Methodology
Methodology
TryCanadian exists to make it easier to understand the companies behind the products and services Canadians use every day.
Corporate ownership and manufacturing can be complicated. Brands are acquired, headquarters move, companies use international supply chains and products sold by the same company may be manufactured in several different countries.
For that reason, TryCanadian separates several different questions rather than simply labelling a company "Canadian" or "not Canadian."
What our labels mean
Canadian-owned
Yes means that, based on reliable information available to us, ultimate control of the business appears to be Canadian. This may include a Canadian parent company or another clearly Canadian-controlled ownership structure.
For widely held public companies, ownership can be more complicated. A Canadian headquarters, Canadian incorporation or listing on a Canadian stock exchange does not by itself establish Canadian ownership. Where control cannot be verified with sufficient confidence, we use Unknown and may provide additional ownership notes.
No means the business is ultimately controlled by a non-Canadian parent or owner.
Unknown means we could not establish ownership with sufficient confidence.
Canadian ownership can change. When companies have complicated ownership structures, we may include additional notes explaining them.
Canadian-founded
Yes means the business was originally established in Canada.
A company can therefore be Canadian-founded without being Canadian-owned today. For example, a Canadian company may later be acquired by an international corporation.
Headquarters in Canada
Yes means the company's principal corporate headquarters are currently located in Canada based on the information we were able to verify.
This is considered separately from ownership and place of founding.
Made in Canada
Where applicable, this indicates that products are manufactured or substantially produced in Canada.
This designation applies to products rather than necessarily to everything sold by a company. Some businesses manufacture certain products in Canada while importing others.
Whenever possible, TryCanadian provides additional manufacturing notes rather than applying a blanket claim to an entire company.
Where we use formal Canadian-origin terminology, we follow relevant Canadian guidance and distinguish food from non-food products.
Product of Canada
When this designation is used, we follow the meaning established by applicable Canadian labelling guidance rather than treating "Product of Canada" as interchangeable with "Made in Canada."
Because these claims have specific meanings, we only use them when we have sufficient evidence.
For the specific thresholds Canadian guidance generally applies to "Made in Canada" and "Product of Canada" claims, see "What does 'Canadian' really mean?" on the homepage.
How we research companies
We prioritize information from sources such as:
- official company websites and corporate disclosures;
- company ownership and investor information;
- government and regulatory databases;
- reputable Canadian and international news organizations;
- manufacturer information and product documentation;
- credible industry publications and business databases.
Community discussions, including forums and social media, can help us discover businesses or identify claims worth investigating, but we do not treat an unsourced online comment as sufficient evidence on its own.
Where information cannot be verified, we prefer Unknown over making an assumption.
Verification status
A Verified entry means that the claims TryCanadian makes about that company or relationship are supported by evidence we have reviewed.
Verified does not mean that every Canadian-status field is "Yes."
A company may, for example, be Canadian-founded and headquartered in Canada while its ownership or manufacturing status is unknown or non-Canadian.
Canadian alternatives
An alternative listed on TryCanadian does not necessarily offer an identical replacement for another company.
We look for businesses serving a similar customer need. When no direct Canadian competitor exists, we may include a company offering a comparable product, a more specialized service or part of the same functionality.
Our priority is usefulness rather than forcing a match where one does not exist.
Information changes
Companies are bought and sold. Manufacturing moves. Businesses close, merge and restructure.
TryCanadian aims to keep its information accurate, but our database represents the best information reasonably available when an entry was researched or last reviewed.
If you find information that appears incorrect or outdated, we encourage you to let us know and provide a reliable source where possible.
Independence and inclusion
TryCanadian is an independent project.
A company's inclusion in the directory does not constitute an endorsement, certification, partnership or recommendation by TryCanadian.
Likewise, the absence of a company should not be interpreted as a judgment about that company.
Our purpose is to provide useful information so visitors can make their own purchasing decisions.