Left to right: Tasha and Alex Sawatzky, founders of Minnow Magazine Credit: Photo provided by Alex Sawatzky
Alex (she/they) and Tasha (she/her) Sawatzky are sisters who started Minnow, a magazine about ecology, conservation, and the small but mighty species we share a home with here in the Great Lakes.
They bring their expertise and perspectives to the magazine — Tasha as a field biologist, working in the research of snakes and turtles and Alex as a graphic designer, photographer and budding naturalist.
The sisters lived in a small town near Guelph, ON, and grew up going to the Saugeen Peninsula which inspired a love for the outdoors and the arts. The clear waters of the Saugeen Peninsula is where they found inspiration from the schools of minnows that would circle around their feet as children.
Saugeen Peninsula is the traditional territories of the Saugeen-Ojibwe Nation. However, the national park in the area retained the area’s colonized name, “Bruce Peninsula National Park"— at least for the time being.
Left to Right: Minnow Magazine issue 1 Summer/Fall 2024 and issue 2 Winter/Spring 2025 Credit: Alex Sawatzky
Alex and Tasha discuss what motivated them to start Minnow Magazine and what it takes to publish such a polished quarterly magazine that includes original art from local artists.
Launch of Minnow Magazine at Last Supper Books Credit: Last Supper Books website
On July 9th Alex and Tasha launched Minnow Magazine at Last Supper Books, 148 James St. North in Hamilton, ON. The event was really well attended attracting a wide cross-section of ages and backgrounds.
Some folks had just come from a Kill Bill 5 rally held at Hamilton City Hall where those in attendance heard from Hamilton Centre NDP MPP Robin Lennox, Hamilton West-Ancaster and Dundas NDP MPP Sandy Shaw and ON NDP leader Marit Stiles. Also speaking was ON Green Party leader, Mike Schreiner; Hamilton and District Labour Council President, Anthony Marco; Ward 12 City Counsellor, Craig Cassar; and representatives from Hamilton 350, Environment Hamilton and Hamilton ACORN.
Yet, it was surprising how many folks hadn’t heard of Bill 5 and knew nothing of the far reaching devastating impacts it will have on generations to come.
Tasha and Alex discuss the intersecting impacts Bill 5 will have for Ontarians, Canadians and really the entire world when you consider how developing the Ring of Fire will accelerate the climate crisis by unleashing massive amounts of carbon stored in peatlands. Bill 5 also rides rough shod over Indigenous rights as well as environmental and water rights.
Alex and Tasha, share their concerns regarding the Ford government’s Bill 5 which was given the unfathomable title of, Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025.
And, find out what the next issue of Minnow Magazine has in store for their hard copy only readers across Ontario and the country. Take the time to disconnect from technology to learn more about under appreciated species that the environment and specific ecosystems depend upon for their very survival despite what Ford’s government policies dictate.
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Minnow Magazine is stocked in stores across Ontario and hosts workshops related to conservation, arts and printmaking.
Find Minnow Magazine at these fine distributors: Abbey Gardens — Haliburton, Another Story Bookshop — Toronto, Biblioasis Books — Windsor, Northern Contemporary — Toronto, Killbear Provincial Park — Nobel, Art Gallery of Sudbury — Sudbury, Disko Coffee — Cambridge, Issues Magazine Shop — Toronto, Pinery Provincial Park — Grand Bend, Evergreen Brick Works — Toronto, Lost Art Espresso — Wiarton, Last Supper Books — Hamilton, Swipe Books — Toronto.
Order Minnow Magazine online here.
Follow Minnow Magazine on https://www.instagram.com/minnowmagazine/?hl=en
Find out more about Warren’s Waterless Printing here.
Small Change podcast with Karen and Julia Barnes who face fines of $400,000 for non-compliance and a November 2025 court case initiated by Burlington City Council over their naturalized garden.
Thanks to everyone who read today’s article and listened to my podcast. With your financial support, a little Nicoll can make a lot of change.
You can also find my work in herizons, rabble.ca and on my Wix site. Follow me on Instagram, X @doreennicoll61, Bluesky @nicollneedschange and Facebook.
Music: Real Estate by UNIVERSFIELD is licensed under a Attribution 4.0 International License. freemusicarchive.org.
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