‘Everyone’s having a lot of fun with it:' Maritimers join in on the ‘Elbows Up’ movement

Maritime businesses react to Elbows Up movement

The “Elbows Up” movement that has taken the country by storm, has made its way to the Maritimes.

Businesses like Peace By Chocolate, a Nova Scotia-based company, are using their product to stand in unity amid trade tensions with the United States.

Tareq Hadhad, CEO of the company, says their “Elbows Up” chocolate bars have quickly become a top performing product.

“We believe that ‘Elbows Up’ meant for us that we can defend all of these good things that really makes Canada the best country in the world,” says Hadhad. “And that’s why I believe that businesses have a responsibility to stand up for this country.”

Hadhad says they’ve received orders from around the world for the chocolate bar that represents the story of Canada.

“It’s truly that because Canada chose kindness over anxiety, over hatred. That’s why we were able to come together and create this chocolate bar…because our values stand for passion, enthusiasm, advocacy, contribution, and excellence,” he says.

Others are taking a different approach to the movement. John Helmkay is the creator of what he calls the “Trump toilet light” – a projection used on a toilet to show an image.

The light is being sold at Wild Things, a toy store inside Sunnyside Mall in Bedford, N.S.

“I was really getting frustrated with Trump. So, I thought, let’s do one with Trump,” says Helmkay.

“When people just see it, they just have a little chuckle and they laugh. Anytime I put it out on display, the number one comment I get is ‘hilarious’ and that’s really what it’s meant to be.”

Kim Sorensen, owner of Wild Things, says her decision to allow Helmkay to sell the product at her store was an easy one.

“Everyone’s having a lot of fun with it. It’s stopping everybody in the mall. Sales have been good on (the) product, but most importantly, this is something that’s unifying all of the Nova Scotians that are coming in, because 99.9 per cent of the feedback has been fantastic,” says Sorensen.

Beyond a good chuckle, Sorensen hopes it will encourage others to take a stand.

“The concept of tariffs, frankly, is ridiculous between two countries that have an existing free trade agreement,” she says.

“It does nothing but hurt the consumer on both sides of the border. So, we need to let our voice be heard and, you know, share in a fun way just how horrible this is for an economy.”