Scout's Father's Day Gift Guide for 2021

Father’s Day is on its way, which means it's time to share our Father's Day gift guide for 2021!

The pandemic has brought a new meaning to the holidays and celebrations that give us the opportunity to express gratitude to our loved ones. This special day is no exception as it gives us the opportunity to uplift the dads, grandfathers, stepdads, new dads, spouses, and caregivers of varying kinds who have contributed to our lives. We have plenty of suggestions to help you show your love and appreciation, all available for purchase online for delivery or curbside pickup. And don’t forget—if you’re in search of the perfect card, browse our card collection for options that vary in tone, design, messaging, and intention! 

FOR THE STYLISH DAD 

Here at Scout, we love clothing with unique graphics. If the father figure in your life feels the same way, we encourage you to check out Slow Loris Studio. Founded in Oakland, California in 1997 and now located on Guermes Island in Washington state, this brand prioritizes hard work and handmade design quality to bring you bold apparel. Whether they're a "fun-gi" (yes, I went there) or a lover of the animal world, this brand will add something special and thoughtfully made to their wardrobe. (These are on their way, turns out shipping from a small island by ferry takes some time! Pop your email in the notify me box and you'll be first to know once they've been added online).

Give Toronto a shout-out with the Honest Ed's t-shirt or the Revue Cinema t-shirt. Printed in Montreal, each option pays homage to staple locations in our beloved city. Plus, when you purchase the Revue Cinema t-shirt, $5 goes towards helping the Revue get through these difficult times. Show your love and support of the spirit of our city with these great options!

Storage, organization and functionality are important for active dads! We encourage you to browse Bellroy’s amazing collection to fulfill these needs in style. From their freeing and beautifully designed Sling pouch to their beloved wallets, there are many gifting options that will stand the test of time and warm the heart of the lucky recipient! Bellroy is a certified B Corporation and with sustainability front of mind, they are always looking for ways to evolve their materials and processes. Have a peek at their IGTV for some more insight into the direction the brand is going to be more eco-friendly!

If you’re looking for a simple gift, we have some really fun socks to choose from. Start by checking out Blue Q’s father-themed sock collection. Their Cool Dad socks and Dad Joke socks always bring a smile to customers' faces. We've also brought in a new Canadian sock brand, Friday Socks. Have a peek at their fun, purposefully (and subtly) mismatched socks. For more options, including space-inspired socks from Ohh Deer, check out our entire sock collection here.

FOR GRANDDAD 

Don’t forget Grandpa this Father’s Day! Gift something as simple and amusing as the Cool Grandpa socks from Blue Q or expand their accessories selection with the Toronto-inspired keychains from Smitten Kitten. You can pick out the Toronto the Good keychain or get even more specific with neighbourhoods such as Parkdale, The Beaches, or The Junction.

To encourage more meaningful downtime, check out The Moth book series. Brought to you by the creative minds at The Moth, a storytelling podcast, each book dives into unforgettable stories that aim to capture the essence of live storytelling. The Moth: All These Wonders features 45 stories about risk, courage, and facing the unknown while its counterpart, The Moth: Occasional Magic, champions true stories about finding the strength to face the impossible.

For the grandfather figure in your life who loves modern design and functionality, we might recommend a browse of The Modern Home Bar. With the goal of inspiring cocktail enthusiasts everywhere, this brand creates unique bar- and glassware. Inspired by tiles used in making breezeways for mid-century modern homes, their Breezeway White rocks glasses are sure to impress any lucky recipient. This design invokes Palm Springs, Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack days. For another eye-catching design, check out their Golden Poppy Highball Glass. This glass will be perfect for the summertime as it captures the essence of dreamy California. All glasses are chip resistant and dishwasher safe.

FOR THE FUN DAD 

Looking for a gift to impress the father figure who loves family time and fun? Check out The Family Game from School of Life. Suitable for ages 12+, this deck comes with 100 playing cards with dice and an instruction card to help you out. This is perfect for the sentimental person who enjoys making memories and looking back at what matters most. It is a great tool for inviting those in your home to slow down and answer questions such as: What would the movie of your family be called? How would you like to evolve? What was your favourite time of day when you were little? If you could be forgiven for something, what would it be?

On the other side of the spectrum, if you are celebrating virtually this year, School of Life has you covered with their Digital Connection cards. While these cards weren’t specifically made through the lens of family, their intention is to foster closeness at a distance. This would be great for bonding over Zoom using exercises, questions, and prompts that range in tone and are designed to spark deep conversation and foster connection.

Sports fans will love the Blue Jay Moustache Hall of Fame puzzle by Stephanie Cheng. This limited edition 1,000-piece puzzle commemorates the greatest baseball moustaches of all time and is the perfect group activity for family fun night!

FOR DADS EMBRACING MORE TIME AT HOME

In last year’s Father’s Day Guide for 2020, we recommended The Backyard Farming book collection for DIY dads everywhere. While this selection is still a favourite of ours and a great recommendation, we’re excited to suggest another unique gifting option for dads who are passing the time with more DIY projects—or time at home in general. Hard work shows itself on our bodies in so many ways and that’s why we’d like to recommend the Outdoors Hand Creme from the Toronto-based line, Matter Company. Perfect for gardeners, campers, frontline workers, makers, athletes, and more, this nourishing cream soothes and restores moisture to dry, cracked skin and protects naturally against the elements. Recommended for daily use for proper skin nourishment, this cream can also be used as treatment for rough cracked hands and feet, or for beard care!

The Raptors art prints by Stephanie Cheng are the perfect addition to every sports fan's wall. Handmade in Toronto, these 12" x 16" screen printed posters celebrate cherished players, such as Kyle Lowry and Pascal Siakam. The Champions print features Masai Ujiri, the 2018-19 Raptors main starting line, and the coveted Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy and is a reminder of the 2019 NBA champions. Who could forget this incredible day?

Finally, for the father figure needing a little time to wind down at home, browse our curated candle collection. The Oakmoss + Sage Candle from Homecoming is a great place to begin your search. With notes of earthy moss, fresh grass, and morning dew, this nature-inspired scent will freshen up any space. For another robust scent scape, check out their Ginger Flower Saffron Candle. This candle is a beautiful blend of palo santo, ginger, cedarwood, musk, and so much more. Handpoured in Vancouver, Homecoming candles are 100% vegan and cruelty free.

NEED MORE IDEAS?

We hope that something caught your attention in this year’s Father’s Day gift guide, though we recognize that finding the right gift can be a challenge. If you’re seeking more ideas, we encourage you to browse our Father’s Day collection online or reach out by email, and we’ll do our best to help in whatever way we can. If you have questions regarding shipping, you can find answers to our most frequently asked questions here.

As well, as the weather warms up and life shifts on a day-to-day basis, there are still so many incredible businesses in our own neighbourhoods that may also help you in your search for a great gift or experience to celebrate the father figure in your life. You can access the Leslieville neighbourhood shopping map here to see what businesses may be open during COVID-19 or Roncesvalles shopping information here. 

As is true with celebrations of this sort, this day is expansive in its meaning. We are thinking of you and your loved ones and hope that you are staying safe and connected. How are you celebrating Father’s Day? We would love to know in the comments below.