Our favourite holiday gift ideas from Canadian brands and makers
Brittany Toole | CBC Life | Posted: November 29, 2024 7:05 PM | Last Updated: November 29
Cosy pyjamas, wooden board games, hand-poured candles and more ideas to help you find something special
If you could use a little inspo to help you cross off some names on your shopping list this year, check out our 2024 holiday gift guide. It features 32 special picks from Canadian makers and brands from coast to coast, such as handcrafted signet rings, cosy pyjamas perfect for family matching, sweatshirts embroidered with Bollywood icons and soaps that smell like the season's best baking. We think they're standout items from the brands below, but we encourage you to explore their other offerings, too. (And if you're searching for something delicious to give this year, don't miss our food gift guide.)
Editor's note: Due to the ongoing Canada Post strike, some businesses may need to adjust their shipping methods this holiday season. We recommend confirming shipping details with the retailer before placing your order to ensure your gift arrives on time.
This handmade bonnet from St. John's–based Newbornlander is made of wool and lined with fleece, and will keep the little one on your list cosy and cute this winter.
Bonnet Pom Pom (Christmas), $36, Newbornlander
For the flower-lover in your life, consider this pretty tote from Toronto's Studio Fresh Press, a company known for its custom floral preservation. This design features a mulitcoloured assortment of botanicals grown in their own garden, and similar motifs are available on tea towels, too.
Floral Tote Bag - Fresh, $30, Studio Fresh Press
This minimalistic match holder and striker is handcrafted in Alberta out of jesmonite. Its adorable cowboy hat design is especially eye-catching.
Cowboy Hat Match Holder, $29.99, Studio Akiyo
Customize Cuchara's family ring for a loved one. Handcrafted in Toronto, each one is unique, and you can select up to five birthstones to be featured in the design.
Signet Family Ring, from $325, Cuchara
Gifting this 2025 calendar means that your lucky loved one will get to enjoy 12 months of gorgeous collage-style creations from Vancouver-based artist Victoria Rose Park.
2025 Calendar, $60, Victoria Rose Park
Revolution Wool Company uses wool from their family farm in Wallenstein, Ont., to make their timeless and cosy blankets. Take your pick from an array of vibrant colours.
Classic Wool Blanket, $210, Revolution Wool Company
This sweet embroidered plushie is named Mr. Tsé-Tsé, and he's from Raplapla, a handmade cloth toy store and "toy hospital" in Montreal. He's available as-is, or you can add on custom name embroidery and his adorable cardboard house.
Monsieur Tsé-Tsé, from $60, Raplapla
Gift them a bit of relaxation this season. This mint and eucalyptus–scented bath soak from Anto Yukon contains Epsom salts, mineral-rich glacial silt, jojoba and grapeseed oils, and butterfly pea flowers that will turn the bath water a deep, cool blue.
Glacier Foaming Bath Soak, from $9.50, Anto Yukon
These sculptural wind chimes are handcrafted on Prince Edward Island and come tuned in a variety of different keys, depending on the metal tubing and bells used. Island Winds, which has been making the durable pieces since 1981, also offers repairs at no charge.
Wind Chimes, from $65, Island Winds
Forget boring round blemish patches! These poker-themed, salicylic acid–inflused hydrocolloid patches from Vancouver's Jeumont would make a really fun stocking stuffer for a beauty-lover.
Poker Face Blemish Patches, $18, Jeumont
If cheeky cards are your thing, you'll love Toronto designer Amy Kwong's collection of holiday greetings. There are so many to choose from, but we particularly like this cute kitten one.
Won't Crap Holiday Spirit Card, $6.50, Smitten Kitten
These festive napkins from Nakusp, B.C.'s Your Green Kitchen are part of the company's holiday collection. They're made of organic cotton, feature a wintry house pattern and are machine washable.
Holiday Houses Napkin Set of 2, $15, Your Green Kitchen
This kit from Salisbury, N.B., fibre art studio Loopy Wool comes with everything your giftee needs to learn to hook their very own rug. Or, if they're already a seasoned pro, you can select the kit option that omits the hoop and hook.
Mixed Circles Rug Hooking Kit, from $100, Loopy Wool
Standing Spruce makes an assortment of delightfully aromatic soaps on Haida Gwaii in B.C. This gingerbread and coffee–scented bar featuring ginger, clove, cinnamon and molasses sounds especially great for this time of year.
Gingerbread & Coffee Bar, $16.10, Standing Spruce
Specifically designed for curly hair, this vegan mask from Laval, Que.'s Frizz + Co is made from natural ingredients and promises to revitalize dry strands.
The Repairing Hair Mask, $59, Frizz + Co
This oyster bag designed by Toronto's Knotted Neon is one of the funnest purses we've ever seen. Give the crocheter in your life the pattern so they can make it themselves, and to make it extra special, pair it with all the supplies they'll need to complete this project.
Oyster Bag Crochet Pattern, $12, Knotted Neon
These ceramic ornaments will look terrific on their tree this year and for many Christmases to come. They're handmade in Dartmouth, N.S., by artist Alexis Doiron, and are available in multiple colours and designs.
Doodle Ceramic Ornament, $25, Inkwell Modern Handmade
Featuring illustrations by Toronto and Newfoundland–based artist Laura Dawe, this deck of tarot cards would make a great gift for anyone looking to get to know their shadow self a bit better. (Consider sharing our article filled with expert advice on how to read them, too.)
Pack of Dogs Tarot Deck, $70, Laura Dawe
Every piece in Halifax artist Wynand van Niekerk's coaster collection features a sketch of a delightful scene from the Maritimes or Ontario. Buy one to tuck in a loved one's stocking or put together a set based on their favourite landmarks.
Downtown Coasters, $8 each, Downtown Sketcher
These bordeaux-hued kitchen towels feature a gold cedar motif by contemporary artist Andy Everson. They're designed in Totem Design House's studio on K'ómoks First Nation in B.C., and also come in an eye-catching emerald.
Hand Towels, $22, Totem Design House
Toronto-based embroidery business Onero has a large collection of sweatshirts to give this season. Choose from ones featuring classic Bollywood characters, like Shah Rukh Khan's Raj from Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, or go full-on festive and select a style from the brand's holiday collection.
Embroidered Crewneck, from $55, Onero
The cutest serving board we ever did see! This customizable platter from Winnipeg-based Huron Woodwork is made of solid cherry, and features designated spots for Santa and Rudolph's snacks.
Santa Charcuterie Board, from $45, Huron Woodwork
Made in Montreal, these leather mittens from Milo & Dexter come in six classic colours. A plush sherpa lining makes them an extra-cosy pick.
Genuine Leather Mittens, $85, Simons
A new cookbook can make a very special present for the home chef on your list. Toronto-based chef Devan Rajkumar's new book features more than 100 delicious recipes such as Guyanese Pepperpot and Little India Masala Corn.
Mad Love: Big Flavors Made to Share, from South Asia to the West Indies, $38.95, Figure1Publishing
This spice boil from Regina's QCGifts.ca will make the whole house smell like the holidays. Just simmer the blend of dried spices and citrus on the stove for effortless ambiance.
Holiday Spice Boil, $6.95, QCGifts.ca
All of the candles in Milkjar's Silver Smells Collection sound amazing, but this 8-oz Pattie one is especially enticing with its fragrance notes of vanilla chai and peppermint. Like the Calgary brand's other candles, it also has a wooden wick that crackles for extra cosy vibes.
Pattie 8 oz, $38, Milkjar
Perfect for all the self-professed horse girls in your life or your friend that appreciates a good meme, this cap from Vancouver's Brunette the Label is made from 100 per cent cotton, and comes in black or brown.
"Horse Girl" Baseball Cap, $39, Brunette the Label
These luxe pyjamas are made in Canada by Toronto-based company This is J, and while their plaid patterns make them especially great for the holidays, they're destined to be go-to loungewear all winter long. And thanks to an assortment of styles and sizes, family matching is a must!
Pajama Set: Long Sleeve Shirt + Pajama Pant, $184, This is J
This illustrated cotton pillowcase would make an adorable addition to any kids' room. The cuddly tiger design is by Toronto artist Claire Manning.
Mama and Baby Tiger Pillow Case, $22, Claire Manning Illustration and Design
These soy wax melts are hand-poured in Yellowknife and have all the fragrance of a candle without the flame. Wax & Wick Candle Co. makes six scents to choose from, but this eucalyptus, peppermint and white cedar–scented one caught our eye.
Alpine Eucalyptus Wax Melts, $12, Wax & Wick Candle Co.
This collection of handmade wooden games from Hatchet Lake, N.S., makes for a classic and impressive present. It includes a dice game, a peg elimination game and a cribbage board — a Maritime essential.
East Coast Game Bundle, $99.95 (on sale for $74.96), Toy Maker of Lunenburg
Surprise your giftee with a festive road trip curated by London, Ont.'s Guess Where Trips. They've planned out where to shop, eat and even take photos, with options that begin in multiple provinces.
Festive Trips, from $65, Guess Where Trips