east coast
LIVING Anniversary
Inspiring home life in Atlantic Canada
DRESS UP YOUR DÉCOR WITH STYLIST NATALIE OWENS
WINTER 2020 | $4.95 eastcoastliving.ca
Add More Happy to Your Holiday TOLLER CRANSTON’S LUNENBURG LEGACY WINTER HEATS UP WITH A HOME SAUNA CHARCUTERIE THAT THINKS INSIDE THE BOX
DISPLAY UNTIL MARCH 15, 2021
Experience the enchanting Advocate Forest of Trees this holiday season. From now until December 5th you can join us for a virtual tour or take a stroll around the rotunda at The Doyle on Spring Garden Road.
mentalhealthns.ca/festival-of-trees We have captured the spirit of Christmas and our beautiful East Coast with a stunning tree that commemorates this year like no other and embraces our partnership with the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia.
East Coast Living is published by Metro Guide Publishing, an Advocate Company.
contents
WINTER 2020
Last Look
30
14
LEAP BEFORE YOU LOOK
THE LIST
FEATURES
DEPARTMENTS
10 Décor: Trimmings & treasures
14 Leap before you look
6 Editor’s message
ast Coast decorator Natalie Owens E has the answers to relaxed seasonal style that will make every room in your house your favourite space to be in this holiday season
A visit to Lunenburg led to a spontaneous house purchase and now the Cranstons are embracing the East Coast lifestyle
24 In depth: Seasons of light
Journalist Ameeta Vohra celebrates both Diwali and Christmas and gives each celebration its time to shine
12 Projects: A tiny room
with a perfect view Global pandemic got you down?
Joe Gillivan can’t say enough about the soothing powers of a good home sauna. Increasingly, he’s not alone
EATING IN 20 Amazing graze
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ith an elevated presentation of choice W nibbles, charcuterie boards and grazing boxes add a touch of class
WINTER 2020
We all need a little more of what we love
29 Buying guide 30 Last look: Percy Sacobie
The painter, carver, and beadworker finds an escape from loss with a focus on the positive
quality built with purpose
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LakeCity Works supports people living with mental illness to build on their strengths, take on responsibilities, and access work experience, education, and employment.
We all need a little more of
what we love
T
Halifax’s exclusive parenting magazine
Subscribe now to receive the FREE digital edition of Our Children.
PHOTO: SHAWNA NORTHOVER
902-499-1323 Jarrett@reddoorrealty.ca reddoorrealty.ca
here is an art to living beautifully and people on the East Coast seem to have a real knack for it. We know that it is not really about what we have, but what we are able to do with what we’ve got. This past year, each and every one of us has become masters of this mantra and we have come to treasure the things that make us unique not only in geography but in spirit. Some might say that Atlantic Canadians have always been that way, it’s in our DNA. But the Atlantic Canada we celebrate today is not what it used to be. We hold strong to many of our old European traditions, but are beginning to understand that it’s the DNA of collective cultures and acceptance of different histories that will really allow us to shine. As I sit down to write my first message as editor of East Coast Living, the first signs of the holiday season that I am most familiar with are starting to appear. My youngest daughter said to me the other day, ‘Mum, this year people are really going to need Christmas.’ And while she is correct, this holiday season, despite being different in many ways, will be a most welcome break from the heaviness of our experiences this past year. It’s the comfort of tradition that makes us feel safe and steady when other aspects of life are precarious. As I settle into my annual rhythm of Christmas, I have started to raise my own awareness about the customs and celebrations of other cultures in our East Coast communities and how their traditions are just as comforting at this time of year. It’s not the jolly fellow and mangers for everyone. I was so grateful when journalist Ameeta Vohra reached out to me to express her interest in sharing her experiences celebrating Diwali (page 24), one of the most important Hindu celebrations of the year that also happens as the days get shorter. The Festival of Lights is a symbolic celebration of the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. This celebration falls on a different date every year but there are similarities to a number of religious and cultural holidays that brings on the comfort and joy in the sharing of special foods, the lighting of candles, prayers, coming together of families and the excitement of children. As the anticipation of the holiday builds for my family, we are sensing the shift in the usual bustle of the season. We have counted the number of events and parties that would normally fill the calendar from the end of November to New Year’s that just won’t be happening this year. While these moments will be missed there is a welcoming space that is also starting to take on its own shape. In the art world this is referred to as “negative space,” when the space around the object finds its own form. That absence can be just as beautiful as the object itself. For me this negative space is now being occupied by the things I would often wish that I had more time for. There is a gift in that space that allows me to create more time for the people I love the most and to do a little more for those who might find comforts and joy to be a little harder to come by this year. From all of the East Coast Living family we wish you a season of love and laughter and hope your new year begins with good health and happiness. Crystal Murray, Editor ecl@metroguide.ca EastCoastLiving East Coast Living Magazine
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east coast
LIVING Inspiring home
Sailmaker • Hayes
Farm • Bright winter
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décor • Mark Arendz
• Old, bold pilots
WINTER 2019 eastcoastliv | $4.95 ing.ca
PASSION OVER GROW OVERSI PROFIT CELEBRATE ZE PLANTS IN STYLE
MARCH 15, 2020
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CALL: 1-833-600-2870 EMAIL: circulation@metroguide.ca USE CODE: GRPAD2020 athomeonthenorthshore.ca
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Canada
SWEET AND SAVOURY RECIPES TO WARM UP YOUR WINTER
Keeping warm with s Newfoundland pattern
p.38
MADE RIGHT HERE Juniper BBQ Scrapers Kingross Quilts MacIsaac Kilts DeltaCrete
p.45
PluOurs 2018 Comfort Food Recipe Contest
The uesthouse
life in Atlantic
Perfect pies
DISPLAY UNTIL
BY JASON H. MCWRIGHT
Anniversary
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Winners p.55
saltscapes.com
Anniversary 1999-2019
On our cover: Dress up your décor with stylist Natalie Owens on page 10. Photo: Bruce Murray/VisionFire Publisher Editorial Director Senior Editor Editor Contributing Editor Production & Creative Director Graphic Designer Production Coordinator Production & Design Assistant Printing
Fred Fiander Crystal Murray Trevor J. Adams Crystal Murray Janet Whitman Shawn Dalton Roxanna Boers Paige Sawler
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I PLACE YOU INTO THE FIRE Rebecca Thomas
COASTAL NOVA SCOTIA: A PHOTOGRAPHIC TOUR Adam Cornick 978-1-77108-887-9 $34.95 | Photography
978-1-77108-885-5 $18.95 | Poetry
Reading and buying local this holiday season means supporting authors, illustrators, and publishers in your community. @nimbuspub or nimbus.ca
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HOLIDAY DECORATING TIPS FROM STIL JAMES Make your home a haven of light, joy and comfort BY NATALIE OWENS PHOTOS BY BRUCE MURRAY, VISIONFIRE
E
ast Coast decorator Natalie Owens, founder of Halifax boutique Stil James, has the answers to relaxed seasonal style that will make every room in your house your favourite space to be in this holiday season.
HOW DO YOU TRANSITION TO WINTER FROM SUMMER DÉCOR IN YOUR HOME? For most people, it’s hard—and expensive—to redecorate your entire home, so I try to think about interesting spaces and nooks around our home that I can really do something fun with. There’s no real theme, just carefully curated spaces that add a cozy, holiday sprinkle to the space. Whether I’m shopping for clients or myself, I always remember to only pick up what I love. Don’t fill spaces with knick-knacks just to fill them up. Be patient and collect beautiful pieces that bring you joy, so that each year you look forward to pulling out your treasures and finding fun ways to place them around your home.
DÉCOR
WHAT’S ONE THING YOU’VE LEARNED THAT YOU THINK EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW WHEN DECORATING FOR THE HOLIDAYS? Using your existing space and décor is really important. If you’ve got bright wallpaper up, start there and collect décor items that work with what’s already up in your home. For instance, in our sunroom we have this beautiful pale pink and gold wallpaper on every wall, so our holiday branch tree was inspired but that look. Only soft pink bulbs and glass balls with flecks of gold to really work with the paper instead of the classic red and green Christmas colours. It transforms the space into holiday mode, while also looking like it belongs there all year-round.
WHAT IS WINTER’S MUST-HAVE DECORATING PIECE? Changing up your pillows and throws on your sofa is the easiest thing you can do as a starting point. Move from bright coloured, summer pillows to neutral furs and plaids. Be careful about picking things up that scream Christmas. You can create an incredible, sophisticated holiday vibe using all neutral colors, layering textures like faux fur, thick cream weave pillows and simple stripes keeps your space feeling fresh and wintery, minus the harshness of the red and green.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE WAY TO BRING THE HOLIDAYS INTO THE HOME? A beautifully decorated dining table: my favourite job at my parents’ house when getting ready for a big holiday dinner! Pulling unusual, natural centre pieces and really layering up the table with glassware, dishes and tons of candlelight brings me so much satisfaction. These pieces are used over and over again and in Atlantic Canada we really enjoy lounging around the table long after the meal is served, so I think it’s an important piece of the holiday to think about when planning your décor.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR OWN FAVOURITE HOLIDAY PIECES THAT YOU USE OVER AND OVER? If there’s anything I’m saving in a house fire, it’s my grandmother’s vintage Christmas ornaments—and my children of course! I love pulling the ornaments out each year and layering them in different village scenes, on our tree and in large glass vases as centre pieces. You can’t replicate the vividness and intricate details on really beautiful vintage ornaments.
Natalie curates small collections to give each space its own flavour. An antique cabinet is the perfect nesting place for tiny porcelain houses. A wicker basket with cream and gold ornaments gives a layer of texture and eases into the warms tones for the living room décor. A whimsical forest of Christmas trees on a snowy deep window ledge.
ANY DIY TIPS WHEN DECORATING FOR THE HOLIDAYS? I like to incorporate the kid’s holiday crafts by framing painted holiday pictures they’ve done with simple white Ikea frames. I’ll pull a whole gallery wall together of painted Santas, elves and winter scenes to set the mood in a kids’ den or toy-room. I also love finding branch trees to decorate throughout the house, or natural items from the park to use in centre pieces on the table as décor. There’s nothing more magical than combining elements from the outdoors with vintage sparkle.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE THING ABOUT DECORATING FOR THE HOLIDAYS? Creating really magical, calming spaces for my clients or my own family. I really believe that home décor or the way a space is pulled together can affect your mood, and personally I can always use a bit of a mood lift on the coldest, darkest days of winter, especially this year. Using things from my own childhood, things I saw at my grandparents’ house, brings me a lot of comfort. I love re-creating those spaces with a modern touch for my own kids. My four-year old came down in the morning to the sparkly pink and gold-branch tree I had set up the night before and said, “Mum! Where did you find this beautiful tree!?” I told her I made it for her while she was sleeping and used her favorite colours for the bulbs. Her face lit up like the tree in front of her and that for me is why I take such care in designing beautiful spaces for the holidays. o WINTER 2020
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A tiny room with
a perfect view Global pandemic got you down? Joe Gillivan can’t say enough about the soothing powers of a good home sauna. Increasingly, he’s not alone BY ALEC BRUCE
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hen Joe Gillivan squeezes all 6’4” of himself into the one-seater sauna that sits in the corner of his home gym, his world doesn’t shrink. It gets bigger. “I don’t care if the thing’s only six feet tall,” says the 60-something Halifax leadership coach who makes a living showing Canadian CEOs how to broaden their horizons in a decidedly cramped and self-isolating time. “It’s got mood lighting and Bluetooth. I can listen to music and podcasts. Or, I can meditate… I got what I paid for.” Specifically, he got a box with infrared panels that plugs into the wall. Within 30 minutes of flipping a switch, he can watch the temperature
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inside it rise to about 50°C, and meditate on the fact that his power bill hasn’t budged since he bought it for a sum he prefers not to disclose (but which is, nonetheless, somewhere south of $3,000) a year ago. “It’s so invigorating,” he grins. “More people should do this.” And more people are. According to industry reports, the global pandemic has pushed sauna sales through the roof. Leading manufacturers of home kits, Clearlight and Sunlighten, report that their worldwide orders have tripled in just eight months. Popularity is growing more slowly in Atlantic Canada, but Gillivan says the Halifax Costco (where he bought his) keeps them on order.
PROJECTS
“But, it’s a piece of luxury that has given me so many benefits. I’ve been using it an hour a day, five days a week for the last year, and it’s been fabulous.”
GOLDEN DESIGNS INC
The battle for market share between the newer, leaner, drier infrared varieties and the more traditional, complex, wetter steam systems has prompted advocates of both to make some wild claims about their respective health benefits. Most recently have been those regarding COVID-19. In August, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported false advertising from some online wellness gurus who “hype the technology’s healing abilities” (even as the Australian Medical Association routinely debunks the more extreme promotions) as “a dangerous lot of hot air.” Cameron Loy, head of the country’s association of general practitioners, told ABC that drawing a link between saunas and the pandemic is baseless, stating, “Marketing products or services like this has the potential to lull people into a false sense of security and make them less likely to follow proven health advice such as physical distancing and hand washing.” While it’s not a way to treat a pandemic, the overall healing properties of a good schvitz is a matter of record going back centuries. Taken with a modicum of perspective, Gillivan says it can be a marvellous way to reduce stress, enhance physical fitness and encourage good sleep habits: significant benefits as the first full winter of COVID-19 commences. “I’ve got a bicycle in my home gym, which I will ride for 30 minutes,” he says. “Then, I’ll jump in the sauna because it’s a great way to relax the muscles and open up the cardiovascular system. Sometimes, on a winter’s day, I’ll come in from the cold and want to warm up quickly. I’ll just throw the sauna on… I tend to have them in the evening time because I also find they help with sleep patterns… All homes in Finland have saunas. Even apartment complexes there have saunas… I’ve done the research.” Gillivan, who describes himself as “always an active man,” hadn’t really given much thought to saunas until he heard renowned U.S. health and wellness coach Dan Miller speak at one of the CEO events he organized in Halifax last year. “He’s a small, skinny guy,” he says. “He considers himself a real guru.” On his website, Miller—who likes to say he plans to die in his sleep at 113— writes: “After nearly a decade of personal use, research, reading, trial and error and talking with manufacturers around the world, I’ve found the most ideal sauna provides both the light and the heat needed to produce maximum benefit for little human meat-suits like you and me.” For Gillivan, that meant infrared though he’s not personally opposed to water and hot rocks. After checking online, he decided on Dynamic’s single-person model. Made in China, but CSA approved and constructed of Canadian hemlock panelling, it seemed simple enough to install. “It was easy,” he says. “Costco delivered it in three boxes. It took my daughter and her husband an hour and 20 minutes to put together. It came with lots of good instructions and a video.” Maintenance hasn’t been a problem either. “Initially, I was a bit worried that it might leak hot air, and I read that sometimes the infrared panels can burn out,” he says. But I haven’t had issues with any of that.” Gillivan knows, of course, that affordability, efficiency and ease aren’t the first things people think about when they hear the word sauna. “For me, it’s a piece of luxury; I mean, it is a sauna,” he says. “But it’s a piece of luxury that has given me so many benefits. I’ve been using it an hour a day, five days a week for the last year and it’s been fabulous.” o
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LEAP BEFORE YOU LOOK A visit to Lunenburg led to a spontaneous house purchase and now the Cranstons are embracing the East Coast lifestyle BY JANET WHITMAN PHOTOS BY STEVE SMITH, VISIONFIRE
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Denise and Goldie Cranston on their front verandah overlooking Lunenburg Harbour. The couple plans to add a front-entry staircase, an important architectural detail that was lost in renovations over the years. Right: The couple in their newly renovated kitchen with a self-portrait by Goldie’s now late brother, famed figure skater Toller Cranston, adorning the wall behind the island.
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oldie and Denise Cranston had no intention of buying an old home in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia when they visited the town for the first time a couple of years ago for a birthday weekend getaway. But 20 minutes after stepping into what the couple now calls “Tower House,” they were ready to make an offer. The two Ontarian real-estate veterans had to see it to believe it. Goldie’s identical twin brother Guy Cranston, a recent transplant to the town along with his wife Sharon Fox Cranston, already had been urging them to make the move, and had a realtor start sending them listings. With seven kids and eight grandkids in Ontario, Goldie and Denise didn’t feel ready to pack up. “I had to ask the real-estate agent to please stop sending us the cutsheets,” says Goldie. “It was way, way too premature.” One trip to Lunenburg changed that. Guy and Sharon convinced them to visit. The artists moved to the UNESCO-designated town in 2017 to expand their gallery, which features works by Goldie and Guy’s now late older brother, famed figure skater and painter Toller Cranston. “We had breakfast at the Savvy Sailor and we went for a walk around town,” says Goldie. “We saw a house for sale and my brother said, ‘Do you want to go see it?’” Minutes later, the real-estate agent appeared but the house was a fixer-upper disaster. “That took the steam out of everything,” says Goldie. “Then she said, ‘What about the house 100 metres down the street?’” She pointed to a late 1880s-era home built for a local sea captain with a panoramic view of Lunenburg Harbour from its two-tiered verandah and third floor tower. Goldie and Denise figured it would be at least twice the price of the home they’d just seen and beyond their budget. “Twenty minutes later we walked in and 20 minutes after we were ready to put an offer in,” says Goldie. “I was floored. It was an absolute homerun.” They know their way around a house. Denise, 65, sold homes for 20 years for a new homebuilder in Ottawa. Goldie, 67, worked a licensed real-estate agent after a career in food services, including a stint in the 1980s in Halifax as general manager for since-closed downtown restaurant Mother Tucker’s and CP Hotelsowned Chateau Halifax. The Victorian ticked a lot of boxes. With three bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms, it boasts excellent resale potential. The couple declined to disclose what they paid, except to say the price was a bargain compared to Ontario.
COVER STORY
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“We came, we saw, we moved”
Above: Denise and Goldie took advantage of a COVID-19 quarantine for a DIY project installing the 181-kg granite steps leading to the side walkway. Below: Goldie’s current favourite painting by his brother above the fireplace in the living room. “There is no name that he would have given this or most any painting,” says Goldie. “Why don’t we call it ‘the Journey.’”
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Nova Scotia is the best kept secret, the couple says. “It’s like Muskoka, except everywhere you go here feels like cottage country,” says Denise. And with a lot fewer people, she adds. While the house was in move-in condition, Goldie and Denise weren’t exactly ready for that with their spontaneous purchase. “We thought, ‘What the heck are we going to do now,’” says Goldie. AirBnB was hot pre-COVID-19, so they opted to renovate the basement, which has large, above-ground, front-facing windows. Denise regrets having to cover up the original granite walls with insulation inside to try and save on heating bills. They planned to relocate downstairs during the “on season,” while renting out the three upper floors for $450 a night. To enhance its appeal, they renovated the en suite bathroom for the master bedroom on the second floor which also has a walk-in closet. Last summer, late August, September, and October were almost constantly booked. “It was very successful and we were very excited about our brilliant financial move,” says Goldie. “Then lo and behold, the pandemic showed up.” With short-term rentals no longer an option, they’ve rented out the basement to a longer-term tenant for some added income. A couple of travel-related quarantines provided some DIY time. They put a fresh coat of paint on the dining room walls after stripping off layers of wallpaper and paint. Outside, they laid 181-kg granite stones for a walkway. “Anything that needs a nail, I’m there,” says Goldie, a self-described tinkerer who’s also handy in the kitchen. Future renos include a plan to add a staircase to the front entryway, a once prominent feature that was removed somewhere along the way. The couple also wants to remodel the backyard carriage house, which is said to predate the house itself. Its nine-foot ceilings on the second floor would make a great spot for the grandkids, or an escape from visitors if everyone lands at once. For now, it’s Goldie’s workshop. While the pandemic changed up their plans, Goldie and Denise have no regrets. “We went through a whole winter last year and I started up the snowblower once,” says Goldie. “The previous winter when we were in Ottawa, I think we had 30 days below -20 degrees.” A dump of snow almost covered the for-sale sign on their 1960s-era bungalow in downtown Ottawa. Both love the East Coast lifestyle. A grocery store is just down the hill and a pool and gym right in town. They’ve started playing darts on Monday nights at the Legion. “Our kids are like, ‘What?’” says Denise. Their children (two from Goldie’s first marriage and five from Denise’s ranging in age from 33 to 41) were betting the couple would be tempted to move back after six months. “They have no idea,” says Denise. “It’s such a unique spot. We’ve gotten to know our neighbours. There are great restaurants and great amenities.” The couple says the whole scenario makes them not unlike a lot of newcomer homebuyers to Lunenburg. “We came, we saw, we moved,” says Goldie.
COVER STORY
Top left: Denise in the living room with an unnamed Toller painting. “He did a number of paintings of individuals with curious looking little critters of one description or the other that were prominent to the painting,” says Goldie. “I have no explanation as to ‘the why.’” Above: The dining room had to be big enough for two table extensions Goldie built to fit 25 to 30 chairs for family dinners. Right: The large bowl at the base of the curved staircase came from Toller’s living room in San Miguel, Mexico. “I don’t know the story behind it, but he had two or three pieces from the same source,” says Goldie. “I do know that it was constantly filled with huge bunches of fresh flowers each week.” Left: The couple uncovered an entire copy of The Nova Scotian newspaper from 1914 underneath the bathtub during a reno last year. Bottom left: Another Toller painting above the fireplace in the master suite. “What went on in his very fertile imagination was known only to him,” says Goldie. Bottom right: Trim work was in good shape when the couple bought the house.
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HOME IS WHERE THE ART IS
Paintings by Toller in the guest bedroom and at the top of the stairs. The couple didn’t consider where the art might go when they bought the house. “We figured it out when we moved in,” says Denise. “Everything seemed to fit.”
Goldie and Denise Cranston’s collection of Toller Cranston paintings arrived on a 16-metre trailer in the middle of a March snowstorm. The truck couldn’t get down the steep, slippery hill to their new home and the movers had to cart each one down individually. Goldie and Denise took over from there, unwrapping the brightly coloured, fanciful paintings from protective packing that added 50% to their already large size. The couple hadn’t considered where the art might go when they decided to purchase the 2,220-square-foot Victorian home with walls on the upper floors cut a bit short by the mansard roof. Denise was more concerned that the dining room could accommodate the 25 to 30 chairs needed for family dinners. “We figured it out when we moved in,” says Denise. “Everything seemed to fit.” Toller Cranston might be best-known as a flamboyant, groundbreaking figure skater, but Goldie says his brother was always passionate about painting. “He was as much an artist as he was a skater his entire life, but nobody knew it until, to a large extent, he finished his skating career,” says Goldie. “He painted 12 hours a day, seven days a week.” Goldie couldn’t guess the number of paintings by his now late brother, except to say he was prolific. “He painted on everything from frying pans to eight-by-eight canvases.” Nearly 400 of various shapes and sizes were in his home in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico when Toller died of an apparent heart attack at 65 in January 2015. Goldie says his brother was a consummate salesman. “He’d arrive with a painting and say, ‘This would look good in your front hall.’” Goldie purchased a number over the years and inherited quite a few. Around a dozen hang in his new home, while many, particularly larger pieces, are in storage in Mahone Bay. Some are with the couple’s seven kids and others for sale in galleries and in private collections. “They’re one of the obvious features when people come to the house,” he says. “They’re not expecting this at all. They’re all large format. They’re all very colourful, in-your-face kind of paintings.” Toller wasn’t concerned about building a legacy, says Goldie. “He said, ‘You can buy one of my paintings for $20,000 or buy a car. You choose what you want.’ It flies in the face of what people would think of an artist.” o
NOW, MORE THAN EVER WE NEED TO SHARE OUR STORY! Prepare to get inspired by the amazing stories and resilient spirit of the people in Lunenburg County.
ORDER YOUR COPY OF THE NOW LUNENBURG COUNTY MAGAZINE TODAY! www.nowlunenburgcounty.com
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Thivjan Tharma and Kailee Brennan of New Glasgow, enjoy a grazing box prepared by PastaSalt for a cozy dinner at home.
EATING IN
A
Small bites with big style for your winter gatherings
s the days become colder “Instead of adding more of the dairy and the holiday season or meat, we can add more homemade approaches, more families dips, fruits and vegetables.” will be staying indoors, International flavours are also in spending more time together while vogue. Metlege’s Mediterranean box is enjoying some delicious bites. an homage to her Lebanese roots and Among this season’s hottest includes traditional foods and herbs dining trends are charcuterie such as mint, halloumi cheese, zaatar boards and grazing boxes. dipped crackers, pita bread, hummus, Charcuterie is typically a vegetarian and meat pies. presentation of cured meats, Halifax’s Posh Thali creates Indian cheese, and olives. And this year inspired grazing boxes full of exotic grazers are taking it to a new flavours such as cardamom, rose BY AMEETA VOHRA level, finding ways to elevate water, and mint. Tin foil leaves and PHOTOS BY STEVE SMITH, their creations. rose petals give it a more authentic VISIONFIRE “It’s a way in keeping or presentation. Offerings include bringing the family together, and samosas, aloo tikki, pakora and mithai also a way to alleviate community (sweets). Mint, tamarind and mango stress,” says Simone Metlege of chutneys are Indian essentials. All Boxed Bites Catering in Halifax. boxes are vegetarian or vegan, and the “When I started hosting my events, mithai is made with vegetable oil instead I thought about how to put things of ghee and has no preservatives. together. I was always putting so much effort into how “In Indian culture, food and hospitality is so important to us. Any things look, researching different ways of styling. I realized there are chance we get, we love to share knowledge about our heritage,” says more opportunities to make it more than just typical meat and cheese.” owner Katelyn Junus. “My boxes are a boxed taste of India; everything Vegetables, fruit and sweets are getting added to the regular staples from the items, to the design, and colour scheme. It’s a nice way to you would find in a board or box. For Sheldon O’Neill of St. John’s share our culture with other people. Instead of having one or two Charcuterie in Newfoundland, that means trying to find ways to holidays for us, it’s like an ongoing celebration for us.” offer something different. Among the items he includes are Bavarian Unique occasion boards and boxes have soared in popularity. cheesecake tortes and Caprese salads, which are alternating rows of Metlege’s company has become renowned for creating boxes to tomato, mozzarella, basil and a balsamic oil drizzle on top. celebrate a birthday, the birth of a child, or mark a life milestone. The “It’s quite a mixed bag,” he says. “Oddly enough, there are quite a few addition of chocolate-covered, coloured pretzel sticks and custom people who don’t enjoy olives, so that throws a little bit of a monkey cookies are extraordinary because they come from a local bakery that wrench in my plans. I replace olives with pepperoncini, anything she works with frequently. She recently started shaping her offerings pickled that gives it that salt content without the olives. Also, dill into numbers and letters, which customers love. pickles, cream cheese stuffed peppers: anything you would find in a “Those I have a lot of fun with because of the creative aspect and tapas section in a grocery store or a specialty store that would add to or making them all unique,” she adds. enhance the board in that salt category.” When it comes to themes, presentation complements taste. With Jennifer McKenna is a co-owner of Cured Creations in the holidays fast approaching, Metlege says using a lot of greenery or Charlottetown. As a chef, she has always been accustomed to cooking gold will elevate any small gathering or even a box to enjoy. Also, using and baking, so there is a personal touch when she creates her boards. Christmas trees brings height to a charcuterie spread at home. “I do a lot of the different chutneys, pickling and all other stuff, so I “I hope to add herbs that smell Christmasy. I want it to feel like it’s go beyond being normal,” she says. “I try to have fun with it and keep it Christmas in a box or on a table,” she says. “Over the holidays, I am as seasonal as possible. It makes it a big difference.” hoping to do wreath and ornament shapes, which are going to be Not everyone eats meat or animal by-products, so plant-based and awesome for holiday parties as well.” vegan items can accommodate those palettes. Cashew or soy-based With clever presentation, you can make the food itself a focal cheeses and vegetarian meats are popular but Metlege says that there point of the table’s design. O’Neill likes to get creative with bacon for are many other possibilities. occasions that express love. “With all of the boxes, there are options for everyone. When those “On Valentine’s Day, I make bacon roses, and I mount them on specific requests do come in, we make them different,” she says. breadsticks and put greenery inside to make it look like a bouquet I will WINTER 2020
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add them to vases,” he explains. “I do them also anniversaries. Bacon is the candy of meat.” Lately, there have been more requests to make boxes the entire family will enjoy, including kids. Having completed their first kid box for a kindergarten class, McKenna leaned towards the usual things. “We did the basic Ritz Crackers. We added in some little candy and Goldfish Crackers to keep kids happier because their taste buds are different,” she recalls. “We also do… a ‘Sweetcuterie’ box, so it’s all different occasion themed cookies, and occasion everything so it’s more sweets than meats and cheeses.” O’Neill likes to stage a scene with his boxes so kids can be in awe or show excitement for it. He will use something comparable to cookie cutters to slice out of cheese into characters from video games and television shows to create the scene. “I like to throw in a few different things like candy, but I try to keep it healthy as well: reduced salt intake,” he adds. “Make it fun and inviting!” Drink-pairing is a challenge because of the variety flavours on a charcuterie board. Wine is the most popular, while martinis and gin and tonic are the preferred cocktail options. For an Indian spread, a light beer will offset the heaviness of the spice. Water with a touch of lime or lemon, ginger or masala chai and mango lassis also work well. A well-designed charcuterie board will have something for everyone. “No wonder we love charcuterie—we grew up eating Lunchables every day,” O’Neill says. o
We asked the proprietors of Boxed Bites Catering, St. John’s Charcuterie, Cured Curations and Posh Thali how to create your own food canvas. There are few hard and fast rules—imagination reigns—but these tips will keep you on the right track • When gathering your items, get things that you will enjoy and make sure they are high-quality ingredients. “The best thing is to make them personal, unique and different,” Metlege adds. • A good starting point is picking up hard and soft cheese, 2–3 different meat types and fruit. • Vegetables provide balance. “You would need some vegetable to cut through the fat,” Junus says. • Overall, there are a few categories you want to look after based on palates. Those are sweet, salty, crunch and texture. • Pickles are simple to make and always popular. “Whether it’s just pickles or red onion or just pickling anything in the kitchen, using a simple pickling recipe, it takes no time at all. Any sort of mustard is always good and any sweetness,” McKenna adds. • If doing an Indian theme board or box, chutney is essential. “I always put in a coriander mint—that’s the staple. I always have tamarind and sweet mango. Those three are such different flavours that they complement the appetizers very well,” Junus says. • Add crackers or little baguettes; “Little baguettes, cut them up and toast them in the oven to get them nice, warm and crusty,” McKenna says.
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“No wonder we love charcuterie—we grew up eating Lunchables every day”
• Include some sweets such as macaroons, chocolate, cookies, mithai and fruit. • For vegan offerings, consider cashew and soy-based cheeses, plus vegetarian meats. Likewise, you can include more fruit, vegetables and homemade dips. • Presentation is everything. Be cautious with colour because the goal is for visual appeal. For example, do not put white cheese next to white crackers. “Leave a little separation in between each of larger items, especially for better colour or shade so that you can fill in the insides with something that gives more of a pop on that colour. So like a vibrant green like an olive or kiwi works well with strawberries,” offers O’Neill. • If experimentation is the goal, include items you have not tried before. “Dragonfruit is not something people are familiar but with that dark pink exterior and then when you cut it open, that bright white with the black seeds. It’s just a wonderful addition to a board, and it tastes good as well,” adds O’Neill. • Be creative by cutting up cheeses, vegetables and fruit in different shapes or (or even cartoon characters for kids) instead of the standard cubes and slices. • Stack food items up on top of each other to give dimension. • Use greenery, gold, flowers, trees for presentation on boards and in boxes. • Create a unique theme by making a charcuterie or grazing box in the shape of a letter, number or to reflect a special occasion such as Christmas, birthdays, Valentine’s Day and Easter.
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or 30 years, ABM Integrated Solutions, a Halifax-based IT solutions provider and integrator, has been serving large and small organizations across a wide range of industries in Atlantic Canada. Today, ABM Integrated Solutions has evolved beyond what it means to be a technology outsourcer into an organization dedicated to delivering technical excellence across the Atlantic region. “Our mission is to be a reliable and trusted partner for our customers, providing technology solutions and services to empower their success,” says Craig Lynk, President ABM Integrated Solutions. ABM aligns strategically with small and medium-sized businesses (SMB), delivering technical integrations, solutions, and platforms. ABM understands the pace of change and the ongoing challenges organizations face within the new digital economy. Technological challenges and advances are constant, and to stay competitive, businesses today need to remain current. In many ways, organizations’ technical programs need to secure and drive a successful business strategy. That’s why today, ABM considers itself more than just another technology company, but rather an organization that supports a wide range of SMB customers as a partner, delivering exceptional IT solutions tailored to the individual needs of their customers. “We help organizations be their best by doing what we do best,” says Mr. Hall-Hoffarth, “we provide inclusive programs designed to enable the organization and allow companies to focus on their business goals and objectives.” But don’t just take his word for it. Cortney Burns, the Director of Finance and Administration at the Greater Moncton International Airport, had this to say, “as with most organizations, cybersecurity is a critical focus for Greater Moncton International Airport (GMIA). ABM provides technical guidance and expertise, with a focus on ensuring our systems and information are protected from unauthorized access, both inside and outside of our organization. With the support of ABM, we implemented several security initiatives that have improved our technical readiness and increased our security posture to support key business initiatives. ABM continues to be a valuable resource in meeting the needs of GMIA.” One recent ABM client, Cherubini went further to say, “we had a complex system integration that required a high level of technical expertise and knowledge we couldn’t field in-house,” said Michael Gasparetto, the company’s Managing Director. “ABM not only solved our problem, but they also worked with us to greatly improve our overall IT infrastructure and service promise.” To do what Mr. Hall-Hoffarth says, “we do our best to understand and support our customer’s needs.” ABM frequently works with world-class partners such as Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), the global edge-tocloud platform-as-a-service company that helps organizations accelerate outcomes by unlocking value from all of their data, everywhere. “We’ve found ABM’s particular ability to execute complicated infrastructure projects to be extremely beneficial,” said Paula Hodgins, President of HPE Canada.“The efficiencies are passed on to clients in reliability and valueadded functionalities. which, in the long run, means cost-competitiveness.” Within all of this, Mr. Hall-Hoffarth says, “reliability and customercentricity are the keys to our success.” “We work with businesses to understand not only their immediate needs but also their long-term objectives. We continue this collaborative approach to find the best solutions within our partner networks, working closely with HPE, Aruba (a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company), and Fortinet (to name a few) to
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deliver best-in-class, cost-effective solutions. Then, we apply an integrated, tailored approach to drive service excellence and bottom-line results for our customers.” In fact, ABM’s Managed Services and Service Desk offerings are specifically designed for SMBs that require in-depth analyses and ongoing support for their growing technology needs, aligned with real-world outcomes. But what does this mean? ABM can bring efficient and accessible cloud computing solutions to businesses, providing secure, effective computing options that help reduce IT overhead, enhance security, and improve bottom-line profitability. As part of ABM’s suite of offerings is the ABM Advantage Basic Plan, which allows clients to focus on cost management while also providing them with options to choose from a large selection of IT products and services. To go a step further, ABM’s Advantage Plus Plan leverages the company’s technical expertise to eliminate distractions associated with selecting and managing products and services aligned with business outcomes. ABM also offers the Advantage CIO Program, which goes beyond software, hardware, and support services. The CIO works directly with a client’s leadership teams to forecast business change, create long-term IT roadmaps, and oversee large-scale development projects. ABM also focuses on safeguarding valuable stakeholder relationships in a variety of ways by conducting comprehensive security assessments for their customers. Additionally, as a Fortinet partner, ABM can provide monitoring services to ensure a client’s environment remains secure. In fact, ABM’s Peace of Mind offers professional security assessments that help instill confidence for all stakeholders. The bottom line is, regardless of the need or the scale of the solution – whether it be a large, complex project in a fast-paced environment or a smaller initiative with a tight timeline – ABM supports customers by providing effective solutions designed specifically for an individual business’ needs. “Whether a business is expanding an office, taking its on-premise servers to the cloud, or requiring the expertise of a virtual CIO, we have integrated technology plans that will meet the need,” Mr. Hall-Hoffarth says. “For SMBs, the accelerating pace of IT change is a fact of life. We know this from our experience, and we have the technical expertise and knowledge to help your organization prosper, both today and tomorrow.”
Seasons of BY AMEETA VOHRA PHOTOS BY BRUCE MURRAY, VISIONFIRE
Journalist Ameeta Vohra celebrates both Diwali and Christmas and gives each celebration its time to shine 24
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IN DEPTH
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s the holiday season arrives, many Atlantic Canadians are fortunate to have diverse backgrounds. One of those reasons is to celebrate different cultural and traditional holidays. I am one of the lucky ones. Born and raised in Halifax, I celebrate Western culture holidays and ones based on my Indian culture. This is the busiest time of year. With Diwali in mid-November and the Christmas season soon after that, one of the challenges is separating both occasions to give each one its true identity and meaning. Both have similarities. From spending time with family, eating and sharing lots of sweets, praying, buying new clothes, giving out money, lighting up candles as well as lights, and with each occasion spanning almost a week, it’s easy to blend Diwali and Christmas. However, that is where the similarities end. Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a five-day observance that signifies the start of a new year, victory of good over evil and end of harvest. For me, it’s all about festive food, bright lights and vibrant colours. During this time, celebrants wear traditional, vibrant and colourful outfits like sarees, lehengas, a dupatta and salwar kameez. Every year, I always buy new clothes to wear for the festival as that is part of a traditional ritual. Each day of the holiday signifies unique traditions. On the first day, people purchase a silver or gold item for their home and clean their residence. When day two arrives, several beautiful trays of mithai (sweets) covered with flower petals and tin foil leaves are created not just to enjoy but also to share with family, neighbours and friends. Every year, that was a special moment of spending time with my mother who would make burfi, gulab jamans, ladoos, gujiya, gajar ka halwa, chum chums, kheer and jalebis while I would sit next to her and be her taste tester. Additionally, rangoli is all over the house floors. It is art created on the floor with coloured sand, rice and flower petals. The actual Diwali holiday is Day 3, and that is because there has to be no moon so the festivities can start in the dark. Families get together to pray to Lakshmi, the Hindu Goddess of Wealth. One of my favourite parts of the holiday is lighting up diyas, lights and firecrackers at the end of prayers. Also, my family would play a lot of Diwali songs, typically ones from Bollywood movies. Windows remain open and lights stay on as a way to invite Lakshmi into your home for a wealth and prosperity blessing. While many festive Indian food dishes are part of the festival, celebrants fast and do not drink alcoholic beverages on Day 3. Samosas, pakoras and aloo tikki are typical snacks. As the food is considered a divine gift, it goes through a sacrifice for respect. Celebrants do not eat beef, as cows are considered sacred. Food for the festival includes channa masala, saag, aloo gobi, matter paneer, subzi, daal, puris and raita, which are all vegetarian fare. On the fourth day, businesses are closed, and they pray for the technology or tools they are thankful for but also as a sign of respect. In my case, I pray to my computer and technology tools, as they are the critical thing I use for work. The final day of the festival celebrates the bond between brother and sister, wishing each other a healthy and long life. When Christmas rolls around, I observe those traditions and meanings mainly because during my upbringing I went to a Catholic school. At the start of Advent on December 1, I begin lighting a candle on a wreath and increasing the number as a new week approaches until we get to Christmas Day. I purchase a real Christmas tree at the beginning of the month, decorate it with lights, green and red ornaments, a star topper and bead garland. Until Epiphany, which is 12 days after Christmas Day, I keep up the tree to signify when the three wise men worship baby Jesus. On Christmas Eve, I attend midnight mass, which is prayers and carols to represent the birth of Jesus. As a family, we always watch the usual Christmas movies and cartoons, including a Christmas Story, White Christmas, Elf and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Every evening we would drive around the city to see all the houses with Christmas lights and outdoor displays. On Christmas Eve, we sit around the fireplace, sing carols, watch shows and eat all sorts of festive foods while looking at the largest, beautifully decorated and lighted tree. On Christmas Day, we woke up and opened presents together and enjoyed a traditional turkey family dinner. No matter what holiday you mark, it’s essential to genuinely and authentically mark those occasions while understanding the meaning of the observances. As each year passes, tradition, culture and heritage become more critical. For me, celebrating my parents’ culture, acknowledging where I came from and sharing it with family and friends means separating it from Christmas. Be open and trying different cultures while accepting all the different ways people live in our society. No matter where you are, these holidays signify cherished time to spend with those you love. o WINTER 2020
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East Coast Living Gift Guide 2020
Gift ideas for everyone on your list
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Glacier Fire Canadian Dancing Diamond Pendant $479.99 charmdiamonds.com
$40 (no tax) Enjoy a variety of sea salts in a clever gift box that is perfect for the foodie in your life. One set has our flake sea salt, juniper smoked and green alder and the other set has our flake sea salt, juniper smoked and coffee. Made in Bonavista, N.L. newfoundlandsaltcompany.com
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GOVERNMENT HOUSE HALIFAX: A PLACE OF HISTORY AND GATHERING Hardcover (illustrated), $45
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This cutie cat planter is the purr-fect addition to any plant lover with an affinity for kitties and cute objects! This planter is a perfect size for medium succulents, herbs or cat grass. Included is a small hole in the base for drainage and aeration. Stoneware 3 x 4 ½ x 4 ½ in (7.6 x 11.4 x 11.4 cm) shopcapebretoncraft.com / tessaramics.com
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DUCKISH NATURAL SKIN CARE BATH & BODY GIFT SET $29.99
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OATMEAL FRENCH TERRY PIMA COTTON LOUNGE SET Tokyo Coat: $198 Tapered Jogger: $128
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The Washabuck leather shaving kit has been a top gift for dads, brothers, and significant others year after year. Approx 10” x 4” x 4” - Lined with 10oz denim - Fits all of the essentials including toothpaste, razor. shopcapebretoncraft.com / pheesoriginalgoods.ca
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THE KETO SOLUTION A PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR LIVING YOUR LOWCARBOHYDRATE LIFE By Angela Doucette $19.95
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Through dozens of powerful stories that illuminate the generosity and ingenuity of Nova Scotians, Stay the Blazes Home captures the many ways Nova Scotians adapted to and embraced life during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nimbus Publishing nimbus.ca
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This remarkable book tells the story of the Hadhad family’s journey from Syria to Atlantic Canada and the founding of Peace by Chocolate. Goose Lane Editions gooselane.com
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$29.95 Cavallini puzzles 1000 pieces, vintage images, beautifully gift packaged. Forge Home and Garden 199 Provost St. New Glasgow, N.S. 902-755-6140
UNICORN IN THE WOODS: HOW EAST COAST GEEKS AND DREAMERS ARE CHANGING THE GAME Hardcover, $29.95
An engrossing story of high-tech value creation in Atlantic Canada, and the origins of two companies that sold for $1 billion. Goose Lane Editions gooselane.com
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BUYING GUIDE
Buying guide Now that you’ve seen all the quality products and services available in Atlantic Canada, here’s a guide to help you find them for your own home. Abm Integrated Solutions (p. 23) abmis.ca Acorn Press (p. 27, 28) acornpresscanada.com Advocate Print Metro Guide (p. 3) advocateprinting.com Amos Pewter (p. 28) amospewter.com Ana & Zac (p. 27) anaandzac.ca Atlantic News (p. 9) atlanticnews.ns.ca Attica (p. 29) attica.ca Blue Diamond (p. 2) bluediamond.com Bosch/bsh Home Appliances Inc (p. 7) venmar.ca
Cape Breton Centre for Craft & Design (p. 26, 27) shopcapebretoncraft.com
Lakecity Woodworkers (p. 5) lakecitywoodworkers.com Now Lunenburg County (p. 18) nowlunenburgcounty.com
Charm Diamond Centres (p. 26, 27, 28) charmdiamonds.com
Metro Building Supplies (p. 9) metropei.com
Duckish Natural Skin Care (p. 26) duckish.ca
Newfoundland Salt Company (p.26) newfoundlandsaltcompany.com
Forge Home and Garden (p. 28) 902-755-6140
Nimbus Publishing (p. 9, 27) nimbus.ca
Glubes Sound Studio (p. 31) glubes.ca Goose Lane (p. 26, 28) gooselane.com
Northern Watters Knitwear & Tartan Shop (p. 26) nwknitwear.com
Interhab Homes (p. 8) interhabs.ns.ca
Pacific Energy (p. 32) pacificenergy.net
Ivan’s Cameras (p. 26, 28) www.ivanscamera.com
Red Door Realty (p. 6) reddoorrealty.ca
Kubota (p. 19) kubota.ca
White Point Beach Resort (p. 27, 28) whitepoint.com
F U R N I S H I N G S S I N C E
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ATTICA.CA 3065 ROBIE ST HALIFAX NS B3K 4P6 902 423 2557 INFO@ATTICA.CA WINTER 2020
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LAST LOOK
Percy Sacobie The great escape to the positive BY ROBYN McNEIL
Top left: “Highways” acrylic on canvas. Top Centre: Hard carved mask. Chunk of wood out of the wood pile and hand chisels. Top right:”Giving Thanks” Acrylic on canvas. “Winning design for AFN General Assembly 2019. Bottom left: Sacobie’s personal traditional regalia, worn at Indigenous traditional events. Bottom middle: “Meeting of the Little People” Acrylic on canvas. Bottom right: Percy and Barb Sacobie.
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rt means different things to different people. For Percy Sacobie, it’s an escape. But Sacobie, 47, a painter, carver and bead worker from St. Mary’s First Nation—a Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet) community on the north side of Fredericton—resists the title of artist and the trappings it carries. “I do artwork,” says Sacobie, whose full-time job is in advanced support for St. Mary’s. “If you call yourself an artist, people expect you to do artwork all the time. I’d rather have a steady job and do art on the side. It makes it more enjoyable.” Despite Sacobie’s reluctance to be labelled, people are taking notice of his work. After taking part in a couple of group shows, he had his first solo exhibition, Wolastoqiyik Storyteller, at Fredericton’s Beaverbrook Art Gallery in 2019. Sacobie’s paintings are an escape of their
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own—bright, graphic, cheerful and wild with colour. Birds and flowers feature prominently, as do traditional Indigenous practices and stories. Sacobie’s focus on the positive is deliberate. “My artwork is my time alone,” says Sacobie, who works out of a small room in his basement. “The last thing I want to do is put depression into my painting. I try to focus on imagery that’s different than loss.” Sacobie knows loss better than most. He lost a brother in 1992 to suicide, and another in 1993 to murder. A few years later, his sister died from an overdose, and in 2015 he lost his last sibling, once again to suicide. “I quit drinking when I was 20 after my first brother passed away. So when I quit drinking, I had to stay home a lot,” says Sacobie. “I started focusing more on my artwork then.” Although it was loss which pushed him to focus on art after dabbling in it for ‘as long as I can remember,’ and eventually back to school (for graphic design, native art studies and a WINTER 2020
bachelor of education), he doesn’t let the pain seep into his work. “Art is escapism for me. It’s my escape. There are enough people that do political artwork, realistic artwork. I try to do something not realistic and not political,” says Sacobie, who studied under celebrated Indigenous sculptor, Ned Bear. “I could focus on all the bad stuff, or I could focus on some good.” Sacobie chooses to highlight that good. And he offers others an escape of their own via the Take a Break Lodge, a retreat he built for those struggling with mental health, addictions— even those just having a tough time. And he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal from the Governor General of Canada in 2017 for his efforts. Constructed in 2015, after his brother’s suicide, the simple cedar cabin is available to anyone who needs it. “If it saves one life,” says Sacobie, it’s done its job.” o
TV when it’s on, art when it’s off The Samsung Frame is a TV with an elegant and modern frame that seamlessly blends into your decor. It not only enhances your space as a TV, it becomes a part of your personal gallery as a work of art. Pick the ideal customizable bezel for your space, taste, or artwork—magnets make it simple to attach and detach for a different style. Available in screen sizes ranging from 32” – 75”.
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Winter is coming.
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