The Thompson Mug

The collaboration

Friends helped draw the town they called home.

Our connection to Thompson comes through dear friends, especially Frank and Cheryl, whose company SkyCare began there. Our third baby was born in their home, and I spent two weeks there waiting for the birth while drawing the very first mug I ever made to sell in a coffee shop, the Sioux Lookout Mug.

Frank, Cheryl, and their children collaborated with me on the Thompson design and shared so much local insight. It was meaningful to create something together that celebrated the community where they once lived and grew up. Another friend, Kevin, also grew up in Thompson, and learning from him added even more depth. The absolute beauty of Pisew Falls especially stood out to me.

Thompson serves as a vital hub for the North and for many Indigenous communities, a role our family understands from our years in Northern Canada. Its cold-weather testing, aviation links, and position along the train route to Churchill add to its distinctive story. We later approached Lucy at Lambert’s Home Decor & Gifts, and it has been wonderful working with her on the mug and tumbler.