Guide to Celebrating Sustainably in Edmonton this Season

Dec 1, 2022

Trim down on holiday excess (and your carbon footprint) and give back to the community with our eco and social-friendly guide to celebrating this season sustainably! Whether you are looking for a unique gift, a way to reduce waste, want to localize your gifting, or find meaningful ways to give back this season – this guide has got you covered!

Share the Local Love

Check out I.A.M Collective – an Indigenous art collective with 40 members from Turtle Island which you can find at the Indigenous Peoples Experience at Fort Edmonton Park or other pop-ups at various Farmers Markets. BOM YEG is a Black-Owned Market that uplifts, supports and builds our community through amplifying black-owned businesses and acts as a platform for important social causes.

Sustainability is Santa's Middle Name

The Goodwill Impact Centre is the perfect stop for the DIYer, bargainista or upcycler in your life! It focuses on sustainability by upcycling and selling candles, modifying old bicycles for individuals who have disabilities, and producing towels and clothes from recycled textiles. Need a winter season card, a clipboard for a gift list, or need random material for your next cozy project? The Reuse Centre has got you covered! Come support local vendors and find gifts that are made with minimal packaging. While you’re there, check out the shelves to find holiday decorations for free!

Celebrate Food

Here are a few ways to support Edmonton's culinary scene:

  • Purchase a gift card to a local business. Discover some of Edmonton's best local restaurants here.
  • Send a surprise delivery to a friend or join a culinary subscription service.
  • Try your next culinary adventure with Executive Chef Serge Belair’s French-ie Cuisine cooking tutorials.
  • Attend a cooking class at the Edmonton Public Library’s Kitchen, which are free online!
  • Pick up specialty meats or the Field & Forest Holiday Bundle from The Butchery by RNG RD.
  • Have a special holiday night out at The Butternut Tree, where you'll find a menu of seasonal Canadian ingredients.
  • Order catering or take a private cooking class from Chef Scott Iserhoff's Pei Pei Chei Ow.


But wait, there's more! Craving a Spinach Pie that has an environmental footprint of 0.88 kg CO2e? We thought so. Check out High-Level Dinner's carbon footprint menu which will help you measure and understand your environmental impact. How cool is that?

It's a Wrap!

Experiences Are the Best Gift

Celebrating Mindfully

This holiday season, consider giving gifts that reduce your environmental footprint and create positive change in the community. Celebrating sustainably is a small step that makes a BIG difference as we lighten our impact on the planet. Have a safe and happy holiday season!