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Meet the Canadian Rebels Who Want to Transform the Ordinary into Moments of Joy.

“We were basically shaking our fists at the idea of Father Time sneaking up on us,” says CEO Eric Fallon, “While we still couldn’t find the products we were looking for.” That’s how the Rebel’s Refinery brand got started by Fallon and his two best friends, Elan Marks and Justin Maclean, in Toronto.

The team took matters into their own hands, deciding to start what would become a men’s grooming brand. They found their way onto the Canadian entrepreneurial television show Dragon’s Den.

“Kevin O’Leary was a ‘Dragon’ at the time and walked off within the first 10 minutes of our pitch,” Fallon recalls. They ended up landing a deal with another of the Dragons, Arlene Dickinson, and used the money to create their first shaped lip balm – the Skull.
The Rebel’s Refinery brand is literally built on creativity, from its innovative packaging to its quality raw materials and hand-picked essential oils.

“There is still nothing we love more than dropping new innovations and seeing if you all freak out!” says Fallon, “We want to see you smile and get excited whenever you hold one of our items. We used to think motorcycles and being edgy was cool (motorcycles still are – sorry Mom!), but now we understand that being happy is the new cool. That’s why our new tagline is transforming the ordinary into moments of joy.”

Look for rebellious products like Cactus, Ice Cream or Pineapple lip balms, Rehab Roller Under Eye Moisturizer and Dirty Boy Bamboo Face & Body Wipes at your local London Drugs. Then let your inner rebel share the Canadian joy!

Caprina – The Canadian brand that brought the moisturizing power of fresh goat’s milk soap from the farm to the mainstream.

When Canus Founder and President André Bearegard first started researching goat’s milk skin care products in the early 90’s, the rare and expensive milk was not only hard to find for beauty products, but also had a shelf life that was limited to just six months. With the help of research and development, the company has developed over the years a proven technique that transfers the hydrating properties of fresh goat’s milk to its skincare lines while increasing the products’ shelf life to 5 years.

Two decades later, Caprina is now one of Canada’s top selling soap lines.

Local farmers, local community.

“At our brand new facility in Drummondville Quebec, we work with fresh goat’s milk from local Canadian farmers,” says Beauregard, “For us it’s very important to be involved with our local community, giving farmers the opportunity to use their fresh milk to produce quality products.”

Looking for a better moisturizing soap? Canadian goats are ready to help.

Goat’s milk has long been considered one of nature’s most effective moisturizers.

“The secret is in its ‘bipolar’ molecular structure,” Beauregard says, “It cleanses without stripping away the natural moisture barriers of our skin.” This helps make Caprina products natural and gentle enough to use for the whole family.

Caprina products are also recommended by the Canadian Dermatology Review Panel, and recognized to be effective complements to skin therapy for people with psoriasis and eczema.

London Drugs is proud to carry a range of Caprina products, including bar soap, body wash, liquid hand soap and foam bath.

Proudly Canadian Brand Stories – Sprague Foods

Sprague Foods. Made in Canada since 1925.

In 1925, J. Grant Sprague built his first cannery in the village of Mountain View, Ontario, naming it J.G. Sprague & Sons Canning Co. They have been canning in the Prince Edward County region ever since. During the 1920’s and 30’s, canned goods from the Mountain View plant were shipped via boat from Belleville and Picton to Montreal, Toronto, and even Western Canada. In 2009, Rick Sprague, Grant’s great-grandson, became Sprague Foods’ fourth generation president. Rick has steered the business toward a focus on healthy foods with natural ingredients.

London Drugs is proud to carry a delicious range of Sprague Organic Soups, including Organic Tuscany Minestrone, Organic Lentil & Vegetable, Organic Tomato Red Pepper and Organic Sweet Potato Curry.

All Sprague products are pressure-cooked for preservation in 100% BPA-free packaging, and their organic certified products contain no preservatives.

“Having been around for so long as a canner, we know from experience that Canadian farmers grow the best organic crops on the planet,” says Rick Sprague, “This is why we only use 100% Canadian-grown organic beans and lentils in our delicious pantry-friendly organic soups. Grown in Canada, canned in Canada, for Canadians. And future Canadians, too!”

London Drugs Proudly Canadian Brand Series – Raincoast Trading

First Nations owned Raincoast takes Canadian snacking to a whole new level. On the pristine coast of Vancouver Island, the ocean has been a giver of life for generations. Here, Raincoast Trading (part of the Nuu-Chah-Nulth Seafood enterprise) creates its famed Salmon Jerky, made from 100% wild caught salmon. This hook & line fishing method helps protect other ocean species and ensures 100% traceability from the boat to the package. The ingredient list is refreshingly pure too, including minced wild chum and/or pink salmon, organic sugar, sea salt, canola oil , spices and natural hardwood smoke. That’s it!

The company that makes these delicious products has been a family-run Canadian west coast institution for over 50 years. After gaining international attention for their products at Expo 86 in Vancouver, St. Jean’s Cannery & Smokehouse expanded with a number of depots in the Lower Mainland and the Vancouver Island communities of Campbell River and Port Alberni. They also acquired Raincoast Trading, highly respected for their sustainable fishing practices and connections with retail markets in the USA and Canada.

In 2015, ownership of these enterprises was transferred to the Nuu-chah-nulth – five Indigenous nations. With a long and proud history as stewards and participants in BC’s seafood economy, the Nuu-Chah-nulth are committed to ensuring these gifts that the ocean gives us will be cherished and passed along in good health to our grandchildren’s grandchildren. Now Raincoast also offers their Global line of Skipjack Tuna products, using fish caught in the Maldives, with the same dedication to sustainability and quality. So the next time you reach for a snack, have a taste of Canadian history, and toast to our shared future.

Proudly Canadian Brand Stories – Lise Watier

Lise Watier – Cosmetics developed by Canadian scientists, harnessing the power of Canadian nature.

The deep forests of Quebec may not be the first things that come to mind when you visualize high-end beauty products. But that’s exactly where the scientists of Lise Watier got their newest inspiration. Labrador Tea has naturally evolved incredible protective and regenerative mechanisms in order to survive in Québec’s rigorous climate. Harnessing the properties of this hardy plant for cosmetics is an exclusive innovation developed by Lise Watier Cosmetics in collaboration with researchers at l’Université du Québec à Chicoutimi.

Lise Watier’s Canadian roots run deep.

Lise Watier was born in Montreal in 1942, created a self-improvement and makeup course company in 1965 and launched her own line of cosmetics in 1972. Besides building an iconic Canadian cosmetics brand, her entrepreneurial spirit has also extended to philanthropy.

In 2009, Madame Watier founded the Lise Watier Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to empowering women and girls in need with the chance at a better life, donating 100% of proceeds generated from sales of Rouge Plumpissimo – Rose Tendresse lipstick and Sparkle of Hope lip gloss. Since 2010, these two products have raised 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.

Together with Groupe Marcelle’s other renowned brands, Lise Watier Cosmetics employs almost 350 people and distributes some 450 products to over 1,500 points of sale across Canada, as well as online across North America. So if you are looking for the finest Canadian makeup, fragrance and skin care products, you could go to the forests of Quebec – or you could just come down to your local London Drugs.

Proudly Canadian Brand Stories – Baby Gourmet

Baby Gourmet – Started by two Calgary Moms who just wanted to feed their babies better.

“When my daughter was six months old. I went to the grocery store and bought a couple jars of baby food. After opening a jar of strained green beans, I knew instantly I wasn’t going to feed her anything I wouldn’t eat myself,” says Baby Gourmet co-founder Jennifer Carlson, “And I definitely wasn’t going to eat that jar of green beans!” Jennifer and her sister Jill Vos, launched Baby Gourmet in 2006 at the Calgary Farmers Market. Since then, it has grown to become Canada’s leading brand of organic baby food.

Babies deserve the finest ingredients

Baby Gourmet uses only the very best, non-GMO organic ingredients – no fillers, added sugar, salt, or artificial preservatives of any kind – and 75% of their entire product offering is made in Canada. “We are most proud of our new innovation,” Carlson says, “A finger food line of lentil chickpea puffed snacks that are made in Saskatchewan.”

Canadian authenticity – from their kitchen to yours.

“Jill and I create every single product that comes out of Baby Gourmet,” says Carlson, “Every product starts in our kitchen and then moves into production under our watchful eye.” This hands-on process keeps Baby Gourmet at the forefront of the Canadian baby food market. “We use our motherly instincts to decide which flavours to bring to market and have a deep understanding of our fellow moms and what they want for their babies.”

Growing Canadian success (and Canadian babies!)

“We feel strongly about strengthening communities and local economies. We can do this by supporting the passionate Canadians behind Proudly Canadian brands,” says Carlson, “London Drugs has been a key partner of Baby Gourmet for the last 8 years and are an integral part of helping put the best organic baby food into the mouths of Canadian babies!”

Here’s to growing them big and strong.

Shop baby gourmet online here.

To find out more about our Proudly Canadian program, click here.

Meet the Canadian Rebels Who Want to Transform the Ordinary into Moments of Joy.