TOQUE 22 - The Handcraft Issue by Toque Magazine

TOQUE REGIONAL LOOKBOOK

Heating up: Off The Block’s Georgia McNab

THE HANDCRAFT ISSUE

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TOUR OUR MODELS TODAY! 154 SHADED CREEK DRIVE, KITCHENER

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ACTIVA invites you to our stunning new model homes in Kitchener’s Harvest Park community, featuring the IVY & the MILES!

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R e le ase d N O V . 2023

magazine TM CAi SEPULIS, partner art d irecto r. d esign & illu st rat i on cai@toque.ltd

CHRIS TIESSEN, partner ed ito r. writin g & p h ot ography chris@toque.ltd

FALL EXHIBITIONS SOS: A Story of Survival, Part II - The Body

Contributors: Dani Kuepfer, Kimber Lubberts, Christina Mann, Monica Mazun, Abby Nowakowski, Jay Stephens, Blake Stevenson and Gillian Wilson.

26 August 2023 - 7 January 2024

Jason Lujan: Utopian Aesthetic 14 October 2023 - 28 January 2024 Top: Installation view of FASTWÜRMS, Eon Glass SOS (detail), 2023. Raku ceramics, tufted textile, aluminum plank. Courtesy of the Artists and Paul Petro Contemporary Art. With support from the Canada Council for the Arts and the Governor General’s Award in Visual and Media Arts, 2023. Photo by LF Documentation.

We want to use this space to give a 'shout out' to all the fantastic advertising partners who have supported TOQUE through the years. These days, when it's tempting to dump an entire marketing budget into social channels and online ad spots, it takes a discerning mind (along with imagination and courage) to invest in the community-minded stories and

The Musagetes Fund

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images TOQUE offers. Like so many of you, we continue to believe in the unique tactility and compelling impact of the kind of print medium we strive to be. So to all of our incredible advertisers who continue to believe with us and in us: the love is mutual.

FAMILY SUNDAYS AT KWAG On the first Sunday of each month, join us at the Gallery for free art activities!

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WELL, THIS IS IT. THE TIME OF YEAR WHEN WE PUBLISH OUR ANNUAL ‘HANDCRAFT ISSUE’ – A FAT STACK OF PAPER CHOCK-FULL OF STORIES AND PROFILES AND PHOTOS AND ILLUSTRATIONS FEATURING REGIONAL PERSONALITIES (AND THEIR ENTERPRISES) WHO MAKE COOL THINGS, MOSTLY IN SMALL BATCHES. LIKE CUSTOM HATS. FARM-TO-TABLE EATS. LOCAL WINES. WHIMSICAL JEWELLERY. SUMPTUOUS LEATHER GOODS. HECK, WE’VE EVEN GOT AN INTRIGUING FEATURE ON A LOCAL COMPANY PRODUCING INDUSTRY-LEADING RAZORS OUT OF A FORMER AEROSPACE SHOP. ALTHOUGH WE FIND GENUINE PLEASURE WORKING ON EVERY ISSUE OF TOQUE (WITH THEMES FOCUSED AROUND ‘FOOD’, AND ‘COMFORT’, AND ‘ADVENTURE’, AND MORE), OUR ANNUAL ‘HANDCRAFT ISSUE’ MIGHT JUST BE NEAREST AND DEAREST TO OUR HEARTS. BECAUSE WE’RE SUCKERS FOR BEAUTIFUL THINGS, TO BE SURE. BUT ALSO BECAUSE OUR MAGAZINE ITSELF IS AN ARTEFACT. MADE BY HAND. AND MADE FOR HANDS, TOO. FEEL IT. FLIP THESE UNCOATED SHEETS THROUGH YOUR FINGERS. NOTE THEIR MATTE TEXTURED SURFACE. FOLD A CORNER DOWN TO BOOKMARK A FAVOURITE PAGE. WRITE NOTES IN THE MARGINS. ROLL THE WHOLE THING UP AND PUT IT IN YOUR BAG FOR LATER. CARRY IT WITH YOU THROUGHOUT THE DAY. WATCH AS ITS PATINA EMERGES ALONG YOUR WAY. COFFEE STAINS. DOG EARS. FINGER SMUDGES. A BROKEN SPINE. EVIDENCE OF A WELL-WORN EXISTENCE. DOCUMENTATION OF STOLEN MINUTES – TIME YOU'VE TAKEN FOR YOURSELF – WITH A GOOD BOOK. LIKE SO MANY HANDCRAFTED OBJECTS, MAGAZINES DO NOT CATER TO ANY LATEST TECHNOLOGIES. THEY ARE NOT ‘MODERN’ AFFAIRS, BUT RATHER DELIBERATELY UNMODERN. THEY’RE INTENSIVELY LABORIOUS TO PRODUCE AND PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE TO PUBLISH. EVEN WHILE THERE IS SOMETHING STURDY AND SERVICEABLE ABOUT THEM, THEY ARE, IT COULD BE ARGUED, IMPLAUSIBLE, INCREDIBLE. FANCIFUL, EVEN. AND HEREIN LIES THEIR BEAUTY. AS IS THE CASE WITH MANY OF THE THINGS WE WRITE ABOUT IN THIS ISSUE, MAGAZINES LIKE TOQUE TAKE TIME TO MAKE, AND DEMAND TIME TO ENJOY. THEY ARE LABOURS OF LOVE. THEY ARE DERIVED FROM PASSION AND DRIVEN BY DEVOTION. THEY HINT AT THE ROMANTIC AND NOSTALGIC, OFFERING A NOD TO A BYGONE ERA EVEN AS THEY DRIVE US FORWARD WITH VISIONS FOR A FRESH FUTURE. THINK OF THIS HEFTY ITEM YOU'VE UNFOLDED AS A WORK OF CRAFT. YOU MIGHT FIND A BLEMISH OR TWO ON THESE SHEETS. THE ODD PHOTO TOO DARK, PERHAPS, OR A PAGE OFFSET. THINK OF THESE FLAWS LESS AS MISTAKES THAN AS MAKERS’ MARKS – ‘EASTER EGGS’ OF OUR TIME AND TOIL ON THE PAGE. FOR IT IS IN THE IMPERFECTIONS OF HANDCRAFTED THINGS WHERE YOU GLIMPSE THE HUMANITY OF THEIR CREATION – SCRAPES AND BRUISES MARKING THE WAY. NOW LET’S ADD A BIT OF YOUR OWN HUMANITY TO THIS PRINTED CREATION. CRACK THE SPINE. MAKE A NOTE IN THE MARGIN. CRIMP A CORNER. TURN THE PAGE – AND TURN BACK TIME. WELCOME TO ‘THE HANDCRAFT ISSUE’. CHARGER (DELIBERATELY) NOT INCLUDED.

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CONTENTS 9. EDITOR’S LETTER: THE HANDCRAFT ISSUE 14. DOING THINGS DIFFERENTLY: ODD DUCK WINE & PROVISIONS 22. DAYTRIPPIN’ WITH JILL SADLER & MICA SADLER 24. G ETTING TO KNOW: FREE BAR 30. MEET YOUR MAKER: MICHELLE MILLER JEWELLERY 32. BEYOND WINDOW SHOPPING: UNCOVERING FIVE TREASURES ALONG ONTARIO STREET 40. HENSON SHAVING: MARRYING INDUSTRY AND TECHNOLOGY IN A SPECTACULARLY SMOOTH PIVOT 48. #PHOTOSPREAD: CRAFTING BEAUTY! 50. OBJECTS OF DESIRE: EXPLORING A MULTITUDE OF HANDCRAFT IN UPTOWN WATERLOO 58. G ETTING TO KNOW: PLAY WITH CLAY 62. HATS OFF: GEORGIA MCNAB & HER OFF THE BLOCK BRAND 70. MEET YOUR MAKER: HAND HEWN WORKSHOP 74. COMICS: DO-IT-YOURSELF INSTRUCTIBLES 82. UNBOXING SUCCESS: DAMIAN MCDONALD’S VISION FOR AMPERSAND 88. UNCOVERING WELLINGTON COUNTY: ALPACA TIME 90. SUNDAY BLOOMS: A HAVEN OF GOOD TASTE 98. #PHOTOSPREAD: LACE 'EM UP! 100. EXPERT OPINION – INVESTMENT: MONICA MAZUN SPOTLIGHT: FIFTY YEARS OF THE BOOKSHELF IN GUELPH 102. # ETTING TO KNOW: FLOW STATE BIKE CO 108. G 114. S T. JACOBS FARMERS’ MARKET: JUST RIGHT FOR THE HOLIDAYS EET YOUR MAKER: TREVOR CLARE 120. M NATOMY OF A BRAND: STUDIO CANUK 124. A 126. THE OBJEKTS FARMHOUSE: A SHOWROOM OF EUROPEAN ANTIQUE CURIOSITIES 134. #SNAPSHOT: GETTING AN INSIDE LOOK AT PARAMOUNT SKIS BIKES BOARDS 136. A CLEAR VISION: EXPERIENCING THE RE-INVIGORATED COX CREEK CELLARS 144. COMIC: GOOSE 146. COCKTAIL HOUR WITH KIMBER LUBBERTS

illustration: Cai Sepulis

@caisepulis

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14 CH

D O I N G TH I N G S D I F F E RE N T L Y :

AR LE SS

KITCHENER

ODD DUCK WINE & PROVISIONS WORDS & PHOTOS BY CHRIS TIESSEN ‘Well, this certainly is a new experience,’ I

pass and deliver them to the dining room.

exclaim to Wes Klassen, Odd Duck Wine &

‘Whoever decided to stage the kitchen front

Provisions co-owner, while he guides my

and centre,’ I add, ‘instead of hiding it in the

TOQUE partner, Cai, and me through what’s

back like most restaurants do, is genius.’ So

essentially the restaurant’s kitchen, on our

patrons can see where their food is coming

way to the adjoining dining room. To my

from, and who’s making it, before sitting down

right, smartly plated entrées wait on the pass.

to eat. And for a touch of theatre too. ‘That

Further along, cartons of fresh yellow and

was our idea when we built out the space,’

green beans and ripe peaches sit neatly on

Wes replies as he leads Cai and me into the

a shelf. Just beyond the prep counter, Chef

restaurant’s chill dining room, where we settle

(and co-owner) Jon Rennie puts the finishing

into a lovely four-seater (built from wood

touches on the prettiest butter poached

harvested at Jon’s father-in-law’s rural property

lobster dish. To Jon’s left, a member of his

in St Agatha) positioned under a large window

team preps an app while behind him another

fronting the street. 'We like to do things

deftly handles a hot saucepan as dancing

differently here,' Wes goes on, with a smile. So

flames – fueled by a touch of alcohol in the

I’ve heard. In fact, it’s this story of ‘doing things

pan – lick the air.

differently’ that has brought Cai and me to this downtown Kitchener start-up – to see for

‘What a fantastic presentation,’ I remark as a server swishes past to collect entrées off the

ourselves what it is that has people talking.

For regional food aficionados, the Odd Duck

‘We call this cocktail ‘On The Sauce’,’ Odd Duck

origin story is a tale they've heard already.

bartender Emma tells Cai and me when she

Industry vets and best friends Wes (a seasoned

delivers two drinks to our table just minutes

sommelier) and Jon (an experienced chef),

after we’ve arrived. Crafted with peach-

ground down by what they observed to be

infused vodka, Revel’s ‘Time & Place’ cider,

engrained problems in hospitality, decided

charred peaches (undoubtedly plucked from

(with third co-owner Rob Corrigan) to start

the baskets I spotted in the kitchen), lemon,

their own joint that would speak to their core

and Szechuan pepper syrup, the concoction

values. This new restaurant would dispense

hits just right on this late-summer evening.

with tipping and pay a living wage, for instance,

While we get into these cocktails, the ever-

and do away with hierarchies in the kitchen

affable Wes pops by our table to chat about

and front of house. It would be a safe space

Odd Duck’s unique culinary program. ‘Most

for everyone. And it would focus on meat and

restaurants develop menus that are designed

produce from regional farms.

around food and change every few months,’ he tells us, ‘but here menu development is driven

And while this trio aren’t the only ones around

by our wines first and also by the regional

these parts to prioritize values like these (The

harvest.’ (A harvest that keeps giving year-

Neighbourhood Group of Restaurants has

round thanks to the kitchen’s propensity for

done much trailblazing work on similar fronts),

canning and preserving – inspired by Chef Jon’s

Odd Duck might in fact be the only regional

and Wes’ Mennonite ties.)

restaurant that was explicitly founded on them. A stirring raison d'etre, to be sure – but

The restaurant pairs food to wine, then,

only sustainable if it's delivered alongside an

and not wine to food. Very interesting – and

exceptional culinary experience. Let’s get to

fitting, considering that Wes has for years

that now.

now enjoyed a reputation across the region

as a fantastic sommelier and wine consultant.

Alongside this dish, Cai and I are served the

‘Essentially,’ he continues, ‘the kitchen is

aptly named ‘Tomato', a collaboration between

always responding to the wines I bring in

Chef Jon and another member of the Odd

and the meat and produce that local farmers

Duck kitchen crew that features hearty farm

provide.’ Wines from agencies that align with

tomatoes, burratini, black garlic, basil, sea

Odd Duck values. And regional producers

beans, and pickled scapes. I’ve never met a

who share their values as well – Alexandra’s

burratini I didn’t fall in love with (and this one

Farm (Ayr), Fertile Ground (near Milverton),

certainly doesn’t disappoint), but the lingering

Lucky Bug Farm (Baden), Linton Pasture Pork

charm of this dish is its visual execution. ‘I

(Walton), and more.

was hoping for dishes like this,’ I tell Cai while I raise my Nikon and fire off a few frames –

The result? A menu that’s ever-changing – to

imagining just how good the food will look in

the point where Odd Duck’s website doesn’t

print.

list a current menu but instead posts photos of dishes the restaurant has already featured.

Just as I am cleaning off the last bits of

‘For us,’ Wes tells us, ‘menu development is

burratini – my mind lost in sweet reverie – I

a democratic affair, so we encourage each

am abruptly brought back to the present

member of the team to suggest dishes they

by the distinct sound of a ringing bell. I look

think might be a good fit for our bill of fare.’

up and see Wes coming through the dining

Case in point: the first dish delivered to our

room pushing what we soon find out is his

table, succinctly named ‘Cucumber’, which

‘punk rawk’ cheese cart. Covered in lights and

was initially developed for this week’s menu

stickers – and announced with the resonant

by Odd Duck Sous Chef Zac Berry. Inspired

bell – Wes’ cart is emblematic of his fun-loving

by ‘The Curator’, by A.A. Badenhorst, a South

nature and of Wes and Jon and Rob’s belief

African white blessed with notes of pear,

that while the food at Odd Duck might be

peach, and apricot, Zac’s dish marries field and

elevated, the atmosphere should be all about

heirloom cucumber and charred corn with dill,

merriment and conviviality. While each table

thai and purple basil, and calendula – offering

can have the cart brought out at any point

a taste that’s fresh and clean and a perfect

in the meal, for Cai and me Wes decides

companion to the wine. ‘Like harvest in my

to unleash the cheery spectacle between

mouth,’ I laugh to Cai as I take a second bite.

our ‘starters’ and our ‘main events'. (I use quotations here because Odd Duck’s printed

ODD DUCK WINE & PROVISIONS 93 ONTARIO ST S, KITCHENER ON

oddduckwp.com

menus omit food categorization of any sort – a decision undoubtedly rooted in Odd Duck’s value of democratization of every sort.)

And what does the cart have to offer? Lovely shaved slices of ‘Wildwood’ (an Appenzellar-style cheese made by Stonetown Cheese in St Mary’s, Ontario, with a zesty flavour and rustic, aromatic rind); larger slices of ‘Oveja Romera’ (a sheep’s milk cheese from La Mancha, Spain, that features a delicate rind rolled in fresh rosemary); and herbed rye crisps and a jam spread made from Ontario blueberries, white pepper, and ginger – both made in-house. And as if this isn’t enough, Wes also serves us glasses of ‘Eléctrico Bombilla’ by Bodegas Toro Albalà – a classic Andalusian

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sherry. ‘I chose this dry wine to pair with these cheeses,' Wes notes, 'because its lovely oily and rounded mouthfeel echoes the nutty, herbal, salty and oily notes present in the cheeses.’ We are persuaded. The rest of our meal continues to excite and enthrall. After the cheeses and sherry, Cai and I are served glasses of Kristinus ‘Róka Rosé’ – a full-bodied, unfiltered sliver of heaven from the Balaton Region in Hungary. Its food pairing: ‘Beans’, a wonderful dish of yellow and green beans (incorporating more of the fresh produce I spotted on my

way in), toasted pistachio, partridge berry, fennel salad, and caramelized shallot purée. Wes also delivers glasses of Niagara-based Maenad Wines’ unfiltered ‘Muscat’, which is paired with ‘Sockeye’ – wild caught, lightly cured and cooked, with red and white currants, and chili. By the time Cai and I have finished our outstanding ‘mains’ and scarfed down a fantastic gluten-free earl grey cake Chef Jon serves us for dessert, it’s pretty clear to me that the Odd Duck experience is an exceptional one. And while it might be true that Wes and Jon (and Rob) and their team really do things differently, the restaurant’s strengths – for patrons, at least – are grounded in what makes all great

EVER BEEN SICK AND TIRED OF WHERE YOU LIVE?

foodie destinations resounding successes: fantastic service, wonderful food and drink, and a commitment to customers having a great time. On our way out, after we’ve passed the kitchen once more, Cai and I pause in the place’s bottle shop next to the main door. As we scan the shelves, I note cans from Counterpoint Brewing (Kitchener), Shortfinger (Kitchener), Third Moon (Milton), Dominion City (Ottawa),

We have a process to set you into a location that will feel like it was customized for your lifestyle, so you can fall back in love with your home.

and more. I ask Wes, who’s walked us to the front, why they carry beer from these specific breweries. ‘They align with our values,’ he states matter-of-factly. I should have known.

Maybe Odd Duck really does do things differently, I think to myself. And maybe that’s not at all a bad thing

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DAYTRIPPIN’

A RESTAURANTEUR AND HER REAL ESTATE BROKER HUBBY SHARE THEIR FAVOURITE SATURDAY HAUNTS ALONG THE KITCHENER-WATERLOO CORRIDOR.

JILL SADLER WITH MICA SADLER

(OWNER, S&V UPTOWN)

(OWNER, SADLER REAL ESTATE GROUP)

When Jill and Mica Sadler aren’t hard at work running a successful Uptown restaurant (Jill) or nurturing a growing regional real estate group (Mica), this thriving Kitchenerbased couple is always up for a day (or night) on the town in and around KitchenerWaterloo. For this iteration of Daytrippin’, Jill and Mica guide us up and down the corridor(s) joining Kitchener to Waterloo – sampling food and drink at some favourite stops along the way. Tag along.

T H E Y ET I

1. A great Saturday morning for Mica and me begins at a downtown Kitchener

14 EBY ST N, KITCHENER

staple near our home – The Yeti. This retro-inspired coffeeshop-meets-diner, located

THEYETICAFE.COM

directly across from the Kitchener Market, is perfect for breakfasts – and ideal for people watching. I order the ‘Pregnant Cowgirl’ (avocado, cheddar, bacon, egg, tomato w/ garlic aioli on a multigrain bagel) and pair it with a drip coffee. Mica grabs a ‘Sasquatch’ (avocado, cheddar, tomato, slaw, greens w/ garlic aioli on a French bun) and goes fancy with his beverage – a latté finished with caramel or some other tasty feature flavour.

E B Y S T B OD EGA

2. With bellies full and hearts content, we saunter next door to Eby St Bodega where we set our sights on the lovely food porn that fills this niche market-meets-eatery.

16 EBY ST N, KITCHENER

Our mission: to select take-out sandwiches for a post-breakfast picnic in Victoria

EBYBODEGA.MYSHOPIFY.COM

Park. (To note: we eat and drink all day, er’ day.) Mica chooses a ‘BLT Plus’ (bacon, avocado, tomato, greens, cheddar, dill mayo, caramelized onion) while I settle on a ‘Mr Ham-some Hoagie’ (smoked ham, salami, cheddar, tomato, pickled cucumber, tapenade, peppers, garlic mayo, greens). We throw in a couple drinks and beeline to the park.

3. Once we reach the edge of Victoria Park, we make our way past the old City Hall clocktower, skirt around the newly-renovated Boathouse, cross a bridge onto the

V I C T O R IA P A RK KITCHENER.CA

Park’s larger island, and settle in on the lawn, steps from the Park’s historic pavilion. The Park – created all the way back in 1896 – is a blissful oasis of green spaces, playgrounds, engineered water features, and mature trees. For us it's a lovely respite from the busy traffic of #DTK.

4. After our mid-morning nosh, we walk back home where we grab our bikes and hit the Spur Line Trail toward Uptown Waterloo. This multi-use thoroughfare, which is maintained year-round, is just one of several active transportation corridors that connect all parts of Kitchener-Waterloo. We love biking along this scenic track which

SP U R L IN E T R A IL

snakes behind houses, through neighbourhoods, and eventually connects with

INTERSECTION OF AHRENS ST W

Laurel Creek Trail in Uptown. We take a right off the trail at William St E in Uptown,

& BREITHAUPT ST

cycle past Waterloo City Hall and across King St S, and (in just a few minutes) arrive

KITCHENER.CA

at our next destination: Red House for a late lunch.

5. This cozy restaurant – with its brightly-painted red exterior, buzzing front patio, and bistro-centric menu that’s all about fresh food and crafted cocktails

RE D HO U S E 30 WILLIAM ST W, WATERLOO REDHOUSEUPTOWN.CA

– is an absolute favourite of ours. We find a cozy table out front and are soon joined by S&V Uptown mixologist (and bff) Aaron Hatchell for nom-noms and drinks. Red House Chef Dan McCowan greets us with a plate of bacon for Mica (a long-standing tradition). Aaron orders the ‘Grilled Calamari’ (green olive & sausage tomato ragout, preserved lemon, brown butter), I grab ‘Chef Dan’s Curry’ (always rotating), and we pair with wine and cocktails. A perfect couple hours of great food, tender gossip, and a few dollops of hijinx for good measure.

LO LO A N L O B B Y BAR

6. We bid Chef Dan adieu and mosey over to S&V Uptown where Mica and I drop Aaron (to open the restaurant for service) and our bikes (for safe

14 PRINCESS ST W, WATERLOO

keeping). Then Mica and I walk the few blocks down King to Princess St where

LOLOANLOBBYBAR.COM

we settle at Loloan Lobby Bar for late afternoon cocktails. If you’ve never visited the hotel lobby bar-inspired wraparound bar at Loloan, you should add it to your ‘must-visit’ list. Everything about the space – from the elegant bar lamps to the wonderfully-tiled floor to the bartenders in vest and bowtie ensembles – will have you believing you’re living out a scene in some heist flick. At the bar we’re greeted by mixologist (and friend) Jody who fulfills our orders: a ‘Butterfly Pea Flower Martini’ (vodka, butterfly pea flower, lychee, salty-sweet snacks) for me and a ‘Straits Sling’ (gin, bénédictine, cherry eau de vie, lemon, soda, bitters) for Mica.

ETHEL’S LOUNGE 114 KING ST N, WATERLOO ETHELSLOUNGE.COM

7. By this point in the day, we’re ready to let our hair down in a more laidback setting. A most appropriate option: Ethel’s Lounge. If you’re a fan of beer in bottles (and pitchers), boisterous conversation, honest food, and a bar that’s always packed with regulars, then this the place. Our order is as straightforward as Ethel’s itself: a pitcher of Wellington Helles Lager and a plate of antojitos.

8. It’s getting late, so Mica and I decide to begin the trek home. With bikes locked safely at S&V Uptown, we opt to ride the ION light rail system back to

SUGAR RUN 33 QUEEN ST S, KITCHENER SUGARRUN.CA

Kitchener. It’s fast, predictable, and takes us (almost) right past our last stop of the night: Sugar Run for nightcaps. This speakeasy-inspired destination is a favourite downtown spot of ours. Mica and I sidle up to the bar and place one last order on this eventful Saturday: a paper plane for Mica and a gin martini for me.

After we finish our drinks, we settle up and stroll through downtown Kitchener

toward home. While the city is still bumpin’, Mica and I are ready for bed. I can hardly wait for what next Saturday brings

DAYTRIP, TAG & POST!

@TOQUELTD #TOQUEDT #TOQUEDAYTRIPPING

GETTING TO KNOW:

FREE BAR

INTERVIEW BY CHRIS TIESSEN WITH DANIEL LA CUTE, OWNER FREE BAR

Daniel La Cute

BACK IN 2022, DANIEL LA CUTE WAS WORKING FOR A START-UP BRAND IN THE BEER INDUSTRY. LIKE SO MANY FOLKS WHO WORK IN BEER, DANIEL SPENT A LOT OF HIS TIME INDULGING IN GREAT CRAFT BREW. OVER-INDULGING, EVEN. AND SO HE DECIDED TO ‘TAKE A PAUSE’ FROM DRINKING ALCOHOL AND BEGAN SEARCHING FOR CREDIBLE, DELICIOUS NON-ALC ALTERNATIVES. DANIEL DISCOVERED SOME GREAT NON-ALC PRODUCERS IN THE MARKETPLACE SOON ENOUGH, BUT WHAT HE WASN'T ABLE TO FIND WAS A ONE-STOP-SHOP WHERE HE COULD SCRUTINIZE THE WORLD OF CRAFT NON-ALC PRODUCTS AND ORDER WHAT HE FOUND APPEALING. AND SO HE CREATED HIS OWN NON-ALC RESOURCE CENTRE: FREE BAR. BACK IN SEPTEMBER WE CAUGHT UP WITH DANIEL TO CHAT ABOUT FREE BAR AND THE NON-ALC WORLD. READ UP:

CAN YOU TELL US A BIT ABOUT FREE BAR – WHEN IT STARTED, WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT? Free Bar is an online non-alc bottle shop that I founded back in the fall of 2022. The Free Bar team consists of myself, my cousin Laura, and

CAI'S TOP 5 NON-ALC BREWS: As a ‘near beer’ connoisseur, TOQUE’s Cai Sepulis is always searching for the latest and greatest non-alc offerings. Here are five of her faves:

Laura’s wife Jackie. We initially launched the business by offering pre-ordered ‘Discovery Boxes’ that include six new products each month. In January we launched the option to purchase individual non-alc drinks. We currently offer everything from non-alc beer to non-alc wines, cocktails, ciders, and hop waters.

WHO HAVE YOU FOUND ENJOYS NON-ALC BEV ERAGES? When we started Free Bar, we assumed that our customers would be people who don’t drink alcohol at all for any number of reasons.

1. COLLECTIVE ARTS ‘HAZY PALE ALE’ This refreshing pale ale, which features a fantastic hazy colour, is a touch on the sweeter side and will have you almost forgetting that you’re drinking a non-alc.

2. HARMON’S ‘JACK PINE PALE ALE’ Expect some bitter tasting notes when you down this West Coast-style pale ale. This 'near beer' soothes any craving you might have for hoppy goodness.

What we’ve found, though, is that our customer base includes many ‘sober-curious’ consumers – people who are mixing non-alc beverages into their regular routines. We are building a community that encourages people to try nonalc drinks, while offering a plethora of product for those who are at any stage of their alcohol-

3. BLOOD BROTHERS ‘GREAT TASTE’ If you find this non-alc IPA pouring at a local pub, be sure to order a pint. It pours like a regular beer and, with stone fruit and citrus aromas, will have you in a state of ecstasy in no time.

free journey. We ship all across Canada and have loyal customers from coast-to-coast.

4. COLLECTIVE ARTS ‘EMERALD STOUT’

WHICH NON-ALC BREW GOT YOU INTO THE GAME? WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR MOST POPULAR OFFERINGS?

This robust non-alc is packed with all the toasty nutty

The first non-alc beers that sparked my obsession were from Libra in PEI. Their

flavours of a regular stout. It’s the perfect savoury companion to enjoy around any fireplace during the colder months.

over Eastern Canada. In recent months, we’ve

5. BELLWOODS BREWERY ‘STAY CLASSY IPA’

been selling a lot of Nonny’s ‘Czech Pilsner’

The first time you try this 'near beer', you'll be sold

(BC), Bellwoods’ ‘Stay Classy’ IPA (Toronto),

on the slick-looking can alone. Luckily the taste is also

and Wellington Brewery’s various hop waters

fantastic – with juicy notes of citrus and dank west coast

offerings are super tasty and are available all

(Guelph).

hops.

The Dirty Dozen: A Selection of Free Bar Offerings O l é ‘P al o m a’ Ro me o ’ s ‘ G in F iz z ’

N onny ‘ Czech P i l s ner ’

Enjo y ‘ Spri tz’

Ra lly ‘ N o Wo bble L a ge r’

Riv al House ‘ H azy I PA ’

C o lle c tive Arts ‘ Mo s c o w Mule ’

Edna ’ s ‘ C o llins’ B ellwoods ‘J el l y K ing Sour ’

H a rmo n’ s ‘ Ja c k P ine P a le Ale ’ L ak e o f Bay s ‘P al e A l e’ Musko ka ‘ Wa ndr Spa rking Te a Infusio n’

CAN YOU LIST SOME OF FREE BAR'S NON-ALC CANADIAN PRODUCERS?

ARE THERE PLANS AFOOT TO BUILD UPON AND/OR EXPAND FREE BAR?

While we source product from all over North

We have goals to increase our presence online

America and into Europe (world leaders

through our website, collaborate with some

in the non-alc category), there are some

breweries to create our own product, host

amazing producers here in Canada – including

events, and eventually open our own brick and

Harmon’s, Nonny, Bellwoods, Collective Arts,

mortar location as a community hub either in

Edna’s, Opus, and others. Indeed, there are too

Hamilton or Toronto. The sky's the limit in the

many good ones to list.

non-alc landscape and we’re poised to grow.

WHAT ARE SOME CURRENT TRENDS IN THE NON-ALC GAME?

ONE LAST QUESTION: HOW DID YOU LAND ON THE NAME 'FREE BAR'?

There are a number of new products coming

Our friends lovingly refer to our house as

out right now with adaptogens – stress-

‘free bar’ because we love to host parties and

relieving herbal agents that seem to be getting

provide the drinks for free. When we were

a lot of attention these days. Free Bar offers a

looking for a name for this non-alc initiative,

couple of them – including products from The

we wanted to give a nod toward its alcohol-

Noh Co and Auralis Botanical Brewing.

free mandate. ‘Free Bar’ stuck – and we

couldn’t be happier FREE BAR

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C REAT I ON P R O CE S S ? Figuring out balance of colour and line, and how to connect materials F AV OU RI T E S T U DI O T O O L? Pliers F AV OU RI T E P LA CE F O R D I N N E R OR DR I N K S I N T H E ROYAL C I T Y ? Atmosphere Café + Etc

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#PHOTOSPREAD

B E Y O N D WI ND O W SH O PPIN G : UNCOVERING FIVE TREASURES ALONG ONTARIO STREET PREAMBLE & PHOTOS BY CHRIS TIESSEN

The leisurely activity of sauntering storefront

We visited WERK-SHOP – a wonderfully-

to storefront, gauging shops' wares through

curated haven of Herschel toques, Japanese

glass from the promenade of a bustling

denim, Swiss army knives, G-Shock watches,

thoroughfare – downtown Stratford's Ontario

Fjallraven bags, and other hip-centric kit. And

Street is built for this. In this festival city that

Watson’s Chelsea Bazaar – a fourth-generation

caters to upwards of two million out-of-town

family retail business that specializes in

visitors each year, the proprietors of small

exquisite tableware, houseware, and gifts of

businesses along Ontario (and so many other

all sorts. We also made our way into La Osa

walkable streets in and out of Stratford’s

Jewelry + Vintage – a destination boutique

downtown core) have perfected the art of

that offers the funkiest jewellery, vintage

dressing windows. Building out themes. Tying

clothing and footwear, and Canadian-made

colours together. Communicating the language

goods. (When you visit, by the way, make

of style and fashion and alluring aesthetics

sure to check out the shop’s mind-blowing

through framed panes of glass.

ornate wooden ceiling.) We darted to Got It Made Stratford – a cozy boutique featuring

In late October the TOQUE team traveled to

over seventy-five Ontario creatives’ hand-

Stratford for a day of delving into the centre

made wares. (Don’t sleep on the crocheted

of a handful of Ontario Street shops – each

infant high-tops.) And, finally, we checked out

one representing a particular facet of what

Wills And Prior – the most delicately scented,

downtown Stratford’s incredible boutiques

fantastically comfortable mecca of fashionable

have to offer. We came to the realization that

home and lifestyle commodities.

while the exquisite window displays along Ontario might satiate a certain materialistic

Next time you’re in Stratford, don't miss

lust in Stratford’s flaneuring hordes looking to

dropping into these five boutiques – among so

fill an hour or two between performances at

many more. Because while window shopping

Festival Theatre, it’s what’s inside these shops

might briefly interest you, there's a richly

that truly deserves attention. Like some sort

textured world brilliantly poised to charm and

of Fabergé egg, each shop gets more beautiful

delight you inside.

the further inside you get.

Ceramic Bowl by Kew Gardens Collection (UK)

Beet Bath Toy by Oli & Carol (Spain)

Cuckoo Clock by Karlsson (The Netherlands) Guinea Pig Wall Pocket Vase by Quail Pottery (UK)

Notecards by Pomegranate (Portland OR)

WA T SO N'S C HE LSE A BAZ AAR 84 ONT A R I O S T, S TR A TFO R D WAT SONS O FS TR A TFO R D . CO M

New Snakes swimwear by Minnow Bathers (Toronto)

Vintage Poodle Brooches by Marcel Bouche

New Merino Wool Headi Leg Warmers by Swedish Stockings (Italy) Vintage Pullover Top by Athletic

Vintage Sneakers by Reebok

L A O SA JE WE LR Y + VINTAG E 34 ONT A R I O S T, S TR A TFO R D LAOSAJ E WE L R Y . CO M

Kanken Hip Pack by Fjall Raven (Sweden)

AL13 Aluminum Razor by Henson Shaving (Kitchener)

Elmer Beanie by Herschel (Vancouver)

Necktie by General Knot & Co (USA)

Swiss Champ by Victorinox Swiss Army (Switzerland)

WE R K-SHO P 11 ONT A R I O S T, S TR A TFO R D WE RK.SH O P

Bohemian Aroma Mist by Purdy Natural (London)

Elderberry Syrup Kit by Earth Potion Apothecary (Stratford)

Raw Honey by Lady Green Inc (Stratford)

Reusable Cloth Set by Living Stitches (Woodstock)

Carry-All Pouch by A Bit Stitchy (Elora)

Embroidered Heart Map by Sadie & June (Ottawa)

G O T IT MAD E 27 ONT A R I O S T, S TR A TFO R D GOT IT MA D E S TR A TFO R D . CO M

Vanilla Orange Body Cream by Lovefresh (Toronto)

The deVOL Kitchen by Paul O'Leary, Robin McLellan and Helen Parker (New York)

Mountain Moguls Jigsaw Puzzle by Janet Hill (Stratford)

Wool Socks by Nishiguchi Kutsushita (Japan)

Clementine & Clove Incense by Commonwealth Provisions Whiskey Barrel Maple Syrup by Wellington Made (Elora)

Rabbit & Snail Ceramic Trays by Creative Co-Op

WIL L S & PR IO R 94 ONT A R I O S T, S TR A TFO R D WILLSANDP R I O R . CO M

Brad Jantzi at his Cambridge machine shop

HE NS ON S H AV I N G : MARRYING INDUSTRY AND TECHNOLOGY IN A SPECTACULARLY SMOOTH PIVOT WORDS & PHOTOS BY CHRIS TIESSEN ‘It makes little to no sense for a start-up

machine shop that he – along with his brother,

looking to manufacture safety razors, of all

Ryan – have been operating for over two

things, to commission a specialist machine

decades. Until recently the Jantzi brothers’

shop that’s cut its teeth producing satellite bits

shop was renowned as a place where hi-tech

for the aerospace industry to do it for them,’

aerospace outfits from Waterloo Region and

Brad remarks as he guides me past a handful

beyond would bring fabrication projects that

of half-million-dollar mills and lathes operating

stumped other shops. But then the pandemic

at full steam. ‘The costs would be prohibitive

hit, and a massive contract was canceled,

– let alone the fact that machines tooled for

and the Jantzi brothers needed to figure out

aerospace applications would be overkill for

how to put their machines – sitting idle – back

manufacturing an everyday item like a razor.

online. And that’s when they had an epiphany:

Yet,' he continues, as we pass by a state-of-

safety razors. Specifically, they decided that

the-art lathe that’s at least the size of my truck,

they would design and produce the world’s

'that’s exactly what Henson Shaving is doing

greatest razor – engineered to extremely

here.’ Letting out a deep laugh, Brad continues:

tight tolerances, machined from aircraft-

‘It’s funny how things unfold.’ Indeed.

grade metals, and manufactured right here in Waterloo Region. Oh, and designed with only

It's a Thursday morning in early October, and I’ve met up with Brad Jantzi at the Cambridge

one blade, too.

‘The efficacy of any safety razor shouldn’t be

steel, too, but found that aluminum was more

measured by the number of blades it has,'

nimble in the hand) and engineered to hold

Brad tells me as we meander across the shop

tight a generic ten cent double-edged blade

floor, 'especially if its blades are held in place

that extends just 0.0013 inches from the razor

by flimsy plastic like so many on the market

(less than the thickness of a single hair), the

are.' He continues: 'The best-performing razors

Jantzis' razor worked exceptionally well, and

are those with the stiffest blades – held tightly

was poised to explode the shaving industry.

in place with metals like aluminum or titanium.

No gimmicks. There was just one problem,

A razor with a single rigid blade held in place by

though: the two brothers had never marketed

metal will shear for an effortless shave, while

a consumer product before. Luckily enough,

razors with multiple blades that shift about will

Brad and Ryan just so happen to have another

pull – causing bumps and rashes.’ Makes sense

brother, Daniel, who just so happens to have

to me. And goes against every bit of marketing

cut his teeth working in digital marketing and

that the biggest players in the shaving game

e-commerce for a number of Waterloo Region

have produced ever since they convinced me

start-ups and technology companies. And so

as a teenager that I needed a razor with as

the brothers who manufacture approached

many blades as possible. Three. Four. Five.

their brother who markets and asked him for a

More. It seemed that the sky was the limit, as

hand. And that’s when things got rolling.

far as the big players were concerned. Smoke and mirrors.

The first two things that Daniel (along with Ashly Knox, who worked with Daniel in digital

And so the Jantzi brothers experimented, and

marketing and e-commerce) did to help his

before long Brad and Ryan (along with Kevin

brothers market their razor was design a

Enter, a member of the tech team) prototyped

website for it and come up with a name for

their safety razor. Crafted from billet aluminum

the new business. ‘We decided on ‘Henson’,’

(they experimented with brass and stainless

Ashly, who has joined Brad and me at the

million in sales this year.’ In safety razors, of all

machine shop, tells me as we make our

things. Sold almost exclusively online through

way up a stark staircase to the second floor,

digital marketing and e-commerce. Born out of

‘named after William Samuel Henson, a British

a pandemic pivot. Everything about this story

nineteenth-century adventurer-type who

is fantastic.

worked in early aviation and also, in 1847, invented the T-handled safety razor.’ And so

Among the earliest adopters of Henson razors

Henson Shaving was born. Between July 2020

were so-called ‘wet shavers’ – no-nonsense

(when the first Henson razors went online) and

shaving enthusiasts who search for the best

June 2021, the business grew so fast that both

shaving products. ‘It was great to hear that

Daniel and Ashly quit their jobs to work full-

they supported what we were doing – and

time as CEO and COO/CMO, respectively, of

were vocal about the product on their online

the business. The company also hired five full-

forums and beyond,’ says Ashly. Today, ‘wet

time employees to help them continue to build

shavers’ make up just a miniscule portion of

out the shaving brand. Meanwhile, Brad and

Henson’s global audience. ‘Currently,’ Ashly

Ryan – along with their forty-plus employees

tells me, ‘we sell Henson razors to men and

at the machine shop – had their hands full

women worldwide, with eighty-five percent of

keeping up with production.

our business coming from the States, followed by Canada, Japan, and then the rest of the

‘In the past two years alone,’ Brad tells me as

world.’

we pass by more giant instruments as well as a room filled with at least a half dozen people

Brad leads Ashly and me across the shop from

packing razors in boxes and fulfilling orders,

the fulfillment area towards two rooms filled

‘we’ve invested almost five million dollars

with neatly-arranged tanks of some liquid or

re-tooling machines and purchasing new

other. ‘A portion of our investment has gone

equipment for razor production.’ I can’t even

into building out these anodization lines,’

fathom how many razor sales are needed to

Brad tells me proudly, ‘which we designed and

pay this off. Brad gives me a clue: ‘Currently,’

constructed so that we could anodize razors

he notes, ‘we’re producing almost twenty-five

in-house.’ As someone who grew up mountain

thousand razors a month.’ Ashly chimes in:

biking in the nineties, anything to do with

‘And we’re on track to gross north of twenty

44 anodization – that is, treating aluminum (and

affordable than disposable ones,’ he adds.

sometimes titanium) with a thin coat that adds

Less waste too. Indeed, after someone’s

colour and hardness to the material – gets

become the proud and deeply-satisfied owner

me very excited. Back then I dreamed about

of a Henson razor the only ongoing cost is for

purple anodized stems, and blue anodized

double-edged replacement blades – which

hubs, and red anodized cranks, and gold

are readily available directly off the Henson

anodized headsets. I lusted after them. Today

website for about ten cents per blade. It all

I'm dreaming about red, blue, gold, and black

sounds irresistible to me.

anodized Henson razors, and lusting especially hard after the company’s more limited razor

Much like Waterloo Region, which was built

made from titanium – the material of the gods,

on manufacturing (in the nineteenth and

as far as cyclists of my vintage are concerned.

twentieth centuries) and the tech industry (in the twenty-first century), Henson is built on

As a fan of EDC (or ‘everyday carry’), I am

industry and technology – the sort of success

certain that a Henson razor is just what I need

that follows vision and industry, the ability

in my collection of well-built, aesthetically-

to recognize and seize opportunity, and the

(and haptically-) pleasing, functional items.

courage to pivot and innovate. As my tour of

‘It’s definitely built to last,’ Brad tells me when

Brad and Ryan’s machine shop comes to an

I describe my excitement about owning one.

end, I can’t help but marvel at the Henson

And comes with a lifetime warranty too. ‘And

success story

while Henson razors aren’t cheap on the front end, in the long run they’re way more

HENSON SHAVING

hensonshaving.com

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FIND YOUR SOUNDTRACK. That song. Whether you hear it in the car, at a show, or in your kitchen - you belt out every bar without hesitation. That song is your song - the soundtrack of your life, written for no one else. It’s your anthem. Own it. Welcome to Anthem, The Metalworks’ fourth phase located in Downtown Guelph. Ebb and flow with the rhythm of the river. Bask in the sun-soaked melodies filling the square. Quiet your mind in the lounge as the next song begins. The sounds of The Metalworks resonates within.

Rendering is artist’s concept.

FUSIONHOMES.COM/ANTHEM

Crafting Beauty!

#PHOTOSPREAD

As a sort of ad d e n d u m t o th is ‘h andc r aft i s s ue ’ , T he B ooks he l f i n down t o w n Guelph has cu r a t e d f r o m its a isl e s a ﬁs t ful of g r e at books t hat fe at ur e c r a f t i n i ts various fo r m s. Gr a p h ic n o v e ls . Col l e c t i ons of poe t r y . P hot og r aphy . E s s a ys . Fo r all your r e a d in g n e e d s, Th e Books he l f al way s has s o muc h on oﬀe r – i nc luding gre a t C a n a d ia n co n te nt and fr e e l oc al de l i v e r y i n G ue l ph. S t o p o n by, or visit The B o o k sh e lf o n lin e at b ook s helf . c a D ucks: Two Years in t he O il Sa nd s A graphic novel by Kate Beaton

Le ona rd C o h en: On A Wi r e A graphic novel by Philippe Girard

S i l en t C i ti es: Por tr a i ts of a Pa nd emic: 1 5 C i ti es a c r oss the Wor l d by Jeﬀrey H Loria & Julie Loria

The Essent ial D ykes To Watch O ut Fo r An illustrated soap opera by Alison Bechdel

The Lost Wor ds

Poems & illustrations by Robert Macfarlane & Jackie Morris

b o o kshe l f .ca

Gills A collection of poems by Ayomide Bayowa

My Pi c tur e Di a r y by Fujiwara Maki (translated by Ryan Holmberg)

Art I s L ife: I cons and I conoclast s, Visionaries and Vigilant es, and Flashe s of Hope in t he Night by Jerry Saltz

OB J EC T S OF D E S I R E : EXPLORING A MULTITUDE OF HANDCRAFT IN UPTOWN WATERLOO WORDS BY DANI KUEPFER; PHOTOS BY CHRIS TIESSEN

AS SOMEONE WHO LOVES TO EXPLORE OUR REGION’S DOWNTOWNS (AND UPTOWNS), PREFERABLY WITH AN ARMLOAD OF PAPER BAGS AND A TURMERIC LATTE IN HAND, I’M ALWAYS ON THE HUNT FOR A BEAUTIFULLY-CURATED BRICKS AND MORTAR SHOP. YES, I KNOW THEY SELL SOAP ONLINE. BUT POPPING INTO A SHOP ALLOWS YOU TO CHAT WITH THE PERSON WHO MAKES THE SOAP AND LEARN THEY LIVE NEXT DOOR TO YOUR MOM, OR STUMBLE UPON A BOOK ON HOME FERMENTATION YOU DIDN’T KNOW YOU NEEDED. SHOPPING LOCALLY IS MORE THAN JUST BUYING STUFF – IT’S AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH MAKERS, APPRECIATE THE CARE THAT GOES INTO THE GIFTS YOU SELECT, OR MAYBE JUST DISCOVER THE SIMPLE JOY CONVEYED BY GOOD THINGS MADE BY GOOD PEOPLE.

H ARM O N Y JEW ELRY & CO 42 KING S TR E E T S O U TH, U P TO W N W A T ERL O O HARMO NY J E WE L R Y CO . CA , @HA R M O N Y JEW EL RY C O

I’m sitting down with Michelle and Kristel Mansilla,

a home, they work with an upcycling partner to give

second-generation owners of Harmony Jewelry & Co.

their wares new life).

Though originally started in Guelph in the late eighties, Harmony has called Uptown Waterloo home for thirtytwo years. (You might be familiar with their other locations – in downtown Guelph, the Stone Road Mall, downtown Stratford and, most recently, Conestoga Mall in Waterloo.) Harmony has changed since the early days of incense and hacky sacks, though the relaxed atmosphere remains: every location features clean white walls and soft lighting complementing the space's rustic features, and a myriad of displays hold, alongside an array of small-batch printed apparel, delicate jewelry made of soft gold, subtle gems, and

All of Harmony’s clothing – cozy crewnecks, cute tees and totes – are designed and printed in-house in small batches using non-toxic, water-based inks. Working with local graphic designers (often recent Conestoga College grads), the Harmony team takes industry trends and customer feedback into consideration when designing new products, and tests them in small batches before committing to a full run. ‘That’s how we’ve learned: we keep trying different things and listening to our customers,’ Michelle reflects. ‘We’re always changing, always growing – because our

freshwater pearls.

customers are, too.’ Personalization extends also to

What’s most interesting about Michelle and Kristel's

and birth flowers always come standard.

Harmony is not necessarily its history (though its decades-long tenure in locales across our communities is certainly a testament to its hand on the pulse on the region) but its ability to evolve with the present. Fashion trends have never moved so fast, thanks to the proliferation of social media and fast fashion brands, and many bricks and mortar shops find themselves unable to compete with this constant turnover, where much of ‘last week’s stock’ ends up as waste. But Michelle and Kristel at Harmony have found a solution that allows their enterprise to stay in the trend space without the environmental impact. The fact that Harmony's unique designs reflect their clientele, and that they are committed to sourcing base materials and customizing in-house, allows them to sell out their stock. (For the few items that don't find

their jewelry, where meaningful engravings like initials

A lot has changed in Uptown over the past decades. Many storefronts have seen new signs, and the streets certainly look different. Other things, like students brushing shoulders with long-time residents while they move in and out of the cafés and shops, have a familiar charm. As for Harmony, Michelle and Kristel still source from many of the original family businesses their own family engaged thirty years ago. 'But we don’t do cartwheels on their lawn anymore,’ Kristel laughs. Another thing that remains the same is Harmony’s unwavering vision for making available distinctive products that reflect and invoke special moments, big and small. Harmony offers wearables that are expressive, original, and local. Who could ask for more?

R IS I N G M O O N GA LLERY 8 RE GI NA S TR E E T NO R TH U NI T 3 , U PT O W N W A T ERL O O RISIN G M O O NG A L L E R Y . CO M , @R I S I N G MO O N G A L L ERY What is more evocative of ‘handcraft’ than pottery?

At first glance, the work of the different artists is

With just two hands and a wheel, an insensate lump of

distinct, but as I spend time with the pieces, common

clay becomes a work of art. (Or, if you’re like me and

threads reveal themselves. (Some threads are more

have taken a beginner’s pottery class, a very unique

obvious than others: Masci’s cotton rope basket winds

mug.) Andrea Hildebrand, founder and resident artist

itself around Hildebrand’s ceramic pot, creating a duo

at Rising Moon Gallery, was a production potter for

that begs to hold a wandering pathos and hang from

over two decades, including several years studying

my west-facing living room window.)

the origins of ceramic work in South Korea and Nepal. She doesn't make wonky drinkware – nor is her art

But no collaboration is as visceral as that revealed

confined to pottery alone.

in the gallery space’s other core function: Andrea’s

Andrea's craft is less tangible than the smooth, weighty

Tattoo. In fact, it was Chris’s clients passing through

ceramics in my hands. Instead, it’s something Andrea

Andrea’s production space that gave the two of them

herself holds: a space of collaboration between

the idea of sharing the space as a collaborative studio.

artists, a cross pollination of cultures, an opportunity

While the collections housed in the gallery benefit

for guests to create their own connections with the

from Chris's 'accidental' guests, the tattoo studio

artefacts before them. What Andrea crafts is a gallery.

soaks in the quiet wonder of the handcrafts. ‘The

Rising Moon Gallery, which looks out over a treelined expanse of Regina Street in Waterloo, features Andrea’s ceramics, naturally: her current collection a series of robust urns with wide mouths, earth-toned

husband Chris Winterson's serene studio, Torchlight

scents, the lighting, the shapes – it calms the nervous system,’ Andrea tells me. ‘People often fall asleep,’ she adds. Not exactly your leather, chrome, and death metal tattoo parlour, then.

glazes, and rich geometric linework that reflects the

But there's more. Lots to think about. Rising Moon

natural patterns of layered forests, rhythmic wind,

Gallery, which applauds hands hovering over the

and crisp foliage. The gallery also hosts up to a

potter’s wheel alongside the soon-to-be-inked forearm

dozen other artists at a time, showcasing Indigenous

of a client, as well as hands that carve and press and

beadwork and Mennonite woodworking alongside

sew – all sharing one place – is a model for eclectic

other traditional handcrafts like block prints. I’m

collaboration. ‘Rising Moon is about preserving the

drawn to Julia Masci’s hand-dyed textiles: organic

old way,' Andrea tells me. 'Connecting with the artists,

cotton scarves transformed with foraged plants such

seeing the space where these things are made. It’s

as sumac and black walnut, and one-of-a-kind thrifted

not just a money economy here – there is a social and

pieces featuring striking patterns created with pressed

spiritual economy, and we want the people who visit

leaves and blooms. Andrea’s role, as the curator, is to

to find those gifts too.’

bring together items with shared ideas; your role, as the guest, is to create a story that ties them together.

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Through the front doors of the Princess Twin Cinemas

Something we often overlook about independent

and down a sun-soaked staircase, you’ll find The Truth

shops like Truth Beauty is that, even before we arrive,

Beauty Company: a calm and cozy curation of natural,

the products are hand-selected by Jen (out of literally

sustainable, and cruelty-free beauty products. ‘We’ve

millions in the marketplace), her selection process

been Uptown for fourteen years,’ founder Jen Freitas

hugely informed by her long-standing relationships

tells me, adding that her team recently celebrated

with the faces behind the brands, most of which (like

ten years in their current location. While ‘clean’ and

The Truth Beauty Company) are women-owned, self-

‘green’ products are becoming increasingly popular

funded, Canadian companies. Locally-owned bricks

among mainstream beauty brands, Truth Beauty has

and mortar shops like Truth Beauty are much more

been advocating for health conscious and socially

than just a store: they are a curated experience, a

responsible self-care since its beginning days – and

collection of the best items available, an accumulation

they’ve seen a lot of change over the years.

of years of research, trial and error. Moreover, they

‘Clean beauty has become quite popular – and at the same time, the marketing has become super murky,’ Jen tells me. While buzzwords like ‘eco-friendly’ and ‘naturally-derived’ are well used by brands, there are no official standards for terms like these within the beauty industry. There is no one-size-fits-all product: consumers ask different things of their products when

offer opportunity for other small enterprises (online, new, and small brands can’t compete with the marketing budgets of big brands, a major barrier to innovation within the industry). Between the established brands, Truth Beauty makes room on its shelves for new faces in the marketplace, and together they sit on the shelves as equals.

it comes to performance, ingredients, packaging, price

‘The clean beauty industry began a long time ago in

and brand ethos – and matching product to consumer

home kitchens, and only recently the big guys started

desire requires some research.

to take notice,’ Jen explains. ‘If you want to keep that

‘We don’t expect consumers to be experts in these products,’ Jen tells me. ‘We want them to come in and tell us what matters to them, and we’ll do the rest.’ Hundreds of crisp boxes, minimalist tubes, and glass jars line the open shelves and antique tables that fill the shop. While the space feels like a gallery, Jen and her team read these shelves like an opulent library: with intimate knowledge of the brands’ practices and the products’ functions, they can guide clients to the perfect self-care routine that fits their body, budget, and values. That thoughtful attention and Jen’s tenure in Uptown comes with a community: ‘Our clients are incredibly loyal, and their experience of these products becomes part of the knowledge we share.’

creativity alive,’ she adds, ‘you have to make room for the little guys to show what they’ve got.’ I carry Jen’s words with me as I step out onto the streets of Uptown, a place where our own ‘little guys’ continue to hold their ground and bring new ideas, paradigms, and products to the community.

An Agent of Change

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GETTING TO KNOW: PLAY WITH CLAY INTERVIEW WITH MARIO GONSALVES BY CHRIS TIESSEN; PHOTOS BY CHRIS TIESSEN

Mario Gonsalves

NE X T T IME YOU’RE SEARCH I NG F OR SOM E T H IN G F R E SH T O DO IN DOWN T OWN GU E L PH, WH Y NOT TRY YOUR H AN D AT P OT T E R Y ? F OR T H E P AST F OU R T E E N Y EA R S , MA RIO GONSALVES AND NI NA KAP U SC IN SKA H AVE B E E N H OST IN G F OLKS IN T HE I R CL A Y S T U DI O FOR POTTERY PAI N T IN G , C LAY H AN D-B U ILDIN G, WH E E L T H R OWIN G , 58 58 58

A ND MO R E. AND, WI TH TH E ADD IT ION OF T H E IR ‘ CLAY B AR ’ ( LOCAT E D AT T H E BA C K 58

O F ‘ PL A Y WI TH CLAY’), I T’S NOW P OSSIB LE T O E N J OY P OT T E R Y AN D P IN T S AT T HE S A ME T IM E. TH I S FALL, W E SAT DOWN WIT H M AR IO T O CH AT AB OU T T H E T H R IV I N G B U S INE S S. H ERE'S WH AT H E H AD T O SAY :

CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT PLAY WITH CLAY?

CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THINGS WE CAN DO AT PLAY WITH CLAY?

Driven by my partner Nina’s background in and

We provide various structured activities, including ‘Pottery

passion for pottery (and my own desire to elude

Painting’, ‘Clay Hand-Building’, ‘Wheel Throwing’, alongside

long commutes) in 2009 Nina and I opened the first

adult pottery classes and kids camps. Our instructors

Play with Clay location in downtown Guelph. At its

have extensive experience teaching a wide range of hand-

core, Play with Clay is an interactive pottery studio

building, wheel throwing, and glazing techniques to help

that offers ready-to-paint ceramics as well as the

ensure the success of everyone’s pottery project. We also

opportunity to work with fresh clay. We provide

organize a wide range of clay parties – including birthday

adult and kids' pottery classes along with one-on-

celebrations, bachelorette parties, work events, family and

one pottery wheel instruction. Because the Guelph

friends gatherings, and more.

location has been such a success, we’ve opened other Play with Clay locations in downtown Cambridge and in Hamilton (on Locke Street).

CAN JUST ANYONE DROP IN TO PLAY WITH CLAY? You bet. Drop ins are welcome anytime, although we do suggest making a reservation for larger groups.

YOU ADDED A ‘CLAY BAR’ TO THE BUSINESS MODEL. TELL US A BIT ABOUT IT. We introduced our ‘Clay Bar’ to the Guelph location in late 2019 – just before the pandemic. It features expansive floor-to-ceiling windows facing Cork Street, in the rear area of our Guelph space. Essentially, the ‘Clay Bar’ is what the name implies: a place to paint, or make, pottery in a bar-like setting that offers food, alcoholic (and non-alc) drinks, and more. It’s an awesome destination to bring a date, meet up with friends, or enjoy family time that (because it’s directed to all ages) everyone can enjoy. The ‘Clay Bar’ has been such a success that we’ve recently extended its hours from 10am til midnight.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE A TYPICAL PLAY WITH CLAY CUSTOMER? Play with Clay patrons are folks of all ages – and include families, friends looking to gather, young children, and students of all ages. We get lots of university students at the ‘Clay Bar’. They love the comfortable bar-like environment where they can relax and take a break from their studies with a soothing pottery experience.

HOW LONG IS A TYPICAL SESSION AT PLAY WITH CLAY? We always tell guests to prepare to stay for a minimum of two hours.

WHAT PLAY WITH CLAY ACTIVITY WOULD YOU RECOMMEND FOR A FIRST-TIMER? I’d probably encourage them to paint one of our readymade ceramics, or to build a clay mug from scratch.

WHEN NINA AND YOU ARE NOT WORKING, WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVOURITE HAUNTS IN DOWNTOWN GUELPH? We’re huge fans of so many downtown Guelph businesses. We’re suckers for wings at The Wooly, pints

at Brothers Brewing Co, late-night pasta at La Cucina, and Middle Eastern culinary gems at Retour. And we love digging for vintage at The Patch

PLAY WITH CLAY 42 WYNDHAM ST N, GUELPH ON

playwithclayguelph.com

HA TS O F F : GEORGIA MCNAB & HER OFF THE BLOCK BRAND WORDS & PHOTOS BY CHRIS TIESSEN ‘When I was younger,’ Georgia recalls, a

It's a Wednesday morning in later August,

mischievous smirk rolling out across her

just a few days after this past summer’s

face, ‘I insisted on wearing anything I wanted.

installment of Riverfest Elora, and Georgia

Colourful shirts. Vibrant pants. Mismatched

McNab and I are straight up loungin’ in her

socks. Polka-dotted rubber boots. Whatever fit

spacious factory studio located on the main

my mood.’ She continues: ‘There’s an old family

floor of Galt’s historic Ray Electric (now the

portrait where we’re all dressed in formal

Classic Shoe) Building. Yes, loungin’. Because

clothes and I’m positioned off in the corner –

that’s what anyone visiting Georgia at her

visibly displeased. On the back of the photo is

place of work will almost certainly feel inclined

my mom's succinct caption: ‘Georgia pouting

– destined, even – to do. Everything about the

because she couldn’t pick out her outfit.’’

space is relaxed. Groovy. Comfortable. From

Letting out a wholesome laugh, Georgia adds:

the floating rattan chair hanging by a chain

‘That basically sums me up.’

attached to the ceiling to the propagation station-turned-chandelier floating above our

A free spirit, then. Independent thinker.

heads to the eye-popping shag carpet and

Aspiring fashion icon. And, as I’m beginning to

cowhide-print lounger and velvet-covered

find out during my chat with this Cambridge-

couch with cowboy-boot shaped throw pillows,

based milliner about her emergent business

every angle of Georgia’s studio exudes groovy

aspirations and successes, a determined

vibes – every perspective offers a panoply of

entrepreneur too. Let’s get into it.

psychedelic delights.

‘Almost everything in here was either thrifted

pulling off a full-brimmed hat. I’m more of a

or found,’ Georgia tells me as my eyes dart

toque kinda guy. And yet when I first laid eyes

around the space. My gaze shifts from the

on Georgia’s creations at the Market, and then

wild furniture to an accent wall where I note

visited her studio for this story, I knew that I

about a half dozen brimmed hats of various

needed one. And so I was quick to place my

styles and colours hanging between framed

order (as was my TOQUE Partner, Cai, and

examples of tattoo flash, miniature western

our significant others, too). And now I rock

boots, a cartoon portrait of a cowgirl, and

my Off The Block creation whenever I have

other alluring chachkies perfectly suited to a

the chance: at Riverfest Elora, on hikes with

space like this. ‘Except the hats,’ Georgia adds,

the dogs, to ward off the rain, as an everyday

‘I made those.’

addition to my wardrobe. A bit of flash. A gorgeous, striking barricade against the

Ah yes, the hats. The reason I’m here. And the

doldrums lurking everywhere.

reason you’re sure to be scouring Georgia’s business Instagram profile, @_offtheblock_,

‘It makes me feel like a superhero,’ I laugh

once you’ve finished reading this feature.

to Georgia as I describe the sensation I get

Because whether or not you’ve ever thought

when donning my Off The Block creation – a

of yourself as a ‘hat person’, there’s something

bone-coloured Cattleman-style hat with subtle

about Georgia’s handcrafted custom

curved brim. ‘That’s exactly it,’ she replies with

specimens that makes a person want to try

a grin, ‘there’s just something about wearing

one on – to pair it with an outfit, wear it on the

a nice hat that breeds confidence – and turns

town, flex it at a festival, bring it out to the bar.

heads too.’ Indeed, Georgia’s hats – which are increasingly modeled by a gaggle of millennial

Case in point: me. Before discovering

personalities in her hometown of Cambridge

Georgia’s hats (at a pop-up booth at the St

– are grabbing much local attention. And

Jacobs Farmers’ Market – a fantastic place for

international scrutiny, too, thanks in part

discovery), I would never have dreamed of

to an area influencer with global clout who

modeled a rhinestone-appointed Off The Block

back.’ There was a stint in college at Humber

hat on her feed of several million followers.

after high school where Georgia started a

As Georgia recounts: ‘I made a hat for Sarah

journalism degree in hopes of founding a

Landry [@thebirdspapaya] when she attended

fashion magazine. Then a sojourn out west

the Boots and Hearts music festival a couple

where she achieved a degree in fashion design

years back. After she posted herself wearing

and management at Vancouver's Blanche

the hat, I gained at least a thousand followers

Macdonald Centre. Then back to Ontario

overnight.’ And new customers from all over

where Georgia completed a course in millinery

Canada and all across the States, too – from

at George Brown College. What drove her

New York City to Los Angeles, San Francisco to

forward: a passion for fashion and design,

Texas.

wherever it led.

And as if having The Birds Papaya sport one

‘After George Brown,’ Georgia tells me, ‘I knew

of her hats wasn’t enough, this past summer

that I wanted to become a milliner. In fact, I’m

Georgia fitted The Sheepdogs with custom

the only one in my millinery class who decided

hats for the Meadows Music Festival in Fergus.

to give it a go.’ And so Georgia worked to save

So how did this all happen, anyway? After all,

up enough money for all of the appropriate kit

it’s not every day that someone decides to

and by 2021 she was experimenting with her

become a professional milliner. ‘It certainly

first hats. By April 2022 she found this space in

didn’t happen overnight,’ she tells me. ‘In

the Classic Shoe Building, and in May 2022 she

fact,’ Georgia continues, ‘my journey to this

opened her doors here. ‘Right now,’ Georgia

business took me from my hometown [of

notes, ‘we’re open by appointment only.

Cambridge] all the way across the country and

Because each of the hats I make are custom

orders, it’s important that every customer

Along one wall in the studio I note an

who’s able to travel to the studio receives one-

impressive collection of fantastic string and

on-one time to figure out exactly what they

lace and leather strips and twine. ‘Those

expect their hat to deliver.’

are what I use to assemble each hat’s band,’ Georgia tells me, adding: ‘I’ve collected them

I peer past Georgia to her work bench just

from all sorts of places – ripping them out

beyond our seating area and note various

of vests and dresses, sourcing them from

samples of felt in appealing hues: bone (like

discounted ribbon bins, scouring Value Village.

what we chose for my hat), mustard, sahara,

Besides the colour and style of each hat,’

pecan, and more. All around the bench, various

she continues, ‘brims can really speak to the

tools of Georgia’s trade are neatly arranged.

personality – as well as the hair, complexion,

Various sized hat blocks – made from solid

and eye colour – of each customer.’

wood and shaped like the tops of people’s heads. An industrial sewing machine – to attach

Next to these materials, on a small table

each hat’s leather inner brim to its outer felt

positioned under a large mirror, a tray of

‘shell.’ An iron to finesse every hat's shape. A

the most unique materials – from Moroccan

burn pen for optional custom imagery (like

amethyst to thulite from Yukon to bits of

tattoos – but on a hat). A blowtorch to clean

dinosaur bone – catches my eye. ‘We can

up each hat’s felt fibers. And a lot of other cool

incorporate almost anything into the bands for

stuff, too.

further individuality,’ Georgia remarks. Beside

this tray of wonderfully eclectic materials, a

storefront would be awesome too.’ For hats.

handful of sample hats – some colourful and

And for silversmithed items, which stem from

funky, others more subdued – are positioned

a hobby Georgia has recently picked up. And,

for customers to try on, to get a sense of

as if that’s not enough, she’s recently opened

what suits them and their tastes. ‘Customers

a selfie studio, Dawn Daze, in downtown Galt

use these for inspiration,’ Georgia remarks –

mere blocks from her Off The Block space. And

picking up a pinched brim cowboy hat off the

there are more ideas to come. ‘I’ve never been

table and twirling it in her hand.

a miniature version of myself,’ Georgia tells me. ‘I’ve always been a bold personality with

Inspiration – it’s certainly something not

unique dreams. I want everyone to be able to

lacking in this space. Nor from Georgia herself.

find their own boldness and uniqueness – their

Indeed, I find it hard to believe that she is

inspired self. And I think that a sweet hat can

ever anything but inspired. When I ask her

get them at least halfway there.’

about future plans for the business, Georgia’s quick to reply: ‘I’d love to host ‘sip and shops’ at the studio, and hat-making parties too.

I’m more than inclined to agree

Down the line,’ she adds, ‘a bricks and mortar OFF THE BLOCK DOWNTOWN GALT, BY APPOINTMENT

offtheblock.ca

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Ampersand press operator Paul Rankin

UN BOXI NG S U C C E S S :

DAMIAN MCDONALD’S VISION FOR AMPERSAND

WORDS & PHOTOS BY CHRIS TIESSEN TS

GUELPH

‘You guys produced this for Porsche?’, I ask

Ah, yes. The emergent phenomenon of

Damian excitedly – running my hands along

unboxing – a one-time mundane and even

the top and sides of a large, completely rigid

irksome practice (have you ever tried

white box branded with the insignia of that

unboxing an SD card, for instance, without

most iconic German car manufacturer. Damian

the help of special tools?) that’s been elevated

nods affirmatively, picks up the weighty

to a near-religious experience by influencers

package, and carefully opens its smooth lid –

across all social platforms. Apple phones.

revealing a beautifully-mounted poster of a

Leica cameras. Rolex watches. All are products

bright red Porsche Cayman (cradled in laser

whose design teams have, in recent years,

cut foam) inside. ‘From what I understand,’

elevated their box game to the point where

Damian tells me, ‘Porsche Canada presents

consumers pay nearly as much heed to

every new customer with a poster like this

these products’ packaging as they do to the

featuring the car they just purchased.’ He

products themselves. It's a trend that has

continues: ‘We produce the boxes that house

Damian McDonald, President of Ampersand,

these posters.’ As I inspect the enticing

paying attention – and investing heavily.

artefact, Damian chuckles: ‘While Porsche customers aren't likely to physically unbox

‘It’s a growing market,’ Damian tells me when

their new cars, these packaged posters give

I ask why Ampersand, a family-owned print

them the thrill of at least unboxing a gorgeous

shop that’s been serving the Guelph market

image of their new machine.’

(and well beyond) for almost fifty years, has entered the rigid box packaging game.

Ampersand President Damian McDonald

Blue Star Nutraceutical packaging & contents (left); Ampersand commercial printing (right). Photos submitted by Ampersand

‘While there are established outfits overseas

filled with printing equipment and stacks of

that have been doing packaging like this for

blank sheets and boxes of finished jobs and

years,' he explains, 'turnaround times to North

everything in between – Damian, with a hint of

American customers – especially since the

pride, points out the large pieces of equipment

pandemic – have become a major issue. And

that enable Ampersand to produce rigid box

so we’re solving that problem.’ Ampersand has

packaging, from start to finish. At one machine

been serving clients like Beadle & Grimm’s,

an Ampersand staff member oversees a laser

for instance – a producer of premium edition

cutter capable of precisely incising a full range

Dungeons & Dragons box sets whose business

of items: rigid box panels, puzzle pieces, foam

took off during pandemic lockdowns (when

inserts. At another, box panels are shaped and

folks turned to games to pass the time

fashioned together in an intricate fashion that,

indoors) – who needed to fulfill orders fast.

frankly, leaves me completely baffled – and

And Blue Star Nutraceuticals – a human

impressed.

performance company looking to up their branding game with slick rigid box packaging.

While I’m genuinely enthralled by this new

And Porsche Canada. And more.

packaging set-up, my attention is soon drawn to a much larger, louder machine that fills

While Damian leads me from his office to

most of the middle portion of the Ampersand

the shop floor, he continues: ‘Since the

shop: the business’ Mitsubishi forty-inch

pandemic, we’ve invested close to a million

offset press. I feel an affinity for this monster.

dollars in state-of-the-art machines to work

After all, it (literally) transforms each issue of

on these specialized projects. As it stands,

TOQUE from a bunch of my hopes and dreams

we’re the only business in Canada that’s able

(writing, photography, more) into the physical

to design, produce, and fulfil orders for rigid

object you’re holding in your hands. And it

box packaging.’ When we reach the shop

does this at sixteen thousand sheets an hour.

proper – an expansive warehouse space

‘There’s my buddy,’ I think to myself, while I

make my way across the shop floor towards

cut his teeth on as a pre-teen when his father,

the behemoth.

Mike, ran the business. ‘I was running the duplicator when I was just twelve years old,’

At the front of the Mitsubishi, press operator

Damian recalls of his early days growing up in

Paul Rankin pulls sheets off the rollers for

the industry. ‘I remember my nanny collating

quality control – laying each page on what

perfect bound books in the back of the shop,’

looks like a large white drafting table and

he adds with a laugh.

inspecting it under a loupe. Paul and I greet each other with a smile and a wave. We've

Back then Ampersand was located in Guelph’s

spent our fair share of time together – peering

Trafalgar Building – one-time hub of so

closely at magazine covers and interior pages

many great Royal City enterprises (including

as we attempt to achieve that perfect colour

Hillside Festival, Guelph Jazz Festival, Blue

balance, sharpness, exposure, and other

North Strategies, Lind Design, and more).

elements of large-scale printing that keep me

Even further back, Ampersand was located

(maybe both of us) up at night.

in a single room in a century-old red brick at Eramosa and Arthur – which just happens to

‘If I’m not mistaken,’ I shout to Damian, ‘this

be the current office of TOQUE. What a small

press has pushed through well over ten million

world. ‘Back then’ Damian remarks, ‘my dad

TOQUE pages over the years.’ As the words

burned plates with a ninety-watt bulb.’ A far

come out of my mouth, the number amazes

cry from their current sophisticated set-up

me. My life on paper. My life working with

– and its ever-growing team. At the time of

Ampersand. ‘It’s certainly been our workhorse,’

this interview, Ampersand is in the midst of

Damian replies. Indeed, despite the challenges

acquiring the commercial printing division

that have faced the traditional print industry,

of Kitchener’s Innovative Design & Print Inc –

offset printing still accounts for eighty percent

which will double its number of staff to almost

of Ampersand’s business – and is what Damian

fifty.

This makes me happy. In an age when TOQUE

One of the compelling epithets that has

has witnessed so much decimation in the

expressed the heart of what TOQUE is about

print industry (to the point where, during

has been, and remains, 'Print is not dead'.

the pandemic we worried that we might not

Damian would live by this, too. As he and I walk

be able to secure paper at all), I’m pleased

back from the shop floor to his office, I have

to know that Damian and the Ampersand

no doubt in my mind that his strategic vision

team are healthier than ever. When I express

and business acumen are what have kept

this sentiment, Damian cautions that their

Ampersand at the forefront of our region’s

success didn't happen without some massive

print enterprises. Embedded in the Damian's

risks. There was the investment in rigid

success story is another tag expressed

box packaging, for sure. But also another

implicitly by both Ampersand and TOQUE, that

investment – one that hits much closer to

celebrates not only the joy of reading, but also

home. ‘When the pandemic first started

the tactile pleasure that comes with print's

making waves across the industry,’ Damian

invitation to embrace touch in this ever more

tells me, ‘I made the decision to purchase

ephemeral world. Print, after all, asserts that

just shy of a million dollars of paper, to keep

we can still take pleasure in things we are able

Ampersand operating (and to keep customers’

to hold in our hands

businesses operating) through a period of

almost-inevitable global supply chain issues.' Indeed, the paper that Damian purchased back in 2020 just happened to be the only suitable (and still affordable) paper in North America that TOQUE was able to secure to print its last few issues.

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UNCOVERING WELLINGTON COUNTY

ALPACA TIME WORDS & PHOTOS BY CHRIS TIESSEN

Did you know that alpaca wool is much

insoles made from cozy alpaca wool.’ Such a

warmer than sheep wool? Or that it has

great concept, I think to myself as I wiggle my

superior breathability and wicks away body

chilly toes inside my uninsulated Red Wing

moisture? How about that it won’t mat or pill

boots. And definitely worth putting on my

or trap odour? Me neither – but it’s all true.

Christmas wish list.

And get this: alpaca wool is also naturally windproof, flame resistant, and water repellant. No wonder it was once called ‘the fibre of the gods’.

HARRISTON

Like so many other remarkable producers, farmers, and food businesses that dot Guelph and Wellington County, Alpaca Time is a partner of Taste Real – a County of

Here’s another thing I bet you didn’t know:

Wellington program that promotes local food

Wellington County is filled with alpaca farms.

and facilitates valuable connections among

And while Alpaca Time, located in Harriston,

food businesses, consumers, craftspeople,

isn’t an alpaca farm, it is definitely all about

and farmers alike. That includes alpaca

alpacas – producing for sale items like socks

wool aficionados like Tara. Learn more at

and mitts and insoles made from Australian

alpacatime.ca and tastereal.ca

alpaca fibre alongside imported alpaca items from Peru and Ecuador (including ponchos, blankets, scarves, hats, stuffies and more). ‘Our top selling products are definitely our socks and insoles – which are all made inhouse,’ Alpaca Time proprietor Tara Griffey tells me as I peruse the business’ bricks and mortar boutique. ‘Last year alone,’ she continues, ‘we sold over six thousand sets of

WINTER ALP A C A EXPERIENC E S : Bundle up and get up close and personal with alpacas – the most wonderfully-curious animals. (Did you know that an alpaca's disposition tends to

T O P 1 0 L O CA L W O O L A N D FIB RE G I F T I D E A S: 1. Pure Wool-Filled Pillow – Revolution Wool Company, Wallenstein

be similar to that of a domestic cat?)

2. Alpaca Socks & Insoles – Alpaca Time, Harriston The following alpaca farms are open for winter 3. Grand River Stole Knitting Kit – Wellington Fibres, Elora visits: 4. Wool Lap Blanket – Twin Oaks Farm, Guelph/Eramosa All In Alpacas | Rockwood At this family-run alpaca destination, tours and 5. Warm Alpaca Socks – Lady Slipper Alpacas, Belwood alpaca introductions are offered year-round. You can visit the fibre studio where you can sink your hands into the luxurious alpaca fleece and learn how 6. Reversable Gloves – Pootcorners Alpacas, Palmerston it’s prepared for processing. allinalpacas.com 7. Handfelted Alpacadorable Figurines – Harmony Brae Ridge Farm & Sanctuary | Puslinch Visit Brae Ridge for tranquil private farm tours. Here, in this oasis of maple forest and meadow, you can hand-feed the alpacas and watch them play. braeridgefarm.com Harmony Meadows Alpaca | Belwood This family-friendly Belwood Alpaca destination offers up-close visits with their thirty alpacas via private and public guided tours. You can pet an alpaca if you like, or give one a treat. harmonymeadowsalpaca.ca Mimosa Springs Alpaca | Hillsburgh If you’re into learning about alpacas while they eat and play around you, then Mimosa Springs is your alpaca destination. Enjoy a picnic or tour the whole farm, which the alpacas share with their barnyard friends – including sheep, goats, donkeys, horses, pot-belly pigs, chickens, ducks, and Carl the llama. mimosa-springs-alpacas.square.site Pootcorners Alpacas | Palmerston This Palmerston enterprise (which employs sustainable farming practices) offers custom tours of various lengths and hikes that encourage interaction with friendly alpacas, all the while unveiling how these adorable animals live. pootcorners.com

For more winter experiences in Wellington County visit experiencewellington.ca

Meadows Alpaca, Belwood

8. Icebreaker Slouch Beanie – Brae Ridge Farm & Sanctuary, Puslinch

9. Wool Acoustic Art Panel – All Sorts Acres Farm, Ayton 10 . Felted Alpaca Insoles – All In Alpacas, Rockwood For more gift ideas and notes on where to purchase them locally, visit tastereal.ca

Sunday Blooms owners (& besties) Alysha Maxwell & Robyn Maude

SU N D AY B L OOM S : A HAVEN OF GOOD TASTE

R NO

F UF

E ST

DOWNTOWN GUELPH

WORDS & PHOTOS BY CHRIS TIESSEN ‘Alysha and I have always daydreamed

each other up to speed over tea and sweets.

of whiling away our afternoons at some

Straight ahead of me, framed through an

European café or other,’ Robyn tells me

arched opening in one of the room’s stark

from our cozy table tucked into a far corner

white walls, a skilled barista crafts a latté for

of the loveliest sun-drenched room. ‘After

a patron who’s just out of sight in the room

some time,’ she continues, ‘it occurred to

next door. And all around us, positioned on

us: why don’t we make the effort to turn

clean shelving units and long wooden tables,

these dreams into reality and open our own

curated product – from scented candles to

European-style café?’ Alysha, who’s seated

potted plants to ceramic vessels to specialty

with us, chimes in: ‘And so we did – and this

soaps and salts to cookbooks and so much

is how it turned out.’

more – fills the room with beauty. Warmth.

I look up from my americano and survey

Comfort.

the bustling space. To my left, nestled into a

‘It's all turned out rather spectacularly, I’d have

two-seater, a couple of undergrads dressed

to say,’ I reply to Alysha with a grin.

in oversized wool coats and matching earthtone beanies sip cappuccinos. Just past them, at a table positioned under a large window, three elegant older women bring

It’s early afternoon on a Friday in midNovember and I’m visiting Robyn Maude and her business partner, Alysha Maxwell, at these best friends’ still-new business venture,

Sunday Blooms. A sort of amalgamation of

never slowed down from there. And while

Robyn’s two previous (and recently shuttered)

I really loved the cozy space we were in at

downtown Guelph initiatives – the fabled

Sunday General, its coffee bar – which was

Blooms + Flora and the storied Sunday General

only ever supposed to be a complementary

Store – Sunday Blooms is the shop that Robyn

element of the broader shop – soon became

and Alysha (or ‘Rob’ and ‘Al’, as these two

so popular that it, too, demanded more

besties lovingly refer to one another) have

room.’ It’s a great problem to have, really. Two

always wanted to open together. A café, yes (to

booming businesses on the same street in the

satiate those daydreams). But also a general

same city that had each outgrown their spaces.

store (a nod to Sunday General), a florist (à la

And a predicament that came with a fantastic

Blooms + Flora), and an ice cream parlour, too.

resolution: a larger space that could cradle

Because who doesn’t love ice cream, amiright?

both businesses – and larger aspirations, too.

Oh, and a space for organized book clubs, workshops, and more. ‘A club hub,’ Alysha blurts out with a laugh.

Specifically, just as Robyn and Alysha (who, at the time, had been working with Robyn in visual merchandising and store design at

‘While I adored my first two businesses,’ Robyn

Sunday General after gigs with such heavy

remarks, recalling her floral shop and general

hitters as Banana Republic, IKEA, and more)

store (which were housed along Guelph’s

knew they wanted to build something bigger,

historic Suffolk Street – just blocks away from

together, the owners of Guelph restaurant

Sunday Blooms’ Woolwich Street address),

Artisanale decided it was time to move

‘they came with compromises.’ I’m intrigued.

on from the space they had occupied on

Robyn continues: ‘Blooms + Flora, for instance,

Woolwich. ‘We scooped the place up this

had outgrown its awkward space within just

past May,' Alysha tells me, 'and by July we

a couple years of opening – and the business

were open for business.’ Not an easy task,

but one that was made doable with the help

luminous (and slightly larger) front space that

of Robyn’s husband, Ben, and his business,

features the business’ sea-foam-coloured

LPC Construction. Oh, and by the lovely staff

wraparound counter (with espresso machine,

at Sunday Blooms, too, who paraded much

treats, ice cream and cash) and most of the

of the furniture and product from Blooms +

floral arrangements (the prettiest sight). I spot

Flora and Sunday General to Sunday Blooms –

so many more fun products here: marmalades

dancing and laughing (and strategically posting

and mustards (from Saltspring Kitchen Co),

to socials) along the way. And now, just a few

mushroom milks (from The New New Age),

months after opening to the public, we’re here.

plant-based seafoods (from Seed To Surf),

And so is everyone else in town, it seems.

spiced raw honeys (from drizzle), and more.

Indeed, while Robyn and Alysha and I chat

‘We try really hard to source at least ninety

about the whole affair, dozens of customers

percent of our items from Canadian outfits,’

pop in and out of Sunday Blooms’ wonderfully-

Alysha tells me as we pass by a wall of spot-on

appointed two-room space. Some, like us, for

greeting cards printed in the most delicious

coffee and treats – including roasts by Guelph’s

teals and violets and golds and blacks. She

Cavan Coffee and baked goods by such Royal

continues: ‘It’s a mandate of ours to support

City standards as With The Grain Bakery, Killer

smaller Canadian enterprises – to grow with

Cupcakes, and The Baking Professor. (Try the

them through the years.’ It’s also a mandate

gluten-free pop tarts. What a phenomenal

to hire fantastic staff, I’m quick to realize as

concept.) Others for floral arrangements

each customer is greeted upon entering the

– available either as ready bouquets or via

space. More than once I hear Sunday Blooms

custom orders. Not too many (on this brisk

hires greet regulars by name, ask about their

November afternoon) for ice cream. And most,

families, pet their dogs, make faces at their

it seems, for holiday shopping – which is,

babes in arms. ‘We love our staff,’ Robyn

already, on this mid-November afternoon, in

tells me, ‘and they, in turn, love their work.’ It

full swing.

certainly shows.

Robyn and Alysha guide me from the room

As our tour continues, Robyn and Alysha

where we’ve been chatting to an equally

usher me down a hallway into what used to

be the former restaurant’s kitchen. In place

As the three of us walk back through the

of cooks and knives and French cuisine, a

business to the front door where I will bid

handful of Sunday Blooms staff clip and

Robyn and Alysha adieu, I note that the

prune and arrange what look to be hundreds

place is still animated with patrons. And I’m

(if not thousands) of flowers into whimsical

filled with happiness. For Robyn and Alysha’s

arrangements. ‘This is the heart of the floral

successes, of course. But even more so for

side of the business,’ Robyn tells me. ‘While

the fact that folks like ‘Rob’ and ‘Al’ still exist –

we sell floral arrangements out of the store,’

filled with passion and willing to spend time

she continues, ‘we also make sure to serve

and money to create physical spaces where

the boutique wedding market too.’ And

people can gather, and learn, and buy cool

fulfill monthly floral subscriptions. And daily

stuff for themselves and their friends and

deliveries. ‘We also organize floral workshops,’

families. When I tell them how I feel, Robyn

Robyn adds. As if there’s any more time in

comes back to what she told me initially: ‘We

a day. Further along the hallway and out a

really just wanted to create a space where we’d

back door, Robyn and Alysha guide me onto

love whiling away our afternoons.’ Turning

the Sunday Blooms back patio – perhaps its

daydreams into reality. For these two. And for

most spectacular asset. Cradled between

all of us too

century-old buildings and (in warmer months)

shaded by mature trees, the space is like some secret garden. ‘We’re actually in the midst of transforming the patio into an outdoor holiday market,’ Alysha tells me, adding: ‘It should be up and running by the time your magazine comes out.’ Readers pay heed.

SUNDAY BLOOMS 214 WOOLWICH ST, GUELPH ON

shopsundayblooms.com

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#PHOTOSPREAD

He r i t a g e M e r i no W o o l T o q u e s

R ed Win g Ho r s e ha i r Bo o t Br u sh

Re d W i n g B o o t O i l

HANDCRAFTING YOUR INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO MEANS UNDERSTANDING THE STORIES

100

Over the years I’ve found that some clients want a high level of detail when it comes to their investments, while others just want to know if their portfolio is performing to their expectations. There’s nothing wrong with either approach, and it’s my job to know the ins and outs of the client’s holdings. But at the same time, I always encourage clients who don’t have much interest in the investment world to listen to the story, as it’s often more interesting than they expect. Our team has spent countless hours doing market research, meeting with fund managers, and combining our best ideas to build diversified investment portfolios. Income, equity, and hedge fund managers are all integral parts of the equation. We build strong relationships with our fund managers through regular update meetings and have been investing with most of them for many years. Before we choose to work with a new fund manager, we complete thorough due diligence: performance, returns, fees, and fund structure are vital in our reviews—and so are their stories.

519-827-2903

Monica Mazun | Monica.Mazun@RichardsonWealth.com

EXPERT OPINION | INVESTMENT

BY MONICA MAZUN

For example, learning that a mortgage manager is lending to builders constructing housing for thousands of employees at a new distribution center for a major corporation can help you understand how this particular manager takes a conservative approach to their investing, thereby protecting your return. Or perhaps you’re nervous about investing in hedge funds, so knowing that you’re investing in Canada’s oldest and

largest hedge fund company with a solid record of success brings you comfort. Our goal is to make sure we’re optimizing our clients’ returns while minimizing risk. This can mean also adding individual stocks or bonds to balance out your portfolio. As with the fund managers, we ensure that we have a clear picture of the story behind those investments. And of course, there are the stories that involve you. We’ve all heard tales such as “I bought my first Tesla using profits from my Tesla stocks” and although that might be an extreme example, there’s nothing wrong with investing in companies that you like or find interesting, as long as you do your research first (or let us do it for you!). Or maybe you think you don’t want to invest in any oil companies, which is fair enough. But what if one of those oil companies has great ideas and plans in place for renewable energy? That’s where knowing the full story is important. Letting your advisor discover your full story is key to ensuring the portfolio we’ve built works for you. Add in a solid financial plan, insurance solutions, and efficient tax strategies, and you’ll be well on your way to meeting your financial goals, while also understanding how your portfolio was crafted especially for you. All material has been prepared by Monica Mazun, who is an Associate Investment Advisor with the Mactaggart Hryn Team at Richardson Wealth Limited. The opinions expressed in this report are the opinions of the author and readers should not assume they reflect the opinions or recommendations of Richardson Wealth Limited or its affiliates. Richardson Wealth Limited, Member Canadian Investor Protection Fund. Richardson Wealth is a trademark of James Richardson & Sons Limited, used under license.

Successful Renovations Built On Teamwork.

519-664-2245 mennosmartin.com

#SPO TL I GH T

The Bookshelf founders Barb & Doug Minett; current co-owners of The Bookshelf Ben & Steph Minett, and Hannah Minett

102

FIFTY YEARS OF THE BOOKSHELF IN GUELPH WORDS BY CHRIS TIESSEN & THE MINETTS; PHOTOS BY CHRIS TIESSEN

WHEN I WAS ABOUT TEN YEARS OLD, MY PARENTS WOULD SEMI-REGULARLY DRIVE MY OLDER BROTHER, MATT, AND ME FROM OUR HOME IN KITCHENER TO THE BOOKSHELF IN DOWNTOWN GUELPH FOR A TREAT – DINNER AND BOOK BROWSING. MY ALL-TIME FAVOURITE PART OF THESE FAMILY EXCURSIONS WAS THE GAP BETWEEN WHEN WE ORDERED OUR FOOD AND WHEN IT ARRIVED AT OUR TABLE. THAT'S WHEN MATT AND I WOULD GET TO BROWSE THE STACKS TO CHECK OUT THE NEW ARRIVALS. MATT WOULD BEELINE TO THE ASTERIX BOOKS, WHILE I WOULD SCOUR THE BOOKSHELF’S COLLECTION OF TINTIN COMICS. FAST FORWARD THIRTY-FIVE YEARS AND I STILL LOVE MAKING MY WAY THROUGH THE BOOKSHELF STACKS – TO TREAT MYSELF OR TO CHOOSE A BOOK OR TWO FOR MY OWN KIDS. MY STORY IS FAR FROM UNIQUE. INDEED, THE BOOKSHELF AND ITS VARIOUS ADJACENT RESTAURANTS HAVE BEEN A TREAT FOR TENS (IF NOT HUNDREDS) OF THOUSANDS OF FOLKS OVER ITS FIFTY-YEAR LIFESPAN. AS WE HELP TO CELEBRATE A HALF CENTURY OF THE REMARKABLE ROYAL CITY HUB THAT KEEPS US ALL READING, WE’RE KEEN TO TAKE A RETROSPECTIVE LOOK BACK AT SOME OF THE BOOKSHELF MILESTONES OVER THE YEARS:

‘CONGRATULATIONS TO THE BOOKSHELF – AN ICONIC BOOKSTORE THAT HAS ALWAYS SET A HIGH EXAMPLE FOR CUSTOMER-FOCUSED INDIE BOOK SELLING. HERE’S TO ANOTHER FIFTY YEARS!’ -MARGARET ATWOOD (POET, NOVELIST, LITERARY CRITIC, ESSAYIST)

103

THE BOOKSHELF 41 QUEBEC ST, GUELPH ON

bookshelf.ca

illustration: Cai Sepulis

@caisepulis

BOOKSHELF

BOOKS • FILM • MUSIC • FOOD

1975 1973

1980

1988 1989

JUNE 1, 1980 MAY 4, 1973 Two twenty-three-year-olds, Barb and Doug Minett, open The Bookshelf in Guelph after being told by publishers that they were crazy – that Guelph had enough bookstores. ‘I was a teacher who didn’t want to be a teacher, and Doug was a student who didn’t really want to be a student,’ Barb recalls years later. The bookstore opens on Macdonell Street and is soon discovered by readers of all kinds – from university students to citizens craving stories and stimulation that only books can provide, and everyone in between. The new owners are so naïve about retail that they close between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, oblivious to the fact that this is one of the busiest times of year for selling books.

During the period when Eaton’s moves out of Downtown and the Stone Road Mall begins to lure people away from the center of Guelph, The Bookshelf decides to give people a reason to keep coming downtown by opening the first combined bookstore and café in Canada – at the business’ present location on Quebec Street. When the University of Guelph asks The Bookshelf to partner with them on a course called ‘Dinner with an Author,’ The Bookshelf is given its first (and only) opportunity to host an event with the very private Alice Munro.

JUNE 5, 1975 The Bookshelf moves onto upper Wyndham Street to where Acqua Salon stands now. Main streets really matter in the seventies, and this is a bookstore committed to building strong connections to the community. In fact, when The Bookshelf changes location, many of its already devoted customers help with the move.

JULY 1, 1989 The Bookshelf begins publishing its own bi-monthly rag, ‘Off The Shelf,’ which instantly becomes a hit across the Guelph community. With cinema listings, book reviews, literary essays and more, this print publication keeps fans of The Bookshelf up to date.

JULY 1, 1988 After eight years of enjoying life as a bookstore café, The Bookshelf makes plans to begin screening films, and adds a second floor to house the new cinema. During construction the place never closes – not even when rain threatens to breach the building. Bookshelves are covered in plastic and there are bus bins everywhere. The first screening at The Bookshelf cinema is Jean de Florette, which plays from Friday, July 15 to Sunday, July 17. The Bookshelf is now the only bookstore, café, bar, and cinema in the world.

1997

2000

JULY 3, 1997 The Bookshelf partners with Bell Media to become the first bookstore in Canada to sell books on the internet. The owners realize almost right away that a little startup called Amazon will soon become an impossible competitor. The Bookshelf technical team goes on to head Booknet Canada and Kobo.

2008

2004

2003

DECEMBER 2, 2003 The Bookshelf hosts Ann-Marie Macdonald for the release of her book, ‘The Way the Crow Flies’, at Chalmers United Church.

JUNE 8, 2008 The Bookshelf hosts a noteworthy reading event in celebration of its thirty-fifth anniversary. Guelph author Tom King interviews Salman Rushdie about his new book, ‘The Enchantress of Florence’, at St. George’s Church. Rushdie grants only two Canadian interviews; this is one of them.

JUNE 14, 2004 The Bookshelf hosts Gabor Mate for his new book, ‘Hold on to your Kids’, in The Bookshelf Cinema.

MARCH 1, 2000 The great leap sideways. The Bookshelf expands into 37 Quebec Street (the building next door), opens The ebar and Bistro, and begins to host what will turn out to be thousands of events over the next twenty years – including book readings, burlesque and drag shows, and performances in many genres of music.

‘CONGRATULATIONS THE BOOKSHELF!! FIFTY YEARS IS INCREDIBLE, SMALL BUSINESSES MAKE THE WORLD GO ROUND, VERY HAPPY TO SEE YOU THRIVING; FIFTY MORE YEARS, LET’S GO!’ -MATTY MATHESON (CHEF, RESTAURANTEUR, ACTOR, COOKBOOK AUTHOR)

2013 MARCH 1, 2013 After nearly forty years in the business, Barb and Doug Minett officially retire from their roles as owners of The Bookshelf. Barb and Doug’s son, Ben, and daughter, Hannah, along with Ben’s wife, Steph, carry the mantle as new co-owners of Guelph’s beloved bookstore and cinema. As Ben remarks of that time: ‘I had feelings of determination and responsibility to keep what I believe to be an important ‘third space’ alive and activated in our community.’

NOVEMBER 27, 2013 The Bookshelf celebrates its fortieth anniversary, prompting Doug Minett to remark that ‘more than two thousand people have worked here over the years. They’ve ended up in all sorts of walks of life.’ The Bookshelf, alongside The University of Guelph’s Café Philosophique, hosts Margaret Atwood at War Memorial Hall. Atwood reads from her (then) most recent book, ‘Maddaddam’, and discussses her vision of the future.

2014 NOVEMBER 22, 2014 The Bookshelf holds a fundraising event in The eBar to help stop Ebola. Special guests include Dr. James Orbinski, former head of Doctors Without Borders and a regular Bookshelf customer, who speaks at the event about Ebola and the importance of being a global citizen. Other special guests include R&B/ Soul artist Joni Nehrita and drummer/percussionist Adam Bowman. The event raises thirty thousand dollars with all proceeds going to Médecins Sans Frontières.

‘BOOKSTORES ARE STIMULATING, COMFORTING, MAGICAL PLACES – HUBS OF KNOWLEDGE AND CONNECTION, OF JOY AND WISDOM. AND FEW BOOKSELLERS HAVE BEEN BETTER AT FULFILLING EVERYTHING A BOOKSTORE CAN BE FOR THEIR COMMUNITY THAN THE MINETTS OF GUELPH. BLESS EVERY ONE OF YOU, AND ALL THE PEOPLE WHO WORK AT THE BOOKSHELF EVERY DAY TO MAKE IT JUST SUCH A FULLY SATISFYING EXPRESSION OF THE ULTIMATE BOOKSTORE.’ -ANNE COLLINS (VICE-PRESIDENT, PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE CANADA)

2018

2020 2019

2023

2019-2020 #Elevate Guelph! Friends of The Bookshelf, a group formed to raise the money needed to make all areas of The Bookshelf accessible to everyone, raises nearly one hundred thousand dollars through private donations, and – with The Bookshelf owners investing a substantial sum of their own – enables the installation of an elevator. The cinema lobby moves location to allow for full accessibility to the cinema and event spaces on the upper level.

2018-2019 The Bookshelf hosts over one hundred book events – the most in a single year in its history. Authors hosted include investigative journalist Robyn Doolittle, author of ‘Crazy Town: The Rob Ford Story’; nature writer Adam Shoalts, called ‘Canada's Indiana Jones’ by the Toronto Star; and Michael McCreary, autistic comedian, actor, author, and TEDX speaker.

DECEMBER 3, 2023 The Bookshelf, now fifty years young, continues to serve as Guelph’s downtown hub for books, movies, and community. And there’s no slowing down in sight. When’s the last time you paid this gift to our region a visit? Make the time. I bet you’ll find something worth reading.

MARCH 24, 2020 Less than a month after the completion of the elevator project The Bookshelf is required by law to close the Cinema and Ebar spaces due to COVID restrictions and lockdowns. The Bookshelf launches its new webstore and begins offering curbside pickup and free same-day shipping in Guelph. With a building license to sell wine in the cinema, The Bookshelf begins to carry wines from Niagara-based vintner Organized Crime as well as some small boutique Italian wineries. Books and wine – what a combo. During the first week of the pandemic alone The Bookshelf hand-delivers hundreds of books, games, and wine to homes in Guelph. They will go on to deliver and ship over twenty thousand online orders to customers within Guelph and beyond.

‘THE BOOKSHELF, THE BOOKSHELF, THE BOOKSHELF. THAT SAYS IT ALL.’ -TOM KING (NOVELIST, SHORT STORY WRITER, PHOTOGRAPHER)

GETTING TO KNOW: FLOW STATE BIKE CO

Nate Lessnick

INTERVIEW WITH NATE LESSNICK BY CHRIS TIESSEN; PHOTOS BY CHRIS TIESSEN

I’ M A S U CKER FOR A BI K E SH OP. AN D WH ILE J U ST AB OU T AN Y SH OP WILL DO, S O ME A RE COOLER TH AN OTH ER S. E N T E R F LOW ST AT E B IKE C O – T H E B R AIN C H I L D O F L O CA L GEARH EAD NATE LESSN ICK. LOCAT E D AT T H E M AIN IN T E R SE C T ION IN T HE T INY H AMLET OF ARK ELL, NE AR ST AR KE Y H ILL C ON SE R VAT ION AR E A, T H IS B O U T IQ U E BUSI NESS I S SURE TO AP P E AL T O C Y C LIST S AN D N ON -CY C LIST S ALIK E . IT ’ S GO T GREAT KI T AND A FULL-SE R VIC E M E CH , OF C OU R SE . B U T ALSO A COF F E E 108 108 108

B A R, FRO TH Y BEER (I N BOTTLES AN D ON T AP ) , H OT F OOD AN D COLD SN AC KS, A N D 108 A CO ZY S EATI NG AREA. SETTLE I N H E R E AN D WAT CH GN AR LY B IKE F ILM S, P E R US E CY CL ING M AGAZI NES, OR TAK E A SE AT AT T H E C OM F Y B AR AN D WAT C H Y OU R BI K E B E ING S E RVI CED W H I LE YOU ENJ OY A P IN T AN D SAU SAGE R OLL. SOM E T IM E T H I S FA L L , I S AT DOW N WI TH NATE TO C H AT AB OU T T H IS SWE E T H AVE N OF COOL. HE RE ’ S WHAT H E TOLD ME:

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THIS PLACE, FLOW STATE BIKE CO?

CAN YOU ELABORATE A BIT MORE ABOUT THE SHOP’S ‘RAISON D’ÊTRE’?

I like to think of Flow State as your friendly

For many folks, bike shops can be intimidating spaces.

neighbourhood coffee bar, ice cream parlour, local

I designed Flow State to bring all the appeal of a coffee

pub, full-service bike shop, and community hub – all

bar — the aroma, the aesthetic, and, most importantly,

wrapped into one. The idea for Flow State stemmed

the welcoming vibes — and blend it with all the

from my travels with Sacred Rides Mountain Bike

offerings of a boutique bike shop. As a passionate

Adventures, where I worked for eight years prior to the

cyclist, I’m always looking for bike shops where I can

pandemic. I remember one particular bike shop in New

just hang out: meet with friends, go on a date, bring

Zealand where people would stop in to chat with the

my kiddos. Since I was never able to find one anywhere

mechanic, or to grab a flat white, or to get comfortable

close by, I decided to create it. But I can't take any credit

on the patio for a pint and a meat pie. That place had

for coming up with the bike café concept – it's all over

such a wonderful community vibe that went far beyond

Europe. For some reason, it just hasn't fully caught on

the sale of bikes. This is what we're all about here at

here – until now.

Flow State.

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housed Union Market – a quaint grocer-meets-bistro

AS I’M SURE ALL CYCLISTS WILL WANT TO KNOW: WHAT BRANDS DO YOU CURRENTLY CARRY?

where I’d come for a beer and a bite after riding

We focus on brands that we feel are underrepresented

the nearby trails at Arkell Springs or hiking the loop

west of the GTA. For bikes, we currently carry Kona,

at Starkey Hill. When I learned that the space was

Santa Cruz, Juliana, and Ibis. We're excited to be

becoming vacant, I hopped on the opportunity. The

bringing in Rocky Mountain this winter to round out

building has a cozy country vibe, and the riding –

our offering. When it comes to bike gear, we carry POC,

including mountain, gravel, and road – can’t get much

Evoc, Troy Lee Designs, OneUp Components, Race Face,

closer. Moreover, the growing demand for bikes and

Giro, Bell, and more.

WHY CHOOSE ARKELL AS YOUR LOCATION? Before I opened Flow State, the building we’re in now

service — and the fact that the booming south end of Guelph didn't have a bike shop — definitely helped solidify my decision to take the plunge.

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AND THE ‘FOOD & DRINK’ SIDE OF THE BUSINESS – HOW DOES THAT WORK?

Royal Recreation Trail from the shop all the way to Guelph

We have a large fridge where we carry a variety of

Eramosa and Speed Rivers. and the great thing is that

refreshments — juices, kombuchas, sports drinks, beer,

we're also close to many other amazing trail systems such

and non-alcoholic beverages. We also offer grab-and-go

as Twin Ponds [Puslinch], the Hydrocut [Kitchener], the

sandwiches, salads, soups, chilis, and paninis, as well as

Agreement Forest [Halton], and Kelso [Milton]. I've been

sausage rolls through the colder months. On top of this,

fortunate to cycle in many places around the globe and

we have a variety of baked goods — muffins, tarts, banana

I still can't get enough of the incredible variety we have

breads, brownies — to pair with our coffee bar menu

access to right here in our own backyard.

supplied by Guelph’s Lost Aviator Coffee. We have Fixed Gear brew on tap, Burning Kiln wines by the glass, twelve flavours of Kawartha Dairy ice cream, and Laza Ice pops. Really, there’s something tasty for pretty much everyone.

Lake. There are some super fun and scenic bits along the

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE ABOUT FLOW STATE THAT YOU’D LIKE OUR READERS TO KNOW? For sure. Over the past year, we’ve hosted a number of

HOW HAS THE SHOP BEEN RECEIVED BY THE COMMUNITY? DO YOU GET FOLKS IN WHO AREN'T CYCLISTS?

cycling-themed movie screenings and guest speaker talks

You bet. Since we opened last fall, it's clear that there is a

business, bring the community together, and raise funds

large demand for this type of community-oriented shop.

for local clubs and organizations that we support such as

On weekends, we get large groups of cyclists coming from

GCAT, GORBA, and the Guelph Cycling Club. In the future

Milton, Burlington, Oakville and elsewhere who use the

we plan on hosting bike maintenance workshops, bike

shop as a halfway point to fuel up and caffeinate. And on

skills lessons, and possibly even adding a fleet of rental

weekdays, we get lots of local visitors coming in for coffee,

bikes. The best way to find out about upcoming events

lunch, ice cream, a bike tune-up, or just to chat.

is by signing up for our newsletter and following us on

YOUR SHOP ISN’T FAR FROM GLORIOUS TRAIL NETWORKS – WHAT ARE A FEW OF YOUR FAVES? I love the work that GORBA [the Guelph Off Road Biking Association] has done at Arkell Springs and Guelph Lake.

– both of which we’ll continue offering. In October we held our inaugural ‘Flow Fest’ as a way to celebrate one year in

social media. At the end of the day, we think that bikes are an incredibly positive force for good in the world, and

we want more people to experience that state of ‘flow’. Whether you’re a cyclist or not, there’s something for everyone at Flow State

‘Ridgeback’, ‘Esker’, ‘Fight Club’ and ‘Phoenix’ are among my current personal favourite trails in the area. I also love taking my gravel bike on the Guelph Radial Line and the

FLOW STATE BIKE CO 599 ARKELL RD, ARKELL ON

flowstatebikeco.com

ST J AC OBS F ARM E R S ’ M A R K E T :

JUST RIGHT FOR THE HOLIDAYS PREAMBLE & PHOTOS BY CHRIS TIESSEN

WHETHER YOU’RE HOSTING FRIENDS & FAMILY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON OR LOOKING FOR THAT PERFECT GIFT FOR FOLKS WHO MIGHT BE HOSTING YOU, THE EXPANSIVE AND INTERNATIONALLY-ACCLAIMED ST JACOBS FARMERS’ MARKET IS YOUR ONESTOP DESTINATION FOR HANDCRAFTED GOODNESS. FROM POTTERY, JEWELRY, WOOD OR FABRIC ARTS TO ARTISANAL MEATS & CHEESES, BAKED GOODS, REGIONAL CRAFT BREW, AND SO MUCH MORE, THE MARKET HAS WHAT YOU NEED TO RING IN THE SEASON. MAKE THE TRIP. BECAUSE THE ST JACOBS FARMERS' MARKET IS JUST PLAIN AWESOME.

Watercolour Print Pillows, Table Runners & More, Layne Palmer Design (2nd floor, Market Building)

Charcuterie Boards, Minto Woodcraft (Market Tent)

Custom Glass Plant Hanger, Open Green Art Glass (Peddler’s Village)

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Bath Bombs, Vox Populi Hemp Apothecary (Peddler’s Village)

Summer Sausage, Kitchen Kuttings (Main floor, Market Building)

Honeycomb Products, Cedarwood Honey (Main floor, Market Building)

Pickled Products, Country Style Products (Main floor, Market Building)

Confections, Olde Tyme Kettle Kitchen (Main floor, Market Building)

Handcrafted Writing Instruments, Koka-Bora (2nd floor, Market Building)

Montreal-style Bagels, Artisan Breads (Main floor, Market Building)

Assorted Cheeses, Meadow Song Farms (Main floor, Market Building)

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Assorted pottery, Pavlo Pottery (2nd floor, Market Building)

Pork Bacon, Finest Meat and Sausage (Main floor, Market Building)

Man go Ga r lic C h u t n e y Countr y S t y l e P r o duc t s C h or iz o Sm o k e d Saus ag e Fi nes t S aus ag e and Me a t L td

Go at’ s Milk Ag ed Go uda Me a do w So ng F a rms

Bag u e tte A r tisan B r eads C hees e Ball Kitc he n Kuttings Inc

Bar Nuts Olde Tyme Kettl e Ki tchen

Pickled B aby Corn Kitc he n Kutti ngs I nc 117 S h e e p ’s C h e d d a r Mea do w S o ng Far m s H o neycomb C e darwood Honey

Su mm e r Sau sage K itch e n Kuttings Inc

L achs s chinken F ine st Sa us a ge a nd Me a t L td

C h ee s e Cu rds Me a d ow Song Far m s

Apple C hutney C o untry Style P ro duc ts

Se r v in g Bo a rd M i nt o Wo o dcra ft

IP A Be e r S t o c k y ar ds Bev er ag e C o .

C apico la F ine s t Sa usage and Meat Ltd

ST JACOBS FARMERS' MARKET 878 WEBER ST N, WOOLWICH ON

stjacobsmarket.com

Holiday Happenings at the

NOVE MBER 17, 24, & DEC E MBE Sip n’ Sh op Nigh R 1 t Marke t NOVE MBER 17 - 26 Market Road

Store W ide

Antiq Black Fr ues iday Sal e

NOVE

MBER Holiday 18 Wreath Worksh op DECEM B Storytim ER 9 & 16 e with S anta ST

For Ti

ckets and Inform ation v J A C O B isit: S MARK

E T. C O

MEET YOUR MAKER

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TREVOR CLARE

‘ N EO- N OS T A L G I A . ’ I T ’S H OW KI T C H EN ER - B ASED

trevorclareart

AR T I S T T R EV O R C L A R E C A T EG O R I Z ES H I S STYL E

M OS T I M PO R TA N T TO O L? My iPad (hardware) & Procreate (software) W H Y L E AN IN TO N O S TA LG I A ? Because it strikes a common

O F W OR K. I T ’S H A R D T O D I S A G R EE. F O R WHI L E T REV OR ’S P I EC ES A R E C R EA T ED D I G I T A L L Y USI NG P RO C R EA T E A N D S H A R ED V I A S OC I A L S , T HEY LO O K D O W N R I G H T P A I N T ER L Y – A S T H O UG H

emotional chord with everyone

T HEY M I G H T H A V E B EEN C R A F T ED U S I N G O I L S

W H AT ’ S YOU R F A V O U R I TE

O N C A N V A S . A N D T H EI R S U B J EC T M A T T ER –

RE GI ONAL LA N DMA R K ?

K I T C H EN ER - W A T ER L O O L A N D M A R KS I N C LUDI NG

The Schneider’s sign – it’s our ‘welcome home’ beacon

E T H EL ’S , T H E A U D , T H E F A MO U S S C H N EI DER’S

A C OU PL E L A N DM A R K S T H A T

S I G N , A N D M OR E – EV O KE F EEL I N G S O F

M I GH T M AK E I T I N T O A

S E N T I MEN T A L I S M. N EO- A N D N OS T A L G I C, THEN.

‘V OL U M E 2’ ? City Café Bakery, the Kitchener

T HI S N O V EM B ER T R EV O R P U B L I S H ED A CO F F EE

Farmers’ Market, Slices

T A B L E A R T B O O K, ‘T H E A R T OF N O S T A L G IA,’

Restaurant & KW Surplus B E S T N OS T A L G I C S P O T TO G RAB A D RI N K I N K - W? Ethel’s Lounge – free ice!

S HO W C A S I N G T W EN T Y - F I V E OF H I S F A N T ASTI C WOR KS A L O N G S I D E W H I M S I C A L ED I T OR I A L B I TS P A I R ED W I T H EA C H P I EC E. T H E P ER F EC T G I F T F O R UN D ER A N Y C H R I S T M A S T R EE.

TREVORCLAREART

ANAT O MY O F A B R A N D :

ST U DI O C A N UK DESIGNER: CAI SEPULIS, TOQUE LTD

IT WAS EXCITING FOR TOQUE TO BE INVITED TO WORK WITH UPSCALE FURNITURE DESIGNER BALA NAGOTHU TO CREATE SOME INITIAL BRANDING FOR HIS NEW PROJECT AT STUD IO CANUK – AN INITIATIVE ROOTED IN HIS DESIRE TO ENHANCE AND ELEVATE THE MUSKOKA CHAIR WITH ELEGANT LINES AND VIBRANT COLOURS. WE WANTED TO CREATE A PLAYFUL LOGO THAT IS CHOCK-FULL OF COLOUR AND CANADIANA APPEAL WHILE IT INVOKES, ALSO, THE MUSKOKA CHAIR'S SIMPLICITY AND STACKABILITY. WE PROVIDED INSTRUCTIONAL ILLUSTRATIONS FOR HOW THE PIECES ARE ASSEMBLED AND STAGED SOME PHOTOGRAPHY THAT REVEALS HOW THESE BRILLIANT, PLAYFUL, AND ELE GANT PIECES ARE SURE TO CONJURE UP EVERYONE’S LOVE OF SPENDING DAYS OUTDOORS AROUND THE COTTAGE, FARM, OR DECK.

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COLOUR PALETTE SUGGESTIONS

126 ST C

HARL

ES ST

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TH E OBJ EKT S F AR M H O U S E :

Z IG RD

A SHOWROOM OF EUROPEAN ANTIQUE CURIOSITIES WORDS BY DANI KUEPFER; PHOTOS BY CHRIS TIESSEN

BRESLAU

Just a few country blocks from the Kitchener

reveal layers of green paint: a deep pine, and

city limits there’s an old farmhouse that sits on

behind it, a more subtle moss. Soft light pours

a small plot of land tucked into a bend in the

in from the windows and bounces off an array

road. Its sun-faded siding and concrete front

of antique copper pots strung from hooks on

porch are entirely unremarkable, and had I

the wall. Solid wood cupboards, their doors

not been looking for the fire number, I would

removed, span to the ceiling and showcase

have surely passed it by. Another modest,

a small army of bygone ironstone pitchers,

windswept country home amongst the tattered

every one of them slightly different from the

cornfields. The home’s owner, Atta, greets me

others. Across the room, framed in ornately-

on the gravel drive and – in a colloquial gesture

carved solid wood painted gold some time ago,

that reminds me of visiting my grandmother’s

a sullen man seems to look through me with

farmhouse – invites me in a side door that

soulful eyes. Beside this austere centuries-old

steps into a fabulous (though not in the way

oil portrait, a cluster of heirloom porcelain

you might imagine) kitchen.

serving dishes are mounted to the wall. One in particular catches my eye: it is mounted

All along the walls and spreading across the

backwards and, upon closer inspection, I

ceiling like watercolours seeping across a page,

see several large metal staples sunk into its

patches of stone-coloured plaster crumble to

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Objekts owner Atta-Ul Ghaffar with a whimsical piece from his collection

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porcelain flesh, across the crack that bisects

well as in the solid wood dough bowls, detailed

its body. There's a story here, I think to myself,

ironstone platters, and earthenware crocks:

and begin a mental list of questions I will put

everyday handcrafted goods passed down

to the curator of this spectacular, eclectic

through European families.

array. Atta wasn’t always in the business of antiques: Atta-Ul Ghaffar is a purveyer of antiques,

his career as an engineer often took him to

curiosities, and handcrafted goods – what he

Europe for work (and, perhaps, contributed

calls 'European flea market finds.' His foray

to refining his eye for quality design). After

into the antique world was born out of the

spending weeks in an English-speaking office

pursuit of affordability: with a growing family,

in Germany during one of these trips, he set

he began buying used furniture to repair,

off on a hunt for more authentic experiences

refinish, and reupholster. But in the process of

of the local culture. What better places to visit,

stripping back those sturdy, classic pieces en

he thought, than flea markets? Over the course

route to a modern update, he was drawn to

of many trips, Atta acquired a significant

something he hadn't anticipated: developing

collection of centuries-old souvenirs (while

a business in antiques: Objekts.ca. Atta sells

becoming fluent in the German language).

his growing collection of everyday relics

Many of the items he collected on those trips

internationally through the Objekts online

to European flea markets are here, in this

shop, and locally out of this two-hundred-

house, all around us.

year-old house – the Objekts showroom – that Atta has curated in the vision of a Victorian-

‘To me, the beauty is in the workmanship,’ Atta

era French farmhouse. The house’s modest

tells me as he gestures to a deconstructed

history is revealed in the grooves worn into the

armchair, its upholstery removed to reveal

floorboards, for example, where generations

a sturdy wooden frame fit seamlessly

of women stood over a wood-fired stove, as

together, its edges sanded into smooth

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TOQUE writer Dani Kuepfer with Atta in the Objects farmhouse kitchen

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curves with diverse bits of fabric still clinging

something – erm, straighter? ‘The stairs are

to a scattering of staples. ‘The hand-scrawled

crooked,’ Atta points out, and I can see where

notes from the woodworker, the perfect

the sturdy wooden steps have been worn from

fit of the pieces, the evidence of multiple

lifetimes of stepping, stomping, bouncing, and

reupholsterings remind us that it was built by

tiptoeing up and down. Originally built in the

hand well over a hundred years ago – and has

1840s, the house had served as the home of

lived many lives since.’ Atta’s search for pieces

another collector over the past fifty years or

that have survived and will continue to stand

so. Now, as a sort of period showroom, its

the test of time brought him to items that were

rooms are filled once more with centuries-

traditionally crafted by hand – often more than

old curiosities, relics Atta has collected over

once, as they were repaired or reimagined

decades from Germany, France, Eastern

over the years, like the stapled plate.

Europe – and even Wellington County.

As Atta’s collection of antiques grew, so did the

Atta and his wife and their four daughters

need to acquire a space to store the artefacts –

visit the house often, enjoying it in its

and to show them, too. When, a few years ago,

original design: a place to gather and enjoy

the old farmhouse tucked into a bend in the

beautiful meals, celebrations, conversation.

road near Kitchener – the house I'm touring

Deep window sills invite daylight to illumine

now – went up for sale, Atta knew he had the

juxtaposed stacks of dishware that now dress

perfect place for his overflowing cache. ‘We

the long table lined by half a dozen chairs

were lucky enough to save it,’ Atta says, and

similar in their sturdy stature but differing

I agree. From the road, some might say the

from each other in their silhouette and the

house is begging to be torn down and replaced

weave of their seats. A long bench is dressed

with something newer, something bigger,

in plump pillows made of French postal sacks

stamped with bygone dates. The scene is perfect. I feel as if I am standing in a painting – everything around me tactile and ethereal at the same time. But the home is not merely an art exhibit; even though it is not regularly inhabited, it is meant to be enjoyed and Atta is always open to renting it out. The dining room, Atta tells me, recently played host to a tea party organized by a group of old friends looking for an intimate place to reconnect. The living room, its parlor couch poised in front of a wall of dried and mounted botanicals (also known as ‘herbaria’, the artful result of some Victorian children’s science projects), has been the backdrop of wedding photos and product shots alike. The light that falls into the summer kitchen (an accessory room where cooking, bathing, and laundering was traditionally relegated to in the warmer months) sends a tingle down my spine, and I know: boudoir photographer Julia Busato has definitely been here.

131

‘We don’t buy antiques to let them collect dust on a shelf. By using them in everyday life, that is how we appreciate them,’ Atta says, a nod to the function of this incredible showroom, but more so in reference to the individual pieces that make it up. Pieces that were crafted by hand and outlived their own creators. Pieces that have stood the test of time, connecting us to generations of mothers and sons and aunties and grandads who used and repaired and reused them day in and day out. In a world that increasingly asks us to buy more and more new, and to forget what came before, we have in Atta's Objekts a reminder that not everything was built to be ephemeral. We'd do well to acknowledge that historical artefacts that carry both the glow and the wounds of their ongoing

physical existence offer evocative and valuable prompts to memory, nostalgia, and inspiration

OBJEKTS.CA BY APPOINTMENT, 1536 SPITZIG RD, BRESLAU ON

Objekts.ca

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If you want your printed material to look & feel as nice as this copy of TOQUE MAGAZINE, contact James. james@ampersand.ca | 519-515-0053 | ampersand.ca

SHOP STRATFORD THIS SEASON Discover Stratford’s iconic streets while shopping local boutiques. VisitStratford.ca

Don’t miss the Christmas Trail!

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Monumental On view until January 14, 2024

Celebrating our 30th anniversary with works from the Permanent Collection. Supported by

FREE ADMISSION

Julie Moon, Wavy Blue Bromeliad, 2019/2022. Porcelaneous stoneware, glaze. Purchased with the support of the Elizabeth L. Gordon Art Program, a program of the Gordon Foundation and administered by the Ontario Arts Foundation.

Gallery Hours Tuesday to Friday 11 am to 6 pm • Saturday 10 am to 5 pm • Sunday 1 to 5 pm 25 Caroline Street North, Waterloo, ON, N2L 2Y5 •519-746-1882

theclayandglass.ca

#SNAPS H OT GETTING AN INSIDE LOOK AT PARAMOUNT SKIS BIKES BOARDS – WHERE THERE’S NO OFF-SEASON PREAMBLE AND PHOTOS BY CHRIS TIESSEN

IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR WHEN MOST OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS HANG THEIR BIKES IN THE GARAGE OR SET THEM ON SPINNERS FOR WINTER TRAINING IN FAVOUR OF SKIS AND BOARDS FOR A SEASON OF SNOWY FUN. (FAT BIKERS ARE ANOTHER STORY.) AND WHILE THIS MEANS THAT BIKE SHOPS ARE SLOWING DOWN FOR THE YEAR AND SKI AND BOARD SHOPS ARE RAMPING UP, AT PARAMOUNT SKIS BIKES BOARDS THE ACTION NEVER STOPS. AS THE NAME IMPLIES, PARAMOUNT IS YOUR ONE-STOP, TWELVE-MONTH SPORTS SHOP THAT CAN HANDLE ALL OF YOUR SKI, BIKE, AND BOARD NEEDS. IT’S WHERE YOU CAN FIND KILLER KIT, AND HAVE IT SERVICED TOO. YOUR BIKE NEEDS MAINTENANCE? PARAMOUNT’S GOT A FULL-SERVICE MECHANIC. YOUR SNOWBOARD AND/OR SKIS NEED WAXING? PARAMOUNT’S GOT THE TOOLS FOR THE JOB. STUFF JUST DOESN’T FIT RIGHT? PARAMOUNT HAS BIKE FIT SPECIALISTS AND PROFESSIONAL BOOT FITTERS, TOO. AND GET THIS: IF YOU ALREADY HAVE SKI BOOTS BUT THEY JUST DON’T FEEL RIGHT, PARAMOUNT WILL PUMP, PRESS, MOULD, GRIND AND BUMP PROBLEM AREAS TO GIVE YOU THAT PERFECT FIT – MEANING YOU’LL BE SHREDDING THE 134

GNAR IN COMFORT.

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Check out our new line of ski boots – featuring BOA Fit System technology with micro-adjustable precision fit. Lee, Paramount Owner

Our impressive clothing line-up – featuring pieces from Patagonia, Rab, Volcom, The North Face, and much more – will keep you warm and stylish this winter and beyond.

Cam, Assistant Manager

The most avid cyclists don’t let the snow stop them from riding – that’s why I’m busy wrenching all year round.

Kevin, Head Service Technician

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A CL EAR V I S I ON :

GH W AY 6

EXPERIENCING THE RE-INVIGORATED COX CREEK CELLARS WORDS & PHOTOS BY CHRIS TIESSEN

GUELPH

‘I think I spot the trailhead this way,’ Liz calls

wayfinder, I think to myself, recalling that this

to me from the edge of a tree-lined glade –

place’s proprietor – vintner Adrian Trochta –

anticipation in her voice. Our three-year-old

has twin daughters named Anna and Vivian.

husky, Ellie, and four-year-old malamute, Mot, pull at their leads – enthusiastically

Liz, Ellie, Mot, and I begin our way along the

‘encouraging’ her toward the entrance of

the picturesque route as autumn leaves – all

the route. Leaving behind the tasting room

iridescent yellows and oranges and reds – fall

and bottle shop that had lured me inside, I

softly from trees across our lines of vision

jog across the gravel parking lot toward this

and onto the ground. I hand Liz her rosé and

most photogenic threesome – juggling a tall

crack my can of cider. ‘This is going to be a fun

can of McQuade’s Black Current Cider in one

afternoon,’ I announce, raising my drink in the

hand, a neat stainless tumbler filled with

air. Ellie, in her element out here in this natural

‘non-alc’ rosé in the other, and my camera

habitat, lets out a spirited howl in agreement.

and lenses somewhere in between. When I

And down the trail we go.

catch up with Liz and the dogs they’ve arrived at the mouth of the footpath. I note a quaint

It’s a chilly Saturday afternoon in mid-October,

wooden sign nailed to a mature tree marking

and Liz and I (along with our dogs) are visiting

the way ahead: ‘Annaviv Trail’. An appropriate

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Cox Creek Cellars – a fifty-five-acre winery and cidery

We'll encounter and savour other innovative elements

located along the six between Guelph and Fergus. We

as our afternoon unfolds.

are looking forward to a relaxing (and relaxed) few hours of hiking, tasting, noshing, and fireside lounging. Our

‘We’re coming up to the end of the trail,’ I call back to

mission: to experience most everything that the latest

Liz as I navigate my way past thick brush and cross

incarnation of this idyllic spot has to offer. For while

the threshold of the dense forest (with its idyllic ponds

many folks around the region might be familiar with

and mossy logs and the remnants of what appears

Cox Creek as it existed when Adrian’s parents, Kamil

to be an old sugar shack) into an open field. We’ve

and Jerry Trochta, owned and operated the winery

been walking for about thirty minutes. Ahead of us,

since they opened it back in 1998, the place is almost

rows of black currant bushes (which find their way

unrecognizable in its current iteration under Adrian’s

into Cox Creek fruit wines and the aforementioned

ambitious vision. The ‘Annaviv Trail’, a two-kilometre

McQuade’s Black Currant Cider) stretch into the

route (to be extended at least another kilometre in

distance. Just beyond the black currants, raspberry

the future) which Cox Creek patrons are encouraged

bushes (also used for Cox Creek fruit wines) find space

to explore with a tumbler of wine, or a can of cider, or

in this flourishing landscape. And to our left, acres of

a dog or two, or loved ones, or, in our case, all of the

recently-planted grapevines stretch out across the

above, is just one small element of Adrian's fresh vision.

edge of the property. While Liz and the dogs beeline

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to the season’s few remaining raspberries, ripe

acres of planted grapevines on its property. So,

and ready for snacking, I make my way to the

in the past couple of years, Adrian and the Cox

acres of grapevines – for it’s the presence of

Creek team have set to work to plant acres of

these crops that most fully represent the new

Marquette grapes (and to re-vitalize the Baco

direction this winery is taking.

Noir vines that were first planted two decades ago by Adrian’s parents) for a current total of

You see, until recently the production of

just over ten acres of grapevines. And while

Ontario grapes wines was limited to three

these vineyards remain at least a few years

distinct regions: Niagara, Prince Edward

away from maturation (right now, the winery

County, and Lake Erie. For the better part of

produces its grape wines with Niagara-area

its existence, then, Cox Creek was by default

fruit, a common practice among all sizes of

forced to produce wines crafted solely

Ontario producers), their place on the land is

from fruits other than grapes: apples, black

an impactful visual cue signaling the winery's

currants, raspberries, strawberries, and more.

innovative momentum.

And while Cox Creek fruit wines have received their fair share of awards over the years, this

Cox Creek's main buiding also reflects the

certain hamstringing (fair or not) meant that

winery's new direction, with its renovated

our local winery was never able to reach its full

tasting room and bottle shop in front,

potential.

production area behind, and event space upstairs with a balcony overlooking the

Until now, that is. The rules have softened

vineyard. As we make our way back to this

and the production of grape wines in Ontario

heart of the establishment, I notice that the

is encouraged wherever the climate permits

cool autumn air is imbued with the distinct

– including here, at Cox Creek. The only

scent of campfire. It doesn't take me long to

stipulation: that a winery possesses at least ten

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spot – in the field just below the main building

me, a glass of its non-alc rosé (for Liz), and a

– a fire being stoked by Cox Creek Operations

couple more cans of McQuaide’s to boot.

Manager Diane Finoro for our afternoon reservation. ‘Hey’, I call excitedly over to Liz

While Liz and I settle into the rhythm of the

and the gang, whose tongues are stained red

flames and the dogs snuggle at our feet,

with raspberries, ‘they’ve got our fire going.’

Cox Creek staff remain attentive to our needs – visiting us regularly to make sure we

One thing’s for certain: you don’t have to ask

have everything we need. Which we do. At

us twice to relax by an outdoor fire. There’s

a neighbouring cluster of Muskoka chairs,

something meditative about it. Primal.

another couple shares a flight along with

Communal too. At Cox Creek, Adrian and

hearty laughs. A bit further afield, a larger

the team have done a fantastic job setting

group of friends – dressed in matching plaids

up several stainless Solo Stoves (check these

and western hats and cowboy boots – get

out if you haven’t before), each encircled by

cozy by their own blazing fire. I recall Diane

sturdy bright red and jet black Muskoka chairs.

telling me that the winery plays host to a

While most of these inviting fire centres are

load of private events – from birthday parties

scattered throughout the field, surrounded by

to bachelorette celebrations to showers,

apple orchards and plots of berries, and large

weddings, car meet-ups, and beyond. I try to

mature trees, a couple are positioned closer to

imagine what has drawn this group together.

the building, sheltered from the elements by

And, as I munch on a Millbank cheese

sturdy all-season gazebos.

curd and bit of prosciutto, I envisage more excursions to Cox Creek. With a larger group

Our own little outdoor hearth, positioned in

of friends, maybe. Or with my parents, who

the field abutting one of the winery’s apple

would love the place. I might come by bike

orchards, is a dream. There’s the blazing fire,

(as the winery is situated as an ideal mid-ride

of course, along with a stockpile of chopped

stop). Or simply with Liz and the dogs again.

wood neatly stacked close at hand. And luxurious Cox Creek-branded blankets for

Because I really can’t begin to imagine how an

added warmth. And a hearty charcuterie

afternoon like this – driven by Adrian’s clear

board – loaded with an assortment of Millbank

vision of this re-invigorated winery and cidery

Cheeses (from Perth), Italia Salami meats

– can get much better

(from Guelph), olives, crackers, veggies, and

more. And drinks, too, of course. A flight of Cox Creek’s ‘ultra premium’ wines (including the Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Meritage) for

COX CREEK CELLARS 7687 WELLINGTON 22, GUELPH ON

coxcreekcellars.on.ca

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Explore. Experience. Enjoy.

uptownwaterloobia.com

144 ' MOT H TO F L AM E /P ATTE RNS ' B Y CA i SE P U L iS

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C O C K TAIL HO UR RECIPE BY ELORA MILL HOTEL & SPA RESTAURANT MANAGER KIMBER LUBBERTS

AS DAYS GROW SHORTER, AND THE WEATHER GROWS CHILLIER, YOU MIGHT LOOK TOWARD WOOLLY SCARVES, BUNDLED HATS AND COATS, AND SOUL-WARMING DRINKS TO KEEP YOURSELF WARM. WHILE YOU DEAL WITH THE SCARVES, HATS, AND COATS, THE ELO RA MILL CAN HELP WITH THE DRINKS. KIMBER LUBBERTS’ ‘BLACK WALNUT BOURBON SOUR’, CRAFTED WITH FORAGED BLACK WALNUTS AND LOCAL MAPLE SYRUP, IS SURE TO KEEP YOU TOASTY ALL THROUGH THESE COLDER MONTHS.

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BLACK WALNUT BOURBON SOUR Method: Mix, shake, top Glass: Coupe Garnish: Amarena cherry & shaved nutmeg .75oz Bulleit Bourbon .75oz St Remy (infused w black walnuts) 1.25oz lime juice .75oz egg whites Directions: Pour all ingredients into a shaker. Add ice. Agitate well. Strain into a coupe. Garnish with Amarena cherry & shaved numeg. And soothe the soul.

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