Boulevard Magazine Vancouver, 2023 ISSUE 6

2023 NO. 6

VANCOUVER LIFE AT ITS FINEST

TURN UP THE HEAT

S

LIFE-SAVING RESEARCH

IT'S HOT AND COOL

HOT SHOT

The VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation Millionaire Lottery

Entertaining with trendy mocktails

Warm up your wintertime feast with a hint of heat

From Concept to Cooking Your Tailored Kitchen Awaits Combining standard & custom cabinetry sizes and features helps create your dream kitchen while optimizing your investment.

1-888-408-9856 | merit-kitchens.com/kitchenconcepts

Beauty on the inside. And out.

At No.1 Collision Group, we specialize in providing a repair experience that is unlike any other in North America.

From the Italian leather furnishings that adorn our offices to the bespoke architecture of our expansive facilities, we’ve meticulously curated each of our collision centers to embody the essence of the luxury vehicles that reside within them.

With certifications from prestigious manufacturers such as Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, BMW, and Tesla, our expert technicians are equipped with the latest in automotive technology to ensure that your luxury automobile is fully restored to its original grandeur.

Add to this an industry-leading customer service, uniquely provided by our team of client experience specialists, and together it equals an experience that is entirely bespoke to the collision repair industry.

UNSURPASSED COLLISION REPAIR

DEDICATED MERCEDES-BENZ FACILITY IN RICHMOND

no1collision.com

RADO.COM

MASTER OF MATERIALS

CAPTAIN COOK HIGH-TECH CERAMIC SKELETON

photography by Andrea Ferrari

1706 West 1st Ave Vancouver BC Canada V6J 0E4 • www.livingspace.com · www.baxter.it

CONTENTS 34

40 FEATURES

ON THE COVER Photo by Lia Crowe Todd Talbot, spokesperson for the VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation Millionaire Lottery, at a grand-prize home in South Surrey. Jacket and shirt, Levi’s 501 Original; jeans, DUER. Styling Sarah D’Arcey Makeup Artistry by Ksenia

HOT PROPERTIES

28

28 LIFE-SAVING &

LIFE-CHANGING The VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation Millionaire Lottery

By Angela Cowan

34 WILD COUNTRY Fashion that calls for adventure and frontier courage

By Lia Crowe + Sarah D’Arcey

44 IT’S HOT AND COOL TO SERVE MOCKTAILS

Four mixologists shake up some non-alcoholic flavours

By Laura Goldstein

8

B O U L E VA R D

52 HOT SHOT Warm up your wintertime feast with a hint of heat

By Ellie Shortt

58 ON SAFARI A breathtaking, life-changing experience in South Africa

By Lauren Kramer

28

58

44

DEPARTMENTS

10 CONTRIBUTORS 12 EDITOR’S LETTER A hot tip for shoppers

By Susan Lundy

16 LIFE. STYLE. ETC. Lacey Sheardown

By Lia Crowe

18 WELL AND GOOD Get your sweat on

20 IN STUDIO A feast of florals: Fleurs de Villes

By Laura Goldstein

24 WEEKENDER Bewitched: Orcas Island

By Lauren Kramer

40 SPOTLIGHT

62 SECRETS AND LIVES Tara Jean Stevens

By Angela Cowan

64 NARRATIVE

An extraordinary friendship

By Barbara Barry

66 BEHIND THE STORY

By Lia Crowe

Romancing the stones

By Don Descoteau

By Kaisha Scofield

B O U L E VA R D

9

contributors “I lived in South Africa for 20

LAUREN KRAMER WRITER ON SAFARI

years and cherished the opportunity to return. It was especially thrilling to go on safari and, from the safety of a land cruiser, be within arm’s reach of the leathery, wrinkled skin of elephants, the golden fur of lions and the soft inhale of a leopard at rest.” A Cape Town-born writer now based in Richmond, Lauren feels privileged to explore the world as a travel writer and share her experiences and reflections with readers. She also writes stories about food, restaurants and news features for publications in Canada and the United States.

PAGE 58

MAKEUP WILD COUNTRY

majestic ranch and couture all collided to create magic. The makeup? Moody, mirroring the vast landscapes and avantgarde style. Even nature added drama to this shoot, serving up stormy skies (and a huge downpour while we were on horseback!).

Editorial makeup lets us redefine beauty. I revel in crafting art alongside these inspired creators. Each shot feels Vogue-worthy, a testament to our collective vision.” Jenny, an award-winning makeup artist, fuses beauty, personal growth and coaching to serve her clients. When she isn’t working, you’ll find her hiking Knox Mountain in Kelowna.

“When I started researching this article,

WRITER GET YOUR SWEAT ON

PAGE 18

10

B O U L E VA R D

MANAGING EDITOR Susan Lundy

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Barbara Barry, Angela Cowan, Lia Crowe, Sarah D’Arcey, Don Descoteau, Laura Goldstein, Lauren Kramer, Kaisha Scofield, Ellie Shortt DESIGNERS Lily Chan, Nel Pallay, Maria Lobanova, Tammy Robinson, Crea Zhang ADVERTISING SALES Vicki Clark, Carien Wessels PHOTOGRAPHERS Lia Crowe, Don Denton, Chris Haylett, Masao Okano, Sheila Say ILLUSTRATION Sierra Lundy

PAGE 34

KAISHA SCOFIELD

BOULEVARD GROUP PUBLISHER Mario Gedicke mario.gedicke@blackpress.ca 250-891-5627

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Lia Crowe

“In this fashion story, our team, a

JENNY MCKINNEY

2023 ISSUE 6

I realized my idea of saunas was limited to childhood memories of going to the local pool with my dad in the ‘80s. The sauna was often a dimly lit square room, off to the side of the kiddie pool. I remember trying not to slip on the slick tiled floors, only to sit on hard plastic benches, in the stifling heat.

After a few minutes in the dingy sauna, we would wade through the crowds and jump into a heavily chlorinated pool. It wasn’t the most rejuvenating experience. The saunas of today have been completely transformed into luxurious and relaxation-focused experiences that include raw cedar and hot natural stones, and sometimes finish with a refreshing plunge into a beautiful body of water.” Kaisha is a functional nutritional therapy practitioner and a size-inclusive personal trainer at Well and Strong Health.

DISTRIBUTION Marilou Pasion Marilou@blackpress.ca 604-542-7411

VANCOUVERBOULEVARD.COM Boulevard Magazine is published 6 times per year by Black Press Ltd. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited. The publisher is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts and photographs.

We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada

The Pinnacle of Elevated Living A Beach Address in the Heart of Vancouver

1, 2 and 3 Bedroom City Homes in Vancouver’s Beach District.

Each home comes with a unique view from this spectacular central Vancouver location:

• Panoramic water views • Exciting cityscapes • North Shore mountain vistas • Colourful marinas and parks

Presentation Centre 1133 W Hastings, Vancouver By appointment 778-300-3601 Developed by

601Beach.com This is not an offering for sale. Such offering can only be made by way of Disclosure Statement.

Rendering is artist’s concept only.

Marketed by

PHOTO BY LIA CROWE

hot tip for shoppers

Holiday shoppers beware. Last January, a few weeks before my birthday, the targeted ads on my social media feed changed. Suddenly, my iPhone was encouraging me to view an array of gleaming chandeliers. I love chandeliers. But I was definitely not in the market for one.

Typically, my social media feed bombards me with clothing ads—a lot of dresses, for example. Dresses are one of those things that I love to look at and almost buy online. I scroll through the offerings, read reviews of the company, figure out the sizing and often get all the way to the “confirm payment” stage before finding my brain. I know (from experience) that it’s almost impossible to buy dresses online (most clothes, actually) that fit well. And also…I rarely wear dresses, so there’s that.

And speaking of those dress ads, I’m not sure when this happened, but suddenly they started appearing with taglines like “flattering for mature women” or “my mom can’t get enough of this dress.” When did I become a “mature” woman?

What does that even mean?

There are a lot of get-in-shape ads too. Wall Pilates. Chair yoga. “Thanks to this app my mom is in the best shape of her life!” And let’s not forget the dog paraphernalia: harnesses, cute little walking outfits, chew toys, doggie treats. These pair with all the “suggested for you” animal rescue sites. Dog rescues, donkey rescues, Thanksgiving turkey rescues, pig rescues, saved-from-a-restaurant lobster rescues…so many rescues. (These stem directly from my fascination with Niall Harbison, an Irish fellow who works with street dogs in Thailand. Check him out if you love dogs—or if you just want to see all the rescue sites that will suddenly pop up on your feed.)

The worst is when you are continually hit with an item that you have searched and already purchased. For weeks following a bathroom renovation I had toilets of every size and sort appearing as I scrolled. Who knew there could be so many options in a standard toilet purchase?

However, I do confess the most recent change in my social media feed’s ad campaign has hit the target with troubling accuracy, sending me spiralling down myriad rabbit holes. With the recent birth of my first grandchild, I have discovered there is a whole new shopping world out there. Adorable-beyond-yourimagination onesies, irresistible tiny shoes, toys for fun, toys for learning, books for fun, books for learning. Knits, gleaming wood, linen, non-toxic plastic.

I was dreading the moment the algorithm figured out how to target me with combined baby and dog ads. And then there it was…I could submit a photo of our dog Zorro and his face could adorn an outfit for my granddaughter!

So, since I was very familiar with all these regular targeted ads, the sudden appearance of chandeliers gave me a moment of pause. I searched my memory to see if I had googled “lights for home décor.” Had I confessed my love for chandeliers within earshot of my phone? But then it struck me. My husband was gifting me a chandelier for my birthday! His searching had changed my algorithm. That sent me diving back to my phone and scrolling through all the opulent options.

And, in fact, when my birthday rolled around there was a huge box containing a sparkling chandelier just for me. (And to be honest, it was quite familiar, having seen it numerous times on my feed.)

The theme of this issue of Boulevard has been built around “heat” and “hot.”

There are stories on spicy cuisine, hot drinks, soothing saunas, an African safari and a sizzling fashion story. As we enter this period of seasonal chill, we hope these stories will warm you from the inside out.

From me, you get a hot tip. Times have changed and there’s no longer any need to sneak over to your spouse’s “secret” holiday-gift-hiding spots, jiggle packages, peek into bags or search for clues by holding things up to the light. It’s much simpler now. Just keep an eye on your social media feed.

Susan Lundy Managing Editor Susan Lundy is a former journalist who now works as an editor, author and freelance writer. Her latest book, Home on the Strange, was published in 2021 via Heritage House Publishing.

12

B O U L E VA R D

VANCOUVER

EFFORTLESSLY DYNAMIC CUTTING-EDGE LUXURY DISCOVER A JOURNEY INTO DRIVING PLEASURE

DISCOVER OUR LINEUP OF

FULLY-ELECTRIC BMW’s

ORDER TODAY

FROM CANADA’S #1 BMW DEALERSHIP

life.style.etc.

LACEY SHEARDOWN DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS, SPLASHES BATH & KITCHEN WORDS + PHOTOGRAPHY LIA CROWE

As Lacey and I meet in her beautiful home with her sweet hound, Barley, we chat life, style and a few things in between.

I ask how she came to a career in marketing, and she says, “I've wanted to be in marketing since I was a kid. I used to watch the ‘80s TV show Who's the Boss? and I wanted to be like the character Angela Bower.

She owned and operated an advertising agency— and she had a cute Italian housekeeper named Tony. Now, I've worked in marketing for more than 20 years, and I have a handsome Australian husband who likes to vacuum. (Close enough!)”

Lacey shows me around her home, pointing out new renovations and describing ideas for future renovations.

“I can't look at a space without thinking about how I'd improve it. Our house is continually in some sort of renovation or state of change/chaos, and my role Splashes Bath & Kitchen feeds my obsession with home improvement and interior design.”

As the conversation turns to her marketing role, I ask what fires her up the most about her work.

“Some of my favourite moments at work are standing with a graphic designer and watching as an idea we have comes to life. I am not artistic at all, but I have a solid vision for what I want things to look like and the feeling I want them to convey.”

Outside of work Lacey has Barley, her one-year-old rescue dog, who she calls “a lovable constant concern,” 16

B O U L E VA R D

and her three daughters, aged 21, 13 and three.

“Between the teen's hockey schedule, the toddler being ‘a toddler’ and the dog's inability to sit still, there is barely enough time to keep everyone fed and mostly clean. My husband is the founder of a fintech company, so both of us have demanding careers. But we try to fill our time off with getting projects completed around our home and sitting down for dinners as a family.”

Asked what the best life lesson is that she’s recently learned, Lacey replies, “No one actually has it all together.”

And what quality has led to her success? “My ability to be open and vulnerable helps people feel at ease with me.”

When it comes to style, Lacey loves when people look pulled together yet effortless and relaxed. Asked to describe her personal style, she says, “I'm a bit all over the place. I could live in jeans, a hoodie and sneakers, but I also feel at ease in a blazer with a pencil skirt and heels. I look for special occasions to dress up, and I am a sucker for themes and hats. I like to have fun with clothes.”

FASHION & BEAUTY

Uniform: Shift dress.

All-time favourite piece: Calvin Klein jean jacket.

Currently coveting: I am always searching for tall black boots that fit my calves.

Favourite pair of shoes: Freya Rose heels.

Favourite day-bag: Maria Castelli backpack.

Favourite work tool: iPhone 14 Pro. Favourite jewellery piece or designer: My custom engagement ring from Francis Jewellers.

Fashion obsession: Dresses with pockets.

Accessory you spend the most money on: Lash extensions.

Necessary indulgence for either fashion or beauty: 100% Pure Bright Eyes masks.

Moisturizer: 100% Pure Hydra Drench Cream from The Green Kiss.

Scent: Vanilla.

Must-have hair product: Davines Liquid Spell.

Beauty secret: Not drinking alcohol for over 13 years.

STYLE INSPIRATIONS & LIFE Style icon: Jennifer Aniston.

Favourite fashion designer or brand: Ted Baker.

Favourite musician: '80s and '90s pop.

Era of time that inspires your style: '90s supermodels.

Film or TV show that inspires your style or that you just love the style of: Jessica Pearson from Suits.

Favourite cocktail or wine: Mermaid Tears

by Babe's Honey Farm.

Album on current rotation: My wedding reception playlist.

Favourite flower: Peony.

Favourite town to visit: Osoyoos, BC. Favouriteapp: TikTok. Favourite place in the whole world: Whitsunday Islands, Queensland, Australia.

One thing that consistently lifts your spirits during hard times: Having a long bath with candles, a book and lofi beats.

READING MATERIAL What you read online for style: Instagram and Pinterest.

Fave print magazine: Harvard Business Review.

Coffee table book/photography book: None—my dog would eat them.

Last great read: My first audio book— Paris The Memoir, by Paris Hilton.

Book currently reading: Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing: A Memoir, by Matthew Perry.

Favourite book of all time: I can't pick only one! But, A House in the Sky, by Amanda Lindhout and Sara Corbett, is the only book to make me cry.

B O U L E VA R D

17

well + good

Get your sweat on

The many benefits of joining the sauna club WORDS KAISHA SCOFIELD

18

B O U L E VA R D

Y

ou’re standing outside a small cedar hut wearing nothing more than a small robe and an even smaller towel. You grip a roughhewn wooden handle and pull open a sweet-smelling cedar door. You are consumed by a blast of hot, humid air that immediately floods your body with a wave of warmth.

Walking inside, you are surrounded by a heavy heat that dives into your breath and seems to drench you from the inside out. As your body adjusts to the temperature change, you notice there are other people sitting on the warm wooden benches inside, towels strategically draped over their more private body parts. You may feel awkward at first, but you quickly realize that your skin is uniformly so warm, and you are sweating so much, that any amount of clothing is unwelcome on your body.

You join the others on a bench, immersing yourself in the heavy hot air. Soon, you find your rhythm, breathing in the humidity that fills your lungs, heat drenching your skin and soothing your body. Welcome, you are now a member of the exclusive sauna club.

The first rule of sauna is to cover as little skin as possible. In fact most cultures practice steam bathing in the nude, simply because it is more efficient and comfortable. However, the degree of expected nudity varies greatly by region, tradition and familiarity to those around you. In Finland and Japan, for example, only tourists wear bathing suits to steam bathe, but in the UK, US and Canada, bathing suits are mandatory, at least in public. This may explain the popularity of personal saunas.

The first saunas are claimed to have been invented by the Finnish nearly 2,000 years ago and, while Finns are certainly the most enthusiastic steam bathers, the practice of sitting in a hot room, sweating out of every pore, is almost universal.

Saunas have been around in various forms and across many cultures for thousands of years, and while we may use it as an occasional way to relax, indulge and maybe add a little glow to our skin, in some cultures steam bathing is a way of life.

For example, in the far north where running water is a scarce resource, especially during the winter months, spending time in a sauna or sweat hut is a very practical way of cleansing the outside and inside of the body.

Most saunas are made from cedar or spruce with wooden benches and large stones of basalt or granite. The selection of wood is based on its ability to distribute the heat and its comfort for sitting, while the choice of stone is based on its ability to resist splitting or exploding when heated. This is important because the stones are heated enough to bring the temperature of the room to around 40 degrees Celsius. Steam bathers can then ladle water onto the stones to produce even more steam, heating the room to a recommended maximum of around 80 degrees Celsius.

The high heat and low humidity of the sauna allow the body to sweat continuously; the sweat is then unable to evaporate on the skin where it would normally cool the body.

A consistently raised body temperature creates an almost false fever condition, which increases blood flow and promotes flushing of the lymphatic system while increasing metabolism and white blood cell count. To contend with the increased body temperature, the heart beats faster, increasing circulation without raising blood pressure.

Some studies have shown regular sauna practice improves heart health and some respiratory ailments, aids menstrual conditions, improves various muscle, nerve and joint pains, and improves stress management. There are even some studies that suggest steam bathing can have positive effects on the endocrine system, including potentially regulating cortisol (stress hormone) levels directly after a sauna session, and for the next several hours.

Another exciting and popular area of study is the combination of sauna and cold-water therapy. Most of these studies are conducted on athletes trying to harness the circulatory benefits of long-term body-system heating with the anti-inflammatory benefits of cold therapy. In Finland, hot/cold therapy would involve an 80-degree naked sauna practice followed by a flop into the nearest snowbank. In BC we are more likely to get a partially clothed spa sauna followed by a nearby cold pool plunge, and while the experience differs the benefits remain.

If you’re feeling ready to get your sweat on, please note that there is a catch: almost all studies show that in order to experience the benefits of steam bathing and cold therapy, you must do so consistently. Intermittent sauna practitioners are actually more likely to have a negative experience because the nervous system needs enough time to adapt to the regular practice of elevated temperatures in order for it to allow your body to relax into the benefits. In other words, you have to train before diving into the sauna club.

Luckily, there seems to be a growing sauna culture popping up all around our province. No longer limited to the dirty tiles and musty side rooms of public swimming pools, you can now find all manner of sauna experiences. These range from luxurious sauna spa centres designed for sauna/cold therapy immersion to portable barges on the far west coast that include cold plunges directly into the Pacific Ocean. So, break out your softest robe, grab your most absorbent mini towel, and get your sweat on! *Saunas are not recommended for those suffering from certain health conditions. If you have health concerns, please consult your doctor before entering a sauna.

B O U L E VA R D

19

Arthur Erickson Place from 2022 Fleurs de Ville NOËL. PHOTO BY CHRIS HAYLETT

A feast of florals

Fleurs de Villes events bloom with breathtaking beflowered creations WORDS LAURA GOLDSTEIN PHOTOGRAPHY CHRIS HAYLETT PORTRAIT MASAO OKANO FOR NICOLE CHAN PHOTOGRAPHY

X

20

B O U L E VA R D

“People have a deep emotional connection to flowers. We realized there was a hole in the market: unless they were attending a wedding, funeral or special event, there was little chance of the general public seeing extraordinary floral displays in real life.”

R

‘The Snow Queen’ was the Fleurs de Ville NOËL winner.

PHOTO BY CHRIS HAYLETT

ecalling the enchanted character in Hans Christian Andersen’s fairytale, the Snow Queen’s gown has an exquisite overlay of 400 white chrysanthemums. Her underskirt, collar and crown are made of white branches and spiky thistle-like blue eryngium, mimicking icicles that sparkle with dustings of glitter.

The Snow Queen mannequin, designed by GG Flowers on Main, won Best in Show at last year’s Fleurs de Villes NOËL holiday event in Vancouver.

Fleurs de Villes, which translates to “Flowers of the Cities,” premiered in Victoria in 2016, followed a week later by a Vancouver show. The next year, it expanded across Canada. The fifth annual Fleurs de Villes NOËL runs this year in Vancouver from December 7 to 18 and promises a self-guided tour of floral visions amid the city’s popular shopping areas. Highlights will include a giant snowflake and holiday wreath, a floral sleigh, a snow queen, floral elf and Nutcracker-inspired mannequins, and other installations bursting with holiday blooms. A tour map is available at the concierge desk at Pacific Centre.

“When you think about it, every important event, happy or sad, from birth to death, is marked by flowers,” says Fleurs de Villes co-founder Karen Marshall. “People have a deep emotional connection to flowers. [Co-founder Tina Barkley] and I realized there was a hole in the market: unless they were attending a wedding, funeral or special event, there was little chance of the general public seeing extraordinary floral displays in real life.”

Both Karen and Tina have fond childhood memories of flowers.

“My grandmother’s garden in northern Scotland was always full of roses that smelled incredible. I was also oddly obsessed with a giant red poppy which grew by our front door,” laughs Karen.

B O U L E VA R D

21

“We aren’t florists ourselves, but our backgrounds are in content marketing, publishing and entrepreneurship.

At the time, I was doing a lot of work with shopping malls and realized there’s a lot of space to bring the floral conversation to the public. That’s where the idea came from. And then we thought, ‘How can we also do this globally?’” Karen explains.

The two savvy entrepreneurs partner with elite corporate, hotel, restaurant and media sponsors, enlisting the talents of local florists—or “fleuristes”—to create stunning floral displays.

If you’re familiar with the elaborate couturier fashions at New York’s annual Met Gala, imagine them constructed with flowers instead of fabric. Displayed on posed fibreglass mannequins, the painterly gowns, stupendous hats, ornate necklaces, shoes and even ice skates are all composed of real flora, leaves, branches and seeds. The intricate, textured details are jawdropping. Peering in closely to examine the delicate workmanship, it’s difficult to believe that every element hasn’t been sewn.

For approximately nine days, on a designated selfguided floral trail depending upon the venue, the public can stroll through tiny shopping streets, botanical gardens or malls, and then vote for their favourite display.

“As you can imagine, it’s a monumental undertaking coordinating each show of 15 to 20 installations, working with fantastic fleuristes in each city, who are given a stipend to cover their costs, organizing locations, et cetera,” says Karen.

As ephemeral as the ice and snow they are mimicking, fresh flowers only last five to 10 days. That was just one challenge for Kathleen Fleming and her three sisters, of GG Flowers on Main, who created the award-winning Snow Queen for last year’s Fleurs de Villes NOËL. “Dressed in sections, it takes hundreds of hours of work from concept to finish,” explains Kathleen. “The skirt was especially difficult because we had to put 400 chrysanthemum disbuds into little water tubes before inserting them into the mesh chicken wire under-frame.

We wanted her to look very regal with an enlarged collar and crown of branches to resemble icicles. They were very difficult to maneuver into the right length and angle. Working only a day ahead, we constructed the long jacket of spray mums because we wanted it to look fluffy and wintery. The Snow Queen had to be viewed from every angle, so it’s really all in the details.”

The old English adage “mighty oaks from little acorns grow” couldn’t be more apropos as Fleurs de Villes expands internationally. It has become its own luxury brand, with 90 shows in 25 cities across four countries.

Participating cities include New York, Boston, San Francisco, Bal Harbour, London, Edinburgh, Sydney and Melbourne, with more cities added each year.

In addition to Fleurs de Villes NOËL, the shows’ themes become more imaginative each year. Other themes include a tribute to PRIDE festivals; VOYAGE, in which cultures throughout the world are celebrated; and FEMMES, in which inspiring women in history are depicted through flowers. ROSÉ supported breast cancer research with installations in vivid hues of pink, with partial proceeds donated to local foundations.

22

B O U L E VA R D

Karen Marshall and Tina Barkley.

PHOTO BY: MASAO OKANO FOR NICOLE CHAN PHOTOGRAPHY.

International shows bring unique interpretations to installations, as fleuristes in other countries have access to exotic and unusual species of flowers and leaves not found in Canada.

“One of the highlights of our showcase last February was HRH Princess Anne visiting our Fleurs de Villes PRIDE event at the Royal Botanic Garden in Sydney, Australia. Tina and I had no idea she was coming when we were asked to take ‘a special guest’ around the show. She was lovely and truly interested in everything we do,” says Karen.

Karen and Tina are already working on details for the 2024 theme, Fleurs de Villes ARTISTE, which will interpret flowers as muse through art history.

“Flowers are universally loved. They are powerful and bring joy to people, and that’s our greatest wish,” says Karen.

We have what you need*

Luxurious style to impress your guests

Water bill savings

Worry-free flushing Studio® S One-Piece Toilet

*Now, you can shop Splashes.com from anywhere Explore American Standard and more here:

Visit our friendly showroom experts in-store at one of our 28 locations across BC, AB & SK or enjoy free shipping Canada-wide at the new Splashes.com.

weekender

Bewitched Orcas Island offers a serene, recuperative getaway WORDS LAUREN KRAMER PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY SAN JUAN ISLANDS VISITORS BUREAU

Hiking in Moran.

24

B O U L E VA R D

PHOTO BY CARINA SKROBECKI SWAIN.

Looking out from Constitution.

PHOTO BY KYUNGBUM KIM.

It’s the simple beauty of beaches unscathed by time and development, swaths of protected forest land with magnificent hiking trails, and scenic byways filled with jaw-dropping views.

T

here’s something magical about visiting Orcas Island in the San Juan archipelago in winter. The crowds are gone, dinner reservations are unnecessary and as you explore the beaches, hiking paths and art shops selling the work of local islanders, you have them all to yourself.

It allows you to experience the peace and rural beauty of this island in an entirely different way from in the summer, when rooms, restaurants and any available spaces are at capacity.

We checked into a water’s-edge suite at the Outlook Inn in Eastsound, Orcas Island’s main town centre. With a stately, historic main building that dates back to 1888, the Outlook Inn is a landmark in this walkable village; it’s a “grande dame” that has long been a gathering point for locals and visitors.

We were riveted by the peaceful beauty of a property, which is surrounded by rocky shores and densely forested islands. In the morning, we sipped coffee from a private balcony directly above the log-strewn beach, watching the seabirds dip and dive beneath the still water’s surface and the light change colour on Fishing Bay and Indian Island.

We weren’t the first to be this captivated. Since its inception, the Outlook Inn has changed names and ownership many times, as new proprietors were inspired to renovate, expand and modernize it.

None generated as much controversy as its 1968 purchaser, the mystic guru Louis Gittner. He believed it was close to a

powerful energy vortex, and turned the inn into a spiritual commune where he and his followers could live and learn.

His followers came in search of help, peace and a different kind of life, and worked for free in the commune.

“This new spiritual community at the Outlook Inn was not welcomed,” said Sara Farish, who co-owns the inn today.

Browsing through old newspapers, she came across one from 1969 where the pastor of a local church declared of the commune, “God lives on this side of the street and the devil lives over there.”

There was no devil, of course—just a fear of anything different and unfamiliar. Gittner and his followers recognized the same bewitching, powerful beauty that continues to draw visitors and admirers to Orcas Island year after year. It’s the simple beauty of beaches unscathed by time and development, swaths of protected forest land with magnificent hiking trails, and scenic byways filled with jaw-dropping views.

Today the Outlook Inn is owned by a small investment group and run by the Farish family with island warmth, friendliness and a distinctly homey feel. A small historic chapel in the garden out back is a beautiful site for small weddings and private gatherings, and sitting alongside the water’s-edge suites is a private lawn with Adirondack chairs where guests can soak up the soul-soothing view.

There’s lots to do on Orcas in the winter, even when the whale watching tours and boat, kayak and bike rentals have shuttered for the season. We took a walk through Eastsound village, exploring small bakeries, bookstores, boutiques and galleries.

At the Pioneer Museum—a collection of original settlers’ homesteads that were relocated to the island and joined together—we marveled at the resourcefulness of the 1880s islanders and those who followed them. They sustained B O U L E VA R D

25

Shopping in Eastsound Orcas Island. PHOTO BY CARINA SKROBECKI SWAIN.

Orcas Island Artworks.

PHOTO BY BARBARA MARRETT.

26

B O U L E VA R D

themselves by building their homes by hand, fishing, hunting, and canning food in a time when refrigeration and electricity were unheard of.

We drove the scenic byways along the sun-dappled roads that weave through the U-shaped island, delivering views of forests, rural farmland and rocky shores. And we gleefully detoured to peruse island-made crafts wherever we found them.

To reach Orcas Island Pottery, a series of galleries showcasing many island potters’ work, we drove a gravel road deep into a forest, arriving to a welcoming committee of softly clucking hens in the courtyard. Along with a beautiful selection of pottery, the site boasts a tree house straight out of an enchanted forest.

Orcas Island is home to two state parks, each with its own distinct interest and charm. At Moran State Park, we hiked the switchbacks to Cascade Lake, later driving 2,800 feet to the peak of Mount Constitution. From here, the highest point in the San Juan Islands, we soaked up a view of the Pacific Northwest that stretched from Vancouver to Seattle, encompassing the snowcapped mountain ranges and scattered islands of the San Juans in Washington and the Gulf Islands in British Columbia.

Further south, in Obstruction Pass State Park, we walked down to Crescent Beach, one of the island’s longest and most serene stretches of beach, watching seals swim in the crystal-clear water.

At Turtleback Mountain Preserve we hiked to Ship Peak, alone on a glorious trail with the reward of a panoramic view at the top.

At Rosario Resort, we were treated to a free weekly winter afternoon musical performance by the resort’s longtime general manager Christopher Peacock. In an hour-long presentation, Peacock played self-composed melodies on the Steinway grand piano and excerpts from Phantom of the Opera on the 1914 Aeolian organ in an astounding music room built in 1909 by Robert Moran, the resort’s founder. Peacock entertained us with a concise history of Rosario and of Moran, a shipbuilder and former Seattle mayor.

We left Orcas in a state of sublime peace. Our minds were filled with images of the mesmerizing vistas and the island’s fascinating history, and our bodies were invigorated by windswept hikes along ancient forest trails. If you’re looking for a divinely recuperative getaway, look no further than Orcas Island, a gem in the San Juans.

TO GET THERE: San Juan Airlines (sanjuanairlines.com) offers 10-minute flights from Bellingham to Eastsound for $114 USD one way. The longer route is to drive to Anacortes, then take a 55-minute ride on a Washington State Ferry (wsdot.wa.gov/travel/washington-state-ferries).

STAY:

Outlook Inn on Orcas Island.

The 32-room Outlook Inn (outlookinn.com) offers standard guest rooms in the east wing, studio suites on the hill, and its newest and most luxurious addition, five premium water’s-edge suites. The suites feature king-size beds, electric fireplaces, heated bathroom floors and private balconies. Some suites include soaker tubs. Expect flat-panel TVs, Nespresso machines, fine linens and thoughtful appointments throughout.

EAT: The Outlook Inn’s New Leaf Cafe is a cosy eatery with a sumptuous selection of seasonally inspired brunch and dinner fare that belies its casual atmosphere. The well-rounded menu, lovingly crafted by Chef Andrew Martin, has a “tide-to-table” philosophy that highlights local products, and skillful preparation of each dish is matched by artful presentation. Don’t miss the handcrafted morning cocktails at brunch, and look out for the selection of San Juan Islands-made brews at dinner.

Brunch at New Leaf Cafe.

A treatment for all skin concerns, all skin types, anywhere on the body • Skin Tightening* • Pore Size • Acne Scarring • Pigmentation • Fine Lines & Wrinkles • Active Acne Before and after 3 treatments Courtesy of Kentaro Oku, MD

*Through soft tissue coagulation. Individual results may vary and are not guaranteed © 2023 Cynosure, LLC. All rights reserved. Cynosure and PicoSure are trademarks and registered trademarks of Cynosure, LLC. Potenza is a trademark of Jeisys Medical, Inc. PRD-0968

Learn More!

B O U L E VA R D

27

hot properties

Life-saving research, life-changing prizes The VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation Millionaire Lottery supports critical medical care in BC WORDS ANGELA COWAN PHOTOGRAPHY LIA CROWE + SHEILA SAY PHOTOGRAPHY STYLING SARAH D’ARCEY MAKEUP ARTISTRY BY KSENIA

It starts with an infection. Bacteria grows or a virus replicates unchecked throughout the body. There’s a fever, increased heart rate, fast breathing, a rash, and then very quickly that infection can land you in the emergency room, fighting for your life.

Sepsis and septic shock affect more than 10,000 people in British Columbia each year, with a fatality rate of more than 30 per cent for those hospitalized. The disease represents close to 20 per cent of all global deaths.

Dr. David Sweet has been fighting for more than a decade to change those statistics.

Trained in both emergency medicine and critical care medicine, Dr. Sweet is the executive medical director and sepsis clinical lead for Health Quality British Columbia (HQBC) and a physician in the intensive care unit at Vancouver General Hospital (VGH). He has spent the last 13 years working with the BC Sepsis Network, HQBC and hospitals and clinicians all over the province to improve sepsis identification and treatment.

28

B O U L E VA R D

“Supporting our local health care is essential, and the amount of money this charity raises makes a serious impact. We wanted to be part of that.”

i Todd Talbot, spokesperson for the VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation Millionaire Lottery, at a grand-prize home in South Surrey.

Shirt: Roots Canada LIA CROWE PHOTO

B O U L E VA R D

29

“Any infection can result in sepsis or septic shock if given enough time,” explains Dr. Sweet. “Sepsis is when the body’s response to an infection causes organ injury and potentially death. The individual’s immune system becomes dysregulated in attempting to kill off the infection, and in the process injures the body’s organs.”

Even local infections that may seem minor can develop into life-threatening situations if left untreated.

“Unfortunately, sepsis can be difficult to recognize. This is why education is so key,” says Dr. Sweet.

“The elderly, the very young and the immunocompromised can have more subtle signs, such as confusion, low temperature, fainting or sleepiness, rigors and shaking, extreme pain or low blood pressure,” he explains. “We need to have a very low threshold to start treatment in these populations.”

Dr. Sweet and his colleagues have created recognition tools and treatment protocols that have been implemented in nearly every emergency room in the province. This gives doctors the tools and information they need to correctly diagnose sepsis much earlier—thus ensuring patients receive key treatments as quickly as possible.

In severe cases where patients have already gone into organ failure, the research and developDr. David Sweet. PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

SHEILA SAY PHOTOGRAPHY

30

B O U L E VA R D

Sweater: Jacquemus from Holt Renfrew Jeans: DUER

LIA CROWE PHOTO

ment of advanced life support technology has often meant the difference between life and death.

“The technology we now have available to us to keep people alive once they have developed sepsis is truly astounding,” says Dr. Sweet, who was awarded a Global Sepsis Award in 2015 by the Global Sepsis Alliance. “The VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation supports our key high-tech programs, including machines that can replace the work of the heart and lungs (ECMO) or the kidneys (CRRT dialysis), and ultrasound machines (ECHO) that allow us to assess the heart and optimize our therapies for shock. We could not save many of our sepsis cases without these technologies.”

Every year, the VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation Millionaire Lottery raises invaluable funds toward research and new technology, but also so much more.

“The funds raised through the Millionaire Lottery impact everything you see at VGH, UBC Hospital and G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre,” says Andrea Chapman, president and CEO of the VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation. “This includes the chairs patients sit on in the waiting room, the

stethoscopes around physicians’ necks, the carts that reel tools around the hospital, the machines checking patients’ vital signs, and so much more. Funds also go to world-leading research and state-of-the-art equipment.”

By purchasing tickets for the Millionaire Lottery, you can support the fight against devastating diseases like sepsis, as well as countless others, while entering your name into the hat for a truly spectacular slate of prizes.

This year, the winner of the VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation Millionaire Lottery can choose one of 10 grand prizes, including nine gorgeous homes located throughout the Lower Mainland, the Interior and Vancouver Island, as well as a $2.7-million tax-free cash prize.

For Don and Stefanie Simpson, builders of the South Surrey prize home, it just made sense to partner with the lottery.

“Don was actually born at VGH. We both grew up in Vancouver, and it’s where Don Simpson Construction started back in 1990,” says Stefanie. “Supporting our local health care is essential, and the amount of money this charity raises makes a serious impact. We wanted to be part of that.”

B O U L E VA R D

31

SHEILA SAY PHOTOGRAPHY

Shirt: Roots Canada Jeans: DUER

LIA CROWE PHOTO

32

B O U L E VA R D

Their 3,645-square-foot, fourbedroom modern farmhouse bridges classic design with rustic touches and an element of old-European charm. The black and white palette is timeless and elegant, while the use of rough-edged stone and naturally finished wood throughout adds warmth and personality to the overall design.

The main floor is spacious and welcoming. The half-wall panelling in the formal dining area lends an old-world feel, while the shiplap and floor-toceiling stone hearth and fireplace in the living room foster a sense of cosiness and comfort. A set of accordion doors folds back completely to extend the living space onto the deck, creating a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor living. And high-performance appliances and custom cabinetry in the kitchen make it a foodie’s dream space to play.

A fully en-suited bedroom on the main floor opens up options for flex space, guests or age-in-place plans. The

Sweater: Granted Clothing Jeans: DUER

“Supporting our local health care is essential, and the amount of money VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation raises makes a serious impact.

We wanted to be part of that.”

primary suite upstairs is full of luxuriant comfort, with a fireplace, a simple chandelier, and an en suite with Calacatta gold marble, dual sinks and an enclosed steam shower.

The lottery also includes extra games.

There’s the 50/50 PLUS lottery, as well as the Daily Cash PLUS game with 105 days of winning, meaning you have multiple chances to win while supporting the health of British Columbians province-wide.

“The Millionaire Lottery supports life-saving care at British Columbia’s largest hospital and helps our doctors, nurses, staff, health care workers and all the patients who visit VGH every day,” says Todd Talbot, Millionaire Lottery spokesperson. “The simple truth is, if you are seriously ill or injured, VGH and UBC Hospital are your best chance.

There are few illnesses or injuries these medical teams cannot treat, no matter how complex or rare.”

You can tour each of the grand prize homes and purchase your tickets at millionairelottery.com.

LIA CROWE PHOTO

B O U L E VA R D

33

fashion

Wild Country Deep in the interior of British Columbia, near the confluence of the Bonaparte and Thompson rivers, is a golden land of rolling hills and vast horizons, and the home of Sundance Guest Ranch. Here, we bring you fashion that calls for adventure and gives a nod to frontier courage.

PHOTOGRAPHY LIA CROWE

Gown, Rolla Summers; boots, Isabel Marant, both from Turnabout Luxury Resale.

Hat, Brixton El Paso Reserve Cowboy Hat.

X STYLING BY SARAH D’ARCEY

Jacket, Alexander McQueen from Turnabout Luxury Resale; choker, Free People.

Jacket, Brunello Cucinelli; skirt, Christian Dior, both from Turnabout Luxury Resale.

Earrings, Sarah Bijoux ear cuff with chain.

Blazer, Stella McCartney; belt, Prada, both from Turnabout Luxury Resale. Chaps, stylist’s own; shirt and tie, Dolce & Gabbana; hat, Babaton from Aritzia.

Gown, Tadashi Shoji; jacket, Prada, both from Turnabout Luxury Resale.

Hat, Babaton from Aritzia.

Makeup: Jenny McKinney.

Model: Nadia de Vos .

Photographed on location at Sundance Guest Ranch with the help of the Sundance team of wranglers. A huge thank you to everyone at Sundance for hosting our team.

B O U L E VA R D

39

spotlight

Romancing the stones Diamonds are forever— no matter where you are in your relationship WORDS DON DESCOTEAU PHOTOGRAPHY LIA CROWE MAKEUP JEN CLARK

On Daisy: 18K white gold ring set with two emerald cut diamonds (total weight of 0.45CT, SI-H) and a centre stone 4.07CT Forevermark round brilliance cut diamond with VS1 quality and I colour ($172,500); 18K white gold bracelet set with 38 round brilliance cut GIA diamonds, with total weight of diamonds 11.41CT, quality SI2, and colour I ($31,000); 18K white gold earrings set with Pear and Marquise diamonds. Total weight of diamonds is 8.31, clarity is VS-SI and colour is F-G ($24,550).

On Callum: 26-inch18K white gold tennis necklace set with 153 round brilliance cut diamonds.

The total weight of the diamonds is 49.42CT ($52,500).

T

he euphoric “honeymoon phase” of a relationship, with its adrenaline rushes, excitement and doing whatever it takes to prove one’s love, typically lasts two to three years.

But according to Lugaro Jewellers’ luxury consultant Marina Shaforost, a tried-and-true way to inject a large helping of excitement and romance into a relationship, no matter what phase it’s in, is giving and receiving diamonds. It might be a pair of stud earrings, a beautiful pendant, a sparkling tennis bracelet or a luxury diamond-encrusted watch.

“There are lots of parallels when it comes to diamonds and romance,” says Marina. “Throughout history it’s been a symbol of love. When you see the sparkle in their eyes, it’s the same sparkle as you see in the diamond.”

While the options are many for anchoring custom or ready-to-wear jewellery with gemstones—red rubies, blue sapphires and green emeralds can create a splash of eye-catching colour—diamonds remain a classic expression of romance and long-term loving commitment.

“Special moments are like diamonds: they are very rare, beautiful and timeless.”

Some relationships are at the exhilarating and emotion-filled stage where an engagement ring is the next step. Many couples today shop for rings together, Marina says, injecting their own romance to the scenario, and aiming to ensure satisfaction with the choice. Even so, she points out, one person generally comes back to make the final purchase.

“We still want to be surprised and still want to be romanced with that special piece.”

B O U L E VA R D

41

On Daisy: 18K white gold necklace set with 23.11 CT rubies and 8.03 CT VS1 diamonds ($62,500); 14K yellow gold earrings set with 5.98CT rubies and 0.72 SI2 diamonds ($6,900);18K white and yellow gold ring set with 3.71 CT fancy light yellow diamonds ($7,800).

On Callum: 18K white and yellow gold ring set with 3.71 CT fancy light yellow diamonds ($7,800); Ulysse Nardin Diver Chronometer Watch 44 mm 1185-170-3/ black ($18,500).

Be curious. Be kind. Be brave. Be you.

Part of that surprise and creation of a memorable event comes down to presentation.

While some may find it romantic to be proposed to in a very public way, such as at a sporting event, people generally prefer a more intimate setting in which to experience such a romantic life moment.

“It could be on a special trip, at the place they first met or the first sunset they saw at a specific place or beach, for example,” Marina says.

There are, however, also unplanned proposals, she says, describing a situation where a man, hiding a diamond ring and travelling with his partner, was asked by a customs agent to reveal what was in his pocket.

“He had to propose right there and all his plans went away.

It’s one of those things that sometimes it just happens when it happens,” she says, adding that it can still come across as romantic.

During the holiday gift-giving season, the romance factor can get amped up further, no matter where a couple happens to be in the life of their relationship.

The gift of diamonds, whether set in a piece of jewellery as a large single stone on its own, or in a cluster surrounding single or multiple gemstones, can be the perfect way to stoke the flames of passion, or perhaps rekindle them.

“Diamonds are definitely a timeless choice that never go out of style, but we don’t want to forget about our beautiful, coloured stones which most people like to wear on those grey, dark days for a punch of colour and contrast,” Marina says.

In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, which halted social gatherings and discouraged celebrations, people are making more of a point to celebrate the special people in their lives, she says.

“And not just for engagements, but for achievements, whether it’s in the workplace or on a personal level. People realize we have to cherish those moments and stop and praise and reward our loved ones and ourselves with something that speaks to the heart, something that stays forever.”

With that in mind, it’s not surprising people are tending to wear their diamonds and other stones daily, as Marina notes.

Who wouldn’t want to be reminded often of someone’s love for them?

PRESCHOOL–GRADE 12 Vancouver Island, British Columbia admissions@qms.bc.ca

qms.bc.ca

Oceanfront Resort Sooke

Escape the city and enjoy the peaceful relaxation that comes with an oceanside resort. Only 45 minutes from Victoria, bask in exceptional dining, spa treatments, waterfront fire tables, and luxurious amenities.

250-642-0805 prestigehotelsandresorts.com

Models: Callum Bevington, Daisy Dawson B O U L E VA R D

43

lifestyles

Jay Frederick.

It’s hot and cool to entertain with mocktails Four mixologists shake up the booming non-alcoholic trend WORDS LAURA GOLDSTEIN

Mocktails, those arty cocktails concocted without alcohol, are making a skyrocketing impact on the drinks market in Canada with an impressive 123 per cent increase in 2023, according to the payment platform Square.

British-owned Seedlip and Canadian companies Sobrii and Village Brewery (CR*FT) are a few examples of entrepreneurial businesses that produce non-alcoholic spirits or beer in hand-crafted small batches, and many of these products are available at your local grocery store. Using pure botanical ingredients like juniper berries, coriander, allspice and star anise to replicate the flavour of either traditional tipples like gin and tequila or herbal and citrus spirits, these products make intensely flavourful mocktails with zero calories and no hangovers.

It was no coincidence that the first mocktail, the Shirley Temple, was invented during American prohibition in the 1930s. The child-friendly, vivid pink-red mocktail is a cloyingly sweet drink named after the feisty child actress who was the biggest movie star of that time. It consisted of ginger ale and a dash of grenadine (pomegranate juice) topped with a maraschino cherry.

Once considered a “girly drink,” today’s mocktails are a no-pressure, healthy alternative to alcohol for everyone who prefers to extend “Dry January” or “Sober October” over the entire year.

“The non-alcoholic beverage and mocktail category is explosive, and it’s honestly so wonderful to see this happening,” says Victoria’s Michael Walsh, a recovery coach and one of Canada’s leading substance-use experts. “I have many clients who are taking a break or quitting alcohol altogether and still

X PHOTOGRAPHY LIA CROWE

have social or work events to attend, and they have a lot of anxiety around it. But many people can still have a great time without alcohol and be in a safe zone,” he says.

Here are a few mixologists stirring up the industry with delicious mocktails.

JAY FREDERICK (DR. COCKTAILS) Pretty Not Bad and Jacks, Kelowna

You might not think mocktails would be popular at a sports bar. However, contrary to popular belief, “people are requesting mocktails on football Sundays at Pretty Not Bad,” says mixologist Jay Frederick, who developed the non-alcoholic menu at both Pretty Not Bad and Jacks venues.

“Guests are requesting mocktails at each location, so we’ve been finding ways to make them just as exciting and unique as our cocktails. There are so many amazing non-alcoholic spirit options on the market right now that the integrity of the drink doesn’t have to change,” he explains. “The visual aesthetic of a mocktail is something we also want to capture, so we get creative with colours and use a variety of garnishes to elevate them. We don’t use any bitters in our mocktails because many are distilled in alcohol. Instead, we’ve been experimenting with using homemade tinctures [concentrated herbal extracts], which we have found to be a fantastic substitute.”

Recipes: Drinking In The Sleigh (cold) and Santa’s Marshmallow Elation (hot) B O U L E VA R D

45

Santa’s Marshmallow Elation (hot)

Drinking In The Sleigh (cold)

Makes one drink Ingredients: 3 oz chai tea cider 2 oz Abstinence Epilogue non-alcoholic whiskey alternative 1 oz gingerbread-infused almond milk 1 oz Simps Toasted Marshmallow Syrup Method: Build in mug.

Garnish: Toasted marshmallows,* nutmeg, caramel sauce, gingerbread rim.

Served: Large coffee mug. * Jay suggests using a baker’s torch.

Makes one drink Ingredients: 1.5 oz Lumette LumRum non-alcoholic rum alternative 0.5 oz Abstinence Blood Orange Apéritif 1.5 oz rosemary-infused pineapple juice 0.5 oz Simps Rosemary Syrup 0.5 oz cranberry lime juice Method: Shaken.

Garnish: Flamed cinnamon stick,* rosemary sprig, dehydrated orange, frozen cranberries.

Served: In a Tall Collins glass. (pictured on page 44)

GRANT SCENEY Creative beverage director, Fairmont Pacific Rim, Vancouver

“Mocktails are all about the senses because we taste with our eyes,” affirms Melbourne-born Grant Sceney from behind the Fairmont’s upstairs Botanist Bar. The award-winning mixologist, with the nose of a perfumer, has travelled to 28 countries, working in the bar industry for 17 years.

He was instrumental in developing the hotel’s cocktail lab and the cocktail program in the Lobby Lounge.

“When designing a mocktail, I like to look at the end product first. So, I think about my clientele. If it’s the holiday or winter season I know they might be cold coming in from outside, so I’ll create something hot that they can wrap their hands around. Secondly, the holiday season inspires nostalgia and I like my mocktails to reflect those flavours and colours that we associate with that time of year.

I’m really inspired by the natural bounty of herbs, fruits and spices, especially from our Pacific Northwest, and we work directly with the farmers who plant the seeds and then forage for us.”

Recipes: Cranberry Christmas (cold) and Blueberry Toddy (hot).

Blueberry Toddy (hot) Makes one drink

Ingredients: 30 ml blueberry and thyme oleo* 10 ml honey 30 ml lemon juice/peel 60 ml hot water Method: *Make the blueberry and thyme oleo ahead of time: In a pot, muddle the blueberries and lemon peel with thyme and water. On low heat, gently muddle to break up blueberries and lemon oils, add sugar to taste, and remove once sugar is dissolved. Once combined, move to food-safe sealable container and let rest for 12 hours at room temperature.

It’s important to let the oils of the lemon peel and blueberries absorb into the sugar and not be heated into it. It’s a slow flavour extraction method. Then strain and rebottle. Label and date. Keep refrigerated. To serve, build all ingredients into a pre-heated teacup, and give a gentle stir with a spoon to combine.

Garnish: None.

Served: Vintage teacup and saucer.

46

B O U L E VA R D

Grant Sceney.

Cranberry Christmas (cold) Makes one drink

Ingredients: 30 ml cranberry chai cordial 30 ml lemon juice 30 ml soda water 30 ml ginger beer Method: Build all ingredients into tall glass, give gentle stir to combine. Gently add ice, top off with extra soda and ginger beer if necessary.

Garnish: Mint sprig, 2 frozen cranberries with dusting of no-melt icing sugar Served: Tall Collins glass.

INspiration Furniture - Interior Design Services IDS INspiration Furniture - Interior Design Services IDS

Seasonal Design Tip Seasonal Design Tip “Incorporating warm colors and refreshing soft furnishings can reinvigorate your interior, infusing it with a vibrant “Incorporating warm colors and refreshing soft furnishings can reinvigorate your interior, infusing it with a vibrant winter spirit that lights up the chilly air. For your winter living room, consider adding some striking shades of winter spirit that lights up the chilly air. For your winter living room, consider adding some striking shades of orange and earthy, grounded tones. To further enhance the wintery ambiance, whether through throw pillows or orange and earthy, grounded tones. To further enhance the wintery ambiance, whether through throw pillows or rugs, the right colors always serve as the �inishing touch to a winter haven.” rugs, the right colors always serve as the �inishing touch to a winter haven.”

Lily Lily Tang Tang

Lead Lead Interior Interior Designer Designer 1275 W 6th 6th Avenue Avenue 1275 W Vancouver B.C., Canada Vancouver B.C., Canada 1348-C United Blvd.

Blvd.

1348-C United Coquitlam B.C., Canada Canada Coquitlam B.C.,

Trevor Kallies.

TREVOR KALLIES Bar and beverage director, Freehouse Collective, Vancouver, and organizer of “The Science of Cocktails,” coming April 11, 2024 at Science World

A ghostly fog of dry ice billows around a face while a mysterious phosphorescent green concoction is swirled inside a glass beaker. This is no mad scientist’s lair. It’s The Science of Cocktails, Science World’s annual fundraiser that attracts over 1,500 people inside the geodesic dome in Vancouver. It’s organized by awardwinning mixologist Trevor Kallies, showcasing Vancouver’s marquee bartenders.

“The non-alcoholic category is super exciting now,” explains Trevor. “We apply a scientific approach to making cocktails at 35 drink stations.

For example, using dry ice we create an aromatic fog around the drinks. At another station, using liquid nitrogen, we do flash-freezing of herbs, so instead of muddling mint leaves like you get in a mojito, we get a powder that adds a much more intense flavour. And all the chlorophyll gives a bright vivid green colour.” Recipes: Stay-Cation (cold) and Hot “Gin” Punch (hot).

48

B O U L E VA R D

Stay-Cation (cold) Makes one drink

Ingredients: ½ oz passionfruit puree 2 oz peach juice (Ceres) ½ oz lime juice ½ oz simple syrup soda 1 mint sprig Method: Build in a glass and top with soda. Gently stir.

Hot “Gin” Punch (hot) Makes five drinks

Ingredients: 500 ml Seedlip Spice 94 non-alcoholic spirit 750 ml Edenvale Premium Reserve non-alcoholic Pinot Noir Mulling spices: 4 clove (whole), 4 star anise (whole), 2 cinnamon sticks (broken into four-inch pieces) 1 g fresh grated nutmeg 3 chamomile tea bags Lemon (peel from ½ a lemon plus garnish) Orange (peel from ½ an orange) Method: Add all ingredients to a pot. Warm on medium heat until it reaches desired serving temperature (do not boil—liquid should be drinkable temperature when poured into mug or cup).

Garnish: lemon wheels (other half of lemon sliced into wheels) and orange wheels (other half of orange sliced into wheels).

2023

SUPPORTING

MILLIONAIRE LOTTERY

YOU COULD BE A

MULTI-MILLIONAIRE!

PACKAGE WORTH OVER $3.1 MILLION

SOUTH SURREY

TODD TALBOT LOTTERY SPOKESPERSON

1873 129 Street, Ocean Park

WIN 1 OF

10

MULTI-MILLIONAIRE LIFESTYLES

INCLUDING $2.7 MILLION TAX-FREE CASH

PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS TODAY

PURCHASE IN PERSON AT

millionairelottery.com 604-602-5848

Winner will choose one prize option; other prize options will not be awarded.

19+ TO PLAY

|

KNOW YOUR LIMIT, PLAY WITHIN IT

|

2023 MILLIONAIRE LOTTERY TICKETS

2 for $100 | 5 for $175 | 10 for $300 | 25 for $600 50/50 PLUS® 2 for $15 | 6 for $30 | 16 for $60 | 32 for $90 DAILY CASH PLUS™ 2 for $25 | 6 for $50 | 12 for $75

BC Gaming Event Licences #144980, #144977, #144979

PROBLEM GAMBLING HELP LINE 1-888-795-6111

|

WWW.BCRESPONSIBLEGAMBLING.CA

Sobriety in the Highlands (hot) Makes one drink

KRISTINE OSACHUK Beverage director, Boom + Batten, Victoria

Once a male-dominated industry, the mixology scene is seeing more and more women shaking things up with an eye for detail and emphasis on creativity.

“I’ve really seen a change in what men and women are ordering,” says Kristine Osachuk, an award-winning wine director. “Before, men might order a non-alcoholic beer and women a fancy Kristine Osachuk. soda. But now there is so much more variety in all the non-alcoholic spirits and it’s possible to create great mocktails with them, so it’s really become a 50-50 split. I do think that customers need to be aware that the pricing for mocktails is about the same as for alcoholic cocktails because the labour and ingredients are expensive. It takes specialized craftsmanship to create non-alcoholic spirits. I have so many new ideas for fall and winter mocktails, like a coffee nightcap, adding a fabulous nonalcoholic velvety stout by CR*FT and taking an Irish or Scottish coffee to a whole new level. And don’t forget the whipped cream!”

Recipes: Sobriety in the Highlands (hot) and A Gin-ius Disguise (cold)

Ingredients 1.25 oz Lyre’s Highland Malt non-alcoholic whisky 3 oz cold brew concentrate 0.75 oz CR*FT non-alcoholic velvety stout 0.25 oz maple syrup Whipped cream Cinnamon Method: Heat a specialty coffee glass by filling with hot water, heat up the cold brew concentrate in a saucepan or with a steam wand on an espresso machine, and empty the specialty coffee glass. Add the Highland Malt, CR*FT stout and maple syrup to the glass. Add the heated cold brew concentrate.

Garnish: Top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Served: Coffee glass.

A Gin-ius Disguise (cold) Makes one drink

Ingredients 5-6 basil leaves 1 oz Lumette Bright Light non-alcoholic gin 0.5 oz lime juice 0.5 oz elderflower cordial Zero Lush non-alcoholic sparkling wine Method: Add basil leaves, Lumette, lime juice and elderflower cordial to a shaker tin, muddle the basil, add the ice and shake.

Pour into a glass, add more ice and top with Zero Lush sparkling wine.

12258 – 103A AVENUE, SURREY 2.4 Acres of Land

expertise

Delivering commercial real estate

for landlords, tenants, investors, developers, and everyone in between.

2.4 ACRES 2.02 ACRES

AMRITA GURAM COMMERCIAL SALES & LEASING amrita@williamwright.ca 604.428.5255 604.518.9101

50

B O U L E VA R D

A home renovation shouldn’t actually take your breath away.

Asbestos exposure is the number one killer of workers in B.C. Everyone has a role to play in the safe removal and disposal of asbestos.

As of January 1, 2024, any contractor doing asbestos abatement work in your home must be licensed to do that work, and workers must be trained and certified.

Learn more at thinkasbestos.com

food and feast

HOT

shot Finest Feast

Warm up your wintertime feast with a hint of heat WORDS ELLIE SHORTT PHOTOGRAPHY DON DENTON

Some like it hot. I like it simple—especially when it comes to festive meals amid the many merry demands of the holiday season. The great news is that just by adding a bit of kick, otherwise basic dishes can be transformed into interesting sides or memorable mains that will have friends and family asking, “What did you put in those mashed yams?”

Luckily for everyone’s Yuletide effort output, the answer truly is “oh, just a dash of…” There doesn’t have to be a laborious list of obscure ingredients and unattainable techniques that often accompany the casual deception of “It’s really so easy, you just…”

And my secret simple ingredient in the colder months? A hint of heat.

Hot peppers in their various forms, whether powder, flakes, pastes or oils, are, of course, internationally celebrated for their culinary applications, but are also widely (and historically) integrated into diets for their potential wellness benefits.

Preliminary animal research suggests that capsaicin, the compound that gives chili peppers their spicy punch, may help counteract hypertension.

A 2022 umbrella review in Molecular Nutrition & Food Research found a possible link between regularly eating spicy food and reduced risk of death from heart disease and stroke. Some cultures and traditions insist spicy foods increase libido, and there’s a longstanding tale that eating spicy food at the end of pregnancy may assist in bringing on labour. It’s important to note that all these thoughts and considerations, whether studied in labs or passed down through generational wisdom, refer to “moderate” spice levels. Going overboard with the “Scovilles” can cause serious side effects, not to mention some uncomfortable digestive upset.

So, what exactly do I mean by “Scovilles?” The Scoville scale measures the hotness of peppers in units known as

Let us be the centerpiece of your holiday gathering with a custom seafood platter!

WILD, SUSTAINABLE, LOCAL, TRACEABLE

4675 Arbutus Street Vancouver 604.266.1904

finestatsea.com B O U L E VA R D

53

However you season things this holiday season, I suggest warming up your winter from the inside out with these seriously simple recipes.

Scoville heat units (SHU), named after Wilbur L. Scoville, who developed the Scoville organoleptic test in 1912, while attempting to find a suitable pepper to use in a heat-producing ointment.

The scale is used to measure the amount of capsaicin, the chemical compound found in peppers that gives them their piquant heat and what makes your tongue burn, body sweat and ears tingle. To determine the Scoville heat unit, an alcohol extract of capsaicin oil from a dried pepper is mixed with a solution of water and sugar to the point where a panel of human taste-testers can no longer detect the heat. The pepper is then assigned a SHU with regards to the dilution required for the “burn” to become unnoticeable.

With that said, that the human palate varies widely from person to person, which makes the Scoville test rather subjective and arguably inaccurate, and individual preference and tolerance is always a consideration when exploring the type of pepper, and how much of it to add to your dish.

Either way, all the peppers showcased in these dishes feature

relatively low SHUs. The cayenne that accompanies the Brussels sprouts has an SHU of 30,000 to 50,000. The chipotle found in the mashed yams has an SHU of 5,000 to 10,000.

The ancho sprinkled into the chocolate bark has an SHU of 1,000 to 2,000. Harissa paste is often made with a combination of peppers, including Baklouti, which have a relatively circumspect score of 4,000 to 5,000 SHUs. It’s worth noting as well that the amount of heat used in each of these recipes is on the mild side of things for those wanting to start on the more cautious spectrum of spice. If, of course, you have a higher heat intensity tolerance, simply up the powder or paste indicated to the point of your spiciness satisfaction.

However you season things, I suggest warming up your winter from the inside out with these seriously simple recipes that offer a delightful and delicious kick to your holiday spread, and most importantly, allow for more time to focus on heart-warming experiences of spending time with loved ones around the table.

Chipotle Whipped Yams Prep time: 5 minutes Cooking time: 20 minutes Makes about 6 servings Ingredients 3-4 large yams (2-3 lbs), peeled and cut into chunks ¼ cup unsalted butter 1 tsp chipotle powder (or more depending on how spicy you like it) 1 ½ tsp sea salt (or to taste) 1 cup soft and creamy cheese (cream cheese, fromage frais, crème fraiche, etc.)

Optional garnish of chopped cilantro Directions In a large pot, boil the yams for 20 to 25 minutes until fork tender. Drain and transfer the cooked yams to a stand-up mixer or a large bowl, if you are using a handheld mixer.

In a small saucepan, melt the butter along with the chipotle powder, and add to the cooked yam. Using the whisk attachment in the stand-up mixer, or with a handheld mixer, whisk the yam on high along with the chipotle melted butter.

Add in the salt and cream cheese (or whatever soft creamy cheese you’re using) and continue to whip until light and fluffy.

Transfer to a serving dish and garnish with cilantro.

54

B O U L E VA R D

Honey Harissa Brisket Prep time: 5 minutes Cooking time: 10 hours Makes about 6 servings Ingredients 4-5 lb beef brisket 1 tsp sea salt Freshly cracked black pepper 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp ground fenugreek 1 tsp ground turmeric 2 garlic cloves, peeled and minced ¼ cup apple cider vinegar ¼ cup harissa paste ½ cup honey 2 tbsp pomegranate syrup Directions To make the rub, combine the cinnamon, cumin, fenugreek and turmeric, and mix until well-combined. Sprinkle the salt and some pepper over the whole brisket, and then lightly massage the rub all over it. If time permits, leave for 30 minutes to 24 hours in the fridge.

When ready to begin roasting, preheat your oven to 320 F, and transfer the brisket to a large Dutch oven, or baking dish with a fitted lid.

In a small bowl, mix the garlic, apple cider vinegar, harissa paste, honey and pomegranate syrup. Evenly spread the sauce over the top of the brisket (it’s okay if some runs down the side) and add two cups of water around the edges.

Cover with the lid and bake at 320 F for four hours, and then uncovered for 30 minutes. Baste every hour or so with pan juices, checking every now and then to ensure the liquid doesn’t reduce down beyond a barbecue sauce consistency (add water if it does). I also like to flip it at around the two-hour mark to ensure the most even cook.

Remove the Dutch oven/baking dish from the oven, carefully transfer the brisket to a large pan, and pour the remaining sauce into a small saucepan. Simmer over medium heat until it thickens into a barbecue sauce consistency (if it hasn’t already in the oven).

Turn the oven up to 390 F, return the brisket into the roasting pan, and brush with the reduced sauce, saving some for serving as well. Let the brisket cook for 10 to 15 minutes longer, until the outer surface caramelizes and crusts a bit.

To serve, slice the brisket thinly across the grain, transfer to a serving dish and drizzle with remaining sauce.

B O U L E VA R D

55

Maple Cayenne Brussels Sprouts Prep time: 5 minutes Cooking time: 20 minutes Makes about 6 servings Ingredients About 0.8 kg / 1.7 lb Brussels sprouts, washed, trimmed and sliced in half ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil ¼ cup pure maple syrup ½ tsp cayenne powder (or more depending on how spicy you like it) 1 tsp sea salt (or to taste) Optional garnish of red chili flakes Directions Preheat your oven to 425 F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, toss the Brussels sprouts with the olive oil, maple syrup, cayenne and salt. Spread evenly on your baking sheet and roast for about 20 minutes until cooked to your liking (I personally like them soft, but with crispy edges). Transfer to a serving dish and garnish with red chili flakes.

Ancho Chocolate Bark with Mango and Pepitas Prep time: 5 minutes Setting time: 1-2 hours Makes about 6 servings Ingredients 450 g dark chocolate chips or chunks 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp ancho powder (or more depending on how spicy you like it) ¼ tsp sea salt ¼ cup to 1⁄3 cup pepitas (unsalted) About 75 g dried unsulphured and unsweetened mango, cut into thin strips or small chunks Directions Line a medium-large baking sheet with parchment paper. Melt the chocolate in a double boiler, stirring frequently until completely smooth. Stir in the cinnamon and ancho powder until completely incorporated.

Spread the melted chocolate out on the parchment paper-lined baking sheet using a spatula. Evenly disperse the pepitas and mango slices, and sprinkle with the salt.

Allow to harden for one to two hours (cooling in the fridge is the best option).

Break into pieces and store in a sealed container in the fridge or freezer.

56

B O U L E VA R D

travel

On safari

A breathtaking, life-changing, circle-of-life experience in the heart of South Africa WORDS LAUREN KRAMER

58

B O U L E VA R D

X PHOTOS COURTESY DULINI MOYA

T

he air is thick with humidity and the shrill cry of cicadas the day we arrive at Dulini Moya, a private lodge in South Africa’s Sabi Sands Nature Reserve. Sweatsoaked clothes stick to clammy skin as my daughter and I climb into a Land Rover, excited at the prospect of our first game drive. We haven’t even started the engine before the jungle offers its first clue in our search for wildlife: a clucking sound coming from the trees above us.

“That’s a monkey,” says our guide, Riaan Botha, pointing upward at the wizened face of a vervet monkey who is gazing at the dry riverbank. “Chances are there’s a leopard nearby and he’s alerting the troop.”

The monkeys’ warning sounds follow us as we exit the lodge gate, and within seconds we see her: a young female leopard walking slowly towards us and into the bush. We follow her in the vehicle, so close we can see the texture of her tongue as she laps water from a small waterhole. Completely undisturbed by our presence, she stops for a rest before venturing on.

Sabi Sands is a 60,000-hectare private game reserve created in 1945, when 14 neighbouring landowners moved their cattle elsewhere, eliminated hunting and reintroduced wildlife to the area. Over the years, as new owners took the helm, they built luxury boutique lodges where guests could experience private, exclusive wildlife safaris.

The reserve shares an unfenced border with the famous Kruger National Park, and while wildlife moves freely between the two parks, the same isn’t true for human visitors. Millions of guests visit Kruger each year, and the roads are often congested. By contrast, the boutique lodges in Sabi Sands accommodate just six to eight guests at a time, which means the gravel roads are ours and ours alone as we search for wildlife. Our guides also have the freedom to venture off-road to deliver close-up animal encounters—the kind you’d never get on a self-driven safari.

A storm is brewing, and distant thunder rolls across the sky as we drive on. We pass a herd of female elephants with their young, stopping to watch them feed. Again, we are so close to these massive creatures that we could easily reach out and touch them. But this is the African wilderness, and we’re under strict instructions to stay seated and still in the vehicle. The elephants, completely aware of our presence, are unperturbed.

“It’s the buffalo I’m more worried about,” Riaan admits as we drive on, passing a couple buffalo who stop feeding and peer at us sternly beneath their stately horns. “Most animals want to avoid a confrontation—but male buffalo can be unpredictable, grumpy and aggressive. Once they commit to a charge, nothing will stop them short of a bullet, and it would have to be right between the eyes.”

Riaan carries a rifle just in case, but in 10 years of guiding, he’s never once had to use it. As dusk descends, we stop for drinks on the banks of a dam, sipping liqueur on ice as we watch the backs of several large hippos emerge from the muddy water. When a hyena approaches the water’s edge for a drink, they object loudly, voicing their displeasure with loud, guttural grunts and parting their jaws to reveal cavernous pink mouths.

“They pose no danger unless we block their path,” Riaan says. “But avoid the water’s edge, because a very large crocodile lives here.”

We drive back to the lodge for dinner as lightning illuminates the sky, pausing only to admire the towering legs of a female giraffe. As she gazes from under long lashes in a single direction, Riaan murmurs that she may have seen a predator nearby. The next day we learn he was spot on: her newborn giraffe calf had been dragged into the bush by a pack of hyenas.

Darwin’s “survival of the fittest” theory is laid bare on an African safari, where only the fittest and fastest survive. Over the next three days we see a buffalo with a bleeding, lacerated tail and a lion with an open wound—telltale signs of violent encounters with other predators. We touch the skull of a buffalo taken by lions a few months earlier, its remnants licked clean by hyenas and vultures. And we see the limp body of a young impala killed by a leopard, its body dragged high into the branches of a tree where the leopard will return to finish its meal. There is logic, necessity and a brutal beauty to the cycle of life here, and the ability to glimpse it in process is spellbinding.

We settle easily into the magical rhythm of a safari, starting with 5 am wakeups to tea at the lodge, the vervet monkeys scampering in the treetops above us, waiting for a chance to snatch muffins from the breakfast basket. The game drives leave at 6 am, just as the jungle begins to stir. It’s a time when the air is filled with bird song and the flash of their iridescent B O U L E VA R D

59

At Sabi Sands we’ve been whisked away on a timeless journey, watching in stunned silence at the grace and beauty with which life unfolds in the wild. colour, and the heat has not yet lulled the animals into a state of lethargy. The day’s second game drive begins in the late afternoon, as the animals begin to stir, roused from the heat of the day and ready to pursue their next meal.

Riaan and our tracker keep a careful eye on the ground, noting the direction and size of animal tracks, the clues in the daily detective journey of finding the animals. The tracks tell us a herd of buffalo passed through the night before, and that the lions were circling them. We start looking for the pride, but long before we find them, there are so many reasons to stop, listen and watch.

We spot two giraffes munching on the thorny branches of acacia trees, and learn how the acacia trees raise their tannin levels if they’re being over-eaten, to encourage the giraffes to move on. We watch the red-billed oxpecker birds that hop along the giraffes’ backs, necks and underbellies, eating ticks and dead skin. And we see the African dung beetle push a perfect circle of elephant dung along the path as it prepares to lay its eggs inside.

When we find the lion pride, most of the big cats are fast asleep, their bellies bloated from an overnight feast. We gaze, mesmerized, at the strength in the cats’ massive paws.

A young male walks past us, so close we can hear its panting breath and see the blood stain on its chin. Another lion chews on the last remnants of the kill, licking the meat off the bone as a hyena hovers nearby, waiting for its turn at the carcass.

One afternoon we follow rhinoceros tracks until we run straight into a shy male rhino. He watches us carefully from the bushes, giving us only the briefest glimpse of his hornless face. The rhinos are darted from helicopters every 18 months, and their horns are removed in a methodical strategy to save them from the greed of poachers. “The horn removal also helps when two rhinos get into a fight,” Riaan explains. “Without horns they don’t inflict as much damage to each other.”

Back at the lodge, we spend leisurely afternoons in our private plunge pool, watching elephants and kudu as they move along the dry riverbank before us. We dine on sumptuous food, converse with other guests over drinks in the sprawling 60

B O U L E VA R D

leather couches and scroll through our cameras to feast on the day’s photographic highlights. At candlelit dinners we enjoy sophisticated, wine-paired meals, listening as visiting winemakers from the Cape discuss their viticulture. And at bedtime we are escorted to our chalets by staff—just in case we encounter an animal on the path—slipping into four-poster beds decked in fine linens.

Game drives in the African bush demand patience, and offer no guarantees of wildlife sightings. Some drives are long and yield few sightings, while others are a frenzy of activity, animals appearing around every corner. On our last day, we head off road, our cruiser lumbering through the bush over boulders and fallen trees, until we reach a tree where a leopard cub rests high up in a branch. We watch as he looks around in search of his mother, who has likely disappeared for as long as a day or two as she hunts.

“When she’s made her kill, she’ll drag it into a tree and then come back for the cub,” Riaan explains. “Until then, that cub will wait in those branches, where it’s safe from the lions.”

We pull over on the banks of a dam for tea, admiring the work of weaver birds as they reinforce the nests they suspend from tree branches. A pod of hippos is grunting, just their backs visible above the water, and around us the jungle is thrumming with activity, as animals feed, build, hunt, rest and care for their young.

Riaan gestures to the other side of the dam where a group of impalas is prancing, graceful, light and delicate as ballerinas.

“Can you think of a better place to be?” he asks.

Truth is, we can’t. At Sabi Sands we’ve been whisked away on a timeless journey, watching in stunned silence at the grace and beauty with which life unfolds in the wild. Elephant bulls in their sexual prime competing for the attention of the females in a herd. Lions, fighting for territory and dominance, often until the death. Kudu and impala feeding in grassy meadows, always alert to the possibility of danger.

It’s a breathtaking, life-changing experience to see this up close, and we leave feeling grateful that whatever the state of our chaotic world, this rugged landscape and the animals and birds that live here remain protected.

Experience The Nordic Spa at Pacific Rim. The self-guided outdoor thermal spa offers a grounding journey of relaxation through extreme temperatures with a cedar plank sauna, cold plunge, hot tub and heated relaxation areas. fairmontpacificrim.com | @fairmontpacific

secrets and lives — AND THE 7 SINS

with TARA JEAN STEVENS

WORDS ANGELA COWAN

X PHOTOGRAPHY LIA CROWE

From stage actor, to radio and television host, to documentarian and podcaster, Tara Jean Stevens has taken many paths over the years in pursuit of her greatest love: storytelling.

She’s currently the host of the morning show on Wave 98.3 FM in Vancouver, playing smooth grooves and accompanying Vancouverites through their weekday mornings. She’s living the dream she had when she was just eight years old.

“I had a neon pink boombox with two cassette decks and I would create radio programs,” she says, laughing. “I’d cast my sister as the weather person and my brother as the sports host.

I always had this in my heart—whether it was being on the radio or being on stage—I love holding space for stories.”

Driven to follow her dreams, Tara Jean moved from Prince Rupert to Vancouver immediately after graduating high school in 1997. She pursued both a broadcasting diploma and an acting diploma. Then, she spent three years doing professional theatre, including Bard on the Beach.

“I played Hermia in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and that was my dream come true,” she says.

Her passion and talent also landed her a job in radio before she’d even finished her broadcasting program, working for Mountain FM in Squamish and Whistler before going on to join the Z Morning Crew at Z95.3 FM. Tara Jean spent well over a decade building relationships with her radio audiences. Then, in her 30s, she got the chance to try something new when she spent a year on camera on morning television.

And then, in 2018, she felt compelled to shake things up.

“I quit my job, sold my home, took my kids out of school and, along with my husband, we backpacked around the world,” she says. The trip took her family on 16 flights through 12 countries, returning home just a year before the pandemic shut everything down.

Finding herself between jobs and goals, Tara Jean turned to her past to re-explore another life-influencing experience: a bizarre phenomenon in her childhood church in Prince Rupert where worshippers laughed uncontrollably, fell to the ground and even claimed God had given them gold teeth.

“I always knew that I wanted to find a way to tell the story specifically about the gold teeth and try to figure out what actually happened,” she says. “I’d been a spoken-word poet for a time, but the poem I wrote about it never felt enough.

But then, suddenly without a job and with all this time to do whatever I wanted, I realized that a podcast would be the perfect medium.”

Tara Jean started interviewing people who had been involved at the time. The story came together into season one of her podcast, Heaven Bent. She has since gone on to release three more seasons, investigating the “fascinating, mysterious and sometimes dangerous world of evangelical Christianity.”

With no current plans for a fifth season, Tara Jean is focusing on building relationships with her audience at Wave 98.3 FM in this post-pandemic world. During the tumultuous height of COVID-19, her connection with her audiences deepened considerably, she says, and it’s something she wants to hang onto.

“The people who started listening at home, and the essential workers who kept commuting—the intimacy I have with them is so much greater because we went through that together,” she says.

“Today, you can hear me weekday mornings on the Wave, but you can also see me at your local hockey rink, cheering on my kids in one of my various faux furs.”

The 7 Sins ENVY:

Whose shoes would you like to walk in?

Maybe a night out in Nancy Drew’s penny loafers or ballet flats? Like her, I love to solve mysteries in my spare time.

Family secrets? True crime? I’m your girl.

GLUTTONY:

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

Years ago, I enjoyed a roast chicken meal at a roadside diner in Portugal. The longing for that exact meal haunts me pretty much daily. The things I would do for just one bite.

GREED:

You’re given $1 million that you have to spend selfishly. What would you spend it on?

I’d buy my family’s vacation home back. I’ve always been sour that it had to be sold. It’s in Sayulita, Mexico, about an hour north of Puerto Vallarta. I still go there in my dreams.

WRATH:

Pet peeves?

Bad smells. I will up and abandon every responsibility in my life to investigate the source of a bad smell. It’s disruptive, to say the least.

SLOTH:

Where would you spend a long time doing nothing?

In the woods around a fire.

PRIDE:

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

That I am not religious anymore. When I was a Christian teenager, I used to worry about losing my virginity, that demons were real and that Jesus would come back and I wouldn’t be ready. I still worry, but not about any of that.

LUST:

What makes your heart beat faster?

Efficiency and decisiveness! A vintage faux fur draped over a velvet chaise.

B O U L E VA R D

63

narrative

WORDS BARB BARRY

X ILLUSTRATION SIERRA LUNDY

“There is a side of friendship that develops better and stronger by correspondence than contact…the absence of the flesh in writing perhaps brings souls nearer.”

— Emily Carr

AN EXTRAORDINARY FRIENDSHIP 64

B O U L E VA R D

i

will never forget the day I first met her in the hallway of my Montreal apartment building. She was surrounded by the detritus of her current life and assuring her distressed companion sitting on the floor that everything would be fine. She was tall, imposing, with the most penetrating blue eyes and a great mane of blonde, disheveled hair. She made a humorous remark about their predicament. It made me laugh and I suspected that this person was someone I wanted to know. Her name was Cathy.

It was the end of the 1960s and I was a typical Baby Boomer.

A “follower of the rules,” I had a university degree and a job as a computer programmer. In contrast, Cathy, slightly younger, was on a pleasure trip from Australia, aiming to see and experience as much of the world and its people as possible. Work was not her priority.

I was trudging along day by day, living in a fog, trying to overcome what I thought was a devastating relationship break-up. I had lost my self-confidence and my focus on the future. Cathy knew none of this, but maybe sensed my need, and immediately began to include me in her world.

And what a captivating world it was! She knew people from all over, some with interesting or sketchy backgrounds, and all ages, sexes and relationship statuses. Their common mantra was enjoying life, planning the next party and seeing the world. As the weeks passed, I was happily caught in their web. No one cared about my past. They were non-judgmental and there was a noticeable lack of rules! I basked in Cathy’s irreverent Australian humour, her selfassurance and lack of care in what others might think.

Eventually, Cathy and her friend decided it was time to head to London and perhaps tour Europe.

“What? No! Wait! Stay here!”

I was catapulted into action; I checked my finances and my lease, and decided to quit my job. My parents were incensed, and my father predicted that I—shy and quiet—would be home in three weeks. But with my new-found friend, Cathy, I would prove him wrong. I had no idea of the adjustments and adversities I would face in the year ahead, as Cathy and I explored the world.

The first stop was London, England in the spring of 1969. I joined Cathy in her flat, sleeping in one room with three others—a first blow to my comfort level. On my own, while Cathy worked, I travelled to Wales and to Oxford, staying in B&Bs, and slowly started emerging from my shell.

Eventually, with much naiveté and meagre finances, Cathy and I spurred each other on to try hitchhiking through Europe. There were many others on the road that summer. The youth hostels offered little privacy, with dorm rooms and communal showers.

Cathy enjoyed the camaraderie, while I usually looked for a quiet corner to unwind and read. It was an early indication of our differences.

Along with the good times came some bad times, like hitching in the pouring rain or finding ourselves in a car with someone with whom we were uncomfortable. How careless we were—fearless and undaunted.

We visited the Scandinavian countries, Germany, walked through the Berlin Wall at Checkpoint Charlie, showered in streams and slept by a lake in Switzerland. As my funds waned, along with the novelty of this adventure, I decided to return to England by train and reassess my plans. Cathy continued travelling with some new friends.

Now more confident, bolder and adventurous, I booked a sixweek passage on a ship from London to Sydney, not really knowing

what was to come when I arrived. I visited Italy, the Canary Islands, crossed the equator, touched down in Cape Town, South Africa, crossed the Indian Ocean and finally landed in Australia. Luckily, Cathy was there to meet me as I had just 10 British pounds in my pocket. She whisked me off to a flat she had rented.

At that time in Australia there were more jobs than people. I worked at a stockbroker’s office, while Cathy took a job serving in a bar. We went to parties, bars, the beach, the theatre. For a time, I took a job as a nanny on a sheep station, wanting to see more of the country. Through it all, Cathy and I began to learn much more about each other and discover how different we were. Cathy loved being with people and made new friends easily. I was still coming out of my shell. Our backgrounds were also different. Australia at the time was still very misogynistic, and she was not encouraged at all to pursue university. She grew up with an absent father and went to a Catholic girls’ school. Hence, I believe she considered me intelligent, with my university degree and IT job. Plus, I had a more natural rapport with men.

A year later, I was feeling homesick and looked forward to returning to Canada. My confidence had grown, and I was thinking about the future. But it was difficult to say goodbye to Cathy. We didn’t know when we would meet again, but I promised, with tears in my eyes, I would return when I was 80 to walk a pristine Australian beach with her.

Now comfortable travelling alone, I booked passage on a ship once again, stopping in Hong Kong, the 1970 Japan World Exposition, Hawaii and California, eventually landing back in Montreal with a more confident outlook on life. Cathy had helped me get out of my comfort zone, and I had gone “around the world” physically and emotionally.

Twelve years passed before we were reunited. I was living in the suburbs of Ottawa, married, with a six-year-old son and a fouryear-old daughter. Cathy was travelling again with stops in Canada and Europe. We had moved on in our lives and yet both still hoped for our friendship to endure. So, our communication continues.

Our emails are long and newsy, and we share our thoughts and emotions about our life choices and the worlds in which we each live.

She began working in the film industry, while I became a busy working mother, moving with my husband’s career to the other side of Canada. We accepted, without judgment, our differences, each realizing that, to some, our friendship of over 50 years does not make sense. Still, we share an intimacy which is not based on the amount of time we spend together, but on the point our lives collided on that fateful day so many years ago.

Our understanding of friendship changes as we mature and then grow old. What makes a good friend and oh-so-rarely a “soulmate?” There are no easy answers, except that it takes some fearless decisions, trust, understanding and commitment. I do know that Emily Carr’s profound and wise quotation about friendship has unquestionably proved true for us.

Cathy and I have not reached 80 years yet, but we are getting closer. I am a grandmother, who just celebrated 50 years of marriage. Cathy is a successful film producer, still working. She has never married or had children. But she has many friends and still enjoys and continues to travel. We are still drawn to each other and respect our life choices. She took me around the world and back, and changed my very being, bringing me to become the person I am today. She is one of the most important people in my life, even though we are rarely together. I am forever grateful and amazed that she chose me to be her friend and she is with me in spirit always. I hope we are going to walk together on that pristine beach in the future.

B O U L E VA R D

65

behind the story

Boulevard had the immense pleasure of photographing its latest fashion feature at Sundance Guest Ranch near Ashcroft, BC. Our team travelled up the Fraser Valley to a beautiful part of the province that boasts views of waving golden grasses, scrubby wild sage and vast stormy skies. Ranch owner and operator Cynthia Nichols hosted our team and shared a little about the history of the ranch.

She said, “The ranch itself dates back to 1864 on paper, but could be even older than that. It started to operate as a guest ranch in 1955, and my family started coming here as guests in 1966. Our parents bought the ranch in the late ‘70s. We used to come as guests and we now have guests who have been coming here since the 1960s. It’s a special place that has a real spirit, which a lot of people connect with. They feel a great sense of [peace and comfort]. At Sundance, it’s all about horseback riding—we generally run 110 to 120 horses. We have a heated pool, AC and Wi-Fi, but the horses are what it’s about.”

Thank you, Cynthia and your incredible team of wranglers, for hosting our team, sharing your story and being a part of our story.

66

B O U L E VA R D

PHOTO BY LIA CROWE

78

78

JESSEL SPRING/SUMMER 2023

JESSEL SPRING/SUMMER 2023

LISTEN LISTEN LIVE LIVE AT AT WWW.WAVE983.FM WWW.WAVE983.FM

DIAMOND HOOPS WITH REMOVABLE 16.6 CARAT RHODOLITE ENHANCERS

Designed and handcrafted by Stittgen

1457 Bellevue Avenue, West Vancouver 604 925 8333 | STITTGEN.COM