July 2021 by The Walleye Magazine

FILM FREE ARTS Vol. 12 No. 7 MUSIC JULY FOOD 2021 CULTURE thewalleye.ca

Walleye_2021 Food Map_FINAL outlined.pdf

2021-06-22

10:20 AM

Road Trippin’ Part 2 Fueled by Food

BACK TO THE LAND 22

ACHING TO TRAVEL? 58

LIVE AT THE BEDROCK 74

WHAT’S ALL THE BUZZ ABOUT? 90

For anyone who hears “sorry you’re cutting out” daily

Visit the Tbaytel Store or an Authorized Tbaytel Dealer Call Customer Care 807-623-4400 or 1-800-264-9501 tbaytel.net/fibre

Contents ■7

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 Specialists Kaitlin Trevisan kaitlin@thewalleye.ca 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

Superior Outdoors Inc. 242 - 1100 Memorial Avenue Thunder Bay, ON P7B 4A3

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THE GRINNING BELLY DRINK OF THE MONTH BREW IT YOURSELF Back to the Land SUPERIOR SIP Doing It for the Smiles ‘Over the Moon’ Food, Friends, and Fresh Air A Taste of Summer The DaVinci Centre

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THE SECOND MOST PLEASURABLE THING WE DO IN THE DARK. A COLUMN ABOUT MOVIES Reel Memories of the Lakehead

FOOD

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Copyright © 2021 by Superior Outdoors Inc. Editorial and Advertising: Submissions must be accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Superior Outdoors cannot be held responsible for unsolicited material.

Road Trippin’ Part 2 Highway 11 East Highway 11 West Highway 17 East Highway 17 West

THE ARTS

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.

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FILM&THEATRE

Art Directors Steve Coghill, R.G.D., Dave Koski, R.G.D. production@thewalleye.ca

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

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TheTOPFive FEATURES

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Art as Healing FROM THUNDER BAY ART GALLERY’S COLLECTION Deathless Mamawe Art Bus Project All About Perspective

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A Summer 2021 Bucket List

OUTDOOR

CITYSCENE

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Roadmap for Redevelopment ■ 49 GO LOCAL KAKABEKA FARMERS' MARKET ■ 50 No One Left Behind ■ 52 WALL SPACE: Monteith Upholstery ■ 54 EYE TO EYE:

With Jason Rasevych STUFF WE LIKE Aching to Travel? Reaching all Edges of the North CANNABIS CORNER Legal Options THIS IS THUNDER BAY

MUSIC

■ 67 Live from the Parkade ■ 68 Happy Accidents ■ 70 A Longing for Innocence ■ 72 BURNING TO THE SKY ■ 74 Live at the Bedrock ■ 75 Reaching Inside Herself ■ 76 Surfing in L.A. ■ 78 OFF THE WALL REVIEWS ARCHITECTURE

■ 80 The Nipigon River Bridge ■ 82 Tbaytel JULY

EVENTS GUIDE ■ 83 LU RADIO'S MONTHLY TOP 30 HEALTH

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Support Service Fostering a Culture of Kindness Informing, Entertaining, Engaging The ‘Talk’

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What’s All the Buzz About? Mission: Delicious

GREEN

THE WALL

■ 94 Hoop Dreams ■ 96 HOROSCOPES ■ 97 THE BEAT ■ 98 THE EYE

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From Our Instagram Feed

Hittin’ the Road

here’s something special about a road trip along our highways here in Northwestern Ontario. The tapestry of varied landscapes provides a lot of scenic diversity and interest, while the thoroughfares are dotted with many unique communities and all they have to offer—including a smorgasbord of restaurants, cafes, bakeries, and other eateries. Our July issue goes beyond our Thunder Bay borders and explores 12 communities here in the northwest, including places to eat while you’re there, and those unique gems in and around town that you’ll definitely want to check out. In keeping with our cover theme, music columnist Gord Ellis has four song picks that highlight the highway and make for a part of a great road trip soundtrack, while Bonnie Schiedel has the story of a market and greenhouse that’s opened up in Ignace, providing a source of fresh produce for that community. And in our architecture column, Nick Duplessis takes a closer look at a major transportation structure

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in our region: the Nipigon River Bridge. Elsewhere in our July issue, Pat Forrest has more about the city’s plans to redesign and reconfigure the streets and sidewalks in part of the downtown north core, and what that could mean for active transportation and restaurant patios in the area. As well, Kris Ketonen has the story of a collaboration between the Thunder Bay Museum, Lakehead University’s history department, and local production company ShebaFilms to digitize and catalogue hundreds of rolls of 16 mm film footage shot in the region between the mid-50s and 1978. And Nancy Saunders speaks with Dan Lloyd, a local man who turned a near-death experience into a new passion—and outlook on life. So, as public health guidelines permit, if you’re looking to hit the road this summer, we hope our July issue will shine some light on points of interest for you right in our own backyard. - Matt Prokopchuk

Featured Contributor

Walleye_2021 Food Map_FINAL outlined.pdf

Shannon Lepere

Shannon’s distinctly colourful candid photography has taken her around the globe for the last 15 years, shooting everything from weddings to portraits, travel, and events. She’s been shooting for The Walleye ever since the second issue, including 10 covers (one of which was of herself). She resides in Thunder Bay with her husband and son, who says that she’s like a Froot Loop in a bowl full of Cheerios. Check out Shannon's photography on pages 50, 94, and 98. 1

2021-06-22

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On the Cover Road Trippin’ Part 2

CMY

Digital image by Heather Cranston of Pulp + Paper Creative

WHEN YOU’RE UP THAT CREEK, WE’RE YOUR PADDLE.

Call us or visit our website to find out how we can assist you with your litigation needs. We’re here to help. ericksonsllp.com | 1-807-345-1213 | 1-800-465-3912 The Walleye

“At our school, there is

something for everyone” You belong here 6

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Canada Day

July 1 Virtual

The City of Thunder Bay is building on last year’s fantastic virtual Canada Day event by partnering with some great local organizations to provide a full day of virtual and self-guided activities. Tourism Thunder Bay is offering a public art walking tour using QR codes (scan them, stroll, and be entered to win a prize!). Then learn some history by taking a walk with Thunder Bay Museum’s self-guided walking tour. Try your hand at Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame’s online quiz (prep with Club culturel de francophone de Thunder Bay’s quiz night on June 29). The City and CAHEP will have virtual art programming, along with Willow Springs, plus Science North will be offering three science-related programs that include kits. For more information on activities visit the city website. thunderbay.ca/canadaday

TD Summer Reading Club with TBPL

July 5–Mid-August

Virtual

The Thunder Bay Public Library is participating in Canada’s largest summer reading program for kids! This free club is ideal for all ages, interests, and abilities and celebrates Canadian authors, illustrators, and stories. Here’s what you do! First, sign up either online or by phone, then pick up your program materials on July 5 and get reading. Visit the library each week to track reading progress and to try some recommended reads. Plus, there are weekly incentive prizes like free books, book bags, and take-home crafts. The more you read, the more prizes are to be won. There’s also a colouring contest, a bilingual program, and accessible notebooks and books available by request. Check out the link below for more info and for other great programming all summer long. Happy reading! tbpl.ca/td-summer-reading-club

Kevin Belmore Exhibition

July 16

The Creative Company We are so happy to tell you about an art exhibition that you can attend in person! To celebrate their recent move and grand opening, The Creative Company is excited to hold their first art show featuring artwork from Ojibway artist Kevin Belmore—an artist with a brilliant eye for colour and for capturing emotion on canvas. Belmore has been painting for decades and this is his first exhibition at a gallery and will include all new work. Originals of his paintings will be for sale, as will prints, colouring books, and paint kits. Stop by on Friday for the gala opening from 5–9 pm, or pop by the next day when Epic Cones will have their ice cream truck on site. Follow on Facebook for the latest updates and creative happenings! thecreativecompany.ca

Routes for Roots

July 9–11

Centennial Park Lace up your sneakers for another fun run to raise funds for Roots to Harvest! This semi-virtual event is hosted by UpRiver Running—a group dedicated to bringing people together to enjoy trail running. Participants can choose to run, race, or walk the beautiful trails at Centennial Park in either The Single, The Double, or the Out of Towner category. The course is between 6 km and 7 km and there are three days to run the route. Entry is $30 and gets you the route, a virtual bib, and a chance to win some great prizes. Just email your fastest time when you’re done! There’s also a commemorative event shirt for an additional $25. Sign up through Eventbrite, check the website for more details, and get ready to run a route for Roots! upriverrunning.com/routes-for-roots-virtual-race.

Festival of India

July 17

CLE Grounds

Now in its 15th year, the Festival of India is back in all of its colourful splendour! A special celebration of arts, music, and food, this festival brings the entire community together to experience and embrace the culture of India. This year, the event will once again be a drive-in affair at the CLE grounds, where you can enjoy traditional music and dances. In years gone by they’ve hosted exceptional performers from Toronto and California as well as local talent. And of course, there is the amazing vegetarian feast. There will be free food hampers for everyone in attendance. Plus, it’s free! The festival starts at 3 pm, but if you can’t make it in person, you are welcome to tune in on Facebook to be a part of the celebration. indiafesttbay.com

Chondon Photography

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where ever you find yourself, be ready with our SUMMER collection A portion of all clothing sales in JULY is donated to isthmus thunder bay

7 10 BAL MORAL S TREE T

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F RE SHAIR.LOC AL LY.C O M

CoverStory

Road Trippin’ Part 2 Fueled by Food

Good food and adventure await in Northwestern Ontario! Make the most of your summer vacation by packing the family into the car, Griswold-style, with our guide to where to eat and play stuffed in the glove box. With 12 communities to check out east and west of Thunder Bay, we’ve unearthed hidden gems, made suggestions for selfie spots, and included tonnes of places to eat while you’re there. Check your tire pressure, gas up (or charge) the car, and go!

Courtesy of Tourism Atikokan

-Rebekah Skochinski

The Walleye

CoverStory

Highway 11 East

The stretch of Highway 11 east of Thunder Bay (sometimes referred to as the “northern route”) includes some of the most isolated parts of Ontario’s portion of the Trans-Canada Highway. However, that relative remoteness lends itself to some incredible scenery. From the stunning views of Lake Helen to the mixture of forests and water around the Geraldton and Longlac areas, this stretch of highway defines northern Ontario.

Suzanne Kukko

By Matt Prokopchuk

Nipigon Just to the west of where Highways 11 and 17 split sits Nipigon, a community that traces its roots back to the 1600s and the fur trade. Today, the township—about an hour’s drive from Thunder Bay—is home to about 1,700 residents. The downturn in the forestry sector has hurt the community; however, it has seen some impressive revitalization in recent years, and boasts an updated marina, a host of outdoor recreational opportunities, and the state-of-the-art Paddle to the Sea Park.

Good Eats

Heather Cranston/Pulp + Paper Creative

La Luna Cafe & Bakery Located a stone’s throw away from The Lagoon waterfront in Nipigon’s downtown is La Luna Cafe & Bakery. Featuring a menu packed with delicious sandwiches, wraps, and pizzas, the restaurant is also renowned for its selection of specialty coffees and espresso (they also serve Thunder Bay’s Wolfhead Coffee). If you’re craving something sweet, they’ve also got you covered with a great array of fresh-baked goods. Their specialty pizzas include some mouth-watering flavour combinations, like bacon and goat cheese, and curry butter chicken.

Hidden Gem

The portage trail loop is the newest addition to Nipigon’s impressive inventory of recreational trails, and takes you on a four-kilometre walk that begins and ends at the Bridgeview Tower Lookout and takes you over the Nipigon River Bridge, by Lake Helen, alongside The Lagoon, and through downtown.

Selfie Spot

The Paddle-to-the-Sea Park statue

The Walleye

Suzanne Kukko

Courtesy of Superior Country

lalunacafe.net 46 Front Street (807) 889-1537

Darren McChristie

Courtesy of Municipality of Greenstone

CoverStory

Beardmore

Longlac

Beardmore was effectively established in the early 1900s, when the Canadian Northern Ontario Railway designated it as a flag station (a place where trains needed to be flagged down in order to stop in a timely fashion), and saw a growth spurt during the 1930s when gold was discovered in the area. It’s also where a now-infamous Viking sword was purportedly found (before the whole story surrounding that “find” turned out to be a hoax). Today, as part of the amalgamated Municipality of Greenstone, the town is known as the gateway community to the Lake Nipigon area, as it sits right on the doorstep of some of the province’s best fishing, hunting, and outfitting. And no discussion about Beardmore would be complete without mentioning one of the region’s most iconic roadside attractions: the giant snowman.

With European settlement roots in the fur trade era, Longlac grew to become a major player at the height of the forestry industry in northern Ontario. With a population of just under 1,500 people today, the community is also part of the amalgamated Municipality of Greenstone and has a sizable French-speaking population. Longlac is surrounded by lakes and boasts some incredible northern Ontario fishing. If you’re travelling east along Highway 11, it’s also the last sizable stop for over 200 kilometres—until you hit Hearst—so make sure you gas up.

Tara George

Located northwest of Beardmore on Highway 580 on the shore of Lake Nipigon is Poplar Lodge Park. A Greenstone municipal park, Poplar Lodge boasts 125 campsites, a large spread of recreational opportunities such as hiking, boating, fishing, and swimming, and an array of stunning northern Ontario scenery (including the park’s long sandy beach). Travelling another five kilometres from the park will also take you to High Hill Harbour.

Selfie Spot

The giant snowman

Selfie Spot

The voyageur canoe

Courtesy of Municipality of Greenstone

139 Main Street (807) 875-1200

Hidden Gem

Longlac Pizzeria on Facebook 113 Forestry Road (807) 876-2664

Hidden Gem

Poplar Lodge Park

Longlac is surrounded by water, including the lake that bears its

Jonna Zechner

Cindy’s Diner A restaurant that has thrived for decades in Beardmore under a number of different names is now known as Cindy’s Diner, after current owner Cindy Fredrick took over the business about three years ago. It’s busier in the summer months, but features a classic diner atmosphere and menu full of homemade favourites year-round. Fredrick says her burger and fries remain a staple. If your sweet tooth comes calling, try a slice of homemade cheesecake.

Longlac Pizzeria Purchased by Sylvio Cote just over five years ago, the restaurant’s history dates back to the late 1970s. Even though it continues to feature a large and diverse menu, the restaurant is renowned for its pizzas and giant “pizza pops” (basically a huge panzerotti). “They are huge,” Cote says. “You can have a good supper on this and more.” Featuring a newly renovated interior and a modern, rustic charm, the pizzeria is a staple eatery of the Highway 11 corridor.

English namesake. Long Lake and the numerous other small nearby bodies of water boast some excellent fishing and boating opportunities, as well as some truly gorgeous northern Ontario scenery.

Darren McChristie

Good Eats

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CoverStory

Courtesy of Superior Country

Highway 17 East

The North Shore of Lake Superior is hands down one of the most scenic drives in Canada and the stretch between Thunder Bay and Marathon offers sweeping views of the lake around almost every corner. It’s worth your time to plan some extra stops along the way—we suggest the Kama Lookout and the Rossport rest stop. By Michelle McChristie

Schreiber Schreiber is a railway town through and through. It’s a little known fact that it was known as Isbester's Landing until 1885—Isbester was a contractor who built railway bridges along the North Shore. The settlement eventually became a railway division point that included a station, roundhouse, car shops, icehouse, and stock yard and, in 1885, it was renamed Schrieber after Sir Collingwood Schreiber—a railway engineer and founding member of the Canadian Society of Civil Engineers.

Good Eats

Breeze Bakery & Catering Since January 2018, Brianna Mayry and her team have been serving home-cooked breakfast, lunch, and baking to Schreiberites and passersthrough. The cosy cafe, housed in an old bank building, offers a fresh twist on classic soups, salads, and sandwiches, but it is the Rose N Crantz coffee and impressive variety of baking that is most tempting. For breakfast, Mayry recommends the breakfast BELT (bacon, egg, lettuce, tomato on a bagel) and for lunch, try the pierogi flatbread (chopped-up pierogi, cheese, bacon, caramelized and green onions on naan). Breeze Bakery offers eat-in (when permitted) or take-out.

Hidden Gem

After indulging your sweet tooth, take a drive down to Schreiber Beach. If you’re feeling up to the challenge, the beach provides access to Mount Gwynne and a rugged two- to fourhour hike that offers a breathtaking 360° view at the summit.

Selfie Spot

The vintage CPR engine at the railway museum A view from Mount Gwynne

Steve Leslie

Heather Cranston/Pulp + Paper Creative

Brianna Mayry owner of Breeze Bakery & Catering

@breezebakerycatering on Facebook 307 Scotia Street (807) 824-2233

The Walleye

Darren McChristie

Rachel Globensky

CoverStory

The Patterson Island lighthouse

Terrace Bay

Marathon

Established in the 1940s, Terrace Bay is a picturesque community that is built on and named after a series of natural terraces that formed as the level of Lake Superior dropped after the last ice age (not to be confused with the last polar vortex!) The original townsite was entirely planned by the Longlac Pulp and Paper Company—the original owners of the mill. It is said they even took the time to save the trees from the original forest to give the streets a park-like atmosphere. Around the same time, Ontario Hydro built the Aguasabon Generating Station to redirect the flow of Long Lake south through the Aguasabon River system to Lake Superior.

This town was built on paper and laced with gold. Well, kind of. The town dates back to the 1880s when it was a settlement for Canadian Pacific Railway construction workers, known as Peninsula or Peninsula Harbour. In 1944, Marathon Paper Mills of Canada Limited built a pulp mill and a company town and, in the 1980s, the town grew and diversified after the Hemlo gold deposit was discovered nearby. Marathon is nestled in an incredible stretch of wilderness shoreline with Neys Provincial Park to the west and Pukaskwa National Park to the east.

Good Eats

Drifters If you’ve been to or driven through Terrace Bay in recent years, you’ve likely noticed construction at Drifters—a bustling business with a gas station, restaurant, lounge, and motel. Owner Frank Trichilo says since he and his wife Linda took over the restaurant in 2002, they have worked hard on renos and expansions to the menu—particularly their authentic Italian dishes and unique salads and dressings. Drifters is a great place to grab a light lunch or savour dinner at the end of a busy day. We recommend their gnocchi, meatballs, or chicken parm.

driftersofterracebay.ca 3 Simcoe Plaza, Highway 17 (807) 825-3226

Hidden Gem

It’s hard to top a day trip out to the Slate Islands—a ring of more than 20 islands that was created when a meteorite struck the earth millions of years ago. The provincial park is also home to the elusive (and threatened) boreal woodland caribou.

Selfie Spot The lighthouse

Good Eats

Wok with Chow A staple in the North Shore community since the mid-1980s, Wok with Chow is owned by Toni and Diane Liu, while longtime manager Terry Loranger continues to keep her steady hand at the wheel. Every dish on the North American-style Chinese menu is freshly made-toorder, Loranger says. Favourites include wonton soup, General Tso’s chicken, and various combo platters and curry dishes. If you can take the heat, Loranger recommends a Szechuan dish. If you’re not feeling adventurous or have picky kids in tow, Wok with Chow also offers Western staples, like burgers and fish and chips.

83 Evergreen Street (807) 229-1781

Hidden Gem

The town owns and operates the Peninsula Golf Course—a beautiful, nine-hole course that overlooks Lake Superior. It was the last of 178 golf courses designed by worldrenowned Canadian golf course architect Stanley Thompson. There is a licensed club house, rental equipment, and golf carts.

Selfie Spot Pebble Beach

Drifters' patio

Frank Trichilo

Courtesy of Superior Country

Mink Creek Falls, located 18 km west of Marathon, just off Highway 17

The Walleye

CoverStory

Go west! Driving Highway 11 west of Thunder Bay is a great reminder of how the beauty of northern Ontario is a combination of resilient communities and unimpeachable nature. From Atikokan to Naotkamegwanning First Nation, the towns that dot this part of the Canadian Shield may have originated because of their natural resources, but have since opened up with vibrant culture, great food, and so, so many opportunities for recreation. By Justin Allec

Courtesy of Tourism Atikokan

Highway 11 West

Atikokan Founded in 1899, Atikokan is steeped in the legacy of the First Nations peoples and the caribou herds which used to winter in this area. A gateway to Quetico Provincial Park and the self-proclaimed “canoeing capital of Canada,” Atikokan has seen its share of booms and busts but has always maintained a friendly foothold in the wilderness. Its warm and outgoing spirit will help you have a great time, whether you’re planning an afternoon family picnic or an extended fishing trip.

Good Eats

The Wanigan Reflecting an overall trend in Atikokan, the Branch's Seine River Lodge recently gave their restaurant, The Wanigan, a vibrant update. Owned by Lori and Quentin Branch, The Wanigan has established “comfort food” as the theme of their menu. With a calming view of Banning Lake from their dining room, The Wanigan features hearty soups, sandwiches, and other pub favourites that’ll fill you up after a day playing in the woods. The Lodge also features an outfitting branch to accommodate hunting and fishing trips.

thewanigan.ca 1 Banning Lake Road (807) 947-2391

Hidden Gem

The Pictograph Gallery is a testament to the artistic spirit in this region. Staffed by volunteers and run by artists, this non-profit gallery features displays and for-sale works from established and up-andcoming artists.

Selfie Spot

Little Falls Scenic Lookout

Heather Cranston/Pulp + Paper Creative

Courtesy of Tourism Atikokan

Atikokan's Little Falls Scenic Lookout

Matt Kennedy

An aerial view of Branch's Seine River Lodge, which houses The Wanigan

The Walleye

Courtesy of Town of Fort Frances)

Chris McEvoy, Rusty Anchor Productions

CoverStory

The Hallett at Sorting Gap Marina The visitors centre at Kay-Nah-Chi-Wah-Nung located about 100 kilometres south of Naotkamegwanning

Fort Frances Fort Frances calls itself a border town, and not just due to its proximity to the States. Born of industry and located on the Rainy River, Fort Frances has become a nimble community that easily straddles the line between ruggedness and refinement. As the first European settlement west of Lake Superior (it was founded in 1730), Fort Frances boasts an exciting mix of modern amenities influenced by its history. It has a close relationship with its sister city of International Falls in Minnesota, and encourages all visitors to explore, whether it’s in the wilderness or their bustling downtown.

Hidden Gem

The Hallett was, at one point, the biggest ship on Rainy Lake and one of the hardest workers in the vital lumber industry. At 60 feet long and weighing over 57 tonnes, the Hallett supported Fort Frances by hauling thousands of cords of wood a year across Rainy Lake until it was decommissioned in 1974. You’ll find this restored tug at the Sorting Gap Marina keeping watch on the river, a reminder of the town’s history.

Selfie Spot

The Lookout Tower, also near Sorting Gap

flinthouse.ca 232 Scott Street (807) 274-1143

Good Eats

Wiisinin Café In the Ojibway language wiisinin means “to eat,” and there’s so many attractive options on this little café’s menu. Opening its doors in the summer of 2017, Wiisinin is a café and lounge for visitors and residents alike. Featuring hearty home-cooked meals like stews, sandwiches, poutine, and bannock burgers, the café also offers a feast table for bigger parties and a lounge area with a big screen television. As the café is integrated into the community, Wiisinin is a part of all events and celebrations, and their meals-on-wheels program has helped the community stay safe during this tumultuous time.

Hidden Gem

About 100 kilometres south of the community near the intersection of Highways 11 and 71, and known to the local Anishinaabeg of Rainy River First Nations as Kay-Nah-Chi-WahNung (the Place of the Long Rapids), the Manitou Mounds is a significant centre of early habitation (dating back 8,000 years) and ceremonial burial. Designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1969, the site offers tours, historical galleries and interpretive programs, an art gallery, a conference centre, cabin rentals, and even a restaurant during the warmer months.

Selfie Spot

Naotkamegwanning skate park

Courtesy of Town of Fort Frances)

@WiisininCafe on Facebook 1706 Arena Road (807) 226-1133 Courtesy of Naotkamegwanning Business Corporation

Flint House After Duane and Grace Cridland retired, they decided to get into the restaurant business, opening Flint House in December of 2015. Featuring aged brick, warm woods, and original fixtures from the building’s 1905 construction, Flint House feels like a cosy outpost on the edge of the wilderness. Treat yourself to some apps and a pint from the extensive bar menu, or settle in for their famous prime rib dinner. If you come once you might as well plan your second visit, because the menu is stacked and the atmosphere is unbeatable.

Naotkamegwanning First Nation is an Ojibway community located between Sioux Narrows and Kenora off of Highway 71 on the eastern shores of Lake of the Woods. With just under 1,000 residents, Naotkamegwanning is a welcoming place of connections and comfort for locals and visitors alike. Stewardship of the land alongside economic development and cultural traditions are part of the Naotkamegwanning way. Please note that, as of mid-June, the community was closed to nonessential personnel due to the pandemic, so please check with the band office for the latest before visiting.

A seating area inside the Wiisinin Cafe

Denise Lysak

Good Eats

Naotkamegwanning

The Walleye

CoverStory

As you drive west on Highway 17, you are heading into a landscape that’s positively crammed with lakes of every size, bordered with boreal vegetation and ancient rock. You’ll want to make time for a few stops along the way, such as taste-testing homemade butter tarts at the Upsala gas station or taking a dip at Ignace’s Agimak Beach. By Bonnie Schiedel

Upriver Media Inc.

Highway 17 West

An aerial view of Kenora's Coney Island

Kenora Kenora actually started out within Manitoba’s borders, but fortunately for Northwestern Ontario it became ours when a boundary dispute was resolved in the late 1800s. It famously gets its name from combining those of three communities: Keewatin, Norman, and Rat Portage (named for the muskrats on the move between Lake of the Woods and the Winnipeg River, not, you know, actual rats). With roots in the fur trade, gold mining, flour milling, and forestry, today it’s renowned for outdoor rec in and around the vast Lake of the Woods and other nearby lakes.

Good Eats

Heather Cranston/Pulp + Paper Creative

Lake of the Woods Brewing Company Taproom Housed in a 1912 firehall in downtown Kenora, complete with original fire pole, exposed brick, and a tin ceiling, the LOTW Brewing Company Taproom has cool to spare. Since opening in 2013, the brewery and taproom has been serving up delicious brews and yummy pub fare, where you can mix and match favourites like local walleye or burgers with one of 16 beers and ciders on tap. Co-owner Rob Dokuchie is excited about the new pizza oven that’s serving up authentic Italian-style pizza, and a new extra-extra-large pizza size called

The Lumberjack. The Taproom offers dine-in (when permitted), a newly expanded patio, and take-out. lowbrewco.com 350 Second Street South (833) 321-2337

Hidden Gem

Hop aboard a boat shuttle to Coney Island, just a few minutes’ trip from the mainland, to chillax on the beach, stroll the boardwalk, or play frisbee or soccer in an expansive field.

Selfie Spot

Husky the Musky

From left to right, Taras Manzie and Rob Dokuchie Lake of the Woods Brewing Co.

The Walleye

Lloyd Chandler

CoverStory

The Riverview Lodge

Part of the Katimavik Trail in behind Fort Vermilion

Dryden

Vermilion Bay

Dryden came to exist because of a road trip of sorts—in 1893, John Dryden, the provincial minister of agriculture, was on a passenger train that stopped at what was then called Barclay Tank. He noticed lush clover growing and thought it would be a great location for an experimental farm. By 1897, a community of settlers had developed and the town was named after Dryden. To the Anishinaabeg who had long gathered in the area, it was known as Paawidigong, which means “the place of rapids.”

In the late 19th century, Vermilion Bay was the site of a construction camp for railway workers and by the turn of the century, a small community had formed. Over the years, gold and soapstone mining at nearby Eagle Lake, the construction of the Trans-Canada Highway, forestry, boat construction (the Naden boat factory operated here from 1974 to 2011), granite quarrying, and fishing resorts have played a role in the area. Today, Blue Lake Provincial Park, excellent fishing, and a pleasant collection of roadside shops are all appealing to visitors.

Good Eats

Riverview Lodge The historic Riverview Lodge overlooking the Wabigoon River has been offering rustic luxury for decades. This summer it’s going a little more casual, with from-scratch meals like a Buffalo chicken sandwich with the Lodge’s signature hot sauce, or sausages and burgers made with elk and bison that grazed just 15 kilometres away in Oxdrift. And, you can still enjoy slightly more upscale weekly specials, like prime rib or chicken Kiev, says co-owner Barry Scherban. Riverview Lodge is open for patio dining and take-out.

Local Gem

Explore the local hiking/biking trail system that meanders around Mavis Lake and Ghost Lake, just east of Dryden. There are a series of loop trails so you can customize your distance and difficulty level.

Selfie Spot Max the Moose

theriverviewlodge.com 148 Earl Avenue, Dryden (807) 223-4320

Busters BBQ A longtime staple in Vermilion Bay, this year Busters BBQ is dishing up barbecue fare every weekend from their food truck in the Fort Vermilion site parking lot. Customer favourites include ribs or pulled pork with homemade coleslaw, with fixings like sweet potato fries and cornbread. All meats are smoked in-house. Grilled pineapple is a new summer addition, says co-owner Natalie Welniak. And, the spice rubs and blueberry barbecue sauce that started it all can also be purchased at the food truck as a tasty souvenir.

Local Gem

To stretch your legs, head to the well-maintained, two-kilometre trail located behind Fort Vermilion, which has a vantage point that allows you to see Dryden, 45 kilometres away. Or, stroll the Pine Tree Pathways at Pine Tree Park, which meanders along Eagle Lake and has a sand beach for swimming.

Selfie Spot The inukshuk

Busters BBQ owners Natalie and Stosh Welniak

bustersbbq.com 168 Hwy 17 (807) 227-5256 Busters BBQ food truck

Chris Marchand

 The Ghost Lake trails

 From left to right, Barry Scherban, Suzanne Scherban, Jordon Railian, Susan Durance

Good Eats

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Food

THE GRINNING BELLY

“

The Sun’s a Light Bulb and The Moon Is a Mirror” By Chef Rachel Globensky

first met Aaron and Alia from Morning Moon Farm when they worked at Roots to Harvest, and they are the cutest (see for yourself at morningmoonfarm.ca). Now they have their own farm named in honour of The Tragically Hip’s Gord Downie. Renting space from Corbett Creek Farm & Creative Centre in Murillo, Morning Moon has about an acre of veggies in production, which they’ll sell this summer at the Thunder Bay Country Market and through their Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. This makes me incredibly happy, as it’s no secret that I am a terrible gardener and all-around plant person. I’ve signed our family up for Morning Moon’s

Greens/Herbs

Veggie CSA, which will provide us with bi-weekly boxes of fresh goodness: greens, herbs, salad veggies, root veggies, squash, and extra treats like fruit preserves and flower bouquets—I can’t wait! (There’s also an omnivore option that includes meat from Corbett Creek, too.) Our first pick-up in July should have lots of greens and some garlic scapes (the curly green stalks that grow from the bulb of hardneck garlic), so immediately I thought of how good spinach-kale-garlic scape pesto would be. Beyond the traditional basil/pine nut combo, pesto can really be made with any herbs or greens, and different nuts or seeds, depending on what you have on hand:

Not-So-Basic Pesto 2 cloves garlic OR garlic scapes, chopped 3 c packed greens/herbs ¼ c nuts/seeds ¼ c extra virgin olive oil

Nuts/Seeds

½ c grated Parmesan*

arugula

mint

pine nuts

cashews

2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice

kale

oregano

walnuts

Salt and pepper, to taste

mustard greens

parsley

pistachios

sunflower seeds

spinach

cilantro

almonds

dill

garlic scapes

Try: cilantro and pumpkin seeds, or kale, parsley, and walnut

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pumpkin seeds

Add everything to the bowl of a food processor. Whiz around until smooth, adding in a little more olive oil until you’re happy with the consistency. *for a vegan option, sub in ¼ avocado and 2 Tbsp nutritional yeast

Food

DRINK OF THE MONTH

Iced Maple Latte The Metropolitan Moose

Story by Rebekah Skochinski, Photo by Chondon Photography

hen you’re heading west of the city this summer to cool off at Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park beach or to hike at the falls, make sure to stop at The Metropolitan Moose. Known by locals simply as “The Moose,” this beanery and café has been a mainstay in the community of Kakabeka Falls for well over a decade, and they’ve recently added a gift shop to the list of good things you’ll find in their cosy log house. Fuel up like we did with a deliciously Canadian Iced Maple Latte. It’s made with a smooth Colombian brew and sweetened with maple syrup, and you can enjoy it with either cream, milk, or almond milk. A frozen espresso cube is added to the mix so there’s a solid, creamy coffee flavour right to the last sip. Genius. Oh, and do we need to remind you about the best ever butter tarts? We are reminding you about the butter tarts! Get extra.

The Metropolitan Moose Downtown Kakabeka Falls 473-5453

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Made ALLY L OC

N E Z O R F

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eatlocal pizza

Food

Getting Back to our Third Places

BREW IT YOURSELF

By Josh Armstrong, PhD, Certified Beer Judge

Matt Prokopchuk

ith the stay-at-home orders and various shutdowns that occurred during the past year due to the global pandemic, many of us have lost our third places. From pubs to libraries to churches to gyms, we were restricted from entering the places where we normally connect with others to converse, have a good time, and build friendships. While these restrictions were put into place for public safety, they also came at the expense of the social connections within our communities. “Third place” is a term that comes from the field of sociology. The concept was developed by Ray Oldenburg in his influential 1989 book The Great Good Place. The third places are the social spaces that are separate environments from home (first place) and the workplace (second place). These third places form the core of community life and provide us with physical spaces to connect with like-minded people. Common characteristics of third places include having regular patrons, and being neutral to class or

The StrEATery along Red River Road in 2020 provided a venue for people to safely share space status in society, focused on creating conversation, and accessible to those who use them—in essence, a home away from home. Third places hold a great importance in our lives, as we humans are social creatures. We rely on cooperation with others to survive and thrive. Social connection has been shown to be directly related to our physical and mental health. People who feel more connected to their community tend to have lower levels of depression and anxiety, while also having higher levels of self-esteem, cooperation, and

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trust in others. On the other hand, loneliness has been shown to have worse effects on your health than smoking 15 cigarettes a day, which is even more dangerous than obesity.1 In short, the social connections and community often created within third places are vital for our overall health. At this late stage in the pandemic, it’s clear that the measures taken by the government to reduce the spread of COVID-19 were not completely innocuous with regards to the mental health of the public. Restrictions on third places and social gatherings have had an unmeasurable negative impact beyond just the financial hardships that they created for small business owners (which also have negative health effects for owners and employees). It is still too early to accurately estimate the mental health impacts of the lockdowns and stay-at-home orders, but large surveys have shown surges in depression, anxiety, and loneliness in the past year. Thankfully, in the past weeks,

we have seen both a great improvement in the COVID-19 case numbers across the province, and some opening of third places across our region. As of this writing, you can now walk around the downtown north core and throughout Thunder Bay and see people enjoying dinner and drinks on patios. As we move through the reopening steps in Ontario, we will see more of these third spaces regain their patrons. As this happens, be safe and follow the guidelines put forth by the health unit, but also make sure that you put in extra effort to connect with people in these spaces (for your health and for theirs). Take advantage of the open space on Red River Road to safely enjoy meals and pints of local beer in the sunshine. Get out and find the third places where you can best connect with your community, make friends, and have a good time. It is important that, as we slowly reopen, we regain these third spaces and maintain them so that they are available for us well into the future.

Reference: 1 House JS, Landis KR, Umberson D. Social relationships and health. Science. 1988 Jul 29;241(4865):540-5. doi: 10.1126/science.3399889. PMID: 3399889.

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Food

The Evergreen Produce greenhouse lit at night

Olivia and Victoria Deschamps, the daughters of Patrick Deschamps and Zelda Gayle Kinniburgh

Back to the Land

Evergreen Produce Offers Fresh Veggies and Baking to Ignace Residents Story by Bonnie Schiedel, Photos courtesy of Zelda Gayle Kinniburgh

atrick Deschamps dreamed of living full-time at Sowden Lake, where he spent much of his childhood. In 2018, he and his wife Zelda Gayle Kinniburgh and their two girls Olivia and Victoria made the move from Manitoba to their one-acre lakeside lot that had previously been their summer-only camp. An hour’s drive northeast of Ignace, it’s an off-the-grid homestead in the bush, relying on solar panels for electricity. Soon, they launched their business, Evergreen Produce, which offers fresh, pesticide-free produce. Much of it is produced in an insulated greenhouse crafted with logs cut from the bush and heated with two wood stoves. Their wide variety of greens are grown hydroponically, using what’s called the Kratky method, with roots suspended in containers of fresh water. While Deschamps was familiar with traditional gardening, he headed to YouTube to learn about hydroponic methods and greenhouse

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construction. Last year, between the greenhouses and the in-theground gardens, they grew 100 lbs of carrots, 300 lbs of tomatoes, 80 lbs of cucumbers, 200 lbs of zucchini, 50 lbs of peppers, 50 lbs of lettuce, 50 lbs of beans, 30 lbs of radish, 75 bundles of green onions, as well as an assortment of herbs and microgreens. Kinniburgh, who also has a jewelry business called Oooh! Shiny Things, had already spearheaded setting up summertime markets in Ignace with local vendors before the family moved to the area permanently, so making the switch to a farmers’ market in 2019 was a natural one. Due to pandemic restrictions, the market changed over to weekly deliveries in 2020 and will continue that approach for 2021. Evergreen has added baking like cookies, pastries, and artisanal bread to their offerings too, and Deschamps plans to mill the wood to build a dedicated bakery building on their property—baking 30 loaves

of chocolate zucchini bread or the very popular garlic-and-onion “Vampire Slayer” bread per week in their 750-square-foot cabin is challenging, to say the least. The produce and baking have been enthusiastically received in Ignace, which has just one small grocery store and a short growing season. “Our regulars just love, love, love, love the produce and the baking. And they keep coming back,” says Kinniburgh. She recently signed a contract to provide Parrs Jars, a new local grocery subscription service in Dryden, with her artisanal bread. Life in the bush is busy but fulfilling: homeschooling their daughters, who are now aged 6 and 9, expanding the business, preserving food for their own use, and going fishing. “A lot of people could say, ‘Oh, I could never do that,’ but we just do what we have to do,” says Kinniburgh.

 The property is off-grid, with solar panels providing energy for electricity

“We’re trying to get away from fossil fuels and be more self-sufficient,” adds Deschamps. “That's a really good feeling.” Visit evergreenproduce.weebly. com or their Facebook page @evergreenproduce.on for more information.

 A mixed bag of four different types of lettuce: Red Salad, Buttercrunch, Grand Rapids, and Kaiser. Kinniburgh and Deschamps say it’s a favourite

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Food

SUPERIOR SIP

Drinks to Dish Up By Jeannie Dubois, Certified Pommelier and Sommelier

Out-cider Float

ummertime and the living’s easy—so why not make the drinks easy too? With the long-awaited season finally upon us, our toes are now warm in the sand on the shores of the Great Lake, while the air is soft and sunny on our upturned faces. If you have gone through your checklist (sunscreen— check, water—check, snacks—check, good book—check), then you may

Water-rumelon Granita

(serves 4)

Ingredients: 1 Tbsp coarse sugar

Red Wine-sicles (makes 8–10)

(serves 6)

Oranges à la Hefeweizen

Ingredients:

(serves 6)

Ingredients:

1 c red wine (fruity reds work best—think Cabernet)

Ingredients:

5 c cubed seedless watermelon

1 tsp cinnamon 1 c vanilla ice cream or fro-yo 750 ml hard sparkling apple cider

¾ c white rum

1 c strawberries

1 Tbsp finely chopped mint plus more for garnish

⅓ c maple syrup

Method:

In a small bowl mix together sugar and cinnamon. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Using a small scoop or spoon, place 8–12 scoops of ice cream onto the baking sheet. Sprinkle cinnamon and sugar mixture over ice cream, saving half for glass rim, and press into balls if necessary. Place the baking sheet in the freezer for half an hour to firm up. Pour half the caramel into a small bowl. Dip the rim of four clear mugs into the caramel and then into the remaining cinnamon sugar mixture. Pour ¾ cup of cider into each mug and add two to three ice cream balls to each glass. Drizzle with remaining caramel sauce, stick in a stainless steel straw, and sip away!!

Add the watermelon to a blender and puree until liquid. Add the sugar, rum, and mint and puree until just combined. Pour the mixture into a rimmed baking sheet and place in the freezer for 45 minutes. Using a fork, scrape the mixture until it comes together in icy pieces then return the pan to the freezer. Repeat the scraping and freezing process every 45 minutes until the granita is frozen and granular. Serve into six cocktail glasses, garnish with mint, grab spoons, and dig in!

2 c orange juice ½ c orange-flavoured liqueur (think Cointreau)

1 c fresh blueberries

2 Tbsp white sugar

¼ c caramel sauce

need only one more accoutrement to really kick back, soak up some sun, and enjoy the long, beautiful days of rays stretching ahead. With just a little pre-beach or patio prep, you can dish out a delicious summer drink (or pop) that can easily be enjoyed in the afternoon while you play that hand of cribbage, or after dinner as a dessert while you settle in to kill it at trivia.

¼ c tequila

1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar

2 oranges, thinly sliced (add any other citrus fruit that you enjoy)

Juice from ½ lime

Sprigs of fresh rosemary

Method: Add all ingredients to a blender and puree until smooth. Pour into popsicle molds and add popsicle sticks. Freeze for 4–5 hours. When the sun gets too warm, pull one out and enjoy!

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Sprigs of fresh thyme 6 12 oz. bottles of Belgian-style wheat ale Method: In a large pitcher or punch bowl, combine the orange juice, orange liqueur, tequila, orange slices (or any citrus), and herbs. Slowly pour in three bottles of beer. Stir gently to combine. Cover and refrigerate for 30–60 minutes. When chilled and ready to serve, gently stir in the three remaining bottles of beer, pour into tall glasses, and drink away!

Jessica Coley Mortgage Specialist

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

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Food

Doing it for the Smiles

Thicc Cookie Co. Baking Up Delectable Treats By Marcia Arpin

here is a new business in Thunder Bay offering original cookie recipes. Thicc Cookie Co. is the latest brand of culinary delights developed by Ken Martyn. From his kitchen, Martyn has mastered the highest quality of fun flavours in his decadent cookies. “I am making oversized, outside-thebox cookies and soon other treats as well,” Martyn says. “I’m a child at heart so I get to tap into my inner child and just have fun thinking up and making crazy things.” From the “Naughty by Nature” to the “Chocolate Peanut Butter Bomb,” each massive, half-pound cookie has been approved by Martyn’s children before it is listed on their website for sale. “I want to expand this brand to include 25 or more recipes. I put lots of love and careful attention into each cookie,” he says. “Each cookie starts with a unique base dough that is good enough to stand up on its own. Then the base dough is complemented with irresistible goodies and treats mixed in to ensure you are still eating a cookie and not just a handful of items from the candy aisle. I have so many new and

exciting ideas to share.” This style of ultra-thick cookie was popularized by famous gourmet New York bakeries and is now trending in other big cities around the world. Part of the novelty of the cookies is their enormous size. They are eye-catching and easily shared with a friend. No stranger to the food industry, Martyn recognized the opportunity to introduce this yummy trend to Thunder Bay “I’ve been thinking about this for a few years,” he says. “I am a sucker for a good cookie. I can’t, nor have I ever, been able to say no to a cookie. There is something about it that just transports me back to being a kid.” Excited to share his creations and create new memories, Martyn offers a limited inventory daily from his home-based business. Loyal customers smile each morning as announcements are made on social media. “Honestly we are doing this for the smiles. It’s a great feeling to be able to do that for someone,” he says. You can find Thicc Cookie Co. on Facebook @thicccookieco.

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Food

conversations the group is having with the building’s owner. Haapanen says, as of mid-June, no deal had yet been reached for the cooperative to occupy the space, but that the two sides continue to talk. In the meantime, one way the cooperative has been raising money for the necessary renovations to the basement space should they secure it has been through sales of a mix for the Hoito’s famous Finnish pancakes at retailers around Thunder Bay and online. Currently, it’s acting as a fundraiser for the cooperative, but Haapanen says that it could also represent a secondary revenue stream to complement any opening of the Hoito. “We hope that this product will actually stay on the market even when the Hoito is up

and running and becomes a restaurant,” she says. “If people are still wanting to buy it, we’re still going to be selling the pancake mix.” The response from the community so far, Haapanen says, has the members feeling “over the moon.” “It was beyond expected,” she continues. “We thought people would think it’s kind of cool and great, but it’s gone gangbusters and that’s amazing. So what that says is that there’s still a lot of desire within the community and even outside of Thunder Bay […] to get the Hoito back up and running.” To stay up to date with the Finlandia Cooperative, and to find out where you can purchase the pancake mix, you can follow them on Facebook @FinnCoopTB.

The Finlandia Hall, currently under construction

‘Over the Moon’ Finlandia Co-operative Seeing Success with Fundraiser Story and photos by Matt Prokopchuk

he cooperative behind efforts to revive the world-famous Hoito Restaurant says a fundraiser this year that made available a mix for the eatery’s famous pancakes saw enormous support, as the group continues to pursue a reopening of the iconic space. Paula Haapanen, the interim president of the Finlandia Cooperative of Thunder Bay, says her group is in contact with the Finlandia Hall’s owner about the viability of the organization running the Hoito in its old space. The main and upper floors of the over-a-century-old building are being turned

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into apartments by the new owner after the hall’s former owner, the Finlandia Association, was forced to dissolve the organization and use its assets, including the Bay Street property, to pay off a million-dollar debt. Haapanen’s group was interested in buying the property, but ultimately couldn’t make the purchase. “He was asking us about our revenues and what we’d plan for [if] we had the restaurant, and what happens if the restaurant […] might have a slower month than usual—what would we do, how we would guarantee our […] cash flow,” she says of the

The entrance to the Hoito below the main entrance to the Finlandia Hall.

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Community Off ice: 409 George St. Thunder Bay ON P7E 5Y9 Tel : (807) 622-1920 Toll Free : 1-833-673-4129 jmonteith-farrell-co@ndp.on.ca | judithmpp.ca

Food

Food, Friends, and Fresh Air Picnicki Launching in Thunder Bay

Story by Sarah Kerton, Photo by Keegan Richard

s we head into our second COVID-style summer, patios are opening up and outdoor dining looks to become a bigger part of our socializing—weather permitting. It’s the perfect atmosphere for one of Thunder Bay’s successful restaurateurs to open a new business focused on taking the organizational distress out of your next outdoor picnic, and instead creating a long-lasting, happy memory of summer bliss with good food and friends. Bianca Garofalo, owner and manager of some of Thunder Bay’s favourite restaurants like El Tres, Bight, and Giorg, is set to launch Picnicki, a picnic service offering a

bistro-style menu and everything you need to have a fun experience dining outside. With an easy pickup spot at Prince Arthur’s Landing, customers can grab their basket— full of goods from local growers and producers—at the take-out window beside Bight Restaurant, facing the splash pad. The basket comes with everything for a fantastic picnic, including the blanket, napkins, utensils, food, and beverages. Buyers can order additional features depending on the theme of the basket. Like so many new businesses that have sprung up in the COVID era, it’s easy to assume that the current climate was the inspiration for

the idea. However, Garofalo says it was actually an idea suggested much earlier. “The idea originated at a family dinner many years ago with my late father. We were chatting about the industry and ideas for expansion in town and elsewhere and he said ‘What about a picnic basket business?’” she says. “I thought it was brilliant right away but considering what has happened since COVID19, it ended up being an idea ahead of its time.” The idea has been on Garofalo’s back burner ever since, but she was always busy with other business ventures. Now seems like the perfect time to give people more options for fun and new outdoor

experiences. As for the name—why Picnicki? “The business is named after my mother Nicki,” Garofalo says. “She was someone who loved food and family and we often packed a meal to take to Boulevard Lake or Centennial Park. It seemed appropriate to combine Picnic and Nicki together and pay homage to her in the branding.” Garofalo is currently working with a company on an online ordering app. Picnicki launches on July 2, so get out and get picnicki-ing! Follow Picnicki on Instagram @picnicki_thunderbay for updates.

Ask us how

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Food

A Taste of Summer Half Stacks Serving Up Fun, Homemade Treats

Review by Susan Pretty, Photos by Keegan Richard

ooking for a new summer sensation? A take-out joint with the best grub is open and ready to serve burgers, dogs, and more—truly something for everyone. Half-Stacks owner Rejeanne Charbonneau couldn’t be happier about serving up homemade goodness. This gal with a heart of gold speaks extremely highly about the help she receives from her friends and family to make her burger joint hopping. Charbonneau’s son, Michael Runciman (of the “Big Mike” burger—two homemade patties loaded with cheese, bacon, onion, pickles, tomatoes, lettuce, and secret sauce) and his friends were instrumental in helping out as

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well. Manager Michelle Waibel and sidekick Tori Nicholetts work hard behind the scenes while having fun at the same time. Charbonneau’s niece, Tehya May, works at the window (she’s the one with the bright smile shining through her mask on their Facebook page). “We are very family-oriented,” Charbonneau says. “The staff make my heart happy. They all go above and beyond.” Let’s talk menu, though. The food is amazing and the prices are extremely reasonable. Burgers are homemade with Charbonneau’s mom’s secret recipe. They are so popular, in fact, that mom comes in three times a week and together they churn out approximately 400 burgers. Poutine fans can delight

in the fact that they use hand-cut local potatoes for their fries, and the gravy is top-notch (they use real curds too!). Hot dogs, pogos (so crispy), chicken fingers, onion rings, and wings are all on-point as well. Shift workers may appreciate the fact that breakfast is served all day, and kids will be delighted by the spider dogs and fries. Top it all off with a milkshake (so many flavours—and mixing and matching is allowed!) festooned with whipped cream and sprinkles, and that will take care of your tummy for the rest of the day. Charbonneau’s bright smile and friendly personality are sure to keep this resto hopping all summer long (and year-round too!) “It’s a crazy little fam here at Half Stacks. I wouldn’t have it any other way,” she says. “Loud music, lots of laughs— and from-the-heart cooking.” Catch the happy gang at Half Stacks at 701 Syndicate Street South, give them a ring at 285-4845, or check out their Facebook page for more information. Closed Mondays.

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Food

The DaVinci Centre

Italian Tradition and Community at the Heart of Success Story and photos by Kyle Poluyko

nn Marie Polowski, general manager of the DaVinci Centre, breezes into her office, seemingly unaware of the sweltering heat and the layers of humidity settling around her—she does not have the time. Polowski is simultaneously overseeing the construction of the outdoor patio (as step one of Ontario’s re-opening plan allows the DaVinci Centre to welcome back patrons), handling a building security and safety issue, and taking a call from a customer. And she does it all with charm and ease. The DaVinci Centre is a Thunder Bay landmark and home to a remarkable Italian community rooted in tradition. The expansive centre hosts hundreds of events per year including weddings, graduations, and corporate and arts events. Its well-established sports bar welcomes numerous events but, more commonly, the centre’s dedicated and familiar patrons. Many may be unaware that the DaVinci Centre is a non-profit organization with a large membership. That membership reaches back into the community, offering scholarships, bursaries, fundraising opportunities, and community partnerships. “At the end of 2019, projections for 2020 were incredible,” says Polowski. “Everything looked great.” But in 2020, the pandemic put a halt to the DaVinci Centre’s open service and in-person amenities. Bookings for countless special events were pushed back or

cancelled. “The loss wasn’t just financial,” Polowski explains. “It was culture, family, community, a focal point.” With hesitation, Polowski recalls her most punishing day, when she had to lay off 55 people. “It was devastating,” she says. After absorbing the shock, Polowski and her resolute team began to think. “One thing,” she recalls. “What is one thing we can do to keep the chains off the doors, so to speak?” The answer was found in one Italian tradition that has made the DaVinci Centre prominent in Thunder Bay: spaghetti and meatballs. With the popular monthly Sunday spaghetti take-out and sitdown dinner no longer an option, plans were put in motion for a full-service “drive-up and take-out” spaghetti dinner. “We had to try

something, and this was something we knew well,” Polowski says. That first Sunday was a success. As cars snaked through the parking lot and down Waterloo Street South, Polowski was overwhelmed. “There were still grey areas and some obstacles, but that was the beginning of creating a new normal,” she says. Executive chef Tony Catanzaro expanded the Sunday menu to include new offerings including soup, lasagna, chicken parmesan, salads, and desserts. Next, a selection of appetizer boxes was on offer for game nights or just a Friday night at home. Soon, Polowski was being approached by other organizations and businesses in the city. “They were asking ‘how are you doing this? How are you making this work?’” Polowski shared strategies

and offered advice to anyone who reached out to the centre. Meanwhile, the popular sports bar was relocated into the main ballroom, re-branded as The DV Lounge, and an outdoor patio was constructed in the north parking lot. As the outdoor patio begins welcoming patrons once again this year and some staff have been able to return to the DaVinci Centre, Polowski reflects on question marks and learning curves. “Try was all we could do, and success surpassed our expectations.” The DaVinci Centre is located at 304 Waterloo Street South. New events and updates are regularly posted on their Facebook page @davincicentretbay and on Instagram @davinci.centre.

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FilmTheatre

Movies About the Road By Michael Sobota

You know, this used to be a helluva good country. I don’t understand what’s gone wrong with it. - George Hanson (Jack Nicholson) in Easy Rider

oad travel is a natural fit for movies. Most road movie plots involve running away from something or moving toward something, simple but effective narrative structures. Here are three of the very best road movies ever made, and one that didn’t transfer well from the iconic book to the screen. Two of these are my favourite road movies of all time. And one of them is Canadian.

Easy Rider (1969) This now-classic road story was a young Dennis Hopper’s first directorial effort. And with it, he won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. He cast himself and Peter Fonda as drug dealers who make a huge sale and, spontaneously, purchase big bikes and decide to hit the road to Mardi Gras and eventual retirement in Florida. We discover all the colours and ugliness and bigotry of midcentury mid-America. It seems not all that different, rewatching this film some 50 years later. En route, they meet a small-town lawyer, George Hanson (Jack Nicholson) who springs them from a local jail. As a reward, they introduce Nicholson’s character to pot. Even with lowbudget production values, there is still incredible on-the-road scenery shot by cinematographer László Kovács. Their road trip is an American dream and it does not end well.

The Straight Story (1999)

Directed by David Lynch from a script by John Roach and Mary Sweeney, this is the true story of Alvin Straight, a 73-year-old single father who, estranged from his brother, sets off on a last trip to “make things right.” But Alvin is in poor health. He walks with two canes, is losing his eyesight, has emphysema from heavy smoking, and has no driver’s licence. He lives in a small town in Iowa. His brother lives in a small town up north, in rural Wisconsin. Alvin makes the 370-mile road trip on his riding lawn mower. We again see the heartland of America but from a completely different, less cynical perspective than Hopper’s in Easy Rider. This is an extraordinarily powerful film that is ordinary in just about every way. It is unlike anything Lynch had produced previously, and I consider it one of his finest. It is about love, family, forgiveness and renewal. Each sequence is heart-opening.

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

One Week (2008)

On the Road (2012)

Writer and director Michael McGowan has given us one of the best Canadian movies. Ben (Joshua Jackson) is a school teacher. He is not feeling well. At a medical check-up, his doctor tells him he has Stage 4 cancer and should immediately begin treatment. Instead, Ben, who rolls up the rim of a Tim Hortons coffee cup and sees “go west young man” as his message, purchases a motorcycle, says goodbye to his fiancée (Liane Balaban) and leaves Toronto for the road. On his crossCanada odyssey he meets and greets some of Canada’s monuments and oddities, including the Wawa Goose, the Terry Fox Monument, Kenora’s Husky the Muskie and, in a memorable scene out on the prairies, he pauses to go into a local hockey arena. There, in a dream-like sequence, he encounters the Stanley Cup at mid-ice. He approaches and kisses the cup (and yes, the spot he kisses is from the 1967 win by the Toronto Maple Leafs). Ben continues on his journey to the West Coast and even into the Pacific Ocean. This is an extraordinary, quintessentially Canadian road movie.

Walter Salles, a director I admire, finally managed to get Jack Kerouac’s iconic literary road story onto the screen. Many famous directors (including Francis Ford Coppola) tried for years to get it done before him. Salles worked from a script by Jose Rivera and threw a string of well-known actors into minor roles (Viggo Mortensen, Amy Adams, Kirsten Dunst, Elisabeth Moss) and enticed Kristen Stewart into her first on-screen nude scene. Alas, the movie fails to capture the driving narrative of Kerouac’s original text. Rivera evidently went through more than 20 drafts of the screenplay and it shows on screen in episodic big moments, jumps, trips, and slips into simplistic montages. This seems an honest effort by all involved, but Salles didn’t quite get it to click.

And here are six more stories that will take you on a journey, if you wish, this summer: It Happened One Night (1934), Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987), Rain Man (1988), Thelma & Louise (1991), Flirting with Disaster (1996) and Green Book (2018).

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FilmTheatre

Tom Peotto and Katie Green were hired to help clean up and digitize donated 16 mm local news footage

Reel Memories of the Lakehead Project Digitizing Decades of Local News Footage

Story by Kris Ketonen, Photos by Kelly Saxberg

treasure trove of local history is being preserved through a unique Thunder Bay project. Reel Memories of the Lakehead—a partnership between the Thunder Bay Museum and the Friends of the Finnish Labour Temple—is digitizing decades’ worth of regional news footage, says Kelly Saxberg, a Thunder Bay filmmaker who’s part of the team working on the project. The initiative, Saxberg says, came about through her work on one of her own films, Long Walk Home: The Incredible Journey of Sheila Burnford. “Just because of all my film work, I’m always on the lookout for archival [footage] for local stories that I’m making,” Saxberg says. “We heard that Dougall Media had donated […] all of their 16 mm news footage from

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[the mid-1950s] to 1978 to the museum.” Saxberg visited the museum’s storage area, and was able to find news footage of Burnford among the donated film; it was cleaned up, digitized, and used in Saxberg’s final film. “Our film is the best example of how incredibly important that archival news footage was,” Saxberg says. In the interest of digitizing more of the footage, funding was secured

Tom Peotto stands next to shelves of the original film donated by Dougall Media

from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation that allowed the hiring of two interns (Tom Peotto and Katie Green), who have spent about the last year cleaning and logging the footage, which is then digitized. “Some of the footage was in really rough shape,” Saxberg says. “The tin cans they were stored in were rusty. There had been a few boxes that had been stored in a shed before they went to the museum, and they had water damage. So we used these special cleaning apparatus […] and then we cleaned all of those with gas masks on, basically.” The goal is to make the footage—which includes everything from sporting events to business grand openings to the launch of the Alexander Henry—available to researchers, says Michael deJong, curator and archivist with the Thunder Bay Museum. “Most of what the archival material that we make available is either textual or photographic,” he says. “So, doing a lot of video is sort of new territory for us, apart from a few small collections.” “We really think it could benefit a lot of different groups.” For more information, visit @LakeheadReelmemories on Facebook. Donations to support Reel Memories of the Lakehead can also be made through the museum.

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TheArts

Art as Healing

The Woodland Style of Jordan Quequish Story by Leah Morningstar, Photos by Chad Kirvan

ordan Quequish’s artistic journey began years ago when he was a small child living in North Caribou Lake First Nation (Treaty 9, north of Pickle Lake). He recalls how talented and hardworking his late father Jimmy was: a man who could do almost anything with his hands, whether it was fixing small appliances and vehicles, carpentry projects, fishing, or harvesting wild game to feed his friends and family. He was always doing something, including painting. Quequish watched, absorbed the lessons, and followed his father’s guiding hands. When Quequish was older— middle school-aged—he began learning from a local artist named Saul Williams. Williams was an artist in the community who would teach monthly art lessons to interested students. This was different from watching a parent; this felt like an official experience with an artist who was able to give instruction about technique and style. Quequish credits Williams for introducing him to the traditional Woodland style and says he

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still remembers the lessons and his teacher’s words. “If you want to learn how to paint and draw in the Woodland style, you have to think about the ancestors, how they lived, and how they connected to the land and to nature,” Quequish says of Williams’s advice. Up until five years ago, Quequish was still living in North Caribou Lake. He had spent his entire life honing his skills as an artist in his small community. When he met his partner, fellow Indigenous artist Reena Larabee, they decided to make their home in Thunder Bay. Life is often busy for the artistic duo, as they’re always working on something together—whether it’s making art or raising children. Quequish also travels around Northwestern Ontario and Manitoba teaching art to students, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous. Last year, Quequish befriended the owners of The Creative Company and was happy to join their team. He strongly believes that Anishinaabe art is about kindness,

sharing, and teaching. So what he’s been doing at The Creative is compiling take-home painting kits. Each kit contains all the materials needed to recreate one of Quequish’s designs, as well as information about what the design means. “A picture is worth a thousand words and when someone buys one of my painting kits, they’ll be working with their hands and learning at the same time,” he says. Individual designs can represent ancient legends, simple stories, a moral lesson, or learning about a life skill. Quequish has learned, through his own life experiences, that giving yourself over to creating art can be tremendously healing. He recounts

his own past traumas and says learning about art, making the art, and teaching others has been therapeutic and key to his own healing. Part of his job as an artist is to guide others through art on the journey to their own healing. “Art changed my life, art healed me,” he says. “I want to connect with communities, especially young people, and pass that healing on.” You can contact The Creative Company at 286-2280 or hello@ thecreativecompany.ca to inquire about the available art kits from Jordan Quequish. You can also follow Quequish on Instagram @jordanquequish or Facebook at JordanQuequish’s ArtWork.

The Spirit of the Maize By Penelope Smart, Curator, Thunder Bay Art Gallery

TheArts

FROM THE THUNDER BAY ART GALLERY’S COLLECTION

Artist: Francis Kagige Title: The Spirit of the Maize Date: 1994 Medium: Acrylic on canvas board Dimensions: 60 x 50 cm Gift of L. Bruce Pierce, Norflex Limited

pirit of the Maize by Anishinaabe artist Francis Kagige (1929–2014) celebrates the bounty of summer. In bold lines and colours of the new Woodland style, Kagige’s works honour the Three Sisters as sacred crops. Maize (corn), winter squash, and climbing beans are the three main agricultural crops of various Indigenous groups across North America. Maize, as Kagige pictures it, is at the very heart of our shared human story. It is life. Today, the Three Sisters teach us a lot about spiritual ecology, plant-based knowledge, and food security. Variations of Three Sisters gardens represent 5,000 to 6,000 years of agricultural knowledge (squash was first domesticated over 8,000 to 10,000 years ago!) Known today as “companion planting,” crops are planted close together to benefit each other. As a tall sturdy structure, maize provides a pole for the beans to climb. Beans add nitrogen to the soil to help the other plants grow strong.

Squash spreads naturally along the ground, blocking the sunlight and reducing weeds. The squash leaves also break down to create nutrient-rich soil that retains its moisture. Prickly hairs of the squash vines deter pests. Delicious and nutritious, and super smart. Spirit of the Maize is one of five works by Kagige in our permanent collection. Kagige was born in Wiikwemikoong Unceded Territory on Manitoulin Island. He is a selftrained artist who is considered part of the first generation of the Woodland style. His art reflects his love of nature and interest in Anishinaabe way of life and legends. Kagige's work has been exhibited with other members of the Woodland School of Art, and has been displayed in the Thunder Bay Art Gallery, the Canada House Gallery in London, England, the Gallery Prist Noi in Vienna, Austria, and at Expo ‘67, among others. What pairings of plants and flowers in your own garden might inspire art like Kagige’s?

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TheArts entirely new story lines. “This is a stand-alone story of internal struggle, survival, trauma, alliances, deceptions, and revenge,” says Sullivan. Although written well before the events of 2020, Deathless explores contemporary themes of power, privilege, and the oppression of marginalized groups, as well as the impact of a deadly new illness. Sullivan points to the story arc of one of the central characters, the peasant thief, as an example. “If you are a person who has been abused by the systems of power, as many marginalized people in our world are, then when society collapses do you see this as your doom, or as your liberation? The character’s first conflict becomes whether or not she wants the world to be saved and how she wants to survive,” he says. “Intergenerational trauma, oppressive state apparatuses, and the

ways in which systems of power manipulate people became major ideas while I was writing. Then, when I was nearly done editing the book, George Floyd was murdered and the Black Lives Matter movement saw a massive resurgence across the world, bringing hyper [focus] to these very issues. As an author, this has shown me the importance of addressing contemporary themes in fiction.” Early readers of Deathless have given the dark fantasy novel top marks for the engrossing narrative, interesting characters, and a well-constructed post-apocalyptic world. Find Deathless on Amazon and through evanssullivan.com. Connect with the author @evan_s_sullivan on Instagram or @evanSsullivanbooks on Facebook.

FOOD, FRIENDS AND FRESH AIR

Deathless

Local Author's New Fantasy Novel Explores Dark Themes By Kat Lyzun

he throne is bloodied. The city is empty. The kingdom beyond is dead and quiet. A peasant thief creeps forth from where she has been hiding, bitter and determined to survive. A young nobleman sets out, with plots and secrets as his armor, to save what is left of his family. A holy knight burdened by failure descends from the mountains to defend the realm. And all across this land so dark and full of nightmares, monstrous things watch from

the shadows. So reads the promotional material for Deathless, the second novel from local author Evan S. Sullivan. It follows a group of characters struggling to find safety in a kingdom decimated by supernatural forces; a wasteland rife with monsters and political battles for dominance over the new world. It’s an indirect sequel to Sullivan’s 2018 debut novel, Starless, but with a largely new cast of characters and

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TheArts

Shelby Gagnon and Morningstar Derosier, facilitators of the Mamawe Art Bus Project

Mamawe Art Bus Project Moveable Art by a Team of Indigenous Youth Artists

Story by Sara Sadeghi Aval, Photo by Jordan Wanakamik

itting across the table from Shelby Gagnon and Morningstar Derosier, I am overwhelmed with a sense of community and hope. Gagnon and Derosier have been enlisted by the City of Thunder Bay to facilitate the new design of an upcoming art bus. As part of the Mamawe Art Bus Project, the duo has gathered eight local Indigenous artist applicants between the ages of 18 and 29 to create a visual reminder of the Indigenous community within Thunder Bay.

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“The goal here is to put something out in the public that is both healing and creative, and for Indigenous youth to come together and create something that affects their community,” says Gagnon. “Public transit is commonly used and we want the population to be able to look at it from a different perspective.” While the project is still in the early stages, the team planned to meet at the end of June to begin their brainstorming process, with the full reveal of the bus and its

art in October. The main theme of the project is healing and representation, and they aim to highlight Indigenous land and artistic style with the design. “We haven’t sketched anything yet; we want this to be fully collaborative with the youth artists and really develop organically based on what they also want to see,” says Derosier. “We also want to focus on what there is to celebrate, and what brings you joy about the Indigenous community,” she continues. “We’re really working on holding this space physically and in person. The Baggage Building at Marina Park has offered their space, and we’re hoping to utilize other local outdoor spaces, and with keeping COVID in mind we’re hoping the regulations continue to lift for us to meet and create, hands-on and together.” “Relationship building is also a big part of this,” adds Gagnon. “We’re hoping to create relationships with these youth as well. They

each will have their own unique take, and it helps bridge the gaps that exist outside and within the Indigenous community.” Gagnon graduated from the fine arts program at Lakehead University in 2019. Since graduation, she has been involved in multiple community projects focusing on colonialism and holistic healing. She also works with Indigenous Food Circle and its focus on food sovereignty and heritage. Derosier is heavily involved in film and design, currently running her own production company called Cedar Cinematic. She creates a variety of videos ranging from educational pieces for local organizations to intimate video portraits, and short films. Asked to describe Thunder Bay in three words, the duo answer, “Work. In. Progress.” with that same sense of hope. Keep an eye out for the grand reveal of the art bus in October 2021.

Anchor & Ore’s Patio

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Café open 7 days/week with patio seating now available! The Walleye

TheArts

Sunrise at Marina Park

All About Perspective

Dan Lloyd Incorporates Photography into Recovery Story by Nancy Saunders, Photos by Dan Lloyd

n January 16, 2019, Dan Lloyd was ending a shift he’d picked up for a coworker at the Walmart in Arthur Street Marketplace, where he works as assistant manager. As Lloyd left the building he realized he’d left his work phone inside and returned to get it. Back out in the parking lot, Lloyd was struck by a vehicle going 70 kilometres an hour.

“It’s a very tough thing to be told you might not be able to walk for a year, that you were three seconds away from dying, that being alive is nothing short of a miracle,” says Lloyd. His extensive injuries included a cracked skull that required 37 stitches, a concussion, a broken orbital bone, and a fractured hip and arm. The father of two says that “it was impossible to give up for me once I saw my kids. [...] Their reaction to my condition after the accident gave me the determination not to let this incident overtake me. I decided I needed to stay positive even though it was hard to do some days, as I was

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suddenly unable to do the things I had done every day—as simple as sitting up or sleeping on my side or opening up my eyes.” A big part of Lloyd’s recovery was his focus on photography. He started by taking photos on his phone, and selling them to save up for a camera. “It’s really helped me,” he says. “I always love that it gets me out and around the city, taking in all the beauty. Considering Thunder Bay is my hometown, I am constantly surprised by the amount of beauty I discover each day. I didn’t want to take things for granted again, so grabbing a camera or my phone and getting around the city […] just taking pictures—I just find it peaceful.” Lloyd loves the excitement of getting the right shot; of taking 50 photos of the same thing and having one that stands out and speaks to him. His recovery and his hobby share several characteristics: perspective, focus, patience, stopping to appreciate the little things along the way, and being positive. “For all

the bad of it and the struggles of it, I think it’s given me a new perspective on life and […] was a wake-up call to appreciate things and not let a moment pass by.” Lloyd describes the support he received as having been unbelievably overwhelming, including visits, texts, and messages from people he hadn’t seen in years. “I’ve had

people reach out and thank me for sharing my story, saying it’s helpful for them and what they’re going through. It’s just crazy to think that I could have any kind of impact on someone else. Everyone has their own trials that they’re trying to get through, and if my story and what I’ve done to get here helps anyone.” Lloyd enjoys photographing scenery, sunrises, and sunsets, and has recently gotten into wildlife photography. His work can be found online atallthedaze.ca/store as well as at Reid’s Furniture, Afloat Wellness Centre, and Comix Plus Music Exchange.

An ice formation in March at Thunder Bay’s waterfront

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Info + tickets @ www.sleepinggiant.ca This event is funded through Support for Workers in Live Arts and Music Sectors, a Canadian Heritage program created to address the impacts of COVID-19 on the arts.

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Outdoor

A Summer 2021 Bucket List

Four Outdoor Adventures to Make the Most of the Season Story by Katherine Couzelis, Photos by Lucas Augustyn

Katherine Couzelis along the James Duncan Nature Trail

AYfinder Trails and Recreation is a free mobile app that I developed to alleviate many of the safety and accessibility issues outdoor enthusiasts face in a region with a seemingly infinite number of trails and areas to explore. As the owner of such an app, most people assume that I am some sort of expert hiker. But the truth is, I am just another proud local trying to share the benefits of living where we do. As the name implies, the app has helped me find my way in life many times, and I have discovered that connecting with nature provides me with the balance I

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need emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually. I want to share with you a bit of my own personal outdoor recreation bucket list that I’ve been planning for this summer. • #1 Day Hike the James Duncan Nature Trail - This trail was established in 2019 by the Nature Conservancy of Canada in the beautiful Municipality of Neebing. Throughout the winter and spring I avidly hiked this trail, but have never done the full hike from Little Trout Bay to Memory Road. This summer, that changes. I cannot wait to see the views with leaves on

the trees and to visit the cobble beach on a sunny day. • #2 Rock Climbing with Outdoor Skills And Thrills - Aric Fishman knows climbing so well he developed a local climbing book. I’ve been climbing for many years but I want to learn more technical climbing skills this summer with a professional. The best part is that in most climbing locations, you have to hike at least a bit to access the cliffs, and because top rope climbing

Couzelis climbing at Pass Lake

•

is popular, trails have been established along the top of the cliffs too. Some great examples from the WAYfinder app include The Bluffs, Lost Falls, and Silver Harbour. Pass Lake also has lovely views from the top of the cliff across from the campground that are accessible by a scramble section you don't need a rope for, but is usually steep either way. #3 Multi Day Hikes with Overnight Camping - Since the

•

days I worked at Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, I’ve wanted to spend time hiking around the Giant. If you continue straight on the Kabeyun Trail instead of taking a right up to the top of the Giant, it will first lead you to the feet, where you can make a stop at the Thunder Cape Bird Observatory, which opens in late July. Continuing around to the front of the Giant provides you with multiple opportunities for backcountry camping. If you have ever been to the Thunder Bay Lookout (which is drivable), you would have seen a set of stairs to the far left that I helped install many years ago—this is the end point for hiking around the Giant. #4 Chasing Waterfalls - Many trails lead to beautiful hidden gems like stunning waterfalls. I spent most of the spring discovering waterfalls in the Municipality of Neebing and around the Kakabeka Falls area. Next, I’ll be heading towards Nipigon and up to the Palisades Trail (also known as the Palisades of the Pijitawabik). In the app you can find some of the more popular trails that

Outdoor

lead to waterfalls, like High Falls, Middle Falls, Little Falls, Kakabeka Falls, Mazukama Falls, Wolf River Falls, and Go-Mar (or Gorge Creek) Falls. To learn more, you can download the WAYfinder app and follow me on social media @wayfindertrails, and check out wayfindertrails.com.

 A waterfall near High Falls. Couzelis says she wants to discover more of them this summer

Couzelis and Nathan Woods at a waterfall at Falls Road, off Boundary Drive

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Courtesy of City of Thunder Bay

CityScene

A digital rendering of how the redeveloped Red River Road could look

Roadmap for Redevelopment North Core Streetwork A Pilot for Future Projects By Pat Forrest

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prominent area. This is an opportunity that hasn’t come our way in most of our lifetimes to really make a difference in the look and feel of our city,” says Guy Walter, a landscape architect with the city's parks and open spaces department. The project will serve as a pilot for urban renewal across the city, providing a new standard for how design challenges are addressed in the future. Citizen input into what they’d like to see in the reworked area has been strong, with more than 600 people responding to an online survey and others attending a virtual town hall-style web event. The local BIA has also been engaged at every step, as have other stakeholder and community groups. While there is still a lot of work that is needed to finalize plans, Walter says that the public has so far been very clear in what they want. “People are overwhelmingly asking for pedestrian and public

The stretch of Red River Road between Court and Cumberland Streets will be part of the downtown north core streetscape redevelopment

Sociable Thunder Bay

obody looks forward to running into big public works street projects that will cause them to have to detour or sit in a lineup as the minutes tick by. But an undertaking in the downtown north core planned for 2022 is giving citizens a chance to reimagine the area and provide their input to the city on how best to redesign the popular destination, as well as set the tone for redevelopment of other areas in the community. Two road sections—totalling about 600 metres between Wilson Street and Red River Road on Court Street and from Court Street to Cumberland Street on Red River Road—will start renewal in the spring of next year. While bound to be disruptive to drivers, the project also presents a rare opportunity for the public, according to its manager. “It has been about a half a century since there has been a roadworks project of this magnitude in such a

CityScene outdoor-friendly spaces. They want to see people before cars. They want to see more activity. They want to have more outdoor spaces, more patio spaces, and they want to see that connection to those spaces become a lot more accessible," he says. Walter says that at the end of the project, pedestrian space will have more than doubled and boulevards will have been expanded to a minimum of five metres, enabling more patio development for nearby restaurants and pubs. While the city will continue to continue to seek public input, residents won’t have to wait until next year to sample what they’ve been asking for. Pilot projects will be launched this summer, with the primary one located on Red River Road. For more information and to provide your input, go to: getinvolvedthunderbay.ca/ reimagining-north-core-streetscapes.

Patio Life

The Thunder Bay restaurant scene has seen an explosion in the number of patios, in part to help restaurants cope with COVID-19. Here are a few places we found that have set up new outdoor seating spaces this year. In addition to this list, many other restaurants who started last year, or in years past, continue to offer patio dining, while others have expanded their existing spaces.

Carte Blanche

389 Oliver Road 770-2252 carteblancheco.com

DIY Studio Cafe 71 Algoma Street South 345-8999 diystudiotbay.ca

In Common

40 Cumberland Street South 344-4450 @incommonsocial on Facebook

Kangas Sauna

379 Oliver Road 344-6761 kangassauna.ca

Lot 66

66 Court Street South 683-7788 lot66.ca

Nomad on Bay 307 Bay Street 577-8564 nomadbay.ca

Norteños Taqueria

1501 Brown Street 623-6266 nortenostaqueria.com

Prospector Steak House

27 Cumberland Street South 345-5833 prospectorsteakhouse. com

Swell/St Paul Roastery

15 St. Paul Street 344-3900 stpaulroastery.ca

Tony & Adam’s/ Lot 88

45 Court Street South 767-3897 tonyandadams.com

Royal Aleppo Food 17 St. Paul Street 355-5338 royaleppofood.ca

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CityScene

GO LOCAL KAKABEKA FARMERS' MARKET

Esther Huibers and Carl Godin of Windy Sunshine Farm

Kakabeka Farmers’ Market Windy Sunshine Farm

Story by Matt Prokopchuk, Photos by Keegan Richard

sther Huibers and Carl Godin of Windy Sunshine Farm have been staples at the Kakabeka Farmers’ Market since its inception in 2014, selling their popular array of homemade Boreal Berry Jams and other products made from ingredients found here in Northwestern Ontario. “Our motto is ‘We farm the forest,’” Huibers says. “So anything that grows here naturally, like the Saskatoons and blueberries and chokecherries—anything that grows around here is what we produce. You won’t see pineapple in my jams because it doesn’t grow here.” The two have spent the past several years coming up with a wide variety of flavour blends—and unique names to call them. There’s rhubatoon (rhubarb and Saskatoon berry, their biggest seller), rhuberry (rhubarb and blueberry), and strhapple, (strawberry, rhubarb, and apple). “We had some fun with the names,” Huibers says, adding that all ingredients are grown pesticide-free and made into jam in their health unit-inspected kitchen.

Other jam flavours include apple pie and chokecherry. They also sell salves and chaga. Huibers and Godin both have an agricultural college background— Huibers specialized in food service management and Godin in agricultural business—and opened their farm around the same time they began selling at the market. The Kakabeka Farmers’ Market is now an annual summertime market that runs in July, August, and September. It has had a significant presence inside the Kakabeka Legion, but COVID-19 ultimately forced it to exist fully on the legion’s front lawn, and organizers say that’s likely to continue. As of mid-June, organizers were still awaiting the go-ahead from public health officials to open outdoors for this year, eyeing the move into Step 2 of the province’s re-opening plan as a possible time. The move outside did help raise the visibility of the market, with passers-by on the highway stopping in, Huibers says. “Last year was the first year that everyone was outside because of COVID and the market

just took off,” she says. “We had over 200 customers go through regularly and we never reached 200 when we were indoors at the legion.” Overall, Huibers says she loves the sense of community and local business support that the Kakabeka Farmers’ Market brings. “It’s a really nice community. The vendors help each other out,” she says. “The newer vendors learn from the

vendors who have been there a little longer—I was new once and, you know, now I’m a helper.” For more on Windy Sunshine Farm, you can visit them on Facebook @borealberryjam. For upto-date information on the Kakabeka Farmers’ Market, please visit their website at kakabekafarmersmarket. ca or find them on Facebook @kakabekafarmersmarket.

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CityScene

No One Left Behind Play it Forward Funland Opens Up

Story by Wendy Wright, Photos by Shannon Lepere

onnor Gravelle, the new operator of the mini-golf course at Boulevard Lake, is having just as great of a time as the happy customers visiting the venue daily. It certainly says something that there have been multiple returning customers even after only being open for a week. Gravelle took over the site in May and aptly named the new venture Play it Forward Funland. The pay-what-you-can model he implemented is proving to be an experience into a sharing-the-joy model as well. The kindness of the community is passed on to others who may not be as fortunate. It takes a village for many things, and helping those out while playing yourself is proving to be a great way to define the word community. This model has been working wonders at Play it Forward. There has been an outpouring of support that has led to more people of all ages and abilities coming out to play who may not have been able to otherwise. “I don’t want anybody to feel left out,” Gravelle says. “People just need a platform to do good and hopefully this inspires people.” Improvements and expansions are continually taking place. The course has been refurbished, gardens installed, and bright new paint applied, for a start. And there’s been work on the behind-the-scenes things like electrical as well. Bicycles

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and lawn games are available to rent for an hour to a week. Everything here has a playful aspect and purpose, which helps the community get outside, breathe in the fresh air, and spend time with their families in a very safe environment. “People feel safe here and we’ve gone above and beyond with sanitation and safety protocols,” Gravelle says. Play It Forward is helping people in the community with mental health, physical well-being, and getting back to being social in a beautiful outdoor environment full of smiles. Watching people enjoy their time and witnessing families playing together for the first time in what may be months has brought out kindness all around. “This is an awesome experience,” Gravelle says. “It’s like a piece of Thunder Bay history coming back to life. “I speak with people everyday who came here as kids and are now bringing their kids.” A concession stand is also available for treats and, if you can, perhaps get one for someone else as well. Paying it forward is truly a way to get through this pandemic together with a smile. Play It Forward Funland is open from 11 am to 9 pm every day until October. You can visit them at playitforwardfunland.com or on Facebook and Instagram at @playitforwardfunland.

 Connor Gravelle is the new operator of the mini-golf course at Boulevard Lake. He’s renamed it Play it Forward Funland

The Firefly is a combination water

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 Gravelle has refurbished the historical course and added new amenities

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CityScene

WALL SPACE

 Scissors are the tools that Monteith uses the most when working on upholstery projects, like these German-made ones from the pre-1930s. His upholstery projects include furniture, boats, cars, and most recently a 1950s airplane.

Monteith Upholstery

Traditional Craftsmanship in the Modern World Story by Tiffany Jarva, Photos by Kay Lee

pholsterer Quinn Monteith seems to be from a different era—a modern nod to renaissance men of the past. When you first walk into the 24-year-old’s creative, hands-on space, it’s hard to take it all in because there’s just so much more than just tools of the trade. A certified welder, Monteith loves to collect and restore antiques, refurbish furniture, sew his own clothing and bags, carve wood, and draw oil-pastel images of meaningful objects like his ginger jar and delicate hand-painted china, as well as portraits. “He just has a knack for it all,” says Quinn’s dad Kerry Monteith. “He really understands history. You

 Quinn Monteith in his workshop. “Mom and I would go antiquing almost every weekend, much to my dad’s chagrin,” laughs Monteith. For years, he worked part-time at local antique shops. And because of his passion for vintage, he has made connections with people who have similar interests all over the world.  A local cigar jug dates back  Projects like polishing brass hardware for an ice box can to pre-World War I. be really gratifying, explains Monteith. He prefers to either make his own stuff or fix things.

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can’t find many young kids who care about this kind of stuff.” Quinn Monteith has been collecting since he was about nine years old, starting with coins and antique bank notes because “they were huge and so pretty.” Today, he seems to have an endless amount of knowledge about, and interest in, antiques and vintage tools. “You actually sometimes need a 120-year-old tool to fix some of these older things properly,” explains Monteith. “I have always gravitated towards history, the stories, and the why.” To find out more about Quinn Monteith’s services, check out monteithupholstery.com.

 Monteith also makes his own canvas parts bags, and he enjoys reproducing vintage military canvas bags. He made the apron he is wearing out of salvaged cloth from Japan, complete with many utility pockets, a leather tie, and a sterling silver buckle at the back. He also made the leather visor he is wearing. He hopes to design his own furniture one day.

CityScene

 Monteith has 30 different sewing machines, including three in his workshop. He learned the art of upholstery from a local traditional upholsterer and immediately showed an affinity and natural talent for it.

 Magnetic hammers help with the upholstery process. He prefers them to pneumatic staplers. “I bought the hammer myself for my birthday,” says Monteith. “You’ve got to splurge if you can’t travel.”

Antiques dot the workspace, from wooden chairs, drawers, and doors to cash registers, typewriters, and a working 1920s Victor record player that Monteith restored. There are even vintage vacuum cleaners, like the rare British Baby Daisy that dates back to 1914 and was a two-person operation.

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CityScene

EYE TO EYE

With Jason Rasevych As told to Matt Prokopchuk, Photo by Keegan Richard

Ginoogaming First Nation's Jason Rasevych, national leader of Indigenous client services with Deloitte Canada

ason Rasevych has been a fixture in the business world here in the northwest for over 20 years, and a staunch advocate for Indigenous rights and First Nations economic development. A member of Ginoogaming First Nation, Rasevych has worked as a band manager, in economic development with the Matawa First Nations, and as a consultant. He was recently named a partner in financial advisory practice and the national leader of Indigenous client services with Deloitte Canada—a major financial and professional services company—which will see him work with Indigenous communities to help them take lead roles in economic opportunities on their traditional territories. Rasevych joined us over the phone to talk about what drew him to his field of work, some of his proudest accomplishments, and what keeps him busy away from the office. On what drew him to his field of work: I’m a Ginoogaming First Nation

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community member. […] That’s where I resided throughout the 90s, and I’ve got a strong connection to the land and a strong understanding of Indigenous rights, First Nations rights, through what I’ve experienced in my childhood and teenage years of going out on the land with relatives—with my father, with my uncles. And really, during those times, I didn’t really get it, but when I became more involved in First Nation economic development, things started to fall into place. […] There’s experiences that I’ve had early in my lifetime that I’ll never lose, as far as my values, and one of those is the ancestral inspirations. My grandmother and ancestors are from northern Ontario, the James Bay area, and they’ve utilized the river systems to live off the land, to care for the land, to be stewards of the land, and that is in my DNA. […] Early experiences also shaped my worldview; back when I was a youth, my father used to bring me to the Oka rallies in the early 90s. Being that young, participating in those

events and hearing some of the leaders speak—whether it was the Mohawks in Kahnawá:ke, or even participating in the Long Lake 58 CN blockade in 1990—there were key questions I was asking at a young age. Why are we doing this? And what are we fighting for? I didn’t understand it completely then, but from a rights-based perspective, it started to fall together throughout my career. On some of his proudest accomplishments: I really appreciated the relationships that I established in Northwestern Ontario with not only the Matawa First Nations, but other First Nations that I worked with. And while somebody may talk about a proud accomplishment being a big, big project that was brought to fruition, I could say that one of the big accomplishments that I really enjoyed was watching several First Nations take over ownership of a broadband project in the far north, to own the long-haul network. I was proud about this because

government tried to interfere and not allow First Nations to own it— [there were] so many comments about “you don’t have capacity, how are you going to own it?” That was a David versus Goliath project that took five years to work through to negotiate for the communities to be in a position to determine the route, and also to switch the project to instead of being a colonial, archaic project where government provides the dollars for somebody else to own the infrastructure, that the First Nations would own it, they would design it, and they would maintain and operate the network. On what he enjoys away from work: I do try to, as much as I can, revisit the family trapline and go back and reflect and reconnect, and it brings me back to those teenage moments and childhood moments when I was there with my father and family and relatives, and that safe place. […] In the city here, I like participating in recreational baseball leagues. I used to play hockey as a goalie, [and] I try and do that—I’ve gone to random tournaments in the winter time. But I really enjoy the outdoors here, whether it’s taking the family to the Marina or jogging every weekend at Boulevard Lake, or going out to Trowbridge or the Cascades and enjoying the outdoors, and supporting the local economy as much as possible as well. On the most interesting place work has taken him: In 2015, I went to Guatemala for a week-long United Nations event on helping First Nations with shareholder advocacy, and that was really interesting. It was kind of dangerous. I knew I was signing up to help the Latin Indigenous people—the tribes there, the Mayan tribes—with understanding what tactics and strategies they could use to raise awareness of their rights, but I really didn’t understand the political climate there and how much corruption and how there’s danger related to the resource sector. […] I really felt fulfilled after that week, to really share some ideas and share my knowledge of them, but to also build some connections and to bring some of those key messages back here to Canada as well.

Jeanette Posine

The Bannock Lady “This program has been an educational and spiritual experience. This opportunity has given me the strength, courage and support that I needed to move forward with my business. The Bannock Lady will be officially opening at Intercity Shopping Centre in July 2021. My dream to have my own shop became real. Thanks to the PARO Enterprising Indigenous Women program.”

110-105 May St. N. Thunder Bay, ON

807-625-0328 • www.paro.ca

MOOKA’AM KWE: SHE RISES BIZCamp In January 2021, PARO, through its Enterprising Indigenous Women program, and with the assistance of our sponsors FedNor and the Women’s Entrepreneurship Strategy, launched Mooka’am Kwe: She Rises, a 15-week BIZCamp Pilot to support Indigenous business women. The cohort of 10 successful applicants worked with PARO’s top-notch business counsellors and inspiring facilitators to re-imagine their businesses for scale up. In understanding traditional commerce, and integrating modern entrepreneurial values, Indigenous women are steeped in ability, vision and innovation to sustain their communities through entrepreneurship.

Cynthia Nault Sacred Colours

“It has been so lovely to have such great support from the Elders in the program; Sacred Colours is getting a brand new website! I am forever grateful!” Cynthia can be found @SacredColours on Facebook and Instagram

Kathleen Anne Sawdo

As a pilot program, Mooka’am Kwe hosted this group of diverse women entrepreneurs from across Northern Ontario with businesses varying from hygiene in mining, mental wellness and psychotherapy to traditional foods, makers and environmental consulting. With the assistance of our partners CESO, Go Forth Institute, Blue Sky Community Healing Centre, and special guests Watay Power and LBS Environmental Consulting Inc., participants were connected to subject matter experts who, through engaging workshops, shared knowledge on procurement opportunities in traditionally male dominated sectors such as mining, forestry, construction and power. Part of what makes this program unique: Mooka’am Kwe focuses on integrating cultural wellness at every step of the participants’ business journey; with Elders supporting the women at each session and beyond, the participants grow their businesses while connecting with traditional knowledge, grounding their business values in cultural practice, while contributing to their communities, self-sustainability and economic growth that knows no bounds. Stay tuned for more information about a second Mooka’am Kwe: She Rises BIZCamp being planned for the fall of 2021! For more information, email: EIW@paro.ca

Sister Bear Designs

“This program, for me, was a reconcili-action initiative. It provided space for Indigenous women to shine, and to work with nonIndigenous business leaders, and opened doors that would normally have been closed to us due to systemic barriers. It showed how Indigenous women in business are quite excellent, in fact, walking both worlds. Mooka’am Kwe opened doors for me and inspired me to open doors for the next generation. Shop my creations this fall at Goods & Co Market.”

Denise Atkinson Tea Horse Ltd.

“This program hit all of the important aspects of taking my business to the next level. The tools, presentations by industry experts, and networking opportunities have been extremely beneficial for the growth of my business, my brand and my online store. The BIZCamp’s content was comprehensive yet very accessible, and well organized. I would recommend Mooka’am Kwe BIZCamp to any Indigenous woman entrepreneur interested in starting or growing their own business. Find us online at www.teahorse.ca”

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CityScene

Stuff We Like For Cycling By Amy Jones

hey say you never forget how to ride a bike, and lately it seems as though many people are putting this old adage to the test. Cycling has surged in popularity during the pandemic, and for good reason— it’s greener than a car, more active than a bus, and more fun than a treadmill. And we really hope this trend continues even when things get back to (the new) normal! If you’ve discovered (or rediscovered) cycling in the past little while, you’re going to need some gear to make the most of your time on two wheels. Here’s Stuff We Like for Cycling.`

Thule Chariot Cross Cycle/ Stroll Bike Trailer

Fresh Air

710 Balmoral Street If your little one is just a bit too little to ride on their own, a trailer is a must. The Thule Chariot Cross Cycle/Stroll bike trailer is a great option for a family with an active lifestyle. Compact, comfortable, easy to clean, and featuring tonnes of cargo space, this combination bike trailer/stroller can even be converted for jogging or skiing!

$1,049.95

POC Axion Spin Helmet 3Ride Bicycle Co.

240A Red River Road Protect your melon while you’re out on the trail with the POC Axion helmet, featuring exceptional safety features like a fully wrapped unibody shell, breakaway visor, 360° size adjustment system for the most precise and secure fit, and SPIN technology— their patent-pending silicone pad system to minimize neck injury. (Plus, it looks pretty badass!)

Wahoo Elemnt GPS Rollin’ Thunder

Bike>Car Art

Gaudy Grandma/The Local Collective

16 Cumberland Street South If you think that bikes are greater than cars, then we’re all on the same page. And now you can tell the world how you feel with this super cute artwork created by local “artrepreneur” Gaudy Grandma.

$17

$169

485 Memorial Avenue We know, we know—you get on a bike to get away from your computer. But hear us out. ELEMNT BOLT is the first, fully aerodynamic GPS bike computer, and works with their free companion app, which allows you to set up your data fields, customize profiles, track performance, and share ride data effortlessly. And don’t worry—it won’t send you any Facebook notifications.

IceToolz Tire Puncture Repair Kit

$329.99

Petrie’s Cycle & Sports

Ryders Gatto Sunglasses

125 Archibald Street North If you ride a bike long enough, eventually you’re going to get a tire puncture. Make sure you’re prepared for this inevitability with this IceToolz tire puncture repair kit, containing 18 patches, three tire levers, adhesive, a valve hose, and sandpaper, all packed away in an easy-to-carry tin box—everything you need to get back on the road in no time!

Gear Up For Outdoors

894 Alloy Place For most of us, the number one thing we want in a pair of sunglasses is that they look cool. But performance is just as important, especially when you’re on a bike. These Ryders Gatto sunglasses also eliminate glare and ambient haze, block 100% of UVA, UVB and UVC rays, and are flexible, lightweight, and impact resistant. Plus, you know, they also look really cool.

$11.95

Lululemon Align Bike Shorts

$49.99

Bodymind Centre

8-105 Villa Street Now that so many people are getting back into biking, it’s no coincidence that bike shorts are suddenly back in style. These lululemon bike shorts from Bodymind Centre are so weightless and buttery-soft you’ll want to wear them on and off your bike.

Safe Cycling Course Safe Cycling Thunder Bay

562 Red River Road Maybe it’s been a minute since you’ve been on a bike, or maybe you just want to brush up on your skills. Safe Cycling Thunder Bay offers different courses including commuter cycling, cleaning your bike, winter riding, and more, so you can cycle confidently no matter what the circumstances!

$Various

$58

Frogg Toggs UltraLite2 Rain Suit KBM Outdoors

349 Mooney Avenue If you don’t like the weather in Thunder Bay, wait five minutes and it’ll change. But if that’s too long to wait, grab a pair of frogg toggs Ultra-Lite2 suits instead. Constructed from an ultra-lightweight, waterproof, breathable, nonwoven polypropylene material, it’ll keep you dry on the road. And the best part is, it packs down to storage pocket size, so you’ll never be caught out in the rain.

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$34.99

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CityScene

Aching to Travel? You Don’t Have to Go Far

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

f you are sick of staring at the walls in your house—working, studying, playing, and living in the same space with the same people every day—you are not alone. It is no wonder the experts are saying that there will be a pent-up travel demand when the stay-athome orders are lifted and people are once again free to congregate. One group that is really excited to meet this demand for travel is the tourism industry. Every industry took a hit during COVID-19, but the tourism industry especially so. They rely on the movement of people, large gatherings, and open border access—all things that have been mostly prohibited since the start of the pandemic. One would think that there might not be many tourism businesses left. The data is ugly, with 25% of tourism operators closing in several northern communities. But that means three-quarters of these hard-hit businesses are still on their feet. We are nearing the end of the race between vaccines and the virus, and once we finish that race, a new one will begin: to resuscitate these businesses as fast as possible, before lingering injuries finish even

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more of them off. Business counts happen every December and June. They track how many businesses of a specific sector are operating per year. As expected, not all businesses made it through the pandemic. Our figures show the

drop in businesses in each sector related to tourism. It is a tough table to look at. If you look closely, however, there are reasons to be hopeful. Large centres lost relatively few tourism businesses. Even in the hardest-hit rural communities,

most operators are still in existence. So, when making summer plans, look at some smaller communities and rural operators that are still hanging on and need your support. Atikokan is a small community about 200 kilometres west of Thunder Bay. If you compare the business numbers between 2019 and 2020, they remained steady in information and cultural industries (arts, entertainment, and recreation). Accommodation and food services sectors did experience a slide, but 90% of businesses are still standing. If you are visiting Quetico Provincial Park this summer, you should pop into Atikokan for a few hours too. If you are on the way to visit Kenora, you should take a stop in Dryden—another community where tourism is still standing firm, waiting for the storm to pass. They saw business losses in most tourism sectors but again, close to 90% have survived up until now. Visit Egli’s Sheep Farm, explore the historical museum, or visit one of the many outdoor parks while in the area. Perhaps surprisingly, the little gem of Ignace hasn’t experienced any declines in any of the tourism sectors. We don’t know what their pandemic survival secret was, but if

you are on Highway 17, you should take a rest break and visit their hidden white sand beaches and friendly residents. If you are making summer plans and want to help those who are hurting the most, you should drive down Highway 11 and give some love to the border communities of Rainy River and Fort Frances. With the border closed, the tourism sectors in these communities are being hit the hardest as their main clientele are stuck on the wrong side of the falls. These communities have seen a large loss in arts, entertainment, and recreation sectors as well as in food service and accommodations. Travel and tourism from outside the country will be restricted for a while yet. In the meantime, you should take advantage of the availability of local tourist spots now. They need your support, and once things open more, who knows when the next available booking will be? Drive a few hours west and have a weekend getaway before the travel rush begins. Where will your next adventure be in Northwestern Ontario?

Exploring Superior By Matt Prokopchuk

While tourism-oriented businesses have been navigating the pandemic, the association responsible for advocating for the industry in the Lake Superior area has launched a new initiative designed to show off all the region has to offer. Superior Country’s Superior Picnic Adventures initiative provides people with recommendations on places of interest and eateries in a number of North Shore communities, says Suzanne Kukko, the Lake Superior North Shore tourism coordinator at Superior Country. They’re “basically a set of picnic adventure itineraries from Dorion all the way up to Marathon,” she says. “In each community, we have participating restaurants that have set out

a picnic special […] and then we have a perfect picnic spot that we’ve chosen, and then we also have an adventure.” Those adventures can range from something easy and accessible for the whole family to more strenuous hikes. All recommended activities take place on trails and in outdoor areas that are properly signed and maintained, and participating communities, Kukko says, include Dorion, Nipigon/Lake Helen, Red Rock, Schreiber, Terrace Bay, and Marathon.

PORT ARTHUR LEGION

Branch 5 Royal Canadian Legion

WeSupport ’ l l b e o p eall n aT. s sBay oon as we’re able and allowed, Legions w i t h o u r M o n t h l y B u ff e t B rPoppy e a k f a s t Funds a n d o u r(25¢) famous We e kyou l y Frbuy i d a ya when FISH & CHIPS DINNERS

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The program launched in mid-June and will run until the end of August. To learn more and to check out the picnic adventures, you can visit superiorcountry.ca/picnics.

Bonobo’s Foods

493A Oliver Road | ThunderBay,ON |345-6262 Tuesday-Friday 11-7 - Saturdays 11-5 @bonobosfoods bonobosfoods.com

Our restaurant focuses on plant based foods; better for the environment, better for your health and better for the animals.

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CityScene

Reaching all Edges of the North Science North Presents Indigenous Ingenuity

Courtesy of Emily Kerton

By Savanah Tillberg

Ashley Larose

 Emily Kerton (far left) and three other staff members in Sandy Lake in 2018. Kerton says the Indigenous Programming Fund will help them return to many fly-in communities.  The Indigenous-made goods that Science North purchased for the virtual fundraiser to benefit the Indigenous Programming Fund

60 The Walleye

n its 37 years of existence, Science North, a not-for-profit educational organization, has continued to provide meaningful and engaging science programming to the residents of northern Ontario. Senior scientist at Science North, Emily Kerton, who has worked with the organization since its expansion into Thunder Bay, says that “Science North helps people interact with the science in their everyday lives. We engage formally with students in schools as well as informally through summer camps, programs, March Break programs, holiday programs.” “A really important branch of what we do is engaging with Indigenous audiences and bringing our science programming to kids in remote communities in the far north as well as road-accessible communities across all of Northwestern Ontario,” she continues. In 2018, Science North developed a strategic priority that focuses on ensuring that the organization engages meaningfully with Indigenous audiences. “In the last three years, we’ve developed two advisory committees, the Northwest Indigenous Advisory Committee, and a Northeast Indigenous Advisory Committee,” she adds. “These two committees are critical to everything that we do in the north.” Kerton explains that these groups, combined with community consultation, allow the organization to engage with Indigenous audiences in meaningful, respectful, and culturally appropriate ways. Science North organizes an annual fundraising gala in order to help fund various projects. This year, the funds raised from the virtual gala held in June were put

towards a new fund that aims to improve the scope of programming that will better reach Indigenous communities. Science North is currently leasing an exhibition that was created by the Montreal Science Centre in collaboration with a pan-Canadian group of Indigenous peoples called Indigenous Ingenuity. “Indigenous Ingenuity is this beautiful and amazing exhibit that weaves traditional Indigenous science knowledge with Western science,” Kerton says. “It shows Indigenous inventions and innovations that people have been using since time immemorial and how they’ve shaped our society and also how they’ve changed through time.” Kerton adds that “the new Indigenous programming fund [will not only give] us the flexibility to be able to bring exhibits like Indigenous Ingenuity to Science North, but also allow us to expand our existing programming.” The exhibition will be coming to the Thunder Bay Art Gallery in December 2021. Science North plans to enrich the exhibit by incorporating Indigenous art from the gallery as well as organizing programming with local Indigenous peoples in order to encompass the knowledge and experiences of Indigenous peoples within Northwestern Ontario. The goal of the new Indigenous programming fund is to ensure that any programming that Science North provides is available to all of those within the region and to truly service all of northern Ontario. Additional donations to this fund can be made through the Science North website at sciencenorth.ca.

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Looking After Your Friends

CANNABIS CORNER

Pets and Cannabis By Justin Allec

big question around cannabis legalization was access. Requiring proof of age for purchase is great—except that accessibility then switches to the consumer. If you live with children and pets, this is a concern. Keeping your cannabis safely out of reach and secure is the best method of preventing access, but still, accidents happen. While children’s access drove much of the conversation initially, we all know pets get into things that they shouldn’t. Research has shown that other mammals, birds, fish, and reptiles all have more endocannabinoid receptors than humans, so their reactions to cannabis are severe. A cannabis-intoxicated dog or cat will sail right past Euphoria Lane and end up on Fear Street. If Rover does eat your stash, though, it’s good to know that cannabis overdoses usually aren’t deadly (however, it must be stressed that though there have been no reported pet deaths from ingesting commercial-grade cannabis, there have been such cases when it comes to medical-grade cannabis).

The danger for pets lies in managing their symptoms and their inability to understand what’s happening to them. I’d encourage you to reach out to your veterinarian, as cannabis intoxication is classified as a form of poisoning. Like with humans, the method of ingestion will determine the experience. Exposure to second-hand cannabis smoke will play out differently than if Rover chowed down on a whole tray of edible baking. If they did eat something they shouldn’t—cannabis baking frequently uses chocolate, which dogs are allergic to—that’s another reason see your vet. The usual symptoms will be present. Cannabis will increase (or

decrease) their heart rate, slow their breathing, and lower their body temperature. For smaller animals, especially cats, these symptoms could become deadly if they persist. Your pet may become agitated, disoriented, lethargic, and uncoordinated. Expect more vocalizing and salivation. Provide plenty of fluids but abstain from increasing their food. Keep them comfortable and calm and reduce sensory input. Some pets may experience urinary incontinence, and in some severe cases they may have tremors or seizures. Repeated exposure to cannabis can lead to health problems for pets. Second-hand smoke has been linked to eye problems, skin

irritation, and respiratory problems like chronic coughing and sinus infections, and even serious bacterial, lung, or lymph node infections. While there is some current research into the benefits of CBD for pets, these studies are, like with humans, preliminary, and I would urge you to consult with your vet before administering any substance. Accidents happen, but responsibility is part of being a pet owner and a cannabis user. Keep your stash secure and look out for your best friend’s well-being. Your pet will be a lot happier if you consume the cannabis, but then give them all the attention.

Our Kid Count’s Executive Director Retires For the last 15 months Kathryn Hughes has been the steady, caring, energetic leader & Executive Director of Our Kids Count. She joined the organization at the start of the pandemic and has supported staff through their most challenging year yet. She has done an incredible job prioritizing the physical and mental welfare of OKC staff while balancing the needs of our participants and families and ensuring that staff and participants feel safe. Board Chair, Christine Bates, shares: “Words fail to adequately express the Board’s appreciation of Kathryn’s energy, leadership and creativity in the face of the most significant challenges this past year. She supported OKC’s staff as they ensured that our participants and their families were taken care of in every way.” Kathryn says, “I am so grateful for my time being the Executive Director at OKC. I have learned so much and am so proud of my team as they adapted to a virtual world and continued to offer programming, food and supports to our deserving participant families. It took all of you to get us through a challenging Covid year and I look forward to being a volunteer and donor for OKC in my retirement.” Kathryn Hughes

We wish Kathryn the very best in her retirement and thank her again for her support of Our Kids Count.

The Walleye

CityScene

Legal Options

Immigration Legal Clinic Planned for Lakehead Law School Story and photo by Matt Prokopchuk

legal clinic that plans to operate out of Lakehead University’s Bora Laskin Faculty of Law would specialize in immigration law—an area of practice that is needed in Thunder Bay, according to one of its directors. Jennifer Dagsvik is working to establish the clinic, after the project was awarded a grant from the Law Foundation of Ontario under its access to justice funding. A lawyer with Matthews Dagsvik Law in Thunder Bay with experience working in immigration law, Dagsvik also teaches immigration law at the law school and, according to the firm’s website, is a founding member of a local refugee sponsorship organization.

Same old brown bag lunch?

“What it will do is fill a gap that we noticed emerging over the last few years in legal services for newcomers,” she says, referring to immigrants, refugees, people claiming refugee status, people here with temporary status, such as students, and people with no status. “Myself and the multicultural association, we started to notice that there were people who needed the assistance of a lawyer in an immigration matter. But here in Thunder Bay we don’t have a legal clinic where they could go and get some free guidance.” The clinic may also provide advice in areas like business law. “That’s something that you would see in a bigger city, but it’s

not something that we had access to,” she continues, adding that, while these types of services may be available in places like Toronto or Ottawa, they often can’t help people who aren’t living in their service area. “We thought it was important to get that service up here.” Should the clinic get its final approvals (Dagsvik hopes to begin accepting clients in September), she says to start, she will be the only lawyer working there, with the bulk of the work being done by immigration law students, whom she will supervise. “Their coursework will be to meet with people, provide advice, help them with applications, do public legal education, and that sort

Leave it to us!

of work,” she says. According to Dagsvik, the demand for this type of legal counsel rose in this region in the wake of Canada accepting refugees after the Syrian refugee crisis and other situations where Canada took in displaced peoples. Thunder Bay wasn’t typically a destination under national resettlement initiatives, she adds, but that has changed with the Thunder Bay Multicultural Association becoming a refugee assistance program resettlement site, and the prevalence of other private sponsorship initiatives. “In a nutshell, family reunification of resettled refugees is a hugely important part of their resettlement in Canada and of their integration into our community and into successfully reestablishing and restarting their life,” she says, adding that, when families are separated during these processes, the member or members who come here have one year to apply to bring other family members over. “For some people, they’re able to do that application on their own, and others need some extra help,” Dagsvik says. “So I think that’s going to be a large portion of the people that we help: the refugee population that is hoping to reunite with family members who are still overseas.” Temporary workers and international students are other groups that the clinic could help, she says, adding that it can also act as a resource to answer questions. “We’re looking for people who are facing barriers to accessing legal services, and […] trying to remedy those barriers.” Visit their Facebook page @newcomerlegal.

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CityScene

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

John: I went to Minneapolis once, and I saw a Timberwolves game. I saw Kevin Garnett and Vince Carter; it was pretty sweet. I ended up on NBA’s Instagram [....] I saw the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Memphis Grizzlies, back in 2016.

Jamie: I went to Nashville, Tennessee, and then we went up to Memphis to Graceland, which is Presley’s place. It was pretty cool. I went with my parents. It was, like, eight hours a day for three days, all the way across the U.S. We went because my dad had to do some work there, so we all took a couple days off and went road-tripping.

This month, we asked The Walleye readers about their most memorable road trip.

Jessica: My most memorable road trip was back in 1999 or 2000, and I was going to college in Sudbury—Cambrian College—and it was about one o’clock in the morning and a friend of mine and I were chatting and we decided to jump in the car and go on a road trip to Elliot Lake. There was this little metaphysical shop there that we wanted to check out the next day. And so we actually got another friend who came along [...] and then we had a lot of trouble getting a hotel there. My grandmother lived there and we were able to visit my grandma the next day and go to the shop. I think it’s the spontaneous nature of it that makes it the most memorable one.

Joe: My most recent road trip was when I went to Toronto to see my cousin and we shared a breakfast burrito, and I came back home. I drove non-stop. The reason that I came back right away was that I was hoping to purchase a house in town here, and my realtor was making a deal, so I had to come back. She called and asked where I was, and I told her I was in Toronto. And she was like, “Well, you were here this afternoon!” But I came all the way back. It wasn’t really memorable, but I liked the trip because I went there and I had a burrito, and then I came back home.

Katie: Probably last summer. I went to British Columbia with my boyfriend and my mom to visit the rest of my family. We went through Banff and it was just really beautiful because we were able to stop at so many different spots, rather than just going to one destination with an airplane.

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Music

A 2019 Live on the Waterfront concert; the 2021 series will feature four 90-minute concerts streamed live from the downtown north core parkade roof

Live from the Parkade

Thunder Bay Plans Virtual Summer Concert Series Story by Matt Prokopchuk, Photo by Kay Lee

rowds of local music fans still won’t be able to gather at Thunder Bay’s waterfront for the city’s annual Live on the Waterfront concert series, but municipal arts and culture officials, along with a number of artists from the local scene, are coming together to bring live music to the city in a different way. The city is planning four free virtual concerts, to take place on July 14 and 28, along with August 11 and 25. The shows will be shot live from the roof of the parkade

in the downtown north core and will be streamed online, says Louisa Costanzo, the supervisor of cultural development and events for the City of Thunder Bay. People can watch from home; as well, the city is working with Boomers Drive-In to show the concerts there. “To do events nowadays is just […] different, and who knows what it’s going to look like when we actually go back to being able to do live events,” she says. “This is an opportunity for us to try something different, and try a hybrid approach

to see how it works, because people may not be comfortable to gather in crowds.” Costanzo says planning for this year’s concert series started about a year ago. The all-local lineup features acts like Lockyer Boys, ShyAnne Hovorka, Sunday wilde, and Jean-Paul De Roover and the Band Aid Solution. She says it’s great to be able to hold an event that celebrates the local music scene. “[We’re] looking forward to having the opportunity to showcase our local talent and to connect virtually with everyone,

too, and have something to look forward to in the summer.” And, while livestreaming a concert does pose technological challenges, Costanzo says it's an exciting endeavour. “It’s a neat opportunity to still do something and engage people, [keep] people connected,” she says. “It’s outside the box.” The shows will run from 7–8:30 pm on the given dates. Updated information, as well as the concerts themselves (on the respective show dates) can be found at thunderbay.ca/live.

Our Kids Count Welcomes New Executive Director

Jackie Knough

On behalf of the Board of Our Kids Count (OKC) Christine Bates, Board Chair, welcomes Jackie Knough as the new Executive Director. Jackie joins OKC with over twenty years’ experience working with children and families. She has an in-depth knowledge of best practices and quality care and is known as a provider of successful short and long-term support services that reach beyond the conventional. Jackie was previously at George Jeffery Children’s Centre. The Board, staff and participants look forward to Jackie’s leadership and creativity as we come out of the lockdown and respond to our communities’ goals and dreams. Jackie shares, “I am beyond thrilled to be joining the amazing team at Our Kids Count. I’ve dedicated my professional career to positions that ultimately help children and their families, and I see this Executive Director role as the pinnacle of all that work and the ultimate in making a difference in the community. Our Kids Count has such a strong presence in the community through successful and iconic events. I’m excited to help contribute to that Phone: 807-623-0292 Fax: 807-623-1530 legacy, and hopefully help create even more Email: info@ourkidscount.ca initiatives that will bring in the resources needed to assist OKC families.”

www.ourkidscount.ca

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Music

From left to right, Leif Peltonen, Dylan Maxwell, and Josh Talakoski

Happy Accidents

The Presence of Pedestrian Lifestyle Story by Justin Allec, Photo by Laura Paxton

ocal trio Pedestrian Lifestyle is no stranger to the pages of The Walleye. The band’s lush take on shimmering postrock has resonated ‘round here since the band’s earliest days. The power trio’s latest EP, Nocturnal Sea, was quickly added to my nightly soundtrack. After more than a year without shows, any material from our local bands is welcome. The tracks from Nocturnal Sea are new takes on songs that were written during the band’s last tour to southern Ontario in 2019. Josh Talakoski’s guitar rings loud

68 The Walleye

enough to carve canyons, while bassist Neil Peltonen’s and drummer Dylan Maxwell dance nimbly in tandem before stomping craters. Talakoski’s vocals are also stronger than on past releases, echoing all over the songs with just the right amount of rasp. “The reason for the EP now was to stay present, to maintain a presence in people’s minds,” Talakoski says. “Because who knows when we’ll ever play again. Or even be allowed to jam.” Pedestrian Lifestyle, in pre-pandemic times, had been a constant presence on Thunder Bay

stages over the past decade. With life on pause, the band followed the new rules of writing songs: record your parts and send them to your bandmates. “The songs came together piece by piece, but it’s hard when you’re not all in the room together,” Talakoski explains. “You’re missing something from the roadmap, even if you’re pleased with where you end up.” Nocturnal Sea itself is something of a happy accident, owed to a combination of recent lockdowns and the band members overworking themselves during their tour in 2019. Pairing up with Visions of Doyle for the journey, Talakoski and his band attempted to organize the shows and record a split album for promotion. In the end, the tour happened, but the split album, Gorblins, had to wait until

later in the year. “It turned into a full-time job,” Talakoski laughs. “It did work out in the end though, because otherwise we wouldn’t have had new music to release this late in the pandemic.” While the members of Pedestrian Lifestyle bide their time waiting for venues to open, they’ve started working on a fulllength album. It’s early stages, but Talakoski feels like it’s the next step for the band. “We’ve honed in on an aesthetic,” he says confidently, and with songs as strong as what’s found on the Nocturnal Sea, we’re willing to wait. Check out Pedestrian Lifestyle and their latest release at https://pedestrianlifestyle.bandcamp.com

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Music

A Longing for Innocence

Ian Tamblyn Talks New Album, Songwriting Consent Story by Heather Kitching, Photo by Leonard Poole

olk music has long been associated with social justice movements. Think of Pete Seeger singing “We Shall Overcome” or Gordon Lightfoot singing “Black

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Day in July.” But as the movements themselves evolve, questions arise from time to time about the relationship between artists from the dominant culture and the marginalized groups that they sometimes sing about or borrow musical inspiration from. How does one balance the folk singer’s imperative—indeed, humanity’s imperative—to speak out against injustice, with the need to stand back so that those affected can speak for themselves? What is appropriate and what is appropriation, particularly when it comes to art relating to Indigenous people, who have been frequent

victims of the latter? Veteran singer-songwriter Ian Tamblyn, who was born and raised in Thunder Bay and now resides near Ottawa, has reflected on that question, most recently in preparing his new album, A Longing for Innocence. Tamblyn wrote a song called “Dark Secrets” that links relatively recent events in Northwestern Ontario—such as the deaths of Indigenous students in the city, the killing of Barbara Kentner, and the racism from former Senator Lynn Beyak—to entrenched anti-Indigenous racism that Tamblyn recalls from his youth here. But before he recorded it, he sent it to several Indigenous people, including Juno Award-winning Mohawk singer-songwriter Tom Wilson, to ask for their thoughts. “He said, ‘Go for it,’” Tamblyn says of Wilson’s response in particular. The song is on the record, but others with Indigenous subjects have been relegated to the notto-be-performed pile after failing to pass muster with Tamblyn’s Indigenous vetters. When asked how he feels about asking those vetters to perform the emotional labour of assessing his work, Tamblyn said he judges the acceptability of the requests based on his relationships with those individuals. He admits he wasn’t always so diligent about considering his right to sing about others’ lives. “Someone did call me out,” he said of the turning point, which came around the release of his 2011 album, Walking the Bones. “I wrote a song called ‘Snot Nose Kid.’

And it's about a kid that I met in Pangnirtung,” he says. “He was in the middle of a construction site with his own Tonka car […] and they had set up a fence so that he could play as the big trucks roared by.” Tamblyn wrote the song because it evoked in him a nostalgia for the days of carefree childhoods prior to the rise of helicopter parenting, he explains. But at least one Inuk listener found it derogatory, causing Tamblyn to realize that even those who fiercely support Indigenous rights can fail to recognize the potential for their work to have negative consequences. “That kind of for me went, Oh, it's not necessary to be wrong [in intention]. But you should ask,” he says. “Dark Secrets” is one of two songs on A Longing for Innocence that Tamblyn intentionally juxtaposed against the project’s overall theme, which is about longing for simpler times before “the three pandemics,” to use his words: COVID-19, the climate crisis, and the Trump presidency. Another Thunder Bay-inspired song, the atmospheric homage, “For the Love of a Lake,” is more typical of that theme, as is “The Dolphins Came to Venice,” based on stories about dolphins returning to the Venice canals during the COVID-19 lockdowns. “In the middle of writing the song, I found out from someone else that it was fake news,” Tamblyn said. “But I kept on writing the song because I wanted it to happen.”

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Music

BURNING TO THE SKY

Four More Road Songs By Gord Ellis

he appearance of summer is always a time of rejoicing in Northwestern Ontario. We don’t enjoy a lot of hot weather in this part of the world, so those of us who like to ride—whether on two wheels or four—take full advantage

of the weather. Music is nearly always part of that experience. Road songs can be descriptive of the experience, or just perfect for cranking up loud and cruising. Here are four classics of the genre.

“Life is a Highway” Tom Cochrane

“Born to Run” Bruce Springsteen

“Fast Car” Tracy Chapman

With its Stones-y guitar riff and honking harmonica, this may be one of the most familiar modern road songs, particularly to Canadians. It is also the ultimate example of the Tom Cochrane school of songwriting: come in big, keep the verses soft and breathy, then rip the lid off with a rousing chorus. “Life is a highway, I’m gonna ride it all night long,” sings Cochrane, with the voice of a guy who has done a few all-nighters. This song also carries more than a few echoes of early 80s Bob Dylan, an artist who has done a couple road songs himself.

Speaking of big, exultant openings, few rock songs come in as hot as Springsteen’s “Born to Run.” It’s a wall of sound, with guitars, saxophone, drums, and glockenspiel all vying for the listener’s attention. That wall of sound surrounds Springsteen’s Orbison-style vocals like a velvet glove. It also sounds really, really good when cranked loud with the sunroof open. The verses of “Born to Run” are descriptive, cinematic, and loaded with references to vehicles and driving.

While the previous two songs are big and triumphant and loud, “Fast Car” is anything but. The song opens with fingerpicked acoustic guitar that is low key—even introspective—and the opposite of what you might expect from the title. Yet “Fast Car” is a road song for the restless—someone who has maybe been trying to change their life and needs to leave.

In the day we sweat it out on the streets of a runaway American dream At night we ride through mansions of glory in suicide machines Sprung from cages out on Highway 9 Chrome-wheeled, fuel-injected, and steppin’ out over the line. It is no surprise that this is Springsteen’s most-loved and iconic song. It is the sound of restlessness, joy, youth, danger, and rebellion. You could do far worse while cruising down the highway

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“Running on Empty” Jackson Browne

Won't have to drive too far

When I was in high school, there were several albums that were in high rotation at parties. Those albums included Pink Floyd's The Wall, the Rolling Stones’s Some Girls, Eagles’s Hotel California, and Jackson Browne’s Running on Empty. Forty years later, if you listen to a classic rock station in Thunder Bay for half an hour, there is a good chance you will hear a cut from one of these discs. But the title track of Running on Empty is also one of the best road songs of all time. It is a jubilant anthem, smooth and radio-friendly, but with an edge you don’t hear in yacht rock. This song is a prayer to the risk taker who is driving to a future that is uncertain at best.

Just ‘cross the border and into the city.

Looking out at the road rushing under my wheels

Tracy Chapman has written quite a few great songs, but “Fast Car” is her greatest tune, and a timeless road song.

Looking back at the years gone by like so many summer fields

You got a fast car I got a plan to get us out of here I been working at the convenience store Managed to save just a little bit of money

In 65 I was 17 and running up 101 I don't know where I'm running now, I'm just running on. These words, so reflective and powerful, are buoyed by soaring slide guitar and Browne’s lustrous voice. As a road song, “Running on Empty” is hard to beat.

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Music

Live at the Bedrock Festival co-founders Elly Tose (left) and Caleb McGoey (right) on stage with performer Andy Ritchie (centre)

Live at the Bedrock Sleeping Giant Folk Music Society Returns with Outdoor Summer Concerts Story by Ken Wright, Photo by Chad Kirvan

he Sleeping Giant Folk Music Society has navigated the ever-changing currents of COVID-19 protocols with dexterity and resourcefulness. As part of the celebration of its 20th anniversary, the society will be presenting the Live at the Bedrock Outdoor Festival, a twoday, outdoor, COVID-19-compliant event the weekend of August 7 and 8. Saturday will be a backyard affair on the property of Elly Tose, the society's administrative coordinator,

with the family deck serving as the stage. "The name is a little bit of a play on the bedrock we have in our yard plus our Live from the Rock Folk Festival connection," says Tose. On Sunday, the music will move to the much larger space of the Roots to Harvest urban farm on Fort William Road. At the time of writing, the performer lineups had not yet been decided. "We are looking for local musicians who haven't worked or have been hit by the pandemic,"

says Tose. Technology will offset restrictions that circumstances may place on the size of the live audience. "Because we are going to film it and eventually turn it into an online presentation, it will be open to everyone," she adds. "It won't even matter where you are in the world." As always, sponsors play a key role. The society gratefully acknowledges the generous backing of a new COVID-19 financial assistance initiative—the Canadian Heritage Support for Workers in Live Arts and Music Sectors Fund. Momentum generated by the Live at the Bedrock event, the announcement that the government of Ontario is speeding up second COVID-19 vaccinations, and the prospect of some semblance of normality returning this summer should carry the society nicely into

their planned season this fall and into the winter and spring of 2022. Renewed contracts and rescheduled dates are largely in place for a tremendous roster of top-notch performers including Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, Whitehorse, Good Lovelies, and David Francey. "We're expecting double vaccinations will be done at least by the end of August and we're hoping that people's hesitancy will be greatly reduced," says Tose. "At this point, it's a go. We're as confident as we can be that the new season will be happening." Elly Tose can be contacted at elly@sleepinggiant.ca. For more information about the festival and the society’s planned upcoming season, you can visit sleepinggiant.ca and @SGFMS on Facebook.

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Music

Reaching Inside Herself Jamie Sky Focuses on Honesty When Songwriting Story by Roxann Shapwaykeesic, Photos by Keegan Richard

t only 22 years old, Indigenous singer/songwriter Jamie Sky, formerly known as Jamie Labrador, is working on her first EP. Born and raised in Thunder Bay,

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the emerging artist started performing at karaokes and local events at age 12. “I've been singing since I could talk,” says Sky. Her mother noticed her innate musical talent and connected her with Wiidosem Youth Services Inc., a not-for-profit organization that works with youth through music and life skills in Thunder Bay. “It was a really good experience, especially as somebody who was really unsure and starting out,” says Sky. She has since performed at open mics, open stages, and volunteered her music for different projects. “I performed at the Buskers Festival, Westfort Street Fair, and local private events for organizations and had opportunities to travel to different First Nations communities to perform,“ she says. Sky’s mother is Mi’kmaq from Acadia First Nation in Nova Scotia,

while her dad is from Eagle Lake First Nation in Ontario. She grew up around Ojibway culture where she feels a strong connection. “I just identify a lot with people from my community and from various Indigenous communities. A lot of my music is geared towards healing,” Sky said about her inspirations. “It's mainly based on my life experiences and things that I’ve had to go through.” During a stormy night as a high school student, Sky wrote “Thunderstorm” as a way of working through what was happening in her life at the time. “I was feeling a lot of emotions from things that were going on. I opened my Notes app, and I wrote a little bit of a poem to get that frustration out,” says Sky. The song was later produced by Mark Zubek at Zedd Records in Toronto. “Sometimes I’ll

just pick up my guitar and I’ll have a song ready because it’s words that I haven’t said yet. It's feelings that I haven’t really gotten to process yet. That’s where a lot of really good songs come from,” she says. Sky says music is vulnerable. Producing any art is vulnerable. “I don’t think you should be scared to reach within yourself to find those things that you want to make the art about, because it makes the art so much better,” she says. “I think music is such a unifying thing,” Sky says about her future in the industry. “Giving my own piece of that to other people, no matter what that looks like, that's the ultimate goal.” Jamie Sky’s music can be found on Spotify and YouTube under the name Jamie Labrador.

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Music

Will and Charlie Lockyer

Surfing in L.A.

Lockyer Boys Riding the Pandemic Wave Story by Jamie Varga, Photos by Chad Kirvan

his may be especially torturous due to the world still being in the throes of a pandemic and all, but imagine planning on taking a trip somewhere inspiring—and not only just getting away, but doing so to do things you’ve only ever dreamed of. Now let’s follow the trend set by COVID-19 for so many people, and have that daydream dashed by shutdowns and stay-at-home orders. This is exactly what happened to Will and Charlie Lockyer when planning on taking their act, Lockyer Boys, to Los Angeles in order to write and record some songs with some significant players in the pop world. As tragic as this tale may be, it is also the very motivation behind their latest single, “Surfing in L.A.,” and the point from where they adapted, like so many others, to a new world of having to

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stay at home. If you know of the Lockyer Boys, you know that they definitely have talent, and you also know that they have that extra dash of charisma that gives them a real chance of making a splash in the entertainment industry. It also doesn’t hurt that they genuinely love performing as much as they do the creative process that builds up to that. Cutting their teeth locally, they not only had support from their family, but their dad also got actively involved in their direction in the beginning. Now, they have progressed to not only having industry-savvy management, but are writing and creating music with people who are on the next level. Co-writing with the likes of Daniel Powter and Alan Poettcker makes it easy for producers like Jeff Dawson and Shawn Hook to turn those ideas into potential hit singles.

Just prior to its release, the Boys entered “Surfing in L.A.” into CBC Music’s Toyota Searchlight competition and as of writing this they are waiting to see if they made it from the top 100 in Canada up to the top 10. In addition to that, the initial feedback upon its release has been outstanding. Considering the song sprouted from seeds of misery, it has truly made the best of a bad situation. “Charlie and I always try to make

a sad story into a happy song,” Will Lockyer says. “Like to try and reverse the meaning almost. ‘Surfing in L.A.’ fits in that style and you can expect to hear more songs like that with darker meanings, but no one would guess unless they read the words.” To stay up to date with the Lockyer Boys, you can visit their website at lockyerboys.com, or follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. #RIGHTdeadly

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Chantal and Wes Alkins of Silver Creek Farm Photos by Incompass Photography

Meet Chantal and Wes Alkins, the husband and wife duo behind Silver Creek Farm. Growing up, Chantal was immersed in the ups and downs of entrepreneurship, as her father ran a number of successful businesses. After becoming a business owner in 2016, Chantal quickly realized there was a lot more to entrepreneurship than meets the eye. Nevertheless, that didn’t stop her. Chantal is driven by the challenges of owning a business and continues to strive for growth. Silver Creek Farm is a small family-run farm located just outside Thunder Bay. The Alkins family is committed to the growth of the

local agricultural industry by operating a sustainable, resilient, and environmentally sound farm. It contributes to local food security by offering products to the community at a reasonable price and ensuring the procurement of the products is accessible to everyone. The farm produces a variety of products such as heritage pork, Angus beef, free-range eggs, and seasonal vegetables. The farm also produces various prepared foods, pickles, jams, and jellies from the produce harvested on the farm. Photos taken by Incompass Photography What drew you to entrepreneurship? Chantal: My father was an entrepreneur. He took substantial risks in his life and career that sometimes paid off and sometimes didn’t. He was a big dreamer. After running a number of successful residential contracting businesses (among other ventures), he completely uprooted his life and immersed himself in the study of geology, later to become a self-taught geologist and wellknown prospector in northeastern Ontario. My dad had this incredible ability to manifest wealth and prosperity. People were drawn to him, he was very charismatic and larger than life. Being the child of an entrepreneur had its own challenges and honestly at times our lives were pretty unstable. And that’s the flip side of the coin: one moment you’re on top of the world and the next you’re not sure

how you’re going to get the bills paid. Entrepreneurs are blessed— or cursed, depending on how you look at it—with an unrelenting drive to always do more and to always do better. It’s like travelling from one mountain peak to the next, always anticipating what's around each corner. What is your most memorable moment being an entrepreneur? Chantal: Taking the leap from being an employee to becoming a business owner. I jumped in wholeheartedly without fully understanding the intricate complexities of accounting, insurance, marketing, taxes, and how they all fit together. For myself, the first step was enrolling in the Starter Company Plus program with the Thunder Bay CEDC. This is a phenomenal program and if you take full advantage of it, you’ll end up with a solid “fund-able” business plan as well as a nice little grant to invest in your new business. This program really helps set new businesses up for success. We're lucky to have the Entrepreneur Centre in Thunder Bay. It’s worth it to take

advantage of all the free resources and support they have to offer. Who was your biggest inspiration/mentor? Chantal: My long-time friend and colleague Genevieve H. She is the strongest and most resilient woman I know. She has this innate ability to see through adversity and turn challenges into opportunity. She never dwells on a problem too long and is very solution-oriented. Working alongside her over the years has been incredibly exciting. The work has been meaningful and knowing that we’ve made positive changes in people’s lives through community and economic development initiatives is very rewarding. She’s made a huge difference in my life and many other people’s lives. I wouldn’t be where I am today without her support. If you could go back in time what piece of advice would you give yourself? Chantal: Not everyone is going supportive of your drive or your journey. Do it anyway. Give it all you got.

The Walleye

OfftheWall

The Yesmen

REVIEWS

Mendó

The Yesmen

Alex Cuba

The newest self-titled album by The Yesmen (Nevamind & Royal-T) is an exceptional demonstration of the strength and fragility of our local hip-hop scene. Originally recorded in 2016, this 10-track record builds upon the legacy of Nevamind & Royal-T with old-school flows, raunchy lyrics, and aggressive deliveries. The appearance of nine featured artists including Pretty.Ugly, Bronze, and Bajmahaj adds extensive vocal variety throughout the album while also showcasing the immense amount of talent found within The Yesmen’s circle. While most of the album covers universal hip hop themes of sex, drugs, and being on top, two songs, “Dropped My Mixtape” and “Money,” dive into the darker side of the genre. Rhymes like “The hottest jams that never got a chance were lost in tragic circumstances” hit home and remind listeners of the true realities that all artists face. It takes skill, luck, passion, persistence, and community to make it in the game, and while these are hard character traits to come by, longtime fans won’t be surprised to hear them all in this album.

Alex Cuba didn’t want his new album—his ninth—to be a “pandemic” album. From the beginning, Cuba says he “was convinced that it definitely was the moment to aim at creating something very special, unique, and vibrant, fuelled by the very deep emotions that this time has brought out of all of us.” The result is Mendó, which means “substance of the soul” and is a revitalizing and moving body of work written and performed almost exclusively by Cuba. From his home studio in northern B.C., Cuba reached out virtually to musicians in Spain, Peru, Puerto Rico, and beyond for collaborations that add flair to the tracks which range from flamenco to tropical cumbia to jazz. While each track is equally solid as the next, those featuring Cimafunk, who Cuba describes as the “undeniable cubano James Brown,” are downright addictive. The musicianship and attention to detail on this album are impeccable—consider it the soundtrack to your summer. Vamos a bailar!

- Chad Kirvan

The Walleye

- Michelle McChristie

No Gods No Masters Garbage

No Gods No Masters, the latest release from alt-synth-pop-punkrock and rollers, Garbage is…well it’s Garbage. It’s not often you can say something like that in a positive way, but once a band has been at work for 25 years, I think it's safe to assume they have a formula that is successful. The album is slightly more aggressive at times and a bit darker than I remember Garbage being in the past, but not so much so that their essence is lost by any stretch. I was somewhat surprised at the politically charged lyrics in the first track “The Men Who Rule the World” and the title track, which was inspired by Shirley Manson’s trip to Chile during countrywide protests. Garbage was never a key part of my music library, yet I somehow find it reassuring that Garbage still is… Garbage. - Jamie Varga

Unreleased Songs From The Vault Collection Vol. 4 Stompin' Tom Connors

The fourth installment of archival material from the late Stompin’ Tom, Unreleased Songs From The Vault Collection Vol. 4: Let’s Smile Again, was “chosen carefully to provide comfort during this difficult time.” according to press material. Recorded live off the floor by producer Brian Hewson, this 17-track collection of previously unreleased songs and spoken word pieces by the Canadian country and folk legend delivers the same expected charm and warmth of Connors’s most recognizable material. Highlights here include the bouncy title track, the impressive vocal dexterity of “Jack Of Many Trades,” the comparatively lush arrangements in “Roving All Over The Land,” and fun covers of staples like “King Of The Road,” “Sixteen Tons,” and “Don’t Fence Me In.” As Connors sings in “Come Round Any Old Time,” “make yourself at home.” For any fan of Stompin’ Tom, this collection does just that. - Matt Prokopchuk

Sweep it into Space Dinosaur Jr.

I had a whole clumsy metaphor worked out linking Dinosaur Jr.’s fuzz-drenched sound to a warm, wooly blanket but y’know what? It’s not necessary. It’s summer, for one, so there’s no need for heavy winter coverings. Also, there appears to be light at the end of this pandemic tunnel, and I’m much more interested in potential live music—new, old, doesn’t matter—than anything recorded. Sweep it into Space is a case of a pretty okay album coming at a bad time. Being Dinosaur Jr.’s 12th album overall and their fifth since reforming in 2007, Sweep retreads some familiar ground. J Mascis’s distorted guitar works alongside his drawling vocals and are still the main signifiers of the Dinosaur Jr. sound, with the ever-reliable Murph and Lou pounding out rhythmic bedrock in support. Beyond my own appreciation for that style, though, I didn’t find myself getting too excited. My first impression was that the lead single, “I Ran Away,” is the obvious winner by virtue of that extra bit of ear-wiggling charm, and most likely to make it into live sets when the band tours this autumn. Several listens later, I haven’t really changed my mind. I would jump at the chance to see Dinosaur Jr. live, but the rest of Sweep can largely be brushed aside.

The Line

Dan Taberski

People are either sheep, wolves, or sheepdogs—this is the general school of thought when it comes to a U.S. Navy SEAL. You may tilt your head wondering what that even means, but be prepared to do a full-on cartwheel when Taberski takes you on an intense journey that exposes a warrior approach that is forever steadfast, devoted, and also dangerous. The Line not only breaks down the story and trial of Eddie Gallagher, who was charged with committing war crimes (and later acquitted on all but one count), but it also details the gruelling programs these SEALs endure and the precarious mindset of not knowing when to stop. Because these soldiers have ultimately been trained to be relentless, the line separating right from wrong quickly becomes blurry. Compelling and exceptionally written, The Line had me simultaneously holding both my breath and my heart. - Andrea Lysenko

- Justin Allec

Family-Friendly Neighbourhood Pub

Mine! How Lake Superior the Hidden Rules Flavors: A Field of Ownership Guide to Food Control Our Lives and Drink Along the Circle Tour Michael Heller and James Salzman

Michael Heller and James Salzman are lawyers and teachers. In Mine!, they explore the full spectrum of who owns what and why. “Mine” might be one of the first words we learn as kids, applied to that struggle over a pail and shovel in a sandbox. We carry that forward throughout our lives into adult struggles with possession concerning house selling and buying, divorce agreements, and wills and estates. From the simple concepts of “possession is nine-tenths of the law” to “first come, first served” to just what exactly copyright includes, we find out that most of our basic concepts of ownership are wrong. Heller and Salzman set up simple examples and then deconstruct the challenges of ownership—for instance, that space in front of your seat on a plane. You set your laptop on your tray table and begin work when the person in front of you decides to recline their seat, shoving your work into your lap. Airlines sell that space twice: to you, and to the traveller in front of you. So who does it belong to? Their examples are commonplace experiences and easy to understand (or to think we understand). They deconstruct complex applications of law and possession with ease, expertise and engaging dollops of humour.

- Michael Sobota

James Norton (author) and Becca Dilley (photographer) As the pandemic continues, many of us find ourselves pondering some of the first things we’ll do once restrictions are lifted. For myself and many others I know, two of our most anticipated activities are enjoying a meal in a restaurant and travelling. But after being denied these activities for so long, it’s hard to know where to begin. Luckily, this book is the perfect guide to both. It takes readers on a circle tour of Lake Superior and introduces us to restaurants, farmers, brewers, and bakers who embody the “local” spirit of the big lake and what the water and land offer to food culture. Sprinkled with little history and geography tidbits, the book lets you really get to know the stories of the intriguing and passionate people behind the food at every stop, making them feel like trusted friends you can’t wait to visit. So, start planning now, because with so many mouthwatering choices, you might have to add a few extra days to your journey. - Heather Miller

Two Patios for Outdoor Dining! The Walleye

Architecture

The Nipigon River Bridge Story by Nicholas Duplessis, Photos by Keegan Richard

 A view of the Nipigon River Bridge from the Nipigon waterfront  Planes of cables are crucial to the bridge’s engineering

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he Nipigon River Bridge is the architectural glue that holds two halves of Canada together, and has served as a crucial link in Northwestern Ontario for over nine decades. The first iteration of the bridge, constructed in 1937, enabled vehicles to cross the Nipigon River without the assistance of rail or boat. A new bridge was built in 1974 and consisted of a steel plate girder structure. Several upgrades were made to the 1974 bridge over the subsequent decades, including the addition of steel guardrails and the addition of a pedestrian walkway. The construction of a new bridge costing $106 million began in 2013. The construction of the bridge occurred in several phases to allow for the continuous passage of traffic, the need to demolish the old bridge, and delays faced in the construction process. For example, the bridge famously closed on January 10, 2016 after a winter storm caused structural damage that temporarily made the bridge unsafe. Occurring only weeks after the bridge opened, the delay temporarily crippled Canada’s domestic economy. While a temporary fix was quickly found,

the bridge did not open to four lanes for nearly three years, a feat that occurred in November 2018. Despite those engineering issues, the Nipigon River Bridge is an architectural masterpiece that has become a staple attraction to any person travelling the North Shore of Lake Superior. The Nipigon River Bridge is Ontario’s first cable-stayed bridge. The bridge’s maximum length is 251.8 metres. The superstructure is a composite steel girder system consisting of three longitudinal girders supported by three planes of cables. The bridge’s signature aesthetic feature is the precast towers, which stand roughly 75 metres above ground level. The Nipigon River is famous for its fishing and its role in the ecosystem of Lake Superior, and the bridge was designed with environmental concerns top-of-mind; for example, the presence of fish spawning grounds and the temperature of the water influenced the architecture and construction of the bridge. The bridge was also built with the consideration of Nipigon’s residents and potential tourists, as the bridge features pedestrian walkways that

Architecture allow for a remarkable view of the Nipigon River. The Nipigon River Bridge is an architectural masterpiece that currently accentuates the natural beauty of the Nipigon River area. However, its aesthetic features are only a small part of the bridge’s role in Northwestern Ontario, as the structure has historically, and continues to, keep Canada connected. Nicholas Duplessis is a member of the City’s Heritage Advisory Committee and sits on the board of directors for the Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society. He can be followed on Twitter @nickduplessis4.

 Precast towers standing roughly 75 metres above ground level are the bridge’s signature aesthetic feature  One of the pedestrian walkways alongside a bridge tower

 Cables attached to the bridge’s decking  The four-lane bridge also features pedestrian walkways

The Walleye

JulyEventsGuide Ongoing Banff Film Festival Virtual World Tour Virtual

July 1, 8, 15, 22, & 29 Catch the Ace Anywhere

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

Catch the Ace and win big! Catch the Ace is a progressive jackpot, multiple-draw, weekly raffle in which ticket-holders have the chance to win a weekly prize and the Catch the Ace Jackpot. Co-sponsored by the United Way of Thunder Bay and the Port Arthur Rotary Club, the Catch the Ace draw is administered by United Way of Thunder Bay under a raffle license issued by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. tbayace.ca

July 5–Mid-August TD Summer Reading Explore the art of artist, mapmaker, and illustrator Club with TBPL Hans Krakhofer. Delve deep Virtual into Thunder Bay’s past places The Thunder Bay Public like the historic Algoma Hotel and the famed Chapples building. Take an 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

July 1 Canada Day Virtual

Library is participating in Canada’s largest summer reading program for kids. This free club is ideal for all ages, interests, and abilities and celebrates Canadian authors, illustrators, and stories. The more you read, the more prizes are to be won. There’s also a colouring contest, a bilingual program, and accessible notebooks and books available by request. See this month’s Top Five for more info.

tbpl.ca/td-summer-reading-club

July 6–8 The City of Thunder Bay is building on last year’s Scientists in Situ with fantastic virtual Canada Day TBPL event by partnering with some great local organizations Various to provide a full day of virtual and self-guided activities. See this month’s Top Five for more info. thunderbay.ca/canadaday

The Thunder Bay Public Library has a calendar of accessible science activities to keep kids informed and entertained. In July, there’s a series of Scientists in Situ virtual STEM workshops led by Scientists in School. Registration is on now and each registered participant will receive a science kit to pick up at the library before the program date. For ages 4–12. tbpl.ca

EVENTS GUIDE KEY July 9–11 Routes for Roots Centennial Park

This semi-virtual event is hosted by UpRiver Running—a group dedicated to bringing people together to enjoy trail running. Participants can choose to run, race, or walk the beautiful trails at Centennial Park in either The Single, The Double, or the Out of Towner category. The course is between 6 km and 7 km and there are three days to run the route. See this month’s Top Five for more info. upriverrunning.com/routes-forroots-virtual-race

July 10–25 The Incredible Kidney Quest Around town

An adventure awaits in the Kidney Foundation’s newest family-friendly event. This entertaining and socially distanced adventure will test you and your team with trivia and take you around your local community to complete a variety of photo and vitdeo missions. The event utilizes the GooseChase app. Complete it all in one day, or over several. kidney.ca/kidneyquest21

July 16 Kevin Belmore Exhibition The Creative Company

To celebrate their recent move and grand opening, The Creative Company is excited to hold their first art show featuring artwork from Ojibway artist Kevin Belmore— an artist with a brilliant eye for colour and for capturing emotion on canvas. Stop by on Friday for the gala opening from 5–9 pm, or pop by the next day when Epic Cones will have their ice cream truck on site. See this month’s Top Five for more info. thecreativecompany.ca

Watch the game tonight at Dan o’clock tbaytel.net/TV

The Walleye

General Food Art Sports Music

July 17 Festival of India CLE Grounds

This free festival brings the entire community together to experience and embrace the culture of India. This year, the event will once again be a drive-in affair at the CLE grounds, where you can enjoy traditional music and dances. Includes the amazing vegetarian feast, with free food hampers for everyone in attendance. See this month’s Top Five for more info. indiafesttbay.com

July 17 & 18, 1-5pm Book Swap Gillies Community Centre

If COVID-19 restrictions allow, Book Swap will be happening Saturday, July 17 and Sunday, July 18 from 11-5 pm. Monetary donations are welcome for this free event. All proceeds directly benefit the Gillies Community Centre. COVID-19 safety requirements will be in effect. @GillesCC on Facebook

July 17, 24, & 31 (rain dates: July 18, 25, & August 1) TBay Drive by Art Gallery Around town

Have a look at what Thunder Bay’s talented artistic community is up to, all the while getting around town and becoming better acquainted with the city’s neighbourhoods. The Drive-by Art Gallery will feature original works by a number of artists who will set up their own studio space on their front lawns. Scheduled for the last three Saturdays in July (with Sundays as rain dates). Free to attend. Check out their Facebook page for all the latest. Tbay Drive by Art Gallery on Facebook

Until July 31 Fresh Perspectives: Secondary School Art Exhibition Virtual

Celebrate the artwork of students from around Northwestern Ontario including Thunder Bay, Nipigon, Red Rock, and Dryden. For over 30 years, this annual exhibition has showcased youth creativity and personal expression at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery through a variety of media, materials, technologies, tools, and techniques. This year, the exhibition celebrates the resilience of youth in challenging times, proving that it takes more than a pandemic to stifle their creativity. theag.ca

Until September 12 Piitwewetam: Making Is Medicine Thunder Bay Art Gallery

The art gallery presents this very special exhibition featuring the work of the Gustafsons, a Thunder Baybased 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

LU RADIO’S MONTHLY TOP July Show Spotlight:

1 PONY* TV Baby Take This To The Heart

8 MIHI NIHIL MIHI NIHIL Self-Released 9 Burial Etiquette* Out of Our Hands Emocat 10 Veik Surrounding Structures Fuzz Club

Lipstick & Leather Hosted by Ryan Trush Fridays from 6–8 pm Time to put on your leather pants and lipstick! For the past 15 years I have been hosting the radio show Lipstick & Leather here on LU Radio. Every Friday for two hours, you can expect to hear a variety of hard rock bands from the 80’s along with current and up-andcoming bands, plenty of unique station ID’s from the artists played, and a plethora of indepth artist interviews. Start your night off the right way with Hair-Raising Fridays, and tune in for a two-hour journey into the old and new schools of hard rock and plenty of glam. Song of the Moment:

“We’re All Alright” by Enuff Z’Nuff

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

16 Nevamind & Royal-T* The Yesmen Hand’Solo 17 JayWood* Some Days EP Royal Mountain/ Captured Tracks 18 Bachelor Doomin’ Sun Polyvinyl 19 Wolf Alice Blue Weekend RCA

2 Forever Dead!* Pretending We’re Surviving Self-Released 3 Death From Above 1979* Is 4 Lovers Universal Music Canada

Music

20 black midi Cavalcade Rough Trade 11 TEKE::TEKE* Shirushi Kill Rock Stars

6 PACKS* Take The Cake Royal Mountain 7 Chemical Bank* Lungbones Vol. 1 Self-Released

13 Dinosaur Jr. Sweep It Into Space Jagjaguwar

27 Mannequin Pussy Perfect EP Epitaph 28 Night Beats Outlaw R&B Levitation 29 Smirk ST LP Drunken Sailor

4 Art d’Ecco* In Standard Definition 12 The Tragically Hip* Saskadelphia Paper Bag Universal 5 FAT COP* Positive EP Self-Released

26 Dry Cleaning New Long Leg 4AD

21 The Bamboos Hard Up Pacific Theatre

14 Plague Skater Plague Skater II Self-Released

22 Animal Dreams* Music For My Wife To Dance To Self-Released

15 Pop Pop Vernac* Rapid Fire Self-Released

23 Red Fang Arrows Relapse 24 Dumb* Pizza Punks Mint

30 St. Vincent Daddy’s Home Loma Vista

* indicates Canadian artist. Chart ranking reflects airplay during the week ending 22-Jun2021.

25 Grouplove This Is This Self-Released

The Walleye

Health

Support Service

Q&A with Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre’s Amanda Walberg Interview by Matt Prokopchuk

esponding to a major public health crisis like the COVID19 pandemic has meant a lot of work for the local health-care system. The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre has had to adapt to everything from building a specialized ward for COVID-19 patients and implementing screening protocols to changing cleaning and disinfecting procedures—all the while working to fulfill its usual role as the primary hospital in the northwest. The COVID-19 incident management team at the hospital, consisting of the organization’s top medical and administrative personnel, has been responsible for leading the facility through the past 16 months. Large administrative bodies, however, also need crucial support, and that’s where Amanda Walberg comes in. She’s

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the self-described “scribe” for the team, and fulfills many roles, like scheduling and preparing materials for meetings, documenting decisions, circulating the numerous information reports, and tracking expenses, as well as providing similar support for the planning and logistics subsections of the management team. We spoke with Walberg about her role, The Walleye: How big of an undertaking has all of this been? Amanda Walberg: When COVID was surging, it was really hands-on [with] tight deadlines, and we needed to take everything to action right away and be timely with everything. There are some times where it really was COVID-dependant. I’ve been involved since October and it’s always been a hands-on, very timely and intense role for sure. […] We’re always looking at our region as well

as the province and how to help, so it’s always been a very hands-on position. TW: Take me to one of those “surge” days. What was that situation like? AW: We have a super high-functioning team, so

everyone would drop everything to meet whenever it was needed and when decisions needed to be made. I would work with the incident manager really closely to make sure everything that we needed was ready. There might be a follow-up meeting right after a big IMT [incident management team] meeting where a smaller group needs to take care of something, and I would be involved in all of that. So, just making sure things aren’t forgotten and that everything was taken care of for the hospital. TW: What sorts of things are you making sure you don’t forget? AW: Really, you don’t want to forget anything [laughs]. But you’re keeping an eye on triggers and actions that come from the meetings and you don’t want to not follow up on any of the actions. They’re all big decisions that are going to benefit our hospital and our community, so [you’re] making sure that if you need to clarify with the team that we’re all on the same page and not letting anything slip, which everyone’s done an extremely good job of doing. TW: What do you feel you’ve learned from this experience? AW: Honestly, I’ve learned so much, I’ve only been at the hospital for under two years, so just understanding how the hospital functions and how […] things involve not only just one department, [but] everywhere. It’s been such a valuable experience to work with the leaders of the hospital and everyone’s so dedicated, and it’s a very motivating and valuable experience.

205 S Algoma Street

View our full selection at www.internationalhouseoftea. com

CELEBRATING 5 YEARS OF GREAT MILESTONES

In honour of our anniversary and to give back to our community, our firm donated $5,000 to Thunder Bay Counselling. AGENTS OF GOOD • Injury Lawyers

THUNDER BAY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Season 59.5

Paul Haas Music Director

tbayinjurylaw.com • (807) 344-1000

100% for you 20% for the TBSO Purchase Food for the Soul coupons in $10 and $20 denominations, and use them as cash at any of our business partners. Business partners then donate 20% of the coupon value to the TBSO!

visit tbso.ca/food-for-the-soul to purchase and see a full list of partners.

MUSIC IS FOOD FOR THE SOUL SEASON SPONSOR

PUBLIC SECTOR FUNDERS

COMMUNITY FUNDERS

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Health

Fostering a Culture of Kindness By Caitlund Davidson, Health Promotion and Communications Planner, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre

he past year has been extremely challenging for the health-care profession. Health-care workers are experiencing increasing rates of anxiety, depression, stress, and burnout due to the pandemic. Still, the staff, professional staff, and volunteers at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) continue to show remarkable resilience and dedication, showing up to work every day ready to provide exceptional care to our patients. With this in mind, Prevention and Screening Clinical Services at TBRHSC developed the Undercover Kindness

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Mission to spread kindness throughout our hospital, boost morale, and let their colleagues know that their hard work has not gone unnoticed. “With pandemic restrictions in place, we have been unable to hold on-site or in-person wellness events for staff. The Undercover Kindness Mission seemed like the perfect opportunity to reach both clinical and non-clinical staff,” says Kelly-Jo Gillis, manager of preventive health services at TBRHSC. “During times of stress and change, it’s important not to forget or overlook the importance of being kind. One small act of kindness can make someone’s day, and at

the same time, contribute to creating a culture of kindness in our hospital and community.” The Undercover Kindness team, consisting of five staff members, began writing kind, heart-shaped notes, providing words of encouragement and thanking the staff for everything they do. These handwritten notes were placed randomly on the windshields of cars in the hospital staff parking lots, sent through interoffice mail, and taped in other public locations to be found by unsuspecting staff members. Sabrina Karpowich, the administrative assistant for adult and forensic mental health at TBRHSC, was the recipient of one of these anonymous notes. She may not have known who it came from but it impacted the rest of her day. “It had been a busy day and I was looking forward to going home to unwind. As I got to my vehicle, I saw the note under the windshield wiper. Reading it instantly brought a feeling of comfort and relief,” says Karpowich. “Times have been tough over the last 15 months. It meant a lot to see that people are still showing compassion for others. It also inspired me to pay it forward because I wanted someone else to feel the same happiness and love that I felt receiving the note.” The message spread far beyond this single piece of paper when Karpowich shared pictures of the note on Facebook and Instagram. “Not only did the note bring me happiness in that moment, but I was so excited to share with others on social media,” she says. “I was overjoyed by the sweet comments I got in response. It’s nice to feel appreciated.”

Since April, notes have been appearing around the hospital for both visitors and staff. Each note is slightly different but they all encourage the recipient to pay it forward. To date there have been hundreds of notes distributed. The group is hoping that this initiative will spread to other businesses and across our community, creating a culture of kindness in a time where we can all benefit from it. Acts of kindness don’t go unnoticed and they can have a huge impact on the overall positivity of a workplace or community. Often, we walk by those who feel disconnected from the world, lost and alone. Random acts of kindness, like these heart-shaped notes, have been proven to boost our mood and mental health. They can make people feel connected, give them a sense of purpose, and let them know that they are appreciated. They can also be exactly what you need at the end of a long day. Joining this kindness movement is simple: • Visit careforthree.com and print out the heart-shaped template • Write a kind or motivational message and remind the recipient to pay it forward • Decorate the heart and cut it out • Leave the heart for a friend, coworkers, family member, or stranger to find Remember, spreading kindness is not limited to these heart-shaped notes. It can even be as simple as saying hello to a stranger, holding the door open, or wishing someone a great day. Sometimes it’s the smallest gesture that can have the biggest impact on someone’s day.

C I B C WO O D G U N DY

WELCOME TO OUR TEAM Peter Kiley, Branch Manager of CIBC Wood Gundy Thunder Bay is pleased to announce that Trevor Caddo has joined the firm as an Investment Advisor. Trevor believes that expertise, exceptional service, and trust should be the foundation of every relationship. By leveraging the full suite of financial products and services available through the CIBC group of companies, Trevor will develop an integrated wealth management plan designed with all of your financial goals and needs in mind.

Trevor Caddo, MSc Investment Advisor 807 683-2549 trevor.caddo@cibc.com

“CIBC Private Wealth” consists of services provided by CIBC and certain of its subsidiaries, through CIBC Private Banking; CIBC Private Investment Counsel, a division of CIBC Asset Management Inc. (“CAM”); CIBC Trust Corporation; and CIBC Wood Gundy, a division of CIBC World Markets Inc. (“WMI”). CIBC Private Banking provides solutions from CIBC Investor Services Inc. (“ISI”), CAM and credit products. CIBC World Markets Inc. and ISI are both Members of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund and Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada. CIBC Private Wealth services are available to qualified individuals. The CIBC logo and “CIBC Private Wealth” are trademarks of CIBC, used under license.

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Health

Steven Bill, coordinator of communications and new media at the Thunder Bay District Health Unit

Informing, Entertaining, Engaging

How Social Media Has Been Key for the District Health Unit By Matt Prokopchuk

eeping the public up to date, combating misinformation, and sometimes just bringing a smile to people’s faces are all part of what the Thunder Bay District Health Unit says it’s attempting to do with its social media presence during the COVID-19 pandemic. On its social media feeds, the health unit provides near-daily updates on data surrounding new and resolved COVID-19 cases in its catchment area, weekly updates on vaccination rates, relevant news from health and government officials, information on vaccines, answers to questions from the public, other non-COVID-related public health news and information, as well as some other timely tidbits (they had several Pride-related posts throughout June, for example). Steven Bill, the coordinator of communications and new media at the health unit says one of the most

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important aspects of public health strategy—especially during the pandemic—is to reliably communicate information. “This is sort of our time to shine,” says Bill. “The pandemic has presented an opportunity for the Thunder Bay District Health Unit to really get out there and do what it’s been doing all along to a much wider, larger audience.” That means using everything from a basic text post or link to other multimedia content, such as video (Bill credits his colleague Dan DePeuter with those). The goal, he adds, is to get people to engage with what is posted. “That’s really, at the end of the day, what we care about most,” Bill says. “That’s why it’s a very […] multi-pronged approach.” Bill says the local health unit and its social media team have taken a number of cues from other Ontario health units, particularly Ottawa

Public Health. “They have been kind of paving the way for […] making public health sexy again, or maybe for the first time,” he says, adding that the two health units even frequently banter on Twitter. Kevin Parent, a program and project management officer with the Ottawa health unit, says that its social media strategy has evolved over the past several years, even before and during COVID. “It’s audience first, it’s engagement based,” he says. “So much of our content comes from our audience. We read all the replies, we read all the comments, we follow local media, local influencers, and every time they post about something public health related—or these days pandemic related—we go into their post, read all their replies, and we gauge a feel. What’s the narrative, what’s the mood, what are the questions people have, what

are the concerns people have?” Both Parent and Bill say that everything their teams do and post is evidence-based. Parent says that can include researching how best to bring up and publicly post about a given topic, such as sensitive ones like sexual health. During the pandemic, public health’s role also includes combating misinformation around things like vaccines, the virus, and the pandemic itself. According to a Statistics Canada analysis from February using data from a survey series done in July 2020, 96% of Canadians who used the internet saw COVID-19 information that they suspected was misleading, false, or inaccurate. As well, 40% reported believing that information they saw was initially true, then later realizing it wasn’t. During the first few months of the pandemic, the StatsCan analysis found that just over half of all Canadians (53%) had shared COVID-19 information they found online without knowing if it was accurate. “If we’re not present on these channels, if we’re not active and engaging and doing our best to combat the misinformation and the false narratives that are being put out there, […] those stories, those narratives will grab a hold and misguide and misdirect a whole slew of people,” Bill says. “We’re very intentional about stopping those misguided and misinformed pieces of information that spread.” Bill says the local health unit gets dozens of comments or private messages weekly with dubious or false information. “Public health is always going to go where the science and the evidence leads us,” he says. “There’s never a hidden agenda or some kind of ulterior motive or anything to that effect. We are very transparent and we want our audience to trust the science as we do and to follow where that leads.” For more information, you can visit the health unit’s website at tbdhu.com or follow them on their social media platforms.

Health

ids aged 12 and up are now eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine in Ontario. Great! You may be tempted to sign ‘em up and get ‘em vaccinated, but hold on. What if your kid tells you they don’t want to get vaccinated? Now what? Even for the kid who wants the vaccine, it’s still important to help them find their why. Including adolescents in decisions that affect their bodies and lives is a great tool for teaching bodily autonomy and consent. So, it’s important to teach them how to make informed decisions. Here are some tips for talking to your kids about COVID-19 vaccines and helping them make an educated, conscious choice. • Ask them if they want to get vaccinated. If they say yes, reinforce that they’ve made a good decision, not only for themselves but for their community too. If they say no, take the opportunity to ask them why. Kids may be hesitant for a few reasons: they might be scared of needles, worried about side effects, or feel that they don’t need to get it because they are young and healthy. It’s also likely they are getting conflicting information from the Internet or their peers. • Validate their feelings. It’s normal for kids to have concerns. Don’t minimize their apprehensions—really listen to what they have to say. Remember that kids pick up non-verbal cues from their parents; the calmer and less judgmental your tone is during these conversations, the more comfortable your kid will be.

The ‘Talk’ (No, Not That One) By Paige Moreth, Health Promotion Planner, Thunder Bay District Health Unit

•

Help them find factual answers to their questions. Talk to them about what they’re seeing online and about how misinformation spreads through social media. As for the science, most kids understand what “germs” are. Vaccines help us produce antibodies, like tiny soldiers, that fight off and kill germs to keep us healthy. For older kids, direct them to reliable online sources like the health unit’s website (tbdhu.com) or Kids Health First (kidshealthfirst.ca).

•

Be ready with some key points. Emphasize the fact that getting COVID-19 is more dangerous than any side effects they might get from a vaccine. Although youth are less likely to get really sick, COVID-19 can still become serious for them. Highlight that this vaccine won’t be different from others they’ve received— all are safe, effective, and help protect them and others around them. If a fear of needles is an issue, the websites mentioned above have some great resources. It’s also important to talk

about how getting vaccinated, or not, can impact their life. Vaccination will help us get back to normal life as soon as possible, while not getting vaccinated could exclude them from certain places like post-secondary, sport, or entertainment settings in the future. Keep in mind that this might not be one conversation but rather an ongoing dialogue. Having serious conversations with your kids can be uncomfortable, but they will be some of the most important talks of their lives.

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Green

What’s All the Buzz About? An Inside Look at Naotkamegwanning’s Oji-Bee Honey Co. Story and photos by Willow Crow

 Willow Crow, beekeeper and business entrepreneur for Oji-Bee Honey Co. in Naotkamegwanning First Nation in Treaty #3, holds up a hive frame from one of the honey bee hives. The original idea for a honey apiary came from two other community youth.

oozhoo, Aazhoobinesiik ndizhnikaaz, zhiishiib ndoodem, Naotkamegwanning First Nation ndoojiibaa. Hello, my name is Willow Crow, I’m from Naotkamegwanning First Nation (Whitefish Bay), my clan is duck, and I am 21 years old. My brother Colt and I are beekeepers and

business entrepreneurs for Oji-Bee Honey Co. in my community. When I saw the job posting looking for two beekeepers, I immediately told my mom and brother about it and told him he should apply so we could work together. While we thought we would just be beekeepers, we were then asked

to be involved with the business’s development with the help of the Northwestern Ontario Innovation Centre through a crash course in business. While the course was very valuable, Colt and I were still nervous and scared at the thought of running a small honey operation. It seemed daunting and

 Colt prying open a hive for an inspection. We were surprised at the amount of busy work that went into caring for bees, such as providing them with sugar water, and inspecting regularly for mites, queen cells, larvae, eggs, and drones, in addition to all the day-to-day business work, like dealing with emails, calls, presentations, marketing, and promotional work.

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nerve-wracking; it was overwhelming in the beginning and can still be now, but we are learning and making new progress each day. Though we have made mistakes and still have much to learn, we are so proud of our growth and of everything we have accomplished.

 Ingrid Eley-Braun, a beekeeper mentor for Oji-Bee Honey Co., captures a queen bee from a hive to ensure her safety from being squished during hive inspection. While Colt and I have worked nearly two seasons, we have yet to learn about re-queening a hive, which can keep colonies healthier. EleyBraun, along with Garry Wiebe, were crucial mentors.

Green

 Colt Crow, beekeeper and business entrepreneur for Oji-Bee Honey Co., says it’s so valuable to work with honey bees, as he is interested in wildlife and insects. It’s also a great opportunity to learn about business development and to make connections.

 Colt and I scraping excess burr comb off of one of our new hives. This opportunity to work alongside my brother has been a bonding experience and we push ourselves to make this small honey business a success, and to grow as people.

 Honey bees drinking honey. This is what the project is all about: caring for the bees and harvesting their honey. We aim to not only nurture the bees, but also our community’s well-being. We have a unique position that allows us to raise awareness for local pollination and environmental health. (Anishinaabemowin: “aamoo”—bee.)

 We use natural materials in our smokers so we are not introducing harmful chemicals into the smoke. We gather dried needles from the white pine beside the bee pods (Anishinaabemowin: “zhingwaak”—pine).  A grade one student from Naotkamegwanning’s Baibombeh Anishinaabe School paints a hive box for Oji-Bee Honey Co.’s honey bee hive expansion.

 A queen bee (Anishinaabemowin: “ogimaakwe aamoo”—female leader bee) surrounded by her female workers as she finds a cell to lay eggs.

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2021-06-16 4:10 PM

Green

Mission: Delicious Local Summertime Food Adventures

By Karen Kerk, Coordinator, Thunder Bay and Area Food Strategy

t’s the season we’ve all been hungry for: the long and hot days of summer are finally upon us. Everyone is excited to get out and explore all the outdoor adventures our region has to offer, and of course, we know that all great adventures can be centred around one tasty goal: food! If you’re ready to make this a deliciously memorable summer, make sure to dive headfirst into our region’s culinary wonderland. Here’s an inside scoop. Thunder Bay is known as a culinary tourism destination because of our thriving local food scene. We have an impressive diversity of locally produced foods, beverages, and culinary experiences to savour. Local food is not only delicious, also it plays a particularly important role in our economy. According to the province’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, in the Thunder Bay area, the agri-food sector provides nearly 7,000 jobs and counts over 200 farms with nearly 50,000 acres in production, generating over $30 million in farm cash receipts. Of course, there’s still room to grow and strengthen our local food system. The Food Strategy reports that if 10% of the local population spent just $10 more per week on local foods, the annual impact on our local economy would be over $6.3 million. Who knew supporting our local food system could be so savoury? Let’s get started. Be a Culinary Tourist Have you already visited the restaurants, cafés, and shops that are nestled in your neighbourhood? If not, this is a good opportunity to walk or wheel over to sample what’s cooking. Once your neck of the woods is fully explored, start

venturing to other neighbourhoods. From Current River to Westfort, and the Slate River Valley to Pass Lake, there are oodles of tasty local food gems to discover. Want some extra planning help? • Check out tbayinseason.ca, Thunder Bay’s new online local food directory featuring local producers, processors, retailers, and restaurants serving local foods. You can browse vendors and discover which ones are open to the public for a pop-in, an afternoon drive, or a day-long adventure. You could easily fill a few days checking out area farm stores, local breweries, and patios. • Download the new City of Thunder Bay Tours App to check out their local food tour suggestions.

well-stocked with delicious treats to meet all your cravings (think jerky, cheeses, fresh produce, and baked goods). Get out there and continue your culinary explorations this summer, and share your favourite finds on our social media feed, @tbayinseason. Happy adventuring!

Foods to Bring on Adventures Another way to make your summer even more sensory-driven is to think about local food when planning adventures. I’m known for packing excellent snacks to entice my teenagers to go on summer hikes, an evening of fishing, or an after-work dip at a local swimming hole. The Thunder Bay Country Market and many local retailers are

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Hoop Dreams Story by Rebekah Skochinski, Photos by Shannon Lepere

’m standing in a puddle of hair in my kitchen. It’s slippery. There’s a vibrating, loud, and very hot electric razor in my hand. When I hold up a mirror to my husband he says, “This is the best haircut I’ve ever had!” That was a couple of months ago and I’ve since given him a touchup—it didn’t go quite so well. He had a few pointers for me. I had less patience. It ended up being the shortest haircut he’s ever had. And no, I don’t want him touching my hair. Even though, as my mom said, “If he can paint a car, he can give you highlights.” Returning to the salon to see my

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hairdresser is one thing I’m really looking forward to. Because there are some things I just can’t do myself; there are some things I don’t want to do myself. I want the ease of buying a pottery mug, not having to throw clay on a wheel to make my own. I enjoy cooking very much, but it tastes better when someone brings me food and does the dishes. It’s a beautiful thing to be taken care of. Still, as I merge into the summer lane and sneak a peek at September, I’m uncertain about how much I will feel comfortable returning to. I trust people; I don’t trust viruses. I’ve tried to make the best of it and will continue to do so. I’ve

traded my flamenco shoes for sneakers so I can practice at home. I’ve Zoomed and pivoted until I’m dizzy. I’ve masked and distanced and gone virtual for virtually everything. Most days I’m fine with being an adult with adult responsibilities. Even an adult in a pandemic. But there are some days when all I long for is something spontaneous, unplanned, FUN. I want to do what Cyndi Lauper sings about in her 1983 hit: “I wanna be the one to walk in the sun….” I just wanna. So I did what any semi-responsible, self-respecting, middle-aged person would do: I bought a hula hoop on the internet. Her name is

Lula. When I pick up Lula and take her for a spin, I don’t worry about where to put my arms or how ridiculous I look. I don’t care what my hips are doing as long as that hoop doesn’t fall below my knees. I’m sure it’s a good core workout but I don’t give two hoots about that. In fact, I don’t give two hoots about anything. For those five minutes (I’m working up to fifteen!) I forget all about the to-do lists and the what-ifs. I dare to dream a little. It’s just me and Lula against the world.

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July Horoscopes Aries

(March 21–April 19) Sometimes we ignore the little whispers to slow down, Ram, and when we don’t heed the call, we are faced with a big lesson. You may find yourself on the receiving end of such an event, but think of it as an opportunity to recharge. You’re always on the go, and sometimes it’s possible to overdo it. Enjoy the summer sun and take time to enjoy the small things in life. Mid-month, your energy level heats up again, but play it cool with some yoga or meditations.

Taurus

(April 20–May 20) The Canada Day fireworks may be over, but that doesn’t mean they can’t continue all month long. Summer is here, and outdoor gatherings are a great stress-reliever after being stuck indoors for quite some time. Shake off the cobwebs and fire up the grill! It’s time to soak in the rays and catch up with friends and family. Although work seems a bit busy right now for Bulls, try to take the odd long weekend where possible. A female figure in your life takes centre stage.

Gemini

(May 21–June 20) You’ve made the commitment to put forth a significant effort on working on yourself, and it’s time to take stock of your goals. Making a list of your hopes and dreams will help put future plans into alignment. When in doubt, it doesn’t hurt to rely on divination to get messages from the universe. Home renovations are progressing surprisingly well, and don’t be surprised if you receive some unexpected help from a neighbour. Hobbies are coming to light, particularly those of an outdoorsy nature. Spend some time hiking the trails and perhaps snapping a few pics of the panorama.

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By Sunny Disposish

Cancer

( June 21–July 22) Happy birthday, Cancer! It’s time for some well-deserved vacation time, so spend some time in the sun (don’t forget the sunscreen!) with your favourite chair and count your blessings. Treat yourself to some delicious banana bread from Uncommon Baked Goods. Holidays don’t last forever, unfortunately, and a warm welcome back awaits you at work. Some of your co-workers actually find a bit of a void when you’re away, so make sure you regale them with all your exciting tales about vacay when you’re back.

Leo

( July 23–August 22) Things are lighting up on the work front, Leo, and you find yourself in a position of power, which is ideal for you. Passionate and generous, Lions love life and adore solving problems. The end of the month finds you in a bit of a challenging period, but the stars align for you and things actually turn out better than you envisioned. Taking a chance pays off both personally and professionally. A pleasant surprise awaits this month.

Virgo

(August 23–September 22) The energy is feeling a bit heavy around your place of residence, Virgo, particularly around the 10th of the month when the new moon is at the forefront. Empathetic, and insightful, a Virgo treads carefully. Spending some time with a furry friend will be a win-win for the both of you. Treat yourself to a new resto that has not yet been on your extensive list of must-tries. You may be pleasantly surprised! A neighbour offers a helping hand. Accept the help and take them up on their kind offer.

Libra

(September 23–October 22) Relationships might be a bit tricky at the beginning of the month, but with some open communication and honest dialogue, any rough patches can quickly be smoothed over. A Libra might occasionally have a hard time being alone and may be so anxious to keep the peace that they will allow a grudge to develop before confronting the problem. If a date night is in the stars, try to get out in nature for a hike or a swim. Summertime is a great time to be outdoors, and Libras are all about balance. A hearty outdoor activity could lead to an equally delightful indoor activity.

Scorpio

(October 23–November 21) Scorpios are feeling downright gleeful this month. They are excellent leaders and, unlike some water signs, have no trouble feeling and expressing their emotions. It’s great to get together with the gang again—it’s almost as if you didn’t realize how much you actually miss some of the folks you used to hang with. Treat the fam jam to some delicious burgs, fries, and ice cream at Half Stacks and pick up your favourite flavour of Heartbeat Hot Sauce while you’re there! A little bit sweet and a little bit spicy sounds like a fitting descriptor for all Scorpions.

Sagittarius

(November 22–December 21) Archers have an insatiable quest for knowledge, and this fire sign might find themselves with a nose in a book and neglecting their online Zumba class. It’s all about balance, dear Centaurs, and it might be time to get a little more active. The sun is shining and the days are long, so pencil in some time in your planner to get physical. Book club is fun, but summer doesn’t last forever. A new hobby might bring you an unexpected windfall. Time to find your joy again in the kitchen. Cooking sometimes seems like a chore these days. Why not fire up the barbecue and let your inner grill master out into the world?

Capricorn

(December 22–January 19) Often considered the most serious sign in the zodiac, Capricorns are independent and professional, but their families are of paramount importance. Spend some time together, perhaps dining al fresco, on the group’s favourite patio. Caps find themselves questioning a lot of things this sunny month. It might be time to consider maybe getting your cards read by a tarot card reader. Sometimes they can offer a bit of insight and intuition to a situation that is playing out right before your eyes. Take some time towards month’s end to relax, put your feet up, and dive into a good book!

Aquarius

( January 20–February 18) The full moon on the 24th is in your sign, Aquarius, and you may find yourself thrown for a bit of a loop. Take care that communications don’t go awry or get misconstrued. Folks born under this air sign sometimes come off as reserved, but they are simply very deep thinkers. They are excellent problem-solvers and love to help others. Mid-month may find you setting off some fireworks of your own at an outdoor barbecue at your place of residence or camp. Show off your master grill skills, whip up some Moscow mules, and watch the sunset. You’ll be glad you did!

Pisces

(February 19–March 20) Pisces are very friendly and genuinely compassionate and caring—their selflessness makes them wonderful friends. Just don’t get taken advantage of by someone who might not respect your time. This water sign is digging their garden right now, and spending time with flowers and plants is really good for the soul. Consider treating yourself and adding some splendor to it—a fountain could be a nice touch, and the water will be especially soothing to those born under the sign of the Fish. The beginning of the month finds you enjoying a windfall you weren’t expecting. Treat yourself!

TheBeat

Musings from my balcony By Lenore Lotecki Sailboats skitter playfully around the ships like children around their sleeping grandfather after a summer lunch The storm on Lake Superior drew itself like a curtain leaving in its wake a misty echo The plants on my balcony reach to catch a raindrop in their tiny upturned faces Patiently waiting The sky over the Nor'westers is a marshmallow soft and gooey oozing out a pink centre It makes its way past me Called to the lake and the south Carrying away any drops of rain Still they wait

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Miniature golf at Boulevard Lake. Photo by Shannon Lepere

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