Planning a holiday party? Toronto experts reveal potential risks and how to avoid stressing out  – NOW Toronto

Though the holiday season is a joyful time spent with loved ones, it can also be a stressful time for individuals dealing with rising costs of living and party hosting expectations. 

According to professional services network PwC Canada’s 2024 Holiday Outlook, Canadians plan to spend an average of $1,853 on gifts, travel and entertainment this holiday season, a 13-per cent increase compared to last year. 

Co-founder at McPhadden Samac Tuovi Haté LLP Rohan Haté says that finances are the number one reason why holidays can be a difficult time for people.

“Not only do they have their regular bills that they’re dealing with on an everyday basis, and we know how expensive things can be these days, not just for simple items like groceries and money expenses, etc., but now it’s the added pressure of finances related to buying gifts for children, buying gifts for loved ones, parents, friends, teachers,” the lawyer told Now Toronto on Thursday.

“…And then the pressure of ‘What if I don’t buy some of this? Or what if I can’t get some of this? So, that adds to peoples’ stress as well. I think that if people are managing their expectations during the holiday season, that’ll help people get through it,” he continued.

In addition, social worker Chioma Janelle Efejedia says another way to manage finances during the holidays is by budgeting and creating handmade gifts. 

“Oftentimes you think about those elaborate gifts that we usually give during the holidays, but they don’t have to be things that we buy. They can be something as simple as making cookies at home or making hot chocolate jars and giving it to family and friends. Sometimes, the homemade stuff is the most thoughtful and most meaningful, and they don’t have to be expensive,” she told Now Toronto. 

MANAGING HOLIDAY STRESS

With the holidays being a difficult time for some people, Haté and Efejedia have outlined tips to mitigate stress and anxiety.

Haté recommends finding ways to take time out of the day for yourself, whether through physical fitness or another therapeutic outlet. Another suggestion he makes is speaking to a mental health professional.

“This time of year, take a break. Figure out ways to destress yourself and for some people, especially clients that we deal with, it’s speaking to people. You know, a lot of people deal with social workers, therapists and otherwise, that can sometimes just help get things off your chest, to feel and manage those stresses,” he said. 

In addition, Efejedia suggests setting boundaries with family members as a way to reduce stress and anxiety. 

“…That can be engaging in particular conversations at dinner tables, or sometimes you have family members that might comment about your weight, or how, for millennials, how you’re parenting your child,” she explained. 

“And these are things that you probably might want to say, ‘You know what? I don’t want to have these conversations or take yourself away from the situation,’” she continued.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF A PARTY HOST

For some holiday party hosts, stressors might include the liabilities of hosting  situations involving heavy drinking, crowds and minors. 

For this reason, Haté notes some rules and responsibilities which hosts should be aware of in accordance with the Supreme Court of Canada, in the risk of facing a potential lawsuit.

“The two things that the courts are going to look at is what’s known as foreseeability. So, was there harm? For example, if someone’s at someone’s house party and they’re drinking, they go and injure someone else, was that harm reasonably foreseeable? And two, the proximity of the relationship between the host and the guest,” Haté explained.

“And one of the things that the Supreme Court has said, and what the courts will look at is, were you participating in inherently dangerous activity, or in terms of the party that you’re hosting? Is it something where you attract or invite parties to your guests to engage in inherent and obvious risks,” he continued.

That is why he emphasizes that it’s important for hosts to be conscious of the behaviour amongst their guests and whether some are in need of assistance.

For instance, if a guest was drinking excessively, the host can offer to take their keys away, call them a rideshare, or offer them a place to stay for the night.

“…You have to take steps that are reasonable as the host to try and prevent someone from getting behind the wheel and driving, you can’t physically force someone to do so, but if you take steps that are reasonable, it will reduce the risk that you have as the host,” Haté said.