Livres, cadeaux et passe-temps à Edmonton, AB

Construction can’t stop these spots – they’re still open for business, despite the work on the 102 Avenue bridge downtown. Unfortunately, some of the other shops in the area have felt the strain that comes with a long past overdue construction project and have either closed or moved. Support these places in High Street to show them you want them to stick around for the long haul.

The Edmonton arts community is filled with artists, artisans and makers of every stripe creating homemade décor, crafts, artwork and textiles. In a digital age overrun by screens and flashy gadgets, handmade goods provide a much-needed return to something tactile and lovingly created by human hands. Support local artists and makers through these local arts and crafts shows.

Everyone has at least one lady in their life that loves fashion and has a great closet full of fabulous items. Add to their collection with a gift from one of these fashion-friendly Edmonton stores. Whether you know them well enough to pick out a piece of clothing (size matters!) or simply want to choose a beautiful bag or necklace, they are guaranteed to be touched by your efforts.

Shopping for your coworkers, friends or Secret Santa recipients doesn’t need to be stressful. There are plenty of fantastic shops in the city that carry fun, quirky and reasonably priced gifts. If you’re seeking a unique gift that will leave an impression, these stores offer plenty of great options – and there is nothing generic about them.

Garden centres aren’t just for people with green thumbs. These greenhouses have plenty of appeal for everyone. Come for a meal, shopping or to learn something new!

Edmonton has a rich cultural diversity and these art galleries, restaurants and businesses showcase some of the area’s First Nations culture.

Your purchasing decisions affect more than your own bank account — they can impact those who produced the goods in the first place. By choosing fair trade items, you’re supporting a system that promotes improved trading conditions for producers. Better wages, along with improved social and environmental standards, make that chocolate taste all the sweeter.

Kids, before there was streaming, even before those silver plastic discs that played music, there were vinyl records. We old folks liked the big album art, lyric sheets and popping crackle sounds – and you can spend hours flipping through the racks in a record store; you never know what you might find. Here’s where find out what gatefolds and RPMs are – at a used record shop in Edmonton.

To some, there are few things as exciting as a room full of empty notebooks. Beautiful notecards and correspondence is also equally alluring. It feels like you’re indulging in something quite special when you write out a note on a gorgeous card, designed on exquisite card stock. Throw into the mix a classic fountain pen and you’ve found yourself in a stationery-lovers paradise.

Cheaply stock your bookshelves, find something unexpected or pick up some local literature at Edmonton’s used and independent bookstores.

While I normally condemn giving gift cards as Christmas gifts, I do have one exception: It’s perfectly acceptable to give a gift card for a restaurant. That way, you’re treating a friend or family member to a lovely meal and experience, all in one. It’s a way of introducing them to your favourite restaurant or to a new spot that just opened that you know they’ve been dying to try.

In order for employees to be their most productive, they need the right tools to do their job. From big conglomerates to the mom-and-pop shops, there are a number of sources for office supplies in Edmonton. Whether you're after pens and paper for your home office or complex boardroom technology, you can head to these stores to stock up.