Gifts that keep on giving!

By Stéphanie Tremblay

The holiday season is fast approaching! With it comes the conundrum of brainstorming for gift ideas. That said, Whales Online would like to offer a few suggestions related to the theme of marine mammals and wildlife. What’s more is that these gifts give twice: once to the recipient and once to the organization or species you are supporting!

Every year, history repeats itself and we have to renew our calendars. Thus the perfect time to buy the 2018 calendar designed by David Gaspard, researcher for the Mingan Island Cetacean Study (MICS). With its spectacular whale photos, it’s the ideal decoration for your wall. By purchasing it for $25, you donate $1 to MICS, which is dedicated to the study of large rorquals.

What about making a donation in lieu of a gift? The Canadian Wildlife Federation lets you adopt an animal, subscribe a loved one to a magazine (Biosphère or WILD Magazine) or even give gifts in its honour.

We remind you that the St. Lawrence Beluga Project also offers the opportunity to adopt a beluga (individually or collectively)! You will contribute to research to help this small population that inhabits the St. Lawrence. So, go ahead and adopt a beluga!

Interested in undertaking an even bigger adoption? With the Fondation de la faune du Québec (Quebec wildlife foundation) you can adopt a habitat that will be safeguarded from all human and destructive activities. You can also adorn your Christmas card envelopes with beautiful stamps.

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) offers many gifts to help wildlife and support its activities: gift cards, adoptions, panda-coloured clothing and accessories, toys, games, etc.

This time of year is also synonymous with get-togethers with family and friends. Bières Béluga, in support of the St. Lawrence Beluga Project, and Bières Rescousse, for the benefit of the Quebec wildlife foundation, are here to jazz up your evenings!

Looking to further reduce your impact? Local and practical products are always a sure bet! Mason jars, newsprint, old scarves or tree branches instead of the legendary plastic ribbon are all good substitutes for ordinary wrapping paper. More original and waste-free packaging ideas can be found here.