Treat your dad to luxurious, expertly crafted swim trunks this year. Perfect for lounging by the pool, lake or simply sunbathing on the patio.

Copper Bottom Swim was born out of a love for the water and a passion to create classic swim trunks that are built to last. Whilst the founder is Canadian, the swimsuits are designed and manufactured in Ljubljana, Slovenia where the founder and her partner spent a year living as the product was developed.

Slovenia was selected for the country’s long history of textile manufacturing and Copper Bottom Swim’s production partner was known for expertise in technical fabrics and for providing fair wages and safe working conditions.

Materials are sourced from France, Spain and Italy, which lends to the quality of the products and helps to reduce the carbon footprint by sourcing locally.

Copper Bottom Swim products are shipped in packages that are roadside recyclable, made from post-consumer recycled materials.

Not sure which design dad would like best or too late to place an order? Purchase a gift card – they’re delivered electronically.

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These stunning hats are perfect for a stylish & creative dad. The company is based in South Florida, but ships to Canada. All hats are made-to-order and feature unique designs with the goal of uplifting and promoting art and other creative works among black and brown communities.

Since the hats are made-to-order, they take 4-6 weeks to create. So cut out a photo of one of the hats, include it in a card on Father’s Day and then pick out the final design together before you order.

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Bôhten, a Toronto-based company, offers prescription and non-prescription eyewear. Their designs  emphasize style and comfort and are inspired by the beautiful landscape in Ghana. 

Nana Boateng Osei began Bôhten Eyewear with the ultimate goal of bringing the product manufacturing to Ghana. Currently, the brand focuses on sustainability by making the frames from reclaimed materials, like wood sourced from West Africa.

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KVAS FBC is run by husband-and-wife team Amy and Zac Kvas. Their last name, Kvas, literally means yeast, so you could say their knack for making great cocktails runs in their blood.

Their mission is to provide bar-quality syrups and garnishes that are simple to use, all-natural and full of flavour. You can use their syrups in cocktails or in cooking – sauces, glazes, baked goods, etc. Check out their website for a ton of recipes to inspire your Father’s Day celebration!

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Toronto has a lively brewery scene, so why not get your dad a pack of cold ones?

Many breweries are offering local deliveries, so there’s really no excuse.

True History Brewing is a great local beer company that has quickly become a household favourite. Farmer in the Sky (pictured) and their recently launched Italian Pilsner, called Bicycle Thief, are some favourites! True History is relatively new to the Toronto beer scene, but that hasn’t stopped them from making big waves – with their beers popping up in LCBOs all over the city and making their way onto the menus of some of our favourite restaurants. Not only are their beers great but what makes True History even more unique is the storytelling associated with their brand – check out their comics here. 

Additional local breweries:

• Ace Hill
• Avling
• Bandit Brewery
• Black Lab Brewing
• Blood Brothers Brewing
• Left Field Brewery
• Radical Road Brewing Co.
• Rorschach Brewing Co.

He’s not a beer guy? Here are four Ontario distilleries:

• Dillon’s Small Batch Distillers
• Kinsip
• Spirit of York (Toronto)
• Reid’s Distillery (Toronto)

Alternatively, order some local wine from one of the Niagara or Prince Edward County wineries.

W&P’s beautiful ice molds are perfect for a celebratory drink!

The Peak Collection molds are easy to use – just make sure you fully seal the halves before filling – and W&P has an ice mold for every purpose. I personally own a set of these and love them!

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Fire up the grill and spend the day BBQ’ing with (or for!) dad, with these fantastic make-at-home meal kits from Toronto restaurants, shops and caterers.

• Ascari (pictured): BBQ kit chalk full of goodies – ribs, sausages, bugers, sides and cocktails included!
• Carbon Bar: Build your own meal kit by purchasing individual BBQ staples, from meats to spices, from the Pantry section of their take-out page
• Adamson BBQ: Pre-order their delicious meats (choose between their hot or ready to be reheated at home selections)
• Marben: Click on the Order Pickup section and peruse through their many boxes – their BBQ box includes burgers, sausages, kebabs and more!
• 852 Curbside Collective: Their boxes cover breakfast, lunch and dinner, which makes for a perfect full day with dad. They also have vegan & gluten-free options.
• Uncle Ray’s: Grab their Bud & BBQ kit for a 24 pack of beer, ready to grill whole roast chicken, ribs, sausage and all the fixings!
• Lucia: They offer a weekly changing menu of “Cottage Grill Kits”. Previous offerings included whole chicken, flank steak & lamb chops.
• Sariwon: Korean BBQ sets including meats and sides.

Don’t feel like cooking? Order griddle smashed burgers and fried chicken from The Stockyards Smokehouse & Larder (B).

Need dessert? Try Tre Mari’s Make-At-Home Cannoli Kit!

Even though quarantine is in effect, it doesn’t mean that you can’t explore the city’s culinary delights. As long as you follow the distancing guidelines set out by the government, you can enjoy a day out with dad.

Grab some delicious food from one of these spots and head over to a nearby park to indulge:

• Burger Drops: you can order their delicious griddle smashed burgers in advance for easy pickup. They offer individual orders or a party pack, which is perfect for a group of four. I stumbled across Burger Drops a couple weekends ago and pre-ordered for the next weekend as soon as I could. I haven’t stopped thinking about their burgers and am counting down the days until I can return. You don’t want to miss this one!
• El Mercado at Barrio: El Mercado is an open-air food market in Leslieville serving chips & guac, tacos, burrito bowls, fruit drinks, soft serve, churros and more!
• Cherry St. BBQ: Head down to the Port Lands to enjoy some of the best BBQ. Grab some grub before your next adventure – check out the city activities section for suggestions (Hint: the Docks Driving Range is nearby)

No need to stay indoors on Father’s Day – you can still abide by the government’s distancing requirements and play some lawn games in your backyard or a park.

Sunnybrook Park is large enough that you can likely find a corner to yourselves.

Koob is a great lawn game and has become a summer staple with my friends. It’s a ton of fun, easy to learn, and you can play with 2 to 12 players. The version linked below is made in Canada and is FSC Certified, which means they met the requirements of the Forest Stewardship Council.

Looking for more options? Bocce ball, spike ball, corn hole or ladder toss will surely add some Father’s Day fun!

Koob Here  & Other Lawn Games Here

Briogeo was founded in New York City by Nancy Twine, based off of her grandmother’s coveted beauty recipes and a desire to produce a high-performance, naturally-based hair care collection.

“Brio” is an Italian word that means “vibrant and full of life” – representing NYC, where the brand was born, and the energetic and artistic packaging that houses each formula. “Geo” is a Latin word meaning “of Earth and nature,” which represents the pure recipes of each formula.

The products are texture-specific and there is something for everyone. Briogeo is 6-free hair care; meaning their formulas are free of harsh sulfates (SLS/SLES), silicones, parabens, phthalates, DEA and synthetic color. All products are 90 to 100% naturally derived and formulas are 100% cruelty-free, gluten free and mostly vegan.

Help dad relax this Father’s Day by getting him the Briogeo scalp massager. It’ll help improve scalp health and he can use it in the shower along with his regular shampoo routine. For ultimate relaxation, pair the massager with Briogeo’s charcoal and coconut micro exfoliating shampoo.

I have a massager & I love it!

Shop Massager Here & Shampoo Here

Tristan Walker launched Walker & Company in 2018 with the mission to make health and beauty simpler for people of colour.

Walker & Company is focused on solving problems tailored towards the needs of the community – better design, innovative products that just work and providing a positive shopping experience.

The Bevel Shave System kit includes everything dad will need to help protect, cleanse and nourish his skin every time he shaves. The kit includes the Bevel Safety Razor, Shave Brush, Priming Oil, Shave Cream, Restoring Balm and 20 Blades.

The Priming Oil, Shave Cream and Restoring Balm are the triple threat he needs to help fight blemishes, irritation and even out his skin tone.

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Bruvy, pronounced “bruh-vee” is slang for brother and was started by a group of friends who wanted guys to feel confident taking care of themselves. After working with experienced chemists, they developed a set of essentials – the cleanser and moisturizer – that was simple, effective and backed by science. Bruvy’s products are plant-based and they strive to give consumers comfort through being ultra-transparent about their ingredients.

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The company set out to create products that are so tasty that they become a modern fridge staple. I can attest they’ve accomplished this, as the hot sauce quickly became a go-to in my household.

Their website also includes a number of recipes – gift your dad with some hot sauce and plan to cook something up together for Father’s Day!

Shop Hot Sauce Here & Aioli Here & BBQ Sauce Here & Spice Blend Here

What better way to treat dad than by gifting him with a Nespresso machine. Better yet, make him a cup or two!

They’re currently on sale on Amazon. Opt for the Original if he prefers espressos or upgrade to the Virtuo to provide dad with a full range of coffee styles.

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EATABLE spent over two years creating the perfect alcohol-infused popcorn for elevated everyday snacking.

They spent more than a year working alongside Paris-trained pastry chefs in a commercial kitchen, learning artisan techniques to infuse their favourite wines and spirits. They ended up with a variety of flavours, including Whisky on the Pops, Pop the Salt & Tequila, Pop the Champagne, and more!

EATABLE only uses natural ingredients – no artificial flavours, colours, sweeteners or preservatives. They source local, non-GMO corn kernels and pop it fresh in their Toronto production facility.

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Use the code:  MIDDLEOFSOMEWHERE for $5 off!