Here’s a vintage 1990 Christmas ad  spot for Tim Horton’s back when commercials were not as cheesy, when Tim Horton’s chain was Canadian and when they used to sell Cakes!

Why doesn’t Timmies sell cakes anymore?

[youtube]4vWxdX3a7Fg[/youtube]

Ahh Black Friday.  The day that kicks off the holiday explosion of consumerism in the United States that follows their Thanksgiving.  Today in stores all over America there are people fighting tooth and nail to get in on deals that they’ll never see again.  But what about us Canadians?  We have to do our Christmas shopping too, so when’s our big sale day?

Boxing Day can offer up some fantastic deals, but that’s after the fact.  Mind you I’ve known more than a few people that put off gift giving in their family until the 27th for this very reason.

When do you think the best time to Black Friday quality deals in Canada is?

Thanks couponlady, Arch_Dandy & courtreporter for as usual posting this week’s flyer deals in the Canadian Shopping Deals Section

Reminder of useful links:

• Canadian flyers list
• Canadian Coupons Database
• Save.ca Coupons List
• Canadian Hot Deals Forum

And here are this week’s flyer deals (Nov 28 – Dec 4, 2008):

• Walmart Flyer Deals Nov. 28 – Dec.5
• Zellers Moonlight Madness Flyer
• Canadian Tire Big Sale
• Dominion/A&P/Metro Flyer deals Nov 28 to Dec 4
• Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmaprix – Tell A Friend Event – Dec 6&7 – Official SC groups
• Shoppers Drug Mart Flyer Nov. 29 – Dec.5
• Shoppers Drug Mart Food section flyer deals Nov 29 to Dec12
• Real Canadian Superstore(ON) Flyer deals Nov 28 to Dec 4
• Loblaws Flyer deals Nov 28 to Dec 4
• Price Chopper flyer deals Nov 28 to Dec 4
• No Frills Flyer deals Nov 28 to Dec 4
• Food Basics flyer deals Nov 28 to Dec 4

The wonderful Smart Canucks forum members have been posting hot deals too:

• Ginger Ale deal at walmart by alexsmommy1228
• Oil of Olay Soap (fresh reviving) soap -2BARS at Zellers by krystal138
• Olay bodywash $3.99/2.99 at Shoppers drug mart(Nov 29-Dec 5) – Use b3 save $10 coupon by coupon lady
• Mr Clean -Zellers Starts Nov29th by krystal138
• No Frills – Royale bathroom tissue 40 rolls only $4.97(with $1 off coupon) by couponlady
• Firming dove bodywash at zellers 1.19 by moni0021
• $5 Walmart GC with purchase of Glade product! by BabyKat
• PIC* Make Cheap Christmas Floral Arrangements from $ Store Supplies by redmouse

You can also visit the Canadian Hot Deals Forum to keep track of other good deals.

We are pleased to announce that on Friday November 28th, twenty-nine Starbucks coffee retail locations across Ottawa will be hosting their annual “Cheer Parties” to celebrate the holiday season with the community and to support United Way Centraide Ottawa’s 2008 community campaign in the final stretch.

During these two-hour in-store events, Starbucks will be offering a complimentary beverage and inviting customers to make a donation to United Way/Centraide Ottawa.

As friends of ours we invite you and your staff to stroll down to your local Starbucks for your afternoon coffee or beverage on Friday November 28th, 2008 between the hours of 2:00 and 4:00 PM and catch some early Cheer with us and our friends at Starbucks!

• Get 10% off purchases of $20 or less
• Get 15% off purchases of $20 or more
• Get 20% off purchases of $30 or more
• Get 20% off  purchases of $40 or more and a free gift

Coupon expires Dec 24, 2008.

Click here to print the English version of this Laura Secord Canada coupon

Click here to pint the French version of this Laura Secord Canada coupon

Enjoy the gift of a new release movie rental. Buy any specially marked Glade Holiday products in particiapting stores and get a Blockbuster Canada movie rental for free.

Click here for details on this Blockbuster Canada / Glade freebie

Featured Blog: spiffykerms

Blogs are an interesting thing.  Sometimes they’re about a specific trend, topic or discussion.  Other times they’re about nothing at all.  While spiffykerms falls into that “nothing” category, it’s a delightful and refreshing read every day.

As a personal blog spiffykerms details the thoughts and experiences of it’s author in a way that everyone can enjoy.  I know nothing of the blog’s author save for what’s on the page, and yet I find everything she writes to be as interesting and entertaining as I would the conversations of a close friend.  If you want a fun read that’ll shake up your normal routine, make sure to give it a try!

Canadian Tire is having a huge 3 day sale on Friday, Saturday & Sunday November 28 – 30, 2008.

Mindseye of Dealcetera.com has a VERY detailed blog post about the deals so there’s no need for me to write this again.

Click here for Mindseye’s detailed Canadian Tire Christmas sale and deals post

Purchase a Balsam Fir Christmas tree for $20 and you’ll get a coupon for $20 off an IKEA purchase of $75 or more. The coupon you’ll get will be redeemable January 2 to March 1, 2009.

This promotion begins on November 29th, 2008.

Click here for more details on this Christmas tree promo

I know I’ve posted this Enfamil freebie loads of times on the blog but it’s always good to remind new parents of this awesome freebie 😀

Join Enfamil Family Beginnings now and receive up to $75 in free gifts and offers. You will receive a free Enfamil kit that includes:

• Enfamil samples (and in many cases a full sized product)
• Fisher Price developmental toy information and offers
• Up to $22 in coupons
• Free nutritional and development information

Click here to order your free Enfamil freebies

Oprah Winfrey has teamed up with some of the biggest names in the music business to create a one-of-a-kind holiday mix. You can download the Christmas mp3s for free 😀

To download the songs right click on the name and “Save Target As”

• Faith Hill, “Joy to the World” from the album Joy to the World
• Tony Bennett, “I’ll be Home for Christmas” from the album A Swingin’ Christmas
• Il Divo, “O Holy Night” from the album The Christmas Collection
• Josh Groban, “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear” from the album Noel
• Brian McKnight, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” from the album I’ll Be Home for Christmas
• Amy Grant, “O Come All Ye Faithful” from the album The Christms Collection
• Harry Connick Jr., “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” from the album What a Night! A Christmas Album
• Aretha Franklin, “Silent Night” from the album This Christmas

Click here for more details on this Christmas songs freebie from Oprah

I’m going to try and not repeat themes too often, but after seeing this photo of Obama I couldn’t resist.  Besides, at 40 captions and counting on our first post it seems like everyone here at SmartCanucks is eager to put words in the mouths of US politicians.

So what say you?  Who’s the real Superman in this picture?

Thanks columbiathorndale for posting about the Canadian Tire Christmas Countdown Coupons on the Canadian Shopping Deals and Flyers section.

Canadian Tire’s  Free Christmas Countdown Calendar will be available from Friday November 28th, till  Sunday November 30th, 2008.

Last year they had awesome coupons:

• Free Holiday CD with songs from artists including Sarah McLachlan, Diana Krall, and the Barenaked Ladies – Vol. 1 Nov. 28-30, Vol. 2 Dec. 13-14
• Save $5 on any $20 purchase – Dec. 3-7
• Save $10 on any $50 purchase at Mark’s Work Warehouse – Dec. 2-31 and Dec. 16 – Jan. 15
• Save $5 on any Christmas Decor in the Seasonal Dept. (Min. $10 purchase) – Dec. 3-7
• Bravetti Digital Kettle only $44.99 – Dec. 4-7
• Automotive Creeper only $9.99 – Dec. 5-7
• Free 3-pack of Ferrero Rocher with min 20L gas purchase at Gas Bar – Dec. 8-12 and Dec. 22-26
• Save $5 on any Hardware power tool item (Min. $10 purchase) – Dec. 9-14
• Save $5 on any small electric kitchen appliance (Min. $10 purchase) – Dec. 10-14
• Tonka Tough toy only $9.99 – Dec. 11-14
• Memorex iPod Docking Station only $69.99 – Dec. 12-14
• Save $5 on any Home Electronics Device (Min. $10 purchase) – Dec. 16-21
• Save $5 on any Children’s Toy (Min. $10 purchase, product numbers starting with 50-XXX) – Dec. 17-21
• Kitchen Aid Cookset only $149.99 – Dec. 18-21
• Mastercraft pliers set only $8.99 – Dec. 19-21

If someone gets the 2008 calendar please let us know what coupons are on there 😀

Some of you might have heard about this already. Metro Inc. will start changing most of its grocery stores’ names to Metro to help make it easier and more economical for them to brand and market the stores. Once the transformation is complete by the end of 2009 Metro will become the most common supermarket name in Canada, boasting 376 stores in Quebec and Ontario. The only banner not included in the change is Food Basics, which competes in the discount food segment of the grocery market.

To Quebecers that’s good news since they’ve always had Metro grocery stores  (which I find are ridiculously overpriced – but that applies to all grocery stores in Quebec). It will be nice for Quebecers to see Quebec’s grocery store brand spread all across Ontario.

I personally have mixed feelings about this. Although they’re now owned by Metro Inc, A&P grocery stores have been around for almost a century and were operated by the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company. On August 15, 2005, A&P sold A&P Canada and Food Basics Canada to Metro Inc. of Quebec. I guess Metro waited for a few years before going with the name change to avoid getting too much attention to the handover. It’s just sad seeing another well known and historic name in Ontario vanish. A&P, although originally American, did leave its finger prints in Canada. On the other hand, I find current A&P and Dominion stores are pricier than Loblaws. The stores also seem to have an infamous reputation so it’s nice seeing some fresh blood and change. I just hope the change doesn’t mean crummy cramped aisles and ugly store designs like the Metros currently in Quebec.

Why do I bring this up today? Well Metro Inc. has started changing the name of grocery stores from Dominion to Metro in Toronto and probably other Ontario cities too.

Came across this video on Ted Avery’s website. I can’t stop watching it! Thanks Ted for wasting my next hour watching this 😀

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