Tara Deschamps
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Tara Deschamps
@taradeschamps.bsky.social
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The Canadian Press business reporter, covering tech (including AI) and retail. Cinephile. tsd@cp.org
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The Hudson’s Bay auction has wrapped with $5.9 million in sales.

Several pieces went for record amounts and all surpassed the conservative estimates Heffel set for them.

My story describing how the action unfolded: www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/business/auc...
Heffel Fine Art Auction House president David Heffel auctions off "Bay Watch" by Charles Pachter at a Hudson's Bay sale on Nov. 19, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Laura Proctor Heffel Fine Art Auction House staff accept phone bids for pieces in the Hudson's Bay collection on Nov. 19, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Laura Proctor Heffel Fine Art Auction House presided a packed room in Toronto for the sale of 27 paintings from Hudson's Bay on Nov. 19, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Laura Proctor Heffel Fine Art Auction House staff accept phone bids for pieces in the Hudson's Bay collection on Nov. 19, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Laura Proctor
November 20, 2025 at 1:42 AM
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It’s Hudson’s Bay auction day.

Homes will be found for 27 paintings — including a Churchill and a Bell-Smith— the retailer owns.

Here’s a piece setting up the sale. www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/business/cre...
November 19, 2025 at 1:28 PM
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I’ve got your first look at the vintage blankets and art that are in Hudson’s Bay’s first online auction

www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/business/vin...
A 3.5 point blanket from 1932 that Hudson's Bay is slated to auction off is shown in this handout image. HEFFEL FINE ART AUCTION HOUSE/Handout A four point blanket from 1900 that Hudson's Bay is slated to auction off is shown in this handout image. HEFFEL FINE ART AUCTION HOUSE/Handout "Hommes d'Affaires" by William Hodd McElcheran is shown in this handout image. HEFFEL FINE ART AUCTION HOUSE/Handout "Smoking Mountain" by artist William Kurelek is shown in this handout image. HEFFEL FINE ART AUCTION HOUSE/Handout
November 7, 2025 at 2:11 PM
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Canadian Tire is releasing its first collection using the Hudson’s Bay stripes.

I’ve got your first look at the 26 products.

www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/business/you...
Branded products on display at Canadian Tire's relaunch of the HBC brand and stripes in Toronto on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young Eva Salem, senior vice-president of marketing and brand at Canadian Tire Corporation (CTC), is photographed at Canadian Tire's relaunch of the HBC brand and stripes in Toronto on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young Branded products on display at Canadian Tire's relaunch of the HBC brand and stripes in Toronto on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young Branded products on display at Canadian Tire's relaunch of the HBC brand and stripes in Toronto on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
November 5, 2025 at 2:50 PM
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BREAKING: Ruby Liu, a B.C. billionaire who spent the summer fighting to move into former Hudson’s Bay properties, has found herself on the losing end of battle with the collapsed department store’s lenders.

www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/business/b-c...
Billionaire Ruby Liu listens during an interview at a former Hudson's Bay-owned Saks Off 5th department store after a "handover ceremony" where she received the keys to the space at Tsawwassen Mills shopping mall that she owns, in Tsawwassen, B.C., on Thursday, June 26, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
October 25, 2025 at 12:31 AM
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Want to own a piece of Hudson’s Bay history?

I break down how the upcoming auctions will work

www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/business/how...
Some of the works of art destined for the upcoming Hudson's Bay auction, including Frederic Marlett Bell Smith's "Lights of a City Street," are displayed in Toronto on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
October 15, 2025 at 10:46 PM
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Heffel is hosting an auction for the Hudson’s Bay collection.

The auction house’s head told me what it was like to get HBC’s call:
www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/business/sale-of-hudsons-bay-collection-is-a-watershed-moment-auction-house-heffel/article_ead70f97-567c-5db3-b476-28f94630b770.html
Heffel president David Heffel poses for a photo in Toronto on Friday, Dec. 2, 2016. Heffel's auction business is selling the Hudson's Bay collection of art and artifacts. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Melissa Renwick
October 10, 2025 at 11:39 PM
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Department store Simons makes its Toronto debut today.

I delved into why it took it so long and what the collapse of Hudson’s Bay and the rise of buy Canadian means for the retailer.

www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/business/tor...
Bernard Leblanc, CEO of Simons is photographed at the company's new Simons location at Yorkdale Mall in Toronto, Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston Bernard Leblanc, CEO of Simons is photographed at the company's new Simons location at Yorkdale Mall in Toronto, Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston Bernard Leblanc, CEO of Simons is photographed at the company's new Simons location at Yorkdale Mall in Toronto, Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston Bernard Leblanc, CEO of Simons is photographed at the company's new Simons location at Yorkdale Mall in Toronto, Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston
August 14, 2025 at 1:35 PM
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Have you tried dirty soda yet?

The trendy drink has bubbled up to Canada thanks to social media and the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives reality TV show.

www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/business/dir...
Jeremy Guenette, Sip Soda Co. owner, shows off one of his "dirty sodas" at his shop in Sherwood Park, Alta., on Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh A lime "dirty soda" drink is prepared at Sip Soda Co. in Sherwood Park, Alta., on Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh "Dirty soda" drinks are pictured at Sip Soda Co. in Sherwood Park, Alta., on Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
August 11, 2025 at 12:55 PM
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The royal charter that formed Hudson's Bay about 355 years ago could soon be getting a new home.

The Canadian Museum of History says the Weston family wants to buy the historic document for $12.5 million and donate it to the Quebec institution.

www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/science/west...
The 1670 royal charter signed by King Charles II establishing Hudson's Bay, is shown on display at the Manitoba Museum where it was loaned to be displayed alongside its permanent collection of Hudson's Bay artifacts, in this 2020 handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - Manitoba Museum **MANDATORY CREDIT**
July 30, 2025 at 11:05 PM
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The biggest art fraud in the world has roots in Canada — and now a tool to help in the fight: AI.

My look at how a Montreal tech company is helping the estate of late Indigenous artist Norval Morrisseau: www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/science/how-...
Acrylic Robotics founder Chloë Ryan poses for a photograph with Norval Morrisseau's "In Honour of Mother", left, alongside an in-progress copy of "Bear Father, Bear Son" made by a robot trained on artificial intelligence, at Acrylic Robotics' studio, in Montreal on Tuesday, July 8, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov A robot trained on artificial intelligence paints a copy of Norval Morrisseau's "In Honour of Mother" at Acrylic Robotics' studio, in Montreal on Tuesday, July 8, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov Acrylic Robotics founder Chloë Ryan poses for a photograph several copies of Norval Morrisseau paintings made by a robot trained on artificial intelligence, at Acrylic Robotics' studio and offices, in Montreal on Tuesday, July 8, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov Acrylic Robotics founder Chloë Ryan poses for a photograph with Norval Morrisseau's "In Honour of Mother," left, alongside an in-progress copy of "Bear Father, Bear Son" made by a robot trained on artificial intelligence, at Acrylic Robotics' studio, in Montreal on Tuesday, July 8, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov
July 21, 2025 at 12:45 PM
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Labour groups and lawyers are hoping the fall of Hudson's Bay will create meaningful change for workers.

www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/business/lab...
Unifor National President Lana Payne poses for a photo in Toronto, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jessica Lee
July 7, 2025 at 12:09 PM
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I pitched in for our Ontario desk today, covering the annual Pride parade in Toronto.

The streets were a rainbow but a cloud hung over the event because several corporate sponsors pulled their funding.

www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/national/rai...
People march in the Toronto Pride Parade on Sunday, June 29, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Arlyn McAdorey People march in the Toronto Pride Parade on Sunday, June 29, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Arlyn McAdorey People march in the Toronto Pride Parade on Sunday, June 29, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Arlyn McAdorey People march in the Toronto Pride Parade on Sunday, June 29, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Arlyn McAdorey
June 30, 2025 at 12:04 AM
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The B.C. billionaire looking to turn Hudson’s Bay’s old digs into her own retail empire left court Monday with the beginnings of her venture in hand — and a looming fight that could curtail her full ambitions.

www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/business/hud...
Ruby Liu is shown leaving court in Toronto on Monday June 23, 2025. The B.C. billionaire looking to turn Hudson’s Bay’s old digs into her own retail empire left court Monday with the beginnings of her venture in hand — and a looming fight that could curtail her full ambitions. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
June 23, 2025 at 8:37 PM
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Insolvencies and bankruptcies in the retail sector have been rising over the past four years after a roughly 20-year decline.

What’s driving the shift: www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/business/ret...
A chart showing retail insolvencies were falling for 20 years before they started to rise following the COVID-19 pandemic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Vokey
June 19, 2025 at 1:13 PM
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“Every time I bring someone through the factory, they kind of look at me and say, ‘I just didn't realize you did this here.”

The Roots CEO took me on a tour of its leather factory in Toronto, where the buy Canadian movement is creating opportunities

www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/business/buy...
Chief executive officer and president of Roots, Meghan Roach is photographed at Roots' leather factory in Toronto, Thursday, June 5, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston Workers are seen at their leather working stations at Roots' leather factory in Toronto, Thursday, June 5, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston A worker prepares a jacket at Roots' leather factory in Toronto, Thursday, June 5, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston Roots' NHL jackets are seen in the jacket archive at Roots' leather factory in Toronto, Thursday, June 5, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston
June 16, 2025 at 1:32 PM
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Since March, I’ve written 75 stories on the fall of Hudson’s Bay and yet the closure of its stores today still feels surreal.

If you’ve missed any of my coverage, find it all here:

www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/search/?tncm...
Branding is seen at the Hudson's Bay store in Toronto on Monday, March 10, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
June 1, 2025 at 9:10 PM
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As Hudson’s Bay prepares to ask for court permission to auction off its artifacts, a look at where some items linked to the company are on public display.

www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/business/a-c...
Mark Garner owns hundreds of pieces connected to the Hudson's Bay Company and the S.S. Beaver, a 19th-century steamship the company owned. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nick Iwanyshyn Mark Garner owns hundreds of pieces connected to the Hudson's Bay Company and the S.S. Beaver, a 19th-century steamship the company owned. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nick Iwanyshyn Mark Garner owns hundreds of pieces connected to the Hudson's Bay Company and the S.S. Beaver, a 19th-century steamship the company owned. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nick Iwanyshyn Mark Garner owns hundreds of pieces connected to the Hudson's Bay Company and the S.S. Beaver, a 19th-century steamship the company owned. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nick Iwanyshyn
April 19, 2025 at 2:31 PM
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What happens when you’re a Canadian company with an American name in a trade war?

I asked Boston Pizza, New York Fries, Montana’s, California Sandwiches and the Great American Backrub www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/business/bos...
Nazir Lalani, who owns The Great American Backrub, poses in Toronto on Tuesday April 8, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
April 9, 2025 at 12:01 PM
taradeschamps.bsky.social
🐻 Giant bears
⛺️ Tents with s’mores
🍽️ Montreal smoked meat, poutine
🍹 cocktails inspired by TVO Kids, the Bluenose
💵 the ability to pay with Canadian Tire money

Meet Toronto’s new Canada-themed restaurant Grizzly Bar www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/business/sor...
Co-owner Jessica Langer Kapalka poses for a portrait at Grizzly Bar, a new Canadiana-themed bar in Toronto, Saturday, April 5, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Giordano Ciampini The main bar is shown at Grizzly Bar, a new Canadiana-themed bar in Toronto, Saturday, April 5, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Giordano Ciampini Vintage patriotic posters and memorabilia, part of the decor is shown at Grizzly Bar, a new Canadiana-themed bar in Toronto, Saturday, April 5, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Giordano Ciampini
April 6, 2025 at 6:37 PM
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McDonald's Canada is trying its hand at a vegetable-based burger — again.

Meet the McVeggie, a sandwich the chain is trialling about five years after dumping the PLT.

www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/business/mcd...
McDonald's Canada chief marketing officer Francesca Cardarelli holds a McVeggie burger at a McDonald's Restaurant in Brampton, Ont. on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
March 18, 2025 at 7:02 PM
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Trump might have delayed tariffs on Canadian goods for a month, but small businesses aren’t letting their guard down.

www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/business/can...
Tapmaster president Tyler Pubben, holds tubing imported form the United States at his company's manufacturing facility in Calgary, Alta., Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
February 5, 2025 at 12:04 AM
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I visited Canada’s top toy company to unwrap its hottest releases with the CEO and hear how they went from idea to store shelves.

This is my story on how Spin Master, the maker of Paw Patrol, Ms. Rachel and Hatchimal toys, prepared for the holidays

www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/business/ms-...
Spin Master CEO Max Rangel poses with toys after a press conference in Toronto on October 11, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
December 1, 2024 at 7:17 PM