It’s always a wonderful thing to bring a gift to thank your host or hostess for a good time. It’s even better when the gift you bring is made in Canada. We’ve gathered unique treasures, a fabulous wine and the best of Canadian kitsch for your hosts to enjoy – especially after their guests have gone home.
Maple Leaf Wall-Mounted Bottle Opener,
Schneiders Woodworks
The maple leaf shape says it all. The fact that it’s made by a Canadian business. And the bottle opener? Well, it’s useful for opening everything. from vintage-style Coca Cola bottles to always-Canadian-favourite – beer. Make sure to bring a six-pack with this gift.
$60
Canadian Maple Mustard,
Smak Dab
Manitoba Red Seal Chef Carly Minish-Wytinck launched Smak Dab out of local farmers’ markets, and now her innovative, gourmet creations – including our Canada Day-worthy favourite Canadian Maple – add texture, zing and umami to dishes made in homes across the country.
$11
2023 Reserve Sauvignon Blanc,
Mission Hill
Mission Hill’s 2023 Reserve Sauvignon Blanc is an uncompromising expression of the Okanagan Valley. Tropical aromas of banana, pineapple and mango are layered with citrus and subtle floral notes, while the palate delivers vibrant acidity that leads to a well-rounded and textural finish.
$24.95
Banff National Park Scented Candle,
Canada Untamed
You may not be able to physically bring the fresh air from one of Canada’s beautiful natural parks as a hostess gift, but a handmade candle from small Calgary, Alta. company Canada Untamed will provide a calming and zen aroma. Candles are also available in Yoho, Jasper, Kooteney and Glacier.
$54
Hot Honey,
Rosewood Winery
We’ve always been fans of Niagara, Ont.-based winery Rosewood, and we’re even more obsessed with the honey products their on-site apiary produces. Our current favourite? Rosewood’s Hot Honey. Made with lacto-fermented chilies, it adds both sweetness and heat and is delightful drizzled on pretty much everything, from scrambled eggs to salads to pepperoni pizza.
$16
Canadian Breakfast
Baskits
Can’t make it to the party? Surprise your host and ship them a gift basket packed with the essential fixings for a gourmet breakfast. Gift basket includes Hatch Columbia Coffee, Slice of Canada Maple Syrup and Mimi and Lilo gourmet pancake mix. All that’s missing is the short-order cook.
$40
Hand-Printed Canada Tea Towel,
Havyn Love
There’s never a time when a tea towel makes a bad gift, especially when it’s screen-printed with a fun all-Canadian print. Made out of organic cotton “flour sack” fabric, this Toronto-made tea towel is a no-fail thank you present for the host or hostess – and even better if used as a wrapper around one of our sustainable Canadian wine picks.
$25
Curling Rock Mug,
Main and Local
Sometimes there’s nothing better than a kitschy gift – especially when you’re trying to find something unique for the person who has everything. Designed in Canada (of course), this curling stone-inspired mug holds up to 500 ml of coffee or tea.
$29
Marcona Almonds / Candied Rosemary / Green Raisin,
Salted Co.
Toronto-based Salted Co. Fancy Cocktail Nuts takes the guesswork out of entertaining with its snack-worthy nuts. Each handcrafted flavour combo is tailored to be served with specific drinks, which are conveniently labelled on the packaging. Try the blend of Marcona almonds with candied rosemary and green raisin “with bubbles, martini, strong gin & tonic, chilled white”.
$15
Discovery Kit,
Canada Sauce
Handmade in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Que., using simple local ingredients, the Discovery Kit from Canada Sauce includes a slightly sweet ketchup, the perfect relish sauce and mustard made with seeds from the Canadian prairies and that will take the recipient’s grilling game up a notch.
$33
Hand-printed French Linen Napkins,
Studio on 10th
A collection of six French linen napkins hand-printed with pretty watercolour illustrations of six Canadian birds, including a Cardinal, Blue Jay, Chickadee and Canada Goose.
$70 set of six
Arabica Coffee Bitters,
Bittered Sling
Canadian award-winning bartender Lauren Mote co-created the Vancouver-based small-batch bitters brand with chef Jonathan Covancek in 2012. There are more than a dozen flavours of bitters, with Arabica Coffee being one of the most recent launches.
$22
Zero-Proof Spritz,
Atypique
Heading to a sober-curious household? Quebec’s Atypique offers a canned zero-proof version of an impressively recreated classic Spritz, so your hosts can enjoy the experience of leisurely sipping summer’s favourite cocktail without the actual alcohol.
$30/12
Canadian Food Icon Ornaments,
Creationz by Catherine
Ottawa-based Catherine Perron’s handmade all-Canadian food icon “pillow” ornaments aren’t just for Christmas. Why not use one as a gift tag to hang around the neck of a bottle of wine?
$60 set of 4
Nut Butters Gift Box ,
Logan Petit Lot
The Montreal small-batch nut butters company has packed up their three bestsellers – Chocolate Peanut, Maple Pecan and Toasted Sesame Cashew (use the last one to make these Sweet Potatoes and Lentils With Creamy Plant-Based Dressing). For each box sold, Logan Petit Lot will donate $2 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Montreal.
$45 set of three
