Castaway
The Canadian Gift Guide strives to find gift ideas that are readily accessible to Canadians. This you should know by now. What you don’t know is how much guilt I feel when I browse the amazing local gift shops in my city (or other cities) and realize that many of them simply don’t have an online shopping system I can direct you to. By the same token, I don’t think it’s fair for me to call out a particular gift store that only exists in one city when I’ve got a super national audience. Luckily for me, a bell must have rung this holiday season because like an angel, Shopcaster is on the scene. What is it? Essentially a super-indie online boutique featuring dozens of independent Canadian retailers, primarily in Toronto and Vancouver. If you live around one of those cities, you can pre-browse and head down to the store of your choice to buy in-person, but for the rest of us poor souls (or not), we now have access to each store’s stock without leaving our precious laptops, just in time for the holidays! I spent an afternoon perusing the site and handpicked ten fantastic finds for everyone on your list. So without further ado…
For Your Wife: Sparkle Bootie – $89 @ The Store on Queen
Just because it’s time to shine, doesn’t mean she wants to be freezing while she does it. These sparkly, stiletto-spike heel booties allow her to add a serious dash of sex appeal and seasonal sweetness to her ensemble, without exposing her feet to the harsh winter air. And if she needs to clutch on to you to navigate icy sidewalks? Well, that’s never a bad thing.
For Your Brother: Fred Pizza Peddler – $22 @ La Di Da Boutique
Whether he’s a burgeoning family guy or a flying solo bachelor, chances are pizza still regular tops his list of favourite foods. This super cute silicon pizza cutter has some bite – it’ll cut through even the chewiest dough – but it also has a fun factor, whether he’s inviting over his bros or simply entertaining the kids.
For Your Aunt: Voluspa 2-Wick Glass Candle & Lid – $24.99 each @ The Spotted Frog
These luxury candles are made from coconut wax, allowing a ‘clean burn’ with no fiery scent to taint the fragrant aromas rising up from each elegant glass jar. Available in five scents from Clove Pomegranate to Makassare Ebony & Peach, all you need is a bit of tissue paper and ribbon and these pretty pots are ready to gift.
For Your Niece or Nephew: Seracon Garden Kits – $12 each @ Moss
If you have a gaggle of little ones to buy for, prices can add up fast. Luckily these absolutely adorable children’s gardening kits fit the bill both for price, and for purpose. Get them off the couch and outdoors to plant a ‘Pizza Garden’ or a ‘Butterfly Garden’ (six varieties are available in all) to teach them about the earth, and get them excited to reap the rewards come summer.
For Mom: Silver Moroccan Pouf – $220 @ L’Atelier Home
What a clever idea! This fancy piece of furniture actually ships unfilled, so you can stuff it with your out-of-season clothes, extra blankets, or actual cotton batting from a sewing supplies store. Suddenly you’ve got an eye-catching and space-saving piece of art that’s also pretty comfy too. Silver not your thing? No worries, it comes in black or white as well.
For Your Husband: HMDX Jam Bluetooth Wireless Speaker – $50 @ My Roll Life
This pint-sized portable speaker comes in a jam jar and is available in one of six ‘flavours’ (Blackberry not shown) based on the colour you choose. Easily connect your SmartPhone, tablet, or laptop from up to 30 feet away, and enjoy up to four hours of music with a single charge. A cool pick for him to bring into the garage when he’s doing handiwork, or hosting a party with your mutual friends.
For The Hostess: Pre de Provence Guest Soaps Gift Set – $19.99 @ Even & Odd
These French-milled delicate hand soaps are a pre-wrapped, practical-yet-pretty choice for the perpetual hostess. She can put them in the powder room as soon as they’re unwrapped, or save them for future fetes. Each bar has a unique scent, including rose petal, honey almond, and white gardenia to name a few.
For Dad: Penguin Ice Bucket with Tongs – $30 @ Cry If I Want To
If he doesn’t take his barware too seriously, he’ll love this charming stainless steel ice bucket in the shape of a penguin. A fun conversation starter at parties, this sleek container also works as a piece of art on his bar, credenza, or shelf when not in use. 
For Your Sister: Butter London Backstage Basics – $49 @ Common Sort
Give your nearest and dearest a virtual manicure in a box with this cute set from chi-chi nails brand Butter London. With a base coat, your choice of polish, top coat, remover, and nail file, she’ll get a taste of the high life just in time for party season. Best of all, the kit actually knocks $15 off the retail price if you’d purchased each item separately. And the cute, ready-to-wrap box doesn’t hurt either…
For Fido: Feel Good Cookies – $12.50 each @ Metro Hound
Made in Canada and preservative-free, you can quite literally feel good about feeding these little niblets to your favourite canine friend. Available in five yummy flavours – chicken, lamb, buffalo, turkey, and beef – they also make an ace choice as an offbeat hostess gift when you’re visiting those pals who put their pooch on a virtual pedestal. There you have it! Ten gifts from ten different and wonderful boutiques – and really, just a fraction of what Shopcaster has to offer as a whole. I strongly recommend you sign up and take a browse for yourself. Especially because doing so could net you a $200 gift card to go shopping! Interested? Here’s how to enter:
1) Sign up for an account with Shopcaster by December 24th, and create a wish list with at least ten items on it. They can be from any store on the entire Shopcaster website. As a bonus, do it before December 12th and you can double-enter into a super fun contest to win $500 from Club Metro. Once you’ve signed up for your account + made your wish list, leave a comment below with your username so I can verify with Shopcaster you’ve followed the rules if you’re selected as our lucky winner!
2) Entries are limited to one per person / per email address / per household (or more if you score bonus entries). A random draw will be conducted on or around December 26th to select the winner, who will have 48 hours to respond before another winner is chosen in their place.
3) Entries are limited to Canadians that have reached the age of majority in their province. Quebec is not eligible to participate in this promotion.
4) Bonus Entry: Like Shopcaster on Facebook (leave a comment to say hi!) or follow them on Twitter (tag them in a Tweet!) to earn two bonus entries.
Canadian Gift Guide 
Was already a member and did up my wishlist my user name skeetersden
I like them on face book and left a message https://www.facebook.com/shopcaster/posts/124379961054754?comment_id=160452&offset=0&total_comments=6
I tagged them in a tweet https://twitter.com/skeetersden/status/278095887849381889
https://mobile.twitter.com/janicour/status/278129006627401730?p=v Tagged in a tweet Liked on facebook with a message. I allready have a wish list on Shopcaster. with the user name janicour@aol.com
My username is ShopMaster. Thanks!
I signed up with username lindahl
I’ve followed the rules,
manuelvizcayalois
I followed the rules etc I am hollyhill919497.
Left a comment and liked them on face book. My name there is Holly Hill
i already have an account with shopcaster using the same email as I am using here. my name is andrea amy (i don’t feel comfortable leaving my email address where everyone can see it, but you can see it in the form)
i like them on facebook and left a comment (andrea amy)
I’ve signed up + did my wishlist. My name on Shopcaster is Dreena.
Cheers.
Here’s my tweet: https://twitter.com/Alexandrina_M/status/278269363499458560
I really like the Silver Pouf. Pretty storage. mysticmisha at hotmail dot com.
I liked Shopcaster! Thanks. mysticmisha at hotmail dot com.
I have done it. My username is dorcontest and put lots of things on my wishlist.
dorcontest at
gmail dot
com is my email address that I used. 🙂
like them on facebook and left comment
doreen lamoureux
I was already a member under Jennifer Speck-Rice. I have updated my wishlist too!
Have an account with Shopcaster & created a wish list with at least ten items on it. (username = shopping).
Bonus Entry: Liked Shopcaster on Facebook & left a comment https://www.facebook.com/shopcaster/posts/445707738824386 and followed on Twitter & tweeted https://twitter.com/SoulSeeker0/status/278298764618366977
Thank you 🙂
I’ve signed up with Shopcaster (user name abraidwood), have liked them on Facebook and left a comment.
I have registered with Shopcaster and have created a wish list with 10 items on it. (Susan Huston)
I have signed up – username is rebthecatsitter!
rebthecatsitter at gmail dot com
I like and commented on the Shopcaster Facebook page (Rebecca Roberts)
I follow Shopcaster on twitter and tweeted https://twitter.com/RebTheCatSitter/status/278395418017161217
Signed up. Here’s a link to my wish list.https://shopcaster.com/u/user60c58f4bc2e840ac8a83460e24
Liked Shopcaster on FB. 🙂
Already a member of Shopcaster (Margaret Imecs), pinned more than 10 items, already entering to Club Metro contest as well.
Liked on Facebook as Margaret Imecs
Follow on Twitter as @margaretimecs
I already have an account on Shopcaster, user name naloe, and have a wish list of 10 items.
I Liked Shopcaster on Facebook and commented to say Hi on their wall, as Donna Lyn.
I have a shopcaster account already & my username is pureevil25
My username is KingFreddy
Shopcaster username intensev5
sorry it’s actually vazquez the username
The high heel is very nice
Thank you kindly, and have a great day. Profile & wish list is @:
https://shopcaster.com/u/userdae52ab8dd9748a8a3d7e5feb2
My username is JeanP
power.andrea
my username is Burcu Acar
love it user mane darring_leanne
@leannevandorpel
FB- leanne vandorpel
My username is blessedta
my username is bearabear40
My user name is hw — thanks!
User name is Barb Beaver; already a member.
i’ve signed up and created a wish list. My username is jrobbies
I was a member of their site for a while now! It is great.
Here is a link to my wish list!
https://shopcaster.com/u/userb2659eaf54ea4ca1a796477bb1 name Christa
Newfoundlanders is my Twitter, and I just followed them
Also a follower now on Facebook, name facebook.com/Christa
Email Muddernewf79 at gmail
Signed up. User name is Heather Holmberg Lots of super neat stuff there !! Loving the vintage jewellery section!
Liked on facebook, left comment – heather holmberg
liked on twitter and tweeted and gave props https://twitter.com/boot_lip/status/280926042292633601
Already a member of shopcaster and my user name is LoyalT
user name: tooliecat
tweeted
My user name is bluebelle0367
bluebelle0367(at)hotmail(dot)com
I like them on facebook as belinda m as posted on their wall
bluebelle0367(at)hotmail(dot)com
I follow them twitter as prairiebelle and tweeted
bluebelle0367(at)hotmail(dot)com
joined & left wish list on Shopcaster
cipta
follow on twitter
liked & commented on Shopcaster FB
Doreen M
https://shopcaster.com/u/user90808c9b6eb147d28844e544f7
I liked them on Facebook and left a message.
i like the pizza peddler