Roots Community Food Centre (Roots CFC), located in Thunder Bay, Ontario, hosted an ice fishing day for local high school students in 2025, made possible through support from Farm to Cafeteria Canada. The event offered students a chance to connect with the land, learn new skills, and share a memorable outdoor experience. Participants unanimously agreed they would love to do it again and would recommend it to others.
Students shared several highlights from their day on the ice:
- 9 out of 10 mentioned walking on the ice, learning fishing knots, and—sadly—the experience of not catching a fish.
- 8 said feeling the fish bites was a standout moment.
- 7 reflected on making their own fishing rods, spending time with friends, and sharing a meal as meaningful connections.
How It Happened
To make the trip possible, Roots CFC submitted a detailed risk management plan, which was approved before the event. Students first learned about ice morphology, safe travel practices, and essential outdoor equipment. They also built their own homemade fishing rods, complete with line and jig heads.
In a follow-up session, students were equipped with warm boots, parkas, and toques. Equipment was prepared and tested, ice conditions were closely monitored, and the weather turned out perfect. It was a beautiful day on the lake—complete with otter tracks, eagles overhead, woodsmoke in the air, and plenty of wind and sunshine. There were many nibbles, one small fish landed (and safely returned), and plenty of laughter. When toes grew cold, students warmed up with hot soup by the fire and even stomped out messages in the snow. It truly was a perfect winter day.
From Ice to Kitchen
Although few fish were caught, a generous community member donated a beautiful lake trout so students could still learn how to fillet and cook a fish. The trout’s belly contained 20 smelt and bore a lamprey scar, sparking great ecological discussion about the lake’s food web.
Everyone joined in to prepare a delicious meal of warm corn tortillas, fresh pineapple salsa, Labrador tea, and of course—fish tacos. The shared cooking experience brought the day full circle, connecting outdoor learning with culinary creativity.
So good!
