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Shop Canadian: 10 Must–Have Souvenirs from the Prairie Provinces

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From Victoria to St. John’s, small businesses are celebrating their corners of Canada through products ranging from jewellery to jams, all available online. Here are 10 things we love from brands and makers in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

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Design, Canada, Travel at Home
By Dominique Lamberton
July 14, 2020
A bottle of Rocky Mountain Soap Co. Natural Sunscreen Vanilla Coconut SPF 31
A river running between the mountains of Canmore, Alberta
Canmore, Alberta.   Photo: Kym Mackinnon (Unsplash)

  1. Rocky Mountain Soap Co. Natural Sunscreen Vanilla Coconut SPF 31 —

    Protect yourself naturally under the big Alberta sky with this heavenly scented SPF ($23, Indigo). The toxin–free formula, made in the brand’s Canmore workshop, is safe for aquatic environments, so go ahead, plunge into the Rocky Mountain–ringed Quarry Lake for a refreshing dip after a day in the sun.

A bar of The Explorer Travel Soap by Field Kit

  2. Field Kit The Explorer Travel Soap —

    Chocolate bar, or genius travel–friendly soap? Turns out, it’s soap! The break–apart bars ($10 each), handmade in Field Kit’s Calgary studio, allow you to simply snap off what you need, when you need it, so you don’t have to deal with a wet, sudsy bar on the go.

The garden of the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald in Edmonton, Alberta
Colourful illustrated magnets of Edmonton landmarks from Stephanie Simpson Photography
Fairmont Hotel Macdonald, Edmonton, Alberta.   Photo: Fairmont Hotel Macdonald

  3. Stephanie Simpson Photography + Illustration Edmonton Landmark Magnets —

    Edmonton–based photographer and illustrator Stephanie Simpson creates bright prints and postcards featuring iconic Alberta sights and wildlife, but we’re suckers for her souvenir magnets. This pack ($10, Etsy) includes four of the provincial capital’s landmark institutions: the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald, Muttart Conservatory, the Legislature Building and the Royal Alberta Museum.

A bottle of Mojo Jojo Caesar Mix amongst a spread of chips, pickles, lemons, carrots and olives

  4. Mojo Jojo Caesar Mix —

    While the Caesar was invented in Calgary, Edmonton–based canner and pickler Johwanna “Jojo” Alleyne invented a condiment that takes it to the next level. Just add a tablespoon or two of this flavourful relish ($10), filled with ingredients like pickled asparagus, cider vinegar, horseradish, preserved lemon, miso and dill, to your Clamato juice and vodka for a zippy take on Canada’s favourite savoury cocktail.

A grey Hardpressed YXE Five Panel Hat

  5. Hardpressed YXE Five Panel Hat —

    Show your pride for Saskatchewan’s biggest city with this snapback hat ($35) that spells out Saskatoon’s airport code using the ultimate prairie symbol: sheaves of wheat. Hardpressed produces its own line that celebrates all things Sask, including screen–printed T–shirts, totes and bunny hugs (known as hoodies outside of the province), in its Riversdale studio, where you can often catch the design process in action.

A vegetable-tanned leather cardholder by Last Shoes

  6. Last Shoes Cardholder (Tan) —

    While cobbler Adam Finn is known for handcrafting gorgeous leather mules and pull–on Chelsea–style boots in his Saskatoon shop, he also produces bags and accessories – like this vegetable–tanned leather cardholder ($45) with an interior pull–string that slides a stack out with ease.

Mini City //20 earrings from Indi City

  7. Indi City Mini City //20 —

    Angel Aubichon, from the Flying Dust First Nation near Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan, and her partner Alexandra Manitopyes fashion hand–beaded and laser–cut acrylic jewellery and accessories honouring their ancestors and traditional lands. We love these Mini City earrings ($50) featuring a beaded accent and moonstone.

A handmade Bezhig Grandmother Moon Throw Quilt by Indigo Arrows

  8. Indigo Arrows Bezhig Grandmother Moon Throw Quilt —

    Add a piece of Manitoba history to your home: Winnipeg–based designer Destiny Seymour uses textiles to revive the patterns her Anishinaabe ancestors created thousands of years ago. This handmade linen quilt’s ($589, Simons) Niswi pattern is inspired by Indigenous Woodland pottery first discovered in the province around AD 1000–1350.

A stack of GORP energy bars in front of a packet of the snack

  9. GORP Clean Energy Bar Peanut Butter & Raspberry —

    These protein–packed energy bars ($3.50 each, Well.ca), made in Niverville, Manitoba, are perfect for a day of hiking in Riding Mountain National Park. Made with oats harvested from the company’s family farm, as well as wholesome hemp seeds, ground flax, sunflower seeds and more, you’ll likely gobble it up in one go – but if not, the handy resealable package means it won’t crumble all over your backpack (or carry–on).

A woman holding a Rox Textile Art Rainbow Quilted Clutch
Cyclist going down McDermot Street in the Exchange District of Winnipeg
McDermot Street, Exchange District, Winnipeg.   Photo: Mike Peters

  10. Rox Textile Art Rainbow Quilted Clutch with Handmade Tassel —

    This colourful clutch ($90) – complete with a printed lining and tassel zipper pull – by Winnipeg–based textile artist Naila Janzen is the perfect size for a night of restaurant– and bar–hopping in the city’s Exchange District.