Tag Archives: Canadian

LELO Guide To Love Making During Canadian Heatwaves

NOTE THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS MATURE THEMES AND IS INTENDED FOR ADULTS ONLY

As Canada braces for another scorching summer with record-breaking temperatures, there’s one burning question on many couples’ minds: how do you keep the spark alive when it’s already too hot to move?

Our friends at LELO, the world’s leading intimate wellness brand, has just released a timely and refreshingly practical guide: “Guide to Sex During the Canadian Heatwave” – featuring ten clever tips to turn sweltering weather into an opportunity for sensual exploration.

When the temperatures rise, so does the passion, but getting hot and sweaty in the middle of a heatwave isn’t always as fun as it sounds. Sticky sheets, dehydration, and exhaustion can all dampen your steamy plans. But fear not! LELO has the ultimate 10 step guide to keeping things sizzling without overheating.

  1. Location, Location, Location
    Forget the bedroom; heatwaves call for creative cool-down solutions. Try the bathroom floor (hello, cool tiles), the kitchen counter (refreshing and thrilling), or even a shaded outdoor area if privacy allows. If you have air conditioning, position yourselves strategically for maximum airflow.
  2. Time It Right
    The sun isn’t your best friend when it comes to high-energy activities. Opt for early mornings or late nights when the temperature dips, giving you a more comfortable setting to let loose.
  3. Keep It Cool – Literally
    Turn your pleasure into a cooling experience. Ice cubes, chilled massage oils, and refrigerated sex toys can heighten sensation while keeping things refreshingly cool. A strategically placed fan can also provide a light breeze that intensifies every touch.
  4. Dress (or Undress) Smart
    Silky, breathable fabrics or nothing at all are the way to go. Lightweight lingerie, or even just a damp towel under you, can prevent that sticky, uncomfortable feeling that heatwaves bring.
  5. Hydration is Sexy
    Sweat is inevitable, so keep a bottle of cold water nearby. Not only will this keep you both refreshed, but a little playful ice cube action on each other’s bodies can add an erotic twist to your session.
  6. Adjust Your Pace
    Heat can make vigorous sessions feel draining. Go for slow, sensual movements, incorporating tantric techniques to build deeper intimacy without exerting too much energy.
  7. Shower Together
    Take advantage of a cool or lukewarm shower as part of foreplay or even the main event.
    Water play can be an erotic and effective way to beat the heat while staying connected.
  8. Change Up Your Love Making Positions
    Some positions create more body heat than others. Try ones that minimize full-body contact, like doggy style or spooning variations, to keep things hot while staying cool.
  9. Say Yes To Sensory Play
    Heatwaves are the perfect excuse to explore sensory play. Ice cubes on the skin, cooling gels, or even minty lubricants can create exciting temperature contrasts that heighten pleasure without overheating. Consider incorporating sex toys with added cooling lubricant to elevate
    the experience.
  10. Try Mutual Stimulation
    If full-body contact feels too overwhelming in the heat, mutual masturbation is a fantastic alternative. You can still share an intimate, erotic experience while keeping some personal space.
    A heatwave doesn’t have to put a stop to your sex life – it’s just an opportunity to explore new ways to keep things cool and exciting. With the right mindset (and maybe a few ice cubes), you can turn up the heat in all the best ways without breaking a sweat. Stay cool, stay playful, and
    let summer lovin’ take on a whole new meaning.

For the Silo, Emilie Melloni-Quémar.

More About LELO

LELO is not just a sex toy brand; it’s a self-care movement aimed at those who know that satisfaction transcends gender, sexual orientation, race, and age. We’re offering the experience of ecstasy without shame, the pleasure of discovering all the wonders of one’s body, thus facilitating our customers with confidence, that leads to a fulfilled intimate life. LELOi AB is the Swedish company behind LELO, where offices extend from Stockholm to San Jose, from Sydney to Shanghai.

8 “Canadian” Companies Quietly Owned by Foreign Investors

Our friends at MSN have really stirred the maple syrup pot up with this story- which one of the following companies is the most surprising for you? Leave us a note in the comments section at the bottom of the article.

Many beloved Canadian brands that fill shopping carts and homes across the country have something surprising in common—they’re actually owned by foreign investors and companies. Behind familiar logos and proud Canadian histories stand international corporations that have quietly acquired these businesses, often maintaining their strong local identity while decisions are made overseas.

This eye-opening list reveals 8 well-known Canadian companies that now operate under foreign ownership.

While these businesses still employ thousands of Canadians and remain important parts of communities nationwide, their profits and major corporate choices flow to boardrooms in places like the United States, Europe, and Asia. Each example shows how Canada’s business landscape has evolved in today’s global economy.

Tim Hortons

©Image credit: “Tim Horton’s” by EazyIanish is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/?ref=openverse.

A Canadian fast-food icon, Tim Hortons has been owned by Restaurant Brands International since 2014, with its headquarters in Toronto but major control from Brazil-based 3G Capital. The beloved coffee chain started in Hamilton, Ontario in 1964 as a single donut shop. Today, it serves millions of customers daily across Canada and has expanded into 14 countries. The Brazilian investment firm maintains the Canadian feel of the brand while pushing for global growth.

Hudson’s Bay Company

©Image credit: “Hudson’s Bay Company store, Montréal, South view 20170410 1” by DXR is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/?ref=openverse.

Hudson’s Bay Company, founded in 1670, is now owned by American businessman Richard Baker’s NRDC Equity Partners. The historic retailer shifted from Canadian ownership in 2008 through a $1.1 billion deal. HBC continues to operate The Bay stores across Canada while managing an extensive real estate portfolio. The company maintains its Canadian identity despite being controlled from south of the border.

Cirque du Soleil

©Image credit: “Cirque du Soleil” by _nadya is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/?ref=openverse.

The Montreal-based entertainment company, famous for its artistic circus shows, was acquired by TPG Capital, a U.S. private equity firm, in 2015. Following financial difficulties during the pandemic, ownership changed again in 2020 to a group including Catalyst Capital Group. The company still creates its shows in Montreal. The creative spirit of Cirque remains distinctly Quebec-based despite foreign investment control.

Canada Goose

©Image credit: Tima Miroshnichenko/Pexels

The luxury winter coat maker, started in Toronto in 1957, sold a majority stake to U.S.-based Bain Capital in 2013. The company continues to manufacture its core products in Canada, maintaining its made-in-Canada promise. The brand has expanded globally under foreign ownership while keeping its Canadian headquarters. The international success of Canada Goose proves that Canadian craftsmanship can thrive under foreign ownership.

Rona

©Image credit: “2013_03_20” by Dennis S. Hurd is marked with CC0 1.0. To view the terms, visit https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/?ref=openverse.

The Canadian hardware retailer Rona underwent major ownership changes in recent years. After operating independently for decades, the Quebec-based chain was acquired by U.S. home improvement leader Lowe’s in a $3.2 billion deal completed in 2016. However, Lowe’s ownership proved relatively short-lived. In 2023, the American retailer divested Rona, selling it to Sycamore Partners, a private equity firm headquartered in New York, for $2.4 billion. Despite these corporate transitions, Rona maintained its distinct brand identity in the Canadian home improvement marketplace.

St-Hubert

©Image credit: Viridiana Rivera/Pexels

Ontario-based CARA Operations (now Recipe Unlimited) purchased Quebec’s St-Hubert restaurants for $537 million in 2016. The restaurant chain, founded in Montreal in 1951, maintains its distinct Quebec identity. Multiple foreign investment firms hold significant stakes in Recipe Unlimited through the parent company MTY Food Group. The company continues operating across Quebec while major business decisions are made outside the province.

Westjet

©image Credit: Justin Hu on Unsplash

In 2019, Toronto-based Onex Corporation acquired Westjet for $5 billion, with significant backing from international investors and foreign private equity firms. The airline maintains its headquarters in Calgary and continues operating as a Canadian carrier. Major foreign institutional investors hold substantial positions through Onex Corporation. While preserving its Canadian operations, the company’s ownership structure includes significant international investment.

Petro-Canada Stations

©Image credit: “Petro-Canada gas station, Eglinton Avenue West and Avenue Road (6035679276)” by Toronto History from Toronto, Canada is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/?ref=openverse.

Suncor Energy owns Petro-Canada stations, with significant foreign institutional investors holding major stakes. The company merged with Suncor in 2009 in a $19 billion deal. Petro-Canada remains a prominent Canadian retail fuel brand. International investment firms hold substantial voting shares in the parent company.

Shoppers Drug Mart

©Image credit: “Shoppers Drug Mart Store Canada” by bargainmoose is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/?ref=openverse.

Loblaw Companies Limited, a Canadian company, acquired Shoppers Drug Mart in 2014 for $12.4 billion. Despite its Canadian roots, the pharmacy chain has significant foreign institutional investment. Under this foreign ownership, Shoppers Drug Mart continues to expand its healthcare services across Canada.

Featured image/ ©Image credit: Erik Mclean/Pexels

Canadian Screen Award Nomination For Randy Thomas

Seasoned Canadian Actor Randy Thomas Put Forward for Canadian Screen Award Nomination for Best Supporting Performance in a Drama.


Toronto, ON – Seasoned actor Randy Thomas has been officially put forward for nomination by Brainpower Studio for the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television’s prestigious Canadian Screen Award for Best Supporting Performance in a Drama for his riveting role in The Jane Mysteries: Murder at Moseby starring Jodie Sweetin and Stephen Huszar.


Known for his commanding presence as stoic corporate executives and his undeniable charm as comedic father figures, Thomas stunned audiences with his transformative performance as an emotionally distraught and lonely antagonist in the Hallmark mystery franchise.

His portrayal—layered with heartbreak, volatility, and an unexpected
path to redemption—took fans by surprise, further solidifying his range and talent as a seasoned performer.


The industry has taken notice, with Thomas’ nomination consideration reflecting the powerful impact of his performance.


Randy is a special actor. He has Leading Man charisma like George Clooney but with a unique knack for comedy. We are incredibly grateful to Director Marco Deufemia and Brainpower Studio CEO Beth Stevenson for seeing the depth of Randy’s talent and entrusting him with such a complex role. The fact that they put him forward for nomination tells us that Randy far exceeded their expectations. Let’s hope the Academy recognizes his extraordinary work as well. A win in this category would be a career highlight, and we anticipate this nomination will open even more doors for him across Canada and the U.S.


As the industry eagerly awaits the final nominations, Randy Thomas’ performance in Murder at Moseby stands as a testament to the rich and evolving talent pool within Canadian entertainment. With growing anticipation from his peers and fans alike, one thing is certain—this should be the beginning of a thrilling new chapter in Randy
Thomas’ career that’s long overdue. For The Silo, Sandy Martinez. 514-286-6001

Fun Christmas Party Surprises To Wow Your Guests

Whether you’re hosting a family Christmas dinner or are planning the office holiday party, your goal is the same: to make it a gathering your guests will always remember. Fun, unexpected surprises are an easy way to delight your co-workers, friends and loved ones. From keepsakes to party themes to the menu, there are plenty of opportunities to get creative and serve up something your guests haven’t experienced at a Christmas party before. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Keepsakes that Keep on Giving

Hosts of a holiday party aren’t usually expected to give their guests gifts, which is one way to surprise partygoers. Ideally, a gift the recipient can use over and over again will remind them of the good times they had at your party. Custom-printed hoodies, sweaters or long-sleeve shirts definitely fit that bill. Once you find a company that offers screen printing in Ottawa for small and large orders alike, you can think up a funny saying, exercise your drawing skills, use digital images or simply commemorate the event with your family or company name. Your guests will have unique, comfy hoodies or sweaters to wear at the party and something to remember you by whenever it gets chilly for years to come.

Keep in mind, however, that regardless of what you gift your guests, it’s all in the presentation. A fun way to gift custom sweaters, or any other gift this holiday season, is in a personalized DIY gift bag. Making them can be a fun and creative activity for you and the kids to experience that involves them in the gifting-giving and helps them practice their crafting skills. 

Fun Christmas Dinner/Party Themes & Activities

Here are a few non-traditional Holiday party themes and activities that you can use to add a little variety to your annual dinner or get-together.

Outdoor Christmas Party Activities

Yes, Ottawa winters can get painfully cold outside in the wind. But there are also plenty of sunny winter days that are perfect for ice skating, tobogganing, a bonfire or building snow castles using sand & snow castle-building kits. Just be sure to have backup activities planned in case the weather doesn’t cooperate on the day of your party.

Photo by Nikita Vinogradov via Pexels

Karaoke, Movie and/or Game Night Christmas Party

If frozen toes, fingers and noses would interfere with the joy of an outdoor Christmas party, or your brood is just not the outdoorsy type, you can combine your Christmas party with one of your favorite nights of the week (or month) – karaoke, game or movie night. 

Unlike the impromptu sing-alongs, games of charades or traditional gatherings around the TV for a classic Christmas film, plan your holiday party as a night of full-on:

  • Board games. If your family and friends are board gamers, you already know that they’ve come a long way since the days of Scrabble, Monopoly, Snakes & Ladders, etc. They’re better than ever at teaching players of all ages critical thinking skills like logic, strategy and planning. Many newer games also incorporate teamwork, with players working together to beat the game itself. There are also numerous games based on popular movie franchises and stream-able series, which can make a board game an exciting pastime that ties into a Movie/TV-themed party.
  • Movie or Binge-TV Night Christmas Party. Films and TV shows provide an infinite number of themes to help you plan an outside-of-the-box Christmas dinner party. You can base your party on a tried-and-true family favorite, the latest global smash hit or a movie or TV show that fits a pre-determined theme.
  • Karaoke Competition Christmas. If you have a family filled with aspiring pop stars or better-than-average shower soloists, you can plan a karaoke party of Christmas/holiday songs or curate a playlist based on the theme of your party. You can really spice things up by making it a competition with plenty of prizes for all the participants.

Christmas Pageant Dinner and a Show

If your party will have a significant number of kids (of any age) who like to put on a show, consider sending out scripts, holding rehearsals, and turning your home or party room into a dinner theatre. Costumes can be readily thrifted or thrown together, and if you really want to go all out, backgrounds and curtain frames can be assembled easily enough by enthusiastic DIYers. Don’t forget to have a proper video camera set up on a tripod so you’ll always have the recording to enjoy with (and at the expense of) the cast.

Alternate Holiday Dinner Menu Items

Your holiday dinner menu can be influenced by your party theme, it can be based on modern takes of classic Christmas dishes, or you can simply add random non-traditional dishes like the ones below.

Holiday Taco Night

Taco night is generally a fan favorite, so why not give the people what they want? You might have to use burrito shells depending on your meat of choice, but don’t be afraid to get creative and consider the following options:

  • Fish. Fish tacos are a popular choice taco choice, but when was the last time you had fish tacos at a Christmas party? Also, you can use fish sticks if you’re looking for a convenient, easy-to-prepare meat filling.
  • Steak or ribs. Try braising or marinating them in pomegranate juice with a hint of cinnamon and/or chile pepper to spice things up a little. As an added bonus, both pomegranate and cinnamon are recommended to strengthen your immune system and help you fight off colds and flus.
  • Turkey. The line between a taco and a wrap can get a little blurry here, but whatever you call them, using traditional turkey accompaniments, corn, cranberries, potatoes, gravy, mac & cheese, etc., make delicious toppings.

Christmas Jambalaya

Not much can hit the spot as well as a hearty helping of jambalaya can on a cold holiday dinner night. Really, the only rules to a jambalaya are that your ingredients taste good with Cajun spices and that it’s all cooked together. Whether you go with Christmas dinner ingredients, New Orleans-inspired flavors or some type of fusion, a big pot can satisfy a lot of people.

Homemade Holiday Donuts

Puddings, pies, cakes and cupcakes are understandable go-to choices for Christmas dinner desserts, but homemade donuts with a holiday twist can ignite some excited chatter when they make their way to the dessert table. Feeling overly patriotic? Try maple glazed donuts topped with candied bacon crumble for a taste that’s both distinctly holiday and Canadian.

For the Silo, Jeg Duaso. Featured image:  by Nicole Michalou via Pexels