Proudly Canadian – COLAB Bags

COLAB Bags – Designed in Montreal, made for a less cruel world.

 

Since 2007, the Montreal-based COLAB brand has been designing a new wave of accessories: functional, organized, cruelty-free, and thoughtfully considered to the smallest detail.

Manufacturing is done at some of the world’s finest factories, but the design vision is all sustainably Canadian.

Recycled collections feature solvent-free, water-based materials made from post-industrial and post-consumer waste.  Equivalent to 3 plastic bottles per bag, these cutting-edge materials help reduce carbon emissions and the use of fossil resources compared to usual industry standards.

Not only are the materials PETA-Approved Vegan, COLAB’s extensive range of high quality, soft, recycled materials have been tested for durability and strength.

Signature design details include the COLAB branded loop, subtle star reinforcement stitching, signature keychain attachments on larger bags and COLAB padded cell phone pockets. The more you look, the more there is to discover in each bag.

So, if you’re looking for innovative accessory design, try a COLAB bag on for size. It’s Canadian style you can proudly show off to the world.

Proudly Canadian – Kanto

Kanto – World-class tech design with Canadian passion and local customer service.

When imagining a Canadian product, speakers, mounts and electronics accessories may not be the first things that come to mind. But the roots of this high-tech company are built on solid experience. Kanto was founded in January of 2007 in Coquitlam, BC , by CEO and Chief Product Officer David Reid. Many years designing and manufacturing products for large consumer electronics companies gave Reid and the Kanto team the understanding they needed to create an outstanding brand.

The Kanto vision is to build quality electronics with style. But their real difference lies in their passion, both in the creative process and in customer service. Kanto people design products they love, incorporating high quality materials for maximum performance. (One example is the silk dome tweeters that deliver a high-frequency speaker range that is bright and refined) Then, they support their end users all the way, working incredibly hard to respond and react quickly to feedback. This feedback gives Kanto the intel they need to further refine and improve products. And the cycle continues.

The Kanto team of dedicated design engineers now operates from an expanded head office in Langley, BC, along with some 40 Canadian employees, including administrative, sales and customer support.

So, when a customer phones or emails their customer service department, a person located in the Canadian Pacific Time Zone responds.

That’s how Kanto has become an industry leader in TV mounting solutions and powered audio – and why you’ll probably be hearing a lot more about them in the future.

For more information on Kanto mounts, speakers and speaker stands, talk to the audio-visual experts at your local London Drugs.

 

Proudly Canadian – Beekeepers Naturals

Got a cough? Canadian bees come to the rescue with Beekeeper’s Naturals.

Growing up in Toronto, Beekeeper’s Naturals founder, Carly Stein Kremer, battled tonsillitis on and off for years, which was worsened by the fact that her autoimmune disorder prevented her from taking traditional medicines like antibiotics.

It wasn’t until college that she was able to find real relief. While travelling around Europe, she came down with a particularly severe case of tonsillitis, where she discovered the healing properties of bee propolis; a combination of tree and plant resin created by bees to protect the hive. Propolis delivers essential vitamins, minerals, and 300+ beneficial compounds for potent health support.

When she returned to the University of Victoria in Canada, Kremer’s new curiosity for propolis, honey, royal jelly, and pollen led her to begin an apprenticeship with a local beekeeper. She formulated her first propolis products in the chemistry lab and shared them with friends and family.

After graduating from school, she started her career on Wall Street, but her passion for bees and formulating products remained. On the weekends, Kremer posted up at local Farmers Markets with her products and they sold out every time. She saw an opportunity to help people, so she left her successful career at Goldman Sachs behind. She dedicated her life to full-time beekeeping and bringing propolis to the masses in sustainable and accessible ways. That’s when Beekeeper’s Naturals was born.

The bees are just as important to Beekeeper’s Naturals as humans. They source their hive-powered products from small, sustainable apiaries that prioritize pesticide-free health and partner with leading bee research institutions to raise awareness and support pollinator protection.

Beekeeper’s Naturals is on a mission to reinvent the medicine cabinet with clean, effective products powered by bees. Whether it’s spring throat irritation, summer colds, or the coming fall flu season, they have you covered all year long.

That’s a Canadian brand success story worth sharing with the hive.

Pick up Propolis Lozenges to relieve sore throats and Propolis Cough Syrup, made with soothing buckwheat honey, elderberry, and chaga, at your Local London Drugs.

Proudly Canadian – Organika

From their beginnings 33 years ago in a van driving across Canada, Organika is now one of the country’s best known supplement companies.

The Organika story began in 1990, in beautiful British Columbia, where founder Thomas Chin created the business after immigrating from Malaysia. He saw an opportunity to provide natural wellness solutions to anyone and everyone – making supplements accessible to a wider audience than the industry catered to traditionally.

What started as a humble line of supplements sold out of the back of our founder’s van has grown into a business with over 200 natural health products, including Canada’s #1 selling collagen powder, #1 brand for Spirulina, Bone Broth and maca.

The business has since transitioned to Chin’s sons Aaron (CEO) and Jordan (President) who have worked tirelessly to help Organika become an award-winning global brand, now also offering collagen supplements, kids supplements, and snacks.

 

Consistent innovation, 32 years of experience in creating high-quality supplements for all ages that include certified Natural Product supplements (NPN), and a mission to help people live healthier, has led Organika to achieve global recognition, including:

  • Listing in the Financial Times and Globe and Mail as one of the fastest-growing companies 3 years in a row
  • Best in Asia Pacific Business Award
  • Certification as a ‘Diverse, Equal and Inclusive’ company
  • Best new product award for Electrolytes + Enhanced Collagen
  • Parent Tested Parent Approved seal for kids’ supplements

Today, Organika remains family owned and operates their own in-house manufacturing facility to oversee every step of the process and ensure the finest product quality.

To lower their carbon footprint, Organika is also transitioning their packaging to post-consumer recycled (PCR) material, and by 2025 their goal is to have 100% of packaging transitioned to PCR plastics.

Helping Canadians live healthier continues to fuel Organika, helping them provide the highest quality natural health products on Canadian shelves.

As it turns out, supporting healthy Canadians makes for healthy business as well.

Shop Organika products, from Enhanced Collagen and Bone Broth to delicious Keto Mini Cookies, at your local London Drugs.

Duckana & Avocato Photo Contest Terms and Conditions

Duckana & Avocato Photo Contest Terms and Conditions

We’d  love to see the Duckana or Avo-cat-o during your summer adventures! Whether in your local community from Gibsons to Saskatoon, or on your travels abroad, we’d like to see how creative you can get and how far these characters can travel. From May to August, we will be randomly selecting 4 winners per month to each win a $25 London Drugs gift card based on the submissions we receive. All you have to do for your chance to win is:

– Take a photo of the Duckana or Avo-cat-o
– Post to instagram and tag @londondrugsZ
– Use the hashtag #duckana or #avocato

Contest runs from May 1 – August 31, 2023, 11:59:00 pm PST.

  1. Eligibility: The Contest is open only to persons who are at the time of Contest entry: (1) a legal resident of one of the following Canadian provinces: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan or Manitoba (2) have attained at least the age of majority in their respective province of residence (nineteen (19) in British Columbia, and eighteen (18) in all other provinces), (3) Photo submissions are made between May 1, 2022 to 11:59 pm Pacific Time on August 31, 2023 (unless otherwise participating without purchases); (4) have not won a London Drugs contest since August 31, 2022 (5) are not an employee of, or an immediate family member (e.g. spouse, parents, siblings and children) or household member of any employee of London Drugs, their respective advertising and promotional agencies or the independent judging organization. The Contest is subject to all applicable laws and regulations and is void where prohibited. Participation constitutes entrant’s full and unconditional agreement to these Terms and Conditions which include the official rules of the Contest. Winning a prize is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements set forth herein.
  2. To enter the Contest:

– Take a photo of the Duckana or Avo-cat-o
– Post to instagram and tag @londondrugs
– Use the hashtag #duckana or #avocato

Submissions must be made between May 1 – August 31, 2023, 11:59 pm PST.

 

  1. No purchase necessary. To enter, participants need to take a photo of the Duckana or Avo-cat-o, post to instagram and tag @londondrugs and use the hashtag #duckana or #avocato.
  2. Multiple photo submissions is accepted, however if an entrant submits multiple photo entries and one entry is chosen to win a prize, the entrant no longer eligible to win again. London Drugs is not responsible for entries that become lost or misdirected. London Drugs reserves the right to disqualify any person who attempts to tamper with the Contest, to harass or interfere with any other entrant, or otherwise acts in an inappropriate, offensive, illegal or unsportsmanlike way, all as determined by London Drugs in its absolute discretion. Submissions shall be void if incomplete, not legible, or if they contain errors or do not comply strictly with all requirements in these rules.  No mechanical reproductions or robotic online entries.  All entries become the property of London Drugs Limited and will not be returned.
  3. The chances of winning will depend on the number of eligible entries received during the period the Contest is open for. 4 winners will be selected at the end of each month from May – August.  To win, selected entrants must correctly answer a timed, skill-testing mathematical question and must sign London Drugs’ declaration and release confirming compliance with the contest rules and acceptance of the prize as awarded, releasing London Drugs, its agents, sponsors and the judges from liability in association with the contest and prize and consenting to the use of their name, photograph, voice and statements for promotional and publicity purposes. Only one prize may be won per person and per household. In the event that any selected entrant incorrectly answers the skill-testing question or is otherwise unwilling or unable to comply in full with these rules, a new entry will be drawn.
  4. Prize: There will be a total of 16 winners, with 4 winners chosen each month from May – August, each winning a $25 London Drugs gift card. Prize must be accepted as awarded, is non-transferable and no substitutions are permitted, except that London Drugs reserves rights to substitute a prize or prize component for one of equal or greater value. Actual value of each prize may fluctuate based on pricing of each prize component at time prize is redeemed. Winner must attend in person at a London Drugs location selected by contest winner to pick up prize.
  1. Selected entrants will be contacted by phone or email. No correspondence will be entered into except with selected entrants. If the selected entrant is unreachable within five (5) days a new entrant will be chosen in the same manner until a winner is determined.
  2. Decisions of the judges in respect of all aspects of this contest including, but not limited to, eligibility of entries and correctness of answers given to the skill-testing question, are final. London Drugs, contest sponsors, their advertising and promotional agencies, the independent judging organization, and their respective agents are not liable to an entrant in any manner relating to the contest or the awarding and use of the prize(s).
  3. This contest is governed by the laws of the Province of British Columbia and to the extent applicable the laws of Canada. It is subject to all applicable federal, provincial, and municipal laws and regulations.
  4. By entering this contest, the entrant consents to the collection of all personal information included on their entry and agrees to the use and disclosure of such information by and between London Drugs, the independent judging organization, its advertising and promotional agency and their respective agents. The winner(s) also agrees to the collection, use and disclosure of their name, entry, photographs, voice and statements for London Drugs’ publicity purposes without further compensation. All personal information collected from entrants will be used only for the purposes of administering the contest and for marketing and promotional purposes as contemplated by these rules; under no circumstances will any personal information be sold or rented to third parties. All personal information collected by London Drugs will be kept in accordance with the privacy policy of London Drugs, which can be viewed atwww.londondrugs.com, and in accordance with all applicable privacy laws.
  5. This Contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or any other social media platform which may be used to communicate this Contest.  All such entities are completely released of all liability by each entrant in this Contest.  Any questions, comments or complaints regarding the Contest should be directed only to London Drugs
  6. London Drugs and its parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, and their employees, officers, directors and anyone involved in the production, development or implementation of this Contest or the provision of any prize are not liable or responsible for any failure of any website during this Contest, nor liable or responsible for any problems or technical malfunctions of computer online systems, servers, access providers, computer equipment, software or any e-mail, online or internet entry lost due to technical problems or traffic congestion on the internet or at any website or any combination thereof, including any injury or damage to an entrant’s or any other person’s computer or property related to or resulting from playing or downloading any material in the promotion.
  7. The right is reserved by London Drugs to terminate this contest, in whole or in part, and/or modify, amend or suspend the contest, and/or these rules in any way, should any cause beyond the reasonable control of London Drugs or its agents affect the proper administration thereof.

Celebrate International Women’s Day 2024 by supporting great brands founded by women and #InspireInclusion

At London Drugs, we love to support brands that make a difference. For International Women’s Day 2024, we have rounded up a selection of brands founded and/or led by women, from global empires to local products and projects built from the ground up.

Lise Watier – The Canadian cosmetics icon who built a foundation for female empowerment

Lise Watier is more than a brand name. She is a beauty business pioneer. Born in Montreal in 1942, Watier created a self-improvement and makeup course company and launched her own line of cosmetics in 1972. In 2009, Madame Watier founded the Lise Watier Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to empowering women and girls in need, raising over $1,000,000 in funds. In 2016, Lise Watier Cosmetics joined Groupe Marcelle Inc. to become the largest Canadian company in the beauty industry, distributing some 450 products across North America.

Shop Lise Watier Here

 

Province Apothecary – From growing up with eczema and allergies to growing a cross-Canada brand.

Nova Scotian Julie Clark struggled with skin issues as a child. “I’ve had eczema all my life says the Province Apothecary founder, “It was my goal to make an all-natural product to heal my skin.”

A busy costume designer and stylist, Julie used her time off to experiment with oils, waxes and herbs—all in pursuit of healing her eczema. In 2010, Julie began studying Aromatherapy, Holistic Health, Herbal Medicine and Esthetics in Toronto, forming the foundation of her skincare expertise, and Province Apothecary was born.

Julie’s favourite ingredients include organic seaweed from Nova Scotia, organic sunflower oil from Ontario and glacial clay from British Columbia. Province Apothecary also donates a percentage of sales to Canadian Organic Growers, the Canadian Honey Council and 1% to the Planet.

Peruse Province Apothecary Products

 

Diva Cup – Changing the world, one period at a time

Francine Chambers remembers how limited menstrual product options were when she was a young girl. So, when her daughter became a teenager, she wanted to change things for the better. After years of perfecting the design, Francine and her daughter, co-founder and CEO Carinne Chambers-Saini, brought DivaCup to market in 2003. Now the advocacy and education arm of the business helps donate approximately 15,000 Diva Cups annually to women around the world and launched the 2019 documentary Pandora’s Box to highlight women’s rights and basic human rights issues around menstruation.

In 2018, this Proudly Canadian brand also became a certified B Corp., helping empower even more for good for customers, the community and the planet.

Learn more about Diva Cup Menstrual Products

 

Baby Gourmet – How two Canadian sisters went from the Farmer’s Market to global success

In 2005, sisters Jennifer Carlson and Jill Vos began Baby Gourmet at their local Calgary Farmer’s Market with the belief that every parent deserves to feel good about how they nourish their baby. Today, they are proud leaders in innovation, quality, and taste, and Baby Gourmet is the number one organic baby food brand in Canada. Their commitment to providing delicious, nutrient-dense and safe food is unparalleled, sourcing only the best organic ingredients to develop a baby’s palate. Every recipe starts in their own kitchen and is made to help babies develop a love of good food.

In addition to being Certified Organic, Baby Gourmet’s products became the first baby products in Canada to earn the esteemed Clean Label Project Purity Award, rating them among the top 1/3 of all North American baby food brands. By earning the Clean Label Project Purity Award, Baby Gourmet products were tested for over 400 chemicals of concern, such as heavy metals, pesticide residues and plasticizers.

With a desire to grow with their consumers, Carlson and Vos launched a toddler and preschool line in 2022, Little Gourmet. This line of products was born out of the same desire to nourish busy toddlers and preschoolers with wholesome, organic snacks full of real ingredients and no refined sugar. Baby Gourmet is fueled by the passion to offer naturally healthy and clean food so parents feel confident their children are getting the nutrients they need, less of what they don’t need, and they are beginning their lives nourished by a planetary healthy diet.

Shop Baby Gourmet

 

Kicking Horse Coffee – A 100% Rocky Mountain-grown brand

Kicking Horse CEO, Elana Rosenfeld got her first entrepreneurial inspiration from her mother, who pioneered an organic food company. She combined that spirit with a taste for coffee culture picked up in Montreal, where Rosenfeld studied at McGill University. After graduation, she moved to Invermere to be close to the mountains and launched the Blue Dog Café. Unable to find decent coffee beans in the area, Rosenfeld and her then-husband Leo Johnson started roasting their own in their garage. The rest is Rocky Mountain history, as she and Kicking Horse grew to earn awards as Ernst & Young “Entrepreneur of the Year”, Canada’s “Fairtrade Product of the Year” and one of the top 15 “Best Workplaces in Canada”.

In 2017 Kicking Horse Coffee was purchased by Italian conglomerate Lavazza, with Rosenfeld staying aboard as CEO. She’s successfully maintained the Rocky Mountain vibe of the brand ever since, living a lifestyle balanced by mountain biking, skiing and stand-up paddleboarding.

Get a taste of Kicking Horse Here

 

Smart Sweets – A young woman helps kick sugar in a multi-million dollar gummy bear success story

When Tara Bosch was growing up, she says she had an unhealthy relationship with food, affecting her self-esteem and body image. Yet she did not want to give up enjoying her favourite treats.

So she bought a gummy bear mould online and began recipe testing in her kitchen on a quest to create the first candy that kicks sugar.

Starting as a 21-year-old female entrepreneur with $15,000 in startup capital, Bosch landed SmartSweets’ first retailer through pure persistence. Response to her product was immediately positive.

Dragon’s Den featured the SmartSweets in their season 12 premiere episode, where Bosch secured a deal for $100,000 for a 5% stake in the company. Since then, it has grown exponentially and in 2020, TPG Growth acquired SmartSweets for $360 million.

It’s validation that SmartSweets is addressing a large, urgent and valuable problem, with a sweet solution.

Get your SmartSweets Sugar-Free Kick Here

 

Animal Crossing  – How a female influence succeeds in the gaming industry

Video game culture has traditionally been dominated by men, but the approach to Animal Crossing was different. Not only did Nintendo want to make the game for both men and women, they wanted it to be made by men and women.

Aya Kyogoku was the first woman to ever direct a video game at Nintendo Entertainment, with Animal Crossing: New Leaf. Kyogoku brought legendary experience as a scriptwriter on titles from The Legend of Zelda series.

With the release of Animal Crossing New Horizons, she continued as the director of the game and, along with producer Katsuya Eguchi, hired a team that was half-female.

The new game helped propel Nintendo to a banner year in 2021, selling more than 13 million units in its first six weeks of release, while a survey of 1000 female gamers revealed that women find Animal Crossing: New Horizons the most inclusive video game to play.

Get Animal Crossing New Horizons Here

 

London Drugs has partnered with Carlton Cards to support the Legion Poppy Fund with the Be Kind Program

London Drugs is happy to bring back the Be Kind campaign again this year to help The Royal Canadian Legion with donations to its annual National Poppy Campaign. While poppy boxes will still appear at all London Drugs locations – as they do every year – we are hoping to help raise additional funds for Veterans through the Be Kind campaign in partnership with Carlton Cards.

BE KIND invites Canadians to send handwritten cards to friends, families, and neighbours, to show appreciation and brighten their day.

“People still need to be reminded they are not alone,” said Clint Mahlman, London Drugs President and Chief Operating Officer. “Whether that is sending love to a friend or family member or showing your appreciation to a Veteran whom you’ve never met, sending a personalized written message can be so meaningful – particularly when we are still social distancing many people continue to feel isolated.”

London Drugs has been a proud partner of The Royal Canadian Legion for decades with Legionnaires and volunteers once again being welcomed to collect poppy funds outside stores; poppy boxes and Veteran pins for sale inside stores; and donations being collected at cashier tills. This year, the BE KIND campaign will donate $2* for every pair of Carlton or Papyrus Greeting Cards sold between October 20 and November 11 directly to the Royal Canadian Legion Poppy Trust Fund. Customers can visit any London Drugs store and pick out cards to give. (*Maximum donation $20,000)

“Our great partners are an integral part of our National Poppy Campaign each year,” says Bruce Julian, Dominion President, The Royal Canadian Legion. “We thank London Drugs wholeheartedly for their support and for helping to spread the message of Remembrance.”

Donations made during the National Poppy Campaign go directly into the Legion’s Poppy Trust Fund. The funds raised locally are used locally to help with a range of supports and services for Veterans and their families. It can include emergency funding, helping Veterans get off the streets, completing benefit applications or establishing and supporting programs to help tackle operational stress injuries.
Please visit https://legion.ca/ for more information.

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