Happy Canada Day! To celebrate all things Canadian, we’ve poured ourselves a hearty caesar and will be raising a toast to our friends that proudly sell ‘made in Canada’ products. Here are a few of our favourite artisans who are flying the maple leaf flag for home-grown talent.
Vancouver Candle Co., Vancouver
Chief Candlemaker Nick Rabuchin founded Vancouver Candle Co. in 2014, and now he hand-pours each soy candle, adding a custom blend of perfume-grade fragrances as he fills each glass. Each of the six candle types are named after a Vancouver neighbourhood and capture the essence of the area. Kitsilano, the hippy beach district, features a floral bouquet with jasmine, tuberose, lemon and sandalwood, whilst grittier Gastown has scents of leather, tobacco, amber and black pepper. Catch Nick at artisan fairs in Vancouver, or see the website for stockists.
N-Product, Ottawa
Husband-and-wife duo Chrystale and Dominic Coballe’s N-Product showcases slow goods made in Canada. They started up in their bungalow and now rent a commercial kitchen space at a shared warehouse within Maker Space North in the City Centre of Ottawa, where they bring their whimsical designs to life. From lasered maps of Ottawa’s neighbourhoods on reclaimed wood to leather straps made from bike tires, Dominic and Chrystale put their heart and soul into each creation. Check out their website to find out more about customized projects from skateboard decks to keyrings.
Imagine Wood, Combermere
Marcel and Nicole Picotte have been lovingly hand-carving wooden kitchen utensils in their log cabin in Combermere, Ontario, since 1999. They make the Imagine Wood tools using ‘rock maple’, which is the bottom part of the sugar maple trees that grow locally in their area. Marcel and Nicole chose the wood for its strength and antibacterial properties. From handmade traditional butcher boards to cheese knives, each of the ergonomic kitchen utensils are finished naturally using olive oil.
How are you celebrating Canada Day? Let us know your favourite local products via Twitter @SquareCanada!