Unique and Fun Father’s Day Gifts for Every Kind of Dad

As we make our way from May to June and continue to navigate this new way of being, we’re looking forward to the little celebrations that allow us to show the ones we love how special they are to us, whether they’re near or far. With Father’s Day fast approaching, we’ve started to brainstorm the perfect gift to make his day a little extra special, whether you’re in isolation with him, organizing a physically distanced special porch drop, or sending a little care package. Here, we’ve gathered together a few gifting suggestions, all available for purchase online for delivery or curbside pickup, to help you shop local and get the perfect match for your dad. We also have plenty of Father’s Day card options for dads, grandfathers, stepdads, new dads, spouses, and everyone in between—browse the collection here!

Keep It Local: The Perfect Picks for all the Best Dads

For the Practical Dad

Keeping it practical is key for the father figure who wants just the essentials. For these dads, we recommend opting for a practical and more traditional Father’s Day gift idea he can use day in and day out—a Bellroy wallet. Head-quartered in Australia, Bellroy’s signature design was created among friends gathered around a simple kitchen table—a brainstorming session to create a long-lasting, slimmer wallet design that required less materials while holding all the essentials. The company has come a long way since that meeting, introducing their signature slim designs in new formats that fit the bill depending on the user’s needs. Explore the collection at Scout here. For an added touch, slide the 6-in-1 credit card tool from Gentleman’s Hardware inside, so he’s always prepared for quick fixes but never carrying too much!

For the Humourous Dad

For the dad who always has the best jokes and makes you laugh at the perfect time without fail, we’ve picked a gift that can help to return the favour and make him smile. Montreal-based Tresnormale’s Toronto raccoon t-shirt is a Scout favourite and popular pick that always gets swiped up in stores. Even if he has a complicated relationship with the city’s little trash pandas, plenty of us get a little kick from this design. Perfectly pairs with the trash panda mug, made in Toronto by RCBoisjoli, for a group gift to those dads who really “love” Toronto’s famed critters.

Photo courtesy of Scout

For the Edgy, Stylish Dad

For the dads with an edgy style and a penchant for the less conventional gifting choices, we might recommend veering off the  traditional Father’s Day gifts trail. Vancouver-designed, Bali-made Mimi & Marge’s silver skull studs ($45, purchase online) appeal to those with an edgier style, while those dads who tend to reach for more of an everyday statement piece may be better matched to Toronto-based Biko’s Magnolia chain bracelet ($110, purchase online), which offers a nod to a classic vintage men's chain with a BIKO twist and can be clasped closer to the brand tag to lengthen the chain.

For the Dapper Dad

For the dapper dad who passed along his discerning tastes, treat him to a little gift kit to class up his cocktail bar. Our Mixology rocks glasses from Vital Industries ($16.95 each, purchase online) are the perfect pairing to a nightcap with options to match all his favourite liquors. For a little more fun, consider curating your own little cocktail kit with some syrups, bitters, or other barware from Labour of Love in Toronto’s east end (free domestic shipping on all online orders) or The Cookery for barware and Mercantile for bitters and cocktail accoutrement for our west enders! Drop it off on the porch and schedule a video call to sip on some cocktails together.

Photo courtesy of Vital Industries

For the DIY Dad

For the dad who’s always looking for the next project and all about self-sufficiency, give him his next do-it-yourself assignment. The Backyard Farming book collection ($6.99-$7.99 each, purchase online) is perfect for the dad who’s into self-sufficiency and skipping the grocery store lines! Explore four books to choose from depending on his agriculture goals or pick up all four in our collection for those dads with a little more space who would be interested in taking on a whole little farming operation.

For the Bearded Dad

For the dad whose beard is an intrinsic part of his identity, a little grooming kit to keep those whiskers looking in tip-top shape can be a nice addition to his regular grooming routine. Pick up all the essentials for him with the Peregrine Beard Box ($45, purchase online). Nicely packaged in a box ready for gifting, Vancouver-based Peregrine Supply Co.’s beard box includes a face and beard soap, premium beard oil, and a tin of beard balm, all handmade in small batches and designed to moisturize, soften, condition, and control. Looking for something a little more personalized? Mix and match a little self-care kit from our Men’s Grooming collection here and let us know in the notes at checkout that it’s a gift. We’ll be sure to wrap it up nicely for dad before sending out your parcel!

Photos courtesy of Peregrine Supply Co.

For the New or Young Dad

For new dads and young dads, there’s not much better of a gift than a little one-on-one story time with the kids. For a humorous board book many dads may relate to, we recommend Jimmy Fallon’s Your First Word Will Be Dada board book ($8.99, purchase online), a new weapon in Dad’s secret campaign to have baby’s first word be his name. For those who are a little older, we love the sweet messages in With My Daddy ($21.99, purchase online), which shows the ways in which a little girl honours her dad and all the fun they have together. If neither of those fit the bill, you can find more book options in our Father’s Day collection. Whichever book you choose, the best part is that dads and kids get to share a new favourite story together!

For the Sports Fan Dad

For the dad who remembers all the best sports moments, consider a new addition to their memorabilia collection with a Stephanie Cheng sports print ($38, purchase online). A Toronto-based illustrator, Stephanie Cheng captures iconic sports moments like Kawhi’s 2019 buzzer beater and sports icons like Michael Jordan with her modern screenprinted illustrations. New to the shop is The Champions print ($38, purchase online), celebrating the Raptors’ 2019 NBA Championship win with the coveted trophy front and centre surrounded by Masai Ujiri and the Raptors main starting line-up—Ibaka, Leonard, Siakam, Green, and Lowry. Pair it with a shared re-screening of the championship game if you’re staying home together or a coordinated binge-watch of the new Michael Jordan docuseries, The Last Dance, in Netflix Party mode if you’re celebrating from afar this Father’s Day.

Photos courtesy of Stephanie Cheng

For the Family-Fun Dad

For the dads who simply want more time with the family, consider a fun activity for creating memories together. A popular pick at the moment, puzzles can be a great choice for some family fun. We try to keep a broad selection of puzzles for all ages available online but these days, they sell fast, so snag your top choice as soon as you can if you see it! For those looking to spend a little extra time outside in the backyard, paddle ball sets from Gentleman’s Hardware ($18.95, purchase online) are new to the store and offer a little fun in the sun option while getting some activity in. They come packaged in a mesh bag, so they’re ready for a beach day, too, when we’re ready to make it there.

For the Granddad

While many of these ideas are also perfect presents for our grandpas, today can be a little more taxing on them as many of our seniors are hunkering down. For the grandpas we love so dearly, we recommend sending along a Love You, Mean It mug from And Here We Are ($30, purchase online) to let him know how you feel with each refill, even if you can’t pass along a hug right now. (This card also makes for the most absolute perfect pairing to send your love and hugs from afar—or at least six feet away!)

Need More Ideas?

While we hope these ideas may help to keep you connected to all the father figures in your life and help show them how very much they mean to you, we know that the challenges we’re currently facing can mean we have to think more creatively about how we can connect safely and show our gratitude for the cherished connections we have with the dads in our lives. As we acknowledge the difficulty of shopping online for your important moments, we also acknowledge the limitations of a gift guide. If you’re seeking more ideas, we encourage you to browse our Father’s Day collection online or reach out by email with requests or concerns, and we’ll do our absolute best to help in whatever way we can. If you have concerns regarding shipping, you can find answers to our most frequently asked questions here.

There are also plenty of amazing businesses in our neighbourhoods that might have the perfect present. For instance, Bandit Brewery, Eastbound Brewing, and Black Lab are among the many Toronto breweries delivering locally, while the Local in Roncesvalles is offering burger patties for purchase to barbecue at home if your dad considers himself a grill master. Butchers, bakeries, and small grocers in both neighbourhoods have you covered for burger buns, barbecue sauces, and sides to go with the burgers and beer, too! You can access the Leslieville neighbourhood shopping map here to see what businesses may be open during COVID-19 or Roncesvalles shopping information here.

Photos courtesy of Bandit Brewery and Black Lab Brewing

Before we sign off, we’d also like to send another note of appreciation. We’ve said it a lot lately, but our little communities leave us filled with gratitude. The support you offer to us online and in the shop never goes unnoticed. Thank you for sharing our posts on social, tagging your Scout finds, including us in your small business round-ups, and of course, thinking of us as we approach Father’s Day. We miss seeing you all so much. Thank you for trusting us as we send out your sentiments and gifts to you and your loved ones during this challenging time.

Featured photo: Card by Linden Paper Co.; photo courtesy of Scout. You can purchase this card online here.