In 2010, vaping was still a new concept in Canada. Reliable information was hard to find, and the products that were available werenโt easy to trust. For Howie, the founder of Canada Vapes, it was personal.
โI was a smoker for over a decade. I tried to quit more times than I can countโcold turkey, gum, patchesโyou name it. Nothing stuck. Then I discovered vaping, and for the first time, it actually worked.โ
Howieโs smoking journey started back in high school. By the end of grade 10, he was buying his own cigarettes. He thought little of it until he became a father. Suddenly, quitting mattered. After multiple failed attempts, he stumbled across a U.S. ad for a vape in 2008 and managed to find one locally. At first, he smoked and vaped together, but soon the switch was complete.
โMy cough cleared up, the smell of smoke was gone, and for the first time, I actually felt hopeful,โ Howie said. โThatโs when I thought that this is something smokers across Canada need to know about.โโ
That spark turned into Canada Vapes.
The History of Canada Vapes
Howie started small. He ran Canada Vapes part-time alongside other ventures. He worked out of his 200 sq. ft. basement in London, Ontario. He hand-mixed e-liquids, labeled bottles with dollar-store stickers covered in hockey tape, and walked to the post office every day with customer orders. Shannon, his first employee, soon joined him.
The first office wasnโt much. 600 sq. ft. split into three rooms with just two staff. But, it was enough to expand production. Check out the quick clip below to see young Howie working in his basement in 2010!
โIt was here that Canadian Smooth, still the companyโs most popular flavour, was born,โ said Howie. โWhat began as a recipe I loved personally 15 years ago has turned into so much more.โ
Where We Are Today
From humble basement beginnings to a proudly Canadian business, Canada Vapes has grown into a company that has helped thousands of smokers make the switch. The flavours have multiplied. The team has grown. The brand has evolved. But the mission? That hasnโt changed.
Every decision is still guided by the same purpose that started it all: helping people live smoke-free.
Where Weโre Going Next
Weโll Continue to be the Best Vape Shop in Canada.
Our e-liquids have always been at the heart of Canada Vapes, and weโll continue to refine and innovate to make sure they remain the best-tasting in Canada. Just as important, weโll keep delivering the kind of customer service that makes a difference. That means real humans on chat, handwritten notes, and thoughtful gifts in every order.
โAs much as the products matter, itโs the relationships that keep people coming back,โ said Howie. โThat personal touch has been part of Canada Vapes since day one, and it always will be.โ
Whether youโre just starting out or have been part of the Canada Vapes community for years, thank you for being part of the journey. Hereโs to the next chapter, together.
โWeโre here to make quitting smoking easier. For anyone whoโs ready.โ
