7 Companies You Probably Didn't Know Were Canadian Happy #CanadaDay2016.
By Grace Reader •
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
That's right folks, today is #CanadaDay2016. Thousands of people are expected to celebrate Canada's 149th birthday with fireworks and other festivities.
Related: To Celebrate Canada Day, Here Are 10 Franchises From Our Neighbors to the North
To honor our neighbor to the north, here are seven successful companies that were born and raised in Canada:
1. Canada Goose, Toronto
Canada Goose started as an outerwear company for braving the cold -- but when CEO Dani Reiss was handed down the brand from his father and grandfather before him, it turned into a luxury arctic clothing line.
Canada Goose apparel is now sported by celebrities such as Jimmy Fallon, Emma Stone and Bradley Cooper.
The luxury jackets range in price from $400 to $1,000.
Nunavut to Newfoundland, every corner of this country is worth exploring. Where are you heading next? #CanadaDay pic.twitter.com/URDsRtpjTy
— Canada Goose (@CanadaGooseInc) July 1, 2016
Related: How Canada Goose Went From Small Outerwear Company to International Luxury Brand
2. Herschel, Vancouver
Brothers Lyndon and Jamie Cormack grew up in Herschel, Canada -- an incredibly small town with only 30 people.
In 2009, the Canadian brothers found success in handbags and backpacks that are a cross between sporty and high-end -- naming the brand after their hometown.
The team has expanded to 72 countries in only six years.
Related: Hyper-Growing Fashion Brand Herschel Supply Has Turned Away 500 Investors
3. IMAX, Mississauga
You have likely heard of the massive entertainment technology company, IMAX, but did you know that the company is actually from Canada?
Since IMAX was founded in 1968, there are now more than 1,000 IMAX theaters across the globe and more than 450 million people have seen an IMAX movie, according to the company's website.
4. Lululemon, Vancouver
Lululemon has become a wildly popular athletic clothing company across the globe but it's beginnings are traced back to Vancouver.
Chip Wilson founded Lululemon in 1998 -- first as a yoga wear company for women -- but today has expanded the brand to include clothing for men and a wider variety of athletic wear.
Hockey, trail running, yoga on Parliament Hill—grateful for all the ways we live #thesweatlife in Canada. #CanadaDay pic.twitter.com/VQEPWtASoV
— lululemon athletica (@lululemon) July 1, 2016
5. Gildan Activewear, Montreal
Gilden was founded by the Chamandy family in 1984 in Montreal. The company first started as a fabric manufacturer and turned into an athletic wear brand.
Today, Gildan focuses on low-cost, high-volume, basic, unbranded apparel which other companies often put their logos on.
6. MEC, Vancouver
MEC, or Mountain Equipment Company, was started by a couple of mountaineers in 1971 because climbing gear was hard to find in Vancouver at the time.
According the company's website, climbers in Vancouver had to travel all the way to REI in Seattle to stock up on gear.
MEC now fills the void as Vancouver has become a popular climbing location.
Happy Canada Day! We will be open today from 10 am to 7 pm! #CanadaDay pic.twitter.com/quokbJKxMz
— MEC Vancouver (@mec_vancouver) July 1, 2016
7. DAVIDsTEA, Toronto
David Segal and his cousin, Herschel Segal, opened up a tea shop in Toronto that has since grown to 160 locations. The company vends 150 different teas along with infusers, mugs and other tea related accessories.
Related: 5 Businesses on the Brink of an IPO
Its website claims that the team has more organic teas than any other tea vendor in North America.
Happy Canada Day! Until tonight, get 25% off site-wide when you spend $75. https://t.co/y2UASvAAk9 pic.twitter.com/kz2RvS5V9Z
— DAVIDsTEA (@DAVIDsTEA) July 1, 2016
