At Rebel, we love a good Canadian website. What sets one apart is their national pride, their commitment to doing good and their .CA domain. We’ve rounded up a few of the most Canadian sites out there (listed in alphabetical order, because playing favourites wouldn’t be very Canadian!):
BEAUS.ca
For award-winning craft brewer Beau’s All Natural Brewing Co., being humble and down-to-earth is a winning approach. “We know our customers by name and we remember when they last tweeted or emailed us,” say the folks at Beau’s. “A .CA domain identifies us with being proudly Canadian without us even having to say it.”
CANADIANTIRE.ca
Canadian Tire has been selling Canadians their hockey gear, snow tires and leaf blowers for decades. They’ve made a commitment to accessibility, even for those in remote locations—and with nearly 500 locations nation-wide, more than 90% of the population now lives within 15 minutes of a Canadian Tire store. Plus, they have given over $56 million back to local communities through their Jumpstart Charities program.
CBC.ca
No list of .CA websites would be complete without the CBC, Canada’s national broadcasting entity. They broadcast on radio and television in English, French and several Native languages, and produce iconic programs like Hockey Night in Canada that many Canadians have grown up with. They also provide funding and support for emerging Canadian musicians, writers and more. When the CBC was looking for a home on the web back in 1996, a .CA domain was the obvious choice.
MANITOBAH.ca
Sean McCormick is keeping Aboriginal artisanship alive with Manitobah Mukluks, an online retailer that crafts authentic mukluks and moccasins by hand. Part of their proceeds go to the Centre for Aboriginal Human Resource Development (CAHRD), which helps young Aboriginal entrepreneurs go into business.
Today, the popular footwear is available through retailers like Nordstrom, Holt Renfrew and Town Shoes—but they still count their .CA website as their flagship store.
MEALSHARE.ca
Edmonton residents Jeremy Bryant and Andrew Hall started Mealshare in 2013, with the goal of reducing hunger in their hometown. Participating restaurants donate a meal to someone in need every time someone buys one of the specially marked options off their menu.
“We chose a Canadian domain because we’re proud to be a Canadian organization, and by using .CA, it helps to communicate that to the public,” say Bryant and Hall. “As Canadians, we want to help our neighbors and we want to see everyone do well.”
MEC.ca
Mountain Equipment Co-op, the popular Canadian outdoor retailer, has over 4 million members across the country—and community is a huge part of what they do. Along with their amazing expertise on everything outdoors, they count on their .CA domain to build brand trust.
NFB.ca
The National Film Board of Canada allows viewers to stream over 3,000 film productions absolutely free of charge, from documentaries to animation and experimental films. They also offer a subscription service to schools, because every student should have access to films about their Canadian heritage.
