Holiday Gift Guide

This season give experiences instead of things for meaningful and memorable gifts

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As we enter the holiday season where advertising, social media, and storefronts are shouting at us about all the things there are to buy, one might wonder whether all this shopping will lead to anyone’s happiness.

Researchers out of Cornell University had a similar thought. Thomas Gilovich and  Amit Kumar published their research in the paper called “We’ll Always Have Paris: The Hedonic Payoff from Experiential and Material Investments.” They discovered the answer to the question is a simple and resounding “no.”

While in the beginning experiences and things may provide equal satisfaction, over time while that satisfaction decreased for things, it actually increased for experiences. The researchers reasoned that experiences became a part of a person and make up their whole. Stuff, on the other hand, was just stuff.

While some might identify with their things, it’s never in a truly authentic or meaningful way.

In celebration of gifts that keep on giving, we have put together a guide to local experiences that are perfect for all the types of people in your life.

For the Artist

What better gift to give an artist than a chance for them to develop their art or explore a new creative direction. Arts Underground is offering beginner and intermediate ceramics classes for the New Year. For $325, you can give the gift of a 7-week course. The City of Whitehorse also has a variety of classes that will help your giftee tap into their creative side. From printmaking for adults to homemade bath and body products for parents and their kids, there is something for every artist.

For the Culture Lover

With two arts and culture festivals kicking off 2016, a gift of a show is a great way to celebrate culture and the ones you love. Gift a five-film pass to the Available Light Film Festival that can be redeemed for tickets to any five films at the festival. For $55 film lovers can take in documentaries, comedies, and dramas from local and Western Canadian film producers.

The Pivot Theatre Festival will be taking place in January with an action-packed week of performances. Go for dinner and a show and give the gift of live theatre that will be remembered by both of you forever. Pre-sold tickets range in prices from $15-$35.

For the Skill Junkie

Have someone in your life who loves to learn new skills and dreams of making everything by hand? YuKonstruct offers a hands-on course to make or build almost anything. Workshops vary from month to month and have in the past included learning how to build cribbage boards, wooden toys and dining room tables. While the bigger projects can be a couple hundred dollars, most workshops range from $15-$50.

For the Outdoor Adventurer

Arrange an outdoor activity for you and your loved one to combine nature, exercise, and fun. For those in your life who want to try something new, but are scared, a lesson for two for cross country skiing can be a great way to ease them into it. For those who enjoy flying down the slopes at Mt. Sima, take them for a day on you. With a little planning – and a backpack with snacks and hot chocolate – a simple day of skiing, hiking, or skating can turn into a gift of a wonderful shared adventure.

For the Health Nut

The New Year is a time when many are trying to be and feel healthy. Help your loved ones along by gifting them a course in yoga, pilates or mindful meditation. Since it’s much more fun to get healthy together, find a class you will both enjoy and gift it to each other. The Studio in Granger offers progressive courses starting at $80 that are an average of five to seven weeks long – the perfect amount of time to commit to a new practice.

Yoga with Erica offers a variety of yoga courses and workshops in the calming space above Alpine Bakery. Most of the courses are six weeks long and $72. Erica offers yoga for all levels based on the Ashtanga Vinyasa and Iyengar traditions.

Sharing experiences is a surefire way to connect with those you love and become inextricable part of the story of their life. This holiday season consider giving an experience that you can enjoy together with your friends and family.