May 2022 by The Walleye Magazine

FILM FREE ARTS Vol. 13 No. 5 MUSIC MAY FOOD 2022 CULTURE thewalleye.ca

Grow Local

Connecting with Our Food Mother Mother Back on the Road

EYE TO EYE: With Ma-Nee Chacab

Wonderland for Young and Old

Reels

Share your Northern experience with the most cutting-edge smartphones out there.

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82 Editor-in-chief Darren McChristie Editor Adrian Lysenko adrian@thewalleye.ca Assistant Editor Rebekah Skochinski Senior Editor Tiffany Jarva Copy Editors Amy Jones, Bonnie Schiedel Editorial Assistant Sara Sadeghi Aval Marketing & Sales Manager Meagan Griffin sales@thewalleye.ca Photographers Olivia Bosma Kevin Dempsey Damien Gilbert Chad Kirvan Dave Koski Shannon Lepere Marty Mascarin Darren McChristie Sarah McPherson Lois Nuttall Laura Paxton Art Directors Steve Coghill, R.G.D. Dave Koski, R.G.D. production@thewalleye.ca Ad Designers Dave Koski Miranda van den Berg 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 © 2022 by Superior Outdoors Inc. All Rights Reserved. Editorial and Advertising: Submissions must be accompanied by a selfaddressed, stamped envelope. Superior Outdoors cannot be held responsible for unsolicited material. Superior Outdoors Inc. 242 - 1100 Memorial Avenue Thunder Bay, ON P7B 4A3 Telephone (807) 344-3366 Fax (807) 623-5122 E-mail: info@thewalleye.ca

TheWalleye.ca Where can I find The Walleye? thewalleye.ca/wherecan-i-find-the-walleye/ Ad Deadline for our June Issue May 18th

Contents

Everything Grows from the Heart

Goats in Mow-tion

75 24

Pickled Egg Studio

Food, Culture, and Friendships

TheTOPFive

FEATURES 9 Grow Local Connecting with Our Food 10 Thunder Bay in Season 12 Thunder Bay Food Systems, By the Numbers 14 CommunitySupported Agriculture 16 Saving Your Seeds 17 DIY Farm Ingenuity 18 Good Meals are Here to Stay 20 Growing Food, Growing Connections

102 It’s In Their Blood

FOOD 22 THE GRINNING BELLY 23 DRINK OF THE MONTH 24 SUPERIOR SIP 25 Maamawitaawining 27 OFF THE MENU 29 Food, Culture, and Friendships 30 Salt & Pepper 32 Goats in Mow-tion 34 V’s Sugar Rush FILM&THEATRE 36 A Sobering Story 38 Smarty Pants 40 THE SECOND MOST PLEASURABLE THING WE DO IN THE DARK. A COLUMN ABOUT MOVIES 43 Wonderland for Young and Old 44 CONFESSIONS OF A DRAG DEALER THE ARTS 46 A THOUSAND WORDS 48 Fun Art, Not Fine Art 50 Everything Grows from the Heart 53 FROM THUNDER BAY ART GALLERY’S COLLECTION 54 The Art That Surrounds Us

99 84

OUTDOOR 56 Superior Whitewater CITYSCENE 58 A Night to Raise Funds and Hope 60 THE ENTHUSIASTS 62 Building Community

68 70 72 75 76 79 80 82 84 86

WALL SPACE: Woollysteer Ranch CANNABIS CORNER Farm Guard Animals Growing in a Warming Planet Stepping Up to Save the Carousel GO LOCAL Thunder Bay Country Market Only Birds are Free Women on Wheels EYE TO EYE: With Ma-Nee Chacaby Stuff We Like Rebuilding Plan SECOND CHANCES

MUSIC 88 Pickled Egg Studio 91 Hawks Must Fly, Road Dogs Must Run 92 Whitehorse 95 Mother Mother Back on the Road 96 Making Waves 99 BURNING TO THE SKY 100 Jim Hamilton 102 It’s In Their Blood 105 TBSO PROFILE: Eleanor Hopwood 106 OFF THE WALL REVIEWS ARCHITECTURE 108 Intercity Shopping Centre 110 Tbaytel MAY EVENTS GUIDE 112 LU RADIO'S MONTHLY TOP 30 TATTOOED YOU 114 A Fishing Rod Tattoo GREEN 118 Spring Into Action and Make a Difference 120 LET’S GET GROWING HEALTH 122 Expert Advice for Helping Your Children Make Healthy Lifestyle Choices THE WALL 124 As Food Prices Increase, Inequity is Becoming Even More Visible 126 HOROSCOPES 129 THE BEAT 130 THE EYE

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From Our Instagram Feed

Growing Stronger

or most of my youth, I was raised on a 150-acre farm in southwestern Ontario. Although we leased out a portion of the land to a farmer, we still had a bountiful garden. My parents grew various produce, including potatoes, onions, beets, carrots, tomatoes, and garlic. At an early age they instilled in me the importance of knowing where your food comes from, and as an adult, I try to practise this when possible. While living in Toronto, my wife and I were fortunate enough to have backyard laying hens, which we brought with us when we moved back to Thunder Bay in 2014 (I can still remember the puzzled look of fellow campers at White Lake Provincial Park when they saw our chickens grazing at our site). Whether it was seeing the many growers selling produce at the farmers markets or how chefs were using local ingredients in their dishes, I was blown away by the strong community food system here. Celebrating everything related to our regional food system, this month we’ve teamed up with the Thunder Bay and Area Food Strategy to bring back the Northwest Nosh in the pages of our May issue. As part of our cover

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story, Lindsay Campbell digs into Thunder Bay's guide to local food, Thunder Bay in Season, Bonnie Schiedel showcases the city’s food systems by the numbers, Wendy Wright puts together a guide for community-supported agriculture, we discover some local DIY farm ingenuity, and much more. Keeping with our theme, for our Wall Space we head over to Woollysteer Ranch, pommelier and sommelier Jeannie Dubois talks sustainability in the Ontario wine industry, and film columnist Michael Sobota shares his favourite movies about farming and food. Also this month, Olivia Bosma chats with the members of the Canadian folk-rock band Whitehorse ahead of their Sleeping Giant Folk Music Society concert, Matt Prokopchuk gets an update on the rebuilding of The Finlandia, and Gabriel Thompson kayaks down the Current River in our Outdoor section. In our May issue you’ll find stories about some of the many local food producers, chefs, and advocates who are proof that Thunder Bay’s community food system only continues to grow stronger. -Adrian Lysenko

Featured Contributor Karen Kerk

Karen is a big fan of the local food scene, which is helpful in her role as the coordinator of the Thunder Bay and Area Food Strategy. She is deeply inspired and impressed by the variety and passion of the local food players here, from growers and processors to chefs and retailers. When she’s not working or shopping for local ingredients to cook for dinner, she’s trying her hand at growing some of her own food to feed her ever-hungry teenagers.

On the Cover Woollysteer Ranch's Scottish Highland Bull Photo by Rachel Audette

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“My teachers are focused

on my success” You belong here 6

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Waterfront District’s

1 ZZ Top

TheTopFive

May 4

Thunder Bay Community Auditorium If you’ve got legs and you know how to use them, you’ll want to get out to see Rock and Roll Hall of Famers ZZ Top! Yes, the real deal will be here. A Celebration with ZZ Top is touring across Canada, with a stop at the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium. With many smash hit albums under their belts and a string of studio albums as long as their beards, that little ol’ band from Texas is still going strong. Their new live album Raw, to be released July 22 will include signature hits like “Gimme All Your Lovin’,” “Tush,” “La Grange” and deep cuts from their early days like “Certified Blues” and “Brown Sugar.” The best part? You don’t need to sleep inside your sleeping bag to get tickets. tbca.com

2 Whitehorse

Dore Stand-Up 3 Jon Comedy

May 7

May 14

From Toronto to Thunder Bay! Sleeping Giant Folk Music Society is very excited to present the ever-evolving magnetic husband/wife duo that is Whitehorse. Since their debut in 2011, their sound has crossed from folk to blues to pop noir, proving to audiences and fans that their creativity knows no bounds. 2021 saw this Juno Award-winning pair of Melissa McClelland and Luke Doucet release two albums: Modern Love—their first full-length album since 2017—and Strike Me Down, which features lush guitar, solid beats, and their trademark transcendent harmonies that transport listeners to eras gone by. Think 80s nostalgia with rosecoloured glasses—we are here for it. And you can be too! Tickets are $30, the doors open at 7 pm, and the music kicks off at 8 pm. sleepinggiant.ca

Having a tough time finding things to laugh about these days? A night of comedy might be in order! Campfire Comedy is presenting an evening with award-winning Canadian comic Jon Dore. Dore is known for his hilarious antics (as well as writing and acting) on the Comedy Network’s hit TV show, The Jon Dore Television Show. In addition to his stand-up comedy, he has guest starred on How I Met Your Mother, and appeared on Conan and Inside Amy Schumer. Hosted by Chris Barstow, the night will include opening acts like Taylor Green and Mark Menei, the owner of Campfire Comedy, who was also named Best Comedian in The Walleye. Unless you snag a VIP table, seating is first come, first served. The show starts at 7 pm, and the doors open at 6:30 pm. Note: the show is recommended for ages 16+ due to mature humour. Tickets are available on Eventbrite. campfirecomedy.ca

Port Arthur Polish Hall

4 Polo G

DaVinci Centre

5 Once Upon a Mattress

May 19

May 30 & 31

Yo, you don’t need to pinch yourself, you’re not dreaming. NV Music Hall presents Polo G on the May long weekend for an unforgettable, once-in-alifetime show. Better known as Polo G, Taurus Tremani Bartlett is a young star from Chicago who burst onto the scene with singles “Finer Things” and “Pop Out” before hitting the mainstream with his third album Hall of Fame and viral hit “Rapstar.” With an unassuming sound of syncopated rapping that becomes a soft croon, with quotable lines and a mix of the unexpected, Polo G continues to gain traction with each album. A ukulele is just one of the many surprises to come from this talented rapper, singer, and songwriter. Make sure you score tickets while you can! Doors open at 7 pm. tickets.thunderbay.ca

Music! Comedy! A musical comedy! Are you ready for it? All the Daze Productions is presenting a fun, family-friendly musical. Based on the beloved 1835 Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale The Princess and the Pea, Once Upon a Mattress is a hilarious adaptation that includes a minstrel, a jester, and a wizard. The show opened off-Broadway in the late 50s, then expanded to the Broadway stage, featuring the legendary Carol Burnett. We may not have Carol Burnett, but All the Daze does have a fabulous cast of local talent who will be onstage to bring this story to life, as directed by Marcia Arpin. Show your support for local theatre and take a visit to the kingdom to see what awaits! Tickets are $20 and the show starts at 7:30 pm. tbca.com

Fort William Gardens

Thunder Bay Community Auditorium

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

FRESH AIR PRESENTS

THE FIRE FIGHTERS VIRTUAL TEN MILE ROAD RACE REGISTER AT 10MILEROADRACE.ORG

7 10 BAL MORAL S TREE T 8

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F RE SHAIRE XPER I EN C E.C A

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Grow Local

Connecting with Our Food

ood is such an important part of our lives. The Thunder Bay and Area Food Strategy (TBAFS) is a food policy council committed to “creating a healthy, equitable, and sustainable food system that contributes to the economic, ecological, and social well-being and health of the City of Thunder Bay and Area.” It’s been a pleasure partnering with The Walleye on this issue of Northwest Nosh. I hope it inspires more people to get reconnected with where their food comes from by actively supporting the local food system. - Karen Kerk

Slate River Valley Photo courtesy of the Thunder Bay and Area Food Strategy

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“We have this capacity to become sustainable and self-sufficient, and we have seen with the pandemic what can happen if we rely on food that’s trucked in.”

Chris Groenheide from Tarrymore Gardens

Thunder Bay in Season

Giving Life To The Farm-ToTable Movement Online By Lindsay Campbell

hunder Bay and its surrounding area has become home to an eclectic mix of food producers and culinary minds. From DeBruin’s flavour-dense herbs to Thunder Oak Cheese Farm’s smoked gouda to Corbett Creek’s marbled, pastureraised beef, these are just a few of the places where local food gets its beginnings. Raili Roy is a firm believer in the role that a regional food economy can have in strengthening a community. Roy, a farmer who also works for the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce and runs her own consulting business, has spent the last two years trying to give new life to the local farm-to-table movement online. “We have this capacity to become sustainable and

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self-sufficient, and we have seen with the pandemic what can happen if we rely on food that’s trucked in,” Roy says. “A good start to lay the foundation is building bridges between consumers and key players in the local food system.” The vehicle for doing this work has been Thunder Bay in Season, or TBay in Season for short. Those already familiar with the initiative have likely seen its designated website, which includes a guide to local producers, processors, retailers, and restaurants that champion what the region has to offer. Roy aims to elevate the presence of the local food scene on both Tbay in Season’s website and social media channels through multimedia content of recipes, food explainers,

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Rhonda Bill from A Fine Fit Catering & Consulting

and profiles of the sector’s movers and shakers. The latest? A miniepisode with chef Rhonda Bill of A Fine Fit Catering, who teaches viewers how to make seared lake trout with hollandaise and roasted potato and arugula salad with spring greens and sheep’s feta. There’s also a short reel on buckwheat honey to understand how Barry Tabor of Bears’ Bees and Honey makes his product. And if you want to know what a CSA program is, Tbay in Season unpacks that too. Monthly recipes like pork tenderloin calvados, roasted carrots and quinoa with honey, cumin and tahini yogurt, or egg roll in a bowl are also available on both platforms. If it wasn’t clear already by the campaign’s name, you’ll find out along the way what’s in season. The campaign itself is part of the Thunder Bay & Area Food Strategy. The Ontario Trillium Foundation helped start the Thunder Bay and Area Food Strategy eight years but now is partially funded by the City of Thunder Bay and

surrounding municipalities. Tbay in Season was launched in fall of 2020, according to Roy, after multiple brainstorming sessions with Karen Kerk, coordinator at the Thunder Bay and Area Food Strategy, and Annet Maurer, former manager of the Thunder Bay Country Market. In part, the pandemic had exposed the greater need to strengthen ties between all parts of the food sector, Roy says. But months before food in grocery stores was scarce amid panic buying and botched global supply chains, the trio were thinking about what it would take to fill the longtime void of the Thunder Bay District Health Unit’s “Get Fresh Guide,” which was discontinued after 2017. The campaign is still something in the making and even though Roy believes COVID has resulted in a lot of people thinking more about the importance of going local, she recognizes there’s a lot of work to do to make that choice easier. “I hope that what we’re doing is reminding people

and helping associate local food with all the good things that are involved with it,” she says. “There are the people who produce it, how good it tastes, how fun it is to work with and how cool it is that our region provides us with this.” In the future, she hopes to roll out more content t o i n c re a s e c o n s u m e r engagement with the food scene. However, the dream,

she says, would be to bring m o re c o m m u n i c a t i o n s professionals from the city to work with farmers and capture their stories. In her view, this would create many opportunities for people on the periphery of her world to get a firm grasp on where their food comes from and how it is made, and share their findings in a compelling way with a less familiar

audience. As Roy says, it’s building bridges throughout the sector that will strengthen a local food system, and she’s committed to continue her work until people see farmto-table the way she does. For more information, visit tbayinseason.ca.

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Thunder Bay Food Systems, By the Numbers By Bonnie Schiedel

3,087 170 Pounds of snow pea seeds purchased by Veg-e-tate Market Garden in 2021

10,000+

Number of local students who have had school tours at Belluz Farms

Number of provincially licensed dairy plants in Thunder Bay8

7,600 Approximate number of cows in Thunder Bay11

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Number of days in Thunder Bay’s mean annual growing season2

295 Number of Thunder Bay farm operators in 2016, the most recent data available5

60,000 Number of strawberry plants at Belluz Farms

Number of restaurants that serve locally grown food10

49,219 Number of acres in farming production in Thunder Bay as of 20166

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130

Number of registered beekeepers in the Thunder Bay district, according to the Thunder Bay Beekeepers Association

3,907

206

Number of plant varieties trialled by Lakehead University Agricultural Research Station in 2021

Number of seed packets sold Thunder Bay’s plant in 2021 through Superior hardiness zone Seed Producers, a collective designation (which of Thunder Bay growers categorizes geographic who promote the saving and areas based on their distribution of locally adapted, annual minimum sustainably grown, opentemperature extreme, pollinated, non-GMO seeds in or how cold it gets)4 Northwestern Ontario

1,362 Percentage increase in sales for local food vendors Superior Seasons from midMarch to mid-April 2020, compared to previous month3

2,635 Number of jobs related to agriculture and agri-food production in Thunder Bay in 20167

4 million

Number of pounds of potatoes harvested at B&B Farms in 2021

https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/7/3/59/htm 2https://www.beefnorth.com/thunder-bay https://www.northernontariobusiness.com/industry-news/agriculture/superior-seasons-isadapting-and-thriving-following-spike-in-local-food-interest-3584978 4http://www.planthardiness. gc.ca/?m=22&lang=en 5OMAFRA, 2016 5OMAFRA, 2016 7OMAFRA, 2016 8http://www.omafra. gov.on.ca/english/food/inspection/dairy/licenseddairyplants.htm 9https://tbaymeats.com/customerfaq/ 10https://tbayinseason.ca/directory/where-to-eat/ 11http://tbfarminfo.org/old/facts.shtml

250– 300 Average hanging weight in pounds of a side of local beef; a side of local pork is 100 to 125 lbs9

Percentage of total available land area in northern Ontario used for farming1

1 3

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Morning Moon Farm: (L–R) Aly Wood, Jon Hollway, Aaron Halcovitch, and Alia Wurdemann-Stam

Superior Seasons owners Jodi and Kevin Belluz

CommunitySupported Agriculture Connecting the Producer with the Consumers By Wendy Wright

ave you heard the term CommunitySupported Agriculture (CSA) bandied about in agricultural circles or at the Thunder Bay Country Market and wondered just what that is? Here is an introduction to what they are, how they work and what the buzz is all about, along with a guide to our local CSAs and their contact information. What is a CSA? A CSA is basically a prepaid subscription service for fresh, local food all season long. When someone purchases a CSA share, they are guaranteeing the

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farmer a customer for the season. The purchaser is also putting their money where their mouth is in supporting the farm, regardless of how the season shapes up. If there is a drought or an abundance, the purchaser is along for the ride and shares in the risks and rewards. This way of supporting local agriculture helps to ensure that it continues. Growers need to know they are supported, and CSAs provide that comfort from CSA consumers. The investment at the beginning of the season is reassurance and provides up-front

CoverStory funding to get the season off to a great start. What’s in a CSA box and how often do you receive them? Depending on which type of CSA you invest in, this answer varies. Research the available farms and what they grow and farm, and ask yourself some questions to decide which one is right for you. What items would I like? How often is the box available? How much does my family need? What price point am I comfortable with? When are pickup times? Generally, the availability is weekly, but this may vary somewhat depending on the CSA and the season. You can expect a great variety of fresh produce that changes as the season progresses. This is also a way of getting into eating with the seasons and learning how to prepare some veggies you may never have tried. Yes, there are often recipes involved. You can also expect fresh eggs, meat, poultry, honey, baked goods, and other add-ons like locally roasted coffee. Some CSA farms have volunteer days for consumers to come and help with the farm chores and really get their hands dirty. If you’ve never seen what happens in a day on the farm, volunteering will open your eyes and give you an even better view of what your investment is helping to grow: community, passion for local food, environmentalism, love of the earth, respect for animals, and a robust smile at the end of the day. Local CSAs in the Thunder Bay area Thunder Bay In Season has lots of information on their website, tbayinseason. ca, and each farm has Facebook and Instagram accounts with more details. Please check with each individual farm for more information. Nourish yourself and your five senses this season and get involved with one of our local CSAs, and have a delicious summer!

Haywire Farm

Offering: chicken, pork, eggs, and beef Location: Gillies Township

Available via: CSA, farm-gate sales, Thunder Bay Country Market, Superior Seasons Contact: 621-0318 or haywirefarm@tbaytel.net

Morning Moon Farm Offering: seasonal produce and omnivore share (beef, pork) in partnership with Corbett Creek Farm Location: Murillo

Available via: CSA, Thunder Bay Country Market Contact: 632-3866, info@ morningmoonfarm.ca, or morningmoonfarm.ca

 Pitch Creek Farm staff: (L–R) Greg Lyytinen, Brandon Harris, Corrina Whybourne, and Angela Iuvancigh

Pitch Creek Farm

Offering: seasonal produce Location: Nolalu

Available via: CSA, Thunder Bay Country Market, Superior Seasons Contact: pitchcreekfarm@ gmail.com

Sleepy G Farm (Certified Organic)

Offering: seasonal produce, veggie seedlings in spring, eggs, value-added options

 Sleepy G Farm: Marcelle Paulin with a CSA share

Location: Pass Lake

Available via: CSA, farm store, retail Contact: 977-1631, info@sleepygfarm.ca, or sleepygfarm.ca

Superior Seasons Farmers Market

Belluz Farms via Superior Seasons Farmers Market has a weekly subscription box on offer. Superior Seasons is an online farmers market and local food resource where you can find a wide variety of local products. Offering: seasonal produce, value-added products Available via: CSA, farm store, Thunder Bay Country Market, Goods & Co. Market, delivery Contact: superiorseasons. localfoodmarketplace.com

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Saving Your Seeds

Growing Biodiversity in Your Own Backyard

By Evalisa McIllfaterick and Rachel Portinga

Renata Weber holding a harvest of kale seeds at Root Cellar Gardens

here are lots of great reasons to save your own seeds. It’s fun, you learn more about the plants you are growing, and you buy fewer seeds while having plenty to share. Saving your own seeds also allows you to grow plants that are uniquely adapted to your own environment. But seed saving has an impact far beyond your own yard. Today, seeds are largely a global commodity, making them susceptible to supply Broccoli at Root Cellar Gardens

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chain disruptions and market forces. In fact, four companies control over 60% of our commercial seed globally. But big business is not a fertile ground for diversity, and shockingly, 90% of grain and vegetable varieties have been lost in the past 100 years. So, add “maintaining biodiversity now” to that list of great reasons to save seeds. When you save your own seeds from openpollinated varieties of

plants, you are engaging in an act of beautiful, adaptive resiliency. You ensure access to your favourite plants, reduce dependence on corporate suppliers, and protect genetic diversity. When you save seeds from hybrid varieties, the seeds contain some combination of genetics from at least two different varieties. But the seeds you save from hybrid varieties will not produce a crop of the same variety the following year. Also, hybrid seeds are often patented, meaning it is actually illegal to save their seeds. If allowed, seed saving from hybrids can be a fun experiment, but may also yield nothing at all. This is because some hybrid seeds are produced using genetically engineered cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS), meaning that they are unable to produce viable seeds. Ultimately, these plants represent a biodiversity deadend. There are no living seeds to save, patented or not.

Efforts are ongoing at one local farm to grow and save seeds from various open-pollinated varieties of broccoli that are especially threatened by CMS. Seeds are planted, broccoli is harvested and enjoyed, and then seeds are produced, harvested, and distributed for sale or sharing. Quite literally, saving these seeds amounts to saving biodiversity—and it is something that you can do in your garden, too. Protecting biodiversity in your backyard starts with the decision to grow openpollinated varieties plants. Even if you do not save the seeds, by choosing openpollinated varieties you are supporting seed producers. Also, think local when shopping for seed—the closer to home your seeds are grown, the more well adapted to your growing conditions they will be. Finally, try saving a few seeds yourself! This fascinating next step in your garden routine will yield lots of learning, biodiversity, and of course, seeds for the future. You can lear n more about saving your own seeds in Northwestern Ontario by checking out Superior Seed Producers on

Facebook. There, you will find information about upcoming seed-related events, links to seed saving books, charts, and how-to videos and much more. You can find locally grown seeds at seed swaps, by talking to your gardening friends and neighbours, and for sale at various places around Thunder Bay or online at rootcellargardens.com or superiorseedproducers. wordpress.com.

Types of Seeds

Open-pollinated - plants that produce seeds that can be collected and replanted year after year to get the same variety as the year before. Hybrid - often patented, hybrids are bred purposefully to produce a very specific crop just one time. You can save the seeds, but they won’t grow to produce the same variety the next year. CMS hybrid - these seeds rely on patented techniques and germplasm. The hybrids created through this process produce offspring with sterile pollen or none at all.

Broccoli flowering at Root Cellar Gardens

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DIY Farm Ingenuity

Recycle, Reclaim, and Self-Sustain By Kathy McGowan and Brad Graham

welve years ago, we began our journey to live off the land and become as self-sufficient as possible. We are two people with day jobs, so going “big” with large acre farming or commercial scale equipment was never part of the plan. However, we have expanded well beyond our backyard gardening days of city living. We now have more than 40 raised beds, a crop field (regenerative agriculture), and a pond on less than a quarter acre of land we call the “food forest.” Our gardens and young orchard are yielding fantastic harvests as we farm the land based on permaculture ethics and principles. We move a lot of dirt and firewood. Although the physical work is great for our health, it takes a considerable amount of time during our short growing season. We are building our own tools and farming equipment to be more efficient in our do-it-yourself and low-impact lifestyle. Our electric Yard Mule was built outside (we don’t have a garage) in roughly two months using basic tools and many reused parts. The electric drive system is quiet, inexpensive to operate, low maintenance, and capable

of performing towing and hauling duties. Pre-yard mule, we moved six dump truck loads of soil by hand in wheelbarrows. That equates to 1,400 trips back and forth from the dirt pile to the food forest garden! Using the Yard Mule’s dump box, we can move the same amount of dirt in only 150 trips, saving many days’ worth of time. We also heat buildings with wood harvested on the land. Once again, our trusty electric mule comes to the rescue by saving time and energy. The Yard Mule is a huge asset on our farmstead. Our home-built electric tractor is quiet and powered by the sun thanks to its solar charging base, which keeps the batteries charged and ready. This energy-efficient vehicle works hard all day out here, and it’s fueled by the same sun that our plants need to thrive. Another homemade multi-use project on this farm is the movable PortaPen poultry tractor. Our flock of chickens provides us with eggs daily, and nutrient-rich fertilizer for our food forest. In return, they enjoy treats from the harvest, including squash, corn, kale, and cabbage. To keep poultry healthy and safe

An electric powered tractor/dump truck built from scrap vehicle parts

from predators, we designed a 300-square-foot poultry tractor that’s movable by one person. The birds graze on fresh pasture daily, feasting on worms, and insects. They scratch up weeds and seeds. We raised a dozen Orlopp Bronze turkeys in the PortaPen a few summers ago, and up to 35 Red Ranger chickens last year. We built the PortaPen using basic tools and parts, including bicycle components,

fence tubing, and hog panels. Retractable landing wheels made from used bicycle parts lift the frame off the ground when it’s time to move the structure. When parked, the frame sits directly on the ground with hog panel antidig guards that unfold around the structure’s perimeter. This versatile structure also doubles as a mini-greenhouse and shade house to harden off young plants. We cover it with clear poly sheeting

for an instant greenhouse to get a head start on the growing season. It’s truly a multi-purpose structure. Since one person can move the PortaPen, we don’t need an ATV or tractor, which aligns with our low-impact, self-sustaining DIY lifestyle. As Plato said, “Necessity is the mother of invention.” We will continue to “recycle, reclaim, and selfsustain” and enjoy our farmsteading lifestyle.

A human-movable poultry pen made from bicycle parts, hog panels, and fence tubing

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Good Meals are Here to Stay Residents at Pioneer Ridge Enjoy Locally Produced Food By Ellen Mortfield

f we’ve learned anything from the past couple of years, it’s how vulnerable we are to the volatility of global supply chains. When manufacturers were forced to shut down through the pandemic, many goods became very difficult to access even after production resumed—ask anyone who tried to purchase furniture or appliances. Prices of other goods, such as lumber, soared out of sight. A labour disruption at a west coast port suddenly made many imported

Brule Creek Farm

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goods unavailable. One ship ran aground in the Panama Canal, and it seemed like all shipping came to a standstill. But here in Northwestern Ontario, farmers were still farming, anglers were still fishing, growers still growing. At the Pioneer Ridge long-term care home, visitations were curtailed, but the caregivers kept on caring, and the kitchen continued putting out meals. In a world where most institutions purchase almost

all their foods through multinational distributors, the City of Thunder Bay began buying direct from area farmers several years ago. Meals at Pioneer Ridge, the city’s 150-bed long-term care home, began to include juicy homegrown tomatoes from DeBruin’s, heritage carrots from Belluz Farms, and a variety of other fresh produce. The city’s innovative forward-buying contracts with local producers attracted attention across

 Eat the Fish, ice fishing for char, Nunavut  Eat the Fish, fish harvesters unloading

CoverStory Canada. The award-winning initiative grew out of the city’s involvement with the Thunder Bay & Area Food Strategy and its commitment to supporting local food production, and was primarily driven by two key champions: manager of supply management Dan Munshaw, and food services manager at Pioneer Ridge, Chris Borutski. Early successes included more than doubling the city’s annual spend on local food, an award from the Greenbelt Foundation, and national recognition from Nourish Leadership. But now the big question is how to maintain and grow this progressive purchasing practice. “We’ve been working to operationalize our purchasing processes within our policies,” Munshaw says. “That means making this commitment to local foods internalized at every level of operations within this institution.” Consistently reinforcing the commitment throughout the structure and governance will ensure that it carries on when Munshaw and Borutski eventually retire. Already, local food purchases have grown to include flour, pork, beef, and fish. New products are being tried and developed, such as bison burgers and bran muffin mix with locally produced wheat. Not only does this

purchasing policy bring fresh, nutritious, culturally appropriate food to the table, it also helps insulate the budget from a volatile marketplace where product shortages and steep price increases are becoming the norm. It helps support the local economy and develops strong relationships between the institution and its suppliers. Ongoing efforts to strengthen these relationships include annual producer tours where Pioneer Ridge staff get to meet the growers, walk the farm, ask questions, and discuss ideas for more ways to use the products. “Next steps will include a reverse tour,” says Borutski. “We want to bring those farmers and producers behind the scenes here at

Pioneer Ridge so they can see how we work with their products, try some of our recipe creations and hear from residents how much they appreciate this local food.” The city’s purchasing model has built in criteria that considers more than just price, assigning value to diversity, inclusion, social justice and sustainability. Forward contracting helps suppliers plan production, reduce risk and stabilize costs. “When you realize that the average food calorie in northwestern Ontario travels 3,200 kilometres,” says Munshaw, “we know that can, and must, be reduced. We’ve made a good start, but there is still much work to be done.”

Jeff Burke, owner of Brule Creek Farms

Purchasing Priority Indigenous Harvesters In order to fulfill its purchasing mandate to value social justice and inclusion, the City of Thunder Bay is hoping to expand the amount of food purchased from and dollars spent with Indigenous-led businesses. Expenditures in this area are now being tracked separately and indicate steady growth to date, from $2,200 in 2019 to $9,895 in 2021. Currently, Eat the Fish and regional wild rice harvesters are the main suppliers who meet these criteria. “In terms of Indigenous

food sourcing, buying directly from harvesters remains a major challenge primarily because we are still seeking to make connections in what is still a largely untapped and under-developed market,” says Munshaw. Purchasing staff continue to reach out across NWO to try to forge new partnerships. A planned road trip this spring to Dryden and Kenora will hopefully uncover new opportunities. One of the stops on that tour will be AgriTech North, an Indigenous-, disabled-,

and LGBTQ-owned social enterprise based in Dryden. These efforts are aimed at mitigating the long history of colonial interference disrupting traditional Indigenous food supply chains. While there are a variety of efforts in development to assist in addressing food sovereignty and food security in First Nation communities, the proactive purchasing policies of the city could help in the growth of more Indigenous entrepreneurial ventures.

The Walleye

Samantha Makin

CoverStory

Growing Food, Growing Connections Taking a Look at Life in a Community Garden

By Kim McGibbon and Marlene Wandel

Volunteer Pool community garden

here’s more to a garden than just dirt, and community gardens grow more than just food. They serve as a gathering space for plants and people alike. In 2021, 18 community gardens spread across the city, providing 340 individual beds. The Shelter House garden is a great example of a place where folks work together to grow food that can then be shared with the kitchen for daily meals. Roots to Harvest, a notfor-profit in Thunder Bay, hosts two large community gardens at Volunteer Pool and Lillie Street. This year there are 104 garden plots,

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including 16 raised beds built by the carpenters’ union with funding from the Fort William Rotary Club for those with mobility challenges. With water on site and full sunshine, these gardens provide growing spaces for keen and new gardeners just waiting to get their hands dirty. Gardens such as these create spaces where people gather together and learn from one another. "I love community gardening! It's so rewarding to spend time in the garden and collaborate with other community members over how to best tend to our veggies,” says Kelly

Henderson, Volunteer Pool gardener. “I've learned so much—sometimes from people who are just out for a walk and have a garden at their house. I also love gardening as an act of resistance. With so many big crises in the world, it is wonderful to know I am doing one small thing that contributes to health and well-being.” Like any community, the gardens are diverse. The patchwork of growing spaces reflects the diversity of the growers; flowers and vegetables share these spots gracefully, while weeds and potato bugs try to wade into

the fray. Morning or night, there’s always someone around, whether another gardener making trips with the watering can and happy to swap stories, or the hum of the bees visiting the flowers. On weekdays, the Roots crew adds a social and productive buzz as they plant, weed, harvest, and sell the vegetables that emerge from the urban farm adjacent to the community garden. Community gardening is social; it’s not uncommon to make a friend over a shared love of beans, curiosity about an unfamiliar variety of tomato, or just shared experiences.

The garden space and experience are shared across generations—it’s not uncommon for families to share a garden space, be it parents and children, grandson and grandmother, or husbands and wives. One gardener has been growing food at the Volunteer Pool garden with her son since the very beginning. “I have lived in the neighbourhood for 27 years, and when Roots was first interested in starting the garden, I thought it was such a positive thing for the neighbourhood and it has brought a lot of people together,” says J.S.,

CoverStory a community gardener. “It is satisfying—not just the garden but the people, watching the youth, giving them this chance to work there. I really relate to the kids and their struggles after having my own challenge with depression. I also liked meeting the different gardeners from various cultures. It’s something we all know how to do—put seeds in the dirt.” For many, community gardening goes beyond just the people. “The Roots community garden is an idyllic opportunity for my little girls and I to use our hands to work, create, and

grow together out in the open fresh air and under the warm summer sun. They also love the bunnies. A lot,” says Jeannie Dubois, Volunteer Pool gardener. The benefits of gardening are many, and not just the produce—learning about growing food and how to combat garden pests, the physical and mental health boosts of exercising in the sunshine, and finding connections to like-minded growers are all a bonus. To find out more about Roots to Harvest visit rootstoharvest.org.

“I love community gardening! It's so rewarding to spend time in the garden and collaborate with other community members over how to best tend to our veggies.”

Community gardeners at the Lillie Street garden

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Food

Wild Goose (or Duck) Breasts in Gravy Breasts of 2–3 geese/ducks Flour and dry bread crumbs— enough to dredge the meat

Sam Hunter from Weenusk First Nation canning the goose

THE G IN GR NIN Y L BEL

By Chef Rachel Bayes

n the summer of 2018 (which seems like a hundred years ago), my then 10-year-old and I attended the Nishnawbe Aski Nation Food Symposium at the foot of the Nor’Westers. There, we learned the engineering and teamwork required to set up a giant teepee, tried our hands at sundrying locally grown and gathered vegetables, fruit, and medicines, and stirred light and fluffy whitefish and dried blueberry pemmican over a fire. We also attended a workshop where two community members field canned and cooked young Canada geese. Here, two dressed and vacuum-sealed geese were cut into chunks, sealed into metal cans with a can seamer, and plunged into large pots of cold water. The pots were then placed over the fire to boil for a few hours while the storytellers kept us mesmerized with tales of living and hunting up north, and ice road escapades. Three hours later, the cans were removed from the water bath and cooled, so as not to have a goosesplosion when opened. Despite having nothing else added to each

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2–3 Tbsp canola or peanut oil

Heat a few tablespoons of oil in a heavy-bottomed pan. Brown slices in heated oil, and place in a greased casserole dish. Set aside for a few minutes.

1 medium onion, diced Salt, pepper, and dried thyme, to taste

In the same pan, sauté onion and add seasonings. Fry until the onion is translucent and soft.

2 Tbsp flour

Add flour and stir well.

Chicken stock or water

Add a couple of cups of stock or water (the book says, “enough to make a soft sauce”), stirring to get all the browned bits off the bottom of the pan. Pour sauce over meat, cover, and cook in a slow oven (300°F-ish) for 2–3 hours.

Clyde Moonias from Neskantaga First Nation helping with cooking

Duck, Duck, Goose

can besides the chunks of meat (with skin attached), the resulting mouthfuls of goose and broth were tender and delicious. Goose meat is very lean, as most of the bird’s fat is stored under the skin (as opposed to being marbled within the meat, as with beef, for instance). If not harvested and prepared properly, wild goose can be tough and gamey—you would be too, if you spent your 10–25 years on earth migrating 3,000 km each year. You can take steps to counteract toughness by aging the bird (hanging it in a cool place after harvesting) and then brining in saltwater. Also, braising or adding fat during the cooking process will keep your bird from being as dry and tough as a brick. Some recipes to try include honkerneck sausage, and baconwrapped honker cubes! This recipe is adapted from the Métis Cookbook and Guide to Healthy Living, 2nd edition, and is a simple, quick-to-prepare dish that would be scrumptious with some fresh-baked bread for the ultimate in comfort food.

Slice breast meat in thick slices. Dredge in flour and breadcrumbs.

Field canned and cooked young Canada geese

Food

SUMMER PROGRAM J ump st art or cat ch u p r e adin g, spe lling & writin g sk ills . Dys lexic, ADHD & Neurodiver sities Stru ct ure d l i t erac y app roac h 1:1 to 1:3 in structi on avai l abl e Limit ed s p ace s

Spring’s Revenge

DRINK OF THE MONTH

Woodside Bar

Story by Rebekah Skochinski, Photo by Adrian Lysenko

ith its soft light and modern Nordic touches, the Woodside Bar has become a place to see and be seen since it opened its doors last year. There’s a lot of nostalgia built in to its location in an urban market, ensconced by windows that expand to a bustling street corner, and their tempting menu of cocktails that evoke eras gone by. We were thrilled to stop in on a late sunny afternoon for a drink they made exclusively for the month of May. Their

cleverness shows in the name and in the incarnation of Spring’s Revenge, which takes muddled basil as its base, adding notes of pineapple and lemon, along with the pungent and herbal charms of chartreuse, and a tease of Forty Creek whisky for sweet notes of apricots and vanilla. Spring may be vengeful, but we’re steely northerners, and this drink is a delight to behold. Woodside Bar Located in Goods & Co. Market 251 Red River Road, Suite #3

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Food

s we make our way into spring up here in our green-come-lately snowy holdout in the north, we can still be grateful that it will arrive, and hopefully resplendently soon. Clock a few hundred miles to the south right now, however, and the remarkable wine regions of Ontario are in full swing with bud break flourishing their baby berry growth on the vine. It’s a lot of work bringing those hardwon grapes to fruition in the fall, when they are harvested to make some exceptional, regionally descriptive wines that we can claim as our very own. There are also the challenges of pest and wildlife predation, threat of mildew and fungal infestation, erosion and unstable weather conditions, water health concerns, and depleted soil fitness. It’s no mean effort to make a good go of bringing in a bumper crop, even being shored up with commercial pesticides, irrigation, herbicides, and nutrients. However, there is a flourishing movement towards more environmentally sound practices that encompass not just the vineyards themselves but the entire winemaking operation, providing a path towards longevity and sustainability for the industry as a whole. It’s a conversation best led by example. During my time working in the wine region in Niagara, I was able to observe and (fortunately) participate in a myriad of opportunities to move away from conventional control in vini/viticulture to more inclusive and symbiotic methods. In the vineyard, sheep

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were employed to green harvest (eat the excessive green grapes) and add natural compost to the soil (yes, poop!), while chickens wandered the rows and scratched at the soil to turn it over and oxygenate it. Rose bushes were planted at end-rows and acted as coal mine canaries, showing signs of infestation or illness that were treatable before the vines were infected, while companion plants proliferated between the rows to add nutrients to the soil that the vines were much in need of. Integrated pest management systems were employed, such as pheromone tents to attract male moths to reduce population and infestation, while natural vineyard sprays that included quartz meal and manure were utilized to attract sunlight and promote growth. I n t h e w i n e r y, geothermal systems were employed to place less stress on the entire system and less aggressive chemical methods of fining, filtration and stabilization were employed to deliver those grapes into a great wine. Sounds easy? It wasn’t, but there was a great idyll to being party to something so pure, that produces something so true. The take-away is this: sustainability is the hard road, but we can all participate in its making. Read your labels and do your consumer research (loads of great producers aren’t necessarily certified but employ organic/ biodynamic practices) to be part of the change you want to see in the world—and of course, enjoy it in a lovely glass of Ontario wine.

Paying It Forward

Sustainability in the Ontario Wine Industry By Jeannie Dubois, Certified Pommelier and Sommelier

R SUPERIO SIP Think:

Biodynamic Brethren:

Tawse Spark Limestone Ridge Organic Brut Sparkling Riesling LCBO No. 370361 $21.95 for 750 ml VQA Ontario

Organic Oriented:

Leading with LEEDS

LCBO No. 249078

2018 Stratus Kabang Red

Southbrook Connect Organic White $15.95 for 750 ml VQA Ontario Vegan

(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design): Available through winery website $24.90 for 750 ml VQA Ontario

Food

Maamawitaawining

Decision-Making at the Community Level By Susan Girardin and Ayano Hodouchi Dempsey

or the members of Red Rock Indian Band, the moose hang and butcher shop are one big step towards food sovereignty. The moose hang, built in 2019, can hold four moose at a time, and serves as a communal space for dressing moose during the traditional fall harvest. Next came a butcher shop for processing and storing wild game. The butcher shop is called Maamawitaawining, which means “at the gathering place.” The grand opening, held last year on September 30, Canada’s first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, was a great celebration, says Chief Marcus Hardy. “The impact of food planning on the community is extremely positive, for many reasons.” “People are producing their own food. There is planning, and strategizing. It wakes up young people to think about a different

direction, to be not just a consumer but a provider and producer, and taking care of your own,” Hardy adds. Accessing affordable and healthy food can be a challenge for many living in northern Ontario. For Indigenous people, those challenges are compounded by the historical and ongoing impacts of colonization. More than just a fundamental need, food is sacred and central to the identities and traditions of Indigenous peoples. The loss of their food sovereignty has affected their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. A community food sovereignty plan is a way for people to exercise more control over the food available in their community and to work toward food security at a local level. The Thunder Bay District Health Unit (TBDHU) recognizes the importance of Indigenous food sovereignty as well as

Artwork by Red Rock Indian Band member Hannah Blakely, adorning Maamawitaawining

Community members at the grand opening of Maamawitaawining

the challenge of accessing affordable, fresh and healthy food in many First Nation communities. In support of reclaiming their food sovereignty, the Red Rock Indian Band works with a number of partners and sponsors, including Understanding Our Food Systems, a collaborative action-based project led by 14 First Nation communities and supported by a partnership with the TBDHU and the Indigenous Food Circle. The project works with a variety of organizations to help meet the unique needs of each community. “We are a sovereign nation. We want to be dependent on ourselves for growing and harvesting, and educating our young people what foods to grow and harvest and to distribute to the community. We want to bridge the gap between elders and youth,”

Hardy says. The band also started a community garden, where people can take what they need. The community’s goal is to be self-sustaining; to have the capacity to feed themselves, and, equally important, to make their own decisions. “It’s a better quality of life when you are in control, it’s less expensive, and keeps money in the bank,” says Hardy. The band also hopes to open a farmers’ market by expanding their gardens and greenhouses. “[That’s] a chance for economic value,” he adds. “You plant a seed and you have to wait, but there is that pride.”

Food Secure Canada defines food sovereignty as “the right of peoples to healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods, and their right to define their own food and agriculture systems." This means people and communities have the power to make their own choices. Food security, according to the United Nations’ Committee on World Food Security, means that “all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their food preferences and dietary needs for an active and healthy life.”

Interior of Maamawitaawining

“It’s a better quality of life when you are in control, it’s less expensive, and keeps money in the bank.” The Walleye

After 50 years, we have a lot of cherished memories to look back on – and even more to look forward to. Book your reservation at the Thunder Bay Keg to indulge in classic favourites, new flavours and to celebrate 50 years of good times.

735 Hewiston St. | 807.623.1960 | thekeg.com

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Food

Fish Tacos Story by Chiara Zussino, Photo by Lois Nuttall

E OFF TH U N ME

f you’re anything like me—with no connection to Mexico whatsoever yet continuing to celebrate Cinco de Mayo solely as an excuse to consume your weight in tacos and tequila— then you have come to the right place! Walleye readers, let me put you on to Bonobo’s fish tacos. This dish gives off all the summer vibes and truly makes you feel as though you’ve just stepped off the plane in Cancún after one bite. According to owner Morgan Zimmer, these tacos are true crowdpleasers that work to provide a delicious option for people with dietary restrictions. Normally running as a

Tuesday special but now available throughout the week to satisfy those taco cravings, this dish is a must try for vegans and meat eaters alike. The best part about these fish tacos is that they are not actually made with fish. Yes, you read that correctly. The “fish” is made with a bunch of different vegetable proteins consisting of beans, potato, and soy, and flavoured with seaweed extract. With the combination of it being deep fried and the overall texture, if I did not tell you, you would never know that it is not bone-ified fish. You cannot even taste the difference! I promise.

The taco is served in a yellow corn tortilla with lettuce as the bottom layer, followed by a cabbage coleslaw covered in a tangy orange dressing, and subsequently, the “fish.” Dressed in chipotle aioli and a house made mango salsa, all put together it is the epitome of a fish taco. These tacos go perfectly with the sweet salad, a delectable combination of fresh kiwi, mango, and strawberries on a bed of local sprouts from Veg.e.tate, topped with pumpkin seeds, almonds, cashews, hemp hearts, and sunflower seeds for some extra protein. The final touch? Coconut flakes and the most incredible in

housemade poppyseed dressing that is so good I would give up my firstborn to know the recipe for! Designed for take-out just as much as dine in, these fish tacos are a perfect pickme-up for your first outdoor dinner of the year. Paired with the sweet salad and an El Tres margarita, you won’t even remember that you are still in Thunder Bay! The fish tacos will remain on the menu as a long-term item, but are well known as the Tuesday special, so for your next Taco Tuesday make your way over to Bonobo’s to try them out for yourself!

“This dish gives off all the summer vibes and truly makes you feel as though you’ve just stepped off the plane in Cancún after one bite.” Bonobo’s Foods 493 Oliver Road 345-6262

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Food

Food, Culture, and Friendships The Thunder Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre

By Sheena Campbell, Wiisinadaa: Let’s Eat! Nutrition Support Worker

Labrador tea before harvest

ood from plants or animals is a gift from Mother Earth. It is able to sustain life, provide energy, promote growth, and offer healing. While food is often considered a medicine for our physical health, it is just as important for our mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Food brings people together, shapes memories, empowers community, can be an exploration of culture, and is a means to retain cultural identity. The Thunder Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre really tries to embody this spirit with the variety of community programming it offers, bringing food and the importance of food into activities and celebrations. “Food has always played an integral part of Anishinaabe culture,” says Gloria Ranger, cultural

Rosehips before harvest

resource coordinator. “We celebrate with feasts and we make food offerings to our ancestors. Food is a spiritual component and it brings our families together. There are strong values when it comes to food. There are also taboos and special times of the year for certain foods. It is so important that we show our gratitude and give thanks for food as it is picked, harvested, and prepared.” Programs that incorporate traditional foods like wild rice, fish, moose meat, blueberries, or plant medicine harvesting are always popular. Living in the city means many urban Indigenous people don’t have regular access to these foods or the means to hunt and harvest themselves. The Thunder Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre acts as a hub for opportunity,

learning, connection to culture, self-growth, and community growth. While there are always educational components to the activities and participants get to reap the many health benefits of consuming these traditional foods, what often comes to fruition and shines are the memories, stories, and teachings people have in connection to the foods that they thought they had forgotten. “I really enjoy the programs where we can learn about traditional foods. I signed up because it sounded fun, but I got so much more out of it than I could have expected. It has made me remember my childhood and the time I spent with my grandparents. They taught me so much in the bush. I want to learn more and bring that back to my life. It is helping me

connect to who I am,” says Heather M. about a cooking class she participates in. For many, the centre has become their second home. It truly is beautiful to witness the friendships that develop through the stories shared, knowing new memories are being created while coming together in programming and enjoying food together. Food is everything. Food connects us to the land, the elements, the animals, Spirit World and Mother Earth. Food teaches us that everything around us is connected and gives us the door to connections. Food and friendship are truly the greatest gifts.

(L-R) Sheena Campbell and Gloria Ranger, Thunder Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre staff

“Food has always played an integral part of Anishinaabe culture.”

To learn more, please visit tbifc.ca/programs or find them on Facebook @ThunderBayIndigenousFriendshipCentre.

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Food

Salt & Pepper

Award-Winning Catering Company Serves Delicious Dishes Story by Susan Pretty, Photos by Adrian Lysenko

T “The idea is that they are going to be a bit smaller than what is normally out there.”

Dave Thomas, owner of Salt & Pepper Catering

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his year marks the 16th anniversary of Salt & Pepper Catering, and owner Dave Thomas couldn’t be more excited. After his catering business ground to a halt due to COVID, Salt & Pepper is finally enjoying a resurgence of bookings. “We’re booking into 2024 now,” Thomas says, shaking his head with a smile. “It’s crazy.” One of their most popular items is the pasta take-out on Fridays. “It started in 2010 after hosting a pasta fundraiser for a customer,” Thomas says. “I thought it would be cool to do each week in addition to our catering.” Their focus is on using only the bestquality tomatoes, local pasta, and other ingredients to stay a step ahead of the Sunday spaghetti take-outs. “All of our core ingredients come from Agostino’s Deli, including [those for] our original recipe for tiramisu,” Thomas says. Customers have a wide range of pastas to choose from, making it difficult to pick just one. Tomato sauce lovers will dig the tangysweet notes of the sausage and rosemary penne, and the beef and pasta shells with hints of Boursin cheese are pure comfort. Cream sauce lovers will enjoy the shrimp and scallop linguine in a light pesto, and the smoked salmon and asparagus with bow-tie pasta

topped with a hearty dollop of fresh lemon zest tastes just like spring I t ’s t r i c k y t o p i c k a showstopper, with every dish being wonderfully al dente and seasoned perfectly, but the shiitake mushroom and goat cheese ravioli, with a hint of truffle and a crispy basil leaf atop of each pillowy ravioli, brings it home. And the pizzagna, a whimsical dish and a cheesy fusion of two classics, brings together two favourite flavours into one delicious bite. When pasta goes on hiatus for the summer, Thomas will be launching a series of catering boxes instead. “The idea is that they are going to be a bit smaller than what is normally out there,” he explains. “And that they can be ordered online.” A beautifully puttogether veggie box features not one, not two, but three tempting dips. And a must-try is going to definitely be the box with the big beautiful burrata, surrounded by prosciutto and flatbread. Pasta take-out is the first Friday of every month, excluding the summer. Visit snpcatering.com or call 623-8775 to order. Customers can also request to be on their monthly email list so they don’t miss out on any of the specials. Do so today— you’ll be glad you did!

ADVENTURES REWARDED WITH CULINARY DREAMS The Walleye

Food

Goats in Mow-tion The Grazing Goats of Giantview Farms By Chris MacNaughton

n the outskirts of Thunder Bay, four bucks and a bull are playing in one of the white barns at Giantview Farms. In another large barn where most of the goats are kept, the surprisingly friendly goats all approach the gate, each vying for attention. “They’re trained from a young age to listen and go from site to site. We’re in here all the time with them, so they’re really good with people” says Freddy Hortis, co-owner. Giantview Farms’ goats are a Spanish and Boer cross and they’re a great fit for Thunder Bay, as their fur allows them to endure the chilly climate, and their amiable temperament make them gregarious workers here in Northwestern Ontario. These traits aren’t accidents— the goats are selected for their good nurturing skills, their likelihood to have twins, and their thick coats. Giantview Farms is family-owned and operated by the Hortis family: Freddy, his wife Christina and their children Lukas, Ashley, and Riley. Also on hand are goat wranglers Megan Falzetta and Jessie Godin. The farm is also home to cows, chickens, and pigs, but the goats are what set them apart from many local farms. When asked how it started, Hortis says the goats were there to clean up brush, and then it grew organically

over time. “Goats are amazing because land that won’t support most livestock will support them because they eat brush, and there’s no shortage of brush in Northwestern Ontario,” he says. This is because unlike cows, goats prefer shrubbery, bramble, and weeds. Giantview Farms benefits from having cows and goats because multi-species grazing allows for compounding the acreage of your farm, as the two animals don’t compete for the same food resources. An added benefit is that by eating nuisance plants such as raspberry canes and poison ivy, the goats are an eco-friendly alternative to herbicides and other means. The goats’ preferred choice of diet, and the speed at which they are able to mow down an area created a second business for the Hortis family: Goats in Mow-tion. The punny name Hortis credits to his daughter Ashley. “We bounced around other names, but she came up with it. There were other good ones, but that one stuck.” What does Goats in Mow-tion do? Quite a lot, actually. Goats can chew troublesome vegetation that mechanical means will find problematic. “Raspberry cane is a really good example of what goats can deal with that we can’t. It’s too thick for whippersnipper wire, but too pliable

Freddy Hortis, co-owner of Giantview Farms

“Goats are amazing because land that won’t support most livestock will support them because they eat brush, and there’s no shortage of brush in Northwestern Ontario.” 32

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for any type of saw.The goats just munch right through it, no problem,” says Hortis. A s g o a t s a re n a t u r a l climbers, heights and steep slopes don’t pose the same challenges as they would to humans trying to manage similar rocky terrains. An example of difficult terrain cleared by these local goats is our very own Mount Baldy. Using portable electric fences to keep curious goats in and dangerous predators out, the goats remove the undesired dense brush, guided by workers. No herbicides are used and the goats get to feed in the wild. It’s a win-win for everyone. What’s next for Goats in

Mow-tion? They are currently working with Newmont Corp., grazing unwanted vegetation at the dam on their site. After a successful pilot project last year, the project has been extended to three years. When not at the Newmont Corp. project, the goats will also be ruminating on several other private projects.

Food

For more information, find Giantview Farms on Facebook.

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Food

V’s Sugar Rush Satisfying Any Sweet Tooth By Olivia Bosma

F “Eventually, I want to tour with carnivals and bring V’s Sugar Rush to many people.”

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or most of us, the best thing about a fair is the sugary and delicious treats that can be found there. But how can one satiate their fair food cravings when there is no fair to attend? Vanessa Desrosiers solved this problem for everyone when she opened her home business, V’s Sugar Rush, in 2021. “After moving back to Thunder Bay, a couple of years ago, my oldest son asked me to start making candy apples, because I was good at making them,” Desrosiers says. “So I began making them, and that is what started my business.” Right before Mother’s Day, Desrosiers decided to make a batch of her red candy apples and post them on Facebook Marketplace. “I got a lot of orders that day for Mother’s Day. A lot of kids wanted to get their mothers some candy apples,” she says. “After that I decided to start my business out of my home. I love it because I also get to spend more time with my kids and my son helps with my business a lot.” V’s Sugar Rush offers a whole car nival menu for customers to enjoy— everything from funnel cakes to deep fried Oreos to crepes. “I dream about my menu at night. I will wake up in the morning and talk to my son about all of the new menu ideas I thought of,” Desrosiers

says. “We talk about it and add it to our menu. I really love expanding my menu so I can attract new customers and offer food that everyone wants.” Though she is currently running her business out of her home, Desrosiers has some big plans for her business in the future. “My goal is to get a concession truck for my business,” she says. “Eventually, I want to tour with carnivals and bring V’s Sugar Rush to many people.” For those wondering how they can place an order for some fun and delicious treats, Desrosiers offers many avenues. “I take walk-in orders on my front porch. I am on Skip the Dishes as well, and my business line is also available to do phone orders.” With the summer slowly but surely on its way, Desrosiers is planning on adding some summer treats to help people cool off. “I will be serving snow cups in the hot weather. I have a whole bunch of different flavours, so they will be really good.” If you ever find yourself wanting some delicious fair food treats, head on over to V’s Sugar Rush and fix that craving. For more information, call 343-0307 or find @Vsugarrush on Facebook.

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FilmTheatre

Director Ryan La Via, left, interviews Kirstine Baccar for the new documentary A Sobering Story

A Sobering Story

New Documentary Explores Thunder Bay’s Addictions Crisis Story by Kris Ketonen, Photo by Ryan Hill

yan La Via and Ryan Hill have found themselves on an emotional journey as they work to complete their new documentary film. The film, A Sobering Story, examines the addictions crisis in the Thunder Bay area, the stigma surrounding it, and the lack of resources available for those struggling. “The idea was always in the back of my mind,” La Via, director, co-producer, and co-writer says. “Then, there was an article published in the media that kind of put me over the edge, saying

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that this story needed to be told. [...] Essentially, there’s a lack of support for people who are suffering from any sort of addictions locally, and the waiting list is too long.” The film will include interviews with people who have personal experience with addictions. In some cases, they struggled with addictions themselves, while others have lost family members to overdoses. First responders, addictions support workers, and medical professionals will also be included. Hill, A Sobering Story’s

director of photography, co-producer, and co-writer, says the stories they’ve heard so far have been powerful. “I had to sit in the director’s chair for two interviews,” he says. “I was in tears for both…it’s been so emotional.” He says he hopes people who see the finished film will come away with feelings of hope, and fear. “Fear that if we don’t get funding for these things, if we don’t move forward together and start grassroots organizations […] and support different initiatives in hopes that this doesn’t

happen to us,” he says. “We use fear in a positive way.” La Via says he hopes viewers will “be enlightened about the situation, walk out with more knowledge about the lack of resources, and just […] be aware that it can happen to anybody. It being a disease, it really does play with the mind, is what I’ve learned. People often say ‘well, why don’t people just quit? You just can’t quit. It plays with your brain, it rewires your brain. It’s a sad disease.” La Via and Long aim to release the film in 2023.

“Then, there was an article published in the media that kind of put me over the edge, saying that this story needed to be told.” For more information visit asoberingstory.com or @ASoberingStory on Facebook.

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FilmTheatre

Smarty Pants

What if You Could Control Your Home with Your Underpants? By Ayano Hodouchi Dempsey

(Top L-R) Stephen Sparks, and Nicola Dawn Brook, (bottom L-R) Melanie Janzen and Amy Sellors

“It’s fun to be on the ground floor, when you see a play and you’re part of developing a play.”

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hen artistic director Thom Currie planned Magnus Theatre’s 2021/2022 season, he was keen for a good comedy. “I wanted to let people come to the theatre and laugh again,” he says. “Have a good physical laugh!” Magnus’s show in May, Smarty Pants, is bound to do that. It’s a romantic comedy about a middle-aged divorced couple who discover that their divorce may have been a mistake. The husband, Rob, is a tech entrepreneur who made millions from wearable tech—smart underwear, in fact. Smarty Pants is the second play by playwrights Stephen Sparks (a.k.a. Sparky) and Shelley Hoffman. Their first, Buying the Farm, was produced at Magnus Theatre in 2019, and has since become successful all over Canada. “Both Sparky and Shelley have had a great relationship with Magnus Theatre,” Currie says. The married couple first met in 1998 when they were both actors on the stage at Magnus. Currie, who is directing Smarty Pants, is excited that the world premiere of Smarty Pants is taking place in his theatre. “It’s fun to be on the ground floor, when you

see a play and you’re part of developing a play,” he says. He convinced Sparks to take the role of the male protagonist. “That’s going to be a fascinating process, having the author in the room, speaking his own words,” Currie says. “We have the agency in the moment, to make changes, or make alterations to the script as we go, which you normally can’t do with a published play.” The female lead will be played by local actor Amy Sellors. “They actually wrote the play for Amy Sellors,” Currie says, ”Amy and Sparky have worked together many times all over the country.” “It’s cool, at the end of COVID, to be able to pull together people that have a good working relationship. We’re going to make this into a very, very strong production, to cap off what’s been a very difficult season here at Magnus,” he adds. There will be 20 shows from May 5 to May 21, and the theatre is open at 50% capacity. There will also be a pay-what-you-can-show May 8. For more information, visit magnustheatre.com.

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FilmTheatre

Farming and Food Movies By Michael Sobota

Food, Inc. (2008)

Robert Kenner directed and produced a shocking – at the time – documentary about the food industry. With careful, grounded accuracy, he shows how the production of food changed with the emergence of the fast-food industry in the 1950’s and 1960’s. How today multinational corporations own most of the production of food. How there are no more “seasons” in our supermarkets – you can purchase tomatoes, lettuce, fruit, and berries nearly year-round. Utilizing the superb talents of his director of photography, Richard Pearce, he takes his cameras onto farms, inside their fences, pens, barns, and homes. He goes inside corporate headquarters. He gets on camera just about every sector of the food chain, from workers in the fields, to processfactory safety inspectors, to heads of corporations or their lawyers. If you watch only one movie about food production it should be this one.

I’m teaching them to take care of something.

-Alice (RoseMarie DeWitt) explaining to Steve (Matt Damon) why she brings her students to her back yard to teach them about gardening in Promised Land

hold producers of food in the highest regard. This column is built with love and affection for our local farmers. Movies

Promised Land (2012) Gus Van Sant directs a script co-written by the movie’s stars Matt Damon and John Kransinksi, from a story by Dave Eggers. Damon is Steve, a buyer for a multinational energy company. He is sent out to purchase drilling rights for natural gas, from rural, mid-western American farmers. He is accompanied by a wise and sassy corporate liaison (Francis MacDormand). The drilling will be done by “fracking” and an environmental activist (Kransinksi) shows up to reveal the horrors of the process and thwart selling rights. What the film is really about is finding out who you are and what you want to keep and “how to take care of things”. It is a beautifully made, softmessaging activist film.

have always seen the drama and humour that makes great stories out of farming. Here are some of the very best feature films

and two documentaries that both entertain and expose what happens behind the fence.

Rams (2015)

This is a story about two brothers who are also sheep farmers, but this time in Iceland. It is a story about history clashing with contemporary times. The brothers are estranged, not talking to each other. Each of them is raising a rare breed of heritage sheep. When the government discovers disease in local flocks, all local herds are ordered destroyed. The brothers, distraught, design secretive ways not to comply with the order, which we know will lead them into danger. Under this mutual threat, they renew their brotherly bond. They scheme together to outdo the regulations. The film rushes toward a swirling, blinding snowstorm where the sheep and the brothers find a heartopening conclusion.

And here are six more tasty films for your eat-ification: The Good Earth (1937), Country (1984), Babe (1995, the original), To Make A Farm (2011), The Dust Bowl (2012), and Petit Paysan (2017).

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THE T D MOS O C SE NURABLE S A E PL WE THING HE T IN DO DARK A COLUMN ABOUT MOVIES

Before the Plate (2018) This is a Canadian story about farming, food, cooking and a restaurant. I first saw it at a special screening hosted partially by local farmers at the Thunder Bay Country Market. Canoe is a high-end Toronto restaurant. It is also high-in-thesky, located on the 54th floor of a Toronto high-rise. John Horne is Canoe’s renowned chef. Director Sagi Kahane-Rapport begins in Horne’s kitchen as the chef explains what will be the special plate he will serve his customers that evening. Then he leads Kahane-Rapport out to the various local farms and producers that provide the natural ingredients that will go into this special plate. We meet a potato farmer (back in his kitchen, Horne will build for us the most mouthwatering tater tots you’ve ever seen), other vegetable and meat producers, all of which welcome us into their domains. We also learn the serious challenges of growing and producing food in Ontario in our time.

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FilmTheatre

Wonderland for Young and Old Cambrian Players Presents Alice in Wonderland By Taylor Onski

fter pirates in Treasure Island and a Chekovobsessed family in Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, Cambrian Players will close their 2021-2022 season with a meaningful take on Alice in Wonderland. After seeing Thunder Bay’s virtual theatre organization Come Play with Me perform the classic tale in 2020, director Thomas McDonald got inspired to bring Wonderland to the stage with a twist. “I was not interested in doing the same version with a 12-year-old girl going on an adventure,” says McDonald. “I wondered what it would be like if the person on the journey was a senior instead? What would change, stay the same, or mean something entirely different?” With that vision in mind, McDonald assembled 23 talented local actors from ages 8 to 70 to bring this iconic story to life, with some roles even being double cast. Though clad as iconic characters such as the Red Queen, the White Rabbit, and the Mad Hatter, these characters also become memories of people Alice (played by Hilke Grunys) has either lost, forgotten, or wishes were there to help her when

things don’t feel right. “Alice is not remembering as well as she used to,” says Grunys. “There is something going on with Alice and her aging process where she is a little confused. But she also has these moments of inner strength where she stands up for herself. I find her quite delightful.” Much like the original story, in which Alice finds a community of many things from talking animals to extravagant tea parties

to living and breathing playing cards, McDonald and Grunys both value the idea of community this show brings on and off the stage. “I hope audiences look at Alice, have empathy for her in a different way, and think about our own seniors, who have been very isolated for the last couple of years in a different way,” says McDonald. Grunys adds she cannot wait for audiences to be amazed by the connectedness between actors, puppets, and music

in this production, and maybe recognize people in their own lives who are going through what Alice is going through. A s Wo n d e r l a n d i s beyond a world of our own, this production will reach beyond the stage with a special live-streamed performance on May 28, where you can have the opportunity to follow Alice to Wonderland from your very own home.

Alice in Wonderland runs from May 18 to 21 and May 25 to 29 at Cambrian Players (818 Spring Street). Purchase tickets online at cambrianplayers.eventbrite. ca. For more information, find Cambrian Players on Facebook and Instagram @cambrianplayers, or visit cambrianplayers.com.

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FilmTheatre

Amber Ail

Bubbly, Colourful, and Full-Bodied By Jimmy Wiggins, Photo by J. Macsemchuk

t’s very rare that a debut performance is a drag performer’s best work. There’s a lot of anxiety and nervousness that comes with getting on stage in front of a large audience, let alone doing it in a wig, excessive amounts of makeup, and high heels. So when a drag queen comes along and blows you away with their very first show, you know there’s something special about them. For me, that queen is Amber Ail. Amber Ail (a.k.a. Jake out of drag) grew up in British Columbia. He moved to Thunder Bay as a teenager and moved to Toronto after high school. After five years of experiencing queer life in the big city, he moved back to Thunder Bay and within a couple years he was headlining drag shows all over town. “I started as a bedroom queen years before I started here in TBay,” explains Ail. “It was something I had wanted to do from seeing queens in Toronto. So when I had my first show, I was ready! I felt so polished and perfected and beautiful. I had a tonne of friends and family out to support. It was one of the best nights of my life, and I knew from then on that I’m on the right track.” What Amber Ail has that most queens don’t is, among other things, a full facial beard. It’s part of her drag and she wears it with great pride. “As a bearded queen, I feel incredibly lucky. Bearded drag is not necessarily received well in every drag scene, but I think the beauty of the TBay drag scene is that labels and stereotypes matter less, and your level of effort is what

truly matters,” Ail says. “Bearded drag is often labelled as lazy or noncommittal, and that there’s an inherent lack of polish associated with it, like you’re not taking it seriously. I like to turn all of that on its head completely, as you can see by coming to one of my shows, I am none of those things.” Describing herself as “bubbly, colourful, and fullbodied,” Amber Ail’s drag is one of protest against society’s obsession with gender norms and roles, as well as gender expression in the queer community. “By taking something iconically masculine like a beard and using it as a main focus of a feminine image, I want to show that our perceptions of gender are just that— perceptions—and that holding all of society to these rigid expectations is redundant and reductive.” If you’ve seen an Amber Ail show you know why she’s a TBay drag fan favourite: striking graphic makeup, well-thought-out looks, and sometimes, depending on her mood, pretty shocking performances. “Maybe you’ll get a good vibes party, maybe you’ll get a sombre regret-filled power ballad, or maybe you’ll get a literal bloodbath on the stage,” Ail says. “The only real consistency in my numbers is 110% commitment to the concept and the performance. I put every ounce of energy I have into every performance, and that passion for the art form is the cornerstone of my drag.” Follow Amber Ail on Instagram @amberail.exe.

Amber Ail

“It was something I had wanted to do from seeing queens in Toronto. So when I had my first show, I was ready!”

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TheArts

Geordyn in Red, 2021, digital

Aidan, 2020, digital

Lady of the Lake, 2021, digital

Bridging Gaps

Sarah McPherson Blends Art and Communication in Her Photography Story by Bonnie Schiedel, Photos by Sarah McPherson

hotographer and Walleye contributor Sarah McPherson is fascinated by soup—film soup, that is. Film soup is a technique where analog film is soaked in liquid, creating a distressed look and altering the colours. Currently, McPherson is using the approach as part of her studies for her Master’s degree in English at Lakehead University. “I’ve been going back to my own reserve and talking with people about the water insecurity there…there are dioxins in the water on Frog Creek in Couchiching

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[First Nation]. And those discussions have led me to just talking about my dad and talking about his family and his generation and how things have changed over time, and exploring people’s relationship with community and land and their food and all that sort of thing. People are so much more disconnected now,” she says. “I’m photographing the people on the land and the water, and then soaking [the film] in the contaminated water.” The chemicals in the water creates a royal blue wash over the images, she says, similar to the colour a

kid would use for drawing water. In contrast, another film soup made up of wildflowers and mushrooms yielded green cloudiness on photos. One of her film soup images won first place in a 2021 cover art contest for Room magazine. Her work has also been shown at Definitely Superior Art Gallery and at Goods & Co. Market’s Co.Lab Gallery & Arts Centre, where she is resident curator. McPherson’s parents gave her a camera in her early teens, and she really got into the art in 2014, when she was 15. “There

A AND THOUS DS WOR

was a number of years there where you’d be hardpressed to find me without a camera in my hand,” she says. She adds that she has a pretty bad memory: “Once I started taking photos, I realized that I found a way to document things and share memories and relationships with other people.” Her friend Riley Urquhart taught her some technical aspects, and together they founded Nefarious Film Co., a grassroots collective aimed at making the practice of film photography more accessible in Thunder Bay. McPherson is also intrigued

by portraiture. “I found a love for trying to capture people as they are and reflect that kind of uniqueness that I could see.” She says what she appreciates most is the ability to capture moments and spaces that would otherwise be somewhat fleeting. “What I found key to my work is thinking of photography as language and art as language. English is so limiting, right? We only have words for so many different things, and that’s the same with every other language. Something like a photograph is going to be a lot more relatable and

TheArts

Sea Lion, 2018, digital

Nimisehn, 2020, 35mm

Copy of Sunset Nuptials, 2021, digital

a lot more cross-culturally communicative,” she says. “We all have different world views, we all have different perspectives on things. Even just between the Indigenous world view and a Western world view, there’s a lot of things to get misinterpreted. And I think photography goes a long way to kind of bridging those gaps.” See more of Sarah McPherson’s work at sarahmcpherson.ca and on Instagram @sarmcpherson.

Wolf River Wading, 2018, 35mm

Photographer Sarah McPherson

Neebing in Autumn, 2019, 35mm

Riley, 2018, digital

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TheArts

Sad Robin

Digital artist Chelsea Cameron-Fikis

Fun Art, Not Fine Art Chelsea V. Creates By Wendy Wright

“A

rt has always been a part of my identity,” says Chelsea Cameron-Fikis, a.k.a. Chelsea V., a digital artist from Thunder Bay now living in Toronto. Creative writing, music, photography, and dance has made up Cameron-Fikis’s life in a creative way. She has settled on digital art at present, though these other endeavours are never far from her daily life. “I like to do lots of different things, I still like to dabble,” she says. The freedom of working in digital art is a big positive for Cameron-Fikis. “What’s so cool about digital art is that you are not limited to the tools you have on hand,” she says. Her style is somewhat folk art and has a colourful, playful vibe. The art captures her style and motto: “Fun art, not

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fine art.” She is inspired by female characters, activism, and special places, many of those in Thunder Bay. At present, CameronFikis has art prints of the General Store at Silver Islet, the Sleeping Giant, and the Finlandia Club. A percentage of the proceeds of the Finlandia Club prints are supporting the Thunder Bay Finnish Canadian Historical Society. Along with that, there is a collaboration with Waxxed Candle Co., where her illustration graces the exterior of the Finnish Pancake scented candle. A percentage of the proceeds from these sales are also being donated to the Thunder Bay Finnish Canadian Historical Society. Future collaborations are possible and probable. With inspiration coming from everything from

childhood folk art puzzles to the everyday in the city or in nature, Cameron-Fikis’s work is varied and has an alluring essence. Her past as a food blogger is apparent in the cheerful veggie and food illustrations. At the other end of the spectrum of the artist’s style are the activist and powerful women’s voices that come through in her pieces. Flowers abound, and the feelings evoked by her “special places” illustrations are powerful. This one-of-a-kind style hops from one to the other and is undoubtedly Chelsea V. “I feel when I make them, they bring me joy,” the artist states. And they bring us joy, too.

Hoito Love

For more information, visit chelseavirginia.ca or follow her on Instagram @chelsvcreates. Sleepy G Forever

TheArts

In the Garden

“I like to do lots of different things, I still like to dabble.”

Blueberry Pie

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TheArts

Everything Grows from the Heart

The Journey and Paintings of Tom Tom Sinclair By Amy Sellors

The Canvas Gallery

 Anishinaabe artist Tom Tom Sinclair posing with his painting The War Party  The Shapeshifter vs the Trickster  Searching for Muskrat

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he challenges of the past two years have shown us that art helps us heal. Anishinaabe artist Tom Tom Sinclair knows this well. “Art helps me see the world in a good way, in a colourful and beautiful way. Especially now, during the pandemic, where everyone is so separated from each other,” he says. “In my art, I show connections, things on a spiritual level. That’s why I often put strawberries in my paintings—ode’imin—heart berries. Everything grows from the heart.” Sinclair’s mom is a survivor, and his family has been through a lot. He’s worked many jobs, but none of them gave him any sense of satisfaction or mental well-being. As a truck driver he drove across North America. “The destruction I saw from forestry and mining and pipelines, and seeing all of the accidents—I had PTSD. I retired at a young age; I quit everything. I did counselling, therapy, I tried it all. I worked my tail off to get where I am. Art saved my life.” Growing up in Thunder Bay, Sinclair’s father was an addiction counsellor. He would drive the streets and sometimes pick someone up who needed help and bring them home to sober up. In the morning, over tea and toast, they’d see Sinclair drawing. One of these men especially influenced him: the artist Isadore Wadow. “He showed me so much about Woodland Art, what the symbols are, what they mean, and where they come from. He showed me

how to harvest onaman— the sacred sand—and to use it to make traditional pictograph paint.” Sinclair is one of the few people who still has the original “recipe” for this paint and who knows how and when to harvest the ingredients. Wadow was murdered in Thunder Bay in June 1984, and Sinclair stopped painting for 30 years. “After Wadow was killed, other Indigenous artists told me that Woodland Art wasn’t safe. It all had to do with the Norval Morrisseau fraud ring. I only made art for myself after that. Once a year I would buy a canvas and paint.” In time, art became a part of Sinclair’s healing. “It was helping me to find pride in myself. Making art helped me find pride in being Anishinaabe again.” Sinclair’s art is on display around the world, and he is working on pieces to show in Milan, Madrid, Venice, Toronto, and Montreal. While proud of his accomplishments, this wasn’t what he envisioned. “I wanted to sit at my mom’s table and paint pictures for her friends and family. This is all a little scary.” And while scary, he knows how important it is to share Indigenous culture. “A lot of Europeans aren’t even aware that we are still alive—that we still exist. We are showing them that we’re still here, still practicing our culture, and trying to save our languages for our grandchildren and their grandchildren.” Currently, Sinclair’s home is Sault Ste. Marie, where

he’s working to open a studio. “All of the greatest artists in Canadian history have created here. It changes people. The colour palette, the imagery… I can’t explain it, but that’s why I live here. Within a half hour drive, there’s almost every type of landscape.” With tears in his eyes, Sinclair confides how important it is to share Indigenous art. “I want all my people to feel this way. The more I paint, the less afraid I am to bare my soul to people. For

me, each individual is on their own journey, whether it’s destruction or healing. There’s always a spiritual way of looking at things, a spiritual way of existing,” he says. “In my paintings, I often put three orbs in a line. They represent unseen spiritual connection, communication, and relationship. That’s the only thing I am trying to say in my art—we’re all connected, we’re all one.” Follow Sinclair on Instagram and Twitter @tsinclair76.

“In my art, I show connections, things on a spiritual level. That’s why I often put strawberries in my paintings—ode’imin—heart berries. Everything grows from the heart.”  Healing

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TheArts

Indian Woman and Her Bear Offspring

By Penelope Smart, Curator, Thunder Bay Art Gallery Artist: Norval Morrisseau Title: Indian Woman with Bear Offspring Date: 1968 Medium: Acrylic on pen and paper Dimensions: 31 3/16 x 22 3/16 in. Gift of Bill and Cathy MacDonald, 2020 n May we celebrate motherhood in all its forms. Indian Woman with Bear Offspring is a small painting by artist Norval Morrisseau (1932– 2007). It shows two bear cubs nursing at the breast of Mother Earth, depicted as a human female figure with long black hair. In Legends of My People, The Great Ojibway (1965), a book of stories illustrated and told by Morrisseau, he said, “My people believe the earth to be their mother and that we are children of the earth. We are all one spirit.” This image recalls a pivotal event in Morrisseau’s life and career. In 1967, Morrisseau was one of several Indigenous artists commissioned to paint large murals for the Indians of Canada Pavilion at Expo ‘67 in Montreal. Morrisseau’s design was called Mother Earth and

HE FROM T BAY R E THUND ERY’S LL ART GA TION C E L L O C

“My people believe the earth to be their mother and that we are children of the earth. We are all one spirit.”

Cambrian Players Theatre

WRITTEN BY

Lewis Carroll Alice Gerstenberg

ADAPTED BY

Andrea Jacobsen DIRECTED BY

Thomas McDonald LIVE STREAM

May 28

showed a female figure nursing two bear cubs. The imagery was deemed too explicit for the public and censored by gover nment officials. Morrisseau refused to change his work and walked away from the project. It’s possible that if he had been able to create his original mural, it would have looked much like this small painting. In the end, Morrisseau’s friend and fellow artist Carl Ray finished an altered version of the mural featuring a child figure and bear cub who were not nursing. This controversial event brought new awareness to Indigenous art and activism in Canada in the 1960s. The Thunder Bay Art Gallery has ten new paintings by Morrisseau currently up in the gallery as part of The World We Know: New Acquisitions to the Permanent Collection, which runs April 8–June 12.

May 18 – 21 25 – 29, &2022

MATINEE & TEA

May 29

818 SPRING STREET A TWIST ON THE CLASSIC!

Alice, now a senior whose memories are slipping away, explores fantasy and folly in the world at the bottom of the rabbit hole.

Tickets at cambrianplayers.eventbrite.com

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TheArts

 Crane in the Rain, Crystal Belanger

 Tree Hugger, Barbara Dlugosz

The Art That Surrounds Us

 Joshua Tree, Crystal Belanger

 Girl in Daisy Field 2, Barbara Dlugosz

Natural State Exhibit By Olivia Bosma

alented local artists Crystal Belanger and Barbara Dlugosz are sharing their gift—and the world through their eyes— with the community on May 6 with an art show titled Natural State at the Co. Lab Gallery & Arts Centre in the Goods & Co. Market. Both Belanger and Dlugosz have several years of experience under their belts. Though this is their first art show together, they have worked on the murals that are displayed in the English Language Centre at Lakehead University, where they both work. “I work mostly with acrylics on canvas of various sizes,” Dlugosz says. “My art is mostly nature and natural settings. Most are local

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scenery and landscapes. I also have some paintings that have children in them because I have grandchildren, so some work is inspired by them.” Using the same inspiration of the beautiful world that surrounds us, Belanger shares her work in her own special way. “I also use mostly acrylics,” she says. “However, I like to use many mediums that give a texture or depth to my work. For instance, your eye might catch volcanic pebbles and beach glass from Lake Superior.” The artists’ upcoming exhibit will display an array of different styles of work, yet they all depict a natural state of a time, place, or memory. This show will

feature nine painted canvases of various sizes. “I am most excited for Barb to share her work,” Belanger says. “I think all of her talent has been hidden for a while and she now has the opportunity to shine.” This will be Dlugosz’s first official art show and she is looking forward to sharing her work with the community. “My art philosophy is that art should be something that everyone can experience,” she says. “To have real, original artwork in their h o m e . T h a t i s re a l l y where I paint from; I want to provide people with original art that they can relate to.” As for plans for the future, the pair will

 Girl in Daisy Field 1, Barbara Dlugosz

TheArts continue to create beautiful artwork and share it with the community. “I want to do some really powerful pieces,” Belanger says. “I also want to start feeling a sense of community in my life again, so ideas of holding art shows in a garden, for instance, or gathering in a field to do plein air is a possibility.” For Dlugosz, she plans on developing and expanding her artwork even further. “In recent years, I noticed that I have been more unafraid to take on challenges and explore differently the things that I do,” she says. “So, I

want to take more risks with my artwork and not be afraid to try new things.” As St. Francis of Assisi once said, “He who works with his hands is a labourer. He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman. He who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist." Come and see the art that the hands, heads, and hearts of Belanger and Dlugosz have done. For more information, search for “Belanger and Dlugosz” on Facebook.

 Hoito and High St, Barbara Dlugosz

 Trout Dance, Crystal Belanger

 Salmon Skies, Crystal Belanger

 Sunset at Porphry Island, Crystal Belanger

“M s a p b s

 Mine Shafts Silver Island, Crystal Belanger

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Outdoor

Superior Whitewater

Paddling the Current River

Gabriel Thompson

By Gabriel Thompson

 Rik Anaka paddles down the Cascades

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dependent on optimal water flows, and they require scouting because of the steep gradient, continuous nature, and the potential for wood. If it’s too high, you might be portaging a lot. If it’s too low, you may break your boat. Go with a crew who know the lines and are competent at all aspects of paddling, including Swiftwater Rescue Training and first aid. Locals use Superior Whitewater on Facebook as a way to connect and organize paddling together as an informal group of friends. Trowbridge Falls to Boulevard Lake (Class 3 to 4) Surf waves, holes, ledge drops, big ramping rapids, and easy roadside accessibility make this section the most userfriendly of the Current River. Trowbridge Falls is an excellent ledge rapid and as you go downstream, the best surf waves open up in an increasingly larger rapid with cliffs on the left that

 Matt Scrafford going down the North Branch

Steven Walker

r o m a p a d d l e r ’s perspective, Thunder Bay is a great place to live. The region hosts a wide range of waterways, from steep creeks and playful fun rivers to challenging remote wilderness canyons. One of the best all-round rivers is the Current River, right here in the city of Thunder Bay. The combination of clean water, dependable flows, moderate to steep gradient, and interesting geology all come together to make great sections of whitewater, from challenging high-volume rapids to steep technical creeking to enjoyable sections of the river that are perfect for surfing. Paddling on the Current River can be broken into three classic sections: the Cascades, the North Branch of the Current River, and Trowbridge Falls to Boulevard Lake. The Current River is dependent on snowpack and rainfall, so always check the water levels. The steeper Cascades and North Branch are highly

Rik Anaka

Outdoor

unforgiving rapids after work then this is your run. Lots of steep bedrock features on this section of the Current as it cranks up the gradient with horizon lines that disappear the whole way down. There’s also beautiful scenery, and usually a host of local witnesses to see the results as you tempt fate. Notable rapids are the “Waterfall,” the “Slide, Slide, Whirlpool,” “ U n d e rc u t , ” a n d t h e “Thunder Bird,” a narrow, steep, constricting drop that is intimidating and not to be taken lightly. Finally, “Last Chance” comes with one last chance at redemption or carnage. All can be scouted or portaged. If you’re new to whitewater kayaking, please do your homework. It’s super fun, challenging, and rewarding all at the same time. However, kayaking is dangerous, even if you know what you’re doing. Cold, moving water kills quickly. Many hazards exist that may not be apparent to one not trained in river reading. Don’t paddle alone, and go with people you trust. Take a Swiftwater Rescue Training Course and take professional instruction.

 Rod Brown kayaking Soldier’s Hole  Matt Scrafford lining it up down the gut of Soldier’s Hole at high flows

Steven Walker

signals you are approaching Soldier’s Hole. Get out on the right bank when you see the cliffs and use the trail. The entry rapid above Soldier’s is a series of large offset ledge holes right above. A mistake here can be consequential. Below Soldier’s, it’s all fun with play spots like the “World’s Friendliest Hole” and P & G’s Centennial footbridge. The North Branch of the Current River (Class 3 to 4) The North Branch is the best steep creek paddling in town. Easy road access and steep rapids that are somewhat forgiving in nature make this a classic. The larger rapids like the Dam, Staircase Falls, and Conveyer Belt are steep and consist of broken ledges and ramps with mostly continuous smaller rapids in between. It’s a perfect place to step up your paddling game for steep rapids. If you haven’t paddled the North Branch before, go with someone familiar with it, as there are ongoing access issues. The Cascades (Class 4 to 5) The Cascades is Thunder Bay’s steepest run, right in town. If you like throwing yourself in steep, technically

Esme French

 Gabriel Thompson kayaking down the Cascades

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CityScene

(L-R) Zenya Puchalski, Halya Huk, Hanusia Tkaczyk, Lisa Klymenko, Bob Tkaczyk, and Stacey Cham-Klein performing as Zhurvali

(L-R) Ladies Auxiliary president Lois Foster and Jennifer Swistun-Wolski shake hands

Stacy Cham-Klein and Bob Tkaczyk

A Night to Raise Funds and Hope Thunder Bay Community Gathers to Support Ukrainians Story by Sara Sadeghi Aval, Photos by Chondon Photography

n April 1, Thunder Bay raised over $5,000 in support of Ukraine during the current war. Jennifer SwistunWolski, along with a team of organizers and supporters, hosted a fundraiser at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 5 complete with music, drinks, door prizes, stand-up comedy, and most

The Walleye

of all, hope. Homegrown names like The Thirsty Monks, The Bay Street Bastards, and authentic Ukrainian band Zhuravli performed throughout the night, while supporters donned kokum scarves and sang along, standing together in solidarity. Swistun-Wolski, who is an active member at the

legion, plans on donating $1,250 of the $5,000 to the Canadian Red Cross, which will be matched by the federal government. The remaining $4,000 will be donated through the Ukrainian Credit Union and the Canada Ukraine Foundation. “I was floored by the response to the idea. I think everyone wants to help, but maybe doesn’t

know how to, and we’re so thankful to everyone who did,” she says. Valeriya Orzenko and Kateryna Yavorska, two Ukrainian women who have lived in the city for five and two years respectively, currently have family back home within active fighting zones. The pair has teamed up, along with nine other

Ukrainian friends in the city, to create a one-stop resource for any individuals who are able to leave the region and relocate to Thunder Bay or Ontario in general, and to carry on the resilience their families continue to display. Their aim is to combat the problems faced by refugees a n d c o s t l y re l o c a t i o n requirements. “I just still can’t believe we’re saying 44 days. Nobody thought Ukraine would last. We do have allies, we do have a strong sense of people not giving up,” Orzenko reflects. Since Putin’s invasion on February 24 this year, over 10 million citizens have been pushed out of their homes, major cities have been bombed, and over 1,500 casualties have occurred at the time this article was published. Orzenko, who currently works in human resources, and Yavorska, who works as a dental assistant, are both overjoyed by the support they quickly saw in Thunder Bay. They smile thinking about the donations that have been collected at their offices, and the blue and yellow attire worn by residents. “My mom didn’t care how many bombings or shootings were happening. Her mindset was: my children are in the country, this is my community, and she chose to stay and help elderly get food and medication,” says Orzenko. Like Orzenko’s mother, many people who have been unable to leave their homes due to lack of resources, access to transportation, or health conditions, have chosen to stay in their apartment complexes and fight. “Of course, the media provides coverage, but when you live there or have family there you live a different life of scrolling through media and checking your phone because your mom hasn’t responded in five hours,” says Yavorska. Her family continues to travel back and forth between hot zones to visit her grandmother.

ADOPT A STORM DRAIN

Front row (L–R): Hanusia Tkaczyk and Lisa Klymenko performing Back row: (L-R) Zenya Puchalski and Halya Huk

Yavorski and Orzenko exude a sense of commitment and community, and although both are tired and heavy with worry, they continue to look towards the humanity of it all. “This war has opened my eyes to so many things and has taught me that life doesn’t wait

for anybody at all. You must do things right here, right now, not tomorrow,” says Orzenko. If you’re looking to donate or help, please email valeriya.orzenko @gmail.com.

Encourage the flow of rainwater & snowmelt Prevent flooding & erosion Mitigate water pollution Conserve aquatic habitats & more! Learn more at ecosuperior.org/water

Stefan Huzan speaks during the fundraiser

“This war has opened my eyes to so many things and has taught me that life doesn’t wait for anybody at all. You must do things right here, right now, not tomorrow.” The Walleye

CityScene

(L–R) Master gardeners Lynda Bobinski and Gwen Third presenting on seed starting

(L–R) Master gardeners Linda Rintamaki, Rosemary McNabb, Aili Dampier, Linda Sharp, Andrea Steinhaeusser, and Lynda Lahteenmaa doing a presentation on growing succulents, followed by an advice clinic

Thunder Bay Master Gardeners

THE SIASTS ENTHU

By Deanne Gagnon

he combination of a family of gardeners, a long career in health care, and wanting to give back to the community can be credited for master gardener Lynda Bobinski’s love for gardening. “It’s always been an interest through my family. Both my grandmothers and parents were gardeners, so I started off at a young age. Prior to retirement, I was a nurse manager and when you’re inside working long hours, you look forward to relaxation. It’s the relaxation that you get from doing what you need to support your own well-being, which for me was gardening,”

says Bobinski, coordinator of the Thunder Bay Master Gardeners. “When you’re in health care you’re sort of a lifelong learner, so when you retire you think, what am I going to do now? I figured I’d take the gardening courses at Dalhousie and learned that to do that I had to join the Master Gardener group. I like that you’re providing a valuable service to our community as well.” The Thunder Bay Master Gardeners group was formed in 1990, as part of the Master Gardeners of Ontario, a non-profit organization of

experienced gardeners who share their expertise in horticulture with the public. Becoming qualified as a Master Gardener includes the completion of courses through Guelph or Dalhousie universities, or the online self-study program. Once the education is complete, it takes two years as Master Gardener-in-training to receive the qualification. “One of the main things that I would say to anybody that wants to become a Master Gardener is to not worry about what you currently know or what you

(L–R) Master gardeners Linda Rintamaki and Lynda Lahteenmaa answering questions on how to do a seed germination test.

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(L–R) Master gardeners Carole McCollum and Gwen Third in a garden during the Thunder Bay Art Gallery Garden Tour

CityScene

(L–R) Master gardener Gordon Ward doing a presentation on pruning and growing grapes.

may find out that you need to know. This is a very supportive group, and we are here to help,” she says. “If you want to join our group and become a Master Gardener-in-training, contact us. We are very open to people attending our meetings to see what it’s like.” The Master Gardeners are quite active in the community and host many events throughout the year. These include their annual Look, Listen and Learn event held in June, various workshops, clinics, presentations, both Murillo and Hymers fall fairs, and online information sessions, which began during COVID. The group is thrilled to be able to offer events in person again and is optimistic that they can host their yearly Garden Tour held in conjunction with Thunder Bay Art Gallery. The local chapter ranges all the way from the Manitoba border to Hearst, with events held in other locations within the region as well. The Master Gardeners are pleased to have noticed an influx of younger gardeners expressing interest and love to be able to impart their knowledge and help learners. They are active on their Facebook group and welcome any and all gardening questions including those on vegetables, flowers, native plants, invasive species, seeding, pruning, and more.

Master gardeners take precautions while holding a meeting outside

“If you want to join our group and become a Master Gardener-intraining, contact us. We are very open to people attending our meetings to see what it’s like.” Master gardener coordinator Lynda Bobinski presenting certification certificates to new master gardeners (L–R) Andrea Steinhaeusser and Rosemary McNabb

Lynda Bobinski presents master gardener Sylvia Goodheart with her 20-year badge

For more information, find @MasterGardenersThunderBay on Facebook, or visit their website at tbmastergardeners. homesteadcloud.com.

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CityScene

Building Community

Food Programming at Our Kids Count By Ryley Fingler

 Our Kids Count participants  Community breakfast volunteers with Our Kids Count

n the second Saturday morning of every month, the red brick building at 704 McKenzie Street is buzzing with energy. Volunteers chatter and catch up with one another, fruit is scrubbed clean, and the scent of a delicious, hearty breakfast fills the space. At 9:30 am sharp, the doors will open, and breakfast will be served to over a hundred community members, completely free of charge. In a city of over 100,000 people, this may seem like a small feat, but don’t be fooled. The free community breakfast is just one of the many ways that Our Kids Count, a local organization with a focus on community development, is using food to accomplish its mission of bringing people together. Families all over the city benefit from the programs at Our Kids Count, whose programs range from introductory cooking classes for children and community kitchens for adults to comprehensive workshops on cake decorating. But regardless of the program, the impact remains the same: Our Kids Count is building community. Jocelyn Kloosterhuis, nutrition manager at Our Kids Count, is passionate about sharing the importance of community food programming. “A community kitchen is about more than just the food,” she says. “It’s about the people who gather

at the counter. It’s amazing to see how much a community kitchen can strengthen the bonds of a community, as well as giving everybody an opportunity to share their story, skills, and culture. We can all learn from each other while working toward a common goal of a healthy meal to bring home.” The sentiment is echoed among participants, who credit programs like the pre and postnatal community kitchen as a saving grace during trying times. “Our Kids Count has done an amazing job keeping me connected and engaged,” Tanis Ylimaki, a participant, says. “I love being able to talk with other moms facing the same challenges as me, all while cooking a healthy meal for our family.” At its heart, Our Kids Count belongs to the community. Everyone is welcome, regardless of income, age, or identity. By participating in a program, participants will be sure to go home with a healthy, delicious meal—but that’s not all. They might even find themselves a community to call your own. For more information, visit ourkidscount.ca/programs.

“I love being able to talk with other moms facing the same challenges as me, all while cooking a healthy meal for our family.” 62

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

Spring is Here! Farmers & produce has arrived– we’re anticipating a long, prosperous season. Come and get your fresh fix each week! Visit Us:

Find/Follow Us:

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

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

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Patio Open!

New Menus, Great Beers... ‘Nuff SAID.

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11am - 5pm Wednesday to Friday

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May 5 - 21, 2022 magnustheatre.com

ORDER ONLINE AT

WWW.NOMADBAY.CA

BAKESHOP + SANDWICH BAR

307 BAY ST 807-577-8564

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CityScene

WALL SPACE  (L-R) Rachel, Keitta, Georwyn, and Jason Audette of Woollysteer Ranch

Woollysteer Ranch Story and photos by Adrian Lysenko

hen Jason and Rachel Audette purchased an old 800-acre homestead outside of Nolalu in 2012, their goal was simple: grow food for their family. But since buying their first nine cows and a bull in 2019, their goal has evolved into a passion for growing food for their community. The couple raises Scottish Highland cattle as naturally as possible, and knowing what is in their beef is part of the goal at Woollysteer Ranch. “So when we wanted cows, we wanted to do it the way we wanted it for ourselves, which is grass-fed, grass-finished— not that we’re against the other way,” Rachel says. Because the breed of cattle is hardier, they’re more disease resistant, the couple says. “So you don’t have to give them antibiotics

to prevent things from happening. We’ve never given any of our meat cows any antibiotics or any shots or anything, which is nice,” Rachel says. “A lot of people have to do preventive stuff just because they’ve been bred more to get fat fast.” Jason emphasizes that they’re not against other practices of raising animals. “We just do things differently because we wanted an end product, kind of like when you shoot a moose. For us it feels good eating it. It's as natural as possible,” he says. “When you butcher a beef, it feels the same way. Just to raise it naturally here… it nourishes our whole family and then that extrapolates to the community and then that also feels good. And there seems to be a demand for it.”

 At the ranch they practise bale grazing, a method of providing feed to beef cattle during the winter months. “You put out a checkered pattern of bales—just like you see here—and you open them up five at a time,” Jason says. “A lot of farmers would be like, ‘This is waste.’ But you gotta look at that a lot differently. This is all going back into the soil: all the manure, all the pee, and whatever is left from the bale.”

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CityScene

 A beef box from the ranch.  Other than cattle, Jason and Rachel have ten mangalitsa pigs, an old heritage breed that forage well. “We went with them because they’re also woolly,” Rachel says. “They’re originally from Hungary and can also withstand the cold, so that’s why we got them, too.”

 The oldest registered breed in the world, Scottish Highland cattle are docile in nature and their double layer of woolly hair helps them bear colder weather. Their long horns are good for thermoregulation and predator defence, and assist with foraging.  The frost-free nose pump is a livestock water pump that requires no power source.

 Woollysteer Ranch’s tractor.

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CityScene

BIS CANNAER CORN

Defining Quality A Look at Craft Cannabis By Justin Allec

t happened faster than I thought it would—”craft” cannabis has arrived at the Ontario Cannabis Store. Identified with a yellow sticker, this new category of products takes all your farmers market-approved adjectives and applies them to cannabis. Craft cannabis, by OCS definition, is artisanal, small-batch, hand-processed cannabis that (supposedly) ensures a higher quality experience, from taste to packaging. OCS defines craft cannabis as “hang-dried, hand-trimmed, handpackaged, and grown in a small-batch facility that produces less than 10,000 kg a year.” As an example, OCS interviews the chief science officer of Simply Bare, a craft subdivision of licensed

producer Rubicon Organics, and something curious is revealed. As we’re calmly and gently walked through Simply Bare’s growing process, it becomes apparent that even though OCS has those four stipulations to designate craft cannabis, Simply Bare has already gone much further in their efforts to increase quality. The emphasis on living soil, compost, rainwater irrigation, and hand-manicuring the plants all go beyond the OCS definition and is about as close to “organic” as you can get without having to match that stringent standard. It's more akin to what your average backyard grower experiences than what’s expected from a large-scale licensed producer. I can be snide about the

tone OCS is using here, but it's difficult to argue with quality. Since most cannabis looks the same (i.e., green buds) producers will do whatever they can to distinguish their strains. Adapting a growing facility to be netzero waste or introducing ladybugs to control pests shows consumers you care, which hopefully means they choose your product over a less-conscientious producer. It’s a slower approach to building a customer base, but given my own misgivings with factory farming, I think it makes sense and will appeal to a loyal segment of the cannabis market. Of course, all the kindness in the world during the growing process wouldn’t matter if the dried flower wasn’t impressive. While I

haven’t tried any Simply Bare products—they mostly mill their cannabis, which I’m not interested in—I’ve become a reliable consumer of Flint & Embers GSC Kush. Like Simply Bare, Flint & Embers is a subdivision of MJardin Group, Inc., another example of a large-scale producer diversifying their growing power. I can’t complain, though, because GSC Kush (THC 22.00 - 28.00%, CBD 0.00 - 1.00%, $7.85/g) is a beautiful indica strain. Appearance always comes first. I was surprised when I first opened a package of GSC Kush because the buds weren’t shaved into dense cones; instead, I got something that looked like it had been expertly trimmed from a plant earlier that day. A potent combination

of Girl Scout Cookies and Conspiracy Kush with notes of chocolate and coffee, GSC Kush is a total head rush that didn’t leave me gasping. The counterargument to craft cannabis is that it’s supposed to cost more, but I don’t see it as ludicrously expensive given the final product. It’s also exciting to think that this craft designation might be the start of a further change in the market, and, hopefully, legislation. Eventually, I’d like to see craft cannabis produced at a local level and sold in Thunder Bay stores—unique strains grown in our own climate. We’re still some years from that, but given how fast the market is changing already, it seems there’s a real demand for the quality of craft cannabis.

The Walleye

CityScene

Livestock guardian dogs, Reidridge Farm

Mini donkeys, Misty Creek Homestead

Farm Guard Animals The Guardians of Vulnerable Livestock

Story by Kerry Berlinquette, Photos courtesy of Misty Creek Homestead

hat do donkeys, dogs, and llamas have in common? They are all farm protectors: guardians of vulnerable livestock. We chatted with three area farmers to learn more about their livestock guardian animals. Meet Victoria, guard donkey at Sandy Acres Farm. Victoria effortlessly mingles with her herd of cattle as though she is one of them. The difference is, she is on the lookout for

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predators. With keen hearing and eyesight, donkeys are naturally territorial, and alert farmers and their herd of predators with their distinct “hee haw!” They challenge intruders by kicking, charging, and biting. It only takes six weeks of interacting with their herd for the guard donkey to bond with its farm family and commit to protecting it. At Little Doo’s Farm, Franki and Gianni are Maremmas, livestock

guardian dogs (LGD) that originated in Italy and are believed to be the stock from which the other large white LGDs such as the Great Pyrenees, Kuvasz, and Komondor originated. Franki and Gianni sleep a lot during the day but patrol all night long. They are independent working animals, not pets, and they guard their domain fiercely. They have access to the barn year-round for shade in the summer and to get out of the winter weather.

At Reidridge Farm, protecting their sheep and cattle herd from wolves and coyotes is serious business. Reidridge has LGDs that are a cross between an Anatolian shepherd and an Akbash. They also have a LGD in training—a male guardian puppy, which is an Akbash-Pyrenees cross. These big LGDs have natural predator control instincts. They are protective of their livestock, and the territory that they manage. They have a job; they are not meant to be pets. Reidridge Farm also has a guardian llama on site. Llamas can see predators far away, particularly in daylight, and make a loud,

cackling sound to alert the livestock and the farmers that something is amiss. The herds can tell if there is a predator that is a concern by the sounds their guardian makes. Predator attacks on livestock decrease when a livestock guardian donkey, dog, or llama is on the job, making these beautiful creatures very valuable to farmers, and a great addition to any herd.

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CityScene

Growing in a Warming Planet By Dr. Martin Lefebvre, Senior Policy Analyst, Northern Policy Institute

f a restaurateur in Thunder Bay wanted to see what potential local products they could showcase in their farm-to-table venture, they’d better meet the neighbours who can help make that dream a reality. One way to do so is via ConnectNORTH, which is a GIS-based tool that maps out industry supply chains such as agriculture. Within 75 km of Thunder Bay there are 12 operations specializing in fruits and vegetables, 47 cattle operations, 29 dairy operations, and eight egg and poultry operations. Notice that, among these producers, there’s a fairly limited number of options for fruits and vegetables, and many more cattle and feedlot operations. This lack of fruits and vegetable producers is a great proxy for measuring the growing season and the type of crop that can be sustained in the 10°C Growing Degree Day (GDD) score. In a nutshell, the GDD score of a location is the sum total of the average temperature of a place above a set threshold (in this case, 10°C). A quick look at ClimateAtlas.ca gives a strong hint as to why Thunder Bay has so few fruits and

vegetable operations— it has a 10°C GDD score of about 700. This zone makes it easy to grow feed for cattle operations, but too cold for commercial production of fruits and vegetables (also putting to the side complex issues like supply chains, labour prices, and soil composition). For comparison, the marginal zone for cold weather wines such as rieslings and chardonnay, according to the Winkler Index, is about 1000 GDD. Classic French wines thrive in the 2000–2500 GDD range and your classic fruit bombs like Zinfandel are usually grown in the 4000+ GDD zones. A quick glance at projected GDDs for Thunder Bay using climate models from Climate Atlas shows that by mid-century, the region might get enough heat to grow grapes under the middle of the road (RCP4.5) and a worst-case scenario (RCP8.5) for climate change. Whilst Galileo called wine sunlight held together by water, so much goes into the terroir of wine such as the soil composition and rainfall—and maybe one day we’ll get to taste the region in a glass of wine.

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CityScene

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CityScene

Stepping Up to Save the Carousel Thunder Bay Carvers Donate Their Time and Talent By Pat Forrest

or decades, Thunder Bay residents have been making memories as they whirled around on the Chippewa Park carousel. Now, a large and talented group of them have come together to save the 106-year-old amusement ride. The Carousel Restoration Committee, created by the Friends of Chippewa Park, got things going by launching a drive to recruit volunteers and funds for the project. Among the many who answered the call were members of Thunder Bay Carvers, a local club devoted to all things related to carving. For the carvers, the project was undertaken in two main stages. City workers, in dismantling the carousel, discovered that nearly every carved wooden feature was weathered beyond repair. These included dragons, branches, flowers, and acanthus mirrors. So, in the first stage about 30 club members

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carved over 300 features for the rounding boards. The specialty embellishment of all the carved features was done by Linda Siczkar, a local preservation artist, past board member of the U.S.-based National Carousel Association, and member of Thunder Bay Carvers. Siczkar has been given the opportunity to name a horse in recognition of her efforts and has chosen to call it Natasha, after her great-niece. “My little lady will one day enjoy riding our Parker carousel,” she says. “I took a photo to show her when we are older, to give her and me a timeframe and a bit of history that I contributed to its restoration. It has been a pleasure to support the beautiful works of the Thunder Bay Carvers.” The second stage has involved a smaller team carving the facades of the two chariots. These feature

dragons, acanthus leaves, and a cornucopia. The members have worked in concert with the city’s carousel committee, which itself is guided by a carousel expert. The third stage of this project for the carvers will be to help city staff in rebuilding the carousel, attaching features to rounding boards, among other tasks. Project leader Terry Hurtig, a member of both the club and to the carousel committee, says, “It has been a privilege for our members to get the chance to contribute their expertise to this rare and historic part of our community.” The value of all these in-kind contributions is approximately $500,000. Clearly, it’s local hands and hearts that are bringing this heritage treasure back to life. And we’ll all get to relive those happy memories starting in June, when the carousel reopens.

 Linda Siczkar, a local preservation artist, past board member of the U.S.-based National Carousel Association and member of Thunder Bay Carvers, with her greatniece Natasha

“My little lady will one day enjoy riding our Parker carousel.”

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CityScene

Elfarrow Apparel

AL GO LOC R E D THUN TRY N U O C BAY T MARKE

Handmade Ethical Clothing Story and photos by Olivia Bosma

any designers will attest to the fact that the clothing one wears is a form of selfexpression. Everyone has their own unique sense of style and idea of what they feel comfortable in, but with the rise of online shopping and chain stores mass-producing clothing that fit the latest trends, it is easy to feel that individuality has diminished. That is why independent, locally owned businesses like Elfarrow Apparel are so important. Elfarrow Apparel was established by Thunder Bay native Kyley Blomquist, who founded and works closely with a fair wage, ethical factory in Kathmandu, Nepal, where every article of clothing is hand-dyed, silk screened, and sewn by talented artisans. “My sister-in-law Kyley actually started Elfarrow out of her house,” says Seija Heiskanen, curator of the

market store. “She would design and sew all of the clothing herself. Then we moved to the market, where we were actually one of the first stores here. We are one of the pillar foundational vendors upstairs.” Elfarrow Apparel offers clothing that is made with great attention to detail and quality materials, with many different styles to choose from. Those shopping at their store can also have peace of mind knowing that the clothing they are buying is ethically made. “It is really important to me to keep Elfarrow here in town and especially at the market. This is where it started,” says Heiskanen. “It is so amazing to be able to interact with so many people and help them find what looks great on them. I feel like that is an experience that has been lost with online shopping and large manufacturers.”

Along with high quality clothing, the Elfarrow market store also offers high quality customer service. “I am so lucky to be a part of the Elfarrow team,” Heiskanen says. “I am surrounded by such talented artisans. I like to call myself a ‘careator’ of quality local goods from the amazing artists and fashion designers found in Thunder Bay. I truly love bridging the gap between customers and artists.” Elfarrow offers a wide range of products, including handmade jewelry, dresses, scarves, outerwear, and so

much more. For those who are unable to visit the market store, Elfarrow also has an online store to ensure that all customers are able to shop and find their own style. “Elfarrow [at the] market is here to stay. We have been here for many years and our customers know where to find us,” says Heiskanen. “You can touch the garments, try them on, and see what looks good on you. The clothing truly is incredible. You can’t find anything like it anywhere else.”

Seija Heiskanen, curator of Elfarrow Apparel’s market store

“It is really important to me to keep Elfarrow here in town and especially at the market.” For more information, visit Elfarrow Apparel upstairs at the Thunder Bay Country Market, or visit elfarrow.com.

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CityScene

Only Birds are Free

Correctional Nurse Shares Stories By Sara Sadeghi Aval

“I

started doing this because I wanted people to know what I do. So many people ask: what’s a normal day for you? This is it,” says nurse Kristina Schelhaas. Schelhaas began nursing in 2011 and has since worked in hospital settings, hospice, and now the Thunder Bay Correctional Centre. Her first book, Just a Nurse, contained seven stories from her time as a hospice nurse, and her latest release, Only Birds are Free, follows her on her journey as a correctional nurse from her first shift, through life-changing moments between inmates, their families, and Schelhaas herself. The book was written in three weeks, and Schelhaas handpicked stories from her eight years of service. “My favourite story from my second book is the first story, and it’s about coming home, walking through the doors of the jail, and everything that happened in that shift. It sets the basis of my career,” she explains. The author has changed inmates’ names and stories slightly to protect the identities of those involved, but when it comes to getting a look inside correctional nursing, this is as real as it gets. As a wife and mother of three, Schelhaas’s ability to see past the inmates’ circumstances, and supporting their achievements are the hallmarks of her practice. The nurse explains she’s never experienced something that made her say I can’t do this anymore. On the contrary—the

more time she has spent as a nurse, the more she is convinced that “if there was a picture next to the saying ‘I Am Nurse’” it would be Schelhaas’s face framed. She shares stories that remove the dehumanized association with those in jail. In her story, “For the Love of an Addict,” she witnesses an individual who had previously become a repeat offender experience a moment of catharsis that would come to change the young man’s life. On the other hand, she speaks on her experience consoling a mother that had lost her son, and the corollaries within tragedy and triumph. “You’re a part of their daily life. It’s like having a cup of coffee with someone at Tim’s and talking about your lives,” she says. “We’re talking to inmates like we’re meeting them on the street, so medical jargon isn’t always helpful. Sometimes we need to be more assertive. In most hospital settings there is some family or support, but here it’s just us. Leaving is just as scary as coming in for these people.” The author is excited to share copies with inmates. “What I’ve learned most is you have to meet everybody where they are at. Celebrate their small successes and recognize them,” she reflects. Schelhaas’s second attempt at self-publishing gave her more creative control, and her book is currently for sale on Amazon and will be available through Entershine Bookshop shortly.

“You’re a part of their daily life. It’s like having a cup of coffee with someone at Tim’s and talking about your lives.” 76

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Celebrate summer at Fort William Historical Park! Our new fun and exciting day camp themes will allow you to find the adventure that fits your interests. Enjoy an experience you will never forget – travel back in time to Fort William in the 1800s, explore the historic Kaministiquia River by canoe, discover local plants and animals, visit the Anishinaabe Encampment, and more!

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July 4-8 • August 2-5 It’s Rendezvous at Fort William! Join the festivities and celebrate summer with the fort’s inhabitants. Participate in activities alongside the voyageurs, skilled trades people, and farmers, to keep the fort in tip-top shape during Rendezvous! Cost: $145 (5 days) • $130 (4 days)

July 25-29 • August 22-26 Enjoy a delicious slice of history! Learn to cook new recipes and bake our famous bread alongside Fort William’s expert cooks and bakers. Discover French, Scottish and Anishinaabe dishes while learning about these cultures. Cost: $145 (5 days)

July 11-15 • August 8-12 Explore the natural world and our place within it from the Anishinaabe perspective! Throughout the week, engage in a variety of creative, physical, and academic activities that celebrate Indigenous heritage and culture. Cost: $145 (5 days)

July 18-22 • August 15-19 Find out what it takes to run Fort William’s farm and garden! Learn how to care for the animals to keep them healthy and happy and try your hand at growing vegetables and herbs! Cost: $145 (5 days)

Day camps run weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Campers can be dropped off from 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. and picked up from 4:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Visitor Centre.

For the Registration Package or more information visit www.fwhp.ca or call (807) 473-2344. Paid for by the Government of Ontario 78

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Women on Wheels Fostering Social, Mental, and Physical Well-Being

CityScene “I want to share that magic and build the women’s riding community like never before.”

By Tiffany Jarva

hunder Bay Cycling Club’s diverse programs are up and running again, including Women on Wheels (WOW). “Pandemic restrictions have impacted the programming that the club was able to provide for the past two years,” says Caitlin Guarasci, volunteer board member and WOW director. “We are thrilled to have it back this spring and summer, along with all of our other divisions.” Guarasci says that the halt in organized activity only served to reinforce the importance of what the TBCC offers its members. “It’s more than just cycling; it’s a social, mental and physical wellbeing pillar in our community.” According to Guarasci, who has been riding for about ten years, WOW is all about increasing confidence, safe road practice, and building community. Her passion for cycling is palpable. “After months of riding on my own in the basement, I forgot how amazing being on the road feels,” she says. “I want to share that magic and build the women’s riding community like

never before.” In addition to fostering a love of cycling, WOW is also about appreciating the beautiful environment that surrounds us in Northwestern Ontario. Guarasci adds that the women’s group rides are also about “knowing there is a community of support to help you tackle the obstacles—the distance, the wind, and anything else that may come your way.” WOW is mostly geared to beginner and intermediate riders, with experienced cyclists as leads and sweepers.The program is focused primarily on recreational group riding and safety in numbers. It also offers getting-to-knowyour-bike clinics, such as teaching how to change a tire. “If riders know how to fix their bike on their own, it increases their confidence and independence,” explains Guarasci. Rides are typically built around destinations,

During a weekly group ride, WOW cyclists enjoy the sun shining off Cloud Lake after a long and rewarding climb up Boundary Drive.

supporting local businesses like Dawson General Store, Neebing Roadhouse, Metropolitan Moose Cafe, 5 Forks Restaurant, and more. Members can choose between short, medium, and longer distances. At the end of the season, usually sometime in August, there is an annual century (100 km) ride, with stops along the way at local establishments, ending with a barbecue. Also, as part of membership,

WOW hosts once-a-month socials. It is all about being able to lean on the support of a community of women. “When you are tired or have had a bad day, we overcome that together, or if you have something wonderful to share, we celebrate each other,” emphasizes Guarasci. “Women are powerful and the larger the group, the stronger we become together.”

WOW meets Tuesdays at 6:30 pm at various locations. The first scheduled group ride will be May 10, weather permitting. For more information on WOW membership and other Thunder Bay Cycling Club programs like the co-ed touring group, time trials and road racing, visit tbaycc.ca.

Women on Wheels members gather for the kickoff to the annual century ride.

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CityScene

EYE EYE TO

With Ma-Nee Chacaby As told to Matt Prokopchuk, Photo by Shannon Lepere

riter, Elder, activist, artist, teacher: those are just a few of the many roles Ma-Nee Chacaby continues to excel in. Chacaby is the Two-Spirit Ojibwe and Cree author of A Two-Spirit Journey: The Autobiography of a Lesbian Ojibwa-Cree Elder (which, she says, is in the process of being translated into OjiCree) and has worked and volunteered throughout the Thunder Bay community for decades, mentoring and working with everyone from young people and those dealing with addictions and homelessness, to grassroots community safety and advocacy groups. Last year, she was also made a knowledge keeper for the region. Chacaby spoke with The Walleye about what she gets out of being a mentor, her recent trip to where she grew up, and the importance of her art. On all the mentoring she does: It’s about love. To me, that’s the way to show love to people and to teach them

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about love and respect for one another. I feel there’s so much violence and so much racism in our community that if I keep working really hard, maybe I will break it in half or something, or something will happen where one day we might not have racism, and maybe one day we will not have that much violence, maybe people will start coming together, and maybe people will love each other for who they are, what they are, and respect one another rather than hurting each other all the time. We are human beings, we’re supposed to care for one another, not violate each other. […] My grandmother used to teach me “no matter what people treat you like, you just keep loving them, ‘cause one day maybe they will learn to love you.” On producing a documentary film about returning to where she grew up: We’re thinking of making a film about my Ombabika trip, which is where I grew up [Ombabika is located

between Armstrong and Nakina along the CN Railway line]. That’s my next thing that I want to do—continue talking about where I grew up and what it was like, and what it’s like now that I went back home, and the difference. On the trip itself: Four of us went to Ombabika last fall, in October. We did filming around Ombabika. It’s a beautiful place now—there’s nobody living in Ombabika, not one single soul. We went to the graveyard and we went to where the old school used to be […] and we went on the railway tracks to look at the trains go by. We went to a place where the Hudson Bay store used to be. We also went to the CN station where the famous thing we used to do was visit and go meet the train every time it came, the passenger train. We would go meet the train—that was our excitement in the evening. It was really more exciting ‘cause it was something to do in the evening on a weekend, go look at the train and see

people get on and get off [laughs]. On presentations she’s given at Lakehead University about the trip: It went really well. People were asking lots of questions about Ombabika, what it’s like now and what it was like when I went back, how I felt. The first time I went back to Ombabika was 1991 with my friends. It was a hard trip because I went there to do a journey, but it wasn’t a good journey because I had not worked on my personal stuff with me then, so when I came back home I had hard nights. I had nightmares because I went back [to Ombabika] to see where things happened— bad things happened—and all the stuff that I witnessed. After that, I started to work on my personal healing. I started to do work on myself. Every summer I go to Pukaskwa National Park, and that’s where I work on my personal stuff. [...] This last fall here when I went back, I didn’t have any nightmares. Everything was beautiful in Ombabika as I would see it. Even though it was painful memories, it wasn’t as painful as it was the first time when I went. It was a good journey.

On her art: My dad showed me how to mix colours from the earth—the ashes and the earth and a certain tree we used to mix the colours, and then the berries we used to make it liquid. It’s really good to work with stuff like that—bush painting [laughs]. That got me interested, and when I got older I became an artist and I started to draw lots of pictures, books of art. Then my step-sister, who was very jealous of me, burned all my stuff in the bathtub. This was 1979. […] I didn’t do [art] for a long time, but then I started doing it in Kaministiquia when I was living there [in the 1990s]. I’ve continued to paint. I’ve got about 60, maybe, hanging up on my walls right now— they’re all framed. I’ve got a box full of my paintings. They’re the ones I did a show in Vancouver [with]. I went to Vancouver before COVID [and] they invited me to come there and do a talk with my book, and they also asked me to bring some of my paintings. They framed them and then they put them up and […] three months they held that in Vancouver. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

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CityScene

Stuff We Like

For the Garden By Amy Jones

ven though we love winter in Northwestern Ontario, let’s face it— sometimes it can be like a houseguest who just won’t leave. But rest assured, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel, and spring will come, we promise. For many of us, that means it’s time to dust off our green thumbs and get out there into our gardens. And no matter whether you’ve been gardening for your whole life, or you just caught the bug this year, you’re going to need at least a few things to help spruce up your outdoor space, and we’ve got you covered. Here’s Stuff We Like for the Garden.

1 5

1 Gardening with Short Growing Seasons

Entershine Bookshop 196 Algoma Street South This beloved gardening book, written by well-known local meteorologist, journalist, and author Graham Saunders, is specifically geared towards helping gardeners extend their growing season in our more challenging climate. With advice on everything from improving the size of your vegetables to pest control, watering, and increasing your output, Saunders’s book will help you make the most of your garden this year.

$30

2 Vegetable Seeds EcoSuperior 562 Red River Road If you’re like us, you might be thinking about making the move to a more sustainable lifestyle, including starting your own vegetable garden. EcoSuperior has a wide variety of seeds for sale, from arugula to zucchini and everything in between. See how much better homegrown can taste!

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$40

6 Wheelbarrow Maier Hardware 183 Algoma Street South/ 620 Simpson Street Let’s talk about your wheelbarrow. Is it really getting the job done? Or has it become more of a rusted, clunky burden in the past couple of years? If it’s the latter, it’s probably time to replace it. Head on over to Maier Hardware, where they have a wide variety of one- and two-wheeled wheelbarrows, from a basic plastic tray with wood handles to a heavy-duty contractor grade wheelbarrow.

Starting at $159.99

3 Bedding Plants Bill Martin’s Nurseryland 265 Court Street South We love a vegetable garden for the bounty it brings, but we also love a flower garden for its beauty, versatility, and the friendly pollinators it can attract. Bill Martin’s Nurseryland greenhouses have a wide variety of bedding plants in stunning colours that will make your outdoor living space bloom.

7 Yoga Gnome Authentique Gift Shop 313 Bay Street Does your garden need a gnome? Probably not. But would your garden look a whole lot cuter with a gnome? We think so! Especially if it’s this zen little guy. At 8" high, he’ll just peek up over your smaller plants, or hide out among your taller ones for a sweet little surprise.

4 Vegepod Creekside Nursery & Garden Centre 683 Woodcrest Road Take your vegetable gardening to the next level with the Vegepod, a contained raised gardening bed. Available in three sizes, this easy-to-manage system features selfwatering technology and a polyethylene knitted mesh cover to protect crops from UV and pests, allowing you to control your growth and veggie quality. It’s like your own mini greenhouse!

Starting at $229.99

Roots to Harvest 450 Fort William Road If you’re looking to refresh some of your garden tools, we recommend this pruner from Roots to Harvest. Inspired by old-world Japanese design, the pruner features durable steel construction with classic copper accents, and a weather-resistant waxed canvas sheath to keep it protected, making it a lasting staple in your garden toolbox.

$Various

5 Pruner and Sheath

$29.99

8 Adirondack Chair Trevisanutto’s Greenhouses 684 Woodcrest Road You’ve worked hard on your garden, and now it’s time to sit back and enjoy it! These ergonomically designed Adirondack chairs from Trevisanutto’s are handcrafted from earth-friendly materials in 16 designer colours. Plus, they come with a 10-year warranty, so you’ll be able to enjoy them for years to come.

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FormStudio Architects

CityScene

Design concept drawings of the new Finlandia

Rebuilding Plan

Finlandia Owner Sets Sights on Reconstruction Story by Matt Prokopchuk, Photos courtesy of Brad McKinnon

rad McKinnon was sitting down for dinner in Sault Ste. Marie with his family on December 22, 2021 when the call came in. “ The city building inspector [called] and he told me that there was smoke coming out the second storey of the building, out of the eaves,” says McKinnon, who is the owner of the property where the Finnish Labour Temple used to stand. “I thought it was a joke at first. I thought he was just pulling my leg.” It was no joke. Firefighters would spend hours using water to bombard the flames that would eventually tear through the building and burst through its roof, the site too dangerous to enter. The structure, which was over a century old, was being reconfigured into apartments with plans to also reopen the iconic Hoito restaurant after McKinnon purchased the building in 2020. The organization that used to own it had voluntarily dissolved, awash in debt. The damage from the fire was so severe, the entire building would have to be demolished. “[I felt] an incredible sense of loss, anger, and frustration, and obviously a huge amount of disappointment

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because of all the work, will be on the main floor, with time, and effort put into the the second and third storeys project,” McKinnon says. “It dedicated to residential still hurts looking back on the spaces; a partial fourth level pictures and seeing it burning, facing Algoma Street will smouldering, and even the house four penthouse suites. tearing down. It was like going The main building entrance to a funeral every day.” The will also be at ground level Office of the Fire Marshal, rather than the split-level who stated early this year design of the old building, that the cause of the blaze and the restaurant will now would remain undetermined, feature a large patio out front. subsequently did complete an “The whole front face, we’re investigation and confirmed going to reconstruct it as to The Walleye that the cause best we can to mimic what has been ruled accidental. was there, to honour the McKinnon says another two building,” McKinnon says. forensic investigators arrived “I think it would be a real at the same conclusion. injustice to see this building Despite the fire being a burn down and [be] forgotten major setback, McKinnon about.” Underground parking says he remains committed for tenants will help alleviate to the project. He has finalized street congestion in the area, plans for a rebuild, which will he adds. keep, as much as possible, A large part of honouring the design of the historic Bay the Finlandia’s legacy will be Street-facing facade, including reestablishing The Hoito. the tower and cupula. But Both McKinnon and Paula the new building footprint Haapanen, the newly elected will be much larger than the president of the Finlandia Cooriginal—making use of the operative of Thunder Bay, say property that fronts onto the restaurant was well on Algoma Street—with up to its way to reopening before 90 units, compared to the the fire happened. Once the 16 the old structure would appropriate space is built, the have housed. Commercial co-operative (which ratified units (including The Hoito) its bylaws and elected its firstDate: 03/02/22 McKinnon - 314 Bay Street • Redevelopment Better places for people

Better places for people

formstudioinc.ca

Proposed Fourth Floor Plan & Elevations Project No: 2022006

formstudioinc.ca

“I’d like to get the original face of the building reconstructed and that space for The Hoito ready so people can start coming and having their pancakes.”

SD.N02

CityScene

STAI R B

C O M M E R C I AL U N I T F 1 32 7. 2 SF

C O M M E R C I AL U N I T E 1 53 0. 8 SF

C OMM ERC I AL UNI T D 1 52 9. 8 SF

V ESTI B U LE 8 7. 3 SF

SERV I C ES 1 20 . 2 SF

STAI R A 2 72 . 1 SF

 Demolition after the fire

LOB B Y 3 30 . 3 SF UP

C OM M E R C I A L U N I T A 3 12 5. 3 SF

LOB B Y 1 63 . 2 SF ELE V ATOR C O M M E R C I AL U N I T B 1 06 9. 3 SF

C OM M E R C I A L U N I T C 1 06 8. 7 SF

V ESTI B U LE 1 00 . 0 SF

official board in January) will be a tenant of the new building and manage the restaurant. “We’re starting from scratch,” Haapanen says. “What that means for us as far as opening The Hoito is concerned is that we’re just [...] continuing with our fundraising efforts in order to be able to now put together a restaurant from scratch, as opposed to having something there already to start with.” The co-operative was already fundraising for things like updating some of the older equipment and new furnishings for the dining room, as well as food inventory and early staffing costs, but with practically everything consumed in the fire, Haapanen says startup costs for her organization will be higher now. To that end, the co-operative has partnered with numerous local businesses to sell unique Finlandia and Finnish-themed products like the Hoito pancake mix (with Big Lake Pasta), Kiitos coffee blend (with Rose N Crantz Roasting Company), and hoodies (with Northwest Workwear), among others. Haapanen says the co-op is also working with the Thunder Bay Finnish-Canadian Historical Society on the eventual design of the new Hoito dining space, which they’re hoping will include historical artifacts. Proceeds from a beer made by Sleeping Giant Brewing Company, called Sisu, is going towards that organization. Plans for “pop-up restaurants” around town to serve pancakes as the weather warms are also in F

K it ch e n / D in in g / L i vin g 314. 2 SF

Un it Ty pe H 990 sqft

Un it Ty pe G 931 sqft

L a u n d r y / Me c h 23. 2 SF

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199. 3 SF

K it ch e n / D in in g / L i vin g 391. 0 SF

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S TU D Y

430. 0 SF

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Hall

48. 2 SF

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H WT

K it ch e n / D in in g / L i vin g

Un it Ty p e E 958 sqft

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37. 8 SF

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Un it Ty pe F 1225 sqft

68. 5 SF

Be d r oom # 1 191. 7 SF

K it ch e n / D in in g / L i vin g 403. 1 SF

Be d r oom # 2

W /D

172. 7 SF

E n tr y

87. 2 SF

50. 4 SF

O ffi ce / D e n 100. 1 SF

H WT

K it ch e n / D in in g / L i vin g 390. 0 SF

Be d r oom

Hall

162. 9 SF

W a l k- I n

78. 1 SF

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E L E VAT OR

192. 7 SF

Ba th

47. 9 SF

ME C H .

Be d r oom # 1

W /D

67. 4 SF

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58. 9 SF

Ba th

68. 8 SF

C ir cu l a t ion

110. 2 SF

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STAI R B

137. 3 SF

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E le ct r ic a l

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66. 9 SF

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S TA I R A

35. 2 SF

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the works, Haapanen says. As far as McKinnon’s priorities are concerned, he says that The Hoito is right at the top. “I’d like to get the original face of the building reconstructed and that space for The Hoito ready so people can start coming and having their pancakes,” he says. “The rest of the building can wait until that’s done.” He’s also launching his own fundraiser to help with reconstruction, in partnership with The Finnish Bookstore, selling bricks from the original building that have been cleaned up and stencilled with an image of the historic structure and its dates. McKinnon adds that insurance from the fire won’t cover the total costMcKinnon of the rebuild, also - 314 Bay Street • Redevelopment Proposed Basement, Main, Second, & Third Floor Plans necessitating the larger number of units. For Haapanen, who was not among the spectators who flocked to the Bay and Algoma neighbourhood on the night of the fire, the whole situation has been almost surreal. “I still don’t have the words to describe the feeling,” she says, but stresses that the community support and sense of cooperation among so many parties in the aftermath has been a silver lining. “The spirit of working collectively for a common goal is still there,” she says. “That still exists and that shows that it’s gone beyond […] the labour movement. It’s beyond the Finnish community. Thunder Bay has embraced this concept as their own, and that’s why I have a very good feeling about this project going forward.” 104. 7 SF

Ba th

Un it Ty pe D 1080 sqft

L a u n d r y / Me c h

77. 7 SF

63. 9 SF

E n tr y

33. 4 SF

Be d r oom 1

L a u n d r y / Me c h

187. 5 SF

57. 4 SF

E n tr y

68. 8 SF

55. 7 SF

Ba th

68. 9 SF

H all

99. 6 SF

Be d r oom 2

E le va t or L ob b y

169. 7 SF

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39. 0 SF

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Unit Ty pe C 1253 sqft

K it ch e n / D in in g / L i vin g 347. 8 SF

Un it Ty pe B 867 sqft

K it ch e n / D in in g / L i vin g 434. 3 SF

Be d r oom

172. 2 SF

Project No: 2022006

Date: Jan 2022

SD.N01 Rev: "A"

 Construction prior to the fire

The Walleye

CityScene

Welcoming Spring Into Your Home and Wardrobe

D SECONES C N CHA

By Kelsey Raynard

fter a seemingly relentless winter, some of us may be feeling eager (read: desperate) for spring and warmer weather. Spring cleaning may have you cleaning out your closets and looking for fresher, brighter items that say goodbye snow, hello sunburns! Why not check out what local thrifters are showcasing for the upcoming season? This month, we are proud to feature two sister accounts, @unFINISHED.nwo and @

unDRESSED.nwo. Run by two long-time friends, Kesia and Ashley, these two accounts showcase and sell vintage housewares and clothing that will brighten up your home and closet. For those of us who just want to window shop, both accounts are major #stylegoals, so you will be sure to find inspiration for whatever you are looking to revamp this spring. Owner Ashley says that the original launch of @ unFINISHED.nwo came

about as a result of a mutual love for redecorating. “unFINISHED was started first by my friend and I because we love decorating and then redecorating. The joke was we are never finished—[we’re] constantly altering and texting each other new ideas!” With a keen eye for vintage gems, the two friends found so many worthwhile pieces that they decided to launch a second page to sell vintage

clothing, @unDRESSED.nwo. When asked what inspires these two pages, Ashley says “I think the reverse of this question is more true; thrifting inspires us! You never know what you’ll find, and it’s so much fun to get creative styling your treasures.” This month, unDRESSED and unFINISHED are selling a number of good-looking pieces that will help ring in this much-anticipated spring. Up top, you will see

“You never know what you’ll find, and it’s so much fun to get creative styling your treasures.”

an adorable crew neck featuring vintage heart and duck embroidery (size medium, for $30). Next, you can keep warm in Thunder Bay’s unpredictable May weather in an 80s abstract pastel spring jacket (size medium, for $38). Under this jacket we have a jacquard deep green slip (size large for $28). You can cheers these excellent vintage finds with a pair of coral glasses (two for $8). To the right, we have another great spring outfit, starting with a handsome patchwork leather jacket (size medium, for $45). Under this jacket is a spring blossom-print cotton knit T-shirt (size large, for $24). You may not have a tan yet, but you can absolutely rock the high waist button-fly coral shorts (size 32, for $30). In the front row, you will see a copper and brass candle snuffer ($14). Next is a gorgeous pair of emerald glass candlestick holders— the perfect pairing for your newly purchased snuffer ($14). Lastly, if those patio cocktails I mentioned earlier are sounding too good to pass up, we have an amber glass pitcher with a botanic etching ($22). Ashley says she is an open book for fellow vintage lovers in Thunder Bay. “Reach out and ask us decorating questions, or share photos of how you’ve styled things we’ve found. I’ve even rented clothing items for decadethemed parties. If there is something you’re looking for, let us know!” Check out @unFINISHED. nwo and @unDRESSED. nwo on Instagram.

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Music

“S Pickled Egg Studio Music Duo Opening New Recording Studio By Sara Sadeghi Aval

 Bernie Wolski outside of the Pickled Egg Studio live room  Jennifer and Bernie Wolski

ome of the best studios are not the prettiest rooms” says Ber nie Wolski, one half of the Pickled Egg Studio. You may know Wolski and his wife, Jennifer Swistun-Wolski, from The Thirsty Monks, but now the pair have teamed up for their newest musical venture: a fully functioning recording studio in the comfort of their home, complete with a giant jar of pickled eggs. Swistun-Wolski carried on her love of pickled eggs from her beloved times at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 5, a favourite spot for the couple to listen to music and see the community. Recording, mixing, mastering, and engineering albums are no cheap endeavour, and the couple are fighting back industry standards with their affordable packages. According to Wolski, most studios will charge a band or artists upwards of $1,000 per song recorded, and a fully recorded album could run around $30,000. For any beginner artists, or an artist’s first album, $30,000 of debt impacts their ability to continue producing and releasing music. “ I t ’s a b o u t d o i n g something to ensure the music community, wherever we’re living, is doing well and has product,” says Wolski. “We’ve played with multiple groups, and during university we met Mike Posthumus, who would record bands in his garage for cheap. It inadvertently made us better musicians.” Carrying on the tradition of encouraging artists to create and share their music inspired the couple to bring the passion project to Thunder Bay. “There’s a phenomenal array of artists in this city, people like Clay Breiland, Honest Heart Collective, Greenbank, and novice artists too,” explains Swistun-Wolski.

“We are starting out green as a studio, but we have the experience, and our engineer Chris Dorota,” says Swistun-Wolski. The couple renovated the basement of their new house, including sound proofing, insulation, and decor, and created a live room with hand-carved knotted pine imported from Wolski’s family resort in Germany. Using wood “gives a warm sound,” explains Wolski, and the space has been created to resemble a 1970s cottage. Fully equipped with a kitchenette, furniture, and a bathroom, the space is perfect for a weekend stint of living, breathing, and making music. After a year and a half of building, the studio hopes to open its doors at the end of May. “Everyone thinks you need the fanciest studio and it’s not true” says Wolski, and so the Pickled Egg’s, lived-in, homey atmosphere is in full effect, in order for artists to focus on the time they’re spending recording. Although the duo does not offer mastering services, they are more than happy to share their musical connections with bands to take the next step. You can even expect to be fed during sessions, Swistun-Wolski jokes. Already lined up to record are The Bay Street Bastards and The Pint Smasher. Wolski reminds us that Israel Kamakawiwo’ole recorded his massively popular version of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World” on a whim, in one take–a good reminder to musicians that sometimes all you need is one good take. For booking or more information email pickledeggstudio@gmail.com and follow Pickled Egg Studio on Instagram and facebook.

“Everyone thinks you need the fanciest studio and it’s not true.“ 88

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he days of staying home seem to be over. Despite the early hour and the blizzard warning, the crowds came out to Black Pirates Pub on April 13 as they hosted their first touring act in more than two years. A night with Toronto’s Cancer Bats is always a good time, but the pub filled up early for local post-hardcore heroes Femur. The trio quickly thundered through their set and provoked the first vicious mosh pit of the night. Next up, Winnipeg’s Vagina Witchcraft smashed their way through a druggedout set of songs heavy on raging psychedelia. The crowd appreciated it, but time for the main event! With a new album called Psychic Jailbreak only days away, the Cancer Bats decided to begin their latest cross-country trek in our fair city… not that they really felt they had a choice. “Can you imagine if we had started in Winnipeg?” singer Liam Cormier polled the packed crowd after the first sweaty batch of songs. “You’d see our van drive by and be like: get them!” It's funny because it's true: after two years of shuttered stages, we’re ready for some fun. And few bands can bring it like the Cancer Bats. Would it be wrong to call the Bats Canada’s premier hardcore punk band? They’re nearing their second decade together and have so many releases now that they barely play anything from the first album. I have a hard time thinking of any other outfit that achieves this balance of sonic destruction and crowd fanaticism—a perfect marriage of scuzzy punk, hardcore stompers, shout-along choruses, and a willingness to get physical. From the first notes of opener “Psychic Jailbreak” the crowd was elemental, a surging mass of hurled bodies, sprayed beer, and hair-whipped sweat that the band egged on with each thrashy riff. A few new songs

Music

Hawks Must Fly, Road Dogs Must Run Cancer Bats Return to Black Pirates Pub Review by Justin Allec, Photos by Lucas Augustyn

were sprinkled among the stone-cold classics, but everything the Bats pulled out for the crowd increased the intensity. If we all looked a little greyer and fatter than the last time we gathered, the band’s seen even more drastic changes. Shortly after the pandemic started, founding guitarist Scott Middleton announced that he would be leaving the band. Rather than let this sink the whole endeavour, remaining members Cormier, bassist Jaye Schwarzer, and drummer Mike Peters reached out to friends and family. While quarantined they produced and released an “unplugged” concert of their hits with a huge cast, including local singersongwriter Nick Sherman as an unofficial Bat. Taking Black Pirates’ tiny stage this time, the core trio were joined by new guitarist Stevis Harrison, lately of L.A.’s Fever 333. Harrison was an absolute demon on stage, and his dynamic performance—and easy mastery of the Bats sludgy sound—makes me eager to see what this new version of the band can do. All good things must come to an end, and

the Bats set had to wrap up unexpectedly after Schwarzer’s bass exploded in the opening section of their cover of “Sabotage,” their second-to-last song. Undeterred, Schwarzer ditched his instrument and grabbed a second microphone to help Cormier belt out the Beastie Boys track before crowd-surfing to the end. With another April blizzard just starting as people reluctantly left the pub, it still felt like a fitting end to the night and, hopefully, the beginning of a season of touring bands.

“I have a hard time thinking of any other outfit that achieves this balance of sonic destruction and crowd fanaticism.“

The Walleye

Music

Whitehorse

Making Sweet Music Together By Olivia Bosma

ecorating the world with their guitars and melodic voices are husband and wife duo Luke Doucet and Melissa McClelland, who together make up the band Whitehorse. Doucet and McClelland elevate spirits across the land for those fortunate enough to hear their music. Here in Thunder Bay, the Sleeping Giant Folk Music Society is once again offering the community a great opportunity to see incredible live music with Whitehorse on May 7 at the Port Arthur Polish Hall. “Forming a group together didn’t really occur to us for almost the first decade of playing together,” McClelland says. “I always strongly identified as a solo artist, so I never considered being part of a group, but it happened in such a natural way because Luke and I were always involved in each other’s work from the very beginning.” The pair first met when Doucet produced McClelland’s first record. After years of playing in each other’s bands and being well-established solo singersongwriters, the pair decided to put their solo careers on hold and form Whitehorse in 2010. Though they identify as a Canadian folk-rock band, the duo explore a multitude of genres and sounds when composing their music. “We always have a really hard time trying to pin down a genre for Whitehorse,” McClelland

says. “We do genre hop quite a bit, but the things that really tie everything together are our voices, our harmonies, our songwriting, and Luke’s guitar playing. We have flavours of everything from folk, to pop, to rock and roll. Just a number of different genres really.” Having performed in Thunder Bay several times as a solo artist, McClelland is looking forward to returning to our city for the first time as Whitehorse. “We are so excited to come back to that part of Canada,” she says. “I miss it. I feel like so often, we have started our tour in Winnipeg and then either go west or east and leave that chunk of Ontario and Manitoba out. So, I am longing to go back to that part of the country, because it is so stunning.” When attending a Whitehorse concert, audience members can expect a delightful evening of original songs and live music performed primarily with Doucet on the guitar, McClelland on bass, and Johnny Obercian on drums. “We do part of the set just stripped down with the two of us on the guitar, and part of the set as a trio with our drummer. Our concert is a lot of dynamics, with some loud rock and roll as well as some intimate folk too,” McClelland says. For more information, visit sleepinggiant.ca/whitehorse.

“We do genre hop quite a bit, but the things that really tie everything together are our voices, our harmonies, our songwriting, and Luke’s guitar playing.“

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Music

Mother Mother Back on the Road Indie Rock Band Plays Thunder Bay this Month Story by Kris Ketonen, Photo by Rich Smith

hen the COVID-19 pandemic brought the music industry to a standstill, the members of Canadian indie rock band Mother Mother kept their eyes on the future.The British Columbia-based band took the opportunity to head into the studio to record their new album Inside, a move that was intended to prepare them for when the world did, eventually, open back up. “It would be very handy to have a completed record that we could share and tour,” vocalist and guitarist Ryan Guldemond says. “It was pragmatic, initially, but you can’t create based on

pragmatism, it needs to be inspired… so, in the event that songs didn’t come, we would have been happy to postpone things.” The album did, of course, come together; Inside was released last year, and a deluxe edition has since hit shelves as well. While Mother Mother was recording new music, however, the band found some of its older songs were unexpectedly finding new life. Songs from the band’s second album, 2008’s O My Heart, suddenly saw a surge in streaming in 2020. Guldemond says that initially caused some confusion among the band.

“Numbers started to increase in other areas, such as streaming and YouTube, and that didn’t make sense to us because we were off-cycle and we weren’t putting out anything new,” Guldemond says. “I was completely shocked.” It was then discovered the surge was driven by TikTok users, who had begun using the tracks in their videos. As to why those particular songs were chosen, Guldemond isn’t entirely sure, but noted the younger demographic making the TikTok videos is “really curious, is really quirky, unconventional, is not formulaic, [and] challenges

genre of identity.” “I think all those descriptors could be applied to early Mother Mother music,” he adds. “It’s kind of andrygenous in tone, it veers off in many directions, it doesn't stick to the same key, time signature, or pop arrangement.” In any case, the development has energized the members of Mother Mother. “We’re just trying to keep up to it, and greet it with good energy, with gratitude, with hard work,” he says. “And with great new music, to keep the story unfolding.”

“It’s kind of andrygenous in tone, it veers off in many directions, it doesn't stick to the same key, time signature, or pop arrangement.”

Mother Mother plays the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium on May 8. For more information, visit mothermothersite.com.

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Music

Making Waves

Things are Heating Up for the Lockyer Boys By Kat Lyzun

“You want to stay excited and have everything be a little newer and a little more exciting than the last, and it’s been that way for us, for sure.”

(L-R) Charlie and Will Lockyer

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year after the release of their first single, “Surfing in LA,” the Lockyer Boys are looking at a summer of fresh music and (hopefully) live shows as they promote two new releases. Last month, the duo dropped “Make It Up As We Go,” a collaboration with diamond/platinumselling French DJ Mathieu Koss. A big name in Europe and South America, Koss’s songs have been streamed hundreds of millions of times and he’s collaborated with superstars like Aloe Blacc and Ziggy Marley. “We were in Vancouver [working with their awardwinning producer, Jeff Dawson] when Mathieu sent us the track. We basically wrote “Make It Up As We Go" in an hour and a half, and the next day we recorded the vocals in studio and sent it off to Mathieu. He and his team loved it, and here we are,” says Will Lockyer. “When writing this song we were really focusing on the idea that we are at a time in our lives when we are supposed to be making decisions to prepare for our whole adult lives, and perhaps unlike previous generations, we are not doing that, and we are ok with that.” “It’s our first release since last May, so it’s been a long year of waiting for things to line up. But things are really going to be firing up going into the summer,” adds Charlie Lockyer. On June 3, the boys will release their third single,

“LATKD.” Once again they’ve teamed up with Dawson and added multiplatinum award winner Alan Poettcker (These Kids Wear Crowns) to the writing and production team, as well as local photographer/ videographer Chad Kirvan for the music video (Kirvan also produced the video for “Surfing in LA”). The pandemic made working remotely with producers and other artists the norm for many musicians, the Lockyer Boys included. That experience allowed them to continue working and creating content even while Will is in Boston studying music production at the Berklee College of Music, which boasts notable alumni like John Mayer and Charlie Puth. Charlie is currently finishing high school in Thunder Bay, and hopes to join his brother next year. “We’ve been pretty lucky that since we’ve been doing music seriously and professionally it seems like we’ve always got something going on and we’re really grateful for that. Seems like we’re always excited for something we’re working on and that’s the way you want it, right?” says Charlie. “You want to stay excited and have everything be a little newer and a little more exciting than the last, and it’s been that way for us, for sure.” Check out “Make It Up As We Go” on Spotify and other streaming platforms.

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Music

Taylor Hawkins

Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground Story by Gord Ellis, Photo by Scott Legato

G BURNINE H T TO SKY

ock and roll is not a business known for long careers, or the longevity of its stars. Yet Taylor Hawkins, the powerhouse drummer of the Foo Fighters and Dave Grohl’s musical soulmate, seemed to have both. He survived a two-week druginduced coma in 2001 and seemed to be the picture of health—or at least as healthy as you can be when you are living the rock and roll dream. So, when his death, at 50, was announced on March 25 of this year, the world of rock music was in genuine shock. It seemed impossible that the man who had sung a perfect, powerful cover of Queen’s “Somebody to Love” to a massive audience at Lollapalooza five days earlier could be gone. Taylor Hawkins’s rise to being the drummer in the pre-eminent rock band of

its time is an extraordinary story. It also has a Canadian connection. Hawkins’s first big gig was as a touring drummer for Sass Jordan, a Montrealbased singer/songwriter familiar to any listeners of Canadian rock radio. In 1995, Hawkins began touring with Canadian singer/songwriter Alanis Morisette as she ascended into superstardom on the back of her album Jagged Little Pill. Video of this time shows Hawkins thrashing his drum set with a ferocious intensity, yet that grin so many would come to love can be clearly seen under the beach bum hair. Somewhere during his time with Morissette, Dave Grohl and Hawkins became acquaintances. When the original drummer of the Foo Fighters quit, Grohl turned to Hawkins for advice on who might be good for the

job. Hawkins recommended himself, and the rest is history. The Foo Fighters would become one of the most successful acts of the late 90s and 2000s, and continue to be a massive live draw. Hawkins was not only a key part of the band as a drummer, but was often given the chance to sing a cover by an artist or band he adored. And make no mistake, Hawkins was a massive fan of rock and roll, and idolized many of the drummers that fuelled the music he grew up on. A few of his major influences included Neil Peart of Rush, Phil Collins of Genesis, Ringo Starr of the Beatles, and Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones. But his two favourites were Roger Taylor of Queen and Stewart Copeland of The Police. Hawkins and Copeland would eventually

become friends, although Hawkins never got over his fandom. “Whenever I’d meet up with him somewhere, he’d be wearing his favorite Police T-shirt from his extensive collection,” Copeland told Variety. “[If Hawkins were] hanging out with Neil? He’s got his Rush T-shirt on. He studied all of those drummers and had all their chops.” While Hawkins could mimic the incredible power and precision of players like Neil Peart and Stewart Copeland, he was very much his own musician in the Foo Fighters. He would match the freight-train intensity Dave Grohl could churn out, and then turn around and pick up brushes for an acoustic jam. While I was only a casual fan of the Foo Fighters music, I’d always loved how they paid glorious tribute to the bands they enjoyed. And

they had the most catholic of tastes when it came to music. In researching this column, I watched several hours of YouTube videos, mostly live, but some recorded in studio. Perhaps the one that left me the most joyful was a video of the Foos (under the name Dee Gees) doing a cover of Andy Gibb’s 1978 disco-era smash “Shadow Dancing.” This is not a song I ever thought we’d see the Foo Fighters cover, but they do it so well, with Hawkins singing it perfectly and without a whiff of camp—all while he played those beautiful Bee Gees’ beats. As always, Hawkins was paying the ultimate in respect to the music he loved. Godspeed Taylor, you were an angel flying too close to the ground.

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Music

From left to right: Brian Campbell, Jim Hamilton, Dave Isherwood, Dan Zadkovich, and Olivia Korkola

Jim Hamilton

Giving Back to the Community Through Music By Olivia Bosma

t is said that stories are all we are. Stories are how we connect with ourselves and with each other, and perhaps no one understands this better than Jim Hamilton. The talented local singersongwriter and pianist will launch his latest CD, The Stories We Tell Ourselves, in a concert on May 14 at the Port Arthur Polish Hall in support of the Children’s Centre Foundation. “This concert came to be when I started recording this CD. I really began thinking about how I wanted to launch it,” Hamilton says. “A lot of the material on this CD was driven by my experience in the elementary schools working in a program called Circle of Wellness, as well as by my family and life

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experiences.” Hamilton, who is also a trained teacher, was one of the founding members of the program, in which artists of all disciplines work with Children’s Centre staff, teachers, and students to explore mental health and wellness through the arts. “Working with the students had a profound effect on me, helping the students make their own statements and teaching them the art of music and songwriting,” Hamilton says. “Knowing how special my time with the students was to me, I approached the Children’s Centre and said that I wanted to launch the CD, but I also want to highlight those amazing moments in the classrooms and give back to youth.”

When attending the concert, people can expect a night filled with incredible live music ranging from adult contemporary to jazz and pop. Fellow musicians Dan Zadkovich, Dave Isherwood, Brian Campbell, Olivia Korkola, and Nancy Hamilton will also perform. “During the concert, I will be singing almost all original songs. I may throw in one or two covers too,” he says. “Nancy will also sing. Same with Dan and Dave, and Olivia will play the fiddle. It will be a real eclectic evening. They are all so incredibly talented.” Half of all CD sales, whether digital or hard copy, will be donated to the Children’s Centre Foundation in support of

mental health and wellness. “It’s been really excellent working with Dayna Pupeza at the Foundation, who has helped organize everything and make this possible,” he says. “And the Lakehead Public School Board, with whom I did almost all of my work, is the main presenting sponsor for this concert. I am just so thrilled and grateful for that and to be able to do this and have all of the support that I do.” What could be better than an enjoyable evening of live and local music supporting an incredible foundation that does so much good for the youth in our community? Head over to the Polish Hall on May 14 and let Hamilton tell you his story.

“Working with the students had a profound effect on me, helping the students make their own statements and teaching them the art of music and songwriting.” For more information, visit jimhamiltonmusic.com.

Jim Hamilton

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Music

It’s in Their Blood

Rock Band Altamadum Experiments with a New Groove By Michael Charlebois

“Essentially what we’re trying to do is fuse late-90s techno with spiderwebby guitar harmonies, heavy drums, and poppy vocals that are super catchy.”

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ince their beginnings at Westgate high school over 15 years ago, the rock band Altamadum has carved out a niche locally and beyond thanks to their consistency. With five fulllength albums already to their name, the band is continuing to experiment with new sounds for their forthcoming release, In My Blood. “Essentially what we’re trying to do is fuse late-90s techno with spiderwebby guitar harmonies, heavy drums, and poppy vocals that are super catchy,” says lead guitarist Cam Thomas, who plays lead guitar. The local band is made up of Thomas, Sam Mucha on vocals and keys, James Cole on bass, and Brendan Byers on drums. Thomas says the band’s steady release schedule has allowed them to maintain a “prolific” presence locally and abroad where they have earned some dedicated listeners. The pandemic did not interrupt their flow. Working at the local Thunder Sound Studios, the band is now on their second release since it began. “I definitely credit the other musicians in the band, and also the fact we have our own producer, our own studio, and we’re signed to From The Depths Entertainment, [based] in America. They help us get heard all over the world.” The band’s output has allowed them to grow artistically, and

Thomas says this new sound is the result of a successful experiment from their last album. “There were two songs from our last album that had electronic elements. They were standout tracks because they were so different from anything we’ve ever done,” Thomas says. “Every album we want to switch it up and try something different without losing that signature sound.” Thomas says the album’s subject matter will center around toxic relationships, but the goal of the album is to make the music sound as catchy and melodic as possible. Their first single from the album, “Run From You,” is a preview of what’s to come. “That song kind of sets the tone for the whole album… it’s talking about relationships, how although they can be really great, they can also be taxing and toxic,” he says. “I don’t know if that was something we really discussed; we went to work on the music and that’s just the state of mind we were in.” In My Blood has no confirmed release date, but Thomas says the expectation is for the album to be completed by the end of the year. “Run From You,” and the album’s title track is available now on streaming platforms. For more info, follow @altamadum on Instagram.

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Music

Christopher Stork

TBSO E PROFIL

Principal Second Violin, TBSO By Kris Ketonen Born: Vermont Instrument: Violin Age you started to study music: 9 How long have you been with TBSO: Since October 2021 What’s on personal playlist: Lo-fi, Victor Wooten

he first time the TBSO’s Christopher Stork picked up a violin, he knew it was the instrument for him. Stork says the opportunity came during a visit to his public school by an orchestra. “There [were] a couple of musicians from the string family that came to classrooms afterwards, to let people try out the instruments,” he says.

“After playing violin, I was absolutely hooked.” Stork admits he had to “beg for a year” to get a violin of his own, as his musical parents had different hopes for their son. “My parents were both trumpet players,” he says. “My parents both run a business called Stork Custom Mouthpieces; they make brass mouthpieces for

brass musical instruments.” However, Stork says he “had no love for trumpet playing whatsoever.” “The dogs would always scream while people played trumpet,” he says. “I was not a fan as a kid.” Stork went on to study violin at the Mannes School of Music in New York City, and earned his Bachelor and Master’s degrees at McGill University’s Schulich School of Music. And while he’s performed with a number of orchestras and music festivals, Stork

says the TBSO, which he joined last fall, is a perfect fit. “I’ve never really figured myself as much of an orchestral musician,” he says. “My biggest draw to playing music was always the interaction between players.” “So being in a chamber ensemble, and being in, more or less, a chamber orchestra has always been a big draw for me, and I think that’s definitely something I do love about this ensemble.”

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105

OfftheWall Reviews

The Grow Guide Maggie Wysocki and Dave Hanson

If you want to geek out your green thumbs for an hour each week, then The Grow Guide is the podcast for you! Wysocki and Hanson, two Manitoban growers who really love plants, share tips and knowledge on how to successfully grow beautiful gardens in climates that are perhaps not very forgiving. It's a delightful blend of gardening fundamentals and innovative techniques with two hosts whose enthusiasm is off the charts, and will leave you itching to get your hands in the dirt no matter what the season. Being an avid gardener and beekeeper myself, the episodes focusing on seed diversity, pollinators, and the power of compost are downright fascinating. I love the variety of topics covered and that there's an entire episode just dedicated to garlic! The Grow Guide makes Canadian northwestern gardening so exciting that before you know it, you’ll be companion planting and growing figs year-round. -Andrea Lysenko

Heavy Steps

Comeback Kid

Comeback Kid don’t know you, but they do know what you need from a hardcore record. Ready? Here's the first line from the title track: “HEAVY STEPS ON HALLOWED GROUND!!!” A literal explosion kicks off the album and the band only increases the heat throughout. Seriously, in their 20-plus-year career, Comeback Kid have always excelled at crafting full-volume songs, but Heavy Steps shows why the term “hardcore legends” keeps getting added to their name. In many ways Heavy Steps follows the template of 2014’s career highlight Die Knowing, so the meandering song structures and lack of swagger on 2017’s Outsider have been jettisoned. Instead, Comeback Kid use a back-to-basics approach with their sharpest tools—every song is packed with adrenaline-charging, gang-shouted choruses, furious breakdowns, and brawny riffing. It’s fast, fun, stupidly heavy, and leaves you with a ramped-up heartrate and an inscrutable smile. This is a band that thrives in the live setting and knows that their reputation has already been forged in circle pits across the globe. All Comeback Kid needed to do, and what Heavy Steps accomplishes, is to give people a reason to show up. -Justin Allec

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From Capleton Hill

Songs My Friends Wrote

The Juno-nominated band Stars have become a staple of the Canadian indie rock scene since forming in 2000. From Capleton Hill is the band’s ninth album, but first in five years. The 12-track LP is as polished as they come—a testament to the band’s longevity. Although the album carries a poignant sadness throughout, the highlight track “Pretenders” picks up the pace immediately. The upbeat track is carried by some electronic percussion, power chords, and a deliriously catchy hook. The romantic naivety channels the spirit of Frank Ocean’s “Pink and White” through the sound of a sugary-sweet indie pop group. Although the rest of the album may not live up to this standout, there’s still something for every fan or newcomer. The energetic “Hoping” gives you synths worth dancing to, the wistful “That Girl” gives you lyrics to drink to, and the title track features a wonderful back-andforth from Torquil Campbell and Amy Millan who are solid as usual with their vocal performance on the album. From Capleton Hill is a surefire contender for year-end lists for any indie rock fan.

As you may have guessed from the album’s title, Songs My Friends Wrote, Corb Lund has compiled and covered 10 songs written by friends and fellow country/folk singers to create this special, obscure, country storytelling masterpiece. What better way to pay homage to your friends than recording an album filled with their songs? Each song on this album tells a unique story, and although each is within the country and folk realm, they all have a wonderfully unique character. The second song of the album, “That’s What Keeps the Rent Down, Baby” written by Geoff Burner, is a tongue-incheek song that offers commentary on the relationship between urban crime and rental prices. The fifth song of the album, “Pasa-Get-Down-Dena” written by John Evans, is best described as swing rock. The instrumentals paired with the lyrics will definitely make you want to get up and dance. Along with the fast-paced country/folk songs this album offers, it also contains a couple ballads that allow you to sit and appreciate the lyrics and soothing sounds of the background instruments. All in all, Lund performs each song perfectly, and I couldn’t help but wonder how the next song would draw me in.

-Michael Charlebois

-Olivia Bosma

Stars

Corb Lund

This Is A Photograph

Come Morning

If there’s any silver lining to the pandemic, you could argue that it’s made people more introspective. This is especially true of musicians. The seed for Kevin Morby’s new album This Is A Photograph came to the American singersongwriter in early 2020 in his childhood home in Kansas City, and was eventually recorded in an upstate New York studio during the startstop period of 2021. The songs were influenced by Morby travelling Highway 61 outside of Memphis, and the result is pure Americana, as if he’s invited the listener on this road trip. Songs like “Bittersweet, TN” and “Five Easy Pieces” evoke the slow-moving portions of the Mississippi River while “Rock Bottom” speeds up the tempo, showcasing the musician’s seamless transition between folk and rock. Through this introspective journey during the last couple of years, Morby has managed to create his magnum opus.

In 2013, Winnipeg’s Joey and David Landreth made a momentous decision. Instead of playing in other people’s bands, they started their own, simply called The Bros. Landreth. Their first album went on to win Juno and Canadian Folk Music awards. Their music is an eclectic mix of country, southern blues, folk, and funky soul. The brothers have just released their latest album, called Come Morning. I think it’s great. It is more introspective than their past albums, but the harmonies and lyrics make this one sparkle. I can’t say enough about the beautiful ballads the Landreth brothers have written here. The mix is top notch. It’s uncluttered, with some tasty slide and steel guitar, organ, and backing vocals. Favourite songs include the funky ballad “Stay.” Its harmonies are outstanding. The beautiful “Back to Thee” also gets a nod. It’s no wonder musicians like Bonnie Raitt want to cover their songs. They are simply great.

Kevin Morby

-Adrian Lysenko

The Bros. Landreth

-Gerald Graham

Kurt Vile

Watch My Moves

If you want to set the tone for a relaxing weekend or road trip, give this album a spin. It’s uncomplicated and has the easy-breezy, lo-fi vibe that Kurt Vile has mastered. Fans won’t find any surprises in the 15 tracks on Watch My Moves—Vile’s ninth LP—but he's not really the kind of artist who we expect will throw us a curveball. And that is part of the allure. His style is the lager of indie rock—it goes down easy and is refreshing. Make no mistake, the lyrics are not all rainbows and lollipops. There is an undertone of anxiety and angst, like in “Say the Word,” with its refrain about holding onto sanity in a world of chaos. The earworm of the collection is the first track, “Goin on a Plane Today.” It’s a playful piano tune that could almost be a children’s song. I love the lyrics “Listening to ‘Heart of Gold’/Gonna open up for Neil Young/Man, life can sure be fun/Imagine if I knew this when I was young.” Dreams really can come true. -Michelle McChristie

Grassroots Rising: A Call to Action on Climate, Farming, Food and a Green New Deal Ronnie Cummins

The author of this book is the founder and director of the Organic Consumers Association (OCA), a non-profit, U.S.-based network dedicated to safeguarding organic standards and promoting a healthy, just, and regenerative system of food, farming, and commerce. His book outlines a path that moves from degeneration of the land through destructive food, agriculture, and land use practices and the overuse of fossil fuels to regeneration guided by his five rules. Although heavily U.S.-focused—there are no Canadian organizations in the resource list—it is written for the layperson who is interested in learning about grassroots movements such as this, and offers hope for our collective future. It’s worth noting that the book is published on chlorinefree recycled paper and also possibly with vegetable-based ink. This book is housed in the new Climate Change collection at the Brodie and Waverley libraries. -Sylvia Renaud

Watch out for our new line of

Catering Boxes!

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Courtesy of the Thunder Bay Museum

Architecture

Intercity Shopping Centre By Richard Mastrangelo

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were ill-equipped to handle the traffic. Ambitious plans were soon crafted to take advantage of and accelerate the growth, despite fears it would be outcompeted by the soon-to-be refurbished Victoriaville Centre Mall. In 1976, Greater York Holdings bought part of Chapples’ interest, and agreed to both finance road adjustments in 1979 and complete a new “Fairgrounds Mall” the year after. Designed by architectural firm Petroff & Jeruzalski, the mall would connect with the existing Sears store, but in April 1980, Greater York discussed selling its lease interest and dealing directly with competitor Zellers, creating uncertainty. Another complication was the Lakehead Region Conservation Authority’s Neebing-McIntyre floodway diversion: Isabel Street was intended to be completely replaced by a private road, but was eventually moved to follow the new waterway.

 Intercity Shopping Centre circa 1994 Courtesy of the Thunder Bay Museum

panning 40 years and connecting Thunder Bay north and south stands the prominent Intercity Shopping Centre, l a rg e s t o f i t s k i n d i n Northwestern Ontario. Its development tells the story of how river and road were reshaped to provide access to a rapidly expanding commercial enterprise and economically link Fort William and Port Arthur more closely together. T h e l a n d I n t e rc i t y Shopping Centre now occupies was known first as Lakehead/Intercity Plaza and under Canadian Lakehead Exhibition ownership, who leased lots out over the 1950s to stores like Simpsons-Sears, A&P, and F. W. Woolworth Co. In 1972, Chapples Ltd. leased out most of the land and developed the northernmost section into a strip mall. But by 1975, its popularity had soared, which caused new issues, as Memorial Avenue, Fort W illiam Road, and Isabel Street

Adrian Lysenko

 Sears and Intercity Shopping Centre circa 1994

Auto Centre. Unfortunately, a global retail downturn foreshadowed delays and disruption. To make up for losses, Campeau sold 50% of their interest in the mall to Cambridge Leasehold, and delayed construction from 1993 to 1995. But it was already too late: Campeau went bankrupt, and their remaining ownership passed to Ontrea Inc. They and Cambridge would finish the expansion before jointly creating Intercity Shopping Centre Limited as a subletting entity. Now known as the Intercity Shopping Centre, the mall that arose from a storied (if turbulent) development has stood the test of time, becoming both a local community hub and a resource for the entire Lakehead region.

 Intercity Shopping Centre food court date unknown  Intercity Shopping Centre’s skylight-lit path toward the food court

Richard Mastrangelo is the associate archivist at City of Thunder Bay. For more information on the city’s heritage resources, visit thunderbay.ca.

Adrian Lysenko

Finally, in 1981 the Campeau Corporation of Ottawa took over, negotiated directly to obtain the lease rights, and after more delays were able to finish construction October 20, 1982. The newly finished $27,000,000 centre of steel and concrete slab was already impressive, covering 200,000 square feet, but expansion was soon pursued. By 1991, plans were drafted to not only furnish a new 130,00-squarefoot, two-floor Sears store at the mall’s north end as an anchor, but also to build or convert new single units of the same size, bringing the total area to 430,000 square feet, with 73 units. Once completed, it would be a regional-scale mall of the dumbbell design, with the two anchors facing each other down through a food court and two twisted rows of smaller retailers following a skylight-lit path. But this was not the end, as there was even talk of reaching across the Harbour Expressway (then Main Street) to create a Sears

Courtesy of the Thunder Bay Museum

Adrian Lysenko

Architecture

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MayEventsGuide Due to ongoing and changing pandemic-related restrictions, we recommend checking for updates with each venue.

May 1, 10 am

Hymers Fair Spring Local Artisan Market

Heritage Building, CLE Support your local artisans at the Hymers Fair Spring Local Artisan Market. Shop for Mother’s Day (or yourself) from over 50 artisans and crafters. This is a free event.

hymersfair.com

May 1, noon

Craft Fair

Giinawind Co. Support local craft makers at Giinawind Co.’s spring craft fair. Follow their Instagram page for event details.

@giinawind_co

May 1–31

Walk for Alzheimer’s

Various Locations Join the Alzheimer Society of Thunder Bay & Region on their annual walk in hopes of reaching their $60,000 fundraising goal. All proceeds help individuals in the local community battling Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

awareness@ alzheimerthunderbay.ca

May 3, 8 pm

Eric Johnson: Run with the Bulls Comedy Tour On the Links

Eric Johnston, a.k.a. “The Bull,” from Hamilton, Ontario is taking Golf Links Road by its horns. His high-energy set and slick performance is sure to make you laugh all night. Tickets are available online. This show is recommended for ages 16 and up.

onthelinks.ca

May 4, 7:30 pm

ZZ Top: A Celebration

Thunder Bay Community Auditorium A piece of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fames is coming to town in the form of ZZ Top. Hear your favourite songs by the classic group in this Canada-wide tour. Tickets are available online. See this month’s Top Five for more info.

tbca.com

May 5, 6:30 pm

Elizabeth Fry Society Film Night and Silent Auction Oliver Road Community Centre

Gather with friends and help raise funds for the Elizabeth Fry Society’s transitional housing. Conviction, the documentary, will begin screening at 7:15 pm.

elizabethfrynwo.org

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EVENTS GUIDE KEY General Art Food Sports Music May 5

Spirit of Dance

Thunder Bay Community Auditorium Watch the Spirit of Dance team move across the stage during their spring recital. Tickets are available online.

tbca.com

May 5–21

Smarty Pants Magnus Theatre

The Magnus Theatre troupe is proud to present the world premiere of Smarty Pants. Written by Shelley Hoffman and Stephen Sparks, this story is about a divorced couple and high-tech underwear. Tickets are available online. See this month’s Film and Theatre section for more info.

magnustheatre.com

May 6, 7 pm

Stand Up Comedy: Open Mic

May 6, 7–10 pm

Gala Opening: LU RetroGraduate Redux Exhibition |2021+2022| Definitely Superior Art Gallery

Enjoy an exciting multi-disciplinary art convergence featuring the Lakehead University RetroGraduate Exhibition, comprised of artwork created by the Major Studio Graduates of 2021 and 2022. The Gala Opening Reception will feature a ferocity of art, music, and spring refreshments, as well as artists in attendance. Pre-register via Eventbrite. Admission by donation, all ages welcome, accessible. Support artists of the future! Show runs Tuesday to Saturday, noon–6 pm, until June 4.

definitelysuperior.com

May 6, 10 pm

Giinawind Co.

DJ Battle

Giinawind Co.’s first comedy night is here with five laugh-inducing open mic acts. Performing as a special guest is Janine Desmoulin. Tickets are $15 and available online. This is a 19-plus event.

DJ Sugarman and DJ Rogue are going head to head in this final DJ battle. Cheer for your favourite to win. Tickets are $10 at the door. This is a 19-plus event.

@giinawind_co

The Foundry

@foundrytbay

May 6

Tickets are available online. See this month’s Music section for more info.

Co.Lab Gallery & Arts Centre

sleepinggiant.ca

Works by local artists Barbara Dlugosz and Crystal Belanger will be on display at the Co.Lab Gallery. The show consists of nine paintings depicting a time, place, or memory through their eyes. See this month’s Art section for more info.

TBSO presents: Brew and Beethoven

Natural State Exhibit

@co.labgallery

May 7, 7 pm

Zorya Ukrainian Dancers

Thunder Bay Community Auditorium The Zorya Dancers are continuing their fundraising endeavours after raising over $11,000 for Ukraine. All proceeds from this performance will be donated to families in Ukraine along with the Canada Ukraine Foundation. Enjoy a night of Ukrainian music and dance while supporting those overseas. Tickets are available online.

tbca.com

May 7, 8 pm

Sleeping Giant Folk Music Society presents: Whitehorse

Port Arthur Polish Hall Sleeping Giant Folk Music Society is bringing Toronto duo Melissa McClelland and Luke Doucet to the Polish Hall stage. The pair share their bluesy sound and magnetic harmonies.

May 7

O’Kelly VC Armoury

Close out the season with the TBSO and Sleeping Giant Brewing Company with this night of music and local brews. Guest artist Kutch joins conductor Jeff Christmas on stage. This is a 19-plus event. Tickets are available online.

tbso.ca

May 7 & 8, 11 am

Mother’s Day Showcase Intercity Shopping Centre

Find the perfect gift for mom in this two-day showcase. Shop from local artisans and crafters and support local.

intercityshoppingcentre. com

May 8, 8 pm

Mother Mother The Inside Tour Thunder Bay Community Auditorium The Canadian indie rock band is celebrating their eighth full-length album release, Inside. The show focuses on self-reflection and the deeper interior self. Tickets are available online. See this month’s Music section for more info.

tbca.com

May 8, 8:30 pm

Chris Webby and Jarren Benton Live in Thunder Bay NV Music Hall

The Diamond Mine Agency presents Chris Webby and Jarren Benton for a night of hip hop, R&B, and rap. Dance the night away at NV Music Hall. This is a 19-plus event. Tickets are available online.

@nvmusichall

May 9, 7 pm

Art in Motion

Thunder Bay Community Auditorium The Art in Motion Dance School is sharing their talents on stage. Perfect for a family night and all ages. Tickets are available online.

May 11, 8 pm

Fay Gleeson Dancers

Thunder Bay Community Auditorium The Fay Gleeson Dance Centre is celebrating their dancers on stage during their annual recital. Show up and support your favourite feet! Tickets are available online.

tbca.com

May 12, 8:30 pm

Just for Laughs Night in Canada hosted by Rick Mercer

Thunder Bay Community Auditorium

tbca.com

This Hour Has 22 Minutes icon Rick Mercer is hosting an evening of laughs as part of the Just for Laughs Night in Canada tour. Tickets are available online.

May 10

tbca.com

Women on Wheels TBD

Thunder Bay Cycling Club is hitting the roads and trails once again. Their Women on Wheels (WOW) Program is all about increasing confidence, practicing road safety, and sharing in the love of biking. The first group ride is scheduled for May 10, weather permitting. See this month’s City Scene section for more info.

tbaycc.ca

May 11, noon

Storing Canada’s Nuclear Waste in the North: A Community Conversation Part 1 Online

The Indigenous Food Circle encourages you to join this discussion circle for a crash course on Canada’s Nuclear Waste 101. The session will take place over Zoom. Visit the Indigenous Food Circle on Facebook for more information.

facebook.com/ indigenousfoodcircle

May 13, 9 pm

Rock Steady Live

Port Arthur Legion Branch 5 Rock the night away with Rock Steady’s unique blend of reggae, blues, and country. Music doesn’t stop until midnight. There is a $10 cover at the door.

portarthurlegion.ca

May 14, 7 pm

Jim Hamilton: The Stories We Tell Ourselves

Port Arthur Polish Hall Lakehead Public Schools presents an evening of live music, philanthropy, and comradery to celebrate Jim Hamilton’s newest CD The Stories We Tell Ourselves. A portion of proceeds will support the Children’s Centre Foundation. Tickets are available online. See this month’s Music section for more info.

jimhamiltonmusic.com

May 14, 8 pm

Consortium Aurora Borealis presents: Romantic Piano Trios Trinity United Church

Enjoy an evening of music by Schumann and Arensky, performed by violinist Jeremy Bell, pianist Evgeny Chugunov, and cellist Marc Palmquist, that will sweep you away with its rhapsody and lyricism. This event is presented both in person and virtually. Tickets are $20 at the door or online, $10 for students.

consortiumab.org

May 14

Jon Dore: Stand Up Comedy DaVinci Centre

Beloved Canadian writer and actor Jon Dore is bringing his comedic talents to the DaVinci Centre for one night only. Dore’s work has been featured on shows like How I Met Your Mother, Conan, and CBC’s Just for Laughs. Featuring Mark Menei of Campfire Comedy and hosted by Chris Barstow. Tickets are available online. This show is recommended for ages 16 and up. See this month’s Top Five for more info.

@campfirecomedy

May 15, 11 am

Wine and Yoga

Red Lion Smokehouse Sip and stretch your Sunday morning away with an hour flow yoga class suitable for all levels and a tutored wine tasting. Light snacks will be available with vegan and vegetarian options included. This is a 19-plus event. Tickets are available online.

redlionsmokehouse.ca

May 18–21, 25–29

Alice in Wonderland

Cambrian Players Lewis Carroll’s classic story of magic and adventure comes to life on stage with the Cambrian Players cast. Follow Alice through the rabbit hole and watch the chaos ensue. Tickets are available online. See this month’s Film and Theatre section for more info.

cambrianplayers.com

May 18, noon

Storing Canada’s Nuclear Waste in the North: A Community Conversation Part 2 Virtual

This second discussion with the Indigenous Food Circle will focus on the politics of consent, and furthers the discussion from Part 1. Visit the Indigenous Food Circle on Facebook for more information.

facebook.com/ indigenousfoodcircle

May 19, 6 pm

A Night of Magical Delusions Gala The Chanterelle

Support the Kelly Mental Health Foundation with a magical evening complete with a full-course meal, cash bar, a silent auction, and live entertainment. The evening’s dress code is black tie. Proceeds from the evening directly support counseling initiatives in the community. Tickets are available online.

kellymentalhealth.com

May 19, 7 pm

Polo G

Fort William Gardens NV Music Hall presents Polo G, Live at the Fort William Gardens arena. The American rapper is making his first stop in Northern Ontario for a once-in-a-lifetime concert that is sure to blow your mind. Tickets are available online. This is an all-ages show. See the month’s Top Five for more info.

May 25, 7:30 pm

May 29, 11 am

Thunder Bay Community Auditorium

Marina Park

Queen: It’s a Kinda Magic

Relive Queen’s 1986 World Tour with over 20 of their top hits. It’s a Kinda Magic uses authentic costumes, state-of-the-art sound equipment, and a whole lotta heart. Tickets are available online.

tbca.com

May 26, 8 pm

Consortium Aurora Borealis presents: Quintessential Quintets Trinity United Church

Enjoy charming Classic-era chamber music including three quintets by Johann Christian Bach for flute, oboe, violin, viola, and cello, plus Mozart’s oboe quartet and his flute quartet K.285 performed by Doris Dungan, Colleen Kennedy, Katie Stevens, Patrick Horn, and Daniel Parker. This event is presented both in person and virtually. Tickets are available at the door or online for $20, students $10.

consortiumab.org

May 28 & 29, 2 pm and 6:30 pm

Chaban Takes the Stage Magnus Theatre

The Chaban dancers are performing to raise money in support of Ukraine. Watch your favourite dancers share their talent onstage. Donations will be collected in the lobby. Tickets are available online.

nvmusichall.com

magnustheatre.com

May 25, 6:30 pm

May 28, 9 am

Storing Canada’s Nuclear Waste in the North: A Community Conversation Part 3 Location TBD

This closing panel and inperson discussion focuses on the ethical component of consent. Visit the Indigenous Food Circle on Facebook for more information.

Shop Local TBay’s May Market

Columbus Centre Shop from over 50 local artisans and craft makers at Shop Local TBay’s annual market. Admission is free. Looking to shop online? Browse the virtual marketplace featuring over 25 local businesses. Support local!

2022 Walk to Make Cystic Fibrosis History The annual Walk to Make Cystic Fibrosis History is back in person. The walk begins at Marina Park’s festival area. On-site registration begins at 11 am. Show up and walk with friends and family, and enjoy barbecued hot dogs, drinks, and flavoured popcorn.

474-9567

May 30 & 31

Once Upon a Mattress

Thunder Bay Community Auditorium The All the Daze troupe is making fairy tales come true with their musical production of Once Upon a Mattress. Follow the cast as they recreate 15thcentury Europe onstage and all the comedy that comes with it. Tickets are available online. See this month’s Top Five for more info.

tbca.com

Until June 12

The World We Know Thunder Bay Art Gallery

The World We Know showcases old and new works in the gallery’s permanent collection. Twelve artists and their different mediums are highlighted in gratitude.

theag.ca

Until June 19

Ending Up Thunder Bay Art Gallery

Katie Lemieux’s first solo exhibit is hitting the gallery floor. Lemieux’s work with ceramic sculptures is full of expression, silent communication, and posture. The Thunder Bay-born artist graduated from Lakehead’s Fine Arts program in 2016 and has been featured in galleries in the United States, Europe, and even South Korea.

theag.ca

shoplocalboutique.ca

facebook.com/ indigenousfoodcircle

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Music

LU RADIO’S MONTHLY TOP 1 Toro y Moi MAHAL

Dead Oceans

7 Funny Face House Dog in Hell

Youth Riot

8 Darren Foley*

Hymns of the Sun

Albert’s Workshop

16 Kontact*

First Contact

Temple of Mystery

17 aus!Funkt*

Post-Stagnation EP

3 NicFit Fuse

Upset The Rhythm

4 Tanya Tagaq* Tongues

Six Shooter

5 Big Thief

Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You

4AD

6 Did You Die*

Thirteen Moons

Blew//Rose

PLOSIVS

Swami

25 DEHD

Blue Skies

18 JoyRide*

26 Little Oil

19 Porridge Radio

Little Dipper

24 PLOSIVS

Fat Possum

JoyRide

Waterslide, Diving Board, Ladder To The Sky

THE UNRAVELING OF PUPTheBand

Check out our weekly charts online at luradio.ca and tune in to the Top 20 Countdown, Mondays from 7-9 am, or catch one of the rebroadcasts throughout the week! Keep it locked on 102.7 FM, online streaming at luradio.ca.

Disco DEVIL

JoyRide

2 PUP*

CILU 102.7fm’s Monthly Charts for this issue reflect airplay for the month ending April 12, 2022.

Little Oil

1311074 Records DK

27 Nat Birchall

AFRO TRANE

Juno

Verve Forecast

9 Cemento Weaponry

Paradise Studios

10 Ryan McCulloch* The State of the Union

Choose.

11 Azar Lawrence New Sky

Trazar

12 Sean James Murphy

20 Tomberlin

i don’t know who needs to hear this...

Saddle Creek

21 The Janitors

Noisolation Session Vol. 2

Your Ears Have Been Bad And Need To Be Punished

22 Kurt Vile

Watch My Moves

Verve

28 Rewind Rewind Heart EP

diy records

29 Cloud Cult

Metamorphosis

Earthology

A Calloused Sweetheart

30 Spice Viv

Independent

Dais

13 Crisis Man

Asleep In America

Digital Regress

14 Max Bien Kahn

On the Floor - EP

Perpetual Doom

15 Dez Dare 1.9.8.5.

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Self-Released

23 Yard Act

The Overload

Zen F.C. / Interscope * Indicates Canadian Content

Advertising Feature

NWO Innovation Centre BTIF Project At the Well Tattoo

Ray Atwood, owner of At the Well Tattoo, has been creating large-scale pieces for clients for the past eight years. When he opened his solo boutique in July of 2020, his focus was on creating a private atmosphere for his clients. On average, Atwood spends four to eight sessions with each individual and opens his books quarterly throughout the year, meaning communication with clients and remaining accessible to them is vital. His website is also his main platform for selling his original merchandise. As a new business owner—opening during the pandemic no less— Atwood began searching online for business grants and quickly discovered the Northwestern Ontario Innovation Centre’s Business Technology Improvement Fund. “The other guys give you the

bare minimum. Jeff and his team provided a tiered list of website developers, and we went from there,” explains Atwood. He applied to the centre’s software category specifically to begin rebuilding his brandnew website. “I had no idea how expensive it is to pay someone to build a website for you. It would have taken a few years without them,” says the owner. BTIF is constantly working to help owners innovate and create new pathways for productivity. Creating a functioning and accessible website that includes an e-commerce section was essential to Atwood for both maintaining his tattoo shop and creating passive income for himself. “I thought, if I’m shopping, what kind of store do I want to visit online, and built that,” he says. A professional and user-friendly website increases

clientele, helps build a profile, and is the first point of contact for an artist. “Dealing with clients through Instagram or other social media is very frustrating,” he says. His new site includes both a contact and consultation form. This streamlines his process and allows him to vet clients to make sure he is the best artist for their needs, as well as keep client information organized and confidential. Over a span of eight months, his website was up and running, and immediately the positive feedback and time saved was clear to Atwood.

24 hours and for a busy owner, it’s nice when they make it easy for you. You have the next step to take,” Atwood says of his experience. The Business Technology Improvement Fund aims to increase innovation and efficiency in the day-to-day operations of businesses through advancements in software, hardware, and data management. For information on applying, please visit nwoinnovation.ca/btif.

The tattoo artist’s experience with the Innovation Centre was “motivating”, “transparent,” and “efficient” according to Atwood. He has since passed on the resource to other business owners in need. “My questions were always answered within

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TattooedYou

A Fishing Rod Tattoo Honouring a Lifetime of Memories

By Leah Morningstar

Tattooed by Vanessa Presenger of Studio Four Four Nine or as long as he can remember, Andrew Wojciechowski has loved fishing. His wife says he’s a fishing fanatic. As a child, Wojciechowski recalls fishing with his grandfather Joe every summer. They were either fishing at camp or at different lakes around Northwestern Ontario, with cousins and other family members. Fishing with Poppa was a regular part of childhood—a rite of passage that every child and grandchild got to experience. Wojciechowski thinks back to a secret place where Poppa brought them. “He started taking us to a secret lake, which required a day-long portage. We always camped on the same island and even built our own outhouse and a filleting table.” Wojciechowski laughs as he remembers how his grandfather had extra cans of gasoline and bottles of rum buried around the secret island. The fishing trips came to an end when Wojciechowski started college. His grandfather’s

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health was getting fragile and he needed open heart surgery. He was no longer able to get out on the lake, but he still loved to sit around with his family, laughing and telling stories from past fishing adventures. When it was clear his grandfather’s health was declining further, Wojciechowski wanted to do something to honour the memories. His wife Candice drew the fishing rod design and it was tattooed by Vanessa Presenger, owner of Studio Four Four Nine. Thankfully Wojciechowski was able to show his grandfather the finished tattoo a few short days before he died. Wojciechowski still loves fishing and can’t wait to take his twin sons out as soon as they’re old enough. Every time Wojciechowski casts his line or reels in a fish, that tattoo is right there on his forearm, reminding him of all the amazing days with his Poppa. While he might not be here earthside anymore, he’s always on the water. After all, old anglers don’t die, they just move on to the next secret lake.

Let’s Celebrate with

Pretty Dresses! Happy 3rd Anniversary - to -

Gift

Irma’s Boutique on Algoma!

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Advertising Feature

May Entrepreneur of the Month

Jenni Ritchie, CEO, Superior Bakes Inc.

Meet Jenni Ritchie, health nut and CEO of Superior Bakes. From a young age, Jenni was always active and saw great value in living a healthy lifestyle. Jenni’s mom worked as a personal trainer for most of Jenni’s childhood, and in 2011 her family opened a gym. Working with her family at the gym, Jenni saw an opportunity to start her own nutrition business, as clients at the gym started asking her to make healthy food for them. With her background in nursing and love for living a healthy lifestyle, it seemed like the perfect fit to start Superior Bakes. Superior Bakes opened in February 2018 at the Thunder Bay Country Market, and when Goods & Co. Market opened just last year, Jenni moved into her permanent space there. To learn more about Superior Bakes, follow them on Facebook or on Instagram @ superior_bakes. What drew you to entrepreneurship? I never really intended to start a business. I was working at my family’s gym doing personal training, group classes, and running the nutrition program. I had a Facebook group and

was posting lots of recipes. One day, a client asked me if I would make it for them and really that’s how things got started. My brother suggested I make a website, and within a few months I had taken on a booth at the Thunder Bay Country Market. We basically grew from there, taking on various retail clients and branching out into NWO and Manitoba. In 2021, we opened our store inside Goods & Co. Market and it has been so fun to be there! I think what I love most about entrepreneurship is being creative and knowing that every day something new and different is happening. I love meeting all our customers and being connected to the local food space here in Thunder Bay. What inspired you to launch your business? I was inspired to create healthier options to traditional sweets because I knew I wanted to feel my best and still be able to enjoy all the things! It drove me crazy that there was never anything healthy available that both tasted good and was made with quality ingredients. I didn't want to compromise on either end! I felt that it was important for

not only my clients who choose to eat a certain way but also those who maybe needed to, for reasons like diabetes or celiac disease, to have a great product. I had been experimenting in the kitchen for MANY years just trying out different flours like almond or coconut and substituting stevia for sugar. It can sometimes be a tricky process to substitute but after a lot of trial and error, we've come up with some amazing recipes and we feel super lucky to be able to share them with our customers. Knowing what you know now, is there anything you would have done differently when you were first starting out? I’m a highly competitive and goal-driven person, so I always want to push as hard as I can in all aspects of life, including business. Initially, I wanted to be big right away! It took me some time to appreciate being really good at a small or side business in order to create longevity and iron out all the kinks. It’s still something I’m working on! It can be really easy to undermine all the time and effort it takes to have a successful business. What advice would you give to someone who is trying to become an entrepreneur? What advice would you give yourself? Be patient! Things don't happen overnight, but being consistent and staying focused on whatever your values and mission statement are is key. Business is certainly not a straight line but remaining focused, listening to your customers, and pivoting when necessary are all important. I also think it’s incredibly important to have a strong team. I have so much appreciation and value for our staff and they are an integral part of everything we do. I try very hard to include them in decision making and goal planning so they can also enjoy the journey. Sometimes they can look at something from a different angle and give us a new idea for a project.

What are you working on now? Right now we are working on getting our cake mixes on the Amazon platform and completing some shelf-life testing on our protein balls. We have a small rebrand underway and some new packaging, which I am super excited about. We absolutely love being part of Goods & Co. Market and having the space to create new recipes and ideas. We feel so lucky and fortunate to be surrounded by so many incredible entrepreneurs. Is there anyone specific you would like to thank? It was definitely my brother who pushed me to get started, and my mom who has set a great example of what hard work looks like. They are definitely the ones I call when I need a sounding board or advice. Of course, our amazing customers who support us each and every week. We wouldn’t be anything without them! They are the centre of it all. And my team, who represents us and works very hard to make product, serve all our customers, and help move our business forward :)

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Green

Spring Into Action and Make a Difference

By Jesse Hamilton, ReThinking Waste Program Coordinator, EcoSuperior

t all started with one 10-year-old girl. In 1996, 10-year-old Elizabeth de Bakker saw a need in our community to stop litter and decided that she could do something to help. Spring Up to Clean Up was born, and has been running ever since. She proved that one can make a difference, and that one can turn into many. This year is the 26th annual Spring Up to Clean Up campaign, where any Thunder Bay resident, business, or community group can join in to help remove litter from our city streets and parks. Litter is a serious problem. Not only does it

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look trashy, but it harms our environment, our community, wildlife, and our great Lake Superior. Litter can take weeks or even centuries to break down. The process releases chemicals and microparticles that contaminate the water and soil, causing harm to domestic and wild animals, along with humans. Removing litter not only prevents harmful pollution, it also connects with community pride and lets us see that our actions can make a positive difference for present and future generations. Over the last two years, our world has changed dramatically. One of these changes has been a new

source of common litter. A recent study of 11 countries, including Canada, reported face mask litter increased 9,000% from March to October 2020. Last year, EcoSuperior offered data collection cards to clean-up volunteers, which revealed that over 120 PPE items were found. These littered masks and gloves remain in nature until someone picks them up! Spring Up to Clean Up is a way to help remove COVID-related litter, as well as other common trash items like food packaging, plastic bags, and cigarette butts. Last year, volunteers collected, recorded, and removed 176 plastic straws, 239 plastic

bags, and 4,507 cigarette butts during local clean-ups. Data matters, and there is a special contest this year for those willing to help us gather this information. Spring Up to Clean Up is a way to keep our city clean and litter-free, but it’s also a way to have fun! Each year we run contests where you can test your creative skills and find inspiration. There is a poster contest for elementary schools where we ask students to draw what they love most about nature and why we shouldn’t litter. There is also a citywide photography contest for your best clean-up photo showing community spirit,

love of nature, or your most creative Spring-Up pose! We can make a difference and stop litter, but it takes us coming together as a community and being willing to Spring Up to Clean Up! For more information, visit ecosuperior.org/ springuptbay.

Don’t miss out on the sounds of Spring May is Better Hearing Month! Let’s not let hearing loss make you miss out on any chirps, chimes or cheers. Get your hearing checked at Superior Hearing, Thunder Bay’s only locally-owned hearing clinic.

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Green

Colour & Contrast

Harmony & Balance

Curb Appeal By Hedy Koski

PLAN AHEAD When I plan a shrub or perennial bed, I typically get out my garden hose and lay out the area with it. Then I sit back, grab a beverage, and imagine the finished project. Don’t rush it. Even sketching the look can help you visualize where bigger shrubs can go, or shorter ones, or more colourful ones, and so on. I also take into account what it looks like in winter. Shrubs and evergreens are visible in the winter, whereas perennials die down to ground level and are not usually seen. For example, I added mini Christmas lights to my shrubs out front for a pretty display.

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We all know curb appeal when we see it. But how can we achieve it? Trees, shrubs, and flowers can soften those square lines of a house and create interest, but mostly are very welcoming, especially for yourself. Driving up to your home and seeing all that beauty can give you a sense of calm after a hard day at work. Before shopping for trees, shrubs, or perennials, here are a few tips.

ALWAYS READ THE TAG All the information you need about your plant is on the tag. Take note of the plant’s maturity size, which is important if your space is small. It may be a perfect size when you buy it, but in a few short years, it will grow and may overtake your area, cover your window view, or invade your walkway, and you will quickly lose the look you wish to achieve. As well, all plants have different light requirements in order to thrive, and you will need to know how much sunlight will hit the area where you are planting. Now, I’m not saying sit out there with that beverage all day to see how much sun it gets (unless you want to), but just take note of it before you purchase anything.

COLD HARDINESS Living here in Northwestern Ontario can be a challenge, as we are restricted to plants that have been proven to grow here. For beginners, please choose shrubs that have cold hardiness of Zone 3b or less, or Zone 4 if you have more experience. Stay away from Zone 5 or more hardiness, as it will only lead to disappointment and a waste of your money. FOLIAGE AND BLOOMS Most shrubs or perennials have green leaves. Some will change to a wonderful fall colour (one of my favourites). But there are a variety of burgundy-, silver-, or yellowleaved plants that you can add into the mix for some interest. As well, some plants have a blooming period. Very few bloom from spring

to fall. To have a garden that blooms throughout the growing season, you can achieve this through adding different plants that bloom at different times. Check the tags for their blooming time and determine where you want them, giving a splash of colour here and there from spring to fall.

Highlight & Interest

t Let’s Gewith g in w Gro dy He

ANIMALS If you have an issue with deer or rabbits in your yard, Remember: like they say, there are plenty of deer- and “Beauty is in the eye of the rabbit- resistant options to beholder.” It’s your garden, look for. and you get to decide what is beautiful. MULCH AND STONE I am a believer in mulch or stone to bring that curb appeal look to a whole new level. The advantages are Check out next month’s issue huge. It gives a clean look, on planting tips for trees, and you won’t need to water shrubs, and perennials. or weed as much (just to name a few).

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Health

Expert Advice for Helping Your Children Make Healthy Lifestyle Choices By Caitlund Davidson, Health Promotion and Communications Planner, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre

arents and caregivers p l a y a b i g ro l e i n guiding children to develop lifestyle habits that will support their good health and prevent chronic diseases for years to come. Healthy habits are easier to develop and maintain when the setting and the people in the setting, like parents and caregivers, provide support and encouragement. So what can we do to help support our children to make healthy lifestyle choices? We have turned to the experts for advice. The Paediatric Healthy Living Program (PHLP) at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre aims to help children and their families improve their overall health and quality of life by helping them make behaviour changes like increasing fruit and vegetable consumption, decreasing consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, increasing physical activity, decreasing screen time, improving sleep habits, and

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learning skills to cope with stress. Their approach is to focus on healthy lifestyle habits to improve health, stabilize weight, and lower the risk of developing other health conditions. The multidisciplinary PHLP team includes a registered dietitian, registered kinesiologist, social worker, psychologist, nurse practitioner, and pediatrician. This expert team shared some tips on how to create and maintain a supportive home environment and promote a healthy lifestyle for your children and your family. Focus on behaviours within your child’s control One way to help your child feel like they are in control is to make the healthy choice the easy choice. This can be done by providing a range of healthy options (i.e. activities, foods) and encouraging your child to choose one. That way there is no wrong answer, and regardless of the selection, they make a healthy choice.

Recognize that each child is unique All children have individual factors that can affect their health and growth. Healthy bodies come in a wide range of shapes, sizes, and abilities; body weight alone does not determine overall health. One piece of advice would be to encourage participation in healthy activities that your child enjoys and that make them feel good about themselves. It is a collaborative effort Making healthy choices requires guidance and support from parents and caregivers. When you see your child practicing healthy behaviours, provide recognition and praise for this behaviour. Practising healthy behaviours alongside your child can be an excellent form of encouragement; for example being active together as a family or promoting healthy choices by creating a healthy food

environment at home and modelling a positive attitude towards healthy behaviours. Be a role model When it comes to raising healthy children, role modeling is imperative. What you do and say can affect children—either your own, or other children in your life. For example, having a healthy relationship with food will influence little ones in a positive way. Avoid labeling foods as “good” or “bad,” as food has no moral value. Instead, talk about what different foods do for your body, and be sure to include all foods in your diet. When children see you eat a variety of foods and practise food neutrality, they are more likely to do the same. Establish healthy routines Having a structured routine can be helpful when working to build and foster healthy habits. Establishing healthy family routines around sleep, physical activity,

meal times, and screen time play an important role in overall health and wellness. When faced with challenge and uncertainty, having predictable, healthy routines can be beneficial in coping with stress. Starting with small steps towards a healthy routine can help to build the confidence needed for continued success. The PHLP is an excellent option for those who meet the program eligibility criteria. Over a two-year period, individual and group programming is provided for families to learn tools and strategies to support long-term healthy living. The PHLP is accessible to eligible children and families living across Northwestern Ontario. For more information about the PHLP and to learn more about the eligibility criteria for the program, talk to your health care provider or call 684-6058.

Advertising Feature

Tbaytel Tamarack House is a Home Away from Home for Northwestern Ontario Residents Meet Fort Frances Residents Lorne and Sandra McNay By Janine Chiasson

nfortunately, when regional patients and families require medical treatment for more than five consecutive days away from home, the Northern Health Travel Grant falls short. That’s why Tbaytel Tamarack House exists, to be a true haven in every way – physically, emotionally, and financially. When Fort Frances resident Lorne McNay was diagnosed with oral cancer in summer 2021, “my family doctor said ‘you’ve got to go to Thunder Bay,’” he recounts. “Surgery was not an option for me, and I was scheduled for 5 weeks of radiation therapy and many rounds of chemo.” Lorne was already familiar with Tbaytel Tamarack House from an earlier stay, and through articles in the town newspaper. Lorne and Sandra arrived in Thunder Bay in early June, didn’t leave until the end of July, and can’t say enough good things about Tbaytel Tamarack House. Located on the top floor of the Medical Centre, right beside Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, “it was like having a home away from home,” Lorne says. “You’re literally 5 minutes away from your appointments, you just walk over there, do your thing, and walk back to your room.” Sandra loved the welcoming tour, their comfortable room, a spot in the fridge and cupboards, laundry facilities, a gym, and the chance to meet other guests, play cards and games, and share their stories over meals together. Even though Lorne and Sandra were very well accommodated, Sandra says, “it was hard to watch as he went from being my Dad having

supper with me to no longer being able to eat, no longer being able to swallow, having a feeding tube, having hydration through an IV, and spending a lot of time sleeping.” At one point, when Lorne spent 8 days in hospital and they thought they’d lose him, Sandra realized, “life is precious and those weeks at Tamarack House gave me time with my Dad that I wouldn’t otherwise have had. I didn’t have the means or the stamina to stay in a hotel, I couldn’t have done it – Tbaytel Tamarack House was a life saver for us.” Residents are only charged a fee equal to the amount of their Northern Health Travel Grant so there are no out-of-pocket expenses for their stay at Tamarack House. A couple of weeks into treatment, Sandra, seeing all the expenses at Tbaytel Tamarack House that she knew couldn’t possibly be covered by fees, started a fundraiser. Already active selling Tiber River Naturals online, Sandra used her products to raise $2,374 which she donated to the Northern Cancer Fund, specifically earmarked for Tbaytel Tamarack House. Lorne got a recognition leaf with his name on it, and when it was placed in the Tamarack Tree, Sandra admits, “it was pretty emotional.” Sandra is thankful that Tbaytel supported Tamarack House right from the beginning. “I often wonder how Tbaytel Tamarack House survives – they have staff, there’s upkeep – and I think it’s amazing that Tbaytel is committed to supporting the people in our region.” She encourages others to find ways to give, knowing how important Tbaytel Tamarack House was for her and her Dad. “If you had to go alone it would be terrible,” Lorne says. “Sandra did all my phoning, my appointments, she was up on everything.”

Sandra is also a nurse and staying with her Dad throughout his treatment was a huge relief for both of them. “Like when he needed hydration, I was able to help him with that,” Sandra says. “On the positive side, every day after radiation treatment we’d high five each other and countdown until that final day when we rang the bell and we were done.” Sandra and Lorne know firsthand how tough and scary a medical journey can be, and with cancer on the rise, they want people to know that Tbaytel Tamarack House is there for them: a comfortable, supportive, convenient, and affordable haven in Thunder Bay.

We’re in it Together Since 2005, Tbaytel Tamarack House offers lodging for out-of-town patients and their companions for the duration of cancer treatment. It offers 20 bedrooms with private bathrooms, kitchen facilities, a lounge, entertainment, laundry area, and a 24-hour on-site attendant. Ongoing financial support is essential to ensure Tamarack House is available for regional patients. If you can give, please visit healthsciencesfoundation. ca/tamarack, or if you have a fundraising idea, please contact the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation @ 807-345-4673, email info@healthsciencesfoundation.ca Tbaytel Tamarack House: 807-684-7799 Toll-Free: 1-877-696-7223 Ext. 7799 Email: tamarack@tbh.net *During COVID-19, Tbaytel Tamarack House has changed how it provides services, following TBRHSC protocols.

The Walleye

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TheWall

As Food Prices Increase, Inequity is Becoming Even More Visible

September 2020–2021. By the end of the year, food prices reached their highest levels in over a decade. In Canada, food prices are predicted to increase by as much as 7% in 2022. According to a report from Dalhousie University’s Agri-Food Analytics Lab, this means that the average Canadian family will be spending almost $1,000 more on groceries this year. This increase has been caused, in part, by inflation, which refers to the increase in costs of goods and services while wages and other incomes stay the same. Food prices have been increasing for some time now, and the pandemic has only accelerated that trend. In addition, increasing fuel prices, labour shortages, the impacts of climate change, and global conflicts have made things even more challenging. Increases in food prices are revealing what we already knew about the structural problems in our food system—namely, that food supply chains are fragile and support structures are insufficient. In addition, corporations continue to make record profits and will do almost anything to maintain them. Those most impacted by

the spike in food prices are families who were already financially vulnerable and struggling to make ends meet well before the pandemic began. In early 2019, there were already 4.4 million people in Canada (including over 1.2 million children) living in food-insecure households. Today, over 6 million Canadians are facing food insecurity. We know that this is primarily a result of poverty and inequity, and that those experiencing more significant i m p a c t s a re p e o p l e that are economically insecure. Data shows that this includes a disproportionate number of Black and Indigenous households. It is essential to help people in times of emergency, but food insecurity has become a permanent feature of our society. Food banks and other food-based charity programs are not enough. Most of these programs a re s e v e re l y u n d e rresourced and underequipped to address the severity of the problem. Addressing food insecurity demands a collective response and a transition towards a more equitable food system that includes more control for food producers, harvesters,

and eaters. Real solutions start with communities (like Gaagige Zaagibigaa, an Indigenous-led initiative supporting the resurgence of Indigenous food systems in Northwestern Ontario) and building connections (like the Thunder Bay and Area Food Strategy, which brings together organizations and institutions across the region). Governments need to implement policies and programs that address social inequity. Evidence shows that there can be real impact through implementing a livable wage and guaranteeing sick pay to all workers, increasing social services, implementing a guaranteed annual income, providing more a ff o rd a b l e h o u s i n g , following through on the commitment to support self-determination of Indigenous communities, and addressing climate change. The problem of rising food prices is not going away any time soon. But with a little bit of creative thinking, collaboration, and political will, we can ensure everyone is taken care of.

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MayHoroscopes Aries

(March 21–April 19) Welcome to the fabulously merry month of May! One has visions of flowers and ribbons and dancing around a maypole. May Day is also called Beltane in some circles, and one of the delightful traditions is the weaving and wearing of flower crowns. Travel plans have Rams feeling as fiery as their signs, and their anticipation is building. Bonds are strengthening this month, and relationships are being nurtured under your thoughtful care. Do something special with Ma this month; she deserves the very best.

Taurus

(April 20–May 20) Happy birthday, Taurus! Bulls are really contemplating their lives this month. There’s been some obstacles, but this earth sign has plowed through some rocky times and now finds themself in a good place. It’s a good idea to be surrounded by lily of the valley this month. You find yourself in receipt of some lovely and thoughtful gifts, but it’s always a good idea to ensure that you treat your own self as well, so do buy yourself some flowers. A special night out is ahead, so enjoy time spent with your nearest and dearest. Happy solar return.

Gemini

(May 21–June 20) Twins are not overly fond of cold weather, so the fact that spring has finally sprung is of great solace. Victoria Day this month means that there’s some resting and relaxing involved for those born under this sign. New paths are opening up for these air signs lately, and so are some intriguing new business opportunities. Now is the time to really explore your talents and consider

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By Sunny Disposish

being an entrepreneur, particularly around the 30th, when the new moon is in your sign. Your inner circle is expanding a bit, and some new people in your life are adding in some much-needed perspective. Happy birthday to the late May babies!

Cancer

(June 21–July 22) The full moon in May is known as the Flower Moon, so do plan to spend a bit of time moon gazing. It’s a time for new beginnings and intense evolution around the 16th, and any decisions made at this time will prove fruitful. Crabs may be feeling the strong pull of the moon more so than other signs at the moment, simply because the moon is the ruling planet of Cancer. This is a time to give up what doesn’t serve you. What does that look like? Celebrate Mom this month in style. Fire up the barbecue and make an evening of it. After all, water signs love to be surrounded by friends and family.

Leo

(July 23–August 22) Time to do some spring cleaning, Leo. Whether tidying up their altar or going full-out, it’s no secret that Lions love doing some home renos and repair, and this month finds them lined up at the local home and garden store to fulfill all their best laid plans. It’s nice to finally be able to crack open those windows and give the walls a fresh coat of paint. Rearranging furniture allows stagnant energy to flow through and revives your ambiance. This month has feisty Leos finding their joy in the kitchen. That might look like trying a complex recipe, or baking some bread by the hearth. A new kitchen product may add some flair with experimenting.

Virgo

(August 23– September 22) The rumours are true— Mercury goes retrograde on the 10th. This isn’t always a bad thing, though. Virgos enjoy order and routine, but when life gets shaken up a little bit, it allows some problem-solving and out-of-the-box thinking to happen, which may not normally occur. Simply go with the flow rather than trying to fight the current. Career figures prominently this month, and it’s time to think about your current job situation. Perhaps it may be worthwhile to do some journaling on the matter and really go deep, and ask some hard questions. Plan a surprise family outing for Mother’s Day.

Libra

(September 23– October 22) Have your dreams been really intense lately? It may be time to keep a record of your dreams and see if there’s any underlying messages. May is an energetically powerful month, and your subconscious may be trying to tell you something. Dream recall is an invaluable form of divination, often holding incredible insight as to what the future holds. Spend some time in nature and just be still and listen to the noises around you. Taking a few minutes in this type of meditation can help ease our mind. Perhaps visit a local metaphysical shop and see if anything calls to you. Spend time preparing for your garden.

Scorpio

(October 23– November 21) Victoria Day weekend approacheth, and Scorpions couldn’t be more delighted. There’s definitely some travel plans happening, even if it’s just a short distance. It

all counts! Getting away from the hectic pace of everyday life will bring about a significant change to your physical and mental wellbeing. Being close to the water brings a great deal of peace. Whether it’s a family outing or a solo trip, there’s a great deal of merriment attached to these plans.

Sagittarius

(November 22– December 21) Archers are really feeling it these days. They are outside, enjoying the weather, and weekends may find them brunching or going to little markets or quaint coffee shops. Finally free of the shackles of winter, Sags might be doing some exploring around town on bicycle or on foot. Life seems to have fallen into a pleasant pace. There’s a special birthday person in your life this month, so do make some special plans to celebrate their big day. Mother’s Day finds you beaming with joy when it comes to your offspring. Isn’t it great to watch a young person grow up to be a wonderful young adult? Tea time finds you contemplating scones and jam. A goal is accomplished this month.

Capricorn

(December 22– January 19) Your social life is on the upswing these days, Cap! Your hermit self is finally emerging from the confines of hibernation. It’s time to share glorious you with the world! It’s time to make those big, brash decisions that have been weighing on your mind. It’s no secret that Goats are extremely hard workers, but allow yourself time for fun too. Your social circle expands and your calendar starts to fill up with outings. Mother’s Day celebrations with the family are smooth sailing.

Everyone is getting along and old grudges have been forgotten. Enjoy being the centre of attention.

Aquarius

(January 20– February 18) This is a lucky month for you, Aquarius. You will enjoy a little bit of financial success, so make sure you grab that extra scratch ticket or consider signing up with the work lottery group. Perhaps a larger than expected tax refund? In any case, abundance is in your favour this month. There is a certain sense of excitement in the air, and Water-Bearers are feeling it. You’ll be asked to step up around the time of the full moon this month, so push away those qualms of assuming a leadership role and just dive in. A weekend getaway with friends or a loved one promises to be an enjoyable time. Celebrate Mom or a maternal figure this month. Spoiling others is fun, as it’s a win-win situation. Prosperity abounds!

Pisces

(February 19– March 20) Are you feeling a bit rundown lately, Pisces? Time to stop your whirlwind schedule and just slow down for a bit and take stock. Ask your inner self what needs to be worked on, and take it from there. You may need to add a healing modality to your life, and take time to breathe, meditate, or do yoga. This will soothe your squirrel brain and can help to improve your overall well-being. Enjoy a bath with some soothing oils or salts. Self-care is vitally important these days, and a social media break may be in order. Curl up with a good book instead. Mother’s Day has you feeling a bit bittersweet. A surprise phone call or FaceTime will cheer you up immensely.

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TheBeat

Longing for a Smile By Miranda Lynne Bevilacqua

I can tell you that it has been a little while Since I have appreciated the sight of a smile Breath after breath, I inhale this cloth Simple smells, I realize I have forgot Your beautiful eyes, trying to give me a sign Unfortunately, I am trying to read your mind Subtle facial movements previously taken for granted The twitch of a nose or the way your mouth dances I ask you to repeat yourself, as I cannot understand I too then speak louder, a simple command An attempted connection, an awkward transaction Longing for a more intimate interaction I can tell you my friend, it has been a while Since I have longed for the sight of a smile

Longing, digital illustration, boy Roland

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Stevis Harrison of Cancer Bats levels the packed house at Black Pirates Pub one riff at a time. -Photo by Lucas Augustyn

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AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD: THUNDER BAY TOURS APP

visitthunderbay.com The Walleye

131

ONLINE SHOPPING MADE EASY. EXPLORE

BUILD & PRICE

SAVE

CREDIT

SEND YOUR BUILD TO GORE MOTORS

Go ahead, kick some virtual tires. Take a “Virtual Walk Around” from the comfort of your couch. Then, build your own dream Civic! Pick your accessories, trim levels, rims & tires, added protection, then Save & Send your build to Gore Motors! All thats left is to get behind the wheel!

  I  MEMORIAL AVENUE I CHAT LIVE! 132

The Walleye

24,465

†

† Includes shipping/freight, $129 AC/tire tx, $10 OMVIC fee. HST and licensing is extra. Vehicle depicted for illustration purposes only. See Dealer for Details.