30 Jun

Great SWAG for Canada Day

Posted in News, Promotional Products, Synergy Suggestions on 30.06.16 by John Meloche

Canada Day is tomorrow and it’s going to be a beautiful day. With the great weather we’re getting it would be crazy not to embrace the outdoors. Companies are doing exactly that as they’re celebrating with all sorts of great outdoor events. In addition to this, there’s been a lot of corporate swag giveaways. But we’re wondering what the best swag to give is? Here’s a few suggestions:

  1. Hats. A classic corporate gift. This is perfect for the outdoors and those beautiful sunny days. Not only this, but it allows your employees to represent your brand almost anywhere they go. It’s a great promotional gift that has multiple purposes, something that’s good for everybody.
  2. T-shirts. Another classic summer gift. Really part of the ideal summer attire, and again another effective means of company representation. A great travelling advertisement.
  3. Steak Knives. Speaking of outdoor events, BBQ’s are a Canada Day staple. They’re perfect for the summer weather and great for celebrating our great country. Nothing’s better than a nice BBQ on a nice summer day. Steak knives just help that idea and let your employees enjoy their Canada Day that much more.

While it is Canada Day and we are celebrating our country, this is a great excuse to hand out SWAG and celebrate your employees. We’re celebrating the country and the great people living in it.

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25 May

3 Ways To Truly Relax When You’re Not In The Office

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 25.05.16 by John Meloche

Family Lying Upside Down On Sofa With DaughterHow has your week been going? For most Canadians, it’s a short work week considering that Victoria Day – a statutory holiday – was this past Monday. But for many others, there was no shortage of work this week. For the most part, we’re talking about business owners. You know, the type of people who never seem to take a day off of work? For such individuals – and we know a lot of them! – it’s important to remember that it’s okay to take time off sometimes.

As we’ve outlined in our blogs over the past couple of days, taking time to relax and unwind can actually be a good business move. Being away from the office allows you to recharge and properly refocus your energies on the tasks you have at hand. Often, entrepreneurs inundate themselves with work, take no breaks, and therefore, burn themselves out. This doesn’t help for many smart business moves to be made.

So how can you get yourself to truly relax when you’re not in the office? Here are three ideas:

1. Stay off of social media. Many people feel that if they’re not tweeting or updating statuses on a regular basis, the world will forget about them. At Synergy Marketing, we regularly advocate the act of using social media to spread the word about your business. However, on your days off, feel free to ignore the rest of the world. It doesn’t make you irrelevant in the eyes of the public if they don’t hear from you for a day.

Avoiding what he calls “status anxiety” is a practice advocated by Manuel Gil del Real of MGR Consulting Group. “It seems like nowadays, we all need to post every single thing we do on Social Media as if our life would not relevant unless we tell other people about our ‘status’ every single time,” he writes, “If you’re hungry for constant ‘likes’ and social recognition you need to reconsider your life priorities. Take a ‘Social Media Vacation’…it’s part of unplugging.”

2. Plan your time away from work. We know that this sounds like the opposite of what we’re trying to get you to do. Relaxing and taking it easy usually doesn’t usually come as a result of a specifically drawn out plan. But for many hard-working business owners, it may be necessary. On his website, entrepreneur, Sean Hopwood recommends that you have a plan when you decide to spend time away from your business.

“This plan should be prepared early, at least a week before the planned break,” he advises, “However, don’t plan too early since you can’t really be sure how circumstances would change as time passes. If you planned your trip months before, you may just get yourself in the dilemma of postponing your break or foregoing a business opportunity because of unexpected turn of events.”

3. Spend time with your loved ones. What’s the point of working so hard if it isn’t to benefit the people you love? Don’t forget that when you get time off of work, it means that you have more time to spend with your family members and friends. Remember that they are the reasons you work so hard to begin with. Gil del Real reminds us that it’s important to give them quality time when you’re not in the office.

“Focus on family or loved ones,” he insists, “Give them your full attention because for the most part of the year, you fail to give them quality time. Also when you focus on your family, this will change the pace of your life and you need that to become a more flexible individual. If you fail to invest in family life today, you’re sure to pay the price tomorrow. Don’t make that mistake.”

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24 May

3 Ways To Make The Most Of Your Days Away From Work

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 24.05.16 by John Meloche

Depositphotos_25983447_s-2015Welcome back to work Canada! On behalf of the entire team, here at Synergy Marketing, we hope you enjoyed your Victoria Day long weekend. Yesterday, we took the time to blog about the fact that it’s important that you actually enjoy your time off work. Too many business owners feel that when they take time away from the job, they’re letting their businesses down. Not so. In today’s blog, we’ll look at some ways you can make the most of your days away from work.

Here are three:

1. Read. Many people find reading relaxing. It also helps them to escape the pressures that come with everyday life as their books allow them to venture off into fictional worlds that can be quite entertaining. You don’t necessarily have to read fiction. If you’re not much of a reader of stories, consider picking up some books about areas of study you’re not normally attached to. A break from your regular every day is the point.

Manuel Gil del Real of MGR Consulting Group highly recommends this idea. “You don’t want your mind to still be occupied by work concerns so read stories that are unrelated to what you normally do,” he suggests, “I personally love reading biographical or self-improvement books during my time off. Often times, when you read the biography of other successful entrepreneurs, they can be both, a great read and a fantastic source of inspiration for your own self-improvement.”

2. Try to unplug from technology. Considering that most technology used today doesn’t require a plug to use, perhaps the best way to provide this piece of advice is to say “leave your devices alone!” When vacationing, see what it’s like to not be attached to your smartphone, tablet or laptop computer. You may feel as if you’ll be inundated with messages when you return, but it’s important to give yourself a break from non-stop calls and emails from time to time.

“Perhaps just bring your smart phone with you so you can communicate with your family if you’re not bringing them along,” suggests Gil del Real, “But if you will be traveling with your loved ones, unplug completely and don’t let your work concerns worm their way into your vacation. If there are problems at work, let your employees take care of them; trust your team, feel comfortable delegating and empower them to make their own decisions while you’re away.”

3. Stop worrying! Easier said than done, right? If you have the entrepreneurial spirit, it will be hard to convince you that there’s nothing to worry about when you take time away from your business. However, changing your mindset will help you to enjoy your days off and vacations a lot more. On his website, business owner, Sean Hopwood recommends that you practice little by little to not be a “worrywart”.

“Start small and scale up,” he recommends, “You can, for instance, delegate some tasks for the day and take the time off in the afternoon and observe how things proceed. Eventually, you will learn to trust your personnel while training them to be responsible at the same time. Gradually veer away from micromanagement and learn to trust people. If you are an entrepreneur who dreams of making it big, you will have to come to a point where micromanaging no longer works and may even become a burden.”

Remember that Synergy Marketing is open today! Don’t hesitate to call us to order the perfect promo gift to advertise your business at 1-877-748-9884 between 9am and 5pm EST. You can also email us at info@gosynergygo.com and sign up for our Insider E-Flyer Program HERE!

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23 May

The Importance Of Enjoying Your Time Off From Work

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 23.05.16 by John Meloche

African American businesswoman relaxing at work reclining back in her chair stretching her arms in the air and closing her eyes in contentmentHappy Victoria Day Canada! On behalf of the entire team, here at Synergy Marketing, we just wanted to take this opportunity to wish every single one of you an amazing “May 2-4” long weekend! Today is a day usually filled with fun in the sun, barbeques and picnics, as this long weekend holiday is often synonymous with the first “summer” holiday of the year. With that, we’d like to remind you that Synergy Marketing is closed today to observe the holiday.

We will, however, we open bright and early tomorrow morning, beginning at 9am EST, so please don’t hesitate to call us in the morning for any questions you may have about our fantastic promotional products. If you’re anything like us – and we know that many Canadian entrepreneurs are! – you enjoy the extra days off work, but you sometimes feel guilty about them. Those who have the entrepreneurial spirit are always working somehow.

We know that even at those barbeques and picnics taking place today, business owners are taking their opportunities to meet new people, pass along business cards, or better yet their branded promotional gifts. It’s hard not to think of work when you own a business. And, at Synergy Marketing, we not only understand that, but we sympathize with it, as well. We’re here to tell you that it’s okay – you’re allowed to enjoy your day off!

Don’t assume that if you’ve taken the day off that you’ve somehow let your business down. In fact, taking time away from the office can often be good for your business. It means you’re allowing yourself to relax and recharge so that you can take on the next day of work fully energized. Manuel Gil del Real of MGR Consulting Group writes that this is one of the most important ways to help your business to grow.

“If you’re…an entrepreneur but you believe that business shouldn’t stop no matter what time of the year it is, take a cue from the most successful business people around and use the holidays to regroup and recharge because taking vacations is among the smartest entrepreneurs’ habits that will allow you to be furthermore effective at what you do,” he writes. He goes on to list a few important ways that you can fully enjoy your time off from work.

“Build a reliable team that you can leave your work concerns to,” Gil del Real advises, “This will not only make you feel less anxious about being away but this will benefit your business as well. A business with people who will stretch their abilities to ensure that everything’s smooth running while the boss is away has the best potential to grow and succeed.” It’s important, however, to be good at delegating responsibilities to the right people.

On his website, business owner, Sean Hopwood writes that being a good delegator is a sign of being a good leader. Furthermore, it will help you to enjoy your time off from work with more ease. “Learn how to delegate responsibilities so you don’t have to micro-manage everything,” he advises, “Also, only delegate responsibilities if you are sure that those to whom the responsibilities will be delegated are responsible enough.”

We certainly hope you’re enjoying your time off from work today, no matter how you’ve chosen to spend the day. Don’t forget that to place your order for the promo gift of your choice, you can call Synergy Marketing tomorrow and throughout the rest of the week at 1-877-748-9884 between 9am and 5pm EST. You can also email us at info@gosynergygo.com and sign up for our Insider E-Flyer Program HERE!

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15 Feb

Happy Family Day (To Those Celebrating)!

Posted in News on 15.02.16 by John Meloche

A family with two children on a bed in the bedroomNational holidays are great, aren’t they? As we Ontarians celebrate Family Day today, it’s important to note that it’s not actually a national statutory holiday. In fact, it’s only being observed in the provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and Saskatchewan today. British Columbia is the lone province that celebrated Family Day last week. Canada only has one other province that celebrates a holiday this month.

In Prince Edward Island, they are celebrating Islander Day today. Manitoba is also acknowledging the Louis Riel Day holiday. This information all comes to us courtesy of StatutoryHolidays.com. The website explains that “Family Day was originally created to give people time to spend with their families but it also provides a day off between New Years Day and Good Friday as they are approximately three months apart.”

Federal workers are still on the job today as Family Day is not a federally established holiday. Such workers include post office employees and public servants. When you think about it, this is kind of strange, isn’t it? Why can’t the federal government simply come to an agreement to give the entire country one statutory holiday to celebrate this month? It sure would make life easier on the staff, here at Synergy Marketing.

You see, each and every day, our sales team is in contact with business owners from all over the country. With approximately half of those business owners not at work today, it slows our business down significantly. As Ontarians, we’re scheduled to take the day off from work too. But, as hard working sales reps, we’re also of the mind that certain opportunities to build business relationships are being missed.

StatutoryHolidays.com agrees that Family Day is a bit of an odd holiday in our country. “Unfortunately, not everyone gets Family Day off, which makes it a debatable holiday in many provinces,” states the website, “Why can’t the whole country simple agree on 9 or 10 common statutory holidays remains a mystery and a good indicator of just how overcomplicated our laws are.”

So what do people generally do on Family Day? “Common Family Day activities include skating, playing hockey, snowboarding/skiing and going to various winter festivals,” says StatutoryHolidays.com, “But the best thing about Family Day must be beaver tails and stuffing ourselves silly with pancakes with maple syrup!”

So what will you be doing to celebrate Family Day? CP24.com notes that many businesses will be closed today. For our fellow Torontonians, we’d like to inform you that banks, municipal offices, LCBO stores, Beer Stores, most Wine Rack locations, Toronto Public Library branches and most grocery stores are closed. As well, malls including Yorkdale Mall, CF Fairview Mall, Scarborough Town Centre and CF Sherway Gardens aren’t open either.

Enjoy your Family Day and be sure to contact Synergy Marketing tomorrow to discuss the promo gift that will best advertise your business. Call us at 1-877-748-9884 between 9am and 5pm EST or email us at info@gosynergygo.com! You can also sign up for our Insider E-Flyer Program HERE!

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24 Nov

Earmuffs Make Ideal Promo Gift Choices During Winter

Posted in Promotional Products, Small Business Advertising on 24.11.15 by John Meloche

ear-muffs-logo-1024x1269At Synergy Marketing, our many years of experience have taught us that there is no such thing as a wrong time of year to hand out promotional gifts to customers. But during the gift-giving holiday season, it only makes sense to get in on the tradition. Your customers have options. They can go to just about any store they want to make their holiday purchases. Why not find ways to encourage them to support your brand instead of your competitors?

As mentioned, our experience has shown that when Canadian business owners hand out promotional gifts, they encourage customers to keep coming back. There is a sense of newfound loyalty that is sparked in a person who gets something for free from a business that he or she usually has to spend money with. It’s a gesture that goes a long way. And to reiterate, the current holiday shopping season is the best time of year to make that gesture.

This time of year is also perfect for handing out items that will come in handy during the winter. No Canadian needs to be informed about how cold it gets from November to March (if we’re being nice about it). A promo gift that can help customers keep warm just may be the most ideal marketing tool you can employ right now. On CorporateMeetingsNetwork.ca, promotional products marketing expert, Heide Thorne provides quite the idea.

Hats! “21 per cent of all Canadians own a promotional hat (compared to 16 per cent in the United States),” she explains, citing the findings of a 2012 Global Advertising Specialties Impressions Study, “and 25 per cent of those surveyed in Toronto own one (highest in the world). So while hats are an iffy choice these days, especially for corporate meetings, they are more likely to be appreciated at Canadian events.”

As far as we see it, here at Synergy Marketing, it would be pretty hard to not impress someone by handing him or her some head gear that will help for keeping warm this winter. And we just happen to have the perfect warm-keeping head gear available! Our incredible Wrap Around Earmuffs take it one step further than giving out hats. Hats are great. But they’re also pretty common. Our earmuffs, however, provide a unique spin on your promo gift-giving practices.

These soft fleece fabric, water resistant, seam-sealed earmuffs are adjustable to fit heads of all sizes. Designed to keep out moisture and wind, the Wrap Around Earmuffs are also foldable so that they can be easily stored away after use. The price of just $19.95 each includes printing on both the left and right side of the earmuffs. With these promo gifts, people will be advertising your business wherever they go this winter!

According to Thorne, “Canadians are very receptive to receiving promotional products and have a high likelihood of retaining them, giving your organization and your events greater exposure over the long haul. So definitely add them to your meetings and events marketing mix.” We can’t think of a reason for Canadian business owners to not hand out promotional products as part of their advertising strategies this winter.

Especially during the busy holiday shopping season, you’ll have more opportunities than ever before to impress the people who visit your store. By providing them with a fantastic promo gifts, such as the Wrap Around Earmuffs, you’ll be making quite the bid to have them keep coming back well into the new year. To place an order, give Synergy Marketing a call today at 1-877-748-9884!

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28 Jan

Our Friends In Great Britain Love Promo Gifts Too!

Posted in Promotional Products on 28.01.15 by John Meloche

united kingdom national flag thumb up gesture for excellence andThe power of promotional products should never be understated. And perhaps, this is why we state it – over and over again! For many years, Synergy Marketing has proven that when Canadian business owners choose to place the logos of their companies on useful and effective promo gifts, their companies enjoy greater success. An increase in customers, happier clients, numerous referrals and general better impressions of the brands are all beneficial results.

But, promo gifts don’t just make business owners successful in Canada. They have the ability to work wonders worldwide! Our friends over in the United Kingdom seem to recognize the power of promo gifts and love them about as much as we do. At least, this is what seems to be confirmed by the British Promotional Merchandise Association. On Pellacraft.com, it is revealed that a survey was completed finding a number of benefits of promo gifts.

“Promotional products invoke loyalty in over three times as many recipients as the effects of the other advertising mediums like print, web, direct mail or TV,” says the website, “Using promotional products as part of your marketing will mean that your company gets the recipient’s loyalty and of course their custom.” The site goes on to list some very telling statistics about the power of promo gifts in Great Britain.

81% of the people asked said they expected to get promotional items from exhibitions like trade fairs etc. This is a very important aspect of the promotional gift. Trade shows, conferences and other events that give business owners the opportunities to meet fellow professionals are the absolute perfect places to hand out your promo gifts. Evidently, people now expect to get their hands on them at these events.

“They are a great way to draw in more customers and by having promotional items to give out people are more inclined to remember your company after the exhibition is over,” says Pellacraft.com, “With the economic climate as it currently is, now is the best time to promote your company using promotional items.” If you’re attending a trade show any time soon, it’s imperative you bring some promotional products along with you.

58.9% of people are more likely to keep free branded gifts during this time. This is another major benefit to the promo gift over the business card. The key is to be memorable and to make quite the good impression on those you meet. In order to encourage others to contact you after they have met you, it’s important to give them a reason to keep you in mind. Because promo gifts are so useful, they have the ability to stay with their recipients for years!

Business cards, on the other hand, are too often thrown away, lost or placed into a “deck” of other business cards only to be forgotten. Promo gifts leave lasting impressions. This is why it’s so important to invest in these great items. They are among the most cost-effective ways to grow your business. And their staying power is undeniable. Not to mention, they’re easier than you think to get your hands on!

94% of us remember the advertiser who gave us a promotional item after we have had it for six months. Evidently, if you want to be remembered, a promo gift will do the trick. And speaking of getting your hands on them, Synergy Marketing provides the best promo products in the business! Ordering yours is as simple as giving us a call at 1-877-748-9884 today. We look forward to helping you join Great Britain and the rest of the world in reaping their benefits!

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12 Nov

5 Reasons To Make Toques Your Promo Gift Of Choice

Posted in Promotional Products on 12.11.14 by John Meloche

HT-002-web-160x160In the City of Toronto – home of Synergy Marketing – we experienced some pretty decent weather yesterday. It certainly helped for the city’s Remembrance Day events to be celebrated in better comfort than in recent years. However, the cold weather is imminent. In fact, it’s a lot chillier today. And that brings an important thing to mind. Keeping warm during the winter season is of paramount importance, right? Of course! So why not help your customers to do so?

As a business owner, you’re always thinking of ways to impress your customers. And, at Synergy Marketing, we’re always thinking of ways to help you to do that. Our amazing 100% Acrylic Winter Toque with Cuff is the ideal way to both promote your business and impress your customers this winter. Naturally, they help to keep people’s heads warm. These comfortable winter hats, however, also serve to promote your brand to all who see them.

This point, naturally, is the most important reason for you to consider offering our 100% Acrylic Winter Toque with Cuff to your customers. Warm, cozy and comfortable, these toques are available in black, blue, and grey. They’re the perfect ways to beat the cold while promoting your business all winter long. Can you picture your business logo on a great toque? Here are five reasons to make it your promo gift of choice this winter.

1. They’re perfect winter attire. Okay, so it’s obvious that it gets cold outside in the winter in Canada. But, sometimes it’s not so obvious for people to put their winter hats on. Surprisingly, many people “forget” to bundle up during the winter’s coldest days. Your promotional toques provide you the opportunity to kindly remind your favourite customers to keep warm. In return, they’ll remind others of your business.

2. They are moving billboards. Of course, when people wear your promotional toques, they serve as advertisers of your brand. Wherever they go, your advertisement goes. Promo gifts that can be worn are arguably the most effective advertising agents for your business. This is because they have the ability to spread awareness about your brand in places you may never have visited yourself. At just $9.99 a piece, you can’t find more cost-effective billboards anywhere!

3. They highlight your status. So what does that mean exactly? Well, businesses that have branded clothing are often revered as top-of-the-line type of establishments. It says something about your brand when money is invested into clothing that carries its logo. When people where the clothing, it connotes that the brand is something to be proud of. Your toques, therefore, will also make great gifts for your family and friends who will surely enjoy wearing them for you.

4. They inspire loyalty. As with all promotional products, your promotional toques will further the customer loyalty you have attained. Firstly, people love getting things for free. So the gesture of giving itself will go a long way in pleasing those who receive your gift. Secondly, promo gifts often encourage recipients to speak highly of the brand giving out the gifts. In the case of toques, it inspires people to proudly represent your business for you.

5. They speak to your “Canadianess”. At Synergy Marketing, we are proudly Canadian. This is a trait that we share with our clients from all over the country. A toque is a uniquely Canadian item. Sure, winter hats exist in countries all over the world. But “toques” are Canadian things. Giving them out as gifts and wearing them yourself says a lot about your national pride. Your customers are bound to feel the same.

To order your custom-branded 100% Acrylic Winter Toques with Cuff, call Synergy Marketing at 1-877-748-9884 today!

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11 Nov

Acknowledging A Special Remembrance Day

Posted in News on 11.11.14 by John Meloche

Canadian Flag and Red PoppyThe staff, here at Synergy Marketing, would like to take this opportunity to offer our sincerest and most heartfelt appreciation to all Canadians who serve or who have ever served our country as part of our armed forces. To these amazing individuals and their families, we send our deepest gratitude. As well, as we commemorate Remembrance Day today, we offer our sincere condolences to all those who have suffered loss at the hands of war.

Of course, each and every year on today’s date, Canadians acknowledge those who have served in the military with a specific focus on the lives that have been lost as a result. But this year’s Remembrance Day is having an even greater impact on Canadians that it does most years. As we all know, it was just a few short weeks ago that Cpl. Nathan Cirillo was shot and killed in Ottawa while standing guard on Parliament Hill.

Troubling subjects such as these are not common on the Synergy Marketing Blog. But today, we felt that there was no topic more important to discuss. In fact, as of this writing, there is a massive crowd gathering at Ottawa’s National War Memorial. CBC News is carrying a live blog covering the event on their website. Emotions are high, needless to say. And even for the many Canadians who can’t take part in person, their thoughts are present.

“It’s more of an emotional Remembrance Day this year,” offered one of Synergy Marketing’s sales reps this morning, “With what just happened in Ottawa, it really hits home that we have a long way to go before we can really feel a sense of peace in our world. I’m just happy that Canadians are united in celebrating what is great about this country and not focusing on the negative. Our war veterans deserve to be celebrated today and every day.”

It certainly feels that the majority of Canadians feel the same way. As CBC News reports, poppy sales, this year, have broken records. The long-time symbol of remembrance for our fallen troops, the poppy is a popular part of the attire of Canadians throughout the first few weeks of November. And it has never been more special a symbol than today. They are everywhere. This is especially true for today’s event in Ottawa.

CBC’s Hannah Thibedeau reports that “about 80,000 people are expected to attend the Ottawa ceremony, the largest crowd since 1939, when it reached 100,000. Typically, about 35,000 people turn out each year.” CBC News notes that “the commemoration will include the familiar rituals of the piper’s lament, Last Post, the artillery salute and the recitation of the Act of Remembrance taken from Laurence Binyon’s poem, For the Fallen.”

In Synergy Marketing’s hometown of Toronto, there are Remembrance Day events taking place at various locations including Queen’s Park. As we post today’s blog, at approximately 11:00 a.m., these ceremonies will all be officially commencing. As you may know, both that time and today’s date – 11/11 – have a special meaning. No matter where you are in Canada today, we are united as Canadians during this time.

Today is all about those who make or have made ultimate sacrifices for our nation. And as CBC News points out, it’s for all those who serve our nation – be it in the past, present or future. This is why there is a new inscription at Ottawa’s National War Memorial which reads: “In Service to Canada — Au service du Canada.” Today, we remember you all with fondness, extreme gratitude and great respect.

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01 Jul

A Day To Celebrate Our Nation

Posted in News on 01.07.14 by John Meloche

Canada Flag Heart Glossy ButtonHappy Canada Day everyone! We hope you’re enjoying the day off and spending time with those you love, celebrating being part of the best country in the world. Perhaps, it’s very un-Canadian to brag about how great we are. But hey, we only do this once a year, so why not? Today is a day to be proud of being Canadian – that’s not to say that we shouldn’t be proud every day – but today is the day that it’s especially acceptable to wave the maple leaf-clad flag.

In yesterday’s blog, we discussed a few reasons why it’s so great to be Canadian. But let’s be honest. There’s no blog long enough to give out all of the details. So as we celebrate Canada Day today, we thought we’d provide a few more reasons why the Great White North is truly so great. We’re sure that Canadians are aware of why Canada is so worth celebrating. But not everyone in the world may be hip to the game. So allow us to fill you in.

Freedoms. Our neighbours to the south love to proclaim that America’s freedoms are what help make the United States so wonderful. And they’d be right. But guess what? Canada is also a land of the free. As Green Fenris writes on StudyMode.com, “In Canada you have rights to freedom of speech and thought…Your rights as a Canadian include freedom to express religion, sexual orientation, and individuality and have access to education, occupation, medical and the justice system.”

World-class manners. Canadians are universally known for being polite. Even Jordan Rane of CNN feels compelled to point it out when he writes about Canada’s incredible penchant for apologizing. “It’s not so easy to get a simple apology in most of the world,” he writes, “In Canada, apologies happen constantly – ‘sorries’ flying in from all sides like swarms of affable killer bees.”

Multiculturalism. In Canada, everyone is welcome. One look around the Synergy Marketing offices will tell you that. Our team makes up just a small example of what the rest of the country looks like. We represent a variety of ethnic backgrounds. Fenris acknowledges this by saying “the people from Canada come from many different backgrounds and have many different religions. Many people escape an unsafe or unwelcoming home to come and live in Canada, the land of people.”

Clean Air. Who knew that it has actually healthier for a person to live in Canada? Apparently, Rane did. He writes that “in a recent national air quality study by the World Health Organization, Canada placed third for the cleanest air on the planet. Until the first and second placers (Estonia and Mauritius) are covered in CNN Travel’s ‘better than anywhere else’ series, we direct your breath to Canadian cities — which average a relatively pristine 13 micrograms of PM10 particles per cubic meter.”

Incredible landscapes. The mountains that make up the signature look of the west coast of Canada are enough to marvel at. But the Canadian side of the Niagara Falls are just as much a wonder of the world. Fenris notes that “Canada is not only a nation of people, it’s also an uncomparable feast of wilderness and geography” pointing out that the nation’s rivers, lakes, mountains, deserts, plains, tundras, and forests offer all that any sightseer could ever ask for.

Star-studded citizens. Hollywood may be known for its celebrities. But how many of them were actually born there? As Rane reminds us, Canadian superstars such as Jim Carrey, John Candy, Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, Dan Aykroyd, Seth Rogen, Mike Myers, Phil Hartman, Michael Cera and Leslie Nielsen account for some of the biggest names in comedy alone. Add music to the discussion, and the list of talented Canucks could go on forever!

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