Pick up one (or more!) of these unique Vancouver Island-made fun, educational gifts for yourself and your loved ones this holiday season and beyond.

Birch & Beam

Located in Ladysmith, Birch and Beam creates multi-layered lasered wood projects primarily made with Baltic Birch. These educational, nature-themed pieces such as magnifying glasses and maps make great gifts for anyone.

instagram.com/birchandbeam.woodcraft

Little Adventurers

Designed and created by a local Vancouver Island author, illustrator and educator, Little Adventurers offers interactive books as well as Hul’q’umi’num’ language cards. Kids and their families will love to read, colour, solve clues and discover with these Vancouver Island-specific books.

littleadventurers.ca

The Humble Arbutus

The Humble Arbutus has been offering a variety of homemade, customized items from Nanaimo for over three years. Find something for yourself and for everyone in your life with their selection of baby accessories, art, home dècor and fun seasonal Christmas items.

etsy.com/shop/thehumblearbutus

One Earth Living offers educators and parents in Canada resources to help their kids win fun prizes while doing good deeds for the environment. oneearthliving.org

Lifesaving AEDs and naloxone kits will soon be offered in all Nanaimo Ladysmith School District high schools, with elementary and middle schools being equipped next September. sd68.bc.ca

A community playgroup for moms and their children under age five at the Shelbourne Street Church of Christ in Victoria every Monday morning. shelbournestreetchurch.com

Your little readers can now read along with audiobooks suitable for ages three to 12 with the Yoto to-go kits offered at Greater Victoria Public Library branches. gvpl.ca

Writer and public relations specialist Jenn Wint recently wrote “curiosity isn’t ignorance, it’s a step towards understanding” and it got me thinking… When was the last time you were truly curious about something and took the steps to learn about it?

Kids are curious by nature. They have to be—it’s how we, as humans, learn. If babies weren’t curious about what would happen if they lifted their heads off the floor when you put them on their tummy, they would never learn to crawl. If toddlers weren’t curious about the noises coming out of your mouth and therefore tried their hardest to replicate them, they would never speak. If kids weren’t curious about what that other kid over there is playing with, they would never learn social skills. If young adults weren’t curious about a certain field of study or trade, they would never become professionals or experts in that area.

But once we reach that point, our natural curiosity tends to wane (or at least “life” gets in the way, and we no longer pursue it). Of course, we still learn and grow through our jobs but how often do we have our interest piqued and take steps to find out more about a topic that truly resonates with us?

Luckily, if you are a parent, there is a good chance your child has brought up an area of interest, and you have had the opportunity to dive into it with them—maybe even a bit deeper than you would have liked. Perhaps you have recently become an expert on Minecraft (I know I have thanks to my eight-year-old son) or maybe you know all there is to know about Taylor Swift (my 11-year-old daughter has made sure of that!).

This is a great reminder to not let your interests pass you by no matter how crazy life gets this holiday season and beyond. Sure, research takes time but look at your child over there building their 100th masterpiece out of the LEGO they got from Santa. They are loving every second of it and you deserve that joy too.

Let your curiosity take you on a journey where you try something new or learn a skill. Take the family skiing for the first time, start a conversation with the new person at work, make this the year you take that trip… Curiosity is not only crucial for human development and progress, it’s also fun. Isn’t it about time you see where yours can take you?

– Stacie Gaetz

The Parkside Hotel and Spa is once again partnering with Rainbow Kitchen for Festive Bricks of Giving until December 28 for a celebration of LEGO creations from local artists and families. parksidevictoria.com

Ride the train through an incredible holiday wonderland at the BC Forest Discovery Centre in Duncan until December 23. bcforestdiscoverycentre.com

The 17th annual Yellowpoint Christmas Spectacular brings its mix of song, dance and spirit to Courtenay, Nanaimo and Victoria. Showtimes run from December 10 until 20. yellowpointchristmasspectacular.ca