Gift Ideas for Everyone on Your List!
Find our complete gift guide by reading the December issue online herethewalleye.ca/december-2019.
The Curator
cu-ra-tor
A person with an affinity for art and other unique gifts
By Betty Carpick
Dawson City Gold Miner Soap
Even the curmudgeon on your list will love 100% natural and small-batch Anto Yukon coal soap with a shimmering gold mica seam. Each 4 oz bar is scented with notes of cedar, cinnamon, and clove using all natural ingredients, colourants, and essential oils. The exquisite wrappers feature paintings created by ex-Yukoner Meghan Hildebrand, and are recyclable.
Hygge Loft
$10
Lake Superior Map
A third edition map of Lake Superior printed on quality textured paper is a must-have for the cartophiles and explorers on your list. Water depths are illustrated in varying shades of blue and major roadways, towns, landmarks, parks, and some shipwrecks are included. Each 24” x 36” map comes rolled in a tube, suitable for framing.
Chaltrek
$20
Beam Paints O’Keefe and Martin Palettes
Delight your favourite artist with a beautiful set of watercolour paint stones handmade with lightfast pigments, tree sap, gum arabic, and wildflower honey on Manitoulin Island by Anong Migwans Beam. Choose between the minimalist palettes of Agnes Martin or the desert hues of Georgia O’Keefe in convenient and durable plastic-free packaging.
Thunder Bay Art Gallery Gift Shop
$45
C
Springtime
Giving art is a lovely personal gift for someone you care about. Lake of the Woods abstract expressionist Pippi Johnson’s vibrant interplay of light and colour evokes the magical nuances of the spring forest when the world is alive with the promise of new beginnings. 28” x 14” mixed media and epoxy on panel.
Chenier Fine Arts
$525
Foodie
foo-die
A person with a particular interest in food; a gourmet
by Tiffany Jarva
Lake Superior Board
Those of us who are in love with Lake Superior now have the perfect charcuterie/cutting board on which to serve up our favourite foods during the holidays. These boards are beautifully crafted from hardwood, including maple, oak and cherry. All boards are food-safe and can be cut on. Choose one wood type or a multi-toned mixed-wood effect.
Paddy O’Boards
$55–60
Heartbeat Hot Sauce
Heartbeat Hot Sauce has been taking the hot sauce market by storm since 2015, and we in the north are lucky to have such easy access to all four signature Heartbeat flavours in one bundle. The sauces are made with fermented peppers using traditional methods with no water or thickening agents, and this mixed pack makes a perfect host/hostess gift, or a little something for that person who loves to spice things up in the kitchen.
Variety of local retailers or hearbeathotsauce.com
$40
Seasons of Thunder Bay Cookbook
We at The Walleye are super excited about local chef Rachel Globensky’s stunning new cookbook, nine years in the making. A contributor to the magazine since the first issue, Red Seal-certified chef Globensky shares not only her recipes throughout the seasons, but also her vignettes connected to land, family, and memories along the way.
Various locations
Breakfast on the Bay
The Breakfast on the Bay crate is a no-brainer gift for the foodie on your list—let someone have a spectacular first meal of the day using all these local ingredients. Closing date for pre-orders of this crate is December 10, with pick-up available December 18–21.
Clover Lane Crates
$65
The Music Lover
mu-sic lo-ver
a person who believes that music makes the world go ‘round; a toe-tapper
By Justin Allec
Musical Band by PlanToys
Give your little one the chance to go full Animal with this scaled-down drum set. Manufactured from preservative-free rubber wood by the conscientious PlanToys, this set features two different sized drums, a cymbal, a pair of drumsticks, and a guiro that stand just over 13 inches tall. Get ready for some wild rhythms and easy fun!
Toy Sense
$44.99
Monster Rockin’ Roller 4 100-watt Bluetooth Portable Speaker (Rockin’ Roller 4)
Okay, this thing is ridiculous. In addition to pushing 100 watts of speaker power, the Rockin’ Roller has oodles of features. And it should, because this thing is so big that it has built-in rolling wheels and a telescoping handle to easily transport it. Add microphone and guitar inputs, USB ports, a light system, a bottle opener, and the ability to stack and pair with other Rockin’ Rollers, and you might not even need your home stereo anymore.
Power Centre
$399.99
Marshall MF3.2-NA Bar Fridge
Marshall amps have been iconic in the rock world for decades, so this is a fun way of them playing with their image. Rather than pushing decibels, this mini-fridge gives the music lover in your life a place to store their bevvies. While the front is identical to a real half-stack, inside they’ll find all the features they want in a good fridge, such as adjustable glass shelves, spill protectors, and temperature control. The 4.4 model even comes with a small freezer compartment!
Music World
$379.99
Hohner 1896BX-BF Marine Band Harmonica
Okay, okay, so if that special someone was going to haunt train yards and ride the rails like a Tom Waits’ song, wouldn’t you want them to have the best harmonica out there to accompany them? This is the classic sound they’ll be familiar with, the one you know from both Delta blues and Bob Dylan. Available in distinct keys, Marine Band harmonicas are constructed out of stainless steel, brass, and lacquered pear wood to be attractive and durable.
Backstage
$59.99
Outdoors Enthusiast
out·doors en·thu·si·ast
a person who lives for outdoor sports and activities and appreciates true wilderness
By Michelle McChristie
Olympus Tough TG-6
The Tough TG-6 is ready for adventure and fast-action and takes razor-sharp images and videos in any environment. It is packed with pro features, like multiple underwater modes and four modes for close-ups, including microscope. This camera has earned its reputation as the industry’s premier, tough-as-nails compact.
Imagetech
$579.99
Faber S.Line Snowshoe Ski
Our neck of the woods has a lot of backcountry waiting to be explored and Faber’s S.Line Snowshoe Skis are an ideal way to get out there. A fusion of a snowshoe and ski, the S.Line’s uber-cool design provides traction for climbing hills but slides over flats and downhills. We suggest you buy two pairs—one to give away and one to keep for yourself.
Gear Up For Outdoors
$262.99
Expedition Cooler
The Truck Gear by LINE-X Expedition Cooler is made from thick, heavy-duty plastic that provides impressive insulation. The coolers come in four sizes (20, 45, 75 and 110 quart) and can withstand serious abuse, making them ideal for outdoor adventures. We especially like the easy-to-carry handles, removable shelf, and chopping board.
LINE-X of Thunder Bay
$169 (20 quart)
Patagonia Better Sweater
This cosy and smart-looking sweater is the perfect mid-layer for chilly days, or outer layer for milder weather. Fashion meets function with the unique sweater-knit on the outside and soft fleece on the inside and, true to Patagonia’s commitment to sustainability, it’s made from recycled polyester and is Fair Trade Certified™ sewn. Available in men’s and women’s styles.
Fresh Air
$125
Pet Lover
pet lov-er
a person whose pet is their BFF
By Kat Lyzun
SGBC Dog Toys
Toss Buster a cold one (a soft, squishy version) with Sleeping Giant Brewing Co.’s beer can-shaped chew toys. Made from 100% post-consumer recycled products with an eco-fill recycled filling and featuring designs inspired by the natural landmarks around Thunder Bay, these brewskies are good for pooches and the planet. Available at the brewery and their pop-up shop at Intercity Shopping Centre.
Sleeping Giant Brewery
$12.99
Welcome Mat
“Come on in! I hope you like dogs/cats…” Who hasn’t said that, right? So why not lay it out there for folks that once they pass through the door they should expect an exuberant pup or an overly affectionate cat, neither much concerned about personal space. These cool minimalist mats are a perfect gift for homeowners, especially during muddy-paw season.
Hygge Loft
$30
Ungalli Unisex Hoodie
Feel good about giving the gift of comfy, cozy style with a “Tell Your Dog I Said Hi” hoodie from Ungalli Clothing. The sweaters are ethically made in Canada with Ungalli’s new, innovative organic stretch fleece and come in sizes from XS to XXL. Perfect for your canine-loving BFF.
Ungalli Clothing Co.
$85
Pet House Candles
We love our pets, but sometimes their (ahem) aroma leaves much to be desired. These natural soy candles are chemical-free and safe to use around pungent pals, and come in clean-smelling scents like Lavender Green Tea and Vanilla Sandalwood. Also available in mini-candles and melts that make great stocking stuffers.
Thunder Pet
$35
The Entertainer
en-ter-tain-er
a person who is always ready, willing, and able to throw together a soirée
By Adrian Lysenko
Board Games
That board game fanatic on your Christmas list might be familiar with Risk, Monopoly, and even Settlers of Catan, but have they played any of those created by Thunder Bay’s Conor McGoey of InsideUp Games? Hours of fun await them with Summit (and the Yeti expansion pack), Gorus Maximus, and Vault Assault.
InsideUp Games
$149.99
Northern Logger Tap Handle
Do you know someone who likes Sleeping Giant Brewing Co.’s Northern Logger beer? So much so that they dress up as the red and blue lumberjack every Halloween? Then get them the Northern Logger Tap Handle. Also available are taps featuring the labels of other popular beers from the brewery.
Sleeping Giant Brewing Co.
$89.99
The Stir It Up Turntable
Ideal for the person on your holiday list who has inherited milk crates of vinyl, this Stir It Up turntable from the House of Marley will let them listen to tunes in style. With natural bamboo details, a USB jack in the back, and a built-in preamp, this turntable is a must-have for hosting a punky reggae party.
The Power Centre
$199
Microplane 7-in-1 Ultimate Bar Tool
With this compact tool, the mixologist in your life will put Sam Malone to shame. It has seven functions and specific tools for slicing, cutting, muddling, peeling, as well as stirring, and it’ll also create garnishing twists and peels from citrus fruit. That special someone will be the most popular guest at the ugly sweater Christmas party.
Kitchen Nook
$25
Tree Hugger
tree-hugg-er
a person who is environmentally conscious
By Bonnie Schiedel
Straw Travel Kit
Milkshakes and slushies just aren’t the same without a straw, but let’s not make it a plastic one. Instead, tuck this petite, collapsible, reusable metal straw set into a stocking. The compact and sleek holder also includes a straw cleaner and a clip to keep it secured to your bag or keychain.
Kitchen Nook
$16
Pela Phone Case
For the person on your list who just looooves their phone, we present a greener way to protect it with a Canadian-made plant-based “bioplastic” biodegradable phone case, which can just be tossed in the composter (or returned to the company for recycling) when the next upgrade rolls around.
Sunrise Records and pelacase.com
$44.99
4Ocean Bracelet
Not only is this bracelet sustainably made from recycled bottles (glass for the beads, plastic for the cord) by artisans in Bali, every purchase funds the removal of one pound of trash from the planet’s oceans and coastlines. The cords come in lots of different colours, from “Shark” to “Sea Bird” to “Earth Day.”
Tontu Café-Boutique
$25
Sustainable Home Gift Pack
2020 is the year to kick the single-use-plastic habit, and this all-Canadian gift pack does it in style. It contains one small and one large reusable fabric snack bag, one medium and one large reusable produce bag, and a total of seven beeswax wraps in varying sizes to replace plastic wrap and bags.
Three Huggers
$75
Trendsetter
trend-set-ter
a person who leads the way in fashion or ideas
By Rebekah Skochinski
Tote
How did the humble tote bag become an It bag? We don’t know and we don’t care, because we totes love them. Excellent for carrying your stuff, and destined to be a collector’s item, this aptly named “black bag from mars.” checks all the boxes. Constructed of 100% heavy canvas and hand-screened, there’s also a raw canvas option printed with the words “Always Full.” Finally, something that’s not too good to be true. Maybe buy two.
mars. clothing
$15
Yoga Jeans
There are a lot of things that are good about the good old days, but jeans without stretch is not one of them. Yoga Jeans, which are proudly made in Canada, are constructed with a stretch fabric that is so soft and comfortable you could probably sleep in them. Available in high-rise, skinny, straight, and wide leg, they are cut to fit curves and hold their shape. Choose from a variety of denim washes, including coloured and plaid. Om.
The Loop
$130–$180
Northies Toque
Come winter, a hat is where it’s at. Made in Canada, here’s a toque for the person in your inner circle who’s allergic to wool but not the great outdoors. With a simple cuffed design and a northern-inspired logo, it’s a statement piece that can both showcase some local pride and convince people that the wearer could swing an axe and split their own firewood, should the opportunity present itself. Also comes in red/black and forest green.
Northies
$30
Leather Wallet
Minimalism is always in fashion. Lakehead Leather’s stunning slim wallets feature four card slots and two inner pockets so there’s plenty of storage without any bulk. Each wallet is handmade in Thunder Bay using full-grain leather imported from the United States and Italy, and because there are different leather/thread/lining combinations, they truly are one of a kind. Available in a wide range of colours from classic shades of black and brown to green, navy, red, and two-toned.
Lakehead Leather
$120