FILM FREE ARTS Vol. 11 No. 6 MUSIC JUNE FOOD 2020 CULTURE thewalleye.ca
Experience Nature Awakening the Senses in the Great Outdoors
ROYAL ALEPPO FOODS 30
RUTTER URBAN FORESTRY 64
WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE 78
DON’T GIVE UP ON OUTSIDE 92
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By Kelly O’Brien At Tbaytel, we are constantly evaluating ways in which we can improve how our customers experience our services. We’ve recently launched two innovative solutions that move our services beyond any given device, and give our customers the opportunity to use their services the way they want, no matter where they are: the myTbaytel and Tbaytel TV apps. The myTbaytel app brings all the features of your myTbaytel account to your phone, as more customers than ever access the Internet via a mobile device versus a desktop computer. The myTbaytel app puts your account information at your fingertips, saving you time and making it easier than ever before to manage all of your Tbaytel accounts, right from your smartphone. One of the key features of the app is that you can easily stay on top of your data usage in real time and avoid unwanted overage charges. And when you’re on the go again, you can also use the app to monitor your data roaming, taking the stress out of travel. Through the myTbaytel app, you can view your detailed bill at a glance, so you know exactly what you owe and when. You can also set up automatic payments directly from the app, meaning you’ll never miss a bill again. Tbaytel TV subscribers can enjoy the newly launched Tbaytel TV app, which gives you access to your TV service anytime, anywhere. Whether you’re at home or on the
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Contents
walleye the
FEATURES
Thunder Bay’s arts & culture alternative
Editor-in-chief Darren McChristie Editor Adrian Lysenko adrian@thewalleye.ca Assistant Editor Rebekah Skochinski Senior Editor Tiffany Jarva Copy Editors Amy Jones, Bonnie Schiedel
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Marketing & Sales Specialist Kaitlin Trevisan kaitlin@thewalleye.ca Alaina Linklater alaina@thewalleye.ca Photographers Patrick Chondon, Kevin Dempsey, Damien Gilbert, Chad Kirvan, Dave Koski, Kay Lee, Shannon Lepere, Marty Mascarin, Darren McChristie, Sarah McPherson, Laura Paxton, Keegan Richard
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■ 59 Rock On, Puppies ■ 11 CoverStory: The Nature Issue ■ 60 STUFF WE LIKE ■ 12 Coming into View ■ 61 From TBay to TSN ■ 14 Keeping Your Ear to ■ 63 THIS IS THUNDER BAY the Ground ■ 64 Rutter Urban Forestry ■ 16 Food for Thought ■ 66 Northwestern Ontario: ■ 18 Getting in Touch with Nature The Grass is Greener! ■ 68 In the Face of a Pandemic ■ 20 Breathe In, Breathe Out ■ 70 Peace & Quiet Candle Co. FOOD ■ 72 Same Difference ■ 22 THE GRINNING BELLY ■ 75 Garden Plot Offers ■ 23 DRINK OF THE MONTH ‘Beautiful Little Space’ ■ 24 BREW IT YOURSELF MUSIC ■ 26 Delivered with a ■ 76 Five Sun Songs Friendly Smile ■ 77 Low Life Lolas ■ 28 SUPERIOR SIP ■ 78 With Friends like These ■ 30 Royal Aleppo Foods ■ 79 Luck of the Corpse ■ 32 Uncle Jimbo's Marvelous BBQ Steak Emporium ■ 80 A Concert in Your Livingroom ■ 83 Along the Lines FILM&THEATRE ■ 34 CONFESSIONS OF A ■ 84 OFF THE WALL DRAG DEALER ■ 36 It’s Just Intermission ■ 38 THE SECOND MOST PLEASURABLE THING WE DO IN THE DARK. A COLUMN ABOUT MOVIES
Art Directors Steve Coghill, R.G.D., Dave Koski, R.G.D. production@thewalleye.ca
THE ARTS
Ad Designers Dave Koski, Miranda van den Berg
GALLERY’S COLLECTION ■ 51 Northern Cheers!
The Walleye is a free monthly publication distributed on racks throughout Thunder Bay and region. Reproduction of any article, photograph or artwork without written permission is strictly forbidden. Views expressed herein are those of the author exclusively.
■ 40 The Art of Tim Tait ■ 42 Pushing the Envelope ■ 44 FROM THUNDER BAY ART
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OUTDOOR
■ 52 Wilderness Wonderland
■ 86 Mission Island Marsh
Conservation Area
HEALTH
■ 88 Hospital Lab Staff Step Up
to COVID-19 Challenge
■ 89 LU RADIO'S
MONTHLY TOP 20 GREEN
■ 91 The Future of Active Transportation
THE WALL
CITYSCENE
■ 54 Turning the Page
REVIEWS ARCHITECTURE
Into Summer ■ 55 Ten Years On, Pride is Still Needed ■ 58 Eye to Eye with Peter Collins
■ 92 Don’t Give Up on Outside ■ 94 HOROSCOPES ■ 95 THE BEAT ■ 96 THE EYE
Copyright © 2020 by Superior Outdoors Inc. All Rights Reserved. Editorial and Advertising: Submissions must be accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Superior Outdoors cannot be held responsible for unsolicited material. Superior Outdoors Inc. 314 Bay Street Thunder Bay, ON P7B 1S1
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From Our Instagram feed
Adrian Lysenko
Emerging Above the Frost Line
O
ne of the first signs I associate with the arrival of warmer weather is the chorus of spring peeper frogs. Listening to the frogs’ call provides me with some comfort, knowing that we’ve come out of the colder season. Spending a lot of time indoors during the last few months, I’m feeling a bit like the frog myself when it comes to waking from hibernation. Although it should be noted that practicing social distancing is still being enforced (same with staying home if you're feeling sick), restrictions in our province have been easing with regards to the COVID-19 pandemic. As I write this, the Ontario government has opened provincial parks and conservation reserves for limited day-use access. With people taking precautionary measures to help stop the spread of the virus, June is the perfect month to emerge above the frost line and reconnect with nature. Whether it’s the smell of pine needles, the taste of wild strawberries, or the feel of soft moss on the Canadian Shield, our June issue cover story is all about engaging in the natural world of Northwestern Ontario through the senses. Speaking with various experts and outdoor enthusiasts, we’ve divided our cover story
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into five sections exploring each sense in relation to our area. As part of our theme, film columnist Michael Sobota shares his favourite films about getting back to nature, and the Northern Policy Institute breaks down the amount of conserved areas in Northwestern Ontario. June also brings the arrival of summer. To help kick off the season, music columnist Gord Ellis writes about songs and sunshine; homebrew wizard Josh Armstrong talks about barbecuing and beer; and sommelier Jeannie Dubois provides some refreshing wine cocktail recipes. This month will also be my last issue for the next little while as I go on parental leave to spend time with the new addition to our family. I’m very excited to announce that seasoned journalist Matt Prokopchuk will be filling in for me. Next month will mark a milestone for The Walleye as the magazine will be turning 10. I’ve been fortunate enough to be editor for more than half of that time and have had the opportunity to share some amazing stories from our community. Although I’ll be sleep-deprived, I’ll also be looking forward to reading more amazing stories in the upcoming months. -Adrian Lysenko
Featured Contributor Matt Prokopchuk Although a new addition to The Walleye team, Matt has deep roots in the city’s arts community. Born and raised in Thunder Bay, he comes to the magazine after more than 10 years with CBC Thunder Bay. Outside of work, Matt has been on-air with LU Radio since 2007, volunteers as a pre-concert announcer with the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra, and claims to be a somewhat competent clarinetist with the Thunder Bay Community Band. Matt will be filling in as The Walleye’s editor while Adrian is off taking care of his growing family.
On the Cover Experience Nature Cross fox near Pigeon River by Mary Ann Fogolin
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Are you ready to reopen? Lets talk.
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The Walleye
TheTOPFive
Social Distancing Edition
1 Neighbour Day June 20
Your ‘Hood
Matt Prokopchuk
We’ve been appreciating our neighbourhoods even more these days and this year, the City of Thunder Bay is recognizing how important neighbours are to the fabric of our community by recognizing the first-ever Neighbour Day! On June 20, get creative by decorating your lawns, driveways, doors, or windows, sending messages or cards to elderly or isolated folks, or performing random acts of neighbouring by doing something kind for someone on your street. Also consider creating chalk drawings and yard art work and conducting a “neighbourhood art gallery” walking tour. Keep an eye out for the Neighbour Day Toolkit available on the city website, which includes Neighbour Day Cards that can be sent electronically or printed at home as a way to thank citizens and workers in our community. Take heart, and take part! thunderbay.ca
2 Thunder Pride
3 Variety 20
June 1–25
June 11
We have a fierce Pride community in the city who have come together in spectacular fashion to make sure that Thunder Pride 2020 will be a celebration to remember. This year’s theme is “Pride Lives Here” and the entire month is jam-packed with activities, starting with a city hall flag raising on June 1. Join online Zumba sessions, a film night watch party, their literary night featuring human rights activist Amanda Jetté Knox, a drive-by drag event, a Pride bootcamp with special guests, and more! Plus, for the entire month you can “chalk your walk” (#YQTChalkwalk). Watch for the “Pride Lives Here” campaign to pick up a lawn sign to display proudly. Please note all events are subject to change so visit their website and Facebook for the latest up-to-date information.
Does Thunder Bay have talent? Badanai Theatre thinks so, which is why they’ve put out a call to the community to submit talent videos. Local artists have jumped in on the fun and so can you by sending a video to the Badanai Theatre page on Facebook, where you’ll be sent a handy Dropbox link to upload your work. The videos will be compiled into A still shot from a “COVID Variety 20—a talent show series that will feature all the different talents including Camper” skit, performed by local singing, skits, speed drawing (using time actor Dennis Dubinsky lapse), puppetry, and other entertaining interludes. Their next show is June 11, so mark it on your calendar and tune in for the YouTube broadcast that will be streamed live via their Facebook page. And stay tuned for announcements on other pop-up shows. Break a leg!
Virtual
Keegan Richard
Virtual
thunderpride.ca
Spring Chicken 4 Roots to Harvest Dinner June 20
facebook.com/badanaitheatre
Stream Loop 5 Live Concert
June 4
Your Living Room
rootstoharvest.org
facebook.com/jeanpaulderoover/live
Your Kitchen
Shannon Lepere
Tired of being cooped up? Go “free range” for one night with an interactive virtual dinner experience for a good cause. Roots to Harvest is teaming up with Tomlin Restaurant to bring you an incredible chef-led fundraising dinner. Everything you need for a delicious Tomlin dinner will be provided by Roots to Harvest, including Steve Simpson himself! Tune in from home and follow along with live instructions. Enjoy the first course from The Cheese Encounter while you prepare the next two along with Steve, and cap it off with your Tomlin dessert. Expect to see some familiar faces, and have a lot of fun—including the regular Roots to Harvest dinner shenanigans, like bingo! Tickets are $75 and are available on eventbrite.com
Do you miss live music? Well, you’re in for a treat because Jean-Paul De Roover has been hosting a series of online themed concerts and on June 4, he’ll be presenting the third instalment in the series that will see him moving through all of his livelooping material. Along with playing songs from throughout his discography, De Roover will be taking requests, from singles to obscure covers. So you’re basically helping to choose the set list! Also, if you remember those signature red pipes of his you’re in for a treat, because they will be in attendance. The concert is free, but there will be a virtual tip jar set up. The show is on at 7 pm on Facebook Live. See you there for some live on Live!
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where ever you find yourself, be ready with our summer collection
710 BAL MOR AL S TREE T
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F RE SHAIRE XP ER I EN C E.C A
CoverStory
Experience Nature Awakening the Senses in the Great Outdoors
E
Ontario Parks
ven though we’re used to being surrounded by the wilderness of Northwestern Ontario—the pristine lakes and rugged forests, all that clean sweet-smelling air—this spring’s arrival has felt somewhat epic. Each one of our five senses—sight, smell, sound, taste, and touch—is engaged in the rebirth of nature. Come along as we take you through the tastes of the boreal forest, the sights of our expansive watershed, the sounds of various bird songs, the fragrant smell of pine trees, and the feeling of smooth shale on your fingertips.
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CoverStory
visible from the trails at Hurkett Cove, Mackett says. That conservation area is located about 70 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay in the Township of Dorion. The scenery that exists mere minutes away from the city can make someone feel like they’re in a different world. “It’s sort of—for the Star Wars fans out there—it’s almost like Dagobah,” Mackett says with a chuckle, referring to the similarities he sees between the remote Hurkett Cove trail and where Yoda lives in several of the movies in the classic sci-fi series. “It’s this canopy of green and there’s these ancient cedar trees that are just—it’s just super cool, it’s a really nice place to go and it’s a very special place.” By really keeping one’s eyes peeled, Mackett says people can fully appreciate the diversity of species that call Northwestern Ontario home. “You’d be amazed with how many different species and the abundance of different species of wildlife that surrounds you,” he says. “It’s literally mind-blowing how many different species that you’re surrounded by.”
SIGHT
Coming into View
Ryan Mackett
Thunder Bay Area Offers Stunning Vistas and Views of Nature as Summer Springs
Story by Matt Prokopchuk, Infographic by Bonnie Schiedel
The Walleye
Ryan Mackett Ryan Mackett
much we have,” Mackett says of the rural scenery. “When you go down south to certain areas, people are craving access to a wooded area or a lake or anything nature-oriented.” People exploring the conservation areas’ wilderness have encountered everything from deer and moose to beavers, otters, bears, and a multitude of birds of all sizes, including an active bald eagle nest
Ryan Mackett
Darren McChristie
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rare as having the Sleeping Giant, or having waterfalls as big as Kakabeka Falls.” For Ryan Mackett, the communications manager for the Lakehead Region Conservation Authority, spending time outdoors is a reminder that “we’re blessed with nature all around us.” The organization has jurisdiction over slightly more than 2,700 square kilometres in the Lakehead watershed in and around Thunder Bay, where it is responsible for flood forecasting and warning, erosion control, environmental stewardship and many other roles. It also owns and maintains two publicly accessible forest management properties and eight conservation areas—including the Mission Island Marsh, the Cascades, Silver Harbour and others—that people frequent for recreation and environmental education. “I think a lot of times, we take that for granted because of how
Ryan Mackett
T
hunder Bay photographer James Brown has seen and captured a lot of the wilderness in and around the city. But he says one of his favourite moments, he was unable to get on film. “It was really cool being down at the Mission [Marsh] and having a dozen pelicans fly over your head,” he says of a trip he and his wife took to the conservation area last spring. “It was pretty darn cool but I couldn’t get to my camera in time.” Ontario wildlife officials say Northwestern Ontario marks the easternmost extent of the American white pelican’s range in this country. The large aquatic bird is just one of many species of animals we can view right at our doorstep, along with a plethora of unique panoramas. “The fact that we actually have really cool views and scenic areas that we can enjoy,” Brown says of what draws him to photograph the Lakehead’s nature. “On top of that, being able to enjoy something as
CoverStory
Did you know?
Aurora borealis, or the northern lights, are named after the Roman goddess of the dawn, Aurora, and the Greek term boreas which means “wind of the north.”4
240 Darren McChristie
Height in metres of the Sleeping Giant’s cliffs, the highest in all of Ontario.3
82,000 Square kilometres (31,700 square miles) occupied by the surface of Lake Superior, making it the world’s largest freshwater lake by surface area. There is enough water in our Great Lake to cover all of North America and South America in water 30 cm (12 inches) deep.5
Did you know?
Numerous studies have found that viewing nature scenes has a huge range of positive effects, including lowering physiological responses to stress like high pulse rate, heart rate and muscle tension, and boosting feelings of being relaxed and present. Hospital patients with views of natural surroundings have increased recovery rates, needed fewer painkillers, and had fewer post-op complications compared to those who viewed urban scenes.8
Humans see green better than any other colour, possibly because our long-ago ancestors lived in dense forest and needed to distinguish the shade for survival.2
Did you know?
Some raptors like eagles, American kestrels, and roughlegged hawks can see ultraviolet light. This allows them to spot the urine trails of the small mammals that are their prey.7
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Metres in height (130 feet) of Kakabeka Falls, second only to Niagara Falls as the highest waterfalls in Ontario. There are 1.6 million-year-old fossils of tiny creatures called stromatolites at the base of the falls, and the water is naturally “root beer brown” due the spruce bogs that flow into the Kaministiquia River.1
30,000
Number of optical units, or facets covering a dragonfly’s eyes, allowing it to see in all directions simultaneously and see colours not visible to humans. Local dragonflies emerging in June include American emerald, chalk-fronted corporal, springtime darner, and spiny baskettail.6 https://www.ontarioparks.com/park/kakabekafalls, https://greatlakes.guide/watermarks/kaministiquia-river-on-david-lomath 2 https://www.cnn.com/2017/06/05/health/ colorscope-green-environment-calm/index.html 3 https://www.mndm.gov.on.ca/sites/ default/files/geotour_pdf_files/geotours_thunder_bay_e.pdf 4 https://www.northernlightscentre.ca/northernlights.html 5 https://www.northernontario.travel/algoma-country/top-ten-facts-about-lake-superior-its-name-is-superior-because-it-is 6 https:// scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2009/07/08/30000-facets-give-dragonflies, https:// jeb.biologists.org/content/215/6/903 7 https://hawkwatch.org/blog/item/1103-raptor-fun-facts-ultraviolet-sensors 8 https://source.colostate.edu/top-5-health-benefits-interacting-nature/, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6926748/
Darren McChristie
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CoverStory
SOUND
Keeping Your Ear to the Ground Ontario Parks
The Natural Sounds of Northwestern Ontario
Story by Adrian Lysenko, Infographic by Bonnie Schiedel Waves crash on the Sea Lion in Sleeping Giant Provincial Park
A
s a species, our hearing has evolved to alert us to changes in our environments. Unfortunately, with a majority of Canadians living in urban areas, people are surrounded by noise pollution. Mainly caused by machines and transport, scientific studies show noise pollution can have a significant impact on human health. Luckily, Thunder Bay is surrounded by wilderness where people can seek solace from these unnatural sounds. In the words of the Spanish-American philosopher George Santayana, “The earth has music for those who listen.” From amphibians to birds to insects, here are some examples of what makes up the symphony of natural sounds in our boreal backyard. “As far as amphibians go, it's the frogs that rule the airwaves,” says
Birding by Ear
George Holborn, retired wildlife assessment biologist for the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. “Wood frogs are the first to sing, often before all of the snow in the bush is gone. Boreal chorus frogs and spring peepers chime in shortly thereafter, so all three species are usually heard simultaneously.” In the past, Holborn has led the annual Nature’s Evening Choristers Hike for the Thunder Bay Field Naturalists, where the three species take centre stage. “Like songbirds, frogs sing to establish territory and attract mates, and only males sing.” As for mammals, Holborn says they aren’t nearly as vocal, but timber wolves and coyotes hold their own and howl as a means of communication between packs as well as serving to bond pack members
socially. “This is particularly true when there are young involved. Red foxes similarly bark/cry at each other and sound eerily human-like, and Canada lynx often cry during the spring,” he says. “River otters huff at intruders and often ‘whistle’ at each other in family groups.” Black bears will huff and chomp or smack their jaws as a means of expressing agitation. Cow and bull moose will call during mating season to attract each other in the fall and white-tailed does will sometimes grunt/huff to protect fawns from predators. There is also the red squirrel, one of the most vocal mammals in the woods. “[They are] always chattering at intruders to their territory,” Holborn says. “Likewise, eastern chipmunks have a unique call, often mistaken for a songbird
but not heard nearly so often as the squirrels.” Porcupines and beavers are also a noisy species. “I recall a salt lick in Sibley (Sleeping Giant Provincial Park) many years ago in which a baby porky cried continuously until its mom ‘helped’ it get across a muddy stretch. The sounds were loud enough to be heard well before the salt lick came into view,” he says. “Beaver kits will often similarly cry, especially for maternal cuddles.” Although small in size, insects in Northwestern Ontario can create quite the buzz. Local entomologist Dr. Ken Deacon says their sounds are sometimes used to attract a mate or incidental to an action. Audible insect noises in our area originate from crickets, and grasshoppers using scraping structures; cicadas using a vibrating membrane; dragonflies rattling their wings in flight; sawyer beetle larvae gnawing on wood; and click beetles when releasing a mechanism between their pro and mesothorax (the anterior and middle segment of the thorax). Flies, bees, wasps, beetles of many species, and mosquitoes use the frequency (number of wing beats per second) of their wings to produce sound.
Two species of birds that you might hear on your walk through the woods are:
If you are near water or wetlands, listen for these three species of birds:
Whitethroated Sparrow
Common Loon
By Brian Ratcliff
Thunder Bay District is an excellent place to see or hear a variety of bird species, as there have been 366 different species of birds reported over the years. This is approximately 74% of the 496 species that have been recorded in all of Ontario. In the springtime after the leaves come out, it can be challenging to see birds in the trees. All around you there will be birds calling, and the best way to identify birds is by ear.
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They have a very distinctive song that sounds like “oh-sweet-CanadaCanada.” There are four notes and the second through fourth note is one pitch higher than the first note.
Ovenbird
Their song is a bold and rapid “teacher-teacherteacher.” This repetitive call can be repeated up to 10 times.
The haunting call of the loon is probably very familiar to everyone around Thunder Bay. Loons have a tremolo call that is repeated to announce their presence. There is also a yodel call that is performed by the male when on territory.
American Bittern
Often hiding in a cattail marsh, their unique “punk-erlunk” call announces their presence. This low resonating call (that is repeated 8–10 times) is very powerful and can be heard at a long distance.
Red-Winged Blackbird
Also associated with cattail marshes, the unmistakable “conk-la-ree” call reveals that a male red-winged blackbird is present. This song is short but very musical.
CoverStory
1 km
Sound fact
Distance from which a group (or chorus) of spring peeper frog calls, which are composed of a single, high-pitched peep repeated again and again, can be heard. Male spring peepers also trill, warning other males to keep away.2
Repetitive water sounds, such as waves on a beach, are interpreted as non-threats by our brains, leading to a meditative state, according to recent Penn State research.9
Did you know?
A 2018 study published in the Public Library of Science found that listening to rain boosted arithmetic skills, possibly because brain alertness is stimulated by the sound. (Classical music also worked, but total silence decreased accuracy.)5
Did you know?
Generally only male crickets chirp. The pace of chirping is related to outdoor temperature—warmer weather equals more frequent chirping.3
4 a.m. The time at which the “dawn chorus” of bird song can begin. Researchers speculate it shows other birds that the singer (usually male) has survived the night and is a healthy and strong potential mate.6
Did you know?
Recent research from England found that listening to sounds found in nature helps soothe the brain’s flight-or-fight stress response to stress. The study also found that those who were the most stressed benefited the most from listening to natural sounds.7
Can’t get away?
Listen to these sound clips http://www.ontarioparks.com/ parksblog/natures-music/ from Northwestern Ontario provincial parks for a mini-break.
100+
Number of vocalizations documented in ravens. They can imitate human speech and singing, as well as other bird calls.1
75
Number of times a rubythroated hummingbird’s wings can beat per second, creating a distinctive humming sound when they fly. During their U-shaped courtship flights, their wings can beat up to 200 times per second.4
Sound fact
Listening to natural sounds helps the body recover faster from a stressful psychological event, according to Swedish researchers.8
https://www.farmersalmanac.com/fascinating-facts-about-ravens-22850 https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/bring-science-home-cricket-temperature/ 3 https://ontarionature.org/programs/citizen-science/reptile-amphibian-atlas/spring-peeper/ 4 https://journeynorth.org/hummingbirds/resources/article/facts-hummingbird-characteristics 5 https://www. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5821317/#__ffn_sectitle 6 https://www. wired.com/2014/03/birds-sing-morning/ 7 https://www.psychologytoday. com/us/blog/romantically-attached/202003/feeling-stressed-home-listennature 8 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2872309/ 9 https:// www.livescience.com/53403-why-sound-of-water-helps-you-sleep.html 1
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TASTE
Paul Drombolis
Paul Drombolis
CoverStory
Food for Thought
Wild Harvest in Northwestern Ontario
Paul Drombolis
Story by Betty Carpick, Infographic by Bonnie Schiedel
E
very day, in subtle and overt ways, food reminds us that we’re a part of the greatest living system—nature. In our epidemically and ecologically challenged world, it’s more important than ever to restore value to food and to appreciate its central role in the life cycle. With the rich and varied possibilities from the boreal forest, we can experience the history, the climate, the soil, and the waters that define where we live. Northwestern Ontario’s food heritage began in the bush, rivers, and lakes with plant and animal species harvested daily throughout the different seasons by the Indigenous people for foods, medicines, ceremonies, and construction materials. This intrinsic relationship to the earth and all living things required a profound and knowledge
Labrador tea
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of the resources, climate, and land guided by practices of reverence, humility, and reciprocity that’s often underestimated. Most of us are familiar with the flavourful enjoyment of eating wild berries, including blueberries, raspberries, cranberries, strawberries, red currants, and Saskatoon berries. There are also many shrubs, trees, and herbaceous plants whose roots, shoots, fruits, leaves, stems, and seeds are foods and medicines. Spruce tips, wild rose, stinging nettle, burdock, cattail, dandelion, Labrador tea, plantain, wild mint, ostrich fern fiddleheads, ginseng, and fireweed are some of the wild plants that grow in the Canadian Shield. While it’s easy to be enthusiastic about foraging, it’s very important to learn about proper identification from reliable sources.
Each plant should be harvested in a way that doesn’t endanger its survival. Always take care to gather with respect. We’re fortunate to live in a place where our food community draws from traditional and new knowledge to actively provide an affirmation of the bounty and possibilities of the pleasures of taste and sustenance. Paul Drombolis has an affinity for edible delicacies. His interest in mycology began in Quetico Provincial Park where he discovered the vast and varied kingdom of fungi. Edible mushrooms seemed like a kind of mysterious miracle and he became intent on learning everything he could. “It’s a very sensory experience to be a mushroom picker.” he says. “There are all these different species in different habitats that connect you to the memory of the land. Golden chanterelles, porcini, trumpets, morels, oyster and lobster mushrooms, and hedgehogs. It’s amazing!” In 2017, Drombolis connected with another tradition—fishing. Eat the Fish offers fresh seasonal lake trout, whitefish, herring, and
other species caught by fishermen whose livelihoods have been part of Lake Superior and Lake Nipigon for generations. While Barry Tabor from Bears’ Bees & Honey claims that the gathering and processing of honey are as basic as it gets, the efforts are epic. To harvest pure, natural, unpasteurized local honey and honey products, the family-run business manages 50 honey bee colonies. Each year, after overwintering, Tabor takes his honey bees over rough terrain to forage on nectar from wild blueberry patches north of Lake Nipigon and then, later in the season, to a wildflower meadow near Kakabeka Falls. Each day, the bees fly in search of nectar and then return to the hives. The nectar that the bees collect affects the colour, aroma, flavor, and texture of the honey. Northwestern Ontario’s abundance of distinctive tastes is a natural wealth. Gathering wild food and supporting local producers connects us to nature, the land, and our identities. We have much to savour, to protect, and to be grateful for.
Did you know?
Rose hips (the fruit left behind after the rose flowers, and delicious in tea) have the highest vitamin C content of any fruit or vegetable.6
2,000
Number of times a monarch butterfly’s taste receptors are sensitive to tasting sugar, compared to that of a human. Monarchs taste with their feet!2
3
224
Amount per pound in U.S. dollars that dried chanterelle mushrooms have fetched in some markets. Dried morels have rung in at $254 per pound.3
Amount of grams of fat found in 4 oz of deer meat, compared to 9 g of fat found in a 4-oz serving of beef flank steak.4
Fiddleheads are a good source of niacin, potassium and vitamin C, as well as the antioxidant betacarotene. (Make sure to steam or boil for 15 minutes to prevent food poisoning-like symptoms due to a naturally occurring toxin!)10
106 2
Percentage of your daily requirement of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids found in 8 oz of walleye. That serving also contains 135% of your daily vitamin D and 126 of selenium.5
28
Percentage of your recommended daily intake (RDI) of zinc found in 1/3 of a cup of maple syrup. Zinc is a mineral that plays a role in cell growth and division as well as immune function. Maple syrup also contains trace minerals like manganese, calcium, potassium, and iron.1
Wintergreen leaves, with their bracing mint scent and taste, contain methyl salicylates, a natural form of aspirin, and are traditionally used to treat pain, colds, and fevers.7
Number of times the fibre and antioxidants wild blueberries contain as compared to cultivated blueberries. They also contain a third more anthocyanins (which offer anti-aging properties and boost brain health).8
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/maple-syrup#nutrition 2 https://www.nathab.com/know-beforeyou-go/mexico-central-america/monarch-butterfly-migration/monarch-guide/monarch-butterfly/ 3 https:// moneyinc.com/the-five-most-expensive-mushrooms-in-the-world/ 4 https://healthyeating.sfgate.com/ nutritional-values-venison-vs-beef-2229.html 5 https://www.creehealth.org/sites/default/files/Guide_BaieJames_Ang_BasseR.pdf 6 https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/rose-hip 7 http://www.bio.brandeis.edu/fieldbio/Edible_Plants_Ramer_Silver_Weizmann/Pages/spp_page_wintergreen. html 8 http://www.wildblueberries.com/health-research/strong-brains/, http://www.wildblueberries.com/ health-research/nutrition/ 9 https://ojibwe.net/projects/months-moons/ 10 https://www.ontariowoodlot.com/ publications-and-links/featured-articles-news/harvesting-fiddleheads-on-woodlots, https://www.canada.ca/en/ health-canada/services/food-safety-fruits-vegetables/fiddlehead-safety-tips.html 1
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The Ojibway (western dialect) word for June is Odemiinigiizis or Strawberry Moon, in celebration of wild strawberries, also traditionally known as heart berries. 9
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Mark Smyk
TOUCH
Story by Matt Prokopchuk, Infographic by Bonnie Schiedel
W
old, while the tectonic events that ultimately produced our “youngest” rock—and landmarks like Mount McKay, the Nor’Westers, and the Sleeping Giant—happened around 1.1 billion years ago. Sediments that formed other noted rocks, like local shales and sandstones, were deposited during the intervening time, Smyk says. Glaciation from several ice ages— the most recent one ending about 9,000 years ago in this area—has also affected these rocks. All that, Smyk says, makes for a varied and interesting geological landscape.
Rob Foster
Mark Smyk
hile the Northwestern Ontario wilderness offers many beautiful vistas, sounds, scents, and tastes, experts in the Lakehead region say there’s also plenty with which to treat our sense of touch. The geology of the Thunder Bay area dates back billions of years, comprising a wider variety of Precambrian rocks than is found in other parts of Northwestern Ontario, says geologist Mark Smyk. The oldest Canadian Shield rock in the area, Smyk says, is anywhere from roughly 2.7 to 3 billion years
Mark Smyk
Thunder Bay Area Offers Unique Tactile Rocks and Plants
Thunder Bay Field Naturalists. The insides of the leaves that form the pitcher-like structure have a series of hairs, “almost like a cat’s tongue” that aid in trapping and digesting insects, he says. A much smaller plant that grows in similar conditions, called a sundew, is also interestingly tactile, Foster says, with its tips being covered in a sticky fluid, again designed to capture insects and even small invertebrates. Foster cautions that it’s best not to touch these plants too much or too aggressively, as any contact effectively mimics the plant’s food source without providing nutrition. It’s also worth knowing what not to touch, Foster says, as some plants in the area will cause adverse reactions when disturbed. Poison ivy may be the most notorious, but Foster says the area is also home to plants like nettles, whose small hairs inject histamine, which causes swelling and itchiness. Finally, Foster says, touching a tree or plant can help to identify it, when simply looking isn’t enough. “If you grab a white spruce, the needles on those, they’re a lot more prickly than, say balsam fir,” he says. “So people who are just learning their trees around here, touch can be useful for that as well.”
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Rob Foster
Getting in Touch with Nature
“The rocks, because of their very nature, how they formed, will have a very different feel to them,” Smyk says. “Natural surfaces can, to the touch, reveal a lot about the rock itself and also what’s happened to it.” For instance, the smooth, cracked igneous rock at The Bluffs, near Centennial Park, was formed over one billion years ago, but the magma cooling, followed by over a billion years of erosion and, much more recently, advancing glacial ice molded it into what we see today, Smyk says. At the other end of the tactile spectrum, the sharp-edged exposed rocks along the Current River nearby were formed earlier from layered accumulation of muddy sediments and now often break apart in sheets, while sandstone—used in the construction of a number of historical buildings in the city—has a very rough surface due to it being composed of cemented sand grains. “The first thing people want to do when they see a rock is to touch it,” he says. The varied landscape also lends itself to a wide variety of plant life which can also be interesting to touch. The Lakehead is home to some carnivorous plants, like purple pitcher plants, which grow in area bogs and peatlands, says Dr. Rob Foster, a lifetime member of the
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300
90
Percentage of the body’s weight that is supported when immersed in water, which is part of the reason swimming feels good. The combination of repetitive movement, exercise, the restorative benefits of being outside and cooling offer boosts mental health too.7
Did you know?
If you’re out in the bush and forgot your sunscreen, an aspen (poplar) tree can help. According to traditional knowledge, rubbing the white powdery bloom found on the bark on your skin provides a bit of protection from the sun (about 5 SPF).1
The number of “blue walleye” tested by scientists at the University of Wisconsin. Walleye in a handful of Northwestern Ontario lakes secrete a protein that tints their slimy mucus covering blue, with peak blue occurring in late summer. The researchers say that blue walleye are the only fish in the world that produce colour in their skin mucus—reasons why are yet unknown.2
Did you know?
Ganban’yoku is the Japanese term for “rock bathing,” which refers to lying down on large, smooth heated rocks to promote relaxation and well-being. Technically this is a spa experience, but we think anyone who has reclined on a sun-warmed curve of Canadian Shield will agree.5
5
Number of kinds of stimuli that can be detected by your skin: touch, pressure, pain, temperature, and vibration.4
50
Number of touch receptors per square millimeter of skin in a 10-year-old. The number of touch receptors peaks between ages 16 and 18, and then declines: about 25 per square millimeter at age 50 and 10 per square millimeter at age 70.3
Bugged by a bug bite?
Reach for a plantain, a common weed that’s likely on your lawn. A traditional folk remedy is to crush the leaves into a paste and apply it to a bug bite or sting and other small skin irritations.6
http://rockymountainbushcraft.blogspot.com/2012/08/wilderness-first-aid-tip-use-powdery.html 2 http:// wayneschaefer.blogspot.com/ 3 https://www.nursingtimes.net/clinical-archive/dermatology/sense-oftouch-the-perception-of-touch-14-02-2008/, https://www.vox.com/2015/1/28/7925737/touch-facts 4 http:// www.interactive-biology.com/3629/7-senses-and-an-introduction-to-sensory-receptors/ 5 http://www. ganbanyoku.org/eng/whats.html 6 https://wa.kaiserpermanente.org/kbase/topic.jhtml?docId=hn-2148003 7 https://www.swimming.org/swimengland/new-study-says-swimming-benefits-mental-health/ 1
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SMELL
Breathe In, Breathe Out Smelling the Benefits of Northwestern Ontario
Story by Justin Allec, Infographic by Bonnie Schiedel
White Pine
O
pening the front door after quarantine is a feast for the senses. Even as you’re seeing the sights, hearing the sounds, and (hopefully) feeling the sunshine on your skin, your nose—your olfactory system—is busy sniffing and making sense of what’s out there. Often underappreciated (and literally overlooked), smell is vital to our well-being, as it’s intricately linked to our sense of taste, and influences our emotions, memory, and learning. While our vision helps us identify what we’re seeing,
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smell (and by association, taste) helps us determine quality because of the emotional reaction. If you stand under a white pine and mindfully smell it, you can tell if it’s just after a rain, if it’s been baking in the sun, or even if it’s rotting. Your olfactory system leads you to a conclusion as it compares the current information to all the other smells you’re familiar with. Getting outside after sheltering in place— or venturing further than a neighborhood walk—gives your nose a chance to renew old connections
with the environment but also appreciate them anew. Venturing forth may be the best prescription after a laying low for so long. “There’s always some anxiety around health, and especially because COVID-19 is a new disease,” says Dr. Jessica Carfagnini of the Thunder Bay Naturopathic Clinic. “We’ll prescribe forest bathing to patients as part of a systems-based approach… You can run on a treadmill indoors, but the research shows that exercising outdoors does much more.” Dr. Carfagnini elaborates that this doesn’t mean people have to do intense exercise in the remote wilderness; even a moderately paced walk for 30 minutes a day around a green space will benefit your overall health. Doing this kind of exercise with young children, for example, is a great way to appreciate the environment because at that age they’re naturally curious and want to spend time exploring. You may not get too far, but that isn’t really the point when you’re searching for the perfect skipping stone and the smell of
a pine grove is wafting down on you. The particular terpenes and essential oils we smell in Northwestern Ontario are available commercially in a variety of products, but “the forest has a way of just combining the perfect amount of smells, and that’s available to us,” Dr. Carfagnini says. For example, pinene, which is a terpene found in pine trees, has been shown to have anti-viral properties, help improve respiratory health, and help reduce anxiety while improving sleep. You don’t need to inject or ingest pinene either—it’s enough to simply be in the same space. Best of all, you don’t have to go far to find pine trees in Thunder Bay and enjoy their benefits. Of course, your nose won’t specifically identify pinene, but it will know what it’s smelling, along with millions of other scents in the air. While it’s working away, you have the difficult job of enjoying yourself outside. It’s almost too easy to take advantage of what your nose knows.
CoverStory
2,100 Number of times that a black bear’s sense of smell is better than a human’s. That’s seven times better than a bloodhound’s sense of smell. A black bear can smell a food source from at least two kilometres away, possibly more.2
Did you know?
The scent of rain is called “petrichor” and is associated with a few different factors: plants release oils into the air when it rains, and rain falling on dry ground causes bacteria living in soil to release chemicals. As well, sharp-smelling ozone is created during thunderstorms when lightning splits nitrogen and oxygen molecules and the resulting nitric oxide combines with other chemicals in the atmosphere.4
3
Distance in metres (10 feet) that a skunk can spray the oily, stinky liquid that’s located in glands beneath its tail.3
Did you know?
Social insects such as ants and bees communicate through odour receptors. Ants in particular have four to five times more odour receptors than most other insects, according to researchers at Vanderbilt University. This ability allows them to form highly organized societies with the ability to solve difficult problems, communicate between individuals, and divide labour.7
+1 trillion The number of scents that humans can distinguish, according to research from Rockefeller University. That blows away the previous estimate of about 10,000.1
6
Distance in metres (20 feet) that a wolverine can smell prey under the snow.5
https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/humans-can-identify-more-1-trillion-smells 2 https://www.nps.gov/yose/blogs/bear-series-part-one-a-bears-sense-of-smell. htm, https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/which-animals-have-the-strongest-sense-of-smell. html 3 https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/s/striped-skunk/ 4 https:// www.livescience.com/37648-good-smells-rain-petrichor.html 5 https://www.pbs.org/wnet/ nature/wolverine-chasing-the-phantom-wolverine-facts/6049/ 6 https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/284991#Study-found-womens-brains-have-up-to-50%-more-olfactoryneurons 7 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/09/120910143532.htm 8 https:// www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6625985/ 1
43
%
Women have this many more cells in the olfactory bulb region in the brain compared to men, according to a recent Brazilian study. These findings lend credence to numerous studies that have found that women have the better sense of smell.6
Smell-o-vision
In a 2019 study, Swedish researchers looking to better understand the physiological reactions to exposure to nature conducted virtual reality scenarios, and found a forest-y scent (evergreens and mushrooms) produced a stronger stress reduction response than visual (a forest scene) or sound (birds chirping) stimuli.8
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THE GRINNING BELLY
Pudding Up with Rhubarb By Chef Rachel Globensky
M
y family’s farm in Nolalu was built about a hundred years ago, with only three of the original buildings remaining today: the log farm house where my parents still live, the sauna-turnedgarden-shed, and the grain-shedturned-guest-house, now lovingly referred to as the Hovel (a story for another day). Aside from the Hovel, many of the farm’s outbuildings had the usual, perfunctory names: the hay barn, the horse barn, and the woodshed. Curiously, the old tool shed was called the Hotel Stanley. Along the southwest corner of our Hotel Stanley grew the most prolific patch of rhubarb. Several times during the spring, my mom would go out with scissors and ice cream bucket, and carefully cut some of the thinner reddish stalks,
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Rhubarb Delight Makes a 9”x13” pan Serves 12–15 2 c all-purpose flour
as they were less “woody” than their thicker green counterparts. The leaves went straight to the compost (they contain a nephrotoxic, oxalic acid, which is not so good). Sometimes, I’d snap off a fresh stalk and eat it dipped in white sugar, but most of the haul would get cleaned, chopped, and frozen for later use in juices, pies, or jams. One of the best desserts my mom has made over the years is Rhubarb Delight, which appeared in a Lutheran Ladies’ cookbook from Honeyford, North Dakota, circa 1982. My mom adapted it to suit our family’s love of almonds, and I’ve adapted it again here, to make a slightly larger pan. If you’re baking to drop COVID19 care packages at friends’ houses, or cheer yourself up, I recommend this lovely little slice of spring!
2 Tbsp sugar ½ tsp salt ¾ c finely chopped walnuts or almonds 1 c cold butter, cubed 2 c sugar ⅓ c all-purpose flour 1 tsp salt 6 egg yolks, lightly beaten 1 c heavy whipping cream 4-5 c sliced rhubarb*
6 egg whites ½ tsp cream of tartar ¾ c sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract
Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix flour, sugar, salt, and nuts. Cut in cold butter until crumbly. Press into a greased 9”x13” baking pan. Bake for 20 minutes, until it’s slightly golden brown. In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, whisk together sugar, flour, and salt. Add in egg yolks and cream and whisk until incorporated. Stir in rhubarb. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the custard is thick. Pour over baked crust. *Rhubarb can be fresh, or frozen and thawed— but measure while frozen and thaw in a colander. Don’t press the liquid out.
Beat egg whites and cream of tartar until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in sugar, a little at a time, until stiff peaks form. Beat in vanilla. Spread over hot custard, ensuring the meringue touches the sides of the pan. Bake for 12–15 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack and refrigerate 1–2 hours before serving.
Food C I B C WO O D G U N DY
DRINK OF THE MONTH
W E LCO M E TO O U R T E A M Paul Johnston, Branch Manager of CIBC Wood Gundy Thunder Bay is pleased to announce that Tyler Hynnes has joined the firm as an Investment Advisor. Expertise, integrity and exceptional service are what you can expect from Tyler. Whether it be your personal or business needs, he will ensure that your financial goals form the basis of your comprehensive wealth management plan built by leveraging the complete array of financial products and services available through the CIBC group of companies.
Beer Cocktail Kit Sleeping Giant Brewing Co. By Rebekah Skochinski
Tyler Hynnes, CFA, PFP, HBComm Investment Advisor 807 683-2549 Tyler.Hynnes@cibc.com CIBC Private Wealth Management consists of services provided by CIBC and certain of its subsidiaries, including CIBC Wood Gundy, a division of CIBC World Markets Inc. “CIBC Private Wealth Management” is a registered trademark of CIBC, used under license. “Wood Gundy” is a registered trademark of CIBC World Markets Inc.
You guys, we made it to summer. Doesn’t it feel like we ought to celebrate a little? Like, maybe with a fun beer cocktail or three? Thanks to SGB, you can get crafty with craft beer! This beer cocktail kit includes everything you need to make several batches of three different thirst-quenching cocktails. It’s all in there: the recipes, the beer, the booze, and the extras. No further shopping required! The Lemon Tart, pictured here, consists of lemon juice, Dillon’s gin, and their Northern Logger (a light Kolsch-style brew). Plus, SGB will be posting fun how-to videos on June 12, a.k.a. delivery day. Contact the brewery to place your order and to view the full contents of the kit, which will make up to 16 cocktails (depending on how you do beer math) and costs $79. Let us leave you with these final two words: HOME DELIVERY. Cheers!
Sleeping Giant Brewing Co. sleepinggiantbrewing.ca 344-5225
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BREW IT YOURSELF
flavourful beer. Seek balance in intensity so that neither the food nor the beer is overwhelmed.
Cold Brews and Barbecues First Principles of Beer Pairing
Story and photos by Josh Armstrong, PhD, Certified Beer Judge
N
ow that it’s June, I’m really looking forward to our prime grilling season. The days are long and full of sunshine, the kids are having fun in the backyard, and I’m cooking food over some fire. For these summer days, nothing pairs better with the sunshine and slow-cooked barbecued food than a nice cold brew. But what type of delicious local beer should I pair with my flamebroiled eats, you ask? In general, there are no hard rules about pairing beer with food. However, I’ve taken this opportunity at the start of summer to come up with a short list of first principles that you should consider when setting up a beer-barbecue food pairing.
Principle #1: Personal Preference Not only do we all have our own likes and dislikes, we all perceive flavours differently in both food and beer. Try out different food and beer combinations and be aware of what
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you think works best for you and yours. When pairing any foods, the key underlying principle is that the interaction of beer and food should work together to enhance each other, all leading to one’s own blissful enjoyment.
Principle #2: Look for Bridges, Harmonies, and Contrasts Connect ingredients and flavours in the food with aromas and flavours in the beer. While beer is made of only four simple ingredients (water, malts, hops, and yeast), they can be brewed together into a myriad of flavours, so know what brews are fresh and available to you. Pairings work best when they blend, match, or contrast in flavours in some palpable way.
Principle #3: Match Strength with Strength Delicate dishes work best with gentle beers. Strong, flavourful food should be matched by strong,
Principle #4: Consider interactions There are many interactions to consider when pairing beers with dishes. Some important ones to consider are listed here:
• • • • •
Acidity cuts through fat and richness Sweet complements sweet and contrasts heat Bitter hops emphasize spiciness Salty goes with sour Match regional foods with beers from those regions
Classic Barbecue Meals Barbecue Sauced Ribs
Grilled Chicken/ Seafood
Potential Beer Pairing Look to fulfill Principle #2 (harmony) by matching the sweetness of the barbecue sauce with the toffee character from a malty pale ale.
Chicken and seafood tend to be milder in flavour, so consider Principle #3 by paring them something lighter like a Kolsch-style ale or a crisp lager. Now that our new local brewery, One Time Brewing Co., is producing beer, I’m looking forward to enjoying their new Kolsch with some grilled shrimps on the barbie. Local Recommendation: Average Joes from One Time Brewing Co.
FlameBroiled Steaks
Rich with delicious streaks of fat and often covered with spicy black pepper (at least that’s how I do it), barbecued steaks are amazing. The char from the grill can be matched with the light roast found in a nice red ale, plus the caramel sweetness in a red ale can balance the heat from the black pepper. Local Recommendation: Running Stone Red Ale from Dawson Trail Craft Brewery
Hot dogs
Beer writer Ben Johnson has covered pairing beer with this “food group” in his writing on the “two dogger lager” meal combo. While you could listen to Ben and go with a lager when cramming back some hot dogs (it’s a most excellent combination), why not add a local twist this summer and make it a “two dogger Northern Logger.” Local Recommendation: Northern Logger from Sleeping Giant Brewing Co.
Sausages
LET'S TALK
Local Recommendation: 360 Pale Ale from Sleeping Giant Brewing Co.
Sausages come in all sorts of regional flavours. When grilling up some links, you’ll have a great opportunity to match regional foods with beers from those regions. Whether you are cooking hot Italian sausage or Bavarian bratwurst or Polish kielbasa, have fun by pairing it with a regional brewski.
WE LISTEN. WE HEAR YOU. 24 HOUR MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES AVAILABLE
807-346-8282 District / Toll-Free: 1-888-269-3100 Northwest Region: 1-866-888-8988 24/7 TELEPHONE SERVICES FOR YOUTH AND ADULTS
www.thunderbay.cmha.ca
RAIN GARDEN REBATE PROGRAM
Regional Recommendation: Birra Moretti for Italian sausage; Warsteiner Premium Pilsener for brats; Zywiec Beer for kielbasa.
Burgers
From the classic (ketchup, mustard, onion, pickle) to the exotic, burger toppings greatly influence how a burger will taste. Therefore, for burgerbeer pairings, it depends mostly on the toppings. However, you can look to Principle #1 and reach for a beer that simply makes you happy. Personally, because I love hops almost as much as I love burgers, I often like to pair burgers with the freshest, hoppiest beer I can get. Local Recommendation: Shake and Bake NEIPA from One Time Brewing Co. or Bae’s Haze IPA from Dawson Trail Craft Brewery
Beautify your residential property and manage stormwater with a rain garden. Get up to $500 back!
Visit www.ecosuperior.org for more information or call 624-2141
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Food
Delivered with a Friendly Smile Bight Restaurant & Bar Opens Online Store Story and photos by Susan Pretty
I
t’s a different time for businesses and restaurants these days, and Bight Restaurant & Bar is no exception. After having to close their doors to the public, they quickly shifted to offering their menu items for no-contact delivery. Soon after, Bight established an online store that includes grocery staples for the home, for either Friday pick-up or delivery to your door for a mere $5 more. “Thunder Bay has been very supportive and understanding as we pivot our business into other avenues during COVID-19,” says owner Bianca Garofalo. “The delivery and grocery essentials have been well-received and have allowed us to keep a few employees and pay essential bills the last few months.” At bightrestaurant.ca, one can choose from staple food items and other local products, Bight menu products, and even wine and beer!
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The Bight products we ordered arrived frozen, and consisted of homemade Bolognese sauce, their famous ricotta dip, and sous-vide pork ribs, which were incredibly tender, with a nice flavourful bark. Community partner items include Big Lake Pasta, Kumbaya Kombucha, and delicious croissants from Bakeshop on Boundary, delivered with a friendly smile by Garofalo herself. “It’s obviously a very difficult time for restaurants and many other businesses,” she says. “But we are hopeful there will be government support—and more importantly, community support—to keep businesses alive through this unprecedented situation.” Hopefully it won’t be long before we’re all back inside, dining in style overlooking beautiful Lake Superior. But until that time, this is the next best way to get those fabulous Bight flavours we’ve all been longing for!
THAT’S JUST HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE IN OUR THOUGHTS, AND IN OUR HEARTS. ALTHOUGH WE MY BE TAKING A LITTLE BREAK THIS SEASON, WE CAN’T WAIT TILL WE CAN SEE YOUR FACES AGAIN. #SUPPORTLOCAL
T H E C R A F T R E V I VA L T B AY. C O M THUNDER BAY, ONTARIO
|
WATERFRONT DISTRICT
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SUPERIOR SIP
S
ummer is in full swing up here on the Superior north shore and what better way to shake off the shadow of the spring than with a celebratory cocktail to salute the new season! Instead of opting for your standard spirits and methodical mixer, shake things up this summer with some fresh seasonal fruit and the cocktail companion du jour: red, white, and rosé wine!
Stone Fruit Sangria Ingredients: Fruit Purée 1 apricot 1 nectarine 1 small peach 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
Sangria 2 bottles chilled light red wine 2 c chilled elderflower liqueur (such as St-Germain)
Uncorked Cocktails
½ vanilla bean, halved lengthwise
By Jeannie Dubois, Certified Pommelier and Sommelier
20 fresh cherries
3 plums 2 nectarines 2 apricots 1 peach Sparkling water
Method for fruit purée: Peel stone fruit, halve, pit, and chop coarsely. Place chopped fruit in a blender, add lemon juice and purée until smooth. Transfer to a large pitcher.
Method for Sangria: Add wine and elderflower liqueur to fruit purée in pitcher, scrape in seeds from vanilla bean, and add bean. Halve and pit all stone fruit. Cut fruit (except cherries) into ½” wedges. Add all fruit to the pitcher. Chill for at least 1 hour and up to 2 days. Fill glasses with ice; pour in sangria and fruit to fill glass ⅔ full. Top with sparkling water, stir and serve.
Frosé Ingredients:
Et Tu Melon Ingredients: ¾ c white sugar ¼ c lemon verbena leaves 1 small ripe cantaloupe 1 bottle prosecco
Method: Bring sugar, lemon verbena, and 1½ cups water to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. Reduce heat to low and gently simmer for 10 minutes. Let cool. Strain syrup into a pitcher; discard solids. Meanwhile, halve cantaloupe and remove seeds. Scoop flesh into a blender and purée until smooth. Stir into syrup and chill melon mixture until cold and foam has settled, 1–2 hours. To serve, fill 8 glasses a third of the way full with melon mixture and gently top off with prosecco.
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1 bottle of bold rosé ½ c white sugar 8 oz strawberries, hulled and quartered 2½ oz fresh lemon juice
Method: Pour rosé into a 9”x13” pan and freeze until almost solid, at least 6 hours. Meanwhile, bring sugar and ½ cup water to a boil in a medium saucepan; cook, stirring constantly, until sugar dissolves, about 3 minutes. Add strawberries, remove from heat, and let sit 30 minutes to infuse syrup with strawberry flavour. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a small bowl; cover and chill until cold, about 30 minutes. Scrape rosé into a blender Add lemon juice, 3½ ounces strawberry syrup and 1 cup crushed ice and purée until smooth. Transfer the blender container to the freezer and freeze until frosé is thickened, 30 minutes or so. Blend again until frosé is slushy. Divide among glasses and serve.
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Food
favourite offerings such as shawarma, hummus, baba ganoush, and fattoush, but with other specialties offered. “We always try to implement the local feeling with our food, so we will have dishes such as pumpkin bread and burger pie, which we didn’t have in our cuisine, but we make them especially for you,” Aya says. “We are also planning to have more vegetarian options such as falafel, and spinach pie. Our menu will have more variety, starting with pastries, platters, and desserts that are made local and fresh.” The new Royal Aleppo Foods plans to be open for June 3. “We want to thank Thunder Bay for welcoming us to our new home.
Royal Aleppo Foods Caterers Specializing in Syrian Cuisine Open Storefront By Sarah Kerton
T
he joy of feeding others and sharing the Syrian culture through food is at the heart of the offerings by Royal Aleppo Foods. Aya Wadi and her family left Syria in 2014 and spent three years in Turkey before coming to Thunder Bay in November of 2017. Aya and her mother, Duha Shaar, were participants in the Culture Kitchen program at Roots to Harvest in 2019. The program focuses on building economic access and community belonging for refugees and newcomers. After their success in the program, they began a home catering business, and along with Aya’s father Khaled Wadi, the two women are now opening a storefront location on St. Paul Street. “It has been challenging, but
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also a blessing to have our friends, customers, and community beside us,” Aya says. “The purpose of opening our business is to share our cuisine with the community, to get financially independent, and to reunite our family. We are hoping to help my brother, who we haven’t seen for six years, to join us from Germany.” The owner of Damascus Donair encouraged them to take over his space on St. Paul Street. The timing was perfect, as they had been considering expanding to a permanent location. They attribute their confidence in taking this step to the faith of their customers, as well as the support they have received from a good family friend. Past customers of Damascus Donair will continue to enjoy
Thunder Bay was selected by the government as the city we would call home. Whether or not we succeed, we will not regret the journey,” Aya says. “We will probably not be doing a grand opening party due to the restrictions, but when it will loosen, we really want to celebrate opening our restaurant.” Thunder Bay will no doubt be celebrating alongside (or two metres away) them and this new delicious endeavour!
Royal Aleppo Foods 17 St. Paul Street 286-7530
The Walk-In is now ope as a Call-in
In the Community: Emergency Outreach.
NorWest Community Health Centres Centres de santé communautaire NorWest
Food was provided to
With the TD Ready Commitment / Canadian Association of Community Health Centres funds ($5000), our team has developed emergency boxes to reach people in their residences and those who are vulnerably housed.
25
10
per week
THUNDER BAY
On some visits we also delivered: ` ` ` `
per week
Personal NorWest CHC - Logo Text Revised Hygiene Boxes
per week
individuals per week
Baby & Mom Boxes up to
Food Boxes up to
50
260
37 are single seniors living alone and 14 individuals had no phone.
School Age Children Boxes
50
`
Clinical items (puffers, medications). Shoes, clothing, underwear, socks. Yarn, puzzles. Diapers, formula, baby supplies, blankets. Performed clinical assessments and prenatal visits.
per week
Our Walk-In Clinic or “Call-In” Services are still available by phone. You do not need to be a current client to use the “Call-In” service. Access our Call-in Clinic at: (807) 622-8235
www.norwestchc.org
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Food
Jim Stadey of Uncle Jimbo's Marvelous BBQ Steak Emporium
Uncle Jimbo's Marvelous BBQ Steak Emporium Local Entrepreneur Launches Ghost Kitchen for Charity By Adrian Lysenko
I
f you grill it, they will come. What started as a simple Facebook page listing only three menu items has turned into something bigger for a good cause. Back in April, Jim Stadey, CEO of Eat Local Pizza, created the page Uncle Jimbo's Marvelous BBQ Steak Emporium and announced that when and if it would get 100 likes, he would pursue the idea of launching a “ghost kitchen,” a food preparation and cooking facility set up for delivery-only meals. “I was surprised by how many
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people engaged so quickly,” Stadey says. “I got a tonne of messages asking to pre-order. I honestly didn't really think anyone was going to notice.” Specializing in BBQ beef tenderloin, all orders for Uncle Jimbo's Marvelous BBQ Steak Emporium are prepared in an A-rated health unit-inspected facility (Eat Local Pizza) and delivered contactless through an online delivery service. “Well, I do a lot of work with e-commerce systems and a lot of work with food. I thought it might
be fun to run a ghost kitchen from Eat Local Pizza doing a home barbecue for people as a fundraiser,” says Stadey. “I figured I would toss out a zany idea and see if anyone was interested.” The Emporium will be offering beef tenderloin cooked sous vide and then grilled medium rare with a side of potato salad and a cold Pepsi—simply because that’s what Stadey himself would want to eat. “I have been barbecuing for a long time. Food is kind of my jam,” he says. “Making food for people
relaxes me. A lot of what I do in business and in my personal life focuses on it.” The profits from Uncle Jimbo's Marvelous BBQ Steak Emporium will go toward Evergreen a United Neighbourhood. “The work they do in that area is invaluable to our community,” Stadey says. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/ UncleJimbosMarvelous BBQSteakEmporium.
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Check out the Neighbour Day Toolkit at thunderbay.ca/neighbourday for fun ideas on how to connect with your neighbours on June 20th Have you witnessed a random act of neighbouring? Share your story and/or Neighbour Day ideas on social media using the hashtag #thanksneighbour
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FilmTheatre
Left to Their Own Devices By Jimmy Wiggins
T
CONFESSIONS OF A DRAG DEALER
▲Faux Rocious ▼Molly Poppinz
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he impact COVID-19 has had on the entertainment industry is nothing short of devastating. While the business closures and social distancing measures in place are for the safety of all of us, it’s left many performers, including drag queens and kings, uneasy about when they’ll be able to get back on stage. Drag performers all over the world have taken a hard hit as public gatherings—including Pride festivals (the queer equivalent to Christmas or Halloween)—are cancelled and venues everywhere have been forced to close their doors. Queens and kings who depend on bookings and physical interaction with audiences to make money are now completely out of work and unsure of the future. However, all is not lost. This resilient group of creative cross-dressers are taking lemons and making lemon drop martinis by moving their shows online. Drag performers all around the world are taking to social media to showcase their talents from the comfort of their own home using nothing more than the camera from a computer or mobile device. The performance is filmed and then broadcast in real time from the performer’s device over Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitch, and other platforms to the fans that follow them online. This new way of doing things brings the performance to the people while still following public health and safety rules. Performers are now facing challenges of not only creating a drag look and performance but also the show itself. “It’s not just drag anymore; it’s the full production,” explains local drag queen Amber Ail. “Not only do you have to think about how you’re even going to entertain in a way you’ve never had to before, you’re doing all the set design, lighting, filming, audio, editing, etc. It’s taking an art form that already requires a wide skill set into a whole new realm.” This new format is not going unnoticed by tech companies who see
the struggle these artists face. Some platforms are now adding additional features like virtual tip jars to help offset the costs and make the virtual experience more interactive for fans. “We've gone from being paid for doing drag to essentially volunteering to perform for our followers,” explains TBay queen Faux Rocious. “We are relying solely on tips right now for income from shows, but we understand that this is difficult for everybody. We miss our audience just as much as they miss us!” The shift to performing online also brings new opportunities and moves the performances into a global venue where the audience could now be anyone with internet access anywhere in the world. This kind of connectivity opens doors for queens and kings to perform alongside other performers from across the globe. “With drag shows moving online, performing with drag acts in other cities has never been easier,” explains Amber Ail. “I’ve had online friends reach out and invite me to perform in shows streaming out of Calgary and even the Czech Republic. It’s odd that the pandemic has actually given me a way to work with performers I never would have been able to before.” At the end of the day, it’s all about staying connected to the fans and showing them that their support is noticed and appreciated. It’s what keeps a drag performer’s career alive and keeps them relevant. “The switch from live shows to live streams can be daunting but it's so important,” explains TBay queen Mz. Molly Poppinz. “The queens and kings who step up and meet this challenge quickly will be remembered not only as pioneers of the new age but also as heroes. We are telling our fans that we haven’t forgotten about them and we care about them.” For more information or to find streams, visit facebook.com/ FantasyHaus.
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35
FilmTheatre
It’s Just Intermission
Local Theatre Groups Power Through the Pandemic By Wendy Wright
T
hunder Bay has a thriving local theatre scene. But due to the pandemic, these avenues of expression and entertainment have been cut off for both the players and the spectators. Candi and Lawrence Badanai are doing their best to keep the city entertained online through their company Badanai Theatre Co. Candi also works with Paramount Live, where she is steadfastly keeping everyone there immersed and performing as well. How does a live theatre company survive and thrive through an unprecedented shutdown like this? The answer is, through ingenuity and creativity and trying new things to see what works.
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Badanai Theatre is hosting a few variety shows, to start—all online and beaming into your living room. For a stage actor, it’s not the same experience without a live audience, but there is still a degree of camaraderie that goes with performing this way. “The Variety 20 online show is a 20- minute show of a variety of our previous actors providing all kinds of entertainment,” explains Candi. “This will be like a live show everyone can safely watch from their living room.” The Badanais have been overwhelmed with submissions that cover everything from acting to singing to playing instruments and performing comedy. Seems anything goes!
Many theatre families are getting in on the act too, which is a surprise and delight to those editing it all together. Keep checking their Facebook page for the dates in June when the next two variety shows will take place. While on the Badanai Facebook page, check out the stories and bios of many of the past and present actors. Paramount Live had nine weeks of shows cancelled last minute when the shutdowns for COVID-19 began. The kids involved with this group “thrive on the interaction,” and they are missing it, says Candi. She does not want them to lose the vibe of the theatre during this time, so she has been engaging with these actors online as well. Not everyone has the capability to use Zoom, and so she is coming up with a mix of ideas to keep them immersed and using their talents. Candi is issuing challenges to the kids like the Tongue Twister Challenge. The students can then send in a video and participate with their fellow actors. These will be featured on Facebook along with “Stars of Paramount Live,” which introduces the individual actors. All of these are available for viewing by the public and the students get a huge kick out of their newfound fame online. After all, it’s just intermission until these theatre groups are back on stage again. Visit facebook.com/plivetbay and facebook.com/badanaitheatre for more information.
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FilmTheatre
THE SECOND MOST PLEASURABLE THING WE DO IN THE DARK. A COLUMN ABOUT MOVIES
Films About Getting Back to Nature By Michael Sobota
Once I had believed in my father, and the world seemed small, and old. Now he’s gone and I wasn’t afraid to love him anymore. And the world seems limitless. - Charlie (River Phoenix) in The Mosquito Coast
W
e are fortunate enough to live in a place where we can go back to nature with ease. Almost anywhere in Northwestern Ontario, you can step outside your back door and get lost—or found—in the bush. Screenwriters thrive on back-to-nature stories. While we currently aren’t allowed to go just anywhere we want, here are four stories that will take you into nature. And in keeping with June celebrating fathers, two of them feature dads who make the decision to take their entire families away from cities—one of whom grows in wisdom and grace when circumstances force him to return, and the other implodes.
The Mosquito Coast Wild (2014) (1986) Reese Witherspoon gives us one of her
A Walk in the Woods (2015)
Captain Fantastic (2016)
Paul Theroux wrote a bestseller about an eccentric American inventor who, fed up with the excesses and failures of capitalism, withdraws with his family into the wilds of South America. Working from a script by Paul Schrader based on that novel, director Peter Weir gives us a modern re-telling of Swiss Family Robinson. The eccentric inventor Allie is played by Harrison Ford, in a thoroughbred performance, as though he is a finely tuned racehorse certain of winning the human race on his terms. His wife is played by Helen Mirren and their eager-to-learn son, Charlie, is played by the young River Phoenix, just 15 years old when he made the film. For me, the best part of the story is told in Ford’s histrionic railing about America in the opening scenes. Once they have all retreated into the isolation of the jungle, all of his characters’ intellectual skills come up short against the uneven and not always kind forces of nature. This is a remarkable film on many levels and revisiting it was a revelation.
Director Ken Kwapis gives us what might be the flip side of Wild. The story is also based on a memoir, this one by Bill Bryson. Leaving an unsatisfying life in England, Bryson (played by Robert Redford) decides to return to America and as a gentle reentry, hike the Appalachian Trail—the 2,200-mile east coast equivalent of the Pacific Coast Trail, only without ocean views. Bryson selects an old friend, Stephan Katz (played by Nick Nolte) to join him. What ensues is an analysis of American society and politics. It becomes a witty, philosophical comedy, raised by Redford and Nolte’s skillful delineation of character and a friendship that has gone rusty at almost all their points of contact. Walking is a multi-layer metaphor, not merely forest bathing.
Director and scriptwriter Matt Ross begins his story in nature—literally immersed in the forest. Dad (Viggo Mortensen), together with his wife (Trin Miller) have taken their children away from the city and raised them in the wild. The opening sequence vividly grounds the intelligence and skill sets needed to survive there. But when Mom becomes incurably ill and makes the decision to end her own life, Dad and the kids face a complicated decision about honouring her final wishes. With both fear and focus, they return to the city to rescue her corpse from the grips of religion and her parents. In the course of this journey, all of the kids are tested and revelations lead Dad, again, to expand his own beliefs about what life really is. The closing sequence of scenes are some of the best family story writing I have ever seen on the screen. The insights and gifts here are heart-opening.
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finest, most nuanced performances as Cheryl Strayed. The story is a true one, based on Strayed’s memoir of the same name. Canadian director JeanMarc Vallée, working from a script by Nick Hornby, guides Witherspoon on a 1,100-mile trek down the Pacific Coast Trail from Canada to Mexico. En route, flashbacks in the script reveal Strayed’s reasons for taking a walk into the wild. She had recently experienced a failed marriage and the death of her mother, and was struggling to overcome her substance abuse. Her critical decision to leave everything behind and step into the unknown led to different, mostly physical challenges and ultimately her personal transformation. The cliché plays out true: nature heals.
And here are six more stories that celebrate humans in nature: The Call of The Wild (1935—there are several filmed versions, this one features Clark Gable and Loretta Young), Deliverance (1972), Koyaanisqatsi (1982), Gerry (2002), Meek’s Cutoff (2010), and Leave No Trace (2018).
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Labour or Employment Issues? Get in touch with Hayley for more information on how she can assist you. Call 344-LABR or visit our website oneillassociates.ca
The Walleye
39
TheArts
The Art of Tim Tait
Self-Taught Artist Expresses Spirituality, Emotion, and Shares Culture Through Work By Savanah Tillberg
T
im Tait, an Indigenous artist from Sachigo Lake First Nation, Ontario, has been painting since the young age of nine. Enthralled by his parents’ work as artists, one day
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he picked up their paint brushes and never put them back down. Although it started out as something he did for himself, he says, “I realized that I could make money from it when I turned
twelve.” His grade eight school teacher set up an art show for the students, in which Tait had submitted several paintings. “The next day when I came back to school, my teacher surprised
me with some money,” Tait explains, “and she told me that she had sold some of my work at the show she had organized.” Before Tait settled into consistently painting in the Woodlands style, he made a point of studying other Westerninspired painting techniques as well. “But I’ve always come back to Woodlands style, that’s what I like doing,” he says. He explains that he taught himself to paint by looking through art books at his school and studying the paintings that he would see. Tait says he is drawn to the Woodlands style because of its vibrant colours that contrast with the bold black lines. He adds, “it’s a way I can express my spirituality, my emotions, and share my people’s culture and stories.” He explains that his paintings demonstrate how everything is connected. He adds that his paintings represent resilience in a way as well and says, “My people have been here on this land for a long time, and despite everything, we’re still here. More than that, my paintings aren’t only about being native, they’re about being alive.” Each one of Tait’s paintings is accompanied by some sort of message on the back of the canvas. “I always write things on the back of my paintings,” he says. “Sometimes little stories, or the meaning of the painting, or just my thoughts.” Tait sells his paintings locally in Thunder Bay through Max Pawn and Loans. He also sells them through his Instagram @timtait.art. He is currently open for commissions and can be contacted via email at timtait.art@gmail.com.
TheArts
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The Walleye
41
TheArts
Pushing the Envelope
The Art of Josh Therriault By Jamie Varga
T
hunder Bay is full of people who love to create art, and Josh Therriault is one of them. Therriault has been drawing his whole life, and really got into cartoons when he was about eight years old. Looking at his art, you can see influences like John Kricfalusi (creator of The Ren & Stimpy Show) and major hints of Robert Crumb. Therriault also cites legends like
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Todd McFarlane (creator of Spawn) and Sam Kieth (creator of The Maxx) as influences, and then adds in Namio Harukawa, with the warning: “Look him up, if you dare.” Therriault’s work not only visually reflects the underground comic works of the 60s, but is similar in style to the artists of that era. When asked about the themes within his work, Therriault says
that he is "always pushing the envelope on alternative themes such as female sexuality and fetishism that many people consider shock art” and that there is a therapeutic aspect to getting the ideas out of his mind and on paper. Without giving away too much, a lot of the work he has done lately delves deeply into that area of the psyche, and he has been focused on
putting together a comic book he hopes to finish soon. The artist is happy to be doing something he loves and is thankful that there are others out there that might be getting something out of what he is creating. Visit https://www.instagram. com/joshtherriault/?hl=ur to see more of Therriault’s art.
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TheArts
FROM THE THUNDER BAY ART GALLERY’S COLLECTION
Cradled in Repose By Meaghan Eley, Registrar and Curatorial Assistant, Thunder Bay Art Gallery
Artist: Daphne Odjig Title: “Cradled in Repose” Date: 1985 Medium: Acrylic on canvas Dimensions: 59.5 x 49.5 cm
W
hen writing about the work of Daphne Odjig (1919–2016), it is hard not to get carried away and turn a short column into an essay describing her long and varied career, noting her numerous accomplishments, and highlighting the significance of some of her key works to the history of Canadian art. While there may not be room for it here, there are many ways to delve deeper into the life and art of Daphne Odjig. For a start, her work has been the centre of two major retrospective exhibitions—one organized by the Thunder Bay Art Gallery in 1985, the other by the Art Gallery of Sudbury in 2007. Both exhibitions were accompanied by beautiful catalogues full of writing and images that are a delight to explore. These days, many of us are turning more frequently to art (whether making or appreciating) to provide meaning and beauty in a world that is no longer familiar. For some, nature is a similar outlet. The forests surrounding Thunder Bay are a welcome escape from the day to day. Artists too, turn to nature for inspiration, as Daphne Odjig often did. “Cradled in Repose” is a relatively small painting, completed in 1985, amongst several others depicting the forests surrounding her home in British Columbia. Referring to this series in A Paintbrush in My Hand: Daphne Odjig, authors R.M Vanderburgh and M.E. Southcott noted that “… each canvas manages to convey the monumentality of the rainforest, the moods of joy and contentment she felt there, and her desperate concern that it be
44 The Walleye
protected.” In her curatorial essay in Daphne Odjig: A Retrospective 1946 - 1985, Elizabeth McLuhan sums up Odjig’s work as “always a return, a cycle, a refinding of her emotional and
spiritual centre.” Through the joy and contentment the forest can provide (both the real and painted versions), we may have the opportunity for our own personal “refinding.”
The gallery was able to purchase this painting through the generous support of the Walter and Duncan Gordon Charitable Foundation.
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Experience the Canadian Lighthouses of Lake Superior with a one-night stay for 6 on Porphyry Island
28-Aug-20 Local Shopping Expedition
Includes Gift Certificates for: Red Lion Smokehouse
Plus Gift Certificates for:
Fresh Air
Java Hut
Intercity Shopping Centre
Giorg Cucina e Barra
Ungalli
Current River Bakery
Authentique
Shake Shoppe
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El Tres Current River Bakery Shake Shoppe
13
Best Western Plus Nor’Wester Hotel & Conference Centre
SPONSORED CONTENT
PRIZE 2
PRIZE 3
PRIZE 4
Hook, Line and Jacuzzi
Climbing New Heights
Climb & Dine
12-Jun-20
19-Jun-20
26-Jun-20
Fishing Excursion for 4 with Archie’s Fishing Charters
Rock Climbing Adventure with Outdoor Skills and Thrills
Rock Climbing Adventure with Outdoor Skills and Thrills
Plus Gift Certificates for:
Plus Gift Certificates for:
Plus Gift Certificates for:
Java Hut
La Poutine
La Poutine
Red Lion Smokehouse
Bight Restaurant
Boston Pizza
Current River Bakery Shake Shoppe Prince Arthur Waterfront Hotel: Jacuzzi Suite
2
Current River Bakery Days Inn
3
4
Current River Bakery Days Inn
PRIZE 8
PRIZE 9
PRIZE 10
Crosstown Shopper
Shop local 2.0
Tee-baycation
24-Jul-20
31-Jul-20
07-Aug-20
Local Shopping Expedition
Local Shopping Expedition
Includes Gift Certificates for:
Includes Gift Certificates for:
An 18-hole Golf Experience at Whitewater Golf Club
La Poutine
La Poutine
Ungalli
Ungalli
Intercity Shopping Centre
Intercity Shopping Centre
Authentique
Authentique
Fresh Air
Fresh Air
Bight Restaurant The Courthouse Hotel
8
El Tres Current River Bakery Best Western Plus Nor’Wester Hotel & Conference Centre
Plus Gift Certificates for: La Poutine Fresh Air Whitewater Golf Club
9
Bight Current River Bakery Shake Shoppe Holiday Inn Express
10
Good luck and have a great summer! For complete contest rules, visit: thunderbay.ca/tbaycation
Sponsored by:
Supported by:
#tbaycation
#tbaycatio
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New Building Campaign
A stepping stone to a better place Breaking the cycle of homelessness and poverty
To impact lives and make our city a better place for everyone Donate now at: JourneytoLifeCentre.com 807-345-6492
Join the Journey 50
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TheArts
Northern Cheers! Thunder Bay Art Gallery’s Online Cup Auction
By Corey Wilkinson, Communications and Marketing Coordinator, Thunder Bay Art Gallery
Peyton Harris
Brenda Delmas
Erika Niva
Trudy Jamieson
Denise Smith
Fritz Lehmberg
Denise Smith
Trudy Jamieson
Gayle Buzzi
Denise Smith
Katrin Huerzeler
A
s we move forward through this brave new world, we are looking ahead to a time of celebration and joy when we can be with our loved ones again. And what better way is there to celebrate than to raise a cup and toast to a safe and happy summer? The Thunder Bay Art Gallery is excited to present Northern Cheers! A Celebration of Cups, an online auction of unique cups made by local artists. With approximately 25 cups for auction by 20 different artists, there is a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and styles of vessel to bid on. This is the second online cup auction organized by the Thunder Bay Art Gallery following the successful Northern Mug Off, mug auction held last November. Bids will start at $20 for a single cup and $30 for a paired set of cups, and for those must-have cups there is a “buy now” option. Karen Long is a pottery artist and operates Phire Pottery. When speaking of her work, she says “I find inspiration while hiking through the boreal forest. Aspects of the wondrous landscape and wildlife are often represented in my art.” “I’m never tired of watching people pick up their mug, pause, look, and feel the surface before they take a sip,” says Katrin Huerzeler, one of the participating artists. “Clay gives me an opportunity to create my own canvas, and yes, sometimes that canvas is a cup or a plate.” “This is a truly unique fundraiser in Thunder Bay and we are so excited to celebrate these artists and their stunning creations,” says Stephanie
Paxton, fundraising coordinator at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery. “We’ve been striving to create fun and engaging ways to involve the community during these unprecedented times.” Funds raised during the auction will support the gallery’s exhibitions, education, and public programming. The auction runs from June 8–22 online. Visit theag.ca/northern-cheers for full auction details.
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Outdoor
Wilderness Wonderland
Big Trout Bay Nature Reserve Story by Amy Sellors, Photos by Costal Productions
T
he feeling you find in hiking is almost impossible to replicate. Joy, fed by physical challenge, fresh air, and gorgeous scenery. You feel adventurous, powerful, exhausted. Alive. It’s sometimes hard to feel alive these days. I have explored every inch of my home, my yard, my refrigerator, and my neighbourhood. I need to release my grocery store anxiety with more than a 10-minute yoga video. Luckily, 44 minutes from my front door, on the North Shore of Lake Superior at Big Trout Bay, is an oasis where I can feel alive. Across Canada, lakefront property is being developed into camps, cabins, and resorts, corrupting a number of natural habitats. The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) protects many diverse habitats, with over 100,000 acres in Ontario alone. Their strategic approach protects nature at a landscape level. Big Trout Bay is a priority for the NCC, as it is the last
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undeveloped wilderness shoreline on the Great Lakes. Think about that: the last undeveloped wilderness shoreline on the Great Lakes. And it’s right here.The NCC took custody of the property in 2016 and opened the trail last fall. “This area will be protected forever for people to enjoy as a wilderness shoreline,” says Wendy Cridland, senior director of Conservation for Ontario. “It’s important to have protected land at that interface where water meets land, and the diversity of habitats that exist there, right from the cobble beaches to the steep cliffs.” In this time of COVID-19, there are sometimes small silver linings. With fewer places to go, we are really noticing the nature that is all around us. “Nature is a safe escape,” says Cridland. “People are noticing nature now that they have less ability to travel. Big Trout Bay gives you this opportunity in a wilderness setting, complete with songbirds,
warblers, and ducks.” Named in honour of NCC’s late regional vice-president, the nine-kilometre James Duncan Nature Trail offers a challenging hike through forest, across a cobble beach, and up cliffs that provide spectacular views of Lake Superior. If you’re feeling adventurous, start hiking from Little Trout Bay Conservation Area. If you’re looking for a hike that’s a little easier on the knees, start at the south end off Memory Lane from Hwy 61, and you’ll quickly find the shoreline. There’s parking at both ends. Leashed dogs are welcome. In a pandemic, some days are easy and some are hard. Having something to look forward to, like a hike in the woods, is important. This trail had been closed due to government guidelines and is likely open now – or will be very soon. Check the NCC’s website or Facebook page for more information. If you love nature, consider donating to the NCC. This non-profit protects the landscape that makes our country beautiful.
Outdoor
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CityScene
Turning the Page into Summer The Thunder Bay Public Library is Here for You
By Jesse Roberts, Librarian, Thunder Bay Public Library
T
he transition into summer is always a favourite time for the Thunder Bay Public Library, and even though things look and feel a lot different this year, that sentiment hasn’t changed! No matter what your summer plans are, the library will be right there with you to make the most of this short but glorious season. In recent weeks we’ve been focusing on expanding access to online collections and services. This has involved many conversations with vendors and content suppliers, and means that you now have more access than ever before.
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Publishers and database providers have opened up to allow people to use things from home that would normally only be for in-library use, including the Ancestry Library Edition, SimplyAnalytics databases, and the UK National Theatre Play Collection. The ebook collection in CloudLibrary is growing every day and we can’t wait to hear how you’ve been enjoying your time with a great summer read in the sunshine or which new gardening techniques you’ve mastered on your own or with your family. Databases such as the Home Improvement Reference Centre are
freely available to anyone with a TBPL library card and can help with almost any DIY project, especially ones to help you maximize your outdoor spaces this season. Online activities and events have quickly become a regular part of our work and the community engagement with Maker Mondays, Mystery Monday, Show & Share Wednesdays, author readings, book clubs, and chapter book
story times has been incredible. Social media (@tbaypl) and the library’s website are the best sources to find out what’s happening and when to tune in. Coming up, we’ve got big plans for the TD Summer Reading Club— it will all be happening online this year and will include some great new features to help keep your kids reading through the summer. General registration goes live June 15 through the TBPL online calendar of events. We’re also thinking about how to offer ongoing programming in different formats for Northern Nature Trading at Mary J. L. Black and the Science North ThinkHub at Brodie. Every collection and service mentioned in this article can be accessed online and information is always available through the library’s website at tbpl.ca. If you don’t already have a library card and want to get one, let us know by sending an email to comments@tbpl.ca! And, of course, we’d love to see how you’ve been taking the library along on your summer adventures, so tag us in your social media posts along the way. Plans are underway for a phased approach to offering library service to the community. Timing will depend on how long it will take to have safety precautions in place for staff and the community. We are really looking forward to being able to see our patrons again in person! Until then, stay safe everyone and we’ll see you online!
CityScene
Ten Years On, Pride is Still Needed Thunder Pride Reenvisioned and Reimagined in a COVID-19 World
By Jason Veltri, Chairperson, Thunder Pride Association
Jason Veltri, Chairperson, Thunder Pride Association
W
hat an interesting and challenging world we live in. COVID-19 has upended everything in our lives, and what we considered normal isn’t normal anymore—including Pride. This year’s celebrations are Thunder Pride Association’s 10th annual in Thunder Bay. Pride 2020 was to kick off on June 5th and feature some new and exciting events throughout our city, but this has come to an unfortunate end. But don’t worry—Pride 2020 Homecoming will be reenvisioned for a virtual world. It will take place over the month of June and will feature new and innovative ways to engage with our community digitally. As physical distancing will be here for the foreseeable future, Thunder Pride is going to be bringing you online drag shows, kids and adult storytime with drag queens, DJ and dance parties, film watch parties, and Two-Spirit events. In addition, Thunder Pride will be hosting town halls and digital check-ins throughout June and panel discussions on important topics that affect our 2SLGBTIQ+ communities, as well as literary events that will celebrate our diverse communities of 2SLGBTIQ+ people. With this being the 10th annual Pride festival in Thunder Bay, I want to personally reflect back over the past 10 years of the Pride movement
and take an opportunity to recognize the trailblazers in our community who took the risk to start Thunder Pride. Our founders, Ellen Chambers and Rachel Mishenene, started Thunder Pride in late 2010 and the first-ever flag raising at Thunder Bay City Hall took place in June 2011. Never before had the rainbow flag been raised publically in our city. These incredibly strong women really stepped up to remind our community that gay and trans rights are human rights. Over the years, the Pride movement expanded and grew in Thunder Bay, and in 2013 the first Pride Parade was held in the city. The day our queer and trans communities came together to walk openly down the streets was a truly historic one for 2SLGBTIQ+ communities in Thunder Bay. It was a small but mighty group of colourful and joyous 2SLGBTIQ+ people and allies who came together to show strength and visibility, and prove that the 2SLGBTIQ+ communities are here and here to stay. Fast forward to 2019, my first year as chair of Thunder Pride, as we looked to evolve the festival and grow its outreach to more of the community. The festival changed from Pride in the Park at Marina Park to the Thunder Pride block party in a new location within the Bay and Algoma neighbourhood. The block party was expanded from
one day to two days with a street festival, live local entertainment, and the largest-ever Pride Parade on a new route from Waverley Park down Algoma Street to Bay Street. The festival welcomed over 10,000 people over the 16 days of Pride 2019. Each year Pride grows, expands, and continues to change to provide our community with a festival that is the most colourful, inclusive, and inspiring. Thunder Pride Association is an incredible organization changing the way we view our 2SLGBTIQ+ communities and bringing more inclusivity to Thunder Bay. All you need to do is look at the outpouring of support for the Rainbow and Transgender Crosswalk Project that will be installed soon on Algoma and Donald Street. This project galvanized our community to donate over $10,000 and take an ownership role in creating important legacy projects that show our diversity and just how far our city has come in queer and transgender inclusion. I am proud to have seen so much change over the last 10 years and I am very excited for the next 10. The Pride movement is a global movement to break barriers and fight for equality, equity, and human rights for all. We would not exist if not for those who threw the first brick in the Stonewall Riots in New York City 50 years ago. We honour them each and every day by continuing the fight
so that one day we no longer need to defend who we are, who we love, or who we marry, and acceptance is just part of the fabric of society. Pride is inherently political because we still have to fight to be recognized worldwide. Until there is a time where the 2SLGBTIQ+ communities have true inclusion, equity, and equality, we will continue to march, take up space, and demand action. The Pride movement will always be there to shine a light and provide the positive and loving space to exist. To those out there still struggling with their sexual or gender identities or fighting to be seen or heard: we see you, we hear you, and we are here for you and to give you the loving space you need to get through. We encourage everyone to fly their flag of choice—be it the Two Spirit, lesbian, rainbow, bi-sexual, trans, pansexual, or any other flag of the communities under the umbrella— during the month of June from their windows, front porch, cars, or anywhere else you can put them. Chalk your driveways and sidewalks, and let’s paint our incredible city full of beautiful colours to recognize Pride Month in Thunder Bay. Happy Pride, Thunder Bay! Stay Tuned to Thunder Pride’s social media channels and website for dates and times of events throughout June.
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MENTORS Creating Breakfast Are you a leader with business experience? a New Lunch & Deener Normal Sponsored Content
The Thunder Bay & District Entrepreneur Centre is seeking mentors to lead,Nadine guide, and inspire Kelly, youth program participants. owner The COVID-19 pandemic has
undoubtedly forced many Mentorstoenjoy passing businesses pivot in ways down knowledge and wisdom Tell us about your How do you think this will to the entrepreneurs and business and they probably never thought recent pivot. affect the way of business in they would. Incommunity business terms, the future? leadersBreakfast of theLunch future. & Deener has always “pivot” typically refers to a been a prepared-meal manufacturer and I believe we were on track to become e-commerce business, not a traditional less reliant on the brick-and-mortar and company making fundamental restaurant or take-out establishment. traditional business models long before changes to their As abusiness mentor, you willSince be our required productionto: facility is closed this virus started. I think it has simply to the public and order collection and because their product is no forced us to accelerate the evolution of • Donate 3-4 hours per month to informal meetings payment has always been done online, business by many years. longer meeting the needs we are set up very well for the current Being online is no longer optional or the phone or in person of their intended over market. circumstances. We wanted to ensure that “recommended,” it is mandatory to we were helping other local businesses But what does ityour mean when into business • Share insight and industry stay relevant and profitable. In the as much as possible, so we have opened future, I think consumers will be looking the intended market cannot with the mentee up our e-commerce platform and online more, not just for purchases, but leave their homes and the distribution model to other local vendors also to research a product or service. • Help to answer questions, solve problems, to help them sell their products online government mandates a social If businesses are not online, they are without decisions the potential costs of moving advise on business missing a big part of the market and distance of twoand metres? Some to online sales and headaches relating will therefore lose a large portion to the logistics of distribution. We have businesses had no choice but of customers. I think the value of a also started offering groceries on our to close temporarily, but others business’ authenticity and transparency website, to help our customers avoid the has been heightened beyond what it saw Interested this as an opportunity. grocery stores in mentoring? Contact : for longer periods of time. was prior to COVID-19, and I think that COVID-19 meant a new We have had to pivot our weekly menu will continue to increase post-COVID. I and distribution model. Prior to COVIDalso foresee collaborations, partnerships, Tess Ahola, Youth Programs Coordinator strategy, new target markets, 19, our distribution was primarily and affiliations to increase and be more and tahola@thunderbay.ca new products. For three through pick-up hubs at local partner important for businesses in the future. local(807)625-3286 businesses in particular, businesses. In March we decided Consumers are much more focused on to switch to delivery-only, and have pivoting in the time of COVIDshopping locally now, which I think will since also begun offering contactless remain strong post-COVID. This presents 19 has brought much more pick-up at our production facility. Our a great opportunity for local businesses than just a quick fix, but rather a menu offerings and product lines have to capture this newfound interest, but also changed. Prior to COVID-19, we futuristic way of doing business. it also creates a huge opportunity for primarily focused on custom meals—a
w w w.Ent re pre neurC entre.ca
product line we recently decided to remove completely. We have switched to a weekly rotating menu of set meals, as it allows us to be more resilient relating to food availability, which has been one of our biggest challenges for the past two months.
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new business startups, especially here in Thunder Bay. I think there are many opportunities for business-minded or solution-oriented individuals to take advantage of the fact that there are many things that don’t exist here yet. For every problem that exists, especially relating to “the new normal,” there likely are a variety of solutions which can be turned into a business.
Sponsored Content
Uride
Outdoor Skills and Thrills
Tell us about your recent pivot.
Tell us about your pivot.
Cody Ruberto, owner
We've launched Uride Services, a platform that allows users to order same-day delivery from grocery stores, liquor stores, restaurants, retail stores, etc. We’ll be adding a wide variety of local shops, and we encourage any businesses looking to go online or to tap into a delivery solution to reach out to us.
How do you think this will affect the way of business in the future? As time goes on, Thunder Bay residents will be able to shop with all their favourite businesses through the Uride app and have items delivered to their doorstep in minutes. Businesses will be able to take their storefronts online with the support of a full delivery solution in less than 24 hours. The Uride network of users, drivers, and businesses will continue to grow, and we’ll continue looking for more problems to solve for the community of Thunder Bay, as well as cities across Canada.
Aric Fishman, owner I have made drastic changes to my business operations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The most devastating (but most important) step was to cancel all Outdoor Skills and Thrills outings for the foreseeable future. This was the most logical way to help slow the spread of the virus in our region. My climbing programs are based in the outdoors and with “stay at home” orders put in place, I needed to pivot and focus my attention towards the digital world. My aim was to keep spirits up within our community and nurture social ties while in isolation. I began hosting video chats, posting trivia that highlights our region, and teaching skills online. Finally, I ventured into a new initiative to upcycle climbing equipment into high quality, handcrafted custom dog leashes and toys. And so, Summit Gear was born! It’s an environmentally friendly initiative with a commitment to reinvesting
50% of the profits back into local climbing development, all while maintaining strict social distancing protocols. Oh, and seeing so many happy dogs and owners is, without a doubt, the cherry on top!
How do you think this will affect the way of business in the future? Moving forward, Summit Gear will continue to operate via online orders and contactless deliveries. I have even begun accepting donations of used climbing ropes to secure the future of the initiative and limit waste. The future of Outdoor Skills and Thrills will depend on our ever-changing world as well as a commitment to mitigating risk for my customers and our community. Thankfully, as a climbing guide, developing protocols to ensure everyone’s safety is always my number one priority. I am hopeful that I will have the pleasure of sharing my love for this sport and this region once again.
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CityScene
Eye to Eye With Peter Collins
As told to Matt Prokopchuk, Photo by Darren McChristie
T
en-term Fort William First Nation Chief Peter Collins sat down to chat with us (over the phone) about who his personal hero is, celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day this month, as well as his golf game.
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On his success and longevity in politics: I mean, we’ve changed the landscape of Fort William here on many different fronts, from bringing hockey arenas into our community, bringing businesses and office
complexes, and the major economic development that we’ve brought in and negotiated. I was here for every one of the settlement agreements that we settled with the federal government, which is good. On what it’s been like being a community leader during a global pandemic: It’s sometimes very challenging, very emotional. Sometimes your mental health, stuff like that, are questioned, but, you know, as the leader you have to stay strong and stay positive and be focused on the outcome of what you’re doing in your community to protect them and keep them safe. About a month back, things really were bad, we were challenged on many different fronts: our vendors, our members, even people from the city challenged us on a couple of situations. I tell people that too, I say a couple of times I just wanted to fold up camp, say to the folks “God bless you all and hope we all get through this.” But I tell people that if I was a quitter, I probably would have quit already but I’m not a quitter and I’m determined to protect our community at all costs. On his favourite place to go outdoors: My favourite outdoor spot to visit is Fort William Country Club. It’s just around the corner, a couple of minutes’ drive from my place. I’m a golfer, I love being out on the golf course. On how he rates his golf game: It’s not too bad. It could be better. I’m an average golfer I guess. I’m not an exceptional golfer nor am I a hacker. On what he misses the most about pre-pandemic life: Just being able to do things and go places and just enjoy the natural living that we used to do. My wife and I, we go out to the casino once in a while, maybe once a month or something like that and those kinds of things are gone right now. Really, just going to restaurants and having some supper. I miss that—just enjoying the city life too, once in a while.
On what it means to observe National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21: It’s an important milestone for our folks in recognizing the contribution and the commitment that our communities have made to making the country what it is today. Just recognizing that the lands and the resources that we sacrificed for this country is an important part of what this day brings for all of us. The country needs to know— the people in this country need to know—the commitment and the contribution that we’ve made. On what he’s binge watching right now: Reruns of sports. On the weekends, I watch reruns of golf, reruns of racing; the other night, [I watched] the 1987 Canada Cup when [Mario] Lemieux scored the winning goal. Pretty interesting game, again. Even though it was quite some time ago, it still showed you what the hockey game was really about back then. On his most treasured possession: My Toronto Maple Leaf room that I have in my house. It’s a 28by-16 [foot] Toronto Maple Leafs room, painted in Toronto colours, and jerseys hanging and little mementos—John Tavares, a big poster, Auston Matthews’, Phil Kessel’s, just a bunch of little knick-knacks that I have. I just collected Toronto stuff and I do have some autographed jerseys that are hanging in my house, too. On who his hero is: My mother is a personal hero of mine. I mean she did well in raising us and she’s still around. Up until the COVID, she fed us on a daily basis, so, I mean it’s hard for people to say that your mother still cooks for you in her 80s.
CityScene
Aric Fishman designs colourful, tough dog gear.
Rock On, Puppies In this New Business, Rock Climbing Equipment Becomes Cool Dog Gear By Bonnie Schiedel
A
ric Fishman looked at his coils of climbing rope, and a new business idea was born. Summit Gear is a collection of extra-durable dog leashes and tug toys made from upcycled rock climbing ropes and webbing (wide flat straps, similar to adjustable backpack straps). “It’s a way of repurposing the equipment... It’s really good stuff for dog supplies,” says Fishman, the owner of rock-climbing guiding company Outdoor Skills
and Thrills, which is on hold due to pandemic restrictions. He started out making leashes and toys for his own dog, Summit, a three-yearold husky-lab-collie mix. Then in late April, after consulting with his sister, a veterinarian, he decided to launch social media pages to take orders. Soon TBay dog owners were posting pictures of their pooches happily posing with their new gear. The gear is fully customizable, which is one of the keys to the
early success of the company. The leashes and tug toys are not sewn. Instead, Fishman uses a variety of rock-climbing knots, like figure 8 and overhand knots, as well as a combination of aircraft grade stainless steel lockwire, adhesive friction tape, and high tensile polyester waxed thread to bind the leash handles and create loops for the clasps. Through an online form on Summit Gear social media pages, customers can choose from up to 20 different colours of climbing rope, which is available in diameters ranging from 6 to 10.5 mm, or three different colours of webbing. They can also select their preference of knots, length, and clasps, as well as “comfort handles,” which means webbing wrapped around the handle of the leash for ease of use. Fishman also
takes special requests. “People have asked me to make some really cool features for leashes that I had never thought of,” he says, pointing to examples like a leash designed for walking three dogs at once, or short traffic leashes for dog training. After a customer submits the online form with their request, Fishman responds with a price quote. Most leashes price out around $25–30. He’s going to expand the toy line, and will definitely be adding more leash types, he says. “It’s really awesome to see people and their dogs having fun with Summit Gear.” Find Summit Gear on Facebook @SummitGearCanada and Instagram @summit_gear. Half of the proceeds go toward developing rock climbing in the Thunder Bay area.
Several different styles of leash are available
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CityScene Pizza Oven
Stuff We Like
Fresh Air
For Summer Solstice By Rebekah Skochinski
I
t’s really nice to have something to count on, like the arrival of summer! Even though it’s been feeling like summer, things don’t get official until June 20, which just happens to be one of our favourite days of the year. Not only is it the day on the calendar with the most daylight, it also marks the beginning of spending more time outdoors. To that end, we’ve found a few things to help make the most of it. Here’s Stuff We Like for Summer Solstice.
Wind Chimes
710 Balmoral Street Line up your dough and go! Portable and powerful, this wood-pellet fired oven can reach a sizzling 500°C, which means your pizza will be ready in just 60 seconds and taste like the real deal. Features include a ceramic fibre-insulated stainless steel body and an extra-thick stone backing board. Should you tire of pizza (impossible!), it can also be used for wood-fired meat, fish, and vegetables.
$439
Beer Glasses
Authentique
313 Bay Street In some cultures, wind chimes are placed in areas to bring good luck and/or ward off malevolent forces. We just like how they sound: soothing and melodic. These high-quality QMT Corinthian Bells wind chimes are hand-tuned and made with heavywalled aluminum tubes and a highdensity striker, which gives them an outstanding tone and resonance. Available in a variety of beautiful jewel-toned colours.
Hygge Loft
271 Bay Street There are few things as satisfying as cracking open a cold one on a hot summer day. If you love beer, and you love a little bit of nostalgia, you’ll love these upcycled beer glasses from a traditional glass blowing studio in Highland, Ontario. There are lots of different styles to choose from and the glasses are dishwasher safe and hold an entire beer. Reduce, reuse, rebeer!
$25
Starting at $89.99
Lip Balm
Gear Up for Outdoors
894 Alloy Place When you’re slathering on the sunscreen, it’s important that you remember to protect your pucker. Sun Bum lip balm offers SPF 30 protection and is enriched with soothing aloe, nourishing cocoa butter, and the antioxidant superhero, vitamin E. Choose from coconut, banana, watermelon, mango, key lime, and pomegranate.
$4.99
Solar Lanterns
Bloomers and the Brownhouse
Trucker Hat Roots to Harvest
450 Fort William Road Good things do grow here! And Roots to Harvest has the hats to prove it. Shade your face from the sun (and support a great local business while you’re at it) with a mesh back trucker hat. We dig the throwback vibe. Can be worn forward, sideways, or backwards. We try not to judge.
$22.60
330 Archibald Street Harness the power of the sun and enjoy its hard-working rays by adding a solar lantern or two to your back deck, patio, or porch. Their coiled springlike design means no glass bulbs that will break when a thunderstorm hits. Available in fun bright colours, they will flicker like fireflies when fully charged. Choose from three different styles.
Starting at $12
Tablecloth Finnport
290 Bay Street Dress up your outdoor dining with some Marimekko coated fabric, which is wonderful for making tablecloths. Designed by Maija Louekari, the vibrant Siirtolapuutarha pattern was inspired by the lush vibrant city gardens in Helsinki that overflow with flowers and vegetables. So pretty to look at, and cleanup is a breeze. Available in other colour combinations and patterns and sold by the metre.
$65/metre
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CityScene
From TBay to TSN Julia Tocheri Adds Some Local Flavour to BarDown By Michelle McChristie
Y
ou can bet that the name Julia Tocheri is one that the sports world is going to hear more often. Last month, the TBayer graduated from Ryerson University’s sport media program with a fulltime job with TSN topping her resume. It’s a classic story of a strong work ethic, making the right connections, and forging a path to a dream career that could, eventually, lead to an OHL team for Thunder Bay. Tocheri didn’t know anyone when she arrived in Toronto to start university, so she dove into work. “I started volunteering on my school’s sports broadcast doing hockey games. I was a runner for a little bit—literally carrying food for the people who are doing the important jobs at Sportsnet for the Olympics. I
worked for the Toronto Marlies. I just got my foot in everywhere.” Her big break came in second year university after doing sideline reporting at a football game in London, Ontario. TSN’s new media producer, David Krikst, happened to see her broadcast at a time when he was looking to expand the BarDown team. “Someone from their team reached out and asked if I wanted to go for an interview and I started there part time at the beginning of my third year of university,” Tocheri says. She also covered Ontario Hockey League games and has been the in-game host for the Mississauga Steelheads since last fall—all as a full-time student. “It was a lot, but I got it done,” she says, modestly. As a social content producer for
BarDown, TSN’s social media department, Tocheri writes web content, social media posts, and hosts interviews. Her interview with James van Riemsdyk stands out as a highlight. “He was chirping Jake Gardiner,” she says with a laugh. The chirping came after she asked van Riemsdyk to define the hockey term “pizza.” He thought for a moment about who he could throw under the bus and said, “Jake Gardiner...he had a stint at Domino’s, he liked to deliver some pizzas up the middle right to the other team, pass it to the other guys and they get a scoring chance.” The pandemic has definitely thrown a curve ball for Tocheri and the BarDown team. “The thing you always hear is that sports is ‘recession proof’...it went through the Great Depression, it went through the World Wars, but nothing is virus proof. It’s like the first time ever the sports world has been totally silenced and it’s an eerie thing,” she says. Fortunately, BarDown doesn’t entirely depend on live sports events, because fans are also interested in the pop culture aspect
of sport. “People have really taken to our personalities, talking about sports, so we have been able to produce some pretty successful content even without sports.” While she admits there are things she misses about living in Toronto, Tocheri says it has been nice to be able to work from home over the past few months. “I’m pretty Thunder Bay proud—it looks like a shtick in the BarDown videos, but it’s really not a schtick at all. I love our local scene and how closely knit it is—our local clothing brands, our local stores, our country market, and just the ruggedness of northern Ontario has such a special place in my heart.” As for the OHL team? Tocheri says her ultimate goal is to bring an OHL or an AHL team to Thunder Bay. “I just think it’s so obscene that we don’t have one...I picture it so well, tying in with all of the Sleeping Giant branding...I would like to see the world and do as much in sports as I possibly can but, genuinely, I really do want to bring it home.”
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CityScene
This is Thunder Bay Interviews by Nancy Saunders, Photos by Kay Lee This month we asked The Walleye readers where you feel most at home in nature.
Shelby: I feel most at home when there are a lot of trees around. I like the smell of trees; the look of trees. I’m a big tree sniffer.
Wendy: I feel most at home in nature when I’m sitting on rocks that have been warmed by the sun.
Aaron: I’m from downtown Toronto and I came here to be with my sister and my young nephews after my work in television was put on hold. I’d say I feel most at home at my sister’s place, just outside the city.
Jessica: Cedar groves. Especially the one at Centennial Park. It’s powerful and special. We love Centennial Park; we love Cascades; we love McVicar Creek.
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CityScene
WALL SPACE
Rutter Urban Forestry The Tools of the Trade Story by Matt Prokopchuk. Photos by Kay Lee
1. Climbing equipment
Angus McCrady
V
ince Rutter’s work takes him all over the city—and sometimes well outside it, too. A certified arborist who has been in the business for 20 years, Rutter says the workspace that he and his crews occupy changes several times daily. “In a normal situation it’s fantastic because every job site’s different and you don’t get bored of going to the same place over and over
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again,” Rutter says. “It makes for, sometimes, a surprise for the staff because they come in to work and they don’t always know what they’re going to get into that day.” Because the work involves everything from pruning or removing huge trees to maintaining shrubs, crews use a wide variety of tools to get the job done (and keep themselves safe while doing it).
Sometimes the job requires a different perspective, and getting up into a boom lift isn’t possible or practical. In those cases, workers don their harnesses, grab a rope, and start climbing. A set of clips, hitches, and lanyards helps control the climber’s position, ferries other equipment up with them, and ensures safety.
2. Hand saws “Every climber has a hand saw,” Rutter says, adding that they come in a number of sizes and configurations. They’re typically used for cutting branches 1–13 centimetres thick. “A lot of times, a climber will only use a hand saw, not fire up a chainsaw.”
CityScene
3. Chainsaws Sometimes, however, the job just needs more power. Chainsaws generally come in two types, Rutter says: a regular, large saw and an “arborist’s saw,” which is smaller and easier to use and manipulate when climbing and working up high.
4. Personal protective equipment In a line of work that can include working at great heights with power equipment, safety is a must. Hard hats are worn all the time, Rutter says, plus “you look cool in them.” Workers also routinely use ear and eye protection, along with gloves, steel-toed boots, and, when firing up the chainsaw, protective pants.
5. Wood chipper
6. The truck
“It’s absolutely incredible how many people make reference to the movie Fargo when they see a wood chipper,” Rutter says. “To this day, it happens all the time.” On the job site, however, it’s used to grind up every piece of wood that’s cut or pruned. All of the chipped wood is then dried and reused, mostly for mulch, Rutter says.
The trucks are configured for the job, Rutter says, with storage for tools and a dumping mechanism on the box so the wood chips can be easily offloaded. Some of the trucks also have the boom on them. “If we can reach it with the bucket, it makes the job go way faster.”
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CityScene
Northwestern Ontario: the Grass is Greener! By Maia Kvas, Experience North Summer Placement Research Analyst, Northern Policy Institute
S
pending time in nature has been found to be associated with increased health and well-being. Immersing yourself in nature that is protected by environmental experts helps ensure that people can access nature while mitigating damage. Ontario Parks’ mission is to provide safe and accessible areas for people to enjoy nature while protecting natural landscapes and species. NPI tallied the number of operating provincial parks per northern Ontario’s census district (CD) and southern Ontario’s subregions (Figure 1). In comparison to non-operating provincial parks, operating provincial parks have visitor centres, parking, and other basic facilities. In the Northwest, the Thunder Bay District has 12 operating provincial parks, the Kenora District has eight and the Rainy River District has two. This means there are 22 operating provincial parks in the Northwest—a number equivalent to or greater than any southern Ontario region. Population density is lower in Northwestern Ontario compared to all southern Ontario subregions. This suggests that Northwestern Ontarians are closer to a variety of operating provincial parks that are likely less populated
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than those found in southern Ontario. This increased access to camping in wilderness largely untouched by many humans may provide more opportunities to observe uncommon species. Conserved areas are terrestrial and marine (land and freshwater) areas in which access and use are controlled to conserve biodiversity. This is vital to our future as human beings because healthy ecosystems provide clean water and pollination, and mitigate climate change. The Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database records each Canadian conservation area and provides the hectares of land and marine areas they cover and the year that the conservation title came into effect. To compare the amount of conserved land in northern Ontario, NPI summed the terrestrial conservation areas for each census district (CD) in northern Ontario (Figure 2). Not surprisingly, the Kenora District—which has the largest area—has the highest amount, with 5,228,777 hectares of conserved areas. Interestingly, the Thunder Bay District has approximately 5.24 times more conserved areas than the Cochrane District, even though the Cochrane District is larger in land area. This can be
partly explained by the conservation area dedicated to Lake Superior. If you compare the sum of the conserved areas in Northwestern Ontario with the conserved areas in southern Ontario, Northwestern Ontario regions have approximately 34 times more conserved
areas (Figure 3). This means that Northwestern Ontario has a very important role in environmental sustainability. These regions help ensure that people can continue to enjoy nature and receive the health benefits of the natural environment now and for generations to come.
CityScene
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CityScene
In the Face of a Pandemic Thunder Bay Salvation Army Navigates New Normal By Lindsay Campbell
I
f you were able to wander into Thunder Bay’s Salvation Army, you’d likely notice a number of changes. First, a hand washing station has been installed for residents, employees, and new intakes to use after walking through the building doors. Floors that were once bare now have a methodical pattern of decals designed to remind residents of physical distancing measures and where to stand when they line up for meals. Masks are now a mandatory accessory for staff and long-term residents moving throughout the building. Shelter beds have been spaced out and staggered head to foot in order to increase distance between residents. And in the case that someone becomes symptomatic, they are promptly moved to an isolation shelter in a separate area to control any potential spread of the virus. These are just a few of the measures central to Major Lori Mitchell’s pandemic response plan. Mitchell, executive director of the Salvation Army Thunder Bay, explains that the organization has been operating under heightened protocols since mid March. “We’re not in panic mode anymore,” she says. “It’s a new normal and we’re taking it one day at a time.” No visitors are permitted into the building for the time being and due to the pandemic, the organization has had to cut a few initiatives such
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as its Language Café for new refugees and its school breakfast program. While facilitating these changes, Mitchell says that she’s noticed an increase in individuals who have fallen on hard times. “Many people are finding themselves, for the first time, needing our services because of being laid off as a result of the pandemic,” she says. “We’re really trying to ensure we treat everyone with dignity so that they don’t ever feel ashamed or embarrassed.” As the Salvation Army’s food bank has continued to operate by appointment only, the soup vans have remained serving people each night. At the time of writing this, Mitchel adds that despite the current situation being manageable, the number of people seeking out the soup vans have nearly doubled since the onset of the pandemic. The emergency shelter has also been operating as usual, meeting the needs of long-term residents, as it did prior to COVID-19. And Mitchell, who admits that given current circumstances she was concerned that construction could have come to a halt, says at this point it hasn’t impacted the organization’s move into its new building. The facility, otherwise known as the Journey to Life Centre, is scheduled to open sometime in fall 2020. It will be a much-needed change, according to Mitchell, who says the resources the current space offers
have largely provided residents with a band-aid solution. Capacity will still stay at 66 clients, but quality of service will improve, she says. The Journey to Life Centre will house a new transitional development program geared towards providing clients with the skills to become self-sufficient and move towards independence. Residents will have more spacious sleeping quarters and in some cases access to single rooms. They will have a medical room for care, a family room for visits, a wellness centre for exercise, a wild game kitchen for traditional meals, and a space specifically for skills training. Private shower rooms instead of a shared space will be another positive addition. “We’re wanting to show the people that we deal with that they have value and that they’re worth having that privacy and dignity and a really good space
to live in,” Mitchell says. Currently, the Salvation Army has obtained about 70% of its total fundraising goal. It still needs about $700,000 and had originally planned to launch a final fundraising campaign in the spring, but because of the pandemic, Mitchell says her team decided it wouldn’t be the best time to ask people to empty their pockets. Staff are listening to the advice of local health authorities before any decisions are made on moving forward with formal fundraising events. However, those interested in making some sort of contribution can call the Thunder Bay Salvation Army office at 345-6492. “Every donation is significant,” Mitchell says. “We are very excited to be able to provide so much more to our clients and help them move forward to a better life.”
A resident at Thunder Bay's Salvation Army washes his hands at a portable hand-washing sink
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CityScene
GO LOCAL THUNDER BAY COUNTRY MARKET
Peace & Quiet Candle Co.
Sarah Edwards, owner and candlemaker
By Pat Forrest
W
ith many of us spending much more time at home these days, we are putting even more effort into making our spaces comforting and cosy. Having a scented candle can add ambiance to any room and it's one of those lovely little affordable luxuries that can have a big impact. Peace & Quiet Candle Company’s name speaks to its ability to provide a sense of serenity, even in these challenging times. Owner Sarah Edwards believes in creating a high-quality product that enhances the calm feeling within people’s spaces, while making eco-conscious choices. The soy wax is a biodegradable and renewable
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resource, plant-based and compostable bags are used for wax melts, recyclable bags are used for shoppers, and they have a jar return program. Prior to becoming a Thunder Bay Country Market vendor, Edwards worked in retail, then as an assistant at an optometrist’s office. She had been interested in starting her own business for a few years and was largely influenced by other female entrepreneurs and the local artisan community. After bouncing some business ideas around for a few years, she started to see jar candle companies pop up on her Instagram feed from across Canada and the United States and was inspired to
start a candle business of her own. After making her first few batches, she was hooked and knew that this was something she wanted to pursue. Edwards compares candle making to baking as the timing of each step and correct measurements of the wax and fragrance are crucial. The soy wax is melted down from a solid form and cooled, then the fragrance or essential oil is added, and the wax cools again. Once that process is complete, the wax can be poured. The wax then cures and wicks are trimmed and lids and labels are put on. The company features a signature collection of candles that is
available year-round as well as limited-edition seasonal collections. Edwards has also created custom candles for stockists. There are usually around 15 or so fragrances available at any given time. “I am always inspired by our changing seasons, food and drinks, and also suggestions that people have given over the past couple of years. I love having conversations with people about what they want to see next,” she says. Peace & Quiet candles are available upstairs at the market and can be found at several local vendors. facebook.com/ peaceandquietcandleco/
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CityScene
CANNABIS CORNER
Same Difference A Primer on Hashish By Justin Allec
L
ast October, the provincial government started to introduce new products to the Ontario Cannabis Store under the heading of “Cannabis 2.0.” A lot of new stuff has been offered, but all along I’ve been wondering if hashish would show up. I’ve seen it occasionally listed on grey market
vendors, but because of how hashish is produced, it’s much rarer. Well, OCS finally started stocking it, and I’m still surprised. Hashish is a bit of an outlier. Certainly, it’s derived from the plant, but it doesn’t really “fit” into any of the established categories—OCS has it classified under
“extracts,” but I guess they just had to put it somewhere. Hashish (or just hash) is the collected powdery kief (dried resin) from the flowering tops of mature and unpollinated female cannabis plants. There’s a variety of methods to gather kief, but it can be as simple as running your hands over the plant’s resin glands—also known as the trichomes or crystals—and balling up the sticky residue. What you’re then holding is an extremely potent cannabis product that’s just as versatile as dried flower. It can be smoked in all the ways that cannabis can, and is also soluble for cooking. Hashish will also contain the same terpenes and cannabinoids as the plant it came from. If you’re an occasional user or a beginner, you probably want to avoid hashish until you become comfortable with the psychotropic effects of higher-THC cannabis. Unlike cannabis, hashish barely contains plant material, so it has a much higher level of THC. While the potency of a high-THC strain such as Redecan’s Wappa can top out at
around 20% THC, hashish can easily double that percentage. OCS features Original Stash’s Hash10 ($23.98/g) derived from a hybrid strain, and it clocks in at a whopping 30–39% THC and 1% CBD. It’s sold in a two-gram package. A rich, dark brown in colour and fairly malleable, Original Stash uses a dry ice collection method that, they claim, ensures a better flavour. Plants are submerged in a dry ice bath until frozen and the trichomes break off, then fine-mesh bags are used to sift this residue out so it can be compacted. As per my own advice, a little hashish—and I mean miniscule— was all it took to achieve effects comparable to a regular-sized joint. More interesting was the experience, which felt like a higher-THC strain but avoided some of the pitfalls; in particular, there was little burnout to be felt. While I don’t think hashish will become a regular purchase for me, I was impressed with this first offering from OCS and will definitely try other varieties of hashish when they’re listed.
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ELIMINATE BOREDOM Come on in, the water’s….COLD.
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CityScene
CNIB Foundation volunteers hard at work in 2019
Garden Plot Offers ‘Beautiful Little Space’
CNIB Garden in Downtown North Core Tailored for Those With Visual Disabilities By Matt Prokopchuk
N
estled in between several parking lots and a number of small businesses and service buildings in Thunder Bay’s downtown north core is a little green space that offers a unique retreat for people with visual disabilities. Millie’s Fragrant Garden sits at the back of the CNIB Foundation’s property on Camelot Street. The foundation, formerly known as the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, offers a variety of services to people with a wide range of visual disabilities. The garden was created in 2003 in memory of Millie Frederickson, a former staff member at the CNIB’s chapter in Thunder Bay. Kiri Butter, the Thunder Bay organization’s program lead for accessible technology, says the plants chosen for the
garden are selected specifically for people who have a broad range of vision loss. “We just look at it differently,” Butter says of how the garden is planned and used. “Most people just visually look at their garden and enjoy it. We think about texture and contrast and smell–those are three things that anybody with different levels of vision [loss] can interact with in the garden.” That means that fragrant plants like lilacs, peonies, lily of the valley, and various herbs are front and centre, Butter says, adding that other perennials that aren’t necessarily fragrant, but have a strong contrast in colour—like lilies—also feature prominently. “Really, it’s a beautiful little space we have at the back.” The garden may also soon be getting some technological
upgrades. “There are little digital tags that we can put on things, so that [clients] can use their smartphones to find the tag and it will bring up ‘this is this plant, and this is how you would care for it,’” Butter says. “Some of our clients who are gardeners use apps a lot.” Those clients also have the chance to get their hands dirty in the Camelot Street garden, as they participate in the preparation, planting and end-of-season closing, Butter says, but adds that this year, with emergency measures in place
due to the COVID-19 pandemic, that work will look different. “We might not be able to do programming around it,” she says, referring to the usual group efforts in the garden, but adds that she will try to schedule some volunteers— particularly families who live in the same household—to come in at a given time and do what they can. Butter says she will also be putting time in, herself. “It just won’t be a group activity, which is what we really enjoy.”
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Music
BURNING TO THE SKY
Five Sun Songs By Gord Ellis
“Here Comes the Sun” The Beatles
Of all the Beatles, George Harrison’s songs have stood the test of time the best. He just had a way of turning a phrase and a hook that would not leave your head. “Here Comes the Sun,” from the iconic Abbey Road album, is just about perfect pop. The song’s bright, finger-picked opening lick can only be described as “sunny.” Harrison is said to have written the song at Eric Clapton’s country home in England while hiding out from a meeting he didn’t want to go to and enjoying the arrival of spring. The song’s lyrics welcome the sun and say goodbye to a “long and lonely winter.” The song has been covered widely and, perhaps most famously, was recast by Richie Havens as a thrashy folk song. How popular is the song? As of September 2019, it was the most streamed song by the Beatles in the U.K., with 50 million plays.
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“Ain’t No Sunshine” Bill Withers
When Bill Withers starts scratching out the rhythm guitar part of “Ain’t No Sunshine,” you can feel the clouds roll in. This is heartbreak blues at its very best and there is a reason this song has been covered by so many people. When you love someone intensely, it feels like summer all the time. When that person leaves—whether on a trip, or off to work—the sun is dimmer. When that person leaves for good, the sunshine goes as well. There ain’t no sunshine when they are gone. A universal truth.
T
he sun always seems to bring a certain positivity to life. It can help your mood, warm a cold chill, and make things grow. Without the sun, nothing lives. We would not be here. Life would not exist on earth. So it is easy to see why the sun plays such a large role in the arts, and especially in music. Here are five songs that include the sun.
“Waitin’ on a Sunny Day” Bruce Springsteen
In the aftermath of 9/11, Bruce Springsteen began writing some of the songs that would make up The Rising. While the album covered a wide variety of styles and themes, “Waitin’ on a Sunny Day” stood out. It was certainly one of the most upbeat songs Springsteen had ever written, and seemed to be expressly included on the album to give people hope. The song was made even more upbeat by a couple of key changes, and a sax break at the end by the Big Man, Clarence Clemons. “Waitin’ on a Sunny Day” is now a sing-along staple when Springsteen plays with the E Street Band.
“Walking on Sunshine” Katrina and the Waves
Many of us may have mixed feelings about this earworm, but “Walking on Sunshine” can only be described as “irrepressible.” The guitar riff is fast, the production bright, and you can hear the smile on Katrina Leskanich’s face as she sings “I’m walking on sunshine ....and don’t it feel good!” Hard to imagine a song being more upbeat.
“Sunshine on My Shoulders”
by John Denver
While John Denver may be more famous for his soft country classics like “Rocky Mountain High” and “Annie’s Song,” “Sunshine on My Shoulders” is the song that many people turn to when they want to feel good. While the music is melancholy, the lyrics describe the healing and transformative power of the sun. Denver wrote the song in Minnesota as the last bit of winter was hanging on, and the lyrics sum up the feelings of many of us as spring approaches. For a different take on the song, check out Carly Rae Jepsen’s cover from 2008.
Music
Low Life Lolas Indie-Rock Band Ready New EP By Kris Ketonen
A
family health crisis. A global pandemic. Even bedbugs. To say the recording of Anchors, the new six-song EP from Low Life Lolas, was challenging is putting things mildly. And it all started out so well, says Renée Parr, the Thunder Bay-born musician who fronts the Toronto band. “We got all of our pre-production done, and everything was fine,” Parr says. “Everything was going smoothly.” That changed quickly, however, once the band got into the studio for their scheduled four days of recording. On day one, the father of Parr’s partner suffered a severe stroke. “I ended up leaving early to go see her and her family,” Parr says. “The next day, I was very upset … but I pulled myself together. I had to get through it, right?” On day three, the bass player abruptly quit ( Jessie Taynton has since taken up bass duties for the band, joining Parr, drummer
Melissa Chiasson, and guitarist Alex MacLeod). And then, on day four, a bedbug found its way onto Parr’s arm. “I was actually recording in a very notoriously bad bedbug spot in Parkdale,” Parr says. “It’s known for bedbugs.” The other band members were initially skeptical that what Parr found was a bedbug. But then, Parr found another, this one on the back of MacLeod. “I’m like ‘don’t move,” Parr says, laughing. She picked the bug up, put it on the floor, and the band examined it with the help of cell phone lights. “All of us at the same time were like, ‘oh no.’” The session ended early, and the Low Life Lolas booked one more to put the finishing touches on Anchors and its haunting, melodic pop-rock tunes. “And then [COVID-19] happened pretty much after that,” Parr says, adding that the pandemic complicated the mixing and mastering
process, and forced the postponement of all upcoming live shows. But now, with the Anchors July 24 release date quickly approaching, Parr is very excited to get the EP out there. “I’m very proud of it,” Parr says. “None of those things really
got in the way of my appreciation and love for this EP.” Anchors will be available on all streaming platforms when it’s released. For more, search Low Life Lolas on Facebook.
(L-R) Alex MacLeod, Renee Parr, and Melissa Chiasson
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Music
With Friends like These The Cartwrights on the Rise
Story by Justin Allec, Photos by Mike Pianka
(L-R) Mike Fraser, Harris Leach, and Stu Rankin
O
ne of the lessons a band learns is that sometimes you can make things happen, and sometimes things happen to you. Local trio the Cartwrights are learning that lesson again. The band took a long road to get their debut, self-titled album ready to be released, complete with a big party tied to Sleeping Giant Brewing Co.’s eighth anniversary. “The plan was for a full afternoon of beer and live music,” guitarist and singer Mike Fraser says. “Unfortunately, the COVID-19 epidemic has affected those plans, and live shows aren’t happening.” His frustration is comparable to anyone’s who’s had their lives upended by the pandemic, but the silver lining is that the Cartwrights have a hell of an album for you regardless. The nine cuts on their self-titled debut are all hard-rocking numbers pushing through the dirty crust of alt-country. These songs are personable, so even if it’s your first listen you can be hoisting your drink and shouting along by the time the final chorus hits. The long road to this album started almost two decades
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ago, when Fraser teamed up with bassist Harris Leach for an LU radio show. Eventually the two started working on songs and roped in drummer Mike Luce to form a band, dubbed the Shitty Dates. The Dates played a mix of covers and originals that held germs of what would later become the Cartwrights’ sound. When Luce wanted a break, Stu Rankin took over and the band got serious. As Rankin tells it, “fueled by old-country smoked meats and local beer we started putting a set together. Mike came with the songs, mostly fingerpicking, hollow-body electric guitar numbers… We louded-up the folk-inspired songs.” The band was locked in, and had a serendipitous meeting when they opened for The Thirties, a punk band from Marquette, Michigan, at Black Pirates Pub. The two bands stayed close, and eventually The Thirties invited the Cartwrights down to Marquette for a chance to record with their friend, Ryan Staples. Since Staples had worked with some huge names, “we felt that maybe [he] was out of our league, but as soon as we met him
we stopped worrying. He was… into our music,” recounts Fraser. After surfing some couches, opening a basement show, and a lot of beer later, the Cartwrights had the beginnings of an album. Additional work with Staples helped the band refine the album over the next few months, and now
The Cartwrights is ready for your ears. Look for it this month on Lost Dog Records or your favourite streaming platform, and know that as soon as stages open up again, you’ll have your chance to see the Cartwrights live. For more information, visit cartwrights.bandcamp.com.
Music
Tyler Gratz
George Gratz
Luck of the Corpse The Resurgence of Forever Dead!
Story by Justin Allec, Photos by Keegan Richard
G
as up the chainsaw and crack a cold one, because hellbound punk rockers Forever Dead! are gearing up for a return. Though the band’s been an adored staple of Thunder Bay’s stages for over 15 years, changes in the members’ personal lives have kept them a bit quiet lately. Their last fulllength, EpicDemic, came out five years ago, and while the band’s an always reliable opener for touring acts and a fun contributor to events like The Hunger, fans of Forever Dead! are always wondering what’s happening next. Bassist George Gratz admits that there’s been the usual constraints on local band life thanks to growing older, but now’s the time for a new album. “There are songs that we wrote even before the EpicDemic album that we haven’t recorded yet
and have never played live, so getting those out would be rad,” he says. To help build momentum, Forever Dead! recently released an EP of this new-ish material, the Forever Dead!ly Demos, now available on all digital platforms. This collection of demos is only seven songs, but it’s a welcome reminder of how forceful Forever Dead! are as a punk band and how far they can stride within the genre. “We’ve gone from an odd-ball fringe band to a psychobilly band to a hardcore punk rock band,” Gratz says, and the band recently increased their potency by adding second guitarist, Tyler Viherkoski, for the second time. Fifteen years is a long time for any relationship, never mind a local punk band. Gratz recounts: “We were just kids when we started this band…[but] one of the perks of being together for
as long as we have is that we know each other’s style, and we're willing to change and grow and evolve with each other.” Rounding out the band’s already frantic sound with a second axe means that Forever Dead! are eagerly looking ahead, even as they look to their past for inspiration. What’s next is what most bands are waiting for—the pandemic to reach some stability, and a chance to take all that material that’s been developed in quarantine and put it on stage and to tape. “I think it is safe to say the next Forever Dead! album is going to top anything we have ever
done,” Gratz says. Beyond that, the band’s still excited about the opportunities of the local scene and interested in doing more video projects. A recent lyric video for “Rhythm and Booze” pulled from the demos shows that Forever Dead!’s punk rawk fury hasn’t dimmed a bit. Snotty, snarky, and irreverent, Forever Dead! are once again ready to be unleashed on the masses. https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=0l642gLsXU0 https://open.spotify.com/album/5bS5EonH65kF0N1HAXw0Ke?si=IRU-pBcOSom2o3ATo6-2eg
Chelsea Heart
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Music
A Concert in Your Living Room Morgan Harris
Local Musicians Find Ways to Reach their Audience Story by Ayano Hodouchi Dempsey
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(L-R) Nic MacDonald, Jay Savage, Ryan MacDonald, and Kevin Heerema
Shannon Lepere
W
hile many musicians have a social media presence to stay connected to their fans, live-streaming musical performances hasn’t been something most artists did on a frequent basis. However, with COVID-19 restrictions in place, many artists are navigating alternative ways to deliver their music. To help them, MusicTogether.ca launched in early April, partnering with the provincial government and private companies and donors to provide performing artists with a one-time performance fee and a framework for live-streaming musical performances and earning an income. For those who don’t have a website for selling their merch or a donation link, MusicTogether facilitates setting those up, and it helps that Shopify, Canada’s largest e-commerce company, is one of the sponsors. The musicians also get ad credits, so that they can buy ads on Facebook or Instagram to promote their online concert. Jean-Paul De Roover was one of the first Thunder Bay musicians to participate, streaming a concert on April 30. He had performed in a virtual music festival back in 2009, but as he says, “the world has changed since then,” so he calls this concert his “inaugural streaming concert experience.” “I was hesitant, I will be honest,” he admits. “But I did really enjoy
Jean-Paul De Roover it, partially because I just missed performing.” He also realized that an online concert allowed him to reach audiences he hadn’t seen in a long time. “I had people who hadn’t seen me in a few years because I haven’t toured in Germany again. And they were messaging and sending me donations, saying thanks so much for the concert. So I will be doing some more concerts in the future.” On June 4, he will be
doing an entire live-looping show over Facebook Live. The Honest Heart Collective has also been live-streaming their performances over Instagram. “We’re a live band, so it was weird playing to the phone camera,” says lead singer and guitarist Ryan MacDonald. “But it’s cool when you can see all the data and insights afterwards.” The band is planning to do more live-streamed concerts, which they
will announce on Instagram. In the meanwhile, the best thing to do, he says, is to “just listen to our music on streaming platforms as much as possible, because then the audience gets something out of it, and it helps with our streaming royalties.” For more information, visit http://honestheart.co/ and http:// jeanpaulderoover.com.
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Music
(L-R) Austin Baxter, Greg Vahaaho, Jon Reid, Brady Geurts, and Tanner Bell
Along the Lines
Thunder Bay Band Talks New Single By Neil Burke
A
s summer approaches and we find ourselves still self-isolating, music seems to be the one constant. Luckily, new Thunder Bay band Along the Lines has released a new single, “Sanguine,” to help get us through. “The band began to form back in late 2018,” says guitarist Tanner Bell. He adds that most members of the band had previous experience in metal bands around the city. “We decided to create something different than any of us had done
previously.” Besides Bell, the band consists of Jon Reid on vocals, Brady Geurts on guitar, Greg Vahaaho on bass, and drummer Austin Baxter. Bell says the band came together after Baxter, Vahaaho, and Geurts parted ways with a previous band, and they all began jamming with founding member Bell. After auditioning several different vocalists—none of whom were quite the sound they were going for—the musicians were told about Reid. At the first trial with
him, everything seemed to fit. As for the genres and bands that inspired Along the Lines, Bell says they are mostly influenced by metal, metalcore, and punk, and bands such as Horizon, Attack Attack!, and Green Day. He adds that these bands “have a huge impact on the way we write, play, and sound as a band.” Their new single, “Sanguine,” has the feel of a metalcore song, and was recorded in Thunder Bay with the band’s good friend Mark Governali at Decibel Audioworks. In terms of the songwriting process, Bell says it was “pretty much slinging ideas back and forth until [we were] satisfied.” As for the accompanying music video, “it was pretty tricky finding the right actors, as our album and the single are actually telling a story,” says Bell.
He goes on to add that despite some bumps in the road, “we finally got lucky and everything came together to get it done.” With the single under their belt, the band had booked their debut show, but “unfortunately COVID-19 derailed our plans, even affecting the plans for the rest of the album,” Bell says. Their next step is to take to the studio and finish recording whenever they are able. “We have so much to show you guys in the upcoming months and we want everyone to see the story of our albums dramatic conclusion,” he says. “Sanguine” is available to stream on both Spotify and Apple Music. You can also visit the band on their Facebook page.
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OfftheWall
Escapist
REVIEWS
Hermitage
Escapist
Ron Sexsmith
Though we’re a bit late giving this release a proper review, it welcomed us with open arms. “C’mon in,” Escapist says. “Here’s a pair of fuzzy slippers and the couch—we’ll be rocking out right over there.” It’s five songs of instrumental bliss intent on keeping a big ol’ smile on your face through slightly algebraic but oh-so-catchy punk riffs, delayed note patterning, off-kilter time signatures, and surgical strikes of distortion. Yes, Escapist play “math rock” but are, refreshingly, more interested in other things than cold technicality and unlistenable weirdness. This means that each band member is contributing their skills to the songs, but there is also enough space to build tension and wonderment. As this is an EP and the first effort from the band, it’s a great collection of songs that probably rip live (someday soon, hopefully) but you can also tell it’s a precursor to whatever Escapist has planned next. Whatever that is, we’ll just have to be patient, but this little EP is more than worth your while in the meantime.
To say that Ron Sexsmith is an icon in the world of Canadian songwriters would be among the understatements of the decade. Starting out when he was 17 in the 1980s, playing every cover song that was thrown at him, he eventually put out his own work and hasn’t stopped since. Last April, his 17th album Hermitage was released— maybe with the accidental intention of getting us through these difficult times. Somewhat known for his melancholy tone, it was a surprise to take this work in and really feel the positive lightness of the whole record. Hermitage is a perfect example of Sexsmith’s ability to produce highend “normal music,” or what I call “mastery of the orthodox”—simple, pure musical talent and universal themes that temporarily take the listener to a different place. “Think of You Fondly” is the track that totally steals the show for me and is one of the most beautiful songs I can think of recently. Some other tracks that really caught my ear are the lead-out “Spring of the Following Year” and “Glow in the Dark Stars,” but you can really take your pick of any of them and enjoy.
- Justin Allec
Mordechai
Khruangbin
Khruangbin’s new album is a musical kaleidoscope highlighting the Houston trio’s unique blend of surf-rock, funk, and dub. Starting off with the slow-burning “First Class,” listeners are soon flung into the band’s record crate of global influences, which range from Serge Gainsbourg to Roy Ayers. Different from Khruangbin’s other albums, Mordechai contains more vocals from bassist Laura Lee Ochoa. Yes, the jam band tracks are still there but the trio appear to have more confidence and depth to their musical approach. This is most apparent in the discofunk lead single “Time (You And I).” Where their previous efforts seem to be juggling their various musical influences, Mordechai presents them in a harmonious flow. Especially at a time when we’re restricted from travelling internationally, giving Mordechai a spin will let you spread your wings on a global musical odyssey. - Adrian Lysenko
Dark Lane Demo Tapes Drake
Toronto’s very own Drake is back with a brand-new album for y’all to groove to… well, kind of. The rapper’s newest record Dark Lane Demo Tapes is, as the name suggests, a collection of demos from Drake’s more recent catalogue. Given that the album is comprised of demos, it is easy to see why many of the songs have an unpolished quality about them—but don’t let that discourage you from listening to the clever lyrics and spacious tones found within. From cover to cover this album delivers snappy drum beats, eerie synth notes, and a chill vibe that Drake fans have come to love. Along with great backing tracks, the album also features a few great guest stars including Future and Playboi Carti. While many listeners will recommend making a TikTok video to the albums most popular song “Toosie Slide” it should be known that Dark Lane Demo Tapes can be enjoyed without any effort at all. - Chad Kirvan
- Jamie Varga
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Ghosts of West Virginia Steve Earle & The Dukes
City Slang
Emmanuel Sayer and Travis Boisvenue
America’s country music outlaw Steve Earle has just released his 20th studio album. Ghosts of West Virginia is an ode to 29 coal miners killed in an explosion in 2010. The album is vintage Steve Earle. It’s a mix of country rockers, some bluegrass, rockabilly and a couple of great folky ballads. Earle is, above all, a superb storyteller and songwriter and he shines on this album. There are songs of loss, love, union politics, and the hardships of coal miners. The production is solid. Earle’s raspy vocals are on top and are as good as ever, and his backup band the Dukes are tight and polished. The mix is clean and uncluttered. My favourite songs include the gospel sounds of “Heaven Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere” and the touching folk ballad “Time is Never on Our Side.” The only issue I have with the album is its length—at just 30 minutes, I was hoping for more.
From artists who are making classical music more accessible to secret underground punk rock concerts in Montreal, City Slang has the scoop. Sayer and Boisvenue explore the independent Canadian music scene as well as hot, new, up-andcoming artists. Each unique and memorable episode is jam-packed with fun interviews detailing the musicians’ inspirations, fears, and challenges they experienced while creating their masterpieces, taking place in peculiar locations such as an abandoned subway station or the back of a delivery truck. Melodic intermissions between discussions really pull you in and help set the stage for the featured performers. Always an uplifting and inspirational listen, City Slang does a superb job at highlighting current Canadian talent as well as paying touching tributes to our legends.
- Gerald Graham
- Andrea Lysenko
All I Have Learned Is Where I Have Been Joe Fiorito
All I Have Learned Is Where I Have Been, a poetry collection, contains quick snapshots of vivid moments. Joe Fiorito expands his focus to include the more mundane aspects of life, not just the fringe parts of society that were almost exclusively his subject matter in his previous work. The pictures he crafts with words are encapsulated by a clear structure— clear both when the author employs the more obvious drivers of this, such as tight rhyming and alliteration, as well as the less apparent ones, like similar sounds that don’t rhyme. This sometimes causes a choppy rhythm and flow; other times the author uses it skilfully, making verses unfold more naturally, even occasionally in a way that resonates. Though the author broaches important subjects throughout, he never discusses them at length or with sufficient depth to glean effective insight. That said, the strength of the collection is in its focused description and imagery that make its compact pictures come alive. - Alexander Kosoris
The Finnish Way: Finding Courage, Wellness, and Happiness Through the Power of Sisu Katja Pantzar
One of the magical things about Thunder Bay is the prevalence of Finnish people, and one of the magical things about Finnish people is sisu. Sisu is about embracing adversity and becoming comfortable with discomfort. Shortly after moving to Helsinki from Canada, Katja Pantzar observed three young men walking down to the sea in Helsinki for a swim in the middle of winter. At first she thought they were crazy, but months later ended up joining them. If you want to too, Pantzar includes winter swimming tips. She also includes practical cycling tips like wardrobe suggestions for biking to work, wet and cold weather wear, and the importance of lights. An extensive biography, including websites, and a thorough index round out this book. Sisu is also about simplifying, and finding happiness every day, which for many has been a silver lining of social isolation. This book is available in cloudLibrary in both eBook and eAudiobook. - Joanna Aegard
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Architecture
Mission Island Marsh Conservation Area Story and photos by Laurie Abthorpe
M
ission Island Marsh is a destination within the Thunder Bay area where one can reconnect with the natural environment and appreciate Mother Nature as the great architect. This 41.2- acre conservation area located on Mission Island contains numerous ecosystems rehabilitated through the environmental stewardship of the Lakehead Region Conservation Authority (LRCA). The current Mission Island Marsh area, at the northeastern tip of the island where the McKellar River meets Lake Superior, once held the moniker “Coney Island.” A natural beach along the eastern shoreline of Island No. 2 (now Mission Island) was well-frequented by the local population of Fort William. Early in the 1920s, sun-seeking bathers numbered upwards of 2,000 per day on warm summer weekends. Food and drink
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concessions sustained the day’s adventures, while the dance pavilion ensured entertainment ran well into the night. This popular destination was made even more accessible once a streetcar spur was added, bringing its riders to within a kilometre of the sandy shore. The area’s popularity for recreation eventually began to decrease after the opening of Chippewa Park in 1921. Spanning the decades between 1940 and 1965, the property, owned by the City of Fort William, was used as a landfill. After officially closing the landfill site in 1972, the LRCA began researching the feasibility of restoring the property’s natural environment through the establishment of a conservation area blending passive recreation and the appreciation of nature. The concept, embraced by the City of Thunder Bay, became a reality in 1989 when the LRCA officially
opened the Mission Island Marsh Conservation Area. Over two kilometres of trails throughout the conservation area venture through four distinct ecosystems—meadow, forest, lagoon, and coastal wetland. Along with experiencing these natural environments, including wildlife and bird spotting, the area also provides wonderful vistas of Lake Superior, the Sleeping Giant, Pie Island, the Welcome Islands, and Mutton Island, as well as glimpses of the Mount McKay (Anemki Wajiw) and the Nor’wester Mountain Range. Rising water levels have led to significant erosion along the shoreline at Mission Marsh—only hints remain of where the Coney Islandera natural beach would have been. Even the popular boardwalk, constructed in 1989 as a land feature, is now largely surrounded by water. This ongoing erosion, along with extensive damage caused by a storm in October 2019, have led to the boardwalk’s closure. Much of the development at Mission Island Marsh has been accomplished through a long-standing partnership with Ontario Power Generation (OPG). Their support has been instrumental in the LRCA’s ability to realize large projects such as the interpretive pavilion, interpretive panels along the trail system, and more recently, in conjunction with Government of Canada funding, the 580-meter paved AODAcompliant wheelchair accessible trail loop. The OPG also provides annual contributions towards the rental of viewing scopes and the Fall Waterfowl Viewing Day birding
event held each October. Funds collected through LRCA Explore Card parking passes and $2 per vehicle parking fees also support trail development, maintenance, and improvements, as well as general upkeep. A stunning new entrance sign designed by local artist Luc Despres of Despres Metal Artwork welcomes visitors to the conservation area. Installed in 2018, the sign is better described as a piece of art as it brilliantly reflects the area’s water, tree, and plant life with native birds placed amongst the layers of metalwork. The Mission Island Marsh Conservation Area, enjoyed by walkers, photographers, birders, and nature lovers alike, also provides a living classroom for LRCA-run programming, events, and workshops. Standing in the meadow atop the former landfill and looking around, the power of Mother Nature is evident. Once encouraged, she is reclaiming her original design. Further information about the Lakehead Region Conservation Authority and visiting the Mission Island Marsh Conservation Area can be found at lakeheadca.com/ conservation/conservation-areas/ mission-island-marsh. Laurie Abthorpe is the heritage researcher for the Heritage Advisory Committee, which advises City Council on the conservation of heritage buildings, sites, and resources, and their integration into development. For more information on the city’s heritage resources, visit www. thunderbay.ca/en/city-hall/heritage-in-thunder-bay.aspx.
Architecture
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Health •
Hospital Lab Staff Step Up to COVID-19 Challenge A day in the life of the microbiology department with physical distancing in place. (Front to back): Cynthia Cright, Sarah Smith, Sarah Asselin, Mark Lysak, and Wendy Gouliquer
By Vanessa Masters, Health Promotion and Communications Planner, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre
T
his year, National Medical Laboratory Week, April 26 through May 2, took place during some of the busiest times for labs across Canada. To highlight the important work that medical laboratory assistants (MLAs) and medical laboratory technologists (MLTs) are doing at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, Georgia Carr, manager, Laboratory Services, provides an inside look at a day in the life of people working in the hospital’s lab. ”Our lab is extremely busy, operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year where thousands of patient specimens are collected each day for testing,” she says. “There are
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2,500,000 tests performed annually. To put this volume into perspective, this translates to 6,849 tests per day, 285 tests per hour, five tests per minute or one test every 12 seconds,” explains Carr. The volume of tests processed is impressive, and the process by which the specimens are procured and tested is quite complex. Proper blood collection requires skill. Trained MLAs are responsible for this task and for performing key pre-analytical checks to ensure proper sample quality. The MLTs, with the aid of state-of-the-art instrumentation, are able to then perform testing and issue final reports. Carr also shares some facts
about the lab at the hospital. Did you know that approximately 85% of a patients’ electronic medical record is made up of diagnostic test results? Here is some of the testing that takes place in a lab: • Biochemistry – The testing of analytes to aid in the diagnosis of pregnancy, diabetes, etc. • Hematology – The study of cells to diagnose anemia or clotting disorders • Transfusion medicine – The infusion of blood products for patients, i.e., a unit of blood • Microbiology – The growing of organisms to determine if a patient has an infection and/or requires antibiotics
Histology, cytology, and autopsy – The removal of tissue from the body for diagnosis of cancer, etc. The unprecedented experience of the COVID-19 pandemic does not mean existing tests have stopped. Rather, the lab staff, like staff in other areas of the hospital, have stepped up to the challenge. Staff continue to follow proper infection and prevention control while using additional personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect both themselves and the patients. "Even with COVID-19 positive and negative areas of the hospital, lab staff are using universal precautions and treating any patient as potentially infectious,” Carr says. The biggest change to laboratory services was the addition of COVID-19 testing, which involved having the virology scope added to the hospital’s lab license through the Ministry of Health, as well as the test. New equipment platforms were purchased and installed. Wendy Gouliquer, microbiology coordinator, led the team as an expert in her field to ensure testing was available to patients in Northwestern Ontario. Carr says that the test orders for COVID-19 increase daily. Over 100 COVID-19 swabs are collected every day and that volume is expected to rise. Currently, the lab performs 15 in-house tests daily, with the results available within a few hours. Carr and her team ensure the remainder of the tests are sent to the Public Health Ontario Laboratory in Toronto and the results are returned in approximately two to four days. Ideally, the hospital will increase the amount of in-house testing once supply chain issues are resolved. “Performing the COVID-19 tests on top of the existing 2.5 million tests that are done annually demonstrates that the lab staff are an extremely dedicated group of individuals who continue to work hard around the clock to help our patients. I have never been more proud of my staff,” says Carr. Thank you to all of the medical laboratory assistants and medical laboratory technologists at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and throughout Northwestern Ontario.
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14 Grimes* Miss Anthropocene Crystal Math 15 Dead Ghosts* Automatic Changer Burger 16 Slow Leaves* Shelf Life Birthday Cake 17 Andy Shauf* Try Again (single) Arts & Crafts
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ICYMI (In Case You Missed It) Hosted by Bob Menard Fridays 4 – 6 pm Approaching its second anniversary on CILU, ICYMI is your source for freshly squeezed new music, every Friday from 4 to 6 pm. Host Bob Menard spends every Friday scouring the far reaches of the internet and social media for new music from all over the musical map. From pop to punk to indie to folk and everything in between, there’s a little bit of something for everyone. The current COVID-19 situation may mean that we aren’t broadcasting live, but many of our hosts are still producing new content to keep listeners up to date on new releases and local information. So keep your dial locked on 102.7 FM for community news and music you won’t hear on any other frequency.
Album of the moment: Aanthems Blood Fortune
3
Music
Fiona Apple Fetch the Bolt Cutters Epic Austra* HiRUDiN Pink Fizz
4
Nap Eyes* Snapshot of a Beginner Royal Mountain
5
Thundercat It Is What It Is Brainfeeder
18 Fiver* You Wanted Country? Vol. 1 You’ve Changed 19 Jean-Paul De Roover Loss Self-Released 20 Destroyer* Have We Met Merge
Electronic 1
Austra* HiRUDiN Pink Fizz
CILU 102.7fm’s Monthly Charts for this issue reflect airplay for the month ending May 26, 2020. 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 102.7fm - online streaming at luradio.ca
Hip Hop 1
Emotionz* Gems Beast Van Records
2
Naya Ali* Godspeed: Baptism (Prelude) Coyote
3
Dragon Fli Empire* Banff Avenue Makebelieve
2
4
Thundercat It Is What It Is Brainfeeder
Spell* Opulent Decay Bad Omen
3
5
Witch Prophet* DNA Activation Self-Released
Death Cassette* Grim Self-Released
4
August Burns Red Guardians Fearless
5
Smoulder* Dream Quest Ends Cruz del Sur
International 1
Lido Pimienta* Miss Colombia ANTI-
2
Sultans of String* Refuge Self-Released
3
Nahko and Medicine For The People Take Your Power Back SideOneDummy
7
Born Ruffians* JUICE Yep Roc
4
NOBRO* Sick Hustle Dine Alone
The Battle of Santiago* Queen & Judgement Selvamonos
5
Sunny Jain Wild Wild East Smithsonian Folkways
U.S. Girls* Heavy Light Royal Mountain
2
10 Purity Ring* WOMB 4AD
Astrocolor* Hue eOne Music
3
11 Wares* Survival Mint
Caribou* Suddenly Merge
4
12 Waxahatchee Saint Cloud Merge
5
13 Peach Pit* You and Your Friends Columbia
Loud The Pack A.D.* It was fun while it lasted Self-Released
Basia Bulat* Are You In Love Secret City
9
David Lavoie Quartet* Juno Inner Ocean
1
6
8
5
Jazz
Folk•Roots•Blues 1
Bloodshot Bill* Get Loose or Get Lost Goner
2
Fiver* You Wanted Country? Vol. 1 You’ve Changed
3
Slow Leaves* Shelf Life Birthday Cake
1
Peripheral Vision* Irrational Revelation and Mutual Humiliation Self-Released
Purity Ring* Womb 4AD
2
Robert Lee* Ascension Self-Released
4
Laura Marling Song For Our Daughter Chrysalis/Partisan
Grimes* Miss Anthropocene Crystal Math
3
Songs of Tales* Life is a Gong Show Self-Released
5
Daniel Romano* Content to Point the Way You’ve Changed
4
Matty Stecks & Musical Tramps* Long Time Ago Rumble Ropeadope
* Indicates Canadian Content
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Green
The Future of Active Transportation By Caroline Cox, Program Coordinator, EcoSuperior
I
t’s 8 am and Ruttan Street is going to the dogs again. Families, along with their canine companions, are taking over the street. I’m on the east sidewalk with my senior rottweiler-cross, a couple opposite me on the west sidewalk walks a shepherd, and down the centre of the street a family walks four-wide, each holding the leash of a tiny matching terrier. This is a typical morning on Ruttan, a quiet residential street on Thunder Bay’s north side. The sights change as the day goes on. The neighbourhood kids come out next, riding bicycles or scooters, or wielding sidewalk chalk. One boy, just old enough to venture out without parental supervision, uses his bike to zip down alleyways and into Farrand Park, embracing his newfound freedom. He’s made a ramp with his parents, and his friends join him, practicing both physical distancing and their bike tricks. The kids keep a careful eye out for cars, but there are none to be seen. Pedestrians and cyclists greatly outnumber cars now, at least on this calm street. A normal outing feels like Open
Streets—international events that close roads to cars and open them up to people. Streets become used for playing, socializing and meeting neighbours, exploring, walking, cycling, and more. The goal is to re-envision how we use public space for residents aged eight to 80 and beyond. EcoSuperior hosted Open Street events in both downtown cores in 2014–2017. Nowadays, not only is it possible to walk down the centre of the street, but it’s often a practical and safe way to ensure physical distancing. In Canada and abroad, people are working towards creative solutions to reduce the risk of COVID-19 for those using active transportation. Recently, Toronto artist Daniel Rotsztain created a “social distance machine”—essentially a hula hoop with a two-metre radius. He wore it for a walk downtown and captured footage as he dodged pedestrians, light poles, fire hydrants, and construction. His video comically demonstrates that standard 1.8metre sidewalks are insufficient for physical distancing and that the only safe place to walk is the centre of the road.
Fortunately, many municipal planners are taking note. Transportation trends are changing. While Thunder Bay data is not available, trips to work are down 48% in Toronto. In Philadelphia, walking and biking trips are up 52–96% along multi-use trails. Other cities are reporting similar data and are striving to give pedestrians and cyclists the space they need. In Oakland, California, 74 miles of roadway have been converted into “slow streets” for play and active transportation, with access to local traffic only. The pilot has improved safety and has not resulted in gatherings—although there have been several distancing dance parties. Canadian cities including Winnipeg and Vancouver have followed suit with similar road closures. New Zealand, which has been widely praised for its leadership in eliminating COVID-19, became the first country to install pop-up bike lanes and widen sidewalks. Closer to home, pop-up bike lanes are found in Calgary and Brampton. In Lima, Peru, cycle tracks slated for construction over the next five years have been fast-tracked to the next
three months. And in China, where new COVID-19 cases have plummeted into the double-digits, trends in longer-term impacts on transportation are beginning to emerge. More people are choosing to walk and bike, and bike share in Beijing alone has increased by 150%. Walking in my neighbourhood, I’ve met more of my neighbours in the past two months than in the previous six years. Beyond the obvious benefits of physical distancing and physical health, walking and biking improves mental health and builds community. In the midst of the most significant public health crisis the world has seen in a century, public outdoor space has become our most precious gem. As we work to establish a new normal, let’s continue to value and create space in our neighbourhoods for walking and cycling.
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TheWall their relationship to it. The arrival of technology such as cell phones and computers have disconnected people from the outdoors, and from other people as well. Today, “reconnecting to nature” is being promoted as if it is a new concept. When I was growing up it was called “going outside.” This has been part of my daily life since I was a child. I remember my parents and grandparents often asked me, “What’s it like outside?” I didn’t visit websites, watch a TV screen, or listen to the radio reports, but went out and assessed the day to see what it had to offer. I was the weatherman, in a sense. Now, I imagine you are wondering, once the weather was assessed, what came next? It was easy back then: you just went outside. One of my greatest memories of being outside is standing in the waterfall in Peenjitiwabik Palisades in spring after hard rain. The water literally washed all the stress off me within minutes.
Ron and Sharon Kanutski
Don’t Give Up on Outside By Ron Kanutski
L
ike many people, perhaps you too have been thrust into the realm of financial insecurity or despair. You face the reality and fear of following recently implemented rules, ordinances, and makeshift laws in relation to quarantining, isolating, and social distancing. It seems the arrival of COVID-19 has created a proverbial caca storm into our daily lives, hurling many individuals into states of frustration, fear, panic, depression,
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and heightened anxiety. I too, have been through several emotional stages since the virus’s arrival on the scene. It has placed an ominous vibe in the numerous households, minds, and hearts of our nation. The question is, how does one remain well when the world is in a state of unwellness? There is a small segment of our population out there spending their energy investing in a variety of conspiracy theories, with
some individuals actually going to the point of destroying 5G towers claiming they are COVID-19’s transmission method. Misguided fact-seeking and illegal behaviour aside, these conspiracy theorists have gotten one thing right: the need to reconnect with nature. Shutting off their technology and heading outdoors is a great first step. Now, the push to connect with nature is not something new. However, many seem to have lost
Today, so much planning is involved and effort to get prepared. The hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, pre-charged cell phone, GPS, appropriate clothing for the day, snacks, walking stick, masks, gloves, sanitizer, and please don’t forget the ever-so-essential bottled water for hydration. Once you get past the preparation (and remember to take a roll of that stockpiled TP from your vault), all you have left to do is choose the destination. Although our choices are limited at this time, we have one thing going for us in the Thunder Bay District and that is space. There are not too many people out there to start with, and if you have the capability to drive 10–15 minutes in any direction you have accomplished the social distancing part with ease. So, what I guess I am saying, minus all the preamble, filler, and sarcasm, is: walking away from the TV, computer, laptop, X-Box, or Playstation and visiting OUTSIDE can help reduce the stress that we’ve all experienced during this pandemic. It is still there waiting for you to enjoy. Stay well and stay safe.
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Canadians have at least one thing in common. When the going gets tough, we pull together. We all do our part. So in times like this, our front line, essential service workers and first responders put all of us first and tackle the problem head on. The rest of us do what we can to help, to keep the economy going and jobs in place. As an essential service, Rapport Credit Union remains open and ready to help with financial advice, a loan to get you through or just a friendly conversation. We’re just a click, call or a visit away.
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Horoscopes By Sunny Disposish
Aries You’re taking a big step, Ram, with a potential new addition to the family! You know your heart, and when your take-charge self makes a decision, the deed is practically done. Many families find themselves thinking that being unexpectedly stuck at home is a good time to bring in a furry friend, and you are one of them. There’s a lot of love to share under your roof! A friend drops off a gift around the beginning of the month that makes your day.
Taurus Taurus is the fixed earth sign of the zodiac. Tired of being called stubborn all the time? Let’s take a deeper dive into all things Bull. This sign represents an enduring, practical reality. Like your ruling sign, Venus, Taurus can be very affectionate and fond of the good life—as long as it is a peaceful, secure life. Taureans rarely stray from their personal code of what is right.
Gemini Happy birthday month, Gemini! Your twin-like self loves to be surrounded by family, friends, and just generally people you have adopted throughout your life. Things are a little different this year, but your inventive self saves the day. Entertaining and charming, you still are able to bring people together at the best (and worst) of times.
94 The Walleye
Cancer You are proving yourself to be a very hard worker this month, and people are noticing. Your efforts will pay off and those late nights will bring in a sense of satisfaction and a job well done. Financial perks are headed your way. Let loose a little mid-month and fire up the grill. Always at home in the kitchen, you continue to wow your family with your grilling prowess. Bask in the good feelings of being appreciated. You deserve it!
Leo Lions often show their inner strength when under great pressure, or when a crisis occurs. Your family and friends have been leaning on you a lot lately, Leo, and you never seem to disappoint. You are working a little too much these days, and you know it. Take a step back and consider what you might be able to delegate to others. Someone on your team may be ready for a challenge, so consider who you might want to task a project to. The new moon on the 21st brings celebrations. Enjoy!
Virgo Happy summer solstice month, Virgo! Relationships this month are improving for you. To most Virgos, love is not dramatic, emotional, or sentimental. A Virgo’s love is devotion and will include family, friends, and those who may be less fortunate. You are a giver, and you have been donating your time like a champion of late. You are a quiet, yet unstoppable force this month. Take a break to recharge, especially around the 18th.
Libra Most typical Libras are not fond of vigorous, sweaty exercise—it offends their preference for a harmony of the senses. What exercise they do, it must enable them to stay relatively neat and unruffled. Getting out walking is definitely right up your alley these days, and taking some unexpected paths could lead you to a delightful new discovery. Being of service to others is one of your passions, and know that the people you are running errands for appreciate you greatly.
Scorpio Happy Father’s Day, Scorpio! Your normally intense self is ramped up to welcome a new bundle of joy in the family. No matter what is happening in the world, life goes on. What a great message! You are overwhelmed with the support of family and friends, even from afar. Plan a little something special for Dad’s day, as it is extra meaningful this year. Now, get some sleep while you can.
Sagittarius The full moon on the 5th tames your fiery nature and leaves you reflective. Wondering why you are having trouble sleeping? Don’t worry, so is everyone else. Grab your journal and take some time to pause and reflect. Self-care is where it’s at now! As you’re always up on the latest technology, take full advantage and use your Zoom account to connect with your people-loving self in a whole new way. You’ll be glad you did!
Capricorn You Goats find great solace in your home and really enjoy providing for the family. You need your home to be a safe haven for all those under its roof, but it’s okay to get away sometimes! Tensions can run a little high, especially with Mercury swinging into your sign on the 15th. Delegation is the key right now, and with the household knowing their roles, the days will go a little smoother. Treat Dad to take-out in appreciation for how much he does.
Aquarius Your green thumb is giving you joy right now, Aquarius! You derive a great deal of enjoyment from nature, and you seem to be blooming right along with your garden at the moment. Your whimsical nature is captivating right now and drawing admiring glances from a certain few. Your charm is at an all-time high! Boundaries are important to you right now though, so stand your ground. Neighbours will want to visit mid-month as the weather warms.
Pisces Jupiter and Neptune rule the zodiac sign of Pisces, so anyone born under the sign of the fishes will tend to bring benefit to others through their sensitivity. Do take a break from the news and social media this month, Pisces, as your compassionate nature could get a little overwhelmed. Give yourself the gift of time to do some local online ordering (perhaps something tasty from one of the vendors at the market?) and treat yo’self a little. You are entering a season where everything works out in your favour. Good news arrives your way at the end of the month.
TheBeat
How to Get out of a Funk By Jonathan Focht lament. find a firebrand and follow, maybe fondle them. steep a cup of tea and blow on it ‘til your jowls turn sour inside. cut your hair with a lighter. remember your childhood goldfish and the Alamo. eat marmalade on caraway rye under the waning moon. experiment with form, with men, with enjambment. get a jar funnel, make jam from bilberries or goji or the insides of bulrushes. write a sonata then sing it. read an epic then fling it over the neighbour’s fence into the bird bath. plant a seed in a taco shell. drive a golf cart in a snowstorm. buy yourself a new carpet. if you’re still in a funk, lament again.
ENJAMBMENT, blind-contour arrangement, boy Roland
Judith Monteith-Farrell MPP, Thunder Bay–Atikokan
Dedicated to Serving the North P 807-622-1920 TF 1-833-673-4129
jmonteith-farrell-co@ndp.on.ca judithmonteithfarrell.ca The Walleye
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A sweeping view of Mink Bay from the Palisades Lookout
Darren McChristie
TheEye
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