Your Valentine’s Day Cheat Sheet
Written by Kelsey Kashluba
A coast-to-coast gift guide for every kind of love this Valentine’s day.
Love day is on the approach and many will let out a collective groan. But here’s the thing: Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to just be about romantic love. It’s for celebrating your ride-or-die friends, parents, roommate, kids, the coworker who keeps you sane… and your dog (who has never once switched up on you).
Some of my best Valentine’s Days have been about celebrating friendship and spending time with friends and dogs. A cozy dinner, a walk, a sweet treat (or three), and a Galentine’s party are more than enough to make your Valentine’s Day special this year. If you’re struggling with how to celebrate, I’ve put together a coast-to-coast gift guide pulled from Canadian makers and brands filled with cute, cozy, and quality items to help you celebrate.
Gift Guide Ground Rules:
Canadian-made or Canadian-founded brands and makers
Multiple budget options
Vegan-friendly options included
What you’ll find? Something for the fashion lover, the dog parent, the foodie, the art aficionado, the “please let me rest” person, and the sustainability advocate in our life.
Note: Some are Canadian-made, some are Canadian-founded, either way, you’re supporting Canadian businesses and talent.
If you’re skimming (I respect it), here’s the cheat sheet:
For the foodie: YVR Cookies (Vancouver), Purdys vegan chocolates (Canada-wide), DesBarres Chocolate (Ontario + vegan options), Maritime Madness hot honey (East Coast), Kanel (female-owned)
For the dog lover: Zoomies tee (Vancouver), Kaja’s Creations (Etsy: MalaYagaTinyCreation)
For the cozy homebody / foodie-scent lover: North + Rose (Ottawa): clean, luxe, “your house smells expensive” energy.
For the fashion lover: Harly Jae, Kate Hewko, Province of Canada, Knix
For the “treat yourself” luxe person: One21 Goods (leather), Paraphrase Perfume
For the art lover: Victoria Rose Park, Heather Sproat (Nova Scotia)
For the sustainable/earth lover: Mine & Yours (also luxurious), Clothing Bar YYC
For the practical but cute one: Poppy & Peonies, So Pretty Cara Cotter (Edmonton)
The Budget Breakdown
Gifts Under $25: Small gift, big “thinking of you” energy.
DesBarres Chocolate (Ontario) — vegan options included
If you want to give chocolate that feels elevated (not “I grabbed this at checkout”), DesBarres is a gorgeous pick, and they have vegan options, which means you can gift without the dairy panic.
Who it’s for: your vegan bestie, your dairy-free friend, your coworker you like enough to gift something good, your mom who “doesn’t need anything,” and honestly… you.
Purdys Vegan Chocolates (Canada-wide)
A classic for a reason, and their vegan lineup makes it easy to be inclusive without sacrificing the “this is actually good” factor.
Who it’s for: the “sweet treat fixes everything” friend, the person you’re not trying to overcomplicate, and anyone who loves chocolate but appreciates a vegan option that still tastes legit.
Maritime Madness Hot Honey (Montague and Charlottetown)
This is the gift for someone who loves food, hosts charcuterie nights, or puts “a little kick” on everything. It’s fun, it’s different, and it makes you look like you have taste.
Who it’s for: the foodie, the host, the spice-lover, the “put this on pizza” person, and the friend who loves a gift that’s fun and different.
Kanel (Montreal)
This is for the friend who loves cooking or baking — or the one trying to become that person. It’s cozy, practical, and feels like a little luxury. (I gifted these for Christmas - and a few to myself, and I LOVE them)
Who it’s for: the home cook, the baker, the friend in their “soft life” era, the person who loves cute packaging, and anyone who deserves a little luxury for their kitchen.
Spend $25–$75: This is the sweet spot: thoughtful without being dramatic.
YVR Cookies (Vancouver)
Buttery, crispy, dangerously snackable. You give these and instantly become someone who “knows good things.” (Even if you found them five minutes ago.)
I received these cookies for Christmas as a sweet gift, and I have to say.. I was very HAPPY with the gifter. They are crisp and tasty!
Who it’s for: literally everyone. Your best friend, your parents, your neighbor who watched your plants, your partner, your dog-sitter…cookies are a universal love language.
For the Dogs Studio (Vancouver)
For the dog person. You know the one. Their dog has a middle name and an Instagram highlight. This gift is basically saying, “I get you.” (I have two of these and I am obsessed, please note for custom tops you need to get your orders in ASAP.)
Who it’s for: the dog parent, the rescue adopter, the person who has a dog middle name situation, or the friend whose dog is basically your niece/nephew.
Knix (Toronto and Vancouver)
Comfort gifts that get used. Loungewear/essentials that say “I want you cozy” — which is honestly a top-tier Valentine’s message.
Who it’s for: the comfort queen, the busy mom, the best friend who deserves softness, the person who loves practical gifts, and anyone who appreciates loungewear they’ll actually wear on repeat.
North + Rose (Ottawa)
Okay so if you’re gifting to someone who loves gourmet / dessert-y scents (but still wants it to feel chic and not like a middle-school body spray era), this is such a win. They’re handmade in Ottawa, poured with 100% natural soy wax, and use clean fragrance oils (they’re super transparent about ingredients).
It’s basically the gift that says “I want your home to feel like a warm hug,” without you having to write a novel in the card, and it can be a little sultry.
Who it’s for: the homebody, the friend who loves their space, the “I love a good scent” person, and anyone who deserves a little cozy and a little sultry.
Spend $75–$150: This is “I planned this” energy.
Kate Hewko (Calgary)
Bold, artsy, and guaranteed to get a “wait..where did you get that?” reaction. This is the gift for someone who treats getting dressed like a creative outlet and isn’t afraid of a statement piece. If their closet has personality, start here.
Who it’s for: your fashion bestie, your cool aunt, your “I don’t do boring” friend… or you, because you deserve a little chaos (the stylish kind).
Poppy & Peonies (Penetanguishene)
Functional bags that are actually cute. This is for the friend who carries their whole life with them (snacks, lip balm, receipts, emotional support everything).
Who it’s for: the organized friend, the commuter, the mom-on-the-go, the person who carries snacks + lip balm + a charger + receipts from 2019, and still wants it all to look cute.
So Pretty Cara Cotter (Edmonton)
Beautiful jewelry that feels meaningful, wearable, and giftable. Great for moms, best friends, sisters, or the person you want to hype up.
Who it’s for: moms, sisters, best friends, grads, and anyone you want to hype up with something pretty and meaningful - but still wearable daily.
Province of Canada (Toronto)
Canadian coziness. If you’re gifting to your best friend, your sibling, your partner, or yourself - this is the “warm hug you can wear.” And they have some very cute designs, and quality workmanship.
Who it’s for: your best friend, your partner, your sibling, your parents, your roommate, and you..basically anyone who loves being cozy and looking cute doing it.
Heather Sproat (Moncton)
East Coast art that feels personal and timeless. This is the kind of gift that says “I picked this because it felt like you.”
Who it’s for: the art lover, the sentimental friend, the person curating their home, or anyone who loves gifts with a story and a little soul behind them.
Spend $150+: This is the “I want you to feel GOOD” tier.
Victoria Rose Park (Merritt)
For the person who loves beautiful things and wants their space to feel intentional.
Who it’s for: the person who loves beautiful things, the “my home is my sanctuary” friend, or partner, and anyone who would rather receive art than another random object.
One21 Goods (Calgary)
A forever gift. Practical, beautiful, and the kind of quality that feels grown-up and lasting.
Who it’s for: the partner gift, the parent gift, the friend who values quality, and anyone who loves a forever item they’ll use daily.
Paraphrase Perfume (Edmonton)
This is for the person who loves scent, details, and a little luxury. Perfume is intimate in a classy way — like “I pay attention,” not “I tried too hard.”
Who it’s for: the scent lover, the detail person, the one with a curated vibe, and anyone who appreciates a luxury gift that feels intimate in a classy way.
Sustainable + Earth-Lover Picks: Because some people want their gifts to align with their values (and their aesthetic).
Mine & Yours (Toronto)
Luxury resale and consignment. It’s sustainable and chic — the best combo.
Who it’s for: the fashion friend who loves designer but hates waste, the capsule-wardrobe girlie, the “I only buy pieces with a story” person… or anyone who likes looking expensive while being responsible.
Clothing Bar YYC (Calgary)
A great local option for curated, more mindful shopping. And they ship Canada-wide.
Who it’s for: the your bestie who loves a good find, the eco-conscious shopper who still wants cute things, the person trying to shop less but better… and honestly anyone who gets a little thrill from a perfect closet upgrade.
Harly Jae (White Rock)
Cool, elevated, think French girl chić and insanely wearable - these are the pieces that make someone feel instantly put-together without trying too hard. It’s “capsule wardrobe but still fun” energy, and a perfect splurge gift when you want something that will get worn on repeat.
Who it’s for: your partner if they have taste, your mom who loves quality, your best friend who’s in their “grown-up wardrobe” era… or you, because self-gifting is just confidence with a checkout button.
How to make any gift feel 10x more thoughtful
If you want to instantly level up any item above:
Add a handwritten note (two sentences is enough, don’t overthink it)
Add a tiny pairing (chocolate + hot honey, cookies + tea, perfume + a cute mini card)
Add a date attached (“Spa day in March?” “Cookie night this weekend?” “Charcuterie + hot honey taste test tonight?”)
Because the secret to keeping love alive in any relationship is to show that you care. It’s not the price, it’s the intention.
Valentine’s is about love, not labels.
Friend love counts.
Dog love counts.
Family love counts.
Self-love counts.
And honestly, sometimes the most romantic thing you can do is pick something that makes someone feel seen. Simple is special too.
Happy Valentine’s Day, in whatever form love shows up for you this year!