Latest news with #FlagsUnlimited
CTV News
a day ago
- Business
- CTV News
Special flags displayed across Barrie as Canada's premiers head to cottage country
Motorists driving along Highway 400 in Barrie will notice a series of custom flags displayed on five bridges as Canada's premiers head to Huntsville for the 2025 Premiers' Meeting. Flags Unlimited, Canada's largest flag manufacturer based in Barrie, partnered with the City and the Ministry of Transportation to feature the banners, each marked with the year the province or territory joined Confederation, are visible on bridges at Harvie Road, Anne Street, Sunnidale Road, Bayfield Street, and St. Vincent Street. Ontario Premier Doug Ford is hosting the talks as this year's council chair. 'These flags tell the story of our country and the unity that makes us strong. I'm so proud this tribute was made right here in Barrie by Ontario workers,' Ford stated. 'Flags Unlimited, who will soon celebrate 60 years of business in Ontario, has been a proud partner of the City of Barrie for many years,' said Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall. 'Barrie is honoured to be such a visible supporter of this historic Premiers' Meeting.' The banners were developed in-house by Flags Unlimited. After the Premiers' Meeting, each banner will be given to the respective premier as a keepsake. 'It's an incredible honour for our team to contribute to this historic meeting of Canada's Premiers,' said Matt Skipp, Flags Unlimited co-owner. 'Moments like this remind us that our work—though sometimes behind the scenes—allows us to play a small but meaningful part in commemorating Canada's story." The three-day meeting of the country's premiers gets underway Monday at Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville, Ont., with trade and tariffs expected to be the main focus. Prime Minister Mark Carney is scheduled to make his way to cottage country Tuesday to attend the meetings.
CTV News
30-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Patriotism is surging ahead of Canada Day, and so are flag and flagpole sales
Canadian flags are seen flying behind the National Archives building in Ottawa Friday, Feb 14, 2025 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld From coast to coast, flag and flagpole sales are booming ahead of Canada Day, thanks to a surge of patriotism fuelled by U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war and annexation threats. 'This is pretty unprecedented,' Brian Naish, co-owner of Flags Unlimited in Barrie, Ont., told 'People are 'flagging up' all over: houses, cottages, buildings, businesses, boats, et cetera.' Naish says flag sales are up about 75 per cent compared to 2024, while flagpole sales have increased by 35 per cent. Making more than a million flags per year, the company is Canada's largest flag manufacturer and has been in business for nearly 60 years. While they have seen sales surge in the past for events like Canada 150 celebrations and the Freedom Convoy protests, Naish says nothing compares to the current boom. 'It comes from a different place,' he said. 'I think the 'Trump bump' has brought out a latent sense of patriotism that has always existed in Canada, but may have needed a prod from an external force to get us to show our Canadian pride. It is nice to have something to unify around.' The company has had to double its workforce and operate 19 hours a day to keep up with the increased demand. And it's not alone. 'A protest to this 51st state nonsense' reached out to flag shops and manufacturers across the country, and they all said business has been surging since February, when Trump launched his trade war and first started talking openly about turning Canada into the 51st U.S. state. That month, Canada's former prime ministers also came together to ask Canadians to fly the red and white for flag day on Feb. 15. Flag Shop Victoria president Paul Servos says in-store sales of Canadian flags were up 120 per cent in February alone, and have continued to be up by about 25 per cent each month since. 'It is not just flags but pole hardware for residential use that is up,' Servos said. 'This Canada Day should be the biggest and proudest for many years past and future.' Sales are up on the other side of the country at Flag Emporium in Dartmouth, N.S., where commercial flagpole sales have also doubled. 'It is fantastic to see the country come together to be Canadian and not only fly our flag but stand behind it,' owner Bruce Clark told 'Red and white, it's in our blood.' The Royal Canadian Legion's Ottawa-based Poppy Store, which helps fund programs for veterans, says it has seen the biggest increase in Canada flag pin sales, which are up a whopping 988 per cent. 'We've had an explosion in sales of Canadian flags and Canadian-themed items this year over last. In fact, altogether sales of these products have way more than doubled,' Legion spokesperson Nujma Bond told 'While we don't know all the reasons, based on comments from people purchasing products, it's probably safe to say that a good chunk of the increase is attributable to the current climate of renewed Canadian patriotism.' The Flag Shop Winnipeg also reports sales of Canadian flags, flagpoles and Canada-themed products like hats and decals have all increased year-over-year. 'We have had many more individuals wanting to fly a Canadian flag for the first time, which is really amazing to see,' salesperson Samantha Hobson told 'Some of our flags are sewn right here in our store, so our seamstresses have been working hard to keep up with demand!' Based in London, Ont., New Century Flags owner Judy Spooner has seen Canadian flag sales skyrocket by about 1,000 per cent. 'Many people are now going to fly our flag as a protest to this 51st state nonsense,' Spooner told 'They are attaching brackets to hold flagpoles to their homes, fences, decks and even permanent, in-ground flagpole sales have soared.' With retail locations in Barrie and Thornton, Ont., The Flag Store has seen a 40 per cent increase in flag sales, and a 45 per cent increase in flagpole sales. 'We have had the usual Canada Day rush, but this year is much different. The sense of Canadian patriotism is very strong,' CEO Cecilia Burke told 'We will not be a 51st state, and we are determined to pull together and show how patriotic we are of this great country.' Several flag businesses also said many customers are happy to fly a Canadian flag again without being associated with the Freedom Convoy protests that rocked the country in early 2022. 'Many people in the shop recently have said, 'Thankfully we have taken our flag back,'' said Servos of Flag Shop Victoria. 'I think there are a lot of patriotic Canadians who, after the Freedom Convoy in 2022, didn't want to fly a flag because they may not have wanted to be associated with that cause,' said Naish of Flags Unlimited. 'This one is good because it's not dividing Canadians, if you will. It's rallying.' 'Very uncharacteristic of Canadians' Raymond Blake is a history professor at the University of Regina. Blake, whose research focuses in part on Canadian nationalism and identity, says a Trump-fuelled increase in flag and flagpole sales indicates how Canadians feel about both themselves and the U.S. 'While the flag flying might be an increase in patriotism, it can also be a signal to others — especially the U.S. — that we are strong and ready to defend it,' Blake told 'It is a warning to them: we are strong and free and want Trump to stop his nuisance and antics.' Blake says this kind of overt flag-waving patriotism is rare in Canada, and perhaps comparable only to Canada's centennial in 1967 and the end of the Second World War. A recent survey showed that 79 per cent of Canadian respondents expressed some level of pride in being Canadian. 'But we need to remember that Canadians have always been patriotic, but in a subdued way,' Blake explained. 'There has been a steady and consistent pride in being Canadian, but during the past six months there has been little subtle about expressing our patriotism — it has been boisterous and loud, which is in many ways very uncharacteristic of Canadians.'
Yahoo
16-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
A major Canadian flag maker's sales have doubled from a year ago as tensions mount with U.S. — ‘The more Trump talks, the more flags we sell'
Canadian flag maker Flags Unlimited has doubled its sales in the past six weeks compared to the year before. Co-owner Matt Skipp said the demand boost is a result of a rise in Canadian patriotism in the wake of mounting tensions with the U.S. The blustery winter months are usually the slowest of the year for Flags Unlimited, which claims to be Canada's largest flag producer. In the past six weeks, however, sales are double what they were a year ago. The boost in demand for the maple leaf-stamped, red-and-white flag is a result of a surge in Canadian patriotism, according to Flags Unlimited co-owner Matt Skipp, fueled by tensions with the U.S., which have been stoked by President Donald Trump. 'This recent animosity, or negotiation, or Trump-talk has absolutely lit a fire under flag sales,' Skipp told Fortune. 'The more Trump talks, the more flags we sell.' The Barrie, Ontario-based company typically sells about 500,000 Canadian flags a year. Skipp predicts a 30% to 50% increase in total annual sales if demand continues at its current pace. Trump has ruffled Canadian feathers early in his second term. After initially introducing a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico at the beginning of the month, Trump delayed the implementation of the tax for 30 days, saying the countries had agreed to talks to increase border security. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called for a retaliatory tariff on some American goods—like orange juice, toilets, and some steel products—whenever Trump decides to reintroduce the levy. Trump also doubled down this week on calls for Canada to become the U.S.'s '51st state', claiming the U.S. loses $200 billion per year to its northern neighbor. The Trump-Vance transition team previously attributed the figure to U.S. defense spending, which benefits Canada, and the trade deficit of $67.9 billion dollars between the two countries—much of which comes from the U.S.'s reliance on Canadian oil. Trudeau rebutted that the U.S. proposals to annex Canada came from the desire for its natural resources. The White House did not respond to Fortune's request for comment. Canadians have made their discontent with Trump's proposals known. Hockey fans in Montreal booed the U.S. national anthem before America faced off against Finland in game one of the 4 Nations Face-Off Thursday, while remaining silent for Finland's anthem. Last week, Toronto Raptors fans likewise booed during the 'Star-Spangled Banner' ahead of their NBA team's victory over the New York Knicks. The influx of Canadian pride has meant Flags Unlimited has had to adapt to the influx in demand, Skipp said. The company is considering adding extra shifts for its 50 full-time employees. 'We're kind of concerned about our ability to keep up for the first time ever,' he said. 'We're just getting inundated.' The eagerness to show love for Canada may be coming at the expense of demand for American goods. In response to the rising tensions between the North American neighbors, Canadians have begun boycotting American products and have refused to travel across the border to support U.S. tourism. 'Now is the time to choose Canada,' Trudeau said on Feb. 2 following the announcement of Trump's tariffs. 'It might mean changing your summer vacation plans to stay here in Canada and explore the many national and provincial parks, historical sites, and tourist destinations our great country has to offer.' The travel boycott could take a toll on U.S. industries. According to the U.S. Travel Association, a 10% loss in travelers from Canada could mean 2 million fewer visits and an estimated $2.1 billion loss for the travel and hospitality industries. Other Canadian consumers are avoiding American produce in grocery stores, ditching California fruits for local fare and drinking Canadian whisky instead of Kentucky bourbon. 'The rhetoric about tariffs, the mockery of our prime minister, and the musing about us becoming the 51st state, that did it for all of us,' one boycotting Ontarian told CNN Travel earlier this month. 'Everyone was in agreement that we're not going [to the U.S.]. We're going to keep our money in our own country.' This story was originally featured on
CBC
15-02-2025
- Business
- CBC
Canadian flag sales soar amid Trump's rhetoric
Canadian flagmaker Flags Unlimited's sales have doubled from a year earlier, the company's owners say, as tensions with the U.S. fuel a wave of patriotism in Canada. The increase in sales comes ahead of Canada's national flag day on Feb. 15. U.S. President Donald Trump has announced 25 per cent tariffs on imports from Canada and repeatedly talked about making Canada the '51st state.'
CBC
14-02-2025
- Business
- CBC
This Ontario flagmaker says Canadian flag sales have doubled amid U.S. tensions
Social Sharing Flags Unlimited's sales of Canadian flags have doubled from a year earlier, the Ontario company's owners said, as tensions with the United States fuel a wave of patriotism. The increase in sales comes ahead of Canada's national flag day on Sunday, marking the 60th anniversary of the red and white maple leaf banner's debut in Ottawa. Matt Skipp, co-owner of Flags Unlimited in Barrie, north of Toronto, attributes the spike in demand to threats from U.S. President Donald Trump over Canadian sovereignty. "It's a direct response to the political climate, with Canadians rallying behind their flag as a symbol of unity," Skipp said. Canadian politicians have called on citizens to display the national flag this weekend to demonstrate that unity and their national pride. Canadians have cancelled trips south of the border, boycotted U.S. alcohol and other products and even booed at sporting events after Trump announced 25 per cent tariffs on most of Canada's goods on Feb. 3, though he has since delayed them. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told a room of business leaders last week that he thought Trump's talk about absorbing Canada as the 51st U.S. state "is a real thing" and is linked to the country's rich natural resources, a government source said. WATCH | Flag Day in Canada has renewed importance this year: When the Maple Leaf debuted on Canada's flag 2 hours ago Duration 0:43 Flag Day in Canada is taking a renewed importance this year amid U.S. President Donald Trump's repeated calls to annex Canada and turn it into the '51st state.' Flags Unlimited, which produces more than 500,000 flags annually, is considering additional shifts and sourcing extra materials to meet the surge in demand, Skipp said. The company manufactures and assembles the flags in Ontario, though it imports some of its materials from overseas. Mike Allen, who works in the auto parts industry, visited the store to buy a Canadian flag on Wednesday. Allen said he opposed U.S. tariffs, due to concerns about the direct impact on his job. The auto industry in North America is highly integrated, and companies have warned that tariffs would also raise costs for Americans. "We're not the enemy," Allen said. "It's hard to understand why we're being attacked."
