The Joy Centres in Thunder Bay You’ll Probably Spend Hours in this May
Amanda Bay
May 14, 2026
If your entire personality suddenly becomes “plant parent” the second Thunder Bay hits double digits… same! Somewhere between the snow melting and that first actual warm day, something shifts. You start craving sunshine, fresh air, and unexpectedly a hanging basket you did not plan for. Welcome to your new favourite May activity in TBay, visiting a Garden Centre.
First of all, we need to stop calling them Garden Centres… they’re straight up centres of JOY, they are Joy Centres. The second you walk in, everything just feels better, your shoulders drop and instant smiles. You go in thinking you’ll grab just “one herb plant” and leave an hour later with a tomato plant, lavender, a ceramic frog, and a renewed will to live. It’s not just shopping, it’s like therapy, with good lighting and the smell of soil. There’s also something kind of romantic about wandering rows of plants with a coffee in hand, and pretending you’re about to start a successful garden (this is your year, right?).
Where To Get Your Spring Fix In Thunder Bay:
My Blooming Business: Slate River Valley
If you’re into a wholesome, small location where the plants are grown with actual love, this is your spot. Run by a husband and wife duo, every single plant here is hand-selected and grown by Karen and Gerald Breukelman. Not in a “marketing buzzword” way, but in a they literally “picked and transplanted every single plant” themselves way. They have a real connection to what they grow, and have been doing this since 2002, so you’re not just buying plants, you’re getting hyperlocal advice that actually works in Northwestern Ontario (which is half the battle).
On site, you will find annuals, perennials, herbs, ornamental grasses, veggie plants, hanging baskets and planters. You’ll also find Karen’s very popular Slate River Clay pottery, which is made with… you guessed it… Slate River clay that she digs up herself!
Also, kids get a free pack of pansies when they visit! The Breukelmans’ daughters grew up in the greenhouse, and now their grandchildren play there too, so they love seeing the joy and excitement on kids’ faces when they take home their very own plant.
Fun fact: At the end of the season, any plants left are donated to community organizations and groups like Roots Community Food Group and community gardens.
This place is a TOTAL experience. Started back in 1960 and still family owned and operated, Vanderwees Garden Gallery has evolved into what can only be described as a plant lover’s playground, the OG Joy Centre. We’re talking tropical plants, patio furniture, gourmet snacks (the FUDGE and olive oil are simply the best) and then randomly, you’ll find every style croc you can imagine.
There’s also Tulips Café, where you can sip coffee and grab a fresh lunch with one of their homemade sandwiches and soups. In the summer, this place turns into a dream world for kids, with rides, bouncy castles, and even animals (the alpacas!!!).
Creekside Nursery & Garden Centre
If you want options, this is where you’ll find them. Creekside Nursery & Garden Centre is a plant universe with 150,000 square feet of greenhouse space, four generations deep, and enough flowers to make you redo your landscaping plan a couple of times.
You will find thousands of plants and flowers, plus a team that can help you whether you’re planting a few herbs or going for a full backyard transformation (they do landscaping too). Creekside is also one of the few stops in town that has all of the glorious pizza ovens and accessories that instantly upgrade your camp days or backyard parties… it’s a lifestyle shift.
Also worth noting, Creekside is teaming up with George’s Market this spring at the Market’s Garden Centre on River Street, which feels like a Thunder Bay crossover episode we didn’t know we needed. This will be worth checking out!
Bill Martin’s has been part of the community since 1927 (the family was originally in the coal business until Bill discovered he had a huge thing for flowers and started blooming the most amazing roses).
The nursery takes pride in specializing in plants that will grow well in Thunder Bay’s climate which is exactly what you want. With three generations of plant knowledge, it means if you have a question, they will have an answer. Also there’s a year-round gift shop that is worth a visit on its own, full with Canadian made products not found anywhere else, gifts from Europe and so many local treasures from ceramic artists, jewellers, and fun camp stuff. Keep an eye out for when they host pop-up sales from local artisans.
Now, before you get carried away buying every plant in sight this season, remember this: it all starts with good soil. We asked every single Garden Centre for one piece of advice, and they all focused on what you put on the ground or in the pot first. Fresh soil, compost, proper potting mix, it’s the difference between thriving plants and… well… a humbling learning experience.
Go get your joy!
