DRYDEN, ON — After graduating with an electrical engineering degree from Thunder Bay, international student Nikhil Shastri found his true passion in a cooler, sweeter venture: ice cream.
Founded in 2024 by Shastri and two friends who decided to trade their engineering careers for entrepreneurship, The Ice Creamery is a mobile dessert experience that’s been delighting communities across Northern Ontario.
“We started from Thunder Bay last year and traveled all the way to Kenora,” Shastri said. “This year, we began in Wawa and have already covered Marathon, White River, Terrace Bay, Thunder Bay, Dryden, and Sioux Lookout. We also plan to visit nearby First Nation communities.”
Operating two trucks—one stationed at Kenora’s Harbourfront and the other roaming the region—the Ice Creamery brings more than just treats. It offers a unique spectacle: “live” rolled ice cream made fresh before customers’ eyes on a -25-degree cold stone.
“It’s really about the experience,” Shastri explained. “We use fresh ingredients every day—strawberries, berries, bananas—and customers can watch their ice cream being made right in front of them.”
Alongside rolled ice cream, the menu includes milkshakes, smoothies, and lemonade. Fan favorites like Triple Chocolate Temptation, Strawberry Delight, and Very Berry have earned rave reviews.
“When you take one bite, you really taste the freshness,” said Shastri. “We buy fresh fruit daily from local stores, and that quality shows.”
The team realized early on that staying put wasn’t the best strategy. “Last year, we parked the truck in Thunder Bay for over a month, but it’s better to keep moving—to reach new towns and meet new people,” Shastri said. Events like music festivals are a favorite way to connect with the community.
The Ice Creamery’s presence is growing online too, with over 1,000 Facebook followers eagerly tracking the truck’s schedule from May through early September.
Shastri says the response has been heartwarming. “Every town welcomes us with so much love. In Atikokan, people asked us to stay another day, and we did. It’s been an amazing experience.”
With a summer schedule that includes stops in Dryden, Sioux Lookout, Fort Frances, Lac Seul, and beyond, The Ice Creamery is steadily spreading sweet smiles across the region—one rolled cone at a time.
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