Must Love BC

Jillian Harris at Home on Canada’s Beautiful, Bountiful West Coast 

In the spirit of gratitude, we have a special treat for HORIZON readers: an exclusive Q & A with British Columbia’s much-loved lifestyle personality, Jillian Harris – an inspiration to us all!

HORIZON asked Jillian to share her tips, tastes and insights and what she’s especially grateful for at this time of year. In true delightful Jillian fashion, she expresses her obvious love for West Coast living, wellness, home, family and giving back. Enjoy!

Travel

H: British Columbia is filled with incredible year-round destinations. Where are some of your fall and winter favourites and what makes them so special to you? 

J: Oh, I love this question! Tofino and Vancouver Island, in general, have my whole heart in the fall. There’s something about the wilderness, lush forests, and beautiful coastline that just resets me. I grew up going to the island, and now Justin’s brother lives there, so it’s a place where we have endless happy family memories. 

Of course, Whistler is always a favourite for the obvious reasons. I just recently took up skiing last year, and I can’t believe I waited so long! I used to enjoy Whistler mostly for the après ski, but now I love it for the actual skiing part too – SO fun. Chute Lake Lodge is a more local getaway, not too far from our hometown, Kelowna. It’s tucked away, rustic, and feels like stepping back in time. I think it’s most beautiful in the fall, I highly recommend checking it out. And once the snow hits, you’ll find us at Big White pretty much every weekend, chasing that crisp mountain air. Every one of these places feels like home to me in a different way.

H: You’ve explored so much of B.C. – where do you go when you just need a weekend to recharge and unplug? 

J: To be honest… Our farm. It’s our little oasis. There’s no electronics, no AC, no schedule to keep. Just the lake, the wood stove, space for the dogs to run and for Leo and Annie to play. It’s the place I go to exhale, relax, and enjoy quality family time.

H: Balancing family, business and travel isn’t easy. What are your top tips for creating meaningful travel experiences without being overwhelmed? 

J: Plan ahead and set realistic expectations – that’s really it. Often on trips, we just go-go-go, and then we come home more exhausted than when we left. Now on our trips,  I try to build in slower mornings and fewer must-dos, and it makes all the difference. I love having a detailed itinerary and having everything booked ahead of time, so that we can make sure to see all the things we want to see, without being stressed!

H: Looking back on your recent adventures around the world, is there one trip that stands out as particularly memorable or transformative, and why? 

J: Japan, hands down. It was our dream trip and was actually our honeymoon after getting married last August, except we brought the kids along. Somehow it was even better than we ever imagined. Watching the kids experience a completely different culture, the food, the traditions… it changed something in all of us. We still think about it constantly and are hoping to travel to China next.

H: What are ‘Jillian’s Top Travel Tips’? 

J: Okay here are a few travel tips that have genuinely saved me over the years! First, I always load my whole itinerary onto Google Maps before we even leave the house, so everything’s right there on my phone and I’m not scrambling to figure out where we’re going. Second, I love bringing a backpack as my personal item. It just makes moving through airports so much easier, especially with kids in tow. And my last one: always pack a change of clothes (or two!) in your carry-on, not just your checked bag. If luggage gets delayed or lost, you’ll be so glad you did… trust me, I’ve learned that one the hard way!

Celebrating the Season

H: The Pacific Northwest has such a distinct beauty and lifestyle. How did your love for the West Coast influence the theme and curation of this year’s ‘Fall Jilly Box’? 

J: This season for The Fall Jilly Box, I really wanted people to feel that rejuvenating, reset energy you get from the Canadian West Coast, packaged up and sent right to their doorstep. This is our 28th Jilly Box, and supporting small Canadian businesses has been at the heart of it from the very beginning, so to have the theme of this box inspired by Canada’s iconic West Coast was so fitting. Almost every brand in this box is Canadian-owned, most of them women-owned, with a couple of true Made in Canada finds mixed in (and one is even a Product of Canada). It’s wellness-minded through and through, because that’s exactly the feeling we wanted to bottle up for our community this fall.

H: Autumn is a season that naturally brings people together. What are your favourite ways to create a warm, welcoming atmosphere for fall entertaining at home? 

J: I always say that entertaining and hosting is my love language. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve just loved decorating and making my family and friends feel special. For entertaining any time of year, I always take the time to set the table properly, even if it’s casual, because it makes the house feel put together and beautiful. And then for fall specifically, it’s all about the warm, cozy layers: throw pillows, soft blankets, candles everywhere, and good music playing in the background. Those little touches make all the difference!

H: Pumpkin spice, apple cider or a great glass of Okanagan wine – which one best sums up your ideal autumn day? 

J: Hot take: I actually don’t like PSLs! I know, I know… crazy. But if you know me at all, you already know my real answer is a glass of big, bold Okanagan red wine.

Giving Back

H: Many of your followers admire how you celebrate local makers, artisans and communities. How has growing up and living in Western Canada shaped your appreciation for supporting local businesses? 

J: Growing up in Northern Alberta, my mom owned a gift shop, and I got to see firsthand how she supported local makers and artisans. I also got to see how supporting those local makers directly impacted their families and communities as a result. Ever since then, I’ve been so passionate about supporting Canadian-made and shopping local. It’s engrained in me!

H: Philanthropy has become an important part of your platform and brand. What charitable initiatives are especially close to your heart right now, and what impact do you hope to make through this work? 

J: Giving back is such a huge part of not only my business, but my life purpose. With every single Jilly Box sold, we make a donation to organizations and charities that are close to our hearts and important to our local communities. Along with that, I’m especially excited about our upcoming annual 12 Days of Giving, where we get to support our own community directly. We run 12 days of giveaways for my community on Instagram, and every brand that participates makes a donation to the Kelowna Women’s Shelter! There’s nothing that lights me up more than knowing our little corner of the internet can turn into real, tangible help for people who need it. Being able to give back is hands-down my favourite part of my job. 

Looking Ahead

H: What are you especially grateful for this year and what exciting plans are on your horizon?

J: This year, I’m just so grateful for a healthy family, a team that works so hard, and a community around that shows up for us again and again. I don’t take any of that for granted. As for what’s ahead, honestly, my big plan is to slow down. Maybe a few fun family trips sprinkled in, but mostly I just want to be present. And of course, we’ve got our new house build on the go, which has been its own wonderful, chaotic adventure!

Follow Jillian on Instagram @jillian.harris and her website jillianharris.com to find out what’s happening in Jillian’s busy, beautiful West Coast life.