A Guide for Selecting Ornaments to Give
Still wondering which ornament to get them? I love selecting ornaments that will have special meaning to the people I give them to. This guide provides a quick overview of my ornaments, and who they’re often popular with. Hopefully, it will help you narrow down which ornament to give to that special person on your Christmas list.
Pacific Dogwood
OVERVIEW
Provincial flower of British Columbia
“Getting your dogwood” = graduating from high school in B.C.
Symbol of resurrection and renewed life
Popular 1940s and ‘50s design motif for dinnerware, etc.
POPULAR FOR
Teachers
Grade 12 graduates
Health care workers or provincial employees
Gardeners
Baptisms
In memory of a loved one
Fans of mid-century design
People often say it reminds them of their grandmothers
Science World
OVERVIEW
Built for Expo ‘86
Popular field trip destination for kids
Popular tourist destination for families
Celebrates learning and play
Dedicated to British Columbia by Queen Elizabeth II
POPULAR FOR
Kids who have been on field trips here
Adults who grew up in Vancouver
Families that have had season’s passes
False Creek and Yaletown residents
Limited supply!
Lions Gate Bridge Lion
OVERVIEW
Unveiled in 1939 on each side of the entrance to Lions Gate Bridge
Created by Italian-born sculptor, Charles Marega
Excellent example of Art Deco design
Symbolizes strength, power, kingship
GREAT FOR
Art Deco enthusiasts
Local residents who live or work on the North Shore
Employees of Lions Gate Hospital or Lionsgate Entertainment
Vancouver history buffs
“Leos”— born from July 23 to August 22
Fans of C.S. Lewis’s Narnia series
This ornament is the one most often bought in pairs.
Woodward’s Tower
OVERVIEW
Beacon of the beloved Woodward’s Department Store
Downtown landmark since 1944
POPULAR FOR
Anyone who once worked at Woodward’s or now lives at the old site
Nostalgia buffs
Anyone who works or lives in Gastown
People whose first or last names begin with W
Customers recall memories of their parents or grandparents taking them to see Christmas window displays or for lunch on the food floor.
Harbour Centre
OVERVIEW
Built in 1977
Home of SFU Harbour Centre
The Vancouver Lookout & Top of Vancouver
Iconic feature in Vancouver’s skyline
Modernist building
GREAT FOR
SFU Harbour Centre students, professors and alumni
Visitors to Vancouver Lookout
Anyone who has celebrated a special occasion at Top of Vancouver
Architecture fans
Downtown workers in and around Harbour Centre
Overheard : “I don’t want this ornament; I need this ornament!”
Vancouver Special
OVERVIEW
Prolific housing style in the 1960s to 1980s
Popular with working class families and multigenerational families
Highest concentration in Hastings Sunrise and Marpole areas of Vancouver, but can be seen throughout the Lower Mainland
Outlawed in 1988
PERFECT FOR
Anyone who has lived in one
Pop-culture fans
East Van and Marpole residents
Quoted: “Ugly and devoid of style.”
Gastown Steam Clock
OVERVIEW
Built in 1977 by horologist Ray Saunders
Clock face with dogwood flowers on each of four sides
Chimes every 15 minutes with puffs of steam
Popular attraction and photo op for out-of-town guests
Elegant design with an old-world feel
GREAT FOR
Downtown/Gastown residents & workers
Friends and family that have visited the steam clock
Traditionalists or those with an elegant aesthetic or who prefer a neutral colour palette
This ornament design is the most popular with visitors to Vancouver, and has been shipped around the world!
Sockeye Salmon
OVERVIEW
Salmon = provincial fish of British Columbia
Migrate far into B.C.’s Interior
Shuswap or Kamloops near the Adam’s River sockeye salmon run
There’s a salmon hatchery in North Van
GREAT FOR
Nature lovers
North Shore & Shuswap residents
Salmon lovers
Fishing enthusiasts
Popular with B.C. kids who study the lifecycle of the salmon in elementary school
This is the ornament most often purchased for Dads!
Spirit Bear
OVERVIEW
B.C.’s provincial mammal
A rare genetic variation makes it white
As few as 400 total in the wild
One spirit bear resides at the B.C. Wildlife Preserve in Kamloops.
A symbol of gratitude for the abundance of the land
GREAT FOR
Nature lovers
Bear collectors
People with all-white Christmas trees
A favourite of kids
Most popular for British Columbians outside the Lower Mainland.
Water Taxi
OVERVIEW
Also know as Aquabus, False Creek Ferry, H2O Taxi or Harbour Ferry
Popular for travelling from downtown to Granville Island or in Victoria’s Harbour
GREAT FOR
Tourists and locals alike
Boating fans
False Creek & Yaletown residents
Kids, but remember, it’s not a toy!
A perennial favourite and top seller just because of its adorability.
Ultimately, no matter which ornaments you choose, it’s your personal connection to the people you’re gifting them to that will make them shine.
