September 2023

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FILM FREE ARTS Vol. 14 No. 9 MUSIC SEPTEMBER FOOD 2023 CULTURE thewalleye.ca

Coffee Break 18 TBay Cafés to Escape the Daily Grind


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Contents Editor-in-chief Darren McChristie Interim Editor Matt Prokopchuk Senior Editor Tiffany Jarva Copy Editors Amy Jones, Bonnie Schiedel Editorial Assistants Emily Turner, Sidney Ulakovic Marketing & Sales Manager Meagan Griffin sales@thewalleye.ca Photographers Jack Barten Anna Buske Kevin Dempsey Damien Gilbert Ryan Hill Chad Kirvan Dave Koski Shannon Lepere Marty Mascarin Darren McChristie Sarah McPherson Lois Nuttall Laura Paxton Art Directors Steve Coghill, R.G.D. Dave Koski, R.G.D. production@thewalleye.ca Ad Designers Dave Koski Georgia Thomas The Walleye is a free monthly publication distributed on racks throughout Thunder Bay and region. Reproduction of any article, photograph or artwork without written permission is strictly forbidden. Views expressed herein are those of the author exclusively. Copyright © 2023 by Superior Outdoors Inc. All Rights Reserved. Editorial and Advertising: Submissions must be accompanied by a selfaddressed, stamped envelope. Superior Outdoors cannot be held responsible for unsolicited material. Superior Outdoors Inc. 242 - 1100 Memorial Avenue Thunder Bay, ON P7B 4A3 Telephone (807) 344-3366 Fax (807) 623-5122 E-mail: info@thewalleye.ca

TheWalleye.ca Where can I find The Walleye? thewalleye.ca/wherecan-i-find-the-walleye/ Ad Deadline for our October Issue September 14th

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The Bop Shop

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When Science Meets Art

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Superior Lofts Building

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Busy and Blessed

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FEATURES 9 The Coffee Issue 10 Reviews 19 These are the Roasters in Your Neighbourhood 22 Local Success, National Expansion 23 What’s in a Name? FOOD 24 THE GRINNING BELLY 25 DRINK OF THE MONTH 26 OFF THE MENU 28 SUPERIOR SIP 29 The Bop Shop 30 Grotto Trattoria

Cold, Wet, and Happy

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TheTOPFive

FILM&THEATRE 32 THE SECOND MOST PLEASURABLE THING WE DO IN THE DARK. A COLUMN ABOUT MOVIES 33 A New Season 34 Vox Popular Media Arts Festival 36 CONFESSIONS OF A DRAG DEALER THE ARTS 38 Imagination and Innovation 40 Awaken Your Inner Artist 41 The Land is Dancing 42 Learning and Teaching 43 FROM THUNDER BAY ART GALLERY’S COLLECTION 44 Funny, Relatable, Cute 46 A THOUSAND WORDS 48 When Science Meets Art OUTDOOR 50 Adventure Boat Camping CITYSCENE 52 Making Up the Gods 54 STUFF WE LIKE 56 WALL SPACE: Skyline Falconry 58 Building a Legacy 59 CANNABIS CORNER

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GO LOCAL THUNDER BAY COUNTRY MARKET SECOND CHANCES No Place Like Home EYE TO EYE: With Maureen Halushak THIS IS THUNDER BAY Honing in With Terry-Lynn Johnson Roots Community Food Centre What is a Labyrinth? Franco-Festival

MUSIC 78 Noche Latina 80 Cold, Wet, and Happy 83 The Canadian Shield 84 A Fabulous and Marvellous Event 86 BURNING TO THE SKY 88 Busy and Blessed 90 The Fixer Readies New Album 93 Keeping It Diverse 94 Free Range 96

OFF THE WALL REVIEWS

ARCHITECTURE 98 Superior Lofts Building 100 Tbaytel September EVENTS GUIDE 102 MUSIC GUIDE 103 LU RADIO'S MONTHLY TOP 30 TATTOOED YOU 104 A Tattooed Tribute GREEN 107 Reimagining Urban Boulevards in Thunder Bay 108 A Healthy Diet for a Healthy Planet 111 LET'S GET GROWING HEALTH 112 A Fresh Start THE WALL 114 Vicious Cycle 116 SEPTEMBER HOROSCOPES 117 THE BEAT 118 THE EYE

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Emily Turner

From Our Instagram Feed

Warmth and Comfort

In Error

Keeping with our theme, music columnist Gord Ellis tells us about a fun project he’s been undertaking for several years called Sunday Morning Coffee Music, and picks three of his favourite tunes from the series; Sidney Ulakovic tries out a café in town where you do more with your hands than just hold your mug; and food columnist Chef Rachel Bayes shares a recipe for Finnish coffee bread. Elsewhere in the issue, Taylor Onski has a preview of Magnus Theatre’s new season, Emily Turner reviews this year’s Live From the Rock Folk Festival, and Tiffany Jarva goes behind the scenes with local falconer Kym Amonson and her business Skyline Falconry in this month’s Wall Space. So as we start casting our gaze ahead to September and the onset of cooler weather, we hope that this issue points you towards some warmth and comfort. -Matt Prokopchuk

On page 22 of our August issue, a stock photo, which included bacon, misrepresented the featured pomegranate-tahini-halloumi skewers dish. On page 28, Mika and Scotia of The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pints were misidentified as being formerly of Barley’s Angels. The two are still members of the group, individually, and their now-independent group used to be associated with The Society of Beer Drinking Ladies. On page 84, VHS’s Curt Mill was misidentified as Curt Mills. On page 94, the photo caption incorrectly stated all the people in the photo were Minuscule members; in fact, some were touring with Minuscule, but aren't members.

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Featured Contributor

Jason Wellwood

Shannon Golen Photography

R

egardless if you’re in a large city or a small town (or, like Thunder Bay, something in between), there’s a unique vibe to the local coffee shop. Whether you’re getting work done on your laptop, socializing with friends, or just relaxing and watching the world go by, a cosy café and a delicious caffeinated beverage is the perfect pairing. And what pairs better with a specialty coffee than a delectable dessert or pastry? That’s why in this month’s cover story, we’re visiting many of the city’s best coffee shops and highlighting their great drinks and delicious treats. Also in our cover story, we hear from local roasters who make the beans that form the foundation of many of these amazing drinks, we look back at the history of an iconic coffee chain that got its start right in Thunder Bay, and we ask a local barista to sort out some potentially confusing coffee terminology.

Originally from southern Ontario, Jason found his way here and fell in love with the community of Thunder Bay almost 20 years ago. In between various stints on radio and television, and as a writer, he co-parents three incredible kids, each of whom deserve their own reality series/sitcom. In fact, he often looks around to see just where the cameras are when dealing with the day-to-day reality of three very different personalities. Jason continues to write and, in addition to his work with The Walleye, you can find his projects at hardwordspayoff.ca. In this issue, read Jason’s story about Tim Albertson on page 88, and his review of Alice Cooper’s Road on page 96.

On the Cover

The Habit Coffee & Bakeshop's cappuccino and carrot cake Photo by Nik Fiorito


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TheTopFive TheTopFive

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Radio Waves Music Festival Radio Waves Music & Unplugged 2023 Festival & Unplugged 2023 September 8–10 & 14–17

Matthew Matthew Baxley Baxley

September 8–10 & 14–17 Grand Marais, Minn.

Damien Gilbert, Epica Pictures Damien Gilbert, Epica Pictures

Wake Wake the Giant the Giant September 16

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September 9–10 September 9–10 Canadian Lakehead Exhibition

Canadian Get readyLakehead to get yourExhibition geek on at ThunderCon

Neil Neil Stephen Stephen

2023, largest in Getthe ready to getpop your culture geek on convention at ThunderCon Northwestern Ontario! This annual event, in in 2023, the largest pop culture convention keeping with other comic cons world, Northwestern Ontario! This around annual the event, in is absolutely jam-packed with around fun for the guests of keeping with other comic cons world, all ages. Withjam-packed over 50 local artists vendors, is absolutely with fun and for guests of live music, interactive rooms, all ages. With over 50 activities, local artistsescape and vendors, Klingon Pop Warrior celebrity guests (including stars from the hit Canadian TV show Degrassi and live music, interactive activities, escape rooms, comic writer and(including artist Larry Hama), virtual reality, a medieval celebrity guests stars fromboard the hitgames, Canadian TV show Degrassi and encampment, kids zone, andHama), so much more, ThunderCon 2023 promises to comic writer and artist Larry board games, virtual reality, a medieval be an event you don’t want to miss. Advance weekend passes are available encampment, kids zone, and so much more, ThunderCon 2023 promises to on ThunderCon’s website $35 (ages 13 weekend and up), while and be an event you don’t want for to miss. Advance passesSaturday are available Sunday day passeswebsite are available both online thewhile door.Saturday and on ThunderCon’s for $35 (ages 13 and and at up), Sunday day passes are available both online and at the door. thundercon.org thundercon.org

Thunder Bay Bay Art Gallery Thunder Art Gallery

4 Culture Days 2023 4 Culture Days 2023

Various Locations Culture Days, a Canadawide celebration of the Culture Days, a Canadadiversity of arts and culture in wide celebration of the our country, returns Thunder diversity of arts andtoculture in Bay startingreturns September 22. our country, to Thunder For weeks, local groups, Baythree starting September 22. businesses, organizations, and For three weeks, local groups, individuals be hostingand a series of free (or pay-what-you-can) activities, businesses, will organizations, performances, and demonstrations. launch for Thunder Bay’s individuals will be hosting a series of The free official (or pay-what-you-can) activities, Culture Days will bedemonstrations. held SeptemberThe 22 official from 6–10 pm for at Prince Arthur’s performances, and launch Thunder Bay’s Landing, including Baggage Building Arts 6–10 Centre, Square Culture Days will bethe held September 22 from pmthe at Market Prince Arthur’s Parking (under the the Baggage lights), and the surrounding outdoor area.Square Other Landing,Lot including Building Arts Centre, the Market exciting exhibitions include an and artistic entitled The Art of the Parking Lot (under the lights), theinstallation surrounding outdoor area. Other Mushroom, a culturalinclude expo and artisan installation night market, an event exciting exhibitions an artistic entitled Thewith Art music, of the arts, and botanicals the Conservatory, andmarket, much more. Check the Mushroom, a culturalatexpo and artisan night an event without music, city’s website for more information on programming and scheduling. arts, and botanicals at the Conservatory, and much more. Check out the city’s website for more information on programming and scheduling. thunderbay.ca/en/recreation/culture-days.aspx thunderbay.ca/en/recreation/culture-days.aspx

September 16 Area Marina Park Festival Marina AreaWake the Back Park for itsFestival fourth year,

Giant Music will year, take over thethe Thunder Bay waterfront this September Back forFestival its fourth Wake 16. It promises an amazing cultural atmosphere along with epicthis performances, Giant Music Festival will take over the Thunder Bay waterfront September as DJ deadmau5, pop-rockalong bandwith X Ambassadors, and 16.world-renowned It promises an amazing cultural atmosphere epic performances, Australian singer-songwriter Dean Lewis are set to headline, joined by Ruby as world-renowned DJ deadmau5, pop-rock band X Ambassadors, and Waters, Mattmac, Sagatay, Sara Kae, Thunder and more. In addition Australian singer-songwriter Dean Lewis are setSpirit, to headline, joined by Ruby to the show-stopping musical year’s include Waters, Mattmac, Sagatay, Saraperformances, Kae, Thunder this Spirit, and event more.will In addition a wellness tent with Elders and traditional teachings, a variety of cultural to the show-stopping musical performances, this year’s event will include demonstrations andElders activities, local food teachings, vendors, an Indigenous craft a wellness tent with and traditional a variety of cultural market, and a family-friendly kids’ zone. This culturalan awareness project, demonstrations and activities, local food vendors, Indigenous craft which aims a more inclusive andThis welcoming city for Indigenous market, andtoa create family-friendly kids’ zone. cultural awareness project, students, evolved into the largest Indigenous youth orientation in which aimshas to create a more inclusive and welcoming city for Indigenous Canada. Tickets are available online, but are selling out quickly. students, has evolved into the largest Indigenous youth orientation in Canada. Tickets are available online, but are selling out quickly. wakethegiant.ca wakethegiant.ca

Behind Racism: Behind Racism: Challenging the Way Challenging We Think the Way We Think Until September 25

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Until September Thunder Bay Museum 25 Thunder Bay Museum While National Day for Truth and

Klingon Pop Pop Warrior Klingon Warrior

2 ThunderCon 2 ThunderCon

September 22–October 15 September 22–October 15 Various Locations

Grand Marais, The U.S. side ofMinn. the North Shore will be alive with music this September as Grand Marais, Minn. hosts twoShore amazing festivals filledmusic with good music, good The U.S. side of the North will be alive with this September as food, and good vibes. Radio Waves Music Festival, organized by WTIP North Grand Marais, Minn. hosts two amazing festivals filled with good music, good Shore Community Radio, will run from September 8 to 10 at Sweetheart’s Bluff food, and good vibes. Radio Waves Music Festival, organized by WTIP North and will host over 20 musical performances (including R&B John Ellison, Shore Community Radio, will run from September 8 to 10 at icon Sweetheart’s Bluff The Carpenter Ants, Humbird, and more). (including Unplugged 2023, community and will host over 20 musical performances R&B iconaJohn Ellison, celebration of music, craft, and and regional food and beverages, run from The Carpenter Ants, Humbird, more). Unplugged 2023, awill community September 14music, to 17 at theand North Housefood Folkand School. With performances celebration of craft, regional beverages, will run from by Dylan Jennings, Barbara Grammy Justin September 14 to 17 at the Jean NorthMeyers, Housefive-time Folk School. Withnominee performances Roberts, more,Barbara this family-friendly event has something for everyone. by Dylan and Jennings, Jean Meyers, five-time Grammy nominee Justin Tickets both festivals can be purchased online or at the events. Roberts,for and more, this family-friendly event has something for everyone. Tickets for both festivals can be purchased online or at the events. wtip.org / northhouse.org wtip.org / northhouse.org

Reconciliation falls onDay September 30,and it is While National for Truth never too earlyfalls to start learning about the Reconciliation on September 30, it is legacy of racism exclusion Canada. never too early toand start learninginabout the The Thunder Bay Museum a legacy of racism and exclusionisinhosting Canada. powerful travelling exhibitionisexamining The Thunder Bay Museum hosting a discrimination and exhibition bias entitled Behind powerful travelling examining Racism: Challenging the Way We Think. Designed and fabricated by the discrimination and bias entitled Behind Ontario Science Centre partnership the Canadian Race Relations Racism: Challenging theinWay We Think.with Designed and fabricated by the Foundation (CRRF), this in installation examines real-life Race effects of bias, Ontario Science Centre partnership with thethe Canadian Relations discrimination, and this exclusion in Canada. Supported by Thunder Foundation (CRRF), installation examines the real-life effects of Bay’s bias, Anti-Racism andand Equity Advisory Committee and Matawa First Nations, discrimination, exclusion in Canada. Supported by Thunder Bay’s this exhibit will openAdvisory to the public with pay-what-you-can Anti-Racism andbe Equity Committee and Matawa Firstadmission Nations, until September 25. this exhibit will be open to the public with pay-what-you-can admission untilthunderbaymuseum.com. September 25. The Walleye 1 thunderbaymuseum.com. The Walleye 1

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CoverStory

Coffee Break 18 TBay Cafés to Escape the Daily Grind

T

Shannon Lepere

here’s just something about the hum of conversation, the yummy snacks, and of course the delicious beverages that makes a coffee shop an appealing place to be. It’s where you can catch up with friends, escape with your laptop, or grab a to-go order to fuel your day. In this issue of The Walleye, we check out 18 of Thunder Bay’s best indie coffee shops, coffeehouses, and cafés to see what they’re serving up. From the classic no-frills cup of joe to the fanciest mocha confection around, there’s sure to be a coffee (or tea!) that’s right for you. - Bonnie Schiedel

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Iced Spiced Pumpkin Macchiato with Stuffed Ginger Cookie 

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The Place: Up Shot Coffeehouse 111½ May Street 807-475-5454 The Price: Iced spiced pumpkin macchiato: $5.25 Stuffed ginger cookie: $3.50 The Basics: Iced spiced pumpkin macchiato: blend of espresso, pumpkin pie and hazelnut syrups, and milk, topped with sea salt caramel drizzle Stuffed ginger cookie: A soft ginger cookie filled with vanilla spiced crème

Flat White & Gluten-Free Apple Rhubarb Square  The Place: Bean Fiend Café 194 Algoma Street South 807-768-2326 The Price: Medium flat white: $4.50 Apple rhubarb square: $5.95 The Basics: Flat white: espresso and steamed milk Gluten-free apple rhubarb square: fresh apples and rhubarb in a square made with gluten-free flour The Lowdown: The rich flavour of Oslo Negro espresso beans is highlighted by the simple yet delectable flat white drink at Bean Fiend Café. Expertly made, the absence of foam on this drink brings out the sweet, creaminess

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of the steamed milk. The nutty, earthy undertones of the coffee are present from the first sip to the last, resulting in a level of freshness that can be enjoyed no matter how long it takes you to finish the cup. These wonderful flavours are enhanced by their perfectly tart house-made apple rhubarb square. You would never know it’s a glutenfree treat, with its wonderfully moist crumble and the hint of lemon zest balancing out the sweetness. There is just something about these coffee beans and this square that seem like they're meant for each other. -Review and photo by Emily Turner

The Lowdown: The lovely Crystal Co at Up Shot Coffeehouse created this creamy concoction specifically for fall. Made hot or iced, this caffeinated gem has notes of hazelnut and pumpkin pie, finished with a blast of espresso made from Wolfhead beans and a salted caramel drizzle. The cookie, carefully created by Donut Run, is a cosy gingerbread sandwich with a vanilla crème in the middle. -Review by Susan Pretty, Photos by Laura Paxton


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Caramel Spiced Tea Latte & Salted Caramel Stuffed Cookie  Allongé & Cardamom Bun The Place: The Sweet North Bakery 10 Court Street South 807-344-3430 The Price: Caramel spiced tea latte: 16 oz for $5 Salted caramel stuffed cookie: $4.50 The Basics: Caramel spiced tea latte: orange pekoe tea blend with cinnamon, cloves, and a sweet citrus finish, with house-made caramel syrup, milk Salted caramel stuffed cookie: a cookie with a caramel centre The Lowdown: Caramel lovers rejoice: The Sweet North Bakery has got you covered with a customerfavourite hot tea drink that you can pair with a sweet treat that’s new to the menu. The spiced tea latte

is perfect for the upcoming fall and winter months (although you really can enjoy it any time), with the mix of cloves and cinnamon taking centre stage (but not being too overpowering), pairing nicely with the sweetness of the house-made caramel syrup and the creaminess of the milk. Speaking of housemade, The Sweet North is rolling out a series of stuffed cookies this September, and their salted caramel cookie is sure to be a hit. The sweetsalty pairing works as well as ever, and the gooey caramel centre of this soft delectable treat is pure joy. Whether as a morning pick-me-up or an afternoon snack, this drinksweet pairing is sure to make many fans. -Review by Matt Prokopchuk, Photo by Ryan Hill

The Place: St Paul Roastery and Swell Bakery 11 and 15A St. Paul Street 807-344-3900 The Price: Allongé: $4 Cardamom bun: $4 The Basics: Allongé: Jose Rodriguez coffee Cardamom bun: House-made sweet and fragrant bun with cardamom, cinnamon, and brown sugar The Lowdown: With boutique execution on every level, we have the allongé from St Paul Roastery paired with the wonderful cardamom bun from Swell Bakery. An allongé is a long pull of espresso, which gives you more volume in the final drink—where the process differs, however, is

that the allongé uses a coarse ground to account for the longer brew time. This creates a balanced coffee experience that avoids any of the harshness one may usually experience when pulling espresso too long. Tasting notes of caramel from the Jose Rodriguez light roast (done in-house) make for a unique must-try experience. The cardamom bun from Swell is quintessential coffee baking. Light tastes of spices balanced with sweetness and a wonderful texture make for an instant classic in the coffee treat pantheon. When the allongé and cardamom bun finally come together, you get a perfectly balanced experience of bold and sweet flavours to start your day. - Review and photo by Jack Barten

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Iced Vanilla Latte & Root Beer Cookie 

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The Place: Carlito’s Café 301 Simpson Street 807-577-5410 The Price: 20 oz iced vanilla latte: $3.64 Root beer cookie: $2.49 The Basics: Iced vanilla latte: espresso, Torani vanilla syrup, and milk Root beer cookie: a cookie made from root beer concentrate, with a buttermilk icing The Lowdown: There are certain flavours in this world that are just meant to go together. Vanilla and root beer are two of them. Carlito’s

Iced Hot Chili Latte & Strawberry Scone  The Place: Bay Village Coffee 221 Bay Street 807-286-0278 The Price: Iced hot chili latte: $6.10 Strawberry scone: $4 The Basics: Iced hot chili latte: espresso and milk topped with house-made hot chili sauce Strawberry scone: a house-made scone with fresh strawberries The Lowdown: Bay Village serves up a taste of fire and ice with their iced hot chili latte. Their housemade chili sauce has warm notes of cinnamon and nutmeg followed by a surprise extra kick on the finish

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that keeps you guessing what the secret ingredient is. This iced latte features Rose N Crantz Rwanda espresso blend, a bold and savoury match for this flavourful brew. The simplicity of the strawberry scone goes well with the iced hot chili latte. Fresh, jammy strawberries take the forefront in this lightly sweetened treat, which is baked inhouse until golden. These scones are not to be underestimated— you’ll be tempted to take a second scone to go. -Review and photo by Sidney Ulakovic

Café has the perfect combo for any fan of a good old-fashioned root beer float: a vanilla iced latte and root beer cookie, made by local cookie experts Crumbs Bakery. The vanilla syrup brings out all the delicious elements of Wolfhead Black & Tan beans, enhancing the subtle dark chocolate aftertaste. When followed by a bite of the root beer cookie with its buttermilk icing and cinnamon sweetness, one is left with the feeling they just finished a root beer float straight out of a soda shop. -Review and photo by Emily Turner


CoverStory

Cappuccino & Carrot Cake 

The Place: The Habit Coffee & Bakeshop 308 Red River Road 807-768-8923 The Price: Cappuccino: $3.75 Carrot cake $3.50 The Basics: Cappuccino: espresso, steamed milk, and foamed milk Carrot cake: House-made carrot cake with crumble topping The Lowdown: The Habit is unique among coffee shops as it sits in a heritage-designated church building built in 1907; it helps sustainably support the programming of the Urban Abbey

(which includes community meal programs and a 10-bed women’s shelter), and notably, it is primarily operated by volunteers, from the baristas and servers to the team creating the baking. One of the most popular items on the menu is the carrot cake, which substitutes the usual cream cheese icing for a more coffee cake-style crumble. And with all of The Habit’s pastries being made fresh in-house daily, there is no shortage of treats to go along with a bold art-topped cappuccino, featuring beans from Vancouver’s JJ Bean coffee roasters. -Review and photo by Nik Fiorito

Caramel Mocha Bianca & Brownie  The Place: Calico Coffeehouse 316 Bay Street 807-766-9087 Price: Caramel mocha Bianca: $5.10 Brownie: $3.50 The Basics: Caramel mocha Bianca: espresso with steamed milk and melted white chocolate, topped with whipped cream and caramel Brownie: a semi-sweet brownie topped with milk chocolate icing and chocolate chunks The Lowdown: The caramel mocha Bianca shines as Calico Coffehouse’s softer take on the classic mocha. This specialty coffee

beverage boasts buttery white chocolate melted in steamed milk and toasty espresso, topped off with fresh whipped cream and a slightly salty caramel drizzle that expertly rounds out the flavour profile of the drink. Indulge in the rest of the chocolate rainbow with one of Calico’s brownies. The semisweet chocolate brownie is baked to perfection—chewy on the inside with a light crust on the outside— and covered with a generous spread of milk chocolate icing. A chocolate lover’s delight. -Review and photo by Sidney Ulakovic

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Masala Chocolate Cappuccino & Pear Coconut Scone 

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The Place: Metropolitan Moose Beanery & Café 11 Hill Street, Kakabeka Falls 807-473-5453 The Price: Small masala chocolate cappuccino: $2.95 Scone: $3.95 The Basics: Masala chocolate cappuccino: espresso, masala chocolate syrup concentrate, milk Pear coconut scone: a scone made from 118-year-old sourdough starter and flavoured with pear extract and coconut flakes The Lowdown: It’s not every day you can say you had a baked good made from an over 100-year-old sourdough starter—unless you eat a bread-based dessert from

Toasted Marshmallow Latte & Blueberry Coffee Cake  The Place: Windy Shores Café 2212 Sleeping Giant Parkway windyshorescafe@gmail.com The Price: Medium toasted marshmallow latte: $5.60 Blueberry coffee cake: $4 The Basics: Toasted marshmallow latte: espresso, steamed milk, Torani toasted marshmallow flavoured syrup, topped with minimarshmallows Blueberry coffee cake: traditional, moist coffee cake made with fresh, local blueberries and topped with a crispy brown sugar topping The Lowdown: A latte is always velvety smooth, but when it is topped with fluffy, softened marshmallows, it takes on another level of creaminess. This toasted marshmallow latte,

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made with espresso made with Phil & Sebastian Coffee beans, is a balanced drink that perfectly satisfies any craving for a specialty latte without being too sweet or overly decadent. The marshmallows on top thicken the steamed milk, which nicely complement the blueberry coffee cake expertly made by Jo-Mik Baking. The essence of vanilla in the marshmallows brings out the vanilla and cinnamon of the coffee cake, which all work together to enhance the fruity freshness of the blueberries. There is something about the blueberry and marshmallow flavour combo that can make anyone nostalgic for summertime. -Review and photo by Emily Turner

this Kakabeka Falls café every day, that is. Fed and treated every day, this well-loved sourdough starter makes for an airy, moist scone that melts in your mouth even when it isn’t heated up. The pear-coconut variation has a subtle sweetness to it, which is fresh and satiating. The coconut is complemented by the chocolate-masala cappuccino—with espresso made from Kitimai coffee beans and masala chocolate syrup concentrate made from Prosperity Blends spices—especially when it is topped with cinnamon, as the thick, flavourful drink enhances the subtle nutty, creamy flavours of coconut. This filling combo is the perfect snack for a cool fall day. -Review and photo by Emily Turner


CoverStory Caramel Cream Latte & Turtles Baked Cheesecake 

The Place: Club Cappuccino Café and Desserts 595 Arthur Street West 807-577-1985 The Price: Caramel cream latte: $4.95 Turtles baked cheesecake: $7.95 The Basics: Caramel cream latte: espresso with caramel syrup and milk, topped with whipped cream and a caramel and chocolate drizzle Turtles baked cheesecake: an Oreo cookie-crumb crust, cheesecake, chocolate mousse, and caramel icing glaze, topped with warm caramel and chocolate The Lowdown: Club Cappuccino, with its classic Italian café vibe, is a haven for those with a sweet tooth.

The caramel cream latte is rich and comforting, the espresso base providing just enough balance for this caramelly delight. It’s a great après-lunch treat, available with regular milk, oat milk, or lactosefree. Elevating the decadence even further, the house-made Turtles baked cheesecake is absolutely delicious and perfect for sharing. A light and fluffy European-style baked cheesecake sits atop an Oreo cookie crust and is layered with chocolate mousse and a caramel icing glaze, all topped with warm caramel and chocolate. No surprise that this dessert is a customer favourite. -Review by Kat Lyzun, Photo by Shannon Lepere

Kakabeka Mist & Cranberry Bliss Bar  The Place: The Early Refill Coffee 4785 Unit B Highway 11-17, Kakabeka Falls 807-577-2435 The Price: Medium Kakabeka Mist: $5.20 Cranberry Bliss bar: $3.85 The Basics: Kakabeka Mist: Earl Grey tea, vanilla and lavender syrups, steamed milk Cranberry Bliss Bar: a bar with cranberry orange extract, and candied cranberries topped with white chocolate and cream cheese icing The Lowdown: This isn’t your average tea and biscuit combo.

Refreshing and soothing, this generously thick tea latte, made with Detour Genuine Tea Co. tea, is delicately sweetened with syrups that leave calming notes of lavender and vanilla swirling on your tongue. Paired with the unique Cranberry Bliss bar made by Donut Run, with its dense, cookie-like base and decadent white chocolate and cream cheese icing, there’s something extremely satisfying about this combo that is certain to fill you up without overloading you with caffeine and sugar. Elevate your next tea-time with this Kakabeka special. -Review and photo by Emily Turner

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Iced Prairie Sunrise & JamTopped Croissant with Fresh Berries 

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The Place: Carte Blanche Café 389 Oliver Road 807-633-3130 The Price: 10 oz iced Prairie Sunrise: $4.75 Jam-topped croissant with fresh berries: $varies (comes as a part of a made-to-order brunch box) The Basics: Iced Prairie Sunrise: espresso, caramel and vanilla syrups, and milk topped with whipped topping and caramel drizzle Croissant: a croissant topped with your choice of jam and berries The Lowdown: Carte Blanche’s Prairie Sunrise served over ice is a perfect drink to enjoy during the last hot days of late summer. It’s refreshing and just sweet enough to be a yummy treat, and packs

Americano & Tambor  The Place: Sweet Nata Bakery 270 Bay Street 807-345-4727 The Price: Americano: $4.10 Tambor: $4.25 The Basics: Americano: espresso blend, water Tambor: pastry filled with pastry cream, topped with powdered sugar and cinnamon The Lowdown: Drawing on traditional Portuguese baking, Sweet Nata Bakery’s combination of an Americano with a delicious tambor pastry is a delicate dream. A tambor is a round pastry filled with sweet pastry cream and then dusted, first with icing sugar, then

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a dash of cinnamon. Light, flakey pastry layers hold in the rich filling, while each bite is spiked with just enough mulled sweetness from the icing sugar and cinnamon. Matching it with an Americano gives balance—it’s an unusual coffee in that it’s a double shot of espresso diluted with hot water, making for a dense coffee flavour without the drawbacks of espresso. A tambor in one hand and an Americano in the other would be the great start to any day, so Sweet Nata offers their pastries daily—with some extra stock on the weekends. -Review by Justin Allec, photo by Sidney Ulakovic

a caffeine punch with a double espresso kick. Carte Blanche uses Rose N Crantz espresso beans, which have a nice, rich flavour, complementing the simple croissants and jam served alongside. If you’ve been to Carte Blanche, you know that they focus on thoughtfully crafted charcuterie boxes, including a brunch box for sharing, which includes goodies like croissants and bagels, jam, cream cheese, and fresh fruits (we think the simple croissant with jam complements the Prairie Sunrise best). They have a great little menu of coffees and teas, all of which can be served hot or iced and are available to order for pick up, delivery, or to enjoy in their newly renovated space. -Review by Kat Lyzun, Photo by Sarah McPherson


CoverStory

Fireside Mocha and Oreo Cupcake  The Place: Wildwood Cafe 447 May Street North (located inside Toy Sense) 807-624-2765 The Price: Fireside Mocha: $4.75 Oreo cupcake: $3 The Basics: Fireside Mocha: espresso, chocolate, steamed milk, marshmallows, cocoa powder Oreo cupcake: Oreo cake topped with vanilla buttercream, crushed Oreos, Oreo cookie The Lowdown: With its notes of chocolate, Wolfhead’s Black & Tan Espresso specialty blend is the perfect base for the velvety Fireside Mocha. Between the espresso

and light dusting of cocoa powder resting over the milk foam, there are certainly welcome moments of sharpness in this otherwise luxurious coffee experience. The Oreo cupcake from Sugar Mama Cupcake Shop is all cookies and cream goodness with Oreo crumble for texture in both the cake and vanilla buttercream frosting. The richness of the mocha and airiness of the cupcake make the perfect team, giving coffee-goers the best of both worlds with this pairing. -Review by Sidney Ulakovic, Photo by Lucas Augustyn

Latte and Monster Cookie 

The Place: Rose N Crantz Roasting Co. 905 Copper Crescent 807-627-1344 The Price: Latte: $4 Monster cookie: $3.75 The Basics: Latte: milk, espresso blend Monster cookie: a cookie with sweet and dark chocolate chunks and sweetened coconut The Lowdown: Rose N Crantz Roasting Co.’s products are always fun, a bit of a remix of the classics. Here, they match the delicate flavour of their creamy, frothy latte with a gigantic dessert, the Monster cookie. Their approach to the latte is textbook, heightened with the barista’s skill. Gertrude, their

beloved espresso machine, rocks out a standard 8-oz latte by mixing milk, steamed to 140°F, with a tasty shot of espresso. The beans are sourced from a female-owned-and-operated farm in Mexico and then roasted to medium perfection. The flavour is lush! There’s a rich mouthfeel from the creamy milk and a nutty and chocolatey bite from the espresso. Chowing down on the Monster cookie at the same time almost makes this a meal; baked by Dawson General Store, the cookies are a soft, chewy blend of sweet chocolate, dark chocolate, and sweetened coconut. Irresistible at the start of the day, or really any time. -Review by Justin Allec, Photo by Sidney Ulakovic

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CoverStory

Americano & Tiramisu (with Cannoli)  The Place: Laviché Café 209 Red River Road 807-344-4200 The Price: Americano: $4 Tiramisu: $11 The Basics: Americano: espresso, hot water Tiramisu (with cannoli): cocoa powder, housemade mascarpone, and espresso-soaked lady finger cookies, layered and topped with cinnamon cannoli The Lowdown: The rich aroma that wafts from Laviché’s Americano as you prepare for your first sip suggests you’re in for a real treat. Made with a triple shot of

organic espresso, this full-bodied Americano is silky smooth, with a fine crema froth on top, indicating an expertly executed shot pull. Laviché’s tried and true tiramisu tastes just as good as it looks and is a gift that keeps on giving. The layers of cocoa powder, housemade mascarpone, and espressosoaked lady finger cookies are topped off with a crunchy cinnamon cannoli—your dessert after dessert. -Review by Sidney Ulakovic, Photo by Lois Nuttall

Caramel Macchiato & Vanilla Cupcake  The Place: Bean & Olive 1725 Highway 61 807-577-2326 The Price: Caramel macchiato: $4.25 Vanilla cupcake: $4.25 The Basics Caramel macchiato: A latte-macchiato hybrid flavoured with caramel and topped with caramel syrup Vanilla cupcake: a vanilla cupcake topped with vanilla Swiss meringue buttercream The Lowdown Bean & Olive’s caramel macchiato is made latte-macchiato style, which is espresso-forward like its traditional counterpart, but is differentiated

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visually by distinctive layers of milk foam, espresso, and steamed milk. This comfort drink is made with the Bulletproof espresso blend from First Response Coffee Company, a smooth roast with notes of toffee that pair wonderfully with the caramel. Try it with a vanilla cupcake from Novi’s Breads & Sweets. This cupcake is almost too pretty to eat! It’s topped with vanilla Swiss meringue buttercream, which includes Novi’s homemade vanilla extract. The buttery topping has a hint of salt that, when paired with the macchiato, makes for the perfect salted caramel duo to enjoy this fall. -Review by Sidney Ulakovic, Photo by Emily Turner


CoverStory

Courtesy of Rose N Crantz Roasting Co.

These are the Roasters in Your Neighbourhood

T

he humble coffee bean is the building block of all of your favourite delectable coffee-based treats: lattes, cappuccinos, Americanos, et al. It’s certainly the most important part of your morning’s black coffee, if you’re so inclined. Getting those beans to the stage where they can be made into your cup of joy involves a whole lot of science and roasting know-how. And fortunately, here in Northwestern Ontario we have a number of people who know what they’re doing. We asked six roasters in Thunder Bay and areas nearby a few questions about their business, how they got into roasting, and what they’ve learned. Here they are in their own words. Answers have been edited lightly for style and clarity.

Jamie Nichols, CEO and founder of Rose N Crantz Roasting Co.

Courtesy of Rose N Crantz Roasting Co.

Rose N Crantz Roasting Co. When did you start roasting/How long have you been in business? Jamie's [Jamie Nichols, CEO and founder of Rose N Crantz Roasting Co.] first experience with coffee roasting was in the mid-90s, when he worked as an assistant to Superior Fresh Roast Coffee in Shuniah. He came back to it many years later and Rose N Crantz was founded in October 2013 (we will be celebrating 10 years of business this year). Where do your beans come from? Our beans are sourced from all over the world. We carry a core set of offerings from regions in Costa Rica, Colombia, Rwanda, Papua New Guinea, and Mexico, with additional micro-lots as available from other coffeegrowing countries such as Kenya, Ethiopia, Guatemala, and more. The production and harvest cycles of coffee farming typically dictate what can be brought in and when throughout the year. Why did you start roasting? Our coffee roasting journey began as a necessity. In 2013, Jamie returned to Thunder Bay after two years working in Yellowknife, and brought home a love of quality coffees. At the time there was a lack of specialty coffee roasters in Northwestern Ontario, so he purchased a tiny little roaster the size of a toaster oven and started roasting coffee for home use. Jamie then found himself in need of a career change and took the leap into making coffee roasting a full-time job, largely thanks to family, friends, and other businesses in town reaching out to place orders. We also started roasting to offer a welcoming environment for everyone in the

specialty coffee world. Our motto is to “love the coffee you drink and drink the coffee you love,” without the intimidation factor that is often present in this industry. We focus on creating coffee experiences that showcase the beans, their flavours, and the natural curiosity of those interested in coffee. What was it like starting up? Terrifying and thrilling in equal measure. The first 50-pound bag of green beans we ordered felt like a huge financial risk with no guarantee of it paying off. We now order green beans by the pallet. What's one lesson you've learned along the way? There have been so many but the one that always stands out is that customer service matters! The experience people have when interacting with your business, your staff, and you is just as important as any product or service you can offer. What equipment do you use? Coffee roasting is a gadget lover’s dream. There is no end to the equipment possibilities in this industry but to keep our answer here short, our primary piece of equipment is a Probat drum roaster that was custom built for us in 2018. How often do you roast and how much do you produce each time? On average we roast all day every Monday and Tuesday, with a focus on producing enough for the given week. Specialty coffee is at its best within one to three weeks of the roast date (and we always encourage customers to check for a roast date on their retail bags) and we strive to provide the freshest beans possible to our coffee community.

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Courtesy of Wolfhead Coffee

Emily Turner

CoverStory

Cameron Reid roasting at St Paul Roastery

St Paul Roastery

Dan Dampier of Wolfhead Coffee

Wolfhead Coffee

When did you start roasting/How long have you been in business? We have been officially in business as Wolfhead Coffee since 2015, but we had been doing market testing since 2013 as Unrest Coffee and Roasting Company. Where do your beans come from? We source our beans from all the coffee-producing countries, and use both Canadian and U.S. importers. Why did you start roasting? I started roasting coffee because I needed a career change that didn’t involve significant travel, as my wife and I wanted to start a family. I chose coffee because it was somewhat of an obsession of mine, and with some research, I was able to determine that the schedule that I would need to work could be quite flexible and would be a good fit for my life.

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What was it like starting up? It was a slow start, which was expected, and our first growth spurt came when we did an interview with Gord Ellis from CBC. After that airing, it was no turning back. What's one lesson you've learned along the way? Not everyone has the same taste buds, and to listen to your customers and provide them with the products they want. What equipment do you use? I use a Diedrich coffee roaster and a Diedrich catalytic oxidizer to reduce our smoke emissions. How often do you roast and how much do you produce each time? We roast 100 pounds per hour, and currently roast two to three times a week.

When did you start roasting/How long have you been in business? We started roasting at home on popcorn poppers around 2010 and opened St Paul Roastery in 2015. Where do your beans come from? We roast coffees sourced from all around the world, and primarily use an importer based in Minneapolis, Minn. called Café Imports. Why did you start roasting? We started roasting because it seemed interesting that we could roast coffee at home, having never heard of this before. We found a company called Sweet Maria's that sold green beans by the pound, as well as other roasting equipment and coffee brewing supplies, and began roasting. Noticing the quality of the coffee was better than what we were currently drinking, and having no real idea what we were doing, we figured the quality of the green bean must have a huge impact on the flavour, even when roasted by amateurs like us. We upgraded our popcorn poppers to bigger home roasters, and had friends and family asking to buy the roasted coffee from us. Since there seemed to be a demand for freshly roasted coffee and no roasters operating in Thunder Bay at the time, we started

looking at commercial spaces to set up a roastery and café; we found our current location at 11 St. Paul Street and began renovations. What was it like starting up? Overall the process was quite labour- and time-intensive. We were committed from the very beginning, though, to get the space operational so every obstacle we came across did not deter us, even though we opened almost two years later than we had hoped. What's one lesson you've learned along the way? The single most important thing is to be adaptable. Lots has happened that has been unexpected and it's important to be flexible. What equipment do you use? We roast our coffee on a Diedrich IR-12, use a La Marzocco espresso machine and a Decent espresso machine, as well as many Baratza and Mahlkonig grinders, and Wilbur Curtis batch- and pour-over brewers. How often do you roast and how much do you produce each time? We roast on average twice per week, typically roasting around 100 kilograms each session, though that does vary significantly depending on orders, sales, season, etc.


What's one lesson you've learned along the way? People who buy coffee from local roasters are actually less fussy about their coffee than those who buy from grocery stores. They love variety. What equipment do you use? A Sivetz 5-pound fluid bed roaster. How often do you roast and how much do you produce each time? Two to five days per week, anywhere from five to 25 pounds at a time.

Courtesy of Nowhere Craft Chocolate & Coffee Roastery

When did you start roasting/How long have you been in business? I’ve been running Cronos since 1995, and started roasting in 2006. Where do your beans come from? Ethiopia, Kenya, Guatemala, Peru, and Colombia. Why did you start roasting? To supply my own restaurant. What was it like starting up? It was easy since the previous owner of the roaster had set everything up to take over.

Pat and Eleanor Heidebrecht of Nowhere Craft Chocolate & Coffee Roastery

When did you start roasting/How long have you been in business? I started roasting at home around 2008 with a ½-pound Gene Cafe roaster. We’ve been in business since 2010. Where do your beans come from? Central and South America, Sumatra, and at least one from Africa (currently it’s Congo Kivu Organic). Why did you start roasting? Almost by mistake. I never thought coffee tasted good until my older brother made me a cup of coffee. I followed his example and started buying whole beans from craft roasters. While I was searching different craft coffee roasters online, coffee roasting machines popped up, which got me interested in home coffee roasters, and the rest is history. What was it like starting up? Starting up went pretty well. When my wife Eleanor started Comfort Table Bakery in 2010, I started

Nowhere Craft Chocolate & Coffee Roastery (Vermilion Bay)

roasting coffee to sell at the bakery, so I had a building and an outlet to roast and sell my coffee. There were a lot of long days and a lot of taste testing and experimenting with blends. What's one lesson you've learned along the way? Be confident in your product and stick with it, because you can’t please everyone. What equipment do you use? A Coffee Crafters Artisan X-e 10-pound fluid bed electric coffee roaster. How often do you roast and how much do you produce each time? It really depends on the season and when we get special orders. Most of what I roast is for our coffee shop and retail space, and we also have some wholesale customers. I roast a maximum of 10 pounds at a time and only roast when we are getting low, so our coffee is always as fresh as possible. During our peak season I roast about 150 pounds a week.

Courtesy of The Boreal Coffee Co.

Tom Theodoropoulos of Cronos Cafe

Cronos Cafe

Courtesy of The Boreal Coffee Co.

Sidney Ulakovic

CoverStory

Peter and Elaine Marshall of The Boreal Coffee Co.

The Boreal Coffee Co. (Dryden)

When did you start roasting/How long have you been in business? After several years of roasting green beans in our home to share with family and friends, we were encouraged to make our fresh roasted beans available to the community. Armed with minimal entrepreneurial experience, we obtained our business licence in June 2018 and from humble beginnings at the local yoga studio, we soon found our product in demand and began attending farmer and vendor markets in Northwestern Ontario. Our products are also now available at select retail outlets in the region or online at boreal-coffee.square.site. Where do your beans come from? To ensure that our source of green beans aligned with our values for sustainability and fair trade with producers, we engaged with Café Imports, located in Minneapolis, Minn. This enterprise reflects that commitment and we have continued to partner with them over the past five years, connecting Boreal Coffee with small farmers and cooperatives in the best coffee growing regions of the world. Just prior to COVID, we were fortunate to join a group of other roasters on a tour of the farms that we purchase our beans from in Costa Rica. These individuals, families, and cooperatives openly shared their passion and love for coffee, family, and country (not necessarily in that order) that left us wanting to share their stories and coffee with our community. Why did you start roasting? We were gifted a bag of green beans from a friend and began to experiment with different methods of roasting at home and learning from experience what variables contributed to the type of roast we enjoyed. What was it like starting up? After much experimentation with hot air popcorn poppers and home roasters, we eventually upgraded to a commercial roaster. With certified training, it was possible to expand our offerings as well as provide

custom roasting or grinding for our customers. It soon became apparent that we knew very little about the coffee business—everything from purchasing green beans, roasting, packaging, labeling, branding, and marketing through to understanding the myriad regulations related to operating a small business. What's one lesson you've learned along the way? Never underestimate the appreciation of and desire for fresh roasted quality coffee. The cornerstone of Boreal Coffee sales are the many markets and festivals that we attend throughout the year, which provides the opportunity to engage with our customers and share our passion for excellence in procuring, roasting, and brewing excellent coffee. At every market/ festival/event that we attend, our products are in high demand and it is sometimes difficult to estimate how much inventory to have available at any given time. What equipment do you use? Research on the various types and sizes of roasters became quite a rabbit hole to go down. We wanted to ensure that we could continue to keep our roasts as fresh as possible for our retail outlets and market events but also offer small batch custom roasting and grinding. Our current process includes a small fluid bed (electric) roaster manufactured by Coffee Crafters. Our equipment inventory also includes a commercial burr grinder and brewers/airpots for use at markets and other events. How often do you roast and how much do you produce each time? Roasting is done on a “as required" basis. Our roaster is capable of processing 10 pounds of green beans per hour and, typically, a couple days per week are required to ensure adequate inventory to fulfil our retail commitments and market events. At busier times of the year or to fill large orders, it is not unusual to be roasting seven days a week.

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Courtesy of the Thunder Bay Museum

CoverStory

 A city bus adorned with 25th anniversary Robin’s Donuts advertising, on Cumberland Street, July 28, 2000

Local Success, National Expansion Harvey Cardwell and the History of Robin’s Donuts By Matt Prokopchuk

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says of starting the now-iconic company. “Back in those days, doughnut stores were doughnut stores and […] I’d say about 80% of sales were driven by doughnuts, and coffee was kind of a secondary thing.” Spicer passed away in the early 1980s; by then there were multiple Robin’s stores in Thunder Bay, and expansion outside of the city was well underway, with franchising starting in 1978 (Cardwell says the third overall Robin’s store was a Sault Ste. Marie location). Cardwell continued on with other partners, eventually including Saskatchewan Wheat Pool, negotiating the various trends in the business, including diversifying the menu and

 The Robin's Donuts in Current River on Hodder Avenue

Emily Turner

A

company with roots in Thunder Bay went on to become one of the biggest names in Canada in the coffee and doughnut world, and one of the architects behind that success says the industry has changed a lot over time. In September 1975, Harvey Cardwell and George Spicer, who formerly worked for soonto-be rival Tim Hortons, opened the first Robin’s Donuts on Memorial Avenue. It would be the first shop in a largescale expansion that, at its height in 2000, Cardwell says, would see nearly 250 Robin’s stores active across Canada. “I was just a young fellow then and business excited me,” he

bringing in other options like bagels, muffins, sandwiches, and more, as well as making coffee a much larger part of the equation. As the company grew, Cardwell says that keeping on top of those trends was important. “We saw all along you had to have a research and development component to it also, because tastes and times change, so you’ve got to be on top of that.” Robin’s was also ahead of the curve in terms of starting to make a number of their locations smoke free, years before provincial laws banned smoking in indoor public spaces. “The smoke became an issue. You’ve got baked products and an environment there that’s not that appealing,” he says. “So that was a thing that we wrestled with for about 10 years—all coffee shops wrestled with it [...] so it became clear, you know, it’s time to change.” A training centre was also developed in Thunder Bay, where new franchisees would have to undergo several weeks of instruction before launching their own restaurants. When Cardwell decided to sell Robin’s in 2000 (Saskatchewan Wheat Pool also divested itself of its shares in the company the same year), he says it was time. “I’d spent 25 years in it, enjoyed it, it was great, and we just kind of felt that it’s been a great run [...] and the opportunity came along, so you say ‘well, maybe this is the time to do it,’” he says. “And at that time too, there was other things that appealed to me— challenges—that I wanted to do before I got too old.”


CoverStory

What’s in a Name? Defining Specialty Coffees

Picture this: you’re at a café. A line of caffeine-deprived people is starting to form behind you. Your eyes race over the menu in a desperate search for a word you understand or, at the very least, a drink you’ve had before. Sound familiar? There’s comfort in knowing that many of us are united in experiencing coffee order panic, but here at The Walleye, we’ve got your back. We reached out to Sheena Doran of Calico Coffeehouse, who graciously agreed to help us demystify the confusing world of specialty coffees. Have a read below, take notes, and you’ll sound like a coffee aficionado the next time you place an order.

ESPRESSO Espresso

An espresso is a full-flavoured, concentrated form of coffee made by forcing pressurized, nearly boiling water through very finely ground coffee beans using an espresso machine. The result is a perfectly pulled shot of espresso topped with a crema (characterized by a tan-coloured foam that rests on top). Espresso can be served on its own and is also the base for a variety of coffee drinks.

AMERICANO Water Espresso

An Italian interpretation of “American” coffee, an Americano is prepared by diluting espresso shots with hot water. When preparing an Americano, the hot water is poured on top of the espresso shots.

LONG BLACK Espresso Water

FLAT WHITE

Steamed Milk Espresso

A flat white is two shots of espresso and steamed milk with microfoam (foam made with little to no air bubbles in it during the steaming process, resulting in a velvety texture) on top. Flat whites are traditionally served in smaller cup sizes (10 ounces or smaller ) which results in a more highly concentrated coffee beverage.

MACCHIATO CAPPUCCINO Milk Foam Steamed Milk Espresso

A cappuccino is an espresso-based drink made with steamed milk and frothy foam. A cappuccino is made up of equal parts espresso, steamed milk, and foam.

LATTE

Steamed Milk Espresso

A latte is an espresso-based drink made with steamed milk. A latte is very similar to a cappuccino, but the difference is the ratio of steamed milk versus foamed milk. A latte is one third espresso, two thirds steamed milk, and topped with a thin layer of velvety foam. Lattes are often sweetened with a different variety of flavoured syrups.

Popular in Australia and New Zealand, a long black is very similar to an Americano; the difference lies in the preparation. When preparing a long black, the hot water is added to the cup first before pouring the espresso on top.

MOCHA

Whipped Cream Steamed Milk Chocolate Espresso

A mocha is essentially a hot chocolate with espresso. Like other espresso-based drinks, a mocha is made with espresso and steamed milk, with the addition of chocolate sauce or powder (or alternatively, the steamed milk is replaced with steamed chocolate milk). A mocha is most commonly topped with whipped cream to add to its delectability.

Milk Foam Espresso

A traditional macchiato is a shot of espresso (single or double) with a splash of foamed milk on top.

AFFOGATO

Ice Cream/Gelato Espresso

An affogato is an Italian coffee-based dessert in which a shot of espresso is poured over a scoop of milk-flavoured or vanilla ice cream or gelato.

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Food

Pulla (Finnish Coffee Bread)

THE G IN GR NIN Y L BEL

Emily Turner

makes 2 large loaves

 Holland Bakery's pulla

Always a Good Reason for a Cup of Coffee By Chef Rachel Bayes

F

inns are serious about their coffee culture, and surprisingly/not surprisingly drink the most coffee per capita, consuming around 20 pounds per person annually. Traditionally, Finns have chosen light roasts, and brew using a drip or filter method, though darker roasts are becoming more popular. The resultant kahvi is served at home, at work, at celebrations, outdoors, and even after voting. A coffeeloving Finn’s day is subdivided by coffee breaks: aamukahvi (morning coffee); päiväkahvi (day coffee); iltakahvi (evening coffee); and saunakahvi (sauna coffee, of course). Finnish culture says that if you invite guests to your home, it’s customary to offer them coffee—some say it’s rude to refuse that offer, especially if your host is older than you. I don’t mind that, really, because coffee runs though my (Finnishadjacent) veins. I’m pretty sure my coffee habit began as a kid

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in my neighbour’s kitchen, as she stirred Carnation evaporated milk into a little Moomin cup for me. And, often served alongside kahvi is pulla, the shining star of coffee breads. This sugarsprinkled, cardamom-scented, yeast-raised bread is one of my favourite comfort foods—fresh pulla smells happy! Living in Thunder Bay, we have been so lucky to have so many bakers offering pulla over the years, including the Kivela Bakery, Harri Bakery, The Pulla Lady, and Current River Bakery, along with the myriad of home bakers present at Christmas teas and craft sales. But, if you’ve got some time on a quiet morning, brew some aamukahvi and make a couple of loaves of this buttery loaf. It’s perfect sliced and buttered, toasted, or made into French toast, and freezes beautifully. And, if you’re making it anyway, enter a loaf into the Hymers Fall Fair—you may just walk away a winner!

14–20 cardamom pods or 2–3 tsp ground cardamom

If using whole cardamom pods, crack open the pods and lightly toast the seeds in a dry skillet for 45–60 seconds, stirring over medium heat until fragrant. Grind down to the consistency of sand with a mortar and pestle. You could do this step ahead, or use ground cardamom.

2 c whole milk or half & half cream Pinch sugar 1 Tbsp dry active yeast

Heat milk to lukewarm (not over 110°F). Add a pinch of sugar, stir in yeast, and let stand for 7 minutes. If the yeast is dissolved and frothy, you know it’s active.

3 extra-large eggs ½ c granulated sugar 2 tsp salt

In a stand mixer or large bowl, beat the eggs and sugar until sugar is dissolved. Add the frothy yeastmilk, cardamom, and salt, and beat until smooth.

6–7 c all-purpose flour, plus more for kneading, divided

Mix in 2 cups of flour cup by cup, mixing until smooth and no lumps.

½c softened butter

Add the softened butter and mix well—the dough will get beautifully glossy. Continue adding the flour, a ½ cup at a time, mixing to incorporate, adding flour until stiff enough to knead, yet still soft (about 6 cups).

Knead using a dough hook or by hand, adding a little more flour as needed until the dough pulls away from the edges, and is satiny, about 5 minutes. The key here is to use as little flour as possible. (Alternatively, knead by hand on a well-floured surface for about 6 or 7 minutes, adding a little flour at a time; dough will be slightly tacky but not sticky.) At this point, if you wish, you could knead in a handful of raisins or almonds. Shape into a ball. Place in an oiled bowl, turning to coat the top. Cover with a damp towel and let rise in a warm area (80°F) until it doubles in size. (I like to turn my oven on for about 15 minutes at the lowest setting, and place the bowl on top of the stove.) **Having a warm spot for the dough to rise is essential here.** After the dough has doubled, divide it in half. This will make two extra-large loaves. To make 2 braided loaves, divide each half into 3 pieces. Roll each piece into long ropes about 1½–2” thick. Braid the 3 ropes and tuck under the ends. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or parchment-lined loaf pan. 1 egg 1 Tbsp water Pearl sugar (optional) Sliced almonds (optional)

Brush the loaves with the egg wash. Sprinkle with pearl sugar over the top and sliced almonds if you like.

Let rise again until doubled. Place in a preheated 375°F oven. Bake for 30–35 minutes or until a skewer or toothpick pulls out clear (or internal temp is 200°F) and the top is nicely golden. Remove from the oven and let sit for 10 minutes. Slice and slather with butter. If you prefer a glaze atop your pulla, mix 1 c icing sugar, ½ tsp vanilla, and 2 tsp milk or cream. Drizzle or spread over cooled bread.


HU

T

Food

AY RB

E ND

OF DRINK H T N MO CELEBRATING 25 YEARS 1998-2023

PRESENTS

B L U E S SHAKEDOWN FEATURING ALLIGATOR RECORDS RECORDING ARTIST

TORONZO CANNON AND THE

CHICAGO WAY

9:30 PM

The Sophia Loren Giorg Cucina é Barra

Story by Jeannie Dubois, Photo by Jack Barten

R

edolent with Old World elegance, Giorg has long been a pillar in our community for understated classic Italian dining, with a lovely intimate location and tastefully authentic menu. No less so is the aptly named Sophia Loren, a charming espresso martini that the lovely Marie shook up for us, harkening to all the hallmarks of Italy with its sweet espresso expression

and warm, round nuttiness. A blend of Frangelico, Baileys, Kahlúa, and fresh espresso, it is elegantly European in its sultriness, just as the name suggests. One could easily while away the hours living la dolce vita with a lovely Sophia Loren.

Giorg Cucina é Barra 114 Syndicate Avenue North 807-623-8052

Plus...

7:30 PM

BACK BY POPULAR REQUEST

SHAWN HOLT AND THE

TEARDROPS

6:30 PM TBBS “HWY 61 TO MEMPHIS” BLUES CHALLENGE WINNERS

THE BUSTLE

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21 DAVINCI CENTRE Fo r mo re i nfo rma ti on, vi si t

www.thunderbaybluessociety.ca

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Food

876 Tastebuds Restaurant & Juice Bar

E OFF TH U N E M

Story and photo by Jack Barten

W

hen driving from Thunder Bay to Minnesota this summer, you may have noticed a new kid on the highway, just past the 15th Side Road. Opened in May of this year by Ronia Trotman and StacyAnn McFarlane-Trotman, 876 Tastebuds Restaurant & Juice Bar is Thunder Bay's newest Jamaican and Caribbean eatery. This month, 876 Tastebuds brings us

their signature jerk chicken. Authentic and homemade, this jerk chicken is simply incredible. With spices such as thyme and Jamaican escallion, every bite is packed with flavour; aromatic, earthy, and salty flavours are all balanced in perfect harmony. Then there’s the little detail of just how tender this chicken is. It practically falls off the bone, providing a perfect texture that truly shows all the work

that goes into making your new favourite road trip lunch. As if one could not rave enough about this jerk chicken, the dish is given an extra shot of flavour in the form of 876’s own house-made sweet barbeque sauce. This sauce is really the cherry on top, adding a bit of sweetness to all of the spices the jerk chicken brings. The chicken is then paired with a slice of plantain and a bit of corn on the cob. This ends up

working really well as neither of the sides overshadow the star of the show, but the plantain pairs well with the sweetness of the sauce, and the corn brings a great bit of texture and goodness (because we all need more corn in our lives). “We only do authentic Jamaican and Caribbean food,” McFarlane-Trotman says on the subject of their menu. And when you sit down and enjoy the jerk chicken, you really feel

this dedication to an authentic experience. It's safe to say that 876 Tastebuds now has a special place in my heart, and after trying this jerk chicken, I look forward to trying the rest of their menu the next time I travel down Highway 61. 876 Tastebuds Restaurant & Juice Bar 1725 Highway 61 647-608-2909

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Box-Tails

Food

Harvest Cocktails from Local Food Boxes

R SUPERIO SIP

By Jeannie Dubois, Pommelier and Sommelier

O

ne of the real beauties of living up here in the 48˚ North is that we truly get to experience four lovely seasons each and every year. While the days are getting a little shorter and the weather a little brisker, we now actually get to be awake for the rosy glow of sunrise and be enthralled at a reasonable time by the gorgeous, golden sunsets as fall starts to wend its way to our bay. The littles will shortly be back on their way to matriculate, the big lake is warm enough to dip more than a toe in now, and

Beet It!

Ingredients: 2 oz beet sage shrub* 2 oz rye whiskey 1 oz fresh squeezed lemon juice ⅓ c chilled club soda Dash of Angostura bitters Ice cubes Lemon slice and sage sprig for garnish *To make the beet sage shrub: 2 c fresh beets, chopped and peeled 1 c cider vinegar 1 Tbsp snipped fresh sage ⅔ c maple syrup ½ tsp salt In a blender or food processor combine beets, vinegar, and sage. Cover and blend or process until nearly smooth. Press through a fine mesh sieve. Discard solids. Stir in maple syrup and salt. Cover and chill for at least 24 hours. Flavour will continue to improve for three days. Method: In a cocktail shaker combine beet sage shrub, rye, lemon juice, and bitters. Add ice cubes; cover and shake until very cold. Strain liquid into an ice-filled rocks glass. Top with club soda. Garnish with a lemon slice and sage sprig.

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Hot Tom!

Ingredients: 1 clove garlic 5 fresh basil leaves 2 tsp freshly squeezed lime juice ¼ tsp celery salt 2 medium very ripe red heirloom tomatoes, halved 1½ oz vodka 1 Tbsp pepper bacon, chopped and crisp cooked ½ tsp Asian chili sauce (Sriracha) 1–2 tomato slices 1 centre leaf romaine 1 slice crisp cooked peppered bacon Ice cubes Method: In a cocktail shaker, combine garlic, basil, lime juice, and celery salt. Using a muddler or wooden spoon, mash mixture to combine. Add the halved tomatoes and muddle until smooth. Add vodka, bacon bits, chili sauce, and ice to fill the shaker. Cover and shake well for at least 30 seconds. Strain mixture through a wire mesh over a liquid measuring cup. Using the back of a spoon, press out all the juice. Discard solids. Pour mixture into an icefilled Collins glass. Add tomato slices, and garnish with romaine lettuce and bacon slice.

You’re Okale! (makes 2)

Ingredients: ½ c white rum ½ c simple syrup* ⅓ c freshly squeezed lime juice 3 c baby kale or chopped kale Lime wedges for garnish Ice cubes *To make simple syrup: 1 c sugar 1 c water Add sugar and water to a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat and stir until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat, cool, and store for up to two weeks. Method: In a blender combine rum, simple syrup, lime juice, and kale. Add ice cubes to create a smooth consistency. Cover and blend until smooth. Pour mixture into two stemless wine glasses and garnish with lime wedge.

our charming fall festivals have started in earnest; autumn has solid rank on the seasonal scale here. Add to that the wonder of harvest, and fall fleshes out to be a personal fan favourite around our house. Through dint of will and hard work, we have a plethora of amazing farms that surround our city and provide us with local, seasonal, fresh food, which is such a joy to make the most of. Sometimes we make a meal of it, and sometimes we make a drink of it—creativity has no bounds when we get

our weekly food box! Our inspiration is the wonderful Cassaundra Frey at Stonewell Acres, who continues to delight us all with her incredible boxes stuffed to the brim with amazing fresh produce, which we adore making into meals (and which inspired all the drinks). Go ahead, get a box (a personal challenge!) and make the most of it. PS: You can make it a mocktail. These all play out beautifully without the addition of alcohol—I have kids that can attest!

No Rue In Barb!

Hopmosa!

Ingredients: 2 oz Cognac ½ oz elderflower liqueur (St. Germaine) 1 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice 1 oz rhubarb puree ½ oz strawberry puree 2 dashes Peychaud bitters Edible flower for garnish Ice cubes Method: In a blender or food processor, blend a couple of stalks of rhubarb until smooth to make puree. Likewise, use the same process for a handful of strawberries to create puree. Then add all ingredients to a shaker filled with ice and shake until cold to the touch. Strain mixture over an ice-filled coupe glass and garnish with an edible flower.

Ingredients: 1 oz. ginger simple syrup* ¼ c carrot juice ¼ c orange juice ⅓ c sparkling wine Parsley to garnish *To make ginger simple syrup: ¼ c water ½ c granulated sugar 1 inch cube of ginger, peeled and sliced In a saucepan over medium heat, whisk together water, sugar, and ginger. Bring to a gentle simmer and continue stirring until sugar is fully dissolved. Remove from heat and let stand for 15 minutes before straining. Set aside to cool. Method: If possible, use a juicer to create enough carrot juice for the recipe, and likewise use a citrus squeezer to create enough fresh orange juice for the recipe. To build the cocktail, measure out both juices into a measuring cup. Add the ginger simple syrup to a flute glass, top with blended juice, add sparkling wine, and garnish with parsley.


Food

 Business partners Hailey Kim and Kay Lee

The Bop Shop

 Bibimbap is one of The Bop Shop’s main menu items

A New Korean Restaurant is Opening on Thunder Bay’s North Side Story by Bonnie Schiedel, Photos by Kay Lee

T

he Bop Shop is a new take-out restaurant entering the Thunder Bay food scene. Co-founders Kay Lee and Hailey Kim are bringing a taste of their native Korea to Goods & Co. Market. Named The Bop Shop for the Korean term for steamed white rice, the eatery will serve homestyle dishes like bibimbap (white rice topped with variety of vegetables and beef), bulgogi (marinated thinly sliced beef), and japchae (stir-fried glass noodles with vegetables and beef), as well as some grab-and-go snacks. They will both be in charge of kitchen operations. “I wanted to bring a little more Korean-ness to Thunder Bay, somewhere that’s accessible to the general public,” says Lee, a well-known Thunder Bay photographer who has a culinary background. “K-pop and K-drama became

something trendy—I still don’t know why!” he says, laughing. “But it’s just kind of a good time to get on the K-trends boat, and just make some food.” Lee graduated from the culinary management program at George Brown College in Toronto and went on to work at celebrated restaurants like The Drake Hotel and Momofuku before becoming part of the opening team at Thunder Bay’s Tomlin. There he met Kim, a culinary grad who was doing her work placement, and they became friends. Over the years, Lee developed his photography business and Kim worked in restaurants in different cities. Recently, Lee’s longtime dream of opening a restaurant came to the forefront. “I [had just come] back to Thunder Bay after living in Perth, near Ottawa, for a year [when] I heard that there might be a space available in

Goods & Co. A couple of days later, Hailey messaged me out of nowhere, saying she was moving back to Thunder Bay, which I didn’t expect,” says Lee. “I'm not really that much of an adventurous person, so I didn’t want to do it by myself. […] Somehow, the timing worked out perfectly. And we both have very similar thoughts on what we wanted to do. We said ‘why don’t we just do it?’” Lee expects The Bop Shop to be open by early September during Goods & Co.’s regular operating hours and plans to have a later closing time in the future with an expanded menu of interesting, tasty bar snacks to share between friends.

 Bibimbap toppings  The Bop Shop is joining Goods & Co. Market

For more details, follow @bopshoptbay on Facebook and Instagram or visit thebopshop.ca.

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Food

Grotto Trattoria Serving Up a Taste of Italy

Story by Marcia Arpin, Photos by Dan Lloyd

F

or Thunder Bay residents, there is a new escape to Italy nestled in the downtown north core. The restaurant Grotto Trattoria instantly transports guests to an Italian countryside with its romantic ambience and attentive service. A “grotto” refers to a man-made cave that is sometimes used for the storage and preservation of food and wine. This local interpretation is a cosy space that offers the best aspects of Italian culture—food, fine wine, appreciation of beauty in the smallest details, and sharing these experiences with all people. The menu honours this beloved culture with timeless recipes such as ravioli, rigatoni, gnocchi, veal, and lasagna with a modern flair, featuring fresh products from local businesses such as Big Lake Pasta, DeBruin’s Greenhouses, Maltese Grocery, and East Coast Lobster & Seafood, among many others. Every plate is presented as art showcasing colour, texture, and thoughtfulness. Co-owner and executive chef Chris Barnes produces incredible appetizers and desserts that are easily recognizable as classic Italian dishes, but with an upscale twist. The delicious menu is prepared with seasonal selections, partnered with a drink menu that features a wine selection from Italian vineyards. Catering is also available for special events. Whether you are celebrating

 Tuscany Sunrise cocktail

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 Baked Chicken Parmigiana

a milestone, sharing an intimate date night, or hosting a corporate event, Grotto will be able to meet the needs of any special occasion. There is a private room and many flexible spaces with the ability to cater events for 20 to 60 people. However, restaurant manager Christina Foresto emphasizes that “the restaurant is also designed to welcome walk-in guests and those who are seeking a comfortable and relaxed meal.” It is this dedication to impeccable service that creates a homey feeling while surrounded by elegance and sophistication. Certainly, if you have ever met any nonna, you know they possess a generosity like no other, and an insistence that anyone and everyone is welcome to join at the table for a shared meal. A nonna would take care of you, make you feel special, and surround you with food, while Tony Bennett or Frank Sinatra played in the background. Grotto maintains this same spirit. Foresto and Barnes invite everyone to visit as they are, and as often as they are able. Perhaps Grotto can offer you a place to treat yourself and your nonna to your favorite cuisine with a new generation’s creative adaptation. Grotto Trattoria is located at 28 Cumberland Street North. Visit grottotrattoria.ca or call 807-767-3537.


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FilmTheatre

Movies About Cafés and Coffee Shops By Michael Sobota

C

THE ST ND MOLE O C E S B A R PLEASUG WE THIN HE DO IN TK DAR

A COLUMN ABOUT MOVIES

When not close enough to be killed, the atomic bomb is one of the most beautiful sights in the world. - narrator in a U.S. Army information film, in The Atomic Cafe

afés in the movies are not the warm, aromatic environments you likely frequent to get your regular dose of caffeine. They are background, not foreground, serving to support human stories that are full of human drama—sometimes melodrama—and only occasionally humour. Here are three movies set in cafés and one documentary that features the real Atomic Café in a glimpse of war time propaganda.

The Atomic Cafe (1982)

Co-directors Jayne Loader and Kevin and Pierce Rafferty have assembled astonishing footage of propaganda films during the 1940s and 1950s that were created to inform Americans about the development of the atomic and hydrogen bombs, their aftereffects, as well as to prepare them for “a potential atomic war” in the future. The movie stars J. Robert Oppenheimer (the real one), President Harry S. Truman, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg—who were tried as spies, convicted, and sent to the electric chair for selling atomic secrets to the Russians—as well as various U.S. politicians and military personnel. The movie shows us the real Trinity test at Los Alamos, New Mexico (not the simulated one devised by Christopher Nolan for his current film Oppenheimer) as well as the actual footage of the bombings of Nagasaki and Hiroshima and subsequent tests of the hydrogen bomb in the south Pacific Ocean. Black humour emerges from the innocuous propaganda messages as well as the footage showing school children how to “duck and cover” under their school desks in the event of an actual nuclear war.

The Ballad of the Sad Cafe (1991)

Michael Hirst adapted Carson McCullers’s original story and Edward Albee’s subsequent stage play into a script directed by Simon Callow. This is a southern gothic melodrama. Set in the depression era in a southern U.S. mill town, the story centres around Miss Amelia (Vanessa Redgrave), her ex-husband (Keith Carradine) who recently returned to town after serving a prison term, Cousin Lymon, a hunchback (Cork Hubbert), and a wily minister, Rev. Willin (Rod Steiger). The café is on the ground floor of Miss Amelia’s ancient house. Not a lot of coffee is served or drunk as most of the characters are arguing or scheming amongst themselves about murder and revenge. Miss Amelia sells home brew and extends kindness to the homeless and impoverished townspeople. The movie showcases these great actors in layered character studies in this gritty, sad melodrama.

Café (2011)

Written and directed by Marc Erlbaum, the movie takes place in a recognizable, contemporary café, the West Philly Grounds. Host/barista Claire (Jennifer Love Hewitt) greets her customers each morning with a smile that seldom lasts through her days. Customers, regulars, and newbies have complicated relationships with love, sex, drugs, and politics—you know, the average stuff we all talk about when we are in a café. Characters have names like Dealer, Writer, Addict, and Avatar (yes, they are actually addressed by those names). Avatar sits in a corner of the West Philly Grounds, diligently working away on his MacBook computer. I think he is actually writing the screenplay as it unfolds in front of us. This is a quirky, generous comedy both light and dark, real and preposterous. The eccentric style is not completely captured by this cast but there are moments of genuine humour and insight.

And here are six more films you might enjoy while you are sipping your next cortado: Diner (1982), Bagdad Cafe (1987), Before Sunrise (1995), Coffee and Cigarettes (2003), Barista (2015), and Café Society (2016).

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Café de Flore (2011)

There is a real Café de Flore in Paris, France. Canadian writer and director Jean-Marc Vallée uses it as a backdrop for his complicated yet ultimately rewarding narrative about relationships over time. In Café de Flore he tells us two stories: the first, set in 1960 in Paris, is about a mother (Vanessa Paradis in a brilliant, deeply affecting performance) who gives birth to her first child. The child has Down syndrome. The father abandons them, while the mother deeply bonds with her son and we see her love and support for him deepen and grow as she raises him. At an early age, the son encounters a girl with Down syndrome and is smitten, wanting desperately to be independent of his mom. The mother feels like an abandoned lover. The second track of the film takes place in contemporary Montreal. Antoine (Kevin Parent), who is divorced and raising two young daughters, is about to remarry. His first wife has never stopped loving him. Café de Flore is a layered, passionate love story, deeply engaging and ultimately transformative when we experience how the two stories interconnect. The film was nominated for 13 Canadian Screen Awards.


A New Season

FilmTheatre

Magnus Theatre to Welcome New Shows, Venue, Experiences

D

espite a lighter schedule this coming season, (four shows and a summer performance, rather than last season’s seven shows in total), Magnus Theatre will still give Thunder Bay some of the best theatre around. Meet My Sister, a funny and touching homecoming story by Bonnie Green (whose play Dock Spider premiered worldwide at Magnus this past year), opens the new season on September 28. Here, two sisters are stranded on the porch of their family home by their mother, who locked them out to avoid having to go to an assisted living facility. “It’s got Bonnie’s classic human humour,” says Magnus’s artistic director Thom Currie. “She presents characters that say what we wish we would have said—and relationships—very well.” With the play slated to be performed outside in the fall, patrons will enjoy immersing themselves in a meta-theatrical experience with the summer stage’s full set, lights, house, heat, and comfy chairs, and the play’s backdrop just outside the tent. Following Meet My Sister is a gap in the schedule—but not for the theatre. During November and December, Magnus’s Theatre for Young Audiences Tour returns to inperson shows for kindergarten to Grade 12 students all across the region. “It’s such a magical thing to sit in a room with 300 little kids who are all just completely enraptured by what you’re doing,” says Currie. While January ushers in a new year, it will also bring the return of patrons to the Magnus auditorium with a new bar, gender-neutral and fully accessible bathrooms, and Mohawk and Tuscarora playwright Falen Johnson’s Two Indians. This play follows two Indigenous sisters reuniting

after many years apart and facing questions of sisterhood and who is and really is not your family. “Falen is extraordinary at presenting situations and characters that can be in terrible situations and still maintain their humour,” Currie says. “It’s not often that you see anyone in society who laughs at themselves, but I think it’s important to laugh at yourself.” As for the musical, Currie scooped up another Canadian premiere. Andrew Lloyd Weber and Don Black’s musical Tell Me on a Sunday follows an English woman who moved to New York to find herself and love. “Thunder Bay’s never seen anything like this,” says Currie. “It’s a 90-minute songcycle with one person singing their way through the story. So, you have to pay attention.” Finally, the May 2024 portion of the schedule marks the return of the farce. Sophia Fabiilli’s Liars at a Funeral follows a grandmother’s ploy to fake her own death to get her feuding family to face each other at her so-called funeral. “It’s a nonstop ‘what is happening?’ type of farce with running around, doors slamming, and trying to figure out if Grandma actually faked her death,” says Currie. As of mid-August, a fifth show slated for the 2023– 24 season had yet to be announced. Needless to say, this season still offers opportunities of reflection and new experiences. While Currie’s line-up intertwines themes such as family and discovery, it maintains his philosophy of giving audiences a new experience every time they see a Magnus show.

Emily Turner

By Taylor Onski

 The inside of the space where Magnus Theatre’s outdoor stage is, and the site of the upcoming season’s first performance Meet My Sister

For more information, visit magnustheatre.com or call 807-345-5552.

The Walleye

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FilmTheatre

 Bridges to the North

Vox Popular Media Arts Festival Annual Event Returns With Film Screenings, Art Installations By Kris Ketonen

A

 The Klabona Keepers  Fatih the Conqueror

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lot of local talent will be on display at this year’s Vox Popular Media Arts Festival. This year’s festival, which runs from September 7 to 10 at Definitely Superior Art Gallery, will once again feature art installations, live music, and a slate of film screenings. However, what sets this year apart is how many local films will be screening: about a dozen films from Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario are part of the event. “A lot of them will be premiering at the festival,” says festival director Adrien Harpelle. “We're really, really excited about how many local films we have. It's more than we've had in the past.” Harpelle says the COVID19 pandemic likely has something to do with it. “We're over the pandemic hump, which I think kind of stopped people from doing things,” Harpelle says. “I think people just kind of got back to it, and made their work.” “I know a lot of these films have been in the works for quite a few years,” he adds. “I think there was a bit of a buildup of people's projects being delayed and delayed, and now things are

finally coming out and it's really, really incredible.” Vox Popular will also feature plenty of films from beyond Northwestern Ontario, as well. “There's quite a few shorts, but quite a few really good features [too],” Harpelle says. “We're really pleased this year that the quality of work was just really, really high.” It’s been quite the run for the festival itself, which is approaching its 20th year. Harpelle attributes the longevity to the volunteers who have kept the festival running. “It's so much work,” he says. “The funding is completely inconsistent, and a lot of us just dedicate time to make it happen.” “It takes a lot of energy, but it's been passed through different hands to keep the energy going,” Harpelle adds. “It's our volunteer board, and it's people working really hard throughout the year, looking at the films early, talking to sponsors and applying for funding early, and trying to just coordinate things.” “It's always worth it.” For more information about this year’s Vox Popular Media Arts Festival, visit voxpopular.ca.


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FilmTheatre

Miss Take

Oops, We’re Doin’ It Again! Story by Jimmy Wiggins, Photo by TBay Alive

L

ast winter, the drag community gathered in droves to honour and roast the hell out of one of TBay’s most beloved drag queens, Amber Ail. The night was a huge success, with tons of laughs and some of the most cutting jokes you could imagine. A drag roast is like a regular roast, but with drag performers. It’s not about being mean; it’s about being funny. If a joke gets a good laugh, it’s almost forgiven, no matter how ruthless or harsh it is. Later this month we’ll be firing up the grill again,

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but this time the main course will be Amber’s drag daughter, Miss Take. Miss Take is from a small town in the GTA and moved to Thunder Bay about six years ago. I remember seeing her in the crowd at a handful of our shows, and during a few she got on stage for the audience dance battles. I knew there was something special about her and how she performed. In 2022, I invited Miss Take to be a part of our regular cast and she’s been a fan favourite ever since. Miss Take’s drag doesn’t fit into any mould, which is

exactly what good drag does. “I don’t normally wear pads and I use my natural hair a lot because of how I can throw it around”, she says. “Most of the transformation comes from makeup and attitude.” Miss Take is a high-energy performer, fun to watch, and, like many comedy greats, incredibly self-deprecating, “My style is more comedic, and I feel confident and excited about my drag when I’m making myself laugh,” she says. “My biggest inspirations are pop culture, my own audacity, and—I can’t believe I’m saying this—my drag

SSIONS CONFE RAG OF A D R DEALE mom, Amber Ail. I’m notorious for actively pushing against Amber’s advice, but when I’m having trouble workshopping a new idea, I’ll think back to what I loved seeing her do when I was just an audience member.” We had first discussed the idea of having a roast for Miss Take while sitting around waiting for a drag show to start at Woody’s in Toronto’s gay village last year. Miss Take had mentioned she was considering moving back to the GTA and we thought a roast would be a great send-off. When she decided to stay, the excitement

over being roasted stayed as well, to the point that she fully tried to dupe all of us so that the roast would still happen, even though it was never off the table. “The biggest reason I wanted to be a part of this roast, apart from it being about me, is because I love roasting myself and I’m incredibly excited to see what horrible things the people I love and respect have to say about me”, she says.“We all know that Mz Molly Poppinz is always hilarious on the mic but I’m really excited about Amber Ail and Shaela Vie’s sets. Amber was eviscerating at her roast, plus she has the most ammunition to use against me, and Shaela always cracks me up when I’m least expecting it.” As someone who took the brunt of some of the harshest jokes at the last roast (seriously, they burnt me to a crisp), it’s important to not take any of it to heart, and to remember no matter how brutal the jokes are, that when the show is over, we’re all still great friends. “What people need to know about a drag roast is that it’s not serious, we’re all friends and we’re not trying to hurt each other regardless of how out of pocket or mean something might sound at first,” explains Miss Take. “Come with an open mind and be ready to laugh with us!” Catch No Refunds or Exchanges: The Roast of Miss Take on September 30 at Black Pirates Pub. For more info, follow @queenmisstake, @wigginsproductions, and @tbshows.


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TheArts

 Artist, maker, and educator Alicia Brink

 Enamel pins with an Indigenous technology theme

Imagination and Innovation Métis Artist, Maker, and Educator Alicia Brink Story by Bonnie Schiedel, Photos courtesy of Alicia Brink

A

licia Brink was the kind of kid who made pencil crayons out of fallen twigs and wove hats out of grass. Today, she still brings that energy to her work as an artist and maker. “I have so many ideas all the time,” she says. “I have always been a super curious person and I am never quite sure where that will take me.” A scroll through Brink’s Instagram account  Feather spoon

@raven_craft_designs reveals the breadth of her interests— there is everything from a beaded cartoon Dalmatian and boro stitching (a Japanese technique for reworking and repairing textiles) to handmade dolls and watercolour art. Current projects include working on a novel, woodcarving, linocut prints (a printmaking technique where you carve a design into

a piece of linoleum and use it to print on fabric or paper), and sewing her own clothes. Brink is also spending time on the launch of a new line of enamel pins that celebrate Indigenous technology, like birchbark baskets, as well as a second collection of pins with a woodworking theme. Cyanotype printing, a photographic printing process that produces prints

 Knitting Valentine

using coated paper and UV light, is another new passion. “You can also put shapes, like flowers or a sprig of cedar on top, and then they’ll leave a silhouette of those images. So I’ve been having a lot of fun playing with that.” A big idea Brink has in mind is making a Red River cart, a large two-wheeled cart made entirely of wood and invented by Métis peoples in Manitoba. “I grew up Indigenous, knowing I was a part of the Indigenous community,” she says, adding that “Métis identity in Thunder Bay is not super established; there isn’t a Settlement  Carved and painted paddle

area here.” Part of the way that identity was expressed in her family was by many days spent camping or on the shores of Lake Superior. “After I graduated, I moved to England to try teaching there for a couple of months. But I felt like I was being called back here. I feel most at home near the lake.” Brink incorporates creativity, technical skills, and her cultural heritage into her position as manager and teacher at Embark at Confederation College, a program designed to honour and reflect Indigenous knowledge in STEAM (science, trades, engineering, art and math). Through the program, Brink and her students take on projects like building a birchbark canoe. “I love stories, and questions, and imagination—it’s why I studied English. I took a lot of electives in natural science and when I got to teachers’ college, I took outdoor experiential education. It was a ground shift for me, and taught me a lot about teaching through action, learning, and building community.” Visit @raven_craft_ designs on Instagram to see more of Alicia Brink’s work and see what’s for sale.

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Awaken Your Inner Artist

TheArts

Experiencing an Evening of Pottery at Lakeside Studio & Cafe Story and photos by Sidney Ulakovic

S  Jamis Hall, owner of Lakeside Studio & Café  Materials in the Lakeside pottery studio

 Writer Sidney Ulakovic posing with her finished product

 Craft display at Lakeside Studio & Café

 Pulling on the clay to form the walls of the bowl

ometimes all you need is a jolt of java to get down to the task at hand, and at Lakeside Studio & Café, the task at hand is whatever your creative self desires. This earthy and whimsical space curated by owner Jamis Hall has combined the creative and café experience for a relaxed spot to explore a new hobby or finally finish off that project that’s been collecting dust. For anyone looking for a little extra guidance with their next creative endeavour, the studio offers monthly workshops, with pottery being the highlight. Hall has developed a workshop for every skill level alongside local ceramicist and instructor Erika Niva, from beginner try-it nights to a six week course to learn the process from start to finish. My mom and I have always talked about wanting to learn pottery, and Lakeside's try-it night seemed like the perfect opportunity for beginners such as ourselves to get our hands dirty without the hassle of a time commitment if pottery turned out to not be what we thought. Turns out, pottery was not at all what I expected. All the videos I had seen online of potters effortlessly moulding a work of art with a few swift hand motions did not prepare me for the sheer amount of patience it takes to get the hang of working with the clay.

I thought that “throwing” was just cool artist slang, but it turns out that there is actually physical throwing involved. Once you’ve thrown your clay onto the wheel to make sure it sticks, you’re guided through the process of centring, opening, and pulling your piece. Luckily, Niva’s calm and kind approach to the evening kept this perfectionist from throwing in the towel. Niva directed us from a cosy studio space, and once we had an understanding of the basics, Niva took a back seat as we explored the process over iced lattes and laughed off our mistakes. At the end of the evening, we were thrilled to have created two bowls each (mine a little misshapen, but a bowl nonetheless!). We left Lakeside that evening with a greater appreciation for the craft and excited to come back next time to glaze our creations. If you’re looking to try your hand at throwing clay, visit lakesidepotterystudio. com to register. This September, Lakeside is hosting a beginner-friendly crochet workshop where crafters can follow along and make their own granny square bag. Updates on monthly workshops and seasonal café offerings are announced on Instagram @lakesidestudiocafe.

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Cathy Quinte

 Writer Sidney Ulakovic’s mother, Cathy Quinte, finishing the pull; the walls of her bowl are formed and the piece is ready to be taken off the wheel


The Land is Dancing

TheArts

Betty Carpick and the Ontario Culture Days Festival from natural sources such as rivers, lakes, rainwater, or snow. A slow and methodical process, these steps yield small batches of ink, which means that “when a batch is done, it’s done; so it’s like capturing a moment in time,” Carpick explains. “[Each ink] is an essence of a certain time and place, and […] it can’t be duplicated.” Once an ink is complete, Carpick brings it to workshops and classrooms for people to play with. It is the ink splatters and shapes that people have created at her workshops that will be on display during The Land is Dancing. The 10-minute video projection, edited by Marc Ducette and composed of hundreds of photographs taken by Sarah McPherson, captures the various ways people have played with Carpick’s inks. The project reflects how Carpick has invited us all to consider the natural art that hides in our boreal forest, and to learn more about the environment in the process. Carpick’s installation will be on display September 28–30 from 6–11 pm outside on the west wall of the Goods & Co. Market building, across from Mars Clothing. Hear her artist talk from 6–8 pm on September 28 in the Co. Lab Gallery & Arts Centre, and join her at her workshop on October 1 at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery from 1–3 pm.

 Ontario Culture Days Creative In Residence Betty Carpick

Paula Thiessen

T

he world needs more art. Or rather, the world needs more people who can see and appreciate the art that surrounds us. Betty Carpick is one of those people gifted with the ability to see the beautiful potential of each hue found in nature, and who can make something out of it. And what she makes, she gifts to others so they may deepen their understanding of, and connection to, our natural environment. As Carpick says, “I am not an artist who makes material or products to sell. […] My knowledge, experience, and time is the gift I give.” For the past few months, Carpick has been working on a special outdoor art installation as a part of the Ontario Culture Days Festival. Carpick is one of eight artists supported by the Ontario Creatives in Residence program who will be presenting their art in their home communities in September and October. Carpick is using this opportunity to showcase the art others have created with the natural inks that she has coaxed out of the local environment. This installation has been titled The Land is Dancing, a name that captures the living, moving nature of the inks she crafted. Ink-making from natural resources is a precious and intricate artform that Carpick has been engaging in for close to 10 years. Using her research and knowledge of the urban, wild, and hybrid ecosystems of our region, she harvests different plants and extracts the colours from them with water

Paula Thiessen

By Emily Turner

 Betty Carpick gathering water from McVicar Creek to elevate awareness of the waterways  Goldenrod, one of the pigment-rich native North American plants used for ink making

Betty Carpick

“[Each ink] is an essence of a certain time and place, and […] it can’t be duplicated.” The Walleye

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TheArts

Learning and Teaching Darcy Penasie and the Art of Wire Bonsai Story by Roxann Shapwaykeesic, Photos courtesy of Darcy Penasie

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Several of Darcy Penasie’s wire bonsai; each one can take from a week to a month to create and they range from five to eight inches in height

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ix years ago, friends recommended Darcy Penasie of Thunder Bay get a plant or pet to keep his mind busy during a difficult time. For fear of losing the pet, Penasie decided to care for a real bonsai tree. The tree didn’t make it, but he discovered something far more lasting. “I found out [I don’t have] a green thumb. Then I came across a wire bonsai on Pinterest and I said ‘wow, I’m gonna try to make that,’” Penasie says. There wasn’t much information available on how to create a wire bonsai, so he taught himself different techniques by looking at online photos. Penasie found a worldwide online community of people who craft wire bonsai trees. An online mentor taught him that “trees should have a triangular shape and that simple is beautiful.” “Teaching how to style a tree is very hard to do because everybody looks at the world differently. If you look at the moon and ask three people to describe it, you will get three different answers,” says Penasie. Commissions are not practical since Penasie depends on his inner vision and feel of the wire. He won’t force the wire to do what it doesn’t want to do, since it never works out. “Every tree

is different because I follow the wire,” he says. When Penasie is working with the tree trunk he’ll listen to opera or classical music. “For some reason it helps with the flow of the tree. And when I'm doing branches, I listen to metal music. The tree I finished last is the tree I love the most.” Finished trees are sometimes given away to family or friends experiencing loss or who just need a reason to smile. They can also be found for sale at Fireweed Crafts in Thunder Bay. Since learning the craft, Penasie estimates he’s completed over 100 trees. Penasie gets supplies like small pebbles, ceramic pots, glue, and paint at local craft stores. The process involves a lot of wire twisting, during which his hands can get scratched up. “One time a cashier asked me if I had a pet cat,” he says. He now assists others interested in learning the craft and shares what he’s learned on his Instagram page and on Facebook groups. His message to others is: “Love what you do. The only time you fail is when you give up.” To view Penasie’s photography and trees visit @penasie on Instagram.


Summer Moonlight

TheArts

HE FROM T BAY R E THUND ERY’S LL A G T R A CTION E L L CO

By Penelope Smart, Curator, Thunder Bay Art Gallery Artist: Leo Yerxa Title: Summer Moonlight Date: 1978 Medium: serigraph on paper Size: 25 x 19 inches Collection of the Thunder Bay Art Gallery, gift of Michael Devaney, 1990 ummer Moonlight casts a brilliant glow across a night sky and upon the surface of water. This evocative image by Leo Yerxa (1947–2017) is part of a series, or mediation, on the four seasons: Summer Moonlight, Fall Golden, Winter Flakes, and Spring (1978). Leo Yerxa is an awardwinning writer, children's book illustrator, and visual artist who worked across a variety of styles and media, including watercolour portraits and landscapes, oil painting, and illustration. There is a dreamlike quality in all of it. Born in Couchiching First Nation, near Fort Frances, he studied graphic arts in 1967 at Algonquin College in Ottawa and fine arts at the University of Waterloo. Yerxa was commissioned to create a set of four coins (Series IV) for the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, depicting marathon running, women’s javelin,

S

women’s shot put, and men’s hurdles, through Algonquin designs. Yerxa’s distinct style lives in a fluid space between his Western art education and traditional designs and legends. He had great success in the world of children’s book illustration. His book Last Leaf, First Snowflake to Fall (1994) won the Mr. Christie’s Book Award, the Elizabeth MrazikCleaver Canadian Picture Book Award and the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator’s Award. Other titles such as A Fish Tale (1995) and Ancient Thunder (2006), which won the Governor General’s Award, are parables that celebrate the natural world. A survey of his work called Unfold Time: The Art of Leo Yerxa was held at the gallery in 2019. Summer Moonlight is currently on display as part of the group exhibition Are These Things Not A Dream? End of Summer Selections from the Permanent Collection which runs until September 17.

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TheArts

Illustrations from Amoah’s picture book portfolio

 Artist and illustrator Olivia Amoah at her first pop-up shop at Pretty Fly co. during the Thunder Bay Buskers Festival

Funny, Relatable, Cute The Artwork of Olivia Amoah By Amy Sellors

O

livia Amoah is honing her unique artistic voice. Thunder Bay born and raised, Amoah headed to southern Ontario to attend animation school and then work at animation studios in Toronto. But it wasn’t meant to be. Maybe it was working hunched over a desk reproducing images, or maybe it was living in a high-rise apartment building in downtown Toronto during COVID. Maybe it was a bit of both. Whatever the case, it led her back home, where she knew she needed to change paths. She doesn’t know what her future looks like exactly, but that’s okay. She knows she wants to create her own original art. She knows she wants to draw relatable characters that make people laugh. She knows she’s opening an online shop on August 31 that will sell stickers and stationery featuring her artwork, and which she hopes to expand to include other products in the future. She’s also been named Entershine Bookshop’s 2023-24 artist in residence, where she will produce new designs for the shop’s

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seasonal bookmark program. “I’m very okay with trying new things and taking risks,” says Amoah. “It helps me in every aspect of my life. I’m trying to treat my business like a really small seed. I’m trying to water it every day, and it’s growing. I’ll need to clip things off that aren’t working.” An avid gardener, she understands how slow it is for a plant to grow. “It’s crazy to think that gardening has taught me really important lessons about art,” she continues. “I tried starting a business when I was in Toronto, but I was so impatient. In Thunder Bay, I feel more calm and level-headed, and it’s helping me pursue this more gracefully. It takes time to grow a business.” Amoah is motivated and is drawing every single day. As she takes the time to grow her business, she’s looking to picture book illustration to pay the bills. She submitted her portfolio to agents and quickly found one who immediately assigned her two books to

illustrate. Currently there’s a third book in the works. “You can do a lot with illustration,” she says. “You can make it funny, you can make it sad, you can add all the emotions that you wouldn’t get just reading the words.” Illustration can be solitary, as the illustrator and writer are completely separate, with the art director acting as the go-between, but for Amoah, it has its benefits. “I love picture book illustrating, because it’s up to my discretion what the book will look like. It lets me draw the way I want to draw.” When Amoah receives the manuscript, she starts imagining: who are the characters? What do they look like? Where do they live? She submits a draft and receives notes, then revises and resubmits. At the next stage, she adds colour and details, then after the last set of notes, she makes any final tweaks and she’s done. For her first project, she sketched out the entire book. “I think about what the words look like as a


drawing and create a scene that adds context and things that the words don’t,” she says. In between Illustration contracts, Amoah focuses on building her brand, and challenging some stubborn internal messaging. “A lot of people have the idea that art

is your ability to render things realistically,” she says. While she can paint realistic portraits and landscapes, it doesn’t feed her soul—cartoons and comics are what inspire her. “My earliest memory is drawing The Powerpuff Girls,” she says. “I was obsessed with them, as

well as Yoshi’s Island and Mario. I was drawing those characters all the time.” Illustrating picture books has brought her back to drawing the comics she has always loved. Amoah’s Instagram page is a great testing ground for her online shop, as she posts

drawings and videos, and connects with her audience. She learns what they like, what they respond to, and most importantly, what makes them laugh. “I like funny,” she says. “Funny, relatable, and cute.” As she draws each day, she says she thinks about “what

TheArts would make me laugh.” If the finished product makes her happy, she hopes it will make other people happy, too.

To see Amoah’s artwork and learn more about her illustrating, visit oliviaamoah.com. She will also be participating in the Country Roads Autumn Market on September 17; visit @countryroadsmarket on Instagram for info.

 Book cover of the edition of Little People BIG DREAMS that Amoah illustrated

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When the Sky Comes Alive

TheArts

SAND A THOURDS WO

Minnesota Photographer Travis Novitsky Takes Stunning Nighttime Images Story by Bonnie Schiedel, Photos by Travis Novitsky

 Aurora 4170

 Aurora 4454

 Lightning 0121

 Aurora 6388

Some of Travis Novitsky’s earliest memories are looking up at the night sky while his dad tried to capture lightning storms or aurora borealis on film in the late 1980s. “That sparked the interest in photography and the interest in stargazing and just sitting outside at night, under these amazing skies that we have in our region,” says Novitsky, a citizen and lifelong resident of Grand Portage Anishinaabe Nation in Minnesota. “It’s my number one thing that I like to do with photography, and it’s the number one thing that I’m known for. To go out and take photographs and sit under the stars are the two things that calm me after being busy at work all day. We all need something that grounds us and keeps us centred.” In high school, Novitsky’s parents gave him a Minolta X-700 film camera with a couple of lenses. “Just walking around holding that camera made me feel like ‘I want to be a photographer,’” he says. He taught himself the basics of film photography, but it was the fast feedback of digital photography— being able to try something and quickly see if it worked and how it worked—that accelerated his skills in the mid 2000s. Over the years, Novitsky has deepened his understanding

To see more of Travis Novitsky’s work, visit travisnovitsky.com or facebook.com/ Photography. by.Travis. Novitsky. Watch Northern Nights, Starry Skies on YouTube. Spirits Dancing can be pre-ordered at bookstores.

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of the night sky, learning about traditional Ojibwe star knowledge from educators like Elder Carl Gawboy, an artist and historian, and Annette Lee, an astronomer and founder of Native Skywatchers, an initiative aimed at remembering and revitalizing Indigenous star and earth knowledge. Recently they were involved with a documentary called Northern Nights, Starry Skies, co-produced by PBS North and Hamline University’s Center for Global Environmental Education, featuring Novitsky’s incredible night sky images. Novitsky is also looking forward to the November publication of Spirits Dancing: The Night Sky, Indigenous Knowledge and Living Connections to the Cosmos, a collaboration with Lee that displays more of his night sky images. “What I tend to do with my photos is try to tell stories with them,” he says. One of Novitsky’s favourite places to photograph the night sky? Northwestern Ontario cutovers. “They make a perfect foreground for a nice sky shot with northern lights. No joke, I go through logging cuts down here and they just don’t look as aesthetic after they’ve been logged,” he says. “For whatever reason, I have found so many logging cuts across the border that are just beautiful for night sky shots.”

Tech Specs

Nikon Z7 II camera Nikon Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S lens Nikon Z 24-200 f/4-6.3 VR lens Robus RC-5558 Vantage Series 3 carbon fibre tripod Really Right Stuff BH-40 ball head Lowepro Flipside Sport 20L AW camera backpack


TheArts

 Photographer Travis Novitsky

 Lightning 9050

 Lightning 9912

 Milky Way 4848

 Milky Way 9797

 Moonlight 4870

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TheArts

When Science Meets Art Roger Mitchell Exhibit Coming to Co. Lab Gallery & Arts Centre By Lindsay Campbell

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Examples of Roger Mitchell’s abstract art

oger Mitchell’s delight in rocks and minerals is ignited under the lens of his petrographic microscope. But even before that, he grew up collecting stones along the east coast of the U.K. during family vacations. If he was lucky enough, he recalls, he’d come across fossilized materials. “Naturally, there are always some I consider more interesting than others,” he says. “But when you crack these things open, it’s the colours and textures and their various combinations that continue to fascinate me.” As a seasoned geologist and internationally renowned authority on the characterization of rocks and minerals, what exists inside of these natural formations has been at the centre of Mitchell’s life for decades. Now his scientific discoveries are making their entry into the art world. Twenty-two samples of Mitchell’s rocks and minerals, in poignant texture and vibrant colour, will be blown up onto canvas in an upcoming abstract art exhibit at the Co. Lab Gallery & Arts Centre inside Goods & Co. Market. Called Steinbilder, the snapshots are derived from his professional travels in India, Siberia, Australia, Tanzania, and the Canadian Arctic—to

name a few. And as unique as these geographical locations are, Mitchell has found a way to provide his own creative interpretation of each rock sample through a number of digital tools. On one canvas print, one might see Technicolour fragments that closely resemble a stained glass window. On another, the winding lines and bulbous shapes that attach to them, might look like the cells and arteries of an artistic illustration in a biology textbook—“biomorphic,” Mitchell says. Another plays up a sample’s natural elements, making use of its branch-like contours over an earthy green foreground. “This is what lives in rocks,” Mitchell says, pointing to a spread of his pieces across his dining room table. “I like to think I’ve brought out their beauty, which is not so blatantly evident […] but I prefer to let people make their own interpretations when they view them.” There is no one yet in the art world he knows of who has formally created art from rocks like this, Mitchell says. He’s only seen pictures somewhat similar on the Internet. He has his own detailed process: first he cuts a razor thin sample of a formation, then he shaves it down so its contents are thin

enough to be viewed with his microscope, which has a digital camera attached to it. You can change all of the settings on this camera, he tells me, including the colours. Then, he saves the file, and more often than not, he plays with the shades and textures some more in Photoshop. Sometimes it takes hours to decide what he wants to do with a sample. Other times it takes days. The idea for using his work as an artistic medium has been in the works for quite some time, though. He decided to pursue it, Mitchell says, after he authored a rocks and mineral atlas of various colourcoded samples in 1997, but it’s only been over the past four months that he’s found the time to commit to such a project. And despite painting surrealist art prior to this exhibit and notably having his paintings on display in Toronto, Mitchell is unsure about how the public will receive his rock art. “We will see if there’s a market for it,” he says, when asked if he’d continue to create pieces of this nature. “This is something different.” Still, this is undeniably the kind of art that would speak to the boy who first saw rocks and minerals as hidden treasure along the English seaside.

Steinbilder has its opening night on September 15 at 7 pm, and the exhibit will continue September 16 and 17 from 10 to 4 pm, at the Co.Lab Gallery & Arts Centre inside Goods & Co. Market.

“But when you crack these things open, it’s the colours and textures and their various combinations that continue to fascinate me.” 48

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Advertising Feature

“If more people took the time to acknowledge just how much damage has already been done to the environment, perhaps they might consider supporting local talent” SDNR Community Engagement – a sustainable think-tank founded at York University and the Schulich School of Business moves "onward and upward" during the 2023 Canada Day activities in Ottawa. And once again, they showcased the local talent from Thunder Bay and other rural parts of Ontario. Programming included an intellectual property information session designed to raise awareness about the importance of Indigenous IP, Trademark and Copyright Laws. A virtual panel talk, a lecture at the University of Ottawa, workshops and film screenings to facilitate knowledge sharing on topics such as fast fashion also took place. The highlight of the event however, was the final runway show which featured more than 30 designers and small businesses. Among them was local entrepreneur Jacqui OjiMaq who makes her own skirts and matching bags by hand. Just one bag takes hours and hours to complete and the end result is really quite remarkable when compared to fast fashion items that are sold in stores around Canada. Jacqui OjiMaq creates pieces that speak to the contemporary ways in which Indigenous women have (since time immemorial) designed and created clothing. In this regard, much of what she does translates into modern fashion pieces through playful colour schemes that quietly draw attention to her Ojibway ancestry. Other local talent included Ungalli a boutique store that makes all its clothing from recycled plastic bottles, black food trays, plastic beer bottles, x-ray film and reused cotton. In so doing, helps to elevate the conversation about the copious amounts of water, pesticides, fertilizers, and toxic chemicals required to create clothing from cotton. Because often such garments are worn a few times, donated to second-hand outlets, then eventually discarded and shipped overseas where it either ends up in landfills, waterways or other landbased rivers and lake sheds. If more people took the time to acknowledge just how much damage the fashion industry has already done to the environment, perhaps they might consider supporting local Canadian talents like Ungalli, Oji Maq and other sustainable businesses say the cofounders of SDNR Community Engagement. The SDNR team would also like to give an “Honorary mention” to other amazing talents including Metis entrepreneurs Noles Dennhardt at Noles Media, Mike Jacques at MJ MetalWorks and B. Beadings. As well as Jennifer Wabano at Designs by Jenii (from Peawanuck First Nation) and Lucia Taylor (from Constance Lake First Nation) all of whom SDNR will continue to work with at their upcoming 2024 -2025 fashion and innovation series.

The Walleye

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Outdoor

Adventure Boat Camping Embracing Solitude and Serenity in the Wild Story and photos by Rebekka Redd

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enturing into the great outdoors has always been my passion. Whether it's sleeping in hammocks amid the wilds of Africa or beneath the rainforests of South America, I've always sought to push the boundaries of my adventurous spirit. But it was during my fishing trips that I stumbled upon an idea that would forever change my camping experience—boat camping! With each fishing expedition requiring a substantial effort to reach the perfect spot, turning back to the launch point felt like a missed opportunity. Instead, I decided to transform my boat into a floating haven, allowing me to camp wherever my heart desired. As a true adventurer, I've explored numerous terrains and sought thrilling experiences. So, why not embrace the novelty of sleeping in a tent aboard my trusty boat? It turned out to be an absolute delight.

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Determined to share this remarkable experience, I embarked on a journey to document my boat camping escapades, which have become an integral part of my life for years. At the dawn of this new year, I found myself equipped with a state-of-the-art 22-foot Alumacraft boat, boasting a powerful 250 Mercury Verado engine. This vessel not only provides ample space for all my gear, but also offers unrivaled comfort. My preparations are meticulous: I pack extra provisions of gas, water, and food to sustain me during my boat camping excursions and then some. Setting up camp is a breeze with my reliable two-person all-weather tent placed on the bow of the boat. To ensure a good night's sleep, I indulge in an inflatable camping mattress paired with a snug Summit cold weather sleeping bag. Safety is my top priority, so I carry headlamps, extra lights, flares, a boater’s

safety kit, lifejackets, oars, boat ropes, anchors, and more. For additional peace of mind, I have a satellite phone and a GPS mapping system, allowing me to roam without losing my way. I religiously keep my loved ones informed about my precise location through GPS pings. Cooking onboard is part of the joyous experience, and I've perfected my techniques with a portable stove, sometimes opting for a two-burner setup or a more compact one-burner version, depending on what I feel like packing. My selection of favourite camping foods adds a touch of culinary delight to the trip. Of course, my loyal canine companion joins me, and I ensure he enjoys the journey as much as I do. Selecting fishing spots with nearby beaches allows him to frolic during our long days on the boat. To shield ourselves from the scorching sun, I put up the bimini top, providing us both with ample shade.


Finding a tranquil bay or safe harbour is pivotal to a rewarding and secure experience—a practice adopted by seasoned sailboat enthusiasts. My luck has led me to discover awe-inspiring spots. Securing the boat to a tree onshore and anchoring it off the stern provides stability and prevents any unwanted drifting. Sometimes, I anchor close to a picturesque beach, while other times I keep a bit of distance from the shore. The enchanting moments that boat camping provides are just amazing. I often find myself in the company of moose foraging close to my resting spots, while playful otters dart around my boat as I cook up a delicious lunch. When night falls, the air comes alive with the soothing sounds of night birds, and on some occasions, I am blessed with pure silence, allowing me to immerse myself in the tranquil surroundings. However, I must admit that in some camping spots, I encountered an intense swarm

of mosquitoes, prompting me to quickly zip up my tent for protection! I cherish the serenity, independence, and boundless adventure that these solo trips bring. Liberated from the distractions of the modern world, I find solace and rejuvenation in the lap of nature. With my family hailing from Finland, a culture that deeply reveres time spent in nature, I am no stranger to the rewards of escaping into the wilderness. The profound connection with the wild and the tranquility it bestows upon my soul is something I treasure immensely. So, my fellow adventurers, may your spirits be high, your sense of exploration unwavering, and your boat camping experiences unforgettable! Embrace the thrill of independence and bask in the serenity of nature, for it is in these moments that life's truest joys are discovered. Happy adventure camping, tight lines, and big fish!

Outdoor

 Redd’s cooking setup on her boat, during adventure camping

 Redd releasing a pike

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CityScene

Marion Agnew standing on the lakeshore by her family’s cabin

Making Up the Gods

The family cabin, which is also depicted on the cover of Making Up the Gods

Marion Agnew’s Debut Novel to Release This Fall Story and photos by Sidney Ulakovic

“I

announced to my mother at the age of eight that I would someday live in Maudslay Court, in one of those nice apartments, and write romance novels or something,” says local author Marion Agnew. While she may have forgone the apartment and the romance writing, Agnew did make good on her promise to become a writer, and now her debut novel Making Up the Gods is set to release this fall. Much of Agnew’s writing background lies in short fiction and creative non-fiction. She’s published a collection of essays, Reverberations: A Daughter’s Meditations on Alzheimer’s, and the remainder of her catalogue is collected throughout various Canadian literary journals. But for Agnew, the prospect of writing a novel has existed for quite some time. Agnew was born in

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Oklahoma and lived in several cities around the United States before settling just outside Thunder Bay, on the same property as her family’s cottage, which she visited every summer as a girl. She credits her experiences living in so many places for giving her differing lenses through which to see the world. “Moving around a lot has helped me separate what’s a place from what’s human nature,” Agnew says. The exploration of the human condition—connection, memories, grief—and its entanglements lies at the core of Agnew’s literary work, and Making Up the Gods is no exception. The novel’s main character Simone came from Agnew’s short story “Simone on Butter,” which won first prize in the Canadian Authors Association Niagara Branch contest, and was published

in their annual anthology Ten Stories High in 2015. All these years later, Agnew found she couldn’t quite escape Simone. “She came into my head one day as I was making toast and she said ‘I crave butter,’ and I was like ‘Oh, I know you,’” Agnew says. Simone’s story continued from there, weaving in the stories of new characters throughout the novel’s development. “It’s been several novels along the way,” Agnew adds, in regards to the seemingly endless road that can be the drafting process. However, Agnew is delighted to find that writing a novel suits her quite well. As Agnew parts with these characters she has come to know so intimately, readers can prepare to meet them (or, in the case of Simone, reunite with them) and see where their journeys take them.

Making Up the Gods launches October 15 at Entershine Bookshop from 1–3 pm, with an author reading and Q&A.


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Stuff We Like

CityScene

For September Nights By Kelsey Raynard

1

The seasonal change in September is striking. Days get noticeably shorter, nights get noticeably longer, trees change colour, temperatures drop, and we begin to slow down in preparation for the cold months ahead. But for those of us who aren’t ready to say goodbye to summer just yet, we will savour every last opportunity to enjoy some time outdoors. While we may not be at the beach, we still appreciate an evening cosied up in the backyard with some good food and drink under the stars. Here is Stuff We Like for September Nights. 2

Klippan Vinga Throw Blanket 1

Hygge Loft 142 Cumberland Street North Fall is fuzzy blanket season—this is a universal truth. Keep warm on any September night with this Vinga throw blanket by Klippan, available at Hygge Loft. Founded in Sweden over 140 (!) years ago, Klippan is world-renowned for their high-quality lamb’s wool blankets and throws. Measuring at 130 x 200 cm and available in a variety of prints, this blanket will warm you up all September long.

$199

2 Deep Cuts Beer Lakehead Beer Company 206 Park Avenue Darker nights call for darker beers. Spend your next September night sipping on a can of Deep Cuts beer by Lakehead Beer Company. This black IPA is dark, chocolatey, nutty, and packed with citrusy and resinous American hops. P.S. If you get too cold sitting outside, you can always head down to Lakehead Beer Co.’s taproom for a draft glass.

$2.75/can

3 Zermatt Shearling Slippers

J.B. Evans 122 Frederica Street West Swap your summer Birkenstock sandals for these Zermatt Shearling slippers by Birkenstock, available at J.B. Evans. Like all Birks, these soft and cosy slippers feature the iconic cork latex footbed; additionally, they are fully lined in genuine shearling that will keep your feet warm all night long. Just beware of those flying embers from the campfire!

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$140

5

8

4 Telescope Toy Sense 447 May Street North Cooler night time temperatures mean clearer skies—the perfect opportunity for stargazing. Set your sights to infinity and beyond with this entry-level telescope by Thames & Kosmos. This high-quality refractor telescope is outfitted with glass optics that allow for 100x magnification, providing great observations of the moon and more. We can’t think of a better way to spend a September night.

$64.99

Frozen Eat Local Perogie Pizza 5

Maltese Grocery 301 Pearl Street Pizza is an essential late-night snack, regardless of the season. Warm yourself around the fire with a slice of Eat Local’s perogie pizza, available frozen at Maltese Grocery and other local grocers. Cook it in your new gas-powered pizza oven or in your regular oven and pair this with a Lakehead Beer Co. Deep Cuts for the ultimate backyard indulgence.

$17.99

6 Classic Pine Hoodie Ungalli Clothing Co. 115 Cumberland Street North Sweater weather is officially upon us. Keep cosy this September in a classic pine hoodie by local clothing company Ungalli. Each sweater is made from recycled plastic and organic cotton, saving 24 plastic bottles from the landfill. Soft, stylish, and sustainable, this hoodie will be in rotation long after September is over.

$95

Kuma Lazy Bear Heated Chair 7

Gear Up For Outdoors 894 Alloy Place A comfortable camp chair with a built-in heater to keep you warm—now this is the stuff we like for September nights. The Kuma Lazy Bear heated chair, available at Gear Up For Outdoors, is available in three different colours and includes the power bank that provides up to six hours of heat control. With an insulated beverage holder and phone pocket, we think this one sells itself.

$259.99

8 Ooni Koda 12 GasPowered Pizza Oven

Fresh Air 710 Balmoral Street. Level up your backyard game this September with a gas-powered pizza oven by Ooni. Compact, easy to set up, sleek, and modern, this wondrous machine can cook a pizza in 60 seconds flat. You heard that right. If pizza isn’t your thing, the Ooni Koda 12 can be used to cook everything from fish to vegetables to steak. Bon appetit!

$549

6 4 3

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BREAKFAST AND A VIEW! Weekdays 6:30 – 10:30 Weekends 7:00 – 11:00

full-service car washing & detailing available 7 days / week If you are looking to get your interior cleaned we are ready for you! Car Wash

Reservations: 807-285-9318 2240 Sleeping Giant Parkway, Thunder Bay

Auto Detailing Rust Protection Gas Station

centralcarwash.ca | 807-346-0405

The Walleye

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CityScene

 Punctured Glove: Puncture holes in the leather animal-handling glove reveal just how sharp the talons are on these birds. On average, gloves are replaced every six months.  Anklet and Jess: A leather anklet is sized to the bird’s leg and is attached to the glove by a jess, essentially acting like a collar and mini leash when handling raptors.  Kym and Maverick: Falconer Kym Amonson with Maverick—an eight-pound, one-year-old bald eagle who is in the process of being trained to fly. “He’s my rock star,” says Amonson, who likes to use Maverick as part of live education programs. “He’s very, very clever, and good around people.”

Skyline Falconry Working with Birds of Prey

WALL SPACE

Story by Tiffany Jarva, Photos by Jack Barten

K

ym Amonson is Thunder Bay’s first licensed falconer. For over 10 years, she has been working with birds of prey. Initially, it was all about using raptors to help hunt for small game; now, during the off-season, Amonson also uses the birds

for gull and goose control programs and sharing her falconry knowledge to help educate the public. “I can’t imagine doing anything else,” says Amonson, who used to be a dietary aide and now runs her own falconry business from a southside double lot

with five mews (birdhouses) in Thunder Bay. “They teach you a lot along the way.” Born in Thunder Bay, Amonson spent some of her childhood living on Skyline Avenue—the inspiration for her business name. She initially pursued getting her small

 Handling Glove: According to Amonson, a leather glove is the most important piece of equipment for falconers because of the birds’ extremely sharp talons. “You train them to a glove because it is a targeted spot to return to.”  Hood: Amonson created this beautiful leather hood for Maverick. Hoods act like horse blinders, and are meant to help calm the birds. Different sized hood blocks are made to fit each species perfectly.

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CityScene

 Scale: Weighing the birds is another important part of the training process, explains Amonson. “All these birds think with their stomachs,” she says. The goal is to get the birds of prey to eat out of her glove and develop trust around food, while she touches the bird all over. Eventually, Amonson encourages the bird to jump to her and then gradually backs up further and further using a long line (usually up to 100 feet), training the bird to fly to food. Weight is recorded to find the optimum measurement that will result in a bird flying to her immediately when she whistles and calls.

game hunting license, then worked with a falconry sponsor and then as an apprentice. Amonson also spent about a year “obsessively” researching the different aspects of falconry, including housing requirements, species, equipment, and the latest technology, like using a GPS collar and an app that provides real-time information like location and how high and how fast a bird flies. Her first bird was a Harris hawk because “they are smart, and easy to train,” she explains. Today, Amonson houses and works with five different birds

 Wingspan: Maverick’s wingspan is about six feet. He doesn’t like salmon but will eat white fish, moose, deer, beef heart, and quail. “All my birds eat better than me,” laughs Amonson.  Maverick: Maverick still has his juvenile colours, which can be confusing because at this age, he resembles a golden eagle. The classic white bald eagle colouring usually starts to appear at age five or six.

of prey, including a peregrine falcon, a Siberian goshawk, a snowy owl, a small northern white-faced owl, and most recently, a bald eagle named Maverick. “I love him to death. He’s a great ambassador for his species,” she says. Amonson hopes to build an educational bird centre one day that acts as a training facility and sanctuary for birds of prey. Find Skyline Falconry on Facebook or email skylinefalconry@gmail. com for more info.

The Walleye

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CityScene

Building a Legacy

Precambrian Natural Surface Trails Inc. By Matt Prokopchuk

Leeza Leighs

I

Patrice Poulin

 Bikers on the Vein Trail at the Shuniah Mines in Thunder Bay

Patrice Poulin

 Trail benching at the top of the Swamp Donkey Trail at Hiawatha Highlands in Sault Ste. Marie

 Borrow pit being dug during the building of a platform at the Hiawatha Highlands in Sault Ste. Marie

Patrice Poulin

 Full steam ahead at the new Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation bike park 20 minutes east of Dryden

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a n S h a w, t h e o w n e r / operator of Precambrian Natural Surface Trails Inc., has taken his lifelong love of trail riding and turned it into a successful business, building and developing recreational trails all over northern Ontario, and says there are bigger plans in the works. The company, which builds multi-use natural surface trail areas for outdoor activities like mountain biking and hiking, has been in business since 2017, and has been doing a lot of work in the Centennial Park and Trowbridge Forest area. They’ve also got projects in Sault Ste. Marie, near Schreiber, and with the Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation near Dryden. The business essentially was the end result of Shaw and his friends carving out their own trails as young riders, and, after a stint mountain biking and snowboarding in the Whistler area after high school—and meeting professional trail designers and realizing the opportunity in the market— Shaw returned to Thunder Bay with an eye on eventually breaking into the business himself. “I would be keeping a really close eye on what was going on in the Whistler bike park and what their trail crew was up to,” he says. “I was always just really interested in why one trail could be really fun, and another trail not as much fun, but in general they sort of looked very similar, but it was always just the intricacies of what made a trail really fun.” Shaw says that there’s a lot of design work and building to specifications that goes into trail construction at the pro level—it’s not just about cutting down a few trees in the bush. “It took me a long time to get the thing off the ground, and to get people to take it seriously,”

he says. “You tell people you build trails, people look at you and say ‘oh yeah, I built a trail—me and my uncle cut a trail between his house and his neighbour’s’ and they think you just cut some branches and get it going.” The design work is to ensure that different user groups can all enjoy the space and that potential conflicts are minimized, and that there’s as little need as possible for future maintenance. “We’re just trying to design the systems and the trails in a way that keeps everybody happy,” he says. And, depending on the location, Shaw and his staff may also be working around existing trails or other clearings, further complicating the process. After the design work is completed, the clearing and construction begins, using everything from chainsaws to excavators; various sets of guidelines like those from International Mountain Biking Association Canada, Parks Canada, and Whistler Trail Standards help steer the process. Overall, Shaw, whose company employs six other locals, says he wants to see the further development of the Thunder Bay area as a trail riding hotspot—not only in terms of providing fun, safe recreational opportunities for everyone locally, but also as a tourist destination for people looking for trail riding experiences, adding that the region has all the natural features it needs. “I’d always thought that there was some really great terrain around Thunder Bay and the whole North Shore of Lake Superior, really, that was underutilized for trails in general,” he says. “There’s tons of beautiful spots that you just don’t have access to unless you’re willing to just literally go crash through the bush.”

Check out Precambrian on Instagram @precambriantrails and their website precambriantrails.mystrikingly.com.

The Walleye


A Delicate Ratio A Look at Balanced Strains

CityScene BIS CANNA N M U L O C

By Justin Allec

L

ook, I’m old. The appeal of joining into the weaponsgrade THC cannabis race seems really overdoing it for someone who has multiple up-at-all hours responsibilities. I don’t have the time to enjoy stratospheric cannabis followed by my latest attempt to sync up Dark Side of the Moon with The Wizard of Oz. I do not have

the time for that sort of thing, and there’s a lot of negative effects from too much THC: paranoia, anxiety, and physical dependence aren’t things that I want to volunteer for. No, like most people, all I need is a little bit: a little THC, a little CBD, and a little time to enjoy the experience. For me, balanced strains

Redecan

Reign Drops 15:15, $29.50/bottle (THC 14.00–16.00 mg/g, CBD 14.00– 16.00 mg/g) Redecan has perfected their oil production, and this golden-coloured liquid is like drops of sunshine. Using a CO2 extraction process, Redecan dilutes their oils to a mild level— the flavour isn’t too grassy, which means you can mix it with food or add it to beverages, though I prefer to take these drops straight. Reign Drops start low and stay low, and their influence lasts a few hours at the most.

are the answer. Cannabis is made up of ratios: terpenes, indica versus sativa, and the different array of cannabinoids. Too much of any one of these elements and it strongly affects the experience. If you had a strain that was 100% limonene with a high THC content, it would be weird and unpleasant; you need other elements to

mix with your endocannabinoid system for the experience to be enjoyable. Balanced strains, featuring equal ratios of THC and CBD, use the best features of both cannabinoids. It’s just the right mix of heady and relaxing, a bit of mild psychotropic loosening along with some anti-inflammatory soothing. The CBD influence

cuts off any dopamine rushes or paranoia, but there’s enough THC to still feel intrigued. And with the worst of THC’s sideeffects curtailed, balanced strains won’t leave you feeling fuzzy the next morning. Here are three balanced products that aim to give you a full-body experience you’ll enjoy.

Reef Organic

Legend

Reef Organic has created a divine strain with their God Bud X. This is truly a unique strain with a slightly higher level of CBD and bizarrely tasty terpene profile. Featuring beta-ocimene, caryophyllene, limonene, myrcene, and trans-ocimene, God Bud X offers premium relaxation without couch lock side effects, and has a delicious flavour of fruit and wood with just a hint of lemon.

For an oral fix, the Legend Balanced Orange Milk 1:1 matches 10 mg of THC and 10 mg of CBD with a premium 46% milk chocolate and tasty orange flavouring. Though this product takes the longest to take effect, it’s the closest out of the three to something you would actually sit down to relax with. A mug of tea with a few squares sounds like the perfect thing for a cool autumn evening, and the lack of sugar crash means that this chocolate eases out of your system.

CBD God Bud X, $34.97/3.5g (THC 4.00–10.00%, CBD 6.00–12.00%)

Balanced Orange Milk Chocolate 1:1, $4.80/pack (THC 10.00 mg, CBD 10.00 mg)

Fall Gales Photo Workshop with Andrew McLachlan

Sun Oct 15, 6pm dinner -> Thurs Oct 19 breakfast

Rock Island Lodge On Lake Superior near Wawa rockislandlodge.ca The Walleye

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Around The Woodshed

CityScene

Story by Matt Prokopchuk, Photos by Emily Turner

K

 Around The Woodshed’s setup at the Thunder Bay Country Market  Knife sharpener Josh McDonald works on his Tormek knife sharpener

Check out Around The Woodshed at the Thunder Bay Country Market. You can find the business on Facebook and Instagram.

“Knives are one of our oldest tools and I think people have forgotten how to take care of them.”

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nife sharpener Josh McDonald says he’s essentially turned a hobby into a business. The owner of Around The Woodshed is one of the newer vendors at the Thunder Bay Country Market, having opened up his business earlier this summer. McDonald sharpens knives and does minor repairs to the blades—a skill he decided to teach himself, given its usefulness around his homestead in Gillies. “I’ve been sharpening for a number of years […] but at home, kind of as a hobby,” he says. “It was getting to the point where I figured I’d try and step it up as a professional.” Customers bring their dulled knives to McDonald’s space at the market, where he uses a Tormek knife sharpener (he says it’s essentially a stone wheel that runs through a trough of water, eliminating dust) and finishes the job by using a belt grinder with a leather belt to polish the knives. McDonald says the whole process for a normal chef’s knife takes him about 10 minutes. “If it’s not too busy, it’s kind of first-come, first-served. […] Like last weekend, I had no problem keeping up with the customers,” McDonald says. “I didn’t have any homework.” Customers are encouraged to

AL GO LOC R E THUND TRY N U O BAY C T MARKE

wrap up their knives in a tea towel or other similar covering when bringing them into the market and put the wrapped knives into a cloth grocery bag. Running his business out of the market has been a good move for him, McDonald says, as it “worked out great as kind of a cost-effective way to have a storefront without having a storefront,” he says. “It seems to be working quite well, so far.” But the many temptations around the premises can be a mild distraction, he adds jokingly. “It’s hard to work there because there’s so much good food.” Adding to the positive experience, he says, is the atmosphere. “It’s a very friendly place,” he says. “It’s lots of fun. [...] It’s nice going to work there because I find the people want to go to work there. It’s really kind of refreshing.” The business also gives McDonald—who is a crane operator by trade and drives a snowplough in the winter months—a chance to be an entrepreneur and run his own business and, at the same time, engage in a trade that’s been around for centuries. “It’s one of those old trades that seems to have disappeared,” he says. “Knives are one of our oldest tools and I think people have forgotten how to take care of them.”


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CityScene D SECONES C N A CH

Something Old, Something New with Pre Loved Bridal Consignment By Kelsey Raynard

S

omething old, something new, something borrowed, something blue: this is an adage many of us have heard about what we should have on our wedding day. While something “old” may not seem appealing to the modern bride, how about something lightly loved? This month, we are proud to feature Pre Loved Bridal Consignment, which is bringing second-hand (both new and lightly loved) bridal and formal wear to Thunder Bay. Jenna Fratpietro, owner of Pre Loved Bridal Consignment, explains that the idea behind this business came about after seeing many brides trying to sell their dresses by themselves on Facebook Marketplace. “Since having my kids, I spend a lot of time on Marketplace looking for second-hand everything,” Fratpietro laughs. “I kept coming across women trying to sell their wedding dresses, whether that was a dress they didn’t end up wearing or one they used.” “I thought to myself, ‘how will they sell these if you can’t try them on?’ People still want a bit of a bridal experience and don’t necessarily want to spend thousands of dollars on Marketplace,” she says. From this idea, the Pre Loved Wedding Sale was born. On April 29, Fratpietro and other vendors held a pop-up market at Goods & Co., selling new, used, and thrifted wedding dresses, formal wear, accessories, and decor. After this successful pop-up, Fratpietro decided preloved bridal wear was something that could go the distance. Now, Fratpietro collects and sells these gorgeous gowns on consignment, benefitting all parties

involved. She has even opened up her own physical space at 251 Red River Road, adjacent to Goods & Co., allowing brides to have the full “bridal boutique” experience while offering a lowcost, sustainable shopping option. She has expanded to include bridesmaids dresses, wedding guest outfits, flower girl dresses, graduation dresses, and more. Fratpietro attributes the success of Pre Loved Bridal Consignment to a number of factors. “Locally, our options are so limited for bridal and formal wear in general,” she says. “Also, prices for everything these days are significantly more, so either you’re shopping online or you have to travel.” “People have reached out and expressed that they are super thankful to have a local opportunity to just see what’s out there and have been very open to wearing things that have been worn before,” she continues. “I wasn’t sure how that would go over, but I think people are open to the idea more because they don’t want to be spending that much money on an item they wear only once.” As more and more couples aim to have a more environmentally and financially sustainable wedding, purchasing a second-hand wedding dress is just one way to save money and reduce your carbon footprint. This month, Fratpietro is selling a Cinderella Divine Gown for the bride who truly wants to feel like a princess. The dress is a size 10 and has never been worn, retailing at over US$300, but is available from Pre Loved Bridal Consignment for CA$350.

To book an appointment to try on this beautiful gown or to check out other pre-loved bridal wear, visit vagaro.com/ prelovedbridalconsignment. Otherwise, follow @prelovedbridalconsignment on Instagram for more stunning second-hand wedding content.

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For more information, contact Infrastructure & Operations Dispatch 807-625-2195 or visit thunderbay.ca/wastereduction 64

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CityScene

Action from race night at Thunder City Speedway on May 31, 2023

No Place Like Home

The Thunder City Speedway Celebrates Another Amazing Season Story by Emily Turner, Photos by Anna Buske

T

here is a long history of auto racing in Thunder Bay and the surrounding areas. Dating back long before our city was known by this name, car enthusiasts from all over Northwestern Ontario and the northern United States have come together in Thunder Bay to share their passion for modified cars and track racing. And based on the strong turnout at the Thunder City Speedway every Wednesday night throughout June, July, and August, this car community is as strong as ever in 2023. The Thunder City Speedway, currently managed by Todd Robinson and Chrissy Simpson, saw an enormously successful race season this summer with very few weatherrelated hiccups. Robinson and other staff are thrilled with the support that the track has received, reporting that each week they saw thousands of

spectators in the stands and at least a hundred drivers competing across all five classes. Five years ago, this track was nothing more than a dream; now, it's equipped with elevated VIP seating, large bleachers, permanent light fixtures, and a huge area for food vendors. And it has more plans to develop going forward. The official opening of the track last year worked to bring the region’s car community back together in a way that it hadn’t been since the closing of the Riverview Raceway and the Mosquito Speedway. “I see guys out here I haven’t seen in probably 30 years,” shares one retired racer who now works at the track. “So many people show up for this every week.” Drivers, pit crews, and spectators alike all agree that the establishment of this track was something our city needed for some time. “I used

“So many people show up for this every week.” to drive all over, across the border to the States, Emo, wherever, to race. Now, I just come here,” said one Thunder Bay-based racer, who feels extremely grateful to have a home track once again. Though it is competitive racing, there was nothing but love and support for each other all summer long. Every race, it was brothers against brothers

and family friends versus each other. In the Hornets class, it was women proving to the world that car racing isn’t just a men’s sport, and teenagers proving kids can be good drivers too. It was—and certainly will be again next year—a fun, family event, all summer long. The community will have one last hoorah at the track

before the snow falls at the Thunder Bay Truck Centre Dirt Track Nationals, happening September 22 to 24. Learn more about the Thunder Bay Truck Centre Dirt Track Nationals and the raceway at thundercityspeedway.ca.

The Walleye

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CityScene

EYE EYE TO

Chatelaine editor-in-chief (and Thunder Bay native) Maureen Halushak at Goods & Co. Market during one of her visits to the Lakehead; Halushak has many memories of spending time at the former Eaton’s building and Keskus Harbour Mall growing up

With Maureen Halushak As told to Matt Prokopchuk, Photo by Lois Nuttall

M

aureen Halushak has risen to one of the top positions in the Canadian magazine world. The Thunder Bay native is now the editor-in-chief of Chatelaine, the venerable women’s magazine that turned 95 earlier this year. While she lives in Toronto, she’s maintained very close ties to Thunder Bay, visiting family here a number of times per year. The Walleye spoke with Halushak about her connection to the Lakehead, how she got into the magazine industry, and what’s on her music playlist these days. The Walleye: Tell us about your continued connection to Thunder Bay. Maureen Halushak: I love Thunder Bay, I still consider it my home, even though I’ve lived away for 25 years. I grew up in Grandview and I just have so many great memories

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of heading downtown on Saturdays with my mom and going to the Waverley library, and going to Eaton’s and going to Kresge's for lunch—such a nice time. When I was older, we had a camp in Thunder Bay, which we still have on Loon Lake, and I still love spending time out there. I come home at least six times a year usually now because my whole family is up in Thunder Bay. TW: Tell us a bit about your path that took you from Northwestern Ontario to running one of the major magazines in this country. MH: I left Thunder Bay to finish my degree—I went to Lakehead for two years and then I transferred to Queen’s. I transferred for the absolute dumbest reason, because my boyfriend went to Queen’s and I think that we broke up before I even landed in

Kingston [laughs]. I think the second year I was at Queen’s I applied to work on The Queen’s Journal [the university’s student newspaper], which was just a real life-changing experience for me. Working at The Queen’s Journal and editing other journalists and doing some writing, it was just a really formative experience. After Queen’s, I went to Ryerson [now Toronto Metropolitan University] for journalism and I focused on magazine journalism there, and then my very first job shortly after journalism school was working at Chatelaine as a fact checker, and I ended up staying at Chatelaine for six years in different junior roles. And then after that, I moved around a bit within the same company. I moved to a magazine called Glow, which was a health and beauty magazine, and then I

moved to Flare, which was absolutely terrifying. It was such a fashion magazine and I’m not a fashion person—I’m definitely the words person, not the clothing person. Then I found my groove and Flare changed a bit as well and I ended up staying there for six years. Then I went back to Chatelaine four years ago. It’s just a really fun place to be and it’s a real thrill to put out a magazine. TW: What is your perfect start to a Saturday? MH: My perfect Saturday would probably be waking up, getting a workout in right away, just to get that out of the way. I do a lot of cardio and weights at home. And then after that—I don’t have kids, I’m married and have two dogs, so I would be on my back deck, having a coffee, checking on the news of the day. I live around the

corner from High Park, which is really nice, so every day, basically, my husband and I are there with our two dogs. We have a doodle and a golden retriever, and we’re in High Park with them in the morning, and that’s just a great start to the day. High Park is somewhere you don’t feel that you’re in Toronto; you can be in there and just not hear a whiz of traffic, it’s amazing. TW: What’s on your music playlist these days? MH: I’ve been in a bit of a country phase. My family is into country and I just drove back from Thunder Bay with my niece who’s 23, and we listened to a lot of country on the way home. And she introduced me to Zach Bryan, who I do really like. I listen to a lot of singer-songwriters, so I love Waxahatchee, I love her side project Plains. So that, to me, was a bit of a gateway, I think, into a bit more country. I love Maren Morris, I love The Highwaymen. I mostly listen to women, but I do really like Zach Bryan thanks to my niece. TW: What are you binge watching? MH: My husband and I can never agree on a TV show to watch, so we do a lot of rewatching. And right now, we’re re-watching Seinfeld, which I’m enjoying way more than I anticipated. I think I’m in a real 90s mood right now, so I love the 90s flashback culture moments of Seinfeld. Because I’m a magazine geek, I love that when you walk into Jerry’s apartment, his coffee table’s covered with magazines. And it’s interesting, because when they’re waiting for something to happen, like they’re waiting for Kramer to walk through the door, they’re often flipping through magazines instead of looking at their phone. And I just really wish we lived in a smart phone-free culture and I love going back to that time in culture. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. To hear more, find the expanded interview on our Eye To Eye podcast on Spotify, iHeartRadio, Google Podcasts, and more.


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This is Thunder Bay Interviews and photos by Leah Morningstar This month we asked The Walleye readers: Where’s your favourite place to go for coffee?

Mitchell: I don’t drink coffee, so I don’t really go out for coffee often. I do go with my wife sometimes. She’s the coffee drinker in the family. When we go, we normally go to Carlito’s on Simpson Street.

Janna: I don’t drink coffee but I love tea. My favourite is an iced London Fog from Bay Village Coffee. The guys who own it are so kind, I really appreciate all they do for the Thunder Bay community.

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Seija & Hayley: We really love Dolce. You can bring your dogs and there’s a huge patio area for sitting outside. The cannolis and macarons are amazing, as is the café affogato. Also, the staff are all so good.

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Troy: I live out in the country so when I go out for coffee it’s usually when I’m getting done with work and getting ready to drive home. When I’m sick of the coffee at work, I like stopping at Lakeside Studio & Café on St. Paul Street.

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September 28 to October 21, 2023

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Commercial Photography Portraits / Headshots Digital Design

Honing in With Terry-Lynn Johnson

CityScene

Red Rock Poet Publishes Second Collection By Sidney Ulakovic

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R

ed Rock poet Terry-Lynn Johnson invites readers to hone in on the moment and allow themselves to feel grounded with her new poetry collection. Johnson’s second and latest collection, Driftwood Tones: Nature Poetry of Beauty and Presence, was published earlier this year by Waterside Productions. Driftwood Tones follows the self-publication of her limited edition debut, Sprigs and Twigs: A Solitary Note & Selected Poems, and

includes 24 poems from the first collection as well as 54 new pieces. Johnson’s first collection Sprigs and Twigs was more autobiographical in nature, as Johnson used drafts of poems spanning decades to piece the book together. While Johnson revisits similar themes of spirituality, death, and hope, most of the poems in Driftwood Tones were written within the last year and a half. Johnson explains the shorter

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drafting period allowed her to approach the creation of Driftwood Tones with more clarity. “You can see more of a maturity in the philosophy and spirituality of the second book,” Johnson says. That maturity brings a brevity and coherence to these poems that set this book apart from its predecessor. “A lot of the inspiration comes from natural surroundings,” Johnson says of her poetry in general. Driftwood

Tones is full of imagery from the North Shore of Lake Superior, and the region’s sometimes desolate beauty also translates into the collection tonally. “I reflect on other poets and draw on what I like to term melancholic joy,” Johnson adds—a term that encapsulates her work well. As is the case in nature, every winter is followed by spring; Driftwood Tones manages to maintain this same optimism in spite of bouts of sorrow.

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Johnson found the writing of this latest collection incredibly energizing and is in the process of drafting her third collection. Driftwood Tones is available to purchase on Amazon. The Lakehead University English Department will be hosting a reading with Terry-Lynn Johnson this fall. Dates will be announced on Johnson’s Facebook page, facebook.com/lakeheadpoet.

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Roots Community Food Centre Thunder Bay Feeds National Conversation about Food Access Story and photo by Sidney Ulakovic

W

ith all the exciting developments at their Fort William Road location over the last few years, you may have overlooked the new sign at the entrance, but Roots to Harvest has a new name: Roots Community Food Centre. Their designation as a community food centre occurred late last year, and with it comes a wealth of opportunity. “The Roots you know and love is here and still totally exists [...] except we’re getting to do more out of it,” says executive director Erin Beagle.

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A great focus remains on food access. Weekly community meals for seniors and Elders are hosted in Roots’s bright and colourful dining room Wednesdays 5–6:30 pm and Fridays 11 am–12:30 pm; a community food market also runs out of the Fort William Road space in addition to one at Vale Community Centre, offering fresh fruit and vegetables at a lower cost. Making good food accessible will continue to be a mission at Roots, but as a community food centre, they’re excited to explore long-term solutions to improve food security in

Thunder Bay. “Becoming a community food centre [makes Roots] a part of a national network that is looking at the factors that impact food security,” says Beagle. Community Food Centres Canada is an organization partnering with non-profits across the country who share their vision of what dignified food access looks like. “We get to feed a national conversation with a Thunder Bay perspective,” Beagle adds. As a community food centre, Roots has begun investing in solutions that address the root causes of

food insecurity. For example, Roots has partnered with a number of local social service providers to hold clinics to assist clients with replacing government identification and filing taxes. “There’s a lot of fear with taxes and interacting with the government, especially if you are in any way at odds with them,” Beagle says. With the clinics, Roots aims to remove that fear so clients can access supports for housing and income, in turn making food more attainable. “It’s not that there’s not enough food, it’s that there’s not enough access to the services or incomes that

people deserve and have a right [to],” Beagle adds. The team at Roots looks forward to exploring avenues to generate long-term food security and encouraging the conversation about what dignified food access looks like. Visit rootscfc.org for more information on Roots Community Food Centre’s programs, to get involved, or to become a monthly donor to help them continue to make an impact in our community.


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CityScene

What is a Labyrinth?

A Tool, Place-Maker, Metaphor, and Powerful Mystery Story and photos by Emily Turner

I  This labyrinth was completed with the assistance of landscape architect Werner Schwar in the summer of 2022  View of the labyrinth in front of the Bora Laskin Education Building

 The rocks around the labyrinth are as deep in the ground as they are tall above it; they offer a place for people to sit and share their reflections on completing a labyrinth walk

To learn more about the Labyrinth Learning Community, scan the QR code on the bottom of the page, and visit the Shaw Community Link channel on YouTube for videos that capture the research that has been done on, and for, labyrinth learning.

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f you have ridden a bike or walked through the paths of Lakehead University in the last year or so, you may have noticed an interesting-looking garden in front of the Bora Laskin Education building off Oliver Road. From a distance, it looks like a dozen trees and some big rocks interrupting the grassy landscape that surrounds the campus. Nestled in between those blooming trees and magnificent rocks is a grand gravel labyrinth, though even up close, the labyrinth is a mystery to most. A labyrinth is an ancient symbol that has been called many different things over the centuries. Often mistaken for a maze, the leading literature on labyrinth learning explains that labyrinths are circular, clearly marked paths that one cannot get lost in. For the professionals who propelled the construction of this particular labyrinth, the best alternative name for it is a wellness path. These professionals comprise Thunder Bay’s Labyrinth Learning Community, a group who brings attention to the multifaceted nature and overwhelming potential of labyrinths. David Greenwood, a professor in the Faculty of Education at Lakehead University, who is an advocate of community and place-based education practices (and a self-proclaimed “mystic”), explains that this labyrinth is an invitation to consider alternate approaches to learning. It intends to offer the students and faculty of Lakehead a space where they can ask “existential questions that academia mainly avoids.” Within the turbulent context of today’s world, with climate chaos, shifting social norms, and the movement towards experiential education, the labyrinth reflects people’s increasing desire to re-evaluate our business-as-usual routines. The circular, meditative path, Greenwood explains, is a place for people to come together and

be honest with each other. It has proven to be a valuable tool for groups to use when working through complex professional projects together, as it invites a level of openness that ultimately strengthens community. On an individual level, the labyrinth offers a therapeutic space for meditation and self-evaluation. It encourages us to turn inwards to consider our needs and limitations. Gavin Shields, an emerging expert in the field of experiential education who just completed a master’s portfolio on labyrinth learning, explains in his work that “the intent of the Wellness Path Labyrinth on the Lakehead University campus reflects the inclusive nature of labyrinths as it is an accessible outdoor contemplative space open for anyone to use.” In conversation, Shields shares why he believes labyrinths are so important. “We need perspective, we need a different way of seeing the world, we need space,” he says. “We have created a space here [to come together] […] where we can put our hearts down.” Shields hosts the Labyrinth Learning show on LU Radio, Lakehead’s campus radio station, Wednesdays and Saturdays at 1 pm, where he speaks with experts in various fields about the power of labyrinth learning. Somewhere in the conversational intersection of health, academia, spirituality, and professional practice resides the labyrinth. It has served as a valuable tool for conversations, worked to be a place-maker on vast and impersonal landscapes, and disguised itself as a mystery in which thoughts and feelings can be uncovered. This labyrinth on the Lakehead grounds is only one of the thousands that have existed throughout human history that have been used for community building and individual growth. The Labyrinth Learning Community invites you to use it in any way that you need, for as long as you need.


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 Franco-Festival will take place in the heart of downtown north core

Franco-Festival

Eleventh Festival Returns This September Story by Sidney Ulakovic, Photos courtesy of Maxime Onanena

B  Families enjoying a bite to eat at last year’s festival

 Face painting was among many of the children’s activities at the festival  Attendees gathering at the Francophone Centre to look at the art displays

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eing a country with a rich French history, we’re fortunate to experience a fusion of French culture day to day. That culture will be showcased in Thunder Bay at this September’s FrancoFestival, where attendees will have an opportunity to fully immerse themselves in traditional and modern facets of French-Canadian music, art, and cuisine. “The festival has grown in popularity,” says programming coordinator Maxime Onanena. The festival moved from early summer to September in order to be in the same month as Franco-Ontarian Day, and to celebrate the cultural holiday. Organizers at the Francophone Centre look forward to another year of hosting the festival just outside their home in the heart of the downtown north core. Franco-Festival will enliven Van Norman Street with a weekend of music, food, and activities celebrating French-Canadian culture from September 8 to 10. Ottawa’s emerging hip hop artist LeFLOFRANCO will start

the party on Friday evening with an energizing outdoor set. Saturday will feature an afternoon of fun with the family. Franco-Festival has planned a day filled with activities, international French cuisine, and performances by pianist Jean-Michel Blais, street dance crew Moov Ottawa Dance, and singer-songwriter Vincent Bishop. The weekend will wind down on Sunday morning with a family movie matinee. Not a French speaker? Don’t let that deter you from stopping by to join in on the fun. “The festival is for everyone,” says Onanena, of the festival’s friendly and inclusive atmosphere. Ultimately, the hope with Franco-Festival is to promote the French language and share French-Canadian culture over a weekend full of discovery and participation. “We can’t wait to see everyone,” Onanena adds. For more information about this year’s FrancoFestival programming visit francofestival.com.


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Music

Noche Latina

Debut of Latin-Themed Night in Thunder Bay By Kim Latimer

Matt Duboff

A

Matt Duboff

Orquesta Son D’Arranke

Jaime Chinchilla

 Trio Los Laureles: Emiliano Flores, Jaime Chinchilla, Victor Bustamante

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s the weather cools down, there will be an opportunity to warm up your sense of adventure and check out the sounds, colours, and flair of Latin Night (Noche Latina) hosted by Alessia Producciones at the Da Vinci Centre on September 16—and you’ll want to wear your best dancing shoes! An authentic 12-piece Latin orchestra, Orquesta Son D’Arranke, will be in Thunder Bay for the first time, joined by Trio Los Laureles, a trio of Latin guitarists comprised of Emiliano Flores, Jaime Chinchilla, and Victor Bustamante. Local dancers will also salsa, merengue, and bachata through the crowd. Latin Night producer Mark Zurevinski is a long-time Ukrainian dancer in Thunder Bay and a concert promoter. “I love Latin music. My wife took Latin dance lessons, and she was persistent that I try it [considering] I’ve been a dancer all my life,” he says. “I went, it got me out of my comfort zone, and I got the bug. It was unbelievable.” He adds that he’s inspired to share that feeling with the community. “You’ll hear authentic Latin rhythms, as their members hail from Venezuela, Colombia, El Salvador, and Chile,” he says of Orquesta Son D’Arranke. The group is led by Jaime Torres and Michelle Zabaro, who are based in Winnipeg. Zurevinski has produced live events for 35 years, and with Latin Night, he decided to go a step further. “We wanted to combine the event with an incredible cause. All net profits from Latin Night will go to Our Kids Count,” he says. "We were thrilled when we found out that Our Kids

Count would be the charity recipient of the Latin Night event,” says Jackie Knough, the executive director of Our Kids Count. “We can’t thank the organizers enough as third party events such as this go a long way in helping our efforts to provide free programming to families in the community.” She adds that their programs include efforts around food security, parenting workshops and support, pre- and postnatal activities, home visiting services, walk-in counselling, and more. With several emerging Latin restaurants now on the scene, and the growing popularity of organized Latin dance groups such Italian Touch Latin Dance and Dame Más Dance, Zurevinski believes Latin culture is becoming more recognizable in Thunder Bay. “Now we get to experience even more unique ingredients of multiculturalism locally,” he says. “I’ve met great people in the Latin dance community, and I think especially postCOVID while some people continue to struggle, this is a true inspiration. It’s a great support group.” A $50 ticket gets you into the main event. VIP tickets are $100 each and include reserved seating and a preshow performance and Latin dance instruction courtesy of Karim y Nady, as well as a complimentary glass of prosecco and finger foods. Complementary single bottles of white and red wine will be on every table for all VIP guests. For more details or tickets visit latinnight.ca, search “Latin Night” on eventbrite.ca, or phone/ text 807-700-5768.

“You’ll hear authentic Latin rhythms, as their members hail from Venezuela, Colombia, El Salvador, and Chile.”


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Music

 Volunteers and organizers on stage for the closing ceremony  Shanley Spence, a Nihithaw and Anishinaabe hoop dancer, at the Bayside Stage Saturday afternoon

Cold, Wet, and Happy

Reflections from Live from the Rock Folk Festival Story and photos by Emily Turner

W

hen I came back to Thunder Bay for the start of school last year, my friends who stayed here for their summer holidays were quick to gush about the amazing weekend they had in Red Rock at the beginning of August. As isolated Lakehead students, we had never heard of the legendary Live from the Rock Folk Festival before, and they thought they discovered gold when they stumbled upon it by chance. What was this magical event hidden away off the highway? I waited all year to find out. The day finally came for the 2023 event—and it was pouring rain. I was not deterred. I packed an extra tarp and held out hope the wind would wash the rain clouds away. As I sat

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at the feet of Montreal-based fiddle player Aleksi Campagne Friday night—my teeth literally clattering together in the freezing cold, but in complete awe of the spectacular fiddle playing and the overall energy of the crowd, happy and content albeit soaking wet—I heard whispers of a promised bonfire, one that was sure to be a highlight of the weekend. The shush fire, as they call it, was a place for musicians to extend their set, where they could play acoustically late into the night to a quiet crowd around some burning embers. The promise of the warming fire, carried by the inspiring energy cultivated by the incredible talent of all the Friday night performances, had us running over there


moments after the last song played. When we got there, we saw in the distance an apparently larger, wilder fire that seemed to have a smaller circle. There, a bit closer to the heat source, we were greeted by a few folks who were proud to share that they hosted the non-shush fire. Here, at last, we were able to dry our shoes. Thankfully for all of us, we woke to an emerging sun and a dry forecast Saturday mor ning. We enjoyed bluegrass performances, Ukrainian dances, Parks C a n a d a p re s e n t a t i o n s , tornado potatoes, and an Indigenous hoop dancer. The day closed with an amazing, groovy, energizing show by King Cardiac that left everyone wanting more. We were brought back to the shush and non-shush fires, this

time entirely dry and joined by much larger crowds, and stayed up way too late watching the meteor shower and singing Robbie Robertson covers. We enjoyed a perfect, lazy day on the North Shore on Sunday, basking in all the beauty that Red Rock has to offer. I watched old friends say goodbye with promises to see each other again soon, and new friends plan to meet again at next year’s event. It was truly a weekend that exceeded all of my expectations, and that doesn’t normally happen with things you wait a year to see. Though, according to regular attendees, it turns out the rain on Friday is something of a tradition at the festival, I think we all hope to experience clear skies the entire weekend at next year’s event!

Music

 Montreal-based fiddle player and singer-songwriter Aleksi Campagne with bass player Stephane Krims and guitar player Zach Bachand  The all-female 15-piece choir Minuscule, opening the Festival Stage on Saturday night

 Gabriel DeSantis of the genre-bending ensemble King Cardiac closing the stage on Saturday night

 The Barrel Boys, a bluegrass band from Toronto, on Saturday night

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October 13, 2023 7:30pm TBCA

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The Canadian Shield

Music

Redefining Rock with Wrong Enough

T

he Canadian Shield’s latest album, Wrong Enough, showcases the band’s raw, authentic sound, reestablishing their identity as a rock and roll band with a renewed intention to break away from polished conventions and return to their roots. Both originally from Thunder Bay, lead singer and guitar player Doug Gorrie and drummer Mike Bone didn’t connect musically until they were both living in Toronto, where they formed The Canadian Shield. Their first album, Songs for the Dead in Love, was released in 2012, followed by Labour Unions for the Part Time Lovers in 2015. The band played regularly at popular Toronto venues including the Horseshoe Tavern and Lee’s Palace through to 2017. “We had a great run,” reflects Bone. “Then things quieted down, as they do when you have kids.” Bone and his young family returned to Thunder Bay, and Gorrie remained based in Toronto with his wife and two children. The pair reflect on feeling they strayed from the band’s true identity in an attempt to create radio-friendly hits for their sophomore album. “I think we were lost,” says Gorrie. “In our eyes [it] is a good record, but it was kind of a letdown. The sound we were going for wasn't really The Canadian Shield.” Bone agrees. "We had friends in bands that things were happening for and we were like, ‘well, let's try to write for the radio,’ he says. “We did everything right: we were in the best studio with great producers [and] we thought we knew what we needed to write […] but the songs were just never what we wanted them to be." Wrong Enough stands out not only as a return to The Canadian Shield’s original

style, but also for its musical integrity and honest, unfiltered lyrical content. It marks the first time Gorrie has written retrospectively, delving into emotions and experiences from the past. “Honestly, when you have kids and you're running a business, those aren’t cool things to write about,” he says. “You don't have that muse of recklessness, great stories, or love lost.” The song "Dagger in My Heart" touches on the challenges of losing oneself while embracing parenthood, while “False Starts” “is kind of about past relationships and maybe some regrets,” Gorrie says. "Shag Ticket" is an ode to the band’s hometown and hopes to poke fun at the city’s unique spirit. “I wanted to write something about Thunder Bay that only Thunder Bay would know, and that Thunder Bay can laugh with me about. I thought, what’s something we could all get behind that's kind of funny and that only would be Thunder Bay, and it’s a shag. […] I want this song to become the theme that people put on at their shags.” Wro n g E n o u g h w a s conceived of in large part during the pandemic. “By the fall of 2020 we were getting pretty itchy creatively,” says Bone. He and Gorrie started to jam regularly over FaceTime. “Mid-pandemic, we would hit on these songs that were hard and fast, raw, authentic, no filler. They just came together really easily and that's kind of how we knew it felt cohesive enough as an album,” says Bone. Gorrie would share “folk nuggets” on banjo or acoustic guitar with Bone, who would add “the structure and energy,” says Gorrie. “The magic that happens is that I can bring this folk song to Mike, and it then becomes The Canadian Shield,” he adds. “‘Nickels and Dimes’ was originally called ‘Mike’s

Sidney Ulakovic

By Nancy Saunders

The Canadian Shield: Mike Bone and Doug Gorrie

Song.’ It was the pandemic […] and I was missing him so much. […] I wrote it, recorded it that afternoon, and sent it to Mike.” In 2022, Bone was able to resume monthly business trips to Toronto. “Most of the time I was there and wasn’t at work, we’d be recording. It took a full year to record this record. We started last summer, and the pressure was on and the dollars were adding up,” says Bone. “We seemed to have all this time [during the pandemic], but that was the paradox—we couldn’t use it unless we were together in a room and the pressure was on. And then it was like, holy shit. But I think

that’s what made it better.” “While we were in the studio, we had to make the decision while we were hitting play, and just get it done,” adds Gorrie. The Canadian Shield’s latest album is a testament to the enduring spirit of true musicianship. “I wanted to write an honest rock record, a rock record when no one wanted a rock record,” says Gorrie. “I don’t want it to be polished. Like, it’s ‘wrong enough.’” “It felt very honest. We didn’t overthink things. We think it’s the best thing we’ve done, even though we've been together for 12 years,” Bone adds.

With the album already receiving positive feedback and radio attention, the band is eager to share their music at live shows again. This included playing at the Horseshoe Tavern in August and plans for a show in Thunder Bay this fall. As they step into the future, The Canadian Shield continues to carve their own path in the world of rock music. For more info, visit The Canadian Shield’s Bandcamp page at canadianshield. bandcamp.com or follow them on Facebook.

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Music

A Fabulous and Marvellous Event Raag-Rung Music Circle Fundraiser Celebrating 40 Years By Pat Forrest

T  Ravi Naimpally on the tabla and Steve Oda on the sarod performing at the 2022 Raag-Rung Music Circle fundraising event  The executive council members of Raag-Rung Music Circle present a fundraising cheque of $5,000 to Confederation College last year; the same amount was also donated to Lakehead University and the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra

For more information, visit raag-rungmusiccircle.com.

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he members of Raag-Rung Music Circle are getting ready to host their 40th Annual Fundraising Evening of Fabulous Food and Marvellous Music on September 23 at the Italian Cultural Centre. But despite the event having delighted literally thousands of guests over the years, there are still many who puzzle over the meaning of the organization’s name. “In Hindi and Sanskrit, which is the foundation of Hindi and many of the other languages of India, the word ‘raag’ means ‘musical melody’ and ‘rung,’ while literally meaning ‘colour,’ evokes the environment. Thus, our name means ‘the environment of music,’” explains founder and president Inderjit Nirdosh. The roots of Raag-Rung go back as far as the mid 1970s, when Nirdosh and his wife and children immigrated to Hamilton. Intent that their children remain steeped in the classical music and performing arts of their homeland, the parents invited Shri Gopal Das Garg, a skilled music teacher from India, for a visit. For the next two years, Garg provided instruction not only to the Nirdosh children but also to members of their community. In 1981, the Nirdosh family moved to Thunder Bay, where they met Som and Sudha Naimpally, who were also lovers of music. The two families set out to offer

performances and training in Indian classical dance and music to the Thunder Bay community. In 1983, the Naimpally family relocated and the Nirdoshes spearheaded the formation of the circle with the goal of further expanding their reach into their adopted community. The RaagRung concerts quickly outgrew the Nirdosh basement, so they were moved to much larger venues, bringing with them the tradition of serving delicious vegetarian Indian cuisine. This year’s event will feature music by a trio of musicians: the Grammy-nominated Pandit Subhen Chatterjee on the tabla (a drum common in Indian music), Janab Hassan Haider Khan on the shehnai (a rare wind instrument), and Vidushi Mita Nag on the sitar (the string instrument made popular by Ravi Shankar). Authentic Indian cuisine will be prepared by master chefs from Winnipeg who have been brought back by popular demand since 2006. All funds raised will be distributed among the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra, Lakehead University, and Confederation College for student scholarships. Although this year’s event is already sold out, you will want to mark it on your calendar for next year. As Nirdosh says, the most prevalent comment from attendees is that they should not change a thing.


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Music

Sunday Morning Coffee Music

TO BURNINGKY THE S

Story by Gord Ellis, Photo by Cheryl Ellis

T

he subject matter for this column can come from a variety of sources. Sometimes I come up with the ideas, and some are obvious (the passing of a great musician for instance). Yet as often as not, an editor of The Walleye has a great idea that I take on. These ideas are often subjects I would have likely not considered. When our current editor suggested I write about the Sunday Morning Coffee Music posts that I share on my Facebook page, I was initially taken aback. Who would be

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interested? However, with a little reflection, it became clear that there is a natural connection to this column and that little Sunday tradition on my personal page. I can’t recall exactly when the coffee music posts started, but it was some time shortly after I joined Facebook. Initially, my FB page was only concerned with my musical endeavours and interest in music. There were no fish pics, etc. (although that didn’t last long). However, the Sunday Morning Coffee Music posts

were meant to showcase some of my favourite artists, while trying to share songs that would fit on a sleepy Sunday morning. Over time, the posts also became an outlet for songs that had been an earworm for me the previous week. What I hadn’t expected was the amount of responses some of the posts would get, and how certain songs resonated. It drove home the power of music to connect people and to bring joy. So here are three of my favourite Sunday Morning Coffee Music picks, why they

made the cut, and how people responded. Sheryl Crow and Sting “Always on Your Side” When Sheryl Crow released this song as a solo vocal from her underrated Wildflower album, it really didn’t make a dent. However, some very wise person (Sheryl?) decided to add a second, male singer to the song—in this case Sting. These two brilliant voices blended in a perfect way and made the song a hit. Why it works so much better as a duet is hard to pinpoint.

Musically, it is the same as the solo version. But it just comes alive with Sting on board. The video that accompanied the reworked single was also easy on everyone’s eyes. I remember one commenter noted that listening to Sting brought them much joy because it reminded them of happy times. What more could you want on a Sunday morning? Taylor Swift “Wildest Dreams” There are songs that evoke images and memories and unfold like movies. Taylor Swift’s “Wildest Dreams” is one of those songs. Swift has been knocked for writing songs about her exes, but when a song as good as “Wildest Dreams” is the result, how can anyone criticize? This breezy summer tune stayed with me for weeks back in 2016 and made a perfect Sunday Morning Coffee Music pick. The video of Swift performing the song solo, with just a guitar, is mesmerizing. You can see her reliving the whole experience. A follow up post had Ryan Adams covering the song, in a surprisingly effective way. Redbone “Come and Get Your Love” A song that is burned into my memory from my youth, “Come and Get Your Love” is the biggest hit by the band Redbone. I’d never actually seen Redbone until last year, when I stumbled upon a YouTube video. How I went through life not knowing this was a band of Mexican American/Native American heritage was beyond me. A little research revealed the band adopted the name Redbone to signify their mixed ancestry. The YouTube video, taped from a mid-70s Midnight Special, shows some of the band playing in regalia. It's a stunning, inspiring performance and the Motown-ish song has only gotten better-sounding with age. The response to this post was huge and heartwarming. A Sunday Morning Coffee Music pick that created a positive community online—that’s social media at its best.


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Music

Tim Albertson performing at 2023’s Country on the Bay in Thunder Bay

Busy and Blessed Catching Up with Tim Albertson

Story by Jason Wellwood, Photos by Victoria Walker

I

Visit timalbertsonmusic.ca for links to Albertson’s social media channels to get updates about solo materials and shows, and find out about Back Forty shows at Back Forty Entertainment on Facebook.

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t’s the end of July and Tim Albertson is in the midst of a very busy summer. He’s just come off of a solo set at Country on the Bay and a show with his cover band, Back Forty, at the Boreal Ultimate Music Society summer series of concerts. “We were sitting down with our bookings last night, and we’re booked into November at this point,” he smiles. Obviously Albertson is busy, but that doesn’t end with being on stage. “There’s a constant fear of being irrelevant. If I don’t post something on social media for a few days, I start to worry that I’m losing my audience,” he says. That connection is very important for Albertson and his music. Speaking of social media, Albertson managed to monetize his TikTok channel to fund a trip to the Country Music Association of Ontario awards in Hamilton this year, taking requests (and whisky shots) on his channel. Fans were happy to donate to get Albertson to the show. He’d hoped to make connections at the awards, but it turned out people were already paying attention to

what he’s been doing. “I would walk into a room and someone would say, ‘Hey, Thunder Bay!’” he says. “It was really surprising and gratifying.” One of the nicest people in the room, he’s also one of the hardest working. “The guys in The Honest Heart Collective are working hard and doing it for rock, and Coleman [Hell] is doing it for the pop and dancier end of things—I want to put Thunder Bay on the map with country music.” Jumping into the studio while in Hamilton with producer Shawn Moore and guitarist Stu Weinberg, Albertson cut two new singles— “Did It For A Girl” will be out in early September, and “For The Last Time,” a Valentine’s Day song, should arrive in February. Both follow “If You Only Knew,” which Albertson released in January. It’s hard work, but there are no regrets. “I get to spend every night with the best band I could ever hope to have. It’s a party every show and I get to play for more people nightly than live in my hometown,” he says. “Between music and my family, I’m busy and I’m blessed.”


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Music

The Fixer: Crippler Crash, Vic Sin, Melladonna, Ryan Osbourne

The Fixer Readies New Album Band Also Set to Hit the Road This Fall Story by Kris Ketonen, Photo by Chad Kirvan

T

hunder Bay rockers The Fixer are coming up on a busy few months, and things aren’t likely to slow down anytime soon. Not only is the band preparing for the release of a new full-length album, titled Your Lie—it’ll be available November 10, with a launch party scheduled for Thunder Bay the next day— they’re also getting set to hit the road on a western tour. “There's a lot of difference between the songs,” singer Melladonna says about the album. “We had so much

time to write everything that I feel like we definitely went through growth from when we started to this point, and there’s kind of songs from every time, every moment in between. It definitely feels like it covers a lot of different things.” Some of the songs on Your Lie stretch quite a long way back, having been written several years ago, says band member Vic Sin. “It’s pretty eclectic,” he says. “The core of the songs didn't change a lot. With doing the electronic arrangements and whatnot,

there were little bits added to it. They got a producer treatment sort of thing, not actually pulling the song apart.” But before the new album hits, the band will be bringing its music on the road this fall, with dates in Western Canada between October 1 and 31. “We’ll just keep adding things to our live shows as we can,” Melladonna says. “It’ll never stop building.” “There should be little Easter eggs each time we play,” Sin adds. And fans

waiting for the album will get little tastes over the coming months: the first single from Your Lie, titled “Smoke Show,” was released in July, and a second single, “Ghosts Will Talk,” is available on September 8. “It’s just felt like we’ve been doing so much, and there’s been so much planning and so much behind-the-scenes stuff,” Melladonna says. “It really feels great to finally be able to start sharing some of these things that we've worked on.”

“There should be little Easter eggs each time we play.”

For more information, find The Fixer on Facebook, Apple Music, Spotify, and Bandcamp.

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Keeping It Diverse

Music

Sleeping Giant Folk Music Society to Launch New Season

getting to be a little too small for the audience size,” Tose says of their now-former home. “We just want to make sure there’s room.” Aside from the unique venue, the season’s kick-off show in October, called Walking Through the Fire, will also be different in that part of the show is virtual, with the aforementioned featured artists performing in person, backed by numerous other guests accompanying them in real time on the big screen. The diversity in the upcoming season’s lineup, not only amongst the performers themselves, but the genres within the folk and roots sphere that are being represented, is important, Tose says. “We want it to be interesting for us as the presenters; we also want it to be as […] inclusive as possible so that it appeals to all different kinds of audience members,” she says. “We always have a core group of people that come to every show no matter what, and then we always find different people come to different shows depending on who it is or what kind of music it is.” And, she stresses, the society defines “folk” in a largely encompassing way, which includes other rootsrelated genres like jazz and blues. “I’ve always said folk music is ‘from the people, for the people,’ so if it comes from your roots, it’s for you,” Tose says.

 Leverage for Mountains, who played at Live from the Rock Folk Festival, will also be part of Sleeping Giant Folk Music Society’s upcoming season  The Weber Brothers will play Thunder Bay as part of the Sleeping Giant Folk Music Society’s 2023–24 season

Leslie Richardson

T

he Sleeping Giant Folk Music Society will be hosting most of its shows at a relatively new venue this season, as the longstanding and increasingly popular concert series celebrates its 22nd year. Four of the society’s five shows for the 2023-24 season will be in the McGillivray’s Landing banquet room at Fort William Historical Park, while the fifth— their first show on October 14 featuring Sultans of String and Indigenous performers Nadjiwan, Alyssa Delbaere-Sawchuk, and Shannon Thunderbird—was, in August, still to still have its venue confirmed. The group held one show at the Fort last season. The move to the Fort for most of this season comes as the society has been seeing larger audiences at many of their concerts that were pushing the limits of its longtime home, the Port Arthur Polish Hall, says Elly Tose, the group’s administrative coordinator. And with other impressive names like Steven Page, The Weber Brothers (who originally cut their musical teeth backing up Ronnie Hawkins and were a reported favourite at last year’s Live From the Rock Folk Festival), and Juno winner Angelique Francis lined up for the upcoming season, the society is expecting that trend to continue. “It was a great hall and it was a great location, but like I say, it was just at times

Keegan Richard

By Matt Prokopchuk

Further information and tickets can be found at sleepinggiant.ca.

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Music

Free Range Elliott BROOD at 20

Story by Justin Allec, Photo by Dustin Seabrook

M

ark Sasso, one third of Elliott BROOD, gets the news out of the way first: the right people have the tapes and their eighth album is well on its way. The September 23 tour stop in Thunder Bay at the Imperial Hall is part of a small circuit the band’s using to warm up for a longer tour. “We’ve been practicing a lot of older songs; we want to play those before releasing the next album,” Sasso says. The new album is something different yet again from a band that’s always done things their own way, from the infamous suitcase bass drum to their Juno accolades. This time the band is planning a double album, a move that

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will see them put out almost 20 new songs. Starting out over 20 years ago in Toronto, Elliott BROOD has toured their unique brand of death-bluegrass shamblingcountry folk-acid trip far and wide to great acclaim and affection. Over time, the hard work and great songs began to catch hold. “The band started with me and Casey Laforet as a duo, playing weird banjo music, getting our inspiration from Neil Young, The Band, Dylan, but also using a lot of what we heard in grunge,” Sasso says. After producing their early work, Stephen Pitkin joined the band to cover percussion. They’ve stayed solid as a trio the whole

time, seeing the world and creating a discography that refuses easy categorizations and expectations. And even though the suitcase bass drum is long gone, the band is still doing things the way they want. “Being DIY, covering all aspects of the band’s business […] has given us free range to create, to keep out of the box,” Sasso says about the band’s approach. “We’re giving up to the song, and the song is the most important member of the band.” Those songs have gained the band a lot of critical attention, but Elliott BROOD shows aren’t known for being peaceful affairs. Sasso and Laforet are all over the stage,

staggering through an arsenal of instruments as they pluck those gravel-scabbled melodies from their hearts. “Some festival dates are pretty amazing. You’ll be playing in front of a lake and a mountain, tons of people, but it’s also two or three days. I really like the punching and fighting of everyday touring,” Sasso laughs. “It’s hard but it’s part of our process. The crowds are different every day and you’re living in the moment of doing the hardest, best job in the world.” While the wait for the new album won’t be long, the upcoming show in Thunder Bay will be a reminder of what made Elliott BROOD so special in the first place.

“The crowds are different every day and you’re living in the moment of doing the hardest, best job in the world.” Visit elliottbrood.com for more details. Tickets for the show start at $25 and are available at showpass.com.


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OfftheWall

At Royal Albert Hall Gordon Lightfoot

Recorded in 2016 at one of his favourite venues with the backing of his long-serving band, there is good reason to believe that Gordon Lightfoot intended At Royal Albert Hall to be his defining legacy. As per his wishes, Lightfoot’s “final” album was released uncut and unaltered soon after his death. The comprehensive, 26-track double album contains all of the Canadian legend’s most beloved songs and many other gems never before recorded live in concert. Like all great songwriters, Lightfoot was a musical poet. His finely cut, often bittersweet and introspective lyrics captured the spirit of a nation. While at 77, Lightfoot’s voice has lost some of its vigour, the sound and performances are excellent throughout this historic compilation. It’s perfect listening for whenever you’re in need of that soul-reviving hit of nostalgia. -Ken Wright

Reviews

Road

99 Nights

The Dark

Alice Cooper

Charlotte Cardin

The Band CAMINO

For the first time in decades, Alice Cooper has created an album using musicians he plays with nightly, and it is a Cooper classic. The new concept album about a touring band, entitled Road, brings together his current stage band—Ryan Roxie, Tommy Henriksen, and Nita Strauss (guitars), Chuck Garric (bass) and Glen Sobel (drums)— to both play on and co-write the majority of the songs. Longtime Alice Cooper producer Bob Ezrin, wife Sheryl Cooper, and guitarists Kane Roberts and Tom Morello round out the album’s personnel. The lead-off single, “I’m Alice,” introduces the album perfectly, which then runs through tales of on- and offstage excess and exhaustion with Alice’s typical snark and humour. A straight-ahead rock album, highly anticipated by Cooper fans, Road does not disappoint. Easily recreated from top to bottom live by the band, the album gives us reason to dream about Cooper’s next stop here.

Following her debut album Phoenix in 2021, for which she earned several Juno awards, Montreal’s indie pop star Charlotte Cardin is keeping up the momentum on 99 Nights. On Cardin’s sophomore album, the ballads that characterized Phoenix leave the forefront as she embraces more sonic variation this time around. The bleak atmosphere juxtaposed with an irresistible pop beat on the opening track “Puppy” aptly sets the tone for the remainder of this project as Cardin sings in a melancholy whisper “It’s alright/ I’m in a good state of mind.” Throughout the record, Cardin’s range of influences are at play— everything from jazz to soft rock to early-2000s pop—as she reckons with themes of self destruction, heartache, and self discovery with style and wit, as heard on tracks like “Jim Carrey” and “Somebody First.” 99 Nights closes with the vulnerable, piano-forward “Next to You,” where the sorrow in Cardin’s voice expertly conveys the pain that often accompanies grieving a past version of yourself. Throw on 99 Nights as the soundtrack to your next girls’ trip—you’ll laugh, cry, and reminisce through its entire run time.

The Band CAMINO has released their second album, The Dark, and has more than effectively avoided the sophomore slump. Known for their quippy lyrics and captivating instrumentals, The Band CAMINO stays true to their indie/soft rock/pop-punk sound; thematically, the Nashville-based trio continues to explore their experiences of heartbreak and moving on from toxic relationships, a clear extension of their self-titled debut album. The Dark starts off strong with “Told You So,” an energetic and infectious track that perfectly showcases the band’s balance of impassioned vocals, punchy guitar riffs, and strong drum lines. “It’s You (It’s You)” captures the thematic scheme of the entire album: recognizing when you have exhausted your own efforts and that you have nothing else to give to a relationship. This juxtaposition of upbeat music with heartbreaking lyrics is where The Band CAMINO truly hits their stride. Other standouts of The Dark include “Novocaine” and “Three Month Hangover,” more indie-leaning tracks that create a sense of urgency and catharsis, and are impossible not to sing along or bob your head to. While some of the lyrics can be a bit on-thenose, The Band CAMINO has returned with another feel-good album that only ramps up through the track list—a testament to this band’s staying power.

-Sidney Ulakovic

-Kelsey Raynard

-Jason Wellwood

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The Walleye

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Goliath

Kataklysm

It’s easy to forget that Kataklysm started out as a tiny band from Quebec way back in the dark ages of metal, the mid-90s. Since then, they’ve carved themselves a permanent place in the metal world with more than 15 albums to their name. They’ve also changed their sound with the times, going from a techy, niche kind of death metal to a more groove-heavy, arenasized sound perfect for grimdark music videos and pyro-blazed stage shows. So yes, Kataklysm have followed the blueprint for a legacy band, which means that Goliath, their third album in five years, simply does what it needs to allow the band to get back on the road. Lead singles “Die as a King” and “Bringer of Vengeance” are percussive-heavy beatdowns with just enough breathing room to allow the choruses to break out. Repeat the drum pattern a few times, bring in some muddy, aggro guitar textures, add a wanky solo, and boom, onto the next song. This isn’t a bad thing, though—at this point in their career, Kataklysm knows exactly what they need to do to dominate a stage. Goliath will let them do that, especially as you wait for the past hits from 2002’s Shadows & Dust.

The Sporkful Dan Pashman

The science behind vodka production, pizza consumption ethics, and the compelling history of the Cambodian doughnut king of Southern California: these, along with a vast array of other food-related topics, are sure to pique your interest when you tune into The Sporkful. Dan Pashman, who is also a host on the Cooking Channel and co-inventor of the cascatelli pasta shape, stirs up thought-provoking and entertaining debates among guests, with questions such as: “why do lefties eat less soup?” and “would putting ice cream on a white plate make it taste sweeter?” A variety of cool insights such as these are brought forward, revealing how our brains and surroundings change our eating experiences. Although there are far too many ads, which are distracting and tend to pull you away from the subjects at hand, there’s a quirky level of food fun that can’t be denied. -Andrea Lysenko

-Justin Allec

Slovak Café Settlers: The Con Lychee Emotional Story Emery Lee Con Lychee is a delightful of Immigration Café rom-com written for a young adult Zuzana Palovic and Gabriela Bereghazyova

Published on the 30th anniversary of the independence of the country of Slovakia, this is a significant and beautiful book which tells the little-known story of Slovaks who emigrated to the New World. Neither a coffee table book nor a dry history, this is a fascinating story of the people who left their homeland to find a better life, told through the eyes of the people themselves. It is a labour of love, full of rare photographs and personal stories of actual immigrants or their children or grandchildren—Slovaks, Rusyns, and Jews who found hope and a future in the new world. Prior to the 1920s, Thunder Bay was the largest settlement of Slovak immigrants in Canada, and I feel fortunate to have been asked to include my own Thunder Bay family story in this collection. It also includes the unique story of Bradlo, Ontario where settlers established a Slovak village in northern Ontario near Hearst. The individual stories are each unique but the themes of bravery, peril, sadness, and beauty weave through the book in a way which touches the reader and brings history to life.

audience but holding appeal for anyone who adores a sweet, touching novel. While the book might seem to be full of cliches, author Emery Lee manages to tell this tale in a way that feels fresh and tugs at the heartstrings. Theo and Gabriel are adversaries on the soccer field and off. Openly gay versus hidden in the closet, bakery versus café, Puerto Rican versus Asian American—if that isn’t enough tension, add in the stress of potentially disappointing parents and having to hide passions, and the threat to both businesses from a new café. Lee covers sexuality, culture, and the challenge of discovering and accepting both who the characters are and how they connect with each other. Fans of grumpy-sunshine, enemies-tolovers will adore this charming love story. -J. O’Flaherty

-Angela Meady

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Dylan Darbyson

Architecture

 Another undated photo of 37 Cumberland Street South as Marshall-Wells

Courtesy of the Thunder Bay Museum

 Undated photo of the building when it housed the original Marks-Clavet-Dobie Co. Ltd. hardware and grocery store, who occupied the space between 1909 and 1929

Courtesy of the Thunder Bay Museum

 Undated photo of the building as MarshallWells, featuring a Vitrolite storefront; Vitrolite was a material that peaked in popularity in the 1930s, according to the Thunder Bay Museum

Courtesy of the Thunder Bay Museum

Courtesy of the Thunder Bay Museum

 The modern-day block at 37 Cumberland Street South, now home to Superior Lofts and several businesses

 The interior of the then-Marks-Clavet-Dobie Co., circa 1926–27

The Walleye

Sidney Ulakovic

98

Sidney Ulakovic

 Photos of an old telegraph manifold book that was found during the most recent round of renovations to the building; provided for photography by Ken Commisso

Superior Lofts Building By Jennifer Bonazzo

F

rom the time it was built in the early 1900s, the block located at 37 Cumberland Street South has exemplified adaptive reuse—a phrase that refers to an existing building being updated for a different purpose or use while keeping its historic or heritage features. This site has housed a hardware and grocery store, a furniture and appliance store, a restaurant, a tavern, and several nightclubs. Since 2013, it has been residential and commercial condominium units. As the entities within the building have evolved, so too has the physical structure. The building is currently known as Superior Lofts, but it has held many names: the Marks-Clavet-Dobie Building, the Neelin Building, Marshall-Wells, and Laskin Furniture, among others. Those familiar with local politics will recognize some of the names of prominent men who ran businesses in addition to holding various positions within city council. It was Marks-Clavet-Dobie who first established the block around 1902–1903, and George Clavet,

a former Port Arthur mayor, is believed to have supervised construction himself. Standing two stories tall, the building was designed in a symmetrical style, using patterned red brick. On the main floor, there were two entrances, both recessed and originally surrounded by glass, likely for better window shopping. The second storey held six windows, each with a small stone lintel below and a shallow buttress between them, with several of these buttresses extending above the roofline and capped by a finial and a ball on the Cumberland and Lincoln Street sides. The roofline also boasted two broken pediments, each topped with a ball. Two entablatures, one on the roofline and another separating the two stories, rounded out the distinctive original features. Around 1930, the MarshallWells Company Limited took over the building, occupying it until the early 1980s, when Laskin’s Furniture & Appliances moved into the site and stayed until 1986. After that, there


Architecture

Jennifer Bonazzo is a member of the Heritage Advisory Committee, which advises city council on the conservation of heritage buildings, sites, and resources, and their integration into development. For more information on the city’s heritage resources, visit thunderbay.ca/en/cityhall/heritage-in-thunderbay.aspx.

Ken Commisso

weathered steel panel now covers the second story for a contemporary look. Currently there are 11 loft-style, luxury residential condominium units and three commercial units in the building. In the lobby, a photograph of the building from the days of Marshall-Wells holds a place of prominence. It is a wonderful nod to this block’s history, while appreciating its current appearance.

 A view from the entrance to the main room of one of the Superior Lofts condos  Another view of the condo’s main room

Ken Commisso

Ken Commisso

was a quick succession of businesses; the Prospector Restaurant (now known in its current location down the street as the Prospector Steak House), Stages Tavern, and nightclubs known as the Beach, Mulligans, and Kilroy’s. During those years, the large glass windows of the recessed doorways were bricked in using materials sympathetic to the building, and the large display windows were replaced with smaller ones. In 2013, the building was transformed once more, this time into the condominium units known as Superior Lofts. Brooks McIlroy was the architectural firm who took on this project, keeping the historic features while adapting the building. Interior photos of the units display birch hardwood floors and high ceilings, original red brick walls, and timber posts, all of which are balanced by modern features. On the exterior of the building, the finials, balls, and pediments have been removed from the roofline, and a pseudo

 The condo’s loft

 One of the condo's bedrooms, showing the original brick

Ken Commisso

Dylan Darbyson

 One of the commercial suites, currently occupied by architects Brook McIlroy

The Walleye

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SeptemberEventsGuide September 1, 7-11 pm

Gala Art Opening - 35th Annual Regional Juried Exhibition, Canadian Contemporary 15, Hito Steyerl Film Definitely Superior Art Gallery

September 2, 2 pm

Boreal Museum’s Foragers Walk LPH Greenspace

Join the Boreal Museum on a guided walking tour and learn about all the amazing wild foods that grow in the Boreal Forests surrounding Thunder Bay. Tickets are $20 each.

borealmuseum.com

DefSup and Vox Popular Media Arts have joined forces to present three new shows. The 35th Annual Regional Juried Exhibition features contemporary art by 45+ diverse regional artists, related to the theme of “Elucidate.” Canadian Contemporary 15 exhibition features 15 groundbreaking, influential visual art works by internationally critically acclaimed Canadian artists from the collection of Dr. Chaudhuri. Hito Steyerl’s How Not To Be Seen_A Fucking Didactic Educational. MOV File is an immersive contemporary 15-minute art film investigating the troubling effects of digital media and new technology. The gala opening will feature art, live music, summer refreshments, and more. Exhibit runs until October 7. The gallery is open Tuesday to Saturday, noon–6 pm. Admission by donation, all ages, accessible.

September 3, 10, 17, 24, 10 am

definitelysuperior.com

Current River Park

September 2, 6, 7, 9, 13, 16, 21, 27, 28, 30

Northern Nature Trading Mary J.L. Black Library

Northern Nature Trading is a special kind of swap shop. Bring in items you’ve found in nature and trade them for things in their collection. Start times vary by date, please check online to confirm.

nnt@tbpl.ca

Sunday Skates Marina Park

The Female Skateboard Collective is hosting Sunday Skates for anyone who identifies as female and the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. All ages and abilities are welcome. A $5 donation is required to join. facebook.com/femaleskateboardcollective

September 3, 11 am

Sunday Brunch

Red Lion Smokehouse Red Lion Smokehouse will be poaching eggs and mixing beer-y cocktails from 11 am to 2 pm. Call to book and secure your spot.

807-286-0045

September 4, noon

Annual Labour Day Picnic The Thunder Bay and District Labour Council cordially invite you and your family to their annual Labour Day picnic. Expect food, music, games, inflatables, ponies, and more. Free to attend.

thunderbaydistrictlabourcouncil.wordpress.com

washrooms include changing facilities.

807-286-0045

September 6, 13, 20, & 27, 7:30 pm

Trivia Night The Foundry

Weekly trivia nights continue at The Foundry. There is a new topic each week, and there are fun, local prizes to be won. Registration starts at 7:30 pm, games start at 8 pm.

facebook.com/foundrytbay

September 6, 11:30 am

Patty Hajdu Chamber of Commerce Leaders Luncheon Italian Cultural Centre

Minister Patty Hajdu will provide an overview of activities and priorities within her Ministerial and MP roles and offer insights into the challenges and opportunities facing our community and the country. $45 rate for members, $55 rate for nonmembers.

facebook.com/PattyHajdu

September 6, 5 pm

Rockin’ Recovery Marina Park

Recovery Day is an event aiming to challenge the stigma surrounding addiction and celebrate the role that recovery plays in every community member’s life. The event is hosted by Ron Kanutski, and features stories of recovery, as well as performances from Craig Cardiff and V3nom. Free admission.

tbdhu.com/recoveryday

September 6 & 13, 2 pm

Babies & Brews

Red Lion Smokehouse Connect with new moms and dads in the Red Lion Smokehouse Lounge. Nursing is welcome and both

Investing in the future of healthcare Learn more at tbaytel.net/NOSM

2 100

The The Walleye Walleye

EVENTS GUIDE KEY General Art Food Sports Music Theatre September 7, 7 & 9:30pm

Jim Jefferies: Give ‘em What They Want Tour Thunder Bay Community Auditorium This Sydney native has been entertaining audiences across the globe with his provocative, beliefchallenging, and thoughtprovoking comedy and will be visiting TBay for an evening of laughter.

tbca.com

September 7–10

Vox Popular Media Arts Festival

This September, the La Coopérative Centre francophone de Thunder Bay lights up in the colours of 2023’s Franco-festival. See this month’s City Scene section for more info.

francofestival.com

September 9, noon

Maadaadizi Marina Park

This special event welcomes post-secondary Indigenous students and their families to the city. There will be entertainment, children’s activities, food, and resources. More details to follow.

Definitely Superior Art Gallery

lakeheadu.ca/indigenous/ events

Enjoy screenings of exciting new films in multiple genres, regional, national, and international, as well as visual art, music performances, workshops, and Q&As. Passes available via eventbrite. ca, or at the door. Day pass $20; festival pass $60. See this month’s Film & Theatre section for more info.

September 9, 9 pm

voxpopular.ca

September 8–10

Radio Waves Music Festival

Sweetheart’s Bluff, Grand Marais, Minn. Radio Waves Music Festival, organized by WTIP North Shore Community Radio, will host over 20 musical performances, including R&B icon John Ellison, The Carpenter Ants, Humbird, and more. Weekend passes US$40, or US$20 per day. See this month’s Top Five for more info

wtip.org

September 8–10

Franco-Festival 2023

La Coopérative Centre francophone de Thunder Bay

ThunderCon Drag Show Black Pirates Pub

Join your favourite TBay drag queens and kings as they cos-slay the house down for an anime-zing night where comic book, drag, and pop culture collide at the official afterparty of ThunderCon 2023. Tickets $15+, 19+.

facebook.com/wigginsproductions

September 9–10

Samba Workshops with Adrianna Yanuziello Thunder Bay World Dance Collective

Whether you are starting your dance journey, looking to explore a new style, or would like to enhance your current skills, join Toronto’s Adrianna Yanuziello of Dance Migration for a weekend of Samba workshops, hosted by Thunder Bay World Dance Collective.

facebook.com/tbayworlddance

September 9–10

ThunderCon

Canadian Lakehead Exhibition Get ready for a jam-packed event with fun for guests of all ages, featuring over 50 local artists and vendors, live music, interactive activities, escape rooms, celebrity guests, board games, and so much more, Advance passes $35. See this month’s Top Five for more info.

thundercon.org

September 10, 10 am

Mark Out Addiction Paintball Big Game Paintball Mountain

Join Paintball Mountain for their annual paintball big game in support of Adult & Teen Challenge Thunder Bay. Registration is $30 and includes your gun and gear rental, a hopper of paintballs (approximately 200 paintballs), air if needed, lunch, and snacks.

teenchallenge.tc/events/ thunder-bay-paintball

September 10, 11 am

West Thunder Corn Roast

915 Edward Street South The 5th Annual Corn Roast & Vendors Market will be a great outdoor family event featuring a petting zoo, ponies, bouncy castle, music, food and a wide variety of vendors. The Macgillivray Pipe Band of Thunder Bay, Jack Nelson, and The Odori Dancers will also be performing.

facebook.com/westthundercommunitycentre

September 10, 2 pm

Stitch & Bitch

Red Lion Smokehouse Bring your current knitting, crochet, cross-stitch, embroidery, or other needle craft project and connect


with other crafters. Compare patterns, share techniques, and trade tips.

807-286-0045

September 10, 2 pm

Yoga on Tap

Lakehead Beer Company Join Modo Yoga for an outdoor yoga class on Lakehead Beer Company’s amazing patio. Enjoy two 8 oz pours as well.

modoyoga.com/thunder-bay

September 12, 26, 7 pm

Trivia Night The Social

Come test your trivia knowledge while enjoying a bite to eat and a lovely cocktail. Teams can be 1–6 people, and there will be a prize for the first place team.

thesocialtbay.com

September 13, 10 am

CenCan Expo

Fort William Gardens The Central Canada Resource Expo will showcase the latest in resource technologies, expand the discussion of sustainable development with industry leaders, and provide a forum that fosters economic regional growth.

virtex.cencanexpo.ca

September 14, 6 pm

Queer Coffee Nights Carlito’s Cafe

Join Thunder Pride for this month’s Queer Coffee Night at Carlito’s Cafe on Simpson Street.

facebook.com/ThunderPride

September 14, 7 pm

Feed the Giant

Lakehead Beer Company A pre-party fundraiser organized by Thunder Bayborn chef Hayden Johnston in support of Wake the Giant, Feed the Giant is a flavourful evening featuring a selection of food and drink from Tomlin Subdivision, Naagan by Zach Keeshig, Johnston’s Richmond Station, gelato from Prime Gelato, and beer from Lakehead Beer Company.

Feed the Giant on Eventbrite

September 14–17

Unplugged 2023

North House Folk School, Grand Marais, Minn. Catch women’s national Unplugged 2023, a community celebration of music, craft, and regional food and beverages, will feature performances by Dylan Jennings, Barbara Jean Meyers, Justin Roberts, and

more. See this month’s Top Five for more info.

northhouse.org

September 15–17, 10 am

Steinbilder Exhibition

Co.Lab Gallery & Arts Centre Join geologist and artist Roger Mitchell for his Steinbilder exhibition, which features samples of the insides of rocks and minerals blown up onto canvas to create abstract art. See this month’s Art section for more info.

colabgallery.ca

September 16, 11:30 am

Wake the Giant Marina Park

The Wake the Giant Music Fest is a celebration of cultures with a spotlight on Indigenous culture and music. This year’s festival will feature epic performances by deadmau5, X Ambassadors, Dean Lewis, and more, as well as a live art installation, cultural experiences, a kids’ zone, local eats, and an Indigenous Craft Market.

wakethegiant.ca

September 17, 10 am

Country Roads Autumn Market 381 Melbourne Road

Come browse works by over 20 Thunder Bay area artists, makers, and artisans at the fourth annual Country Roads Autumn Market. Tickets $5, with all proceeds going to the LUSU Food Resource Centre.

countryroadsmarket2023. eventbrite.ca

September 17, 11 am

Wine & Yoga

Red Lion Smokehouse Get your stretch on at Wine & Yoga. Certified yoga instructor Mel Ollivier of New Earth Wellness will lead the group through an hour-long class followed by a tutored wine tasting and light snacks. $40 registration.

807-286-0045

September 17, 1 pm

Fall Fashion Show Da Vinci Centre

Calling all fashionistas. Join the Da Vinci Centre for an afternoon of fashions provided by local vendors. Tickets are $25 each and are available to purchase at the Da Vinci Centre and Club Cappuccino.

davincicentrethunderbay. com

Until September 17

Man from the Bear Totem

Thunder Bay Art Gallery This exhibition is a selection of sculptural objects from the gallery’s permanent collection made of wood, stone, metal, and bone. The presentation was inspired by two wood and copper sculptures by the artist and printmaker Ahmoo Angeconeb.

theag.ca

Until September 17

Are These Things Not A Dream? Thunder Bay Art Gallery

This group exhibition featuring numerous pieces of art borrows its title from a large-scale installation by artist Rebecca Baird that presents an uncanny scene at the edge of a corn field. Curated by Penelope Smart. See this month’s Art section for more info.

theag.ca

Until September 17

Wiigwas Manidoog Descendants Thunder Bay Art Gallery

The first solo exhibition of works by artist Helen Pelletier. Her etched baskets, objects, garments, and accessories express her relationship with wiigwas, or birchbark, and reflect the love she feels for the land.

theag.ca

Until September 17

Ziibaaska’iganagoodayan – The Jingle Dress

Thunder Bay Art Gallery The Thunder Bay Art Gallery celebrates a major acquisition of 11 paintings by local artist Christian Chapman. This exhibition is a stunning collection of Chapman’s signature popart style paintings depicting Anishinaabe women.

theag.ca

September 21, 1 pm

100th Anniversary Flower & Vegetable Show Oliver Road Community Centre

The Thunder Bay Horticultural Society invites the public to celebrate their 100th anniversary with a flower and vegetable show. Entries can be submitted from 1–4 pm. Viewing will be from 6–7 pm.

gardenontario.org/society-listing

September 22, 6 pm

Dine with Doc The Chanterelle

Local non-profit Northern Hearts are hosting an exciting food event where local doctors will be assisting the chef from The Chanterelle in preparing a heart-healthy, four-course meal. Proceeds from the event support their free educational programs.

northernhearts.org

September 22–24

Thunder Bay Truck Centre Dirt Track Nationals Thunder City Speedway

Come out for some September racing at the Thunder Bay Truck Centre Dirt Track Nationals. Vehicles in four different classes will vie for top spots in some of this season’s final racing action. See this month’s City Scene section for more info.

thundercityspeedway.ca

September 22– October 15

Culture Days 2023 Various Locations

For three weeks, local groups, businesses, organizations, and individuals will be hosting a series of free (or pay-what-you-can) activities, performances, and demonstrations. Official launch is September 22 from 6–10 pm at Prince Arthur’s Landing. See this month’s Top Five for more info.

thunderbay.ca

September 23, 11 am

Electric Vehicle Show

CLE Coliseum Building Learn from local electric vehicle owners about their personal experience using an electric vehicle in the north. There will also be opportunities to learn about electric cars, trucks, and bicycles, vehicle charging, active transportation, and more.

facebook.com/ norontarioev

September 23, 8 am

VendorFest Fall Market

CLE Heritage Building Over 60 local artists including crafters, woodworkers, stained glass artists, and more will be selling their wares at this fall market. Hot Diggety Dog will be on site. Enjoy lunch while you shop.

nayome11@gmail.com

September 23, 2 pm

Art Battle

to towns and cities around the world. Watch as artists transform blank canvases into beautiful pieces of art in just 20 minutes, and then vote to determine the winner. All artwork will also be available for silent auction.

artbattle.com

September 24

Crafting for a Cause Delta Hotel

This crafty fundraising event will showcase local artisans and raise donations for the Thunder Bay District Humane Society.

cfactbay@gmail.com

Until September 25

Behind Racism: Challenging the Way We Think Thunder Bay Museum

This travelling exhibition shows how the mental processes that help us think and act quickly can lead to racism and discrimination, and examines racism in Canada. Pay what you can. See this month’s Top Five for more info.

thunderbaymuseum.com

September 25–30

DefSup’s Random Acts of Poetry Various Locations

DefSup presents 25 of our city’s finest professional spoken word poets, singer-songwriters, and hip hop artists in Random Acts of Poetry, a weeklong performance series promoting literacy, art, and poetry in places where people live their everyday lives. See and hear the DefSup Poetry Construction Crews as they bring urban interventions to our public venues, radio, parks, and streets! One of the largest poetry performances in Canada. Schedules will be available at DefSup, and on Facebook and Instagram..

definitelysuperior.com

September 28–30, 6 pm

The Land is Dancing Exhibition

Outside Goods & Co. Market As part of Culture Days, renowned artist Betty Carpick presents a 10-minute video projection of various ways people have played with inks she created from the natural environment. See this month’s Art section for more info.

onculturedays.ca

September 28– October 21

Meet My Sister Magnus Theatre

Magnus Theatre’s 202324 season kicks off with the comedy Meet My Sister,a funny and touching homecoming story that features two sisters who are stranded on the porch of their family home by their mother. See this month’s Film & Theatre section for more info.

magnustheatre.com

September 30, 10 am

Autumn Rendezvous

4485 Highway 61 A curated artisan show and sale in the Slate River Valley. The Pine Forest Cafe will be open for coffee, tea, and treats.

seppalaj@tbaytel.net

September 30, 10 am

Creekside & Trevisanutto’s Fall Artisan Market Creekside Nursery & Garden Centre

Creekside and Trevisanutto’s annual fall market returns. This year’s market will have over 90 local artisans, food vendors, and more.

creekside.ca

September 30, 7:30 pm

Improv Comedy Show

Cambrian Players Studio Enjoy a night of improv comedy with Cambrian Players. Funny, one-act plays that are made up on the spot. $5 cash at the door.

cambrianplayers.com

September 30, 9 pm

No Refunds or Exchanges: The Roast of Miss Take Black Pirates Pub

Check the tag, diva. The TBay Drag queens and kings are firing up the grill again to roast and toast the queen of boots herself, Miss Take! Tickets $15+, 19+. See this month’s Film & Theatre section for more info.

@wigginsproductions

September 30

Witches Walk 661 Hwy 130

An organic, all-ages event to gather, teach, bring awareness and celebrate all things witchy.

ThunderBayWitchesWalk. square.site

Black Pirates Pub A live painting tournament showcasing local artists and connecting Thunder Bay

The The Walleye Walleye

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SeptemberMusicGuide September 1

Jazz & Old Fashioned Fridays with Mood Indigo Anchor & Ore

6 pm • No Cover • AA

Karaoke The Social

9:30 pm • No Cover • 19+

Bill Savage

Red Lion Smokehouse 9:30 pm • No Cover • 19+

Thunder Gun The Foundry

10 pm • $5 • 19+

Page 38

Norteños Cantina 10 pm • $5 • 19+

All 80s Weekend The Wayland

10 pm • $5 • 19+

Celtic Night ft TBay Trad

September 11

Sea Shanty

Afrolatinahouse ft. DJ Abby

Cat Sabbath w/ Psycho Therapy

Karaoke

7:30 pm • No Cover • 19+

8 pm • No Cover • 19+

10 pm • $10 • 19+

10 pm • $5 • 19+

Open Decks

Howl at the Moon

Howl at the Moon

The Wayland

Norteños Cantia

8 pm • No Cover • 19+

10 pm • $5 • 19+

September 29

Red Lion Smokehouse

Karaoke

8 pm • No Cover • 19+

8 pm • No Cover • 19+

The Foundry

Atmos

Bastards and the Buzzards Black Pirates Pub 9 pm • $TBA • 19+

September 8

Jazz & Old Fashioned Fridays with Mood Indigo Anchor & Ore

6 pm • No Cover • AA

7 pm • No Cover • 19+

9 pm • $30 • 19+

Karaoke

Howl at the Moon 8 pm • No Cover • 19+

Ripcords w/ Forever Dead! Black Pirates Pub 9 pm • $15 • 19+

Karaoke The Social

9:30 pm • No Cover • 19+

Outlaw: Blink 182 Tribute The Foundry

Atmos

Karaoke The Social

9:30 pm • No Cover • 19+

Back Forty The Foundry

10 pm • $5 • 19+

Mother of Wolves The Wayland

10 pm • $5 • 19+

The Selfies

Norteños Cantina 10 pm • $5 • 19+

10 pm • $5 • 19+

September 9

The Wayland

The Westfort Proz

All 80s Weekend 10 pm • $5 • 19+

A.L.A.S. Latin Night Norteños Cantina 10 pm • $5 • 19+

Saturday Night Remix ft DJ Mo NV Music Hall

10 pm • $10 • 19+

September 4

Open Mic Night Howl at the Moon

8 pm • No Cover • 19+

September 5

Karaoke

The Foundry 10 pm • No Cover • 19+

September 6

Danny Johnson’s Piano Bar Shooter’s Tavern

8 pm • No Cover • 19+

September 7

Open Mic Night

Lakehead Beer Company 7 pm • No Cover • AA

Karaoke

7 pm • No Cover • 19+

Ricky Nelson Remembered

10 pm • No Cover • 19+

September 13

Danny Johnson’s Piano Bar

8 pm • No Cover • 19+

Karaoke The Social

9:30 pm • No Cover • 19+

10 pm • $5 • 19+

Saturday Night Remix ft DJ Mo NV Music Hall

10 pm • $10 • 19+

September 17

Open Jam

Branch 5 Legion

8 pm • No Cover • 19+

September 18

Open Mic Night The Foundry

10 pm • No Cover • 19+

September 14

Relive the Music of the 50s & 60s Rock ‘n’ Roll Show

Karaoke

Thunder Bay Community Auditorium

8 pm • No Cover • 19+

Sea Shanty

Howl at the Moon

2 Shadows: The Cold Inside Tour Atmos 9 pm • $12+ • 19+

7:30 pm • $34+ • AA

The Foundry

8 pm • No Cover • 19+

Open Mic Night Howl at the Moon

10 pm • $5 • 19+

Saturday Night Remix ft DJ Mo NV Music Hall

Femur & Friends Black Pirates Pub 9 pm • $10 • 19+

Karaoke The Social

9:30 pm • No Cover • 19+

Disco Night ft DJ Rogue The Foundry

Page 38

10 pm • $5 • 19+

Petty Thieves

Norteños Cantina 10 pm • $5 • 19+

September 16 The Westfort Proz

Consortium Aurora Borealis presents: The Age of Elegance

7 pm • $60+ • 19+

The Foundry 10 pm • No Cover • 19+

September 20

The Westfort Proz 7 pm • No Cover • 19+

Karaoke

Howl at the Moon 8 pm • No Cover • 19+

Elliot BROOD w/ Nick Sherman Branch 5 Legion

8 pm • $20+ • 19+

The Cover Show 28 (Night 2) Black Pirates Pub 9 pm • $15+ • 19+

10 pm • $10 • 19+

September 10

Karaoke

9 pm • $50+ • AA

The Social

9:30 pm • No Cover • 19+

10 pm • $5 • 19+

Saturday Night Remix ft DJ Mo NV Music Hall

10 pm • $10 • 19+

Jazz & Old Fashioned Fridays with Mood Indigo Anchor & Ore

6 pm • No Cover • AA

Simply Spice

Thunder Bay Community Auditorium 7:30 pm • $39+ • AA

Hexis w/ Trauma Model + more Black Pirates Pub 9 pm • $15 • 19+

Karaoke The Social

9:30 pm • No Cover • 19+

Midnight Surge The Wayland

10 pm • $5 • 19+

Mother of Wolves Norteños Cantia 10 pm • $5 • 19+

September 30

Karaoke

The Westfort Proz 7 pm • No Cover • 19+

Consortium Aurora Borealis: Gryphon Trio Trinity United Church

Italian Cultural Centre

Cinema 5 Skate Park

Open Jam

Karaoke

September 21

Open Mic Night

Lakehead Beer Company 7 pm • No Cover • AA

Celtic Night ft TBay Trad

Red Lion Smokehouse 7 30pm • No Cover • 19+

Karaoke

8 pm • No Cover • 19+

Open Decks

The Fixer + Forever Dead! + 8 Feet Tall

5 pm • $69 • 19+

7:30 pm • $15+ • AA

Branch 5 Legion

Howl at the Moon

8 pm • No Cover • AA

September 25

Open Mic Night Howl at the Moon

9 pm • $15+ • 19+

The Social

Romi Mayes w/ Nick Warren Branch 5 Legion

8 pm • $20+ • 19+

The Foundry September 27

Danny Johnson’s Piano Bar Shooter’s Tavern

8 pm • No Cover • 19+

Karaoke

9:30 pm • No Cover • 19+ The Social

Mother of Wolves The Foundry

10 pm • $5 • 19+ The Social

Midnight Surge The Wayland

10 pm • $5 • 19+

Saturday Night Remix ft DJ Mo NV Music Hall

Open Mic Night

10 pm • $10 • 19+

10 pm • No Cover • A

Brought to you by:

The Foundry

Karaoke

September 28

9:30 pm • No Cover • 19+

Lakehead Beer Company

The Social

Atmos

September 26

10 pm • No Cover • 19+

Black Pirates Pub

Alleycvt: Planet Supersonic Tour 9 pm • $16+ • 19+

September 22

The Cover Show 28 (Night 1)

8 pm • No Cover • 19+

8 pm • No Cover • 19+

Karaoke

Anchor & Ore

7:30 pm • $15+ • AA

Raag-Rung 2023

8 pm • No Cover • 19+

6 pm • No Cover • AA

Latin Night

The Wayland

Atmos

8 pm • No Cover • 19+

Shooter’s Tavern

8 pm • No Cover • 19+

Howl at the Moon

Cat Sabbath w/ Psycho Therapy

8 pm • No Cover • 19+

September 24

Karaoke

7:30 pm • $15+ • AA

The Social

Howl at the Moon

Danny Johnson’s Piano Bar

Jazz & Old Fashioned Fridays with Mood Indigo

St. Paul’s United Church

Da Vinci Centre

Open Jam

Karaoke

Karaoke

NV Music Hall

Atmos

The Wayland

5 pm • $10 • AA

6 pm • No Cover • AA

Anchor & Ore

Steel Panther

7 pm • No Cover • 19+

Mother of Wolves

Branch 5 Legion

9:30 pm • No Cover • 19+

10 pm • $5 • 19+

10 pm • $5 • 19+

International Blues Challenge Fundraiser ft The Bustle

September 19

Karaoke

Norteños Cantina

September 23

Jazz & Old Fashioned Fridays with Mood Indigo

September 15

Blood Red Moon DJ Big D

Undercover

Karaoke

Howl at the Moon

The Foundry

The Wayland

8 pm • No Cover • 19+

The Wayland

Howl at the Moon

Hard Copy

8 pm • No Cover • AA

7:30 pm • $49+ • AA

Karaoke

Norteños Cantina

Shooter’s Tavern

10 pm • $5 • 19+

8 pm • No Cover • AA

The Walleye Walleye The

Karaoke

Thunder Bay Community Auditorium

Branch 5 Legion

4 102

8 pm • No Cover • 19+

September 12

Karaoke

The Westfort Proz

Open Mic Night

Open Decks

Crankdat: Mechanized Madness Tour

September 2

The Foundry

Open Mic Night

7 pm • No Cover • AA

For more info visit tbshows.com


Music

LU RADIO’S MONTHLY TOP 1 TEKE::TEKE* Hagata

Kill Rock Stars

30

8 Debby Friday* GOOD LUCK

Sub Pop

9 Bodywash*

I Held the Shape While I Could

Chart ranking reflects airplay for the week ending Tuesday, August 8, 2023. * indicates Canadian artist.

Keep it locked on 102.7 FM, online streaming at luradio.ca.

23 Noble Oak*

Third Man

Last Gang

Super Snõõper

18 Mother Tongues* A Heart Beating

Wavy Haze

When It Finds You

24 Arlo Parks

My Soft Machine

Transgressive/PIAS

25 Little Dragon

10 Haviah Mighty*

Slugs of Love

Crying Crystals

Ninja Tune

26 Philippe B*

Mighty Gang Inc.

11 Half Moon Run* Bekka Ma’iingan

CILU 102.7 FM - Thunder Bay

17 Snõõper

Self-Released

2 Zoon*

Music

Nouvelle administration

Salt

Bonsound

BMG

Paper Bag

3 La Sécurité*

19 ANOHNI and the Johnsons

Stay Safe!

My Back Was A Bridge For You To Cross

Mothland

4 Freak Heat Waves*

Secretly Canadian

Mondo Tempo

20 Private Lives*

Mood Hut

Hit Record

5 Jessy Lanza*

Love Hallucination

Hyperdub

6 Jenn Grant*

Champagne Problems

Outside Music

7 Sunforger* Sunforger

Self-Released

Feel It

12 FRANKIIE*

Between Dreams

Paper Bag

13 Planet Giza*

Ready When You Are

Quiet Note

14 Bully

Lucky For You

Sub Pop

15 Pantayo*

Ang Pagdaloy

Telephone Explosion

21 Harrison*

Birds, Bees, The Clouds & The Trees

Last Gang

27 PRIORS* Daffodil

Mothland

28 Braids*

Euphoric Recall

22 Kimmortal*

Secret City

Self-Released

29 King Krule

Shoebox

Space Heavy

Matador

30 Sweeping Promises

Good Living is Coming For You

Feel It / Sub Pop

16 African Head Charge A Trip To Bolgatanga

On-U Sound

Courtesy earshot-online.com

The Walleye Walleye The

1 103


TattooedYou

A Tattooed Tribute

D TATTOOE U O Y

Story and photos by Leah Morningstar Tattoo by Fenton Gilbert of Underground Ink

I

f you flipped through the August issue of The Walleye, you might have read the article about local metal band VHS. This month we’re taking a little step further into the VHS lore by bringing you an in-depth look at the bass player’s tattoo. It was about 20 years ago when Curt Mill went to Fenton Gilbert of Underground Ink for his Misfits tattoo. Mill’s love for the Misfits began many years before the tattoo and his love of music in general dates back even further. Mill remembers being a young kid at church and watching the musicians. Yes, there were a lot of hymns accompanied by piano and organ, but there were also a lot of rocking tunes accompanied by guitars and drums. Mill remembers there was a man who played bass during some of the more rock and roll Sundays; that was his first time seeing a bass guitar and it definitely looked cool. Mill bought his first bass when he was 13 years old and joined his first band shortly after starting high school. One of his buddies in that first high school band introduced Mill to a band called the Misfits, an American punk rock band founded in 1977 by singer, songwriter, and keyboard player Glenn Danzig. They are often considered pioneers of the horror punk subgenre, as they include horror movie themes and imagery in their music and album artwork. The Misfits aren’t Mill’s favourite band, but they’re definitely important to him. “They just looked cool,” he says. “They had

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dark clothes, smudged eye makeup, the signature devilock hair, and of course, the ever-present skull logo.” Metallica was another band that Mill listened to in high school. As someone who was continually getting better at playing the bass, Mill enjoyed seeing (and hearing) what the Metallica bass player could do. Cliff Burton was with Metallica from 1982 until his untimely death in 1986. He was so young when he died, but his talent and contributions to the band made an impression on Mill, as did his tattoo: a very familiar Misfits skull logo. Burton’s Misfits skull was on his shoulder, and Mill decided on a forearm placement for his own tattoo. Since getting the tattoo, Mill has seen the Misfits in concert several times. In 2009, when Mill was playing with a different band, he was fortunate enough to open for them when they played the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium. “I had such a great time meeting the band and hanging out with them backstage,” he says. “This was long after Danzig had left the band but it was still pretty awesome.” And now, as a seasoned bass player himself, Mill sees his own Misfits tattoo every time he picks up his bass. It is, of course, a tribute to the late Cliff Burton of Metallica as well as a tribute to the Misfits. But it’s also a reminder of the pure childhood joy that comes from discovering something amazing and the continued satisfaction that comes from doing something you love.


11 e

SEPTEMBRE 2023

8 Evening with LeFloFranco

Soirée avec LeFloFranco 19 h - 22 h

9

Journée familiale

14 h - 19 h

Family day musique activités saveurs francophones music activities international French delicacies

10

Matinée film

10 h - 12 h

Family movie matinee

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+ informations Merci à nos partenaires et commanditaires :

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Consultez la liste complète sur notre site Web.

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Immunized?

The Health Unit needs to know. Health care providers are not required to report immunizations to us. It is your responsibility to make sure your child’s immunization record is up to date. To learn more at TBDHU.COM/vaxreport or by calling 1-888-294-6630 or your local branch office.

The Give Voice Project. Preserving your Voice and your Stories for the people you Love.

Visit thegivevoiceproject.net to learn more. 106

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U N P LU G G E D 2 0 2 3 MUSIC, CRAFT, & COMMUNITY SEPTEMBER 14-16, 2023

Unforgettable Concerts · World-Class Craft Artisans Kids’ Activities · Free Family Concert · Online Auction Regional Food & Beverages · And lots more!

GET TICKETS: NORTHHOUSE.ORG NORTH HOUSE FOLK SCHOOL 500 W Hwy 61, Grand Marais, MN 55604


Reimagining Urban Boulevards in Thunder Bay

Green

Story and photo by Kyla Moore, Thunder Bay + Area Food Strategy

T

hunder Bay is working to modernize bylaws to allow homeowners to transform grass boulevards into blooming gardens, which beautify neighbourhoods while adding pollinator habitats. This change goes deeper than aesthetics, however: beyond adding character and charm to the landscape, these gardens offer many environmental, economic, and health benefits. Boulevard gardens and lawn alternatives offer numerous advantages, such as drought resistance, reduced soil erosion, carbon sequestration, and stormwater filtration, which helps to prevent flooding. By replacing traditional lawns, these gardens save money, effort, and reduce carbon footprints. Neighbourhood butterflyway projects containing multiple small gardens increase biodiversity by forming living corridors that connect fragmented natural habitats and promote land stewardship. Additionally, they may improve traffic flow and public perceptions of safety. Regular exposure to gardens has also been proven to lower stress and enhance individual and community well-being. Public garden care fosters a sense of community as neighbours come together

to share seeds, plants, food, and advice. These highly visible projects spark conversations, engage children, and promote awareness of the interconnected systems that sustain us. Transitioning turfgrass boulevards to lowmaintenance wildflower verges is both economically sensible and supports essential pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Edible boulevard gardens offer a creative solution to address food insecurity, a top public health priority. Allowing curbside vegetable and herb cultivation fosters local urban agriculture action, aligning with the food production goals of the Thunder Bay + Area Food Strategy’s 2023 Community Food System Report Card. Building food system resilience becomes crucial with rising food prices and projections of extreme weather events and crop failures. Edible gardens are sprouting up everywhere, from boulevards and balconies to rooftops and vacant lots, even on boats and barges. Locally, EcoSuperior grows food each summer in a raised garden box beside their adjacent bus shelter so transit users can grab some cherry tomatoes-to-go. By changing policies to share stewardship

A local, edible, right-of-way garden in Thunder Bay containing a variety of vegetables and many blooming ornamental flowers

and access to public land for food gardening, residents can become more self-sufficient and enjoy increased access to local, sustainable food sources. However, the debate on allowing edible boulevard gardens is ongoing. Some cities restrict it, citing liability, soil safety, or snow-clearing concerns. Others balance liability with the consequences of neglecting food sovereignty principles, climate change, and biodiversity impacts, and have developed guidelines to educate residents on safety and success. Indemnity clauses state that residents grow food on the boulevard at their own risk, with no guarantee of soil suitability. Some cities promote raised

garden beds filled with clean soil to address contamination worries and provide resources for soil testing. Creating an inventory of busy arteries and intersections that need snow removal and scraping operations ensures that restricting raised planter boxes is justified when there are legitimate operational hazards. By doing this, neighbourhood boulevards that can safely accommodate garden boxes are supported in doing so, as many of them already do. Currently, Public Health Ontario is collecting information from cities that either support or restrict growing consumables on the right-of-way. The City of Ottawa plans to review these

findings by June 2024 and conduct a risk-benefit analysis before finalizing Ottawa’s boulevard gardening bylaw. It is essential for Thunder Bay to take a cue from Canada’s capital and make an evidenceinformed decision to reimagine our boulevards to support urban agriculture and biodiversity. For more information, visit the Ottawa Food Policy Council webpage, which showcases existing boulevard gardens and outlines why residents should have the Right to Grow: ofpc-cpao.ca/ proposed-bylaw-updates-row.

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Green

A Healthy Diet for a Healthy Planet By Ashley Priem, Co-Executive Director, EcoSuperior

O

ur diets are one of the biggest elephants in the room when we talk about climate change. We know a plant-based diet is healthier for us, but is it really better for the planet? Yes! What we eat and how it is produced directly affects the environment. Food growth, processing, transportation, consumption, and disposal all create greenhouse gases (GHGs), contributing to climate change. A recent United Nations article shares that “about a third of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions is linked to food.”

Agriculture and land use make up the most significant chunk of these emissions. Looking at what types of agriculture and land use cause the most impact is essential as we look for sustainable solutions. Caring for, transporting, and processing animal products increases GHGs compared to plant products. Livestock emits methane, a greenhouse gas 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide. While 41% of the world’s deforestation is for beef production, 18% is for oilseeds (soy and palm). Does that mean eating tofu is bad? No, as most of the

global soybean production is used to feed livestock, with only 6% used for direct human food. Not to mention, most livestock eat more food than they produce. The most effective climate strategies include people minimizing consuming animal products. Plant-based foods generally have lower GHG intensities than animal-based food and typically use less land, water, and energy. Shifting your diet to a more plant-based one means consuming more beans, lentils, tofu, nuts, grains, and chickpeas while eating less (or no) meat, dairy, and

saturated fat products. Love the taste of meat and dairy too much to give it up? Plantbased substitutes have come a long way to meeting those cravings; give them a try. Many Thunder Bay grocery stores and restaurants offer plant-based alternatives. Plus choosing more veggies is always a good idea for your health. Reducing food waste is another great way to reduce food-related GHG emissions. Worldwide, 17% of all food available gets thrown away yearly. It’s a tragedy to produce, process, and transport food just to let it rot. If you need to

throw out food, composting can reduce the amount of carbon dioxide and methane released by organic waste. To eat sustainably, start eating a more plant-based balanced diet and reduce or stop eating foods that are harder on our planet. The food we eat and how it is produced affects our health and the health of the planet.

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Marcus.Powlowski@parl.gc.ca 108

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Green

ET LET’S G G IN W O GR EDY WITH H

Coffee Makes Everything Better By Hedy Koski

I

n our house, as in so many houses, coffee in the morning is an absolute necessity. Making that cup of coffee daily can produce waste that typically ends up in a landfill. But adding those grounds to our compost or garden soil is one way to help our environment while also enriching our soil. Let’s go over the pros and cons of applying those used coffee grounds to your garden.

Pros

• Coffee grounds contain nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and other micronutrients, all of which are beneficial for plant growth (N-P-K ratio is around about 2.0-0.5-0.5). Don’t rely on them as your sole plant food, but they make a great slow-release organic fertilizer supplement. • They help aerate the soil to improve drainage while retaining moisture. We all strive to create better soil and those used coffee grounds are a free waste resource we can utilize. • Used coffee grounds can make a great top dressing for your lawn because of their nitrogen content. Just ensure they’re only lightly sprinkled on top. • Adding used grounds to the compost is one of the best and most beneficial ways to use them. Coffee grounds are the “green” ingredient in your compost. (The paper coffee filters are considered a “brown” ingredient, so add them too). • Fresh coffee grounds are very acidic but once brewed, the coffee grounds will become nearly neutral. • Coffee grounds help attract earthworms, which aerate the soil and provide us with worm castings, which are also great for your soil. And for those of you who are into vermicomposting, you know those worms love used coffee grounds and paper filters (in moderation). • Cat problem in the garden? Some gardeners claim the smell will deter cats from using your garden as a litter box. Might be worth a try if you have this issue.

Cons

• Used coffee grounds can become compacted and create a waterresistant barrier. So don’t just dump those grounds on the soil— easy does it. It’s best to just lightly sprinkle the used coffee grounds on the soil. • Too many coffee grounds in your compost can have a negative effect, so ensure they don’t make up more than 20% of the compost volume. Coffee grounds will take months to decompose. • Coffee grounds contain caffeine. It is advisable to avoid adding too much in one area because large amounts of caffeine can stunt root development and growth, especially in young seedlings. It could also prevent seed germination. (If you drink decaf this won’t be an issue).

The long and short of it is that used coffee grounds are great for your compost and garden soil, just don’t overdo it. Help your plants and the environment one cup at a time.

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Health

The new interior of Flavours Café at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre

A Fresh Start

Flavours Café Brings New Options to Hospital Patrons, Staff By Alivia Cordileone, Prevention and Screening Clinical Services, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre

I

f you visit Flavours Café at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) you’ll notice some changes. Post-pandemic, the community was hungry for a fresh start and rejuvenating change. Feedback from hospital staff and other customers encouraged Sodexo, the retail owners of Flavours Café, to breathe new life into the space. “Our goal was to establish a welcoming environment with food options to suit the tastes of each person,” says Stephanie Rowan, manager of food and nutrition services at TBRHSC and general manager of Sodexo Retail. “Inspired by Sodexo’s Kitchen Works Co., the idea was to combine tasty, balanced food with quick

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service. It offers an experience that puts guests in control with an easy-to-navigate restaurant design. We also wanted to update the food offerings by incorporating local and Canadian products to the space.” Stepping into Flavours Café, visitors are greeted with an aura of freshness and tranquility. Fresh herbs from the newly installed ZipGrow indoor garden are available to all and cultivated for use in various dishes, enhancing taste and nutritional value. A feature wall has new digital monitors highlighting a rotating menu, and static menu boards showcase items that can be purchased daily. Surrounding yourself with healthy options makes

it easier to follow Canada’s Food Guide recommendations: eating plenty of vegetables and fruits, whole grains, and protein while limiting highly processed foods with added sodium, sugars, or saturated fats. “With the refresh there are more healthy options available, but we also want to allow our customers to make their own choice based on what their preferences are,” explains Rowan. “We are offering a balance between fresh, healthy, and comfort foods.” From Asian salmon burgers and fish tacos to poutine and whole-wheat rolls, there is something for everyone to savour. The Seasons Salad and Craft It Deli Bar offers customers a personalized and distinctive dining experience

tailored to individual needs and preferences. Additionally, the cafeteria offers a selection of plant-based and vegan options in the spirit of embracing the demand for healthy and sustainable food choices. A key element of the refresh was the integration of local products and flavours. Flavours Café now proudly hosts a mini local market that offers an array of locally sourced products such as hot sauce, fish batter, pasta, and syrup. The walk-up coffee bar serves an array of flavours from Spirit Bear Coffee Company, an Indigenous-owned company boasting 100% organic and fair trade products. These products have become a beloved addition, adding a unique opportunity to support

local and Indigenous-owned businesses. Flavours Café has witnessed a steady increase in visitors since its refresh in June 2023, and aims to return to full hours by the fall. The 27-year partnership between Sodexo and the hospital reflects the long-standing commitment to providing quality service and nutritious food options. The positive feedback received from staff and visitors after the relaunch was heartening for the team who has contributed to make the project a success. For more information, visit tbrhsc.net/home/ information-services/ cafeteria.


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TheWall

Vicious Cycle

Editorial and photos by Marlene Wandel

N

orthwestern Ontario summer is quickly winding down. Some summer toys will be put away, while other activities will see a resurgence. School is starting up and we should expect more bikes on the road as students of all ages navigate their way to school. Ongoing bus driver staffing issues last year likely made cycle commuting to school an appealing option for some school-aged youth; the death of a young boy riding his bike to school this spring no doubt sent some bicycles back to the shed as kids and parents alike may have felt unsafe riding on the road network. Lack of training about cycling safely on roads is listed as one of the barriers for the uptake of bicycle commuting in the 2019 City of Thunder Bay Active Transportation plan, as is the small size of the cycle commuting population. It’s a bit of a vicious cycle—many might feel

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more comfortable cycling if there were more cyclists on the road, which would in turn further increase the number of cyclists on the road. Data supports this, as communities with an increased cycling presence have lower collision rates. The issue of bikes on the road in Thunder Bay remains a contentious one— commuting cyclists in Thunder Bay have never reached a critical mass sufficient to establish an expected and accepted presence on the road. In 2016, just 1.3% of Thunder Bay residents cycled to work. It's hard to pigeonhole cyclists. Technically, anyone out on a bike is a cyclist, but they might be out for recreation, fitness, or commuting. It might be a kid on their first ride to school or a 20-year veteran. Riding to work or school might be someone’s only way of getting there, or it might be a choice, and there are disparities in knowledge

about road safety. At some point in the ride, almost all of these cyclists will end up on the road for at least a portion of the journey. Most recent data from the city’s 2019 report on active transportation indicates that 75% of key destinations are within 250 metres of a bicycle path or trail. Our roads are designed for motor vehicle traffic (though the spring pothole extravaganza might convince some of us that roads are actually designed for vehicle repair shops). Bike lanes and paths as add-ons remain that, and bikes essentially end up belonging nowhere, which is old news to most cyclists. The addition of a paved bike highway on either side of Balmoral Street is lovely, but still forces the cyclist to navigate vehicle traffic on uncertain terms at every intersection. The intersection signage for cyclists seems to vary from block to block, and lumps cyclists in with pedestrians. Imagine if vehicle drivers had to get out and push their vehicle across each intersection. It seems silly, just like walking a bike across an intersection does.

Motorists also don’t need to hang around for a while at intersections despite having the right of way in order to wait for a moment to safely cross. For a cyclist, having the right of way is not enough to guarantee safety, and there isn’t any signage out there that suggests that cars should yield to bicycles. Cyclists have the same rights to the road as any other vehicles; cycling on the roads does not require a license or skill-testing question. Cyclists with driving experience will be most skilled in navigating on and across roads, but that doesn’t help young riders and those who ride specifically because they aren’t licensed drivers. Only 4% of the 74 cycling fatalities that occur in Canada every year (on average) occur on bike paths or in bike lanes, but it remains a mystery whether riding on a bike trail through an intersection counts as road or bike path. The cars versus bikes debate is a reflection of a system-level problem, and the solution to that needs to come at the system level. It takes time

to redesign and retrofit city design to encourage cycling. In the meantime, cyclists and drivers still have to co-exist. For now, that means solutions at the individual level: we all need to share the road, whether in a bike lane or at intersections, or recognize that, for better or for worse, there will be some people riding bikes on the sidewalk. Whether that’s right, wrong, or annoying is not the point; users of the road infrastructure, in any vehicle, and on any type of road need to do their best to be aware and respectful of each other regardless of philosophical differences. Which brings us back to September. In a perfect world, kids could ride their bikes to school and not worry about their safety. As motorists we can contribute. Expect that streets, sidewalks, and street crossings may be a little busier in the weeks to come, and that for some young riders, this might be their first time on the road. Sharing the road is a yearround reality, and personally, I’d rather share the road with bicycles than potholes.


Advertising Feature

September Behind the Business Feature

Liliane Breiland, Owner and Designer, The African Boutique

Meet Liliane Breiland, designer and owner behind The African Boutique. Relocating to Thunder Bay was a significant step for Liliane, as it brought her closer to creating her collection of exquisite African outfits. Dressed in these vibrant ensembles, she received numerous compliments, a testament to her unique sense of style. Liliane’s connection with her sister, a skilled seamstress in Cameroon, formed the foundation of her venture. The journey began modestly, with Liliane designing outfits in her living room. As her partnership with her sister blossomed, her designs gained popularity. Today, a network of more than 30 talented seamstresses in Cameroon work for Liliane to bring her designs to life. The process involves sourcing fabric from the local markets in Cameroon, crafting the garments in Cameroon, and then sending them to Thunder Bay. Liliane prides herself on crafting custom designs, infusing each piece with her artistic vision. Every garment in her collection is a display of her creativity and curation. Over time, Liliane has finetuned her designs, tailoring them to match the preferences of her clientele.

Liliane's journey met a significant milestone in June 2021: she opened her first storefront on Algoma Street. Later that year, in December, she transitioned to Goods & Co. Market. This move was transformative for her business, granting greater visibility and facilitating growth. By February 2022, Liliane settled into her current location, the market’s suite 23, further solidifying her presence in Thunder Bay’s business landscape. The impact of Goods & Co. Market cannot be understated; it has been instrumental in propelling Liliane's business forward.

Q& A with Liliane

What drew you to entrepreneurship? Back home, I was a successful businesswoman, running a variety of businesses including logistics, hair salons, and vibrant restaurants. I really enjoyed building strategies and being in sales and customer service. Another part of being a businesswoman that I am very passionate about is making a positive impact in my community by providing my employees with a stable income to build a better life for their family.

What inspired you to launch your business? Driven by my passion to make a positive impact and to support my seamstresses back home, I wanted to establish my business here. Launching my business in Thunder Bay was more than a business decision; it was a mission to share my rich culture and heritage with the community. I hope to continue this work and bring more awareness to my culture through my designs and business. Knowing what you know now, is there anything you would have done differently when you were first starting out? No, I feel that everything really fell into place. The incredible support and love from the people of Thunder Bay has been a true inspiration for me and my business. I am excited for what the future has in store for me and my business. What advice would you give to someone who is trying to become an entrepreneur? Believing in your aspirations and exercising patience is crucial; success is a gradual journey, not an overnight feat. As business owners, the path to prosperity is marked by continuous growth.

Place your faith in your endeavours, remain receptive to feedback and constructive criticism, and harness such insights as stepping stones to progress. What are you working on now? Venturing beyond fashion, I wanted to explore new avenues and to bring more of my culture here to Thunder Bay. I am now supplying paintings, earrings, and home décor all created by artists back home. With having more products, I would love to expand into a larger boutique. I am also able to do custom orders and designs, I have designed outfits that have been worn on the red carpet in Toronto. If you can imagine it, I can design it. Is there anyone specific you would like to thank? The lists seem endless, and immense gratitude goes to Maelyn [Hurley, founder and CEO of Goods & Co. Market] for extending trust and acceptance within the Goods & Co. community. The patrons and event supporters have been pillars of strength; accomplishing this feat alone would have been a challenge. The Thunder Bay community’s unwavering support and encouraging spirit have proven invaluable along the way.

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SeptemberHoroscopes

Aries

(March 21– April 19) Take note, Rams! The harvest season is not only about reaping rewards, but also about sharing your abundance with others. Your natural leadership qualities and infectious energy can inspire those around you to partake in the collective feast of success. By extending your hand to help lift others up, you'll create a ripple effect of positivity that will echo far beyond the fields of September. Stay in touch with family members from afar—good news is coming in the way of an invitation to a special event.

Taurus

(April 20–May 20) New place, new school year, new wheels: which one is it? For some Bulls, it’s all of the above! Change is happening at a rapid pace for earth signs, and for spring babies it’s no exception. By embracing the lessons of the full moon on the 29th and savouring the simple joys, you'll navigate this month with grace and find yourself well prepared for the vibrant days that lie ahead. Embrace the newness of it all. Plan to have a small house party in the next few weeks with your best buds.

Gemini

(May 21–June 20) As September rolls in with a flourish, the cosmos has a delightful treat in store for you—a pumpkin spiceinfused journey that's bound to ignite your curiosity and zest for life. Get ready to sip on the flavourful concoctions

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By Sunny Disposish

of fate, as this month unfolds like a captivating blend of a cosy latte and cosmic magic. Sitting by the fire has the Twins doing some deep thinking about the rest of the year. Take stock by whipping out your journal and seeing those goals manifest toward year end.

Cancer

(June 21–July 22) Labour Day serves as a reminder to honor the fruits of our collective efforts, just as a family comes together to support one another. This month, you'll find joy in creating harmonious moments with your loved ones, as you reflect on the shared achievements that have shaped your family's journey. Your nurturing nature shines brightly, like a guiding light that leads your family towards a stronger and more united future. Enjoy the long weekend with a good old fashioned barbecue.

Leo

(July 23– August 22) In matters of the heart, this new moon sparks a romantic renaissance. If you're single, you may find yourself drawn to intriguing connections that light up your world. Allow your heart to lead the way and savour the electrifying moments that come your way. For those already in a relationship, the new moon brings a surge of passion, allowing you and your partner to embark on a journey of rediscovery and shared dreams. A dinner date at Grotto may be just what the doctor ordered.

Virgo

(August 23–

September 22) Happy birthday, dear Virgo! As the sun dances through your sign, September is your time to shine like a star. This year's cosmic celebration is infused with a sprinkle of magic, and the universe has prepared a delectable treat just for you—a birthday cake of delightful surprises and sweet moments. A special gift awaits you from an admirer. Happy solar return! Always remember you can have your cake and eat it too.

Libra

(September 23– October 22) The cosmos has illuminated a pathway to career advancement and recognition for you, Libra. Your charm and diplomatic prowess will play a key role in your professional journey, opening doors and creating valuable connections. Embrace collaborations and partnerships that resonate with your ambitions, and you'll find yourself climbing the ladder of success with confidence. It never hurts to check out the local farmers market for some autumn goodies, either. For our late September Librans, happy solar return and wishes for an enchanting year ahead!

Scorpio

(October 23– November 21) The fall equinox symbolizes a delicate balance between light and darkness, mirroring the intricate dance of your own inner world. This season, you’re called to explore the depths of your

emotions, shedding light on aspects of your psyche that have remained hidden. Just as the autumn leaves release their grip on the branches, you’re encouraged to release any emotional baggage that no longer serves your growth. Grab a journal, Scorpion, and really flesh out what is holding you back from living your best life.

Sagittarius

(November 22– December 21) The universe suggests you embrace fall flavours with open arms—just not too open, lest you dive headfirst into the nearest pumpkin pie. Balance is key, dear Sagittarius. Enjoy brisk walks through crunchy leaves to keep your energy levels soaring and your enthusiasm contagious, like the aroma of warm apple cider on a chilly evening. The travel bug has Archers firmly in its grip at the moment—is a winter getaway somewhere in your future? Do some research before deciding.

Capricorn

(December 22– January 19) As the leaves change their hues, your health regimen takes on a new shade of mindfulness. Channel your practical energy into nourishing your body and soul, like a master tea blender crafting a balanced chai blend. Incorporate the invigorating scents of cinnamon and spice into your routines, and you’ll find a renewed sense of vitality and inner harmony. The new moon at mid-month is seeing Goats set some new goals

for themselves. Your squad cheers you on.

Aquarius

(January 20– February 18) As you navigate the crisp autumn winds of change, your professional ambitions are set to soar higher than the colourful fall leaves. Like the aroma of freshly baked cinnamon rolls, your hard work and determination will be recognized and appreciated. Embrace the opportunities that come your way, and success will be yours to savour. Fall is the perfect time to re-evaluate and consider the last quarter of the year. How will WaterBearers best show up for themselves?

Pisces

(February 19– March 20) Your well-being becomes a canvas upon which you paint with the vibrant hues of self-care. Just as nutmeg and cloves add depth to a dish, your holistic approach to health enhances your vitality. Explore new wellness practices that resonate with your intuitive Piscean nature, nurturing your body, mind, and spirit like the comforting embrace of a warm slice of zucchini cake. Show gratitude for the bounty of life. The sign of the fish can forget the basics at times, so take time to centre and just breathe.


TheBeat

ode to my shoes By Jonathan Focht

their twenty-eight eyelets see only sky, stomping their souls in transport. they don’t read books but they believe in themselves, bracing a skeleton from sudden landings. they squeak when it rains, as if to say we are wet, master, return us to our rack. but they don’t quit. not in sand nor in slush or in non-clumping cat litter. they’ve never stepped a bedroom and sometimes come undone. I wake them every morning and take them for a walk— both of us wearing our purpose.

Old Souls, digital illustration, boy Roland

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TheEye

View of the night sky from Esther Lake Campground, Grand Portage State Forest, Minn., taken July 2022 Photo by Travis Novitsky

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