Are you at that point in your life where you think what more do I really need? Where it’s more about the giving than the receiving? Likely the same could be said for many of us.

During this season of giving, it’s a little awkward to show up empty handed. Besides, people enjoy showing their loved ones that they’re thought of and cared for in the form of physical gift. With that in mind and so you don’t come off as a Grinch this holiday season, why not consider some of the following suggestions for green gift giving:

Consumables 

These make a fabulous gift for the pragmatist on your list. Does he like movies or the ballet? Get him tickets for a show. Is she into fair-trade organic coffee? How about a gift certificate to her favourite gourmet java shop? The list can be quite endless with presents you consume: chocolate, a gift certificate for a pedicure, wine, a cooking class or a professional organizer for the unorganized person in your life.

Homemade Goodies 

No eye rolling allowed. Gifts made from own hands can be some of the most treasured. Are you an especially talented potter? Do you enjoy baking? How about knitting or jewelry making? A personal gift certificate entitling the bearer to breakfast in bed, a foot massage or a weekend bike ride is a highly individual gift. Your personal touch will earn high praise.

Recycled Gifts 

And no we don’t mean Aunt Sally’s doilies. Thankfully, the world is starting to catch on because the amount of recycled gifts you can acquire is quite amazing. Try Etsy or Uncommon Goods. That’s where you’ll find recycled wine glasses, wine bottles flattened into serving trays, clothes repurposed as bags, belts and wallets made out of fire hose and picture frames fashioned from tires.

Your Time 

When everyone is frantically trying to get 16 things done in a 30-minute window and never managing to clear their to-do list not even for a minute, you know time is of the essence. Why not offer some of yours? Your sister-in-law with the triplets might appreciate a break. Your uncle who is care giving for his ailing wife might, too.  Maybe even your teenager might appreciate a bit of downtime from school, jobs and social media. Let them know you’re there and willing to lend a helping hand.

Freeman Real Estate is reprising its community giving this holiday season with a charitable gift that is even bigger and better than last year’s.

The family-run boutique realtor is stepping up its contribution to the community this year on Sunday, December 17 with a GREAT TURKEY GIVE that will see some 9,000 pounds of turkey given to members of the public on a first-come, first-served basis.

This is the second annual turkey giveaway for the Bathurst Street realtor, which launched the GIVE in 2016 as a way of giving back to the community and keeping the tradition of Ed Mirvish alive.

Freeman is located at 988 Bathurst Street, just four blocks north of the former Honest Ed’s store, which gave away free turkeys during the holidays for many years. Freeman is a company with a reputation for supporting community causes, charities and interests.

“For over 40 years, starting with my father, the Freeman family has been practicing real estate at this very location on Bathurst Street,” says Elden Freeman, Broker of Record. “The community we serve means a lot to us. Giving away turkeys is our way of saying thank you, engaging with those we serve and hopefully inspiring others to spread generosity and goodwill during the holiday season.”

Freeman has partnered with Bathurst Street organizations Spirit of Math, 918 Bathurst and A Nerd’s World for the giveaway. Spirit of Math is a leader in after-school mathematics education. Located in the Annex, 918 Bathurst is a centre for culture, arts, media and education. A Nerd’s World is a one-stop shop for all your online marketing needs.

The turkeys are completely free of charge and for each turkey given Freeman plans to donate to St. Alban’s Boys & Girls Club, an organization that offers programming for children and youth.

On hand to help give away the turkeys will be Toronto city councilors Mike Layton, Joe Mihevc, Joe Cressy and a number of other political figures and local celebrities.

The GIVE begins at 9 a.m. at Freeman Real Estate located at 988 Bathurst Street.

When it comes to a city as great as Toronto it’s easy to have a little hubris. And with that, its inhabitants are sometimes accused of the short-sighted belief that the city is the centre of the universe.

And while on some level that may hold true, it doesn’t when it comes to house prices. In fact, a recent study by Century 21 Canada shows that seven out the country’s 10 most expensive neighbourhoods belong to our friends out west in and around Metro Vancouver.

Downtown Toronto made the number three spot on the list, while Oakville placed fifth and Richmond Hill, tenth. All the remaining seven spots belong to our friends in Vancouver.

The study measured price-per-square-foot (PPSF) for typical homes in cities and towns across Canada. Using information from Century 21’s independently owned and operated franchise offices, the study gathered information on house prices in the years 1997, 2006 and 2017.

Downtown Montreal ranked as the 12^th most expensive neighbourhood, while Victoria was 18^th, Saskatoon placed 31^st, and Ottawa was 41^st.

According to the study, Oakville leads the pack when it comes to escalating house prices, outstripping every other Canadian area. The price for a detached home in Oakville in 1997 was $105.77 PPSF. By this year, that number had ballooned to $627.33, a 493 per cent jump in 20 years. After Oakville, downtown Montreal is the community that claims the second fastest PPSF house growth with hikes in that city of 468 per cent over the same time period.

The data also showed that Nova Scotia and New Brunswick were the only provinces to experience falling prices in the past decade. Windsor followed by Moncton and Halifax came in at the least expensive cities in which to buy.

A house in Vancouver’s west side is priced at $1210 PPSF. Downtown Vancouver has a PPSF of $962.75. Downtown Toronto comes in with $818.86 PPSF. West Vancouver is at $816.61 PPSF. And Oakville comes in at $627.33.

If you think Canada’s numbers are high, take a look at other countries. The average PPSF in the Kowloon area of Hong Kong is over $3500. This number is 3.5 times pricier than Beijing, which is deemed the second-most expensive city with a PPSF of just over $1000. Shanghai comes in third with $955.39.

Lowest price on the list?  Maricaibo-Zuila in Venezuela at an average PPSF of $10.17.