Last-minute gifts (for those who are outside-averse)

There is surely no need for a reminder, but for those who need it, there is less than a week to go before the big day.

That means that this weekend, the remaining brick and mortar stores still open will be the epicentre of those too busy - or too distracted - to get their holiday shopping done.

But, that does not mean that you, dear reader, have to recreate the toy store scene from Jingle all the Way this weekend.

Instead, here are some last-minute gift ideas that you can achieve from the comfort of your own home - or, perhaps, while waiting in line at the register for the rest of your holiday shopping.

Experiences

In many holiday movies or TV classics, the message at the end is that time spent together is the best gift of all. Why not put that into action by offering the gift of shared experiences?

Montreal Canadiens’ tickets are very expensive, but there are very good alternatives in the city that won’t bust the holiday budget.

That includes the Canadiens’ AHL team, the Laval Rocket, as well as the women’s professional team, the Montreal Victoire. Both teams even have an Indigenous player on the roster this year, with the Rocket having recently called up Cree player Israel Mianscum, and the Victoire trading for Ojibwe player Abby Roque.

The Montreal Alouettes are also a fun choice, with the team being very successful in the last few seasons, culminating in two straight Grey Cup Finals appearances.

For those more inclined to spending a day learning something new, there are very many options in the city. When’s the last time you went to the recently renovated Biodome, or the Planetarium?

While you are in town, why not enjoy the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, which gives free admission to Indigenous people?

It is currently running two Indigenous-focused exhibitions; Kent Monkman’s incredible History is Painted by the Victors is ongoing until March 8, 2026, while Rising Suns: Art from the Confederacies of the Great Lakes and Rivers runs until October 11, 2026.

Another good option is tickets to shows, with Tiohtiá:ke and the South Shore overflowing with good venues for concerts, movies, and the arts of the stage. One suggestion is tickets for the new play Tupqan, which features Kahnawake’s Ka’nasohon Kevin Deer as a performer.

Gifts cards

Now, I know what you are thinking: “aren’t gift cards boring, played out, and impersonal?” Well, they don’t have to be, if you are specific about them.

What that means is gift cards for something you absolutely know they might need, for their hobbies or even their everyday life.

That could mean anything from a hardware store for a renovation enthusiast, to an arts and crafts store for those with creative passions, to restaurants for the foodie in your life, to a local game store for the geekily inclined.

Even something that helps to pitch in for the regular costs of life, like groceries or gas, are sure to be appreciated.

Many retailers, even smaller local shops, also have websites where you can buy gift cards online, so you don’t have to limit it to the big box stores or the giant Internet retailers of the world!

Online services

Many aspects of life have, for better and for worse, been turned over to subscription services.

Still, there are some interesting ones out there. It could include a subscription to an online (or print!) publication they would enjoy reading, a streaming service they wouldn’t normally buy for themselves (finally a way to legitimately watch the Habs on your phone!), or even a subscription to paywalled content for podcasts or YouTube channels they love (Patreon has recently started to offer gift subscriptions!).

Unless you know the person very well, avoid giving subscriptions to very specific items that are mailed weekly. There are only so many razors one person needs, and ingredient-based food delivery services can actually generate a lot of waste if the person receiving it isn’t ready to use the new stream of fruits and vegetables.

But, if you know it will be useful, it can save a lot of hassle for the recipient!

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