Sometimes travellers have to urgently buy items which simply do not fall in the realm of souvenirs and knickknacks; all kinds of accidents or odd occurences may force one to look for the humdrum and usual in a country full of stores you haven't heard of before, with names which are inadequate descriptions of the goods on offer. Here's a brief listing of major Canadian chains, and the items that they offer, starting with their most unexpected strong points:
The Bay (La Baie, Hudson's Bay Company, HBC): Major department store.
Canadian Tire : Almost every store fills propane tanks. Housewares of all kinds, sporting goods (including guns and ammunition), automotive supplies, auto repairs, RV supplies, camping/fishing/boating supplies, lawn & garden, electrical, interior & exterior paint, hardware.
Future Shop: DVDs, CDs, computer and video games, and all kinds of consumer electronics, from computers to cell phones to TVs. Major appliances.
Home Outfitters : Housewares, kitchen appliances, sheets, towels.
Indigo, Chapters (same store under two banners) : Huge bookstore chain, usually with very large magazine section; some CDs & DVDs also. Seasonal gifts.The biggest ones have their own cafés (coffee, tea, light meals).
London Drugs: Electronics, photofinishing, housewares, prescription and non-prescription medication, canned food, cosmetics, health & beauty aids, electronics, housewares, computers and computer supplies.
Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC): Camping, cycling, paddling, cross-country skiing, hiking and climbing gear, all at very good prices. You must be a member to shop at MEC; a lifetime membership costs $5, and is best purchased at customer service before you go to the cashier to pay for your items. Stores throughout Canada.
Shoppers Drug Mart (whose Québec equivalent is Pharmaprix ) : Cigarettes & tobacco products (where not prohibited by law), greeting cards, seasonal gifts, snacks (and sometimes groceries), prescription and non-prescription medication, cosmetics, health & beauty aids.
Zellers: Discount department store. Good source for cheap emergency holiday clothing or shoes; also a good source for video games in smaller cities.
Clothing sizes : If you need to purchase clothing in Canada, Online Conversion will tell you the Canadian size that is equivalent to your size in your home country. If one of the pages on the Online Conversion website does not list Canadian sizes, assume they are the same as U.S. sizes.
