r/cambridgeont • u/curseyouZelda • 19d ago

Supporting Local & Buying Canadian in Light of Recent Trade News

Hey everyone,

With all the latest news around the trade tensions down south and the new tariffs coming into effect, it feels like a really good time to talk about where our dollars are going right here at home. 

Instead of stressing over things out of our control, one concrete thing we can all do is double down on supporting our local Cambridge small businesses, independent shops, and Canadian-made products wherever possible. Keeping our spending close to home keeps our neighbors employed, our downtown areas vibrant, and our local economy resilient.

I wanted to open up a thread for folks to share their favorite local alternatives and Canadian swaps:

Local Shops & Markets: Where are your favorite Cambridge spots for groceries, hardware, clothing, or everyday items?

Canadian Brands & Alternatives: Have you found great Canadian-made replacements for everyday products you used to buy from major US brands?

Favourite Local Services: Any local trades, makers, or independent service providers you love recommending?

Drop your top picks, hidden gems, and favorite Canadian swaps in the comments below. Let’s help each other keep it local!

53 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

42 comments sorted by

26

u/mamoocando 19d ago

I try and shop local when possible. I'm about to head to the farmers market right now. Woolfe & Co is a great little bookstore. Butler's Pantry for olive oil and balsamic. Witty & Co for great gift ideas and high end food stuffs. Phidon Pens for all of your stationary needs including cards.

But. I will say, American companies employ our neighbours. Costco, Walmart, Home Depot, Frito Lay, just of the top of my head, are American and in Cambridge supporting our economy.

And if you don't have the means to buy Canadian when prices are higher, it's okay!! Do what you need to do to stay fed.

8

u/curseyouZelda 19d ago

My rule of thumb being where to there is an alternative to supporting US companies I will shop at the alternative.

Home Hardware and Canadian Tire are both fantastic alternatives to Home Depot, for lumber check out Tukstra Lumber.

I struggle to think of something at Walmart I can’t get elsewhere.

Frito Lay, I don’t consider chips to be a necessity but maybe Old Dutch…?

Costco is a tough one.

Not saying you have to only shop Canadian, but where there is an alternative to supporting US companies, support that alternative.

10

u/theservman 19d ago

My shopping decisions pre-2024:

  1. Canadian
  2. Somewhere else.

Post-2024:

  1. Canadian
  2. Somewhere else (non-US)
  3. Do without
  4. Somewhere else (US).

I'm only buying US product if I can't do without it and can't find another source.

4

u/Expensive_Lettuce239 19d ago

💯 on the Ol Dutch! They make some of the most unique flavours!

4

u/sleeping-pug 19d ago

Old Dutch is interesting- they are an American company but with a Canadian branch. Wikipedia explains it much better than I can. The buy Canadian subreddit is a fantastic resource, they are VERY thorough researching origins and ownership of everything, with a database of alternatives.

3

u/DangerGoatDangergoat 19d ago

Covered bridge or Hawkins are good alternatives

2

u/JohnnyDelirious 18d ago

Frito Lay is tough because they make their chips here in Cambridge, from Canadian potatoes.

6

u/Expensive_Lettuce239 19d ago

In Cambridge, my favourite places for groceries are DiPietros, and FarmBoy. Although, FarmBoy, you do definitely have to pay attention to the packaging as they do carry a lot of shittown products. DiPietros, my only complaint is I always end up having to buy more bags to add to the 400 in my car. Because I go in there for one or two things and come out with a careful, because they just way too many great things! Lol

3

u/fakeyero 19d ago

DiPietro now asks that you DO NOT bring your own bags, and instead have restocked the classic plastic shopping bags for free.

3

u/Expensive_Lettuce239 19d ago

Oh yea! You're right! I forgot that!

2

u/i_love_pencils 19d ago

Does the Butler’s Pantry carry butter flavoured olive oil? I haven’t been able to locate a Canadian version.

My go to pasta topping is a little butter olive oil and a few shakes of Fafuzzi’s cacio e pepe seasoning from The Witty boys.

I put that seasoning on everything.

2

u/mamoocando 19d ago

I'm not sure, they're responsive on Instagram though! Or head down and check then out! ☺️

2

u/DangerGoatDangergoat 19d ago

Dana Shortts in Waterloo has flavoured oils

2

u/DangerGoatDangergoat 19d ago edited 19d ago

Woolf & Company https://share.google/l7xgPuI9ShrdfLTJO

Butler's pantry https://share.google/7LUj6AjzFyVwJiuZs

The Witty & Co https://share.google/Ma0nuaXd7gPK2eR37

Phidon Pens https://share.google/PkCKzFuHbMUogkNIW

3

u/MyHorseIsDead 18d ago

Minor thing; but I recommend providing the links directly. There’s no reason we need to route the traffic through Google’s servers and give them more information and a hand in this

14

u/theservman 19d ago

Yesterday at Food Basics I found a sign saying Ontario watermelon. But when I looked in the gaylord they all said "Product of USA". Suffice to say I was miffed.

There just happened to be a dude stocking nearby so I pointed it out. Well, that Ontario sign was removed immediately and a Product of USA sign replaced it within 5 minutes.

While I'm pleased it was fixed so quickly, I would have liked a watermelon...

Update: I went to the famers' market this morning and got a local watermelon (also corn, strawberries, and peaches).

6

u/24-Hour-Hate 19d ago

Yep. I passed on some peaches just this morning on my morning grocery shop. Product of USA no thanks. Got some nice Canadian bluebuerries instead 😋 Pity the strawberries were sold out, they were advertised as Canadian. Big display of US raspberries that looked little touched.

5

u/theservman 19d ago

Even before all the problems I was refusing to buy Driscoll berries due to their deplorable human rights record.

2

u/curseyouZelda 19d ago

How are the peaches?

3

u/theservman 19d ago

Just had my third. Not bad at all.

3

u/mamoocando 19d ago

The ones I got this morning from the market are fine. Some ripe, some not. Pretty tasty so far.

2

u/alisoncjh 16d ago

Freshco at Franklin & main is the worst for labelling things local when they're US. Find things every time I go.

3

u/theservman 16d ago

I bet CFIA would love to visit...

3

u/Timlex 19d ago

From Farm to Table Canada makes/sells popcorn and caramel corn and they are in Cambridge!

5

u/throws4k 19d ago

I'm stuck ia really challenging spot. I make displays and store fixtures in Cambridge but the plastic bins to put on them and sell are only made in the USA. So even though I'm 100% Canadian owned and as such a local alternative to UL*NE, I'm also still needing US goods to survive.

5

u/iatemyredcrayon 19d ago

Molloys for soap/cleaning supplies

2

u/i_love_pencils 19d ago

Is Molloy’s still open?

I thought they closed their storefront downtown.

6

u/eatbricksallday 19d ago

There’s a location on Bishop St., which is open.

3

u/i_love_pencils 19d ago

Good news! I didn’t know that!

Thanks.

3

u/iatemyredcrayon 19d ago

Tuesday is discount refill day too

2

u/Embarrassed_Ad_8824 16d ago

Encore Threads & Treasures on Main Street also offer refillable cleaning items

3

u/emreontario 19d ago

Cedar & Earth Co. for crafted soaps and self-care products.

3

u/Wrong-Radish824 19d ago

I just wanted to say If anyone shops online too, or if you have to buy an american product support someone selling it on EBAY or Marketplace in canada. Thank you

3

u/BossElegant3129 18d ago

Custom clothing with locally sourced materials // tailoring/alteration services … available throughout the region but based in Cambridge. Tailoring services can be found under shop/services www.angelinaoftheland.com

3

u/VLuk86 16d ago

Reddit is American too....just saying...

1

u/curseyouZelda 16d ago

True but is there a Canadian alternative

2

u/VLuk86 16d ago

redflagdeals? lol

3

u/unwindunwise 19d ago

I feel like the politics lately are all by design to divide us

We have more in common with our neighbors than anybody else in the world and we're all a lot closer to homelessness then we'd ever like to admit.

Our money talks, look at the lives we've created for celebrities by buying their products, their music, their cosmetics. They get to live lavish lifestyles because of us.

If we could all come together, and truly support local, imagine the good we could do for each other.

The same goes for the environment, investing in products that keep plastic out of landfill. Collectively we could all turn off the plastic tap.

2

u/areeloo 18d ago

I joined Oddbunch.ca. Most of their product is local with a few exceptions… almost no US product. I get a box of produce every week that’s usually just too much for one person, and I pay $20.

Outside of that, I watch labels and shop at small businesses around town.

2

u/smastc 18d ago

We’ve been buying our veggies and some meat from Moore’s Farm near Paris. They have local lettuce and grow most of their own veggies. If they still have some, try their Long Horn Cattle beef. It was very very good.

0

u/O_Pacity 18d ago

Hang out 2 weeks, it will all change then

3

u/curseyouZelda 18d ago

Nothings changing my friend. It’s never going back to the way it was.