Where to buy made-in-Canada face masks online

Due to COVID-19, many Canadian-based fashion companies have turned their manufacturing efforts to producing face masks for those in need, given the World Health Organization’s advisory encouraging governments to ask people to wear fabric face masks when in public to help stop the spread of the virus.
And with regions around Canada beginning to implement bylaws requiring people to wear masks in public, it’s becoming more important than ever to make sure you have the right protective gear.

If you’re looking for that added layer of protection from dust and other small particles in the air, whether you’re working on a cleaning project or doing some woodworking, then look no further. Check out our list of retailers that sell Canadian-made face masks online.

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Does your company belong in this list?

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Looking to buy cloth masks or KN95 masks online instead?

Read our guides on where you can buy cloth masks or KN95 masks online in Canada.

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Which of these retailers offer free shipping?

• Roots: Free standard shipping
• Peace Collective: Free shipping on orders over a minimum amount
• NARCES: Free shipping on eligible orders of full-priced apparel

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What's the difference between a P2, FFP2, KN95 and N95 face mask?

Depending on your location, different face mask types are more widely used. For example, in the United States and Canada, N95 are common; in Australia and New Zealand you'll see P2 masks more often; in China, KN95 is the standard. Mask manufacturer 3M, which specialises in filtering facepiece respirators (FFR) masks, offers the following explanation of the main differences between each mask type.

Certification/Class	N95	FFP2	KN95	P2	Korea 1st Class	DS
Filter performance	≥ 95%	≥ 95%	≥ 95%	≥ 94%	≥ 94%	≥ 95%
Test agent	NaCl	NaCl and paraffin oil	NaCl	NaCl	NaCl and paraffin oil	NaCl
Flow rate	85 L/min	95 L/min	85 L/min	95 L/min	95 L/min	85 L/min
Total inward leakage (TIL)	N/A	≤ 8% leakage	≤ 8% leakage	≤ 8% leakage	≤ 8% leakage	Inward Leakage measured and included in User Instructions
Inhalation resistance	≤ 343 Pa	≤ 70 Pa (at 30L/min)≤ 240 Pa (at 95 L/min)≤ 500 Pa (clogging)	≤ 350 Pa	≤ 70 Pa (at 30L/min)≤ 240 Pa (at 95L/min)	≤ 70 Pa (at 30L/min)≤ 240 Pa (at 95L/min)	≤ 70 Pa (w/valve)≤ 50 Pa (no valve)
Flow rate	85L/min	Varied – seeabove	85L/min	Varied – seeabove	Varied – seeabove	40L/min
Exhalation resistance	≤ 245 Pa	≤ 300 Pa	≤ 250 Pa	≤ 120 Pa	≤ 300 Pa	≤ 70 Pa (w/valve) ≤ 50 Pa (no valve)
Flow rate	85L/min	160L/min	85L/min	85L/min	160L/min	40L/min
Exhalation valve leakage requirement	Leak rate ≤ 30mL/min	N/A	Depressurization to 0 Pa ≥ 20 sec	Leak rate ≤ 30mL/min	Visual inspection after 300L /min for 30 sec	Depressurization to 0 Pa ≥ 15sec
Force applied	-245 Pa	N/A	-1180 Pa	-250 Pa	N/A	-1,470 Pa
CO2 clearance requirement	N/A	≤ 1%	≤ 1%	≤ 1%	≤ 1%	≤ 1%

Source: 3M

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Are people required to wear face masks in Canada?

It depends on where you live. Certain cities such as Ottawa, Toronto, Kingston in Ontario have implemented bylaws requiring people to wear face masks when in public. Outside these jurisdictions, businesses and other organizations may still exercise the discretion to require customers and employees to wear face masks. In some regions, wearing a mask is mandatory when riding public transit.

The consequences for failing to follow regional rules usually involve stiff fines ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars.

It’s expected that more cities will consider adopting similar bylaws in the future to prevent the spread of COVID-19, as per the World Health Organization’s recommendations. Previously, the WHO had issued a statement advising governments to request that people wear fabric face masks in public.

Take a look at this helpful page on the Government of Canada website to learn more about masks that offer the best protection during COVID-19. You can also learn about when and how to use masks from on the World Health Organization’s site.

How to make your own no-sew cloth face mask

If you have a small swatch of fabric about the size of a napkin, 2 elastics (hair ties or rubber bands will also do the trick), a coffee filter and a pair of scissors, you can easily make your own face mask. No sewing required! Check out our video tutorial below to see how it’s done. Bear in mind that homemade face masks won’t offer the same protection as medical-grade masks.

How to make your own face mask at home

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How to remove your mask properly

According to Health Canada, you should first be sure to wash your hands thoroughly before putting on your mask. When you’re ready to take it off, do not touch the front of the mask – it could be contaminated. Instead, wash your hands again and remove the mask by lifting the straps off of your ears or untying it.

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What’s the difference between a medical-grade and non-medical face mask?

Medical-grade face masks such as N95, KN95 and surgical masks are designed and tested for use in healthcare settings. These masks must comply with strict manufacturing and testing regulations set forth by the FDA, NIOSH and OSHA, depending on their intended use. You can learn more about the differences between N95 and surgical masks here.

Non-medical masks, on the other hand, are not intended for use in healthcare settings and are therefore not tested or regulated by any federal agency. These masks, which are typically made from cloth such as 100% cotton, are suitable for daily use by the general public. They’re not typically used by doctors, surgeons and other healthcare workers.

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