What Dad Really Wants

• Dad may not want a tie, but you can finish off his outfit in style with a pair of clear Swarovski crystal cufflinks from Harry Rosen. He’ll feel like a million bucks…and to hold some of that cash, you could go for a black and white Swarovski inlayed money clip. Both items $160 at Harry Rosen stores.

• Want to get dad to help with household clean-ups? Give him the Dyson DC16 cordless handheld vacuum, ideal for the car, workshop, or little jobs around the home. Using Dyson’s innovative cyclone technology, with no bag or filter to clog, the DC16 offers twice the suction power of conventional cordless handhelds. The battery uses advanced lithium ion technology, so the DC16 also recharges more quickly. $180, at Future Shop, Best Buy, the Bay, and other retailers.

• If dad is king, give him his crown—Crown Royal Cask No. 16. This new deluxe Canadian whisky was aged in authentic French oak cognac casks, giving it a finish with hints of rich dried fruit and spiciness. The faceted decanter-style bottle is wrapped in a black velvet bag with gold stitching, and packaged in a black and gold gift carton. This is a whisky that suits life’s important occasions—like toasting dad. Retails for around $100, wherever alcohol is sold in your area.

• Maybe dad never got to ride through the streets of Rome, the wind whipping in his hair. Maybe he doesn’t even have hair anymore. But he’ll still thrill at this icon of Italian design—the Vespa scooter. The 2009 collection for Canada includes the sleek and sporty Vespa “S.” It features a four-stroke 150 cc engine and has great efficiency—you can fill the tank for about $8 and get about 220 km. So save on fuel, and look cool. Suggested retail price of $5,300.

• Is dad always hard at work (or play) on his laptop? The Laptop Cooling Pad from Belkin has a patented wave design that keeps laptops from overheating. It uses natural convection to enhance fan cooling, and ensures low power consumption. $29.99 at Future Shop, Best Buy, and at Belkin's online.

• Dad has helped you come so far—now help him find out where he came from. At Ancestry.ca, people can research a vast database of birth, death, marriage and military records to build their family history. You can then publish your family tree, records and photos in a leather-bound book. A yearly Canadian membership in Ancestry.ca is $83 (400 million searchable names), and a world membership (tap into a global network, with 7 billion searchable names) is $300. There are also one-month and three-month memberships. The books are extra.