If you’ve got $2,000 earmarked for investing in Canadian equities this year, choosing a pair of fundamentally strong stocks can be a practical way to start building a long-term position. Splitting your capital across two diversified businesses helps balance growth potential with income and risk management.

1. Brookfield Renewable Partners — Clean Energy Growth With Income
A globally diversified clean-power operator, this company owns and runs hydro, wind, solar, and energy storage assets across multiple continents. It’s not just riding the trend toward renewable energy — it’s actively expanding capacity while securing long-term contracts and benefiting from rising demand tied to data centres and electrification. Its current dividend yield is attractive relative to many equities, offering income while you wait for long-term price appreciation. Holding this type of asset inside a tax-advantaged account such as a TFSA lets the growth and distributions compound without drag from taxes.

2. Barrick Mining — Defensive Gold Exposure for Volatility
Gold mining stocks often act as a hedge when broader markets weaken, since gold itself tends to attract capital in uncertain economic environments. Owning a major gold producer gives you exposure to rising bullion prices without locking funds into physical metals, which can be illiquid and costly to store. The company also pays a modest yield, which adds to total returns. For a $2,000 starter portfolio, pairing this defensive exposure with a growth-oriented renewable business helps balance risk and return.

Also Read: Top Canadian tech AI stocks

How to Think About These Picks
The strategy here isn’t about timing short-term market moves — it’s about assembling a core that can weather different economic scenarios. Renewable energy exposure positions you for secular growth as global power systems shift, while gold mining offers ballast if markets wobble. Allocating roughly half your funds to each reduces concentration risk and lets you benefit from divergent trends.

Also Read: Long term investing in Canada

Execution Tips

Buy primarily on price pullbacks rather than at peaks to enhance long-term returns.
Use a TFSA to shelter dividends and capital gains.
Review quarterly results and industry shifts periodically, but don’t overtrade — long-term compounding comes from staying invested.

With this simple $2,000 plan, you’re not chasing quick wins. You’re building a foundational allocation that can grow with time and weather volatility across economic cycles.