Troy Shantz
A new Sarnia business is teaming up with the Inn of the Good Shepherd to put the axe to hunger.
Valley Axe is the first venue in the city to offer competitive axe-throwing, and on Oct. 15, the new attraction on the Golden Mile is hosting an all day team axe-throwing tournament in support of the Inn’s food bank and soup kitchen.
“Things just kinda fell into place. We found our venue (and) we managed to get insurance,” co-owner Bo Tait said of the business.
“Opening up we were going to be 18-plus. In Sarnia if you’re 18-plus you definitely have to have a liquor licence.”
Yes, that’s right: Valley Axe is the first axe-throwing venue in Ontario that sells alcohol.
“It sounds scary and a lot of people are nervous when they come in. When they leave, their fears are gone,” said Tait, adding safety is paramount at the facility.
“We’re an axe-throwing range where you can have a beer. We’re not a bar with axes.”
Tait said after he moved back Sarnia he and his close family knew they wanted to try something different. It was at Tait’s bachelor party that he and his friends got hooked on throwing axes.
“When we went home we all built targets in our back yard. In the middle of winter we’re out there, January, February, throwing.”
Toronto has had axe ranges for a decade and others are popping up around the province, he said.
Tait said he and his team love Sarnia and the name ‘Valley Axe’ is derived from their personal connections to the Chemical Valley.
The Inn contacted Valley Axe not long after it opened to ask about doing a fundraiser, he said.
“They’re really excited about doing something together – doing something really different,” he said.
IF YOU GO:
WHAT: Axe-throwing team tournament (teams of five)
WHERE: Valley Axe, 1886 London Line
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 15, starting at 9 a.m.
TICKETS: $200 per team of five. All proceeds to the Inn of the Good Shepherd
For more contact [email protected] or call 519-344-1746, ext. 303
