FILM FREE ARTS Vol. 13 No. 8 MUSIC AUGUST FOOD 2022 CULTURE thewalleye.ca
Cruising Superior Exploring the Greatest Lake In the Mood
The Art of Jason Miller Merchants of the Wild Hiking Mdaabii Miikna
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85 Editor-in-chief Darren McChristie Editor Adrian Lysenko adrian@thewalleye.ca Assistant Editor Rebekah Skochinski Senior Editor Tiffany Jarva Copy Editors Amy Jones, Bonnie Schiedel Editorial Assistant Sara Sadeghi Aval Marketing & Sales Manager Meagan Griffin sales@thewalleye.ca Photographers Jack Barten Olivia Bosma Kevin Dempsey Damien Gilbert Chad Kirvan Dave Koski Shannon Lepere Marty Mascarin Darren McChristie Sarah McPherson Lois Nuttall Laura Paxton Art Directors Steve Coghill, R.G.D. Dave Koski, R.G.D. production@thewalleye.ca Ad Designers Dave Koski Miranda van den Berg The Walleye is a free monthly publication distributed on racks throughout Thunder Bay and region. Reproduction of any article, photograph or artwork without written permission is strictly forbidden. Views expressed herein are those of the author exclusively. Copyright © 2022 by Superior Outdoors Inc. All Rights Reserved. Editorial and Advertising: Submissions must be accompanied by a selfaddressed, stamped envelope. Superior Outdoors cannot be held responsible for unsolicited material. Superior Outdoors Inc. 242 - 1100 Memorial Avenue Thunder Bay, ON P7B 4A3 Telephone (807) 344-3366 Fax (807) 623-5122 E-mail: info@thewalleye.ca
TheWalleye.ca Where can I find The Walleye? thewalleye.ca/wherecan-i-find-the-walleye/ Ad Deadline for our September Issue August 17th
Contents
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FEATURES 9 Cruising Superior 10 Port of Call 12 Cruising Through the Years 14 Welcome Aboard 16 Cruising Lake Superior, By the Numbers 18 Sail Superior
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The Iron Ore Dock
There’s a New Coffee Shop in Westfort
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66 64
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South Side Vibe
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Hiking Mdaabii Miiknar
TheTOPFive
35
Merchants of the Wild
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FOOD 20 THE GRINNING BELLY 23 DRINK OF THE MONTH 24 SUPERIOR SIP 27 OFF THE MENU 29 Baked or Fried 30 There’s a New Coffee Shop in Westfort FILM&THEATRE 32 THE SECOND MOST PLEASURABLE THING WE DO IN THE DARK. A COLUMN ABOUT MOVIES 35 Merchants of the Wild 36 You Better Beware! THE ARTS 39 FROM THUNDER BAY ART GALLERY’S COLLECTION 40 A THOUSAND WORDS 42 Sister Mollusk 44 Exhibit Travels Back in Time 46 Inspired by the North Shore 48 Fifteenth Anniversary Exhibit 50 The Art of Jason Miller OUTDOOR 52 Hiking Mdaabii Miikna
CITYSCENE 57 EYE TO EYE: With Lise Vaugeois 58 A Blacksheep on the Rise 60 WALL SPACE: The Alexander Henry Museum Ship 62 This is Thunder Bay 63 CANNABIS CORNER 64 South Side Vibe 66 Stuff We Like 68 SECOND CHANCES 71 GO LOCAL Thunder Bay Country Market 72 THE ENTHUSIASTS MUSIC 76 In the Mood 77 BURNING TO THE SKY 79 Rocky Mountain High 80 Johnson’s Creek 83 Paradise Lost 84
OFF THE WALL REVIEWS
ARCHITECTURE 86 The Iron Ore Dock 88
Tbaytel August EVENTS GUIDE
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LU RADIO'S MONTHLY TOP 30
TATTOOED YOU 92 A Full Arm Pays Tribute to a Beloved Son GREEN 94 Protecting Our Freshwater 96 LET’S GET GROWING HEALTH 98 Normalize Recovery THE WALL 100 Beating Around the Bush 102 HOROSCOPES 105 THE BEAT 106 THE EYE
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Courtesy of the Thunder Bay Public Library
From Our Instagram Feed
Cruise Control
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efore road trips (or even train trips), ships were the primary mode of transportation to tour around Thunder Bay. From the Islet Prince, which would bring people to and from Silver Islet, to the S.S. Noronic (built here by the Western Dry Dock and Shipbuilding Company), which served as the flagship for the Northern Navigation Company Limited’s Great Lake Cruises in the first half of the 1900s, nautical tourism has played an important role in the history of our city. More recently, with the Viking Octantis having been the first cruise ship to dock in Thunder Bay in 10 years, we’re seeing a return of this type of tourism. For our August issue, we’re all about cruising on the lake, delving into the history of local and longer cruises. As part of the cover story, Matt Prokopchuk talks to stakeholders about the benefits Great Lakes cruise ships have on the city, Kim Latimer looks back on the legacy of the Welcome Ship, we explore Thunder Bay’s history of
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nautical tourism, Bonnie Schiedel presents Cruising Lake Superior by the Numbers, and Caroline Cox takes a voyage with Sail Superior. Keeping with our theme, our music columnist Gord Ellis shares his favourite songs about the Great Lakes, Chef Rachel Bayes serves up a tasty recipe for shore lunch, and film columnist Michael Sobota talks about his favourite movies about sailing. Also in the pages of our August issue, Pat Forrest chats with the members of Mood Indigo about Jazz and Old Fashioned Fridays, we go Eye to Eye with MPP of Thunder Bay Superior-North Lise Vaugeois, and Deana Renaud hikes the Mdaabii Miikna Trail in our Outdoors section. With the bugs (hopefully) gone and gitchigami having warmed up since the start of the season, August is arguably the best month of the summer in Northwestern Ontario, so what better time to take a cruise on the lake and read this month’s issue. See you on the water. -Adrian Lysenko
Featured Contributor
Deana Renaud Even at 5 am in the middle of a thunderstorm, you’ll find Deana loading her canoe and her adventure crew (her two wild hounds and freespirited 9-year-old, Beaver) into her blue Toyota 4Runner, grabbing a coffee, and heading off deep into the soul of Northwestern Ontario’s rugged boreal forest. With a Master of Social Work, she is also a passionate advocate for mental health and for creating space in your life for pleasure, joy, and adventure. Check out Deana’s story about hiking the Mdaabii Miikna Trail on page 52.
On the Cover Sail Superior's Welcome catamaran Photo by Goh Iromoto
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The Walleye
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“Experiential learning connects
me to our community” You belong here 6
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Waterfront District’s
TheTopFive
from 1 Live the Rock Folk Festival
August 5–7
Kay Lee
Pull-A-Log Park, Red Rock
2 Kim Mitchell
Prepare to have a blast at the festival! Live from the Rock is back for 2022, and this year’s festival will offer world-class live music during four daytime workshop-style stages, as well as an evening concert stage. Festival goers can expect many musicians and bands to grace the stage at the same time, each taking turns playing songs according to that workshop’s theme. This year’s lineup includes Leaf Rapids, The Honest Heart Collective, Rita Chiarelli, The Weber Brothers, and many more talented musicians. Along with the excitement of live music and workshops, multiple food vendors will be on the festival grounds for patrons to chow down after jamming out. Onsite camping is also available. Wrap up the festivities with the Saturday night anniversary afterparty. livefromtherockfolkfestival.com
Annual 3 40th Westfort Street Fair
August 10
August 20
Is there anything better than the combination of music, the outdoors, food, and fun? How about adding a Canadian music legend to the festivities? Canada’s Kim Mitchell will be performing at this year’s CLE. Hear him live as he performs his top hits such as, “Patio Lanterns,” “Go For Soda”, “Rock N’ Roll Duty,” and so many more. It is sure to be a spectacular way to kick off the 2022 CLE fair. Wear your sunscreen, stay hydrated, grab some food, and prepare to have a blast as you watch this beloved icon perform. cle.on.ca
T h i s y e a r ’s a n n u a l Westfort Street Fair marks a momentous occasion— its 40th anniversary. Many might not know that this street fair is the longest running event of its kind in Thunder Bay. This year’s celebrations are sure to be legendary. Come down to Frederica Street to enjoy some classics everyone has come to love, along with new events, live music, new and returning street vendors, beer gardens, street food, and so much more. Why not make some great memories at this anniversary event? @WestfortVillageAssociation
CLE Grounds
4 The Walk in Closet August 20
Keegan Richard
Frederica Street West
5 Ribfest August 26–28 CLE Grounds
Goods & Co. Market
Damien Gilbert
Have you ever watched clips from New York Fashion Week and wondered what it would be like to see a fashion show in person? Well, Goods & Co. Market is offering this experience this August. Sit front and centre at the firstever Walk in Closet fashion show. This show will feature hors d’oeuvres, welcome cocktails, and vintage and handmade clothing from seven local fashion designers modelled on a 50-foot catwalk. If all of that isn’t enough excitement, following the show, attendees can boogie and jam out under a disco ball at a 70s-themed disco dance. This is an event you won’t want to miss! @goodscomarket
Calling all rib lovers! That’s right, Ribfest is back to in-person for its 2022 event. This summer’s event will see three familiar ribbers returning including Ribs Royal, Dinosaur Smokehouse, and Thunder Bay’s own Daytona’s restaurant. Alongside the delicious ribs, there will be some live local music, and the Sleeping Giant Brewing Company will also be setting up a beer tent at the event. Ribs and beer? I mean come on, who can pass that up? Proceeds for the event will be donated to Our Kids Count, a community development organization that works with individuals and families to promote the health and development of all children. So come out, eat some ribs, drink some beer, and support our children! @ribfestthunderbay
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where ever you find yourself, be ready with our summer collection
summer clothing sale on now save up to 50% on all in-stock casual wear
710 BAL MORA L STRE ET 8
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FRES HA IREX P ER I EN C E.C A
CoverStory
Cruising Superior Exploring the Greatest Lake
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or as long as people have lived near gitchigami, they’ve travelled on it by boat. There’s something magical about discovering the vastness and mystery of Lake Superior while skimming over the water’s surface. And if you get to sleep, eat, and play aboard that boat, it’s even more magical still. Whether you experience the Great Lake via a luxe cruise ship, on a sailboat, or aboard a motor boat with a fishing rod beside you—or you just like watching vessels from a comfy chair onshore—this is The Walleye’s look at the many ways to cruise Superior. - Bonnie Schiedel
The Viking Octantis cruising into Thunder Bay Photo by Darren McChristie
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Darren McChristie
CoverStory
The Viking Octantis entering Thunder Bay last May
Port of Call
Attracting Cruise Ships to Thunder Bay Harbour to Remain High Priority By Matt Prokopchuk
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Darren McChristie
reat Lakes cruise ships making Thunder Bay a regular stop brings both immediate and long term benefits to the city, say local tourism and economic development officials, as work already done to make the waterfront fit for these vessels can be leveraged for further gains. Two passenger ships have already visited this year—American Queen Voyages’ Ocean Navigator was in port twice in June for day-long stops, giving passengers the opportunity to go on local excursions before setting sail for other ports, while Viking Expeditions Cruises’
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Octantis has made three of its scheduled seven “turnaround” stops in Thunder Bay. In those cases, passengers either start or end their cruises here, flying into or out of the city. The visits by these large passenger ships (the first in many years) are essentially the result of well over a decade’s worth of promoting Thunder Bay and its port as a viable cruise destination, alongside other Great Lakes communities on both sides of the CanadaU.S. border, says Paul Pepe, the manager of Thunder Bay Tourism. “It’s really allowed us to be a partner, to reach these global […] cruise ship
operators as a team and as a region, [instead of] port versus port, being an individual city,” he says. Pepe says cruise ship operators—and their customers—are taking notice of the Great Lakes. “In a lot of cases, what we’re seeing more and more of is that cruising evolves,” he adds. “It matches up with what a lot of adventure and cultural […] tourists want to see.” According to Pepe and Eric Zakrewski, the CEO of the Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission, a cruising season’s worth of these stops can mean a boon to the local tourism and attractions sector, as well
CoverStory elevates our reputation as a community, as a destination, to their global audience that they speak to,” he says of the companies and their customers. “It’s great brand alignment for the community.” Heading into next year, Viking will be back with the Octantis making several similar turnaround stops here, and its new sister ship, Polaris, will be docking for six day-stops, Pepe says, adding that another cruise line, Germany’s Hapag-Lloyd, will also have its Hanseatic Inspiration vessel calling on the local port. He adds that city tourism continues to market the Thunder Bay port to other companies, with representatives from six cruise operators visiting Thunder Bay and the area this summer. “[It’s] a big part of the marketing approach to building their awareness of the Great Lakes,” he says.
James Brown
as many other parts of the area’s economy. Going into the 2022 season, the CEDC was projecting a local economic impact of between $4 million and $4.5 million from the industry, with the airport, hotels, retailers, suppliers, and many other local businesses and tourist destinations standing to benefit not only from passengers spending their money in the city, but the cruise lines themselves using local vendors to supply and service the ships when in port. Zakrewski says that in-season metrics, so far, are actually suggesting better numbers than predicted. “We know anecdotally from Viking that they are spending more money than they forecasted in Thunder Bay,” he says. The city also benefits from being a port of call by word of mouth, Pepe says. “It really
There’s been a lot of progress on that front over the past year or so, says Eric Zakrewski, the CEO of the local Community Economic Development Commission, with a $2.4 million revitalization project well underway (the province is paying for half of that, with another $500,000 coming from Ottawa). The work has included improving
the dock itself to meet international safety standards, removing and recycling thousands of tonnes of leftover debris from the demolished grain elevator, as well as a myriad of additions and upgrades to allow the property to securely handle hundreds of passengers at a time— to say nothing of site beautification work. That work is going handin-hand with the city’s plans to integrate a revitalized Pool 6 site into the overall redevelopment of the northside waterfront, including the new Prince Arthur’s Landing. And, Zakrewski says, the CEDC is already eyeing what more the Pool 6 property could hold in the future and what kind of investment it could attract, pointing to possibilities in education and the arts, as well as restaurants, market space, and other attractions.
Viking Octantis
Darren McChristie
While marketing Thunder Bay to international cruise ship operators was a crucial first step in getting the large vessels to call on the local port, a lot of work was then required to ensure the ships had an appropriate place to dock. The city-owned former Pool 6 site is long past its days of being a large grain-handling property, but the infrastructure to handle large ships was already in place, provided it could be brought up to modern standards and cleaned up.
Darren McChristie
Waterfront Revival
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Lovelady Studio
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The S.S. Noronic after launching on June 2, 1913 in Port Arthur
Cruising Through the Years By Adrian Lysenko
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efore highways or even the construction of the transcontinental railroad by the Canadian Pacific Railway, Lake Superior served as a major route of travel, and Thunder Bay was an important landing spot and shipyard for passenger ships. The Western Dry Dock and Shipbuilding
Company (renamed the Port Arthur Shipbuilding Company in 1916) built the S.S. Noronic (1913), S.S. Nasookin (1913), and S.S.Sicamous (1914) passenger steamers. The Noronic was equipped to carry 600 passengers and was the Northern Navigation Company Limited’s flagship
The S.S. Waubic at Silver Islet, date unknown
Cover of the the Northern Navigation Company Limited’s brochure for its Great Lake Cruises The passenger ship S.S. Waubic, date and location unknown
Courtesy of the Thunder Bay Public Library
Courtesy of the Thunder Bay Public Library
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for their Great Lake Cruises (which included a stop in Port Arthur). Throughout the years, the S.S. Noronic was just one of the many passenger ships that would dock at Prince Arthur's Landing. Here are some photos showcasing Thunder Bay’s connection to nautical tourism.
The Walleye
Ocean-going cruise ship World Discoverer, date unknown
Courtesy of the Thunder Bay Museum
Courtesy of the Thunder Bay Public Library
The Canadian Pacific Railway cruise ship S.S. Assiniboia leaves Port McNicoll on Georgian Bay for Port Arthur
The Canadian Pacific Railway ship, the S.S. Keewatin at Port Arthur, date unknown CPR cruise ship S.S. Assiniboia, date unknown CPR cruise ship S.S. Assiniboia at Fort William Dock, date unknown
Courtesy of the Thunder Bay Museum
Courtesy of the Thunder Bay Public Library
The S.S. Noronic and S.S. Huronic near Port Arthur's waterfront, date unknown
Courtesy of the Thunder Bay Museum
Ocean-going cruise ship World Discoverer docked at Keefer Terminal, date unknown
Courtesy of the Thunder Bay Museum
Chris Lund. National Film Board of Canada. Still Photography Division. Library and Archives Canada, e010955778/
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Courtesy of the Thunder Bay Museum
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The Welcome Ship arriving at the Thunder Bay Marina in 1972
Welcome Aboard
The Legacy of the Ship with the Warmest Welcome By Kim Latimer
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ront and centre in sepiacoloured photos of the Marina dating back to the 1970s and 80s, the Welcome Ship has a history almost as eclectic and memorable as the captains at her helm throughout the decades. Captain Roland Mann and Elliot Dawson brought the 56-foot Welcome Ship up from southern Ontario in 1972. However,
it was Captain Jack Gurney, a former tug captain, and his wife Norma who were the ones who operated the ship for two decades. Gurney’s nautical experiences and joie de vivre (and his avid harmonica playing) led to some exciting adventures for all those who frequented the ship in its heyday. What’s less well-known is that for years it was a ship
with a cause. “For a time, the Welcome Ship was a party boat that funded early environmental causes,” says Ken Boshcoff. “In the late 70s and 80s, we as environmental fundraisers asked the Gurneys if we could use their boat as a ‘Party Ship.’ They heartily agreed, and over the course of four years we hosted a series of disco dance parties that were always sold out,
and people danced and partied from the Thunder Bay Harbour to the Kaministiquia River and back blasting party tunes.” Together, they raised over $100,000 “a mighty sum in those days,” adds Boshcoff. The donations went to Greenpeace and the Nature Conservancy of Canada for local and international projects. Locally, it helped save
the bur oak trees on the Kaministiquia River from gravel exploiters. Some of the money also helped fund activists on ice floes to save seal pups, says Boshcoff. “The Gurneys and their on-board crews were fine people, much admired by all with a depth of sincerity and a passion for their community,” says Boshcoff. The Welcome Ship had a
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Courtesy of the Thunder Bay Museum
Lakehead Transportation Museum Society
The Welcome Ship reaching Fort William Historical Park sometime between 1972-1984
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Lakehead Transportation Museum Society
classification that allowed it to only sail within the breakwall of the Thunder Bay Harbour and along the Kaministiquia River, and with a capacity of 50 people on board. Its tours continued long after the Gurneys sold the ship. New owner Doug Stanton, also with a rich nautical family history and a flair for the history of the region, owned the boat for many years. He renamed the ship Pioneer 11 in commemoration of his great-great grandfather, who operated a boat called the Pioneer 1 near Orillia. Stanton continued to offer narrated historical harbour tours. The Welcome Ship was sold in 1993, and according to Charles Brown, president of the Lakehead Transportation Museum Society, the last he’d heard, it went to Montreal. “Everybody in Thunder Bay remembers the Welcome Ship. We have a display of the Welcome and Jack in one of our eleven museum rooms on the Alexander Henry.” Today, the Welcome Ship’s legacy lives on mainly through fond memories, dozens of decades-old family photographs, and snapshots of guests enjoying some wild and wonderful adventures along the way.
Courtesy of the Thunder Bay Museum
Captain Jack Gurney, operator of the Welcome Ship
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Cruising Lake Superior, By the Numbers By Bonnie Schiedel
82,100
Surface area of Lake Superior, in square kilometres (31,700 square miles)2
31
Size, in square metres (335 square feet), of the 2023 USD$12,499, three-person owner’s suite aboard the Ocean Navigator, the third cruise ship line that has a Thunder Bay port of cal10
65¢
Price, in 1900s U.S. cents, for a stuffed lobster on the July 14, 1900 menu of the North West passenger steamship that operated out of Duluth, Minn., in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The menu featured dozens of items including 12 kinds of champagne, planked Lake Superior whitefish (60 cents) and peach shortcake (25 cents)5
8.77
Height, in metres (28.8 feet) of the highest wave ever recorded on Lake Superior, north of Marquette, Wis., in October 201711
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20 million 7,000 Estimated dollar amount of cruising’s potential economic impact on Thunder Bay between 2022 and 202413
274 2.5 million Amount in funds allocated to improving the Pool 6 docking infrastructure and appearance, including landscaping, fencing, dock improvements, road realignment, and electrical upgrades14
Horsepower of the North West, which could achieve speeds of 32 kph (20 mph), thanks to 28 boilers that used eight tons of coal per hour7
Length in metres (900 feet) of the pier at Pool 6, the site of the Thunder Bay Cruise Ship Terminal3
230
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Maximum number of guests aboard the HANSEATIC inspiration “expedition class” cruise ship that visits Thunder Bay9
$209.50
Price of a 1921 return-trip cruise in a luxe “parlour room” aboard one of the Canadian Northern Navigation Co. ships, including the S.S. Hamonic and the S.S. Noronic, with ports of call at Detroit, Windsor, Sarnia, Sault Ste. Marie, Port Arthur, and Duluth. A second-class ticket for the same route was $2015
650,000
Cost, in late 1890s U.S. dollars, to build each of the Northern Steamship Co.’s luxury passenger ships, the North West and the North Land, outfitted with mahogany, marble, brass and bronze. This works out to approximately $19.5 million each in today’s U.S. funds. They could each carry 350 first class and 300 second class passengers, as well as 185 crew6
18,000– 49,395 Price range for a 15-day 2023 cruise aboard the Viking Polaris, one of the cruise ships that has a Thunder Bay port of call (the eight-day cruise aboard the Viking Octantis ranges from $8,395–$22,095)8
1 https://saultstemarie.com/attractions/soo-locks/, 2https://www.britannica.com/place/Lake-Superior-lake-North-America, 3https:// www.portofthunderbay.ca/facilities/port-directory/, 4https://www.nps.gov/isro/planyourvisit/ferry-transportation-services.htm, 5 http://menus.nypl.org/menu_pages/13404/explore, 6https://historicdetroit.org/buildings/north-west, 7https://historicdetroit.org/ buildings/north-west, 8https://www.vikingcruisescanada.com/expeditions/cruise-destinations/great-lakes-canada/great-lakescollection/pricing.html?return=true#noscroll and https://www.vikingcruisescanada.com/expeditions/cruise-destinations/greatlakes-canada/great-lakes-explorer/index.html, 9 https://www.hl-cruises.com/cruisefinder/INS2311#ship, 10 https://www.aqvoyages. com/lake-ocean-cruises/great-lakes/roundtrip-chicago-milwaukee/, 11https://www.michiganradio.org/weather/2017-10-25/ buoy-logs-highest-wave-ever-recorded-in-lake-superior-as-first-snow-hits-the-up, 12https://www.epa.gov/greatlakes/physicalfeatures-great-lakes, 13https://www.tbnewswatch.com/local-news/thunder-bay-spends-on-dock-upgrades-eyeing-cruise-shipboom-3626820, 14https://www.tbnewswatch.com/local-news/funding-helps-bring-pool-6-work-to-the-finish-line-ahead-of-cruiseship-visits-5270457, 15https://ia600605.us.archive.org/34/items/northernnavigati00nort/northernnavigati00nort.pdf
4
Number of U.S.-based passenger ferries that go to and from Isle Royale, the Michigan national park that is visible from the Thunder Bay waterfront4
4,385
Length, in kilometres, of shoreline (including islands) on Lake Superior (that’s 2,726 miles)12
1855
Year that a modern lock system known as the State Lock was installed in Sault Ste. Marie waterway, allowing large vessels to navigate the 6.4-metre (21-foot) difference in water levels between Lake Superior and Lake Huron1
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Sail Superior's Welcome catamaran
Sail Superior
Catamaran Brings Micro-Cruise Experience to the Thunder Bay Harbour Story by Caroline Cox, Photos by Goh Iromoto
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ince 2001, Sail Superior has offered tours from the Thunder Bay Marina. They offer a variety of touring experiences, from 1.5-hour harbour tours to day or overnight trips to the Sleeping Giant and seven-day learn-tosail holidays. The fleet consists of three boats. There’s the zodiac, a fast and exhilarating open boat meant for getting to amazing faraway places quickly—you can board in the morning, jet across the bay, climb the Sleeping Giant, and be back by 2 pm. The monohull sailboat Frodo allows you to take the day more slowly and have a true sailing experience using the wind. And the newest boat in the fleet, the catamaran Welcome, boasts a double hull. It offers a flat and stable ride and is great for large groups, including weddings, corporate functions, and micro-cruises. The Welcome is named for a large power vessel that offered tours and hosted parties and weddings from the Thunder Bay Marina in the
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1970s and 80s. Sail Superior owner Gregory Heroux calls the original Welcome “a Thunder Bay staple” and says that school trips on the ship helped spark his love for sailing. He chose the name because it’s memorable, nostalgic, and acknowledges Thunder Bay’s touring history. Heroux calls buying the catamaran a dream almost a decade in the making. He cites the development of Marina Park, the Waterfront District, and local tourism, as well as a grant from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation for making it possible to bring the boat to Thunder Bay. “Thunder Bay was ready for this kind of boat, so we decided to expand,” he says. “I’m really proud of Thunder Bay and the things that are happening around this area. I can’t think of any place I’d rather be right now.” Getting the catamaran to Thunder Bay was an adventure unto itself. Heroux purchased the boat in Martinique and planned to spend two months with his family sailing it to
CoverStory Thunder Bay, but that was in spring 2020 and, as you might guess, the trip did not go according to plan. COVID-19 restrictions prevented Heroux from travelling to Martinique, and, as the pandemic continued, he feared that the boat would spend the full season there. He was fortunate to find two experienced sailors in Martinique who were available to bring the boat to Toronto. There, friends met the catamaran. At the Sleeping Giant, Heroux finally boarded his boat and sailed it the last leg home. Business on the catamaran and the Sail Superior fleet has been booming. “I’m grateful to the people of Thunder Bay for the last two years. I thought we were going to go bankrupt, but we’ve been very busy. I want to thank the people of Thunder Bay for supporting our business,” Heroux says. “We’re here because of the community.” For more information, visit sailsuperior.com.
LOBSTER SUMMER IS BACK TO BOOK YOUR RESERVATION AT THE THUNDER BAY KEG, VISIT THEKEG.COM
735 Hewiston St. | 807.623.1960 The Walleye
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Food
Here Fishy Fishy Fishy!
THE G IN GR NIN Y L L BE
By Chef Rachel Bayes
B
uoyed up on a pile of extra keyhole life jackets so I could see over the gunwales of the canoe, and holding my fishing rod behind me for my stepdad to bait the hook, I remember him saying, “Fishy fishy, bite my hook, you be the captain and I’ll be the cook.” It’s one of those hazy childhood memories that lingers between fact and fiction: a vague remembrance of a time that seems familiar, but is just a little out of reach. It’s a somewhat cheesy line that I’ve heard him say since, but it always makes me smile. I’m sure I’ve talked about fishing before in this column–our family vacations were always spent canoeing, camping, and fishing. My brother Dan would spend every day of his life fishing if he could, no matter the weather, and my brother Jesse spends a lot of time spear fishing whilst free-diving in northern lakes. I
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love being on a calm lake or casting from a quiet dock, but I’m more of a give me what you catch, after you’ve bonked it on the head, and I’ll figure out the rest sort of person. I’m not a diehard fisherperson like much of my family is! I’ve had fish cooked many, many different ways, but my favourite always is the OG shore lunch: the freshest of fresh, camp-cooked, slightly crispy and delicately flaky fish. Pair the fish with some canned beans, cut-up potatoes, bannock, and some watermelon for dessert, and you’ll have the quintessential Northwestern Ontario meal. There are a million recipes for shore lunch coatings, and even a few prefab packets that are pretty great in a pinch, but here are some tips and tricks, and an easypeasy, delicious homemade version you can try for yourself on your next BYOF(ish) excursion.
Tips for the best shore lunch experience: • Keep your catch fresh until you’re ready to cook—in a shady spot, on a stringer in a couple feet of cold water is the best, but immediately gutted and placed on ice to chill is the next best thing. • Pack a cutting board—even a cheap, thin, flexible, plastic one is easier than trying to fillet your fish on a paddle or flat rock. • Seal one meal’s worth of fish coating in a zipper or vacuum sealed bag until you’re ready to use it—same goes for your rice or pancake mix. Your camp cook (ahem!) will thank you for it. • Repackage cooking oil in a tough metal water bottle with a tight-fitting lid to save yourself a world of greasy trouble from the original bottle getting crushed en route. • Pack a regular-sized frying pan, heavy-bottomed and non-stick if you’d like, especially if you’re cooking for a crowd. Cooked fish doesn’t usually hold up very well if you’re batch cooking for your hungry crew. • Try cooking a fish whole! Fillets are beautiful, but there’s also a lot of waste. Ever had pickerel cheeks, throat saddle, or fish belly? Delish. If your gutted,
•
•
•
•
beheaded fish is too big for your frying pan (even the full-sized one you’ve packed in), cut it in half or even thirds to make it fit, scoring the meat in the thickest areas to help even out cooking time. Try changing up your regular breading to include extras like spices for blackening, plus fresh tortillas (vacuum or zipper bag sealed), and limes for serving. Pack butter, not margarine, into a squeeze tube/bottle—the rich taste will elevate your fish/ rice/mashed potatoes to new heights. Even when your boots are soaked and your netherregions are gritty with sand, the addition of some butter will taste like heaven laid down and had a nap on your plate. Amass a pile of thumb-to-wristsized pieces of wood to make for better fire temperature regulation over large pieces of firewood. And, try to keep the flames low to avoid a grease fire due to flames flaring up over the sides of the pan. Three key tips for the best fish of your life: pat the fish dry, press on flour coating and shake excess off, and heat the pan well before adding oil, and then heat that up until a few drops of water sizzle therein.
Crispy Pan Fried Fish and Brown Butter Sauce Sauce: make it first and keep it warm while you cook the fish In a small skillet, melt about 4 Tbsp butter, stirring often over medium heat. The butter will melt, then turn golden and smell nutty in about 3 minutes—this is what you want! Remove from the heat and pour into a small bowl, so it stops cooking. Stir in 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice. Cover and keep warm until you need it. Fish: make and serve right away Thin fish fillets, skin on or off Salt and pepper All-purpose flour Paprika
2–3 Tbsp canola (or peanut) oil
Pat the fish dry on both sides with scrunched up paper towels. Season both sides of the fish with salt and pepper. Mix the flour and paprika in a pie plate (about ¼ c flour to 1 tsp paprika). Coat fish on both sides with flour, pressing down firmly so it sticks and gently shaking off the excess. Place on a rack to dry for a few minutes before cooking. Pour oil into a heated pan (over medium-high heat) and swirl around. It will heat quickly.
Add the fish and gently shake the pan to move the fish a little. Cook fish for about 2 minutes on each side, until golden and crispy. Gently flip the fish over and cook for about 2 minutes on the other side. If the fish sticks, just wait a moment and it will release naturally as it crisps up. If it’s browning too quickly, remove the pan from the heat for a few seconds. Remove to serving plates, and spoon glorious brown butter sauce over it. Drool and eat.
Through our annual scholarship and bursary season, we are able to award $105,600.00 to the following recipients. A big thank you goes out to our volunteer evaluation committee who worked on this year's award applications! Shirley H. & Meredith O. Nelson Scholarship
Kaya Grebowicz
$5,000.00
Aileen, Amanda & Gertrude Lahti Scholarship
Adam Tassone
$2,800.00
Noah Barile
$2,800.00
Saige Charbonneau
$3,700.00
Sarah McClelland
$3,700.00
Cassandra Tolmie
$2,500.00
Stephanie Rathwell
$2,500.00
Shyla Ruth
$2,500.00
Zoe McGuiness Khan
$2,500.00
John Alexander McLean Scholarship
Saige Charbonneau
$2,600.00
Joshua Dyke Family Scholarship
Adam Tassone
$3,800.00
Noah Barile
$3,800.00
Kaitlyn Sloan
$5,300.00
Samuel Kukkee
$5,300.00
Alison Morin
$5,000.00
Aubrey Smith
$5,000.00
Brooke Ailey Ailey
$5,000.00
Chloe Gysen
$5,000.00
Brooke Ailey
$7,500.00
Christian Blake
$7,500.00
Anderson Ventrudo
$5,000.00
Carley Kiiskila
$5,000.00
Haeli-Ewa Anderson
$5,000.00
Victor Stevenson Aircraft Engineering Technology Bursary
Anders Hygaard
$6,000.00
Thunder Bay Community Auditorium Foundation Performing Arts
Alexandra Laplante
$500.00
Award
Charlie Lockyer
$500.00
Daphne Martel
$500.00
Delannah Fiddler
$500.00
Jaidyn Dawn Marak
$500.00
Rebecca Start
$500.00
Leslie Vance Superior North EMS Memorial Bursary
Kaya Grebowicz
$1,000.00
Susan Cochran Simonsen Bursary for Indigenous Students
Shyla Ruth
$1,300.00
Helen L. Dewar Scholarship
James and Shirley Symington Family Bursary
Ross A. Wilson Education Fund Scholarship
Roy Seymour Rogers & Geraldine Ruth Rogers Scholarship
Justice Ronald B. Lester Memorial Bursary
Victor Stevenson Engineering Scholarship
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21
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The Walleye
Margarita Norteños Taqueria
Open roads. Open possibilities. Your next adventure calls for a Certified Pre-Owned Volkswagen.
Story by Jeannie Dubois, Photo by Adrian Lysenko
I
magine a cool, icy, limegarnished glass being delivered into your hands directly from a cabana on a sun-soaked patio while you wait for your birria tacos, tostados, taquitos, and papas al hornos. The first sip hits you with its sharp, salty tang and gripping herbaceous tequila tone. The next sip leans into the round orange triple sec and bright citrus zing of lime juice. By the third sip you’re in the sweet spot where all the flavours swirl together to transport you oceanside and continue to the bottom of the glass… heck, you missed your amazing authentic Mexican food arriving because you were living the dream in a hammock somewhere seaside
Food DRINK OF THE MONTH
for a few. Such is the magic of a well-made margarita, aptly named after the beautiful daisy, a simple posy that inspires sunny pleasure. Jamie Baratta, Thunder Bay native and owner of Norteños (meaning of the North) honed his culinary and cocktail skills while living in Mexico City and has brought his genuine love back home to our community at his taqueria. Look for a second cantina location opening soon with more cocktail offerings. Until then, sweet margarita, you can keep inspiring our oceanside hammock dreams. Norteños Taqueria 1501 Brown Street 623-6266
Used cars you can trust.
Downtown Volkswagen The Walleye
23
Food R SUPERIO SIP
Slush It Up! By Jeannie Dubois, Certified Pommelier and Sommelier
I
t’s true, Thunder Bay, that we need not think of ice or snow, sleet or slush for many a long, warm, sunny month up here in our northern retreat. However, if a hot and sultry August night hits you just right, you may want to think about cooling things down with an icy in-house mix, no 7-Eleven necessary. All that’s really required is for you to grab up some sweet summer fruit, pick your favourite drink, do a little deep freeze, and blend until smooth. Stay cool this summer, Thunder Bay!
Watermelon Vodka Smash (serves 4) Ingredients: ¼ c freshly squeezed lime juice ¼ c sugar
4 c cubed seedless watermelon 1 c frozen vodka
Lime wedges for garnish Mint sprigs for garnish
Directions: Combine lime juice and sugar in a small bowl and stir until dissolved. Arrange watermelon in a 9x13-inch baking dish, then pour the sugar and lime juice mixture over the watermelon. Freeze for at least four hours and up to 24 hours. Transfer the frozen watermelon and frozen liquid to a blender. Add frozen vodka and blend until slushy. Pour into glasses and garnish with a lime wedge and mint sprig.
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The Walleye
No Regrets Red Wine Slush (serves 4)
Pineapple IPA Punchy Slush (serves 2)
Ingredients: 1 (750 ml) bottle of red wine (red Moscato recommended— think Barefoot)
Ingredients: 3 c fresh pineapple chunks
1 c frozen raspberries
1 Tbsp agave nectar
1/3 c Grand Marnier
12 oz IPA (hazy recommended—think SGBC White Out)
1 c frozen blackberries
Juice of 1 lime
1 c frozen strawberries (topped) 1 Tbsp simple syrup
Extra berries for garnish
Directions: Add wine, Grand Marnier, frozen fruit (keep some aside for garnish), and simple syrup to a blender. Blend until smooth. Strain the mixture through a fine-meshed sieve into a freezer-safe container (if you enjoy the seeds then skip this step). Freeze for at least three hours or overnight. Remove the mixture from the freezer and use an ice cream scoop to transfer to glasses or use a large fork to scrape out for a more melty mixture. Garnish with extra frozen berries.
Directions: Peel, core, and cut fresh pineapple into chunks. Freeze chunks to blend later with a bit of water. Pour IPA into two glasses and wait for foam to dissipate. Add frozen pineapple (save a couple for garnish) and a touch of water to the blender and roughly blend. Add agave nectar and lime juice and blend until no large chunks of fruit remain. Carefully top glasses of IPA with pineapple slush mixture. Stir gently until mixed and garnish with a chunk of frozen pineapple.
Perrylous Cider Slushie (single serving) Ingredients: 1 can perry (pear cider—think No Boats On Sunday) 1 oz bourbon (Kentucky whiskey—think Maker’s Mark)
Dash of bitters (think Angostura) Pear slices for garnish
Directions: Pour perry into an ice tray and freeze through. Once frozen, pop cubes from tray into blender and add bourbon and bitters. Blend* until smooth and pour into glass. Garnish with pear slices.
*Don’t have your own slushie machine (or blender for that matter)? These hacks can help you get a homemade slushie regardless.
• Ice cream maker - set it and forget it, but not for too long—check in a little early to get the right slushie consistency instead of hard serve • Freeze tray - set ingredients in a baking tray and freeze with frequent visits to stir, creating a soft, smooth slush before it becomes a solid block • Bag in a bag - place ingredients in a sealed bag, then place in a larger bag filled with ice and salt. Seal and shake your money maker for a solid five et voila, through the miracle of modern science, you have a slushie in a bag
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If you are a local professional wanting to give back to your community, a business owner searching for new talent or someone new to the Northwestern Ontario workforce, the Northwest Connector program may be just what you are looking for! northwestconnector@nswpb.ca nswpb.ca/connector
Need someone to talk to? Our counsellors are here to help. We’ve adapted our Walk-In Counselling Clinic with Talk-In Counselling now available 3 days a week.
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Walk-In Counselling Clinic Proudly Presented By: tbaycounselling.com | childrenscentre.ca
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• REAL ESTATE & MORTGAGES • FAMILY LAW, DIVORCE & MEDIATION • WILLS & ESTATES, POWER OF ATTORNEY • CORPORATE LAW • NOTARIES *ACCREDITED FAMILY LAW MEDIATOR
Daniel R. Filipovic,
B. Admin., LL.B., AccFM*
Samantha A. Filipovic, B. FA. (HONS), LL.B.
John P. Filipovic,
B. A., LL.B., (1929-2019)
Michael D. Conway, Conwa B. A., LL.B., Retired
1020 E. Victoria Avenue www.filipovic.ca
Back!!
is back in full effect for Weekend 2022!
r 2 fun-filled days:
th - 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
th - 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
WE’RE BACK! The Hymers Fall Fair is back in full effect for Labour Day Weekend 2022! See you there for 2 fun-filled days:
Sun. Sept 4th
Mon. Sept 5th
9am to 6pm
9am to 5pm
See our website for details at hymersfair.com or email us for information at info@hymersfair.com Want to volunteer? Email us at volunteers@hymersfair.com
m or
sfair.com 26
The Walleye
Food
Buttermilk Chicken Club
E OFF TH MENU
Story by Olivia Bosma, Photos by Lois Nuttall
F
ood that is good for the soul is what we all crave. It comforts, satisfies, and brings joy when we need it most. To me, soul food has to be decadent, flavourful, filling but not too heavy, and downright satisfying. I found the perfect combination in Man vs Meats’ buttermilk chicken club. This delicious sandwich consists of a fresh Kaiser roll from Agostino’s Bakery, Thunder Oak cheese, and chicken sourced from Renco
Foods. It is topped with bacon, lettuce, tomato, and a house-made roasted garlic aioli. Apart from fresh ingredients, one thing I always hope to find when visiting a restaurant is a hearty portion size. I want to leave a restaurant feeling full and satisfied. This buttermilk chicken club ticks those boxes. “This sandwich has been a customer favourite ever since it was added to the menu,” says Shelby
Hale, front of house at Man vs Meats. After tasting it, I can certainly see why. There are a couple of other things that make this sandwich one I am sure to crave going forward. Another big thing I look for in my food apart from ingredients and portion size is texture and flavour. You need every element in the dish to harmonize with one another—another area where Man vs Meats has nailed it. The chicken provides a
satisfying contrast between the crispy-crunchy coating and the tender juicy meat. The garlic aioli adds a creamy texture along with a slightly sweet flavour due to the garlic being roasted during the preparation process. The fresh bun is soft and light, while being sturdy enough to hold all of the elements on the sandwich. The bacon adds the perfect extra hint of saltiness while adding a little crunch with each bite. And finally, the lettuce and tomato
provide a light freshness that elevates the sandwich to another level. If you are a fried chicken and a sandwich lover, or simply a delicious food lover, this sandwich is for you. Head on over to Man vs Meats and try it for yourself; heck, treat yourself and get some fries to go with it. You can thank me later. For more information, visit manvsmeats.com or find them on Facebook.
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Download our Starting a Business Guide here
gotothunderbay.ca/entrepreneurcentre 28
The Walleye
Baked or Fried
Food
Delaqua’s Panzerotti Pizzeria
Review by Susan Pretty, Photos by Jack Barten
L
et’s give a big Thunder Bay welcome to Delaqua’s Panzerotti Pizzeria! It all started very innocently. Jason Delaqua and his daughter were hungry and stopped in at a restaurant to grab a bite to go. A pizza wizard made him the best pie he ever had. A week later, said resto went up for sale, and Delaqua acquired it—and said wizard—and the rest is history! Word of mouth got around fast and furious. Business picked up, and Thunder Bay gave a warm welcome to Delaqua’s. Panzerottis soon became a house favourite. With sauce served on the side—rather than in the filling—these concoctions fry up light and crunchy. “They are great baked also,” Delaqua tells me with a wry grin. Staffer Daniel Therriault was an employee at the location’s previous business and is the jazz hands behind the scenes. Two other staff, Andrew and Katie, help out during peak periods, and Delaqua’s employ their very own drivers (one of whom is Delaqua’s son, Jaydan). Let’s talk menu. With dough and sauce being made fresh
every single day, “we don’t fool around,” Delaqua says. Customers can pick their favourite pies from a range of toppings in four different sizes—build your own, or pick from house recipes like the Delaqua’s Special, a meaty blend with just enough spice to hit the spot. Add some wings to make it a combo, and enjoy the best of both worlds. Deep-fried pickles are on the menu too, along with other delicious items such as sandwiches (breaded chicken being a favourite), chicken parm, onion rings, chicken fingers, wedges, garlic pie, and cheese garlic pie (which is described as a thick and delicious garlic bread). Have a sweet tooth? No problem. Cinnamon sugar bites are available to lend a hand, and make a great end to a delicious meal. Like what you see and taste? Keep an eye on this place in the future for some unique twists!
(L–R) Jason Delaqua, owner of Delaqua’s Panzerotti Pizzeria, and employee Daniel Therriault
Delaqua’s Panzerotti Pizzeria 80 Empress Avenue South 345-0000
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29
Food
Bradley Probizanski, owner and operator of Mugg’s Coffeehouse
There’s a New Coffee Shop in Westfort Mugg’s CoffeeHouse
Story by Olivia Bosma, Photos by Jack Barten
T
here is something special about walking into a shop and being met with friendly service and a smile. It makes you feel valued and creates an environment you want to go back to. New local business Mugg’s Coffeehouse, owned and operated by Bradley Probizanski, offers this experience, along with some delicious drinks and treats. Probizanski discovered his love of customer service and coffee while working his way through video game design school in Ottawa. “I worked in a few different coffee shops in the past, a couple in Ottawa and one here in Thunder Bay,” says Probizanski. “I really enjoyed interacting with customers and building those connections with people—not with a drive-through or being speed-focused, but customerfocused. It made for a really great time.” Mugg’s Coffeehouse is located in the space formerly known as the Alchemist Coffee Bar and CommuniTea. The opportunity for Probizanski to follow his passion and open his own coffee shop arose postpandemic and he was able to open in June. Although he has only been open a short while, Probizanski has already developed many house-made drink items that customers are
30
The Walleye
sure to love. There is something for everybody. “We do coffee, tea, iced coffees and cold brews, lattes, cappuccinos, and espresso— all the fun stuff,” he says. “We have some specialty drinks as well: iced tea lemonades in peach, blueberry, and strawberry, made fully in house. I just love the process of making these drinks. The look on somebody’s face when they taste their drink and you see that they really like it just warms my heart.” Baked goods are also added to the menu regularly for customers to enjoy alongside their drink. Already using locally sourced coffee beans from Wolfhead Coffee, Probizanski also hopes to further make connections with other local businesses and suppliers to help build his own business while supporting others. “We have had such great community support so far and I want to grow that. We have some blank walls in here right now and I am looking for local artists who would like to help fill it with art. I am looking to support local because we all have to help each other out nowadays.” For more information, follow @muggs.coffeehouse on Instagram.
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WWW.LAKEHEADCA.COM @lakeheadregion The Walleye
31
FilmTheatre
Movies and Sailing By Michael Sobota
Kon-Tiki (1950)
THE T D MOS O C SE NURABLE S A E PL WE THING HE T IN O D DARK A COLUMN ABOUT MOVIES
Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl believed that the Polynesian islands of the South Pacific Ocean were populated by people from South America, and not Asia, as had been anthropologically accepted for centuries. He studied winds and ocean currents in the Pacific and in 1949, together with five other Norwegian scientists/ sailors, he went to Peru. There, they constructed a large wooden raft made from balsa logs, based on designs from Spanish conquistadors. Using only one mast and a rough, square sail, they set out from Peru and drifted for 101 days on ocean currents before landing on one of the Polynesian islands. The following year, Heyerdahl created his documentary film from his journals, still photographs, and some primitive black-and-white film footage made on their journey. His movie won the Academy Award for Best Feature Documentary—Norway’s first Oscar win. The film is fascinating, funny, and during a storm sequence, thrilling to watch.
32
The Walleye
You can’t run from the wind. You trim your sails, face the music and keep going.
-Captain Christopher Sheldon (Jeff Bridges) in White Squall
Knife in the Water (1962) This was director Roman Polanski’s first feature film, and the only movie he made in his native Poland. It is a bristling psychological thriller, establishing themes about human relationships that he would continue to explore in all his feature films. A married couple, already discordant, pick up a young hitchhiker and then invite him to join them on a day’s sailing outing. The two male characters are immediately competitive and combative—and not merely over the attention of the woman. The hitchhiker is a young student and constantly challenged to “prove himself” by the husband. The student carries a pocket knife, a personal prized position. Except for the opening and closing sequences, the entire film takes place on a small sailboat out on the water, adding a claustrophobic and menacing effect. The actors are natural and have genuine chemistry. There is a terrific musical score by Bernt Rosengren featuring a haunting saxophone. Startling cinematography by Jerzy Lipman includes camera shots from above, where he strapped himself to the boat’s mast.
M
aking movies about ships and sailing has naturally appealed to story tellers while proving challenging technologically (until recently with the advances of CGI and drone shooting). In preparing this column I have been drawn to cinematography and storytelling together. And none of the movies I will discuss use modern movie technology. Here are four thrilling stories that take place on water.
Wind (1992)
I consider director Carroll Ballard one of our greatest visual storytellers. Wind is about the Kentucky Derby of sailing: the America’s Cup. It is a sport for billionaires. For its first 130 years, it was won by an Americanowned yacht. Then, in 1983, they lost it to an Australian boat. The main narrative drive in Wind is the effort to win the cup back, spearheaded by an incongruous quartet of mismatched characters. Also embedded in the story is a shallow and cliché love story between Matthew Modine, playing a journeyman yachtsman, and Jennifer Grey, a designer and sometime sailing technician. The script has two co-creditors (Rudy Wurlitzer and Mac Gudgeon), three story creditors (Jeff Benjamin, Roger Vaughan, and Kimball Livingston) and at least six uncredited ghost writers. Yes, the script is pretty awful and the dialogue sometimes painful to hear. But the visuals! Cinematographer John Toll gives us two thrilling sequences on and in the water that have never been matched, using natural, and often dangerous camerawork. Is this story about rich players worth telling? Probably not. But this is one of Ballard’s movies that proves the old saw that a picture is worth a thousand words.
White Squall (1996)
Ridley Scott directs a script by Todd Robinson, which is based on a true story. The story is about a group of high school teenagers who sign up for a year at sea, on board a sailing school, The Albatross, a two-masted brigantine. The dozen boys—yes, they are all boys—are played by some of America’s turn-of-the-century young, rising actors, including Scott Wolf, Ryan Philippe, Jason Marsden, and Eric Michael Cole. The film features Jeff Bridges as the gruff captain of the ship, John Savage as an English teacher , and the ship’s doctor and captain’s wife—and the only female on board—is played effectively by Caroline Goodall. This is a story about how boys become men, how discipline and camaraderie build a team, and how that team can survive tragedy. The film is titled White Squall for a reason and once again terrific storytelling through cinematography (by Hugh Johnson) saves the narrative from tripping into sentimentality. And here are six more sailing and cruising movies: Ship of Fools (1965), Overboard (1987), All Is Lost (2013), Dream Boat (2017), The Mercy (2018), and Adrift (2018).
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ADULT GATE: Advance - $10+HST At Gate - $15 We are pleased to welcome Brooke B. Rogers and Daniel G. Cox, who have joined our firm as associate lawyers. We We are are are pleased pleased pleased to welcome welcome welcome We are pleased toto welcome We We are also pleased toto announce that Brooke Brooke Brooke B. B. B. Rogers Rogers Rogers and and and Daniel Daniel Daniel G. G. G. Cox, Cox, Cox, who who have have have Kate D. Brindley has become a partner inwho our firm. Brooke B. Rogers and Daniel G. Cox, who have
joined joined joined our our our fifi rm fi rm rm as as as associate associate associate lawyers. lawyers. lawyers. joined our fi rm as associate lawyers. 1136 Alloy Drive, Second Floor We We We are are are also also also pleased pleased pleased tototo announce announce announce that that that We are also pleased announce that (corner of Alloy Drive andtoBalmoral Street) Kate Kate Kate D. D. D. Brindley Brindley Brindley has has has become become become a a partner a partner partner in in in our our fifi rm. fi rm. rm. Kate D. Brindley has become a partner inour our fi rm.
Thunder Bay, ON P7B 6M9 TEL 807-623-4342 FAX 807-623-2098
Brooke Brooke Brooke isisaisagraduate agraduate graduate ofofWilfrid ofWilfrid Wilfrid Laurier Laurier Laurier University, University, University, and and and the the the Bora Bora Bora Laskin Laskin Laskin Brooke is a graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University, and the Bora Laskin
JOHN W. ATWOOD (RETIRED), GILBERT L.She LABINE, CHRISTOPHER M. bar ARNONE, Faculty Faculty Faculty ofofLaw ofLaw Law atatLakehead at Lakehead Lakehead University. University. University. She She was was was called called called totothe tothe the Ontario Ontario Ontario bar bar Faculty of Law at Lakehead University. She was called to the Ontario bar NEIL J.Brooke MCCARTNEY, TERRY-LYNN MIETTINEN, KATE D. BRINDLEY inin2021. in2021. 2021. Brooke Brooke currently currently currently practices practices practices criminal criminal criminal law, law, law, and and and family family family law. law. law.
in 2021. Brooke currently practices criminal law, and family law.
JOHN G. ILLINGWORTH, MICHAEL D. BALLANTYNE, ELIZABETH A. CALONEGO, Daniel Daniel Daniel isisaisagraduate agraduate graduate ofofthe ofthe the University University University ofofToronto, ofToronto, Toronto, and and and also also also Lakehead’s Lakehead’s Lakehead’s Daniel isKAREN a graduate of the University and also Lakehead’s J. HAGMAN, BROOKEofB.Toronto, ROGERS, DANIEL G. COX
Bora Bora Bora Laskin Laskin Laskin Faculty Faculty Faculty ofofLaw. ofLaw. Law. He He He was was was called called called totothe tothe the Ontario Ontario Ontario bar bar bar inin2020. in2020. 2020. Bora Laskin Faculty of Law. He was called to the Ontario bar in 2020. Daniel Daniel Daniel practices practices practices family family family law, law, law, and and and criminal criminal criminal law. law. law. ATWOODLAW.CA Daniel practices family law, and criminal law. Kate Kate Kate has has has been been been ininpractice inpractice practice with with with usussince ussince since 2010, 2010, 2010, and and and has has has distinguished distinguished distinguished Kate has been in practice with us since 2010, and has distinguished herself herself herself ininthe inthe the defence defence defence ofofcriminal ofcriminal criminal cases. cases. cases. herself in the defence of criminal cases.
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Merchants of the Wild
FilmTheatre
Merchants of the Wild/APTN
TV Series Features FWFN Actor's Debut By Sara Sadeghi Aval
(L-R) Sean Morriseau and Dave Fortin during the filming of the TV series Merchants of the Wild in Syilx territory outside Kelowna, B.C.
Merchants of the Wild/APTN
William First Nation without the opportunity to learn about his culture, Morriseau aims to break the cycle and pass on the teachings to his daughter and the Indigenous youth he currently mentors. “I hope youth see that even if the modern way of living collapsed, we could always rely on a sustainable way of living off the land,” he says. He is now committed to sharing traditional teachings regularly. The adventurer’s favourite day of filming included using the dugout canoes, made from large trees, that were gifted to the group to paddle through rapids. His biggest hurdle while filming came on the fifth day of the season, when Morriseau became sick and had to be taken to a nearby hospital by the crew before returning to the campsite. “I encourage everyone to go out and spend time on the land. It gave me a sense of what I want to do with my life,” he says. Morriseau is currently working with Dilico Anishinabek Family Care as a cultural wellness mentor while pursuing his love of music, specifically hip hop, under his stage name Sean Skiez—he’s set to perform at the waterfront this summer and his music is currently streaming on Spotify. Find Morriseau on Instagram @nativepoolboy and for more information, visit aptntv.ca/ merchantsofthewild
Merchants of the Wild/APTN
W
hen 27-year-old Sean Morriseau auditioned to be one of the six participants on the latest season of Merchants of the Wild, he had no idea he would be coming out of it a changed person. Premiering in 2019 on APTN (Aboriginal Peoples Television Network), each season of Merchants of the Wild follows a group of Indigenous individuals as they spend 25 days in a new location across Canada with no modern tools or contact with the outside world, while immersed in nature and relying on traditional Indigenous teachings and each other to survive. After being chosen as a team member, Morriseau found himself in Syilx territory outside Kelowna, B.C., in the forests of Okanagan Valley. “My whole life, I’ve wanted to be an actor, so when I saw the poster for an adventure show, I put myself out there,” he says. Although he began the adventure with purely acting goals, Morriseau says “he found himself in the bush,” and all six participants “realized what life was like for our ancestors.” Everyone was allowed only a few articles of clothing and one personal item to bring with them. Morriseau chose to bring a notebook, which he wrote in every day, documenting his experience. “We went in there as strangers and came out as a family,” Morriseau says about the experience and creating lifelong relationships with his castmates. As a single father who grew up in Fort
“We went in there as strangers and came out as a family.” The Walleye
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FilmTheatre
You Better Beware!
(L–R) Actors Jay Decoux and Tina Hegg Raway
Little Shop of Horrors Returns to Grand Marais By Taylor Onski
H
ungry for a campy, cheesy horror musical on your next Grand Marais getaway? If so, check out Grand Marais Playhouse’s production of Little Shop of Horrors.
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Based on the 1986 cult classic film starring Rick Moranis and Ellen Greene, the musical features a flower shop on Skid Row in 1960s New York that becomes home to a Venus flytrap
with a taste for human blood. Actors Jay DeCoux and Tina Hegg Raway lead the show as Seymour and Audrey, and cannot wait to bring this show back to the stage. For Hegg Raway and director Sue
Hennessy, this show is both a celebration of the Playhouse’s 50th Anniversary, and a return to their theatre roots. “Sue, the artistic director of the Grand Marais Playhouse, directed her first musical, the high school musical Little Shop, in 2000. There, she discovered a new singer, who came out of nowhere—me,” says Hegg Raway. “So, we are both
reprising this show that has an amusing discovery story because I didn’t know I could sing and I have had a lifetime of singing since that show.” However, the show’s strengths are not just the great music or its outrageous story, but all those working behind the scenes. “We’ve got a handful of ‘kids’ taking on big roles, so they’re learning all this stuff and we’re watching them grow from practice to practice,” says DeCoux. For Hagg Raway, this multigenerational cast, including a 17-year-old playing plant shop owner Mr. Mushnik, is one of her favourite things about working with Grand Marais Playhouse. While this show is a community event, Grand Marais Playhouse welcomes Thunder Bay tourists to say “sure” and check out all the talent and fun—albeit unusual—musical story just an hour’s drive away. “What I like best about this show is the whole lesson of the show. There are some fun lessons about believing in yourself and believing that you’re worthy. And that’s something this playhouse really promotes. This playhouse is for everyone,” says Hegg Raway. Little Shop of Horrors runs August 4–7 at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts (51 West 5th Street, Grand Marais, Minn.) For more information visit grandmaraisplayhouse.com.
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TheArts
madaabii Project Story by Penelope Smart, Curator, Thunder Bay Art Gallery, Photo by Zoe Gordon
Artist: Tim Alexander fills this image, which is a video still from a quiet, meditative Title: madaabii project profile on this artist. Thunder Date: In progress Bay artist Tim Alexander of Medium: Ceramic Island Pottery is one of 27 Collection of the artists commissioned (a few Thunder Bay Art Gallery years ago) to make new works white ceramic vessel for the gallery’s new waterfront with scalloped edges building. The project is called sits on the edge of the madaabii, an Anishinaabe water. The gentle lap of waves word which means “s/he/
A
they goes down to the shore.” madaabii is an ambitious and largescale multidisciplinary commissioning art project that draws inspiration from Gichigami (Lake Superior). Tim Alexander grew up in Thunder Bay and was “introduced to clay playing on the beaches of Black Bay in Dorion where our family had a summer cottage.” This work was created at his Island Pottery studio and house in Rossport perched on the rim of
Lake Superior. His shellwhite pieces will be among the first to be exhibited as part of the opening of the new building, which will join the cultural and industrial history, ecology, and sacredness of this living body of water. The waterfront gallery is set to open in 2025. It’s incredible to imagine celebrating, sharing, and growing our permanent collection on the shore of the largest freshwater lake in the world.
HE FROM T BAY R E D THUN LLERY’S ART GA TION E L COL C
Discover more artist video profiles at theag.ca/madaabii.
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TheArts
Aurora
Pebble Beach
Sunrise
Lake Nipigon
Walk This Way
Geraldton Photographer Bryan Couch Finds Healing in the Natural World
A AND THOUS DS WOR
Story by Bonnie Schiedel, Photos by Bryan Couch
B
ack pain comes with few positives, but for Bryan Couch, it meant he discovered a passion for photography. On medical leave with an injury in 2015, he was walking a lot to find relief when it was too painful to sit or stand for any length of time—and he took his rarely used old Nikon with him. “I just started taking pictures while I walked, and I loved it,” he says. “I love just being out in nature; I love the peacefulness of it,” says Couch, a former
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Thunder Bay resident who now lives in Geraldton. “I like being out watching day turn to night, watching the light change, watching the stars come out, watching the aurora dance in the sky, watching the sun come up in the morning. Those are my favourite times. If I could I’d stay up all night and work all day and never sleep!” Couch taught himself how to use his camera, often viewing YouTube tutorials. For months, he took photo after photo after photo,
playing with the camera settings to see how changes would affect the image. “That’s the hardest part and the best part of photography, for me anyway, because I can spend a lot of time trying to figure out just what I want to get from the photo, that kind of technical side of it, that challenge of trying to get an idea from my head into the photo. A lot of times it doesn’t work, but that's the fun in it.” Because Couch focuses on natural landscape
photography in Northwestern Ontario, capturing water in the shot is often top of mind. “Shutter speed is usually the toughest thing to figure out, because it can really convey the movement and the power of the water,” he says. “If you want that silky smooth look you need a longer shutter speed. Or if you want something that’s crisp and clean, you need a faster shutter speed. Adjusting that completely changes the photo.” For example, consider the image of the pebbled beach, shown here. “I was taking some higher shutter speed shots trying to catch the waves hitting the shore and it wasn’t really looking great. I slowed the shutter down, and then it
was just too soft. So I had to find that balance in the middle, where I could catch the movement of the wave and the power of the wave, but not wash it out.” As a father of six kids ranging in age from 11 to 23, Couch is passing along photography skills and cameras to the next generation too. “They actually enjoy being outside pretty much as much as I do… they love finding new places, doing new things.” To see more of Bryan Couch’s work, visit bryancouch.com or @bryancouchphotography on Instagram and Facebook.
TheArts
Slate River
Lake Fog
Superior Log Lightning with Sage Pukaskwa Log
Tech Specs
Nikon D7200 Nikkor 35mm f/1.8 Nikkor 55300mm f/4.55.6 Tokina 1120mm F/2.8 3 Legged Thing Albert tripod
Photographer Bryan Couch
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TheArts
Sister Mollusk
Naturally Vibrant Dyes By Kat Lyzun
O
Sister Mollusk
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n August 14, artist Sister Mollusk and Ben Bohemier of Taiga Mushrooms are co-hosting a unique workshop from forest to studio. Participants will begin the afternoon with a mushroom identification walk, where Bohemia will introduce participants to a variety of species, share his knowledge on regional mycology, and demonstrate sustainable harvesting practices. Afterward, the group will meet at Goods & Co. Market to learn the fundamentals of natural dyeing, including fabric preparation, foraging and finding dye sources, and hot colour extraction. They will then try their hand at dyeing a silk scarf or bandana with locally harvested lobster mushrooms. Sister Mollusk has been honing her craft of natural dyeing for about five years, but it’s been part of her artistic interest for a long time. “My grandmother is a master textile artist and I heard her describe natural dyeing to me sort of throughout my entire life,” she says. “As I got a little bit older I decided I wanted to immerse myself in textiles, and natural dyeing stood out to me as really being an incredible process of connecting to nature while being creative.” She began taking courses at different folk schools, including the North House Folk School in Minnesota and the John C. Campbell Folk School in North Carolina, and experimenting with materials and techniques. She forages the fields, forests, and weedlined roadways of Northwestern Ontario to collect plants and minerals for her dyes. Today she sells her naturally dyed pieces and teaches others to create their own; her Instagram
(@sistermollusk) is filled with beautiful handmade pieces in brilliant hues from various plants and flowers. Mushrooms are intriguing actors in natural dyeing, as they can provide a surprising array of dye colours—from rich earthy tones to vivid pinks, purples and blues. Working with them seems to be as much science as artistry; everything from the chemistry of the mushroom pigments, age and composition of the mushroom, water quality and pH balance can affect the colour. This workshop’s lobster mushrooms (Sister Mollusk’s favourites) will produce a brilliant pink colour when slowly extracted by heat. “I think the really beautiful thing about natural dye is that it can be a really slow, drawn out process, and I think in those moments of waiting, of processing, it gives a lot of time for reflection,” she says. “It kind of brings you a little bit closer to what will become a piece of clothing or a personal item that’s going to be carried with you in your everyday life. I think it’s sort of a reminder to slow down and give a little more attention, a little more care, and practise mindfulness in our everyday lives.” “In the things I sell and the types of educational experiences I offer, I really am just trying to encourage people to pay a little closer attention to the world around them, particularly the natural world, and pay a little more mind to the objects that we bring into our lives and how we go about doing that.” For more information on the workshop and to register visit sistermollusk.ca.
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TheArts
Exhibit Travels Back in Time
I, Voyageur, in Search of Frances Anne Hopkins Story by Sara Sadeghi Aval, Photos by Naomi Harris
T
hirty years ago, Janet Clark curated the first exhibit featuring the paintings of Frances Anne Hopkins at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery, in the same building that now holds photographer Naomi Harris’s 2018 work tracing the same route as Hopkins, also guest curated by Clark. Travelling back in time, Harris set out to experience what that jour ney would feel like as a woman and to experience and document the
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landscapes that remain just as untouched as when Hopkins passed by them. Harris canoed and portaged the same route, except going backwards and mixing the historical with the modern. Hopkins, now famous for her large oil paintings featuring her iconic FAH monogram, travelled with her husband accompanied by voyageurs through the Hudson Bay Company’s fur trade routes in the 1860s. Harris’s work focuses on embodying
Hopkins and depicting the “ending of canoe travel as it was known,” says the curator. Harris’s four-month journey, accompanied by a guide, is documented through photos and waterproof journals. “Frances Anne never kept a diary; her paintings are all we have,” explains Clark. A departure from Harris’s usual book projects, the exhibit juxtaposes her modern tools and supplies against the unchanging backdrop of Northwestern Ontario.
Still-life photos of her first aid kit, energy bars, and toilet paper hang in the gallery’s main hall, next to the green canoe she used during her trek. Harris even duplicated Hopkins’s iconic blue travelling dress, posing in Renaissance-like tributes to scenes painted by Hopkins. “Naomi was injured on the French River,” explains Clark, referencing a striking photo of Harris, still dressed as Hopkins, on a modern-day emergency room bed, referencing the difference in resources between then and now, and the struggles of canoe travel. Amongst the photos and diary entries, d re s s m o d e l s , a n d superimposed vinyl prints in the exhibit are miniature tintypes—a form of photography used in the 1860s and 1870s consisting of
thin metal and dark pigment—which include a self-portrait made to resemble Hopkins and a nude image of Harris on the Superior shores, paying tribute to her personal work. The Toronto-based photographer previously trekked Canada in 2010 via the Trans-Canada Highway, photographing people she met along the way. “I think this was another way of showing Canada,” says Clark on Harris’s reason for embarking on the journey. Clark’s favourite piece in the show is a particular nightlife shot of Harris standing by the shore with a small light, depicting the moments after the canoe paddles have stopped for the day and the beauty of “just being there, camping under the stars.”
TheArts
I, Voyageur, in Search of Frances Anne Hopkins is open to the public until September 25. For more information, visit theag.ca.
hosting
an event?
Add it to our online Events Guide (for free) at thewalleye.ca The Walleye
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TheArts
Loftquist, 2022, 15x30IN,Oil On Canvas
Fire In The Sky
Inspired by the North Shore
Colleen Rose Captures the Movement of the Natural World On Canvas By Marcia Arpin
“A StartingOver, 2022, 15x20, Oil On Canvas SuperiorShores, 2019, 36x36, Acrylic
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lthough I’ve always enjoyed creating art, I feel that the conscious decision to push my skills and produce more paintings the past few years has changed my life,” Red Rock artist and educator Colleen Rose says as she begins to describe her journey. In 2013, Rose’s Aunt Carol passed away. To honour her aunt’s legacy, Rose began working with the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation on several painting projects to raise money for cancer care in our region. Since then, she has continued to produce more art to share with others. “I love exploring the North Shore of Lake Superior, which has inspired most of the work I create. The lake is constantly c h a n g i n g , o ff e r i n g endless opportunities to
capture dramatic shifts in light and colour on my canvases. It’s rewarding to paint a scene that others recognize because each community along the shore has its own physical characteristics that define our region and identities,” she says. “Our connection with the land and the water is undeniable and brings us together as northerners. I’m proud knowing that I can use art to share the beauty and diversity of our area with those who aren’t familiar with Northwestern Ontario, but it’s even more special when we realize how fortunate we are to live in these locations.” “Recently, my work was shared in The Huts Magazine as well as Vanity Fair, which was thrilling because anyone who saw my work will have a glimpse into our lives along Lake Superior,” Rose adds.
As for inspiration, Rose credits the Group of Seven, especially the work of Lawren Harris. “[He] has inspired me since I was in high school,” she says. “I loved learning about their trips to our area, riding on the train to smaller communities and hiking to see incredible views that hadn’t been presented to the rest of the world until that point.” “This past year, I’ve been honoured to work with the Group of Seven Lake Superior Trail, to explore their trail system and visit several locations where members of the Group of Seven painted a century ago. I used one of these locations to create a painting for a mural that will be installed in Marathon this summer.” For more information, visit colleenrose.ca.
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TheArts
Fifteenth Anniversary Exhibit
Chenier Fine Arts Celebrates Milestone By Sara Sadeghi Aval
L
ast month, Chenier Fine Arts turned 15 years old. Owner Debra Chenier and Co.Lab Gallery & Arts Centre teamed up to curate an anniversary exhibit from Chenier’s extensive collection of almost all-Canadian fine art, celebrating both the business and the art community. The show opened on July 8 and features 13 artists who have been a part of Chenier’s gallery through the years. “Most of them are senior painters, and each one has made a statement, whether they are a portrait or landscape artist, and you can see the progression and their contribution to the art world,” Chenier says. Paintings ranging from miniature canvases to large format pieces line the gallery’s walls. Chenier says working with Co.Lab’s curator Lora Northway gave her collection a chance to be seen with a fresh pair of eyes and exposed her to the Goods Co. Market’s younger demographic. From the age of eight, Chenier worked in her mother Jean Chenier’s gallery, and, having been introduced to the art world at a young age, she quickly fell in love with the atmosphere. Chenier’s family opened the first Canadian fine art gallery in Fort William in 1964. “Just seeing the lineups we used to get outside the gallery before an exhibit, sweeping the gallery floor, and helping with framing” was enough to get Chenier hooked. After 15 years, she is adamant that “there is nothing else she’d rather be doing,” and her passion for art will
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always outweigh her role as a business owner. “I don’t do it for profit; although I may sell a painting for five thousand dollars, that is not my profit. Before opening the gallery, I was working in decorating and design and not making more than the minimum wage, so I thought maybe I could own my own business and make the same money,” she reflects. Little did she know, framing and mouldings would become something she enjoyed. Paying attention to texture, colour, finish, shape, and placement ensures that each order is customized to the highest degree. Customers can choose from over 100 options to complete their painting and make their piece a part of their home. “Once someone comes in and buys a painting, as opposed to department store art, they get their first buzz and can’t stop,” jokes Chenier, who is happy to work on layaway with clients to make sure each customer can own a piece of art and begin their collection. “To be in the art business in Canada, selling this quality of art, there’s a small market for it, so with every painting, you celebrate the sale, which makes me realize there’s nothing else I want to do but this.”. Yo u c a n f i n d n a m e s like Shane Norrie, Geoff Farnsworth, Lina Vandal, and Pippi Johnson in the exhibit, open until August 7. For more information, follow @chenier.fine.arts on Instagram.
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TheArts
ARFalls
Crane
goose
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Hoito
The Art of Jason Miller Artists Takes his Career to the Next Level By Kris Ketonen
A
scroll through the Instagram page of Thunder Bay artist Jason Miller brings to mind one word: variety. Miller has been busily producing all manner of artwork for years, including photography, paintings, carvings, and sketches. And now, he’s ready to bring his career to the next level. “My mom used to draw with me and my sister all the time, and I’d say she
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probably got me started with artwork. I sort of naturally excelled from a young age, so I kind of just went with it, and I’ve been doing it as long as I can remember.” Photography came a bit later, when Miller was in grade six and received a camera for Christmas. “I got super into taking pictures,” he says. “I’d read photography magazines. I was really into it, but I was too young to sort of grasp
how to use my camera properly. There was a lot of stuff that I wanted to do, and that I was interested in, but I couldn’t really wrap my head around how to make it happen.” As a result, Miller says, photography kind of fell by the wayside in terms of his artistic pursuits. But that changed during the COVID19 pandemic, when he bought a new camera and took up nature photography.
“Being older and more able to grasp the concept of how to properly work a camera, it sort of sparked my interest in that all over again,” he says. “It’s been great just getting outside in nature, and enjoying it and being able to take all these pictures of the beautiful scenery around Thunder Bay.” Miller’s Instagram page is, for the moment, the only place to view his work, and contact him about things like prints. But that is likely to change relatively soon, as Miller hopes to have a website up and running by the end of the summer. That website will be worth keeping an eye
out for, since there really is something for everyone among Miller’s work. “I have a hard time putting myself in a box, and saying ‘this is what I do,’” he says. “My mind is all over the place all the time, so something will just spark my interest and I’ll just run with it for a while. And then, after a little bit of that, something else will steal all my attention away, and then I’ll go with that.” For more information, follow @djasonunchained on Instagram.
TheArts
LHAN
MFDoom
POTP
Sunrise
“It’s been great just getting outside in nature, and enjoying it and being able to take all these pictures of the beautiful scenery around Thunder Bay.”
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Outdoor
Hiking Mdaabii Miikna
Hiking Mdaabii Miikna
Trail Offers Exquisite Beauty on Lake Superior’s North Shore Story and photos by Deana Renaud
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ake Superior is an immense body of water best known for its power, unpredictable (and sometimes unforgiving) nature, beauty, and brilliance. The shoreline of this great lake stretches over 4,387 km and is home to the most breathtaking, rugged, and inspiring terrain in the world. The north is designed for adventure due to its undeveloped, pristine wilderness and there is no better place to explore the north shore than Pukaskwa National Park. At Pukaskwa, there is something for everyone: gorgeous beaches, inland hiking trails, roaring waterfalls, peaceful places to paddle, and epic backcountry adventures. The Mdaabii Miikna offers a magnificent backpacking experience that you can conquer in a weekend, and it is one of my favourite routes in the entire region. The whole trail has an indescribable energy that you feel immediately—relentless
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beauty combined with inherent wildness. The loop proper is 24 km in length and takes you through spectacular boreal forest and along the mystical shore of Superior. After paying park fees and checking into the backcountry, you make your way along Hattie Cove, and across boardwalkcovered wetlands. You even cross over an enigmatic marsh on an extended wooden platform. The further you get from Hattie Cove, the more rugged the trail becomes. Navigating over fascinating terrain and through the forest is so enchanting, you swear you’ve entered your favourite childhood fairytale. After 6 km on the Coastal Trail, there is a sign for the Mdaabii Miikna. Turning right, you continue onward and eventually reach the south end of Playter Harbour. This is always one of my overnight spots because there are beautiful wooden tent platforms built right
Pukaskwa National Park's front country Suspension bridge and Chig Falls
Outdoor
Hook Falls
on the polished, sloping rock that extends right into the lake. You can watch the sunset through your tent window and capture the perfect Instagram-worthy photograph. All the campsites on the Mdaabii offer a few comforts, including a thunder box (or outhouse), bear box (for food storage), and maintained camping areas. After a restful night at Playter Harbour, you continue south on the trail to Picture Rock Harbour. This section of the trail is the most interesting to navigate, taking you over rocky highlands, across driftwood beaches, through a natural rock tunnel, and eventually leading to a beautiful, secluded beach. There are three campsites at the south end of Picture Rock, all equally magnificent, offering a front row seat to the picturesque turquoise-coloured bay, fascinating geological formations, and another great view of the sunset. From Picture Rock, it’s another 3.5 km back to the Coastal Trail. You can’t go to Pukaskwa and
not see Chigamiwinigum Falls, so from the south access point of the Mdaabii continue another kilometre or so and cross the White River Suspension Bridge, 23 metres above the torrent below. It is sure to take your breath away. The hike from Chig Falls back to Hattie Cove is just over 9 km, so you can power through back to the parking area or choose to camp at the sites at the base of the falls along the White River. I highly recommend staying here and taking a side adventure to Hook Falls. I assure you, this spectacular waterfall is worth the extra walking, even at the end of a long day. Be sure to take your time and breathe in every wondrous moment on Pukaskwa’s Mdaabii Miikna. The short time you spend here will give you memories to last a lifetime. This remarkable trail system is sure to expose you to the absolute wonderment and exquisite beauty of the north shore of Lake Superior. See you out there.
Paddling Pukaskwa National Park
Picture Rock harbour Wetlands crossing Pukaskwa
Picture Rock harbour
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LAKE SUPERIOR
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Nipigon Punjabi Dhaba Nipigon Esso and Restaurant
Nipigon Punjabi Dhaba
Canadian Tire - Nipigon
Zechner’s Food Market
536 HWY 11/17, Nipigon ON 807-887-1700
191 1st Street, Nipigon ON 807-887-3131 | @CTNipigon
155 Railway Street, Nipigon ON 807-887-2910 | @ZechnersFoodMarket
Nipigon Esso & Restaurant
We might be small, but we sell it all!
Serving Nipigon and area for 84 years!
807-887-1700 536 Highway 11/17 Nipigon, Ontario
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Esso and and nn Esso urant rant
PARO Centre for Women’s Enterprise
Shannon Cormier, Lead Business Growth Advisor (BGA) located in Nipigon 807-625-0328
Pelletier’s Gas Bar & Native Art Gallery
177 New Street, Lake Helen Reserve, Nipigon ON 807-887-2952 | @PelletiersGasBar
807-887-1700 07-887-1700 11/17 Nipigon, Nipigon, Ontario Ontario yy 11/17
Nipigon Historical Museum Open daily during the summer months from 10:00am to 5:00pm
Mannila’s Home Hardware Building Centre
Your path to healthier living.
40 Front Street, Nipigon ON 807-887-0356 | @NipigonHistory
109 4th St, Nipigon ON | 807-887-2911 @Mannila’s Home Hardware
54 Front Street, Box 38, Nipigon ON 807-887-2325 | Rexall.ca
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Rexall Nipigon
Sponsored by DORION, RED ROCK, NIPIGON & RED ROCK INDIAN BAND Membership Inquiries:
Levina Collins, President: 807-887-4579 Marvin Broughton: 807-887-7117 Glen Malloch, Secretary: 289-541-9935 Laura Lynch, Treasurer: 807-632-8810
Top of Lake Superior Chamber of Commerce PO Box 600 Nipigon ON P0T 2J0
SAUNDERS FOODLAND SERVING YOU BETTER, WHILE SAVING YOU MORE SINCE 1964
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Comfort food with a unique twist.
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56 Front Street, Nipigon ON 807-887-1333 | @TBSNipigon
522 Trans-Canada HWY 11/17, Nipigon ON 807-293-0011 | @DuckysNipigon
59 Salls Street, Red Rock ON 807-886-2630 @SaundersFoodland
Timber Wolf Inn
Wolf River Campground
Red Rock Inn
461 HWY 11/17, Nipigon ON 807-887-0808 nipigontimberwolfinn.com
Wolf Den Hamburger & Hot Dog Stand
Located on the Timber Wolf Inn grounds
251 Wolf River Road, Dorion ON 807-887-4029 wolfrivercampground.com
145 White Blvd, Red Rock ON 807-252-8759 red-rock-inn.business.site
Allen’s Auto Repair
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Leadership Coaching, Training & Consultation
185 Railway Street, Nipigon ON 807-887-2440 | allenautopro@shaw.ca
(807) 823-0355 info@inpoweredlivingonline.ca The Walleye
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LAKE SUPERIOR
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
PO Box 600, Nipigon ON P0T 2J0
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Located on the Canyon Country Co-op grounds
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920 Highway 11/17, Dorion ON | 705-975-0660 | CanyonCountry.ca | @CanyonCountryCoop
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With Lise Vaugeois
EYE EYE TO
CityScene
As told to Matt Prokopchuk, Photo by Shannon Lepere
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ise Vaugeois is no stranger to trying new things. Coming to the Lakehead in the early 1990s to join the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra, Vaugeois would spend 13 years playing French horn with the TBSO while helping spearhead various music education initiatives in the city. She completed her graduate studies, including a PhD in education focusing on culture and colonization, and lectured at Lakehead U n i v e r s i t y, a l l w h i l e becoming a certified sea kayaking instructor. Now, Vaugeois is serving her first term in provincial politics after being elected to represent Thunder Bay-Superior North in this spring’s provincial election. Vaugeois spoke with us about her move into politics, getting into kayaking, and what’s on her music playlist. The Walleye: You’ve worn many hats throughout your career. What made you want to add politician to that list? Lise Vaugeois: I’ve been involved in activist struggles since an early age. When I was introduced to feminism as a teenager, it really helped to explain some of the things I had been experiencing and that I was seeing other families experiencing. So, that’s the start, but it goes many years throughout my lifetime, really trying to understand what holds inequality in place, what holds oppression in place—so that’s kind of a thread that’s gone throughout my academic work. There are only so many things you can do from the outside. All of these forms of activism and the different ways people engage are really important, but I also
wondered and wanted to see and engage at the political level because there’s certain things that can only be done at that level. That was a big piece of it—also, really caring about this community. TW: You’re also a kayaking instructor. How did that come about? LV: I got introduced to kayaking through the Rossport symposia. I’ll say that was really the key to falling in love with living here—we know that the hiking is spectacular and there are many, many great things about being here, but going out on Lake Superior just opened up a whole amazing world. You meet the people in other watercraft when you’re out there too. You meet the sailors and go to Thompson Island and see this amazing setup they’ve got out there, and there have been great communities of paddlers over the years. I have gone on wilderness trips along most of the north shore of Lake Superior, but I’m also a nervous paddler. When Lake Superior kicks up— as she does—I’m prone to get pretty stressed about it and I have gone for an unplanned swim more than once [laughs]. When I finished my PhD, the reward for myself was to go learn to be an instructor, so I did several courses that summer, really to build my confidence and my ability to judge; the other piece is that I love teaching, so it’s always a pleasure to introduce new people to paddling and guiding people to paddle safely and making wise decisions. T W : W h a t ’s y o u r favourite place your career has taken you? LV: I lived in Germany for two years when I was studying and I lived in
London, England for a year studying—the program was called performance and communication skills, but what it really was about was working together with schools and community groups to put together amazing musical projects. So I did that and we brought that to Thunder Bay [in the late 1990s], together with Colleen Kennedy from the TBSO. We did many projects in the schools and I put together a van-load of instruments and I built a lot of them that I would take into the schools. This was not a replacement for band programs, but it was originally meant to be enrichment and in the elementary schools at that time, all the music programs had been cut, and so there weren’t any even decent percussion instruments in the schools. So I built a whole whack of stuff and bought a lot of stuff and then took all those instruments into the schools. These projects were quite involved and ended with performances by students, and that kind of came out of the training that I did in London. TW: What’s on your music playlist these days? LV: Such a range. It could be anything from music from Africa, Latin America, some really interesting jazz artists, but my desert island music goes right back to high school, and that would be the Bach Brandenburg Concertos. TW: And who is someone you really look up to, or a personal hero? LV: You know, I have two: Buffy Sainte-Marie and Angela Davis. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
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CityScene
A Blacksheep on the Rise
Thunder Bay Mountain Biking Club Sees New Growth Story by Jack Barten, Photos by Jonathan Portinga
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ast year, it was nearly impossible to get a mountain bike. Due to increased demand from pandemic hobbyists, bike shops and manufacturers couldn't keep up. Thankfully however, some people managed to secure one, causing Thunder Bay’s mountain biking club Blacksheep to experience continual growth of 30% in the last year. Founded in 1998, Blacksheep has made waves the last few years in particular after securing a grant of $250,000 from the Community Economic Development Commission MAT Fund to build and maintain the infrastructure needed for the growing mountain biking trails around Centennial Park and Shuniah Mines. The organization uses a combination of volunteer work and contractors to construct new trails and access points for the park. One priority in particular for
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Blacksheep is the accessibility of the trail network. “With the new influx of bikers to the club and to the trails, it is important to add more green trails for beginners to navigate the park and also more access points so more people can easily find the trails and enjoy them,” says Jonathan Portinga, who runs communications at Blacksheep. Between new trails, improved accessibility to current trails, and groomed fat biking trails, Blacksheep is securing a better future for Thunder Bay's bikers. However, while building trails is impressive in itself, Blacksheep also runs many programs and events for bikers to enjoy. In particular, Blacksheep is most known for their races. This year, Blacksheep hosted a race with 179 participants of all different ages and skill groups. At these races they occasionally have food and live music as entertainment for observers. For those who aren't the
racing type, they have group rides, in which one can experience the trails with a seasoned rider guiding them through. And if those three things weren't enough to consider supporting Blacksheep through membership, they also have tutorials where professional instructors help you to learn more about mountain biking through new skills and techniques on the trails. “We run many different programs with beginner group rides, women's group rides, and skills trials specifically for kids,”
Portinga says. It seems hard to argue that the $65 annual price isn't a good deal with all the things Blacksheep does for the mountain biking community. And with Portinga hinting at “talks of looking for a place to build another trail network,” it would seem the growth of the club will continue—even if some of us still can’t find a new mountain bike. For more information, visit blacksheepmtb.com.
FREE Admission
Hot Diggety Dog on site
Thunder Bay Community Auditorium
OCTOBER 11 - 7:30 PM
Order Tickets At www.tbca.com In-Person Wed 12:30 - 5:30pm
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CityScene
Charles Brown, president of the Lakehead Transportation Museum Society, stands in front of the Alexander Henry The Alexander Henry’s engine order telegraph, located in the ship’s wheelhouse.
WALL SPACE
The Alexander Henry Museum Ship Story and photos by Adrian Lysenko
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ocated at the Pool 6 dock at Marina Park is an important piece of Thunder Bay’s history. The former Canadian coast guard ship, icebreaker, and buoy tender the Alexander Henry serves as a floating museum with public tours in the summer. “The Alexander Henry was built right here in Port Arthur back in 1958 and opened up this harbour every single year of its entire working life,” says Charles Brown, president of the Lakehead Transportation Museum Society. The ship entered service in 1959, and in 1985 it was replaced by the icebreaker Samuel Risley and given to the Marine Museum of the Great Lakes in Kingston. In June 2017, the Alexander Henry was
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purchased by the Lakehead Transportation Museum Society of Thunder Bay and returned to its home port. “The ship had not run since ‘84; we had to put a tow package together, and hire Toronto Dry Docks out of Toronto. [...] We had to raise over $250,000 to do that, which we did through different levels of government and support and private donations, and we bought the ship for a toonie,” Brown says. “I negotiated a loonie, but the lawyers put in a toonie. [...] So we transported it back over 900 nautical miles all the way through the Great Lake system, through every Great Lake just about and brought it here literally days before she was scheduled to be scrapped.”
CityScene
The officer’s mess. Certain areas of the Alexander Henry are dressed as they would have been when the ship was in service.
The Alexander Henry opened on July 18, 2018, 60 years to the day that the ship was put in the water. “We rededicated the ship that day,” Brown says. “ [Annie Kolisnyk], who broke the bottle for us, used to work on the ship. She was 94 that year and just turned 98.” “We’ve been running tours ever since and have
The engine room. “We have the last two engines of their type in the world,” Brown says. “Two Fairbanks Morse engines. They’re as large as transport trucks.”
been improving our property down here,” he adds. Besides the ship, the Lakehead Transportation Museum Society also has two restored Brill trolley buses, the Dryden 3 tugboat, and other items for display. For more information, visit ltmstb.com.
Eleven rooms of the ship have been converted into mini-museums. “Not only do you get to see a little bit about shipping and everything else, but you’ll get to see about rail and all kinds of different things,” Brown says. One of the ship’s lifeboats.
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CityScene
This is Thunder Bay Interviews and photos by Olivia Bosma
This month we asked The Walleye readers: what is the best thing about living next to the biggest freshwater lake in the world?
Hanusia: The abundance of natural landscape and beauty is the best thing. Everywhere you look there is opportunity to see trees and wildlife. I mean, just behind me right here in a city park, there is a heron. We are lucky to have it so close by to connect with nature.
Lisa: Where Thunder Bay is located on Lake Superior, it is actually an outdoor paradise, I would have to say. We are close to little mountains, so there is skiing, hiking, boating, canoeing. Just an outdoor paradise little city. Being from Winnipeg originally, having moved here when I was 25, I love Thunder Bay and will not leave.
Ross: I love to boat, so boating on Lake Superior is definitely the best thing about living right next to it.
Carolyn: The best thing about Thunder Bay being so close to Lake Superior is that basically anywhere you go, you have a beautiful view of the lake. The access to boating is definitely a big bonus as well, but the view is so great.
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Jayden: I think the best thing about living next to Lake Superior is the easy access to all of the water sports. Kayaking, canoeing, fishing—we can do all of it whenever we want. Cassandra: For me, the best thing is the ability to go swimming in so many locations. There are so many access points to the water, and you can find some quiet and private places that are not busy. Also, the calming and therapeutic aspect of being so close to the water.
Arlene: The views and the trails. It is absolutely beautiful around here with the trails. I have accomplished 10 out of the 128, and my goal is to finish them all. So, the hiking and the beauty of it all is just amazing.
CityScene
New School, New Rules A Look at Cannabis Etiquette
BIS CANNAER CORN
By Justin Allec
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i c t u re t h i s : y o u ’ re attending a neighbour’s barbecue. It’s a mixed bag of folks who don’t all know each other. There’s a table full of food, a cooler full of drinks, the sun is out, and everyone is having a nice time. Then your neighbour and a few of their friends— but not everyone, and not you—congregate in a corner of the yard and light up. How do you read the situation? If you’re a cannabis enthusiast, this might be okay. Cannabis consumption doesn’t bother you, but it still leaves you feeling annoyed because now more than half the people at the party have indulged and you never got an invite to that party. However, if you’re not comfortable with cannabis, this can seem extremely rude—sure, they didn’t force it on you, but now there’s a cloud hanging over the backyard and conversation has ground to a halt. While legalization dictates how the law deals with cannabis, the social rules are still evolving. “Legal” doesn’t automatically transfer to “socially acceptable,” and context matters. Fortunately, a lot of cannabis culture is anchored by a sense of etiquette between enthusiasts. Most of the old rules are still relevant: sharing is caring, pass it to the left, don’t bogart the joint, don’t join in if you’re sick, inform people about what they’re smoking. These are about consideration. The cannabis community has
traditionally been friendly and welcoming, whatever p e o p l e ’s e x p e r i e n c e levels, so etiquette was straightforward. Don’t be a jerk, in other words. Legally, cannabis is controlled similarly to cigarettes due to dangers posed by the smoke. Indoor smoking anywhere except for your home is prohibited. You can’t smoke within 20 metres of a school, playground (or any other place where kids are, duh), or any other public grounds, which includes parks. There’s also a ninemetre rule against smoking near business and hospital
entrances, as well as near outdoor patios. Like alcohol, you can’t use cannabis in your vehicle. So really, outdoors might be the best place to do it, but even then you should show some consideration. Do your neighbours have their windows open? Are kids or pets around? Does your apartment building allow smoking on balconies? Are you walking down a busy street? All worthwhile questions to ask, because not everyone around your space may be as excited about cannabis as you are. Social situations, like
the example I gave above, also don’t need to be awkward. If you’re hosting, it’s a good idea to let the whole party know what’s happening. If some of your guests are abstaining, you should probably refrain as well. If everyone is on board, though, then I hope you have a decent spread of munchies and some entertainment. I’d highly recommend checking out Lizzie Post’s Higher Etiquette: A Guide to the World of Cannabis, from Dispensaries to Dinner Parties for a more complete view of hosting and attending social
gatherings where cannabis is in the mix. Post is the greatgranddaughter of etiquette maven Emily Post, and she’s done her homework so you can navigate nearly any context with respect and ease. Cannabis is a social substance, but that doesn’t mean that it’s accepted everywhere. Along with Post’s book, I’d also recommend revisiting Ontario’s Cannabis Act if the rules seem a little fuzzy. Be educated about how you’re consuming. And don’t be a jerk.
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South Side Vibe
The Biggest Street Party in Fort William By Leah Morningstar
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ori Paras has been a business owner in Thunder Bay for a long time and has been operating on the south side of town for 14 years. For the past six years, The Hub Bazaar on May Street has been her home. Paras describes The Hub as “a retail business incubator that helps small business owners work out their plans before moving into their own brick and mortar store.” In 2019, Paras approached the Fort William Business District BIA with an idea for a big street party. If the north side of the city had the Buskers Festival, Paras was hoping to create a south side equivalent. That first year they had about 25 vendors and live music and lots of fun; it was a pretty big success. The idea was to make it an annual festival, but then COVID happened and plans were put on hold. There was no festival in 2020 or 2021, but 2022 is the year the South Side Vibe is returning. This year there will be more vendors (up to 50), live music, comedy acts, and a pop-up podcasting station by local podcaster Thamichaelated. The Dew Drop Inn barbecue food truck will be on the scene making burgers (all proceeds go towards the Dew Drop Inn community food and outreach programs) and Paras is hoping to secure additional food vendors very soon. Paras acknowledges that there are certain neighbourhoods in Thunder Bay that make some people nervous. She’s lived on the
south side long enough and is familiar with the loud and occasionally chaotic sounds of nighttime parties and fighting. In the last few years, some local bars have relocated and changed ownership, and Paras says things feel softer and safer. One of the goals in organizing and executing a huge outdoor party in Fort William is to show people that it’s okay to walk the streets and visit the little shops and restaurants and meet the people. “It’s really important to bring this party back to the streets in 2022,” she says. “It’s time to celebrate and it’s time to show the community what we do here!” The month of August will be spent letting the community know about the party, dropping flyers in mailboxes, and really getting the word out. Anyone interested in participating is urged to contact Paras. She says she’s open to more vendors, more music, and more food. This party is going to be the last big summer event of the season, shortly after the Hymers Fair but before the colder weather settles in. It will take place September 10 from 11 am to 3 pm in the EZ Green Bikes parking lot, at the corner of Violet Street and North Street. This is happening rain or shine and everyone is welcome, no exceptions! Contact Lori Paras at lorijparas@gmail.com or 632-3881 if you’re interested in being a participant or a volunteer.
Put the sizzle back into Summer The season of sizzling grills, crackling campfires and waves crashing ashore is here! Get ready for summer by getting your hearing checked at Superior Hearing, Thunder Bay’s only locally-owned hearing clinic.
Make an appointment today with your local hearing professionals: 807.346.0101
125 N. Cumberland St.
superiorhearing.ca
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1 Persian Fishing Jig Authentique 313 Bay Street Casting a line in the waters of Lake Superior with this locally made persian fishing jig—can it get more quintessentially Thunder Bay than that? While we cannot guarantee the success rate of this fishing jig, it is sure to be an admirable addition to your (or your favourite angler’s) tackle box this summer.
5 Bucket Hat J.B. Evans 122 Frederica Street West No angler is complete without a proper bucket hat. This Billabong cotton twill bucket hat from J.B. Evans provides 360-degree sun protection while letting the fish know that you are not messing around. Fashionable, practical, and fitted with an adjustable chin strap, this is one lakeside uniform that looks good on everyone.
2 PFD Vest Chaltrek 404 Balmoral Street Safety first, folks! In case Gordon Lightfoot’s “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” didn’t provide a proper warning, I am here to remind you that being on the waters of Lake Superior is no joke. Stay safe while retaining a full range of motion with the Salus Jazz freestyle vest, available in red and black.
6 General Store Buff by Vik Wilen
$9.99
Stuff We Like
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$24.95
PackTowl Personal Pack Towel 3
By Kelsey Raynard
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h e re m a y b e L o o n Lake, One Island Lake, Shebandowan Lake, and even Boulevard Lake, but of all the lakes Thunder Bay has to offer, Lake Superior is, well, superior. As the largest freshwater lake in the world, Superior can require a lot of gear to conquer. Plus, jumping into those icy waters is a summer must for most of us here in Thunder Bay. Whether you’re swimming, fishing, kayaking, or just admiring, we’ve got you covered. Here is Stuff We Like for the Lake.
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Silver Islet General Store Hwy 587, Silver Islet It is no secret that Lake Superior can be cold, windy, and wet. This buff covers your face from the elements while featuring an illustration of the Silver Islet General Store by local artist Vik Wilen. Bonus: it gives you an excuse to drive out and visit the store (and lake) for yourself.
$239
For the Lake
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$39.95
4
7 Ionic Inflatable Paddleboard
Gear Up for Outdoors 894 Alloy Place Do you need a good, durable towel for the lake? Is water wet? The answer is, of course, yes. Soft, absorbent, and superfastdrying, this towel is handy for any activity, including water sports, travel, and camping. Available in sets of two and a variety of colours, this pack towel is a must for your lakeside adventures this summer.
Fresh Air 710 Balmoral Street Hit the lake in style with an inflatable paddleboard by Ionic Boards. The inflatability is remarkably sturdy and it allows you to take and store this board anywhere (apartment dwellers— we see you). Available in a variety of sizes and colours, an Ionic board comes complete with a double-sided paddle, eightfoot coiled safety leash, dual pump, wheeled carrying case, and a repair kit. Surf’s up!
$54.95
4 Atlantis Waterproof Gear Bag
$1,350–$1,550
8 Waterproof Binoculars
Uniform Pros 1018 Victoria Avenue East Of all the stuff we like for the lake, stuff that keeps our other stuff dry is pretty high on the list of essentials. These waterproof gear bags are designed to be ultra lightweight while keeping your contents dry and safe. Fully adjustable padded shoulder straps allows you to carry the bag as a backpack, so you are set no matter where you’re headed on the lake.
D&R Sporting Goods 485 Memorial Avenue Whether you are scouting the horizon for a big ship, a big wave, or a big sea monster (Lake Superior holds many secrets, you know), these binoculars are the perfect addition to your lake gear. 100% waterproof with fogfree performance, the Bushnell H2O Binoculars are built for life on the lake. Plus, with 10x magnification, there’s no telling what you’ll see out there….
$69.96
$179.99
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We at Ericksons LLP would like to announce the retirement of our esteemed past & present Partners:
Ken Erickson & Gino Arnone.
On behalf of everyone at Ericksons LLP, we would like to wish them the best of retirement. They have been an integral part of our company for the last 40+ years and have founded the basis for which we owe our success. Together, their contributions will always be valued and remembered. Their hard work, commitment to the firm, and dedication to their clientele are worthy of admiration.
They will be greatly missed. Filling their shoes will be an almost impossible task, though it’s a goal we will strive towards. Please contact our office if you have any questions or would like to provide your well wishes. In the meantime, our firm remains committed to continuing to serve our clients with the high level of professionalism and legal knowledge that we’re known for.
We look forward to assisting you with your legal needs. For more information about our team and what we do, please visit ericksonsllp.com
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CityScene
D SECONES C N CHA
Thrifting Down the Runway
Story by Kelsey Raynard, Photos by Damien Gilbert
L
ace up your vintage boots and get ready for the catwalk. Goods & Co. is hosting Thunder Bay’s first ever Walk in Closet fashion show: an exclusive three-part event showcasing vintage and secondhand fashion within our community. The event, organized by Co.Lab Gallery & Arts Centre, MaryJane Livingstone Studio, Jewels of Crown, and KimStyle, will take place on
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August 20 at Goods & Co. Market. The one-of-a-kind affair will feature a market takeover of 25 secondhand vendors during the day, followed by a vintage fashion show and disco dance party in the evening. The event will be filmed by Chad Kirvan, photographed by Damien Gilbert, and hosted by local TikTok sensation Cassidy J. Stylist Mary Jane Livingstone explains that the inspiration for this unique
event was born from a desire to showcase Thunder Bay’s underrepresented fashion scene as well as to bring together a growing community of thrifters. “I think Thunder Bay has grown so much in the last few years in the art, music, and culinary scenes, and I think fashion is now ready to be a part of that,” she says. “There are a lot of really great vintage and thrift sellers, designers, and upcyclers coming onto the scene, as well as amazing established businesses. This is the perfect event to bring everyone together and do something new and exciting.” Carly Vieira, owner of
Jewels of Crown fashion house, notes that the Walk in Closet event is truly one-of-akind for both the market and our city. “It’s the first-ever event of its kind exclusively focusing on clothing design and secondhand fashion. It’s also the first fashion show of this scale and Goods & Co. is the perfect venue.” From 10 am to 4 pm, the market will host over 20 different vendors selling various eco-friendly, upcycled, thrifted, and handmade items. However, it is at 8 pm when the party truly starts. Goods & Co. will be transformed into a vintage fashion show, complete with a 50-foot catwalk, a live DJ,
hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, swag bags sponsored by Sephora, dance performances from African Boutique, and a disco dance party to close out the night. In addition to being a genuinely entertaining experience, Lora Northway, artistic director of Co.Lab Gallery & Arts Centre and general manager of Goods & Co. Market, believes this show will have a much larger ripple effect within our community and beyond. “It is time for us to switch gears with how we spend money on clothing,” says Northway. “I also think there is still a really sad and dated stigma around wearing secondhand clothing. Some of our younger folks are completely aware of this and have totally adopted that way of shopping and dressing, so it’s time for the rest of the generations to catch up.” Regular tickets for the fashion show will be $35, while VIP (front row seats, aforementioned swag bag, and welcome cocktail) will be $45. While organizers expect tickets to sell out quickly, Northway says there is still plenty of room for vendors, models, and volunteers. For more information, visit colabgallery.ca.
COMMUNIQUE
SEPT.- OCT.: REGIONAL/NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL SHOWS DEFSUP + VOX POPULAR PRESENT: A GALA OPENING RECEPTION FEATURING 3 NEW EXHIBITIONS MUSIC | PERFORMANCE: SEPT. 2 @ 7-11 PM.
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Definitely Superior Art Gallery + Vox Popular have joined forces to co-present 3 new exhibitions, regional | national international and more... delving into the visually dynamic contemporary world of art. It all starts Friday Sept. 2 @7-11pm with a Gala Opening reception and a ferocity of art, music, film, performance and ravishing catered refreshments! DefSup will also be the venue host for the 18th Annual Vox Popular Film Festival Sept.8-11 Not To Be Missed! www.voxpopular.ca
01 YUGEN: 34TH ANNUAL REGIONAL JURIED EXHIBITION.
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CityScene
Stewart Metalworks Forging His Own Skills
AL GO LOC R E D THUN TRY N U O C BAY T MARKE
Story by Olivia Bosma, Photos by Jack Barten
R
yan Stewart, owner of the Stewart Metalworks booth located outside at the Thunder Bay Country Market, is a self-taught metalworker and artisan who began his journey working with metals at a young age. “I grew up on an old sawmill and we had a blacksmith,” says Stewart. “So, one day when I was about 12 years old, I fired up the old coal forge and I made my first knife.” After crafting his first knife, Stewart continued to build and improve his skills in metalworking until high
school, where he took his first shop class. “I started doing different welding projects in high school, and some woodworking as well, but I was still making knives,” he says. “Then after high school I worked in a machine shop for a year in Fort Frances and I got a lot of experience as a parts person with acquiring my own steel and tracking down parts that I need for my metalwork.” Stewart has continued his hobby of metalworking into his adult life and continues today despite his busy schedule
as a geology student at Lakehead University. Stewart opened his booth part-time at the country market in June after being encouraged by those close to him to share his craft with the public. At his spot at the market, patrons are able to purchase whatever is displayed, but are also encouraged to place orders for custom pieces. “I do mostly custom signs made to order, but I do have some things that are able to be purchased on the spot,” Stewart says. “I do house numbers, initials and
people’s names, wall art, and I can add ornamentation to the custom signs.” It is said that the finest steel has to go through the hottest fire. Put that steel into the fine hands of Ryan Stewart and he’ll make it into something special. Stewart’s booth will remain at the market for the duration of the summer, giving the good people of Thunder Bay plenty of opportunity to get their hands on a oneof-a-kind piece of locally made, handcrafted art for their homes.
Ryan Stewart, owner of Stewart Metalworks
“So, one day when I was about 12 years old, I fired up the old coal forge and I made my first knife.” For more information, follow @stewartmetalworks on Instagram.
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CityScene
Greg Kok
THE SIASTS H T EN U
Thunder Bay Salmon Association
Not Your Average Fish Story By Wendy Wright
S
ince 1987, the Thunder Bay Salmon Association has been keeping stocks of Chinook salmon viable for sportfishing in Lake Superior, to the tune of more than four million fish. As the association president Ernie Ukrainec says, “Our goal and mission is to have a viable Chinook salmon sport fishing industry, and this is the only operating salmon hatchery on Lake Superior.” The Thunder Bay Salmon Association began with a group of sport fishers who wanted to ensure a healthy supply of Chinook salmon for everyone interested in
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the sport. This non-profit organization is staffed by volunteers, and numerous events and the big summer fish derby support the monetary needs of raising and releasing the salmon fingerlings. When fisher folks catch a clipped salmon from the hatchery, they receive a special pin for that as well. Each October, members gather eggs near Nipigon and rear the fish until June, when they are released into the Kaministiquia River. During this time, volunteers visit the hatchery daily for feeding, cleaning, and ensuring the babies are growing well from egg to
fry to fingerling size (4–5 inches). “It’s kind of like babysitting through those months to make sure, on a daily basis, that the fish are growing and healthy,” Ukrainec says. “The tanks need to be cleaned, shells picked out, temperature checked. It is a daily exercise for those of us involved.” The hatchery is located on leased Ontario Power Generation land near Kakabeka Falls. “The Chinook is a very exciting fish to catch, and it’s a good eating fish also,” says Ukrainec. It is a popular fish to seek for those all over Lake Superior, both in Canada and into the U.S. “A lot of clipped fish are caught across the
border from Two Harbors onward.” The number of released fingerling-size fish usually fluctuates from 60,000 to 100,000 per year; however, last June, the Salmon Association released 105,000. There is an approximate 90% survival rate among these eggs, as opposed to the 10% egg survival rate from natural spawning. The club is helping the species to thrive in a sometimes murky natural environment. The most recent fish derby took place last month, and was one of the biggest fundraisers for the club taking place throughout the year. There is a raffle on September 1.
“The Chinook is a very exciting fish to catch, and it’s a good eating fish also.”
For more information, visit thunderbaysalmonassociation. com or find them on Facebook.
40th ANNUAL
WESTFORT STREET FAIR AUGUST, 20, 2022 9am - 5pm
Live Music food & drink children’s activities shopping & artisians local market beer gardens
THANK YOU TO OUR COMMUNITY SPONSORS:
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Meet the 2022 Summer Company Students The Summer Company program is a local and regional funding program for enterprising young people that provide them the opportunity to start and run their own summer business. Each participant will receive a $3,000 grant to help start the business, as well as business coaching and mentoring from a local community business leaders.
Crafts with Ash Ashley is the owner of Crafts with Ash. The business offers designs and printing of both vinyl and paper crafts. Ashley uses a Cricut machine to create an assortment of custom items such as clothing, car decals, greeting cards, drinkware and more. Find Crafts with Ash on Facebook @getcraftywithashley.
Duchesne’s Services Braeden is the owner/operator of Duchesne’s Services. The business is a locally owned and operated business offering commercial and residential exterior home service needs. Currently the business is offering services of weekly and biweekly lawn care, hedge trimming, edging, aerating, dethatching, and seeding. To learn amore about Duchesne’s Services visit www.duchesneservices.com or explore the business Facebook an Instagram @duchesneservices.
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Dawn and Daisy Designs Brooke is the owner of Dawn and Daisy Designs. Dawn and Daisy Designs creates and sells jewellery and small accessories in Thunder Bay such as rings, anklets, bracelets, necklaces and keychains. To explore Dawn and Daisy Designs products visit Instagram @dawnanddaisydesigns or the business website www.dawnanddaisy.myshopify.com.
Port Arthur Lawncare and Landscape Tyler is the owner/operator of Port Arthur Lawncare & Landscape. The business offers residential and commercial year-round exterior services. Currently the business is offering services of weekly and biweekly mowing, aeration, dethatching, yard cleanup, fertilization, sod and soil installation, supply delivery, garden bed installation, paver patio and walkways, and snow removal. To learn amore about Port Arthur Lawncare & Landscape visit www.palawncarelandscape.com or explore the business Facebook @PortArthurLawncareLandscaping and Instagram @pa_lawncare_lanscape.
Cold Slate Creamery Tim is the owner and lead crafter at Cold Slate Creamery, and he believes that creating an unforgettable experience around delicious, rolled ice cream is what keeps customers delighted and eager to return. Cold Slate Creamery provides a delicious and unique rolled ice cream experience with orders made fresh before your eyes on a mobile cold-plate, instant freeze crafting station. Cold Slate Creamery’s mobile crafting station will be located at various locations throughout Thunder Bay and will offer 3 signature flavors: Dutch Chocolate, French Vanilla, and Strawberry Cream. To learn more about Cold Slate Creamery and see the location schedule visit https://aspectontario.com/coldslatecreamery.
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Music
In the Mood Jazz Trio Thrilled to be Live
Story by Pat Forrest, Photo by Damien Gilbert
A
s a kid, Mark Thibert couldn’t wait to finish his homework so he could make music with his jazz guitarist dad, his mother on piano, and his brother on whatever instrument he picked up. Now, with live music back, Thibert and the other two members of Mood Indigo, Thunder Bay’s most sought-after jazz trio, are making the most of it. After a long, pandemicinduced dry spell, you will find them until the first Friday in September at Anchor & Ore—the Delta
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Hotels by Marriott Thunder Bay’s restaurant with those great waterfront views— for Jazz & Old Fashioned Fridays. Mood Indigo was formed in the mid-1990s. With founder Thibert at the helm on saxophone, Glenn Jennings on keys, and Anna Torontow on vocals, they rapidly gained a very large following of jazz fans, performing often in bars, restaurants, parks, and other venues. When COVID hit, they vowed not to see it as a negative but
(L-R) Anna Torontow, Glenn Jennings, and Mark Thibert
rather as an opportunity, and so continued to entertain through livestreams and virtual concerts as fundraisers for various local charities. Thibert estimates that he wrote more than 20 songs during the pandemic as well. But getting back in front of an audience continued to be high on the trio’s wish list. Last winter, Thibert and Torontow decided to work on making their vision of playing in a venue with an ambiance that appeals to jazz buffs a reality. They approached management at the Delta with their concept and around the end of May, the vision became a reality. And there has been no looking back.
“It has worked out magically and it is so wonderful to again be face to face and see people’s smiles,” says Thibert. “The room is packed every time we are there, and we have had so many very enthusiastic reviews. Most of our patrons return every week and many bring new people with them. It is a type of entertainment that has been lacking in our community for far too long and people are grateful and appreciative.” Jazz & Old Fashioned Fridays at Anchor & Ore starts at 6 pm and runs until 9 pm, every Friday until September 2. There is no cover charge, and all ages are welcome.
“It has worked out magically and it is so wonderful to again be face to face and see people’s smiles.” Find Mood Indigo Jazz on Facebook for more info.
Songs About the Great Lakes By Gord Ellis
Rodney Brown “When the Bay Turns Blue” Thunder Bay singer-songwriter Rodney Brown is well known for bringing the history and lifestyle of the northwest alive with his songs like “Black Spruce” and “The Big Lonely.” However, one of his most evocative songs celebrates the beauty of Lake Superior, Thunder Bay, and the point of land known as the Sleeping Giant. That song is the title track of his second album, When the Bay Turns Blue. The lyrics of the song, written by Rick Hepditch, are beautifully complemented by Brown’s delicate guitar arrangement and singing: I’m asking you, because you know how I feel And I spent a lonely winter, with no one to talk to And now the ships are returning And I know things will be changing Cause only you know how I feel When the bay turns blue.
Music G BURNINE H TO T SKY
Blue Rodeo “Hasn’t Hit Me Yet” Blue Rodeo has written many great songs, from “Try” to “RoseColoured Glasses.” Yet one of the songs that speaks to nearly every person who hears it is “Hasn’t Hit Me Yet.” Sung by Greg Keelor, the song is about a man who hasn’t quite come to terms with the end of a relationship. The music of “Hasn’t Hit Me Yet” is jaunty and Celtic-tinged, yet the imagery Keelor reels off makes no secret of just how shaky the narrator really is. The payoff lines feature the best ever mention of a Great Lake that isn’t Superior:
S
ummer is officially here, and that means it is time to bust out the tunes at camp or in the car. There are many great playlist options, but here are some song picks specifically inspired by the Great Lakes.
Carla Sciaky “Under the Quarter Moon”
Gordon Lightfoot “Christian Island (Georgian Bay)”
For those of us who have lived on the edge of Lake Superior for years, it becomes like an old friend. A constant. Yet for many, there is also a romantic underpinning to the lake. The tempest that Superior can be is almost like an untamed lover. You are drawn to the beauty, but know danger is found there too. In her folk-tinged ballad “Under the Quarter Moon,” Carla Sciaky manages to sound like she is singing to a lover and the lake at the same time:
When it comes to famous songs about the Great Lakes, Gordon Lightfoot has the category pretty much wrapped up. The classic “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald’ defines the modern ballad genre and is also the most famous song about Lake Superior—and the Great Lakes—ever written. Yet Lightfoot, who is both a sailboat and canoe enthusiast, also has a soft spot for Christian Island, on Lake Huron. In 1972, his hit album Don Quixote included a ballad about this place and being there on his favourite ship:
And out in the middle of Lake Ontario
Who has tasted your lilting breezes
The same snow is falling
Sweetly sing, sweetly sing
On the deep silent water The great dark wonder
And watched the cycle of your seasons
Into the waves of my heart
Under the quarter moon
I’ve seen Blue Rodeo about 10 times, and they never leave this one out of the set list. It is just that good of a song.
Sciaky goes on to sweetly sing about “the murmured warnings” of the lake, but by then we have been lulled into a beautiful trance.
The song clocks in at just 2:16. But it is a perfect 2:16.
This could be
She's a good old boat and she'll stay afloat Through the toughest gales and keep smilin' But for one more day she would like to stay In the lee of Christian Island In a songbook chock full of gorgeous songs, “Christian Island” remains one of the singer's most beautiful ballads.
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FORCES OF NATURE, FORCES OF CHANGE by Barbara Yurkoski
AVAILABLE IN E-BOOK Amazon + Kobo & PAPERBACK Amazon + Lakehead Transportation Museum gift shop
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A novel set on the north-west shore of Lake Superior As its gold mine and paper mill falter, a small town in northwestern Ontario struggles to reconcile competing visions for its future. Recommended for anyone interested in a good story played out in the context of significant environmental themes. - Winifred Wake, Editor, A Nature Guide to Ontario
The novel’s interconnecting themes deal with job losses, small town politics, nature in the boreal forest and the effects of conflicts on relationships among couples, family, friends and community. This is a good read. - Elle Andra-Warner, Author, Edmund Fitzgerald: The Legendary Great Lakes Shipwreck
Music
“This job and this music are connected,” he says. “It’s the reason I’m here.”
Calgary- and Thunder Bay-based multi-instrumentalist Shane Turner, a.k.a. Mountain Mansion, at the Barrier Lake Lookout backyard in Alberta
Rocky Mountain High Songs from a Fire Tower By Amy Sellors
G
reat music is so often the result of great inspiration. Inspired by vast amounts of solitude atop Rocky Mountain peaks, Mountain Mansion is delivering to us Songs From a Fire Tower. The album is one of a fivepart series that combines dreamy, unique indie-folk with stories from some of the most elevated and most remote parts of Canada. Mountain Mansion is the name Calgary- and Thunder Bay-based multiinstrumentalist Shane Turner is adopting to launch this series. The name is a tribute to Phil Elverum’s song “The Mansion.” Elverum’s “cabin in the woods” songs have long inspired Turner, and he knew a woodsy record was percolating in his mind.
Tur ner is a wildfire lookout on boreal forest fire towers atop Rocky Mountain summits. Alone at his current post, Barrier Lake Lookout, he scans the horizon daily for indicators of a forest fire. On the hour, he provides weather updates to his team to help predict the risk of spread should a fire break out. “It takes the right kind of person,” Turner says. Before he took to the mountains, he split his time between working as a musician and as a mental health addictions worker. Originally from Vancouver, Turner lived briefly in Toronto and then moved to Thunder Bay where he joined the thriving music scene. “Isolation is a time for healing, a time for selfdiscovery, and charging your
batteries as an introvert,” says Turner. “Up here, you’re in tune with nature. You can’t ever not be inspired.” For Turner, when inspiration strikes, like lightning, it makes an impact. He’s written 50 songs describing his life in the tower, his relationship with nature, and the role fire plays in it all. The music and the lyrics flow all at once. Most fire towers are powered by noisy generators. However, in 2019, Turner was stationed at Alberta’s Livingstone Ridge Lookout, which is powered by much quieter solar panels, so he helicoptered a portable studio out to the tower and recorded his music every possible moment. “This job and this music are connected,” he says. “It’s the reason I’m here.”
The musician prefers to play concerts in smaller venues, which is perfect for the intimacy of his storytelling songs. And his time at the top of the mountain has restored his soul. “Now the balance works perfectly because when I get out into the real world, I’m excited again to talk to all the people. I can put that energy back out there.” Mountain Mansion’s first record from Songs From a Fire Tower landed last July.
Find Mountain Mansion’s music on Bandcamp or your favourite streaming service, and follow @mountainmansion on Instagram to see photos and videos of his home away from home.
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Music
Johnson’s Creek
Southern Ontario Band Brings Redneck Rock to The Foundry By Kris Ketonen
I
t’s been a busy summer for the members of southern Ontario country-rock band Johnson’s Creek, and they don’t plan on slowing down anytime soon. J o h n s o n ’s C re e k — made up of vocalist and guitarist Glenn Code, lead guitarist Michael Lanteigne, bassist Mike Crombez, and drummer Jake Adams— has been playing a steady s t re a m o f s h o w s t h i s summer, with dates on the East Coast, in Manitoba, and throughout Ontario (including a stop in Thunder Bay this month). “We’re a very energetic band,” Code says. “We love interacting with people
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who come to see us. We really, really have a lot of fun on stage. We love to see people get up and dance, and we’re up and moving around. We get just as much back from the people, and the more that interaction happens, the better it is for us.” Johnson’s Creek released their first single, “Ocean Fantasy,” in summer 2017. Two years later, the band released a six-track, selftitled EP, and the group’s latest release, the single “Burn It Up,” dropped back in February. As for the music itself, Code says Johnson’s Creek offerings are relatable.
“We’re singing about stuff that we’ve either been through, or know people that have been through, or would like to go through,” he says. “There’s all kinds of different scenarios and songs that we relate to, and love to play. We just keep marching on from there and doing what we love, and that’s what it’s all about— doing what we love, and doing something we can relate to.” “The music tells a story,” Crombez adds. “It takes you from A to B, and then takes you down the road a bit. You can really visualize what the song is about and kind of put a picture together in
your head.” And more music is on the way. The band did plenty of writing during the pandemic, and fans can expect a new single in early fall. And those songs will keep coming. Code says singles, as opposed to an album, will likely remain the focus of the band. “Everything gets out in a more timely manner,” he says. “We’re so busy with playing right now, and we’re touring a lot, so it’s hard to get into a studio for any length of time to do a full-length album, or even an EP.” Johnson’s Creek plays the Foundry on August 11.
“It takes you from A to B, and then takes you down the road a bit. You can really visualize what the song is about and kind of put a picture together in your head.” For more information, visit johnsonscreekband. com, or find them on Facebook or Instagram.
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Les Rats d'Swompe
SEPTEMBRE 2022 Soirée film à l'éxtérieur
9 Journée familiale 10 Outdoor movie
Family day
musique activités nourriture
www.francofestival.com #FF2022
Martin Blanchet Jazz Quintet
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Music
Paradise Lost
Luke Warm and The Cold Ones By Olivia Bosma
I
t is seldom that something “luke warm” will leave you wanting more. However, it is a guarantee that after listening to the song “Kip City” from their new EP Paradise Lost, Luke Warm and The Cold Ones will have you enthralled with their music and wanting to hear more. The local band, consisting of lead vocalist and bass player Greg Chomut, lead guitarist Carlo DeAgazio, drummer A.J. Haapa, rhythm guitar/ vocalist Kyle Oikonen, and piano/vocalist Hillary McDowell, have been releasing a new single from their EP every six weeks, starting with “Kip City” on June 8. The band formed in 2015, and each member brings their own taste, style, and inspiration to the group, ranging from punk to metal, folk, classic rock, and even some hip hop, creating their own unique new music while still maintaining a sense of
familiarity in their sound. “We each have our own personal styles but with regards to our sound as a band, we don’t really like to pigeonhole ourselves,” says Haapa. “We like to be ambiguous, and when writing our songs, we start playing a lick and if it sounds cool and feels cool, we just go with it.” For those still curious about a specific genre, the group is in agreement that they lie somewhere in the alternative rock or the indie music categories. The band writes and performs all original songs, and have been working on creating all of the new songs for their EP throughout the course of the pandemic. “Kip City,” the only single released currently, is a song with a special and deeper meaning behind it. “Kyle is Kip. We call him Kip. He wrote the original riff for it and it ballooned out from there, and this song, more than any other song
we have written, was a real collaborative effort,” Chomut says. “The main character of the song has been the life of the party for too long and it’s been great, but they come to the realization that they have neglected the rest of the important things in their life.” The second single from the new EP is called “Devils Working Late,” which was released on July 20, with
the third song, “Paradise Lost,” to follow on August 31. “Thunder Bay has an amazing music scene, and it is very supportive,” says Chomut. “So many people are supporting and helping bands. We are all just so grateful to everyone for the constant love and support and can’t wait for the songs to be released.”
(L–R) Kyle Oikonen, Hillary McDowell, Carlo DeAgazio, A.J. Haapa, and Greg Chomut
For more information, find them on Facebook or Spotify.
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OfftheWall
Meet The Moonlight Jack Johnson
Meet the Moonlight is the first new music from Jack Johnson in five years, and while it doesn’t stray far from what you may expect from him, it really brings what he was into balance with what he has become. Johnson’s easily recognizable smooth vocals and surf-inspired acoustic guitar are matched with metaphor and message as his lyrics dive into social politics and philosophy. Tracks like “3AM Radio” and “Costume Party” explore topics like disinformation and complicity, but the real beauty of this album comes from the flip side of the sombre and melancholy in tracks like “Calm Down” and “I Tend to Digress” that reflect more on perspective, gratitude, and priorities. Johnson doesn’t walk far from his beaten path on this one, but he really has used his music to give us a slice of something soothing and pleasant yet again. Leave it to a surfer to pick up a guitar and help us see the chaos of the world and still find a way to sit back and chill, just like riding a wave. -Jamie Varga
Reviews
The Last Love Song on Earth Fat Cop
You don’t exactly know what you’re going to get with a band called Fat Cop. But this June EP release from the Thunder Bay band delivers moody post-punk with sonically sculpted tracks and distant vocals. The Last Love Song on Earth opens with “Coffee Song,” an intriguing introduction with punchy drums and muddy guitars, and vocals that sound like a band playing at a houseparty you’re walking past. Next is “Boppin’ 52,” a song that really cements the album's themes. Big sounds, mega-bright guitars, and more distant vocals make this song feel cohesive. The titular song combines elements from the previously mentioned tracks in an opening that is muddier in the mix, but opens up as it goes on with a really neat ending. Lyrically, well… I can’t always piece together what they're saying, which adds to the moody and mysterious atmosphere created by the instrumentals. Overall, I would like to hear more of Fat Cop in the future. You'll be sure to enjoy this atmospheric post-punk album.
Hello, Hi
Retrospected
Ty Segall
Classified
Like the late, great David Bowie, Ty Segall’s discography is filled with mini-personas. Although the American multi-instrumentalist’s musical foundation is garage rock, his albums have featured different styles, including glam rock (à la Ziggy), lo-fi, and psychedelic rock. On Hello, Hi, Segall is his most stripped down and retrospective, dipping into his past catalogue but at the same time making sure not to go too deep. Rendered mostly by himself at home, there’s a chill, staying-in-for-the-weekend vibe to the album. The acoustic, Beatlesque “Good Morning” starts things off with its sunny vocal harmonies serving as the musical equivalent to a wake and bake. Around the midpoint, the mood switches gears, with the title track exploding as Segall’s signature electric fuzz raises the decibel level. Things mellow out for the most part until the Bowie-inspired saxophone on “Saturday Pt. 2,” which acts as a great comedown to the album. Sometimes less is truly more; without relying on any personas, Segall has produced his most honest work on Hello, Hi.
Followers of Classified know what they’re getting into with the 44-yearold who's been a force in the Canadian music industry for nearly two decades, and there’s no denying his discography and accolades are equally meaty. Retrospected is an acoustic re-release of some of his most notable singles, of which he writes, “I like the way it puts more focus on the lyrics and highlights deeper elements of the song itself.” It’s a touching sentiment, but Classified’s songwriting here is so point blank and uninspiring that the deeper element is hard to pick out, if not missing completely. The production plays far too close to a safety net of bad pop music, bringing the lyrical content to the forefront to make for a deeply uninteresting marriage. Fans may appreciate the alternate menu option, or feel more jazzed to sing softly at his next show, but the way this could fit snugly into your parents’ Apple Music playlist or beneath the bedding of a bad reality TV show should probably tell you all you need to hear. For an undeniably skilled and hard-working artist, this feels hollow. -Michael Charlebois
-Adrian Lysenko
-Jack Barten
Lunch, Dinner Apps & more:
(807) 623-8775 snpcatering.com @saltpeppertbay 84
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Eleven
Ologies
Madison Violet
Alie Ward
For their tenth studio album, Eleven, Toronto-based duo Lisa MacIsaac and Brenley MacEachern of Madison Violet have compiled ten songs that provide listeners with fresh new sounds, beautiful harmonies, and incredible fiddle and guitar music. This folk album is truly a masterpiece. Something I love about the folk genre is its ability to provide listeners with an experience and tell stories, and as I made my way through this album, I found myself appreciating the art and meaning behind each song. MacIsaac and MacEachern have become widely recognized as exceptional storytellers and incredibly skilled multi-instrumentalists. This album is proof that they live up to their reputation. Every track on this album will make you feel something. Between their meaningful and sincere lyrics, their beautifully composed harmonies, and the melodies, this is surely an album you will listen to from start to finish. The album opens with a love song called “Utah” which brings the listener into a story about mutual respect and being your truest self in a loving relationship. The fifth track of the album “We Lost the Light” is one of heartbreak, as it was inspired by the tragic loss of MacEachern’s niece. Each piece will pluck many heartstrings.
Did you know that there are approximately 160,000 species of flies? Any idea what having an elephant bladder even means? And I’m sure cone snails likely don’t mean much to you right now, but after listening to the conotoxinology episode, your mind will be absolutely blown by the power and magic that their venom holds. If you love science with a side order of cleverness, then Ologies is certainly the podcast for you. Ward adds a refreshing twist of booming enthusiasm and humour to a plethora of fascinating information. Having expert guests contributing to each episode makes even the most complex subjects easily understood and accessible. So whether it’s kidneys, gorillas, trains, or squids, get your science geek on and listen to Ologies, because it’s filled with knowledge, simply oodles of fun, and downright addicting.
-Olivia Bosma
-Andrea Lysenko
The Sugar Thief Nancy Mauro
Nancy Mauro’s sophomore novel, The Sugar Thief, has a familiar-looking image on the cover. Hint: it’s round and brown and pink all over. Yes, the persian, that quintessential Thunder Bay treat, is front and centre of this sweet tale. The heroine, Sabine Rose— an up-and-coming shining star on YouTube—returns to the northern city of her youth to face one calamity after another. Her father has died suddenly, her relationship with her producer Wanda begins to go sideways, their family-run bakery and its secret recipe are in jeopardy, and the secrets that have piled up for years eventually topple over. Where the story really sinks in its teeth is when Mauro writes about the Italian-Canadian immigrant experience. Mauro, who grew up in Thunder Bay, is revisiting her own personal history in fictional form. It’s through flashbacks with Sabine’s family, the snippets of Italian sprinkled seamlessly throughout, and the bonds that threaten to separate them but instead pull them tighter together that ground this seemingly light narrative into something with substance. We see, as Sabine does, that when the things we believe about our family changes, it changes the things we believe about ourselves. -Rebekah Skochinski
Lake Superior to Manitoba by Canoe Hap Wilson
Subtitled Mapping the Route Into the Heart of the Continent, this full-colour book is a wonderful resource for novice and expert canoers alike (although the author cautions “diagrams of specific rapids are not intended to make the running of whitewater easier for the inexperienced paddler”). There are hand-drawn maps of seven different trails that run from Falcon Lake, Man., to Pigeon River Provincial Park, Ont. The author chose these routes as they represented the “most practical and interesting linear canoe trails.” And Wilson’s assessment carries a lot of weight, as he has paddled more than 60,000 km across Canada and written several books on canoeing and hiking. Also included in this book is a chapter of “helpful information,” which includes everything from choosing a canoe to no-trace camping, wildlife photography, and a few outdoor living recipes. Diary excerpts, GPS coordinates and photos from the author’s journey as he mapped these canoe routes round out this exceptional book. -Sylvia Renaud
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The City of Thunder Bay
Architecture
The Iron Ore Dock By Jennifer Bonazzo
L
The City of Thunder Bay
ocated off the end of the Central Avenue bridge on Maureen Street, the Iron Ore Dock stands sentinel on the shore of Lake Superior, the immense structure giving off an air of quiet abandonment. But it certainly wasn’t always that way. During World War II, an international demand for steel seemed a perfect opportunity for Steep Rock Mine in Atikokan to extend their business. Collaborating with CN Railway, the proposal was for the railway to cover the 225-km stretch and build a new dock where the mill’s ore product could be easily loaded onto ships. With this project being such a large scope, and at a cost of $2.5 million dollars, many people were consulted with its planning
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and execution. The dock’s conception was handled by C.D Howe Company Limited, with design and supervision of the building taken on by the railway itself, including engineer Douglas McKillop. Tomlinson Brothers Ltd. built the ore dock, with construction taking place between 1944–1945. It was said to be one of the largest engineering jobs carried out in the city at the time. The structure is undeniably impressive. When first built, the dock was 65 feet wide, 82.5 feet high and 600 feet in length, although necessity had CN doubling it to 1,200 feet between 1954–1955. The original wood of the 4,800-foot-long train trestle that approached the dock was also changed to steel in the late 1950s. Its function
Courtesy of the Thunder Bay Museum
Courtesy of the Thunder Bay Museum
Architecture
Earlier construction of the Iron Ore Dock, 1945
was simple, yet effective. The top of the dock was a platform, supported by concrete columns spaced 12 feet apart. In these columns were 100 pockets that were 37 feet deep and designed to slope gently away from the dock, to better position themselves towards a docked ship. Each of these pockets would first be filled with ore from the trains as they ran along the trestle above. After a ship arrived, 30-foot metal
chutes were placed at the pocket openings then an electric motor opened the chutes, unblocking them, and allowing the iron ore to be lowered down into the ship’s hull. Considering that each pocket held 300 tonnes of ore, that was a considerable amount that was loaded simultaneously. The Times Journal reported that in its first navigation season from April 20, 1946 to November 26, 1946, the Iron Ore Dock
Earlier construction of the Iron Ore Dock, date unknown
shipped over 800,000 tons of ore. Alas, this partnership would not last. Steep Rock Mines closed in 1979 and without the need for its product, the Iron Ore Dock was abandoned in the 1980s. The steel trestle was dismantled in 1993 and all that remains is the husk above the dock, and memories of ore shipping in a bygone era. T h e I ro n O re D o c k
remains an important part of our city, both past and present. In 2011 it was placed on the heritage register as a reminder of our port and shipbuilding industries. The current owners, Midcontinent Terminal, say while they are making use of the dock, the main platform itself is not being used, and plans for future use are up in the air.
Jennifer Bonazzo is a member of the Heritage Advisory Committee, which advises city council on the conservation of heritage buildings, sites, and resources, and their integration into development. For more information on the city’s heritage resources, visit thunderbay.ca.
Courtesy of the Thunder Bay Museum
Courtesy of the Thunder Bay Museum
Earlier construction of the Iron Ore Dock, 1945
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AugustEventsGuide
EVENTS GUIDE KEY General Art Food Sports Music
Due to ongoing and changing pandemic-related restrictions, we recommend checking for updates with each venue.
August 2, 9, 16, 23, & 30
August 2 & 9, 7:30 pm
August 4 & 11, 6:30 pm
August 1, 8, 15, 22
Various locations
Red Lion Smokehouse
Come out and meet new people at this picnic program offered by the 55 Plus Community Programming. Who doesn’t love a good picnic on a beautiful summer day? Attendance is free but registration is required. Picnics will take place at Vickers Park, Boulevard Lake, Chapples Park, Fisherman’s Park, and Waverley Park.
DaVinci Centre Parking Lot
Waverley Park Concert Series Waverley Park
Sit back, relax, and enjoy the beautiful summer weather, all while listening to incredible local live music, brought to you by the Musicians’ Association 591 and The Coalition for Waverley Park, every Monday evening throughout the month of August. Bring a lawn chair and your favourite drink and just enjoy.
@TheCoalitionFor WaverleyPark
August 1, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, & 29
Boreal Museum’s Foragers Walk Tree Farm, 25th Side Road or LPH Greenspace
Discover, identify, and learn much more about the many, easily found, wild and foragable foods within our own backyard on one of these amazing tours. Tickets are available online.
borealmuseum.com
Picnics in the Park
684-3066
August 2, 3, & 4
The Marvelous Wonderettes Paramount Theatre
This smash off-Broadway hit, brought to you by Badanai Theatre, will transport you back to the 50s and 60s with throwback songs such as “Lollipop,” “Dream Lover,” “Stupid Cupid,” and “Lipstick on Your Collar.” Tickets are available online for this family-friendly show.
Yoga Happy Hour
Get your stretch on at Yoga Happy Hour in Red Lion Smokehouse’s lounge. Join a one-hour flow class followed by seasonal beverage tasting.
@redlionsmokehouse
August 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
Karaoke
The Foundry Karaoke is back at The Foundry. Every Tuesday night, dust off your old performing gear, warm up your vocal cords, grab your friends, and show everyone what you can do.
@foundrytbay
August 2, 16, & 30, 5:30–8 pm
Fresh Air Trail Run
Kamview Nordic Centre Enjoy a run and some fresh air at one or all of this year’s Fresh Air Trail Runs. All funds generated by the runs will be donated to charity.
@badanaitheatre
tbnordictrails.com
August 2, 3, 4, & 5, 9 am–4:30 pm
August 3, 10, 17, 24, & 31, 6–9 pm
Super Season Week
Thunder Bay Museum
Live on the Waterfront Marina Park
The Thunder Bay Museum is offering your child aged 6–12 a week jampacked with fun crafts, games, dancing, science experiments, scavenger hunts, and more. Participants are able to register for individual days or full weeks. Registry is available online.
Music in the park continues throughout August, bringing live entertainment every Wednesday night. Hear performances by Aerialists, Lockyer Boys, Sacha, and many more. Bring a lawn chair, a blanket,and your friends or family and enjoy the live music.
thunderbaymuseum.com
thunderbay.ca
Summer in the Parking Lot
Enjoy live music on Thursday night presented by the Boreal Music Society and the DaVinci Centre. There will be a number of different performers, such as Urban Ditchweed, The Difference, and Jean-Paul De Roover & The Bandaid Solution. So, bring a lawn chair and jam out, rain or shine.
davincicentre.com
August 4, 11, 18, & 25, 8 pm
August 5, 6, & 7
August 6, 10 am–1 pm
Pull-A Log Park, Red Rock
Community Spokes
Live From the Rock Folk Festival
Open Deck Nights
Calling all DJs! If you want to take your passion for music to the stage, sign up for a 60-minute set on the main stage every Thursday night at Atmos.
Jazz & Old Fashioned Fridays
@atmostbay
August 4–7
Little Shop of Horrors
Grand Marais Playhouse, Grand Marais, Minn. Head down to the Grand Marais Playhouse this August to enjoy what is described as a deviously delicious Broadway and Hollywood sci-fi smash musical. Based on the 1960s film Little Shop of Horrors, this musical has become one of the most popular shows in the world. See this month’s Film and Theatre section for more info.
grandmaraisplayhouse. com
Come to Community Spokes and empower yourself by learning some intermediate bike mechanic skills that will help keep your two wheels rolling! This workshop requires an intermediate level of bike maintenance knowledge.
Enjoy some incredible live music and entertainment, community-led workshops, artisan market, food vendors and onsite camping at this year’s festival, featuring performances by Aerialists, Cassidy Houston, Jake Vaillant & The Town, Jamie Smith, and many more. See this month’s Top Five for more info.
livefromtherockfolk festival.com
Atmos
Advanced Bike Mechanic Workshop
communityspokes@ gmail.com
August 6, 12–7pm
kraft. A Waterfront beer & artisan market
August 5, 12, 19, & 26, 6 pm
Prince Arthur’s Landing/ Marina Park Kraft Tbay and Sleeping Giant Brewing Co. are excited to bring you a beer and artisan market at Prince Arthur’s Landing! This family- and dogfriendly event is a great way to celebrate our local community whilst enjoying summertime in Thunder Bay. This fully licensed event will feature live music, food vendors and local artisans.
Anchor & Ore
Come out for spectacular scenery, smooth jazz, and incredibly crafted cocktails and food at Anchor & Ore in the Delta for Jazz & Old Fashioned Friday with Mood Indigo!
@AnchorAndOre
August 6 & 13, 10 am–3 pm
krafttbay.com
Tbay Drive-By Art Gallery
Until August 7
Various locations
The second annual DriveBy Art Gallery is here. Download the Thunder Bay Tours app and visit all the artists in town in the comfort of their backyards, garages, or front lawns. Support and encourage the hidden artists of Thunder Bay.
riklandesigns@gmail.com
Chenier Fine Arts Anniversary Show Co. Lab Gallery & Arts Centre
Head over to the Co.Lab Gallery & Arts Centre to celebrate 15 years of Chenier Fine Arts bringing fine art from all around the country to Thunder Bay. This show will feature new original artworks from the most celebrated artists.
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The The Walleye Walleye
for 24 months
Enjoy artwork from 15 local and national artists including Shane Norrie, Pippi Johnson, Ron Vilim, and more. See this month’s Art section for more info.
chenierfinearts.ca
August 8, 9, 10, 11, & 12, 9 am–4 pm
Actor’s Toolkit Magnus Theatre
August 10, 17, 24, & 31, 9 am–4:30 pm
Pierogi Days
Polish Combatants Branch No. 1 Head over to the Polish Combatants Branch No. 1, every Wednesday to buy perogies, cabbage rolls, chicken, penne and meatballs, vegan beet soup, and more.
Experience the career of an actor from first audition to final curtain call. This week-long camp is perfect for anyone ages 13–18 looking to pursue a career on stage and take their skills to the next level. You’ll build new skills and improve existing ones, as well as learn theatre etiquette and grow as an actor and as an ensemble. Each participant will also leave the program with a professional headshot! Register online.
345-1861
magnustheatre.com
August 11
August 9, 6 am–8 pm
The Rolling Barrage TBD
Join The Rolling Barrage for some wind/throttle therapy on a stop, a leg, a day, a weekend, or the whole motorcycle ride, in an effort to combat PTSD, personal challenges, and to join a supportive network of brothers and sisters. Register online.
therollingbarrage.com
August 10–14
Canadian Lakehead Exhibition CLE Grounds
Enjoy a day (or days) of fun at this year’s CLE fair. Play games and win prizes, ride all of the rides, eat some food, and enjoy the sunshine.
cle.on.ca
August 10, noon
Kim Mitchell
Canadian Lakehead Exhibition The beloved Kim Mitchell is returning to Thunder Bay, this year to perform at the CLE fair. See this month’s Top Five for more info.
cle.on.ca
August 10, 2–4 pm
Babies and Brews
Red Lion Smokehouse Connect with new moms and dads in the Red Lion Smokehouse Lounge. Bring your little one and hang out with other new parents. Nursing is welcome and both washrooms include changing facilities.
@redlionsmokehouse
Johnson’s Creek The Foundry
Premier country rock band Johnson’s Creek from southern Ontario is heading to The Foundry on August 11. If you enjoy high-energy country rock and classic country standards you are sure to enjoy your evening. See this month’s Music section for more info.
johnsonscreekband.com
August 11, 9:30 pm
Trooper
CLE Grounds Throughout their lengthy career, Trooper have well established themselves in Canada’s music scene with millions of records sold, a couple dozen hits, a Juno Award, and sold-out shows across Canada. This is a concert many won’t want to miss!
facebook.com/trooper band
August 12, 19, & 26, 9 pm
Movie Nights in the Park Various locations
Sit back and relax in a lawn chair, with a blanket and some snacks, while enjoying a movie on the big screen in a local park. Locations include Carrick Park, West Thunder Community Centre, and Vickers Park.
thunderbay.ca
August 13, noon–9 pm
WineOh! 2022 Wine, Cider, & Spirits Festival
Prince Arthur’s Landing/ Marina Park Indulge in a day celebrating wine, cider, and spirits paired with local music, food, and artisans. Sample and enjoy a wide selection of bevvy varieties on the shore of Lake Superior to find your new favourite.
tbshows.com
August 13, 10 am
The Record Round-Up
Goods & Co. Market The Record Round-Up is a community record sale. Come score some new finds for your collection and hang with some fellow vinyl aficionados.
@goodscomarket
August 14, noon–3:30 pm
Mushroom Walk and Dye Goods & Co. Market
Experience an afternoon of mushroom hunting and dyeing in this workshop hosted by Sister Mollusk and Ben Bohemier of Taiga Mushrooms. See this month’s Art section for more info.
sistermollusk.ca
August 15–19 & 22–26, 9 am–4 pm
From Page to Stage Summer Camp Magnus Theatre
This two-week camp sees students focus on scripts and what it takes to bring them to life. Working as a company of actors, students aged 13–18 will work collaboratively and individually to examine different aspects of working with a script, creating a character, and making positive choices in the rehearsal room. Each day focuses on a different script and a different style of performance, giving students a full range of theatrical experiences to draw upon.
magnustheatre.com
August 18, 8 pm
Pints & Pawns
Red Lion Smokehouse Looking to enjoy a pint and a good game of chess? Head to the Red Lion Smokehouse and do just that.
@redlionsmokehouse
August 20, 8 pm–midnight
The Walk in Closet
Goods & Co. Market Sit front row at the firstever Walk in Closet. This event features a vintage and handmade fashion show. Following the show, attendees can boogie under the disco ball and enjoy the 70s vibes. See this month’s City Scene section for more info.
@goodscomarket
August 20, 9 am–5 pm
40th Annual Westfort Street Fair
Frederica Street West Summer magic comes alive with this annual event, the legendary Westfort Street fair, the longest-running event of its kind in Thunder Bay. See this month’s Top Five for more info.
westfort.ca
August 20, 10 am
Expert Bike Mechanic Workshop
Community Spokes Come to Community Spokes and empower yourself by learning some expert bike mechanic skills that will help keep your two wheels rolling! This workshop requires an advanced level of bike maintenance knowledge.
communityspokes@ gmail.com
August 20, 9 pm–1 am
Taylor Swift Dance Party NV Music Hall
Bring all of your Swiftie friends and get ready to have a blast dancing to all of Taylor Swift’s greatest hits. Tickets available online. This is a 19+ event.
nvmusichall.com
August 20 & 21, 10 am–4 pm
The Great Northern Ontario Road Show Marina Park
The Great Northern Ontario Roadshow, presented by Science North, is an event unlike any other. There will be delicious food, amazing music, and an exciting dash of science. Get ready to discover a world of adventure that is close to home.
gnor.sciencenorth.ca
August 20
Villain
Black Pirates Pub Head on over to Black Pirates Pub and jam out to Toronto-based group Villain.
blackpiratespub.com
August 21, 7 pm
Summer Chef’s Table
Red Lion Smokehouse Enjoy this unique fourcourse dinner that showcases all the flavours of summer.
@redlionsmokehouse
August 21, 7 am
Fifth Annual Kakabeka Falls Legion Half Marathon and 8K Kakabeka Falls Legion Branch 225
Starting and finishing at the legion branch, run along a closed TransCanada Highway, on secondary roads and country roads, and throughout the Poplar Point Trail in the Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park. It is a course that covers all kinds of surfaces. Any proceeds raised go to support the legion.
runkbfalls.com
August 26, 27, 28
Ribfest
CLE Grounds Ribfest is back for 2022. One of Thunder Bay’s best summer events for the whole family! All weekend long, enjoy saucy creations from some of North America’s very best professional ribbers, as well as talented local food vendors, artisans, and live music! See this month’s Top Five for more info.
August 31, 8 pm
Wine Wednesday
Red Lion Smokehouse Sommelier John Murray will be leading an intimate group of winos in an informative tasting starting at 8 pm.
@redlionsmokehouse
Until September 1, 11–11:30 am
Aqua Energizers Heath Pool
Seniors are welcome at this drop-in event at Heath Pool every Tuesday and Thursday throughout the summer. Cool off and enjoy a gentle water workout with this 55 Plus Community Program. All you need to bring is a towel and appropriate swimwear to get your workout on. All attendees must be able to swim.
lily.zaina@thunderbay.ca
Until September 25
I, Voyageur Thunder Bay Art Gallery
See Canadian photographer Naomi Harris’s take on Frances Anne Hopkins’s route during the voyageur era. See this month’s Art section for more info.
theag.ca
Until September 25
Woodland Pop! Thunder Bay Art Gallery
This group exhibit showcases a mix of modern and classic Indigenous Woodland style art including NFTs, paintings, and sculptures
theag.ca
Until September 30, 6–8pm
Art Walk
Windy Shores Cafe Come out and take in the works and talents of local artists every Wednesday. This event is free and open to the public to enjoy. It is fully accessible for all people and service animals are welcome.
artistsbaytbay@ gmail.com
@ribfestthunderbay
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Music
LU RADIO’S MONTHLY TOP 1 Sister Ray* Communion
Royal Mountain
7 Yves Jarvis*
30
The Zug
Flemish Eye
8 Angel Olsen Big Time
Jagjaguwar
9 Zoon*
Big Pharma
Paper Bag
10 Pierre Kwenders* 2 Cola*
Deep in View
Next Door/FireTalk
3 Tops*
Empty Seats
Musique TOPS
4 Kamikaze Nurse* Stimuloso
mint
José Louis & The Paradox Of Love
15 Yaya Bey
Remember Your North Star
Big Dada
16 Pharis & Jason Romero*
Tell ‘Em You Were Gold
Smithsonian Folkways
17 Alexisonfire* Otherness
Dine Alone
23 Michael Rault* Michael Rault
Daptone
24 Altameda* Born Losers
Pheromone
25 Amanda Rheaume The Spaces in Between
Paper Bag
26 Jasmyn*
Gone Girl EP
After the Head Rush
In The Wild
Royal Mountain
Bonsound
27 Weird Nightmare*
12 The Burning Hell*
Weird Nightmare
Garbage Island
Sub Pop
You’ve Changed
28 Motherhood*
13 yoo doo right*
Matador
Blue Skies
Nonesuch
11 Magi Merlin*
Versions Of Modern Performances
6 Dehd
Dropout Boogie
Ishkodé
14 Horsegirl
Victory Pool
22 The Black Keys
18 Art d’Ecco*
Mothland
Multidimensional Culture
Check out our weekly charts online at luradio.ca and tune in to the Top 20 Countdown, Mondays from 7-9 am, or catch one of the rebroadcasts throughout the week! Keep it locked on 102.7 FM, online streaming at luradio.ca.
Arts & Crafts
Winded
A Murmur, Boundless To The East
5 Ghostkeeper*
CILU 102.7fm’s Monthly Charts for this issue reflect airplay for the month ending July 12, 2022.
Forward MusicGroup
19 Lisa Leblanc* Chiac Disco
Bonsound
20 Tanika Charles*
Papillon de Nuit: The Night Butterfly
29 Wilco
Cruel Country
dBpm
30 Sheenah Ko* Future Is Now
Lazy At Work
Record Kicks!
21 Porridge Radio
Waterslide, Diving Board, Ladder to the Sky
Verve Forecast
Fat Possum
90 4
The Walleye The Walleye
* Indicates Canadian Content
Joline & Devin Members since 2018
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Kakabeka Falls 43 Clergue Street (807) 475 4276 kakabekafalls@rapportcu.ca
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The Walleye 91 2022-07-13 10:07 AM
TattooedYou
A Full Arm Pays Tribute to a Beloved Son Story by Leah Morningstar, Photos by Meg Arpin Tattoo by Ray Atwood, At The Well Tattoo bout 18 months into parenting, Heather Mantis started noticing things about her son that seemed different than other kids. For instance, rather than gaining new words, her son began losing vocabulary. Mantis remembers being scared and overwhelmed when the family first received the autism diagnosis. But Mantis is good at adapting. She dove into research mode and learned all about her
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amazing little boy and what makes him tick. Mantis says, other than a few tiny tattoos, all her ink is from Ray Atwood of At The Well. This full arm piece is a tribute to her son, his autism diagnosis, and the growth they’ve both experienced navigating life together as mother and son. The phoenix feathers on the shoulder represent rising from the ashes and taking flight—something Mantis and her son were able to do after a daunting diagnosis. The mandalas are meant
to represent the universe. “It’s cheesy but my son is the centre of my universe,” Mantis says. Mandalas also contain repeating patterns, which are often comforting and important to a neurodivergent mind. The water and waves were meant to represent the love Mantis’s son had, as a young child, for all things water-related. Originally, Mantis had Atwood include puzzle piece imagery in the design because of its well-known association with autism. It was first used as a symbol to
represent autism spectrum disorder in 1963 by the National Autistic Society in the U.K. It was meant to convey that autism was a puzzling condition. This is now considered outdated and offensive in the autism community. A puzzle piece by itself also insinuates that the rest of the puzzle is incomplete. Autistic people don’t want to be seen as missing something; they’re already complete human beings. The dark spot on the upper arm is where the puzzle pieces used to be.
“I was happy to have Ray cover it up. It’s funny and interesting to me because making mistakes and fixing mistakes is a realistic part of life, for all parents, not just parents of autistic kids.” Parenting is a constant challenge, and there will always be surprises along the way. Mantis’s journey of parenting a child with autism is not only indelibly etched into her skin, but into her heart as well.
LUS
55 P
FALL PROGRAMMING
Open to everyone 55 Plus or better!
Registered Programs
Registration begins on August 10 at 8:30 a.m. Register online or by calling the hotline (807) 624-8463 Session starts September 12
Community Programs
Indoor Walking Outdoor Walking Darts Bowling Wit Knits Retirement Explorers F.A.B.S
(Fit Active Babes)
and more!
700 RIVER ST. & 1914 W. ARTHUR ST.
For more info visit www.thunderbay.ca/55plus
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Green
Protecting Our Freshwater By Sue Hamel, Executive Director, EcoSuperior
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ater is attracted to water. As bodies of water ourselves (55–75% of our bodies, in fact), it is no surprise that we are attracted to water. We are drawn to water biologically, spiritually, as well as philosophically. Whether it’s a weekend getaway or a deeply relaxing vacation, many would agree water is the best way to reset. Research has shown that being near, in, on, or under water can provide benefits for our mind and body. Benefits include lower stress and anxiety, lower heart and breathing rates, increased overall sense of well-being and happiness,
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greater creativity, and even enhance the quality of our conversations. However, all of this depends on these waters being clean and healthy—whether in liquid form, ice, snow, steam, or flowing in our arteries. “Water is precious” is one of many important messages of Josephine Mandamin, Anishinaabe Elder and waterrights advocate, known as Grandmother Water Walker and Biidaasige-ba (“the one who comes with the light”). She has walked over 17,000 kilometres around the Great Lakes, teaching, sharing, and shining light on water protection. She has inspired many with her
meaningful messages and ceremonies, including her encouragement to listen to water and to see water as a living being. Life exists on this planet thanks to water. Water is life. In fact, those who are searching the universe for other life and/or habitable planets or moons, it is the presence of water that is key. Luckily for us, “blue space”—oceans, lakes, rivers, wetlands, etc.— covers over 71% of our planet. However, while ocean water is abundant, fresh water only makes up less than 3% of the water on Earth. And it is no secret our freshwater systems are
facing increasing pressure from pollution, invasive species, and climate change. This includes our beloved gitchigami (Lake Superior), the largest freshwater lake in the world (by surface area). We encourage everyone to get to know what they can do to protect and restore fresh water. Be mindful of what goes down your drain or is left on the ground or shoreline. Cultivate your senses and deepen your connection with water. We are Lake Superior, and Lake Superior is us. Our health depends on the health of the lake, and the health of the lake depends on us. To learn more: subscribe
to our e-newsletter, visit our website, or join one of our upcoming events, such as an evening celebrating Lake Superior. Continue to help us create a healthy future for people and the planet. Visit ecosuperior.org for more information.
Advertising Feature
August Behind the Business
Kerry Berlinquette, Breakwater Events Meet Kerry Berlinquette, owner and event enthusiast behind Breakwater Events. Kerry has been in the hospitality and travel industry for the past 32 years and in 2010 entered into the event business. Kerry has a strong passion for events and bringing people together. In 2012, she started Breakwater Events with her business partner Jon. Their combined love for all things brewed encouraged them to organize and host events such as the TBSO Brew and Beethoven and other fun opportunities. In 2015, they said “Hey, Thunder Bay needs a beer festival” and BrewHa! Festival was born. From then, they formalized their partnership and expanded to host a variety of fun, entertaining events for our community. Most recently, Breakwater Events took on developing and hosting tours for the cruise ship guests. To learn more about upcoming events and other opportunities by Breakwater Events, visit breakwaterevents.ca.
Q & A with Kerry
What drew you to entrepreneurship? I had my son in 2000, and six months later, when I was supposed to return to the office, I knew I could not thrive as a mom who worked outside of the home. I investigated my options (thank you, internet) and the timing was perfect for me to be able to work from home as a travel agent. The Northern Ontario School of Medicine hired me as their travel consultant, and I worked with them for a decade from home. I have not been back to an office since! What inspired you to launch your business? We saw an opportunity to host well-structured, organized, and customer-focused events in Thunder Bay. Our attention to detail and research on best practices is what sets us apart. We have morphed over the years and undergone a name change, but the backbone is the same: create fun, hyper-local experiences
in our community, with the focus on being environmentally and socially responsible. We use this as our mission rubric in our decision-making for the business and events we host. Knowing what you know now, is there anything you would have done differently when you were first starting out? Hindsight is 20/20, but I have zero regrets. I have had more entrepreneurial experiences in this past decade than most do in a lifetime. I opened a brewery, then a bar, then a beer festival. The spin-off effect from these projects has made my life more full than I could have possibly imagined. I have met more incredible humans than I ever thought existed. I am never bored. I have learned so much. It takes a lot to rattle me now. If I had done anything
differently, I may have missed out on something. What advice would you give to someone who is trying to become an entrepreneur? I have so much advice in my head—it spews out of me whenever it has the chance. I think of all the words people have shared with me over the past 20 years and how it all makes sense. Being an entrepreneur is not for the weak of heart. You need to be committed, confident, and maybe a wee bit crazy. You need to be able to handle risk, and not be afraid of hard work. What are you working on now? Jon and I are excited to host our new event, the WineOh! Festival coming up on August 13, so that is taking up most of my time. I am also very fortunate to be working
with Maintair as the Viking Cruise Shore Excursions manager—what an incredible tourism journey that has been! I also work with Live on the Waterfront as their hospitality liaison with the artists, and of course, booking travel like it is going out of style! Never a dull moment, and I love it! Is there anyone specific you would like to thank? Our clients drive us to do better every day. The folks who come to our events are our reason for being, and we are so grateful that they continue to support us year after year. In addition, Breakwater Events would not operate if we did not have our team of ambassadors beside us. We have a fabulous group of folks who rally with us whenever we get an idea and show up to help us execute it. We thank those beautiful humans.
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Green
What’s the Dirt on Humus By Hedy Koski
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umus—it doesn’t refer to the tasty dip. Humus is a very confusing subject, with many different views on what it is, and even believed to be a myth. Here’s my take: humus is a spongy dark brown/black substance resulting from the decomposition of plant &/or animal matter after it has reached a stage of complete decomposition. It can take years to achieve but last for many lifetimes— not something that can be commercially manufactured for sale in a store. The best way to help get humus in your garden soil is through composting. A small percentage may turn into humus, but the benificial
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HUMUS TOPSOIL SUBSOIL
Hedy’s Mom, Gert with her transplanted garden soil
microbes, earthworms and fungi from compost help plant growth. Soils lacking humus are considered barren soils. The advantages of humus in your garden are many. The following are some of its attributes: • Dark rich in colour • Warms up faster (because it is darker in colour) • Has a high water-holding capacity, just like a sponge • Improves soil structure by forming crumbs or clumps, thereby improving drainage • Ability to store many important nutrients, such as calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus and makes them available for plants BEDROCK
What we call healthy soil can be achieved with the addition of things like compost. My mother was a master gardener, and for her composting was a way of life. She worked her soil for over 60 years and in her later years had to move to a new home. As a gardener myself, I know the pain she would have felt to leave that rich healthy soil. But my mother was a smart lady. She hired someone with a machine to scrape off the top layer of soil from her garden and haul it to her new home. Genius!
t Let’s Gewith g Growindy He
If you are new to gardening the time to start composting is now. The benefits are huge. Let’s start creating healthy garden soil. Check out next month’s article on composting for tips!
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Health
Normalize Recovery
By Stephanie Diebolt, Public Health Nurse, Injury Prevention and Substance Misuse, Thunder Bay District Health Unit
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ecovery from addiction is something we all have a role to play in. But what do we mean by “recovery”? Few people agree on a single definition wholeheartedly, with some believing it means abstinence and others believing it means harm reduction. The truth is, there isn’t a standard approach that works for everyone. There is, perhaps, one thing we can all agree on: recovery is possible. “Recovery is taking life one day at a time,” says Kayla
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Marshalok, a Rockin’ Recovery storyteller. Months leading up to the annual Rockin’ Recovery event held at the waterfront, storytellers develop a personal narrative with professional storytelling coach Shannon Leahy from Lighthouse Storytelling. Leahy supports them every step of the way. This is Marshalok’s second year participating. “I’ll admit, I was afraid to uncover who I really was under all the pain I had endured and all the chaos I had caused. It took courage, strength, and support from the
people around me.” These short stories aim to empower other people on their recovery journey and bring awareness that addiction is a treatable medical condition, and not a choice. For a number of years now, the month of September has been marked as a time when communities across Canada celebrate the hope and reality of recovery from addiction. The Thunder Bay Drug Awareness Committee invites you to attend this year’s event at Marina Park
on September 7 from 5–8 pm. Cue the smell of wood-fired pizza, the sound of a local rock band, and the thrill of exploring the wares of the craft market. Folks will enjoy all the typical things you would expect at the waterfront, with storytellers front and centre, sharing real life accounts of courage, hope, and recovery from addiction. This is a free, all-ages event where everyone can learn something, and offer support merely through being present. Elders, mental health services, and recovery-minded organizations will be on site to connect with community members and share resources. So this year, join us as we
work to create a community that promotes a safe and supportive environment to talk about addictions and recovery. With one in five Canadians impacted by mental illness, this could be your family member, friend, partner, co-worker, neighbour, or you. Whatever recovery means to you, show your support by attending Rockin’ Recovery on September 7, 2022. Together, we can normalize recovery. Visit TBDHU.com recoveryday to learn more.
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TheWall
Beating Around the Bush Editorial and photo by Marlene Wandel
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t seems there’s always something getting in the way of fun these days. With pandemic restrictions lightening up, it is now the price of fuel and the impossibly daunting airport delays giving us pause. It seems that the least frustrating thing to do this summer is to just stay put. For those of us in Northwestern Ontario, that’s not such a bad thing. Fleeing from here for warmer pastures in April and November makes sense—and even for the most die-hard cold weather lovers, winter starts to pale after six months or so—but in the summer, Thunder Bay is heaven on earth (plus a few zillion bugs).
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The bigger world is still out there, and will surely become more accessible one of these years, but this (and every) summer, there’s barely enough time to enjoy all the marvels Northwestern Ontario has to offer. There might not be gold specifically in the hills (though ask any geologist and they will cheerfully tell you, at length, exactly what is in our rugged hills), but there’s a wealth of beauty to be found between the lines on the topo map. If a map and compass aren’t your thing, with the myriad of apps out there mapping trails and waterways and helpfully delineating Crown from private land for all and sundry, it’s almost too easy
to find a lovely new place to ramble. Trail and adventure apps are game changers for backroads adventures; so long as the satellites don't fall out of the sky and you manage to keep your phone battery charged, you can keep the all the maps in your pocket at all times, though it might be wise to download them in case of another national cellular glitch. Some adventures are hits, and some are misses. Exploring our wild landscape means that sometimes we find a hidden gem, and then contemplate whether to keep it hidden. Other times we find there’s a reason that no one except a million beavers thinks the North Current River
is a navigable waterway. Even the failed adventures often turn into reconnaissance missions for a deeper dive, because what if the most amazing view is just around the next bend in the river? Exploring the intricacies of our local places is like making a great dinner out of the shrapnel in your fridge: what starts out as making do turns into making something great. Whatever your mode of transportation, whether by land or sea, creek or cliff, bike, boot or board, there’s a way to see something new and wonderful. For a born and bred bushwhacking explorer, it’s easy to evangelize this bounty of wilderness bejewelled
with pine and moss and blueberries, with its vistas of dramatic outcroppings and water, and marks of layers of human existence. With a healthy respect for private property, and keeping safety in mind, there’s more than a lifetime of summer adventures to be explored around here, whether in formally designated fun zones like provincial parks, or down an old logging road. Sometimes the B-side adventure turns out to be a gully full of blowdown, or a height of land without a view, and sometimes it turns into your favourite berry patch or new secret swimming spot. There’s only one way to find out, and the season is now.
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AugustHoroscopes Aries
(March 21–April 19) Time to slow it down a notch, Aries. Rams are usually so gung-ho, but it’s time to take some time for some rest and relaxation. Being a fire sign, it’ll feel good to seek some solace by the campfire. Do plan for some downtime with your loved ones to relax and seek out the stars. Family matters are indeed taking on a rosy glow this month. Old grudges may be forgiven and tempers may be smoothed over. Keep the barbecue out, as there’s going to be plenty of feasting this month, particularly on the long weekend. Grab a lawn chair and settle in—summer is short and this is a good time to enjoy the long days.
Taurus
(April 20–May 20) You are looking for love in all the right places this month. Earthy Taurus may have finally met their match, and that’s no bull. Don’t be so slow to get your feet wet— life is short, so sometimes taking a chance works out in everyone’s favour. This is a social month, and making new friends is going to give this fixed sign a lot of joy. Plan something special for two, and don’t be afraid to get a little creative about it. This is not the time for solely run-ofthe-mill ideas. It’s okay to be a wee bit naughty—sometimes it pays off to be the villain instead of the hero! Enjoy the magic that ensues.
Gemini
(May 21–June 20) Lammas is celebrated around the first of the month, which is the very start of the harvest season. Enjoy some time spent in the garden while reaping the rewards of the bounty. Fresh fruit and veg abound— if you don’t have your own garden, there’s plenty of farmers markets in the area to enjoy. Themes of gratitude and reflection are abundant, and it’s time to take stock of
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By Sunny Disposish
things you feel gratitude for in your own life. Sometimes a bit of a tough lesson is a blessing in disguise. Be creative this month. For any air signs thinking about entrepreneurship, this is the time. Grab those paints, the crafts, the camera, and start putting yourself out there!
Cancer
(June 21–July 22) The moon is Cancer’s ruling planet, and the supermoon on the 11th is going to be a doozy. Emotions could potentially be running high, so make sure to keep life on an even keel around that time. Protection is important during this lunar burst of high energy, so do take the time to keep your physical space cleansed. Socially, this is a big month for Crabs. These summer babies do enjoy playing in the sand and surf, so keep a level head and everyone will have fun. A concert or outdoor gathering figures prominently towards month’s end, so enjoy being out and about again at those festivals. There may even be some fireworks—both literally and figuratively speaking— in the romance department as well.
Leo
(July 23–August 22) Happy cake day, Leos! It’s that time again, and all signs are pointing to this being one of the best birthdays in Leo history. Nothing says love for these fire signs like being in the spotlight with their loved ones. Someone you didn’t think you would see for quite some time suddenly appears on the horizon. After what felt like forever, families converge and friends come together. There may be even a few tears shed, so have some Kleenex handy. For an extra special treat, gather under the night skies for the Perseids meteor shower the weekend of the 13th. This month, it is possible to have your cake and eat it too. Happy solar return and may the brightest blessings be ever yours.
Virgo
(August 23– September 22) The new moon in your sign on the 27th may see Virgos packing their bags— to travel, that is! Whether it be near or far, Virgos are going to be on the move towards month’s end. Luck will be on your side. This month is a great season for reflection, introspection, and reconnection with the earth, ourselves, and the universe. Get into that garden and dig up those potatoes— everyone’s waiting for your famous double-stuffed baked taters anyway, so get going on the barbecue and get it done. Play some lighthearted and good-humoured games. Above all, stay up late and have some fun!
Libra
(September 23– October 22) Sweet, balanced Libra is always organized and going with the flow, but there is a slight theme that has the sign of the scales rattled this month. No one wants to admit it, but back-to-school is indeed looming. Simply make a to-do list and check a few things off whilst still continuing to enjoy all the summer fun. The feels can wait. Taking tangible action is what’s needed at this time. Swimming, boating, and fishing figure prominently, and taking some extra days off to spend at camp is what summer is all about. Hanging out in the kitchen is always a fun activity for air signs— why not whip up your special dish and have an impromptu luncheon. Nothing wrong with a mid-day mimosa. Cheers!
Scorpio
(October 23– November 21) Working around the home and yard has been your priority this month, Scorpio. All of your hard work and renovations will soon pay off. In fact, you may want to
do a bit of entertaining to show off all of your elbow grease (don’t forget to invite the staff over for a pool party). All things aside, there’s still a lot of summer left, so there’s plenty of time to take a breather. Keep the long weekend going all month long. You may find that someone comes to you for some advice. They’ve come to the right place, because Scorpios know how to keep a secret. Be a mentor to them with some supporting words.
Sagittarius
(November 22– December 21) There are some big changes coming up, Sagittarius. You may be tested and tested hard. However, Centaurs are made of pretty tough stock and it takes a lot to keep a good one down (and the bad ones, well, even more). Friends and family will come through for you in times of need. After all, you’re always there for them, so sit back and let yourself be cared for. Stay true to the goodness of fresh air, sun, water, and movement. Spend some time together with a bosom buddy, a great coffee, and a pastry. The simple things in life will prevail. Curl up with a riveting summer tome and get your tan on. All is good in the hood—but you, Sag, are even better! Only good vibes are headed your way.
Capricorn
(December 22– January 19) The dog days of summer are here, and Goats are feeling hot and bothered these days. What is on your mind? Workhorses such as this sign tend to give a little more than they receive. Time to put up some boundaries! There’s a reason why “goat” stands for “greatest of all time,” but sometimes it’s impossible to wear that crown all the time. Take a moment to get a quick tarot reading or simply pull out your own oracle card for the day. It’s a great way to get focused
and centered and simply mull over a theme for the day. A new hobby can add a bit of whimsy to your life. Spend some time doing exactly what you feel like doing in the moment! A patio date with pals may be just what the doctor ordered.
Aquarius
(January 20– February 18) The full moon, also known as the Corn Moon, is in your sign on the 11th, and the stars are aligning in your favour to enjoy the planetary activities. What do you have to be grateful for this month? Canning and harvesting are totally your jam right now. Journaling is an excellent exercise for Water-Bearers to take on right now. Jot down some wishes, dreams and goals. Anything goes right now. Align yourself with what you wish to manifest, and do whatever it takes to make it happen. Furry friends are featured right now. You may find yourself in the company of pets or adding another fur baby to an already existing menagerie.
Pisces
(February 19– March 20) Not all of us are lucky enough to have the summer off, and hardworking Pisces are no exception. Work is busy these days, and some shifts are harder than others. Try not to forget to add a bit of self-care to your routine. On your day off, why not enjoy Tomlin Subdivision with some friends? The pizza is golden and the atmosphere is pretty darn good too. Getting some pleasant country walks in are good for the soul as well—not necessarily one of those cardio types, but one where wildflowers are gathered and trees are hugged. A neighbour may happen by and deliver a pie or some other bounty suitable to the season. Do pay it forward when you feel ready. Just keep swimming!
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TheBeat
Haiku of the Sasquatch By Adrian Lysenko
Elusive creature, hairy wanderer of woods, brave to be honest.
S. Quatch, digital illustration, boy Roland
ADVENTURE AWAITS IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD.
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JOIN US AT THE MARINA PARK
The Great Northern Ontario Roadshow is a special kind of event for family and friends. With so much to do and discover, adventure lies around every turn. Discover everything that Northern Ontario has to offer - culture, art, science, heritage, music, dance, comedy, delicious food and exciting activities. Grab the kids, or a few of your friends, and explore a staycation expo, an attractions showcase, a local market, games, entertainment, workshops and much more - all while spending time with the ones you care about!
For more info visit gnor.sciencenorth.ca
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Skie of Green - Photo by Bryan Couch
DEEPLY CONNECTED TO THE WATER
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