Made In Alberta Awards

2021

MA D E I N A L B E RTA AWA RD S .CA

T H E W I N N I N G P R O D U C T S I N 1 1 C AT E G O R I E S ALL MADE RIGHT HERE IN OUR PROVINCE

MARKET REPORT

STUDIO TOURS

Craft fairs and markets around Alberta to visit this fall

Inside the workspaces of some of this year’s winners

build it. brew it. bake it. buy it. bank on

made in alberta banking. connectfirstcu.com

it.

C ONT E N TS 29 38

36 2021

M AD E INALBE RTAAWARD S. CA

T H E W I N N I N G P R O D U C T S I N 1 1 C AT E G O R I E S ALL MADE RIGHT HERE IN OUR PROVINCE

MARKET REPORT

STUDIO TOURS

Craft fairs and markets around Alberta to visit this fall

Inside the workspaces of some of this year’s winners

ON THE COVER P H OTO G R A P H B Y JARED SYCH

Beverage Bombs, made in Edmonton, Non-alcoholic Drink Category and Overall Grand Prize winner of the 2021 Made in Alberta Awards.

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MadeInAlbertaAwards.ca 2021

9 THIS YEAR'S MADE-IN-ALBERTA AWARD WINNERS AND RUNNERS-UP The big reveal of the winners and runners-up in 11 award categories, as well as the overall winner for 2021 and the people’s champion, the Readers’ Choice winner.

By Tsering Asha, Karen Ashbee, Jazmine Canfield, Carmen Cheng, Colin Gallant, Nathan Kunz, Michaela Ream and Alana Willerton

26 HONOURABLE MENTIONS A roundup of some amazing products that landed just outside the winner’s circle.

By Carmen Cheng and Colin Gallant

29 WHERE THE MAGIC HAPPENS Peek inside the workspaces of some of this year’s Made In Alberta Award winners.

By Ado Nkemka

34 MEET THE JUDGES We couldn’t run an awards program without judges. Read about the impressive people whose expertise helped determine this year’s winners.

36 MARKET REPORT If you’re as excited as we are for the return of in-person maker and craft markets this fall, here are a bunch to add to your calendar.

By Michaela Ream

38 THE GREAT WEST SADDLERY COMPANY An Alberta heritage moment about the legendary harnessmaker and leather works.

By Michaela Ream

P H O T O G R A P H B Y J A R E D S Y C H , I L L U S T R AT I O N B Y J A R E T T S I T T E R

6 EDITOR’S NOTE

MADEforMEMORIES TAKE YOUR MUG ON YOUR NEXT

adventure FIND THESE COLLECTIBLE ADL MUGS IN STORE AND SNAP A PIC FOR A CHANCE TO WIN!* A WEEKEND GETAWAY

2020 • CANADIAN WHISKY AWARDS •

DISTILLERY OF THE DECADE

TO ENTER, POST YOUR PHOTO ON INSTAGRAM, FOLLOW AND TAG @ALBERTADISTILLERS, AND INCLUDE #ADL75 IN YOUR CAPTION

ADL75.CA NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Must be legal drinking age to participate. Void outside Quebec and where prohibited. One (1) Grand Prize available to be won. Approximate Grand Prize value $10,000.00 CAD. Mathematical Skill-Testing question required. Contest closes October 17, 2021. Full Contest details can be found at participating retail locations and ADL75.ca. ® of Alberta Distillers Limited Calgary, Canada.

MADE IN ALBERTA

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ike the products you’ll see in these pages, I am also “made in Alberta.”

My parents met and casually dated as students at the University of Alberta in Edmonton in the late 1960s. After graduation, both set off to tramp around Europe with their friends, as was the style of their time. A random encounter between the two groups of travellers led to a night out in Copenhagen, during which my parents rekindled the spark of their romance. Upon returning to Edmonton, where they both had gotten jobs in their fields — her in nursing, him in education — they picked things up again and married within six months.

Two-and-a-half years later, I came into the world at the University of Alberta Hospital, in the same obstetrics ward where my mother had, up to her maternity leave, been working. My parents took me home to their brand-new bi-level in St. Albert, a bedroom community of Edmonton, where they raised me and my two younger brothers.

Like my parents, I went on to do undergraduate

Shelley Arnusch Editor in Chief sarnusch@redpointmedia.ca

The third annual Made In Alberta Conference is happening October 13 and 14. For tickets, visit MadeInAlbertaAwards.ca/events studies at the U of A, then topped up that degree with a diploma in journalism from SAIT. Save for a three-year sojourn in B.C., I’ve built my career in magazines here in Calgary. As of this month, I’ve taken over the role of Avenue Editor in Chief from Käthe Lemon, who has since taken on the position of VP Product Development & Publishing for our parent company, RedPoint Media.

It was Lemon who conceived the Made in Alberta Awards program, acting on a hunch that Avenue readers would want to celebrate people throughout the province who put their heart and soul, and often

blood, sweat and tears, into making things. From food and beverage to fashion and furniture, we have sought to find and recognize high-quality items created and manufactured here in the province and tell the stories of the people behind them. The process of administering the awards, judging the entries (particularly the sweet food category, a much-desired judging post) and creating the images and stories about the winners and runners-up, serves as our tribute to the true grit, hard work, artistry and vision that Alberta makers exemplify.

For the first time in the three years of the awards we have created this, a special Made in Alberta issue, and have also expanded our online coverage at MadeInAlbertaAwards.ca. While you’ll find stories about this year’s winners and runners-up in the regular issue of Avenue, this special edition allows us extra room to showcase some honourable mentions.

It also gives us space to peek inside the studios of some of this year’s makers, as well as tell the story of the Great West Saddlery Co., a significant player in made-in-Alberta history.

Though Avenue is a Calgary-based and Calgaryfocused magazine, with the Made in Alberta Awards, presented in association with connectFirst and SAIT, we get to connect with Albertans in urban and rural areas further away. In a sense, it’s like going on a road trip without getting in the car. Because the best road trips aren’t just about driving, they’re about the beautiful and unique things you find and the beautiful and unique people you meet while you’re out on the road. We hope you enjoy coming along for the ride.

Some recipes are worth preserving.

We are Indigenous owned and operated. Kikawinaw is the result of generations of traditional Indigenous plant knowledge. Starting with a base of our grandmother’s home-brewed tea, brewed from plants, herbs and berries picked in the wild.

Kikawinaw—Cree for Mother Nature—is a delightful beverage created to preserve this memory. The simple ingredients and thoughtful combinations are rooted in nature with your joy in mind.

Kikawinaw Sparkling Gin Tea features a delicate tea blend of plants, herbs and wild berries, thoughtfully combined with Wildrose Gin and refreshing bubbles.

Best enjoyed cold and with friends.

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kikawinaw.ca

P H O T O G R A P H B Y H E AT H E R S A I T Z

EDITOR’S NOTE

Editor in Chief Shelley Arnusch, sarnusch@redpointmedia.ca Design Director Steve Collins, scollins@redpointmedia.ca Digital Editor Alana Willerton, awillerton@redpointmedia.ca Digital Engagement Editor Alyssa Quirico, aquirico@redpointmedia.ca Associate Editor Colin Gallant, cgallant@redpointmedia.ca RedPoint Media & Marketing Solutions 100, 1900 11 St. S.E. Calgary, Alberta T2G 3G2 Phone: 403-240-9055 Toll Free: 1-877-963-9333 x0 Fax: 403-240-9059 info@redpointmedia.ca AvenueCalgary.com Facebook: Avenue Magazine — Calgary Twitter: @AvenueMagazine Instagram: @AvenueMagazine

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Staff Photographer Jared Sych Contributing Editor Jennifer Hamilton Editorial Assistant Tsering Asha Editorial Intern Ado Nkemka Digital Engagement Intern Jazmine Canfield Graphic Design Intern Juwaan Luzny Contributors Karen Ashbee, Carmen Cheng, Nathan Kunz, Amber McLinden, Michaela Ream, Jarett Sitter Land Acknowledgement Advisors Elder Edmee Comstock, Elder Reg Crowshoe, Elder Rose Crowshoe

Just Because You're In Business FOR YOURSELF, Doesn't Mean You're In Business BY YOURSELF.

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We acknowledge the traditional territories and the value of the traditional and current oral practices of the Blackfoot Confederacy, the Tsuut’ina and Stoney Nakoda Nations, the Métis Nation (Region 3), and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.

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B Y T S E R I N G A S H A , K A R E N A S H B E E , J A Z M I N E C A N F I E L D , C A R M E N C H E N G , C O L I N G A L L A N T, N AT H A N K U N Z , M I C H A E L A R E A M A N D A L A N A W I L L E R TO N

2021 Across the province and over 11 categories, this year’s awards, presented in association with connectFirst and SAIT, highlight the best of a full range of locally made products. Whether you’re looking for something to eat, drink, or wear; something to give or something to enjoy for yourself; or if you’re looking to be inspired by stories of Alberta artisans — you’ll find it in the following pages.

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Beverage Bombs, this year’s Overall Grand Prize and Non-alcoholic Drink Category winner, make it easy to create intricate craft coffee and tea drinks at home.

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Made in Alberta Awards & Made in Alberta updated logos March 9 2020

NON-ALCOHOLIC

DRINK B E V E R AG E B O M B S Made in Edmonto n

$2.50 each for bulk orders, $18 to $20 for gift packages of six beveragebombs.com

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pours the mixture in a custom-made roductivity experts extoll depositing machine (made by Edmonthe creativity-boosting OVERALL ton’s Diamond Processing Solutions) virtues of taking a GRAND PRIZE to set. Myrna helps with labelbreak. Lee-Ann WINNER ling and Cali runs the booth at Old Callan could be Strathcona Farmers’ Market and helps exhibit A in proving them right. with social media.

Callan developed her innovative Callan does her best to source ingredients and delicious Beverage Bombs after a vacalocally. She gets some of her coffee from Tea & tion in Mexico. During the trip, fellow travellers Coffee Company in Edmonton and her teas from remarked that they loved the regional coffee concoctions but could never imagine replicating them other places in Canada.

Beverage Bombs launched shortly before at home. “It got me thinking that it shouldn’t be so pandemic restrictions were put in place in 2020. hard to make specialty drinks at home,” she says.

While Callan took a big revenue hit at first, the At the time, Callan was operating an Edible one upside is that the pandemic afforded her franchise in Kelowna. When she got back home, time to work with her mother and daughter when she got to work in her commercial kitchen, testeveryone was feeling the sting of isolation. “It ing different blends of tea, coffee and spices, as brought us a lot closer together, and maybe we well as how to meld different ingredients into a wouldn’t have spent that much time together if convenient tablet form. it wasn’t for what I do,” she says. Now revenue Her experiments resulted in the creation of is trending upwards, especially after Beverage Beverage Bombs — rose-shaped, condensed Bombs was included in the Make It Box, a cu“bombs” that look like candies. Simply put one rated product box that ships across Canada. in a brew bag, tea-diffuser basket or French Currently, Callan is rolling out Beverage press, pour in boiling water or milk, let the bomb Bombs into Sobeys and Safeway locations across dissolve and enjoy. Beverage Bombs can also be the province, renting a space to build up to a served on ice or used for cocktails, such as white sangria made with the peach apricot tea bomb, or larger kitchen and, perhaps, even looking to expand her team. That said, she’s focused on a mojito “teazer” made with the strawberry-mint not becoming a victim of her own early success. herbal tea bomb. A few of Callan’s most popular “I’m trying to ramp up production to stockpile flavours include Caramel Macchiato, Mocha product before the full Sobeys rollout because I’m Milano, London Fog and Firefly Chai. She plans at other retailers, too,” she says. “I want to control to roll out a maple-coffee flavour soon. how busy it gets because the worst thing I could Callan eventually gave up her Edible franchise do is go into all these stores, then they want all and moved back to Edmonton, where she now this product, and I can’t supply.” operates a commercial kitchen from her home.

She has also been preparing for a major rush She works with her daughter Cali and 80-year-old during the holiday shopping season. If you’re mother, Myrna. Callan does most of the produclooking for a delicious gift in a beautiful package, tion herself: she hand-grinds the spices, mixes don’t hesitate to place an order. —C.G. and heats all the ingredients in a pot and then

RUNNERS-UP FRESH NUT MYLKS BY BOHOMYLK Made in Calgary $10 bohomylk.com Created by a personal chef and a nutritionist, Bohomylk uses organic and locally sourced ingredients whenever possible for its nut milks. Because the ingredients come from sustainable farms, the nut milks are unbelievably creamy and bursting with flavours like matcha, vanilla, chocolate and raspberry.

CRAFT KOMBUCHA BY MOBU Made in Edmonton $6 instagram.com/mobucraftkombucha This family-owned company makes small-batch kombucha brewed with black, green and white teas. The drinks have all the perks of kombucha you expect — digestive enzymes, probiotics, antioxidants — in an array of flavours.

Judges particularly loved the raspberry citrus ginger and mango.

PARCH HERBAL TEA BY PARCH Made in Calgary $5.25 parchtea.com Sisters Candy and Joyce Lam created this bottled Chinese herbal tea product as a nod to their family and heritage. Shelfstable and made without preservatives, Parch teas are based on their mother’s recipe for leung cha, a cooling tea that pairs well with spicy fried food. Try it in original or cranberry, on ice.

PREMIUM ALCOHOL-FREE SPIRITS

BY SEXY AF Made in Calgary $20 TO $40 sexyafspirits.com A locally made option for the sober curious, Sexy AF Spirits offers six alcoholfree spirits based on gin, whisky, rum, Aperol, Amaro and Triple Sec. Founder Jo-Anne Reynolds developed the line after attending a girls’ trip with limited non-alcoholic options. —C.G. MadeInAlbertaAwards.ca 2021

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ade in Alberta Awards & Made in Alberta dated logos March 9 2020

S AV O U R Y

FOOD

ORGANIC SOURDOUGH WITH WHOLE W H E AT BY S I D E WA L K C I T I Z E N B A K E RY Made in Calgary $6.56 sidewalkcitizenbakery.com

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source local ingredients such as red fife flour hen Aviv Fried immigrated to from Highwood Crossing and all-purpose Calgary from Israel, his flour from Grainworks. search for a good loaf of bread eventually led Each loaf takes three days to produce, WINNER him to learn the craft of artisanal baking. allowing the dough to go through a cold Sidewalk Citizen started with Fried selling fermentation process to develop its robust and delivering his sourdough loaves by bike. flavour before being hand-shaped, proofed Thirteen years later, Fried and co-owner Michal and then baked.

Lavi have grown Sidewalk Citizen into a bakery/ “We have worked, reworked and tested our deli/restaurant business with almost 50 employees recipe numerous times to finally get to a satisfyand three locations offering their signature breads, ing flavour and crust-to-crumb ratio,” says Lavi. pastries and dishes inspired by Israeli street foods.

“We love what we do, we love bread and have Sidewalk Citizen’s sourdough has become a staple been very fortunate to have loyal customers who for many Calgarians, beloved for its complex taste have made our sourdough a part of their routine. and the textural contrast between the crispy crust Its always exciting and deeply satisfying to see and soft crumb. Fried’s 13-year-old sourdough returning customers and especially kids that grew up on our bread and still like it.” —C.C. starter is a key component of the bread. Sidewalk Citizen also works with suppliers in Alberta to 12

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RUNNERS-UP Alchemist Honey Blackened Garlic Vinegar by Tippa Made in Okotoks $16 FOR 500 ML tippadistillery.square.site This vinegar is made from Alberta wildflower honey and garlic. Each bottle takes two months to make. The locally grown blackened garlic imparts a deep flavour, and the honey balances the vinegar with a touch of sweetness.

Try it in salad dressings, marinades and even cocktails.

Cultured Cashew Cheese

by Truffula Made in Edmonton $14 TO 15 FOR 115 GRAMS truffula.ca Our judges were won over by the delicious flavour of this cultured cashew cheese, which is also nutritious and dairy-free. Available in Dreamy Dill, White Truffle, Cracked Peppercorn and Smoked Pimentón, it’s great on a bagel or served with charcuterie.

Amazing Dad’s BBQ Sauce

by Honey Bunny Made in Guy $7 FOR 500 ML peaceriverhoney.co Honey is listed as the second ingredient in this barbecue sauce and the flavour is prominent. Produced by a family-owned apiary, this Alberta honey condiment is great brushed on grilled ribs.

The pouch packaging also makes it convenient to pack this sauce for camping trips or picnics. —C.C.

BEAUTY L OV E B O DY P O T I O N

BY T H E P O T I O N M A S T E R S Made in Calgary $60 thepotionmasters.com

RUNNERS-UP Natural Radiance Face Serum - Squalane and Moringa by Ellie Bianca Made in Calgary $90 elliebianca.com The latest product from Ellie Bianca harnesses powerful natural ingredients: moringa, often called “the miracle tree” for its variety of wellness applications, is rich in vitamins and proteins purported to help treat and prevent illness; and squalane, an emollient and antioxidant that mimics natural skin oils.

Tea Tree & Grapefruit Hydrating Shampoo Bar

by Oh My Garden!

Made in Calgary $17 ohmygarden.co This shampoo bar helps you feel beautiful and reduce your plastic consumption at the same time. Each 70-gram bar is equivalent to about 750 millilitres of shampoo. The bars are pH-balanced, vegan, sulfate-free and safe to use on coloured hair.

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the range that is packaged in plastic to allow he Potions Masters make each of for use in the tub, however, the packaging is their potions by first setting an made from 100 per cent post-consumer intention for use — and when WINNER materials and is recyclable. they make the Love Body Potion, The Love Body Potion was meant to they listen to R&B. “You have to have a Love debut along with The Potion Masters’ launch, Potion when you have a line of potions,” says but Daniels, a perfectionist, spent about an extra creator Sylvan Daniels, who runs the company with year tweaking the formula. After hundreds of test her mother. batches, she finally found the right mix. The woodsy, They call the product a “potion” because it’s floral and fresh scent includes notes of rose, sandalnot a perfume, a serum or a moisturizer — it’s wood, cardamom, bergamot and more. all three. The potion can be used as an in-shower “When I came up with what ended up being the moisturizer, as a bath oil, as a shaving serum, as a final blend, it was something I had never smelled massage oil, as a hand cream or even on hair. before,” she says. “I put my wrist up to my husband’s Daniels says because the product is water-free, nose and he just grabbed my arm and wouldn’t let all-natural and rich in ceramides, you only need go.” Other scents by The Potion Masters include to use a small amount to see big results. The Love Paradise, Joy and Energy. —C.G. Body Potion is the only Potion Masters product in

Honey Bath Soak by My Daughter Fragrances Made in Wolf Creek $40 mydaughterfragrance.com My Daughter Fragrances puts Alberta’s top-tier honey to good use in this luxurious, soothing bath soak. The soak transforms bath water into a soothing, milky concoction with its base of Rocky Mountain Honey, and lemon, bilberry and maple sugar extracts. —C.G.

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FASHION

AND ACCESSORIES C U S T O M P O R T R A I T D I A M O N D L OV E R ’ S E Y E R I N G BY K E LT Y P E L E C H Y T I K Ma de in Edmonton $2,400 to $25,000 keltypelechytik.com

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will have their Lover’s Eye for many years he Lover’s Eye ring is jewelto come. Other than the painting, each elelery maker Kelty Pelechytik’s “show-stopping piece.” The ment of these custom rings is handmade WINNER crown jewel of Pelechytik’s in Edmonton. collection blends her love of a Everything from the painting, the colour and historical art form — miniature paintings — carat of the gold and the size of the portrait with her personal passion for handmade jewellery. diamond (a portrait diamond is flat like a mirror), is the client’s choosing. The process to create one of According to Pelechytik, secret lovers in the the rings can take months.

19th century would wear rings, necklaces and brooches that had a tiny painting of their beAll of the diamonds are ethically sourced, but loved’s eye set under a multi-faceted gem. No one Pelechytik can also make the Lover’s Eye ring would be able to see the painted eye except the without a diamond, which she says is one way person wearing it. that she can make her jewellery more affordable, Pelechytik works with a professional miniaand therefore accessible to more clients. ture-design artist based in Australia who paints “It’s kind of been my dream piece,” Pelechytik each eye using Limoges enamel, a long-lasting says. —T.A. and waterproof enamel that ensures her clients 14

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RUNNERS-UP Children’s Hair Accessories by delphinette Made in Calgary $7.95 TO $16 etsy.com/ca/shop/ thedelphinette Angela Tulio handmakes her colourful and charming children’s hair accessories in collaboration with her four-year-old daughter using things like felt and glitter.

Select designs include the strawberry flower, baby strawberry, peapod hair clip and sparkly clips.

Wool Blanket Coat by Janine’s Custom Creations Made in Calgary PRICES VARY designs-by-janine.ca Janine’s Custom Creations regularly designs clothes for the Stampede Royalty and the First Nations Princess.

For 35 years, Janine Stabner has been making one-of-akind pieces from leather, fur, Pendleton blankets and other fabrics. The wool blanket coats are distinctly Albertan, combining style and function.

Lolli Leggings

by Buttercream Clothing Made in Calgary $88 buttercreamclothing.com Not only are Buttercream Clothing’s Lolli Leggings stylish and comfortable, they’re an ethical product.

The brand is size inclusive, with leggings available in XS to 4X, made with a blend of polyester and spandex. Each pair is made-to-order, a slowfashion practice that reduces waste. —C.G.

UNIQUE K I D O O D L E .T V BY A PA R E N T M E D I A C O . I N C .

Made in Calgary Up to $4.99 per month kidoodle.tv

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it goes live on the platform. That’s right, A Parent idoodle.TV is a local company that Media Co. Inc. employs actual grandparents offers content streaming for to watch every single episode, advertisement kids and families. The Calgaryand commercial before it airs. based tech startup features WINNER more than 25,000 episodes of entertainWhile a lot has changed in almost a ing and educational shows available in over decade since the company was founded, 160 countries and territories worldwide.

Gruninger says he believes having real As of 2020, the company is also producing content people screen kid-friendly content has become through Kidoodle.TV Originals. even more valuable during the pandemic, as most kids’ screen time has increased. “Parents, espeCo-founder Neil Gruninger came up with the cially through COVID, have recognized … that idea for Kidoodle.TV after noticing how easy it open platforms [like YouTube] are a very dangerwas for his nieces and nephews, and specifically ous place for their kids,” says Gruninger. co-founder Michael Lowe’s son, to access inapThis is particularly true for the growing client propriate shows and advertisements when algobase of millennial parents — a generation of rithms didn’t filter for age-appropriate content. people raised by the good, bad and ugly of the What sets Kidoodle.TV apart from other kidInternet, who really want to protect their kids friendly streaming options is its Safe Streaming from the bad and ugly. —T.A. guarantee — real humans screen all content before

RUNNERS-UP Premium Earthworm Castings by Annelida Organics Made in Stony Plain and Nisku $14 TO $65 annelida.ca Worm castings (also called vermicastings) are a natural byproduct of worm digestion and a hyper-nutritious garden fertilizer.

Annelida Organics offers them in three all-natural forms: Premium Liquid Extract (dry castings and water), Pet Spot + (castings plus biochar and grass seed) and SuperSoil Enricher (castings plus five other natural ingredients).

Jem Pipes

by Jewelnotes Glassworks Made in Calgary $100 TO $150 jewelnotes.ca Most glass pipes are hollow but this stylish model by Made in Alberta Awards alum Michelle Atkinson is made from a solid piece of cast glass. The kiln-fired pieces have a heft and durability that seems unlikely from a glass product. End-to-end, it takes Atkinson about five days to make one slab, which is then cut into seven pipes.

Bala-Calfa - The Bovine Balaclava by Bala-Calfa Made in Eckville $22 balacalfa.ca Calves born in winter are prone to frozen ears, which is both painful for them and reduces their market value.

Bala-Calfa saw a gap in the market and created these waterproof neoprene hoods. Our judges felt it was important to note that they’re also super cute. —C.G.

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FURNISHINGS AND HOME DECOR PERFORMING STOOL

BY N AT U R A L C O L L E C T I O N Made in Calgary $2,560 naturalcollectionstands.com

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functional and yet beautiful. But there was art-time musician and fullnothing out there. In most cases people time woodworker Caleb Blake will sit on whatever’s handy.” launched Natural Collection WINNER Fashioned from walnut and ash in 2019 in response to what he hardwood with cork fabric guitar protectors saw as an underserved market in the area of on the stand, every piece of the performing stylish and functional options for displaystool is handcrafted for a sinuous architectural feel. ing musical instruments. With ample experience in woodworking and an eye for design, Blake has spent Featuring a sculpted seat, lower lumbar back supthe last 15 years making custom creations, including port, and a cross member to support your foot, the stand is available in 26- and 29-inch options. a stool for himself that would prove the inspiration Designed specifically for the guitar, it also can for the Natural Collection performing stool.

Natural Collection is a line of high-end instru- accommodate a variety of other stringed instruments, such as the banjo. And even if you don’t ment display stands, and its performing stool play guitar, this integrated instrument stand is a incorporates both a space to play and a space beautiful objet in any space. to display an instrument not in use. “I wanted “It’s much more than just a guitar stand,” says something that was a fusion of fine furniture and Blake. “It’s a piece of art.” —K.A. music,” says Blake. “Something that was both 16

MadeInAlbertaAwards.ca 2021

RUNNERS-UP Logan & Cove Luxury Hybrid Pillow-Top Mattress by GoodMorning.com Made in Edmonton $799 TO $1,149 goodmorning.com While there are several online “bed in a box” mattress companies, Edmonton’s GoodMorning.com is one of the first to offer a hybrid mattress combining memory foam with pocket coils.

The Logan & Cove features breathable temperatureregulating silk and is available in two comfort levels.

Scented and Crystal-infused Soy Candles by Camp Four Made in Banff $29 TO $34 megjones.cargo.site/ camp-four Inspired by the Rocky Mountains and the Bow Valley, Camp Four candles are made of 100-per cent soy wax and essential oils. Some have a distinctive crystal invoking a specific energy: blue calcite for calming, black tourmaline for grounding and rose quartz for self-love.

Upcycled Chopstick Home Decor by ChopValue YYC Made in Calgary $17 TO $472 chopvalue.ca Making items entirely from recycled bamboo chopsticks, this Calgary company turns everyday items into sophisticated and useful objects as part of a circular economy. Products include workstations, cutting boards and hexagonal wall shelving.

— K.A.

GAMES

AND LEISURE STUMPCRAFT PUZZLES

BY S T U M P C R A F T Made in Calgary $59 to $239 stumpcraft.com

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believes that the puzzles create a fun and asen Robillard, founder of Stumpinteractive appreciation of Canadian art.

Craft Puzzles, loves wooden WINNER StumpCraft puzzles are not like any puzzles. When he couldn’t other. The pieces are whimsically shaped find anywhere to buy them in and often include things that relate in Canada, he decided to create his own. some way to the image on the puzzle — Robillard also thought up a more interesting way of creating the puzzles. “The traditional for example a puzzle with an image of the Alberta badlands features pieces shaped like dinosaurs puzzles are typically grid cut, meaning that they’re and archeologists. Part of the fun is identifying typically square pieces with a hole or knot, and what I like to do is just kind of throw all that out the the various shapes.

Each piece is made with a laser cutter and each window and make pieces that would traditionally cutline is intentionally designed to enhance the not be viewed as puzzle pieces,” he says. puzzling experience. StumpCraft uses premium “I’m trying to expand people’s minds in terms of wood and top-of-the-line printing technology so what can be made into a puzzle.” interacting with the pieces, exploring the different StumpCraft products showcase Canadian fine shapes and feeling the pieces themselves adds art. Robillard works in collaboration with artists across Canada, as well as artists’ estates, museums an extra layer to the joy of putting these puzzles together. —J.C. and art galleries that focus on Canadian fine art to select artwork to feature on the puzzles. He

RUNNERS-UP Custom-made Titanium Bicycles by RollingDale Cycles Inc. Made in Edmonton $6,500 TO $10,000+ rdcycle.com Each of these titanium-framed bicycles is built by hand and made to last multiple generations, but can also be recycled when no longer in use. Rollingdale can cater to each customer’s needs, whether it be for a mountain bike, road bike or a backcountry “bikepacking” bike.

Escape Mail

by Mobile Escape Made in Calgary $13 TO $132 mobileescape.ca Escape Mail is an escape room in an envelope that gets mailed out to you. Escape Mail games take you through various puzzles that follow a gripping storyline, with multimedia elements. Customers can become monthly subscribers, play single episodes or buy bundle deals.

Stealth Gaming Chair

by LF Gaming Made in Calgary $1,395 TO $1,595 lfgaming.com This chair was designed for long hours of gamer enjoyment. It is hand-built using Greenguard-certified Brisa Ultrafabrics with ThermaGuard technology that help reduce heat. The chairs have memory foam for comfort and offer customized colour choices. —J.C.

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AMY W ILL I E R AWA R D FOR INDIGENOUS ARTISANS M E T I S B E A D I N G BY W I L L OW R O S E B E A D S Ma de in Spruce Grove $40 to $150 @willowrosebeads

This new category honours the memory of Amy Willier — co-owner of Moonstone Creation, Indigenous Knowledge Keeper and artist — who passed away earlier this year. We are honoured to continue Willier’s legacy of promoting Indigenous makers with this award.

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sources her beading materials from other hen Jocelyn Lamothe first Indigenous-owned businesses and artists started beading in 2017, she from Canada. immediately felt a conWINNER nection to the heritage of As her beading skill and collection the practice. But she never imagined how grew, Lamothe decided to turn her work important her beading practice would come into a business and began Willow Rose to be in her life. “I found the practice of beading to Beads at the start of 2021. Now Lamothe sells her be relaxing and, because of that, also healing,” says pieces online, through Instagram, at markets and Lamothe. “It quickly became a beautiful doorway through word of mouth. Each piece celebrates into learning family stories and history as I talked floral elements, but is otherwise unique. with aunties and new friends in beading circles.”

While each piece has become a favourite in its Metis beading is a traditional artform recognizown way, it’s still her very first piece, which she gave able by its colourful and floral designs. The beading away, that left its founding mark. “[It is] special in a method uses glass beads applied to traditional way that no other piece is. I continue to learn with clothing, hides or cloth. Lamothe notes that each of each piece, but that first project holds the memory her pieces helps celebrate and share her culture. To of my first beading circle, teachings and the inspiragive back the same support she received, Lamothe tion to continue,” she says. —M.R.

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RUNNERS-UP Tufted and Beaded Cuff

By Carmen Miller, Métis Artisan Made in Hinton $550 carmenmillerart.com Miller’s tufted and beaded cuffs are slow fashion in the best sense. Miller begins the process by designing the beadwork, then tufting, and finally finishing each cuff with a beaded edge and drawstring antler button. Each cuff is one-of-a-kind and, Miller hopes, will be passed down as a family heirloom.

Cree Coffee

By Cree Coffee Co Made in Maskwacis $15 TO $20 Currently the only Indigenous coffee roaster in Western Canada, Cree Coffee Co sources its green beans from Indigenous groups in five South American countries.

Each cup is an expression of connection, love and art reflected in each bold sip.

Sparkling Gin Tea

By Kikawinaw Made in Nisku (at Rig Hand Distillery) $16/PACK OF FOUR kikawinaw.ca This refreshing home-brewed tea is infused with flavours of blueberries, rosehips and Wildrose gin, then sweetened with all-natural Alberta birch syrup. With just five per cent alcohol (and just 50 calories per can), it’s the perfect weekend drink. —M.R.

READERS’ CH O I C E BUY AWARD-WINNING LOCAL

C O C O N U T S OY C A N D L E S

BY M I L K J A R C A N D L E S

Made in Alberta Markets

Made in Calgary $27 to $36 milkjar.ca

BOW VALLEY SQUARE OCTOBER 20 CENTENNIAL PLACE OCTOBER 21

More than 5,000 readers voted online at MadeInAlbertaAwards.ca to select the winner and runner-up in this popular category.

WINNER

Enter the 2022

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ilk Jar Candles has amassed a loyal following, and for good reason. Its coconut soy candles burn cleanly for up to 60 hours, filling rooms with fragrances such as French Laundry, Lemonade and Citrus. Another reason to feel good as the wooden wicks crackle: $1 from each sale goes to a youth not-for-profit, such as Between Friends and CADS Calgary. —N.K.

RUNNER-UP Colouring Books by Colouring It Forward Made in Calgary $25 colouringitforward.com Colouring It Forward colouring books venture beyond the established lines.

Since 2016, founder Diana Frost has

collaborated with Indigenous artists and Elders from Blackfoot, Cree, Dene and Ojibway Nations to create unique books of beautifully illustrated colouring pages accompanied by related stories and teachings. The fun activity books create meaningful connections to Indigenous cultures. — N.K.

ENTRIES OPEN

November 1

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ALCOHOLIC

RUNNERS-UP

DRINK

S A LT E D C A R A M E L C R E A M L I Q U E U R

BY H A N S E N D I S T I L L E RY Made in Edmonton $35 to $40 hansendistillery.com

Beerfest in a Box by Alberta Beer Festivals Made throughout Alberta $30 TO $33 albertabeerfestivals.com While most beer variety packs showcase one specific brewery, Alberta Beer Festivals’ shows how different breweries approach a particular style with offerings such as “Sour Power” and “Iconic IPAs.” The approach exemplifies the craft brewing spirit of collaboration.

Each box has eight different beers and is sold at stores throughout Alberta. Stay tuned for an upcoming subscription-based delivery service through beerfestinabox.com.

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Unlike some salted caramel products, this fter its first batch sold out almost liqueur strikes just the right blend of salty and instantly, Hansen Distillery co-owner WINNER sweet. The distillery cooks its own caramel inShayna Hansen thought she was house using real cream and other natural ingreprepared for the second drop of Salted dients. The liqueur is wonderful poured over ice, Caramel Cream Liqueur. Approximately 1,000 or in coffee or tea. It can also be used for making bottles went on sale at noon that day. “The phone desserts: Hansen says customers have shared stories of was going insane. One lady called in and said, ‘well, it says making whipped cream and frosting out of it, adding it it’s out of stock.’ It was a couple minutes after twelve.”

Hansen received hundreds of emails and discovered a to cheesecake and drizzling it over apple pie.

With so many cream liqueurs out there, what exactly block-long line outside of the distillery’s doors. A while makes this one so special? “You can taste the love and later, someone emailed to say he had slipped and fallen extra time we put in it —and the real ingredients,” says in the distillery’s snowy parking lot but that every sip of Hansen. —C.G. the liqueur he purchased that day made it worthwhile.

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Drinksmith Collection by Cocktail Concierge Made in Calgary $50 cocktailconcierge.com Cocktail Concierge makes elevated, bottled cocktails at Bridgeland Distillery, blending spices and botanicals with Bridgeland spirits and resting them in oak barrels. Offerings include twists on classics like the Smoked Walnut Old Fashioned, Wild Rose Vesper, Chai Negroni, Paper Plane, Agave Old Fashioned and Cacao Boulevardier.

Sparkling Gin Tea

by Kikawinaw Made in Nisku $16 PER FOUR-PACK kikawinaw.ca Made at Rig Hand Distillery

by Kelly Armstrong, this lightly carbonated cocktail pairs a family tea recipe with Alberta-grown natural ingredients. Low in calories and high in flavour this is refreshment personified with a can design that references Armstrong’s Metis heritage in a modern style.

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Wild Rose Petal Rhodomel

by Stolen Harvest Meadery Made in Grovedale $38 stolenharvest.com What could be more Albertan than a honey-based wine made with wild rose petals?

Using raw honey and locally sourced natural ingredients (many of them wild-harvested), this rhodomel ferments exactly like wine. The result is a sweet-but-subtle mead that stands out from the pack.

Hi Cutie! Mint Raspberry Wheat Ale by Born Colorado Brewing Made in Calgary $16 TO 18 PER FOUR-PACK, $4.50 PER CAN borncoloradobrewing.com Hi Cutie!’s measured blend of mint, raspberry and wheat flavours cries out to be enjoyed on a warm day.

Though it’s packed with fresh flavour, you never forget that you’re drinking beer. This one gets bonus points for its irresistible branding — you can even buy a Hi Cutie! baby onesie. —C.G.

Proud to be

Made in Alberta cheesecakecafe.ca

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SWEET

FOOD WA F F L E P U C K S BY C O O K I E C R U M B S Ma d e i n Ed mo nto n

$4 to $5 each cookiecrumbs.ca

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WINNER

affle Pucks are filled-cookie treats that bring together food traditions from the backgrounds of husband-and-wife team John and Agnes Osborne. The crust for the Waffle Pucks is a waffle-cookie-shortbread hybrid, based on a shortbread recipe passed down through generations of John’s Scottish family. The couple was also inspired by the filled pastry treats from Agnes’ Asian heritage such as Japanese obanayaki and Chinese mooncakes. By filling the shortbread crusts

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with sweet dessert fillings, they created individual treats that resemble pucks — the product name acknowledges this and is a nod to the couple’s shared love of hockey.

The Osbornes started Cookie Crumbs as a home-based business in 2016 and they now sell their goods at three Edmonton farmer’s markets: Bountiful Farmers’ Market, Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market and the Edmonton Downtown Farmers Market.

“Our Waffle Pucks’ popularity has come from

a loyal following of customers, who have told us that they love the shortbread and the variety of fillings inspired by ingredients from different cultures,” says Agnes. “It’s a highly craveable treat.”

Customers can choose from a range of fillings, including apple pie, salted caramel, matcha cream, chocolate ganache, ube halaya and Japanese cheesecake — a not-too-sweet option that is a customer favourite. Cookie Crumbs also makes Waffle Pucks in gluten-free, vegan and keto-friendly versions. —C.C.

RUNNERS-UP Haskap Jam by Preserved Made in Bragg Creek and Strathmore $8.75 TO $9.50 preservedyyc.com Preserved’s “save the season” philosophy ensures the beauty of locally grown ingredients is preserved at its peak. Inspired by berry bushes buzzing with bees, this jam uses tart Alberta haskap berries from Rosy Farms and Eastern Slopes Honey to add a floral sweetness for balance.

Jams by Black Sheep Made in Calgary $9 TO $13 black-sheep.ca At Black Sheep bakery it’s easy to be captivated by the flaky croissants and gorgeous French pastries. But don’t overlook the jam! Black Sheep’s micro-batches of jam, made with reduced sugar to let the seasonal fruit flavours shine through, fill the bakery’s signature croissants, but the jam is also available in jars to take home.

Black Sheep uses agar, giving the jam a unique texture that makes it more set than most pectin jams.

Totally Awesome Cookie Mix by Confetti Sweets Made in Sherwood Park $10 confettisweets.ca The soft, chewy cookies from Confetti Sweets have a strong fan base. With its cookie mix, the Confetti team hopes even more people will enjoy their cookies fresh out of the oven.

The cookie mix is available in four flavours — chocolate chunk, coconut, oatmeal chocolate chunk and sugar cookie — at grocers around the province.

Moments Dessert Cakes

by Judy G Foods Inc. Made in Calgary $8 judygfoods.com These decadent cakes are made with nourishing superfood ingredients such as matcha, turmeric and lucuma. Judy G Foods also developed an innovative fava bean flour for its gluten-free, plant-based flour blend, which makes the Moments Dessert Cakes delightfully moist and airy. The cakes are ready to enjoy from frozen in just seconds.

Savoury Trio by MOB Honey Made in Calgary $37 FOR THREE 4 OZ. JARS mobhoney.com This trio of small-batch Alberta raw honey includes sweet, earthy and salty profiles, making it a wonderful match for charcuterie and cheeses.

The bundle includes truffle honey, applewood-smoked honey and a delightfully unique umami honey made with fermented black garlic from Millarville’s Forage & Farm. —C.C.

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CRAFT GOLD WHISKY TUMBLER

BY Q U I N S P I R E D C E R A M I C S Made in Calgary $150 quinspired.com

RUNNERS-UP Camp Mug Collection

by The Creative Traveller Made in Jasper $115 thecreativetraveller.com Inspired by her surroundings, artist and graphic designer Celina Frisson captures the beauty of Jasper’s majestic mountain landscape in her Camp Mug Collection. Each clay mug is handmade over a weeks-long process, during which Frisson hand carves and paints mountain peaks, imposing trees and deep blue lakes onto them.

Handmade Dolls by French Maiden Creations Made in Legal $15 TO $140 etsy.com/ca/shop/ frenchmaiden French Maiden Creations handmakes its fabric dolls each step of the way, from designing the pattern to painting the dolls with fabric paint. The dolls come in a wide range of unique, whimsical characters, ranging from acorn people to racoon, crocodile and elephant bandits.

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dons a gas mask for the most difficult part, raditionally, whisky is served in a which involves carefully hand-painting clear glass to showcase the spirit’s liquid gold evenly along the rim and scent and rich, amber colour.

WINNER inside of the tumbler. “It’s super tricky to But Quin Cheung, the talented get it right,” Cheung says. “It is a little bit Calgary ceramicist behind Quinspired of a labour of love, but worth it in the end.”

Ceramics, wondered if there was a way It’s hard to argue with that assessment. When to emulate that same drinking experience with a whisky is poured into the tumbler, reflections of ceramic tumbler. its amber, orange and yellow hues flicker against After exploring the idea for around a year, she the gold interior, turning a simple drink into a debuted her gold whisky tumblers in late 2020. dazzling, multi-sensory experience.

They’ve been selling out quickly ever since. The “Whatever ceramic piece I have out there, I wheel-thrown tumbler’s raw, dark-clay exterior offers a striking contrast to the bright, glazed gold hope that when people use it, it’s something more than just a plain vessel,” Cheung says. “It can inlay interior. The tumblers sit at an angle, allowbring beauty, and it can bring joy, and it can just ing your eyes and nose to take in the drink. bring a new experience to whatever you’re eating Cheung makes the tumblers using a meticulous process that can take several weeks. She even or whatever you’re drinking.” —A.W. 24

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Woolen Animals

by Pine & Ivy Made in Didsbury $70 TO $250 pineandivy.shop Chelsea McLaughlin transforms pieces of wool into animal sculptures using a needle-felting process. She brings critters like highland cows, reindeer and field mice to life with expressive faces, big eyes and fun details like crocheted scarves. The animals sit on wooden slabs that make them easy to display. —A.W.

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HONOURABLE MENTIONS Several categories had so many amazing entries that we just couldn’t not mention them.

Lightly Hopped Sparkling Water

by Original Four Zero Three Made in Calgary $3 TO $14 original403.com Original Four Zero Three Lightly Hopped Sparkling Water seems to invent its own category of beverage. This alcohol-free drink combines carbonated water with the flavours of hops, raspberry and lime for a refreshing and satisfying drink. While the hops make it evocative of beer, the light and easy-drinking flavour will also appeal to non-beer drinkers. Enjoy it chilled on its own or create an alcoholic version with a shot of gin, vodka or tequila. —M.R.

Botanical Perfume Rollerball

by Evocatif Natural Perfume Made in Calgary $65 FOR 5 ML, $120 FOR 10 ML evocatifperfume.com Evocatif Perfume creates botanical perfumes that everyone can enjoy, thanks to the use of safe and gentle scents. Each perfume harmoniously blends natural ingredients like the “First Light” fragrance, which includes Champagne, oranges and grapefruit to create “sunshine in a bottle.” Try the perfumes alone or blend them for a unique new scent. —M.R.

Peppermint Blend

by Sarjesa Made in Calgary $8.99 sarjesa.com A deceptively simple combination of sage, rose and Albertan peppermint, this herbal tea blend from Sarjesa is both complex and comforting. It’s delicious served hot or iced. Sarjesa developed the blend in-house and worked with a Calgary designer on the packaging for the bagged tea. Twenty per cent of profits go to support violence prevention programs for women in crisis. —C.G.

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#PrairiePride

by Tool Shed Brewing Company Made in Calgary $16.50 PER FOUR-PACK toolshedbrewing.com We couldn’t not acknowledge this one. All four main ingredients are grown in the province: malted barley from Antler Valley Farms, malted wheat from Alberta Canada Malting and Red Shed Malting, yeast harvested by Tool Shed staff and hops from Water Valley Hops.

It’s the most Albertan beer of the year, and it tastes great, too! —C.G

Double-sided Cashmere Coats

by Onna Boutique Made in Calgary $275 TO $850 onnaboutique.com Onna Boutique’s wool and cashmere outerwear garments are inspired by Alberta’s natural landscape — the whites and blues of the mountains and the spectrum of brilliant colours found during autumn. The coats are nearly entirely hand-stitched by immigrant women seamstress employees.

Details like sewn-on dyed wool and felted graphics make the coats stand out all the more. —C.G.

Socks by Plainsbreaker Apparel Made in Calgary $12 TO $15 plainsbreakerapparel.com Plainsbreaker Apparel saw a gap in the market for affordable, locally made, quality fashionable socks and decided to do something about it. In 2020 alone, the company made 31,000 pairs. Each pair has a fashionable print and reinforced toe and heel for durability and is made from ethically sourced cotton, nylon and elastic materials. —C.G.

Hot Sauces by Hungry Volcano Made in Calgary $9 TO $20 hungryvolcano.com This line of small-batch hot sauces has three variations. The Kick ’Em Jenny is a garlicky medium-level hot sauce. The tamarind-forward Baratangy packs a fiery punch from habanero peppers. And the Piping Piparo is made with Caribbean scorpion peppers and Scotch bonnet peppers, and should only be consumed by the most adventurous of heat seekers. Consider yourself warned! —C.C.

Tea Blends by Tender Living Farm Made in Black Diamond $12 TO $25 tenderlivingfarm.ca You’ve heard of farm to table? Get ready for farm to tea cup. Tender Living teas are made from plants grown and foraged on its farm near Black Diamond, including chamomile, lemon balm, mint, nettle, rosehips, spruce tips, yarrow and wild rose. Tender Living’s founders also operate Bertie’s General Store, which is where they blend the teas. —C.G.

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A S TO L D TO A D O N K E M K A P H OTO G R A P H Y BY J A R E D S Y C H

WHERE THE MAGIC HAPPENS A peek inside the studios and workspaces of some of this year’s Made In Alberta Award winners.

JOCELYN LAMOTHE WILLOW ROSE BEADS SPRUCE GROVE WINNER OF THE INAUGURAL AMY WILLIER AWARD FOR INDIGENOUS ARTISANS

I JUST LIKE THAT CORNER, IT GIVES ME SOME PERSPECTIVE. I’M SURROUNDED BY SOME THINGS FROM MY FAMILY, FROM THE PAST.

How does your studio inspire your creativity?

“It’s my family room. I started beading four and a half, five years ago, and when I started beading, that’s just where I set up my beads to not have the coffee table filled up.

“The space, the way I’ve set it up now, I can look out the window. I live in a city, but I do get little neighbourhood rabbits and birds past that window, so I always love being able to look out that window, seeing some trees and flowers from my flower garden, those tiny little bits here and there of nature. Usually the window’s open, so I have some fresh air.

“I just like that corner, it gives me some perspective. I’m surrounded by some things from my family, from the past; old books and a little bit of artwork and memorabilia. So I guess that inspires me.”

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IT’S QUIET AND CALM AND I’M SECLUDED FROM EVERYTHING SO I’M FREE TO CREATE WITHOUT ANY INTERRUPTION.

LEE-ANN CALLAN BEVERAGE BOMBS EDMONTON NON-ALCOHOLIC DRINK CATEGORY AND OVERALL GRAND PRIZE WINNER What is the thing you love the most about your workspace?

“Probably that it’s quiet and secluded and allows my creative juices to flow. I don’t have any interruptions. I don’t have anything pulling me away when I’m creating and when I’m producing. So that’s probably the one thing that I like the most about it — that it is quiet and calm and I’m secluded from everything so I’m free to create without any interruption.”

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I DON’T FEEL LIKE WE’RE A COMPANY. I FEEL LIKE WE’RE JUST A BIG FAMILY.

T YLER CAZA, KRISTOPHER SUSTRIK AND ADRIAN COLE HANSEN DISTILLERY EDMONTON ALCOHOLIC DRINK CATEOGRY WINNER What is the thing you love the most about your workspace?

KRISTOPHER SUSTRIK: “It feels more like family working here. I don’t feel like we’re a company. I feel like we’re just a big family making alcohol for a living.”

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I FEEL LIKE THE INSPIRATION COMES OUT IN MY WORK WHEN I FEEL CONNECTED WITH THE REST OF MY LIFE.

QUIN CHEUNG QUINSPIRED CERAMICS CALGARY CRAFT CATEGORY WINNER How does your studio inspire your creativity?

“It was important for me to have my workspace be part of my home ... I feel like the inspiration comes out in my work when I feel connected with the rest of my life. So that’s why I chose not to have a studio space outside of home. Sometimes, I know, it’s nice to disconnect, but because the art is so important to who I am, so integrative to where I am in life, I feel like when my home is inspired, when the rest of my life is inspired, that comes out in my ceramics, in my work.”

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JASEN ROBILLARD AND JAMES LEE STUMPCRAF T CALGARY GAMES AND LEISURE CATEGORY WINNER

THE SPACE IS SUPER BRIGHT AND OPEN AND BEAUTIFUL, AND REALLY ENHANCES OUR SENSE OF COMMUNITY...

What is the thing you love the most about your workspace?

JASEN ROBILLARD “There are elements of every single member of the StumpCraft team that are on display. The space is super bright and open and beautiful, and really enhances our sense of community and [of being a] team.

And there’s a little bit of humour at play, so it reminds us to be creative and playful in everything we do.”

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THE JUDGES AMY WILLIER AWA R D FOR INDIGENOUS ARTISANS KRIS BENSON Kris Benson is president of IT Strategy, an Indigenous-owned information technology company.

A member of the Beaver Lake Cree Nation in northeast Alberta, Benson also serves on the National Board for Trout Unlimited Canada, an organization focused on conserving, protecting and restoring Canada’s freshwater ecosystems.

M A R Y- B E T H L AV I O L E T T E Mary-Beth Laviolette is a writer and curator whose body of work includes the book Greatest Garden: Paintings of David More. Laviolette has been on the board of the Alberta Craft Council since 2009 and has curated exhibitions in visual art and fine craft for venues across Alberta, including Glenbow in Calgary.

S H A R O N R O S E K O OT E N AY Textile artist Sharon Rose Kootenay’s work tells a story of Indigenous cultural identity and pride.

A member of Alberta’s Craft and Aboriginal Arts Councils, she continues to design and participate in exhibitions and cultural projects throughout the province and is the owner-operator of the Four Lodges Studio & Gallery in historic Vilna.

cosmeticians and dermatologists. In 2018, Bertrand launched her own skin care line, Aliquote Skin.

TA R A C O W L E S Makeup artist and beauty entrepreneur Tara Cowles is the founder and director of Artists Within Makeup Academy and the creator of the makeup line AW03 Maquillage, which she launched nearly 15 years ago.

AW03 is available at the Artists Within storefront location in Calgary, as well as at various Alberta salons and online at artistswithin.com.

CRAFT K E L LY J U B E N V I L L Kelly Jubenvill is chair of the Maker Market of the Calgary Stampede and she provides creative project and operational consulting through her company Solve4 Results. Jubenvill also spent two years chairing and developing Your Brain on Art, an annual fundraiser for the Branch Out Neurological Foundation. She is also a director with Swim Alberta and Direct MS. MELANIE LOVE Melanie Love was influential in the launch of Calgary Stampede’s Maker Market in 2017. She supports entrepreneurs as a SheEO Activator and as board director of Business Link.

Craft category judges Kelly Jubenvill and Melanie Love also judged the Unique category.

BEAUTY MARIE BERTRAND As chief creative officer of SkinScience, Marie Bertrand has more than 20 years of experience in the skin-care industry. Prior to founding SkinScience, Bertrand worked in management for L’Oreal Canada, developing skin-care training programs for

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DRINK (ALCOHOLIC AND NON-ALCOHOLIC) LOUISA FERREL A member of Avenue’s Top 40 Under 40 class of 2019, Louisa Ferrel co-founded True Büch Kombucha along with her husband Conrad. A University of Calgary Haskayne School of Business graduate and CPA, Ferrel is passionate about helping women entrepreneurs through her nonprofit True Incubator.

OWEN KIRKALDY Following 10 years of working in homebrewing supply shops, Owen Kirkaldy became president, and later education director, of the Edmonton Homebrewers Guild. He is a Master-ranked Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP)-certified judge and instructor in BJCP judging preparation courses, and is co-founder and head judge of the Alberta Beer Awards.

FA S H I O N A N D ACCESSORIES JAMEELA GHANN Jameela Ghann is the designer and co-founder of the online jewellery store Alora Boutique and an eCommerce consultant. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Mount Royal University and has been an entrepreneur since 2009. Ghann also helps other female-owned businesses with free eCommerce and marketing advice through she[EMPOWERS].

NINA KHAREY Designer Nina Kharey launched the clothing line Nonie in 2005 and would go on to show at New York Fashion Week and see her designs on Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. In January 2021 she launched

The Made In Alberta Awards wouldn’t happen without judges. A huge thanks to all who lent their expertise this year and helped pick the winners in 11 categories.

Folds Wear Inc., a line of athletic-inspired antiviramedical scrubs made from post-consumer materials.

This past March, Kharey was selected as a 2021 Canadian SheEO venture.

S AV O U RY F O O D CARMEN CHENG As a food writer and culinary content creator, Carmen Cheng shares stories of people and businesses that make up our culinary landscape. Her articles and recipes have appeared in a variety of print, online and TV outlets, including Avenue. When she’s not writing about food, Cheng works in HR with a focus on organizational development, inclusion and belonging, and change management.

R AY M A Ray Ma holds a law degree from the University of Alberta and is the co-founder of Honest Dumplings, which she co-founded in 2014. Ma is also the cofounder of Uproot Food Collective, a marketplace for over 60 local emerging food brands with scale-up support and distribution throughout Alberta.

SWEET FOOD LORENA PRAKASH Lorena Prakash is the founder and CEO of Duzu Dates, which she launched in 2015 in order to satisfy a taste for the kinds of gourmet dates she had discovered on a previous trip to Dubai. Prakash also has more than two decades of experience in marketing management, corporate communications and advertising sales within media.

TO N Y M A R S H A L L Tony Marshall is president and co-founder of Highwood Crossing Foods, which was named one of Canada’s Top 20 Artisan Food Producers. Marshall has served on the board of directors for The Canadian Organic Growers Association and he and his Highwood Crossing co-founder and wife Penny were also named Canadian Food Heroes by Slow Food Canada.

FURNISHINGS AND HOME DECOR A LY K H A N V E L J I Alykhan Velji’s boutique design firm, Alykhan Velji Design, which is celebrating 15 years, serves both residential and commercial clients. Velji is also a seasoned TV presenter and the resident design expert on The Marilyn Denis Show. Among his many awards, Velji won Home of Year 2020 from Western Living Magazine. He recently launched a Brutalist Mix wallpaper collection with RollOut. KAREN ASHBEE Writer and editor Karen Ashbee holds a degree in marketing and economics from the University of Guelph. While at Flare Magazine, she developed major national accounts for beauty and lifestyle clients. She currently writes for prolific Canadian publications, including The Globe and Mail and covered the first Saut Hermès event at Paris’s Grand Palais for Bombardier magazine. Ashbee is also the Calgary city editor for Western Living magazine and a regular contributor to Avenue.

GAMES AND LEISURE GEOFF KRAMER Geoff Kramer is a graphic designer and brand specialist who, along with wife Julie, provides branding, UX design, website and communications services through Perpetual Notion Design. Kramer also does product design and development for Olive Snowboards + Skateboards, an Alberta-based manufacturer of snowboards, skateboards and various board components.

OVERALL WINNER K ÄT H E L E M O N Käthe Lemon was Editor in Chief of Avenue magazine for 15 years. During that time she conceived and launched the Made In Alberta Awards program.

Lemon continues to be involved in the Made In Alberta Awards through her role as VP Product Development & Publishing for Avenue’s parent company RedPoint Media.

SAMANTHA TINDALL Samantha Tindall is an agriculture advisor and account manager for ConnectFirst Credit Union, presenting sponsor of this year’s Made In Alberta Awards. Tindall is also a small business owner in Stavely, Alta., with a passion for agriculture, photography and horses.

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BY M I C H A E L A R E A M

CRAFT MARKETS

A N D FA I R S

If you want to find Alberta-made products head to one of these Alberta maker markets.

MARKETS IN OCTOBER Farmers and Makers Market at cSpace King Edward Connect with small-scale farmers and growers, craftspeople, brewers and distillers, comfort-food makers and others at this market near Marda Loop. Visitors can also enjoy regular programming and explore the studios of resident artists.

October 2 and 9 1721 29 Ave. S.W., Calgary farmersmakersmarket.ca 124 Grand Market Harvest Thanksgiving Market 124’s Thursday market season ends with its Harvest Thanksgiving event. Along with

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more than 55 vendors including growers, bakers and makers, there will be live music, food trucks and kids’ programming. (Pets are temporarily prohibited.)

October 7 108 Avenue and 124 Street, Edmonton 124grandmarket.com Fall Into Christmas Handmade Market Exhibitors include local jewellers, visual artists and natural body-care product makers.

October 15 to October 17 Cypress Center, Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede, 2055 21 Ave. S.E., Medicine Hat Lethbridge Handmade Market Harvest Edition Now in its fifth year, the October Handmade Market will focus on the theme of harvest.

October 16 3401 Parkside Dr. S., Lethbridge lethbridgehandmademarket.ca/event-calendar Little Modern Market Little Modern hosts a monthly market from July to December, 2021. Find health and beauty products, food and drink, clothing, home decor, stationery and service-based businesses.

October 16, November 13, December 11 and December 18 The Brownstone, 221 10 Ave. S.E., Calgary littlemodernmarket.com Beacon Original Art This multidisciplinary art show and sale supports artists at various career stages.

October 16 and October 17 Bridgeland-Riverside Community Association 917 Centre Ave. N.E., Calgary beaconoriginalart.com State of Art Society Fall Show and Sale Showcasing the diverse talent of Calgary’s suburban artists, this shows focuses on painting.

October 22 and 23 Strathcona Community Centre 277 Strathcona Dr. S.W., Calgary sas-art.ca Our Best to You Art & Craft Sale Get a jump on your Christmas shopping at this art and craft show.

October 22 to 24 Westerner Park, Parkland & Prairie Pavilions, 4847A 19 St., Red Deer

The Fibre Shindig Also known as Calgary’s Funky Fibre Fest, this event hosts Alberta fibre, yarn, knitting and crochet artisans. Past events have showcased hand-sewn project bags and hand-dyed yarn, as well as weaving, beads and pottery.

October 23 Hillhurst Sunnyside Community Centre 1320 5 Ave. N.W., Calgary fibreshindig.com Something for Everyone Market This market has exactly what the name implies: crafters, bakers, artists and small businesses.

October 23 Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede Pavilion 2055 21 Ave. S.E., Medicine Hat somethingforeveryonemarket.com/ october-23-2021/ Mosaic Handmade Market This event showcases the works of more than 80 Canadian artists, makers and designers from across the country.

October 29 to 31 MacDonald Island Park, Fort McMurray 10times.com/mosaic

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his year, we celebrate the return of in-person markets. Here’s where you’ll find Alberta crafters, artists and producers in the coming months. For an even more thorough list, visit MadeinAlbertaAwards.ca for the most up-to-date information.

MARKETS IN NOVEMBER Festival of Crafts A holiday shopping stop for Calgarians since 1986, this event features more than 230 makers, designers, artists and artisans.

November 4 to 7 BMO Centre at Stampede Park, Calgary signatures.ca/festival-of-crafts/ Millarville Christmas Market Established in 1988, this market has grown to include eight days of indoor and outdoor vendors, food trucks, music and reindeer viewing.

Bring the kids along for a photo with Santa.

November 4 to 7 and 11 to 14 millarvilleracetrack.com/ upcoming_events/christmas-market Christmas in the Country Art Sale The lovely Leighton Centre’s annual art sale.

November 6 to December 20 (closed Mondays and Tuesdays).

282027 144 St. W., Foothills, Alta. leightoncentre.org Ermineskin Christmas Craft Fair Back for its 36th year. Past artisans have offered handmade kitchenware, Christmas tree

accessories and holiday-decorated treats.

November 6 Ermineskin Community League and Steinhauer School Gymnasium, 10709 32A Ave., Edmonton ermineskincommunity.ca Mount Pleasant Potters’ Guild Pottery Market A bi-annual market of member artisans’ work.

November 7 Triwood Community Association, 2244 Chicoutimi Dr. N.W., Calgary calgarypottery.com Art Market and Craft Sale More than 200 mini-galleries and boutiques.

November 18 to 21 Calgary Telus Convention Centre 136 8 Ave. S.E., Calgary artmarketcraftsale.com/craft-show-details/ Indie Handmade Fall Show Featuring Canadian artisans from coast to coast offering clothing, jewellery and more.

November 19 to 21 The Enjoy Centre, 101 Riel Dr., St. Albert signatures.ca/indie-handmade Banff Christmas Market Experience the spirit of traditional European

street markets with family-friendly entertainment, sweets, pretzels, mulled wine and offerings by Banff and Bow Valley artisans.

November 19 to 21 and 26 to 28 Warner Stables, 100 Sundance Rd., Banff banffchristmasmarket.com/our-market Lloydminster Christmas Craft Fair Lloydminster Chamber of Commerce hosts this craft fair and expo with more than 400 booths.

November 19 to 21 (tentative dates) Lloydminster Exhibition Grounds Alberta Building & Prairie Room, 5521 49 Ave., Lloydminster lloydminsterchamber.com/news-events/ Bragg Creek Artisans Christmas Sale A Christmas season staple for more than 42 years featuring over 65 local artists.

November 21 to 22 Bragg Creek Community Centre 23 White Ave., Bragg Creek braggcreekartisans.com/monthly-events/ Make It Show A bi-annual fair, held since 2008, supporting local artists, makers and crafters. Past shows have featured home goods, stationery, kids wear, jewellery and more.

November 25 to 28

Edmonton Expo Centre 7515 118 Ave. N.W., Edmonton makeitshow.ca Cochrane Artisan Christmas Market A selection of more than 46 indoor boutiques showcasing food items, artisans and makers.

November 27 Cochrane Lions Event Centre 109 5 Ave., Cochrane MARKETS IN DECEMBER Butterdome Craft Sale Since 1990, this holiday market has featured items from over 280 makers.

December 2 to 5 Universiade Pavilion (Butterdome) University of Alberta, Edmonton signatures.ca/butterdome/ Lethbridge Handmade Market - Holiday Edition Check out the “Holi-YaY” edition of the Lethbridge Handmade Market for unique handmade gifts.

December 11 3401 Parkside Dr. S., Lethbridge lethbridgehandmademarket.ca

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BY M I C H A E L A R E A M

M A K E R S PA S T

T H E G R E AT W E S T S A D D L E RY C O .

Once one of the world’s leading distributors for saddles and leather works,

G R E AT W E S T S A D D L E R Y E M P L O Y E E S I N S I D E W O R K S H O P, C A L G A R Y, A L B E R TA .

T

he origin story of the Great West Saddlery Co. is rooted, first and foremost, in the talent and ingenuity of Alberta makers, as well as in the balance of competition and cooperation.

At age 15, Elisha Frederick Hutchings began his career as apprentice to a harness maker. In 1879, he bought a partnership with a Winnipeg harnessmaking business founded by Robert Stalker. Under Elisha’s clever business guidance, the company expanded and grew. Three years later, when Stalker passed away, Elisha bought the company and renamed it the E. F. Hutchings Saddlery Company.

Following in his older brother’s footsteps, Robert John Hutchings 38

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apprenticed as a saddle and harness maker with Elisha’s company.

Despite becoming junior partner after his apprenticeship in 1887, Robert wasn’t content to stay in Winnipeg.

He believed his future awaited in the frontier town of Calgary.

In Calgary, Robert partnered with local harness maker William James Riley and established Hutchings and Riley on Stephen Avenue in the Lineham Block. As in many local businesses, the two owners worked alongside their employees crafting saddles and harnesses. The company won a gold medal at the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago (making them an early made-in-Alberta award winner).

By July 1899, to limit the growing competition between the Hutch-

ings brothers’ companies and a third company, Carson & Shore, the three harness and leather making businesses merged and officially formed the Great West Saddlery Company. Robert remained in Calgary as the vicepresident of the branch there, built in 1904 and located at 220 9th Avenue, which later became the Alberta headquarters. Another branch was subsequently established in Edmonton. Although the brothers retired sometime in the 1920s, the company continued running until 1956.

Over the years, Robert made a point to work closely with local makers, including skilled Indigenous leather workers, whose legacy of local craft has likewise continued to this day. Robert’s daughter, Blanche

Hutchings, was quoted by historian Henry Klassen saying that some of the best leather toolers belonged to the Indigenous community. Their skill played a key role in legacy of Great West. The company’s craft continued through grandchildren and influenced other local talents. Many apprenticeships of the company went on to open businesses of their own and continue the local work of the Great West Saddlery.

From the settlement era of Alberta up to today, local businesses have maintained a long and proud legacy of quality manufacturing, ingenuity and supporting local. Whereas once it was a necessity, shopping local now has since become a point of community pride.

P H O T O G R A P H C O U R T E S Y O F L I B R A R I E S A N D C U LT U R A L R E S O U R C E S D I G I TA L C O L L E C T I O N S , U N I V E R S I T Y O F C A L G A R Y

the Great West Saddlery Company is one of many early local makers rooted in the province.

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Meet 2 Makers & Creators Laurie Stavne, LARK Weaving LARK Weaving started with a love for weaving and has grown from a weaving hobby to a small, farm-based wool business featuring homegrown wool yarn and roving from our little flock of woolies, as well as handspun and handwoven items. larkweaving.ca 780-527-4331 E Q

Sarah Keates, The Green Goddess At The Green Goddess, we are so deeply passionate about providing women with products that are nourishing, luxurious, and representative of their inherent beauty and worth, while also being ethically sourced, plant based, and safe to use. iamthegreengoddess.com 780-625-1710 E A Q

northernsunrise.net | 780-624-0013 | E D