11 Canadian Holiday Gifts that Give Back
Updated: Nov. 16, 2022Make holiday shopping more meaningful this season with these Canadian gifts, from the perfect red lipstick to scented candles, that give back.
The Canadian Courage Projects’ Tote Bag
This reusable bag doesn’t just look good, it does good. The Canadian Courage Project partnered with local designers to create cute, locally-made bags perfect for eco-friendly grocery hauls. What’s more, for every bag purchased, The Canadian Courage Project provides a tote filled with essentials to youth (and their pets) experiencing homelessness.
Mala the Brand’s Mistletoe Scented Candle
Handcrafted in Vancouver, B.C., Mala the Brand plants a tree for every single candle bought, no matter the scent. Warning: There are a lot of delicious ones to choose from. May we suggest the holiday-themed scent, aptly named Mistletoe? It boasts notes of pine, berries, cinnamon and cloves, and is sure to get you (or whoever you’re gifting) into the holiday spirit.
$38, malathebrand.com
Good For Sunday’s Save The Ocean Bamboo Crewneck
Made from sustainable bamboo in Toronto, this cozy crewneck sweater from Canadian company Good for Sunday is screen printed with a message that highlights the importance of protecting the earth’s oceans. Five dollars from every purchase of a Save The Ocean product is donated to Sea Shepherd, an organization that protects and conserves the world’s oceans and marine ecosystems.
$87, goodforsunday.com
Dr. Liza’s Cloud Socks
Created by Toronto-based posture expert Dr. Liza Egbogah, these socks won’t only keep feet warm, provide arch support, boost circulation, and wick away sweat, but also help others in need. All the proceeds from this sock collection will be donated to Socks 4 Souls, which gives socks to people experiencing homelessness across Canada.
$27, dr.lizashoes.com
Fancy Face “Give Love” Lipstick
This red lipstick from Canadian cosmetics brand Fancy Face is the perfect shade (a blue-red) and boasts a velvety matte finish that won’t smudge. Plus, for every “Give Love” lipstick sold, Fancy Face will donate one bag full of everyday essentials for a woman in need, through the charity Hope Totes.
$42, fancy faceshop.ca
24 Good Deeds’ Charity Advent Calendar
This stylish advent calendar represents donations to 24 Canadian charities. Some of the charities this year include Alzheimer Society of Alberta and NWT, Anishnawbe Health Foundation and Women In Need Society (WINS). For a more waste-conscious gift, opt for its virtual version.
$24 or more, 24gooddeeds.ca
Tentree’s Sasquatch Hat
Made with Tencel, an eco-friendly plant fibre, this cute Canadian-designed cap is the perfect gift for the tree-lover in your life. Tentree plants ten trees for every purchase made.
$45, tentree.ca
Obakki’s scarves
These stylish scarves from Vancouver-based company Obakki come in a variety of colours and patterns, and 100 percent of the net proceeds go towards drilling wells in Africa, providing clean water to communities.
$89, Obakki
Williams Sonoma’s Pride Mug
This mug from homewares brand Williams Sonoma includes an inspirational inscription on the rim and a rainbow heart on the front. It was created in collaboration with the Trevor Project, a non-profit that aims to prevent LGBTQ2S+ youth suicides. For every mug sold, Williams Sonoma will donate 50 percent of the purchase price to the Trevor Project.
$22, Williams Sonoma
Dispatch’s Coffee
Make that daily cup of joe more meaningful with beans from Canadian craft coffee company, Dispatch. It sources its products from small-scale farmers and women-driven businesses in 13 countries around the world and donates $0.01/LB of coffee they import to World Coffee Research, an organization dedicated to supporting the livelihoods of coffee growers.
Prices vary based on coffee order, dispatchcoffee.ca
Medicines to Help Us by Christi Belcourt
Based on Métis artist Christi Belcourt’s painting “Medicines to Help Us,” this book honours the centuries-old healing traditions of Métis women through twenty-seven gallery-quality prints. Each image fuses Belcourt’s artwork with Indigenous Traditional Knowledge and Western Science and all of the profits will be donated to The Native Women’s Resource Centre of Toronto.
$25, Province Apothecary
