There has been a noticeable shift in the way Canadians are shopping.
Over the past couple of years, conversations about tariffs, trade, rising costs and our relationship with the United States have made many Canadians take a closer look at where the products they buy actually come from.
The “Buy Canadian” movement isn't just a slogan anymore. For many shoppers, it has become a conscious choice about where they want their money to go.
And as we head toward another holiday shopping season, that choice can make a particularly meaningful difference when you're looking for gifts.
Why Are Canadians Buying More Canadian?
The current push to buy Canadian has been influenced by several things happening at once.
Trade tensions between Canada and the United States have made headlines repeatedly, including the announcement of new U.S. tariffs of up to 50% on certain Canadian imports beginning August 19, 2026.
But tariffs aren't the only reason Canadians are paying attention.
After years of rising costs, supply-chain disruptions and uncertainty about where products come from, consumers are increasingly thinking about the impact of their purchasing decisions.
Research from the Bank of Canada found that Canadians continued to express a strong preference for buying domestic goods and services, while other surveys have found that a large majority of Canadians say they are buying—or are likely to buy—more Canadian products in response to tariffs.
For many people, it has become a simple question:
If I'm going to spend the money anyway, why not keep more of it here?
Buying Canadian Helps Support Real People
When you buy from a large international retailer, your purchase is one transaction among millions.
When you buy from a Canadian artist or small business, it can be much more personal.
Your purchase might help an artist buy materials for their next collection.
It might help a small business pay for a market booth, website, studio space or new equipment.
It might allow a maker to spend another day doing the work they love.
That's one of the things I appreciate most about being part of Canada's handmade community.
Behind every handmade product is a person.
Your Gift Can Support a Canadian Artist
This is especially meaningful when you're buying gifts.
Instead of choosing another mass-produced item, you can give someone something created by a Canadian artist or maker.
That might be handmade pottery from a local ceramic artist.
A piece of jewellery from a Canadian designer.
A wooden serving board made by a Canadian woodworker.
A painting from an emerging artist.
Or a piece of handcrafted glass made right here in Alberta.
The gift becomes more than something wrapped in paper.
It becomes a way of supporting the creative community that made it.
Canadian-Made Doesn't Have to Mean "Boring"
When people hear “buy Canadian,” they sometimes think of practical necessities.
But Canadian makers create an incredible variety of beautiful, creative and completely unique products.
Canada has artists, designers, woodworkers, ceramicists, jewellers, textile artists, glass artists and makers working in every imaginable medium.
And because you're often buying directly from the person who made the piece, you can find things that simply aren't available in a conventional retail store.
That's one of the best parts of shopping handmade.
You never quite know what you'll discover.
The Gift Becomes Part of the Story
I think this is particularly true with handmade gifts.
When someone receives a piece of handmade artwork, they can often tell you something about it.
Where it came from.
Who made it.
Why the giver chose it.
Maybe the colours reminded them of the recipient.
Maybe the piece represents a favourite flower or animal.
Maybe it was made by an artist from their own province.
Those details give the gift a story.
And stories are what turn objects into keepsakes.
What Does Buying Canadian Mean in My Studio?
I'm a full-time Canadian glass artist working from my studio in Alberta.
When you purchase one of my pieces, you're supporting a small Canadian art business—but you're also supporting the materials, equipment, education and time that go into maintaining an independent creative practice.
My work is inspired by the Canadian landscape and the natural world around me, and I create everything from glass jewellery and flowers to ornaments and sculptural pieces.
Some of my work is created using flame and molten glass. Other pieces are made through kiln forming, fusing or pâte de verre.
Every piece starts in my studio and ends up with someone who has chosen to bring a little piece of Canadian-made art into their home.
That connection is incredibly meaningful to me.
Buying Canadian Doesn't Have to Mean Buying Everything Canadian
There's no need for perfection.
Most of us can't—or don't want to—trace the origin of every single thing we purchase.
And sometimes the Canadian option simply isn't available, practical or affordable.
That's okay.
Buying Canadian can be about making intentional choices where you can.
Maybe it's choosing a Canadian-made gift for someone special.
Maybe it's visiting a local maker's market instead of a large retailer.
Maybe it's purchasing artwork directly from an artist.
Maybe it's choosing a Canadian business when two similar options are available.
Small choices add up.
This Christmas, Give a Gift With a Little More Meaning
As the holiday season approaches, Canadians will once again be searching for unique Christmas gifts for family, friends, coworkers and loved ones.
This year, consider looking a little closer to home.
Choose a gift made by a Canadian artist.
Support a small Canadian business.
Visit a local maker.
Buy something created by hand.
Because when you buy Canadian-made, you're not simply choosing where a product was manufactured.
You're choosing where your money goes, who it supports and what kind of creative community you want to help build.
And that's a pretty meaningful gift in itself.
Looking for Canadian-Made Gifts?
My handcrafted glass artwork is created in Alberta and includes nature-inspired jewellery, glass flowers, ornaments and sculptural pieces.
If you're looking for a unique Canadian-made gift, explore the collection at krystaljones.ca and discover something handmade by an independent Canadian artist.
