City Life Magazine — Dec/Jan 2015/16 by Dolce Media Group

OUR BIGGEST ISSUE OF THE YEAR!

ACTRESS MARIEL HEMINGWAY SHINES LIGHT ON MENTAL HEALTH

THE YEAR OF TORONTO: FROM THE BLUE JAYS TO DRAKE

A SOBERING RESPONSE TO THE FATAL MARCO MUZZO CAR CRASH

WILL NEW LAWS CLEAR THE AIR AROUND VAPING?

SINCE 2003

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ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN ILLUMINATE A HOLIDAY HOME ON A SPANISH ISLE

AN ENDURING LOVE IN THE SHADOW OF MS

EMBRACE WINTER AT THESE SNOW-COVERED RETREATS

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THE DEAL-MAKING BROKER REFLECTS ON HER SUCCESS IN TORONTO’S COMPETITIVE REAL ESTATE MARKET www.mycitylife.ca

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IT’S OK TO DREAM. IF ANYONE UNDERSTANDS, WE DO.

We’re proud members of a family business who are very thankful to our parents for taking the chance to IXOƓOO WKHLU GUHDPV Founded 36 years ago by three brothers, the Policaro Automotive Family has grown into a community-based business in two of the region’s most dynamic markets and we proudly accept the opportunity to build on their success. Employing four-hundred staff and hiring more in preparation for the arrival of BMW Brampton this fall, we’re as excited as ever for a very bright future. From our family to yours, keep dreaming. The Policaro Automotive Family

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VOLUME 13 ISSUE 6 | DEC/JAN 2015/16

CONTENTS

VIVIAN’S VISION How compassion and foresight led one broker to the top

ON THE COVERS

THE FEARLESS PATRICK PATTERSON Holding court in the domain of the towering Toronto Raptor

FEATURE STORIES 68 A TRAGIC AGIC CAR ACCIDENT THAT TOUCHES US ALL Responding nding to the Marco Muzzo o car crash

81 CHASING ING THE

CLOUDS DS AWAY Investigating gating the new laws around d vaping

86 MUST-VISIT 8 T-VISIT WINTER

ESCAPES PES Warm up to the cold at these relaxing retreats

24 66

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24 HOLIDAY HO GIFT GUIDE We made a list and checked it twice — presents for those tho naughty and nice (mostly nice, though)

Dec/Jan 2015/16

THE YEAR OF TORONTO 58 TH Reviewing the city’s memorable 2015 in sports Re and an entertainment & HUNGRY FOR MORE 61 YOUNG YO Jonathan Sadowski’s insatiable drive for the screen Jon 74 LINE LIN OF BEAUTY Seduced by the architecture of a holiday home on a Sed Spanish isle Spa More stories inside … s

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LOVELY LINGERIE LINGERIE LOVELY B R A F I T T I N G , S W I M W E A R & M A S T E C TO M Y S P E C I A L I S T B R A F I T T I N G , S W I M W E A R & M A S T E C TO M Y S P E C I A L I S T

7 6 0 0 W E S TO N R O A D, W O O D B R I D G E , O N TA R I O L 4 L 8 B 7 T 9 0 5 . 8 5 0 . 4 0 6 7 7 6 0 0 W E S TO N R O A D, W O O D B R I D G E , O N TA R I O L 4 L 8 B 7 T 9 0 5 . 8 5 0 . 4 0 6 7

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PUBLISHER’S NOTE

SUCCESS IS THE FRUIT OF EFFORT

his issue marks our last issue for the year. All our ideas, interviews and photo shoots have materialized into the biggest issue of 2015. There is a palpable sense of pride throughout our office, in every department. I am so very grateful to each and every one of them for their efforts and hard work throughout the past 12 months. It’s as if all our year-long efforts have finally culminated with this edition. This was a very special year for Dolce Media Group, with our editor, Michael Hill, becoming a dad to a beautiful little girl, and Michelle Zerillo-Sosa, Simona Panetta, our director of editorial, saying “I do” to Publisher/Editor-in-Chief the love of her life. Congratulations to both of you. Our cover story is an exclusive interview with a fearless Toronto Raptor, Patrick Patterson. His roar could be heard throughout his massive condo in the Trump Residences Toronto, but if you dared to look a little closer, you would recognize his pride, determination and love for T.O. As a mother, what touched me the most was his gentlemanly manners. But most of all there was a kindness in his eyes when I told him I had to go because my kids were waiting for me for our Saturday outings. His look was of a young man who loved his mom — a look that, perhaps in that very moment, was a bit longing for the people he cherished — that urged me to respect him even more for all his efforts: leaving his family and friends behind, coming to a strange town and yet achieving the level of success he currently occupies. Story on page 26. Success rarely comes without sacrifice and hard work. But observe someone at work who is passionate about what they do and you will be amazed at how effortlessly they make it seem. Take Vivian Risi, broker of record of Your Community Realty. Her whole persona radiates this sort of passion, whether at work, in her community or in her personal life. In fact, she has learned to move through all these roles on a daily basis, like a graceful dance. Her story will inspire you to take chances and never feel sorry for yourself. Although wanting to feel sorry for ourselves when we are hit with obstacles is a very human emotion, the minute you subscribe to this, somebody will run off with the cake. Instead, we should learn to use these obstacles as stepping stones to help us reach our goals. So as you read this edition of City Life Magazine, we want to express our gratitude to you, our readers. For we dedicate the fruits of our efforts to you. We hope it will serve to empower you, as you too reflect upon the effort you invested in your successes. Whether these were financial, emotional, personal or academic successes, they are still fruits of your efforts. And if you are not pleased with what you have achieved, do not be discouraged. A new year means it’s the birth year of everyone. A new year means a second chance to try again, to work a little harder, to focus on what really matters to you. And remember: the harder the task, the bigger the glory. Wishing you and your family a very blessed holiday season. May all your goals and dreams come true this 2016. Until then, be kind, be humble, be curious, be all that you can be.

Michelle Zerillo-Sosa Publisher/Editor-in-Chief

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PUBLISHER / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Michelle Zerillo-Sosa • michelle@dolce.ca DIRECTOR OF EDITORIAL Simona Panetta • simona@dolce.ca MANAGING EDITOR Michael Hill • michael@dolce.ca DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Angela Palmieri-Zerillo • angela@dolce.ca ART D E PARTM E NT CO-FOUNDER/CREATIVE DIRECTOR Fernando Zerillo • fernando@dolce.ca WEB PROJECT MANAGER Steve Bruno SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Christina Ban, Luay Saig WEB DESIGNER Yena Yoo WEB DEVELOPER Johnson Ta E D ITO R IAL D E PARTM E NT FASHION & HOME DECOR EDITOR Michelle Zerillo-Sosa BEAUTY & TRAVEL EDITOR Angela Palmieri-Zerillo COPY EDITOR Simona Panetta PROOFREADERS Nina Hoeschele, Simona Panetta CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Robyn Alexander, Michael Hill, Sarah Kanbar, Poetri, Bianca Ricci, David Waits, Robert Rotenberg EDITORIAL INTERN Amandalina Letterio CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Greg Cox, Butterfly Kisses Photography & Coppola Films, Farzam Hosseindoust, Spaces by Jacflash, Sal Pasqua, Carlos Arturo Pinto, Ted Sun VI D E O D E PARTM E NT VIDEOGRAPHER Carlos Arturo Pinto PUBLISHER

ADVERTISING T: 905-264-6789 info@citylifemagazine.ca DIRECTOR OF MARKETING Angela Palmieri-Zerillo • angela@dolce.ca DIRECTOR OF NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Susan Bhatia SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER Mario Balaceanu SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Sarah Kanbar OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Alessandra Micieli FRONT COVERS Patrick Patterson / Photo By Farzam Hosseindoust Vivian Risi / Photo By Butterfly Kisses Photography & Coppola Films City Life Magazine • Volume 13 • Issue 6 • DEC/JAN 2015/16 City Life Magazine is published bimonthly by Dolce Media Group, 111 Zenway Blvd., Suite 30, Vaughan, Ont. L4H 3H9 T: 905-264-6789 • F: 905-264-3787 info@citylifemagazine.ca • www.dolcemedia.ca Subscribe online at www.citylifemagazine.ca or by calling 905-264-6789. City Life Magazine’s yearly subscription fee is $24.00. We accept Visa, MC & AMEX. Send cheque or money order to Dolce Media Group, 111 Zenway Blvd. #30, Vaughan, Ont. L4H 3H9. Publication Mail Agreement No. 40026675 All rights reserved. Any reproduction is strictly prohibited without written consent from the publishers. DISTRIBUTION AND CIRCULATION City Life Magazine reaches 342,342 readers per issue through household distribution, newsstand sales and event partnerships across Canada. City Life is also available to over 100 million digital consumers of Magzter Inc. and Issuu. Inquiries about where City Life Magazine is available for sale should be directed to Dolce Media Group: info@dolce.ca or 905-264-6789. ISSN 1206-1778 Next Issue: Feb/March 2016 The opinions expressed in City Life Magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher or advertisers. Dolce Media Group does not assume liability for content. The material in this magazine is intended for information purposes only and is in no way intended to supersede professional advice. We are proud to be a Canadian company that has successfully published magazines for the past 19 years without any government funding or financial assistance of programs to cover editorial costs. It has all been possible thanks to the wonderful support of our readers and advertisers. ©2015 Dolce Media Group • www.dolcemedia.ca • Printed in Canada

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When the “ power of love

overcomes the love of power the world will know peace

”

— Jimi Hendrix

Michael Hill, Managing Editor

was on the road, in the dark and the pouring rain, driving to a family member’s home outside the city, when the news came through. Paris was gripped in fear and tragedy amidst gunfire and coordinated suicide bombings, terrorist attacks that claimed the lives of 130 civilians, another 368 injured. Anxiously I flipped stations, trying to find a news channel in range, trying to get updates, trying to find a light in the dark. It can be hard to process feelings after such senseless and tragic carnage. Anger, sorrow, uncertainty, all bucking and

rearing, rising and falling, like an ocean in a storm. With the very public locations of these attacks — the Stade de France, the Bataclan theatre, etc. — it would be lying to say that apprehension didn’t creep in when stepping out the front door, when entering an equally as public place. And that’s part of the strategy: to make you feel unsafe in the places that should be just that, safe. We can’t stop living our day-to-day lives, no doubt — that’s how they win. But how we react is equally important. It’s disheartening to hear of the Muslim women accosted on the TTC, of the mosque set on fire in Peterborough. It should go without saying that it’s ignorant and stupid to lash out at an entire group of people because of the actions of a few. And yet here we are: me writing that it’s ignorant and stupid to lash out at an entire group of people because of the actions of a few. I won’t get all preachy from atop this modest soapbox — the vast majority of you know how wrong that response is — so I’ll end with this: as the holidays drift closer with each falling snowflake, I hope you can all find solace in these sometimes dark times. I hope that there is happiness and comfort in the things we have — family, friends, safety. And as I’ve written in this section before: we’re all in this ride called life together, and I hope you remember that, too. Michael Hill Managing Editor

Let us know what you think of this issue by sharing your thoughts on Twitter at @citylifetoronto

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PHOTO BY SAL PASQUA

EDITOR'S NOTE

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Wing It

Celebrity makeup guru Rita Stirpe shows us how to get her glamorous 2016 Contessa Awards look

1 SHADOW PUPPET Give in to your brightest fantasy. The Urban Decay Shadow Box palette is full of bright shades that will make your eyes sparkle. This highly pigmented palette is chockfull of sultry hues that will give you a long-lasting pop of colour. www.urbandecay.ca 2 BROW GAME Fluff it up with Hourglass Cosmetics’ ArchBrow Sculpting Pencil. The squared-off shape helps you create realistic-looking hair strokes while the spool end helps you blend in for effortlessly bold brows. www.hourglasscosmetics.com 3 PUNCHY POUT Having a bold lip look is the perfect way to brighten up your day — especially during our dreary Canadian winters. This ultra-moisturizing lippy is also long-wearing, so you won’t have to reapply throughout the day. www.vasanticosmetics.com

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4 THE GIFT OF LENGTH Tarte Cosmetics’ Gifted mascara is derived from Amazonian clay to give you superior length while moisturizing and nourishing your lashes. You can’t go wrong with this no-clump, no-flake formula. www.tartecosmetics.com 5 LIP-LOCKED Paired with a shimmery eyeshade, this sultry lip hue is guaranteed to amp up your holiday party look in an instant. Estée Lauder’s Pure Color Envy packs in the moisture and has a lasting formula for a red lip that’s always in style. www.esteelauder.com 6 COPPER QUEEN This no-fuss liquid eyeshadow from Yves Saint Laurent is great for the gal on the go. Swipe the metalinspired, glittery goodness across your lids for a look that shines bright without the effort. www.yslbeautyus.com 7 FAUX REAL These dramatic Falsies Lashes will glam up your look this holiday season. Pair with a bright, sparkly eye and a deep red lip for a flawless uniform this winter. Ultrasoft and fluffy, these mink hair lashes are the pinnacle of luxury and style. www.falsieslashes.com

ABOUT RITA STIRPE From educating aspiring makeup artists to hosting her own show, Cosmetic Art, on Rogers TV, Vaughan-based makeup artist Rita Stirpe has been making the world a more beautiful place since the year 2000. She placed in the Top 5 at the Contessa Awards and the Mirror awards in 2015 for Makeup Artist of the Year and it was recently announced that she placed in the Top 5 for Makeup Artist of the Year at the 2016 Contessa Awards. Along with rouging the faces of celebrities and well-known personalities, Rita is also a top choice for local brides-to-be searching for expert makeup application on their big day. @MakeupArtByRita www.makeupbyritastirpe.com

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A DV E R TO R I A L

“

WE TRY TO EXCEL IN EVERY ASPECT OF ORTHODONTIC CARE

”

— Dr. Bruce Tasios

Dr. Bruce Tasios and Dr. Suzanna Lekht, the orthodontists of Tasios Orthodontics

CREATING CONFIDENT SMILES

rthodontics is more than just giving patients straight teeth. At least that’s the way Dr. Bruce Tasios sees it. “You want to give patients that perfect smile, but you want to make sure that they enjoy their experience too. That’s a big part of it,” he explains from a modern, glasswalled office in his Woodbridge practice, Tasios Orthodontics. It’s this customer-first attitude that’s been a cornerstone to the growth of Tasios Orthodontics over the past two years. As an experienced provider of both Invisalign and Damon Braces, Dr. Tasios and his team, including orthodontist Dr. Suzanna Lekht, have improved oral health and smile esthetics across the city using these innovative systems, which provide a gentler, less-invasive process for beautiful results. Winning smiles are definitely the goal, Dr. Tasios explains, but it’s his patients’ 18

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newfound confidence that is most rewarding. “That’s what it’s all about,” he says warmly, “giving somebody a better smile and a better life in terms of their self-esteem.” On top of their friendly, personalized orthodontic service, the team at Tasios Orthodontics have also become stalwart supporters of the community, sponsoring over 30 local sports teams and a number of charitable endeavours. From being a key practice in Smiles Change Lives, a program that gives free orthodontic work to underprivileged children, to raising money for the Ride for Heart in support of the Heart and Stroke Foundation, Tasios Orthodontics is part of a number of initiatives that better the lives of people across the city and the GTA. “We go the extra mile because to us, it’s vital to support our community,” says Dr. Lekht. Tasios Orthodontics will also soon launch a scholarship program for students who display sound academics

Voted Top Orthodontic Clinic in Vaughan and a dedication to volunteer work in the community. “It is important to go to work every day with a smile on your face,” says Dr. Tasios. “Being in this community with these great people and being able to give back just helps make that easier.” With this mindset, it’s obvious why Tasios Orthodontics won the Top Choice award for Top Orthodontic Clinic of 2015 in Vaughan. “We try to excel in every aspect of orthodontic care and do everything to ensure that the final result is optimal, healthy and long-lasting.” 3611 Major Mackenzie Dr., Unit 2 Vaughan, Ont. 905-553-7778

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Tasios Orthodontics brings a collective smile to the community through personalized service and a determination to give back

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HEALTH Oscar-nominated actress Mariel Hemingway, mental health activist and author of Out Came the Sun

FINDING THE SUN

Mariel Hemingway, Oscar-nominated actress and granddaughter of author Ernest Hemingway, sheds light on the silent suffering of mental illness Written By Michael Hill

You released two books this year, Out Came the Sun and Invisible Girl, which deal with overcoming addiction and mental illness in your family. What was the experience like to share your story? I think any time you put pen to paper in any regard it’s very cathartic. I think when you start to write it comes through you, or at least my experience is that when you give yourself permission to write your story down it’s very healing. It’s almost as though through this stream of consciousness things come out that you didn’t even realize you knew or remembered or had an affinity for. So it’s a powerful experience. Why publish two books, one for a more mature crowd and one targeted at younger individuals? I did a documentary called Running

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PHOTO BY JOHN PACKMAN

ariel Hemingway appears to have lived a charmed life. She’s the granddaughter of literary great Ernest Hemingway and an Oscar-nominated actress (Woody Allen’s Manhattan). But there is a darkness that’s hung over her family. Addiction and mental illness dot her lineage — seven relatives, including her sister and her grandfather, all committed suicide because of it. Hemingway spent a day in Toronto this past August as a brand advocate for quartz surface producer Cambria to discuss her new book, Out Came the Sun, and breaking the stigma around mental illness. We caught up with this Academy Award nominee, author and activist before her talk at the National Club in downtown Toronto to find out more.

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from Crazy. I’ve done a lot of work with support your own ecosystem that will suicide prevention and mental illness make you most healthy and balanced. awareness, but it seemed to me, after making the film, that there was a deeper You share a story about your time with story. I felt that by telling my own story the Dalai Lama, how during the end of it would give others permission to tell your time with him he said, simply but theirs. The reason why I wrote Invisible powerfully, “You’re OK.” This seemed Girl is because I think that children like a moment of clarity for you. Tell or young adults really have a difficult me about the impact of those words. time and they don’t have a tapestry of It wasn’t a moment that was like an experience in their past epiphany and then all of that allows them to a sudden I was a shifted understand the families human being — I’ve that they’ve grow up been on a journey for in. They may love them a very long time. But like I loved mine, but it was a moment where you don’t always get it was like putting a why people act the way period at the end of a they do, or why they’re sentence, at the end of addicted or why they the paragraph. I was rage or get upset or done searching. What drink too much or do I realized coming out whatever they do. Or was: no more following, if you have a sibling no more gurus. And it or a parent that is took a while to shed depressed or dealing that out of my life. But I with a mental illness, started to see that I was understanding that my teacher, and that you’re not the cause is was what was profound. really important. So I drew to myself, addresses the audience that’s gathered to meet her at the National Club in I wrote that for those Hemingway after that experience, downtown Toronto that don’t feel they have an independence, a a voice or never felt they’ve been seen confidence, an awareness that I hadn’t or heard. had before. In Out Came the Sun, you talk about how you were upfront about your family history, specifically about your sister Margaux’s suicide, with your one daughter, Dree, when she began demonstrating early troubling signs. What was it like to have that very frank conversation? Some parents don’t communicate, like my own parents, but I think we’re of a generation that talks to our kids. I think it’s really important to shed light on the reality of our past, where we come from and our heritage and our genetics. And you don’t do it in the sense that, “Oh, this is your future.” You do it to say this is our genetic makeup; this is the map of where we come from. Be conscious of it. Because I think having awareness and having knowledge about something gives you power. It gives you the power to choose a different way of life or make choices that you know 22

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“ I THINK HAVING AWARENESS AND HAVING KNOWLEDGE ABOUT SOMETHING GIVES YOU POWER

”

— Mariel Hemingway

Mental illness is being talked about now more than ever. But is that stigma breaking or is there still an uphill battle? I actually think it’s on the tipping point of really shifting. I think the more that people either suffer or know somebody who suffers, the more that people talk about it, the more it will lose this taboo … I think people need to understand that our heads and our bodies are not disconnected. They go together. So the more that we can make harmonious minds the better we can make our bodies and vice versa. So for me it’s always about talking about lifestyle. How are you living your everyday life? Because it’s going to affect your brain, it’s going to affect your balance. It doesn’t mean that that’s the sole solution, but it’s a very huge part of the solution. www.marielhemingway.com www.mycitylife.ca

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’Tis the season of showing appreciation with a special gift! Our holiday gift guide is brimming with ideas to help you pick the perfect present for your loved ones

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continued on page 52

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Toronto Raptor Patrick Patterson gets ferocious in his Trump Residences Toronto suite

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The Fearless

n o s r e tt a P k ic tr a P PHOTO BY FARZAM HOSSEINDOUST

On the verge of a potentially career-deďŹ ning season, we step into the lair of Toronto Raptor Patrick Patterson to see what life is like on top of the city WRITTEN BY MICHAEL HILL

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Patterson shows off his ball handling in his pristine bedroom. A selection of his “infinite amount of shoes” is stacked decoratively for effect

“

Honestly, I love basketbali . But my other passion after that is travel iing

PHOTO PROVIDED BY SPACES BY JACFLASH

“

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atrick Patterson roars into the jaws of a quivering raptor skull. His mouth is opened wide, teeth bared. His eyes: sharp and blazing. His eyebrows arch like the trajectory of a floating three-point shot. The Toronto Raptors power forward is a looming figure at six-nine and this primal glare makes him all the more intimidating. He notices the replica fossil shaking and his mood softens, a smile emerges. “Muscles flaring?” he asks as he reaches over to give my strained biceps a playful squeeze. Patterson’s sitting in front of the living room window of his Trump Residences Toronto suite as the sun paints a warm silhouette around his massive frame. Save for his patterned aqua socks, he’s head-totoe in a retro-modern all-black ensemble — zipper sneakers, pressed slacks, unadorned turtleneck — like some giant ninja readying for a night out on the town. The ethereal beats of Bryson Tiller’s “502 Come Up” bump from a portable speaker on his blond hardwood floor, Tiller singing “Askin’ myself, how did I get here this morning?” I’m starting to wonder the same thing myself. We’d noticed the faux fossil unboxed earlier and thought it would be a fun prop. I offered to hold it up. Maybe get him to roar like he is on the cover of the Toronto Raptors program that’s sitting on the glass desk nearby. But after a few minutes of watching my marathon isometric exercise, Patterson seems more amused than ferocious. It’s the first moment Patterson has dropped his business-like formality during our photo shoot, letting his practical-joker side out, even just for a second. Not that he’s an overly serious guy. He’s relaxed and accommodating, with more of a nonchalant confidence, like he’s cool if we’re here, cool if we’re not — whatever. He’s been in the spotlight ever since he was a teenager, when he led West Virginia’s Huntington High School to three straight state championships. Screaming at a skull for a handful of media is a walk in the park for this guy. It’s a crisp Saturday morning in September, a day so clear you can easily survey the breadth of Toronto from Patterson’s kitchen window. Summer break is behind him and the 2015-16 NBA season just around the corner. It’s an important year for Patterson, one he’s hoping will be career-defining. In a few days, he’ll be boarding a plane for Vancouver with his teammates for training camp before the real work of the season begins. It’s a trip he’s eager to make, for more reasons than one. “Honestly, I love basketball. But my other passion after that is travelling,” he says, noting how he spent time in Turkey and Croatia this summer. Vancouver is one of his favourite North American cities. It’s clean, fancy, high-tech, reminds him a little of Tokyo. He loves how in the morning you can head up to the mountains and hike or ski and then head down to the water to fish or go boating in the afternoon. “I just love that whole set-up.” Extracurriculars aside, there’s also a fresh excitement around the team. There are new faces, like Luis Scola and DeMarre Carroll, new uniforms and even a new scoreboard. “New everything,” Patterson says. The Raptors are coming off a season that saw a team record 49 wins and a second straight Atlantic Division title. While there’s no doubt that things are still a work in progress, that everyone — the team, management, fans — is hungry to push past the first round of the playoffs, there’s an eagerness to get things going. www.mycitylife.ca

“Everyone is real hyped, really excited, real anxious to get going to Vancouver with all our teammates and learning the new plays, new system, developing that camaraderie and chemistry and getting stronger with each other on the court,” Patterson says, now leaning against the granite countertop in his kitchen. “It’s just going to be real fun.” For Patterson, the new season also means a chance to step up. When asked about his aspirations for the 2015-16 campaign, he says, without hesitation, “My personal expectations for this season would be to become starting power forward and be in the threepoint shooting contest during All-Star Weekend.” Lofty goals. But there’s an unflinching conviction in the words that makes it clear he believes it will happen, that he isn’t afraid of the challenge. And it’s not just the quantifiables he’s focusing on either. On top of improving his shooting, being more aggressive on the court and a stronger rebounder, he explains, “fans can expect me to be one of the leaders on the Toronto Raptors.” This might be difficult to do on a team where all-stars like DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry are front and centre. But Patterson’s stepped into a leadership role in the past, both at Huntington and at the University of Kentucky, where in his junior year he helped the team become a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. With this being his sixth season in the NBA, he really does want it to be a pivotal one. When I shared this proclamation with Dwane Casey, the Raptors head coach felt Patterson has the capacity. “First of all, he’s a smart man. He’s a well-rounded man. It’s not just basketball. He’s smart off the floor, away from basketball,” Casey says. Patterson’s also a self-made player who reinvented himself as a three-point shooter when he entered the pros. “Everything he’s done, he’s made himself into a top-notch NBA player.” Casey explains that during preseason Patterson has already stepped up to help his new teammates adjust to the Raptors’ system. He’s even offering instruction to players who he’s competing against for a starting spot, like Scola. “He’ll tell any player on the court that listens what they should be doing on a play,” Casey adds. “He could be selfish and say, ‘Hey, look, I’m not going to tell you. You figure it out yourself.’ But being the guy he is, he’ll be a leader by telling them what to do.” Patterson has always been mature for his age. Even as a young child, the 26-year-old showed an intellectual spark well beyond his years. He grew up as an only child in Huntington, W.Va., with his mother, Tywanna, a studious city girl from Washington, D.C., and his father, Buster, a country boy from Rock Hill, S.C. Education, discipline and family were priorities in the Patterson household. Buster, who served in the navy for 20 years, enforced a strict curfew. “It didn’t matter if you were in the 12th grade, you still had to be in the house at a certain time. You couldn’t be out in the street,” remembers Tywanna. A natural athlete with the height to dominate, Patterson picked up sports quickly, excelling at soccer, football and of course basketball. On the hard court, his dad would teach him the fundamentals through some father-son one-on-one. “They would

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Dec/Jan 2015/16

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PHOTOS PROVIDED BY SPACES BY JACFLASH

go at it,” Tywanna says. “I think maybe my husband was more competitive. If Patrick would beat him they’d have to do it again.” One time they were at the Y for well over an hour with no signs of stopping. Patrick, as it were, kept winning. “I said, ‘Patrick, can you please let your dad win one game so we can go home?’ That’s how competitive they were.” But his connection to the sport started far earlier than that. It was March 15, 1989, the day after Patterson was born. Tywanna had just laid down her new baby boy when in walks Buster. “I’m thinking my husband is going to give me some candy or flowers or balloons. He comes in with this big old basketball,” she recalls with a chuckle. In a prophetic gesture, Buster placed the ball at the head of the bed, right next to little Patrick. When she questioned her husband as to why he brought a basketball for a newborn, he responded: “‘Well, I want to introduce my son to the world of basketball.’” Patterson would turn national heads with his high school play and he entertained offers from a slew of top-tier schools, including the University of Virginia, University of Florida and Duke University. But, after much soul searching, he would eventually commit to Kentucky in 2007, “which is by far the mecca of college basketball,” Patterson says. While many up-and-coming prospects often make the jump to the pros after freshman year, Patterson op opted to spend three years in college to earn his degree in com communications. “It was a tough decision to make,” Patterson explai explains, acknowledging that forgoing the NBA draft meant Patterson turned to his pers personal stock could take a hit. But his parents’ words Jaclyn Genovese of proved true: tru “If they want you now they’ll want you later.” Spaces by Jacflash to decorate his Houston used its 14th overall pick to select Patterson home, which is filled in the 2010 N NBA draft. He gradually carved a spot with interesting out on the Roc Rockets roster, but 2013 would prove décor, including this nomadic for Patter Patterson. He was dealt to Sacramento marquee 54, his number on the court, in February in a six six-player swing before becoming and a large a piece of the sev seven-player move that sent “P” hanging in his him, Greivis Vásq Vásquez, John Salmons and Chuck living room Hayes to Toron Toronto for Rudy Gay, Quincy Acy and Aaron Gray Gray. The tr trade to Toronto was unbalancing. “The first thing that came to my mind was, I’m leaving the co country, I’m going to somewhere that’s completely foreign to me, and the only thing I knew about T Toronto was it’s in Canada and it’s freezing cold,” he explains explains. Because of Sacramento’s warm California weather, the heavie heaviest piece of clothing Patterson owned was a fleece jacket. As his plane descended into Toronto, all he could see was snow. “From the ground to the water, the buildings, the trees, just everything completely covered in white,” Patterson recalls. “And I thought, ‘Man, what did I get myself into?’” But as he acclimatized to his new surroundings, discovering what the city had to offer, his disposition warmed. To top it all off, the Raptors caught fire. “We ended up winning the Atlantic Division. We made it to the playoffs. Although we lost in the first round, I felt like we had a successful year,” he explains. “And I’m like, ‘You know what? I want to be here.’” So too did the fans. “One of the things I love the best is when I meet fans, die-hard hockey fans, die-hard baseball fans, who are like, ‘You know what? You have converted me to a basketball fan,’” Patterson says. Being the only basketball team in the country can be a surreal feeling, he adds. “You have the entire country of people encouraging you, pushing you. Sometimes you feel like their vision of you is far bigger than how you view yourself.” Patterson proved a potent weapon as a stretch four off the bench for the Raptors. His acute basketball IQ allows him to find open space and nail clutch threes — a trait he models after the legendary

PHOTO BY FARZAM HOSSEINDOUST

Patterson may be a big movie buff, but he also loves his footwear, especially his prized black-and-red Fieg x Buscemi 110MM

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City Life Magazine

“

I ’m very thankful for what I have in this world, but when I watch a movie I like to live in someone else ’s shoes

PHOTO BY FARZAM HOSSEINDOUST

“ Patterson turns to a clean casual-meets-sophisticated look in his spacious kitchen, which overlooks Toronto’s downtown

Robert Horry, a.k.a. “Big Shot Rob.” It added depth to the team’s offence, helping propel them to their first playoffs in six seasons. The Raptors rewarded Patterson with a three-year, $18-million deal in July 2014. Patterson found a permanent home in the Trump, where he employed the services of Jaclyn Genovese of Spaces by Jacflash to design the space. You can see a modern woman’s touch in the seamless eclecticism, between the classy glass shelves, mirrored coffee table and tasteful old-world decorations, such as an interesting steam-punk-esque lamp. But there’s also plenty of nods to Patterson’s individuality: a marquee 54, his number, welcoming you in his suite’s vestibule; a sign that reads “Patterson Way”; a large “P” hanging behind his couch. And you can’t miss the stacked boxes of his “infinite amount of shoes,” including his favourite pair of black-and-red Fieg x Buscemi 110MM, decorating his bedroom wall and lining his elongated walk-in closet. “I find that my lifestyle has improved since I now have an organized closet,” he says about his now colour-co-ordinated clothing, thanks to Genovese. But the 32

City Life Magazine

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most interesting piece has to be the graffiti-like paintings of the Looney Tunes and Freddy Krueger, two of his fictional faves. “I’m big on memorabilia,” he adds as we talk about the various items adorning his home. Shelves by his kitchen table are stuff ed with autographed items, including a Mike Tyson boxing glove and Ray Lewis’ helmet from Super Bowl XXXV. There’s also a basketball covered in signatures from the likes of Blake Griffin, Kevin Love and Derrick Rose from the 2007 McDonald’s All-American Game Patterson played in. “That basketball, it should go in a case,” he says with a sly smile. In Toronto, he’s found his culinary inclinations satisfied, noting Khao San Road, Lee and Valdez as some favourites. But he also found a haven for one of his biggest loves: film. “I’m constantly going to Dundas Square, to the Cineplex. I’m always in the movies, always watching movies,” he says. What he loves about film is the escapism. “I love my life. I’m very thankful for what I have in this world, but when I watch a movie I like to live in someone else’s shoes.” Everyone needs a break once in awhile, after all. “Even www.mycitylife.ca

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Obama needs a break,” he quips. It was his parents who instilled this love for the big screen. They’d regularly take him to the movies, often once a week. But it was the King of Pop who was the real hook. “It wasn’t even a movie. It was a music video, ‘Thriller,’” he says of the Michael Jackson classic. As Patterson watched the zombie horde on the screen, he freaked. “I just ran and hid in my closet. I didn’t even finish the whole video,” he adds. It made him a horror fanatic with a taste for Wes Craven. His favourite film is A Nightmare on Elm Street and he even boasts an original blackand-white copy of Night of the Living Dead. This fall he was even CBC Toronto’s TIFF correspondent, where he saw about 18 or 19 films. As our time starts to wind down, we talk about the upcoming season and the changing perception toward the Raptors. Ever since the Vince Carter era came to an end in December 2004, Toronto became more of a speed bump for playoff contenders. But with the success of the last two seasons, Patterson feels the city is finally getting the respect it deserves. “I feel like people are starting to wise up about us. People aren’t taking us for granted, people aren’t taking us lightly,” he says. “They know that when they play us, they’re up against a tough opponent.” It’s clear that family is immensely important to Patterson, too, as he talks about regularly texting his parents, checking in, seeing how they’re doing. Every year, for one game in Washington and Charlotte, Patterson and his parents rent a suite and invite family from each side — Tywanna’s from D.C. and Buster’s from North and South Carolina — to see a game and hang out with Patterson. When I ask if he’ll be flying in his parents for the home opener in Toronto, he explains that they’ll definitely be in attendance. “I’m an only child, so they want to be here as much as possible,” he says, adding they’ll often come up even when he’s not here. “Throughout the season, they’ll come up and stay with me for two or three weeks just because they love it out here.” And that’s the message he has for all the Americans that view Toronto as a frozen wasteland, as he once did. “Everyone I talk to now, they’re like, ‘Toronto’s cold. Toronto’s this. Toronto’s that.’ I’m like, ‘You know what? Just come out for a week. Come out here for a week and stay with me and I’ll show around, and you’ll never want to leave.’” It seems like you could say the same for Patterson. @pdpatt www.mycitylife.ca

YOU YOU O U KNOW K N O W US U S FOR F O R LUNCH LUNCH …

GET TO KNOW US FOR DINNER! Trimani is now open for dinner Fridays & Saturdays

Come home to Trimani Ristorante. Treat your palate to world-class chef Domenic Colacci’s fresh, simple, European style with every dish executed to perfection. Celebrating 15 years in Vaughan, owner Robert De Zorzi ensures the satisfaction of every guest. Enjoy live music by singer/pianist Mellow Dee as you indulge in a glass of wine from our extensive collection.

8555 Jane Street, Unit 6, Concord, ON L4K 5N9 905.660.7474 | www.trimani.ca Dec/Jan 2015/16 City Life Magazine

A DV E R TO R I A L

Lina, Daniel, Giselle and Bruno are bringing glitz and glam to the Ci City ity ty of o Va Vau V Vaughan au a g ghaan

Glitz JEWELLERY BOUTIQUE G

litz Jewellery Boutique has arrived in Vaughan and it’s here to stay. Built on years of industry experience and a passion for all things shiny, the familyrun establishment is turning heads thanks to its stunning array of fine jewellery and fashion-forward statement pieces. “Stacked and customized engagement rings, our House of Harlow collection and men’s leather and beaded bracelets are all the rage right now,” says Lina MaggiacomoCampanella, Glitz’s personable head designer. From the moment you walk in, Glitz Jewellery Boutique dazzles the senses with its modern-glam Miami-inspired interiors and warm, approachable service that’s often lacking in traditional jewellery stores. 36

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“We have something for everybody’s taste and budget — all one-of-a-kind pieces you don’t see every day,” says co-founder Giselle Maggiacomo, who’s been in the industry for over 30 years. Previously in Fairview Mall, the high demand for Glitz’s quality pieces prompted Giselle, along with her husband, Bruno, and their children, Lina and Daniel, to better service their loyal and growing clientele by moving to the bustling community of Maple, Ont. While Bruno manages the watch repair department and Daniel, a gemology graduate, provides goldsmith services, Giselle and Lina handle the buying and designing. With a degree from OCAD University, Lina designs custom engagement rings,

wedding bands and semi-precious stone pieces that speak to the inner style of the wearer. From vintage and modern to classic and one-of-a-kind, Lina will listen to her clients’ desires at the boutique’s Create Bar before presenting realistic AutoCAD designs of a piece that will stand out from the crowd. Whether you’re in search of a unique baptismal gift, a sparkler for your lady love, trending arm candy from Jennifer Lopez’s Endless collection or a knockout cuff from Liquid Metal, Glitz is your one-stop shop for all your jewellery and everyday accessories.

www.glitzjewellery.com 2396 Major Mackenzie Dr., Unit 8 Vaughan, Ont. 289-553-9010 www.mycitylife.ca

PHOTO BY CARLOS ARTURO TURO PINTO

Vaughan’s go-to destination for fine gold, d, diamond jewellery and the latest trending g pieces

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A DV E R TO R I A L

ROCK STAR

ErthCOVERINGS leaves no stones unturned as it continues to bring high-quality, natural stone veneers to North America

From marble and limestone to slate and natural stone 3D veneers, ErthCOVERINGS is transforming residential and corporate spaces with one-of-a-kind, quality stone offerings sourced locally and from around the world

City Life Magazine

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“

OUR COMPANY’S GROWTH IS AN INDICATION OF HOW WELL WE’VE BUILT OUR FOUNDATION ON GOOD MORALS AND GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE — Ivan Rapa, president and CEO of ErthCOVERINGS

”

bring back home and into the marketplace. In some instances, however, the next big thing can be found just around the corner. “We’re seeing a shift to marble and limestone accents in home design,” says Rapa, who recently started producing natural stone veneers from Ontario limestone sourced from quarries three hours north of Toronto. Its earthy colour palette of neutral tones, taupes, beiges and greys, he explains, is the reason for limestone’s welcomed comeback in home décor. “A designer may have never worked with Ontario stones because they can be raw and crude, but we’re turning them into a format that any homebuilder and designer could implement in their projects. We’re constantly working on how to produce a product that is environmentally friendly.”

With a renovation boom sweeping through Canada, ErthCOVERINGS’ revolutionary and easy-to-install natural stone products are fuelling our need to transform our homes into unique and inspiring sanctuaries. But it’s the company’s attention to detail that has solidified its reputation as a pre-eminent purveyor of natural stone veneers and tiles. “Our company’s growth is an indication of how well we’ve built our foundation on good morals and great customer service. Our quality control is by far something that we really work hard on. If there’s an issue we’ll take it back — that’s how strongly we believe in our product.” www.erthcoverings.com 55 Silton Rd., Unit #1, Woodbridge, Ont. 905-265-8565 www.mycitylife.ca

PHOTO BY CARLOS ARTURO PINTO

van Rapa knows a good thing when he sees it. A former building renovator from Australia, the self-described adventurist came to Canada in 1998 and quickly established ErthCOVERINGS, a stone and tile company that would revolutionize design in Canada by providing stylish, quality stone wall coverings that are as effortless to install as they are beautiful. It all started on a visit back home in 2002 when Rapa came across a lightweight stone-covering product that was unlike anything he had ever seen before. “This stone was unique, it was cutting-edge — it could transform a wall very quickly and cost-effectively within the day,” says Rapa, president and CEO of the Vaughan-based company. “Two weeks later I decided to take on a distributorship in Ontario and imported my first load. From there, the company quickly evolved and by 2003 I was looking at additional lines and styles to add to the company’s offerings.” ErthCOVERINGS has since become a leading distributor of high-quality, natural stone veneers in North America. Rapa and members of his close-knit team are constantly exploring remote quarries and attending stone shows across the world in search of one-of-a-kind natural stones to

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PUT YOUR BEST FACE

FORWARD

Skin care specialist and working mom Ashley Perri of Skinprovement Inc. spreads her glow to Vaughan

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Dec/Jan 2015/16

reputation. Other services she offers are photo facials, microdermabrasion, enzyme peels, skin tightening, age-spot removal and dermaplaning, as well as anti-aging treatments. Ashley curates customized treatments for each of her clients. Her star treatment, she says, is the oxygen facial, made popular by Hollywood royals like Jennifer Lopez, Madonna and Justin Timberlake. In just an hour, Ashley’s magic fingers replace dullness and signs of aging with a bright, beautiful glow and surge of hydration. “Anyone who is looking for immediate results for a special event such as a wedding, or wants that J.Lo glow without the downtime, this treatment is for you.” As a mother of three small children — a four-year old girl and two boys aged two and a half and five months, Ashley knows just how daunting it can be to juggle a career and family. That’s why Ashley provides flexible hours to accommodate the working mom because she knows herself just how busy life can get. And even though things can get hectic, Ashley still takes the time to give back as a proud sponsor of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. This year she raised over $1,000 for the charity, which aims to bring joy to children’s lives. As for how she does it, Ashley draws

strength from a supportive family and a flair for time management. “I am lucky to have a very supportive husband who pushes me to do great things for my business and my family,” says Ashley, who describes JohnPaul, her husband of five years, as a “super dad” with a cape behind him. If you’re looking for a rejuvenating experience with a qualified, experienced and knowledgeable person working on your skin care needs, Ashley of Skinprovement Inc. is the right choice. www.skinprovement.ca Flexible hours on Monday through Saturday; by appointment only 647-668-5494 facebook.com/skinprovement.ca @skinprovement

Photos By Carlos Arturo Pinto

shley Perri has a gift, and it’s helping both women and men achieve flawless complexions that glow with health and vitality. A certified skin care specialist with a diploma in medical esthetics, Ashley launched her own laser clinic and medi spa, Skinprovement Inc., in 2013, after years of managing a leading downtown Toronto spa and teaching aspiring students the ins and outs of esthetics as an instructor at Sheridan College. At just 29, Ashley has made leaps and bounds in a competitive field where dedication and passion is a must. Her growing list of loyal clientele and achieving a top 5 position for the Young Entrepreneur Award in 2015 by the Vaughan Chamber of Commerce are a reflection of that. “I take a lot of pride knowing that my clients are achieving the results they are looking for. Making a difference in their confidence is why I love what I do,” says Ashley, who’s made two guest appearances on Breakfast Television, Living Well Television, Vanity Insanity and Shop 411 and was featured in the Globe and Mail. From safe and pain-free laser hair removal using state-of-the-art equipment to exceptional customer service, Ashley is steadily building her clientele based on her

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success story

THE REAL DEAL BILLIONS

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LOCATIONS

REAL ESTATE AT A GLANCE (TORONTO REAL ESTATE BOARD, OCTOBER)

Average price for a home in THE GTA

$630,876 Average price for a detached home in

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Average price for a detached home in

YORK REGION

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ROYAL LEPAGE YOUR COMMUNITY REALTY

For two decades, Vivian Risi has scaled the ranks of the real estate world to build the largest Royal LePage franchise in Canada. City Life sits down with the deal-making broker as she unlocks the door on her career and desire to give back

VISION VIVIAN’S Written By Michael Hill

tep into the lobby of Royal LePage Your Community Realty and look to the left. There, on the first floor, behind floor-to-ceiling glass, opposite the reception desk, is the office of Vivian Risi. She’s the company president, the broker of record of Canada’s largest independently owned Royal LePage franchise. She could have a prime piece of office real estate anywhere in the three-storey building, maybe somewhere up top, looking down on the business she built over the past two decades. Instead she’s here, on the ground floor, beside the lobby, for everyone to see. www.mycitylife.ca

“I wouldn’t be able to operate in any other way,” she explains. “I need to connect.” It’s an unseasonably warm October day as Risi sits around the small coffee table of her main floor office. She wears a trim brown blazer, dark jeans and a pair of blackscaled shoes that adds an air of personality to her modernprofessional outfit. Hanging by the glass door is a collection of photos of her smiling alongside notable figures, such as Bill Clinton, Oprah and Justin Trudeau. Her office’s location and its glass facade, she continues, are essential to her leadership, symbols of her transparency and approachability. “I’ve always believed in an open-door policy,” she says. Real estate is a people business, and Risi’s Dec/Jan 2015/16

City Life Magazine

I BELIEVE HER SECRET TO SUCCESS IS SIMPLY BEING A COMPASSIONATE HUMAN BEING AND A TRUE HUMANITARIAN IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD AND TITLE — Justin Risi, executive vice president of Royal LePage Your Community Realty

Vivian Risi, president and broker of record of Royal LePage Your Community Realty, has grown her company into Canada’s largest Royal LePage franchise

people need to feel comfortable to walk in and talk with her. “There has to be that accessibility,” she adds. “They need to have that freedom to know that I’m here.” It’s an interesting approach to leadership, but one that’s proved potent. Over the past 20 years, Risi has grown her brokerage into an industry front-runner. With over one thousand agents operating out of 12 locations, her business is responsible for selling over seven thousand ends and moving billions of dollars of property annually. Real estate is a sure-fire means of 44

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creating wealth, but Risi’s climbed to the top of her industry with the community kept close to her heart. Risi’s middle child, Julie Risi-Careri, who suggested the company create a New Homes and Condos division as there was a need for this service, feels her mom’s compassion for the community is perfectly reflected in the company name. Before registering the company in 1994, Risi asked her children to brainstorm names. The word “community” came up on several occasions during their brainstorming. Risi came back with one she thought encapsulated her vision: Your Community Realty. “It was perfect,” Julie says. Risi has embraced that community focus wholeheartedly. She supports around 30 charitable causes each year, including the Yellow Brick House women’s shelter, where she helped raise $4 million as the capital campaign chair to bring a second shelter to York Region. This dedication has garnered a number of awards, including the Vaughan Chamber of Commerce’s 2012 Philanthropic Business Person of the Year award. This November she added the Canadian Italian Business and Professional Association’s Community Leader award to that collection. Eddy Burello, president of the CIBPA Toronto, explains, “The Community Leader awards those individuals that have demonstrated an outstanding contribution to the community at large.” Past recipients include the DiBattista family, Famous People Players founder Diane Dupuy and developer Michael DeGasperis. Risi joins their company not just because of donated money. As Burello adds, “It’s also the fact that she

inspires so many people to continue the act of giving.” When asked about why she’s so motivated to give back, Risi explains that it’s simply an inherent passion. “It’s in your DNA,” she says. “You can’t make somebody want to give. They do reluctantly and then they’re like, ‘I’ve already given. I’m done now.’ When I hear ‘I’m done now’ I go ‘OK, these people just don’t get it.’ And it’s too bad, because they’re the ones that are missing out.” There’s a warm palpability in her words as she discusses her charitable work, an open kindness that rings like the strings of a plucked harp. She’s poised and professional, but effortlessly slides into a motherly modesty as she speaks. She never shies from eye contact, but can casually break away, perhaps as she lightly flares her hands in a playful exaggeration of astonishment when discussing, say, encountering a nowtrivial dilemma. There’s an unguarded genuineness to it all that makes you forget this woman regularly brokers deals worth millions. Justin Risi, Risi’s son and the company’s executive vice president, feels this authenticity is key. “Vivian’s best quality can be summed up as Vivian being Vivian. She’s real,” he says. She doesn’t change, no matter her audience. “I believe her secret to success is simply being a compassionate human being and a true humanitarian in every sense of the word and title,” Justin adds. An example that’s pushed him to be a better person as well. Risi’s always had a soft spot for the “vulnerable ones.” Whether it was being friendly to the kid left out on the playground or chairing a fundraising www.mycitylife.ca

gala, she wants to elevate those that need a helping hand. “You have to look at that and say, well, if we don’t help them who’s going to help them?” she says. “It’s nice to have nice things, but it’s really not that nice to have nice things when people can’t have any.” She believes this desire to give back is firmly rooted in her upbringing. Her parents emigrated from Italy when she was three years old and, like many immigrating Italians, shared a small bungalow with other families. “Everybody shared,” she says of life in that North York home. It’s something that’s just part of the Italian culture. “I think most Italians are naturally givers. You go to an Italian’s home and you’re doing a deal, out comes the wine and the prosciutto and the cheese,” she says with a laugh. “So I think that’s part of who we all are.” Growing up, Risi was always studious and kept a steady job, usually two. When she was 12, she landed her first parttime gig at a local variety store. “I was so excited. I worked at the popcorn stand,” she says fondly. During high school she worked at a banquet facility and found an opportunity at a health club part-time, where she was eventually offered an assistant manager position on weekends. As graduation approached, Risi thought about a long-term career. Her father was a builder and real estate was regular conversation around the household. “It was all we talked about, and I thought, I’m going to get my licence,” she recalls. It was 1973. “I was 18 years old.” She started as a realtor part-time while she had her children — Michelle, Julie and Justin — before jumping into the industry full-time in 1982. For 12 years she worked at the real estate arm of Canada Trust and was consistently a top agent. But in 1989 the market took a nosedive. Things had run too hot for too long: bidding wars were constant and prices were outpacing inflation. Interest rates skyrocketed and mortgage payments doubled overnight. People simply couldn’t afford to pay. “They were literally walking away from their homes,” Risi recalls. As a realtor, Risi felt the effect. She was a single mother with three children and found that the lifestyle her family www.mycitylife.ca

Top: Vivian Risi and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Bottom: Risi introduces American motivational speaker Tony Robbins (right) at an event in September

was accustomed to was no longer feasible. “We went from up here,” she says, her hand above her head, “to down here,” dropping her hand toward the floor. They were forced to move three times in one year. “But it was the best thing that we experienced together, because we learned how to readjust our expectations.” It was also bonding for the family. “We grew together through that process,” she adds. “If you bond together you can get through anything.” Risi could have easily felt sorry for herself and accepted the grim hand fate dealt. But quitting has never been her style. She pushed forward. Throughout that difficult period, she often helped

other realtors with their deals and developed a taste for management. To make that step, however, she needed her broker’s licence. She thought, “How am I going to sell real estate and go back to school and have three teenagers in the house?” But, as she did before, she trudged onward. She juggled work, school and family while she finalized the courses. It wasn’t easy, but she eventually landed a secure manager’s job at the company. “I remember the day, May 17, 1993, I signed my contract,” she says. Then September came. “The company was sold,” Risi recalls. “Literally, it was: What just happened? What. Just. Dec/Jan 2015/16

City Life Magazine

Happened?” she repeats, emphasizing each word. They were purchased by American real estate company Coldwell Banker. Each individual office was to be sold off, including Risi’s. Livelihoods were in jeopardy and the future was frighteningly uncertain. Risi calmed her team and jumped on the phone. She began calling brokerages in hopes of finding one to purchase her office. One broker said he wasn’t interested, but dropped an existential suggestion: Why don’t you buy it? “I got off the phone and I thought that was the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard in my life,” she says. “I can’t even buy a pair of shoes. How am I going to buy this office?” But as the idea settled, it became more enticing. No other managers had made the move to buy their offices. Instead of allowing someone else to run away the cake, Risi acted. She called up the company president. The energy of the moment thrust her to her feet and she stood at her desk, explaining her interest in buying the branch. The issue was her capital was tied up — a slight exaggeration. “I didn’t have any capital invested, but I figured it sounded good,” she says, smiling. “No problem,” he said. “We’ll work with you.” Three representatives from California showed up loaded with an intimidating pile of books and documents. “I looked at the numbers and I didn’t even know what I was looking at,” she acknowledges. But she pushed ahead. She laid out her terms and how she would need the deal to work for her to succeed. As the first mover, the company could use her as an example for others to follow. They agreed. “I got my office and started working with 18 realtors.” The year was 1994. The feelings she felt after making the purchase? “Fear,” she says matter-offactly. “I didn’t sleep. I mean total anxiety.” But she was determined to make it work. “I’ve always had a vision of real estate being different. So my vision was to create a company that would really give the realtors a service, to make them better at what they do.” She brought in speakers and better training to empower her team. People began talking and taking interest. In the first year, she more than doubled her staff. 46

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I BELIEVE IN EMPOWERING THE PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR ME TO DO WHAT THEY DO — Vivian Risi, president and broker of record of Royal LePage Your Community Realty

Michelle Risi, Vivian’s eldest daughter and company executive vice president and president of Your Community Realty’s Real Estate Academy, explains that this attitude of education and better service has always been a pillar of her mother’s success. When Risi launched her brokerage during the recession, many competitors were busy cutting back to save costs. “She realized,” Michelle explains, “‘What effect am I going to have on this industry and my realtors if I cut back? Am I doing any justice? I’m going to empower them as much as I can with as many tools and services as I can so they can get out there and make more money.’ And that’s really her philosophy in terms of business: Don’t cut back. Offer more.” Risi’s early success also drew the attention of the big fish. Royal LePage approached her, curious about how she was thriving while surrounded by two of their offices. They wanted to purchase her business. She refused. “I wasn’t going to have anyone take it away,” she says. “I wanted it for my kids, for my family.” They gave her a different option: Buy theirs. But she didn’t think she could take on something that size.

Top: Risi with media icon Oprah Winfrey Middle: Risi rubs shoulders with English business titan Richard Branson Bottom: Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua presents Risi with the Vaughan Chamber of Commerce’s Philanthropic Business Person of the Year award

www.mycitylife.ca

“I went through eight months of ‘I can’t do that, I can’t do that, I can’t do that. Seriously, that’s too big,’” she recalls, acknowledging a very human trepidation when at the foot of such a monumental and potentially overwhelming situation. “And then you go, ‘Wait a second. Yes you can, yes you can.’ And I did it.” From there, she grew the company into the powerhouse it is today. When asked how she overcame the early obstacles, she explains it’s all about the people. “Whenever you do anything and you want to be successful at it, you’ve got to surround yourself with the right team,” Risi says. She’s not a micromanager and doesn’t rely on watching over the shoulder. “I don’t believe I have to do that. I believe in empowering the people that work for me to do what they do.” She also believes in focusing on the positive. At night, she’ll sit and reflect in personal meditation, going through the day’s events and being grateful for everything she experienced, the good and the bad. And, of course, there’s family time. “That’s where our memories are made,” she says. She laughs as she recalls a time her grandkids decided to raise money for the Kidney Foundation of Canada by selling Kool-Aid and cookies at the cottage. Unfortunately, beach-goers don’t tend to carry much cash. “Their tag line was, ‘It’s OK. You can take it and come back and pay us later,’” Risi explains. Impressed with the kids’ salesmanship, people were coming back with twenties. “I said, ‘You kids are good. They weren’t giving you quarters. They’re giving you bills.’” It fills her with pride to see her giving ways carried on. Despite building this real estate empire, Risi has no plans of slowing. “I’ll always be working, because I love to be around people,” she says. Her children even jokingly refer to her as Hazel, as she’ll likely be working well into her autumn years, much like the ageless former mayor of Mississauga Hazel McCallion. And she’s always looking for opportunities to grow. Risi experienced one of those opportunities this past September, when she was asked to give the introduction for motivational speaking giant Tony Robbins. She was initially apprehensive — she’d rather be among the audience of five thousand than in front of them. But she remembered the first time she saw Robbins back in ’93, how she could barely afford the ticket, but how the experience was so life-changing. She agreed to do the intro, but found it was more than she bargained for when Robbins was running late. She was forced to ad lib with the day’s emcee, James Cunningham, for a lengthy 23 minutes to stall for time. Risi, however, handled it like a pro. The pair joked back and forth and Risi even shared her story of her first Robbins show. “From what people said, that was the best part,” she laughs. It’s these moments of stepping outside her comfort zone that are a crucial part of Risi’s life — something she’s finally firmly grasping. “Every day you have to push yourself. Every day we have to evolve,” she says. “I look at myself in that way. I’m a mom. I’m a daughter. I’m a woman. I’m evolving. I’m just finding out now who I really am.” And she’s doing it all in plain sight: on the other side of a glass wall, across from the reception desk, on the first floor. www.yourcommunityrealty.com www.mycitylife.ca

Come visit our newly renovated store

Original jewellery designs and fine craftsmanship

by Christopher Valente

131 whitmore road, unit 8, vaughan, ont.

t: 905.851.1266

www.valentejewellers.com @valentejeweller Dec/Jan 2015/16 City Life Magazine

Auto Review

2016

PILOT

The 2016 Honda Pilot is no longer the midsize SUV underdog Written By Amandalina Letterio

Honda unveils its new torque-vectoring AWD system on the 2016 Pilot. It reacts 46 per cent faster than the older models

hen it came time to craft the 2016 Pilot, Honda made the daring choice of developing it with the use of computer modelling and 3D printing. Until their vehicles were in pre-production last year, Honda had only seen the Pilot on their computer screens â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a futuristic approach for a 67-year-old car manufacturing company. For decades, cars have been built using milliondollar physical prototypes designed by even more expensive machines. Honda says computer modelling and 3D printing trimmed months off of the development time and saved the corporation millions of dollars. But did it make a better product? Although it was a controversial choice, Honda was willing to take a chance. Engineers tweaked over and over again to give midsize SUV lovers the

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Dec/Jan 2015/16

sleekest Pilot yet. The exterior of the 2016 model is much more soft and round compared to the outdated square look of earlier iterations. So much so that owners of older models might find this new version unrecognizable. Not only did the esthetic of the vehicle change, but so did the weight. Honda was able to shed 300 pounds off of the Pilot, improving its performance. Keeping in the theme of performance improvements, under the hood youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find a 3.5-Litre i-VTEC V-6 engine. This gives the 2016 Pilot 280 horsepower and 262 lb.-ft. of torque for its 6- and 9-speed automatic transmissions. The 9-speed automatic transmission, which is actually new to Honda, is only available on the top-ofthe-line touring model. Also new to Honda and being unveiled on the Pilot is the torque-vectoring all-wheel drive system. According to Honda, this new

AWD reacts 46 per cent faster than the older model. On the inside, the Pilot remains a seven- or eight-passenger vehicle (capacity depends on model) even with its 300-pound weight loss. Despite the seemingly smaller appearance of the 2016â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exterior, the SUV was able to gain interior space. The entire vehicle had a 90 mm length increase; the wheelbase is 45 mm longer, the rear cargo area is 35 mm longer, and the passenger compartment gained 25 mm in spaciousness. There is also a detachable shelf behind the third row for additional storage, which can easily be reached thanks to the easy-to-move captain chair back seats. The Pilot is technologically advanced. As opposed to conventional shift levers, Honda went with the trendsetting push buttons instead. This means that if you want to shift gears from drive to www.mycitylife.ca

In August 2015, the new Honda Pilot was given the highest possible safety rating by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

reverse, it only takes the push of a button. Easy, right? Not necessarily. If you’ve been driving for years with a shift lever this may take time to adjust to, as it doesn’t take much to accidentally push the wrong button. In the centre console, you’ll find five USB ports (probably more than necessary) and four 2.5-amp cellphone charging outlets. Passengers will not be calling “shotgun!” when they find out that the back seat has a nine-inch Blu-ray compatible screen, a 115-volt plug, and “legacy inputs” for older technology devices. One of the unique features this midsize SUV comes with is a Smart Key automatic starter, which has a 55-metre range and remote climate control in case you have an exact temperature preference for when you’re sitting in the car. Gone are the days of suffering the unbearably freezing winter mornings and hot, humid summers. The 2016 Honda Pilot is certainly a family vehicle, which means safety was the No. 1 concern many critics had when it debuted; with such innovative manufacturing, safety was constantly questioned. Honda was able to silence the critics when the 2016 Pilot was given the highest possible safety rating by the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) back in August. If you wondered how all these new improvements and changes would fare when implemented using computer modelling and 3D printing as opposed to traditional machines and prototypes, clearly the answer is: quite well. In fact, Honda says that from now on this is how they will manufacture all of their vehicles. www.honda.ca

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City Life Magazine

A DV E R TO R I A L

“

OUR CHEFS ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT COOKING, AND THAT’S IMPORTANT TO US

”

— Sabina Barbiere

The Villaggio Ristorante family welcomes guests to their Kleinburg establishment

RIGHT AT HOME

or 11 years, Villaggio Ristorante in Kleinburg has held guests in a food trance that keeps them coming back for more. Mouth-watering Italian dishes are not the only thing attracting people to this restaurant — it’s the magical feeling they have when they visit. It’s no coincidence that Villaggio won Vaughan Today ’s Reader’s Choice Award for Best Italian Restaurant in 2012 as well as the Ospitalità Italiana award at the Italian Chamber of Commerce of Ontario’s 2015 Pentola d’Oro. “Service is one of the most important aspects of running a restaurant,” explains Sabina Barbiere, a managing partner at Villaggio. “You can have the best food, but if you have terrible service, people won’t come back. In the end, they will always remember how you made them feel.” That heartfelt Villaggio feel is the reason they have a growing clientele and an impeccable reputation. It’s like eating at a friend’s house for dinner; a lot of tenderness and effort goes into each meal and the staff

City Life Magazine

Dec/Jan 2015/16

treats you as if you are sitting at their home dinner table. “That’s how we want it to feel,” Sabina says. “The atmosphere here is very homey. We want guests to feel like family.” And Villaggio truly is a family restaurant. Sabina is part owner with two of her sisters, Aradena and Ramona, and their brother, Anthony. The executive chef is their father, Antonio, a seasoned veteran of the restaurant business for over 35 years. He travelled all over Italy, discovering unique recipes and eye-opening flavour from different regions, and used that experience to create Villaggio’s delicious and diverse menu. Daughter and chef Ramona and chef Matteo Napoleoni also operate the kitchen to ensure each dish is made perfectly to order. The Barbieres have put a modern spin on traditional Italian recipes, including their bestseller, Aragosta Risotto, a lobster risotto in rosé sauce. Another customer favourite is the delectable and unique pasta infused with lamb ragù. Service may be

an important factor in this award-winning restaurant’s popularity, but the team at Villaggio Ristorante also prides themselves on the freshness and quality of their food. “The lamb is from a local butcher and it’s always Ontario-raised,” Sabina explains. “We order the best quality food because we want to treat our customers the way we treat ourselves at home. What I would feed my family is what we serve our customers.” So how has Villaggio remained one of the most innovative and popular fine Italian dining restaurants in Vaughan for over a decade? “We switch up our menu every week and we plan to keep introducing new dishes so that guests have variety,” says Sabina. “Our chefs are passionate about cooking, and that’s important to us. We’re all impassioned about Villaggio, and it shows.” 110 Nashville Rd., Kleinburg, Ont. 905-893-4888 www.villaggio-ristorante.ca www.mycitylife.ca

PHOTO BY CARLOS ARTURO PINTO

Award-winning Villaggio Ristorante continues to satisfy palates with elevated traditional recipes and an evolving menu

FINE DINING. WORLD-CLASS RESTAURANT. AUTHENTIC MEDITERRANEAN ITALIAN CUISINE.

Since opening in 2004, Villaggio Ristorante has quickly become a mainstay of Vaughanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s competitive dining scene. Its award-winning Mediterranean Italian dishes feature only the freshest ingredients and are prepared with passion and imagination. Enjoy succulent Black Angus New York steak, Quattro Formaggi pizza and pappardelle in tomato lamb sauce, all in an upscale, contemporary atmosphere in the historic village of Kleinburg.

905-893-4888 110 Nashville Road, Unit 11, Kleinburg, Ont. www.mycitylife.ca

www.villaggio-ristorante.ca

Dec/Jan 2015/16

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www.mycitylife.ca

ύ DAUPHINE NECKLACE Glints of guiding glimmer will ensure you end up at the best holiday party. www.anthropologie.com

ϐ HOLIDAY HANDSOME Pick up some items at Per Lui to spruce up your boyfriend’s wardrobe. www.perlui.ca

ύ A-MERRY-CAN MUSCLE Get him the gift he always wanted but never had! Head over to Davies Harley-Davidson and rev up the most memorable holiday yet. www.daviesharley.com

continued from page 24

ύ FAUX-FUR THROW BLANKETS These blankets are wonderful winter accents for any home décor style. www.potterybarn.com

ύ FRENCH CLUB CHAIR Accent your mother’s living room with this classic chair from Pier 1 Imports. www.pier1.com

ϐ LIBERATE E ON-EAR HEADPHONES NES Music lovers will listen to tunes es like never before with House of Marley headphones. www.houseofmarley.ca

ϒ FABULOUS AND FESTIVE FROCKS Pick the perfect party dress for every girl’s unique style. www.anthropologie.com

GIFT GUIDE

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ϐ SKI SCOOTER Geospace’s Ski Scooter is the coolest way to enjoy the snow this winter. www.geospaceplay.com

ύ iPHONE WATCH CASE Help the tech lover in your life protect their prized Apple Watch with this cool Catalyst case. www.catalystlifestyle.com

ό LG OLED TV The LG OLED TV utilizes cutting-edge technology, offering owners the ultimate viewing experience. www.lg.com

ϐ ASK AMY DOLL Her moving lips, blinking eyes and interactive discussion will amaze children and promote self-esteem. www.askamydoll.com

ϐ STREGA LIQUEUR Impress your favourite cocktail ktail fan with one of the most famous Italian liqueurs thanks ks to its ύ SAGOSKATT SERIES unmistakable taste. Your little ones will love these safe, www.sapori.co.nz soft and snuggly critters. www.lcbo.com www.ikea.com

ϒ PERSONALIZED CHOCOLATES Chocolates might be ea common holiday treat, at, but unique gourmet chocolates colates add an eye-widening, g, personalized touch. www.marysbsweets.com

ό HOLIDAY HORS D’OEUVRES Bring your hostess these little appetizer plates that will have her guests eating out of the palm of her hand. www.potterybarn.com

ύ WOODEN ROCKING ZEBRA This zebra is fun for any little toddler, and cute décor for mom! www.anthropologie.com

A DV E R TO R I A L

“ WE’RE HERE

TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY AS BEST AS WE CAN. OUR REWARD IS SEEING CUSTOMERS COME THROUGH THE DOOR

”

— John Ciarallo

COMMUNITY VALUES

ohn Ciarallo sees business as more than just selling premium products. To the owner of John’s No Frills, it’s about serving the community, cultivating its potential and helping it grow. And the reason is straightforward: “If the community is successful we’ll be successful, too,” Ciarallo says. This has been the driving force behind John’s No Frills since it opened in Nobleton three years ago. Over that time, this spotless supermarket, where food safety is of the utmost importance, has become the go-to source for discerning customers craving a range of high-quality organic fruits and vegetables, federally inspected meat and other name-brand goods at the best prices. “We have a very sophisticated clientele. They understand the difference between cheap and value,” explains Ciarallo, a 35year veteran of the grocery industry. It’s not that those low prices represent lesser

City Life Magazine

Dec/Jan 2015/16

products, either. “We’ve always stood for quality and value,” he adds. “We’re just happy to make a slow nickel rather than a fast dime.” What’s important to Ciarallo is seeing customers return each week, happy with the food purchased and the money saved. As a franchise owner, he’s devoted to service. If you can’t find a certain product, ask and he’ll do his best to bring it in. Nobleton, after all, is a tight-knit community. The people that walk through his doors are more than just customers, they’re friends. And they deserve to be treated as such. For Ciarallo that also means supporting local causes. Not only is he a regular sponsor of house league sports teams, he’s a staple of community events and fundraisers, including King’s Food Bank and the Pink Tree Foundation’s annual softball tournament in support of breast cancer research. “We’re very active with the King Chamber of Commerce as

well,” says Ciarallo. “We want to create a destination for new businesses to develop and flourish in King Township.” Because of these unwavering business standards and focus on the community, John’s No Frills has been a perennial winner of best grocery store in the Readers’ Choice Awards, as well as the recipient of the Chamber’s Excellence in Large Business Award last year. But, for Ciarallo, it’s not about the hardware. “Trophies are nice to have, but I don’t measure myself by the awards,” he says. He’s proud to provide local employment, often first-time jobs to students, and to see the community prosper together. “We’re here to serve the community as best as we can. Our reward is seeing customers come through the door.” 13255 Hwy. 27 Nobleton, Ont. www.nofrills.ca www.mycitylife.ca

PHOTO BY CARLOS ARTURO PINTO

John’s No Frills makes premium products, competitive prices and community service top priority

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3255 Rutherford Road, Building H Vaughan, ON L4K 5Y5 Edible , Edible Arrangements , the Fruit Basket Logo, and other marks mentioned herein are registered trademarks of Edible Arrangements, LLC. © 2015 Edible Arrangements, LLC. All rights reserved. ®

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Dec/Jan 2015/16

City Life Magazine

Business eadership is not a position. A local newspaper has a daily section titled “Progressions,” which allows companies to publicly recognize employees who have been promoted to leadership positions such as general manager. The announcement is a very nice recognition for the new leader, but the promotion in and of itself doesn’t make the person a powerful, productive leader. The promotion does allow the new leader to exercise the roles and responsibilities of the position, but the promotion has very little to do with the leadership effectiveness of the person who received it. The power of the position and the potential of the leader are maximized only when the leader understands and leverages their performance, presence and profitability. 1. Performance is simply what you do. Like it or not, at the end of the day, or quarter, or year (or term if you are a politician), leaders are evaluated by what they get done and get done through others. Leaders are paid to get results. They are not paid for their intentions or mere activity. Intentions matter, results rule. “I meant to have a discussion with the underperforming team member but I just haven’t had a chance to talk to them,” says the well-meaning leader. The question is not, “Did you talk to them?” The question is, “Did the underperforming team member’s behaviour improve?” Intentions without actions create nothing. Action — having the talk with the underperformer — that doesn’t produce results is simply activity, not productivity. Performance is measured by results. Aesop rightly stated, “When all is said and done, more is said than done.” Performance, measured by results, is the metric of your leadership ability. 2. Presence is who you are. You can’t be one type of person and another type of leader. Although you can try to fool people, and maybe even obtain pseudosuccess for a short season, time will ultimately reveal the real you. Who you are, in the core of your being, will

determine your presence. How big is your presence? Someone who is physically large is noticed when they simply walk into a room. Former NBA superstar Shaquille O’Neal is over seven feet tall, weighing in at over 300 pounds. Everywhere he goes, his physical presence is commanding. When you enter a room, are you noticed? Are you respected? Do people want your input? Are you listened to? Are you commanding? Your presence is the key to positively and powerfully influencing people. Remember, a title or position does

THE

because of you? In the arena of interaction with those you lead, are you profiting from them? Are they better — more profitable themselves — because they are around you? Do you inspire? Do you motivate? Do you create synergy? There are many world-class athletes playing in team sports who have tremendous individual skills, yet their team fails to obtain championship status. Michael Jordan was arguably the greatest basketball player of all time. His greatness wasn’t only measured by his ability to make baskets and his incredible desire to win, but by making others better. Many of his years in the NBA he was surrounded by, at best, serviceable role players. Yet his presence made others profitable because he brought out the best in his other team members. He helped raise the entire team to a winning, championship level. Your potential is maximized and your power exploited when you leverage: 1) Your performance: your effective actions, not your noble intentions. 2) Your presence: constantly investing in yourself, stretching and growing to increase the size of your presence. 3) Your profitability: evaluate yourself by looking to the outcome — is there profitability in your leadership in the bottom line and are people better because they have been influenced by you? When you maximize the Three Ps — Performance, Presence and Profitability — it is likely you will not only show up in the “Progressions” section of your local newspaper, but make the front page headline as well. If you are not on your newspaper’s front page, you will certainly make the headlines with the most important people in your sphere of influence — those who are following you. www.davidwaits.com

THREE Ps

OF POWERFUL LEADERSHIP

City Life Magazine

Dec/Jan 2015/16

Written By David Waits

not make a leader. A position can be conferred on you. When something is conferred it is placed and bestowed on you by someone else. It is recognition of a position. Your position allows you to perform the roles and functions of a leader, but it is your presence that determines your effectiveness. Presence is inferred upon you. Something inferred involves a conclusion. People are concluding, “This person has a dynamic presence about them that makes me want to follow them!” Are you working as hard on who you are as you are working at the job you do? Your job functions are important and your ability to be highly functional in your job as a leader is directly proportional to your presence. Your presence increases as you grow as a person. When you become great at who you are, you become remarkable at what you do. Constantly invest time and money in personal growth. 3. Profitability is the value you bring to those you lead. The bottom line number reflects profitability, but it is more than that. Is your team profitable

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: David Waits, founder of Waits Consulting Group, Inc., is a highly soughtafter consultant, speaker and author. As a proven expert in developing powerful initiatives that revolutionize culture, David helps his clients create a thriving organizational environment that facilitates rapid growth, innovative development and ongoing profitability.

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FROM

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City Life Magazine

Toronto FC’s Sebastian Giovinco

Drake

City Life Magazine

Dec/Jan 2015/16

PHOTO BY JOHN E. SOKOLOWSKI

THE YEAR OF

Toronto Blue Jay Jose Bautista

PHOTO BY TOM SZCZERBOWSKI

TORONTO

Sports & Entertainment

A number of Toronto sports teams and musical artists hit it out of the park in 2015 in what was arguably the city’s best year in a long, long time. But how good was it? City Life breaks it down Written By Michael Hill

ith one swing of the bat, Jose Bautista brought a country to its feet. In the centre of a tempest of 50,000 roaring fans, the Blue Jays right fielder stood frozen, just for a moment, under the gravity of what he’d done. His game-winning three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh put the Jays up 6-3 over the Texas Rangers in the emotional roller-coaster that was Game 5 of the American League Division Series. Then, like a swagger-soaked exclamation mark, Bautista hurled his lumber into the air and began his trot. The crowd was deafening. A record-setting average audience of 4.85 million viewers tuned into that Sportsnet broadcast to watch the Rogers Centre erupt on that fateful October night. Across the country — crowded in bars, huddled around TVs or with earphones plugged in at work (sorry, boss) — the Jays’ newfound faithful, sporting their crisp royal blues, were locked on to the action. It was an amazing time for Toronto sports fans, no doubt. But the Jays weren’t the only Toronto team making waves in 2015. On the hard court, the pitch, the rink (well, maybe not the rink) and the stage, Torontonians experienced an unprecedented collective level of success from their artists and non-hockey franchises. From the Jays’ first division title in over 20 years to Toronto FC’s first playoff berth ever, and artists like Drake and The Weeknd dominating the charts, there was plenty to celebrate. In fact, 2015 was arguably the best year in Toronto sports and entertainment in two decades. But why was this year so great? I’m glad I’m pretending you asked. Ever since claiming back-to-back World Series titles in ’92 and ’93, the Jays have been quintessentially mediocre. But this year was different. With the heavy bats of Bautista, Edwin Encarnación and off-season acquisition and American League MVP Josh Donaldson, the Jays were swinging big all season, driving in a crushing 891 runs — 203 more than the league average. Thanks to some mid-season GM wizardry, Alex Anthopoulos was able to add two-time Gold Glover Troy Tulowitzki and Cy Young winner David Price to support that bludgeoning offence. The team went 43-18 in the last 61 games of the season to lock up its first American League East crown in 22 years. And people went nuts. “I describe this season as a dream for starving fans,” says Sportsnet Central co-host Ken Reid about the Jays’ 2015 www.mycitylife.ca

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PHOTO BY GRAIG ABEL

PHOTO BY RON TURENNE

campaign. Anthopoulos read the pulse of No. 1 in February, selling close to 500,000 the city and the team perfectly. He gave up albums in the first week. That album’s 14 some highly touted young prospects in those tracks all charted simultaneously on the big moves but “it had to be done. That’s what Billboard Hot 100, tying a 51-year-old record people wanted,” Reid says. Which is what set by John, Paul, George and Ringo at the made it so difficult when the Jays lost the height of Beatlemania in 1964. In September, American League Championship Series to the The Weeknd became the 12th artist in history soon-to-be World Series champs the Kansas to score back-to-back No. 1s after “Can’t Feel City Royals. As Reid adds, “In that moment My Face” and “The Hills” dominated the you want more. You want more than an ALCS summer. Riding that wave in October, Drake loss to the Royals. You want everything.” and The Weeknd were thrust to one and two The Toronto Raptors, too, had an respectively on the Billboard Artist 100 list. Toronto Raptor DeMar DeRozan overall decent year. Despite ending with Why have these two Canucks struck such a a disappointing four-game sweep to the chord? “At the end of the day, it comes down to Washington Wizards, the Raptors notched talent, it comes down to personality, it comes a team record 49 wins and a second straight down to great music, and those two guys have Atlantic Division title. (And drop the “the all three of those things,” says Mocha Frap, Atlantic is a brutal division” grumbling. co-host of Roz & Mocha on KISS 92.5. Someone’s gotta win it!) The Raptors may still While their music has obvious commercial be a work in progress, desperate for a firstviability, Drake and The Weeknd also create round playoff victory, but the hordes of rowdy content with artistic leanings. The Weeknd’s fans flocking to Jurassic Park proved that this delicate vocals juxtapose a descent into a hazy is a team the city isn’t ashamed of. netherworld much darker than most R&B The Leafs on the other hand? Not so artists wade into. Drake, too, while no stranger Toronto Maple Leafs much. Let’s not dwell on that Hindenburgto rhyming about wealth and his rapping head coach Mike Babcock like season, including the whole Salutegate prowess, often goes against the hip-hop grain debacle. Once the dust settled, Leafs brass made the necessary by showing vulnerability. There are lyrics about failed and decision to strip everything down to the wood and commit regrettable love, about struggling with newfound celebrity. to a rebuild. They started behind the bench, bringing in Mike It’s a self-consciousness that creates an intimate connection Babcock, the only coach in NHL history in the Triple Gold with listeners. “They really, really know their audience, they know their Club. Babs can’t put pucks in the net, but his résumé, which includes a Stanley Cup and two Olympic golds, brought crowd and they know exactly what’s going to work,” Frap a light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel hope to an otherwise says. They understand what’s going to appeal to the masses as well as their hard-core audience. “It’s a balancing act that dismal season. And then there’s Toronto FC. Talk about a perennial the two of them have perfected.” While they’re both packing arenas around the world, neither bottom-feeder. Before 2015, TFC had not made the playoffs in its eight years in Major League Soccer. Then they signed has forgotten their roots. Frap explains, “The great thing Italian striker Sebastian Giovinco. Giovinco (City Life’s June/ about Drake and The Weeknd is they’re always representing July 2015 cover man) lit up MLS with 22 goals (tied with Toronto.” Drake’s OVO Fest, for one, has become a two-day Columbus’s Kei Kamara) and 16 assists, setting both a team staple of Toronto’s summer, bringing in hip-hop giants that and league record for points. He single-handedly elevated include Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Eminem and Jay-Z. And the TFC to its first post-season and, despite losing in a 3-0 beat pair isn’t shy about vocalizing their love for their hometown. -down to Montreal, made the Reds a real threat. It was no “Perfect example is Drake literally renamed Toronto ‘The 6,’” says Frap. Companies and American broadcasters use the surprise to see him as a finalist for MLS’s MVP. All that’s created a new air of confidence among Toronto handle regularly, and even the Jays were seen throwing up fans. “If you’re a Toronto sports fan, thanks 99.9 per cent The 6 hand sign after crossing home plate. “The entire world to the Toronto Blue Jays, you can puff your chest out,” says knows Toronto as The 6 now,” Frap adds. “If that doesn’t Reid. “You can walk down the street more confidently.” This say something about the power of Drake then I don’t know success has brought a new level of expectations, too. “Sports what does.” What such attention will mean for emerging artists in fans in this city aren’t about three and four years from now anymore,” Reid adds. “They’re about the now, winning now. Toronto is hard to say. Maybe record execs will be more conscious of the city’s talent. Just like with the success of The city deserves a winner.” With so much happening in the sports world, you might Toronto’s sports teams, maybe more kids will hit the diamond, have missed what was coming out of your speakers: Drake, court or pitch wearing their prized Donaldson, DeRozan or Toronto’s favourite started-from-the-bottomer, and The Giovinco jersey with the big dreams to match. We might not know what the next 12 months will Weeknd, the city’s bard of narcotics-fuelled R&B, planted a bring, but the past year has been quite a ride. And that’s big ole Canadian flag at the top of the charts. Drake’s If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late debuted at worth celebrating. 60

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Dec/Jan 2015/16

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YOUNG & HUNGRY

FOR MORE

Actor Jonathan Sadowski shares his thoughts on perseverance, passion and a surprise proposal to his ﬁancée Interview By Amandalina Letterio Photos By Ted Sun

www.mycitylife.ca

Dec/Jan 2015/16

City Life Magazine

CL: Congratulations. Young & Hungry got picked up for another two seasons. Does this mean you’ll be working all winter? JS: Thank you. Yeah, we are back on set November 30 and we will be shooting until June. I can’t wait to get back to work; right now we’re on hiatus. Today I was sitting with the president of our network and I was like, “Put me back to work already!” CL: What’s it like working on the Young & Hungry set? JS: We have a lot of fun. The first season was spent getting to know one another. Now that we are going into the third and fourth seasons, we do not hold back. Let’s just put it this way: if someone’s stomach is hurting — it’s no secret. We have a lot of fun together on set. We record in front of a live audience, which also adds to the excitement. We feed off of the crowd’s energy. CL: Your character, Josh, has a back-and-forth relationship with his personal chef Gabi. The two characters seem as though they are never on the same page with their feelings. In the season 2 ﬁnale, we see Gabi share a kiss with Josh’s brother. Can you give me some insight as to what is going to happen between Gabi and Josh this season? JS: No! [Laughs]. Honestly, I have not seen any scripts yet. I’m as eager to find out as you guys are. The writers definitely have something brewing. CL: You delivered such an elaborate proposal to your ﬁancée, Melissa, on the set of Young & Hungry. While you and your co-star exchanged lines in a scene, your lines suddenly turned into professing your love to Melissa in front of a live studio audience. A lot of thought was put into that. Did anyone help you plan it or was that your own idea? JS: That was an original Jonathan Sadowski idea. It’s funny because I was designing this ring and the jeweller would come to set every day with different stones and settings for me to pick. Then the cast would start coming into my dressing room at lunch to help 62

City Life Magazine

Dec/Jan 2015/16

Jonathan Sadowski plays a self-made millionaire named Josh Kaminski on the hit show Young & Hungry … and he doesn’t plan on slowing down!

me pick, so I would have a bunch of people in my room with these lavish rings on their fingers trying to help me pick out the perfect one. CL: Your ﬁancée is stylist Melissa Lynn. Would you say you dress better since she came into the picture? JS: My day-to-day is pretty simple. I’m very much a T-shirt and jeans kind of guy. Melissa styles me for all of my photo shoots and events, and my outfits have definitely gone up in quality. It’s cool that we get to work together. CL: You have said many times that acting doesn’t feel like work to you because you love it so much. Tell me one thing you don’t love about being an actor.

JS: I’m very stringent in regards to time management. Sometimes when you’re on set you will be sitting there for 16 hours, but you won’t even shoot, which can be frustrating. Waiting around is the nature of the business, there’s not much you can do about it. I understand it, though — sometimes things come up that cause delays. CL: In your early career you went through some tough ﬁnancial times as a young, struggling actor. You said your mom even had to forge your car insurance just so you could drive to auditions. What would you tell other young actors that are in the same position as you were? JS: Do not give up! I promise it will all be worthwhile. Every person that said “no” to you, or every toilet you had to scrub … when you get your break, www.mycitylife.ca

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City Life Magazine

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“ EVERY PERSON THAT SAID ‘NO’

TO YOU, OR EVERY TOILET YOU HAD TO SCRUB … WHEN YOU GET YOUR BREAK, THAT’S WHAT MAKES IT SO MUCH SWEETER

”

— Jonathan Sadowski

that’s what makes it so much sweeter. For me, it was three years that I was going at it. CL: Did you have any doubts or temptation to settle for a steadier career? JS: When I was in college, my major was originally finance. I think I was scared to take the plunge into a career in the arts. In my sophomore year, I decided to take the plunge and changed my major to acting. From that point on, I never had any doubts. I never thought, “Is it going to happen for me?” I always thought, “When is it going to happen for me?” CL: Do you miss anything about your early days as a struggling actor? JS: A lot of actors complain about auditioning, but I really can’t picture my life without it. Even being on a show, I miss auditioning. I think I’m a bit addicted to the uncertainty and the competition of it all. CL: Your parents are from two different cultures: your mother is Italian, your father is Polish. What are some of your qualities that are very Italian and what are some qualities that are very Polish? JS: Funnily enough, both cultures are very similar. They’re both hot-blooded, stubborn people! I’m very stubborn, I’m a control freak, and I’m a hothead! I definitely get my sense of humour 64

City Life Magazine

Dec/Jan 2015/16

from my family. I have never fought with anyone harder than I have with my family and I have never laughed harder with anyone. CL: Name one movie you saw that you wish you could have been in. JS: The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. I love that movie’s absurdist, corky humour. It’s my favourite film of all time. I’m a big fan of director Wes Anderson. CL: Where do you see your career in 10 years? JS: Busier than what it is right now. I love being busy. Right now Young & Hungry is on hiatus, and I cannot wait to go back to work! CL: What do you do when you’re on hiatus? JS: Write! Writing is my passion. Right now I have an action-comedy TV show and a fantasy feature film in development. I have been writing for years. One of my first Hollywood paycheques was for a screenplay I wrote and sold. CL: Where do you see your personal life in 10 years? JS: In 10 years, I will have been happily married for a few years. Hopefully with two children … perhaps twins. Twins run in both Melissa’s family and mine. CL: What are your hobbies? JS: I love football and hockey. I’m

Acting and writing are not the only tricks up Sadowski’s sleeves

a diehard Chicago Blackhawks fan. Lately I’ve really been into mixed martial arts. My favourite pastime has to be magic though. I’m a member of the Academy of Magical Arts at the Magic Castle here in Hollywood. You should come and check it out sometime! CL: Young & Hungry was nominated for Best Cable TV Comedy at the 2015 People’s Choice Awards. Congratulations! How did it feel to hear that? JS: I was pretty stoked about it. We were all together at a meeting with the network and afterward our PR representative received an email saying we were nominated! This was big; the People’s Choice Awards encompasses all demographics. It speaks volumes about what we are trying to do and about the people we are connecting with, and that they would even consider us for an award like that. It was awesome news. @sadowski23 www.mycitylife.ca

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Bring your space to life with these winter home trends by interior design guru Giancarlo Milazzo

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iancarlo Milazzo’s designs can be seen in places of beauty and luxury in both Toronto and Miami. Milazzo has helped Toronto grow into the stunning city it has become by providing luxurious interior design to some of the most prestigious homes, condominiums and office spaces in and around the city. The interior designer is lending his talent to City Life Magazine to help our readers elevate their style to new heights. This year’s neutrals, he says, come in the form of a winter-morning grey palette. Moody shades such as rich purple, inky indigo and midnight blue are also on trend this season. Mixing warm metals and materials like gold, copper and beiges with the cool tones of silver and grey will complement this year’s neutrals while adding a modern and chic flair to your space. www.giancarlomilazzo.com g sofa byy Dorya y This stunning delivers craftsmanship and esthetics so you can live it up in modern style www.arteriorsto.com

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A TRAGIC THAT TOUCHES US ALL: HOW ARE WE TO RESPOND? Written By Robert Rotenberg

was a beautiful Sunday afternoon in late September. All through southern Ontario people were going about their lives, enjoying the lingering warmth of the weekend. It was as if by some lovely magic the summer had been extended and the looming darkness and cold of winter was held at bay. But by late afternoon a cloud appeared on the blue horizon. Somewhere in the endless news cycle, we heard of yet another car accident on our local roads. A young male driver involved in multiple senseless deaths. At first, perhaps, we didn’t pay it any special attention as the afternoon drifted into our Sunday nights with family and friends. But something about this story seemed even worse than the others, if that was possible — because of course every death of someone killed on the road is a horror. What made the news so stunning was that there were three small

City Life Magazine

Dec/Jan 2015/16

children involved. They’d been on the road with their grandmother, who was driving, a great-grandmother and their grandfather. Tragically, the children and their grandfather were killed. Our hearts stopped. We had trouble breathing. We were shocked. Consumed with sadness. It was enough to make us weep. Then came the horror as we learned more: the three kids were the only children of a young couple. These poor parents left alone in the world. How could this happen to such lovely people? Next came our anger as we found out about the allegations, all of which are still unproven — and, of course, the accused is innocent until proven guilty. According to the media reports, the driver was Marco Muzzo, a thirdgeneration scion of a wealthy family. He had been driving home from the airport. Why? He’d spent the weekend out of town at a bachelor party to celebrate his upcoming wedding. And it sounds as if he walked away from this without a scratch.

And then it gets even worse. The allegation is that the driver was impaired. The whole accident was so horrible that even experienced emergency workers need counselling. The story sends us beyond anger and into rage. Rage. That is what has been playing out in our private conversations with our friends and family when we talk about this case. The commentators and editorials all express our collective angst. But in the unfiltered world of social media, things have gone even further. Personal attacks aimed at the Muzzo family, tasteless comments made about their ethnic background, and foolish conspiracy theories about the family being able to use its wealth to influence the Crown attorney and the legal system itself. Where is the line between legitimate outrage and virtual vigilantism? When I was in law school in the 1970s, and the capital punishment debate was raging, a student confronted our criminal law professor, a man who www.mycitylife.ca

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City Life Magazine of the Year 69

“ Unless we want to live in a society of vigilante

justice, we have to ﬁnd ways to deal with these horrible tragedies that happen in our midst. That’s why we have courts, laws and the judicial system

was firmly against the death penalty. “How would you react if someone killed your children?” the student demanded. “Wouldn’t you want to see them put to death?” The professor’s answer has stuck with me to this day. “I wouldn’t just want to have them put to death,” he said, “I’d want to kill them with my bare hands.” The class was stunned. No one had expected him to say that. But then he added: “That’s why we choose to live in a civil society. What I’d want to do and what should be done are two different things. Society is here to restrain me from my primal instincts. That’s what justice is all about.” His point was profound. Unless we want to live in a society of vigilante justice, we have to find ways to deal with these horrible tragedies that happen in our midst. That’s why we have courts, laws and the judicial system. As a criminal lawyer I know that there are some cases that seem to take on a life of their own. They touch a collective nerve. The horrible Bernardo case stokes our fear that a rebellious teenage daughter locked out of her home could meet such a sickening end. The Jane Creba murder terrifies us that an innocent teenager out Boxing Day shopping with her family could be gunned down. Now this — a family wiped out by a rich, young, allegedly drunk driver. It’s the combination of wealth and tragedy that makes this case such a toxic mix. Back in 1926, F. Scott Fitzgerald had this to say about the rich. “Let me tell you about the very 70

City Life Magazine

Dec/Jan 2015/16

rich. They are different from you and me. They possess and enjoy early, and it does something to them, makes them soft where we are hard, and cynical where we are trustful, in a way that, unless you were born rich, it is very difficult to understand. They think, deep in their hearts, that they are better than we are because we had to discover the compensations and refuges of life for ourselves. Even when they enter deep into our world or sink below us, they still think that they are better than we are. They are different.” So much of the narrative we have heard in the news and online feeds into this sentiment: the bachelor party. The private plane. The photos of him in a sports car. The news that he’d previously been ticketed for public intoxication and speeding. The YouTube video of his mother’s interview on a TV cooking show. Perhaps in literature, and in our daily lives, people with great wealth are “different.” But in the courtroom they are not. We can only have a justice system if it gives even-handed justice to all. Rich and poor, wise and foolish, young and old. The comments and backlash in social media cross over the line when they turn into personal attacks against the family of an accused person. The senseless search for conspiracy. Ridiculous allegations that the Crown attorneys can be “bought.” Fatuous theories about the undue influence the Muzzo family has because of their wealth. Insulting questions about their ethnicity. Foolish claims that the

”

“high-priced” lawyer can buy him a deal. All of this only undignifies the tragedy. This kind of rage does no one any justice. It is clear from the news reports that the Muzzo family is a Canadian success story. The grandfather, an Italian immigrant, was a hard-working drywaller who started with little and built one of the country’s largest construction companies, and the family is renowned for its philanthropy in the community. What if it was the other way around? And the family was a failure and their accused son was the only one who had been successful? Would that make a difference in the outcome of the case? Of course not. In the brilliant and underrated film In the Bedroom, based on a Stephen King short story, the college-age son of a New England couple is dating an older woman. He’s an only child. His mother (played by Sissy Spacek, who was nominated for an Oscar for her performance) is concerned about the relationship and wants her son to move away from their small town and go to graduate school. Instead he stays and is murdered by a jealous ex-husband. This throws the parents into spasms of grief. The mother is irreconcilable in her anger. The father tries to steer a middle ground, but when he realizes that the prosecutor won’t deliver justice, pushed by his grieving wife he takes matters into his own hands. It is a compelling study of a decent man who slips over the edge. As you watch the film, you find yourself wanting him to do the deed, wanting him to get away with revenge and www.mycitylife.ca

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murder. That’s the point of the film. When there seems to be no means for justice, even good people do bad things. Winston Churchill famously once said, “Democracy is the worst form of government except for all others.” The same holds true for our justice system. Everyone who has heard about the car accident on that sunny Sunday afternoon wishes they could turn back the clock. There are a thousand “what-ifs” that could have prevented this. What if the plane had landed five

is it that we still hear these terrible stories. Recently a student at Western University was walking on campus when a car jumped the curb and killed her. The allegation is that the driver was impaired. In the same month, a 60-year-old Mississauga woman was killed and three others injured in a twovehicle collision on the southbound lanes of Highway 400. The driver of the other car faces multiple charges including impaired driving causing death. Then there was a late-night accident involving a young driver who

ensure they stay within the limit — and to avoid planning car journeys for the morning after a night drinking. “A Scottish Government spokesperson said the country was ‘leading the way across the U.K.’ by introducing the new law. ‘Alcohol at any level impairs driving, which is why our message is if you’re driving, the best approach is none,’ they added.” To me it’s a question of totally transforming the culture. Let the government set aside a billion dollars. Yes, a billion dollars, or even two.

“ Let the government set aside a billion dollars. Yes, a billion dollars,

or even two. Set up a fund to indemnify restaurants and clubs for their loss of revenue. Set up designed driver clubs in each and every community. Make it the No. 1 national mission in Canada to banish all drinking and driving

”

minutes later? What if the accused had taken a limo home? What if the grandmother had driven through the intersection five minutes earlier? Even five seconds earlier? But fate does not work that way. A case such as this one tests us to our core. It feeds in us the same urges. But we as a society have to face senseless tragedies. And learn from them. That’s why we have coroner’s inquests. That’s why we have inquiries set up to deal with specific types of crime. That’s why the media reports on criminal trials so eagerly and why our legislatures are constantly writing new laws. Every year I get a new edition of the Criminal Code of Canada and every year it is thicker. When it comes to drinking and driving, for decades now there’s been a push to eradicate it. We now have much tougher laws. Broader education. Yes, there’s been a concerted effort to change the conversation. And how frustrating in the extreme 72

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ended up killing himself by smashing into a tractor-trailer. Again, based on media reports it appears that alcohol may have been involved. I invite you to go to any Provincial Courthouse in Ontario and you will see that a large percentage of the cases, still, are impaired driving charges. I for one believe there should be zero tolerance for any alcohol when people are driving. Take a look at the laws in Sweden and Japan. In Sweden the blood-alcohol limit is .02 (it is .08 for adults in most of Canada). In Japan it is zero. In both countries, drinkers have largely adapted to the tough rules and rely on designated drivers and cabs. In Scotland a tough law was brought in late last year. To quote from an article about the law in the British newspaper The Independent: “The new law, which came into force in December, reduced the legal alcohol limit for Scottish motorists from 80 mg to 50 mg in every 100 ml of blood. Drivers have been warned that having ‘no alcohol at all’ is the only way to

Set up a fund to indemnify restaurants and clubs for their loss of revenue. Set up designated driver clubs in each and every community. Involve seniors and underemployed people with clean driving records to get people home safely. Make it the No. 1 national mission in Canada to banish all drinking and driving. You don’t agree? Take a look at those three young children killed when out for a drive with their grandparents and tell me what price we wouldn’t all pay to have them back. Until that day, when every single incident of impaired driving is ended, there is only one place we can go as a society to move forward. The courtroom. It’s where we must take our grief and grievances, our shock and horror and anger, and try as best we can to make sense of the senseless. Robert Rotenberg has been a criminal lawyer in Toronto for 25 years. He is also the author of four bestselling novels. www.mycitylife.ca

A DV E R TO R I A L

Cerilli HAIR SALON Where lasting relationships bring your dream hair to life Loredana Cerilli, owner of Cerilli Hair Salon

ife is filled with relationships, but the love-hate relationship we all struggle with is with our hair. If we treat our hair with affection, the results can be a beautiful union. At Cerilli Hair Salon, you’ll find the services and products to make that dream a reality. “The daily battle with frizz has finally ended,” says Loredana Cerilli, owner of

this long-standing family salon. “Thanks to our keratin smoothing treatments,” which include anti-humidity, shiny, manageable, soft and frizz-free options, “women are spending less time blow-drying and styling. In some cases, it’s wash and go.” Colour, too, has come a long way. Environment and hair quality are priority, and while sensitivity to colour remains, Cerilli Hair Salon has the scalp-protecting products that safely deliver head-turning lighter shades. “When applied by a knowledgeable professional, pigment can be made to last longer and shine, shine, shine,” Loredana adds.

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home design

Oro del Negro (left) and Manuel Villanueva of MORE Design created the interiors of the house

LINE OF BEAUTY A light-ﬁlled holiday home in the secluded village of Deià on the island of Mallorca beautifully combines elements of the area’s traditional style with a very contemporary sensibility

he village of Deià is definitely off the beaten track — even though it’s situated on the Spanish island of Mallorca, one of Spain’s top holiday destinations. “For centuries,” say Oro del Negro and Manuel Villanueva of MORE Design, the designers of this serene vacation home, “Deià hid behind a rocky hill in the middle of a valley, protecting itself from pirates, looking toward the mountain.”

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It’s precisely this secluded and protected atmosphere that has more recently led to Deià becoming a much sought-after vacation spot. Having been home to the English poet Robert Graves from 1929 until his death in 1985, it has also played host to a house owned by entrepreneur Richard Branson (and the Virgin Records owner’s crew of musical guests), and Deià’s wide range of visitors now includes, say Del Negro and Villanueva, “writers, artists,

musicians and lately lots of people in the fashion business.” Anyone with an eye for design is likely to be captivated by the sophisticated mix of simplicity and complexity that characterizes the interiors of this house. Custom-made oak front doors (complete with rustic, hand-forged hinges) open directly off the street into a light-filled living room designed for lounging, with built-in upholstered seating and a projector www.mycitylife.ca

PHOTOS BY GREG COX / STYLING BY SVEN ALBERDING

Written By Robyn Alexander

Natural stone walls line the street in which the house (left) is situated

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In front of the fireplace in the living area, the red velvet sofa with traditional brass nail heads was made and upholstered by Mallorcan textile company Tapicería Riera (www.tapiceriariera.com). The rectangular ceramic wall light was designed by MORE Design and produced by members of the local potters’ association, Pere Coll Ollers (www.ollersdeportol.com)

Simplicity is key in the kitchen, where practical details — such as cleverly slotting the radiator into the side of the island counter — have been given careful attention. Just seen in the foreground here is the indoor dining area. The joinery is by local artisan Boni Fuster, with handles and other hardware by MORE Design

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for TV and movie viewing. Head up the stairs to an open-plan living, kitchen and dining area: on one side, a dramatic red velvet sofa faces a boldly sculpted fireplace. In the centre of this space is the kitchen, which combines practicality with loveliness. It features natural stone countertops, rough-hewn wooden storage drawers and bold black pendant lamps. The sleek adjacent indoor dining area — perfect for laidback, late breakfasts — completes the public space of this central level of the house. MORE Design was asked to create an interior design for this home when it was already being built — strictly according to the building codes and regulations that govern construction in this historic and picturesque village, of course — and the schedule was tight. Having been given free rein with the design, however, they have created interiors that beautifully blend contemporary and traditional elements. Del Negro and Villanueva describe their design ethos as a “permanent search for balance, the traditional versus the contemporary, simplicity and complexity, landscape and the interior world, Oro and Manuel, the edge and the curve,” and this philosophy is very well expressed in this house. A traditional feel is created by elements such as the sculptural staircase and the use of natural materials and textures, which is then heightened and thrown into relief by contrasting very contemporary touches such as the brass lighting fixtures and taps, the pops of red, pink and black in the colour scheme, and the use of sleek contemporary furniture and lighting designs — such as the Etch pendants by Tom Dixon in the kitchen, the Philippe Starck-designed Ghost dining chairs and the sensual wall lamps, several of which were designed by Del Negro and Villanueva themselves. “We treat the structure of our buildings as an interactive physical experience,” say Del Negro and Villanueva, “much like installation art or sculpture. The design language we use mostly stems from a contemporary interpretation of the traditional Mallorcan vernacular.” And along with this esthetic, quite naturally, goes the www.mycitylife.ca

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A section of the main bedroom is furnished as a private lounge, with a sofa (complete with graceful yet practical reading lamps) and a charming vintage peacock chair from antique store Sa Costa (www.antiguedadesacosta.com) in Palma de Mallorca. The fabric used for the curtains is llenguas by Mallorcan textile company Tapicería Riera (www.tapiceriariera.com), and the wooden side tables are from Sleeping Company, a furniture store in Palma de Mallorca

commissioning of many local artisans and craftspeople to create new versions of traditional finishes and furnishings. Their first choice is always to work with local resources and available materials, although, as the duo emphasize, they are “not necessarily only recycling material, but innovating its uses.” Among the best examples of this practice in the house are the gorgeous recycled oak doors (by local artisan Pedro Casanovas) and the recycled brass light fixtures, which MORE Design created in collaboration with Font BCN. Del Negro and Villanueva are also quick to acknowledge “all the help from our builder friends at Contratas Sóller and architect Claudio Hernández Alcover.” And stone mason Juan Camposol was instrumental in creating the floor designs that combine insets of natural stone with bone-coloured cement — a technique that has been 78

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The outdoor living and pool area has built-in seating that has been upholstered in fabric from local textile company Tapicería Riera (www.tapiceriariera.com); the hanging light fittings are recycled Balinese chicken-pen baskets. The metal chairs were purchased online and the tall branched candleholder was made by local metalworker Toni Calafell

used to especially gorgeous effect on the staircase. Up those stairs on the top floor is a selection of sleeping and bathing spaces that include a sumptuous main bedroom, decorated in black and white with its own private lounge area, and with a subtle sense of softness provided by myriad layered textures. The simple bathrooms take pared-back minimalism to new levels of luxe with custommade baths and natural stone vanity counters. The warming gleam provided by touches of brass continues through all these areas via the use of taps and other bathroom fittings, and the lovely recycled lights. Of course every vacation home needs a comfortable outdoor living space, and the design of this area has also been given careful attention by MORE Design. Wander out for a swim in the spectacular pool and it’s likely you’d

find yourself lingering for hours on an inviting built-in and upholstered couch. The space is also perfectly fitted out for lunches and dinners alfresco, with a beautifully rustic, recycled wooden table taking centre stage. This home is the ideal space in which to relax and recharge: it’s serene and pared-back, yet also features subtly stimulating shapes, textures and objects. Del Negro and Villanueva suggest that interior design is perhaps the most emotional of all forms of design; the one with the strongest ability to conjure up “the ethereal feelings within, the internal sensations and emotions.” In this tranquil Deià house, those feelings seem likely to linger long after its temporary occupants have returned to the hustle and bustle of their everyday lives. www.moredesign.es www.mycitylife.ca

cooking tips

CALLING ALL MEAT LOVERS There’s nothing better than slicing into a perfectly cooked steak (OK, there are a few things, but great steaks are definitely in our top 10). So how do you make sure your steak is resto-worthy? Bookmark the tips below and they’ll be sure to serve you — and everyone around your table — well. FIVE STEPS TO GRILLING THE PERFECT STEAK

main criteria for judging the quality of a steak.

thermometer is a foolproof way to achieve cooking perfection.

Step 2: Mind your temperature. Before cooking or grilling, always let your steak come to room temperature. This is to ensure that it won’t toughen when it hits the heat and that’s bound to happen if the meat is too cold.

Simply follow these temperature guides:

Step 3: Get the right heat. Using dry heat is the best way to cook a great steak. That’s because dry heat cooking causes caramelization, which gives steak that mouth-watering rich flavour and brown colour. In this process, the sugars inherent in the meat go through a series of complex reactions called the Maillard reaction.

Step 4: Nap time! Once it’s cooked to your liking, remove the steak from the pan, cover it loosely with aluminum foil and let it rest for five minutes before serving.

Sear your steak in a cast-iron pan over medium-high heat. This should take approximately five to six minutes per side depending on your tastes. Until you learn to judge the doneness of your steak by touching it, using a meat

Rare – 120 F Medium rare – 125 F Medium well – 135 F Well – 140 F

Step 5: Season. Don’t forget to add salt and pepper to your steak after it’s cooked and has rested — never before cooking. Salt brings moisture to the surface of the steak, which prevents delicious caramelization! Chef Sam Khalil is the executive chef at the Doctor’s House and XX1 Chophouse in Kleinburg, Ont. www.xxichophouse.com

PHOTO BY CARLOS ARTURO PINTRO

Step 1: Choose the right piece of meat. The first step to perfection is to look for a steak with a fine texture and firm touch. You want your steak to be a light, cherry-red colour with lots of marbling. Marbling refers to the white streaks of fat that can be seen within the lean part of the meat. Not only does marbling add a ton of flavour, it’s also one of the

XXI Chophouse executive chef Sam Khalil shares his tips on how to grill the perfect steak in ﬁve easy steps

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health

CHASING THE CLOUDS AWAY City Life Magazine weighs in on the Electronic Cigarettes Act coming into effect in the new year

Vaper Jack Weinberg pulls an e-cigarette device from his pocket and casually takes a pull. With each discreet drag of the high-tech gadget, a thin stream of vapour is emitted, quickly dissipating into the air and leaving behind the scent of caramel candy. He calls the technique “stealth vaping,” a sharp contrast to the billowing white plumes forming an impenetrable wall in the foyer of his Concord, Ont., vape shop. Weinberg refers to his counterparts as “cloud chasers” — vapers who prefer to revel in the spectacle of a big and cloudy show. Sitting in Weinberg’s back office, our interview starts off unconventionally, to say the least, but it’s reflective of the growing number of people choosing to vape in an attempt to avoid the death sentence linked to tobacco and cigarettes. And while sales of e-cigarettes continue to rise, so have concerns over their possible health risks. E-cigarettes, for the uninitiated, are battery-powered contraptions that contain an atomizer and refillable tank where e-liquid, a.k.a. “e-juice,” is stored. Puffing on the tobaccofree device like you would a cigarette heats up the liquid and produces a vapour that imitates the experience of lighting up a conventional cigarette. Bottles of e-juice may or may not contain up to 18 milligrams of nicotine, depending on the needs of the user. Flashy and modern, e-cig gadgets are available in a variety of colours and sizes that fit in the grip of your hand and jut out with a metal, cylindrical mouthpiece. New-generation devices are much more technologically sophisticated in terms of battery life and boast advanced features like temperature control. Earlier this year the Ontario government passed Bill 45, the Making Healthier Choices Act, which includes directives aimed at protecting youth from the dangers of tobacco and potential harms of

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associate love with the smell of cigarettes anymore.” The Electronic Cigarettes Act, which supports long-standing efforts to denormalize smoking in the province, is all part of the government’s commitment to reach the lowest smoking rate in Canada. It’s also a preventable measure against an emerging product that has little-known health effects and has yet to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). To date, Health Canada has not approved e-cigarette devices, creating a divide between government and antismoking advocates who are convinced vaporizers could snuff out current smoking rates. “As of now we don’t clearly understand the outcome of vape byproducts,” says Chiefari. “Are we concerned? Yes. Not knowing what the long-term effects of any exposure are, vaping should be deemed unsafe until we know that.” Another concern guiding the new laws is that acceptance may chip away

I KNEW I HAD TO “ STOP SMOKING — I COULDN’T LET MY CHILDREN ASSOCIATE LOVE WITH THE SMELL OF CIGARETTES ANYMORE

”

— Jack Weinberg

The owner of Happy Vaper takes a drag of his e-cigarette

he opened Happy Vaper, with hopes to help people make the switch like he did. Smoking 25-30 cigarettes a day, he says, left him with wheezy lungs and a tight chest, yellowing teeth and the clinging stench of tobacco. “The worst part was opening the door to my home and my two young children rushing up to me for a hug,” says Weinberg, clutching the device like an obsessive Instagram user would his phone. “I knew I had to stop smoking — I couldn’t let my children 82

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years of the province’s hard work in denormalizing smoking through the Smoke-Free Ontario Act. Fancy packaging and an endless list of e-juice flavours may sway curious and impressionable teens and lead to addiction to the gnawing monster that is nicotine. Chiefari prefers an “out of sight, out of mind” approach, explaining, “If we look at tobacco or cigarette use we know that when people aren’t socially modelling the act of smoking then young

people don’t think of it as something to do.” A majority of those who don’t support vaping also believe there’s a big possibility that vaping can be a gateway to smoking — a view Beju Lakhani finds absurd. “This notion that we are creating a nation of smokers is completely unfounded,” says the president of the board of directors at the Canadian Vaping Association. “We have a strong dislike for the tobacco industry because we felt like we were being duped by it. I still look at tobacco with animosity for selling me something that was going to kill me.” According to the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, tobacco claims 13,000 lives in Ontario each year — equivalent to 36 lives every day. There are four thousand chemicals in every cigarette, including probable carcinogenic compounds and hundreds of other toxins such as nicotine (found in insecticide), carbon monoxide (found in car exhausts) and arsenic (found in rat poison). The results are no secret: heart disease, stroke, emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and the big one, lung cancer. In comparison to this toxic stew, the flavoured liquid solution found in e-cigarettes contains four ingredients: propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, nicotine and flavourings. In January 2015, the New England Journal of Medicine published a research letter that reported the release of formaldehyde in some e-cigarettes when heated with batteries set at high voltages. Months later, an independent study by the Center for Environmental Health reached similar conclusions through evidence that suggests e-cigarettes release high levels of known carcinogens formaldehyde and acetaldehyde into vapers’ lungs. With a turn at the table, Lakhani points to a publicly funded study this year by an agency of Britain’s health department, which found that electronic cigarettes are 95 per cent less harmful than tobacco and should be supported as a tool to help smokers quit. While they’re not completely risk-free, said Public Health England professor Kevin Fenton, they carry “a fraction of the harm” when compared to smoking. The study goes against a 2014 World Health www.mycitylife.ca

PHOTO BY CARLOS ARTURO PINTO

e-cigarettes. As of Jan. 1, 2016, the new law will prohibit the sale and supply of e-cigarettes to those under the age of 19 and ban their use in designated non-smoking areas across Ontario. “All the places where most of us have grown up in the last decade expecting to be smoke-free are now going to be vape-free as well,” says Vito Chiefari, manager of health protection at York Region. To clear the air even further: the around 160 vape lounges in the Greater Toronto Area — where customers go to performance-test e-cigarette devices and their accompanying liquid — will soon be a thing of the past. Between sporadic puff s and an accelerating discussion on the future of what he describes as a “harmreduction tool,” it comes as no surprise that Weinberg views the grouping of e-cigarettes with combustible tobacco as disappointing. A former heavy smoker for 26 years, Weinberg put out his last cig in March 2009 after ordering his first Ciga-Lite online. Three months later

Organization report that called for firm regulation and bans on indoor use and sale to minors. “We’re pro-regulation, we just think it should be appropriate and more sensible given the relative risk,” says Lakhani, adding how the majority of vape shop owners already have in-store policies that ban the sale of e-cigarettes to minors. Firing up a pack of cigarettes every day for 15 years before discovering e-cigarettes through a friend, Lakhani successfully quit smoking in 2014 and opened Moshi E-Liquids, a fourthousand-square-foot facility producing premium e-liquids that are now sold around the world. “Our liquids are tested every six months by the Electric Cigarette Trade Association for things like pH balance, nicotine concentration, formaldehyde — anything that can be dangerous to humans,” says Lakhani. “How can you ban something that doesn’t pose a threat?” Come January 2017, such questions won’t matter, as the glamorous display and in-store promotion of e-cigarettes in vape shops will also come to an end. Since entering the Canadian market almost a decade ago, e-cigarettes have lit up a controversy that continues to spark discussion, new studies and differences in opinion. Is Ontario law playing it too safe? Are e-cigarettes just the latest recreational habit to hit the scene? Whether vaping is a promise or a peril, the cloud of contention hanging over e-cigarettes will soon be cleared by the legislative hand, to the approval of some and the dismay of others. Cloud chasers and stealth vapers will be forced to join the wrangle of shivering puffers by the sidewalk, their white tendrils lost in the collective plume floating toward the sky.

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MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

remember when it first happened. The year was 2003, and Juren (my then girlfriend) was visiting me in New York. I was performing on Broadway almost every night of the week with an incredible cast. My career was finally getting started and on Valentine’s Day of that year, I asked the lady that I loved to marry me. My life could not have been better. Waking up every morning seemed to be when my dreams actually started. Except on this day, my life took a turn. And at first, we were left totally unprepared. I still remember how small my apartment was in Brooklyn. The best word to describe it would be: closet. Yes, my apartment was a very expensive closet that had a kitchen, a wall and a bedroom. So when I heard Juren scream, it sounded like she was right next to me. I ran into the bedroom to find her in bed, motionless. She said that she couldn’t move her legs. This had to be a joke, right? What did she mean she could not move her legs? Unfortunately, it was not a joke. My soon-to-be wife could not move her legs. Not knowing what else to do, we got her an emergency flight back to Los Angeles. The next few days seemed like a nightmare. Here I was living the fantasy of performing live on Broadway and the love of my life was at home in L.A. trying to figure out how to walk again. Those first couple of shows after she left had my body on stage in front of thousands of people, but my mind back home with my heart. She was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis shortly after arriving home. I remember her calling me and telling me the news. We both had no idea what MS was. I knew that Richard Pryor had the disease when he was alive. Juren wasn’t going to end up like that, was she? I quickly blocked that thought out of my mind and never mentioned it to Juren. She asked me if I still wanted to marry her. She said that she would understand if I backed out. I laughed. Multiple sclerosis has nothing on love! She eventually started walking again a few days after that incident. 84

HAS NOTHING ON LOVE

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Dec/Jan 2015/16

Written By Poetri

“ SHE WILL WALK

AGAIN. THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND

”

— Poetri

We got married on Aug. 16, 2003. I also won a Tony Award that year for our Broadway run. For the time being, life seemed to be getting back on track. Multiple sclerosis has a way of operating one way on one person and yet another way on a different soul. It decided not to give her pain as much as to just stop all communication between her brain and her legs. She slowly digressed back to not walking again. Today, she is totally bedridden. However, from her bed, Juren stands tall as she is unable to contain her enthusiasm to just a pillow and blankets. She remains a voice to be reckoned with. It seems that she keeps a permanent smile on her face. I could not tell you how she does it. But, if she ever decides to bottle up her joy and put it on sale, I’m buying it. Yes, I want what she is drinking. It’s going on a total of 13 years of treatments that didn’t work, medicines that made it worse, hardships, struggles,

ups, downs and all arounds, and we are still here. We have two beautiful daughters that keep us young. Although we will never be as hip, we get the feeling that they think Mommy and Daddy are pretty cool. Our eldest daughter, Genesis, is nine and akin to a young Taylor Swift. She has a new song every week. And our youngest daughter, Journey, is six going on 36! She is forever joking. Every day when I come home from work she hides behind the door and scares me. I wonder where she gets her humour from? Ahem. After all, her daddy is only a Tony Award-winning comedian/poet. But this article is not about me. It’s not even about my wife, Juren. It’s about us. It’s about how multiple sclerosis thought it was going to come into this family and ruin it. But it has only strengthened it. Our faith has grown to new heights. She will walk again. There is no doubt in my mind. God has told me so. And I believe His word. We are currently in Michigan for eight weeks at a training facility called Barwis Methods. They have an injury recovery program that does neurological re-engineering for MS and stroke patients. People have come here in wheelchairs and have left walking. She goes to the facility five days a week for two hours a day. The whole gym knows her as the lady that screams “Liver and onions!” when she is working out. No one knows why. The cool thing about this gym is that I get to work out as well. Since being here, I have lost about 20 pounds. But this is not about me. It is about us. We are going to come back walking and skinnier. Juren wants to dance with our children. I want to dance with her. Barwis Methods is going to make this dream come true. We are going home to surprise our daughter for her seventh birthday and stay throughout the holidays. We then come back for a final eight weeks starting in January. Get ready, world. If you think Juren was incredible NOT walking, wait till you see her when she is flying. www.spokenfunk.com www.mycitylife.ca

A DV E R TO R I A L

DOES YOUR CHILD HAVE SCOLIOSIS?

coliosis is a serious condition characterized by a sideways curvature of the spine. Many times, scoliosis in a child can go unnoticed by parents, especially when there are no symptoms showing. Unless scoliosis is detected and managed, it can progress to get worse. This can eventually lead to pain and, more importantly, other serious health problems and complications to organ systems. The best approach for scoliosis is early detection, as recommended by the Chiropractors of Vaughan. The Chiropractors of Vaughan is a group of community-focused doctors whose purpose is to make Vaughan the healthiest community in the GTA. The Chiropractors of Vaughan will be launching several community-based health screenings that will bring awareness

AWARDWINNING WINERY SI NC E 1989

to the public about the importance of spinal health. The first of these campaigns will be a complimentary scoliosis screening that will take place on Jan. 19 and Jan. 21, 2016, at participating offices around the Vaughan area. The Chiropractors of Vaughan will also offer “text neck” screenings and concussion screenings later in the year. If you would like to have your child screened for scoliosis, visit one of the participating offices listed below on Jan.19 or Jan. 21, 2016. You will have an opportunity to meet the chiropractor, get your questions about scoliosis answered and have your child receive a complimentary scoliosis screening. The Chiropractors of Vaughan is a growing group of chiropractic doctors that currently consists of:

• Back To Health Chiropractic Centre – Dr. Walter Salubro 20 Cranston Park Ave. #6, Maple, ON L6A 3E9 Tel: 905-303-1009, www.ibthcc.com • Full Function Rehab & Wellness – Dr. Giuseppe Caruana 8633 Weston Rd. #5, Woodbridge, ON L4L 9R6 Tel: 905-264-0442, www.fullfunctionrehab.com • Scott Family Chiropractic – Dr. Andrew Scott 8 Lansdowne Ave., Woodbridge, ON L4L 2A9 Tel: 905-264-5437, www.scottfamilychiro.com • Vibrant Life Chiropractic – Dr. Adam Malick 21 Roysun Rd. #16, Woodbridge, ON L4L 8R3 Tel: 905-266-0779, www.vibrantlifechiropractic.com • Vaughan Chiropractic – Drs. C. Gus & Jacqueline Tsiapalis 8383 Weston Rd. #108, Woodbridge, ON L4L 1A6 Tel: 905-850-0909, www.vaughanchiropractic.com

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Dec/Jan 2015/16

City Life Magazine

winter getaways

FIVE MUST-VISIT WINTER ESCAPES Written By Amandalina Letterio

After your girls night out, try out one of White Oaks Resort’s yoga classes with your best gal pals!

prices start at $99/weeknight, $129/ night on Friday and Saturday. Dec. 26 to February prices vary. See website for details. www.refugesperches.com

Deerhurst Resort is full of Winter activities. From snow-shoeing, to skating, to dogsled riding, there is something for everyone in your family to enjoy!

FAMILY FUN: DEERHURST RESORT, HUNTSVILLE Deerhurst is a winter wonderland for the whole family: recreation for kids and relaxation for parents! Whether it’s at the huge indoor games room or the rock-climbing wall, your kids will be so entertained during your visit to Deerhurst Resort they won’t even notice Mom and Dad have snuck away to the full-amenities spa. Enjoy fun in the snow by taking a scenic dogsled ride, and then at night dine at one of many delicious restaurants before you head over to watch the live stage show. Activities/Amenities: Cross-country skiing/snowshoeing/skating (included in the resort fee), Arrowhead Provincial Park 1.5-kilometre skating trail through the woods, 2,000-km snowmobile trail, indoor rock climbing, snowmobiling, hockey, dogsledding and sleigh rides. Prices: Rates vary depending on season and room style. Midweek rates currently start from $109/night based on double occupancy. A nightly resort fee of $29.95 includes a number of benefits such as high-speed Internet, 86

City Life Magazine

Dec/Jan 2015/16

parking, use of indoor pool, fitness room, hiking trail and in winter, access to cross-country skis, snowshoes and skates as well as trail use for everyone in your room. www.deerhurstresort.com

NATURE-LOVER’S NICHE: LES REFUGES PERCHES, MONT-TREMBLANT If you are a nature enthusiast and love the outdoors then Les Refuges Perchés is your winter getaway spot. This conservation spot has over 10 adult-size tree houses — yes, you are actually in a tree house in the middle of a forest! For those who care for ambience and prefer a cottage-like feel, Les Refuges Perchés is your winter spot. Bring your own food and cook it in your kitchenette, then enjoy marshmallows by a bonfire. Pick one of the all-inclusive packages that come equipped with snowshoes, sleeping bags, wood and a cabin kit. Activities/Amenities: Hiking trails, snowshoeing, bring your own snow activities, bonfires. Prices: From Oct. 26 to Dec. 25

GIRLS’ GETAWAY: WHITE OAKS RESORT & SPA, NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE Have a girls’ night in and enjoy an adult sleepover with your best friends. White Oaks Resort & Spa provides a Girls Just Wanna package that offers inroom movies and munchies. Or, if you prefer to go out, pick up some designerbrand purses and shoes at the Outlet Collection at Niagara mall. At night, enjoy some vouchers at LIV Restaurant for dinner and cocktails. Before you leave the next day, be sure to use your $100-per-person spa credit! Activities/Amenities: Ice wine tastings, shopping, spa, fitness centre, gourmet restaurants, Shaw Festival Theatre, tennis, squash. Prices: Superior guest rooms start at $160/night on average. However, prices vary depending on time of year, day of week and availability. www.whiteoaksresort.com

ESCAPE FOR EVERYONE: IRWIN INN, STONEY LAKE Located in Stoney Lake, Irwin Inn is the perfect winter wonderland for anyone. Families, couples and groups can visit this cottage-like resort just 90 minutes away from Toronto. There are plenty of winter activities for the kids such as skating on the natural pond. Couples can take a walk down the romantic winter walking trails, Continued on page 89

www.mycitylife.ca

A DV E R TO R I A L

For over 23 years, Neece Electrolysis has transformed the hairremoval industry. Founder Angela Martino is a certified laser technician and electrologist who offers innovative permanent hair-removal treatments that deliver effective results for both men and women. One of Angelaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest recommendations for permanent hair-elimination is electrolysis. Many people think electrolysis is an outdated process for hair removal that no one uses anymore, but this is a myth. Electrolysis has been around for over 135 years and has an excellent track record; it is the only permanent removal system that is completely FDA-approved and it has the ability to target one hair at a time and ensure accuracy on all hair types and skin types. An amazing feature of electrolysis is that it can be done on large or small areas anywhere on the body and it removes the hairs right at the time of treatment. The most common question Angela gets asked is how well electrolysis works on hair growth caused by hormonal changes. Angela says that hormones affect everyone differently and although electrolysis cannot fix the hormones or cure hair growth, it can permanently stop the growth of existing hair. For the best permanent hair-removal results, visit Neece Electrolysis. Neece Electrolysis founder Angela Martino is a certified laser technician and electrologist. She keeps up to date as a member of the Federation of Canadian Electrolysis Association

www.neeceelectrolysis.ca

80 Carlauren Rd., Unit 9B Woodbridge | 905-856-8808

Our services: Personal Training, Group Fitness Classes, Sports Performance Training, Nutritional Counseling & Guidance, Weight Loss Programs, Small Group Training, Health Assessments. Chiropractic, Physiotherapy, Orthotics, Acupuncture, Food Intolerance Testing

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Dec/Jan 2015/16

City Life Magazine

14TH YEAR OF OPERATION

“Education is the leading of human souls to what is best,, and making what is best out of them.” — John Ruskin MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF KLEINBURG (MSK) SK) is an accredited Montessori and ministry-licensed school educating children from 15 months to 12 years ars of age. Overlooking 13 acres of breathtaking greenery ery and the Humber River, MSK provides students with Enza Marzano-Pellegrini, an academically rich, scenic and safe environment. Principal MSK’s students are recognized for being respectful, responsible and resourceful citizens of the community. We look forward to welcoming your family into ours. OPEN HOUSES SAT. OCT. 17 & SAT. NOV. 21 (11 a.m. – 2 p.m.)

Montessori School of Kleinburg Quality Educational Standards Overlooking the Humber River ESTABLISHED IN 2002

10515 Highway 27, Kleinburg, Ont. 905.893.0560 • www.msk2002.com •

Authentic. Affordable. Unbelievably good.

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Garlic infused olive oil, chili flakes, sundried tomato, goat’s cheese, and fresh arugula. $8.5

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City Life Magazine

VAUGHAN 9001 Dufferin St. TORONTO 68 Sudbury St. 940 College St. 382 Spadina Ave. WATERLOO 105 Oak Park Drive BADEN 18 Snyder’s Rd. W.

Dec/Jan 2015/16

www.mycitylife.ca

Continued from page 86

and groups can do some cross-country skiing. Three generations of the Irwin family have made this resort wellknown for its customer service and hospitality. Rent out the cottage during the winter months and experience a home away from home. The Irwin family will welcome you with Christmas shortbread, hot chocolate and cider perfect for the festive season. Activities/Amenities: Natural skating rink, winter walking trails, crosscountry skiing, hockey, dining, scenic lake views, whirlpool, private hot tubs, in-suite fireplace, spa, trail rides through the forest. Prices: Winter pricing is based on a two-night minimum and ranges from $325 (for two people) in a one-bedroom suite to $800 (for up to eight people) for a four-bedroom lakefront cottage. www.irwininn.com

ROMANTIC RETREAT: SCANDINAVE SPA, BLUE MOUNTAIN Soak in a soothing and hot Scandinavian bath or relish a relaxing massage at the Scandinave Spa, located in the midst of a natural forest in Blue Mountain. Spend the day in this age-old Finnish tradition of steaming-hot water, then make your way over to the Nordic waterfall for a cool rinse. In the winter season, snow is used to close your skinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pores after your treatment. Once you and your love have had your couplesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; massage and enjoyed the eucalyptus steam room, downtown Collingwood is a 15-minute drive for a dinner date. After your quiet and tranquil romantic day, you and your partner will feel well rested and more connected. Activities/Amenities: Hydrotherapy, Finnish sauna, eucalyptus steam room, thermal and Nordic waterfalls, hot baths, cold plunge, relaxation areas, registered massage treatments, on-site bistro, roll-in-the-snow treatment. Prices: Basic package starts at $75 (before taxes). For upgrades and massages, the more extensive packages begin at $155. All packages are per person for the day. www.scandinave.com/en/ bluemountain www.mycitylife.ca

www.dolcebouquets.com 647-920-0675 @DolceBouquets

Dec/Jan 2015/16

City Life Magazine

City finds FOR EVERYTHING VAUGHAN & BEYOND

Written By Amandalina Letterio

“WE NEED TO TALK!” We have seen your marketing We can help with your brand identity

▲ MR. CAVALIERE For the modern man who appreciates classic details and refined taste, we give you Mr. Cavaliere. Owner Jonathan Cavaliere has been passionate about men’s fashion for years. Not only does he have one of the biggest men’s fashion blogs in the GTA, he is also a personal stylist who can polish any guy’s style. He is dedicated to bringing the debonair persona out of every guy. Enjoy 30% off any personal styling package with Mr. Cavaliere when you present this listing! info@mrcavaliere.com @MrCavaliere www.mrcavaliere.com

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▲ THE VILLAGE RESIDENCES Prestige meets luxury at Bayview and Sheppard with the development of the Village Residences. Located a few short steps from Bayview Subway Station, enjoy high-fashion shopping, fine dining and gourmet grocery stores close to home. This intimate boutique condominium is sophisticated and stylish with its sleek white and grey facade and glass balconies. Sales office coming soon. Make an appointment today. 591 Sheppard Ave. E., North York 647-622-8408 www.villageresidences.ca � VIAVAI PIZZERIA & WINE BAR For ViaVai, life is simple: it’s about pizza, wine and good friends. Because that’s the way Nonna would have wanted it! Located in the heart of Toronto, this authentic Italian restaurant is the talk of the town. ViaVai just added mouth-watering winter dishes to their menu, like this amazing Butternut Squash Ravioli. 832 Bay St., Toronto 416-362-0123 www.viavai.ca

8099 Weston Rd, Unit 10, Woodbridge | www.hcfashionarts.ca | 905.264.9341 MEMBER OF THE VAUGHAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

City Life Magazine

Dec/Jan 2015/16

www.mycitylife.ca

SIMPLE MAN CLOTHING For the guy who lives a simple lifestyle, Simple Man is a relaxed and casual clothing line perfect for everyday wear. Alex Filice from Maple created Simple Man Clothing in 2010. Five years later, you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go anywhere in Vaughan without seeing someone wearing the word â&#x20AC;&#x153;Simpleâ&#x20AC;? across their chest or down their arm. Visit the website and use discount code CityLife to receive 10% off until January! Visit site for in-store locations. simplemanclothing@gmail.com www.simplemanclothing.co

â&#x2013;˛ WHITE OAK FLOWER CO. Flowers, freelance and teaching. Jordana Masi is giving floral design an edge that has never been seen before with her company, White Oak Flower Co. With her bold and evocative arrangements she has created style that is more than just a pretty bouquet with a fresh scent. Her flowers evoke emotion and can give any occasion the perfect artistic touch. Mention this feature and receive a 10% discount on wedding and event services, teaching and private classes! hello@WhiteOakFlower.co 416-554-8092 www.whiteoakflower.co

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City Life Magazine

People & Places

A RUNDOWN OF LOCAL EVENTS LIGHTING UP THE CITY 1

LIVE LOVE PILATES STUDIO — KLEINBURG

On Oct. 15, Kleinburg pilates instructor Stacey Falbo hosted “Shop For a Cause,” a breast cancer awareness event held at her home. Local vendors raffled off products like jewelry and other accessories, as well as yoga and pilates wear. A holistic and wellness workshop with Nature’s Emporium Wholistic Market was also a highlight at the fundraiser. The event raised $3,200 to beneﬁt the Princess Margaret Foundation’s Early Detection Breast Screening Clinic. @staceypilates

1. Back row (Left to right): Diana Marini, Melissa Perruzza, Maria Caia, Amy DiVincentiis, Stacey Falbo, Sandra Senatore, Donna DeBiasio. Front row (kids): Teya Falbo, Jake Falbo 2. (Left to right) Rosanne Manchisi, Stacey Falbo, Daniela Grassa, Sondra Russo

1. Glitz Jewellery Boutique founders Daniel, Giselle, Bruno and Lina with mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua 2. Jewellery aﬁcionados show their support at the Glitz Jewellery Boutique grand opening in Maple 3. Glitz Jewellery Boutique carries a variety of fashionable jewellery

IMPROVE CANADA — VAUGHAN

HGTV host Paul Lafrance played master of ceremonies at this year’s Explore Improve gala, which took place on Sept. 29 at Improve Canada’s home improvement centre in Vaughan. Guests enjoyed refreshments while they were given a sneak peak at Improve Canada’s 320,000-square-foot building with over 400 showrooms. Industry professionals and the mayor of Vaughan had the opportunity to socialize and network while supporting the Hospital for Sick Children and Three To Be. www.improvecanada.com 1

City Life Magazine

Dec/Jan 2015/16

1. Oleg Chekhter, co-owner of Improve Inc. and HGTV’s Paul Lafrance show guests how Improve Canada is a result of people’s creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship coming together

www.mycitylife.ca

Photos By Sal Pasqua

GLITZ JEWELLERY BOUTIQUE — MAPLE

Where can you ﬁnd the new Jennifer Lopez and Nicole Richie jewellery lines in Vaughan? Glitz Jewellery Boutique, of course! Glitz showed off its high-end jewellery collections at its grand opening, just in time for Christmas. Doors opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony by the mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua himself. Guests were able to check out and try on glamorous necklaces, rings, earrings and more. Glitz Boutique is making everyone in the city sparkle in a refreshing new way. www.glitzjewellery.ca

2015 SAFEHAVEN GALA — VAUGHAN

On Nov. 6, the annual Safehaven Gala was held at the Bellvue Manor in Vaughan, where one lucky guest drove away in a brand-new 2015 Fiat 500 Lounge — just one of the big-ticket items that was generously donated for the occasion. Safehaven provides residential and respite care to families whose children have multiple disabilities. With a delicious ﬁvecourse Italian meal, silent auction and live entertainment throughout the evening, the organization raised $50,000 to continue their efforts. www.safehaven.to

Photos By Alexandria Liscio, Nigel D’Souza and Matthew Seguin

2 3

1. Italian Car Day directors present their donation to Safehaven 2. Anthony Farnell and Safehaven respite child Ali 3. Mayor Bevilacqua; Kimberley Gadwah, Safehaven fund development and communications specialist; and Tony Zingaro, Safehaven gala chair and board member

www.mycitylife.ca

Dec/Jan 2015/16

City Life Magazine

S P E C I A L A D V E R T I S I N G F E AT U R E

Restaurant GUIDE

PENTOLA D’ORO 2015 — TORONTO

On Nov. 2, The Carlu on Yonge Street celebrated the tastes of Italy’s rich culture and foods at the 2015 Pentola d’Oro Awards Gala Dinner. The event is held annually by the Italian Chamber of Commerce of Ontario to promote and celebrate innovation and excellence in the Italian-Canadian food and beverage industry. This year’s awards honoured leaders of Italy-Canada businesses as well as the best of Italian dining in Ontario. italchambers.ca 2

Farro Ristorante 2316 Major Mackenzie Dr. West, Maple

905-832-0650

www.farroristorante.com • Specialties: Classic Italian cuisine with a variety of gluten-free items • Atmosphere: Comfortable setting with a classic-meets-contemporary vibe • Dinner for 2: $100 – $120 • Capacity: 100 • Reservations: Recommended on weekends • What customers say: Incredible food with unbeatable value; service that makes you feel like family, all in a scenic atmosphere

Photos Courtesy of Life Through a Lens Studios

1. Winners of the Pentola d’Oro Award 2015, Food and Beverage Industry Leaders, from left to right: Cosimo Mammoliti, Proprietor, Terroni: Pizza Nova Favourite Hotspot Award; Nunzio Tumino, founder and CEO, Aurora Importing and Distributing Ltd.: Scotiabank Italy-Canada Award; Thomas Longo receiving the award on behalf of his father, Anthony Longo, president and CEO, Longo’s; Jan K. Overweel Limited Food and Beverage Industry Award. 2 ICCO executive director Corrado Paina

GLOBE MEATS FRESH MARKET AND GRILL — TORONTO

We thank you again for your patronage. Happy Holidays from Farro Ristorante!

Globe Meats is not your average butcher shop. The GTA staple celebrated its new state-of-the-art butcher facility, which is not only a butcher shop but also a fresh grocery store. When customers are done shopping, they can make their way over to the restaurant and grill to grab a slice of wood-burning-oven pizza, some porchetta, panini, premium steaks and much more. Toronto Mayor John Tory and Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti joined in on the unveiling, ribbon-cutting and inaugurating of the restaurant and grill. Of course, they made sure they were there for the pizza tasting as well! www.globemeatsmarket.com

Sorrento North Ristorante 965 Major Mackenzie Dr. West, Maple

289-553-2132

www.sorrentoristorante.ca

City Life Magazine

Dec/Jan 2015/16

1. The Globe Meats Fresh Market and Grill grand opening drew in guests that included Toronto mayor John Tory, who enjoyed Italianstyle wood-oven pizza prepared by the chef

Photos Provided By Tony Rotondaro

• Specialties: Amalfi Coast cuisine — imported fish, premium cuts, homemade pasta and desserts. Take out and catering available • Atmosphere: Warm Italian hospitality • Dinner for 2: $60 — $100 • Capacity: 66 in main dining area; 14 in private room • Reservations: Recommended • What customers say: An authentic Italian kitchen that transports you back to a summer spent in Sorrento

www.mycitylife.ca

Happy Holidays Fionn MacCool’s Restaurant • Pub 6110 Highway 7, Woodbridge

905-264-2922

www.primepubs.com • Specialties: Irish-inspired cuisine in a fun and comfortable environment • Atmosphere: The spirited ambience of a classic Irish pub with live entertainment Thursday to Saturday • Dinner for 2: $50 — $60 • Capacity: 255 with a 105-seat patio • Reservations: Recommended • What customers say: A menu that transcends traditional pub food for unbeatable value, all served by fantastic people

AllStar Wings & Ribs 3130 Rutherford Rd., Unit 2, Vaughan

289-304-9969

www.allstarwingsandribs.com • Specialties: Versatile menu, known best for quality ribs, certified Angus beef steaks, burgers and 200+ wing flavours • Atmosphere: Be prepared to go ALL IN! Family-friendly, sports-themed, full service restaurant • Dinner for 2: $40 • Capacity: 250 number of seats • Reservations: Not required, but can be made by calling restaurant directly • What customers say: Wing lovers trek from all over the GTA to experience AllStar Wings & Ribs’ award-winning recipes, incredible service and value!

www.mycitylife.ca

Dec/Jan 2015/16

City Life Magazine

People & Places BEAUTY EMPORIUM — VAUGHAN

People from all over Vaughan ﬂocked to the new Beauty Emporium location at Major Mackenzie Drive and Dufferin Street. Guests enjoyed hors d’oeuvres and wine while having hair touch-ups in the private wig-ﬁtting room! Owner Marie Lawes was there to teach customers about the best products for long and luscious locks. She says education is the most important aspect of caring for your hair, skin and nails. At the Beauty Emporium, the staff is devoted to making every woman look and feel her best. thebeauty-emporium.com

1. Owner Marie Lawes (top left) educates guests on the perfect hair, scalp and beauty products over some cocktails and appetizers at the Beauty Emporium grand opening

De Rose Personal Injury Law Firm inaugurated a new office in Stoney Creek on Oct. 8. The 20 King St. W. location is the second office for the highly successful law ﬁrm. At the grand opening celebration, guests enjoyed refreshments as well as goodie bags to take home. De Rose’s lawyers have over 40 years of combined experience in compassionately representing individuals with all forms of injuries. www.deroselaw.ca 1. Dominic DeRose and staff of DeRose Personal Injury Law Firm celebrate the opening of their new location in Stoney Creek

Photo By Agostino Novello

Photos By Carlos Arturo Pinto

DE ROSE OPENS NEW OFFICE — STONEY CREEK

MACKENZIE HEALTH FOUNDATION’S LAS VEGAS GALA — VAUGHAN

International Inc.’s $10-million gift for the new emergency department at Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital

City Life Magazine

Dec/Jan 2015/16

Photo By George Pimentel Photography

The 28th annual Mackenzie Health Foundation’s Las Vegas Gala took place on Oct. 24 at the Universal EventSpace. The gala, presented by Rogers, featured fundraising efforts such as a raffle and live and silent 1 auctions. The event raised a recordbreaking $1.25 million that will help to enhance patient care at the existing 5TH ANNUAL RUNNYMEDE ICARE GALA — VAUGHAN Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital, Imagine this: Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders belting it out with Billboard legend Andy as well as build and equip the future Kim, singing “Sugar, Sugar.” This was one of the highlights at the 5th annual Runnymede Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital Healthcare Centre ICARE Gala, which took place on Oct. 16 at the Bellvue Manor in www.mackenziehealth.ca Vaughan. The gala raised over $220,000 in support of health care initiatives at the Toronto facility. Attendees enjoyed a mouth-watering gourmet dinner, live auctions, silent auctions and raffles. 1. The Magna International Table: One of the www.runnymedehc.ca evening’s highlights was celebrating Magna 1. Andy Kim and Sam Ciccolini 2. Rosanna and Enrico Colantoni, Connie Dejak

www.mycitylife.ca

Photos By Valeria Mitsubata Photography

People & Places WOMEN TO WOMEN SYMPOSIUM — WOODBRIDGE

It was an afternoon affair at the Paramount Conference and Event Venue in Woodbridge as the 6th Annual Women to Women Symposium commenced on Nov. 4. The event, hosted by the Vaughan Chamber of Commerce, raised $4,500 for Million Dollar Smiles, a non-proﬁt designed to grant wishes to children in challenging life situations. The theme of this year’s panel was exceptional women in business, and attendees heard speeches from exemplary individuals such as Lisa Lisson, president of FedEx Express Canada, and Anna Eliopoulos, owner of Peter and Paul’s Gifts. www.vaughanchamber.ca 1

Florals

Beyond Your Expectations 12994 Keele St., #3, King City T 905-833-3148 • C 416-300-9761

Photos By Valeria Mitsubata Photography

1. Jennifer Valentyne, Susan Niczowski, Anna Eliopoulos, Lisa Lisson and Andrea DeGasperis-Ronco 2. Back row: Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua. Front row: Anna Eliopoulos, Jennifer Valentyne, Lisa Lisson, Andrea DeGasperis-Ronco and Susan Niczowski 3. Santina Mariani and Maristella Salvi

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Dec/Jan 2015/16

City Life Magazine

Photo By Memory Video Productions – Anna Dagrosa

People & Places 63RD ANNUAL PRESIDENT’S BALL — VAUGHAN

Universal EventSpace, the newly built by Peter and Paul’s venue, hosted the Canadian Italian Business and Professional Association of Toronto’s 63rd Annual President’s Ball on Nov. 7. Some of the most distinguished members of Toronto’s Italian-Canadian business community gathered for the event to acknowledge outstanding individuals who are making a difference in their professional ﬁeld. Awards included the coveted President’s Award, given to Nick Di Donato, CEO of Liberty Entertainment Group. toronto.cibpa.com 1

1. Angelique Pacheco, Mark Roccatani, John Lettieri and Eddy Burello

L’ORO JEWELLERS — TORONTO

L’ALTRA ITALIA — VAUGHAN

Want to immerse yourself in Italian culture? L’Altra Italia invites you and your family to celebrate Italian cinema by gathering and enjoying a night out at the movies, complete with receptions in both Toronto and Vaughan! Get out in the new year to view La Scuola Più Bella del Mondo on Jan. 14 and 22 at the TIFF Bell Lightbox and the Colossus Vaughan Cineplex. laltraitalia.org 1

Photos By Pedro Marques

As part of the new North Expansion in Sherway Gardens, L’Oro Jewellers debuted their third location and new ﬂagship store at the beginning of October. L’Oro offers customers prestigious brands such as Pandora, Gucci and many more. The third location follows two successful stores in Markville Shopping Centre and Vaughan Mills Shopping Centre. www.loro.ca 1. L’Oro’s Sherway Gardens location marks the jewellery store’s third store opening in the GTA 2. The latest L’Oro Jewellers store located in Toronto has been named the company’s new ﬂagship store

FREE THE CHILDREN’S WE DAY 2015 — TORONTO

The Air Canada Centre was booming with excitement as 20,000 student change-makers enjoyed their earned ticket to the 2015 WE Day celebration on Oct. 1. Performances by Demi Lovato, Nick Jonas, Carly Rae Jepsen and Hozier got the crowd energized, while speeches from Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Nina Dobrev and more inspired attendees to do good in the world. www.weday.co

1. Christian De Sica and Rocco Papaleo star in La Scuola Più Bella del Mondo, being shown in the GTA in January of 2016 2. Catch the ﬁlm on Jan. 14 at 8 p.m. at the Colossus Vaughan Cineplex or on Jan. 22 at 9 p.m. at the TIFF Bell Lightbox

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1. Magic Johnson, presenting in front of an energized crowd 2.Spencer West, Me to We motivational speaker, Free the Children ambassador and author, relishes in the WE Day excitement and takes photos with his fans at the ACC.

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Photos Provided By Sarah Evans at Free The Children

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People & Places Scaddabush Italian Kitchen & Bar opened the doors to its new location in Richmond Hill on Oct. 6. Guests were welcomed with traditional Italian feasts and refreshments followed by a night of music and fun. In true Italian fashion, the restaurant offers shareable dishes and other favourites such as pastas, meatballs, fresh bread, cheese, pizza, desserts and more. www.scaddabush.com

Photos By George Pimentel Photography

1. Scaddabush’s new Richmond Hill location maintains the chain’s rustic Italian style and fresh food. Guests are welcomed in like they are part of the family

Photo Provided By Scaddabush

SCADDABUSH — RICHMOND HILL

WORLD MASTERCARD FASHION WEEK – TORONTO

World MasterCard Fashion Week is the nation’s leader in celebrating fashion. This year the presentations propelled Canadian designers to the forefront of the fashion industry. On Oct. 19-23, 2015, established and emerging designers from Canada had the opportunity to showcase some of their best spring 2016 pieces at David Pecaut Square. worldmastercardfashionweek.com

1. World MasterCard Fashion Week wowed the crowd with top-notch style such as the “Forbidden Paradise” collection by beloved Canadian fashion designer Mikael D.

ANDREWS AT SHERWAY GARDENS – TORONTO

Luxury women’s wear retailer Andrews celebrated its 25th anniversary with the opening of its third location at Sherway Gardens. Event attendees ranged from new and valued patrons to loyal regulars who have been shopping at Andrews since the beginning. Boasting superior customer service and quality, this family-owned company is a true Canadian success story. www.andrewsco.com www.website.com

1 and 2. The new Andrews location at Sherway Gardens 3. Sylvia Paterson, Nil Kurtdarcan and Mimi McCaffrey 4. Andrews president Darren Mason and Mimi McCaffrey, Bayview Village store manager

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www.mycitylife.ca

Photos By Tom Sandler

AN IDYLLIC SETTING Just a short drive north of the city, XXI Chophouse serves firstrate meals in the peaceful village of Kleinburg, one of the GTA’s most beautiful and coveted communities. EXTENSIVE WINE AND SCOTCH SELECTION An ever-evolving wine program features vintages from Canada, France, Chile, the U.S. and beyond. A sizeable Scotch Wall boasts a rich selection of single malts, fine cognacs and specialty liqueurs. PREMIUM AGED BEEF An in-house dry-aging locker ensures precise aging times of 35 to 50 days of the highestquality cuts of beef sourced from top purveyors, including Paradise Farms, the American Angus Hall of Fame’s Best Breeder of Aberdeen Angus in North America.

Located in The Doctor’s House in the village of Kleinburg, XXI Chophouse blends the area’s historical setting with contemporary design to deliver a premier steakhouse experience north of the city.

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www.XXIchophouse.com info@XXIchophouse.com 905 893 CHOP (2467) www.thedoctorshouse.ca 21 Nashville Road, The Doctor’s House Kleinburg, Ont.

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A NECKLACE ISN’T JUST A NECKLACE IN YOUR HANDS, IT CAN TELL A WHOLE NEW STORY. IT’S THE GIFT THAT EVOLVES EVERY TIME YOU WEAR IT. WHAT WILL YOU ASK FOR? SHARE THE #ARTOFYOU SHOWN: NEW BEZEL-SET BLUE AND ICE CRYSTALS ON SILVER NECKLACE

PROMENADE MALL 905.889.5656

MARKVILLE SHOPPING CENTRE 905.477.9606

BAYVIEW VILLAGE 647.346.2176

FAIRVIEW PARK 519.894.4900

VAUGHAN MILLS 905.660.9993

SHERWAY GARDENS 416.621.6643

VAUGHAN MILLS 905.660.7400

VAUGHAN MILLS 905.669.8522

MARKVILLE SHOPPING CENTRE 905.477.1273