In this holiday‑season YouTube segment, Steph, a longtime employee of Tod Maffin, presents a curated list of Canadian creators and small businesses across British Columbia and Ontario that make unique, handcrafted gifts. She introduces seven makers: Woodland Art Studios (wildlife prints from Langley, BC), Westwood Leather Co. (hand‑made leather wallets, keychains, custom dog‑leash leather tags from Nanaimo, BC), Laser Works North (laser‑cut custom wood gifts such as board‑game accessories, ornaments, ring boxes, and a novelty "jar of fucks" from Ontario), Brick House Paddles (Ontario‑made pickleball paddles with custom branding), lantern‑cozy makers in Oakville, Ontario (wood‑covered candle lanterns that evoke a cabin vibe), Lowry Leathercraft (Kelowna, BC leather goods inspired by Scottish highlands, created by a Highland piper), and Jen, a Vancouver Island artist who turns playful illustrations into everyday items like cards, prints, tea towels, and pillowcases. For each, Steph describes the product range, customization options, and the ideal recipient, emphasizing the value of supporting local Canadian makers during the holiday shopping season.
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I'm Steph. I've worked for Tod for the past 4 years, and today I'm sharing some amazing Canadian creators and small businesses that you can support this season. This is Woodland Art Studios from Langley, BC. If you have a wildlife lover on your list, an animal lover, someone that loves nature, um, Woodland Art Studios makes these really beautiful Canadian wildlife prints. This is Westwood Leather Co. from Nanaimo, BC. So think wallets, keychains, bags, all beautiful handcrafted leather goods. They also make custom dog leashes and that you can actually have your dog's name printed on, or I guess it would be stamped on, on the leather, which is such a thoughtful gift for anyone that's obsessed with their dog, which is like 99% of Canada. This spot is called Laser Works North and they're based in Ontario. So they make really fun custom gifts and wood creations with love and with laser beams. Think like board games, ornaments, custom ring boxes. They even have a jar of fucks you can give. Okay, so this is the perfect Perfect gift for the pickleball obsessed person in your life, and let's face it, we all have one. This place is called Brick House Paddles. They're based in St. Mary's, Ontario, and all of these pickleball boards are actually made here in Ontario. They will also create custom paddles that reflect your club, your association, your business, or your brand. Now for lantern cozies from Oakville, Ontario. So you've probably heard of a drink cozy, which goes around a drink to keep it cold or warm. So these are lantern cozies, which is a lantern with a wood cover that go around a candle to create this like super cozy Canadian cabin kind of vibe, but also very tasteful. These are a big win for any home decor lovers in your life. Next on the list, we have Lowry Leathercraft from Kelowna, BC. So these handmade leather goods are actually inspired by the rugged landscapes of Scotland, and they're created by Brent, who is a Highland piper and a leather craftsman. I love seeing pieces like this. My grandmother immigrated from Scotland. They make belts, they make wallets, they make bags, accessories, and they even have an entire line, uh, like fully devoted to Highland gear. Such a great gift, especially for anyone with Scottish roots. Now for some island-inspired art created by Jen, who is a Vancouver Island artist and graphic designer and turns her playful illustrations into everyday treasures. Think greeting cards, prints, tea towels, pillowcases, all that fun kind of stuff. These are super fun pieces for anyone who loves the West Coast, or if you just want to send a little piece of the West Coast to someone. All of these creators are Canadian, small, and totally worth supporting, especially this time of year. Happy shopping!
