Around this time last year, Impact Hub Ottawa was getting ready to host our annual Gifts that Do Good Holiday Market, bringing together Hubbers and vendors from all around town to share good vibes, tasty treats, funky products and all sorts of other gifts.
While the realities of this year have limited in-person gatherings, we still wanted to continue this tradition by creating our first ever Virtual Holiday Market.
- Below is a list of local businesses and enterprises, many of whom are Hub members, who are open either online or for in-person walk in.
- Have you been putting off buying holiday gifts? This is the perfect place to start. Look out for special discounts and share this Virtual Holiday Market with your friends to promote shopping local in 2020.
Did you know? For every $100 you spend at a locally owned business, $68 will stay in the community!
Before you start shopping, our latest Virtual Brown Bag Lunch discussed the gift of shopping local and how to effectively budget for holiday shopping! Above is a recording of the webinar.
EcoEquitable
Their Story:
EcoEquitable’s SafeTube is washable, allows great airflow and is compliant with Health Canada mask guidelines.
EcoEquitable is a charitable organization and social enterprise that supports newcomer women in developing the skills necessary for financial autonomy through sewing while greening the environment. EcoEquitable recycles over 10,000 lbs of textiles annually and supports their community in embracing slow fashion and a zero-waste lifestyle. They also offer a wide range of sewing courses for all levels and sewing aspirations.
Check out their website for zero-waste holiday gifts!
Gift & Product highlights:
- Bags, Rain Capes, and accessories made from upcycled decorative flags and masks, SafeTubes (pictured above), and more!
Special Offers:
- Use code RAIN2020 for 50% off all Rain Capes
Visit them in-store:
- 989 Wellington Street West (the Social Market)
Find them on social media: Facebook
Fauxmagerie Zengarry
Their Story:
Fauxmagerie Zengarry’s Double Crème Cashew Cheese
Fauxmagerie Zengarry is a Canadian, award-winning fine cashew cheese producer, sourcing quality, local and fresh ingredients made in small batch production for superior taste. The perfect blend of fresh herbs and spices, signature herbs are grown in house on our living wall, as well as natural ingredients, and custom cultures, these cheeses are non-GMO, plant-based, vegan, dairy-free, cholesterol-free, gluten-free options, custom cultures.
Check out their website for some tasty vegan cheese
Gift & Product highlights:
- This year, Fauxmagerie Zengarry has put together a special collection of holiday recipes to help you put a healthy, plant-based twist on some of your favourite holiday dishes. Order our Fauxmages on our online store for shipping in Ontario or curbside pick up.
Special Offers:
- Shop the online store www.zengarry.com and get 15% off using the Promo Code: VEGANMARKET.
Visit them in-store:
- 209 Main St N, Alexandria, ON K0C 1A0
Find them on social media: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter
Evidence for Democracy
Their Story:
Evidence for Democracy is a non-profit, non-partisan organization promoting the transparent use of evidence in government decision-making. They work to promote evidence-based decision-making in Canada through issue-based campaigns, original research, and our education program.
Their Work:
- Evidence for Democracy is working on combating misinformation, improving government transparency, and teaching science communication and advocacy skills to those in the science community in Canada.
Donations today will support their important work and help them to plan for the year ahead! Chip in here to help Evidence for Democracy
Find them on social media: Twitter, Facebook
African Bronze Honey Company
Their Story:
Organic, fair trade honey from wild forest areas in Tanzania.
African Bronze Honey Company markets organic, fair trade, sustainably harvested forest honey produced by beekeeping projects in Southern Africa that protect vast forest areas while providing incomes to 10000 beekeepers. Their delicious honey is raw, unpasteurized and good for people and the planet.
Check out their website here for organic honey and other Beezwax products!
Gift & Product highlights:
- Organic forest honey and beeswax products.
Special Offers:
- Zambezi honey. 375 g organic forest honey in a pouch. Buy 6, get 3 free. Or, get 9 for $48!
Visit them in store:
- 2140 Dundas Street, Cardinal, ON (Wednesdays 2:00 to 5:00 and Friday’s 10:00 to 2:00)
Find them on social media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
Ottawa-Detroit Trading Post
Their Story:
A vintage 1895 Ottawa Birds Eye View Map
The Ottawa-Detroit Trading Post is a passion-based enterprise that restores maps and images from years gone by. They love history and want to share their finds with you!
Check out their website for some different Ottawa perspectives!
Gift & Product highlights:
- Restored maps and photo prints from the 1800s and early 1900s, and offering photo restoration services and advice on how to keep your family’s personal photo collection safe and sound.
Special Offers:
- Free Delivery on orders in the Ottawa area!
Find them on social media: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook
Future of Good
Their Story:
Future of Good is a fast-growing digital publication covering Canada’s social impact world. Their memberships help 1500+ impact-focused individuals and organizations stay up to date on news, innovations, and developments shaping social impact.
Gift & Product highlights:
- A Future of Good membership is the easiest and smartest way to invest in your knowledge and development. Members get access to Briefings (Emails 3x a week curating top news from across the social impact world), new special reports every month, exclusive invites to events. And so much more!
Special Offers:
- Hubbers save 20% on their first year of Future of Good Membership! Find all the benefits of membership at Futureofgood.co/register. Want to take advantage of your HUB discount, click here now!
- Interested in gifting Future of Good Membership to an impact-obsessed friend or colleague? We’ve got a discount for that too! You can save 20% off one year of their membership and send the gift directly to their inbox. Click here to give the gift of Future of Good membership today!
Find them on social media: Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram
Adorit
Their Story:
Adorit is a sustainable fashion boutique located in the Byward Market, focusing on locally made clothing and accessories all uniquely made using sustainable fabrics and up-cycled materials.
Check out their website for sustainable fashion
Gift & Product highlights:
- Clothing made from bamboo, hemp, organic cotton and Tencel as well as upcycled and zero waste fashion. Accessories and jewelry that are all locally made in Ottawa.
Visit them in-store:
- 153 York Street, Ottawa
Find them on social media: Facebook
ApricitySox
Their Story:
An example of Apricity Sox’s extremely comfortable ‘over the thigh socks!’
ApricitySox offers Unique Socks that are made from rare Mongolian Yak and Camel Wool. These textiles are very unique due to the harsh and cold climate of the country. In this cold environment livestock produce much warmer and better fur.
Their socks are warm, stylish, and versatile, and the Knee socks are one of their best sellers, as it can be worn as a boot liner for rubber boots, as an extra style accent with short booties, or as an equestrian sock for fall and winter horseback riding experience.
These socks will be your new Best Friend during winter outdoor activities, and make fantastic gifts!
Check out their website for some of the comfiest gifts in town!
Gift & Product highlights:
- Wool Socks, Upcycled Toddler Cashmere/Wool Pants, Yak Wool Sweaters
Special Offers:
- Look out for their upcycled Toddler Cashmere/Wool Pants, made from 100% cashmere or wool sweaters. They are super soft and will keep your little one cozy and warm.
Visit them in-store:
- 226 Westhaven Crescent, Ottawa
Find them on social media: Facebook, Instagram
Oat & Mill
Their Story:
Some of Oat&Mill’s tastiest selections
Oat & Mill is an Ottawa valley classic, offering a multitude of delicious homemade vegan ice cream options. The lengthy and rewarding process through which the Ice Cream is crafted has all ingredients made from scratch over several days to get the best flavour and texture.
Check out their website for some tasty treats!
Highlights:
- Vegan ice cream delivered! Build a custom box as a gift for you or a friend. Pick from fun flavours and holiday collections online.
Special Offers:
- Limited batch holiday flavours featuring other fun local makers, including: Winter Shortbread, Sugar Plums, Chocolate Chip Candy Cane, Salted Pistachio, Treasure Nugget, and many more!
Find them on social media: Facebook, Instagram
Thank You India
Their Story:
Supporting Fair Trade helps producers around the world earn a good living and equitable trade relationships.
Thank you India is a mission-driven social enterprise. They work closely with partner artisans in India who make beautiful products to tailored specifications and design.
Thank you India takes pride in the skillfully and ethically made products they sell, from scarves to jewelry to hand woven napkins.
A small part of their collections is curated from other markets as well.
Check out their website for sales
Gift & Product highlights:
- Thank You India offers a line of specially designed jewelry called ‘Cause it Matters,’ which supports local causes like the Ottawa Art Gallery, Ottawa Heart Institute, Cornerstone Housing for Women, Hopewell centre for eating disorders, Aga Khan Foundation – international development agency, and QuickStart early intervention for autism.
- This year they have a new product on offer: Mask Chains that can be repurposed for a necklace, bracelet. With every chain sold, they will donate $5.00 to the Ottawa Food Bank.
Special Offers:
- 15% sitewide discount with code: SPREADtheJOY.
Find them on social media: Facebook, Instagram
Thirteen: A Social Enterprise
Their Story:
The 13:ASE team (March 2020)
Thirteen A Social Enterprise (13:ASE) is an entrepreneurial program of the Parkdale Food Centre which engages youth seeking employment and skills development in the operation of a social enterprise. By engaging participants in all aspects of business decisions and development, this program helps participants gain strong emotional and social skills as well as confidence in themselves and their future.
13:ASE also serves as an entry point into the labour market. It provides a supportive first work experience and the opportunity to build a social and professional network. The skills that participants and peer mentors develop through 13:ASE are directly related to improving access to work experience, obtaining experience, gaining community connections and language development.
Check out their website for sales
Gift & Product highlights:
- 13:ASE sells spices that reflect the diverse countries that many of the programs past participants have come from.
- Their recipes create diverse dishes from a variety of cultures and communities as a way of engaging with people and building community.
Special Offers:
- Check out their gift boxes collection includes all four Spice Mixes.
- Also take a look at their yummy recipes on their site!
Visit them in-store:
- 989 Wellington St. W
Find them on social media: Facebook, Instagram
theSpace Creative Hub
Their Story:
Check out this funky Byward Market Face Mask!
theSpace is a creative centre for adults with intellectual disabilities and autism who are interested in exploring projects or developing their own personal and authentic narrative through various media.
Our goal is to create an environment which supports life-long learning and opportunities for identity building, self-advocacy and self-expression. At the same time theSpace aims to address a gap in progressive community engagement opportunities for adults—and without a focus on traditional notions of work or play.
Over the past four years theSpace has succeeded in not only being a creative hub and gathering place, but also a platform for building lifelong community networks and to harness new resources and innovations. We are excited to continue to explore ways for members to self-represent their own authentic voice and promote growing with social belonging—through their creations.
Check out their website for sales
Gift & Product highlights:
- Masks, Cards, Prints, Artwork, Magnets, Shirts
Find them on social media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
Oxfam Canada
Their Story
Oxfam is a global organization working to end the injustice of poverty and inequality with a focus on women’s rights.
Gift & Product highlights:
- Oxfam Unwrapped is helping to transform the lives of people living in poverty by providing education, clean water and other life-changing essentials to families & communities around the world. Purchasing a gift from their site is a simple way to make a big impact this year!
Browse Oxfam Unwrapped here to help out how you can!
Find them on social media: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook