a swing bridge painting from Manitoulin Island, a Temagami Dry hat, a red hoodie from 11/17 Apparel in Thunder Bay, a felted bear from Sudbury, Lake Nipissing Candles from North Bay, and leather mittens from Niska Artisans in Timmins.

The Essential Northern Ontario Holiday Gift Guide 2026

Cozy hoodies, heart mittens, record-breaking fudge and more: 18 Northern Ontario-made gifts for everyone on your list.

By Stacy Rosadiuk Stacy is an editor for Northern Ontario Travel.

November 10, 2026

Some gifts are just things. Others come with a story, and this year’s guide is full of them: a ginger ale brand a whole town wouldn’t let disappear, a felted black bear from a Sudbury studio (hiking boots and all) and fudge from a family that keeps setting Guinness World Records. And that’s just the start. It rounds up 18 gifts from makers across Northern Ontario, with picks for kids, anglers, home bakers, coffee lovers, beachcombers and the person who has everything.

So make a list, check it twice, and grab a mug of something warm. Happy shopping!

1. This 'Where to Next?' Hoodie

a person sits on a wooden dock by a lake at sunset, wearing a red hoodie from 11/17 Apparel in Thunder Bay with campervan on the back and the words "Where to Next?"

Maker: 11/17 Apparel
Made in: Thunder Bay, Ontario
Made for: The friend who measures a good year in road trips

Some people start planning their next adventure before they've even unpacked from the last one. Thunder Bay's 11/17 Apparel made this hoodie for them. It's a cozy red pullover with a vintage campervan, surfboards and pine trees printed on the back, ready for road trips, lake days and whatever comes next. Consider it a good-luck charm for the road ahead. For the stocking, add their sticker pack with a limited-edition Sleeping Giant design.

2. These Black Heart Mittens

Black leather mittens with hand beaded pink hearts on the backs from Niska Artisans in Timmins.

Maker: An artisan from Kashechewan First Nation, through Niska Artisans
Based in: Timmins, Ontario
Made for: The friend with the warmest heart and the coldest hands

These might be the cheeriest mittens on the coat rack. Handmade in Kashechewan First Nation, they pair sleek black leather with faux fur trim, a cozy felt lining and a sparkly pink heart on each hand. They come from Niska Artisans, a Timmins-based fair-trade program that has supported Indigenous artisans across Northeastern Ontario since 2007 (niska is Cree for goose). This pair is an adult medium, and every pair is one of a kind, so if these find a home first, browse the full mittens and gloves collection or tuck a beaded Christmas ornament into a stocking.

3. This Bread Baking Bundle

a loaf of homemade bread next to bowls covered in fabric and beeswax bowl covers from Three Huggers in Thundery Bay, with a white and red strawberry print.

Maker: Three Huggers
Based in: Thunder Bay, Ontario
Made for: The sourdough obsessed, or anyone quitting plastic wrap

Sourdough people take their starters seriously, so give them gear that does too. This bundle from Thunder Bay family business Three Huggers covers the whole routine, from starter to slice. It's got a jar cover for the starter, a bowl cover for proofing and a roll-top bag to keep the loaf fresh. It's all reusable and plastic-free, and the food-safe linings pull out for easy washing. Not a baker? Try their beeswax wraps, bowl covers or facial rounds (a great stocking stuffer), or add a Lake Superior tea towel for a Northern touch.

4. This Whipped Tallow Balm

containers of white whipped tallow balm in two sizes from BFF Naturals in New Liskeard, stacked on a wooden stool by a barn in front of a green forest and meadow.

Maker: BFF Naturals, Breault Family Farm
Made in: New Liskeard, Ontario
Made for: Anyone with dry winter skin (so, everyone)

Northern winters are tough on skin. At Breault Family Farm near New Liskeard, the family renders tallow from their own pasture-raised cattle and whips it into this rich balm for face and body, the kind of thing you reach for every day until spring. Building a bigger gift? Add a tallow and honey lip balm made with local beeswax and raw honey, or start with the Country Christmas Essentials Collection bundle. There's even a paw balm for the dog who walks salted sidewalks all winter.

5. This Seasonal Egg Nog Fudge

a white block of egg nog fudge from Northwest Fudge Factory in Levack, Ontario.

Maker: Northwest Fudge Factory
Made in: Levack, Ontario
Made for: The sweet tooth (and anyone who says they're "just having a little piece")

Levack's Northwest Fudge Factory doesn't do anything small. The family behind it has racked up at least six dessert-related Guinness World Records, including the largest slab of fudge (2.61 tonnes, made in 2010), and on Canada Day 2025, the shop turned out a 1,200-pound Nanaimo bar for charity. This season, the one to get is their Egg Nog fudge, made only in November and December. Shipping isn't cheap, so here's the trick: order a five-pound slab, cut it up and wrap it for everyone on your list. One box, plenty of stocking stuffers.

6. This Temagami Dry Trucker Hat

Maker: Canadian Shield Beverage Corporation
Hometown: Temagami, Ontario
Made for: Anyone who remembers Temagami Dry in the cottage cooler

Remember Temagami Dry? So does everyone else. Northern Ontario's own ginger ale disappeared in 2019 and came back in 2026, after the Municipality of Temagami bought the trademark with a near-unanimous nod from residents. Now the brand has merch to match: trucker hats in pink or white, plus hoodies, tees and a forest-green quarter-zip for campfires and cool mornings. Read the full comeback story here, and check their Where to Buy page for the ginger ale itself.

7. This Christmas Blend Coffee

two bags of St. Joseph Island Christmas Blend coffee sit in a snowy spruce tree in front of a sparkling snow-covered field.

Maker: St. Joseph Island Coffee Roasters
Made in: St. Joseph Island, Ontario
Made for: The friend with strong opinions about coffee

Coffee snobs, take note: this one's roasted by hand on St. Joseph Island. The small roaster roasts and packages every batch themselves, using an air roaster that floats the beans on a bed of hot air for a clean-tasting cup. The Christmas Blend is actually a single-origin, shade-grown Colombian coffee: a mild dark roast with notes of ginger and molasses, certified organic. It's roasted to order, whole bean or ground to suit your coffee maker, and mailed to your door. For a second seasonal pick, try Winter Solstice, a dark roast from Mexico with notes of vanilla and black cherry. Tea drinker? Browse their loose-leaf teas.

8. These Animal Trades Picture Books

Three Animal Trades books from Thunder Bay, including Lion the Electrician, Bear the Carpenter and Crow the Lineman.

Maker: Steve McKeown, Animal Trades
Made in: Thunder Bay, Ontario
Made for: The kid who loves tools (and the trades parent trying to explain their job)

Ever tried explaining your job to a curious kid? Thunder Bay electrician Steve McKeown did, and it turned into a whole series. His self-published Animal Trades books pair lovable animal characters with the skilled trades: "Lion the Electrician" and "Bear the Carpenter," both illustrated by Thunder Bay’s Andrea Wray, and "Crow the Lineman," illustrated by Eric Kristmanson. Colourful pictures and hands-on activities help young readers imagine themselves building, creating and powering the world around them. Order the books from the Animal Trades store, or find "Lion the Electrician" at Indigo.

9. This Wild Blueberry Gift Box

White wooden gift boxes and tubes surrounded by jams and sauces from Algoma Highlands Wild Blueberry Farm and Winery in Wawa.

Maker: Algoma Highlands Wild Blueberry Farm & Winery
Made in: Wawa, Ontario
Made for: Whoever makes the pancakes on Christmas morning

Outside Wawa, Trevor and Tracey Laing grow low-bush wild blueberries on an old Lake Superior beachfront, where the sandy, acidic soil is just what the berries love. Their wooden gift boxes pack the harvest into one tidy package, with favourites like wild blueberry jam, BBQ sauce and syrup. Pancakes, ribs and toast: covered. For the adventurous eater, add a jar of their irresistibly named Wild Blueberry Moose Radish, a blueberry horseradish.

10. This Lake of the Woods Colouring Book

pages of the Lake of the Woods Colouring Book from Inglenook Art Studio in Kenora, which feature intricate line drawings of lake animal and plant life.

Maker: Irene McCuaig, Inglenook Art Studio
Made in: Kenora, Ontario
Made for: Kids, or grown-ups who miss the lake all winter

Can't get to the lake in January? Colour it instead. Kenora artist, writer and teacher Irene McCuaig drew these 12 pages inspired by Lake of the Woods, and they're made for grown-ups and kids alike. Her companion "My Kenora Colouring Book" adds 12 more pages of the city's landmarks and events, a fun one for anyone who grew up there. Want to go bigger? Her online shop also has prints and original paintings of the lake and boreal forest, mini paintings with their own little easels, and gift cards or certificates with no expiry.

11. This Canadian-Made Ice Fishing Tip-Up

The Trigger ice fishing tip-up by Black Fox Fishing in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.

Maker: Black Fox Fishing
Made in: Batchewana First Nation, Ontario
Made for: The person who'd rather be ice fishing (and usually is)

Ice fishing is a lot of waiting, until suddenly it isn't. Batchewana First Nation's Black Fox Fishing makes The Trigger, a Canadian-made rod holder and tip-up that sets the hook for you, so your favourite angler doesn't miss the moment. It works with any ice rod and reel for walleye, pike or panfish, and folds small enough to stash in a fish pail or gear bag. It's built for extreme conditions and backed by a lifetime warranty, which is the kind of promise any Northern angler can appreciate.

12. This Felted Black Bear

an adorable, handmade, semi-realistic felted black bear wearing small hiking boots made in Sudbury, Ontario.

Maker: Emily Gardner, The Flannel Couch
Made in: Sudbury, Ontario
Made for: The forest lover, the collector of tiny things, or anyone who needs a little whimsy

Meet Biz, a Northern Ontario black bear shaped by hand from wool in Emily Gardner's Sudbury studio. The big version comes dressed for adventure in cozy socks and hiking boots and looks totally ready for the trail. Emily grew up with a love for nature, and it shows in everything she makes, from needle-felted woodland creatures to textile moths, mushrooms and fungi-inspired jewellery. Every piece is made in small numbers, so if Biz has already found a home, browse her shop for other felted creatures or a pair of festive needle-felted mistletoe earrings.

13. This Lake Superior Beach Stone Pendant

a black circular beach stone from Lake Superior encircled by a delicate wave of silver, from Sault Ste. Marie Ontario.

Maker: Jude Ortiz
Made in: Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Made for: The beachcomber who comes home with pockets full of rocks

Anyone who's walked a Lake Superior beach knows the urge to pocket the perfect stone. Jude Ortiz does something better with it: in her Lake Superior studio, she sets a beach stone in a wave of sterling silver, one of a select number of fine handmade pieces she creates each season. Prefer the forest to the shore? Look for her cedar earrings and pendants inspired by the forest. Most pieces are one of a kind, so if something catches your eye, don't wait too long.

14. This "Lake Nipissing" Candle

cream coloured candles in jars labelled "Lake Nipissing" from The FARM in North Bay.

Maker: The FARM
Made in: North Bay, Ontario
Made for: The homebody, or the Bayite living far from the lake

Bay laurel, cedar and fir: The FARM's "Lake Nipissing" candle smells like a crisp walk along the shore. It's hand-poured right in their North Bay shop with a coconut and soy wax blend and 100% pure essential oils (no paraffin, no plastic), and it burns for about 20 to 24 hours. For the stocking, add North Bay artist Maddy Young's hand-drawn Highway 11 sticker, because, as she puts it, Highway 11 means driving home.

15. This Book of Haunted History: Andrew Hind's 'Silver and Ghosts'

A book with a black and white mining headframe on it and the title "Silver and Ghosts, creepy Cobalt and region" by Andrew Hind.

Author: Andrew Hind
Published in: Cobalt, Ontario, by White Mountain Publications
Made for: The history buff who likes a good scare

Telling ghost stories at Christmas is a long-standing tradition, so why not gift a whole book of them? In "Silver and Ghosts: Creepy Cobalt and Region," Northern Ontario Travel contributor Andrew Hind tours the old silver town's haunted side, from rusting headframes and the Bunker Museum in the historic Fraser Hotel to the miners rumoured to keep toiling in the Colonial long after death. It's a slim paperback that slips easily into a stocking; order it from White Mountain's bookstore in Cobalt or through Amazon.

16. This One-of-a-Kind Upcycled Quilt Hoodie

an upcycled patchwork hoodie made of delicate pink and green on white print with a spring green stripe through the centre made in North Bay.

Maker: Evergreen Goods
Made in: North Bay, Ontario
Made for: The thrifter, or anyone who'd rather just wear the blanket

Wearing a blanket in public? Totally acceptable, if it's one of these. Every hoodie starts life as a second-hand or vintage quilt, then gets cut and sewn into something cozy enough for a light jacket, a lazy weekend or a cool night by the fire. No two match, so the one you pick really is the only one. They fit best in sizes M to XXL and are sold online through The FARM in North Bay.

17. This Swing Bridge Print

a print of a painting of the Little Current Swing Bridge by Manitoulin Island, in a wooden frame surrounded by tree boughs.

Maker: Heather, Modest Makings
Made in: Manitoulin Island, Ontario
Made for: Anyone with a soft spot for Manitoulin

Crossing the swing bridge at Little Current is the moment Manitoulin trips really begin. Heather of Modest Makings captures it in this 8 x 10 print of her oil painting. Born and raised in Toronto, she was captivated by Manitoulin Island the moment she moved there, and she's been painting it ever since. Frames aren't included, so your giftee can pick one that suits their space. Know someone with a different favourite spot? She also has prints of Bridal Veil Falls in Kagawong and the Cup and Saucer Trail, or a Manitoulin print collection that bundles four together.

18. This Patrick Hunter T-Shirt

a print of a wolf on a grey tee, howling stylized linework into the sky which branches out like roots. By Patrick Hunter from Red Lake.

Shop at: Cheeky Beaver Boutique, Red Lake Regional Heritage Centre
Located in: Red Lake, Ontario
Made for: The art lover on your list

Red Lake's own Patrick Hunter is an Ojibwe artist, and this light grey tee carries his design "Howling for the Northstar," with "Red Lake, ON" printed underneath. You'll find it at the Red Lake Regional Heritage Centre's Cheeky Beaver Boutique, along with his work on a full-zip hoodie and a sweatshirt, plus Norval Morrisseau designs from silk ties to key chains and prints by local photographers. There's no online checkout yet, so call the Heritage Centre at 807-727-3006 (weekdays) to order and ask about shipping.

For the Friend Who Has Everything

Some people "don't want anything." Fair enough. Give them the nudge to finally cross something off their bucket list instead.

The Agawa Canyon Tour Train (Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario)

The Agawa Tour Train cuts a narrow path through a fiery display of red, orange, yellow and green autumn trees in all directions under a powdery blue sky.

Everyone has a "someday" trip. For a lot of people, it's this one. The Agawa Canyon Tour Train carries passengers through remote Algoma wilderness only accessible by rail, past the same landscapes that inspired the Group of Seven. This year, be the reason someday finally happens: give them an Agawa Canyon Tour Train gift card, and plan to ride together when the 2027 season opens. Here's what to know before you go.

Shop Local in Northern Ontario This Holiday Season

Made by people from Red Lake to Temiskaming Shores, every gift on this list supports Northern makers, artists and small businesses. Shopping local means your money stays in Northern communities, your gifts skip the cross-ocean commute, and the people on your list get something they truly couldn’t have found anywhere else.

Are you a Northern Ontario maker? Have you got an item you'd like to let us know about? Drop us a line at info@northernontario.travel. We'd love to hear from you.