We’ve scoured the City and County to bring you a list of #YQG gift ideas that are sure to make this year’s holiday shopping easy and most importantly, LOCAL!
Please note, this is merely a snapshot of available local gift ideas. Windsor-Essex is filled with great businesses, restaurants and people. Share your suggestions with us on Twitter @wetechalliance or on Facebook /wetechalliance. Also, please check out the Windsor-Essex Small Business Centre’s Local Gift Guide.
Ocean Bottom Soaps – 12 Soaps of Christmas
Last year we brought you Ocean Bottom Soaps Canadian Beer Eh! Body Bar (Made with Preservative Free Walkerville Beer. This year, they’ve done it again but this time with local wine. Check out their Sweet Addiction line including a unique bar made with Pelee Island Winery’s Baco Noir. The 3 pack line includes Clean Bean, Wine Not and their signature Chocolate Sugar or Dark Chocolate soaps.
Not enough? How about Ocean Bottom Soaps “12 Soaps of Christmas”. Enlighten your senses with a variety of their 12 soaps of Christmas. Over 2 pounds of different soaps.
Cost: $21.00 (Sweet Addiction line) and $49.95 (12 Soaps of Christmas).
Same train of thought: Serenity Lavender Farm – soaps, candles and oils…or you can do the edible lavender stuff serenitylavender.com.
Membership to Secret Sip Coffee Club
Give the gift of phenomenal Canadian micro roasted coffee to all your peeps over the holidays at secretsipcoffeeclub.com. Secret Sip Coffee Club is an exclusive monthly coffee membership, and the only collective in Canada focusing on the latest niche, premium, micro roasters.
Cost: Approx. $15/month
Same train of thought: Check out Craftheads Brewing Company for their Cold Brew Coffee or I Luv Coffee for locally roasted coffee. Caffeine!!
Daryl’s Bars – Protein Bars
Starting as a small bakery and eventually growing into a factory operation, Daryl’s Bars are distributed throughout southern Ontario, Western Canada and within the Mid-Western United States. These make great stocking stuffers.
Cost: Varies
Same train of thought: Strength Fuel System Infinit Nutrition Canada – Infinit Strength Blend or a gift card to Macro Foods, healthy pre-portioned meals delivered rite to your door or pick-up.
Gourmet Popcorn from Jones Popcorn
Jones Popcorn is located outside of the town of Leamington, Ontario, near a small community called Blytheswood. The popcorn is grown, harvested, stored, processed and packaged all at this location. Gift packages are available for purchase on the farm year round.
Cost: Approx. $10
Vibe Bluetooth Speaker from LiquidWild 
The Vibe Features dual bass drivers, dual passive radiators, and 360 degree sound, this speaker is so loud it’ll pump everyone into a dancing mood.
Cost: $129.99
Canadian Wiggler – Lindquist Bros Bait Co
For those fisherman and women on your list, what better give than an Essex County fishing innovation, the Canadian Wiggler. The “Canadian Wiggler” has become a household word with every fisherman, every retailer and every distributor, gaining World recognition.
Cost: Varies
YQG Inspired Apparel – Pushers Co.
What’s a YQG gift guide without some locally inspired apparel? Pushers Co. has something for the whole family including those new babies. Rep your city proudly with these fashion pieces.
Cost: Varies
Same Train of Thought: Other great options include BB Branded’s WINcity line as well as RARE Apparel which just launched their second design of the Neighbourhoodie series…The weST Neighbourhoodie or our WEtech x RARE Apparel collabo #YQG❤️ shirt!
The Perfecta Shot
Perfecta Shot Shooter Tutor is an On-Ice-Off-Ice training device that will assist you with SCORING GOALS! Each player will be encouraged with the interactive lights to develop quicker reactions while shooting and make faster decisions by keeping their eye on the target. Perfecta Shot’s overall goal is to interact with lights and develop optimal and rapid decision making while shooting on net. These advantages help improve overall scoring ability!
Cost: Pre-order $299.00
The Hook Pusher’s – Mermaid Tale
Cost: $80 (Baby size), $100 (Toddler), $125 (Child) and $175 (Adult)
Wolfhead Distillery – Coffee Whiskey Liquor or Grapefruit Vodka
Wolfhead is proud to already have 6 unique premium products available for onsite purchase. With more to come. Their double barrel Whisky is so bold that it stands alone among the pack. Strong but classy and elegant. Their small batch Vodka embodies craftsmanship at its finest. Fiercely elegant yet so smooth that it will unleash your inner wolf. One of my faves, the Coffee Whiskey Liquor.
Cost: Varies
Same Train of Thought: You might also consider gifting local wines, spirits and craft beers – here’s a list of local wineries, Pernod Ricard Wine and Spirits, and other micro-breweries across Windsor-Essex. Walkerville Brewery has some great holiday gifts packs including their Barrel Aged Scotch Ale.
Pawsitively A Dog Thing -All Natural Dog Treats
A local gift idea for your furry friends! Windsor’s original all natural bakery, Pawsitively a Dog Thing. They hand mix, roll, cut and bake their treats to perfection
Carrot Barkscotti, Pumpkin Bark, Turkey Sweet Potato, and more.
Cost: Varies
https://www.facebook.com/PawsitivelyADogThing/
Same Train of Thought: Check out Candid K Nines Treats. Locally made handcrafted dog treats https://www.facebook.com/pg/candidkninestreats.
EPIC Wineries Passport
Located at the Southern tip of Ontario, the EPIC (Essex Pelee Island Coast) Wine Country PASSPORT was created by wine country tourism to extend a warm Southern Welcome and enhance your visit to our wine region.
The passport can be purchased online for $10.00 and will be mailed directly to your designated address. The PASSPORT to EPIC Wine Country contains over $100 in savings and benefits to the holder that can be redeemed as you visit each of the participating wineries, restaurants, accommodations and activities.
epicwineries.com/2015/06/introducing-the-epic-wineries-passport
Windsor Rock Gym Membership
Give the Gift that ROCKS – Membership or a gift card to Windsor’s only Rock Climbing Gym!
Cost: $99.00 (10 Visit Pass), gift cards available in any amount
Same Train of Thought: More sport and fitness inspired gift includes memberships to Windsor CrossFit, Adventure Bay Waterpark, Downtown Yoga Studio, Refine Fitness, or Moksha Yoga Windsor.
Mobile Detailing – CP Group Canada
Give the gift of clean this holiday season. CP Group Canada takes detailing to another level of convenience through an efficient mobile quality service.
Cost: Varies
Same train of thought: More great YQG cleaning services include PISKEY’S Mobile Auto Wash & Detailing for your car and Mister Maid for your home. Gift certificates available.
G
et Cozy or Cheesy – Forest Glade Fireplaces and Pizza Ovens
Serving Essex County for 30 years, Forest Glade Fireplaces is your trusted source for a full-service, quality fireplaces, stoves, pizza ovens and BBQs!
Cost: Varies
Windsor made 2017 Pacifica Hybrid
Get out the BIG holiday bow and put it on this! The Pacifica offers the first-ever hybrid minivan and its gas counterpart beats all competitors in power, towing and highway fuel economy. It also comes standard with a Class-Exclusive 9-speed automatic transmission to further cement its place at the front.
Cost: Starting at $43,995
Golden Time Watch Boutique and Repair
Located within the Devonshire Mall, Golden Time offers a full range of watches including Armani Exchange, Hugo Boss, Citizen, Diesel, Fossil, G-Shock, Michael Kors, and many more.
Cost: Varies
Same Train of Thought: Ok. So it might not be ‘local’ per say but it’s close enough. Shinola watches, made proudly in Detroit, make great gifts. What better gift than time. No need to cross the border because Shinola Watches are available at Windsor’s Precison Jewellers. Also, check out Joseph-Anthony Fine Jewelry for those holiday engagements!
B EN T Art & Accessories
For you and your home ~ Rustic eco gifts crafted from local and reclaimed wood. Each functional kitchen and serving item is also a beautiful statement piece with its own origin story. Created locally by husband and wife, Ben and Treana.
Cost: Varies
facebook.com/bentartaccessories
Same train of thought: Check out Maiden’s Lanes newest tenant Bungalow Home Décor, a boutique offers a curated collection of home furnishing and decor.
Give of Gift of Theatre: Chrysler Theatre
For the kids on your list, tickets to the Mini Pop Kids, the multi-million selling & iTunes children chart topping album series from K-tel. For the adults on your list, tickets to the 4th Annual Windsor Comedy Festival.
Same Train of Thought: How about tickets to Windsor Ontario’s award-winning symphony orchestra, Windsor Symphony Orchestra or Kordazone Productions?
Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) – Season Pass
Get out and explore all that the region has to offer. For just $65 each year, you can hit the beach, hike or bike nearly 100 kilometres of trail, see rare bird species during the spring and fall migration celebration, bring your family to dozens of fun events and explore the beautiful and rare natural areas in the Essex County Region – as many times as you like! Passes include a dash card and a key fob for entry through our automated gate at Holiday Beach Conservation Area.
Cost: $65 + $10 refundable key fob deposit
erca.org/conservation-areas-events/annual-passes
Same Train of Thought: Not an outdoorsy person? Why not consider a monthly or yearly membership to Hackforge Windsor – A local makerspace. A great idea for any techy on your list. Want more ideas? What about a subscription to the Windsor Star?
The Best of Windsor Cookbook by Jonathan Pinto
The Best of Windsor Cookbook takes us on a journey through one of Canada’s hidden culinary regions—home to bountiful farms, flowering wineries, and an ethnically diverse spread of global cuisine.
Since his column launched in 2013, Jonathan Pinto’s coverage of the Windsor-Essex food scene has introduced CBC Radio’s Windsor Morning audience to the area’s most exciting gastronomic hot spots. He had peeked inside the original oven of Blak’s, one of Canada’s oldest bakeries; toured Hiram Walker, the largest beverage alcohol distillery in North America; and met the family running Chicken Inn, a local equivalent of what might be considered “the Swiss Chalet of Baghdad.” Started as a way for Jonathan to learn about Windsor by meeting those who make its most delicious dishes, his column has developed into a weekly “must-hear” for famished local foodies.
Brimming with coveted recipes from the region’s most popular dining establishments, classic eateries, and tastiest hole-in-the-wall joints—from Nico Ristorante to Robbie’s Gourmet Sausage Co. to Caribbean Island Spice—The Best of Windsor Cookbook offers the five-star plates and all-star chefs that give Windsor-Essex its distinct and celebrated flavour.
Cost: $24.95 (Available at Biblioasis)
Same Train of Thought: Rino’s Kitchen: Cooking Local in Windsor & Essex County (available at Biblioasis) or the recently released “From the Vault II” to your local reading list. You can pick it up at Biblioasis.
Pampering Session – Enlightenment Day Spa
Offering manicures, pedicures, facials, waxing, make-up, laser hair removal, microblading, lash lifts and tints and lash extensions, Enlightenment Day Spa is a great for any deserving of pampering on your list.
Cost: Varies
facebook.com/Enlightenmentdayspa
Same Train of Thought: Why not couple this with a hair pampering session at Dry Parlour Inc. Even better add a spray tan from Beach Bum Organic Spray Tanning.
Stay-cation – Iron Kettle B&B
Check in to the Iron Kettle Bed and Breakfast for a quick stay-cation getaway, or offer it as a great Christmas gift! A one-night package includes an evening’s stay in a well-appointed room including a gourmet breakfast prepared by our Award Winning Chef.
Cost: $135.
Same train of thought: Check out the boutique hotel, The Grove Hotel, located in Kingsville.
Doug’s Board
Hand crafted cutting boards created from a variety of carefully selected hardwoods. NO dyes- natural colour only. Treated with food-safe oils and rub
Cost: Varies
Same Train of Thought: Check out Dave’s Woodworking for more unique, handcrafted ideas.
Give the Gift of Giving – Donate
Let’s be honest. We all know that person who has everything (or too much) so why not make your life easier (and someone else’s) and make a donation to a local charities and/or organizations in Windsor-Essex. Not sure where to donate, click HERE for a helpful guide.
You can also support the recently launched online store for Fight Like Mason gear! A perfect holiday gift that gives back to the community and supports & honours kids fighting cancer🎗
Cost: Priceless
#TourdeSketch Colouring Book
#TourdeSketch is an adult colouring book featuring the sights of #YQG! The book is the collected work of Owen Swain, local artist and creator of #tourdesketch, a monthly cycling/drawing event.
Cost: $15.95 (Available at Mirror World Publishing)
mirror-world-publishing.myshopify.com/products/tourdesketch-windsor-colouring-book
Windsor Express – Home Opener Tickets
The Windsor Express are back to work on December 30th at 7:00PM at WFCU Centre as they host the Orangeville A’s Basketball.
Cost: As low as $12/ticket
Same Train of Thought: You might also consider Windsor Spitfires or Lasalle Vipers tickets.
Gift of Travel – Simplifly Club
A new YQG startup, Simplifly Club sends out mistake airfare flight deals from Detroit, Chicago, and Toronto. Their latest find, Toronto to Stockholm for $360CAD round trip.
Amis
Want even more YQG for your travels. Why not Amis? Amis is an app-powered, on-demand tour guide service for smart phones. It provides a simple platform for travelers to connect with local friends who know the region and can make the experience for the travelers more enjoyable and convenient. With Amis, a traveler receives a personalized and authentic experience anywhere in the world while building new connections.
YQGoods for the Holidays
Riverside Pie Café – Gingerbread Cheesecake Pie
Last minute holiday party and no time to cook? Leave it to the experts! Stop by Riverside Pie Cafe for features made from scratch including sweet and savoury pies and pastries. Starting December 1st, try the Gingerbread Cheesecake Pie. Pre-orders available.
Cost: Varies
H&F Foods
H&F Foods is an online store that provides locally sourced organic meats and produce from Ontario farms, straight to your door. They hand-pick their farmers and ensure that every farm they partner with is antibiotic, pesticide and hormone free. Their beef is grass-fed 100% pure breed Dexter beef cattle and guaranteed to be antibiotic and hormone free.
Cara Pasta by Windsor Ravioli
Cara Pasta by Windsor Ravioli has served Windsor for over 40 years. Cara pasta specializes in fresh specialty pasta and authentic brick oven pizza.
The Cheese Bar
Why not also give the gift of cheese? Consider checking out young entrepreneur, Sarah Barrette’s The Cheese Bar, a local company that specialize in seeking out and introducing 100% Canadian made Artisanal Cheese to locals and visitors to Essex County. They offer free delivery weekly on Wednesdays county wide with orders over $30. A great idea for those who will be entertaining this holiday season too.
A Little Something Extra
Need some local holiday tunes? Check out the title track from Crissi Cochrane’s 2016 holiday EP, “Santa Baby”. Performed, produced, recorded, mixed, and mastered by YQG’s Crissi Cochrane.
YQG Holiday Cards from Tactile Vision Graphics
Reach out with a lovely (and unique) Braille and Tactile Holiday Greeting Card from YQG’s Tactile Vision and Graphics.
Cost: $7
tactilevisiongraphics.com/our-shop
Tied to #YQG
Whether they were born in #YQG, moved to #YQG or went to school in #YQG, here are some more gift ideas that have still have some #YQG tied to them.
Cutepolish’s NCLA Cutepolish Nail Polish
25-year-old Sandi Ball and her nail art tutorial videos have amassed a huge following on YouTube.
Since starting her YouTube channel (@CutePolish) four years ago, Sandi has earned a devoted following of more than 2 million subscribers. Born and raised in Newfoundland, Sandi now currently resides in #YQG!
NCLA and CutePolish have collaborated to combine the likings of the most innovative nail company and leading nail artist to bring you a 6-piece $12collection that is as gorgeous and glittery as you could have hoped. Available exclusively at target.com and shopncla.com.
Cost: $12 USD /each
shopncla.com/collections/ncla-x-cutepolish
Bonus gift idea! Isn’t the photo of Sandi great? Photographed by #YQG’s own Heike Delmore of Windsor Couture Portrait Photography, a professional portfolio package makes an awesome gift idea for those business types on your list.
Levitating Cup and OakBottle
Born and raised in Ontario, Canada, and now based in Chicago, Illinois, Joel Paglione attended the University of Windsor, graduating with a Bachelor of Science honors degree in Industrial Engineering. He went on to graduate with a Masters of Business Administration from the Odette School of Business.
The Levitating CUP is the world’s first gravity defying drinkware that will enhance your drinking experience and leave your guests in awe.
You may like your cocktails blended, mixed, or served straight up. Well, Levitating CUP offers another option that will literally lift up your spirits. Forget coasters, your glass will never touch the surface of a table. Consisting of two parts, our cup and base set uses electromagnetic suspension to keep your drinks magically floating in mid-air.
Cost: $49.00 to $199 USD
LevitatingCUP.com and OakBottle.com
The Happier Camper
The Happier Camper is all about modern and Vintage Ultra Light Travel Trailers, Lifestyle and Adventures. Featuring new and restored vintage ultra light trailers with an emphasis on eco-friendly and creative design, these mini campers a perfect for those adventurers on your list. And the best part, it has YQG roots. Read the full story at facebook.com/pg/happiercamper/about.
Cost: Varies
