DoorDash Canada has released insights revealing how Canadians marked Mother’s Day last year, which gives us a perspective of what is expected this year. The insights offer a window into the rituals, surprises, and indulgences that defined the day—from breakfast in bed to late-night desserts. Despite the annual reminder that Mother’s Day is approaching, the data shows most Canadians continue to rely on last-minute gestures, with only 15 percent of flower orders scheduled in advance. A striking 85 percent of orders were placed the same day, underscoring the continued demand for quick and reliable on-demand gifting.
The platform’s data paints a vivid picture of how Canadians navigated Mother’s Day last year, showcasing a surge in breakfast orders, floral deliveries, retail gifts, and alcohol purchases. Whether sending a bouquet or ordering dinner, Canadians leaned heavily on DoorDash to help ensure mom’s day felt special, even when planned at the eleventh hour.
Breakfast in Bed, Delivered Just in Time
Mother’s Day celebrations typically began with the gift of extra sleep. DoorDash reported that the most common time for breakfast orders to arrive was 11:52 a.m., giving moms a chance to rest before being surprised with their morning meal. Floral deliveries, however, tended to come earlier, peaking at 10:45 a.m., just in time to greet mom as she started her day. In fact, Mother’s Day morning saw a dramatic increase in grocery sales for items like coloured roses, eggs, cilantro, strawberries, and chicken breasts—each spiking by over 20,000% compared to other Sundays in May.
For Ontarians, the traditional Mother’s Day mimosa remained popular, with sparkling wine and orange juice sales on DoorDash increasing by more than 35 percent compared to other Sundays. Whether opting for homemade brunch or choosing takeout, families across the country sought out comforting classics and regional favourites. In Toronto, restaurants like Stacked Pancake House, Eggsmart, and Le Gourmand led the pack for breakfast and brunch orders, while Vancouverites turned to spots such as Breka Bakery and Yolks. In Alberta’s largest cities, diners leaned on familiar favourites like Denny’s and emerging options like Morning Brunch Co. and Dedicate Healthy Kitchen.
Across Canada, the top breakfast cuisine types ordered were American, Coffee and Tea, Breakfast, Brunch, and Canadian fare. Popular dishes included breakfast skillets, bagels, club sandwiches, eggs benedict, and fried chicken—suggesting that indulgence was very much on the menu.
A Midday Pause for Lunch and Early Toasts
While breakfast kicked off the day, many families turned to lunch to extend the celebration. The peak time for lunch orders was 1:18 p.m., with popular cuisine choices including American, Japanese, Indian, Taiwanese, and Mediterranean. The data shows that multicultural meals remained a key part of how Canadians connect with family and celebrate special occasions.
Drinks weren’t far behind. Alcohol orders started flowing in the afternoon, with 4:15 p.m. identified as the most common time for delivery. DoorDash reported that wine was the most popular alcohol category, with Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, and Cabernet Sauvignon being the top three choices nationwide. Regional preferences added nuance to the data: Alberta consumers leaned toward Prosecco, while British Columbia saw a notable number of orders for rosé. In Ontario, red blends joined the list of favourites, indicating a broad range of palates and preferences across the country.
Dinner and Dessert Cap Off the Celebration
As evening approached, Canadians once again turned to DoorDash to round out the day. Dinner orders reached their highest volume at 6:05 p.m. The top dinner cuisine types included Japanese, American, Italian, Indian, and Hawaiian, reflecting an appetite for international flavours and comfort food alike. The final course, of course, was dessert. Among the top treats ordered were cake, cheesecake, glazed donuts, pavlova, and gelato—with Red Velvet Cake emerging as the most popular sweet indulgence of the evening.
Canada’s Most Popular Gifts, Flowers, and Thoughtful Touches
Gifts were also a significant part of the celebration, with DoorDash serving as a source for last-minute beauty and wellness products. The most commonly ordered gifts included fragrances, bath salts, and face creams—though one standout across multiple cities was chips, a reminder that practical (or snackable) items often resonate. Each region had its own twist: Vancouver customers added chocolate and pain relief to their gift boxes, while Winnipeggers gravitated toward bath bombs and face cream. Montrealers focused on spa essentials and shampoo, and Torontonians favoured a mix of bath salts and skincare items.
Flowers remained a staple across the country. The most popular bouquets ordered were assorted mixes and traditional roses. In cities like Ottawa, tulips were also in demand, while Montrealers showed a preference for chrysanthemums. Carnations found favour in Vancouver and Winnipeg. The most common delivery times for flowers were between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., with 10:45 a.m. being the single most popular moment for bouquets to arrive at doorsteps across Canada.
DoorDash’s data also captured some particularly touching moments. In one standout example, a Toronto-based customer placed an order that included three flower bouquets and a large, cuddly teddy bear—a gesture that captured both the sentiment and spontaneity that often define Mother’s Day.
From Picnics in the North to Urban Celebrations
DoorDash also highlighted one of its largest Mother’s Day orders in 2024, placed from Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories. The order included a wide assortment of items—potato salad, sausage, bread, cheese, and more—clearly intended for a family picnic in honour of the day. It served as a reminder that Mother’s Day traditions vary widely across Canada, but the intent remains the same: celebrating maternal figures with time, thoughtfulness, and a touch of indulgence.
In Toronto, the largest known Mother’s Day order was placed through DoorDash and included not only multiple bouquets but also a uniquely sentimental teddy bear, showing that even rapid-fire retail can deliver on emotion.
Mother’s Day in Canada: A Snapshot of Generosity and Convenience
The DoorDash data reflects a broader trend in how Canadians mark special occasions. While many continue to rely on last-minute planning, they are turning to platforms like DoorDash to ensure their gestures still feel meaningful. From brunch deliveries and wine orders to skincare gifts and floral arrangements, Canadians are using digital tools to meet emotional moments with convenience, care, and creativity.
With Mother’s Day 2025 around the corner, the data suggests that while procrastination may persist, so too does the desire to make moms feel appreciated in ways both big and small—right down to the Red Velvet Cake.
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