January 2023 by The Walleye Magazine

FILM FREE ARTS Vol. 14 No. 1 MUSIC JANUARY FOOD 2023 CULTURE thewalleye.ca

THUNDER BAY

The Walleye

Contents

Editor-in-chief Darren McChristie Editor Adrian Lysenko Senior Editor Tiffany Jarva Copy Editors Amy Jones, Bonnie Schiedel Marketing & Sales Manager Meagan Griffin sales@thewalleye.ca Photographers Jack Barten Anna Buske Kevin Dempsey Damien Gilbert Chad Kirvan Dave Koski Shannon Lepere Marty Mascarin Darren McChristie Sarah McPherson Lois Nuttall Laura Paxton Art Directors Steve Coghill, R.G.D. Dave Koski, R.G.D. production@thewalleye.ca Ad Designers Dave Koski Miranda van den Berg The Walleye is a free monthly publication distributed on racks throughout Thunder Bay and region. Reproduction of any article, photograph or artwork without written permission is strictly forbidden. Views expressed herein are those of the author exclusively. Copyright © 2023 by Superior Outdoors Inc. All Rights Reserved. Editorial and Advertising: Submissions must be accompanied by a selfaddressed, stamped envelope. Superior Outdoors cannot be held responsible for unsolicited material. Superior Outdoors Inc. 242 - 1100 Memorial Avenue Thunder Bay, ON P7B 4A3 Telephone (807) 344-3366 Fax (807) 623-5122 E-mail: info@thewalleye.ca

74 26 70

Dough Bagel Co

Lighting Up the Stage

58 56 92

FEATURES 9 Best of 2022 10 Food 12 Arts 13 City Scene 14 Living Green/Health 16 Music 17 Film and Theatre 18 And the Winner is…

68 33

Origins of an Esoteric Order

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FOOD 20 THE GRINNING BELLY 23 DRINK OF THE MONTH 25 SUPERIOR SIP 26 Dough Bagel Co 29 OFF THE MENU FILM&THEATRE 30 THE SECOND MOST PLEASURABLE THING WE DO IN THE DARK. A COLUMN ABOUT MOVIES 31 CONFESSIONS OF A DRAG DEALER 33 Down the Hatch 34 Dock Spider THE ARTS 37 FROM THUNDER BAY ART GALLERY’S COLLECTION 38 Jessica Mamakeesickt 40 A THOUSAND WORDS 42 Northern Art NOW

Stay Heart Healthy This Winter

Down the Hatch Where can I find The Walleye? thewalleye.ca/wherecan-i-find-the-walleye/ Ad Deadline for our February Issue January 11th

TheTOPFive

OUTDOOR 44 Exploring Northwestern Ontario in a Hot Tent CITYSCENE 46 SECOND CHANCES 48 Pantry Project Brightens Lives 49 GO LOCAL THUNDER BAY COUNTRY MARKET 50 This is Thunder Bay 52 Budget Watch 53 EYE TO EYE: With Thom Currie

58 61

WALL SPACE: Wolfhead Coffee The Archeology of a Local Finnish Homestead STUFF WE LIKE CANNABIS CORNER

GETAWAY 62 Authentic Winnipeg MUSIC 64 Live at Loch 66 BURNING TO THE SKY 68 12 Gauge Prayer 69 TBSO PROFILE 70 Lighting Up the Stage 73 Origins of an Esoteric Order 74

OFF THE WALL REVIEWS

ARCHITECTURE 76 The Former Immanuel Lutheran Church 78

Tbaytel January EVENTS GUIDE

LU RADIO'S MONTHLY TOP 30

TATTOOED YOU 82 A Spoon for The Spoon Theory GREEN 84 Looking Back, Looking Forward 86 Hope We All Have 89 LET'S GET GROWING 90 Growing Strong for 100 Years HEALTH 92 Stay Heart Healthy This Winter THE WALL 94 A Truth About Twitter 96 98

THE BEAT THE EYE

The Walleye

From Our Instagram Feed

Going for Gold

n public school I was highly competitive when it came to science fairs. Every year students created science projects to be shown and judged. The cream of the crop were awarded bronze, silver, or gold medals. And if you were part of that top tier, you competed in the regional competition, and if you won gold there, you’d go to nationals. My projects included inventing an electrical outlet cover so infants couldn’t pull out plugs and a shovel specifically designed for tree planting. I received gold at regionals two years in a row and was lucky enough to compete at nationals in Regina and then in Timmins the year after. It could be the rose-coloured glasses, but as competitive as I was, at nationals, I wasn’t as concerned if I’d place or not. It was more about making new friends who shared similar interests and seeing what cool projects other students had created. Speaking of the cream of the crop, every January we present the results of our annual Best of Thunder Bay survey. Starting in October, we put together 162 questions and let our readers vote for their favourites. The survey is an

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excellent opportunity for our readers to check out those familiar and unfamiliar names, and potentially discover a new favourite. As part of the cover story, we profile some of the winners you may or may not know. Keeping with our Best Of theme, film columnist Michael Sobota shares his favourite films of 2022 and pommelier and sommelier Jeannie Dubois provides some of the year’s best offerings. Also in our January issue, we go Eye to Eye with Magnus Theatre’s artistic director Thom Currie, Tyler Sklazeski goes on a winter camping adventure in Quetico Provincial Park in our Outdoors section, and Amy Sellors gets a sneak peek at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery’s NWO NOW Juried Exhibition. Looking back on my science fair days, I feel like our annual Best of Thunder Bay survey is like nationals. Sure, we award first, second, and third place, but with so many artists and businesses to choose from, this exemplifies how vibrant our arts and culture scene is. And that’s as good as gold, in my opinion. Happy new year and all the best for 2023! -Adrian Lysenko

In Error

On page 94 of our December issue (Vol. 13 No. 12) Alienatör’s album Regrets was misidentified as Ruins.

Featured Contributor

Meagan Griffin

Born and raised in Thunder Bay, Meagan toured the globe after obtaining a BA in psychology from Lakehead University and has lived in Banff and the United Kingdom. But with no place like home, she returned to the city in 2013, shortly before joining The Walleye family. As the magazine’s sales and marketing manager, Meagan is passionate about the arts, culture, and supporting local. When she’s not managing her son’s hockey team or acting as the board fundraising director for the Live from the Rock Folk Festival, you’ll find her spending time with her two boys, enjoying live music, and watching U.K. football (or soccer, for our Canadian readers).

On the Cover

Best of 2022 by Sonya Lacroix

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KINDERGARTEN EVENT: WHERE HOPES AND DREAMS BEGIN!

Lakehead Public Schools is excited to welcome new students in September 2023! Join us for our Kindergarten Event: Where Hopes and Dreams Begin! Date: Monday, January 30, 2023 Time: 6 pm Location: École Elsie MacGill Public School gymnasium (130 Churchill Drive West) Visit lakeheadschools.ca for details, activities, and prizes! @LakeheadSchools @LakeheadSchools @LakeheadSchools 6

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Waterfront District’s

TheTopFive

1 ELVIS Forever January 8

Thunder Bay Community Auditorium Local talent Daylin James pairs up with the Pink Cadillac Orchestra for a night of burnin’ love in the ELVIS Forever tribute show. Starting at 7:30 pm at the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, James sings and dances his way through the many eras of Elvis’s life, covering all the timeless and beloved classics. This isn’t your average Elvis impersonator, either—James was voted the Canadian National and International Elvis Tribute artist Grand Champion (judged by Elvis’s own cousin, Donna Presley). With the voice, the style, the moves, and even some of the King’s signature humour to boot, James provides audiences with a sincere—and, most importantly, fun—night of Elvis celebration. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster at $43 (plus service fees). tbca.com

Northern Lights: 2 TBSO Rise with Sara Kae

3 Dock Spider

January 20 & 21

January 26–February 11

The Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra is partnering with local Indigenous musician Sara Kae for two nights of music, harmony, and culture. Held at the Italian Cultural Centre, the concert features Kae, who uses her lived experiences as an Indigenous woman in Thunder Bay to tell stories of identity and culture through music. Her latest single, “Rise,” speaks to her own journey of empowerment, resilience, and healing. With lyrics in both Cree and English, her music has a distinct and authentic sound that celebrates her unique heritage; combined with the sounds of the TBSO, this is one concert that is sure to wow. Tickets are $20 each and both shows start at 7:30 pm. tbso.ca

Kick off the new year with a brand new, world premiere show at Magnus Theatre: Bonnie Green’s Dock Spider. Showing from January 26–February 11, this comedy/ thriller tells the story of two men stranded alone on a dock in the middle of a remote lake. The circumstances surrounding their abandonment are mysterious, but what is obvious is the mistrust the two characters have for one another. With a guarded, gun-slinging local stuck with an urban, elitist hedge-fund manager, this is far from your classic castaway tale. Tickets are $35 each, with a variety of evening and matinee shows throughout the show’s run. magnustheatre.com

Magnus Theatre

Italian Cultural Centre

They’re Going Places Comedy Tour

January 27 & 28 5 Forks Restaurant

Abbas Wahab

What better way to break up the long winter season than a night of laughter? Enjoy some delicious local food while listening to three renowned Canadian comedians at the They’re Going Places comedy tour on January 27 and 28. Hosted by 5 Forks Restaurant, the comedy show will feature three up-and-coming comedians as they travel across the country: Abbas Wahab, Moe Ismail, and Jesse Singh. While all three hail from the Greater Toronto Area, they each bring their unique perspective on diversity, immigration, and life in Canada for a hilarious, action-packed night of fun. Tickets are $20 online or $25 at the door, with two shows on each night (8 pm for the early birds and 10 pm for the night owls). abbaswahab.com

5 Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour

January 29

Thunder Bay Community Auditorium

Experience the “world’s best mountain films” at the Banff Mountain Film World Tour, held on January 29 at the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium. The show begins at 7 pm and will feature a selection of films in a range of styles and themes, curated by the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. The focus of these films—as the name suggests—revolves around the vast and varied experiences of mountains around the globe, and they provide viewers with breathtaking visuals of climbing, skiing, kayaking, biking, and culture. These films will resonate with anyone who appreciates (and celebrates) mountain culture, sports, environment, and adventure, and exploration. Tickets are $24. banffcentre.ca/banffmountainfestival/tour

The Walleye Walleye The

710 BAL MORAL S TREE T

F RE SHAIRE XP ER I EN C E.C A

skate oR classic, we’ve got you flying with our nordic ski collection

a portion of all clothing sales in january is donated to ithsmus thunder bay 8

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CoverStory

Best of 2022 In 2022, let’s just say that doing your best often required more than the usual amount of imagination and determination. The Walleye’s 11th annual Best of Thunder Bay issue celebrates the individuals, businesses, and organizations that stood out for their hard work this year in 162 categories that range from “best tacos” and “best hairdresser” to new ones like “best place to camp” and “best beadworker.” Congrats to all! We also thank our readers— each and every Top 3 result in the following pages is there because you took the time to vote for your local favourites. As we kick off 2023, consider showing some love for your go-tos and discovering something new as well. Cheers! - Bonnie Schiedel

Wake The Giant Music Festival 2022 Photo by Lucas Augustyn

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CoverStory Food 1. Best Finn pancakes

8. Best Coney sauce

1. Westfort Coney Island

1. Niva’s Restaurant 2. Kangas Sauna 3. Tina's Breakfast and Lunch

2. Best coffee

1. St Paul Roastery 2. Bay Village Coffee* 3. Calico Coffeehouse

2. Nippers Takeout 3. Hodder Greeks

3. Best tea

9. Best pizza

4. Best breakfast

10. Best fries

1. International House of Tea* 2. Calico Coffeehouse 3. Dolce Coffee House 1. Rooster’s Bistro* 2. Tina's Breakfast And Lunch 3. Niva’s Restaurant

5. Best bakery

1. Sweet North Bakery

1. Both Hands Wood-Fired Pizzeria & Bakery 2. Eat Local Pizza* 3. Tomlin Subdivision 1. Prospector Burger Barn* 2. Hodder Greeks 3. Beefcake’s Burger Factory

11. Best perogies

1. Beefcake’s Burger Factory 2. Prospector Burger Barn* 3. Tomlin Restaurant

18. Best veggie burger

12. Best cabbage rolls

6. Best butcher/deli

1. Maltese Grocery* 2. Agostino’s Deli (tie) 2. Tim's Meats Deli & Grocery (tie) 3. European Meats & Deli

7. Best appetizers 1. Tomlin Restaurant 2. The Sovereign Room 3. The Foundry

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13. Best wings 1. Chicago Joe’s* 2. On Deck 3. The Tilted Turret Pinball Pub

14. Best nachos 1. Madhouse* 2. The Foundry 3. On Deck

15. Best taco

1. Norteños Taqueria* 2. El Tres 3. Eat Loco Tacos

1. Bonobo’s Foods*

Keegan Richard

2. Holland Bakery* 3. Swell Bakery

1. The Sovereign Room* 2. The Tilted Turret Pinball Pub 3. Hodder Greeks

17. Best burger

1. Port Arthur Polish Hall Limited (Court Street South)* 2. London Variety 3. Polish Legion Branch #149

1. Port Arthur Polish Hall Limited (Court Street South)* 2. Royal Canadian Slovak Legion Branch #129 3. Polish Legion Branch #149

16. Best poutine

2. Tomlin Restaurant 3. Madhouse

19. Best sweet potato fries 1. Madhouse* 2. The Foundry 3. Daytona’s (tie) 3. The Sal (tie)

20. Best prime rib

1. Prospector Steak House* 2. Tony & Adam’s 3. The Keg Steakhouse and Bar

Best Noodle Bowl

Phuong Pham serving a noodle bowl

Golden Wok

Story and photo by Adrian Lysenko

he ter m “noodle bowl” can refer to several different types of dishes. But in Thunder Bay, it refers to bún th ịt nướng, which translates to “noodles and grilled meat” in Vietnamese. The dish contains a tasty medley of rice noodles, spring rolls, peanuts, a salad made of cucumbers, carrots, and lettuce, and a choice of beef, chicken, pork, shrimp, or tofu (for a vegetarian option). Phuong Pham and Phong Ngo created their version of the dish six months after they opened Golden Wok in 2000. Although the dish is popular in Vietnam, Pham says at first there was some hesitancy from customers to try it. But in a couple of years, it started catching on, and since then has become one of (if not the most) popular items on the menu. When asked why she thinks the dish has become such a hit (and

even replicated by other restaurants in the city), Pham's answer is simple. “Because it’s good,” she says. “The main thing is because it’s good but everything is fresh too.” She also points out that her husband, Ngo, is the only one at Golden Wok who marinates the meat for the dish. And to top things off, the noodle bowl is served with a special sauce for pouring over the bowl. “The sauce is like what we eat at home too,” she says. “People ask for the recipe but I tell them to ‘go online.’ If you eat it a lot and you can cook, you’ll know how to mix it.” With Pham and Ngo's children helping out as servers, Golden Wok is truly a family-run business. They’re bringing traditional recipes from Vietnam while putting their unique spin on them—something that has clearly resonated with locals.

CoverStory 1. Tony Roma’s 2. Prospector Steak House* 3. Red Lion Smokehouse

22. Best fried chicken

1. The Sovereign Room* 2. Tomlin Subdivision 3. Dawson General Store

25. Best dessert

31. Best mocktail

1. Dolce Coffee House* 2. Sweet North Bakery 3. Tomlin Restaurant (tie) 3. Caribou Restaurant + Wine Bar (tie)

1. Tomlin Restaurant* 2. Barkeep 3. The Tilted Turret Pinball Pub (tie) 3. Woodside Bar (tie)

26. Best ice cream/gelato

32. Best business lunch

1. Prime Gelato*

1. Madhouse 2. Daytona’s 3. Bight Restaurant & Bar*

23. Best sandwich

33. Best quick lunch

1. Nomad Bakeshop & Sandwich Bar

1. Madhouse 2. Nomad Bakeshop & Sandwich Bar 3. The Growing Season* (tie) 3. Rebel Salad (tie)

When people talk about Nomad’s sandwiches, their eyes light up. Freshly baked bread (sourdough, rye, cheese loaf, focaccia, and more) and quality local ingredients at their custom sandwich bar mean you can have your sammie made exactly the way you want it—and really, how often do you get to say that in life? For proteins, choose from everything from housemade summer sausage (crafted with beef and pork from Sandy Acres Farm), turkey, house-smoked pastrami, or roasted tofu to Thunder Oak Cheese Farm smoked gouda or Walkabout Farms sheep’s milk feta. Top it all off with parsley pesto, pickled banana peppers, marinated eggplant, hummus, caramelized onions, mixed greens, veg-e-tate pea shoots, housemade bomba sauce, and much more. To really make it epic, opt for toasting in the sandwich press to make all the savoury flavours sing in harmony. Yum. -Bonnie Schiedel

2. Maltese Grocery* 3. Agostino’s Deli

24. Best soup

1. The Bean Fiend Cafe and Sandwich Bar 2. In Common* 3. Fox On The Run Lunch & Coffee Bar

*2021 winner

34. Best sushi

27. Best mixed drink

1. Wasabi Japanese Restaurant* 2. Tokyo House 3. Osaka Sushi

1. Tomlin Restaurant 2. Barkeep* 3. Woodside Bar

35. Best pasta

28. Best locally made beer

1. Nook

1. Border Run Cream Ale – Dawson Trail Craft Brewery

29. Best beer selection

1. Sleeping Giant Brewing Co.* 2. Red Lion Smokehouse 3. The Sovereign Room

30. Best wine list 1. Caribou Restaurant & Wine Bar* 2. Tomlin Restaurant 3. Lot 66

1. Royal Aleppo Food 2. Best Bite Shawarma* 3. Good Life Foods Co.

1. Pinetree Catering 2. Salt & Pepper Private Catering* 3. Daytona’s

40. Best smoothie

50. Best roastery

41. Best salad

51. Best patio

42. Best vegetarian/vegan restaurant

52. Best new restaurant 2021–2022

1. The Growing Season* 2. Kelly’s Nutrition Centre & Juice Bar 3. Epic Cones 1. Rebel Salad* 2. The Growing Season 3. Madhouse

1. Bonobo’s Foods* 2. The Growing Season 3. Rebel Salad

36. Best bon bon spareribs 1. Mr. Chinese* 2. Chinese Express 3. Oriental Garden

37. Best noodle bowl

1. Golden Wok 2. Oriental Garden 3. Thai Kitchen*

38. Best Indian restaurant 1. Masala Grille* 2. Monsoon 3. Indian Bistro

1. St Paul Roastery* 2. Rose N Crantz Roasting Co. 3. Wolfhead Coffee

1. Nook 2. Bar Italia 3. Bight Restaurant & Bar*

1. Tomlin Subdivision

43. Best kidfriendly restaurant 1. Wacky’s* 2. Daytona’s 3. The Sal

44. Best restaurant

45. Best fine dining 2. Bar Italia* 3. Giorg Cucina e Barra

2. Northern Logger – Sleeping Giant Brewing Co.* 3. Bae’s Haze – Dawson Trail Craft Brewery

49. Best caterer

1. Tomlin Restaurant* 2. Seler Restaurant & Wine/Bistro One Restaurant 3. Caribou Restaurant + Wine Bar

Sarah McPherson

Jack Barten

2. Dolce Coffee House 3. Epic Cones (tie) 3. Merla Mae Drive-In (tie)

39. Best Middle Eastern restaurant

1. Tomlin Restaurant* 2. Seler Restaurant & Wine/Bistro One Restaurant 3. Giorg Cucina e Barra

46. Best pub food 1. Madhouse 2. The Sovereign Room* 3. The Foundry

47. Best food truck/trailer

1. Mini Donut Shoppe* 2. Local Motion (Pinetree Catering) 3. Epic Cones

48. Best take-out 1. Thai Kitchen* 2. Village Market 3. Growing Season

Jack Barten

21. Best ribs

It’s not surprising that Thunder Bay has embraced Subdivision as their favourite new restaurant, with its airy Detroit-style pizzas featuring unique toppings like mac and cheese and potato pancetta, as well as riffs on classics like Hawaiian and Margherita. “Tomlin Subdivision is the misfit younger sibling of our flagship restaurant,” explains manager Krista Hansen. “A fun place where those ‘Aha!’ moments in regard to food inspiration and preparation are embraced. Cheeseburger pizza? Why not?!” Hansen says that in 2023 they will run on the same mindset: keeping their staff creative and the appetites of regular and new patrons satisfied. In addition to pizza, you can also try a freshly made sub, salad, or any of their tasty snacks like arancini, pork belly, or chicken tenders. Think about slipping next door to the hip space that houses the Lakehead Beer Company to pair your food with some tasty locally brewed beer. -Tiffany Jarva

2. The Tilted Turret Pinball Pub 3. Seler Restaurant & Wine/Bistro One Restaurant

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CoverStory Arts 57. Best book 2021–2022

1. Sonny’s Big Game by Maya Saggar (tie)

62. Best drag queen/king 1. Ivan Love 2. Amber Ail 3. Lady Fantasia LaPremiere*

63. Best public art installation 1. City traffic signal boxes

1. The Sugar Thief by Nancy Mauro (tie) 2. Struggling To Be Well by Keith Vanderwees (tie) 2. When I Listen to Silence by Jean Pendziwol (tie) 2. Five Stalks of Grain by Adrian Lysenko (tie)

Anishinabe Miijim, Miigwech Moos made of home tanned moosehide, glass beads, and thread

Best Beadworker

58. Best photographer

Jean Marshall By Tiffany Jarva

ean Marshall has been beading for more than 20 years. “My mom showed me a basic applique technique as a teen,” explains Marshall. “I began to focus on beadwork in my mid-twenties. It started out of necessity. I was unemployed and started doing markets, festivals, and powwows.” Master beadworker, Elder Elsie Kwandibens, gave her some advice when she was first starting out, says Marshall. “She said to keep practising; she said this could be my bread and butter. I listened to her and kept practising.” Fast forward a few years and Marshall is now an awardwinning artist who founded the Anemki Art Collective (2015–2020) and has also curated several exhibitions including Their Breath in Beads at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery (2019), the Northwestern Ontario Spotlight for Indigenous Fashion Week Toronto (2020) and was co-curator for the Piitwewetam exhibition 2021 at the Thunder Bay

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Art Gallery. “Learning to do beadwork offered me sobriety. It allows me to sit with myself, to quiet my mind, body, and spirit,” says Marshall. “As a beadworker, it is also about sharing your skills and transferring knowledge. Beading represents Anishinaabe resilience and cultural value. It is a beautiful way to be expressive.” Marshall says that she enjoys making moccasins, mittens, bags, and earrings. She doesn’t do custom work or take orders because she feels like it takes away from the creative process. “I am happiest to simply make it without having a plan,” she explains. “Beadwork always looks pleasing to the eye, but it is the process that is intriguing to me. The story, the feelings, the energy that goes into a creative piece is a treasure from the maker because it is theirs to tell or not to tell.” Check out Jean Marshall’s stunning beadwork @marshall.childforever on Instagram.

53. Best server

1. Mel McLuckie (Tomlin Restaurant)* 2. Marie Skaf (The Sovereign Room) 3. Jayda Ernsting (The Eddy Restaurant)

54. Best bartender 1. Onur Altinbilek (Black Pirates Pub) 2. Marie Skaf (The Sovereign Room) (tie) 2. Kerri Anderson (The Tilted Turret Pinball Pub) (tie) 3. Donato D’Angelo (Tomlin Restaurant)*

55. Best barista

1. Mickey (St Paul Roastery) 2. Chris Talarico (Carlito's Cafe) 3. Melody (Bay Village Coffee)

1. Jamie Dawn Photography* 2. Flashback Photo 3. Incompass Photography

59. Best videographer

1. Westfort Productions* 2. Epica Pictures 3. Apple Wagon Films

60. Best visual artist

1. boy Roland 2. Bianca Gascoigne 3. Christian Chapman (tie) 3. Vik Wilen (tie)

61. Best makeup artist 1. Bianca Artistry Make-up*

64. Best art exhibit 2021–2022

1. Panarchy - Bianca Gascoigne (Co.Lab Gallery & Arts Centre) 2. Don’t forget to die - boy roland (Co.Lab Gallery & Arts Centre) (tie) 2. Woodland Pop (Thunder Bay Art Gallery) (tie) 3. To Be A Pretty Boy Print - Oat Milk Lady (Co.Lab Gallery & Arts Centre)

65. Best clothing designer 1. Ungalli Clothing Co.* 2. Wild Badger 3. Majesty Makings

66. Best potter

1. Black Dog Ceramics* 2. Be Natural Pottery 3. Sweet Earth Ceramics

67. Best crafter (sewer, woodworking, knitting etc)

56. Best head chef 1. John Murray (Red Lion Smokehouse) 2. Joe Sposato (Tomlin Restaurant) 3. Steve Simpson (Tomlin Restaurant)*

2. Maamawe Art Bus 3. Cooke Street murals

2. Jaime Morrison Makeup 3. Bree Mary Artistry

1. Knits by Nat* 2. Spirit of the Forest 3. Majesty Makings *2021 winner

CoverStory 68. Best tattoo artist

71. Best dance studio

1. Meg Niittynen (Ink Factory Tattoos)

1. Legacy Dance Co. 2. SS DANCE 3. Morgan's School of Highland Dancing

78. Best weekend getaway

1. Mink Mountain Resort*

72. Best dance instructor

For 14 years, Meg Niittynen has been a staple in the Thunder Bay tattoo scene, and if you have seen the scope of her work (or have been lucky enough to score a tattoo yourself), it is no surprise why. Her style is incomparable; blending elements of both watercolour and Trash Polka tattooing, her large, colourful pieces (complete with graphics, lettering, and calligraphy) often dance between realism and surrealism. After 10 years at Underground Ink, Niittynen opened up her own shop— Ink Factory Tattoos— where she is still working today. She credits the support of the community for her success, especially after a devastating loss she suffered in 2018. “Being from Thunder Bay is very amazing. The support I have experienced in my life from clients and people of Thunder Bay is unbelievable,” she explains. “Especially when I lost the love of my life, Mark Tuhkanen, in 2018. I am so honored to be able to do what I love every single day. To now focus solely on large colour tattoos of subjects I absolutely adore on amazing clients is a dream come true.” -Kelsey Raynard

2. Remy Chunick (Identity Tattoo and Piercing) 3. Vanessa Presenger (Studio four four nine)

1. Amanda Commisso 2. Avery Marshall 3. Presley Kuoppa-Aho

74. Best Thunder Bay-ism 1. “Persian”* 2. “Shag” 3. “Camp”

75. Best place to people watch

1. Prince Arthur's Landing at Marina Park* 2. Intercity Shopping Centre 3. Goods & Co. Market

76. Best walkable neighbourhood 1. Bay/Algoma* 2. Northwood 3. Downtown Port Arthur

1. Prince Arthur's Landing at Marina Park

Once again, TBay has voted Mink Mountain Resort on Lake Superior as the best weekend getaway, and manager Cathy Frederickson isn’t surprised. “People love the short drive from the city to a magical, serene experience like no other,” she says. “We have built up a wonderful clientele with many repeat visitors year after year.” The resort has six year-round waterfront rental cottages—all with outdoor hot tubs—and there are plans to add four more. The main lodge has three hotel-like rooms with spectacular views, and there is a bar and grill that is popular for weddings and special events. “People come to experience nature at its finest. All our trails are for hiking and snowshoeing enthusiasts and, of course, there is the wildlife!” -Michelle McChristie

2. Rose Valley Lodge (tie) 2. Lutsen Resort (tie) 3. Sleeping Giant Provincial Park

79. Best hairdresser

1. Kristyn Schmerk (ALTR Hair Studio)* 2. Jerry Decicco (Evoke Salon & Spa) 3. Amanda Benincasa (Evoke Salon & Spa) (tie) 3. Jules Carlson (Drift Day Spa) (tie)

80. Best barber

1. Bryan Fresco (The Barber Shop)* 2. Cosimo Salerno (Cosimo's Barber Shop) 3. Joe Slyford (Rebel Barbers & Company) (tie) 3. Jake Loroff (Rebel Barbers & Company) (tie)

Anna Buske

70. Best dancer

City Scene

77. Best place to impress a visitor

69. Best piercer

1. Alex Cummins (Identity Tattoo and Piercing) 2. Matt Bressmer (Creation Body Piercing)* 3. Tabatha Andreason (Creation Body Piercing)

1. Jean Marshall 2. Sheila Demerah 3. RedBear Beading

2. Sleeping Giant Provincial Park 3. Kakabeka Falls*

1. Sue-Ann Fortier (Terra Nova Salon & Day Spa) 2. Isabella Muia (Botanica Luxury Spa and Salon) 3. Brandon Woodbeck (Esthetics by Brandon Woodbeck)

82. Best day spa

1. Candi Badanai 2. Sara Sorrell 3. Heather Morgan

73. Best beadworker (new category)

81. Best esthetician

1. Drift Salon/Day Spa* 2. Pure Salon and Day Spa 3. Terra Nova Salon & Day Spa

83. Best clothing store

90. Best podcast 1. Thamichaelated 2. The Pandemic Party Variety Show 3. The Dog Classroom

91. Best elected politician 1. Patty Hajdu* 2. Brian Hamilton 3. Lise Vaugeois

92. Best local humanitarian 1. Jim Stadey*

1. Mars Clothing 2. The Loop 3. Ungalli Clothing Co.*

84. Best market vendor

1. pie.ology* 2. Red Door Metalworks 3. North Shore Jewelry/ Wild Badger

85. Best general/ country store

1. Dawson General Store* 2. Silver Islet General Store 3. A.J's Trading Post

86. Best window display 1. The Loop 2. The Kitchen Nook 3. Ritual Skin Co.

87. Best blog

1. Bay Awesome 2. Getting Lost on The 49th (tie) 2. 52 Steps to Reconciliation (tie)

88. Best tweeter 1. Jamie Smith (@ JamieSmith807)* 2. Jon Thompson (@ JonSThompson) 3. Damien Gilbert (@ dmangilbert)

89. Best Instagrammer

1. Tegin Menei (@teginlee) 2. Damien Gilbert (@ dmangilbert) 3. Gaudy Grandma (@ gaudygrandma)

Jim Stadey is definitely no stranger to topping this list, with the local restaurateur winning Thunder Bay’s choice as best local humanitarian for the fourth year in a row. The CEO of Eat Local Pizza has a long history of philanthropy in Thunder Bay through Eat Local, including making no-cost pizzas for mothers on Mothers’ Day and for the community at large on Christmas Eve, significantly donating to the installation of the Pride crosswalks at Bay and Algoma, and replacing a tree that was vandalized at the Simpson Street community garden planted in memory of a community member who passed away. This past year, Stadey and his family, through Windy Lane Farm, raised over $2,500 (and collected food) for Dew Drop Inn and the Rural Cupboard Food Bank at a December fundraiser, and he and Eat Local donated to the Kelly Mental Health Foundation’s spring fundraising gala (Stadey is a board member). “Thunder Bay has supported me and my family and business through being very tiny to doing well enough that we can look after each other,” he says. “I grew up on a farm and my whole life has been about feeding people, […] from my mom and my dad and my grandparents, it’s just what we’ve always done.” -Matt Prokopchuk

2. Peter Panetta 3. Michael Quibell (tie) 3. Jayal Chung (tie) 3. Brian Hamilton (tie)

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CoverStory 2. Bay Street Bastards* 3. Phoebe the Feeb

97. Best grassroots organization

1. Roots to Harvest* 2. Rainbow Collective of Thunder Bay 3. Evergreen A United Neighbourhood

99. Best indoor wedding venue

1. Wacky’s 2. On Deck 3. Boston Pizza

100. Best outdoor wedding venue 1. Stepstone Centre 2. Rose Valley Lodge 3. Fort William Historical Park*

Thamichaelated Show By Kelsey Raynard

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101. Best real estate agent

93. Best local activist

1. Wendy Siltamaki* 2. Vince Mirabelli 3. Melissa Thompson (tie) 3. Neil Irwin (tie)

1. Jason Veltri* 2. Jim Stadey 3. Brian Hamilton

102. Best hotel

94. Best radio personality

1. Delta Hotels by Marriott Thunder Bay* 2. Valhalla Inn 3. Best Western Plus Nor'Wester Hotel & Conference Centre

1. Danny Foresta 2. Trent and Dee 3. Brad Hilgers

95. Best comedian

103. Best place to take a selfie

1. Mark Menei 2. Chris Mulawyshyn 3. Aaron Gee

1. Hillcrest Park

96. Best busker

106. Best place to watch the game

107. Best local NHL player

1. Eric Staal* 2. Jordan Staal 3. Matt Murray (tie) 3. Robert Bortuzzo (tie)

108. Best athlete 1. Hannah Gula 2. Molly Carlson* 3. Andy Noga (tie) 3. Payton Day (tie) 3. Kayla Kjellman (tie)

109. Best cannabis store

1. Toke House (tie) 1. Canna Cabana (tie) 2. Tokyo Smoke 3. Kia Ora

Living Green/Health 110. Best outdoor adventure business 1. Fresh Air*

1. Arden Bruyere

Darren McChristie

demeanor and laidback attitude are undoubtedly a large part of the show’s success. No matter the guest, listening to Thamichaelated Show feels like sitting in on a conversation between two good friends. “I just love to connect with people, to understand people, and to inspire people. The show only exists because people come on and they trust that this platform is a safe place to talk and connect. I am so thankful to every person that comes on.” In addition, Westermann gives credit to his assistant Mohit, who has played an important role in the podcasts’ growth. You can watch the show’s live stream every Monday and Wednesday on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts (Spotify, Apple, etc.) every weekend. And of course, like and subscribe to support Themichaelated Show—“but only if you really like it!” Westermann laughs.

Keegan Richard

f you have been looking for a podcast that highlights the wealth of interesting and talented people in our city, then look no further than Thamichaelated Show by Michael Westermann. Over the course of the past two and a half years, Westermann has featured countless local artists, business owners, and community members on his podcast to talk about… well, everything, really! Wester mann, who emigrated from Germany in 2006, says that highlighting and celebrating the diversity of Thunder Bay is extremely important for the podcast. It comes as no surprise, then, that his biggest inspiration is the myriad of people who call Thunder Bay home. “Diversity is really important to me,” he explains. “I want to give people a platform where they can share why they’re here and what they do.” Westermann’s friendly

105. Best place to play pool

98. Best place for a shag

1. The Chanterelle* 2. Valhalla Inn 3. Italian Cultural Centre

Best Podcast

1. Northern Lights Golf Complex 2. Whitewater Golf Club* 3. Fort William Golf & Country Club

1. Shooter’s Tavern 2. On Deck 3. Black Pirates Pub

1. Moose Hall 2. CLE Heritage Building 3. CLE Coliseum Building*

Michael Westermann

104. Best golf course

2. Marina 3. Kakabeka Falls

2. Sail Superior 3. Outdoor Skills and Thrills *2021 winner

CoverStory

2. Marina Park 3. Vickers Park

112. Best playground

1. Boulevard Lake 2. Centennial Park 3. Marina Park*

113. Best antique store

1. Sleeping Giant Antiques* 2. Black Cat Antiques

114. Best local food producer

1. Heartbeat Hot Sauce Co.* 2. Sleepy G Farm 3. A Gluten Free Harvest

115. Best locally made products 1. Heartbeat Hot Sauce Co.* 2. Majesty Makings 3. Lovely Body (tie) 3. Thunder Oak Cheese Farm (tie)

116. Best health food store

1. Kelly’s Nutrition Centre & Juice Bar 2. Tim’s Whole Health* 3. Compass Foods

117. Best place for a bike ride

Daniel Fiorito

1. Boulevard Lake

2. Centennial Park 3. Shuniah Mines/ Trowbridge

118. Best hiking trail

122. Best personal trainer 1. Andy Noga 2. Jamie Oakenfold 3. Amy Slemko*

123. Best gym/ fitness club

1. Movati Athletic 2. Industrial Athletics* 3. Push Fitness Centre

124. Best yoga studio

1. The Bodymind Centre* 2. Modo Yoga 3. Ananda Studios

125. Best yoga instructor

1. Erin May 2. Mia Mickleburgh 3. Debbie Zweep (tie) 3. Kimberly Veneziale (tie)

126. Best place to camp (new category) 1. Sleeping Giant Provincial Park

1. Top of the [Sleeping] Giant Trail* 2. Cascades Conservation Area 3. James Duncan Nature Trail

119. Best place to mountain bike (new category) 1. Shuniah Mines/ Trowbridge 2. Centennial Park 3. Sleeping Giant Provincial Park

120. Best day paddle

1. Hazelwood Lake* 2. Sleeping Giant Provincial Park 3. Boulevard Lake

planbstrik9

B 2. Quetico Provincial Park 3. Neys Provincial Park

127. Best reason to live in Thunder Bay 1. Nature/outdoors*

121. Best group fitness instructor

1. Andy Noga 2. Jamie Oakenfold 3. Gillian Whybourne (tie) 3. Katie Kuoppa-Aho (tie)

Best Rap Artist By Justin Allec

Adrian Lysenko

Darren McChristie

1. Centennial Park*

The recent upgrades around Boulevard Lake have certainly been impressive. The dam has been completely redone, so its two lanes can now handle all the weekend traffic. The allnew accessible playground is delightful, as are the upgrades to the beachfront. Even the mini-putt has been vastly improved with new ownership. Great additions, overall. What Boulevard is known for, though, is the gentle, five-kilometre paved loop. However fast you want to go, the trail offers prime views of Current River, the industrious north shore of Lake Superior, and plenty of forest. Take in sculptures, watch out for the disc golfers, and zoom by the dog-walkers—there’s plenty of trail for everyone. And once you’ve done the loop, it’s easy enough to transition from Boulevard’s trail to other areas, be it downtown Port Arthur, the gravel pathways behind the Lakehead Psychiatric Hospital, or a quick jaunt through the Bluffs to up to Centennial Park’s vast network. -Justin Allec

Anna Buske

111. Best urban park

2. The people/community 3. Cost of living

en Murray, also known as rapper planbstrik9, has been an active force in the city’s rap community since the release of his six-track EP Sinister Substance in 2018. That collection of songs served as the city’s introduction to the rapper’s style: hardhitting verses, socially aware lyrics, and a willingness to spit rhymes that deal with the darkest parts of his experiences. As someone in recovery from addiction, planbstrik9 also wrestled with his place as an Indigenous artist in an often-uncaring city once known as the murder capital of Canada. The choruses are catchy as hell, but the real attraction is his clever wordplay and clear storytelling—bridges are burned and no stone is left unturned. Detailing the spiraling tragedy of addiction as well as the triumphant crawl back to life, Sinister

Substance was a showcase for where planbstrik9 had been, but also where he was going. Briefly slowing down over the pandemic, the rapper has kept busy since then collaborating with other local rap outfits. His parts on IBLV Dreamers’ EP Spooky Dreamers takes planbstrik9’s usual clarity and feeds it through a nightmare of psychedelic production to produce something truly unsettling. For a completely different flavour, check out how he drops into the funk-fueled freak-out of Phineas Gauge’s “C-Monkey” track. Awash in slap-bass and urgent horns, the rapper shows that he knows how to ride beats with the best of them. Keep an eye on his Bandcamp links and Instagram, because planbstrik9 doesn’t rest for long.

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CoverStory 3. Bernie Wolski

Music 128. Best recording studio

1. Dining Room Studios 2. Lionheart Sound Co.* 3. Blueprints Music & Audio

129. Best album 2021–2022 1. In My Blood - Altamadum

135. Best keyboardist/ pianist

1. Elle Kay 2. Jean-Paul De Roover 3. Richard Tribe

136. Best DJ

1. DJ Big D* 2. DJ Sugarman 3. Michael Vecchio

137. Best solo artist

1. Ryan Redemption 2. Chris Talarico 3. Dallas

138. Best rock band

Best Music Instructor Katherine Nemec By Matt Prokopchuk

atherine Nemec has seen her long-standing passion for music blossom into an evolving and rewarding career. After teaching voice at Coran’s Music Education in Thunder Bay, Nemec is now branching out, offering instruction on her own. Nemec, who received her Bachelor of Music at Lakehead University in 2020 and followed up by completing her Bachelor of Education, says she’s loved music her whole life, but really started pursuing it seriously in high school. “I started taking band classes and music classes and I started to kind of see it as more of an option for my future,” she says. “So when I went into university is when I really kind of [dove] in head first.” Nemec started teaching back in 2017 at Coran’s, and she says it was that experience that convinced

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her to shift her career goals from teaching music in a school classroom to teaching privately. “I never really considered private lessons until I met Debbie Coran, and she offered me a job at that time,” Nemec says. “I fell in love with it. I loved being able to personalize each lesson for each student and build these connections and help people learn to do things that a lot of people have said that they wanted to do forever.” Now that she’s striking out on her own, Nemec says she wants to continue to help people discover their talents “for as long as I can.” “I would get students who were upwards of 60 years old coming in, like ‘I’ve wanted to do this my whole life, I was always too scared,’” she says. “So that’s what made me realize that there’s a want for this and a need for this.”

1. The Honest Heart Collective* 2. Page 38 3. Petty Thieves 2. Our Dear Finale Along the Lines 3. Madness - Dallas

139. Best folk group

130. Best music video 2021–2022

1. Sunday wilde 2. Greenbank* 3. TBay Trad

131. Best singer

1. Teknosis 2. Norris 3. Railgun

1. “Depart” - The Fixer 2. “Sippin’” - Dallas 3. “Night Terrors” - Railgun 1. Nancy Freeborn 2. Ryan MacDonald* 3. Jaime Morrison

132. Best guitarist 1. Travis Doggett 2. Riley Cummine 3. Kai Siltamaki

133. Best bassist 1. Ryan Redemption

140. Best metal band

141. Best rap artist

1. planbstrik9 2. Webby D/Webster Death 3. Kofi AK

142. Best jazz act 1. Mood Indigo* 2. Robin Ranger 2. Mark Potvin

143. Best punk band

1. Bay Street Bastards* 2. Forever Dead 3. Wrong Odds 2. Dan Zadkovich 3. James Cole

134. Best drummer

1. Jimmy Wiggins 2. Colin Craig

144. Best electronic act

145. Best blues act 1. Sunday wilde* 2. The Roosters 3. Brother John

146. Best choral group

1. Sounds of Superior Chorus 2. Dulcisono Women’s Choir 3. Fort William Male Choir (tie) 3. Thunder Bay Symphony Chorus* (tie)

147. Best country band 1. Back Forty* 2. The Scott van Teeffelen Band 3. The JB Band

148. Best cover band

1. Undercover* 2. Back Forty 3. Bay Street Bastards

149. Best music instructor 1. Katherine Nemec 2. Denise Krawczuk* 3. Theresa Thibert

Film and Theatre 150. Best film 2021–2022

1. Out of Time - Pablo Balboa, director (tie) 1. We’re All In This Together - Katie Boland, director (tie)

151. Best film director 2021–2022

1. Damien Gilbert* (tie) 1. Curtis Jensen (tie) 2. Pablo Balboa (tie) 2. Matt Popowich (tie) 2. Jennifer Weller (tie) 2. Chris & Kirsten Kosloski (tie)

1. RKill 2. Miss Temperance 3. Sydney Blu* *2021 winner

CoverStory 152. Best film festival

1. Terror in the Bay Film Festival*

156. Best actress 1. Tegin Menei 2. Jaime Morrison 3. Nancy Freeborn

157. Best actor 1. Daniel Hannah 2. Chris Talarico* 3. Robert Perrier

158. Best virtual event

1. Campfire Comedy 2. The Craft Revival* 3. The Pandemic Party Variety Show

159. Best new event

1. Campfire Comedy 2. Country on the Bay 3. Boreal Ultimate Music Society’s Summer in the Parking Lot

160. Best festival 1. Wake the Giant

Sarah McPherson

For the last three years, our readers have crowned Terror in the Bay as their favourite film festival. Festival director and filmmaker Chris Borgo and organizers got the idea when they screened one of their horror films to a full house at Maple Tops Paramount Theatre. “I knew at that moment we had a community full of diehard fans of the horror genre,” Borgo says. “Some people, including myself, love to be scared. Our senses are heightened, breathing increases etc., and after viewing a horror film any positive emotions we have is strengthened.” After attending several film festivals across North America, Borgo took specific notes, spoke with festival organizers, and thought it would be a good idea to start an annual event in Thunder Bay in 2017. Since then, the film festival has showcased some of the best indie horror films from around the world. -Adrian Lysenko

2. Vox Popular Media Arts Festival 3. Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival

2. Country on the Bay 3. Pride Fest

153. Best theatre production 2021–2022

1. Live on the Waterfront

161. Best free event

154. Best theatre director 1. Candi Badanai* 2. Tegin Menei 3. Thom Currie

155. Best theatre troupe 1. Badanai Theatre 2. Paramount Live 3. Magnus Theatre*

All summer long, Wednesday nights belong to Live on the Waterfront. There are few better ways to spend a golden evening than kicking back and listening to live music with an unparalleled view of the Sleeping Giant and sailboats skimming around the harbour. In 2022, Live on the Waterfront made a most welcome full return after a pandemic hiatus, and the calibre of the acts made it

Best Actress Tegin Menei

By Michelle McChristie

F Jack Barten

1. The Marvellous Wonderettes Badanai Theatre 2. The Addams Family Badanai Theatre 3. The Runner Magnus Theatre

Tegin Menei with her husband and best comedian, Mark Menei

rom Tegin Menei’s first foray into theatre, it was love at first sight. At age 12, she got the part of Marta in FWCI’s production of The Sound of Music. “The role combined everything I loved to do— singing and dancing, plus telling a story,” she says. In high school, Menei drifted away from acting because there were not a lot of opportunities. It was the death of a close friend in 2019 that led her to realize that “tomorrow is not guaranteed. You have to make the most of everything.” At the time,

she had been toying with the idea of auditioning for Badanai Theatre’s production of Little Shop of Horrors, so she decided to go for it, “I didn’t expect to be cast, but got the lead role.” Since then, Menei has acted in every one o f B a d a n a i T h e a t re ’s productions, and also co-directs Paramount Live’s seniors. Her time is volunteered, since both groups are not-for-profit. I t ’s o b v i o u s f ro m h e r enthusiasm that Menei loves every minute of it. Through theatre, she has

met many of her closest friends, like her co-stars in the 2022 production of The Marvelous Wonderettes. Menei is quick to credit Lawrence and Candi Badanai for their dedication and for building such a welcoming community. For those on the fence about whether to dip their toe into theatrical waters, Menei’s advice is “you have to show up—you can’t think about it and wait for motivation. […] There is a spot for everyone,” she says. “There is this beautiful feeling when you’re in the theatre, to see how it moves the audience. Every night is a different show and just to have a piece of that in your life is so rewarding.” Menei is currently rehearsing for Something Rotten, which hits the stage in February.

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CoverStory

And the Winner is…

hard to believe it’s actually a free event. Last year, TBayers and visitors grooved to local acts like The Honest Heart Collective, Mood Indigo, Tin Pan Alley, Tim Albertson, and Sean Skiez, and got to know Indigenous cellist Cris Derksen, the neo-folk group Aerialists, and hip hop artist Haviah Mighty, among others. With a children’s matinee featuring storytime with local drag artists and a fireworks display to wind things up, Live on the Waterfront 2022 really did offer something for everyone. -Bonnie Schiedel

or our 11th annual readers’ survey, we included your new (and some old) favourites in the city. While readers had their say, voters were entered into a draw for an all-inclusive package for four. This year’s package, sponsored by the City of Thunder Bay and Porter Airlines, includes two vouchers to fly to Thunder Bay from Porter, as well as $2,500 worth of gift certificates for the survey-winning hotels, restaurants and attractions. John Laco is this year’s lucky winner. Born and raised in Thunder Bay, he’s currently studying civil engineering technology at Confederation College. Laco’s hobbies include anything musicrelated or anything he can get better at, as he loves learning. He participated in

2. The Craft Revival 3. Pride Street Fest

162. Best question we forgot to ask 1. Best gluten-free food 2. Best comedy club 3. Best jewelry maker

John Laco

Why VW? It’s time for a change That‘s why. Jetta Highline

Tiguan Highline R-Line

Downtown Volkswagen 591 Central Ave Tel. 807-344-9700 downtownvw.com

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the survey because he had never made the list, despite being an incredibly busy drummer. “My late mother, Lisa Laco, won Best Radio Personality a few years in a row, and I thought it would be good to keep the Laco name on the board,” he says. And as for his favourite thing about Thunder Bay? “What's not to love? Our commitment to local products, restaurants, charities, and arts is nothing short of admirable,” he says. “There are a lot of great people doing great things here—something Mom was always proud of. Also, the 10-minute drive across town is pretty sweet.” Thank you to the City of Thunder Bay and Porter Airlines for the generous sponsorship and congratulations, John!

Cozy up to a brand-new VW Order your Volkswagen today Taos Highline

Atlas Execline

Cross Sport Execline

You are needed Your opportunity begins here Fully-funded training opportunities in: Home and Community Support Worker (HCSW) Personal Support Worker (PSW)

• Tuition, books and supplies at no cost for qualified applicants • Guaranteed jobs after graduation • Flexible school schedules • New programs starting January 23, 2023

A P P LY N O

confederationcollege.ca/hci The Walleye

Food

Avgolemono Soup Serves 6

1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil ¾ c finely diced carrots ¾ c finely diced celery ¾ c finely chopped green onions 2 cloves garlic, minced

Squeeze the Day!

THE G GRINNIN Y L BEL

By Chef Rachel Bayes

vgolemono (ahv-go-LE-mono) soupa—Greek for egg (avgo) and you guessed it, lemon (lemóni)—is a most delightfully fragrant and comforting bowl full of love that’s sure to shake off the TBay January chills. This dish’s silky and creamy taste is miraculously achieved without the addition of butter or cream, but with good chicken stock, rice (or orzo), fresh lemon juice, and eggs. You can pare it down to just those four basic ingredients (with a little seasoning), but I like to throw shredded chicken and some veggies in mine to round it out for a quick weekday one-pot meal, accompanied by bread, salad, and lots of freshly ground pepper. Tempering eggs might seem daunting, but fear not! Here’s how to do it like a pro:

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• • • • •

•

Take the stock pot off the heat Beat together lemon juice and eggs in a medium-sized bowl While whisking continuously, spoon a ladleful of hot stock into the lemony-egg mixture Repeat with another ladle or two Reverse the process, whisking the stock pot continuously while you pour in the tempered eggs back in Return the stock pot to the heat, stirring occasionally until the soup thickens, and don’t let it boil, or it may split (curdle)—if that happens, you can still eat it, but it won’t have that silky mouthfeel we’re after

In a large, heavy pot, heat olive oil on medium-high. Add the carrots, celery, and green onions, toss together to sauté briefly, then stir in the garlic.

8 c chicken stock 2 bay leaves

Add the chicken broth and bay leaves, then raise the heat to high.

1 c rice

Once the liquid has come to a rolling boil, add the rice and turn the heat to medium-low. Simmer for 20 minutes or until the rice is tender.

2 cooked boneless chicken breast pieces, shredded (In a hurry? 6 to 8 oz of a store-bought rotisserie chicken will work)

Stir in the cooked chicken.

½ c freshly-squeezed lemon juice 2 large eggs Salt and pepper, to taste

To prepare the egg-lemon sauce: in a medium bowl, whisk together the lemon juice and eggs. While whisking, add 2 ladles of the broth from the cooking pot (to temper the eggs). Once fully combined, add the sauce to the chicken soup and stir. Remove from the heat immediately, season, and eat!

P P A Y H

New Year and Congratulations to the Waterfront District Winners of the 2022 Walleye Best Of!

SESSION D’INFORMATION INFORMATION SESSION École catholique Franco-Supérieur

ÉSC de La Vérendrye

220, rue Elgin

175, rue High Nord Soirée de transition vers la 7e année

19 janvier à 18h30 807 344-1169 • fs.csdcab.ca

ecolefrancosuperieur

6 février à 18h30

Soirée de transition vers la 9e année

7 février à 18h30

807 344-8866 • escdlv.csdcab.ca

escdelaverendrye

Haven’t spoken French in a while? Not sure if your child is eligible? Come to the information session or give us a call. We would love to talk to you about the possibilities for your child.

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s ’ k r a P l a c i r o t iam H is

n r i a v a C l r e t n i W r u e g a y o V 8, 19 & 20

ll i W t r Fo

1 y r a u r b Fe

Enjoy a weekend of fun, family-friendly activities, contests and entertainment!

Visit fwhp.ca for details Paid for by the Government of Ontario 22

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The Arctic Azure Lot 66

Story by Jeannie Dubois, Photo by Adrian Lysenko

he quiet hum of contented conversation always greets you as you walk in the door at Lot 66, followed by the soft waft of flavourful food and a gracious host who duly ushers you in. The undulating ceiling is gracefully lit with ambient light on the way to the bar, where the inimitable Devon is ready to shake up his winter cocktail creation. Served in the very elegant coupe glass (purportedly styled after Marie Antoinette’s bosom), the Arctic Azure hits all the right notes for a cool boreal drink to be consumed at a warm and cosy bar. The rich and turbid

Food

DRINK OF THE MONTH

plum blue hue is enticing in the glass, with a cool skewer of fresh blueberries to set it off. Somehow, it packs it all in on the palate with warm round notes from the Canadian whisky, tundra-esque notes of herbal garrigue from the Amaro and bitters, a dollop of berry jamminess from the blueberry preserve and Cassis, and a bright twist from the lemon in the finish. If winter was always as satisfying as the Arctic Azure, you could count me in for a second round. Lot 66 66 Court Street South 683-7708

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International Baccalaureate Programme

Are you... Curious Enthusiastic about learning Looking for challenges Motivated Internationally minded Searching for leadership and volunteer opportunities? ....Then the IB Programme might be for you!

To learn more about the IB Programme at Superior CVI, visit superior.lakeheadschools.ca. IB WORLD SCHOOL Ms. Karen Watt IB Coordinator (807) 625-4001

Superior CVI 333 High St. N Thunder Bay, Ontario superior.lakeheadschools.ca

International Baccalaureate Programme Aiming to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. | ibo.org

Academic Integrity — Intellectual Promise

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New Year, Old Finds

Food R SUPERIO SIP

The Best Drinks of 2022 By Jeannie Dubois, Certified Pommelier and Sommelier

Pet Nat and Orange Wine

The ongoing darling of vin naturel, which continues to trend strongly, Pet Nat (short for Petillant Naturel) is a naturally sparkling wine produced in one continuous process in-bottle. Its delicate bubbles, lower ABV and round aromatics make it both flavourful and foodfriendly. Orange wine is the still sibling of Pet Nat and is very popular, again for its old-school approach to winemaking, which allows for white grapes to macerate (have skin contact) with the pressed juice for days or weeks. This creates the signature complex aromas and amber hue that are so unique and desirable in the wine.

Think:

Living Roots Wine & Co. Finger Lakes Cayuga Pet Nat 2019 $35.60 for 750 ml

Southbrook Vidal Skin Fermented White Orange Wine 2020 $29.95 for 750 ml

n a blink, another year has passed, and we have the whole of 2023 to look forward to, ensconced here above our beautiful harbour on the north shore. As with the cycles of the natural world, trends rise and fall, wax and wane, and if you’ve been looking at it long enough, everything that is old becomes new again at some point. Reflecting on the year past,

Co-Fermented and Hop Specific Beer For some, beer is beer is beer. However, if you take that malt bill (fermentable grains) and kick it up a notch by adding other fermentables such as wine grapes or full fruit and berries to the tank, you end up with a completely different (and exciting) animal. Sometimes dicey but mostly enticing, this persistent trend is still making taste tracks. Conversely, if you’re looking for a more hop-driven beer, brewers are conscientiously letting consumers in on their trade secrets and often list specific hop varieties. You can hone in on the hops you love and may even luck out on a single hop edition featuring your favourite variety. Think:

Blood Brothers Brewing Paradise Lost $6.50 for 473 ml

Bellwoods Brewery Monogamy Mosaic

$5.00 for 473 ml

the forward momentum that has brought some very new ideas to the fore and some very old concepts to light has a delightfully renaissance appeal to it, a trend which hopefully continues. Here’s to looking back at what created a spark in the year past and what will carry us into a brave new year!

Progressive and Cross Fermented Cider

Ready-to-Drink and Spritz Cocktails

Think:

Cider has taken some tough knocks for being considered a sweet, fruity bev in the past, and while that can sometimes be true, some forward-thinking producers are now actually looking back at more traditional styles that are drier and reflect more aspects of the fruit. Enter some interesting old world-style ciders that can be cool, funky, and downright refreshing. Think cider is only for apples? As in the beer world, that singular cider fruit is making way in ferments for other additions to create new hybrids that bridge the gap between single variety apple cider and other delicious drinks such as wine, beer, and yes, even spirits.

Revel Cider Mithras (cider made with foraged sassafras)

Since we can’t all have the lovely staff at Barkeep around to whip us up our favourite cocktails at will, the ready-to-drink trend stands us in good stead on our stay-at-home nights. The bottled and canned cocktails that are now available have levelled up and are being put out by some top-shelf producers. All that’s required is a cocktail glass, some ice, and the appropriate garnish, et voila! Looking for something lighter? Seltzers have had their day in the sun (they are good on sunny days), however, there was a slight shift back to more spritzy style offerings that are just as light and bright to bring back that breezy summer feel.

Dillon’s Manhattan

$22.95 for 4 x 125 ml

$5.00 for 355 ml

Loch Mor Cider Company Bootlegger Whiskey (Scotch barrel-aged cider) $12.00 for 500 ml

Muskoka Lakes Cranberry Splash Wine Spritzer $3.75 for 355 ml

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Food

Dough Bagel Co Mixed and Baked Fresh Daily By Jack Barten

essica Stolz is a former employee of the nowclosed The Bagel Store. She eventually left the store to pursue a career in mental health, but with an unexpected layoff due to the pandemic, she had the idea to venture back into bagels with a new store. With the idea set, Stolz messaged former Bagel Store owner Betty Bastiancich to receive her blessing on opening the spiritual successor—and use some classic recipes. Bastiancich agreed and came on board to help open and work in the shop. Stolz then secured the former Golden Bakery location on James Street and spent the next six months refining and perfecting the concept to form Dough Bagel Co. “My late baba used to always say, ‘It’s all in the dough,’ whenever she would make her famous pierogies and pies for the family,” Stolz says when asked about the name of the shop. This philosophy really shows that it’s the most basic elements that

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bring the magic to a good bagel. Every day, dough mixers Aaron Stolz and Richard Gunn mix dough for the next day. Bagels are then proofed at room temperature, then placed in the fridge for a final cold proof for up to 24 hours. The team at Dough Bagel Co prepares almost 1,500 bagels every day— which, when one considers that they only opened their doors on November 8, 2022, shows that this town was truly craving some artisanal bagels. “The bagels are made with minimal ingredients and have no additives or preservatives in them,” Stolz says. “The dough is also vegan, aside from any that contain cheese or chocolate.” It’s clear that the team at Dough Bagel Co cares about their products and craft. Visit Dough Bagel Co at 1500 James Street South, Unit 4, or find them on Facebook and Instagram @doughbagelco.

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Food

Bean Fiend

E OFF TH U N E M

Cosmic Chicken Wrap

Story and photo by Jack Barten

ne of the all-time Port Arthur coffee/ lunch classics, the Bean Fiend Cafe and Sandwich Bar is a name that many are familiar with. Owner Brian Hamilton and his staff have been slinging food and beverages in the Bay and Algoma district since 2010. The location originally started off as Red Earth Imports, and Hamilton would travel the world and bring back wares to sell in the shop. “On one

of my trips I brought back all this crazy furniture. And I couldn't sell it so I didn't really know what to do with it,” Hamilton says. One day he and a friend organized all the imported furniture into cafe seating, and the rest was history. Each element that makes up the Bean Fiend feels like a natural progression, from the decor to the coffee and menu items. Everything came from either Hamilton's life or a former staff member who left a mark on the

business. This has finally led us to Bean Fiend’s January feature, owner Brian Hamilton's own signature Cosmic Chicken Wrap. “It's something outside of our menu for whenever I want something a little different.” Hamilton says on the subject of how the wrap came to be. With local Hooligan hot sauce, housemade roasted red pepper aioli, roasted chicken, beans, rice, cheddar and havarti cheese, and banana peppers all on a

tortilla, this wrap has all the makings of a classic lunch staple. The spicy hot sauce and peppers are balanced by the creamy havarti cheese, made even more complex by a subtle TexMex flavour from the beans and rice. Overall, this wrap feels at home amongst the regular Bean Fiend menu items. It’s like a natural evolution of someone's favourite lunch, and this month it might just become yours.

“It's something outside of our menu for whenever I want something a little different.”

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FilmTheatre

Favourite Films of 2022 By Michael Sobota

THE T D MOS SECONURABLE S PLEA G WE THIN HE DO IN TK DAR A COLUMN ABOUT MOVIES

I just want to know I did one good thing in my life! -Charlie (Brendan Fraser) in The Whale

t is always challenging to assemble a list of great films, reflecting back on the past year. As the deadline for this column approaches, many of this year’s interesting titles have not yet appeared either on the big screen or streaming platforms. I have, however, watched more than a hundred films this past year and here is the list of my favourites. Each of these contains things that I like: great writing, credible stories with characters I can believe in and care about, clear and focused directors, actors who help me believe in the story rather than in themselves, great cinematography, and musical scores that accelerate my viewing experience. All lists like this are highly subjective. This list is alphabetical.

The Banshees of Inisherin

Writer/director Martin McDonagh gives us the best screenplay of the year. There are three scenes (at least) that elevate this movie into cinematic splendour. When the central characters—lifelong friends Pádraic (Colin Farrell) and Colm (Brendan Gleesan)—meet in a village pub, Padraic doesn’t know they are no longer friends. Set in a rural farming environment on an island just off the coast of Ireland, these first five minutes of the movie tell us everything we need to know about the drama that will unfold. Colm tells Pádraic in a simple, clear statement “I don’t like you anymore.” As the desperation in their separation develops, toward the middle of the film we get a scene where Paderic has a long speech about niceness, about “being nice.” It is one of the finest acting moments Colin Farrell has ever given us. And finally, in the last third of the film, a young, mouthyyet-wise teenage villager, Dominic (Barry Keoghan), makes a clumsy pass at Pádraic’s sister (beautifully performed by Kerry Condon). It is the quintessential experience of vulnerability, being turned down by a first love. Add stunning cinematography by Ben Davis and a haunting, lyrical score by Carter Burwell and this is clearly a winner.

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Moonage Daydream

The title comes from David Bowie’s 1971 song. Writer/director Brett Morgen has assembled two and a quarter hours of documentary footage that takes us on the life journey of David Bowie. Morgen received permission from Bowie’s wife, the model Iman, to incorporate private, previously unseen footage. While the film is not a cinematic biography, we do see the arc of Bowie's life with glimpses from his early television appearances, touring, concert footage, and personal interviews. I did not know a lot about his early career (his glam rock period), but when we arrived at “Space Oddity” and heard him singing those haunting lyrics I was fully engaged. Morgen edits this story in a frantic space and we only get to experience a couple of Bowie’s major hits at full length. It is in the quieter, more intimate moments that we learn the threedimensional depth of the artist, musically, sexually, and spiritually. The film is made for and intended to be seen on big screens.

The Whale

This is a hard film to experience. The central character, Charlie (Brendan Fraser), is an overweight school teacher. Written more than a decade ago as a stage play by Samuel D. Hunter, who adapted his play to the screen, the film has immediate currency as Charlie teaches online, from his home, where he is tethered and eating himself to death. Director Darren Aronofsky says he waited ten years to find the right actor to play Charlie. Brendan Fraser will open your heart in his carefully focused, detailed performance. We meet Charlie’s ex-wife (Samantha Morton) and his daughter (Sadie Sink), but Charlie is also a gay man and he is confronted by a young Mormon missionary (Ty Simpkins) to “repent” and return to the church before he kills himself. This cast is a high-octane performance engine that delivers Hunter’s script at full speed. Cinematographer Matthew Libatique does, at times, belabour the weight issue, but that is not what the film is about. It also features a fine music score by Rob Simonsen.

Wildhood

This first feature film from writer/ director Bretten Hannam won him a nomination for the 2022 Canadian Screen Award for Best Film. Shot in Mi’kma’ki (Nova Scotia), with gorgeous, nuanced cinematography by Guy Godfree, it is a coming-ofage story about two brothers, Link (Phillip Lewitsiki) and Travis (Avery Winters-Anthony). Subject to both physical and mental abuse by their father, who told them their mother was dead, they flee their home when they find out she is still alive. The movie becomes a journey story to find her. Enroute they encounter Pasmay (Joshua Odjick) and the story ratchets up to an exploration of sexual and cultural identities. Hannam has assembled another strong ensemble with deeply engaging, nuanced performances. All of this is supported and elevated by original music from Neil Haverty.

And here are six more titles that, while I haven’t experienced them as yet, they are all 2022 movies and on my must-see list as we enter 2023: Clement Virgo’s Brother, Lukas Dhont’s Close, Todd Field’s Tár, Chinonye Chukwu’s Till, Ruben Östlund’s Triangle of Sadness, and Sarah Polley’s Women Talking.

FilmTheatre

(L-R) Story Time co-hosts Lady Fantasia LaPremiere and Mz. Molly Poppinz

Story Time with Drag Queens (Rated G) By Jimmy Wiggins

he LGBTQ+ community has been fighting for equal rights for as long as anyone can remember, and although today’s queer youth don’t necessarily face all the same challenges and obstacles as their elders, the fight for equality is far from over. Homophobia and bigotry are still rampant across the globe. At the forefront of this battle have been drag queens and kings who are seen by many as figureheads of the queer community. They’re loud and proud performers whose form of expression is essentially giving the middle finger to a society stuck on

what a man and woman should or shouldn’t be. It’s about as punk rock as you can get. So when news stories started to break around the world a while back that political groups were protesting and attacking events where drag queens were reading to kids and making wild accusations and false claims of grooming, pedophilia, or sexualizing children, it was to no surprise for anyone in the queer community. Story Time with Drag Q u e e n s ( S T W D Q ) , o r, depending on your region, Drag Queen Story Hour or Reading With Drag Queens, was started in 2015 in San Francisco by

author and activist Michelle Tea. The premise is exactly what it sounds like—drag queens reading children’s books to kids. “Story Time is colourful, vivid, age-appropriate, educational content served to children of all ages in a fun and engaging way,” explains local drag queen, Story Time co-host, and mother of four young children, Mz. Molly Poppinz. “Children are drawn to our eccentric and glamorous costumes and [we] make them feel safe and understood. We read children’s books from a very diverse collection of authors and touch on subjects such as self-acceptance, racial equality,

and being a good friend and neighbour. We sing songs and invite everyone in attendance to feel welcome and safe.” STWDQ has been happening in Thunder Bay for several years now, with both virtual and inperson events all over the city. These events are family-friendly and open to all ages with program content designed to foster acceptance and an appreciation of diversity. There’s no cursing, no provocative clothing, no suggestive dancing, or anything else you would expect to see at a typical drag show geared towards an adult audience. Not one time has there been any issues until very recently where the local organizers of a holiday fair received several angry phone calls about drag queens being involved in their event. “Unfortunately some people have a misconception about drag perfor mances, especially daytime performances, which are not like those in adult-only establishments,” explains Scotia Kauppi, Interim Chair of the Fort William Business Improvement Area. “We make sure that all entertainment would be family and public space appropriate.” Some of this misconception stems from demonizing rhetoric made infamous in the 1970s by anti-gay activist Anita Bryant, who strategically and vehemently perpetuated the idea that the gay community were nothing more than deviants, predators, and child abusers, claiming “"the recruitment of our children is absolutely necessary for the survival and growth of homosexuality. Since homosexuals cannot reproduce, they must recruit, must freshen their

ranks.” She would even go as far as referring to homosexuals as “human garbage” and has been credited for laying the groundwork for Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which was signed into law less than a year ago and completely prohibits in-school education about the LGBTQ+ community, its history and rights, and same-sex marriage. O b v i o u s l y, n o t everyone who has concerns about Story Time is coming from a place of hate. There are parents out there who may have a misunderstanding about what drag really is and what to expect for a children’s event. In the modern era, drag has developed into a visual and performance art form rather than just an element of queer nightlife. Just like any art form (i.e., music, movies, television, etc), there are some that are definitely not for children and some that are made for children. Drag is no exception. “For one hour our space is loving, respectful, and colourful for everyone to connect while listening to stories about diversity and acceptance,” says local drag queen and Story Time co-host, Lady Fantasia LaPremiere. “STWDQ offers a place to find community and acceptance for all ages,” says Mz. Molly Poppinz. “The number of people who approach us afterwards and are empowered to share their truths with us is evidence of the important role we play in healing our community.” Check out Story Time with Thunder Bay Drag Queens on February 4 at 2:30 pm at the Mary J.L. Black Public Library.

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FilmTheatre

(L-R) Trey and Damien Gilbert

Down the Hatch

Online Show Highlights Thunder Bay Chefs’ Favourite Dishes By Kris Ketonen

new online show is giving Thunder Bay foodies a behindthe-scenes look at some of the city’s most popular dishes. Several episodes of Down the Hatch, a project by Thunder Bay filmmakers Damien Gilbert and Palash Bakshi, have been released on Instagram, with more in the works. It was Bakshi who originally contacted Gilbert with the idea of doing a food show. “What my original thoughts were was that he was going to eat as well, but he’s basically just kind of documenting me eating,” Gilbert says. “And then just finding unique places around Thunder Bay.” The show began by highlighting some of

Gilbert’s favourite dishes in the city (the production has also hit the road, with some episodes filmed in Toronto). “I love eating food, and I wanted to see a few places in town that have the best food,” Bakshi says. “I knew Damien was into the food scene in town, so I was like, ‘I should just make a show out of it.’ Just have him be the host, and then he can show me places to eat, and then we’ll just make a funny show with it.” Each episode focuses on a specific dish—for example, episodes have featured pie. ology’s mushroom swiss pie, the Sovereign Room’s fried chicken, and Bar Italia’s spicy chicken sandwich—and includes an interview with the chef about how the dish

(L-R) William Kresky and Damien Gilbert

is prepared. “The main focus for each episode was not to make it a review thing,” Bakshi says. “But instead highlight or showcase just one dish that we both like.” And while Gilbert’s contacts in the Thunder Bay food scene helped out with some of the early episodes, now restaurants are approaching Down the Hatch about being featured. Gilbert says he believes people will be interested

in finding out what sets a specific dish apart from others. “ E v e r y o n e ’s h a d a burger, but maybe what they’re doing, the process of how they make their burgers or where they're sourcing it, I think it’s kind of interesting,” he says. “And I’ve always been fascinated with the behind-the-scenes of any industry, so it’s kind of neat to see from that perspective.”

“I love eating food, and I wanted to see a few places in town that have the best food.” To watch Down the Hatch, follow @downthehatchshow on Instagram.

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FilmTheatre

Actor Michael Spencer-Davis

Playwright Bonnie Green

Krista Jackson, director of Dock Spider

Dock Spider

Magnus Theatre Rings in the New Year with World Premiere By Taylor Onski

uring a pre-pandemic kitchen party, a friend of Bonnie Green’s asked her to write a play for them. The play she wrote was Dock Spider, a comedythriller Inspired by growing up on the shores and docks of Huntsville, Ontario, slated to make its world premiere at Magnus Theatre. Set on a dock on a remote island inspired by cottage country, Dock Spider follows two men, Chuck (Cliff Saunders) and Ken (Michael SpencerDavis), navigating their newfound relationship. “One guy pretty much

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hangs out on the dock and the other is visiting. One man is very familiar and comfortable on the dock and the other is a bit more urban,” says Green. Not only is Green thrilled Magnus will be staging the world premiere, but also that she’s got her talented friend Krista Jackson joining her in Thunder Bay as the production’s director. “Rehearsals are a sacred space for me. I love the exploration,” says Jackson. “The Magnus team has been amazing. Everyone’s showing me fishing spears, goggles, and

snorkeling outfits. There’s a collective feeling of bringing something to life together for the first time.” As for what they have brewing so far, Jackson says she giggles working with this crew. “Bonnie’s script is really funny, and hearing the play, comedy, and laughter from Cliff Saunders and Michael Spencer Davis working together is so exciting because they’re both amazing actors.” While on the surface, the play provides humour within the conflict and drama of two men navigating this new relationship, the play’s

title, a reference to a familiar arachnid that startles dock visitors, reflects a bit more of what audiences can see unfold onstage. “If you ever sat on a dock for any length of time, you probably ran into a dock spider. They’re creepy and scary until one move and they scurry away,” says Green. “They present themselves as very powerful but they’re not. I don’t know which guy is the dock spider, or if either one of them are. I really love that, and that’s an idea I’ll leave for the audience to figure out.”

“If you ever sat on a dock for any length of time, you probably ran into a dock spider. They’re creepy and scary until one move and they scurry away.”

Dock Spider runs from January 26–February 11 at Magnus Theatre. For more information, visit magnustheatre.com.

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TheArts

Beaded Breechcloth By Caitlyn Bird, Curatorial Intern, Thunder Bay Art Gallery Artist: Bella Roy Title: Untitled (Beaded Breechcloth) Date: Early 1900s Medium: Beaded breechcloth Dimensions: 45 x 45 cm Collection of The Muse - Lake of the Woods Museum o me, master bead artists are people who have been raised by and spent their whole lives working with their elders, learning all of the traditional skills, techniques, materials and stories relating to design, pattern and color.” -bead expert and bead artist Maynard White Owl Lavadour This beaded breechcloth was made by master bead artist Bella Roy in the early 1900s. On loan from The Muse in Kenora, this masterwork is the heart of Waabigwanii-weAadizookewinan: Legends of the Flowers, a new exhibition at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery. B e l l a R o y, f r o m Wauzhushk Onigum (Rat Portage First Nation), made this beaded breechcloth for her husband, hereditary

“T

HE FROM T BAY R E D THUN LLERY’S ART GA TION E COLL C

chief and spiritual leader Paabamasagaa, also known as Bob Roy. The intentionality and arrangement of floral is what makes this beadwork a masterwork. The strong white lines on black velveteen embrace each floral, creating a sense of harmony and balance that bears a resemblance to Woodland style “powerlines,” which indicate a connectedness of all things. The design of each flora comes from intelligence on the maker’s part, and a story. Moses Mandamin, grandson of Bella Roy, shared how each flower had a special meaning that was both representative of the person it was made for, and to show respect for the land. The array of bead colours also connects special meanings and insight—for instance, blue beads represent the water, and orange represent the sun. The balance of this piece is inspiring, with an estimated six shades of bead colours used in depicting floriography. The brilliance and beauty of this piece is eternal. To make and honour a loved one with your art is one of the greatest gifts

one can give or receive. This beadwork carries a powerful legacy that lives on through Roy’s grandchildren, including Mary Lorraine Mandamin, who continues to carry the knowledge and stories of her grandmother’s beadwork in Waabigwanii-

we-Aadizookewinan: Legends of the Flowers. Waabigwanii-weAadizookewinan: Legends of the Flowers, curated by Caitlyn Bird, will open at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery on January 13.

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TheArts

Jessica Mamakeesick

Talent Runs through the Genes By Roxann Shapwaykeesic

wo years ago, Jessica Mamakeesick saw herself painting native artwork in a dream—something she hadn’t done before—and she hasn’t stopped painting since. “I had this dream and it really inspired me and I felt so drawn to doing that. I've never felt passionate about anything before, so that morning I knew that I had to

: om fr r ea : Y om ew fr N r a y e p Y p a w H e Hap

try it,” says Mamakeesick. “I went to Dollarama and just picked up some random things. I've never really painted on a canvas before so I began my first painting that day, and then I never stopped.” Prior to that day she had sketched here and there, but had never been formally trained. Mamakeesick describes her father, Saul Mamakeesick, as a

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TheArts in her life, and ideas come at all hours. “Sometimes I’ll be sleeping or waking up and I’ll just see things,” she explains. “Or sometimes I’m going to bed and I’ll need to get up right away so I don’t forget.” “This came for a reason. It was my calling. So that’s basically what I do everyday. I have to schedule time with my husband because otherwise I’d just paint all the time,” says Mamakeesick. Mamakeesick has completed well over 100 paintings and has personalized numerous commissions. She brings her art to local craft shows and her paintings are also available on mugs, stickers, and cards.

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well-known and great Indigenous Woodland artist. “I think it just came through the genes,” says Mamakeesick. With family in Sandy Lake First Nation and as a registered member of Keewaywin First Nation, Mamakeesick says she felt like she didn’t really fit in when she moved to Thunder Bay at a young age. “I didn't really know where I fit in in dealing with racism and stuff like that. I always kind of hid who I was and I never let myself get to know my background,” she admits. “It’s been really healing for me since I started painting. I felt more connected and free finding out who I am. I’ve never had that feeling before.” When she started painting she learned the meanings of animals through observing her father’s artwork. She describes her paintings as “modern Woodland but with a feminine touch.” Inspiration can come from shapes in wood grain or events

For purchasing options, please visit ingaged. market/collections/ jessica-mamakeesick or her Facebook page facebook.com/ mamakeesickroots. Jessica Mamakeesick

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TheArts

Finding Focus

A AND U O TH S DS R WO

Photographer Brandon Sousa Captures Emotions and Moments Story by Bonnie Schiedel, Photos by Brandon Sousa

Dawson DeSousa

B  Photographer Brandon Sousa

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ack when he was a student at St. Patrick High School, Brandon Sousa was scrolling through Kijiji listings and found a basic Nikon D40 camera for sale. A few clicks later the camera was his, and his life changed. “My dad and my sisters can draw, my aunt can sing. But for me, it’s taking pictures,” he says. He spent hours learning how to use the camera, taking it out to the trails behind his home, watching instructional videos about shutter speed and framing, and posting daily images on his Instagram account. “Being able to tell a story through a set of pictures is incredibly powerful; being able to convey emotion through a set of images to me is incredibly moving,” he says. “Some of the most historic moments were captured with photos. People remember exactly where they were, what they were doing, what they were thinking, what they were feeling when they look back at old photos and, and to me that’s one of the purest forms of expression, just being able to capture what’s happening in the moment.” Now a third-year business student at Lakehead, Sousa got to fine-tune his photography skills when he landed a position as a digital marketing intern at the Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission last summer. “When I first started photography, I never thought that my camera would be a part of my job. But now it’s the whole part of my job. It’s amazing,” he says. “I learned so much [about] the marketing aspects…I was able to tailor the photos that I took to be able to convey certain emotions.” S o u s a ’s a p p r o a c h t o photography also informs other parts of his life, including his weight-loss journey. “Photography and weight loss—to me they're

very similar in that they both push me to be better every day. For pictures, you can always take a better picture, you can always frame it different, you can always edit it better, you could always do something different. And I think that carries over to weight loss, because every day you want to become a better version of yourself.” Landscape and portraits are his favourite subjects, and he blends the two when he can. “The two play so nicely together. Being able to combine the beauty of nature with the joy and atmosphere of working with people, it’s like yin and yang,” observes Sousa. “Each component is good on its own, but you need the balance of the two to really bring out the best.” As for a dream location to shoot, Sousa has two personal ones. “My grandparents on my mom’s side came from Calabria, Italy, and my dad’s came from the Azores, Portugal…I have made it my mission to go and see where they grew up, where they went to school, where they played with their friends, because I want to be able to tell part of their story. And I think it’s just so cool to have such a historical and family connection. I just really want to be able to share that.” To view more of Brandon Sousa’s work, visit @brandon.sousaa on Instagram or his website, brandonsousaa. darkroom.com.

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The Walleye

TheArts

 Mystic, Beverly Turpin, watercolour

Northern Art NOW

Juried Exhibition at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery By Amy Sellors

or an artist, any opportunity to show their work is exciting. You never know who will see your work and what that may bring. Last held in 2019, the Thunder Bay Art Gallery’s NWO NOW Juried Exhibition is the largest public exhibition of northern Ontario artists in the country. “It’s important for contemporary artists working in northern Ontario to have a venue of this calibre to showcase their work. It’s a big place,” says Penelope Smart, curator at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery. “Contemporary art opportunities in Northern Ontario are limited and often, our artists often have to apply outside of the region for their work to be seen. This is an opportunity to see what artists are making here at home.” The juried exhibition is an important

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piece of programming for the gallery. For an artist, “it's an opportunity to grow your career and experience professionalism in the art world for the first time,” says Smart. “It’s a chance to get started, to build your CV, and a chance to have your art seen by curators and art professionals.” And the exhibition isn’t just for new artists—it represents a mix of artists who have shown before and some who are showing in a gallery for the first time. “This is why it takes place,” says Smart. “It’s a chance for discovery, for newness, and firsts. Artists apply often for this show. Young, mid-career, senior…some who have shown in large galleries and some who are showing for the first time.” This show supports the work of artists in the region who are trying new

 Red Drum, Tessa Charlebois, oil on canvas

TheArts things, and there’s no specific theme the artists have to adhere to. The exhibition is open to whatever the art is saying, and represents all different types of artists working in all different types of ways. This year, 218 works were submitted. Jurors Anong Migwans Beam and Maria Hupfield—themselves well-known, established artists with connections to Northwestern Ontario—had seven to ten days individually to review the submissions. Over two days, they decided together which works would be shown, and also where and how the pieces would be displayed, acting as curators to arrange the pieces in a way that delivers the most impact. After some tough decisions, 72 pieces were selected, representing the work of 60 artists. The pieces represent many mediums: sculpture, beading, textile, media, painting, and more. Beam and Hupfieldsaw in the submissions a “celebration of where we live and life in the north,” says Smart. In a show like this, artists never know who will see their work, and they have the opportunity to see their work in relation to their peers. “There are exciting artists who submit to the show and younger artists might be really excited to have their work displayed in the same room,” says Smart. “The juried show shines a light on the artists of Northwestern Ontario as individuals and as a group. All boats rise. It’s our beacon shining out, as opposed to being worried about who is paying attention.” Do not underestimate the power of seeing art in person. This is work that represents a special and challenging time for artmaking in Northwestern Ontario. These new works have been created in the last two years, and tell stories of the north. It’s what the artists are thinking and feeling right now. Whatever you take away from seeing this collection in person, it will leave you thinking about your own connection to Northwestern Ontario and the creative work that exists here.

 Snowy Owl - Flight, Eric Lahtinen, ceramic  The Journey, Nancy Howell-Godin, acrylic on canvas

The NWO NOW Juried Exhibition runs at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery from January 13 to March 19, 2023. Visit theag.ca for more information.

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The Walleye

Outdoor

Exploring Northwestern Ontario in a Hot Tent Story and photos by Tyler Sklazeski

t’s no secret our winters are long and harsh here in the North. Which is why some of us, in the spirit of trying to conquer seasonal malaise, seek out what can only be described as “perpetual discomfort.” Yes, we’ve all seen photos of thrill-seeking surfers lined up along the coast of Terrace Bay, hoping to ride the turbulent November surf of Lake Superior. Or local climbers fearlessly scaling towering ice pillars on the ancient cliffs north of Nipigon. Still others, seeking isolation and the challenge of survival in ungodly temperatures, choose the hot tent. (Just like it sounds, a hot tent is a tent with a stove in it.)

The Walleye

To come to an honest understanding of this experience, first I’ll have to set the scene. You wake, held snug in the uneasy embrace of your form-fitted down bag—the only warmth for kilometres save the small fire desperately flickering through the foggy glass of your tent stove. You briefly consider whether you’ve slept at all. A paper-thin four-season tent is all that separates you from what for all purposes seems like outer space. This routine will repeat several times through the night as you reach across the packed snow beneath you to a fine- looking piece of birch. Hoping the embers are enough to light the flakes of bark and

kindling, you tenderly fill the small compartment. This battle against the encroaching cold continues until morning. O u r l e s s a d v e n t u ro u s readers might wonder what could possibly drive a person to escape the comfort of their cosy Northwestern Ontario abodes, strap some 30 pounds of survival gear and food onto a sled, and disappear into the wilderness for days? Yet, for the seasoned winter campers, there is no greater thrill than setting up camp among the snow-covered pines of a rugged lake, punching a hole through the thick ice, and conjuring a pristine lake trout from the depths below. Now, if you’ve made it this far

Outdoor without being dissuaded, there are few finer areas to engage in this winter activity than Quetico Provincial Park. Having heard about their newly minted winter sites located off French Lake, we set out to experience this typically bustling park, even as temperatures reached nearly to -35°C overnight. To make an experience like this fun (you heard me), an enormous amount of planning is involved. Compared with the summer months, the rules of engagement become reversed. Think packing hot water bottles instead of ice in your cooler, trading canoe paddles for ski poles and snowshoes, and swapping those T-bone steaks for dehydrated chili (it’s actually surprisingly good). The advantage of camping in an area like Quetico is that it offers a range of experiences, from skiing to ice fishing along with endless backcountry trails to keep your body temperature up during those cold days. Of course you can still pack up a sled and trek into the pines or the boundless chains of lakes that stretch deep in the park. But beware, the deeper you stray, the more preparation and caution is required. While this might all seem like a lot, l’ll offer that few things compare to waking, safe in your humble shelter, snow piled high outside, as the burning orange of a winter sunrise coats every branch in honey. Out here, the world seems to slow down, and the simple act of surviving becomes a thrilling challenge. Knowing that few have shared in this view save perhaps the first peoples who thrived in these sacred places warms the soul enough to push all discomfort from your mind. So this season, as you peer out your window and hear the winter winds howl and the snow fall, listen closely—the call of the wild beckons for those crazy enough to venture through the great white nowhere of the North. For more of Tyler’s outdoor adventures, follow him @facing_north on Instagram.

The Walleye

CityScene

Finding Treasure in the Rough with Junk Away

D SECONES C CHAN

By Kelsey Raynard

ne person’s trash is another person’s t r e a s u r e — i t ’s a proverb that has circulated for many years, and for good reason. Dan Cheal of Junk Away Inc. has turned this proverb into a thriving business. Junk Away Inc. is the umbrella that encompasses Cheal’s trash removal service as well as the Junk Zone, a collector’s/secondhand/ record store (a.k.a. Spins Record Shop) brimming with unique and vintage treasures. Cheal and @JunkAwayInc embody what we stand for at Second Chances: giving a new chance at life for items

The Walleye

that were otherwise headed for the landfill. After successfully launching his trash collection service six years ago, Cheal has since expanded into a business with multiple trucks and a brick and mortar store, The Junk Zone, located at 938 Alloy Drive. While he admits he is “not a social media guy,” Cheal’s Instagram account highlights just some of the countless gems you will find in The Junk Zone. “What I’ve created is like a general store environment; not only do we have records, but we also have housewares, toys, trading cards,

collectibles, furniture, lots of tools, video games […] a little bit of everything,” he explains. What Cheal has created with this physical space is also an opportunity for the community of collectors, thrifters, and vintage lovers alike to gather and share their love of all things retro. This month, we showcase a diverse array of new and used items you can find inside The Junk Zone. First, for the collectors and marine enthusiasts, we have a vintage beacon lantern ($35) and Penn fishing reel ($20). Next, you can score a copy of Taylor Swift’s latest album Midnights

in the limited Blue edition for $40.99. If you want to represent your love for vinyl— and for Cheal’s store—there are also Spins Record Shop T-shirts in a variety of sizes ($28.) Next, we have a soon-tobe-retro Star Trek DVD for $1 (anyone else still holding on to their DVD player?) and a vintage Dinky DieCast routemaster bus toy, made in England, for $20. For those of us in need of some holiday bakeware—or who just have a special place in our hearts for old-school kitchen accessories—we have a vintage Corningware

saucepan for $39.99. Lastly, comic lovers can find a Ghost Rider vs. Deathlok Marvel comic book ($6) and a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Foot Soldier (still sealed) for $19.99. To round out this collection, we have a vintage gasoline can, perfect for the auto-enthusiast or man cave owner ($9.99). To support The Junk Zone, Cheal invites everyone to visit the store, have a look around, and consider making a donation if you have older items you no longer want. Follow him on Instagram and keep an eye out this spring for some in-person events and markets! For more information, visit thejunkzone.ca.

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CityScene

Pantry Project Brightens Lives Food and Other Supplies Free for the Taking By Pat Forrest

he weather is getting colder and the price of just about everything is going through the roof. That’s a bad combination for almost everyone, but especially for the city’s most vulnerable people. A local good samaritan, appropriately named Sam, decided to do something about it. “I saw people in our community being kind and generous and that inspired me to start this Little Free Pantry project. I hope that others will be motivated by what I’m doing and that support will grow,” she says. With locations throughout Thunder Bay, the Little Free Pantry provides food and personal care items to anyone in need. The pantry is always open and works on an anonymous, give-and-take system. Anyone may take as much as they need, at any time. Sam manages the pantry on McKibbin between Bay Street and Beresford Street and helps stock and service the pantries on Cumberland Street (across from the Shell Station) and Leslie Avenue (opposite Claude E. Garton Public School). She says there are numerous other pantries across town and in our rural communities. Donations can be left directly in the pantry. The personal items that are the most in demand include soap, deodorant, paper products such as toilet paper and tissues, diapers, wipes, and sanitary products. Top on the list of food items include boxed or bagged grains and pasta, cereal, granola, nuts, seeds, dried fruit, and readymade meals. Hats, gloves, and scarves are always needed in

the colder weather, as are hand warmers. The grassroots mini-pantry movement was launched in 2016 in Arkansas, with a wooden box on a post containing food, personal care and paper items accessible to everyone all the time, no questions asked. Sam says she was inspired by that initiative as well as other local projects that minimized red tape in helping those in need. She believes it's also a great way to remind ourselves that people are struggling in all of our neighbourhoods, creating a space for compassion, trust, and mutual aid. She says there are other ways to help besides donating items. “Even if you’re not able to support the project directly with food or funds, a great way to help is to ask your workplace if you can put a donation box at your site. This can help get the word out, recruit others, and help make a difference.” Upcoming projects for Sam and her family and friends include finding a location to set up a refrigerator, and they’re also working on sourcing tents and sleeping bags and putting together care packages for the homeless. She says the projects make her feel sad but hopeful. “It can be heartrending but it’s also wonderful to hear from people we were able to help,” she says. For more information, visit facebook.com/ LittleFreePantryTbay or contact littlefreepantrytbay@ gmail.com.

“I saw people in our community being kind and generous and that inspired me to start this Little Free Pantry project.” 48

The Walleye

Walkabout Farm By Wendy Wright

riving south along Highway 595 through Gillies Township, just before the turnoff for Highway 608, there is a vast field to the left where sheep are grazing. If you look a little closer, you will also notice a large building near them that is not their barn. This is where the magic happens. With between 80 to 100 head of sheep producing milk, 100 to 150 wheels of cheese aging, and 200 to 600 tubs of feta ripening up at any given time, Rob and Janice Groenheide are kept busy producing a unique and sought-after product. Milking season for sheep runs from spring until autumn; however, the distinct qualities of sheep milk allow it to be stored frozen without losing its consistency. This way, cheese production can take place all year round. “Sheep are very seasonal for breeding, one of the biggest factors being light,” Janice says. Because of this, milking only occurs during the milder seasons and kept viable for cheesemaking by freezing it. Even if the sheep are taking a break for the winter, the producers are certainly not. Production at Walkabout Farm takes place year-round and has been going on at the facility since 2020. And farming in more general terms has been

CityScene AL GO LOC R E D N THU TRY N U O C BAY T E K R MA

going on for the Groenheides much longer, as they both grew up in farming families. Their farming journey together began in 2011. “Producing cheese at home gives us the opportunity to make different types of cheeses that not every facility can produce,” says Janice. At present there are four varieties available, including Tomme, a Walkabout Farm specialty that comes from the cheesemaker's own mind and is an amalgamation. Groenheide says, “I took bits and pieces of other recipes to come up with that. Sheep milk already has its own unique flavour characteristics, and there is a lot of flavour in one bite.” Feta, gouda, and manchego are the other varieties rounding out the offerings.

 Janice Groenheide, co-owner of Walkabout Farm

Visit Walkabout Farm at the Thunder Bay Country Market (with Tarrymore Farms). Their products are also available through Superior Seasons and The Cheese Encounter. For more information visit walkaboutfarm.ca or find them on Facebook at facebook.com/ farmwalkabout.

 Marissa Groenheide

The Walleye

CityScene

This is Thunder Bay Interviews and photos by Leah Morningstar This month we asked The Walleye readers: What is your major goal for 2023?

Stanley: I had five friends and family members pass away in 2022. In 2023, my goal is to stay alive.

Kim: My goal, for myself and my farm store, is that it would grow to be like the local corner store. I’d love to see more people coming in weekly for their local milk, farm fresh eggs, fresh baked bread, local meat, and essentials. Shopping [at a farm store] for your weekly items helps you eat fresh and saves on food waste.

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Kathy: Professionally, I’m a researcher. I spend my days researching extremism and it can be mentally draining; I’d like to make sure I have a good work/home balance in the coming year. And personally, as a reactive dog mom, I want to help my dog feel safer and better adjusted and maybe help the public be more understanding about reactive rescue dogs.

Anna: In 2023, I’d like to meet any challenges that come my way, and overcome obstacles with love and kindness.

Mike: I feel like Thunder Bay is becoming a more multicultural city every year, but there’s still so much to do in order to combat racism. In 2023, I’d love to help people come together with love and understanding.

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CityScene

Budget Watch

Thunder Bay Public Library Worried About Funding By Matt Prokopchuk

Matt Prokopchuk

 The entrance ramp to the Waverley Resource Library  Thunder Bay Public Library CEO Richard Togman

boards also appeal to the community to influence the difficult decisions council must make.” City council will meet several times in January to review planned spending in 2023 by city departments and other municipally funded services, like the library, and accept it or vote on changes. Togman says close to 95% of the library system’s total funding comes from the city. The library says that even without any cuts this year, the system is falling behind. A briefing document on the library’s 2023 capital budget—that, when obtained by The Walleye, was to be submitted to city council—contains a 2021 assessment by local firm TBT Engineering that points to over $2.8 million in work that should be completed by 2024 at the three library-owned branch buildings. That includes bigticket items like upgrading emergency and other lighting systems, along with other electrical work, and replacing decades-old exterior windows—all work the briefing document says has been delayed due to lack of funding. Structural repairs to buildings— particularly at the Brodie and Waverley sites—should be done this year and in 2024, according to the engineering assessment. Additionally, Togman says, the exterior ramp at the Waverley Resource Library no longer meets accessibility standards and will need to be upgraded.

Outside of work on the buildings themselves, capital spending by the library also goes to things like purchasing books, multimedia items, and other resource materials the public borrows and uses, maintaining and upgrading IT infrastructure (including public access computers), and maintaining public seating and working spaces. Cuts to the system at this point, Togman says, would necessitate a deep look at the books, and consideration of options like branch closures and reducing service. “That’s where we start to get into those situations where we say ‘Are we going to have to cut our losses and say we can’t maintain four library branches?’” he says. And, outside of providing books and resource materials to the community, Togman says the library serves many important roles, from running children’s literacy programs and maintaining access to computers and other necessary technology for those who don’t have it, to providing public meeting space and support for seniors. The local library system has also been lauded nationally for its anti-racism and inclusion efforts. “The library is core to our identity as a community, and if we really pride ourselves on our community […] then the library is where we do that,” Togman says.

“Are we going to have to cut our losses and say we can’t maintain four library branches?”

Raili Zgrych

fficials with the Thunder Bay Public Library say they’re asking city councillors and the community to pay close attention to funding for the local system during this month’s municipal budget deliberations, adding that the library doesn’t receive enough money to properly maintain its current facilities. In late November, the library sounded the alarm over communication from the city manager’s office that it was recommending a 15% cut (about $121,500) to the library’s capital budget in 2023, says library CEO Richard Togman. That, Togman says, would be on top of a decade and a half of what he calls “systemic underfunding,” by the city and would “really impact the library hard.” Around that time, the library released a non-scientific survey querying local residents on their thoughts about the library system and municipal spending on it. Thunder Bay city manager Norm Gale was not available for an interview when contacted by The Walleye in early December. A statement from him didn’t confirm or dispute the library’s claim about the alleged cut this year, saying that the 2023 municipal budget remained confidential (according to the city clerk’s office, it is scheduled to be made public on January 4), and that this year’s budget “will be very challenging and it may be that other city-funded

The Walleye

With Thom Currie

CityScene EYE EYE TO

As told to Matt Prokopchuk, Photo by Shannon Lepere

hom Currie has been in Thunder Bay as the artistic director of Magnus Theatre for just over six years now. His decades-long run in the performing arts runs deep; aside from his various leading positions in theatre, he has also been a playwright, actor, producer—even a puppeteer and a musician. He spent about 17 years working in children’s theatre before switching back to theatre for adults around 2006. Currie spoke with The Walleye about his highlights of 2022, his cooking endeavours, and his most treasured possession. The Walleye: In our January issue, we’re looking back on 2022. What were some of Magnus’s highlights? Thom Currie: As we came out of COVID and we started seeing people coming back and we started seeing live theatre returning again, hearing laughter in the auditorium for me was a big one. 2022 was a great year for us. We launched the outdoor space, which we were absolutely thrilled to be able to do. That’s going to be a fixture on the borders of Waverley Park, so that’s really cool. We did a play called Smarty Pants, which was the first fully staged show at Magnus since the beginning of the pandemic—no corners were cut, so that was kind of fun, and to do it with a world premiere was great for us. And then I have to say the show we just closed, Man of La Mancha, was fantastic for us. Just the idea that we were able to reimagine this Broadway chestnut and reimagine it for Thunder Bay audiences with a great number of Thunder Bay people on the stage was fantastic for us. TW: What about highlights for you personally in 2022? TC: During the pandemic, I really took some time to explore Thunder Bay, and I

was able to lean more into that—just go, ‘You know, I’m going to take some time off and go out on the lake in a boat, and I’m going to take some time and really appreciate the city that we have around us.’ Artistically, for me, it’s been imagining what it’s going to be like in this slow recovery we’re currently in. I identify so closely with my work and I work 24 hours a day, basically—even when I’m lying in bed at night, I’m thinking about the job. It becomes very difficult at times to differentiate between work and professional and personal lives. TW: Away from work, what are your favourite activities? TC: We bought a little boat. It’s only a 16-footer, so we throw it in the lake and we go for a cruise. I’m still unfamiliar with the shores of Lake Superior—I mean, I’ve been here for six years, but I haven’t been out on the lake—so it’s one of these things where you put a little 16-footer out on the lake and you just kind of cruise along and see what you can see, and then when you reach halfway down the tank of gas, you turn around and go back [laughs]. My partner [Amy Sellors] and I also like to cook. We like to explore different things. Photography used to be a passion of mine, and I’m trying to get back into that. I had a lot of people give me their old film cameras over the last couple of years, so I’ve been restoring a bunch of those—you take them apart, you put them back together again, see if they work. So a lot of different things. TW: What is Thom Currie’s culinary masterpiece? TC: It depends on the season, right? We learned how to smoke things this year, we built a little smoker and we did ribs and we did chicken and we did stuff like that. So like some nice barbecue stuff. My partner was really plugged into

the alternative culinary scene in Thunder Bay for a while, so we would have these ridiculous competitions where it would be like ‘Okay, we’re all going to make ribs and then we’re going to vote.’ It was kind of this underground competition. Amy likes to just try different culinary things. She likes to really lean into ‘Hey we’re going to try something South Asian,’ or she’ll take it on herself to make something vegan where she’ll go ‘Okay, I want to take this dish and see if I can completely make it vegan.’ TW: What food are you currently craving? TC: I’m craving poultry

right now. I don’t know if it’s the imminent holidays or what, but I’m craving a simple roast chicken. That’s the thing with me, is I like things to be really simple. A good strong cup of coffee (I take it black), or a nice roast chicken, whether it’s done rotisserie or just on a rack in the oven or smoked—that kind of simplicity, that simple taste that people have been enjoying for hundreds if not thousands of years. TW: What’s your most treasured possession? TC: I have a lot of my dad’s sculptures. My dad passed away in 2014 and I have a lot of his [work] in wood and stone and

sandstone that decorate my house. I will look at them and kind of commune with them at times because it’s like this is a piece of art that this person left behind, and I kind of enjoy that. Also, I love mechanical things, so old cameras and stuff like that—I’ve got some beautiful old pieces that were working cameras that today are basically just a piece of art, and I just enjoy the minutiae that went into some guy in Germany or Japan or California making this camera and deciding what it’s going to look like. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

The Walleye

CityScene

 Dan Dampier, owner of Wolfhead Coffee  Green beans: “Most people haven’t seen unroasted coffee,” Dampier says. “They’re green and [there’s] not a whole lot of decent aroma to them.”

Wolfhead Coffee

WALL SPACE

Story and photos by Adrian Lysenko

rom an unassuming converted garage in Port Arthur, thousands (maybe even millions) of pounds of coffee beans have been roasted by Dan Dampier, the owner of Wolfhead Coffee. Dampier started the setup ten years ago, and says the lifestyle is what attracted him to the business in the first place. “Obviously, I choose coffee because I like it. Ever since I’ve been drinking it, I’ve been trying to find good coffee,” he says. “And it was just [a business] that fit into my life to do out of this space because basically, I wanted to do it from home. Most

of my previous work prior to this had had an immense amount of travel and time away from home.” Before the roasting even begins, Dampier sources and samples beans from different regions and countries. “After we’ve done that, I’ll contract a bunch of beans, so I’ll know I will have a four- or five-month supply of one particular bean and they stay in storage. Then when I want them, I order about 1,200 pounds at a time,” he says. “And then it arrives in these burlap sacks to our door and we slide it into our shop.”

 Beans dumped onto the cooling bin. Roasting time varies, but Dampier generally says it’s 15 minutes or less per roast.

The Walleye

CityScene

 Dampier loads beans into the roaster.

 Afterburner: An afterburner is used to remove emissions and odours from the roaster.

 Roasting: “When it gets up to temperature, we dump them in and roast,” he says. “When they’re done, time and temperature, we dump them out onto the cooling bin to cool them. When they’re done cooling we put them into our containers and then maybe the next day or later on that day, we package them with our packaging machine.”

The Walleye

Chris McEvoy

CityScene

 Archeologist Meaghan Peuramäki-Brown cleans out a shovel test pit

The Archeology of a Local Finnish Homestead

 Peuramäki-Brown’s great-grandfather’s suitcase crammed with receipts and papers he had collected in both Finland and Canada

Meaghan Peuramäki-Brown Studies her Great-Grandparents’ Homestead

rcheologist Meaghan PeuramäkiBrown studies the household activity patterns of the past and present, which has taken her to archeological sites in places like Belize and Honduras—and now, most recently, to examining her great-grandparents’ FinnishCanadian homestead in Northwestern Ontario. “It’s been a long time coming,” says PeuramäkiB ro w n . “ I n 2 0 0 9 , m y grandma died. I came

The Walleye

home for the funeral and looked at an album of her and photos of her parents in the 1940s. I never really asked about them before. It was then I became interested in their history.” This sparked an idea to contribute her skills as an archeologist to her own family’s history, along with studying the corresponding homestead back in Finland. Peuramäki-Brown never met her great-grandparents, Otto and Aino Kainulainen, but did remember visiting

Courtesy of Meaghan Peuramäki-Brown

By Tiffany Jarva

“These features are exciting, and the lack of family memory regarding their original functions makes this an ideal area for archaeological inquiry.”

Chris McEvoy

constructing their home—a common practice by early homesteaders,” she explains. “These features are exciting, and the lack of family memory regarding their original functions makes this an ideal area for archaeological inquiry.” “The most surprising find shouldn’t be as surprising as it was,” says PeuramäkiBrown. “It was my greatgrandfather’s suitcase crammed full of every piece of paper he had collected.” Peuramäki-Brown has created a five-inch binder of these documents. “It’s really, really cool to have access to this information.” For instance, there is a receipt for medicine from Finland and also a handwritten receipt from a gravedigger who buried a child lost in infancy, before they moved to Canada. There are also many receipts from a historical general store located on what is now Dawson Road in Thunder Bay. The suitcase had been saved by her grandma, then passed on to her mother, and now to her. Licences and permits have been granted and a preliminary testing of the site started this fall, with plans to start a more thorough dig in 2024.

 Jeffrey Seibert, a regional archaeologist for the Environmental Policy Office, Transportation Policy Branch, Ministry of Transportation, Ontario, empties a sifting screen

Courtesy of Meaghan Peuramäki-Brown

 Otto Kainulainen and Aino Kainulainen (née Rissanen) in front of their early 20th century homestead along the Current River in the Tarmola (“place of vigour” or “strong energy”) community in Thunder Bay

Courtesy of Meaghan Peuramäki-Brown

the Tarmola homestead off Onion Lake Road in the Thunder Bay area as a kid. In 2012, PeuramäkiBrown travelled to Finland, where her cousins took her on a tour of the family’s original Levämäki homestead in Northern Savonia, where the Kainulainens are thought to have lived since the 1850s. Not surprising, the area is very similar to Northwestern Ontario: rugged, with granite outcroppings, high hills, and many lakes, rivers, and creeks with pine, spruce, and birch trees. In 2016, PeuramäkiBrown toured the Tarmola homestead with colleagues and family members to assess its archeological potential and discovered a lower terrace from the 1920s before her greatgrandparents moved up top in the 1930s. She says it’s exciting because “this distinction creates an archaeologically ideal two-tier spatial and temporal division of early homesteading activities at the site.” Remains of earliest structures, like a log foundation for a stable and two pits, are located along the lower embankment. “They may have originally used one of the pits as a simple earth sauna while

CityScene

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CityScene 1

Stuff We Like National Snow Day By Kelsey Raynard

January can mean many things to many people. Whether you are still recovering from the holidays or jumping into a new resolution, there is one constant, inevitable force we can all expect this month: snow. With National Snow Day falling on January 15, we couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate than by embracing the winter wonderland we live in and showcasing all of the amazing ways we can spend our time outdoors. Here is Stuff We Like for National Snow Day.

1 Cross-Country Skis Fresh Air 710 Balmoral Street There is something so meditative, so serene, perhaps even spiritual about being deep in a snowblanketed forest. Explore the many kilometres of ski trails Thunder Bay has to offer this winter with a pair of cross-country skis from Fresh Air. This outdoor activity is accessible for people of all ages and fitness levels, making it the perfect sport to try out this month.

Apple Cider Spice Tea

2 ESLA Kicksled Chaltrek 404 Balmoral Street Imported all the way from Finland, these kicksleds by ESLA are a unique and fun way to get outside this January. There aren’t enough adjectives in the dictionary to describe these contraptions: lightweight, durable, versatile, fast, safe, solid, and did we mention fun? Bonus: they are even outfitted for a dog to pull for those of us looking to bring our furry friends outside with us.

$14/100 g

$Various

$335–470

Yanes Mountain Pass Recreational Snowshoes 3

Gear Up For Outdoors 894 Alloy Place For those of us who like to venture off the beaten path, a pair of good snowshoes is a must for exploring the great outdoors during winter. These recreational snowshoes come in a variety of colours and sizes (including children’s sizes) so the whole family can join in on the fun. Complete with a carrying tote bag and a three-year warranty, these snowshoes are ready for your next adventure.

$104.95–129.95 6

Norm & Lou Handmade Toque 4

Goods & Co. Market 251 Red River Road There is one f-word no one wants to hear on National Snow Day… frostbite. Enjoy the snow while keeping warm with a handcrafted toque from Norm & Lou Handmade. This classic knit hat is made from a wool/acrylic blend and is as fashionable as it is functional. With many sizes and colours to choose from, you'll want to wear it every time you leave the house.

$32–42

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International House of Tea 205 Algoma Street South Whether you’re out making snow angels or simply sitting inside watching the snow fall, a warm drink is the perfect accompaniment for National Snow Day. Made with fresh ground coriander seeds, cinnamon bark, cassia bark, ginger root, star anise seeds, clove buds, cassia buds and cardamom seeds, this delicious mixture can be added to your apple cider or enjoyed on its own as a tea. Cheers to snow!

6 Nipigon Nylons (a.k.a. Work Socks)

J.B. Evans 122 Frederica Street West Warm socks are a non-negotiable for National Snow Day. Scoop up these classic work socks (or Nipigon Nylons for us true northerners) from J.B. Evans before your next outdoor escapade. Available in both men’s and women’s sizes, these socks are made from a wool/acrylic blend and are both heavy-duty and longlasting. And hey—we love a good northern aesthetic.

$14.50

7 Eagle Claw Ice Fishing Rod

D & R Sporting Goods 485 Memorial Avenue After a long day of playing in the snow, you’re going to be hungry for dinner. Catch your next meal with the Eagle Claw ice rod combo from D & R Sporting Goods. Made with stainless steel and fibreglass, this rod is lightweight, easy to use, and will keep you occupied until openwater fishing season starts again (is it too early to look forward to spring?).

$39.99

8 Firewood Dog Lake Firewood 3079 Dog Lake Road Who says you need to wait for summer for s’mores? We can’t think of a better way to wrap up National Snow Day than sitting under the stars with your family, gathered around a cosy outdoor fire filled with firewood from Dog Lake Firewood. If you’re lucky, you may even catch the Northern Lights.

$Various

Advertising Feature

Above, Right and Below: Members of the TBREB had the opportunity to help out at the Dew Drop Inn during REALTORS CARE® week in November. Many thanks to the many volunteers and staff at the Dew Drop Inn who selflessly serve our community on a daily basis bringing food, warmth and comfort to those in need.

The Thunder Bay Real Estate Board’s members, directors, staff & volunteers are thankful for another year serving their community. As we enter into a new year the Thunder Bay Real Estate Board remains grateful for the many opportunities to offer continued service and support to our Community. The last few years have certainly been challenging and the care and compassion that can be seen and felt on a daily basis has been up lifting to say the least. This summer we held a Charity Golf Tournament and were fortunate enough to raise $3236.60 which was donated to Grace Place as well as the Urban Abbey at just over $1600 each.

During REALTOR’S CARE ® week, which took place in November, we were able to lend a hand at the Dew Drop Inn, and we thank everyone there for all of the amazing work that they do on a continual basis to offer food, comfort, and a smile to those in need. Through the REALTOR’S CARE ® Foundation, the Thunder Bay Real Estate Board also donated a total of $7384 within the Thunder Bay District, with $1846 going to The Salvation Army, Saakaate House, New Starts for Women, and Hospice Northwest. As we moved into the Holiday Season, we once again participated in the Salvation Army Christmas Kettle Campaign which provides food and toys for vulnerable families. As we move into 2023, the Thunder Bay Real Estate Board would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year ﬁlled with warmth and much joy.

www.thunderbay-mls.on.ca

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R A E Y NEW S L A GO

& WASTREVICES E SOLID LING S RECYC

FOR YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION, COMMIT TO REDUCING WASTE. HERE IS HOW: 4

Refuse | Say no to plastic bags in stores – bring your own instead.

Reuse | Charitable organizations and thrift shops are happy to take reusable items you no longer need.

Reduce | Take reusable containers and bags for lunches.

Repair | Be handy! Fix those items instead of replacing them.

Recycle | Recycle everything you can.

Rethink | Think about waste before you buy. Avoid ‘disposable’ products.

2 3

For more information on reducing waste, please visit: thunderbay.ca/recycling

Early detection of autism ensures children get the support they need

Monitor the Milestones If you have concerns about your child’s developmental milestones or have noticed any of these signs, further information is available. Contact your doctor, visit an EarlyON site, reach out to a provider listed here or contact the SmartStart Hub at George Jeffrey Children’s Centre at 807 623 4381 ext 6994.

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Avoids or does not keep eye contact

Resistant to any slight change

Does not point at objects or show interest in them

Fixation on certain interests

Sensitivity to lights, sounds, smells, taste, touch

Repetitive body movements (toe walking, hand flapping, spinning, rocking)

No back and forth sharing of sounds, smiles, joy, or other facial expressions

Does not respond to name

Repeating words and phrases continually

Any loss of speech, babbling or social skills at any age

CityScene

Their first appearance since COVID:

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5 MAN ACOUSTICAL BAND

Friday, January 20th

5:30-9:30pm NO ADMISSION FEE! Fish & Chips available

PORT ARTHUR LEGION

Port Arthur Branch No. 5 Club Room 229 Van Norman Street Branch 5 Royal Canadian Legion

We ’ l l b e o p e n a s s o o n a s we’re able and allowed, w i t h o u r M o n t h l y B u ff e t Breakfast and our famous We e k l y Fr i d a y FISH & CHIPS DINNERS

Drying Out Check for dates on Fa c e b o o k , C h r o n i c l e “What to Do” & Kijiji.

A Look at Quitting Cannabis Imperial Hall 344-5511 2 2 9 Va n N o r m a n S t r e e t

BIS CANNAER N R O C

By Justin Allec

our reasons are your own, but as we move into the new year, quitting (or cutting down on) your cannabis use might seem like your best option. Knowing what to expect in the weeks ahead will help you make the successful changes you want to your lifestyle. Addiction to cannabis is commonly referred to as cannabis use disorder, characterized by habitual (and ritual, if we’re being h o n e s t ) a n d f re q u e n t cannabis use. Overcoming any degree of cannabis use disorder may be difficult, but there are steps you can take to make the transition easier. Before going any further, know that if you’re a regular cannabis user, you’re going

to go through withdrawal. It’s going to suck. Your brain and body are going to be freaking out because a substance they really like is no longer available. You’re going to experience headaches or stomach aches, you may experience depression, restlessness, irritability, anxiety, and even fevers. You will sweat in your sleep and have the messiest dreams of your life. Your appetite will be disrupted. You will feel bad and want to go back to cannabis. Most cannabis studies on withdrawal position the third day as the worst. Getting to that point will be difficult but once you’re past it, the withdrawal symptoms will gradually taper off. Without minimizing how difficult that

process is going to be, there are many external elements that you can put in place to help you succeed. The first element to decide is your plan. Are you quitting cannabis forever, or do you still want to indulge on the odd weekend? Are you trying to reduce it to once a day, or do you want to save it for special occasions? Pick a date that you want to start by and make ‘X’s on the calendar if it helps. Many people find reducing their intake is easier and gentler than quitting cold turkey. If you use one gram a day, try reducing it to half for a week and see how it goes. Having a goal will also help, and it’s something to share with your support network. People who know what you’re trying to do will help keep you accountable and support you in your plan. If those in your immediate circle can’t support you in this, look towards more formal addictions programs

or your health-care providers for help. You’re going to have to change your routines and lifestyle. If you’re serious about quitting, get rid of all your cannabis and accessories. Sell them off or give them away. Relapses are usually opportunistic, so if you don’t have the gear around to tempt you, it’s more likely you’ll stick to your plan. That said, you’ll need to come up with something to replace the role that cannabis had in your life, and it can’t be another substance. For example, a terrible day at work might mean you head home and zone out with some cannabis, junk food, and television. The new you, however, will need to deal with the trigger of the terrible day without the calming ritual that formerly made up your evening. How can you healthily cope with a bad day at work? What do people in your support

network do to manage their stress? Knowing what drives you to use cannabis can help you understand how to manage those situations so you don’t get triggered. As well, think of what you’ll do with your time instead of using cannabis. Maybe you still do tasty food and television to cope, but instead keep your hands busy with a craft? Many people find that they need new hobbies, exercise, and interests once they’ve quit cannabis both because they have more time and to keep them from focusing on the lack of cannabis. Any advice beyond this is to take it day by day, lean into your support network, and be kind to yourself. Lifestyle changes are tough, but they’re also worth it. For support with addiction, contact ConnexOntario at 1-866-531-2600.

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Getaway

Authentic Winnipeg Seven Ways to Satisfy your Wanderlust

Story by Michelle McChristie, Photos by Darren McChristie

alking along the streets of Winnipeg in winter is reminiscent of Randy Bachman’s song “Prairie Town”: Winter nights are long, summer days are gone / Portage and Main fifty below. Maybe it is the city’s infamous winters that have made its residents intrepid and keen on reinventing and reinvigorating their community. There are new experiences in every corner of the city, some within wellknown and historic attractions and others completely shiny and new. Here are seven new experiences to satisfy your wanderlust.

The Leaf at Assiniboine Park  The Leaf's tropical biome

If you’re looking for a reprieve from fifty below, The Leaf offers a fresh and sustainable take on a botanical conservatory. It opened in December 2022 as a reimagined and expanded attraction to replace the former conservatory that closed in 2018. The Leaf has two distinct biomes: one a tropical rainforestlike paradise, featuring an indoor waterfall and large koi pond, and the other a Mediterranean oasis. There is also a butterfly garden where you can see insects in each stage of their life cycle, and a hip restaurant that offers world cuisine using fresh, locally sourced, seasonal ingredients from The Leaf’s gardens.

The Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada  Seal Skin Spacesuit by  Artisanal cocktails at The Leaf's Gather Craft Jesse Tungilik Kitchen & Bar  Canadian Museum for Human Rights

You don’t need to be an aviation buff to appreciate a tour of this museum, located in a spacious new building near the airport, that features one of Canada’s largest and most complete aviation heritage collections. The stories behind each impeccably restored aircraft and its role in advancing flight are engaging and inspiring. Don’t miss the Vickers Viscount—a passenger aircraft that was retired in the 1970s. If you’re of a certain vintage, climbing aboard will take you back to a time when flying was spacious and luxurious.

Qaumajug at the Winnipeg Art Gallery

Last fall, the Winnipeg Art Gallery opened Qaumajuq, a

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40,000-square-foot Inuit art centre. The most striking attraction is a three-storey glass vault filled with thousands of carvings—the world’s largest collection—organized by the artists’ home community. The new space also features Qilak, an 8,000-square-foot gallery with enormous skylights and undulating walls. The inaugural exhibition, INUA, features the work of over 90 Inuit artists and runs until February 2023. It’s hard to pick a favourite in any exhibition, but Jesse Tungilik’s Seal Skin Spacesuit, which he says brought his childhood daydreams to life, is awesome.

Pineridge Hollow

Pineridge Hollow is a one-ofa-kind, bustling attraction next to Bird’s Hill Provincial Park. It features a retail shop, furniture showroom, petting farm, farmers market, forest trails, and more. Owned and operated by Jan Regehr and family, the business has grown immensely over the past 30 years since its humble beginnings as a gift shop in a 1920s log home. New additions include the village—a collection of local shops and eateries curated by Regehr—and forest rooms, which are geodesic domes outfitted with a woodstove and comfy furniture, a unique gathering space for a bonfire and snack (like raclette cheese and baguette, yum!). Don’t miss the restaurant (we recommend the highly addictive beet chips served with housemade goat cheese ranch dip).

The Canadian Museum for Human Rights

This museum opened in 2014 and is a must-see in Winnipeg. Every exhibit is engaging and relevant and the museum’s architecture is breathtaking. Visitors enter at ground level and walk up five floors on ramps clad in illuminated and translucent white alabaster, ending at the Israel Asper Tower of Hope. It’s a journey from darkness to light that reflects the hope for human rights education. Don’t miss Climate Justice, which explores the connections between

Getaway human rights and climate change (runs to June 2024) and trace—a large ceramic blanket by Rebecca Belmore that honours the original inhabitants of the land upon which the museum is built. Belmore was born in Upsala and is a member of Obishikokaang (Lac Seul First Nation).

The Forks

The Forks is a national historic site where the Assiniboine and Red Rivers meet—the area has been a meeting place for over 6,000 years. In the winter, a key attraction is the Nestaweya River Trail, where you can walk, fatbike, skate, or cross country ski. The length of the trail varies with ice conditions; five years ago it spanned 10 kilometres and it once held the Guinness World Record for the longest naturally frozen skating trail in the world. Nestaweya is the Cree name for the site and area now known as Winnipeg, and means three points. It’s a reference to those who traveled to the site via the rivers: the LakotaDakota-Nakota came from the west on the Assiniboine River while the Cree came from the north and the Anishinaabe came from the south on the Red River. The Forks is also home to a new Treaty Knowledge Centre. The centre is warm and inviting and is intended to be a safe space for people to ask questions to better understand the numbered treaties from a First Nations perspective.

The Fort Garry Hotel

This year marks the Fort Garry Hotel’s 110th anniversary, and its owners are continuing their work to meticulously restore and rejuvenate this former Grand Trunk Pacific Railway hotel. In 2022, they reopened the Oval Room Brasserie with its château-inspired décor and artisanal yet unpretentious dishes and expansive wine list. If you want to treat yourself (and let’s face it, you do), check out the packages at Ten Spa—a sprawling world-class spa that features Canada’s only co-ed Turkish hammam (steam bath). Ten Spa also prides itself on its intensive skincare treatments and medical grade products, which are offered at affordable prices because, as spa director Elena Zinchenko says, “We wholeheartedly believe that skincare is not a luxury.”

Where to Stay

The Fort Garry is an ideal base camp for urban adventures because it is close to attractions like The Forks, Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Winnipeg Art Gallery, and Canada Life Centre (Jets headquarters). It’s also oneof-a-kind—you’ll get a bigger bathroom at a Marriott, but you might wake up and forget what city you are in. The Wyndham Garden Winnipeg Airport opened in fall 2022 and is located on the Long Plain First Nation’s Madison Reserve—Winnipeg’s first urban reserve. It’s close to the CF Polo Park shopping centre and aviation museum, and has a thoughtful and welcoming design that celebrates Indigenous culture.

Where to Eat

 The new Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada

Fools & Horses Coffee Company at The Forks A full espresso menu and freshly baked treats Hargrave Street Market Local faves, including Lake of the Woods Brewery, under one roof James Avenue Pumphouse Pub fare (perfect for picky eaters) in an early 1900s municipal water pumping station, located in the historic Exchange District Modern Electric Lunch All-day breakfast with excellent avocado toast and seasonal lattes Nola Eclectic small plates crafted by one of Canada’s top chefs

 Niimaamaa at The Forks  Oval Room Brasserie, Fort Garry Hotel

 Gather Craft Kitchen & Bar's Turkish Delight cocktail

Where to Watch Live Music

Times Change(d) High & Lonesome Club Not new, but authentically Winnipeg. Character oozes from this downtown bar located in a 140-year-old building—we bet the dance floor is always packed

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Music

 Jamie Smith

Live at Loch

 Just Me

Off the Slopes and Into the Chalet for a Night of Music By Jack Barten

here are few things more wonderful than an evening of live music and drinks in a ski chalet. And for readers who have been to the Live at Loch series of shows, you know exactly what it entails. Since its inception in late 2019, Live at Loch has become a staple of Loch Lomond Ski Area’s Friday night skis. With all local acts and a focus on more intimate acoustic shows, Loch is now a staple venue in the music community. “Live music has always been around at Loch. And we wanted to put together a series of shows that highlighted local musicians,” says Michelle Addison, owner of Go Beyond the Show and producer of Live at Loch. With established local acts like Ryan MacDonald (from The Honest Heart Collective) and Dueling Pianos (Danny Johnson and Richard Tribe), Live at Loch offers live music in a fun and different environment. What makes Loch a particularly special venue is the rapport between patrons and acts during the performances. That, and the opportunity to

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watch an acoustic performance while warming up from a couple ski runs, makes for a truly memorable experience. When asked about the energy at the shows Addison mentions that “the shows are really conducive to sing-a-longs.” One element that makes for special sets is the non-stop support for local music. “We really focused on how we could support the community this year,” Addison says when asked about which acts they were booking for the upcoming season. As every performer is local, it gives the series of shows an instant feeling of familiarity and community. This upcoming season starts in mid December and runs every week until March 24, 2023. Every show is free and open to all ages, and every week is a different style of music and genre. Live at Loch’s upcoming season will yet again cement the ski area as a cornerstone of both the alpine community and the live music community. For more information, visit lochlomond.ca.

Vegan Month January 2023

The veggiest time of year is BACK! All month long we'll be serving an extra special, all plant menu* alongside our regular menu. Book early to avoid disappointment. Book now by emailing or calling us: hello@redlionsmokehouse.ca 807.286.0045

BLUES HOUSE PARTY4 PORT ARTHUR POLISH HALL 102 S. COURT ST. SATURDAY MARCH 25, 2023 THUNDER BAY BLUES SOCIETY IBC FUNDRAISER

For tic ket pri ces an d b an d info rmati on, vi sit

*Menu available while quantities last.

w w w. t h u n d e r b a y b l u e s s o c i e t y. c a

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

An essential part of our community Our artisans, producers, farmers & bakers are still ready to serve you!

MARCH 4 2023

SleepingGiantLoppet.ca Shop, don’t stop. Help keep everybody safe. Fat Bike Loppet - March 5

Presented By:

Farmers are still farming! And artisans are still crafting.

Experience the difference. Always, only fresh and local, year-round at the Market. Visit Us:

Find/Follow Us:

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

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

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Music

Christine McVie Farewell to the Songbird

Story by Gord Ellis, Photo by Bob Riha

usic has a way of bringing you back to a place in your life. It’s like a time travel booth. You hear the music and step into the time machine. When it comes to the music of Fleetwood Mac—and especially those songs sung and played by Christine McVie—the experience for this columnist is particularly strong. In 1983, a friend and I did a one-shot road trip from London, Ontario to Thunder Bay. It was late fall and we hit a bad snowstorm. Yet we were both heading home to see our girlfriends. The car had a cassette tape deck and in that player was the Fleetwood Mac album

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Mirage. It was our only tape and we played it over and over. One of the songs, a ballad of love and yearning called “Wish You Were Here,” became the theme song of that trip. It was a Christine McVie ballad that had all her hallmarks: the plaintive but soulful vocal, the bluesy piano, and the romantic longing. As it turns out, the song was written for her then-boyfriend, The Beach Boys drummer (and only true surfer dude) Dennis Wilson. When I heard last month that McVie had died at 79, I immediately put on Mirage and listened to that song. It sounded as gorgeous and emotional as I remembered, nearly 40

G BURNINE H TO T SKY years later. In a band with two other unique and distinctive songwriters, Christine McVie managed to produce some of Fleetwood Mac’s biggest hits. That is no small achievement. The list of her songs includes iconic tunes like “Don’t Stop,” “You Make Loving Fun,” “Say You Love Me,” ”Little Lies,” and “Everywhere,” to name just a few. McVie joined as a member of Fleetwood Mac several years before Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks famously signed on in 1974. She was a blues singer and piano player at heart, playing and singing her heart out. Yet when she began to write her own songs, her romantic

and balladeer side began to show through. Earlier Fleetwood Mac albums like Bare Trees included songs such as “Spare Me a Little of Your Love,” which started to steer the English blues band into a pop/rock direction. Yet when the “Rumours 5” came together and Buckingham took over arranging duties, McVie’s songwriting really bloomed. The relationship between Buckingham and Nicks gets most of the ink and has fueled the FM legend. However, the musical connection between Buckingham and McVie was the secret sauce of Fleetwood Mac. The way their vocals would blend, almost into one, was magical. This is most evident on a song like “Hold Me” (also on Mirage), where Buckingham and McVie’s voices mirror and complement each other

throughout. “Hold Me” is also a great example of how McVie could write a radioready rocker. No one would ever mistake Christine McVie for a Chrissie Hynde-style rock girl, but she sure could swing. This was a good thing, as her ability to write uptempo and hooky songs made Fleetwood Mac a lot of money. Her chops on piano also drive songs like “Don’t Stop” and “Think About Me.” And then there is “Songbird,” a McVie tune so simple and perfect that Fleetwood Mac used it as their show closer for years. McVie would perform it solo at the piano, a single spotlight on the small, blonde woman who wore her heart on her sleeve. Her voice would soar over the crowd and the tears would flow. Godspeed, songbird.

2023 WINTER PROGRAMMING PRESENTED BY THE

Every Sunday from January 8th - March 19th

TUESDAY, JULY 11 - 7:30 PM

FREE winter programming every Sunday at various locations throughout the city. Outdoor and indoor programming will be offered each week.

Monday, February 20th

SnowDay embraces winter with fun outdoor programming designed to get people outside and enjoying the season. The event's main attraction is the snow sculpture creations. Snow sculpture Call to Artist applications are open until January 11th. Apply Today online!

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW.THUNDERBAY.CA/EVENTS

WEDNESDAY MARCH 29 - 8:00 PM ORDER TICKETS ONLINE AT WWW.TBCA.COM OR WWW.TICKETMASTER.CA OR IN-PERSON AT 1 PAUL SHAFFER DRIVE - WEDNESDAYS: 12:30PM - 5:30 PM

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Music

12 Gauge Prayer Thunder Bay Metal Band Looks to Hit the Road By Kris Ketonen

or singer Darcy Forneri, Thunder Bay metal band 12 Gauge Prayer is literally a dream come true. “In 2009, I was in a bad motorcycle accident,” Forneri says. “Being at home on the funky meds and stuff like that, I ended up having this dream that I was playing on stage, singing. [...] It was at a big outdoor concert, and I turned around and there was a big banner that said 12 Gauge Prayer.” Forneri says all the members of the band— guitarist Darren Patkau, drummer Rick Krashewski, and bassist Gordon Maunula—are longtime friends, and lifelong metal fans. “It seems like we have a solid foundation now, so it’s fantastic,” Forneri says. “We’re like four brothers.” That, too, is important to Forneri, as the singer has been dealing with some serious health issues in recent years, including a cancer diagnosis in 2014. “The recovery for that one was pretty terrible,” he says. “When I was singing before, I had the higher-register voice. What happened with the surgery [was] it damaged

all the nerves, and killed my high-vocal register. I had to learn to sing a little bit growlier, and that’s the reason why my voice is the way it is. [...] But I’ve also been told that it sounds pretty good, and it’s distinctive.” Unfortunately, the cancer has returned, Forneri says, and he also suffered what he called a “massive” heart attack in 2021. However, 12 Gauge Prayer is not slowing down. In fact, the band is an important outlet for Forneri. “When I’m singing […] nothing else matters,” he says. “Everything else disappears.” As for the future, Forneri says the band continues to write new music, and hopes to record an album. “We’re kind of at the stage of getting some stuff ready, because hopefully we can hit Winnipeg and a couple places next summer,” he says. “I wouldn’t mind doing a little tour. It’s going to be in the works soon. I just hope everything pans out the way I want it to.” For more information, visit facebook.com/ hellcitys. Darcy Forneri

Wagyu Beef now available JAPANESE A5 • AUSTRALIAN M9 US A3 • 50 OZ TOMAHAWK BY APPOINTMENT ONLY

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LOT66.CA

Music

William Sirois Section Violin

TBSO E PROFIL

By Kris Ketonen Birthplace: Mont SaintAignan, France Instrument: Violin Age you started to study music: He began seriously studying violin at age nine or 10 How long have you been with TBSO: In his first season What’s on your personal playlist: Classical music

t was family influence that led the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra’s William Sirois to pick up his first violin. “First, my grandmother was very interested [in the] violin,” Sirois says. “My older brother was a violinist, so he played violin when he was young. Of course, when you are a kid, you are […] trying to imitate other people, so this is how I started.”

But it wasn’t long before Sirois developed his own love for the instrument. He recalls listening to some recordings of the violin when everything suddenly clicked. “I was very enthusiastic about everything, the sound of the violin,” he says. “This is speaking to me, so this is why I think I never stopped.” He went on to study at the Conservatoire de Rouen and the Conservatoire de

Boulogne-Billancourt in Paris, ear ning musical diplomas. Sirois then moved to Montreal, enrolling at the Conservatoire de Musique, from which he received his master’s degree. Now he’s been in Thunder Bay for a few months, performing with the TBSO, and Sirois is enjoying his time in the city. “I was only in big cities, in Paris and Montreal,” he says. “I really enjoy the space

here. I can breathe more, and this is a schedule that I really enjoy.” Playing with the TBSO itself has also been a good experience, Sirois says. “Everybody is very important and responsible for sound quality,” he says. “I like the fact that we are very important. [...] Everybody's doing the best for the music.”

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Music

Pianist Evgeny Chugunov to perform at the next LUMINA concert on January 31

Lighting Up the Stage

Lakehead University’s LUMINA Concerts Celebrate Intimate Performances By Matt Prokopchuk

concert series hosted by Lakehead University with over 30 years of history continues to celebrate soloists and small ensembles while offering students and the community at large a close look at the world of professional performance. The LUMINA Concert Series consists of a number of midday performances throughout the school year by professional musicians in a chamber music environment, encompassing a wide variety of genres and eras. The concerts date back to the late 1980s and the establishment of the university’s department of music, says Aris Carastathis,

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a professor of music at Lakehead and one of the longtime organizers of the series. It was originally called the Cornwall Concert Series—a nod to the department’s original home at the former Cornwall Public School—but with the music program’s move to the main campus in the early 90s, LUMINA (standing for Lakehead University Music in Action) was adopted. The performers who take the stage are “either guest artists from out of town, or it’s our own faculty, or it is local professional musicians,” Carastathis says, adding that, originally, the goal was to allow Lakehead

music students “to see how professionals perform music and use that in their own studies.” While that is still a focus, Carastathis says it has also expanded to give the community at large the same opportunity, and to serve as an outlet for a wide range of chamber music. Sometimes, he adds, performers may also give a sort of master class or seminar after the show for students. “They get to be right next to the performer and they get to see how the professionals do it, and what is involved in a concert like that,” he says. For the 2022–2023 calendar, Lakehead is running six shows—a

slightly lighter schedule than usual, Carastathis says, as the concerts return after being shelved due to COVID-19 rules. The next performance on January 31 will feature pianist Evgeny Chugunov, a Lakehead associate professor and music department chair, performing a program that will include the premiere of a piece composed by Carastathis—two movements called Time Suspended and Time Lost. “They reflect a little bit of the passage of time and how we consider time as a factor in our lives and time we have with other people,” he says.

LUMINA concerts take place on scheduled Tuesdays starting at 12:30 pm at the Jean McNulty Recital Hall on the Lakehead campus. For the full schedule and ticket information, check out lakeheadu.ca/ programs/departments/ music/events.

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Music

Origins of an Esoteric Order

Steve Hoier of Annihilation Text

Annihilation Text Rise Again By Justin Allec

etal bands like T h u n d e r B a y ’s Annihilation Text rarely start out fully formed. Instead, the evolution towards their style of complex and pummeling death metal takes years of practice and dedication. It’s a long game, with auditory chaos as the end goal. With the release of their long-gestating album The Order this summer, band mastermind Steve Hoier and his collaborators have followed up on promises they made more than a decade ago on the 2007 Defamation Manifesto demo. After early exposure to the big-name metal greats of the 1980s, Hoier fell for the more extreme sounds of early death metal. It was a short journey from Iron

Maiden to Morbid Angel. Like many kids, he took his admiration, bought a bass guitar, and turned it into an obsession. “I didn't have any of my own gear that early on, so it was a lot of, ‘Hey, can I try your guitar and amp?’ while visiting with friends,” Hoier says. “I also strived to become competent at playing drums, and guitar was always in the mix too.” Eventually the first iteration of Annihilation Text came to be in 2005. After releasing the demo and focusing on being a live band, Hoier experienced complications from arthritis and the usual expanding responsibilities from growing older. “I lost interest in playing as much due to some physical complications and

being frustrated with that. [It] made it hard to push on,” he says. It wouldn’t be until years later that the time was right to revive Annihilation Text. This time around, Hoier approached the band as more of a creative project and took on many of the responsibilities such as drums, sampling, mixing, and mastering. It’s a weird approach to fun, but it gives him a place to put all the guitar riffs that go through his head. The technology has improved significantly, which makes it easier, but there’s still an enormous amount of work to do with music that cruises along at 200 beats per minute. And The Order is definitely impressive. Awash in hilarious, disturbing samples and

Lovecraftian lyrics, these eight songs feature some top-tier blasting death metal. In addition to Hoier’s work on the songs, he also collaborated extensively to bring the right personalities into the mix. “I hand-picked them based on my familiarity with their talent. Over the years you make friends and acquaintances in a small-city music community like ours, but this extends beyond our local community too,” Hoier says. Original Annihilation Text members participated, with Cory Gauthier lending his vocals and Lee Arnone on backing guitars, and the shredding duties are shared among the alumni of Thunder Bay’s metal scene and beyond, with guest spots from Aeon’s Sebastian

Nilsson and Morbid Angel’s Steve Tucker. The experience of releasing The Order was “a hell of a lot of fun” and is only providing more motivation. Moving forward, Hoier wants to continue with more frequent Annihilation Text releases that will allow him to explore different sounds and with other collaborators. Keep an eye on them through their Bandcamp page, where all their releases are pay-what-you-will. For more information, visit facebook.com/ annihilationtext or annihilationtext. bandcamp.com.

The Walleye

OfftheWall

Palmate

Slugbate

There’s lots to love on this gigantic three-song EP from local trio Slugbate. I’m not sure how they landed on their current sound, but it really works for me. They’re a sludge band, which means noisy, trudging riffs played at bowelrumbling volumes, but they’ve weaved in (gasp!) some rhythmic elements that are absolutely compelling. Johnny Longfeather’s guitar and Morningstar Derosier’s bass lines weave magic with their heavy riffs. There’s heft to every note, but Slugbate doesn’t want to flatten you like most sludge bands. Instead, theirs is a warm sound, more akin to a crushingly warm hug from someone who’s departed your life before their time. Nathan Pakka’s drumming keeps a low profile, but his patterns and subtle use of keyboards add the anchor for all this emotional strife. Finally, Longfeather and Derosier share vocal duties that intertwine just like the stringed instruments, which add haunting, heartbreaking melodies to the music. It's not perfect—as with most sludge, some sections dig in a little too long—but with a pay-what-you-can price tag on Bandcamp, I’d throw Slugbate some cash just to motivate them to put more music out. With the amount of brilliance this little EP offers, I’ll be spinning it a lot to counter the cold, dark mornings ahead. -Justin Allec

The Walleye

Reviews

Trouble Is…25 Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band

With the release of Trouble Is…25, a complete re-recording of his seminal sophomore album, five-time Grammy Awardnominated guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd reminds us that classic songs may be timeless but their interpretation is not. The album arguably enhances the youthful strut, swagger, and cool of its 1997 visionary precursor, an album that redefined the blues-rock genre. The original track listing has been retained, with the addition of a previously unreleased version of Bob Dylan’s “Ballad of a Thin Man” as a bonus. Confident, fluid, and glorious, Shepherd’s solos have never sounded better. The album is imbued with the peerless musicianship of drummer Chris Layton and keyboardist Reese Wynans from Stevie Ray Vaughn’s iconic Double Trouble lineup. Noah Hunt’s vocals are powerful and persuasive. Shining on every level, Trouble Is…25 reflects on artistic evolution with the comfort of ongoing relevance at its side. -Ken Wright

Only the Strong Survive

Midnights

Taylor Swift

The Boss has always had a soft spot for soul and R&B songs. He often includes a couple of them in his live concerts. That soft spot shines in his latest album Only the Strong Survive. It’s a collection of covers of his favourite Motown tunes, and I think it’s great. The songs have all the ingredients of soul music classics—funky bass lines, sweet backing vocals, and killer horns, strings and keyboards. The music harkens back to the early 1970s and TV shows like Soul Train. The recording and mix are top notch, and Springsteen’s vocals are as strong and confident as ever. From gravelly ballads to full-on R&B rockers, his voice is custom made for soul music. Favourite songs include the Commodores hit “Nightshift” and the title track “Only the Strong Survive.” If you're a fan of the Four Tops, Al Green, or Dobie Gray, you’ll love this album. Springsteen had fun making this music and I’ll bet you have just as much fun listening to it.

Taylor Swift returns yet again with her tenth studio album, Midnights. On this album, Swift takes a hard turn right back into pop music, which almost feels like a statement. This is not a negative, however, as this record is stacked with introspective and well-written lyrics coupled with complex production. One of the top tracks on the album, “AntiHero,” delves into Swift’s persona, shedding light on what it's like to be the number one pop superstar on the planet and how this ties into how she views herself. The main theme of this album really seems to be Swift using pop music to tear herself apart. Coming from someone who is so commercially successful, this theme proves more fascinating the deeper you go into the album. These self-critiquing themes continue until you get to the last track, “Mastermind,” where Swift implies that everything you've felt while listening to her has all been by design. This ending wonderfully wraps up Midnights, further proving that Taylor Swift is one of the most interesting voices of this generation, and has produced the best album of 2022.

-Gerald Graham

-Jack Barten

Bruce Springsteen

Every Loser

Heroes & Villains

What better way to start your musical new year than with the 19th album from the living legend known as Iggy Pop? Every Loser is 100% Iggy Pop. It’s hard to place where some familiar sounds come from until you realize that this is the man that has influenced everyone over the last 50 years. Mr. Pop has transfigured just about everything. The album comes out hitting hard with the track “Frenzy,” featuring Duff McKagan (Guns N’ Roses) and Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers). “Strung Out Johnny” follows up with classic Iggy Pop melodic storytelling, while “Neo Punk” takes the listener back to Pop’s days in The Stooges. Every Loser goes beyond Pop “still having it” and is a testament as to why everyone wants a small piece of what he has.

We’ve come to expect excellence from Atlanta producer Metro Boomin, and he continues to deliver. In the nine years since he first went platinum on the boards of a Future single, he’s gradually turned his craft into the gold standard of the world’s most popular music product: Southern trap masterpieces. Metro Boomin had hinted at tremendous creative expression beyond the world of hip hop with contributions on Solange, James Blake, and The Weeknd albums around the turn of the decade. He’s managed to translate the lessons learned across genres and pull off incredible feats when working under his own billing. His other superpower is curation. Metro crams 72 collaborators across 48 minutes of an experience that is undeniably his. Heroes & Villains is hardly what we’ve come to expect from a mainstream genre that rewards hype over hustle. Metro can craft beats and harness superstardom so well, he is undeniably one in his own right.

Iggy Pop

-Jamie Varga

Metro Boomin

thamichaelated Michael Westermann

When the slogan stating “all you do is show up with your idea and we record your podcast” is actually what really happens, you can’t get much better than that! Hosts on thamichaelated, a locally recorded and produced podcast, are given the opportunity to bring forward their business visions, products, and often unrecognized markets, which ultimately helps better Thunder Bay’s economic commerce—and truly, who doesn’t love something local? From hydroponics to hip hop, clothing designers to college film, you’ll get the full scoop paired with some superior audio and video quality. Personally, having that visual aspect really helps highlight the hosts’ passions and aspirations whilst building a sense of connection to them or their idea. A quirky and refreshing listen that does a fantastic job in highlighting the gems within our community. -Andrea Lysenko

The Unfamiliar Garden

Benjamin Percy

In Benjamin Percy’s thriller The Unfamiliar Garden, there’s been a severe drought in Seattle since the night of the meteor storm that changed the world. Five years later, the rains have finally returned, but with them comes a string of brutal, ritualistic murders, and the flowering of an unknown parasitic fungus. These two events bring together a biologist and his cop ex-wife as they discover the horrifying connection between the two and how it relates to their daughter’s disappearance five years earlier. I really liked The Unfamiliar Garden. It has a very tight narrative. Percy’s writing style is very visual, reminiscent of a script (making it that much quicker to read). The characters were super interesting, and I enjoyed seeing where the plot would take them. And while I’m not a huge horror fan, the horror elements of the book worked very well in this science fiction tale. -Shauna Kosoris

-Michael Charlebois

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Architecture

 New oak doors made in Ontario  Living room and foyer

 Finished entrance

The Former Immanuel Lutheran Church Respect, Renovate, and Revitalize By Jennifer Bonazzo

here is a famous line from the musical The Sound of Music: “When the Lord closes a door, somewhere he opens a window.” This could describe what happened when Immanuel Lutheran Church, faced with a declining congregation, made the decision in 2015 to amalgamate with Our Saviour’s Lutheran, a related church in their parish. While this difficult choice meant putting their building on the corner of Banning and Pearl Street up for sale, it ultimately opened a window of opportunity for Rike Burkhardt to repurpose it into a unique home. The church had a long history in the Bay-Algoma area, despite taking years to develop into the recognizable property of today.

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According to Pastor Matthew Diegel, the lot was purchased in 1906 but various delays put off construction, and the church didn’t open until November 1912. Then known as Swedish Immanuel Lutheran Church, it was a simple one-level concrete basement, with hardwood floors and windows trimmed in pine. A second storey—with plans drawn by G. Eriksen—was postponed until 1956, but completed in time for Easter Sunday in 1957. In traditional Scandinavian style, the architecture was plain and functional, with a large open space in which to hold services. The basement was used as a hall. It remained as such until the church closed, and the property was sold to Burkhardt. Burkhardt confesses she had

Architecture always had her eye on the Pearl Street property, even before it was for sale. Originally from Toronto, she came to Thunder Bay for school, but stayed when she grew to love the city, particularly the Bay and Algoma Historical District. This isn’t the first property she has renovated there, saying she’s inspired by the area and taking on projects where she can respect their history while revitalizing the neighborhood. This renovation appears to have done just that. B u r k h a rd t w o r k e d w i t h architectural firm Brook McIlroy for the plan design. She says the building was in solid condition when the project got underway, but updates were necessary. Some of these included exterior waterproofing and insulation, and replacing doors and glass block windows. Many interior changes were made, but the high cathedral ceilings remain a dominant feature, with wood replacing the aged white tile. Original features, such as curved door arches, the Douglas fir swinging doors, and the dated cornerstone were also kept. When she wasn’t able to retain the pews due to their condition, she repurposed the wood into spice racks. Outside, the portico over the concrete stairs has been painted, now a dramatic black against the new white stucco. From start to finish, the renovation took two and a half years to complete. Burkhardt shares some of the lessons learned along the way, lauding her lowered energy costs but saying the conversion of land use was difficult and not for beginners. There were also high costs associated with such a large undertaking. But as she looks ahead to other projects, enthusiastic and undeterred, it’s easy to see that she is ready for her next window to open.

 Bathroom renovated

 Dining room

 Day book from 1906

 Original building

 Demo in 2016

 Kitchen with original swinging doors made from Douglas fir

 Original drawings  Dining room

Jennifer Bonazzo is a member of the Heritage Advisory Committee, which advises city council on the conservation of heritage buildings, sites, and resources, and their integration into development. For more information on the city’s heritage resources, visit thunderbay.ca.

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

January 4, 11, 18, & 25, 10 am–noon

January 1, 1 pm

Grandview Arena

New Year’s Levee with the Vic Arnone Band Port Arthur Royal Canadian Legion Branch 5

Ring in the new year with an afternoon of music featuring the Vic Arnone Band. This free show runs from 1–6 pm on New Year’s Day. Bring your own favourite snacks.

@portarthurlegion

January 3, 10, 17, 24, & 31, 10 pm

Karaoke

The Foundry Karaoke is back at The Foundry. Every Tuesday night, dust off your old performing gear, warm up your vocal cords, grab your friends, and show everyone what you can do.

thefoundrypub.com

January 4, 11, 18, & 25, 9:30 am

Pierogi Days Takeout

Polish Combatants Association Branch No. 1 Every Wednesday from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, the Polish Combatants Association Branch No. 1 is selling pierogies, cabbage rolls, chicken, penne with meatballs, vegan beet soup, and more.

345-1861

Adults-only Skating

Adult-only skating sessions return to Grandview Arena, so grab your skates (and a helmet!) for a couple of hours on the ice. Admission rates and up-to-date schedule info at the city’s website.

thunderbay.ca/ publicskating

January 4, 11, 18, & 25, 2–4 pm

January 6, 10 pm

Nostalgix: Supah Fly Tour Atmos

Nostalgix is taking the bass house scene by storm with her refreshing sounds, positive energy, and electrifying performances. Hailing from Iran, and raised in Canada, this producer flawlessly executes everything she creates and exudes boss energy everywhere she goes.

atmostbay.ca

Babies & Brews

January 6, 13, 20, & 27

Connect with new moms and dads in the Red Lion Smokehouse Lounge. Come by every Wednesday, bring your little one and hang out with other new parents. Nursing is welcome and both washrooms include changing facilities.

Loch Lomond Ski Area

Red Lion Smokehouse

@redlionsmokehouse

January 5, 12, 19, & 26, 3 pm

Blissful Beading

Live @ Loch

Live @ Loch continues with four more weeks of fresh live music and great local talent. This month, come see Danny Johnson and Richard Tribe of Duelling Pianos, Ryan MacDonald, Richard Veurink, and Sara Kae. The music pairs well with the incredible menu offered by Tony Catanzaro in the kitchen. See this month’s Music section for more info.

Thunder Bay Public Library County Park Branch

facebook.com/ lochlomondskiarea

Drop in after school and relax while you create beaded trinkets. Ages 4+. Program ends 30 minutes before closing. Call 3458275 ext. 7401 or email cpark@tbpl.ca for more info.

Consortium Aurora Borealis Presents: The Martin Blanchet Jazz Quintet

tbpl.ca

January 7, 8 pm

St. Paul’s United Church Group leader, double bassist, and vocalist Martin Blanchet sets the mood with his mellow jazz arrangements, including spin-offs on Baroque and classic tunes. He is joined by violinist Katie Stevens, clarinetist E-Chen Hsu, and guitarist Mario Potestio.

consortiumab.org

78 2

The The Walleye Walleye

EVENTS GUIDE KEY General Art Food Sports Music January 8, 2 pm

Stitch & Bitch Crafters Meet-Up

Red Lion Smokehouse Knit, crochet, cross-stitch, embroidery, or other needle crafts—it doesn’t matter. Get together to work on a project, compare patterns, share techniques, and trade tips. And of course, get to know each other and gab! All experience levels are welcome.

@redlionsmokehouse

January 8, 15, & 29, 2–3:30 pm

Open Skating Neebing Arena

Everyone is welcome to an afternoon on the ice. Grab your skates (and a helmet!) for open skating sessions at Neebing Arena. Admission rates and upto-date schedule info at the city’s website.

thunderbay.ca/ publicskating

January 8, 15, 22, & 29

Winter Fun Days 2023 Around Town

Weekly activities will be held at Marina Park and in neighbourhoods throughout the city. This month, enjoy outdoor snow sculpting, a winter scavenger hunt, figure skating, indoor art activities, and scenic dog sled rides.

thunderbay.ca

January 8, 7:30 pm

ELVIS Forever

Thunder Bay Community Auditorium Local talent Daylin James pairs up with the Pink Cadillac Orchestra for a night of burnin’ love in the ELVIS Forever tribute show. James sings and dances his way through the many eras of Elvis’s life, covering all the timeless and beloved classics. See this month’s Top Five for more info.

tbca.com

January 9

Letter To My Future Self Thunder Bay Public Library Waverley Branch

A lot can happen in a year! Write a letter to yourself talking about goals and wishes you have for the new year and have us mail it back to you in December 2023. Pick up a small kit to help you get started. Letters are due back to the Waverley Resource Library on January 31.

tbpl.ca

January 9, 4–9 pm

Skiing With Dogs

Kamview Nordic Centre Kamview is opening up the Northern Lights Trail (from the Stadium, around the Northern Lights, and back to the Stadium only) so you can ski with your pooch— the lights will be on! You and your puppers are welcome to ski this portion of the Night Loop but keep in mind all the rules that apply on the Dudley’s dogfriendly ski trail will also apply here.

facebook.com/ KamviewNordicCentre

January 11, 18, & 25, 5:30 pm

Games & LEGO Fun For Kids

Thunder Bay Public Library Brodie Resource Branch Build a tower, a house, or a pirate ship! Try out the light table, or play a board game. Families are invited to join in at the Brodie Library’s programming room for a drop-in games/ LEGO extravaganza. All ages welcome, but there will be small pieces.

tbpl.ca

January 12, 10:30 am

Innovating in Agriculture Workshop

Northwestern Ontario Innovation Centre Check out this interactive session on three emerging advancements in agriculture: what’s coming in biopesticides, traceability technology, and plant growth promotion. This workshop is led by researchers and entrepreneurs developing and commercializing these innovations. $15.

facebook.com/ NWOInnovation

January 13, 7:30 pm

TBSO Hilldale Classics 3: Luminous Hilldale Lutheran Church

The concert begins with two French greats, Maurice Ravel and Lili Boulanger, followed by the TBSO principal clarinetist Peter Shackleton’s feature in Canadian composer Randolph Peters’s “Luminous.” The concert is topped off with Schubert’s exuberant 5th Symphony.

tbso.ca

January 13–March 19

NWO NOW Juried Exhibition Thunder Bay Art Gallery

The NWO NOW Juried Exhibition features the talents of artists living across all of northern Ontario. Come see a wide variety of original artwork and media that challenges, expands, and innovates. Juried by Anong Migwans Beam and Maria Hupfield. See this month’s Art section for more info.

theag.ca

January 14, 10 pm

DJ Dance Party The Foundry

DJ Big D’s first dance Party of 2023! Come on down to The Foundry and dance the night away. The music starts at 10 pm, $5 at the door, 19+, and photo ID required.

thefoundrypub.com

January 14 & 15

Hide Tanning Camp

FWFN Social Services Office Come out to learn from an experienced and knowledgeable team of instructors, tool makers, and Elders. This group, including Jean Marshall, Laura Calmwind, Amber Sandy, Kanina Terry, and Nate Johnson, will work collaboratively to give you an interactive, hands-on learning experience.

622-6791

January 17 & 18, 7:30 pm

High School Musical Jr.

St. Ignatius High School St. Ignatius High School’s Grade 11/12 drama class presents High School Musical Jr., which follows the journey of Troy, Gabriella, and the students of East High, faced with issues of love, friends, and family while balancing their classes and extracurricular activities. Tickets are $15.

tbcschools.ca/st-ignatius

January 20 & 21

TBSO Northern Lights: Rise with Sara Kae Italian Cultural Centre The Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra is partnering with local

Indigenous musician Sara Kae for two nights of music, harmony, and culture. The concert features Kae, who uses her lived experiences as an Indigenous woman in Thunder Bay to tell stories of identity and culture through music. See this month’s Top Five for more info.

tbso.ca

January 21, 10 am–4 pm

Mental Health Matters 2023

Delta Hotels by Marriott Thunder Bay Come learn more about, and connect with, mental health and wellness organizations in Thunder Bay. There will be guest speakers from local organizations throughout the day to discuss their mental health initiatives, and available resources.

kellymentalhealth.com

January 21, 2 pm

Thunder Bay Horticultural Society 100th Anniversary Party Oliver Road Community Centre

Join past and present members of the Thunder Bay Horticultural Society as they celebrate the organization’s 100th anniversary. This gathering will feature a century’s worth of memorabilia on display, including the society’s original minute book, photos, trophies, and news clippings. See this month’s Green section for more info.

gardenontario.org/ society-listing/entry/604/

January 21, 7 pm

Darrin Rose: Drinking In Public Comedy Tour Paramount Theatre

Campfire Comedy presents an evening of laughs at the iconic Paramount Theatre, starring award-winning comedian and actor Darrin Rose. He has been seen on Letterkenny, Mr. D, Match Game, and has numerous appearances at the Just For Laughs Festival.

campfirecomedy.ca

January 21 & 22

Hazelwood Lake Fishing Tournaments Hazelwood Lake

The North American Sportfishing Championship is holding a pair of one-day local lake fishing tournaments at Hazelwood. Participants will fish for walleye on the 21st and for pike on the 22nd. You’ve got a onein-25 chance to win $1,000, and the winner qualifies for the no-entry-fee regional tournament, with a chance to win $5,000.

northamerican walleyetrail.com

Until January 23

The Legend of Wendell Beckwith

January 26–February 11

Dock Spider Magnus Theatre

Join Magnus Theatre for this comedy/thriller, which tells the story of two men stranded alone on a dock in the middle of a remote lake. The circumstances surrounding their abandonment are mysterious, but what is obvious is the mistrust the two characters have for one another. See this month’s Top Five for more info.

magnustheatre.com

January 27, 10 am

Family Literacy Day Thunder Bay Public Library County Park Branch

thunderbaymuseum.com

Come celebrate Family Literacy Day with United for Literacy (formally known as Frontier College) and friends. This is a free family event with interactive literacy and numeracy activities that are fun for the whole family. There will also be a story time, giveaways, and draws.

January 24, 7 pm (CT)

tbpl.ca

Thunder Bay Museum The Thunder Bay Museum presents a new exhibit about the life and work of scientist, engineer, and inventor Wendell Beckwith, who lived alone on Best Island in what is now Wabakimi Provincial Park.

Grand Marais Art Colony Pen and Marker Techniques

January 27, 7:30 pm

Sarah Ann Nelson will take every part of drawing an Arctic landscape and break it down into three sections, including proportionate drawing, pen techniques— creating value and texture using hatching and cross hatching—and using markers and colour layering methods to bring your drawing to life. Cost is US$65.

Hilldale Lutheran Church

Virtual

grandmaraisartcolony.org

January 24, 7:30 pm

Public Lecture: Naming the New City at the Lakehead Thunder Bay Museum

Come learn more about the fascinating story behind how Thunder Bay got its name, including the infamous Lakehead/ The Lakehead plebiscite choices. The lecture is presented by Dr. Peter Raffo. The lecture will also be broadcast live via Zoom.

thunderbaymuseum.com

TBSO Hilldale Classics 3: Mozart And Calla Lilies

Schreker’s Chamber Symphony kicks off this show with an exploration into post-WWI Germanic music. It will be followed by Mozart’s Prague Symphony. Featuring the TBSO’s principal oboist Colleen Kennedy, Mozetich’s Calla Lilies is a hauntingly beautiful impressionistic piece, offering a lyrical change of pace.

tbso.ca

January 27 & 28

They’re Going Places Comedy Tour 5 Forks Restaurant

Enjoy some delicious local food while listening to three renowned Canadian comedians, Abbas Wahab, Moe Ismail, and Jesse Singh, at the They’re Going Places comedy tour. Tickets are $20 online or $25 at the door, with two shows on each night (8 pm for the early birds and 10 pm for the night owls). See this month’s Top Five for more info.

abbaswahab.com

January 28, 8 pm

Arius Atmos

Come check out EDM performing couple Matt Nguyen and Tessa Lizz, better known as Arius. Their bass tracks span a multitude of genres, from railbreaking anthems to melodic vibey sounds. Support from RKill, Blvcksheep, and more. Tickets are $30, 19+.

atmostbay.ca

January 29, 5–7 pm

Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser Gillies Community Centre

Enjoy a delicious spaghetti dinner catered by Rose Valley Lodge & Restaurant in support of the Gillies Community Centre. This sit-down (with cash bar) or takeaway meal includes spaghetti, meatballs, buns, and salad. Price is $15, or $10 for children under 10. Pre-ordering suggested; deadline is January 25.

@GilliesCC

January 29, 7 pm

Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour

Thunder Bay Community Auditorium

January 30, 8 pm

Tony Yayo of G-Unit NV Music Hall

G-Unit’s Tony Yayo performs live in Thunder Bay at NV Music Hall on January 30. Doors 7 pm, show starts at 8 pm. With special guest Peter Jackson, and opening performances by Robbi G and more. Tickets starting at $39.90.

yayotbay.eventbrite.ca

January 31, 12:30 pm

LUMINA Concert Series: Evgeny Chugunov Lakehead University

Join pianist Evgeny Chugunov, a Lakehead associate professor and music department chair, for a diverse program, including the premiere of Aris Carastathis’s Time Suspended/Time Lost. Tickets are $15, $10 for seniors and students. Concerts are at the Jean McNulty Recital Hall. See this month’s Music section for more info.

lakeheadu.ca/programs/ departments/music

Until February 28

Northwestern Ontario Writers Workshop Annual International Writing Contest

The Northwestern Ontario Writers Workshop presents its annual writing contest, open to everyone aged 18 and up. Categories are short fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, prose, short crime fiction, and literary critical writing. Opens January 1, 2023, closes February 28. Cash prizes for 1st, 2nd, 3rd place in each category.

nowwwriters.ca

Experience the “world’s best mountain films” at the Banff Mountain Film World Tour. The show begins at 7 pm and will feature a selection of films in a range of styles and themes, curated by the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. Tickets are $24. See this month’s Top Five for more info.

banffcentre.ca/ banffmountainfestival/ tour

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379

Music

LU RADIO’S MONTHLY TOP 1 Alvvays* Blue Rev

Polyvinyl

9 Alex G

God Save The Animals

17 MorMor*

Semblance

Don’t Guess

Domino

City Slang

Hand Drawn Dracula

11 Crones*

25 Dawn to Dawn*

Postcards From the Sun to the Moon

Self-Released

3 Zoon*

A Sterling Murmuration

Paper Bag

4 Sloan* Steady

12 Yeah Yeah Yeahs Cool It Down

Secretly Canadian

13 Status/Non-Status* Surely Travel

You’ve Changed

14 Aysanabee* Watin

Ishkōdé Records

Yep Roc

SSURROUNDSS

18 Anna Arrobas* Made To Touch

Éditions Appærent

19 Frankie Cosmos

Inner World Peace

Sub Pop

20 Black Ox Orkestar* Everything Returns

Constellation

21 Tegan And Sara*

5 Blue Moon Marquee

Crybaby

Mom + Pop

Scream, Holler & Howl

Self-Released

8 Lesser Evil*

Subterranean

Self-Released

Ninja Tune

27 Blessed*

Circuitous

HIS HAPPINESS SHALL COME FIRST EVEN THOUGH WE ARE SUFFERING

Stumpwork

More is More

Blush

28 BACKXWASH*

6 Dry Cleaning 7 Les Shirley

26 PVA

Flemish Eye

Self-Released

4AD

And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow

Malocchio

Laugh Freely, Laugh Often

Mint

23 Weyes Blood

24 Bonnie Trash*

Waiting Game

Pray 4 Tomorrow

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

Sub Pop

10 Junior Boys*

2 Dumb*

CILU 102.7fm’s Monthly Charts for this issue reflect airplay for the month ending December 6, 2022.

15 Heaven for Real* Energy Bar

Self-Released

Mint

16 Planet Giza*

You Don’t Understand [EP]

Self-Released

22 Sudan Archives Natural Brown Prom Queen

Stones Throw

29 Field Guide* Field Guide

Birthday Cake

30 Dan Mangan*

Being Somewhere

Arts & Crafts

* Indicates Canadian Content

80 4

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TattooedYou

A Spoon for The Spoon Theory By Leah Morningstar

Tattoo by Lauren Harper of Studio Four Four Nine

Lauren Harper

Milo McAlister’s fresh spoonie tattoo

f you’re generally a healthy person, there’s a good chance you haven’t heard of the spoon theory. But if you live with a chronic illness or chronic pain, you might have come across this term. Coined in 2003 by writer Christine Miserandino, spoon theory refers to the exhaustion that accompanies chronic conditions and chronic pain. It’s a metaphor wherein the spoons represent the amount of energy a person has for everyday tasks and activities. People with chronic illnesses often learn to adapt to a lifestyle of economizing their spoons or simply not having enough spoons. Milo McAlister is a person who understands spoon theory very well. They call themselves, like many others in the chronic pain community, a spoonie. Years of daily pain and years of looking for answers have left them feeling both physically and mentally exhausted. Every day, McAlister wakes up and has to think about which tasks and which activities will be completed. Where will they allot their spoons and, more worryingly, will there be enough spoons for everything that needs to get done? The tattoo itself is pretty self explanatory: a spoon to represent spoon theory and all the exhausted spoonies in the community. The words say, “I am not this body that imprisons me,” which is a lyric from the song “Isaiah 45:23” by

The Mountain Goats. And being imprisoned is exactly how it feels for some people. “I feel trapped in my body literally 100% of the time because my chronic pain limits my mobility and my energy levels, or spoons. I often can’t do what I want to because of the limitations of my body,” McAlister says. The isolation and limitations that McAlister and other spoonies feel is daunting and depressing. The search for medical answers and treatments can seem futile. But creating awareness and understanding can provide hope in a seemingly hopeless situation. McAlister, for example, has never wavered in their resolve to find answers. Pain and exhaustion are a very real part of life for McAlister right now. Speaking out to create more awareness and speaking up with people in similar situations to create solidarity has helped them maintain that resolve over the years. Also, just remembering that all people are different goes a long way. Maybe one person can wake up, work 12 hours, make dinner, and put the kids to bed. Maybe another person can wake up, do a load of laundry, and make dinner. All humans are different and all humans, regardless of how many spoons they have, are valuable and valid. McAlister feels like a prisoner in their own body right now and their tattoo is a perfect (and permanent) reminder that they are more than a prisoner. They are whole and they are deserving; their pain and limitations do not define them.

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Advertising Feature

January Behind the Business Feature

Timothy Sherlock, Owner, Operator, and Lead Crafter, Cold Slate Creamery

Meet Timothy Sherlock, owner, operator and lead ice cream crafter behind Cold Slate Creamery. Tim comes from an entrepreneurial family and is passionate about being his own boss. As a recent high school graduate, Tim is just starting his entrepreneur journey. Through the Thunder Bay and District Entrepreneur Centre’s Summer Company program, Tim was able to launch his business in July 2022. When his business launched he had the ambitious goal of being a 100% mobile creamery, operating without a food truck or brick and mortar location. Since that time, Cold Slate Creamery has pivoted many times, constantly increasing their capacity to serve more people, expanding to cater private events, and adapting to serve indoors during the winter season. To learn more about Cold Slate Creamery, follow them on Facebook and Instagram @coldslatecreamery or visit aspectontario.com/coldslatecreamery.

Q & A with Tim

What drew you to entrepreneurship? All of my family members are hard-working and entrepreneurial in one way or another. My siblings and I have always been encouraged by my parents to notice how business works, why a business succeeds, and which businesses stand out. My sister and I have also

participated in multiple business events and pitch competitions, so the ideas and practices of entrepreneurship are part of everything I do. My sister is both a full-time business student and a small business owner, so seeing her success and drive was also a huge motivator for me to step up and take ownership in starting my own business. What inspired you to launch your business? Earlier this year, my dad was talking with a friend who had visited Italy. This friend shared how he watched people making gelato on fresh ice blocks in the streets of Italy, and how he was captivated by the experience. The friend described the excitement he felt while watching his dessert made fresh before his eyes and the way the chef engaged people in the experience. There was genuine enthusiasm and excitement around how the food was made and the experience it created. As my dad described this conversation to me, I was very intrigued as I listened. I was captivated by the idea of creating an experience around delicious food and engaging people in the creation process. When I looked into how the gelato ice block process could be adapted for ice cream, I discovered the art of rolled ice cream—a concept where people make ice cream from scratch right before

the customer, on an instant freeze, cold plate crafting station. At that moment, the vision for Cold Slate Creamery emerged. What advice would you give to a fellow student who is looking to start a business? My advice to any student who is looking to start a business would be, first of all, whatever your idea is, determine to do it well, with the aim of adding exceptional value to your customers. When I found an idea that could possibly work, I began to implement it as well as I knew how. Initially, I was not particularly skilled at making ice cream, yet when I started Cold Slate Creamery, my vision was to deliver the best-tasting, most memorable ice cream experience to each customer. I remember the time, just days before my business’s launch, that my family and I brought my rolled ice cream machine into our kitchen and stayed up into the wee hours of the morning experimenting and eventually perfecting our own unique rolled ice cream recipe—we were absolutely determined to get it right. When my business launched, my setup was very impractical, but I knew we had an incredible product, and I served every customer to the best of my ability. How did the Summer Company program help you in becoming an entrepreneur?

I have often found it very difficult to take action on ideas when I am somewhat unsure or unclear. Stepping out and launching a business based on an imperfect business plan was incredibly difficult. The Summer Company program played a huge part in encouraging, supporting, and equipping me to ask people who knew more than me, pitch my idea when I was still unclear, and develop my concept into a viable business. Looking back on the first few weeks of my business launch, so much of what I learned was by taking risks and learning from mistakes. I believe that I would not have the opportunities, successes, and the connections I have now without support from the CEDC. What was your most memorable moment as a Summer Company participant? My most memorable moment as a Summer Company participant was a day that I remember as being the best, and most difficult day of my summer. A few weeks after my business launched, the Summer Company program gave me the opportunity to serve ice cream as a vendor at the SGBC Kraft Market. That day, I made 225 ice creams by hand, which to this day, is the most I have done in a single day. Before that time, I had the opportunity to serve at some smaller events and practise serving smaller crowds of people, but I had never served— or developed the capacity to serve—a crowd of that magnitude. From day one, my business was able to grow and succeed because of the massive support from my family. But it wasn’t until that day at the festival that I began to realize the massive contribution that others had made to my success. When I was so overwhelmed with a demand for orders that I couldn’t possibly fulfill on my own, my family—and even members of the CEDC team—stepped up, and made that seemingly impossible day a success. To learn more about the Summer Company program and to apply for the 2023 intake visit gotothunderbay.ca/summercompany.

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Damien Bouchard

Green

Maamigin Gathering in July 2022

Looking Back, Looking Forward

Celebrating our Local Food System in 2022 By Karen Kerk, Coordinator, Thunder Bay Food Strategy

ood systems are integral to community health and well-being. The Thunder Bay + Area Food Strategy (TBAFS) stands committed to creating a healthy, equitable, and sustainable food system that contributes to economic, ecological, and social well-being and health. The TBAFS connects food and community through the implementation of research, planning, policy, and program development. As we look back on 2022, we take a pause to highlight some of the amazing food system initiatives that took place in, and around, our community that can be celebrated as we enter 2023: • Roots to Harvest became Roots Community Food Centre, a part of Community Food

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•

C e n t re s C a n a d a , a national network of organizations who all work under the principles of “good food for all.” This transition will enable Roots to build on their existing community programming to include a bigger renovated space and more opportunities to bring people together through food. The “What’s in Season” video campaign on the TbayInSeason.ca website. This campaign features local chefs cooking up recipes using seasonally available ingredients and includes a directory of local producers, processors, and retailers selling local food. The Regional Food Distribution Association

•

(RFDA), known as the “food bank of food banks” for the re g i o n , a n n o u n c e d plans to improve their infrastructure to provide expanded storage, processing, packing, and distribution space at its operations on Syndicate Avenue. This will allow the RFDA to better serve its member food banks in our community. The Thunder Bay District Health Unit co-led a study on food affordability that tracked rising food and inflation costs and determined the impact of these rising costs at the household level in northern Ontario. In early July, Gaagige Zaagibigaa hosted their inaugural Maamigin Land-Based Camp

•

at Lake Helen First Nation. The event focused on Indigenous food sovereignty and brought together community members, project partners, and funders for four days of learning, connecting, and “knowledge exchanges.” A local review on Thunder Bay's progress towards the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals— including No Poverty, Zero Hunger, Good Health and Well-being, and Sustainable Cities and Communities—was released. The review was a partnership between the City of Thunder B a y, t h e L a k e h e a d Social Planning Council, Lakehead University, and many others. View the report at lspc.ca/vlr. The TBAFS continued work on an emergency food plan, which was initiated in response to increased food insecurity due to the pandemic.

The background report “Learning from Emergency Food Response in Thunder Bay, Ontario” is helping to shape the content of the Emergency Food Response Plan, which will be finalized in 2023. This is just a taste of what Thunder Bay and the surrounding area have accomplished in 2022. These efforts demonstrate the interconnectedness of the food system and the importance of collaboration. Check back with us next month to sink your teeth into the 2022 Community Food Systems Report Card, which provides a comprehensive snapshot of the challenges and opportunities within our regional food system. To stay up to date about food-related events, resources, and relevant updates, join the TBAFS network contact list to receive monthly newsletters. Sign up at tbfoodstrategy.com.

ELIMINATE BOREDOM

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Green

Hope We All Have By Katherine Brooks, Communications Coordinator, EcoSuperior

ctive Hope is not wishful thinking. Active Hope is not waiting to be rescued by the Lone Ranger or by some savior. Active Hope is waking up to the beauty of life on whose behalf we can act. Joanna Macy, co-author of Active Hope A new year begins with mixed uncertainty and excitement for what is to come. As we get closer to global climate change commitments of 2025, 2030, and even 2050, the vast idea of changing the world can come with overwhelming weight. This weight of climate “gloom” can only be and must be lifted by one thing: hope. Climate grief and anxiety are real impacts of our changing climate. When seeing the effects of changes to our living landscape, it is natural to feel upset and defeated. In The New Climate War, Michael Mann, a climate scientist, explains, “What is the antidote to irrational, disabling, doom-and-gloom? […] Motivating hope that is grounded in entirely legitimate and defensible reasons for cautious optimism that the worst can still be averted.” As we are in changing times, it is now, more than ever, possible to change for the better. Science shows that we still have time. With action on climate across the globe, we can build a healthy, sustainable planet. The inaction and feeling like it’s too late are what hold us back. Hope is rational.

Hope is inspirational. To sustain climate action, we must feel hope. It is not sustainable for humans to live in consistent anger and despair, which is why many activists feel burnt out and deflated. By putting energy behind active climate hope, the inspiration for positive change will build the foundation of a much stronger movement. Individuals can make a difference when they all work t o w a rd s a c o m m o n g o a l . Community and global action begins with an individual, which inspires family and friends, a community, a country, and beyond. As people start to feel they belong in this community of hope, their deep emotional connection will drive positive systematic change. With a collection of individuals held firm in their positive and sustainable ways of living, these systems shift to stay relevant and required by their consumers and constituents. There are communities of people around the world working to protect our home. Allow yourself to be inspired by individual actions, scientific breakthroughs, community initiatives, youth movements, and the compost in your backyard. Every piece of climate action is hope for remarkable change.

For more information call 623-2353 86

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Green

Remove top layer of soil

Replace with dry soil

Fungus Gnats By Hedy Koski

ungus gnats. Grrr! They’re so annoying. If you ever had or have them, it can be very frustrating. A fungus gnat problem in our houseplants is typically a sign of overwatering. I understand some plants need to be moist at all times and cannot thrive well in dry soil, but here are just a few tips you can try. I should mention first, gnats don’t cause damage to established plants with a healthy root system. It’s the younger plants or seedlings where they can cause wilting or slow growth. Now, let’s talk about their lifespan to better understand how we can control these little buggers. Small flies (similar in size to a fruit fly) emerging from the soil when you water will be your first sign of a problem. Those flies live for about a week and all the females want to do is find a moist location to lay their eggs. They can lay hundreds of eggs, but, if they don’t find an ideal moist location, they may never lay those eggs before they die.

The eggs can hatch into larvae in less than a week. It’s the larvae that do all the damage. They feed on organic matter and fungi (hence the name fungus gnat) in the soil and any roots that are in their way for about two weeks, then the larvae will pupate near the surface of the soil and emerge as those flies we all hate less than a week later. The life cycle is about one month. Knowing this, let’s think about ways to control them. There are many products on the market, but here’s one of the tips I give that won’t break the bank: Most of the eggs, pupae and some of the larvae are near the surface of the soil, so begin by removing only the top one to three inches of soil, where most of the bugs are (whatever is possible and of course depending on the size of the pot). If you are a frugal gardener, you can kill the pests by baking the soil you removed from the top in the oven at 200°F for 30 minutes (note: this will make the house smell like soil—a smell some gardeners might

like, but it’s not for everyone) or just replace what you took away with new dry soil. Now water from the bottom, just enough to water the plant, but keeping the soil on top dry at all times, If bottom watering is not possible, push that dry soil on top aside and water the soil below, then push the dry soil back. That way, the plant is watered and the top stays dry and uninviting for flies to lay eggs. Watering like this for two to three months should stop the lifecycle from continuing. If this is not for you, and you don’t mind spending a few bucks, then buy some beneficial nematodes. They are microscopic predators of the gnats. Add them to your soil, and they will search out and eat the larvae for you. Apply some sticky traps to track the number of adult flies caught and voila, the problem is solved.

Move dry soil aside and water soil below

t Let’s Gewith g Growindy He

Once water has soaked in move dry soil back on top

This method keeps soil on top dry at all times and uninviting to the gnats

Check in next month to see how easy growing your own herbs from seed can be.

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Green

(L-R) Shirley Robson and Vickie Bureau

Growing Strong for 100 Years

Thunder Bay Horticultural Society Celebrates a Milestone Anniversary By Cathi Winslow

n the darkest days of winter, it’s a gardener’s pleasure to dream of spring. Local green thumbs started sharing their love of gardening and desire to enhance city landscapes at the first meeting of the Horticultural Society 100 years ago, in January 1923. Current president Vickie Bureau is eager to welcome all past, present, and future members to their 100th anniversary party on January 21, where a century’s worth of memorabilia will be on display, including the society’s original minute book, photos, trophies, and news clippings. In August 1923, the group hosted their first flower and vegetable show at the

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Armouries with over 200 entries, establishing a tradition which has continued every year—including two virtual exhibits due to the pandemic. This summer will be their 100th flower and vegetable show. The society also organizes an annual plant sale and tours of local gardens, as well as awarding prizes for garden beautification and a flower photo contest. Members volunteer their expertise and hands-on skills to maintain four public plantings at Centennial Conservatory’s Pollinator Garden, Magnus Theatre, the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, and Pioneer Ridge. This spring, watch for 250 purple tulip and crocus bulbs to emerge at the

Green society’s own Dedication Garden at the Oliver Road Community Centre, planted to celebrate their centenary. This year’s monthly meetings will feature special speakers on a variety of gardening topics such as heirloom seeds, winter sowing, and hydroponics. Bureau says she’s learned a lot from other gardeners since joining the group six years ago. “For me, the value of gardening is the relaxation and calmness that I find out there. You get to see something start from a seed and grow into a full plant,” she says. Bureau hopes to grow the membership, which includes all skill levels from beginner to master gardeners, and to encourage young people to get excited about gardening. “Probably anyone watching would think, how could that possibly be relaxing?” says Bureau. “But when I’m out there, I’m not thinking about the computer or the telephone or what has to be done tomorrow. You’re with nature. No matter how much you know, there’s always something new to learn.” The public is welcome to drop by meetings at the Oliver Road Community Centre on the third Thursday of most months at 7 pm. Members will be happy to answer questions at their booth at the CLE Country Market from February to April. For a calendar of events and contest details, visit gardenontario.org/ society-listing/entry/604/.

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Health

Stay Heart Healthy This Winter

By Caitlund Davidson, Health Promotion and Communications Planner, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre

eart health is important year round, but the cold weather that we experience in Northwestern Ontario can affect our hearts in ways you may not expect. We asked Dr. Andrea MacDougall, an interventional cardiologist and medical program director of the Cardiovascular Science Program at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, to help us understand what happens to our hearts when we are exposed to the cold and what we can do to stay heart healthy this winter. “The heart has to work a bit harder in the cold weather,” she explains. “The heart beats faster to keep us warmer, the blood vessels constrict, and blood pressure can increase. Some people can have constriction of the airways in cold weather, making it difficult to breathe. With snowy or icy conditions, it's more physically demanding to walk outdoors and the heart has to work harder.” Unfortunately, this means that heart attacks can be more common in the winter. Dr. MacDougall shares why this can happen: “The heart needs to work harder in the cold for the reasons described above. Also, many of us are more sedentary during winter, often not getting much activity

and eating comfort foods. If someone who hasn't been exercising much starts to do strenuous exertion (such as shoveling snow), it places a sudden demand on the heart which isn't used to working that hard. This can lead to heart attacks.” As we head outdoors to shovel snow or to participate in our favourite outdoor winter activities, it’s important to know the warning signs to watch for and recognize when to seek medical attention. “Warning signs that might indicate a heart problem include pain or pressure in the chest, arms, jaw or back that are worse with exertion,” says Dr. MacDougall. “This might also be associated with nausea, sweating, and/or shortness of breath. Everyone's presentation is different. Women and the elderly, specifically, often don't have the textbook presentation of heaviness on the chest. Palpitations (racing heart), dizziness or fainting can also signify heart problems.” With all of this in mind, you may be wondering if we should be spending less time outside in the cold to protect our hearts. However, in reality, spending time outside and exercising is good for both our physical and mental health, especially

during winter when days are short. “Exercise benefits our cardiovascular health, but also strengthens muscles and bones and improves balance, preventing fractures and falls as we grow older,” Dr. MacDougall says. “It can be difficult to exercise outside during winter as the days are much shorter, the cold can be unpleasant, and the snow and ice make walking treacherous. Luckily here in Thunder Bay and surrounding area, we have many opportunities for outdoor exercise—walking, hiking, snowshoeing, skating, and skiing to name a few. For those who can't exercise outside, indoor walking, treadmill, exercise bike, or pool are good options.” When asked what we can do to ensure our hearts stay healthy this winter, Dr. MacDougall had this to say: “Maintaining a healthy heart is a year-round endeavour. It is always important to eat well, exercise regularly, and avoid smoking. Keep a close eye on risk factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and cholesterol. Take any medications that your physicians have prescribed for you, and seek medical attention if you experience symptoms or a change in exercise tolerance.”

Dr. Andrea MacDougall, Interventional Cardiologist and Medical Program Director of the Cardiovascular Science Program at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre

To learn more about how you can stay heart healthy year-round, visit heartandstroke.ca. To learn more about how cardiovascular care is improving in Northwestern Ontario, visit bit.ly/TBRHSC-CVS-Program.

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TheWall

A Truth About Twitter Story by Emily Turner, Photo by Darren McChristie

lack hole, cesspool, hot mess. These are just some of the terms people use to describe Twitter. The social media site has been all over the news lately, from Fox News to our local newspaper, and the coverage has been less than inspiring. Despite the way it’s been endlessly discussed, Twitter remains a mystery for many people, a confusing app that few regularly open. If you believe the media’s take on it, it's a political hellscape to avoid. But is that true? It is hard to believe anyone has been able to avoid hearing about Twitter recently, but if you have, well done. The biggest story has been that Tesla owner Elon Musk recently purchased it for 44 billion USD (approximately 60 billion CAD). That is roughly 600,000 times more than what the mayor of Thunder Bay makes, and very few of us will ever see that much money in our lifetimes. And Elon Musk just threw it away to purchase a website that is said to be worth around 8 billion USD. But Twitter as a thing owned by Elon Musk is only one way

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to understand it. Most users will tell you it is truly so much more. Some say Twitter is a pillar of 21st century democracy. Many claim it is an essential tool because it amplifies marginalized voices, serves as a microphone for grassroots activists, and is an open stage for critical social debates that anyone with the internet and a device can access. For others, Twitter is a brainwashing tool designed by radicals to “ruin: people. And some claim Twitter is a place for bullying and hate, a platform filled with angry people that want to guilt others. All these things are probably true, and there are many more true things to say too. And that’s something that has been missing in all the media coverage of Twitter right now: the acknowledgment there are many things to complain about and fear, but there are many things to enjoy as well. People use Twitter for educational reasons, to learn about current events, and engage in political conversations. And yes— others, unfortunately, use

it to spread hate. But for the most part? We use it to find like-minded people, communities we can connect with, and people with whom we can laugh. Regardless of what Elon Musk believes, he could never actually control what people do on Twitter, which was proven by his failed attempt at Twitter Blue. Twitter is the Wild West, and from that, it gains importance. Say what you will about Twitter, but in this increasingly stylized world, isn’t it nice to have a void into which we can spill our thoughts? And then have those thoughts heard and

supported? It is not in the group of platforms owned by Zuckerberg. It is not filled with repetitive, unskippable advertisements. And it is not uniform: every profile looks different, everyone uses it for different things, and there are rarely unanimous trends across the entire site. I think it has become such a hot topic because it stumps so many people; how could a platform that has existed for so long remain such a curious thing? Why hasn’t it exploded like Instagram and TikTok or collapsed like Vine? It has always been a place of subversion, a place to be satirical, and a place to learn. That is why it will never be a part of the Meta-verse

and probably won’t ever disappear. Twitter is home to many virtual communities that share similar humour and want to discuss similar things. Yes, it has many problems, and there are important things to say about those, but we should acknowledge that it is primarily a platform for conversation and humour and is worth being on. After all, we can't have a meaningful revolution without humour. If you're interested in giving Twitter a try, I'd be honoured to be one of the first you follow; I mostly retweet the funny stuff. Find me @_peachyxx.

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TheBeat

Home, Katie Beda, Vicki Nerino, Lora Northway, and boy Roland, 2020, spray paint, Roots Community Food Centre, Fort William Road

Writing tool reflections By Jean M. Forget

Writing tool reflections It only takes a pen to reflect on the now and then A pencil to scribe The words chosen to imbibe The cruces of your divinity to the pages that become your written destiny to illustrate where you have been and bring forth those memories from within a brush and its stroke can help evoke a process of revealing those things that needed healing with time and your pastel you can begin to tell the stories needed to know the scenes of your tableau and in time much like a rhyme your story will flower and intertwine with all those loving parts of thine causing the undoing of the bind allowing yourself to find the words to unleash to the myriad the existence of your very own period

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LIFE HAPPENS AT HOME. After the house hunting, offer acceptance and the move-in day, there will be a new life waiting for you and your family. Somewhere in between you may be looking for a mortgage provider who values your time and understands how hard you’ve worked to get here. At Rapport, we have all kinds of mortgages, competitive rates plus dedicated financial advocates working to help you protect your financial health. We’ll show you how our personalized approach can lead to a mortgage that fits you as well as your home does. And at a great rate. So whether you’re refinancing, renewing your mortgage, moving or this is your first home we can help.

MAKING NEW FRIENDS (AT HOME).

James Street 405 James Street South (807) 626 5666 jamesst@rapportcu.ca

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Kakabeka Falls 4785 Highway 11/17 Unit 3 (807) 475 4276 kakabekafalls@rapportcu.ca

Our member satisfaction rate is 86% - so if you’re looking for a more satisfying banking experience, we’d love to meet you and make you feel, well, right at home.

NEW KA FALLS BE KA KA BRANCH OPENING JANUARY 12, 2023

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Hot tenting on the back side of Caribou Island in Quetico Provincial Park Photo by Tyler Sklazeski

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CONNECT WITH DOWNHILL EXHILARATION

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The all-new Touring Hybrid

Equipped with a 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder Atkinson cycle engine coupled with two electric motors, 19" aluminum -alloy wheels, perforated leather-trimmed seating surfaces, 9" Touchscreen Display Audio with BOSE® Premium Audio, front & rear USB ports (x4), and wireless charging.

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