Boulevard Magazine, Victoria, April/May 2020

APRIL | MAY 2020

LIFE AT ITS FINEST

T H E A RT O F

Simplicity

SACRED SUPPER The importance of how you eat

WEST COAST WELLNESS Self-care in beautiful British Columbia

HOME, NOT ALONE

Opportunities for connection, compassion

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CONTENTS 32

46 FEATURES

38 RIGHT AT HOME

52 HOME, BUT NOT ALONE

On the Cover

Condo living at Sayward Hill

Photo by Lia Crowe

By Angela Cowan

New opportunities for connection, compassion

By Jane Zatylny

THE BEAUTY OF SIMPLICITY

74

SACRED SUPPER

Natural fibres, metals and colours delight the senses

How you eat is as important as what you eat

By Jen Evans

By Ellie Shortt

SIMPLE BEAUTY

46

Model Jade Mikell photographed on location at the home of stylist Jen Evans.

Story by Jen Evans

FASHION

46

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38

28

18

DEPARTMENTS

10

CONTRIBUTORS

22 WELL AND GOOD

88

TRAVEL

12

West Coast wellness: self-care in beautiful BC

Dresden is a delight

EDITOR

By Toby Tannas

Push pause, not panic

By Kaisha Scofield

14

DESIGN NOTES

98

SECRETS AND LIVES

Nicolas Waters

Savage beauty

By Angela Cowan

By Janice Jefferson

16 LIFE.STYLE.ETC.

Trista Smith

28 IN STUDIO

Care to dance: Daniel Seguin

By Tess van Straaten

102 NARRATIVE

32 BUSINESS CLASS

By Lia Crowe

Off the corporate ladder: Chace Whitson

18

GOOD TASTE

By Tess van Straaten

A whole new ball game

By Chelsea Forman

Lights. Action. Glamour?

By Angela Cowan

106 BEHIND THE STORY

By Don Denton

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contributors V I C T O R I A L I F E AT I T S F I N E S T

“When I was first offered the chance to write the Narrative piece for Boulevard, it took me a full day to come up with an idea. My life for the last year has centred almost exclusively around my new baby and keeping my toddler occupied! But when I realized I could use it to revisit my trip to the Victoria set of Murdoch Mysteries, I had no trouble writing the draft. It was such a fun assignment!” Angela Cowan is a freelance writer and editor who contributes regularly to Boulevard magazine. Find her on Twitter @angela_m_cowan.

ANGELA COWAN WRITER, LIGHTS. ACTION. GLAMOUR?

EMMA ROSSUM FOR HARRIS KUIPERS CLOTHING

STYLIST, THE BEAUTY OF SIMPLICTY

GROUP PUBLISHER Penny Sakamoto

BOULEVARD GROUP Mario Gedicke

PUBLISHER 250.891.5627 info@blvdmag.ca

EDITOR Susan Lundy ASSOCIATE EDITOR Lia Crowe CREATIVE DIRECTOR Lily Chan

DESIGN Lorianne Koch Michelle Gjerde Tammy Robinson Kelsey Boorman

PAGE 102

JEN EVANS

AP RI L / MAY 2 02 0

“One thing I love about fashion styling for Boulevard is connecting with all the local boutique owners, sales assistants, designers and makers. Curating the looks for a shoot

is a collaboration between us all. I also love creating with others. Our team of five decided to shoot this feature at my house. I originally wanted to focus on the new minimalism in fashion, but the images that we composed together morphed into something more.

They became lush, painterly portraits with a bohemian feel...and we felt inspired and lifted up by each other and our collective creativity.”

Jen is a freelance fashion, prop and interior stylist and regular contributor to Boulevard.

PAGE 74

ADVERTISING Mario Gedicke

Vicki Clark

Pat Brindle

Lisa Vassiliadis

CONTRIBUTING

WRITERS Angela Cowan Lia Crowe Chelsea Forman Janice Jefferson Kaisha Scofield Ellie Shortt Tess van Straaten Toby Tannas Jane Zatylny

ILLUSTRATION Sierra Lundy

CONTRIBUTING Lia Crowe PHOTOGRAPHERS Don Denton

“When I was asked to write about my honeymoon in Germany I was initially hesitant. When I found out I’d

TOBY TANNAS WRITER, HISTORY. CULTURE. CUISINE.

be writing about Kempinski Hotels, however, it was the easiest ‘yes’ I ever said. (Well, let’s say the second easiest, in case my new husband is reading this.) When we walked into the palatial Adlon Kempinski Hotel, I knew we were in for something very special. The Kempinski Taschenbergpalais was just as impressive and the staff just as attentive. Each hotel is unique in its own right and a perfect match to its surroundings.” Toby is a regular contributor to Boulevard Okanagan. You can also catch Toby weekday mornings on Kelowna’s New 103.1 Beach Radio.

PAGE 88

CIRCULATION & Marilou Pasion DISTRIBUTION 604.542.7411

TRENDING ONLINE:

View Boulevard’s Fashion Friday

www.vicnews.com/life Any device. Any time.

Victoria Boulevard® is a registered trademark of Black Press Group Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the publisher’s written permission. Ideas and opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of Black Press Group Ltd. or its affiliates; no official endorsement should be inferred. The publisher does not assume any responsibility for the contents, both implied or assumed, of any advertisement in this publication. Printed in Canada. Canada Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement #42109519.

Tel: 250.381.3484 Fax: 250.386.2624 info@blvdmag.ca boulevardmagazines.com

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PHOTO BY LIA CROWE

pushing pause instead of panic

It was Sunday morning, mid-March. Boulevard’s press date was within a week and as I looked at the beautifully laid-out pages, I realized it was all wrong. The world was a different place two months ago when we started working on this issue.

The lifestyle spread featured tips for a digital detox — a story that was perfect for the time, but made no sense now. Our health story promoted self-care in a busy world: it also lacked conviction once our world went on pause. And a beautiful “headliners” spread detailed upcoming events in Victoria, many of which had already been cancelled.

Luckily, Boulevard has an amazing set of freelancers. A Sunday-morning email to health writer Kaisha Scofield and feature writer Jane Zatylny resulted in the last-minute, make-more-sense stories that you’ll now see in this issue.

How quickly our world changes. And it’s certain that by the time Boulevard lands in your mailbox three weeks from now, it will have changed again. Decisions my husband Bruce and I agonized over a few weeks ago — do we cancel a New York trip? — aren’t even debatable now. Decisions I’m trying to make today may not even be an option two weeks from now.

At this point, Bruce and I have been in self-imposed isolation for over two weeks. Bruce has a heart condition; I am immune-compromised. COVID-19 may not be kind to us, so here we are.

Luckily, we like each other! Normally this time of year (and most times of year), we are engrossed in all things hockey. Loss of sports-watching took some adjustment, but we’ve replaced those couch-sitting, beer-sipping hours with daily 10-kilometre walks.

Good for body and mind!

And make no mistake — it’s the mind games that can hurt.

Quelling panic is paramount. We have two children living in New York City, and watching the nightmare unfold there makes it hard to not push the internal panic button. I also worry about my widowed mother. Aside from her age, which puts her in physical jeopardy, she’s a social butterfly; how will isolation affect her mental health? What if she gets the virus? What if anyone in our family falls ill? Between being compromised ourselves and living in a different country than two of our four kids and a ferry ride away from the other two — we can’t rush in to help. This contradicts every maternal and paternal instinct we have.

Work. I already work from home, so the situation doesn’t impact me in that sense, but like everyone else, I have to wonder what the next few months hold in terms of work. The fact is, a spiralling economy affects everyone. Hence the advice to keep it going as best we can in our own communities: support small food outlets; go online to buy local merchandise; buy gift cards from local restaurants now to use later; buy music; buy art. Book a trip now for a few months down the road. And above all, stay calm and care for your own health and that of others.

I saw this on social media: “If it’s out of your control it should be out of your mind.” Stay safe, Victoria. And let’s push the pause button instead of the panic button.

Susan Lundy Editor

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BY JANICE JEFFERSON MODHAUS DESIGNS Keep it fierce with these powerful and playful design trends — like intense apple green offset by seductive animal prints. Don’t play it safe, feed the beast!

1. Chie Mihara — Ekune, Footloose Shoes, $405.

2. Jenny Bird Raye ear jackets, Frances Grey, $90. 3. Velvetopai cushion cover, Smoking Lily, $42. 4. Smythe long shawl blazer, Bernstein & Gold, $795. 5. Banded stripe runner, CB2, $299.

6. Louis Poulsen PH5 pendant lamp in hues of orange, Gabriel Ross, $1,245.

7. Vitra George Nelson Sunflower Clock in ash and black, Gabriel Ross, $1,875. 8. Cole and Son wallpaper — Botanical Botanica in rose, Bespoke Design, $295/roll. 9. Carrie Recliner, StudioYDesign, $3,395. 10. Armstrong Marmorette in frog green, Hourigans Flooring, call for pricing.

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life.style.etc.

WITH TRISTA SMITH CREATOR OF RECLAMATION DESIGN

“We’re all really happy to to be doing our thing. All the people who work here are just very happy to make and create.”

WORDS + PHOTOGRAPHY LIA CROWE

Deep in the Highlands, I turn onto a long driveway that disappears into the trees, and wind my way up to the home of Trista Smith, which is also the headquarters of Reclamation Design Company. I’m here to chat life, style and the reclamation of beauty.

It took vision to see a piece of vintage lace in a thrift store, likely a well-loved tablecloth from a bygone era, and note the potential for something new that would be well-loved again. However, it took a lot of hard work, commitment and perseverance to turn that vision into a hugely successful company.

Several years ago and with the birth of her first baby, Trista left her job as an acute-care nurse and started making upcycled baby clothes and selling them at little boutiques. She had another baby, moved to the island and then began making dresses.

“I started doing creative shoots of the dresses with a photographer friend about four years ago and posting them on Instagram. Vancouver Fashion Week got in touch with me and that’s when I started making the dresses out of vintage lace, which was cheap and easy to find at thrift stores. And then people started buying them for bridal gowns. From there, it started growing and I got the hint that these dresses could be something that photographers across North America would like. I started stalking photographers on Instagram, searching for profiles that were really beautiful and I’d message 16

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them and send them dresses. When I first started, I was giving them away to photographers all over the world. It helped me build my following because it caught on fast.

Now most of my followers and buyers are photographers from all over the world who buy the dresses for their ‘client closets.’”

I tour Trista’s large home workshop, where the designers and sewers work. It is bursting with gorgeous vintage lace and racks and racks of stunning pieces: beautifully feminine, boho dresses. In addition to the vintage lace, Trista’s design company now makes velvet and linen dresses, and I can’t help but want to try one of them on and twirl around.

As Trista talks about her demanding work schedule — 70-hour weeks, starting every day at 5 am — and her commitment to prompt communication, I ask what fires her up and keeps her fuelled.

“Building the community with the buyers,” she says.

“I have so many repeat buyers, I feel that I know them, that they are our friends. I love that I am part of this community of photographers even though I’m not one. I feel that the future of fashion is going to be more like this: custom pieces, bespoke, slow fashion.”

And what are the best lessons learned?

“The more communications with clients, the better, and to add as much value as we can to our clients. So our dresses are tailored to fit an abundance of bodies. We’ve come up with designs that will fit from a size 2 to a size 14 with adjustable ties and straps. We put a lot of time into the design so they perfectly hug the silhouette of a woman and make her look her best. I’ve also learned to do whatever it takes to have a happy customer and a successful brand.”

STYLE INSPIRATIONS & LIFE Style icon: Stevie Nicks.

Favourite artist: I love sculptor Paige Bradley.

She says “Art is not entertainment. Art is not luxury goods. Art is culture. It is you and me.”

Piece of art: My favourite art pieces in my house are ones I’ve made myself. Driftwood pieces, sanded branches hanging in a corner...my wood slice coffee table.

Creating art is what I was made to do.

Favourite fashion designer or brand: I love Cult Gaia and Dior.

Favourite musician: Right now I really dig Daughter and Martha Wainwright.

Era of time that inspires your style: Most def the 70s.

Favourite local restaurant: Ithaka Greek.

Favourite cocktail: Caesar.

Favourite flower: I prefer green and leafy. Obsessed with fiddle.

Favourite city to visit: Montreal.

Favourite app: Google Translate. I can easily have a full conversation in any language. I often have buyers around the world message me in their language and I love that I can reply and engage with them.

Favourite place in the whole world: Right here in my beautiful forest oasis in the Highlands, Victoria, BC. There is nowhere else I would rather be.

FASHION & BEAUTY Uniform: Free People jeans and tops. Anything that doesn’t require a bra.

All-time favourite piece: My new high-waisted culotte jeans from Free People.

Currently coveting: Half Court wideleg pants in orange by Free People.

Favourite pair of shoes: My black East End “Adanac” lace-up boots by Fluevog.

Favourite day-bag: “Harmony Hobo”

by Coach in pink.

Favourite work tool: My new Coach “Belt Bag.” Favourite jewelry designer: Tiffany and Co. Fashion obsession: Vintage T with high-waisted denim and clogs.

Accessory you spend the most money on: Definitely handbags and boots.

Necessary indulgence for either fashion or beauty: A great skin care routine and a moisturizing concealer and foundation.

Moisturizer: Elizabeth Arden and Strivectin right now but I like to change it up often.

Scent: Always Clinique Happy and Happy Heart. I’ve worn it daily for over 10 years.

Must-have hair product: Shampure by Aveda.

Beauty secret: Drink a ton of water and tell yourself you’re amazing. Look yourself in the mirror every single day and revel in the glorious beauty that is you.

READING MATERIAL What do you read online for style: I’m a Pinterest junkie. It’s my go-to for style inspo. I also love how I can search anything in the world on Instagram and it magically gives me at least 5,324 options.

Fave print magazine: I still love a good thumb through of Vogue and InStyle .

Fave style blog: I mainly follow wedding blogs and my two faves are Style Me Pretty and Green Wedding Shoes .

Coffee table book/photography book: My current coffee table book is actually called Plot . It’s a book of photos and descriptions of gardens and plants.

Last great read: The Invitation by Oriah Mountain Dreamer and The Thank You Economy by Gary V. I listen to audiobooks all day so I consume at least two to three books a week.

Book currently reading: Millionaire Success Habits by Dean Graziosi.

Favourite book of all time: Big Magic

by Elizabeth Gilbert and Heart Talk by Cleo Wade.

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good taste

Ann Conrod of Ballsy Foods.

A whole new ball game You can feel good about (and from) this snack WORDS CHELSEA FORMAN

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Eco-Friendly, Sustainable & inspired by texture & hues of nature

s

nacking is often driven by convenience, cravings and the urge to quickly soothe those hunger pangs. By mid-afternoon, many of us are reaching for a little something to get us through a workout or tide us over until dinner — chocolate bar and coffee at 3 pm sound familiar?

But many of those convenient and accessible packaged and baked goods offer a short-lived energy boost, followed by the ever-dreaded sugar crash. And as we become more health-conscious and active, the demand for nutritious, guilt-free snack alternatives is on the rise.

With this in mind, Ann Conrod and Sean Wallbridge, founders of Victoria’s Ballsy Foods, have created a line of protein balls, a highly customizable snack alternative offered in a variety of flavour and dietary profiles to curb energy dips and boost nutrient consumption. (And, yes, the company has a lot of fun using various plays on the word “balls.”)

Ann, who is also the owner of a nutrition coaching company called Fettle + Food and a personal trainer at Innovative Fitness, began incorporating protein balls into her clients’ weekly diets.

“The biggest challenge for a lot of people is meal prep and finding healthy snacks. I started making up recipes for protein balls to fill this void. I’d make them weekly, [customized] specifically for my clients,” Ann explains.

One of those clients was Sean.

“Sean was one of the biggest supporters; he loved the protein balls right away. He is not one to sit down and have big meals during the day, preferring to eat something quick and small several times a day to keep his energy levels up,” says Ann. During their personal training sessions at Innovative Fitness, Sean began putting the bug in Ann’s ear to start a protein ball company.

“These balls last seven to 10 days in the fridge, and I don’t feel guilty about eating them. I know I’m eating

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“Sean was one of the biggest supporters; he loved the protein balls right away.

He is not one to sit down and have big meals during the day, preferring to eat something quick and small several times a day to keep his energy levels up.” something healthy and I don’t crash,” Sean explains.

Operating as an online store, exclusively servicing Greater Victoria, the balls are handmade to order on Sundays.

“All weekly orders are made fresh on Sunday and are delivered free to your home that night or Monday morning,” says Sean, “We offer packs of 12 in glass containers which allow us to avoid waste.”

The store has two constant flavours — the Bl’ann’d Ball and the Blue Ball — and one rotating flavour that changes every four to eight weeks. All of the balls are gluten-free, and the Bl’ann’d Balls are also vegan.

“All of our balls are oat-based, so they are not keto. We are aiming to bring sugar levels down, so they are lightly sweetened with maple syrup or honey. Every ball is filled with healthy carbs, fibre and protein powder. The other flavours incorporated are based on the specific ball,” says Ann. Every ball comes with directions for consumption. Some are anytime balls, and some are workout balls.

“You could eat all of the balls anytime, but some give you a bit more energy before or after a workout and sustain you until your next meal. The highest carb count is 15 grams, and protein ranges from four to six grams depending on the type of ball,” explains Ann. With rotating flavours that have included chocolate and salted caramel, Ballsy Foods is making it easy for you to keep your hands off that secret desk drawer filled with sweet treats. It’s effectively ensuring that you can feel good about snacking and, more importantly, feel good from snacking.

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well and good

west coast wellness Self-care in beautiful British Columbia WORDS KAISHA SCOFIELD PHOTOGRAPHY LIA CROWE

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Create a space that is uniquely yours | established in 1980 |

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t’s safe to say that navigating a pandemic is a new experience for all of us. COVID-19 has quite literally taken over our lives. As we adjust to our new normal by learning how to navigate self-isolation and social distancing, we are also trying to monitor our own health and the health of those around us. This requires considerable attention and as a result, could lead us to be hyper-aware of our surroundings, even a little paranoid. Did someone just sneeze?

Adjusting to social isolation, monitoring health, keeping up to date with infection tallies — all of this can create the perfect storm for anxiety, fear and overwhelm. Typically, we would process challenging times by turning to coping mechanisms, like visiting with friends, going to the gym or even focusing on work. But these options are generally no longer available. Removing these coping mechanisms, especially while navigating fear, can cause an increase in stress and anxiety that can have negative effects on our overall health.

Following social-distancing protocols is, of course, crucially important, but how do we restrict our lives without feeling like we’re living in stasis? Luckily, there is a way to engage in activities that will not only increase our mental and physical health but also respect social-distancing pro-

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tocols. The answer is just outside the door. That’s right, it’s time to get into nature and beautiful British Columbia has enough natural space for everyone.

Spending time in nature has been shown to not only reduce stress but also improve immune, cardiovascular and respiratory function, all while providing emotional healing, decreased blood pressure, and improved sleep-wake cycles. Our forests, mountains and coastlines offer a seemingly endless variety of outdoor activities. Choose from walking, hiking, gardening, beach-combing — the list goes on and any of these activities allows for effective social distancing while also providing space for movement while absorbing valuable vitamin D, enjoying fresh air and giving the mind a chance to recharge.

Being active in nature also challenges the brain. Navigating new surroundings in a way that we aren’t fully adapted to is beneficial because it exercises parts of the brain that may be less active during typical, routine activities. For example, we use our prefrontal cortex for problem solving, and the cerebellum for movement. During outdoor activity, while on a hike for example, these parts of the brain are working hard to navigate terrain, adjust to inclines, balance over tree roots, etc. The brain is distracted by our surroundings and thus less likely to engage in anxious thoughts.

If being on a beach or in a forest feels too ambitious, simply being around nature can boost immune function and accelerate recovery from illness. Studies in Japan have shown that moving in nature in a style referred to as forest bathing actually increases the body’s natural killer (NK) cells, the ones that primarily fight illness. There is also evidence that simply smelling the aroma of a tree can increase the number of these cells in the body. NK cells work to contain viral infections while the body’s immune response creates cells that then work to clear the infection. These are good cells to have in abundance if you’re fighting off a virus.

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Let’s not forget about sustenance. Our beautiful British Columbia coastline not only provides an abundance of outdoor activities but also an incredible variety of nutrient-rich foods. Salmon, halibut and albacore are all caught right here in the Pacific Northwest and they provide essential nutrients in the form of protein, iodine and various other vitamins and minerals. Most importantly, they are the perfect source of omega fatty acids and vitamin D. We also have a large variety of shellfish, that are packed with excellent nutrients. The simple mussel, for example, contains vitamin B12, vitamin A, vitamin C and iron. In fact, most shellfish contain large amounts of cobalamin, also known as vitamin B12, which helps the body to metabolize the fatty acids found the fish mentioned above. Seafood chowder, anyone?

Seafood isn’t the only thing on offer in BC — our hard-working farm communities boast a wide variety of produce that is available almost year-round. Eating foods grown in BC ensures that they can be purchased freshly picked, which allows produce to maintain more flavour, nutrients and vitamins than foods being shipped in. In the spring you can find an abundance of in-season local produce such as apples, carrots, kale, beets, cauliflower, mushrooms, potatoes and radishes, to name a few.

We are not expected to know how to navigate a pandemic but we are able to choose how we react to it.

In British Columbia we are especially fortunate to be surrounded by outstanding natural resources, the very thing that can help us to move our bodies and clear our minds. By getting outside and into nature, enjoying our beautiful surroundings, we promote both physical and mental wellness, which leads to an improvement in overall health.

Combine this with the opportunity to eat fresh and nutrient-dense foods, found right here in BC, and we have the tools to carry us through these challenging times.

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in studio …

WITH DANIEL SEGUIN

Care to dance WORDS TESS VAN STRAATEN

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PHOTOGRAPHY LIA CROWE

“Dance is just so freeing because you’re just able to feel the music and, for me, it’s making sure my partner feels good. It’s a shared experience and it can be lifechanging.”

w

637 Fort Street 250.383.4040 footlooseshoes.com

hen you watch Arthur Murray Dance Studio owner Daniel Seguin

gracefully sashay and confidently twirl around the dance floor, it’s hard to believe he was once severely overweight and painfully shy.

“I started taking dance lessons because I was 5’6 and getting close to 195 pounds and I had to do something,” the now svelte 53-year-old says.

Daniel, who was 26 at the time and living in Ottawa, had never danced before, but after seven months of lessons, he loved it so much he decided to become an instructor at Arthur Murray.

“I always thought you had to be tall and slim to be a dance instructor, but then an instructor who was my height started at the school and I realized that wasn’t true,” he says. “When you watch ballroom dancing on TV, a lot of people think you have to be a certain body type or age to do it, but that’s just not the case. It’s one of the biggest misconceptions people have. I didn’t fit the mold at all.”

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RBC Dominion Securities Inc.* and Royal Bank of Canada are separate corporate entities which are affiliated. *Member-Canadian Investor Protection Fund. RBC Dominion Securities Inc. is a member company of RBC Wealth Management, a business segment of Royal Bank of Canada. ® / ™ Trademark(s) of Royal Bank of Canada. Used under licence. ©2019 RBC Dominion Securities Inc. All rights reserved. 19_90851_V7J_002

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Daniel was working at Canada Post as an internal auditor for the money order division and didn’t fit the “arts mold” either. He’d grown up wanting to be a high school math teacher and loved numbers. But he didn’t realize something was missing until dance came into his life.

“I really enjoyed working with numbers and the checks and balances, but I was always a pretty creative kid growing up and it didn’t add to that,” he explains. “When I became a dance teacher, those two worlds came together because music is numbers and creating patterns and creating routines.”

Choreographing cha-cha-chas and award-winning routines instead of crunching numbers on a spreadsheet, Daniel quickly found his passion.

“Dance is just so freeing because you’re just able to feel the music and, for me, it’s making sure my partner feels good,” he says. “It’s a shared experience and it can be life-changing.”

For Daniel, who was never one of the popular kids in school and painfully shy in social situations, dance has given him confidence and opened up a world of opportunity.

“I probably would have been that guy who just has a couple of friends and does a lot of stuff as a loner,” Daniel says. “But dancing has helped me break out of my shell. I think that’s one of the appeals of dancing — people want the opportunity to shine in some way.”

After Ottawa, Daniel moved to Chicago and then Edmonton to teach and manage studios before landing in Victoria and opening his own studio in Saanich Plaza last May. “It was a 14-month-long search to find the right location and open our doors,” Daniel says. “It’s a great business model with lots of things I love and, as an owner, I can build on that and interact more with each student.”

Teaching people of all ages and ability levels for more than 27 years, Daniel has found that everyone comes for a different reason: from simply having fun or for weight loss to coping with PTSD or trying to recharge a relationship.

“Some people are lonely or may have lost a spouse and are ready to start meeting people again,” he says. “And some people are just stressed at work and, at dance, their biggest worry is which foot is their left foot. It’s like a mini vacation in their lives.”

There have been a lot of success stories over the years, including couples headed for divorce falling back in love.

“For 40 minutes, they’re in each other’s arms and no longer watching TV side-by-side or even in different rooms,” Daniel explains. “They start seeing the person they were interested in when they first started dating. It’s kind of magical when you see it because it’s a really special moment you’re witnessing.”

Another success story that’s really stuck with Daniel is a student early on in his career who was incredibly shy. When she first came to the studio, the young woman could hardly

look up from the floor when having a conversation.

“Through working with her and getting her to come out of her shell, people at work started noticing she had more confidence, she became part of their social group and she got promoted,” he says. “She also became good friends with another student and they started dating and that gentleman became her husband and they had a child together. We’re not psychiatrists or career builders, but the benefits she got from dancing brought out the beautiful person she already was on the inside.”

Daniel says it’s life-changing stories like that that keep him going.

“You always hope you can make a difference in life. I don’t know if I have the right words to really convey how it feels, but it’s really special.”

Given his love of dance and what it can do, it’s hard to believe Daniel almost gave up on his passion early in his career. He was ready to quit after a few years, but encouragement from a dance competition judge spurred him on and convinced him to stick with it.

“Everyone will tell you that to become really successful, a master will have failed more times than a beginner has ever tried and going through hardships makes the success so worthwhile,” he says.

“The life lesson I got is that if there are hardships and tough times, you just have to ride through them and eventually you’ll be able to realize all your dreams.”

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business class

Stepping off the corporate ladder WORDS TESS VAN STRAATEN

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PHOTOGRAPHY LIA CROWE

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“Being selfemployed and having the ability to grow my business as far as I can take it — it’s just such an opportunity to build relationships and make things happen.”

Structural Engineers for the 2019 CARE Awards Project of the Year Chace Whitson had a successful career in construction management, overseeing multi-million-dollar building projects, when an enticing job offer came along that would take him to new heights on the corporate ladder. But he walked away from it all seven years ago so he could become an entrepreneur.

“There’s no ceiling on what you can do when you work for yourself,” says Chace, who heads up the Chace Whitson Real Estate Group at Macdonald Realty. “I saw a lot of growth potential. Being self-employed and having the ability to grow my business as far as I can take it — it’s just such an opportunity to build relationships and make things happen.”

But it wasn’t an easy decision. Chace, who was a general manager at the time, really loved his work and the job offer was for a vice-president position in a larger company on the Lower Mainland.

“It was a big promotion and an amazing opportunity and one of the biggest struggles I’ve had in business was to turn that down,” he says. “Climbing the corporate ladder at a young age and having that success right in front of me and deciding to go out on my own instead was a big risk, but I wanted to pursue my own passion.”

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“The first couple of years I was very busy but I was spread quite thin and it took a toll on me. I did say yes to everything and it wasn’t until I started saying ‘no’ and being wise about it that things shifted.”

778-433-1434 info@steponedesign.ca steponedesign.ca

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stylish contemporary 1 & 2 bedroom homes

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With construction starting this year, the opportunity to purchase at pre-construction costs will be gone forever. Featuring massive savings of $44,500 on 1 bedroom homes, there is no better time to shop the collection.

Living amidst the flavour and colour of Victoria’s vibrant downtown, overlooking the beautiful Inner Harbour. Walk or bike to work, stroll to nearby shops to pick up fresh ingredients for dinner, soak in dynamic views and harbourfront living. Looking forward to Sunday brunch? A night on the town with friends? At The Pearl Residences you’re just minutes from Victoria’s entertainment.

With spacious interiors, both modern and timeless, you’ll always look forward to coming home.

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This is not an offering for sale which can only be made in conjunction with the delivery of a Disclosure Statement. Illustrations and renderings are representational only and may not represent the finished building, suites or views. The Developer reserves the right to alter, without notice, floor plans, specifications, layouts, finishing, equipment and materials. To obtain further information and a copy of the Disclosure Statement contact the developer’s sales office at 508 Herald St, Victoria BC, V8W 1S6 E. & O.E.

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The risk paid off. Chace is now one of the top realtors on the Saanich Peninsula, where he was born and raised. It’s an area he knows well and it’s where he’s now raising his own family.

“Growing up here, I have a really great understanding of the communities, the amenities, the beaches, the parks, the school system and I’ve always loved it,” Chace says. “I’ll never leave! The peninsula has everything.”

His building background, with a solid understanding of residential and commercial construction, has been a big asset for Chace.

“I know what to look for and I can give good advice,” he says. “It gives me a really good foundation to speak to the strengths and weaknesses of the construction.”

But after seven years in the real estate industry, Chace says the most important skill is developing strong relationships, which he values more than anything else.

“Relationships are the foundation of business, and listening to others and really, truly understanding what people want,” he says.

Chace considers his dad, Gregg, one of his mentors.

“My father was also in sales and he taught me to listen to what your clients want and what they value. You’re always so much further ahead by listening. I saw first-hand with my father and the relationships he built in business and how they carried through his entire career and how much trust people put in him.”

Another big lesson Chace learned early on in his career was not to take on too much and overextend himself.

“I think a lot of real estate agents go through this initially as they’re trying to grow their business,” he explains. “I took on business that was in Sooke, Shawnigan Lake and Cowichan — all over the place. The first couple of years I was very busy but I was spread quite thin and it took a toll on me. I did say yes to everything and it wasn’t until I started saying ‘no’ and being wise about it that things shifted.”

Chace decided to focus his business on the Saanich Peninsula and become an area expert. Living in Sidney with his wife, Erin, and three young children, boating is one of their favourite pastimes. The marina is just a five-minute walk from their home and they spend a lot of time on the water.

“I’m really happy with the balance I have,” he says. “I have great support from my team and I really value and respect my time with my family.”

When he’s not working, with his family or enjoying the outdoors, you can find Chace in a dojo. He’s been practising karate since he was seven years old and holds a black belt in Shotokan karate.

“It’s taught me discipline and integrity and I love the art of it,” he says. “It’s great exercise and you can really focus when you’re doing it and it provides that level of clarity.”

As Chace continues to grow his business, he has a lot of clarity on the future.

“I love what I do and wake up every morning excited about what I do and I just really look forward to each day,” he says. “I love my job and I wouldn’t change it for the world.”

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Helping you make better investment decisions.

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BMO Wealth Management is the brand name for a business group consisting of Bank of Montreal and certain of its affiliates, including BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc., in providing wealth management products and services. ® “BMO (M-bar roundel symbol)” is a registered trade-mark of Bank of Montreal, used under licence. ® “Nesbitt Burns” is a registered trade-mark of BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bank of Montreal. If you are already a client of BMO Nesbitt Burns, please contact your Investment Advisor for more information.

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hot properties

right at

home Sayward Hill at

Effortless design and timeless elements in classic condo WORDS ANGELA COWAN

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PHOTOGRAPHY DON DENTON

APRIL/MAY 2020

quick facts: # bedrooms: 3 # bathrooms: 2 Square feet: 2,050 Notable features: Walk-out patio, five exterior doors, gas fireplace

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Ingrid’s condo is relatively compact, but it never feels cramped...the design as a whole feels effortless. I’m instantly so comfortable, so at home, that I have to remember to look for the details.

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3.5” × 9.75” 03/24/20

Finish with style.

MILLWORKS LOCATION

Despite being on my first home tour in a long time, stepping into this Sayward Hill condo feels like slipping on a favourite pair of shoes.

I take in the compass rose laid out in the bricked pathway outside and the oversize nature photos in the tidy lobby. I make a note of the territorial hummingbird that buzzes past and the light feel of ocean in the wind. And when Ingrid, the homeowner, meets me at the front door to lead me down to her unit, I’m thrilled that she’s as warm and lovely as I’d expected by her emails.

We walk into the condo, past a home office and a den with a spectacular ‘70s-era couch, both lulling me into a “condo”

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mentality, and then, I stop in my socked feet, utterly surprised.

The kitchen, beautifully balanced with white and oak cabinetry and stainless steel appliances, is large and open enough to accommodate a tightly turned Viennese waltz, if the dancers are sure-footed.

The unit is just over 2,000 square feet, she tells me, a perfect middle ground between downsizing from house living and not sacrificing space and storage for something easier to manage.

But this kitchen. Oh, this kitchen. It’s bright and airy, with oodles of natural light. The quartz countertops are smooth while still adding texture, and the marble honeycomb tile lining the wall beneath the cupboards is warm with gorgeous colour variations. It all comes together in a very chateau feel, and it’s just wonderful.

For Ingrid’s “foodie” daughter and son-in-law, there’s a six-burner gas range and double wall oven, as well as the double-door fridge and walk-in pantry. There’s also an extra built-in beverage centre with a bar fridge and a built-in coffee machine, an upgrade that Ingrid and her husband took immediate advantage of.

“We’re coffee snobs!” she admits with a laugh. “Waking up to the sunrise and turning on the coffee machine — it’s my favourite thing!”

On the other side of the counter sits a fantastic dining table with black accents and clawed feet in the open dining area, ready to expand in the event of company, and the living room sets up a surprisingly expansive view of Cordova Bay, given that the development borders the thick trees of Sayward Hill Park.

The master bedroom comfortably fits a king bed and dresser and comes with its own larger-than-life view, where Mount Baker is currently peeking up above a thin line of clouds. Ingrid disappears behind me as I take in the view, and after a moment I follow,

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thinking we’ll have a quick look at the closet and pocket en suite before returning to the tour.

What I’m not expecting is to come around the corner into a long, luxurious master en suite complete with double sinks, beautiful soaker tub, roomy glassed-in shower, heated tile floors and so much cupboard and drawer space I think I actually go a little green with envy.

“There’s so much storage. I haven’t even filled up all the space yet,” she says, opening a few of the cupboard doors.

Just on the other side of the bathroom door is a walk-in closet that could rival most of the other Hot Properties closets I’ve seen over the years. I’m so surprised by the size that I don’t notice it’s also a walk-through until Ingrid points out the laundry room at the other end.

“It’s a really efficient design,” she says, and adds that the connection from the walk-in closet to the laundry room was an element that was brought in after talking to residents of other buildings in the development.

The entire Sayward Hill project spanned almost 20 years, Ingrid tells me, with the first development finished in 2001.

Amazingly, the entire development team stayed consistent from the first ground breaking to the completion of the last condo building. The same builders, the same architects, the same plumbing contractors, the same designer, everyone stayed involved, making for an almost unheard-of level of synergy throughout the build.

And not only that, but after each phase was complete, the team made a dedicated effort to get feedback from the people actually living in the spaces, and then sat down and round-tabled ideas to implement in the next stages.

LOCALLY HANDCRAFTED DESIGNER KITCHENS

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“We would all sit together, including the architects, and we would design the light switches,” says Ingrid, smiling. It allowed for a natural evolution of the project, and a number of details that make this particular condo stand out.

As well as the double access to the laundry room, the guest bedroom is situated on the opposite side of the condo to add a sense of privacy for visitors, and there’s a pocket door that can close off the bedroom and bathroom for added separation. A barn door can separate the small home office tucked between the den and the kitchen. And one of my favourite features is at the front entrance: the hallway wall curves gently wide and away the further you come in, leading you into the rest of the house and creating an immediate and welcoming sense of space. The design is subtle and natural enough that I didn’t actually notice it at first, which makes sense the more time I spend here.

Compared to some of the houses featured in Boulevard, Ingrid’s condo is relatively compact, but it never feels cramped, or that anything was sacrificed in the name of efficiency. More than that, the design as a whole feels effortless. I’m instantly so comfortable, so at home, that I have to remember to look for the details.

“Kimberly has an elegance about her,” says Ingrid, quick to praise interior designer Kimberly Williams, also involved with the project since day one. “Her design is timeless.”

“All the projects on Sayward Hill were definitely designed with longevity in mind,” says Kimberly. “Durability and flexibility are extremely important in executing good design. We try to stay true to classic elements, which equates to timeless designs. I am so very proud of this project!”

“This is a development that’s near and dear to my heart,” adds Ingrid.

Having worked selling the units for the past 20 years, she’s seen their evolution and their unmatched quality.

“It felt like my second home. This is the last piece of the puzzle, and it feels right to be here now. This feels like the pinnacle of Sayward.”

supplier list: Architect/Design: de Hoog & Kierulf Architects Interior Design: Kimberly Williams Interiors Construction & Interior Finishing: Campbell Construction Interior Drywall: Gordon ‘N’ Gordon Interiors Painting: Tri City Finishing Cabinetry and Millwork: Campbell Construction Flooring: Island Floor Centre Closet Systems: Incredible Closets Tiling: Island Floor Centre Window Roll Shades and Automation: Island Window Coverings Doors: McGregor & Thompson Hardware Windows: Starline Windows Lighting: Belltech Electric Plumbing Fixtures: Clemco Plumbing & Heating Countertops: S&G Granite Fireplace Hearth/Stonework: Island Floor Centre Appliances: Trail Appliances Landscaping: Bricklok Surfacing & Landscaping Exterior Siding: H&R Exterior Finish Home Automation: Belltech Electric

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fashion

Copper “Lund” dress by ELK ($300) from Amelia Lee Boutique; copper earrings

by Sarah Sears ($150) and sheepskin by Tannin + Toil ($400), both from Open House Shop.

THE BEAUTY OF

Simplicity STYLING BY JEN EVANS

X

PHOTOGRAPHY LIA CROWE

The striking red of a pear, the depth and whimsy of natural sheep’s wool, the grace of cool daylight streaming though a window: spring emerges with a view to beauty in simplicity.

Natural fibres, metals and colours delight the senses while maintaining a minimal aesthetic. With a nod to the masters of Dutch Golden Age painting, Boulevard rejoices in the richness of simple, daily life turned into art.

Linen pants by Gentle Fawn ($135) from Amelia Lee Boutique; linen top by Nomi ($120) and scarf by Tannin + Toil ($60) from Open House Shop; gold necklace by Pamela Card ($285) from Bernstein & Gold; “Sunrise” hoop earrings ($60) and “Breathe” bracelet ($65), both by Union Jewelery.

Dress by Liviana Conti ($465) from Hughes Clothing; “Inez” stud brass earrings by Uni ($145) from Bernstein & Gold; “Breathe” Bracelet ($65) by Union Jewelery.

Blue, textured tank by Project Social ($65), copper “Garmo” pants ($200), earrings ($55) by ELK and rose-gold sandals by Solillas, all from Amelia Lee Boutique; Mies necklace by Uni ($225), “Ara” necklace ($182) and “Lull” ring, both

by Uni ($125) from Bernstein & Gold; brass cuff bracelet (stylist’s own); sheepskin by Tannin + Toil ($400) from Open House Shop.

Linen robe by Deiji Studios ($180), bodysuit by Baserange ($96), both from Open House Shop; Inez stud brass earrings ($129) by Uni from Bernstein & Gold; “Sun/Moon” necklace ($70) and “Eye of Protection” necklace ($65), both from Union Jewelery.

Make up and hair: Jen Clark Model: Jade Mikell Production and styling assistant: Vellar Chou Photographed on location at the incredible home of stylist Jen Evans. A huge thank you to Jen for opening and sharing your beautiful your home.

lifestyle

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HOME, BUT NOT ALONE New opportunities for connection, cooperation and compassion.

WORDS JANE ZATYLNY

Two months ago, I was in the middle of a self-imposed digital detox. Too much time spent on social media was starting to affect my sleep and overall sense of well-being.

I decided to reduce my screen time and spend more in-person time with family and friends. But in early March, the global pandemic known as COVID-19 radically changed our work, family and social lives. Events were cancelled, restaurants and bars were shuttered and we were told to stay at home and practice social distancing.

Now I find myself turning back to social media to hear the latest health news and to connect with family and friends.

There, on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, I’ve been buoyed up by universal expressions of comfort, hope and

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CONNECT HEARING - Q1 NATIONAL MAGAZINE 7.25’’ X 4.75’’ 02/27/20

“This global threat is an opportunity for us to learn to live from a more open-hearted, compassionate, connected space with each other and really care for our natural world. It is also an opportunity to rethink our lives.”

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Call us today at 888-408-7377 for your FREE* hearing test, or visit connecthearing.ca VAC, WCB, WSIB, WorkSafeBC, ADP & ODSP accepted. Registered under the College of Speech and Hearing Health Professionals of BC. *Free hearing tests are only applicable for customers over 50 years of age. No purchase required. Some conditions may apply. †Based on national physician referrals over the tenure of the corporation’s Canadian business operations compared to the disclosed referral count of leading competitors. ®CAA, CAA logo and CAA Rewards trademarks owned by, and use is authorized by, the Canadian Automobile Association.

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solidarity. Isolated Italians singing from their balconies. Musicians offering free concerts. Late-night talk show hosts broadcasting from their backyards. Friends setting up virtual happy hours.

Social media is being used as a megaphone for spontaneous expressions of our humanity.

“Social media has really evolved over the last few days,” says Tami Tate, the Victoria-based owner of Social Media Camp.

“People are turning to it as a communications tool. They’re also trying to help one another cope with stress and provide entertainment.”

When social media celebrates and supports the human spirit, it rises to its original promise of positive social connection. But for our emotional health, it’s important to balance screen time with other activities. Otherwise, given the daily updates from our provincial and federal governments, the 24-hour news cycle and all the chatter and speculation in between, our minds can easily race to worst-case scenarios.

“If you are feeling fear, it’s not that you’re weak, it’s that your survival mechanism is doing its job,” explains Liz Stone, life coach and owner of Liz Stone Coaching in Victoria. “Fear is a natural response; however, it doesn’t have to run the show. This global threat is an opportunity for us to learn to live from a more open-hearted, compassionate, connected space with each other and really care for our natural world. It is also an opportunity to rethink our lives.”

Here are some strategies to help you care for yourself, those you love and your community.

PUT YOUR OXYGEN MASK ON FIRST

Now is the time to care for your mental and emotional well-being by giving yourself more self-care than usual, Liz says: “It’s a time for more time and spaciousness, more grace, more meditation, more sleep, more fun time and relaxation, more nature time, breathing room, more love and more connection with people who matter.”

Practicing self-care in normal times is a difficult enough task for most of us. But especially in uncertain times, we really need to tend to it, she stresses. “Taking care of yourself will help calm your survival mechanism and your nervous system, so that you can bring yourself to balance and clarity,” she says. “You’ll be able to respond from a more powerful place, rather than react from fear.”

TAKE A CLASS, FIND A NEW HOBBY OR REDISCOVER AN OLD ONE

Given the hours you’re saving from commuting to work, now might be the right time to stop binge-watching Netflix and take some online language lessons, brush up on your photography skills, start the novel you’ve been wanting to write or learn how to bake. (It all sounds better than cleaning or decluttering, though you could do those things, too.)

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“Practicing gratitude allows our hearts to be connected to our heads, literally, by accessing a different part of the brain.”

CUSTOM HOMES | RENOVATIONS | CABINETRY AND MILLWORK, CUSTOM FURNITURE | FINISH CARPENTRY LARSENGROUP.CA | 250.217.5941

Your local library may be closed, but you can still use your card to watch thousands of free video tutorials courses from Lynda. com, an online learning platform. You can also go down the YouTube rabbit hole to learn about a topic of your choosing or, budget permitting, sign up for Masterclass, an online educational platform ($20/month), and learn from more than 80 instructors, including Gordon Ramsay, Margaret Atwood, Steve Martin, Dr. Jane Goodall and Annie Leibovitz.

CARE FOR YOUR COMMUNITY

Caring for your community can take many forms. You can help local businesses by purchasing gift cards for future restaurant visits, ordering books online and prepaying for hair appointments and other services. If you can, continue paying for services like housecleaning, dog walking, gardening or house-sitting, even though you’re not using them now. Consider joining a “Caremonger” Facebook group in your area and help a vulnerable member of your community with some of their chores.

PRACTICE GRATITUDE New arrivals available weekly.

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2418 Beacon Ave, Sidney 250.655.0774 @boutiquemoden | modenboutique.com 56

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APRIL/MAY 2020

Write down one to three things each day that you are grateful for, Liz suggests.

“Practicing gratitude allows our hearts to be connected to our heads, literally, by accessing a different part of the brain. Fear creates chemicals that close us off, whereas gratitude creates chemicals that connect us. From gratitude, we can see new ways to contribute, new vistas and new opportunities,” she says. “This is why gratitude is such a powerful practice — especially during times of threat and fear. From there, we can see the potential of a new way of living.”

Use a paper journal, Post-It notes spread around the house or an online journaling app like Day One (basic app is free), which allows users to record and store memories, photos and everyday details and annotates each entry with automatic date, location and weather information.

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FIND NEW WAYS TO CONNECT

Work integration and social connection of course present many challenges during self-isolation. “Here technology is playing a huge role,” says Tami, who plans to present Social Media Camp as a digital conference this year due to COVID-19 (May 5-7). Try Zoom for workplace teleconferencing or Slack for quick encrypted messages, file sharing and chatting, she suggests.

“We’re going to be seeing a lot more Facebook Groups as well,” Tate predicts. “They’re really easy to set up, and you can make them private, closed groups. You can talk live there as well.”

FaceTime is another great way to connect. A word of caution: read privacy policies carefully before signing up for new apps.

GO OLD SCHOOL

Remember Bell’s old slogan, “Reach out, reach out and touch someone”? If you do, chances are you still use a phone from time to time. It remains one of the best ways to connect, so make it a habit to go through your address book (remember those?) and call friends and family, near and far away.

“A real conversation with one person can have a lasting effect because we have an innate need to be understood and ‘gotten,’” says Liz. Tami agrees: “Even though social media informs and entertains, we still need face-to-face human contact, whether that’s by phone or FaceTime.”

FINALLY, BE PRESENT

This global crisis provides us with an opportunity to practice being very present every day, says Liz. “We normally live with our minds in the past or the future, not the present. As Eckhart Tolle has taught, in the present moment, all is well. You are here, alive. We often fear the future, we don’t fear the present moment; so go there.”

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We offer 12 senior living communities and provide personalized and unique care on Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland. Locally-owned and operated.

TRILLIUMCOMMUNITIES.COM | 250.383.6509

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THIS IS NOT AN OFFERING FOR SALE. ANY SUCH OFFERING CAN ONLY BE MADE WITH A DISCLOSURE STATEMENT. ALL RENDERINGS AND IMAGES ARE ARTISTS REPRESENTATIONS ONLY. DEVELOPER RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CHANGE OR MAKE MODIFICATIONS TO THE DESIGN, SPECIFICATIONS AND PRICES WITHOUT NOTICE. E. & O.E.

VICTORIA’S FINEST REAL ESTATE

L U X U R Y AT YO U R D O O R S T E P

Lot 2-8080 McPhail Rd North Saanich $3,000,000 Discover this exclusive waterfront parcel, that expands a full 5 acres of pristine West Coast beauty. Sitting in scenic Thompson Cove, this South West facing lot is positioned to soak in the sun and capture stunning sunsets. Mature trees provide coveted privacy.

1941 Crescent Rd Oak Bay $5,700,000 Multiple CARE Awards Winner Zebra Designs masterpiece with walk out to Gonzales Beach, this custom beachfront residence surpasses all expectations. Sweeping ocean & mountain vistas framed by walls of glass. Outside living at its best: an amazing infinity pool, hot tub, outdoor FP, tons of patio & deck space & private beach access.

735 Humboldt Street, Victoria BC, Canada V8W 1B1

The local real estate agent with the international network: vi.evcanada.com Scott Piercy, Private Office Advisor Personal Real Estate Corporation 250-686-7789 scott.piercy@evcanada.com www.luxurybchomes.com victoria.evcanada.com

1050 Roxview Court

1004/1005 - 100 Saghalie Rd

2101 - 83 Saghalie Rd

Sooke, BC $2,950,000

Victoria $3,500,000

Songhees Upon Request

Exquisite ocean front property in scenic East Sooke. Uncompromising views provide the backdrop to this lavishly appointed residence.

Upon entry the dramatic 14ft coffered ceilings emphasize the grandeur of this elegant residence. Enjoy passing whales during the day & spectacular star filled skies at night. Sooke is a short commute & provides services, amenities.

This executive Penthouse suite has been custom designed, harmoniously blending two premium suites into one luxurious oasis. Soaring 11 foot ceilings exaggerate the space and create and open and inviting atmosphere. The entry formally welcomes residents and guests and allows glimpses to the lavish living space within.

Pinnacle of luxury achieved in this soaring Penthouse Suite, commissioned to exceed expectation and captivate with the best views in Victoria. Access via 2 elevators that open into your chic residence. Custom designed in an artistic minimalist design allowing the panoramic ocean, mountain, city and Inner Harbour vistas to be the primary focus of all rooms.

436 Cromar Rd

2100 Falkland Pl

2575 Lansdowne Rd

Deep Cove $1,849,000

Oak Bay $1,765,000

Oak Bay Coming Soon

Steps to the ocean is just one of many benefits for this immaculate half acre property in Deep Cove, set out on the north west corner of the Saanich Peninsula. Each corner of this beautiful home is touched by the sun as the contemporary nature of this home provides open spaces and a wealth of windows.

Brilliantly updated Oak Bay home that perfectly blends modern luxuries with timeless character.

Bright & open main showcases rich hardwood flooring, large picture windows, wainscoting & a sophisticated design aesthetic. This ideal family home is warm & inviting.

Built in 1929 by noted architect P. Leonard James, this Tudor Style home has been renovated with care and expert craftsmanship, showcasing its unrivalled construction. Situated on a 22,000 square foot lot lush with mature trees and shrubs, a lovely, private garden provides for tranquil moments.

2249 Oak Bay Avenue, Victoria BC, Canada V8R 1G4

The local real estate agent with the international network: vi.evcanada.com James LeBlanc, Private Office Advisor Personal Real Estate Corporation 250-812-7212 james.leblanc@evcanada.com www.luxurybchomes.com victoria.evcanada.com

exclusive luxury listings

1851 CRESCENT ROAD | FAIRFIELD EAST 3 BEDS | 5 BATHS | 417013 | $4,880,000

2450 LANSDOWNE ROAD | UPLANDS 4 BEDS | 4 BATHS | 420839 | $4,500,000

586 O L I V E R S T R E E T | OA K BAY 5 B E D S | 4 BAT H S | 420868 | $2, 80 0,0 0 0

2197 L A FAY E T T E S T R E E T | OA K BAY 4 B E D S | 4 BAT H S | 416172 | $2, 250,0 0 0

860 V I C TO R I A S T R E E T | OA K BAY 4 B E D S | 5 BAT H S | 416159 | $2, 225,0 0 0

2538 N OT T I N G H A M R OA D | U PL A N D S 5 B E D S | 2 BAT H S | 421819 | $2,4 0 0,0 0 0

330 0 E X E T E R R OA D | U PL A N D S 5 B E D S | 5 BAT H S | 420105 | $2, 30 0,0 0 0

767 BY N G S T R E E T | OA K BAY 4 B E D S | 4 BAT H S | 418888 | $2,0 0 0,0 0 0

830 -21 DA L L A S R OA D | V I C TO R I A 2 B E D S | 3 BAT H S | 4176 45 | $2,0 0 0,0 0 0

15 S T I L LWAT E R R OA D | V I E W R OYA L 7 B E D S | 4 BAT H S | 421345 | $1,0 0 0,0 0 0

3101-2829 A R B U T US R OA D | SA A N I C H E A S T 2 B E D S | 2 BAT H S | 421011 | $9 0 0,0 0 0

JASON BINAB

PERSONAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION

JASON.BINAB@THEAGENC YRE.COM 778.265.5552

SARAH BINAB

SAR AH.BINAB@THEAGENC YRE.COM 778.265.5552 THEAGENC YRE.COM/BC

exclusive luxury listings

3605 CADBORO BAY ROAD | UPLANDS 5 BEDS | 7 BATHS | 421791 | $3,500,000

600 LINKLEAS AVENUE | OAK BAY 3 BEDS | 3 BATHS | 420810 | $3,350,000

1234 T R A N S I T R OA D | OA K BAY 3 B E D S | 3 BAT H S | 420186 | $2,0 0 0,0 0 0

2585 C R A N M O R E R OA D | OA K BAY 5 B E D S | 5 BAT H S | 419996 | $1,910,0 0 0

229 0 E S T E VA N AV E N U E | OA K BAY 3 B E D S | 4 BAT H S | 420 085 | $1, 250,0 0 0

1198 S T. PAT R I C K S T R E E T | OA K BAY 4 B E D S | 2 BAT H S | 420 4 87 | $1,195,0 0 0

34 66 PLY M O U T H R OA D | OA K BAY 3 B E D S | 2 BAT H | 422162 | $1,14 8,0 0 0

3775 H O B B S S T R E E T | SA A N I C H E A S T 5 B E D S | 3 BAT H S | 421889 | $1, 250,0 0 0

PENDING

5051 CO R D OVA BAY R OA D | CO R D OVA BAY 5 B E D S | 4 BAT H S | 421583 | $3,0 0 0,0 0 0

PENDING

969 0 FR I Z E L L R OA D | N O R T H SA A N I C H 4 B E D S | 5 BAT H S | 419328 | $1,750,0 0 0

PENDING

916 CO B B L E S TO N E L A N E | B R OA D M E A D 5 B E D S | 4 BAT H S | 420 4 89 | $1,70 0,0 0 0

THEAGENCYRE.COM/BC

Krista Voitchovsky, Real Estate Advisor 250-888-3256 | krista@kristav.ca www.kristavmarkg.ca

Mark Gutknecht, Real Estate Advisor 250-880-1000 | mark.gutknecht@engelvoelkers.com www.kristavmarkg.ca

W G NE TIN S LI

#10-21 Dallas Road – James Bay $610,000

606-21 Dallas Road - Shoal Point in James Bay $999,000

324-21 Dallas Road – Shoal Point in James Bay $999,000

Bright, South facing Live/Work condo at Shoal Point. Enjoy working from home with access to your 312 sqft patio from your office.

Lovely open living/dining area has gas fireplace and 9 foot ceilings. Large master bedroom with an ensuite , a second bedroom or den/office and a three piece bathroom complete this lovely condo. One parking spot and a storage locker. Enjoy the wonderful amenities such as a 25m lap pool, gym, sauna, steam, jacuzzi, concierge service and more!

Bright & sunny ocean view with Southern exposure, this condo is a delight! This 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom has a lovely open concept layout and good separation between the bedrooms. Some highlights are new light Maple flooring throughout , gas fireplace, A/C, ocean view den, extra space for a piano or seating and a semi private deck. Some Shoal Point amenities: 25m lap pool, fitness centre, concierge, bike/kayak storage, guest suites & workshop.

Inner harbour views from your 750 sqft. deck! This elegant, well laid out 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom condo is perfect for watching all the activities on the inner harbour. This elegantly styled condo has 2 bedrooms each with their own ensuite and a powder room.

Our clients love the location as it is around the corner from the elevator to the pool/fitness area. Some Shoal Point amenities: 25m lap pool, fitness centre, concierge, bike/kayak storage, guest suites & workshop.

LD

LD

SO

SO

4060 Lockehaven Drive- Ten Mile Point/Cadboro Bay

612-6880 Wallace Drive -Brentwood Bay

This beautiful seaside home will make you feel like you are always on vacation! Walk out beach access, boat ramp & your own private mooring buoy for the boating enthusiast. This custom built 3 bedroom 3 bathroom home has radiant floor heating, two airtight wood fireplaces to keep you cozy. A double garage, boat carport, vaulted ceilings with skylights, high end appliances & hot tub are some of the many features.

Lovely one level 2 bedroom 2 bathroom ocean view townhouse in the gated community of Port Royale. Two sundecks with over 740 square feet for your outdoor living. Adult oriented , pets welcome!

Perfect for downsizers!

Be sure to watch the videos of each listing on kristavmarkg.ca

2249 Oak Bay Avenue, Victoria, BC V8R 1G4 • Office +1 778-433-8885

Spectacular Oceanfront 804 Lands End Road, North Saanich

$3,200,000

An artistic treasure with exquisite contemporary detailing in 3,887 sq. ft. of custom slate, wood & granite for oceanfront pleasure. Oversized windows, ceilings vaulting to 15 ft. & exposed beams deliver an enticing west coast vista from all rooms with views towards Cowichan Bay & the setting sun.

Boaters Paradise

Oceanfront Estate 1126 Gillespie Road, Sooke

$5,900,000 818 Delamere Road, Brentwood Bay

Waterfall Cove offers 150 pristine sub-dividable acres with almost 2,000 ft. of ocean frontage on the sheltered shore of Sooke Basin where a dock offers year-round moorage for both seaplane & boat. Intersected by Gillespie & Mt. Matheson roads, the property is mostly natural state with 5 species of valuable timber.

Prestigious Oceanfront Residences $2,950,000 405-1175 Beach Drive, Oak Bay

Totally re-envisaged with quality finishes in this 4,838 sq. ft. home with 4 bedrooms & 5 bathrooms in sheltered Brentwood Bay. A perfect marriage of west coast contemporary sophistication & 1970’s post-andbeam charm, complete with 41 ft. dock with power for year-round moorage.

$1,780,000

Luxuriate in the grace & comfort of Oak Bay’s premier oceanfront private residences. This 2 bed, 2 bathroom condo offers a sophisticated lifestyle opportunity with preferential access to dining, pool & spa facilities + concierge service in Victoria’s landmark hotel.

“We believe every home is a mansion regardless of size, location or price”

MACLEOD GROUP Glynis MacLeod

Kirsten MacLeod

250.661.7232

250.686.3385

Personal Real Estate Corporation

Sales Associate

macleodgroup@sothebysrealty.ca M AC L EO D - G ROU P.COM

SOTHEBYSR E ALT Y.CA

Sotheby’s International Realty Canada, Independently Owned and Operated. E.&O.E.: This information is from sources which we deem reliable, but must be verified by prospective Purchasers and may be subject to change or withdrawal. Not intended to solicit properties already under agreement.

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$3,750,000

$3,900,000 1630 Lands End Road, North Saanich

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# 420228

mls®

# 420864

$999,000 1-10293 Sparling Place, Sidney

mls®

# 420178

mls®

# 420568

mls®

# 419452

$3,499,000

$3,550,000 10741 Bayfield Road, North Saanich

1590 Wain Road, North Saanich

10731 Bayfield Road, North Saanich

$729,000 mls®

# 421482

9-9889 Seventh Street, Sidney

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LIVE & WORK IN LUXURY!

Rare Private Reception entry welcomes with Views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, & Olympic Mountains. This bright 1389 sq ft Two Bdrm/Office, 2 bath Business Suite with Natural Gas Kit., Hardwood and Marble Floors, & Living room with fp and patio will Impress!

Pet-Friendly. 24 hr Security, Pool, Gym, Putting Green & Concierge. *Live/Work not subject to residential rental restrictions. MLS 421225

AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE! Positioned to Capitalize on Sweeping Forest, City & Ocean views. Stately home artfully uses natural materials & walls of glass to pull Nature within, and enhance with modern comforts. Main floor living, Designer open concept ideal for Entertaining with artful curved lines, music studio, stunning view, Luxe Guest rooms and Recreation/ Billiards room below, and 4 car Garage with Hydraulic lift!

MLS 413982

Linda & Marilyn would like to wish you all health and safety during this ever-changing time.

If you need anything, we would like to invite you to reach out, and we will do whatever we can to help.

Together we will get through this!

2190 NAVIGATORS RISE Escape to your Modern Masterpiece. Panoramic Ocean, Mountain & City Views Delight!

Gourmet kitchen with Miele appliances flows to a Living Room of Majestic proportions, out to the Patio perfect for Entertaining!

Stylish Interior blends clean lines that emphasize striking Vistas, framed by walls of glass. Rare 5 Bed, 5 Bath, and 5 Vehicle Garage home with Suite. Call Now! MLS 411349

MARILYN BALL | LINDA BROWN Certified Home Stager and Enhancement Experts Award Winning Global Marketers

marilynball.ca

250 818 6489

lindabrown.ca

250 213 7194

ballandbrown @ gmail.com

Sarah West, Bill Ethier, and Sharen Warde Personal Real Estate Corporation

The Real Estate Team You Trust for Life

info@propertiesinvictoria.com | 250.920.7000 | propertiesinvictoria.com

PEACEFUL AND PRIVATE

FULL OF CHARACTER

QUALITY NEW BUILD

303-3110 Havenwood Lane 2 Bedroom 2 Bathrooms $565,000

410-1602 Quadra Street 1 Bedroom 2 Bathrooms $849,500

3139 Bowkett Place 4 Bedroom 4 Bathrooms $1,295,000 plus GST

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AP RI L / MAY 2020

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exclusive luxury listings

531 LINDEN AVENUE | FAIRFIELD ML S 417138 | $1,900,000 FULLY RENTED LEGAL 4 PLE X

5-3611 K AISER L ANE | COLWOOD 4 BEDS | 4 BATHS | ML S 423205 | $625,000 MODERN FAMILY FRIENDLY TOWNHOME ON CUL-DE-SAC

NG DI N PE

2413 MOWAT STREE T | OAK BAY 4 BEDS | 5 BATHS NE W CONTEMPOR ARY HOME

10685 MCDONALD PARK ROAD | NORTH SA ANICH ML S 419532 | $575,000 FL AT BUILDING LOT WITH OCE AN VIE WS

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7235 SPAR TREE WAY | SOOKE, BC 5 BEDS | 5 BATHS | ML S 419670 | $1,545,000 SPECTACUL AR CUSTOM HOME WITH SUITE

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479 MONTERE Y AVENUE | SOUTH OAK BAY 4 BEDS | 4 BATHS CL A SSIC CHAR ACTER HOME W/OCE AN VIE WS

| SARAH.BINAB@THEAGENCYRE.COM | 778.265.5552

THEAGENCYRE.COM/BC

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food and feast

sacred supper

How you eat is as important as what you eat

WORDS ELLIE SHORTT

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PHOTOGRAPHY DON DENTON

T

he warm dim of candlelight, the joyful timbre of laughter, the rich aroma of hearty fare wafting from the oven, the mirthful taste of sweet bread and lush wine, the calming comfort of familiarity, family, tradition and timelessness. For over 30 years this has been my unwavering Friday night constant.

Growing up in a Jewish household, mealtimes were more than just a necessity to pacify hunger. They were abundant, beautiful and hallowed. Many were framed by a joyous occasion or holiday. Food, and the pure pleasure of nourishment in all capacities, is a pillar in Jewish tradition, and many annual happenings, while structured by a specific purpose or celebration, culminate in some meal enjoyed with family, friends or the greater community.

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But no festive feast is more consistent and more treasured than the Friday night dinner that occurs at the beginning of “Shabbat” — the Jewish sabbath. Not every Jewish household observes the sabbath, and certainly not every Jewish household practises it in the same way. But for my family the Shabbat meal is all about plentiful merriment.

Food is my mother’s love language. She worships flavour, venerates ingredients and pours a multitude of nurturing emotions into every dish she creates. Her sabbath meals, or any other dinners she shares with family and friends, are never sparse. A fish course of a few different offerings, an assortment of salads to sample, soups to sip, a couple of meaty mains, a collection of colourful sides, and an exquisite cake or two, accompanied by a selection of seasonal fruit, are ceremoniously spread out on a crisp tablecloth one after the other throughout the night, framed by lively conversation and plentiful libations.

You may be thinking that this is all for a table of 20. While she often hosts large gatherings, the above-mentioned spread was (and still is) a regular occurrence for just our immediate family, or a few

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close guests. Naturally there are leftovers for days and from a young age I developed an immense appreciation for the brilliant maturing of flavour that only comes from the passing of time.

If Friday night was the pinnacle of the week, the rest of the meals were only slightly less significant. Growing up we were expected to be present — in all senses of the word — at the dinner table. Even if there weren’t half a dozen courses to work our way through over the span of a few filling hours, there always seemed to be a similar weightiness and integral importance to a simpler weeknight meal that was still prepared with so much feeling and intention. Above all, it was generously offered to us in a spirit of abundance, and we were never made to feel ashamed of healthy appetites or diminished in any way due to the sheer bliss of enjoying good food in good company.

These foundations have left a profound impression on me.

As a nutritionist, cooking class instructor and co-owner of a local bistro, sharing food, and the love of food, is at the forefront of my practice and businesses. I teach people how to truly love food, and show them the ways food can love them back. I

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Let’s learn the love language of food. Let’s worship flavour, venerate ingredients and pour a multitude of positive emotions into every dish we create or consume, just as my mom always did and still does today.

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mac renovations help them discover that food (and cooking) isn’t intimidating or alien. In fact, it’s integrated into the fibre of our beings, woven throughout generations and centuries. It’s the thread that ties together so many cultures and communities and is truly one of our common denominators. Food fills more than hunger in our stomachs. It fills our hearts and the deep-rooted requirement for connectivity and community. It intertwines us with nature, the seasons and organic systems.

Specific ingredients have an immense and undeniable power to provide us with essential nutrients, fuelling cognitive capacity, vitality, productivity and mental health, but mealtimes have an immense and undeniable power to provide us with essential

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nourishment, fuelling our souls, relationships and emotional wellbeing.

I have been in nutritional practice for nearly five years and have worked with hundreds of clients. Many of them are looking for that “superfood” or that “macro-nutrient ratio” or that “healing protocol” that’s going to somehow solve their lifelong struggles with food and eating. While I still honour and respect those requests, I simultaneously emphasize that “how you eat is more important that what you eat.” Yes, of course, if someone is choosing a highly processed, nutrient-devoid, problematic diet of “Franken-foods” and factory-made junk, it’s going to be very hard for their body to thrive and for them to achieve their wellness goals.

But beyond that, when focusing on nutrient-dense whole foods from nature, the main takeaway is to eat with joy, mindfulness and appreciation, to savour the flavours, to be grateful for the ingredients, to be aware of where the ingredients come from, how they make it into our kitchens, how they’re transformed into dishes and how those dishes become our meals.

To be present with the food in front of us, and the people around us, is inextricably human, and many of us in North America feel a deepening disconnect. We feel disconnected from others, disconnected from our food system, disconnected from base experiences and from our essential selves. Technology has shrunk the world but broadened the gaps between humanity at its most primal core.

Mealtime used to be a shared experience with family, friends and community. From cultivation to cooking to consumption, it wasn’t usually done in distracted isolation as so often occurs with modern practices of pre-packaged meals and mindless ingestion, eyes glued to TV or cellphone screens. Food was made, shared and eaten with love and appreciation.

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So I say let’s take back dinnertime! Let’s slowly and steadfastly begin to rebuild our relationships with others, our relationships with our own bodies, and our relationships with eating. Let’s learn the love language of food. Let’s worship flavour, venerate ingredients and pour a multitude of positive emotions into every dish we create or consume, just as my mom always did and still does today.

This practice doesn’t have to devour you. You don’t have to quit your job and tether yourself to the kitchen to build more nourishing rituals and mealtime routines. My mom was a former nurse turned interior decorator with her own business. Her days were always overflowing, and spare time was hard to find. But somehow, she magically and marvellously made time, and my father, a retina specialist with a remarkably full and demanding practice, would also miraculously create space to contribute to meals with his sweetly scientific appreciation for the culinary arts. Suffice it to say, schedules were tight but mealtimes were a priority, and they figured it out. It is possible. I know this, because I live it.

As a dual business owner with a husband who owns and operates a couple of different companies himself, abounding free time is a luxury we simply don’t have at this stage in our lives, but one thing I’ve learned in these dynamic days is that time is more fluid than we often let it be, and we make space for that which is important to us.

I don’t watch a lot of TV. I switch my cellphone off in the evenings.

Some nights my husband gets home at 8 or 9 pm after a long and gruelling day. But even still, he often arrives to find our table dressed in a simple tablecloth, candles lit, places set, a salad to sample, a soup to sip, a meaty main, a collection of colourful sides and a cake cooling on the counter. We sit, we laugh, we talk about our days and savour the flavours of the meal we’re enjoying together. We do this because I was taught to do this. We do this because I was taught why. This is mealtime, this is our time, and it is sacred. boulevardmagazines.com |

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Spatchcock Chicken with Lemon + Capers

PREP TIME: 10 MINUTES

COOK TIME: 30-40 MINUTES

INGREDIENTS: 1 whole free-range chicken ¼ - ½ cup extra virgin olive oil ½ tsp. sea salt ½ tsp. freshly ground black pepper 1 tsp. Spanish paprika 1 lemon, sliced ½ cup capers, drained and rinsed 1 medium onion, peeled and sliced

DIRECTIONS: Preheat oven to 425ºF. Heat a medium-large cast iron pan to medium heat, coat with olive oil (about 2 Tbsp.) and sauté onions for about 5 minutes, turning throughout, until translucent and slightly golden brown (you may need to add 2 or more Tbsp. of olive oil throughout this process to

avoid drying out or charring). To spatchcock the chicken, place the chicken breast-side down, with the legs towards you. Using sturdy scissors or poultry shears, cut along each side of the parson’s nose and backbone to remove it, cutting through the rib bones as you go. Open the chicken out and turn over. Flatten the breastbone with the heel of your hand so that the meat is all one thickness. Rub the skin on both sides with some olive oil, salt, pepper and paprika, and place the chicken so that it’s breast-side up on top of the cooked onions. Evenly disperse the lemon slices and capers on and around the bird. Feel free to sprinkle these toppings with some extra salt, pepper, paprika and even a little bit more olive oil. Place in the oven, and roast for about 30-40 minutes until the bird is cooked through, but still juicy and tender. *Note: For maximum flavour, and to expedite the process at dinnertime, you can prep all of this in advance, allowing the chicken to sit seasoned and dressed in the fridge until you’re ready to roast. The spatchcock method lends itself well to an overnight marinade, and of course also provides faster roast time, making it a great quick and easy weeknight option.

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Baked Asparagus with Lemon + Olives PREP TIME: 5 MINUTES COOK TIME: 15-20 MINUTES INGREDIENTS: 1 bunch of asparagus Extra virgin olive oil (2 Tbsp. to ¼ cup) 1 Tbsp. fresh lemon zest 1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice ¼ tsp. sea salt ¼ tsp. freshly cracked black pepper ½ cup olives, pitted and sliced in half (you can either do one kind like Kalamata or a combo of two or three) DIRECTIONS: Preheat your oven to 425ºF and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Trim, wash and dry the asparagus, and then toss in olive oil and lemon juice until all spears are fully coated. Arrange evenly on the baking sheet, and sprinkle with salt, pepper and lemon zest. Evenly disperse the sliced olives and cook for about 15-20 minutes until roasted and tender. *Note: As with the chicken recipe, you can prep all of this ahead of time allowing the flavours to infuse further, and simply pop it in the oven along with your chicken when you’re ready for dinner.

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PREP TIME: 10 MINUTES COOK TIME: 40 MINUTES INGREDIENTS: 1 cup extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for greasing ½ cup cane sugar, plus extra for coating 1 cup light buckwheat flour 1 cup almond flour 2 tsp. baking powder ½ tsp. baking soda ½ tsp. sea salt 3 large free-range eggs, yolks and whites divided Zest and juice of one lemon 3 tsp. vanilla ¼ cup honey DIRECTIONS: Preheat oven to 350ºF. Brush a 9-inch springform pan with olive oil and line the bottom with parchment paper. One option is to sprinkle the edges of the pan with some extra cane sugar (it adds a nice sweet crunch to the crust of the cake). Whisk both flours, baking powder, baking soda and sea salt in a medium bowl and set aside. Combine the lemon zest, lemon juice, vanilla and honey in a small bowl and set aside. Using an electric mixer, beat the sugar and olive oil for 1 minute. Beat in yolks, then honey, lemon and vanilla mixture until peaks form. Slowly stir in the flour mixture and, once combined, set aside. Using clean, dry beaters, beat egg whites in another medium bowl (or the same one, but washed and dried) until soft peaks form. Fold egg whites into batter just to blend in 2 additions. Transfer to prepared pan, smooth top, and bake for 35-45 minutes (you can check by inserting a clean knife into the centre and checking if it comes out clean). Remove from oven, set aside to cool for about 15 minutes before running a dull knife along the edges and removing from the springform pan. Enjoy slightly warm, or allow to fully cool, adding toppings of choice.

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A day after we said our vows in the German countryside, we arrived on the red carpet of Berlin’s Adlon Hotel. At the doorstep of the historic Brandenburg Gate, this iconic hotel is the epitome of luxury. From the caped bellmen to the luxurious lobby lounge, the Adlon evokes the feeling that you’ve arrived. It’s both grand and gracious at the same time.

The original Adlon Hotel opened in 1907 and became one of the most famous hotels in all of Europe. It was mostly destroyed at the end of WWII. Today, it is a new building inspired by the original design and no detail has been over-

Restoration began in the 1990s.

Skilled tradesmen were tasked with recreating intricate details of the 800-year-old city’s baroque and rococo architecture.

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looked. It offers beautiful suites and extremely comfortable beds and linens, the spa is divine and the location in the heart of Berlin can’t be beat.

After two unforgettable days, we sadly checked out of the Adlon. It is the kind of place you never want to leave, but another adventure was calling. We were heading east for a continuation of our Kempinski experience in Dresden Elbland.

You may know Dresden as the city destroyed by Allied bombs near the end of WWII. More specifically, it was the Dresden city centre that was flattened. It is just a small area

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but it is packed with centuries of history and architecture.

All of it was destroyed in the bombing raids and it would remain in that state for nearly half a century.

Restoration began in the 1990s. Skilled tradesmen were tasked with recreating intricate details of the 800-yearold city’s baroque and rococo architecture. Dresden today is an attractive destination for anyone who loves history, culture and cuisine.

Known as the “Florence on the Elbe” (river), Dresden is like a postcard at every turn.

The first glimpse of our hotel, the Taschenbergpalais Kempinski, took my breath away.

Built in the 18th century by order of the Saxon monarch Augustus the Strong for his favourite mistress Anna Constantia, Countess von Cosel, it exudes opulence. The building was among those Hotel Taschenbergpalais Kempinski in Dresden.

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Sidewalk cafes and cobble streets in historic Dresden.

destroyed in 1945. It was restored in 1995 and today is both beautifully historic and comfortably contemporary at the same time.

Boasting 213 elegant rooms and luxurious suites, the Taschenbergpalais Kempinski does not fall short on service or charm. The rooms are spacious and contemporary with impressive views right outside the large windows.

Staff are warm, helpful and knowledgeable.

It’s a first-class experience that feels special.

With so many tempting restaurant options in the immediate vicinity, we took advantage of the hotel concierge service. They enthusiastically provided several recommendations, and we opted for modern German cuisine just a short walk away.

As we headed off into the night we were sidetracked by the stunning architecture.

Under the lights of the city, the buildings seemed to come to life. The famous Semper Opera House and Dresden Cathedral called to our cameras. (We did eventually make it to dinner and it was delicious.)

We booked a private walking tour of Dresden for the following morning, and this is something we highly recommend. Dr. Alexander Klein met us in the Taschenbergpalais lobby. Just a few steps from the hotel we were already immersed in the Saxon capital’s history. Dr. Klein’s knowledge and obvious passion for the stories and people who

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once walked these cobbled streets brought Dresden to life for us. I could almost hear the clacking of royal equine hooves and trumpets as we explored the residential palace of Augustus, bearing witness to his lust for opulence in the 18th century. The most obvious example is the series of rooms he had constructed to display his priceless possessions. Visitors would be led through each chamber that existed only to represent his wealth and power.

The Royal Palace has been reconstructed as a palace of the arts and sciences. You can buy tickets to explore the rooms and examine artistic objects and costumes of the renaissance and baroque eras. You’ll be impressed by the unique collection of weapons in the Turkish chamber and the renaissance arms in the Hall of the Giants.

Don’t miss touring the Royal State Apartments that have been restored to their full 1719 splendour.

While most of Dresden’s historic buildings were destroyed by Allied bombs, many art pieces and artifacts are original. The nearby city of Leipzig was bombed first in 1945. Dresden leaders knew they were likely the next target. They quickly and carefully had precious pieces of history removed from the museums and stored where they could not be destroyed.

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Today Dresden is home to Germany’s oldest Christmas market, located right next to a large and modern shopping mall. Dresden is a city of contrasts: old and new architectural styles beautifully co-exist. It’s a magical example of a modern city that transports you to a different time.

When it comes to transportation you don’t need a car to see the best of the Dresden Elbland region. There are two historic cable cars that run on the banks of the Elbe River. The best way to take in the cityscape is on foot, by bike or even in a kayak.

Allow yourself at least four or five days to explore the many historic buildings and more than 50 museums of Dresden. Zwinger Palace is an experience that shouldn’t be missed. Be sure to check out the interactive museum that features the horse ballet of the royal wedding of 1719 between Augustus’ son Prince Friedrich August and Austrian Princess and Archduchess Maria Josepha.

Dubbed “the Wedding of the Century,” Augustus the Strong used it to demonstrate his wealth to visiting royals. With a 270-degree, panoramic projection, you feel like you are in the centre of the

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One cannot talk about Dresden without mentioning its rich musical heritage. The city has two symphony orchestras and more than 30 concert venues, as well as the Dresdner Kreuzchor, a choir with an 800-year history. Music lovers from all over the world gather year after year for the Dresden Music Festival and the International Dixieland Festival.

Leave yourself time to experience a traditional German pub and what Dresden proudly calls the best chocolate ice cream in all of Germany. (I think they’re right!)

The tourist season is typically from May to October, but a winter experience brings its own magic. Taschenbergpalais Kempinski transforms its historic inner courtyard into a sparkling ice rink and welcomes skaters young and old.

If Germany is in your travel plans, consider a stop in Dresden Elbland. Pack comfortable walking shoes for those charming cobble streets and remember your camera. You won’t be disappointed.

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secrets and lives —

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X

PHOTOGRAPHY LIA CROWE

w

hen long-time chef Nicholas Waters first started Toque Catering in 2013, he never expected it to take off.

“To be honest, I thought I’d be doing one function a weekend,” he says with a laugh. “I didn’t think anything of it. Then all of a sudden, it turned into an animal.”

Toque grew from just five full-timers three years ago to a staff almost 30 strong today, and the wealth of talent in Nick’s kitchen is enviable.

“We run with 10 to 12 executive chefs full time in the kitchen,” he says. “It’s one of the best teams I’ve ever worked with.”

About the same time Toque took off, Nick relocated to Metchosin, and the locale has been ideal both personally and professionally.

“The bigger we’ve gotten, the more local we’ve become,” he says.

Toque is booked at least a year in advance, so Nick and his team have been able to approach local farmers well ahead of season to plan out orders, translating to reliable income for the small agriculture sector, as well as premium ingredients.

And though Nick says he doesn’t want to grow too big too fast, there are definitely some new and exciting directions coming down the pipe.

“Stay tuned!”

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The 7 Sins

“To be honest, I thought I’d be doing one function a weekend. I didn’t think anything of it. Then all of a sudden, it turned into an animal.”

envy:

Whose shoes would you like to walk in?

I am on my own journey in life and wouldn’t change a thing, good or bad, but I would love to be Michel Bras in Normandy, France for a day. He has been my favourite chef in the world since I was 18! His book is still better than most out there and it’s almost 20 years old.

gluttony:

What is the food you could eat over and over again?

That is definitely a hard one, but I would say gyoza. No matter whether I’m at a pub, home or a high-end restaurant, 10 out of 10 times I will order it if it’s on the menu.

greed:

You’re given $1 million that you have to spend selfishly.

What would you spend it on?

I would travel all through Europe and eat and drink and just eat and drink until it was gone. Spain, Portugal, France, Italy — let’s face it, the money would be gone by then!

wrath:

Pet peeves?

Everything, almost … but the freezers and coolers being a mess has to be the one that makes me think I’m going to have a heart attack.

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STORE CLOSING sloth:

Where would you spend a long time doing nothing?

Spain.

pride:

What is the one thing you’re secretly proud of?

It won’t be a secret anymore if I say this, but it would be the team — chefs, dishwashers, operations, planners, on-site service staff, rentals and anyone else I’m missing — and the culture we’ve been able to create at Toque. I am grateful every day that I get to work alongside a very, very talented group. I actually like working with them all and don’t have a bad thing to say.

They’ve all become my family.

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What makes your heart beat faster?

Being on-site when shit hits the fan — like a barbecue falls off the top and an oven doesn’t work, etc. That shit turns me on when you come out of it unscathed and everything went perfectly, except your soul becomes a little darker!

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AP RI L / MAY 2020

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narrative

WORDS ANGELA COWAN

X ILLUSTRATION SIERRA LUNDY

LIGHTS. ACTION. GLAMOUR? 1 02

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t eight years old, I’d swan about my bedroom with my baby blanket tied up tight under my armpits, dreaming of long dresses and red carpets. As a girl, a teenager, and even well into my early 20s, I harboured deep fantasies of becoming a world-famous actress. I daydreamed about what kind of interview answers I’d give, where I’d travel, what (incredibly handsome) leading men I might work with.

I dabbled in theatre and talent searches, but I never took the plunge to try and make a real career out of it — partly because of finances (head shots, acting classes, travel, etc.), and partly because my parents were (understandably) reticent about me entering the industry. But mostly, something was missing. It wasn’t until my first writing class at university that I had a light bulb moment and realized where my heart lived.

Since then, one thing I’ve discovered about writing, and in particular, writing for magazines, is that doors open that you otherwise wouldn’t have access to. As a full-time writer, I’ve gone on culinary tours, I’ve visited incredible artists and authors in their creative spaces, I’ve met royalty, and on one memorable occasion, I even held an actual Oscar (Best Director, I’d like to thank the Academy . . .). But as a decade-long fan of Murdoch Mysteries, when I got the opportunity in October 2017 to not only meet the cast and crew but to spend the better part of a day on set while on assignment, it quickly became the pinnacle of my interviewing experiences.

Murdoch travels outside of its regular Toronto shooting schedule probably once a year, and this was the first time they’d made the trip across to Vancouver Island, shooting in Gowlland Tod Park and Cattle Point over three days for a two-hour Christmas special.

So it’s early Friday morning on day three, and I drive into a mostly deserted parking lot at Cattle Point with a flicker of trepidation. Thankfully, Katherine Wolfgang, head of publicity for CBC,

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I T ’ S I N T H I S MOM E N T, S TA N DI NG , WA I T I NG A N D WAT CH I NG , W H I L E A GL ACI E R - C OL D W I N D K N I F E S T H R OUGH M Y JACK E T A N D BU R NS M Y E A RS, I RE A LIZE T H AT W H AT S T R I K E S M E T H E MO S T I S J US T HOW I NC R E DI BLY H A R D E V E RY SI NGL E PE R S ON H E R E I S WOR K I NG .

comes over as I stand just outside my car, wondering where I’m supposed to go. Large, backless set pieces stand off to one side for an upcoming village scene. A square black tent flutters in the frigid sea winds, sheltering the director and assistant directors. And way out on the water floats a massive canoe, waiting to manoeuvre into place for another take.

It’s not even 9 am, but most of the cast have been on set for hours already, says Katherine as she leads me to a spot where I’ll be out of the way. There are several scenes being shot today: walking along the beach, a confrontation in a Songhees village, and the canoe ride, which is where the two leads are right now. A low, lightly striated cloud cover creates the ideal light for today’s shoot: flat and bright, with a spectacular sunrise. I get to watch the monitors through the flaps in the director’s tent, seeing just how they frame the shots.

All those fantasies of being on a real live television set come rushing back, complete with dashing romantic leads and people shouting from every direction as the cameras are set up. Then a heavy blanket of silence falls and I can hear far-off gulls behind the snatches of dialogue, and it’s in this moment, standing, waiting, watching, while a glacier-cold wind knifes through my jacket and burns my ears, I realize that

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what strikes me the most is just how incredibly hard every single person is working here.

Far from being the glamorous, luxurious existence most people associate with TV and movies, what I witness on set is long hours, endless repetition, collaboration and discussion for the smallest of details, and little to no time for anyone to even escape to the port-a-potty, let alone eat or take a break. Between takes, the stars are swiftly wrapped in earmuffs and knee-length parkas. Other people from the media mill around like me, waiting for a minute or two to grab someone for a quote.

The canoe is beached, and lead and Montreal native Yannick Bisson joins Dylan Neal and Megan Follows for a scene hopping from giant log to giant log over the rocks. Director Gary Harvey calls out suggestions for small changes to Bisson’s performance, and they reset again and again and again. Somehow, the actors maintain the same level of authenticity and emotion each time, tweaking their performances an inch this way and that.

One moment that’s stuck with me to this day is the sight of Murdoch himself coming back from the catering tents eating a few hurried bites of coleslaw out of a tiny paper cup, before jumping right back to work.

Despite having been on set since well before sunrise and with many hours yet to go, Bisson is gracious and kind, and takes time to chat to everyone who’s come to see him, no matter how briefly. A fellow from a radio show gets to Bisson before me, and I stand back to let them talk, grabbing a few notes so I don’t have to repeat questions. At this point I’ve been on set for close to four hours, and I’m ready to jump in for my turn when the director jogs through, shouting for everyone to get back in place for the next round of takes.

Outwardly, I’m professional and pleasant. Inside, I can feel my tiny chance to talk to the leads slipping away.

But then a hand grabs my elbow. I turn, and it’s Bisson, smiling so that my heart actually does an extra hard thathump, and he promises to find me when they’re done.

I end up getting the interview, and with Hélène Joy as well, who is equally gracious and waits until I’ve asked all my questions before moving on to the next person anxious for her time.

I have to wait to chat to showrunner Peter Mitchell, so while Black Press photographer Don Denton explores with his camera, I end up chatting with Simon McNabb, one of the main writers for the Christmas special. A Vancouver native, he’s about my age, and happy to talk about the writing process for the show.

And it’s here, chatting with Simon, that I realize I’m the most relaxed, and the most at home. Seeing behind the scenes has been fascinating and exciting, and I’ve definitely had a challenge keeping my inner fangirl in check, but for the first time, I can see where I might fit in a situation like this: warm and toasty in the director’s tent, seeing my words brought to life by incredibly talented people.

The little girl inside of me still dreams occasionally of flashing cameras and golden awards, but red carpet dreams aside, I think I’ll stick with my pen for now.

Do you have a good story to tell — and the ability to write it?

Boulevard readers are invited to submit stories for consideration and publication in the Narrative section. Stories should be 800 to 1,200 words long and sent to managing editor Susan Lundy at lundys@shaw.ca. Please place the word “Narrative” in the subject line.

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AP RI L / MAY 2020

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behind the story

With this edition, Boulevard introduces food writer Ellie Shortt. She had this to say about her first story, Sacred Supper: “When I sat down with editors Susan Lundy and Lia Crowe at our initial brain-storming meeting, my mind was bursting with ideas that spoke more specifically to my professional experiences and knowledge. Do we go with topical nutrition tips? Grocery sourcing and meal prep tricks? Perhaps a thorough exploration of some seasonal ingredient? However, at the heart of all these discussions, and the foundation of my food philosophy, is a respectful recognition of my roots. This felt like a purposeful introduction to my new column — a window into some intimate corners of my life: how I pay homage to my heritage and interweave some of these values and practices throughout my week. It found writing this piece to be a meaningful exercise in mindful reflection and, as you read it, I hope it stirs some similarly sentimental or introspective observations in your minds and hearts as well.”

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