About Canada

Two of the things that I really like about running the store are having having people go ‘wow how neat!’ and the other is making them smile.

People do often thank us for what we do both in store and online and we keep a testimonial page.

Sometimes they make me smile back, like the one yesterday from Lauralee of the USA (reproduced with her consent)

Dear Richard and All,

I am wearing my gold-gilt necklace and earrings (Jacques Bastien)which arrived about 10 minutes ago!

I love them- however it meant I had to take off my Aurora diamond Dreamcatcher necklace (also from you) to do it. Such a wonderful dilemma!

They are gorgeous and even prettier than the photo on the website- I’m so glad I couldn’t resist getting them.

Thanks for such beautiful products!

The flowers at that altitude are small and only bloom for a short period but yesterday the alpine meadows were in full bloom and the colour just went as far as the eye could see. It was beautiful, the best that I have seen it. (click on the photos to see them better)

That made me smile too!.

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We have a couple of neat pieces in the Active Moose line from BC artist Jack Willoughby that are very topical.

This weekend is the dragon boat race at Lake Minnewanka in Banff. We took part a couple of years ago and its such good fun.

Being topical I thought I would show you the Moose Rowers ornament.

Those out there with a rowing connection might like this one. Tell me if you do.

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So, according to the paper, the bears have started to emerge from hibernation, in Banff National Park. I think that the photo, by Dan Rafla, is pretty neat.

By coincidence at About Canada, in Banff, we have been re-photographing our product from the Canadian Hoselton family, which includes a line of bears.

The following are the old style followed by the new. I think you will agree that the newly photographed look fresher and invigorated, like a bear should after a nice long rest.

Click on the link to go to the product in store

Let me know if you like the refreshed photos.

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This week at About Canada, in Banff we have taken a lovely vibrant new line from Renee Bovet, from Quebec.

With the exception of her Banff Springs piece.

Its not really “Banff”, but to me it is has such a vivacity and joie de vivre that its quite the tonic as the winter drags on. I am torn between longing to lounge on the deck at a cabin.

Or wander the streets of a town in Provence, France.

Let us know how you like this line.

Click on the link to go to the product in store

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It snowed all day yesterday here in Banff. I went for a drive and the scenery was just like a new original oil painting that we have taken called Into the Storm that we have taken in from Christine Ford.

Christine is a talented young Banff Artist. I love the way she seems to capture the light in the scenes that she depicts.

When you click to look at Christine’s work you will see what I mean. Which is your favourite?.

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I cross country skied in to Skoki Lodge, a back country lodge about 12 km from the Lake Louise ski hills, this week.

Though it was blowing a blizzard on the way in it was tremendous fun but pretty hard work.

I was reminded of the neat Nathalie Parenteau print that we carry at About Canada, Banff called Skijor.

We now have this in both large and small sizes, a great piece if you are a cross country skier.

I love both cross country and downhill. One big plus with Xcountry is the comfortable boots!. Do you do both, if so what do you like most?.

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Thank you for all those that have found the ideas series helpful and purchased online. Its now only two weeks to Christmas and we are in the home run with those Christmas gift ideas.

Gift Idea number 8

I mentioned a couple of weeks ago how I love the Canadian made fleeces from Graham Howard and realised that they really must be in the top ten of gift ideas. (now that’s an interesting future idea, a top ten list.

This line is popular year round at About Canada but especially in the colder months. Personally I prefer the full zip jacket but, as a rule, the ladies seem to prefer the quarter zip pullover version (did I mention these are unisex).

Click on the link to go to the product in store

Check out the range, which is your favourite?.

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Three weeks to Christmas and we use our own Christmas gift idea.

Gift Idea number 7

This weekend sees Santa’s parade through Banff. We have a gift idea for the kids / grandchildren that we think is such a good present we will be giving one ourselves as one of the items donated to the Santa’s anonymous appeal. (Santa’s Anonymous is an appeal for food and presents to help make a better Christmas for the less well off in Banff)

The item is the new childrens book ‘Canadian Rockies ABC’, by local artist Max Elliott.

This book has gone very well this year in store and been a real success.

Click on the link to go to the product in store

Max illustrates mountain landscapes, wildlife, and activities using colourful painting and collage. Her original artwork combined with simple phrases creates a unique opportunity for endless fun while learning the alphabet.

In between being captivated by the illustrations, children will learn that B stands Bear and H is for Hiking.

At the back of the book, local children talk about their favourite things to do and places to see throughout the Canadian Rockies.

What would your children (or the child in you) put.

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The time slips away and now it’s only five weeks to Christmas. The Christmas gift ideas continue.

Gift Idea number 5

Its November the snow is here and the ski season draws near and our anticipation builds. A really neat work we have in the gallery is the piece “Dream Day” by BC artist Cori Ross

Click on the link to go to the product in store

To me this says it all, do you like it?.

As you can see, if you go online this comes as both a limited edition and a smaller open edition print – making it suitable as a big present or a stocking filler.

I am counting down to getting my skis on, there are some runs open, with Sunshine opening tomorrow, have you been out yet this year?

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So, I hate be the one to tell you but it’s only nine weeks to Christmas. We will start giving you some Christmas gift ideas, this is one of a series.

Gift Idea number 1

We will start with one for everyone. One item that continues to be popular with locals and occasional visitors to our store is the classic book of Bruno Engler’s black and white photography.

Click on the link to go to the product in store

Swiss born and raised to be an accomplished Mountain Guide Bruno emigrated to Canada in 1939 and settled in the Banff area where he could pursue his passions for the mountains and photography.

Bruno was a fun loving man with an unbridled passion for adventure who could always make those around him laugh and had the incredible talent to capture the perfect moment on film. He was something of a local legend with a bar and ski run named after him.

I put this idea first as it is a little on the heavy side and we are already near the cut off for getting things by sea to Europe (October 25th).

Have you started Christmas shopping yet, let us know if you have any great ideas for presents.

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