Black Friday takes hold of Canadian shoppers

Black Friday sales in Toys R Us in Toronto, Friday, Nov. 25, 2011.

Where Canadians used to shake their heads at Americans going deal-crazy the day after their Thanksgiving, 2011 saw Canada jump right into the Black Friday phenomenon.

The stateside tradition that kicks off the Christmas shopping season with big sales and even bigger crowds has caught on up north, and Ottawa shoppers said they couldn't be happier.

"I'm excited, I'm a super shopper and I'm happy it's moving north!" said one woman.

"I'm very impressed," said another. "It's the first time I ever noticed Black Friday sales."

With some stores offering as much as 70 per cent off, employees said it's one of their busiest days on the job.

"It's actually been packed since the moment I walked in," said one worker at Ottawa's Bayshore Shopping Centre.

The only thing dulling the excitement was the fact that the United States' deals were a little more enticing.

"I'm still waiting for price parity between Canada and the United States," said one shopper.

"It's not bad," said another. "Of course it will never match what they have in the States but at least it's coming close, so you have to be thankful for that."

Still, Canada had some things that some Americans didn't – safety.

A woman in California pepper-sprayed a crowd to get her hands on video games, and shots were fired at a North Carolina store.

If staying in your pepper-spray and gun-free home is more your style, you're in luck.

Monday has been nicknamed "Cyber Monday" because it's the busiest day of the year for online shopping.

With a report from CTV Ottawa's Catherine Lathem