Vancouver Magazine February 2024

KITS AFTER DARK How the Hollywood Theatre Is Making a Scene p. 18

TREAT YOURSELF THE BEST BITES AT VANCOUVER’S TOP BAKERIES P. 85

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FEBRUARY 2024

CAROL LEE The chair of the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation champions her ‘hood with prowess. See where she ranks, starting on page 33.

power50 The Changemakers Powering Our City Right Now

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Contents FEBRUARY 2024 VOLUME 57 // NUMBER 2

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Culture

13 16 18

PERSONAL SPACE

Artist Carla Tak shares the design details of her artsplashed Olympic Village apartment.

HOT TAKE

Being basic is out: here’s a shopping list of bold statement coats.

THE DISRUPTOR

The Hollywood Theatre’s diverse and comprehensive lineup is changing the sound of our city.

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SO FUN CITY

Bar Susu’s themed Sunday night series prove that Monday is tomorrow’s problem.

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ON THE RISE

There are colour-blocking and upcycled materials aplenty at Ization Studio.

(COVER) EVA AN KHERA J; (PERSONAL SPACE) TANYA GOEHRING; (CIT Y INFORMER) BYRON EGGENSCHWILER , (SO FUN CIT Y) SARAH ANNAND

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KNOW-IT-ALL

How did the hummingbird peck its way into official city bird status?

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Contents

VANMAG.COM ceo and group publisher Ryan Benn

FEBRUARY 2024 VOLUME 57 // NUMBER 2

group vp , publishing and operations Nina Wagner

editorial editorial director Anicka Quin

editors - in - chief Stacey McLachlan (Vancouver),

Nathan Caddell (BCBusiness)

managing editor Alyssa Hirose

assistant editors Kerri Donaldson, Rushmila Rahman wine and spirits editor Neal McLennan

contributing editors Frances Bula, Melissa Edwards,

Amanda Ross, Janine Verreault

editorial interns Gates Annai, Megan Zolorycki email mail@vanmag.com

design senior art director Jenny Reed

art directors Stesha Ho, Edwin Pabellon

advisory council

Angus An, chef/owner, Maenam restaurant; Victoria Emslie, senior manager corporate relations, Nicola Wealth; Khelsilem, council chairperson, Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw; Gary Pooni, president, Pooni Group; Jen Riley, VP brand and communications, Bosa Properties; Joseph Thompson, co-founder and COO, Kits Eyewear; Greg Zayadi, president, Rennie Group sales representation vp of sales Anna Lee

senior media specialists Brianne Harper, Mira

Hershcovitch, Amy LaJambe, Sheri Stubel email sales@canadawide.com production / administration

group vp , education and administration Jane Griffiths director of operations Devin Steinberg

director of circulation Tracy McRitchie

manager , hr and administration Ava Pashmchi executive assistant to ceo Hannah Dewar

production manager / digital ad coordinator

Kim McLane

production support technician Ina Bowerbank circulation Kelly Kalirai

WALKING THE WALK Look for Joleen Mitton, founder of Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week, in our 2024 Power 50 list on page 33.

Taste

85 90 94 96 98 8

THE BAKED GREATS

Features

RAMEN ROUNDUP

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No rain, no flours: treat your feelings with top pastries from top bakeries.

When choosing a casual dining spot in the West End, use your noodle.

BEST THING I ATE

Main St.’s Tamaly Shop delivers comfort food just like grandma’s.

THE WINE LIST

Italian wines to watch out for at the 2024 Vancouver International Wine Fest.

SECRET RECIPE

Rice is nice, but Torafuku’s is out of this world.

publisher emeritus Peter Legge, obc, ll.d (hon)

finance group vp , finance Conroy Ing, CPA, CMA

Sonia Roxburgh, CPA, CGA Terri Mason, Eileen Gajowski

vp of finance accounting

address Suite 130, 4321 Still Creek Drive, Burnaby, B.C.

V5C 6S7

tel 604-299-7311

fax 604-299-9188

web vanmag.com email sales@canadawide.com

POWER 50

What makes a person powerful? Is it money? Influence? Instagram followers? We answer the annual question of who powers this city, showcasing both familiar faces and behind-the-scenes changemakers.

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VANCOUVER MAGAZINE is published eight times a year by Canada Wide Media Limited, Suite 130, 4321 Still Creek Dr., Burnaby, B.C. V5C 6S7. Phone 604-299-7311; fax 604-299-9188. Copyright 2024. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the publisher’s written permission.

Not responsible for unsolicited editorial material. Privacy Policy: On occasion, we make our subscriber list available to carefully screened organizations whose product or service might interest you. If you prefer that we not share your name and address (postal and/or email), you can easily remove your name from our mailing lists by reaching us at any of the listed contact points.

You can review our complete Privacy Policy at Vanmag.com. Indexed in the Canadian Magazine Index by Micromedia Ltd. and also in the Canadian Periodical Index. International standard serial no. ISSN 0380-9552. Canadian publications mail product sales agreement #40068973. Printed in Canada

by Mitchell Press, 8328 Riverbend Ct., Burnaby, B.C. V3N 5C9. Distributed by Coast to Coast Ltd.

HOT AND COLD

Relax—here’s everything you need to know about having a Nordic-style sauna experience in Vancouver.

BC

(MIT TON) EVA AN KHERA J; CLOTHING BY YOLONDA SKELTON; MAKEUP BY ALE XIS RAMESY, HAIR BY KRYSTAL DUMAIS

c

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(MIT TON) EVA AN KHERA J; CLOTHING BY YOLONDA SKELTON; MAKEUP BY ALE XIS RAMESY, HAIR BY KRYSTAL DUMAIS

thoughtful is

a trusted guide

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I P B

EDITOR’S NOTE

Coming Up Next Issue

Power to the People

STACEY McLACHLAN editor - in - chief smclachlan @ canadawide . com |

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Eat the Suburbs Whether you’re on a daytrip to the ‘burbs or just passing through, knowing where to grab a good bite is essential.

We’ve got you covered with a feast of insider info.

The Disruptor Bad Academy started with a “Cars, Weed and Money” workshop series and has blossomed into a continuinged institution for bad-ass women across the city.

On the Web

Eaters Gotta Eat Banda Volpi’s Phil Scarfone shares his go-to spots for chop scallop rolls, the best cuts of beef and spicy noodles.

FOLLOW US ON @ stacey _ mclachlan

PORTRAIT: EVA AN KERA J; ST YLING: ALSU PASEK; HAIR AND MAKEUP: ALISHA HOPPS; CLOTHING: THE BLOCK; JEWELLERY: ENTI ANA

though this is my first issue of Vancouver in the role of editorin-chief—hi, hello, thank you, thank you—I’ve been working for this family of magazines since 2010, worming my way into the building through an internship at Western Living and then refusing to leave.

So I’ve actually had the pleasure of witnessing more than a dozen Power 50 issues come together over the years... and because I’m nosy, I’ve also pawed through the archives to read as far back as the very first list. What I’m saying is: maybe my new title should be “Power 50 historian” instead.

While there have certainly been some constants over the 23 years of this ranking (Jimmy Pattison, you rascal!), I’m ultimately struck by how much our definition of “power” has changed through the decades and, in particular, over the past few years. What was once a list primarily of the rich and connected—and, to be frank, white and male—has opened its scope. I don’t just mean the fact that we’re seeing more women and people of colour on our list this year than ever before; we’re also continuing to think critically about the different ways power manifests in this city.

Every summer, we start the research for our Power 50 list in an environment that always fosters good conversation and rousing debate: around the dinner table. Our advisory panel (a group of hyperconnected Vancouverites, all powerful in their own right) spends hours pitching names and sharing insight, and inevitably, once the dessert plates have been cleared and the amaro has been poured, we wind up circling back to the Big Question: “What is power?”

In 2024, power isn’t just about having sway in the boardroom (though we can’t deny that it still carries weight). It’s about the power of speaking up for the marginalized; the power of fighting for your community; the power of paving your own path; the power of arts and culture to inspire and start conversations. Looking at this year’s list, full of philanthropists, activists and community builders, it’s evident that we live in a city where true power isn’t something you have—it’s something you give.

Speaking of giving: our readers gave us a heartwarming gift during this year’s Power 50 prep. We asked you to share what power meant to you, and the responses were thoughtful, through and through.

“Power is being a voice for the voiceless,” you wrote. “Power is being empathetic to those who need help.” “To be powerful is to support our community both economically and socially.” “To improve and inspire.” “To do good.” You softies. If we were to have a #51 to put on this list, know it would be you.

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PORTRAIT: EVA AN KERA J; ST YLING: ALSU PASEK; HAIR AND MAKEUP: ALISHA HOPPS; CLOTHING: THE BLOCK; JEWELLERY: ENTI ANA

Imagine.

Plan.

Build.

Human-centered solutions for property development and management.

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There’s More to My Story fsgv.ca/TheresMore #MoreToMyStory

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PERSONAL SPACE // HOT TAKE // THE DISRUPTOR // SO FUN CITY // ON THE rise // KNOW-IT-ALL

CULTURE

PERSONAL SPACE

Picture Perfect

IMAGE CREDIT

At home with Vancouver-based artist Carla Tak.

Carla Tak may have picked up the paintbrush for the first time at age 50, but her destiny was cemented in childhood. She was just 12 when she had a vision that she was going to be an artist. It was a surprise, even to her: “I was a jock. I was on the boys’ soccer team. But I did a book report on Picasso and thought, ‘Oh, that’s what I’m going to be.’ It was just so clear.”

by Stacey McLachlan photography by Tanya Goehring

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C U LTU R E / / PERSONAL SPACE

Life brought a few detours— dropping out of school at 14, moving to L.A. with a man twice her age the next year, a career in real estate, becoming a mother to her beloved daughter Hollis—but it eventually delivered her to the canvas... with a little therapy, and a little prompting. “My reiki master, who I’d worked with for 10 years, told me ‘You have homework. You have to paint.

Don’t come back until you do.’ And she was serious,” says Tak. So she sat down at a canvas, and never looked back.

Twenty years later, Tak diligently walks to her studio at Parker St. six days a week to paint, but her bright Olympic Village apartment with its views of the North Shore mountains and the heritage buildings of Gastown offers ample inspiration in her off hours. Her husband Chris Smith—“he’s semi-retired, I guess!”—works away in the office or at the antique table in the living room. Tak’s been calling this space home for 13 years, since she scoped it out while working for developer Nat Bosa (though she spends plenty of time in L.A. visiting her daughter, whom she credits for “making my existence livable”). It’s part home, part personal gallery: the couple’s collection of pieces from both local artists and international talents covers the crisp white walls. Even the powder room features a striking lightbox from Dina Goldstein—The Last Supper.

Here, more practical pieces of home decor also have a curated feel to them. A 15-year-old velourdraped sofa sits next to a marble table Tak designed and had fabricated; a resin sculpture by Anthony Benjamin adds a pop of blue. “I like eclectic,” says Tak. “I need time to collect things with meaning, little by little.”

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Top Shelf Tak’s collection is ’60s and ’70s heavy, with an emphasis on post-war abstraction: think William Ronald, Eve Leader, Henrietta Fauteux-Massé, Jonathan Syme, Vicky Christou and Jeff Depner.

But, one can’t live on art alone, of course: Tak’s shelves also include cookbooks, art books and lots of wine.

Curated Canvas This colourful painting by Ron Stonier is swapped in the summer for a darker painting by the same artist.

Power Piece The hefty Belgian wooden desk here is from the 1800s, sourced from a local antique store.

“I rarely sit here except to take my blood pressure,” laughs Tak. “Chris likes to spread out here and work, though.”

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Flower Power A shot of his studio featuring a guitar and flowers was a personal gift from Ian Wallace.

“The night he brought it over, I had tulips just like these in the bathroom,” Tak recalls.

“Too coincidental.”

Monster Mash The "monsters" here were made by a young art student who used to come to Bella Ceramica, a ceramics studio formerly run by Tak. The felt sculpture between them is by Justin Patterson.

Wall of Wonders Tak's robust collection of art includes many Canadian artists, including Jonathan Syme (top), William Ronald (centre) and Micheal Batty (bottom). The blue resin sculpture on the counter is by British artist Anthony Benjamin.

Hi Ho Silver Amid the pieces by local artisans lies another kind of treasure: a platter of pre-Napoleon silver, inherited from Tak’s father.

Gorgeous Glass The pink bowl is by local glassblower Emma Van den Bosch; the checkerboard painting was done by artist Elizabeth Barnes.

Vessels of Interest Ceramics made

by Cindy Richmond (who is married to another artist, Ian Wallace) make an appearance on Tak’s library shelf.

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C U LTU R E / / jacket up

COLOUR BLOCK Helly Hansen’s new Play anorak stitches together a patchwork of waterproof, windproof and breathable features atop a recycled polyester lining. $200, hellyhansen .com

HOT TAKE by

Amanda Ross

Coat Check

LINE, PLEASE Made from 100-percent recycled material, Peak Performance’s quilted oversized reversible liner offers lightweight layering without added bulk. $330, peakperformance.com

SCALED UP We’re seeing red—plus water-repellency and windproofing—in Lululemon’s Lunar New Year-edition men’s Wunder Puff, inspired by the Year of the Dragon. $298, lululemon.ca

In patches, patterns and pink hues, spring outerwear is all about statement jackets, coats and capes.

PLAYMAKER Spring forward in the Canada Goose and NBA collection featuring the Crofton puffer jacket splashed with images from streetwear artist KidSuper. $1,450, canada goose.com

SEE THROUGH SUPER SHOULDERS All heroes wear capes—specifically, Chanel’s new light pink and multicolour cape in Fantasy tweed. Price upon request, holtrenfrew.com

Inspired by the transformative power of travel, Acne Studios’ spring/summer ’24 men’s collection presents a clear—and rosy!—picture with the Oride transparent rain jacket. $1,050, rodengray.com

MINE AND YOURS With the meteoric rise of resale, luxury consignment store Mine and Yours opens its third Vancouver location in a swish new Kitsilano perch—designer handbag wall and shoe lounge included.

2061 W 4th Ave. | mineandyours.com

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NOW OPEN

URBAN LEGEND A simple classic always makes a statement, especially if it’s Aritzia’s new Finch spring trench coat. $298, aritzia.com

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C U LTU R E / / the disruptor

Gone Hollywood The revamped Hollywood Theatre offers an eclectic mix of music, comedy and drag that’s a world away from the Granville Strip.

by Stacey McLachlan

Yes, the Hollywood Theatre is an events venue. But it’s also a (beautiful) retort to anyone who’s ever dared to call this city a bore. On any given night of the week, you’ll find fans lined up down the block to see their favourite artist coming through town, or stepping through the art deco entryway to make new friends on the dance floor.

Despite its glamorous historic facade and humble neighbours (a veggie stand and an ice cream parlour among them), it’s a space that delivers an authentic, decidedly punk-rock vibe. No matter what’s on the agenda, the Hollywood is committed to smashing Vancouver’s “no fun city” rep night after night after night.

“Every hipster in every city is jaded,” says Hollywood marketing director Jason Sulyma. “But there’s always lots to do. You’ve just gotta look around. I will personally go out of the way to pick you up and drop you off and give you drink tickets.”

The Hollywood could be the only club in Vancouver that doesn’t focus on continuous Top 40 programming—and may well have the most diverse portfolio in B.C.—thanks to a rotating cast of local promoters who take the reins. “It’s interesting to see all these different communities take the space and run with it,” says Sulyma. The Hollywood’s programming mix places Bolly-

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wood dance parties and Afrobeat artist sets alongside fetish nights, comedy shows and drag performances. The marquee recently advertised a Taylor Swift drag party, an AC/DC tribute band called BC/DC, an ’80s theme night and something called “The Emo Nightmare Before Christmas.” It’s a grab bag— one that’s always full of fun.

A restoration of West Broadway’s historic 1935 art deco cinema, the theatre opened in the thick of COVID. Not a great time to be in the events business, but the industrious team slogged through, and today they regular-

(SULYMA) ADAM BL ASBERG

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UPCOMING HIGHLIGHTS ly pack the room with Vancouver’s party people.

The Hollywood’s mandate for booking reflects a focus on being a good neighbour. Now, the club routinely teams up with Nuba restaurant across the street to offer dinner-and-a-movie packages, playing romantic classics (think: When Harry Met Sally) on the big screen. During Greek Days, the team flings open the doors and invites people into a curated pop-up food hall.

The booking team is also committed to giving the best dates and times to local talent.

“The most exciting thing is taking a chance on someone,” says Sulyma. “We just know good people bring good people.”

Rookie producers have a chance to experiment here in a way they might not at a Live Nationdominated venue downtown.

COURTESY OF IZATION STUDIO

HOLLYWOOD GLAMOUR (Clockwise from top) Marketing director Jason Sulyma behind the bar; a full house for Emo Night; an archival photo of the Hollywood in its cinema days.

(ARCHIVAL PHOTO) COURTESY OF HOLLY WOOD THEATRE; (EMO NIGHT) TIMOTHY NGUYEN

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An example close to home: one of the Hollywood’s bussers, Seb, makes his own music, so Sulyma invited him to start his own night. A pajama party called House on the Hill was born, a playful Saturday event (you can guess the dress code) that fills the room with new pop house music and a fun-loving crowd of revellers.

The goal is to foster an open-door vibe—no gatekeeping allowed. “There are these stereotypes of the grumpy promoter who hates the kids coming up, but I know this next generation wants to contribute. They’re doers,” Sulyma says.

His list of go-to promoters today includes kids who used to sneak onto his underground party guest lists—club kids, drag queens, alt friends, all grown up and ready to create their own scenes.

Sulyma is a seasoned promoter himself. He grew up throwing parties and doing shows at East Van warehouses and dive bars (“I’ll go to jail if I tell you about those parties,” he laughs) and then built a career as a booker for the big cats across town. “I spent 20 years doing shows in the wilderness of East Van,” he says. “Here, we keep all the wild inside our four walls.”

After all these decades, Sulyma remains a fan of the city’s creative community. “I can’t even afford all the taxis I take to come down after hours because we have so much going on, but I love seeing what’s going on at the Hollywood,” Sulyma admits.

“We’ll have Sin City, and then the next day a UBC frat party, and then this Daptone soul act Jalen Ngonda from the U.K., and then Fateh, a South Asian artist from Toronto. I love the mashup of it all.”

DORIAN ELECTRA

February 22 Come for the experimental pop, stay for the avant-garde fashion.

REAL ESTATE

March 1 The indie band has been kicking since 2008; their cheekily named Infinite Jangle tour hits the Hollywood this spring.

SOFIANE PAMART

March 24 The Parisian pianist is classically trained but brings a hip-hop finesse to his performances.

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C U LTU R E / / SO FUN CITY

Bar Hoppin' Front-of-house manager Virginie Semery (left) and wine director Brittany Hoorne get the party started.

Taking Back Sundays

Once reserved for football, religious lollygagging and laundry, Sunday is poised to become the highlight of your week.

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Here’s what Allegiance star Supinder Wraich has on her pop culture radar.

Love Has Won

“I’m trying to pace myself watching the Netflix documentary series Love Has Won instead of devouring it in one sitting. I’m fascinated by what draws people into cults. The entire show is a heartbreaking trainwreck that’s so hard to turn off.”

by Kerri Donaldson

THE DEETS

SUSU SUNDAYS

WHEN Every Sunday WHERE Bar Susu COST No cover charge (reservations and walkins accepted)

Letters to a Young Poet

“A book I’ll often go back to again and again is Rainer Maria Rilke’s Letters to a Young Poet. Usually when I’m in need of some guidance or inspiration.”

Brown Girl Magazine

visit to the Mardi Gras city).

The whole staff is involved in thinking up themes, so the sky’s the limit for what’s possible on any given Sunday. “We’re just throwing stuff at the walls to see what sticks,” says Allmin. “It’s

about trying something new, or trying something fun.” And with talks of DJs, avant-garde pop-ups, community collabs and guest chefs, the ubiquitous Sunday Scaries may well be replaced with FOMO.

“I love @brown girlmag on Instagram.

I love discovering artists and businesses from the South Asian diaspora, and it's such a wonderful resource that celebrates our culture and community.”

Wraich stars in the new Surrey-based CBC original cop drama Allegiance, premiering February 7.

(SUSU SUNDAYS) SARAH ANNAND; (WRAICH) COURTESY OF CBC/L ARK PRODUCTIONS/DARKO SIKMAN

Main Street’s Bar Susu is turning the unofficial “Day of Puttering Around at Home in Your Pyjamas” into an exciting new affair with Susu Sundays.

Since making its debut this past November with a night of sake and oysters (and bubbly, too, because... why not?), the weekly themed soiree is livening up the end-of-week blues and giving Friday a run for its money.

“I remember being in the industry in my 20s and Sunday night was always a big night for us to go out and do something fun with friends,” says Cody Allmin, co-owner of Bar Susu. With Susu Sundays, the award-winning room is attempting to recapture this restaurant industry night vibe, rebranding the sleepiest day of the week as “Saturday’s cool cousin who insists we do shots.”

The effort has paid off, with reservations nearly doubling and a roster of standout themes—including Fizzies and Glizzies (that’s hot dogs and champagne, of course), the instantly popular Flight Club that pairs à la carte offerings with select wines, and a New Orleans-inspired night (an idea born from the bar team’s own

THE PLAYLIST

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LOOKING TO REFRESH YOUR SPACE? (SUSU SUNDAYS) SARAH ANNAND; (WRAICH) COURTESY OF CBC/L ARK PRODUCTIONS/DARKO SIKMAN

SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER AT WESTERNLIVING.CA

Bathroom design by Falken Reynolds/photo by Ema Peter

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C U LTU R E / / SO FUN CITY

The To-Do List

U M O

Your day planner is about to get filled with some serious fun. by Kerri Donaldson

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TWISTED FAIRY TALE: INTO THE WOODS

WHEN January 25 to February 25 WHERE Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage COST From $29 From the Academy Award-winning screenwriter of Moonlight, Choir Boy is a coming-of-age story of identity scored to a gospel soundtrack that will leave you singing its praises.

WHEN February 1 to 18 WHERE Studio 58 COST $25 The Tony-winning musical stars your favourite fairy-tale legends (Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel and more) as they take on a witch’s curse with perfect pitch.

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NERD IS THE WORD: FAN EXPO VANCOUVER

DATE NIGHT: SINGLE, NOT SINGLE

WHEN February 17 WHERE Vogue Theatre COST $43.50 + tax The alt-comedy darling is known for her deadpan delivery and some, er, “out there” comedy. (Think: irreverent and borderline grotesque—there’s a reason we aren’t mentioning her show title.)

➣

WHEN February 2 to 24 WHERE Improv Centre COST $25 Every Friday and Saturday this month, come laugh at the concept of relationships (whether you’re in one, think you’re in one, definitely in one or mumbling 'it’s complicated' when your mom asks about your love life).

Y

of s of y rad

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GUITAR HERO: VIEUX FARKA TOURÉ

WHEN February 23 WHERE York Theatre COST $48 Fresh off a new album (featuring the Texas psych-jazz trio Khruangbin, IYKYK), the Malian guitar player (“The Hendrix of the Sahara” and son of late guitar legend Ali Farka Touré—talk about a resumé!) could be your gateway into a cool new genre: desert blues.

FLOWER POWER HAPPY HOUR: GREEN GARDEN GALA WHEN March 9 WHERE Sutton Place Hotel COST From $171.73 This glam jam that closes Vancouver Cocktail Week (March 3 to 10) is your excuse to get fancy and drink flower-infused bevvies all night while yelling “play something we can dance to!” at the DJ.

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SWEET FANTASY: CRYSTAL METHYD PRESENTS INSIDE THE ENCHANTED FOREST

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WHEN February 16 WHERE Rickshaw Theatre COST From $30 Escape the mundane and feel your fantasy at this spooky-kooky drag show starring Crystal Methyd, a fan-fave runner-up from season 12 of RuPaul's Drag Race.

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FEEL GOOD INC.: THE WELLNESS SHOW

WHEN February 3 and 4 WHERE Vancouver Convention Centre COST $12 Fill your weekend with wellbeing, health nuts, yoga buffs, bio hackers and Goop fans as you learn how to live forever.

(That’s wellness, right?)

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DRAGON SLAY: LUNARFEST 2024

WHEN February 10 WHERE Granville Island COST Free Celebrate the Chinese New Year (where my dragons at?) with live music, lion dances, food and more—come for the lanterns, stay for the dumplings.

(CHOIR BOY) DAHLIA K ATZ; (VIEUX FARK A TOURÉ) KISS DIOUARA

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Fa ve co to ca op an

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TITILLATING COMEDY: JUST FOR LAUGHS VANCOUVER PRESENTS PATTI HARRISON

WHEN February 17 to 19 WHERE Vancouver Convention Centre COST From $39 Dress up as your fave superhero, anime or sci-fi character for a weekend full of panels, exhibits and LOTR quotes (at least if you’re celebrity guest Elijah Wood).

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PREACHING TO THE CHOIR: CHOIR BOY

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eve lon typ

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Facial Ex

sponsored report

UNLOCK THE MYSTERIES OF YOUR SKIN

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(CHOIR BOY) DAHLIA K ATZ; (VIEUX FARK A TOURÉ) KISS DIOUARA

our skin is unique. Learning about its structure, function and potential should be an empowering journey of self-discovery that unlocks the mysteries of your skin so you can achieve healthy, radiant skin for a life time.

FACIAL TREATMENTS & SKIN SERVICES Kristen Cheyne, founder of Facial Expressions Skin Therapy (FX), is passionate about skin science. She has studied skin physiology and cosmetic chemistry extensively and is highly intuitive when it comes to connecting what’s happening on the surface of the skin with what’s happening elsewhere in the body and in life.

“We are on a mission to elevate skin therapy beyond a beauty focus, into the realm of personal health and wellness,” she says. “We specialize in practical skin care, digging deep to discover the root cause of skin challenges and designing personalized solutions that merge advanced skin science with deeply relaxing self-care.”

The skin therapy team at FX customizes every treatment to optimize results and support long-term skin health, regardless of age, skin type or condition.

“Whether you’re seeking to slow visible signs of aging, address acne concerns or simply enhance your skin’s overall health and vitality, we’re here to assist you every step of the way, from deep cleansing facials and

microneedling services to LED light therapy and personalized self-care routines,” Cheyne says.

HIGH-PERFORMANCE PRODUCT LINES Cheyne has carefully selected highperforming product lines and skin rejuvenating technology that are well supported by clinical studies.

Environ, for example, uses the highest quality pharmaceutical-grade ingredients and is independently tested and certified by the Swiss Vitamin Institute in Lausanne, Switzerland. This ensures that clinic partners and consumers can be confident in the quantity and quality of the ingredients in each bottle.

Environ’s revolutionary Step-Up System gradually and safely introduces higher levels of vitamin nutrients into the skin without any detrimental effects.

“I’ve studied and tested dozens of product lines over the years and chose Environ specifically because of the Step-Up System,” Cheyne says. “It has transformed our clients’ skin like nothing else on the market.”

DISCOVER FX + ENVIRON DF3 VITAMIN INFUSION FACIAL FX offers several signature services, including the Discover FX: Consultation + Bespoke Facial—the perfect entry point for anyone new to skin treatment. Enjoy an advanced skin consultation, treatment planning and relevant skin science resources, followed by a targeted facial to jumpstart any new skin journey.

More experienced with skin treatment?

Lavish in the Environ DF3 Vitamin Infusion Facial, using industry-leading Electro-Sonic

Photos by Kim Kosta Creative

Facial Expressions, Vancouver’s premier skin wellness company, empowers clients to confidently navigate skin care and facial treatment options using skin science and holistic wellness

Ionzyme DF3 technology to infuse high levels of vitamins A and C, peptides and hydration into the skin for holistic rejuvenation with zero discomfort or downtime. The 75-minute service is customizable to target fine lines and wrinkles, moisture, radiance, clarity and more.

Ready to transform your skin from the inside out and from the outside in? Visit facialexpressions.ca @FacialExpressionsSkincare @fxskintherapy

Canada Wide Media in partnership with Facial Expressions Skin Therapy

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C U LTU R E / / ON THE RISE

Amy Herndon of Ization Studio is squiggling sustainably.

by Alyssa Hirose

Colour blocking itself is a bold style statement, but Amy Herndon, creative director of Ization Studio, wanted to take her latest clothing collection one step further. “I didn’t want to just do classic geometric colour blocking, so I started doodling on my whiteboard,” she recalls. Those whimsical lines became the Squiggle collection, a roundup of sweatpants, long sleeves, mock necks and quarterzips handmade from eco-friendly and deadstock fabrics.

Herndon is originally from Edmonton and moved to the Lower Mainland to study fashion at LaSalle College. Her background is in film—her full-time gig is in costuming—but the recent strike allowed her more time to work on the Coquitlam-based slowfashion studio she founded in 2018. She came up with a goal to design a new collection for Ization created entirely from leftover materials. It might sound like a challenge, but Herndon laughs it off: “I think people underestimate exactly how much fabric I have.” The only new fabric she’s had to source for the Squiggle collection is faux sherpa (and even that is made of recycled polyester).

The designer makes every Ization Studio piece herself (“I love being able to see something from start to finish,” she says) and plans to launch Squiggle tanks, dresses and other sunshine-embracing garments as the weather warms.

Everything is customizable and made-to-order: “As a customer, you’re really getting something that is for you,” she says. “And I think people really appreciate that.”

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Squared Away The Vancouver-made 1/2and-1/2 skirt (bottom left) and denim pants (bottom right) are a dynamic duo; the Squiggle long sleeve (bottom right) comes in seven colour combinations.

E D I TO R ’ S PICK

Ization Studio's Squiggle 1/4 zip ($198) puts a modern spin on the classic pullover, and the matching Squiggle sweatpants ($168) complete the ’fit. Designer Amy Herndon (inset) sews each peice herself in her Coquitlam studio.

COURTESY OF IZATION STUDIO

Block Party

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Shape the future of natural health

COURTESY OF IZATION STUDIO

Join our community of natural health enthusiasts to share your thoughts on trending topics in text-based surveys. You’ll be entered to win awesome monthly prizes just for subscribing!

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C U LTU R E / / CITY INFORMER

KNOWIT-ALL by

Stacey McLachlan

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Why Is a Hummingbird the Official City Bird of Vancouver?

Years after the official decree, it's a question that keeps at least one birdbrain up at night. illustration by Byron Eggenschwiler

It’s so upsetting to still hear talk going on about the “stolen American election.”

Because it really distracts from the stolen election I want to talk about: the 2017 vote for Vancouver’s Official City Bird.

I don’t need to tell you that Anna’s hummingbird is the reigning champ.

Everyone stops and salutes when we spot her in the garden, and, if you have children, they’re pledging allegiance to her in school. But it still ruffles my feather that she swept the final, permanent City Bird election and will now hold this prestigious position for the rest of time.

In some countries, that is considered a dictatorship. But it’s not even the affront to democracy that necessarily bugs me: it’s that the rightful winner, the crow, was rudely disqualified from the 2017 race and now will never have the chance to fly to Official City Bird heights.

Look, I’m not saying that Anna’s hummingbird is doing a bad job with her official duties. In her role as an ambassador spokesbird, she’s been tasked with “building awareness of birds” and “inspiring artists,” and if the number of stained-glass hummingbird windchimes available for sale during the annual Eastside Culture Crawl is any indication, she’s crushing it. But she’s just not a bird of the people the way the crow is. She’s not patrolling the streets, mixing and mingling with the constituents. No one has ever written a hilarious news story about a hummingbird stealing evidence from a crime scene. Sure, crows dive bomb and steal and poop so profusely outside of the Vanmag office that a team in literal hazmat suits comes every morning to spray things down... but I personally want a bird who’s real. A bird who’s lived. A bird who thinks blonde people are trying to steal its eggs. A bird who has made mistakes but is ready to soar above it all. What I’m trying to say is: the crow is Bernie Sanders.

The original City Bird program was an annual designation. There was rabid campaigning, though tragically no swimwear portion of the competition. The crow was the 2014 honouree,

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CITY INFORMER

Practical Solutions We understand that businesses have diverse needs and require practical, manageable, and intelligent legal solutions in order to succeed. Our industry-leading lawyers work with clients to find the right solutions in select areas of business law, including: • Commercial Real Estate & Development • Corporate/Commercial • Lending/InsolvencyLitigation/ Arbitration/Dispute Resolution

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followed by the chickadee (2015) and the peregrine falcon (2016).

But then those tight term limits made it difficult for everyone to keep up. (The official concern was that businesses couldn’t really take advantage of the city bird in their marketing because of the constant turnover, but I suspect people just got overwhelmed by the neverending chants of “One More Year!” at the constant pro-chickadee rallies outside City Hall.) The powers that be—city councillors who were tired of being bossed around by bird nerds—decided it was time to just pick one and move on.

Unlike the Vancouver mayoral election, though, which welcomes any adult citizen regardless of experience or creed or interest in wearing a shirt, there were strict rules about who could run for Bird King. One of those rules? No previous City Bird winners allowed.

Other stipulations: nominees couldn’t be an official bird elsewhere, nor commonly found in areas outside the Pacific Northwest. Any birds that were viewed negatively by cultural groups would be disqualified as well (looks like your rep finally caught up with you, owls). As a result, it was a four-party race in ’17: the iridescent Anna’s hummingbird, the varied thrush, the northern flicker and the spotted towhee. If the pigeons or seagulls ran as independents, they certainly didn’t get invited to the televised debates.

Unsurprisingly, Anna’s hummingbird swept the election, taking nearly half of the vote. That’s pretty privilege, for you. But while she rules with an iron wing, we in the #TeamCrow camp will continue to cause a flap for the issues that matter—cawing loud, cawing proud and making our mark where it counts (the sidewalk in front of the Vanmag office).

Got a question for City Informer? stacey.mclachlan@vanmag.com

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Music He

SPONSORED REPORT

MUSIC HEALS CHARITABLE FOUNDATION:

Raising Funds and Awareness for the Transformative Power of Music Therapy Exploring the therapeutic qualities of music for mental, emotional, and physical health

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o matter your age or where you come from, certified music therapy can change your life.

The healing power of music brings people together, giving them a sense of belonging. Using music as medicine, music therapy enables a person to reminisce and reconnect with their sense of self because music uniquely interacts with diverse regions of the brain to guide in promoting healthy emotions and behaviour.

Children with developmental disabilities, adults with Alzheimer’s disease and people of all ages experiencing anxiety or depression or searching for a way out of

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crisis or away from trauma have discovered their healing journeys through this versatile therapy practice.

Music therapy knows no demographic boundaries. For children, it can aid in cognitive and social development, helping them improve communication and emotional expression. Adolescents and adults can learn to manage stress and physical and mental health, while enhancing self-esteem and promoting selfdiscovery. In older adults, music therapy can help stimulate memory and cognitive function, providing a sense of comfort and connection.

MUSIC THERAPISTS Certified music therapists earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree from a university approved by the Canadian Association for Music Therapists. They complete 1,000 hours of supervised clinical internships using evidencebased techniques to provide effective therapy and create personalized music experiences that cater to individuals’ unique needs.

Music therapists apply various techniques, including listening to music, playing instruments, singing and songwriting, to engage individuals in meaningful musical experiences that promote emotional well-being and overall quality of life.

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SPONSORED REPORT

“Music therapists are uniquely positioned to respond to grief and loss,” says an employee from the WISH Drop-in Centre Society. Supported by Music Heals Charitable Foundation, WISH works with women who are involved in Vancouver’s street-based sex trade. “Counseling skills, training and experience allow us to walk with participants as they experience any stage of grief.

Music can be strategically applied to help participants remember, feel the emotions associated with the loss, and find hope for moving forward.”

THE MEDICINE IS IN THE MUSIC According to the American Music Therapy Association, music heals because it is inherently accessible and inclusive. “Practice and research demonstrate the power of music therapy to help individuals develop coping strategies, understand and express feelings of anxiety and helplessness, support feelings of self-confidence and security, and provide a safe or neutral environment for relaxation,” the association says.

Research in British Journal of Psychiatry suggests that individuals undergoing music therapy along with standard treatments for depression improve more than people who only receive standard therapy. “[Through music therapy] I have been able to deal with trauma and to grieve the loss of family and close friends that have passed on,” says a client at Heartwood Centre for Women, a facility that provides

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mental health support for women with integrated substance abuse and is funded through Music Heals. “I’ve been able to talk and express myself through the music I requested to share and hear the thoughts and feelings that others share with me.”

“I have songs that my parents would always play when I was younger, or songs that had special memories tied to them,” says Lily, a client at Lumara Grief & Bereavement Society, which, with help from Music Heals, provides grief and bereavement services for families. “I find music is a really great way to connect with people—especially people that aren’t here anymore—because of the memories tied to them.”

Due to its rhythmic and repetitive nature, music engages the neocortex of the brain, which calms and reduces impulsivity, assisting in rehabilitation from substance misuse and generational trauma.

Shirley, a resident at Phoenix Drug & Alcohol Recovery & Education Society, says she has been using drugs and alcohol for 47 of her 60 years and battling addiction for the past two decades. “I’ve never in my whole life felt peace in my heart, but I am starting to feel that now, with music therapy,” she says.

A 2015 study compared the effects of music therapy used among people with cancer with and without a therapist present.

Even though listening to music produced positive results for both groups, 77% of

patients preferred music therapy sessions to just listening to music on their own.

“I am so grateful to BC Cancer for providing a regular opportunity for safe, supported self-care and relaxation,” says Wendy, a cancer patient and music therapy participant at BC Cancer, funded through Music Heals. “I find that the music really touches a place deep inside and allows me to relax fully in a way that other practices don’t do as well. With all the emotional challenges related to cancer diagnosis and treatment, this calming of the nervous system is invaluable.”

MUSIC HEALS CHARITABLE FOUNDATION Music Heals Charitable Foundation is a registered charity based in Vancouver raising awareness and funding for music therapy programs in communities throughout British Columbia.

Founded by music lovers, the team at Music Heals believes in the healing power of music and is committed to providing funding for music therapy in physical and mental health practices. Since 2012, the foundation has provided over $4 million in funds to increase access to music therapy for over 80 facilities totalling over 50,000 hours of music therapy programming supporting children’s hospitals, senior centres, palliative and hospice care, rehabilitation centres, public and alternative schools, and more.

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Let Her Sing 2023

LAURA HARVEY

CHRISTOPHER EDMONSTONE

A Benefit for Music Heals 2023

LAURA HARVEY

Let Her Sing 2023

therapy harnesses the power of music to address emotional, cognitive, and social needs, offering a holistic approach to healing.

In celebration of International Women’s Day in March, Music Heals is holding its annual fundraising luncheon, Let Her Sing, on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at Fairmont Waterfront in Vancouver. The event celebrates women and music, raising awareness and funds for music therapy practices that address physical and mental health and well-being.

Over 350 of Vancouver’s most influential and powerful women will come together for an afternoon of shopping from local femaleowned vendors and socializing while raising funds for music therapy programs benefiting women throughout British Columbia. Guests will enjoy live musical performances and listen to an impactful speaker share the healing power of music and how it is changing lives for people in need in our community.

ANNUAL GALA: A BENEFIT FOR MUSIC HEALS

THE IMPORTANCE OF FUNDING SUPPORT

GET INVOLVED AND GIVE THE GIFT OF MUSIC

Despite ample evidence supporting the benefits of music therapy, it is not covered by national or provincial public healthcare systems or extended healthcare plans. This leaves many Canadians without access to this innovative and impactful healthcare resource. This is why the work of a charitable organization like Music Heals is so important.

“Each year, Music Heals Charitable Foundation receives funding applications from facilities for their underfunded music therapy programs,” says David Barnett, Founder & Board President of Music Heals Charitable Foundation. “Unfortunately, the demand often exceeds the charity’s capacity, and many facilities go without much-needed funding each year.”

Barnett credits support from passionate music lovers within the business community as a driving force behind furthering Music Heals’ cause, through their shared belief in the healing power of music.

Music Heals relies on donors and sponsor support and partnerships with local and national brands and musicians. It offers several partnership opportunities from event sponsorships starting at $5,000 to multi-year brand partnerships allowing organizations to witness the year-over-year impact of their support and the sustainability and expansion of music therapy programs within their communities. With Music Heals, the line from a donation to the impact it has on communities is incredibly short, meaning each donation is used where it was intended. Music Heals can also direct charitable efforts to specific communities or focus support on specific populations due to the broad range of facilities it supports.

MUSIC AND MENTAL HEALTH GIVING A VOICE TO WOMEN According to the World Health Organization, women are nearly twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with depression. Music

Held in October each year, the Music Heals annual gala is not just a night of festivities; it’s a celebration of music. The 2023 event raised more than $350,000 in crucial funding for music therapy programs in 2024.

Sponsorship opportunities for next year’s event will be available in early 2024.

MUSIC THERAPY AND UNIVERSAL HEALTH Music has the power to heal, uplift and bring solace to the soul. It is a universal language that transcends boundaries and connects us on a deep emotional level.

By raising funds and supporting music therapy programs, Music Heals Charitable Foundation is helping to ensure that individuals have access to this effective and empowering form of therapy while bringing people together to celebrate the power of music and advocate for the integration and expansion of music therapy services, creating a brighter and healthier future for all Canadians.

Learn more at www.musicheals.ca. If you’re interested in attending Let Her Sing to celebrate the healing power of music or in sponsorship opportunities, please email info@musicheals.ca for more information. @musichealscanada

@musicheals_ca

@musichealscharitablefoundation

@musicheals Created by Canada Wide Media in partnership with Music Heals

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Discover B.C.’s most state-of-the-art creative campus

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POWER

50 The Power 50 list today looks a lot different than it did back in 2001, when this tradition began.

While once it was a veritable lookbook of CEOs, today, we recognize that power can reveal itself in a range of ways. Of course, politics and business continue to shape our city, but it’s easier, now, to see power in modern dance, in policy-making, in community-building, too.

So yes, you’ll find both the mayor and a meme account here on our ranking of the city’s biggest power-players—but that’s the way we like it.

WRITTEN BY K ERRI DONALDSON, ALYSSA HIROSE, STACEY McLACHLAN, MATT O’GRADY, ANICKA QUIN AND JANINE VERREAULT

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(MST) TANYA GOEHRING

(EBY) EVA AN KHERA J

Power Up David Eby has made the most of his mid-term appointment to premier.

POWER50

FOR TAKING THE BALL AND RUNNING WITH IT

(MST) TANYA GOEHRING

(EBY) EVA AN KHERA J

1.

DAVID EBY

Legacy Makers Clockwise from left: Chief Wayne Sparrow of the Musqueam Indian Band; Khelsilem, council chairperson for the Squamish Nation; and Chief Jen Thomas of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation.

PREMIER OF B.C. PREVIOUSLY #2, 2023

ONE OF THE ADVANTAGES of becoming premier mid-mandate—without having to craft your own platform and face the verdict of voters—is that you can test drive a few policies first. David Eby took the reins from John Horgan in November 2022, halfway between elections, and he’s been a whirlwind of activity ever since.

While it often seems like housing is Eby’s single focus—with a tax on speculation, legislation to reduce short-term rentals, province-wide zoning changes, plus a new multibillion-dollar provincial housing construction program set to launch in early 2024—he’s also taken on the challenge of credentialing with gusto, introducing legislation last fall aimed at reducing barriers for internationally trained professionals.

And under his leadership, the NDP started providing funds for free prescription contraception in April—a first for Canada.

Some of his moves feel like political gimmickry—such as the $100 BC Hydro credit or his PR campaign against the independent Bank of Canada, demanding lower interest rates—but there’s little doubt that Eby is a compelling communicator.

He ranks as one of Canada’s most popular premiers and is far outpacing the opposition (though he and the NDP benefit from a splintered centre-right vote). Eby is also credited, by our panel, for making a concerted effort to elevate younger, more diverse voices within cabinet (see Niki Sharma, #7, and Bowinn Ma, #11)—a contrast to Horgan, who relied on many 1990s stalwarts for key posts. Still, two years is a lifetime in politics—and Eby has to hope that the sour mood of voters, which has felled long-serving incumbents from Manitoba to Argentina, dissipates by the time B.C. voters step into the polling booth this October.

FOR REIMAGINING WHAT’S POSSIBLE

2.

MUSQUEAM INDIAN BAND, SQUAMISH NATION, AND TSLEIL-WAUTUTH NATION AND MST DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION FIRST NATIONS GOVERNMENTS; DEVELOPER PREVIOUSLY #3, 2023

THOUGH THE GOVERNMENTS of Musqueam Indian Band, Squamish Nation and Tsleil-Waututh Nation are powerful independently, together, they hold a particularly potent authority over the region. And while the MST Development Corporation—a privately owned, for-profit development arm—operates at a distance from these three governments, it couldn’t exist without the impressive framework the nations have created (or without the input of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh representatives who sit on its board). On paper, they may be distinct entities, but together, they’re building a legacy.

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POWER50

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FOR BUILDING BIG AND GIVING BACK

FOR TAKING ON A BROKEN SYSTEM

3.

4.

RYAN AND CINDY BEEDIE BEEDIE DEVELOPMENT RYAN, PREVIOUSLY #35,

PENNY BALLEM PREMIER’S HEALTH SYSTEMS SPECIALIST; CHAIR, VANCOUVER COASTAL HEALTH

2023; CINDY, NEW

PREVIOUSLY #28, 2023

RYAN BEEDIE’S NAME is all over the big new developments in Mount Pleasant and the AbCellera lab, as well as a controversial development permit for condos at 105 Keefer that will likely reshape Chinatown. But he and wife Cindy have been moving ground outside of the property game, too. The couple’s philanthropic work is among the most visible in the city, thanks to swishy high-profile events like their Rock ’N’ the Park, which brought Bryan Adams to Malkin Bowl and raised $2 million for the Food Bank. Elsewhere, the developer broke ground on the new YWCA Cindy Beedie Place, a sanctuary for women and children fleeing violence that will feature 56 long-term affordable units; made a $5-million donation to a long-term care facility in Delta; and gave away $6.9 million in student scholarships last year.

IT CONSUMES 38 PERCENT of the provincial budget, almost $31 billion annually, and yet B.C.’s health care system is under constant threat of collapse, with long waits for lifesaving treatments, a broken paramedical system and a dearth of family doctors, among other issues. Enter Dr. Fixit: in January 2023, Premier David Eby hired Dr. Penny Ballem—a physician and UBC professor of medicine, as well as former deputy health minister (2001-6) and Vancouver city manager (2008-15)—to be his “health systems specialist.” In this role, Ballem will “advise the premier, minister of health, deputy minister to the minister of health, and chief of staff on matters related to health care in British Columbia”—for $13,750 a month, according to her offer letter.

While her mandate is detailed in broad strokes, the premier makes clear that he expects Ballem to lean into her “expertise, community

(LEE) EVA AN KHERA J

The list of projects MST Development Corp. is involved in at this point in history is staggering. Its real estate portfolio is worth an estimated $5 billion.

There’s the ongoing development of St. Paul’s, the 10,000 homes slated for the Jericho Lands, the involvement with the Broadway subway line, the influence on the Vancouver Art Gallery design, the bid for the 2030 Olympic Games.

But what keeps them on the tip of every conversation about power is that they aren’t just reshaping the city—they’re redefining what’s possible. Last year, MST’s big move was something never seen before in Vancouver: pitching a development that is bigger and higher than in their first proposal.

The vision for Jericho Lands is for 13,000 new homes (up from the previous concept of 10,000) that sprawl over 13.6 million square feet and 49 storeys. Also in the new plan is a proposed rapid transit station, an elementary school and neighbourhood amenities that include grocery stores, retail shops and even a hotel. Basically, MST is thinking far bigger than housing—it’s creating a whole neighbourhood. In a city that’s chronically housingdeficient, these commitments will be a game changer.

And while the Jericho Lands project is one that won’t be completed for at least two decades, it’s already shaking up the city, with rezoning phases already in progress and powerful partnerships gelling into place.

Insiders say that meetings with MST leadership are among their most important and impactful. If this is the case now, just imagine what power the organization will hold when their portfolio reaches its estimated future value of $30 billion.

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connections, innovative ideas and knowledge of how government works to ensure health care works for people.”

Key priorities for Eby include primary care, developing a new cancer care strategy and strengthening ambulance services. Ballem (who’s also chair of the Vancouver Coastal Health board and was named to the Order of B.C. this past August) is widely lauded for her ability to get things done, though some critics wonder whether Eby’s habit of hiring “special advisers” (there’s also one for housing and Indigenous reconciliation) is a sign the premier is unwilling to give his cabinet ministers full control. Either way, Eby was clearly impressed with the last contract Ballem undertook, leading the rollout of B.C.’s COVID vaccination program. Now he has shown his gratitude by handing her a thankless, seemingly Sisyphean, task.

k

FOR CHAMPIONING CHINATOWN

(LEE) EVA AN KHERA J

5.

CAROL LEE CO-FOUNDER AND CHAIR, VANCOUVER CHINATOWN FOUNDATION PREVIOUSLY #19, 2023

THERE’S A WHOLE COMMUNITY of folks rallying to revitalize Chinatown—but if the neighbourhood has one champion, it’s Vancouver Chinatown Foundation’s own Carol Lee. In the past year, her foundation’s Chinatown Storytelling Centre not only hosted new exhibitions that dive deep into the lived history of the area, it has also produced accessible, engaging events (like an evening devoted to celebrating Bruce Lee). Last fall’s Light Up Chinatown festival—an extravaganza of

live performance, art, food trucks and more—welcomed 16,000 attendees to the neighbourhood.

Of course, operating a charity in one of the country’s most vulnerable neighbourhoods has its challenges: an isolated act of violence at Light Up Chinatown had the event making the news for all the wrong reasons. Despite the devastating incident, Lee and her team continued to rally the community in support of Chinatown. Good news followed: the Chinatown Foundation’s 2023 Autumn Gala raised $1.9 million (thanks, in part, to auction donations from local icons like Martha Sturdy) for 58 West Hastings, a housing project that’s slated to open this spring. Once launched, the property will have 231 affordable units, including 120 welfare-rate units. Lee and the Chinatown Foundation acknowledge the complex issues of the area without being paralyzed by them, and their collective action is bringing hope back to the ’hood. And her impact reaches beyond city limits: she received an Order of Canada this past December.

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POWER50

FOR SWAGGERING INTO HIS SOPHOMORE YEAR AT CITY HALL PREVIOUSLY #6, 2023

A YEAR AFTER his resounding victory as mayor, Ken Sim’s honeymoon appears to be over. While supporters are quick to note the mayor has made strides in hiring more police officers, bringing renewed focus to Chinatown and cleaning up civic disorder, critics accuse Sim and his team of sleight-ofhand. Yes, 100 officers were hired—but even more have retired since the election. Tents removed from Hastings Street have relocated elsewhere. And on ABC’s core commitment to bring down barriers to more housing, our panel found the mayor’s plan lacking: “weak on details,” with little discussion about “how it’s actually going to get done.” There are also questions—at least among the terminally online— about how Sim’s surprise decision to eliminate the park board will play out politically. What nobody doubts is Sim’s commitment to schmoozing: he’s a regular at cultural events, and he succeeded in convincing Hollywood execs to move production of The Last of Us to Vancouver.

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FOR PUSHING THE LAW TO ITS LIMIT

7.

NIKI SHARMA B.C. ATTORNEY GENERAL NEW

BEING A PROVINCIAL attorney general has its limits, as Niki Sharma is discovering. On the one hand, there’s an opportunity to tackle everyday issues that affect ordinary citizens—such as the province’s push to remove nonconsensual intimate images and videos from the internet, a growing concern in our very online world.

But a lot of initiatives get tied up in endless court challenges (like B.C.’s 2018 law trying to recover opioid-related health care costs from pharmaceutical companies, currently before the Supreme Court of Canada) or require a cooperative federal partner (like B.C.’s push to reform federal bail laws).

On a personal level, many say the sky’s the limit for the Sparwood, B.C.-raised lawyer—a rising star and potential future leader for a postEby world.

FOR DARING CORPORATIONS TO CARE

8.

JILL SCHNARR CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS AND BRAND OFFICER, TELUS PREVIOUSLY #8, 2023 (WITH DARREN ENTWISTLE AND JUGGY SIHOTA)

WHILE HER COLLEAGUES Darren Entwistle (CEO) and Juggy Sihota (chief growth officer) are also doing impressive things over at Telus, whispers behind-the-scenes say that it’s Jill Schnarr driving the telecom giant’s community impact.

There’s her work on the brand’s corporate communications and media relations and government advocacy, of course, but it’s her leadership of country-wide social programs like the Telus Days of Giving (now in its 18th year) that mobilizes people to give where they live at a massive scale.

(DOMAN) EVA AN KHERA J

6.

KEN SIM MAYOR OF VANCOUVER

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FOR MAKING THE BC LIONS ROAR ONCE MORE

9.

AMAR DOMAN OWNER, BC LIONS NEW

AMAR DOMAN (who is also founder of the investment and asset management firm, Futura Corporation) bought the BC Lions in 2021 and has spent two years tackling the team’s cool factor: upping attendance, fan buzz and visibility in the community was his goal. From handing out tickets at youth football games to intercepting the plan to shut down SFU’s football team (by pledging financial support, of course), Doman has truly been boots on the ground when it comes to Lion Pride (speaking of which, the team was also present at the 2023 Vancouver Pride Parade).

His commitment shows up not just in swagger—this season kicked off with an LL Cool J concert—but also in numbers: game attendance is the highest it’s been since 2014.

(DOMAN) EVA AN KHERA J

j

Having a Ball Amar Doman, pictured in the stands at B.C. Place, has used his passion (and finances) to punt his CFL team back into relevancy.

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POWER50

FOR TURNING CAMPUS LAND INTO MUCHNEEDED HOUSING

FOR FIGHTING FIRE WITH FIRE

10.

MENT AND CLIMATE READINESS

AJAY PATEL

EMERGENCY MANAGE-

NEW

PRESIDENT, VANCOUVER COMMUNITY COLLEGE NEW

A CORE PLANK in B.C.’s housing strategy (see Kahlon, Eby) is to boost affordable housing options around transit nodes. Enter Vancouver Community College (VCC), which in March proposed to redevelop its Broadway campus— adding some 3,300 homes near the under-construction Broadway subway line and moving its campus northward. In return, the B.C. government committed more than a quarter of a billion dollars to help fund VCC’s new Centre for Clean Energy and Automotive Innovation.

It’s a big deal for the understated community college—and, according to our panel, speaks to the strong relationship that VCC president Ajay Patel (a former CEO of Badminton BC and Gymnastics BC) has built within NDP circles.

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11.

BOWINN MA B.C. MINISTER OF

AS WILDFIRES RAGED across B.C.’s Interior last summer, one face and voice stood out among the grey suits at daily news conferences: Bowinn Ma, the North VancouverLonsdale MLA and B.C.’s minister of emergency management and climate readiness. A trained civil engineer, Ma cut her teeth as project manager at YVR prior to her surprise election in 2017—the first New Democrat to win on the North Shore in more than 25 years. Her new post is focused on coordinating different ministries and levels of government on emergency response—and while some of Ma’s moves in response to the 2023 fires were controversial (including imposing temporary travel restrictions during the busy summer tourism season), she’s credited with being an effective team player and communicator, and a voice of compassion within government.

FOR THEIR DEDICATION TO DENSITY—AND A THRIVING DTES

12.

COLIN BOSA AND DALE BOSA CEO, BOSA PROPERTIES/

CEO, BLUESKY PROPERTIES COLIN, #35, 2023; DALE, NEW

OBVIOUSLY, AS DEVELOPERS, the Bosas are keeping busy, carrying on the family tradition—Colin, as CEO of the OG Bosa Properties, and Dale helming subsidiary Bluesky, where he’s busy bringing density to downtown Surrey. But this new generation of real estate barons is trying to do things a bit differently— namely, giving back. The Bosas’ most high-profile project is the Army and Navy building on East Hastings, where they’ve partnered with Jacqui Cohen. Plans for “The Cohen Block” will be tough to get by council (the design intrudes on a view corridor), but the bigger picture is that the development will be far more than a department store: think offices, below-market rental and commercial units. Unusually, the Bosa bros are planning to put some family foundation money into it in order to help subsidize the rentals.

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FOR MAKING A COMMOTION WITH HER MOTIONS

13.

CHRISTINE BOYLE

FOR MOBILIZING THEIR COMMUNITY

14.

JORDAN ENG AND LORRAINE LOWE

PRESIDENT, CHINATOWN BIA/

VANCOUVER CITY

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DR. SUN YAT-

COUNCILLOR

SEN CLASSICAL CHINESE GARDEN

PREVIOUSLY #26, 2023

NEW

WHENEVER ONE PARTY sweeps to power, the opposition—such as it is—is limited in what it can do. And while Christine Boyle ostensibly had more power in the divided council of 2018-22, she’s made the most of her second term in an ABC-dominated chamber.

Boyle has introduced a series of meaty motions, advocating for more speed and red light cameras, fast-tracked social housing and extended leases on temporary modular housing sites—though only the motion on cameras, in diluted form, passed a full vote.

One area where the former community organizer and United Church minister has undeniably succeeded: getting under Ken Sim’s skin. The mayor has filed two complaints about Boyle under the city’s code of conduct, winning one and losing the other.

IF YOU’RE WONDERING what the ABC council will do for Chinatown, the answer is simple: “Whatever Jordan and Lorraine want,” says an anonymous source. Eng, realtor and president of the Chinatown BIA, and Lowe, executive director for the Sun Yat-Sen Garden, are vocal champions of their neighbourhood: ones who mobilized Chinese voters by highlighting crime issues in the area, and who now enjoy a direct line to City Hall. Their suggestions have moved ABC to open a new city office in the area and to launch an energetic anti-graffiti team.

If you’re wondering what the ABC council will do for Chinatown, the answer is simple: “Whatever Jordan and Lorraine want.”

FOR HELMING THE HIGHEST-PAID POLICE FORCE IN THE COUNTRY

15.

ADAM PALMER VANCOUVER POLICE CHIEF PREVIOUSLY #9, 2015

CHIEF ADAM PALMER kicked off 2023 with news of his contract extension: he’ll be the police chief until 2025, the year that also marks a decade of service in the position. The police continue to have an inarguably powerful—and inarguably controversial—impact on the city (take last April’s DTES street sweeps, for example). When Palmer addressed the Board of Trade last fall, he acknowledged that more social services are needed to properly handle crime in the city (“It’s a whole-of-government response— you can’t police your way out of it; you can’t arrest your way out of it”).

That said, the social services still lack funding while police resources (and mayoral support) appear to be flowing: last November’s union deal made Vancouver police the highestpaid officers in the country, and their budget is expected to near $500 million by 2028.

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POWER50

FOR WORKING THOSE CONNECTIONS

17.

GARY POONI PRESIDENT, POONI GROUP

PREVIOUSLY #41, 2023

FOR BEING A MUNICIPAL ROLE MODEL

16.

MIKE HURLEY MAYOR OF BURNABY PREVIOUSLY #43, 2019

AS METRO VANCOUVER continues to battle a severe housing shortage, there’s one mayor who’s caught everyone’s attention.

Elected to his second term in 2022, Burnaby’s Mike Hurley is making big changes in planning and policy. This year, he announced that the city wants to start its own housing corporation (with a focus on providing “deeply affordable” rentals) and is coming up with new strategies to speed up permitting.

With supply being one of the biggest issues facing the region, you can be sure that other politicians are taking note. “We’re actually using Burnaby as a role model,” said Ken Sim when he announced Vancouver’s plan in October 2023. “They’re doing a lot of great things and have been able to successfully marry densification and homes around their SkyTrain stations.”

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ON PAPER, Gary Pooni runs an urban planning and communications company, but his real power lies in his connections. He has contacts in the Eby camp and with Sim’s crew, wields influence on the many boards he sits on (Provincial Health Services Authority among them) and reps the city’s heavy-hitter developers (like Westbank) with a deft hand. He’s also tight with Victor Montagliani of FIFA and now has several soccer players in his roster of clients. He’s the sort of guy who knows just what number to dial when you need something done—the networking king.

FOR SEEING THE FOREST FOR THE TREES

18.

DERRICK EMSLEY CEO, TENTREE AND VERITREE NEW

NOT EVERYONE KNOWS that the name of Vancouver-based apparel brand Tentree comes from a literal promise to plant 10 trees for every garment sold—but 100 million trees planted later, Derrick Emsley’s Earth-first approach to building a company has more than proven itself as a concept that works. But as he told Forbes back in 2022, “The journey to 100 million trees hasn’t been a straight line.” He launched the monitoring tool Veritree in 2019 out of a need to ensure better planting practices and management so that his company’s promised trees could thrive—and quickly saw a much larger need for a dedicated standalone platform. Over 5,000 companies have now signed on (including Telus, Capital One and BMO) to ensure the work they say they’re doing is actually working for the planet—one tree at a time.

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FOR MAKING SURE EVERYONE HAS A PLACE TO CALL HOME

19.

THOM ARMSTRONG AND JILL ATKEY

CEO, COOPERATIVE HOUSING FEDERATION OF BC AND THE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST/CEO, BC NON-PROFIT HOUSING ASSOCIATION ARMSTRONG, PREVIOUSLY #40, 2017; ATKEY, NEW

TO TACKLE THE TWIN CRISES of housing affordability and supply requires concerted effort from all levels of government—along with actors in both the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors. Thom Armstrong and Jill Atkey are two of the not-for-profit players now at the heart of the action, thanks to the province’s creation of a $500-million Rental Protection Fund to help purchase older rental buildings slated for redevelopment.

Atkey’s advocacy work, as CEO of the BC Non-Profit Housing Association, was pivotal to this move; according to our panel, she’s a regular presence at public consultations and council meetings, making the case for nonprofit housing. Also critical was Armstrong, through his work with the Cooperative Housing Federation of BC; the Community Land Trust, CHF’s real estate development arm, is one of the nonprofit developers standing to benefit from the new fund.

FOR LAYING A NEW FOUNDATION FOR HOUSING

20.

RAVI KAHLON B.C. MINISTER OF

FOR IMAGINING A HIGH-TECH FUTURE

21.

DAN BURGAR AND KASSANDRA LINKLATER

CO-FOUNDERS, FRONTIER

HOUSING

COLLECTIVE

PREVIOUSLY #11, 2023

NEW

GROWING UP IN VICTORIA, Ravi Kahlon developed a special talent for field hockey, which saw him represent Team Canada at multiple Commonwealth and Olympic Games. Since 2017, his skill for stickhandling has been put to good use in B.C.’s political arena: he served in a variety of NDP ministries before taking over housing, from David Eby, in December 2022. His first year on the job has seen a flurry of activity, with new laws restricting short-term rentals, taking zoning out of the hands of municipalities and increasing density near public transit. Underscoring the file’s importance, Eby decided to make housing a standalone ministry for the first time since the 1970s—and is usually by Kahlon’s side whenever an announcement is being made.

WHILE MUCH OF Vancouver’s tech scene keeps its head down, Dan Burgar, Kassandra Linklater and their merry band of Web3 evangelists are doing whatever it takes to get the world’s attention. Frontier ran a duo of summits last year, championing Vancouver’s future role in the development of the metaverse (including a trek to startup mecca SXSW), but the audacity of their dreams isn’t as impressive as their success at getting chunks of federal money to pull off their big shows.

... the audacity of their dreams isn’t as impressive as their success at getting chunks of federal money to pull off their big shows.

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POWER50

| HALL OF FAME

This year we’re introducing the Hall of Fame as a way to recognize the city’s most consistent and long-lasting sources of influence—the folks who have made it into the Power 50 time and time (and time) again over its 23-year history. This list acknowledges that the power these honourees hold is enduring; they've earned a permanent place above and beyond the shifting sands of the regular annual rankings.

IAN GILLESPIE With Westbank, he’s brought world-class architecture to the city for decades, and with the upcoming, culturally focused Oakridge development project, the centre of the city may just shift south.

JIM PATTISON This multi-industry magnate has appeared on our Power 50 list since its inception. Now, with a $10-billion empire to his name, we can safely set him at the top of our inaugural Hall of Fame.

THE FULLER FAMILY With stakes in Earls, Cactus Club and Joey, the Fullers basically invented casualfine dining—and now that their empire has spread across Western Canada and even into Toronto, they’re shaping the way the entire nation eats.

THE AQUILINI FAMILY Real estate. Restaurants.

Hockey. It’s the holy trinity of Vancouver life, and the Aquilinis are power players in all three industries… even when controversy comes a-knockin’.

BOB RENNIE The 2023 edition of our Power 50 list named Rennie “the man who knows everyone”—he also knows real estate and modern art inside and out.

MICHAEL AUDAIN AND YOSHIKO KARASAWA This power couple has re-energized Vancouver’s art world with their philanthropy and business savvy.

DARREN ENTWISTLE In the 23 years he’s been at the helm of Telus, Entwistle has quintupled the telecom company’s enterprise value to more than $71 billion. Powerful stuff.

JOY MACPHAIL Though she’s retired from politics, MacPhail remains a major influence on the NDP, being called on as a fixer for everything from ICBC to housing plans.

TERRY HUI When he’s not busy running Concord Pacific Developments, you’ll find Hui working as a director for the Metro Vancouver Board of Trade or receiving yet another award for community engagement.

THOMAS FUNG Fung remains the go-to source of information for Vancouver’s Chinese community, with his Fairchild Chinese-language TV network and radio stations ranking among the largest Asian media enterprises in North America.

FRANK GIUSTRA After building his fortune as a resource-industry investor, Giustra turned his attention to helping to grow the city’s film scene; today, he continues his entrepreneurial streak with his Fiore Group venture capital firm and extensive charitable work.

TAMARA VROOMAN She made her first Power 50 appearance as the head of Vancity Credit Union; now, she’s flying high as president and CEO of YVR.

BRANDT LOUIE The CEO of H.Y. Louie and chair of London Drugs continues to make an impact on both the business and education worlds—his foundation provides a million dollars in scholarships to Vancouver Community College students each year.

JAMES K.M. CHENG Cheng’s architecture firm has defined our skyline over the past 40-plus years. Would we have our beautiful City of Glass without him?

CHIP AND SHANNON WILSON This pair made Lululemon a household name, and now they’re taking their impact to new territories: Shannon with technical apparel brand Kit and Ace, and Chip with the highly active Low Tide Properties.

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Green Justice Lawyer Radha Curpen’s expertise in environmental issues, infrastructure and Indigenous affairs makes her a highly sought-after advisor.

FOR BEING AN ENVIRONMENTAL LEGAL EAGLE

22.

RADHA CURPEN VICE-CHAIR

AND MANAGING PARTNER, BENNETT JONES NEW

IN ADDITION TO her role as vice-chair and Vancouver managing partner of the law firm Bennett Jones, Radha Curpen is the national leader for BJ’s ESG Strategy and co-head of its Environmental Law practice.

In other words: she keeps busy.

(Though perhaps slightly less so after stepping down from her position as chair of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade this November.) As a legal expert on environment, infrastructure and Indigenous relations, she’s a go-to advisor for boards, corporations and regulatory agencies alike.

No wonder, then, that she won an Influential Women in Business award this year and found herself on the cover of BCBusiness.

(CURPEN) EVA AN KHERA J

j

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POWER50

FOR (FINALLY) BREAKING GROUND ON A NEW VAG

FOR MAKING WAVES BY THE PREMIER’S SIDE

FOR PUSHING THE DOWNTOWN DREAM

23.

24.

25.

ANTHONY KIENDL CEO AND DIRECTOR,

VANCOUVER ART GALLERY

(CURPEN) EVA AN KHERA J

NEW

WE MAY NOT have our long-awaited new Vancouver Art Gallery… but under Anthony Kiendl’s leadership, we finally have a plan: a plan for a stunning space that gives new meaning to the phrase “state of the art.” A ground-awakening ceremony took place this fall, with the hopes of a 2028 opening. The revamped VAG (designed by Swiss firm Herzog and de Meuron and Vancouver’s own Perkins and Wills, with input from Indigenous artists) will not only champion climate-resilient design (think green spaces and solar shading), but will also celebrate diversity with spaces like the Institute of Asian Art and an Indigenous Community House. Kiendl’s triumph in securing over $340 million in fundraising (a whopping 85% of the target) marks his impact in broadening the horizons of art in Vancouver, making him a key figure in enriching the city’s artistic tapestry.

SHANNON SALTER DEPUTY MINISTER TO THE PREMIER PREVIOUSLY #31, 2023

WHEN DAVID EBY was attorney general, he brought in a young superstar as his deputy, effectively making her B.C.’s top lawyer.

Shannon Salter had previously made waves by creating B.C.’s Civil Resolution Tribunal, the country’s first online tribunal where people can solve small claims or disputes with the help of facilitators (taking them out of an overwhelmed court system). Last year, Salter followed Eby to the premier’s office, where she became part of an inner circle of young people—many women— running B.C.’s 36,000-member public service. This past April, in response to an increasingly tight labour market, Salter unveiled a new workplace strategy that enshrines flexible work within the government, opening up job postings to anyone in the province.

BRIDGITTE ANDERSON CEO, GREATER

VANCOUVER BOARD OF TRADE PREVIOUSLY #37, 2023

BRIDGITTE ANDERSON stepped into the CEO role back in 2019, the first woman to head the GVBT in its 136-year history. But even before that appointment she was a strong voice for the city, someone who has pushed hard on anything that could bring downtown back to life.

As a former reporter and PR whiz, she knows how to generate media, and so the board has been out front and centre on a few issues—like speaking out against punitive costs for businesses. But Anderson is more than just talk and buzz: she’s actively spearheading initiatives to build diversity and inclusion on the board too, like the full-day Equity, Diversity and Inclusion forum.

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Van

POWER50

FOR SOUNDING THE ALARM FOR FIRST NATIONS COMMUNITIES

26.

TYRONE MCNEIL

27.

DAVID AND TASSAN SUNG PRESIDENT, NICOLA WEALTH/CHAIR, LEAD NEW

FOR INVESTING IN ADDICTION TREATMENT

28.

THE DIAMOND FAMILY PHILANTHROPISTS NEW

STÓ:LŌ TRIBAL COUNCIL CHIEF NEW

AMONG THE CLIMATE activists sounding the alarm during B.C.’s recent spate of natural disasters is a powerful voice addressing an often-overlooked issue: how emergency services are failing First Nations communities. Stó:lō Tribal Council Chief Tyrone McNeil serves as chair of the Emergency Planning Secretariat (EPS) and has been holding the province’s feet to the fire to fulfill the EPS’s mandate of “advocating for emergency and infrastructure work that includes full consultation and engagement with First Nations communities impacted.” And, according to a reliable source, McNeil is “on speed dial with the premier’s office” in his fight to ensure that authorities work with adjacent First Nations in planning for and responding to natural disasters.

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FOR SHEPHERDING THE BIG SPENDERS

THE SUNGS are yet another power couple on this year’s list, using their influence and wealth to impact the twin worlds of finance and charity. While David runs the show at Nicola Wealth Management (over the past two decades, he’s been pivotal in growing the firm’s managed assets to $7.2 billion), advising the city’s big spenders on investments, wife Tassan chairs Nicola Wealth Management’s LEAD, a grassroots movement to amplify and celebrate the voices of women across the country through a speaker series, articles, videos and community collaboration.

LAST YEAR THE Diamond family channelled their grief over the death of Steven Diamond by fentanyl overdose into transformative action.

Their $20-million donation to St. Paul’s Hospital birthed the Road to Recovery program, a comprehensive 12-bed addiction treatment initiative.

This program, addressing the opioid crisis head-on, offers a streamlined recovery path—a stark contrast to the fragmented and slow systems that tragically failed Steven. The family then extended their commitment with a $7.2-million donation to the BC Cancer Foundation targeting hereditary cancer (one of the largest donations the foundation has ever received) and $25 million to rejuvenate the Jewish Community Centre.

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POWER50

FOR HITTING THE CHARITY CIRCUIT HARD

29.

MARTIN THIBODEAU REGIONAL PRESIDENT,

FOR BRINGING MICHELIN TO TOWN

30.

ROYCE CHWIN CEO, DESTINATION VANCOUVER NEW

BRITISH COLUMBIA, RBC ROYAL BANK

52

31.

CHRISTINE SINCLAIR FORMER CAPTAIN,

TEAM CANADA

NEW

WHILE MARTIN THIBODEAU certainly holds high rank as regional president of one of the largest banks in the world, it’s his community work in the off hours that had our advisory committee putting forth his name this year.

Thibodeau moved from Montreal to Vancouver in 2018 and has spent the last five years making a positive impact on the city through his involvement with organizations like BC Children’s Hospital, Science World, Ocean Wise and the Urban Development Institute—and you’re likely to spot him at just about every fundraising gala in town. He is also the chair of RBC’s national Indigenous advisory council, co-chair of its diversity leadership council and a member of BenGurion University Canada’s board of directors in B.C. and Alberta.

FOR BEING THE HOMETOWN HERO WE NEED NEW

DESTINATION VANCOUVER is emerging from the COVID pandemic triumphantly, in no small part due to the work of CEO Royce Chwin. Thanks to him, Vancouver’s seeing stars: the nonprofit tourism organization just celebrated its second year of the minimum fiveyear Michelin partnership that was first secured in 2022. This had a profound effect on starred restaurants, Bib Gourmands and recommended restaurants alike (try getting a reso at Kissa Tanto this month, we dare you).

Destination Vancouver continues to share Indigenous stories and promote Indigenous-led tourism, and their work promoting the city as an awesome place to visit has led to serious results—for example, the Port of Vancouver reported a record-breaking 1.25 million cruise ship passengers last summer.

CHRISTINE SINCLAIR became a part of Canada’s national women’s team at age 16 in 2000 and retired from her Team Canada captainship last year a Canadian legend, with more international goals than any other soccer player in history—male or female—and a few Olympic medals around her neck. And while she may not live in Vancouver these days, the Burnaby native still ignites some serious hometown pride, via the newly opened Christine Sinclair Community Centre in Burnaby and, of course, her final international match this past winter (she’ll continue on with the Portland Thorns for one more season). The game against Australia filled the stands at BC Place in December (renamed Christine Sinclair Place for the occasion) and ended in an emotional, Celine Dion-scored goodbye surrounded by more than 48,000 fans. Call it the power of love.

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FOR TAKING HOUSING TO NEW HEIGHTS

32.

MINDY WIGHT

CEO, NCH'KAY´

DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION NEW

THE HOT BUTTON issue of affordable housing in Vancouver has only intensified with the rising cost of living. Mindy Wight is taking some of the heat out of the crisis by literally elevating a community with her skyscraper developments (no surprise she was also on Maclean’s power list last year). Steering the mammoth Senákw project (in partnership with Westbank Projects Corp.), she’s doing more than sculpting a neighbourhood; she’s building a future. With more than 12,000 rental units across 11 towers, all sitting snug on a 12acre canvas in Kitsilano, Wight’s vision transcends concrete and steel: she’s stitching a sustainable, transit-oriented thread into the fabric of this city. Her strategic acumen in transforming Squamish land has turned the tide in city planning and community living.

k

FOR BEING VANCOUVER’S HOST WITH THE MOST

33.

SOPHIE LUI ANCHOR, GLOBAL NEWS NEW

SOPHIE LUI is having a moment. The already highly respected Global TV news anchor recently took home the prestigious Shelley Fralic Award at the 2023 Websters, which honours “a journalist who is concerned with making the community a better place.” Besides her screentime, Lui is making an impact IRL, using her prominence to support charities like Cause We Care, the BC Cancer Foundation and the Chinatown Foundation. One of our advisory council members also notes that Lui is the most sought-after media personality for hosting local events and galas, allowing her to support numerous other philanthropic causes in the city.

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POWER50

FOR PENNING HEALTH CARE’S MOST POWERFUL LETTER FOR STRIDING TOWARDS SOVEREIGNTY

34.

WADE GRANT INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS OFFICER,

MUSQUEAM INDIAN BAND PREVIOUSLY #24, 2015

AS THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL affairs officer to the Musqueam Indian Band, Grant has been a driving force in championing Indigenous health, securing a monumental $8.2 billion in funding for the B.C. First Nations Health Authority. This achievement, supporting over 200 First Nations, is a monumental stride toward better systems for Indigenous wellness—and ones, importantly, that are managed by an Indigenous authority. Additionally, in his role as chair of the New Relationship Trust, Grant headed the Indigenous Food Sovereignty Program, a $30-million initiative empowering local food systems and Indigenous agriculture.

These contributions to Indigenous rights and sovereignty earn him a well-deserved place on this year’s Power 50 list, and mark him as a formidable agent of change.

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35.

SURREY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL DOCTORS NEW

BACK IN MAY, dozens of doctors at Surrey Memorial Hospital made a move so radical it would normally be reserved for primetime medical dramas: they wrote an open letter that diagnosed our health care system with overcrowding, understaffing and unsafe emergency room conditions. The physicians pointed to three important issues: the lack of care beds, the lack of doctors and a general failure on the part of Fraser Health officials to meaningfully address such problems. Thirty-five women’s health providers penned their support, then SMH’s Medical Staff Association added its voice, stating that new patients shouldn’t be accepted until more doctors are hired. The story made local and national news, bringing the issues our health care system is facing to the forefront and letting officials know that the crisis can’t be ignored.

Dozens of doctors at Surrey Memorial Hospital made a move so radical it would normally be reserved for primetime medical dramas.

FOR HER PIVOTAL WORK ON POLICYMAKING

36.

JESSICA WOOD ASSISTANT DEPUTY

MINISTER, DECLARATION ACT SECRETARIAT NEW

AS THE ENGINE behind the B.C. government’s Reconciliation Transformation and Strategies Division, Jessica Wood has been instrumental in aligning provincial laws with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which, in a watershed moment, B.C. adopted in 2019. The Declaration Act Secretariat now stands as a testament to the province’s commitment to Indigenous rights, offering a new, equitable approach to policymaking. Wood’s leadership isn’t just creating change for Indigenous people in this province— it’s paving a path forward toward meaningful reconciliation across the country.

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POWER UP FOR IGNORING THE HATERS

38.

THE CAROUSEL THEATRE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TEAM

PERFORMING ARTS ADMINISTRATORS

Power comes from your actions and your presence, sure—but a great suit and a solid meal won’t hurt. We grilled our most connected, most hob-nobby friends and polled our wisest readers to compile this ultimate list of the city’s best power lunches, power suits and power events.

NEW

FOR LEADING OUR CULTURAL INDUSTRIES THROUGH A DOUBLE STRIKE

37.

PREM GILL CEO, CREATIVE BC PREVIOUSLY #29, 2023

STANDING AT THE HELM of Creative BC since 2015, Prem Gill is the face of B.C.’s increasingly diverse cultural sector, representing not just the behemoth film industry but also books, magazines, music and digital media—which, combined, account for nearly $7 billion in GDP and almost 90,000 jobs in this province. Last year started with a bang for the agency, with the provincial government announcing a historic $42-million investment in B.C.’s creative sector. But then—cue ominous music—the Writers Guild of America went on strike (May), followed by the Screen Actors Guild (June); suddenly, almost half of that GDP, plus thousands of jobs, was on the line. Many stressful months later, both strikes are now settled—with Gill and co. hard at work trying to convince Hollywood execs to bring their talent (and U.S. dollars) back to British Columbia.

A PERFORMING ARTS venue for youth should be all about joy and self-expression, right?

Unfortunately, a drag theatre camp at Granville Island-based Carousel Theatre attracted negative political attention last spring from People’s Party of Canada leader and certified party pooper Maxime Bernier. That led to a firestorm of harassing emails, hateful flyers and all-kinds-ofphobic tweets, but Carousel decided the show must go on: supporters of the theatre (and the kids) drowned out protestors at the first day of summer camp, and over $18,000 of crowdfunding was raised to provide security and keep programs like drag camp going.

... supporters of the theatre (and the kids) drowned out protestors at the first day of summer camp, and over $18,000 of crowdfunding was raised to provide security and keep programs like drag camp going.

BEST SPOT FOR A VANCOUVER POWER LUNCH

"THURSDAYS."

1. HAWKSWORTH Y 2. NIGHTINGALE 3. VANCOUVER CLUB 4. HY’S STEAKHOUSE

5. BOTANIST Y 6. GIARDINO 7. BACCHUS

8. MIKU Y

"ALL TOP HOTEL RESTAURANTS"

"I’VE BEEN TRYING TO FIND EXCUSES TO GO BACK.”

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FOR TURNING UP THE TUNES

41.

JONATHAN BARNETT AND DAVID BARNETT

PRESIDENT/CEO AND EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF DAYHU GROUP OF COMPANIES NEW

39.

HAMID AND ARYA ESHGHI

FOR SPEAKING TRUTH TO POWER

40.

GINGER GOSNELLMYERS

FELLOW, URBAN INDIGENOUS

PHILANTHROPISTS

POLICY, PLANNING AND

NEW

DECOLONIZATION, SFU NEW

IT TAKES MORE than wealth or influence to secure a spot on our Power 50 list—the true definition of power also includes the use of such tools to elevate your community.

Hamid and Arya Eshghi, the dynamic forces behind the Djavad Mowafaghian Foundation, have done just that by gifting $5 million to the Vancouver Art Gallery for the creation of a cutting-edge education and exhibition centre.

Under Hamid’s leadership, the foundation’s philanthropic footprint, exceeding $65 million, is invigorating a multitude of sectors, including health, the arts and education. As such, the couple has become a fixture on the city’s philanthropic scene, expanding the foundation’s footprint to well past $65 million in investments in the arts, education and children’s health.

AS THE FIRST Indigenous fellow at SFU’s Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue, Ginger Gosnell-Myers has been pivotal in integrating Indigenous knowledge into higher education in this city.

Her advocacy for climate justice and decolonization through the Black and Indigenous Design Collective, meanwhile, is creating inclusive, reflective urban spaces.

Gosnell-Myers built a reputation as a leader by leveraging her academic research to help Vancouver become the world’s first official City of Reconciliation back in 2014. Today, she is putting her commitment to Indigenous stewardship and her ability to speak truth to power to work for the climate as chair of the Greenpeace Canada board of directors.

HEALTH CARE HEROES come in many forms. By day, Jonathan Barnett and his brother David of Dayhu Group of Companies busy themselves with real estate—but their superpower?

Harnessing the healing power of music.

Dayhu supports several worthy causes in the city, including BC Women’s Hospital, Coast Mental Health and a number of local Jewish organizations; however, David’s role as founder and board president of Music Heals makes this charity particularly dear to their hearts. Music Heals launched in 2012 and has raised more than $3 million to provide access to music therapy for patients at children’s hospitals, palliative care wards and more. With B.C.’s health care system in crisis, the Barnetts are improving quality of life for those in need—and if you’ve ever had the privilege of attending their annual Strike a Chord gala, you’ll also agree that these guys know how to party like rock stars.

Jonathan (left) and David Barnett

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(MIT TON) EVA AN KHERA J; CLOTHING: YOLONDA SKELTON; MAKEUP: ALE XIS RAMESY; HAIR: KRYSTAL DUMAIS

FOR BANKROLLING THE SECTORS THAT MATTER

FOR RADICALIZING THE RUNWAY

42.

JOLEEN MITTON FOUNDER AND

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, VANCOUVER INDIGENOUS FASHION WEEK

(MIT TON) EVA AN KHERA J; CLOTHING: YOLONDA SKELTON; MAKEUP: ALE XIS RAMESY; HAIR: KRYSTAL DUMAIS

NEW

VANCOUVER INDIGENOUS Fashion Week first set foot on the runway in 2017, but like all live events, this celebration of Indigenous style and resilience suffered major setbacks during the pandemic. Post-COVIDrestrictions, VIFW has blown up: the November 2023 event spanned five days and two venues, launched a marketplace with 50 Indigenous artisans and welcomed more than 3,600 guests. That said, the work that Joleen Mitton does at VIFW is about more than the spotlighted designers: behind the scenes, a mentorship program gives Indigenous youth—many who have grown up in foster care— hands-on opportunities to learn about the industry and gain valuable work experience.

j

Wear It Well Joleen Mitton also runs an Indigenousfocused modelling agency, Supernaturals, to further connect her community with the fashion world.

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FOR TAKING TO THE SKIES

43.

THE McLEAN FAMILY ENTREPRENEURS NEW

IN THE SCORCHING summer of 2023, as record-breaking wildfires raged through Kelowna and across British Columbia, the McLean family of Vancouver found themselves at a crossroads. Their decision to sell Vancouver Film Studios—a cherished asset in the family’s group of companies, which together have built an illustrious 25-year impact in the local film industry—to Hackman Capital Partners sent shockwaves through the city. But while that move may have been pure business strategy, the family continued to flex their remarkable ability to create a positive impact in this province. In the midst of the climate crisis, their company, Blackcomb Helicopters, emerged as a beacon of hope, dedicating invaluable resources to combat the fires. In 2023, the McLeans proved once again that their collective fusion of entrepreneurial foresight and civic responsibility can be a vital asset for a region grappling with the challenges of a changing world.

In the midst of the climate crisis, their company, Blackcomb Helicopters, emerged as a beacon of hope, dedicating invaluable resources to combat the fires.

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FOR BEING THE LIFE OF THE PARTY

44.

FRED LEE HOST, PRESENTER AND AUCTIONEER NEW

IF YOU ATTENDED any top-tier charitable gala in Vancouver over the last few years, you know Fred Lee. Because the people who steer the committees that need to bring in the big bucks through said events will do whatever it takes to secure him as their auctioneer: they know that his effervescent presence could potentially add a zero or two to the end of their fundraising totals. He charms the wallets out of some of the biggest philanthropists in the city—thanking each person by name, tearing around the room with mic in hand and exuberantly encouraging those high rollers to roll just a little higher. The Man About Town is such a notable presence at Vancouver’s major charity events that it’s easy to forget he holds down a full-time job with alumni engagement at Alumni UBC—and also finds the time to cofound and fundraise for CampOUT, a free leadership and learning summer camp for queer, trans, Two Spirit, questioning and allied youth that has run since 2009.

FOR DRIVING CHANGE BEYOND THE BOARDROOM

45.

CHRISTIAN CHIA CEO, OPENROAD CANADA NEW

CHRISTIAN CHIA founded OpenRoad Auto Group back in 2000; in 2023, he’s the CEO of one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies, with 32 dealerships in his portfolio. But as with many power players on this list, his influence doesn’t end in the boardroom. At the end of 2022, he stepped into the role of chair of the Vancouver Police Foundation—the culmination of a lifetime of charity and community work. Between his work with the Sauder School of Business advisory council, the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade and the Make-a-Wish Foundation, the car baron is driving (get it?) some serious change in our fair city.

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FOR BOOSTING NEXT-GEN ENTREPRENEURS

46.

CHARLES CHANG PRESIDENT AND

FOUNDER, LYRA GROWTH PARTNERS NEW

LYRA GROWTH PARTNERS is a financial planning and investment firm that’s supported plenty of the local companies you know and love. (Ever heard of Tentree, Vitruvi or Rise Kombucha? Yeah, we thought so.) That’s thanks to the work of Charles Chang, who is also the co-founder of Vega—you know, the Burnaby-based vegan protein powder brand that sold for $550 million (talk about gains). The work of Chang and his team at Lyra gives businesses a valuable boost, and SFU’s Charles Chang Institute for Entrepreneurship—created, of course, through a gift from its namesake—continues to offer educational programs for the next gen of entrepreneurs.

FOR MAKING A MODERN DANCE SHOW THE HOTTEST TICKET IN TOWN

47.

CRYSTAL PITE FOUNDING ARTISTIC

FOR MAKING SPACE FOR MENTAL HEALTH

48.

ELENORE STURKO MLA, SURREY SOUTH NEW

DIRECTOR, KIDD PIVOT NEW

IF YOU MANAGED to see the world premiere of Assembly Hall this past October, lucky you—the demand for tickets for the new work from Crystal Pite’s dance-and-theatre hybrid, Kidd Pivot, was so high it appeared to cause a meltdown on the sales website: the near-immediate sellout was a rare feat in the arts world.

Pite’s unique approach to modern dance—philosophical, dark and athletic with surprising elements of humour in the mix—inevitably digs into what it means to be human, and, as such, she’s created an obsessive following for her choreography that reaches around the world. (Pite has developed works for the Paris Opera Ballet, Nederlands Dance Theatre and many other international outfits.)

IN THE THICK OF Vancouver’s struggle with the twin opioid and mental health crises, Elenore Sturko emerged as a beacon of change. This former RCMP officer, now an influential member of BC United, has claimed her spot on this year’s Power 50 list not with political rhetoric, but with tangible action. As the champion behind the groundbreaking Mental Health Amendment Act, Sturko aims to overhaul the province’s mental health care system and bolster suicide prevention efforts. Her commitment to inclusivity extends to the LGBTQ+ community (she is queer-identifying herself), where she advocates for inclusive education and fights against discrimination.

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POWER50

continued from pg. 55

BEST SOURCE FOR POWER SUITS 1. BLAIR SHAPERA

2. MINICHIELLO BESPOKE COUTURE

3. THEORY 4. ARITZIA 5. HARRY ROSEN

FOR GIVING POWER TO THE PEOPLE

49.

JENNIFER OUANO ENTREPRENEUR

AND PHILANTHROPIST, OUANO FOUNDATION NEW

THE SERIAL ENTREPRENEUR and former CBC producer sold her massively successful podcasting company, Pacific Content, to Rogers back in 2019—and you might expect that to be enough to take it easy for a while. Instead she’s continued to pivot to new ventures that put people first, like Rewrite Capital Advisors, which helps business owners sell to their employees. Ouano was also instrumental in the introduction of the Canadian government’s Employee Ownership Trusts as of January this year; the move that allows employees to become business owners while employers benefit from a massive tax exemption (they won’t pay a capital gains tax on the first $10 million of the sale). And in 2022, she launched the Ouano Foundation, a philanthropic organization steered by women, with its global fellowship program designed to empower leaders and activists at the forefront of digital human rights around the world.

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FOR SPEAKING— WELL, MEMEING —THE COLD, WET TRUTH

50.

@SEABUS MEMES

“IT’S AN INSTITUTION!”

6. HOLT RENFREW Y 7. QUORUM FASHION 8. REBECCA BREE

CONTENT CREATOR NEW

ANYONE WHO HAS CALLED this city home understands the Vancouver paradox: visually stunning and ranked fifth on the 2023 Global Liveability Index, yet increasingly unlivable due to soaring costs and scarce housing. Enter @seabusmemes, the brainchild of an anonymous savvy millennial, which has swiftly amassed a following of over 100,000 and become the voice of Vancouver’s collective frustrations. Starting as a series of harmless jabs at local quirks, @seabusmemes slowly transformed into a mirror of the city’s struggles, using a perfect blend of humour and critique to give Vancouverites a boost through tough times— especially during the pandemic. In a city yearning for connection and authenticity, @seabusmemes rises above the noise, reminding us to laugh at our own misfortunes and question the status quo.

BEST PLACES FOR NETWORKING 1. BOARD OF TRADE EVENTS

2. GALA

“A PLUG FOR BRIDGITTE ANDERSON.”

RECEPTIONS

3. TERMINAL CITY CLUB OR

VANCOUVER CLUB

4. CONFERENCES

AND PANEL EVENTS

5. THE PACIFIC RIM

“PEOPLE WITH A SHARED INTEREST GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER.”

HOTEL LOBBY

6. SOCIAL MEDIA

7. “ANY B.C. SENIOR WOMEN’S TENNIS EVENT.”

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Global News Hour at 6 with Chris Gailus & Sophie Lui We are BC’s News.

Globalnews.ca

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sponsored report

UBC OKANAGAN STUDENT SEEKS TO EMPOWER INDIGENOUS YOUTH AS A KNOWLEDGE KEEPER AND EDUCATOR With help from the TELUS Student Bursary, Canada’s largest student bursary program, Tiyanetkw Manuel is studying education with the aim to change the public school system and create new opportunities in her community.

T

iyanetkw Manuel, a first-year education student at UBC Okanagan, is working to build capacity among Indigenous youth in her community. Her goal is to become an Indigenous studies teacher and help students learn about Indigenous cultures, history and stories from an Indigenous perspective.

“Within the public school system, I have faced several systemic barriers, including racism, and I always thought that the school system had little hope for my education and underestimated me,” she says. “My last year in high school, I decided what I wanted to do after seeing the way my passion for helping Indigenous students with the way school courses are run led to a rise in participation, motivation, learning and curiosity.”

Looking back, it was that same connection, curiosity and support provided by her own family that helped put Manuel, a member of the Okanagan Nation, on the path to teaching. Her family made sure to stay connected to their First Nation’s culture and share the importance of retaining and passing it on. Although she didn’t at first

realize the significance of doing so, Manuel came to understand the importance of maintaining cultural integrity and sense of belonging, and the impact that it had on her well-being and mental health.

“I learned the true relationship between Indigenous Peoples and Canada,” she says. “So, I feel a strong obligation to my community, my family and myself. I want to teach future generations of First Nations youth and show them that we are valued, and we will heal as a community. I want to honour my ancestors and remaining language speakers by becoming one of the few Okanagan language speakers. My ultimate goal is to someday become a Nsyilxcen language speaker, knowledge keeper and educator.”

While education opens doors to a brighter future, unfortunately, not all youth have the resources to attend college or university.

Education costs are rising among other expenses students face, including housing, often leaving many post-secondary students heavily in debt. For Indigenous students, the experience is even more challenging.

Rates of post secondary completion for First Nations (45.3 per cent), Métis (56.3 per cent) and Inuit Peoples (33.6 per cent) remain below the general population average of 68 per cent.

Helping students in need overcome financial barriers to their education is the reason TELUS launched its TELUS Student Bursary. With a $25-million endowment gift from TELUS and a $25-million commitment in fundraising from TELUS Friendly Future Foundation, the bursaries are awarded annually to youth, across Canada, between the ages of 17 and 29, who are accepted into or attending a college or university program at a Canadian post-secondary institution.

A key element of the program is that bursary recipients are also actively making efforts to give back to their communities in positive ways.

“We believe that all youth in Canada deserve the opportunity to reach their full potential,” says Shanan Spencer-Brown, Executive Director, TELUS Friendly Future Foundation. “The bursary program will support hundreds of students, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, each year, removing barriers to accessing education through both funding and support services that help them graduate, while empowering them to pursue their dreams and help create a better world.”

Launched in 2023, Manuel is one of 400 students across the country to date to receive

Canada Wide Media in partnership with Telus

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aT su pe in an

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a TELUS Student Bursary. It’s a level of support she appreciates from both a financial perspective and as someone deeply invested in the revitalization of Indigenous languages and culture.

“Thanks to the TELUS Student Bursary, I don’t need to worry about funding and can focus on my education,” she says. “By focusing and giving it my all, I get to raise more awareness and motivation, and impact my community.”

Students can apply for the TELUS

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Student Bursary directly through TELUS Friendly Future Foundation or through various partners across the country including University of Victoria, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, Humber College, McGill University, and, in keeping with TELUS’ commitment to advancing reconciliation, Indspire, a national Indigenous registered charity.

The next Student Bursary application window opens in Spring, 2024. To learn more and how to apply, visit friendlyfuture.com.

@FriendlyFutureFoundation @TELUS

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HOT & COLD SAUNA CULTURE HAS COME FOR VANCOUVER. DON’T SWEAT IT.

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(CIRCLE WELLNESS SPA) OLIVIA VAN DYKE

IMAGE CREDIT

by Stacey McLachlan

N

(CIRCLE WELLNESS SPA) OLIVIA VAN DYKE

IMAGE CREDIT

o shade to the Improv Centre, but it looks like things are finally heating up on Granville Island.

Or at least that’s the promise of the new Circle Wellness Spa—a high-end thermal spa that opened on the island last fall.

The sign is barely visible next to the black gates. Real luxury is quiet, they say; this is a wayfinding whisper. My husband punches in an access code and the door swings open to reveal an underlit oasis. A wooden walkway and a trickling water soundscape lead us to the reception. Out comes an iPad and Beats headphones, and an orientation video narrated by an ethereal AI voice explains the process that will result in our impending relaxation.

“It’s like an episode of Black Mirror!” I comment to the staff. “In a good way!” (I have only seen one episode of Black Mirror.) She nods.

“A lot of people say that.” I feel basic and un-clever. Good thing I’m about to be locked in a room for two hours with nothing to do but reflect on why I need everyone to think I’m funny.

But seriously: the most luxurious part of this very luxurious experience may just be the offline-ness of it all.

Though Circle Wellness is incredibly high tech, with automated sound cues and intricate heating and cooling systems humming away behind the scenes in each converted shipping container pod, it’s also an opportunity to get off the grid and back into our bodies. So we turn off our phones and try to turn off our minds, too.

Maybe that’s why the spa circuit has taken off in these particularly anxious times. What a modern treat to disconnect (or reconnect, if you’re a social sauna-er) and remember how to breathe.

Circle Wellness is certainly the most artful and intense variation of the thermal spa trend, but it isn’t the only game in town. Scandinave Spa first brought the concept to the West Coast in 2010, enticing the Whistler crowd to finally take off their ski

k boots and try a traditional Nordic spa experience. It’s not a complex prescription: get really hot, get really cold, relax at a normal temperature, repeat. But it took off as an indulgent destination, the perfect way to tempt your friend who doesn’t snowboard (me) to go up with you for the weekend and help cover the cost of the Airbnb. But over the past few years, this Nordic circuit concept has tumbled down the mountain and into the city. I, for one, couldn’t be happier.

Full Circle The new Circle Wellness Spa has come a long way from its humble origins. Founder Paul Hennessey's first iteration was a lovingly hand-built circuit experience in a funky little workyard on Industrial Avenue. The oasis quickly gained a cult following and was booking out months in advance. The bigger, more polished spa centre on Granville Island can now accommodate dozens of sessions a day—though getting one of these reservations is also highly competitive.

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At Circle, we shower up and step into the moodily lit space, its walls lined with slats of warm wood. A brisk December breeze sneaks in through an opening in the ceiling, which frames the night sky. Into a muscle-­ melting, handcrafted cedar hot tub we go. As I bob in the decadent, toasty water, my thoughts wander beyond my personal shortcomings and head over to the Math Department of my brain, where I start to tally up just how many circuit spas I’ve been to in the past calendar year. Six. It is six. One of which was just last week.

Without really realizing it, I guess I’ve found a new hobby.

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Pleasantly pink and steaming, I hobble over to the slick concrete cold plunge pool. It’s only big enough for one, but that’s fine, because my husband is refusing to participate.

“You don’t have to do this,” he reminds me, cooking away smugly in the cedar tub. I step into the shock of cold and involuntarily make what can only be described as Mean Little Grunts. “Literally no one will know or care if you don’t,” he points out; he stretches his lanky limbs luxuriously as my organs wither inside me. But I care! I want to relax and I want to relax right. And in 2024, that means a spa experience that combines dis-

k Heating Up The Nordic Spa at the Fairmont Pacific Rim (top row) brings the sauna experience poolside with a soothing cedar-lined pod.

Tality Wellness Spa (right middle and bottom) offers bottomless kombucha to circuit spa guests; the Good Sauna (left bottom) pops up at venues like gyms and breweries.

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comfort with luxury. You can’t have joy without sorrow, right? I saw Inside Out, I get it. My lips are blue. The stars are twinkling. It’s maybe the most beautiful night of my life.

Cold plunge enthusiasts extol the virtues of a brisk dip: increased focus, boosted immunity, decreased inflammation. From Hippocrates’s days to the current Wim Hof era, cold-water swimming has been lauded as a cureall. But whether you believe in the long-term benefits or not, it’s hard to deny the invigorating properties of an ice bath when you’re neck deep in a feed tub. You are alive! You are awake!

You are uncomfortable! You are tougher than your spouse! And then: you’re hauling yourself out of the tub, a dripping-wet hero, electrified by your own grit and the feeling of blood pounding through your limbs at a thrilling pace.

At Circle, a hypnotic AI voice suddenly fills the air, beckoning us through a door at the end of the room to the “WellPod.” We leave our respective bodies of water behind to follow its instructions unquestioningly.

Inside, walls of pink salt bricks are lit from behind. The glow flickers along gently in time with music that can only be described as “haunted flutes” (again, in a good way!).

The light fades to black—pitch black—as we sweat and fall out of time. Has it been five minutes or five years? I feel, and there is no other word for it, melty. If I can’t see my legs, are they still there? I stretch out across the sizzling wooden floor and reminisce fondly about the crisp, cool water that once enveloped me and proved I was truly alive.

Saunas and steam rooms are nothing particularly new to the health world, of course (or to the world of spirituality, for that matter).

They’re ancient, even, an important part of cultures around the world for centuries on centuries, as you well know if you’ve ever read a history book or been to Art of Sauna and Spa in Burnaby. Ten thousand years ago, there were pit saunas, then sweat lodges and Bronze Age sweat houses.

Health claims include increased blood circulation, improved immune function, better sleep and the popular-yet-vague “detoxification.”

I can’t prove any of that, but as my Accidental Year of Spas has proved, it certainly increases happiness.

Even as I’m shocked by the hot heat and the icy cold, Nordic spas have turned into my favourite lousy-weather activity. Given their increasing presence across our city,

I’m not the only one who’s into a little self-care (or... is this self-flagellation?). It’s an event that’s as inclusive or intimate as you want it to be. Book out the secret spa behind Tality Kombucha (or the not-as-secret sister spa, now open at the Shipyards) and bring along your whole rec soccer team for a little team-building shvitz (and bottomless ’booch). Or catch up with a friend in the cozy cedar cabin sauna at the Willow Stream Spa; dish in the private pod until you’ve both got a proper glow going, and then rotate from ice bath to the tropical-in-comparison rooftop pool. (The poolside bar certainly helps the relaxation experience.)

Outdoorsy types can rent the Finnish Sauna to pull right up alongside the ocean—a February dip at Jericho seems downright delightful when the sizzling rocks of the mobile hot room await post plunge. The Good Sauna bounces its own mobile sauna (and propane fire pit and ice troughs) around to different East Van yards every few months. It’s currently parked at Container Brewing, making a post(or, honestly, mid-) spa beer a must.

And now, there’s Circle Wellness Spa on Granville Island (an evolution of the cult-fave secret spa on Industrial Avenue), which brings a definitively

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

TIMING IS EVERYTHING Adapt to your own personal comfort levels, but try to hit 10 to 15 minutes in the sauna and a minute in the plunge tub, and then take 10 minutes of rest, whether in lounge chairs, in a temperate tub or fireside.

STAY HYDRATED Duh.

DUNK YOUR HEAD IF YOU DARE At Ritual Nordic Spa in Victoria, the pros recommend submerging your head if you can, to elicit an even more dramatic response from the body. Try an “ommm” or little chant to push through the discomfort.

IT’S NOT FOR EVERYONE If you’re pregnant or have health concerns, talk to your doctor before taking the plunge.

SUIT UP Most of our local thermal spas aren’t private, so don’t forget to bring your bathing suit. (And, advises Tality Spa’s Peter Chen, “a willingness to suffer.”)

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TALITY WELLNESS SECRET SPA 1481 Dominion St., North Vancouver; 240–125 Victory Ship Way, North Vancouver talityspa.com A quirky secret spa behind a kombucha purveyor now has a spin-off location in Lonsdale. $350 for 10 people; $45 for individuals; 1 hour 55 minutes

Beach Bums If you prefer to do your cold plunging in a more natural environment, book the Finnish Sauna to come to you oceanside. The wood-fired sauna on wheels will park near the beach so you can dash from sea to sweat.

The company also sets up a sauna riverside in Squamish (a collaboration with Cheekye Ranch) for private or "social sauna" community events.

sensual, date-night vibe to the whole hot-cold experience—the private circuit spaces are textural, dark, lush and moody.

Or it would be sensual if I could find my date. It’s still pitch black, and I can only assume he’s still in here. Is he using this personal reflection time to regret not submersing himself in the cold plunge pool? One can only hope. Our breathing gets deeper as we suck in the thick-hot, salt-infused air—presumably getting stronger and becoming better people in the process?—and soon the light returns, pretty as a sunrise. We go back through the door, reborn into crisp, clean air. I perform the unnecessary 68

ritual of dunking myself back in the ice tub. (“Ow ow ow, no no no,” I say; “why why why?” my husband replies, returning to his natural habitat, the cedar tub.) I lie on the heated pebble slab to recover. My muscles are thrumming, recalibrating. A peace overcomes me: a deep-boned, goodand-honest state of rest that leaves no room for anxiety, aches or pains, much less a feeling of digital FOMO. I’ll go get back in that tub in a second.

And then into the cold-cold, the hot-hot, and onto the next decadent day-spa experience to do the same, a cycle I’ll be continuing—if my past behaviour is any indication—for the year to come.

2

CIRCLE WELLNESS

Actua In

1297 Johnston St. circlewellnessspas.com Shipping containers have been converted into sumptuous personal spas. From $219 for 1 or 2 people; 90-minute or 2-hour sessions available

3

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p w n

THE FINNISH SAUNA Mobile thefinnishsauna.ca The mobile sauna comes to you and your buds at the beach.

Ocean dip, anyone? $275 for up to 9 people; 1 hour 50 minutes

4

THE GOOD SAUNA 1216 Franklin St. thegoodsauna.com This pop-up sauna and plunge-tub experience (complete with fire pit!) runs at various locations— currently, it’s on the patio at Container Brewing. $450 for up to 10 people; $45 for individuals; 1 hour 45 minutes

5

THE NORDIC SPA AT THE FAIRMONT PACIFIC RIM 1038 Canada Pl. fairmontpacificrim.com/nordicspa A new sauna pod and cold tubs sit beside the already lovely pool and jacuzzi at the Pac Rim. Hotel guests, $35 per person for a 90-minute slot; locals, $149 per person for a three-hour experience including access to Willow Stream Spa facilities

(THE FINNISH SAUNA) MILLISSA MARTIN PHOTOGRAPHY

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CREATE A LEGACY

LEAVING A LEGACY Charitable organizations and wealth management firms reach out to donors to help them make solid legacy giving plans that help communities grow into the future.

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eaving a legacy—the ultimate gift of support that lives beyond our own time on earth. Legacy gifts give life to and secure the future for our passions and the causes that inspire us to do and be better.

David Sung, president at Nicola Wealth, says leaving a legacy is about the desire to make an impact on the world beyond

one’s own existence. “It is about leaving something behind beyond our own lifetime and contributing to something greater than ourselves.”

Patti Nakatsu, Director of Development for Arthritis Research Canada, says legacy gifts offer the flexibility and peace of mind that many donors are seeking. “Wills are powerful tools,” she says. “And legacy donations often allow people to leave a larger gift than they ever thought possible.”

Deciding how and to whom to leave part of one’s estate is a complex, important decision. Because it can impact families and communities for generations to come, several of Vancouver’s charitable organizations and financial management firms say it must be made with care, with vision and in consultation with family.

NICOLA WEALTH Nicola Wealth works with families to educate them on their legacy options, especially from a tax perspective, for passing on their wealth in an efficient manner. “Our advisors council our clients on how to maximize their contributions to family and the causes they most care about,” Sung says. “That can be

done effectively by helping clients set up a private foundation, long-term giving through a public foundation or a donor-advised fund.”

Nicola Wealth financial advisors hold helping others and setting a high standard for corporate responsibility as some of its core values. In doing so, the firm partners with causes and organizations that align with its clients’ passions and values, and through a combination of staff donations, corporate partners and a private giving foundation, Nicola Wealth contributed $21.5 million into our communities in 2023.

“We help our clients and their families ultimately manage their wealth and protect and steward that to the next generation,” says Nicola Wealth president, David Sung. “That means our client-facing advisors are meeting with a client multiple times throughout year, reviewing their long-term wealth and legacy plans, and engaging in ongoing discussions about how our clients can maximize their contributions to the causes they care about outside of what they want to leave to their loved ones.”

Nicola Wealth has been “doing well by doing good” for more than 29 years. It was one of the first financial firms to start

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a donor-advised and public foundation account. Today, Nicola Wealth has Canada’s largest donor-advised fund among private investment council firms, and the fourth largest when larger firms, like banks and insurance companies, are factored in.

“We were early in doing that, so by creating internal expertise, we can use that fund as a vehicle our clients can use to give to the community,” Sung says. nicolawealth.com/private-givingfoundation VANCOUVER FOUNDATION Legacy donations are important to Vancouver Foundation, because they are important to the community. From the donor’s perspective, many individuals want their stories and values—their legacies—to endure.

“This final expression of giving by establishing a donor advised fund is a way we can play a role in preserving that legacy,” says Craig Hikida, Vice-President, Donor Services at Vancouver Foundation.

From the charity’s perspective, one or several organizations close to the donor’s heart will receive ongoing support long into the future and will be strengthened by this act of generosity for generations.

“Planning to make a charitable gift from one’s estate may be one of the most selfless acts one can perform,” Hikida says. “After all, you won’t be able to witness the wonderful work that will transpire from it.”

He adds that because the wealth to make these donations may have taken a lifetime to accumulate, many prefer this type of donation not all spent down at once.

“Vancouver Foundation can provide you

(CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT) NICOLA WEALTH; VANCOUVER FOUNDATION; KIDNEY FOUNDATION OF CANADA, BC & YUKON

with a variety of options so that your donation can endure for many years, or even forever,” Hikida says. “Wealth generated over your lifetime can support a charity throughout their lifetime and can help them tackle issues or events we can’t predict at this time.”

Vancouver Foundation leverages essential relationships with allied professionals, such as wills and estate lawyers, life insurance professionals and financial planners to support their clients when the conversation of charitable giving arises. These professionals take a holistic approach to serving all their clients’ wishes, including community support, and work as part of Vancouver Foundation’s team to serving clients’ interests when it comes to planned giving.

“We know it’s a difficult and overwhelming task to decide to which charities to give, especially since you’re planning for a donation that won’t transpire for many years

from now,” Hikida says. “So, don’t. Instead, think of the issues in the community where you’d like to effect change. We can help with the rest.” vancouverfoundation.ca/donorsadvisors KIDNEY FOUNDATION OF CANADA, BC & YUKON BRANCH The Kidney Foundation has supported world class kidney health and transplant research since 1964. “Legacy gifts are vital to the tremendous advancements we have seen over the years in kidney care,” says Ramya Hosak, Director of Philanthropy with the Kidney Foundation, BC & Yukon Branch.

Some examples include prediction and prevention of kidney disease, developing and improving of dialysis treatment, so kidney patients can dialyse at home, and breakthroughs in life-saving organ

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(FROM LEFT) FAMILY SERVICES OF GREATER VANCOUVER; BURNABY HOSPITAL FOUNDATION

transplantation and success.

“Legacy gifts will be key to even more discoveries in the years to come,” she says.

“We have the power to relieve the burden of kidney disease, but it’s only possible with donors’ help.”

The Kidney Foundation of Canada - BC & Yukon Branch serves thousands of kidney patients in the local community, ensuring marginalized and vulnerable populations have equitable access to programs, services and treatments.

This support includes emergency shortterm financial assistance for kidney patients in low-income households and home blood pressure monitors for patients across BC/ Yukon with high blood pressure.

“We also offer seven Kidney Suites in Vancouver at little to no cost (depending on income) for out-of-town kidney transplant patients to recover post-surgery,” Hosak says, “and the Kidney Wellness Hub, a lowbarrier free online platform to help support the physical, mental, social and spiritual wellbeing of kidney patients, care partners and living donors.”

The Kidney Foundation reaches potential donors through overwhelming support from the significant number of impacted kidney patients in the community who spread the word about the organization’s services and resources, exciting research into new treatments, and community engagement events.

“This has been instrumental in reaching businesses and donors,” Hosak says. “As a grassroots, volunteer-led organization, we are forever grateful to our volunteers, donors and businesses for helping us achieve our mission

to better the lives of kidney patients today and provide hope for the future.” kidney.ca FAMILY SERVICES OF GREATER VANCOUVER Family Services of Greater Vancouver relies on legacy donations because they represent a promise to care for future generations.

“Many of the children, youth and families who depend on Family Services and our specialized counselling and social work programs are dealing with the impacts of intergenerational trauma,” says Amanda Sayfy, VP, Development at Family Services of Greater Vancouver. “Our programs help break intergenerational cycles, empowering our clients to move forward with safety, confidence and choice.”

Since Family Services’ founding in 1928, the needs of families have evolved. Today, the cost of living, housing crisis and mental health and addictions are just a few of the challenges that marginalized individuals and families face; if they are not addressed, their impacts will be felt for generations to come.

“A legacy gift made today will ensure that Family Services can continue to be there for the neighbours who need us with specialized, client-centred and trauma-informed care, well into the future,” Sayfy says. “Legacy donors have a chance to create brighter tomorrows for children, youth and families in need.”

In its long history of community impact, Family Services has always depended on the support of the philanthropic community.

Sayfy says individuals considering a legacy gift should look to an organization they can

trust and that has the staying power to make a difference for generations to come. “While the role it plays and the challenges it addresses will continue to evolve, the non-profit sector— and donors like you—will always be needed to ensure that no one is left behind,” she says.

Making a legacy gift is a powerful way to make a difference for the causes closest to your heart. Non-profit organizations like Family Services of Greater Vancouver can be a trusted partner as donors look to ensure that their values live on. fsgv.ca BURNABY HOSPITAL FOUNDATION Gifts through Burnaby Hospital Foundation’s Legacy Giving program help transform care for loved ones through the purchase of vital life-saving medical equipment. Legacy gifts ensure that Burnaby Hospital’s team of dedicated healthcare professionals has access to modern technology so when community members need care, Burnaby Hospital is equipped.

“A legacy donation in support of healthcare is a gift that benefits the entire community, ensuring a bright and healthy future,” says Kristy James, President & CEO at Burnaby Hospital Foundation.

Burnaby Hospital is a community serving a community. The Foundation bridges the gap between what the government provides and what the public needs. “Our purpose is to ensure that Burnaby Hospital is equipped in every way to advance the health of all generations,” James says.

Burnaby Hospital Foundation is proud to collaborate with industry experts, such as lawyers and financial advisors,

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eyond the immediate demands of life, many long for a way to make a meaningful difference in our communities—to leave a legacy that endures far beyond our time. It is in this pursuit that the Vancouver Foundation Legacy Giving Program emerges—a compelling avenue that empowers passionate donors to shape a better tomorrow and leave an indelible imprint on worthwhile causes.

Since its inception in 1943, Vancouver Foundation has been at the forefront of supporting charities and non-profits across BC, dedicating more than $1.5 billion to transformative initiatives. Vancouver Foundation invests the legacy donations into a balanced growth fund and, at the same time, protects the capital against inflation.

At the heart of its mission lies the esteemed Legacy Giving Program, a testament to the enduring power of philanthropy. “Legacy donations are important to Vancouver Foundation,

because quite simply, they are important to the community,” explains Craig Hikida, vice president, donor services at Vancouver Foundation. “From the donor’s perspective, many individuals want their stories and values—their legacies—to endure. This final expression of giving by establishing a donor advised fund is a way we can play a role in preserving that legacy.”

Vancouver Foundation’s commitment to its donors and their requests was no more evident than during the trying times of the COVID-19 pandemic. When the pandemic first took hold, Vancouver Foundation very quickly decided to pivot and create a Community Response Fund. Within eight days of making the decision to create the Fund, Vancouver Foundation was able to start making $1 million worth of grants for the community.

This funding supplied rapid relief to agencies addressing the immediate needs of communities and helped build resilience

that positioned the community to recover and thrive. “We were able to do that because donors 40, 50 and even 60 years ago who could never have even considered a global pandemic trusted Vancouver Foundation with their money,” Hikida explains.

By engaging community advisors, Vancouver Foundation ensures that donations address pressing community issues, fostering meaningful and sustainable change.

For those seeking to create a philanthropic legacy, Vancouver Foundation offers two options: permanent funds, providing perpetual support; or a paid-out fund that offers substantial support over a decade.

Financial advisors can play an instrumental role in guiding their clients. This collaborative effort nurtures a sense of purpose and ensures that charitable endeavors authentically reflect individual values, leading to a legacy that encapsulates the essence of who they are.

“Planning to make a charitable gift from your estate may be one of the most selfless acts one can perform,” Hikida says. “We hope that at the end of their lives people will consider Vancouver Foundation to make those decisions on their behalf.”

Visit vancouverfoundation.ca/donorsadvisors/start-a-fund/legacy-giving @vancouverfdn @vancouverfdn

@ vancouverfdn

Canada Wide Media in partnership with Vancouver Foundation

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EMPOWERING IMPACT: THE TRANSFORMATIVE ROLE OF THE NICOLA WEALTH PRIVATE GIVING FOUNDATION In a world where financial prosperity meets philanthropic passion, the Nicola Wealth Private Giving Foundation emerges as a beacon of purposeful giving.

W

ith 30 years behind it and a “share the pie” philosophy woven into every action it takes, Nicola Wealth has had a profound impact on charitable community causes and on the strategic financial plans of investors.

Nicola Wealth’s founder John Nicola wanted to make giving a pillar of the

company’s operational structure. Taking on a “share the pie” philosophy, the firm directs a percentage of profits through to giving and in 2023, gave $2.5 million back to community through corporate and staff giving.

“We have done an amazing job of weaving philanthropy into what we do,” says Jacqueline Dagg, team lead for the Nicola

Wealth Private Giving Foundation. “Over the next five to ten years, it will be exciting to see the collective impact, as we continue to grow as a business and what that means for the scale of our philanthropic approach, both on the corporate giving side and for our clients through the Nicola Wealth Private Giving Foundation.”

The Nicola Wealth Private Giving Foundation (PGF) is just one way Nicola Wealth has unleashed the power of purposeful giving. It provides a seamless and effective platform through which donors can channel their philanthropic aspirations.

By establishing a donor-advised fund, individuals gain unparalleled flexibility and control over their charitable contributions, ensuring that their giving aligns with personal values and societal needs. A donor-advised fund is a simple, strategic tool that can help donors meet personal charitable goals without having to go through the burden (and cost) of establishing a private foundation.

Donor advised funds also provide an

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additional level of privacy over traditional foundations as public reporting is aggregated for all sub-accounts whereas the required disclosures for operating a private foundation mean a lot of personal information can be traced back to the individual.

“Donor-advised funds offer a unique avenue for investors to optimize their financial plans, providing tax advantages and a strategic philanthropic impact that extends far beyond conventional giving,” says Timothy Stranks, wealth advisor and client relationship manager.

This is the crux of purposeful and strategic financial planning—finding synergy between your philanthropic journey and your financial goals. Leveraging the company’s giving culture, Nicola Wealth PGF donoradvised funds help clients get creative with their capacity for giving and navigating the complex landscape of tax planning—all while supporting the causes they hold dear.

Donor-advised funds also offer flexibility.

They can be the perfect solution for

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those families and individuals in high tax brackets hoping to maintain philanthropic commitments during the ebbs and flows of high and low-earning years and market fluctuations.

“When times are tough it can be hard to think about giving,” Stranks says.

“A donor-advised fund and prioritizing giving within overall financial planning allow investors and

help determine where they want to make a philanthropic impact. These relationships allow us to provide a wraparound service, helping clients identify where they can make an impact, whether that is local, international, grassroots or large organizations.”

Stranks adds that Nicola Wealth advisors disburse charitable grants on behalf of many clients, which means the firm fosters relationships with a spectrum of charities.

“We do this by leveraging the knowledge gained from other donors who have supported even the most niche of causes,” Stranks adds. “Our objective is to be able to help clients navigate how their giving and achieve the impact that is meaningful to them.”

Stranks and Dagg agree that individuals

philanthropists to support charities on an on-going basis, whether it is a financially successful year or not. When times are good, they can add more to the fund, which can support charities during years when donations to the fund

with a giving plan often get more in return through that positive feeling of giving back than they do from compounding investment returns. “There is evidence that giving has positive psychological benefits,” Dagg says.

“It makes you happy and it evokes gratitude, social connection, and it is contagious.”

“Some people are inclined towards philanthropy and others aren’t sure where to begin,” Stranks says. “Whether you’re a seasoned philanthropist or just beginning your journey in giving, the advisors at Nicola Wealth and the tools provided by the Nicola Wealth Private Giving Foundation offer personalized solutions to match your unique circumstances and achieve your vision.”

are not possible.”

This is an important advantage of developing a long-term relationship with an advisor who takes a strategic approach to philanthropic giving. Doing so means that as one’s financial goals change over multiple life stages, the advisor can help with planning through transitions. For example, a philanthropic plan will look different in the accumulation phase of one’s life versus the time in which a person is preserving wealth or planning for transfers to the next generation.

“Having an advisor help you think creatively about giving when setting your goals means when you start building your wealth, the results are working in synergy over time as you reach all the important milestones in your life,” Stranks says.

“There are over 86,000 registered charities in Canada,” Dagg says. “It can be hard to be succinct. Because we have strong relationships with our clients and a deep understanding of their financial pictures, we can have meaningful conversations to

This material is distributed for informational purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice or a recommendation of any particular security, strategy or investment product. Please speak to your Nicola Wealth Advisor regarding your unique situation. Nicola Wealth Management Ltd. (Nicola Wealth) is registered as a Portfolio Manager, Exempt Market Dealer, and Investment Fund Manager with the required securities commissions.

Discover the Nicola Wealth Private Giving Foundation at nicolawealth.com/ private-giving-foundation. @nicolawealth

@nicolawealth

@Nicola Wealth Management

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(FROM LEFT) GREATER FOOD BANK; ARTHRITIS RESEARCH CANADA

to educate the community about legacy giving. Additionally, the Foundation hosts a prominent partnership with Will Power, a national campaign encouraging Canadians to think differently about their charitable giving. Donors are encouraged to visit willpower.ca/charities/burnaby-hospitalfoundation to learn more and access unique tools to support you in creating your lasting legacy.

When someone makes a gift through their will, a charitable tax receipt is issued for the estate, which ultimately can help ease or eliminate income tax payable upon their passing. “These prospective tax savings can assist with preserving more of their assets for loved ones,” James says.

A legacy gift is one that will live on by fundamentally impacting the lives of countless individuals and their families.

“Leaving a legacy gift is an act that is generous, influential, and remarkably simple,” James says. “It allows people to leave a greater gift with life-changing influences, something that is often not feasible during one’s lifetime.” bhfoundation.ca GREATER VANCOUVER FOOD BANK “Legacy gifts are often the largest gift an individual will make to a charity, and these gifts are generally intended to be used for our greatest needs, as opposed to being restricted to a specific purpose or project,” says Cynthia Boulter, Chief Operating Officer for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank (GVFB).

After many years of supporting an organization or as a monthly donor, many find their ability to continue that support in

later years challenging—that’s where legacy planning comes in. “Planning for a legacy gift gives donors the comfort that they can continue to support their preferred charities and help impact their community well into the future,” Boulter says.

The GVFB attracts and educates donors by including information on legacy giving in various places where donors will notice.

“We are part of the Free Wills Network, and we participate in an annual campaign that offers free Will planning services with local law firms,” Boulter says. “This is greatly appreciated by our donors who do not yet have a will in place. About 30% of people who use this free Will service decide to mention a charity in their will, and it influences donors to consider the GVFB when they are ready to engage in legacy planning.”The GVFB serves 16,000+ monthly clients across Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster and the North Shore. It also provides food support to 130+ community agencies throughout these communities, such as housing agencies, women’s and children’s shelters, transition houses and after-school programs.

In doing so, it promotes health and wellness by providing fresh, healthy food to people in need, from babies to seniors, and its broad reach increases capacity across several communities.

“Donations to the GVFB provide sustainability and a secure future with ongoing funding to address food insecurity in the Greater Vancouver area,” Boulter says.

“We encourage you to consider a gift in your will to the GVFB, as it will have a lasting impact on our community, helping to feed those in need.” foodbank.bc.ca

ARTHRITIS RESEARCH CANADA “A legacy gift is a wonderful way for people to continue to support Arthritis Research Canada and have a lasting impact for generations to come,” Nakatsu says, noting that the collective effect of these gifts is critical to advancing life-changing arthritis research.

More than six million Canadians are struggling with the pain and disability of arthritis—a serious, life-threatening disease.

By 2040, that number is estimated to climb to nine million. Arthritis Research Canada is the largest clinical arthritis research institution in North America.

“Legacy Giving is fueling our most promising research and helping people already living with arthritis and those who will be diagnosed in the future,” she says.

Through patient-centred research and engagement, Arthritis Research Canada is transforming lives as its multidisciplinary scientific team conducts more than 100 innovative research studies to optimize treatment and improve health.

Arthritis Research Canada promotes Legacy Giving through several channels to build awareness about the opportunity for this type of philanthropic support. “People can always visit our website to learn more,” Nakatsu says. “We are also a partner of Will Power, a national campaign designed to inspire Canadians to think differently about charitable giving and empower them to create a positive change through their Wills.”

People are often surprised that giving even a small portion of their estate to charity can have a significant impact.

Also, a charitable gift in one’s Will can go a long way in reducing the amount of

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(FROM LEFT) THE SALVATION ARMY; EASTER SEALS BRITISH COLUMBIA/YUKON

tax to be paid by their estate after they pass.

“We all want to help those around us and leave the world a better place,” Nakatsu says. “Leaving a charitable gift in your Will is a fantastic way to make a difference. Talk to your financial advisor and share your plans with us so that we can honour your wishes and acknowledge your generosity in a way that is meaningful to you.” arthritisresearch.ca THE SALVATION ARMY Creating a gift in your will for The Salvation Army is the simplest way to create a legacy of everlasting hope. Legacy gifts provide vital, stable support for the agency’s work and whether your estate is large or small, you can make a difference for so many men, women and children in our communities.

The Salvation Army is the largest direct non-governmental social service provider in Canada. The first ministry of The Salvation Army in BC opened on the edge of Chinatown in 1887. Today, The Salvation Army touches lives through a strategic continuum of care and relief, that includes food banks, hot meals, emergency disasters, shelters and transitional housing, addiction treatment programs and ongoing counselling, family support services and employment training.

It is estimated that one-third of British Columbians have been touched in some way

by The Salvation Army.

“People often worry that leaving a legacy gift means that there will be less to give to their loved ones,” says Kim Findlay, Divisional

Director of Development. “The truth is, you can make a legacy gift without taking away from the gifts left to your family and friends.”

When you think about the values that are important in your life and the ideals you wish to be remembered for, consider including The Salvation Army in your legacy. Some options go to work during your lifetime; others are deferred until after your lifetime. All deliver individual kinds of tax advantages, and these can be powerful tools to save money in your estate or for your present needs.

“We strongly encourage potential donors to seek professional and legal advice when executing charitable gifts,” Findlay says.

“If you do not have a will, the government decides where your estate goes, and this may not be according to your wishes, as it can tie up your estate and add to your tax burden.” salvationarmy.ca EASTER SEALS BRITISH COLUMBIA/ YUKON Easter Seals British Columbia/Yukon is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life, selfesteem and independence of individuals living with disabilities. Through specialized services, programs, summer camps and facilities, the organization helps break down barriers and create a more inclusive, accessible and equitable society, ensuring those with diverse abilities grow and thrive.

“Our inclusive programs foster a sense of community and belonging for persons with disabilities, and Easter Seals House provides a safe and welcoming home for families accessing medical treatment in

Vancouver,” says Mike Leland, VicePresident, Engagement & Philanthropy. “Our programs provide opportunities for children, youth and adults with disabilities to engage in accessible social interaction as well as skill development that they take back into their day-to-day lives.”

Legacy gifts are critical to the long-term sustainability of Easter Seals here in B.C. They provide vital funding now, but also well into the future. Legacy gifts also have a low overhead, which means they are a cost-effective way to support Easter Seals BC/Yukon because the maximum amount of dollars go directly to programs and services.

“We’ve been doing this work for 75 years and we do it in a fiscally responsible manner, with more than 70 cents on every dollar going directly to support programs and services,” Leland says.

The legacy program at Easter Seals BC/Yukon is growing and represents an important opportunity for Easter Seals BC/ Yukon. In 2024, the organization plans to run workshops for donors, particularly from the business community. “We plan to work with our corporate partners, especially in the finance and legal sectors, and engage with some of our media partners to create a presence,” Leland says. “If you are looking for a charitable organization dedicated to breaking down barriers and making our communities more inclusive and accessible for people with disabilities, as well as providing families with respite care, consider us as your charity of choice.” eastersealsbcy.ca

SPECIAL FEATURE

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Do you want to help your family?

A gift made through your Will is an easy way to do this, while also making a lasting impact on the cause closest to your heart. A charitable gift in your Will can reduce the taxes owed, and in some cases even eliminate them, while leaving the same amount of money to your heirs.

Leaving your legacy is simple.

To learn more contact: Michelle Boileau mboileau@eastersealsbcy.ca 604.341.2810

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TWO REASONS TO PLAN YOUR LEGACY GIFT TODAY.

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HERE ARE TWO MORE...

POSITIVELY IMPACT YOUR COMMUNITY, AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF VARIOUS TAX-SAVING OPTIONS.

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After taking care of your loved ones, please consider leaving a gift to The Salvation Army in your will.

Contact us today for more information: GREATER VANCOUVER Roger.Kayo@SalvationArmy.ca 604-296-3815

mil clie mo mil the ma

VANCOUVER ISLAND Carol.Barton@SalvationArmy.ca 250-858-0808

B.C. INTERIOR Kim.Findlay@SalvationArmy.ca 778-228-7735

Can

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GVFB_Fe

sponsored report

GREATER VANCOUVER FOOD BANK BUILDS CAPACITY AS NEED GROWS BC food banks are serving triple the number they used to as more people with fulltime jobs need help and lower-income donors drop off. Your donation to the GVFB can change a community.

F

orget everything you think you know about who is using food banks and why. Although food banks are associated with feeding the most impoverished and vulnerable members of society, the demographics are changing.

The past few years have seen an increase in employed clients who, after paying their bills, can’t make ends meet, including retired teachers and nurses, working parents and those on fixed incomes.

Last year, the GVFB gave out over nine million pounds of food to 16,000 monthly clients—up from 6,500 who visited each month in 2019. In March 2022, there were 1.5 million visits to food banks across Canada, the highest March on record. Complicating matters is a shift in donations as the food

banks’ base of lower-income donors has eroded, and some have become food bank users themselves, leaving a smaller donor base to fund operations.

BUILDING CAPACITY The GVFB is a non-profit organization with a mission to provide healthy food to those in need. First established in 1983, the GVFB has grown to be a necessary resource for many Greater Vancouver citizens who find themselves facing hunger, unable to afford healthy, reliable sources of food.

Now, as BC’s largest food bank, its operations support clients weekly with healthy food (60–70% of the food distributed is fresh) in Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster and the North Shore. Just over half of the food is distributed directly to clients at key distribution centres. The rest goes out to the 130+ agencies partnered with the GVFB, including women’s shelters, afterschool programs, social housing programs and more.

The services provided by the GVFB are more than just a temporary solution; they offer life-saving support for our communities, children, seniors and vulnerable adults.

WAYS TO GIVE Giving to the food bank is a donation toward

Photo by Alana Paterson

building a more resilient and sustainable community. The GVFB accepts online donations, encouraging individuals to become monthly donors to provide ongoing sustainability. One-time cash donations are also welcome, as are donations of publicly traded shares or securities—this can be a tax-smart way to support the GVFB. A legacy gift left in one’s will also has a tremendous impact, sometimes for years to come.

Business owners might consider a corporate donation or get the whole team involved with a virtual food drive (an online fundraiser), which inspires teams to raise money for the organization. From signature events to third-party community fundraisers, the GVFB will work with groups to support fundraising event ideas and initiatives of all kinds.

Learn more about GVFB and ways to support by visiting foodbank.bc.ca/ways-to-give @VanFoodBank @VanFoodBank

@VanFoodBank

Canada Wide Media in partnership with Greater Vancouver Food Bank

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ONE IN 10 CANADIANS HAVE KIDNEY DISEASE; THAT’S FOUR MILLION PEOPLE.

THE LEADING CAUSE OF KIDNEY FAILURE IS DIABETES AT 38%.

45%

OF NEW PATIENTS ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 65.

MORE THAN

53,000

With a gift in your will to The Kidney Foundation, you’re creating a legacy of hope Make a Meaningful Gift with Lasting Impact

CANADIANS ARE BEING TREATED FOR KIDNEY FAILURE. SYMPTOMS MAY NOT DEVELOP UNTIL PERMANENT DAMAGE HAS OCURRED.

76%

OF CANADIANS WAITING FOR AN ORGAN TRANSPLANT ARE WAITING FOR A KIDNEY.

With the help of generous donors, we’ve led the way in funding kidney research since 1964! The work of kidney researchers has led to so many incredible advancements, like: • Developing and improving of dialysis treatment, so kidney patients can dialyse at home • Breakthroughs in life-saving organ transplantation • Better prediction and prevention of kidney disease Bequest gifts have been vital to that research – and will be key to even more discoveries in the years to come. Your legacy gift will also empower kidney patients through education increased awareness about kidney disease.

Plan your gift today by contacting the

KIDNEY FOUNDATION OF CANADA, BC & YUKON BRANCH

rylee.elfert@kidney.ca | 1.236.688.1097 or visit: kidney.ca/planned-giving

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0

AVE SE; UR LE.

Leaving a legacy in your community Supporting the upgrades and modernization of Burnaby Hospital leaves a meaningful impact on healthcare for your friends, family, and generations to come.

Steven and Sandra’s Legacy:

USE E IS 8%.

Steven and his wife of 30 years, Sandra, believe that a community’s strength lies in support and care provided to its residents. Among the many organizations he admires, Burnaby Hospital Foundation holds a special place in his heart. Steven has dedicated his time and effort as Chair for the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, but more importantly, he is a long-time Burnaby resident with deep ties to this community.

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“When you retire and your financial obligations to your family are fulfilled, that’s when you look at leaving a planned gift to a charity.

After you’re gone, the rest of your assets are no longer of use to you so what better way than to give back to what is nearest and dearest to your heart. For us, that’s Burnaby Hospital.”

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19 3:13 PM

Burnaby Hospital redevelopment Phase 1 rendering.

A Bright Future Your support of Burnaby Hospital is a meaningful investment towards the bright future of everyone in our community. Your gifts are used to fund modern medical equipment and technology used by our healthcare teams to provide exceptional patient care.

The Legacy Society is an exclusive group honoured by Burnaby Hospital Foundation and created to recognize those who include Burnaby Hospital Foundation in their Will or estate plans with a gift.

Learn more: bhfoundation.ca/legacy (604) 431-2881

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Now with 3 Vancouver locations to cheers—and cheer—at.

Daily Happy Hours

Sound-On Sports Weekend Brunch

Good vibes LPE River District NEW Sawmill Cres. at River District Crossing

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LPE Gastown Water St. at Carrall St.

LPE Kitsilano

Cornwall Ave at Yew St.

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T

Y

NG

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T RE

A

TASTE

R OU E E F

CHRIS GIRARD

n s

RAMEN ROUNDUP // THE WINE LIST // BEST THING I ATE // OPENING REMARKS // SECRET RECIPE

I L

Life got you down?

Vancouver’s top bakeries know a thing or two about rising to the occasion.

We’ve created an index of tricky moments and feelings, and matched each one with a unique, beautiful and delicious baked good made with love by locals.

When in doubt, get baked. by ALYSSA HIROSE VA N M A G . C O M F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 4

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TASTE / / the bAKEd greats

1.

THE BAD: You’re Bored Out of Your Mind THE GOODS: Wa-Bagel’s Sweet Potato and Black Sesame Bagel The best antidote to monotony is trying something new, and one of Vancouver’s freshest bagelries (Wa-Bagel) is serving up something different: Japanese-style bagels that have a filling inside (not between—inside). Pondering the skill it takes to wrap up a filling within that delightfully chewy ring is a cure for boredom in itself, as is choosing between unique options like red bean and cream cheese, mochi matcha and matcha kinako (roasted soybean powder). But the sweet potato and black sesame ($4.25) is on another level—pulling apart the warm twist of dough to reveal that soft, sweet and savoury centre is a treat. B09-666 Burrard St. | wabagel.com

2.

THE BAD: You Haven’t Seen the Sun In Weeks THE GOODS: Livia’s Lemon Danish

THE BAD: You’re Feeling Homesick THE GOODS: Flourist’s Potato and Cheddar Galette We’ll say it: too many cafés tout their baked goods as being “like a warm hug.” But if any pastry truly deserves the comparison to a loving embrace, it’s the glorious potato and cheddar galette ($8) from Flourist.

The loaded yellow potato filling has a creamy, pillowy texture reminiscent of those special-occasion mashed potatoes you usually only get a couple of times a year. The gruyère and cheddar cheeses are perfectly melty (enjoy this one warm, don’t be a lunatic) and the bits that stray onto the pastry give the Red Spring wheat flour crust a satisfying, salty crunch. There’s nothing quite like the comfort of potatoes and cheese to flood you with memories of home, wherever that is to you.

3433 Commercial St. | flourist.com

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(BROYÉ) ALYSSA HIROSE; (BUT TER BAKED GOODS) CHRIS GIRARD

3.

(LIVIA) CHRIS GIRARD; (WA-BAGEL) MARIA GONZALEZ

Surely there’s nothing less interesting or less original than talking about how rainy it’s been. So instead of bugging everyone around you with your ice-cold takes on the latest atmospheric river, turn to Livia: the Commercial Drive bakery’s lemon-curd danish ($5.75) will remind you of brighter days ahead. The flaky pastry is filled with an indulgent-yet-refreshing housemade lemon curd, and the glossy candied orange on top is a shoutout to summer. It may be a few months until we see that golden glow in the sky, but for now you can slide it into a takeaway bag. 1399 Commercial Dr. | liviasweets.com

4.

THE BAD: Someone You Hate Just Posted an Adorable Engagement Photo THE GOODS: Broyé’s Coco-Ube Moissant There’s such a thing as being too sweet—for example, that forest-based engagement album of your sworn enemy tongue-kissing their lover while the dog they treat like a child watches. In this instance, it’s time to chow down on a treat that succeeds in subtlety: a croissant filled with sticky mochi and coconut-ube cream ($6.50) from Broyé on Fraser. Take a page from the purple yam’s book—down-to-earth, effortlessly beautiful, unbothered by the sugary-strict norms of most desserts. 6414 Fraser St. | broyecafe.ca

5.

THE BAD: Cynicism Has Taken You Over THE GOODS: To Live For’s Cinnamon Bun

(BROYÉ) ALYSSA HIROSE; (BUT TER BAKED GOODS) CHRIS GIRARD

(LIVIA) CHRIS GIRARD; (WA-BAGEL) MARIA GONZALEZ

The climate crisis, the housing market, whatever Marvel movie is surely coming out next... it’s sensical to be cynical in 2024. But little by little, creative and conscientious innovators are making changes—for example, in Erin Ireland’s eastside vegan bakery, To Live For. The serene cow mural splashed across the interior will remind you that no animals were harmed in the making of these pastries, but the food won’t (and that’s a good thing). The cinnamon bun ($5) is a classic: served upside-down, so all the pecan-y, cinnamon sugar-y goodness at the bottom of the pan pours down through the fluffy scroll, this decadent dish creates hope in the plant-based world and beyond.

Get a corner piece if you can. 1508 Nanaimo St. | tolivefor.ca

6.

THE BAD: You’re Longing for the Past THE GOODS: Butter’s Mackenzie Bar Ah, simpler days. Nostalgia feels much friendlier when you have some way to manifest it in the present—for example, in the form of a Mackenzie bar ($5.25) from Butter Baked Goods. The magic of this sweet square is that it will generate beloved memories even if it’s your first time trying it: ingredients like oatmeal, chocolate, peanut butter, coconut and dulce de leche are practically guaranteed to bring back happy times. It’s a bar you can get into at any age. 4907 Mackenzie St. | butterbakedgoods.com

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TASTE / / the baked greats

7.

THE BAD: You Have a Major Case of FOMO THE GOODS: Beaucoup Bakery’s Pistachio Raspberry Dome Fear of missing out is largely imagined—believe us, you’re not actually losing anything by opting out of seeing your coworker’s boyfriend’s band—but it still stings, and the only way to combat it is to have an experience that will make others jealous.

Digging into a dessert that’s multi-dimensional in every sense of the word should do the trick. Beaucoup Bakery’s pistachio raspberry dome ($7.95) is an adorable, spherical, nutty creation: creamy pistachio mousse mingles with tart raspberry jam atop an almond cookie base. It’s dressed in roughly chopped pistachios, dried florals and edible gold, but you can be dressed in whatever you want—you’re not missing anything.

602 Dunsmuir St. and 2150 Fir St. | beaucoupbakery.com

8.

THE BAD: You Screwed Up Your Own Baking THE GOODS: Purebread’s Cheddar Jalapeno Scone Baking is a science, and we can’t all be scientists. Messing up baking is a pretty terrible feeling—especially if the treat was intended for someone else—but there’s certainly no shame in the supporting-your-local-iconic-bakery-chain game, and the cheddar jalapeno scone ($6) from Purebread is an inimitable, savoury saviour. Careful layers of salt and spice are folded artfully into this hefty scone: it’s got the perfect amount of bite to take your mind off your own shortcomings. 2887 W Broadway, 5 E 5th Ave. and 159 W Hastings St. | purebread.ca

THE BAD: Everything Is Getting Too Complicated THE GOODS: Gluten Free Epicurean’s Salted Oat Cookie Let’s get back to basics. Is a simple oatmeal cookie too much to ask for? This specialty bakery says no—even for the gluten intolerant. The biggest achievement of the salted oat cookie ($3.95) from Gluten Free Epicurean isn’t even being gluten-free—it’s that it somehow manages to maintain the undeniably awesome taste of cookie dough, despite graduating with honours from the oven. A sprinkle of coarse salt brings this chocolatey, oaty treat to new heights. Enjoy with a side of inner peace. 633 E 15th Ave. | glutenfreeepicurean.ca

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(BEAUCOUP) RICH WON; (EPICUREAN) ALYSSA HIROSE

9.

VA N M A G . C O M F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 4

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FOR THE BEST SLEEP – EVER! • Triple-action, tri-layer tablets for immediate and gradual release • With 5-HTP and calming L-theanine • Contains sleep botanicals: valerian, passionflower, and hops

(BEAUCOUP) RICH WON; (EPICUREAN) ALYSSA HIROSE

• Promotes falling asleep quickly and improves sleep quality

SLEEP BETTER with Pick up a bottle today at your local London webbernaturals.

Drugs store! webbernaturals.com

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Souper heroes It’s cold, it’s wet and you just spent the last 20 minutes mumbling under your breath about umbrella etiquette. It can only mean one thing: it’s ramen season, baby.

Here’s where to source the best bowls in the West End.

Use Your Noodle Menya Itto is just one West End joint offering deeply flavourful umami broth and perfectly springy noodles.

90

(LIVIA) CHRIS GIRARD; (WA-BAGEL) MARIA GONZALEZ

(MENYA IT TO) RICH WON

BY DANI WRIGHT

VA N M A G . C O M F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 4

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RAMEN ROUNDUP / / TASTE

Spice world

s

A chain that originally started in Hokkaido, the aptly named Hokkaido Ramen Santouka is known for its shio ramen—a white tonkotsu broth that manages to walk the line between richness and subtlety with skill. Our favourite option, however, is the spicy miso ramen, which boasts three kinds of chilies and a secret recipe. Toppings include pork belly, green onion, bamboo shoots, umeboshi, black mushrooms and sesame seeds. 1690 Robson St. | santouka-canada.com

l l

Ramen Danbo’s rich pork broth and always-bouncy noodles are worth braving the ever-present queue (and probable rain) on Robson. Our current go-to order is the negi-goma, which comes with Danbo’s signature tonkotsu broth, sesame oil, roasted sesame seeds, braised pork and an overflowing portion of fresh scallions. 1333 Robson St. | ramendanbo.com

(LIVIA) CHRIS GIRARD; (WA-BAGEL) MARIA GONZALEZ

(MENYA IT TO) RICH WON

worth the line k

i shoulder season Maruhachi Ra-men, formerly known as Marutuma, serves up steaming bowls of tori-paitan—a chicken broth-based ramen that has a distinctly creamy quality. You can’t go wrong with any of its poultry-forward options, but we’re partial to the aka ramen, whose broth is bolstered by ground nuts and chili.

Topped with pork-shoulder chashu, seaweed, green onion, cilantro, bean sprout namuru and lemon, this bowl brings layers of flavour that together are truly addicting. (Pro tip for those who like to yolk it up: Maruhachi has some of the best ramen eggs in the game.) 780 Bidwell St. | maruhachi.ca

VA N M A G . C O M F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 4

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TASTE / / RAMEN ROUNDUP

top-notch toppings j Tucked away on Denman in a best-kept-secret kind of way, Kintaro is known for its choose-your-own-adventure-style ramen. Sure, it’s not the only shop that offers this, but here, not only do you get to select the richness of the broth and meat, the additional topping selection is also robust (think garlic balls, kimchi, cheese and more). The spicy garlic ramen stands out, but for those looking for all the tasty treats, the zenbu ramen includes every topping (minus butter).

788 Denman St. | @kintaro_vancouver

i dunk it up

Menya Itto is all about the tsukemen: a dipping style ramen where you dunk your springy noodles into a separate bowl of broth. Though there's an abundance of classic ramen available here, Menya calls itself the king of tsukemen for a reason: thick housemade noodles dipped into a highly concentrated broth transforms the ramen-eating experience into something unforgettable. 1479 Robson St. | menya-itto-canada.com

Rich tonkotsu broth and delightfully chewy noodles are the name of the game at Tsukiya, but the unique chef’s specials are what places this spot apart from the crowd. Think garlic and tomato broth topped with corn and fresh tomato, which adds a fun Italian twist to the Japanese classic. 740 Denman St. | @tsukiya_tonkatsu_ramen

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(MENYA IT TO) RICH WON

yes, chef j

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BCB_Ful

GET THE BEST OF THE CITY DELIVERED RIGHT TO YOUR INBOX (MENYA IT TO) RICH WON

VanMag’s editors bring you the hottest local events, restaurant reviews, getaway guides and more.

SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER NOW. MASAYOSHI/LEIL A K WOK

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2023-06-01 2024-01-15 11:40 2:27 PM AM

TASTE / / fresh sheet

BEST THING I ATE by

OPENING REMARKS

A fresh sheet uncovering the city’s newest restaurants.

1

Here Comes the Hummus

2

Catch of the Day

3

Room Service

Alyssa Hirose

From the dream team behind Toronto’s Haifa Room, Bar Haifa is a Palestinian-Israeli eatery serving local, innovative takes on traditional foods: think kale fattoush, Jerusalem artichoke karaage and Lake Erie smelts with garlic toum and lemon pepper. barhaifa.com Opened November 2023 | 410 W Georgia St.

The Tamaly Shop’s birria clasica, $17.50.

Too Good to Be Stew Liz Ortega says that she modelled her Main Street tamaleria, the Tamaly Shop, after her grandmother’s house—from the floralpatterned tile to the glossy tablecloths to the Mexican art splashed across the walls, the cozy space refuses to blend in. Listing everything on your brunch menu for $17.50 is another magnificent way to set yourself apart in this city. (And when every dish comes with cinnamony sweet coffee and pan de dulce? Forget about it.) I’d never had birria outside of a taco before visiting the Tamaly Shop, but their birria clasica—a stew made with juicy marinated lamb, tender onions, plenty of cilantro and a squeeze of lime—has me fully converted from tortilla to spoon. It’s bright, soothing, soupy and indulgently satisfying... especially when you’re nursing a hangover (don’t tell my grandma). 2525 Main St. | tamaly-shop.com

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For a coastal city, we’re seriously lacking in haunts devoted to fish and chips—but the longtime Burnaby favourite Cockney Kings has now brought the deep fryer to Kits.

Besides the battered classics, this menu also offers fish tacos, fish burgers and sides like poutine and oysters. cockneykings.ca Opened October 2023 | 1935 Cornwall Ave.

There’s a French and Italian focus at Dahlia, the new restaurant inside the lobby of the Azur Legacy Collection Hotel. Don’t sleep on the happy hour menu (3 to 5 p.m.)—the French onion burger and fries are $15, and truffle fries with gruyère are $8. dahlia-restaurant.ca Opened November 2023 | 833 W Pender St.

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STAY INSPIRED Plus

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• Inspiring new home designs, from the west’s best designers • Smart tips on everything from renovation ideas to the best bathroom fixtures • Insights into design trends for the coming year • And so much more!

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Trending Now Our Favourite New Looks for 2023

+

A Spectacular Whistler Chalet in the Woods

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TASTE / / vino veritas

Bottles to Boot THE WINE LIST by

Neal McLennan

Notwithstanding its relatively modest footprint (at 300,000 square kilometres, it’s roughly the same size as Labrador), Italy places second globally when it comes to wine production. Almost one in five bottles in the world come from the famous boot. And it’s not just quantity. Practically since they started making wine (there’s evidence of viticulture in Sicily going back to 4000 BC), people outside the country have clamoured for it (the Gauls, a.k.a. the French, were fou for the stuff). So we felt no small delight when we learned that Italy would be the theme country for this year’s edition of the Vancouver International Wine Festival (running February 24 to March 3). There’ll be over 70 wineries, stretching from Puglia to Piedmont, all making the case that there’s no better locale for the wine lover—a premise we couldn’t agree with more. Here’s a three-stage approach for diving into the world of vino Italiano.

1

STAGE UNO Castello di Gabbiano (Bellezza Chianti Classico Gran Selezione), $43 There may be no wine more associated with Italy than Tuscany’s chianti, and this one captures the sangiovese grape’s past and future in one bottle. On the one hand, the winery makes a large production of “basic” chianti: bright, fresh and a perfect pizza wine for under $20. But they also make this. Gran Selezione is the new term for wines at the top of the chianti-quality pyramid—and here you get ageability, more chewy tannins and a wonderfully long sour-cherry finish for less than a decent bottle of Napa cabernet.

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2

STAGE DUE Medici Ermete (Lambrusco Phermento Ancestrale), $33 Outside of its home turf of Emilia-Romagna (and maybe some parts of Brooklyn or Silver Lake), Vancouver is an odd, awesome outpost for the quirky sparkling red known as lambrusco. Its low alcohol and high acidity make it a dream to pair with food, and this take from the famed producer Medici Ermete ups the ante by using the method ancestrale (making it a “pet nat”) to funk up the bubbles—which skew more pink than red in this version—just a touch.

3

STAGE TRE Casale del Giglio (Matidia Cesanese Lazio Rosso IGT), $40 Among the delights of Italy is falling in love with one of their hundreds of indigenous grape varieties that you had never previously heard of—lagrein, lacryma Christi and schioppettino are all under-the-radar winners. Or take, for example, cesanese, a stalwart grape of the Lazio region near Rome. It has the dark hue and marasca cherry notes slightly reminiscent of barolo and a spiciness that’s very syrah-like, but somehow remains unknown to 99 percent of wine lovers.

KEEP IT FREDDO It seems odd to get excited about keeping wine cool in a Vancouver winter, but warm falanghina is a problem any time of year. Thankfully, Yeti brings a tired genre into the 21st century with their brand-new cooler ($90)—available in red, white and green, if you so desire.

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TASTE

/ / dishing

RICE, RICE BABY

SECRET RECIPE

Like Blundstones or weather convos, Torafuku’s Kickass Rice Bowls are iconically Vancouver. The dish first popped up on the menu at chef Steve Kuan’s beloved food truck Le Tigre in 2012 before transitioning to its permanent home at Torafuku on Main St. in 2015. But whether served up streetside or tableside, this umami-packed bowl is a knockout. And it starts with this irresistible rice base: a blend of sake, butter and dashi (a Japanese soup stock). For the full bowl experience, top the rice with your choice of protein.

by

Steve Kuan of

Torafuku

SERVES 5 TO 6

2 cups sushi rice (washed and rinsed with cold water 3 times) 2 cups dashi broth (see recipe below) 2 tbsp cold butter 2 tsp minced garlic 2 tsp minced ginger 1 tbsp sake 1 tsp salt METHOD

1. Place all ingredients in a rice cooker or pot. If using a rice cooker, follow the cooker's instructions. If using a pot, follow steps 2 and 3.

2. Bring everything to a boil, cover with a lid, reduce heat to low and let simmer for 30 minutes.

3. Turn off heat after 30 minutes and let rest for another 10 minutes before serving.

4. Serve as a side or top with preferred vegetables and proteins.

DASHI BROTH

500 g fish bones 1 piece kombu (available at specialty stores) 2 litres water 5 pieces of dried shiitake mushroom 50 g sliced ginger 4 cups bonito flakes

H OT TIP Don't wanna craft dashi from scratch? Source dashi powder instead and add 4 grams to 500 ml of water.

Hondashi Bonito Fish Soup Stock, $22.14/100 ml

98

1. Add all ingredients except the bonito flakes to a large pot and bring to a boil.

2. Reduce to a simmer and leave on low heat for two hours. Skim the top to remove impurities.

3. Add bonito flakes and simmer for a further 10 to 15 minutes.

4. Strain through a fine mesh strainer.

Leftover broth will keep for up to one week in the fridge.

LEIL A K WOK

METHOD

For more recipes, visit vanmag.com

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