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Across Canada’s tech sector, it’s no longer unusual for companies to prioritize Europe. With over 450 million consumers and $20 trillion in gross domestic product, Europe’s size and sophistication have long been attractive, but recent global tensions are now accelerating Canadian interest.

Vena’s move to Europe began in earnest in 2019 with the opening of its London office and the hiring of a regional sales leader. At the time, the platform was only available in English, making the United Kingdom and Ireland natural entry points. But from the outset, the company planned to expand into new languages and markets across the continent.

Historically, Canadian tech companies have looked to the US to scale. But trade tensions with the US and broader political shifts have prompted founders and investors to reconsider that default. Calls to build a domestic ecosystem that is less reliant on American markets are growing louder.

Vena’s expansion was driven by demand long before the trade war began, but today, its European division is its fastest-growing business unit. The company, which reached centaur status last year by hitting $100 million USD in annual recurring revenue, is now planning to expand across the DACH region, which comprises Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, through a mix of internal hiring and external partnerships.

“Europe is a key component of our market diversification strategy and will be an important growth lever for us for years to come,” Madeley added.

Beyond market size, Pichette pointed to Europe’s artificial intelligence and FinTech ecosystems as major draws for Canadian startups. In nations like the UK, open banking frameworks have created fertile ground for startups and scaleups—frameworks introduced under the oversight of Canada’s prime minister during his time as Governor of the Bank of England.

Together, these factors have made Europe a compelling alternative to the US for Canadian tech founders with global ambitions.

I was able to get this tub at Food Basics since it was on sale. I'm absolutely hooked on this flavour, it's full of peanut butter, cookie dough, and brownie chunks it's such a good combo.

I paid $6 for this 1.5L tub, but I think the regular price is around $7.50

Link to the companies website if you wanna read more about them: https://www.shawsicecream.com/

Healthy food is hard to come by in northern Manitoba. Food shipped from the south is prohibitively expensive and is often stale, and the climate and soil in the region don’t support much traditional outdoor farming.

This issue disproportionately impacts northern Indigenous communities, many of which have moved away from traditional food practices, creating a supply problem with far-reaching health consequences.

The Opaskwayak Cree Nation (OCN), located south of Flin Flon near the Saskatchewan border, has taken bold steps to address diabetes and other health challenges facing its residents.

According to the OCN Health Authority, more than 40 per cent of adults in the community live with hypertension and diabetes. The implications of this epidemic are profound: not only are health-care costs soaring, but resources that could be allocated to other critical areas, such as infrastructure and education, are being diverted to manage the growing health crisis. In response, OCN has made improved access to nutritious foods a priority.

In 2016, the community launched a smart vertical farm (SVF), a cutting-edge indoor facility designed to grow fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs year-round. The SVF employs computer-controlled smart technology that optimizes growing conditions by adjusting factors such as light, humidity and CO2 levels, and nutrient delivery. This advanced system ensures that the farm produces high-quality produce, despite the harsh northern climate.

Additional links:

• https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/smart-farm-veggies-diabetes-research-1.7299870
• https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0889157520314824?via=ihub

There's no longer a need to support HH if you want to help Canadian companies. You can support Arc'teryx as an alternative.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oa2Iq2Gzt5U

https://inv.nadeko.net/watch?v=oa2Iq2Gzt5U

Scotts shop towels (the blue rolls) are American, and that seems to be all that's sold around here, including at Canadian Tire.

Any alternatives? I already use reusable rags, buy I need something disposable and also stronger than paper towels.