Buying Parts in Canada

This is a list of resources for buying additional parts if you so desire.  You should have most ( all?) of what you need in your kit but there are tons of other parts out there and you may want to explore some.  these are not endorsements — simply provided for reference.  Comparative shopping pays in this space.  

Canadian (shipping but no duty or import) 

Sometime in 2024 – Creatron seems to have crumbled. This is a big loss – they could be a bit socially cold and occasionally condescending, but they had a great range of products. Creatron (Toronto)  — https://www.creatroninc.com/ — post pandemic I think they are down to one store in Toronto.

As of sometime in 2022 or 2023 Elmwood Electronics has merged with pishop.ca This has resulted in slightly higher ticket price — but Canadian dollars and no exchange. Elmwood — https://elmwoodelectronics.ca/ — sell US suppliers (Sparkfun) without the direct import costs   — slightly higher prices than you will see on US site — cause they paid import/ shipping for you, and exchange.

You can still go to Supremetronic. 290 College St, Toronto, ON – (just west of Spadina)

Note: Supremetronic is part of Home Hardware and is located in the basement of this Home Hardware location.  AFAIK they are not online — but post-COVID they are an adventure and are totally worth a trip — i have not gone recently — let me know how it goes.

Robotshop ( Montreal )https://www.robotshop.com/ca/en/?___store=ca_en&___from_store=us_en

Solarbotics ( Calgary ) — https://solarbotics.com/

Buy A Pi—  https://www.buyapi.ca/. — mostly R-pis which are not the same thing.  But also some other interesting parts.

Canada Robotix — Toronto — https://www.canadarobotix.com/

Sayalhttps://secure.sayal.com/STORE2/shop.php

This is a good list — I have not used all suppliers listed here but give them a try. http://makercanada.ca/

Warehouse Suppliers

These companies are massive suppliers who sell to individuals.  Its an epic experience but you can save some money if you know what you want — these places take a bit search practice.  These have Canadian and US sites — check your location when shopping. 

https://www.digikey.ca/ — most of your kit came from here

Mouser Electronics

Newark Canada

US Suppliers

Shipping, duty and exchange are all ADDED costs for these.  If you find something on these sites, search the suppliers above before you buy and compare prices. 

Sparkfun. https://www.sparkfun.com/

— this is one of the original shops that supply hobby electronics — huge range of parts — lost of ideas.

Ada Fruit.  https://www.adafruit.com/

— this site has great tutorials and supports.  They are worth a look.  Arduino used to be their bread and butter but they have created their own product line — so older tutorials are more relevant to this course than newer ones, but may be dated in some cases.

— they are the originators of LED strips and rings — which are really cool and expressive devices — but they can be expensive.