Support Local: 2025 Canadian Holiday Gift Guide for Conscious Shoppers

The holiday season is here! In the blink of an eye, the parties, gatherings, and gift exchanges will begin — which often means scrambling for meaningful, last-minute gifts. And while it may be tempting to default to Amazon (we get it, the convenience is real), shopping Canadian doesn’t have to mean inconvenient. It means spending with intention.

Choosing Canadian-made products can inject an estimated $13 billion into our economy and support over 55,000 jobs — a powerful reminder that every dollar spent locally truly matters. This year, Canadian consumers are leaning toward practicality, choosing gifts that meet needs over wants, while supporting brands that align with their values.

What makes the companies below even more special is their connection to Venture for Canada. Through our Intrapreneurship Program, these businesses have not only created innovative products — they’ve also provided meaningful employment opportunities for entrepreneurial youth across the country.

Explore our curated list of Canadian brands offering everything from chic desk accessories and nutrient-packed snacks to virtual cooking classes and holistic care rooted in plant medicine.

1. For the Foodie: Foodies in the Kitchen

About:
If your loved one lights up at the sight of a new spatula, talks about meal prep like it’s a sport, or always seems to have a new recipe bookmarked, Foodies in the Kitchen is the perfect gift. Founded by scientist-turned-culinary-expert Noha Gerges, this Montreal-based venture helps home cooks feel confident, organized, and inspired in the kitchen.

After more than a decade working in genetics and molecular biology—and 16 years of dedicated Sunday meal prepping—Noha Gerges blended her love of food, efficiency, and science to create Foodies in the Kitchen. Her mission is simple: make cooking easier, lighter, and more joyful, especially for people who feel overwhelmed after a long day at work.

Through her accessible, BS-free approach, Noha teaches the “why” behind cooking so her clients can make better meals with less stress and less waste. Whether you’re a beginner who doesn’t know where to start or a seasoned cook wanting to level up your skills, she makes the kitchen feel like a place you want to be.👨🏼‍🍳

What They Offer:
Give the gift of smoother weeknights and delicious meals with options like:

• One-on-one sessions to learn meal prep strategies, perfect favourite recipes, build kitchen confidence, or master the basics of cooking and baking.
• Virtual group classes exploring the science behind nutrition while cooking together.
• Self-directed learning through simple, beautifully designed handouts and ebooks.

2. For the Person With Painful Periods: Happy Cramps

About:
Growing up is already hard — period pain shouldn’t make it harder. After years of debilitating cramps, late-night hospital visits, and being told by doctors that her pain was “normal,” Happy Cramps founder Monica Singh realized just how many hours — 864 hours, to be exact — she was losing every year to menstrual pain.

Nothing helped. Not the ultrasounds, not the medication, not the carefully curated lifestyle routines. It wasn’t until she began exploring global research that she discovered something surprising: specific plant-based essential oils used in India and China had been clinically shown to reduce menstrual pain by 70–90%. When she tried them herself, the improvement felt life-changing — but the method wasn’t exactly convenient or discreet.

Inspired by European innovations in transdermal patches, she started wondering: What if natural cramp relief could be as simple as peeling, sticking, and going? And just like that, Happy Cramps was born — a fast-acting, plant-powered period relief patch designed for real life.

Today, Happy Cramps exists to help anyone with a uterus feel more supported, confident, and in control every single cycle. No pills. No heat pads. No cancelling plans. Just relief that actually works. 😌

What They Offer:
Give the gift of easier periods with: Fast-acting Cramp Relief Patches powered by peppermint, eucalyptus, lavender, and cinnamon oils.

3. For the One Who Believes Organization Is Self-Care: Acoshia

About:
Some people use their desks. Others curate them. If you’re shopping for someone who colour-codes their calendar, obsesses over stationery, or treats their workspace like a personal mood board, Acoshia is the gift they’ll love unwrapping.

Acoshia, founded by Abha Chiyedan, believes your workspace is an extension of your personal style. This line of modern office supplies blends bold aesthetics with everyday functionality — turning your desk into a place that doesn’t just help you work, but inspires you while you do it.

Rooted in the worlds of art, fashion, and contemporary design, Acoshia creates pieces that aren’t meant to be hidden in a drawer. They’re meant to be seen, used, and admired. ✨

What They Offer:
Give the gift of a desk glow-up with beautifully designed essentials like:

• 2026 Weekly Productivity Planner — a chic, structured planner for the ultra-organized (or the aspiring-to-be)
• 2026 XL Wavy Dry-Erase Wall Calendar — a statement piece that doubles as a scheduling lifesaver
• The Loop (3-Pack) — simple, stylish loops that keep notes, pages, and loose ends together
• The E.L.T. Pouch — a sleek pencil case that elevates even the most chaotic tote bag

4. For the One Who Believes Snacks Should Spark Joy: OHME! 

About:
Breakfast can make or break a day — and during the pandemic, co-founders Han and Jenny realized their once-active lifestyle needed a reboot. They started with the simplest place: what they were eating in the morning. Oatmeal became their go-to, but let’s be honest… plain oats get boring fast. They wanted something healthier than sugary store-bought toppings, but way more exciting than another beige bowl.

That’s when they discovered the magic of freeze-dried fruit: crunchy, colourful, naturally sweet, and packed with up to 95% of the original nutritional value. No added sugar. No weird ingredients. Just real fruit that tastes like candy — without being candy.

From there, OHME! was born: a brand built to make healthy eating more fun, more accessible, and a lot more delicious for everyone. 😋

What They Offer:
Give the gift of crunchy, colourful, better-for-you snacking with:

• Perfect Topping Yum Pack — the ultimate add-on for oatmeal, yogurt bowls, or smoothie lovers
• Oh-My Yogurt Crunch Yum Pack — a kid-approved favourite with added probiotics
• Best Sellers Starter Pack — seven flavours for the person who wants to try everything
• Bundle of Best Sellers (20 Minis) — a big, joyful assortment for serious snackers

5. For the One Craving Holistic Care: Mangata Apothecary

About:
Some seasons of life require extra care — especially when it comes to fertility, postpartum recovery, breastfeeding, or simply managing the emotional and physical load of daily life. Mangata Apothecary, founded by herbalist and lactation specialist Stefanie Henderlin, was born from decades of experience supporting women and families.

Raised in northern British Columbia and surrounded by nature, Stefanie began her journey in the pre- and postnatal world in her early 20s, working as a doula and midwifery student before pausing to raise her four children. While caring for her young family, she started crafting safe, natural herbal products designed for real households navigating real challenges.

Every product and service reflects Stefanie’s deep clinical training, her reverence for plant medicine, and her commitment to helping women feel grounded, supported, and empowered through every chapter of life. ❤️

What They Offer:
Give the gift of nurturing, holistic care with options like:

• Lactation Consultations: For new or expectant parents seeking breastfeeding support — available in-home in Surrey & Delta or virtual for rural communities.
• Herbalist Consultations: Personalized guidance for fertility, menstrual health, stress, sleep, digestion, immunity, and more.

Natural Apothecary Products
Beautifully crafted herbal balms, rollers, and blends, including:

• Botanical Bump Balm — gentle rejuvenation for growing bellies
• Botanical Skin Balm — chickweed-powered healing for itchy or irritated skin
• Essential Oil Roller “Recoup” — grounding and balancing for everyday use
• Essential Oil Roller “Chill” — mood-boosting support for stress and overstimulation

Supporting Canadian businesses doesn’t just fill stockings — it strengthens our economy, supports founders, and keeps innovation thriving close to home.

For businesses: 

Enhance your team with eager-to-learn students ready to contribute to your projects at no cost to you. Learn more about fostering the next generation of entrepreneurs through hands-on experience and mentorship. 

Applications are now open for the January 2026 cohort! Sign up here. 

For students: 

Gain practical experience and earn while you learn, working on real projects that make a difference. This is your chance to apply your studies in a real-world environment, enhancing your skills and building your resume before graduation. 

Applications for January 2026 are closed, however, feel free to indicate your interest if you would like to be informed when applications re-open for our 2026 cohort.