One of the most recognized all-Canadian brands to come from Hawkesbury was featured at the annual meeting of the Hawkesbury Industrial Investment Association (HIIA) on Wednesday, May 28. Alain Ménard, owner of The Green Beaver Company in Hawkesbury, spoke about the success of its all-natural, all-Canadian personal care products since efforts have increased among Canadians in recent months to purchase Canadian-made products following trade and tariff challenges with the United States, and suggestions by Donald Trump that Canada should become the 51st state.
Green Beaver’s manufacturing and administration facility is located on Tupper Street in Hawkesbury. Ménard and his wife Karen Clark both have education and experience in chemistry and microbiology. In 2002, they wanted to develop new, all-natural personal care products at a time when the selection of such items was limited for most Canadians. They began making items in their kitchen. Today, their increasingly automated production and packaging processes create lib balms, toothpaste, and deodorant available at major drugstore and supermarket chains across Canada, in addition to many stores specializing in natural products.
Ménard said sales have soared since February when Trump’s talk of tariffs and takeover began. Green Beaver now has 1.3 million followers on Facebook. Investor Arlene Dickinson, best known for her role as a panelist on CBC-TV’s Dragon’s Den, has also endorsed Green Beaver on social media because its products are Canadian.
“She has a big reach, so that also helped us on sales,” Ménard said.
On March 22, Ménard appeared before a crowd during an Elbows Up rally for Canada at Nathan Philips Square in Toronto and promoted Green Beaver’s Canadian identity. In a video of his remarks, there were cheers when he said the products are made in Hawkesbury.
“By buying Canadian, you’re creating jobs,” Ménard told the audience.
He said it used to be difficult for Green Beaver to get special display space in stores. Now, the major chains are scrambling to offer such spaces. Green Beaver used to compete with American natural personal care brands like Tom’s of Maine, which is owned by Colgate-Palmolive. But in recent months, Green Beaver has become Canada’s number one personal care brand.
Ménard said he is also committed to an inclusive workplace. Half of Green Beaver’s 35 employees are women, and 30 per cent are from visible minorities. He said Hawkesbury is a good place to operate the company because of its diversity, bilingualism, good collaboration with the Employment Services Centre, and support from the HIIA.
Ménard said that according to Business Development Canada (BDC), every $25 spent each month on Canadian made products has the potential to create 60,000 jobs and increase Canada’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 0.7 per cent.
He said buying Canadian is for future generations and about strengthening Canada’s economy and independence.
Ménard said it is difficult for many Canadians to revert to buying American products.
“It hurt our pride to be told ‘you’re the 51st state,” he remarked.
“To go back to buying American, it’s like a self-betrayal,” he added.
Ménard said Green Beaver had been selling some products in the US, but the tariffs ended that.
“We sell more in the Philippines,” he said.
Online sales of Green Beaver’s Canadian Maple Syrup lip balm have recently spiked due to it becoming popular in an online game in China.
Locally, Green Beaver products are sold at drugstores, supermarkets, and at Fromagerie des Trois-Rapides on Highway 17 near Hawkesbury.
