Discovery Series – Ontario

Discovery Series Ontario is the mug for Canada’s most populous province, home to the nation’s capital, diverse landscapes, and vibrant cities like Toronto and Ottawa.

Ontario’s story is one of movement, trade, and transformation. The region was home to First Nations peoples for thousands of years before French explorers arrived in the early 17th century, followed by British control after the Treaty of Paris in 1763. Officially established as a province in 1867 at the time of Canadian Confederation, Ontario has since grown into the country’s most populous province, shaped by waves of immigration, industrial development, and its strategic location along the Great Lakes and major waterways.… Read more

Discovery Series – Manitoba

A colourful mug, Discovery Series – Manitoba, accompanies the ornament from this Canadian Province that we reviewed earlier.

Manitoba joined the Canadian Confederation on July 15, 1870, as the fifth province, created from the Red River Colony following Louis Riel’s Red River Rebellion. The province’s name derives from Indigenous words meaning “strait of the spirit,” referring to Lake Manitoba. Winnipeg grew into Manitoba’s capital as railways connected the prairies to eastern markets. Today, Manitoba balances Indigenous heritage, multicultural population, and agricultural economy while serving as Canada’s geographic heart.… Read more

Discovery Series Ornament – Calgary

The mini mugs are back for this Canadian city where prairie grit meets mountain air. Discovery Series Ornament Calgary features cool blue tones, a subtle nod to the nearby Rocky Mountains.

Calgary was established in 1875 as a North-West Mounted Police fort at the confluence of the Bow and Elbow Rivers, initially serving to maintain order during western expansion. The arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1883 transformed the frontier outpost into a ranching and agricultural center serving southern Alberta’s cattle industry.… Read more

Starbucks Quietly Fixes Typo on Canadian Discovery Series Boxes

About a year ago, I wrote about a small but noticeable typo on the box of Starbucks’ first Canadian Discovery Series mug. It was the kind of thing most people would miss at a glance, but once you saw it, you couldn’t unsee it. More specifically, the grammatically correct French spelling for the word “Discovery” should be “Découverte”, and not “Decouvérte”. For collectors, details matter, and this one stood out.

At the time, there was no indication that Starbucks was aware of the issue, let alone that it was planning to correct it.… Read more

Discovery Series – Toronto

Discovery Series – Toronto is a mug for Canada’s dynamic metropolis, where global culture, iconic skylines, and vibrant neighborhoods come together on the shores of Lake Ontario.

Toronto’s origins trace to 1793 when Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe established the town of York as Upper Canada’s capital. The city grew slowly until the mid-1800s, when railway construction and immigration transformed it into Canada’s commercial center, officially becoming Toronto in 1834. The 20th century brought waves of immigration – initially from Europe, then from around the globe following liberalized immigration policies in the 1960s – creating one of the world’s most multicultural cities.… Read more

Discovery Series – Montréal

Discovery Series Montréal is a mug for a city that blends European charm and North American energy, where historic streets, vibrant festivals, and a world-class food scene come together. I reviewed the ornament for Montréal more than one year ago!

Montreal’s story begins in 1642 when French settlers established Ville-Marie on an island in the St. Lawrence River, naming it after Mount Royal, the triple-peaked hill at its heart. The city flourished as New France’s commercial center before British conquest in 1760 created the unique bicultural character that defines Montreal today.… Read more

Discovery Series – Whistler

If you prefer the bigger mugs over the ornaments, then the Discovery Series Whistler is the one to get when visiting this well-known ski resort.

Whistler’s history as a world-class mountain resort begins with its development in the 1960s, when a group of Vancouver businessmen envisioned creating a ski destination to rival the Alps and potentially host the Winter Olympics. The resort opened in 1966 as Whistler Mountain, with Blackcomb Mountain following in 1980, creating a legendary dual-mountain experience. Whistler finally achieved its Olympic dream when it co-hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics with Vancouver, showcasing the resort to a global audience.… Read more

Discovery Series – Atlantic Canada

Discovery Series Atlantic Canada is a mug for the four easternmost provinces of Canada – New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador – where European settlement began in the early 1600s. French Acadians established communities in the 1600s before British conquest led to the tragic deportation of Acadians in 1755. The region’s economy was built on fishing, shipbuilding, and maritime trade, with cod fishing sustaining communities for centuries until the devastating collapse of fish stocks in the 1990s.… Read more

Discovery Series Ornament – Manitoba

Happy to add this cute little Discovery Series Ornament Manitoba to my collection.

Manitoba has a long history shaped by Indigenous cultures, the fur trade, and early settlers who helped develop the province into what it is today. The region has been home to First Nations for thousands of years, and their traditions still influence the province’s identity. Later, the fur trade connected Manitoba to the rest of Canada and supported new communities. Winnipeg eventually grew into a major cultural and transportation hub.… Read more

Discovery Series – British Columbia

Discovery Series British Columbia is a mug for the Canadian Province which has a history shaped by Indigenous peoples, rugged landscapes, and the Pacific coastline. Long before it joined Confederation in 1871, First Nations communities lived across its forests, islands, and mountains with deep cultural and environmental knowledge. The arrival of European explorers and the fur trade brought rapid change to the region. Gold rushes, railroads, and coastal ports later fueled its growth and diversity. Today, British Columbia stands as a blend of natural wonder, outdoor adventure, and vibrant cultural identity.… Read more

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