QUALITY HANDMADE WOODEN TOYS SINCE 1979

In 1979, Kevin Vickers started a small business making hand-crafted children's toys and games. Each and every item was made by Kevin personally, and made with solid wood and non-toxic stains. While Kevin was operating the business he built a strong reputation for high-quality products. Most of which are still being sold in some of the trendiest retailers throughout Canada.

 

THE "OLD WORLD CHARM" OF THE TOYS MADE BY THE TOY MAKER OF LUNENBURG CONTINUES!

In 2015, we (Ray Syvitski and Elke Uribe) purchased the Toy Maker of Lunenburg business. Kevin and his wife Peggy trained us with their production and quality control techniques, ensuring a smooth transition with continued high-quality products. From the well-rounded corners (meaning no splinters or rough edges) to the vibrant certified non-toxic stains and finishes, we continue to deliver quality games and toys for kids of all ages. We also use domestically harvested wood from companies using sustainable wood practices. Our toys are not only brilliant, they are built to last - the kind of toys you can feel good about passing down through generations!

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WHY WE MANUFACTURE TOYS

As parents, we want to spend quality time playing with our children and wish to make the most of it. We're also concerned about their educational development and providing them with the tools necessary to succeed – like every parent. And like most parents, we want to purchase toys that are of value – how many times do you hear that the child was more interested in the box than the toy? When we started looking for toys for our children, we became discerning parents who considered price, quality, fun-to-play-with, environmental friendliness, safety and educational value. However, we quickly realized that many toys were either not environmentally conscience (i.e. mass-produced plastic that caused us concern, especially for landfills) or were flashy "educational" toys designed to attract the attention of parents but only provided education through repetition and memorization. Finding truly age and developmental-appropriate, educational, fun-to-play-with toys that were manufactured in North America was also difficult.

As a research scientist and university educator who focused on the application of students knowledge to problem-solving, and designed early childhood development programs to teach science, I wanted to provide children with tools to become free thinkers. Thus, I began building quality, fun-to-play-with, wooden toys and woodcrafts with an edible bees-wax coating. These toys would teach a scientific concept, promote creativity, and encourage parents to get involved with and enjoy child’s play. 

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OUR BELIEFS AND VALUES

WE BELIEVE:

1. Children are inherently curious and creative

2. Simple toys tend to be the most stimulating for developing creative thinking skills since children are using their own imagination instead of someone else’s

3. Keeping manufacturing jobs in Canada is the key to economic sustainability in Canada

4. Being involved with our children will help them build strong relationships

5. Toys should be engaging, fun-to-play-with and educational – not simply something to occupy a child with

6. Children should be allowed to discover and create – even if it means a bigger mess to clean up

WE VALUE:

1. Natural, eco-friendly, wooden toys over plastic, disposable toys for creative play

2. The environmental and economic welfare of Canada

3. The sustainability of Canadian resources

4. The quality, durability and safety of North American products

5. Truly educational toys – not pseudo education through memorization