BEST OF 2024
Classic Roots performing with DJ Shub at the Wake the Giant Music Festival. Photo by Shannon Lepere
The Best of Thunder Bay 2024 Readers’ Choice Survey
Our 13th annual Best of issue is like a snapshot of what makes Thunder Bay unique—after all, we are the only place with these indie businesses, these particular menu items, these exceptional outdoorsy destinations, these community members being excellent at what they do. Whether you are looking for the best breakfast sandwich, trivia night, Caribbean restaurant, or venue for karaoke (all new categories, by the way) you’re sure to be inspired by this biggest-ever list, all chosen by fellow TBayers. Congrats to all the winners and nominees!
-Bonnie Schiedel
ALL WINNERS VOTED BY WALLEYE READERS
*Click each header for a full list of results, or choose a category from the dropdown menu below.
And the Winner is…
That’s a wrap on The Walleye’s 13th annual Best of Thunder Bay Readers’ Choice Survey. This year’s survey had a whopping 179 questions covering everything there is to love about living here, and with the announcement of the results in this issue, there are now 179 businesses, artists, people, places, musicians, and events with the title of “The Best” our city has to offer. But there’s still one last lucky winner to announce on top of it all.
Every person who took the time to complete the survey was entered in a draw for a chance to win an amazing all-seasons experience package worth $2,000 courtesy of Tourism Thunder Bay, and this year’s lucky winner is Pamela Boucher. Congrats!
Boucher is from Chapleau, Ontario and moved to Thunder Bay to complete a diploma in environmental engineering technology at Confederation College, and decided to stay in Thunder Bay upon graduation. Boucher enjoys exploring the city’s cafés and restaurants, noting that you can’t beat the friendly service so many of the city’s eateries boast. “I love how there’s so many local gems,” she says. Otherwise, Boucher likes to enjoy the best of both worlds that Thunder Bay has to offer, spending her free time attending concerts or taking camping trips. “I can drive 10 to 15 minutes and be outdoors. You can find a hiking trail. You can find a waterfall,” Boucher says. “The fact that we’re surrounded by nature but you still have the city feel is what I really like about it.”
Boucher has completed the Best of Thunder Bay Readers’ Choice Survey for the last four or five years and is thrilled to win this year’s generous prize from Tourism Thunder Bay. We extend our thanks to the staff at Tourism Thunder Bay, each of you who took the time to participate this year, and all the fantastic people, places, and things in town that make this survey so much fun each year.