Your Shop Local Guide, this Festive Season and All Year Round!
Last year gave us a lot of phrases that we’ve found ourselves using over and over since, that have carried onto this year:
“Please wear a mask”
“Maintain physical distancing”
“Buy local”
I’m sincerely hoping for the first two phrases to fade out soon, but I want the third to stay for good. As hard a year as it was, last year shone the spotlight on small business owners. There was new admiration for their grit, and goods. I want to keep that spotlight strong, because small business owners strengthen the local economy and inspire the next generation of budding entrepreneurs.
Here’s your gifting guide to keeping it local this festive season, while supporting BIPOC, LGBTQ+, family-run businesses from one Canadian coast to the other.
British Columbia
Indigenous-owned, operated and staffed, Spirit Works specializes in Indiegenous products made in collaboration with Indiegenous artists. They have pewter and wooden jewellery amongst many other things.
This LGBTQ+ art company lives up to its tagline of ‘The gayest lil' gift shop in all the land!’. You can get a range of chuckle-inducing designs, from cards to clocks. For lesbian couples who like to keep things spicy, check out Brandy’s sensual posters
Karibu Soaps
With all the hand-washing we’ve been doing, there’s been a raised consciousness about the chemicals we lather our hands in. Karibu Soaps helps you wash that worry away. Not only are Karibu soaps natural, the production process is zero-waste and plastic-free.
Alberta
Samaria Cardinal’s quest to heal herself using Indigenous methods of her ancestors gave rise to Mystical Metis. She began a service-based business that now sells handmade and manufactured products created by Indigenous artists, who receive a percentage of the sales.
This brick-and-mortar store in Edmonton is a safe space for anyone. Their online store features a range of accessories, clothing and trans wares including chest binders. There is also a kids section.
Abdulfatah Sabouni helps keep the centuries old tradition of Syrian soapmaking alive here in Canada. When he moved here, he learnt English so he could get back what he has always known and loved—making natural soaps. Aleppo soaps have been popular since the Crusades. Learn more about Abdulfatah’s story here.
Saskatchewan
If you’ve got someone who’s nice but naughty on your Christmas list, they might love any of the cheeky products from The Cranky Leprechaun. Make sure you put in an order before the holiday rush. Oh, and while you’re at it, get yourself an uber cool vaccine pass card.
Bold activewear inspired by Afro prints makes an even bolder statement. Veer activewear does this impeccably. The company aims to promote a healthy lifestyle with impressionable active wear that incorporates ethnic designs. A part of every purchase is donated to a nonprofit organization.
If you’re looking for fashion that speaks boldly, Okema speaks volumes. Okema is the Cree word for chief, or leader. The owner Cody Montour hopes whoever wears Okema apparel feels empowered. Cody wants the brand to encourage Indigenous youth to get into entrepreneurship.
Manitoba
Christine Merasty and her husband run Dene Cree designs, as a brick-and-mortar and online store. Both house a vast range of products. You’ll find yourself endlessly browsing the website going over Indigenous designs. Don’t miss the stunning silk ties.
Queenfidence Cosmetics
Francine Bahati started Queenfidence to help others find an inner confidence that she once lacked. Her story is inspiring and her makeup matches all skin types and shades. Also, it’s vegan, cruelty-free, and paraben-free. Yas Queen!
At first, you’d think you can enjoy Black Market Provisions’ edible goodies only if you live in Winnipeg. But there’s so much more! They have an online gift shop! You can customize a gift box full of cute and rad things, (make sure you add this cute butter pad) jams, hot sauces and a greeting card!
Ontario
Jackie Esquimaux-Hamlin of Anishnawbekwe descent runs Red Sky Candles with her husband, aided by their grandson. Her husband’s involvement in beekeeping projects led them to start this venture. The candles have amazingly intricate details, it’ll be bittersweet to light and use them up so make sure you buy a big batch!
Dawn brings you Afro Bohemian Home Decor with materials sourced from Mali, Kinshasa and other African countries. The memories of her life back in Kanaga (in Congo) feed her art. Chez Kwentu is her way of spreading the love from her home to yours.
Sharlene Robertson designs home decor and jewelry pieces that are jaw-dropping. Her creations are additions you’ll want in your home and on you! A part of your purchase goes towards organizations that are striving to make the world a better place.
Québec
Mya Beaudry is the youngest entrepreneur on this list. She makes scrunchies with kokum scarf designs. These scrunchies are named for the inspirational people in her life, from her best friend to the aunt who taught her how to sew. Kokum scarves are a reminder of Indigenous matriarchs and have a lesser-known interesting history.
Geek out with gender identity merchandise explored through chemistry. Check out the Queer Chemistry section for the nerds in your life with whom you’ve got great chemistry! I love that there are products that are nostalgic nods to the founder’s Lebanese side of their heritage.
A percentage of all purchases help community-focused organizations.
Rose Gwent harnesses the finest of Nature’s offerings. Shen then combines this with her knowledge and learnings of different skin types. Luxuriant to touch and pleasing to the nose, Luxcey products provide a sensory experience. The products are made in small batches to ensure maximum freshness.
Prince Edward Island
If you’re in Prince Edward Island and want to go local, check out this Facebook group Support Local PEI. Most artists posting on this group seem to take custom orders.
New Brunswick
Kaima Designs started in 2017 to bring African prints into everyday fashion. The brand aims to redefine the conventional ideas of beauty and fashion, and let the unique boldness of their style do the talking.
Wabanaki
Jolene Laskey started Wabanaki as a way of reconnecting with her indigenous roots. She partners with other producers to source the ideal maple syrup and ages it in repurposed oak barrels from distilleries. So buying from Wabanaki helps not just one business, but the community in Baker Brook, NB. Pancakes with bourbon-aged maple syrup, here we come!
Nova Scotia
OrigiNATIVE is run by Nina Kent, an Anishinaabe woman, based in Cape Breton. She combines Indigenous healing and wisdom in her self-care products. She makes many things including bath bombs and medicine kits. She teaches non-indigenous customers how to use her products accurately.
Ariel Gough and Edwina Govindasamy have developed roll-on perfume oils that are vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free, and gluten-free. The perfumes not just smell great, but last long and don’t irritate sensitive skin and noses. Their Soar perfume collection features pilot Lydia Phillip.
Stefanie MacDonald makes cards that make you go ‘Awww’. But that’s not all—check out the beer can-dles, handmade crochet stuffies, fun socks, and so much more aww-inducing stuff. Don’t miss this cutie-patootie mouse ornament!
Newfoundland and Labrador
Kokar
Brazilian duo Andrea Butler and Vanessa Sousa da Silva gave birth to Kokar lending from Vanessa’s brand, Wooca, that makes things from upcycled fur. The headwear is inspired by the Newfoundland climate. More contact details available here.
Nigerian designer Sylvester Edmund adopted St. John as home when he came to it as a student. The brand started with him and his friend wearing the self-designed pieces on campus, which soon gained interest. Now, he enjoys his adopted home and builds a brand that reflects its identity.
Mother and daughter duo, Monica and Carolyn, make knitted goods and upcycled home decor (think rugs made from used fabric!). Their keyword is cozy, and a part of their proceeds go towards children and families in Honduras.
Nunavut
Bernice Clark started her business from her kitchen. Guided by Inuit Qaujimajatuqangi (Inuit traditional knowledge), her products incorporate bowhead oil; the whale was an important food source to the Inuit community and was once banned. This is her way of helping her Inuit community reclaim the bowhead from the whalers. Her soaps are eye-catching and connect to age-old wisdom.
Becky Kilabuk is a self-taught visual designer bringing her ideas to life. Becky is involved in many projects that represent and help the Inuit community. With proceeds from her sales, she helps families battle the high cost of groceries in the region. She can also be reached via her Facebook page.
Northwest Territories
Jackie Hall claims her business started from a soap-making tryst wherein she made ‘butt-ugly’ soaps. Today, her soaps are anything but ugly. Her one-woman company encompasses bath products, skincare and so much more made from natural ingredients.
Yukon
Joella Hogan makes handcrafted soaps that are infused with Indigenous wisdom and gifts from the forest. The women of her community of Mayo are known for their beadwork and there are soaps that reflect this. She hopes to employ more people in her community with Yukon Soaps.
If you’re anywhere close to Whitehorse, head to Yukon Provisions. It’s a one-stop for local food businesses. It’s a collaborative cooking / selling space for entrepreneurs. From ice cream to dumplings, there’s a spread you have for food gift ideas!
If you’d like more options, check out my gift guide from last year. As I’ve mentioned in that blog piece, if you can’t support small businesses financially, interact with them on social media and share their posts. You may just help someone else find their favourite go-to shop that has exactly what they need. That’s a Christmas present worth giving.
Also, don’t forget about cards to go with your gifts, I have my own online shop for your gifting pleasures with cards, including a card bundle, all on my brand new shop. (You can bet your boots I’m excited as a kid on Christmas morning about this!)
Happy shopping and sharing!
