About

Melissa decided to create the first version of this website (the version you are viewing is the 3rd) following a rather strange vacation she had in Mexico in 2006 where she suddenly felt a void and felt she wasn’t doing enough to affect change in her world. Its purpose is to serve as a platform for her to share her own experiences about doing what she can to live simply and locally and to give back, in hopes of inspiring others to do the same.

What you’ll find here:

• Cool made in Canada finds
• Cool made in USA finds
• Spotlights on retailers and manufacturers excelling at social media marketing
• Personal stories, triumphs and challenges

What you won’t find here:

• Trash-talking foreign countries or foreign-made goods

About Melissa

Melissa has evolved in the digital marketing scene in Montreal, Canada since 1998, working with really unique software companies, very creative marketing agencies and with individual companies. In 2008 she became a partner for a company that encourages consumers to learn about and buy Canadian made products. She was in charge of marketing and communications and appeared numerous times on TV as the company’s spokesperson. She left the company in December 2010 for personal and business reasons. Melissa decided to take her knowledge and re-build her website and grow her community, intentionally choosing to promote buying Canadian and buying American – especially since like her, consumers today have various reasons for supporting locally made (environment, economy, etc). Today, she continues to appear on TV, talking about locally made products and the companies that make and sell them and she also works as a social media marketer with an award winning boutique agency in Montreal called Ressac Media. She does still accept contra freelancing work, helping manufacturers and retailers of Canadian-made goods with their social media strategy and tactics.

Outside business, she spends most of her time with her friends, dad and boyfriend and travels to visit her beloved big sister in New Brunswick as often as she can. Melissa has an adopted 9 year old Chocolate Lab, named Maya whom she found through Petfinders.com in 2005. Maya’s been Melissa’s constant lil’ brown shadow and is overjoyed when she can accompany her to work. Melissa’s into reading and educating herself on different cultures and loves movies, music and pop culture. She’s a very descent snowboarder (when she can find the time) and digs the calmness of snowshoeing and cross country skiing. During the hockey season, don’t be shy to talk to her about the Habs!

But what brings her the most joy is giving back. To friends, family and to her community. Volunteering is high on her list of priorities. Melissa “walks her talk” too and buys local and locally-made as often as possible. She’s a really proud Canadian and citizen of the world.

We encourage you to leave comments and get a dialogue going on issues that affect us and our world. We’d love to hear from you!