Canada. I love my country. I love everything about it – yes even the cold and snow (until the end of January, then that’s enough!).

I am a very proud Canadian. Bet you couldn’t tell that from the name of my blog, eh? Or maybe it’s the subtle hint of the beaver logo that gave me away?

One of my favourite things about blogging is the opportunity I get to showcase some of the best of the best we have here in Canada. Whether it’s a good ol’ Canadian brew, a great Canadian travel destination, or quality Canadian products, I love sharing my love of all things Canadian with you.

That’s why, when the folks from Parks Canada asked me to help them spread the word about the new Parks Canada Shop, the first words out of my mouth were those great Royal Canadian Air Farce catchphrases “You got that right! You betcha! Tell me about it! Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah!”

THIS LAND IS YOUR BRAND

For those of you who thought Parks Canada was just our network of national parks, here’s a surprise. There’s more to this guardian of our nation’s treasured parks!

The Parks Canada Shop offers a made-in-Canada line of high quality, casual apparel, “designed to provide Canadians with a tangible expression of the pride, passion, and love they have for their country.”

The Parks Canada Original collection of Canadian apparel was designed by award-winning Toronto fashion designer, Roger Edwards. You may already know of Roger’s work. He was the first to combine sport with vintage clothing for professional sports teams in the NHL, CFL, NFL, NBA and Team Canada. That’s a pretty impressive résumé!

MADE IN CANADA

So much of the clothing we buy these days is made overseas. If I’m honest, I don’t spend too much time thinking about where my clothing is made – until a shop like Parks Canada Shop comes along.

“Parks Canada Official Merchandise is the authentic Canadian brand that celebrates the most beautiful places of this great nation – the magnificent natural spaces that are envied the world over, and the rich cultural and historical legacy of the people who call it home. The designs are simple, pure of heart, made to last, and as much as possible Made in Canada. Every purchase of Parks Canada Official Merchandise is a tangible expression of genuine Canadian pride.”

I’ve already fallen head-over-heels in love with this premium Canadian clothing line for a few reasons:

• all clothing is made in Canada
• Parks Canada Shop Original Clothing is designed by a Canadian designer
• a portion of the proceeds of all Parks Canada Shop merchandise goes to support our National Parks, Historic Sites and Marine Conservation Areas (I LOVE this)
• Parks Canada Original clothing is classic, comfortable, stylish casual apparel, designed with Canadian pride in mind
• all clothing is durable and made to last
• the vintage Parks Canada beaver logo – a logo all Canadians are familiar with! Yes, another Canadian beaver logo to love!
• wearing this clothing gives me a warm and fuzzy Canadiana feeling

I also love the great attention to detail in the Parks Canada Original clothing line. For example, the caps we received have an embroidered Canadian flag and Parks Canada logo on the back, and the caps are lined with a Parks Canada Original ribbon inside the cap.

Then there are the tags. I don’t usually pay much attention to tags (who does?!), but what I do like about the tags on the Parks Canada Shop clothing is that they are all individually pinned with a tiny pin, and twine, to each garment. Just another taste of the attention to detail in Parks Canada Original clothing.

The minute you slip into a Parks Canada Original hoodie, like the ones we received, the quality is unmistakable. These are garments that have been built to last. Made with a comfy cozy, durable cotton, impeccable stitching, these sleek fitting hoodies would bring a smile to any Canadian on Christmas morning. We adore ours.

OFFICIAL MERCHANDISE OF THE TRUE CANADIAN SPIRIT

Doing some of your holiday shopping at Parks Canada Shop is a great way to get family and friends a “made in Canada” gift that is both stylish and unique!  They’ve got a great selection of both men’s, women’s, and youth fashions, headwear, bags, and Parks Canada gear. For family living abroad, imagine what a treat it would be for them to receive a package of Canadian goodies from the Parks Canada Shop!

Don’t forget – a gift from Parks Canada Shop is a gift that gives back, with a portion of your purchase going to support our great Canadian outdoor parks, historic sites, and conservation areas.

While we didn’t receive any of these – have you seen the Parks Canada Shop Original Bags? They look fabulous! I’ve got my eye on the laptop bag and weekender bag! Love the look of them!

This Christmas, shop local, shop Canadian, and shop with pride at Parks Canada Shop! You can find Parks Canada Shop merchandise at a few select locations. Otherwise, online shopping on the Parks Canada Shop website is available 24/7!

To keep up-to-date on all the latest from the great folks at Parks Canada Shop, including news and promotions, you can follow Parks Canada Shop on Twitter, Like Parks Canada Shop on Facebook, and follow Parks Canada Shop on Instagram.

Disclosure: Canadian Blog House received clothing in exchange for this blog post. All opinions are our own.