There is a certain orange neighbour to the south who delights in pretending Canada does not matter. He huffs, he puffs, he slaps tariffs on our goods, and thrives on chaos. After nine months of this nonsense, Canadians have shifted from alarmed to annoyed to done. We have reached the grey rock stage. Nothing he says shocks us anymore and that indifference is powerful.
The silver lining in all this has been a national wake-up call. Why have we been sending so many of our hard-earned loonies to companies that could not care less about us or our values.
Since all of this began, I have been gradually shifting my spending. I understand that change takes time and money does not grow on maple trees. For many of us, food on the table will always come first. For those of us who can, choosing Canadian ethical brands is an act of future-proofing our own country. Yes, shopping really is that deep.
Even before this political circus, I was drawn to brands that treat people and the planet properly. Now I want those brands to be Canadian too. I want to know where my dollars go, who they help, and what they stand for. I want to feel proud when I shop.
I discovered the companies below while planning the very first Girl Trips retreat. My criteria were simple. They had to be Canadian. They had to care about sustainability, quality, and community. They had to be run by people with heart, because brand values come from humans. The product is only half the story. The people behind the brand are what make it worth supporting. I have also included my own company in the spirit of full transparency, and because the person behind it happens to love Canada with her whole maple-syrup-soaked heart.
These five companies tick every box. They make outstanding products, they make Canada better, or they do both. That is a win for all of us.
Why Supporting Canadian Ethical Brands Matters
Being an ethical consumer in 2025 is hard. We have competing priorities and shrinking budgets. For many of us, feeding our families and keeping the lights on comes first, as it should. Not everyone can shop local or pay more for better quality. There is no shame here.
If, however, you are able and can shift even a small portion of your spending to Canadian ethical brands, it matters more than you know. Every dollar that stays in Canada helps keep people employed, strengthens our communities, and supports the businesses that reflect our values. When Canadian companies grow, they hire more people, they innovate, and they reinvest here at home. A rising tide lifts all boats. Supporting Canadian ethical brands means we rise together.
Every time we choose a Canadian ethical brand, we keep jobs, innovation, and talent in our own backyard. We reduce shipping waste and carbon footprints. We invest in fair wages. We buy products that last longer instead of filling landfills. Most importantly, we help good people succeed.
If we want a stronger, kinder, and more sustainable Canada, it starts with changing where we shop.
Canadian Ethical Brands I Love and Support
Grosche
My Grosche tumbler comes everywhere with me. It keeps drinks cold for ages, it is easy to clean (yes, you must clean your water bottle daily), and it has already survived more chaotic travel moments than I want to admit. The quality is solid and stylish.
But I hear you, tumblers are a dime a dozen, and social media wants us to believe we need a whole rainbow of them. That, however, defeats the point of sustainability. The goal is to buy one thing that works well and be done with it. In this case, that one thing also helps someone else access safe drinking water. Win. Win.
Every purchase provides more than 50 days of safe drinking water for someone in need through the Grosche Safe Water Project
Grosche is a Canadian company with a big heart. Founded by Helmi and Mehreen in 2006 after their family experienced waterborne illness firsthand, they set out to build a social enterprise that changes lives. Every product sold helps fund the Safe Water Project, which installs long lasting Biosand water filters in communities affected by water insecurity. One purchase provides more than 50 days of safe water for someone who needs it. These filters can support families of up to ten people and last up to thirty years. That is real impact.
They also make beautifully designed drinkware, French presses, pour over brewers, teapots, and mugs. Quality over clutter. Good design over waste. Purpose over performative greenwashing.
If you are looking for a gift that genuinely feels good to give, this is one. Christmas, birthdays, your friend who always steals your water bottle. Just make sure to share the story, because the story is what matters most.
Understory Botanicals
Not everyone will get the chance to meet Maria from Understory Botanicals, but I did, and let me tell you, she is the real deal. There is something grounding about meeting the person behind the products you use every day. Knowing the faces and stories behind the brands we support has never been more important, because we are being reminded in real time that where our money gets filtered matters.
Maria’s story is one of quiet determination and artistry. What started as a small skincare studio has grown into a thriving business built around her own gardens, her hands, and her vision. She grows many of her ingredients herself, right down to the botanicals that inspire her product names. And now she has sheep, because of course she does. They fit perfectly into her growing ecosystem of sustainability and creativity. Trust me, this is a ride you want to get on early, because Maria is going places.
Her products are thoughtful, beautifully packaged, and made with both science and soul. My personal favourites start with her shampoo and conditioner, which somehow manage to handle all my hair woes in one bottle—environmentally friendly, hard water from my well, colour-damaged, and fine hair. The Blue Velvet Cleansing Balm has become a nightly ritual I look forward to; it’s like ending my day at the spa. And her Super Quench and Midnight Recovery creams are pure heaven for dry, aging, Canadian-winter-exposed skin.
Made in small batches with botanicals grown on her own land
Understory Botanicals – handcrafted skincare from rural Ontario
If you are new to Understory, start with a Discovery Kit. You will immediately understand why people fall hard for this brand. Supporting Maria means supporting a woman who pours heart, ethics, and craftsmanship into everything she makes—and your skin will thank you.
Andback Coffee
I first came across Andback Coffee while researching Canadian brands for my Girl Trips retreats. The moment I read their story, I knew I wanted to know more, and that led me to invite founder Roxanne Joyal onto What She Said. After speaking with her, it was clear: this is not just another coffee company.
Roxanne’s background could fill a book; Rhodes Scholar, Stanford and Oxford graduate, former Supreme Court of Canada clerk, and now the founder of a woman-powered Canadian coffee brand that is transforming lives across the globe. Andback Coffee sources its beans from women-led and women-inclusive cooperatives in coffee-growing regions along the equator, ensuring that women earn fair wages, gain access to land ownership and banking, and build dignified, sustainable futures.
For every dollar a woman earns in the Global South, ninety cents goes back into her family and community. That is the economic ripple effect Roxanne has dedicated her career to amplifying. Andback’s partnerships with Fairtrade and local initiatives go even further, supporting Indigenous bee hotels in Ecuador and agricultural training that improves both coffee quality and yield.
Every cup empowers women coffee growers
Andback Coffee is Canadian-owned, woman-powered, and Fairtrade connected
So, yeah, this isn’t guilt coffee, it’s joyful coffee. It’s what happens when you blend purpose with premium beans. The brand primarily serves workplaces, hotels, and airlines (B2B if you like your jargon), but it’s also available online for home brewers who want their daily ritual to mean something more.
As Roxanne told me during our interview, “Our job in life is to find our purpose and bring it into the world.” That’s exactly what she’s doing—one cup at a time.
Encircled
Encircled first popped up for me on Threads when I started following founder Kristi Soomer. Her honesty about tariffs, Shopify, and the reality of making clothes in Canada made me want to know more. Then she joined me on What She Said and confirmed what I already suspected. This is a brand worth backing.
Encircled is Canadian-made, Toronto sewn, and built for women who want fewer, better clothes. The whole thing started with the Chrysalis Cardi because Kristi was tired of overpacking. That mindset is still there. One piece, many ways, high-quality fabric, made close to home.
Encircled: Canadian-made clothes that actually last
Designed in Toronto, sewn in Toronto, using sustainable fabrics for real women.
What makes Encircled matter in 2025 more than ever is that Kristi is still paying Canadian makers, still using sustainable fabrics, and still trying to keep prices reasonable while the U.S. piles on tariffs that make it harder for Canadian fashion brands to ship south. If we want brands like this to survive, Canadians have to buy them.
Where to start: the dressy sweatpants, the Chrysalis Cardi, or a good Canadian-made tee that is not see-through. Then tell a friend.
Girl Trips
Girl Trips was born out of a simple idea: women need connection. After years in media, travel, and community building, I saw that women, especially those over 50, were craving something real again. Technology promised connection but delivered distraction. So I created Girl Trips, a connection company cleverly disguised as a travel company.
I design small-group getaways for women who want to rediscover joy, friendship, and adventure while exploring Canada. From weekend escapes in Almonte and Perth to retreats along the Rideau Canal, every trip supports local economies, Canadian-made products, and women-led businesses. It is tourism with heart, where the destination matters as much as the company you keep.
Each retreat is built on three pillars: community, sustainability, and pride in Canada. I partner with small Canadian businesses that share these values—wineries, bakeries, artisans, and wellness studios—ensuring that every dollar spent stays local. The women who join come from every walk of life, but they all share one thing: the desire for genuine connection.
Girl Trips: Travel Canada. Share the Adventure. Make Memories.
Small-group getaways designed by Candace Sampson for women ready to reconnect with joy, friendship, and Canada.
Girl Trips is part of a cultural correction. After years online, women are choosing real-world experiences again. They are ready to unplug, laugh, and remember what it feels like to be seen. I simply build the space for that to happen.
Learn more or join the next trip: girltrips.ca
Looking for more inspiration and even more great Canadian ethical brands? Check out Unique Canadian Gift Ideas for thoughtful presents that support local makers and Canadian businesses.
Things to Do in Westport, Ontario: Ultimate Lakeside Weekend Guide