March 2024

Some Like It Hot

15 of TBay’s Spiciest Dishes

Editor-in-chief

Darren McChristie

Editor Adrian Lysenko

Senior Editor

Tiffany Jarva

Copy Editors

Amy Jones, Bonnie Schiedel

Editorial Assistants

Emily Turner, Sidney Ulakovic

Marketing & Sales Manager Alaina Linklater alaina@thewalleye.ca

Photographers

Jack Barten

Anna Buske

Ryan Hill

Chad Kirvan

Dave Koski

Shannon Lepere

Darren McChristie

Sarah McPherson

Lois Nuttall

Laura Paxton

Emily Turner

Sidney Ulakovic

Art Directors

Steve Coghill, R.G.D.

Dave Koski, R.G.D. production@thewalleye.ca

Ad Designer

Dave Koski

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.

Copyright © 2024 by Superior Outdoors Inc.

All Rights Reserved.

Editorial

Me on a Sunday

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

40 A Magical Moment

GETAWAY

56 Exploring Lutsen CITYSCENE

58 Inspire Inclusivity

60 EYE TO EYE: With Michela Cava

62 Diving In with Hailey Shchepanik

64 SECOND CHANCES

67 Heart/Soul Co.

68 Rebel With a Cause

69 CANNABIS CORNER

70 STUFF WE LIKE MUSIC

72 Over the Hump

73 Where Folk Meets Country Meets Comedy

74 Blues House Party 5

76 BURNING TO THE SKY

77 TBSO PROFILE

78 One Piece at a Time

80 High Octane AltRock-Dance-Punk

81 Corb Lund Brings New Album on the Road

Superior

Bay, ON P7B 4A3 Telephone

344-3366

Fax (807) 623-5122

E-mail: info@thewalleye.ca

March

42 Grease

45 CONFESSIONS OF A DRAG DEALER

46 Art that Walks the Walk

THE ARTS

48 FROM THUNDER BAY ART GALLERY’S COLLECTION

49 Engagement Through Art

50 A THOUSAND WORDS

52 The Juried and Honours Exhibitions

54 One More Night in the Canyon

82 OFF THE WALL REVIEWS ARCHITECTURE

84 121 McKellar Street South TATTOOED YOU

87 Celtic Runes for Two Beloved Grandparents GREEN

88 Conscious Cuisine THE WALL

89 Healing the Healers

90 Tbaytel March EVENTS GUIDE

92 LU RADIO'S MONTHLY TOP 30

93 MUSIC GUIDE

94 HOROSCOPES

95 INSIDEUP GAMES CROSSWORD

96 THE BEAT

98 THE EYE

Feeling the Heat

Ithink my love for spicy food can be traced back to when my mother used to rub garlic on the soles of our bare feet as kids. The practice came from Ukrainian folk medicine to help cure a common cold. Although the raw clove in question was not ingested, it does show how much garlic was a staple in our household growing up. Now, when I say I love spicy food, please don’t think I’m someone devouring a Carolina Reaper chili pepper to prove my masculinity. I’m actually lower on the Scoville scale, going for medium rather than hot. But I would say over the years I feel like my spice tolerance has increased— this might be just because as you get older, your sense of taste diminishes. So nowadays, we have a condiment shelf in our fridge reserved just for hot sauce.

For our March issue, we’re all about spicy cuisine, with our team of chiliphiles reviewing 15 spicy dishes around the city. Also as part of our cover story, we profile some spice makers bringing their blends to the Lakehead and, from their home kitchen to throughout the world, Bonnie Schiedel talks to the owners of Heartbeat Hot Sauce about their humble beginnings

and what the future has in store for the little bottle that could. Keeping with our theme, our pommelier and sommelier Jeannie Dubois presents some picante drinks and cool pairings; Susan Pretty visits the East Indian grocery store Rice N Spice Heritage; and film columnist Michael Sobota shares his picks for spicy films.

Also in the pages of our March issue, Kris Ketonen chats with country and western singersongwriter Corb Lund about his upcoming concert at the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, Matt Prokopchuk goes Eye to Eye with Michela Cava about her first ongoing season playing in the Professional Women’s Hockey League, and Amy Sellors previews Definitely Superior Art Gallery’s Derelicte as the fashion odyssey celebrates 14 years.

This issue marks my first month back in the editor’s chair after my paternity leave. Special thanks to Matt for doing a tremendous job in my absence! Although Theodore is still a little young for spicy dishes, I keep the tradition alive of rubbing raw garlic on his feet whenever he has a runny nose.

-Adrian Lysenko

From Our Instagram Feed

Featured Contributor

Ryan Hill

Matt Prokopchuk

Matt has been a contributing writer and occasional editor at The Walleye for just under four years. A lifelong resident of Thunder Bay (save for four years studying in Ottawa), he is also in charge of audio production and dayto-day on-air operations at LU Radio. A former local CBC journalist, Matt has a love of the arts—particularly music— and away from work, enjoys cooking, classic video games, and getting out for a good walk or hike. Read his Eye To Eye interview with Michela Cava on page 60.

On the Cover

Pho Umami's Pho Tom Yum

Photo by Laura Paxton

“My teacher helps me reach for the stars”

You belong here

2

9 to 5: TBSO with Badanai Theatre Co.

March 9

Thunder Bay Community Auditorium

TheTopFive

Roy Coran’s The Girls in the Band 1

March 2

Victoria Inn

Since 1951, the Roy Coran Big Band has been a testament to the breadth of talent within our local music scene. Presently, the Big Band comprises 18 of Thunder Bay’s best musicians—including vocalists Hedi Beale and Jasmine Petch—working under artistic director Ted Vaillant. On March 2, you can catch the Roy Coran Big Band at The Girls in the Band: a celebration of women in jazz throughout the ages (just in time for International Women’s Day!). Held at the Victoria Inn, The Girls in the Band will be a night of powerful music and good vibes. Tickets are $25, available at Music World Academy. The show begins at 7:30 pm, with doors opening at 6:30 pm roycoranbigband.com

A symphony orchestra, a local theatre troupe, and Dolly Parton walk into a bar… and a fabulous event is born! Following the success of their previous collaboration, the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra and Badanai Theatre Co. are teaming up once again, this time with their rendition of Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5: The Musical Featuring the masterful music of the TBSO and the star power of Badanai, this riotous and uplifting show champions girl power and women’s rights—a message we can absolutely get behind. Held at the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, 9 to 5: The Musical starts at 7:30 pm and tickets are $61, available on the TBSO website via Ticketmaster (please note ticket prices are subject to change).

tbso.ca

The Gang’s All Here Tour With Skid Row & Buckcherry

4 March 20

Thunder Bay Community Auditorium

After multiple sold-out shows and a successful first leg, hard rockers Skid Row and Buckcherry are adding a second leg to their co-headlined The Gang’s All Here tour—and Thunder Bay made the cut! Held at the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium on March 20, this show will feature special guests Sierra Pilot, a new-age rock band hailing from Waterloo, Ont. Whether you’re a die-hard Skid Row/ Buckcherry fan, or are simply looking for an opportunity to let your hair down (and possibly headbang a little bit), this concert promises to deliver a rocking good time. The show starts at 7 pm, and tickets are $62 available on the TBCA website via Ticketmaster (please note ticket prices are subject to change). tbca.com

Indigenous Ingenuity

Until March 17

Thunder

3 Indigenous Ingenuity : where science meets culture and history meets future. Presented by Indigenous Tourism Ontario and Science North, Indigenous Tourism Ontario and Science North, Indigenous Ingenuity is a fun, family-friendly exhibition of Indigenous knowledge and innovation, ultimately celebrating the ongoing contributions of Indigenous peoples to the global community. Indigenous Ingenuity offers a variety of entertaining, educational, and interactive displays; you can even hunt moose with a digital bow and arrow. The exhibit will be at the Thunder Bay Museum until March 17 during the museum’s regular hours (Tuesday through Sunday from 1 to 5 pm.); admission is by donation/ pay-what-you-can, with the recommended donation of $8 for adults and $3 for children.

Bay Museum

sciencenorth.ca

Derelicte 14: A Fashion Odyssey

5 March 30

Black Pirates Pub

Wanna Win a Sweet Prize? Attend our Top 5 Events! thewalleye.ca/topfivein5

For those who have not previously attended, Derelicte is hard to describe. Imagine a night filled with wearable art and fashion models and runways and dance performances and live music and DJs and drag and lions and tigers and bears… oh my! This event is a true feast for the senses and at its heart, it is an honest celebration of fashion, art, and the free spirit of creativity that runs through us all. You just have to experience it to understand. In addition to being a wildly fun night, this annual event is an important fundraiser for the Definitely Superior Art Gallery, so you can feel good about the good time. Held at Black Pirates Pub on March 30, admission for Derelicte 14 is $20 at the door, and the event is strictly 19+

definitelysuperior.com

The Walleye

710 Balmoral St

Some Like It Hot

Spice is at the heart of just about every culture’s cuisine, adding delicious flavour, heat, and personality. Sometimes it’s dialled to mild and nuanced, sometimes it’s unapologetically melt-yourface. The good news is that there’s something for everyone. In this issue of The Walleye , we check out the spicy side of Thunder Bay, including 15 of our favourite restaurant dishes, some local indie spice blend companies, and the city’s very own hot sauce empire. We hope you’re inspired to treat your taste buds, this month and all year long. Go ahead, get spicy!

- Bonnie Schiedel

Shannon Lepere

Hot Italian Panini

The Place: Station 22

Address: 1181 Golf Links Road

Phone: 807-935-7168

The Price: $13

The Basics: Mortadella, capocollo, calabrese, spiced eggplant, provolone, pesto, and garlic basil mayo on a ciabatta bun

The Lowdown: Inspired by Cosimo’s favourite sandwich at Agostino's Deli (where the meat and bread are sourced), the hot Italian panini offers something different in each glorious bite. Featuring the holy trinity of cold cuts, the panini is layered with spiciness that is nicely complemented by the pesto and garlic basil mayo spread. Grilled to crispy perfection so that the sharp provolone is melted into gooey goodness and washed down with a refreshing pint of Dawson Trail Craft Brewery’s Plinth, the hot Italian panini is buoni.

-Review and photo by Adrian Lysenko

Pho Tom Yum

The Place: Pho Umami

Address: 845 May Street North, Unit C Phone: 807-623-1888

The Price: $19.90

The Basics: Shrimp, rice noodle, sliced onion, and fresh herbs in broth, served with bean sprouts, lime, and jalapeño

The Lowdown: Two Southeast Asian soups come together in a heavenly fusion as aromatic pho meets its zippier colleague tom yum in all its hot and sour glory. A perfect blend of two classics, pho, with its scented broth of anise and lemongrass, is married with an umami-rich blend of tom yum with plump shrimp. Full of rice noodles, this is comfort soup at its best, served piping hot in a huge bowl with a side plate of sprouts, fresh herbs, jalapeños, and lime. Sporting just the perfect amount of kick, this meal-in-a-bowl is pure nourishment.

-Review by Susan Pretty, Photo by Laura

Paxton

Spicy Garlic Parm Wings

The Place: The Sovereign Room

Address: 220 Red River Road

Phone: 807-343-9277

The Price: $18/lb

The Basics: Chicken wings basted in butter, garlic, parmesan, and Frank’s Red Hot Sauce

The Lowdown: The Sovereign Room has long excelled at making much better versions of your own home cooking, and this tasty, spicy appetizer is no different. The magic starts in the deep-fryer and, once crisped to perfection, the whole pound of chicken wings are basted in a custom sauce of butter, garlic, parmesan, and fiery Frank’s Red Hot. The combination isn’t scorching, but its several bold flavours work in series, moving from a garlic spike to the piquant of Frank’s, and finishing with a creamy rush of parmesan. It isn’t too hot, but it accumulates. The dish comes with a homemade ranch sauce as well, which is good enough to eat on its own—dip a wing in and take a bite. Then another one, until all that’s left is a small pile of bones.

-Review by Justin Allec, Photo by Adrian Lysenko

Spicy Chicken and Bacon Pasta

The Place: Red Lion Smokehouse

Address: 6 Cumberland Street South

Phone: 807-286-0045

The Price: $23

The Basics: Big Lake creste di gallo pasta with Heartbeat Hot Sauce cream sauce, tomato sauce, smoked cheese sauce, maple bacon, smoked chicken, and topped with parmesan and crispy pancetta

The Lowdown: Pasta is one of the great pleasures in life, giving everyone the glutenous comfort we all need. Now you can add some spice to your comfort food with Red Lion’s own spicy chicken and bacon pasta. First, one notices the wonderful Big Lake creste di gallo pasta and its unique presence on the dish. Once you dive in, you get the heat of the Heartbeat Hot Sauce cream sauce. This creamy heat is paired well with the salty ham, making every bite perfectly balanced. But, then there is the smoked chicken and maple bacon, which add a welcome protein baseline that elevates all the other flavours while introducing a complementary smokiness. Here, Red Lion presents the complete package for both pasta lovers and heat seekers.

Review and photo by

Jack Barten

Bistro Special Chicken Biryani

The Place: Indian Bistro

Address: 250 Red River Road

Phone: 807-286-6325

The Price: $18.99

The Basics: Chicken cooked in a secret spicy sauce, served over basmati rice with sliced onion, a boiled egg, and raita on the side

The Lowdown: Indian Bistro’s chicken biryani is a super savoury dish packed with big flavours and a strong, spicy kick. Fluffy and fragrant basmati rice is topped with chunks of tender chicken, which has been cooked in a deeply spiced secret sauce. The spice level was not overwhelming, but definitely spicy enough to get your taste buds tingling. This dish is served with raita (a delicious, creamy, yogurt-based condiment) that perfectly tames the heat of the sauce. While the chicken’s spice level is a solid medium, the basmati can be made mild, medium or hot based on your preference.

-Review by Kelsey Raynard, Photo by Anna Buske

Curry Goat

The Place: Island Spice Jerk House

Address: 71 Algoma Street South #2

Phone: 807-344-8070

The Price: $16.99

The Basics: Curry-seasoned, bone-in cuts of goat, pan-fried and slow-cooked with potato, onion, Scotch bonnet pepper, garlic, and ginger, served with rice and peas and steamed cabbage, and a side of homemade Scotch bonnet pepper sauce

The Lowdown: Island Spice Jerk House’s take on this Jamaican classic hits all the right notes. Goat is a lean meat with a sweet, gamey flavour well-suited for long, slow prep; Island Spice lets theirs cook for two hours, allowing the delectable balance of curry, ginger, garlic, onion, peppers, and other seasonings to blend perfectly with the goat, which is melt-in-your-mouth tender. The heat in the curry alone is subtle, never stealing the spotlight from the show’s flavourful stars. For those who like to turn it up, however, their homemade fermented Scotch bonnet sauce more than does the trick—spice veterans can dive right in, but the uninitiated or heat-cautious should take it slow. The thyme-seasoned rice and peas (actually red kidney beans), and the crunchy, slightly sour notes of the steamed cabbage tie it all together.

-Review by Matt Prokopchuk, Photo by Ryan Hill

Spicy ChickenBuffaloPoutine

The Place: The Foundry

Address: 242 Red River Road

Phone: 807-285-3188

The Price: $20

The Basics: House-cut fries topped with breaded buttermilk chicken, Thunder Oak cheese curds, green onion, house-made Buffalo Billie sauce, and drizzled with peppercorn ranch

The Lowdown: This dish is all about balance: crispy fries, tender chicken, tangy buffalo sauce, creamy curds, and peppercorn ranch. Right off the bat, you’re confronted with what can only be described as the smell of heat, but cutting through that fiery fog is the fresh fragrance of the green onion garnish. While not an overwhelming heat from bite one, it’s sneaky and builds as you eat. The dish is massive, seemingly endless, and served with a generous helping of Buffalo sauce. If you could taste the colour red, this is it. At the halfway point, you’ll likely notice your lips are tingling and nose is starting to run. This is definitely a sinus-clearer!

- Review and photo by Sidney Ulakovic

Vegan Spicy Italian Sausage Rigatoni

The Place: Lot 66

Address: 66 Court Street South Phone: 807-683-7708

The Price: $29

The Basics: Rigatoni pasta with arrabbiata herbed tomato sauce, vegan spicy Italian sausage, mushrooms, sliced garlic, spinach, and leeks

The Lowdown: Eating a plant-based diet has never been more exciting thanks to restaurants like Lot 66 that are looking for new and creative ways to diversify their menus. The brainchild of chef Sophie Allen, their vegan spicy Italian sausage rigatoni is a hearty dish, featuring house-made pasta, tangy sauce, veggies, and house-made vegan Italian sausage. Sound like an oxymoron? Not at all. Allen uses navy beans as the base for her vegan sausage, which is moderately spicy and has a more natural texture than typical commercial meat replacements. The rigatoni is best enjoyed with some of Lot 66’s warm focaccia and a glass of Californian cabernet sauvignon.

-Review by Michelle McChristie, Photo by Darren McChristie

Spicy Shrimp Tacos

The Place: Norteños Taqueria

Address: 698 Arthur Street West Phone: 807-623-6266

The Price: $7 per taco

The Basics: Shrimp, Monterey jack cheese, and pico de gallo wrapped in a flour tortilla and topped with avocado crema

The Lowdown: The Norteños brand has been growing its footprint in Thunder Bay with the addition of the Cantina on Red River Road in the spring of 2023, and the Taqueria’s recent move from the original space in Westfort to a larger, more prominent location on Arthur Street attached to the Ramada by Wyndham hotel. Throughout these additions, moves, and expansions, however, one menu item has remained prominent and popular: the spicy shrimp tacos. Flour tortillas wrap a fresh mix of housemade pico de gallo, Monterey jack cheese, and shrimp that pop in your mouth and have just enough spice to linger for a minute or two—or as long as it takes to have another bite loaded with the cool and generously portioned avocado crema. With a stage for karaoke, live music, and pool tables and arcades, Norteños Taqueria is a new must-visit spot on the city's south side.

-Review and photo by Nik Fiorito

Sen Pad Ped

The Place: Thai Kitchen

Address: 11 Cumberland Street South

Phone: 807-345-1707

The Price: $18.95

The Basics: Choice of chicken, beef, pork, tofu or shrimp, rice noodles, red curry paste, crushed peanuts, crispy fried noodles, fish sauce, fresh cilantro, and lime

The Lowdown: With a red curry paste recipe that dates back generations, this dish is not only downright delicious but also deeply rooted in family history. At first bite into the soft, curry-soaked noodles, a warm and pleasant heat welcomes you; nothing offensive, just letting you know its presence. The combination of fish sauce and lime juice adds a perfect blend of salty and sour, creating an instant mouth-watering effect that is both odd yet really satisfying. Cue the crispy fried onions with their unmistakable crunch paired with the crushed peanuts that balance out the symphony of flavours in your mouth. With every bite a little different than the last, this dish will not disappoint. Warm, comforting and beautifully presented, we doubt you’ll even leave a stem of cilantro behind.

-Review by Andrea Lysenko, Photo by Adrian Lysenko

Pad Krapow with Egg (Basil Stir Fry)

The Place: Salween Restaurant

Address: 505 Simpson Street

Phone: 807-285-8600

The Price: $19.95

The Basics: Chicken, onion, broccoli, green and red peppers, carrots, green beans, and basil stir-fried and served with rice and egg

The Lowdown: Pad krapow is a bit of a paradox, as the Thai stir fry is known for its simple ingredients yet rich flavours. The vegetables are crispy with smoky-fried notes, and the chicken is incredibly tender (protein options include beef, pork, or shrimp). Served mild, medium, or spicy (you can also ask for some chilis on the side), the accompanying rice and egg counterbalance the heat. But the show-stopper is the basil, making this dish extremely aromatic and providing a delicious savoury and herbaceous component.

-Review and photo by Adrian Lysenko

Spicy Dill Pickle Chicken Wings

The Place: Tomlin Subdivision

Address: 28 Cumberland Street

Phone: 807-346-4440

The Price: $15 for 10 wings, $27 for 20 wings

The Basics: Chicken wings (either breaded or unbreaded), seasoned and tossed with Heartbeat Hot Sauce Dill Pickle Serrano

The Lowdown: Subdivision has perfected the art of making saucy yet still crispy chicken wings. Their spicy dill pickle chicken wings get their full flavour from Heartbeat Hot Sauce’s Dill Pickle Serrano sauce, which has a delicious freshness to it and a humble but sharp spiciness. It gives the type of heat that lingers on the lips, while the taste of dill stays in the back of the throat. The seasoning of the breading, which holds its crunch even with all of the sauce, deliciously emphasizes the taste of dill pickle. These are the ideal wings for those who typically shy away from spicy things.

-Review and photo by Emily Turner

Diavola Pizza

The Place: Nook

Address: 271 Bay Street

Phone: 807-285-7775

The Price: $25

The Basics: Pomodoro sauce, mozzarella, basil, soppressata, Calabrian chili, on thin crust pizza dough

The Lowdown: Don’t let the name fool you—the only thing devilish about Nook’s Diavola pizza is how tempting it’ll be to polish it off in one sitting. The Diavola, topped with staple Italian pizza ingredients, may appear unassuming, but it's absolutely packed with flavour from the first bite. The peppery soppressata introduces spiciness to the pizza, but its namesake heat comes from the Calabrian chilis. Overall, the Diavola builds a moderate heat that’s approachable for the spice-wary and complements the other elements of the pizza. It’s also served with garlic chili oil and chili flakes on the side, so you can heat each slice up to your heart’s desire. Deliziosa!

- Review and photo by Sidney Ulakovic

Chiles Rellenos

The Place: El Tres

Address: 269 Red River Road

Phone: 807-344-3443

The Price: $18

The Basics: Jalapeños stuffed with rice, chorizo, and salsa ranchera, topped with chiltomate sauce, and cotija and Oaxaca cheese

The Lowdown: Chiles rellenos is a classic Mexican dish full of rich and complex flavours. El Tres’s appetizer version consists of four spicy, roasted jalapeño peppers that have been stuffed with a hearty mixture of rice, salsa, and chorizo. The peppers are topped with a blend of melted Oaxaca cheese and crumbly cotija, which provide a mellow contrast to the heat of the jalapeños. The star of the show, however, is the chiltomate sauce, which is a traditional Mexican sauce made from a blend of tomatoes, chiles, and roasted red peppers that provides a smoky, tangy kick to the plate. This dish brings the heat.

- Review by Tanja Coghill, Photo by Steve Coghill

Bacon Jalapeño Poppers

The Place: The Sal

Address: 118 Frederica Street West

Phone: 807-577-8635

The Price: $14

The Basics: Deep-fried halved jalapeños stuffed with cream cheese and tater tots wrapped in bacon, served with a side of ranch dressing

The Lowdown: With likely origins in chiles rellenos—a Mexican stuffed pepper dish—jalapeño poppers have been popular as appetizers for game night, or any night, since the 80s and the rise of Tex-Mex cuisine. What we love about The Sal’s version is the addition of tater tots to hold the cream cheese filling together, and that cloak of crispy bacon. Jalapeños rate between 2,500-8,000 on the Scoville scale, so one popper can vary greatly from the next. Good thing you can cool your jets by dunking into the savoury ranch dressing. Repeat as needed. Grab some friends and make the order a double!

-Review by Rebekah Skochinski, Photo by Shannon Lepere

Shumka Dust

Kate,

Scott, and Jordin Shumka

Is there a story behind the name?

It's the three of us who created and run the business—from blending the spices, designing, labelling, bottling, sealing, shipping, and delivering. Shumka is our last name and we feel it’s nice to use our family name to associate with the business. We decided Dust as it means a sprinkle or a touch of.

How long have you been in the business?

2024 is our seventh year in business. We officially started in 2017, with getting our city licence and kitchen approved.

What drew you into the business?

Both Scott and I [Kate] have worked in the culinary field. I took the culinary program at Confederation College. We both love food and being creative in the kitchen. Jordin, who is 15, has been involved with

the Our Kids Count KICK program. Jordin also follows in our footsteps of loving food and being creative with it.

What types of spices do you put together?

We put together many different varieties of blends. All are low in sodium and high in flavour. We now have seven year-round blends—OG Dust, Superior Steak Spice, Moonlite Bay Dredge, Awakened Giant, WICKed, Inferno, and All That In Thunder Bay—as well as our seasonal WonderDUST & PA’Pumpkin.

What have you learned along the way since getting into the market?

We have learned that with each and every passing day you learn new things and strategies—designing labels, nutrition facts, invoicing, bottling, labelling, and delivery. But the best thing we have learned is that the community and businesses

in Thunder bay are very welcoming and supportive.

What's your favourite story about a customer experience?

Our favourite story about customer experience is almost every customer experience. It has been fun interacting with everyone, learning how they like to use our spices, how our blends have got them back in the kitchen more often, and how happy they are to know that almost all of our blends are gluten-free and low in sodium.

What elements make a good spice blend?

The elements that make our blends amazing are that we use raw spices to create our blends, making sure all the flavour aspects are there. We also don’t use al ot of sodium or fillers. Our blends are always high in flavour first.

What is the bestselling spice/ most popular brand?

This is a tough question. We get asked this alot, and the answers vary. Everyone has a different flavour palate. But the OG Dust stands out the most as it was our first blend. The OG Dust is amazing in/on

anything—a flavour that everyone loves.

Favourite or signature spice mix and what is best used for?

Kate: Awakened Giant. I love the zestiness of the lemon and orange, it's so fresh and aromatic. I love using it on white meats and fresh vegetables, but my favourite way to use it is in oil and vinegar as a salad dressing.

Scott: Inferno.It's the perfect blend of spices and heat. I love being able to introduce the hotter flavour profile, as it's not an overwhelming heat, it's more a smoky heat. My favourite way to use Inferno is on chicken wings, with a splash of lime juice.

Jordin: WonderDust. It's a nice sweet blend. Great to add to coffee, hot chocolate, and baking. I also love the WICKed, because it's a nice blend of sweet and heat. I love using the WICKed on oven baked carrots, ribs, and pulled pork.

For more information, visit @shumkadust on Facebook and Instagram.

Scott, Jordin, and Kate Shumka

Prosperity Blends

Leafy and Melanie

Is there a story behind the name?

The name Prosperity Blends was inspired by Mother Nature herself. After creating a few of our first signature spice blends, [we] pondered and reflected on the very basics of what and where these little gems came from. The name itself is a way of giving thanks to the powers that be and the richness of Mother Nature and the elements that bring each of the spice and herb family into being.

How long have you been in the business?

Back in 2018 a friend invited us to attend the Craft Revival and we started from there, with more than a few invites from other friends. One of the most memorable markets was when we were found at the Market on Ray and were invited to bring our business to the [Thunder Bay Country Market] which has been a

fun adventure ever since 2022.

What drew you into the business?

After completing a few food cleanses due to food sensitivities, what [we] both noticed was way too much convenient processed foods. Melanie was raised on a traditional 300-year-old family farm where her Popps reminded her over and over again to “keep it simple” [Leaf’s] grandma loved sharing the smell, taste, and texture of the spices and herbs she loved to cook with from her garden, and the wisdom her mother had shared with her about the basic health and everyday meals when being raised on a farm.

What types of spices do you put together?

We use pure plant parts from seeds to flowers, leaves, bark, and roots. It’s amazing how one part of the same plant can have so many diverse, flavourful expressions and

versatility in the many different ways we have found to use them. At first we created the basic blends, such as Mexican, Garam Masala, Italian, Asian. This was to meet the need of signature spice blends that were free of glutens, sugars, and fillers. As we ventured out, we got lively with new blends such as Masala Chocolate and Cardamom Coco, and a variety of spicy, fragrant, and mild spice blends to play with in our personal recipes, which are nearly over 100 to date.

What have you learned along the way since getting into the market?

That once you’ve found something you love to do, you’ll spend hours on end perfecting the simplest little things—such as testing and retesting spice combinations and recipes till we have them dialled in and repeatable.

What's your favourite story about a customer experience?

When a lady came to our booth last summer requesting 700 signature blends and introduced herself [by saying], “You're going to find this a little hard to believe but my name is Spice…” It was right there that [we] agreed to make Spice one of the honourary “Spice Girls”—a name that [we] got tagged with at one of the market venues when the event planner had lost our contact and business info, so she placed a sign up at our booth with a handwritten

note “Spice Girls.”

What elements make a good spice blend?

Quality, variety, and inspiration is at the core of creating our spice blends. It’s like magic coming to life. Anyone who grows or works with spices knows that it’s like each single ingredient has a personality and presence of its own, and you’ve got to come to know which ones work together and complement each other, otherwise they’re just a mess.

What is the bestselling spice/ most popular brand?

We have a spice for just about every season and every reason. We noticed that many people are in love with our Superior Steak Spice, Everything Spice, Spice of Life, and of course our Pumpkin, Mulled Apple, and Masala Chocolate are very popular too.

Favourite or signature spice mix and what is best used for?

Some of our faves are, of course, the blends that started it all: Mexican, Heart & Soul, and Masala Chocolate. It all depends on the dish and the season we are in. Whether we are roasting veggies, stirring up some marinade, soup or dips and, of course, depending on the craving, whether it be sweet or savoury.

For more information, visit prosperityblends.com.

(L-R) Leafy, Mel, and Viktoria at the Thunder Bay Country Market

Heather Peden

Heather Peden

Heather Peden

Heather Peden

Heather Peden

Heather Peden

Crazy Good Spices

Grace Ward

Is there a story behind the name?

When brainstorming on what to call the business, this came to mind— how some people who would eat my food and taste the spices, their comment was that it was crazy good.

How long have you been in the business?

I have been in business for almost nine years.

What drew you into the business?

I always made my own spices. I wanted to make sure that I feed my family [as] natural and homemade as possible. This is why I started making spices. When I would have people over for supper or gave food away, they would ask me what spice that I used, and I would tell them that I make my own spice blends, so I would share some with them. They wanted to buy them from me so I thought there [was] a market for it.

What types of spices do you put together?

I make 12 different blends. I source my spices from California—I

use top quality spices that are only grown in California. I am very picky and only want the best ingredients on the market.

What have you learned along the way since getting into the market?

It’s been very challenging, mostly learning how to use the computer for invoicing, dealing with suppliers, and keeping up with emails.

What's your favourite story about a customer experience?

I had an order from a customer from Toronto. He had ordered Grace's Favourite, Homestyle Rub, and BBQ Rub. A month later, I received an email from him telling me how much he loved the spices and how easy they were to use, that he wasn’t a good cook and that he was trying to impress his girlfriend, and she loved everything he was cooking for her. He said it’s because of my spices, and he said thank you for making him a hero in the kitchen. That made me feel really proud and happy because this is what I set out to achieve with my spices—making

it easy for people to flavour their everyday cooking.

What elements make a good spice blend?

I would have to say using the best quality ingredients, reducing the salt, and never using preservatives.

What is the bestselling spice/ most popular brand?

I would have to say all of the spices sell equally the same, depending on the season. Some sell more in summer, some on Thanksgiving and Christmas, and some in fall.

Favourite or signature spice mix and what is best used for?

A signature spice would have to be Grace's Favourite. This spice is the one that everyone talks about the most and in the comments. [...] Grace's Favourite is like an Italian spice. I use it when making sauce, chicken in the oven, seasoning bread crumbs—almost everything you cook. It is a perfect spice for any dish.

For more information, visit crazygoodspices.com.

June and Co. Spice Company

Katie Porobic and Audry Gavin

Is there a story behind the name?

Our story starts with our Original Seasoning: my [Porobic’s] Grandma June’s recipe. A highlight of family gatherings, this blend was used for our “top secret” Texas pork chops. I’ve been giving it as gifts to friends and family for years, always joking about starting a side hustle, because it’s just that good.

How long have you been in the business?

We are just shy of our three-year anniversary in business.

What drew you into the

business?

We were prepared for June & Co. to be something we did for fun. When we started getting requests from stores and local restaurants to purchase our seasonings, we realized it could become much bigger than a side business. Being your own boss holds you accountable, and it’s an amazing feeling to have success in something you’ve built yourself.

What types of spices do you put together?

We started June & Jo with our Original Seasoning—it’s a chili powder-based blend that is versatile

and can be used on just about anything. We use it in soups, dips, meats, veggies, popcorn, you name it. We’ve modelled the rest of our product line with versatility in mind.

What have you learned along the way since getting into the market?

We’ve learned so much. Building a business means you run every department: production, sales, marketing, etc. One of the biggest things we’ve learned is (when possible) seek out the experts and mentors in the community. We’ve had so much support from other local entrepreneurs. Thunder Bay is an amazing community.

What's your favourite story about a customer experience?

One of the coolest experiences for us came from a bride-to-be who sought us out at a market to purchase items for her wedding. Throughout the year that followed, we met so many people who attended that wedding and recognized our packaging, giving their own positive

feedback—it was heartwarming to hear, and amazing to see how far our products had reached.

What elements make a good spice blend?

A good spice blend contains different flavour profiles. For us, versatility in the way you can use a blend is key. We aim to simplify people's cooking experience by providing signature flavours that are well-rounded and multi-use.

What is the bestselling spice/ most popular brand?

Our bestselling spice is the OG— our Original Seasoning.

Favourite or signature spice mix and what is best used for?

Our Original Seasoning is our signature spice and where it all began for June & Jo Spice Co. Our favourite way to use it is on barbecue pork chops, or a popcorn topper. With our kids, it’s Sweet & Smokey seasoning, best used for ribs or chicken.

For more information, visit juneandjospice.com.

(L-R) Audry Gavin and Katie Porobic

The Little Bottle That Could

Heartbeat Hot Sauce Reaches Flavour Fans Around the World

Story by Bonnie Schiedel, Photos courtesy of Heartbeat Hot Sauce

You can buy Heartbeat Hot Sauce in Guam, that tiny island in the South Pacific. You can buy it in Iceland, England, France, United Arab Emirates, Australia, New Zealand and literally thousands of locations in North America. Heartbeat Hot Sauce produces more than a million bottles per year, right here in Thunder Bay.

This hot sauce empire started quietly enough when Al Bourbouhakis, then a sous chef at Tomlin, and his wife Nancy Shaw, coowner of Tomlin, ended up with an overstock of 40 pounds of various hot peppers from a local farm in the fall of 2015. “We started playing around with them, deciding what kind of hot sauce we wanted to make for ourselves, and we’d gotten so many peppers that we realized we didn’t have enough refrigeration space or freezer space for them,” says Bourbouhakis. “So we figured out how to ferment them, just as a means to preserve them. And that ended up becoming a pretty big part of our story. Everything we do is fermented and really contributes to the product. It’s kind of a happy accident that we were forced into learning how to do that, out of necessity at the beginning.”

After trying a variety of peppers and a variety of methods in their home kitchen, they developed their red habanero hot sauce. “It was our

favourite pepper of all the different varieties we’d been given. Just the flavour of it was so great: really fruity and delicious and a nice amount of heat,” remembers Bourbouhakis. They started giving it away to friends, Tomlin co-workers, and a few regular customers, many of whom came back and asked if they could buy some more. “Some light bulbs started going off: ‘hey, maybe we could have a really super small little side hustle here.’”

That super small little side hustle got bigger and bigger. Shaw brought some logo concepts to local artist Sonya Lacroix as a surprise for Bourbouhakis’s birthday. “I think the name Heartbeat came to me because of how exciting the project felt and the alliteration made it stick in my mind,” says Shaw. “Sonya nailed it when she combined the pepper with the anatomical heart; we still love the Heartbeat logo as much as we did in 2015.” By 2017, Bourbouhakis and Shaw were spending 14-hour days in Tomlin’s kitchen when it was closed on Sundays, creating each batch from scratch using peppers grown at Debruin’s Greenhouses, and then bottling and writing the batch number on each label by hand over coffee at home the next morning.

The next step was signing a three-year lease for a storefront and production space on May Street and hiring a couple of employees.

 Al Bourbouhakis in the new Heartbeat Hot Sauce facility

Recent photo of Heartbeat Hot Sauce staff wearing the flannel the company collaborated on with Dixxon  (L-R) Al Bourbouhakis, Nancy Shaw, Darryl Hill, and Dylan Cologna

In 2018, New York specialty store Heatonist came calling, first asking about stocking Heartbeat and then catapulting the company into international exposure on the YouTube show Hot Ones , where celebs are interviewed while noshing on increasingly hot wings. “That initial order that they needed for the show was 2,500 units, which at that time was a far bigger order than we’d ever produced,” says Bourbouhakis. “I remember being super excited and also super nervous; I don’t know how we’re gonna pull this off.”

Heartbeat also began sponsoring a variety of athletes, from motocross to skateboarding to UFC, introducing the brand to another audience. “We started to realize all the parallels between high-energy entertainment and hot sauce,” says Bourbouhakis. “Hot sauce is exciting. It’s a little more exciting than mayonnaise and mustard and relish, right? It's kind of hard to speak of those things with a lot of enthusiasm. Whereas hot sauce is exhilarating. It’s fun, it’s cool, it’s edgy.”

Another key turning point was

when supermarket giants Loblaws and Sobeys started stocking Heartbeat. The bestsellers are the original red habanero, tied with pineapple habanero and dill pickle serrano, with newcomer “Camp Sauce” coming up fast. Today, the company has 18 employees in their new premises on Miles Street East, producing 15 (and counting—stay tuned for a spicy new collaboration, launching March 1) different hot sauces. Each bottle still contains a portion of all the peppers that DeBruin’s can grow, although Heartbeat’s success means

 Trailer belonging to the Supercross Team sponsored by Heartbeat Hot Sauce

they also need to buy peppers and other produce—about 350,000 pounds annually—from other Ontario farms. TBay artist Keenan Kosolowski designs the labels and merchandise. Bourbouhakis’s favourite reaction? “When people tell me that they don’t like hot sauce, but they eat our hot sauce on everything. It just puts a smile on my face, knowing that we created something that somebody doesn’t like as a concept, but we’ve managed to turn them on to it and make it part of their life every day.”

 Aerobatic pilot and Confederation College graduate Neil Harris, who Heartbeat Hot Sauce sponsors

THE GRINNING BELLY

The Joy of Paella

By Chef Rachel Bayes

“

Paella” originates from the Catalan language, derived from the word “paelle” meaning pan, stemming from the Latin word “patella,” also meaning pan. It’s a delightful, rice-based, Spanish culinary treasure exploding with vibrant flavours and colours. Like a celebration on a plate, this bonanza of everything-but-the-kitchen-sink is perfect for sharing with friends and loved ones, and conveniently, this recipe makes enough for eight.

Although there are countless paella variations, the OG recipe can be traced back to Valencia, nestled on the east coast of the Iberian Peninsula. Curiously, the traditional ingredient list includes chicken, rabbit, snails, green beans, tomatoes, and bell peppers—because, you know, we cook with what we have. Everything comes together suffused with the unmistakable aroma and elegant golden hue of saffron.

And, phew: like many of the recipes I share here, paella can easily be customized to suit different tastes and preferences; this is especially fantastic if you happen to be lacking snails or rabbits. Depending on the region or the cook's imaginative touch, different versions of paella may feature various meats, seafood, and vegetables.

No matter what ingredients you decide to throw in, you're guaranteed a belly-warming, smile-inducing meal that'll have everyone singing its praises at the table. If you're aiming to wow your guests with something truly special—a feast for the taste buds and the eyes—then this paella recipe is your golden ticket! It’s kind of a big deal with its lively colours, bold flavours, and festive vibe, and will definitely make your next gathering a tremendous success: rabbit, snails, or no.

Spicy (but not the OG) Paella Serves

1 dried New Mexican or Anaheim chili

1 tsp ground cumin

½ tsp ground cinnamon

2 garlic cloves, peeled 4 c chicken broth

1/4 tsp (6 threads) saffron

½ c chopped fresh cilantro

¼ c fresh lime juice

1 Tbsp olive oil

2 garlic cloves, minced

24 unpeeled large shrimp (about 2 pounds)

1 tsp olive oil

2 (3.5-ounce) andouille sausages, cut into ½“ pieces

2½ c finely chopped red bell pepper

2 c finely chopped onion

2 c sliced zucchini

1 c canned diced tomatoes, undrained

1 tsp hot paprika

¼ tsp salt

3 garlic cloves, minced

2 c uncooked Arborio rice or other short-grain rice

1 c frozen whole-kernel corn

8 lime (or lemon) wedges

For the broth, start by removing the stem and seeds from the chili. In a food processor, combine the chili, cumin, cinnamon, saffron, and two garlic cloves, processing until minced. Transfer the chili mixture to a saucepan, and add the broth. Bring it to a gentle simmer (avoid boiling), and keep it warm over low heat.

To prepare herb blend, combine cilantro, lime juice, olive oil, and two garlic cloves; set aside.

To get the paella party started, begin by peeling and deveining the shrimp, keeping the tails intact (if you’d like), and set them aside. Heat 1 tsp of oil in a large paella pan or skillet over medium heat. Sauté the sausages for 3 minutes, then remove them from the pan. Sauté the shrimp for 2 minutes, then remove them from the pan. Add bell pepper and onion, sautéing for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add zucchini and sauté for an additional 5 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, paprika, salt, and 3 garlic cloves, cooking for 5 minutes and scraping the browned bits off the bottom of the pan. Add rice and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Stir in reserved broth, herb blend, sausages, and corn; cook for 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Arrange shrimp in the rice mixture and cook for an additional 10 minutes*. Remove from heat, cover with a towel, and let it stand for 10 minutes. Serve with lime or lemon wedges

*To achieve the much sought-after socarrat (the crispy, savoury crust formed on the bottom layer of rice when paella is cooked just right), just turn up the heat in the final few minutes of cooking. Just don’t walk away from the stove—there’s a fine line between a perfect socarrat and a burnt pan.

The Golden Latte up shot coffeehouse

DRINK OF THE MONTH

Story by Jeannie Dubois, Photo by Jack Barten

Nestled in downtown Fort William, up shot coffeehouse has all the earmarks of a local gem. Order a scrumptious pastry, scratch-made soup, or tasty anytime sandwich alongside your locally roasted caffeine kick in the very cool starburst interior of the café, and your day is already at a 10. The beyond-compare Crystal has created a coffee concoction that can easily take it to an 11: the Golden Latte, with a Wolfhead espresso base that gets kicked up a notch with a turmeric syrup, boasting hints of cardamom and cinnamon. Add to that some cinnamon sugar and a wisp of black pepper topping and this latte is solid gold. Prefer tea? Just swap out the espresso for herbal tea laden with orange peel, lemon balm, lemon verbena, lemongrass, fennel, anise, hibiscus, elderberries, ginger, cloves, cinnamon, and orange blossom. Stay golden!

up shot coffeehouse

111½ May Street South 807-475-5454

Stronger Together

Superior Seasons Partners with 807 Food Co-op & Hub

Story by Sidney Ulakovic, Photos by Mel Cherry

“

Ithink we’re stronger together. It’s a popular phrase, but it’s true, right?” says Kevin Belluz, co-owner of Superior Seasons, of their newly launched partnership with 807 Food Co-op & Hub located in Dryden.

807 Food Co-op & Hub incorporated in 2021, and similarly to Superior Seasons, set out to empower communities in Northwestern Ontario by using food as a catalyst for change. For them, this meant promoting local producers to reduce food miles and grow the local economy, all while building community at the Hub through things like member lunch services and employment programs for underemployed youth and people with disabilities. “We’re connecting local producers with consumers and resources to build a resilient food system that supports the wellbeing and the prosperity of our communities,” says Bobbie Parr, coordinator and founding member of 807 Food Co-op & Hub.

According to Parr, the need to increase producer capacity in Dryden prompted the partnership with Superior Seasons. “One of the issues that we find is there’s a lot of aging farmers in our area,” Parr explains. “In the last five years, we’ve lost three out of the four biggest market producers.” Coupled with a short growing season, the challenge for the team at 807 Food Co-op & Hub became reducing the gaps in what they were able to offer, in order to get consumers and producers excited about the potential of the coop. “By partnering with Thunder Bay,

we can bring some of the products in to fill those gaps and then show the area that there is a demand for these offerings, and then hopefully spur more producers in Dryden and in this area to be able to produce,” says Parr.

As Superior Seasons and 807 Food Co-op & Hub work to align distribution times and efforts, both organizations are able to fortify their purpose through the partnership. In fostering this connection, Belluz says they’re able to strengthen a sustainable and ethical food system by giving Thunder Bay producers the opportunity to scale up and reach a new market, while also breaking through the barrier of transporting food in a cost-effective manner.

In turn, Dryden is able to extend their growing season, and increase selection and consistency of local food products to help maintain demand, allowing 807 Food Co-op to expand upon their community projects like the employment program.

For both organizations, this is hopefully the first step of many in being able to expand their reach. “If we have more variety and more volume, we’ll be able to reach, hopefully, institutions and larger markets, to be able to get some of these products moved around the region,” Parr says.

To learn more about 807 Food Co-op & Hub, visit their website at 807foodcoop.ca.

 An arrangement by the Riverview Lodge made with ingredients from 807 producers

 Maria Pepin, a volunteer at 807 Food Co-op & Hub, holding a crate of 807 produce and eggs

Spice, Spice Baby

SUPERIOR SIP

Picante Drinks and Cool Pairings

By Jeannie Dubois, Pommelier and Sommelier

Spicy, Stand-Alone Cocktails:

Method:

The Green Monster

Ingredients:

4 slices of cucumber

1 pea-sized dollop of wasabi paste

½ oz simple syrup

1½ oz gin

½ oz fresh squeezed lemon juice

In a cocktail shaker, muddle three cucumber slices with the wasabi and simple syrup. Fill a shaker with ice and add the gin and lemon juice. Shake well. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a slice of cucumber. Take a deep breath and enjoy!

Typically this time of year in our resplendent, northern sanctuary, more than a little heat is required to get us through the deep snows, chilly days, and grey skies. However, this year, the sun has shown its lovely face, the thermometer has been kind, and the snow

The Firecracker

Ingredients:

2 1-inch cubed seedless watermelon chunks

1½ oz aged rum

½ oz triple sec (or orange liqueur)

½ oz freshsqueezed lime juice

has inexcusably not piled up at all, thus rendering a hot spell not quite as necessary.

Still enamoured of spice? One hopes so, and to that effect perhaps we should all enjoy it now before the sun-drenched days of summer arrive and a more chill approach is obligatory.

½ oz simple syrup

⅙ tsp cayenne pepper

Lime wedge for garnish

Method:

In a cocktail shaker, muddle the watermelon. Add the remaining ingredients and fill with ice. Shake until well chilled. Stain into a rocks glass. Garnish with a lime wedge. Think cool thoughts and take a sip!

Chill Pairings with Your Hot Dish:

Wine:

Consider off-dry white or rosé wine; the residual sugar will balance out the heat in the food. Alternatively, a light and fresh red will counter the spice with its fruitiness, or any sparkling wine will help disperse the heat with bubbles.

Lily Sparkling Rosé

$17.95 for 750 ml

Beer:

Ms. CheladaMango

Ingredients:

6 oz Corona or light Mexican lager

¾ oz mango juice

1½ oz silver tequila

½ oz spicy Clamato

Dash of Cholula or other Mexican hot sauce

Half a lime, juiced Blend of salt and chili pepper

Lime wedges for garnish and rim

Method:

Run a lime wedge around the rim of a Collins glass then dip it in the mix of salt and chili for the rim. Fill the glass with ice and add lime juice, hot sauce, clamato, tequila, mango juice, and beer. Stir gently to combine. Garnish with a lime wedge. Dive in and have a drink!

The obvious choice is any dark beer, which has a rich and malty core to countermand the spice. However, if you’re not a stout drinker, a light and crisp lager can help cleanse the palate, especially if it’s soundly carbonated. Interestingly, there is science that says that a hoppy IPA does the trick too.

Town Brewery Quick One Lager

$3.55 for 473 ml

Whether you wish to whip up something spicy to quaff after a cool afternoon on the slopes or trails, or if you need to quell the heat of an aromatic dish you’ve just spent a sunny indoor afternoon cooking, look no further—solutions to the spice are here.

Method:

Penicillin

Ingredients:

3 slices of fresh ginger

¾ oz honey syrup*

2 oz blended scotch whisky

¾ oz fresh squeezed lemon juice

¼ oz peaty

Islay single malt whisky

In a cocktail shaker, muddle ginger and honey syrup. Add ice, blended scotch and lemon juice. Shake to chill. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice. Slowly pour Islay single malt whisky to float on top. Then take your medicine!

*To make honey syrup, just add ½ cup honey to ½ cup water in a saucepan over medium heat and stir until the honey is dissolved.

Drinks:

Alcohol increases the intensity of heat in a dish, so go light and low if you’re pairing cocktails with spicy food. Best choices include spritzy seltzers and fruity ciders, although if you want to be a daredevil, serve up a stinging slinger to amp it all up.

Sandbagger Boysenberry

Hard Seltzer

$2.95 for 355 ml

Small Seeds, Big Gifts

By Evalisa McIllfaterick, Root Cellar Gardens/ Superior Seed Producers

For gardening enthusiasts, choosing which seeds to plant each spring is an exercise in hope and creativity—a chance to grow and try new things. While the important practice of questioning where our food comes from has become common, it is much rarer to stop and think about where our seeds come from.

A hundred years ago, it was safe to say our seeds came from our own gardens or those of our neighbours, friends, or family. By the 1970s, most seeds used in North American gardens and farms were purchased through seed companies. Today, four multinational companies control 60% of the global seed market. These companies breed and produce seeds, selling them either directly to farmers or to seed retailers, who then distribute the seed to farmers, gardeners, or to other retail seed companies. Transparency is lacking— unlike the first seed companies of days gone by, it is not common practice to indicate on packages where the seed was grown.

Thinking about (and finding out) where your seed comes from can be hard, not only because the information is difficult to find, but also because it is heavy and complex. Even though seeds are little, they are unwittingly embroiled in some big issues. Seeds sit at the intersection of health, justice, and sustainability. They may be small, but without them, there would be no food. One of the best ways to know where your seed comes from, to feel empowered to work through complex issues, and to increase your chances to eat vineripened tomatoes is to plant, grow, and save regionally adapted seeds.

The last 100 years has seen us largely hand over the responsibility of caring for seeds to corporations. Unfortunately, in letting go of our own seed saving practices, we have lost our ability to take advantage of one of seeds’ greatest super-powers: their ability to adapt. When seeds

are grown year after year in the same place, they evolve to be their best selves in that place. When that place is a distant industrial farm, those seeds are not primed to thrive in our Northwestern Ontario gardens. However, when you save seeds from the plants that did best in your garden each year, you provide them a chance to adapt. You plant them, they grow, you save them, you plant

them, they grow a little bit better, you save them….

This evolution, in place, over time, is what people mean when they talk about regionally adapted seed. In our short-season area, this can mean the difference between eating ripe tomatoes off the vine and ending up with boxes of green tomatoes that you don’t know what to do with. Folks are catching on to this delicious

difference—the Thunder Bay + Area

Food Strategy’s 2023 Community Food System Report Card noted an 800% increase in purchases of regionally adapted seed since 2015. This spring, as you ponder what to plant in your garden, consider growing regionally adapted seeds, and saving them, and planting them again next year.

Spring is the best time of year to find regionally adapted seeds. To learn more, swap seeds, and to connect with local seed savers and producers, visit Seedy Saturday events on March 2 at Roots CFC and April 6 at the Nolalu Community Centre. Check out Superior Seed Producers online for more info about seed saving and events, and head to the Thunder Bay + Area Food Strategy’s 2023 Community Food System Report Card for more information about seeds in our community.

Rice N Spice Heritage

East Indian Grocery Store Offers Extensive Selection of Imported Food

Review by Susan Pretty, Photos by Adrian Lysenko

Vivek Krishnan and Haritha Suresh, the proud owners of Rice N Spice Heritage, extend a warm invitation to the community to visit this familyowned grocery store offering a delightful culinary journey through the flavours of India.

Vivek, who arrived in Thunder Bay as an international student from India a decade ago, understands the longing for familiar flavours. Back then, options for Indian food and groceries were limited. With unwavering support from family and friends, Rice N Spice Heritage was born—a tribute to India’s staple food, rice, and its incredible spices.

For busy days, explore their range of ready-to-eat items,

crafted using Japanese retort technology, a preservative-free process that allows cooked, sealed foods to safely be kept at room temperature for up to a year. From freezer-friendly meals to pre-prepared batters for dosas, convenience meets taste at Rice N Spice Heritage. Try the lentils in a lightly spiced sauce—they’re a delightful treat—or the idly with chutney for a quick and easy bite.

The freezer contains products from breads to vegetables and cut fish; everything is conveniently prepared and ready to go. And if you haven’t tried the lime pickle, you’re in for a flavourful surprise! As well, a whole wall of snack paradise awaits you, laden with tasty treats. Don’t miss the spicy

plantain chips—they’re the perfect crunchy indulgence. Pair them with a refreshing Thums Up soda from the fridge.

Whether you’re a seasoned cook or a curious food enthusiast, this store has you covered. With their extensive selection of authentic ingredients imported from India, you can say goodbye to the frustration of missing key components of your favourite curries. All the essentials are available here, ensuring your dishes burst with flavour and aroma.

Rice N Spice Heritage

234 Cumberland Street North 807-356-9110

 (L–R) Vivek Krishnan, Haritha Suresh, Suresh Kumar, and Beena Suresh

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Whether you are a builder or building your dream, our team of construction and real estate lawyers are here to help review contracts, assist with planning and bylaw matters, deal with lien claims, and more.

For more information about our team and what we do, give us a call or visit ericksonsllp.com

Sushi 7

Story

and photo

by Jack Barten

Traditional Japanese cuisine is not only an increasingly trendy genre in the global food scene, it’s also incredibly delicious. This past October, Thunder Bay was blessed with a new Japanese restaurant in the form of Sushi 7, and this month we took a look at their wonderful tonkotsu black ramen.

When this ramen bowl is first presented to you, you will no doubt be in awe. With wavy noodles, a

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marinated soft-boiled egg, pork belly chashu, black garlic oil, bean sprouts, green onion, and nori, everything one could ever love in a ramen is here. The base for all those aforementioned ingredients is a pork bone broth. To make the broth, pork bones are cooked down for over ten hours, making for a rich and deeply flavoured broth with notes of salt and smokiness. It gets even better with the pork belly chashu, which

elevates all the other components, adds a great bit of texture, and further enhances the flavours of the broth. The bean sprouts and green onions break up the richness and keep the ramen feeling fresh and light. However, it’s impossible not to rave about the marinated egg. A Japanese marinated egg, also known as a ramen egg, is a soft-boiled egg typically marinated overnight in a sweetened soy sauce. This adds wonderful umami flavours to the ramen and will no doubt please the traditional ramen crowd.

Overall, every component of this ramen comes together to make for

a comforting dining experience. The smoky and decadent pork flavours combine with the fresh vegetables to make for the perfect spring ramen dish. When you first venture to Sushi 7, it is easy to jump straight to their incredible sushi menu. However, their tonkotsu black ramen is not only a great reason to try something new, but it is also the perfect dish to get you through a Thunder Bay spring.

Sushi 7

1072 Oliver Road Unit 2

807-767-2152

You deserve to live a life free from violence.

Tell Me on a Sunday

A Hidden Andrew Lloyd Webber Gem Premiers at Magnus

By Taylor Onski

In the same way spring welcomes new flowers after the snow, Magnus Theatre will be welcoming the Canadian premiere of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s sung-through musical, Tell Me on a Sunday, to their stage this March.

Originally titled Song and Dance in the 1980s, Tell Me on a Sunday is a feel-good and hopeful onewoman show about a British woman coming to the big city for career opportunities, new adventures, and possibly love. This show marks the return to Magnus of Renaissance couple Gabi Epstein (as The Girl) and Jeremy Lapalme (in the role of assistant director, alongside Thom Currie).

“[It’s] almost like a diary, you could say, and people can decide if the story is a love letter to a person, or maybe to herself.” says Epstein, who was last seen at Magnus as the

Add some spice to your life with a cup of chili chocolate tea!

Tell Me on a Sunday will be back in familiar territory thanks to Lloyd Webber’s timeless music. “One thing that Andrew Lloyd Webber does well is that his music really helps people connect with different parts of themselves,” says Lapalme, who is returning to Magnus after playing Sancho Panza in Magnus’s 2022 actorMan of La

. “Even if you don’t know the songs, you’ll definitely know the

Needless to say, Epstein and Lapalme are looking forward to bringing this new story to Canadian soil. But mostly, they are hoping to find those moments in the show that will inspire audiences to remember this story beyond the theatre.

“I think people will find pieces of themselves throughout the show in the challenges they face when life puts you at a crossroads.” says Lapalme. “I think they will come out of this looking forward to

the challenges ahead with hope, optimism, and a can-do spirit of adventure.”

Tell Me on a Sunday runs at Magnus Theatre from March 7–30. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit magnustheatre.com or call 807-345-5552.

Gabi Epstein, who plays “The Girl” in Tell Me on a Sunday

Spicy Films

By Michael Sobota

WTHE SECOND MOST PLEASURABLE THING WE DO IN THE DARK

A COLUMN ABOUT MOVIES

“I added some spices for flavour to the sauce, and coriander for garnish and freshness.”

“But why change a recipe that is 200 years old?”

“Because, Madam, maybe 200 years is long enough.”

-Hassam (Manish Dayal) and Madam Mallory (Helen Mirren) having a spicy exchange about cooking in The Hundred Foot Journey

e have just celebrated Valentine’s Day and are eagerly pursuing the return of spring on March 21, with all those lusty urges of romance, renewal and, well, sex. Here are four movies that celebrate romantic, serious sexual love, one of which also takes place in two restaurants just one hundred feet apart.

Eyes Wide Shut (1999)

This is Stanley Kubrick’s final film; he died just four days after submitting his final cut version to Warner Brothers. While I don’t consider it his best film, it is a serious examination of love and sex in adult relationships. He directed from a script co-written with Frederic Raphael, based on Arthur Schnitzler’s Dream Story. In the novel, a married couple’s relationship unravels when the wife reveals she has been having erotic dreams about other men and the husband admits to an extramarital affair. Kubrick sets the story in modern America. The husband and wife are played by Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman (real-life partners at the time of making the film). While the examination of marital infidelities is central in the film, the disclosure is exploited by Kubrick filming an elaborate orgy staged in a lavish mansion. Kubrick filmed open, naked sexual acts that were censored with blacked out figures for the U.S. release after his death. It is Kidman whose performance shines in this movie. Cruise, not so much.

Monster’s Ball (2001)

Film critic Roger Ebert considered this “the best film of 2001.”

Directed by Marc Forster from a script co-written by Milo Addica and Will Rokos, it is a harrowing story about a racist prison guard (Billy Bob Thorton), his son (Heath Ledger, in a brief, gripping performance), and the Black wife (Halle Berry) of a prisoner who the guard puts to death in the electric chair. At the heart of the film, Thorton and Berry’s characters have a knock-down, all-out raw, sexual scene. This was done before intimacy advisors were even thought of in the industry. The scene is both heartbreaking and heart-opening and transforms the characters, and turns the rest of the film into a deeply moving examination of race, love, and what their future may hold. The director and writers play cameo roles in the film. Halle Berry won the Best Actress Oscar for her performance.

Blue Valentine (2010)

In Hollywood careers that have spanned decades and dozens of films, Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams give two of their finest performances from the early period of their careers. Blue Valentine is a story about an adult marriage that is slowly coming apart. Derek Cianfrance directs from a script he co-wrote with Joey Curtis and Camy Delavigne. The story alternates between the past, when Gosling’s and Williams’s characters first meet and fall happily, giddily in love, and present day, where things are unravelling. We experience all the joys and enthusiasm of their young love and the steady, daily drumbeat of their later marriage that dulls and then chafes at both of them. Again, at the core of the film is a tastefully beautiful sex scene that begins in their shower, exemplifying the chemistry that these characters have between them, the unabashed performances from Gosling and Williams, and the intimate confidence they were able to deliver as actors.

The Hundred-Foot Journey (2014)

This is a story about two families, two restaurants, and two young lovers each of whom come from completely different cultures. And while there is a significant love story developed within the plot, the spice here is all about the food and its preparation. An Indian family, headed by Papa (Om Puri) and his talented aborning chef son Hassan (Manish Dayal), flee their homeland and find themselves in France, ensconced in a small village. Papa decides to purchase an old building and open a restaurant. Challenges arise when they realize they will be in direct competition with a French restaurant directly across the street, which has a Michelin Star and is run by the imperious Madame Mallory (Helen Mirren). Further complications arise when the Madam entices Hassan to become an apprentice chef under her tutelage and he works side-by-side with a female chef, Marguerite (Charlotte Le Bon). Sparks fly and the romance simmers. Will these families find a way toward peaceful relations and sharing a meal together? This is a straightforward, engaging, crosscultural rom-com.

And here are six more spicy or seriously sexy movies to help you prepare for spring: Fatal Attraction (1987), Boogie Nights (1997), Cruel Intentions (1999), A Touch of Spice (2003), Closer (2004), and Good Luck to You, Leo Grande (2022).

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 (L-R) L-R Teoman Amishev, Ginette Roy, and Cara O'Brien

 (L-R) Dani Winters and Teoman Amishev

 (L-R) Ariana McLean, Dani Winters, Austin Campbell, and Ben Albert

A Magical Moment

Cambrian Players to Perform The Snow Queen

Story by Sidney Ulakovic, Photos by Matthew Goertz

It’s a nostalgic, warm, cosy storytime for when you’re in the dark parts of winter,” says director Jessica Graham of Cambrian Player’s upcoming production of The Snow Queen Cambrian’s 74th season will resume this March as they revisit The Snow Queen with an adaptation written by Charles Way. Graham, whose background lies mostly in filmmaking, will make her directorial debut with Cambrian Players with this production.

“Instead of the main characters being children like in a lot of adaptations, this really focuses on teenagers kind of finding their way into early adulthood,” says Graham, of what drew her to the adaptation. “It just felt like a more fun area to kind of play around with. It’s got a lot of funny moments and wit—it’s comedic as well as epic.” The production will also welcome actor Danielle Winters, who brings her wealth of previous theatre experience to the Cambrian stage for the first time as the play’s protagonist, Gerta. “Gerta struggles a bit with trying to grow up too quickly,” Winters says. “A lot of the story is realizing that, yes, she can become an adult but also hold on to the parts of her childhood that truly make her who she is.”

Graham says the play deals predominantly with winter motifs, being The Snow Queen and all, but the story weaves through all the seasons. “It’s more like a

 (L-R) Teoman Amishev and Cara O’Brien

wintery Wizard of Oz,” Graham says. While this production is not aimed specifically at children, Graham says that it’s certainly a family show, with something for audience members of any age to enjoy.

“The fun of the play so far is coming from [the cast] trying to make each other laugh, and it’s creating this awesome, magical moment,” Graham says. Aside from showcasing the cast’s chemistry when showtime rolls around, Graham is also hoping to capture some magic with the production’s set design. According to Graham, Cambrian performed The Snow Queen once before in 1980, with the set drawings for that production being done by the late Marianne Wahl, a lifetime member of Cambrian Players. The overall aesthetics of the upcoming production will be inspired by Wahl’s designs. Graham and the cast look forward to paying homage to Wahl’s contributions to local theatre with these performances of The Snow Queen

The Snow Queen will open on March 6 and run until March 9, returning after a quick break to show once more from March 13 to March 16. Tickets are available to purchase online at cambrianplayers. eventbrite.ca.

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Grease

Triple Threat Teens Bring a Classic Back to the Paramount

By Taylor Onski

Grease is a rite of passage musical production for theatre kids. For me, it was Paramount Live’s 2014 production. Ten years later, I am thrilled to pass the baton (or poodle skirt) to this next generation of talent in Paramount Live’s revival of Grease

Originally set to premiere in 2020, the production had to take a COVID hiatus. Now, with Jessica Smith (Rizzo) and Cooper Fraser (Roger) from the 2020 cast, 20 young adults will welcome audiences to Rydell High in their own unique way.

“I think the musical is very different from the movie, so it’s been cool to get to know the original story,” says Charlotte Pye, who plays Sandy. “There are so many different characters that anybody seeing this will relate to something, and that’s really beautiful.”

While blending classic songs from the film such as “Greased Lightnin’” and "Summer Nights”

with the original musical’s comical ballad “Mooning” by Roger and the jazzy “Freddy My Love,” this iteration will still have audiences jumping and hand-jiving along.

“[The rehearsals] definitely push us,” says Teoman Amishev, who plays Kenickie. “The dances are very complex, but I enjoy that struggle of the dances more than doing something simple because it forces you to do the best version of what you can do.”

Though this cast may not have been around to celebrate Grease’s initial release, they are all wise enough to know its legacy and what it means to bring a classic to life but still, in the words of Jessica Smith, “give it our own flair and make it special.”

“Everyone knows Grease, or at least the music,” says Don Gonzalo Mercado, who plays Danny. “I’m trying to find my place in it. What can I bring to it? Which is the fun of

it—bringing me to Danny.”

Calling these teens dedicated to creating their own take is an understatement. This classic is in good hands with the inaugural master-class students at Paramount Live. “These kids are our triple threats,” says production co-director Tegin Menei. “Our goal with this group is to find those kids in our senior programming that want to pursue this professionally and take musical theatre with them for the rest of their lives. So we feel we have

to hold them to a certain standard of excellence so that we can foster that passion and set them up for success.”

Grease runs from March 27–30 at the Paramount Theatre. To purchase tickets, visit paramountlive.eventbrite.ca. For more information on Paramount Live and their programming, please visit them on Facebook and Instagram @ParamountLive.

 Charlotte Pye and Don Gonzalo Mercado

 The cast of Grease

We

ASSESS

UNCOVER

ENHANCE

20 Years of Super Glam Diva Power

Story by Jimmy Wiggins, Photo by I. Love

When it comes to icons of drag in Thunder Bay, there’s no question of who comes to mind first. This queen has performed at festivals and clubs all over the city, has opened for shock-rock bands and been featured on albums, writes her own poetry, reads stories to children, and, according to the readers of this very publication, has been the city’s favourite queen more years running than any other. She’s a huge reason why there’s drag in Thunder Bay today, she’s highly respected by the entire drag community, many of whom lovingly refer to her as “Nana,” and she’s been one of my best and closest friends for nearly two decades. Her name is Lady Fantasia LaPremiere, a.k.a. John Forget.

The origin story of Fantasia is one of sci-fi, fantasy, and spreading a message of peace, love and pride. “Fantasia is the Princess of the Glamazonian Empire, which is a galaxy far from here,” explains Forget. “Her spirit was sent over because of an encounter with an evil being from that universe. She merged with John Forget and became Lady Fantasia LaPremiere with the sole mission to bring peace for every being, love to all things, and the power to be undoubtedly proud in oneself.”

Fantasia got her drag start while working at the Voodoo Lounge, Thunder Bay’s last gay bar, nearly 20 years ago. “It was Pride in the North and the staff were instructed to dress in drag. I looked like a schoolgirl pirate,” Forget says. “That night, they were hosting the drag competition and only had the reigning queen competing. Someone came up to me and said, ‘No one is competing against the queen, you have to do a number.’ I remember like it happened yesterday. The song I chose was ‘I Wanna Be Bad’ by Willa Ford.”

This was well before RuPaul’s

CONFESSIONS OF A DRAG DEALER

Drag Race, and back then drag gigs were few and far between. So when an opportunity came up, it was a big deal, and people would go wild at these shows. “The first time I ever did a show, I felt like I had arrived,” says Forget. “My friends and I had spent weeks rehearsing in my garage. By that point, the Voodoo Lounge had burnt down, and we had these community hall dances called ‘socials.’ I was asked to fill the opening spot. I had no idea what I was doing, no one willing to show me the ropes, but my friends and I put on a show! I don’t think I was ever a typical drag queen. People enjoyed the un-polished tone of my drag. It was loud, wild, and not out of any box you could find around here.”

Fantasia is known not only as a great performer, but as a lip sync assassin. Her laser focus on the words to the songs are what drive her performances. “What I have always taken pride in is my ability to lip sync,” says Forget, “I may not have always been the most polished queen, but I have always known the words to my songs. I don’t care how done up you are, if you mess up the words, it ruins the illusion.”

Over many years, Fantasia has become a legend in the drag community, having been a part of each wave of drag performers to hit Thunder Bay. She’s brought so much love and joy to the stage and to those around her. “It’s wild to think it’s been 20 years of cross dressing,” says Forget. “TBay has an incredible scene and I’m so glad to be a part of it. It is so special to me. I’ve seen a lot of drag kids come through here. Some have moved on to other drag adventures, while others don’t touch the stage anymore. There are so many good memories. I am thankful this is my life. Everything I have ever accomplished I have done so because of the love of some good friends and a chosen family that I am forever grateful for.”

Catch Lady Fantasia LaPremiere’s 20-Year Dragiversary Show, March 23 at Black Pirates Pub.

Lady Fantasia LaPremiere

TheArts

Art that Walks the Walk

Def Sup’s Derelicte 14 – A Fashion Odyssey

By Amy Sellors

Fire up your senses— Definitely Superior Art Gallery’s Derelicte 14 –A Fashion Odyssey is back! Derelicte is where wearable art, fashion, dance, music, drag, and performance comingle with runway models and contemporary design elements. The event—a fundraiser for DefSup and their media and volunteer partner LU Radio 102.7FM—takes place this year at Black Pirates Pub on March 30, and will feature 32 acts, four live bands, DJs, seven local fashion houses, 10 wearable art premiere performance pieces, 10 specialty performance acts, and much more. Last year, over 600 people enthusiastically embraced this one-of-a-kind, original event, and this year promises to be just as big.

If you’ve never attended Derelicte, it’s unlike anything you may have seen before.

“You get the wearable art, you get the fashion, the music, the performance. You get everything in a beautiful bubble. It’s everchanging and interesting,” says Renee Terpstra, DefSup’s development/administrator. There’s a whole sequence to Derelicte : three catwalk presentations of wearable art and fashion, with music in between. The audience experiences all aspects of the

event in each set, and each set is different. When the invited artists have finished their time on the catwalk, the DJ and the public take over, and everyone dances. The event starts at 8 pm, but no matter what time you arrive, you’re in for an amazing experience.

While Derelicte is absolutely for new and established artists, it’s also a place for the audience to explore their own creative minds. Attendees are encouraged to wear their best “art-fashion”; there is even a Best DIY Fashion costume contest, in which the top audience looks are selected to stomp the runway, and the best outfit wins a prize. “It’s a place where you [can] express yourself and your own individuality with your fashion/ artistic sense.” says Terpstra. “You and your uniqueness will fit in at Derelicte.”

You might expect to see this type of event in New York City, but Thunder Bay’s artistic community pulls out all the stops. “The talent in Thunder Bay is really high” says David Karasiewicz, DefSup’s executive/ artistic director. “We’ve been doing wearable art for a long time. It began with Rebecca Belmore at the beginning of DefSup in the late 1980s. She has a piece on display at the Art

 Wearable art by Barbara Benwell, modelled by Ray Atwood

 Forever Dead

 Army of Sass

 Faux Rocious of Thunder Bay Drag Kings & Queens

 Cassandra Rhodes of Bay World Dance Collective

Dan Ventrudo

David Wragg

Ascension

Kay Lee

Flashback Photo

TheArts

Gallery of Ontario. Wearable art is socio-politically important; it takes it to another aspect of art that’s starting to get a lot of attention.”

“What people wear, what the fashion houses present, and the performances—they’re really working it. They’re not just walking down the catwalk,” he adds. “Performance is experiential. It stays with you. When you do something on stage, you might be impacting someone forever.”

DefSup has always pushed the boundaries of art, and this event is no different. And the artists who participate in Derelicte grow and evolve from their involvement. “Fashion, costume, and wearable art is a continuum. Some things blend

and some things go further,” says Terpstra. “I believe that communities are less insular because there are so many new ideas online. People enjoy a holistic combination of different genres in one event.”

Art is about where your imagination takes you, and wearable art is your imagination in motion. “It’s better than going to a store and shopping. You see artists in motion expressing themselves,” says Terpstra.

Derelicte 14 – A Fashion Odyssey takes place at Black Pirates Pub on March 30 at 8 pm. Entry is $20 at the door. For more information, visit definitelysuperior.com.

 Wearable art by Luc Despres

 Wearable art by Silver Cedar Studio

 Wearable art by Michel Dumont

 Wearable art by Hannah Doxtater Wynn

 stardrop

Flashback Photo

InCompass Photography

InCompass Photography

Chondon Photography Peter David Wragg

Some Things You Just Have to Shoot Your Way Out Of

By Penelope Smart, Curator, Thunder Bay Art Gallery

Artist: Ruth Cuthand

Title: Some Things You Just Have to Shoot Your Way Out Of

Date 1989

Medium: Oil on canvas

Size: 51 x 68 inches

Collection of the Thunder Bay Art Gallery, purchased with the assistance of the Ministry of Culture and Communications, 1989

In honour of International Women’s Day on March 8, this month we’re featuring a large-scale painting by artist Ruth Cuthand (b. 1954, Plains Cree, Scottish, Irish, Canadian),

whose beadwork has been up in the gallery for the past six months as part of Radical Stitch Cuthand is an influential feminist and force of creativity whose art practice spans decades. “As a child, my first art materials included the orange paper that was discarded in the processing of the Polaroid chest X-rays that we were subjected to annually as students in routine tuberculosis screenings,” she states on her website. “Early fascination with disease, First Nations living conditions, and settler/Native relationships informed by childhood

FROM THE THUNDER BAY ART GALLERY’S COLLECTION

experiences have become key elements in my creative practice, which has encompassed printmaking, painting, drawing, photography, and beadwork.”

Cuthand’s earlier work includes a series called Ghost Dance, consisting of paintings of shirts and dresses that draw on a religious movement of Plains First Nations people of the 19th century known as the "Ghost Dance Religion." She began painting these shirts in 1983. Her art depicts historical, mythical, and personal stories, including mental health and the COVID-19 pandemic.

This painting recently returned to the gallery after being on loan in the major exhibition Indian Theatre, curated by Candice Hopkins, at the Hessel Museum of Art at Bard College in New York.

Engagement Through Art

Unique Residency Puts Artists in Public Schools

Story by Adrian Lysenko, Photos courtesy of Christopher Merkely

Julia Mills recalls having somewhat of an “aha” moment when

Thunder Bay artist John Mackett visited her public school many years ago. “I remember him coming into my grade five class. That’s when we were learning medieval times, and we made medieval costumes,” she says. “I still remember that in my mind so vividly, and now I’m doing that.”

That moment helped plant the seed for Mills, now a visual artist, that pursuing art as a profession was possible. Now, she and two other young artists are hoping to plant that same seed for other students through a unique residency. Mills, along with Nathan Cross and Ashlyn Chilson, are involved in a residency program through the Community Arts Heritage Education Project (CAHEP) that began last November. The three artists have been placed in three different schools: Ogden Community School, St. James Public School, and Sherbrooke Public School.

“We have developed relationships with these three schools in the past through other programs and grant funding,” says Chris Merkley, CAHEP co-director. “As far as I am aware, this is being done in only one other spot in Canada, on Vancouver Island.”

CAHEP, a non-profit arts organization based in Thunder Bay, received the funding for the threeyear program from the Johansen Larsen Foundation. The artists are each linked to a specific school, working with grades four to six (varying slightly in each school because of half classes), exploring eco-art and environmental topics through various art media and projects.

“Residency is something that interested me because of the opportunity of getting into schools, but also being able to have a different experience than, say, working in the studio at home by myself, being able to go into a school and share whatever knowledge I can with kids and also learn some stuff myself,” Chilson says. “Doing arts by yourself is one thing, but with younger audiences, say, grade three to six, it is completely different. It’s a fun

challenge and opportunity.”

The residency, originally designed by former CAHEP director Clara Sacchetti-Dufresne, has each artist in 10 in-class sessions and 10 instudio sessions throughout the school year. The in-studio sessions have the school providing space for the artist to work on a piece (or pieces) of their own, falling under an “eco umbrella” theme, allowing any of the classes to visit them and see them at work.

For her residency, Mills is focusing on printmaking—specifically linocuts, a print made from a design cut into a mounted piece of linoleum. With her background in 2D animation and digital art, Chilson’s project is more digital-based, creating an animated GIF, frame-by-frame, animated with environments and animals that students have chosen, talking about population and how it affects them. As for Cross, whose primary background is sculpture and ceramics, his in-studio project is working in Ogden’s library on a sturgeon sculpture composed of recyclable material.

Especially after forming a rapport with the students, Cross says it’s rewarding to see their confidence grow. “They’re always in a good mood; I mean, sometimes there’s that hesitancy for some to start a project,” he says. “I remember being that young and looking at a blank page and [they’re] just so scared and don’t know what to do, and many of them just love it at the end.”

Even though the first year of the residency is not yet complete, all three artists agree on how rewarding the experience has been so far. “People actually recognize you, and the classrooms are excited to see you. And you kind of build this relationship with the staff and students, and they start engaging with you a lot more,” Chilson says. “It’s like you have your whole hype crew for you when you walk in. [...] That’s something that is not going to happen at my home or at any other residency I’ve seen yet.”

For more information, visit cahep.ca.

Artist Nathan Cross

TheArts

Catching the Wave

Minnesota Photographer

Christian Dalbec Captures Unique Views of Superior

Story by Bonnie Schiedel, Photos by Christian Dalbec

Christian Dalbec got into photography while wearing a courtordered ankle bracelet. After many years of alcoholism, he knew it was time to change his life. “I needed something to do with my brain. […] I had an ankle bracelet on because of the trouble I was in [but] I was able to go out and walk every day with the dog.” He lived near Minnesota’s Two Harbors point, so that 20-minute outing became his focus. “I always wanted to try to capture something each day where you couldn’t tell that I was in the same area, and try to get creative and get different angles.” Soon, he says, “The camera became my new addiction.”

That turning point came in 2012. “In the beginning, I was wondering: what is my subject going to be if I’m gonna be a photographer? And there it was, right there: Lake Superior. I grew up next to it my entire life, but never [had seen] it the way that I saw it once I started capturing it.” Self-taught, with some mentoring by fellow professional photographer John Gregor, Dalbec began posting his pictures on social media and selling them through his website, with his wife Kara handling the business end of things. In 2015, one of his Facebook followers suggested that he try to take pictures of waves in the manner of Australian photographer Ray Collins. Dalbec was initially hesitant, wanting to protect his expensive camera gear, but was also intrigued by the idea of a niche no one else in the area was yet covering. He had learned how to scuba dive as a teenager and had even

worked in a scuba shop, so decided to get a wetsuit and give it a try.

Dalbec’s first in-water attempts included using GoPro at Park Point Beach in Duluth, where he captured the iconic lift bridge framed by a wave. “I thought, ‘Man, this is epic, I have got to order the housing.’” He added a waterproof plastic surround called a water housing to his camera, and started trying to shoot images of waves in midcurl while swimming in Lake Superior. After a close call with big waves, he learned how to duck dive like surfers do: “The wave is like a tire coming in. It’s wheeling in, and when you dive under at the right time it shoots you right out the back of it and you’re safe.”

Recently Dalbec has started doing more video work, and was an underwater videographer for the 2023 documentary A Sea Change for Superior, filming beneath the swimmers who did the 80-kilometre relay swim between Split Rock and Duluth. On land, Dalbec also loves landscape and wildlife photography, especially owls and the northern lights.

A dozen years into his new life, Dalbec is still going strong. “[My photography grew] out of a bad situation that turned into a good situation and turned my life around completely.”

To see more of Christian Dalbec’s work or learn about gallery exhibits and studio tours, visit christiandalbec.com or @christiandalbec_ photogallery on Instagram.

 Framed in Fall

 Gooseberry Dance  Hook and Curl

TheArts

Tech Specs

Camera: Nikon D850, D810 and D500 with water housings by AquaTech Imaging Solutions

Video camera: RED Digital Cinema Komodo with water housing by Salty Surf Housings

 Billions and Billions

 Fawn Day Out

 Tettegouche Big Wave

 Little Spirit Tree

 The Rock  Rock Bottom  Photographer Christian Dalbec

The Juried and Honours Exhibitions

Artwork of LU Students Ushers in Spring at the AG

By Kat Lyzun

Ahighly anticipated show returns to the Thunder Bay Art Gallery this spring. The Lakehead University Student Juried Exhibition and Honours Exhibition have staggered start dates, but officially open together on April 5.

While the Juried Exhibition features art selected from submissions by students enrolled in any visual arts courses, the Honours Exhibition features themed work from graduating Honours Bachelor of Fine Arts (HBFA) students, who work directly with gallery curator Penelope Smart to select and display their pieces. “Visitors can expect to get a sense of student work of all types: painting, sculpture, beadwork, drawing, textiles. It’s a big show and there’s a lot to see,” says Smart. “The Thunder Bay Art Gallery is often the place where local art students show their work to the public for the first time. This is a big step on any student’s path to becoming a professional artist.”

Third-year visual arts BA student Keerstin Guinto had pieces in the Juried Exhibition last year, and hopes

to have submissions from both of her studios—drawing and painting— selected this year. “Having my work shown at the juried show feels like an honour, and most importantly, a privilege,” she says. “Not every student who creates art gets to have the experience of seeing it up at a gallery for the public and loved ones to see. I feel very thankful that Lakehead and the Thunder Bay Art Gallery have made concerted efforts to lift up artists in their community.”

Emma Dagenais, a secondyear HBFA student majoring in ceramics and painting, agrees. She also had pieces in last year’s show and appreciated experiencing what it’s like to submit work for a gallery evaluation. It’s also fantastic for fostering a sense of community among students. “We get together to get advice from our peers on which pieces we should submit. Then the excitement of seeing the list when they announce which pieces were chosen, and finally seeing your classmates’ work properly displayed in a gallery setting really gives everyone a sense of pride in

 Silent Echoes: Mental Agony, Veritie Beauvais

 Dual Realms: Fire and Serenity, Veritie Beauvais

 Nature’s Gaze, McKenna Wesley

 DiCarlo’s Hardware Store, Emma Visser-Dicarlo

our program,” she says.

Emma Visser-DiCarlo is in her final year of the HBFA program and preparing to show her paintings and sculptures in the Honours Exhibition. “I chose to focus on my childhood and imagination,” she says. “With both media, I am depicting places in my life where I spent the most time as a kid. This year I found my painting style, drawn to vivid colours with fun linework, inspired by expressionism. For sculpture, I am focusing on building miniatures out of wood and clay.”

Smart says the relationship with Lakehead art students is an important one for the art gallery. “We love how the gallery can play a role in a student's career, from their first juried show [to their] graduating show, and sometimes their first professional solo show! We value the meaningful connection with the visual arts department at LU.”

The Lakehead University Student Juried Exhibition runs March 15–April 28. The Honours Exhibition runs March 22–May 5. Both exhibitions open together on April 5 from 7–9 pm.

TheArts

 A Toxic Tale in Aquatic Life, McKenna Wesley  In My Own World, Emma Visser-Dicarlo

One More Night in the Canyon

Musings on Surviving Northern Winters, Friendship, and Living in the Present

Story and photo by Tyler Sklazeski

The scream came first, bouncing off the granite cliffs that sat just out of sight above the distant spruce and pines. We’d launched our canoe just moments before, heading into the heart of the canyon.

As a rule, the whole area is hauntingly quiet. On darker nights, you could almost fool yourself into thinking there might have been some ancient spell cast over the land as the glaciers receded. Yet on this day, our loud cries cut through the silence as we lobbed our children out of our boats and scrambled to shore in a panic, still not quite sure what we were running from. Time moved slowly as we raced through the forest, bounding over rocks and deadfall to escape whatever was swarming us. Regrouping at the campsite, we soon learned the area wasps enjoyed the view as well, building their nests precariously on branches overhanging the boat launch. In the end, my spouse, whose paddle had gently tapped said nest, had been stung over 12 times, and my daughter twice. But hours later, after licking our wounds, we reloaded our boats and launched into the canyon with our battlehardened 18’ Alumacraft.

I understand that to many, this might sound like torture. For our family, it was a day we’ll not soon forget, but in the end, we didn’t let a less-than-ideal wasp encounter ruin what later was a perfect day on the lake. Balancing in our narrow canoe with two huskies and a fouryear-old, we took in the blood red, chalky cliffs of the canyon as the sun fell below the ancient columns above us.

So once again here I stand, years later, packing a sled with enough gear and dehydrated food to spend another night in the canyon. The trail in is rough by design, and only accessible by snowmobile most of the winter. In our case, the low snow-pack this year allowed us to walk in, a journey spanning kilometers of broken trail, with a large creek crossing farther along the route. The area functions as a nature reserve due to the unique geology and arctic ecology of the Dorion region. Cavern Lake, along with nearby features in the region such as Ouimet and Eagle Canyon, were all formed with similar processes, and are refuge for species of arctic alpine flora that survived the end of the last ice age in these pristine places. For these reasons, the park must

 Approaching the canyon by canoe

 Autumn views

 Hoarfrost covering the canyon foliage

be treated with an abundance of respect and care.

As we crossed the creek, our cargo had to be unloaded and hauled across—to the birds we must have seemed like strangely dressed pallbearers carrying our neon sleds. As we approached the lake, this was the moment of truth. If the ice wasn’t safe, our trip would not be possible. Stepping onto the lake, our feet sank into a foot of slush—not a great sign. But fortunately, part of the gear piled mile high on my sled is an auger to periodically check ice levels, and we had plenty.

So we trekked up the crescentshaped ravine, iron-rich cliffs dusted in while calcite rising up in our periphery. Rounding a narrow bend in the river was our campsite for the night—a small area nestled atop a rocky outcrop. With the ground too frozen to stake pegs, we managed to secure our tent using a web of bungee cords borrowed from the sled. I’ll be honest, this is often my least favourite part of the experience.

Finally done with the business of camping, we took in the view. The entire forest was coated in barbed white ice, as mist from the previous few nights had formed frost across the gorge. We spent our evening around the fire, sharing dehydrated chili and old stories. Soon I loaded a final round of wood into the scrappy titanium stove in my tent, squeezed into my nested sleeping bags, and closed my eyes.

We woke with coffee and toasted PB & J’s on the fire, but with our minds on the incoming storm, we soon packed and hiked north into the heart of the canyon. Crossing the ice as the rising sun peered into the canyon, we passed near the bat cave—one of the few large hibernation sites in Ontario for local populations. Human impact over the decades and the introduction of white nose fungus have drastically reduced the numbers of these creatures over the years. Avoiding the cave, we stuck to an old route up the dense rock-field until we reached the walls of the upper canyon. A sickle-shaped rock pillar shot out from our left, a sight straight out of the pages of Lord of the Rings. As we crested the top, light snow reminded us of the coming storm, but in the moment we took in the bottomless views, stretching down the spine of the canyon out into a distant valley. It’s moments like this that make all the stings and cuts, all

the dead ends, mud-soaked clothes, and -35°C nights worth the struggle.

Out here, it’s about finding places the old ways, by making friends with locals and scouring over coffee-stained canoe maps—and, after months of pining, finding that perfect lake, island or cliff edge. It really is one of the most rewarding experiences imaginable.

For more of Tyler’s outdoor adventures, follow him on Instagram @facing_north.

Find your local experience at visitthunderbay.com

Play Hard, Reward Yourself

Cypress Sleeper Barrels

By Sidney Ulakovic

Up for a little more driving and a super unique overnight getaway? The Cypress Sleeper Barrels are a highly immersive outdoor experience with plenty of amenities, making them the perfect compromise between roughing it and glamping. Located in Gurney, Ont., the Sleeper Barrels are about an hour and a half drive from Thunder Bay and sit along the shores of Lake Superior, overlooking the beautiful Nipigon Bay. Campsites come equipped with an outdoor kitchen, a covered outdoor lounge area, and private sauna and firepit on the beach, but the real star of the show are the sleeping accommodations. Your bed is located in a cosy wooden barrel with a bubble window overlooking the bay, so you’ll fall asleep counting the stars and wake up to an incredible sunrise over the lake. Books are open for the 2024 season. Email cypress. sleeper.barrels@gmail.com to inquire.

This feature is proudly sponsored by Visit Thunder Bay.

 Home for the night

 Taking a break as we ascend the talus field

 Testing ice depth on along Cavern Lake

WExploring Lutsen

A Winter Weekend Down the North Shore

Story and photos by Adrian Lysenko

hen my wife, our toddler, our eight-month-old son, and I drove down Highway 61 towards the U.S. border, I couldn’t help but be reminded of Bob Dylan’s lyrics to “Girl from the North Country,” where the travelling troubadour reminisced about his home state: the snowflakes storm/ When the rivers freeze and summer ends. The lyrics rang especially true as snow fell on our windshield. It’d been a milder winter and many of us hardy northerners who embrace the season couldn’t help but feel

shortchanged. So when the flakes continued to fall throughout our weekend getaway, it felt like we were enjoying the first dump of the season, and there was no better place to enjoy it than Lutsen.

Located in Cook County, Lutsen is where the rugged shores of Lake Superior meet the towering Sawtooth Mountains, and located right in the middle of these natural wonders was our lodging for the weekend, Ski Hill Cabins and Saunas. Nestled in the boreal forest, the new chalet village is composed of four Scandinavian-style

cabins. Each 1,400-square-foot cabin features two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a fire pit, and a private sauna. Now, the smell of wet cedar or the hiss of water on steaming rocks might not be a novelty to TBayers, but when it’s located just less than a two-minute drive from Lutsen Mountains Ski and Summer Resort, there’s something sublime about having a steam après-ski.

Taking advantage of the fresh snow, we ventured to the resort as my oldest, Malakai, was eager to try “uphill skiing” (as he called it) for the

 Malakai riding up the Summit Express Gondola at Lutsen Mountains Ski and Summer Resort

 Ski Hill Cabins and Saunas’ blue cabin

 The blue cabin’s expansive living room/gathering area

first time. With 1,000 acres, 95 runs, and 825 feet of vertical spread over four mountains, Lutsen proudly holds the title of being the largest ski resort in the Midwest. And despite this vast amount of terrain, I spent the majority of the time going up the magic carpet with Malakai and subsequently running after him as bombed down the Flapjack run. But we did get a chance to travel on the Summit Express Gondola up Moose Mountain, taking in the beautiful vista.

Aside from a good steam, no après-ski would be complete in my opinion without a nice glass of no-no juice. Lucky enough, North Shore Winery was a oneminute drive (or a short walk) from our cabin. Whether it's inside surrounded by their wine casks or cosying around a roaring fire (they have a sauna too), visitors can enjoy tasting flights of reds, whites, mixed, or ciders (I recommend the syrah).

Although there are lots of tasty restaurant options nearby (Moguls Grille & Taproom, Bluefin Grille, and Cascade Restaurant & Pub), we decided to utilize the full kitchen and outside barbecue to dine in while watching the snowfall at dusk through the cabin’s expansive windows. But we did treat ourselves the next morning to a stick-to-your ribs breakfast of the American classic, biscuits and gravy, before heading back up the highway.

Only a two-hour drive away from Thunder Bay, Lutsen has a bit of it all: delicious dining options, rustic yet elegant accommodations, excellent skiing, and awe-inspiring nature.

 A diligent gnome guards the entrance to the blue cabin

 A steam après-ski

 A tasting flight of red wine from North Shore Winery

 A stick-to-your-ribs breakfast of biscuits and gravy at the Cascade Restaurant & Pub

 Watching the snowfall through the large windows of the blue cabin

 Malakai feeding the fire pit outside the cabin

 North Shore Winery

 Each cabin includes a private sauna

Inspire Inclusivity

International Women’s Day at Goods & Co. Market

Story by Tiffany Jarva, Photos by Connor Remus

Romy Marlo of The Uncommon Woman Inc. and Maelyn Hurley of Goods & Co. Market have joined forces again this year to offer a two-day event series celebrating International Women’s Day. After the success of last year’s inaugural series, Marlo and Hurley are ready to embrace this year’s “Inspire Inclusivity” theme with a continued focus on bringing women of the community together.

“To us, ‘Inspire Inclusivity’ means to provide opportunity and a platform for people of all ages, cultural backgrounds, and abilities to come together and share their stories,” says Marlo, who adds that it is also to “provide support for one another as we learn ways to work together and engage in more inclusive environments.”

Marlo and Hurley combined efforts in January 2023 after recognizing a post-pandemic need for women to come together and connect in the community. Marlo explains they wanted to create unique opportunities for women in Thunder Bay and the region to connect, build new friendships, and to deepen existing ones. Thanks to their combined experiences in hosting events and their passion for bringing people together, their first

International Women’s Day (IWD) event in March 2023 was a success.

The 2024 IWD #inspireinclusivity Luncheon will be held on March 8 from noon to 2 pm at Goods & Co. Market, featuring salad from The Growing Season, fresh bread, and a specialty dessert by Both Hands Wood-Fired Pizzeria and Bakery. Keynote speaker Amina Abu-Bakare of Isthmus Thunder Bay, an organization that provides food for hungry students during the weekends, and a panel of influential local women speakers, including Michelle Murdoch-Gibson of Rowan Tree Collective and Both Hands, will share their initiatives, perspectives, and insights on the importance of inspiring inclusivity in our city.

The 2024 IWD #inspireinclusivity Business Showcase will be held on March 9 from 10 am to 4 pm at Goods & Co Market, highlighting a diverse group of women in business from across Thunder Bay. All profits from this two-day event will be donated to Isthmus to support marginalized children in need of food.

For more information, follow @goodscomarket on Facebook and Instagram.

 (L-R) Romy Marlo of The Uncommon Woman Inc. and Maelyn Hurley of Goods & Co. Market

 (L-R) Maelyn Hurley, Erin Sisko, Kathleen Sawdo, and Romy Marlo

16

With Michela Cava

As told to Matt Prokopchuk, Photo courtesy of Michela Cava

The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) is enjoying a very successful inaugural season, and Michela Cava is excited to be a part of it. The Thunder Bay-born forward is currently playing for the league’s Minnesota-based squad (the PWHL is playing its first season with the teams yet to be

named), after two years playing pro hockey in Toronto and several more overseas. We spoke with Cava about how she feels the new league will help women’s hockey, her favourite spicy food, and what’s on her music playlist these days.

The Walleye: The PWHL is getting a lot of great attention. How do you

feel this helps women’s hockey?

Michela Cava: Our first game was honestly shocking to me, and just such a cool and amazing experience to have all the young fans at the glass during the warmup. The whole lower bowl was filled with young fans [who were] so excited, and you could just really see what that does for women’s hockey. That was a first for me—obviously internationally, Team USA and Canada usually have a lot of fans at the games, but for any other league, I think it’s a really big deal to have so many younger kids interested and showing what this can be, even a few years down the road from now, and for younger kids that are growing up and watching.

TW: How did you feel about being drafted by Minnesota?

MC: Yeah, I was obviously pretty excited. I had played here for two years in school [Cava played for the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs from 2014 to 2016] and my dad did his college career at [The College of St.] Scholastica in Duluth; a lot of our tournaments when we were younger, we always came down to either Minny or Duluth, so it’s a pretty familiar place for me. And obviously, being from Thunder Bay, it’s only like a five-and-a-half hour drive, so I’ve already had quite a few people come down, and hoping [for] some more in the future. I was very excited just to be close to home again and be in a familiar place, and I still have a lot of good friends that live around this area too […] and have my dog with me more often than I usually do.

TW: Tell us about your dog.

MC: His name is Mats. I’m pretty obsessed with him. I ended up buying him in Sweden, I think it was four years ago now, so I actually took him back when I moved over. He flew back with me—he was a champ that day. My parents have kind of been helping me out with him the last year and a half; I know that he has a good life at my parents’ place in Thunder Bay and we kind of both take care of him, but he’s awesome and kind of like my little baby. [...] I had a poll with a bunch of my teammates [in Sweden] on what we should name him, and I guess Mats was a popular one, but Mats Sundin was my favourite player when I was growing up as a kid, so it’s actually kind of funny that I named him Mats, now that I think of it.

TW: Our March issue is focusing on spicy foods here in Thunder Bay. What is a go-to spicy food for you?

MC: I come home every so often but my dad’s a really good cook—my mom is too, but he kind of owns the kitchen, so unfortunately I don’t go out that much when I come home.

TW: What’s your favourite thing your dad makes that has some spice to it?

MC: That’s a tough one; he literally puts spicy stuff in everything. But he makes a really good—we call it Italian jam, like he’ll make jalapeño peppers in olive oil and you put that on, like, everything. Pizza, pastas— you just load it on. It’s something we have in the fridge all the time and then you kind of just load it up on basically any food it tastes good with. […] It’s not too spicy, but it’s a good kick and the peppers have a really good flavour.

TW: What’s on your music playlist these days?

MC: Some of the people I [like] right now are Noah Kahan or Zach Bryan. I kind of like every genre of music. I’m not really picky. [...] Sometimes when I’m driving further, I’ll throw on a couple of podcasts or something too—just depends on the mood.

TW: Who is your personal hero, or someone you admire?

MC: I find this question hard, because obviously there’s so many people when you look back you try to remember, and you don’t want to hurt anybody’s feelings. Of course, you learn so much from your parents, and I’m going to say my dad, but obviously my mom has taught me so much and you can always rely on mom for everything basically. So, I don’t want to not include her and give her a shout-out as well. But my dad with hockey—I had looked up to what he had done previously, and growing the game for me and being my coach throughout the years when I was growing up. My brother—he also played growing up, but he’s more of an outdoors guy. But I still look up to him in a lot of ways too and was just lucky enough to have him as my brother. So definitely the whole family. I would say all three of them—I wouldn’t leave any of them out.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity. To hear more, find the expanded interview on our Eye To Eye podcast on Spotify, iHeartRadio, Google Podcasts, and more.

Professional hockey player Michela Cava with her dog, Mats

two DELICIOUS things UNDER ONE ROOF

The CLE Presents The 26th Annual Spring Home & Garden Show

APRIL 5, 6 & 7, 2024

Friday: 4 pm - 9 pm

Saturday: 10 am - 6 pm

Since 1890!

Diving In with Hailey Shchepanik

The TBay Connection to Underwater Work Around the World

Story by Emily Turner, Photos by Chris McEvoy

Most of us think of diving as a hobby or a leisure activity to do on vacations in tropical places. But diving is an integral component of lots of scientific research, which Thunder Bay’s very own Hailey Shchepanik knows all about.

Shchepanik’s journey to becoming a marine scientist began as an undergrad in the biology department at Lakehead University. After graduating, she trained as a scientific diver at Cape Breton University, where she began her research of invasive species in the ocean. Through her experiences on the east coast, she found an opportunity to work at the Red Sea Research Centre and became a graduate student at the first ever mixed-gender university campus in Saudi Arabia, where she worked with the first Saudi Arabian woman to obtain a doctorate in oceanography. Shchepanik has had the chance to work with fellow women in the field of marine sciences all around the world, everywhere from Korea to American Samoa.

A highly experienced

globetrotter, Shchepanik now resides on Vancouver Island and works with Fisheries and Oceans Canada. When she’s not researching the presence of invasive species along the coast of British Columbia, she works as a natural history and underwater specialist and expedition diver with National Geographic’s Lindblad Expeditions to educate others about marine sciences. And she is certainly not the only female expert in the field of marine biology.

Shchepanik has come to see that women often hold different roles than men in the field of diving. “My ultimate goal right now is to be a dive safety officer,” she says (a dive safety officer is the person who not only teaches divers but also helps with all the research behind the dive).

“But 90% of the dive safety officers I’ve worked with have been male.” But thankfully, she explains, “there are all these organizations popping up to close this gap in the diving community.” Shchepanik recently completed a research project that was funded by a grant from the Women Divers Hall of Fame, and frequently collaborates with the

Vancouver Island Women Underwater collective. Soon enough, she will be headed to California to work with the women involved in the Rigs-to-Reef project, an initiative that involves “evaluating if old oil rigs should be torn down, or if they’re actually now supporting a biological community of fish, corals, and things,” explains Shchepanik.

Her work along the north shore of Lake Superior hasn’t quite gotten off the ground yet, but Shchepanik has intentions to bring her expertise back home eventually. In 2022, together with local underwater archeologist

Chris McEvoy, she took some time to check out the depths of Silver Harbour and looks forward to the opportunity to spend more time in Lake Superior going forward in her career.

Shchepanik encourages us all to act on our curiosities when it comes to water. “Don’t shy away from contacting experts in the field with your concerns, questions, observations, because often that can be the inspiration for people who have the resources, knowledge, and funding to go investigate.”

Thrift Flip with Faux Rocious

Story by Kelsey Raynard, Photo by Leah Morningstar

One of the greatest parts about shopping at a thrift store is the potential to find one-of-akind treasures that are unlike anything you can find in a department store. However, unlike in a department store, these treasures do not come in a variety of sizes, and may be more than lightly loved with holes, rips, or tears. Fear not, fellow thrifters! Thrift Flip with local drag queen Faux Rocious allows you to alter, mend, and even transform your latest thrift find in a workshop of creativity and sustainability.

Alynne Peacock, known on-stage as Faux Rocious, has been involved in the drag scene for 13 years, and has been interested in sewing even longer. “Growing up, my mom was actually one of the costume makers

for Cambrian Players,” says Peacock. “She’d bring me along with her down into the costume room and I just fell in love with the old sewing machines.”

However, after bringing Faux Rocious to life on stage, Peacock quickly realized that in the drag world, wearing “off-the-rack” clothing on stage was seen as the bare minimum, and that the best drag artists sewed their own costumes—an endeavour that can become expensive very quickly. So, Peacock drew on her love of sewing and thrifting to create stage wear that was sourced from secondhand clothing. “Everyone’s got their own way of expressing themselves when it comes to drag. A lot of people do it through storytelling, using their body and physicality, or even just by their song choices and musicality; my

SECOND CHANCES

favourite way to express myself is through fashion,” Peacock explains.

While Peacock has been privately altering her own professional wardrobe for years, she says that her Thrift Flip events were born after hearing people’s frustrations with second-hand shopping. “People often go to the thrift store and say ‘Oh I love it, but…’” Peacock laughs. “There’s always a but. Thrift flip is for those times when you find an item but the fit is off, or you wish it had a little something extra. Even if you have an item of clothing that has been sitting in the back of your closet forever, the idea is that you don’t have to have a solid plan coming into Thrift Flip. All you need is an item, and we can come up with the rest here.”

“It’s partly a sewing lesson, and partly a lesson in sustainable fashion. Ultimately, it’s a way for people to get those creative juices going, make mistakes, be silly, learn something new, and come out of it with a new piece you can wear,” she concludes.

Thrift Flip can accommodate up to five people, and you can book either individually or as a group. The workshop is normally held on weekends and admission is $75 per person for the three-hour session. You can find more information about Thrift Flip and Faux Rocious at @Fauxrocious on Facebook and Instagram.

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www.tbrhsc.net/cancerscreening

Heart/Soul Co.

Hand-Poured Candles from Fort William First Nation

Story and photos by Sidney Ulakovic

Not many things make a house feel like home quite like burning your favourite candle. When Michelle Elliott, owner of Heart/Soul Co., started making candles only a short time ago, it was never with the intention of selling them. “After I had my little one, I was super sensitive to fragrance, but I love burning candles,” Elliott explains. “So I actually went down a pretty deep research endeavour.”

When Elliott set out to create a candle she could still appreciate, it was important to her to have something toxinand paraben-free, but what made it all the more exciting was the opportunity to craft something completely tailored to her taste with the scents, as well as the colour and material of the candle vessel. As she was enjoying the candles at home, Elliott decided to share her creations over the holidays with family and friends, who encouraged her to sell them, prompting her to feel out the waters at Kraft’s summer market in 2022. “It just snowballed,” Elliott says.

Elliott hand pours Heart/ Soul Co.’s coconut soy wax candles with her daughter and husband from their home on Fort William First Nation.

“It’s a passion of all of ours in the house,” Elliott says. The candles are poured in small batches as, for Elliott, a great

importance lies on curating thoughtful releases. “There’s definitely a huge time piece that goes into thinking about obtaining different scents, mixing different fragrances, pouring them, testing them, and then coming up with names.”

Heart/Soul Co. candle scents are largely inspired by time spent in nature and seasonal treats and activities, all designed with the intent to capture a sense of nostalgia for Elliott. As much as candle making was born out of the desire to have something for herself, Elliott finds it has become a creative outlet. “I’m really creating products that mean something to me that hopefully mean something to someone else as well,” Elliott says.

The success Heart/Soul Co. has found in the last year would suggest that Elliott and her candles have resonated with others as well. Just last spring, Heart/Soul Co. was the winner of the Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund’s Start Up Business of the Year award. “Here I am a year, maybe less than a year, into it, and I’m nominated with multiple other businesses,” Elliott says of her surprise at being nominated and eventually receiving the award. “It reminded me that, what I’m doing, I’m really doing it from my heart and soul.”

Heart/Soul Co. candles are available to purchase at Alder & Ivy, Ananda Yoga, Donata’s Hair Salon, Entershine, Lewk, Thunder Bay Art Gallery, and Pelletier’s Gas Bar in Lake Helen. To stay up to date with Heart/Soul Co.’s latest releases, follow the company on Instagram @heart_soul_co.

“I’m really creating products that mean something to me that hopefully mean something to someone else as well.”

 Michelle Elliott, owner of Heart/Soul Co.

 (Right) vessel made in collaboration with Kat Twomey of Black Dog Ceramics

Rebel With a Cause

Elizabeth Fry Society Presents Inaugural Women’s Day Event

By Kelsey Raynard

International Women’s Day, celebrated annually on March 8, is a day of advocacy for the social, economic, cultural, and political equality of women. However, truly celebrating IWD means digging deeper than just #girlpower and examining the ways in which we can support the most marginalized folks in our society; this is exactly what the Elizabeth Fry Society of Northwestern Ontario intends to do with their inaugural Rebel with a Cause event.

Elizabeth Fry is a local, grassroots, non-profit organization with a specific mandate to support women and gender diverse people experiencing criminalization, as well as those at risk of entering the carceral system. Providing a wide range of programs, services, and advocacy, their mission is to challenge the systemic oppression and stigma that forces the criminalization of women, Two Spirit, non-binary, trans and gender-diverse folks. Enter: Rebel with a Cause.

Taking place March 8 from 7 to 11 pm at Definitely Superior Art Gallery, Rebel with a Cause is a fundraising event featuring speeches, live music, poetry, drag performances, Indigenous artists, swag, door prizes, and more.

“The funds raised will go directly to supporting our transitional housing services, food bank

program, hygiene kits, as well as operations for Elizabeth Fry,” says fundraising and administrative assistant Robyn Saxberg. “We are a relatively small non-profit, so this event is also about raising awareness in our community of the services we provide and hopefully recruiting new volunteers as well.”

With the ongoing opioid crisis in Thunder Bay, the overrepresentation of Indigenous women within the Canadian criminal justice system, and the increased discrimination against gender diverse people in society at large, this event could not be more timely. “One of our hashtags we use regularly is #communitystrongertogether,” says Saxberg. “In order for us to really fight these crises, we need to work together towards a common goal. That’s why we are rebels with a cause: we are out here trying to break stigma and trying to get our community to work together to give us all the quality of life we deserve.”

Tickets for Rebel with a Cause are $30 each, available online at.elizabethfrynwo.org or on the @ElizabethFrySocietyNWO Facebook page. Can’t make the event? You can still show your support by purchasing their Rebel with a Cause merch, also available online.

 Amber Ail

 Miss Take

 Mz. Molly Poppinz

Pink Diesel ‘71

By Justin Allec

Strain: Pink Diesel ‘71

Brand: San Rafael ‘71

THC: 24–30%

CBD: 0–1%

Plant Type: Indica

Price: $98.42/14 g

Terpene: Caryophyllene, Myrcene, Ocimene

Flavours: Gas, lavender, spice

San Rafael’s Pink Kush has been a Canadian market favourite since legalization. It’s popular enough that it's given the licensed producer some brand recognition—a difficult feat in an industry that has ridiculous new products every week. Consistency and a quality experience go a long way, but for San Rafael, it really begins with Pink Kush’s unique flavour. The “pink” flavour—a sweet lavender taste as delicious as cotton candy—is provided through the linalool and limonene terpenes. The Kush

genetics get out of the way of the sweetness and ensure the right degree of euphoria. I’ve enjoyed Pink Kush a few times over the years and yes, it’s good, but perhaps San Rafael thought I needed more than good. Maybe they thought I needed great. Mixing their name-brand standard with another strain, Driftwood Diesel, makes about as much sense as pickles and ice cream, but it also works just as well. I know diesel strains are a harder sell for some people due to their musty, boggy, guzzle-line odour and high potency, but the producer is onto something with this combination.

Once you’ve opened the packaging, look at these gorgeous buds. San Rafael’s buds are always nice looking, and Pink Diesel is no different: slightly conical, very dense and slightly sticky, the right shade

of green, with nice webs of trichomes throughout. Upon sampling I found a lot of that same sugary tastiness as with regular Pink Kush: sweet lavender and notes of spice and pine, but with a thicker flavour overall thanks to hints of peaty earthiness and gas. The euphoria begins almost immediately with a moderate peak that, for me, lasted just under an hour. Compared to a full Kush, though, this strain doesn’t have the same potency despite a high THC level. I found that I wasn’t too sedated, which meant that I could avoid the couch. For timing, Pink Diesel would best be used in the late afternoon—it won’t totally check you out of the day, but you do want that “to do” list to be complete. Tasty and effective, San Rafael has another winner for their brand.

Stuff We Like For

World Water Day

By Kelsey Raynard

Not to get too existential here, but water is life. Here in Thunder Bay, we are blessed to be situated on the largest freshwater lake in the world, in addition to having access to a vast network of other pristine lakes, rivers, and water systems. No matter the season, water—in all its forms—is integral to life in Northwestern Ontario. However, we cannot celebrate our love of water without acknowledging the risks posed to our water systems, as well as the inequitable access to potable water across our province and country. Because we love water, live water, and seek to protect water for future generations, here is Stuff We Like for World Water Day.

1 We Are Water Protectors

Entershine Bookshop

196 Algoma Street South

Teaching our youth about the importance of protecting our water systems is an essential element of water stewardship. We Are Water Protectors is a vibrant and lyrical picture book written by Indigenous author and activist Carole Lindstrom and illustrated by Michaela Goade. We Are Water Protectors is inspired by the many Indigenous-led movements across North America and it aims to teach children (and parents) about the importance and urgency of safeguarding our planet’s water.

$24.50

2 Windy Shores Sparklers

Windy Shores Café

2212 Sleeping Giant Parkway

Move over still water; here comes bubbly. Crafted locally, Windy Shores Sparklers, made with Superior water, are naturally flavoured, sweetened with cane sugar, and have micro-infused carbonation (fancy!). Available in five flavours, including new additions like raspberry and green apple, these fun drinks are available at Windy Shores Café as well as locations throughout the city.

$3.65/can or $13/4-pack

3 Day Pass Canada Games Complex

420 Winnipeg Avenue

Newly renovated and back in action, the Canada Games Complex provides affordable access to all types of water fun year round. Grab a day pass and you can swim laps, have a sauna, lounge in the hot tub, brave the twin tower diving boards, or even take a trip down the Thunder Slide.

$7.87–9.40/adult

4 Water is Sacred T-Shirt Onaman Collective onamancollective.com

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5 Fishing Rod

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6 Donation Water First

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Access to clean water is a fundamental human right recognized by the United Nations, yet too many Indigenous communities throughout Canada still lack access to potable water due to a complex web of challenges with infrastructure, environmental concerns, and government inaction. Donations to Water First help support Indigenous communities address local water challenges through education, training, and meaningful collaboration.

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7 Adventure Club Water Bottle

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115 Cumberland Street North Plastic pollution remains one of the leading global threats to our water systems; ironically, bottled water is a major contributor to this pollution epidemic. Make the switch to reusable once and for all with Ungalli’s Adventure Club Water Bottle. Featuring doublewall insulation and a no-spill lid, this durable 750 ml bottle helps keep your water cool and keep our lakes plastic-free.

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8 Rain Garden Rebate EcoSuperior

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Over the Hump

Brass Camel to Rock St. Patrick’s Day Concert at BPP

By Jason Wellwood

After wowing crowds last summer, Brass Camel, the progressive rock band from British Columbia, are bringing their Over The Hump tour back to Thunder Bay on St. Patrick’s Day for a return engagement at Black Pirates Pub.

Watching the band live on stage or viewing one of the many live-fromthe-studio videos they have posted, it’s clear to see why the band calls itself a “progressive rock circus.” In the world of “prog-rock” it’s easy to forget that not everyone in the audience is a music nerd, but Brass Camel makes sure that everyone is

included in the fun, losing themselves in the music without losing the crowd.

“It’s great to finally be able to do a proper coast-to-coast tour with this band,” says Daniel Sveinson, founding member and guitarist/ vocalist. “The last tour was short and sweet and we really learned what this band can do live. We came home energized and ready to do it again, bigger and better!”

Since then, the band has written another album worth of songs they’re planning to take into the studio; however they’ve decided to road test the songs first. “The show you

see on day one isn’t going to be the same show five days later, you know?” Sveinson says. “We’re going to try songs in different rotations and maybe something doesn’t work one way, so we’ll try it another. It’s a little old school, but so are we!”

From the poster imagery (reminiscent of the great Camels cigarette ads of the 60s), their everpresent marquee lights, and the 70s-style outfits, there is no doubt that Brass Camel are old school.

“We’re looking forward to playing with great, solid bands like The Thirsty Monks again in Thunder

Bay,” Sveinson says.

The Thirsty Monks, who also have a new album in the works for spring, are also looking forward to the show. “Seeing their videos was interesting, but seeing the band live was completely different,” says Jennifer Swistun-Wolski of The Thirsty Monks, “They are so much fun and super entertaining. I can’t wait to share a stage with them again.”

For more information, visit brasscamel.ca.

Where Folk Meets Country Meets Comedy

An Evening with Leverage for Mountains

Review and photos by Emily Turner

Leverage for Mountains is one of those bands that don’t neatly fall into one specific genre of music—a truth they acknowledged on stage at the Sleeping Giant Folk Music Society show on February 10 at Fort William Historical Park. Hailing from Gatineau, Que., at first glance this group is ostensibly your run-ofthe-mill folk band. But as their set played on, they started to complicate that label and that sound, which is just one of the reasons this band is so darn interesting to see perform.

If you were at Live at the Rock this past summer, you may remember the trio as the performers with the stylish hats, which unfortunately didn’t make an appearance at this show. Instead, the crowd had Jay Trépanier’s chic mullet to admire, which fellow bandmates Jay Flynn and Nick Loyer joked was perfect in their back-and-forth banter. What really made the show an exciting evening was the amusing commentary and storytelling, which charmed everyone in the room. Each song came with a story—either a deeply personal one or an absolutely hilarious one—and that made for an extremely captivating performance.

Towards the end of the first half, the pace of the music quickened as they played jazzier songs, and some that even sounded like country music—but, as Trépanier accurately acknowledged, “without the beers and the trucks.” Those upbeat bangers prompted some hollers from the crowd and head nodding, while certain songs such as “Thirty” and “Without You” brought some tears. Their shared talent for writing such beautiful songs and engaging so well with a seated crowd is certainly inspiring.

In between their charisma, chemistry, and wonderful storytelling skills, it’s hard to pinpoint which aspect of the night made it so incredibly enjoyable. If you were to ask them, I’m sure they would say it was the energy of the crowd that made the evening as much fun as it was. The masses cheered, laughed, and awed at all the right moments, which is why Loyer happily announced at the end of the show that “Thunder Bay is the shit.”

Follow along with their journey on Instagram or Facebook @leverageformountains.

Blues House Party 5

A Cavalcade of Local Blues Talent

By Ken Wright

For the many followers of the blues genre, one of the most anticipated heralds of spring in our fair city is the Thunder Bay Blues Society’s (TBBS) Blues House Party series. To accommodate the incredible response from musicians and fans, the society has had to find a bigger party house. Consequently, the fifth edition of this cavalcade of local blues talent will be staged at Thunder Bay’s new home of the blues, the Da Vinci Centre, on March 23.

It’s quite obvious that Thunder Bay blues musicians have put their winter jam and practice sessions to creative use. With familiar faces, new discoveries, and interesting combinations sure to impress, Blues House Party 5 is a genuine reflection of the ever-evolving dynamics of our blues music scene.

Deb Tully and Southern Comfort will open the evening, with the compelling vocals of newcomer Deb Tully (think Etta James). The group also includes the Elmore James-inspired slide guitar technique of Dave Jonasson and keyboardist Glenn Jennings. As well, Blues House Party 5 marks the welcome return of veteran vocalist and harmonica

player John Booth—well known as the long-serving host of LU Radio’s Saturday morning blues program How Blue LU—as leader of the Southside Band.

Also performing will be The Chain and Junior & the Bifocals. Exuding a lot of class and riding atop the powerful pipes of Chrissy Klaas, The Chain are perennial favourites and blues ambassadors par excellence, and have performed more times at the Thunder Bay Blues Festival than any other local group. Blues rock cover band Junior & the Bifocals placed second in the TBBS’s Highway 61 to Memphis blues challenge last June, and they really know how to play to an audience and fill a dance floor.

Voodoo Blue will headline the event. Combining the soulful poise of vocalist Jaime Morrison with the rhythmic duo of Carol Pominville (bass) and Dave Campbell (drums), the spoton guitar of Kai Siltimaki, and keyboardist Richard Tribe, this is arguably Thunder Bay’s most exciting new blues band.

Blues House Party 5 promises five hours of locally sourced music and camaraderie, with five bands laying it on thicker than a Stevie Ray Vaughan guitar lick.

 Dave Jonasson, Deb Tully, and Glenn Jennings of Southern Comfort

 The Chain

Christopher Tennant

 Junior & the Bifocals

 John Booth and the Southside Band

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The Evolution of Sheryl Crow

Story by Gord Ellis, Photo by Andrew Nelles

When Sheryl Crow blew on to the music more than 30 years ago with Tuesday Night Music Club, it seemed like an overnight success. This wasn’t actually the case, as she had, among other things, been a touring background singer with no less than the King of Pop Michael Jackson.

The singer/songwriter also seemed to have been designed for the modern musical times. Crow had a voice that was both sunny and a tiny bit gritty. You could hear just a touch of her southern upbringing, and her vocal range was impressively wide. However, it was the songs that set Sheryl Crow apart. Her first hit, “All I Wanna Do,” was both upbeat and effortlessly funky, thanks in no small part to the excellent musicians she surrounded herself with. The hits would keep on coming through the 1990s, and include “Strong Enough,” “If It Makes

You Happy,” “My Favorite Mistake,” and “Everyday is a Winding Road,” to name a few.

As great as her 90s songs were, the first half of the 2000s had some of my favourite Sheryl Crow music. In 2002, Crow released C’mon C’mon, her most musically diverse album, with grinding rockers, gorgeous ballads, and sunny pop. The huge hit single “Soak up the Sun” was a perfect radio song, with a chorus buoyed by the incomparable backing vocals of Liz Phair. The song “Steve McQueen” had as much swagger as the subject, and won Crow a Grammy for Female Rock Performer. But the real sleeper (at least for this columnist) is the 2005 album Wildflower. It’s a gorgeous work, with some of Crow’s most complex writing, but it’s a good deal more downbeat than what had come previously, and didn’t sell as well as expected. Not that Crow hadn’t gone dark

BURNING TO THE SKY

before, but there is a wistfulness and sadness to songs like “Wildflower,” “Sending a Letter to God,” and “Always on Your Side” that just hit a little differently. Repeated plays of Wildflower have convinced me it’s one of Crow’s greatest albums—the perfect music for a rainy day.

Albums that have come since Wildflower have varied wildly, from quite good (2019’s Threads) to nearly unlistenable (Crow’s 2014 “country” album, Feels like Home). However, the energetic performer and her crack band continue to travel the globe, wowing audiences wherever they go. Anyone who witnessed Sheryl Crow’s performance at the 2018 Bluesfest in Thunder Bay knows that headliner Sarah McLachlan was put in an unenviable place trying to follow it. Crow had the audience in the palm of her hand from the first note, and laid out hit after hit. The show was a triumph.

Crow, now 62, has a new record coming out. The album is called Evolution, and it is her 12th studio release. The album sounds like a return to pop rock form for Crow. The lead-off song, “Alarm Clock,” features a fuzz guitar riff right out of 1965 and lyrics that are equal parts surreal and timely. The upbeat road-trip ditty “Do It Again” looks at the spiritual search humans are on, and how we are all connected. The anthemic title song “Evolution” turns a wary and skeptical eye at the power of artificial intelligence.

I’m excited that Crow has kept writing and sounds so vital on these new tracks. Maybe she will come back to Thunder Bay and play a full show at the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium in support of this new album. I can’t imagine a show that would be much more fun or satisfying.

Aviner Hartwick

Bassoonist, TBSO

Story by Kris Ketonen, Photo by Tam Lan Truong

Birthplace: Kingston, Ont.

Instrument: Bassoon

Age you started to study music: Six How long have you been with TBSO: Since 2022 What’s on personal playlist: “Everybody Loves the Sunshine” by Roy Ayers

The Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra’s Aviner Hartwick got his musical start on the recorder, like so many young children did. But in Hartwick’s case, the instrument was taken a bit farther than usual.

“I actually had formal lessons on the recorder,” Hartwick says. “I think most people just take it in school as a requirement, but I was studying it outside of school.

[...] I gave little kid recitals on the recorder.”

He then developed an interest in the accordion.

“My parents said ‘If you want to play the accordion, you’re going to have to learn the piano first,’” Hartwick says. “The accordion has a piano keyboard on it, so start with the basics.”

Hartwick did eventually get his chance to play accordion, but it wasn’t long until he first picked up a bassoon as part of the school band. “At the time, I had no idea of what it sounded like,” he says. “They just had a picture of all the instruments of the orchestra on the wall, and I thought that one would be something different.”

It’s safe to say the bassoon has really grown on Hartwick, who went on to study the instrument at McGill University, and then the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal. “It’s a flexible instrument with a lot of character,” he says. “In the high range and the low range, it sounds quite distinct, so you have a big expressive range, and that’s kind of reflected in the orchestral writing, too.”

“You’ll get ‘oompa oompa’ accompaniment,” he says. “But also sometimes you get these nice solos, and sometimes you get fast, acrobatic stuff with the flutes and clarinets.”

One Piece at a Time

Kenora Musician Releases Debut Album

Story by Sidney Ulakovic, Photo by Lyndsey Jordanna

Sometimes all a project needs is some room to breathe before it comes together, and this certainly seems to be the case for Kenora musician Jackson Klippenstein, whose debut album One Piece at a Time released mid-February. The album arrived following a five-year gap since listeners heard from Klippenstein on his EP Breathe It In, a bluesy, indie-folk project recorded when he

was only 16 years old. On that EP, he got to showcase his knack for writing with irresistible sing-along choruses you can’t help but move along to in some capacity—a foot tap, a head nod, a little sway—and thoughtful lyrics demonstrating an emotional maturity that stood out given his age. In the time between releases, Klippenstein established a presence on the nearby festival circuit, most notably performing on

listeners find Klippenstein journeying, both physically and emotionally. “My writing has definitely matured,” he says. “I’m still very proud of what I wrote when I was in high school. Now I’m older and I find my writing is getting better as I keep doing it. I’m excited to share all that.”

Klippenstein kicked off the release of One Piece at a Time with a weekend of shows at Lake of the Woods Brewing Company, and intends to carry that excitement with him as he finalizes dates for shows later this year. “I’m looking forward to a very busy summer,” Klippenstein says. “I’ve got a set of guys that I always play with, and over the past couple of years have grown to be a really tight band,” he says. So far, Klippenstein is confirmed to play Shake the Lake (formerly Harbourfest) this summer, alongside Coleman Hell and Petric. “I’m looking forward to playing as much as I can in as many places as I can.”

To stay up to date with Klippenstein as he announces performances for the summer, visit his website at jacksonklippenstein.com. One Piece at a Time is available for streaming on Spotify and Apple Music.

the Winnipeg Folk Festival’s youth stage, and gathering experience with the intent to fine-tune the music for his next project.

“It was a lot of fun,” Klippenstein says of working on the album. “I was fortunate enough to do it with a bunch of my buddies. That made it super enjoyable.” Klippenstein chipped away at the album over the past year and recorded in his hometown. Coming in at just over a half hour, One Piece at a Time is a polished body of work that builds upon the strengths of its predecessor, with a tracklist that showcases that same highly listenable quality, while lyrically,

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High Octane AltRock-Dance-Punk

Vancouver’s Fake Shark Take the Stage at Cinema 5 Skatepark

Review and photos by

Adam Sabaz

On February 4, Fake Shark performed at possibly one of the more interesting stops along the way on their cross-country tour, Cinema 5 Skatepark. The indoor skate park filled with fans of all ages, eagerly awaiting frontman Kevin “Kevvy Mental” Maher and company to hit the stage (skateboard ramp).

The band hit the gas and didn’t look back as they played their fiery brand of high-octane alt-rock-dance-punk. This intimate gathering of fans got to see up-close a band that is ferociously dedicated to their music. The band explored every inch of the skateboard ramp/ stage, climbing up on risers and jumping around everywhere they could. Kevvy, always the showman, teetered at the edge of the makeshift stage, his fluorescent yellow-green hair blowing in the wind as he sang

his heart out. A gracious host who interacted with the crowd at every opportunity, he convinced us all that they were indeed “our new favourite band.”

Supporting their still hotoff-the-press release Afterglow, Fake Shark ripped singles from the new album including “Bummer Summer,” “Exactly What I Thought You Were,” and “Kinda Like It,” and included some classics like “Loser” and “Cheap Thrills.”

For everyone who came out, it was an inviting and genuine performance that won’t soon be forgotten—especially a touching moment that came at the end of the set. The all-ages fans were all invited up on stage to take a group selfie and sing along to the last song of the night. For some of these fans it was their first concert, and all that can be said is the bar has been set very high.

Corb Lund Brings New Album on the Road

Country Singer to Play Thunder Bay This Month

Story by Kris Ketonen, Photo by Noah Fallis

Part of that rowdiness is likely due to the unique approach Lund and his band took when recording El Viejo. “The four of us just sat in a circle in my living room and put up microphones and did it all live acoustically,” he says. “The longer I do this, the less and less interested I am in making perfect records, in perfect professional studios, that sound perfect. I don’t think that’s very human or compelling. All the vocals are just live from when I played with the guys. I just think it gives you more of an organic, human feeling when you hear the music. A lot of my old favourite records are like that.”

But the process does present its own unique challenges, Lund says. “It’s actually more stressful in a way, because you can’t fix anything,” Lund says. “If you

do make records the modern way, everyone’s isolated, so you can take the drum track out and replace it, or take the vocal track out and replace it. [...] But when you have four guys in a room in a circle, everybody’s into each other’s microphones, and it’s not isolated, so you can’t just go back and erase the vocal and fix it, because you’re in all the microphones.”

“You actually have to be able to play the songs for real to do it this way,” he adds.

Our

OfftheWall Reviews

Broken

Walter Trout

For 50 years, the swagger of blues-rock guitar showmanship has been Walter Trout’s calling card. That belies an underlying sensitivity manifesting itself in heartfelt lyrics seeking greater personal truths. With his optimism under siege in a contentious world, Trout pulls that duality together on Broken, his 31st album.

Beth Hart’s fiery vocals intertwine with Trout’s on the haunting title track, a song of repair and redemption. British harmonica ace Will Wilde amazes on “Bleed,” a boogie drawn from Trout’s days with Canned Heat.

Trout then rocks hard with Dee Snider of Twisted Sister fame on “I’ve Had Enough.”

But the quietest moments speak the loudest. Here, Trout hints at his true source of hope on the tender instrumental “Love of My Life” and the intimate "I Wanna Stay”—both tributes to Marie, his wife of 30 years.

-Ken Wright

North Wind

Spencer Burton

If you’re a fan of Sam Barber, Jesse Woods, or any sort of indie stomp-and-holler folk, you will probably like Spencer Burton’s newest album, North Wind. Though not quite as rustic as Sturgill Simpson or Tyler Childers, you can tell Burton was probably inspired by those country sounds. I bet he also listens to a lot of Bob Dylan. Though the instrumental portions have some twang, his voice is just a bit too high-pitched to really fall into the genre of new age contemporary country, but at times it sounds like it’s trying to. The first song, “End of My Days,” is best described as quiet, slow-paced pop-country, while other songs, such as my personal favourites “Rolling On” and “Poetry of Pines,” are a bit more sombre and homespun. Overall, this is the type of music you listen to around a campfire or when you’re playing crib, but could definitely dance to as well. If you like a little bit of twang with your indie music, this album is for you.

-Emily Turner

The Other Side of Mars

Mick Mars

A Mick Mars solo album was not on my 2024 bingo card, but here we are. It’s been over a decade since Mars’s last involvement in a studio-recorded album with Mötley Crüe, and considering his reportedly diminished presence on that album, it certainly feels as though Mars has something to prove on his latest offering. I wasn’t sure what to expect before pressing play, and the album’s opening tracks are a far cry from Mars’s glam metal days. But, as always, Mars is loud, rude, and aggressive, and accompanied by an equally forceful supporting band and vocalist. While some aesthetic choices may not land they way they were intended to, as a whole, The Other Side of Mars is in your face with elements of arena rock—some of the songs having an almost theatrical quality—and Mars’s onslaught playing style is fortified by the inclusion of gentler sounds and, underneath the grittiness, attention paid to melodic songwriting that ultimately gives the album a strong sense of vision. Legacy is a word that gets thrown around often in retrospect on the massive popularity and decades-long careers of 80s glam metal bands, and it’s evident Mars is thinking about his here.

-Sidney Ulakovic

Wall of Eyes

The Smile

It’s safe to say that Radiohead is one of the most influential bands of the 21st century (and late 20th century), so it’s exciting when any band members release side projects. The Smile consists of Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, and Sons of Kemet drummer Tom Skinner, and their previous effort, A Light for Attracting Attention, did at moments sound like B-sides or outtakes from previous Radiohead albums. Still, Wall of Eyes sees the band slightly veer away from the mothership. The album opens with a multi-layered title track with a grooving sambalike beat in syncopated 5/4 time, although by the time the song reaches its peaks with layers of strings, vocals, and percussion, it feels like we’ve entered a fever dream—a good precursor of what’s to come. Stand-out tracks include the Beatles-esque “Friend of a Friend” (they recorded at Abbey Road Studios) and the slow-burning “Bending Hectic.” Aside from these tracks, Wall of Eyes stays sonically close to Radiohead’s latest A Moon Shaped Pool, but given that it’s been almost eight years since the album came out, The Smile’s latest will hold fans over for now.

-Adrian Lysenko

Orquídeas

Kali Uchis

Nothing can quite match the heavenly atmosphere that 29-year-old Colombian singer Kali Uchis consistently produces with her releases. So it shouldn’t matter, to the non-speaker, that her fourth LP, Orquídeas, is almost entirely in Spanish. The way she crafts melodies and structures her delectable hybrid of contemporary R&B and Latin pop makes it an enticing language to anyone. Despite still being very early in her career, she has combined a relentless work ethic (three full-length LPs in four years) with a craft that only seems to improve. Sprinkle in her usual takes on reggaeton and amapiano, and lead single “Te Mata” (which sounds like theme music to a gripping telenovela), and Orquídeas checks every box in terms of what Uchis fans want, and what newcomers will be delighted to discover. If you’ve followed her, it’s no surprise: Uchis is becoming one of the defining pop artists of this generation.

-Michael Charlebois

The Food Chain

Ruth Alexander

Ever wonder how new varieties of apples are “invented”? Or how gastronomy and texture are almost more important in authentic Chinese cuisine than flavour? And can small farms feed us all while protecting the environment and still remaining competitive in today’s market? Brought to you by BBC, The Food Chain spins you up in a complex web of what food truly is and how its fate drastically changes on a daily basis. Alexander has a brilliant way of connecting the listener to the subject at hand, be it through her passionate guests’ experiences, the sounds of tofu frying and pans clanging in the background, or just the pure excitement in her voice. And maybe it’s just me, but doesn’t listening to a British person speak about food instantly make you hungry? Food connects us all—be it through childhood memories, cultural traditions, or geographic location—but at the end of the day it is really all the same language.

-Andrea Lysenko

Dead Letters: Episodes of Epistolary Horror

Edited by Jacob Steven Mohr

Dead Letters is a collection of epistolary horror stories. While some stories have the feel of an old letter, there are many modern takes as well, including stories told through the lens of a chat room, emails, and text messages. Only having access to the limited macabre documents gives the reader a sense of secrecy and the horror of reading between the lines. The scariest things can be what our mind creates from what is left out. This collection was a lot of fun, but there were a few that stood out. “Next of Kin” by Sandra Henriques mixes emails and journal entries of a writer slowly losing their mind in a very unsettling way. “Family Dirt” by Thunder Bay writer Justin Allec combines emails and chat messages involving a divorced father spending a strange amount of time hiking with his children. It’s incredibly tense, and preys on some of the greatest fears parents have. “Something Cool Behind the Waterfall” by Nat Reiher is told through the transcript of a video game walkthrough, which set off one of the wildest rides of the collection. Dead Letters feels like found footage, The Twilight Zone, and campfire stories all Frankensteined together, and has something to offer everyone.

-Avery Huotari

March Break Fun!

Check out the amazing programs at the Library during March Break. Enjoy FREE puppet shows, music,

Chili Crisp: 50+ Recipes to Satisfy Your Spicy, Crunchy, Garlic Cravings

James Park

Kick up the flavour and the heat with James Park’s Chili Crisp, a delightful cookbook featuring more than 50 recipes using chili crisp—a textured, savoury, oilbased condiment—in a variety of tasty ways. Beginning with a concise explanation of chili crisp as well as its history, the first portion of the book includes storage and usage tips, a list of essential pantry items, and three essential chili crisp recipes. The book itself is the perfect size for the countertop, with clear instructions. The coloured pages can be a bit distracting and more photos would be helpful, but the variety of recipe options make up for it. From breakfast straight through to dessert (chili crisp ice cream, anyone?), there are options for every meal. This unique cookbook would appeal to lovers of spice as well as those who are willing to be a bit adventurous.

-J. O’Flaherty

121 McKellar Street South

By Jennifer Bonazzo

Standing before 121 McKellar Street South, the property looks as impressive as it must have appeared when first built in 1907. The Edwardian Classicism elements have stood the test of time: the brick arch and exaggerated keystones, two dormers (with the left one retaining its wrought iron grille), and the portico braced with brick columns. The original stained glass remains, along with the large Palladian windows. This heritage property has been a family residence, a medical clinic, a restaurant, and is now home to an engineering firm and rental units, with the current owners carefully restoring it.

The house was first built by J.E. Rutledge, on what was then known as 121 John Street South; the street name didn’t change to McKellar until Fort William and Port Arthur’s amalgamation in 1970. It’s not certain if this was perhaps J. Edgar Rutledge, owner of Rutledge Stationery on Victoria Avenue, but whoever it was didn’t own the house for long; it was sold the following year, then again in 1910, this time to a local businessman named Thomas P. Kelly. Kelly would retain the property for 18 years until a young doctor named Dr. R. Kerr Dewar graduated medical school and began looking for a place to operate his clinic.

This is the name most people will associate with the house. Dewar was a minister’s son who fought in WWI before going to medical school. He graduated in 1923 and bought the property five years later, and started his medical practice there right away. The third floor of the house came to be known as the Margaret Jane Dewar Hospital, named for his younger sister who had passed away at the age of 12. Dewar retained the property up to his death in 1965. A photo, thought to be of a young Dr. Dewar, still remains in the building.

Over the next few decades, the property was repurposed as it changed hands. Dr. Dewar’s

 Exterior of 121 McKellar Street South, after renovations

 The original bar from the previous restaurant  The front office, before and after renovations

 Main hall and stairway

Adrian Lysenko

Adrian Lysenko

Courtesy of Colleen Bennett

Courtesy of Colleen Bennett

Courtesy of Colleen Bennett

Restaurant operated from the building for many years, and was a site of the City of Thunder Bay’s Doors Open event in 2004. It was known as Il Pomodoro Restaurant when the building was listed on the City’s Heritage Registry in 2010.

Colleen Bennett purchased the property March 2012, and together with her spouse Bobby Fogolin, they have been meticulously restoring it. Exterior work has included the portico and roof, new cedar shakes, and new front and back staircases, among other things. Inside reflects a master class of renewal, with Bennett keeping photos of before and after progress. The main floor has baseboards created to match the original, refinished hardwood floors, and doorway trim topped with egg and dart details to again complement the house’s original design. Rental units on the second and third floor have been completely redone with materials sympathetic to the period. They are planning to continue their renovations.

Both Bennett and Fogolin’s love of heritage properties and their history was apparent when we spoke about the project. “It needed to be saved,” responded Fogolin, when asked about it. As a house that will forever be tied to a doctor’s name, it’s a fitting statement.

Jennifer Bonazzo is a member of the Heritage Advisory Committee, which advises city council on the conservation of heritage buildings, sites, and resources, and their integration into development. For more information on the city’s heritage resources, visit thunderbay.ca.

 The pizza oven from previous owners

Upstairs apartments, before and after renovations

 Before renovations

Courtesy of Colleen Bennett

Courtesy of Colleen Bennett

Courtesy of Colleen Bennett

Courtesy of Colleen Bennett

Courtesy of Colleen Bennett

Courtesy of Colleen Bennett

Mliss Turgeon, Owner and

Operator, Mliss’

Makings

Meet Mliss Turgeon, the entrepreneur behind the blooming floral venture Mliss’ Makings, which set root in January 2023 when she enrolled in the Summer Company Program, providing valuable support to her business. Nestled on her family’s property just outside Kakabeka Falls, Mliss cultivated a business that embodies her passion for locally grown, unsprayed flowers.

Mliss has a passion for providing enchanting blooms to the community. Last year marked the beginning of bouquet subscriptions, a unique service that delivered freshly picked bouquets with diverse varieties and vibrant hues directly to customers’ doorsteps every week. Mliss also actively participated in local markets,

becoming a go-to supplier for weddings and special events. Her artistic touch extended to crafting pine bough and dried flower willow wreaths, adding a festive touch to the Christmas season.

Beyond the fields of blossoms, Mliss finds joy in various activities, from tending to her flower and vegetable gardens to indulging in outdoor adventures like hiking, canoeing, and skiing. Mliss’ Makings is not just a business—it's a testament to Mliss’s deep connection to nature and her unwavering commitment to sharing its beauty with our community.

For those seeking a summer filled with the beauty of freshly harvested blooms, Mliss invites you to explore her offerings through the official website, mlissmakings.com.

To learn more about the Summer Company program visit gotothunderbay.ca/summercompany.

Q & A with Mliss

What drew you to entrepreneurship?

When considering entrepreneurship, I was primarily drawn to the prospect of being able to indulge in my passion and align my work with my personal schedule. The freedom to pursue what I love while maintaining a flexible work routine greatly appealed to me. What inspired you to launch your business?

The inspiration behind launching Mliss’ Makings stemmed from my desire to provide the community with locally grown, fresh, and unsprayed flowers that everyone could savour. The joy of spending time cultivating, harvesting, and arranging these exquisite bouquets further fuelled my enthusiasm for this venture.

What advice would you give to a fellow student who is looking to start a business?

To a fellow student venturing into entrepreneurship, my advice would be to ensure that the

chosen path is genuinely something you love and that it seamlessly integrates into your lifestyle. Passion and compatibility are key elements for sustained success in any business endeavor.

How did the Summer Company program help you in becoming an entrepreneur?

Participating in the Summer Company program proved invaluable to my entrepreneurial journey. The program’s publicity significantly bolstered my customer base, offering a substantial boost to my business. The exposure gained through the program played a pivotal role in the growth of Mliss’ Makings.

What was your most memorable moment as a Summer Company participant?

Reflecting on my experience as a Summer Company participant, the most memorable moment undoubtedly occurred during the market at Goods & Co. Witnessing the vibrant community of fellow participants and collectively promoting our businesses was a highlight. The enthusiasm for our ventures made it a truly unforgettable experience.

Celtic Runes for Two Beloved Grandparents

Story by Leah Morningstar, Photos by Meghan Arpin

Tattoo by Andy Ferrier, Utility Tattoo, Halifax

Dan Hall hasn’t lived in Thunder Bay very long; he’s been with us here for about three years. He hails from Halifax, and these tiny wrist tattoos were inked on the East Coast by tattoo artist Andy Ferrier over 20 years ago.

When Hall was born, his mother was still a teenager. She was the oldest of five kids and it was already quite a busy household. With five kids already, Hall’s grandparents (Francis and Mary Hall) were more than happy to accept another baby into the family; he grew up surrounded by love and support, and never doubted his place in the family.

In the spring of 2000, Hall moved to Toronto for a job. He still returned to Halifax to visit his family but he had officially moved out and was living his own life in the big city. Sadly, his Grandpa Francis passed away from cancer in 2001, and Grandma Mary’s health declined shortly after.

While in the hospital towards the end of her life, Grandma Mary mused to another family member, “Do you think Danny will even remember his grandparents when I’m gone?” Hearing this propelled Hall into action. He booked a flight home to Halifax for the beginning of September 2003; he basically went from the plane to his friend Ferrier’s place to get tattooed. The red rune tattoo is his grandpa’s name and the black rune tattoo is his grandma’s name

The next morning, Hall went to the hospital to see his grandma and to show her his new tattoos. In typical Grandma Mary fashion, she scoffed at him, saying, “Don’t you realize you could have just drawn on some fake tattoos since I’ll be dead soon?” Then she attempted to scratch off the new ink, thinking the tattoos couldn’t possibly be real.

But they were real. Hall was able to explain to his grandma (and show her) just how much both she and his grandpa meant to him. He explained to her that, aside from the family’s Irish ancestry, he picked Celtic runes because they are known to be carved

permanently in stone. Permanent runes carved in stone are like the permanent ink carved into his skin, and also like the permanent love they all shared. “Later, my grandma was bragging about my tattoo and how it was such a moving tribute, so I know she was actually pretty happy.” A few weeks after Hall returned to Toronto, Grandma Mary passed away, joining her husband Francis.

So much time has passed since that long ago September. Since then, Hall met and married his wife Vanessa, moved to Thunder Bay with her, and now works at Lakehead University. Every day he’s reminded about his grandparents and their love for him just by glancing down and catching sight of the Celtic runes on his wrist. Love endures forever and as it turns out, tattoos do too.

Conscious Cuisine

How a Plant-Based Diet Can Make a Difference for the Environment

By Ashley Priem, Co-Executive Director, EcoSuperior

I’m sure by now you have heard that the food we consume has a massive impact on our planet. Agriculture takes up half of the habitable land on Earth, destroys forests and other ecosystems, and produces a quarter of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. Meat and dairy, specifically, account for around 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. So, changing what we eat can help reduce carbon emissions, and there are several ways to make your diet more “climate-friendly.”

A plant-based diet plan minimizes or excludes meat, poultry, eggs, fish, seafood, and dairy products such as cheese, yogurt, butter, and ice cream made from animals’ milk. Plant-based diets typically include an array of fruits, vegetables, legumes (beans, peas, lentils), grains, nuts, and seeds. You can ease into the switch by eating plant-based meals Monday through Friday. If you need some inspiration, look online for vegan and vegetarian recipes.

Substitute your meat products— don’t just eliminate them. There are many plant-based meat alternatives for chicken, burgers, and sausages. Or, try making your own burgers with lentils or beans. Lentils and walnuts make a great taco filling, and jackfruit or tofu are great ways to replace the meat in your favourite chili and pasta recipes. The nondairy versions of milk, ice cream,

and cheese are limitless and tasty.

When frying food, it’s easy to switch out butter for vegan butter or margarine, or use oil instead. If you’re a baker, it’s easy to find recipes that don’t include dairy or eggs. Applesauce and ground flax make excellent egg substitutes without compromising taste.

No need to fret over not getting enough protein. Excellent plantbased sources of protein include beans, peas, lentils, nuts, seeds, and soy foods, as well as certain grains and legume-based pastas; even fruits and vegetables contribute a small amount.

Growing up most of us were taught that cow’s milk is necessary for our calcium needs but many plant-based foods naturally contain calcium. These include dark leafy greens like kale, collard greens, and spinach, as well as broccoli, oranges, and almonds.

Make plant-based eating work for you by intentionally designing a plan that meets your needs and preferences. Switching to a more plant-based diet is an excellent way to build a healthy future for people and the planet.

The Walleye

Healing the Healers

By Jon Thompson

Natural awe sweeps into the towns and First Nations nestled between this ancient mountain range and the world’s largest freshwater sea. Northwestern Ontario feels inclined to say, “We have our problems” (by which we mean “poverty”), but anyone who’s seen the view from here feels lucky to be in on the secret.

The secret is precious for those who don’t have a personal tussle with that poverty problem. By Canadian standards, Thunder Bay has decent food, culture, golf, skiing, and trails. Our living costs could dress medical specialists in an outsized home, a camp on the lake, and travel on vacation. Yet in February, our municipal leaders pleaded with Ontario to help fill 77 regional physician and 55 specialist vacancies.

It’s not about quality of life. It’s about quality of work—a diagnosis that’s finally coming around.

While the Northern Ontario School of Medicine’s retention numbers have fallen, there are more nursing vacancies in this region than anywhere in the province. Kenora’s down to half the doctors it needs. Red Lake has suspended obstetrics. According to Marcello Bernardo, manager of communications and engagement with Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, our city’s hospital is “facing unprecedented financial pressures,” running “regularly” over capacity and $15 million over budget.

Universal health care architect Tommy Douglas said Canada’s character test is “how we look after each other, not how we look after ourselves.” We need to look after the working conditions of the healers now, as they are the ones who look after us.

The health profession's cultural motivating force, the world over, forever, is healing others. Ontario’s myopic focus on financial incentives to recruit and retain them is asking them to look out for themselves. Money’s great, but have you tried a functional workplace with reasonable paperwork

and finding meaning in your service? That’s the healer’s reward.

In Marathon, a town of 3,000 people that’s just as resource-starved as we all are, doctors adopted consensus decision-making in 1996, and their team’s ability to grow together has meant they’ve retained a full complement ever since. There is a way.

That way is harder to walk if you’re taking care of yourself. Ontario’s decades-long plan to keep costs down by freezing hospital growth has frozen the system’s ability to build capacity, opening a Pandora's box of parasitic relationships that are costing us more and serving us less. While Doug Ford’s government diverted billions of dollars from health care to pay down debt ahead of schedule, it allowed for private clinics and paid them more than twice what public hospitals receive to perform the same procedures.

Remoteness and that poverty problem make for-profit hospitals risky up here, but the north’s out in the cold. A 2023 Auditor General’s investigation found Ontario has no plan to deliver unique northern services, like B.C. or Saskatchewan

have. Northern care has been eroding while plans have been stonewalled in bureaucracy since 2009, never producing anything.

And the agencies responsible for health care retention don’t monitor regional success.

Declining care then bolsters the incentive for staff to save themselves. Over the five years Ontario unconstitutionally capped public nurses’ salaries, the number of private nurses doubled. But in northern Ontario, they multiplied 25fold, fleeing the public system like it was on fire. Those nurses cost us three times as much, dipping deeper into the quality of care they’re able to provide.

There’s a great risk for those still romantically clinging to the healing incentive. Those workers our government hailed as heroes during the pandemic have been doing more with less for so long that the ranks of professions like paramedics have literally been decimated, burning out in volumes we’ve never seen. A recent poll conducted by Nanos Research of 750 northern nurses shows four-fifths experience stress and over half “dread going to work.”

Shovelling money into privatization while burning the staff for heat is a formula I’m afraid leads to “moral injury,” a type of post-traumatic stress whose study began in the military and is spreading through the helping professions. It’s the mental baggage of carrying out your orders against your ethics. “You get this feeling of overwhelming remorse and guilt based on news you have to deliver that has nothing to do with any part of your job,” one nurse who’s off on disability told me. “The family’s all there together waiting and, ‘Oh, sorry.’ And no one knows the reason. That doesn’t just go away. You have to sit with that messiness in your brain and no one else cares about it.”

Ontario needs to bet it all that healthcare professionals will love living up north if we take care of their quality of work. Of course, most of the pressure would diffuse if we prioritized looking after each other’s “social indicators of health.” That’s another code word for poverty, I know. But “We’re looking after it” would be a sweeter sell than, “We have our problems. Just look after yourself.”

MarchEventsGuide

March 1, 11 am

St. Joseph’s Curl for Care

Funspiel

Port Arthur Curling Centre

The annual Curl for Care funspiel, in support of St. Joseph’s Care Group’s addictions and mental health programs and services, welcomes all skill levels to come out and curl for a good cause. Registration is $100 per person or $400 per team, and can be done online.

sjftb.net/curlforcare

March 1 & 2, 7 pm

Applauze Productions

Presents:

Newsies Jr.

Trinity Hall

Based on the real-life newsboy strike of 1899, this musical tells the story of Jack Kelly, who rallies newsies from across the city to strike against the unfair conditions. Tickets are $20 for adults, $17.31 for youth, and are available online.

Applauzeproductions.com

March 1-2, 8-9

Crickets

Comedy Club

Presents: Derek Seguin

Crickets @ The Odeon Derek Seguin returns to Thunder Bay with his latest Juno-nominated comedy album. Whether he’s ragging on politics or telling stories about life with his children, get ready to laugh. Times vary by date. Tickets are $23.64 and available online.

facebook.com/cricketscomedyclub

March 1–3, 15, & 16, 7:45 pm

Kam River Fighting Walleye Home Games

NorWest Arena

It’s game day at NorWest Arena. Come out and support the Kam River Fighting Walleye when the puck drops at 7:45 pm. Ticket prices vary and are available online.

fightingwalleye.com

March 1, 8, & 22, 1 pm

Retirement Explorers

Mary J.L. Black Library

Retirement Explorers is a group of retirees who pursue active recreation options. Retirees and soon-to-be retirees are welcome to attend.

tbpl.ca

March 2, 10 am

Loud Women Collective Book Fair

Goods & Co. Market

Are you a grown-up (or child in a grown-up’s body) that misses the feeling of elementary school book fairs? This is the event for you. Come out for all the nostalgic vibes and great deals.

instagram.com/loudwomencollective

March 2, 11 am

Seedy Saturday

Roots Community Food Centre

Purchase and trade seeds, try seed cleaning, and listen to expert presenters and panellists discuss the topic of seeds from far and wide at Superior Seed Producers’ annual Seedy Saturday event. See this month’s Food section for more info.

facebook.com/SuperiorSeedProducers

March 2, 1:30 pm

Memoirs Made

Easy

Thunder Bay Museum

Join the Thunder Bay Museum for this in-person course taught in eight two-hour sessions every Saturday afternoon. Begin documenting your life’s story in a fun and interactive setting with instructor Catherine Mochrie. Registration is $100 and available online. thunderbaymuseum com

March 2, 9, 16, 23, & 30, 11 am

Peddler’s Pop Up Market

The Hub Bazaar

The Peddler’s Pop Up Market will run every Saturday until spring. It’s the perfect afterbrunch stop to do some local shopping over the weekend.

facebook.com/thehubbazaar

Until March 3

Radical Stitch

Thunder Bay Art Gallery

Enjoy a landmark exhibition that brings much-needed critical attention to the breadth and impact of contemporary Indigenous beading, featuring works by artists from across North America, including Northwestern Ontario. theag.ca

Until March 3

Wall Pocket

Thunder Bay Art Gallery

A selection of beaded wall pockets from the Gallery’s Permanent Collection will be on display, with some wall pockets in the collection being over 100 years old. theag.ca

March 3, 10, & 17, 2 pm

Winter FunDays

Various Locations

Enjoy free indoor and outdoor programming for the whole family this winter. Winter FunDays kick off on Sunday, January 7 and run every Sunday until March 17 starting at 2 pm. The weekly activities will be held in neighbourhoods throughout the city. thunderbay.ca/en/recreation

March 4–6, 11–13, & 18–20

Pierogi Days

Polish Combatants

Branch No. 1

Head over to the Polish Combatants Branch No. 1 every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday to buy perogies, cabbage rolls, vegan beet soup, and more. Pre-order, e-transfer. 807-345-1861

March 4, 11, 18, & 25, 5:30 pm

Thunder Bay Meditation Group

213 Castlegreen Drive

Thunder Bay Soto Zen Meditation Group invites you to come together for meditation and Dharma in the Soto Zen tradition. Free to attend. thunderbaymeditationgroup@gmail.com

March 6–9, 13-16, 7:30 pm

Cambrian Players Presents: The Snow Queen

Cambrian Theatre

There’s something for every member of the family at Cambrian Theatre’s upcoming production of The Snow Queen. Tickets are $22.63 and available online. See this month’s Film & Theatre section for more info. cambrianplayers.com

March 6–10, 8 am

Northern Ontario

Stick Curling Championships

Fort William Curling Club

This is the inaugural provincial championship for men’s and women’s stick curling in northern Ontario, and will feature competitors from across the region as they compete to determine the 2024 Northern Ontario representative for the championship tournament to be held in Toronto in April. curlnoca.ca

March 7-30

Magnus Theatre Presents: Tell Me on a Sunday Magnus Theatre

A one-act song cycle by Andrew Lloyd Webber, this play tells the story of an ordinary English girl who journeys to the United States in search of love. Tickets are $35 and available online. See this month’s Film & Theatre section for more info. magnustheatre.com

March 8, 7 pm

Rebel With a Cause

Definitely Superior Art Gallery

The first annual International Women’s Day fundraiser in support of Elizabeth Fry Society Northwestern Ontario features live music, poetry, drag performances, and more. Tickets are $30 and available online. For more information, see this month’s City Scene section. elizabethfrysocietyofnorthwesternontario square.site

March 8–9

International Women’s Day Events

Goods & Co. Market

Romy Marlo of The Uncommon Woman and Maelyn Hurley of Goods & Co. Market are excited to host another exciting event series for International Women’s Day. Ticket prices vary by event and are available online. See this month’s City Scene section for more info.

instagram.com/goodscomarket

March 9, 2 pm

Canadian Lighthouses of Lake Superior: 100 Years of Trowbridge

Thunder Bay Museum

Hear stories about Trowbridge Island Lighthouse as it approaches its 100th anniversary this June. Light refreshments will be served and donations are welcomed. Free to attend. thunderbaymuseum. com

March 9, 5 pm

Sleepy Gee

Events Presents: Poetry Night

Port Arthur Legion Branch 5

Over 10 local authors and musicians will be showcasing their work. An open mic session will follow the scheduled readings. Food will be provided by The Cheese Encounter. Tickets are $15 and available online or at the door.

instagram.com/thesleepygee

March 9, 7:30 pm

TBSO and Badanai Theatre

Present: 9 to 5

The Musical

Thunder Bay Community Auditorium

9 to 5 The Musical tells the story of three women pushed to boiling point by their sexist and egotistical boss. Tickets are $61 and available online. See this month’s Top Five for more info. tbso.ca

March 10, 9 am

Ramada Sports Card and Memorabilia Show

Ramada Hotel

Calling all diehard sports collectors: we’ve got the perfect Sunday for you. Vendors will have NHL, NFL, NBA, and MLB cards, memorabilia, wax boxes, and supplies for sale as well as non-sports collectors items such as Pokemon. Free to attend. rowz44@outlook.com

March 11, 7 am

March Break Art Camp

Lakeside Studio & Café

Looking for a fun March break camp for your crafty kids? In this program, your kids will spend the week creating projects and exploring a wide array of mediums from ceramics to painting, printmaking, fibre arts, glass, and more. Ages 8-13. Tickets are $240 and available online. lakesidepotterystudio. com/workshops

March 11–15, 8:30 am

Day Camp

Fort William Historical Park

Adventure and excitement await at Fort William Historical Park this March break. Campers will enjoy an array of fun including outdoor adventures, traditional Indigenous activities, games, and crafts. Ages 8–9. Enrollment is $150 and available online. fwhp.ca

March 11-15, 8:30

Astronomy Camp

Fort William Historical Park

Travel back in time and learn about Indigenous innovations that helped fur traders survive this land and David Thompson’s work as an astronomer and cartographer in the early 19th century. Ages 10–12. Enrollment is $150 and available online. fwhp.ca

March 11–15, 9 am

March Break Camp

Thunder Bay Museum

Children ages 6–12 can help the Thunder Bay Museum catch the crook Charlie Quinn over the March break. Enrollment is $140 for members and $175 for non-members. Spaces are limited. Register online. thunderbaymuseum. com

March 11–15, 9 am

Artistic Explorers: Following the Creative Trail

Thunder Bay Art Gallery

Calling all explorers! Pack your bags and head to the Thunder Bay Art Gallery this March break for an artistic adventure. Participants will try their hand at a variety of art mediums and styles. Ages 7–11. Registration is $230 (members) and $250 (nonmembers) and available online.

theag.ca

March 12, 1 pm

Goat Yoga Townline Equestrian Centre

Murillo Mutts Respite Refuge invites you to find your zen with goats. Yoga will be held indoors (long sleeves still suggested) for roughly one hour followed by a tour of the farm. Bring your own mat. $20 per person.

facebook.com/murillomuttsrefuge

March 15–April 28

Lakehead University Student Juried Exhibition

Thunder Bay Art Gallery

The Thunder Bay Art Gallery presents this collection showcasing the work of visual arts students at Lakehead University. See this month’s Art section for more info.

theag.ca

March 16, 8 pm

Mark Menei

Comedy Tour

Port Arthur Legion

Thunder Bay’s own Mark Menei will make a stop in his hometown for a St. Paddy’s Day show amidst a Canada-wide tour, with support from Brandon Cordeiro, Aaron Gee, and Trevor Green. Tickets are $20 in advance and $30 at the door. campfirecomedy.ca

Until March 17

Murder Mystery

Tin Can Challenge

Kamview Nordic Centre

There’s been a murder, and Kamview needs your help to solve it. Get your $5 game card from the chalet and participate by either skiing or snowshoeing to find all of the markers and punch your card. tbnordictrails.com

Until March 17

Anishinaabewin

Maamninendmowin: Pane Gii-Bite (Indigenous Ingenuity: Timeless Inventions)

Thunder Bay Museum

Celebrate the ever-evolving world of Indigenous ingenuity in this travelling exhibition that presents a clever and novel mix of science and culture. Entry is by donation. See this month’s Top Five for more info.

sciencenorth.ca/exhibits/indigenous-ingenuity

March 20, 2 pm

Altered Art

Brodie Resource Library

Recycle and give new life to old paintings. This program will allow you to transform an ordinary piece of decor into your own work of art using a variety of materials. Supplies will be provided.

Registration required. Adults 18+. tbpl.ca

March 21, 4 pm

DIY Dollhouse

County Park Branch Library

Whether it’s a pad for your plushies, lodging for Legos, or an actual dollhouse, sign up to make your own model home out of cardboard and other various supplies. Ages 6+ and must be accompanied by an adult. Registration begins two weeks prior. Tbpl.ca

March 22–May 5

Lakehead University Honours Exhibition

Thunder Bay Art Gallery

The Thunder Bay Art Gallery presents this collection of individual works by students graduating from the Honours Bachelor of Fine Art program at Lakehead University. See this month’s Art section for more info. theag.ca

March 23, 7:30 pm

Chris Locke

Red Lion Smokehouse

Chris Locke is a Canadian Comedy Award-winning comedian who regularly headlines clubs, theatres, and festivals, and he’s soon to be cracking you up at Red Lion Smokehouse. Tickets are $30 and available online. jumpcomedy.com

March 23, 7:30 pm

Improv Comedy Show

Cambrian Players

Are you ready for a night of affordable fun and laughs? Enjoy a night of improv comedy with Cambrian Players. If you like Whose Line Is It Anyway then you’ll love this. Participants create funny, one-act plays without a script, but you probably wouldn’t know it by watching. Tickets are $5 cash at the door. facebook.com/cambrianplayersimprov

March 24, 11 am

Sip ‘N Shop

Local Artisan Spring Market

Delta Hotel

Grab your friends, family, and co-workers, and bring all the kids along-! The Sip ‘N Shop market will return with over 55 local artisans. Hosted by Sugar & Scrub, this market will run in support of BGC Thunder Bay. Free to attend. facebook.com/sugarandscrub

March 27–30, 7 pm

Paramount Live

Presents: Grease

Paramount Theatre

Grease is the word! Writers Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey have created an ensemble of memorable characters from the fictional world of Rydell High School. Tickets are $22.63 and available online. See this month’s Film & Theatre section for more info.

facebook.com/plivetbay

March 27, 8 pm

Wine Wednesday

Series: Oceania

Red Lion Smokehouse

Wine Wednesdays continue at Red Lion Smokehouse, and this month they invite you to ponder the exciting flavours of Australia and New Zealand. Sommelier John Murray will be leading a group of wine fans in an informative tasting in the Cardinal Chocolate Co. private room. Tickets $55.66 and available online. facebook.com/redlionsmokehouse

March 30, 8 pm

Derelicte 14: A Fashion Odyssey

Black Pirates Pub

Definitely Superior Art Gallery’s annual fundraising event features 32 acts in one fabulous night of fashion, wearable art, music, and more. $20 admission at the door. Ages 19+. See this month’s Art section for more info. definitelysuperior.com

LU RADIO’S MONTHLY TOP 30

1 PACKS*

Melt the Honey Fire Talk

2 Sleater-Kinney Little Rope

Loma Vista

3 Autogramm*

Music That Humans Can Play

Stomp Label

4 Hot Garbage*

Precious Dream Mothland

5 Munya* Jardin

Luminelle

6 Ty Segall Three Bells

Drag City

7 Breeze*

Sour Grapes

Hand Drawn Dracula

The Walleye

Walleye

8 EKKSTACY* EKKSTACY Dine Alone

9 Bry Webb* Run With Me Idée Fixe

10 MOONRIIVR*

Vol. 1 Victory Pool

11 Pallmer* Swimming Soft Voice

12 Hotel Mira* I Am Not Myself Light Organ

13 Ducks Ltd.* Harm’s Way

Self-Released

14 Vacations

No Place Like Home No Fun

15 TORRES

What an enormous room Merge

16 Elisapie* Inuktitut Bonsound

17 Danny Brown Quaranta

Warp

18 Dermabrasion* Pain Behavior Hand Drawn Dracula

19 JEEN* Gold Control

Self-Released

20 Allison Burik* Realms

Self-Released

21 Faith Healer*

The Hand That Fits

The Glove Mint

22 Sprints

Letter To Self City Slang

23 Marika Hackman

Big Sigh

Chrysalis

* Indicates Canadian Content

Chart ranking reflects airplay for the week ending Tuesday, February 13, 2024

Check out our weekly charts online at luradio.ca. Keep it locked on 102.7 FM, online streaming at luradio.ca.

24 Jeremy Dutcher* Motewolonuwok Secret City

25 Feeling Figures*

Migration Magic

Perennial / K

26 Bloodshot Bill*

Psyche-o-Billy

Self-Released

27 No Waves

Postcard - EP Stomp

28 Katy Kirby

Blue Raspberry

Anti-

29 Wiener Kebab*

No One Makes It Out Alive

Self-Released

30 TR/ST TR/ST EP Dais

MAR 1

Jazz & OldFashioned Fridays ft Mood Indigo

Anchor & Ore

6 pm / No Cover / AA

Psycho Therapy

Howl at the Moon

7 pm / $10 / AA

TBSO Presents: Northern Lights

Fusion Heat ft

Flamenco Caravan

Italian Cultural Centre

7:30 pm / $20+ / AA

Live @ Loch ft

Just Me

Loch Lomond Ski Area

8 pm / No Cover / AA

Pedestrian

Lifestyle & Friends

Black Pirates Pub

9 pm / $10 / 19+

Sober Dance Party

Fridays

Howl at the Moon

9 pm / No Cover / 19+

Bon Jovi Forever

Tribute

NV Music Hall

9 pm / $25+ / 19+

The Honest Heart Collective

Norteños Cantina

9:30 pm / $20+ / 19+

Mother of Wolves

The Wayland

10 pm / $5 / 19+

Blood Red Moon

The Foundry

10 pm / $5 / 19+

MAR 2

Roy Coran Big

Band Presents: The Girls in the Band

Victoria Inn

6:30 pm / $15-$25 / 19+

Humane Society

Benefit

Black Pirates Pub

9 pm / $10 / 19+

Razor’s Edge

The Wayland

10 pm / $5 / 19+

4Pillar DJs

The Foundry

10 pm / $5 / 19+

MAR 3

Sunday Brunch ft

Danny Johnson

Norteños Cantina

11 am / No Cover / AA

Open Jam

Royal Canadian Legion Branch 5 8 pm / No Cover / AA

MAR 4

Sea Shanty The Foundry 8 pm / No Cover / 19

MAR 7

Open Mic Night

Lakehead Beer Company 7 pm / No Cover / AA

MAR 8

Jazz & OldFashioned Fridays ft Mood Indigo

Anchor & Ore 6 pm / No Cover / AA

Live @ Loch ft Clay

Breiland

Loch Lomond Ski Area 8 pm / No Cover / AA

The Zep Show

Black Pirates Pub 9 pm / $20-$25 / 19+

Sober Dance Party

Fridays

Howl at the Moon 9 pm / No Cover / 19+

Headrush

The Wayland 10 pm / $5 / 19+

V3nom

The Foundry 10 pm / $5 / 19+

Dame Mas Dance Night

Norteños Taqueria

10 pm / $5 / 19+

Phineas Gauge

Norteños Cantina

10 pm / $5 / 19+

MAR 9

The Cover Show

29 Encore

Black Pirates Pub

10 pm / $15 / 19+

Headrush

The Wayland

10 pm / $5 / 19+

DJ Wurlwind 90s Night

Norteños Cantina

10 pm / $5 / 19+

DJ Rogue

The Foundry

10 pm / $5 / 19+

Saturday Club Nights ft DJ Mo

NV Music Hall

10 pm / $5 / 19+

MAR 10

Open Jam Branch 5 Legion

8 pm / No Cover / AA

MAR 11

Open Mic

The Foundry

7:30 pm / No Cover / 19

MAR 14

Open Mic Night

Lakehead Beer Company

7 pm / No Cover / AA

Corb Lund

Thunder Bay

Community Auditorium

8 pm / $35+ / AA

MAR 15

Jazz & OldFashioned Fridays ft Mood Indigo

Anchor & Ore

6 pm / No Cover / AA

St Patrick’s Ceilidh ft Loughlin + TBay Trad

Royal Canadian Legion Kakabeka 7:30 pm / $20+ / AA

Live @ Loch ft Maple Suns

Loch Lomond Ski Area 8 pm / No Cover / AA+

V3nom PrePaddy’s Bash

Black Pirates Pub

9 pm / $10 / 19+

The JB Band

Norteños Cantina

10 pm / $5 / 19+

Mother of Wolves

The Foundry

10 pm / $5 / 19+

Back Forty

The Wayland

10 pm / $5 / 19+

MAR 16

Cartwrights Album Release Party

Black Pirates Pub

9 pm / $10 / 19+

The Gin Tonics

Red Lion Smokehouse

9:30 pm / No Cover / 19+

The Shapely w/ O’Rose

Norteños Taqueria

10 pm / $10 / 19+

The Bay Street

Bastards & Loughlin

Norteños Cantina

10 pm / $5 / 19+

Pintsmasher

The Foundry

10 pm / $5 / 19+

Back Forty

The Wayland

10 pm / $5 / 19+

MAR 17

Brass Camel w/ Thirsty Monks + Ukkon3n

Black Pirates Pub

8 pm / $15+ / 19+

Open Jam

Royal Canadian Legion Branch 5 8 pm / Free / AA

MAR 18

Sea Shanty

The Foundry

8:30 pm / No Cover / 19+

MAR 20

Skid Row + Buckcherry + Sierra Pilot

Thunder Bay

Community Auditorium

7 pm / $50+ / AA

MarchMusicGuide

Ira Johnson

Howl at the Moon

8 pm / $5 / AA

Danny Johnson’s Piano Bar

Shooter’s Tavern

8 pm / No Cover / 19+

MAR 21

Open Mic Night Lakehead Beer Company

7 pm / No Cover / AA

MAR 22

Jazz & OldFashioned Fridays ft Mood Indigo

Anchor & Ore

6 pm / No Cover / AA

Acoustic Night

Norteños Taqueria

6 pm / No Cover / AA

TBSO Presents: Voices Requiem

St Paul’s United Church

7:30 pm / $20–40 / AA

Sober Dance Party Fridays

Howl at the Moon

9 pm / No Cover / 19+

Kenzie Belisle w/ Lakeside District + more Black Pirates Pub

9 pm / $10 / 19+

Back Forty

The Foundry

10 pm / $5 / 19+

Urban Hip

Norteños Taqueria

10 pm / $5 / 19+

Dirty Mines

The Wayland

10 pm / $5 / 19+

MAR 23

Dame Mas Dance Night

Norteños Cantina

10 pm / $5 / 19+

Rock Bottom

The Foundry

10 pm / $5 / 19+

MAR 24

Open Jam

Royal Canadian Legion Branch 5

8 pm / No Cover / AA

Hurrikanes Rave Revival Black Pirates Pub 9 pm / $10 / 19+

MAR 25

Open Mic

The Foundry 7:30 pm / No Cover / 19+

MAR 28

Open Mic Night

Lakehead Beer Company

7 pm / No Cover / AA

The Gin Tonics

The Social 8 pm / No Cover / 19+

MAR 29

Jazz & OldFashioned Fridays ft Mood Indigo Anchor & Ore 6 pm / No Cover / AA

Acoustic Night Norteños Taqueria 6 pm / No Cover / AA

Femur & Friends Black Pirates Pub 9 pm / $10 / 19+

Sober Dance Party

Fridays

Howl at the Moon 9 pm / No Cover / 19+

Thunder Gun Norteños Cantina 10 pm / $5 / 19+

MAR 30

DJ Sugarman

Norteños Cantina 10 pm / $5 / 19+

The Gin Tonics

The Foundry 10 pm / $5 / 19+

Aries

(March 21–

April 19)

Aries likes to be the first at everything, so it makes sense that St. Paddy’s Day planning has been on your mind for a few weeks now. Always the social butterfly, you find yourself perusing dollar stores in search of leprechaun-themed decor. No one even drinks green beer anymore, except for you, Aries. You Rams are just “ram”-ping up for your birthday celebs! Late March Aries folk are ready to celebrate their solar returns in style. It can’t be all fun and games though—make sure you include a bit of quiet time to balance the socializing. The new moon on the 10th makes for a good time to rest.

Taurus

(April 20–May 20)

Luck is on your side this month, Taurus! Now is the time to dream big and bold. Interactions are favourable and your personal power is on high. The 14th is Pi Day, so why not get into the kitchen and roll out some pie dough? The hearth is the central focus of any home, and when you don that apron, it’s easy to find yourself in a soothing state of bliss. Whether you opt for apple, cherry, or pecan, delight those under your roof with a bite of homemade goodness. The positive effects will linger all month long, and may even entice others to try out their own cooking skills.

Gemini

(May 21–June 20)

You’ve been feeling like you’ve been tested lately, haven’t you Gemini? The Twins have been going through it all lately. Taking time to journal can be helpful, or talking to a trusted advisor or friend can work wonders. There is a light at the end of

By Sunny Disposish

the tunnel, however. Family is willing to step up and lend a hand. Don’t be too proud to say yes! Spend some time in nature as more seasonal temperatures arise and signs of spring can be spotted. Tune into your creative side. Whether it’s taking a few photos or doing some crafting, these hobbies will light you up from the inside out.

Cancer

(June 21–July 22

Nurturing Cancer can get a little overextended sometimes. Who cares for the caregiver? You are so busy ministering to others that sometimes your own needs are overlooked. Plan a spa day alone or with friends. The spring equinox has you feeling fresh and new, and doing a bit of spring cleaning. There’s a little more pep in your step when the harsh winter starts to dissolve. Stock up on supplies and really give your home base a good going over. If there are any little ones under your roof, they’ll be more than happy to “help,” too.

Leo

(July 23–August 22

There’s nothing a Leo likes more than a party, and a small St. Paddy’s Day celebration might be the ticket to perk up your month. If green beer brings you joy, then go ahead and free up space in your busy calendar. It’s all the small things, and heaven knows Lions enjoy a bit of the luck o’ the Irish at times. Being the centre of attention is a must for proud Leos, and that’s not a bad thing. You are sharing your gifts with others, so go ahead and be your engaging self by drawing others into your circle. Your heart is big and there’s room for everybody. A new venture you invested in earlier this month pays off.

Virgo

(August 23–Septembe

The full moon in your sign—not to mention a lunar eclipse as well—on the 25th has Virgos amped right up. There may be a change of venue on your horizon—whether it be a new residence, or a new view at work, there’s a shift coming in your home and hearth. Also referred to as the Storm Moon, the full moon may bring you—or those close to you—some stormy moments. Welcome these stormy moments, as that’s when change happens. Fill a jar with water and place it under the moon’s bright light, then drink it down in the morning. You’ll feel refreshed and recharged! Furry friends figure prominently. Man’s best friend indeed!

Libra (September 23–October 22)

The Scales sign has been thinking entrepreneurial thoughts for some time. It’s time to bust out of your comfort zone, Libra, and live your dream! This airy sign would do well at a side hustle, and that niggling feeling you’ve been experiencing is your intuition telling you you’re on the right track. Do the research and legwork and you could find yourself being a business owner. It’s never too late to make a fresh start, and your friendly and sincere nature will draw others to you like bees to honey. No need to wait for the “right” time—the time is now, so strike while the iron is hot.

Scorpio (October 23–November 21)

This is certainly a busy month for Scorpions! Feeling like the proverbial plate is overflowing? Take some

time on the 19th to clear out any stale energy. The spring equinox is coming in hot, and with the changing of the season comes some new and fresh mindsets. Rituals of new beginnings are taking place around the globe this month, so it might be time to turn one’s mind to some spring cleaning. The clock springs ahead, and so must you. Keep moving forward and listen to your heart. It’s the true north.

Sagittarius (November 22–December 21)

The spring equinox on the 19th has Archers all a-flutter. Also referred to as Ostara, this glorious day falls between the end of winter and the high point of summer. Sure, active Archers love snowshoeing, skiing, and snowmobiling. But this is not to say the awakening is not welcome! This is a wonderful time to look at the things you have been working on, acknowledge the progress you’ve made, and reflect on what you want to grow in your life. Set intentions and watch them blossom as you move through spring. Spend some downtime reading a good book or perusing a new recipe.

Capricorn (December 22–January 19)

This earthy sign has been hibernating. Winter months will do that to a Goat, but it might be time to test the waters. Digging your heels in will only keep you stuck. Take small steps into the world if you have to, but your light is too bright to keep yourself in the house. Start with what you are comfortable with. Small steps over time equal big results! Physical fitness plays a large part in Cap’s well being. Make time for some positive body movement as

a part of your regular routine. If you’re already got a bit of a practice going, know that your dedication has a positive effect on others. You’re a role model!

Aquarius

(January 20–February 18)

It’s an early Easter this year, and Aquarians are prepping in the kitchen. It feels very much like a great time to reconnect with friends and family, so do enjoy the gatherings. Romance is front and centre, so time to plan a date night with the one you love. Take the lead and perhaps plan a lovely surprise. Relationships are next level, and expect to take some great leaps in that department as Water-Bearers realize what’s most important in life. International Women’s Day on the 8th finds you in a contemplative state. Be still.

Pisces

(February 19–March 20)

It’s Pisces season, and the end of the astrological calendar. Many of you may be celebrating a birthday this month and with that comes a bit of the party feels and joie de vivre. The winter doldrums may have gotten to you lately, but that’s okay—fish are resilient creatures, and Fish folk are bound to perk up as long as cake is a part of things. Why not host your own special day celebration? That way you still have full creative control, but can enjoy some pampering at the same time. You may get a special surprise from a loved one. Spend some time by the water, as that is a great practice for clearing your mind and getting close to nature. A social media break is a good idea this month— take some time to unplug.

Colossal Crossword

Across

1. Authentic

5. Lake’ in Italy

9. Mr. Fields of classic comedy, et al.

12. Hart Memorial Trophy winners in the NHL, for short

16. Mount __ (Thunder God peak in Nunavut)

17. Ken of ‘80s drama “thirtysomething”

18. De-freeze

19. ‘Air’-meaning prefix

20. Scottish-born Ontario farmer who with his wife Jane (nee Beckett) developed Red Fife Wheat, the dominant wheat grown in Canada from 1860 to 1910 ...which today is a Canadian heritage wheat popular with artisan bakers: 2 wds.

22. W.B. Yeats’ poetic land

23. Mr. Weatherbee’s job at Riverdale High [abbr.]

24. Premieres

25. Parliament Hill’s main building: 2 wds.

28. Campaigns

29. Allison of “The West Wing”

30. “Buffalo Stance” singer Ms. Cherry

31. Parliament Hill statutes

32. Ms. Singer of “Footloose” (1984)

33. Arctic animal

35. Olympic figure skater Midori

36. Persians vs. Athenians battle site in 490 BC

38. Founded-in-1842 federal agency, __ Survey of Canada

41. Mr. Sharif of “Doctor Zhivago” (1965)

42. Web pop-ups, e.g.

43. Ms. Thomas of 1966 to 1971 sitcom “That Girl”

44. Wisdom imparting mentor

45. Age-__ (Not affected by the passage of time)

47. Jam containers

48. Canadian singer/songwriter Mr. Roberts

50. Approx.

51. “Chasing Pavements” British songstress

53. Poetic ‘below’

55. __ for apples

58. 6’s telephone letters

59. Banff creatures

61. Food storage container concern for leftovers that have sauces

63. Alphabet opener....

66. Curriculum __ (Job applicant’s submission)

68. First word in #25-Across’ answer, for short here=

69. Canadian guitarist Mr. Nova

70. Port Charlottetown visiting vessel of vacationers: 2 wds.

72. The Guess Who song for a commuter: 2 wds.

74. Mil. officer

75. Bust _ __ (Laugh heartily)

76. Shoe parts

78. Ancient Egyptian sun disc

79. Band of eight

81. Hiking paths

83. Sch. instructor

84. Skiing region north of Montreal

86. Alberta Rockies massif near Canmore, Ehagay __

88. Historic port of Spain

89. Earth goddess in Wagner’s opera Das Rheingold

90. Like a TAG Heuer wristwatch: 2 wds.

93. Bug repellent ingredient

94. Hauls

95. River in Normandy

96. Out on the ocean

97. Big name in gas stations

98. Jeans brand

99. Big Apple denizen

100.Elvis Presley dog song: “Old __”

Down

1. Airport sched. info

2. Mr. Brownlee, Canadian country music singer

3. Canadian Coast Guard air-cushioned vehicle

4. British Columbia... Coquitlam River, to the Fraser River

5. Artist work spaces

6. Ms. MacGraw’s of movies

7. Computer image file type

8. __-__ garage

9. Capital city of the Yukon

10. Piece in a travel luggage set

11. Popeye character, __’Pea

12. Quebec-exported syrup

13. Ms. Tennant, Canadian ballet legend

14. Dangly accessory on Minnie Pearl’s iconic hat: 2 wds.

15. News-making collapse in a road after a storm

18. Nashville, __.

21. Kirsten of ‘Spider-Man’ movies

26. WWII codebreakers movie of 2001 starring Dougray Scott and Kate Winslet

27. Blood type, _ __.

29. Rocker Mr. Bon Jovi, and namesakes

31. “Eight Is Enough” star Willie

32. Rustic retreat

34. ‘Alarm clocks’ on farms

36. Fashion

37. Give/deliver: 2 wds.

39. Nets

40. Belief system

46. Victoria-born musician Mr. Tyson

47. River of Malaysia

49. “Eureka!”

52. Alberta city which is home to the Galt Museum

54. High, in Latin

55. Invented-in-Canada bluffing board game

56. Calgary neighbourhood

57. “To __ __ not to...”

58. 1501 in ancient Rome

60. Didn’t remove or release: 2 wds.

62. Canadian author of award-winning novel In the Upper Country: 2 wds.

63. Honour

64. Richly-woven decorative fabrics

65. Civilizations

67. “Did that really happen?”: 3 wds.

68. UK honours, e.g.

71. Fully satisfy

73. Magazine displayers

77. Ann-Margret’s not-used surname

80. Lyre-playing Muse of ancient Greece

82. Some small batteries

83. Police weapon

85. Ms. Carter who starred on ‘80s sitcom “Gimme a Break!”

86. Leap Year! Days in February in 2024, Twenty-__

87. Suffix with ‘Chick’

91. Humorously askew

92. The Raven writer’s monogram

Answers available at thewalleye.ca/games

©2024: Kelly Ann Buchanan

By Marianne Jones

mars de 9h à 11h

APRIL 5, 2024

Featuring Sharon Wei and Scott St. John with Cosette Justo-Valdéz Conducting

Sunrise at Split Rock Lighthouse State Park, Minn., taken in June 2019

Photo by Christian Dalbec

A building is just a building, it takes the people inside to make it a home. He thought of this as his home.”

Cheryl Family of Past Client

Cheryl Delorenzi became part of St. Joseph’s Care Group when her parents moved into Sister Leila Greco Apartments. It didn’t take long for her to appreciate the surroundings, and especially the staff.

“The apartments are really nice. When my parents moved in, we took their furniture and personal belongings and set it into their new home. It felt just like their home of many years.”

Cheryl’s mom’s Alzheimer’s soon progressed and she was moved (next door) to Hogarth Riverview Manor.

“This worked out really good for my Dad because he was able to see her every day. They were together, just like they had always been. Whenever we couldn’t be there, he was there. He would feed her breakfast or supper and just go lie down with her at night.”

“I think it’s really special that you can have assisted living and long term care homes together. This helps couples stay together and receive the care that each needs as individuals. It’s important.”

Cheryl’s dad stayed in the apartment at the Sister Leila Greco until he passed, “and that was his extended family. They would just sit and visit with him and he loved it. They were really good to him. And he was good to them. They called him the Mayor. They miss him. I know they miss the mayor.”

Cheryl admires the camaraderie among staff. “They all seemed to work and respect each other’s position on the floor. Whether it’s a nurse, the one giving the meds or the personal support worker, it seemed like they could rely on whoever was around.”

Cheryl says that no matter a resident’s situation or illness, “you don’t really appreciate what they can do for you until you’re there. Not everybody’s meant to be a PSW or work in a long term care home or hospital. It takes special people.”

The more she saw of the efforts staff put in, the more she was impressed – so much so that she decided to become a volunteer to help wherever she could. Cheryl and her siblings also donate to support activities for the clients at Sister Leila Greco, and she is a part of the Family Council. When each parent passed away, the family directed memorial donations to St. Joseph’s Foundation so that their legacy of support to the Care Group and specifically to Sister Leila Greco would continue. When her mom passed away, Cheryl’s family wanted to give something back in appreciation for all that had done for her. They settled on a pill crusher, an

essential senior health-care tool. The family also donated an angel figurine, which is proudly displayed in the home.

Cheryl has so many wonderful memories of the staff. “What I really appreciated was the PSWs that had the responsibility of caring for her each day. They would tell you stories: ‘last night your mom just needed a hug, and I was there to give her one.’”

Staff would often just sit with residents in the evening. “‘I’m not supposed to be here too much longer, but everybody else is okay tonight so I’m going to stay with you’ That’s what I really appreciated. Those moments. If they’re doing it for one, they’re doing it for all.”

Cheryl urges people wondering how their parents will be cared for later in life to consider the long term care homes available at the Care Group.

“I just want to tell people, look into it. It’s a great place to live. You will hear the stories of how well cared for your parents or loved ones will be.”

“We are always afraid and concerned when our parents have to move somewhere new at this stage in their life. Just let them try it, because like my parents, they had a wonderful life and loved living at Hogarth. We’re giving them a good quality of life, activities to enjoy and amazing care by amazing people. Our family is grateful and think it’s wonderful.”

St. Joseph’s Foundation is honoured to share the “Caring Moments” stories from our clients and their families. Each story tells their personal experience with the care and compassion provided by the staff of St. Joseph’s Care Group. Become a part of the Caring Moments program and share your gift of gratitude through your personal story or by making a donation in appreciation of the care your family received.

Donate today www.sjftb.net/caringmoments