Hand-drawn hometown collection
A hand-drawn celebration of Red Lake, available exclusively at The Water Buffalo.
Community
Red Lake is a resilient northern community where floatplanes, mining history, and wilderness are part of the local story. Howey Bay, the Norseman, Woodland Caribou Provincial Park, and abundant wildlife make it a proud home and an extraordinary gateway for outdoor travelers.
Where to find it
6 ON-105
Red Lake, ON P0V 2M0
Store hours
Checked September 14, 2026. Holiday, seasonal, and special-event hours may vary.
The collaboration
Red Lake serves as an important northern hub, much like Sioux Lookout, where our family once lived. Although we do not travel there frequently, it is part of our family’s life in the North, even down to having our ATV serviced at the Honda dealer there. When we lived in a remote First Nation community, supplies also flew to us from Red Lake with North Star Air.
That aviation connection made Red Lake’s identity as the Norseman Capital of the World especially meaningful to draw. The floatplanes, hunting and fishing traditions, mining history, and role the town plays for surrounding northern communities all belong in the design.
I made the Red Lake Mug after the Kenora Mug and connected with The Water Buffalo. Collaborating with Taylor has been fantastic. The community received the design so warmly that the mugs flew off the shelves, followed by a 40-ounce tumbler featuring the artwork.
The story behind the mug
Ashley partnered with The Water Buffalo to create a mug rooted in Red Lake.
Research and community input highlighted aviation, mining history, lakes, and the wilderness surrounding Red Lake.
Ashley translated each selected place and symbol into an individual hand-drawn illustration.
The drawings were refined and arranged into a continuous design that rewards a closer look.
The finished mug became a locally available keepsake through The Water Buffalo.
Inside the illustration
Each element celebrates a recognizable part of the community’s history, landscape, gathering places, and everyday life.
The bush plane celebrates Red Lake’s aviation history and remote northern connections.
Floatplanes, docks, and water views reflect everyday life on the bay.
A headframe and mining details honour the industry that helped build the community.
The centre preserves local mining, aviation, Indigenous, and community history.
Paddling routes and boreal wilderness represent the protected landscape west of town.
Loons, bears, fish, and evergreens celebrate the region’s forests and lakes.
The creative process
I drew Norseman Floatplane, Howey Bay, Gold Mining Heritage, and Red Lake Regional Heritage Centre as individual pieces before bringing them together. Their different shapes and stories gave me the rhythm for a wraparound composition that feels layered, personal, and specific to Red Lake.
A meaningful local gift
A thoughtful choice for a realtor closing gift, new homeowner, or longtime resident, the artwork turns familiar Red Lake, Ontario landmarks into a useful keepsake rather than an ordinary souvenir.
Purchasing information