Getting things all holiday-fied? Jazzed about the good times ahead, be they quiet times by the fire or fired-up party times?
Fingers crossed—postal strike notwithstanding—that you’re also way more excited than stressed about what to give all those good boys and girls on your Santa list this season, while trying to minimize the 3 million-plus containers of goods shipped annually through Vancouver ports alone. Remember, it all comes via fossil-fuel-fired freighters and trucks, not a reindeer-driven sleigh.
Just in time to deliver the real goods for this most wonderful time of the year, here’s my latest offering of gifts that disappear, or otherwise spell l-o-v-e and l-o-c-a-l in the best possible ways: They’re as mindful of our precious natural world as you are of your own precious family, friends and community.
You needn’t go posh or big time to give generously. And you don’t need to spend bucks you don’t have. Even the simplest gifts express kindness and care, or maybe I should say, they especially do. Like cooking up a favourite dish and sharing it with a neighbour. Offering to clean a snow-bound sidewalk. Or helping stack a load of firewood. Then ditching the digital, and telling them all about it with a phone call or homemade card slipped under their door.
Or donate to causes your giftee believes in. The need is greater than ever in light of the crises we face—in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan; in our natural world.
Closer to home, an annual membership to the very good Whistler Naturalists, or the equally good Arts Whistler make for excellent gifts. Likewise, namesake donations to WAG, Whistler’s animal shelter.
And don’t forget that while the Sea to Sky might seem like some perfect, idealized place to live, the food banks in Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton are deluged. They welcome any contributions—in volunteer time, food or cash donations. Whistler Community Services, which runs Whistler’s food bank, also reminds us that donations over $25 receive a tax receipt, and monetary donations generate more bang for our bucks than food donations.
PIECING THINGS TOGETHER
If you’re still puzzled about what to give, Whistler Museum has got you covered. Tops is their latest 1,000-piece puzzle featuring a favourite Whistler image that people voted on.
As the museum’s Allyn Pringle notes, “Too much snow with an overcast sky and snowy trees makes for a very difficult puzzle.” So this year’s winner is a beautiful archival image of Whistler Mountain’s downhill course from the George Benjamin Collection. (Photographer and local denizen of the infamous Toad Hall, George—or Benji, as he was fondly known—landed in Whistler in 1968 and made a lasting impression.)
Get yours soon—last year’s puzzle, with a 1980s image of the Roundhouse, sold out fast. Otherwise, check out the museum gift shop, offering everything from mugs and more with the classic “W” logo to stuffy versions of local wildlife, including bears (of course!), raccoons and owls. Speaking of animals, they also sell the classic Toad Hall poster.
In a more supportive vein, if you buy a copy of longtime Whistlerite John Hetherington’s A BC Odyssey: Canoeing through British Columbia in 1970, all proceeds go to the museum’s building fund. Plus annual memberships to the museum, or to one of Whistler’s other cultural keystones, the Audain Art Museum and Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre, support these valued institutions and make great gifts anytime.
MORE EASY LIVING, EASY GIVING
If you (unfortunately) missed the fabulous annual Arts Whistler Holiday Market, held in conjunction with Bratz Biz last weekend, you can still connect via the Holiday Market website with most vendors, including two of Whistler’s legendary artists—Andrea “Likes Art” Mueller (painting, photography, cool custom clothing, and more) and Chili Thom Studio.
I’ve always loved that quote of Chili’s, “Your experience in nature depends on how you choose to position yourself within it.” So if you have kids searching for ideas on how they’re going to relate to nature, thoughtful gifts for them—and others—can be found on the well-curated shelves of Whistler’s iconic and only bookstore, Armchair Books.
Founded back in 1982, when Whistler Village was barely out of training pants itself, Armchair (so named for the eponymous glacier hanging high like a sentinel in the mountaintops over Whistler) still occupies its original location in the heart of the village.
For those young nature lovers, check out the fun and fabulous Weird and Wonderful Nature: Tales of More Than 100 Unique Plants, Animals and Phenomena from DK Books. Author Ben Hoare is a seasoned nature writer, and makes it fun and easy to learn about quirky stuff, like why Mexican jumping beans jump.
If that isn’t quite the right fit, Armchair has a huge selection of books for kids of all ages, including “big people” nature-lovers. (If you’re a local, you get 10 per cent off plus free delivery if you can’t make it in person, or you’re simply done with Amazon.) They stock 20-plus guidebooks to Whistler and beyond, as well as titles by local authors, like Stella Harvey, founder of Whistler’s amazing writers festival, which has hosted the likes of Canadian icons Grant Lawrence and Miriam Toews; Olympian alpine skier Mike Janyk, who grew up in Whistler from age 13, along with his sister, Britt; and longtime Whistler resident and world adventurer, Todd Lawson.
But if it’s a local cookbook you want, make it BReD: The Cookbook by Ed and Natasha Tatton of the eternally popular and award-winning vegan bakery BReD, located at Whistler Creekside.
Vegan, local, gorgeous to behold. What more could you ask for, or give, at this special time of year?
Glenda Bartosh is an award-winning journalist who tips her elf hat to Allyn Pringle for turning her on to the word “holiday-fied.”
