The Gift of Local

Gift giving during the holiday season is an intimate and meaningful gesture, but sending love to family or friends far away can be a challenge—unless you let the local gift-giving experts lend a hand. 

One such expert is Bre Bonneau of Bonneau Gifts, who sources most of her vendors from local farmers' markets and loves to include high-quality, fresh products that may not even be available on store shelves yet. For the holidays, Bonneau knows the sweet spot: “Chocolate is always a favourite item at Christmas time," she notes. "My two favourite items to use in holiday gifts are Terrible Truffles Chocolate bark and Dovies Sweets Hot Chocolate Bombs—especially the Chocolate Mint Grinch Bomb!”

Speaking of chocolate, Chocolate Tofino also offers a wide assortment of gift boxes filled with the tempting tastes of Vancouver Island. For over twenty years, Chocolate Tofino has taken great care in sourcing ethical chocolate and making everything in-house, including their seasonal treats like Bailey's caramels and butterscotch bombs. “Being small allows us to source our ingredients from micro-suppliers, local farms and apiaries, and small food cooperatives,” explain owners Cam and Kim Shaw. 

For the savoury snack-lover in your life, Spoon & Spade offers boxes full of local Vancouver Island goodies and delectable chef-made items. A small, female-owned business founded by Toni Sawiuk and Katie Hulbert, Spoon & Spade specializes in grazing and charcuterie boards. Sawiuk is the in-house chef who makes all of the spreads, jellies, baguettes and pates. Some items are even home-grown. “We enjoy growing our own edible garnishes which adds that finishing touch,” Hulbert proudly shares. Depending on location, their fresh boxes or boards are available for pick-up or delivery and make a mouth-watering gift perfect for a family gathering.

When it comes to shopping for a gift box, it's a comfort to know that the people behind these companies care. For example, Heidi Powell founded Field and Vine Gift Co. simply for the joy that gift-giving brings her. “After spending countless hours driving to various local artisan shops to collect cheese, wine, pastas, preserves, soaps, candles, packaging and more to create gifts for friends and family, I quickly realized that there might be an opportunity for a business venture,” she explains. The Islander gift box highlights local products such as SeaChange Seafoods, Vancouver Island Hot Sauce, and Saltspring Soapworks. “Most importantly,” Powell says, “I want people to feel good about their purchase, knowing that with each gift they send, they will support several Canadian artisans and small businesses.”

Mangosteen Giftboxes also supports Vancouver Island producers and manufacturers. “Mangosteen Giftboxes came about as my desire to return to a more simple and thoughtful way of gifting to celebrate life’s many cherished moments, milestones and accomplishments,” owner Mi Ling Norris explains. The business provides gift boxes to clients filled with items that not only look beautiful but also celebrate talented craftspeople. For example, Mangosteen boxes include wines from local vineyards like Averill Creek and bubble bath salts created by Rosco Emmit from Qualicum Beach. “[Emmit] uses the sea salts from the Pacific Ocean in her bubble bath salts,” Norris notes, which means customers can gift a part of the ocean to land-locked loved ones. Given that their first gift box initiative happened during the holidays, their holiday boxes feature seasonal items with festive touches like winter greens.

All of these companies give customers the chance to create a positive ripple effect in the community with a gift box purchase. Remind those who have left Vancouver Island of its tastes and flavours, share its bounty with friends and family abroad who hope to visit one day—or simply buy a box for your own household as an opportunity to try out some new-to-you local products.

Vancouver Island holiday gift box guide

Bonneau Gifts
Chocolate Tofino
Field and Vine Gift Co.
Mangosteen Giftboxes
Meinhardt Foods
Spoon & Spade
Stonehouse Teas
The Comox Box
Unsworth Vineyard
Vancouver Island Gift Basket Co.