Latest Articles

  1. Weirdest tech accessories for the geek who has it allHoliday Essentials Editorial Team
  2. Rules for tech giftsHoliday Essentials Editorial Team
  3. Why user reviews are worthlessHoliday Essentials Editorial Team
  4. Looking for a netbook? Check out these 5 optionsHoliday Essentials Editorial Team
  5. New iPods deliver the goodsHoliday Essentials Editorial Team

Personalize your presents:

gifts

Find out how

So the question is: in the thick of the crazy-making Christmas season, how can we personalize our presents?

Read more

Holiday Radio

  1. Rockin'
  2. Country
  3. Traditional
  4. Pop

10 Gifts that Give Back

Provided by By Mila Kadelkova and Helen Vong

Gift From the Heart
Support research at the Hospital for Sick Children by hanging this heart ornament on your tree.
Love heart ornament, $34, shopsickkids.com.

Food For Thought
Give a garden to a family in Maliyagoda village in Sri Lanka. The 2004 tsunami wiped out all fertile soil and trees, leaving almost 1,000 families without fruit and vegetables.
Home garden, $45, chf-partners.ca/giftsthatmatter.

Healthy Holiday
By buying an immunization gift, you help protect an entire community from deadly diseases like measles, polio, tetanus and tuberculosis.
Immunizations for a community, $100, worldvision.ca.


Right to Identity
About one-third of newborns worldwide are not legally registered. Give the gift of identity by purchasing universal birth registration and help gain access to legal and political rights, and social and educational services.
Universal birth registration, $25, plancanada.ca/gifts.

Feel-Good Film
The Sex and the City movie will make a fantastic gift for many girls' nights to come. Buy it from Rebate a Cause and 2.5% of the proceeds will go to Habitat for Humanity Canada.
Sex and the City DVD, $32, rebateacause.com.

From the Ground Up
A little packet of seeds can go a long way! It can provide nutrition to a malnourished family and generate income for farmers. Perfect for the gardening enthusiast on your list.
Rice seeds, from $10, chf-partners.ca/giftsthatmatter.

Chic Support
This sterling-silver bracelet is made from hand-blown glass and Swarovski crystals. Proceeds help fund research for children's life-threatening diseases.
Sterling-silver bracelet by Operation Herbie, $56, operationherbie.com.

Sleep Tight
Insecticide-treated mosquito nets provide protection from malaria – one of the leading causes of death among children and pregnant women in developing countries.
Mosquito nets for one family, $25, plancanada.ca/gifts.

Class Act
Schoolchildren in many countries lack basic school supplies like textbooks, pencils and paper – this makes a great gift for a teacher or writer.
School supplies for a year, $50, worldvision.ca.

A Warm Night
Warm blankets are of huge value to children in countries affected by natural disasters, poverty and political conflict.
Blankets for 11 babies, $45, unicef.ca.