For those of you who have had the pleasure of visiting Striker’s Point Lodge recently, you might have noticed a new addition to the lodge hanging by the bar. This elaborate piece of artwork, done in true Canadian motif (red white red), is a stunning example of Chinese paper cutting or Jianzhi; where the artist fastens several layers of paper together and cuts out the intricate designs by hand using either a knife or sharp pointed scissors… judging by the amount of detail this is truly a labour of love and would require a high level of patience!

The mural depicts an eagle swooping in to land in a valley forest with talons outstretched, ready to firmly grasp its perch. In Chinese culture the eagle symbolizes strength, confidence and security; key elements of business growth. Emulating the eagle helps develop strong leadership qualities as eagles are sharp witted with highly focused eyesight, keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings as they fly high over their territory. Its outstretched wings signify a willingness to open up to the rest of the world and embrace the future.

Opening up to the rest of the world, in particular the Eastern European and Asian tourism markets, is exactly what we plan to do at Wilderness North. Building off of our experiences last year when we hosted a mixed group of American and Chinese business executives at Striker’s, the Chinese delegation we welcomed this year signifies the start of a new chapter in product development. It was a pleasure to have Peng-you and Grand Master Chen (his Tai-chi leader) stay at Striker’s for a short visit and experience the remoteness of Northern Ontario the best way possible –fishing for pike and walleye! Hats off to Tyler, Deb, Jess, and the rest of the SPL staff who showed us a prime example of northern hospitality both on and off the water.

Looking forward to a future visit to Striker’s Point,
Robert