Editorials
| Christmas 2011 - Birth of a New Tradition |
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| Editorials | |||
 By Carolyn MartinAs the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Canadians with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods - merchandise that has been produced at the expense of Canadian labour. This year will be different. This year Canadians will give the gift of genuine concern for other Canadians.
There is no longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by Canadians hands. Yes there is! It's time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper? Everyone - yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local Canadian hair salon or barber – or a day at the spa? Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement. Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, Canadian owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates. Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plonking down your money on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway ploughed all winter, or games at the local golf course. There are lots of local owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, folks this isn't about big National chains -- this is about supporting your home town Canadian with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open. How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the Canadian working guy? Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day or someone to repair that leaky tap. The local art clubs or music stores offer lessons – what a wonderful gift to offer someone! That truly would be a gift that keeps on giving. My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running. Or how about giving someone a gift of his own web-site? OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewellery, paintings, photographs, stained glass, and beautiful pottery and ceramic works of art. Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theatre or buying seasons passes for yourself and a friend or more? Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands. Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of lights, about fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip. You see, if we really care - Christmas will no longer be about draining Canadian pockets so that China can build another glittering city. Christmas should be about caring about each other, encouraging Canadian small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Canadians, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine. THIS is the new Canadian Christmas tradition. Add your own ideas - forward this to everyone on your mailing list -- post it to discussion groups - throw up a post on Craigslist in the Rants and Raves section in your city - send it to the editor of your local paper and radio stations, and TV news departments. This is a revolution of caring about each other, and isn't that what Christmas is about? BUY CANADIAN - BE CANADIAN - The job you save might be your own P.S. And don’t forget the home-made and hand-made cards that we can buy locally (supporting local crafts) and send by using our own Canadian Post Office! Comments (2)
 Buy a consultation written by Andrea , November 07, 2011 How many women need advice on how to decorate or organize their house? Buy them a consultation with a professional decorator or home organizer. We have two great ones in Halton Hills - Styling spaces and Tidy Corners (find them in Georgetown VIP section).
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Just because we are Canadian does not mean that we should favour only Canadian-made goods or care only about other Canadians. Purchasing imported goods can often be a way of supporting the creation of jobs in developing countries that save people from a life of severe poverty. These jobs do not undermine Canadian labour. We are not a country that specializes in the mass-production of goods, and rightly so: We have too small a population to support the production of all of the things that we need and want to live comfortable lives.
So don't worry so much about where the things you buy come from. Think instead about whether the gifts you give are really things that your loved ones will cherish. And perhaps consider dedicating some of your savings to helping people both in Canada and abroad who have little.