// A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT //
Chris Kapches, President & CEO of Chestnut Park Real Estate Limited, Brokerage, is a lawyer with an extensive career working within real estate organizations. Chris has served as Executive VP for the Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB), as well as roles on numerous TREB committees. Chris has been the Chairman of the Real Estate Council of Ontario’s Discipline and Appeals Committee for more than fifteen years.
Travel & Tourism
Art & Design
Charlottetown and Eastern Prince Edward Island
In Conversation With Dahlia Labatte
Cover Story
Interior Design
A 19th Century PEC Farmhouse Gets a Modern Update
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Making Waves Niru Somayajula Steers the Ship From Collingwood to Nova Scotia
elcome to our fall 2021 issue of Invest in Style. The holiday season is fast approaching. Whatever you celebrate, we know that simple togetherness will be an extra special part of it this year.
Our cover story, “Making Waves,” features Collingwood-based Niru Somayajula, President and CEO of Sensor Technology, a worldleader in the manufacturing of underwater sonar solutions. In order to be closer to the ocean and other like-minded companies, Sensor Technology, and Ms. Somayajula, also have a home in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. With customers across the globe, pre-pandemic she was on an international flight about once a month, sometimes with her two young daughters. Read about how this company leader and tri-athlete carves some waves of her own. Our Heartful Heroes feature in this issue is Seeds of Hope. From transitional housing, to art and wellness programs, Seeds of Hope provides opportunities for socializing and employment training. Pre-pandemic, Seeds of Hope made meals for 500 people each week. Now they prepare 5,000. We hope you enjoy seeing the work of talented designers and artists in this issue. An 1800s Wellington farmhouse gets a stunning new addition that both blends in and stands out. Young artist Dahlia Labatte, in partnership with her mother, recently opened her first exhibit in PEC. And oh-la-la check out the colourful pieces – many of them wearable – of glass fusion artist Kirei Samuel, at her Lalaland Glass Studio in PEC.
Southern Georgian Bay Living
Doing the Community Proud: The Rainbow Club of Southern Georgian Bay
since 1945. Bigley Shoes and Clothing (1911) in Bobcaygeon has become a tourist attraction, and The Grist Mill (originally built in 1808) in Consecon, PEC, is now a bar and event venue. We also feature the Owen Sound Farmers’ Market, an indoor market since 1936 (until the pandemic!), and Kingston’s historic Springer Market Square, one of the oldest open-air markets in North America. One of the things the pandemic has taught us is how much we value the place we call home. As we grow older, we are more likely to want to stay in our own homes, a concept called “aging in place.” In this issue we bring you a luxurious home that developers built in consultation with clients who intend to stay in this home long into the future when mobility may be limited and memory not as sharp. And we invite you to consider a trip to beautiful eastern Prince Edward Island, beginning in the historic harbourfront capital of Charlottetown. With dozens of oceanside beaches, singing sands, rare parabolic dunes and incredible hikes for all levels, a week in eastern PEI, with its fresh seafood and welcoming culture, is good for the soul. The spectacular Ontario properties featured in these pages are represented by our Chestnut Park agents. We hope you enjoy looking at the photographs of these and other luxury properties around the world represented by Christie’s.
Speaking of colourful, The Rainbow Club of Southern Georgian Bay provides advocacy and awareness, and hosts social events for the LGBTQ+ community. They are hopeful that a pride parade and outdoor street festival will be possible in 2022. Everyone welcome!
Chestnut Park is pleased to announce that in September we celebrated the opening of our new Uxbridge office. A big thanks to the local community and agents who came out to welcome and support us and join in the festivities. We look forward to serving our expanding market of clients throughout Southern Ontario. Stop by to say hello, and, if you’re new to Uxbridge, make sure to check out Blue Heron Books, a community haven as well as a popular bookstore, and enjoy a delicious farm-to-table meal at the Urban Pantry.
In these pages you’ll read about businesses that have been around for decades – in some cases more than 100 years. The Smithy, in Glen Orchard, Muskoka, has been a family-run blacksmith business
We hope you enjoy this issue of Invest in Style as much as we enjoyed producing it for you. Seasons greetings to you and your families from all of us here at Chestnut Park.
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