How Your Co-op Can Buy Canadian
10 April 2025 Diplomatic and economic relations between Canada and the USA have left many Canadians putting more thought into their purchases, wanting to buy local, while remaining conscious of higher prices a trade war can bring.
The Co-operative Housing Federation of BC has a long-standing history of prioritizing local businesses, from using local printers for event materials, to sourcing local vendors for our group buying program.
We’ve collected some examples of how your co-op can find savings while also buying Canadian.
RONA has long-standing ties in Canada, with corporate headquarters in Quebec. They have over 6500 products that are Canadian-made, which they clearly mark in-store with a ‘Well Made Here’ logo. RONA is also a long-time group buying partner, offering discounts to both co-ops and to individual resident members. Learn more and sign up for your discount here.
Trail Appliances has been Canadian owned and operated since founded in 1974. As a CHF BC group buying partner, they give co-ops of all sizes access to volume-based discounts usually only available to larger corporations. While appliances are often made with multiple parts that cross multiple borders, Trail can help guide you to brands that offer high-quality products at reasonable prices. They also carry products from Stirling Marathon, a family-owned appliance manufacturer in Elora, Ontario, who operates a 100,000-square-foot facility, the only one of its kind in Canada.
Danube Kitchens boasts products designed and crafted in Canada. Their offerings include custom design, fabrication, and installation of cabinets, made from high-quality solid plywood sourced in British Columbia and milled in their local workshop, with a variety of made-in-Canada door styles. Their professional installation teams live and work in our local community.
Vancity and Coast Capital Savings are both local banking institutions. They offer individual services, and co-ops can join the CHIP program with either institute though CHF BC. CHIP turns small individual co-op accounts into one large depositor, making them all eligible for higher interest rates. The larger the total amount on deposit, the higher the interest rate. Learn more.
TELUS is a Canadian owned and operated telecommunications company with a long history of supporting local communities. Through our Group Buying program, resident members can enjoy exclusive savings on TELUS Internet and Optik TV.
Looking to support Canadian co-operatives for day-to-day purchases as well? Learn more about some you can find right here in BC.