Our Story
Born from a Woodshop in St. Jacobs
We make toys the way they used to be made — slowly, carefully, with wood that comes from forests we believe in.
The Beginning
Why We Started
St. Jacobs Toys started with a simple frustration: we couldn't find wooden toys that met both our safety standards and our quality bar. The market was full of plastics, cheap imports, and toys that lasted six months before falling apart.
So we set up a workshop in Waterloo Region — the same community that has prized honest craftsmanship for generations — and started making toys we'd be proud to give our own children. Everything is FSC-certified, every piece is hand-finished, and not a gram of plastic has ever touched our workshop floor.
Our toys are tested against ASTM F963 and EN71-3 standards. They use natural oil and beeswax finishes only. They're designed to last 30 years, not 30 months.
Our Values
What We Stand For
Every toy is independently tested to ASTM F963 and EN71-3. No hidden dyes, no toxic finishes, no parts that can come loose. If we wouldn't hand it to an infant, we don't sell it.
We source only FSC-certified maple, walnut, and birch from sustainable North American forests. Responsible forestry means the next generation of families will still have beautiful wood to work with.
Montessori research shows that simple, open-ended toys develop creativity, concentration, and problem-solving better than flashy, single-use toys. We design with that in mind.
Manufacturing locally means we control every step of quality, we support our community, and our carbon footprint stays small. Made in the Waterloo Region — a region proud of its craft heritage.
Our Process
Made by Hand, Start to Finish
Every St. Jacobs toy starts as a raw plank of FSC-certified hardwood. We mill, shape, and sand each piece to a smooth, splinter-free finish — running hands over every surface the way a parent would.
We finish with food-safe beeswax and natural linseed oil only. The result is a warm, silky surface that smells faintly of the forest — and is completely safe for babies who put everything in their mouths.
Each toy ships with a care card — how to clean it, how to re-oil it after years of play, and a little about the wood species it was made from. Because a toy worth keeping deserves to be understood.
Ready to Explore?
See What We've Made
Browse our full collection and find the perfect toy for the child in your life.
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