August 2021 by The Walleye Magazine

FILM FREE ARTS Vol. 12 No. 8 MUSIC AUGUST FOOD 2021 CULTURE thewalleye.ca

Automobilia Celebrating Car Culture

BURNING RUBBER 10

A STORY IN A STORE 60

CHARTING NEW TERRITORY 67

I'M DOUBLE VAXXED, NOW WHAT? 88

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Contents ■ 7 TheTOPFive FEATURES

Editor-in-chief Darren McChristie Interim Editor Matt Prokopchuk matt@thewalleye.ca Assistant Editor Rebekah Skochinski Senior Editor Tiffany Jarva Copy Editors Amy Jones, Bonnie Schiedel

Marketing & Sales Manager Alaina Linklater alaina@thewalleye.ca Photographers Patrick Chondon, Kevin Dempsey, Damien Gilbert, Aelin Foster, Chad Kirvan, Dave Koski, Kay Lee, Shannon Lepere, Marty Mascarin, Darren McChristie, Sarah McPherson, Laura Paxton, Keegan Richard Art Directors Steve Coghill, R.G.D., Dave Koski, R.G.D. production@thewalleye.ca

FOOD

■ 18 ■ 19 ■ 21 ■ 22 ■ 24 ■ 25 ■ 26 ■ 27

Car Culture Burning Rubber A Labour of Love Start Your Engines Racing Royalty The Marvel in Murillo

■ 33

■ 34 ■ 35

■ 37

■ 38 ■ 40

THE GRINNING BELLY DRINK OF THE MONTH BREW IT YOURSELF Fresh to Order SUPERIOR SIP Eat Loco Tacos Nourishing Heart & Mind Cooking Up A Storm

THE SECOND MOST PLEASURABLE THING WE DO IN THE DARK. A COLUMN ABOUT MOVIES Rethinking, Revisioning In-Person Theatre is Back

FROM THUNDER BAY ART GALLERY’S COLLECTION The Brush that Heals A Northern Fashion Icon

■ 46 Insurance Policy ■ 47 Gedo’s Hammer,

■ 49

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Ad Deadline August 11

REVIEWS ARCHITECTURE

■ 80 The Port Arthur Motors Building

■ 82 Tbaytel AUGUST

EVENTS GUIDE

MONTHLY TOP 30

HEALTH

■ 84 Getting Shots in Arms ■ 86 Healthy Grilling Tips ■ 88 I'm Double Vaxxed,

Baba’s Borscht GO LOCAL KAKABEKA FARMERS' MARKET Business Plan WALL SPACE: Breeny's Auto Body

GREEN

■ 90 Welcome to the Monarchy ■ 93 From Rust Bucket to Turbo Mode

THE WALL

■ 94 Sharing the Road ■ 96 HOROSCOPES ■ 97 THE BEAT ■ 98 THE EYE

70 Your Best Source for Firewood!

TheWalleye.ca Where can I find The Walleye Magazine? thewalleye.ca/where-can-i-find-the-walleye/

Totally New

■ 76 A Different Direction ■ 78 OFF THE WALL

Now What?

The Path of the Paddle Learning from the Land

CITYSCENE

■ 50 ■ 52

■ 67 Charting New Territory ■ 70 Guitars and Chill ■ 72 BURNING TO THE SKY ■ 73 Turning the Tables ■ 74 Yard Sale Sunday ■ 75 Expect Something

■ 83 LU RADIO'S

OUTDOOR

■ 42 ■ 44

EYE TO EYE: With Hannah Gula STUFF WE LIKE The Future is Electrifying A Story in a Store CANNABIS CORNER THIS IS THUNDER BAY

MUSIC

THE ARTS

The Walleye is a free monthly publication distributed on racks throughout Thunder Bay and region.

Editorial and Advertising: Submissions must be accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Superior Outdoors cannot be held responsible for unsolicited material.

■ 56 ■ 58 ■ 60 ■ 63 ■ 65

FILM&THEATRE

Ad Designers Dave Koski, Keegan Richard, Miranda van den Berg

Reproduction of any article, photograph or artwork without written permission is strictly forbidden. Views expressed herein are those of the author exclusively.

■9 ■ 10 ■ 12 ■ 13 ■ 14 ■ 16

■ 54

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Behind the Wheel

s a child, I was absolutely fascinated by cars. For some reason, if you could get me into a car, truck, or van that I hadn’t seen before, I was full of questions and wanting to push every button possible on the dashboard. We even had a copy of a late-80s edition of the Lemon-Aid Used Car Guide around the house that I read and reread religiously (and I just found out that the series’s author, Phil Edmonston, published his last edition in 2016!). As I got older and realized that I wouldn’t be able to drive, my interest and whatever knowledge I built up admittedly faded. That’s definitely not the case, though, of the people we’re featuring in our August issue’s cover story, where we delve into the rich car culture and racing scenes that have long been a part of the area’s fabric. We’ll learn about a new raceway—the Dairy Queen International Speedway—that’s been years in development and is set to open this year, just off Highway 130 west of Thunder Bay. As well, Nicholas Duplessis takes a look back at an historical race track in the city that saw lots of action in its day—the old raceway on the Canadian Lakehead Exhibition grounds. Michael Charlebois also has the story of local antique car collector Russ Wanzuk, and what fuels people’s passion for collecting and preserving these vehicles.

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Chad Kirvan

From Our Instagram Feed

Keeping with our theme, music columnist Gord Ellis picks four songs that highlight the automobile (in some cases, even name-checking specific ones), while film columnist Michael Sobota picks movies that, likewise, feature cars and racing. And in Wall Space, Tiffany Jarva gets an inside look at Breeny’s Auto Body Shop, which has been locally owned and operated since 1952. Also, in our Off the Wall review section, the Thunder Bay Public Library’s Sylvia Renaud features a book soon to come to local library shelves, Racing While Black, which chronicles the efforts of Leonard T. Miller, co-owner of an all-Black NASCAR racing team. Elsewhere in our August issue, Roxann Shapwaykeesic speaks with Juno Award-winning artist and Wake the Giant performer iskwē, Leah Morningstar has the latest on the newest local eatery to serve up delicious tacos, and Amy Sellors features the beautiful work of multidisciplinary artist Cynthia Nault. Our August issue is also dedicated to the life and memory of Richard Schutte, the visionary behind the Dairy Queen International Speedway, who passed away in July. Richard was a longtime champion of the local racing scene and an accomplished racer himself. The soon-to-open speedway is another example of his unwavering legacy in the sport. - Matt Prokopchuk

Featured Contributor

Roxann Shapwaykeesic

Born and raised in beautiful Thunder Bay, Roxann Shapwaykeesic, an Ojibwe from Eabametoong First Nation, has focused her career in the Nishnawbe Aski Nation community. Her experience includes supportive roles in education, communications, trades, sports, and wellness. She is a 2021 graduate of the Indigenous Reporters Program by Journalists for Human Rights, as well as a Registered Graphic Designer of Ontario since 2011. She enjoys telling stories through creative writing and journalism and is always in pursuit of learning new skills. See Roxann's story, Expect Something Totally New on page 75 of our August issue.

In Error

The review of Alex Cuba’s Mendó on page 78 of our July issue mistakenly attributed a quote to Cuba that is actually a description of Cimafunk’s music from Mendó’s press materials.

On the Cover Russ Wanzuk in his 1915 custom, home-built speedster Photo: Chad Kirvan

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“My school teaches me

to think for myself” You belong here 6

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TheTOPFive

Piitwewetam: Making is Medicine and Dakobinaawaswaan (Baby in a Cradleboard)

Now until fall

August 5

Fort William Golf & Country Club

It’s tee time! Get your golf clubs ready to swing at the Hometown Heroes Charity Golf Classic. This year’s tournament will be a hybrid format, with teams competing on the beautiful greens at the Fort William Golf & Country Club. Golfers will golf 18 holes, participate in contests and activities along the course, and then receive a to-go packaged dinner to take home. A virtual awards and celebration will follow. Interested players can register to play rounds, and others can donate to support a team as a means to raise funds in a fun way for our very own Hometown Heroes: the wonderful staff and clinicians of the George Jeffrey Children’s Centre. This centre provides important services, programs, and support to children in our community. It’s a win-win! hometownheroesgolf.com

4 Ribfest August 26–29

Lakehead University When the end of August nears it means one thing around here when it comes to food festivals… Ribfest! The drive-thru format returns at a new location at Lakehead University (to make sure all those vaccinations can happen on the CLE grounds!) Give yourself a break from the kitchen and let someone else cook for you. Choose from slow-smoked barbecued ribs, pulled pork, chicken, and all of the delicious sides. Count us in for some mac ‘n’ cheese! Choose from out-of-town food offerings from Ribs Royale and Dinosaur Smokehouse and show a big welcome to hometown representation by newcomer Daytona’s. Last year’s event raised over $65,000 for programs for Our Kids Count. Let’s try and top that, shall we? For the love of ribs, and for the love of kids! facebook.com/ribfestthunderbay

August 11 & 25

Various

Two things we love are music and movies, and the City of Thunder Bay is making sure we’re getting more of what we love! Live on the Waterfront returns with a fun new format. Watch virtually from your device, at Boomer’s Drive-in Theatre in Murillo, or in-person at the waterfront parkade. The cool part of heading to Boomer’s means not only will you get to enjoy local musicians like The JB Band, Sunday wilde, Robin Ranger Trio, Mood Indigo, Sean Skiez, and Jean-Paul De Roover & the Bandaid Solution, but you’ll also get a complimentary movie screening after the show at 8:45 pm. Advance free tickets are required for the in-person and in-car spots, so make sure to sign up in advance. The livestream of each concert event starts at 6:55 pm. facebook.com/CityofThunderBay

Tiina Flank

Hometown Heroes 2021 Charity Golf Classic

Live on the Waterfront: Parkade Sessions and Virtual Performances

10 x 10 Out Loud

August 27 & 29

Waterfront Spirit Garden

Live theatre is… alive! The 10 x 10 showcase is back for its eighth year (having been postponed in 2020) with 10 original 10-minute plays by NWO playwrights. The shows will be performed in the beauty of the outdoors at the gorgeous waterfront setting, which means you can snack and stroll between shows while taking in some amazing theatre. The program will be offered two days, Friday and Sunday, between 1 and 6 pm, and will see five comedies and five dramas featuring local playwrights, directors, and actors. Plus, it’s free! Organizers are offering free admission for the first time to thank their supportive audience and to celebrate live theatre’s return. Be sure to check the 10 x 10 website for the list of plays and protocols. Registration is required in advance and the rain date is August 28. 10x10tbay.ca

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Marty Mascarin

There are two very powerful exhibitions of Indigenous art, curated by Indigenous curators, on now at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery. Piitwewetam: Making is Medicine is a commemorative art exhibition featuring artwork by the Gustafson family to honour their son and brother, Piitwewetam (Rolling Thunder), who travelled to the spirit world after a car accident in 2015. It includes handmade garments, jingle dresses, moccasins, skirts, and other objects that show the connection of love, healing, and ceremony. Dakobinaawaswaan (Baby in a Cradleboard) showcases the powerful legacy and beauty of traditional baby carriers. There are more than 100 cradleboards representing Indigenous communities from across Turtle Island. For more information about these special showings and updated visitor guidelines, visit the gallery website. theag.ca

Shannon Gustafson

Thunder Bay Art Gallery

where ever you find yourself, be ready with our footwear collection

A portion of all clothing sales in AUGUST is donated to isthmus thunder bay 710 BAL MORAL S TREE T

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F RE SHAIR.LOC AL LY.C O M

CoverStory

Automobilia Human beings have always been obsessed with motion. In this issue, we wanted to look at the fascination with four wheels. We take you to Murillo to meet with a car collector to see what he has in his garage, we go back in time to learn about the Canadian Lakehead Exhibition racetrack, and we get the latest info on the return of dirt track racing at the soon-to-open Dairy Queen International Speedway. Cars can be a hobby, a sport, a passion, or all three. What’s clear is, for the people we spoke to, it’s more than just a way to get around, or a need for speed— it’s a way of life.

Chad Kirvan

- Rebekah Skochinski

The Walleye

Burning Rubber

A Look at the History of the Canadian Lakehead Exhibition Racetrack By Nicholas Duplessis

A 1956 stock car race and the CLE racetrack grandstand

The CLE hosted the majority of stock car races during the 1920s. It continued to host races in the 1930s and the 1940s, but racing lost popularity in those two decades as a result of the Great Depression and the Second World War. Racing did not recover fully until the early 1950s, where several social and cultural changes at the Lakehead, including significant demographic changes and an increase in population, may have led to the resurgence of racing. Dave Cano, a local racing historian and enthusiast, has stated that the golden period of Thunder Bay stock racing occurred between 1952 and 1966. Though it was not the exclusive venue, stock car racing and Lakehead car culture centered on the CLE racetrack during these decades. The golden period coincided with the founding of the Lakehead

Keegan Richard

Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame

he history of stock car racing and car culture in the Thunder Bay area is over 100 years old. The origins of stock car racing at the Lakehead can be found on the dirt tracks at the Canadian Lakehead Exhibition and the Murillo Fairgrounds. Throughout the 1920s and early 1930s, the Twin Cities Motor Association sponsored races at both locales. Most races were attended in the thousands as prominent local drivers like Ernie Boffa, Eddie Cusson, and Harry Davidson sought to best each other to the thrill of the audience. In the earliest era of stock car racing, the most dominant local driver was Frank Colosimo in his King’s Ford Special, built for $2,200 by Art and Arnold King in the chicken coop behind their house. The historical record indicates that Colosimo only lost two races between 1925 and 1932.

Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame

CoverStory

The 1965 Canadian stock car championships at the CLE racetrack

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Photo manipulation juxtaposing images of the same spot on the CLE grounds when the raceway was active, and today (historical photo courtesy of the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame)

Thunder Bay Museum 973.28.6 A Keegan Richard

Glen Kettering, Fred Danis, and Tony Massaro race at the CLE racetrack

The racetrack site as it looks today

Stock Car Racing Association in 1952, who held their first race at the CLE racetrack on October 6 of that same year. The majority of the Lakehead Stock Car Racing Association’s sponsored races would occur at the CLE racetrack, which settled into a routine of hosting weekly races on Wednesdays and Sundays. On these days each week, thousands of fans would gather on the grandstand to watch the racing cars navigate the dirt track. The grandstand was located approximately where the entrance to SilverCity Thunder Bay Cinemas stands today. It was also a common occurrence at the stock car races to watch multiple cars crash through the wooden fences and occasionally, into the river. One particularly heated race saw over 50 feet of fence destroyed through multiple crashes. As racing increased in popularity throughout the two decades, women became increasingly involved. In a 2013 article, Diane Imrie, the executive director of the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, has noted that the Lakehead Stock Car Racing Association held several Power Puff races at the CLE racetrack, featuring female drivers. While stock car racing was the most prominent sport to be hosted at the CLE racetrack, it was not the only activity that the racetrack featured. Other forms of racing

Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame

An aerial view of the CLE grounds, estimated circa 1955

Races in 1966 featuring horses, greyhounds, and motorcycles also populated the racetrack. Races at the CLE racetrack occurred until the mid-1960s, after which races were held at the Murillo Speedway until the opening of Riverview Raceways. The history of the racetrack at the CLE is long, storied, and reflective of the sustained car culture and love of racing that began in the early 1920s and continues today. Special thanks to the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame and Museum’s Diane Imrie and local historian Dave Cano of Hot Rods and Jalopies for their existing research and contributions to this article.

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CoverStory

A Labour of Love

Ryan Marchese and Crazy Kazy Customz Story by Leah Morningstar, Photos by Chad Kirvan

Ryan Marchese, hard at work, underneath a hoisted vehicle

yan Marchese counts his blessings every day. He has a wonderfully supportive wife, a beautiful daughter, and he gets to wake up every day and do what he loves.

Six years ago, he was able to open up his own custom paint and restoration garage. The “kazy” in Crazy Kazy Customz comes from his own name: Ryan “Kazy” Marchese (his last name is pronounced mar-kazy). This man paints cars, fixes cars, collects cars, and he absolutely loves his job.

he was drafted into the assistant position without much consultation. He was expected to help and he did help, and thankfully he absolutely loved being out in the garage. When he got to high school, he took all the automotive courses he could and continued learning at home and in his spare time. After high school, he found employment doing a variety of jobs. He did landscaping work for a while and plowed snow in the winters; he eventually secured solid long-term employment in construction.

Marchese was born in Thunder Bay and spent much of his childhood being the helper and assistant to his dad, who was always in the garage working on a car or two. Marchese says he’s lucky he really enjoyed working on cars because

It was actually his construction work that paved the way for Crazy Kazy Customz. His uncle, Walter, owned the construction company and was happy to give his hard-working nephew a job. But Walter knew that construction work,

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while important, wasn’t meant to be Marchese’s final stop. He had a space out in the country just waiting to be filled with life and vitality (and cars), and recognized how hard his nephew worked in all areas of life and wanted him to succeed. He taught Marchese everything he knew about running a business and then handed him the keys to the garage. He told him to take the garage, be his own boss, follow his dream, and build a successful business. And that’s what Marchese did. Of course, first he had to be ready for customers. Tinkering around with your own car is one thing; working with customers is something else entirely. Marchese remembers the very first paint job he ever did too. He and a friend researched and watched YouTube tutorials and found an old truck to practise on. “That first paint job was, quite honestly, amazing,” Marchese says. “It was clearly beginner’s luck though because after that first truck, I ruined more paint jobs than I care to admit.”

As with any learned skill, sometimes it takes a lot of practice. Marchese says he worked constantly and slowly started getting better. “When I could finally trust that my work would be consistently good, I started opening up to customers,” he says. Marchese is still learning of course; there will always be room for new skills as Crazy Kazy Customz continues to grow. Marchese says, like any collector, he has more vehicles than he needs. He has no plans to stop though. For now he is going to keep doing what he’s doing: enjoy his young family and wake up every day knowing he gets to do what he loves most. Find Crazy Kazy Customz on Facebook @MarcheseRyan or call 346-5058.

CoverStory

Start your Engines

Dairy Queen International Speedway to Host its First Races Story by Matt Prokopchuk, Photos by Shannon Lepere

acing fans and enthusiasts have a new local venue where they can enjoy and participate in the popular sport as the Dairy Queen International Speedway is slated to host its first races later this year.

The clay-surfaced dirt track, located on Highway 130, was the brainchild of Richard Schutte, a local entrepreneur, longtime racing enthusiast, and accomplished driver, says Norman Nadin, one of Schutte’s partners in the venture and the track builder. Schutte passed away from brain cancer in July. “He always had a dream and a vision to build a racetrack, he saw there was a need for it,” Nadin says. “More and more people were actually flocking to the States and other parts of Ontario to go to racetracks and he just saw that this is a big race community and there was actually a spot for racing to return […] to Thunder Bay.”

Nadin, one of the owners of local construction giant Nadin Contracting, says he and his company got involved with the raceway project part way through its development; Schutte purchased the property in 2011, which was notoriously swampy. “It was a vision and a dream that he [Schutte] had, and he just needed some horsepower behind him to get this thing going. We have all the equipment and everything it takes to build a track, so that’s how we kind of got affiliated with them,” Nadin says, adding that he’s expecting the races will be well attended. “This is a huge race community,” he says of the Thunder Bay area. “There was always a very good response for racing.” He adds that, with the track nearing completion, there’s palpable excitement in the air. “People just started flocking out, watching us build this track […] and so now that we’re getting that much closer. We have people coming out on Saturdays and Sundays and just

really getting excited about it, like pumped—amazingly, actually, very overwhelming, more than we were expecting.” Nadin says the plan is to hold a variety of races featuring modified street stock vehicles and smaller “starter class” vehicles for younger drivers—and, in the future, even other events like demolition derbys and monster truck events, “just to try to turn it into an amusement park, which there’ll be just more than racing, we’re hoping. That’s the vision, anyways.” The first races are slated for September, when Nadin says he’s heard they could expect anywhere from 4,000 to 6,000 spectators. “We’re opening this year just so people, over the winter, can actually build cars and be ready for next season—just to give them the confidence that, yes, there’s going to be a racetrack,” Nadin says. He adds that another important reason

they were aiming for a 2021 start was so Schutte could see the track welcome the sport he loved. “We really pushed the season to have a race, hopefully […] before he passed away.”

Norman Nadin, one of the partners in the racetrack venture

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CoverStory

The vehicle Warren Kettering currently pilots: a 2010 Sore Pecker with a 2016 TRC rear clip, owned by Jack Holmwood

Warren Kettering

Racing Royalty

Kettering and Brady Legacies Ring Loud Today Story by Michael Charlebois, Photos by Keegan Richard

s Thunder Bay helps connect the country from east to west along the Trans-Canada Highway, it’s only appropriate that locals have been connected through cars across generations. For the Kettering family, their legacy lives on in the minds of racers. “The Ketterings have been royalty in racing since the 50s,” says longtime rival Ivan Brady. Their history here dates back to 1947, when Glen Kettering moved from Pilot Butte, Saskatchewan to Fort William. He

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worked alongside his brother Barry at Darling’s Service Station and formed an unbreakable bond with cars. The Kettering family’s photo albums are binders full of newspaper clippings, car photos, and race pamphlets. “Glen is one of our best certified mechanics. […] His workmanship is quality,” reads an old advertisement for Darling’s. Glen’s son Warren was born into it in 1964. “All I ever knew was racing. All I ever did was in the garage and at the track,” Warren says. In

A wall of memorabilia commemorates the Ketterings’ racing legacy

high school, he began racing gokarts and developed a deep competitive edge. Once he was allowed to race full-sized cars, he lived up to the family name, constantly competing (and often winning) against racers much older than him. Throughout his illustrious career, he racked up many accolades, formed friendships, and never stopped coming back for more. “You know, I have no children,” he says. “These cars are my kids.”

A banner for the Kettering Racing Team

Ivan Brady For longtime opponent Brady, racing has also been a lifelong pursuit. He first visited a race track at the age of four, and was immediately hooked by the noise. “I hung out in Westfort all the time, and back in the 80s, there was a race car on almost every block,” he says. Brady says racing in town has changed significantly, but it’s been his children that have extended his lease. His son Dayton has raced competitively since 2014, and has learned many life lessons through the sport. “We spend a lot. We work on the car Monday to Friday. There’s a schedule on paper—things to do, things to look at,” Brady says.

“But yeah, when I watch him I’m pumped […] especially when he’s excelling out there, I love it.” For all of racing’s grease-covered aesthetic stereotypes, Ivan Brady and Warren Kettering contend that the hobby doesn’t come without a steep price—but it’s one that’s worth it. “I call it the rush,” Brady says. “If you’re strapped on a car—and it doesn’t matter what car—you get to drive as fast as you can,” he says. “Whether you’re battling for first, or for sixth or seventh, when you get that guy and pass him […] it’s a rush.”

Ivan Brady and the truck he raced at Mosquito Speedway in 1995 “We’re racing for 300 bucks [in prize money],” Kettering says. “People spend $50,000 for one of those cars in the garage. So what does that tell you? It’s only about the trophy to me, I don’t care about nothing else.” For the Ketterings, the legacy of the name sits uncomfortably next to a tragedy that took place in Fairmont, Minnesota. On June 11, 1976, Barry Kettering, Warren’s uncle, died in a race following a crash that ejected him from his vehicle. Warren says his plan was to live with his uncle by the time he turned 16, but Barry died in the

Photo courtesy of Ivan Brady

The Bradys's racecar.

crash when Warren was just 12 years old. “I’m a very soft person, when I think of my uncle or whoever […] it don’t take much,” he says. Whether the rough exterior of the folks who brave these high speeds will reveal it, it’s undoubtedly true that a racing family takes a tremendous amount of pride in what they do. “This is something you need to see,” Warren says of a picture taken over 70 years ago. It shows Glen and Barry Kettering side-by-side in the advertisement for Darling’s. The ad reads: “Barry will make your car purrrrr.”

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CoverStory

A 1963 custom-built, street-legal Champ Car

The Marvel in Murillo

Russ Wanzuk at Peace with Legendary Car Collection Story by Michael Charlebois, Photos by Chad Kirvan

or many people in Thunder Bay, the garage is much more than a place to park your car. It is a sanctuary for enthusiasts who spend their days tinkering, tweaking, and finding more stuff to tinker and tweak. None, however, hold a candle to Russ Wanzuk’s garage—if the garage is a sanctuary to others, his is the mecca. “If there is someone with more stuff, then I’d like to meet them so I can buy something from him,” he says. “But I don’t think there is.” Wanzuk, who is also a member of the Northern Ontario Classic Cruisers car club, taught high school for a living, but his obsession with his car collecting makes the word “hobby” seem unfit. “I’ve tried fishing, I’ve tried golfing, I’ve tried the other stuff. I keep coming back to the old cars,” he says. “It spins me more. [...] It buzzes me more than anything else.”

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He has two happy places, both a short walk away from the Murillo home where he and his wife have lived since the 1970s: his garage, and a set of two chairs located just beside it. In the middle of the interview, a baby chipmunk runs onto his chest. He sits still before reaching into his shirt pocket to pull out a peanut. “Oh, you stopped for supper eh?” he says. At age 77, his tranquility runs deep. He riffs off details about his history with cars with an equal amount of ease and enthusiasm. “We grew up in the era in high school where all the young guys had cars,” Wanzuk says. “From the early 70s we all got into muscle cars. You can feel the horsepower, you can smell and feel it standing beside it. Those were the senses, those were the feelings we grew up with.”

Stuck in his ways in the best possible sense, Wanzuk says the best way to connect with fellow car enthusiasts is via phone call. “I’ve never bought anything by looking on the computer,” he says. It seems impossible. His garage is filled with everything that could possibly have to do with cars and racing: merchandise, gas station pumps, parts, posters, and newspaper clippings that line the walls. Yet none of it feels like an episode of Hoarders. There’s a place for all of it—down to the U.S. license plates organized by state (he’s got all 50). All of it, even in the age of unlimited digital access, was acquired by phone call or word-of-mouth. Wanzuk says the hunt for the next part is the most exciting thing, and it’s taken him all over—he’s been to car shows in Minneapolis, bought parts in Hershey, Pennsylvania, and nearly acquired a stolen vehicle (by accident) in a barn in North Dakota. But he will

always drive back to his happy place in Murillo, and tell the stories of his travels from his chair. He knows that when he’s gone, the garage will speak for him. “I have cars that are over 100 years old, and a lot of people can’t fathom that,” he says. “You tell these stories to people—especially to young kids, and they kind of look at you in amazement and say ‘this is where it started.’”

Russ Wanzuk stands beside his 1915 custom, home-built speedster. It’s made from a Ford frame, wheels, and motor

Rear and Front views of a 1970 Chevelle Malibu two-door hardtop

The dash of a 1947 Ford Coupe street rod

A 1929 Dodge Brothers Sedan old-school hotrod with a Hemi motor. Built in 1973 by Art Nordlund and Russ Wanzuk

A circa-1970 Formula Vee racing car from upper-state Michigan with an engine that’s part Ford, Volkswagen, and Porsche

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Food

THE GRINNING BELLY

Street Style Tacos By Chef Rachel Globensky

n researching this article, I went down a bit of a rabbit hole thanks to Grandpa Google. I learned that the word “taco” originally referred to pieces of paper wrapped around little chunks of gunpowder to excavate ore in Mexican silver mines. I do think that the food version of a taco hit with hot sauce is pretty dynamite, so the name fits. Traditional Mexican street tacos are small, so you can eat them on the go, and are little bites of flavourful meat wrapped in fresh corn tortillas, topped with onions, cilantro, and salsa. Despite the Americanized Taco Tuesdays most of us grew up with, ground beef is not typically used in street tacos. In its place, you can find:

Barbacoa - lamb or pork wrapped in banana leaves and slow-cooked in a pit oven Carnitas - tasty pork simmered with onion, garlic, bay leaves, and orange, then fried in lard Al Pastor - pork and/or beef seasoned with achiote, guajillo, and red chili peppers, then stacked and cooked on a rotisserie like Lebanese shawarma (fusion cooking at its most delicious!) Carne Asada - literally “grilled meat,” usually referring to flank or skirt steak marinated (in citrus juice, garlic, cumin, jalapeño pepper, and cilantro), grilled, and cut against the grain.

El Tres offers take-and-make taco kits. A few times over the last year and a half of lockdowns, we ordered Al’s Pastor (a play on words, named for their head chef). Muy rico, me gusta! The sauces and toppings alone make this kit so worth the purchase, and I can’t even with the juicy pork and housemade tortillas. The intricate blend of chili peppers is best left to the professionals here, unless you have a reliable chili dealer. Melt-in-your-mouth carne asada is an easy foray into Mexican street tacos. Depending on what region the recipe is from and the cut of meat used, the marinade recipe could call for only salt, Seville orange or lime juice, or your favourite beer. And surprisingly, the secret ingredient many

Carne Asada serves 6 2 lb flank or skirt steak 1 white onion, sliced thinly

Place the steak in a glass or ceramic baking dish. Layer sliced onions over top.

Juice of 1 orange Juice of 2 limes ¼ c light-tasting beer 2 Tbsp soy sauce 2 Tbsp canola oil Fresh ground pepper

Mix the marinade ingredients together and pour over the steak. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit for an hour or more. Preheat your grill (or use a cast-iron pan on your stovetop). Remove meat from marinade and pat dry. Rub a little oil on the surface and grill until the internal temperature reads to your doneness liking (usually a medium-rare middle—140°F—is perfect for this purpose). Let the meat rest for 5–10 minutes, and slice in ¼” slices across the grain. Grill some trimmed green onions while you’re waiting as the meat rests.

Corn tortillas Guacamole Fresh salsa Lime wedges Grilled green onions

To serve: warm up the corn tortillas in a hot pan, and top with sliced steak and all the trimmings.

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Mexican foodies use is soy sauce! Here is a recipe incorporating all these flavours and topped with accoutrements so fresh, you’ll be transported south to a taqueria exclaiming “Buen provecho!” as you devour a plate full of these handhelds.

Food

DRINK OF THE MONTH Norteños Taqueria

Classic Margarita Story by Rebekah Skochinski, Photo by Chondon Photography

n a recent afternoon with the sun high in the midday sky, we stopped at Norteños for a taste of Mexico. Their new patio, complete with a tiki bar and Latin music, is a wonderful extension to their street-inspired fare—just steps from Frederica and in the shadow of the mighty Anemki Wajiw. Here, in the heart of Westfort, what you see is what you get, and what you get is very, very good. Norteños classic margarita is made with Hornitos Reposado tequila—crafted with 100% blue agave, which lends a rich and earthy flavour—triple sec for some citrus zing, and fresh-squeezed lime juice. It’s a whistle-wetter if there ever was one. Currently, the drink menu consists of classics (think cerveza and vino tinto), but will be expanding soon to include other south-of-the-border faves like mezcal cocktails, Palomas, sangria, and aguas frescas. We shall return!

Norteños Taqueria 1501 Brown Street 623-6266

WHILE QUANTITIES LAST.

Open Mon. to Fri. 8:30am to 5:00pm • Closed for lunch 11:30am-12:30pm • Closed Sat. & Sun.

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Food

Gear for Beer

BREW IT YOURSELF

All-Grain Homebrewing Systems

Story and photo by Josh Armstrong, PhD, Certified Beer Judge

hile basic homebrewing with malt extracts can be done using very limited equipment (e.g., kitchen pots and a plastic bucket), you can also use much more advanced all-grain systems to make professional quality beer in the comfort of your home. In this month’s column, I aim to briefly cover some of the most common all-grain brewing systems that are used in homebrewing. Personally, after starting out brewing a few extract kits in my driveway using a turkey fryer, I quickly graduated to all-grain brewing. All-grain brewing differs from extract brewing in that rather than dissolving pre-made malt extract in hot water, you have to make your own wort from scratch using crushed malted barley and other grains. A common first step into allgrain brewing systems is an infusion mash setup. An infusion mash system typically consists of a converted cooler that has been adapted to become a mash tun where you can steep the grains and create your own wort. Basic coolers can work for this, but they require adaptations including a ball valve, spigot, and some sort of screen to assist in straining the spent grains. It was once common to make these vessels yourself from large drink coolers or standard rectangular coolers, but they are now widely available for purchase at most homebrew shops. Another all-grain homebrewing system that does not require a whole lot of investment is the brewin-a-bag (BIAB) approach. Rather than having a separate mash tun (the cooler in the previous example), BIAB allows the brewer to conduct the entire brewing process in their

kettle or large cooking pot. In brief, the grains are placed into a mesh bag that is submerged into hot water in the kettle for the mashing process (hence the name). Once the grains have been fully steeped, you can simply pull the bag of grains out, leaving the wort behind. More advanced approaches to all-grain homebrewing are Recirculating Infusion Mash Systems (RIMS) and Heat Exchange Recirculating Mash Systems (HERMS). Both these types of systems require pumps for recirculating the mash from the bottom of a mash tun to the top of the tun. While the wort is recirculating, each system uses a different approach to heat the moving liquid and maintain the appropriate mash temperature for your recipe (no insulation required). In a RIMS system, the heat comes from a heating element that directly heats the wort through the pipe that it is in. The heating element will turn on and off as the wort circulates to maintain the desired

temperature in the mash tun. In a HERMS system, which is what I currently brew on, the mash is also continuously recirculated, but the heat comes from a heat exchanger or coil that is contained within a hot liquor tun (HLT). The hot water in the HLT will transfer its heat to the moving wort and will keep the mash at the desired temperature. Both these systems typically require some sort of electric controller to measure temperature and control the heat and the pump. Check out theelectricbrewery.com for ideas on equipment needed for a system like this, a PDF guide to building your own brewery, and a gallery full of beautiful homebrewing setups. One final type of all-grain homebrewing systems are the all-in-one setups. I don’t have any experience with this type of gear, but I know that they can produce great beer and they save on the space that is taken up by your homebrewing gear. These are great for people who live in apartments and do not have the storage space for a larger system,

but they can be expensive. Systems like The Grainfather, Braumeister, and Brewie+ can easily cost over $1,000. Most of these systems can fit on a kitchen counter, can be used indoors, and can produce professional tasting beer in a single vessel. I hope that this short article gives you some insight into the different types of setups that are possible for all grain homebrewing. There’s plenty of more detailed information available on the web. Enjoy brewing it yourself!

Online homebrew shops in Ontario • Ontario Beer Kegs • Toronto Brewing • Short Finger Brewing Co. • Canuck Homebrew Supply • Beer Grains Supply Co. • Brewer’s Pantry • Defalco’s for Brewers and Wine makers • Brew Time

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Food

Fresh to Order Howe Street BBQ Tantalizes the Taste Buds

Review by Susan Pretty, Photos by Keegan Richard

hat are hush puppies? The answer to that and more lies at Howe Street BBQ, the brainchild of the folks from The Chanterelle and Tomlin Catering. When mulling over the hurdles brought on by the pandemic, Corby Richmond, co-owner of The Chanterelle, says “we had to pivot and refocus our creative minds, which brought us to the idea of launching this authentic woodfired BBQ joint as a summer pop-up initiative.” Howe Street BBQ operates out of a 1971 Airstream Sovereign parked at the corner of Howe Street and Water Street, where friendly staff await your order. The menu is written on a chalkboard, with specials that change weekly. Beside the 31-foot showpiece Sovereign (purchased in Hamilton and affectionately named “Howie”) is a tent where the magic happens—most notably, the delicious scent wafting in the breeze from the smoker, where early bird Franco Masdea arrives at the ungodly hour of 5 am just to get things set up for the day. Masdea uses a mixture of apple, cherry, and maple wood along with the charcoal to make the woodfire smoked flavour unmistakable. Front-of-house manager Tom Trist tells me that he watches people drive by, then make a quick turn

The Howe Street BBQ site

onto a side street, following their nose to see what that intoxicating smell is all about. The food is designed to be a homage to a few of the different varieties of barbecue available across North America, say Richmond and business partner Steve Simpson, owner of Tomlin Restaurant in an email to The Walleye. “Think Texan or southern barbecue, but with that classic Tomlin flair.” The pulled pork sandwich comes with three choices of sauce: tangy mustard barbecue, sweet Dr. Pepper, (a fan favourite!), and vinegary Carolina glaze. Topped with slaw and served with a side pickle, these sammies managed to hit every single one of my taste buds. The loaded potato wedges, topped with bacon, cheddar, scallions, and sour cream, are seasoned with an incredibly addicting mix (would you believe their secret ingredient is a little bit of duck fat powder to add to the decadence of it all?) And kicky beverages such as Tang Lemonade and Mango Iced Tea are a refreshing hit.

Pulled pork sandwich “Howe Street BBQ has, and continues to be, a labour of love,” the partners say via email, adding that if it continues to be a success, they will relaunch it next year and possibly expand with some new ideas.

As for the hush puppies, Trist chuckles when he says that they have been described as a “deepfried Timbit.” These small, savoury rounds of goodness with bits of jalapeño embody both sweet and salty, particularly when paired with their warm honey-butter sauce.

Hush puppies

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Follow @howestbbq on Facebook for more information. Open Wednesdays and Thursdays from noon–7 pm.

Loaded potato wedges

tie the knot WITH

J B E VA N S . CA

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Food

SUPERIOR SIP

Are You Blushing? Try Pink-Hued Summer Drinks By Jeannie Dubois, Certified Pommelier and Sommelier

Florid Cider

ummer is in full swing, and while we can, we’ll stretch our sunbaked limbs out under the northern sun and catch the cool breeze off the great lake, and yes, take the time to just chill. The grass is getting golden under the tireless blue skies overhead, but if you fill your glass with something crisp and cool this summer, the colour that keeps coming up is rosy all the way. Pink drinks are all the rage this season, and it’s no small wonder, as they capture all the distinct summer flavours of fresh and juicy fruit and berries just waiting to be bitten into.

Try sinking your teeth (or tastebuds) into a tall glass of your favourite bevvie that has had some sweet pink fruit macerated (soaked), co-fermented (simultaneous doubly fermented), saignéed (gravity bled), or just dumped straight in as a big ol’ juicy, fruit addition. Regardless of the method to the maker’s madness, these rose-coloured glasses deliver all the tasty flavours of the season and are a refreshing reminder of the fleeting yet indelible days of our sweet summer. Enjoy!

Niagara Cider Co.

Rose Gold Berry Soaked Cider $3.95 for 473 ml. LCBO No. 16150, 6.0% ABV. Made with Ontario apple cider blended with Niagara blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries.

Rosé Wine

Malivoire Wine Co. Ladybug Rosé $14.95 for 750 ml. LCBO No. 559088, 12.5% ABV. Made with free-run juice from Ontario Cabernet Franc, Gamay Noir, and Pinot Noir grapes.

Bellwoods Brewery Jelly King Dry Hopped Sour with Strawberry and Rhubarb

Raspberry Vodka Lemonade $2.70 for 355 ml. LCBO No. 19150, 5% ABV. Made with only 1 gram of sugar per can, this Ontario summer vodka soda is flavoured with lemon and raspberry.

Flushed Spirit

Ciderie Michel Jodoin’s Romeo’s X Pink Gin

$7.50 for 500 ml.

$39.95 for 750 ml.

LCBO No. 20822, 5.6% ABV.

LCBO No. 18265, 41% ABV.

Made with tangy sour ale dry hopped with Citra, Amarillo, and Cascade then conditioned on strawberries and rhubarb.

Made in Quebec with a watermelon distillate and additions of juniper, cucumber, dill, lavender, almond, and lemon.

starts August 11th

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Cottage Springs Beverage Co.

Rosy Ale

Fall Registration

Pink Drink

New online registration system available at www.thunderbay.ca/register If you’re having trouble with setting up your online account, call the help line at 625-3738 or 630-1691

Or call the hotline to register at 625-8463

Food

Eat Loco Tacos is the latest taco-focused eatery to open its doors in Thunder Bay

Eat Loco Tacos By Leah Morningstar

f you’re a pizza lover, then you’ve very likely tried Eat Local Pizza at some point in the past 11 years. Yes, 11—that’s how long Thunder Bay has been enjoying the amazing signature pizzas introduced by Jim Stadey in 2010. And if you’re a burger lover, you’ll have surely sampled the menu items at Beefcake’s Burger Factory in Current River. Derek Lankinen opened the restaurant two years ago and it has quickly built up a loyal following. Stadey and Lankinen have known one another, in passing, for decades. They have both worked in the restaurant industry for their entire careers. Despite circling one another for years, they didn’t really become friends until the 2018 municipal election, when they both unsuccessfully ran for councillor-at-large. Their brief foray into

local politics was not only the start of a friendship, but a business relationship as well. It was while they were getting to know each other and talking politics that the idea of a local taco shop was first brought up. Stadey and Lankinen found that their business ideas and work ethics really meshed. “Derek and I really work well together,” Stadey says. “We usually talk out our ideas and it all just seems easy; things just come out better when we work together.” The success of both Beefcake’s Burger Factory and Eat Local Pizza is indicative of what hard work can do. Lankinen says that “hard work was ingrained in both of us from a very young age.” He continues, saying that “Jim and I both take enormous pride in being the absolute best we can be both personally and professionally. We’re going to put as much love into Eat Loco Tacos that

Derek Lankinen and Jim Stadey, owners of Eat Loco Tacos

we do into everything else we’ve done and everything we’ll do in the future.” So what can the customer expect from Eat Loco Tacos? It will mostly be a take-out establishment, with limited seating inside. “We’ll be starting with a small selection of simple, flavourful options that will grow over time,” Lankinen says. “But we’ll also be featuring seasonal and rotating specials,” Stadey adds. Both confirmed that sourcing products locally will be of utmost importance, as they firmly believe in supporting local as much as possible.

Stadey and Lankinen agreed that they feel excited about all the hard work they’ve done, building successful businesses from the ground up. Both have recently started families of their own and the idea of building something they can potentially pass on to the next generations feels like a major accomplishment. Keep your eyes locked on 18 St. Paul Street in the Waterfront District. That’s where you’ll find the tacos. Visit their Facebook page @eatlocotacos.

Keegan Richard

The Next Big Thing in the Waterfront District

Eat Loco Tacos is moving into this building on St. Paul Street

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Food

Nourishing Heart and Mind Score Bakery Whipping Up Fresh Sourdough Breads By Marcia Arpin

t is sometimes the simplest ideas, mixed with a wish, hope, and passion, that rise as the most fulfilling destinations. Justin Bouchard focused his talent to develop cold fermented sourdough with taste and artistry. He has experienced many twists and turns, however, the journey has provided nourishment for both Bouchard and his son. “I did a cooking apprenticeship through Confederation College while working at Caribou, and started to dabble in baking bread,” Bouchard says. “There was an attempt at a second farmer’s market on Victoria Avenue that I sold some bread at for a month on weekends, but the number of customers coming through dropped off severely in the last two weekends, so I gave it up.” Luckily for Thunder Bay, Bouchard did not give up for long, and since 2020 he has been determined to continue to share his passion for fresh bread. Bouchard tempts your taste buds with poetic descriptions of his products, like “Baked in a hot breeze that reverses every two minutes. All while being bathed with a moist, gentle, steam injection,” or a simple dare to the customer: “Bet ya can’t just eat one slice.” And how could anyone resist Score Bakery as it continues to feature flavours like wild blueberry, raspberry lemon, or cranberry? “Although fresh bread basically sells itself, at least in the short term, I knew long term I had to create something that had depth in all aspects of the product to be able to break the ‘it’s just another loaf of bread’ experience,” he says. Bouchard’s philosophy is interwoven into his bread. With each loaf taking a minimum of 26 hours from

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raw to cooked, the process provides much time for reflection. “I feed my starter for my bread, feed my son, Mason, for his brain, and try to feed myself positive information as much as I can,” he says. “It is fantastic to me and greatly beneficial to me that my hands, brain, and energy are feeding people important and thoughtful food. Nothing compares to wanting to create a completely different life for Mason than I ever knew as a child or a young adult.” “I truly appreciate all the continuing and growing support I’ve had and I am super excited to grow this organically to whatever size it needs to be for our city and surrounding area,” he continues, adding that “my son is my motivation especially when he tells me that he hopes my bread bakes well each night, or he asks me for French toast with my cranberry bread or just a slice toasted with butter for a snack.” To keep up with the increasing demand for his bread, Bouchard has recently upgraded his oven and adapted his home to the process of making bread. This “delicious nicely crusted, delicate textured, long fermented sourdough” is quickly becoming a community favourite, and is stocked regularly at Dawson General Store and The Commissary. Find Score Bakery on Facebook @TheBreadologist, or call (807) 355-7538.

Food

Pinetree Catering's Nikos Mantis preparing a salad with sheep’s feta and strawberries

Cooking Up a Storm

Chefs Take Centre Stage in Local Food Promotion Story by Matt Prokopchuk, Photos courtesy of Thunder Bay In Season

new campaign by the Thunder Bay and Area Food Strategy to promote local food will also allow people to get to know a good number of the chefs in town who are responsible for the city’s strong culinary scene. The What’s In Season campaign features a video each month starring a different local chef, who will cook a meal featuring locally sourced and seasonal ingredients. These tutorials are accompanied by information about local producers, as well as other features to help viewers learn more about when certain things are available. This initiative is part of the wider Thunder Bay In Season campaign, which features an online directory of local food producers and processors, as well as listings of restaurants and

other businesses where these locally produced and sourced foods can be purchased. That directory launched in March, while the first tutorial video, featuring Nikos Mantis of Pinetree Catering preparing barbecued veal rib steaks, went up in early July. “We invited 12 different chefs from the community to come and showcase their skills and let us know what local ingredients they like to use and the recipes they enjoy,” says Karen Kerk, the coordinator of the Thunder Bay and Area Food Strategy. “We were looking for recipes that were fairly easy for the average person to do fairly quickly, and the biggest part was we wanted to use ingredients that were in season. We’ve been really blown away by the variety of ingredients that are available locally.” August’s video is set to feature Allan Rebelo from Bight and El Tres. Ingredients that will be highlighted over the next couple of months will include pork shoulder roast, hot and sweet peppers, pattypan squash,

Chef Nikos Mantis in July’s video preparing veal rib steaks for barbecuing

sheep’s feta cheese, and cilantro, Kerk says, adding that there will be a Mexican-inspired theme.

She adds that it’s all about getting cooks of all skill levels to think locally when choosing what to buy.

Kerk says the video series comes at a time when, due to COVID-19, many forms of learning have moved online. “We thought that videos [were] a great way to showcase fairly quickly what’s available and how to put together recipes,” she says. “We hope that it will inspire people to go out and track down the ingredients to make the recipes that they might be interested in, or try their own.”

“We hope that people will integrate more local food into their daily and weekly menus at home.” Visit tbayinseason.ca or @tbayinseason on Facebook and Instagram for more information.

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Sponsored Content

Meet the 2021 Summer Company Students Key Components 3D Printing and Design Will is the owner and operator of Key Components 3D Printing and Design. Will designs and 3D prints products that help to improve the golf course turf maintenance industry. Key Components currently offers pocket keys (that can be customized) and bike plough attachments. Items can be purchased through Will’s website at keycomponents3d.ca or viewed on Twitter @KeyComponents3D.

Parkdale Lawn Care Noah is the owner/operator of Parkdale Lawn Care, a student-run lawn care company. Services include turf care, lawn cutting, lawn treatment, landscaping, and gardening. Parkdale Lawn Care offers custom scheduling, no contracts, and competitive pricing while meeting clients’ needs. Services can be viewed at parkdalelawn.com or you can contact Noah at 355-3008.

Elite Window Washing Co. Travis is offering window-washing services through his business, Elite Window Washing Co. Services are available for both commercial and residential buildings located in Thunder Bay and the surrounding areas. Travis is offering free quotes to anyone interested in the services. Find Elite Window Washing Co. on Instagram @elitewindowwashingco, email at EliteWindowWashingCo@gmail.com or call Travis at 252-8875.

Mummu’s Pulla Ailiin recently launched Mummu’s Pulla, a baked goods company that is selling pulla. Pulla is a Finnish cardamom loaf that can be eaten as-is, or dipped in coffee/tea. Ailiin is offering fresh baked (per order) regular loaves as well as raisin loaves. To order a loaf or learn more, visit mummuspulla.ca or find them on Instagram @mummuspulla.

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Static Signal Suits Meet Marshy, the owner and operator of Static Signal Suits. Marshy will be pulling inspiration from their character designs to create wearable costumes called fursuits. This process includes creating the mold, casting, and building the costume. To learn more and view the suits, explore Static Signals Suits on Instagram and Twitter @staticsignalsuits!

Aspect Ontario Abby is the owner/operator of Aspect Ontario, an affordable creative niche marketing approach for small businesses serving Ontario’s residents and tourism sector. The goal of Aspect Ontario is to create an online platform that inspires people to engage with the small businesses in communities across Ontario. Aspect Ontario creates unique photo and video advertising content, as well as provides businesses with a creative platform to showcase that content, working to highlight the aspects that make each business unique, while highlighting the company’s humanness. Connect with Abby at hello@aspectontario.com, on Instagram @aspectontario, or on LinkedIn.

The Art of a Chicken Meet Hailey, the owner and creator of The Art of a Chicken. Hailey is going to be creating and selling her artwork that is inspired by nature and the chickens that she owns. Find The Art of a Chicken on Instagram @ theartofachicken to meet the chicks and see the art for sale.

Heartless Zakk is owner of Heartless, a custom clothing business. Zakk will be creating the designs for the business and printing them onto apparel, including shirts, sweaters, and hats. Over the summer, Zakk hopes to explore the options for purchasing an embroidery machine to expand the apparel designs.

Sargent Swampy Art Meet Jaimie, the owner of Sargent Swampy Art. Jaimie is located in Longlac, and is selling art products that she creates including commission pieces and resin art. Sargent Swampy Art’s popular items include resin rings and resin self-defence keychains. Jaimie intends to donate a portion of her sales to charities in her community. Find Sargent Swampy Art on Facebook @Sgt Swampy Art and on Instagram @sgt.swampy.art.

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DATOR AN

Check out new items grown every week!

M A KS S

Thunder Bay Country Market We Make It, Bake It, Grow It

All types of vendors are open at the Market!

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Visit Us:

Find/Follow Us:

Open Year Round on Wednesday 3:30-6:30pm & Saturday 8:00am-1:00pm

CLE Grounds - Dove Building Northern & May Street tbcm.ca @tbaymarket

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807-344-3366 The Walleye

Sponsored Content

REALTORS® Give Back to Women’s Shelters During COVID-19 Pandemic Crisis By the Thunder Bay Real Estate Board The ethical obligations of REALTORS® are based on moral integrity, competent service to clients and customers, and dedication to the interest and welfare of the public. This is the promise and duty REALTORS® of the Thunder Bay Real Estate Board have to their community. Part of this promise includes helping those find their dream home that provides comfort, security, and a place to grow a family. However, the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted circumstances that require extensive care. When the pandemic struck, domestic violence increased, and many families faced horrific scenarios within their own households. As shelters did everything they could to help and protect these women and children, the Thunder Bay Real Estate Board wanted to do their part to help as well. The Thunder Bay Real Estate Board chose Faye Peterson House and Women’s Shelter, Saakaate House to receive donations as part of the REALTORS Care® Foundation Emergency Grants. “These shelters were some of the hardest hit foundations since the pandemic started. With an increase of domestic violence, lack of child support, and issues around isolation, we wanted to do our part in supporting these foundations and give back any way we could,” says George Ioannidis, board director of the Thunder Bay Real Estate Board. In response to the challenges faced by Ontario shelters and food banks brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ontario Real Estate Association has donated $1,000,000 to the Ontario REALTORS Care® Foundation. This gave the Thunder Bay Real Estate Board the opportunity to give back to these shelters during a time of crisis.

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Faye Peterson House

Women’s Shelter, Saakaate House

Faye Peterson House is a program of Crisis Homes Inc., a registered non-profit organization to support survivors and their children. Organizations like Faye Peterson House helped many people over the years, and continue to do so. Faye Peterson House is a safe place where a survivor can consider all their options and make decisions for themselves. They have a shelter program with 24 beds in a physical shelter, a 55+ women’s program, an extensive outreach program, family court support, early childhood education, and a transitional housing program. COVID-19 had a significant impact on how Faye Peterson was able to support these survivors and their families. Women being isolated at home caused even more fear to reach out for help. A quarantine process made it more challenging for physical shelter. The justice system was and continues to be overwhelmed so that it cannot do its part in protecting these survivors. With the help of astounding support and donations, Faye Peterson House was able to adjust and adapt during the pandemic.

Women’s Shelter, Saakaate House is a shelter for women and their children who are experiencing violence in their lives and seek safety. Confidential 24-hour support and safety are offered by staff working from a feminist perspective in an environment in which women can make informed decisions. Saakaate House has an emergency shelter to provide a safe and secure environment for abused women and their children, a 24-hour crisis line, counseling services, a visiting nurse, and referrals and resources.

Donations to Faye Peterson House facilitated incredible changes this year. They were able to update the physical shelter so each of the 24 rooms they have now each have its own bathroom. They were able to create a food program for people 55+ where two days’ worth of food was delivered right to their doors. As children moved to online learning, Faye Peterson House came up with an initiative to put together boxes of food and crafts for children to support their homeschooling. Donations are also a huge part of their outreach program, helping these families restart their lives by providing basic needs such as sheets, towels, kitchen utensils etc.

“Thunder Bay has always been extremely generous over the years and when COVID hit the support grew even more. We are very grateful for our community.” - Faye Peterson House

“Always validate a story from a survivor. Be empathetic, listen, and be understanding. Hear where they are coming from.” - Faye Peterson House

Saakaate House is part of the global community of women, and works for equality for all. They believe that all persons have the right to live free from the presence and threat of violence, the right to safe affordable housing, and the right and ability to be in control of their lives by making independent choices and decisions. Saakaate House provides services to women who have experienced violence and who reside in and around Kenora, Keewatin, Jaffray Melick, surrounding trade area, and outlying First Nations communities, in a consistent, compassionate, supportive, and respectful manner with priority attention to safety and confidentiality. With the COVID-19 pandemic heightening the issues of domestic violence, Saakaate House worked tirelessly for their community to provide a safe place and provide resources for women and their children. The Thunder Bay Real Estate Board is thankful for Faye Peterson House and Women’s Shelter, Saakaate House for everything they provide to their communities, and are extremely grateful for the opportunity given by the Ontario REALTORS Care® Foundation for making these donations possible.

FilmTheatre

Movies About Racing By Michael Sobota

Let’s go for a little ride. – Dominic (Vin Diesel) in The Fast and the Furious

ost movies about car racing go around in circles, much like most car races. There are usually two protagonists to provide tension and a love-story sub-plot, usually fast and furious and unimportant to how the movie really wants to entertain you—that is, with speed and flashy CGI and a driving soundtrack, with a lot of engine roars and brakes squealing. A few of these—too few—rise out of that mechanical template and give us a story worth watching. This happens when the racing genre meets a great script writer. Here are three examples of that kind of movie magic and one great racing story that failed in its transfer from page to screen.

The Fast and The Furious (2001—the original) There are nine in this franchise series now, but this one is true and honest and compelling. Good guy and LAPD cop Brian (Paul Walker) goes undercover to get the dirt on presumed bad guy Dominic (Vin Diesel), leader of a gang of street car racers. Brian succumbs to the glamour of this speedy underworld, as well as Dominic’s sister Mia (Jordana Brewster). This basic story was adapted for the screen by Gary Scott Thompson and Erik Bergquist and directed by Rob Cohen. Cohen made the film for $40 million. It went on to make $207,305,509 worldwide and launch eight more sequels (and a couple of spin-offs) over the next 20 years. So far.

Drive (2011)

Logan Lucky (2017)

Director Nicolas Winding Refn, working from a script by Hossein Amini, has created the best race car movie of them all. Ryan Gosling plays a movie stunt driver who also works in a garage and is a getaway car driver for heists. Refn sets the tone in the first 10 minutes before the opening credits for what will unfold in the next two hours. It is a master lesson in visual tension, menace, speed, and cool. The piece that is missing in that opening is the heart-opening and heart-breaking love story between Gosling’s character and Irene, played by Carey Mulligan. Gosling and Mulligan have sizzling onscreen chemistry. The multi-layered plot creates space for an assemblage of other great actors including Oscar Isaac, Albert Brooks, Ron Perlman, and Bryan Cranston. The action sequences are crisp and brutal, elevating the platform for a story about deep passions, risk-taking, and family. Drive is a movie masterpiece.

This may be Steven Soderbergh’s best film. With a script by Jules Asner, he assembled an incredible ensemble of A-list actors and some mighty B-listers as well, including Channing Tatum and Adam Driver (who play brothers), Daniel Craig, Seth MacFarlane, and Katie Holmes. Tatum’s character—fired from his job, desperate to support his daughter’s debut on stage, and estranged from his wife (Holmes)— hatches a plan with his brother (Driver) to rob the bank from the day’s gambling take at a NASCAR race in North Carolina. The bank is underneath the race track, in a highly sophisticated vault. So while the racing occurs above, the fun digs in below. The gift of the film is that everybody dumbs down. That is, no one is showcasing here. All of these powerful actors look like they are wearing no makeup and they don’t care. This has the effect of easy connection with real, down-to-earth characters. The second gift is the script, laced with great buckets of humour, deadpan wit, and a little dangerous slapstick. I highly recommend revisiting Logan Lucky.

THE SECOND MOST PLEASURABLE THING WE DO IN THE DARK. A COLUMN ABOUT MOVIES

The Art of Racing in the Rain (2019) Garth Stein created the best car racing story ever about a man, his dog, his wife and their daughter. It is an salute to the love of racing and the bond between man and dog. It is also an unabashed romantic melodrama. Alas, when he adapted his novel for the screen with Mark Bomback, the story became truncated and had a major plot change that weakened the inner tension and drama. Director Simon Curtis did the best he could with the wounded screenplay and a relatively modest cast. Stein’s story is told from the point of view of the dog, Enzo, voiced in the film by Kevin Costner in a stern, gravelly sort of way. Costner conveys little of the warmth and wisdom that Enzo brings so compellingly to the original novel. I include the movie here as another honest fail in transferring from the page to the screen.

And here are six more speedy movies that might best be viewed on a very large screen: Bullitt (1968), The Italian Job (1969—the original), Joy Ride (2001), Cars (2006), Locke (2013) and Ford v Ferrari (2019).

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FilmTheatre

‘Rethinking, Revisioning’ Superior Theatre Festival Looks to 2022

Story by Matt Prokopchuk, Photos by Ingaged Creative Productions

staple of Thunder Bay’s annual summertime arts and culture scene is taking a break this year, as its members look to regroup and plan for the longterm future. The Superior Theatre Festival won’t run in 2021, says Donna Marie Baratta, the festival’s artistic and managing director. Instead, they will use the time to “focus on restructuring, rebuilding, rethinking, and revisioning,” adding that they started that work after the conclusion of the 2020 festival, Undercurrents, in December. Due to COVID-19, Undercurrents was a recorded affair: six short films that told their stories through music and dance, released to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Thunder Bay, and released online. With the pandemic forcing everyone to rethink many aspects of their lives, new membership on the festival’s board, and the organization hitting the five-year mark, Baratta says now is a good time to regroup.

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“A lot of what 2021 is is really kind of revisioning, creating new partnerships—building, basically,” she says, adding that they’re also evaluating the areas in which the festival has been successful since its launch in 2016, and where there is room to grow. “I think that that kind of energetic break is a good thing, because we can go more into rebuilding and also writing grants and all the things we need to do to be successful for 2022, when we hope that people will be able to come together again without maybe the same restrictions,” she says. The festival usually runs at the end of July, Baratta continues, adding that ever-changing public health restrictions due to the pandemic also would have made it difficult to plan for this year. Some areas Baratta says festival organizers are focusing on during the whole process include more engagement with other arts groups in the Thunder Bay community and creating new partnerships, as well

Hoop dancers Kinew and Saagatay Councillor

as continuing their efforts to promote diversity and inclusion in the festival’s works and structure. She adds that they’re also using the time to develop projects, and investing in new work that takes longer to come together. One highlight that came from the most recent Superior Theatre Festival, Baratta says, is the entry of one of the Undercurrents shorts, Woodlands Groove, to a pair of festivals: the dance: made in canada—fait au canada Festival, and Dancinema. Woodlands Groove features two young hoop dancers from Naicatchewenin First Nation, Kinew and Saagatay Councillor. Baratta says the organization will continue to send out films from Undercurrents to other festivals, as well as other projects to theatre companies further afield. “That’s kind of a whole new thing for us,” she says. “We’re also really excited getting the word out, getting the work that we’re doing in Thunder Bay further than Thunder Bay.”

To learn more, visit the festival’s Facebook page @superiortheatrefestival. For more information, or to inquire about joining or partnering with Superior Theatre Festival, email Donna Marie Baratta at superiortheatrefestival@gmail.com.

10x10 participants at the showcase’s last event in February 2020 before the pandemic

In-Person Theatre is Back 10x10 Out Loud Theatre Showcase Returns Story by Nancy Saunders, Photos by Marty Mascarin

t’s been a long while since theatre was held in person rather than over an online platform; the theatre industry was one of the first to shut down during the pandemic, and will be among the last to reopen. Exciting news for theatre lovers is the return of the 10x10 theatre showcase, now in its eighth year. Usually held at Magnus Theatre in April for the last several years, 2021 brings a new date as well as a new location: 10 short plays written by 10 Northwestern Ontario playwrights, featuring local actors, directors, and technicians, will be staged outdoors at the Spirit Garden at Prince Arthur’s Landing on August 27 and 29. It is fitting that this year’s showcase will take place at a popular destination in the city, as the 10x10 showcase is the city’s current recipient of the Cultural Organization of the Year award through the Thunder Bay Arts & Heritage Awards. All plays will be shown on both days and admission to this year’s showcase is free, with advance registration required in order to meet COVID requirements.

Artistic director Cathi Winslow outlines the typical artistic process of bringing 10x10 plays to life—one that, despite a postponement and certain adjustments, was mostly followed this year. “All of these plays were written before the pandemic. A jury selected them and we started the development work,” she says. “The playwrights all got to work with dramaturgs to help them develop their characters and storylines, then we did round table readings in February 2020. […] Playwrights get a few weeks to work on their plays, and then they write the final drafts. That’s when we had to stop last year—they’d just submitted the final drafts of all 10 plays.” Once this year’s festival seemed viable, progress resumed. Casting is typically done by auditions but this year an open call was put out that resulted in around 30 actors being selected. Each play will involve approximately eight hours of rehearsals before they’re performed for the public. An important part of the mandate behind 10x10 is that all artists are paid, including “playwrights, directors, actors, technicians,” says Winslow. “All too often, artists are expected to volunteer because they

love what they do. We feel that good art is really worth it, and the audience enjoys it and the artists deserve to be paid.” “10x10 is a place to show original work to the public; something we don’t have a lot of. We focus on developing capacity for playwrights and directors and actors and technicians; we’ve always had a lot of training and mentorship,” she continues. Sheena Larson has acted in the showcase twice and this is her first year participating as a playwright. “Last year I was really excited to have my play picked because I’ve been such a fan of the 10x10 for so long. […] It was really exciting to hear that they’re going to revisit the plays this year, and it’s really unique that they’re going to use the Spirit Garden […] and that they’re still going to go up—maybe not in the capacity I originally pictured,” she says. “But it’s been a really fun opportunity, still, that they gave all of us playwrights the same opportunity: they asked us if we’d be okay with this different version of the plays happening. I think everyone was really agreeable, because at the end of the day I’m just really grateful that I’m going to see my play,

this idea I had, come to life. Even if it’s not on a stage at Magnus, it’s really exciting that it’ll be somewhere with an audience who can still experience it.” This year’s selections consist of five comedies and five dramas. “A lot of the stories have to do with making connections, or missing connections. A couple are set in dystopian futures; a few have to do with daring situations,” Winslow says, highlighting The Universe of a Thunderbird written by Cornelius Beaver as a beautiful play by the festival’s youngest playwright, at 18 years old. “Vibe Check is about millennial angst; and Sheena’s play Benny and Max is extremely funny,” Winslow continues. Larson agrees that her play is a comedy, but adds that it “deals with isolation and mental health issues, and aligns with this past year with people feeling disconnected and being stuck in their homes. It’s fitting now, and applies given the year we’ve all had.” Visit their website 10x10tbay.ca or find them on Facebook @10x10TBay for more information.

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TheArts

Berry Picking

FROM THE THUNDER BAY ART GALLERY’S COLLECTION

By Penelope Smart, Curator, Thunder Bay Art Gallery Artist: Saul Williams Title: Berry Picking Date: 1975 Medium: Serigraph on paper Dimensions: 74.9 x 88.9 cm Gift of Mr. N.C. Opperman, 1985

lueberry season is here. An ice cream pail full of wild blueberries is something many of us wait for all summer (and dream about all winter). Picking those first ripe berries in a favourite (secret) spot is a moment of delight, joy, and even more than that, a feeling of home. Berry picking connects us to the rocks, water, and boreal forest— the place we live.

Berry Picking by Anishinaabe artist Saul Williams (b. 1954) presents berry picking as an entry point into themes of memory, relations, and Anishinaabe myth in northern Ontario. The artist depicts three human figures near a birchbark basket full of ripe blueberries. Common to Woodland style, a fourth human figure and a loon appear “inside” two of the figures in x-ray vision. Two

larger orange circles float diagonally near the head of the central figure as celestial orbs, or life circles. Interestingly, this figure has their mouth open to the highest orange orb, perhaps in song. Williams’s berry pickers evoke feelings for the berries and that run deeper than joy. Williams is considered a Woodland School master painter. In this serigraph, his contrasting colours of red and green and blue and orange make his dark, bright, moody palette sing. Many of his works feature earthy shades of brown, tawny, and ochre. In an Anishinabek News article by Barb Nahwegahbow in 2017, Williams said that his works are inspired by stories and legends he heard from his grandparents and other elders, growing up in his North Caribou Lake community. “That’s

how people taught their kids,” he said. What teachings or stories about berry picking do you think are present in this work? Did you know the Anishinaabemowin word for “blueberry pie” is one of the longest in the language? Here’s a new word to practice while out picking berries: miini-baashkiminasigani-biitoosijigani-bakwezhigan.

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Paul Morralee

TheArts

John Nistico, Primary Foto Source

Cynthia Nault paints at Porphyry Island Lighthouse

The Brush that Heals

The Artwork of Cynthia Nault By Amy Sellors

“T

here’s no other way I can be,” multimedia artist, activist, and cultural sensitivity coach Cynthia Nault says frankly. Her different roles intertwine to help her to heal both herself and others. “It’s not a job, it’s my calling. Those things working together—that’s what I was put on this Earth to do.” How do you translate what you see in your mind’s eye to a canvas? “I’ve always been an artist, but I struggled to find the medium that was right for me. Having your creation be so far away from the thing

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you want to create can be so unsatisfying,” says Nault. But when she first touched fluid acrylic paint—a happy medium between watercolour and acrylic—she knew this was what she was looking for. Her confidence and portfolio grew. Often, her subjects are animals. These animals act as spirit guides providing medicine in every painting—they heal Nault as she paints, and the viewer as they see the finished piece. She speaks candidly about her struggles with mental health and its roots in the

intergenerational trauma her family has experienced. Nault has learned that as people grow and heal, life gets better. Art aids in healing so therefore, art makes life better. For Nault, painting has become a spiritual practice, a deliberate mindfulness that helps you listen to your inner guidance. Last year she shared her knowledge in her fourweek course, Painting as a Spiritual Practice. Participants acquired painting skills, and also learned a great deal about themselves. One student shared that the course

“provided the opportunity to know and understand myself better and explore my creative side in a safe and nurturing space. The environment allowed me to challenge my limited views or self doubts with gentle guidance and opportunities for self reflection. Painting skills and technique were offered in a way that allowed for intuitive guidance and free flow, so the painting experience was fun and fostered joyful self-expression.” Nault is rewarded as well. “I love witnessing people finding their style and finding satisfaction

Nault is doing much more than just surviving. She creates beautiful art that enriches our hearts, minds, and souls. And she can help you do the same. This September, you can enrol in her Painting as a Spiritual Practice course. No painting experience is required, and she will provide the tools and inspiration you need to get started. Follow Cynthia Nault on Instagram or Facebook @sacredcolours for more information.

John Nistico, Primary Foto Source

For many artists, the pandemic made it hard to create, and it was difficult to express why. And along with the pandemic came political and cultural movements that stirred our emotions. During this time, Nault found herself beading—an art form abundant with physical, mental, and spiritual healing—and she is coming out of this pandemic creating art that focuses on healing, but also, drives change. Art is the bridge to go from feeling to doing.

“It’s so hard for me to see the world the way it is, so I have to do something. I just can’t not do it,” says Nault. “So many Indigenous people didn’t set out to be activists. They’re just trying to survive.”

John Nistico, Primary Foto Source

in the finished result. It’s a special experience to go on that journey with people. I get to witness a lot of personal growth. And it helps me too.”

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TheArts

A Northern Fashion Icon Raffaella Farno on Dance and Fashion Story and photo by Eleanor Albanese

s I wandered up Red River Road on the hottest day of the year, I could see in the distance a barefoot woman in a long floral skirt holding a broom and sweeping the sidewalk, who I immediately recognized as Raffaella Farno. Moments later, I was sitting in her garden—archways of olive vines, fountains, and hideaway nooks. Coffee and chocolates and Italian bread materialized on the glass tabletop where we sat. Raffaella is a Thunder Bay icon in fashion, dance, and all things beautiful. She is known for outdancing anyone half her age at the Festa Italiana each year, switching shoes every hour in order to outsmart her feet and dance longer. Raffaella has

40 The Walleye

been reminding us for years that life is full of enchantment, if we’re brave enough to embrace it. It was this elemental sense of life’s beauty that first attracted my daughter to Raffaella. As a young girl, Rose waited with hopeful anticipation while attending Sunday service, or wandering in the neighbourhood, that she might catch a glimpse of Raffaella. Raffaella stood out with flowers in her hair, flounced skirts and dresses, sprinkling her garden of colour everywhere she went. This delicate, black-haired woman expressed to little Rose that life is full of expansiveness. Raffaella was, and still is, a rare person who doesn’t dwell on fitting in with the status quo.

Raffaella grew up poor in a tiny village in Calabria. She lost her mother as a small child, and had a strict upbringing that didn’t include dance. But one of her brothers taught her a few steps and from that moment on, she wanted nothing more than to move her feet. During our recent visit in her backyard, Raffaella said that “people don’t understand how I feel if I don’t dance.” Raffaella also showed me a picture of herself with a baby in her arms. In the photo, she had just emigrated from Italy with her husband and child. At 18 years old, she had a movie star quality about her, reminding me of Penélope Cruz.

My daughter grew up to become a Montreal fashion designer and often reflects on Raffaella’s influence. One of Rose’s longtime wishes has been to dress Raffaella in clothing from her design label, Rightful Owner. Rose has finally had her chance; a dream come true. So many of us are grateful to Raffaella for the way she brings beauty into her life, forging a path for others to do the same. When I asked Raffaella what advice she has to give, she paused, then said, “Take care of yourself. Take care of your gift. Never abandon who you are. It’s a lot of work, though. It’s not easy.”

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Outdoor

The Path of the Paddle Follow the path. It will lead you through boreal rivers and crystal-clear lakes, and past silent, watchful cliffs. Your guides will be eagles and your destination endless. Lise Sorenson, Trails Officer, Path of the Paddle

The Turtle River

Courtesy of Path of the Paddle

As part of the Trans Canada Trail, Path of the Paddle has six connected trail sections. “When the route planners came through Northwestern Ontario, it was decided that a water route seemed to be the most interesting,” says Clara Butikofer, past chair of Path of the Paddle. “It would simulate the mode of transportation for Canada’s early residents, settlers, and entrepreneurs.” The six sections are:

Trail amenities. A thunderbox installation on the Animikii section

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Animikii

The Quetico Trail

Meaning “thunderbird” in Anishinaabemowin, or the Ojibway language, Animikii is a 136-kilometre water trail linking the Thunder Bay hiking trail to the Omimi water trail. The Animikii trail is located between Fort William Historical Park and Minnesota’s Grand Portage National Monument on Lake Superior. Paddlers enjoy the Kaministiquia River, soaring cliffs, pebble beaches, and the cold clear waters of the world’s largest freshwater lake. Along the Canadian border, the route offers a combination of hiking trails including High Falls and Middle Falls on the Pigeon River, and a 37-kilometre biking trail leading into LaVerendrye Provincial Park.

The 140-kilometre Quetico Trail travels through Quetico Provincial Park beginning in Cache Bay and continuing through the centre of Quetico. From Pickerel Lake there is a small loop that connects to the park visitor centre at French Lake. The route returns to Batchewaung Bay and continues north to the park boundary at Nym Lake joining the Maukinak Trail.

Maukinak The 160-kilometre Maukinak segment joins the Quetico Trail and the Migizi Trail. Providing canoeing and backcountry camping, this trail passes through Turtle RiverWhite Otter Lake Provincial Park joining Dryden and Atikokan. The

route takes you through a series of smaller lakes sandwiched between highways 622 and 502, exploring canyons and clear lakes with excellent fishing and wildlife viewing opportunities.

Migizi Migizi, meaning “bald eagle” in Anishinaabemowin, is 199 kilometres of rivers, lakes, and creek waterways. It traverses the Experimental Lakes Area. The big waters of Eagle Lake are a stark contrast to the surrounding areas and offer sand beaches and big, beautiful campsites.

Omimi Coming from the Anishinaabemowin word “omiimii,” meaning “pigeon,” the Omimi trail stretches 100 kilometres, linking the Quetico trail from Northern Light Lake to Partridge Falls on the Pigeon River. This route follows the rivers and lakes straddling the United States-Canada border; on the Canadian side, the trail lies within LaVerendrye Provincial Park, and on the American side, the world-renowned Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness meets the trail.

The Quetico Gallery along the route has a series of pictographs, or Indigenous rock paintings, showing images such as hand prints and mystical creatures

Tim McKillop

ith a nod to author Bill Mason and his book of the same name, Path of the Paddle is a 1,100-kilometre water trail stretching across Northwestern Ontario from Thunder Bay to Manitoba. This unique trail weaves wilderness and community together through a network of portages and campsites allowing paddlers to head out for the day, the weekend, or an entire season.

Courtesy of Path of the Paddle

By Tim McKillop

Courtesy of Path of the Paddle

Iinoo Oowan Finally, the Iinoo Oowan trail travels 170 kilometres, joining Kenora with Whiteshell Provincial Park and the existing Trans Canada Trail in Manitoba. Following the Winnipeg River, the route was historically a key travel corridor, and is now followed by modern-day adventurers paddling across Canada.

The Path of the Paddle trail represents years of work of very dedicated volunteers. Offering opportunities for all paddlers, from standup paddle boarders to expedition canoe and kayakers, the route flows through the labyrinth of waterways that is Northwestern Ontario. From big flatwater to lazy, meandering rivers, there is truly something for every adventurer.

Courtesy of Path of the Paddle

This pit stop is a wonderful chance to get some ice cream on the Winnipeg River

Portages are usually common along the trail (Courtesy of Path of the Paddle)

Courtesy of Path of the Paddle

A campsite along the Winnipeg River

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Outdoor

Learning from the Land

Niibing Tribal Tours Offers Cultural, Land-Based Tours

Cindy Crowe’s Neebing Township property where she runs her tours

At Niibing Tribal Tours, there is something for anyone looking to learn more about Indigenous culture and get back to nature. A day pass gives you the chance to plan your own visit, or you can camp out for several days. Crowe takes a holistic approach in all the scheduled day programs, which cover a range of activities and teachings. Planning a retreat, whether corporate, family, or just for fun, starts with a one-on-one consultation where all the details are worked out together. Activities, length of stay, and learning outcome are all examples of specifics you can discuss. She works with clients to

create their own program. This is part of the fun and adventure for her, as well. Crowe has a rich knowledge of local history, Indigenous teachings, and all matters of the natural world that she is excited to share. “I love for people to gain a better appreciation of the Earth and our connection to it,” she says. “I want people to walk away from their experience inspired.” And there is plenty to serve that goal. During the month of August, she will be hosting sessions around exploring water beings. In September, it will be harvesting plant medicines. All scheduled programming includes bannock, tea, and other goodies from the Bannock Lady. Activities are based on the land and take place mostly outdoors. Times of quiet contemplation and individuality are encouraged. Everyone will come away with a different experience and Crowe will “accommodate pretty much anything,” she says.

Crowe has a distinct vision and is happy to share this with the community and those who wish to visit. Niibing Tribal Tours is also offering guided tours of local landmarks and historical areas with a cultural bent. Any kind of tour can be arranged and Crowe says she

is open to sharing her knowledge, culture, land, and spirit with all people. Visit niibing.ca or email Cindy Crowe at crowe@tbaytel.net for more information.

Jonathan Maconachie, Xact Visual

ust south of Thunder Bay, nestled beside Kitchigaming (Lake Superior) and surrounded by boreal forest, is 135 acres of outdoor experience. Cindy Crowe recently started Niibing Tribal Tours on her property in Neebing Township to share her Indigenous knowledge and the land connection on which it is based.

Cindy Crowe of Niibing Tribal Tours

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Cindy Crowe

By Wendy Wright

September 8, 2021 – PANEL – Returning Our Children Home September 15, 2021 – Hand Drum Making Teachings September 22, 2021 – Cultural Appropriation September 29, 2021 – The Sweat Lodge Experience October 6, 2021 – PANEL – Science North hosts Indigenous Ingenuity October 13, 2021 - Action Steps Towards Reconciliation October 20, 2021 - Making Tobacco Ties Together October 27, 2021 – Why is Diabetes so Prevalent? November 3, 2021 – PANEL – Clean Drinking Water Every Community? November 10, 2021 – Animal Spirit Guides November 17, 2021 – Beautiful Beading November 24, 2021 – PANEL – Storytelling & Indigenous Worldview December 1, 2021 – Spirituality Part 1 December 8, 2021 – Spirituality Part 2 December 15, 2021 – Medicine Bag Making & Teachings

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CityScene

Insurance Policy

Establishments that Prioritize Liquor Sales Face Barriers to Coverage By Matt Prokopchuk

ar owners and representatives from the insurance industry say it’s tough times for establishments whose major or sole focus is selling alcohol and catering to the nightlife scene to find coverage.

Nik Fiorito

In Thunder Bay’s downtown north core, Kal Merkley, who owns Babylon Quick Fix with his wife Jana, had to completely revamp their business plan from its initial concept of a hip cocktail lounge, called Babylon Lounge, because no insurance company would cover them. Merkley says those rejections ahead of their planned fall 2020 opening forced them to switch to their current business model and name—a “modern version of an old-school soda shop”—which doesn’t serve alcohol.

Kal and Jana Merkley, owners of Babylon Lounge

Onur Altinbilek, owner of Black Pirates Pub

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they’re leaving the entire bar and restaurant [sector].” Numerous queries to brokers and other providers over the next several months turned up nothing, until the fall, when Altinbilek says he found someone who gave him a “reasonable quote.” But with pandemic restrictions at the time essentially not allowing him to open, he declined. He says he is waiting until restrictions are further lifted to the point he can operate to resume his search.

“The only reason we were able to get any operating insurance is [because] I talked to about 90 insurance guys just within the course of a week and not one of them could find me insurance,” Kal Merkley says. “Until one guy asked the right question: he was like ‘are you willing to operate under a different name?’” The Merkleys were, “and that’s where Babylon Quick Fix was born, because it was a band-aid solution,” he says.

Situations like Altinbilek’s and the Merkleys’ are common, say representatives for a nation-wide, membership-based resource and lobby for the food service industry, as well as the region’s insurance brokers association. James Rilett, a Restaurants Canada vice president, says he’s heard many stories like at Black Pirates, where insurers are dropping clients at renewal time, as well as those of establishments who can’t find insurance or can only get it at hiked-up rates. “It’s affecting everybody with a liquor license, but definitely those that are what we call drinking places or bars are affected more than others,” he says. “We’ve also seen that live music sectors have trouble [getting] insurance as well.”

Across the street and several doors down on Red River Road, Onur Altinbilek, the owner of Black Pirates Pub, has had his own insurance issues. A popular north core night spot and concert venue (and one, Altinbilek says, that has never had a liquor infraction during its over-a-decade-long run), Black Pirates temporarily closed its doors in 2020 when the pandemic hit in March. Altinbilek, however, would get another surprise four months later when his existing policy came up for renewal. “My broker said that the provider wasn’t going to cover […] us anymore,” he says. “Their excuse was that it’s not a big provider;

Clare Kempe, the president of the Insurance Brokers Association of Northwestern Ontario and a local broker, says it’s part of a wider, “hard market” trend across the industry over the past several years, where providers are much more risk-averse and most, if not all, types of insurance are harder to get. Bars and nightclubs, however, carry heightened risk, she adds. “A lot of it has to do with Ontario regulations on liquor licensing,” she says. “Because […] a bar would be liable for giving alcohol to somebody, the liability is what they’re trying to get insured.” Basically, she says, as far as the insurers are concerned, that

means higher historic or projected liquor sales mean more exposure to being sued (potentially in the tens of millions of dollars), and, consequently, it’s a tougher sell. “It all comes back down to […] the high exposure.” “Bottom line is, serve food,” Kempe says of how a business might be able to mitigate the problem, adding that food sales can cut into liquor purchases “and show better balance.” It’s no guarantee, though, as Black Pirates, when open, also features a kitchen. Kempe says COVID-19 didn’t cause the hard market, but is slowing any future softening, where companies may be more willing to accept risk. Rilett says his group has been working with the Insurance Bureau of Canada and insurers to try and help. But these types of swings in the industry have real consequences for businesses, Merkley says. Even with pandemic restrictions throughout this past winter meaning Babylon’s doors would have largely been closed, he says if the business had been insured as a cocktail lounge, they were considering offering takeout drink options under Ontario’s COVID-era regulation changes that allow take-home liquor. The forced switch to the current business model in order to secure insurance has also meant their overhead has “ballooned,” he says. “We’re still in a market that we never intended to be in,” he continues, adding that he’s still eyeing a lounge component to the business in the future. Altinbilek adds that he’d like to see insurance options offered through the public sector. “It’s really disheartening how much control insurance companies have on who they can and can’t insure,” he says. “I don’t understand why there’s not a blanket universal insurance coverage that you can get. […] Like, if we have to have it, why is it private companies?”

CityScene

Gedo’s Hammer, Baba’s Borscht From Ukraine to Port Arthur By Savanah Tillberg

The cover of Patricia Caine's new book about her family's history in Canada

t’s been 38 years in the making, but author Patricia Caine is now ready to release the story of her family’s history in Canada—and incidentally, an integral part of the history of the community of Current River—in her book Gedo’s Hammer, Baba’s Borscht: Raising a Family in Current River 1929–1989. The story begins in 1912, when Caine’s father, Ivan Rusnak, immigrated to Canada from Ukraine. Her mother, Annie, immigrated from Ukraine in 1926 and met Ivan in Port Arthur. Over the following 77 years, Caine’s father worked on the railroads, in the paper mill, owned a logging property, aided in the construction and development of several Current River homes, ran a successful motel, and built a beautiful family with his wife. In 1983, while Caine’s parents were visiting her in Mississauga, she decided that she would sit them down and record their stories of immigrating to Canada and building their lives. “I got their stories down, but unfortunately I made the big mistake of putting the tapes away with the intention of transcribing them later,” Caine explains. “And then it got later, and later, and later […] and then I realised that those tape recordings are not going to keep forever.” In 2011, in preparation for a family reunion, Caine transcribed her father’s stories and then her mother’s the following year.

Throughout the process of transcribing and organizing the events of her parent’s lives, Caine realized how the history of Thunder Bay—specifically the relationships that were transforming between the existing communities in the area—could be seen through her family’s experience. After several years of research, and in addition to her family’s stories and a handful of Ukrainian recipes, Caine wove in historic accounts of the construction and transformation of the Thunder Bay area into the book. “I wanted to write about Port Arthur, Fort William, and Current River the way that they were before my parents came to the Lakehead,” Caine adds, “so that people can gain a sense of the rivalry that existed there and how Current River played a part in bringing the other two together.” In the face of hardship and adversity, both Caine’s family and the wider community grew into something of beauty. Caine hopes her book will inspire people to not forget their heritage and to seek out and learn their family’s stories, recipes, and histories before it’s too late. For those with an interest in learning more about the history of Current River and the Rusnak family, Gedo’s Hammer, Baba’s Borscht can be purchased online from the Thunder Bay Museum.

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48 The Walleye

CityScene

GO LOCAL KAKABEKA FARMERS' MARKET

The Bear Stick Story by Sarah Kerton, Photos by Keegan Richard

e’ve all been on that hike in the woods where we have to wonder what would I have done if that bear had kept following me? The Bear Stick, available at the Kakabeka Farmers’ Market, may be just the thing to assist you in such a moment. “The hiking stick with attitude,” as its creator Jim Morris likes to call it, is a 50-to-52-inch handmade hiking stick that can be used as a defensive weapon in the case of an attack. Made out of locally sourced wood, the Bear Stick looks like a classic hiking stick, but hidden beneath the cap is a six-inchplus ardox spike that can be used to defend against an animal attack. Morris also provides a new backpack Bear Stick measuring 34 inches, and a suitcase version as well. Morris is a busy guy—he’s an active athlete and a retired teacher with a doctorate in education, having taught in Jamaica for three years, and then finishing his career at Lakeview High School. In his retirement he has worked as a tobacco cessation specialist (a.k.a. “The Quit Coach”), teaches spinning at the Complex, and still finds time

to make and market his Bear Stick. He has been an avid hiker for many years, but when he first began hiking, he had been training in Aikido, a Japanese martial art, for decades. He would bring his wooden staff, known as a “jo,” with him for balance on the trails and in case of meeting a bear. “I soon realized that a simple jo would be no match for a charging bear. After thinking it through, I realized that a jo with a sharp end could be used to thrust at a bear to keep him away,” he says. “As they say, the light went on.” And the Bear Stick was born. Morris says he has encountered two bears while hiking, but “luckily they went the other way.” Morris has been a vendor at the Kakabeka Market, located at the Kakabeka Legion, for six years. “I like the friendly atmosphere and the community people who come by,” he says. “Also [not during the pandemic] the legion puts on a great breakfast.” Visit thebearstick.com for more details.

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CityScene

Business Plan

LU’s Ingenuity Business Incubator Sees Early Success By Chiara Zussino

rowing business in the north is something that Alyson MacKay and her team at Ingenuity, Lakehead University’s first business incubator, are extremely passionate about. An alumni of the Faculty of Business Administration, MacKay knows firsthand the importance of business and how much work goes into entrepreneurship.

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Sunkissed Universe started out as an online boutique

Her academic background lends itself perfectly to her current role as the manager at Ingenuity. “My main role is running the day-to-day activities and working with students one on one to support them and their business development needs, as well as planning programming,” says MacKay. Opened in 2018, the incubator was designed to be a space on campus that could cater to the needs of students in any program and alumni up to three years past graduation who are seeking support in starting their own business. “The physical space features a maker space with 3D printers, media room so students can have access to the Adobe suite, lighting, tripods, camera, and video equipment,” she says. “Essentially anything they would need to promote their business.”

Furthermore, Ingenuity also offers eight “hot desks,” which students can use for free as office space, allowing them to come and go as they please. “Above and beyond the space we typically offer one workshop or one guest speaker a week that has to do with all things business related,” MacKay says. These workshops and speakers can range from a local entrepreneur to sessions about funding, business planning, and even social media marketing. MacKay says that they rely almost exclusively on their community partners, such as the Thunder Bay & District Entrepreneur Centre, PARO Centre, Northwestern Ontario Innovation Centre, Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund, the Business Development Bank of Canada, Bioenterprise, and Thunder Bay Ventures to speak with the budding entrepreneurs of Ingenuity. She also

expressed that Ingenuity is continually on the lookout for new community partners and appreciates the support of local businesses. “It is challenging to get people to see entrepreneurship as a viable career. It’s risky—any entrepreneur will tell you that—which is why it is crucial to spread awareness that Ingenuity is here as a resource to support you and your business goals.” One of the biggest success stories that has come out of Ingenuity is their ascend excelerator program. It’s a 12-week bootcamp that supports entrepreneurial students; successful applicants receive up to $7,500 in funding. Mary Wokomah, the founder of Sunkissed Universe and a 2021 graduate of the Honours Bachelor of Commerce program was one of the four applicants accepted into the program. According to Wokomah, “Sunkissed Universe was created as an online boutique during the COVID-19 pandemic and is a business that is a combination of thought-provoking, urban art with a Black focus and fashion that sells sustainable, wearable art.”

As an international student and budding entrepreneur with limited connections, Wokomah says she greatly benefited from Ingenuity. “I poured my heart and soul into my application. I knew that this opportunity would be a great fit for me as they [Ingenuity] have mentors, help with the money side, and have everything I need in one package,” she says. “It felt like a dream come true.” For all of those would-be entrepreneurs, Wokomah advises to “just start [your business]. It can be super intimidating, but when you believe in yourself and your idea that speaks for itself and there will be people to support you along the way.”

HERE W S I E R HE SELF Y M D N U I FO

You can find Ingenuity on campus at Lakehead University and Sunkissed Universe on Instagram @sunkissed_universe.

T B AY ON

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Mary Wokomah, founder of Sunkissed Universe

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CityScene

WALL SPACE

 In addition to their onsite car wash, there is an onsite tow truck if required, as well as complimentary shuttle service.

Repair Space Breeny’s Auto Body Shop

t’s hard to miss the iconic Breeny’s Auto Body Shop building on Thunder Bay’s south side, with the smashed car on its roof. Started in 1952 by Brini Zuliani, it’s a business that has repaired automobiles for almost 70 years. Current owner Jim Douglas began as a tech at the shop in 1987. He became part-owner with Terry Zuliani about 20 years ago, and became full owner about six years ago. “I like cars— that’s basically it,” says Douglas. In addition to the collision business, Douglas is passionate about restoring vintage cars as his own personal hobby. “We do some restoration work, but mostly it’s collision work.” He attributes his passion for cars to his early years with his dad who also loved them.

Story by Tiffany Jarva, Photos by Kay Lee  Automotive painter Tyler Asperjan works on a vehicle in a computerized downdraft spray booth. The hoist allows him to treat the underside of automobiles. Breeny’s offers exclusive digital paint-matching with a lifetime guarantee.  The iconic car on the roof of Breeny’s has been there since about 1964 or 1965, says Douglas. It was in a car crash after about only a year on the road. Ten years ago, they repainted the car.

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A locally owned business with 30 employees, Breeny’s office combined with the body shop is about 18,000 square feet. There’s a paint shop, a car wash, a warehouse of over 300 different types of windshields, and a car storage area. “All departments are important,” says Douglas. “The body shop tends to be busier in the winter and replacing glass is busier in the summer.” Over the decades, Douglas has seen the industry change. “Every year the technology changes, especially with more and more computer scanning and re-setting of the safety features.”

Breeny’s stocks over 300 types of windshields, including those for cars, trucks, and RVs, so that you don’t have to wait too long to replace yours (often the same day). They will also consider mobile options to service windshield/window repair in remote places outside of Thunder Bay.

CityScene

 One of the shop’s six unibody frame benches, which make it easier to work on multiple cars at the same time. Owner Jim Douglas stands in the middle of Breeny’s body shop, which flows nicely into both the office and paint shop.  A restored vintage car—one of Douglas’s personal hobbies—is parked outside of Breeny’s office space. The office is about 8,000 square feet and the body shop is about 10,000 square feet, along with a parking lot that was purchased a few years ago from North American Lumber when it closed its doors.

 “Anything that has paint on it, we can service,” says Douglas. That includes digital colourization for jet skis, snowmobiles, motorcycles, and ATVs. On average, he says they repair about 300 vehicles every month.

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CityScene

annah Gula has always been an athlete. After competing in gymnastics for 10 years, the 22-year-old, originally from Red Lake, is now making her mark on the country’s national powerlifting scene. In July, Gula competed in the Ontario Weightlifting Associationhosted Canadian Senior Championships event, held virtually over Zoom, and placed second overall in her classification. Gula, who also is attending Lakehead University majoring in business, works as a personal trainer at a pair of local gyms. She spoke with us about how she got into powerlifting, what she enjoys doing away from the gym, and the most interesting places her athletics pursuits have taken her.

On what it was like competing at the nationals: It was really cool. There was a girl in my session who’s competing at the Tokyo Olympics this summer, so it was really cool to be in the same session as her. She was the next weight class up, but it was cool to be on the platform at the same time and see that going on. I won first place in the snatch portion of the event, and my clean-and-jerk came third, and then overall, I came second.

EYE TO EYE

With Hannah Gula As told to Matt Prokopchuk, Photo by Jeff Gula

Powerlifter Hannah Gula with her dog Maizy

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On how she got into competitive weightlifting: When I first moved to Thunder Bay [in 2016], my friends were all really interested in the gym, so I would just go and hang out with them, to be honest. And they were into CrossFit at the time, so we were imitating workouts that we would see CrossFit athletes do. Through that, I got really into CrossFit, and a big part of CrossFit is weightlifting. I was taking weightlifting classes and I’m a pretty competitive person, so I found out that you could compete in weightlifting and it was something that I was interested in and it just kind of went from there. On transitioning from gymnastics to weightlifting: It’s really funny because you would think that they’re quite a bit different, but they’re actually really similar in a lot of ways. They’re both individual sports and they’re both really, really technical, and there’s always something to be improved upon, which is really fun. I was always looking for something to kind of fill the gap after finishing gymnastics because I spent a lot of time training—I used to train 25, 30 hours a week and now I had all this extra time that I didn’t know what to do with, so it kind of naturally fell into place.

On what keeps her occupied away from school and the gym: I’m on the track team for the university, which is really fun. I also really like to get outside. I like to go paddleboarding or camping, or go swimming. I also recently got a puppy, so she takes up a lot of my time, too. On what food she’s craving: Sushi. I can always go for sushi. On the most interesting place her athletics pursuits have taken her: With weightlifting, my first national championships I got to go to Montreal, which was really cool. And then with gymnastics, I’ve been all over the States. I got to go to Oklahoma and I got to go to Florida, which was fun to do in high school and [do] a little bit of travelling. On what she’s listening to: I’m not picky, anything that’s on the radio. I like country, because it’s summer. On her favourite outdoor activity: I really like getting in the water, whether that’s swimming or paddleboarding or getting into a kayak or boat, anything like that. On who her personal hero is: I really admire Simone Biles for the absolute greatness she’s achieved. She is a U.S. women’s Olympic gymnast. She’s won four Olympic gold medals, five total medals, and she’s going back to the Olympics this summer. I would consider her the greatest athlete of all time, male or female, any sport.

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CityScene Terra Clean Package

Stuff We Like

Caspian Auto Service & Lube 355 Cumberland Street North

If a complete detail is like a spa treatment for your car, a Terra Clean package from Caspian Auto is like a yoga retreat. Enhanced performance, improved driveability, lower emissions, and restored fuel economy are just a few of the results your car will experience—just like you after a long weekend of sun salutations and kale salads.

For Glamming Up Your Ride By Amy Jones

rom road trips to camping trips to last-minute grocery trips, your car is likely one of the places you spend the most time. And whether you’re cruising around in a luxury sedan, a fifteen-year-old beater, a well-worn minivan, a vintage car, or a souped-up truck, the important thing is you love your ride (even if it drives you crazy sometimes—what is that engine rattle, anyway?). Here’s Stuff We Like for Glamming Up Your Ride.

$159.99

Alpine X-Series Subwoofer

Car Diffuser

The Power Centre 707 Memorial Avenue

Waxxed Candle Co. 16 Cumberland Street North

After carting around you, your family, your dog, your groceries, your sweaty sports gear, your camping equipment, and anything else you might get yourself into, your car might start to smell… a little funky. Freshen it up with this cute wooden diffuser from the scent wizards at Waxxed Candle Co. Available in a variety of scents, including cocoa shea, summer rain, and mimosa.

$20

Complete Detail

If you want them to hear you coming a mile away (and really, why wouldn’t you?), kit out your car with a killer subwoofer like the Alpine X-Series. Developed from the Alpine ID sound philosophy, the X-Series subwoofer has a powerful and efficient motor and highly controlled suspension that creates loud and accurate bass in a very small, sealed box. Complete your stereo with an X-Series amplifier and speakers to really bring the noise.

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The ultimate car spa treatment, a complete detail can improve the performance and integrity of your vehicle. At Central Car Wash, their complete detail package includes everything from a trunk shampoo to tire shine and protection, performed with care by their skilled and experienced detailers. Your car will sparkle inside and out!

Garmin Dash Cam 66W Lakehead Communications 420 Balmoral Street

Sure, we all know a dash cam can help you in the case of a car crash, vandalism, or break-ins, but it can record all the cool things you see, too. This voice-controlled dash cam from Garmin has an 180-degree field of view, 1440p footage, and HDR for increased clarity in low-light—so if no one believed your story about seeing that beaver riding a moose out on Highway 17, next time you’ll have plenty of proof.

$349.99

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LINE-X of Thunder Bay 310 May Street North

For all you truck drivers out there, the LINE-X hard folding tonneau cover is a must-have. And with the highest level of durability available to resist dents and scratches, and LINE-X’s proprietary UV stable coating, which won’t fade even in the harshest sunlight, it’ll stay looking sharp for years to come.

Central Car Wash 811 Central Avenue

$336.50

Folding Tonneau Cover

$1349

Car Seat Cover

Egli’s Sheep Farm 20232 Hwy 17 West, Minnitaki

With 25-mm thick wool that keeps you warm in the winter and cool in the summer, Egli's genuine shearling sheepskin car seat covers are pure driving decadence. Available in three colours, each cover is machine washable and has adjustable straps for easy installation and a universal fit. Buy them online—or even better, take a trip out to Minnitaki and visit the farm in person!

$269

Our 60th Season is coming this Fall. Don’t miss out on any updates. Subscribe to our newsletter today at tbso.ca

THUNDER BAY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Paul Haas Music Director

SEASON 60

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JHP ART GALLERY UPCOMING EVENTS

Reid Thorpe - Contemporary Landscape Painting August 20 - September 12 Opening Reception August 20, 5 - 7 pm

CURRENT EVENTS

FALL REGISTRATION STARTS AUGUST 9TH For more information on our classes

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Two Artists - Two Stories July 23 - August 15 Artist Talk - August 3, 5 pm Hazel Belvo and Marcia Cushmore created a visual conversation around the post-modern concept of Juxtaposition. Each work consists of two paintings two entirely different expressions by two very different painters.

John A. Spelman III - Artist and Printmaker From Appalachia to Minnesota’s North Shore July 2 - September 5

A retrospective show featuring past lives and landscapes of both the Appalachian region as well as Minnesota’s North Shore. Made possible in part by the Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation and the GMATA 2021-2022 1% Local Events Grant Program.

JHP Art Gallery | 115 W. Wisconsin St, Grand Marais, MN 55604

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CityScene

The Future is Electrifying

Electric Vehicle Chargers in Northwestern Ontario

By Evelynn Hoffman, Public and Media Relations Officer, Northern Policy Institute

he question “can I borrow your car charger?” will soon have a very different meaning. Electric and hybrid vehicles are rising in popularity across Canada. Gasoline- and diesel-fueled vehicles are still the most popular choice on the market, but alternative fuel options are slowly starting to gain ground. This will accelerate as we move towards the federal government’s target of having all new light-duty vehicles be zero-emission by 2035. In fact, 8,158 new BEV (battery electric vehicles) were registered in Ontario in 2020, according to Statistics Canada. In addition to solely battery-powered vehicles, 19,164 hybrid-type vehicles were registered in Ontario as well. But committing to a different fuel type isn’t as easy as just buying the car. Now you have to figure out how to charge it, how far you can go between charges, and how the cold weather impacts your range. Is Northwestern Ontario ready for an electric future?

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Looking at the current public electric charging infrastructure, there are nearly three dozen charging stations scattered across the region. In total, as of early July, 20201, there are 18 Level 3 charging stations and 16 Level 2 chargers. Level 2 chargers generally take five to 11 hours to get a vehicle charged to travel 200 to 400 kilometres. A Level 3 charger can get the same charge in 30 to 60 minutes. Not all electric vehicles, however, are compatible with Level 3 chargers. In Northwestern Ontario, larger communities such as Thunder Bay, Kenora, and Dryden have a handful of stations. There are also a few smaller communities along the major travel routes that have stations as well, such as Fort Frances, Nipigon, Terrace Bay, Marathon, Atikokan, Upsala, Ignace, and Geraldton. The list sounds like there are more than enough charging stations to go around, but can you get from one community to another on a single charge? The answer right now is it depends if the conditions are right. Some hybrid vehicles can

travel up to 600 kilometres on a single tank of gas, so they are in good shape. A typical electric car can travel between 300 and 400 kilometres on a single charge. A single charge is more than enough to get you from Atikokan to Thunder Bay.

Journeys such as Thunder Bay to Dryden are cutting it close, but at least you can take a battery pit stop in Ignace or Upsala along the route if needed (assuming your vehicle is compatible with a Level 3 station). The biggest issue with electric

vehicles in Northwestern Ontario is getting from Geraldton to Hearst. There are no charging stations in between, forcing electric vehicle owners to travel along Highway 17 instead if they need to travel to the northeast where there are stations almost every 200 kilometres.

Emily Kerton

The advertised battery range estimates are when you operate the car in ideal conditions, but what about the other nine months of the year when the weather is cooler and our world is covered in snow? Cold weather is said to impact an electric vehicle’s battery range, in some cases by 50%. Now that trip between Atikokan and Thunder Bay is looking a lot longer than just 200 kilometres. Another issue that will plague electric vehicle owners is highway closures and detours. If the highway is closed between Longlac and Nipigon, vehicles in Longlac have no place to charge until the highway reopens and they can get to Geraldton.

A 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander plug-in hybrid electric vehicle

Is Northwestern Ontario ready for an electric future? Not yet. But we are moving in the right direction. Investments in infrastructure are still needed to ensure that we can keep up to the rest of the country while we wait for winter battery technology to improve. More charging stations, especially along the Highway 11 corridor, and improved highway safety to limit road closures are good places to start. To subscribe to Northern Policy Institute’s newsletter, visit northernpolicy.ca/

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CityScene

amount of time. “They’re so encouraging, and their simple words do wonders. They are showing me that what I’m doing is good here.” Not only is she cultivating a new business here in Thunder Bay, but she is also now supporting artists in Cameroon by purchasing their work and ordering directly from local craftspeople. She plans on visiting trade schools in Cameroon and offering apprenticeships to young

workers to begin their own business ventures. She’s also hoping to hire more employees for the boutique. Currently, it’s a family operation, with her daughter Ellie also introducing her hairstyling endeavour in the same building under the name Slay With Ellie. “I’m taking the opportunity that Canada has given us, and I want to show the connections between my African and French side,” she says.

Liliane imports and uses fabric made with cotton that grows in her native Cameroon

Liliane, the owner of The African Boutique

A Story in a Store

The African Boutique Opens its Doors Story by Sara Sadeghi Aval, Photos by Sarah McPherson

“T

his store is actually a story. I started with just a small suitcase of clothing,” says Liliane, as we sit in her brand-new clothing boutique. Only a couple weeks old in early July, the African Boutique is a joy to walk into. Every wall is adorned with bright patterns, and I am surrounded by intricate designs on dresses, purses, shirts, and more. The most amazing part of it all, is that each piece is handmade. Originally from Cameroon, Liliane has lived in Thunder Bay for six years. In 2018, she decided to draw up some clothing patterns. She then sent them away to her sister who is a seasoned seamstress,

60 The Walleye

and got her first batch of clothing to sell. Wanting to honour her African roots, she imports and uses fabric made with cotton grown in her hometown of Douala. “The [Thunder Bay] festivals helped a lot in the beginning. I would set up a booth and people would ask about the clothes. So, I had to learn the laws and the business,” Liliane says of the beginning of her venture. The boutique is available on Facebook Shopify as well, giving local and clients Canada- wide the option to have her products shipped to their home. Liliane’s heavy focus on her clientele is what she believes made her successful in a short

“I want the African Boutique to be a part of Africa here in Thunder Bay and Canada.” The boutique is located at 197 Algoma Street South and is open 10 am–6 pm Monday to Saturday, and 11 am–5 pm on Sunday. Follow @theafricanboutiquethunderbay on Instagram and Facebook and @slaywithellie on Instagram.

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SUMMER SNACKS ON THE PATIO DISCOVER SERENITY

IT’S GRILLING SEASON Now 2 locations to serve you!

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THE WAIT IS OVER CURRENT RIVER WE’RE OPEN AND YES, WE HAVE PARKING!

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CityScene

Banking on Potential

CANNABIS CORNER

A Look at Other Cannabinoids By Justin Allec

ave you had a look at your junk mail folder lately? I bet that you have at least one spam email offering a deal on shady CBD (cannabidiol) products. They’re annoying, but they’re also a sign of cannabis’s proliferation in Canada. You’d have to assume that by now, anyone who wants to be using cannabis already is. Aside from diversifying existing products, research shows that the next focus of the cannabis industry will be promoting “other” cannabinoids, much like how CBD now owns the spotlight. Even though there’s an estimated 140 cannabinoid molecules in cannabis, CBD and its better-known intoxicating cousin THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) make up the yin and yang of cannabinoids that presently occupies the industry’s marketing. It makes sense, since CBD and THC have the highest concentration and you’re probably using cannabis in the first place for the beatific effects from one of these two. While THC has always been synonymous with cannabis, CBD only entered (or overtook, depending on your junk mail folder) the public consciousness quite recently with its miracle claims.

While CBD certainly has some beneficial effects, the claims of a lot of these CBD-focused products aren’t based on any real science. That’s also true of these other three cannabinoids. In all cases the research is still preliminary and still cycling through animal trials. Even though these cannabinoids are only present in trace amounts, there’s enough promise for the industry to focus on them as the next big thing. CBN (cannabinol) is a cannabinoid that’s a by-product of degrading THC. Forget about your stash for a few months and you’ll find that the potency has changed as THC migrates into CBN. The big appeal of CBN, even though it’s untested, is its reputation as an efficient sedative. It has some minor psychoactive properties, but people are mainly interested in CBN as a sleep aid and for its antibacterial priorities.

THCA (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid) is a cannabinoid found only in fresh cannabis; THCA converts to THC as the plant matter cures and during decarboxylation. THCA is non-intoxicating and can be pressed or juiced from raw cannabis plants. In addition to its analgesic properties, it may have benefits for neuroprotective treatments for diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Whether the research will support the industry’s next push remains to be seen, so I’d say be wary of all claims when it comes to any products derived from these or any other cannabinoids. While the apparent benefits are exciting, it’s all potential at this point. That won’t prevent shady products claiming to be the next miracle cure, but as consumers, we can make informed decisions—and keep ignoring our junk mail folders.

Delta-8-THC is found in cannabis but can also be synthesized from hemp. It is a milder intoxicating cannabinoid than its cousin THC, which makes it attractive for medical users wanting the benefits of cannabis—such as dealing with nausea and appetite—without the psychotropic effects.

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CityScene

This is Thunder Bay Interviews by Nancy Saunders, Photos by Laura Paxton (Flashback Photo)

Elianne: I’d like a BMW SUV. I love SUVs, and I’ve always dreamed of having a BMW.

Lisa: A luxury SUV, I guess. Something that’s easy and functional. My husband would have a really good answer—for him it would be a really awesome truck of some sort.

Maria and Chris: Vehicle? A sailboat! We have a 14-foot catamaran but we don’t use it anymore; we need a new one. We’re in the market. We’d like a 16-foot catamaran to use right out in front of the city, basically, for some fun.

This month, we asked The Walleye readers to tell us about their dream vehicle.

Sid and Marlene: We have our dream vehicle. We have a Hyundai Accent. It is so cute; it’s red, and it can spin around on a dime. It can park in the smallest spots, and it just takes us everywhere. Sometimes we can get great big things, and we put the seats down in the back. The trunk is terrific. You can put things all the way through— it’s just amazing. That’s the one.

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‘Charting New Territory’

Thunder Bay Community Auditorium Emerges from Pandemic Shutdown By Pat Forrest

“We were all walking around in shock,” he says. “The feeling was eerie, as if someone had died. We couldn’t even bring ourselves to take down the stage setup and we still haven’t. It’s just like it was on March 13, frozen in time.” Planned events began, as Halvorsen puts it, “falling like dominoes,” including ones that had been sold out. Shows and other activities like dance recitals and graduations were moved to June, then to September. From there, the tough decision was made to refund all tickets.

Calm Elliott-Armstrong

ob Halvorsen, general manager of the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, remembers the day that the COVID-19 pandemic turned his world upside down as if it were yesterday. On Thursday, March 12, 2020, the facility hosted what would be, unbeknownst to its staff, its last performance for well over a year. The next day, preparing to host a sold-out show of The Simon & Garfunkel Story, Halvorsen was ordered by the Thunder Bay District Health Unit to shut everything down. An hour later, the performers’ truck was packed and they were gone.

The Thunder Bay Community Auditorium will start hosting shows late this year It was then that Halvorsen and his staff started to realize just how important the auditorium was to people. “These calls to people about their refunds were not quick chats. People wanted to share stories with us, to tell us how much the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium means to them,” he says. “People come here to be engaged and entertained and they told us they could not wait to come back. That was uplifting for all of us to hear.” The reduced team of staff has used the downtime productively, moving to a state-of-the-art ticketing system and overseeing a major renovation of the lobby, which Halvorsen promises will impress patrons when they are allowed back. In the meantime, auditorium staff are moving cautiously back into the business of entertainment, hosting one show late this year and having several more lined up for 2022.

The venue will welcome the Canadian alternative rock band July Talk in December, followed by The Glorious Sons, a Kingston rock and roll band with roots in Thunder Bay, on February 11, 2022. Vancouver indie rock band Mother Mother will take the stage on May 8, 2022, followed by Queen: It’s a Kinda Magic on May 25. Rumours, a Fleetwood Mac tribute, is planned for November 2, 2022. As Halvorsen was reminded in the spring of 2020, things can change at the drop of a hat. “We’re charting new territory every day,” he says. “We look forward to getting back to whatever the new normal is.” To stay up to date with show dates and other information, visit tbca.com

July Talk is scheduled to play the auditorium in December

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“We are very much a service company. We are problem solvers, and our strength lies in our ability to innovate and incorporate process data into the business itself.” Perrault explains. Digital Engineering focuses on enhancing monitoring and control for businesses. While they are involved in the electricity, mining, forestry, and grain industries, it was their focus on managing customer relationships that lead them to the BTIF program. “Although the Innovation Centre usually works with startup companies, we are an example of how an established business can benefit from working with them. When the BTIF program was introduced, we took the opportunity to utilize information from previous training and identified the need for Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software. Without the BTIF funding, this project would have sat on the back burner.” Perrault tells us.

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Music

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usicians find inspiration in surprising places. For Thunder Bay guitarist John Dolce, playing acoustic guitar at yoga classes—his wife Colleen is a yoga instructor—provided the spark for new instrumental music that found a home on his latest CD, Chill. When Dolce plays his guitar for the final minutes of yoga practice, he’s not playing a memorized song. Rather, before the class he loosely plans out the fingering and chords he wants to incorporate, which he calls “planned spontaneity.” Then, he explains that “when it’s time for me to play at the yoga class, I kind of have an idea of what I am going to do, but I just let it unfold. I let whatever came into my head come into my hands.” And since Dolce does yoga during the first part of the class, that calming energy informs his composing too. During the pandemic, he decided it was time to get these yoga-inspired songs out of his head and onto a CD. He recorded, mixed, and mastered the music at his home studio, honing the skills he learned when going through the same process recording his first CD Dolce in 2014. The 40-minute Chill CD features seven tracks of bass, acoustic, electric synth bass, and

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BURNING TO THE SKY

Car Songs

n the world of classic popular music, there are really three major themes: love, heartbreak, and cars. The first two we have discussed before in this space, but car songs are the most fun. Here are four great ones.

By Gord Ellis

“Cadillac Ranch” Bruce Springsteen

“Drive” The Cars

“Drive My Car” The Beatles

Bruce Springsteen has spent a good part of his career incorporating cars and all related subjects into his songbook. The list of Springsteen car songs is long, and includes “Pink Cadillac,” “Thunder Road,” “Stolen Car,” “Drive All Night,” and “Ramrod.” Yet it’s “Cadillac Ranch” that incorporates so many of the things that Springsteen is especially good at. The jangling, telecaster-driven opening riff says it’s time to party. The lyrics are cinematic and name check golden-era actors and the cars they famously drove:

It would be wrong not to include in this list a band literally named after cars, especially since The Cars also managed to incorporate a few vehiclethemed tunes into their repertoire. Although The Cars were best known for their quirky, upbeat 80s pop songs like “Just What I Needed” and “My Best Friend’s Girl,” “Drive” is a left turn into ballad land. It floats on a bed of synthesizers and features the silky voice of the late Benjamin Orr. The tune is a love song, but the whole thing hinges on a very 20th century question: who’s gonna drive you home tonight? The answer is, of course, the lover who has the car. The song was released in 1984 and became the band’s biggest international hit.

You can’t really have a list of car songs without this classic from the Fab Four. It starts off with the guitar riff that every aspiring lead guitarist has tried to master, and then kicks into high gear with John and Paul doubling the vocal. The song is about an ambitious actress who seems to want fame and likes men in uniforms—among other things. But the song transcends its sexy theme when Paul goes “beep, beep yeah!” That is also Macca on the positively crackling lead guitar solo.

James Dean in that Mercury ‘49 Junior Johnson runnin’ thru the woods of Caroline Even Burt Reynolds in that black Trans-Am All gonna meet down at the Cadillac Ranch. The great thing about this song is how it takes the name of a place in Amarillo, Texas, that has rusting Cadillacs half buried in the ground as art. So the actual Cadillac Ranch is a stark contrast to the celebratory nature of Springsteen’s vision—no accident I’m guessing.

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“Little Red Corvette” Prince Yet another car-themed classic from the 80s, this is also one of Prince’s most timeless classics. If there has ever been a song that sounded like its subject, it is this one. Dripping with synths and drum machines, “Little Red Corvette” manages to remain fun and radio-friendly while being clearly about more than a sports car. I guess I should’ve closed my eyes When you drove me to the place where your horses run free ‘Cause I felt a little ill when I saw all the pictures Of the jockeys that were there before me "Little Red Corvette" is one of the Purple One’s greatest hits and a fine example of the analogical power of a well-written car song.

Music

Turning the Tables

MixMates’s Pandemic Experiment Inspiring Local DJ Scene By Michael Charlebois

n a frigid May night, Joshua Samudre set up his turntable on the beach by Lake Superior for the 17th edition of the MixMates’ livestream DJ set. A beach campfire burned in the near distance, and although it didn’t provide Samudre with the warmth he needed to transition between songs in comfort, it all looked pretty sweet. The stream from the lake is just one of the ways Samudre— one half of the DJ duo MixMates— pays homage to his new home of Thunder Bay.

Joshua Samudre

Since the start of the pandemic, Samudre and his running mate Vaishnav Isai have been producing weekly episodes of their sets and livestreaming them to Facebook and other platforms. The idea was largely created out of pandemic boredom. “We thought, let’s just do this as an experiment to create the [MixMates] brand,” Samudre says. The pair invested in new DJ and streaming equipment and got to work on the tables. “Before we realized it, we had 25 episodes,” he says. The two met as students in Confederation College’s digital marketing program, and were new to

Canada as of 2018. Samudre had a DJing background dating back to his pre-college days when he was living in India; he has also worked local sets at Atmos.

bedroom DJs that have messaged me like ‘Hey dude, I want to stream on your thing’—[…] it’s crazy that something that almost started as a joke is inspiring to people.”

“Music has always been there for me,” says Samudre, who has produced music for artists anonymously for nearly 10 years. He says taking Isai under his wing and building his DJ brand has brought him a sense of fulfillment in the age of empty dance floors. Their next step is to expand their scope by bringing in local DJs to make guest appearances or become involved in the production of the stream. “The amount of

“In the next stage I want to stream artists or DJs from Thunder Bay who maybe don’t have the resources to play in clubs, but they have the passion to DJ or play music.” MixMates will continue to stream episodes from their Facebook page @mixmates.live weekly on Friday nights.

Vaishnav Isai

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Music

Yard Sale Sunday Greenbank Releases New Video, Talks Future Plans

Story by Jamie Varga, Photo by Chad Kirvan

hat would you do if you started contemplating officially walking away from your dreams? For most people, that line of thought would probably lead down a path full of regret and sadness. But for Jimmy Breslin and Craig Smyth of local folk act Greenbank, it inspired the song “Yard Sale Sunday,” which made its way onto their album Glory Days three years ago. With everything the world has gone through in the past year or so, the theme of having to take a break or walk away from a dream seemed even more relevant, so they revived the track in the form

of a new video filmed and directed by Chad Kirvan. “It’s kind of crazy,” says Breslin. “We wrote the song like three years ago and we just had this idea like what if we were to actually sell everything, and that was the genesis of the song. Then it became more real as COVID kicked in and the song took on new meaning.” New meaning indeed. Not only does the timing of the video’s release evoke all kinds of emotions, but the content of the montage itself really captures the feelings many people face as they pack up a chapter of their lives. The video

Craig Smyth and Jimmy Breslin of Greenbank encompasses seven years of footage of Greenbank performing, touring, and creating music, all documented by Kirvan and edited to give the viewer a glimpse of a decade with Greenbank. The song itself is a great work by Breslin and Smyth, but the video is a testament to Kirvan’s work and it stands miles apart from being just another B-reel montage of concerts and gigs; it really feels like genuine reflection. “It’s one of those things where you take a step away and you look back at something and you kind of appreciate it more than when you’re so deep in it and going through the motions,” Breslin says, about how the timing of the release came on the heels of not being able to play live shows and using that time to take stock of everything they have done so far.

The video ends with an almost sad “see you again soon,” which has made more than one person reach out to see if this spells the end for Greenbank. Rest assured it does not. In fact, the rehearsal space is active again, they are starting to perform in front of live crowds, and they have a whole album’s worth of new music just waiting on some time in front of some microphones. Life has changed over the course of a global pandemic, but Greenbank is ready for what waits on the edge of the horizon and I wouldn’t be looking for any of their gear at a yard sale anytime soon! Check out the video for Yard Sale Sunday on YouTube. #RIGHTdeadly

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Music

Expect Something Totally New iskwē to Debut New Music at Wake the Giant By Roxann Shapwaykeesic

skwē recognizes the importance of bringing people with different backgrounds together through music. “It's a beautiful thing when festivals like Wake the Giant evolve, because they are inclusive spaces,” iskwē says. She believes it’s important for a community to offer an opportunity for people from various communities to come together and be part of an exchange of culture. “It shows everybody that we're people first before anything else, and that's where the unity begins.” Currently, iskwē is in New Mexico working on two albums. One is an exploration of Americana rock with Hamilton rock artist Tom

Wilson. The other is a solo album that is “very different and fun.” Thunder Bay festival-goers will be some of the first to hear the music that is in production now. “It's going to be something new, brand new, because it doesn't launch until September 29. So it'll be a sneak peek for everyone,” she says. The internationally renowned singer released her fourth album, The Stars, in March. The Stars is an orchestral revisitation of her 2019 album acākosīk. “I grew up going to the ballet and hearing symphonies,” iskwē says about the transition to a new musical genre. “It was a dream come true.” Originally iskwē was set to perform with the Toronto

Symphony Orchestra last summer, but when the pandemic hit and virtual performance requests came in, her usual production of 15 or more people on stage was no longer feasible. “We were in the studio one day filming and recording the audio for this live virtual show, and I’m like, ‘Hey, guys, let’s actually just do the whole thing in a separate take and make it a record,’” she says. The adaptation is played quartet-style with piano, cello, violin, and herself as a solo vocalist. Each song was recorded as a single unedited take. iskwē’s schedule for live performances is filling up and she’s excited to return to the stage.

“Performing is my favourite part of my job. I’ve really missed being able to be part of the energy exchange with audiences,” she says. When the opportunity to play at the Wake the Giant music festival, which creates an Indigenous culture-sharing space in the city, she didn’t hesitate to join. “It was 100%. I love Thunder Bay,” says iskwē, who has visited the city many times for music and for the scenery. Her favourite sights include the Sleeping Giant. “It has that sacred kind of feeling that you just can’t help but experience when you’re there,” she says. Check out iskwē‘s website at iskwe.com.

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A Different Direction

Mike P ianka and

Jean-P aul De Roove r

Music

Jean-Paul De Roover’s Lone EP Reveals New Sounds Story by Ayano Hodouchi Dempsey, Photo by Shannon Lepere Photography

“I

wanted to do something that was different from what I’d done before,” says Jean-Paul De Roover. On July 30, the musician released a four-song EP of instrumental music, all written and performed by himself. “Basically I wanted to see if I could create something that would still be identifiable as something I created, without having any of my usual hallmarks,” he explains. “I forced myself out of my comfort zone by removing my more identifiable musical features, vocals and guitar. Instead, these four songs are instrumental, piano-based pieces, relying on jazz-inspired drums for the rhythm section, with occasional melodic assistance from trumpets on top of an atmospheric base of seaboard, synths, and string arrangements.”

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“It was a personal challenge because I’m guitar and vocal-based. I wanted to flex my muscles,” De Roover adds.

2018 while driving across the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge, his tires making a musical sound as they hit different parts of the pavement.

Lone is a collection of songs written and developed over many years, but it was only after the pandemic started that De Roover decided to focus on them. “This particular project wasn’t ever meant to be performed. It’s its own creature that needs to exist in its own way,” he says.

In keeping with the theme of loneliness, the entire production of the EP, from the recording to the mixing and mastering, was done alone. The only collaboration was with Mike Pianka for the album cover. The photographer has done several album covers for De Roover before, but this time, they decided not to use any photos. “It’s all digital editing and textures, based on what we experienced when we listened to the music,” he says.

The moods of the four songs—“Bar,” “Forest,” “Night,” and “Bridge”—are all distinct, but the themes of abandonment and isolation are palpable throughout. Some of the songs are inspired by sounds from De Roover’s life. For instance, “Bar” features a field recording from an improvised performance at an empty music venue, while “Bridge” starts with a recording he made in

With light appearing at the end of the pandemic tunnel, De Roover says he looks forward to “things that are not necessarily musical,” such as simply spending time with friends and family. He says there is another full-length album in the works,

which will be ready to be released in about a year. But no rush, he says. “I’m very much trying to just let it happen.” For more on Jean-Paul De Roover, visit his website at jeanpaulderoover. com or his Facebook page, facebook. com/jeanpaulderoover.

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it to Thunder Bay. The garage is a place for people who may not have the space or tools of their own but want to work on their vehicles. Although Massimo is a full-time advanced care paramedic, on his days off he can be found at the shop working on a new project or just doing some routine maintenance. The DIY Garage is available to anyone wishing to work on their vehicle, no matter the skill level. There are trained staff on hand to help renters and to operate the hydraulic lift, tire machine, and 12-ton hydraulic press. To learn more about The DIY Garage visit their Facebook page @ theDIYgaragetbay.

Meet Massimo Lombardo, owner of The DIY Garage, located on Simpson Street. Massimo is a Thunder Bay local with a passion for cars and, of course, fixing them. He has had the opportunity to work in a variety of jobs in a number of sectors, and the knowledge he has gained over the years drives his entrepreneurial spirit today. The DIY Garage started from an idea he had while working as an apprentice electrician in Calgary. Massimo used a shop much like The DIY Garage while in Calgary and wanted to bring

What drew you to entrepreneurship? I started working at 16 years old bussing tables at the Valhalla Inn. By 17 I moved into the kitchen at the Valhalla and fell in love with cooking. I moved to Toronto at 18 and cooked in a variety of restaurants until the age of 24. At 24 I moved to Calgary to start an electrical apprenticeship, of which I completed two years before going to paramedic school. I am now an advanced care paramedic. To make a long story short I have worked in three different industries for a plethora of bosses, so over

the years I have been pulled to the idea of owning my own business and working for myself. Eventually I will open my own restaurant and plan to pay my cooks well, as I still love cooking but unfortunately cooks in the culinary industry are severely underpaid, considering they work every holiday, and evenings and weekends. In my mind the only way to achieve financial and lifestyle freedom is to be your own boss. What is your most memorable moment being an entrepreneur? I became a paramedic because I love people and I thoroughly enjoy seeing people smile. My most memorable moment being an entrepreneur was having my first customer at the shop. He praised me for what I’ve brought to Thunder Bay and was so thrilled at how much money he saved being able to work on his vehicle himself. Who was your biggest inspiration/mentor? One of my biggest mentors was a chef by the name of Mark Croften. He took me under his wing in Toronto and allowed me to be creative and grow as not only a chef but as a leader. He believed in my abilities and taught me a lot of life lessons that I will never forget. Among many things he

allowed me, and taught me, [to do was] how to lead a team. At 19 years old, I was leading the cooking line with a team of five cooks in a busy downtown restaurant in Toronto. Although we bumped heads multiple times, I am privileged that I was able to serve underneath him and will be forever grateful for the lessons he taught me. If you could go back in time what piece of advice would you give yourself? If I could go back in time, I would tell myself to slow down and enjoy life. I feel like I have been on the go since I started working, trying to accomplish so many of my goals. I am very happy with all of my accomplishments but I feel like I could have stopped and smelt the roses a bit more. Being a paramedic, I sometimes see people on the worst days of their lives and it puts life into perspective. Life is too short to rush through it. Life is too precious not to take advantage of the time we have on Earth. So sometimes, I need to remind myself to stop, take a deep breath, and smell those beautiful roses.

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OfftheWall

REVIEWS

Jean-Paul De Roover

Danko Jones

Los Lobos

Love Is For Lovers

Jean-Paul De Roover has been making music by himself for what seems like forever, but his new EP, Lone, seems more like a true look inside than anything I have ever heard him create before. Tempered, majestic, and obviously well crafted, Lone is a step into a new stage of development for JP and the music makes you feel as though you are standing alongside him looking out over a new landscape. Four songs, “Bear,” “Forest,” “Night,” and “Bridge,” centred around a piano, draw you about as far away from most of De Roover’s past work as you can get, but there is just enough of his energy in there to know where it’s coming from. Beautifully simple music on the edge of a dark and ugly time: what more could a person want? Sit down, close your eyes, and spend some time with Lone.

Danko Jones comes roaring back into our pandemic-influenced world with their 10th album, the appropriately titled Power Trio. Aside from the nod to the makeup of the eponymous singer’s band (three musicians total—reflecting some classic outfits like ZZ Top, Rush, and, for most of their career, Motörhead), the album also definitely packs a lot of power. Album-opener “I Want Out” has the frantic pace and attitude of a singer and band that’s been kept cooped up way too long, while “Ship of Lies,” with its anthemic takedown of pandemic-era disinformation, packs arguably the album’s best hooks. Recent single “Saturday” isn’t far off in that category, however. Jones’s reliably charismatic vocals are front and centre throughout (as they have been over the band’s 25-year existence), and, by the album-closer “Start the Show,” he and the group almost sound like they’re begging to be able to be on a stage—and with luck, that won’t be too far off.

Los Angeles homeboys Los Lobos have just released an album of cover songs called Native Sons. It’s a homage to other L.A. artists like The Beach Boys, Jackson Browne, Buffalo Springfield, and other homegrown musicians. The band has recorded over a dozen albums in the last 45 years and has played around the world (including in Thunder Bay). Their music is a mix of rock and roll, Tex-Mex, blues, and Spanish ballads. Their versatility as musicians shines on this album. From rockabilly to funk and Latin ballads, Los Lobos does it all with class. The production is clean and the mix of instruments and vocals is top notch. Favourite songs include a great cover of The Beach Boys’s “Sail On, Sailor” and a wonderful take on “The World is a Ghetto,” recorded by War back in 1972. The final cut, “Where Lovers Go,” is an instrumental evocative of the surf and beach scene of Los Angeles in the 1960s. Native Sons is a fun album. La música es muy buena.

Billed as Edmonton’s answer to the Ramones, Real Sickies deliver all the high-energy blasts of punk-fueled aggression, speed, and hooks that the legendary New York rockers bring to mind (albeit with a vocalist that sounds closer to early Billie Joe Armstrong than Joey Ramone). However, on their fourth full-length album, Love Is For Lovers, Real Sickies also aren’t afraid to mix things up and bring in other influences— namely huge doses of modern power pop and good ol’ fashioned hard rock. Songs like “Give and Take” (an absolute highlight here), “Hold On Baby,” and “They Don’t Know” have the same infectious vibe and oversized pop hooks as records like Ginger Wildheart’s Hey! Hello! project, while the hard-charging rendition of T Rex’s “Jeepster” is simply a classy choice for a cover. Fear not, punk fans, as the rest of the 14 tracks here definitely bring the Ramones and Teenage Head to mind, including the single “Communication Breakdown.” Real Sickies have definitely come up with a winner here.

Lone

-Jamie Varga

Power Trio

-Matt Prokopchuk

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The Walleye

Inappropriate The Way of Questions the Loon Harvinder Wadhwa and Elena Hudgins Lyle

Have you ever wondered what the best approach would be to ask someone a seemingly awkward question, such as “why don’t you drink?” or “have you lost weight?” Inappropriate Questions, brought to you by CBC Podcasts, helps you tackle these taboo moments by interviewing guests who have been on the receiving end of these questions, and offering advice on how to properly address them without being offensive. Wadhwa and Lyle embrace curiosity and really complement each other as they cover topics ranging from religion and race to mental health and the LGBTQ+ community. A podcast dedicated to focusing on social issues, Inappropriate Questions takes an objective approach to the often slippery slope of these conversations with grace and equality. -Andrea Lysenko

Sally E. Burns

Sally Burns grew up in an active, outdoor family in Atikokan, worked as one of the first two female portage crew members in Quetico Provincial Park in the 1970s, raised a family in a cabin on a nearby lake, and recently was gifted with a grandchild. All of this is great background for her first book, The Way of the Loon, which Burns has both written and drawn the illustrations for. It is written in flowing prose that a young child can understand and that an older child can read on their own. The book follows the life of a pair of loons returning to a Northwestern Ontario lake in early spring. It traces the journey of their chick—whose name is Chortle—as he hatches from the egg, learns to swim and ride on a parent’s back, imitates his parents to acquire the ability to swim and hunt for food underwater, and learns to recognize and avoid predators, including the sinister “bug-eyed bonehead.” Chortle’s last adventure is learning to fly. Taking off is difficult to master, but “when he flew, oh my, what a big world it was! The lakes below him all became choices of places he could land.” Chortle’s first summer is coming to an end, but his life is just beginning.

Klara and the Sun Kazuo Ishiguro

Klara is an Artificial Friend, a robotic humanoid that thinks and feels, intended as a companion to a lucky child. Klara and the Sun follows her journey from the AF store into the home of Josie, the child who chose her. Though Josie has an illness that often tires her out, she starts out having at least as many good days as not. As her health begins to decline, Klara sets out on a quest to convince a powerful being to cure her. Throughout the story, the author effectively guides readers to make biased assumptions about the characters and plot. What results can sometimes surprise or trigger emotions in the reader, but also cultivates a nuanced discussion within the narrative. Ishiguro examines what, if anything, makes humans special, setting us apart from thinking machines, ultimately in a commentary about how and why we divide amongst ourselves and oppress each other.

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Racing While Black: How an AfricanAmerican Stock Car Team Made Its Mark on NASCAR Leonard T. Miller, Andrew Simon

“Auto racing is in my blood,” says Leonard T. Miller, NASCAR team owner and son of famed drag racer and team owner Leonard W. Miller. In Racing While Black: How an African-American Stock Car Team Made Its Mark on NASCAR, Miller recounts the difficulties of being a co-owner of a Black racing team in the predominantly white and southern field of NASCAR racing. HIs goal, starting back in 1990, was to create opportunities for Black racers. But he and his company faced many obstacles, such as difficulty in procuring sponsorship (including reneged agreements), problems with securing drivers, and lack of support and recognition from NASCAR itself. The tales of overt and subtle racism should come as no surprise, unfortunately. This book is a detailed and fascinating read with a bittersweet ending. Available now in cloudLibrary and soon in paperback. -Sylvia Renaud

Jessica Coley Mortgage Specialist

(807) 476-4867 jessica.coley@rbc.com

The Walleye

Former Port Arthur Motors Ltd. Building 45 Court Street South By Laurie Abthorpe

A 1952 photo of the Port Arthur Motors Ltd. dealership on Court Street South

Matt Prokopchuk

on property under the ownership of Hubert Badanai’s KAM Motors Limited, whose automotive sales and service operations reached back to Fort William in 1924.

 The rounded part of the building is original, with the square Lot 88 section being added in the late 80s

80 The Walleye

otoring enthusiasts at the Lakehead had a brandnew dealership at their service in 1949 with the opening of Port Arthur Motors (PAM) Limited at 45 Court Street South. Offering the General Motors lineup of Chevrolet, Oldsmobile, and Cadillac automobiles, this new dealership was built

The modern $70,000 Port Arthur Motors Limited facility, featuring a garage, sales, and service areas, was designed by Fort William-based architects McIntosh and Mickelson. Styled in the Art Nouveau fashion, the building’s design embraced curving wall shapes and long graceful lines in its silhouette. Taking advantage of its corner lot location, the single-storey structure’s 132-foot frontage on Pearl Street incorporated a graceful long curved flat roofline to complete its 80-foot frontage on Court Street South. The metal fascia of the roofline curve supported the big bold letters of “Port Arthur Motors Ltd.”

The building’s Art Nouveau design was largely lost during a late1980s building expansion, which, upon completion, grew to the full width of a city block, stretching between Pearl and Lincoln Streets along Court Street South. Some of the original brick, now stuccoed, and concrete block-faced structure can still be identified today along the Pearl Street façade, essentially the garage portion of the building, including a curved exterior wall. In the early 2000s, 45 Court Street South was transformed once again, this time from a car dealership into a restaurant/bar facility with an additional commercial space. The commercial space created in the former garage area became—and continues to serve as—the Thunder Bay location of Wilderness Supply. As for the

Thunder Bay Museum 977.1.624

Architecture

Keegan Richard

Architecture

Keegan Richard

 45 Court Street South has been home to Tony & Adam’s for over 10 years

The current front facade of 45 Court Street South, prominently showing the new Lot 88 Steakhouse & Bar

restaurant/bar area, many may recall dining at the Aurora Grille on Court, the first restaurant to open in this location. By 2008, Tony & Adam’s had taken over the restaurant/bar facility relocating from Red River Road. Adding to the more modern legacy of dining establishments is Lot 88 Steakhouse and Bar’s Thunder Bay location, now open alongside Tony & Adam’s. Laurie Abthorpe is the heritage researcher for the Heritage Advisory Committee, which advises City Council on the conservation of heritage buildings, sites and resources, and their integration into development. For more information on the city’s heritage resources, visit .thunderbay.ca/en/city-hall/heritage-in-thunder-bay.aspx.

Wilderness Supply occupies the commercial retail space portion of the building

The Walleye

Keegan Richard

The Pearl Street side of the building belies its former use as an automotive dealership and garage

AugustEventsGuide Ongoing Banff Film Festival Virtual World Tour Virtual

The Banff Film Festival is online for some #epicadventuresindoors, featuring skiing and snowboarding adventures and the personal stories of inspiring people. Films are offered in two separate programs or as a bundle; prices in USD. filmfest.banffcentre.ca

Ongoing Thunder Bay Museum Virtual Exhibits Virtual

Explore the art of artist, mapmaker, and illustrator Hans Krakhofer. Delve deep into Thunder Bay’s past places like the historic Algoma Hotel and the famed Chapples building. Take in the illustrated history of the city’s east end. Gather round the kids for A Tail of Two Cities, which sees Jerry Muskrat visiting the museum to discover the history of Fort William and Port Arthur. Peruse items that are unique, historic, and everything in between. thunderbaymuseum.com

August 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 TBPL Minecraft Game Night Virtual

Every Monday night in August at 6 pm, the Thunder Bay Public Library is hosting a youth game night featuring Minecraft. Join the Discord server by filling out a fast application (the server is for teens 13–18 only!) For more information, contact Nicole at 345-8275 ext. 7214 or youth@tbpl.ca. tbpl.ca

EVENTS GUIDE KEY

August 4, 11, 18, 25 TBPL Gab About Gardens Virtual

Join the library for this weekly Zoom meeting to discuss gardening with other locals. Share your stories and pictures, ask questions, or plan some plant sharing. Register to receive information and join when you can. For more information, email cmarsonet@tbpl.ca. tbpl.ca

August 5 Hometown Heroes 2021 Charity Golf Classic Fort William Golf & Country Club

This year’s tournament will be a hybrid format with teams competing at the Fort William Golf & Country Club. Golfers will golf 18 holes, participate in contests and activities along the course, and then receive a to-go packaged dinner to take home. A virtual awards and celebration will follow. Funds raised go to the George Jeffrey Children’s Centre. See this month’s Top Five for more info. hometownheroesgolf.com

August 11, 25 Live on the Waterfront: Parkade Sessions and Virtual Performances Virtual, Boomer’s Drive-in, Downtown Waterfront Parkade This year’s new format for Live on the Waterfront will offer viewers three different ways to watch: from your device, at the drive-in, or, for a small number of people, in-person. Advance tickets are required for the in-person and drive-in options. Performances will be filmed from the top of the downtown waterfront parkade and will be broadcast for all to watch online, or at Boomer’s Drive-In Theatre in Murillo. thunderbay.ca/live

August 12 2021 Chamber Golf Classic Whitewater Golf Club

Join the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce for the 35th annual Chamber Golf Classic. Although physical distancing requirements may mean fewer players this year, golfers will enjoy nine holes at Whitewater Golf Club, activities, and networking fun along the course as well as a delicious lunch and networking dinner reception with prizes. tbchamber.ca

August 15 Kakabeka Falls Legion Half Marathon and 8K Race Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park

The Kakabeka Falls branch of the Royal Canadian Legion is hosting a half marathon and 8K road race in honour of the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Hong Kong from WWII. The race will start at the legion and head out on a closed Trans-Canada Highway. Cost to enter ranges from $60 to $95. Kakabeka Falls Legion Half Marathon on Facebook. @runkbfalls

August 21 Amazing Race Thunder Bay Around town

A fun-filled day of “ducky” activities, where teams will compete in challenges hosted at businesses around the city to raise money to help with wetland conservation. The team with the best time will win awesome prizes for each team member. Registration is $50 per person ($200 per four-person team) with every registrant getting a T-shirt; prizes for the top three individual fundraisers who raise a minimum of $100. ducks.ca

General Food Art Sports Music

August 26–29 Ribfest Lakehead University

Ribfest’s drive-thru format returns, at a new location at Lakehead University. Choose from slow-smoked barbecued ribs, pulled pork, chicken, and all the delicious sides. Ribs Royale and Dinosaur Smokehouse return from out of town, and will be joined by local newcomer Daytona’s. See this month’s Top Five for more info. Thunder Bay Ribfest on Facebook @ribfestthunderbay

August 27 & 29 10 x 10 Out Loud Waterfront Spirit Garden

The 10 x 10 showcase is back for its eighth year with 10 original 10-minute plays by NWO playwrights. The program will be offered over two days, on Friday and Sunday between 1 and 6 pm, and will see five comedies and five dramas featuring local playwrights, directors, and actors. Plus, it’s free! See this month’s Top Five and our Art section for more info. 10x10tbay.ca

August 31 Read This Next Virtual

Join TBPL staff members Laura and Nicole on Facebook or YouTube for the latest edition of Read This Next. They’ll share their top recommendations and talk about ebooks you can check out from TBPL. This program will be available afterwards through the video tab on the library’s Facebook page or on its YouTube channel. tbpl.ca

Until September 12 Dakobinaawaswaan (Baby in a Cradleboard) Thunder Bay Art Gallery The exhibit gathers more than 100 tikinagaans (or cradleboards) representing Indigenous communities from across North America. This living collection presents a wide range of imagery, beadwork, and specialized materials. The exhibit is lovingly dedicated to the late Freda McDonald, the Elder for this initiative. With support from the Cradle Keepers Co-operative. Curated by Caitlyn Bird. See this month’s Top Five for more info. theag.ca

Until November 21 Piitwewetam: Making Is Medicine Thunder Bay Art Gallery

The art gallery presents this very special exhibition featuring the work of the Gustafsons, a Thunder Bay-based family whose signature floral motif beadwork and intricate designs is known regionally and internationally. This exhibition honours the family’s son and brother Piitwewetam (Rolling Thunder), also known as Jesse Gustafson, who died in a tragic accident several years ago. Check the art gallery’s website for the latest COVID-19 visitation information. theag.ca

Until late fall Kwewog Giiwednog: Women of the North Thunder Bay Art Gallery

Artist Sharon Hunter has created a large mural that depicts three female figures dressed in regalia: mother Dana Boyer and daughters Brenna and Brooke Chiblow Boyer of the Mississauga First Nation. Hunter paints them standing along the Mississagi River at their pow wow grounds, looking across the horizon. This work speaks to the women’s prayers and respect for the water. The mural can be viewed on the gallery’s exterior wall until late fall. theag.ca

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The Walleye

LU RADIO’S MONTHLY TOP August Show Spotlight:

1 Art d’Ecco* In Standard Definition Paper Bag

Hosted by Ricky Ratushniak Tuesdays from 11 pm – midnight My name is Ricky Ratushniak and I host Imminent Sounds on CILU 102.7 FM, Tuesdays from 11 pm–12 am. Imminent sounds is basically a rap/hiphop show inspired by the UK pirate radio scene. I play a wide range of genres but mainly music I personally find to be innovative. Lately we’ve been seeing more and more artists bending/mashing genres. I feel this is crucial to keeping a unique sound, considering how saturated the music industry is becoming. What I try to do with Imminent Sounds is showcase various artists who are currently bending genres, as well as revisit some classics who were innovating in their time. But mainly I just have fun playing music for strangers once a week. Song of the Moment: “Amen” by Pi’erre Bourne

Check out our weekly charts online at luradio.ca and tune in to the Top 20 Countdown Mondays from 7–9 am. Keep it locked on 102.7 FM, online streaming at luradio.ca

24 Tyler, the Creator Call Me If You Get Lost Columbia

8 Dinosaur Jr. Sweep It Into Space Jagjaguwar 9 Forever Dead!* Pretending We’re Surviving Self-Released 10 FAT COP* Positive EP Self-Released

Imminent Sounds

Music

25 MIHI NIHIL WINK Sub Pop 16 Plague Skater Plague Skater II Self-Released

2 TEKE::TEKE* Shirushi Kill Rock Stars

17 Night Beats Outlaw R&B Levitation

3 The Tragically Hip* Saskadelphia Universal

18 King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Butterfly 3000 KGLW

4 blume hinges* Build Your Castle Inside of a Mountain Self-Released 5 Nevamind & Royal-T* The Yesmen Hand’Solo

11 Strangers Laundry A Voice For TV Self-Released

19 Birds of Maya Valdez Drag City

12 Meat Wave Meat Wave Big Scary Monsters/ Wiretap

20 Miesha & The Spanks* Singles EP Saved By Vinyl

6 Veik Surrounding Structures Fuzz Club 7 PONY* TV Baby Take This To The Heart

15 Faye Webster I Know I’m Funny haha Secretly Canadian

27 black midi Cavalcade Rough Trade 28 The Bamboos Hard Up Pacific Theatre 29 Chemical Bank* Lungbones Vol. 1 Self-Released

13 Death From Above 1979* Is 4 Lovers Universal Music Canada 14 PACKS* Take The Cake Royal Mountain

26 CHAI New Long Leg 4AD

30 Bachelor Doomin’ Sun Polyvinyl 21 Dez Dare Hard Up Pacific Theatre 22 The Goon Sax Mirror II Matador 23 Wolf Alice Blue Weekend RCA

* indicates Canadian artist. Chart ranking reflects airplay during the week ending 20-Jul-2021.

The Walleye

Health

Getting Shots in Arms Q&A with Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre’s Adrianne Shippam Interview by Matt Prokopchuk

hile most of the attention directed at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre’s role during the COVID-19 pandemic has focused on intensive care capacity and managing treatment for those who have suffered the most serious effects of the virus, the hospital has also been playing an important role in the vaccination process. Adrianne Shippam is the one in charge of those efforts. Shippam is the lead of the hospital’s COVID vaccination task force, and the organization’s pharmacy clinical coordinator. We spoke with her about the hospital’s role in vaccinations, what they had to do to prepare, and what she thinks of the state we’re in now. The Walleye: What has the hospital’s role been in getting people vaccinated? Adrianne Shippam: In the late fall, when we knew the vaccines were coming, the ministry identified hospitals to start the rollout of vaccines in communities. I think the thought process behind that was just to help support public health, as public health was really tied up with COVID testing, contact tracing, and all of that. The hospital was in a good position to help support the vaccine rollout in a quick manner. Also, across the province, pharmacists were heavily involved in the rollout.

84 The Walleye

TW: What was involved in preparing to receive the vaccines?

TW: How is the hospital still involved in vaccine distribution?

AS: It was interesting preparing for it, as we still weren’t sure at the hospital what our involvement was going to be. But what we were starting to do was to prepare to receive the vaccine. We had no idea what amount we would receive— enough for the entire community or just small amounts—so we had to really study the various products and storage requirements. We started by acquiring freezers. We did have one ultra low [temperature] freezer at the hospital in our research department that we were able to utilize, but we also had to acquire a second one—again, not knowing how much vaccine we would receive and also knowing the scarcity of the vaccine, we wanted to have a backup plan should there be any equipment failure. We also acquired the -20° freezers as well as some vaccine refrigerators, so we really had to be prepared for everything.

AS: As time went on, public health was able to ramp up their vaccine rollout as well, so it’s a very collaborative process right from the beginning with the Thunder Bay District Health Unit. They opened a mass clinic in March and we still continue our mass clinic here at the Bora Laskin building at Lakehead University. [Editor's note: The Bora Laskin mass clinic wrapped up on July 23] We have been involved with the rollout throughout the community as well, and we work alongside the health unit to determine what populations we’ll target versus what they’ll target. Our focus has mainly been at the Bora Laskin building at our mass clinics, so we’ve really been targeting health-care workers, teachers, those with certain high-risk health conditions, as well as some essential workers as well. Now we’re open to everyone as the eligibility has opened up across the province.

We also had to ensure our hospital storage site for the vaccine met all the security requirements, so we had an OPP team come and ensure that our premises met all the security needs in order to accept and store the vaccine on-site.

TW: How do you feel about where we are, getting people vaccinated? AS: The Thunder Bay district is doing really well right now, we’re actually second in the province out of 34 public health units for vaccination rate

[Editor’s note: this interview was conducted on July 6], so just kudos to our community for coming out and getting their vaccination. Our staff here and at the health unit, pharmacies, primary care—everyone has just been working tirelessly to get as many shots in arms each day, and they just keep going and going. I’m really proud of this community and how we’ve come together to get our numbers up so quickly. I think we’re doing really, really well. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

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The Walleye

Health

Healthy Grilling Tips By Caitlund Davidson, Health Promotion and Communications Planner, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre

rilling is one of the great joys of summer. Cooking over an open flame simply gives foods a unique flavour. Not to mention that gathering around the grill with friends and cooking dinner outside can be more fun than staying in the kitchen. However, many people are surprised to hear that grilling does have its health risks. Grilling meat can produce chemicals that could increase your risk of cancer. Studies have found that charring, burning, or grilling meat, fish, or poultry at high temperatures can generate compounds called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heterocyclic amines that can alter our DNA in a way that could lead to cancer. Despite these concerns, no one is suggesting that you throw away your barbecue. Instead, we asked Holly Freill, a registered dietitian with the renal program at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC), how we can grill the safest, most delicious foods without the health risks.

86 The Walleye

“It is important to consider how our eating patterns may change once we start cooking outdoors, and the foods you are putting on the grill,” says Freill. “Do a quick survey; does your family eat more meat in the summer? Maybe you eat the same amount but the meat is more processed. All meat is not created equal so paying attention to how eating patterns might change is the first step toward a healthy diet and eating mindfully.” The practice of barbecuing can increase the quantity and frequency of our fresh or processed meat intake. Consuming red meat (beef, pork, and lamb) or processed meats (deli meat, hot dogs, sausages, etc.) can also increase your risk of developing colon cancer. One way that we can grill healthier is to choose meat wisely. “Foods like hot dogs have a number of additives like sodium, nitrates, and phosphates,” explains Freill. “When used as additives, these chemicals behave differently in the body than when they occur naturally and research suggests their

effects are much more harmful. Try choosing leaner cuts of meat when barbecuing but also consider your portion size.” With so many tasty options to choose from, it can seem overwhelming to plan a meal and many people will resort to red meat. For those of us that fall into this category, Freill has the following advice. “If you choose to eat red meat, try skewering it into kabobs. Alternating between meat and vegetables can help cut down on the portion size while helping to sneak in a couple more vegetables onto your plate. Fruits like pineapple and peaches work well on the grill and add a great addition to your entrée. Remember, meat on a bun is not a complete meal—you need a fruit or vegetable to round it out.” Freill stresses the many reasons to increase our plant intake. Not only is the environmental impact of a plant-based diet more favourable than a diet that emphasizes meat from grazing livestock, it also has health benefits. “Fruits and vegetables are high in fibre and

micronutrients, and low in calories,” says Freill. If we aren’t eating vegetables with all meals and snacks then we likely aren’t eating enough plants throughout the day.” One way to boost our plant intake is to include lots of colour on our plate. This can make vegetables seem more appealing. Using peppers, gourds, root vegetables, fruit, and mushrooms is a great way to make a plate of grilled vegetables look even more appetizing—and they taste good too! It can also be a great way to get kids to consume a well-rounded barbecue dinner. Next time you are planning to fire up the grill, keep these healthy grilling tips in mind to ensure that you are keeping yourself and family safe. If you are tired of the same old barbecue menu and looking for some healthy menu options, visit the Dietitians of Canada website at bit.ly/overthegrill for more recipes.

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Health

I’m Double Vaxxed —Now What? By Robin Cooper, Health Promotion Planner, Thunder Bay District Health Unit

ith COVID-19 case numbers steadily declining and the province reopening, there’s a sense of optimism in the air—as there should be. Many of us may also already be thinking ahead to the fall and preparing for another school year (which is coming very quickly). To keep ahead of this virus, vaccines are our best line of defence. Every day, more and more Ontarians are being immunized. As of July 10, 46% of all those aged 12 and up in the Thunder Bay district were considered fully vaccinated. By the time you read this, we will have smashed that number. We should all be proud of everyone who helped make this happen—both the vaccine providers and every resident who has rolled up their sleeve. If you are curious about our current vaccine numbers, visit the dashboard on our website. The health unit is often asked about when an individual is considered “fully vaccinated.” You might think that it’s after getting dose number two. Well, that’s generally true, but it’s actually once 14 days have passed after getting that second dose of a two-dose COVID19 vaccine series that someone achieves “fully vaccinated” status. However, if you have a health condition or you’re taking medication that weakens your immune system, you may not be fully protected, even if you are fully vaccinated. Best to talk to your health care provider. If you are still needing a first or second dose, vaccines are available for anyone 12 years of age and older. As we move through the summer months, we expect some changes in the way vaccines are given out. The health unit, pharmacies, and many

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primary care providers will continue to offer them, while other clinics will be phased out. The health unit will increase walk-in availability to make it as easy as possible to get the dose you need; we even have a video on our website highlighting how easy it is. In addition, we are working with many other community partners to improve access to the vaccine for groups of individuals who may not have had the opportunity to get their first dose. Although the uptake in the Thunder Bay district has been very positive, there is one group in which we would like to see the numbers improve: those aged 12 to 17 (although we do recognize that they were the last group to be eligible). With walk-in capacity increasing, we hope to make it as easy as possible for young people to get vaccinated. We’ve also developed a new toolkit of resources for local youth organizations to start a conversation with young people about the importance of vaccination. At this point in time, children under age 12 cannot be immunized. The manufacturers of both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are holding clinical trials in children as young as six months, but data from these trials is not expected until the fall with no set date in the fall for vaccine approval. This is another reason why it is so important right now to increase the vaccine coverage among those who are currently eligible—so we can create community immunity. This makes it more unlikely that the infection will spread from person to person, thus protecting those under age 12 who can’t be immunized.

There are no plans at this time to set up any provincial vaccination passport system. However, if you are looking for proof of your fully vaccinated status, you can access a PDF of your vaccine receipt by visiting covid19.ontariohealth.ca and following the prompts. The importance of being vaccinated can’t be emphasized enough. Our best chance at beating this virus is with a complete two-dose series. Evidence shows it provides substantial protection against the variants of concern, including the highly contagious Delta variant. We know vaccines are working as we see the number of vaccine doses distributed increase while the number of active cases declines in the Thunder Bay district, as well as across the province. So, let’s keep the momentum going and increase that fully vaccinated coverage rate as quickly as possible to reduce the risk of any future outbreaks. A note that one of our biggest challenges with this COVID-19 pandemic is communicating information that keeps up with the speed at which the situation and the scientific evidence evolves. So, we know that some things may change by the time you read this article. The health unit’s website will always be updated as new information becomes available, so check in with us frequently. Visit tbdhu.com/covidvaccines or call 625-5900 for more information.

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Green

Welcome to the Monarchy One Woman’s Devotion to Butterflies Story and photos by Rebekah Skochinski

F Jason Kuschak

ormer visual arts teacher and artist Barbara Kuschak planted some milkweed in a corner of her front garden several years ago. One day, she caught an orange flash in the clematis vine. “I went over there and peeled layer by layer of the vine away and here is this little butterfly crawling out. And, of course, it crawled onto my finger— it was love from then on.”

Even Kuschak’s glasses curve into a butterfly shape. Her art also reflects her obsession—she creates intricate ornaments, lamp shades, and treasure boxes displaying these striking black and orange winged insects with their “polka dot silk pyjamas.”

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For the past three years, Kuschak has been helping increase the monarch butterfly population with the assistance of her husband, Clint, her son, Jason, and her neighbours, former students, and friends. She’s become somewhat of a monarch matriarch. Last year she released over 531 monarchs and she’s on track to better that number this year, with nearly 300 released as of this mid-July writing.

Once a teacher, always a teacher, Kuschak writes entertaining and informative daily updates on Facebook—many of her regular readers are former students and their children. She also names the butterflies. Recently, she dubbed a plucky escapee who had “wandered” into a cobwebbed dusty corner of her front porch “Eddie,” after her “curmudgeonly, stubborn, and independent grandfather.” Kuschak’s motivation, other than the love she has for these creatures that she refers to as her “babies,” centres around doing what she can to mitigate the negative effects of a changing climate. “As humans we’ve interfered with the earth, we need to work harder to help the things we’ve done.”

This sign, nestled in Kuschak’s front garden, sits among pink swamp milkweed, red petunias, yellow and red lantana, and red Argyranthemum Grandaisy — red is the most attractive colour to hummingbirds. Her back garden where the monarchs are released has wooden walkways, an apple tree, ponds, bird baths, statues, and a faery garden. In 2018, her home was part of the Thunder Bay Art Gallery Garden Tour.

It’s clear Kuschak cares as much about the butterflies as she does about her former students—many who have become like family. And just like family, she’ll do whatever it takes to help them soar.

Kuschak combs the garden daily, collecting eggs or very small caterpillars from the undersides of leaves. Monarchs go through five stages of development, each one referred to as an instar. It’s important to capture the insects at an early stage before they become a snack for a predator.

Converted to a nursery, Kuschak’s front porch has shelves with plastic containers acting like incubators, cradling bugs in various stages of development. She refers to them as “teens” when they eat incessantly and get frisky (four or five bugs pre-chrysalis can eat up to 10–15 leaves per day!). There’s also a fan for air flow and a heater for cooler nights.

Each container is marked and numbered with how many bugs are in each and how many instars they’ve done. She preps food every three days by picking leaves from the base of the milkweed (allowing it to continue to grow) and then carefully cleaning and drying leaves in layers of flannel. The containers are also cleaned daily of frass (their poop).

The insides of the containers are gently scuffed by Kuschak so that the caterpillars can weave silk to attach and form a chrysalis to the undersides of the lids. “It’s like spandex but from the inside out,” she says of the wriggling in this stage. They will hang in chrysalis for 10–14 days before splitting it like a zipper. Gravity helps to unfurl the wings.

There are two kinds of milkweed (common milkweed Asclepias intermedia and swamp milkweed Asclepias incarnata) that Kuschak relies on to feed the butterflies and act as a host plant for females to lay their eggs in a process known as “bombing.”

These are fourth-generation butterflies from the ones that Kuschak raised last year. “Their whole job is to party and reproduce, which is why they live just nine weeks.” The next group will be mating in August to become extra big, strong travellers to survive the migration to the southern states and Mexico. She’s named a couple of the well-worn travellers who arrived in the spring “Sam Elliott” and “Robert De Niro” because, although their beautiful scales are gone and their wings are thin, “they’re still cool dudes.”

At least five hours a day are spent collecting eggs, feeding and cleaning up after the caterpillars, and releasing monarchs. Sometimes Kuschak finds larger caterpillars, which isn’t ideal because there’s a greater chance they’ve been infested by tachinids (a parasitic fly). “But I won’t leave a big one out because if he’s okay, I will have saved him, and if not, I get to kill three tachinid flies.”

The butterflies prepare for flight in the back garden inside a wire mesh and wooden enclosure that Kuschak’s husband made, expanding and contracting their wings like dancers warming up before a performance. If they aren’t quite ready, she’ll bring them into the “spa” overnight on the porch and serve them mashed banana and mango.

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Green

From Rust Bucket to Turbo Mode Story and photos by Kelsey Agnew, Active Transportation Coordinator, EcoSuperior Environmental Programs

certainly didn’t give my van the most creative name: Dodger. But given that one of my grandma’s dogs is called Dodger, I felt it justified the name for my 2006 black Dodge Caravan a little more. I loved this rusty old vehicle. Dodger could transport seven bicycles, 10 square straw bales, or a load of river rocks depending on the shenanigans I was up to. Dodger lived a full life, and helped me live mine. When the first bit of rust appeared, I thought to myself, “How bad could it really get?” Well, now I know why Neil Young says rust never sleeps.

My partner loathed the van’s existence, calling it everything but Dodger. Eventually the kids and their friends didn’t even want to ride in the van anymore, and I certainly didn’t want to keep paying for the repairs. I was sad and lamented the inevitable. Staring me in the face, however, was an exciting way to green-up my lifestyle, so I decided to trade in my rust bucket for a long-tail, electric-assist cargo bike.

Welcome my newest love: The Big Easy by Surly. Bike capabilities include complete car replacement, electric assist, off road capability, space for passengers, and trailer compatibility. In turbo mode, I can pedal this beast into a head wind, loaded down with $200 worth of groceries, maintain a pace of 30 km/h, and still have the biggest smile on my face. In my opinion, the Surly company says it best themselves: “Consider it the 18-wheeler of the cargo bike world, minus the diesel fumes.”

Depending on how you ride, in which mode, and how much weight you’re carrying, the battery can last anywhere between 65 and 120 kilometres, and you can add a second battery for extended range. It even comes with a Bosch Performance CX drive unit, fixed-on, expandable pannier bags, and room for other accessories like kids’ seats. Imagine a world where every green lifestyle change intrinsically meant making our lives more fun? No more mindset of “going greener equals sacrificing pleasure.” Now to have a little fun with naming my new bike: how do you like Barney the Big Easy? I wouldn’t want to play favourites between my grandma’s dogs after all! Keeping it turbo.

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TheWall

Sharing the Road Active Transportation in Thunder Bay Editorial and photo by Marlene Wandel

don’t generally mind sharing. Cake and pie are easy enough to divvy up. One thing I don’t like sharing is the road. From the perspective of a cyclist, it is hard to establish an equitable share. I would settle for safe, but when sharing a ribbon of asphalt with vehicles that far outstrip me in weight and speed, not to mention in numbers, sometimes that is a fine line. “Sharing” the road is the common vernacular for encouraging drivers to accommodate bikes on what is generally perceived as vehicular turf. Sharing the road with vehicles feels a bit like a bird sharing the sky with a jet airplane, albeit with a bit less room to manoeuvre, plus potholes. That painted line that delineates bike space from car lanes is akin to the masking tape lines we put down the middle of our kids’ playroom years ago: a good start, but what we really needed was a wall. I’m generally in favour of fewer barriers, but when it comes to riding my bike, I’d like a few more barriers between myself and vehicular traffic. To be fair, when I am in motorist mode, I feel the same way.

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Cyclists without a road of our own are the eternal (and likely infernal) interlopers. On the road, where no one thinks we belong, we are a small, vulnerable, and relatively slow nuisance. On a sidewalk, where we surely don’t belong, we are a speedy, outsized threat, endangering children, puppies, and ourselves. On a multi-use trail (or the delightfully named “active living corridor”), physically separated from vehicle traffic, the riding is great, but it’s hard to get to most destinations in Thunder Bay without venturing onto the road for at least part of the ride. We’ve made great strides as a city in promoting safe cycling, but maybe road sharing is an inherently flawed concept, because it seems to engender this notion of lane sharing. In this landscape of potholes and sewer grates that may or may not be substantially below the surface of the roads, hugging the curb puts the integrity of my wheel, and potentially some of my teeth, at risk. Riding out beyond the reach of these pitfalls—plus the one metre of space that should be between every passing motorist and cyclist—means the lane really

belongs to the cyclist. The best way to really achieve this is to ride with a friend; two cyclists really do take up the lane, and minimize a driver’s temptation to squeeze on by. Long thought of as illegal or immoral, riding side by side on a multi-lane stretch has recently been publicly endorsed by Ottawa city police as safer. The City of Thunder Bay has come a long way in active transportation, and was recently designated a bicycle friendly community by the Share the Road Cycling Coalition. Granted, it was a silver medal, and one of the coalition’s major sponsors is CAA, but it’s something. The bike lanes along many of our major routes remind us that bikes are out there, and to expect them. The bike lanes are also sometimes confusing to navigate, for riders and drivers alike. Sharing road space just doesn’t come naturally to such disparate modes of transportation. There’s a reason we have sidewalks—we all understand that pedestrians wandering down the road are vulnerable and slow compared to the cars that dominate our streets, and might be in peril. Somehow, bikes are relegated to the

road along with all the motorized wheels, and while no one bats an eyelash at trucks pulling campers up to 40 feet long, bicycles on the road seem to raise blood pressures. The fantasy solution of our own network of bikeways is not completely far-fetched; for a few kilometers, riding along Junot/Golf Links, or along Arundel, we can imagine we are in Minneapolis, or Germany, or anywhere bikes are seen as a mode of transportation. In the meantime, those of us on our bikes out there have the same responsibility as the car drivers, despite our unlicensed status. Be visible, signal your intention, behave predictably, follow the rules of the road. Since we have to share, we might as well be clear on the terms, and give each other the road space we need to get where we’re going safely. We might slow you down a few seconds, but chances are you won’t have to fight us for a parking space.

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August Horoscopes

Aries

(March 21–April 19) Your ruling planets are aligned again this month, Aries, and your energy is non-stop. Rams are really leading the way these days, and people are looking up to you for inspiration and wisdom. It’s not always easy, but the fire in your sign is ensuring your progress is on point and, looking ahead, it shows no indication of wavering in the future. Prosperity is coming to you within the next few months. The blue moon is extra-powerful on the 22nd and it’s time to make those energies work for you to the fullest!

Taurus

(April 20–May 20) This civic holiday allows for some enhancements to your love life. Whether the extra time allows for reconnection with a partner, or someone new and charming just waltzed into your life, enjoy the extra impact of Venus—which just happens to be your ruling planet—to flow around you. Bulls are romantic, often bestowing their loved ones with gifts. There’s give and take in every relationship—just be careful of giving too much. Otherwise, your big heart is full this month. Enjoy those summer nights!

Gemini

(May 21–June 20) Social Geminis have a particularly full calendar these days. Work seems to be busy as well (you may have just received, or will receive, a promotion!) and so are the extracurricular activities. Enjoy your time out at camp to the fullest. No need to have company every day of the week though; take some solo time to lounge with a good book. Meditation is an excellent way of calming those runaway thoughts. If you are looking to establish a meditation practice, this month is an ideal time to start.

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By Sunny Disposish

Cancer

( June 21–July 22) It’s great news to hear that gyms are opening up again soon—Cancers tend to get a bit crabby when their routine is disrupted and their commitment to physical fitness is challenged. The full moon towards month’s end finds this water sign in a bit of a state of flux. There’s a lot of change happening right now, and Crabs may find themselves on a road trip. Say goodbye to the old and hello to the new. Your world is expanding right now and that’s a good thing. Welcome new adventures at this time. Be ready to say yes to all the opportunities coming your way from now until years’ end. As always, staying close to water brings you peace. Enjoy a dip in Lake Superior!

Leo

( July 23–August 22) It’s the birthday month for the majority of Leos! Happy birthday to all the proud Lions out there. The new moon is in your sign on the 8th, so this is the luckiest month of the year for you. Set your goals and write down your intentions, and you can manifest all that you want in your life, and more. Things are starting to open up, so you may find yourself celebrating your special day outside on a patio. Give thanks for all the gifts and well-wishes you will be receiving. Taking some much needed time off work will offer a wonderful recharge.

Virgo

(August 23–September 22) Virgos veer vertically, and your climb to the top represents your achievements. Your earthy self may have been stuck for a bit of time and moving forward may have seemed like an insurmountable ordeal. This month, Virgoans are able to shake off any vestiges of old patterns and begin to emerge anew. Enjoy your newfound vigor with some fresh air and sunshine. A young person looks up to you and you may find yourself mentoring them. It’s a win-win situation as you both learn from one another.

Libra

(September 23–October 22) Work changes have you spinning your top this month, Libra. There’s a lot happening behind the scenes, and whether you’re the decision-maker or the recipient, it’s best to stay calm and go with the flow—particularly when Mercury enters your neighbour sign of Virgo on the 11th. Turn to hobbies to help relax instead of thinking about the office. An event with the famjam could be just what the doctor ordered. Why not drop by Howe Street BBQ for some down-home smoked sammys? You’ll be glad you did!

Scorpio

(October 23–November 21) Music is coming in strong for you this month, Scorp. Whether you’re digging some live music or just prepping your playlist, tunes are what’s top of mind these days. Make some beautiful music when the moon slinks into your sultry sign on the 14th. Magical summer memories are what’s manifesting for you this month. Go with your instinct in situations where others may tell you differently. Your intuition never lies! Spend some time at the Marina with someone special this month. Summer doesn’t last forever, so soak it up while you can!

Sagittarius

(November 22–December 21) The dog days of summer are here, Sag, and you couldn’t be happier. Being outside in the sun really makes your inner Archer swoon. As things open up again, you find your heart full again and a missing piece of the puzzle seemingly falls into place. Stay true to yourself and your goals. Always a bit restless and looking for a new adventure, you’ll find a road trip may ensue towards month’s end. Pack carefully and try not to forget any important items, and make sure to enjoy summer’s bounty! A new goal makes your heart sing.

Capricorn

(December 22–January 19) Having some vivid dreams lately, Cap? It may be time to start a dream journal and see if you can identify any patterns. On the whole, family life has been smooth sailing of late and you could have your new improved attitude to thank. It’s hard to let go sometimes, but allowing others to live their life as you step back seems to work these days. Friends play a big part in a Goat’s life—especially if they are a friend with a pool! A good float is always relaxing. You may find yourself the life of the party in and around the full moon—also known as the Corn Moon—close to or on the 22nd.

Aquarius

( January 20–February 18) Your unique approach to life has gotten you through many a rocky moment this past year, Aquarius. Keep thinking outside the box when determining strategies for yourself or giving advice to your inner circle. Your words of wisdom mean a lot to others. Enjoy some family time this civic holiday, and don’t hesitate to take some much-needed vacation time. Morning walks bring solace to the Water-Bearer—there’s just something about those bright early mornings! The full moon is in your sign this month, so you may feel particularly productive, especially when it comes to the garden.

Pisces

(February 19–March 20) You may be feeling a little more emotional than usual this month, Pisces. You may have to say goodbye to a young person close to your heart who is moving away for educational purposes. Spend a lovely day lunching and antiquing before waving them off. It’s so easy to keep in touch these days, so lean into some hobbies to otherwise occupy your mind. Enjoy the harvest this month! Cooking up a meal with your fresh findings will impress those in your household and add some comfort to your days.

TheBeat

The Turn of Our Tide By Keira Essex The boom of thunder woke the youth But you could not hear a thing We scream and shout and shake the ground But you will not hear a thing The strike of lightning powered the youth But you did not see its flash My people, unwoven; our lands, still stolen But blinded, you continue to thrash The flood of water moved the youth But you did not feel the wave We march in lines and hold our signs But you claim that we just misbehave Your lack of action screams in our heads Weighing us down as if it were lead If you care for us so, why let this storm rage? It’s all on us All on us.

The fate of the Earth is in your hands, multi-media (painting and collage), Rory Smith

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