Northern Wilds February 2017 by Northern Wilds Magazine

Good Times Await Get more loonie with your U.S. dollar

North of the Border

Also coming to the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium is the smash hit Mama Mia, performing two shows as part of their farewell tour. This funny and heartwarming musical, based on the songs of ABBA, will be held at 8 p.m., Feb. 14-15. tbca.com The Children’s Centre Foundation in Thunder Bay, in partnership with Lakehead University, is inviting the community to “run away from the cold” with the eighth annual Thunderwolves Indoor Marathon on Sunday, Feb. 12. Held at the Lakehead University Hanger, the event is open to any and all runners, regardless of age or skill level.

Beautiful bras from A to J, Swimwear, Sleepwear, Shapewear and the “Sympli” clothing line.

The Thunder Bay Art Gallery will be holding “A Question of Animals” during Family Day on Monday, Feb. 13. All ages can participate in a creative animal-themed activity to take home. Then, explore the large animal exhibit, with drawings by Amanda Burk and paintings by Norval Morrisseau and Elizabeth Buset. Activity will be held from 12:30-3 p.m. theag.ca

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Rooster’s Bistro

The Red Lion Smokehouse will be holding special events throughout the month, including a Wine Lovers Wine Tasting from 8-10 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 14. Spend the evening tasting four different wines with your Valentine. Cost is $25 per person. Also be sure to check out the Blue Grass Brunch event on Sunday, Feb. 26 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. There will be a brunch menu with tasty cocktails and live music. Other events include the My Bloody Valentine theme night on Feb. 11, a Video Game Tournament on Feb. 15, Quiz Night on Feb. 22, and 90s Night Music Bingo on Feb. 25. redlionsmokehouse.ca

We’re not fast food. We’re good food fast!

Fur Trappers Convention Celebrating the business of wild fur

Open Daily 8 am-3 pm

32 St. Paul St. (807) 344-7660 roostersbistro.com

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THUNDER BAY—The Northwestern Fur Trappers Association (NWFTA) will be celebrating 40 years with their 2017 convention from Feb. 24-26 at the CLE Heritage Building in Thunder Bay. The convention is a free event open to the public. Representatives from every part of the industry will provide information from harvesting wild furs to producing fur products.

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For tickets call 684-4444 or visit WWW.TBCA.COM

ALL TICKET SALES FINAL - NO REFUNDS OR EXCHANGES

TUESDAY FEB. 14 WEDNESDAY FEB. 15 BOTH SHOWS AT 8:00 PM To l l F r e e 1 - 8 0 0 - 4 6 3 - 8 8 1 7

FAREWELL TOUR

TUESDAY FEB. 14 WEDNESDAY FEB. 15 BOTH SHOWS AT 8:00 PM TM

For tickets call 684-4444 or visit WWW.TBCA.COM

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ORDER TICKETS ONLINE AT FAREWELL TOUR www.tbca.com Call 684-4444

Feb 14 - 8PM Feb 15 - 8PM For tickets call 684-4444 or visit WWW.TBCA.COM

NORTHERN WILDS

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ALL TICKET SALES FINAL - NO REFUNDS OR EXCHANGES

FEB. TollTUESDAY Free 1 - 800 - 463 - 881714 WEDNESDAY FEB. 15 FEBRUARY 2017 17 BOTH SHOWS AT 8:00 PM

For more information on times, scheduling and events during the convention, go to nwfta.ca or Northwestern Fur Trappers Association Inc. on Facebook. —Kathy Toivonen

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sentations of mammals, fish and birds. The convention also offers demonstrations on trapping and skinning techniques, booths for retailers and organizations, and presentations by guest speakers from Canada and the U.S.

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FAREWELL TOUR

Fur-accented fashion designed by Thunder Bay furrier Katie Ball. | SILVER CEDAR STUDIO

FAREWELL TOUR

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For tickets call 684-4444 or visit WWW.TBCA.COM

One local trapper, though, has built a business by keeping the furs that she has harvested. Katie Ball is a trapper and furrier who crafts fashions with the furs. From her workshop, Silver Cedar Studios, Katie works with an electrically updated 1905 Bonis Fur Sewing Machine to create fur and fur accented fashions. A fashion show highlights her work every year at the convention. Another local business in attendance will be Black and Tan Taxidermy, which creates amazingly artistic pre-

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ALL TICKET SALES FINAL - NO REFUNDS OR EXCHANGES

Interestingly, beaver pelts are not only tanned and used for fashion, they are also still used to make felt for highend felt hats such as top hats, fashion hats and cowboy hats. Rabbit fur is also combined with beaver fur and felted for moderate quality hats.

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The fur industry, both wild and farmed, generates millions of dollars globally. For example, the 2014/15 fur auction in Helsinki, Finland auctioned 13 million ranched mink from American Legend Cooperative in the U.S.; 2 million ranched fox from Saga Furs in Finland; and 1 million wild fur (beaver, mink, marten, lynx, squirrel and otter) from Fur Harvesters Auction Inc. in Canada. The business of wild fur brings in tens of thousands of dollars in Northern Ontario alone. However, even though the trappers themselves don’t always see the big buck benefits in the industry, it has cultivated a way of life for many people. In Ontario, trappers harvest wild furbearing animals on registered trap lines or with private land trapping permits. After the animal is skinned, stretched and dried, the furs are shipped to the auction houses in Canada, the U.S., or Finland to be purchased on the world market.

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Calling all anglers and fly fishing enthusiasts, nature lovers, and anyone suffering from winter fever. Enjoy a night of fishing films and giveaways at the Fly Fishing Film Tour at the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium on Saturday, Feb. 11. Start the evening with the symposium and vendor fair at 6 p.m., followed by movies and door prizes at 7 p.m.

It features a full marathon, half marathon, 10km run or walk, a kid’s fun run, and a marathon relay for teams of two or more. The first race will begin at 8 a.m. Runners are encouraged to collect pledges before race day. Proceeds from the event will support the Children’s Centre Foundation, providing financial support to children’s mental wellness programs. Registration is required. thunderwolves.ca/ indoormarathon

How well do you know your partner? Find out with The Dating, Newlywed and Not So Newlywed Game, hosted by Spencer Hari. Held at Victoria Inn on Feb. 11, the evening will begin with a gourmet dinner, followed by the show and prizes for the audience. The event will be held from 6:30-9:30 p.m. and tickets can be purchased online. keynoteevents.ca