Give Joy this year

What if we had all the holiday stuff... with less of the stuff stuff? This holiday season, use your Interac® debit card to give meaningful gifts to everyone you love—starting with these five great Toronto experiences.

GIVE THEM A WINTER WONDERLAND

The Toronto Christmas Market in the cobblestoned Distillery District is the city’s vision of a German-style winterscape—complete with wooden cabins filled with seasonal goodies, strings of fairy lights, costumed carollers and lots of festive treats to eat and drink. November 14 to December 22. 55 Mill St.

SKATE ON THE CITY’S SWEETEST RINK

At Evergreen Brick Works’ Winter Village, you can sample tasty treats and hot toddies from local vendors and food trucks, shop for unique gifts at the on-site holiday market, pick up a sustainably grown tree from the garden centre—and, best of all, skate amid the fir trees on the lovely and Instagrammable rink. Open weekends in December and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from December 26 to 31. 550 Bayview Ave.

TREAT THEM TO DIM SUM

Located in the Queens Quay Terminal, Pearl

Harbourfront has been a gourmet destination for Chinese cuisine for more than three decades. The dim sum is exceptional, and the views of Lake Ontario are spectacular. Book a windowfront table on Christmas or Boxing Day and take your nearest and dearest for delicious siu mai, sticky rice wrapped in lotus leaf, steamed pork buns and Peking duck. 207 Queens Quay W.

TAKE THEM DANCING

With more than 100 classes a week, six studios and more than a dozen dance styles to choose from, City Dance

Corps is the ultimate happy place for anyone who wants a novel way to stay fit, active and social—and they have gift cards in any denomination. Classes run the gamut from breakdancing to Argentine tango to tap and ballet, and they’re geared toward all levels—from absolute beginner to advanced. 489 Queen St. W.

BUILD A HOUSE TOGETHER

Each year, hundreds of Toronto families give back to their communities with Habitat for Humanity’s

Gingerbread Build. All you have to do is purchase a kit—an assembled gingerbread house with all the sugary decorations—and head to the Toronto City Hall Rotunda on December 7 to pick it up and decorate it with your loved ones (you can also take the kit home). Proceeds go to building homes for working, lowerincome families. Habitatgta.ca