Here's my sad sad story. Need a new pair of winter boots, wanted to buy Canadian. Spent several hours, over a period of several days, scouring the footwear depts of traditionally Canadian retailers - Sears, The Hudson Bay Co., Zellers, even Canadian Tire. ANd gave up in disgust.

Could I find even ONE pair of reasonably priced, half decent-looking, comfortable, waterproof, warm'n cuddly CANADIAN snow boots, in Canadian stores, at the beginning of winter?   

Nope. There's no such thing as Great Canadian boots anymore, I guess! Everything here is made in China. Or Taiwan. Or Korea. For instance, here in Barrie, The Bay offers at least 60 styles of ladies winter boots. About 4 of those are Made in Canada. And the Cdn choices are uncomfortable (at least on my feet!), twice the price, and twice as ugly as the Chinese models.

Oh well, if I get a new pair of laces and spray 'em down good with waterproofing, the pair I have might last another season before they fall apart. Got'em at Zellers, 9 years ago. Made in Canada. They are quite the relic now, I guess.

Tried to shop Canadian for Christmas this year, too. I've given up on that as well. For just one example - everything in the "Roots" outlets - you know, the store where every item is adorned with a HUGE red maple leaf or two - is made in China or Vietnam. Same for "Northern Reflections" and "Soft Moc". Even good ole "Canadian" art calendars, featuring scenes of the Alberta Rockies or Ottawa or artwork from the Group of Seven - all are made in the US, printed in Taiwan.

I don't understand why I let this bug me so much. Maybe I'm just a dinosaur for still wanting to buy Canadian? It's a lifelong habit I'll have to get over, painfully or otherwise. I'm working on it.

So, want to "give Canadian" for Christmas? Best stay away from retailers altogether, and create your own gifts then. Thanks for a chance to vent,

daylia