Whether you’re looking for handmade gifts to bring home or products to help you remember your trip, there are a lot of unique souvenirs from Canada to choose from. This is especially true if you’re on the hunt for souvenirs from Ontario, where you’re sure to come across much more than a standard fridge magnet or a postcard.
The province of Ontario is the most populated in Canada, and it’s bursting with local treasures, artisan shops, and local markets where you can find everything from edible treats to handmade crafts and everything in between. Whether you’re strolling through the streets of Toronto or Ottawa, or you’ve chosen to spend some time in less busy areas such as Niagara-on-the-Lake or Stratford, you’ll find that Ontario has a lot to offer in terms of gifts and souvenirs, wherever you decide to explore.
This guide is designed to give you an idea of just how diverse Ontario is if you’re on the hunt for unique souvenirs from Canada. Of course, the usual maple-themed products make the list, but it’s always worth supporting small local businesses and bringing home souvenirs or gifts that will be remembered for years to come.
Unique souvenirs from Ontario
A map print of your favourite city
One of the most unique souvenirs from Canada you can take home with you is a detailed map print. AtlasHaus is a local design studio that’s based in Ottawa, and they offer a wide range of map prints that can be personalized to an area of your choosing. There are several sizes and styles to choose from, including vintage, classic, and art deco, so you can easily choose a map that blends in with your own home decor.
All of their products are printed in Ottawa, and they make a point to work with local printers too. I opted for a beautiful map print of Toronto, and I’ll most likely order a few more to decorate different rooms with.
The map prints from AtlasHaus are the perfect way to remember places that hold a special place in your heart, and they make great gifts for people who love to travel as well. Currently, AtlasHaus only takes online orders, so you’ll need to plan ahead if you intend to get it delivered to you while you’re visiting Ontario. Alternatively, you can always get it shipped to your home if that’s more convenient.
Premium Canadian coffee
If you’re a devout coffee drinker, or you know someone who’s coffee crazy, then picking up a bag or two of premium Canadian coffee from Muskoka Roastery Coffee Co. is a fantastic choice. This proudly Canadian company is located right in the heart of Ontario’s cottage country and they’ve been roasting high-quality coffee for over two decades.
They have a strong focus on sustainability and supporting other local businesses, and everything is roasted in small batches in Muskoka. They’re actually one of the only roasters in Canada that are 100% Canadian owned and operated!
Muskoka Roastery Coffee Co. have a great variety of whole bean and ground coffee bags available, from light to very dark. Their Howling Wolf and Black Bear blends are two of their most popular for dark roast drinkers. The Howling Wolf blend offers a smoky and bold dark roast with a little kick, and the Black Bear blend is smooth and rich, making it ideal for sipping daily. All of their bags of coffee (beans or ground) are easy to pack away and make the perfect, distinctly Ontario souvenir or gift for coffee drinkers and outdoor enthusiasts.
You can order their roasts online or you’ll find them available on the shelves of many grocery stores and local shops around the province.
Great Lakes clothing and accessories
Thinking of hitting the beach during your trip to Ontario? Or maybe you’re on the lookout for unique souvenirs from Canada that have a beach vibe to them? One of the most popular beach destinations in Southwestern Ontario is Grand Bend, located just a short drive from London or Stratford. There are quite a few shops in Grand Bend selling all types of clothing, but nothing comes close to Archies Surf Shop.
The shop was established in 1989 and since then it’s been the go-to place for casual West Coast-inspired clothing in Ontario. They also sell a variety of unique souvenirs and beach gear, so it really is a shop that has everything. But if you want to make a difference with your purchase, it’s their own Great Lakes Classics line that you should buy from.
This apparel line is Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production certified, meaning everything from fair trade labour to environmental impact is taken into account when making these products. A portion of all sales from this line go directly to the Coastal Centre for Lake Huron as well, who help to protect and conserve the local coastline.
Their Great Lakes hoodie is fleece-lined and very cozy to wear during cooler days on the beach or at sunset during the summertime. They also have crew neck sweaters, t-shirts, zip hoodies, fleece pants, baseball caps, and other accessories within their Great Lakes line, so you’ll be completely spoiled for choice. Chances are, you’ll pick up more than one item from Archies Surf Shop – and why not?
Spirits and craft cocktails
Some of the most unique souvenirs from Canada can be found in the form of liquid. Georgian Bay Spirit Co. is based in Collingwood, next to Georgian Bay, and it’s made a name for itself by producing cocktails that are ready to drink and small-batch spirits. They regularly announce limited edition spirits or seasonal cocktail cans too, so it’s always worth keeping an eye on their social media pages.
This award-winning craft distillery uses local spring water and botanicals in their Georgian Bay Gin which is perfect for drinking by the fire or adding to a cocktail mix. But for people who enjoy casual afternoons by the water or get-togethers at the cottage, it’s their Gin Smash drinks that are the most popular. The Original Citrus and Cranberry flavours are very refreshing and easy to drink. For something a little more elevated, the Cocktail Club Cosmopolitan is one drink that everyone should stock at home.
Although the Gin Smash drinks can’t be packed away in a suitcase and flown abroad, you can easily pack a bottle of gin or the Cocktail Club Cosmopolitan to take home as a souvenir or gift for a loved one. They’re an excellent way to remember your time in Ontario, and you’ll be supporting a local business while you sip and reminisce about your past travels.
Artisan chocolates
When it comes to chocolate, there are a lot of options in Ontario to choose from. While chocolates may not be classified as the most unique souvenirs from Canada, you can certainly find some incredible artisan chocolates from local businesses throughout the province. Even the smallest cities and towns will most likely have a chocolate shop in their downtown area, or you’ll at least come across a shop that sells local chocolates.
If you’re visiting Stratford, you can’t leave without trying the Mint Smoothies from Rheo Thompson, which have become somewhat famous across the country. Alternatively, a short drive to St Mary’s is where you’ll find The Chocolate Factory who produce very similar chocolates at a slightly lower cost.
In the Niagara region, be on the lookout for lavender-infused chocolates or other unique flavours such as ice wine and butter tart chocolates. There are endless possibilities if you’re looking to buy chocolates in Ontario for a souvenir or to give away as gifts.
Canvas tote bags
Not all souvenirs need to sit on a shelf – they can be functional too! One of the best souvenirs from Canada to get is a canvas tote bag. There are endless examples of tote bags available, but for a truly unique souvenir or gift you’ll need to visit locally run shops who carry hand-drawn and artisan products.
For example, I came across The Doodle Diary while browsing a locally run shop in downtown Toronto. Their designs are based around playful puns and are known for being quirky. There were totes with Canadian phrases on them, maps, and animal illustrations based around the wildlife that can be found in the city from time to time.
Tote bags aren’t just a cute accessory or something practical to shop with, they can be a great way to support local Canadian artists. Make sure you look for tote bags that are made using high-quality materials too, so they can be used in real life and not just stored away at home. If you’re short on space or weight, canvas tote bags are easy to pack too.
Maple products
You can’t leave Ontario without buying at least one maple product. These classic Canadian souvenirs and goodies aren’t just meant for tourists – locals love them too. If you go into any grocery store you’ll find maple syrup, cookies, and other food products that incorporate maple into them in some way. But for more unique maple products, you need to find local producers that create everything in small batches.
When you’re choosing maple products as your unique souvenirs from Canada, don’t forget to double check that they’re made using 100% pure Ontario maple syrup. Some producers get very creative and make products such as maple popcorn, maple BBQ sauces, maple candies, and even maple spirits.
If you happen to be visiting a city or town when there’s a local farmer’s market taking place, this is the perfect spot to find some local maple products from. I’d also recommend visiting farm shops instead of larger grocery stores where you’re more likely to come across unique items that are only produced in small quantities.
Hand-poured candles
Candles may not be what first comes to mind when you think of the most unique souvenirs from Canada, but they’re becoming more popular with visitors. Hand-poured candles are a nice way to bring some Ontario atmosphere home with you, with plenty of scents ranging from Canadian nature to more quirky scents like maple butter.
If you’re visiting Toronto, one of the best places to find hand-poured candles is in Kensington Market. In this part of Toronto you’ll find plenty of locally made goods and unique designs. Kid Icarus has a good display of hand-poured candles, for example, that are made in small batches using soy wax and essential oils.
While choosing which candles to take home with you or to wrap up as gifts, look for candles that also have an eye-catching design on the packaging too. That way, when the candle has burnt out, the jar can still be left on the shelf as a memory from Ontario without looking out of place.
Raw Ontario honey
Although maple products take a lot of the limelight when it comes to unique souvenirs from Canada, you may be surprised to know that Ontario is also a big producer of honey. If you’re looking for a sweet but natural souvenir, Ontario’s beekeepers are constantly producing small batch raw and unfiltered honey that reflects the plants native to their region. Even bigger cities such as Ottawa and Toronto have small-scale beekeepers producing honey from rooftops.
For a truly unique taste of Ontario, look for honey that’s been infused with other flavours such as cinnamon or lavender. You’ll most likely come across other products that use honey in them as well, such as beeswax candles, honeycomb, and lip balms which all make great souvenirs too.
By buying local honey products, you’re supporting local agriculture as well as sustainable pollination practices. These products can often feel luxurious as well, so you might want to make some extra room in your suitcase and treat yourself.
Planning a trip to Ontario
Planning a trip to Ontario can seem like an overwhelming task considering the size of the province. Wherever you end up though, whether that be Southwestern Ontario, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Toronto, or further afield, you’ll come across plenty of unique souvenirs from Canada to take home with you or to wrap up as a gift.
One thing to keep in mind is that there are a lot of souvenir shops in the bigger cities that sell standard souvenirs. If you want to buy more memorable products and support local businesses and producers, it’s worth exploring artisan shops as well as local markets so you can find the most authentically Ontario-based souvenirs from the region that you’re visiting.
If you have any questions about finding the most unique souvenirs from Canada while visiting Ontario, or if you think a certain product should be added to this article, please feel free to reach out. You can get in touch via email, or through Instagram or TikTok.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission from the discount codes used or when a link/ad is clicked. All purchases made will come at no extra cost to you, and I only include products and services that I would personally recommend.
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