Katie's Christmas Countdown: Part 2

Four northern crafters from Greater Sudbury, North Bay and Sault Ste. Marie and their products are featured in Part 2 of Katie's Christmas Countdown.

Locally-made products include chocolate, pet food and treats, jewelry and wood crafts.

NORTH BAY 

Mellow Acres Raw in North Bay takes a fresh and natural approach to pet treats and raw food.

The owners told CTV News they started making their own dog food after losing theirs in 2008 due to tainted dog food.

"We started doing it then other people said 'oh, can I get some for my dog?' and then it kind of steamrolled," one of the two owners told CTV News.

"We make everything without chemicals, preservatives, colour, artificial flavour, everything is all done by hand, we do it all ourselves."  

Mellow Acres Raw in North Bay offers locally-made natural pet food and treats (Katie Behun/CTV Northern Ontario)

The pair started in their kitchen and have worked their way up to having their own shop on Front Street.

Their products can also be found at both the North Bay and Sudbury farmer's markets.

Alex's Crafts in North Bay was started in 2020 because there was not a lot of locally-made gemstone jewelry at the time, the owner told CTV News.

She started restringing a lot of bracelets that were made with elastic cord, which breaks easily, and grew to making her own bracelets, anklets and necklaces.

Gemstone bracelets made by Alex's Crafts in North Bay (Katie Behun/CTV Northern Ontario)

The products are made with surgical-grade steel, antique silver and gemstones and custom orders are available at the North Bay farmer's market.

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SAULT STE. MARIE 

Sweet Change in Sault Ste. Marie is not just a local chocolate maker; it is a social enterprise that helps create positive change in the community.

Sweet Change Chocolate Co is a social enterprise in Sault Ste. Marie. (Katie Behun/CTV Northern Ontario)

Run by the Centre for Social Justice and Good Works since 2015, the organization helps kids participate in organized sports and people receiving Ontario Works subsidies start their own business or gain meaningful employment.

The chocolate can be picked up at the facility on Queen Street East and at Mill Market.

SUDBURY

The mastermind behind Gerry's Woodcrafts is a senior from the Sudbury area who is spending his golden years making crafts out of wood.

Katie's Christmas Countdown: Gerry's Woodcrafts at Sudbury Market. (Katie Behun/CTV Northern Ontario)

Gerry started out working with his grandfather building cupboards before going into the mining industry.

Now retired, he makes his wood products at home in his garage and when it is too cold outside, he goes to the woodshop for seniors in Chelmsford to work on his crafts.

A couple of his products, the wooden moose and trucks, were started by requests from family members who are into hunting and a local trucking company.

His booth can be found at the Sudbury Market.

Missed Part 1 of Katie's Christmas Countdown? Read about the first six local makers here.