Vancouver Magazine, November/December 2020 by Canada Wide Media

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020

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PLUS THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS | WHERE DID THE 2010 MASCOTS GO? | OUR 2020 GIFT GUIDE

INSIDE!

THE POWER

The face of power in 2020.

In an upside-down year like 2020: Our 20th annual ranking of the people who shape this city

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COVER PHOTO: CHAD HIPOLITO/THE CANADIAN PRESS; THIS PAGE: NOVA STEVENS: COURTESY OF NOVA STEVENS; AT ISSUE ILLUSTRATION: ISTOCK /GEORGE PETERS;

VA N M AG .C O M

N OV E M B E R /D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 0 // VO LU M E 5 3 // N U M B E R 6

STARTS ON PAGE 65 Activist and organizer Nova Stevens at the Juneteenth march in Vancouver.

FE ATURE

Power 50

COVER PHOTO: CHAD HIPOLITO/THE CANADIAN PRESS; THIS PAGE: NOVA STEVENS: COURTESY OF NOVA STEVENS; AT ISSUE ILLUSTRATION: ISTOCK /GEORGE PETERS; CIT Y INFORMER ILLUSTRATION: BYRON EGGENSCHWILER; MONKE Y BEACH FILM STILL: RICARDO HUBBS; STAR POWER ILLUSTRATION: ALYSSA HIROSE

This year’s list of the most powerful people in the city includes politicians, activists, businesspeople, journalists and one pretty obvious provincial health officer. These are the folks that shaped Vancouver this year.

City 17 At Issue With parks and patios rained out, how will COVID-19 affect our city’s mental health?

20 City Informer Our intrepid reporter investigates exactly what happened to the 2010 Olympic mascot costumes.

Culture

53 The Ticket Indigenous actor Grace Dove makes her directorial debut in Kiri and the Dead Girl. 57 Gift Guide Perfect presents for beach bums, city slickers and mountaineers alike.

62 Star Power Simple moves guaranteed to make you feel more powerful, according to your horoscope.

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ED NOTE Publisher Samantha Legge Editorial Director Anicka Quin Creative Director Catherine Mullaly Food Editor Neal McLennan Associate Art Director Jenny Reed Associate Editor Nathan Caddell Assistant Editor Alyssa Hirose Editor at Large Stacey McLachlan Contributing Editors Frances Bula, Amanda Ross Editorial Intern Sydney Bartos Editorial Email mail@vanmag.com

Wrestling with Power in 2020

Director of Sales Brianne Harper (on leave) Sales Manager Anna Lee Senior Account Executives Johnny Alviar, Charie GineteIlon, Jessica McBean, Joan McGrogan, Sheri Stubel Digital Ad Coordinator Kim McLane Senior Production Manager Kristina Borys Production Coordination/Design Nadine Gieseler Sales Email sales@canadawide.com National Media Sales Margo Bock Tel 647-472-5203 Email mbock@canadawide.com U.S. Sales Representation, Hayes Media Sales Lesley Hayes Tel 602-432-4868 Email lesley@hayesmediasales.com

It’s ever-evolving, and for some, maddeningly elusive.

Anicka Quin editorial director

anick a . quin @vanmag . com

@ aniqua

European Sales Representation S&R Media Sylvie Durlach Tel +33 1 44 18 06 62 Email srmedia@club-internet.fr

PORTRAIT: EVA AN KHERA J; ST YLING BY LUISA RINO, MAKEUP BY MEL ANIE NEUFELD; CLOTHING COURTESY HOLT RENFREW, HOLTRENFREW.COM

Like everything else in 2020, the creation of this Power 50 list took a different path than usual. In a normal year, we’ll gather with two dozen influential people from across the city—representing sectors like health and local government, entrepreneurship and small business, housing, tech and more—but this time around we were, of course, Zooming with folks in small groups instead. (One of the great Zoom learnings of 2020: small groups all the way, if you want to have any kind of helpful conversation.) Naming the most powerful people in the city is a task everyone here takes seriously, and in an upside-down year like this one, that’s been all the more true. There really isn’t any part of our community that we can’t view through the lens of the pandemic, and the names that came up in each of our sessions represent those people who are the strongest voices of change and influence right now. (And I’m sure you won’t be surprised to hear that choosing this year’s #1 was one of the easiest decisions we’ve ever made.) No matter what sector each Zoom call focused on, there always was one common discussion that came up: the undeniable heroism of the essential workers who have kept our city moving and surviving. In theory, these are absolutely the people who deserve a spot on our Power 50—but as factors like grocery-store wage clawbacks, long hours under incredibly tough conditions and a greater vulnerability to becoming ill with COVID show, the power that this group of people has isn’t where it should be. As we’ve quickly learned in so many ways, the pandemic has a way of highlighting the cracks in our system—in this case, it has shone a spotlight on just how underpaid and undervalued the people who keep our city running are. These are the folks who put food on the shelves, teach our children, care for the elderly and keep bars and restaurants open—work that we’re all so grateful for. And while the 7 o’clock cheer was a daily reminder and thank you to those folks, it’s clearer than ever that they deserve so, so much more. As we all push to come out the other side of this era, I hope we can see a shift for the better for—truly—everyone.

Suite 230, 4321 Still Creek Drive, Burnaby, B.C. V5C 6S7 Tel 604-299-7311 Fax 604-299-9188 Chairman and CEO Peter Legge, OBC, LLD (HON) President Samantha Legge, MBA VP of HR/Admin Joy Ginete-Cockle VP of Finance Sonia Roxburgh, CPA, CGA Executive Creative Director Rick Thibert Director of Circulation Tracy McRitchie Head of Brand Partnerships Johnny Alviar, MCE, SCE Marketing Lead Chris Hinton Accounting Terri Mason, Eileen Gajowski Circulation Katie Gajowski, Kelly Kalirai Office Manager/Sales Coordinator Lori North Executive Assistant to the CEO Charie Ginete-Ilon

VANCOUVER MAGAZINE is published six times a year by Canada Wide Media Limited, Suite 230, 4321 Still Creek Drive, Burnaby, B.C. V5C 6S7. Phone 604-2997311; fax 604-299-9188. Copyright 2020. 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 Transcontinental Printing G.P. (LGM Graphics), 737 Moray St., Winnipeg, Man. R3J 3S9. All reproduction requests must be made to: COPIBEC (paper reproductions) 800-717-2022, or CEDROM-SNi (electronic reproductions) 800-563-5665. Distributed by Coast to Coast Ltd.

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VA N M AG .C O M/C I T Y

F U L L M E N TA L JAC K E T S / C O S T U M E PL AY

City AT ISSUE

GEORGE PETERS/ISTOCK

Doom and Gloom

Concerns around mental health in Vancouver are nothing new, but the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated them. Will winter push us over the edge? by

Nathan Caddell

Up until recently, there had been one saving grace of experiencing COVID-19 in Vancouver: for the most part, the weather was nice. Sure, there were pockets of rain and wind, but the temperate rainforest we call home was nice enough to provide a lot of sunshine from March 2020 onward. Of course, as you’re reading this—barring another major plot twist and hey, who knows—that’s changed. Long nights and drum circles have turned into cold November rain and all of us have been forced back into our homes. The isolation is real, and some have genuine concern about whether Vancouver is prepared for what the COVID pandemic will bring as the weather turns—particularly in a city rife with mental health and addiction issues. No one would be surprised to learn that the number of opioid-related deaths in Vancouver in 2020 was significantly higher than those connected to COVID (around 900 for the former and about 120 for the latter by early October). The B.C. division of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) reports that about 17 percent of British Columbians are experiencing a mental health or substance use issue today. Because of differences in mental health laws, it’s hard to get direct comparisons to other Canadian jurisdictions. In Ontario, for example, studies suggest around 10 percent are dealing with substance use. But a 2015 report by the Canadian Institute for Health Information showed that B.C. had the highest percentage of mental health-related hospitalizations in the country, doubling every province except P.E.I.

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City AT I S S U E

During COVID, though, things have predictably gotten worse for Vancouverites. “Absolutely, we’ve seen a significant increase on our services,” says Jonny Morris, CEO of CMHA British Columbia. The organization’s province-wide BounceBack depression and anxiety program, for example, has seen a 100-percent uptick compared to the same time last year. Morris doesn’t see it getting much better, either: “It’s cliché to say these are unprecedented times, but for the vast majority of people, it’s the first time we’ve entered winter in this state of emergency. So I think it’s important to emphasize that lots of people are feeling the impacts of the pandemic.” Vancouver councillor Lisa Dominato agrees. She campaigned on the importance of mental health and has advocated for increased programs and services while on council, including a recent motion to create a cross-jurisdictional task force to battle mental health and addiction issues. “Since the pandemic, I’m certainly hearing that people are feeling stressed, overwhelmed, frightened, anxious and depressed,” she says. “There’s a mental health aspect to it, in terms of the psychological and emotional toll it’s taking on people.” Dominato cites national increases in alcohol consumption and domestic violence, as well as the provincial opioid crisis, as proof that Canadians are having a harder time. As for solutions to a problem that might be about to get a whole lot worse, she points out governmentfunded organizations and programs like the Stigma Free Society, Family Services of Greater Vancouver and the CMHA as places for those in need to seek out. More broadly, she

Long nights and drum circles have turned into cold November rain and all of us have been forced back into our homes.” recommends exercise, distraction and connecting with friends. “At the city level, we’ve also had success with creating spaces for people to meet outdoors, whether it be patios or outdoor popups—spaces where people can congregate safely,” she notes. “Dance classes, yoga classes, places we can create to have outdoor, covered spaces where people can still be distanced. I think those things do help with mental health.” Another area where mental health problems can be addressed is the workplace. Garth Taylor is the president of North Vancouver-based Hatfield Consultants, which offers environmental and social services for clients all over the world. Hatfield was the winner of the Workplace Wellness category in the inaugural Business of Good Awards put on by our sister publication, BCBusiness magazine. And though Taylor reports that 2020 was a successful year, business-wise, for his company and its 150 or so Canadian employees—none of whom had to be laid off—COVID was a major concern for Hatfield. “Productivity has been high, work has continued to come in, people have continued to be busy,” says Taylor. “But I think we do worry, longer term. Our biggest worry is the potential loss of cohesion in the group and the opportunities for people to interact with team members beyond just virtually. We have a fairly unique culture in the industry and we wonder, with people becoming disconnected over a long period of time, what impact that might have on their mental health.” Hatfield execs have tried to cushion the COVID blow with things like daily huddles—five- to 10-minute team check-ins at the start of days to get people together

and motivated. “We’ve very much encouraged our managers to stay on top of the connections with their staff and to reach out and do one-on-one connections to make sure people are managing,” says Taylor, adding that they’ve also been sending out weekly briefings (at the start of the pandemic it was daily) detailing what’s been going on with the company. “The transparency and honesty that we’ve baked into those communications have made people feel a sense of security about their jobs and what we’re doing at the corporate level to keep everyone employed and the company moving forward.” For Jonny Morris and the CMHA, COVID has only exacerbated existing issues. “I like the analogy of a car that hasn’t had any maintenance for a few decades,” he says. “Now you’re starting to maintain it, and you’ve got a lot of work to do to restore the car. And that was before the pandemic hit. For governments, mental health is something we need to protect and care for, and that’s going to take resources. And I’d say there is still a ways to go with stigma and discrimination. We see that playing out with NIMBYism and some of the very unacceptable behaviour toward homeless people and people struggling. We still have a battle to fight there on making it ok to reach out for help.” In some ways, councillor Dominato says, the pandemic is a reminder of what can actually be done if people work together. “What we saw with the pandemic was urgency, intentionality and coordination from all levels of government,” she argues. “It was ‘We have an emergency, we need to deal with this.’ I would love to see us take those same things to mental health and addictions, not only in our city, but in our province and country.”

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CIT Y INFORMER

Where Are the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Mascots Now? by

Stacey McLachlan Byron Eggenschwiler

illustration by

As the days grow long, we find ourselves thinking about what could have been. The questions bubble up, unbidden: Where are they now? Do they think of me? I, of course, am talking about the mascots from the 2010 Olympics, Quatchi, Sumi, Miga and little Mukmuk. As you no doubt recall, Vancouver loved the Olympics so much that we needed four different proprietary characters— technically, three mascots and one “sidekick,” which I guess is a mascot for the mascots(?)—to effectively express our enthusiasm. These icons were an inspiration even for those of us who weren’t caught up in Olympic mania, for example, me, a person who, despite clearing my schedule for February 2010 and dropping a lot of pointed hints at parties and on the bus that I would be available to participate in any sport, for any country that needed me, was ultimately not invited to be an athlete

and has remained bitter about it to this day. Anyways! Despite this cruel rejection, I still think fondly of the friendly faces that acted as our plush ambassadors to the world. Though they came from different backgrounds—a “full of passion” sasquatch, a surfing sea bear, a thunderbird who loves cocoa and a marmot who’s just here to make friends— they united over the shared cause of patriotism and tourism dollars. And then, like a non-threatening boy in a top hat you made out with on vacation, they were never spoken of again. But a decade after the Olympics transformed our city and with nothing better to do with my time, I attempted to track down these stuffed beacons of hope. The news, I found, was dire. While there were originally 61 mascot suits created to accommodate all the mascot-related demands of those buzzy two weeks, 48 of them were ultimately, as the

There is no dignified way to execute a smiling sasquatch. Vancouver Sun callously put it, “rounded up and destroyed,” by order of the International Olympic Committee, who apparently are a cabal of supervillains who have decreed that mascots may not be “animated” once the Games have closed. VANOC has declined to admit how they were destroyed, but really, there is no dignified way to execute a smiling sasquatch. There is some good news, though. If you are someone who was learning to do math instead of watching the gold-medal-winning hockey game, you probably realize this means there are 13 mascot suits still out there. One set (Sumi, Miga, Quatchi) is with the IOC in Switzerland. Another is at

the Olympic Hall of Fame and Museum in Calgary. A lone Sumi is with the Paralympic Committee in Germany. But two sets are right here at home as part of the Legacy 2010 collection at the Museum of Vancouver (well, one Sumi is on loan to the Richmond Olympic Experience, but we’re sure our prodigal son will be back eventually). I’m just glad to know they’re okay, and that if I make the next Olympics, they’ll be there to cheer me on. Fingers crossed they introduce a women’s category for Obsessing Over Unimportant Regional Pop Culture Ephemera from the Early 21st Century. Got a question for City Informer? stacey.mclachlan@vanmag.com

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POWER

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COV E R S TO RY

Well, 2020 in Vancouver.

written by Nathan Caddell, Alyssa Hirose, Stacey McLachlan, Neal McLennan and Matt O’Grady

It was memorable, we’ll give it that. It was that rare year when even as people were living in the throes of its undulations, they imagined what it would be like recounting to future generations just how crazy things were. Masks, business closures, watching the daily infection-rate announcements like they were mustsee TV. This list tries to capture some of the people who helped (and are still helping) Vancouver navigate the greatest public health threat in half a century. But it also recognizes that there was more than COVID: there was a scary ramp up in the opioid crisis, a social justice call to arms, an improbable spike in real estate prices and a hundred other issues that made Vancouver the always-compelling place to live that it is.

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POWER

country) with her calm, measured approach to the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, our early success against the virus respective to othDR. BONNIE HENRY er provinces meant a months-long PROVINCIAL HEALTH OFFICER love affair with Dr. Bonnie—murals, NEW masks, mugs, posters, shoes and tote bags bearing her name or likeDream Team What can we say that hasn’t been ness can be seen all over the city. Left to right: Cosaid already? Heck, the New York Times ran a chair Kristen Rivers for the Squamish, Usually there’s considerable de- fawning profile of her. Chief Leah George bate among our insiders as to who Of course, something had to for the Tsleilshould take the number one spot give, and there have been a few Waututh and Chief Wayne Sparrow for on this list. Not this year. B.C.’s top cracks in the foundation. Henry the Musqueam. doctor became a household name has seen negative reactions to her across the province (if not the work that range from the unhinged

(death threats) to the reasonable, with some criticizing her refusal to mandate masks and the government’s approach to opening up schools. There have also been complaints that the province isn’t giving out enough data when it comes to which communities have been most affected. In the end, this year was headlined by the COVID-19 pandemic, the doctor we trusted to guide us through it and those six words she kept repeating: Be Calm, Be Kind, Be Safe. Even if some of us stopped listening.

DR . HENRY: GOV T. OF BC; HORGAN + DIX: THE CANADIAN PRESS

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JOHN HORGAN PREMIER OF B.C.

DR . HENRY: GOV T. OF BC; HORGAN + DIX: THE CANADIAN PRESS

ENT WISTLE: SUPPLIED

PR E V IO USLY #3, 2019

Until this fall, we’d call Premier Horgan’s biggest move of 2020 simply letting health minister Adrian Dix and Dr. Bonnie Henry take the reins—though he and finance minister Carole James have tried to steer the province through some ambitious relief measures for low-income individuals, renters and businesses. For that, he had some of the best ratings of any political leader in Canada during COVID (a 69 percent approval in late August). Good time for a snap election call, even one that breaks an agreement with the Green Party and has voters heading to crowded polling stations in the teeth of the second wave? Yeah, a really good time it turns out.

3 4 ADRIAN DIX B.C. HEALTH MINISTER

PR E V IO USLY # 5, 201 2

DARREN ENTWISTLE CEO, TELUS

After years of being overshadowed by fellow cabinet ministers like David Eby, Carole James and Mike Farnworth, the former party leader was thrust into the spotlight (okay, he was slightly stage left of it) by COVID-19. His calm, serious and informed approach to the pandemic earned national applause and re-established Dix as one of the true faces of an NDP government that has moved like a well-oiled machine since he resigned as leader. Of course, as health minister he has come under fire for his treatment—or lack thereof—of the other pandemic: the opioid crisis. Critics argue he essentially handed it off to mental health and addictions minister Judy Darcy.

PR E V IO USLY # 4, 2 0 19

Sometimes making this list is as simple as being universally regarded as a person who ably steers a massive financial powerhouse. In the case of Telus CEO Darren Entwistle, that’s underscored by the fact that Telus is the province’s largest public company, and that even the most jaded corporate raider agrees that his stewardship has been admirable. COVID slammed Telus in Q2 (though they still managed to beat industry expectations for new mobile and internet customers), but the company’s proactive and sympathetic reaction to the pandemic became more of a story than the dip in share price. And the CEO’s ongoing big bet on health care seems more prescient with every month.

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5 ANONYMOUS THE WHISTLEBLOWERS NEW

We’re accustomed to the concept of power being personified, but what the past year has shown is that one person with a grievance and a laptop can be Bill Gates, Gandhi and the Rock combined, if their message rings true and strikes the right chord with the audience at large. Just ask Matchstick, Parallel49 and others who found themselves the focus of anonymous Instagram campaigns. Whether the trigger is a tyrant running a small business, a

manager who attempts to explain away a racist incident or a work environment that is simply toxic, more shareholder value, personal investment and long-term goodwill has been wiped out this year as a result of a well-placed tweet or biting comment online than from any more sophisticated financial mechanism. And while many under this rubric are proudly not anonymous, as a collective movement they’ve brought power back to the masses in a way not seen since, well, ever. Who is anonymous? It’s any person the wrongdoer is thinking about when they wake up at 3 a.m.

Left to right: chair Kristen Rivers of the Squamish, Chief Leah GeorgeWilson for the Tsleil-Waututh and Chief Wayne Sparrow for the Musqueam.

MST DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION REAL ESTATE DEVELOPERS PR E V IO USLY #1, 2019

In a less eventful year, it’s possible MST would have held on to the top spot. After all, not too much has changed for the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations’ real estate conglomerate. The 90-acre Jericho Lands project is going ahead, but a comprehensive plan isn’t expected until 2021. The only blemish on the corporation’s record is that its desire (with the City and UBC) to get the Broadway Subway Line extended to the university has so far been ignored.

TAMARA VROOMAN FORMER CEO, VANCITY; CEO, VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY; CHANCELLOR, SFU PR E V I O USLY #30, 2 019

Vrooman is corporate B.C.’s go-to crisis manager: in 2007, she was hired by Vancity as North America sank into the Great Recession; this July, Vrooman took the reins at Canada’s second biggest airport following an unprecedented collapse in global travel. With YVR’s year-over-year traffic down over 60 percent by early September, she was quick to act: halting all capital expansion projects at the airport, including the termination of a mega-project in which $525 million in work had already been done. As if she didn’t have enough to keep her busy, Vrooman also became the 12th chancellor of SFU in June.

ANONYMOUS: ISTOCK; ; MST: ADAM BL ASBERG

POWER

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ANONYMOUS: ISTOCK; ; MST: ADAM BL ASBERG

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POWER

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BLACK LIVES MATTER NE W

Shamika Mitchell

It’s a tricky thing to recognize a group once again on this list, but the fight against antiBlack racism in Vancouver is the work of a diverse and diasporic community, not of any one specific individual. Still, we’ve got to name a few. Black Freedom Society founders Nova Stevens and Shamika Mitchell organized 6,000 people to march for Juneteenth. Activist Stephanie Allen (#47 on last year’s list) continuously advocates for our city’s Black community as a founding member of the Hogan’s Alley Society. Cicely Belle Blain (#50, 2018), co-founder of BLM Vancouver, remains a sought-after voice with their consulting firm, which specializes in diversity and inclusion training. They are just a few of the people reminding us what power really means.

Nova Stevens

Stephanie Allen

Cicely Belle Blain

10 AQUILINI FAMILY

9 DR. CARL HANSEN FOUNDING CEO, ABCELLERA BIOLOGICS INC. NE W

AbCellera jumped onto the front pages of Canadian newspapers in May, when the federal government gave Dr. Carl Hansen and his team at the privately held Vancouver biotech company $175.6 million to research COVID antibodies and build technology and manufacturing infrastructure for a potential future vaccine or treatment. In other words: AbCellera, at this point in time, might be our best bet at beating this thing. With so many hopes pinned on the company, it’s reassuring to see a seasoned pro like Hansen at the helm. He’s an inventor of over 50 U.S. patents and 63 applications that are represented in seven commercial products. And, until August 2019, he was a professor at UBC, where he co-authored over 65 manuscripts in the fields of microfluidics, immunology, genomics and nanotechnology. And Trudeau and co. aren’t the only ones with confidence in AbCellera’s antibody therapy efforts: a potential U.S. IPO is in the works for later this year.

AQUILINI INVESTMENT GROUP PRE VIOUSLY #13, 2020

The Vancouver Canucks essentially played three playoff rounds this year, something they haven’t done since 2011. But, of course, the family that owns the city’s biggest sports franchise wasn’t able to collect revenue from the run. While crowds might be slow to come back to Rogers Arena, the future looks fairly bright for both the team and the family, as the Aquilinis are becoming a major force in the world of e-sports, and their real estate developments in Kelowna and Squamish are moving forward. A partnership on two projects with MST Development Corp. doesn’t hurt either.

STEPHANIE ALLEN, CICELY BELLE BL AIN: TANYA GOEHRING

COLLECTIVE MOVEMENT

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“Sensational instrument”

– Daniil Trifonov

"without question the most astounding pianist of our age"

STEPHANIE ALLEN, CICELY BELLE BL AIN: TANYA GOEHRING

– The Times "arguably today's leading classical virtuoso"

– The Globe and Mail

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BOB RENNIE RENNIE MARKETING PRE VIOUSLY #11, 2019

To the extent that the international art world knows our fair town, it’s not because of the VAG (whose new building seems to be ebbing away and whose announcement of a new curator was met with a collective “Who?”). It’s because Rennie’s private museum in Chinatown’s Wing Sang building has quietly become one of the most influential in the world, a point underscored by the recent exhibition featuring his deep collection of iconic Black artists Barkley L. Hendricks and Lorna Simpson, which, given the current climate, might have been the most influential show in North America this past year. And while Rennie Marketing Systems had a tough year due to COVID, Rennie made sure that everyone was kept on with full pay (the increase in detached listings for his growing real estate brokerage was a plus). And then there’s his personal connections—in a Venn diagram of the names on this list, the overlap in the middle might very well be Rennie, who’s legendary for knowing and chatting with everyone in town.

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Dr. Patricia Daly

FRANK GIUSTRA MULTIPLE INDUSTRIES

CHRIS GARDNER

PRE VIOUSLY #12 , 2019

PRESIDENT, INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS AND BUSINESSES ASSOCIATION

It speaks to Giustra’s influence that he could have made this list with just one of any of the hats he wears. As a mining magnate, his Leagold merged with Equinox Gold in a $670-million deal. As an entertainment titan, his Thunderbird Entertainment Group saw revenues jump 40 percent in Q3 with increased interest in its family programming. As a philanthropist, the year saw his Giustra Foundation continue to be a major force and benefactor in the areas of journalism programs, meals for vulnerable seniors and international refugee settlement. And as humanitarian, he was appointed co-chair of the Brussels-based International Crisis Group, a globally respected organization dedicated to international conflict resolution. Any of these are impressive, but added together it makes him a multidimensional powerhouse. We don’t even need to mention the debunked rumours that Harry and Meghan were camped out at his house on Vancouver Island.

PR E V IO USLY # 1 7, 2 0 19

Penny Ballem

DR. PATRICIA DALY + PENNY BALLEM CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER AND BOARD CHAIR, VANCOUVER COASTAL HEALTH

GIUSTRA: PAUL JOSEPH

PR E V IO USLY #6, 2019 ; #1 4, 201 4

Daly and Ballem are two of the most influential voices in the dual epidemics of our time: COVID-19 and the opioid crisis. While the health authority got credit for early success in taming COVID, infection rates roared back by fall—and VCH came under criticism for its selective approach to releasing case numbers, especially in schools. As for overdose-related fatalities, VCH struggled to limit the yearslong carnage, with 259 deaths in the first eight months of 2020 compared to 247 in all of 2019. Daly herself admitted in April that COVID prevention measures were hurting efforts to contain the fentanyl outbreak.

It speaks to how disorganized the BC Liberal Party is that the person many see as the chief government critic isn’t party leader Andrew Wilkinson or any other Liberal MLA, but Gardner, who, as president of the over 3,000-member-strong ICBA, is frequently vocal about government policies that are perceived to be antibusiness. The past year has seen ups (construction continued during COVID, unlike in other jurisdictions) and downs (the B.C. Court of Appeal upheld the NDP’s Community Benefits Agreement, which favours union workers for major public works), but Gardner continues to be a touchstone for the right of centre in the province.

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ANGELA STERRITT

JOURNALIST

GLEN CLARK + JIMMY PATTISON PRESIDENT/COO, AND CHAIRMAN/CEO, JIM PATTISON GROUP PR E V I O USLY #8, 2 019

Every year, there’s another profile written on Jimmy Pattison—and each time, there’s that question about succession. He was asked again this year—his 92nd on the planet—and confirmed to Bloomberg that, yes, he’s picked a successor, and, no, he won’t name names—though former Premier Glen Clark, his loyal No. 2, remains the odds-on favourite. Pattison’s privately held conglomerate had almost $12 billion in revenue last year, and while the pandemic took a big bite out of some businesses (like Ripley Entertainment), a strong cash position makes Pattison a likely buyer—not seller—in the coming months.

TERRY HUI CEO, CONCORD PACIFIC PR E V IO USLY # 20, 2019

In a year that was, by Vancouver standards, quiet on the real estate front, Hui and his Concord Pacific stood out, with a blockbuster $1-billion purchase of the massive St. Paul’s Hospital site. Concord Pacific is Canada’s largest community developer, and the St. Paul’s redevelopment promises to be pivotal for downtown— with residential, commercial and industrial uses all on the table. Concord has also been busy elsewhere in the past 12 months, from the Lower Mainland to Toronto, and from Seattle to London, England, where its Principal Tower— designed by Foster + Partners—was completed just before the new year.

Gitxsan journalist Angela Sterritt’s 18 years of industrious reporting (including awardwinning work on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women) has been leaps and bounds ahead of the mainstream media in her coverage of local police brutality. Her CBC story on an Indigenous man and his granddaughter being handcuffed after trying to open a bank account garnered international attention back in January, forcing both the police and the downtown Vancouver BMO branch to apologize. Today, Sterritt is one of the most respected voices in Canadian media, and we’re looking to her for in-depth coverage on the stuff that matters.

CHRIS (SYETA’XTN) LEWIS COUNCILLOR/ SPOKESPERSON, SQUAMISH NATION; CHAIR, SFU BOARD OF GOVERNORS NEW

This has been something of a banner year for Lewis, the longtime Squamish Nation councillor who replaced Dustin Rivers (Khelsilem) as spokesperson in June, months after he was named chair of SFU’s board of directors. It’s Lewis’s second term as spokesperson (he served from 2013 to 2017) and he got off to a running start in August when the Nation announced it would be guaranteeing all staff and contractors a living wage going forward. The move meant a pay boost for more than a third of its 300-some workers and underscores Lewis’s desire to have the Squamish Nation take a leadership role on both social and economic issues in the years to come.

STERRIT T: MAGGIE MACPHERSON

NEW

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STERRIT T: MAGGIE MACPHERSON

S H OWROO M B Y A P P O I N T M E N T: +1 . 7 7 8 . 3 4 0 . 7 5 2 2

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21 STEWART PHILLIP PRESIDENT, UNION OF BC INDIAN CHIEFS PRE VIOUSLY #23, 2019

IAN TOSTENSON PRESIDENT/CEO, BC RESTAURANT AND FOODSERVICES ASSOCIATION NEW

One of the most vocal sectors to be slammed by COVID was the restaurant industry, and Tostenson, as head of the BCRFA, was one of the loudest, most front-and-centre voices, not only speaking about how the pandemic was impacting his constituents but also underscoring just how big a contributor the sector is to the provincial economy. Both the provincial and city governments seemed to listen—patios were approved, antiquated liquor laws were relaxed. Whether it will be enough to save large chunks of the industry remains to be seen, and Tostenson is frequently critiqued that he’s more interested in the big chains than the small operators. But there’s no doubt that his lobbying has moved the industry in a direction that will benefit everyone who’s running a kitchen.

It’s been a year like no other in terms of social justice coming to the mainstream forefront, and as the province and its citizens figure out how to grapple with a history of oppression of Indigenous peoples, there are few who can lead with the bona fides and authority of Grand Chief Phillip. Now in his 22nd year as president of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, he has always struck a path that balances activism with pragmatism, and his voice is one that an entire generation of both political and business leaders feel they can rely on in moving forward. This year saw his support of the Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs lend ballast to their fight against pipeline expansion, as well as support for Indigenous communities setting up their own independent controls to restrict COVID transmission in their territory.

FOUNDER/CEO, MARK ANTHONY GROUP PRE VIOUSLY #47, 2014

That von Mandl has stayed off this list for so long is a testament to the quietness with which he employs his power. The worldwide phenom that is White Claw finally arrived in Canada this year, with most consumers having no idea that it was von Mandl’s brainchild from the start (one that he wisely chose to deploy in America first). Likewise unknown is that the rising star of Irish whiskey—Glendalough—is also another of his holdings. And while his Mission Hill maintains dominance of the national wine industry at both the medium and high ends, he’s also added Road 13, Liquidity and an ascendant CedarCreek to his Okanagan holdings—all of which are deep into the transition to organic farming.

PHILIP: DAVID P. BALL

ANTHONY VON MANDL

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NORBURN

PHILIP: DAVID P. BALL

LIGHTING & BATH CENTRE

SHOP IN-STORE

4600 Hastings, Burnaby

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SHOP ONLINE

www.norburn.com

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GEOFF MEGGS CHIEF OF STAFF, B.C. PREMIER’S OFFICE PRE VIOUSLY #2 2 , 2019

It’s been a relatively quiet year for Meggs— at least in terms of media coverage—but there’s no question that one of John Horgan’s most trusted aides had a strong say in the premier’s choice to call a provincial election in October. The former Vision Vancouver councillor and veteran political operator has built a career on savvy timing and must have been salivating at the prospect of a majority government staring directly at him. His chips are on the table.

DAVID EBY ATTORNEY GENERAL PRE VIOUSLY #5, 2019

The AG is coming off two strong showings on this list (#1 in 2018, #5 last year) and while no one is saying he’s a non-entity, the days when he seemed a shoo-in to replace a bland John Horgan seem distant. Sure, his defence of ICBC is a thankless task, but where’s that vibrant non-politician everyone fell in love with? At least he’s stepped up for the restaurant industry, loosening antiquated liquor laws and calling for caps on delivery fee services. (So we’re pretty certain he’ll always get a reservation.)

JEANETTE JACKSON + MERRAN SMITH CEO, FORESIGHT CLEANTECH ACCELERATOR CENTRE; EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CLEAN ENERGY CANADA NEW

While these two work separately, jointly they represent the greatest chance for a green business revolution in the province. Jackson leads a team dedicated to making B.C. the go-to locale for green technology companies—an industry that’s expected to be worth $1 trillion in the near term. Smith is working the same angle to help Canada shed its dependence on fossil fuels, and she’s made a reputation as someone who can balance both business and activist goals, earning her the ear and trust of the PM, among others.

RYAN REYNOLDS + SETH ROGEN ACTORS

Our city’s Hollywood sweethearts haven’t forgotten their rainy roots, even amid the pandemic. In July, Reynolds helped reunite a local woman with her stolen teddy bear. In September, he announced a new local initiative for BIPOC film trainees that will be paid out of his own salary. And Rogen told us to stay home and smoke weed (via Twitter). Both heeded the call from our premier to help the knuckle draggers learn how to social distance and wear masks. Thanks, boys—you’re great ambassadors.

EBY: TANYA GOEHRING

N E W; PR E V IO USLY #4 5, 201 8 ( R OG E N)

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BRANDT LOUIE CHAIR, LONDON DRUGS; PRESIDENT AND CEO, H.Y. LOUIE PRE VIOUSLY #39, 2018

TERI MOORING PRESIDENT, BC TEACHERS’ FEDERATION NEW

The first wave of COVID had much of the province rallying around our frontline workers and applauding their sacrifice, but the second wave is seeing the 45,000-plus members of the BCTF head back to school under circumstances that are miles away from ideal. Even in “normal” years, President Mooring wields significant power to disrupt the day-to-day flow of the province through job action, and this fall and the coming months have a high chance to see some major tussling over teacher safety and responsibility as the pandemic continues to dominate life in B.C.

EBY: TANYA GOEHRING

Our sister publication, BCBusiness, lists the CEO of the Top 100 companies in the province each year, and only one name appears twice: Brandt Louie, with H.Y. Louie Co. (#7) and London Drugs (#20). Let that sink in for a bit. COVID brought increased profits to both the London Drugs and IGA/ Fresh Street Market stores the family runs and they saw little of the blowback other retailers experienced for clawing back increased wages. The past months have seen the reserved Louie speak out about racism and other social issues his family faced over their century-long ascendency in B.C.

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28 JAS JOHAL

JANICE ABBOTT

MLA

CEO, ATIRA WOMEN’S RESOURCE SOCIETY

PR E V I O USLY #4 2 ,

PR E V IO USLY #37, 2019

2 019

Last year we pegged Johal, the former news personality who morphed into the MLA for RichmondQueensborough, as the rising face of the BC Liberal Party. The NDP’s snap election was a trial-by-fire event for Johal, and it didn’t go as planned. At all. Still, this was Wilkinson’s fiasco, not his, so a run for head of the party (something he’s previously expressed interest in) isn’t out of the question. Stay tuned.

Through Atira, Abbott has carved out a niche as a specialist in working with Vancouver’s hardest-to-house, which sadly continues to be a growth area in the city. The organization has been key in managing some of the hotels recently purchased by the province and converted into supportive housing for women, and Abbott in particular took a bold stand in strictly limiting access to the buildings during the height of the first wave of COVID, a step she likely didn’t have the authority to do, but one that supporters say saved lives.

ANDREW WILKINSON LEADER, BC LIBERAL PARTY PR E V IO USLY # 3 4, 201 8

Can we be honest? We’re not sure Wilkinson deserves to be here. While people universally admit to his book smarts (put up your hand if you know that he’s a doctor and a lawyer), he’s had an almost tragic inability to connect with even his natural constituents, let alone those who aren’t excited by a return to Liberal rule. And all these faults were laid bare by Horgan’s canny snap election and now his legacy is steering the Libs to their worst defeat in a generation. At press time, he was stepping down as Liberal party leader. Given his big brain, we trust he’ll appreciate the brutal honesty.

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StittgenFi

1457 Bellevue Avenue, West Vancouver | 604.925.8333

STITTGEN.COM

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JOY MACPHAIL + CAROLE TAYLOR CHAIR, ICBC; BOARD PERSON EXTRAORDINAIRE PR E V I O USLY #3 4, 2 019 ; #35, 2 00 9

Joy MacPhail

Carole Taylor

32 SANTA ONO PRESIDENT, UBC PR E V IO USLY #4 0, 2019

It’s been a turbulent time at UBC, with COVID leading to a $225-million deficit this year. But overall, President Santa Ono has impressed, and this August the university offered him another five-year term in the role. Ono is credited in particular with boosting UBC’s efforts at inclusion—with an inclusion action plan as a key part of UBC’s overall strategic plans. In its efforts to address Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, UBC also released an Indigenous strategic plan in September—making it the first university in North America to commit to implementing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Additionally, Ono, long a powerful voice on mental health issues, has put the topic at the fore again during COVID, speaking out as UBC students return to school this fall in challenging times.

RYAN BEEDIE

PRESIDENT, THE BEEDIE DEVELOPMENT GROUP PR E V IO USLY # 2 7, 2 0 11

After Michael Bublé, Michael J. Fox and Joe Sakic, Beedie may be the most famous son of Burnaby. It’s been two decades since he took over the development company his father founded and turned it into one of the leading forces in Western Canada for both residential and industrial development. But it’s the founding of the Beedie Luminaries program in 2018 that’s putting a different sort of spotlight on him. Last year, 128 students from the Lower Mainland had full-ride scholarships to university, provided for by the program. It’s just the latest in a long line of philanthropic actions that saw Beedie awarded with the Order of BC this September.

MACPHAIL AND TALYOR: FRED LEE

Joy MacPhail and Carole Taylor are members of an exclusive club of former finance ministers: MacPhail under NDP Premier Glen Clark, and Taylor under Liberal Premier Gordon Campbell. Each maintains strong ties to their party—the go-to fixer if you need an NDP or Liberal heavyweight— and each wields influence in boardrooms across North America. MacPhail in particular has kept busy as chair of the ICBC board and chair of the joint federal-provincial expert panel on the “Future of Housing Supply and Affordability.” Taylor, appointed to the Order of British Columbia this year, is also Canada chair of the Trilateral Commission, a global discussion forum founded by David Rockefeller.

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MACPHAIL AND TALYOR: FRED LEE

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SUSAN YURKOVICH PRESIDENT & CEO, COUNCIL OF FOREST INDUSTRIES & BC LUMBER TRADE COUNCIL NEW

In years past, a list like this would be dominated with names like MacMillan, Sauder and Ketcham—the giants who ruled when timber was king in B.C. But these days, the messaging from Yurkovich has become far more targeted and impactful on behalf of an industry that’s still dominant in the provincial economy. We hear more about the ravaging of the pine beetle and the struggles of small mills, and the industry has been happy to transfer the role of environmental bogeyman to the oil and gas sector. And, as a nice kicker, COVID brought in record profits thanks to the renovation boom, and the WTO beat back Trump’s duty on timber imports.

CAROLE JAMES B.C. FINANCE MINISTER AND DEPUTY PREMIER PR E V IO USLY # 2 , 2019

It came as a shock to hear that B.C.’s respected finance minister was living with Parkinson’s disease in March, when she announced that she would not be running for re-election. While James undoubtedly hoped to leave on a high note, the pandemic upended the province’s oncesterling balance sheet, with a record deficit of around $13 billion projected for the 2020-21 fiscal year. One of James’s final tasks in office: leading the caretaker government this fall as her NDP colleagues canvassed for votes.

CHRISSY BRETT HOMELESS ADVOCATE NEW

Chrissy Brett has become a controversial but powerful voice in the debates surrounding homeless camps in both Vancouver and Victoria. In regular

37.

conversations with the City, Park Board, police and residents, she’s the de facto leader of campers, asking the tough questions (like why sanitation services that are available in refugee camps in the developing world aren’t available in our tent cities) and demanding government accountability.

KATHY KINLOCH PRESIDENT, BCIT PR E V IO USLY # 24, 201 6

BCIT has become a favoured destination for provincial government dollars under Kinloch. Two more drops in the bucket occurred this year: $8 million to double nurse training spots in January, and over $108 million for the construction of a new mass timber student housing project in September. Kinloch has also shown an ability to adapt to the pandemic—she chaired a provincial task force on the emerging economy that released 25 recommendations in May, and in early April BCIT launched an open-learning course for frontline workers in response to the crisis.

WILSON: LINDSAY SIU

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38 CHIP WILSON FOUNDER, LOW TIDE PROPERTIES PR E V I O USLY # 2 6, 2 019

WILSON: LINDSAY SIU

In a city that’s obsessed in equal measure with athleisurewear and real estate, it’s only natural that a man with stakes in both would find himself on this power list. He’s had a busy year with his development firm, Low Tide, which now has significant holdings throughout Gastown and along the False Creek Flats. His multi-building South Flatz project near Emily Carr hopes to capitalize on the soon-to-breakground Broadway Line expansion at Great Northern Way. He’s still got some skin in the sportswear game too, with a sub10-percent stake at Lulu and now $800 million invested in a joint venture that acquired Amer Sports, which owns brands Solomon and Arc’teryx, amongst others. He’s also been expanding his philanthropic activity, through the family’s Wilson 5 Foundation, including an $8.4-million donation in April to the aquatic research facility Pender Ocean Discovery Station (PODS). His frequent need to publicly express himself (like his recent MEC rant) continues to make him a polarizing figure in the city.

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CEO, BC HOUSING PR E V IO USLY #37, 2019

Affordable housing has been a hot-button issue for years, but the debate took on greater urgency in 2020 as homelessness numbers soared across B.C. Ramsay, who marks 20 years as CEO of BC Housing this year, is helping to execute the province’s 10-year plan (including the Community Housing Fund) to build 3,000 new affordable homes. With issues like Strathcona’s tent city and the potentially devastating effects of COVID on the housing vulnerable, we expect that Ramsay’s dance card will be full going forward. VA N M A G . C O M N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 0 43

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40 BRIDGITTE ANDERSON

CEO, GREATER VANCOUVER BOARD OF TRADE NEW

When Anderson took the reins of the board last November, she had the wind in her sails. The former GM of Edelman Vancouver was the first female CEO in the organization’s 132year history and was taking over at a time of tremendous economic growth. When COVID hit, Anderson moved swiftly to survey her over 5,800 members— many now struggling for survival—and, in September, leading a coalition of business groups, produced a $2.5-billion economic recovery plan—arguing for more child-care spaces and a small business grant program, among other things, to help weather the storm.

JILL EARTHY

CEO, WOMEN’S ENTERPRISE CENTRE

KAREN WARD + GUY FELICELLA ADVOCATES FOR THE DRUG-USING COMMUNITY NEW

While the world sprung into action to combat the dangers of COVID, another pandemic continued to devastate, undeterred: the opioid crisis. With death tolls outnumbering that of the virus, addiction and contaminated drugs are still decimating the population of the Downtown Eastside. The province has been criticized for its lack of meaningful action, but harm-reduction advocates Karen Ward and Guy Felicella are pushing for change and support for the drug-using community and helped forward the debate on drug policy in the process. Ward, as a longtime DTES drug user, has a contract with the city to advise it on drug policy, overdose response and drug-supply safety, as well as advising on poverty reduction and information dissemination about contaminated drugs. Felicella, meanwhile, has become a sought-after motivational speaker, and TED Talk alum, who has spoken about safe supply and overcoming his own addiction. He works with VCH, the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions and school districts on outreach and numerous awareness initiatives.

NEW

If you’re a woman in the finance sector in Vancouver, chances are you’ve either had coffee with Jill Earthy or you’re currently trying to. Since she became CEO of the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs in 2007 (and left in 2012), Earthy has held positions at a variety of organizations centred on disrupting the investing space, including FrontFundr, Futurpreneur Canada and Female Funders. This year, she took her talents to the Women’s Enterprise Centre, where she helps the 161,000 or so women business owners in B.C. grow their companies. A natural fit, really.

SANGEETA LALLI REGIONAL ADVISOR, PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE NEW

If the federal Liberals are to return to majority government status, the path to victory will undoubtedly pass through B.C. Last year, they lost six of their 17 seats—and one of their B.C. stars, former Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould, left the party and beat them as an independent MP. Longtime operative Sangeeta Lalli was appointed regional affairs advisor to Justin Trudeau in February, with the task of rebuilding the party in B.C. Her biggest challenge: threading the needle on energy and the environment, given the Liberals’ unpopular decision among left-leaning voters to buy the Trans Mountain pipeline.

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GERRI SINCLAIR B.C. INNOVATION COMMISSIONER PR E V I O USLY #31, 2 01 7

After years championing and investing in B.C. tech through her role as managing director of Kensington Capital and the $100-million BC Tech Fund, Sinclair fittingly replaced Alan Winter as innovation commissioner in July. The former Microsoft and Vancity executive will have a large say in steering one of the province’s most important sectors through the pandemic.

SONIA FURSTENAU BC GREEN PARTY LEADER NEW

The Green MLA for Cowichan Valley had only been the leader of her party for a week when she found herself lambasting Premier Horgan’s decision to call an election in media interviews. But life moves fast and Furstenau, who was a high school teacher before her foray into politics, will be responsible for building off the B.C. Green Party’s most successful election in its history. If she doesn’t, she’ll be gone just as quickly as she entered.

STEVEN LEWIS POINT CHANCELLOR, UBC

After serving as B.C.’s 28th lieutenant governor, a provincial court judge and the chief commissioner of the British Columbia Treaty Commission, Steven Lewis Point can add “UBC Chancellor” to his resume. Point is a member of the Skowkale First Nation, and is the first Indigenous person to fill the role of chancellor. Point was just appointed this summer, but no doubt he’ll bring his years of advocacy work to the table as he presides over convocation and reps the university at other events.

FURSTENAU: BC GREEN PART Y; LEWIS POINT: UBC

NEW

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FURSTENAU: BC GREEN PART Y; LEWIS POINT: UBC

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47 ANNE GIARDINI

SFU CHANCELLOR, BOARD MEMBER PR E V I O USLY #4 4, 2 019

Former forestry executive and author Anne Giardini continued her quiet impact on both business and

education as she served her sixth and final year as chancellor of SFU. Under her watch, the university’s research income was the fastest growing in Canada and though she’s stepping down from this leadership role, Giardini’s impact will still be felt in her many other positions of influence in the community: she’s chair of the BC Achievement Foundation, director of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and recently was appointed to the K92 Mining and Pembina Institute boards of directors. In other words: she’ll be keeping herself busy.

48 THOMAS FUNG CEO, FAIRCHILD GROUP PR E V I O USLY #33

Fung’s conglomerate has a lot of consumer-facing businesses—including the Chinese-language Fairchild TV and radio network, and Richmond’s Aberdeen Centre—which were hit hard by COVID. But perhaps the biggest long-term risk facing the Hong Kong-born mogul is the deteriorating political situation in his native city. Part of Fairchild’s success has been partnering with Asian brands, especially Hong Kong-based brands, looking for a North American presence—and that’s threatened by the recent U.S. move to revoke the territory’s special trading and economic status. Also threatened: the family’s Fairchild Capital Management incubator business, based in Hong Kong and run by Fung’s only son, Joseph.

49 PETER P. DHILLON

KENNEDY STEWART + GIL KELLEY VANCOUVER MAYOR; GM OF PLANNING PR E V IO USLY 2 5 & 2 7,

CEO, RICHBERRY GROUP

2019

PR E V IO USLY #41,

And you thought Wilkinson had a bad year? At least he was just invisible. Mayor Stewart, on the other hand, was able to alienate both sides of the Oppenheimer Park problem and push other hard decisions off to the Park Board (like booze on beaches). Councillors from both sides decry his lack of leadership, and when he does show up, it’s either to claim the city is broke or get caught on camera publicly breaking the province’s social distancing rules. GM of planning Kelley fared little better, but he squeaks in by evidently winning a power play in city hall with the departed Sadhu Johnston. So at least he has one win under his belt.

2019

For Canada’s cranberry king, the year got off to an explosive start: in February, in his capacity as chair of the Ocean Spray cooperative (for which Dhillon’s Richberry Group is a major supplier), Dhillon had to fire the company’s CEO after an alleged harassment case. Also that month, B.C.’s Food Security Task Force—which Dhillon chaired— released its recommendations on how the province could achieve greater agricultural independence (leaning heavily into technological innovation). As a director at the Bank of Canada, Dhillon has been providing oversight at a time when the bank, under a freshly minted governor, is taking unprecedented monetary action.

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FOUR WAYS TO A FLOURISHING BUSINESS Starting a business can be daunting, and there’s a long list of things to do to get it off the ground. We asked an industry expert for the top tips on how to kick start your small business and make the most of your online presence.

For many people, registering their domain name is one of the last things on the list and it shouldn’t be, says Anne De Aragon, vice-president and country manager, GoDaddy Canada. “A domain name is an important annual investment as it is the hub of your business’ website,” she says. “Much like a physical sign, it marks the location of your business on the web. This makes registering a domain name one of the most critical business decisions you make.” Some business owners prefer their full business name as the domain name while others prefer an abbreviation. Business owners also need to consider this important fact: According to the Canadian Internet Registration Authority, Canadians are 4x more likely to shop on a .ca website over .com as it taps into

the patriotic desire people have to support local businesses. “Taking a minute to think about your business, your goals and how you want to present yourself will allow you to decide on the best domain name for your business,” De Aragon says.

technical knowledge required. The tool has hundreds of alreadydesigned templates, which allow business owners to control the look and layout of their website.

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A mobile-friendly website is essential for a business to ensure it is easy to access and use for today’s mobile-first environment. This means your website looks its best and performs stress-free for the user since the text is readable, images are optimized and fitted to screen sizes, and there is no need for horizontal scrolling.

Digital marketing can deliver strong results at a fraction of the price of traditional marketing. Think of your website as a hub from which consumers access your various channels. De Aragon recommends being selective, always keeping your business goals in mind. “You should incorporate a variety of channels, but you don’t need to be on every platform,” she says. “It has to make sense for your business and your target audience.”

For example, GoDaddy’s Websites + Marketing tool allows business owners to create a modern, mobile-friendly website for free and with no

No matter what channels you choose, make sure you have highquality visuals. Entrepreneurs can engage a design professional or take advantage of content

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design applications, such as Over by GoDaddy. These applications allow entrepreneurs and small business owners to easily create impactful visuals which can be leveraged on social platforms, websites, and email marketing campaigns.

Make Your Email Shine Since email is often the first consumer touchpoint, it is important for your email address to be professional. “A professional-looking email address gives your business more credibility when you’re corresponding with existing and potential customers,” De Aragon says. “To set up a professionally branded email address, you need to have registered a unique domain. From here, setting up a professional email account can be done quickly and easily.”

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Landing a role alongside Leonardo DiCaprio would change any actor’s life, but local Indigenous artist Grace Dove had no idea the true impact her part in The Revenant would have. “All of a sudden, I had this platform where people wanted to know my opinion on everything,” she says. Since then, Dove has been consciously committed to sharing authentic Indigenous stories both on her own and through the characters she portrays. “I’m putting my foot down, and saying we need to do better,” says Dove. “It’s time for me to really own and stand up to my message.” Dove stars in Monkey Beach (a film based on the book by Eden Robinson and directed by Loretta Sarah Todd), VIFF’s opening film this year—and coming up in February 2021 is the world premiere of Kiri and the Dead Girl, which Dove directed herself. “With Monkey Beach coming out and having directed my first film, I really feel the support of my ancestors, and I know that’s going to be a positive force for me,” she says. Her cinematic celebrations of resilience, power and community are especially directed at young audiences: “I want Indigenous youth to know that they are not alone.” gracedove.net

Amazing Grace Grace Dove stars as Lisamarie, a Haisla woman who goes on a hero’s journey, in Monkey Beach.

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Culture T H E T I C K E T

Winter Funderland Keep up with our city’s reimagined events and resilient creatives. Alyssa Hirose

PANTO COME HOME DATE December 17 to January 3 VENUE Online thecultch.com Our local sass-ridden holiday tradition lives on. This year’s East Van Panto begins with nostalgic artistic directors “sneaking in” to the York Theatre; festive (and safe) musical mischief ensues. The show will be performed and streamed live—even at home, watch out for the Phanto of the Panto. AMAHL AND THE NIGHT VISITORS DATE December 12 VENUE Online vancouveropera.ca The COVID-era digital premiere of this opera is actually not far off the original: it was specifically composed for a Christmas Eve television broadcast in 1951. The Vancouver Opera’s Leslie Dala conducts this show (and it’s a family affair—his son, Andreas Dala, plays Amahl). THE TWELVE DATES OF CHRISTMAS DATE November 19 to January 3 VENUE Newmont Stage at the BMO Theatre Centre artsclub.com This one-woman Christmas rom-com follows a woman who, after a bad breakup, dives headfirst into the dating world (and, spoiler, it sucks). Audiences have three options to view the show: in-person as part of a distanced live show, livestreamed or via digital recording.

TIN LORICA Catch comedian Tin Lorica’s earnest deadpan humour at Millennial Line, a comedy and poetry show that took a (classic) COVID break but is now livestreaming from the Red Gate Arts Society. Lorica is also hot off the release of their first poetry chapbook, Soft Armour. @selfiemixtape Tin Lorica

ANDREA CLUTE This singer/songwriter describes her own work as “a little all over the place”—which means there’s something for everyone in her discography. Her latest single, “Young,” is a dreamy end-of-summer tune, and there’s plenty of music on the way (she’s had a lot of time to focus on songwriting, given the cancellation of, well, everything). Clute is opening for her brother Chris at a small live show at the Railway Club on November 21.

Panto Come Home

DISCOVER DANCE! SERIES DATE November 26 to December 10 VENUE Online thedancecentre.ca Check out this collab between two local dance companies: TomoeArts in Vancouver and Satsuki-kai in Burnaby. The free digital performance is a presentation of Japanese classical and traditional dance, but ranges from kabuki to shin-buyoh (modern dances to popular music, or whatever’s hip with the kids nowadays). ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN FILM FESTIVAL DATE November 19 to December 3 VENUE Online adfilmfest.com This virtual ADFF is made up of 16 films that explore racial injustice, urbanization and utopian societies. (Timely, right?) The lineup includes the North American premiere of Tokyo Ride, a feature that road trips around Tokyo highlighting the work of architect Ryūe Nishizawa.

Andrea Clute

@andreaclute

DJ Kookum ADFF’s Tokyo Ride

DJ KOOKUM djkookum.com Cheyanna Kootenhayoo is from the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation and Cold Lake First Nations— and they’re better known as DJ Kookum in the music world. Pre-COVID, they toured internationally with their EDM and hip hop-inspired tracks, and now they’ve pivoted to making beats for private parties and online festivals. This winter they’re working on the third season of Coyote Science, a children’s television series. @djkookum

PANTO COME HOME: EMILY COOPER; TOMOEARTS: SAITO KOICHI; TIN LORICA: EMMANUEL ET TI; ANDREA CLUTE: ESTER TOTHOVA; DJ KOOKUM: GEORGE L AWSON

TomoeArts and Satsuki-kai

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A Very Vancouver Gift Guide

n BAGGAGE CLAIM

It’s been a complicated year, to say the least, so we’re going back to basics. Our 2020 Gift Guide is inspired by three elements of Vancouver’s iconic skyline: the city, the ocean and the mountains. Here are the perfect gifts for all the city slickers, beach bums and wild adventurers in your life.

l PUDDLE UP The Anorak raincoat ($325) from Ecologyst is made in Victoria with organic cotton Ventile, which was originally developed to keep WWII fighter pilots dry—so it’s probably safe to say you’re good for those downpour dogwalking days. ecologyst.com

Alyssa Hirose

Local lifestyle brand Cadine is a new kid on our block. Their leather goods—like the Petal leather mini ($295)—are ideal for those oh-so-special grocery runs. shopcadine.com

j EARLY BIRD Move over, romance novels: the friendship fable is where it’s at. The Subtweet ($22) by Calgary-based multidisciplinary artist Vivek Shraya tells the story of two musicians falling in friendship, and a single tweet that might delete their bond altogether. massybooks.com

Concrete Jingle

i SIDE HUSTLE The BDI Milo laptop table ($499) is great for those small spaces serving double duty. The powder-coated aluminum is lightweight, durable and built for indoors and out—so they can take their work to the patio once the sunshine returns. omgitssmall.com

City-inspired picks for holiday homebodies. (So, yeah, pretty much everyone on your list.) p MASKET CASE

It’s the 2020 staple no one could have predicted: a chic container to toss your mask in. Graf Lantz’s Anshin Envelope Bin ($91) was developed specifically for mask storage—the Merino wool felt is naturally antimicrobial, the vegetable tan leather is trendy and the pouch style makes it easy to load used masks into the washing machine. graf-lantz.com

k TOWEL TIME These tea towels ($38) made by Flax Sleep and Flourist are a city collab fit for the coziest of kitchens. The waffled linen is sized for proofing a loaf of bread, but it’s also suitable for wiping up messes and throwing over your shoulder, sympathetic-bartender-style. flourist.com

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Culture G I F T G U I D E 2 0 2 0 i CLOSE WAVE The soft cotton of the Coronado throw ($80) will keep them warm this winter, but the blanket’s beachy design is inspired by a city on the California coast. Ideal for cozy cuddles inside their bubble. eq3.com

l TRAY BIEN Keep special knickknacks on display with Ethnicraft’s Wabi Sabi collection (from $180 per piece) designed by Dawn Sweitzer. These hand-painted trays come in a muted, natural colour palette evocative of crisp coastal days. fullhousemodern.com

p SOLID FOUNDATION It’s hard to maintain a sunkissed glow when the sky is cloudy and the couch beckons louder than the beach—this paraben-free, fragrancefree Luminous face primer ($40) will brighten up their face even while the rays are away. evalinabeauty.com

l STEP UP Make sure they’re getting a good dose of Raincouver fresh air (and street cred) with these Weekend sneakers ($165) by Vessi. They’re totally waterproof and machine washable, so no one has to skip the puddles. vessi.com

Life’s a Beach

Fun finds with a coastal feel for folks who love the motion of the ocean.

V i SCRAP THAT Edmonton slow fashion brand Gus Sloan uses fabric cutoffs to craft the Scrap collection (from $15), a series of handmade scrunchies and hair ties. It may be winter, but there’s no seasonal limit on tossing your hair up in an effortless, beachy bun. gussloan.com

p HAIR AND NOW

Why limit that mask action to just the face? Longtime Vancouver brand AG Hair’s Reconstruct hair mask ($34) is a conditioning treatment that uses vitamin C, Abyssinian oil and sunflower seed extract to restore moisture to dry, brittle ’dos. aghair.com

j BOTTLE SERVICE This season of Patagonia’s 100-percent recycled Black Hole duffels (from $159) used over 10 million plastic bottles— that’s 10 million bottles that didn’t end up in the ocean or a landfill. The bags come in four sizes and a variety of colours, all with a waterrepellent finish. patagonia.ca

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Culture G I F T G U I D E 2 0 2 0

m BLANKET STATEMENT

Cozy up tight in this cable knit blanket ($185) for rustic campfire vibes. This handmade alpacablend throw is great for warmth and for style—its rich, textured design makes it a gorgeous addition to any room. obakki.com

Alpine Air

Top picks for loved ones who love those mountain views.

k LOSING MARBLES Their happy hour Zoom drink will look super elegant in the On The Rock glass ($240 for a pair), available in wine glass, martini glass or champagne coup style. Made of crystal and solid Carrara marble, it’s a study of materials fit for any mountaineer. lightform.ca

n FOOD SAFE

For the greens they bring into their home, the (original and home-grown) Abeego wraps (from $18) will keep things fresh. These beeswax wraps are all-natural and zero waste, so your giftee can snack sustainably. abeego.com

l IN THE BAG The Kaine backpack ($63) is ideal for storing all of their adventuring necessities. Its screen-print logo and contrasting colours are inspired by ’90s activewear (ah, precedented times). herschel.ca

p FACE TIME

Created by local TV and film makeup artist Victoria Ferguson, the Vital serum ($88) from East 29th gets skin camera-ready. It’s designed to improve hydration, promote elasticity and smooth wrinkles—and to eliminate that 20-step skincare routine. east29th.com

k ALL WOOD Camping season’s over (for all but the super-brave) but you can still evoke those deep woodsy vibes with a vegan Cedarwood and Pine candle ($28) poured in Vancouver. It’s like a forest bath, sans pine needles. homecomingcandles.com

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Culture S TA R P O W E R

YOU’VE GOT THE POWER

Maybe you’re not a full-on, published-in-your-favouritecity-magazine powerhouse. So what? Small-scale changemakers still make big differences, and you’re one of them. Here’s how to find your power. by

Alyssa Hirose Alyssa Hirose

illustration by

Sagittarius November 22–December 21 SPENDING A LOT MORE TIME online than usual is giving you some serious image issues, Sag—keep in mind that the internet is an artificial hellscape of filters and wealth. You’ve got a lot going for you (including a steamy love life, hubba hubba), even if it’s not picture-perfect. Blast your favourite power ballads and sing along when no one’s home. Actually, do it when everyone’s home. They could stand to bask in your mighty musicality.

Capricorn December 22–January 19 YOU’RE FEELING HEALTHIER than you have in a long time (that doesn’t mean you don’t freak out every time there’s a tickle in your throat, but that’s only natural). We know you’re not willing to commit to a massive lifestyle change, so consider this small, seemingly silly one: do power poses. Wonder Woman-style. Don’t knock it till you try it.

AQUARIUS

January 20–February 18 Finally, everything’s coming up Aquarius. Your finances are thriving, your family life is yogurt-commercialworthy. Donate some of that hard-earned cash to a cause you care about to spread all those good vibes around.

PISCES

February 19–March 20 You’re going to build a new relationship with someone who seems totally unlike you, Pisces. A real pineapple-on-pizza kind of person. Keep yourself grounded by reciting affirmations—seriously—and make sure you don’t lose track of who you are. For example: I believe in myself.

ARIES

March 21–April 19 Sorry Aries, your job sucks. Nobody’s appreciating all the hard work you do around here. Every meeting could have been an email. But you can find power in other areas in your life. Try a new fun and sexy fitness routine.

TAURUS

April 20–May 20 You’ve got your health, and in these times that’s a definite plus. But you’re feeling a bit down in other

areas—love, money and the like. Think about times you have felt powerful (summer 2016; that one spelling bee you won; when you fostered your first sourdough) to boost your spirits.

GEMINI

May 21–June 20 Family functions were easy in the summer, Gemini, but you’ve really been missing the winter traditions that COVID killed. Organize a virtual get-together to feel that rush of adrenaline you used to get from hosting (and, of course, to keep your fam connected).

CANCER

June 21–July 22 Big changes are happening in your social life, Cancer, and it’s a little weird you’ve never come close being within six feet of your new friends. Try dressing a little better—your confidence will shine even through a screen.

LEO

July 23–August 22 It took longer than you expected, but you’re finally in a rut. Yup, even the king of the jungle’s feeling pretty uncertain about the future. Gain a little more control and stretch your grey matter by learning a new skill, like unicycling, or Swedish.

VIRGO

August 23– September 22 Educational growth is happening. It doesn’t feel like it, but it is. You know stuff, even if you think you don’t. Fix your posture—you’ll be surprised how much more confident you feel when you aren’t sitting like a sloth.

LIBRA

September 23– October 22 Your economic situation is ruining your personal relationships, and your relationships are all that matters. It all feels very second-act-in-a-rom-com. Get super organized on the grocery front (no more aimlessly wandering the produce aisle)—it will remind you how capable and independent you can be.

SCORPIO

October 23– November 21 Ooh, Scorpio, your “personal” life is positively bumpin’. Wink, wink. But no matter how powerful that makes you feel, you’ve got to make an effort to connect on an emotional level. Vulnerability is its own kind of power.

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Round Table Discussion Six side tables sure to round out any space.

CIRCULAR SIMPLICITY Three circles join in space to form the Metodo low table by MDF Italia ($730) for a look that is simple and elegant. livingspace.com

PLAYFUL GEOMETRY With a beautifully curved tabletop and bold cubed base, the brightly coloured Mila ceramic side table (from $2,915) is a total showstopper. avenue-road.com

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CRAFTED CHAMELEON Intersecting shapes create a feeling of movement in Ethnicraft’s oak geometric side table ($739), which looks different from every angle. fullhousemodern.com

STYLISH STEEL An organically oblong tabletop sits atop a cantilevered steel base in Blu Dot’s line of Swole accent tables (from $454), perfect for grouping or flying solo. designhouse.com

CARRY ON The solid wood top of the Gong table (from $1,465) lifts out of its base to double as a lovely tray, should the mood strike to serve a round at your next (safe) gathering. resourcefurniture.com

OLD WORLD INSPIRATION The carved pattern detailing on the solid acacia wood Trill table ($499) was inspired by the ribbed glass of antique perfume bottles. cb2.ca

If all this home time has you thinking about changes talk to us!

OH, BABY In the nursery, a foundation of white and grey allows architectural details like the exposed ceiling beam, baseboards and window trimmings to stand out.

Growing Gains What’s old is new again in this 1930s craftsman-style home designed by Gillian Segal. WRITER KAITLYN FUNK PHOTOGRAPHY EMA PETER

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GROWING GAINS

ost people would wait until after a renovation to decorate, but these homeowners did the opposite. Recently married and planning to start a family, the young couple purchased a house—a 2,000-square-foot bungalow on Vancouver’s North Shore built in 1939—with the intent to knock it down and rebuild in a few years’ time. Until then, all they wanted was a comfortable space they could enjoy both as newlyweds and as first-time parents. After taking a stab at DIY decorating, they realized they needed a second opinion. So they turned to Gillian Segal, principal and founder of Gillian Segal Design, who not only made over the home but also taught the couple to love its heritage elements. “Some

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FRESH TAKE As a stopover before a major renovation, the homeowners invested in some key pieces to give the space a fresh look without knocking down a single wall. The custom curved velvet sofa is the centrepiece of the living room, bringing in plenty of cozy texture.

people want to update things just for the sake of it, but there’s a lot of character in those old, storied details,” says Segal. “We really embraced them.” Embracing that heritage meant keeping the arched doorways, flooring, moulding and original fireplace intact. “I actually found it all very charming,” she says. Instead of spending time and resources on the more permanent, structural components, Segal encouraged the homeowners to invest in things they could continue to enjoy after rebuilding. In the living room, the designer drew inspiration from the tile hearth—which would have been costly to replace—and quickly got to work transforming the space with furniture and decor in complementary shades of blush, maroon and grey. “We wanted to make their budget go as far as we could by mixing custom pieces with some big-box finds,” says Segal.

GROWING GAINS

The curved velvet sofa is one of those deeper investments. Unlike sectionals, which can be limiting because of their size and orientation, this custom-designed piece can be easily reconfigured to fit with other spaces down the road. The same goes for the Bensen U-Turn and Gubi occasional chairs, which can someday become welcome additions to a guest bedroom or master suite. “It’s pretty easy to place a single chair somewhere,” notes the designer. With the sofa in place, the living room really started to take shape. Segal chose a handful of pieces that echoed its rounded form: the circular coffee and side tables, the spherical throw pillows, the vessels on the mantel and elsewhere. The artwork, too, is a celebration of smooth, curvilinear figures. But where the living room offers a lesson on shape, the adjacent home office is a study in texture. Segal opted for a simple palette of nudes and creams, then layered in different materials for impact. The marblepatterned wallpaper, the linen drapes, the tambour credenza: each brings a sense of movement to the space. Here, original heritage elements—the recessed ceiling, the moulding and the art deco-style border that runs along the edges of the floor—are also prominent. “The colour of the floors isn’t what I would consider trending in 2020,” laughs Segal. “But I loved that it was so different. It was fun to play it up using warmer nudes for the walls

TH H ME

SMART SPENDING The Cassina mirrors that hang above the sofa, which reflect the natural light that pours in from the skylight, are another investment piece. “If you’re worried about kids or pets ruining textiles, don’t spend your money there,” says Segal. “Spend it on the walls, the light fixtures, things that aren’t going to see wear and tear.”

and window treatments.” Of course, that doesn’t mean round shapes were completely left behind. Segal brought in a circular area rug from West Elm; the art piece that hangs on the wall was custom-made by the designer and her team by stretching canvas over a round frame and painting the edge in a darker tone for contrast and depth. Segal describes the home as being “a typical little bungalow,” and opposite of open concept—something she sees as an

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advantage. “With an open-concept home, you walk through the front entrance and have a view of the entire main floor, which sometimes limits design and decorating,” she says. “When you have separate rooms, on the other hand, you don’t have to worry as much about how everything connects and flows.” This allowed for some liberties in how the kitchen, dining room, den and other rooms in the home were styled. The guest bedroom, for example, has a blue and turquoise scheme.

Vis

ONLY 13 HOMES REMAIN The Van Maren Group started construction of The Cottages on Osoyoos Lake in 2012. The vision was to create a one-of-a-kind retirement and vacation community of 285 homes with plenty of green space and resort style amenities, all connected by a beautiful private sandy beach on Osoyoos Lake. If you’ve been following our progress, you’ll have to agree. We Cottages site 2012

delivered! With our continued reputation for high-quality homes, as well as a focus on customization, it’s not surprising we’re ALMOST SOLD OUT! 2020 may be your final opportunity to become part of this amazing community. We are currently offering several custom designed homes under construction. These homes are still at the stage where you can choose your own interior finishes to create your unique home and obtain early occupancy.

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THEY’RE ALMOST GONE • 6 HILLSIDE/LAKEVIEW HOMES & 7 MERITAGE VIEW HOMES REMAIN! MEADOW & LAKEFRONT HOMES ARE SOLD OUT!

Act now to be part of the South Okanagan’s fastest selling residential community. Please contact Jody Curnow at 1.855.742.5555 to arrange a private viewing or visit our website for a full tour.

Visit our Display Homes » 2450 Radio Tower Road, Oliver, BC See website for open hours.

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GROWING GAINS

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WELL ROUNDED The round furniture in the living room is complemented by figurative artwork from Atlanta-based artist Kristen Giorgi, who was commissioned to do the piece above the fireplace, and local artist Zoë Pawlak.

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GROWING GAINS

We can help you convert that spare bedroom into a functional, efficient, multi-purpose space. Home office + guest bedroom! FAR REACHING STYLE To create an illusion of height in the office, Segal and her team extended the wallpaper beyond the moulding detail that runs just below the ceiling line.

The second floor also has its own distinct look. Aside from the master bedroom and a bathroom, Segal had just a “teeny, tiny” landing at the top of the stairs to work with—which she transformed into a nursery after learning part way through the project that the couple was pregnant with their first child. “We kind of ignored the fact that it was little and open,” says the designer, who decorated the space in soothing neutrals and soft textiles. Segal, who herself just had her second child, loves that she can have a small part in a room where special moments between family occur. “The nursery is a place where parents spend a lot of hours,” she laughs. “We wanted it to be nice for the baby, and nice for mom and dad.” At the end of the day, that’s what this project was all about: creating a comfortable home for the entire family, and “showing what good decorating can do,” says Segal—at least until the homeowners decide to launch that renovation.

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Texture, pattern and colour collide with abandon in this PlaidFox Studio-designed Yaletown loft—and the homeowners say: “Bring it on.”

Challenge Accepted WRITER AMANDA ROSS PHOTOGRAPHY TRACEY AYTON

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CHALLENGE ACCEPTED

POPPING OFF “We wanted dark and moody with pops of colour throughout, but we were happy to be challenged,” says homeowner Michael Walsh. The chandelier, marble counters and dark cabinets create a luxe feel, but when paired with a blue sofa and sassy artwork throughout, the space shows that it doesn’t take itself too seriously.

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the old adage goes, “Never mix business with pleasure.” And carefully maintaining that distinction is exactly what Ben Leavitt, designer and co-founder of Vancouver’s PlaidFox Studio, did for most of his career. But when friends Michael Walsh and Chris Pavlou, in deference to this principle, approached him for a referral to another designer, Leavitt said, “Why don’t you show me pictures?” After seeing said photos of his friends’ new space—a heritage loft building in Gastown with great bones and turn-of-the-century floors— Leavitt decided it was time to bend his own rule. Walsh and Pavlou were living in a cookie-cutter condo in Yaletown and had been hunting for something

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CHALLENGE ACCEPTED

IN THE MIX Mixed materials in the kitchen—exposed wood beams, brick, marble and pops of gold—create a sophisticated speak-easy vibe.

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CHALLENGE ACCEPTED

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DESIGNING DISCOVERY “Trusting your intuition is so important when you’re doing an eclectic home,” says designer Ben Leavitt of PlaidFox Studio. “It’s important to not have too much of a preconceived notion of what the final product will look like. You have to be totally open and adjust along the way.”

more unique. When a place in a 1910-era building came up, the two jumped. No stranger to blueprints and layouts (Walsh works in real estate and development), the pair came to the design table with clear criteria. They wanted “something masculine, sophisticated and luxurious,” and they wanted the heritage elements of the condo to be balanced with a thorough contemporary vibe. Outside of that, they were happy to see new ideas. “Often I have to push clients to embrace colour,” says Leavitt. “But Michael and Chris were down with bright colours, art deco, jewel tones.” In fact, the couple came to their designer friend with a picture of a velvet-tufted sofa in bright blue. “These owners really wanted to challenge themselves,” says Leavitt. “It was a reflection of a couple who travels all the time—Michael is originally from Australia and Chris is from South Africa—and the more you see, the more adventurous you are in design.” The trio conceived of a vision: their home would reflect their story, where they came from, while still pushing their limits with hue and texture.

Before the decor palette could be addressed, though, the loft’s architectural shell would first need to be refinished. Leavitt wanted the home to feel “old world” with its high ceilings, exposed beams and original maple flooring, but the latter was in bad shape. “Most clients would have ripped the floors out, but Michael and Chris were determined to make sure the home maintained a sense of history,” he says. “A lot of time was spent sanding, filling and repairing them to keep their natural patina.” The condo’s two bathrooms were gutted while the dining room and kitchen traded places. Where once a galley kitchen stood, you’ll now find a dining room—with an 18-foot velvet banquette cleverly hiding the unsightly gas pipes while also serving as extra seating. The dark-grey-hued kitchen feels simultaneously like an intimate heart of the home and a practical jewel box. In open loft living, every space interconnects, which can present interior design challenges when layering shade upon shade. “Here, you really need to rely on your gut,” says Leavitt.

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“Designing a home with a lot of different colours is like a Rubik’s Cube—there’s twisting and playing, twisting and playing, and eventually it clicks.” The trick is knowing when to pull back and when to push. Take, for example, the dining room, where textural differences abound: a black terrazzo table, brushed brass chairs wrapped in quilted antique leather and that elegant velvet banquette all work in concert against a brick wall adorned with a splashy high-gloss painting. “It’s not super crazy, yet nothing is boring,” says Leavitt. “It all has vibrancy and texture and it all has a story.” But for the furniture chapter of that story, the page was initially blank. Walsh and Pavlou felt it was time for a reset, and so hadn’t brought any furniture with them, save for a piano (Pavlou plays) and two pieces of art. Despite this, Leavitt wanted to ensure the new home reminded them of all of their travels and that every fresh piece had a story attached to it. So, in the kitchen hangs a Gray Malin picture of a kangaroo at the Parker Hotel, and a 20-foot wall of artwork features portraits of camels and cockatoos, reminding the pair of their global jaunts. A handmade brass box from India came from a tiny antique store in Brooklyn, while a seven-foot custom art deco chandelier was inspired by one in the lobby of the Georgia Hotel. “If we had used more crystal, it would have felt more French and elegant,” explains Leavitt. “But we were not going for elegant; we were going for interesting.” In every single meeting, the two sides came to the table to play with myriad ideas—all different, but always seeming to mesh. “We never paid attention to the theme of the apartment,” says Leavitt. “It was always just what felt like a good combination.” As such, you can’t tell what’s new and what’s old, but there’s definitely boldness throughout. After all, as Leavitt puts it, “Bold should always win over boring.”

THE INSPO

PORTRAIT PROVOKE STUDIOS

“We’re always on the hunt for unique hardware, as we see it as the jewellery of the home. We’re currently seeking rounded, soft and bold pieces that will contrast typically hard edges or angular corners, giving a sense of contrast and definitely an element of surprise, like these black Lo and Co handles or Park Studio’s gold knobs.”

“Metal-framed glass doors are coming back: they’re architecturally stunning, and a simple way to add interest where interest may be lacking. We’re especially interested in a variety of textured glass right now, including this reeded glass door from Audax Design Studio Toronto.”

Nature Calls Designers Phyllis Lui and Aleem Kassam of Kalu Interiors share the textures, colours and pieces on their mood board right now. During a grey time of year, we find ourselves drawn to all shades of green,” says Phyllis Lui, principal of Kalu Interiors. “There’s a yearning for natural textures, rich and lively colours and soft and elegant shapes.”

“We’ve been using greens—from dark emerald to mint— as accents for walls, vanities and tiles for many years. It’s a range of hues that’s both classic and current.”

“We love this textured, layered bathroom by Tol’ko Interiors.”

“The curved Decked-Out sofa from CF Interiors is anything but fussy, and all fabulous.”

“The patterns in this slab of Esmeralda from Margranite tell a story like a piece of art: it’s more than a just a piece of solid-colour stone.”

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