Oct 28, 2022
8 min. read
The Candlestick Maker
Dan Mitchell may have veered from the path of generations of his family when he left the family farm near Roblin to instead make candles, but he shares their attention to detail. He carefully formulates each Farmer’s Son Co. candle to tell a story. “There’s something amazing about the power of scent and its ability to transport us back—to remind us of a particular memory or person,” he says. Though the candles are sold internationally, they are inspired by Manitoba, including Spruce and Eucalyptus and Paper Birch and Vetiver, scents found in the Parkland region near his family’s farm. “It’s truly one of the most beautiful parts of the province.” An important part of each candle’s story is the vessel it comes in: fair-trade terracotta pots from India, hand-blown glassware from Mexico, beautiful vintage cups or locally made concrete. “I want to create vessels to be enjoyed as candles—but then reused and repurposed throughout the home,” he says. farmerssonco.com
The Drink Makers
A handful of brewers to satisfy thirsty Manitobans.
The farm-raised Warwaruk brothers became craft brewers after running a successful gastro pub in Winnipeg. Farmery Estate Brewery uses hops and barley grown on the family farm in Neepawa.
An accountant, engineer, entrepreneur and pharmacist joined forces to launch Patent 5, an award-winning craft distillery in the Exchange District that produces made-in-Manitoba gin and other spirits.
While backpacking around the world, Marc Tallman discovered coldbrew coffee. He put the drink at the forefront of his Winnipeg-based Empty Cup Collective, which serves arguably the city’s best iced latte.
The Crafters
Manitobans making their mark in paper, print and punching.
The Illustrator: Winnipegger Kristin McPherson draws inspiration from the quirky side of her hometown. She prints her ironic takes of city icons and neighbourhoods on shirts, totes, buttons and frameable prints. happyland.shop.
The Card Maker: Winnipeg artist Liza Isakov’s work includes wall hangings and murals in unexpected places like local highschool lockers. But her most sought-after items are cards and prints. The simple Matisse-like designs are endearingly cheery. lizaisakov.com/shop.
The Needleworker: Three years ago, Brittney Casavant took up punch needling, which she says is “much more forgiving than knitting or crochet.” She now sells abstract wall hangings and heirloom-worthy Christmas stockings. fibirdstudio.com.