At Little Canada, we celebrate all things Canadian – our people, our places, and the tiny moments that define us as a country. As part of our Made in Canada initiative, we are excited to shine a spotlight on Canadian businesses that bring craftsmanship, passion, and authenticity to their experiences and products.
Our first Made in Canada Spotlight is highlighting North Halton Reserve’s Paul and Karin West from Georgetown, Ontario, whose family-run sugar bush produces Little Batch, Little Canada’s private label brand of maple syrup. We sat down with Paul to learn more about their journey and what makes their syrup so special.
Meet Paul West
Paul West has had a lifelong passion for the outdoors and sustainable forestry. With a background in food manufacturing and operations management, he combined his expertise with his love of the land to create a small-batch maple syrup business. What started as a fun experiment with his family has grown into a beloved brand known for its rich, old-fashioned maple syrup made over a wood fire.
Photo: Karin West (left) and Paul West (right) getting shrunk into a 3/4″ Little Me!
Little Canada: Paul, tell us how your story in maple syrup production started?
Paul West: The idea of making maple syrup was always in the back of my mind. As a kid, I helped a neighbour’s father collect sap in Seeley’s Bay, and that memory stuck with me. Years later, while homeschooling our kids, we tapped a few trees on our property just for fun. We ended up with 50 liters of syrup that year – completely inefficiently, I might add!
After I left my corporate role in 2015, a friend suggested I try making syrup with him. We did it the old-fashioned way, boiling sap over a wood fire, and the taste was incredible. That first year, we sold it at farmers’ markets, to friends, and even to our insurance agent for client gifts. From there, things just kept growing.
Little Canada: What makes Little Batch maple syrup different or special?
Paul West: We make our syrup using traditional open-pan boiling over a wood fire. We think this process gives it a deeper, richer flavour that you won’t find in mass-produced syrup. We produce our syrup right here at home, focusing on sustainability and good forest management principles. Our own managed forest provides the sap, and as we manage the woodlot for optimal forest health, it also provides the firewood for each season. But most importantly, for us, it’s about community. Every year, friends and family come to help collect sap, enjoy the atmosphere, and share in the experience. It’s become as much about relationships as it is about making syrup.
Little Canada: What has been the most rewarding part of this journey?
Paul West: The people. We’ve met so many amazing customers who share our love for quality, locally made products. Many have become friends. Seeing people appreciate the craft and tradition behind our syrup is incredibly rewarding.
Little Canada: How did your partnership with Little Canada come about?
Paul West: In 2019, Little Canada staff visited our sugarbush, and we started talking about the Little Canada gift shop, Little Things. We loved the idea of sharing our syrup in a place that celebrates Canada in such a unique way. Now, seeing our syrup available at Little Canada feels like a perfect fit. It represents not just our product, but our story, our values, and the love we have for this country.
Little Canada: What’s next for you?
Paul West: We want to continue growing while staying true to our roots. That means keeping our production small enough to maintain quality and community involvement. We also love experimenting with new ideas, so you never know what might be next!
Where to Find Little Batch Maple Syrup
You can now find Little Batch maple syrup at Little Canada’s gift shop, Little Things! Experience the rich, old-fashioned taste of Canadian maple syrup and bring home a tiny but mighty piece of Canada.
Stay tuned for more Made in Canada spotlights as we continue to celebrate Canadian businesses, products, and the people behind them.
Where to Find Paul and Karin in Little Canada
Paul and Karin took advantage of the Little Me experience at Little Canada, where guests get scanned to create a 3D miniature of themselves, or with a loved one! Their 3/4″ Little Mes, along with a Little Batch delivery truck, can be found making an important liquid gold delivery, outside of the building where Little Canada is located, at the intersection of Yonge & Dundas.
There are over 45 locations within our miniature world where you can have your Little Me placed, or you can place it in one of the Little Scenes you’ll find in our gift shop, where Little Batch Syrup is also sold.
Visit Little Canada and Experience It for Yourself!
Come explore the magic of Little Canada, where the country’s most iconic places and stories come to life in miniature. From our immersive experience to our carefully curated gift shop, there’s so much to discover!