Local Airline Achieves Success: Wasaya
INSIDE What Can We Expect in 2023? One lawyer’s New Year’s resolutions A Frigid Fargo Full of Snocross North Superior Publishing
@tbay25
FedNor investing over $8 million for women entrepreneurs
Living On A Hobby Farm, Slate River
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THUNDER BAY BUSINESS JANUARY 2023
Tbaytel excited to launch 5G for Thunder Bay powered by Ericsson Tbaytel has worked hard to bring the latest evolution of wireless technology to northern Ontario and will launch 5G services, powered by Ericsson, in core areas of Thunder Bay in January 2023 with continued expansion throughout the year. This multi-year, multi-million dollar investment will see 60 5G capable sites throughout the Thunder Bay area with plans to expand to additional regional markets by the end of 2023.
“5G networks will enhance our mobile experience providing us opportunities to reimagine how we use our smartphones and connected devices. It will bring faster data speeds for downloads and streaming, larger network capacities to support more connected customers and continuous network reliability to enrich Tbaytel’s overall mobile experience,” said Tbaytel President and CEO Dan Topatigh.
“Investing in our wireless networks to
expand coverage and bring the latest in wireless technology has always been our priority because this is our neighbourhood and we are proud to have built the largest wireless network in northern Ontario. The launch of 5G is the next phase with significant effort and planning put into the design, build and optimizations of the network to ensure our customers can take advantage of the 5G experience. As other industries like transportation, mining, healthcare and entertainment evolve, Tbaytel’s 5G network will provide the backbone and support for emerging applications and devices.”
Tbaytel 5G will initially use a combination of network spectrums to provide a superior combination of coverage area and capacity, allowing for data speeds which far exceed what LTE is capable of. Low band spectrum allows coverage over long distances, providing optimal service in rural and semi-rural areas. Mid band spectrum will boost speed and deliver ultra-low latency, enabling infinite possibilities for consumers and business customers.
“We are delighted to be working alongside the team at Tbaytel to bring the world’s best mobile wireless technology to Thunder Bay and beyond in 2023,” said Jeanette Irekvist,
Ericsson’s Vice President and Head of Customer Unit Canada. “5G offers faster speeds and lower latency that will provide an enhanced experience to consumers and will open innovative new technological capabilities that will support vital industries and enterprises in northern Ontario in areas including mining, forestry, and transportation.”
Tbaytel is partnering with Rogers and Ericsson to build and optimize the 5G network. Ericsson Canada has been a critical part of Canada’s innovation ecosystem and R&D story for nearly 70 years, working with Canadian carriers since 1985 to develop world-class networks and is now enabling all Canadians access to 5G. As partners, Ericsson helped Tbaytel make its existing LTE-Advanced network one of the best in the world.
In order to be ready for the launch of 5G, it is important for customers to start by ensuring they have a Tbaytel 5G certified smartphone. Visit tbaytel.net/5G for a list of compatible smartphones or visit the Tbaytel Store or any Tbaytel Authorized Dealer for a wide selection of new 5G devices. More information on the launch of 5G will be available in the coming weeks.
THUNDER BAY BUSINESS JANUARY 2023
Publisher’s Note Scott Sumner We were able to ask The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for FedNor, Member of Parliament for Thunder Bay—Superior North some general questions on our economy in NW Ontario and where she thinks we are headed for 2023. How do you feel 2023 will be economically in our area? “There are a lot of really exciting things happening in Northern Ontario. When I became the MP in 2015 there was a lot of hopefulness, especially along the north shore, for some of the potential mining projects that might come up through some of the exploration happening over the last decade. Indeed that is what we are seeing. The Greenstone area is starting to really boom as that mine becomes built and operational. Now with the approval of Generation Mines next to Marathon we are posed for some rapid success.The critical mineral strategy is trying to accelerate some of the work in the Ring of Fire, which is challenging. It has to be done in partnership with Indigenous people, First Nations people rights owners and of course protecting the very fragile environment there, but there is opportunity and excitement.” “ Thunder Bay is not just driven by the mining economy and resource extraction. There has been diversification of the economy over the last two decades, things like our medical research sector has taken off and
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What Can We Expect in 2023? we have made a number of announcements to support things that are medical in nature. We have a booming small business, entrepreneurship landscape and are seeing lots of people emerging in the tech space and engineering so there is a lot of work and supply chain work as well.”
run. In fact the federal government had the capacity to carry debt, unlike small businesses or individuals. We made that decision so we could support the economic fabric of communities through really unprecedented times.” So Canada can afford the debt?
So Thunder Bay has come out of the pandemic quite well? “ There has been a lot made of what the government did or didn’t do during the pandemic but I will say this. We stayed focused on making sure we could help people recover faster when businesses resumed and that’s exactly what we did.We supported people, we supported businesses and we knew if we could keep as many businesses alive and keep as many jobs in tact that when things did resume we would have a much easier time of it from an economic perspective. That’s what we are exactly seeing across the country despite the fact we are battling inflation and so is the rest of the world. We do see in Canada is an almost fully employed Canadian labour market and the growth of our GDP is a way we wouldn’t have anticipated after Covid so these are promising signs. Do we need to do more absolutely. Are we staying focussed on the those most vulnerable people that are struggling with the cost of living, for sure. We just have to carry on and stay focussed on the real objective which is coming out of this as intact as possible.”
There was a lot of additional money spent during the pandemic by Canada-say 500 billion ? “ There are various different numbers out there but what was the alternative. The alternative was to let people lose their homes, get evicted from their commercial rent or there own home that they were renting. Small business would have tanked. The restaurant, the service industry really struggled with many stay at home orders imposed by provinces across the country. This was pivotal to Canada’s recovery. One could say that’s a lot of money but the alternative is an economy that would have sputtered for potentially a decade and we just knew that would be harder in the long
“In fact we can and we haven’t seen any degrading of our debt rating.We have triple A with all of the rating agencies. People are confident that Canada is in a good position to grow.Obviously we have to be careful fiscally and careful what we invest in but I think Canadians expect us to invest in their success and make sure that people that don’t have those same opportunities to succeed get a hand up. I’m an individual that benefited from social programming, federal social programming through EI and other kinds of support,Canada student loans and grants and now am able to work to my full potential. That is what I want every one to have as well. At the end of the day Canada has to be prudent and thoughtful on how we spend our money just like any other government but we are in a very good space. The signs are very positive for a very strong recovery. People are fully employed and we are not seeing job losses and our business landscape is strong. We are going to keep moving forward to make sure we give everyone that full fair chance of success.
Porter Airlines launching four non-stop routes from Ottawa Doubles number of destinations served directly from nation’s capital Porter Airlines is launching four new Canadian and U.S. routes from Ottawa International Airport. Starting March 27, 2023 passengers will be able to fly on daily non-stop flights between Ottawa and Boston, New York-Newark, Quebec City and Thunder Bay, featuring Porter’s elevated economy experience.
Porter will be the only airline providing year-round daily direct flights to Boston, Quebec City and Thunder Bay from Ottawa. People from Canada’s Capital Region will benefit from the convenient travel links these routes provide. “Ottawa was our first destination when we launched in 2006, and it has always been a critical location for Porter throughout our history,” said Michael Deluce, president and CEO, Porter Airlines. “The network expansion in Ottawa shows our commitment to the Ottawa-Gatineau region and its people. We expect our presence in Ottawa will continue growing.” “We are thrilled to be a part of Porter’s exciting growth plans and welcome these additions to YOW’s offering. I am confident that the Ottawa-Gatineau community will continue to embrace Porter’s elevated service and comfort as more and more people return to the skies,” Mark Laroche, president and CEO, Ottawa International Airport Authority. The new daily non-stop routes will be served by 78-seat De Havilland Dash 8400 aircraft. Passengers will experience Porter’s genuine hospitality and elevated onboard service, including premium snacks, and free beer and wine in glassware for all passengers, when flights start next spring. Routes from Ottawa (YOW) Frequency Introductory roundtrip fares (including taxes and fees) start at: Boston (BOS) 1 daily $330
New York-Newark (EWR) 2 daily $352 Quebec City (YQB) 1 daily $322 Thunder Bay (YQT) 2 daily $366 Introduction of these four new routes doubles the number of Porter’s regional destinations served from Ottawa. Porter currently flies to Fredericton, Halifax, Moncton and Toronto City. Detailed schedules can be found on www.flyporter.com. Porter also recently announced a new maintenance base scheduled to open at Ottawa International Airport in late 2023, and a Toronto Pearson-Ottawa route to be served with its state-of-the-art Embraer E195-E2 aircraft beginning in February 2023.
About Porter Since 2006, Porter Airlines has been elevating the experience of economy air travel for every passenger, providing genuine hospitality with style, care and charm. Porter’s fleet of Embraer E195-E2 and De Havilland Dash 8-400 aircraft serves a North American network from Eastern Canada. Headquartered in Toronto, Porter is an Official 4 Star Airline® in the World Airline Star Rating®. Visit www.flyporter.com or follow @porterairlines on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
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THUNDER BAY BUSINESS JANUARY 2023
Funding for Lakehead University graduate students leads to important research ing factors that increase the risk for negative outcomes that can occur during this stage of life. This research may help to support university students who may be struggling with adjustment difficulties.”
Lakehead University graduate students are receiving more than $410,000 in grants from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
She believes an emphasis on supports that address the risk factors for students who experience maladjustment when entering university may improve academic success outcomes for students and student retention across Canadian post-secondary education settings.
Shakira Mohammed, a PhD student in Psychology, is receiving a $105,000 Canada Graduate Scholarship from SSHRC to study how perfectionism is associated with depression and other symptoms in university students over three years. Her research will address limitations in the literature by advancing knowledge in post-secondary research using methods such as a daily online survey over seven days. The results may inform post-secondary education programming aimed at
museums and the obstacles smaller museums face in working towards compliance of the United Nations’ Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
enriching student experiences. “University life can be a volatile and stressful time,” Mohammed said. “I am passionate to understand contribut-
Christine Green, a master’s student in History, is receiving a $17,500 Canada Graduate Scholarship from SSHRC to explore community museums in Northwestern Ontario for one year. Green will analyze Indigenous representation in their activities over the past six years, investigating the status of these Museums play an essential role in the creation of national identity, and critical assessments of museums in Canada have pointed to museums strengthening class distinctions and glorifying colonial subjugation of Indigenous peoples. As part of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, the Canadian Museum Association was tasked with collaborating with Indigenous peoples to undertake a national review of museum policies and best practices to determine the level of compliance with the UN’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and to make recommendations. “It is my hope that this project provides a starting point for further examination of museum practices in Ontario and Canada in relation to Indigenous representation at the community level,” Green said. “The pursuit of this project will provide me with the opportunity to begin answering these questions,” she said. “It will also provide me with the skills to research and produce a lasting volume that will contribute to the ongoing work within many institutions in the region that responds to Call to Action #67, which calls for federal funding for a national review of museum policies and best practices.” Dr. Chander Shahi, Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, congratulated all of the award recipients. “I am so thrilled to hear about the incredible success of our graduate students receiving the Tri-Council awards,” Dr. Shahi said. “I am extremely proud of our graduate students, who inspire by having such ambitious goals, and then putting in the hard work to achieve them. “This amazing accomplishment is just one step in their journey, and their ability to relentlessly search for solutions to problems and find innovative ways to improve the world is the key to their success and many more to come.”
THUNDER BAY BUSINESS JANUARY 2023 PAGE 5
Living On A Hobby Farm, Slate River Thunder Bay BUSINESS
Polaris race manager who had a large Alpaca farm near Minneapolis so it was fun to find out more about these animals.
Caleigh Campbell & Brent Parres own the Wild Sage Farm, Slate River. Many times I had noticed the unique Alpaca animals roaming on the fields on Hwy 130 when
“ We are a new farm taking over this place over about 1 1/2 years ago.We started with 6 alpacas- three seniors and three juniors, but the seniors passed away. Last
BY SCOTT A. SUMNER
donkey from Manitoulin Island. Donkeys are good guard animals, ”noted Brent. The Wild Sage farm has about 38 acres including 3 1/2 acres of hay, 25 acres of barley or rye and the rest is grass. Last year the farm stored 140 bails of hay and sold some hay after buying a tractor. Now we are a real farm smiles Brent. “ This is a hobby farm- at best we are a break even operation. You could sell the Alpaca wool after you sheer them each spring to keep them from getting hot.Their fibre is superior. We haven’t gone to the next process of turning the fibre wool into yarn and make socks etc yet.”said Brent. “ I call myself a reluctant farmer because of my wife’s desire to live out here near her parents and sister.” There is a a B & B barn guest suite at the farm where many Americans come and stay to be close to the animals, enjoy county life and relax. Also people come from Thunder Bay for a stay cation.
driving past. On some of my past trips to Duluth to cover snocross racing I met a
December we added Nitro, the donkey, the fastest donkey on the farm. He is a rescue
There is a seasonal Alpaca Boutique open where you can but socks, insoles, winter gear and local goodies.
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THUNDER BAY BUSINESS JANUARY 2023
Local Airline Achieves Success:Wasaya BY SCOTT A. SUMNER
Thunder Bay BUSINESS Wasaya has been a well known name in air travel in NW Ontario for just over 30 years now. The airline was started by some Elders who had a vision to provide safe, cost effective air service to their communities and the means to employ community members. There were originally 8 communities which owned Wasaya and they formed the rays of the sun on the logo.
the number of companies that were able to come into the community and our ownership group chose us.” In 2018 the company Exchange Income
going to the communities. “ The Exchange Income Corporation ( EIC ) has provided financial resources and expertise. I have found from the
Kewatin etc.) with weekly calls has been good. Everybody has the same experiences,” said James Ward. “ During the pandemic it was very important as our passenger levels went down to about 5%
James Ward started as CEO of Wasaya in 2020. Happy Time Travel, Carrick Express, the new hotel under development are all now part of the group as the ownership group are very business savvy. “ Wasaya has a long history of success and struggles but I don’t think the original founders though it would be what it is today. It started out as very small operation and today we have over 20 aircraft and employ 350 people. Our focus is NW Ontario where our 12 owner communities reside,”said James Ward, CEO of Wasaya. “ We used to service other communities but the pandemic limited
James Ward, CEO of Wasaya
Corp based in Winnipeg partnered with the Wasaya ownership communities in exchange for shares of their business
beginning working with them and the collaboration with all of their airlines ( Perimeter, Bearskin, Calm Air, Pal,
but our cargo tripled.We were a lifeline to the communities. Our airline was never designed to have triple the cargo so it was stressful time for the airline trying to find staff and the right aircraft. We did manage to keep most of our employees and had to reconfigure our passenger planes to cargo use. We also asked for help from our partner, EIC, which wasn’t so overloaded. Our part-
One of the new ATR 72 aircraft
nership with EIC has been good for support and expertise and on a relationship basis.”
Continued
THUNDER BAY BUSINESS JANUARY 2023
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Local Airline Achieves Success:Wasaya Continued Wasaya has recently purchased two ATR 72’s aircraft with an extremely large cargo door. The only other large cargo doors in their fleet are on the Hawker aircraft. The ATR 72 , built in the early 2000’s, are worth about $7 million once on the line. Wasaya also have the Dash 8 100 aircraft which holds 37 people and the Dash 8 300 which holds up to 50 passengers. The next size up for this plane is the Dash 400 or known as Q 400 which can hold up to 70 people and is the plane
are great for passengers but not great for cargo.The ATR 72’s are great for cargo but not as great for passengers in our market.” said James. “ At Wasaya the ATR’s will replace the Hawker Sidley planes which were built in the late 1960’s. I believe we are one of the last three airlines operating Hawkers in Canada. Parts for the aircraft are very hard to find. The expiry of the aircraft is determined by the next part we can’t find. It is a ticking clock.” The new two Wasaya ATR’s purchased came from Hawaii Airways and were managed by Empire out of Idaho. Today
routes coming as there is enough work for us in our own market that we need to catch up on. The newer added aircraft with larger capacity will help us with that.” How does James Ward enjoy the airline business?
flown by Porter Airlines. Wasaya also have Beech 1900’s which hold 18 -19 passengers, the Pilatus PC12 which has a 8 - 9 passenger capacity and Cessna Caravan 208 B can seat up to 9 but also can be configured to do a mix of freight and passengers. “ The Wasaya head office is here in Thunder Bay with 2 hangars and we have a staff of 350 people. Our passenger service hub is Sioux Lookout.We do a major movement from Thunder Bay to Sioux Lookout and then span out to the north. Pre covid we were into 20 communities but now are focusing on our ownership communities- so about 12 15 communities regularly. We are still on a reduced schedule and are trying to ramp up as soon as the communities lift restrictions. We just need staff to do this - pilots and mechanics,” said Ward. “The fuel cost is extremely expensive now especially when you are burning so much of it. We are essential service where we are relied upon.” Wasaya has to work with the infrastructure available in these small remote communities. “ 3500 foot gravel runaways are what we see mostly.We would like to see them longer and paved but I’m not sure if I will see that in my lifetime. The runways are maintained by the MTO. If the runways were longer and paved it would open up a whole new world of aircraft but right now we are pretty limited as to what we can use. We find the Dash 8’s
you can go anywhere to get the right aircraft says James Ward. “We deliver up north anything you can just drive to the store and buy in Thunder Bay. Boats, quads, snowmobiles, clothes, groceries, construction materials - lumber are some examples. The communities we serve all have ice roads but it can be a short season. Last year the winter roads were good and opened from January to March. Sometimes the trucks will break through a ridge and shut the road down though. We are an essential service and are competitive and fair to the communities that are dedicated to us.”said James Ward. “ Pilots are in high demand today as the larger airlines are on a hiring push. At Wasaya we produce really good pilots because of the environments we fly in. Our level of pilot we create is very, very high. We have an apprentice pilot program at Wasaya taking them right out of school and assigning them to different duties with in the organization for 6 to 12 months. We will get them some flight hours,” said James. “ We recently had a great success story with one of our indigenous DASH 8 pilots from Kasabonika who got hired on by Westjet.” Also aircraft mechanics are in high demand right now. “ We are still working on refining and updating our fleet.The ATR program is part of the upgrade. I don’t seen any new
“ Every day can have it’s challenges with some greater than others, but you just have to care and come in everyday with a clean slate. It is a very complex business with weather, maintenance and passengers trying to keep on schedule. We get through it and take it one day at a time.We are a very, very, complex organization with many moving parts.”
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THUNDER BAY BUSINESS JANUARY 2023
FedNor investing over $8 million for women entrepreneurs across Northern Ontario Canada and FedNor will help women across Northern Ontario start up or take their business to the next level. We are excited to connect with more women entrepreneurs who are ready to start, grow or promote their business, while creating new opportunities for their communities and the region.”
The Government of Canada’s support will help women-led businesses and start-ups enhance productivity and increase competitiveness
The Government of Canada understands that advancing gender equality and women's participation in the economy is crucial to all our success. This is why the federal government aims to double the number of women-owned businesses by 2025. Recently , the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for FedNor and Member of Parliament for Thunder Bay— Superior North was joined by Marcus Powlowski, Member of Parliament for Thunder Bay—Rainy River, to announce $8,385,309 in FedNor funding for three projects with the PARO Centre for Women's Enterprise (PARO) to support women entrepreneurs across Northern Ontario. Of the total FedNor investment, $6,261,160 will enable PARO to extend its Women's Enterprise Centre Northern Ontario (WECNO) initiative for two threeyear periods, 2019-2022 and 2022-2025. WECNO is designed to help women entrepreneurs, including Indigenous women, start and grow businesses or expand access to export markets and supports women-led start-ups and companies throughout Northern Ontario. Since 2016, this highly successful initiative has supported over 1000 women-led businesses, while helping to create or maintain more than 1600 jobs.
• Rosalind Lockyer, Founder & CEO, PARO Centre for Women's Enterprise Quick facts
The remaining $2,124,149 will enable PARO to implement the Enterprising Indigenous Women (EIW) initiative, a panNorthern project that supports Indigenous women in their efforts to develop the knowledge and skills to start and grow successful businesses or social enterprises in Northern Ontario. Quotes “All of Canada thrives when we prioritize full and equal participation of women in the economy. Today’s announcement of $8,385,309 in FedNor funds is part of our government’s Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, which helps women grow their businesses across the country. Congratulations to our hard-working women entrepreneurs in Northern
Ontario!” • The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for FedNor, Member of Parliament for Thunder Bay—Superior North “The Government of Canada is proud to support women entrepreneurs by providing resources, access to capital and skills training to support business growth and startups throughout Northern Ontario. This FedNor investment will help ensure women-led companies are well prepared to help drive our economy forward as we emerge from these challenging times.” • Marcus Powlowski, Member of Parliament for Thunder Bay— Rainy River
• The funding announced today is provided through the Government of Canada’s now-closed Women Entrepreneurship Strategy Ecosystem Fund as well as FedNor’s Northern Ontario Development Program, which support projects that promote sustainable community economic development, enhance business development and growth, and facilitate innovation. • PARO Centre for Women's Enterprise is one of Canada's most successful business support and networking organizations. As a not-for-profit social enterprise, the organization works to empower women, strengthen small business, and promote community economic development across Ontario. * To date, PARO Centre for Women’s Enterprise has supported nearly 30,000 women, with over $4.9 million provided in grants from PARO programs, and over $10 million in total grants and loans to clients.
“Our partnership with the Government of
Confederation College Receives $1 Million Gift From the Joyce Family Foundation The Joyce Family Foundation has generously donated $1 million to support financial awards for Confederation College students registered in Nursing, Health and Technology Programs. The Joyce Family Foundation Bursary will distribute two annual $4,000-5,000 awards to recipients which will be renewed for the duration of their program. This bursary will support those in financial need that have overcome obstacles and adversity. The funding will be available to students beginning in 2023. Students enrolled in the Practical Nursing, the new Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program, Dental Hygiene, Aerospace Manufacturing Technology, Mechanical Engineering Technology and Electrical Engineering Technology programs will be eligible to apply for the funding. “Confederation College is proud to offer offer in-demand programs that lead to successful careers. The Joyce Family Foundation Bursary will help many students reach their potential,” said Kathleen Lynch, President of Confederation College. “This significant donation will help relieve students’ financial stress and allow them to focus on their studies.”
and philanthropist Ronald V. Joyce (1930-2019). Ron is best known as the legendary Canadian behind the success of the Tim Hortons franchise. His strong work ethic and passion for helping young Canadians reflect a deep-rooted sense of responsibility to give back to his community.
The Joyce Family Foundation is a private family foundation created by entrepreneur
Trustee and Board Chair for the Joyce Family Foundation, the Honourable
Edward Lumley, commented, “Confederation College is instrumental in preparing new generations of students that will enter the workforce across a vast region in trades, technology and health care. The Board is pleased that the Joyce Family Foundation Bursary will remove financial barriers and even open the door for those that might not have otherwise seen this as a possibility.”
The Trustees of The Joyce Family Foundation include Honourable Ed Lumley (Chair), Grant Joyce, Steven Joyce, Mike Harris, Rob MacIsaac, Dr. Sandy McDonald, Michele Thornley, Aileen O’Rafferty (Director Emeritus). For more information on how to apply for the bursary, contact Financial Aid at (807)-475-6637 or email financialaid@confederationcollege.ca.
THUNDER BAY BUSINESS JANUARY 2023
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Dr. Christopher Mushquash Part of Team Nationally Recognized for Contributions to Clinical Psychology A local clinical psychologist is part of the team led by Dr. Martin Drapeau (Lead Researcher, McGill University) and Dr. Maxine Holmqvist (Lead Clinician, University of Manitoba) that has been nationally recognized for their outstanding contributions to the practice and profession of clinical psychology by the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA).
Dr. Christopher Mushquash is a Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Mental Health and Addiction, Professor at Lakehead University and NOSM University, Vice-President of Research at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) and Chief Scientist at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute (TBRHRI).
He was part of the team awarded the 2022 CPA Clinical Section Award for Clinical Excellence for their work developing the Best Practices in Psychology Portal.
The Best Practices in Psychology Portal is an online hub for psychologists and trainees in psychology across Canada. The portal connects research and practice by providing the latest evidence-based resources, information, and tools.
The portal contains videos that allow psychologists and trainees to learn from other clinicians, researchers, and students, and the ability to download tools and measures that can be implemented in clinical practice. Dr. Mushquash contributed to the development of a video resource discussing considerations for when applying evidence-based psychological practice with Indigenous people.
“It was an honour to be a part of the development of the Best Practices in Psychology Portal, and for the work to be awarded by the CPA,” said Dr. Mushquash. “This online resource for psychologists and trainees allows them to view examples and considerations for incorporating the most up-to-date, evidence-based practice and clinical tools into clinical work, so that they in turn can provide the best possible care to their patients.”
“Dr. Mushquash is a true champion for culturally and contextually appropriate mental health and addiction services for First Nations peoples, and for individuals living in rural and northern communities,” said Dr. Rhonda Crocker Ellacott, President and CEO of TBRHSC and CEO of TBRHRI. “Congratulations to him and the team for all their incredible work.”
““The development of the portal for clinical psychologists is unique and
allow for appropriate and current resources for practicing psychologists.
award,” added Dr. Dean.
You can find out more about Dr. Mushquash’s work at https://www.christophermushquash.co m/. To learn more about the Best Practices in Psychology portal, visit https://www.mcgill.ca/psy/.
Dr. Christopher Mushquash is a Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Mental Health and Addiction, Professor at Lakehead University and NOSM University, Vice-President of Research at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre
very forward thinking. Providing tools and resources through this method will
The team and Dr. Mushquash truly are worthy recipients for this important
The CPA is a national association for the science, practice and education of psychology in Canada. This not-for profit organization is Canada’s largest professional association for psychology and has more than 7,000 members and affiliates. Each year, the CPA honours clinical psychologists who advance the understanding and amelioration of suffering and the promotion of psychological wellness with the Clinical Section Award for Clinical Excellence.
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THUNDER BAY BUSINESS JANUARY 2023
One lawyer’s New Year’s resolutions ©2023 Brian Babcock I seldom do New Year’s Resolutions. I fool myself into thinking I walk that talk every day. But my life needs positive change, and the publisher liked the idea for a topic. So here are ten resolutions, some personal, some legal, all shared with love and appreciation for my audience. 1 Embrace and take responsibility for positive change in my life. My life has changed and will continue to change. Fate has been my friend in the past. No longer. Time to take control. 2 Get back in a courtroom. My favourite thing may be one of the last
signs of recovery, but it is what I did best. I need to see if I still have that touch. 3 Hope that the Supreme Court fixes the mistakes made by the Court of Appeal in Restoule. Right relations
Legal Matters should include recognizing the fiduciary duty of the Crown to indigenous peoples. 4 Get out socially more often. I am not by nature a hermit. 5 Reconnect with old
friends and make new ones. Perhaps even find love. I seem to have lost that skill. 6 Be less cynical. Though not in my control, I should, for example, hope that the licensing of non-lawyers to do some family law tasks does not go horribly wrong. 7 Embrace joy. Music helps, whether vinyl, streaming, or live. 8 Pray for peace. 9 Be a good teacher at The Bora Laskin Faculty of Law. Pass along my experience, perhaps share some wisdom. Definitely tell some war stories. Prepare my students to be practicing lawyers, not just to study the law. 10 Remember always to be
kind to others, and to be generous, not so much in giving money, though I will do that, but generous with my time, my ideas, my support for good people and good causes. Thank you for reading my columns. I hope to continue not just for 2023, but into the future. I wish you all a better 2023 than 2022. I bring you a Happy New Year greeting on behalf of all the team at Weilers Law. If you need us in 2023, I hope that it is for a happy reason. But if not, remember that happiness may be just around the corner, and we are here to help you find it.
Exercise Aerobic By Scott Sumner Basically your health is a central factor of how you feel each day. Besides your mind and how you think, it is the next most important area of life. We hear so often the phrase "If you don't have your health what do you have." This is an extremely true
statement. You can have all the money you'd ever want but if your body is injured, or you constantly feel fatigued like a drained battery, it's impossible to find fun in life. In the last five years, I've invested countless hours thinking, reading, and obtaining help with my own health. One can assemble a great team of health consultants to address
basic requirements. There are many skilled professionals who can help you achieve optimal health. These can range from your family doctor, to personal trainers, to massage therapists, to certified dieticians and to physiotherapists. The list can go on depending on your circumstances, but these five would form a great start for anyone.
The overriding fact I learned in health is that even with all the help from people, there is only one person who can make a major difference in your personal health. YOU! You have to make it happen because no one will eat for you, or exercise for you or get the proper rest for you. They will assist you, but at the end of the day YOU! must do what has to be done. About five years ago I had a physiotherapist design a fitness program for me. He not only prescribed a personal exercise plan, but actually attended each session for 12 times to help me form the habit of wanting to do it. Fitness training always requires numerous sessions before the benefits and the results become measurable, and only then do you become self motivated to want to go yourself. Remember YOU are the only one who can exercise your body. A personal trainer can encourage but you control you muscles. Cardiovascular training occurs when your heart activity level gets into the TRAINING ZONE. What's that you ask? Its when your heart beats fast enough to make it as a muscle improve. At rest our heart doesn't have to work to it's full capacity. In essence it can coast, and when it coasts it doesn't improve. If you are doing something more strenuous your heart will pump harder, resulting in a capacity gain and a strength gain. You can tell whether you in the training zone by subtracting your age from 220 and then taking 60- 75 % of the level. Next measure your heart beats to determine whether your heart beat is in your training zone. For example, if you are 40 years old subtract 220 - 40 = 180. Take 60 to 75 of this or 108 to 135. Take your pulse at your wrist and measure the number of beats in 10 seconds and multiply by 6. If you count 20 x 6 or 120 you know you are in the training zone, and are getting great benefits for your heart and lungs. You are using 67% of your heart's capacity. So how do you get your heart rate up? Basically you have to get moving. My favorite exercise has always been the stairmaster. This program simulates stair climbing which you can make easier or harder depending on the resistance level on the machine. Also, the time duration is important. Standard thinking suggests that getting you heart beat elevated for at least 20 minutes for three times per week is a minimal level for cardio vascular fitness. My feel is if you could aim for 30 minutes, 4 times per week all the better. However, every person is different, and your current level of fitness has a big impact on this. Your body wants to be efficient and not carry extra fat or weight. This type of activity will let it operate the way it should and YOU WILL FEEL BETTER! www.scottsumner.com
THUNDER BAY BUSINESS JANUARY 2023
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A Frigid Fargo Full of Snocross ~ Every snowstorm is followed by a hard slap of a deep winter freeze. With heavy snow having fallen over the past several days around Fargo, it was only a matter of time before the hard freeze hit the area. On Sunday, the frigid conditions pushed forth in full force, making the sun-filled skies a
fallacy as riders dealt with frozen fingers and plumes of snow dust. That didn’t stop some of the most dominant snocross racers in the world today from stepping up their game on Sunday. A pair of defending champions overcame the conditions, and the competition as the first full weekend of racing this season concluded. Ishoel Leaves Fargo on High Note Winning racers can often point to a certain point in the race, or even a certain section of the racetrack that they knew was going to make or break their weekend. On Sunday, Elias Ishoel found a section of track that he was going to hang his hat on to pick up his first win of the season. From the start, it looked as if Kody Kamm was going to make it an opening weekend sweep. After winning the AMSOIL Dominator on Friday night and the opening round on Saturday, Kamm hit another
big hole shot on Sunday. He was just as smooth and fast as he had been all weekend, but a continuous surge by Ishoel kept him from three straight wins. Ishoel moved into second on the opening lap and was looking for an advantage. He found it around the halfway mark when he
picked up time on Kamm on the final back stretch. He consistently picked up time on Kamm on that stretch, eventually getting around the round one winner with just two laps to go. “Yesterday, I settled down for that second place early as Kamm was just going too fast,” said Ishoel. “I felt better today when I knew I could go through the whole final after yesterday. So today, when I was in second, I wanted to go up to the first place and I managed to do it.” It was a great opening weekend for Kamm, who proved his talent and riding style are still at a high level. He leaves Fargo with a big win and a second place finish and sits just behind Ishoel in the standings. Rounding out the podium was Daniel Benham, who put in a pair of solid rides in Fargo. Benham took control of the third and final podium spot on the opening lap
after he got around hole shot winner Logan Christian. Pro Lite Sweep for Lebel Jordan Lebel started the 2022 season with six straight wins. This new campaign is showing promise that streak could be challenged after the Ski-Doo rider put forth another dominant run on Sunday in Fargo. Lebel came off the start in line with Ryley Bester, who has found a formula for winning hole shots this season. But Lebel was able to get an edge on Bester and pushed ahead of the back for the weekend sweep. “The track was a little bit icy and kind of flat, so the lines weren't formed really well, at first,” said Lebel. “I just picked some lines early and then kept racing with those lines, and yeah, it went great.” Bester comfortably slotted in behind Lebel and looked a cinch to finish as the runnerup for the second day in a row. But Evan Christian found some late race speed and found the back end of Bester’s Polaris. Christian kept up heavy pressure, but a downed rider slowed his progression on the final lap, as Bester held a narrow edge
heading into the final turn, keeping his spot in second. Lieders Leads Pro Plus 30 for Weekend Sweep Andy Lieders continued his impressive run in the Pro Plus 30 class, winning for the fifth straight time and taking home the weekend sweep in Fargo. Lieders made it a clean weekend of racing by grabbing a clean start and utilizing the clean air out front to pull away from the field. Behind him, Adam S. Johnson kept him honest for the first half of the final, before Lieders was able to extend his lead. The last two laps saw Johnson get into a battle with defending class champion Devin Denman. Denman was able to make multiple passes into second, but Johnson charged through the final section and retook the runner-up spot with a final turn pass.
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THUNDER BAY BUSINESS JANUARY 2023