Pogue noticed that too many people, particularly women, skip breakfast. Her mission is to give people a delicious and nutritious start to their day. With crazed politicians running the show, it really is important to keep your strength up. Taylored Granola is available in three flavours including Maple Pecan Pie. What could be more Canadian than that?

🍁 Hungry? Order Taylored Granola online.

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FlowJo

FlowJo is an inventive way to add some intent to your every day. The brand creates packs of bucket list cards to inspire you and break you out of your routine. The prompts encourage you to add small acts of whimsy to your life and create a connection with those around you. When politics seeks to divide us, it’s vital to take time to come together.

Founder Tiffany DaSilva wants you to focus on being present and appreciate what life is really about. We think she’s great, which is why she’s one of our expert instructors at Growclass.

🍁 Draw a card from FlowJo and see where today’s adventure takes you.

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Knix

One of the only things that is more annoying than Donald Trump is leaking when you have your period. Canadian underwear pioneer, Knix, started out with a mission to solve that problem with their period-proof undies back in 2013.

Since then, Knix has expanded into seamless, wireless, comfort-driven shapewear, and undergarments of all kinds. Their first brick-and-mortar store opened in Vancouver in 2019 and they now have locations in Calgary, Ottawa, and Toronto.

Knix proudly uses diverse models and seeks to help people feel comfortable in their own skin. Consider them as an alternative to US brands like Skims. Less Kardashian, more Canadian.

🍁 Take a peek at Knix’s online store.

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Sofia Zakia

Sofia Zakia is a jewelry brand founded by Sofia Ajram in 2016 in Montreal. The brand seeks to combine luxury and storytelling to imbue meaning in all its creations. Wrought in gold and full of celestial and mythical imagery, each item seems like a mini piece of magic.

If you’re looking for a special gift for someone else, or maybe just yourself in these trying times, consider shopping north of the border.

🍁 You can order online or visit their flagship store in Montreal. Jewels & poutine, say no more.

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Scoria

If all this tariff talk has got you feeling tense, try and stretch it out with Scoria. This Canadian brand makes yoga props and cork mats that are good for your body and the environment. The founder, Yara Kamal, believes that adults need to connect with their inner child through play and creative expression.

Her focus on wellbeing goes beyond yoga and into Scoria’s charitable endeavours. They are proud partners of Right to Play, a program that engages Indigenous youth in education and community.

Let’s come together and spend our dollars where they make a difference.

🍁 In need of some zen? Explore Scoria’s World.

Services you can support

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Growclass

We couldn’t exactly mention all our Canadian Growclass faves without including a little bit about ourselves. Growclass isn’t just a marketing education course, it’s a whole community dedicated to empowering professionals to craft the careers they desire. It’s run by really wonderful humans… And like attracts like.

Leading the charge is the badass woman that many in the tech community know and love, Sarah Stockdale. She’s incredibly passionate about making marketing knowledge accessible so small businesses with great ideas can grow to their full potential. Not to mention she approaches every situation with empathy, love, and so much passion. 

Growclass offers courses taught by highly knowledgeable industry insiders who want to help you climb the ladder, including Emily Lonetto, Tiffany DaSilva, and many more.

Growclass is proudly Canadian and seeks to cultivate homegrown talent and opportunities.

🍁 Come see if the Growclass community is the right fit for you or your business.

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HeyOrca

Social media is one of the biggest markets out there right now. If this is your area, it’s likely you use a social media management tool, or you will as you grow in the future. (Hey! Growclass can help with that.)

HeyOrca is a nifty Canadian alternative to US-based tools like Buffer or Later. It’s specifically designed for the needs of in-house teams and small agencies. The tool promises to streamline your process and wow your clients. If you’re sick of trawling endless email chains for approvals or your content calendar is getting on top of you, give HeyOrca a try.

🍁 HeyOrca even has a free trial that doesn’t require a credit card so you can check it out with no commitment.

Honourable mentions

There are so many great Canadian brands, there are too many to list. We’d like to add some honourable mentions:

• Province of Canada – This clothing brand makes cozy 100% Canadian garments for all our climates.
• Cheekbone Beauty Cosmetics INC – Cheekbone Beauty is an Indigenous-owned makeup brand with a focus on sustainability.
• La Maison Simons – This iconic department store has been around since 1840. An absolute Canadian classic.
• Bluboho Fine Jewelry – Bluboho is a fine jewelry company that specialises in engagement rings and wedding bands.
• Monogram Coffee – A Calgary-based coffee business offering freshly roasted coffee subscriptions, running cozy cafés in four locations, and hands-on classes in latte art and espresso brewing.
• Kawartha Dairy – While they have a lot of dairy products, their mouthwatering ice cream might be the best in all of Canada. Plus, they’ve been proudly Canadian and family-owned for over 80 years.

Other ways to support Canadian businesses

Supporting Canadian businesses isn’t just about spending money (though that does help!). Joe Teo, CEO of HeyOrca, made a great point on LinkedIn—putting our wallets to work is important, but so is showing support in ways that won’t cost you a dime.

Here’s how you can make a difference today:

• Give Canadian businesses a shout-out: Tag them on social media, drop a kind word, or tell your family and friends about them. Word-of-mouth is still the most powerful form of marketing.
• Share their posts: A quick repost or share can help these businesses get in front of new audiences.
• Show appreciation: A simple “Love your products!” or “Thanks for the great service!” in a review or social media comment can mean the world.
• Follow & engage: Following, liking, and commenting tell the algorithm to show their content to more people. More eyes = more potential customers.

And there you have it, that’s our round-up on great Canadian brands to get behind in the trade war. We hope you’ll join us in supporting brands we love from the great white north. You can make a difference. Pour maple syrup on everything. Eat BeaverTails for breakfast. Shop Canadian.

Speaking of supporting Canadians, explore the Growclass gift guide to discover and support other Growclass community members.