Canada Day is Tuesday, July 1, 2025, and it’s a national holiday celebrated annually to commemorate the anniversary of the Constitution Act. This Act, formerly known as the British North America Act, marked the creation of Canada when several British and North American colonies united to create our home and native land.
This year more than ever, there’s a push to “support local,” whether that’s in the groceries and other products you purchase, or the companies from which you choose to buy. You can “support local” with tech this year, too, by looking into some of the most successful Canadian brands. These companies, some of which have been in business for decades and others that are fairly new, offer everything from audio and video gear to smartphone accessories and services.
I highlighted several great Canadian tech products and companies last year. Here are more details on great Canadian tech brands and some of the latest products they’re offering in 2025.
Totem Acoustic
Along with being based in St-Leonard, QC, Totem Acoustic makes its products in Canada as well. In business for more than 35 years, the brand’s speakers are funky in design yet there’s a method behind the unique look: every design choice is carefully thought out to reflect the acoustic properties of the speakers as well. One of the brand’s latest products is the Tribe Tower Thunderbird, tower speakers that are perfect for the living room. Shaped like obelisks, they provide immersive sound and are easy to integrate into any room set-up thanks to flexibility in placement. They run for US$13,500 per pair, US$15,000 if you want the premium high-gloss finish. But they’re worth it for an audiophile and music and/or movie lover.
Kanto
Founded almost 20 years ago in 2007, Coquitlam, BC-based Kanto’s claim to fame is attractive desktop speakers that come in a variety of colours, sound fantastic, and won’t break the bank. Kanto offers an extensive line of powered and passive speakers, most recently revealing the upcoming UKI desktop speaker at CES 2025 earlier this year, a budget-friendly speaker that will sell for US$199 per pair once available. Two of the company’s most popular products include the REN, a 100W active speaker with HDMI ARC and the ORA4 ($500/pr.) with Bluetooth 5.0, analogue line-in, and USB-C. Kanto also makes an extensive line of AV mounts.
Always Mobile
Based in Toronto, ON, Always Mobile launched a year ago by Mike Stanford, who has extensive experience in the mobile space having previously worked at Bell Canada, Public Mobile, Freedom Mobile, and TekSavvy Solutions Inc. The company offers eSIMs you can order online and download to your smartphone to use while traveling to more than 150 global destinations around the world. Instead of paying exorbitant Roam Like Home fees, save on data roaming charges by paying a single fee for a bucket of gigabytes. It means you can’t use your regular plan from home for calling and texting. But who uses voice calling and text nowadays anyway? Use FaceTime or WhatsApp for audio or video calls instead and instant messaging versus SMS to stay in touch while away, enjoying connectivity for a fraction of the price. I have used the service twice, once in Las Vegas and once in Mexico, and it saved me a bundle. The cost for up to 5GB of data for a week in Mexico while on vacation? $15. The eSIM got me through the week at CES 2025 in Las Vegas, and I never experienced a single connection issue. The best part: you’re charged in Canadian dollars.
Bluesound
Pickering ON-based Lenbrook International owns the Bluesound brand of audio products, which are focused on making streaming audio not only convenient throughout the home, but also sound flawless, and look good. One of the brand’s most enduring products is the Node, which has seen many versions over the last decade. The home AV device is designed to make it easy to stream music from a phone, tablet, or computer to your hifi speakers. The latest version, introduced in 2024, sells for $799 and has built-in THX AAA headphone technology, DSD playback, HDMI eARC, Dolby Digital decoding, and Apple AirPlay 2. At its heart, it can also, of course, connect wirelessly to other Bluesound players to ensure multi-room music throughout the home.
Paradigm Speakers
Founder Series
In business since 1982, Paradigm is based in Mississauga, ON and develops speakers and components that are backed by science and extensive acoustic research, offering amazing home theatre sound without the massive price tag that usually comes with it. With a loyal legion of audiophile fans that have been with the brand since the ‘80s, Paradigm offers many series of speakers, including the Founder Series, Premier Series, Monitor SE Series, and even the option for custom finishes for those who wish to build their own.
Pela Case
Pela Case is based in Kelowna, BC and offers a diverse selection of quirky iPhone and Android cases designed to express your personality.
The company’s website jokes that the products are “proudly made in Ameri…close by.” In fact, you’ll even find some cool Canada-inspired case designs.
All cases are made from flax shiv and a plant-based biopolymer, so you can feel good about sporting the products on your smartphones, too. Cases are about $60 so they’re on the higher end of the price scale. But you know you’re supporting not only a sustainable brand, but a homegrown one, too.
Happy Canada Day!
