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The Best Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas

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Love is in the air! With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, it’s time to channel your inner Cupid and find the perfect gift for the special people in your life. Whether you’re celebrating with a significant other, family, or friends, Upper Canada Mall has everything you need to make this Valentine’s Day memorable.

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Something Sparkly

Adorn your loved one with a piece of jewelry that will stand the test of time. A delicate necklace, a sparkling bracelet or a pair of elegant earrings can add a touch of sophistication to any outfit and serve as a constant reminder of your affection.

Swarovski
Swarovski
Hillberg & Berk
Hillberg & Berk

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Something Sweet

They say the way to the heart is through the stomach, so why not treat your Valentine to a delectable assortment of gourmet goodies? A box of delicious chocolates from Lindt or Purdys can add a dash of sweetness to your celebration.

Explore more dining options

Purdys chocolatier.
Purdys Chocolatier
Lindt chocolate
Lindt Chocolate

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Something Stylish

Surprise your beloved with a timeless staple they can style for years to come. Consider a fun accessory like a colourful scarf, a pair of statement sunglasses, a classic handbag, or a sleek watch that complements their personal style.

Sunglass hut.
Sunglass Hut
Michael kors.
Michael Kors

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Something Fragrant

Spritz some love in the air with a fragrance that they can enjoy year-round. Whether it’s a gift set in their signature scent, a sample set of minis, or even some home fragrance goodies like candles and room sprays, these gifts will have your loved one feeling scent-sational.

Lush.
Lush
L'Occitane.
L’Occitane

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Something Tasty

Make this Valentine’s Day extra special with a meal that will make their tastebuds swoon. Whether you’re dining in or taking out, Market & Co. has plenty of delicious dining options, including La Mexicanada and Kibo Sushi.

Discover more dining options

La Mexicanada
La Mexicanada
Kibo sushi house.
Kibo Sushi House

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Match the Occasion

Match the occasion.

This Valentine’s Day, let them find a gift they love with an Upper Canada gift card. Our physical gift cards are great for the traditionalist, while our e-gift card allows you to write or record a special message to tell them how much you love them.

Plus, don’t forget to take advantage of our gift card promotion. Until Feb 14, purchase $200+ in gift cards, receive an Upper Canada + $20 bonus retailer gift card*:

  • Spend $200-$499 and get a $10 bonus gift card.
  • Spend $500-$999 and get a $25 bonus gift card.
  • Spend $1000 and over get a $50 bonus gift card.

*While quantities last. Bonus retailer gift card valid for in mall gift card purchases only.

The Fall Fashion Trends We’re Currently Loving

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As the leaves change, so does our wardrobe, and this year the runways are brimming with trends that will have you ready to embrace this new season in style. From the art of neutral layering to quiet luxury, and the return of the 2010s, there are plenty of exciting trends to embrace this season.

Read on for the top fashion trends for fall 2023.

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Put It In Neutral

Bid farewell to summer’s sweltering heat and say hello to the cozy warmth of neutral layers. Neutral tones such as whites, blacks, creams, greys and browns are the perfect way to foray into the “quiet luxury” trend that is still going strong. In terms of layering pieces, sweater vests are stealing the spotlight, effortlessly transforming any outfit into a chic ensemble. Pair them with your favourite jeans or trousers or layer them over delicate blouses for an instantly polished look. Blanket scarves are also a fall fave and look ultra chic when secured with an elevated brooch. And don’t forget about your hats! A wool bucket hat in a neutral tone will add a touch of cool to your look, while berets will give your fits some Parisian flair.

Dynamite
Dynamite
Uniqlo
Uniqlo

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The New Classics

Like we said, the quiet luxury aesthetic is continuing to reign supreme with an emphasis on elevated staples to really add a touch of luxe to your look. Ankle boots have undergone a chic transformation, now featuring intricate details like sculptural heels and unexpected textures. Leather belts are no longer mere accessories; they’re practical, yet stylish pieces that add a touch of sophistication to your outfits. And when it comes to jewelry, think bold and eclectic. Chunky chains and oversized earrings are stealing the limelight, elevating even the simplest of ensembles to new heights.

Browns Shoes
Browns Shoes
Pandora
Pandora

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Seeing Red

This fall, say goodbye to Barbie pink and hello to red hot hues. This season, red accessories are everywhere – think bold handbags, fierce boots, and vibrant belts that inject a burst of energy into your looks. But it doesn’t stop there. Red dresses and tops are commanding attention, making them the go-to pieces for those who want to make an unforgettable entrance. Whether it’s a fiery crimson or a deep burgundy, this shade is all about owning your presence with unapologetic confidence.

H&M
H&M
ALDO
ALDO

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Return of the 2010s (Style)

Chances are your Explore and For You pages have been inundated with Y2K style. This fall, however, we’re moving on to the 2010s with the era’s staples hitting the runways this season. Peplum tops are making a triumphant return, but this time around it features more structured silhouettes that subtly highlight your shape. Also trending are high-low silhouettes, off-the-shoulder tops, ruffled, asymmetrical hemlines and cropped jackets (our favourite iteration is the cropped trench).

Hudson's Bay
Hudson’s Bay
Honey
Honey

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Cozy Coats

As the temperatures drop, cozy jackets are essential companions for navigating the crisp fall weather. Trench coats are stepping into the limelight, offering a timeless elegance that effortlessly drapes over your outfit. Oversized blazers are also continuing to make a statement with their structured silhouettes adding a touch of power to your ensemble, whether paired with slacks or a mini skirt. And for those who crave next-level warmth, shearling coats are the ultimate indulgence, cocooning you in a warm embrace while exuding an aura of rugged elegance.

Banana Republic
Banana Republic
Aritzia
Aritzia

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Match the Occasion

Upper canada gift card plus

Treat your loved ones to the gift of fall style with a UCM gift card. Our physical gift cards are great for the traditionalist, while our eGift cards can be personalized with a video message where you can share your fave picks for the season. And from now until September 10th, purchase $200 or more in gift cards and receive a bonus gift card up to $50.

GIFT NOW

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This fall, seize the opportunity to embrace transformation, both in nature and your fashion choices. Whether you’re layering up in neutral hues, elevating your staples, rocking the power of red, embracing 2010s nostalgia or cozying up in chic jackets, fall is the perfect opportunity to update your wardrobe with fresh pieces for the season ahead.

The History, Meaning and Importance Behind 17 Different Pride Flags

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Happy Pride month! As you probably know, the rainbow flag is synonymous with this celebratory time that honours and uplifts the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. You’ll often spot it in the windows of people’s homes, on bumper stickers, pins, blowing in the wind on flag poles in addition to apparel like t-shirts and backpacks. This flag symbolizes unity, acceptance, and the fight for equal rights and when it’s displayed, it’s a way of showing support for the Queer community.

Gilbert Baker Pride Flag
Gilbert Baker Pride Flag
Traditional Pride Flag
Traditional Pride Flag

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Designed by drag queen Gilbert Baker and dye artist Lynn Segerblom—at the urging of Harvey Milk (one of the first openly gay officials appointed to public office in the U.S.)—the original Pride flag debuted in 1978 at San Francisco’s Gay Freedom Day Parade. This first iteration of the flag (also known as the Gilbert Baker Pride Flag) had eight colours on it with each shade representing its own meaning. Shortly after the flag’s debut, two of the eight colours were dropped from the design (hot pink and turquoise, due to difficulties in manufacturing those shades) to reveal the six coloured flag that’s commonly used today.

While the six striped Pride Flag is often used to represent LGBTQIA2S+ individuals, there are now multiple flags that specifically represent different groups within the community.

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Bisexual Pride Flag

Bisexual Pride Flag

Created by bisexuality activist Michael Page in 1998, this flag has three horizontal stripes—pink, purple and blue—and represents bisexuality. The pink stripe is for attraction to the same gender, blue for the attraction to a different gender, and the purple represents attraction to two or more genders.

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Lesbian pride flag

Lesbian Pride Flag

This Pride Flag was created in 1999 by graphic designer Emily Gwen. Her goal was to create a symbol for the lesbian community. This flag has seven horizontal stripes: three stripes of gradient red and orange, one stripe of white and three stripes of gradient pink. The shades of orange represent gender non-conformity and community, the white stripe represents unique relationships to womanhood, while the shades of pink are for serenity, peace and femininity.

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Transgender pride flag

Transgender Pride Flag

Transgender activist and US Navy Veteran Monica Helms created this Transgender Flag in 1999. She created the flag—consisting of five horizontal stripes of blue, pink, white, pink, blue—as a symbol to celebrate and empower transgender people, including the diversity within the community and the rights that transgender folks are still fighting for. The light pink and light blue stripes represent traditional colours for male and female and the white stripe is for those transitioning, are intersex or are non-binary.

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Pansexual pride flag

Pansexual Pride Flag

Graphic artist Jasper Vardey created the Pansexual Pride Flag in 2010 as he wanted to create a standalone symbol for the pansexuality community. You can spot this flag by its three horizontal stripes in pink, yellow and blue. Just like the Polysexual Pride Flag with pink and blue representing attraction to those who identify as female and male, the yellow stripe is for attraction regardless of gender.

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Asexual pride flag

Asexual Pride Flag

First introduced in 2010 by a group of asexual activists, this Pride Flag was created to empower the asexual community. Consisting of four horizontal stripes in black, grey, white, and purple, black represents asexuality, gray is for the grey area between asexuality and sexuality, white for sexuality and lastly, the purple stripe represents community.

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Demisexual Pride Flag

Demisexual Pride Flag

While it is not known when the Demisexual Pride Flag was created, it is suspected that its design was inspired by the Asexual Pride Flag which was created in 2010 (see above) as it uses the same colours but in different shapes. Demisexual identity is where a person forms sexual attraction to someone else only after they have established a deep emotional connection to that person. At the top of the flag is a white stripe, which represents sexual attraction, and below it sits a small purple stripe, which represents community, then a large grey stripe at the bottom for demisexuality. Lastly, there’s a black triangle at the left-hand side of the flag which represents asexuality.

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Genderqueer Pride Flag

Genderqueer Pride Flag

First introduced in 2011 by genderqueer activist Marilyn Roxie, the Genderqueer Pride Flag was created to represent those who identify as a combination of genders or who have a gender that is outside the traditional male and female binary. The flag consists of three horizontal stripes: purple, white and green with purple representing androgyny and other queer identities, white for agender identities or having no gender and green for those who are non-binary.

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Genderfluid pride flag

Genderfluid Pride Flag

In 2012, genderfluid activist JJ Poole first introduced the Genderfluid Pride Flag. It was created to celebrate people who have a gender identity that is not fixed and can fluctuate in different circumstances and/or over time. This flag has five stripes in colours of pink, white, purple, black and blue and each one represents a different part of the genderfluid community. Pink is for femininity, white for neutrality, purple for a combination of male and female genders, black for the absence of gender and blue for masculinity.

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Polysexual pride flag

Polysexual Pride Flag

In 2012, Tumblr user Samlin created the Polysexual Flag, and it was introduced to differentiate polysexuality from bisexuality and pansexuality. This flag has three horizontal stripes in pink, green and blue. Pink represents attraction to female-identifying people, the blue for attraction to those who identify as male, and the green stripe is for attraction to people who identify as non-binary or other genders.

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Intersex pride flag

Intersex Pride Flag

This Intersex Pride Flag was designed by intersex activist and organization founder Morgan Carpenter in 2013. This flag was created to empower the intersex community which consists of people who are born with reproductive traits or sexual anatomy that are outside of the male-female binary. There have been changes made to the Intersex Flag over the years, but this version is yellow with the outline of a purple circle on it—two colours that are seen as gender neutral.

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Nonbinary pride flag

Nonbinary Pride Flag

The Nonbinary Flag was created in 2014 by nonbinary activist Kye Rowan to represent people who don’t identify with either binary gender or those who don’t identify within the binary in general. With stripes of yellow, white, purple and black, each colour has a different meaning: yellow for gender outside the binary, white for those who have multiple or all genders, purple for those who are both female and male identifying while the black stripe represents those with no gender.

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Agender pride flag

Agender Pride Flag

Salem X created the Agender Pride Flag in 2014 and it represents people who don’t identify with any gender, are gender neutral or have no gender. The flag has seven horizontal stripes, two black stripes at the top and bottom of the flag, two grey stripes above and below the black, two white stripes next to grey and a green stripe in the middle. The black and white stripes represent the absence of gender, the grey stripes are for those who are semi-genderless, and the green stripe represents non-binary folks.

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Bigender pride flag

Bigender Pride Flag

Currently, there are multiple variations of the Bigender Pride Flag. This flag, created in 2014 by Tumblr user ‘no-bucks-for-this-doe,’ is one of the more commonly used versions. It represents those who identify with two genders, whether that’s male and female or outside of the gender binary. This flag has seven horizontal stripes in two shades of pink, two stripes in one shade of purple, one of white and two shades of blue. While there’s currently no written explanation to explain what each colour means, it is widely thought that the pink and blue stripes represent the feelings of identity, the top purple stripe is for good relationships, the white stripe is for unique bigender experiences, and the bottom purple stripe is for pride.

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Androgyne Pride Flag

Androgyne Pride Flag

There’s more than one Androgyne Pride Flag, but this one was believed to be introduced in 2014 by a Tumblr user by the name of ‘saveferris.’ The Androgyne Pride Flag represents individuals who display a combination of masculine and feminine characteristics or someone who’s gender identity is androgynous. Androgyny may be referring to gender identity or expression or biological sex. The flag consists of three vertical stripes in pink, purple and blue with the meaning of the pink stripe being femininity, the blue stripe being masculinity and the purple stripe in the middle representing a blend of both genders.

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The two-spirit pride flag

The Two-Spirit Pride Fla

This flag represents Indigenous American that identity as two-spirit individuals meaning they fall outside of the M-F binary. Tumbler user ‘2Sanon’ developed the most seen two-spirit flag and was submitted to ask-pride-colour-schemes on December 17, 2016. The feathers represent masculine and feminine identities. The circle signifies the unification of both identities into a separate gender while the rainbow represents modern queer identities.

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Trans-inclusive gay men pride flag

Trans-Inclusive Gay Men’s Pride Flag

This version of the Gay Men’s Pride Flag is the second iteration, and its time of creation is unknown. It has seven horizontal stripes in different shades of green and blue, along with a white stripe in the middle. The flag now includes representation for non-cisgender gay men.

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Intersex-inclusive progress pride flag

Intersex-Inclusive Progress Pride Flag

This flag has had a few iterations. In 2018, Portland-based artist Daniel Quasar designed the Progress Pride Flag, which was the rainbow stripes of the Pride flag, plus triangle stripes of white, pink and blue for the transgender community, along with black and brown triangle stripes to represent marginalized people of colour. In 2021, it received an update by Valentino Vecchietti to include a yellow triangle and purple circle to call back to the original 2013 Intersex Pride Flag.

6 Ways to Prep for the Lunar New Year

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January 22, 2023, marks the beginning of the Lunar New Year, a 15-day celebration that’s considered the most important holiday in many Asian countries and across the Asian diaspora. Based on the lunar calendar, it welcomes the arrival of spring, marking a fresh start and new beginnings.

Each year in the lunar calendar is represented by one of the 12 zodiac animals, all of which represent different characteristics and future. 2023 marks the year of the rabbit (or the year of the cat in the Vietnamese zodiac) which symbolizes grace, beauty, calm, peace, patience and prosperity.

Lunar New Year also comes with a plethora of traditions, including things to do, avoid, and eat, that are based on history, symbolism, superstition and myth. From ways to decorate your home, to lucky gifts to exchange with family and friends, we’ve rounded up some of the most popular LNY traditions to attract prosperity in the upcoming year.

Ready to learn more about the Lunar New Year? Read on for six ways to celebrate and attract luck and prosperity for the year ahead.

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Clean Your Home and Decorate with Red

It is customary to clean your house before New Year’s Day in order to sweep away any ill-fortune from the previous year and make way for good luck in the new year. If you do your cleaning on New Year’s Day, it is believed you’ll be sweeping away any incoming luck and prosperity!

To help bring even more good fortune into your home, add red and gold décor. Red is considered a lucky colour and a symbol of prosperity, while gold represents glory, nobility and wealth.

Dollarama
Dollarama

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Eat Delicious and Auspicious Foods

Food is a big part of celebrating the Lunar New Year with each country, community and family indulging in their own Lunar New Year delicacies. Some common LNY foods include dumplings, rice cake soup and long noodles (a.k.a. “longevity noodles”) which symbolize living a long life. At Upper Canada Mall, we have a great selection of Asian cuisine to choose from, including Manchu Wok and Ruby Thai Kitchen.

More dining options

Manchu Wok
Manchu Wok

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Book Your Hair Appointment Before the New Year

In Chinese, hair has the same pronunciation as fortune, so it’s important to book any haircuts and to wash your hair before the New Year, otherwise you’ll be washing or cutting your luck away. A pre-LNY wash and cut is believed to allow for growth and luck in the new year, so now’s the perfect time to book your appointment at Curio Hair + Body, Salon Andres or Tonyc Salon & Spa.

Tonyc Salon & Spa.
Tonyc Salon & Spa.

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Buy Some New Clothes to Ring in the New Year

The LNY is a great time to revamp your wardrobe as it is believed that wearing new clothes from head to toe symbolizes a new start and fresh hopes for the new year. In keeping with the theme, opt for red clothing with gold accents for – you guessed it! – good luck, and avoid wearing black or white as these shades are typically associated with death. With so many retailers offering LNY-themed clothing, the options are endless for choosing your LNY fit.

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Spend Time and Exchange Gifts with Family and Friends

The most important aspect of celebrating Lunar New Year is spending time with family and friends. During this time, an exchange of gifts often occurs to show appreciation and respect, as well as bringing luck to both the giver and the receiver. Things like liquor, tea, fruits, and candy are popular options, as are jewelry, artwork and flowers.

Exchange Gifts
Exchange Gifts

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Don’t Forget the Lucky Red Envelope!

Upper Canada Mall Gift Card
Don’t Forget the Lucky Red Envelope!

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Lunar New Year would not be complete without “lucky money” in red envelopes known as Hónɡ bāo in China, Li xi in Vietnam and Sae bae don in Korea. These envelopes are typically given out by elders and married couples to children and single people of the younger generation.

From January 14th to January 29th, purchase gift cards and receive a bonus gift card.

Get a $10 bonus with $200-499, a $25 bonus with $500-999 & a $50 bonus with $1,000-$3,000.

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We hope the Year of the Rabbit and the Vietnamese Year of the Cat comes with lots of good fortune and luck! Happy Lunar New Year!

Your Zodiac Shopping Guide

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Thoughtful gifts for every sign.

Welcome Lunar New Year 2026 at Upper Canada with a fun and personal way to shop. This year celebrates the

Year of the Horse

, a zodiac sign known for confidence, creativity, and energetic spirit. To mark the occasion, we created a Zodiac Shopping Guide to help you find meaningful gifts inspired by each Chinese horoscope.

Find your sign below and discover three perfectly matched gift ideas based on personality traits, lucky colours, and lifestyle vibes. Whether you are treating yourself or shopping for someone special, this guide makes Lunar New Year gifting simple and joyful.

Note: Lunar New Year 2026 begins on February 17, 2026. If you were born in January or early February, check the lunar calendar to confirm your zodiac sign.

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🔎 Jump to Your Zodiac

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🐎 HORSE

Years: 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014

Vibe: Energetic, social, confident

Fire Horse energy demands a bold look to match your magnetic charisma.

Aritzia | Puffer coat
Aritzia | Puffer coat
Sephora | Fragrance set
Sephora | Fragrance set
Lululemon | Athletic shorts
Lululemon | Athletic shorts

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🐭 RAT

Years: 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020

Vibe: Clever, polished, detail focused

Your goal this year is organization and precision for a successful year ahead.

Zara | Structured blazer
Zara | Structured blazer
Sephora | Travel-size skincare set
Sephora | Travel-size skincare set
Uniqlo | Dress shirt
Uniqlo | Dress shirt

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🐮 OX

Years: 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021

Vibe: Grounded, reliable, quality loving

Persistence is your superpower. This year might feel fast-paced, so prioritize comfort and reliability.

Rocky | Body care set
Rocky | Body care set
Roots | Leather tote
Roots | Leather tote
Uniqlo | Cashmere sweater
Uniqlo | Cashmere sweater

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🐯 TIGER

Years: 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022

Vibe: Bold, adventurous, trend setting

2026 is a year for calculated risks. Your natural bravery is amplified by the fire element.

Zara | Leather overshirt
Zara | Leather overshirt
Sephora | Lipstick
Sephora | Lipstick
Browns | Sneakers
Browns | Sneakers

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🐰 RABBIT

Years: 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023

Vibe: Elegant, gentle, harmony loving

2026 is about finding peace amidst the chaos. Focus on self-care and your home sanctuary.

Rocky | Bubble bath set
Rocky | Bubble bath set
Uniqlo | Loungewear
Uniqlo | Loungewear
Lindt | Chocolate box
Lindt | Chocolate box

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🐉 DRAGON

Years: 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024

Vibe: Powerful, confident, glamorous

Your natural magnetism is at an all-time high, making this a great year for adventure.

Sephora | Luxury skincare
Sephora | Luxury skincare
Browns | Trendy sneakers
Browns | Trendy sneakers
Aritzia | Evening dress
Aritzia | Evening dress

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🐍 SNAKE

Years: 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025

Vibe: Sophisticated, minimalist, refined

2026 is for strategic planning. Use your wisdom and mindfulness to your advantage.

Rocky | Bath bomb set
Rocky | Bath bomb set
Uniqlo | Crisp shirting
Uniqlo | Crisp shirting
Roots | Leather wallet
Roots | Leather wallet

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🐐 GOAT

Years: 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015

Vibe: Artistic, gentle, comfort focused

The Goat finds luck through creativity and gentleness this year.

Sephora | Face mask pack
Sephora | Face mask pack
Lindt | Luxury chocolates
Lindt | Luxury chocolates
H&M | Neck scarf
H&M | Neck scarf

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🐒 MONKEY

Years: 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016

Vibe: Playful, curious, inventive

Your quick wit serves you well in a fast-moving year. Stay active and keep your energy high.

Zara | Beanie
Zara | Beanie
Sephora | Fragrance set
Sephora | Fragrance set
Lululemon | Athletic jacket
Lululemon | Athletic jacket

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🐓 ROOSTER

Years: 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017

Vibe: Precise, polished, organized

Slow and steady wins the race. Focus on professionalism and fine-tuning your daily habits.

Roots | Leather backpack
Roots | Leather backpack
Uniqlo | Blazer
Uniqlo | Blazer
Browns | Loafer
Browns | Loafer

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🐕 DOG

Years: 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018

Vibe: Loyal, practical, comfort loving

Loyalty and honesty are your guides. This is a great year for building deep connections with family and friends.

Lululemon | Sweater
Lululemon | Sweater
Rocky | Hand cream
Rocky | Hand cream
Uniqlo | Sweater
Uniqlo | Sweater

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🐖 PIG

Years: 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019

Vibe: Warm, joyful, generous

Enjoy the good life in 2026. The Fire Horse year rewards those who can find joy in the moment.

Sephora | Body care set
Sephora | Body care set
Aritzia | Triangle scarf
Aritzia | Triangle scarf
Lindt | Chocolate coins
Lindt | Chocolate coins

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The Perfect Lunar New Year Gift

Not sure what to choose? The Upper Canada Gift Card is a thoughtful and lucky way to celebrate Lunar New Year.

One gift card. Every brand they love.

Let them enjoy the freedom to shop fashion, beauty, wellness, and more across the centre.

Gift cards are available at Guest Experience, kiosks, or online. Easy to give, joyful to receive, and perfect for every zodiac sign.

Upper canada gift card plus

How 5 2SLGBTQ+ Creators are Celebrating Pride

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Happy Pride! This month is a time for the 2SLGBTQI+ communities and allies to come together and spotlight the resilience, celebrate the talent, and recognize the contributions of the 2SLGBTQI+ communities. In honour of Pride 2024, we’re spotlighting prominent members of the 2SLGBTQI+ community. Below, they share how they’re celebrating this year and their everyday essentials available at Upper Canada Mall.

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Aurora Matrix (she/they), Drag Performer

Enzo Romero

When Aurora Matrix (a.k.a. Anton Ling) was introduced to the Drag Race world on season 4 of Canada’s Drag Race, she quickly turned heads with her stunning runway looks that paid homage to her Chinese heritage through the art of drag. However, it was her vulnerability in sharing her story of coming out to as queer to her traditional and conservative Asian parents that really won over everyone’s hearts. With her platform as the runner-up of Canada’s Drag Race, Aurora wants to be a role model for queer Asian youth and be the representation she needed when she was younger.

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“[This Pride, I want to] BE EXCEPTIONAL! For me, it’s all about being my best self everywhere I go! Whether in drag or out of drag, putting my best foot forward and living my authentic self is what’s most important!”

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Aurora’s Picks:

Urban Decay at Sephora
Urban Decay at Sephora
Lush
Lush
NYX at Shoppers Drug Mart
NYX at Shoppers Drug Mart

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  1. Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray (Available at Sephora): “My go to setting spray for when I need my makeup to last all night long. This has been in my setting spray for years and somehow, I still go back to it. A tried and true for sure!”
  2. Lush Cup O’Coffee Face and Body Mask (Available at Lush): “This face mask gives me the deep clean I need, especially after wearing tons of makeup while in drag. While being gentle on the skin, this mask leaves my skin feeling super soft and refreshed.”
  3. NYX Professional Makeup Fat Oil Slick Click Shiny Lip Balm (Available at Shoppers Drug Mart): “The NYX Fat Oils now come in a cute and easy stick click formula. It is such an easy 2 birds 1 stone product, a hydrating lip balm that also leaves my lips juicy and shimmery for the day.”

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Erika Casupanan (she/her), Media Personality and Podcast Host

Erika Casupanan

Last December, Survivor season 41 winner Erika Casupanan came out as queer on Instagram, ultimately making her the first lesbian to win the popular reality show (she’s also the first Canadian and Filipino to win the series’ million-dollar prize). Post-Survivor, Casupanan launched a podcast called “Happy to See Me,” which puts the spotlight on the overlooked and underestimated. In her inspirational interviews, she creates a safe space for guests from all walks of life to share the triumphs, trials and a-ha moments on their paths to today.

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“For Pride, I want to Be Authentic. This year is my first Pride as an out queer person. For years, I celebrated Pride alongside my queer friends as a proud ally. I’m a ball of excitement and nerves. I’m proud to be part of the community as a more fully realized version of me. At the same time, I’m nervous. Sometimes I feel that imposter syndrome where I wonder am I queer enough? I know a lot of people who come into their queerness in adulthood can feel this way. So I want to lean into all of it: the joy and the nerves. I know that all of it is a valid part of the journey. There’s no right way to be queer. If anyone else feels that way, you’re not alone!”

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Erika’s Picks:

UNIQLO
Dr. Martens at Browns Shoes

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  1. UNIQLO Ribbed Cropped Tank Top (Available at Uniqlo): “A comfy staple that works with any summer look.”
  2. Dr. Martens Voss Flower Women (Available at Browns Shoes): “A mix of edgy, adorable and easy to wear. Perfect for going from summer days to summer nights.”

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Miss Moço (she/her), Drag Performer

Miss Moço

You may recognize Miss Moço (who goes by Adam Moco when not in drag) from Canada’s Drag Race season 3 and from her wildly popular Saturday Drag Brunch at The Drake Hotel in Toronto. On top of representing and championing the drag and queer community in Toronto, the Portuguese Canadian performer also created a drag movement in Lisbon, Portugal, by starting a drag pageant called Miss Drag Lisboa.

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“This Pride, I want to Be Seen. I celebrate Pride by living loud, proud and authentically me every single day.”

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Miss Moço’s Picks

Youth to the People at Sephora
Youth to the People at Sephora
Saie at Sephora
Saie at Sephora
Cheekbone Beauty at Sephora
Cheekbone Beauty at Sephora

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  1. Youth To the People Superfood Air-Whip Lightweight Face Moisturizer with Hyaluronic Acid (Available at Sephora): “Keeps my face feeling hydrated after removing heavy longwear makeup.
  2. Saie Glossybounce™ High-Shine Hydrating Lip Gloss Oil (Available at Sephora): “I am just absolutely obsessed with it!”
  3. Cheekbone Beauty Unify Multi Pencil (Available at Sephora): “My go-to for precision contouring”

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Marissa Leon-John (she/her), Chef and Entrepreneur

Marissa Leon-John

Marissa Leon-John is one of Canada’s top cooking stars. A two-time finalist on MasterChef Canada, the self-taught chef uses her voice and platform to provide more visibility for other young, Black, 2SLGBTQ+ members of the culinary community. Through her brand, ELLEJAY’s, Leon-John shares her love for food by curating unique menus that are built on the foundation of her Caribbean heritage.

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“This Pride I want to Be Vulnerable. Too often, many of us members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community hide our true selves in fear of causing discomfort in others. The thing is, by sharing our stories, hopes, dreams and fears, we reveal to the people around us that we are way more alike than we are different.”

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Marissa’s Picks:

Marissa
UNIQLO
Marissa Airism
UNIQLO

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  1. UNIQLO AIRism (Available at Uniqlo): “My favourite apparel is literally everything AIRism at UNIQLO. I exclusively wear their gear under my shirts to keep me cool in the kitchen.”

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Miss Fiercalicious (she/they/he), Drag Performer

Miss fiercalicious

Known for her sassy, loud personality and, well, fierce, looks, Miss Fiercalicious (a.k.a. Paulo Fortes) is truly a force to be reckoned with. A top four finalist on season 3 of Canada’s Drag Race and a contestant on Traitors Canada season 1, Fierce is always unapologetically herself and inspires others to embrace their authentic selves, no matter what anyone else thinks.

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“Pride is being proud of my authentic self without any shame or judgement. Growing up in a religious household I grew up with a lot of shame and I was always afraid to express my authentic queer self. Now, I celebrate my queerness and live everyday authentically and openly proud, in hopes of inspiring other people who may be going through the same struggle.”

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Miss Fiercalicious’ Pick:

MAC Cosmetics
MAC Cosmetics

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  1. MAC Studio Tech Foundation (Available at MAC Cosmetics): “My go-to product for makeup. The application is creamy and smooth against my skin, but dries and leaves a powder finish. It’s very resistant during my drag performances. The coverage is medium and buildable, which makes it great for everyday wear or when I need full coverage when I’m in drag.”

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Celebrate Pride!

Celebrate Pride by showing your support to the 2SLGBTQI+ with these picks that give back to the community.

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Whether you’re a member of the 2SLGBTQI+ community or an ally, we hope you celebrate who you are and everything you want to be this month and beyond. Happy Pride!

Valentine’s Day Shopping Guide

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Show them the love.

Valentine’s Day shopping is fun, easy, and convenient at Upper Canada. With favourite brands, sweet treats, beauty essentials, and thoughtful surprises all under one roof, Upper Canada is the perfect place to find gifts for everyone you love. Our Valentine’s Day Gift Guide brings together practical, stylish, and heartfelt ideas to help you celebrate without the stress.

Whether you are shopping for kids, partners, friends, or grandparents, you will find inspiring options for every budget at Upper Canada.

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Small Gestures, Big Heart

Little Valentine’s surprises can mean a lot. These affordable, easy gift ideas are perfect for friends, classmates, coworkers, and family members.

Finding simple, meaningful gifts is quick and easy at Upper Canada.

Lovisa | Earrings
Lovisa | Earrings
Pandora | Heart charm
Pandora | Heart charm
H&M | Reed diffuser
H&M | Reed diffuser
Sephora | Lip trio
Sephora | Lip trio
Lindt | Chocolates
Lindt | Chocolates

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Trend-Setter Picks

Shopping for someone who loves the latest looks and must-have brands? These stylish gift ideas are sure to impress.

These picks feel fresh, fashionable, and perfectly on point for the season at Upper Canada.

Sephora | Lip serum duo
Sephora | Lip serum duo
Michael Hill | Ring
Michael Hill | Ring
Aldo | Handbag
Aldo | Handbag
La Vie En Rose | Sleep shorts
La Vie En Rose | Sleep shorts
Aritzia | Slip dress
Aritzia | Slip dress

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Feel-Good Favourites

Valentine’s Day is also a chance to slow down and enjoy a little self-care. These gifts are all about comfort, relaxation, and everyday indulgence.

Show you care with gifts that encourage rest, comfort, and a little extra love at Upper Canada.

Sephora | Eye masks
Sephora | Eye masks
Lululemon | Joggers
Lululemon | Joggers
Saje | Diffuser
Saje | Diffuser
Bath & Body Works | Body wash
Bath & Body Works | Body wash
H&M | Slippers
H&M | Slippers

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Valentine’s Gifts for the Whole Family

Valentine’s Day is not just for couples. It is also a fun chance to celebrate kids, parents, grandparents, and friends. At Upper Canada, you will find easy, thoughtful ideas that help everyone feel a little extra love.

From sweet treats to playful surprises, there are plenty of simple ways to make February 14 feel special for the whole family at Upper Canada.

Sephora | Fragrance sampler
Sephora | Fragrance sampler
Aritzia | Hoodie
Aritzia | Hoodie
Aldo | Bag charm
Aldo | Bag charm
Danish Pastry House | Cookies
Danish Pastry House | Cookies
Gap | Baby sleeper
Gap | Baby sleeper

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Make It Personal with a Gift Card

Not sure what to choose? An Upper Canada Gift Card lets them pick exactly what they love.

Perfect for fashion, beauty, dining, and more, it is a simple and thoughtful way to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

One gift card. Every brand they love.

Available at Guest Experience or buy online at UpperCanadaMall.com.

Upper canada gift card plus

The Best Sustainable Brands to Shop This Earth Month and Beyond

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April marks Earth Month, a time to celebrate our planet and take action to protect it. It’s also the perfect opportunity to reflect on our shopping habits and consider how we can make more sustainable choices. And with the start of spring, now is a great time to update your wardrobe and beauty routine with some sustainable style essentials.

One impactful way to do this is by supporting fashion and beauty brands that prioritize sustainability and eco-friendly practices.

Read on to learn more about sustainable brands at Upper Canada that deserve your attention and support this Earth Month and beyond.

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Sustainable Fashion Brands

Matt and Nat
Matt and Nat
Real Good Collection
Real Good Collection

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When it comes to eco-friendly clothing, consider shopping for brands that use sustainable materials such as organic cotton, recycled polyester and natural fibres like linen and bamboo. These materials are better for the environment and often have a lower carbon footprint than sustainable materials (plus, they feel like a cloud on your skin!). Additionally, look for brands that use as few natural resources as possible throughout their products’ life cycle, as well as companies that support ethical labour practices.

Canadian brand Matt and Nat (available at Hudson’s Bay) produces high-quality, timeless products made from different recycled materials such as nylons, cardboard, rubber, cork and windshield resins. Additionally, their linings are made solely of 100% recycled plastic bottles. Sustainable activewear brand Girlfriend Collective (available at Hudson’s Bay) is another pick you can feel good about, thanks to its ethically-made activewear with recycled materials in sizes XXS-6XL. Finally, American Eagle’s Real Good collection not only uses sustainably produced and sourced materials, but also has reduced the amount of water used per pair of jeans by 14%.

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Clean Beauty

Rose Inc.
Rose Inc.
Biossance
Biossance

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If you’re wanting to incorporate sustainability practices into your beauty routine, there are a few things to look out for. You’ll want to find brands that use sustainable beauty ingredients (that is, those formulated without harmful ingredients) and sustainable packaging that has as little waste as possible (think: reusable glass jars and compostable cardboard). And just like we mentioned, look for companies that take steps to lower their impact throughout their entire supply chain and that create products with the well-being of animals, people and the planet in mind.

A great place to start is by checking out Sephora’s “Clean at Sephora” program which features products that are free from over 50 harmful ingredients, including sulfates, parabens and phthalates. Our top picks include Biossance, Tata Harper and Rose Inc.

Other sustainable beauty brands we love include L’Occitane en Provence, The Body Shop and Lush.

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Recycle and Repurpose

MAC Cosmetics
MAC Cosmetics
The Body Shop
The Body Shop

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Another way to incorporate more sustainability practices into your everyday life is to recycle and repurpose items you already own.

Sephora, The Body Shop, Lush and MAC Cosmetics have beauty recycling programs which allow you to recycle beauty items such as compacts, lipsticks and concealer, foundation and mascara tubes. From there, the items are sorted, separated and used to create new products. Additionally, H&M has a Garment Collecting program that collects any brand’s unwanted clothes or textiles in any condition (bonus: you receive a thank-you voucher to use towards your next purchase).

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Our Commitment to Sustainability

Lcbo

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Upper Canada Mall is committed to sustainability and was proudly certified Gold in sustainable buildings certification in the most recent BOMBA Best awards. To ensure this certification, we fully renovated our interior lighting to retrofit LED and our washrooms to include energy-efficient lighting, installed EV charging stations, increased our annual waste diversion, improved waste sorting facilities and introduced Green Matters, an annual tenant green recognition program.

To learn more about sustainability at Upper Canada Mall, click here.

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Planet

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By supporting these brands and others like them, we can make a positive impact on the planet while still enjoying the latest fashion and beauty trends. This Earth Month and beyond, let’s make a conscious effort to shop sustainably and support brands that are working towards a greener future. For our top sustainable style picks, click here.

Lunar New Year Traditions from Six Inspiring Asian Canadians

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February 10, 2024, marks the beginning of the Lunar New Year, a celebration that’s considered the most important holiday in many Asian countries and across the Asian diaspora. The celebration marks the first new moon of the lunisolar calendars, traditional to many east Asian countries including China, South Korea and Vietnam. In China it is called Chūn Jié, in Vietnam it is known as Tết, in Korea it is Seollal and in Tibet it is called Losar. Additionally, it is known as Spring Festival.

Each year in the lunar calendar is represented by one of the 12 zodiac animals, all of which represent different characteristics and future. 2024 rings in the year of the dragon—a sign of power and energy, symbolizing a prosperous year ahead.

In honour of this celebration, we asked six prominent Asian Canadians to share their favourite Lunar New Year traditions.

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Rachel Spencer Wong, content creator

If you’re a fashion girlie with a love for thrifting and DIY projects, you probably know Rachel Spencer Wong (aka @rachspeed). The Toronto-based content creator (who created the genius and now-viral “333 outfit challenge”) has built a loyal following for her fun, aspirational and yet still approachable take on fashion and styling.

Rachel’s favourite memories of Lunar New Year include spending quality time with her family.

“Every year I celebrate Lunar New Year with my immediate family – as well as my grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins. Now that we’re all grown up, my cousins have their own families and children that we’re also able to share these traditions with,” she says.

One tradition Rachel is looking forward to this year is giving out red envelopes, now that she is married.

“This [year] is my first LNY married, which means traditionally it’s now our turn to give hong bao (lucky red envelopes) to our younger relatives!”

Rachel Spencer

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“I grew up being raised by a very superstitious Mah Mah (paternal grandmother), and one superstition I abide by is to make sure we clean our house before LNY. If you clean your house on the day, you’re ‘cleaning’ away all the luck!” — Rachel on her LNY superstitions.

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Rachel’s Lunar New Year Picks:

  1. 01 Nudestix Nudies Glow Cream Highlighter Stick in Hey Honey (Available at Sephora)): “My fave gold highlighter!”
  2. 02 ‘Dim Sum Palace’ by X. Fang (Available at Coles): “I purchased this book for my cousin’s children during the holidays – in my childhood my cousins and I used to go to dim sum every week! Thought this would be a very special gift.”
  3. 03 Aesop Resurrection Duet (Available at Hudson’s Bay): “It’s tradition to clean house in anticipation of LNY – and I love any reason to stock up on my favourite luxury hand soap.”

Nudestix at sephora.
Nudestix at Sephora
Dim sum palace.
Coles
Aesop at hudson's bay.
Aesop at Hudson’s Bay

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Mai Nguyen, author, ‘Sunshine Nails’

Mai Nguyen is the author of Sunshine Nails, a tender and humorous story about a Vietnamese Canadian family in Toronto who will do whatever it takes to protect their no-frills nail salon after a new high-end salon opens up closeby. The book’s complex characters showcase the diversity of immigrant experiences and community resilience.

Mai, who is also a National Magazine Award-nominated journalist and copywriter, was born in Winnipeg, raised in Halifax, and is now based in Toronto. She has fond memories from childhood of celebrating Lunar New Year (or tết) with her family.

“Growing up, my Vietnamese parents would buy these massive trays of dried, candied fruits every year. Ginger, tamarind, wintermelon, you name it. My favourites were the colourful coconut ribbons called Mứt Dừa. I could eat a whole batch of those!” she says.

This year marks her first Lunar New Year with her daughter, and Mai is looking forward to passing on traditions to mark this special occasion.

“I’m looking forward to dressing her up in red and giving her her first red envelope. I also can’t wait to eat this sticky rice cake called Bánh chưng made with glutinous rice, mung beans and pork. It’s best when it’s pan-fried so that it’s nice and crispy on the edges,” she says.

Mai Nguyen, author, 'Sunshine Nails'

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“I’m a firm believer that one should not enter the new year with a dirty home, so I start decluttering my belongings the week prior and thoroughly clean the home the day before. I like the idea that you can sweep away bad luck and enter the new year with a clean canvas.” — Mai on her LNY superstitions.

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Mai’s Lunar New Year Picks:

  1. 01 ‘Lunar Love’ by Lauren Kung Jessen (Available at Coles)
  2. 02 Jellycat Bashful Dragon Plus Toy (Shop at Coles)
  3. Dr. Martens Adrian Year of the Dragon Hair-On Tassel Loafers

Lunar love.
Coles
Jellycat at coles.
Jellycat at Coles
Dr. Martens at browns shoes.
Dr. Martens at Browns Shoes

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Deborah Lau-Yu, editor-in-chief of Fête Chinoise and creative director of Palettera Inc.

Deborah Lau-Yu is the queen of Lunar New Year celebrations. The editor-in-chief of Fête Chinoise magazine and creative director of Palettera Inc. is the woman behind the Fête Chinoise Signature Lunar New Year gala, an annual black-tie event held in Toronto (and also in Vancouver this year) that celebrates Chinese culture in the Canadian community.

As a designer and creative director, one of Deborah’s favourite Lunar New Year traditions is collecting lucky red envelopes.

“These ‘lucky money pockets’ as I used to call them growing up are fascinating to me…I was obsessed with the design on the red pockets I would receive as a child. I had an affinity toward the very traditional ones because I felt a connection with my grandmother who taught me almost everything I know about my heritage when I was growing up. From the imagery to the words on each pocket, I learned a lot through the symbolism which factors into my understanding and depth of appreciation of Chinese culture today,” she explains.

Another favourite tradition of Deborah’s is feasting. “The feast with the family came with the festivities every year and is something I miss since a lot of my family is no longer around. I tried to capture this sentiment and love for food and culture in our Fête Chinoise tea towel, titled, Feast,” she says.

Deborah Lau-Yu, editor-in-chief of Fête Chinoise and creative director of Palettera Inc.

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“I don’t wash my hair on new year’s day. It’s just a tradition and superstitious habit that was passed down through the grapevine: if you wash your hair, you might wash your new year luck away! I also wear red, as it’s an auspicious colour in the culture and for the occasion.” — Deborah on her LNY superstitions.

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Deborah’s Lunar New Year Picks:

  1. 01 Red sweater: “[It’s] always a good reason to choose a red sweater to add to the closet that can be worn at LNY and other occasions, like Christmas. [I’ve] already got mine.” (Editor’s Pick: Lilysilk Ultrafine Merino Wool Crewneck at Hudson’s Bay)
  2. 02 Gold bracelet: “When you receive lucky red pockets from elders or give pockets to others, the attention is on the hand gesture of giving and receiving.” (Editor’s Pick: Michael Kors gold bracelet)
  3. 03 Red Hunter Boots (Available at Hudson’s Bay): “Some lucky red Hunter boots to do all the travelling, celebrating, home visits, and event set up, all while being protected from the rain.”

Lilysilk at hudson's bay
Lilysilk at Hudson’s Bay
Michael Kors
Michael Kors
Hunter at Hudson's Bay
Hunter at Hudson’s Bay

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Sasha Mei, content creator, writer and co-founder of Yu + Mei

You could say fashion runs through content creator Sasha Mei (@sasha.mei)’s veins. With a mother who worked in fashion marketing at GUESS in Malaysia, it’s clear that style runs in the family. Over the past few years, Sasha has solidified herself as a purveyor of style, providing endless inspiration of chic and effortless minimalism.

Community and conversation are also important to Sasha, which led her to co-found a supper club called Yu + Mei. Yu + Mei brings individuals together for stylish, intimate gatherings, where food and conversation take center stage.

When it comes to celebrating Lunar New Year, Sasha enjoys her special tradition of having Peking duck or dim sum with friends and, of course, dressing up for the occasion.

“We don’t have many family traditions surrounding LNY – the half of my family that celebrates is in Malaysia, and we didn’t have any relatives in Canada. My mother never really reinforced strict traditions, probably because LNY during her childhood involved endless rounds at relatives’ homes and she found it exhausting. [However], two things were guaranteed on LNY growing up: special red envelopes from our parents and grandparents, and some sort of delicious meal. When I went to university, I started bringing my friends for Peking duck or dim sum on LNY and it became a new tradition – they don’t have to celebrate it, but I always think that the best part of any holiday is sharing food with people.”

Sasha Mei, content creator, writer and co-founder of Yu + Mei

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“I always keep my red envelopes – I’m too scared to throw them out in fear that it will bring bad luck!” — Sasha on her LNY superstitions.

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Sasha’s Lunar New Year Picks:

Pandora Two-tone Chinese Year of the Dragon Collier Necklace (Available at Pandora)

Chanel N°1 de Chanel Revitalizing Serum (Available at Hudson’s Bay)

Pandora
Pandora
Chanel at Hudson's Bay
Chanel at Hudson’s Bay

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Hannah Sung, Canadian media veteran, award-winning journalist, co-founder Media Girlfriends

You may remember Hannah Sung gracing your television screen in the early 2000s as a MuchMusic VJ who hosted MuchNews and TheNewMusic. She was one of the few racialized women in media at the time, and for many, was one of the first examples of Asian representation in the Canadian media landscape. Her journalism career also includes roles at CBC Radio, TVO and Globe and Mail, where she produced Colour Code, a podcast about race in Canada.

These days, Hannah continues to create space for misrepresented voices in media through Media Girlfriends, an award-winning podcast production company led by journalists of colour which focuses on promoting greater inclusion of perspectives in Canadian media.

As a proud Korean Canadian, one special Lunar New Year tradition Hannah follows is getting dressed in a hanbok.

“It’s so much fun to do with my children because it’s the only day of the year that they get to put them on. They’re also growing so fast that their hanbok is always either too small or too loose, which is cute. We wear hanbok to bow to older generations. The kids watch my husband and I kneel down to the floor and bow to my parents and my kids bow to all of us,” she explains.

“My kids don’t speak much Korean but they’ve definitely perfected the Korean phrase for ‘Wishing you good luck in the New Year.’ They love this ritual of respect and they get money and well wishes in return. Then we eat ddeok guk (떡국), an absolute fave. It doesn’t feel like a new year until we have that meal.”

Hannah Sung, Canadian media veteran, award-winning journalist, co-founder Media Girlfriends

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“I’m not superstitious, but I always do a quick Google of the Chinese zodiac to read what the year has in store for me, a snake. If I don’t like the predictions, I skip to the next one and just read until I find one that tells me I’m going to have a good year.” — Hannah on her LNY superstitions.

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Hannah’s Lunar New Year Picks:

Dr. Jart+ Cicapair (Available at Sephora): “My skin is crazy dry right now, so I’ll use anything that is healing.

“Some home office organization items.” (Editor’s Pick: MINISO Organizer)

“A few baked treats for the family.” (Editor’s Pick: Mango Like Desserts)

Shop Dr. Jart+ | Shop home organization | Explore Upper Canada dining options

Dr. Jart+ at Sephora
Dr. Jart+ at Sephora
Miniso
MINISO
Mango like desserts.
Mango Like Desserts

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Trevor Lui, chef, restauranter, author and co-creator of Highbell Group and Quell

Chef Trevor Lui is a known pillar in the Asian Canadian community, particularly in Toronto, where he’s based. The chef, restauranter and entrepreneur has a knack for bringing people together through culinary experiences—whether that be through his restaurant Bao Bird, food concept Fat Bao, management agency Quell, or hospitality business, The Highbell Group.

It should come as no surprise, then, that one of Chef Trevor’s favourite Lunar New Year traditions is the celebration of food with friends, family and community.

“Having a family banquet to both close and open the year (‘tuin leen’ and ‘hoi leen’) is always a wonderful time to have the family get together and eat great food. We also love the custom of exchanging turnip and sugar cakes (‘bak tong go’ and ‘leen go’),” says Chef Trevor.

This year, Chef Trevor is most looking forward to the continued emergence of the Asian community, one, he says, has begun to finally garner a voice beyond our own borders.

“Modern day successes buoyed by prominent figures in our community and growing allies are helping to tell stories of our generations of history of struggle, racism and success (particularly in the role we played in building North America),” he explains.

Some of these successes include what Chef Trevor calls a “new renaissance” of Asian chefs in New York City. “[These chefs] were classically trained and have now gone back to cooking the food they grew up with ‘their way’ and are now being recognized for it. I’d love to see that in our communities here in Toronto. With that, we need to take this time to help shine a light on the talent we have and find ways to support and elevate their names and establishments.”

Trevor Lui, chef, restauranter, author and co-creator of Highbell Group and Quell

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“I’m still stuck on the superstition of not showering or washing our hair on New Year’s Day to ensure we don’t ‘wash away’ our year’s health and prosperity. So get that shower in at 11:59 NYE!” — Chef Trevor on his LNY superstitions.

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Chef Trevor’s Lunar New Year Picks:

“Support LNY-themed products that support community: where major retailers use LNY as a way to capitalize on culturally-important events, select those that do so authentically and intentionally to support our communities.”

Editor’s Picks:
01 Roots x Clot Lunar New Year Dragon Varsity Jacket (Available at Roots)
02 Sulwhasoo Lunar New Year First Care Activating Serum VI (Available at Sephora)
03 Treats from Saint Germain Bakery

Roots x clot
Roots x CLOT
Sulwhasoo at sephora.
Sulwhasoo at Sephora
Saint germain bakery.
Saint Germain Bakery

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Saint Germain Bakery

Ring in the Year of the Dragon with Upper Canada! Immerse yourself in Upper Canada’s beautiful Lunar new Year themed backdrop, 8ft dragon display and discover your zodiac sign for the Year of the Dragon. Located in Market Court from January 22nd to February 8th.

Plus, join us on February 3 from 11am-4pm at Market Court for a delightful Lunar New Year celebration! Experience lantern making, balloon twisting, a traditional lion dance performance and more.

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Match the Occasion

Match the occasion.

Lunar New Year wouldn’t be complete without “lucky money” in red envelopes known as Hónɡ bāo in China, Li xi in Vietnam and Sae bae don in Korea. These envelopes are typically given out by elders and married couples to children and single people of the younger generation. This year, consider gifting one of our gift cards in your red envelope so your loved ones can shop their favourite stores at Upper Canada. Or try sending an e-gift card with a personalized video message wishing your loved one luck and prosperity for the year ahead.

Plus, don’t forget to take advantage of our Lunar New Year gift card promotion. From January 31st – February 14th, purchase an Upper Canada gift card and receive a bonus gift card in celebration of Lunar New Year. Spend $200-$499 and get a $10 bonus gift card. Spend $500-$999 and get a $25 bonus gift card. Spend $1000 and more, get a $50 bonus gift card.

GIFT NOW

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No matter how you celebrate, we hope this Lunar New Year brings lots of luck and prosperity!

Upper Canada’s Structube Favourites

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Structube is now open at Upper Canada!

Looking to spruce up your living space this Spring? Structube has officially opened and we’ve hand-picked some of our personal favourites this season. Combining both comfort and style, shop the latest furniture, décor, dining, and more at Structube — located on the Upper Level beside Linen Chest.

See below for our Structube must-haves! 

❁

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Bedroom Hideaway

Discover beautiful bedroom furniture to elevate your safe haven. The Ravel bed is sure to add elegance and luxury to any bedroom. One of our favourite features of the Ravel is the two discreet storage drawers tucked in at the foot of the bed. More storage? Yes, please!

If you prefer a more contemporary and modern feel to your space, opt for the Geraldine. To achieve a clean-look, earth-tone bedding coupled with an accent pillow will add a modern, minimalistic touch to your room.

Bedroom Hideaway
Bedroom Hideaway

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A Taste of Home

The dining room brings the family together and finding the right furniture can help create the right ambiance. From dining tables to fashionable chairs, there are plenty of options to choose from. The Albert Collection creates the warmth of traditional styles with its modern industrial look. Our favourite is the fir wood bench.

If you prefer a chic look to your dining space, the Ester coupled with the Karl dining table is both elegant and timeless. The versatility of the gold accents is sure to give your dining room an enchanting feel.

A Taste of Home
A Taste of Home

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Your Dream Lounge

The ultimate place to unwind after a long day is in the living room. The perfect sofa can bring comfort and relaxation to any living space. Give it lots of love and add your own flair to it with décor or an ottoman. If you prefer a boho-chic living space, the Kinsley is a perfect addition to help you achieve your dreamy, bright bohemian living room.

The ultimate place to unwind after a long day is in the living room. The perfect sofa can bring comfort and relaxation to any living space. Give it lots of love and add your own flair to it with décor or an ottoman. If you prefer a boho-chic living space, the Kinsley is a perfect addition to help you achieve your dreamy, bright bohemian living room.

Your Dream Lounge
Your Dream Lounge

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Own Your Space

Nothing says home like adding your own personal touch to your space. The finishing touches are key, and Structube has it all. From rugs, lighting, vases to plantars – find the right décor to add more depth to your space.

The Pascale mirror adds a romantic flair to any space, whether it be used as a vanity in your bedroom or over a console in your entryway. If you prefer both sophistication and convenience, channel your inner stylist with the Korbin bookcase.

Own Your Space
Own Your Space

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Promotions

Free delivery | Free delivery to your doorstep with any purchase over $299*.

Mattress Promotion | Buy a bed, save 25%* on mattresses and bedding accessories.

Rug Promotion | Save 25%* on all rugs with any purchase of $299 or more.

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