FILM FREE ARTS Vol. 10 No. 12 MUSIC DECEMBER FOOD 2019 CULTURE thewalleye.ca
Holiday Gift Guide
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE 32
THE MAGIC INGREDIENT 69
BLOWN WIDE OPEN 81
CLICK, SHOP, REPEAT! 101
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Contents
walleye the
FEATURES
Thunder Bay’s arts & culture alternative
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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
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Holidays ■ 25 Perfectly Paired Presents ■ 26 Try Something New ■ 28 Good Life Foods Co. ■ 30 Swell Bakery
Marketing Promotions Specialist Jacey-Lynne Graham jace@thewalleye.ca
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■ 32 It’s a Wonderful Life ■ 35 Shrek The Musical Jr. ■ 36 Holiday Movies With Gifts ■ 38 Through the Wardrobe ■ 40 The North Now ■ 42 Bizarre Bazaar 6 ■ 44 Thunderbird and
Ad Designers Dave Koski, Miranda van den Berg
Reproduction of any article, photograph or artwork without written permission is strictly forbidden. Views expressed herein are those of the author exclusively.
FILM&THEATRE
THE ARTS
Art Directors Steve Coghill, R.G.D., Dave Koski, R.G.D. production@thewalleye.ca
The Walleye is a free monthly publication distributed on racks throughout Thunder Bay and region.
FOOD
■ 18 Not Schweddy Balls ■ 20 Donut Run ■ 23 Homebrewing for the
Marketing & Sales Manager Bradie Butler sales@thewalleye.ca
Photographers Patrick Chondon, Kevin Dempsey, Damien Gilbert, Chad Kirvan, Dave Koski, Kay Lee, Shannon Lepere, Marty Mascarin, Darren McChristie, Sarah McPherson, Laura Paxton, Keegan Richard
CoverStory: Holiday Gift Guide ■ 10 Trendsetter ■ 11 Foodie ■ 12 The Music Lover ■ 13 Outdoors Enthusiast ■ 14 Tree Hugger ■ 15 Pet Lover ■ 16 Curator ■ 17 The Entertainer
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Anemki Wajiw ■ 46 Untitled [Black Geese Portfolio] ■ 48 Spruce Pond Apiaries & Woodburning
OUTDOOR
■ 50 Fat But Not Lazy CITYSCENE
■ 52 Tree of Hope ■ 57 The Bookshelf
■ 59 Blissful Bowls ■ 62 The Creative Process ■ 64 ■ 66 ■ 69
as a Tornado Eye to Eye Popping Up The Magic Ingredient
MUSIC
■ 72 Gutter Royalty ■ 75 The Record Box ■ 76 Janelle Wiebe ■ 79 On the Road to Memphis ■ 81 Blown Wide Open ■ 82 Home for the Holidays ■ 84 The 20th Annual Waxmas Throwdown ■ 86 Liz Phair
ARCHITECTURE
■ 90 St. Andrew’s
Presbyterian Church
HEALTH
■ 92
Commit to Authentic Connection in 2020
WEATHER
■ 98 December, Officially Winter GREEN
■ 101 Click, Shop, Repeat! ■ 19 Drink of the Month ■ 60 This is Thunder Bay ■ 88 Off the Wall Reviews ■ 94 Tbaytel December EVENTS ■ 96 Music EVENTS ■ 97 LU Radio's Monthly Top 20 ■ 102 The Wall ■ 104 Horoscopes ■ 105 The Beat ■ 106 The Eye
Copyright © 2019 by Superior Outdoors Inc. All Rights Reserved. Editorial and Advertising: Submissions must be accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Superior Outdoors cannot be held responsible for unsolicited material.
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Superior Outdoors Inc. 314 Bay Street Thunder Bay, ON P7B 1S1 Telephone (807) 344-3366 Fax (807) 623-5122 E-mail: info@thewalleye.ca
TheWalleye.ca
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The Walleye
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From Our Instagram feed
Secret Santas and Yule Goats
O
ver the last 10 years or so, my immediate family has adopted a Secret Santa gift exchange and I love the holiday tradition. During a time of year when consumerism is pushed to the max, it not only lowers your spending and carbon footprint but allows you to concentrate on finding that one perfect gift for a particular family member. It was interesting to find out the roots of the Secret Santa gift exchange are believed to come from philanthropy. In the 1970s, Larry Dean Stewart, better known as “Kansas City’s Secret Santa” would hand out small amounts of cash—typically in the form of hundred-dollar bills—to people in need, or donate money anonymously to charities. Secret Santa also has origins in Scandinavia with Julklapp (meaning “Christmas knock” in Swedish) where gift-givers would knock on doors, throw a gift into a house, and run away (sometimes dressed as a Yule goat). So whether you participate in Secret Santa gift exchanges or chuck gifts into houses dressed up as a goat (we don’t judge), our annual Holiday Gift Guide has something for everyone on your list. Once again, our elves have been busy
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The Walleye
putting gift ideas together from local businesses and artisans tailored for the music lovers, entertainers, pet lovers, foodies, outdoor enthusiasts, tree huggers, curators, and trendsetters in your life. We’ve also compiled a list of albums from local musicians as well as books from local authors. As part of our holiday theme, Matt Tyska catches up with the guys from Wax Philosophic to chat about their 20th Annual Waxmas Throwdown, Chef Rachel Globensky serves up a delicious recipe for rum balls, and film columnist Michael Sobota presents his picks for holiday movies with gifts. With the holidays being a time to pause, reflect, and give thanks, we would like to acknowledge that we owe our success to the support of our past and present advertisers and our team of talented and dedicated contributors. And a special thanks to our readers, who support the organizations, individuals, and businesses featured in the magazine. Without all of you, the magazine wouldn’t exist. Happy holidays, and see you in 2020! -Adrian Lysenko
In Error
On page 40 of our November issue (Vol. 10 No. 11) in the article “A Nature of Textiles,” Tuija Hansen was misidentified as an instructor at Lakehead University and on page 68 in Stuff We Like, the incorrect colour of flannel shirt was featured.
Featured Contributor Kristen Pouru As a contributing photographer to The Walleye for over a year, Kristen enjoys the ability to connect with other creatives and see what’s happening in Thunder Bay. Born and raised in the city, Kristen is a self-proclaimed movie buff, an old music nerd (preferably from the 1960s and 1970s) and a fan of all things pop culture, and she is always happy to show visitors the city’s unique restaurants, local shops, businesses, and surrounding outdoors. Check out Kristen’s photos in the Thunder Bay Country Market Vendor profile on page 39.
On the Cover A gingerbread recreation of the Finnish Labour Temple, by Jayme Lynn Bognar of Rustic Sugar Bakery Photo by Gregg Johns
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Gift Cards Available
TheTOPFive
1 Kraft. Pop-Up Market December 3 & 10
Sleeping Giant Brewing Co. Bites. Brews. Browsing. It’s all going down at the Kraft. Pop-Up Market in December and if you’re not there, well, we won’t call you square but we might think it! Over 44 artisans will be split up between the two events, so each pop-up will be unique. Browse for fine art, food, clothing, metal, woodwork, and various home and personal accessories. To make it a complete shopping experience, there will be food to eat and drinks on tap at the brewery and it runs from 6:30–9:30 pm, so come hungry and thirsty! Should your dance card happen to be full on these nights, the organizers have launched a Kraft Artisan Box ($55) that includes a semi-secret collection of products sourced from participating vendors. krafttbay.com
It’s a Wonderful Life: 2 A Live Radio Play December 5–21 Magnus Theatre
“Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings.” Kick off the holiday season, and step back in time with Magnus Theatre’s final production of the year. It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play is adapted from the beloved holiday classic movie by Joe Landry and will see the Magnus stage transformed into a 1940s radio station. An ensemble cast of five actors will bring this heartwarming story to life, following the idealistic George Bailey, who is down on his luck. Thankfully, a transformative message arrives in angelic form to help him find meaning and purpose. Evening performances are at 7:30 pm, and there’s a gala party after opening night on December 6. Tickets are available at the Magnus Theatre box office and online. magnus.on.ca
4 Dark Sky Festival December 13 & 14
3 Handel’s Messiah December 6 & 7
St. Paul’s United Church Stir your soul this holiday season with a live performance of Handel’s Messiah. Since its premiere in 1742, it has amazed audiences with its triumphant choruses and dazzling arias. Experience Handel’s oratorio, the Hallelujah Chorus, one of the most famous pieces of classical music in the world, with the combined forces of the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra and Chorus and an exceptional cast of guest soloists led by Monica Whicher, soprano, Jillian Bonner, mezzo-soprano, Philippe Gagné, tenor, and Giles Tomkins, bass-baritone, with Paul Haas conducting. A special treat for the entire family, the show runs two nights and tickets are $40 for adults, with varying price options for students, children, and those under thirty. Starts at 7:30 pm. tbso.ca
20th Annual Waxmas 5 Showdown December 21
As we head into the longest night of the year, organizers of the Dark Sky Festival are encouraging us to embrace the darkness. Every year, artists and photographers, explorers, and adventurers from around the world travel to Grand Marais to experience the northern lights and celebrate the darkest season of the year. Now’s your chance to see the stars, planets, and the Milky Way and participate in a slew of events dedicated to learning more about the night skies of the north. On the schedule for this year’s festival is a chance to experience the University of Minnesota’s traveling planetarium, a documentary screening, presentations, a guided telescope time with meteorologist Mike Lynch, and so much more. Get out and gather ‘round!
It doesn’t feel right unless we wax a little philosophic in December! Join high-energy local hip-hop legends D-Cyphur, Reach, and Jenero, who make up Wax Philosophic, for an epic holiday showdown. For this, their 20th Waxmas, the trio is bringing back artists they’ve collaborated with over the years to the stage. Opening will be Jamie Smith of Auditor General, DJ Wurlwind, and a few other special guests. To close out the night, they’re holding a throwback freestyle cipher and invite any hip-hop artists who they’ve played with to join in. The doors open at 9 pm for the 19+ show and tickets are $10 with all proceeds going to support a local charity. Non-perishable food items will also be collected for the Thunder Bay Food Bank. Let’s get festive!
visitcookcounty.com
NV Music Hall
Damien Gilbert
Travis Notvitsky
Harbor Park, Grand Marais
tbshows.com
The Walleye Walleye
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DREAM BIG GET THE SKILLS DO THE JOB
W A P P LY N O
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confederationcollege.ca
CoverStory
Holiday Gift Guide A
Martina Benvegnu
ll you want for Christmas is right here in our annual Holiday Gift Guide. Find the perfect gift for everyone on your list: the pet-loving friend, the person whose name you drew for Secret Santa, and that special someone who has everything. We checked in with local shops and artisans to curate lists of the very best things, which means you can go dashing through the snow with purpose and still have plenty of time to sit in front of the fire and sip on eggnog.
The Walleye
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CoverStory
Trendsetter
trend-set-ter a person who leads the way in fashion or ideas 3
By Rebekah Skochinski 1
Tote
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Northies Toque
How did the humble tote bag become an It bag? We don’t know and we don’t care, because we totes love them. Excellent for carrying your stuff, and destined to be a collector’s item, this aptly named “black bag from mars.” checks all the boxes. Constructed of 100% heavy canvas and hand-screened, there’s also a raw canvas option printed with the words “Always Full.” Finally, something that’s not too good to be true. Maybe buy two.
Come winter, a hat is where it’s at. Made in Canada, here’s a toque for the person in your inner circle who’s allergic to wool but not the great outdoors. With a simple cuffed design and a northern-inspired logo, it’s a statement piece that can both showcase some local pride and convince people that the wearer could swing an axe and split their own firewood, should the opportunity present itself. Also comes in red/black and forest green.
mars. clothing
Northies
$15
$30
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Sprunchie
Scrunchies have been back in a big way for a while now, making this hybrid hair accessory a must-have stocking stuffer for your favourite fashionista. The Sprunchie has the ingenious integrated spiral ring of the original invisibobble with an embellished exterior. We’re partial to Red Wine is Fine—a gorgeous burgundy velvet option—and the vegan Holy Cow, That’s Not Leather. They also look chic worn on the wrist if you’re having a good hair day. Evoke Salon & Spa $11.99 3
Socksmith Socks
Nipigon nylons are a necessary cold-weather essential, but chances are everyone on your list already has several pairs in their sock drawer. Instead, they might want to do as Madonna says and express themselves with Socksmith Gay Pride socks. Also available in colours that recognize Trans, Genderqueer, and Bi Pride. Strike a pose! Plus, for each pair sold, $1 will be donated to The Trevor Project to help support LGBTQ suicide prevention. Perfect Fit Lingerie $19 4
Yoga Jeans
There are a lot of things that are good about the good old days, but jeans without stretch is not one of them. Yoga Jeans, which are proudly made in Canada, are constructed with a stretch fabric that is so soft and comfortable you could probably sleep in them. Available in high-rise, skinny, straight, and wide leg, they are cut to fit curves and hold their shape. Choose from a variety of denim washes, including coloured and plaid. Om. The Loop $130–$180
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Deerskin Mitts
Gloves might get the love but to really keep your loved one’s hands toasty when temperatures plummet, it’s mitts to the rescue. These 100% Canadian handcrafted lumberjack deerskin mitts have a super soft shell, a snazzy flannel plaid cuff, and an acrylic pile liner that is tested to -35°C—thank heavens. Bonus: the liners are removable and washable. 5
Authentique $92.99 7
Mackinaw Jac-Shirt
Know what’s always trendy? Being warm but looking cool. Take this Mackinaw Jac-Shirt by Filson, for instance. It can be worn on its own or layered up, and features a snap front closure, two handwarmer pockets, and is 100% virgin wool. It’s also flannel-lined for comfort, giving it the softness of a shirt while providing an extra bit of insulation. Better scoop it up quick though, as this item is limited edition. J.B. Evans Fashions & Footwear
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$360 8
Leather Wallet
Minimalism is always in fashion. Lakehead Leather’s stunning slim wallets feature four card slots and two inner pockets so there’s plenty of storage without any bulk. Each wallet is handmade in Thunder Bay using full-grain leather imported from the United States and Italy, and because there are different leather/thread/lining combinations, they truly are one of a kind. Available in a wide range of colours from classic shades of black and brown to green, navy, red, and two-toned. Lakehead Leather $120
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Foodie
foo-die a person with a particular interest in food; a gourmet By Tiffany Jarva 1
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Lake Superior Board
This is the perfect gift for the pasta lover on your list. The club card includes 12 packs of locally made pasta throughout the year. Choose from fresh or dried, plain or flavoured artisanal small-batch pasta made using vintage Italian equipment, which creates a unique textures and tastes.
Paddy O’Boards
$50
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My Finland Tea Towel
This organic cotton tea towel is so pretty it may end up never drying dishes. The fabric is woven using long-staple linen yarn that has been spun according to Öko-Tex standards. It’s also educational—it features a fun word-map highlighting known and not-so-known places to discover in Finland. 8
Finnport $23.95
Seasons of Th under Bay Cookbook
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Chef Rachel
Globensky
Heartbeat Hot Sauce
Heartbeat Hot Sauce has been taking the hot sauce market by storm since 2015, and we in the north are lucky to have such easy access to all four signature Heartbeat flavours in one bundle. The sauces are made with fermented peppers using traditional methods with no water or thickening agents, and this mixed pack makes a perfect host/hostess gift, or a little something for that person who loves to spice things up in the kitchen.
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From the Edito
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Variety of local retailers or hearbeathotsauce.com $40 7
The Pasta Club Card
Those of us who are in love with Lake Superior now have the perfect charcuterie/cutting board on which to serve up our favourite foods during the holidays. These boards are beautifully crafted from hardwood, including maple, oak and cherry. All boards are food-safe and can be cut on. Choose one wood type or a multi-toned mixed-wood effect. $55–60
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Breakfast on the Bay
The Breakfast on the Bay crate is a no-brainer gift for the foodie on your list—let someone have a spectacular first meal of the day using all these local ingredients. Closing date for pre-orders of this crate is December 10, with pick-up available December 18–21.
Big Lake Pasta 6 Swissmar Classic Granite Raclette
When hosting a holiday brunch or dinner, why not get all the guests involved? The Swissmar Classic Granite Raclette individualizes the cooking experience, while still being social and interactive—ideal for that special person that loves to host. The granite stone grills to impress. Kitchen Nook $180 7
Christmas Tea Blends
Choose from a wide range of blends like Christmas Sencha, Gingerbread Ceylon, or Christmas Chai for the tea drinkers on your list. Great as stocking stuffers, the holiday tea blends are available in festive 50g bags or in bulk for the serious tea drinkers. International House of Tea Starting at $4 8 Seasons of Thunder Bay Cookbook
We at The Walleye are super excited about local chef Rachel Globensky’s stunning new cookbook, nine years in the making. A contributor to the magazine since the first issue, Red Seal-certified chef Globensky shares not only her recipes throughout the seasons, but also her vignettes connected to land, family, and memories along the way. Various locations $34.99
Clover Lane Crates $65 4
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CoverStory
The Music Lover
mu-sic lo-ver a person who believes that music makes the world go ‘round; a toe-tapper
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By Justin Allec 1
Musical Band by PlanToys
Give your little one the chance to go full Animal with this scaled-down drum set. Manufactured from preservative-free rubber wood by the conscientious PlanToys, this set features two different sized drums, a cymbal, a pair of drumsticks, and a guiro that stand just over 13 inches tall. Get ready for some wild rhythms and easy fun! Toy Sense $44.99
Monster Rockin’ Roller 4 100watt Bluetooth Portable Speaker (Rockin' Roller 4) 2
Okay, this thing is ridiculous. In addition to pushing 100 watts of speaker power, the Rockin’ Roller has oodles of features. And it should, because this thing is so big that it has built-in rolling wheels and a telescoping handle to easily transport it. Add microphone and guitar inputs, USB ports, a light system, a bottle opener, and the ability to stack and pair with other Rockin’ Rollers, and you might not even need your home stereo anymore. Power Centre $399.99 3
Eureka Tagalong Lite Chair
A comfy chair makes all the difference for an outdoor music experience. Travel chairs continue to evolve, and this Eureka model is a prime example of how packable and comfortable they’ve become. Easily packing to the size of a small loaf of bread, the Tagalong Lite weighs just over two pounds and can be set up in less than a minute. The wide feet offer stability, and the seat angle is just perfect to sink in and watch the stage. Gear Up for Outdoors $54.99
Hohner 1896BX-BF Marine Band Harmonica 4
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Intro to Music Making
Starting with children as young as eight, Intro to Music Making is a flexible, one-onone lesson with one of Music Workshop’s instructors that offers a variety of instruments for exploration. Focusing on instruments that don’t require tuning—hand drums, the Seagull Martin dulcimer, piano or keyboard—allows the students to pick up making music faster before settling on a main instrument.
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Music Workshop $36 per class 6
Marshall MF3.2-NA Bar Fridge
Marshall amps have been iconic in the rock world for decades, so this is a fun way of them playing with their image. Rather than pushing decibels, this mini-fridge gives the music lover in your life a place to store their bevvies. While the front is identical to a real half-stack, inside they’ll find all the features they want in a good fridge, such as adjustable glass shelves, spill protectors, and temperature control. The 4.4 model even comes with a small freezer compartment! Music World $379.99 7
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Into the Wonder CD
Let that person on your Christmas list bring the wonder home! A testament to the creativity and adventurousness of our own TBSO and young Canadian composer Jordan Pal, Into the Wonder is a Juno-nominated recording of a very special collaborative performance. Pal’s piece was commissioned by the TBSO board in 2012, and gradually developed until its official release in 2018. Overseen by former music director Arthur Post, this recording puts you front and centre for a one-of-a-kind classical performance. Contact the TBSO office for details.
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Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra $20
Okay, okay, so if that special someone was going to haunt train yards and ride the rails like a Tom Waits’ song, wouldn’t you want them to have the best harmonica out there to accompany them? This is the classic sound they’ll be familiar with, the one you know from both Delta blues and Bob Dylan. Available in distinct keys, Marine Band harmonicas are constructed out of stainless steel, brass, and lacquered pear wood to be attractive and durable.
It was admittedly a sad day to see our brick and mortar vinyl shops close up. However, there’s another place you can crate dig with a coffee in hand, and that’s at the vintage boutique stall at the Thunder Bay Country Market. Scour the stash of vintage vinyl and maybe even find something periodappropriate among the selection of vintage and up-cycled clothing.
Backstage
Jewels of Crown
$59.99
$Various
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Outdoors Enthusiast out·doors en·thu·si·ast a person who lives for outdoor sports and activities and appreciates true wilderness By Michelle McChristie 1 Explore Card Parking Pass
If you know someone who loves walking their pooch at the Cascades, paddling at Mission Island Marsh, or taking pictures at Cedar Falls, this pass will give them unlimited access to the LRCA’s conservation areas throughout 2020. Plus, proceeds support conservation area upkeep and maintenance—that’s what we call mutually beneficial!
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Lakehead Region Conservation Authority $30
Faber S.Line Snowshoe Ski 2
Our neck of the woods has a lot of backcountry waiting to be explored and Faber’s S.Line Snowshoe Skis are an ideal way to get out there. A fusion of a snowshoe and ski, the S.Line’s uber-cool design provides traction for climbing hills but slides over flats and downhills. We suggest you buy two pairs—one to give away and one to keep for yourself.
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Gear Up For Outdoors $262.99 2
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Olympus Tough TG-6
The Tough TG-6 is ready for adventure and fast-action and takes razor-sharp images and videos in any environment. It is packed with pro features, like multiple underwater modes and four modes for close-ups, including microscope. This camera has earned its reputation as the industry's premier, tough-as-nails compact. Imagetech $579.99
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Leatherman Micra
We all know that good things come in small packages, but good is even better when it’s actually useful! The Leatherman Micra keychain is only 6.5 cm long when closed and packs a knife, spring-action scissors, tweezers, three different screwdrivers, a bottle opener (for those crafty beers), and more. KBM Outdoors
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Smartphone Dry Bag
Topeak’s Smartphone Dry Bags keep your outdoor enthusiast’s smartphone handy for communication or navigation during bike rides, paddles or hikes. The foam body offers protection from bumps, the clear touch window enables use of the screen, and the camera window makes photos a snap. Fresh Air $39.99–49.99 6 Nature’s Giant Inspiration
You know you’re from Thunder Bay if... you never get tired of looking at the Sleeping Giant. James Brown’s 16-month calendar features 13 of his breathtaking photos of Nanabijou and is an ideal gift, especially for relatives you want to lure back to the city. jamesbrownphotography.ca or Indigo $19.99 7
Expedition Cooler
The Truck Gear by LINE-X Expedition Cooler is made from thick, heavyduty plastic that provides impressive insulation. The coolers come in four sizes (20, 45, 75 and 110 quart) and can withstand serious abuse, making them ideal for outdoor adventures. We especially like the easy-to-carry handles, removable shelf, and chopping board. LINE-X of Thunder Bay $169 (20 quart) 8 Patagonia Better Sweater
This cosy and smart-looking sweater is the perfect mid-layer for chilly days, or outer layer for milder weather. Fashion meets function with the unique sweater-knit on the outside and soft fleece on the inside and, true to Patagonia’s commitment to sustainability, it’s made from recycled polyester and is Fair Trade Certified™ sewn. Available in men’s and women’s styles. Fresh Air $125
$39.99
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Tree Hugger
tree-hugg-er a person who is environmentally conscious By Bonnie Schiedel 1
Straw Travel Kit
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Muurla Nordic Bag
Milkshakes and slushies just aren’t the same without a straw, but let’s not make it a plastic one. Instead, tuck this petite, collapsible, reusable metal straw set into a stocking. The compact and sleek holder also includes a straw cleaner and a clip to keep it secured to your bag or keychain.
These chic and beautiful bags look and feel like felt, but are actually made from recycled PET plastic bottles. This 30-litre size with sturdy handles is great for corralling toys, dressing up a house plant, holding firewood or filling with eco-friendly goodies.
Kitchen Nook
$59.95
$16 2
4Ocean Bracelet
Not only is this bracelet sustainably made from recycled bottles (glass for the beads, plastic for the cord) by artisans in Bali, every purchase funds the removal of one pound of trash from the planet’s oceans and coastlines. The cords come in lots of different colours, from “Shark” to “Sea Bird” to “Earth Day.” Tontu Café-Boutique $25
Finnport 6 Sustainable Home Gift Pack
2020 is the year to kick the singleuse-plastic habit, and this allCanadian gift pack does it in style. It contains one small and one large reusable fabric snack bag, one medium and one large reusable produce bag, and a total of seven beeswax wraps in varying sizes to replace plastic wrap and bags.
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Three Huggers
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3 Shampoo and Conditioner Bar Tray Set
These super-popular and practical natural shampoo and conditioner bars have replaced more than 13,000 bottles that would otherwise hit the local landfills or recycling stream. And now you can combine them with a hand-crafted pottery draining tray from p0ts2g0 so the bars don’t get mushy in the shower. Genius. Lovely Body $47 4
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7 Lollygagger Outdoor Lounge Chair
Seriously solid, this modern madein-Duluth outdoor furniture by Loll Designs is made from recycled plastic (312 reclaimed milk jugs, to be exact) and comes in a variety of colours and configurations, including tall, rocker, and kid-sized. To further up the lounging vibe, there’s an integrated bottle opener tucked under the right arm. Cheers.
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Portobello Home $770
Pela Phone Case
For the person on your list who just looooves their phone, we present a greener way to protect it with a Canadian-made plant-based “bioplastic” biodegradable phone case, which can just be tossed in the composter (or returned to the company for recycling) when the next upgrade rolls around. Sunrise Records and pelacase.com $44.99
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8 Citizen Eco-Drive Watch
This good-looking classic is actually powered by light, using technology the company has employed for more than 40 years. No more batteries—the watch can generate the power it needs with any light source, and stores it in a rechargeable lithium ion power cell. Exquisite Gold & Gems $275
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Pet Lover
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pet lov-er a person whose pet is their BFF By Kat Lyzun 1
UST Tick Wrangler
Help friends and family protect their furry companions from nasty ticks next summer. The UST Tick Wrangler safely removes all sizes and types of ticks and fits neatly into a first aid kit or attaches to a backpack or beltloop. Added bonus: eliminates the need for you to actually touch the creepy things.
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Gear Up For Outdoors $7.99 2
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SGBC Dog Toys
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Pet House Candles
Sleeping Giant Brewery
$35
Spiral Cat Ring
This adorable kitten ring is purr-fect for stylish cat lovers. Made of sterling silver, the band is adjustable, which means you can switch up the look from curled tight to wrapped around your finger. Proceeds from the sale of these chic little felines support Kitty Kare’s rescue efforts in Thunder Bay. Available at Meadows Animal Clinic and through kittykare2010.org. Kitty Kare Feline Rescue $20 4
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Hygge Loft
We love our pets, but sometimes their (ahem) aroma leaves much to be desired. These natural soy candles are chemical-free and safe to use around pungent pals, and come in clean-smelling scents like Lavender Green Tea and Vanilla Sandalwood. Also available in minicandles and melts that make great stocking stuffers.
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Welcome Mat
Toss Buster a cold one (a soft, squishy version) with Sleeping Giant Brewing Co.’s beer can-shaped chew toys. Made from 100% postconsumer recycled products with an eco-fill recycled filling and featuring designs inspired by the natural landmarks around Thunder Bay, these brewskies are good for pooches and the planet. Available at the brewery and their pop-up shop at Intercity Shopping Centre. $12.99
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“Come on in! I hope you like dogs/ cats…” Who hasn’t said that, right? So why not lay it out there for folks that once they pass through the door they should expect an exuberant pup or an overly affectionate cat, neither much concerned about personal space. These cool minimalist mats are a perfect gift for homeowners, especially during muddy-paw season.
Dog Collars
For the stylin’ canine, Fablewood Homestead makes eco-friendly collars in a variety of prints and patterns. These collars are made with woven nylon for strength and covered in cotton for comfort, with reinforced stitching to make them doggy durable. Find them on Facebook to order a ready-made piece or request a custom size. Fablewood Homestead
Thunder Pet
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Ungalli Unisex Hoodie
Feel good about giving the gift of comfy, cosy style with a “Tell Your Dog I Said Hi” hoodie from Ungalli Clothing. The sweaters are ethically made in Canada with Ungalli’s new, innovative organic stretch fleece and come in sizes from XS to XXL. Perfect for your canine-loving BFF. Ungalli Clothing Co. $85
Ruffwear Omnijoring System 8
For the outdoors person on your list looking for winter activities to do with their dog, the Omnijore Joring System lets a dog and his human to work as a team, with the dog pulling and the human skiing or biking. The complete system includes a dog harness, human hipbelt, and towline, and comes in a few different pooch sizes. Chaltrek $228
$25
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CoverStory
Curator
6
cu-ra-tor a person with an affinity for art and other unique gifts By Betty Carpick 1 Dawson City Gold Miner Soap
Even the curmudgeon on your list will love 100% natural and smallbatch Anto Yukon coal soap with a shimmering gold mica seam. Each 4 oz bar is scented with notes of cedar, cinnamon, and clove using all natural ingredients, colourants, and essential oils. The exquisite wrappers feature paintings created by exYukoner Meghan Hildebrand, and are recyclable. Hygge Loft $10 2
Lake Superior Map
A third edition map of Lake Superior printed on quality textured paper is a must-have for the cartophiles and explorers on your list. Water depths are illustrated in varying shades of blue and major roadways, towns, landmarks, parks, and some shipwrecks are included. Each 24” x 36” map comes rolled in a tube, suitable for framing. Chaltrek $20 3 Beam Paints O’Keefe and Martin Palettes
Delight your favourite artist with a beautiful set of watercolour paint stones handmade with lightfast pigments, tree sap, gum arabic, and wildflower honey on Manitoulin Island by Anong Migwans Beam. Choose between the minimalist palettes of Agnes Martin or the desert hues of Georgia O’Keefe in convenient and durable plastic-free packaging. Thunder Bay Art Gallery Gift Shop $45 4
CXBO Chocolates
The Iceberg Collection inspired by Lawren Harris’s 1930 oil painting “Icebergs, Davis Strait” captures the iconic north in artisanal, individually hand-painted filled chocolate truffles. Each of the 12 beautiful and delicious bites are an extraordinary experience of peppermint, spruce, mint, crème fraiche, milk chocolate, or dark chocolate. Made in Toronto. The Cheese Encounter $35
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5
Springtime
1
Giving art is a lovely personal gift for someone you care about. Lake of the Woods abstract expressionist Pippi Johnson’s vibrant interplay of light and colour evokes the magical nuances of the spring forest when the world is alive with the promise of new beginnings. 28” x 14” mixed media and epoxy on panel.
7
Chenier Fine Arts $525 5
Replica Silver Islet Store Ornament 6
Handmade by Wendy Aaltomaa of Wild Bramble Berries in Kaministiquia, this adorable miniature is made of repurposed found natural materials. The iconic Silver Islet store is just one of the selection of detailed historic and whimsical Northwestern Ontario locations that makes a memorable addition to a boreal forest holiday tree. Fireweed Crafts $35 7
Sketch Book & Pens
2
Fresh art materials are so satisfying! For almost anyone of any ability, a MontMarte 8” x 11” hardbound sketchbook for dry media projects and a set of 10 Staedtler coloured fineliner water-based ink pens are a welcoming tabula rasa. When inspiration strikes, this portable sketching set is perfect for ideas and artwork.
3
The Painted Turtle Art Shop $32.45 8
Pendleton Kids Blanket
Who wouldn’t love to own a beautiful heirloom-quality wool blanket? Louise and Randy Thomas offer an array of brilliantly coloured Pendleton-designed 32” x 44” wool blankets. Ahnisnabae Art Gallery $195 8 4
CoverStory
The Entertainer
en-ter-tain-er a person who is always ready, willing, and able to throw together a soirée By Adrian Lysenko
6
1 Northern Logger Tap Handle
8
5
Do you know someone who likes Sleeping Giant Brewing Co.’s Northern Logger beer? So much so that they dress up as the red and blue lumberjack every Halloween? Then get them the Northern Logger Tap Handle. Also available are taps featuring the labels of other popular beers from the brewery. Sleeping Giant Brewing Co. $89.99
1
2
Board Games
That board game fanatic on your Christmas list might be familiar with Risk, Monopoly, and even Settlers of Catan, but have they played any of those created by Thunder Bay’s Conor McGoey of InsideUp Games? Hours of fun await them with Summit (and the Yeti expansion pack), Gorus Maximus, and Vault Assault. InsideUp Games $149.99 3 7
3
Carpool Karaoke The Mic
This gift is perfect for the James Corden fan who has to drive the family to southern Ontario for that dreaded Boxing Day dinner with the in-laws. Let them turn a mundane road trip into a blast, as the mic syncs with smartphones, music apps, and car’s speaker systems. The high-fidelity dynamic mic also has its own volume and echo control. Toy Sense $69.99 4 Microplane 7-in-1 Ultimate Bar Tool
2
With this compact tool, the mixologist in your life will put Sam Malone to shame. It has seven functions and specific tools for slicing, cutting, muddling, peeling, as well as stirring, and it’ll also create garnishing twists and peels from citrus fruit. That special someone will be the most popular guest at the ugly sweater Christmas party.
5
Beer Cooler Oluttynnyri
We all know that sauna owner who loves to have a hot sauna—so much so that their oat soda is piping when it’s time to jump in the snow. Made in Finland out of Hukka soapstone, the Beer Cooler Oluttynnyri just needs to go in the freezer two hours before sauna time to keep their bevvies nice and cool. Finnport $29.95 6
The Stir It Up Turntable
Ideal for the person on your holiday list who has inherited milk crates of vinyl, this Stir It Up turntable from the House of Marley will let them listen to tunes in style. With natural bamboo details, a USB jack in the back, and a built-in preamp, this turntable is a must-have for hosting a punky reggae party. The Power Centre $199 7
Pint Glass
What’s not to like about Dawson Trail’s beer? It’s made with local grain and fresh hops—not to mention love and care. So why not let that beer aficionado on your nice list take a piece of the brewery’s taproom home with them? Dawson Trail Craft Brewery $6 8
Boundary Waters Red
Every great host knows that having a bottle of good red wine is key to making sure the night goes off without a hitch. North Shore Winery’s Boundary Waters Red is a blend created using Barbera, a red Italian wine grape, giving it a mature and delicious flavour—so good that they might just stash it away for themselves. North Shore Winery $16 (USD)
Kitchen Nook $25
4
The Walleye
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Food
ME’s Rum Balls makes about three dozen
8 oz crushed Mr. Christie ‘Nilla Wafers (about 2¼ c crumbs) ¼ c chopped maraschino cherries ¼ c corn syrup 1 c sifted icing sugar ¼ c rum (or other liqueur) 1 c chopped walnuts or pecans
I like to use a food processor to crush the wafers, and then add in everything else, and pulse to mix. You can also crush the wafers in a zipper bag with a rolling pin and mix everything in a large bowl.
2 Tbsp sifted cocoa 2 Tbsp seedless jam or jelly (raspberry or apricot is nice)
19/20
Refrigerate mixture for at least two hours to set. Shape into balls, and roll in sifted cocoa, icing sugar, more crushed ‘Nilla wafers, or chocolate sprinkles. Store in an airtight container or freeze them if you can’t keep your hands off them! An excellent addition to a holiday goodie tray.
Not Schweddy Balls By Chef Rachel Globensky
O
ooh, rum balls! Made with the real booze, they pack a bit of a punch—especially if you’re not expecting a mouthful of Captain Morgan! Our long-time family friend, MaryEllen, (ME for short) makes the very best rum balls I’ve ever tasted. She doesn’t shy away from the boozy insides or the nostalgic chocolate sprinkles outside, and we thank her for that! If you’re not into using actual rum, you can still make these darn delicious! Use a splash of rum extract (or other flavouring) and adjust the amount of corn syrup or jelly a bit to ensure proper batter stickiness. Or, if you want boozy, but you and rum haven’t seen eye to eye since your college days, try one
18 The Walleye
of the myriad of flavoured vodkas or yummy liqueurs that tickle your fancy. Certified sommelier Jeannie Dubois loves maple in everything, so she suggests Sortilège to add a Canadian twist to your rum balls. If you’re missing the beach, she also suggests using Malibu rum, to impart some tropical (coco-)notes. I like using a dark rum, as the blackstrap molasses flavour mixes well with chocolate. Anything mixes well with chocolate, but especially rum. These get better, the longer they sit—and, they freeze well! If you’re using icing sugar or cocoa to roll the rum balls in, you may have to reroll after they thaw, if they’re a bit wilted-looking.
"Every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings.”
December 5-21, 2019
tickets: magnustheatre.com | (807) 345-5552
If you choose not to find joy in the snow, you will have less joy in your life but the same amount of snow!
W e can hel p you
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in the snow! Give the gift of snow this winter!
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DRINK OF THE MONTH
Food
G&Tea
Red Lion Smokehouse Story by Rebekah Skochinski, Photo by Adrian Lysenko Cosy season has arrived and we are here for it. You know who else is? Red Lion Smokehouse. Not only have they decked their halls, but they’ve gone back to their British roots with a shareable cocktail that will bring good tidings of comfort and joy. Red Lion’s G&Tea features a full tea service (complete with silver tray!) that is ideal for enjoying for gatherings of two to four. The drink itself consists of Broker’s Premium London Dry Gin, St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur, and house-made Earl Grey tea syrup, topped up with tonic water and served over ice. But not just any ice. Dry ice is used to create a cascade of wintry white fog before you get to sipping. It’s all so fancy and fun. It’s garnished with a lemon wedge, cranberries, and a sprig of rosemary, and each person gets a tiny mistletoe in their tea cup. ‘Tis the season. You know what to do.
Red Lion Smokehouse 16 South Cumberland Street 286-0045
GIFT CERTIFICATES
(807) 475-7081
TBNordicTrails.com SleepingGiantLoppet.ca
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Food
Bustling Entrepreneur Offers Homemade Baked Donuts By Sue Pretty
Donut Run
20 The Walleye
H
ow far would you run for a donut? Meet Ashley Lange, trail runner and creative mastermind of all things donut. A graduate of the culinary management program at Confederation College, Lange hit her stride while mulling over the perfect donut business on her runs. Intent on baking the most delicious plant-based donuts possible, she brought her wares to sell on a race kit pick- up day a few months ago—and watched the sprinkles hit the fan. Selling 130 donuts in an hour and a half, she knew that Donut Run was ready to launch. Back in her home kitchen, Lange seems a natural as she frosts donuts, pipes icing, and sugars cranberries for us to try. Donut Run’s typical flavors are vanilla sprinkle, cinnamon sugar, double chocolate, banana bread, and
“Homer Simpsons,” and run from $2.50–$3 apiece. Seasonal flavours are where it’s at now, with the likes of salted caramel mocha, salted caramel chocolate, cranberry bliss, eggnog, and chocolate peppermint at the ready for your festive fare. Dainty trays can be made for your holiday event, and catering and gift cards are available. What’s next for this bustling entrepreneur? Lange is envisioning bringing her donuts on the road to local events next year—stay tuned for further developments on these mobile treats. And the best takeaway, other than a lovely box of donuts, is Lange saying “As we run, we become.” What a sweet example of making dreams come true! Place an order: Donut Run on Facebook, @donutruntbay on Instagram, or call 627-6774.
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22 The Walleye
Food
Brew It Yourself
Homebrewing for the Holidays
Waffles
Winter Seasonal Beer
Spiced Maple Belgian Dubbel
By Josh Armstrong, PhD, BJCP Certified Beer Judge
H
omebrewing is great for the yuletide season. It allows you to enjoy the results of your hobby at the end of the year get-together with your friends and family. You can also have a tonne of fun developing your own recipes to match the tastes of the holiday season. Within the Beer Judge Certification Program beer style guidelines, there is a style called Winter Seasonal Beer (BJCP Style 30C). The style allows a lot of flexibility in terms of flavour profile, but, in essence, these beers should “suggest cold weather and the Christmas holiday season, and may include holiday spices, specialty sugars, and other products that are reminiscent of mulling spices or Christmas holiday desserts.” (BJCP 2015 Style Guidelines) Winter Seasonal beer is a specialty-type beer. Specialty-type beers are judged somewhat differently from the classic styles in BJCP-sanctioned competitions. Specialty-type beer entrants often must specify a base beer style and also inform the judges what specialty ingredients are included in the brew. Good base styles for Winter Seasonal beer include brown ales, stouts, porters, Wee Heavys, or even Belgian Dubbels. Really any beer style that is dark, malty, and stronger in alcohol, so that it has a warming finish and
provides a good base to stand up to whatever specialty ingredients are used. The classic Christmas spices often used in these beers include cinnamon, clove, ginger, and nutmeg. However, the list doesn’t have to end there with the “mulling” spices. Specialty ingredients can also include vanilla, cardamom, citrus zest, fruit preserves, star anise, or dark dried fruits. You could even explore the world of adding different sugars and syrups like brown sugar, maple syrup, or an amber Belgian candi syrup (the latter is available at most online homebrew shops). When buying spices or specialty ingredients, I prefer to err on the side of caution and purchase high-quality ingredients. While standard grocery store spices will certainly do, high-quality whole spices can bring the flavour to another level (this is also true for cooking). Look to check out the local bulk stores or order your ingredients online (spicetrekkers.com has been great for my kitchen). Spices are typically added to a brew near the end of the boil. This allows the spices to be sanitized by the boiling liquid killing off any potential beer spoilage bacteria or yeast. Alternatively, you can make a tincture by soaking spices in a
spirit (e.g., vodka, rum, etc.) The amount and how you add your spices or special ingredients will vary depending on what you are using. I always do some research and check a variety of resources when building my own spiced-beer recipes (e.g., Mastering Homebrew by Randy Mosher, award-winning recipes at the American Homebrewing Association website). Furthermore, always be cautious with the amount of spice you use; overall balance is the key to a good specialty-type beer. The brew should combine the base style and the special ingredients to be in harmony, with neither overpowering the other. For this holiday season, I developed a recipe called “Waffles.” Using Belgian Dubbel as the base style (BJCP Style 26B), the recipe calls for the addition of cinnamon, cardamom, and maple syrup. Check out the recipe in the box. Hoppy holidays!
(19L, all-grain) OG = 1.063 FG = 1.007 IBU = 20 SRM = ~15 ABV = 7.3% Water 30L of Lake Superior tap water Malt Bill 4.5 kg Pilsen malt (81%) 0.5 kg Crystal 60L (9%) 0.5 kg Dark maple syrup (9.1%) 0.1 kg Special B (2%) Hops 28 g Tettnang tettnanger hops (4% alpha acid) @ 60 minutes 28 g Tettnang tettnanger hops (4% alpha acid) @ 20 minutes Yeast White Labs monastery ale yeast (WLP500) Three C-spices 3 g Green cardamom pods with 5 minutes left in boil 3 g Cinnamon sticks with 5 minutes left in boil 0.5 kg Grade B maple syrup shortly after primary fermentation is complete Instructions Mash for 75 minutes at 64.4°C. Boil for 60 minutes, add hops and spices as indicated. After completing the boil, cool wort to 20°C and pitch yeast. Ferment for two weeks at 18°C-20°C, adding maple syrup after high krausen.
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Christmas BRUNCH BUFFET
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24 The Walleye
Food By Jeannie Dubois, Certified Pommelier and Sommelier
C
hristmas is around the corner in our chilly neck of the woods, and while it’s always gracious to gift a bottle, isn’t it a delight to offer a bite to enjoy along with it? For all your holiday occasions and affairs there are lovely local offerings to pair up with flavourful Ontario bevvies, as a hosting gift or to set out yourself.
Perfectly Paired Presents
Think:
Brunch
Charcuterie
Aperitif
Digestif
Dessert
Dawson Trail Craft Brewery Oater Limits Oatmeal Stout
Muskoka Lakes Cranberry Wine 2018 – Ontario
$
$
Burnt Ship Bay Estate Sauvignon Blanc – VQA Ontario
Willibald Farm Distillery Gin – Wine Cask Finish – Ontario
Pelee Island Mousseux de Pomme Sparkling Apple Wine – Ontario
for a 64 oz. growler – available at the Brewery
for 750ml – LCBO No. 609701
$
$
$
Roots to Harvest Growing Up Granola – $10 for 457 g – available at the Thunder Bay Country Market.
Cornell Farms Sliced Beef Summer Sausage with Cranberries – $6 for 22 kg – available at the Thunder Bay Country Market
for 750ml – LCBO No. 517185
for 750ml – LCBO No. 10429
for 750ml – LCBO No. 556324
Eat the Fish Smoked Lake Trout – $ by weight – available at the Thunder Bay Country Market
Slate River Dairy Herbed Cheese – $8 for 375 g – available at the Thunder Bay Country Market
A Taste of France Parisian Macarons – $2.25 for 1, $13.00 for 6, $25.0 for 12, $49.00 for 24 – available at the Thunder Bay Country Market
13.50
I’ve been fortunate enough to have had fun preparing and roasting this gorgeous crunchy granola with the gang and each bag is packed full of goodness, including coconut, pepitas, oatmeal, nuts, and sweet honey.
16.95
These fifth-generation cattle farmers raise their stock thoughtfully as grain-fed and antibiotic-free—plus they add indulgent maple syrup to their summer sausage to balance the delicious spice and smoke.
15.95
Freshly sourced fish directly from Lake Superior—the smoked varieties make the best gifts as they have a longer shelf life and require no prep to pair up quickly with crème fraîche, herbs, and crackers.
39.95
This inspiring local dairy has been producing milk products for over four years and have expanded to cheese production— this variety is particularly delicious with marjoram, thyme, rosemary, savory, sage, oregano, and basil.
14.95
In flavours such as apricot, black currant, chocolate mint, hazelnut, lemon, mango, maple bacon, mojito, pistachio, raspberry passion fruit, salted caramel, and strawberry cheesecake.
The Walleye
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Food
Try Something New Royal Aleppo Foods By Amy Sellors
“T
o understand our city is to understand the diverse food that’s in our city,” says Airin Stephens from Roots to Harvest. As the population of Thunder Bay becomes more diverse, so too does the food scene. Food tells a story. And this delicious story is one you want to explore. Duha Shaar and her family came to Thunder Bay from Aleppo, Syria two years ago. They took part in Roots to Harvest’s Culture Kitchen— an eight-week program that builds confidence, literacy skills, economic stability, and helps newcomers connect to their new home. Upon completion, participants have their Safe Food Handling and First Aid certificates. Next, participants move into the Dinner Dash service, a food subscription program where they are paid through an Ontario Trillium seed grant. Shaar was a participant, and her daughter Aya Wadi is the interpreter for the group. This journey led to the birth of Royal Aleppo Food. “We call it Royal Aleppo in
26 The Walleye
honour of my city, my home, the city I grew up in,” says Wadi. Aleppo is a city steeped in history, and now, unfortunately, steeped in turmoil. If the kitchen is the heart of the home, then Duha Shaar is the heart of the operation. Armed with recipes passed down from her own mother, Shaar has spent over 25 years perfecting her dishes. Shaar cooks with love—you can see it in her eyes. She wants to share her culture and her heart with Thunder Bay. Her food is bursting with happiness, gratitude, and love. Aya Wadi focuses on marketing, sales, and accounting, and Khaled Wadi, Duha’s husband, helps in lots of ways so that Shaar can make culinary magic in the Roots to Harvest Kitchen. A new menu can be a puzzle, and recommendations help to make it easier. Shaar and Wadi shared a few of their favourite dishes: yalanji, grape leaves stuffed with rice and vegetables, which are a little sour and a little sweet and will wake up your taste buds; kabseh, a spiced
rice dish with roasted chicken, vegetables, and nuts; as well as fatayer, a hand pie filled with spinach or cheese. “The best food, for me,” says Wadi, “is the kibbeh or the kabseh… it’s so good,” she whispers, smiling from ear to ear. Try Royal Aleppo’s delicious food by signing up for their Three Mondays program—a subscription service where you pre-pay and pick up a full meal for your family every Monday for three consecutive weeks—or explore the menu by having Royal Aleppo cater a party/meeting/event. Royal Aleppo is happy to
accommodate any dietary restrictions. “For each special occasion we are trying to make something special,” says Wadi. Christmas is coming and Royal Aleppo will be starting a Christmas Baking Box. Filled with pistachios, almonds, dates, chocolate, and spices, these cookies and treats will delight your family this Christmas. Now that your mouth is watering, check out the menu for Royal Aleppo Foods. Find them on Facebook, Instagram, email (royalaleppofood@ gmail.com), or call 355-5338.
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The Walleye
27
Food
Good Life Foods Co. Healthy Fare with Multicultural Flair By Deanne Gagnon
W
hen it comes to healthier meal options in Thunder Bay, the list just got bigger, and more flavourful. The city’s newest “fast food” restaurant—more accurately described as “quick and healthy food with a twist”—is Good Life Foods Co., the brainchild of Daljit and Rakhi Ahluwalia, who moved to Thunder Bay from India. Coming from India and having
spent time in Mexico, the couple was inspired to combine flavours from around the world in a more healthy way. They are both vegetarians and found there were not a lot of vegetarian options in the city. Wanting to change this while adding a multicultural element, they decided to open up their own restaurant to share their knowledge and love of world cuisine. “Our food is influenced by the
world,” says Rakhi. “The cultures, the people, the cuisines. The zeitgeist, the sights, the smells. The streets, the surroundings, the markets. Hearty greetings, sad goodbyes, happy reunions, fortuitous meetings. One of the things that inspired us to create food with flavours from around the world, is to bring together people of different cultures. We love learning about the history and culture of people who come from such diverse backgrounds and especially learning about their food! Latin flavours. Middle Eastern sauces. Indian spices. We love them all. “ Good Life Foods Co. is not only a vegetarian restaurant—there is a wide selection of vegan, vegetarian,
and meat-based protein options. There is something to appeal to all tastes, like the satisfying and nourishing Hungry Buddha bowl made with quinoa or brown rice, tofu, spinach, red onion, pumpkin seeds, carrots, and zesty tahini dressing. The menu includes a variety of items including tacos, salads, burritos, wraps and more. With the reasonable price point and central location, Good Life Food Co. is sure to become a main stop on your lunch or dinner circuit. Good Life Foods Co. is located at 701 Memorial Avenue. For more info, visit facebook.com/ GoodLifeFoodsCo.
The modern A holiday classic.
underdrinker.ca 28 The Walleye
Drift Day/Medi Spa 109 Regina Ave (807) 768-5000
Ozone Tanning Parlour
701 Memorial Ave (807) 345-5500 540 W Arthur St (807) 473-5550
DAY SPA • TANNING • FASHION • EATERY Street Legal
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Bistro One
555 Dunlop St (807) 622-2478
The Walleye
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Food
Swell Bakery Downtown’s Newest Offer Sure to Make Waves Story by Nancy Saunders, Photo by Dan Varnus
Emily Kohne
O
pening this month, Swell Bakery brings together owner/baker Emily Kohne’s passions of baking and nutrition, with its name coming from Kohne’s love of surfing. A baker since childhood, Kohne had a local wedding cake business through high school. More recent influences come from having lived in France, where she explored, surfed, and learned French pastry techniques after a European music tour. She completed studies in holistic nutrition in Australia, where she surfed some more. Most recently, an influential role model in British Columbia taught her to make sourdough, and the western province’s natural environment is what inspired importing a stunning slab table made of bigleaf maple. It’s around this table that Kohne hopes people will come to talk to each other and be comfortable. There are no electrical outlets nearby—a deliberate choice by Kohne to encourage face-to-face connection. “I want it to be a place where you
30 The Walleye
can bring your grandmother and sit down and have a nice little pastry, and chat and catch up, and feel good about it and not like you’re disturbing people from doing their work or whatever it might be.” Kohne has completely transformed the former New Day Records store at 15A St. Paul Street, next door to St Paul Roastery, where she worked as a barista and manager. Kohne was humbled by the welcoming atmosphere and the support and knowledge of neighbouring businesses, saying she received a great deal of valuable information from other entrepreneurs. Using previously acquired skills and teaching herself as she went, Kohne did the drywalling, tiling, and epoxying (a skill she learned making surfboards in Australia), built the cabinetry and benches, and painted and decorated to create a bright and airy space that is comfortable and inviting. Swell Bakery will be open weekdays from 7 am until items sell out, and will offer fresh croissants, traditional French pastries, sourdough
epi baguettes—or pain d’épi—filled with delicious things like Brie and apple jelly. She will offer vegan and gluten-free options, and feature locally sourced ingredients whenever possible. Kohne plans to have different specials throughout the week, with options to order in advance and to stock up for the weekend. Kohne speaks excitedly of providing “quick, nutritious and tasty breakfast items” to the people
working, living, and exploring downtown. “I loved that in other cities where I lived. There were easy-tograb breakfast items, and I’d grab something and go surfing. It would be nice to experience the conveniences I’ve had in bigger cities, to make them more accessible somewhere like Thunder Bay.” For more information, visit Swell Bakery on Facebook and Instagram.
Sponsored Content
Baked Goat Cheese and Blueberry Dip with Pecans and Rosemary A quick and easy dip, perfect for your holiday parties! Ingredients: 2 bricks of cream cheese, room temperature 1 250 g pack of plain goat cheese, room temperature ½ onion, finely minced 2 cloves garlic, finely minced Leaves of 2 rosemary sprigs, finely chopped 1½ c frozen blueberries ¾ c pecans, roughly chopped 2 Tbsp honey 4 Tbsp Heartbeat Blueberry Habanero
Directions: In a small sauté pan, sweat onions and garlic with a pinch of salt and pepper until slightly caramelized. Add rosemary and frozen blueberries, and cook until softened and liquid from blueberries has thickened to a syrup consistency. Set mixture aside. In a mixing bowl, combine softened cream cheese and goat cheese with Heartbeat Blueberry Habanero, honey, and a generous amount of cracked black pepper and salt, to taste. Mash with a fork. Once combined, add blueberry/ onion mixture and half the
chopped pecans, and fold into the cheese. Spoon mixture into an oven-safe dish (shallow is best) and top with remaining pecans. Bake at 400°F for 30 minutes or until mixture is bubbling and pecans are toasted. Tips: • This is a great recipe to use your stand mixer if you have one! • Add more hot sauce to increase the heat. • The recipe is in partysized, but can be cut in half for family-sized.
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FilmTheatre
It’s a Wonderful Life Magnus Theatre Presents Christmas Classic Story by Savanah Tillberg, Photo by Scott Hobbs (L-R) Douglas E. Hughes, Melissa MacKenzie, Neil Paterson, Kate Madden, and Kevin Hare
P
repare to be taken back in time to the 1940s at Magnus Theatre’s production of It’s a Wonderful Life. This adaptation of the Christmas classic takes place in a broadcasting station, where the characters are producing a radio play version of It’s a Wonderful Life. Magnus Theatre’s artistic director, Thom Currie, says, “What is really cool about this version is that there are only five actors, so, everyone has to do everything from the voice acting to the Foley artist work. What is amazing about this production, for me, is that it takes a step back into history. So that’s what we’re creating with this production: a very retro experience.” While the audience is watching the production of the radio play, they will be simultaneously listening to a complete retelling of the tale. “Radio plays are a great way to perform iconic classics like this because it allows us to recreate the movie-watching experience without making any changes to the audience’s expectations for the story, because they’ll be able to see the film in their mind’s
eye,” explains Currie. The story of It’s a Wonderful Life follows George Bailey, a man whose deep feeling of hopelessness leaves him wishing that he’d never been born. His guardian angel, Clarence, shows him what that world would look like. “I think that it’s important for people to see and acknowledge—particularly around the holidays because for some this can be a depressing time—that they do have an effect on other people, and that every action has a reaction and everything they we do in our lives affects someone or something else.” Currie adds, “Overall, I’d like for people to come out of the play with a good feeling of self.” Opening night for the production of It’s a Wonderful Life is December 6. A gala party will follow this initial performance, where audience members can enjoy refreshments and musical entertainment as well as meet the cast. The show will run until December 21 and tickets are available at the Magnus Theatre box office and at magnustheatre.com.
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FilmTheatre
Shrek The Musical Jr.
All the Daze Productions Brings Story to Auditorium Stage By Kris Ketonen
F
reak flags will be flying high on the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium stage this month as All the DazeProductions brings the tale of Shrek to life. Shrek The Musical Jr. is the theatre troupe’s next big production, and will mark the second time they’ve performed at the Auditorium, says director Marcia Arpin. “For the sake of this production, there will be 45 (performers) on stage, most of them being teeangers, age 17 and 18,” Arpin says. “A lot returning from previous years, working with All the Daze Productions, including last year’s
(L-R) Will Lockyer (Donkey) and Gabe Marchuk (Shrek) rehearsing ensemble for Les Miserables. This is how we chose to come back—going from the…serious and classic, to the contemporary and really quite silly—so audiences will get to see those who performed last year in a very different way.” The story of Shrek The Musical Jr. sticks close to that of the Academy Award-winning 2001 film Shrek (itself an adaptation of William Steig’s 1990 book); so, yes, all the memorable characters appear, including Donkey, Princess Fiona, and Lord Farquaad, Arpin says. “The reason it’s considered a junior musical is because it’s an
hour and a half,” Arpin says. “A full musical, typically, will be over two hours, so the junior selection really allows for it to be family-friendly, and for children really to participate as audience members without getting too tired.” As for the selection of Shrek itself as All the Daze Production’s next performance, Arpin says it was about letting the performers spread their wings a bit. “For me, there’s something wonderful about putting an 18-year-old in something totally farcical, as opposed to taking themselves too seriously,” she says. “It is a fairy tale, but
with just enough sarcasm in it that adults will love it too.” “It’s not dripping in the classic Disney princess story, but rather she’s got a little feistiness and she’s got a little attitude,” Arpin adds. “And it is a title that everybody recognizes, and is endearing.” Shrek The Musical Jr. will run at 7 pm on December 6 at the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium. For tickets, contact the Auditorium box office, and for more information about All the Daze Productions, visit allthedaze.ca.
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FilmTheatre The Second Most Pleasurable Thing We Do In the Dark. A Column About Movies
Holiday Movies With Gifts
By Michael Sobota
So, what are we doing for New Year’s? - Mannie (Nathan Bexton), giving the closing line in Go
H
oliday movies always have gifts in them. Some gifts are locally made in the environment of the movie. Some gifts are high-end or luxury items. And there are a very rare few movies that are so good and can leave us so satisfied that they are gifts in themselves. Here are some, of unequal achievement but nevertheless worthy of our consideration.
It’s A Wonderful Life (1946)
White Christmas (1954)
I didn’t see this until I was a fully grown, mature adult. I had returned to my parents’ home to spend the holidays with them. My mother was glued to the TV as the film played. I later discovered that the copyright had just expired on It’s A Wonderful Life and television was streaming it in a loop. This is, of course, way before internet streaming. I think I watched the movie four times that weekend, totally swept up in its wonder and gifts. If you are a parent, don’t wait for your kids to grow up before you share this with them. Director Frank Capra tells us a simple, romantic melodramatic story about George (James Stewart) his wife (Donna Reed), an unscrupulous town banker (Lionel Barrymore), and an angel (Henry Travers) desperate to get his wings. George heads up the local Savings and Loan (think Credit Union) and because of the rival banker’s theft, causes the Savings and Loan to nearly collapse. Bereft and depressed, he contemplates suicide, standing in the driving snow on a lonely bridge. How he comes to be saved and restored to his loving family is the gift in this movie. Go ahead, watch it four times during the holidays.
This much-loved chestnut likely rivals only It’s A Wonderful Life and A Christmas Carol for holiday popularity. Director Michael Curtiz gives us Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera-Ellen as buddies and sisters, attempting to set up a variety show in an upstate Vermont inn that has fallen on hard times—sort of a “if we build it, they will come” showcase. They are doing it for their army buddy, Major General Thomas Waverley (Dean Jagger) who they served under during World War II. Now retired, he owns the inn. Full of both familiar and bizarre songs and choreography, including “Heat Wave,” “Sisters,” “Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep,” “Love, You Didn’t Do Right by Me,” and the title song, there is only one thing preventing the variety night from being a success. Yup. Snow. And of course, the title says it all. It’s the gift that keeps falling.
Prancer (1989)
Go (1999)
Directed by John Hancock from a script by Greg Taylor, Prancer is a story about a child’s wish to believe in the spirit of Christmas. An eight-year-old girl (Rebecca Harrell Tickell) finds and hides a wounded reindeer from her grumpy but grudgingly loving dad (Sam Elliott). She believes the reindeer is the real Prancer from Santa’s herd and is determined to nurse him back to health and set him free. Complications ensue when her older brother finds out, plus there is a visit from a sympathetic vet (in a charming character role by Abe Vigoda) and interactions with an eccentric spinster (Cloris Leachman). Those plot complications lead to a closing scene of genuine mystery and pathos. The gift in the film is an absolutely splendid score by Maurice Jarre—yes, the great film composer who did most of David Lean’s epic films.
John August’s contemporary script tells the story of three friends who work in a grocery store in Los Angeles. It’s Christmas eve. The friends are played by a generation of stellar young actors including Sarah Polley, Katie Holmes, Nathan Bexton, and Desmond Askew. They are joined in these jazzy, trippy holiday hijinks by Jay Mohr, Scott Wolf, Taye Diggs, William Fichtner, and a menacing Timothy Olyphant. Polley’s character sets the plot in motion by reluctantly agreeing to do a double shift at the store. She desperately needs rent money and is taking over the shift for Simon (Desmond Askew) who promptly leaves for a wild weekend in Las Vegas, including setting a hotel room on fire during spontaneous sex. But that is only one of the outrageous incidents that Go surprises us with. August’s tricky script doubles back on the story twice, telling it from three different characters’ perspectives. And Director Doug Liman uses rapid editing to keep the pace of the thrice-told tale fresh and engaging. There are drug deals gone bad, a car accident, a pumped-up rave, over-eating at a Vegas buffet, a stolen sports car, and a deliciously wicked conversation between a stoned Nathan Bexton and a cat. That conversation sequence is the gift.
And here are six more holiday gifts to rewatch after opening your own gifts: A Christmas Carol (1951, the one with Alastair Sim as Scrooge), A Christmas Story (1983), One Magic Christmas (1985), Joyeux Noel (2005), Nothing Like The Holidays (2008), and Make The Yuletide Gay (2009).
36 The Walleye
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FilmTheatre
Through the Wardrobe
Ian Roulston
Urban Abbey Transforms Into Narnia By Wendy Wright
I
an Roulston’s eyes sparkle with excitement when he talks about an upcoming event planned at Urban Abbey. Roulston grew up in Belfast in the backyard of C.S. Lewis, who brought us the wonders of Narnia, and has always loved the world that the author created. Roulston gave tours of Belfast and famous C.S. Lewis landmarks when he was still living there, and now that Thunder Bay is his home, he is bringing some of that wonderment to the city. He and his Urban Abbey colleagues are getting ready to treat Thunder Bay to a new, dramatic, and merry interactive experience for the holidays that is free for all to attend. Come December 21, Urban Abbey will be decked out in Narnia splendour—”creating an immersive storytelling experience” is how Roulston describes
38 The Walleye
the undertaking. A play written by local playwright Marianne Jones will be staged with local actors. A Narnia-inspired fashion show brought by the models of Shine Photo Studio will take place. Professional photographer Nancy Tillberg will be on hand for photos and there may even be a visit from Father Christmas himself. There will also be multiple interactive zones and activities for children and adults, from crafts to foam sword fighting and cosplay, as well as a luxury hot chocolate bar. There will be many Narnians at the party visiting with folks, and “it would be fantastic” if visitors dressed up as well, he says. The event is a group effort aiming to bring the community together—a village of those willing to put their time and effort into an event that
brings together the community and puts a shine on Urban Abbey itself. This is a venue that strives to bring people of all stripes together. Whatever your station in life, your religion, or who you love, all are accepted here. And what better way to include the neighbourhood and beyond than by hosting a fun, free event. Roulston talks about Urban Abbey as a “safe community space open to everyone.” This event will surely expand the world of Urban Abbey just as the wardrobe did for the children in the beloved story. Whether or not you dress up, drop into Urban Abbey at 308 Red River Road at the corner of Algoma on December 21, 2–6 pm, and be transported through the wardrobe into Narnia. Please visit the Facebook event page “Through the Wardrobe” for more information.
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TheArts
T
he Thunder Bay Art Gallery is featuring art from across the region in a juried exhibition until Feb 15, 2020. It has been more than five years since the previous juried exhibition, in 2014, and the gallery’s director, Sharon Godwin says it is important to do a juried show every few years, “for the community to take a look at what people are producing.” The jurors, Janet Clark and Frank Shebageget, chose works to showcase the diversity of art in northern Ontario. There were 232 works submitted by 98 artists from Thunder Bay and the surrounding areas—from the remote communities in the far north to Kenora in the west to North Bay in the east. In the end, 54 pieces by 47 artists were chosen. The show encompasses a very wide range of mediums, including
Sleeping Giant, Kristy Cameron
Missing Lynx, Chris Stones
The North Now
Thunder Bay Art Gallery Showcases the Region’s Talent Story by Ayano Hodouchi Dempsey Beach Driftwood, Stephen Emms
40 The Walleye
ceramics, embroidery, watercolour, photography, textile, sculpture, acrylic, and various mixed media. The gallery was looking for artwork that “conceptually challenges as well as aesthetically pleases,” and Godwin is pleased with the submissions. In particular, “a number of ceramic artists have pushed limits a bit,” she says. There is a good representation of First Nations artists, as well. While some artists—like Helen Pelletier and her birch bark medicine box—adhere to tradition, and some—such as Christian Chapman and Shaun Hedican—produce paintings in the Woodland style, others—such as Candace Twance, with her piece Safe Passage in mixed media—pursue a much more abstract version of the Woodland style. “I have an interest in conveying
TheArts
Surrendered, Katie Kramer
life energy and the idea of interconnectedness in a visual way,” Twance explains in her artist statement. “I strive to show the truth we know as Indigenous people about spiritual energy; that there is more to this life than we can see, so I suggest layers in my work—layers to reality. I want to provoke the question and give time to linger on the thought: where does our world stop and the spirit world begin?” Godwin says, “The important thing about the show is that people can come forward with their best work. They may be experimenting
a bit. It’s difficult as an artist to put your work out there, but we did see some work that was a bit different for sure.” While current students were excluded from applying, the exhibition showcases emerging talent, as well as established artists who have shown at the gallery before. The juried exhibition is not an annual event and the next show is expected to happen in the next two or three years. In the meantime, go to the gallery to check out this year’s chosen works—you are sure to find quite a few gems.
Linens, Lines, Limitations, Julie Cosgrove Synthesis, Sam Shahsahabi
Kwe time travels to hold her beautiful brown father under a blanket of stars, whispers he is worthy and loved and they brace for the storm, Quill Christie-Peters
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TheArts
Julie MacCoy-Goertz
Mike Gresham
Bizarre Bazaar 6 The Last Huzzah for Freakery and Geekery By Steph Skavinski
L
ooking for unique, quirky items for the fan of freakery and geekery in your life? Or maybe you are that person? Look no further than the Bizarre Bazaar, December 7 and 8 at the Baggage Building Arts Centre. It’s definitely not your gran’s church basement craft sale, and this is the last year you’ll have to take it in. The idea for the Bizarre Bazaar came to Chris “Merk” Merkley a number of years ago when he was selling his wares at a craft market near the holiday season. He says it was a strange experience. “I make weird stuff,” he explains. “You had someone selling Christmas decorations on one side, and pottery on the other and I was the middle like ‘Would you like a zombie with that?’” Merk knew there had to be a better way to get makers of more unconventional art together. At the Bizarre Bazaar, you’re sure to find all manner of makers,
42 The Walleye
including folks selling prints, glasswork, jewelry, and inappropriate pottery to name a few. “It’s grown so much, from a one day event to now two,” says Merk, who made sure to coordinate with the organizers of other major holiday markets in the city to avoid clashing of dates, so you can hit them all (for example, Craftland at the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, and the Craft Revival in Port Arthur). For this, the final installment of the Bizarre Bazaar, Merk has recruited such awesome vendors as Black Mast, Cree Stevens, Dog Paw Pottery, boy Roland, Shaun Hedican, Gayle Buzzi, Jennifer Roukkula, and more. As always, Rose N Crantz will be on hand for all of your coffee needs while you browse. “We have Caring Hearts Cat Rescue and LU Radio, too,” says Merk. “LU Radio has their T-shirts and other merch, and these mystery packages of CDs wrapped in brown paper.”
Mark Nisenholt Take a chance on one—it’s like musical roulette while supporting a great cause. This year also marks the return of Metal Santa. Make a donation to the Christmas Cheer Fund and get your photo taken with the North Pole’s most hardcore
Cree Stevens
inhabitant. Both days have a slightly different line up of vendors. For more information and to view the full schedule go to Facebook.com/ merkasylum, or search Christmas Bizarre Bazaar 6 - 2019 on Facebook.
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43
TheArts
Thunderbird and Anemki Wajiw Mural at Airport Honours Traditional Territory By Kim Latimer
P
assing by the impressive Thunderbird image is now part of the travel experience at Thunder Bay International Airport. Upstairs on the second floor, anyone about to go through security will notice the enormous vinyl-on-glass murals of the Thunderbird and of Anemki Wajiw (Mount McKay). Look closely and you’ll see more sacred images inside the mural. The works were created by a team of artists at Neechee Studio, an Indigenous artist-led youth group run by a committee of youth ages 14 to 30 that has been offering free art programming for Indigenous youth in Thunder Bay since 2013. Five artists collaborated on the murals commissioned by the airport, and they worked with Elder Laura Calmwind and three adult mentors. The image Anemki Wiikwidong: Sacred Territory of the Thunderbirds honours the traditional territory of Fort William First Nation. Also part of the mural are the works Ododeminmag Ndinehmaganidook: A Gathering Place of All Our Relations, and Anemki Wajiw: Where the Thunderbirds Land. Each work was carefully created following protocols and ceremonies in consultation with Fort William First Nation. “The Thunderbird image was a gift to the mountain and to the community, and it symbolizes the power of voice.
44 The Walleye
It’s to say that Indigenous people still live and thrive here,” says Cynthia Edwards, a self-taught artist from Treaty 3 territory. “I designed the Thunderbird image… from there we wanted to be inclusive of other artists in the city and we did a call out. If you look at the Thunderbird image and inside the mountain, there is a sacred fire, the language bird, the sugar bush, and other little images that represent Anemki Wajiw. Every image was carefully thought out and it all means something.” Over a decade ago, Edwards left her First Nation to come to Thunder Bay for high school. “We didn’t have a high school so I left my community when I was 13,” explains Edwards, now age 26. “It was challenging when I came to Thunder Bay. It was a culture shock, but my main focus was school.” She completed high school and went on to graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Lakehead University. “I’ve been coming to Neechee since it started,” she says. “I just dropped in and I found it was really fun and welcoming so I just kept going. There were Indigenous people there and it felt safe. It’s something Thunder Bay really needs. Neechee really helped me develop as an artist, and made me realize what my style was. I learned a lot from the other artists too, about things like cultural appropriation and
pan-Indianism and what that means in art, and to avoid it and be true to my own artistic style.” Lucille Atlookan of Eabametoong First Nation is the founder of Neechee Studio, and currently serves as their youth program coordinator. She also came to Thunder Bay years ago to pursue her high school education. “I noticed that there wasn’t very much Anishnaabe art around. I also noticed there were no free art programs. I came here for school when I was 15 and there were only art programs with fees in the school year.” She says her first experiences in Thunder Bay were challenging—so much so that she left Thunder Bay and went back to her community. “But I came back when I was 20 years old, which took a while until Neechee Studio came along and motivated me to obtain my high school diploma.” Atlookan says on average they have 30–50 people attend a Neechee workshop at any given time. “Some people bring their kids and we try to accommodate everyone that comes into the space because we want our youth to feel safe,” she says. Besides Edwards and Atlookan, other contributors to the mural include Mary McPherson of Couchiching First Nation and Matilda Suganaqueb of Webequie First Nation. McPherson designed
the clan system on the panel inside the airport, which is located past security. Suganaqueb was a supporting artist who worked on the flowers. Atlookan says she combined the works of Edwards, Suganaqueb, and her own flowers together in that work. The group also worked with two non-Indigenous artists on this project: technical designer Shayne Ehman, and Blake Evans, artists from Thunder Bay. Jean Marshall was also a significant contributor, encouraging the group to meet and to work together as a team. The entire mural process nearly three years to complete. “I feel really proud,” says Atlookan, who also learned about her own family history through working on the mural. “Our Elder asked us to find out about our own family history and I learned that my ancestors came here to Anemki Wajiw to trade medicines. It’s interesting because I used to not feel welcome in Thunder Bay with the racism, but when I learned that my ancestors came here I feel like it’s home.” “It’s a really good feeling,” Edwards agrees. “The artwork has a lot of teachings in it. We want people to understand that Anemki Wajiw is a sacred site and it’s protected by Fort William First Nation.”
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The Walleye
45
TheArts
From Thunder Bay Art Gallery’s Collection
Untitled [Black Geese Portfolio] By Meaghan Eley, Registrar and Curatorial Assistant, Thunder Bay Art Gallery Artist: Benjamin Chee Chee Title: Untitled [Black Geese Portfolio] Date: 1977 Medium: Acrylic on Arches paper Dimensions: 56.3 x 76.1 cm
I
n 1983, the Thunder Bay Art Gallery made one of the first major additions to its new permanent collection. The purchase of 54 paintings and prints by Benjamin Chee Chee (1944-1977) was made possible through generous donations from local service organizations, businesses, and individuals. The collection includes five original
46 The Walleye
paintings from Chee Chee’s family series, many of his earlier abstract paintings, and—perhaps most significantly—the 18 paintings that make up what is now referred to as The Black Geese Portfolio, his final work. “Untitled” is part of this portfolio. At the time of the purchase, curator Elizabeth McLuhan wrote that the geese were “dramatic evidence of [Chee Chee’s] continuing exploration of positive/negative space, his ability to concentrate in simple lyrical lines and monochromatic forms the vitality, grace, and humour of wildlife. His geese are always in motion, breathing, turning, flapping, flying or just
taking off.” Despite their simplicity, many people have been captivated by the geese, including artist Robert Houle, who guest curated an exhibition of these paintings in 1991. Houle felt a special connection with the black geese when he first saw them in 1978 and, on discovering them again in 1990, he found that his “fascination… had not diminished in the least.” Houle said, “The Black Geese Portfolio is a tour de force by an Anishinaabe artist from Temagami who achieved national recognition. These works have always been fascinating. Their economy of line and
form create an image whose singularity is common to the Anishinabek and their neighbours, and it is this commonality that earned him his success in communicating biculturally.” From December 6 through to February 16, the Thunder Bay Art Gallery is hosting the exhibition Benjamin Chee Chee: Life and Legacy, organized and circulated by Temiskaming Art Gallery. In developing this exhibition, they worked closely with Chee Chee’s friends and family. A special showing of The Black Geese Portfolio will be included with this exhibition.
In 2014, JAMES AND SHIRLEY SYMINGTON opened a family fund. As Shirley said, "giving somebody a handup can change their future." Together the Symingtons’ Family Fund has given out several bursaries and supported various projects from the playground at the Boys and Girls Club to enabling As Shirley said, "Giving somebody a hand up can change their future." Together the Symington's Family Fund has given out several bursaries supported various projects from the playground at the Boys and Girls underprivledged kids to and camp Club to enabling underprivledged kids to camp under the stars." under the stars. Start a fund at the Thunder Bay Community Foundation because you have the power to change our community.
Start a fund at the Thunder Bay Community Foundation because you have the power to change our community.
p: 807.475.7279
e: acalderon@tbcf.org
w: tbcf.org The Walleye
47
TheArts
Jessica Tratnik
Spruce Pond Apiaries & Woodburning Handcrafted Wooden Items Embellished with the Art of Pyrography By Lindsay Campbell
J
essica Tratnik wants everyone to see the same beauty she sees in trees. The 24-year-old says she’s spent most of her time immersed in the outdoors. Her appreciation for bees and wildlife can be credited to her upbringing on her family’s apiary. But Tratnik notes that a fouryear tree planting stint ultimately strengthened her love for forestry. “I always had a passion for different tree species, and the unique grain that each possesses,” she says. “Sounds cliché, but it’s true.” Tratnik also recalls being in her father’s workshop from an early age, experimenting with foraged wood to see what she could turn to art. So naturally, when she decided to take a serious stab at making her
48 The Walleye
own handcrafted creations, Tratnik, currently a forest technician, took her inspiration from trees and other wildlife around her and began pursuing the art of pyrography, also known as wood burning, “Wood burning has brought me a lot of happiness, satisfaction, and relaxation,” she says. “I really enjoy pouring my heart into my work and am constantly recharging my passion.” Tratnik’s business, known as Spruce Pond Apiaries & Woodburning, began with coasters, but quickly expanded it with other options such as wall hangers, key racks, birdhouses, bird feeders, signs and magnets. “Every day I spend at work in the bush I get new ideas for products and designs,” she
says, adding that Ontario wood is a point of pride for her business. Tratnik uses locally sourced wood to etch designs of northern Ontario animals, including her signature trademark, the honeybee. At Tratnik’s alma mater, the University of Guelph, she volunteered at the Honey Bee Research Centre, bringing her closer to the work the pollinators do. “Honeybees represent strength in numbers and the beauty of womanship,”she says. “All of the worker bees in a hive, responsible for collecting nectar and pollen are female.” As a tribute to the centre, she’ll be donating $1 from each sale of her bee magnets to the research centre. Tratnik says she hopes people will feel good
knowing that a percentage of her profits will support an environmental cause. “I’d like to spread my message of conservation,” she says. “I think that bringing a little bit of the outdoors into your home helps you appreciate the nature we have around us and makes us all a little more aware of the things we can do to help the environment.” Tratnik will showcase her art at the upcoming Kraft.Pop-Up Market at Sleeping Giant Brewing Co. on December 3. Her pieces are also available online via Spruce Pond Apiaries & Woodburning’s Facebook and Instagram pages, where orders can be placed.
Photo credit Allison Parker Photography
Rustic Sugar BAKERY • MADE LOCALLY IN THUNDER BAY •
JAYME BOGNAR Pastry Chef / Owner Contact us by phone or email: (604) 698-7736 rusticsugarbakery@gmail.com
Walk like a Penguin
Prevent winter trips, slips and falls!
Knees bent
Arms out for balance
Take shorter steps
TBDHU.com/HealthyAging The Walleye
49
Outdoor
Fat But Not Lazy
It’s December, Why Not Start Biking? Story by Ayano Hodouchi Dempsey, Photos by Michael McKenzie
S
now is everywhere, the wind chill is fierce, and you want to give up on exercise. Not so fast! There’s still lots to do outdoors— and it doesn’t involve a shovel. Fat bikes, so called because they have oversized tires (typically four inches wide or larger), have really taken off in Thunder Bay in the last three years, says David Valente, event coordinator of Blacksheep Mountain Bike Club. Valente got into fat biking two years ago. “I wanted to keep my physical abilities up for mountain biking all year around. You only mountain bike in the summer, and in the spring it’s a big learning curve to start exercising again and get that physical stamina up,” he explains. Started in 1998 by a “rowdy bunch of high schoolers,” Blacksheep Mountain Bike Club is one of a handful of clubs in Ontario that has a proper trail groomer for the winter. Over 15 km of trails are located at Trowbridge Falls and wind through Centennial Park and Shuniah Mines. While a lot of mountain bikers get on fat bikes during the winter, Blacksheep
50 The Walleye
Mountain Bike Club’s membership has grown exponentially, from about a hundred three years ago to well over 300 this year, thanks to families embracing the sport. “Kids under 12 is where we’ve really grown,” says Valente, and it is common to see families out on their bikes, even in the winter. “We do a lot of clinics geared towards younger people starting out,” he adds. “How to take jumps correctly, how to go over jumps, how to handle your bike.” Many staff at bicycle shops are also fat bikers themselves, so go and pick their brains—they can help you get started. Entry-level fat bikes start at $1600 plus tax at Fresh Air Experience, and $1299 plus tax at Rollin’ Thunder, (and the sky's the limit for higher-end models) but don’t be deterred—both of these shops will rent you one for $50 a day. You can spend a lot on gear and accessories, from merino wool base layers to wind-proof shells with zippers for heat regulation, but essentially, a helmet and sensible boots and gloves are all you need to get started. If you cross-country ski, you
▼ 2019 Sleeping Giant Fatbike Loppet
▲ 2019 Sleeping Giant Fatbike Loppet
Outdoor
▲ Shuniah Mines probably already have everything you need. “Proper attire can make or break your day,” explains Dan Fiorito of Rollin’ Thunder. “The important thing with fat biking is layers— maybe more so than any other sport. It’s easy to get really warm from working hard in soft snow, to getting hit by wind on fast descents.”
The local bicycle shops tend to be a hub for fans of the sport, so if you’re looking to join a group or to discover some trails in the area, just go to a shop, look at some bikes and ask. There are informal group rides and get-togethers, and those are not necessarily advertised on the store websites or on Facebook, so don’t be shy—connect in real life.
▼ 2019 Sleeping Giant Fatbike Loppet ▼ ▲ 2019 Sleeping Giant Fatbike Loppet
The Walleye
51
CityScene
(L-R) Constable Sharlene Bourdeau, Anna Barile, and Noah Barile
Tree of Hope
Project Aims to Bring Hope to Families Affected by Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls By Michael Charlebois
I
n June of 2019, the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) issued their final report, in which they found the tragic violence that Indigenous women and girls have experienced amounts to genocide. Thunder Bay Police Constable Sharlene Bourdeau said her reaction to the findings of the inquiry was not unlike scathing inquiries from 2018 that found systemic racism exists at an institutional level in the TBPS. “It really bothered me,” she says. But rather than harbouring that animosity, Bourdeau took time to reflect and found a deeper sense of empathy. “As I was driving to work one day, I thought I had to put myself in one of the shoes of the family members,” she says. “I thought, ‘What would I want the
52 The Walleye
most? If my sister or my mother was missing or murdered? I’d want them to be home for Christmas.” With that, the Tree of Hope project was born. The idea came rich with symbolism: 1,200 red Christmas lights representing the 1,200 missing and murdered Indigenous women will be on display at Thunder Bay Police Service at 1200 Balmoral Street, but the project is much more than a tree. What started as a way to show solidarity between the local police force and the Indigenous community has now branched into a project with groups across the region striving towards the collective goal of reconciliation. A committee that includes representation from various Indigenous organizations throughout the region meets monthly to discuss ideas on how the initiative
can help families affected by MMIWG, and generate community involvement. Some of the tangible changes include the implementation of a youth council, and Thunder Bay District Crime Stoppers deeming each MMIWG case “high-profile,” with an increased cash reward for tips. “If we can solve even one of these Missing and Murdered cases in the country, it will be worth all of the work,” says Anna Barile, co-chair of the project. Collin Graham, a community development program manager
with the Ontario Native Women's Association, says the goal extends beyond a monetary donation. “It’s an opportunity for us to effectively makes change, not just by raising money for tips, but recognizing there’s still unsolved cases out there, and closure needs to be brought to family members,” he says. The tree—with lights donated by Canadian Tire—will first be lit on December 7. Those wanting to donate to the project can go to ca.gofundme.com/f/ mmiwg-tree-of-hope.
Happy Holidays from WTIP North Shore Community Radio!
Artwork by Kari Vick
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FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 684-3311 OR VISIT GAMESCOMPLEX.COM The Walleye
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The
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The Walleye
55
Let Your Holidays
Hey Thunder Bay, We’ve Made It Easier To Get Involved!
be bright Give the Gift of a Brighter, More Radint Smile.
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5-509 Edward St. North
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Visit thunderbay.ca/getinvolved to: • Share your opinion
• Find out what’s happening
• Read final reports and outcomes
• Get project information
• Learn how your input is used
• Discover more ways to get involved
• Stay connected
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Kay Lee Photography
56 The Walleye
Homemade Sandwiches
Salads
Soups
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Desserts
Daily Specials, Fresh Juices & Smoothies
OPEN WEEKDAYS & SATURDAYS 11 AM - 8 PM
201 Algoma Street South, Thunder Bay
Full Menu at www.growingseason.ca
The Bookshelf Fresh Reads by Local Authors Fiction and Poetry
Timothy J. Boulanger
CityScene
E
very December The Walleye compiles a list of books published by local authors that year. Perfect for the bibliophile in your life, here are 22 books published in the past 12 months that would make for some great gift ideas.
Michael Christie
Scott Colby
Samantha Convey
Lanie Mores
Marion Agnew
Elle Andra-Warner
Sandi Boucher
Liv Dietrich
Todd Dufresne
Rene Meshake with Kim Anderson
John Pateman and Joe Pateman
John Pateman
John Pateman
John Pateman
Injichaag: My Soul in Story
Managing Cultural Change in Public Libraries
John Pateman
Stephanie Roy
Daytona Shaffer
Elaine Bosvik Ciarnau
Story by Marianne Jones, Illustrated by Susan Mattinson
Story by Leah Nadin, Illustrated by Caterina Tolone
Joanne Robertson
Unsaid Silence
Greenwood
Tales from the North Shore
Until I Feel Like My Own Mother
Guardian of Angel
Non-Fiction
Reverberations
James Macleod: The Red Coats' First True Leader
You Sound Just Like My Dad: The Life and Times of Phyllis Lawrence
Chemotherapy & Tequila: The Last Road Trip
The PATH
Oakhurst: The life and times of Susan Pateman 1950-97
Rebuilding Your Relationships: Six Fixes from Nehemiah
Thunder Bay and World War One: Volume Four, 1917
The Democracy of Suffering
Thunder Bay and World War One: Volume Five, 1918 - 1921
It's a Trich-y Life
Kids/YA
The Adventures of Cardigan
There's a Monster in My School!
Tarantella to Thunder Bay
The Water Walker
The Walleye
57
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CityScene
GO LOCAL THUNDER BAY COUNTRY MARKET
Blissful Bowls Story by Sarah Kerton, Photos by Kristen Pouru
T
he cold is upon us, which means it is also the season of soup. Luckily, delicious homemade soup is even more accessible with the recent addition of a new vendor at the Thunder Bay Country Market. Blissful Bowls became a vendor in October, after a successful summer selling at other markets around the area. Owner Fiona Robinson said her experiences selling at Willow Springs Creative Centre and the Kakabeka Farmers’ Market allowed her to learn what items people wanted, and to tweak recipes in a way that appeals to the majority of customers. She also started to develop a loyal customer base. Robinson sells not just soup, but other bowl-oriented foods such as chilis and stews, and often has some desserts and other baking on hand as well. All of her foods are gluten-free and plant-based. Prior to opening her own business, Robinson worked in commercial kitchens making meals for vulnerable populations. In those settings, the concern was often making food as economically as possible
and she often felt that the food being produced was hindering good health instead of providing nourishment. “I truly enjoy making delicious food that people love, but my true passion is making nourishing food that people savour and feel good about consuming. Blissful Bowls uses only ingredients that I believe to be good for people’s health, their environment and their community.” Robinson loves selling at the market because it’s a supportive and fun community, and “a true reflection of Thunder Bay and how loyal and community oriented we are.” Her favourite aspect is when a customer tells her that they are so grateful for her product or how it makes their life easier, and of course when they say the food is delicious! The most popular soup so far is the rich and creamy Wild Rice and Mushroom Soup and she can’t keep up with the orders for it. Find Blissful Bowls on Facebook or pay them a visit at their market booth located on the main floor near the dining area.
Fiona Robinson
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CityScene
This is Thunder Bay Interviews by Nancy Saunders, Photos by Laura Paxton
This month, we asked The Walleye readers if their gift-giving habits have become more eco-friendly in recent years.
Deanne: Maybe not more eco-conscious intentionally, but I try to give more
consumable gifts: food, experiences, time, so that is where I do like to give more local. Like beer. I like to go to Sleeping Giant and pick out a nice selection. And tickets; the last gift I gave was tickets to a play at Cambrian Players.
Moumee: I guess I shop more local. That’s probably the extent of it. And a lot of those ones are, I guess, more “eco.”
Lisa: Ours have, 100%. For myself, I don’t buy any wrapping paper, I put everything
into the brown recyclable gift bags, or last year actually I wrapped all my gifts in newspaper and just had my son decorate them, as a nice little gift. This year for my sister, we’re giving her reusable produce bags. She wants the silicone baggies, so all of the gifts we’re giving her are actually eco-friendly and conscious.
Janice: Making reusable bags instead of paper. Purchasing local, which helps sustain everything.
George and Mary: Chocolate. We’re buying a lot less. Our children are overseas now, and then we don’t have any young kids to buy for, most of them are grown up. We just look after ourselves, and we may buy Janice a little gift.
60 The Walleye
Nathan: In our house we make a point of saving gift bags and reusing them, also
because it saves a couple bucks and they’re easy to keep. We do support a lot of the local businesses and local economy. Stuff that’s made in Canada is held to a higher environmental standard already even if it’s not specifically targeting the “eco” market.
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Welcome Warren Mouck O’Neill Associates is proud to announce the addition of Warren Mouck to our Labour and Employment Law team. Warren is experienced in litigating wrongful dismissal claims on behalf of institutions, businesses and individuals, and has represented clients at all levels of Court in Ontario. Warren regularly handles matters coming before the Ontario Labour Relations Board, Human Rights Tribunal, and Superior Court of Justice. For Labour and Employment Law advice, call Warren at 344-5227 or email him at
wmouck@oneillassociates.ca
The Walleye
61
CityScene
Wall Space
The Creative Process as a Tornado A Peak Inside Angela Benedict's Studio Story by Leah Morningstar and photos by Leah Morningstar and Angela Benedict
G
etting a peek into the home studio of Angela Benedict, it’s clear that she’s skilled at several different kinds of art, but she specializes in painting (on canvas and on glass) and silk flower bouquets. Her canvas paintings are inspired by the natural world and her own Indigenous heritage. Benedict’s take on the traditional Woodland style of Indigenous art has been to create large-scale animal and nature scenes using only dots. It’s quite striking and brilliantly executed. Benedict’s glassware painting often mimics her canvases, but she consistently explores other subjects as well. She does the
62 The Walleye
animal dot paintings on glass, but just as often she creates entire sets of wine glasses depicting Christmas holly berries or adorable fairies. As for the silk flower bouquets, they are a relatively new development. Benedict is in the process of planning her wedding and was pondering the various bridal bouquet options. She couldn’t find anything that grabbed her attention so she decided to create something special. She thought, “what’s something I can make that will last a lifetime?” The answer was flowers created from strips of silk and ribbon and other fabric, pieced together to form beautiful and unique keepsakes. In the time that she began
▲ Angela Benedict
CityScene making these bouquets, Benedict has had numerous orders for weddings and has become a mainstay at the local wedding shows. Visiting Benedict’s home studio was fun because it’s always so interesting to see how an artist works. Benedict has a full time job and a busy life with her fiancé, but she loves to settle into the cosy space she’s created, surrounded by her cats, her art, and the seemingly endless bits of geeky pop culture decor. Full disclosure—Benedict’s studio was not pristinely organized. It was full of the buzz of creation and artistic expression. Benedict was excited to show off her studio but admitted that for her, “the creative process is a bit of a tornado.” There was a lot to look at though: dozens of canvases ready for painting, stacks of glassware both painted and unpainted, boxes of jewelry-making supplies (because of course she also makes jewelry), and
those wonderful bouquets. Yards of fabric and sparkly embellishments are always at the ready, just waiting to be turned into bouquets, boutonnières, and corsages. To make the ribbon flowers, Benedict uses a simple needle and thread. Sometimes she will use pliers to help pull the needle through multiple layers of fabric. When assembling the individual flowers into a larger bouquet, Benedict uses a hot glue gun, as well as a needle and thread, to secure the flowers into a pleasing rounded bouquet shape. Lengths of wire wrapped in ribbon are used for stems: a handle for the bride (or customer) to hold. If you’re getting married and looking for something unique, or just excited about new decor, contact Benedict and she’ll be very happy to discuss ideas. You can visit Benedict’s website at bouquetsbyangela.ca.
▲ Ribbon, thread, and simple tools Benedict uses to create ribbon flowers
▼ Boxes of bouquet-making supplies
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CityScene to someday be a piñata maker. All you need is newspaper, water, and flour. And a balloon.
What’s the last photo on your phone’s camera roll? Oh boy. This one is actually pretty special. It’s a letter from the Dean of the Medical School at [University of Toronto] congratulating me on the election victory. The election was a defining moment, and so was when I was accepted into medical school at U of T. The next photo is of my wife sitting in Trudeau’s chair at the House of Commons.
What’s your guilty pleasure? That could get me into trouble.
Eye to Eye
With Marcus Powlowski As Told to Nancy Saunders, Photos by Kay Lee
T
he newly elected Thunder Bay-Rainy River Liberal MP Marcus Powlowski on his love for kava, his playlist, and passion for piñatas.
What’s the last book you read? I haven’t had time to read for about five to six months…The last book I actually finished was Istanbul: Memories and the City by Orhan Pamuk.
What’s your favourite breakfast? I don’t usually eat breakfast, I just have coffee. There’s a story there. When I was working in Vanuatu in the South Pacific, I got to drinking kava. It’s a “muddy” drink that gives you a mild pleasant feeling. Most of the men and many women drink it. You drink it on an empty stomach, and I got used to not eating much during the day. I’d have a big meal in the evening,
64 The Walleye
have some kava, then go to sleep. I still tend to do that—drink coffee throughout the day, then eat a big meal in the evening.
How do you take your coffee? With cream.
What’s on your playlist? Tracy Chapman, Bob Seger, CCR, lots of Springsteen, Stones, Peter Tosh, Steve Earle (oh, I like Steve Earle), REM, The Clash.
What’s your favourite app? I don’t use any.
What’s your hidden talent? Art. Drawing, sculpting, painting. Both my parents were artists, while I’m a lawyer and a doctor. I’m probably the only person to have taught at the law school, NOSM [Northern Ontario School of Medicine], and in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. I love making piñatas, and would like
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CityScene
Joel Reynolds, sales associate in Sleeping Giant Brewing Company's pop-up shop
Popping Up
Short-Term Boutiques Open at Intercity for the Holidays Story by Pat Forrest, Photos by Adrian Lysenko
F
or many, the aromas, sights, and sounds of a busy mall during the Christmas season is just what they need to get in the holiday spirit. Others long for simpler times. Enter Intercity Mall’s Christmas pop-up stores—shortterm boutiques that are bound to appeal to both types of shoppers. Whether its by way of a booth or storefront, cart or kiosk, setting up pop-up stores is a growing trend. The pop-ups in Intercity will be open through to the end of December. Kenora’s Poplar + Birch is a firsttime pop-up in the mall, offering smaller, mostly Canadian brands including clothing for men and women, distinctive giftware, jewelry, and beautiful baby items. Owner Ashley McKay says that the business, which has been profiled by designer and HGTV star Jillian Harris and
66 The Walleye
in Condé Nast Traveller, has been attracting lots of shoppers. With not a lot of any one item and new inventory added weekly, it is, says McKay, the kind of store she personally likes to visit. “I think more and more, people realize the importance of small, local stores. We offer things you can’t readily find anywhere else and we give back to the community. We’ve been feeling the love and support,” she says. Back for its third year, the Sleeping Giant Brewing Co. pop-up offers a wide range of items from gift baskets and local food to their branded apparel, greeting cards, beer soap, and bath bombs. You can also stop by for a beer sample and some Eat Local pizza while also taking a break from the hustle and bustle in their games room. Harley Davidson has its kiosk in place again this year, offering apparel and other branded
items as well as a chance to win a bike, with funds going to a local charity. Not far from them is the local brand Northies with their distinctive clothing and mugs for sale. Terra Nova Salon & Day Spa rounds out the list of pop-ups. Intercity Mall General Manager
Stacey Ball says that the pop-ups have been adding a fun new element to the mall. “We’re excited to have a unique assortment of pop-ups operating for the Christmas season and beyond. These retailers create a special offering that you won’t see under one roof anywhere else,” she says.
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CityScene
Everything Was Fine Until It Wasn’t
The Magic Ingredient Cannabis Edibles By Justin Allec
W
ith the amendments to the federal Cannabis Act allowing for the sale and consumption of cannabis-derived products like extracts, topicals, and edibles, we’re entering a new phase of public engagement. Edibles, which refer to cannabis-infused food products, may be the most interesting new category as the range of products is only limited by people’s imagination. Baked goods (such as the good ol’ brownie) and candies seem to be the most common products out there, but a cannabis-infused tincture can be added to literally any kind of food for a kick. Of course, all this is happening while the Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS) doesn’t even have plans to sell edibles for a few more months, which means that any products you’re likely to try will be homemade or imported. The big draw of edibles for many people is that it eliminates ingesting cannabis vapour, which means a “healthier” method of consumption. The caveat is that as you change the way you ingest cannabis, it changes
its influence on your body. In general, it takes longer for an edible to take effect, but the effects will be felt much longer and, potentially, much more intensely. To start, the edible needs to be digested. As cannabis binds easiest to fat molecules, the edible needs to be pushed into your lower intestine through peristalsis, where it can mix with digestive juices from your stomach and other organs to be absorbed into the bloodstream. How long this takes depends on the edible itself and what else you’ve eaten. Once the cannabis has been absorbed, it can last for up to six hours, though experts advise that it may be up to 24 hours before residual effects pass. For that reason, start small, especially if you’re new to cannabis. Check—and then check again, per portion if necessary—that you aren’t taking more than 2.5 mg of THC at a time. You can always take more if you want to. With the increased interest is scrutiny, and edibles, for the confounding reason of resembling regular food, have been drawn into
a narrative of concern. Ivan Ho, a public health nutritionist with the Thunder Bay District Health Unit, recently published a great article called “Food for Thought—Eager for Edibles?” on the TBDHU blog that addresses many of those concerns. Ho discusses food security, a lack of long-term research, and potential problems with labeling and marketing to youths as the areas he’s most concerned with. The latter seems to be tumultuous, as evidenced by the spat of outrage articles around Halloween discussing edibles being handed out as literal candy. That’s the challenge for the cannabis industry. Edibles need to be packaged for retail, and even though the Cannabis Act stipulates that packaging needs to be as neutral as possible, brands will still try to make their products attractive to distinguish themselves from the competition. While Ontarians may have to wait to purchase edibles directly from the OCS, their new legal status means that we can start discussing these issues nationally.
Uh-oh; you (or a friend) ate too much. Now what? Prepare your space: Because edibles are long-lasting, hopefully you’ve planned to use them while in a comfortable, safe space with no real responsibilities. Don’t freak out: There have been zero deaths attributed to cannabis, so you aren’t going to die. Work on being calm. Dim the lights, put on quiet music, breathe deeply, stay offline. Distract yourself: Since cannabis accentuates sensations, avoid unpleasant ones. Watch something funny. Do some colouring. Have a shower. Talk to a friend, but only if they’re being supportive. Go for a walk. Dilution: Hydrate and eat—introducing food and water into your digestive system pushes the THC through faster. Some people recommend eating peppercorns, as black pepper binds to your endocannabinoid receptors and can block THC. Similarly, smoking or ingesting a highCBD strain of cannabis can also act as a counter. Worst-case scenario, do yourself a favour and go to bed.
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Music feedback and gallows humour. After all, MacKinnon joined up only after seeing an ad looking for musicians “who like substance abuse and hating themselves.” It’s coldly sardonic, but that’s part of sludge’s appeal and Deaf Monarch are all for it. Their two-song Rough Demo 2019 is like wading through a trench of misery. Huge concentric riffs wind tight around a buzzing bottom end, and with Scali’s vocals soaring overtop these aren’t really songs so much as a diatribes against life’s mediocrity. “If we knew what made a good song, we probably wouldn't be writing sludgy noise,” Schalkx modestly says. Whatever; those two songs will make you bang your head, which is one of the only required definitions
Morgan MacKinnon
Gutter Royalty
The Slow Rule of Deaf Monarch Story by Justin Allec, Photos by Keegan Richard
M
etal isn’t all dark nastiness. Even sludge metal, that diseased, inbred stepchild of metal genres, can offer a rainbow of variety. With its emphasis on big, squalling guitar riffs and nihilistic vocals, sludge can be as violently grimy as a junkie’s bathroom floor, but also as majestic as a charging bull elephant. Locals Deaf Monarch work the range, and they’ve found the sweet middle between the two extremes. “We want to make sure we leave an impression, whether that’s from
72 The Walleye
the honesty of emotion, the physical weight of our sound, or just a grimy riff that sticks in your brain,” bassist Tristan Schalkx says. Schalkx was joined by guitarist Morgan MacKinnon in the band’s original incantation, and the band has since added Graeme Todd on drums and Collin Scali on vocals. Coalescing over the past five years, the band’s slow and low approach is impressive, whether it’s on tape or their ferocious live show. Deaf Monarch’s music is a juncture of violent outbursts of
▲Tristan Schalkx ▼Graeme Todd
that metal needs of “good.” Even though it was a push to get the demo released, Deaf Monarch don’t plan on resting. The band is in the final stages of writing a full-length album with the aim of releasing it in 2020, but plans for touring are always tentative due the usual adult drawbacks. For a sludge band, though, Schalkx is expectant about where the band is headed: “We barely resemble what we were five years back. I hope that we continue to change. I hope that who we are right now could never imagine what we will grow into.” Their music may be oppressively negative, but that’s a pretty positive outlook for Deaf Monarch.
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Music
The Record Box
Fresh Sounds from Local Musicians By Adrian Lysenko
T
he past 12 months brought a plethora of diverse music from many talented local musicians. Here are 22 albums (in no particular order) released in 2019 that would make great gift ideas. Shoot us a message if you have an album that we missed (or one coming out in the 2020). Enjoy, and support local music!
Nick Sherman Made Of
Starless The Heart of Cards
AlienatĂśr Pariahse
VHS - We’re Gonna Need Some Bigger Riffs
Page 38 Burning the Midnight Oil
Jean-Paul De Roover Love
I.R. Idiot Spore
Sunday wilde - Sunday wilde & the 1 Eyed Jacks
Matt Sellick North Shore
Wreck-Defy Remnants of Pain
Phoebe the Feeb The Pink Album
Loose Cannon Dangerous and Unpredictable
Femur Red Marks
Shayne Ehman Tears
Emily Mae Compound
The Franquilizers Live at the Po
animal dreams basic
Skelle Newly Naive
Hot Pocket A Slippery Slope
Scott Thiessen Summertime Madness II
Action Cat Stranger Danger
Deaf Monarch Rough Demo 2019
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Music “And if you have an actual passion for it, you want to improve. There’s always different things you can work on.” Wiebe began her musical studies on the piano. However, she was inspired to make a change. Asked where that inspiration came from, Wiebe has a quick answer: movie soundtracks. “I remember the Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves opening soundtrack,” Wiebe says, adding she asked her father, a trumpet player, about the instrument she was hearing. “He’s like ‘that’s the French horn,” she says. “I’m like, ‘that sounds cool. It sounds so majestic.’” Luckily, when Wiebe entered Grade 7 and began her school’s band program, French horn was an option. “The band program was very, very well-supported in our school division,” she says. “The parents had bake sales to raise money for the band program, and we went
Janelle Wiebe Principal Horn, TBSO By Kris Ketonen Born: Winnipeg Instrument: French horn Age you started to study music: Started studying piano in Grade 2 How long have you been with TBSO: Since 2010 What’s on personal playlist: Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Mahler, Aurora
76 The Walleye
J
anelle Wiebe is approaching a big milestone in her career with the TBSO. The Winnipeg-born Weibe, the symphony’s principal horn player, will be marking her 10th season with the orchestra next year. And the job continues to be a fulfilling one, Weibe says. “You will improve until you quit,” she says.
to competitions in Minneapolis and Chicago…and we won some, too.” “Band programs are super important,” Wiebe adds. “It’s not like my parents had a lot of money. The band program had the instruments to rent, and my parents paid like $100 per year. They wouldn’t have been able to afford an actual instrument.” Wiebe would go on to study at the Glenn Gould School at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, and the Schulich School of Music at McGill. And before joining the TBSO, Wiebe also spent some time freelancing in southern Ontario, which, she admits, is a difficult way to make a living. “The 401 orchestra, they call it,” she says. “You’re going between Niagara, Windsor, Kitchener-Waterloo, London, all the pickup orchestras in Toronto, and then Kingston and Peterborough… it’s nice to actually win a position.”
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WestfortVillage_final.pdf
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2019-11-20
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Westfort Village It’s a feeling you get!
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Music
Sunday wilde and the 1 Eyed Jacks (Colin Craig on drums, Arek Chamski on bass), Tumblestone Music & Art Festival, summer 2019
On the Road to Memphis
Sunday wilde and Colin Craig’s International Blues Challenge Fundraiser Story by Michelle McChristie, Photos by Keegan Richard
N
ext year is shaping up to be a good one for local blues musician Sunday wilde. At the end of January, she and drummer Colin Craig are heading south on the blues highway to represent the Thunder Bay Blues Society in the 36th International Blues Challenge (IBC) in Memphis, Tennessee. The duo will perform in venues on the iconic Beale Street, where jazz and blues giants like Louis Armstrong, Muddy Waters, and B.B. King played from the 1920s to the 1940s, and shaped the style known as the Memphis Blues. “It’s not the first time I’ve been to the International Blues Challenge,” explains Sunday wilde, “I’ve attended, played a gig, and judged, but this will be my first time competing.” She doesn’t seem nervous or intimidated, perhaps because she has been working her tail off for the past decade to
fine-tune her vocals and piano and crisscross the country promoting her music. Last year, she released her eighth album with the 1 Eyed Jacks (Craig on drums, Arek Chamski on bass and ukulele, and Ari Lahdekorpi on guitar). “Sunday has really made an effort to get her name out there,” says Thunder Bay Blues Society president Rob Croves, “She has had airplay on SiriusXM Bluesville and releases consistently strong CDs that focus on original music. To stand out these days, you need to have your own identifiable sound, which she has created.” More than 260 blues acts from around the world will be judged on their content, originality, vocals, stage presence, and instrumental talent. As a former attendee, performer, and judge, Sunday wilde says she understands the importance of selecting the right songs to perform, adding modestly, “It will
be interesting, some people may have already heard my music.” Croves echoes this. “One thing she has going into the challenge is name recognition, which should help her stand out from the pack,” he says. In addition to competing as a duo, Sunday wilde and the 1 Eyed Jacks’ album won the local best self-produced CD, doubling her and Craig’s chance of winning. With reps from record labels and booking agents on the lookout for talent, anything is possible. To help cover the costs of the trip, the duo is hosting a fundraiser show on December 14. The night will feature performances by The Roosters and, of course, Sunday
wilde with Craig, Chamski, and Mike McInnis (guitar). There will also be a silent auction with a variety of prizes, such as Heartbeat Hot Sauce, Tumblestone swag and 2020 tickets, and tickets for Crickets Comedy Club. If you can’t make it to the show, swing by Backstage Music—they are donating a portion of the profits from select “yellow dot” items to the duo—or pick up a copy of the CD that will surely make waves down on Beale Street.
Port Arthur Legion, Branch 5 December 14 Tickets: $10 at the door
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Music
Blown Wide Open
Big Wreck Play Sold Out Show at NV Music Hall Story and photos by Patrick Chondon
W
ith the release of their brand new album …but for the sun, which came out at the end of August, Big Wreck have been touring across Canada. On November 15, the Canadian rock band stopped in Thunder Bay to perform a sold-out show at NV Music Hall. And when I say sold out, I mean it—there was barely room to stand. It was amazing to see so many fans out to support the band, and it just goes to show how popular they have stayed throughout the years. The crowd was also a mix of all ages, which really speaks to how diverse their fanbase is. The band started off an electric evening with “Voices,” the opening track from their new album. From there they did a nice mix of some of their classic hits, including “That Song” and “Albatross,” with a few of their newer ones, including “In My Head” and “Alibi.” Midway through their set, they performed a tribute to The Tragically Hip by playing the intro of “Ahead by a Century,” which led into “Wolves.” They finished off their set by rocking out to one of their most popular hits “Blown Wide Open,”
which left the crowd yelling for an encore. As the crowd continued to chant louder and louder, they finally came out and finished off the night with a couple more songs. The final one of the evening was another one of their most popular songs, “The Oaf.” It really is great to see a band that first started out in the 1990s continues to make great music and sell out shows across Canada. If their new album is any indication of what is to come, I’m sure we will see Big Wreck come through Thunder Bay again in the future.
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Music
TBShows.com presents ON THE SCENE
Home for the Holidays By Jimmy Wiggins Band: Soapboxer Hometown: Thunder Bay, ON Genre: Alt-rock/dream-pop For fans of: The Cure, Brand New, The National Online: @soapboxerband Next show: December 29th at Black Pirates Pub
I
n the nearly 20 years as show promoter it’s been interesting to watch the music scene in Thunder Bay shift and change over time. I’ve seen things go from a predominantly metal and punk scene to emo and hardcore, to very rock-focused, to a surge of DJs and EDM, to today where there are more cover bands playing on TBay stages than I’ve ever seen before. Music scenes are like high school in a way. You meet a lot of really interesting, like-minded people and bond with them over a love for live music,
82 The Walleye
making memories that will last a lifetime. But just like the enjoyable parts of high school, all good things must come to an end and eventually you graduate and lose touch with some of those friends. Many bands that started playing together in their teens eventually grow older and making music becomes less of a priority. Some start raising families, others relocate and start a full time career or go to college/university, and the spare time they had after class and on weekends in their teens is taken up by the responsibilities of “adulting.” Some bands find a way to make it work and continue on playing indefinitely, but more often than not, the band calls it quits. Soapboxer was one of these bands. I started booking them for all-ages nights when all the guys were still in high school and then continued right up until they
parted ways. They were a great band, wrote really interesting and catchy music, always brought in a good crowd, and were gems to work with behind the scenes. The band called it quits a while back but that hasn’t stopped them reuniting for one special night every December. Call it a Christmas miracle or just good timing. Either way, I’m excited that Justin Rob (drums/ vocals), Peter Luft (vocals/guitar), Noah Connor (bass/vocals), and Jhustin Czajkowski (guitar/vocals) will be back in Thunder Bay to play again over the holidays. The Walleye: What do you miss about playing shows in TBay? Justin Rob: Everything. The Thunder Bay music scene is incredible and there’s so much talent around. I really miss just being a part of the scene, getting to play with so many talented artists, and having an excuse to hang out at Black Pirates every week. Prior to our break, I’d been playing regularly in Thunder Bay since before I could drive. The scene’s been an incredibly important part of my life for probably my most formative years. Peter Luft: The scene has a lot of amazing, hard-working people
in it, the venues are super fun and it’s a great feeling to play shows and see a ton of familiar faces. I started playing in the Thunder Bay music scene when I was 17 or so, and it’s been such an incredible experience to grow up playing shows and watching other talented bands. I’ve learned so much about playing live music and being a part of an active music community. Some of my biggest musical influences are friends’ bands who I have grown up alongside over the years. Noah Connor: I’m still pretty active around town! Something I miss about playing shows regularly is getting to see all the new bands that pop up. Jhustin Czajkowski: Playing at BPP, seeing the other local artists perform and seeing Onur and Jimmy’s faces. TW: What are your thoughts on coming home to play a show over the holidays? JR: I love it. I haven’t had the opportunity to do anything musically in the last year, and I’ve been itching to get back on stage all year. Given that this is the second year we’ve done this Christmas show it’s become something that I look forward to every year.
PL: Very excited. Living in Kingston, I’ve definitely missed the Thunder Bay scene a lot and I’m excited to play some old Soapboxer songs that I love. These songs are super important to me and it’s going to feel great playing them again. NC: It just feels right, honestly. It’s a really nice way to get everyone together when they’re back in town. It also plays on that nostalgia that exists over the holiday season. It makes it feel like nothing has changed. TW: When can we expect to see another Soapboxer show? JR: Hopefully soon. It’s tough with most of us living in different cities but I think anytime we’re all back together, no matter how briefly, the first thing we’re thinking about is where we’re playing. I know all of us miss playing shows here so we’ll take every chance we can to play more. TW: Is there hope that Soapboxer will get back together permanently? JR: Never say never. Being
across the province prevents us from playing shows but the underlying spirit of the band has never gone away. We all still talk to each other almost daily and are always talking about music and other creative outlets. Even now in the brief time that even just two of us are together, we jam, start playing around with new ideas, and pick up right where we left off. While shows may be few and far between I think it’s a given that there will be more Soapboxer music in the future. The distance and the lack of shows really opens the lanes for us to be more experimental with our ideas and broaden our horizons. I think what will come out of Soapboxer in the future will definitely be different from what we’ve done so far. The band has always grown in style and substance as we did as people, and I don’t see any reason why that would stop. This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
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Music
(L-R) Jarret Schilke, Bryan Johnston, and Derek DeSa
The 20th Annual Waxmas Throwdown Legendary Local Hip-Hop, Wax Philosophic
Story by Matt Tyska, Photo by Damien Gilbert
T
his holiday season, emcees Reach and D-Cyphur, along with DJ Jenero, are back to celebrate 20 years of Thunder Bay tradition—it’s the Wax Philosophic’s Waxmas Throwdown, and everyone’s invited. Describing themselves as “conscious, eclectic, high-energy hip-hop through the lens of growing up in Northwestern Ontario,” Jarret Schilke (Reach), Derek DeSa (D-Cyphur), and Bryan Johnston (DJ/producer) formed Wax Philosophic in late 2000, all while living in different cities. Since then, they’ve toured Canada, they’ve released multiple albums, singles, and music videos, and they’ve also created the Wax Philharmonic—a nine-piece hip-hop
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orchestra that amplifies their energetic stage show even further. Plus, they have opened for acts such as Shawn Desman, Blackalicious, and LMFAO. When reflecting on the history of the event, DeSa says, “Our first show was at the Apollo in December of 2000. Although we play shows throughout the year, the Christmas show has always been the one constant we have.” He says that organizing this show has been the least difficult, as the group always gravitates back to Thunder Bay for the holiday season. “The show has always acted as a conduit for a central gathering space for our fan base along with our local and out-of-town friends throughout the years.” Expanding
on this, he jokes, “It’s also somewhat of an annual gathering place for decades of friends to get together and remind ourselves that we’re not twenty years old anymore, especially the day after the show.” Without trying to give away too much about what’s happening for their 20th Waxmas, they plan to celebrate by bringing back artists that they have shared the stage and collaborated with, and members of the Wax Philharmonic. Opening the evening will be Jamie Smith (Auditor General), DJ Wurlwind, and other special guests. Even more intriguing, DeSa states, “Any local hip-hop artists that we have played with are welcome to join us for a throwback freestyle cipher at the end of the night.” Wax Philosophic’s 20th Anniversary Waxmas Throwdown hits Crocks at NV Music Hall on December 21. Doors are at 9 pm and cover is $10 with proceeds going to local charity. Non-perishable food items will also be collected for the Thunder Bay Food Bank.
Shop Small IN GRAND MARAIS
SHOP SMALL this holiday season in your favorite little harbor town down the road in Grand Marais, Minnesota.
Our shops provide a unique and charming shopping experience that is worth the weekend drive. We appreciate your business year round! Thank you for shopping small with us. More information on special events this holiday season:
visitcookcounty.com/events
Christmas Tree Recycling After the holidays
… between Dec 26 & Jan 12, bring your tree to one of the many Christmas tree collection sites. D R O P - O F F L O C AT I O N S NORTH
SOUTH
Brent Park Balsam St at Margaret St
Delaney Arena Legion Track Dr
op
to m y
West Thunder Community Centre Edward St
me
Westfort Playing Field off Neebing Ave
ts … c l o s
Strathcona Golf Course
Look for the CHRISTMAS TREE DROP-OFF SITE sign.
Kinsmen Northwood Centre 609 James St N.
th e lo
John Jumbo Recreation Centre Toivo St
The chipped trees are added to the compost pile at the City’s landfill site.
ing
Grandview Arena Westminster Church Parking lot off Madeline St (behind Grandview Arena)
Do NOT put trees out for curbside garbage collection.
In the spring, when the compost is mature, it is provided to residents free of charge to enrich flower gardens and lawns across Thunder Bay.
ro o
County Park Tennis Courts County Blvd
Remove all ornaments and remove plastic tree wrap before dropping your tree off at the collection site.
… re t u r n
SOLID WASTE & RECYCLING SERVICES
thunderbay.ca/recycle
F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N C A L L 6 2 5 - 2 1 9 5
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Music
BURNING TO THE SKY
Liz Phair Why Can’t I? By Gord Ellis
W
hen Liz Phair burst onto the music scene in 1993, her music stood out like blaze orange in the forest. It wasn’t grunge or slickly produced pop. The sound of the music on her debut album Exile in Guyville was the equivalent of breathing in -25°C air—bracing, refreshing, and a little chilling. Phair and her debut album made a wave in rock music that can still be felt today. Rarely had a basically unknown songwriter showed up so fully formed, yet also so raw and honest. It was also made by a young woman who seemed quite pissed off by a world full of men that not only didn’t get her, but really didn’t deserve her. The 18 songs that make up the album cover an incredible array of musical genres, from flat out rock to music hall to flamboyant art rock and folk. The sound is notably lo-fi, yet oddly timeless. There is a demo quality to the recording that makes everything feel even more personal and close to the bone. However, it’s the subject matter that Phair explores on Exile in Guyville that has had many music lovers and critics alike mesmerized for years. Phair is profane, heartbreaking, funny, and clear-eyed. And some of the topics
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explored are rare subject matter indeed. “Divorce Song,” about a slow breakup of a marriage, remains about the most real explorations of the subject you will ever hear. Speaking of breakup songs, “6'1"” is the epitome of the genre—musically complex and lyrically succinct, it pulls no punches. “I loved my life,” she sings, “and I hated you.” This would also be a good place to mention Phair’s guitar playing. It is at the core of this album, and is propulsive and extraordinarily atypical of the sound of the 1990s. Her tone is clean, direct, and menacing. On one of the album’s lesser known tracks, “Help Me Mary,” Phair even seemed to predict her future in the music business. “Weave my disgust into fame/And watch how fast they run to the flame,” she sings. And they did. Exile in Guyville was a smash, although it forever became the album that Phair would have to match. Simply an impossible feat. While it is unfair to an artist of Phair’s quality to pigeonhole them, there is no doubt she was. Her inevitable move away from the indie rock sound of Exile in Guyville to the broader and highly produced sound of the Liz Phair album, which was released in 2003 to general
critical derision. The album itself, with the benefit of hindsight, is certainly much better than it was given credit for at the time. Yes, Phair did write some songs with Avril Lavigne’s hit-making machine The Matrix, but that is not the core of the album. What it sounds like is a more mature single mother who still wants sex, love, and excitement, but is also facing the stark realities of daily life. The ballad “Little Digger” on this album is one of the most heartbreaking songs ever written about parenting and divorce. It stands in stark and real contrast to the album’s huge hit, “Why Can’t I,”
a pop rock anthem that was a radio smash for Phair. Phair has recently experienced a renewed interest in her music thanks to the 25th anniversary re-release of Exile in Guyville. She has also penned a biography, Horror Stories, which includes a variety of stories about her life and career, including an aborted attempt to work with Ryan Adams. At 52, Phair has the artistic freedom to do what she wants while still having a hardcore and devoted following. If you have never heard of Liz Phair, or haven’t for a while, give her a listen. She is worth the effort.
A Christmas Tradition continues at...
VICTORIA’S CUPBOARD Established 1990
115 N. May Street (between Victoria & Miles) Thunder Bay • (807) 622.7821 See hours on Facebook
www.victoriascupboard.com
Set your budget. . T hen don’t budge it At Rapport Credit Union, we encourage our members to set a Christmas spending limit and if possible, save up the money they need. If you haven’t saved up - no problem. We can help with a holiday loan at interest rates that are lower than typical credit card rates.
HOLIDAY LOANS AS LOW AS
8.5%
Then we can work with you to create a savings plan for next year. Let us show you how. Visit rapportcu.ca or any one of our local branches: Campus Hill 1072 Oliver Road, Unit 2 James Street 405 James Street South Kakabeka Falls 43 Clergue Street Some conditions apply. On approved credit
Walleye_December_2019_8x5_Holiday_Loan_REV2_Nov19.indd 1
(807) 346 2810 (807) 626 5666 (807) 475 4276
rapportcu.ca
*Some conditions apply. Limited time offer. Rates can change at any time.
2019-11-19 4:10 PM
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OfftheWall
REVIEWS
MAGDALENE
Made Of
Hyperspace
Nick Sherman
FKA Twigs
Beck
The third album from Northern Ontario singer/songwriter Nick Sherman covers an awful lot of ground—but also a lot of life. What he’s unearthed on Made Of is music that’s by turns dramatic, tormenting, tender, and hopeful. Sherman and his backing band absolutely smoulder on these 10 tracks, where the heart-wrenching lyrics are carried aloft by music that’s as unbridled as the harsh beauty of the northern landscape. Sherman’s voice has an edge under all the gentle words, and he uses it to excavate both the strangeness and familiarity of living and living up north, whether it’s a dark highway leading to the horizon, or a lover’s kind word uttered in the furious isolation of a reserve town, all the while a soft acoustic melody charges into a hard-rocking workout. Made Of isn’t folk or country or rock, but some unique combination of tranquil moments and explosive passages—a life in progress.
If there’s one thing to take away from FKA Twigs, as anyone that listens to her music knows, it’s that she takes her artistry very seriously. But for the longest time, the music of FKA Twigs—aka Tahliah Barnett’s—was flatly boring, without enough motion to fit the intensely vulnerable ideas she projected. Her vision oozed ambition, but didn’t provide the substance to pull it off. On her second full-length LP, MAGDALENE, Barnett does more with less. Her stripped-down approach allows us to latch onto her words, and sit back as simple structures swirl into jaw-dropping atmospheres. Behind the manic “Fallen Alien” or the cathedral-esque “Thousand Eyes,” the pain in Barnett’s soul bleeds through the record rather than sit adjacent. Nowhere is this truer than the album’s closer, “Cellophane,” where Barnett gives the year’s most stunning vocal performance; detailing the falling out of a relationship over a delicate piano and intense wall of reverb. The depth of the listening experience keeps pace with the artist’s vision, and the brutal reward is what we’ve been waiting for her whole career.
Colors, Beck’s last release, marked one of his most pop-oriented efforts to date, and while Hyperspace continues on that pop road, the final result is not nearly as squeakyclean as its predecessor. Beck’s sense of experimentation returns on Hyperspace as he throws around ambient synths, acoustic guitars, trap-like beats, and lo-fi effects: sometimes they land, sometimes they don’t. Hyperspace’s biggest pitfall comes in the form of repetitive slide guitar samples and hollow drum beats that overpower “Saw Lightning.” At times, the production of Hyperspace feels claustrophobic on tracks like “Everlasting Nothing,” where the vocals sound as if they have been cranked to eleven, burying the instrumental in its presence. However, “Stratosphere” and “Chemical” feature a much more lush and spacey production, which leaves room for Beck’s sprawling falsetto and the instrumental to mingle in harmony. Beck’s risk-taking abilities succeed more on the album’s handful of synth-based tracks, which makes Hyperspace a mixed bag of cohesion and convolution.
- Justin Allec
- Michael Charlebois
Expand the versatility of Your Truck with a Roll-Up or Folding Tonneau Cover
Your Automotive Christmas Gift Store 88 The Walleye
Half Moon Run
A Blemish in the Great Light has a dream pop/indie rock kind of feel woven into it, along with an assortment of elements from different styles peppered throughout. “Yani’s Song” smacks of bluegrass rhythm, minus the banjo and mandolin. There are parts in “Razorblade” that sound like something straight out of Barenaked Ladies’ early days, until it switches gears to an entirely heavier sound, maybe giving a subtle nod to metal. The instrumental track, “Undercurrents” provides a dream-like piano interlude. “Natural Disaster” has great potential, but the synth and the saxophone seem so far out of place in this song that they diminish the aesthetic rather than adding to it. The standout track for me, “Flesh and Blood” is a folk rock song that puts the piano more in the spotlight, and has just enough country twang for effect. - Steph Skavinski
- Melanie Larson
DRY & SECURE
Tel: (807) 344-3340 (877) 351-5604 Fax: (807) 285-3409 383 Fort William Rd. Thunder Bay dcperformance@shaw.ca
A Blemish in the Great Light
KEEP IT CLEAN! MAXIMUM PROTECTION FOR YOUR CAR OR TRUCK!
GIFT CARDS AVAILABLE
Seasons of Thunder Bay Cookbook
From the Editors of Chef Rachel Globensky
Thanks for the Dance
DEEP Superior
We all lost an amazing talent when Leonard Cohen died in 2016. He had just released his album You Want It Darker. It was produced by his son Adam and won a Grammy Award for best rock performance. Cohen had recorded the vocals to several other songs before his death and asked his son to produce them. Adam gathered several of his father’s musical friends and got to work. The result is the posthumous album Thanks for the Dance. It’s classic Leonard Cohen, and he covers many of his familiar themes—love, sex, war, and death. There’s a sombre elegance to this album. The production is sparse but compelling and emotive. Spanish guitarist Javier Mas and a stellar crew of musicians that includes Leslie Feist and Daniel Lanois provides a near perfect setting for Cohen’s vocals. Favourite cuts include “Moving On,” a sad, romantic ballad about coming to terms with the end of a relationship, and “The Goal,” which is only a minute or so long but features a haunting piano that the perfect backdrop to Cohen’s voice.
Local, local, local! To help recognize and support our influential people and businesses, definitely have a listen to Thunder Bay’s newest podcast DEEP Superior, hosted by Marc Perrier. This podcast focuses on topics that are relatable to everyday life, but is also so jam-packed with useful knowledge you’ll find yourself reaching for a pen and paper. Thanks to Perrier doing his homework before each episode and Westfort Productions for their support, DEEP Superior is equipped with information paired with an uninterrupted and unwavering flow throughout each episode. From meditation to martial arts, from float tanks to family physicians, the real beauty about this podcast is the personal connections it introduces/creates within the community. Prepare to be educated and entertained as Perrier opens up the doors to the “hidden gems” of Thunder Bay.
Leonard Cohen
Marc Perrier
- Andrea Lysenko
Seasons of Thunder Bay Chef Rachel Globensky
No matter how long or short they are, here in Thunder Bay we embrace the seasons. With dishes like kickbutt granola, shrimp burgers, pumpkin butter, and tourtière, the recipes in Seasons of Thunder Bay are curated for spring, summer, fall, and winter but can be enjoyed any time of year. Chef Rachel Globensky, who has more than two decades of culinary experience, provides easyto-follow directions (you don’t have to be trained in the culinary arts to make them) along with heart-filled and humorous introductions with each recipe. Some of our favourites include the “spin-arty” dip, blueberry and frangipane galette, and of course, Finnish suolakala (salt fish). Like the dishes featured in Seasons of Thunder Bay, this cookbook is made with love. Plus, a percentage of the book’s proceeds are donated to the charity Isthmus Canada, feeding children locally and across the country. - Adrian Lysenko
Ugly Christmas Sweater Party: Christmas Crafts, Recipes, Activities Brandy and Matt Shay
The festive time of year is finally upon us, and what would the season be without at least one ugly Christmas sweater party to host or attend? This trend seems to have swept the globe over the last couple of years with no signs of slowing down. If you are finding yourself without a suitably ugly sweater, or don’t know where to begin to ensure your party is a success, no reason to get your baubles in a bunch. Like a neatly wrapped gift, this book delivers. Everything is covered here: easy (ugly) clothing designs, tacky decorating ideas, crazy party games, and food and drink ideas sure to please both the naughty and nice folks on your list. So don your glitter poinsettia shoes, mix up a Jingle Bells sangria, and get set to play some Marshmallow Pickup. It’s Santa-approved fun for the adult crowd, but adaptable for the youngsters as well. Happy Holidays! - Heather Miller
- Gerald Graham
Children’s Menu available + It’s whisky season; with over 220 whiskeys to choose from we have something for everyone!
Open Late!
Book your Christmas Cocktail Party with us! The Walleye
89
Architecture
St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church By Laurie Abthorpe
P
corner of Brodie Street and Donald Street. This original St. Andrew’s Church held its opening service on Sunday, January 6, 1889. A modest church, it was constructed on a basic Georgian plan with the tower roof, brackets, and roundhead windows inspired by the Italianate style of architecture. When the church building was expanded in 1900, a Gothic broach spire was also added. In the spring of 1907, it was decided that a new church was
Laurie Abthorpe
resbyterian services were first held in 1869, at the Hudson’s Bay Company store, for the small population that had begun to establish itself around the Fort. Services later took place in one-room schoolhouses beginning in 1874, first on Donald Street and then in the new schoolhouse at the corner of Victoria Avenue and Simpson Street. The congregation’s first church building was constructed on land donated by the McKellar family at the
▲ Cornerstone being laid in for the new church in 1908
Adrian Lysenko
Laurie Abthorpe
▼ Inside the church's tower
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Adrian Lysenko Original church (now located on Pruden St.) 1889
Adrian Lysenko
Laurie Abthorpe
Laurie Abthorpe
the original church was placed on rollers and moved to Pruden Street where it still stands today. The removal of the old church made way for the two-storey church hall and Sunday school addition to be built. Designed to suit the existing 1909 church by architects W. Hood and H. Scott, it opened in 1919. St. Andrew’s Anglican Church was designated as a heritage property by the City of Thunder Bay in 1984. Laurie Abthorpe is the heritage researcher for 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/heritage.
Laurie Abthorpe
needed. In order to retain a church building while accommodating the construction of a new church on the same property, the original church was moved south a few feet. On September 1, 1908, in front of a large gathering of spectators, Peter McKellar laid the church’s cornerstone. Initial plans for the new St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church were to build it of brick with stone trim; however, prior to construction, plans were altered and stone was used on the entire structure. The foundation is stone from Mount McKay, the structure’s exterior is Simpson Island sandstone with Bedford stone used for trim and carved details. This magnificent church, upon completion, held its dedication service on June 13, 1909. Designed by architects J.C. Stinson and W. Hood, the church’s 14th-century English Gothic style is shown through numerous pointed arches and openings, crenellated parapets, square towers, and corner buttresses. The main entrance on Brodie Street is comprised of two side by side Gothic arches supported by polished granite columns donated by the church’s general contractor, M.H. Braden. The ornamental detailing of the entryway includes representations of the maple leaf, the rose, the Scottish thistle, shamrocks, the leek, and lilies of France, representing that all are welcome. Rising 95 feet in the air, the church’s tallest tower, supported by angle buttresses, begins square then transitions to an octagon in its upper portion. It is from this tower that beautiful bell melodies are projected. Providing instrumental music from within the sanctuary is the original 1909 Casavant organ from Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec. The organ’s purchase was funded by the women’s groups within the church and the Andrew Carnegie Foundation. The sanctuary is also home to the stunning stained-glass windows that adorn St. Andrew’s. Many of the stained-glass windows are memorialized; some traditional, some abstract, and others contemporary. Whatever happened to the original 1889-era St. Andrew’s church? Up until 1913, it was still being used for Sunday school. That summer,
Architecture
The Walleye
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Health
Commit to Authentic Connection in 2020 By Sara Chow, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, Health Promotion and Communications Planner,
M
ake 2020 about increasing connection to yourself and being more present in your life. Authentic connection, or the lack thereof, could be the path to other health changes that you may be seeking in the new year. Research shows that adults today are the most in debt, overweight, addicted, and medicated population in history. Our ability to go for a walk or eat healthier foods hasn’t changed that much, so what has? “The greatest interference in our lives is possibly that people are not present in their own lives anymore,” says Dr. Mandy McMahan, Ph.D, C.Psch,, and director of Mental
Painted Turtle Ar
t Shop
344-4636 4 Balsam St. (by George’s Market)
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Health at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. “What is unique to our current generation is that everything is public, highly advertised, and we feel like we’re connected because of the internet and social media. The distress that social media can cause, through flooded news feeds of how things could be versus our reality, can be real. The internet cannot replace human connection.” The Centre for Health Promotion at the University of Toronto created a conceptual framework of quality of life that has three domains: being, belonging, and becoming. Many aspects of this model relate
Holiday hrs. OPEN Dec 24, 27 & 28 ONLY with
to connectedness, and how it can help you to determine who you are, increase your sense of belonging (at home, with friends or in the community), and help you to achieve your goals, hopes, and aspirations. Basically, increasing your connections with self and others can help enhance your quality of life. Incorporating mindfulness practice can help you start this process of connecting and increasing your quality of life. Dave Gladun, a registered practical nurse and contract administrator at our hospital, has immersed himself in the practice of mindfulness, and currently leads mindfulness classes for hospital
staff. “Mindfulness is learning to be present in the moment, on purpose and not bringing judgment to whatever is occurring,” he explains. “Mindfulness can reduce stress and improve your health by allowing you to create an authentic connection with your body and how you are feeling. Once you are able to create and improve this connection with yourself, then you will start to see how it can positively impact your relationships with others.” Dr. McMahan also believes in practicing mindfulness to enhance connectedness and even enhance one’s sense of fulfillment. “Being more present can help you to reduce excess stress. Show up for the life you have. It’s reality that you might not like everything in your life, but be present for the things that are important.” Four ways that can help you to start being more connected in 2020: • View Dave Gladun’s recorded mindfulness videos at tbrhsc. net/relax or try mindfulness practice via YouTube at home. • Set a goal to put down your phone and be present with those around you. Start by having technology-free meals, whether it’s at home or out with your friends. • Take a hiatus from social media or go into your phone settings and set app limits for the ones that are taking your time away from working on you. • If you are experiencing a mental health issue, talk to someone you trust to start the conversation. Ask for help. It’s okay to not be okay. Have a healthier 2020!
A GIFT FOR ALL YOUR FRIENDS. EL TRES GIFT CARDS
%
25off SALE www.paintedturtleart.com
269 RED RIVER RD. (807) 343-3443 NOW BOOKING RESERVATIONS ON-LINE AT ELTRES.CA
WRAPPING PAPER IS NOT RECYCLABLE Due to the extremely high ink content of the paper, gift wrappings cannot be recycled, and must be put out with your regular garbage. FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 625-2195.
FESTIVE TRUMPET AND ORGAN Music for Advent and Christmas
Tuesday, December 10, 8 PM Admission at the door $15 St. Paul’s United Church, 349 Waverley Street, Thunder Bay SOLID WASTE SOLID WASTE && RECYCLING SERVICES RECYCLING SERVICES
Bert Rowson
thunderbay.ca/christmas
All new for the whole family!
HOLIDAY POPS AROUND THE WORLD!
THUNDER BAY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Paul Haas Music Director
Auditorium 7:00, Sat. Dec. 14 Tickets at tbso.ca/events
Studio One Dance Zorya Ukrainian Dancers TBS Chorus Stringlings St. Patrick Glee Club Chorus Robert Perrier
CONCERT SPONSOR
TBSO Handbells Santa Claus & more!
SEASON SPONSOR
PUBLIC ARTS FUNDERS
Maria Fuller conducts! MAINSTAGE AND SECOND STAGE SPONSORS
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DecemberEventsGuide December 1, 10 am–3 pm
Christmas Charity Craft Show
TownePlace Suites by Marriott
have items for sale at their tables. Tickets are $10 for adults and $6 for kids under 5.
December 1, 2–5 pm
346-9000
Thunder Pride Association presents LGBTQI2S+ family-friendly Christmas Mingle 2019! Join them at Sleeping Giant Brewing Co. to converse, share food from Bay Village Coffee, and be merry! There will be storytime and pictures with Santa for the kids. Admission is free.
December 1, 10 am–4 pm
Craftland
Thunder Bay Community Auditorium
The Thunder Bay Community Auditorium will be transformed into Craftland, a vast winter market. Shop for unique handcrafted gifts made by talented artisans who will showcase their work for a one-dayonly event. Over 60 vendors will fill the TBCA stage and mezzanine lobbies. Hungry? Eat Local Pizza will be located on the second floor selling slices. Thirsty? The bar opens at 11 am. Attendance is free.
tbca.com
December 1, 11 am–4 pm
Rose + Pine– A Winter Gathering The Chanterelle
ROSE + PINE is a beautiful winter gathering held in the industrial and chic ballroom at The Chanterelle, featuring a floral workshop with Natalia from Velvet Rope Floral, combining flowers and natural winter greens. Includes a beautiful holiday outdoor arrangement, a glass of sparkling wine, coffee/tea and snacks. $80 per person.
manager@thechanterelle.com
December 1, noon–3 pm
Christmas Tea for Rescue West Arthur Community Centre
A Christmas tea in support of local animal rescue and animal welfare groups. There will be dainty sandwiches, scones, desserts, coffee, and tea. There will also be silent and penny auction tables as well as a bake table. Rescue groups will also
December 6, 7 pm
December 7, 9 am–2 pm
Red Lion Smokehouse
Thunder Bay Community Auditorium
Faith City Church
Babies & Brews (New Parent Meet-Up)
577-6661
Shop for all your Christmas needs! $2 at the door, or canned good food donation to support the St. Andrew’s Dew Drop Inn is accepted. All proceeds from the table rentals will be donated to support Dew Drop Inn.
December 4, 11, & 18, 2–4 pm
Connect with other new mums and dads at Red Lion Smokehouse every Wednesday from 2 pm to 4 pm in the lounge. Bring your little one and hang out with other new parents. Nursing is welcomed and both washrooms include changing facilities.
Thunder Pride LGBTQIS2+ Christmas Mingle 2019 Sleeping Giant Brewing Co.
redlionsmokehouse.ca
December 4, 6–8 pm
Winederful Fundraiser 2019
Half-Way Motors Nissan
thunderpride.ca
Come out to this fundraiser for Our Kids Count, featuring a live and silent auction, a wine giveaway, a cash bar, and amazing charcuterie and desserts by Bay Village Coffee.
December 1, 8:30–9:45 pm
CP Holiday Train with Scott Helman and Madeline Merlo
The Canadian Pacific (CP) Holiday Train will soon set out once again to entertain hundreds of thousands of people, celebrating 21 years of collecting food and raising funds for food banks across North America. Every pound of food and dollar raised at each stop stays with the local food bank to help feed those in need in that community.
krafttbay@gmail.com
Kick off the holiday season, and step back in time with Magnus Theatre’s final production of the year. See this month’s Film and Theatre section for more info.
December 4, noon–11:30 pm
magnustheatre.com
December 6, 6–8 pm
Youth Move Pool Party
December’s Tap Takeover features brews from Collective Arts Brewing, Grain & Grit Beer Co., and Fairweather Brewing Company. Kegs get tapped at noon and are available until they blow.
Youth Move
Join Youth Move at the Canada Games Complex for a fun night of swimming!
grandmaraisartcolony.org
Whiskey & Wine Weekend
20th Annual Christmas Bazaar
Friday night will feature cocktails from Driftless Glen Distillery and tastings of whiskey, bourbon, and rye, complemented with hors d’oeuvres. Saturday night will feature a delicious four-course meal and deluxe wines from Jordan Vineyard, and end with Royal Salute 21, a 21-year-old scotch.
Crafts, gifts, glitter, baking, music, and more by vendors of the past 20 years. Everyone is welcome! Free admission! Come and enjoy the spirit of old-time Christmas!
lutsenresort.com
344-7081
December 7, 10 am–4 pm
Christmas Bizarre Bazaar Six
December 6–8, 9 am–8 pm
Baggage Building Arts Centre
CLE Heritage Building
merk@merkasylum.ca
AAGNO Christmas Event
The 18th Annual Aboriginal Christmas Arts and Crafts Gift Show and Sale is happening on December 6–8 at the CLE Heritage Building. Come and browse the work of Indigenous artists and artisans in Northern Ontario.
facebook.com/AboriginalArtworks-Group-of-NorthernOntario-AAGNO
625-2344
redlionsmokehouse.ca
The event is a well-known tradition on the North Shore featuring high quality one-of-a kind fibre crafts, including weaving, felting, knitting, basketry, quilting, beadwork, unique clothing and accessories, plus seasonal gifts.
Finlandia Association
Magnus Theatre
Red Lion Smokehouse
Gallery 33, the Painted Turtle Art Shop, and The Nest Studio invite you to their fifth annual Christmas Market. Local handmade gifts and art supplies to enjoy, and refreshments provided. There will also be a special visit from Santa!
Grand Marais Art Colony, Grand Marais, MN
Lutsen Resort
It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play
905 Tap Takeover
Gallery 33
Northwoods Fiber Guild Holiday Sale & Open House
December 7, 10 am–3 pm
December 5–21
Enjoy bites, brews, and browsing at the Kraft.Holiday Pop-Up Markets, featuring two unique markets full of tonnes of local crafters, artists, and makers. See this month’s Top Five for more info.
Fifth Annual Christmas Art Market
December 7, 9 am–2 pm
December 6 & 7, 6 pm
paramountlive@shaw.ca
Sleeping Giant Brewing Co.
December 6 & 7
344-1956
December 5–7, 7 pm
Based on the iconic animated film, with an Academy Awardwinning score by Alan Menken, Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, Disney’s Aladdin Kids is sure to send audiences soaring on a flying carpet ride filled with romance and adventure.
Kraft.Holiday Pop-Up Markets
tbca.com
Crafts, vendors, baking and more. $1 admission. Kids under 12 are free. Table rentals $20.
286-4233
Paramount Live
December 3 & 10, 6:30–9:30 pm
Everyone’s favorite ogre is back in this hilarious stage spectacle, based on the Oscar-winning smash hit film and outrageous Broadway musical! See this month’s Film and Theatre section for more info.
Christmas Craft & Vendor Fair
345-2327
Aladdin Kids
facebook.com/HolidayTrain
Shrek The Musical Jr.
The Bizarre Bazaar is back and more bizarre than ever! See this month’s Art section for more info.
December 7, 2:30–4:30 pm
Help Decorate Our Float! Renco Foods
Help decorate the #StandUp4CleanUp floats for the annual Parade of Lights. They will need help assembling a balloon snake, decorating the tree and sleigh that will go on their floats.
standup4cleanup@gmail.com
0 Smartphones
$
tbaytel.net/storybooksavings TM
94 The Walleye 2
Rogers and the Mobius Design are trademarks of or used under license from Rogers Communication Inc. or an affiliate.
December 7, 5:30 pm–1 am
December 8, 4–7:30 pm
Delta Hotel
This dinner series is entitled “Gōlde,” as these months are a time of transition and when we seek warmth. Each ticket includes one cooking class demonstration. For this meal, guests will be learning how to make pickled fruit.
Twas the Night–Small Sunday Suppers Sobremesa Dinner Business Holiday The Camelot Building Party Enjoy an evening of music and dancing at the Delta. Featuring a buffet dinner and a cash bar. Tickets are $55 a person, or you can “Take the Stairs Home” for $139 plus applicable taxes.
kyle.cavanagh@deltahotels.com
sunday-suppers.com/dinners
December 7, 7 pm
December 11, 5–9 pm
Parade of Lights Intercity area
This magical annual parade will see dozens of brightly illuminated vehicles travel along the parade route to help kick off the holiday season. Proceeds go to local charities and there is also a sensory-friendly (no music or horn-honking) part of the route.
paradeoflights.ca
December 7, 13, 14, 20 & 21, 6 pm–1 am
2019 Christmas Dinner & Dance Party Slovak Legion Branch #129
The Slovak Branch 129 of The Royal Canadian Legion is once again hosting group/small business Christmas parties. Tickets include a buffet dinner and dancing to great music. There will also be a cash bar. Tickets are available at the Slovak Legion and must be purchased in advance.
catering@slovaklegion.com
December 7, 8 pm–1 am
2nd Annual Dallas Bailey Memorial Fundraiser The Westfort
Masala Grille’s December Vegan Dinner Buffet Masala Grille
This all-vegan buffet will feature appetizers, a main course and dessert for $22.95 per person.
344-3663
December 12, 6–8 pm
SGBC Hot Ones Party Sleeping Giant Brewing Co.
Sleeping Giant Brewing Co. will be hosting Thunder Bay’s very own Hot Ones party with TBay’s faves, Heartbeat Hot Sauce Co. Experience the heat of this season’s Hot Ones lineup with a panel of some of Thunder Bay’s coolest people eating wings as they work their way through the burn.
sleepinggiantbrewing.ca
December 12–14, 7 pm
Fiddler on the Roof Jr. Paramount Live
This special adaptation of the ninetime Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, Fiddler on the Roof Jr. follows Tevye the milkman as he tries to protect his daughters and his way of life from a changing world.
paramountlive@shaw.ca
The 2nd Annual Dallas Bailey Memorial Fundraiser will feature a mini drag show, penny auction, raffles, and door prizes. Your donation and support will go towards a Memorial Scholarship Fund for a student of St. Ignatius High School in Thunder Bay.
December 13, 5–9 pm
pinkmafiapro@hotmail.com
visitcookcounty.com
December 8, 11 am–3 pm
Holiday Craft Sale The Moose Hall
Check out the Holiday Craft Sale at The Moose Hall. They have 60 tables full of great shopping. Crafter tables are $30, and business tables are $40.
627-4400
December 8, 12:30–6 pm
Pictures with Santa
Sleeping Giant Brewing Co.
Don’t be a cotton-headed ninnymuggins, come get your picture taken with Santa. Pictures will be taken by donation to Toys for Tots– Thunder Bay Professional Firefighters and Paws for Love Dog Rescue Thunder Bay Ontario. They’ll also have treats and pizza for purchase.
sleepinggiantbrewing.ca
Dark Sky Festival Grand Marais, MN
Celebrate the darkest season of the year at the first annual Dark Sky Festival. See this month’s Top Five for more info.
December 14, 7:30–9:30 pm
Improv Comedy Show Cambrian Players Studio
Ready for a night of affordable fun and laugh? If you’re a fan of the popular television show Whose Line is it Anyway?, then you’ll love the Cambrian Improv Players, a Thunder Bay based improv group. It’s always fun and always unpredictable.
info@cambrianplayers.ca
December 15, 11 am–4 pm
December 18-19, 7–9 pm
Cambrian Hall Theatre
St. Patrick High School
Cambrian’s Christmas Elf Jr., The Musical Craft Market Selkirk Auditorium, Cambrian Players is very excited to be holding a Christmas Craft Market, featuring crafters, bakers, and makers. You will find everything from baking to hand-crafted jewelry, knitted items and crocheted items, handmade Christmas gifts, handpoured local candles, decor for home, and so much more.
info@cambrianplayers.ca
December 15, 11:30 am–1:30 pm
The Friendship Luncheon
St. Patrick High School’s grade 12 drama class presents Elf Jr., The Musical. Proceeds in support of Isthmus Thunder Bay.
623-5218
December 19, 5–8 pm
Winter Solstice Party Lappe Nordic Ski An evening of skiing, friends, potluck, re-gift exchange, and carols.
lappenordic@gmail.com
December 20–22
Airlane Hotel & Conference Centre
Be the Light Winter Solstice Celebration
letsbouncetbay@gmail.com
Celebrate this season of gratitude and giving with friends old and new in the beautiful surroundings of the Sleeping Giant. Renew the bonds of your higher self through the practice of yoga, gong relaxation, meditation, kirtan, creative expression, and community.
The Friendship Luncheon is 23 years old this year! Originally created to reconnect busy friends, it has grown and evolved into a tradition. Save the date, invite a friend. Two hours to stop, relax, have lunch, and catch up with friends amidst the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season.
December 15, 11 am–2 pm
Sleeping Giant Provincial Park
628-2870
Slay Belles Holiday Drag Brunch
December 20, 8 pm–1 am
Wiggins Productions proudly presents Slay Belles Holiday Drag Brunch. Ticket includes show, choice of one brunch entree, and gratuity. Mimosas, Caesars, and craft beer cocktails will be available for purchase. This is a family-friendly event and all ages are welcome!
A night of music, drinks, snacks, and fun in support of Evergreen A United Neighbourhood, which is at risk of permanently closing its doors due to recent funding cuts.
Red Lion Smokehouse
hello@redlionsmokehouse.ca
December 18, 6–10 pm
Epic Game Night Red Lion Smokehouse
Some games need a whole evening to play and a continuous supply of craft beer and snacks. Epic Game Night will feature games like Risk, Axis and Allies, Dungeons and Dragons, and more. No fee, just fun. Bring a mate or just join in. This event is hosted by 100 Club Member Logan Ollivier.
redlionsmokehouse.ca
December 18, 6–8:30 pm
Kamview by Candlelight
Kamview Nordic Centre
Visit Kamview Nordic Centre for a magical evening on the ski trails. Candles will be placed along the trail. Ski trail pass is just $10. Rentals available. The kitchen will be open and serving homemade soups, chili, and cookies.
475-7081
4 Evergreen
Canadian Lakehead Exhibition
evergreenaunitedneighborhood@ tbaytel.net
December 21, 2–6 pm
Through the Wardrobe (A Narnian Christmas) Urban Abbey
Catch up with your favourite Narnians and experience an immersive, original story-telling experience by local playwright Marianne Jones. See this month’s Film and Theatre section for more info.
633-3052
December 21 & 22, 7 pm
The Nutcracker
Thunder Bay Community Auditorium
This magical family favorite by Allen Fields captivates as a holiday treat. Experience a young girl’s enchanting dream as her beloved Nutcracker doll comes to life on Christmas Eve. Performed by the Minnesota Ballet and featuring the full Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra.
tbca.com
December 31, 5–8 pm
35th Annual Resolution Run and Walk Running Room
Start the New Year off on the right foot by establishing or maintaining an active lifestyle. In addition to post-event refreshments, you will also receive a unisex Resolution Run jacket.
resolutionrun.ca
December 31, 6 pm–1 am
New Year’s Eve Bash DaVinci Centre
Ring in the New Year at the DaVinci with The Sensational Hot Rods. Tickets $75 and the event includes a buffet dinner, party favours, prizes, dancing, and more.
623-2415
December 31, 6:30–1 am
New Year’s Eve Dinner & Dance Italian Cultural Centre
Tickets are $65 per person and includes a four-course dinner, a late night snack, champagne at midnight, party favours, and music by DJ Michael Coccimiglio. Each table seats 10 guests.
office@italiancc.com
December 31, 7:30 pm–1 am
NYE Party in the Clubroom Branch 5
Enjoy a night of music from Pretty Decent at the Branch 5 Legion on New Year’s Eve! Tickets are only $30 and are available for purchase at the Legion in the Clubroom. Party favours, a light lunch, and champagne will be provided to all guests at midnight. Rides home will be available by donation.
344-2071
Until February 15, 2020
The North Now: Northern Ontario Juried Exhibition
Thunder Bay Art Gallery
Featuring art from across Northern Ontario, this multi-disciplinary juried exhibition provides a glimpse of the immense creativity, diversity and innovation by established and emerging artists living in the north of the province. See this month’s Art section for more info.
theag.ca
EVENTS GUIDE KEY
General Food Art Sports Music Film/Theatre
The Walleye Walleye
95 3
DecemberMusicGuide December 1 All-Star Karaoke
Port Arthur Legion Branch 5 3 pm • No Cover • 19+
Open Jam
Port Arthur Legion Branch 5 8 pm • No Cover • AA
December 2 Every Folk’n Monday Night with Mary Walker
December 7 Folk’n Saturday Afternoons with Mood Indigo The Foundry 1 pm • No Cover • 19+
Prelude to Christmas– Night Two St. Patrick High School 7:30 pm • $15–$30 • AA
James Boraski & The Momentary Evolution
The Foundry 7 pm • No Cover • 19+
Port Arthur Legion Branch 5 7:30 pm • $10 • 19+
December 3 Johnny Red “My Kind of Christmas”
St. Paul’s United Church 7:30 pm • $40 • AA
Thunder Bay Community Auditorium 7 pm • $40–$90 • AA
Open Mic
Cheer’s The Village Pub 8 pm • No Cover • AA
The Best Karaoke In TBay The Foundry 10 pm • No Cover • 19+
December 4 Lakehead Choral Group Presents: Spirit of Christmas St. Agnes Church 7:30 pm • $20 • AA
Danny Johnson’s Piano Bar Shooter’s Tavern 8 pm • No Cover • 19+
The Best Karaoke In TBay The Foundry 10 pm • No Cover • 19+
December 5 Jazzy Thursday Nights The Foundry 7 pm • No Cover • 19+
Open Jam
The Wayland 8 pm • No Cover • 19+
Prime Time Karaoke PA Legion Branch 5 8:30 pm • No Cover • 19+
Open Stage with Craig Smyth & Tiina Flank The Foundry 10 pm • No Cover • 19+
December 6 Prelude to Christmas– Night One St. Patrick High School 7:30 pm • $15–$30 • AA
Handel’s Messiah– Night One
St. Paul’s United Church 7:30 pm • $40 • AA
Blood Red Moon
Cheer’s The Village Pub 9 pm • No Cover • 19+
Big D’s DJ Battle ft Blackie Chan + DJ Villain The Foundry 10 pm • $5 • 19+
4 The Walleye 96
Handel’s Messiah Night Two
The 8th Annual HoHoHo Drag Show Black Pirates Pub 10 pm • $10 • 19+
December 8 All-Star Karaoke
Port Arthur Legion Branch 5 3 pm • No Cover • 19+
Open Jam
Port Arthur Legion Branch 5 8 pm • No Cover • AA
December 9 Every Folk’n Monday Night with Rodney Brown The Foundry 7 pm • No Cover • 19+
December 10 Open Mic
Cheer’s The Village Pub 8pm • No Cover • AA
The Best Karaoke In TBay The Foundry 10 pm • No Cover • 19+
December 11 Serena Ryder Christmas Kisses
Thunder Bay Community Auditorium 7:30 pm • $45 • AA
Danny Johnson’s Piano Bar Shooter’s Tavern 8pm • No Cover • 19+
The Best Karaoke In TBay The Foundry 10 pm • No Cover • 19+
December 12 Jazzy Thursday Nights with Martin Blanchet The Foundry 7 pm • No Cover • 19+
Open Jam
The Wayland 8 pm • No Cover • 19+
Prime Time Karaoke PA Legion Branch 5 8:30 pm • No Cover • 19+
Open Stage with Craig Smyth & Tiina Flank The Foundry 10 pm • No Cover • 19+
December 13 Phineas Gauge
Cheer’s The Village Pub 9 pm • No Cover • 19+
Morning Light w/ DJ Big D The Foundry 10 pm • $5 • 19+
December 14 Folk’n Saturday Afternoons The Foundry 1 pm • No Cover • 19+
December 19 Jazzy Thursday Nights The Foundry 7 pm • No Cover • 19+
Open Jam
The Wayland 8 pm • No Cover • 19+
Prime Time Karaoke PA Legion Branch 5 8:30 pm • No Cover • 19+
Open Stage with Craig Smyth & Tiina Flank The Foundry 10 pm • No Cover • 19+
TBSO Pops 3: Holiday Pops– Around the World
December 20 Sara-Kim Moran & Glen Jennings
Sunday Wilde & The 1 Eyed Jacks
The 7th Annual Eggnogger ft. The Bay Street Bastards
Thunder Bay Community Auditorium 7 pm • $12–$53 • AA
Port Arthur Legion Branch 5 8 pm • $10 • 19+
Greenbank w/ DJ Big D The Foundry 10 pm • $5 • 19+
The 7th Annual Heavy Metal Xmas
Cheer’s The Village Pub 8 pm • No Cover • 19+
The Foundry 10 pm • $5 • 19+
December 21 Folk’n Saturday Afternoons The Foundry 1 pm • No Cover • 19+
Black Pirates Pub 10 pm • $5 • 19+
Sydney Blu
December 15 Seisiun Ceoil Celtic Christmas
20th Annual Waxmas Throwdown
Sleeping Giant Brewing Co. 2 pm • No Cover • AA
All-Star Karaoke
Port Arthur Legion Branch 5 3 pm • No Cover • 19+
Tom Jackson’s Huron Carole Thunder Bay Community Auditorium 7:30 pm • $29–$49 • AA
Open Jam
Port Arthur Legion Branch 5 8 pm • No Cover • AA
December 16 Every Folk’n Monday The Foundry 7 pm • No Cover • 19+
December 17 Open Mic
Cheer’s The Village Pub 8 pm • No Cover • AA
The Best Karaoke In TBay The Foundry 10 pm • No Cover • 19+
December 18 Danny Johnson’s Piano Bar Shooter’s Tavern 8 pm • No Cover • 19+
The Best Karaoke In TBay The Foundry 10 pm • No Cover • 19+
Atmos 9 pm • $10+ • 19+
NV Music Hall 9:30 pm • $7 • 19+
Undercover w/ DJ Big D The Foundry 10 pm • $5 • 19+
December 22 All-Star Karaoke
Port Arthur Legion Branch 5 3 pm • No Cover • 19+
Open Jam
Port Arthur Legion Branch 5 8 pm • No Cover • AA
December 23 Every Folk’n Monday The Foundry 7 pm • No Cover • 19+
December 26 Jazzy Thursday Nights w/ Robin Ranger The Foundry 7 pm • No Cover • 19+
Open Jam
Open Stage with Craig Smyth & Tiina Flank The Foundry 10 pm • No Cover • 19+
December 27 Ron Kanutski Xmas Soberfest 2019–Night One Sister Margaret Smith Gym 7 pm • $25–$30 • AA
Scott Thiessen
Cheer’s The Village Pub 8 pm • No Cover • 19+
James Kruse
Atmos 9 pm • $5–$10 • 19+
Hunt & Gather w/ Thirsty Monks The Foundry 10 pm • $5 • 19+
December 28 Folk’n Saturday Afternoons The Foundry 1 pm • No Cover • 19+
Ron Kanutski Xmas Soberfest 2019–Night Two Sister Margaret Smith Gym 7pm • $25–$30 • AA
Us as Them: Bob Marley & the Wailers The Foundry 10 pm • $5 • 19+
December 29 All-Star Karaoke
Port Arthur Legion Branch 5 3 pm • No Cover • 19+
Open Jam
Port Arthur Legion Branch 5 8 pm • No Cover • AA
Soapboxer Holiday Bash Black Pirates Pub 8 pm • $7 • AA
December 30 Every Folk’n Monday The Foundry 7 pm • No Cover • 19+
December 31 Just Waylon New Year’s Event Port Arthur Legion Branch 5 (Imperial Hall) 7:30 pm • $30 • 19+
Brought to you by:
The Wayland 8 pm • No Cover • 19+
Prime Time Karaoke PA Legion Branch 5 8:30 pm • No Cover • 19+
For more info visit tbshows.com
LU RADIO’S MONTHLY TOP December Show Spotlight
2
The Monday Nightcap Hosted by Conor Chandler and Brett Holmberg Mondays from 11 pm– midnight From the classics of indie rock to fresh releases and everything in between, Conor Chandler and Brett Holmberg bring their late-night banter and stories to 102.7 fm every Monday night. As the last live show on the Monday schedule, they appropriately named their show The Monday Nightcap. Flatlanders through and through, Conor and Brett ventured east to Thunder Bay to attend Lakehead University and stumbled upon a chance to share their love of music on the airwaves of LU Radio. Originally billed as a garage rock hour, their show has expanded to encompass everything from slow indie jams to post punk, while focusing on up and coming artists. Recent favorites of the two include music from Car Seat Headrest, Dead Soft, Pup, and Twin Peaks.
Song of the moment: “River’s Edge” Surf Curse Heaven Surrounds You
20
Top 20 1
Men I Trust* Oncle Jazz Self-Released
Moon Duo Stars Are the Light Sacred Bones
3
Surf Curse Heaven Surrounds You Self-Released
4
The New Pornographers* In the Morse Code of Brake Lights Concord
5
6
7
8
9
Music
15 Begonia* Fear Rex Baby
2
Danny Brown U Know What I’m Sayin? Warp
4
John Coltrane Blue World Impulse!
16 Hey Major* The Station Indica
3
JPEGMafia All My Heroes Are Cornballs EQT
5
17 Bon Iver i,i Jagjaguwar
4
Elaquent* After Midnight Urbnet
Chelsea McBride’s Socialist Night School* Aftermath Self-Released
18 Metronomy Metronomy Forever Because Music
5
A.Y.E.* Soul Food: The Audiobiography Of... Makebelieve
19 Mauno* Really Well Tin Angel 20 The Hold Steady Thrashing Thru the Passion Frenchkiss
The Babe Rainbow Today 30th Century
Blue Hawaii* Open Reduction Internal Fixation Arbutus
2
Black Marble Bigger Than Life Sacred Bones
M83 Digital Shades Vol. 2 Mute
3
Brittany Howard Jaime ATO
Jacques Greene* Dawn Chorus Arts & Crafts
4
YUKA* Dreamscape Self-Released
Mister Lies Mister Lies Self-Released
5
SBK Kingdom of Sobek Self-Released
10 Peach Pyramid* Bright Blue Oscar Street 11 Dub Trinity* The Valley and The Lowlands Self-Released
1
Sampa The Great The Return Ninja Tune
Acid Arab Jdid Crammed Discs
Sandveiss* Saboteur Sexy Sloth
2
Ezra Furman Twelve Nudes Bella Union
3
Lochness* Black Smokers Urn Records
4
Mobina Galore* Don’t Worry New Damage
5
Red Arms* Critical State Yeah Right!
2
Delhi 2 Dublin* We Got This Inside Pocket/Warner
1
Kacy & Clayton* Carrying On New West
3
Guaxe Guaxe OAR
2
Catherine MacLellan* Coyote Self-Released
4
The Bongo Hop Satingarona Part 2 Underdog
3
The Bros. Landreth* ‘87 Birthday Cake
5
Mazacote* Patria Justin Time
4
Hiss Golden Messenger Terms of Surrender Merge
5
The Avett Brothers Closer Than Together Republic
Jazz 1
Baritone Madness* Baritone Madness Chronograph
12 Wilco Ode to Joy dBpm
2
13 Twin Peaks Lookout Low Grand Jury
Leslie Pintchik Same Day Delivery Pintch Hard
3
Andy Ballantyne* Play On Words G-B
14 Sam Weber* Everything Comes True Sonic Unyon
1
Folk•Roots•Blues
Hip Hop 1
Loud
International
Electronic 1
Nick Sherman* Made Of Self-Released
CILU 102.7fm’s Monthly Charts for this issue reflect airplay for the month ending November 19, 2019. Check out our weekly charts online at luradio.ca and tune in to the Top 20 Countdown, Mondays from 7 - 9 am. Keep it locked on 102.7fm - online streaming at luradio.ca
* Indicates Canadian Content
The Walleye Walleye
97 5
WeatherEye
December, Officially Winter Story by Graham Saunders, Photo by Keegan Richard
Mission Island Marsh Conservation Area
W
e have expectations of the various months of the year. It is not always the case, but chances are that July will be the warmest and January the coldest. Now we are entering December, the darkest month of the year. In Thunder Bay, December begins with 8 hours, 40 minutes of light per day and declines to eight hours, 22 minutes by the Winter Solstice (December 21)—the “shortest” day. This compares to more than 16 hours of light per day on the Summer Solstice in June. Of course, these numbers depend on highly predictable seasonal changes of the inclination of the earth towards the sun. Locations to the north of Thunder Bay have less light. For example, Fort Severn, the most northerly community in Ontario on Hudson Bay, has six hours, 57 minutes of daylight on the Winter Solstice. As with daylight hours,
98 The Walleye
temperatures also trend down at this time of the year. Average daily high and low temperatures are -3°C and -13°C as the month begins, and decline to -9°C and -23°C on New Year’s Eve. While December is the darkest month, it is seldom the coldest. Only about once per decade does December claim this status. The connections between the cold of winter and reduced heat from the sun are not simple ones. Average temperatures continue to decline for another month even after the sunlight begins to increase after the Winter Solstice. Record daily highs for December are usually near the beginning of the month, with the record of 12.2°C occurring on December 3, 1962. The record daily high on New Year’s Eve, at the other end of the month, is a mere 2.2° C. The record daily low for December was a frigid -39.6° C, set on December 31, 2013. Occasional melting
temperatures (above 0°C) take place in the first official month of winter, although the odds decline as the month proceeds. December 2018 was an exception, with nine days with melting scattered through the month. Last December was also exceptional because typical cold did not happen. Sure, people from southern Ontario or Australia would dispute this, but no minimum temperatures of -30°C or lower were recorded, and only three nights were colder than -20°C. This balmy report may conflict with readers’ memories of last winter. The mild winter persisted until January 18, 2019. The average temperature in December since the year 2000 is about 2°C higher than in the 20th century. In the 20th century the odds of having a “white Christmas” were 100%. The bar is set quite low, a mere 2 cm of snow on the morning of December 25. The odds are about 85% in the 21st century.
Based on Thunder Bay normals, 1971–2000, December has a total of 3.6 mm of rain, 44.1 cm of snow, and total precipitation of 37.5 mm. More recent normals are not available for Thunder Bay because of missing and compromised measurements, especially of snow. Based on estimates, total precipitation is about the same; rain has increased (11.2 mm) and snow has declined (27.7 cm). Looking at weather numbers from the past helps to define and make sense of present predictions. In the past 20 years, nine Decembers have been at least 2°C warmer than average, five at least 2°C cooler than average, and six near normal. Current predictions for this year (as I write this) are that both temperature and precipitation will be “near normal.” In all cases, enjoy the holidays and special days in the weeks to come.
flowers • plants
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Seasons Greetings! Judith Monteith-Farrell
MPP Thunder Bay—Atikokan
409 George St. Thunder Bay, ON P7E 5Y9 Tel: 807-622-1920 Toll-free: 1-833-673-4129 jmonteith-farrell-co@ndp.on.ca JudithMPP.ca
The Walleye
99
11TH ANNUAL CHARITY RUN & WALK
RUN FOR THE NORTHWEST SUNDAY FEBRUARY 9, 2020 LAKEHEAD UNIVERSITY HANGER
Unwrap the latest
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• Full-Marathon • Half Marathon • 10K Run/Walk • Kid’s Fun Run • Corporate Relay • School Relay
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DEADLINE TO REGISTER:
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I T ’ S N OT A C A R D.
I T ’ S A N I N V I TAT I O N . This year give a present that brings people together. After all, what are the holidays for? Keg gift cards are available at the Thunder Bay Keg.
Balmoral St & Harbour Expy | 807.623.1960 | kegsteakhouse.com 100 The Walleye
/CCFTB
Green
W
e all get excited, anxious, and inevitably overwhelmed with the thought of Christmas shopping: bustling through malls, reaching for the last Tickle Me Elmo, or rushing out on Christmas Eve, only to be left with an ugly Christmas sweater as your only gift-giving option. To eliminate all these holiday stresses, we have turned to the convenient, fast, couch-potato gift-giving experience through online, non-local, out-ofcountry shopping. But our addiction to internet shopping not only has an impact on our economy, but on our environmental footprint as well. We have all heard how important it is to shop local, especially about the economic impacts. When you support a Thunder Bay business, the money stays in our city and is circled back through the economy—it’s a win-win for everyone. What many of us may not realize is our cyber shopping habits not only have a negative impact on the local economy, but also a dramatic effect on our environment and natural resources. In 2017, Canada Post broke a record for the most parcels delivered in a day—1.83 million—and the online shopping-delivery trend continues to boom. Same-day or next-day delivery are considered the most inefficient and emission-hogging of all systems. Often delivery trucks are carrying minimal packages and travelling long distances to simply meet our “I need it now!” mentality. Have you ever returned an online order? Not only is your package taking a second trip, but often these items end up in a warehouse to be sorted and shipped out again to waiting
Click, Shop, Repeat! By Erin Moir, Program Coordinator, EcoSuperior
customers or to storage hubs. Online shopping also encourages impulse purchasing either to make it past the minimum purchase to qualify for free shipping, or simply because a cute ad pops up and entices us to make that extra purchase—more packaging, more fuel consumed, more objects designed for planned obsolescence and headed for the landfill. Online shopping is a growing contributor to transportation-related climate impacts. Christmas is an opportunity to disrupt business as usual and to raise the bar on climate positive
gifts. Have you considered gifting your loved one a local vegetarian cooking class? Not only do you support a local business, you learn tasty ways to move toward a plant-based diet (the number one thing individuals can do to reduce their carbon footprint). Looking for a more family-friendly event? Why not try a rock painting workshop? Get the crew together, paint, share stories, and enjoy creating pieces together that will decorate your own backyard. When we shop locally, we reduce emissions, we contribute to our local economy and we help give a local
business a happy new year! Consider the choices you are making—how you shop and where you shop are both important ways to work towards a healthier, greener future.
LUNCH & DINNER APPETIZERS PASTA TAKE OUT AND MUCH MORE! Contact Us for a quote today:
(807) 623-8775 or snpcatering.com The Walleye 101
TheWall
#phubbedbymom
Phubbing Through the Holidays Bill and Steve Had Limits, and So Should You By Darren McChristie
I
fell for it. I mean, how could I not? Apple’s marketing is so enticing and their latest iPhone has three lenses—two more than the one I bought last year, and I need those extra lenses. But, the purchase of my sleek new iPhone 11 (Pro—because I am one) couldn’t have come at a worse time. According to industry analysts, distracted driving peaks during the holiday season. Makes sense to me. The busier we are, the more we rely on our phones to help us stay organized. It’s safe to assume as we head into the busiest time of the year, our phone use will also see a spike. I will never stop marvelling at the capabilities of a smartphone. So much technology packed into a handheld device. So futuristic, in fact, that sci-fi movies never even imagined them (what about the flying car?). Phones are multifaceted
102 The Walleye
communication devices, and mine has surpassed the importance of my wallet—with the added bonus of having a limitless library of music. I never leave home without it. According to the latest figures from Statistics Canada, in 2017 there were 31.7 million mobile subscribers in Canada. On average, we spent 3.9 hours per day on our devices, mostly browsing the web. In the same year, the average user consumed a paltry average of two gigabytes a month (enough to binge on four hours of The Walking Dead). This year marks the first year in the United States that mobile use exceeded TV viewing, along with the new era of limitless data plans (Tbaytel, are you listening?). The headlines from mainstream media are sending us a clear message about our obsession with our phones. There is mounting research
that associates excessive use of digital media with negative effects on our physical, psychological, and social well-being. We know it’s bad, but we can’t help it. And, as it turns out, it’s intentional. The addictive nature of smartphones is without question by design. In 2017, Facebook’s founding president Sean Parker publicly revealed that the intention of the “like” button was to provide the users with “a little dopamine hit” and fulfill the objective: “How do we consume as much of your time and conscious attention as possible?” Since then, much has been written about the tech industry’s use of psychology to hook its users. When
I read that Bill Gates and Steve Jobs both raised their kids with limits on tech, I didn’t need any more convincing. Hours spent on a phone come at the expense of other activities. Our smartphone addiction has led to reduced productivity at work (up to an hour a day!), higher obesity rates, an epidemic of anxious children, and, perhaps least talked about, less face-to-face interaction. Look around your favourite coffee shop or restaurant and take a close look at how many people are using their phones in the company of others. Who hasn’t experienced the empty feeling of being “phubbed”—being snubbed by someone in a social setting when they choose to look at their phone instead of paying attention to you. We have become horrible dates. Inevitably, people will start using some common sense and society will establish some social norms and etiquette for the use of technology in public places. Until then, we must endure the painful phub, either personally, or as a witness to the widespread phubbing going on around us (you don’t need three lenses to see it). With the holiday season just around the corner, I am going to set some boundaries for the use of my shiny new iPhone 11. I’m not going to take it to restaurants or to family gatherings, I’ll leave the room if I need to take a phone call in public, and I’m going to set a screen time limit of two hours (sounds like a lot but it’s less than half the national average). And, heck, what’s good for the goose is good for the gander. Sorry, kids.
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PHIL BROWN
See yourself here.
Phil Brown has been involved with Special Olympics for over 25 years, participating in Powerlifting, Speed Skating and Track & Field. His favourite part is the freedom to do his best and not be judged. Thunder Bay 2020 will mark his 11th National Games.
Although never qualifying for World Games, Phil has had the honour of being Canada’s representative on the LETR Final Leg at the 2013 World Games in South Korea. His long-term goal is to represent Team Canada at the World Games.
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Jessica Cranton joined Special Olympics Nova Scotia 6 years ago in her local region of Annapolis County. Special Olympics is where she found her passion for figure skating. Jessica has attended both the 2015 and 2019 Canada Games. At the 2019 Canada Games in Red Deer, AB Jessica won the silver medal for Team NS.
Jessica is excited to train and prepare for her first SOC Winter Games in Thunder Bay.
Contact us: 807-343-8500
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The Walleye 103
Horoscopes By Sunny Disposish
Aries
Cancer
Libra
Capricorn
The colour of the ram is red, Aries, and there’s no better time than the present to be showing your jolly, cheerful self to the world right now. The Christmas spirit is high in your household, and with the help of Aunt Irma’s homemade punch, it’s going to get even higher. Revel in the festivities while you can, as it’s the last Festivus of the decade, and you may as well go out on a limb (not the holiday tree, mind, but a limb all the same).
A lot of Crabs will find themselves wanting to return home for Christmas this year. Hopefully some generous family members will be footing the fare, otherwise you might find yourself at a not-so-far-away island airport, trying to pull together all the loose change you have to check a bag and pay for a not-so-cheap tea. Just keep your eyes on the prize and focus on your three weeks of Mom’s home cooking. Bliss!
Playing Secret Santa at a soiree, Libra? Your sign is all about balance, and the holiday season is all about doing it all without overdoing it. Enlist the help of some younger fry or a neighbourhood kid to help with those niggling tasks. Expect the unexpected this season— when some unplanned family members turn up at your door, you’ll be the hostess with the mostess, waving them in without blinking an eye, and thanking your lucky stars you always buy a “spare gift” for under the tree.
You hard-working Goats swing into high gear in the holiday season. Suddenly, there’s not one but two new family members arriving for Christmas (and staying on afterward is negotiable)! Be accepting of new traditions and to-dos; the young people want to make some of their own memories as well. Enlist some sober siblings to do the clean-up, while you take your spouse and get some quiet time to let it all sink in.
Taurus
Leo
Scorpio
Feisty Mars flies into the sign of home and hearth, causing life to be a little on the topsy-turvy side. Take a break from the conventional and do what you want for a change. Obligations are just that, so make sure you carve out some time for you. It’s okay to pull down the shades and turn out the lights if you need a little time to recharge. If finances are making you feel Scroogish, there’s nothing wrong with gifts of the homegrown variety.
Check your list and check it twice, Bull. You don’t want to be leaving anyone out of your gift-giving this year, particularly the bleeding hearts at the office. Give the gift that keeps on giving (yep, I’m talking about the jelly of the month club) to the new receptionist who keeps on sobbing quietly at their desk. The office Secret Santa finally leaves you a gift after all these years.
Gemini Mercury is retrograding hard, my friendly Twins, and if you’d stop talking long enough, you’d see why your end of the cookie exchange went a little by the wayside. The amaretto was supposed to go into your shortbread, not your sipping cup. No matter! Give the burnt ends to the dog (or Uncle Ralph, who’s from out of town and doesn’t know any better) and wrap up those rugelachs even purdier—no one will be the wiser.
You’re not quite where you thought you’d be this year, Lion. That’s okay. Time to take stock and get back to Mother Nature. Take a walk in the closest winter wonderland and retrain your brain to get into positive spirits (a flask may help as well). Don’t wish the magical season away; rather, why not take the time out for some close family time in a cosy cabin with a roaring fire. Sip on some eggnog if it makes you feel better, and start making some new goals for 2020.
Virgo You’re feeling a bit of the razzle-dazzle this year, Virgo, and you’re loving every minute of it. The new moon swings into your sign mid-month, and you find yourself in the middle of the action at the office party, hosting the family gettogether, and even some New Year’s Eve festivities. Your energy is high and you are wrapping gifts like a whirlwind. Don’t forget to treat yourself to some self-care items; take some time out and go to a craft show.
You have a certain je-ne-sais-quoi this month Scorp, and although I don’t know what that is, your charm and charisma are at an all-time high. You find everything on your shopping list, you effortlessly move to the front of the line, you get all the parking spots, and that cute new bartender serves you the newest Christmas cocktail first. Watch out for over-indulging in and around the full moon, but otherwise this is the year to ring in champagne wishes and caviar dreams.
Sagittarius So much to do, so little time. When did December get here, anyway? You have until the 16th to get the tree up and the lights put on, so don’t delay. The honey-do list is long and far. Luckily, you Archers employ some excellent time management skills, and you have a real knack for pulling off the impossible without even breaking a sweat. Turn up the Elvis’s Blue Christmas and invite your neighbours over. It’s going to be a season to remember.
Aquarius
Pisces Did you find something weird in your stocking? Don’t worry, it’s probably one of the little kids playing a joke on you. Join a local caroling club and enjoy spreading the good cheer of yesteryore around the neighbourhood. It’s ok if you don’t know all the words—no one really does, anyway. Heave a sigh of relief that cousin Eddy has finally left and ring in the new year at a black tie event. Out with the old, in with the new. Happy new year to all and to all a good night!
ST. PAUL’S UNITED CHURCH May the soft Light and the stillness of winter forge a gentleness of Peace and Love for one another.
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Sunday Morning By Siobhan Farrell Snow slants down an unwrinkled fresh sheet on the roof I face pillowed grinning waking, unblinking, rested smooth, curled sideways snug cocooned inside my flannel sheets. Even this morning’s sullen sky does not stifle savouring this cozy indulgence of Sunday morning, listening to the earth breathe in and out. Lazily, I stretch with feline claws ousting my fat black cat toasting my feet, who gets all huffy, then slowly stalks up the bed to purr beside my face.
Habitual, digital illustration, boy Roland
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The Walleye 105
Jamming at the Blues Society's House Party
Darren McChristie
TheEye
106 The Walleye
T B AY ON
© Hansi Johnson
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