It's Dec. 15, and if you celebrate Christmas (or another gift-giving holiday) on Dec. 25, then the days are few to go get those gifts.
For people struggling to find a unique gift, Vancouver does offer up some options that many might not have considered, given the unusualness of the idea.
But if one is desperate for an idea, these could be the perfect ideas for someone who has (almost) everything.
1. Adopt a morgue drawer for a year
Want to give someone a toe tag and a (mock) death certificate for Christmas?
The Vancouver Police Museum has started to adopt its authentic morgue drawers (one year at a time), which means you can put someone's name on the drawer, get them a death certificate (with your choice of death), and more.
2. Stickers from the archives
The Vancouver archives has a vast and fascinating collection of photos and documents from the city's history.
And a little shop.
While they have several fun items, the collection of stickers offers a variety of images, from old city maps to designs for projects to street photos to old ads.
A couple of highlights include the very first SkyTrain, a section (Victoria and 61st) of an early (1981) computer map of Vancouver, and Tillicum the otter.
3. A branded t-shirt from a very Vancouver icon
To be fair, there are several iconic groups, businesses, and institutions that this could relate to, but the Canucks, UBC, and Lululemon already get a lot of airtime.
So instead, let's go a couple of layers deeper. For some, the No. 5 Orange might be the best bet.
For others, the Wise Hall might be optimal.
And for fans of Vancouver's history, there's the Asahi.
4. A different stuffed animal
Every kid gets a stuffed bear or dog or cat, and some adults have collections too.
For those who are a fan of stuffed animals, what about a less common creature? Like a koi from Chinatown? Or an axolotl from the aquarium? Or there's a version of (famed Kwakwaka'wakw artist and occasional resident of Vancouver) Beau Dick's Trickster the Raven available as a plushy (among other Indigenous designs).
5. A custom street sign
Did you know you can order a street sign from the City of Vancouver?
Vancouver will make a sign for you for $150 plus taxes; it can be a sign for a real street in Vancouver or a custom order.
"The signs are for personal use only: place them on your private property where they do not interfere with City operations," notes the city on its website.
To be fair, this isn't a gift idea for this year (it takes three weeks at least), but if you plan it out now, it'll be ready for next year.
