This week we are featuring Sydney Binnington, founder of Canadian lifestyle brand company Canalien & Co! Her passion for travel, Canada and community inspires us. We had the chance to catch up with Sydney and ask her about rBux, traveling, and being a “Canalien.”
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What does it mean to live into the Canalien brand? What is your greatest hope for your brand?
To live a Canalien Life means understanding that you are not only defined by your native country but with where and how you choose to live and view the world. Being Canadian is a gift, and being Canalien means understanding and reciprocating that good fortune by being open minded while travelling abroad, and accepting and respectful of everyone as a citizen of the world. My greatest hope for the brand is to be able to bridge the gap between newer and native citizens in countries around the world; to focus on the fact we are all humans trying to live our best lives.
How has being a Canadian with an open mindset opened opportunities for you on your travels?
Travelling as a Canadian with an open mind has led to many opportunities. I find being Canadian in itself is an icebreaker when meeting new people, and then having an open mind on top of that has allowed me to spark up conversations with strangers. After doing this enough times I’ve gathered a wealth of knowledge and experiences that allow me to not only interact, but to relate to and connect people and places from all over which has given me so many incredible friends with similar mindsets living around the world.
Have you had any awesome connections on a trip with others Canaliens?
Many times! One of my favourite and most recent run-ins was in the Outer Banks, North Carolina. We’d driven down there with hopes of driving along their famous beaches until we realised: 1) You need a permit to do so, and 2) You need a specific car (with 4 wheel drive – duh!). We were down on our luck when we went to a beach bar that night. A fellow patron noticed me showing my Ontario health card as ID to the bartender. He struck up a conversation and it turned out that he worked at Toronto French School, not far from us in Toronto! He offered to loan us his Jeep and permit the next morning to go for a beach drive. We met him bright and early and he handed us his keys! Luckily we’d been forced to learn how to drive standard while travelling in Bosnia just a month before so we were able to look like we knew what we were doing with his Jeep. It was one of the coolest experiences I’ve ever had – and all because we trusted each other, solely on the basis that we were all Canadians!
What do you think is the most important thing Canadians should remember when travelling, to represent their country well?
To be respectful of the customs and cultures of other places and people, to never forget how fortunate you are to be Canadian, and to use that fortune for the betterment of others.
How do you see rBux as a meaningful integration to Canalien and Co?
rBux is a meaningful integration to Canalien & Co. because both of our companies promote ideals based on our customers working together in a community setting. In doing this, both of our communities function similarly valuing openness, communication, reciprocation and the sharing knowledge and ideas to improve the lives of others.
Why do you think your customers will like using rBux?
The reason I like using rBux, and I think our customers will too, is because it is a community of people sharing their likes and suggestions with others, and connecting their friends to things that may interest them. These are traits similar to the Canalien community and way of life. Plus, on top of being a part of this community, its members receive a reward for each connection or introduction they make between their friends and products they find enjoyable. As a retail business owner, it makes me especially happy that our loyal customers who wear and share our gear with others are being rewarded for introducing more people to the Canalien way of life.
Visit their website, Canalien & Co and make sure to create a referral this month, and be entered to win some of their merchandise! Click here for full contest details.
