Winnipeg’s Nature Gift Guide
By Katie, Digital Marketing Coordinator, and Rhea Thiessen, Guest Blogger
All I want for Christmas is…….protected lands and waters, and also some locally sourced nature inspired goodies, of course.
The holidays are a season for showing appreciation to the friends and family who make our lives brighter—and one of the most heartfelt ways to do that is through thoughtful, meaningful gifts. As we shop, it’s just as important to extend that kindness to the planet. After all, overflowing landfills and rising pollution aren’t exactly part of the Christmas spirit.
The good news? We’ve put together a curated list of gift ideas that check all the right boxes: locally sourced, eco-friendly, reusable, and designed to bring joy long beyond the holiday season. Some even encourage deeper connection with the natural world itself!
By Category
Shopping for all the nature lovers on your list? We got you covered, from the adventurer to the cosy naturalist, we’ve broken it down by category for the easiest way to shop, to create a perfectly curated gift!
For the Adventurer
- Nalgane water bottle form Wilderness Supply
- Manitoba Nature guide from Mcnally Robinson
- SmartWool Hiking socks from Humbolts
- How to Kayak Manitoba book by Sandy Hudson
For the Sustainable One
- Beeswax wrap from Aurora Farm
- A thrifted jar and Refill Market gift card
- Sewing and mending kit
For the Young Nature Lover
- Manitoba Tree Guide (free printable PDF)
- Nature Journal for Kids from Flourish (Pineridge Hollow)
- Magnifying Glass/viewer from the thrift store
For the Cosy Naturalist
- Butterfly Puzzle from Riley Grae
- Earrings from Anishinaabe Girl
- Skincare from Naturely (Pineridge Hollow)
- Books of their favourite genre the thrift store
CPAWS Staff Picks
Interested in what the CPAWS Manitoba staff is loving this season? Heres their recommendations!
- Nadia: Propagated plant
- Katie: Smak Dab Mustard
- Claire: Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands by Kate Beaton-Mcnally Robinson
- Deb: The Complete Michif Flashcard Pack from Prairie Sky Books
- Chelsea: Black Market Crunch from Black Market Provisions
- Carly: Kami Goertz Mushrooms from the WAG Shop
For the CPAWS Supporter
Gifting to a CPAWS supporter or Nature Club member? Get them some CPAWS Manitoba merch to show off their love for nature while all the profits go back into supporting CPAWS initiatives.
By Stores
Not finding the perfect fit in our categories? No worries—browse gifts directly by store instead. It’s an easy way to discover even more holiday inspiration and unique finds.
Prairie Sky Books
Prairie Sky Books is a cute new and used bookstore, located in Wolseley, at 871 Westminster Avenue. In addition to books, they sell a variety of stationary, home decor, puzzles, and witchy stuff like tarot cards. Here are a few eco-friendly highlights.
- Foraging Playing Cards
- Perfect for playing all your favourite card games, these cards also contain labelled pictures of edible plants in North America, making them a perfect gift for the forager or plant parent in your life. They also have two other similar sets featuring bees and butterflies, and mushrooms, respectively.
- Tote Bags
- Reusable tote bags are a great way to be both eco-friendly and stylish. Prairie Sky Books has a variety of unique designs, many made largely from recyclable materials, so you can find the perfect one to match your friend’s vibe. They even have a few featuring Indigenous art designed by Indigenous artists
- Beeswax Candles
- Prairie Sky Books carries a variety of beeswax candles in different colours and some even with fun shapes, like cats! Candles are a great Christmas gift because they are warm and festive, perfect for cozy nights indoors. And, beeswax candles are biodegradable and sustainable, making them a solid eco-friendly choice.
Riley Grae
Riley Grae is a boutique shop located at 701 Corydon Avenue that features handmade and local products, including stationary, wellness, products, and clothing, including several great eco-friendly gift options.
- DIY Miniature Kits
- Riley Grae has super cute miniature building design kits, with settings including bookstores, a post-office, and gardens. This is a great gift for those who enjoy crafting and DIY, and it makes a unique decoration when complete! Plus, the pieces are made from non-toxic wood, so you can avoid plastic.
- Handmade Christmas Ornaments
- What’s a more appropriate Christmas gift than a festive ornament, right? Riley Grae has a selection of locally made, eco-friendly ornaments, with shapes like animals, mushrooms, and even an orange juice carton!
- Floral Mugs
- Mugs are perfect for enjoying a nice cup of hot chocolate with friends or family and are an excellent reusable alternative to disposable paper cups. Riley Grae has dainty ceramic mugs with pretty flower designs so that you can still enjoy nature’s lovely flowers in the winter.
Toad Hall Toys
Toad Hall Toys is a local toy store that sells all kinds of toys and games such as puzzles, building toys, dollhouses, board games, and more, perfect for the little ones on your list. Here are a few eco-friendly highlights.
- Eco-Friendly Wood Puzzles
- Toad Hall Toys sells various designs of tactile, wooden puzzles designed to teach problem solving and logic skills.
- Toddler-Sized Gardening Tool Sets
- This is a gift that will encourage your kids to spend time outside and learn about growing food and pollinator flowers without being intimidated by tools that are taller than they are.
- Pressed Flower Frame
- Another gift that encourages kids both to be creative and appreciate nature is this frame designed to hold pressed flowers. You could even teach your kids about the flowers they pick and their role in the ecosystem to make an educational gift.
Shopping Local
In the era of consumerism and fast fashion websites, we can get anything we want at the touch of a button, but is the convenience worth the harm it’ll cause on our planet? At CPAWS we are big supporters of shopping local in any capacity, especially shopping in your own neighbourhood! Supporting locally owned businesses helps support shopping consciously, which helps prevent holiday gifts from ending up in landfills.
Learn More
Check out our Locally Owned Shopping Sources Directory-CPAWS! If you see a local shop not on our list or an edit needs to be made, please send us an email at info@cpawsmb.org and we’ll add it!