Kenora Stuff / Winter 2019

FINDING FISH UNDER THE ICE

BY JEFF GUSTAFSON

Chicken a la Greek, Plaza Restaurant

Cover photo by Jeff Gustafson

Welcome to Winter

by Shayla Smith

"Mom, look! There's more snow on the ground!" This is a refrain I hear every other day at this time of year. My son's excitement for fresh snow knows no bounds— even when our snowbanks are taller than our windows. As far as he's concerned, the more snow the better.

And while I can appreciate his enthusiasm, it wasn't so long ago that I shuddered every time I heard someone quote, "Winter is coming..."

I loved winter as a child, but somewhere between my teens and my twenties, I lost my enthusiasm for the season. Maybe it was an age thing, or city living. Maybe I just needed kids to remind me of all the fantastic things that come with winter.

Whatever it was, after moving back to Kenora my love for winter returned. While I may not share my son's exuberance, as I put together this edition of Kenora Stuff I couldn't help but get excited for all the fantastic things that come with winter: ice fishing (and fresh walleye dinners), snowmobiling with the kids, playing hockey with the old ladies (and the young ones), or just lacing up for a game of pond hockey at home. There'll be plenty of pool time on the really cold days, and I can't wait to toast marshmallows over a bonfire on the milder afternoons. And then—because five months of winter is plenty—watching the ice go out in the spring!

So yes, winter is here. Bring it on.

NOVEMBER

5  LOW Concert Series presents: Elmer Iseler Singers, Knox Church

9  Kenora Crafters’ 25th Annual Christmas Craft Show & Holiday Market, Seven Generations Manidoo Baawaatig

16  Beta Sigma Phi Annual Christmas Craft Sale, Clarion Lakeside Inn

17 & 24  A Christmas Art Show & Sale, Old Armories

20–22  TrypTych

Concert and Opera: HMS Parliament, Seven Generations Manidoo Baawaatig

22  Harbourtown BIZ Christmas Tree Lighting & LOW Museum Open House, Main Street

24–30  Trylight Theatre presents: Helium, a play by Julian Wiles, Trylight Theatre

27  LOW Concert Series presents: The Slocan Ramblers, Knox Church

29–30  16th Annual Festival of Trees, The Muse

30  'Old Time Christmas' Kenora Kinsmen

Santa Claus Parade, Downtown Kenora

Winter Events

DECEMBER

1  Sunday Smiles presents Maritime Marionettes Molly and the Oake Island Treasure, King George School

1 & 8  A Christmas Art Show & Sale, Old Armories

2  CP Rail Holiday Train, Wholesale Club

5  Kenora Public Library presents: Author Reading, Brittany Luby

7  It’s a Dog’s Life Bake & Craft Sale, Norman Community Hall

7  Valleyview School Craft & Bake Sale, Valleyview School

8  Starry Starry Night, Lake of the Woods Brewing Company

9  The Muse presents: The Second World War in 5 Objects, LOW Museum

12  The Muse presents: Film Screening: There are No Fakes, Douglas Family Art Centre

12  Holiday Family Fun Night, Kenora Public Library

14  Winter Matiowski Market, Seven Generations Manidoo Baawaatig

15  Victorian Christmas Tea, Mather Walls House

24  Festival of LightsIce Candles, Lake of the Woods Cemetery

31  Kenora Rotary’s Annual Free Swim & Skate, Kenora Recreation Centre

31  New Year’s Eve House Party, Lake of the Woods Brewing Company

JANUARY

23 Cozy Pajama Storytime, Kenora Public Library

26  Sunday Smiles presents: Samajam Kids Shows—Rythmo2!, King George School

31  Awesome Adventures Day Camp, Kenora Recreation Centre

FEBRUARY

ALL MONTH  Kenora Eats Culinary Event

SATURDAYS  We Are What We Eat, Celebrating Kenora’s Culinary Diversity, LOW Museum

2  LOW Concert Series presents: Royal MTC –The New Canadian Curling Club, venue TBA

8  Winter Matiowski Market, Seven Generations Manidoo Baawaatig

9 Mather Walls Valentine’s Tea, Mather Walls House

1  Kenora Figure Skating Club Skate Competition, Kenora Recreation Centre

17  Family Game Night, Kenora Public Library

17  Family Day, Kenora Recreation Centre

20  LOW Concert Series presents: Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra, Knox Church

MARCH

1  Sunday Smiles presents: Chris McKhool’s FiddleFire! Kids Show, King George School

6–8  Winter Carnival, kenorawintercarnival.ca

7  Winter Matiowski Market, Seven Generations Manidoo Baawaatig

12  LOW Concert Series presents: Andrew Collins Trio, Knox Church

29  Sunday Smiles presents: Millan & Fay Present the Opera: From Twinkle to Stardom, King George School

APRIL

»  Kenora District Festival of the Arts, kdfa.ca

3  Kenora Figure Skating Club Ice Show, Kenora Recreation Centre

5  Skate Keewatin Ice Show, Keewatin Arena

7  LOW Concert Series presents: The Lynnes, Seven Generations Manidoo Baawaatig

9–12  North American First Nations Hockey Tournament, Kenora Recreation Centre & Keewatin Arena

15–19  3-on-3 Hockey of Health Fundraiser, Kenora Recreation Centre & Keewatin Arena

PLEASE

NOTE: Event dates, times and details may change or be cancelled without notice. Please contact Tourism Kenora at (807) 467-4643 for up-to-date event information.

to buy

FXR Youth CX Monosuit

Share in the outdoor fun with the FXR looks and most popular youth monosuit. The CX Monosuit offers great fit, reinforced knees and hem, maximum warmth and comfort and the added safety of FXR’s industry exclusive F.A.S.T.™ technology.

Boardanyone.

325 Second Street S.

Lake of the Woods Club Hare Island Hoodie

LOTWC hoodies are the ultimate rad style to represent. Extremely comfortable and durable enough to last a lifetime. Colours vary due to tie dye manufacturing.

Sure Thing. 137 Main Street S.

Assorted Chocolates Platter

Select a variety of chocolate treats to satisfy your sweet tooth or for the perfect gift. Platter sizes and selections vary. Glutenfree, sugar-free and dairy-free chocolate options in-store.

Sweet LOTW. 150 Main Street S.

The Perfect Mug. “Family Love”

by Ojibway

artist

Jason Adair

For travel or home, the Perfect Mug is ready to give in its beautiful matching art box. Many styles all featuring stunning Indigenous artwork.

Seasons Shop. 124 Main Street S.

Nixon Sentry Luxe Watch

A classic gets luxury treatment with a subtle Italian acetate case and narrowed lugs, padded Horween leather straps, and slimmed down hands and indices.

McTaggarts. 133 Main Street S.

Teapots

Add some whimsy and conversation to your tea time with fun and intriguing teapots.

Someone’s Been Here

Original art by Irene McCuaig. Acrylic. Unframed.

Inglenook Art Studio. 1051 Railway Street.

The Book Seat

The perfect reading support that holds a book open or a tablet computer in place for you while elevating text. Relax and read hands-free.

Abundance.

224 Second Street S.

Onewheel+ XR

Simply put, the most beautiful ride on the planet. Snowboard all season, hack your commute, dominate any terrain and try to wipe that grin off your face!

The Hardwear Company. 106 Main Street S.

Image One Home & Cottage. 1060 Railway Street.

Champion Men’s

Powerblend Crew

Great fitting crew featuring the iconic Champion script logo front and centre.

Weekend Adventure & Taggs Source for Sports. 313 Second Street S.

Craft Beer Crowler

32 oz can of locallybrewed craft beer. Crowlers are filled daily with LOW Brewing Company’s seasonal selections.

Lake of the Woods Brewing Company. 350 Second Street S.

APPAREL & MORE

Boardanyone

325 Second St. S. | (807) 468-3211

boardanyone.com

Welcome to 15 years of Kenora’s core board shop. The vibe in our 2,800 square-foot shop is vibrant and fresh. Our award winning customer service has and always will be our first priority. We’re stocked with all the top brands that put Kenora on the map for skateboarding, snowboarding, wakeboarding and paddleboarding. Open 7 days a week. Can’t make it to the shop? Check out our new online store at boardanyone.com. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @boardanyone_inc; Facebook: board.anyone

Lake of the Woods Brewing Company

350 Second Street S. (807) 468-BEER (2337)

lowbrewco.com/shop

Check out all the LOW BrewCO merchandise and grab some beer togo. The retail store is chock-a-block full of t-shirts, hoodies, camo gear, vintage coolers, truckers hats and much more. Open seven days a week until 11:00 p.m. If you aren’t in the neighbourhood, shop the gear online at lowbrewco.com/shop.

McTaggarts

133 Main St. S. | (807) 468-8979

mctaggarts.ca

McTaggarts is famous for its trendsetting fashion. For over 90 years and with outlets across Northwestern Ontario, McTaggarts carries men’s and women’s casual and dress fashions and footwear. McTaggarts boasts some of the most notable fashion brands such as Tommy

Sure Thing

137 Main St. S | (807) 468-7809

X surethingkenora

If you’re looking for a truly unique shopping experience in the heart of Kenora, you’ll know you’ve found it as soon as you walk through our doors. We’ve got you covered from head to toe - a great selection of Barmah hats from Australia, walls of Sanuk footwear, and a full line of eco-conscious mens and women’s wear. After you’re dressed, take a look at some of our giftware and Outdoor Technology’s wireless sound for active people. Sure Thing is your one-stop counter-culture shop!

The Hardwear Company

106 Main St. S. | (807) 468-1226

hardwearco.com

The Hardwear Company is located in the historic Fife building on Main Street, downtown Kenora. With two floors to explore THC is a must stop while in Kenora. No fast fashion here, The Hardwear Company sells clothing with the belief it should be built to last. You will also discover Kenora’s full service ski and

snowboard shop with staff ready to help you get out on the trails or the slopes. The bike service shop is also open year round for tune ups or for you to check out the latest in road, mountain, BMX or even winter fat bikes. The Hardwear Company is also the place to shop for canoes, kayaks or stand-up paddleboards with over 30 years experience getting customers on the water you can be assured we have the right paddle for you.

Weekend Adventure / Taggs Source for Sports

313 Second St. S. | (807) 468-2225

X weekendadventuretaggs

Weekend Adventure and Taggs

Source for Sports is Kenora’s leading athletic and everyday wear store. With men’s, women’s and kid’s clothing, footwear and accessories, you won’t leave empty-handed. Our staff are knowledgeable and ready to help you find the perfect outfit or gear to amp up your game. Open 7 days a week. Follow us on Facebook and be the first to know about sales and new items.

GALLERIES & STUDIOS

Inglenook Art Studio

1051 Railway St. | (807) 407-1170

inglenookartstudio.com

Inglenook Art Studio is home to artist and studio owner Irene McCauig. Inglenook provides workshops and classes and features Irene’s original paintings, drawings and watercolour pieces are available for purchase. This winter “drop in” for a class featuring a happy fun painting to help you get through the long cold season. Inglenook Studio is located at 1051 Railway Street. Stop by to meet Irene and shop her gallery. Inglenook is open most days, when Irene is in the studio creating. Call ahead for appointments.

GIFT SHOPS

Abundance

224 Second St. S. | (807) 468-8010

X abundancekenora

Lake of the Woods Mercantile

Abundance /e’bəndəns/ - plentifulness of the good things of life. Abundance is Kenora’s most treasured shop for kitchen accessories, home & cottage decor, clothing, jewelry & accessories and baby gifts. The girls are always on the hunt for new and unique items to provide you with a delightful selection to choose from. From everyday needs to those once-in-a-lifetime special gifts, Abundance is full of unexpected treasures. Follow on Facebook and Instagram @AbundanceGifts.

The Seasons Shop

124 Main St. S. | (807) 468-3267

X seasonskenora

The Seasons Shop on Main Street is one of Kenora’s favourite boutique shops. Inspired by the beauty of our natural surroundings, we have combined fresh, new products with traditional, handmade items. Featuring Canadian-made moccasins, hand-knit sweaters, jewelry, and cottage decor. Be sure to stop in and see us this winter.

HOME & COTTAGE

Image One Home & Cottage

1060 Railway St. (807) 468-3641

imageonehome.com

We’re the spot for all your furnishing needs for both home and cottage. Living rooms to bedrooms and everything in between, including your outdoor spaces. Our showroom showcases upholstery, wood furniture, blinds, lighting, rugs and accessories with a Lake of the Woods flavour. Our services include custom blinds and drapes, re-upholstery and wicker repair. Image One Designs also manufactures custom upholstered furniture tailored uniquely to each client. Our consultants work with residential and commercial applications. Let us help you complete your home or cottage with home furnishings to suit your style.

SPECIALITY STORES

Sweet, Lake of the Woods

150 Main St. S. X

sweetlotw

Satisfy your sweet tooth at Kenora’s chocolate shop. Sweet has become a favourite stop for locals and visitors alike. Hand-made chocolates and sweet treats are made in-store and Sweet offers a variety of to-go coffees, teas and famously delicious hot chocolate and mocha. Striving for consistently excellent products and superior customer service, Sweet will provide you with delicious treats and friendly service.

ByJeffGustafson

Located on the north side of Lake of the Woods, Kenora has been a popular fishing destination for open water anglers for the past century. Anglers from all over the world visit the Kenora area every summer to sample the topnotch fishing opportunities that exist. Over the past couple of decades there has been a big increase in anglers visiting the area to ice fish because the same opportunities are available during the winter months as well.

The increased popularity of ice fishing is due in part to the evolution of equipment that anglers have available today to make fishing more successful and fun. Better clothing and shelters allow us to venture out in any conditions, GPS and sonar units have excellent mapping for choosing fishing locations and we can see if there are fish beneath our holes. Augers and tackle are better while snowmobiles and ATVs can gain us access to remote locations on big lakes and smaller back lakes that may only be accessible by air in the summer. Do you need all of this new stuff to catch fish? Absolutely not, but all of these things can help make the experience more enjoyable if you like to fish.

Over the years I have hosted hundreds of guided trips on the ice, taking people of all skill levels fishing. Nearly every TV fishing show that has taped an ice fishing episode has visited the Kenora area to film shows because there are not many places where you can catch trophy lake trout, walleye, pike, whitefish, perch, stocked trout, crappie and even burbot. If you want action you can find good numbers of all of these species as well. You can catch all of these fish in areas with relatively easy access as well so if you don’t have a snowmobile, you can still get out there on the many ice roads around the area. There are plenty of good guides in the Kenora area as well who can provide all the gear you need for a day of fishing on the ice, you just need to show up with proper clothing.

Jeff Gustafson grew up in Kenora, Ontario, on the shores of Lake of the Woods. He makes his living in the fishing industry as a professional bass tournament angler, guide, writer and fishing promoter. You can find him online at gussyoutdoors.com

Plucking Perch

When I was younger, we didn’t keep perch. It’s walleye country around Kenora and there was a stigma that perch were no good. I can remember watching people break their necks and feed them to the birds; looking back, that was wrong.

On Lake of the Woods, the perch population has exploded in recent years with excellent numbers of big perch. Not only are they easy to catch, they are fantastic to eat. They are very easy to clean—similar to a walleye—and you can cook them any way you like.

Perch can be caught across the northern part of Lake of the Woods but the area on the south side of Coney Island, just out from Kenora along the ice road is one of the best areas on the lake. Fishing in 24 to 32 feet of water around reefs and the ends of points will put you in contact with perch.

When it comes to catching them, small jigs and spoons tipped with minnows work great. They tend to school up so if you fish a spot for a bit and aren’t catching them, just keep moving around until you find them.

Whacking Walleye

Walleye are still the king around Kenora for good reason. They are plentiful on Lake of the Woods as well as many lakes surrounding the city. If you have the gear to get out on Lake of the Woods, you can take a ride south on the ice road from Kenora and find walleyes on the many humps and reefs scattered around the lake. The central section of the lake has the best population of fish, in the area known as the Manitou as well as the area south of 12 Mile Portage. If you’re interested in fishing some of the smaller lakes around town you can use the Ontario Fish ON-Line website to see a listing of the fish species in each body of water in the province, it’s a great tool.

When it comes to catching walleyes, on the big lake, you want to focus on fishing in 28-35 feet of water most days, with good fishing shallower in the prime-time hour just before dark. On some of the smaller lakes, you will find fish shallower. With ice fishing and this goes for all species, if you aren’t catching fish, keep drilling holes until you find them. The days of sitting on a bucket over a hole and getting cold are over. A jig tipped with a minnow or a spoon tipped with a minnow head are top baits on all waters.

I can go on and on about the great fishing opportunities around the Kenora region but we only have so much space here. If you have interest in catching a trophy pike or lake trout or getting into a bunch of crappies, always a hit with kids, they are all plentiful as well. If you are visiting the area, try to connect with a guide who will be able to get you on a good spot to catch all of these fish. Since fishing is such a popular activity around Kenora, most of the hotels around town are accommodating to anglers. Same goes for restaurants and many businesses around town, it is a very welcoming community with some great fishing close by. 

to do

 Walk, Hike or Snowshoe Our most popular summer trails, including Tunnel Island, Vernon Nature Trails, Mink Bay and Rushing River, offer varying degrees of winter wilderness walking and hiking exploration and challenge. The tranquillity is unmatched under a fresh blanket of snow. Parking is available nearby each venue and pack a lunch for a picnic along the route.

 Drop a Line Kenora is world famous for its open-water fishing. Truth be told, its ice fishing is just as great. Including Lake of the Woods, many frozen lakes and rivers surround Kenora and a little exploration will land you on some great fishing holes.

Snowmobiling Since 1989, Sunset Trail Riders has been Kenora’s local Snowmobile Club. Associated with the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC), the local club grooms hundreds of kilometres of trails in the Kenora region reaching westward to the Ontario/Manitoba border. The club offers training programs, a trail guide and updated trail reports, as well as permit information at sunsettrailriders.ca.

Downhill Skiing Mount Evergreen Ski Club is a vital part of Kenora’s outdoor recreational scene. Its downhill venue boasts 11 runs, two t-bar lifts and a terrain park. The Ski Club offers equipment rentals for all ages and sizes and offers individual or group downhill skiing and snowboarding lessons. Day-use and seasonal passes are available on-site. The licensed chalet offers a retreat from the hills with warm drinks and snacks. Follow skikenora.com.

Kenora Recreation Centre Home to Thistle Rink, Kenora Aquatic Centre and Michael Smith Fitness Centre, the Kenora Recreation Centre is the premiere indoor venue of leisure and recreation. The Rec Centre offers instructional fitness classes, swimming lessons, indoor walking track and is a hub for activities on special event days such as school P.D. Days and public holidays.

 The Muse The multi-award winning Lake of the Woods Museum—one of the “coolest little museums in Canada”—and the Douglas Family Art Centre seek to promote understanding of and respect for the cultures and heritage of the Lake of the Woods area, and to engage a diverse community in discovery and learning. Offering inspired exhibits and exhibitions, quality programming, and enriching experiences that make the most of the significant synergies that exist between them, The Muse is well positioned to move into the future.

Kenora Public Libraries

The City of Kenora boasts two public libraries—on Main Street in Kenora and on Ottawa Street in Keewatin which are home to more that 67,000 books, magazines and audio books. The libraries also offer special programming, including a full children’s department of events, games, story times and more in the lower level of the Main Street library.

 Ice Roads Experience the stunning beauty of winterized Lake of the Woods in the comfort of your own vehicle as you can explore hundreds of kilometers of ice roads. Ice roads are plowed from town and stretch to various parts of the lake. Often used by cottagers, contractors and ice fishermen, the roads are well traveled and offer a unique perspective on life in the North. Use caution when driving on the ice and if uncertain, ask an authority.

Cross-Country Skiing At the base of Mount Evergreen, Kenora Nordic Trails consists of 20 kilometers of exceptional trails. Three kilometers are solar lit for night skiing. Day and seasonal passes are available online or at the Mount Evergreen Ski Club chalet.

Approximately 50 kilometers north of Kenora in Minaki are over 20 kilometers of groomed skiing and walking trails. Dogs are welcome to run along with you off-leash. Trail fees do apply.

Enjoy the peace and tranquillity of Rushing River, south of Kenora on Highway 71. 16 kilometres of groomed trails await your discovery and range from easy to challenging. Winter day passes are purchasable at the self-serve fee station.

 Skate Outdoors The Whitecap Pavilion houses a covered and wind-sheltered ice rink from the coldest of December through to the spring melt. No pucks or hockey are permitted so you can teach a youngster to skate or glide around for yourself. For hockey and more outdoor skating drop by one of the few community club rinks scattered around the city. Every day you can expect some form of pick-up hockey with neighbourhood kids and adults alike. New this winter: Rabbit Lake Skating Trail. Enjoy a kilometrelong skating loop on Rabbit Lake. The trail will be maintained all winter long and is free for all to enjoy. Access the trail near the Bunny Street bus stop adjacent to the ball diamonds.

Public Skating

Every Wednesday 1:00–2:30 p.m. at the Kenora Recreation Centre

Every Wednesday 6:00–7:30 p.m. at the Keewatin Memorial Arena

The Good Ol’ Hockey Game

Kenora is a hockey town. Community members and visitors are welcome to enjoy hockey of all levels throughout the winter with games and tournaments at Thistle Rink in the Kenora Recreation Centre and Keewatin Arena. Both the Lake of the Woods Minor Hockey Association and Lake of the Woods Girls Hockey Association host a series of tournaments for ages Novice through Midget. Boys and girls high school teams from Saint Thomas Aquinas and Beaver Brae Secondary play all winter long, and the Kenora Midget AAA Thistles play 20+ home games against rivals from the Manitoba Midget AAA Hockey League. Here is a preview of the 2019/2020 tournament schedule.

November 15-17 AA Atom Thistles Tournament

November 22-24 LOW Girls Hockey Atom/Peewee Tournament

November 29 - 1 AA Peewee Thistles Tournament

December 6-8 LOW Minor Hockey Bantam Tournament

December 13-15 Beaver Brae Broncos Girls High School Tournament

January 3-5 LOW Girls Hockey Bantam/Midget Tournament

January 10-12 AA Bantam Thistles Tournament

January 31-Feb 2 LOW Minor Hockey Novice Tournament

February 7-9 LOW Minor Hockey Peewee Tournament

February 21-23 LOW Minor Hockey Atom Tournament

April 9-12 North American First Nations Hockey Tournament

April 15-19 Hockey for Health 3-on-3 Tournament

March 6-8 March 6-8

The Kenora Games will feature challenging and exciting events and activities for the whole family!

n Snow Sculpture Competition

n Frosty Foot Race

n Matiowski Winter Market

n Kid’s Skating and Agility Event

n Fireworks and much more!

Click on the Winter Carnival link at kenora.ca for the full Kenora Winter Carnival Events Schedule. Follow Tourism Kenora on Facebook for updates on Winter Carnival and all the other great events Kenora has to offer this winter!

BU ILDING DRE A M S

LAKE OF THE WOODS

ICE PATROL

BY TIM ARMSTRONG

The Lake of the Woods Ice Patrol didn’t leap into existence in April of 2014 as a fully-formed website with aerial photographs, satellite imagery, commentary and graphs.

It began much earlier, with a simple question in the spring of 1990. “Can I get to my camp yet?” It turned out to be an important question for a lot of people. Because Lake of the Woods is so full of islands, you cannot tell how much of the lake is open simply by walking down to the waterfront.

My friends Brian and Linda were frustrated because a long cold boat ride could them get close to their cottage, but ice on the home stretch prevented them from reaching their property.

As a professional pilot, I could see vast stretches of the lake as I came in to land at the Kenora airport, and a small detour let me look at their camp on Treaty Island. Their problem was an ice-road. These are laid out where the ice is thick and strong to begin with, and plowing them clear of snow makes the ice even thicker, so they are slow to melt. I began keeping my friends updated on how the thaw was going. From those early verbal reports, the Ice Patrol began to grow more sophisticated. In 2003, I bought a modest digital camera, and on the camera’s tiny screen, I could show my friends the pictures the same day I took them.

I began emailing pictures to some other people with camps a little further out. As that got more complicated, opening a Photobucket account reduced the upload time, but commentary was limited to short captions, so it was hard to explain what was shown in each picture, or what it meant in terms of overall progress.

In 2014, it occurred to me that I could do more with Ice Patrol if I did it as a blog, and it turns out WordPress will let you post a lot of pictures. Lake of the Woods Ice Patrol became part of the internet, accessible to anyone, not just subscribers. I thought I might expand my reach from a dozen or so acquaintances to perhaps as many as a hundred people.

By late April of 2019, Lake of the Woods had a lot of open water near Kenora, but ice still blocked boaters from going very far. Kenora is at the lower right in this shot looking west.

But the spring of 2014 was a miserably cold season with a late thaw that threatened to jeopardize the May long weekend. People were desperate for news. Word began to spread, and Ice Patrol started racking up thousands of hits.

All of those new visitors needed some perspective, so I drew my first graph to show when the lake had finished melting in recent years.

A lot of people wrote in to ask me stuff, and I realized I needed a Frequently Asked Questions page.

And then a wonderful thing happened. People began helping me. Not just my co-workers at MAG Canada, who have always been good about taking pictures, or assigning me to training flights that took me over the lake with more freedom to move around, but complete strangers.

Pilots who were passing by sent me snapshots. These range from beautiful landscapes shot from small planes at low altitudes to enormous vistas taken from high-flying airliners.

A couple of people who had kept diaries of the ice-out date at their camp shared their information with me, and their records went back many years further.

Someone pointed me to the University of Wisconsin’s satellite imagery site, and I got permission from the head of the program to put extracts from some of their photographs on the website. As I don’t often fly on the weekends, this grew into Satellite Saturdays, now a regular feature of Ice Patrol.

A fellow called Sean started graphing temperature trends for me, and clued me in to how the spring thaw really gets under way only when the mean daily temperature rises consistently above freezing. From there, using weather forecasts, he could estimate how long it might take to thaw the whole lake. There are many variables, so we’re still working on refining this process.

Boaters started using the comments section to report how far they had been able venture on the water, providing details helpful to their neighbours on the lake.

I’ve learned that the basic process of thawing Lake of the Woods goes like this. Some areas with strong currents begin to open up in March, but overall, the ice is still growing thicker until daily temperatures are above freezing more than they are below.

A photo taken in late March of 2019: the camera was pointing north, and downtown Kenora is in the upper right corner. There is open water in Keewatin Channel and Safety Bay, where currents are strong, but sturdy ice everywhere else. Ice roads are prominent in the foreground.

As temperatures rise in the spring months, and the sun rises higher, the melting becomes more widespread, and the quality of the ice deteriorates everywhere.

Once half the lake is open, wind starts moving the ice around and the process accelerates.

Every year follows a similar pattern, but the timing varies widely. Some years the lake is ice-free in mid-April, but in other years, ice has lasted until late May. One big variable is how thick the ice is. A long cold winter lays down a much more ice than a mild one. Then, when the thaw begins, spring weather can do almost anything, ranging from summery heat one April to wintry cold snaps in another. A timely rainfall can strip off the ice’s snow-cover, speeding up the thaw, but a late snowstorm can do the opposite. Trying to forecast the thaw is frustrating, but watching it unfold can be fascinating.

In recent years, although most visitors have logged onto Ice Patrol from Canada or the USA, there have been visits from over a hundred different countries. Not just the obvious winter homes for property owners who are snowbirds, such as Caribbean islands, Mexico and the US, but also less likely places like Australia and Japan, and some downright baffling ones like Nepal and Ethiopia.

During the final weeks of last year’s thaw, Ice Patrol saw more traffic than ever, racking up over 15,000 clicks a week, and sometimes more than three thousand visits per day. The site goes dormant after the ice is gone, with articles very rarely posted outside the six to eight weeks of the thaw.

Whether you’re local, and simply want to know if your favourite island will be reachable soon, or if you’re wintering far away and need to plan your travel arrangements well in advance, Lake of the Woods Ice Patrol is a resource that can help. Google it, or just type icepatrol.ca into your browser. 

About Tim Armstrong

Tim has been a pilot for over forty years, and has lived in Kenora since 1985, when he took a job as a radio announcer at CJRL. In 1988, he returned to his flying career as a float pilot for Walsten Air (1986) Ltd. It wasn’t long before he was based at the airport and working yearround. The company has undergone a lot of changes since then: the float base was sold off and the company has changed hands and been renamed. The planes Tim flies now for MAG Canada are Beechcraft King Airs: pressurized turbine twins that cruise at about 500 kilometers per hour. It would be expensive to charter them for photography excursions, so Tim takes most of his pictures while arriving at or departing from the Kenora airport, or during training flights. Tim’s other hobby is writing science fiction under the pen name Timothy Gwyn. He has published stories with NewMyths.com and Antipodean SF, and his novel Avians is available online or at Elizabeth Campbell Books on Main Street.

One of the MAG Canada King Airs used for Ice Patrol.

In 2019, large stretches of water were navigable by early May, but areas with less current were still ice-covered.

KENORA & LAKE OF THE WOODS

AT A GLANCE

15,096

8 KEY SECTORS

The population of the City of Kenora is 15,096 per the 2016 Census. The median age is 44.9 years. In the summer months, the population doubles as seasonal residents are drawn to the water based playground of Kenora and Lake of the Woods.

The economy of the City of Kenora is primarily driven by eight key sectors including healthcare, public service, tourism, construction, value-added forestry, manufacturing, mining services and culture and recreation.

40 AREA

Kenora offers a wide variety of dining options at over 40 area restaurants featuring local and regional fare. Residents and tourists alike enjoy opportunities to dine on outdoor waterfront patios or at restaurants located in heritage buildings.

1 AMAZING MUSEUM

CAA called it one of the coolest little museums in Canada. The Lake of the Woods Museum was established in 1964 and seeks to promote understanding of and respect for the cultures and heritage of the Lake of the Woods area, and to engage a diverse community in discovery and learning.

2 PUBLIC LIBRARIES

There are two libraries in the City of Kenora: the Kenora branch and the Keewatin branch. The collections, consisting of more than 67,000 books, magazines, as well as audio and video tapes, can be viewed online or at the libraries.

There are two school boards in Kenora: Keewatin Patricia District School Board with an enrollment of 5,200 and Kenora Catholic District School Board with an enrollment of 1,480 in 2016.

5 PUBLIC BEACHES

2 2 RESTAURANTS SCHOOL BOARDS

The City of Kenora has five public beaches: Anicinabe Beach, Garrow Park Beach, Keewatin Beach, Norman Park Beach, and Coney Island Beach.

POST-SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS

Confederation College and Seven Generations Education Institute offer post-secondary education and training opportunities in Kenora.

I came to Kenora to gain professional experience in the Human Resources field. Three years later I am still here loving my job at Lake of the Woods Brewing Company, have become the Community Coordinator for Cloverbelt Local Food Co op, purchased a home, making memories and building a life here in Kenora. Kenora is a great place to explore the outdoors, raise a family and has many great professional/entrepreneurial opportunities for people to take advantage of by moving here.

JESSALYN WATT

LAKE OF THE WOODS BREWING COMPANY

There’s a beautiful dream life, right here.

Natural beauty, and a sense of community, with an urban advantage. Interested in choosing Kenora? Visit our website for more information: ChooseKenora.ca

facebook.com/ChooseKenora instagram.com/ChooseKenora

Sunset Trail Riders

In 1989 a group of snowmobilers met at the Pellatt United Fire Fighters Fire Hall in LacLu, coming together to form the Sunset Trails Riders (STR). These local snowmobilers (sledders) worked to create a network of snowmobile trails in the Kenora area and were originally part of SnoMan, Manitoba's snowmobile governing body, for liability insurance purposes. In 1991 STR snowmobile club joined the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) to be included in the development of a Trans Ontario Provincial Trail and promotion of snowmobiling as winter recreation and winter tourism across the Province of Ontario.

Today there are over 600 members of STR snowmobile club with 45 per cent of the membership coming in from Manitoba. These members purchase the required permit to ride prescribed OFSC trails knowing the fees are collected to maintain excellent trail conditions the area has come to expect.

A dedicated group of volunteers take on all the work of trail maintenance—cutting and clearing trails, placing over 4,000 trail marker stakes and signs in the fall, removing them in the spring, and even operating one of the three full-size groomers. Volunteers begin working on the trails each October using all their own chainsaws, 4-wheelers, snow machines and other equipment. Some trails are not

accessible until January when the thickness of good, blue ice has reached six inches, and up to the 16 inches required for groomers. The readiness of the ice is important for the safety of the volunteers and the use of groomers across frozen swamps and waterways.

The club is always looking for volunteers to keep trails in exceptional riding conditions for all members to enjoy. The STR board meets regularly and welcomes new members who may have some time to work on trails or organize riding events.

To find out more about current trail conditions and volunteer opportunities, visit sunsettrailriders.ca.

STR MAINTAINS & RIDES

600 KM

OF MAINTAINED TRAILS

INCLUDES 250 KM LAND TRAILS AND 350 KM LAKE TRAILS, CONNECTING THE MANITOBA BORDER TO THE REST OF ONTARIO & THE USA

VOLUNTEER POWER!

4,000 HRS OF TRAIL MAINTENANCE

700+ HRS OF GROOMER OPERATION

PERMIT FEES HELP COVER COSTS FOR 5 WARM-UP SHELTERS AS WELL AS TRAIL MAINTENANCE, CLUB LIABILITY INSURANCE, MANDATORY MEMBERSHIP IN OFSC, + 3 TRAIL GROOMERS

— PURCHASE PERMITS — ONLY AT OFSC.CA

SEASONAL • CLASSIC • 2-DAY STR MEMEBERSHIP INCLUDED

REGULAR MEETINGS OCTOBER – APRIL

TUESDAYS AT 7:00 PM

NEW MEMBERS WELCOME

VOLUNTEERS ALWAYS NEEDED!

to eat

Seafood Linguini 

Shrimp and scallops with sautéed peppers, mushrooms in a creamy pesto sauce. Served with soup or salad and garlic bread.

Dino’s Restaurant. 206 Second Street S.

Fat Bob 

Signature burger includes tomatoes, onions and lettuce with mustard, mayo, pickles and chili.

Bob’s Burger Bar. 152 Main Street S.

Chicken & Rib 

Sweet chili glazed chicken breast with half rack of our chipotle maple BBQ ribs. Served with vegetables, soup/salad and choice of potatoes and rice.

Yesterday’s Restaurant. 800 Highway 17 E.

Combo Plate 

1/4 lb pulled pork, 1/4 lb smoked brisket and a half rack of ribs all together on one tasty plate of bbq goodness. Lake of the Woods Brewing Company. 350 Second Street S.

Creole Walleye 

Blackened or crispy fried Cajun style walleye served with fresh lime and grilled corn salsa.

Clarion Waterside Restaurant & Lounge. 470 First Ave S.

Chicken A La Greek 

Chicken skewer with rice pilaf, tzatziki and grilled pita. Served with Greek salad. Plaza Restaurant. 125 Main Street S.

Clubhouse



Double stacked, lettuce, tomato, cheese, bacon, fresh turkey, mayo. Uptown Restaurant. 204 Second Street S.

Kitchen Sink Chocolate Bark 

Made on-site using premium Belgian dark chocolate, Kitchen Sink bark is sweet and salty. Sweet LOTW. 150 Main Street S.

CASUAL & FINE DINING

Bob’s Burger Bar

152 Main St. S. | (807) 468-4701

X bobsburgerbarkenora

Bob’s Burger Bar is home to the “Fat Bob”—a succulent 5.2 ounce, freshnever-frozen, homemade chuck ground patty, decked to the top with lettuce, tomato, mayo, onion, pickle and Bob’s special chili. And, there’s more to love than the burgers. Serving a variety of soups, salads, sandwiches and wraps, along with Friday steak night and Saturday night prime rib, Bob’s Burger Bar is an open concept lunch and dinner restaurant with second-level seating, large projection screen and a 10-beer draft system. Private functions available. Follow on Facebook for music events, trivia nights and more.

Clarion Waterside Restaurant & Lounge

470 First Ave. S. | (807) 468-5521

X Lakeside Inn and Conference Centre

The Clarion’s Waterside Restaurant & Lounge offers a one-of-a-kind view of Kenora and Lake of the Woods to enhance your dining experience. Whether you want a fine dining experience or pubstyle meal, our menu has just what you’re looking for. With daily dinner specials and the best Sunday brunch in town, you’re sure to come back time and again. Come for the view; come back for the whole package.

kenorastuff.com

Ho Joe Coffee & Eatery

103 Main St. S. | (807) 468-6111

hojoe.ca

Reminding you why we love the winter season—located at 103 Main Street. Ho Joe offers hearty homemade soups, fresh baked goods and hot Espresso drinks like the Blondie. The cafe caters to tea lovers with its Kenora-inspired tea lattes, such as Kenora Mist and the Argyle. Have a breakfast craving? The breakfast panini is served all day. If you can’t get enough Ho Joe, bring the custom-roast coffee home with you. Don’t forget to watch for holiday favourites like the Eggnog latte. Full menu online.

Lake of the Woods Brewing Company

350 Second St. S. (807) 468-BEER (2337) lowbrewco.com

Proud to be Ontario’s northernmost brewery. Located in Kenora’s historic firehall in downtown Kenora, the Taproom & Eatery offers upscale pub-style grub with a local, northern twist. Craft beer fan? We brew our beer right here… and there’s always something new on tap with flagship brews like Sultana Gold Blonde Ale, Channel Marker Dry Hopped Citra Light Lager, Firehouse English Nut Brown Ale and Forgotten Lake Blueberry Ale… all pouring alongside unique, seasonal, small batch brews. Check out our new locations in Warroad, Minnesota and Winnipeg, Manitoba—closing the loop on Lake of the Woods. Hit us up on social media @lowbrewco #makeitlaketime

MKenoraStuff

Uptown Restaurant

204 Second Street S. (807) 407-0561

X uptownkenora

Enjoy home-style cooked breakfast and lunch at Uptown Restaurant. Nestled in a cozy dining room on Second Street, Uptown has an expansive and delicious menu; serving breakfast and lunch specials every day. Uptown is known for its fast and friendly service and has a very kid-friendly atmosphere. Open 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Yesterday’s Restaurant

800 Highway 17 E | (807) 468-3155

Yesterday’s is situated in Kenora’s Travelodge Hotel on Highway 17 East. Open 7 days a week 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. there is no excuse you’ve missed it. Yesterday’s Restaurant is one of the most fabulous places for breakfast in town. Indulge in the breakfast special or famous steak and eggs benedict. During lunch, serve up home-made soup and daily feature. The dinner menu offers burgers, steak, veal, ribs and much more. This family style restaurant is licensed by Thirsty’s Lounge. Make Yesterday’s Restaurant today’s dining selection, you won’t regret it.

kenorastuff.com

MEDITERRANEAN

Dino’s Restaurant

206 Second St. S | (807) 468-3103

X Dino’s Restaurant

Dino’s has been a hidden jewel on Second Street since 1982. Family owned and operated, Dino’s has always strived for consistent excellence in both food and service. Everything is made from scratch. Dino’s menu offers a wide variety of delicious culinary treats along with great wines from all over the world. Visit Dino’s for lunch or dinner and you will come to understand why this intimate dining room has become a local’s favourite. Open Tuesday to Friday For lunch and dinner and Saturday evenings. Reservations recommended. Dine in or take out.

Plaza Restaurant

125 Main St. S. | (807) 468-8173

plazakenora.com

The Plaza is celebrating 50 years! What began as a simple diner back in 1969 has evolved into one of Kenora’s iconic restaurants. The Adamopoulos family introduced Kenora and the Lake of the Woods area to the Mediterranean diet and the “Greek” way of life through their love of great food, fine wines and warm hospitality. Not a fan of Greek food? No problem. The Plaza also offers delicious pastas, full-flavoured steaks, succulent seafood, savoury ribs and of course mouth-watering Lake of the Woods walleye. Open for lunch

Thursday and Friday and dinner Tuesday - Saturday. Follow us on Facebook for our daily Early Bird feature and take-out and dinner specials.

Brewers Inn 805 St Clair Street (807) 547-2471 brewersinn.com

Edgewater Beach Camp 3 Outen Lane (807) 407-0337 edgewaterbeachcamp.ca

Clarion Lakeside Inn 470 1st Avenue S (807) 468-5521

Toll Free: 1 (800) 465-1120 choicehotels.com/cna65

KENORA INN MOTEL

Kenora Inn Motel 1429 River Drive (807) 468-3071 kenorainnmotel.com

Comfort Inn Kenora 1230 Hwy 17 E (807) 468-8845

Toll Free: 1 (866) 299-5370 kenoracomfortinn.com

Days Inn Kenora 920 Hwy 17 E (807) 468-2003 daysinnkenora@gmail.com daysinn.ca

Lake-Vu Motel 740 Lakeview Drive Toll Free: 1 (866) 594-6366 lake-vu.ca

Luby’s Motel Hwy 17 E (807) 468-3044

Nature’s Inn 1505 Erie Street (807) 547-2888 naturesinn.ca

Perch Bay Resort 50 Darlington Drive Toll Free: 1 (866) 495-4545 perchbay.com

Super 8 by Wyndham Kenora 240 Lakeview Drive Toll Free: 1 (800) 800-8000 wyndhamhotels.com

Traveler’s Inn 700 8th Avenue South (807) 468-5916

Travelodge Kenora 800 Hwy 17 E

Toll Free: 1 (800) 465-1127

travelodge.ca/property /travelodge-kenora

The Waterview Inn 630 Lakeview Drive (807) 468-3389 thewaterviewinn.com

Visitor Resources

Lake of the Woods Discovery Centre

The Discovery Centre has recently acquired various display components to enhance itself as a tourist destination. Experience a vintage outboard motor collection as well as Northern Nature Traders exhibit.

Outside the Discovery Centre you can experience the interpretative forest which depicts natural species with signage in English and Ojibway. This signage explains the uses of the many species by the First Nations Peoples. The Discovery Forest is truly a grass roots culture experience. The Lake of the Woods Discovery Centre explores the many aspects which make Kenora so unique – come discover for yourself! Located at 931 Lakeview Drive, Kenora. (807) 467-4636 or toll free 1-800-535-4549

Winter Hours

Monday - Sunday, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

•WELCOME TO THE•

LAKE

Welcome to our playground. Cabin Country realty ltd. Started in 1990 with the intention of helping families and couples find their perfect getaway property in some of the most spectacular scenery in Canada – Kenora and Lake of the Woods. Since then, we’ve assembled an expert team and helped just about every type of lakefront buyer and seller in the area. Let us help you find your next vacation home, forever home or investment property and this area will be your playground too.

www.cabincountry.com

138 MAIN ST

KENORA - LAKE OF THE WOODS