The 100-Mile Child

It was the disappointing selection of toys on offer when looking for gifts for their nieces that gave husband and wife team Katie McDonald and Ian Rodhouse an idea: to open a store selling local, ethical and safe toys and accessories for children. “It was very difficult to find the quality gifts we wanted,” says Katie. “You want to feel good about the toys you are giving little kids. Sure, you can find them online and at the One-of-a-Kind Show, but that’s only a few times a year. We wanted to offer a one-stop-shop option.”

That’s when The 100-Mile Child was born. While the emphasis is on providing a choice of goods made locally, Katie and Ian also sell some products from the European Union where toy standards are very high. “We try to buy products from Ontario and the rest of Canada though in order to keep our carbon footprint down,” says Katie