THE MAGAZINE FOR COSTCO MEMBERS

December 2024

by laura bode

Costco’s Gift Cards & Tickets program makes it easy to give the gift of memorable experiences

The holiday season is here, and Costco’s Gift Cards & Tickets

program makes it simple to give memorable experiences to loved ones. Perhaps your gift will be the one they’ll never forget.

Take a look at the names on your gift list. Is a CFL fan on it, or perhaps a foodie who really wants to try out a new restaurant? Or your niece and nephew who love gaming at the local family fun centre? Maybe you know someone who would love to visit California’s Universal Studios.

© VIAR PRO studio

Through the Gift Cards & Tickets program, you can give

tickets for skiing, movie theatres or spa certificates, and

so much more.

In warehouses and at Costco.ca, you’ll find a selection of gift cards and tickets to local attractions, such as movie theatres; WaySpa, Canada’s premier online spa marketplace; and gaming gift cards for Nintendo, PlayStation, Xbox and more, all at a great value.

In typical treasure-hunt fashion, you’ll find gift cards at the warehouses for a constantly changing variety of local and regional offerings. There are seasonal changes to the program you’d expect, such as tickets for water parks in July and August, tickets to winter ski programs from November to March and sports tickets before and throughout their respective seasons. You’ll also find tickets to events such as Cirque du Soleil performances and local fairs in

the summer. 

“Calgary Stampede has been a valued partner of ours in western Canada, and we have worked together to bring our members memorable family fun at a great value,” says Costco buyer Keith Stuart. “A major part of our role is to partner with local businesses who serve the communities where we have warehouses by offering their gift cards, or admission vouchers, at an exceptional value for our members.”

Great events, significant savings 

Chances are the program offers tickets to see your local sports teams, including select professional teams—and you’ll likely find the tickets you want at a significant savings. If you love CHL hockey or CFL football, the ticket options are as varied as the Saturday samples at Costco—you never know what treasures you might find.

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Stuart says that if you can’t find a certain offer you are looking for in your local warehouse, visit Costco.ca for additional gift card and ticket offers. There you’ll find gift card options for nationwide offers. Finding online tickets is easy: Search “Tickets” at Costco.ca.

If you don’t see the offer you are hoping for, be sure to check the site regularly as the offerings are constantly being updated. “We work daily to source great programs for our members all over the country,” says

© DROBOT DEAN /STOCK.ADOBE.COM

Stuart. “Our focus is on driving great value and excitement for our members.” He says that if, at any time, you have trouble redeeming your tickets, or you have questions about them, call Costco’s customer service team at 1-888-426-7826.

This holiday season might be hectic, but there is peace in knowing that your gift of creating new experiences and memories for loved ones, with the help of Costco, is just a click away.

Laura Bode is a freelance writer who loves a good gift card.

KIDS’ PICK

book Dog Man:

Big Jim Begins

AUTHOR

Dav Pilkey

In this, the 13th book

in the Dog Man series, readers will discover the origin of several characters who are banding together

to stop the Space Cuties from

destroying the city.

Will the past predict the future for Dog Man and his friends? Will goodness and bravery prevail? Is it possible that anything can happen if you believe?

Dog Man: Big Jim Begins is for readers ages 7 and up.

—Stephanie E. Ponder

by Ellen SCHWARTZ

Terror stalks Pip Drysdale’s new novel

Picture this: You are a writer whose debut novel, a thriller, has failed. You have writer’s block and are desperate to write a second, successful novel. You reconnect with a former flame, who is now a hot movie star. His glamorous lifestyle inspires an idea for your next book. But then a stalker starts targeting you—by re-enacting violent events from your first novel.

This is the scenario that confronts Zoe Ann Weiss, the central character of Pip Drysdale’s new thriller, The Close-Up. The author grew up in Africa, Canada and Australia, and now calls Sydney home.

Her previous four books—The Sunday Girl, The Strangers We Know, The Paris Affair and The Next Girl—have all been bestsellers.

Drysdale says that she wrote her first novel at the age of 7. “But it wasn’t very good, so I concluded I wasn’t meant to do this. I went on to work as an actor and a singer-songwriter. But, throughout it all, I was always a storyteller.”

© Katie Kaars

Pip Drysdale

The Close-Up

(Item 1874520) will be available in December in most Costco warehouses.

In 2017, an acquaintance sent the first chapter of Drysdale’s novel to a publisher she knew—and the eventual result was a two-book contract.

When asked why she focuses on thrillers, Drysdale replies, “That’s the way I see the world—part romantic, part scary. So that’s what my books are.” She adds, “Ultimately writing is how I give meaning to my experiences, because I can recontextualize them in fictional form. And I truly love connecting with my readers.”

Every morning, after coffee, Drysdale writes for one to two hours before her “internal critic” wakes up. “In these early sessions, I’m playing around with the story rather than formally writing.” Later in the day, she does research, revises and pulls the manuscript into shape.

“First drafts are the hardest—there’s nothing more terrifying than the blank page,” she declares, “but I love rewriting. By that point, I’ve received some input on the manuscript, and I can work with that to rethink and improve the story.”

With another thriller in the works, the rest of us can look forward to another close-up with our deepest fears.

Ellen Schwartz is the author of 19 books. She lives in Burnaby, British Columbia.

by Kristi York

Auzou Canada proudly specializes in original

books for kids

Gauthier Auzou is passionate about children’s books.

“Each of us can remember a story we read as a child that captured our imagination and stayed with us forever,” says Auzou, president of Auzou Publishing, during an interview from his office in Paris.

The company was founded in France

by Auzou’s father, Philippe, in 1973. When the younger Auzou joined the family business in 2006, he wanted to help it grow. “My father had built the business by publishing encyclopedias, but times were changing,” Auzou explains. “I felt strongly that we should devote our focus entirely to children’s books.”

© Editions Auzou

Gauthier Auzou

Gauthier Auzou

Today, Auzou Publishing’s most recognizable character is The Wolf, who was created in 2009 and has sold more than 10 million books worldwide. With his long muzzle and human-like behaviour, The Wolf is especially popular with young readers ages 4 to 7.

In developing The Wolf, Auzou envisioned a friendly character that would counteract the classic “big bad wolf” stereotype. “The Wolf is not a villain—he’s like an equal,” he says. “He’s charming, he’s funny and he makes mistakes. Kids relate to him.”

The company opened a Montreal office in 2020 and publishes 70 original Canadian titles per year. In addition to traditional storybooks, Auzou Canada also offers innovative, kid-friendly products, including graphic novels, activity books, magnetic playsets and DIY craft kits.

“Everything we create has educational value, whether it’s learning about colours, days of the week, dinosaurs, transportation or even self-confidence,” Auzou tells the Connection. “We have meaningful content for every age group.”

In an increasingly digital age, Auzou sees children’s books as an important alternative to screen time. “I think we’re seeing a trend toward keeping young children away from screens as much as possible,” he observes. “As we look to replace electronic devices with something more positive, books are the top choice.”

Kristi York is a Waterloo, Ontario–based freelance writer.

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by Mali Anderson

How to create a cozy room for overnight visitors

When friends and family visit over the holidays, provide them with a rejuvenating place to stay. A few thoughtful additions to your guest room will encourage your visitors to kick back and relax. Then, your house will be a destination year after year.

Comfort is the first priority

Choose quality sheets, blankets and comforters in festive colours and patterns. Provide “a selection of soft and firm pillows and include additional blankets and throws to allow your guests to customize their experience,” says Steve Kadlec of Chicago’s Kadlec Architecture + Design.

Next step: necessities

When thinking about what your guest room needs, consider items you are happy to see in hotels. Toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, conditioner and tissues are always useful. Placing framed photos of holiday memories or family gatherings can also help loved ones to feel at home.

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From there, consider a notepad and pen (with your Wi-Fi password written here), and a full-length mirror so your guests can feel confident leaving their room and moving into communal areas of the house. Also remember to have a wastebasket available.

Try it out

Once you have everything in the right spot, spend a night as a guest in your own home. If anything is missing, you will quickly become aware of it. The room might be cooler or warmer than you anticipated. Maybe the windows need heavier curtains to block out morning light.

After experiencing your guest room, you can put a few final elements in place. Kadlec recommends “window treatments with good light control and bedside table lamps for late-night reading. Finally, a convenient bench at the foot of the bed for overnight luggage. Your guests will thank you in the morning.”

Mali Anderson is a freelance writer based in Chicago.

by Rosie Wolf Williams

The joy of sharing memorable moments

Are you unsure about a customizable gift for family, friends or clients? No matter the distance or the relation, you can make

a deeper connection by gifting an Aura

digital frame and sharing memories as soon as the frame connects to Wi-Fi.

Framing the idea

Aura’s CEO Abdur Chowdhury and co-founder Eric Jensen met around 25 years ago while Chowdhury was working at AOL and Jensen was a grad student. Jensen was Chowdhury’s first hire when he co-founded Summize, a search engine company that later 

merged with the social platform X

(formerly named Twitter) in 2008. 

Both men took on roles at X: Chowdhury as chief scientist and Jensen as search and relevance tech lead. Eventually, they both wanted something different. After leaving the company, the two co-founded Pushd, Inc. in 2013, a company that explores smaller social networking products.

courtesy of aura

Aura CEO Abdur Chowdhury (right) with co-founder Eric Jensen

“We were both disenchanted with social media networks at the time and thought we were kind of going in the wrong direction,” says Chowdhury. They wanted to find ways where small networks of friends and family could connect and have a more intimate experience. “We both had this problem of trying to share pictures of our kids with their grandparents. We decided we could build an amazing digital picture frame that people would love.”

They came to market with Aura, the connected frame and app, in the winter of 2016, selling a few thousand frames. Today, Aura has more than 5 million app users sharing billions of photos to friends and family.

Gifting moments

The strong point about Aura frames is its gift-ability and ease of use, says Costco member and Aura distributor Anthony Badham. “You can scan the QR code off the unopened box or pre-set the frame as a gift in the app, add a gift message and upload your pictures and videos. As soon as they open it up and connect it to a Wi-Fi device, your pictures are going to be displayed automatically.”

Aura frames are packaged with the gift recipient in mind. “The way you open the box is kind of an exploration,” says Badham. “Those who receive it as a gift know that they are not just getting

a frame. For someone who is far away, it creates that level of connection. I am an avid angler and I share pictures with my father-in-law all the time. It’s a nice way to keep in touch.”

Rosie Wolf Williams is a writer, speaker and artist who likes to share photos.

by steven kent

Virtual reality brings gaming to life

You might be wondering about the difference between standard computing and virtual reality (VR). It’s akin to the difference between watching a performance on television and having a front-row seat at an actual concert. You’ll hear the same songs either way, but one is an experience while the other is, well, television.

Stripping away the barriers that separate entertainment from experience makes games, books, movies and even music come alive. That’s why movies went digital, music went stereophonic and televisions went 4K. VR doesn’t just make games and simulations more realistic; it places users in the centre of the action.

Placing people in the centre of everything is a function of three-dimensional sight and sound. Most VR headsets feature 3D surround sound. You don’t just hear enemies; you can tell which direction they are coming from. VR hardware also tracks your line of

© Meta

sight. Turn your head to the right or left and the view shifts with you. You can also look down, way down, enabling a wave of visceral tightrope-walking simulations so acrophobic that many

people can’t finish them.

“It’s all about immersion. Virtual worlds extend far beyond what we have in our world,” says Costco member and Hyperreal CEO Remington Scott, the graphics engineer who supervised

motion capture of Gollum in The Lord of the Rings movies.

In the past, VR suffered four drawbacks—cables, content, low-resolution screens and prices. In short, virtual reality hardware used to cost a mint, offered Game Boy-quality graphics and suffered from a dearth of games. Overlooking all that, the cables connecting your headset to their computers forced you to remain stiff as statues or risk destroying your equipment.

Today’s VR systems have built-in processors and power supplies. You can spin without tripping and roam without breaking your PC. With 2064 x 2208p resolution, the visuals are crisp and clear.

Best of all, thousands of games are available in storefronts like Steam, Meta and the App Store.

“Millions of players are now enjoying VR games of every variety every single day,” says VR expert and Schell Games CEO Jesse Schell. “It’s one of the hottest trends in gaming.”

© PawLoveArt

by Jennifer Mellace

Snowshoeing can be a great way to stay active throughout winter 

Looking for a winter hobby that’s great exercise and doesn’t require a whole lot of gear? If so, snowshoeing might be just the ticket. Perfect for all ages, snowshoeing can range from a low-impact activity to a heart-pounding athletic pursuit like running and snowshoe racing. Or, it can serve a practical use as it was originally intended.

The history of snowshoes

It’s been said that snowshoes are one of humanity’s oldest inventions, designed to displace a person’s weight over a larger area so that they don’t sink into deep snow. While archaeologists haven’t been able to date their origin, the best evidence suggests that the first device to make snow travel easier originated in Central Asia about 4000 B.C.

© Fluzin Dominique

Traditional snowshoes were made of hardwood frames, soaked or steamed to make them pliable, and then intricately laced with rawhide webbing. While most of us may think of snowshoes resembling large tennis rackets, history tells us that Native American tribes created different shapes based on the terrain they were travelling. For instance, some were paddle-shaped, while others had pointed or even upturned toes.

The modern snowshoe

Today’s snowshoes are made of lightweight metal, plastic or other synthetic materials, and fall into three categories—flat terrain, rolling terrain and mountain terrain. Some are designed specifically for trail running, fitness or climbing.

One way to choose a snowshoe is to know what snow conditions you’ll be trekking in. For instance, opt for longer snowshoes to keep you afloat in powdery conditions and smaller snowshoes for packed snow or steep, icy terrain.

According to Snowshoe Canada, which was set up to grow the sport, the sale of snowshoes is growing rapidly and many of the winter recreational venues are seeing a marked increase in trail passes for snowshoe participants.

Costco member Ngaio Hotte, who is an avid hiker during the warmer months, learned to snowshoe. “I started with hiking and enjoyed it so much that I wanted to extend the hiking season into winter,” the resident of British Columbia says.

From hobby to necessity

For some people, snowshoeing is less of a hobby and more of a means to an end. Costco member Julie Zeitlinger lives in Glen Sutton, Quebec, with her husband Jeremy Fontana. “My husband is into winter camping and [snowshoeing] was one of the ways we could move around more easily,” she says. “Especially in the backcountry where the snow is very deep.”

The couple owns Au Diable Vert, a year-round outdoor resort that offers kilometres of trails and rents snowshoes to their winter guests of all ages. “If you’re just going for a walk in the woods, snowshoeing is like walking,” Zeitlinger says. “I compare it to wearing moon boots—your feet feel wider but there’s not too much difference.”

In the woods of Fairfield, Vermont, Branon Family Maple Orchards has been producing pure Vermont syrup for six generations, and each generation has relied on snowshoes to keep production going throughout the winter.

“We don’t snowshoe for sport but to get around the woods during sugaring season,” says Cecile Branon, a Costco member and part owner of the orchard. “We need to get in the sugar bush to check the pipeline for leaks or places where the deer have chewed through.”

The Branons have a variety of sizes so everyone finds a snowshoe that works for them. “Mine are smaller and narrower while my husband and boys have larger sizes,” Branon says. “We always have a bunch at the ready.”

Whether for work or play, snowshoeing has something for everyone. “I try to be outside as much in winter as I do in summer,” Hotte says. “Snow-shoes allow that for me.”

Jennifer Mellace is a Maryland-based writer.

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All advertisements will indicate whether a product is available in a Costco warehouse, at Costco.ca or both. Products are scheduled to be available at the time of publication unless otherwise noted. Items may not be available in all locations and selection may vary. Costco.ca carries many of the products available at the warehouses and much more. Prices may vary in select warehouses and at Costco.ca. Shipping is included on most online items. Applicable tax laws may require sales tax on pre-discounted prices. These taxes are in addition to product price.

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