May 2011 by The Walleye Magazine

walleye the

Thunder Bay’s arts & culture alternative

ARTS CULTURE MUSIC FOOD FILM

FREE Vol 2 No 5

M A Y

2 01 1

t h e w a l l e y e . c a

Spring Chicken Thunder Bay’s Black Market Poultry

Beer Tasting. p 18

Active Transportation p 20

Roller Derby. p 23

Charlie Wilkins p 29 The Walleye

NO MORE

EXCUSES You BeloNg oN our New NeTwork

Acer Liquid MT BlackBerry Torch 9800

The waiT is over Now You Can Upgrade Early. Tbaytel will waive the last 12 months of your mobility term. So what are you waiting for? Get your hands on the newest, coolest devices and make a better connection to the neighbourhood.

Samsung Galaxy S. Captivate

TRY “TBAYTEL CALLING” FOR FREE

2 MoNThs Free Unlimited tbaytel Calling

CALL over 160,000 tbAyte A Ayte L LAndLine And mobiLity

Customers, Anytime new customers receive uP to A

$150 competitive contract credit

Visit any Authorized Tbaytel Dealer Touch Unwired (Lithium Drive or Intercity Shopping Centre), CRC Communications, Lakehead Communications, The Power Centre, and Teleco

623-4400 | 1-800-264-9501 | tbaytel.net Offer available until May 30, 2011. Devices are available while quantities last, no rainchecks will be provided. Cannot be combined with any other mobility offer. Offer available only where 3G HSPA Network is available. 2 or 3 year voice and data commitment required for smartphones. 2 or 3 year voice commitment required for cellular phones. Unlimited Tbaytel Calling only available while on the Tbaytel network. Competitive Contract Credit is up to $150 after taxes. BlackBerry®, RIM®, Research In Motion®, SureType® and related trademarks, names and logos are the property of Research In Motion Limited and are registered and/or used in the U.S. and countries around the world. Used under license from Research In Motion Limited.

walleye the

Thunder Bay’s arts & culture alternative

Editor-in-chief Darren McChristie Editor Tiffany Jarva Contributing Editor Rebekah Skochinski Photographers Darren McChristie, John-Paul Marion, Storm Carroll, Chris Merkley, Dave Koski, Tara George Art Director Dave Koski Copy Editors Amy Jones, Nancy Saunders Business Manager Doug McChristie Advertising Sales Tracy Sadgrove 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 © 2011 by Superior Outdoors Inc. All Rights Reserved. Editorial and Advertising: Submissions must be accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Superior Outdoors cannot be held responsible for unsolicited material. Superior Outdoors Inc. Suite 242, 1100 Memorial Avenue, Thunder Bay, Ontario P7B 4A3 Telephone (807) 624-1215 ; Fax (807) 623-5122 E-mail: info@superioroutdoors.ca Printed in Canada Superior Outdoors Inc donates 1% of all sales to 1% for the Planet

www.onepercentfortheplanet.com

www.TheWalleye.ca

On the Cover A local chicken farmer with one-week old chicks. Photo by John-Paul Marion In error: April’s Church Architecture Piece Margaret Demillo took ALL the church photos with exception of the bell photo by Melissa Thivierge and the labyrinth photo by Rev. Deborah Kraft.

Editor’s Letter Eat local. We are being told time and time again about the health and economical benefits of eating local produce and locally raised, free-range, hormone-free meat. In Thunder Bay and region, farmers are doing their best to provide us with good, quality food. Unfortunately, when it comes to locally raised chicken or turkey, we don’t have a local poultry abattoir, and as a result, there are many rules and regulations that must be followed by our poultry farmers or they’re potentially subject to hefty fines (up to $25,000 for certain infractions!). In our “Spring Chicken” cover story, writer Michelle McChristie tries to make sense of some of the regulations, chats with some local famers about their challenges, and looks at the need for a local abattoir. We also profile the efforts of some local dairy, meat and egg farmers and what’s up at local greenhouses. Speaking of greenhouses, May Long Weekend often marks the beginning of backyard gardening. Oh, May 2-4. I have often wondered if Queen Victoria would roll over in her grave if she knew that her birth date is often synonymous with a case of 24 beer and the beginning of “beer drinking” season. Victoria Day or May Long was first celebrated in Ontario in 1845 before it became a national holiday in 1901, known in these early days as Empire Day. As the first official province to celebrate Victoria Day, no wonder Ontario is crazy for May Long. I’d hazard a guess that May 24 isn’t celebrated with quite the same vigour elsewhere as it is in Ontario. For instance if you are from Ontario and you move to or visit BC you learn quickly that a case is only 12 beer - newly-landed young Ontarians upon hearing this can be flabbergasted, mumbling in disbelief, stumbling out the door while trying to balance two to four 12 packs at a time to celebrate May 24 their way. In northwestern Ontario, May 2-4 symbolically marks the unofficial beginning of summer (symbolic because hot summer-like temps are still pretty rare here). Whether you plan on celebrating on your urban deck or by a campfire, sommelier Jeannie Dubois offers up some tasty May 2-4 drink suggestions – and hold on to your frosted mugs because they’re, gasp, not all about beer. Mother’s Day. It’s the biggest flower-sending day of the year for a reason – we all love our moms. This year, think about spending some quality time together and treat mom to a homemade brunch – check out tips and recipe by Rachel Globensky in our food department, or make some plans to be outside and active with your family (see Active Transportation in our Living Green section). Hopefully we can finally say adieu to winter (it’s been a long one!), enjoy more sun and the longer days that are May. -TJ The Walleye

John-Paul Marion

Contents

FEATURES

■

6 CoverStory: Spring Chickens

■ 8 I am a Carnivore ■ 9 Farming Thunder Bay ■ 10 Local Greenhouses MUSIC ■ 12 Doobie Brothers ■ 12 Scott Woods Band ■ 13 TBSO Ode to Joy ■ 13 Greasy Creases ■ 14 Hellbound Hepcats ■ 14 Elizabeth Shepherd ■ 15 Alaska Army Band

FOOD ■ 16 Brunch at Home ■ 17 Brunch on the town ■ 18 Beer outside the box ■ 18 Beer tasting

CITYSCENE ■ 22 Dance for Memories ■ 23 Roller Derby - TBay vs. Duluth

LIVING GREEN ■ 19 Superior Seasons Food Market ■ 20 Active Transportation ■ 21 EcoSuperior Question of the Month

FILM & THEATRE ■ 25 Northern Grown

ARCHITECTURE ■ 24 EcoTaiga Ventures

THE ARTS ■ 26 Kate Church ■ 26 Carol Cooper ■ 26 Jennine Ross & Robin Armstrong ■ 27 Painted Turtle

■ 16 Drink of the Month ■ 27 ZYGOTE bop ■ 32 Off the Wall Reviews ■ 26 May EVENTS Guide ■ 33 The Wall ■ 34 The EYE

The Walleye Classifieds $9.99 for 30 days, in print and on the web. people. places. things.

www.TheWalleye.ca/classifieds

The Walleye

the

The Tempest

Paramount Theatre May 5-7, 11-14

This month, Cambrian Players is presenting The Tempest - one of William Shakespeare’s greatest works. Believed to be the last play that Shakespeare wrote alone (circa 1610), The Tempest is full of music, magic, love, and delights of all sorts. “Be not afraid; the isle is full of noises...” says Caliban, the brutish offspring of demonic parents. The play is directed by Eva Burkowski and features local actors. Showtimes are at 8 pm on May 5-7, 11-14; tickets are $10 at the door on May 5 (preview night) and otherwise $15-20, available at Steepers and Fireweed. www.cambrianplayers.ca

Mother’s Day May 8

May 29 Chippewa Park

Coco Love Alcorn May 5 Black Pirates Pub

Coco Love Alcorn is best-described as a joyful and genuine performer with an extraordinary voice and witty personality. Her musical influences include jazz, pop, R&B and folk - she is known for improvising in live performances while charming the audience. Her latest album, Joyful, includes songs about love, life and social awareness. Songs like “Revolution” are catchy and uplifting (you’ve know it if you listen to CBC Radio 2). Coco Love Solo is a new collection of seven songs sold only at live shows. Performed and recorded over the course of a single evening in her own home, the collection is presented in hand-done packaging that has been silk screened by her partner and sewn by Coco. www.cocolovealcorn.com

10 Mile Road Race

Darren McChristie

May 23 Simpson Street - Fort William Road

At 9:00 am, a loud bang from the starter’s pistol and cheers from spectators will mark the start of the 10 Mile Road Race. Last year was an amazing race with Gilbert Kiptoo Ziwa, from Kenya, winning in a time of 49:50 (wow, that’s fast!). If your idea of the May 2-4 does not include lacing up your shoes to pound the pavement, come out to cheer on the participants or, better yet, volunteer to help make the event a success. www.10mileroadrace.org

Kite Festival

The Kite Festival features kite workshops, demonstrations, crafts, music and food, and the rides at Chippewa Park will be open. Once again the Kitchener-Waterloo Windclimbers, Toronto Kite Fliers and the New York Kite Enthusiasts will be participating – these clubs travel around the world entertaining crowds with their unique, colourful and spectacular kite demonstrations. This year marks the festival’s 30th anniversary. Enjoy a relaxed family event with a scenic backdrop of Lake Superior and Mount McKay - admission is free (12-4:00), Chippewa Park is accessible by public transit and there is plenty of parking. www.thunderbay.ca

Although it is tempting to fluff off Mother’s Day as a commercial holiday, most people need a reminder to take some time to show appreciation for their mother. The key is to focus on what the day is about and not just grab a card and bunch of flowers from a grocery store on the way over to your mom’s house. We recommend cooking for your mother, or treating her to a day on the town (our favourites include brunch at The Valhalla or Ruby Moon) or a scenic drive to the country (book early for lunch at Rose Valley Lodge in South Gilles).

TOPfive

The Walleye

all photos: John-Paul Marion

CoverStory

If you’ve never tried locally-raised chicken, you are missing out on some of the plumpest, juiciest, and tastiest meat available. For some people, once they’ve tasted local chicken - or other types of poultry, such as turkey or duck - they won’t even consider supermarket meat that is shrink-wrapped on Styrofoam trays and shipped from afar. Plus, local chicken supports small-scale producers that are committed to the humane treatment of their birds, using high quality feeds and minimizing the use of antibiotics. There is one minor technicality: it is currently illegal to sell, transport or deliver locallyraised poultry in Thunder Bay. This is because we do not have a licensed poultry abattoir - a critical component for legal poultry production. The penalty associated with such a crime can be as high as $25,000 for a first offense and, as a result, local farmers have gone underground and incognito. For local farmer, James Francis,* tasting local chicken at a friend’s house motivated him to start raising his own poultry. Francis now raises two types of meat birds - chicken and duck and receives a lot of requests from would-be customers. His birds are “free range” which means they are raised in an open barn and have open access to an outdoor run. According to Francis, there are “definitely people willing to pay the price for locally-raised, free range

The Walleye

poultry.” He says people are selling poultry illegally and that $3.50/pound is the going rate for whole chicken. In Thunder Bay, poultry is sold through a small “black market” because the Meat Regulation under Ontario’s Food Safety and Quality Act prohibits the sale, transport, delivery or distribution of meat unless the animal was inspected prior to slaughter and approved for slaughter, and then inspected following slaughter and approved for use as food.

Further to this, the animal must be slaughtered in a plant operated by a provincially-licensed operator or a federally-registered establishment and the meat must be stamped, labeled or tagged with an inspection legend. Selling a live bird is okay, but not many

people are willing to drive it home and complete the dirty work necessary to make it a centerpiece for dinner. It is also okay for a farmer to raise poultry and consume the meat and also share the meat with members of his/her immediate family, but only on the property on which the chicken was raised. Chances are, if you’ve tasted local poultry, you’ve been an accessory, or a witness, to a crime. All of this regulation might sound like overkill, but it is part of what the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) calls “one of the most comprehensive provincial meat inspection systems in Canada.” Because an inspector is present anytime slaughter is taking place at a licensed abattoir, consumers can be assured that the animal was healthy and fit for introduction to the food chain. Francis agrees, he says there are “good reasons for the regulations - we all hope the people processing and selling poultry know what they are doing, OMAFRA is out to protect consumers...it makes sense.” Unfortunately, the regulatory regime is also a source of confusion for local farmers, like John Francis. He has sold poultry and had intended to continue the practice because he was advised it is legal to sell at the farm gate, provided the quota requirement of 300 birds is not exceeded (quotas are

CoverStory In Thunder Bay, poultry is sold through a small “black market” because the Meat Regulation under Ontario’s Food Safety and Quality Act prohibits the sale, transport, delivery or distribution of meat unless the animal was inspected prior to slaughter and approved for slaughter, and then inspected following slaughter and approved for use as food.

Spring Chickens A Case of Poultry Pandemonium by Michelle McChristie

administered by the Chicken Farmers of Ontario). After learning the facts, he compared selling poultry to “playing Russian roulette” because the rumour among poultry farmers is that OMAFRA is “cracking down.” Francis added that poultry is easily traced, “OMAFRA could review the sales records for day-old chicks (though local feed stores) and inspect farmers’ freezers - technically, every day-old chick should be in the farmer’s freezer after about eight weeks...although a few might be sold live.” He said some farmers, in an effort to cover their tracks and satisfy their customers cravings for local poultry, order chicks from out-of-province.

It all seems a bit ridiculous, especially since the solution is so obvious - establish a licensed poultry abattoir in the Thunder Bay area. The Food Security

Research Network (FSRN) is working with community partners, such as OMAFRA, Thunder Bay Feeds and Lakehead University find a solution to the poultry predicament. On April 15, a group of fourth-year marketing students presented their research that characterized Thunder Bay’s poultry-eating population and quantified the demand for local poultry. The students concluded that consumers view local poultry as a higher quality and healthier product than conventional, supermarket poultry, that the demand for local chicken is on the rise, and that knowledge of the benefits of buying local poultry is the key to further increasing demand. The students predicted the 2012 market demand for local poultry could be upwards of $115, 000 (the equivalent to roughly 9580 chickens) and stated that the “demand can be reached effectively by small flock farmers [farmers that sell less then 300 birds per year] in Thunder Bay.” According to the students “there are anywhere from 130-180 farmers currently raising poultry in Thunder Bay” and “there is a much larger potential group of farmers willing to raise poultry, if an abattoir existed.” It seems all of the ingredients for a legal poultry trade exist, so what’s next? The FSRN hopes that the L.U. studies are the first step in a larger project that will lead to the establishment of a poultry

abattoir in the Thunder Bay area. According to John Perrier, co-owner of Thunder Bay Feeds, “We know not everybody wants to eat local chicken, but the people who do can have that option. And the people who raise it will be able to sell it. This can all be accomplished with an approved poultry processing facility right here in Thunder Bay.” Raili Roy, the FSRN’s Community Liaison adds that “staff from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs are willing to guide the process to ensure that at the end a building is constructed that can be certified to operate.” Maybe someday soon, someone will seize what seems like a sustainable business opportunity and open a poultry abattoir. This would provide consumers with the assurance of food safety, the satisfaction of supporting local farmers, and the knowledge that buying local does not have to jeopardize the livelihood of the farmer. Maybe someday soon, local poultry farmers can come out of hiding and the cover of The Walleye will feature a proud farmer, showcasing his/her poultry operation. *name changed to protect the farmer’s identity

The Walleye

CoverStory

I Am Carnivore A meat-eating city girl wonders if she’s up to killing her own food

Shane Warwick

I am a carnivore. I grew up sampling (albeit with a smattering of very short-lived, disdainful stages of refusal) a wide variety of animal meat, some purchased— neatly stripped of any sign of life and wrapped in cellophane or hidden in paper— and others hunted down on various landscapes by my father. I have never been able to summon the courage to hunt myself, although I have had a few lessons on how to set fly an arrow or two. As time has passed, I have acknowledged that my meat-eating habits are cowardly and naive. However, I have never really faced this truth in any significant way.

Several months ago, I was presented with an offer that I simply could not refuse. A friend of mine, who lives in the country and whose identity will remain anonymous, asked me if I wanted to come and help him ”harvest” his meat chickens. I hung up the phone, hired a sitter, and steeled myself against what I was about to experience. All sorts of macabre scenes danced around my head as I prepared for the evening (just what does one wear to kill chickens?!) but I yanked on rubber boots, tied up my hair and grabbed a bottle of wine for after—or in case I failed miserably, lost all courage and had to sit and weep at my weakness whilst watching the deed be done by someone much stronger than me. I saw it as a test of my character.

The Walleye

The system was simple but very efficient, and my partner in crime was clear, and calm, and surprisingly confident that I could complete the mission. I received my instruction, took a deep breath (okay, maybe a few), positioned the knife and exhaled, apologizing as I took the life of one of the chickens that would grace this family’s dinner table. There is something very humbling and grounding about being part of that moment, and something so authentic about using one’s hands to bring meat to a table.

very valuable experience. Putting my hands inside the carcass of an animal that was still warm and removing its entrails required some major self-motivating talk on my part. Plucking its feathers and realizing that it was only at that point that the animal vaguely resembled the chicken I was used to consuming also proved to be a bit of an “aha” moment for me—up until then, I had been even further removed from the process in that I only ever purchased chicken breasts of the boneless, skinless variety. How lovely for me!

Which brings me to the rest of the story: the process of bringing meat to a table is a long one. It begins with buying baby chickens, and it involves daily, regimented work of raising said chickens, and it involves killing them and then cleaning them, which was also a

I will never say whether or not I was invited to dinner or whether I had the good fortune to partake in a meal centred around one of those chickens. But I will say that from all accounts, the difference in the meat is remarkable. Apparently it is much more flavourful,

and makes one realize that much of the chicken one has bought in the past seems spongier, somewhat watery, and thoroughly lacking in character. And I as far as character goes, mine has been much improved by this experience. In order to protect the identity of the hobby farmer who raises meat chickens for consumption (by their immediate family and on rare occasions for visiting guests), we cannot include the author’s name as current regulations indicate that only immediate family can assist in the slaughtering and/or eating of their own locally-raised chickens. Have an opinion about this? Contact info@thewalleye.ca or visit us on Facebook.

CoverStory Agriculture is likely not the first resource-based industry that pops into your head when you think of the Thunder Bay area. If you frequent the likes of the Thunder Bay Country Market, you know that it exists, but I think most would be surprised by the extent and depth of the industry. A cross-sectional view of the beef, pork, dairy and egg producers in the area confirmed that farming is alive and well in Thunder Bay, with a tightknit group of new and multi-generational farms.

Farming Thunder Bay Photos and story by Tara George

DAIRY Jaspers Dairy Farm

Established in 1961 in rural Thunder Bay, Jaspers Dairy Farm is a second generation farm that has 135 head of black and white Holsteins, 65 of which are milked. As with most dairy farmers, the product sold from this average sized operation is on a quota system through the Dairy Farmers of Ontario. Dairy production is all year round at Jaspers; however, they also yield seasonal cash crops such as wheat, hay, corn, and soya beans. Contact: 628-0292.

Tara George

Aalbers Dairy Farm

BEEF and PORK Sandy Acres Farms

Sandy Acres Farms, located just before Stanley on Highway 11/17, is operated by a third-generation farmer, Peter Brink. While giving me a tour of the farm, Peter provided some insight into the year-round production of pork and beef (Limousin and Black Angus). Sandy Acres follows organicbased principles in order to supply a high quality product to local consumers through the Thunder Bay Country Market, Bay Quality Meats, and direct sales. Contact: 939-2742 or www. sandyacresfarm.net

The Squash Queen

Contrary to the name, the Squash Queen does not only produce squash. For the last five years Shannon and Dan Vanlenthe have been raising pigs on a seasonal basis. The pigs are raised outside, where they have the option to hang out in pig shelters made from strawbails. The pasture-raised pork is available through the Thunder Bay Country Market, True North Community Cooperative, and farmdirect. The Squash Queen, as the name does suggest, also produces squash, tomatoes, watermelon, and other vegetables. Contact: 939-1013.

Mile Hill Farms

Renata and Maurice Thiboutot are first generation farmers that started from scratch in 2005. They run their small, mixed-operation farm as a closed circuit, meaning whatever gets produced on the farm gets put back into the farm – think manure. The Thiboutots follow organic practices to produce Herford-Angus cross cattle, as well as crops of oat, barley, peas, and other vegetables. Mile Hill Farms products are available farm-direct, or at the True North Community Cooperative, Superior Seasons, and the Thunder Bay Country Market. Contact: 939-7514 or www.milehillfarms.ca

EGGS Vanderwees Poultry Farms

Bruce Vanderwees, a second generation farmer, took me on a tour of his egg grading station located on Townline Road. The largely mechanized facility was impressive, to say the least, and

serves the needs of his own operation and some small farms in the area. Vanderwees’ operation is large, producing approximately 31,000 eggs at any given time. The eggs (mostly white, with some brown) are graded at his grading station, packaged, and distributed throughout Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario. Contact: 935-2303. Tarrymore Farms

It’s not uncommon to see shoppers at the Thunder Bay Country Market seeking out the fresh, free-run brown eggs at Tarrymore Farms’ table. Tarrymore Farms is located in South Gilles and have been operating for decades. Not only does this small scale operation produce eggs, but they also produce Red Angus beef, and seasonally-based pork and lamb. Products from Tarrymore Farms are available at the Market and farm-direct. Contact: 475-3138 or tarrymorefarms.com

Three decades ago, Peter and Rensje Aalbers moved to Canada to farm. Today they have a large dairy farm with 250 head of red and black Holsteins, and a small number of Jerseys. The Aalbers Farm presently milks 135 of the cows and sells their product through the Dairy Farmers of Ontario. Peter estimates that approximately 90% of the product stays local and is processed by Parmalat, who makes Beatrice products. A visit to the Aalbers’ farm produced a nice surprise: a new calf born just moments before I arrived. Peter was happy to announce the arrival of a new girl. Contact: 939-1644. Thunder Oak Cheese Farm

Product from the Holstein cows at the Thunder Oak Farm is transformed into a cheese-lovers delight. Walter, a second generation farmer, explained that milk from 65 cows is used to make approximately 150 kg of Gouda per day. Thunder Oak Cheese Farm is the only farm operation that produces Gouda in Ontario, and it is made every weekday in a variety of flavours. The Gouda is available at the farm retail store located on Boundary Drive, Thunder Bay Country Market, local retail stores, and is also distributed to some stores in Toronto. Contact: 6280175 or www.cheesefarm.ca For a more extensive inventory of local farms, check out the ‘Get Fresh’ Guide to Local Food by the Thunder Bay District Health Unit and Food Action Network, and the websites for the Thunder Bay Federation of Agriculture and the Food Security Research Network.

The Walleye

Marlene Wandel

DeBruin’s Greenhouses

CoverStory

Local Greenhouses By Marlene Wandel It’s May, and thoughts turn to summer, and gardening, though the trees have yet to put their summer dresses on, and the grass might still be white some mornings. Some thoughtful souls have poked their seeds into indoor ground weeks ago, some are planning how to augment their perennial beauty, and some are waiting for temperatures to become a bit more hospitable. For all types of growers and gardeners, a healthy antidote to a case of spring (or cabin) fever is a trip to a greenhouse. The sound of the fans, the smell of the soil and early blossoms, and the moisture in the air combine to give a soothing sensory experience. Thunder Bay has a healthy crop of greenhouses that offer a warm respite from chilly breeze, dazzling varieties of plants, products and services, and knowledgeable, friendly staff.

The Walleye

Vanderwees Home and Garden

DeBruin’s Greenhouses

6488 Mapleward Road

3033 Highway 61

Vanderwees is akin to a greenhouse theme park. Open year round, Vanderwees offers an astonishing variety of indoor and outdoor décor and furniture, gardening tools and equipment. There is also Tulips café to replenish yourself after visiting the sweet little red barn with goats, rabbits, ducks, geese and chickens for the kids to admire, and a nature trail. On the green side, Vanderwees has a selection of indoor plants for the winter green thumb, and a huge variety of trees, shrubs, flowering annuals and perennials, herbs and bedding plants for the outdoor growing season.

DeBruin’s can help fill the garden and planters on your property with bedding plants, perennials, trees and shrubs that are acclimatized to the region. DeBruin’s offers a nifty gardening “layaway” option; if you’re ready to shop, but not ready to plant, they will tend your plants until you are ready. On the other hand, for those that never do get around to buying or planting, DeBruin’s can fill the refrigerator with hydroponically grown produce in the form of tomatoes, herbs, lettuce, peppers and cucumbers. For ultimate convenience, DeBruin’s produce can be found at the Thunder Bay Country Market.

Marlene Wandel

CoverStory

Bill Martin’s Nurseryland Inc.

Trevisanutto’s Greenhouses

Creekside Nursery and Garden Centre

684 Woodcrest Road

683 Woodcrest Road

265 Court Street South

Trevisanutto’s is a compact greenhouse with an incredible variety. Not a square inch is wasted; the endless trays of growing things at hip height dazzle the senses with colour and fragrances both bold and subtle. Overhead is a veritable canopy of hanging baskets that grow more and more lush as the weeks go by. Those overwhelmed by the variety can go relax in the colourful, recycled plastic yard furniture out front, or can ask for help from the landscaping design service available through the greenhouse.

Creekside offers a forest of options to its customers, from trees and shrubs to fish and tools. The trickling sound of water just inside the main door is a clue to one of Creekside’s intriguing services: located within Creekside is Oasis Water Gardens, supplier of pond materials and expertise. Aquatic gardeners have access to the largest selection of aquatic plants in Northwestern Ontario. Fish are also available to populate the pond. A pond display in warmer months shows the variety of pond options, and the water garden guru herself is on location to share her enthusiasm and knowledge.

Much as it’s fun to go for a scenic little drive to a greenhouse, it’s even better to go for a little walk to a greenhouse that’s right downtown. Bill Martin’s Nurseryland is just a few blocks away for many north side residents. With a full variety of landscaping supplies (and services), as well as seeds, bulbs, bedding plants, birdfeeders and planters in stock, those walking would be wise to bring a wheelbarrow.

NEW FROM BOREALIS PRESS:

VOYAGE OF THE PELICAN An Odyssey Of Thunder Bay Harbour By Bill MacDonald Author of SIRENS and LAMPLIGHT $18.95 Available at Fireweed: 767-2705 www.fireweedcrafts.ca

Nipigon River ADVENTURES

The natural setting for your special day weddings •retreats •meetings Red Rock, ON

807-621-6342

The historic Quebec Lodge is a 4000 square foot, 7 bedroom, log building overlooking Lake Superior www.nipigonriveradventures. com The Walleye

Food MusicPreviews

Doobie Brothers World Gone Crazy Tour

Touring to promote their latest album, World Gone Crazy, the legendary Doobie Brothers will be coming to Thunder Bay to perform a mix of the new with the old tunes we love. Since their first breakthrough hit, “Listen to the Music,” back in 1972, the Doobie Brothers have sold over 30 million records, proving decade after decade that they have what it takes to continue to make good music. Having shared the stage with music icons like Mick Fleetwood and Willie Nelson (who is featured on the new album’s track “I Know We Won”), the Doobies continue to be an entertaining live act—a well-rounded band dedicated to different American musical styles, from blues, jazz and rock to Pat Simmons’ finger-picking originals. Check out this golden opportunity to “listen to the music” and witness the legacy that is the Doobie Brothers. The Doobies play at the Community Auditorium on Thursday May 19 at 8 pm. www.tbca.com

WILDERNESS DISCOVERY FAMILY RESORT & CONFERENCE CENTRE Unique Location Barrier Free Resort 5 Fully Equipped Cabins Conference Centre to organize your event Outdoor Attractions: paddle boating, canoeing, motor boats, kayaking, playground and many more.. Hunting /Fishing

Highway #11, Shebandowan, ON T: (807) 343-0414 1-877-202-6404 www.wildernessdiscovery.ca

The Walleye

The Scott Woods Band Variety Show Featuring Canadian Fiddle Champion Trick fiddling. Old time tunes. Canadian step dancing. And lots of laughs. The Scott Woods Band is bringing their 2011 “All Aboard” variety act to Thunder Bay. From Fergus, ON, Scott Woods is a Canadian and Grand Masters Fiddle Champion. The band plays limited venues across the country to raise money for charities, churches and community partners. The Scott Woods Band plays at 7pm on Friday May 13 at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 207 S. Brodie St. Tickets are $20 adults, $10 kids, available at St.Andrew’s or call 622-4273.

MusicReviews

Ode to Joy TBSO Performs to Sold Out Crowd By Tom Dreyer One complaint often heard in coffee shops and pubs of Thunder Bay is the seeming lack of culture available in our city. Anyone who is mildly aware of their surroundings will know this notion is wrong on many different levels. One shining example of this is the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra (TBSO), which is currently celebrating its 50th season. Under the inspired guidance of music director Arthur Post, along with the skilled musicians of the orchestra, the symphony bring a wide array of marvelous music, both old and new, to the people of our fair city. Recently the TBSO put on a performance of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, perhaps the finest composition in the classical music canon. The symphony, along with four stellar soloists and the massed voices of the Thunder Bay Symphony and Lakehead University Choruses, treated the sold out auditorium to a performance that will long be fondly remembered by those who were fortunate enough to get a ticket. Not only did Maestro Post do a masterful job of guiding the musicians and singers, he was also wonderfully eloquent in explaining the background of the composition. He illuminated Beethoven’s personal struggles and triumphs, the revolutionary climate of the era, the belief in equality for all mankind are all are reflected in this piece. One wonders why all the performances of the TBSO aren’t sold out…

Boot Stomping Bluegrass

Sarah Furlotte

Greasy Creases By Greg Carveth FRIDAY JULY 8

SATURDAY JULY 9

SUNDAY JULY 10

9:30-11:00

GRAND FUNK RAILROAD

9:30-11:00

BUDDY GUY

9:30-11:00

BLUE RODEO

7:45-9:00

Wild T Les Dudek Local Local

7:45-9:00

Dana Fuchs Blues Brotherhood Trampled Under Foot Sean Chambers Moreland and Arbuckle Big Walter Smith Local

7:45-9:00

JJ Grey and Mofro Oli Brown Laurie Morvan Matt Andersen Joe Moss Joanna Connor Albert Castiglia

6:30-7:30 5:30-6:15 4:30-5:15

6:15-7:15 5:00-6:00 3:45-4:45 2:30-3:30 1:15-2:15 12:00-1:00

A-1 Sewage Services Apex Investigation Colosimo Financial Services Colosimo’s Music Dan’s Emergency Road Service Done-Rite Imports Heart of the Harbour BIA Hertz Equipment J&J Sports Lakehead Motors Mortgage Intelligence Music World Academy National Car and Truck Rental Northern Lights Golf Complex Northland Signs Recool Union Gas Wayne Hacquoil

6:15-7:15 5:00-6:00 3:45-4:45 2:30-3:30 1:15-2:15 12:00-1:00

Bluegrass is a fairly simple structure. Bass is played on beats one and three of a four bar musical measure. The guitar and mandolin fall in between, on beats two and four. Throw in some vocal harmony, some lyrical flow; roll out the dancers and you’ve got a show. Though the formula seems simple, it’s all in the delivery, which is far easier said than done. On Friday, April 8th at the Black Pirate’s Pub, the Greasy Creases threw down some bluegrass boot stompers that had me on the dance floor showing some love.The band was working with a skeleton crew yet still delivered an exciting and energetic show, led by the always lively Aubrey Brandt on vocals and guitar, Kevin Element on mandolin, Anthony Bacon on banjo, Meredith McCallum on violin and Andy Middaugh on percussion. The Greasy Creases led us on an adventure through the Ozarks, laying down some classic bluegrass standards in fine style - I could hear the influence of the high lonesome Bill Monroe, Flatts, Scruggs and the Stanley Brothers. The band delivered a great evening of entertainment including Andy Middaugh playing percussion on his stomach for an entire song. Keep your eyes open for the Greasy Creases’ next show and you may be lucky enough to catch their full harmonic power. If so, bask in the bluegrass, get on the dance floor and show some love. The Walleye

Food Music

Authentic Hellbound Hepcats

Last stop of a 12-day 11-show swing through Western Canada and the Hellbound Hepcats were still givin’er when they played in Thunder Bay. Playing near-perfect renditions of rockabilly pioneers Link Wray, Johnny Burnette, and surf legends the Surfaris mixed with their own tunes like “Pyronecrophiliac,” they rocked the house. “A homage to the spirit of rebellion that gave birth to the rock ‘n roll of the 50’s” is the accurate description their record label Stomp gives their music. The Montreal-based Hepats consist of sweat-soaked lead man Alex Brown on Gretsch guitar, “ Jordan Peddie (“king of blisters”) slapping his stand-up bass and stand up (!) drummer Sylvain Lemire. Their stage manner, costumes, hair, props were so authentic I wasn’t sure they weren’t making it up. Earnest local faves Forever Dead came to life to warm up the rain-soaked faithful with their brand of death metal grind thrash core. Pardon my years, but for older uneducated ears bands of that ilk all sound like Black Sabbath on sterno. Chris Merkley

Montreal’s Hellbound Hepcats stopped by the Apollo to play a set on April 10.

Jazz Mistress

Elizabeth Shepherd Onstage on the last date of a 14-month international tour, Elizabeth Shepherd poured “Danny’s Song” directly into the open hearts of the audience. It was one of those perfect, life-affirming moments attesting to the healing power of music, made more meaningful by her announcement minutes earlier of her twelve week pregnancy. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Written by Loggins and Messina, Canadians know “Danny’s Song” from the repertoire of Anne Murray who, as it happens, was the only contemporary singer young Elizabeth was allowed to listen to at her Salvation Army minister parents’ home in Winnipeg.

Paolo Porquez

Classically trained on piano, with a degree from McGill University’s Jazz program, Elizabeth Shepherd has three albums to her credit, Heavy Falls the Night being her latest. With band mates Colin Kingsmore on drums and Gordie Mowat on standup electric bass, she delivered soothing, breezy tunes skiffing on a solid funk groove spiced with latin rhythms. Flawless and seemingly effortless, the mix played over the clean, clear sound as consistently provided by the Apollo and made for a gratifying experience. Shepherd is welcome to come back and play TBay anytime.

WATCH FOR US IN OUR

NEW LOCATION WITH

LOCAL COLOUR 33 S CUMBERLAND 344-4636 www.paintedturtleart.com

-Peter Jabs

The Walleye

Chris Merkley

By Peter Jabs

Music of their new 12-song CD with engineer Dave Angell differed from their EP We’re all the Same but Different.Guitarist Jeff Kennelly explains, “This album is a totally different animal than our first EP. We’re all the Same but Different was recorded live in the basement [of ] Black Pirates Pub in one night for $60 and a case of beer. We were all in the same room with mics in front of our amps and there was not much room for post production. It was about as raw as it gets. The new album was done track by track at DiningRoom Studios and has a much more polished sound. We are all constantly growing as musicians and the song writing on the new disc moves away from the loosely structured jams on We’re all the Same... but don’t worry, we still have some of those too. Expect to a little bit country, a little bit rock and roll, and some mind-bending psychedelia to soothe your soul.”

Thunder Bay’s Alaska Army Band A little bit country, a little bit rock and roll, and a pinch of psychedelia By Judy Roche The Alaska Army Band has been hard at work in the studio putting the finishing touches on their first full length CD, and it’s about time! The Thunder Bay quintet has developed quite a following since they formed in December 2008. With a release party set for June 25, I asked the guys to share how the recording

When asked about their fan base and the music scene in Northwestern Ontario, the guys are quick to praise the loyalty of those who have supported them since they won the Last Band Standing competition in 2009. “We have amazing support here. As well as an incredible music scene,” says Kennelly. “I credit this partly to the fact that Thunder Bay is sitting at the crossroads, so to speak. This city has a reputation among touring bands as a hard-partying, musically enthusiastic haven on a hard road. Launching a music career from here may pose different challenges compared to larger cities, but I don’t believe they are any harder to overcome.” Evan Hadley adds, “As far as getting music out there goes, it’s not hard these days. I don’t think it’s fair to use your geographic location as an excuse for success in music anymore.” Alaska Army Band is currently planning a tour that will take them through Ontario and Quebec this summer and they are a scheduled act at the 2011 Red Rock Folk Fest. It’s clear these guys love what they do and keyboardist/guitarist Steve Kivinen sums up their passion perfectly. “Playing music is right fun, especially for an audience. That’s all I need to keep going.”Alaska Army Band’s CD release party is set for June 25 at the Black Pirates Pub.

Maxine Schmerk Certified Aesthetician and Reflexologist

Yon-Ka skin care specialist

• 21 years experience • gift certificates available • by appointment only

623-6303

The Walleye HighTide_WalleyeAd.indd 1

4/17/11 10:24:42 AM

Food

A Great Make-Ahead Dish: Perfect for Mother’s Day Make in a 9x13” pan the night before you want to serve it.

Brunch

Easy Like Sunday Morning By Rachel Globensky

The most easy-going of menus, brunches skip lithely through breakfast and lunch offerings, with an occasional nod to dinner fare, and there’s no waiting for a “respectable” cocktail hour! Brunch, whatever you happen to make, or order, is quite possibly the greatest repas ever conceived: everyone can have a great visit, nosh and then be on their merry ways, free to enjoy the remains of the day. In university, I used to love having friends over for Sunday-morning-cheapdraught-night-hangover-curing huevos rancheros - a tantalizing Tex-Mex/Canuck mash-up of refried beans, south-of-the-border inspired rice, salsa (or hot sauce), sour cream, guacamole, cheese and a couple of fried eggs slapped right on top a warmed up tortilla. Not the prettiest dish you’ll ever set eyes upon, but ranking right up there with the tastiest!

6 Tablespoons butter, melted 1 large loaf bread, broken into small pieces ½ lb Swiss cheese, grated (more or less to taste) ½ lb Cheddar, grated 2 cups diced cooked ham 16 eggs, beaten 3 ¼ cup milk ½ cup dry white wine (optional, but delish!) 4 green onions, minced 1 Tablespoon mustard ½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon pepper ¼ teaspoon nutmeg Remove from fridge 30 minutes before baking. Bake at 350˚F for 1 hour. Uncover. 1 ½ cups sour cream 1 cup Parmesan cheese (shredded, not the powdery variety)

Retro Bakery & Diner

How much fun is it to slide into a booth to a drink that comes with a straw, a spoon and a cherry on top? Too fun. The Lime Rickey Cooler is just the sort of thing to have when you’re hankering for a helping of nostalgia. The lemon-lime syrup and seltzer have just enough zing to match the enormous ball of vanilla ice cream, light- asair whipped cream, and of course, in all of its maraschino goodness, the cherry (which I ate first). Then I scooped and sipped (okay, more like shovelled in) that ice cream float like it was going out of style. Which I can assure you, some things just never do—the Lime Rickey Cooler being one of them.

Variety really is key here – serve up some dishes that are sweet, savoury and possibly have fruit Mimosas, Champagne or various alcoholic coffee additions are great, if suitable for the brunch bunch. If not, flavour some pink lemonade with soda water or lemonlime spritzer

The Walleye

Spread baked casserole with sour cream and sprinkle on Parmesan. Bake, uncovered, for about 10 minutes, or until lightly browned.

“Lime Rickey Cooler”

Some foodish things to consider:

Beat eggs, milk, wine, onions, mustard, salt, pepper, and nutmeg together till foamy. Pour over cheesy-bready goodness. Cover the pan with foil, crimping edges to avoid in-fridge spillage. Refrigerate overnight.

Drink of the Month

If you’re planning on wowing your nearest and dearest with brunch, have’atter! Lazy weekend mornings call for a little sum’in-sum’in in your coffee and bubbly in your OJ. Or, at the very least, brew up some great coffee and open up the fridge – the rest will sort itself out!

Do yourself a favour and save labour-intensive recipes, like individual omelettes, for a small group. A great makeahead dish is where it’s at.

In a greased 9x13” pan, spread the butter around and toss in the bread. Sprinkle cheeses and ham on bread chunks.

Step back in time at Retro Bakery & Diner, 42 S. Court Street, 344-1100 Chris Merkley

Food

Treat Mom to Brunch

Not up to hosting your own Mother’s Day brunch? There are many local restaurants in town that will be happy to do it for you. From babbling chocolate fountains in the ballroom setting at the Valhalla Inn to spicy Indian food at the colourful Masala Grille, there’s a delectable option for any type of palate. Ruby Moon 10 South Court St.

807-344-3828

We’re happy to learn that this cozy, chic downtown eatery is now offering brunch every Sunday from 11am to 4 pm, including Mother’s Day (reservations are highly recommended). The brunch menu includes many breakfast items including four kinds of eggs Benedict and the scrumptious Over the Moon Stuffed French Toast with puréed fresh strawberries, cream cheese, toasted almonds and coconut, topped with whipped cream and a homemade strawberry sauce– yum! Lunch items like salad, sandwiches, wraps and the mouthwatering Ode to the Classic Grille burger also available. Prices range from $6.99 - $13.99. www.rubymoonrestaurant.com

The Valhalla Inn Dining Room & The Ballroom

807-577-1121 ext 627

If there was such a thing as a gala Mother’s Day brunch this would be it. Every year the Valhalla puts on a brunch for mom that includes over 60 items, live piano in the dining room and a trio in the ballroom. Choose from turkey, beef and ham from a carver, or create your own made-to-order omelet. There are specialized breakfast items, a seafood bar, salads and flambé stations. End your meal with dreamy desserts like the ballroom’s decadent chocolate fountain (chocolate fondue is available in the dining room). Sittings start at 10:30 am; reservations are mandatory. $32.50 per adult; $13 for children 6-12 and children under 5 eat for free. This event sells out quickly so make sure you reserve early. www.valhallainn.com

Masala Grille 170 N. Algoma Street

807-344-3663

The rich colours and fabrics of the Masala Grille set a lovely tone for a more intimate brunch experience with mom. Serving authentic Indian and Thai dishes, the Masala Grille will be offering a special brunch menu from 11:30 am to 2:00 pm, $15.95 a person. www.masalagrille.com

Gillies Community Centre 807-935-2685

Treat mom to a brunch dedicated to eating local –organizers try to make sure most of the food is produced within a 10-mile radius. It’s worth the drive to the rural picturesque township that is South Gillies especially when you get to sample tasty farm fresh foods like Mile Hill Farms sausage and a savory vegetable and cheese strata made with local eggs from Tarrymore Farms. 11 am -1 pm, $10 Adults; $5 Children, 10 & Under; www.gilliescommunitycentre.com

Other Great Brunch Options Worth Checking Out Caribou Restaurant + Wine Bar; www.caribourestaurant.com White Fox Inn; www.whitefoxinn.com Rose Valley Lodge; www.rosevalleylodge.com

Introducing Thunder Bay’s Newest Multipurpose meeting & Banquet Facility

Gargoyles Grille & Ale

www.gargoylesgrille.com

11 S. Cumberland st 807-345-3011

The Walleye

Food

Think outside the (beer) box for May 24 By Jeannie Dubois, Certified Sommelier

For the patio:

Mill Street Lemon Tea Beer – LCBO 186783 - $2.65 Mill Street’s answer to Bud Light Lime, this 473mL tall can refresher gives lemonade and iced tea a run for their money.

For the camper:

Malibu Cocktails Rum Punch – LCBO 199562 - $29.95 This fruity summer drink packs a punch at 10 cocktails per 1.75L bag, complete with self-pour spout. -Just plonk and serve!

Muskoka Summer Weiss – LCBO 238212 - $5.95 A tasty wheat beer served up in a 750mL bottle; roll it on the picnic table before opening to allow the flavours to meld. For the bonﬁre:

Heineken Draught Keg – LCBO 56796 - $30.20 Admittedly an old favourite, nothing says bonfire like a keg (mini though it may be)— – 5L of frothy goodness on tap. Cheers!

The Walleye

By Marlene Wandel

Beer has never had it so good as it did at the Premiere Beer Tasting Event at Lot 66 on April 17th. Following numerous successful wine tasting events, the team at Lot 66 decided to try pairing fine beer with mouth-watering morsels. Beer was elevated from the basement fridge, and brought in from the back deck to rub shoulders with fine food in the dining room. The meeting of food, beer and tastebuds was the brainchild of Bianca Garofalo and Mike Roulston; she researched and sourced the beers, he developed the deliciously complementary menu, and they shared the onerous task of sampling the possibilities. From the first course, the sold-out event was a success. Hints of sweetness in the Harvieston Bitter and Twisted Blond Beer met the hints of honey Seared Salmon with Blood Orange reduction and danced happily across the tongue. My personal favourite of this taster was the St. Ambroise Vintage Ale (McAuslan Brewing), while the Black Chocolate Stout (Brooklyn Brewery) paired with Chocolat Pot de Crème was an absolute epiphany. Four of the five beers presented were ales, unusual to a market that sees mostly lager. The lone lager, the Aventinus Weizen Eisbock from G. Schneider & Sohn (11.8% alcohol) was further notable for being essentially an ice beer, akin to ice wine. This bit of beer trivia was one of several offered between courses by M.C. Jeannie Dubois; a wine expert by trade, but clearly versatile. The only sad thing about tasting these lovely beverages is that most of them are unobtainable locally, and some of them, not available at all. It’s a testament to the tenacity of Bianca Garofalo for tracking them down in sufficient quantity; if you missed this chance, they’re brewing up plans for a follow-up event in October, just in time for Oktoberfest.

Bacardi Classic Mojito – LCBO 112938 - $15.95 Throw in some mint leaves and lime wedges and you have a 750mL bottle of classy, muddle- free classy cocktails for the deck.

Premiere Beer Tasting

All photos Tiffany Jarva

With the permafrost beating a hasty retreat and thermometers on the meteoric rise, we can look forward to the May long weekend with high hopes for some pre-summer fun in a tundra free zone! Instead of grabbing that 24 of beer for opening season in the Bay, try some hot new drinks in outdoor- friendly formats to welcome in the warm weather .

LIVINGGREEN

Superior Seasons Food Market Founded in 2010 by Belluz Farms, Superior Seasons Food Market is an online food ordering system that closely resembles the traditional “booth and table” farmers’ market. Customers can browse each vendor through the website, compare products and prices, and decide what and how much they would like to buy. Customers can then purchase directly from the grower. Orders are placed on-line and payment is made when orders are picked up or delivered. To qualify to participate, each grower is required to manage their business sustainably, with an effort to contributing back to the local community. This innovative and efficient shopping system is designed to be flexible and convenient for buyers and sellers and it supports our local economy. Superior Seasons Food Market aims at supplying the highest quality produce and other products. It also works to find new and innovative ways to protect farmland, natural resources and educating the community about sustainable life and land practices. Superior Seasons Food Market website is at www.marketstore.locallygrown.net.

Our collective passion and commitment fuels our desire to create distinctive environments that are better places for people to live, work and interact. Introducing FORM The Evolution of Kuch Stephenson Gibson Malo.

BETTER PLACES FOR PEOPLE www.formarchitecture.ca

The Walleye

Food LIVINGGREEN

welcome to the thunder bay film experience.

Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission (CEDC) P.O. Box 800 Suite 201, 34 Cumberland Street North Thunder Bay, Ontario CANADA P7C 5K4 tel: (807) 625-3960 toll Free: 1-800-668-9360 fax: (807) 623-3962

Amy Vervoort

e-mail: develop@thunderbay.ca website: www.ThunderBayCEDC.ca

Human Powered Active Transportation By Adam Kupper Active Transportation is a strange and nebulous term, but you’ve probably noticed it associated with bike lanes, multi-use trails, and cycling courses. Active Transportation is a term widely used to describe any form of transportation that is human-powered. This includes walking, biking, skateboarding, wheelchairing, jogging, etc. The City has an Active Transportation Plan and an Active Transportation Coordinator. The Plan outlines the City’s commitment to making Thunder Bay a great place to walk or bike. It’s the Coordinator’s job to make it happen. One result of the Plan is Thunder Bay’s new bike lanes. They’ve been a tremendous success and in June, new bike lanes will be proposed to City Council for 2011. Recently, EcoSuperior received $115, 000 from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to run cycling education courses over the next three years. Built into this funding, EcoSuperior will train locals to be certified cycling instructors, so that courses can continue to be offered. Biking and walking are not only the healthiest ways to get around, but in doing so, you get in great shape, create a vibrant community, and experience the world around you. With spring weather, it may be time perfect time to re-think how you get around. To keep up with what’s happening with Active Transportation in Thunder Bay, visit: www.facebook.com/activetransportation.

The Walleye

DeBruin’s Greenhouses

LIVINGGREEN

Q I would really like to try growing veggies, but I don’t have a backyard. Are there any options for a wannabe gardener with no garden? A

The great thing about gardening is that you can practice it on any scale, in whatever space you have available. Do you have a south-facing window or balcony? You can’t grow a field of potatoes, but you could be harvesting a nice variety of herbs, tomatoes or peppers—all of which do well in containers. If you can find a bit of space outdoors for your container garden, that’s even better. You don’t need to buy a fancy pot either—old buckets will work, or anything that holds a sufficient amount of soil and has drainage holes in the bottom. There are lots of people who have plenty of space for a garden, but not enough time, and container gardens are a good choice for them too, because they are easy to maintain. You can start your own plants from seeds,

or speed up the process by buying transplants from any garden centre. Look for dwarf or compact varieties where space is limited. Depending on your choice of plants and the size of the container, you may even be able to put together several varieties for a beautiful one-pot garden. For example, try combining a tomato plant with some basil, and add a pansy for its colour and edible flowers. Before you start, check out your local library for some of the many excellent books on container gardens. But if window boxes and deck planters still aren’t enough to fulfil your gardening dreams, Thunder Bay also offers the possibility of gardening on borrowed land, in a community garden or through a garden share program. Community gardens offer small plots of land for the use of any interested gardener. It’s a great opportunity to get to know other like-minded folks, and some offer organized learning sessions for the inexperienced. The garden share program matches people who have unused garden space with those looking for land to use. You can find information on both of these initiatives at www.sharingbackyards.com , a website that also welcomes you to post a notice if you are looking for a place to garden.

Canada Games Complex www.gamescomplex.com Call Us For More Details

26 Court St South

(807) 684-3311

344-8774

www.EverythingComics.ca

The Walleye

CityScene

Lutsen Resort’s Spring Food & Wine Weekend MAY 13 & 14

Chef Rob hosts Guest Chef Tom Kavanaugh

Friday:

Wine Tasting w/ Wine Guide Robert Full Dinner of Sumptuous Hors’ D’Oeurves

Saturday:

6 Course Wine Dinner A Spring Medley of Regional Cuisine

Sunday:

Three Course Cooking Class BOOK A SPRING “BEST VALUE” GETAWAY SPECIAL!

Stay 2 Nights & Get a Third Night FREE! Cheryl Ellis

Valid to June 2 (except Memorial Wknd)

Gord Ellis and Mary-Jean Cormier from CBC radio practise their dancing moves.

Call for Reservations 800-258-8736

Dance for Memories

Ahnisnabae Art Gallery

Pick Your Favourite Musical Decade and Dance for a Good Cause

Many memories are attached to song. So it’s very fitting that Dance for Memories is a new community fundraising event in support of the Alzheimer Society of Thunder Bay. “Each hour will include great dancing music, a short dance lesson, super prizes and various performances by local celebrity dancers and dance teams from local studios and schools,” says organizer Maria Hudolin. “The event is meant for all ages and abilities.” Sign up for one hour of dancing to your favourite musical decade, from the 1930s to the 2000s. Guest MCs include CBC’s Lisa Laco, former mayor Jack Masters and award-winning ShyAnne Hovorka who will also perform at the end of the evening. Dance for Memories takes place on Saturday May 7, from noon to 8 pm at Superior High School. Minimum pledge is $25 per person and there is no admission fee for non-dancers. For registration forms or to check out a complete schedule, visit www.DanceForMemories. com or call 345-3801.

www.lutsenresort.com

H;9O9B?D= ED; 97D M?BB FEM;H 7 JL <EH J>H;; >EKHI 6ajb^cjb ^h V hjhiV^cVWaZ bZiVa VcY XVc WZ gZXnXaZY dkZg VcY dkZg V\V^c# 6ajb^cjb XVch VgZ jc^fjZ ^c i]Vi ^c +% YVnh V XVc ^h gZXnXaZY! ijgcZY ^cid V cZl XVc VcY WVX` dc hidgZ h]ZakZh#

Creating an Appreciation and Awareness of Native Culture through Art

7-1500 James St. S Thunder Bay, ON 807-577-2656

ED; 97D C7A; 7 :?<<;H;D9;$ mmm$j^kdZ[hXWo$YW

The Walleye

www.Ahnisnabae-Art.com

CityScene

Canuck ‘Em Up TBay vs. Duluth I’m all decked out in my thigh high socks, booty shorts and Iron Maiden T-shirt as I head into the basement of the old Eaton’s department store. It’s Sunday. That means it’s scrimmage day for the Babes of Thunder, the travel team of the Thunder Bay Roller Derby League (TBRDL). Today, as we prepare to bout against Bemidji, MN, I take a moment to absorb everything the skaters have been through in two years. It seems like only a very short time ago I put an ad on Kijiji asking if anyone wanted to help me start a roller derby league in Thunder Bay. I got a few responses and in November 2008, there were six of us in attendance during the first meeting of the TBRDL. We are now over 50 skaters strong, have travelled to Manitoba and the US to compete in bouts against other cities and are getting ready to host our first home bout against Duluth on May 14th at Delaney Arena.

All that in two years? Not bad. With the help and determination of a solid and amazing group of women the TBRDL has begun to make an impressive impact on the local scene. -Judy Roche (past president and founder of Thunder Bay’s Roller Derby League)

Come watch the Babes of Thunder take on Duluth’s Harbor City Roller Dames at the Delaney Arena on May 14. Doors open at 7pm. $10 in advance, $12 at the door-available at Wayland Bar & Grill, Gabby’s Spudz & More, The Loop and Ink Alley. For more info visit www.tbayrollergirls.com or the Thunder Bay Roller Derby League fan page on Facebook.

Gentlemen, Start Your Grills!

Taste the Difference Hertiage Makes Be the envy of all your friends and neighbors with our new series of Signature Heritage Grills from Vermont Castings! We’ve put the style back in sizzle with these beautiful natural gas or propane grills made in the same handcrafted tradition and with the same attention to detail that flavors all of our Vermont Castings products. We offer you more BTUs per square inch than any of our competitors and our grills come in a variety of models, styles and sizes to suit your outdoor living space and grilling lifestyle. With a multitude of standard features and optional accessories - including single source ignition and cast iron cooking surfaces - it’s no wonder our grills have won awards! So add some style and flovor to your next meal and get back to the thrill of the grill with a new Vermont Castings Heritage Grill - it’s sure to spark more than one dinnertime conversation!

HERITAGE VCS500

Yard and and Patio Patio Centre Centre Yard 561 346-4436 561 Tenth Tenth Avenue Avenue •• 346-4436 www.lockstone.ca www.lockstone.ca

With sturdy 304 stainless construction and 62,500 BTUs of “grill power,” this five burner grill is the ultimate choice for serious grill aficionados. Available in all stainless or stainless and black enamel, the Heritage VCS500 cart model is a rugged addition to any outdoor space. Standard features on this top-of-the-line grill include 20,000 BTU rotisserie burner, 15,000 BTU side burner, 937 square inches of cooking surface, five main burners with single source ignition, grill light, rotisserie kit, 304 stainless steel sear plates, casters, stainless towel bars, condiment trays, side shelves and doors, smoker box and cast iron grids.

The Walleye

Ilo Photo

Supplied

Food ARCHITECTURE

The Taiga home sits 400 feet higher than Thunder Bay’s Mt. McKay and its south face has a three-story wall of windows, all repurposed from demolition or other project sites, that heat the home by way of passive solar radiation

Taiga Ventures By Nik Fiorito

Imagine for a moment that the blur of life and the buzz of the city lights did nothing to inspire you, but only tired you emotionally, mentally, and even physically. Now picture yourself standing far removed from that hectic pace and electricity, perched atop one of the highest points within hundreds of kilometres, surveying what seems like the entirety of the Thunder Bay region via what is literally a 96mile view. Although such a vista and environment sounds dreamlike, this is the reality that Ron Venor and Evelyne Reid wake to every morning in their custom country oasis at Taiga Ventures. At its peak of operation, Taiga Ventures hosted weddings, meetings, school and tour groups and other events, but since last winter Ron and Evelyne have decided to focus more on the finer things in life, such as retirement, grandchildren, and each other. With regard to location, there are few in the area that can best it in terms of view and solarcapturing abilities. On the December solstice, the low winter sun can be seen throughout Taiga showcases unique conits entire trajectory rising and setting above struction and design, including the Nor’Wester Mountains from nearly every locally grown wood species for point on the property, continuously warmthe posts, beams, joists and flooring; there is only one deco- ing the home. In the summer when the sun is rative post in the entire build- higher in the sky and obviously much hotter, a series of shades above each level’s windows ing, all others are structural and integral. No glues or oth(easily mistaken for decks) stop the sun’s rays erwise toxic building materials from entering the home, keeping it cool. were used, instead bolts and chainsaw-fit braces secure the structure and create the building’s rigid skeleton.

Ilo Photo

The knight greets you as you climb the double spiral staircase.

The Walleye

The exterior of the home may be its most unique property. Ron, a designer by trade, jokes that the day before the excavation crew was to begin earth-work on the site in 1999, he still didn’t have a concrete set of plans to work from. He stood at the northernmost point of where the house now stands, put out his hands and said “Now what am I going to do with this?” Looking down at his outstretched hands and the view in front of him, he was inspired to simply run lines out from each of them that would eventually host the

Owner Ron Venor, a designer by trade, jokes that the day before the excavation crew was to begin earth-work on the site in 1999, he still didn’t have a concrete set of plans to work from. He stood at the northernmost point of where the house now stands, put out his hands and said “Now what am I going to do with this?”

east and west walls of the home, resulting in a 60 degree pie-shaped building that opens to the sun on the south and terminates in a sharp point to the north. This shape contributes to the home’s solar efficiency as the bulk of its volume is in the south, where the sun enters. The lowest level, known as the Grotto, contains a pool, once used for recreation, now heated by an outdoor wood-burning furnace during the coldest parts of the year to act as a heat sink and temperature moderator in both summer and winter. The pool is covered by a wood plank floor, and walking on this floor among the whole-log support posts is a total joy on a cold day as the heated water radiates warmth from below, and also regulates humidity, a year-round 50%, throughout the home. A vertical, triangular shaped void in the building’s centre allows warm air to rise up between levels, and a large number of mirrors are strategically placed on each floor to redirect sunlight to the points furthest north, allowing Ron and Evelyne to avoid turning on the solar- and wind-powered lights until quite late in the evening. Other ingenious design elements include a European-style fireplace in the north of the building that pulls warm air from the south side through the home; an eastfacing morning bathroom with a shower and west-facing evening bathroom with a clawfoot tub, both featuring copper sheet flooring that collects the early- or late-day rays; linen closets flanking the fireplace that serve as an extra layer of insulation; and gravel-filtered water that consistently tests too pure to be sellable in its current natural condition (mineral content and filtering would have to be unnecessarily added to meet government imposed regulations). The number of clever efficiencies on the property and throughout the home is too numerous to relay. We would like to express our gratitude to Ron and Evelyne for the opportunity to have full access to their remarkable home and the ideas behind its creation.

FILM CityScene Travel

March drink feature: NUTTY IRISH LATTE WITH HAZELNUT AND IRISH CREAM Fresh local baking PIES CAKES COOKIES

316 Bay St. 766-9087

Mon-Fri 7:30am-10:30pm Sat-Sun 8:30am-10:30pm

KG9886_Thunder Bay_Local Ad:Layout 1 2/24/11 www.vintagepixiestudio.com

11:21 AM

Page 1

Northern Grown A very informative film that puts faces and names to the people who do us the favour of growing our food (thank you for that, by the way). Letting the farmers and food producers talk for themselves, for the most part unedited, gives the food a voice that the faceless stuff in the supermarket doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t. Made by Kelly Saxberg and Raili Roy, the film can be seen on Vimeo at http://vimeo.com/19908587. -PT

a good thing.

You can never have too much of

www.kegsteakhouse.com

735 Hewitson Street Thunder Bay (807) 623-1960

The Walleye

theArts Food

Kate Church

Sculptural Puppetry A graduate of Rhode Island School of Design, Kate Church is a Nova Scotia based artist who has been recognized and admired universally for her sculptural puppetry and multimedia ceramics work. Church will be in Thunder Bay for a sold-out threeday workshop in May to teach sculpting to local group Figurative Artists of Cloth and Clay. To see more of her work, visit www.katechurch.com. Interested in learning about puppetry or other unique classes offered locally? Check out vintagepixiestudio.blogspot.com By Rebekah Skochinski

“Oliver”

By Jeannine Ross and Robin Armstrong River Stones, Moose Antler for Beak and Shoes Perfect for the garden, the stone sculptures of Jeannine Ross and Robin Armstrong are playful, whimsical creatures with personalities of their own. “Oliver likes to eat cookies in bed and he can’t keep a secret,” humours Ross.

Carol Cooper

Point of Departure By Rebekah Skochinski Carol Cooper is a contemporary self-taught artist who has been creating in digital media since 2001. All digital art has a point of departure and Cooper directs her work from fractal and geometric forms, constructing the images into bold abstractions of pattern and colour. “My work is an exploration of the past, taking a look at the present and seeing how I can interpret it, and envisioning the future [...] that leaves everything wide open for interpretation.” To see more of Carol Cooper’s work, check her out online at www.compasswebworks.com.

The Walleye

Using natural and found materials like driftwood, river stones, amethyst and moose antlers, Ross says, “Robin and I find our inspiration in the natural beauty we see everyday in Thunder Bay and surrounding area. We live for the weekends where we can head out to camp, jump in the boat, and walk along the beach in search of our next great find.” Ross’ family business is a garden centre. “I have noticed that the trend in landscaping is returning to natural products,” explains Ross. “I think one of the reasons why our sculptures are so appealing is that they help to keep people in touch with nature.” -TJ To check out Ross and Armstrong’s creations visit LCR Estates garden centre, 3239 Oliver Road, 935-2667.

theArts

‘doodles’–scribbling lightly with pencil and then looking for “things in the flow of lines.” Ruth ran The Painted Turtle until she retired at age 73.

Painted Turtle

Turning the Corner By Tiffany Jarva The Painted Turtle Art Shop is moving in May. For almost 30 years, artists, art students and teachers have followed the steps down into the cozy basement shop to buy their art supplies. Artist Ruth Tye McKenzie opened the Painted Turtle in the spring of 1983. “I was already buying supplies so instead of just buying for myself, I bought more,” she laughs. Inspired by

a gift from her son–a painted turtle figurine with “red jewel” eyes–and the “real life” painted turtle species, Ruth stumbled upon the perfect name for her shop. Starting small in the basement of a 1905 heritage building on Red River, the shop eventually mushroomed to include a top floor working studio, with a second floor classroom space and the Rainge Gallery, featuring the work of many local and regional artists. Studying all kinds of art, Ruth was mostly known locally for her large, acrylic landscapes. At a young 81, Ruth is still practising art, creating fantastical

Today, art clients continue to rely on the expertise of the “Turtle Ladies”: Lorraine Cull, the “fine artsy” one, and Angie Jansen, the “crafty” one. Lorraine and Angie took over the shop when Ruth retired. Both ladies believed it was crucial to keep the same sense of community that had been created and nourished by Ruth for so many years. They took the “turtle pledge” and within two years, profits were up by 20%. In 2010 they won the City’s Small Business Arts & Heritage Award. “We really think it’s important to continue in the spirit of Ruth, build up people’s positive perceptions for the arts and the incredible value art brings to a community,” says Lorraine, who worked with Ruth for ten years before taking over the store with Angie. “The number one thing I appreciate is their service,” says well-known local artist Alison Kendall, a continuing contract art lecturer at Lakehead University. “They’ll do anything to get

something for you–a bit of a dying area today.” Come May, Angie and Lorraine will be trading in the original shop’s colourful pipes, twisty nooks and crannies, the long creaky stairwell that leads to the gallery and work studio, and the “very cool” original safes (including a double-door, walk-in safe), for a “more open and fresh space.” They are looking forward to the move to Local Colour Gallery, just around the corner on Cumberland. “I think it’ll work out really well, “ says Angie. “Different people will be coming in and out. We have already lined up three artists for our artist-in-residence program for the first year.” Watch for artist Stephanie Siemieniuk who will be working in the new studio space from June to August (www.truenorthwild.ca). On June 6, the “Turtle Ladies” will be celebrating their eighth anniversary since taking over the Painted Turtle. Join them during an open house at their new location at Local Colour Ar t Gallery, 33 S. Cumberland St. The Walleye

theArts Food

The sizzle is landing... "Come Fly With Us!"

Sunday, May 29, 12noon to 4pm at Chippewa Park The kites are flying and it's a great day on the lakeshore! Enjoy an active afternoon with your family, along with kite workshops, demonstrations and activities. Special Guests: Toronto Kitefliers, Kitchener Windclimbers & New York Kite Enthusiasts. Admission is FREE! City Transit Service to Chippewa Park Available.

RECREATION & CULTURE DIVISION

For more information call 625-2351 or visit www.thunderbay.ca/kitefestival

at Runway 25 Bill Martin’s NURSERYLAND

Watch for Thunder Bay’s newest steakhouse. Coming soon.

1 Valhalla Inn Rd. • 577-1121

The Walleye

Travel

Q+A with Charlie Wilkins By Amy Jones

Q: What made you decide to row across the Atlantic?

Join host Lisa Laco, every weekday morning, for breaking news, weather, community events and more.

The Great Northwest Weekdays 6 to 8:37 am

A: Two-thirds of the earth is water, and I knew absolutely nothing about the ocean, so the opportunity to go out there on the Atlantic and see it at sea level struck me as a real opportunity. Also, you know, getting older, I guess I also have a bit of a sense of wanting to challenge myself as a physical being. Q: You say you found out about this in August 2009. How did you prepare in that year and a half?

cbc.ca/thegreatnorthwest

Wild on the Superior Frontier A Collectors Edition

o Canada, English Communications P.O. Box 500, Station ì Aî Toronto, ON M5W 1E6 nt Production 416-205-3781

(225 Copies Only)

For Sale at Fine Local Stores . Northern Women's Bookstore Court St. S . Strathcona Variety Plus Strathcona Mall . Lake Superior Art Gallery Victoriaville Centre . Folino's Superette Algoma St. . Ahnisnabae Art Gallery James St. S. "No book so effectively captures the culture and the experience of the regions early residents. I'm really impressed." Pat Labadie, Marine Historian, Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Alpena, Michigan

“Stevens really has a way of bringing history alive. I read it cover to cover and couldn’t put it down.” Susan Barley

A: Well, the deal with the builders of the boat was I could come aboard and write about it but I had to get into shape enough to row. The core rowers were a group of very strong young endurance athletes and I was certainly not that, so I was always a little nervous as to whether my training would hold up. Q: What was a typical day on the ocean? A: The whole adventure didn’t parse down into individual days very well, because you rowed two hours and then you had two hours off. It’s difficult to explain how simplified life got out there on the surface: you were rowing, you were sleeping, you were eating. Meanwhile my inner life was exploding.

Damien Gilbert

On January 22, 2011, a catamaran called Big Blue departed from Morocco on a trans-Atlantic voyage en route to Barbados. Among the crew of 16 men and women was 61-year-old Thunder Bay writer Charles Wilkins.

Q: What did you see? A: We saw water, which is really endlessly fascinating vista. We saw whales, and dolphins would swim around the boat, and also sharks occasionally and big dorado fish and tuna, and little flying fish. Lots of jellyfish in the water—quite beautifully-coloured Portuguese Man O’ War—and birds, and sea turtles. It was like a big kind of ecological opera going on. We also had rough weather for about 15 days straight. I tell people it was magnificent but it was also a bit harrowing, with waves as big as three-story houses and 50 km/h tailwinds. Some nights it was so rough that we couldn’t row. Q: So when you landed in Barbados, was it a relief? A: It was an enormous relief. We were 20 days past our intended time so the food had run out and I lived the last five or six days on little plastic packets of “Squeezers Cheese.” They were salty and had an awful texture. I was eating them at the rate of about 50 a day toward the end and I was glad to have it.

Q: What were some of the things you missed the most? A: We had fantasy discussions in the middle of the night. Sometimes we’d have very serious discussions about cheeseburgers. I realized how absurd things had gotten when one night a fellow crew member asked me quite seriously “What’s your view of condiments on French fries?” As if I would have some kind of wellformulated view. Q: It sounds like you’re going to have your work cut out for you with the book you’re writing. A: People want to know what you learned out there and you don’t always exactly know what you learned. It’s hard to articulate how these things shake down into lessons and one hopes they don’t all shake down into lessons—that there is a sort of quality to them that cannot be brought back and handed to those who stayed home. One thing I did discover out there that I really liked was that that every place we were on the Atlantic presented itself to me as a very definable locale, and that reminded me of how locale affects us. Whether on land, or on water, or in the inner sense, we have identity and we have place and we have something that we carry with us that helps us from being adrift. The Walleye

MayEventsGuide theArts Food May 2

May 12, 7 pm

May 15, 10am-1pm

May 27-29, 8pm

Federal General Election

The Power of the Purse Silent Auction

Walk to Fight Arthritis

Phoenix Rising - from ashes to hope

Various Locations Voter participation has been steadily declining over the years. If you are 18 and over and a Canadian citizen, flex your democratic right and make sure you have your say.  www.elections.ca  866-281-4745 May 4, 7:30 pm

Environment North’s Public Presentation with Dr.Faisal Moola

Lakehead University Theatre (RM 1017 across from Security). Dr. Faisal Moola, Director of the Terrestrial Conservation and Science Program for the David Suzuki Foundation, is this year’s AGM guest speaker. Co-author of the column “Nature Matters” with David Suzuki, Dr. Moola is a former Lakehead forestry student.  environmentnorth.ca  environmentnorth@gmail.com May 5-7, 11-14, 8pm

William Shakespeare’s “The Tempest”

Paramount Theatre Enjoy one of Shakespeare’s bestloved plays; come and be enchanted. Presented by Cambrian Players and directed by Eva Burkowski.  www.cambrianplayers.ca May 7, 11am-3pm

Royal Lepage Women’s United Run

Boulevard Lake This 5km run supports United Way.  623-5011 May 7, 7pm

Ukrainian Tapestry

Thunder Bay Community Auditorium The Zorya Ukrainian Dance Association present an evening of Ukrainian music, folklore and dance with authentic costuming from Ukraine.  www.tbca.com  684-4444 May 7, 7:30pm

Great North Wrestling

Fort William Gardens A packed evening of wrestling action that includes Thunder Bay’s own Vampiro as part of the main event.  www.greatnorthwestwrestling. com May 11, 7pm

Book Launch: Core Samples

Prince Arthur Hotel: Dawson Room A local poetry group is launching a new collection of poems. There will also be readings, book signings and light refreshments. Free admission and a special book launch price of $15.  coresamplespoetry.blogspot. com

Dominion Motors In support of the Thunder Bay Boys and Girls Club, come join the Queen of Hearts and CBC TVs fashion expert Moe Kelso for an evening of fun and networking around the universal love of purses. Dress is cocktail chic. Tickets are $50 (includes wine and food), available at Scotia McLeod, Thunder Bay Boys and Girls Club and Dominion Motors Courtesy rides provided by Dominion Motors.  www.tbayboysandgirlsclub.org May 13-14

Shrine Circus

Fort William Gardens Sure to delight kids of all ages and the young at heart. Friday shows: 4pm & 8pm. Saturday shows: 2pm& 6pm. Advance tickets are $13 and $15 at the door. Children 4 years and under get in for free.  625-2929 May 14-June 11

(Gala Opening Reception: Sat. May 14, 7-10pm) Lakehead University Retrograduate Exhibition 2011-Haru Edition

Chapples Golf Course Join thousands of people in 21 communities across Canada to raise funds. Registration starts at 8:30am at Masonic Hall - 1600 Dease Street. Contact Lindy Urry or Shelley Graham at  345-9535 x5. May 15, 12-5pm

Thunder Bay Watercolour Society 21st Anniversary Exhibit

Valhalla Inn Ballroom A great afternoon to see some of Thunder Bay’s finest watercolour artists. There will also be a door prize and light music. Until May 15

Rachel Kalpana James: Tagore: Bright Oriental Star

Thunder Bay Art Gallery “Bright Oriental Star is a video projection, which considers the little known history of the visit to Canada by the Indian poet, Rabindranath Tagore...” Nadia Kurd. 577-6427  www.theag.ca  amackay@theag.ca

Definitely Superior Art Gallery See student art from their 4-year program & new works. Congratulations: Vincent Rey Jones, Kathleen Beda, Sarah Kuraitis, Leslie Hill, Shannon Leigh Martens, Tim Boyce, Kari Smith, Kathleen Tamminen, Natalie Hotson, Rebecca Pugh & Andrea Nickerson. Enjoy an exciting multi-arts convergence at the Opening with art, music, artists-in-attendance & spring refreshments~support artists of the future!  www.definitelysuperior.com

Until May 15

May 14, 1-4:30 pm

Fire Fighters 10 Mile Road Race

Arbor Day

Boulevard Lake (just north of main pavilion parking lot) Plant a tree for the future! Join the City of Thunder Bay and Councillor Andrew Foulds for this tree planting event. Please bring your own shovel and work gloves and pails or wheelbarrows if you have them. Contact Rena Viehbeck:  625-2956. May 14, 7 pm

Canuck Em Up

Delaney Arena Come watch our city’s Babes of Thunder roller derby team take on Duluth’s Harbor City Roller Dames. $10 in advance; $12 at the door. Tickets available at Wayland Bar & Grill, Gabby’s Spudz and More, The Loop and Ink Alley.  www.tbayrollergirls.com

The Mamanis: Portraits of an Andean Family by Marjorie Clayton

Thunder Bay Art Gallery Canadian born photographer, Marjorie Clayton’s series of black and white photographic prints chronicle her time with locals in rural Bolivia and her adopted Aymara family. 577-6427  www.theag.ca  amackay@theag.ca May 23

Paramount Theatre A dance theatre production based on a true story celebrating the strengths and accomplishments of abuse survivors while acknowledging the seriousness and complexities of this issue. Tickets: $20  345-1780 May 27 Thunder Bay Art Gallery This year’s auction will focus on uniquely designed and originally crafted paddles. Some paddles will be fully functional and some will be purely decorative. Also, there will be paintings, photography, ceramics and mixed media pieces related to paddling, nature and spring.  577-6427  www.theag.ca  amackay@theag.ca May 29, 11am-3pm

Cystic Fibrosis Great Strides Walk

St. Ignatius High School All ages welcome. Lunch will be provided and you can register individually or as a team. Contact Shannon Horne:  935-2851. May 29, 12-4pm Chippewa Park This festival has been included in the ‘Top 50 Ontario Festivals” list for four years in a row for a reason: It’s full afternoon of kite workshops, demonstrations and activities, colour and fun. For more information call 625-2487.

MUSIC EVENTS

May 24-27

Song and Harp Unite St.Paul’s United Church $15/18 Adults, $5 Students

Deadhorse Apollo Bar

Dulcisono Women’s Choir

May 2

Romi Mayes Apollo Bar May 5

Coco Love Alcorn

The Black Pirates Pub

Moonshine Ramblers - Abigail Lapell Apollo Bar

The Senticsphere w/ Unlike 18, Juliann Robbins, Artesian Wells & The Other Colour

The Walleye

GENERAL FOOD ART SPORTS MUSIC

Cancer Bats w/ 3 Inches of Blood The Office/Crock’s $10, 19+, 7.30pm May 7

Cheap and Easy

The Hodder Tavern No cover, 19+, 9pm

Sean Brown - Kate Murphy Apollo Bar May 8

Fuck the Facts, The Dweezils, The Vilification, D*ck Fister, Killpunch & more Black Pirates Pub 10$, all ages, 8pm May 10

Architects, Dead & Devine, Counterparts, Fall City Fall, Amelia The Office/Crocks 18$, all ages, 7.30pm May 11

Flipper Flanagan’s Flat Footed Four and The Greasy Creases St. Paul’s United Church Tickets 10$ adv, 12$ at door, all ages, 7pm May 12

Jack’s $5, 19+, 9pm

EVENTS GUIDE KEY

Last Call/Fun Factor $5, 19+, 7pm

Kite Festival 2011

Promoting active, healthy lifestyles at the head of the lakes since 1910. It’s a community celebration for runners at all levels.  contact@10mileroadrace.org

Valhalla Inn This gathering provides an opportunity for municipal employees of Aboriginal ancestry or municipal employees who work with the Aboriginal community an opportunity to network, share challenges and solution and to learn about exciting initiatives in other municipalities. To register, contact Kari Chiappetta  kcconsulting@shaw.ca  621-6225.

Webster Death and Sleep Clinic featuring Leo B Dope live in Westfort

Up the Creek Paddle Auction

May 1

Canadian Municipal Aboriginal Gathering

May 6

Kate Maki - Fred Squire TBA The Apollo May 13

The Scott Woods Band w/ Canadian Fiddle Champ Scott Woods St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church Adults 20$, children under 12 10$, 7pm May 14

Farewell to Freeway, No Bragging Rights, Hallows Die, Amelia, Legoman Haircut Black Pirate’s Pub $8, 19+, 8pm

Jezibelle Kilroys

May 15

Canuck The Industry Tour Tech n9ne & guests The Office/Crocks 20$, 19+, 7.30pm

May 16

May 26

Daniel Wesley, KO ,Rebel Emergency

The Mudmen w/ The Andrew Edwards Band, The Other Colour

The Office/Crock’s 10$, 19+, 9pm May 18

Roger Marin The Apollo May 19

The Doobie Brothers TBCA $TBA, all ages, 8pm

Tom Savage Trio Apollo Bar TBA May 20

Mark Potvin

Nordic Lounge - Valhalla Inn

Faceless Hulk, Treeburning, D*ck Fister, The Dweezils & more Black Pirates Pub 10$, 19+, 9pm May 21

Treeburning w/ Rock Truck, Tapout!, Naked Women’s Street Fighting League & more

Jack’s $10 adv, $12 at door, 19+, 9pm

Focused on Food Emphasizing fresh & locally produced food all year round

Your eye on arts & culture in Thunder Bay

May 28

The Blues is Back!!!! feat. Rusty Water and the Broken Troubadours & Camden Blues Band Black Pirate’s Pub $5, 19+, 10.30pm

66 Court Street S. 6 8 3 ~ 7 7 0 8 Call for reservations

w w w. l o t s i x t y s i x . c o m

May 30

Zachary Lucky w/ Fisticuffs Backayard Concert

House Show@ 219 Caribou Cres. $5, all ages, 7pm May 31

Farewell to Freeway, No Bragging Rights, Twins of Leda, Amelia Black Pirate’s Pub $10, all ages, 7pm

Your eye on arts & culture in Thunder Bay

Your eye on arts & cultur

Home Building Centre

• 670 Beaverhall Place • 475-5300

PRICEMATCHPROMI$E

We will gladly match any advertised local competitor's price on an identical in-stock item.

This offer can not be combined with any other offer.

Home Owners helping homeowners®

Jack’s $5, 19+, 9pm May 22

Burton Cummings

TBCA $TBA, all ages, 9.30pm

Striker

Your eye on arts & culture in Thunde

Kilroys

Part-Time Media Sales and Marketing position

May 23

Looking for practical work experience in the field of sales and marketing? Are you selfmotivated, enthusiastic and organized? If so, The Walleye wants you to join our team. Send cover letter and resume Your eye on arts & culture in Thunder Bay to: info@thewalleye.ca

ANVIL w/ Love Candy & Viper The Office/Crock’s $20, 19+, 8pm May 24

The F- Holes Apollo Bar May 25

Sepultura, Nevermore, Hate, Keep of Kalessin, Neuraxis, Bonded by Blood The Office/Crock’s $30, 19+, 8pm

Your eye on arts & culture in Thunder Bay

The Walleye

OfftheWall

REVIEWS Books

Music

Video

International Friendship Garden: Centennial Project of the Soroptimist International of Thunder Bay

By Rose Frim

Have you ever wanted to know more about the International Friendship Garden? If so, you will be pleased to find International Friendship Garden: Centennial Project of the Soroptimist International of Thunder Bay by Rose Frim on the shelves of your library. Frim provides a history of both the Soroptimists and the garden, peppered with excerpts from speeches, letters, and other records. As well, she gives background on the individual gardens and the significance of statuary/ structures and plants. I hope you enjoy this glimpse into the garden as much as I have. -Ruth Hamlin Douglas

Lemmy Lemmy Kilmister, lead singer of Mötorhead, can be said to be the OB/GYN of heavy metal music: he may or may not have created it, but he was there at its birth and definitely gave it its first slap on the ass. This documentary may not give you anything but a headache trying to figure out what he is saying, but I am confident that most people, fans or not, will be entertained—if for nothing else, by the anecdotes shared by Lemmy and other famous musicians. After watching, I have to agree: Lemmy IS rock personified. Fans of Mötorhead, take note: your numbers may soon be increasing. Available on iTunes or if you are lucky, at your local video store. -Patrick Thompson

Lasers

High School

Lupe Fiasco

We Are the City Progressive rock pop trio We Are the City is the next up-and-coming Vancouver success. In 2009 they won $150,000 and achieved first place in the Peak Performance Project. On March 22 they released their newest EP, High School, and in the first 24 hours it had already risen to the Top Twenty on iTunes. This six song EP is a short shock of powerful pop. The album is a collection of the band’s memories of high school, but not in the usual cheery theme of good friends and found love. It’s actually the exact opposite. You can hear this especially in the song “That’s It, That’s All” where Cayne McKenzie sings, “I’ll say the least, my friends are not so cool these days.” Throughout the EP the lyrics open a window into their high school lives. Even though the words tell stories of high school pains, the band play some of the catchiest pop songs I’ve heard in a while - this is most present in the song “Happy New Year” that opens with dangerously catchy keyboards and even more catchy lyrics (after one listen the phrase “especially not Jessica” is sure to be stuck in your head). The band has crafted a wonderful EP that is definitely worth buying. -Travis Setala

Though the wait has been long, Lupe Fiasco’s third studio album titled Lasers has finally hit the shelves. The album’s fate was uncertain with Lupe and Atlantic Records at odds over business and creative decisions.It wasn’t until fans stepped in and started an online petition (which in the end scored more than 30,000 signatures) to coax Atlantic records that Lasers saw a release date of March 8th.The album flip flops from the negative to positive, leaving the album feeling very unfocused with virtually no flow from start to finish. This seeps into Lupe’s rhymes as well. By the end of a few tracks – “Letting Go,” “Beautiful Lasers (Two Ways)”, “I Don’t Wanna Care Right Now” - you’re left wondering what exactly he was trying to say in the first place. In the end Lasers comes off as a half-hearted, mediocre and disappointing album, especially knowing what Lupe is capable of doing.This isn’t to say Lasers doesn’t have its highlights. “Out of My Head” featuring Trey Songz has a nod-worthy beat with a catchy hook. “The Show Goes On” makes effective use of a sample of Modest Mouse’s “Float On.” “Coming Up” featuring MDMA will have your hand flying to the dial to test just how loud your system will go. Lupe’s bouncing flow is infectious and the cascading strings are reminiscent of his debut Food & Liquor. “All Black Everything” showcases Lupe Fiasco’s superior storytelling and the strings lend a dreamy quality to the song that suits the lyrics perfectly. According to the description for a track called “Go to Sleep” released last year we can expect Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album. If “Go to Sleep” is any indication of what F&L2: TGARA has in store, that’s the Lupe album to look forward to. -Derrick Monty

The Walleye

WALL TOPfive

thethe

Cast your vote. Walleye season opens. May 24. And don’t forget a nod to mom.

John-Paul Marion

By John-Paul Marion

Making a Great Lake Superior...

With a little help from EcoSuperior! •

Spring Up to Clean Up – keep litter out of our lake by getting together to pick up trash in your favourite park or neighbourhood...register on our website for supplies and prizes.

•

Free Pocket Ashtrays – pick up one at our ofﬁce for your favourite smoker. Cigarette butts are a serious litter problem and pollute our city streams.

•

Rain Barrels – they’re in stock and on sale now—a great way to reduce run-off and make your garden grow. We have composters too!

•

Organic Seeds and Soil Testing – grow your own herbs and veggies with certiﬁed organic seeds. Start right with a new soil testing service through Lakehead University.

www.ecosuperior.org 562 Red River Road 624-2140

Believe it or not: May is upon us. Despite the lingering winter, the snow will abate and we will bask in the warming of the earth once again. Gardens will be prepared, seeds sown and no matter what, flowers will be available in stores for Mother’s Day. The ice should be out for the big walleye (as in pickerel) opening day, on the infamous May long weekend, unlike that one we had a few years ago, in which those who went out will surely remember: tough boating and cold hands. We will also have a new federal government as the month begins and hopefully, given the recent events in Japan, a wide-eyed new perspective on the fragile nature of nuclear powered electricity. The news from Japan has diminished from mainstream media in the past week or so but the problems with the release of radiation have not. This crisis has very likely surpassed the radioactive damage from the 1986 Chernobyl catastrophe, an event that sent a collective shiver around the globe. Yet as an ordinary citizen in northwestern Ontario, it seems as though the sense of urgency is behind us as a global problem. Some people on the west coast are greatly concerned with potential long-term health effects despite being thousands of miles away. On the home front, it has recently been revealed that several northwestern Ontario communities may be viable candidates for long-term nuclear waste storage from our own nuclear power

plants in southern Ontario. This seems like a good time to take a long sober look at the issue. With fifty percent of Ontario power coming from nuclear, maybe it’s time to take the “ alternative” out of wind and solar energy and view them as simply sources of energy to draw from. Well, in the mean time enjoy the NHL playoffs (go a Canadian team) while eagerly anticipating our first warm season holiday, Victoria Day. Sometimes known as the May 2-4 weekend, this offers the chance to open up the camp, go camping, fishing, pub crawling or whatever strikes your fancy, often resulting in a good long party. Just remember the good advice from your mother, who you just celebrated her day with, to be cool, get enough sleep and don’t drink and drive… anything. So, who will it be, the rounded Ken doll, the little mad dog, or will the Harvard scholar ascend the liberals to their, so called, natural governance? Yeesh, the rhetoric is enough to make forty or more percent of Canadians not bother to vote. Fight the yawns, get up and cast your ballot, they all get counted, even if you vote for the marijuana party. Now most importantly we must not forget Mother’s Day. This is a truly special occasion, the hallmark of hallmark holidays - it is a one-day funnel focus where we get to give extra thanks and to honour our mothers. The women who gave birth to each one of us and who nurtured us, guided and cheered us on, sent money when we were broke students, taught us to tie our hush puppies despite the revolt, let us go camping on the “May long” with friends but most importantly gave unconditional love and support. Let me say thank you - I love you Mom.

The Walleye

theTOPfive TheEYE - Ultimate Frisbee

Chrs Merkley

Ultimate Frisbee in the City: Always Looking for New Members www.thunderbayultimate.com

The Walleye

EVENTCalendar

A + C e r t i f i e d Te c h n i c i a n s Q u i c k Tu r n a r o u n d Reasonable Rates D a t a Re c ove r y / P r o t e c t i o n Virus/Malware Exper ts Quailty Custom Built Computers Ser ving Thunder Bay since 1992

Now building Custom Arcade Systems!

theFRAMING POST

Come in and see it in action!

CUSTOM AND DO IT YOURSELF PICTURE FRAMING

OUR

AMD Phenom 2 635 Quad-Core 2.9GHZ Gigabyte AM3 Motherboard 4GB Crucial DDR3 1333MHZ Memory Western Digital 1 Terabyte Hard Drive LG 22X DVD Writer Thermaltake V3 Case with 500W Power Supply Windows 7 Home Premium Wind Microsoft Keyboard & Mouse 2 Year Parts & Labour Warranty

35TH YEAR IN BUSINESS

• NEEDLE WORK STRETCHED AND MOUNTED • WATER COLOURS OIL PAINTING • DRY MOUNTING AND LAMINATING • LARGE STOCK OF MATBOARDS, MOLDINGS, & READY-MADE FRAMES Tues.,Wed., Fri 10am-5:30pm • FOME COR DISPLAY BOARD Thurs. 10am-6pm, Sat. 9:30am-4pm • CREATIVE KEEPSAKE IDEAS

frapost@tbaytel.net

CAMELOT ST. 345-0452 232 FREE ON-SITE PARKING

$599

346-8724 26 S. Court St

Experience Fantastic Cuisine 116 South Syndicate Ave. tuesday to saturday 11am-4pm

good food lives here

SUBSCRIBE! t o

T h e

details online:

W a l l e y e

www.TheWalleye.ca

THE NEXT GENERATION. Honda cordially invites you to attend an exclusive debut event for the all new 2012 Civic.

SI MODELS SHOWN

Test drive a 2012 Civic Contest. You could have a chance to WIN a 2 year lease on the all new 2012 Civic from Honda. For your chance to win, please go to www.civiccontest.ca No Purchase Necessary. Open to residents of Canada (age of majority). Must hold a valid driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s licence and be insurable to enter. Contest ends September 6, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. ET. To enter, visit a participating Honda dealer and test drive a 2012 Civic. Three (3) Grand Prizes available to be won, each consisting of a two (2) year lease of a 2012 Honda Civic LX. Approximate retail value of each Grand Prize is $8,424. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received during the Contest Period. Mathematical skill-testing question required. For the full contest rules, including the no test drive method of entry, visit us online at www.civiccontest.ca

361 Memorial Ave. Thunder Bay, ON 807-345-0902 â&#x20AC;˘ 1-800-486-2144 www.goremotorshonda.com