The “Buy Canadian” Movement Goes Almost as Far Back as Confederation

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With the vast majority of Canadians living within 160 kilometres of the US–Canada border, proximity has blurred cultural and economic boundaries. This closeness has allowed American ideas, popular culture, and economic influence to spill into Canadian life, especially in English-speaking regions. Some scholars use the idea of a “borderlands” culture as the lens through which Canadian identity can be understood, not in isolation but in dialogue with our neighbour. Traces of this evolving identity, and of the efforts to assert economic independence, are preserved in the Baldwin Collection. The examples we’ve rounded up offer a vivid record of the cultural campaigns that have tried to define what it means to be Canadian in the shadow of a powerful neighbour. A set of postage stamps from the Canadian Manufacturers’ Association, from around 1920 A 1934 bookmark from Canada Foils Limited that also served as a product advertisement Sheet music from 1915 for “Made in Canada Campaign Song” that was performed at Massey Hall, Toronto A political cartoon from around 1890 commenting on tariffs, printed for “gratuitous distribution” A Melcher’s Red Cross Gin advertisement from 1914 The gin ad lists ten ways customers can “help Canada” A poster from 1918, from the Victory Loan Dominion Publicity Committee, encouraging (or shaming) Canadians to buy victory bonds A poster in French from the Victory Loan Dominion Publicity Committee’s campaign from around 1917 A notice poster from around 1918, from the Victory Loan Dominion Publicity Committee, outlining the benefits of buying bonds The post The “Buy Canadian” Movement Goes Almost as Far Back as Confederation first appeared on The Walrus.