Be Prepared for Back To School!

Back To School is coming up right around the corner! We all know what that means...shorter days, more homework, and no more late nights.

As much as some dislike BTS, we know it comes every year, and we know it goes even better when you're prepared. That includes kids school supplies, clothes, and footwear.

Shopping for BTS footwear for kids can sometimes be a bit of a challenge. Kids don't always know when something fits, they just look for the flashiest most fancy shoes on the shelf and say "I want these!" Even though these shoes are probably not supportive and probably twice the price you wanted to spend, you sometimes cave to make your shopping a little easier.

Well we want to make it really easy for you and the kids this fall, and make sure they get the footwear they need too! We do free fittings for all of our customers and make sure that the child's foot is put in the proper shoe for them.

When we're fitting for kids shoes there's a few things we recommend:

1) Shop later in the day: this ensures that the child's feet are their biggest and this is the size we want to make sure the shoes fit, so that when they're on their feet all day the shoes will fit.

2) Measure both feet while the child is standing: this is important to see where the feet measure while standing. If you measure while sitting, you are more likely to get an improper measurement.

3) Bring Socks: we know that kids wear sandals in the summer, but it's very important to try on shoes with socks as opposed to bare feet. Again, shoes will fit differently if worn bare foot, and we all know kids aren't going to run in gym class without socks!

We know that this time of year can be pricey for parents and sometimes saving costs on things like clothes and shoes can help a lot. We recommend NOT giving your child hand me down shoes. Kids feet are very delicate and the bones and tissue need to grow properly. If your child wears shoes from someone who has already moulded the shoes to the shape of their feet, your child could risk injury or long term discomfort because their foot won't be supported properly.

We want to help you and your kids this BTS season! Shop early while we have the best selection of size, styles, and widths! Let us help you prepare your kids for school next month!

Visit us on-line to check out styles before coming into our store at canadianfootwear.com!

What's Coming Up?

Many people think summer is basically over, but that's not the case! We've still got 3 solid weeks of summer left and we're going to do everything we can to take advantage of it!

First off, we've had a few inquiries lately asking if we carry sandals still. YES! In fact, we carry sandals all year round! Did you know during the winter months when you plan your vacation, you can pick up your sandals at our down town Sandal Shop? No more buying the clearance flip-flops shoved between shelves at Wal-Mart because we've got you covered for comfort and style ALL year round!

Some of you have probably heard of the Dirty Donkey Run, maybe you're even participating this summer. The event takes place this Saturday August 15th at Assiniboia Downs.

We were asked by the very well known Ace Burpee from 103.1 Virgin Radio if we could help his race day go smoothly by being his Shoe Guy on race day. Of course we said yes! If you spot Ace Burpee throughout your obstacle run check out his apparel and footwear provided by Canadian Footwear! We're super happy to support Ace in his journey to run the obstacle course as many times as he possibly can. Way to go Ace!

Finally, our Back To School Launch event is taking place this Saturday! This is going to be something you won't want to miss. What's better than free food, prizes, and a chance to win a pair of New Balance Kids shoes?! Nothing!

All three of our locations will be hosting so feel free to join us downtown, on St Mary's or on Regent! Our fall styles are starting to roll in so make sure to check out our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages for updates on when they hit the showroom floor!

Ahhh It's Almost Fall!

We hope everyone had a much needed, relaxing long weekend! We have had a very busy few weeks around here, and things are about to get even busier in the upcoming weeks for BTS!

Next week, we will be holding out BTS Launch Event to promote some new styles, show our appreciation, and have some awesome prizes for you our customers! You'll definitely want to be in our store on August 15th to see what it's all about!

With back to school coming up around the corner, we know you'll be shopping for your kids new running shoes and winter boots. Kids grow out of shoes very fast, and sometimes parents can't afford to buy their kids new ones. Our Fit Feet On The Street program ensures that we can get as many shoes out to families that don't have access to proper footwear. If you happen to be digging through your closets in the next few weeks and find some shoes that aren't fitting, feel free to drop them off at any one of our locations! We accept men's, women's and kids new or gently used footwear!

We've also launched a new protocol for customers shopping at our downtown store. As of today, we require that all customers are provided with a bag when making a purchase in our store.

Why are we doing this? We are certainly not trying to put more waste into the environment, in fact our bags are biodegradable! It is simply a safety procedure that we are putting in place at our downtown location. For those customers who want to recycle their bags, we will have a box by our door for you to put your bag in should you choose not to take it. We thank you all for your understanding on our new protocol. If you have any questions, feel free to ask any of our staff!

And we've got new products in store, and boots starting to fill up our basement! We know, we know, no one wants to think about winter. But, better to be prepared! These will start making their way into our showroom in the next couple of weeks! Here's a sample of one that's already up: our Rieker Greece Boots in black and red!

We are really excited to see you out for our BTS Event, so mark it on your calendar! August 15th at all three locations! We can't wait!

Orthotics vs Insoles

Orthotics and insoles....the same in some ways, but different in so many. Many people think they're the same, only with orthotics being more expensive. We're answering some FAQ's that customers bring us this week!

So what's the difference?

What Are Insoles?

Insoles are shaped inserts that fit into shoes. They might be built into the shoe already, or removable. Some are manufactured for sale in stores that have more support or different functions for people with different feet. These can be purchased over the counter and can range in price. The downside to insoles is that they don't fit all foot types and their lifespan is usually shorter than orthotics. 

What Are Orthotics?

Orthotics are also insoles, but they are custom made to fit your feet more efficiently than over the counter arch supports. These require a prescription from your doctor. These are made from a 3D model of the patient's foot and is made from raw materials to meet the patient's specific needs. The only downside to orthotics is that they are significantly more expensive than regular insoles because they're custom made. 

Who needs orthotics?

Any person can benefit from orthotics. The best way to find out if you need them is to see your family doctor first. They can look at your feet/legs and diagnose whether or not you need to see a podiatrist/pedorthist or if over the counter insoles will help fix your problem. 

Am I covered for orthotics?

Every Health Care provider is different, so you must check with them to find out if orthotics will be covered. 

Why are orthotics so expensive? 

If you have any more questions, we have certified pedorthists on staff who are very well trained and know everything there is to know about orthotics and insoles. If you know you need orthotics, please call us to book an appointment at 204-944-7460 and we would be happy to help!

How long do they last? 

Orthotics lifespan can vary depending on the person using them. It all depends on the materials used, the patient's foot structure, activity level, age, gender, and physical condition. You'll know you're due for new orthotics when your foot symptoms start to return. This will be a good indicator to determine if you need some modifications done, or new orthotics altogether.

For more information on orthotics you can check out the Pedorthic Association of Canada's website at http://www.pedorthic.ca/ Have a great weekend Winnipeg! 

Happy Canada Day!

Happy (almost) Birthday Canada!

It's Canada Day week, which this year for us happens to be smack dab in the middle of the week!

We just wanted to send out a friendly reminder that all of our store locations and FootHealth Centre will be closed this Wednesday. Regular hours will resume on Thursday.

So how are you going to celebrate Canada Day, and the better question being what are you going to wear? It's no surprise that people all over Winnipeg and Canada will be decked out in red and white in honour of our country's birthday. Are you ready with your red and white shoes? If not, we've got you covered! We've picked our top four shoes for Canada Day this year!


Birkenstock's

Easy, slide on, comfortable and stylish. These go with any outfit, and can dress anything up or down!

Artisan by Clark's

Going out for a fancy dinner? These wedges pair perfectly with those summer hi-lo or maxi dresses. The thick wedge heel provides comfort and stability, so you can wear these for hours!

Saucony

Hitting up the gym or going out for a run? These Saucony's have our country pride all over! They also have highly breathable mesh so your feet won't be crying from sweating so much. The interior lining wicks away moisture so your feet stay cool and dry throughout your run!

Naot

Need to wear orthotics but still want to wear sandals? Good news, you can! Our Naot line of sandals have removable insoles to allow you to put your custom orthotics in for long lasting comfort and pain free walking!

Check out the rest of our selection of red and white shoes in store! We're open at our Adelaide location until 6 PM tonight, and our St Vital and Regent locations until 9 PM. A reminder that we'll be closed tomorrow and re-open regular hours on Thursday! Have a Happy Canada Day!

Flip-Flop Fanatics

Summer is in full swing here in Winnipeg. The sun has been shining, the temperatures are warm, and there is no shortage of shorts and sandals when you walk around Winnipeg.

One of the most popular summer shoes are also one of the biggest problem causing shoes: the very popular flip-flops.

This becomes the go to summer footwear for a few reasons: they're cheap (most of us have at least 5 pairs) they're comfortable (or so we think) and they're quick to put on and take off. The thing a lot of people don't know is these $1-$5 pairs of rubber footwear are actually causing more harm to your feet and other parts of your body that you may not know of, yet.

Like any pairs of shoes, flip-flops give you protection between your feet and the ground. They may be good for taking out to the beach or wearing in a shower but that's basically all they're good for.

Why They Cause Problems

- no arch support
- no heel cushion
- no shock absorption
- can cause tendinitis or sprained ankles

Now we're not saying you should ban flip-flops altogether. We're just suggesting you find the RIGHT flip-flops. This week we're going to share with you some of our well known brands in store that won't damage your feet, legs, or back this summer. You can have your feet enjoy the summer air and still be comfortable at the same time.

We know that you want shoes that you can quickly throw on and off at a moment's notice say when you're at the beach or racing through the park. It's important to take care of your feet, especially in the summer time. Stay tuned to our Facebook and Instagram throughout the week for sandals that you'll flip over! (in a good way)

On Your Mark, Get Set....

We're in the final countdown! It's less than one week until the Manitoba Marathon and it's obvious with a lot of runners out this past weekend that there are a lot of people training for the big run!

We know that most of you who have been training for months now have your gear and you're all set to run this weekend. But this week we're going to talk about some of the different running footwear and accessories that we carry in store. Have you been experiencing any foot, leg, or lower back pain while running recently? You may be wearing the wrong pair of shoes and not even know it! 

There are three types of shoes we will be looking at this week. Running shoes, training shoes, and walking shoes. You might think it's easy enough to just walk into a store, see a pair of shoes you like, grab them in your size and you're good to go. Every runner has a different foot and running style, which is why it's always good to talk to our fit specialists before choosing a running shoe.

Even little things like the type of socks and how you tie your shoes can change how your feet perform when you run. Don't worry, we'll cover that too!

Stay tuned this week to check out some featured athletic shoes and what you need to get the most out of your training. If you're not participating in the marathon this year but looking to sign up for some other runs, check them out here.

Happy Running! 

Walk and Ride All Day Long

June is a very busy month here in Winnipeg! There's lots of events kicking off summer, school is finishing up, and people are really getting into vacation mode!

One event that most of us are very familiar with is the annual Red River Exhibition, which this year takes place June 12th to 21st. So many rides, food, attractions and entertainment to keep you walking around for hours! This can mean a lot of foot pain for those who don't wear the proper footwear. Let us help you take care of that before it becomes a problem!

Going to the fair in the summer can be a great time, especially when the weather is beautiful. The problem is, a lot of people pick sandals or flip flops to wear because they keep their feet cool and if they need to take them off for certain rides, they can. The problem is that when you walk around for two, three, even four hours in little pieces of rubber your feet are going to be very sore by the end of the day. That, and lots of rides now require you to have closed toe shoes because of safety regulations.

So now what are your options? Well of course a walking or running shoe would be your first (and best) choice for comfort and long lasting wear. The only downside is it's going to be a little warmer for your feet, and the dreaded sock tan that so many of us work so hard to avoid in the summer.

We've picked out some shoes for men, women and kids that will not only give you all day comfort, but will keep your feet cool all day long! Check out our Facebook and Instagram this week to see our top picks for you!

Our number one tip: leave the flip-flops at home. Do you know how big the exhibition park is? If you plan on walking through the entire thing, your feet are going to pay for that with blisters. Come in and check out our selection this week so that you can enjoy the Red River Ex and new shoes too!

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and Construction

If you've lived in Winnipeg for a year or longer, you'll know that we experience more than four seasons. Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter....and the dreaded construction season. Construction used to only happen in the summer time, but it seems now that it happens in conjunction with all the four seasons listed prior to it. It can be a huge headache for drivers and pedestrians to see those orange pylons everywhere on the commute to work. Sometimes it can be an even bigger pain for those working in the construction zones.

Having comfortable and suitable footwear for anything you're doing whether it be running, walking, working in a restaurant or a construction zone is so important. Your feet are no good to you when they're sore or blistered which is why it's so important to have the right footwear.

Construction workers have to make sure they have the right footwear that is CSA certified. They're on their feet all day, so comfort is also a big factor. We have a variety of safety footwear in store that highlight the following features:

- removable insole
- wider/deeper toe box
- good traction
- lightweight
- good shock absorption
- anti fatigue
- CSA Certified

This week we'll be featuring our different styles for both men and women, and how they stand up against other brands. We want to remind you as well, that when you try on Keen Safety Shoes in our store until June 12th, you can enter to win some great prizes from Keen, Ticketmaster, and Tim Horton's! No time like right now to come in and check them out!

Vintage Photo Match Game

The moment we've all been waiting for is almost here...the weekend!

We've got a busy weekend ahead with our in-store Doors Open promotion! We wanted to give a quick overview of how it works so you know what's going on!

If you visit our downtown location this weekend, whether it's while you're attending Doors Open or just shopping around, you can play our Vintage Photo Match Game!

How Do You Play?

Come to our downtown store and tell any of our fit specialists you want to play the photo match game. They will get you a copy of the game, and away you go! There are 15 photos for you to match to their correct names. If you match all 15 correctly you'll be entered into the draw for our gift basket!

When?

This weekend! Any time on Saturday or Sunday you can come down. The catch, the games need to be handed in by 5 PM on Sunday to be entered into the draw!

Where?

This is only at our 128 Adelaide Street location, downtown.

Who?

Anyone, and everyone! Come on down!


Don't forget it's this weekend only! And if you get a chance, check out the raffle at Doors Open since we have given a pair of Merrell shoes for one of the prizes! Good luck and have a great weekend!

Our Doors Are Open...Come on In!

It might be hard to believe but we're almost through May already and June is right around the corner. Summer is (almost) here and after the weekend we just had, I think it's safe to say the nice weather and sunshine are here to stay!

One of the best things about summer in Winnipeg is there's so much to do and see! This weekend coming up we're part of an annual event in Downtown Winnipeg that showcases more than 80 of the city's finest sites, architecture, and history. Doors Open Winnipeg is a free event that takes place on May 30th and 31st. You are invited to come downtown to participate in tours, live music, raffles, and of course the fantastic food and beverage vendors.

There are a couple of ways Canadian Footwear is taking part in the event this year. There is a raffle that takes place over the two days where you can purchase tickets to win fantastic prizes. We have donated a pair of Merrell shoes (courtesy of Merrell) for you to win! If you are the winner of this prize, you can come into our store and pick out a pair worth up to $160!

If you're around the downtown area taking part in the free events, we're also giving out $20 coupons to use in our store! These can be used on a purchase of $100 or more on regular priced merchandise. Spot one of the reps from Doors Open handing them out over the weekend!

Finally, we've made up a special prize basket for our social media followers! If you check out our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram later this week you'll see a game that we're doing over the weekend and anyone can participate! All you have to do is come into our store to pick up a copy on Saturday or Sunday, finish it, and bring it back to our downtown store by Sunday May 31st at 5PM. If you successfully complete the game, you'll be entered to win our prize basket filled with some sweet goodies! We'll give you a hint....

But you'll have to come down to our store next weekend to figure out what it is! 

We hope to see you out and about this weekend! Be sure to follow us on social media for the latest updates and promotions on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

Bust A Move

Happy Friday Winnipeg! We are so excited with all the stuff that's going on around here that we got two posts on the blog this week!

We wanted to take this time to highlight one of our staff member's. Mark who does our shoe repairs and modifications at our downtown location, was recently at a dance competition in Montreal, and we'll let him tell you all about it!

"Hello my name is Mark San Juan and my dancing name is “Daddy GoodFunk”. My style of dance is called “Locking”! Locking is one of the first street dances that dates back to the late 60’s created by Don “Campbellock” Campbell. It is still kind of unknown in Winnipeg. Myself and some of my crew members of GoodFunk (Joe Boy Rock, Majestic, Shaq Daddy, Lester, Vivik and AllyCat) are helping Locking and other older dances resurface in our city. Because Locking was rare to find in Winnipeg we had to travel around where Locking is still strong, places like Calgary, Vancouver, Toronto, Las Vegas, and Montreal!

Back in 2009 I won my first Locking battle dance competition called “One Touch” in Calgary. After that I got married and had a baby named Illya. Now in May 2015 I wanted to Battle again to see where I am at in Locking so I decided to enter a competition called “Bust-A-Move” in Montreal. With the help of Canadian Footwear giving me support with some of the funds it really made my trip an enjoyable experience that I will never forget. I was able to meet up with other Lockers who travelled from all over the world in one place to learn from each other.

Day 1: Friday May 1^{st -} I had made it past preliminary that was done off the main stage that moved me on to day 2. Day 2: Saturday May 2^nd - I faced my opponent in the top 16 of 25 other Lockers. Given the chance to touch and dance in front of hundreds of people on the main stage (also live streamed on-line) was something I have never experienced. Losing to Jeff D. in the top 16 just showed me that Winnipeg has to step up their game, travel as individuals, take experience back to Winnipeg and share your knowledge to help raise the level and let the world know that Winnipeg has great dancers! Let us Rep our City."

Way to go Mark, and keep up the good work! All of us at Canadian Footwear are very proud! You can check out a video of Mark dancing in the competition on YouTube as well as our Instagram! 

(Mark's also rocking the New Balance MT580HTT style shoes, which he says helps keep him dancing all night long)

Say No To Flip-Flops and Yes To Comfort!

It seems the weather has taken a little turn on us. We had a glimpse of summer and hopefully it's May showers bring June flowers. But it's okay, because we know that summer is coming and that with summer means sunshine and sandals!

As with any type of shoe, sandals come in many different styles, sizes, colours, brands, and widths. They usually range in price from $1 to anywhere in the $1000's for designer sandals. The problem is that a lot of people choose style over stability/comfort in their summer footwear. They choose what's quick and easy to slip on and slip off if they're running out to the beach or the park.

The problem with summer is that we often look at what's cute or stylish as opposed to what's supportive and cushioning. Flip-flops are the easiest go-to footwear because it takes less than 3 seconds to put them on and take them off, and they pretty much go with whatever you're wearing.

Recently Canadian Certified Pedorthist Katrina Lammers explains why you shouldn't choose flip-flops unless you're heading to the beach.

See her clip here.

A lot of summer sandals are very flat which you might think is more comfortable, but they lack arch support and comfort for your foot. So if you're wearing them for an extended period of time, your feet tend to get more sore as the day goes on. There's no padding or heel cup which can lead to your muscles overworking, or getting blisters, corns, etc.

There are a few things you should look for when buying your summer sandals this year:

1) Do They Fit Right?

A lot of people will find a shoe they absolutely love, and even if it's a tiny bit small or a tiny bit big they'll buy it anyway. It's very important to make sure you are measured every time you buy shoes, and that you buy the size that fits YOU.

2) Is There Arch Support?

The flatter your sandals, the more pain you're going to experience with wear. Good arch support prevents things like pain, cramps, or muscle fatigue. Sandals that have supportive mid-soles cushion your foot and support the arch which help prolong comfort in your feet.

3) Are You Dressed for the Right Activity?

There are many different types of sandals. Everything from hikers to walking sandals to Birkenstock's and fashion sandals. It is important that you are wearing the right sandal for the activity you're doing. So you'd never wear a fashion sandal if you're on a hike through the park. And remember, sandals are not the proper footwear for running.

If you have any other questions about sandals, our fit experts in store are always happy to answer them. Whether you're searching for sandals for yourself, your spouse or your kids, bring everyone down! We have many brands in store to fit everyone in the family! Shop on-line at canadianfootwear.com.

Step Into Spring!

Happy Tuesday Winnipeg! We're so happy because so many of you came out to our Try on and Win event on Saturday, and we sent so many people home with new shoes AND great prizes! So thank you to all those who came out!

It's officially May, and it keeps getting busier around here, in a good way! We've got all of our summer styles in store, and we just can't take our eyes off some of them! Here's a couple of sneak peeks of some of the styles we've recently got in. Cobb Hill, Clark's, Mephisto's, Birkenstock's and more!

We would love for you to come to our store and see what else we've got in stock! We're also really excited to be hosting our Step Into Spring Event this Friday!

What Is It?

It's our way of showing off some new Spring and Summer styles we've got in our store! A chance for you to come out, enjoy some coffee and pastries, and get a discount on your new Spring and Summer footwear!

When Is It?

Friday May 8th from 8:30 AM to 6 PM

Where Is It?

This one is at our downtown location only, 128 Adelaide Street.

Why?

Because we value all of you and we want to show our appreciation to you our customers!

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for some sneak peeks of new shoes, and our special discount coupon that you'll be able to use in our store this Friday! We're looking forward to seeing you out!

Try On Comfort and WIN!

Spring is officially here, and it looks like we're (hopefully) rid of winter for a few months! We're super excited for some in-store events were having coming up in May! It looks like it's going to continue to be very busy in our store and we hope you stop in to see why!

Our first event is coming up this weekend, and that's our Try on Comfort & WIN event!

What Is It?

Do you love comfortable shoes? Do you like winning prizes? Then this event is definitely for you! In our stores on May 2nd you can come into one of our three locations and try on some shoes from our Aravon, Dunham, and Cobb Hill lines. Just for trying them on you'll receive a scratch card with a mystery prize! This can be a tote bag, Starbuck's Gift Card, or Chapter's Gift Card!

When Is It?

This event will take place this Saturday May 2nd 2015.

Where Is It?

All three of our Winnipeg locations! 128 Adelaide Street, 1504 St Mary's Road, and 1530 Regent Avenue. All locations are open Saturday from 9 AM to 6 PM.

Who Is It For?

YOU! Everyone is welcome to come out and try out these great styles we have. Our fit specialists will tell you all about these shoes and who knows...you may leave with a pair (or two, or three....)

Why?

To kick off Spring! We know lots of people like to shop for their Summer shoes early on to avoid their favourite styles being sold out. We also know that these three styles of shoes are so comfortable, stylish, and affordable that you will fall in love with them as soon as you try them on! You've got nothing to lose!


We hope to see you out at our stores this weekend! Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay updated on store promotions, events, and new products coming in!

Spring Is In The Air

Well it sure felt like Spring in Winnipeg last weekend. The snow is pretty much all gone now, people are (bravely) wearing shorts and sandals, and the sun is shining! We hope that this is a sign that Summer is just around the corner! (wishful thinking right?)

Anyway, we have to apologize because we had a bit of technical difficulties with our blog last week. We tried to get our post up and it said it posted but it never did! So here's hoping this one works this week and that you'll be blown away by everything in it!

What's New?

It's Spring! So that means our showroom is FULL of new shoes, styles, and colours! Everything from casual to dress and athletic, we've got TONS of new footwear! And we've still got lots coming in too! Our boot wall came down yesterday, which means that it's sandal season! Be sure to keep checking back as we feature new styles each week!

Here's some of the new ones we're pretty pumped about:

Uneek by Keen

Ok. These shoes look a little weird. I have to admit, I took a look at it, and thought it looked kind of like a glorified Croc. I read a little bit into these shoes and why they're so awesome and unique. Once I tried them on, I couldn't get my wallet out fast enough. These shoes may have a bit of a bizarre look to them, but they are so comfortable and lightweight. They're meant for the outdoors for things like walking and hiking. You can check this style out here, or come into our store to try them out! We have both men's and women's styles in this one.

 

Fresh Foam by New Balance

New Balance is going crazy over these shoes. I have never heard so many people talk about one running shoe before. The breathable upper mesh gives the shoe a nice light weight feeling, and allows your feet to breathe during your activity. The foam like midsole allows for cushioning and stability of the foot, and it looks pretty cool. Again, we've got men's and women's styles! Come into our store and check them out. Try them on, and see why everyone thinks they're so great!

And today (March 19th) is New Balance's launch of the Fresh Foam Zante shoes! This means stores across Canada and the US will be having launch parties to showcase how awesome this shoe is. You can follow our New Balance store in Calgary on Facebook and Instagram for live updates this evening from 7-9PM (or 8-10PM Central Time).

So why is now the best time to look for shoes? Well Spring is here, and you want to have a fresh new shoe collection. So why not take an hour (or two) and go through your current shoe selection and ask yourself:

1) have I worn these in the last year?
2) will I wear these in the next year?
3) is it time to throw these out?

Spring is always a good time to start fresh and new. So see if you can challenge yourself by getting rid of the shoes that you don't need! And if you have shoes to donate, we are always accepting donations of new/gently used footwear for Fit Feet on the Street!

This Is Your Pilot Speaking

It seems like we've been away for a while, but don't worry, we're back! Things get busy around here very quickly!

We recently had the chance to go work with one of our good friends downtown, Eph Apparel. For those of you unfamiliar with them, Eph Apparel makes custom made suits for graduations, weddings, grooms, and even our own Brian Scharfstein! They also sell dress shirts, pants, blazers and accessories.

Once you're completely suited up, what do you typically look for next? Well if it's not a date for grad, then it's probably a pair of new dress shoes, and we carry lots of those in stock. If you've been to our downtown location recently, you'll notice by our men's dress shoes we have fabrics from Eph Apparel. In our displays we've done a little mixing and matching to show you what fabrics go well with each dress shoe. We know sometimes it can be challenging to try and guess what pair you think will go well with your suit, and a lot of times we'll hear the "well black goes with everything, so I'll just go with that." While that can be true, you can be missing out on so many more options.

So here's what we did just for you. We went down to Eph Apparel last week with some dress shoes, had the fabulous Brett model some suits with the shoes, and we've got evidence that you CAN in fact buy other colours of dress shoes to go with a few different suit colours! Each week, we'll feature our most popular styles of dress shoes in our own version of #MCM (better known as man crush Monday.) And no, we're not talking about Brett although he does look good in our dress shoes. But we are crushing on our dress shoes.

This week we looked at our Naot Pilot dress boot. Why do we like this? Well let's take a quick look here...

 

If this photo alone isn't enough to get you to our store, we'll go into a bit more detail. We like this style mainly because it's versatile. As you can see in the photo here, our model Brett is wearing nice blue jeans with these Pilot's. They're a great shoe to top off your business casual look whether you're going to work or heading out for a lunch meeting.

 

As you can see, Brett is able to wear these shoes working at Eph Apparel...

as well as while hanging out in the gentlemen's lounge. Not only that, but we've been told the shoe is very comfortable which is always great.

If you're interested in our Naot Pilot shoe, you can come into any of our locations, or order online at http://www.canadianfootwear.com/product;cat,0;item,15317;Casual-Boots-80017-E66-

Keep watch for the next few weeks as we unveil a new man crush Monday shoe every week!



Fashion on Ice

Hé Ho!

It's that time of year again! The annual Festival du Voyageur kicks off tomorrow and runs until February 22nd. If you're ever saying 'there's nothing to do in Winnipeg in the winter time' you definitely need to check this out.

There are many events that take place during the 10 day festival. We are really excited because once again we are involved in a big event. On Sunday February 15th we will be a part of the Fashion on Ice Show taking place in the afternoon. This fashion show features clothing and footwear that are all from local shops here in Winnipeg! It's a chance for local designers to also showcase their work. We are providing the models footwear for the fashion show!

Here are some of the styles you can expect to see in the show:

 

Men's Sorel Caribou (Google)

 

 

Ladies Summit Knit Bogs (Canadian Footwear)

 

 

 

Ladies Blondo Vaughan Fur Boot (Canadian Footwear)

 

 

Men's Rieker Algarve (Canadian Footwear)





 

To see more photos from last year, you can check them out here. We have many more styles being featured, so if you want to see them all you'll have to come out to the show! The fashion show will take place on Sunday at 3 PM where the Red and Assiniboine Rivers meet. And the weather may not be the warmest, so be sure to bundle up in your Sorel, Kamik, Baffin or North Face boots! If you can't make it out, be sure to follow us on Instagram to see posts from the fashion show. Just search Canadian Footwear and give us a follow!

Get Up, Get Running!

Well it's almost the end of January, which means...well we have almost survived an entire month in 2015 so that's great. The weather has been surprisingly warm for this time of year so that's even better.

The start of February is a test for a lot of people. A test to see if they can stick to their fitness and healthy New Year's Resolutions. If you're struggling with the fitness part, or just think you don't know where to start in terms of what you need, we can help!

While we can't make you get up and do your workout every day we can make it easier to do so. How many of you are still using your running shoes from 10,15 or 20 years ago? If you answered yes, there's your first problem. Dusting off the old running shoes may seem like an easy and affordable way to get started, but it's not good for your feet and could actually cause you to have to spend more money in the future. You should be buying new running shoes every 300-400 miles of use. Even if you weren't an active person that many years ago, it's good to get a fresh start with a new pair that you know will fit and know will work for you.

So you walk into Canadian Footwear. There's more than five choices for your running shoes. So many colours, shapes, and styles. How on earth do you pick just one pair? Where do you start? We can help with that! We talked to our fit specialist, Dennis, who gave us the basic run down of the different types of running footwear we carry.

Walking Shoe

A walking shoe has the ROLLBAR technology in the back of the heel for support and stability. The arch support in the shoe keeps the foot lined up and walking straight. If you pronate or supinate it will keep you lined up straight. These shoes come in many different widths, including extra wide widths.

Stability Runner

A stability runner has a harder compound in the outsole. If you pronate when you walk, this runner will help keep you lined up straight. It also has a harder heel strike in the back, so it's able to handle the impact that comes from running. This is also designed to allow the runner to spring forward with power and efficiency.

Neutral Runner

A neutral runner is good for beginner runners or if you're just looking for a shoe to wear to work/casually walk around in. There is nothing in the outsole but it gives you good cushioning. A lot of these runners feature a lightweight mesh to provide more breathing room for your feet. These are generally lighter than most stability runners, and they're good with an orthotic to help support the arch in the foot.

So now you've got some basic information to get you started. But which one of these is the best for a beginner runner? If you have no problems with your feet, you can start off with a neutral runner. If you experience pronation in your feet, you are best to start with a stability runner to avoid injury or pain in your feet/legs.

As always, you can come by our store anytime to ask more questions about our running shoes! We carry them in New Balance, Saucony, Etonic, and North Face so you've got plenty of options to choose from! You can visit us online at canadianfootwear.com to check out our selection as well!

Let's Blog About Bogs!

Well this is a nice surprise! I'm sure we all remember last year around this time, we were all crying every morning because we had to walk outside into the polar vortex. No matter how many layers you had on or how many pairs of socks you fit into your boots, you still felt like every part of your body was frozen for those few minutes you had to be outside.

Not this year! In fact, we're at quite the opposite this week. Temperatures are sitting between 0 and -10 every day. The sun may not be shining all the time, but we don't have to spend seven extra minutes getting ready in the morning because all you need is a light winter parka.

The problem with this weather is your choice in footwear. It's still winter which means yes it is still cold, despite it being a little warmer this week. But now, the snow is turning to gross brown slush, which will pretty much ruin any pair of non-waterproof shoes. And if you wear your -40 degree boots, your feet will be sweaty puddles by the time you get to where you're going.

So is there a solution to this? Of course there is, and we can help you with it!

Have you heard of Bogs? If not, they're going to be the best thing you'll hear about all day. What are Bogs? They are a fantastic combination of a winter boot and rubber boot. Waterproof, cold rated from -10 to -40 degrees Celsius, and stylish! The better part? We carry them in men's, women's AND kids! Your whole family is set!

So let's break each of them down. For the men. Well, we know lots of men don't like super flashy, out there shoes, so we've kept it simple. Plain black, perfect to go over your dress pants. No it's not the most fashionable, but it sure beats having splash stains on your dress pants going into your 9 am meeting, don't you think?

Women...well we know you like variety, and we know you like colour. So we gave you both! We've got a mainly black boot with some coloured patterns. Perfect addition to any outfit and again, avoiding mucky pants.

And kids. We all remember how "fun" it was when our parents bundled us up in the morning with our ski pants, jackets, scarf, tuque and mitts. We would go outside at recess, play for 20 minutes, and come home with soaking wet pants and boots. While we can't help you with the wet ski pants, bogs make a great addition to the winter wardrobe, especially if kids are walking to and from school. They are cold rated up to -40 degrees Celsius, waterproof, easy to take on and off, and can be used in Spring AND Winter! A versatile pair of boots is great for kids.

So a quick recap...why choose Bogs?
- waterproof
- cold rated from -10 to -40 Celsius
- easy to get on and off
- different colours/styles
- Max Wick moves sweat away from your foot to keep your feet dry
- non marking sole

There's no better time than now to get out and enjoy the winter weather. Yes it's cold (well not today, but generally), but there's so many things you can do like skating, skiing, and tobogganing that you can't enjoy in 30 degree weather. So get your Bogs, get out and enjoy Winnipeg!