But 2009 will likely be the year of giving less.I think of the donations that I made in the recent past. A few cheques in the $50 range to Vancouver-based arts groups. A $20 monthly stipend to Amnesty International for a year. A regular on-the-street dona ... more »

The holiday gift-giving season is upon us, and for those who work in offices there is often the looming question of whether to give or not to give.Offices are political environments, and gift giving is no exception. ... ... more »

Want to give a socially conscious Christmas gift this year for the gamers in your life?You wouldn?t think that video gaming would take on a do-gooder mission, but this year we?ve seen the launch of a couple of games that may be a sign of altru ... more »

A goat under the Christmas tree definitely sounds like a strange idea, but writer Karen Stiller explains why goats make such great Christmas presents. The first time our family discussed buying a goat from World Vision Canada?s Gift Catalogue, my yo ... more »

Since the green movement took hold, there?s been an ongoing debate as to whether the popular fresh-smelling real Christmas tree is more or less environmentally correct than its cousin, the fake Christmas tree.Many people thought that to purchase a f ... more »

As a mother of three, writer Karen Stiller knows a thing or two about the Christmas giving commotion. She describes how her family has cut back to a more meaningful season by focusing on the important things Christmas has to offer?instead of just gi ... more »

Once upon a time, there was a penny lying on a cold Montreal street. Lost. Alone. Useless.The penny caught a man?s eye. He bothered to pick it up.An advertisement for a contest was the next thing to catch Ezra Soiferman?s eye.A filmmaker ... more »

When I was a kid, growing up on a ranch in Southern Alberta, pheasants, geese, ducks and dozens of other wild bird species flew by or around in droves. But there were no wild turkeys.Perhaps about 15 years ago, I drove into the yard and couldn?t hel ... more »

Could you have merry holiday minus rum in your eggnog? And what if the cranberries fell off the menu? Could you forego such pleasures to give a little gift to our overheated world? Thanks to a hit book and the online community that has grown up around its ... more »