40 Unforgettable Going Away Gift Ideas to Say Goodbye in Style (Canada Edition)

Your best friend just accepted a job in Vancouver. Your roommate is heading to grad school in another province. Your favourite coworker got transferred to the Toronto office. Life moves fast, and so do the people you care about.

The problem? The Packing Paradox. You want to show how much they mean to you, but they are already stressing about the space left in the moving truck and the weight limit on their luggage.

The fix: skip the clutter. Focus on sentimental keepsakes that fit in a pocket, practical travel essentials, gift cards for the new city, or the ultimate no-space-needed gift: a Tiing money pot where everyone pools funds to help them start their new chapter.

Here are 40 going away gift ideas organized by category, with Canadian brands and pricing in CAD.

How to choose the perfect farewell gift

Distance and transport. Are they driving from Toronto to Calgary (room for bigger items) or flying from Halifax to Vancouver (carry-on only)? This single factor narrows your options fast.

The clutter rule. Avoid big decor pieces. They have no idea if that canvas will fit in their new apartment. Stick with small, digital, or consumable gifts.

The group gift hack. Instead of 10 friends buying random mugs and candles, use Tiing to collect funds for one meaningful Moving Fund or a high-end item like premium luggage. 10 friends x $40 = $400 of actual impact.

Quick reference by category

The ultimate list: 40 going away gift ideas by category

Sentimental keepsakes for long distance connection (ideas 1-10)

• 1. Long distance friendship lamps – Touch yours and theirs lights up across the country. The viral gift that actually lives up to the hype.
• 2. Digital photo frame – Skylight or Aura. Pre-load it with photos of your crew so they see familiar faces every morning in the new place.
• 3. Custom province necklace – A pendant shaped like their home province. Mejuri (Canadian brand) and Etsy sellers make beautiful options. A wearable piece of home.
• 4. ‘Open When’ letters – DIY letters for specific moments: ‘Open when you are homesick’, ‘Open on a bad day’, ‘Open when you miss us’. The most heartfelt gift on this list.
• 5. Custom star map – The sky on the night of your best memory together. Beautiful wall art for the new apartment. For more sentimental inspiration, browse our 40th birthday gift ideas.
• 6. Memory photobook – Chatbooks or Artifact Uprising. A photo album documenting your friendship from day one. Compact and deeply personal.
• 7. Engraved YETI or Stanley tumbler – Practical and personalized. They will carry it everywhere. Guaranteed to be the most-used gift they receive.
• 8. ‘Reasons I’ll Miss You’ jar – Handwritten notes in a decorated jar. Creative, sentimental, and costs almost nothing.
• 9. Video montage from friends – Compile short clips into one goodbye video. Free, deeply meaningful, and they will ugly-cry watching it.
• 10. Coordinates bracelet or keychain – The GPS coordinates of your favourite spot together. Jewelry that tells a story.

Practical travel essentials for the move (ideas 11- 20)

• 11. Premium luggage – Monos (Canadian brand) or Herschel Supply Co. The ultimate group gift funded through a Tiing money pot. Quality luggage they will use for years.
• 12. Noise-cancelling headphones – Bose or Sony. Essential for the cross-country flight or the long drive on the Trans-Canada. The perfect gift for the journey.
• 13. Portable Bluetooth speaker – JBL or Sonos Roam. For the road trip, the new apartment, and making the new place feel like home.
• 14. Portable charger – Anker power bank. For the long drive, the layover, the chaos of moving day. A practical lifesaver.
• 15. Tech organizer – Keep cables, chargers, and adapters sorted. Moving is chaos. This helps.
• 16. Travel journal – A Moleskine or leather journal. Document the adventure from day one. Becomes a priceless keepsake.
• 17. Packing cubes – The boring gift that everyone secretly loves. Makes the actual move so much smoother.
• 18. Quality backpack – MEC or Herschel for exploring the new city. Practical meets stylish.
• 19. Reusable water bottle – YETI or Hydroflask. Essential for the new commute and gym. A daily reminder of home.
• 20. Cozy travel blanket – A soft throw for the plane or new apartment couch. Comfort on the go.

‘New city’ survival kit: gift cards and subscriptions (ideas 21- 30)

• 21. Skip The Dishes or DoorDash gift card – Because nobody is cooking the first week of unpacking. The most thoughtful practical gift. For more occasion-based gifting, see our 50th birthday gift guide.
• 22. Canadian Tire gift card – For the new apartment essentials: curtain rods, tools, light bulbs. The stuff nobody budgets for.
• 23. Indigo gift card – Books, journals, home decor, and cozy essentials. The popular choice for bookworms and homebodies.
• 24. Coffee subscription – Pilot Coffee or 49th Parallel delivers fresh Canadian-roasted beans. A taste of home in the new city.
• 25. WestJet or Air Canada gift card – Fund their trip back home to visit. A gift card that says ‘come back soon’.
• 26. Spotify or Apple Music subscription – A year of music for the road trip, the new commute, and late nights unpacking. Zero weight, maximum value.
• 27. Discovery journal for the new city – A guided journal with prompts: ‘Best restaurant found this week’, ‘Favourite neighbourhood’, ‘First friend made’. A creative way to document the transition.
• 28. Local restaurant gift card – Research the best-rated spot near their new address. Shows extra effort and thoughtful planning.
• 29. Amazon.ca gift card – Not glamorous, but wildly practical when you need dozens of things for the new place.
• 30. Streaming bundle – Netflix, Crave, or Disney+ for the first few evenings in the new apartment. Comfort entertainment.

Coworker farewell gifts and DIY creative ideas (ideas 31- 40)

• 31. Funny farewell mug – ‘Good luck finding coworkers better than us’ mug. The humour gift that gets used daily.
• 32. Quality pen and notebook – A Moleskine for the new job. Small, professional, and always useful. For more professional gift inspiration, explore our retirement gift guide.
• 33. Desk plant or succulent – A low-maintenance plant for their new workspace. The gift that grows with their new career.
• 34. Farewell card signed by everyone – Never underestimate the power of a farewell card filled with genuine messages. The keepsake they will read over and over.
• 35. Team photo in a frame – Print the best group shot. Sentimental and lightweight.
• 36. ‘Box of Sunshine’ – Everything yellow: lemon candy, yellow nail polish, sunflower seeds, a bright notebook, and a cheerful note. A DIY Instagram-worthy gift box.
• 37. Memory jar – Fill it with handwritten favourite memories on colourful paper strips. The handmade farewell gift that costs nothing but means everything.
• 38. Canadian care package – Maple syrup, Roots socks, a Tim Hortons gift card, and Nanaimo bars. Everything they will miss about home. Check our baptism gift guide for other occasion ideas.
• 39. Happy hour box – Cocktail mix, nice glasses, snacks, and a note: ‘First round in your new city is on me.’
• 40. Goodbye video from everyone – Compile short clips into one montage. Free, deeply personal, and the gift that will make them cry (in the best way).

Why a Tiing money pot is the best going away gift

Moving across Canada is expensive. First and last month’s rent, moving trucks, flights, new furniture. Your friend is spending cash at the exact moment they need financial cushion the most. A Tiing money pot is the gift that actually helps.

• Zero clutter – No packing, no carrying, no finding space. The money goes straight to their account.
• Total flexibility – First month’s rent, groceries, a flight home for the holidays, or a nice dinner in the new city. Their call.
• Easy as a text – Share the Tiing link by text or social media. No chasing e-transfers. Everyone contributes on their own time.
• Real impact – 15 friends x $25 = $375 for a ‘New City Fund’ that actually changes their first month. Better than 15 scented candles.

👉 Don’t buy clutter. Start a Tiing money pot and fund their fresh start.

FAQ: Etiquette for going away gifts in Canada