A handful of my favourites, with a focus on what I think are great places to get gifts for friends/loved ones:
Milk Jar Candle Co: Started up in 2016, all their candles are clean burning and $1 from every candle is donated to a local non-profit. They sell their candles at a few places around Calgary, and also offer curbside pickup in the NE. The candles are hand poured, have wood wicks and can burn up to 55 hours.
https://www.milkjar.ca/
Silk Road Spice Merchant: This is my absolute favourite place to get spices in the city. They’re home base is in Inglewood, but they also sell their spices at the Calgary Farmers Market. Try their Ardano Smoked Sea Salt. Seriously.
https://silkroadspices.ca/
Lowen’s Natural Skincare: these guys are family owned & operated and I’ve used their products a number of times for myself and for gifts. According to their website, they source local for their ingredients as much as possible.
https://lowens.ca/
Spragg’s Meat Shop: this is my favourite local butcher/meat shop, with their farm in Rosemary, AB. They mainly raise pigs, and they’re all raised in open pastures.
https://www.spraggsmeatshop.com/
And some others:
Hub Town Brewing (Okotoks):
https://www.hubtownbrewing.com/
Blush Lane Organic Market:
https://www.blushlane.com/
Ninth and Brick:
https://www.ninthandbrick.com/
Needle & Pine:
https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/needleandpineshop