7 Companies With Canadian Roots You Might Not Have Known About
Canadians are always more than willing to tout the achievements of various celebrities from the Great White North. However, there's not always as much vocal support for Canadian companies, even if they've found worldwide success. There are plenty of major corporations that have their roots in Canada.
These brand names have expanded beyond their humble beginnings from coast to coast in order to become recognized all across the globe.
From winter jackets and yoga pants to revolutionary film technology, these are corporations that Canadians should be proud to call their own.
Editor's Choice: 8 Store Closures In Canada That We All Had To Deal With In 2020
Lululemon
The company may now be synonymous with yoga pants at this point, but no one knew how big Lululemon was going to be when it got its start in Vancouver back in 1998.
The original location began its life as a "design studio by day and yoga studio by night."
Herschel
You've probably seen people all over the place sporting Herschel backpacks, from Toronto to Manhattan.
What you might not know is that the company was founded over 10 years ago in Vancouver by brothers Lyndon and Jamie Cormack.
A Slate article on Herschel said the bags have become a "global phenomenon," and that they are "glimpsed wherever hipsters dare to tread."
Aritzia
The stylish looks found at Aritzia also have their roots in Canada's west coast.
The company founded by Brian Hill in 1984 opened its first store in Vancouver and has continued to grow from there.
BioWare
Anyone who has indulged in games like Mass Effect, Dragon Age, and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is probably familiar with the name BioWare.
What they might not know is that the video game company responsible for some of the best-known RPG titles out there was formed by three medical doctors in Edmonton, Alberta all the way back in 1995.
Yogen Früz
If you ever spent the day at a mall in Canada during the 90s and early 2000s, you probably took a shopping break with a treat from Yogen Früz.
Despite its distinctly European-sounding name, the early purveyor of frozen yogurt actually got its start in Toronto way back in 1986.
Arc'teryx
Canada Goose may be more widely known as the nation's premier winter coat company, but Arc'teryx is also known for its quality cold-weather gear.
The company, which got its start in Vancouver making climbing equipment under the name Rock Solid in 1989, has since grown into a globally recognized brand.
IMAX
IMAX has been used in the production of breathtaking documentaries and major feature films like Tenet and Avengers: Endgame.
The technology got its start during the nation's centennial when three Canadian filmmakers developed the earliest form of IMAX for Expo 67.
Three years later, they debuted the domed theatre projection system in Japan, and IMAX has been a part of the film industry ever since.