“Sure, January 1 is just another day on the calendar, and if you want to make a change in your life, you could certainly do so at any point in the year, but I’ve always been big on New Year’s resolutions. There’s something about allowing yourself to see the new year as a fresh start that is highly revitalizing, and I never pass on the opportunity to reflect on the past year and set intentions for the one ahead of me. I am, after all, an Aries, and, true to my star sign, I can be a little competitive. Who doesn’t want to try and be the best version of themselves when presented with a new beginning?

In keeping with it being an appropriate time to look back, in our cover story this month we’re looking back on what you, our readers, voted as your favourite local people, places, and events in The Walleye’s 13th annual Best of Thunder Bay Readers’ Choice Survey. The race was certainly close this time around—I think I can safely say this year is a record breaker for ties—but that just goes to show just how much creativity and talent there is to celebrate in our community.“

 -Sidney Ulakovic