94 Awesome Canadian Innovations: Happy Canada Day! (SUPER GALLERY)

To celebrate Canada Day, we’ve highlighted some of the top innovations from Canada. The country is extremely diverse in its landscape, people and, as is proven by the following incredible ideas, discoveries and design, Canada offers a wealthy index of innovation as well. 

It’s pretty neat to think all these ideas come from the same country, eh?

Travel & Tourism

Glamping in Clayoquot – Spoiled Urbanites Can Enjoy Nature Too

As summer approaches, warmer weather coaxes us outdoors again to enjoy Earth’s vast natural beauty. Thoughts of balmy evenings evoke happy childhood memories of camping and lazy nights under the stars.… [More]

Heli Yoga

You already knew about heli-skiing and heli-hiking… but did you know about heli yoga?  On a recent trip back to the Canadian Rockies, I discovered that Icefield Helicopter Tours in Alberta has launched… [More]

Ice Hotel Glace Quebec Canada (VIDEO)

The Ice Hotel Glace in Quebec-Canada is a reconstructed every year using 500 tons of ice.  The cool hotel, located 30 minutes west of Quebec City, operates from January to April each year. At the Ice… [More]

Helicopter Hotel - Sentry Mountain Lodge

If you need to get away from it all, go to the Sentry Mountain Lodge hotel in remote British Columbia, Canada. You’ll need to get there via helicopter, as that’s the only way the lodge can be accessed.… [More]

Art & Design

Waterfall Sinks 2 - CBD Glass Studio Designs (GALLERY)

This spectacular bathroom sink is like a manifestation of the water falling into it. The wall-mounted ‘Waterfall’ sink, available in 30”, 40” and 60” versions, is made with a process called glass… [More]

Google Earth Games - Where On Earth Is Waldo? (GALLERY)

Remember the Where’s Waldo books you loved as a kid? Now you can play the high-tech, ultra-modern version with Google Earth! Where On Earth Is Waldo? is the creation of Melanie Cole, a Media Art student… [More]

Aquatic Instrument - Keyboard Fountain at Ontario Science Centre (VIDEO)

Ontario Science Centre, a science museum in Toronto, Ontario, Canada has drawn attention of people of all ages by creating the most creative music instrument.
This keyboard fountain is a perfect combination… [More]

Stair Steps - DIY Storage Staircase (GALLERY)

Who says taking the stairs has to be boring? These staircases not only help you access additional floors of your living space, but they can actually be design center pieces within the architectural structures… [More]

Digitalized Children - Ray Caesar’s Surreal Art (GALLERY)

Ray Caesar (b. October 26, 1958) is a visual surreal artist and digital painter residing in Toronto, Canada. Caesar’s art redefines possibility and pushes the boundaries of digital art, moving away… [More]

Promoting Art With Hangovers - Toronto Original Contemporary Art Party (GALLERY)

I love this campaign for the Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery which tries to appeal to the young party crowd. Hey, whatever it takes to promote art is fine with me! The print ads promote the Original… [More]

Black Mirror - Who’s The Fairest? by HXFOUR

Clay Rochemont, aka “HXFOUR”, is pioneering the local art scene in Toronto, Canada. His latest work, “Who’s The Fairest?”, is a black mirror using a 1/4 inch thick piece of ultra high gloss acrylic.… [More]

Diamond Seat Rocks - Libeskind Chair for the Royal Ontario Museum (GALLERY)

As every architect with major self esteem does, Daniel Libeskind designed a chair. I coined this chair, The Diamond Chair, but its official name is Spirit House Chair. It was especially designed for the… [More]

Canadian Discoveries & Technologies

AIR Powered Go-Karts - Breathe In, Breathe Out (VIDEO)

Everybody is whining over the prices of gasoline and petroleum. It is fact one of the world’s most pressing concerns. Because of that, people are looking for alternatives to be used in powering vehicles.… [More]

Boat Flies On Wing-In-Ground Effect - Pacific Seaflights Wingship (GALLERY)

It’s a bird… it’s a plane… No! It’s a flying boat! WTF?! Pacific Seaflight is reinventing the coastal flying experience in a HUGE way. This one’s a little technical, but I’ll do my best. The Wing-In-Ground… [More]

Emotion-Sensitive Bags - LadyBag Helps the Forgetful (GALLERY)

The LadyBag makes sure you ladies will never forget your keys, mobiles or any important gadget before you leave the house. Developed by a team of six women at Canada’s Simon Fraser University, the LadyBag… [More]

Airplane Car - The Milner AirCar (GALLERY)

Enter the new fly-drive option for the adventurer - the Milner AirCar is both a airplane and a car blended into a curvaceous smooth finish; in the air it cruises at 200mph and upto 25,000 feet, while on… [More]

Web-Controlled Christmas Lights - Canadian Invention Controls & Programs Decorations

A resident of Ottawa developed a unique software program that allows anyone on the Net to control and program a unique pattern for Christmas Lights running live and in real time on this street of Ottawa… [More]

Heated Blades - Thermablade To Revolutionize Hockey (VIDEO)

Thermablades, a unique new invention, could revolutionize the sport of hockey, making it a whole lot faster. The blades are heated by a small electric current, creating a thin layer between the skate and… [More]

Regrow Your Teeth

Thanks to a Canadian invention, you will soon be able to regrow your own teeth. “A team of researchers from the Canadian University of Alberta researchers has created technology to regrow teeth - the… [More]

VitaCig - Healthy Cigarettes?

A Quebec company is producing a cigarette that contains vitamin C and claims not to stain teeth. The name of the new cigarette is “VitaCig”. Does anyone actually believe this? Since cigarettes still… [More]

HangBoarding - Trapeze Bolted to a Snowboard (VIDEO)

In 2001, a Canadian named Don Arney used his technical skill and his imagination aided, I’m guessing by some dangerous combination of beer, weed, boredom and fearlessness, to invent the HangBoard. Basically… [More]

Charge Batteries While You Walk - Knee Brace Dynamo (GALLERY)

US and Canadian scientists have created a unique and useful device that will use your body movements while walking to charge up your batteries for a whole host of gadgets. As a human dynamo you will effortlessly… [More]

“Real" Perpetual Motion Machine - Perepiteia (VIDEO)

Thane Heins is careful never not to claim that his Perepiteia is a perpetual motion machine, yet it accelerates from exposure to a permanent magnet, and that’s not supposed to happen. Scientists from… [More]

Wysi Wipes – Miracle Tablets For The Accident Prone

Gadget-loving Paul took his beautiful wife, Angela, out to their favourite Mediterranean eatery for Souvlakis and a much-needed round of Sangrias. After downing the first round of the crimson cocktails,… [More]

Cool Start-Ups & Business Ideas

GPS Tagging Communities - POIfriend.com

POIfriend.com is a GPS tagging community based in Toronto, Canada, that aims to connect people based on interest and location. “Most users agree that many standard POIs pre-loaded on your GPS device… [More]

Coffee Break Workouts - HIT Is Ultra Quick Fitness Solution (GALLERY)

The average person doesn’t have time to stop for lunch, let alone work out for an hour and a half each day.  Well, now you can workout in less time then it takes for your coffee break! H.I.T FIT is… [More]

Interactive Video - Overlay.TV (VIDEO)

Overlay.tv is an interactive media company with our head office residing in Ottawa Canada and we have developed a innovative platform for interactive video and advertising. Overlay.tv was launched in… [More]

Pairing Yoga & Wine - Vino-Yasa (GALLERY)

Experimenting with different wine pairings is fun, but who knew it could be really beneficial for your health too? No, I’m not talking about antioxidants; I’m referring to Vino-yasa! This innovative approach… [More]

Private Chef & Yoga Chez Vous - Yo Dinna (GALLERY)

If you’re balancing a heavy workloads and struggling to find time for workouts and healthy meals, Chez Vous is for you. The Canadian company consists of a husband and wife who have merged their passions… [More]

3D City Excursion - Toronto E-Tour With Streets.to

Streets.to is a new approach to one of the internet’s oldest uses - a local directory. In this case, it is a directory of what to do, where to eat, and so forth in Canada’s very own Toronto. The site is… [More]

Eco

Non-Dissolving Edible Packaging - Compost or Eat Your Containers

Let’s face it: current food packaging, on one hand, is useful to keep food fresher, but is wasteful. Think of all the plastic and polystyrene containers that are just tossed away after you bring food… [More]

Canada’s Green Commitment - Earth Hour 2008 (VIDEO)

Hundreds of countries around the world will be participating in Earth Hour this Saturday, but Canada is one of the most keen with 1 in 606 signed on to participate (the US only has 1 in 5,347 committed.)… [More]

Eco Engagement Rings - Earth-Friendly Canadian Diamonds (GALLERY)

Promise her the world, and show her you’ll care for it as well. Gents, forget blood diamonds. To show your beautiful wife just how much she means to you, consider getting an earth-friendly engagement ring.… [More]

Solar-Powered Retails Stores - Wal-Mart Canada

A Canadian Wal-Mart store is set to open the country’s largest rooftop solar-energy system. The Ministry of Research and Innovation in Ontario will donate $3 million to support the Menova Energy project.… [More]

Oceanside Eco-Condos - Dockside Green Victoria, BC (VIDEO)

The eco-friendly Dockside Greens in Victoria, BC, Canada promotes New Urbanism in its beautiful green condos by the sea. The harbour-front community sprawls 15 acres and offers residential, commercial… [More]

World’s First Eco Scooter

For all you eco warriors out there - Ecodrive has just announced their launch of the world’s first battery powered motorcycles and scooters. Given they offer the economy of a bicycle (no licence, registration,… [More]

Wine in a Can

Wind in a can?  Doesn’t that sound delicious?  In Canada, eco friendly wine in a box has taken off, so it should come as no surprise that one could also drink from a can. This particular wine in a can… [More]

Wine in Eco-Friendly Tetra Packaging by French Rabbit

After posting the innovative wine bottles by Voga, I realized that I need to make sure I also report the innovative packaging by French Rabbit, a new label which has defined itself by packaging wine in… [More]

Recycled Fluorescent Bulbs - Recycled Tube Light

Castor Canadensis, a group of Canadian craftsmen and artists, has a solution for all those defunct tubular fluorescent tubes. They merged several together around some incandescent light-bulbs to form what… [More]

Green Walls & Roofs from G-Sky - Vancouver Turns A Healthy Shade of Green (VIDEO)

With the popularity of green roofs, it’s only natural that green walls would follow. Several North American cities have been putting forth efforts to improve environmental conditions and promote a greener… [More]

Architecture

Green Steel Skyscrapers - The Bow in Calgary by Foster + Partners (GALLERY)

Foster + Partners belong to the world’s most famous architectural firms, so when they announce new projects, we know the result will be great. Their heavy emphasis on sustainable building continues as… [More]

Mushroom House - Zube’s Whistler Toadstool (GALLERY)

In July I saw an HGTV profile on a man who lived inside a mushroom in Canada on the show World’s Most Extreme Homes. I wasn’t able to get any names, making research difficult. Months later, I was finally… [More]

All Terrain Cabin - Life In A Shipping Container (GALLERY)

Here’s another fantastically clever Canadian invention! The BARK All Terrain Cabins (ATC) are made out of old ISO shipping containers and can comfortably fit up to four people. The ATCs would be a simple… [More]

MAD Condo Design in Canada

A new twisting design by MAD architectural design studio in Beijing has won a competition to build a 50 story condominium in Mississauga, Ontario Canada. The still unnamed building promises to be one of… [More]

Treehouses on Log Stilts - Zigloo Architecture

This Zigloo home is a new take on a “log house.” Instead of being made up of a series of logs, the small rectangular dwelling is perched atop four sturdy wooden logs. While still just a concept, the… [More]

Fashion & Beauty

5 Minute Nose Jobs – Surgery-Free Rhinoplasty in Canada

Five minute nose-job, eh? You betcha! Best of all, you won’t have to break the bank or your nose. Stephen Mulholland, a Toronto plastic surgeon has gained widespread popularity for his “injectable… [More]

Eco-Friendly Olympic Fashion - Canadian Teams Go Green (VIDEO)

True to the country’s green nature, Canada’s official Olympic 2008 clothing line will be an environmentally-friendly one. In addition to having Canada’s patriotic red and white colours, the fashion line… [More]

Stylish Rubber Boots? - GumDrops Boutique (VIDEO)

If ever a rubber boots could be deemed beautiful, the design was likely incubated at the GumDrop Boutique. Gum boots aren’t exactly appealing apparel, but they do serve function. While we do need to sacrifice… [More]

L’Oreal Fashion Week - Flare’s Live Coverage (GALLERY)

Just can’t get enough of fashion? For Canadian fashionistas who won’t be able to make it to Toronto for the L’Oreal Fashion Week, Flare Magazine will be broadcasting live from the runways, backstage and… [More]

Marketing to Rockstars - PUMA Rockstar Hotel and the Much Music Video Awards (REVIEW) (GALLERY)

This week, the Much Music Video awards swept Toronto, and Trend Hunter had a chance to rock it up at some of the star-studded festivities and promotional trends at the heavily sponsored pre/post party… [More]

Fashion Internships by Video - Flare Lets You Vote for Fav (VIDEO)

Always dreamed of working at a fashion magazine? Flare, one of Canada’s top style magazines, is letting readers vote for their favourite intern candidates for their online component. Working at a fashion… [More]

Beauty From The Bog - Moore Allure (GALLERY)

Out of the murky swamps of Canada comes this 30,000 year old all-natural recipe for radiant, soft-as-a-baby’s-bottom smooth skin. The beauty treatment from the bog reduces the appearance of aging, protects… [More]

Classmate Business Collaborations - Made You Look Jewellery Stores (GALLERY)

While attending a jewellery arts program, Sarah Hamel realized the incredible opportunity she had to collaborate with her talented classmates and came up with the concept behind the first Made You Look… [More]

Lifestyle

Canuck Breath - Look & Feel Canadian Breath Spray

You’d like to know the secret to Canadian breath, eh? The Look and Feel Canadian Breath Spray will get you in that Canuck state of mind where all you’ll want to do is kick back with a fishing rod next… [More]

Adult Rock And Roll Fantasy Camp - Team Building Through Music (VIDEO)

There’s a strong trend with adults who are pulling their guitars out from under their beds and in their closets. They’re dusting off the instruments and going back to playing, jamming and getting into… [More]

Choose Your Own Adventure - Thrill-Seeking Reality TV Show Hits Canada (VIDEO)

If you are addicted to The Amazing Race like I am then you will be happy to hear host Phil Keoghan is bringing a new reality TV show to Canada. NOW or No Opportunity Wasted, as it’s called, will help Canucks… [More]

Church on Youtube - Community Churches Get Digital (VIDEO)

Want to attend a Christmas mass without the discomfort of leaving your home (or computer)?  St. Michael’s Cathedral and St. Basil’s Church (both in Toronto) broadcast a daily feed on TV and YouTube. What… [More]

Old Water - 10 Thousand BC Luxury Glacier Water

10 Thousand BC is a luxury bottled water from Canada that claims to be the best bottled glacial water in the world. The water comes from the Coastal Glacier Range in British Colombia and costs about $7… [More]

Rock Paper Scissors World Championship

The traditional game “rock, paper or scissors” is considered a children’s game but some adults use it to solve their problems and it is also a “sport” controlled by an international association and… [More]

Cruise Ship Housing for Police - 2010 Vancouver Olympic Solutions

Vancouver has come up with an Olympic solution for housing close to 5,000 RCMP (Canadian cops) for the 2010 Winter Games. For the duration of the Olympic events, the police officers will be offered accommodation… [More]

Dirty Laundry Wines - The Rise of Shock Labels

Traditional branding was based on choosing names that exude the product’s qualities and attributes.  Why bother?  That’s the attitude of many hot new companies who are choosing shocking titles for their… [More]

Everything Is A Race

And they’re off. This is a great ad by Ogilvy, Calgary for Horse Racing in Alberta, Canada. (GUSH Magazine) [More]

Backyard Arenas - Outdoor Hockey Rink Design Contest

Since the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), and the National Hockey League (NHL), began celebrations for Hockey Day in Canada in 2000, one of their features was a contest of the best backyard hockey… [More]

Reality Show With All Male Town - The Week the Women Went (VIDEO)

How far will reality shows go?  Canada’s national broadcaster, the CBC, will present a show based on the BBC reality show “The Week the Women Went”. Recent government statistics show that 70 percent… [More]

Canadian Spin On Reality Modeling TV - Vancouver’s Next Gay Top Model (VIDEO)

I hope they asked Tyra’s permission nicely first. We don’t want her going ghetto on their arse in a cat-fight for copyrights! Vancouver’s Next Gay Top Model is a theatrical event organized by local community… [More]

Unlimited Music Downloads in Canada? - $5 on Mobile Phone Plans for Songs

A very interesting idea, and simple really! Charge all internet and mobile phone accounts in Canada a levy and allow unlimited free downloads of music for personal use. The Song Writer’s Association… [More]

Sky Dive From Space (If You’re Crazy)

Frenchman Michel Fournier is readying himself and equipment to attempt a record-setting free fall from the stratosphere.Dubbed “The Big Jump”, Fournier is eyeing next month for his supersonic free fall… [More]

Hot Canadian Night Life - Where to See & Be Seen (GALLERY)

If you’re ever in Canada, you’ll have to make a stop over at some of the country’s hottest bars and night clubs. If you’re going to get all glammed up for a night on the town, and are ready to see or be… [More]

National Cannonball Championship - Canadian Sport A Total Flop (GALLERY)

Canada’s newest sports competition looks like it could be a bomb… a water bomb that is. Brian Utley, 54 was the cannonball champ in the Trident Splash National Cannonball Championships in Toronto today.… [More]

Bike and Eat Marathon - Nosh On Your Bike at the Tour de Blintz (GALLERY)

If you happen to live in Vancouver, Canada you can take part in a cycling even that while not matching the Tour De France in physical endurance will test your gastronomical fortitude. The leisurely 15-kilometre… [More]

Canada Introduces $10,000 Speeding Ticket

Canada has introduced its highest speeding ticket and one of North America’s most expensive. Anyone daring enough to zip down the road at 50 km/h (31 MPH) over the posted limit can now be dinged with a… [More]

Canada Unveils $1 Million Coin

About the size of an extra-large pizza, The Royal Canadian Mint has released unveiled a monsterous gold coin worth $1 million.  It is said to be “the world’s biggest, purest and highest demomination coin."… [More]

Marketing & Ad Campaigns

Pedaler Powered Billboard - 120 Volunteers Charge Campaign

DDB Canada has created an illuminated billboard powered by 120 volunteer bicycle riding pedalers.  Each pedaler generates enough electricity to power the illuminated reindeer.  For each hour the reindeer… [More]

Sumo Car Wash - Subaru Forester TV Spot (VIDEO)

What do you get when you combine a group of nearly naked sumo wrestlers and a catchy disco beat with dramatic slow-motion video footage? One of Subaru’s most hilarious TV spots to date! Just imagine Zoolander… [More]

Guerrilla Fairytale Campaigns - Rapunzel for Pantene (GALLERY)

A fun guerrilla campaign to promote Pantene Anti-Breakage Shampoo has just been deployed in Toronto, Canada. The campaign uses enormous braids a la Rapunzel that dangle from buildings, complete with… [More]

Guerrilla Mirror Phones - Rogers Video Phone Ads

Rogers, one of the key mobile phone companies in Canada, used clever “mirror phone” guerrilla ads to promote their new video phone service. The giant cell phone decals were placed around Toronto bathrooms… [More]

Bathroom Blood Dispensers - Clue Guerrilla Campaign

Picture this: you go into a public washroom at a restaurant or bar and unassumingly squeeze liquid soap onto your palm from a seemingly normal dispenser. Oh it’s red, must smell like strawberries… You… [More]

Animal Extinction Awareness Ads - Frogs Forever at Vancouver Aquarium (GALLERY)

Want to have a glimpse of what our world would be like if frogs were to become extinct? Well, judging by the new ad campaign from Vancouver Aquarium, you will have an outbreak of bugs and insects everywhere,… [More]

Reinventing with a Rotation - Diamond Shreddies Instead of Square (+ 3 Focus Group Videos) (VIDEO)

In perhaps one of the most successful relaunches of a breakfast cereal, Shreddies have been reinvented with nothing more than a simple rotation. The traditionally-boring cereal came out with a series… [More]

Scentvertising - Canadian Tire Ads Let You ‘Smell the Spring’

Trend Hunter has written a lot about the rise of scentvertising, and Canadian Tire is the next example. Recently while I was perusing a new home decor/fashion/beauty magazine I was overcome by the aroma… [More]

Crap-vertising for Shock Movies - Canadian Men in Diapers (VIDEO)

This very clever parody ad would convince you that Canadian men love their diapers - until the end of the commercials and you find out the need the diapers so they can watch the all horror channel, Scream… [More]

Image Manipulation to Evoke Compassion - Parkinson Awareness Campaign (GALLERY)

These ads for Parkinson awareness were created by TAXI 2, Toronto and are exceptional at delivering a visual message of what living with Parkinson disease is like. The ads, created for the Parkinson… [More]

Breaking Glass in Case of Adventure - Nissan Armada Ads (VIDEO)

Nissan has released this incredibly enticing ad captioned, “Break Glass in Case of Adventure.” The print ad, created by The True Agency, is for “the new full-size Nissan Armada.” The video shows an Armada… [More]

Capital One Rocket Ads - Avoid Skyrocketing Rates, Oh My! (VIDEO)

These Capital One Canada Rocket ads just hit the media last week. In short, the ads suggest that you can avoid skyrocketing interest rates by signing up for Capital One’s Prime+0.9 no fee card. Unlike… [More]

Canada’s Biggest Sleepover - Dove Sponsors PJ Party for Self-Esteem

On June 7, 2008 thousands of girls between the ages of 8 and 14 across Canada will be getting together for the largest one night sleepover in Canadian history. The good people over at Dove want to help… [More]

Car Commercial With No Cars - Ford Uses Acrobats To Pose As Fusion & Edge (VIDEO)

A TV commercial for the Ford Motor Company in Canada advertising 2 of Ford’s vehicles (the Fusion and the Edge) features no cars. Instead, Ford uses people dressed in the Ford blue who, a la Cirque Du… [More]

3M Canada Security Glass Filled with Real Money

The new 3M ads in canada for security glass include real money.  Break the glass, and maybe the money could be yours.  Only in Canada. About the Product: Safety & Security 3M™ Scotchshield™ Safety… [More]

Bell Tries Telus-Style Marketing - Beaver Ads Lousy But More Effective (VIDEO)

Bell Canada has tried its hand at Telus-style marketing, but failed miserably. Using a beaver (our national animal), Bell tried to mimic the infectiously cute ads Telus has gained notoriety for. The two… [More]

Cell Phone Hand Gestures - Playing Samsung: Express Yourself (VIDEO)

Samsung Canada has unveiled a brilliant campaign that uses Samsung mobile phones to construct expressive hand gestures. The Playing Samsung: Express Yourself campaign, which was created by Creative Agency… [More]

Controversial Support Bra Ad - Running Free (GALLERY)

This is a controversial ad campaign that has sparked much debate. It’s an ad for Running Free support bras. It needs to be noted that they were not actually created by Running Free. DDB had pitched the… [More]

Pink For Breast Cancer - Jell-O & CoolWhip Get Krafty

Kraft Canada has launched a new campaign in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, bringing together Cool Whip and Jell-o to concoct a sweet pink dessert. Kraft came up with a recipe for Creamy Jell-O… [More]

Check Out My Breasts - Breast Cancer Ads Get Racy

Launched by a Canadian breast cancer campaign called Fashion Targets Breast Cancer, CheckOutMyBreasts.com is an interactive site that features a video of a model SHOWING women how to check their breasts… [More]

Women Get Bare For Awareness - Booby Wall

What you’re seeing in the photo is a Booby Booth. A what?! Well, it’s part of a new campaign to get you thinking about boobs. In order to raise awareness, Canadian charity, Rethink Breast Cancer has… [More]

Canadian Innovation Gurus

Jeremy Gutsche Innovation Keynote Demo (VIDEO)

After delivering 25 innovation keynotes in the last 14 months, Jeremy Gutsche has finally posted a sample video.  The sample kicks off part way through his thesis, giving a decent overview of his topic,… [More]