Other than music, what do Paula Abdul and Feist have in common? What about Hilary Duff and k.d. lang?
Just as soon as the JUNO performers and presenters have been given their gift bags, they'll all be proud owners of SOOS jewelry.
These Canadian-made creations are just the tip of the iceberg. From bed wear to yoga classes, massages to luggage, the host, presenters and performers at this year's JUNOS will be receiving loads of top of the line Canadian treats in their gift bags.
A West Coast focus
Samantha Pickard, Vice President of Strut Entertainment is thrilled to be putting the gifts together this year.
"It was really important for us to get as many partners as we could from the West Coast," she explains. One of her favourite B.C. items come from Kelowna B.C.'s Barefoot Venus.
These spa products combine ingredients like nutmeg and ginger with Vitamin E, or peppermint with apricot seeds for luscious self-pampering.
"The packaging is a real throwback to old school labeling. They remind me of pin-up girls," Pickard says.
Another one of Pickard's favourite West Coast additions is the Uptown gift box.
Not only is it a hand painted box with a First Nations' killer whale design, it's filled with delectable treats including Raincoast Crisps, B.C.-made chocolates, preserves and cookbooks.
"I wish I was getting a bag," she laughs.
National treats
The nominated musicians and presenters come from all over the country and so too do the gifts. Covet is a Montreal-based fashion label that has contributed both men's and women's fashions.
"They're very exclusive with lots and lots of natural fibres, bamboo and soy and silk," Pickard notes.
Meaning 'small world', the Winnipeg-based clothing line Mondetta strives to cultivate harmony and diversity through their sports wear and have provided shirts from their yoga line for Canada's top musicians.
Recipients will be able to try their clothes out at the Downward Dog yoga studio in Toronto.
And if that's even too stressful, they'll be able to relax at La Petite Spa in Vancouver or head over for massage at the Performance Health Centre the next time they're in Toronto.
"It's important to take care of the mind, body and spirit for musicians who spend a lot of time slogging it out on the road, or doing a lot of recording hours in the studio," Pickard notes.
Getting athletic
It's not all soaps and spas, the JUNO bags are also chock full of fun athletic gear including Converse sneakers and Bushnell sunglasses.
Iconic Canadian musician and member of the JUNO Cup's hockey team, The Rockers, Sarah McLachlan will also be excited to find an NHL jersey in her JUNO gift bag.
Also, long track speed skater Jeremy Wotherspoon and skeleton racer Mellisa Hollingsworth, both JUNO presenters and 2010 Olympic hopefuls, will be able to warm up after practice in their HBC wool blankets.
"Very Canadian" packaging
So how are the musicians and presenters going to carry all of these treats?
"Almost every item fits in the suitcase," Pickard notes. "We're going to wheel in beautiful red Heys bags. They're deceptively roomy and perfect for musicians because they're always traveling."
"And they're red," she laughs. "Very Canadian."
The complete package
The 2009 JUNO gift bags will include:
- Bushnell Outdoor Products: sunglasses
- Converse: T-shirt, lanyards and shoe vouchers
- Covet: clothing -- men and women's-vests and scarves
- Crumpler Canada: gift voucher, black overflow bag, cell/BB case
- Dermaglow: eye and face cream in cosmetic bag
- Footed Pajamas: PJs
- Fossil: watches
- Greg May Hair Salon: voucher for a wash, hair cut, style with
- Heys: red carry-on luggage
- In Bed Organics: organic bedding voucher
- Kevin James Day: photography voucher
- MAC Cosmetics: cosmetic product box
- NHL Alumni Association: NHL jerseys
- Random House: three books
- Rocky Mountaineer Vacation: gift voucher for travel
- Shaklee: beauty/kitchen products package
- SOOS Jewels: fashion jewelry for men and women
- Timothy's World Coffee: coffee maker voucher
- Uptown GiftBox Company: hand painted box with various gourmet gift items, the WoodPak cedar gift box with a hand made, painted, signed First Nations killer whale design
- Wild Card Love: men's and women's t-shirts
- Hudson Bay Company: HBC wool blanket
- Garnier: beauty and hair products
- Barefoot Venus: spa products
- Dickies: gift voucher for custom jacket
- Mondetta: yoga line -- men's and women's shirt
- Downward Dog Yoga: certificate for classes
- Mark Lash: custom fine jewelry certificate
- Performance Health Centre: certificate for massage
- Ugg: earmuffs
- Sephora: perfume, cosmetic bag
- Lagostina: Lagostina knife set gift certificate
- La Petite Spa: spa certificate