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VOLUME 19 ISSUE 1 | MAR/APR 2021

CONTENTS 26 50 46

COVER STORY

PAIN AND POLITICS OF THE PANDEMIC: Small business owners speak out about weathering through the government’s enforced lockdowns

26 GET COOKING WITH EDEN: Host of Top Chef Canada, producer and recent author Eden Grinshpan shares a peek into her life and a recipe from her new cookbook

44 THE SUSAFA WAY: Restore your soul by

escaping to an authentic Sicilian hideaway that will inspire your next travel plans

50 EDITOR’S PICKS: Whether it’s the newest gadget, a fun family activity or design inspiration, we’ll get you excited for spring

65 A TIKTOK SENSATION: How aspiring singer Sheena Melwani unexpectedly became a cross-generational media sensation

DESIGN NEWS

44 12 CURATED FOR YOU:

Decorate like it’s spring with furniture that will bloom in even the smallest places

52 A DISHEARTENING REALITY: Taking a deeper look at how society has turned a blind eye on our suffering elderly population

58 MAKING THE OLD NEW

AGAIN: A brother-and-sister duo take on restoring old farmhouses in HGTV Canada’s new series Farmhouse Facelift

60 PANDEMIC PANDEMONIUM: The alarming negative impact the pandemic has had on our youths’ mental health

More stories inside …

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PUBLISHER’S NOTE PUBLISHER’S NOTE

Michelle Zerillo-Sosa Publisher/Editor-in-Chief

Believe In a world that is fast becoming soulless Be challenged to ﬁnd your own soul Then make it selﬂess. When the television portrays only tragedy Be challenged to turn it off Spend your time working on your own humility. If you’re surrounded by people who are envious Be challenged to cull the herd around you Fill your life with those who bring joyousness. During the times you feel utterly hopeless Be challenged to claw your way out Understand that genuine happiness is timeless. Find your soul. Believe in yourself. Trust in your God. Love your family. Share your plenty. Lean when you Fernando Zerillo need. Live out loud. Co-Founder/Creative Love heartily. GrowDirector your humanity. Infect the world with your faith.

“Neuroscience has proven that similar areas of the disasters and extreme weather conditions, one could brain are activated both innatural person who suffers askthe the same question now. In De Lio’s case, where was God when deadly bacteria infected his body, nearly taking his life and and in the one who feels empathy. Thus, empathic resulting in the amputation of both of his legs? In that articleof yearssuffering” ago, one of the questioned religious leaders suffering is a true experience — from The Wife by Iris Imeneo

replied that God was in the firemen going up the stairs to rescue — Matthieu Ricard, Buddhist monk, humanitarian, author the people in the towers. It’s a response that to this date gives me Michelle Zerillo-Sosa, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief comfort. Likewise, now, God is in the rescue workers bringing relief to Puerto Rico, Mexico and Florida. And God was in the OVID-19 has been unlike any other disease in terms disappointment in the uneven mandates that have forced them to close doctors who fought to save Paul De Lio. He was with the family of its devastating impact on the world’s physical, social, their retail spaces, while allowing big-box stores to remain open, despite and friends who prayed for De Lio’s life and later, for his recovery. the fact that these companies often fail to comply with customer mental and financial health. Today, just a few months after his ordeal, De Lio is filled with First and foremost is the loss of life. You need only restrictions. As gratitude. consumers,He weisbear some of theothers burden of supporting positivity and ready to help find ways to speak to someone who has lost a family member to COVID-19 to small businesses with our dollars. If we don’t “Buy Local, Bye, live with motivation. Dare I say, then, God also resides init’sDe get a sense of the devastation caused by this illness. In Ontario, 3,648 Local.” One controversial fi gure in this debate is Vladislav Sobolev, Lio’s heart. See his story on page 32. long-term-care home residents in 630 facilities have died, prompting founder of We it’s Arepossible All Essential, a network of with businesses fighting to Of course, you do not agree my thoughts Diamond & Diamond Lawyers to fi le a $500-million class-action put an end to lockdown casualties and the loss of related jobs. ell, in the case of Yolanda Gampp, this could be on the whereabouts of God. We all know that one should not lawsuit on behalf of avictims who diedIfdue to avoidable negligence. COVID-19 usor of our abilityfor to connect withsensitive others. We real possibility. you’re not yet familiar with speak casuallyhas of robbed politics religion, these are The suit names majorher long-term-care across the province, as have a human needthe to express feelings, to afeel supported and heard, work, she isproviders a multi-millionaire YouTube topics (although weatherour isn’t exactly safe topic anymore, well as the Ontario government severalsubscribers, municipal bodies share love affection. esebethings are all in a part empathy, baker (3.3and million that (story is) …on all to either). But and perhaps you Th will interested ourofstory aboutand pagethanks 52). Thtois her tragedy raises the question of whether we, as a society, when we loseFaith, the ability to fulfinew l these needs, with we lose our7 empathy. incredible imagination. the Bahá’Í a relatively religion 5 to million is of is empathy a womanforwho up cakes for complicit a living — not adherents If you believe inand the betterment of Despite practising everythingglobally. that happened in 2020 beyond we must have a Th lack the dreams elderly. Have we been in the traditional tieredofshapes avours, homes? but cakes that look like remain the world, in unity, love and service, mightaccountability find your place inquisitive and optimistic as weyou demand from shocking inadequacy care inand ourflnursing hot dogs, apples, watermelons, in fland avours the our here. Bahá’Í’s believe inatequality and creeds, Besides thehuge deathcandy toll, the long-term side-effects the like mental leaders. There is light the end of of all thesexes, tunnel,races as vaccines are now ultimate red velvet … You get idea. starting and in the harmony of science and religion. Storyasona society page 74. stress of adapting to thisand newchocolate way of life,cake COVID-19 hasthe affected to be administered. We must move forward that In thisout dayforand we could use more unity, love and faith,our mother of God, thisbusinesses. lady has the power to tempt even looks the Sweet financial stability of local Government-mandated oneage, another, not all letting any disease compromise regardlessRemember, of what form it takes. May youtoday enjoyshape this edition of the strongest-willed withhardest her cakes! Her beliefaispoint that empathy. shutdowns have hit smallperson businesses of all. Is there the struggles we face our future. anything is possible, and with the love and support of family City Life Magazine. It, like life, is yours to experience and do when the civil rights and economic survival of these business owners Until the next edition, we hope you remain healthy, safe and friends, the highest levels of success are In attainable. Read and withoptimistic. what you will. supersede the recommendations of health officials? an ideal world, her story on page 38. there would be no contradiction between the health and safety of the Speaking of belief, we all pray that our faith need never be population as a whole and the well-being of small businesses. tested the way Paul De Lio’s is. Many of us go through life Our March/April cover features local business owners standing without ever having to question why tragedies strike our lives or before a mural of Mr. Monopoly covering his mouth. Much like Michelle Zerillo-Sosa Zerillo-Sosa Fernando Zerillo the lives of others in the world. A few years back, we published Michelle in the game of Monopoly, some business feel asking they have Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Co-Founder/Creative Director an article about the definition of God. Iowners remember the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief beenwriter dealtto a losing hand when it comes to dealing with shutdown pose this question to various religious leaders: “Where @citylifemag / @amorebagstoronto / @fernandozerillo @dolcetweets @amorebagstoronto regulations during this pandemic. our cover story, share their was God in moments such asIn9/11?” Given thethey recent state of

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DESIGN NEWS

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PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Michelle Zerillo-Sosa • michelle@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 SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Christina Ban SENIOR UI/UX DESIGNER Yena Yoo WEB DEVELOPER Jordan Carter JUNIOR UI/UX DESIGNER Maria Korolenko DIGITAL CONTENT DESIGNER Marco Schirripa E D ITO R IAL D E PARTM E NT FASHION & HOME DÉCOR EDITOR Michelle Zerillo-Sosa BEAUTY & WELLNESS EDITOR Angela Palmieri-Zerillo CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Rick Muller, Donna Paris, Cece M. Scott, Myles Shane, Josh Walker COPY EDITORS & PROOFREADERS Samantha Acker, Catharine Chen, Jennifer D. Foster, Nina Hoeschele CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Jesse Milns, Aubrie Pick, Carlos A. Pinto SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER & CONTENT CREATOR Reut Malca PR & COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR Cassandra Giammarco PR & EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Estelle Zentil VI D E O D E PARTM E NT VIDEOGRAPHERS Daniel Cooper, Carlos A. Pinto PUBLISHER

ADVERTISING T: 905-264-6789 info@mycitylife.ca DIRECTOR OF MARKETING Angela Palmieri-Zerillo • angela@dolce.ca SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER Mario Balaceanu FRONT COVER Photography by B-P Miller, Jesse Milns, Carlos Pinto

City Life Magazine • Volume 19 • Issue 1 • Mar/Apr 2021 City Life Magazine is published by Dolce Media Group, 111 Zenway Blvd., Suite 30, Vaughan, Ont., L4H 3H9 T: 905-264-6789 • F: 905-264-3787 info@mycitylife.ca • www.dolcemedia.ca Subscribe online at www.mycitylife.ca or by calling 905-264-6789. City Life Magazine’s yearly subscription fee is $24. We accept Visa, MC & AMEX. Send cheque or money order to Dolce Media Group, 111 Zenway Blvd., Suite 30, Vaughan, Ont., L4H 3H9 Publication Mail Agreement No. 40026675 All rights reserved. Any reproduction is strictly prohibited without written consent from the publishers.

Despite the challenges of COVID-19, we remain wholeheartedly committed to our mission to help children with autism. Our dedicated group of volunteers continue working to help Vaughan families affected by the financial hardships of raising a child with autism. The pandemic has introduced new struggles for everyone, but can you imagine for a moment what it is like for a child with autism and their family? Adjusting to a new routine is stressful for everyone, but especially these children on the spectrum who struggle with changes in their routine. Now more than ever, our work is critical to these families. COVID-19 prevented us from opening the application process and granting funds in 2020. This year, we are committed to granting funding applications to families in critical need, but we need your help! Here’s the good news – you can make a difference. Let’s continue this noble mission together, visit WavesOfChanges.ca. Thank you for supporting Waves of Changes for Autism. Respectfully yours,

DISTRIBUTION AND CIRCULATION City Life Magazine reaches 294,810 readers per issue through household distribution 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: May/June 2021 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 26 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. ©2021 Dolce Media Group • www.dolcemedia.ca • Printed in Canada @citylifetoronto www.mycitylife.ca

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A DV E R TO R I A L

One of the best parts of the job? Joanne Dice gets to work at the school with her daughter Nicole!

We all know how important it is to nurture a child’s abilities and interests at a young age – and the sky’s the limit when they attend the Haute Couture Academy of Fashion, Fine Arts & Design

s far back as Joanne Dice can remember, all she wanted to do was sew and draw. Perhaps it was bred in the bone, as her grandmother and aunt were both designers. “Kids are always outside running around – I wasn’t that kid,” she says. “I was inside by the sewing machine, I couldn’t get enough!” So how did Dice, now the owner of a prestigious design school, make the leap? After graduating from Sheridan College’s design program, she landed an apprenticeship with a bridal designer before opening her own successful business, Jenna Couture. But when her mentor talked her into teaching with the Toronto Board of Education, that’s when Dice realized that her love for teaching aspiring students rivalled her love for design itself. “I realized that more was needed: a school that addressed all the needs of today’s youth,” she says. 16

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Now known as the Haute Couture Academy of Fashion, Fine Arts & Design, the school trains students of all ages with a robust program. “We’re able to successfully train students going into the design industries,” she says. And programs are well supported with technology: Students use Illustrator to create fashion layouts and Photoshop to market their brand, for instance. Dice’s advice to parents is simple. “Start kids as young as possible,” she says. If your child likes to work with their hands, for instance, do your due diligence and get them into a proper sewing program. Young children can start with art and sewing classes, “then by the time they get to Grade 7 or 8, they can enroll in pattern making from university textbooks and they can do it,” she says. “We prep our kids for the Top 10 fashion universities in the world – and hands down, we get them in,” she says.

PHOTO BY CARLOS A. PINTO

Fanning a Passion for Fashion

Most of the students at the school are girls, and Dice works hard to empower them. “You have a lot of female designers, but it’s still men who own and run the corporations,” she says. That’s the reason they started a year-end fashion show at the school. “It didn’t happen this past summer…but I started that so the kids would learn how to shine and not feel guilty about it, and it inspired them to work even harder,” she says. The biggest perk for Dice? Getting to work with her daughter Nicole, who now teaches at the school. “We always knew she’d be in the design industry, whether it was fashion or graphic design or interior design, because since she was a little girl, I’m talking a year or a year and a half old, she could draw,” says Dice. “She’s a true designer, and she has creativity coming out of every pore in her body.” As for working together, well it just works really well. “Sometimes we have a difference of opinion and we clash…and the kids get a kick out of it!” This past year, the school has had to pivot like others, moving toward online learning, a challenge for teachers and students, but the kids understood what was at stake. “The ones that were serious realized they had to put more effort into it, and in the end they learned they are much more capable and resilient than they thought they were,” says Dice. The kids at the school are everything to Dice. “I call them my kids and my babies, I become like a second mother,” she says. “I’m watching these kids learn and what they can do in their year-end collections; they are my inspiration.” And with this kind of support, success happens naturally. There’s no better place to grow and nurture that passion than the Haute Couture Academy of Fashion, Fine Arts & Design.

8099 Weston Rd., Unit 10, Woodbridge, Ont. 905-264-9341 www.hcfashionarts.ca

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A DV E R TO R I A L

The Vescio family believes their duty is a work of mercy for their community

VESCIO FUNERAL HOMES: Family-owned and -operated for 38 years, Vescio Funeral Homes is dedicated to compassionate and customized service

he passing of a loved one can leave families at their most emotional and vulnerable, just when strength and a clear mind are required. It’s why so many families in Toronto, Maple and Woodbridge have turned to the experienced, caring and compassionate professionals at Vescio Funeral Homes to provide guidance through grief during these most difﬁcult days, when ﬁnal arrangements must be made and carried out. “Our whole family has given ourselves to our business and our community for 38 years as a family-owned and -operated business,” says Luigi Vescio. “We tell our families we are not the cheapest funeral home, but we provide the best value because we customize each funeral. There are no two funerals in our funeral homes that are identical. We have meetings about every funeral and discuss, given this particular family, what we can do to make it better.” This has been especially challenging during the pandemic. Vescio is respecting all the rules, and offering lengthier visiting hours, temperature checks and with public gatherings limited to 10 people, 18

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Mar/Apr 2021

the visits are timed in 15-minute segments with deep room sanitization between visitation segments for the family. As well, Vescio Funeral Homes, being such traditionalists in the Vaughan area, fully realize the importance neighbours have in regard to any passing and have worked to include them as well. “We go to the loved one’s home, and we do a reading outside,” says Luigi. “In our communities, neighbours are everything, and they come out and watch.” Two white doves are then released into the air from the back of the hearse, which gives the neighbours a chance to be a part of the funeral and to say goodbye, he adds. As well, Luigi is quick to point out that all social distancing rules are rigorously followed, with the funeral director instructing neighbours via microphone and speaker to stand at least six feet apart from other households. Vescio’s three funeral homes are all staffed by highly trained professionals who attentively offer a complete range of services, including traditional funerals, Catholic Services, burial or cremation services, as well as celebration of life events, all offered with a 5-star concierge

service interactive app, which attends to any family need. For many of us, walking into a funeral home is unfamiliar. We can be in a state of shock in a foreign environment – the very deﬁnition of vulnerability. This is where Vescio Funeral Homes can help the most, as they recognize and appreciate the assistance their clients need at this most critical time. Luigi says for his family, it’s all part of a higher calling of service. “Our family believes what we do every day is a corporal work of mercy for us as Catholics, and that the talent and strength we have been given comes from God to beneﬁt our community through their hardships,” says Luigi. During the turbulent times of the passing of a loved one, Vescio Funeral Homes can take your hand and provide a calming, compassionate and professional partnership just when you need it the most.

PHOTO BY CARLOS A. PINTO

Where the Tradition of Family Makes all the Difference

8101 Weston Rd., Woodbridge, Ont. 905-850-3332 2080 Dufferin St., Toronto, Ont. 416-656-3332 211 McNaughton Rd. E., Maple, Ont. 905-303-0770 www.vesciofuneralhome.com

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Influencers

MICHAEL HOLMES:

REPUTATION BUILDING Michael Holmes, in his latest television series Holmes Family Effect, stars alongside his dad Mike and sister Sherry in working together to transform people, communities and make dreams come true

he Holmes family has become Canada’s best-known family of builders, with its patriarch Mike Holmes now one of the world’s most notable builders, contractors and renovators through his many successful television series shown globally. So, it is interesting to note that their new series, Holmes Family Effect, does not include the words “building,” “renovation” or “construction” in its title. “Family” is the key word, as it’s a testament to how family is the real foundation of their life, not bricks and mortar, and even more appropriate, given this new series also stars his children, Michael and Sherry, themselves both television veterans. “Family is extremely important to all of us,” says Michael, 31. “Growing up with my parents divorced, I didn’t get to spend a lot of time with Dad, but the fact that we’re working together now means the world to me. I started to work for him when I was just 14, and we sort of disagree on our remembering of that. My dad says he had to con me into working for him, but I remember it as Dad offering me a job, and I took it. I was in high school at age 14 and making money.” Michael started out working with his dad on the widely acclaimed Holmes on

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Homes and has since come into his own in the skilled trades industry, proudly advocating its merit and worth through his love of woodworking and through many other television series, and he is preparing for an even bigger role in this highly anticipated new series. Holmes Family Effect will be inspirational in that it shows the Holmes family tackling their most important projects to date by working with deserving people who are making important and positive impacts in their local communities. Each episode will follow the Holmes family as they surprise these people by pitching in and improving community spaces. From a neglected school building to a rundown youth centre, the show illustrates how Michael, Sherry and Mike transform these spaces and help these community heroes, so they can continue to make a positive difference and make dreams come true. In this way, “Effect” in the show title was also carefully chosen as denoting the impact Holmes Family Effect will have on local communities, which is also a core belief of Michael and the Holmes family. “Our goal is to have a lasting positive impact,” says Michael. “We want to inspire communities and for our efforts

to have a ripple effect and spread some love. That’s what we’re trying to do: shine a light on important organizations and to give them love and support. I wanted to grow up and be a superhero, and here I am, helping communities.” Reflective of the promise of Holmes Family Effect, Bell Media, owners of CTV, selected to premiere the show immediately following the Super Bowl on February 7. This is the coveted spot of the yearly television schedule and is usually reserved for programs with immense possibilities for success. The show will then move to its regular Sunday at 8 p.m. ET/PT time slot, and, in March, will begin streaming on Crave. With Bell Media’s expanded partnership with FOX Entertainment, FOX has also acquired Holmes Family Effect, with the series airing on FOX as part of the network’s 2020–21 midseason schedule. While they are both already successful in the business, Michael and Sherry fully realize and appreciate their father’s legendary career, which began when he was 19 and started a contracting company with 13 employees, then founded his own renovation company when he was just 21. His first starring television series, Holmes on Homes, premiered in 2003. www.mycitylife.ca

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE HOLMES GROUP

WRITTEN BY RICK MULLER

Sherry Holmes, dad Mike and brother Michael join forces once again on Holmes Family Effect, bringing and building positive change to local communities

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Mar/Apr 2021

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In 2006, Mike Holmes started The Holmes Foundation after seeing a renovation that was so poorly done, he felt it necessary for him to tear the house down and start again, rather than try to repair the damage. The purpose of The Holmes Foundation is to encourage young people to enter the building trades, as well as to assist those who have been impoverished by bad renovations. His personal motto “Make It Right” became the title of another television series in 2012. He has been recognized in the House of Commons for his promotion of skilled trades and for his advocacy for improving building standards. If there is one thing Mike Holmes cannot stand, it is shoddy workmanship and the negative perception it has on his chosen profession, which is the reason he went into television in the first place: to expose the bad workmanship. “When I started, any house I went to was contaminated by a lousy contractor, and I thought by now this would all be solved, and that government regulations would have changed,” says Mike on his personal battle against bad building practices. “In the construction world, there is the good, the bad and the ugly. The good is maybe 20 per cent, the bad about 70 per cent and the ugly 10 per cent. We need to raise the good people to about 40 per cent. The bad contractors just don’t want to learn and do things properly. Today, homeowners just don’t know enough, and contractors can get away with it. We need to be living in healthier homes — especially during COVID-19 times.” Michael and Sherry were obviously influenced growing up watching their father work with his hands and applying his trade, and Michael fondly remembers watching his dad as a youngster and the wonder he felt in building things. “My dad was always my hero, as he can build anything, and he’d always tell me the horror stories of renovations,” recalls Michael. “And, when the TV show came along, all of a sudden it all became very real, and people were stopping him on the street for renovations advice. I thought it was very cool.” Daughter Sherry grew up as a young girl who not only wanted to play with Barbie’s DreamHouse, but also probably 22

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Mar/Apr 2021

build it. She began behind the scenes on Holmes on Homes and has co-hosted Holmes: Next Generation and Holmes 911 on CTV Life Channel. “I actually did like Barbie and wanted her DreamHouse,” says Sherry, 33. “But my dad said he’d build it for me, instead. He did, and it was the ugliest thing I ever saw, but it was structurally very strong.” She is a big advocate for youth who want to get into the trades and supports Skills Canada and World Skills. She also mentors and encourages young

We want to inspire communities and for our efforts to have a ripple effect and spread some love

— Michael Holmes

women to consider a career in skilled trades through Conestoga College’s “Jill of All Trades” workshops and acts as an ambassador for Habitat for Humanity’s annual Women Build event, a program that calls on women to help build stronger, safer communities. She is excited to be back in front of the camera and hopes she can influence more women to enter the field and reduce the stereotypes of the skilled trades industry. “Everyone needs to see someone in the same career path they’re considering,” observes Sherry. “I think it’s important for youth to keep their options open, step out of your comfort box and give it a try. I’ve met so many more women now in the trades and was so happy that our first episode features

an 18-year-old girl who wants a career in the trades.” Holmes Family Effect promises to be a heartwarming and uplifting series by telling the story of the Holmes family helping four deserving Canadian organizations to better the communities of which they are a part. In the series premiere, the family takes on a project that’s close to their heart when 18-yearold Riley asks for their help to save her school’s skilled trades program. With the help of one of the world’s best-known stand-up comedians, Russell Peters of Brampton, Ont., also a school alumnus, the family transforms three rundown classrooms, not only impacting the current students, but also improving the learning for future classes of trade professionals. Michael says this is the type of lasting impact they want Holmes Family Effect to have. “For years, the Holmes family were helping individual families, but we wanted that to grow and get bigger, and now we are helping entire communities,” says Michael. “I remember our first show and the first reveal of what we did, and it was just so important to those people, and therefore, it just became very important to me.” Mike Holmes has built many things during his illustrious career and created a successful global brand through trust, authenticity and dependability. However, despite all of the accolades, there is no question that his proudest accomplishments remain to this day Sherry and Michael. “Working with my kids is just great, and I’m just so proud of what they have both accomplished,” says the proud father and long-time resident of Halton Hills, Ont. “I’m so happy they both decided to enter the trades as a career, and it means the world to me.” Illustrating the power of family while having a positive effect on their community, Holmes Family Effect will be inspirational, optimistic and have much-needed storytelling of what is possible when people work together for the betterment of their surroundings. The show will be a guide of ideals, ideas and respect, from a family using their influence and skills to create a powerful force for positive change. www.ctv.ca/shows/holmes-family-effect www.mycitylife.ca

A DV E R TO R I A L

STEELES PAINT & DÉCOR Featuring Benjamin Moore’s recently announced Colours for 2021 palette, Steeles Paint & Décor once again takes the lead in colouring in the moment

AEGEAN TEAL 2136-40 A blend of blue-green and grey, it is an intriguing midtone that creates natural harmony inspired by the comfort that colour evokes, earning it the star hue of Benjamin Moore’s Colours for 2021 palette. Aegean Teal 2136-40 is complex but also versatile, and with its deep and comforting tonality, it boasts a casual elegance that would appeal to a broad cross-section of people. The perfect choice for the current moment, to find joy throughout the day relating back to colour and provide the backdrop that sets a particular mood, promotes well-being or is a means of personal expression. WALL: Aegean Teal 2136-40, Regal® Select, Eggshell TRIM: Atrium White OC-145, ADVANCE®, Satin

KINGSPORT GRAY HC-86 A neutral paint colour popular in Rhode Island, it is one of the Colours for 2021 palette and is part of Benjamin Moore’s Historical Collection inspired by America’s historic landmarks. Kingsport Gray HC-86 is a warm colour especially if you have south-facing or western afternoon sunshine. A great option for a feature wall as it’s not too soft, nor too heavy for a darker room, and fabulous for both as it has very little undertone. Also ideal for exteriors, kitchen cabinets or bathroom vanities. WALL: Kingsport Gray HC-86, Regal Select, Flat TRIM: Gray Cashmere 2138-60, Regal Select, Semi-Gloss

PHOTO BY CARLOS A. PINTO

PHOTOS COURTESY OF BENJAMIN MOORE

he largest independent paint store in North America, Steeles Paint & Décor’s 20,000-squarefoot supercentre at 4190 Steeles Ave. W. is bursting with a vast selection of paints and possibilities. Since 1988 it has been recognized by

Owner and founder Claudio Grisolia (left) has been joined in the family business by son Devon (right)

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both do-it-yourself homeowners and professional decorators as the most well-respected and knowledgeable paint resource in Ontario because of its wide selection and expertise. It has fulltime professional designers employed to assist with any project, large or small. These in-house designers possess considerable expertise and take a oneon-one, personalized approach to be able to customize every assignment. Steeles Paint & Décor is well versed in translating the sometimes confusing and intimidating colour choice options into simple design solutions which make the process of every project enjoyable.

4190 Steeles Ave. W., Woodbridge, Ont. 905-850-4040 www.steelespaint.com

Mar/Apr 2021

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Mar/Apr 2021

CITY LIFE MAGAZINE

food

WHAT’S COOKING, CANADA?

From hosting and producing cooking shows and running a restaurant to publishing a cookbook, it’s all about the food for Eden Grinshpan. With Top Chef Canada season 9 airing this spring, Grinshpan dishes about everything in her life now WRITTEN BY DONNA PARIS

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Mar/Apr 2021

Grinshpan has her own easy approach to cooking, which works just fine for her husband, Ido

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Grinshpan loves sharing food with her husband, Ido, and their daughter, Ayv

Don’t ever be ashamed to ask for help — and I think once you let go of that, it kind of gives you a sense of calmness and relief with Samantha Wasser to open Dez with Esquared Hospitality group: it was a casual, contemporary restaurant featuring Middle Eastern food. The restaurant shut down, but if you’re Grinshpan, you don’t stand still. You forge ahead, and she did, carving out another project and releasing her first cookbook, Eating Out Loud (Clarkson Potter/Penguin Random House, 2020). “The restaurant, my travels, my Israeli background and also growing up in Toronto, one of the most multicultural cities in the world, really inspired the book,” she says. Filled with mouth-watering photographs, the cookbook is full of recipes that are not only delicious, but also accessible, and that was important to Grinshpan. “It’s not super-traditional

or authentic, it’s very much my own contemporary approach,” she says, adding that the cookbook is a reflection of the way she personally eats, and that taste, texture and flavour combinations are paramount. “I’m inspired by the season and what I see at the grocery store,” she says. She happens to eat a lot of vegetables and that’s why “the biggest chapter in the book is making vegetables — Middle Eastern and Mediterranean food just lend themselves to that kind of a diet.” If you’re scrolling through Grinshpan’s Instagram pics, you’ll fall in love with all the fun bits and pieces of her life that she shares, from dancing around her home to yoga poses to posing topless covered in pizza when she was pregnant with her now threeyear-old daughter, Ayv. And now she’s pregnant again, but she has no issue with saying that she has a lot of help. “I can’t do it all by myself, and I’m the first to say that it takes a village,” she says honestly. “Sometimes, when we’re on set, it’s 16-hour days.” In fact, that was one of the reasons they decided to move back to Toronto, so that her parents could help out. Her tip? “Don’t ever be ashamed to ask for help — and I think once you let go of that, it kind of gives you a sense of calmness and relief,” she says. “Once I asked for help, I got better at being a mom and better at doing my job,” she adds. What’s coming down the pipeline for Grinshpan? “I love what I’m doing right now, getting to take part in a lot of really creative projects,” she says. She feels so fortunate that she gets to be a part of Top Chef Canada every year, and that is something she hopes will continue. She enjoyed the creative process of putting her book together, so hopefully another one is in her future. But that’s not all. “There are so many different projects in my head, and I’m slowly working my way toward them, hoping they’ll happen eventually.” Editor’s note: We have no doubt. www.edeneats.com @edeneats

PHOTO BY AUBRIE PICK

ou never forget those “pinch me” moments in life, such as when you’re told that the job — hosting the most prestigious culinary competition in the country — is yours. And, even after five years of hosting Top Chef Canada, Eden Grinshpan is still in awe. “Obviously, my mind is blown,” she says. “But, when you hear the successful, knowledgeable judges tell the contestants that this is world class, and that it’s blowing their minds, too, you can’t help feeling like you’re part of something really special.” To be able to taste food from the different terroirs of the country, using all of the different ingredients grown in Canadian soil, and to see how all the different cultures across the country influence the cuisine is all tremendously inspiring for Grinshpan. Keeping a show fresh for nine seasons is no small feat. How do they do it? “Every season, chefs from all over the country bring some of their best dishes to the table, and it’s amazing because everyone has their own journey, and we get to witness it,” she says. “This one is a special season because everyone, especially in the restaurant industry, is so challenged right now, everyone was just so excited to go there to contribute, and you could really feel the energy.” Add to that, the producers had to get super-creative this season with coronavirus restrictions, and they did an outstanding job, she says. Grinshpan isn’t just a TV host, either; she has the chops to back herself up. She grew up in Toronto, then moved to New York after studying at Le Cordon Bleu in London. After a whirlwind romance, which ended up with her getting married to Ido, she co-created two cooking shows, Eden Eats and Log On and Eat with Eden Grinshpan, travelling the country looking for the most adventurous bloggers and social media influencers. When you work in TV, there’s a lot of time in between filming, which gives you an opportunity to dabble in different projects, she says. So, about seven years ago, she decided she wanted to get back in the kitchen, partnering

Check out Eden’s recipe on the next page Mar/Apr 2021

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Mar/Apr 2021

www.mycitylife.ca

Charred Whole Eggplant with Crushed Tomatoes, Basil and Mint

Almost every restaurant in Israel has a version of this whole-roasted eggplant, so it only made sense to have my own. Serving eggplants whole, stem and all, makes for such a special dish because people can see the vegetable in its beautiful original (or original-ish) form. It’s also the perfect blank canvas for a variety of flavours and textures. Sometimes I’m in the mood for a drizzle of pomegranate molasses and yogurt, while other times I add crushed ripe tomato for its bright acidity, balanced with nutty tahini and earthy za’atar. You’re going to want a whole loaf of bread or challah for this one. 1. With the tip of your knife, pierce each eggplant in two places — it doesn’t need to be perfect or in the same place every time; this is just so the eggplant doesn’t explode on you.

SERVES 6

3 1 ½ 1

medium eggplants medium tomato teaspoon kosher salt tablespoon za’atar, storebought or homemade 1½ tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for serving ½ cup Garlicky Tahini 1 tablespoon Red Zhug ⅓ cup fresh basil leaves ⅓ cup fresh mint leaves Flaky sea salt Thick slices of sourdough, challah or pita, for serving

2. Pick a cooking method for the eggplant: grill, broiler, or stovetop burners. The bottom line is that you want this eggplant to be almost unrecognizably charred. It’s going to deflate and the skin will get white in some places, but that just means the fire is working its magic on that eggplant. OPTION 1: Grill Preheat the grill until hot. Add the eggplants and let the fire do its thing, making sure to keep turning the eggplants so they char all over. You want them to get black and maybe even white in some places, 20 to 30 minutes total. OPTION 2: Broil Preheat the broiler. Put the eggplants in a broilerproof roasting pan and place the pan as close to the heating element as possible. (You may have to adjust your oven rack to accommodate the depth of the pan and eggplants.) Broil until they are evenly charred all over, 35 to 40 minutes, checking and turning the eggplants periodically. You want the eggplants to keep their shape but get really charred and wilted.

OPTION 3: Stovetop Gas Burners Line your stovetop around your burners with foil. Working with one at a time, place the eggplant over a medium flame and let it char, making sure to turn it every 5 minutes. Continue cooking until it is deflated and black all over, about 15 minutes. 3. Transfer the cooked eggplants to a colander in the sink and let the juices run. (The juices can make the dish taste bitter.) Once they’re cool enough to handle, and being careful to maintain the original shape, remove all of the eggplant skin except for the stem. (Feel free to reserve the skin to make Charred Tahini) Set aside on a large platter. 4. In a blender or food processor, blend together the tomato with the kosher salt. Set aside. 5. In a small bowl, mix together the za’atar and olive oil. Set aside. 6. Gently press on the eggplant flesh with a fork to spread it out. Drizzle the eggplants with the garlicky tahini and spoon over the pureed tomato. Drizzle with the za’atar oil and some red zhug (if using). Garnish with the basil and mint and finish with a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of sea salt. Serve warm with fresh bread.

Excerpted from Eating Out Loud: Bold Middle Eastern Flavors for All Day, Every Day by Eden Grinshpan with Rachel Holtzman. Copyright © 2020 Eden Grinshpan and Rachel Holtzman. Photographs © 2020 Aubrie Pick. Published by Penguin Canada, a division of Penguin Random House Canada Limited. Reproduced by arrangement with the publisher. All rights reserved.

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Mar/Apr 2021

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A DV E R TO R I A L

Luca and Domenic Di Pede’s 29 Eleven is already the go-to boutique for casually chic Italian style

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29 ELEVEN: THE EXCLUSIVE HOME FOR CASUAL ITALIAN STYLE York Region’s new home for the finest in Italian men’s and women’s fashions

Video Production

PHOTO BY CARLOS A. PINTO

Dolce Media Group Media Agency Creative Services

Mar/Apr 2021

f some of us are using this life pause to make some self-improvements, many are taking a look at revising their wardrobes for that glorious time when we can once again meet and socialize in a casual manner. In that spirit, many are turning to 29 Eleven in King City for the latest in exclusive men’s and women’s fashion from Italy, with a more casual and relaxed type of style reflective of the times. So exclusive, in fact, that its clothes and accessories cannot be found in any other store in North America. “The vision of 29 Eleven is only to bring in exclusive Italian fashions that you would only be able to get in our boutique,” says owner Domenic Di Pede about his store, which opened last September. “So, any of the brands you find in our boutique you will not find anywhere else in any other store in North America.” Brands carried include Adriano Langella, Trussardi, First Family Milano,

Iceberg, Liu Jo, I’m Brian and Gaelle Paris, and, in addition to fashion, 29 Eleven also carries designer sneakers and a full line of men’s and women’s accessories, which Di Pede believes continues to attract people with a certain sense of style. “We also cater to a much more casual/ streetwear kind of look, so it’s fun, hip and up-to-date fashion,” says Di Pede. “The quality of Italian clothing is phenomenal because of the quality of the fabrics and the designs they put together.” The distinctive name comes from a bible verse, Jeremiah 29:11, which Di Pede’s wife enjoyed and followed all her life, and he enjoys having his children work at the store, as well. “The best thing is to share my knowledge of business with my children and teach them how to succeed,” says Di Pede. Already met with great enthusiasm by its clients, 29 Eleven will be ready to safely reopen after lockdown to continue to offer exclusive Italian casual style to the GTA.

1700 King Rd., Units 3, 4 & 5, Building A, King City, Ont. info@29eleven.ca www.29eleven.ca

www.mycitylife.ca

Economic Woes

Is there a point when both our civil rights and the financial and emotional well-being of our small business owners supersede the governmental measures in place that mandate small businesses remain closed? WRITTEN BY CECE M. SCOTT

t is the modern-day, COVID-19 version of the biblical parable David and Goliath. In this 2020– 21 version, however, David is the metaphor for small businesses, and Goliath the metaphor for the government, at both the provincial and federal levels. www.mycitylife.ca

So what is at stake here? What is the fundamental battle between the powers of might and the might of small business owners, who consider the ongoing governmental mandate of keeping their small business doors shuttered against the transmission of COVID-19 an affront to their civil rights?

Civil rights, as defined by The Oxford Dictionary, “is the rights of citizens to political and social freedom and equality.” And therein lies the battle, one that is based on the politics and inequality of allowing big-box stores to open, with hundreds of people shopping their Mar/Apr 2021

CITY LIFE MAGAZINE

Ezra Levant, owner of Rebel News

aisles versus small businesses, who count customers, one-by-one at the door, before they let them enter their store. “I am a physical fitness trainer who has been in business two and a half years,” says Zach Boissinot, owner of A Foot Above Fitness, which is located in Ottawa. Boissinot’s gym is a 4,300-square-foot space whose business model is centred on twice-a-week workouts with personal fitness trainers, a key

WHAT THEY ARE NERVOUS ABOUT IS GETTING FINED BY THE LAW OFFICERS WHO KEEP SHOWING UP AT MY BUSINESS — Zach Boissinot, owner of A Foot Above Fitness

difference from the established monthly membership model. “Prior to COVID-19, on a busy day my gym would have approximately 15 people and 10 trainers present at any one time,” Boissinot says. When the first shut-down orders came on March 16, 2020, Boissinot, like every other business in Ontario, shut his doors, as was mandated by the Ontario government. “Truth be told, based on what I was hearing, I thought the mortality rate of people dying from COVID was between two per cent and three per cent; I was genuinely scared, so I locked my doors,” Boissinot says. “But by the end of April, I was going back to the gym doing my own personal workouts. By the middle of June, things just didn’t seem to be adding up as far as what we were being told about the virus and its 32

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impact on the mortality rate. To me, my clients’ mental health was at stake, so I started bringing people back into my gym for workouts.” The doors to A Foot Above opened and closed over the next several months until the province went into yet another modified phase of openings in September 2020. By October, both police officers and bylaw officers were at Boissinot’s door, issuing him a series of tickets. When the gym owner tried to prove to the officers that he was justified in opening, by showing them documents that he provided personal services, a sector that was allowed to be open, he was told he could fight the tickets in court. “None of my members, two of whom are in their 70s, are worried about getting the virus,” Boissinot says. “What they are nervous about is getting fined by the law officers who keep showing up at my business.” (Currently, Boissinot has been cited with two summons to court and six tickets totalling $4,200.) On two dates in January 2021, four police cruisers showed up at Boissinot’s door to support bylaw officers who were there to issue him fines and a court summons. On January 12, the second occasion, he videotaped the full encounter with the police and bylaw officers and then posted it to his Facebook account. The video got 500,000 views from both Canadians and those abroad. Boissinot was not alone in his fight to keep his small business open. Derrick Noble, owner of NobleToyz in Bolton, Ont., has been in business for five years, growing his footprint from 700 square feet to 1,500 square feet over that time frame. His store carries a wide breadth of merchandise including Funko Pop! products, puzzles, board games, video games, Pokémon, and Dungeons and Dragons, as well as vintage antiques. A few months before the first lockdown, Noble had signed a contract to take over the adjoining unit to his store, virtually expanding his business to 3,000 square feet. “I was shut down during the first wave of COVID-19,” Noble says. “It was a huge struggle for us; we did curbside but not much online, because that platform means hiring more staff, www.mycitylife.ca

which is not really affordable. I almost lost the business.” Claudia Rocca, owner of Klaudya’s Kloset, a gift store boutique, is another business that was hard hit by the first lockdown. “The products in my store are big impulse buys,” she says. “You come in for one item and leave with 10, because my items, priced from $10 to $200, are both unique and affordable. In-store browsing is key to my business.” Ironically, in addition to the wine glasses, mugs, soaps from England and women’s clothing line that the store stocks, Rocca also sells masks and hand sanitizers. “In the beginning, every time the government said we had to close, I did,” Rocca says. “I opened a couple of weeks before Christmas, and two police officers came in and gave me a summons to appear in court.” The financial hits for tickets issued and the threatening and worrisome summons to appear in court were mounting right across the board. Small businesses needed a champion — two, in fact, one being Vladislav Sobolev, who is the founder of We Are All Essential (www.weareallessential.ca). “The reason why I started We are All Essential (WAAE), which now has over 500 businesses in its network across Canada, is because I’ve been protesting the lockdown measures since May of last year,” says Sobolev. “Having personal experience as a business owner, working with a lot of businesses in the city and knowing a lot of people as well, I know that there is a tremendous importance to supporting the small business sector. Also, I come from Kazakhstan, in the Soviet Union, so I understand, personally, the real ramifications of what is taking place in our country. A lot of businesses that we talk to are desperate. They are regular Canadians, they are law-abiding citizens, with young families and mortgages. The business owners in our network are extremely active members of their communities, in fact, they are activists in their own right. A lot of the owners on the WAAE website have taken it upon themselves to make educational videos and explain to people the reason behind why they are opening up. They are taking the www.mycitylife.ca

time to explain the injustices of the governmental mandates. Within the WAAE network, we have captains who are business owners, and they are taking new members under their wing, showing them what the next steps are, educating them and supporting them, and I think that’s a strength. We are providing the essential support that most businesses feel they are not getting from the government. Defying the law is not something they really want to do; they just want to run their businesses and carry on with their regular life. But, they are forced to take these measures and defy the government. A lot of them understand the ramifications and importance of what they are doing; this is about way more than just opening their businesses, it is about protecting the freedoms in this country. ” The call to arms statistics on the WAAE website, which is run and funded by donations, include the statement that “there are 12,063 COVID-19 ‘related’ deaths in Canada and considering our unchanged population of nearly 38,000,000, this equates to 0.031% of the population who have died.” Another statistic that has been shared on WAAE flyers and their website is that in the next three months, across Canada, it is expected that close to a quarter of a million businesses will be lost. “That is crazy,” Sobolev says. “Even the businesses that are allowed to operate are limited in their capacity of how much business they can conduct, which again is crazy. Even if a business is open, the reality is, many of them are going bankrupt. They may be open, but they are not surviving. They are experiencing a slow death.” One of the more notable businesses to make the news for defying lockdown orders is Adam Skelly, owner of Adamson Barbecue. He famously made the news when he defied lockdown orders in November 2020 by continuing to allow indoor dining at his Etobicoke, Ont., location that was eventually forced to close, albeit with the encouragement of a visit by the Mounted Police. Current statistics illustrate the emotional impact that small business owners are experiencing. The latest Statistics Canada report

found that 57,301 businesses closed down between February 2020 and September 2020. In a January 2021 survey by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) (Source: CFIB, COVID-19: State of Small Business, survey key results, January 2021), 42 per cent of Ontario businesses felt that current government lockdowns or business restrictions should be less restrictive to allow more businesses to reopen. Fifty-two per cent of CFIB members in Ontario strongly agreed that 2020 was the most difficult year ever for their business. In British Columbia, where initial cases of COVID-19 were seemingly managed in a much more efficient manner than in Ontario, 47 per cent of business owners strongly agreed that 2020 was their most difficult year in business. Alarmingly, the study states that one in six businesses is at risk of closing, a number that when quantified represents 181,000 businesses. So, how are all of the small business owners across Canada, owners who, after putting all of the mandated safety COVID-19 protocols in place, opened their storefronts against government directives, going to pay their fines and handle their summons to court dates? Enter small businesses’ second champion, Rebel News owner Ezra Levant and reporter David Menzies. The news site www.rebelnews.com, through the platform of crowd funding (which is how this online publication broadcasts), is defending small businesses across Canada who have been served with fines, tickets and summons to appear in court. “What Rebel News is doing is basically taking on the role of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, which seems to have a fetish of just trying to get prisoners out of jail, so that social distancing can be maintained,” Menzies says sardonically. “Oddly enough, we don’t see any pushback from the federal Conservative Party on this. You would think this ongoing attack on our civil liberties and our rights and freedoms would be something that would be a softball over home plate for Conservative leader Erin O’Toole. Mar/Apr 2021

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But all there is, is radio silence. In fact, there has been so little pushback that it became the impetus for Ezra, who used to be a lawyer, and does not like to see injustice especially when it comes to our rights and freedoms, to stand up for these common folk — these shopkeepers who are just trying to make a living. If it isn’t us, who will it be?” Menzies estimates that Rebel News

TOGETHER, WE CAN PREVENT THE LOSS OF 222,000 SMALL BUSINESSES AND THREE MILLION JOBS, WHILE PUTTING AN END TO COUNTLESS LOCKDOWN CASUALTIES — WAAE website

has taken on, currently, the defence of hundreds of cases. The site has also signed on with a Quebec law firm, which will represent up to 1,000 cases. “When the second wave happened, I had my mind made up that I was going to open,” Noble says. “I wanted to do this, fight government lockdown restrictions — as a small local movement, but then it exploded. There were a lot of angry people who were mad at me in the beginning and called the bylaw officers on me, but then, things changed, and these same people sided with me, especially when they saw bigbox stores around the corner making record profits.” Noble was served with several 34

CITY LIFE MAGAZINE

Mar/Apr 2021

warnings, summonses and tickets, and he can’t figure it out. “I did everything in my power to make the store a safe environment, to make sure that all of the COVID-19 protocols were followed,” he says. “And to my knowledge there has not been a single case of COVID-19 reported from our store. The percentage of COVID-19 cases in small businesses across the country are astronomically low, so it is absolutely ridiculous that the governments are destroying the economy and small businesses.” While he says that he has a lot of respect for the Ontario Provincial Police, that he knows that they have a job to do, “they are the middlemen, their hands are tied,” Noble was surprised at the heavyhandedness of what happened next. “The big kicker was just before Christmas — three or four days before — when a couple of bylaw officers came in and served me with papers from the Attorney General’s office. The document basically threatened me with jail time if I did not comply with the shut-down orders,” he says. “Anybody who was associated with my business was threatened with anything they could be threatened with, so I had to scale back to curbside. I wanted to spend time with my girls during Christmas, not be in the slammer; I didn’t want to take any chances.” As time went on, however, Noble got angrier and angrier. Opening his shop was no longer about money, it was about proving a point on what he feels is the ridiculousness of the imposed restrictions. “I am not going to lose my business because of what is going on,” he says. “Especially when I am following safe protocols, and you can literally walk down the street to Walmart, who is selling the very same products. There is just no justice in these kinds of restrictions.” At the beginning of his fight to stay open, Noble was approached by people offering money, as well as lawyers offering their services pro bono, but he didn’t take the offers. However after weeks of not eating or sleeping, Noble decided to take the help that Rebel News was offering him. “It took a lot of stress off me. They are www.mycitylife.ca

A DV E R TO R I A L

A Bite of Pure Joy

I AM NOT GOING TO LOSE MY BUSINESS BECAUSE OF WHAT IS GOING ON

Can a treat bring someone a moment of happiness, even now? Yes! At Oh So Sweet, professional pastry chefs bake up irresistible cupcakes, brownies, pastries, cakes and even doughnuts from scratch using nut-free ingredients

Rosa Cirillo, owner of Oh So Sweet bakeshop

supplying the lawyers, they are fighting everything for me,” he says. “I will never be rich running this business, but I love it. For the majority of small business owners, our businesses are our lives. This is how we feed our families and pay our rent. So why should we have to give it up if we are following all the protocols to keep our customers safe? Small businesses should never have been shut down in the first place.” Which begs the question: “Which stores will you shop at when your region moves through and out of the colourcoded lockdown phases?” Sobolev urges everyone to support their local small business owners. “Together, we can prevent the loss of 222,000 small businesses and three million jobs, while putting an end to countless lockdown casualties,” states the WAAE website. At the end of the day, the crux of the matter is clear: Buy local, or bye, local. “The moral of the story is that even under an emergency situation, that doesn’t mean the state gets to eclipse the rights and freedoms of citizens; they don’t have the right to throw the Constitution into the paper shredder. The Constitution has to be respected,” Menzies says. If you have been fined and need access to help, go to www.FightTheFines.com. www.mycitylife.ca

PHOTO BY CARLOS A. PINTO

— Derrick Noble, owner of NobleToyz

t’s not easy doing business these days. Just ask Rosa Cirillo of Oh So Sweet. The shop has kept its doors open but it has had to pivot hard, and they are rising to the challenge. “I wasn’t going to give up,” says Cirillo. So, they changed the way they operate, offering DIY cupcake and cookie packages to customers, delivering cakes and even setting up Zoom calls for kids’ birthdays. “Every day, we were trying to find something that would bring a smile to peoples’ faces, and knowing we can brighten up someone’s day, it means a lot to me,” she says. What started as a home business from Cirillo’s own kitchen 14 years ago has turned into the go-to shop for amazing 100% nut-free (peanut & tree nut) cookies, cupcakes, brownies, pastries and cakes of all kinds – with glutenfree, egg-free and dairy-free options, too. And beginning in March, they’ll be serving up soft-serve ice cream with loads of fun toppings to choose from. Licking an ice cream cone, taking a

bite of a doughnut or eating a piece of delicious birthday cake may not sound like a big deal, but it really is, especially if you have kids with allergies. Cirillo gets choked up just talking about it. “When people call me and say, ‘Thank you, my child has never had that,’ and they put their kids on the phone to say thank you as well, it just touches my heart,” she says. Oh So Sweet has delivered sweet treats to frontline workers, nursing homes and hospitals. “We want to make them feel good as well, because everybody’s working for each other,” says Cirillo. Her motto? You have to do what you have to do! “You have to make the best of every situation,” she says. “We have to try and stay positive.”

8099 Weston Rd., Unit 15, Vaughan, Ont. 905-265-9898 www.ohsosweet.ca Mar/Apr 2021

CITY LIFE MAGAZINE

WE ARE

ALL ESSENTIAL Small businesses are the fabric of our communities — be a part of their recovery. Live local, buy local

mall businesses are like the 16 Community Chests in the popular game of Monopoly, a board game where players are in a constant battle to keep passing GO as a means to procuring ever-increasing valuable assets as they travel around the board.

CITY LIFE MAGAZINE

Mar/Apr 2021

Most of the cards in the Community Chests, however, are stingy in their monetary payments, a decided difference from drawing a card from Monopoly’s Chance pile, which often lands the player in a more favourable spot. In these challenging times of COVID-19, ones which have had small businesses “going directly

to jail” (lockdown), have Ontario’s governmental subsidies, which in Monopoly parlay into the bank of the government acting as a temporary “mint” to print more notes, been a strategy that strains the assets of Vaughan, Ont.’s small businesses’ Community Chests, or instead, one that proffers the breadth and wealth of Chance? www.mycitylife.ca

PHOTO BY BP MILLER

WRITTEN BY CECE M. SCOTT INTERVIEW BY CASSANDRA GIAMMARCO AND ESTELLE ZENTIL

From left: Tony Mirotti, Sandy Mirotti and Paul Aureli, owners of Per Lui

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— Sandy Mirotti

www.mycitylife.ca

Carlo Parentela, owner of Château Le Jardin

PHOTO BY JESSE MILNS

And while Brian Shifman, president and CEO of the Vaughan Chamber of Commerce, states “that in general, insolvencies are at historical lows because of support, including subsidies, from all levels of government,” the impact and challenges to the hospitality and services sectors is highly concerning. Why have some industry sectors been hit so much harder than others? Ultimately, it comes down to the definition of who and what are essential services, which, for many businesses, smacks of inequality. And within the deemed “non-essential” industry categories, was the importance of amenities such as skin care, work-out facilities, clothing stores and venues that honour special family events even considered, relative to their importance to the well-being and mental health of us all? “Skin-care treatments generate approximately 80 per cent of our total revenue,” says Ashley Perri, owner of Skinprovement Medi Spa & Laser Clinic. “When the initial shutdown occurred, we pivoted our business and pushed forward with an e-commerce website to continue generating revenue through product sales. But the government’s staged approach disproportionately affected our business, as we had to wait until July before being able to offer treatments without face coverings. It is even more frustrating given the fact that skin-care clinics are known for adhering to very strict protocols in sanitation, even prior to the pandemic.”

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WE’RE HAVING A HARD TIME. IT’S NOT FAIR THAT 20 PER CENT OF BUSINESSES ARE CLOSED DOWN, AND THE OTHER 80 PER CENT ARE MAKING SO MUCH MONEY. THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO HELP US SURVIVE, BUT THEY’RE NOT DOING SO Mar/Apr 2021

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Well, remember those lazy Saturday afternoons strolling down the main streets of Vaughan, browsing the diverse options of stores and delighting in the fanciful treasures and must-have outfits? Or how about the after-work shopping sprees to get the hors d’oeuvres for the party and a gift for the host, or the person whose birthday or celebration the party is for? With lockdown restrictions easing as the rates of COVID-19 infections decrease, which Vaughan small business stores and services, ones which represent approximately 81 per cent of the businesses in Vaughan, are the ones at the top of your list to patronize as winter turns into spring? Most importantly, do you know which businesses in your community have stayed afloat during the pandemic, or which services have been hardest hit? The good news is that the greater portion of businesses in Vaughan, those in the retail sector at least, are making it through the pandemic, albeit with some major challenges attached. “There is no question that Vaughan’s small business community has felt the impact of COVID-19,” says Vaughan’s Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua. “However, I have been extremely impressed by their ability to adapt. They are the backbone of our economy and have shown great capacity to be resourceful, ready and resilient. Working together to get support from the community and all levels of government has been key in our fight against COVID-19.”

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PHOTO BY JESSE MILNS

OUR WEDDING BUSINESS IS DOWN BY 75 PER CENT. THERE’S CERTAINLY A LOT OF ANXIETY, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IT’S UNKNOWN WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN TOMORROW

CITY LIFE MAGAZINE

Mar/Apr 2021

Ashley Perri, owner of Skinprovement Medi Spa & Laser Clinic

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IT IS EVEN MORE FRUSTRATING GIVEN THE FACT THAT SKIN-CARE CLINICS ARE KNOWN FOR ADHERING TO VERY STRICT PROTOCOLS IN SANITATION, EVEN PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC

lot of them have been with us for a long time,” Vona says. “This shutdown is something that affects everybody in different ways, of course, but on the same token, you know, there’s a famous Buddhist saying that says, ‘Never to the extremes, always to the middle path,’ and extremes are never good for anything, and we have to have a balance of living our lives healthy, and being cooped up at home is unhealthy in most cases, and so you have to allow something so that people can live their lives, because, not only is there the economical cost, but there are also the mental problems and illnesses, which are going to cost us more than the pandemic will cost small businesses,” says Vona. “It’s crazy, a chaotic situation,” he says. “We work with people in terms of their physical and mental well-being. That’s what martial arts is all about. We also help kids who have anxieties and different disorders, and we’ve done phenomenal things with them. We know how our business benefits our students, but our hands are tied. We’re in a pandemic, and there’s nothing more important than physical and mental well-being.” When discussing which businesses should be included within the essential services categories, frustration, disappointment and scathing opinions resonate. “Why should the LCBO, Dollarama and Walmart be deemed essential, and we’re not? It’s almost an insult to our profession,” says Giankoulas. Derrick Noble of NobleToyz in Bolton, Ont., is hopping mad about the hows and the whos of who has been deemed essential. In fact, after the initial waves of lockdowns in early 2020, Noble has opened his store in defiance of governmental lockdown orders. (Read his story in this issue.) “Anyone who owns a business is essential,” Noble says. “We feed our families, we pay our rent, we pay our workers — it doesn’t matter what we sell. It doesn’t matter if we’re selling food or Care Bears. It doesn’t matter what we’re selling — we are all essential.” Manny Molina, manager of Fiorio’s Hair Salon’s Vaughan location says, “We have rules and regulations that the www.mycitylife.ca

PHOTOS BY CARLOS A. PINTO

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WE TAKE ALL THESE STRICT MEASUREMENTS AND WE’RE THE FIRST ONES TO BE LOCKED DOWN. I DON’T THINK IT’S FAIR

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Manny Molina, manager of Fiorio’s Hair Salon in Vaughan

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Daniela Hofmann, owner of the medical spa Freedom Medi-Spa, concurs. “It’s frustrating and tough being a business owner and having these shutdowns. Everything comes to a grinding halt,” she says. “I think it’s unfair. I would want them (premier and mayor) to look at industries as a whole and deem them depending on risk. Low risk should stay open. If you’re deemed low to no-risk, like I would say we are [we should be able to stay open]. Believe me, I wouldn’t want to be here [if I didn’t feel safe to work]. I have people in my life who I need to worry about. And I wouldn’t want to be working if I felt like it was dangerous. And my team feels the same way. We feel completely safe being here with the protocols we have in place. I think they blanketed the lockdown just because they don’t know what to do. And that was forgivable last year. But a year later, that’s not forgivable anymore.” The fitness sector has also been extremely hard hit by the stop-andstart, stop-and-start, and stop-again government lockdowns. Dimitri Giankoulas, owner of Pure Motivation Fitness, shares how the closure of his business affected his overall well-being. “I was going to my gym, and the lights were off, and nobody was there,” Giankoulas says. “Beyond reasonable doubt, we make impact and we do so in three powerful words, which are: ‘We change lives.’ People go to the gym, some for esthetic reasons, some to lose weight, gain weight, but the mental capacity, the mental fortitude that people gain by being able to lead their club, go to a community, allows them to feel like they’re part of something. Premier Doug Ford talks about being all about small businesses, but when you’re crushing businesses and you’re telling them to buy PPE, we’re spending $2,000 a month on hand sanitizers, paper towels, in order to be open and then force them to shut down, it is hard to believe what the premier is saying.” Northern Karate Schools Rutherford location is owned by Cos Vona, who has been a small business owner since 1972. “All of our staff are students, and when we were closed, we had to lay them all off. It is a hard thing to do, as a

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DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO HELP SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS AND KEEP RESTRICTIVE MEASURES FAIR FOR EVERYONE

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— Doriano Di Carlo

From left: Doriano Dicarlo, Fabio Sardellitti and Gino Rispoli, owners of Graﬁc

www.mycitylife.ca

our clients needs. It allowed us to grow the connection with our clients’ in new ways through virtual personal shopping experiences.” Our message to the mayor and the premier: “Do everything possible to help support local business and keep restrictive measures fair for everyone,” he says. Two other pre-eminent longstanding fashion clothing stores in Vaughan that have experienced significant drops in sales are Zero 20 and Per Lui. “My accountant came into the store recently and did our year-end,” says Zero 20 owner, Santina Mariani. “He told me my sales were down by 40 per cent. Because churches cancelled a lot of the sacraments, and because people couldn’t gather for celebrations like birthdays or weddings, the need for dress-up clothing totally vanished. Dress-up clothing accounts for 60 per cent of our business, with casual clothing accounting for 40 per cent. So, with no formal occasions like communions and baptisms, that part of our business has dried up. We have laid off 10 people. And at this point, I don’t know if that’s going to be permanent. If celebratory gatherings are not allowed for a long time, what are we going to do?” Per Lui, an upscale men’s shop in Woodbridge, Ont., found that the second lockdown in December significantly affected its Christmas business. “You can only do so much

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Derrick Noble, owner of NobleToyz

WE FEED OUR FAMILIES, WE PAY OUR RENT, WE PAY OUR WORKERS — IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT WE SELL. IT DOESN’T MATTER IF WE’RE SELLING FOOD OR CARE BEARS. IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT WE’RE SELLING — WE ARE ALL ESSENTIAL Mar/Apr 2021

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government has implemented, and our salon, and I’m sure every salon in the city and in the country, is taking proper screening procedures. We check our clients temperature when they walk in, we make them sign a form that we keep on file for a month. From my knowledge, since the lockdown, there hasn’t been outbreaks in hair salons. That makes it harder to understand why we’re the first ones to shut down. Meanwhile, you’re allowing huge big-box stores to remain open with hundreds of people in there who are not practising social distancing, the stores are overcrowded and they’re not taking proper measures. I don’t know about you, but whenever I go to a big-box store, no one there taking my temperature. Nobody’s asking me [screening] questions or asking if I’ve been around people with COVID-19, or if I have symptoms. We take all these strict measurements and we’re the first ones to be locked down. I don’t think it’s fair.” Retail businesses, ones that sell hard goods and fashion wear, are also suffering deep financial challenges. Doriano Di Carlo, co-founder of Grafic, a designer clothing store, says the forced shutdowns have affected his business in many ways, some good and some bad. “The forced shutdown has affected us in many ways, some good, some bad. Yes, the shutdown has affected our brick-and-mortar stores, but we have chosen to use the time in a positive way and adapt our business to satisfying

CITY LIFE MAGAZINE

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PHOTO BY JESSE MILNS

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Daniela Hofmann, owner of Freedom Medi-Spa

I THINK THEY BLANKETED THE LOCKDOWN JUST BECAUSE THEY DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO. AND THAT WAS FORGIVABLE LAST YEAR. BUT A YEAR LATER THAT’S NOT FORGIVABLE ANYMORE CITY LIFE MAGAZINE

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Mar/Apr 2021

business online,” says owner, Sandy Mirotti. “Our wedding business is down by 75 per cent. There’s certainly a lot of anxiety, you know, because it’s unknown what’s going to happen tomorrow. Hopefully by September, with the new vaccines, we can get back to what it used to be, and everybody can start travelling and enjoy vacations and get-togethers and staying with family.” While opinions may vary on which sectors have been the absolute hardest hit during this year-long pandemic, everyone is in agreement that the hospitality sector, a big part of the Vaughan community, has been crippled. “We need sector-specific funding for certain sectors, such as hospitality, which has been closed holistically the entire time, since the beginning of the pandemic,” Shifman says. Carlo Parentela, owner of Château Le Jardin, couldn’t agree more. “We have 200 people out of work, we’re on corporate welfare — it’s terrible,” Parentela says. “And the bills, which total close to $400,000 a month, are still coming in, even though we’re not open. We’re having a hard time. It’s not fair that 20 per cent of businesses are closed down, and the other 80 per cent are making so much money. The government needs to help us survive, but they’re not doing so.” While Parentela doesn’t think that his business is an essential service, per se, he does think that the opportunity for people to get together and share happy times is important to the general well-

Santina Mariani, owner of Zero 20

being and mental health of everyone. Given that the hospitality industry’s raison d’être is dependent on social gatherings, limited numbers and social distancing seem to negate its very purpose. “All the programs released to help small businesses have completely missed our sector,” states Ramy Sallal, owner of the event venue The Arlington Estate. “Most of our payroll expenses exceed $1.5 million, which does not qualify us to get the $40,000 loan. Our rent/mortgages are in excess of $100,000 per month, which doesn’t allow us to ask our landlords/banks for relief. They cannot apply for the rent subsidy due to the $50,000 gross rent limit set by the government. There should have been an ‘up-to’ strategy, which would have helped us considerably. We cannot take advantage of the 75 per cent wage subsidy because we are unable to open and rehire any staff, and so we have lost 100 per cent of our business since March 2020. The BDC and EDC loans are very diﬃcult to qualify for since they are not 100 per cent government-backed and come with high interest rates and diﬃcult qualifications. We hoped for some relief over these past 11 months while burning through our cash reserves, but nothing has been offered to help the hospitality sector. I feel that the government is only interested in us as a sector when they need us.” With the hundreds of thousands of vaccines coming into Canada on a www.mycitylife.ca

PHOTOS BY CARLOS A. PINTO

THIS SHUTDOWN IS SOMETHING THAT AFFECTS EVERYBODY IN DIFFERENT WAYS. THE MENTAL PROBLEMS AND ILLNESSES ARE GOING TO COST US MORE THAN THE PANDEMIC WILL COST SMALL BUSINESSES

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Cos Vona, owner of Northern Karate Schools Rutherford

WE HAVE LAID OFF 10 PEOPLE. AND AT THIS POINT, I DON’T KNOW IF THAT’S GOING TO BE PERMANENT. IF CELEBRATORY GATHERINGS ARE NOT ALLOWED FOR A LONG TIME, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?

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BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT, WE MAKE IMPACT AND WE DO SO IN THREE POWERFUL WORDS, WHICH ARE: ‘WE CHANGE LIVES’ — Dimitri Giankoutas

Dimitri (left) and Francesca Giankoulas, owners of Pure Motivation Fitness

regular basis, the hopes for an economic rebound are front and centre. What will the recovery look like as we move through the series of gradual reopenings? After speaking with several economists, Shifman says signs point to a K-recovery curve. “After a major economic recession, economists forecast what the new economy will look like going forward,” Shifman says. “Letters such as V, U, Z, W, L and K are used. What I am hearing from my conversations with the experts is that the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic will look most like a K-shape, which basically states that certain sectors such as ICT (information,

communications, technology) and financial services will recover at a faster rate than small businesses and sectors directly affected by COVID-19. We are going to see a strong recovery in some sectors, with many sectors taking a lot longer to recover.” This is a situation that harks back to the old adage “The rich get richer, and the poor get poorer.” MarketWatch states that different parts of the economy move in opposite directions during a K recovery and is centred on three key factors: industry sectors, effective treatment of the vaccine and government stimulus. “The time for austerity measures is not anytime soon,” Shifman says.

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A DV E R TO R I A L

LAURA COMPAGNI: WHERE THERE’S A WILL, THERE’S A WAY

From a successful global business career to one of Canada’s top luxury real estate agents with her latest television series in the works, Laura Compagni’s story is built on courage, grit and self-belief

SUCCESS IS BASED UPON MY GRATITUDE TO BE ABLE TO BE RESPECTED BY AND RESPECT OTHERS AND TO LIVE MY LIFE BY MY CORE VALUES, WHICH I BELIEVE IN Soon to launch her latest television series, top luxury realtor Compagni is seen at Cava Surfaces @cavasurfaces

CITY LIFE MAGAZINE

— Laura Compagni Mar/Apr 2021

www.mycitylife.ca

PHOTOS BY CARLOS A. PINTO | LOCATION: CAVA SURFACES, WWW.CAVASURFACES.CA

ersonal reinvention is tough. It takes awareness and grit, passion and perseverance, hard work and the belief in a single-minded purpose that the new direction you have chosen for yourself is the right one. In short, it takes that one immeasurable quality: courage. These are all character qualities that Laura Compagni has in abundance. Compagni’s personal journey is inspirational and marked by considerable achievement. Her latest accomplishment

is her status as one of the top realtors of luxury real estate in Canada, plus now she’ll be starring in the new television series Reno Master, set to air later this year on Amazon Prime. She flourished in her corporate career prior to her move into real estate as one of the youngest visionary leaders with IBM Global. Based in New York with direct reports worldwide, she was instrumental in the company’s transformational change working with Fortune 100 CEOs and was chairperson of the IBM Global Senior Marketing and Sales Review Board, driving major strategic decisions. In 2019, she was chosen by the Brilliant Minded Women Organization as the recipient of the Business Development and Growth Award. Then came her personal reinvention. “Family is my main priority,” says Compagni, mother of three children. “While reinventing yourself is a very difﬁcult decision, I wanted to be a very good mother, and the ‘why’ in my career change was my kids. I don’t take anything for granted. I developed skills in business that allow me to create successful conclusions to the stories which come to me. I’m grateful and blessed and appreciate life so much more.” Her masterful gift of negotiating skills and business acumen soon had her at the top of her profession as one of the country’s leading realtors and a star of the reality television show Top Million Dollar Agent. Compagni also recently secured the listing of a $12-million home in Kleinburg, Ont. However, she never has used ﬁnances as a benchmark for success. “Success for me is not based upon monetary value,” she says. “It’s, 'How am I doing as a humanitarian? Am I helping people and communities and charitable organizations?' And, to be a good role model for my kids. Success is based upon my gratitude to be able to be respected by and respect others and to live my life by my core values, which I believe in.” Joe Petrella, owner of Holt Construction, one of the most respected renovators and contractors in the GTA, also stars in the new Reno Master show. The show will take viewers through

WE LOOK AT EVERYTHING FROM A HOME’S STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS TO THE FOUNDATION, PLUMBING AND ELECTRICAL, MOULD AND MOISTURE

www.mycitylife.ca

— Joe Petrella

the renovation process: how to plan, budget and create a realistic timeline for their project. They’ll see the perils to watch for and the delight in the ﬁnished product. Making his television debut, Petrella is proud that all of the Reno Master will also star one of the most respected builders show’s projects are real, and the and contractors Joe Petrella work is genuine. of Holt Construction “We look at everything from a home’s structural components to the foundation, plumbing and electrical, mould and moisture,” says Petrella. and to never give up. I live my life through “These are things that can have a huge perseverance and grit, and always effect on the budget and timeline of the look forward as if I’m going through a project and are important for home safety tunnel. And now I’ve emerged and am and increasing the resale value of the surrounded by light. I am so blessed by property. It’s important homeowners are the people I am able to help and inspire.” fully aware of what they are getting into before they start their dream project, so they get the most value and equity out of their property.” The educational aspect of the show continues Compagni’s mantra to always help others. She is also a mentor, in416-655-3669 647-330-2724 demand public speaker and author of www.holtconstruction.ca www.lauracompagni.com the self-improvement book Ignite Your Fire, which is timely now as people have a life pause to reinvent themselves and to listen closely to lessons both in business and in life, of which Compagni has never lost sight. “In business, a key is to listen like a sponge and never stop being curious,” says Compagni. “My lesson in life is to be respectful and never be a know-it-all Mar/Apr 2021

CITY LIFE MAGAZINE

travel

SUSAFA: A SICILIAN HIDEAWAY

A memorable and whimsical location set apart from the rest of the world by its dedication to tradition and unmatched hospitality

ith travel restrictions and lockdowns resulting from the coronavirus pandemic, many of us have been limited to daydreaming about our next travel destination. The place I’ve been dreaming about is Susafa, an Italian country estate that reminds us that certain traditions will always stand the test of time. Nestled in the heart of rural Sicily amid acres of unspoiled countryside and a sea of golden wheat, Susafa is almost too small to merit attention on even regional maps — it is a hidden gem that captures the soul of Sicily. Located in the midst of Polizzi Generosa and Vallelunga Pratameno and managed by the fifth generation of the Saeli-Rizzuto family, at Susafa Manfredi Rizzuto has mastered the art of running a private resort, while tending to the needs of his richly green and flourishing pastoral estate. Proudly celebrating Sicilian culture 44

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since 1870, Susafa is absolutely a product of the region and the Saeli-Rizzuto family’s authentic cultural heritage and generously shares the fruits of its labour to anyone wanting to discover its notable and incomparable richness. The retreat’s ravishing property grows its own organic orchards, olive groves, and vegetable and herb gardens, making it an oasis for food and wine lovers alike. Naturally, the seasonal homegrown ingredients are what make up the local Sicilian recipes served at Susafa’s restaurant, including its daily ovenfresh bread made with the olive oil of Susafa’s century-old olive groves. Another typical Sicilian recipe made by the Masseria Susafa is a caponata, made with fresh tomatoes and aubergines gathered from its organic vegetable gardens topped with its rich and unparalleled olive oil. Guests can experience the farm-to-table dining first-hand by joining harvest-themed activities or taking cooking classes for

dishes, like pasta, bread and pizza, as well as sweet desserts, like cannoli and cassata cakes (all in traditional Sicilian style, of course). If you prefer to sip a glass of wine while others do the cooking, Susafa offers bespoke experiences, such as wine-tastings, gourmet picnics, romantic private dining and tours of the surrounding Madonie villages, where guests can explore local boutiques and restaurants. In the evenings, before heading to sleep, guests have the chance to experience the magic of unobstructed stargazing away from the impediments of city lights. After a day and night filled with richness in food and culture, guests return to a room that reflects the deep history of the estate. Always preserving Sicilian elements, Susafa thoughtfully designed its estate to intricately web together original brickwork floors, antique furnishings and timber-beamed ceilings, with contemporary artwork www.mycitylife.ca

PHOTOS COURTESY OF SUSAFA

WRITTEN BY ESTELLE ZENTIL

Susafa’s charming atmosphere offers noteworthy activities for its guests, including cooking classes based on the fresh ingredients picked from the estate’s homegrown garden

www.mycitylife.ca

Mar/Apr 2021

CITY LIFE MAGAZINE

The sea of waving wheat and hills of grass are the picturesque backdrop for a tranquil afternoon under the Sicilian sun

and modern lighting highlighting the delightful contrast between the old and the new. Susafa is the definition of rarefied boutique hospitality. In every experience at the retreat, guests can feel, see and taste the traditions of the past. For example, the wine Susafa produces is a nostalgic palette that harkens back to the hard work of generations harvesting the fruits of their labour. The crops of the field have survived wars and periods of drought throughout the centuries, while the Saeli-Rizzuto family continued to work their land with pride, knowing one day that future generations would 46

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be able to appreciate their dedication and hard work. Being able to indulge in the food from the farm, cook using the centuryold recipes and taste the homegrown wine and olive oil are only possible due to the perseverance, passion and labour of the Saeli-Rizzuto family. Every sip of wine and bite of food breed wanderlust, authenticity and singularity. In a world where long-standing tradition is hard to find, Susafa reminds us of the incredible beauty that five generations of a family can build, and that everything good takes time and requires lots of patience.

A lesson one can take from the SaeliRizzuto family retreat is: whatever fruits you can offer the world or your community, however big or small, take pride in the obstacles that come with it and persevere knowing there is hope for the future. Until we are able to return to exploring the world and turn our daydreams into reality, we can all continue our traditions from the comfort of our homes and celebrate what many of us are yearning for right now — good food, family and tradition. In other words: the Susafa way. www.susafa.com @susafait www.mycitylife.ca

Thank you

for voting us Top Hearing Clinic in Vaughan 8 years in a row! Kris Clara Ida

Body and brain health

Bluetooth Rechargeable connectivity option

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8787 Weston Rd. Unit 7A Woodbridge, ON | www.GreatToHear.ca | 905 850 7997

A DV E R TO R I A L

The family-owned and operated PACE Developments team recently celebrated the groundbreaking of its Urban North community in South Barrie

URBAN NORTH

IN SOUTH BARRIE

he new Urban North community in Barrie, Ont., developed by PACE Developments is not only perfectly named, but perfectly positioned, given the exodus from dense metropolitan areas due to the pandemic and the re-examination of lifestyles many families are now taking. It is this focus on families that designed the Urban North community, because family is the story of PACE Developments. Yvonne Sciavilla and daughter Pamela Ventresca are among the forces behind PACE Developments, an award-winning builder with more than 30 years’ experience and a strong focus on artisanship and quality in its developments. The developer has a strong passion and commitment to customer satisfaction in treating 48

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homeowners with kindness and respect, just like family. This was never more evident than in the marketing and selling of the gorgeous townhomes that make up the Urban North community, which demonstrated the deep understanding the PACE team has in a family’s desire for homeownership. PACE instituted The Right PACE Deposit Structure, allowing buyers to put down a deposit amortized over 18 months, so they could make monthly payments instead of having to put down a sizeable one-time deposit. PACE was also sympathetic to the changing financial realities, which affected everyone when the pandemic hit. PACE gave buyers a three-month deferral on those monthly payments during the initial lockdown and helped hundreds of its clients continue their dreams of homeownership. “We wanted them to realize their dreams of homeownership,” says Ventresca. “We want to see people move into their homes because they’ve joined our family when they buy a home from us, so we try to treat everyone like

2020 | The Nationals Silver Awards — “Best Presentation Centre” for Urban North, PACE Developments 2020 | The Nationals Silver Awards — “Best Special Promotion” for Urban North, PACE Developments 2020 | The Nationals Silver Awards — “Best Digital Marketing Campaign” for Urban North, PACE Developments 2019 | SCHBA Awards of Creative Excellence - “Project of the Year” for Urban North, PACE Developments 2019 | CHBA National Awards - Winner: “Sales Office - Low-rise” for Urban North, PACE Developments 2019 | BILD Awards — Winner: “Best Project Branding + Identity, Low-Rise” for Urban North, PACE Developments

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PHOTO BY CARLOS A. PINTO

PACE Developments breaks ground on its successful family-focused outdoor lifestyle development

Comprising over 900 townhomes, each buyer at Urban North receives special attention and can customize their home by working alongside designers at PACE Developments

THERE IS NOTHING MORE REWARDING THAN BUILDING A FAMILY HOME, AND WE TREAT EVERY SINGLE BUYER AS AN INDIVIDUAL — Pamela Ventresca family. There is nothing more rewarding than building a family home, and we treat every single buyer as an individual.” PACE Developments recently celebrated the ceremonial groundbreaking of the community, which will feature over 900 townhomes and several future high-rise condominiums, located at Mapleview Drive and Yonge Street in South Barrie in a planned neighbourhood surrounded by nature and adjacent to the South Barrie GO Station. The location is ideal to handle the migration from the major population centres due to affordability issues and the search for more space many families are now undertaking because of the pandemic. “The amenities and community infrastructure in South Barrie are just exploding due to the area’s popularity,” says Ventresca. “The millennial buyer, unfortunately, is being priced out of the GTA market, and markets like Barrie are booming because of their affordability. People’s perception of Barrie used to be, ‘It’s so far away,’ and ‘There’s nothing there,’ but when they come here, they realize how wonderful it already is and www.mycitylife.ca

that there’s an entire world here.” Urban North represents the best of both worlds. With its adjacency to the Barrie GO Station, homeowners can walk there directly via a newly built pathway. Buyers are moving north from the density of the city without giving up the access and conveniences of modern and affordable urban living, yet are gaining the freedom that comes with the surrounding nature, and an outdoor and active four-season lifestyle. And with over 700 homes sold in under three years, these amazing features continue to appeal to the masses. “In 10 minutes, you’re at Lake Simcoe just down the street, and in 20 minutes, you can be on a ski hill,” says Ventresca. “Then, in five minutes, you’re at the GO Station, and in just one hour in downtown Toronto. That’s the accessibility and location of Urban North.” This focus on family and lifestyles comes naturally from the family-owned and -operated PACE Developments that, while still being a large-scale, masterplanned community builder, takes the time to develop personal relationships

with every client to enhance the ultimate home-buying experience. “To set ourselves apart, PACE Developments strives for excellence in everything we do,” says managing director Sciavilla, whose husband, Dino, as president, and son, Peter Sciavilla, as VP, construction, make PACE a true family team. “We want to give people the nicest home we can at affordable prices. We like to give people a beautiful product that they can then customize with our designers, and our homebuyers simply love that special attention. We’re a family that truly cares about the families we build homes for.” The Urban North community is another in a long series of successful developments from forward-thinking PACE Developments, which has proven that quality building, attention to detail and a family-focused approach to developing personal customer relationships mean satisfaction at every step of the way in achieving the dream of home ownership.

30 Wertheim Crt., Unit 4, Bldg A, Richmond Hill, Ont. 905-731-5069 www.pacedevelopments.com

700 Mapleview Dr. East, Barrie, Ont. 705-252-1206 www.myurbannorth.ca

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Mar/Apr 2021

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Spring reminds us how beautiful change can be in our lives, so why not explore new ways to add sparks of joy into your everyday life with these fun finds WRITTEN BY ESTELLE ZENTIL

EDITOR’S PICKS

yourself a facial with the Aceology pink cooling globes. They work magic when it comes to depuffing skin, giving you a glowing complexion. www.holtrenfrew.com

www.twosistersvineyards.com 6. ACEOLOGY PINK ICE GLOBE FACIAL MASSAGER Give

never was this stylish and exclusive. Piece by piece, get busy bringing a Jiggy Puzzle to life on a rainy day. jiggypuzzles.com 5. TWO SISTERS VINEYARDS With wine tours on hold for the time being, vineyards like Two Sisters Vineyards are offering a digital wine boutique experience and virtual tastings. Cheers.

dianajoleen.com 4. JIGGY PUZZLES Practising the art of delayed gratification

limited-edition gender-neutral “Bunee shirt” donates 20 per cent of its sales to SickKids hospital’s mental health program.

mimmobaronello.com 3. BUNEE SHIRT When fashion and philanthropy collide: This

cardigan from Anthropologie is the ideal transition piece to brighten up your days going into spring. www.anthropologie.com 2. BLOSSOMING RUBY If you’re looking to add an element of baroque style into your home, Mimmo Baronello’s artwork will add an opulence to any space you’re looking to “zhuzh” up.

1. ROONEY COCOON CARDIGAN This soft and slouchy

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7. THERMOMIX TM6 You’ll be cooking up gourmet meals in no time with the new Thermomix TM6. Designed with up to 24 different functions, it will make your homemade cooking an effortless experience. www.thermomix.ca 8. CIAO BELLA 2021 QUATTRO WOOD FIRE PIZZA OVEN With patio season around the corner, there’s nothing better than a fresh and authentic slice of pizza made by Ciao Bella’s Quattro wood fire oven. Bon appétit. www.ciaobellapizzaovens.com 9. SOHO HOTEL TORONTO Take it from Forbes Travel Guide and escape for a romantic getaway close to home for the weekend to spice up your date nights. www.sohohotel.ca 10. PHILIPS ONE BY SONICARE Stay on top of your pearly whites by using this Sonicare Philips One lightweight toothbrush. It cleans just as beautifully as it looks. www.philips.ca 11. THE AGNES MEDIUM PENDANT This beautiful bell-shaped light fixture is one of many offered by Prima Lighting. Now you know where to find the quintessential fixtures for your next project. shop.primalighting.ca 12. FLOUR SHOP RAINBOW POP-UP CAKE KIT Looking for a fun baking project for the whole family? This kit has everything you need to create rainbow-hued push pops from the convenience of your own home. www.williams-sonoma.ca

health

HAVE WE BECOME A SOCIETY THAT PRACTISES

AGEISM?

As a society, we have all been complicit in the shocking and inadequate levels of care in our nursing homes. The time to address the maelstrom of these inadequacies is now. We all need to be involved WRITTEN BY CECE M. SCOTT

ach of us has, in some way, been affected by COVID-19 and its devastating impact on the world’s physical, financial, social and mental health. It is a pandemic that has touched all of our lives, from the relatively small inconveniences of sheltering in place, to the much harder realities of the egregious conditions festering in our long-term-care (LTC) homes. In fact, the circumstances that shroud the 630 care homes in Ontario, ones that have seen 3,648 residents die in Ontario alone (as of Feb. 4, 2021) since last March, have fostered the

CITY LIFE MAGAZINE

Mar/Apr 2021

$500-million lawsuit filed by Diamond & Diamond Lawyers. (Diamond & Diamond has joined its claims with Rochon Genova, Himelfarb Proszanski and Cerise Latibeaudiere, bringing their various class actions into one mega-claim). The statistics are both shocking and alarming. Orchard Villa, the home that the Canadian Armed Forces were sent to in order to help care for residents, reports a total of 70 resident deaths. Tendercare Living Centre has reported 73 deaths. Roberta Place in Barrie, Ont., where several of the residents are believed to have contracted a U.K. variant of the strain,

has reported 66 deaths (out of 127 residents), as of Feb. 3, 2021. (Families of residents there are in the process of filing suits against the home.) On Jan. 13, 2021, Diamond & Diamond announced a $500-million lawsuit “on behalf of victims who died due to avoidable negligence.” The suit names major long-term-care providers across Ontario, as well as the Ontario government and several municipal bodies. The Diamond & Diamond press release states that “it is the largest suit of this type that claims COVID-19 death culpability by multiple branches of government.” www.mycitylife.ca

I wonder how people feel right now about getting older, especially, when, as a society, we realize that we have all been complicit in what’s turned out, frankly, to be a senicide

“The first class-action lawsuit was initiated in March (2020), when we started to see the first wave of deaths in these long-term-care homes,” states Darryl Singer, Diamond & Diamond’s head of commercial and civil litigation. “Because our firm already had a reputation for handling negligence cases in nursing homes, not related to COVID — you would be shocked at how much negligence there is in these homes — we were approached by several claimants. The first wave of COVID in these homes did not surprise me. I know the reasons why the first wave happened, and it is not what the nursing home operators would have you believe. But, quite frankly, I am shocked and saddened by this second wave, because these homes knew what happened in the first wave, they knew the allegations that the existing lawsuits were making against them as to why there was such a problem in the first wave. So, you would think that in the six months between the slowing of the first wave and the beginning of the second wave, that the owners, managers and facilitators at these homes would have said to themselves, ‘Let’s make www.mycitylife.ca

PHOTO COURTESY OF MOUNT SINAI HOSPITAL

— Dr. Samir Sinha

Dr. Samir Sinha, tireless advocate for the elderly

sure this doesn’t happen again; let’s get prepared for the second wave.’ But, unfortunately, they didn’t do that. In fact, they have doubled down on their negligence and incompetence, which has led to the second wave. By the time this is over, there will likely be more deaths in these homes than there were in the first wave.” You only have to speak to someone who has lost a loved one in long-term care due to COVID-19, to get a sense of just how devastating these losses are. Realistically, yes, a person who is in their 90s, or someone who is frail and vulnerable, is expected to succumb at some point, if only from natural causes. But not like this: not pressed to the window of their room, completely alone, possibly hungry, thirsty or in personal discomfort because there just aren’t enough staff to administer the proper care.

Giovanna Costa Fazari lost her beloved grandmother on April 6, 2020, during the first wave of COVID-19. An incredibly painful and hard-tobear six days later, Fazari also lost her grandfather due to COVID-19. Both were residents at a long-term-care home in Mississauga, Ont. “I was super close with my grandparents; I spoke with them every day. They were my favourite people in my entire world,” Fazari says. “They were loving, caring and funny, your typical nonna and nonno. I just could not ever imagine my life without them, so it is extremely hard to bear,” Fazari says. Fazari, who was expecting her second child at the time, would stand outside the long-term-care home that her grandparents were in, with her toddler son in her arms and her husband beside her, and talk to her grandparents over the phone as they peered out their window. “It was very sad. My son was only two at the time, and he didn’t understand why he couldn’t see his great-grandmother, why we couldn’t go into the building,” Fazari says. Mar/Apr 2021

CITY LIFE MAGAZINE

Esterina and Pierino with their great-grandson, Giacomo

Giovanna Costa Fazari (far left) on her June 2016 wedding day with her husband, Joe Fazari, and her grandparents, Pierino and Esterina Lapichino

How did we get to this place, mired in a situation where we, as adult children and grandchildren, cannot be of service to the people who took care of us in our formative years? It is a complex situation that lays blame at the doors of institutions, the governments and, in reality, all of us, for not doing something sooner about a system that we knew has been broken for years, if not decades. It is no secret to any of us that our long-term-care homes, both their actual physicality, as well as their staffing and medical protocols, have been in dire need of a major overhaul for a really long time. Dr. Patricia Spindel, speaking for Seniors for Social Action, Ontario, identifies three key concerns that she says are of issue in long-term-care homes. 54

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A candlelight vigil for the more than 70 residents who died at Orchard Villa in Pickering, Ont.

“First of all, that there are no alternatives for older adults besides an institution or very poor support through home care,” Dr. Spindel says. “If you end up in the hospital, and you’re ready for discharge, your only choices are very little home care, or an institution, if long-term care is needed. That is completely unacceptable; we need to have much stronger home care support that is tied to people’s actual needs, so that they can stay at home. If that’s not viable, we need to have small not-for-profit-operated group homes, staffed condominium programs, staffed apartment programs, all staffed at the level that people need. The government is currently paying $182+ a day per person in long-term care, so if you multiply that per diem by six ($1,092), you could have a not-for-profit group

home, for example. It’s an absolutely doable solution, but there is no political will to do it. Our group also believes that there needs to be comprehensive inspections, with tough sanctions imposed for repeated violations of the Long-Term-Care Homes Act (2007) and regulations. But you can’t do that unless you have alternatives, because, if a licence is revoked, there is nowhere to put people. Finally, the profit motive is a huge problem. In an article in the Toronto Star on January 20, 2021, Toronto Star references a statement made by Dr. Nathan Stall, a geriatrician at Mount Sinai Hospital, in a report from the science table that advises Premier Ford. ‘Homes with forprofit status had outbreaks with nearly twice as many residents infected ... and 78% more resident deaths ... compared www.mycitylife.ca

with non-profit homes.’ That is just not acceptable. If the three underlying root causes that I mentioned were addressed, it would begin the process of fixing long-term care in Ontario. Currently, Canada pays 0.2% of its gross domestic product on home care, which is one of the lowest in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries, and that is ridiculous.” So, what exactly are the differences between the for-profit and not-for-profit long-term-care homes? Of the 630 care homes in Ontario, 57 per cent are for-profit and 27 per cent are not-for-profit. (Source: Richard Warnica, Toronto Star, Jan. 26, 2021.) What appears to be one of the major sticking points with advocates against for-profit homes is that the corporations who own these homes do so within facilities that are cramped and outdated. “The owners of these properties view the homes as real estate investment trusts. They shove old people in there and then receive incoming funding, as well, from the government, from you and me,” Dr. Spindel says. “Many of these homes don’t even have air conditioning or clean facilities. They ask the government for more money to do the renovations, such as installing air conditioning, and Doug Ford falls for it. They have continued to get even more funding from the provincial and federal governments during COVID-19, at a time when these same corporations are paying major dividends to their shareholders.” However, when talking about forprofit versus not-for-profit, Singer says it is important to understand that the not-for-profit sequitur doesn’t necessarily mean that no profit is being made. “Not-for-profit just means that it is not a corporation that pays dividends to shareholders, but there is still an element of profit under these terms of management,” Singer says. “Some of these not-for-profit homes contract out to these for-profit companies, and they www.mycitylife.ca

say, ‘We will pay you a certain amount of money to run this home.’ So, obviously, everything that these for-profit homes can do to keep their costs down is more money in their pocket. But it doesn’t really matter in the end. Whoever is operating these facilities is trying to do so for as little money as possible, which means cutting corners on stockpiles of PPE, emergency planning and reconstruction of older facilities. Poor ventilation, and three and four residents

It’s hard to say exactly what things need to change when it’s the whole foundation that has crumbled — Giovanna Costa Fazari

to a room are also problems when you refuse to have isolation rooms during COVID-19 outbreaks.” Dr. Samir Sinha, director of geriatrics at Sinai Health and the University Health Network in Toronto, points out that trying to disperse for-profit in favour of not-for-profit is not that cut and dried. “One of the things that my colleague at Sinai Health, Dr. Nathan Stall, and I point out is, it’s very easy to say for-profit is evil, and not-for-profit is good. When you do head-to-head comparison of for-profit provision of care in long-term-care settings versus a not-for-profit or municipal or publicly provided care, you tend to see better quality outcomes, including lower rates of death; that’s 100 per cent clear. But what I think you see in Ontario is, the story gets greatly exaggerated because the majority of the homes in Ontario are owned or managed by

for-profit providers. These are older, outdated homes, and what Dr. Stall’s research shows is what significantly increases a resident’s risk of dying from COVID-19 tends to be homes that have rooms with four beds.” Dr. Sinha, who in 2014 was named as Canada’s most compelling voice for the elderly, has been reduced to tears from what he sees is deep societal ageism. “I care for the population that represents 96 per cent of Canada’s deaths; it’s been absolutely frustrating,” he says. “When Canadians 65 or older represent 96 per cent of our deaths, and when over two-thirds of our deaths have occurred in long-term-care and retirement-home settings, it is demoralizing, especially when definitive actions could have been taken at so many points during this pandemic to protect this cohort. If COVID-19 was a disease where 96 per cent of its victims were under the age of 15, how different would our society have reacted? I think we would have reacted very differently, and I find that deeply disturbing because, as Canadians, the vast majority of us are going to make it into that 60-plus age group. We’re pretty much guaranteed that, unless something takes us before the age of 60. Our average life expectancy is forecast to be, on average, 82 years of age, and so, many of us are going to become older Canadians. I wonder how people feel right now about getting older, especially, when, as a society, we realize that we have all been complicit in what’s turned out, frankly, to be a senicide.” Both Dr. Spindel and Dr. Sinha acknowledge the realities around the troubling testimony of Dr. Stall to the Long-Term Care COVID-19 Commission around residents being given unneeded drugs in long-termcare homes. “Residents were being drugged with antipsychotic medications to keep them quiet, and you know what? It raises an interesting question; these homes weren’t allowing even people with power of attorneys into the facilities, so who was ordering these Mar/Apr 2021

CITY LIFE MAGAZINE

antipsychotic medications that they were putting people on to keep them quiet when there was nobody there to give permission or to refuse permission? Somebody was guilty of prescribing and administering these medications without informed consent, and that’s assault,” Dr. Spindel states. In a press release dated Oct. 1, 2020, the Ministry of Long-Term-Care Ontario acknowledges that it received a statement of claim in the Robertson et al. vs. Ontario et al. matter. The statement goes on (in part), to say that “We have seen how quickly this virus spreads, and community transmission remains a serious threat to longterm-care homes. That is why our government has continued to make additional resources available to prevent and contain the spread of COVID-19, including $1.38 billion in support for long-term care. We have moved aggressively to address staffing shortfalls, including a commitment to hire 27,000 new workers and provide an average of four hours of direct daily care.” Part of the spending plans to improve long-term care needs is also included in the ministry’s Oct. 1, statement: “We are also investing $30 million to allow long-term-care homes to hire more infection prevention and control (IPAC) staffing, including $20 million for additional personnel and $10 million to fund training for new and existing staff, allowing homes to hire over 150 new staff.” These promises were made in October, but as is highly evident by what is going on at Roberta Place, as well as other long-term-care homes in Ontario, it feels like it’s too late, way too late. In the darkest days of COVID-19, as the second wave of breakouts occurred in long-term-care homes, families and physicians began talking openly about finding people who were dehydrated and needed help being fed. “In homes that supposedly had stable staffing, when closer scrutiny was applied, the staffing was actually 56

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Mar/Apr 2021

being filled by several different agencies who were sending in temporary nurses and personal support workers (PSWs) who were going from home to home. Not only did that heighten the levels of transmission from home to home, these temporary fill-in staff did not have a relationship with the residents, a fact that exacerbated the loneliness and isolation, and oft-times lack of specialized care for loved ones,” Dr. Sinha says. “These facts help to underlie why people didn’t just die of COVID-19 in

We are all only one stroke away from being in one of these homes — Dr. Patricia Spindel

these situations. Imagine yourself in a situation where, all of a sudden, the nurse who knows your mom really well, that personal support worker who has been caring for your mom every day since she got admitted, knows what she likes, knows what she doesn’t like, all those sorts of things, all of a sudden, the familiar staff isn’t there, during a time of crisis, a time when a person needs comfort and is likely experiencing more challenges with their care. Now, all of a sudden, you have random people coming in, trying to do their best to help stabilize the situation, but they don’t know the familiar phrases to comfort your mom and encourage her to eat. The PSW or nurse doesn’t know the usual jokes to get a smile out of your mom, or how to coax her to get bathed and dressed. All of a sudden, it is overwhelming because, when there isn’t

sufficient staffing, it’s hard to make sure that each of the residents gets the time they need for their personal care and their nutrition and hydration needs to be met. One centre is a prime example of the terrible negligence that has been happening during COVID-19: people were banging on the walls, banging for water, banging for food; families don’t make these stories up. The sad part is, when I see that death rates in some of these homes are double or triple the current overall rate of 18 per cent, it tells me that there’s more going on in a home.” It is this kind of situation that a group of Ontario doctors has called a “grave humanitarian crisis” as they issued a list of demands on how the province can improve the care of vulnerable residents (Source: Tyler Dawson, National Post, Jan. 26, 2021.) So, realistically, what are the steps we can take in the short term, in fact, immediately, to effect the much-needed changes? We need look no further than British Columbia, to Dr. Bonnie Henry’s forwardthinking action plan. Recognizing that outbreaks of COVID-19 in long-termcare homes often happened through community spread, Dr. Henry, provincial health officer for British Columbia, changed the funding formula and hiring practices across all long-term-care homes in the province, ordering both for-profit and not-for-profit to pay staff at the highest equitable union rate, which includes 18 days of paid sick time. In this new arrangement, staff who might previously have worked part time at multiple homes (as part-timers, their pay was so low that they had to work at more one than one facility to make a living) had the opportunity to choose the home in which they wanted to work. “If there is no full-time work available, the staff still get their fulltime salary. The government is even offering to pay for training costs for new hires coming into the system,” Dr. Sinha says. In a report that the Seniors for Social www.mycitylife.ca

Action presented to the Long-Term Care COVID-19 Commission, the list of recommendations proposed includes that, in concert with the development of alternatives to the institutional sector, a more rigorous inspection system be introduced incorporating forensic audits, especially in problematic facilities; a prosecution policy; and licence revocations. A recommendation to pursue criminal action when substandard or criminally negligent care was noted, as well as the implementation of an oversight mechanism to ensure physicians do not abandon, chemically restrain, fail to treat residents or order necessary hospitalization, was strongly recommended. Singer agrees that “there is no follow-up on complaints; and there has to be. There has to be some teeth to any enforcement mechanism, because right now, the operators don’t care, because there’s no consequences to them, to what they are doing. So, there needs to be consequences, there needs to be accountability.” Is the current situation in our long-

term-care homes a case of too little, too late? “It’s hard to say exactly what things need to change when it’s the whole foundation that has crumbled,” Fazari says. “There is a lot of work ahead for the government, the owners of these care homes and the people who manage them, to make these homes amicable, livable, clean and safe places for our vulnerable population.” No matter what the outcome of this class-action lawsuit is, there is one thing that is legally and morally clear: It is our duty as a society to not only be aware, informed and cognizant of what is going on in our long-term-care homes, but also to be advocates for our elders, whether they be our family, friends or neighbours. There will come a time when each of us will need a helping, caring hand. “We want to make sure that, at the end of the day, there are major changes, both in how the province regulates and enforces, and how the operators operate,” says Singer. “We are hearing that all residents in nursing homes will

be vaccinated by the end of the month (February), and hopefully everyone in the country by August or September. But that doesn’t mean that there’s not going to be a third wave. We already know of two particular variants to this virus, but we don’t know the repercussions yet. It’s too early to tell. We also know — all the medical people and health professionals are saying it — that, as a society, we need to get used to this concept of pandemics, because there’s going to be more of them. We need to be aware that the families of these people who are in these homes are the most vulnerable people in the province, outside of a hospital setting. It is up to us to make sure that they are protected.” “We are all only one stroke away from being in one of these homes,” Dr. Spindel says. For information or to become a part of the Diamond & Diamond classaction lawsuit, call 1-800-567-HURT. www.sinaihealth.ca

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Mar/Apr 2021

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Home Life

C A RO LY N WILBR INK A N D BIL LY PEAR SON: T HE S I BL G DSON: UO BEHIND PEI NAR FARMHOUSE FACELIFT

Siblings Carolyn Wilbrink and Billy Pearson are making their HGTV Canada debut by putting a modern twist on antiquing and the art of restoring farmhouses

rowing up, siblings Carolyn Wilbrink and Billy Pearson were known to “borrow” their father’s tools and, with their sister, build forts in the back fields of their family farm in Waterdown, Ont., just a stone’s throw outside Hamilton. Whether all these tools made it back into their father’s tool box is still an open question among the family,

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Mar/Apr 2021

but what’s clear is that Wilbrink and Pearson have always had a penchant for channelling their energy and creativity into architectural creation. It is also clear that they are both extremely proud of being the son and daughter of the soil that they grew up on and the lessons that have come from being farm kids: “We always helped out on the farm, when we were kids . . . we

learned a lot about hard work and the importance of hard work.” Through this work ethic, their childhood passion has grown into a career of restoring heritage homes, which Wilbrink and Pearson bring to television in their new HGTV Canada series Farmhouse Facelift, premiering Wednesday, March 3, at 10 p.m. Throughout the season, the sibling duo collaborates to modernize, www.mycitylife.ca

PHOTO COURTESY OF HGTV CANADA

WRITTEN BY ESTELLE ZENTIL

refurbish and upcycle farmhouses with a view to enhancing their charm, while staying true to their original character. With sustainability being a central tenet of the show, Pearson hits the nail on the head when saying: “If something’s been around for 100–150 years, why would you replace it? Why wouldn’t you just fix it and make it last even longer? If we go into a space, and they have materials that we can reuse, that’s what we specialize in.” There are a few ways Wilbrink and Pearson have infused farmhouse chic into modern décor on the show’s projects. For example, Wilbrink recommends adding wood or wood beams, mixed metals, like iron, or something with a patina that has some history and character for those looking to add some country charm to their home. Pearson suggests repurposing something that would have otherwise gone to a landfill: “Carolyn and I love to go antiquing. Antiquing is always a lot of fun because you go in not knowing what you want, you just kind of go treasure-hunting. When it comes to

If something’s been around for 100–150 years, why would you replace it? Why wouldn’t you just fix it and make it last even longer? antiquing, though, less is more, because you can definitely overdo it, you don’t want it to look like grandma’s house.” Both Wilbrink and Pearson admit that the premiere episode of Farmhouse Facelift is one of their favourites. On this episode, they work their magic on a farmhouse that has been in a family for four generations. The importance of family history to a home is not lost on

Wilbrink and Pearson, who are able to thread the needle between preservation and transformation by integrating a modern twist on traditional materials. The breathtaking result is reason enough to tune in. As the siblings faithfully restore farmhouses on the show, the fruits of their labours are equally rewarding for them as they are for the owners: The renovations have proven to be a powerful unifier during an unsettling time for many of us, and remind us that, sometimes, a bit of country charm can go a long way. As Wilbrink and Pearson reflect on the homes they worked on, they express how grateful they are to have had the opportunity to make this show: “The show, as a whole, has been a huge reward. It’s almost like winning the lottery, because there are so many incredible designers and contractors out there.” After all, Pearson said it best: “We’re just a couple of country kids, doing what we love, and this all happened.” www.hgtv.ca/shows/farmhouse-facelift

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Wellness and Well-Being

YOUTH AND MENTAL HEALTH:

THE SHADOW PANDEMIC

The pandemic has had a detrimental effect on the mental health of our youth. They feel isolated and alone, without peer support or the usual engagement in fun activities. But there is help for this cohort that is free, anonymous and non-judgmental WRITTEN BY CECE M. SCOTT

n the late 1960s, a popular public service announcement that ran on American television channels posited the question: “Do you know where your children are?” It quickly became a popular meme before that term was even coined, and it was often derided by the exact demographic to which it was targeted. As we slouch toward the one60

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year anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic, this 1960s question resonates once again. However, we are now parsing that query through the complex lens of a different kaleidoscope, one that focuses on the mental and emotional health of our youth, rather than their physical well-being and welfare. Fact: There has been an alarming rise in the number of kids who are going

to the emergency department for eating disorders, mental health issues and selfharm behaviours. Fact: It is an increase that ranges from between 50 per cent and 6o per cent. A Nov. 23, 2020, Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey (OSDUHS) Mental Health and WellBeing Report released by the Centre www.mycitylife.ca

for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) reports that “Ontario students were experiencing the highest levels of suicidal ideation and serious psychological distress ever recorded.” The study identifies the data as being collected between November 2018 and June 2019 from among 14,142 students in Grade 7 through to Grade 12. The study goes on to say that suicidal ideation is currently the highest on record for this survey since CAMH began monitoring it in 2001. Of concern is the fact that this study is based on pre-COVID-19 data. “I think we have underestimated the impact of the pandemic on child and youth mental health,” says Dr. Peter Szatmari, chief, Child and Youth Mental Health Collaborative, CAMH. “It is an impact that is being referred to as a ‘shadow pandemic.’ The factors contributing to this negative impact include social isolation; the lack of opportunity to participate in the kinds of activities that bolster resilience and strength, such as sports, hobbies and other kinds of physical activities; and the opportunity to do well at school,” he says. “The impact of the pandemic on parents is also of significance. The losses accrue: the financial stress around a parent losing a job; the death of a family member due to contracting COVID-19. There are a number of accumulative pandemic factors that can be ascribed to this worsening of mental health and suicide ideation in youth.” Death by suicide is the second most common cause of death in the youth cohort, an age group that ranges from six years to 24 years of age. In fact, suicidal behaviour, which includes suicide ideation, suicide attempt and completed suicide, represents, according to Dr. Szatmari, a higher number of suicide attempts in the youth cohort than in any other age group. The actual completion of death by suicide is higher in older people. Increased isolation as a result of the pandemic lockdown, family issues around compromised finances, the backlash of stress from parents who are www.mycitylife.ca

juggling both the new shelter-in-place working-at-home parameters, which require the ability to be technologically informed (something at which many parents might not be adept), as well as the challenges and unfamiliarity of helping their children with online learning, the loneliness from not being able to see and spend time with friends, the closing of schools and the resultant lack of day-to-day structure, inactivity,

Suicidal ideation that lasts more than a day, more than a couple of hours, is a very serious thing that needs to be evaluated — Dr. Peter Szatmari

lack of access to outdoor activities, both in a school setting as well as with peer groups, have caused havoc with kids’ mental health. One of the ways these issues are manifesting is in the alarming rise of eating disorders in this age group. “The pandemic overall is having a profound impact on mental health in children, youth and families,” says Kim Moran, CEO of Children’s Mental Health Ontario. “There have been huge increases in serious mental illnesses. For example, the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario’s (CHEO) Eating Disorders Program has seen a 50 per cent increase in the number of emergency assessments since the beginning of the pandemic. In-patient admissions to CHEO between April 1 and Oct. 31, 2020, increased 63 per cent

over the same period last year. Some of the virtual mental health clinics across the province have doubled their volumes in the past year, all signs that youth mental health is an issue,” she says. “When schools closed in March 2020, more than half of parents noticed behavioural changes in their child, including outbursts or extreme irritability, drastic changes in mood, persistent sadness or preoccupation, avoiding formerly enjoyable activities, including spending time with friends, and eating considerably more or less, all signs which suggest there are problems with the child’s mental health,” says Moran. “And certainly, we have seen research and evidence from around the world that shows similar issues of worsening mental health, suicidality, anxiety, depression and substance use in our youth, all related to the pandemic. We also know that marginalized, racialized and at-risk children who were already having trouble have been hit even harder.” Addressing racialized communities which have historically been disenfranchised from social systems is something that David Willis, director of Toronto’s Lead Agency for Child and Youth Mental Health, System Transformation at Strides Toronto (which supports 26 mental health agencies across the GTA), identifies as being of critical importance to the mental well-being of the youth in that cohort. “When the pandemic hit, there was an enormous drop in the utilization of our services,” Willis says. “But once the clinicians and programs became more adept at virtual delivery, we did see an incredible increase in the numbers of kids reaching out virtually.” At the same time, however, Willis says that there has been a concerning drop in some of the Mental Health T.O. longer-term in-person programs, ones that involve the whole family, since the start of the pandemic. “This decrease tells us that there are far more kids out there who are experiencing mental health issues, but are not reaching out. Because of the lockdown, these kids have become more isolated than they normally would be, Mar/Apr 2021

CITY LIFE MAGAZINE

and that is a huge worry,” he says. And while the ideation of suicide is not uncommon in kids who are under stress, the actual attempt of doing so, or of harming oneself, needs to be taken seriously by both family members and friends. “Suicidal ideation that lasts more than a day, more than a couple of hours, is a very serious thing that needs to be evaluated,” Dr. Szatmari says. “We tend to dismiss and underestimate the importance of these mental health indicators in children. We explain them away, we say things like, ‘Oh, it’s just a cry for help, or the person is trying to get attention,’ but that just isn’t true. These excuses are tied to the stigma of mental health, a stigma that is larger when talking about the mental health of our youth cohort than in other age groups.” So where do we go to from here? What are the resources that can be accessed both by families as a whole and kids on their own? While many of us are familiar with the “normal” or common access points to source mental health assistance, including emergency departments, counsellors, family doctors and community mental health centres, the opportunity for kids to access help on their own, to connect with qualified counsellors who understand and can help them — most especially for kids whose parents or culture do not condone “sharing secrets outside of the family unit” — is of critical importance, ones that young people need to be aware of. Dr. Szatmari states that kids often don’t want to tell their parents they are suffering mentally and emotionally, because they don’t want to disappoint or worry them, especially at a time when their parents are also under undue stress. “It becomes very difficult for some kids,” Willis says. “Their home environment might not be a safe place, so how do they reach out and ask for help?” Tamar Brannigan, manager, Community Crisis Responders at Kids Help Phone, encourages kids to pick up the phone, reach out and not worry 62

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about any stigma they might feel is associated with asking for help. “It is OK to reach out for help; it is not a weakness. In fact, it shows intense resilience, intense strength and emotional literacy,” Brannigan says. The serious effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of our youth are alarmingly evident in the increase of calls to Kids Help Phone during 2020. “In 2020, we facilitated 4,200 active

It is OK to reach out for help; it is not a weakness. In fact, it shows intense resilience, intense strength and emotional literacy — Tamar Brannigan

rescues with young people who were at risk of suicide,” Brannigan says. “If a young person is at imminent risk, we make sure they get the help they need.” The stats are disturbing. In 2019, Kids Help Phone had 1.9 million connections. In 2020, they had 4.5 million connections with young people through their phone line, text and website access points. This increase in connections, year over year, represents an alarming 137 per cent increase. “It is important to note that while suicide is not always the intent of the crisis, when it does happen, 125 people are directly affected by that one suicide,” Brannigan says. Interestingly, in addition to the free, 24-hour help line for kids, 1-800-6686868, Kids Help Phone has opened up a free accessible service for adults as well: 741-741.

“These are really tough times, and parents are under a huge amount of stress. They are frustrated and wearing so many hats, they are virtually at the end of their rope,” Brannigan says. “Our 741-741 service is for both parents and adults in general, a means and a resource to reach out and to access crisis support and help. They will be connected with a counsellor who will provide non-judgmental support.” Dr. Szatmari agrees that the mental health of parents is having a huge impact on the mental health of their children. “If parents are more stressed and experience more anxiety and more depression and more substance use as a result, that is going to affect their kids, because they are not as available for their kids to support them and help them deal with their stresses,” he says. “It is a vicious cycle: the more that kids get depressed and anxious, the more parents are impacted. Unless there is something that breaks the cycle, the situation can rapidly deteriorate.” The What’s Up Walk-In Clinics, with six locations in the GTA (and branded throughout the rest of the province as Brief Walk-In Services), is a resource that youth can virtually walk into to access help (pre-COVID-19). Usually scheduled over one or two sessions, it is a service which helps kids and counsellors identify and mitigate problems, so that they don’t become bigger issues going forward. “When a kid accesses our free Brief Walk-In Services (which are under the Mental Health T.O. umbrella), they don’t even need a health card,” Willis says. “They can literally show up, give a bit of brief information about themselves and what is going on, and within 20 minutes they are hooked up with a clinician for a 90-minute session.” As schools and small businesses inch toward reopening, albeit under highly strict protocols, the question that resonates across all age cohorts is: “Where do we go from here?” The fact that kids are going back to school is one that, although it might present some worry and angst around the transmission and contraction of www.mycitylife.ca

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CITY LIFE MAGAZINE

the virus, is also one that is viewed by parents, many medical experts and the kids themselves as being a concrete step toward a more positive sense of well-being. “School plays a very important role in early identification of children who have a mental health issue,” Moran says. “Teachers and administrators are well trained to see if a child is struggling and then navigate them to care. Of course, these networks have decreased substantially, because school isn’t in place.” The importance of opening schools so that kids can feel less isolated and get back to a normal routine is one that Dr. Szatmari strongly supports. “The evidence of transmission of the virus in children is pretty low,” he says. “If we can make schools a safe environment from a health point of view, we should encourage and support opening them.” In addition to the opening of schools as a way to reboot the normalization of life for kids, the questions and complex issues that need to be considered and addressed once this pandemic is over are many: “What is the new normal going to look like once we have all had the chance to be immunized? What are the ongoing hidden emotional effects on all of us — youth, parents, adults in general? What are the lasting effects? How is society going to change?” “What is the new normal going to look like?” Dr. Szatmari asks. “I think we need to be prepared to be vigilant; we can’t let our guard down, like we did prior to the onset of COVID-19. None of us was prepared for the mental health impact of this pandemic when it started a year ago, and that was a mistake. I think we’ve learned from that, but we need to be vigilant. We need to increase the resources that are devoted to mental health in general and to child abuse mental health, in particular,” he says. “We spend much less money on mental health than we do on physical health, but, in reality, disability and quality of life are affected by mental health to a much greater extent than they are by physical health. In general, we need to put more resources into mental health, in particular, kids’ mental health, in order to support them.” 64

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As a society, each and every one of us has been distracted by the unfamiliar — what is famously called “unparalleled and unprecedented” effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nonetheless, we each need to be aware and pay attention, in a mindful and present manner, to what our children and young adults are feeling. Family bonding can take on many forms: we can cook or bake together; go on family walks or toboggan down the nearest hill; we can imagine a family vacation once the pandemic is over; or we can play games that include everyone. “The most important thing is to fight against the social isolation,” Dr. Szatmari says. “Find innovative ways of being together in a healthy way, whether that’s on the internet or over the phone or going for walks at a distance from each other. We need to be present — truly present — to be together in some way. I think that promoting social relationships in a healthy way is the most important ingredient to being resilient against the stresses of this pandemic.” As Ontarians move backwards through the COVID-19 colourcoded response framework in place throughout the province, that is, from grey (lockdown), to red (control), to orange (restrict), to yellow (protect) to green (prevent), it is important for the youth cohort to know that the resources for their mental health are available, on a non-judgmental basis, and are free and accessible 24-7, without the need or complication of a health card. “I want to encourage both kids and parents to reach out and talk to someone outside of the home, whether that is a friend, a counsellor or a crisis service. There are resources out there,” Brannigan says. Access Kids Help Phone for free at 1-800-668-6868 for counselling sessions in English, French and Arabic. “We need do a better job the next time the next pandemic comes along, because you can be darn sure there’s going to be another one,” Dr. Szatmari says. kidshelpphone.ca @kidshelpphone

35 YEARS IN REAL ESTATE

amily owned since 1986, Lino Arci’s real estate team is celebrating a true business milestone, having been in the real estate business for 35 years. Lino Arci credits his success to the family he always dreamed of having. “Somehow along the way, I’ve been blessed with both my beautiful wife and children, and they decided to follow my path. I believe that my family has brought out the best of the success in our business.” Lino Arci sets himself apart from other realtors by his wisdom garnered from experiencing many different types of markets and providing his community with reassurance and confidence that he and his team will always be able to provide a successful sale. To celebrate this incredible milestone, Lino Arci did what he always does: donating a portion of every commission to the Children’s Miracle Network and organizing a yearly food and toy drive for the Vaughan Food Bank. Lino Arci understands and values the importance of the role he plays in the community that has welcomed him with open arms. “It’s so important for the community to come first, because it is the great people of Vaughan, Ont., who have welcomed me into their homes.” With a strong team behind him, including his wife, Italia, son, Anthony, and daughter, Jessica, Lino Arci doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon. “I feel very strong, I’m so proud of our community involvement and I hope to do this for many more years to come.” www.linoarciteam.com www.mycitylife.ca

Social Media Sensation

‘CLOSE THE WINDOWS’

PHOTO COURTESY OF SHEENA MELWANI

Media artist and aspiring singer Melwani loves that her fun videos make people laugh

If it means you’re cold, that’s one thing. But if it means something else to you, then you’re probably a fan of singer Sheena Melwani and her “Interrupted” series on TikTok. What started as a friendly contest with her brother to see who could get the most followers has grown into millions of views. Now, she’s carved out a niche for herself with a mash-up of music, comedy, pranks and little snippets of her life that even make her LOL WRITTEN BY DONNA PARIS

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Mar/Apr 2021

CITY LIFE MAGAZINE

f someone had told Sheena Melwani even just a few years ago that she’d be where she is today, she wouldn’t have believed it: creating hundreds of videos doing covers of pop songs, then getting interrupted by her “real Indian dad,” who heckles her, but never appears onscreen. “I had no idea that I would be the face of this random comedic act,” she says. “It was always so focused on music.” In one episode, Melwani is singing, “I dug my key into the side of his pretty little souped-up four-wheel drive ...” Then the heckling starts: “Why you put your name? Put his name . . . don’t leave evidence at the scene of a crime.” And the video ends as most of them do — with Melwani laughing her guts out, and the heckler throwing down his practically patented line, “Close the windows.” (Meaning: “We’re done here.” Often followed by, “Go to sleep.”) Sharing her voice came early in life to Melwani. “It was one of those things that was apparent from a young age,” she says. “I sang in a preschool performance of The Sound of Music, and everyone said, ‘That girl is going to be a singer.’” They were right. Born in Montreal, she attended McGill University (and gets tears in her eyes when she learns that U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris spent her high-school years in Montreal, too, graduating from Westmount High School). Unlike Vice-President Harris, though, Melwani got married and moved to Japan with her husband, joining a YouTube community to post music videos. “I used that as a way to connect with friends and family, and then the audience started to grow,” she says. When they moved to Boston a year later, her music career started to take off, and she started performing at different venues, such as Fenway Park and House of Blues. Then, she told her husband she wanted to start a family. “I remember telling him, ‘I feel like I can give my career a pause right now and go back to it in a couple of years,’” she says. So, she played her last show at House of Blues when she was about eight months pregnant. But life doesn’t always go as planned, and it just gets unexpected sometimes, and Melwani 66

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just did not have the heart to leave her son, who’s 10 now. It was the same story when her daughter was born (now a sevenyear-old). Her husband pushed her to give herself a deadline, so about a year and a half ago, she reignited her YouTube page. “I just started building again, and I had to relearn the social media completely from the ground up because everything had changed,” she says. Then the pandemic hit, but still,

I sang in a preschool performance of The Sound of Music, and everyone said, ‘That girl is going to be a singer’ her husband urged her to keep moving forward. She started doing live online concerts on Facebook a few times a week. “People started to join and listen and talk to me in real time, and we would just spend an hour together and get through the evening,” she says. For Melwani, it is still all about the music, and she is working on an EP now, which she’s pretty excited about and hoping to release this spring, telling us that “original music has always been my focus, first and foremost.” Similar to many other families, Melwani’s family started forwarding funny TikTok videos back and forth. “One day, my brother made one, and it was really funny, so we got a pool going to see who could get past 1,000 views,” she says. She posted one of her singing JP Saxe’s “If the World Was Ending,” with a few comments from the peanut gallery at home. “I put it up and overnight it went crazy.” In a fun twist, Saxe recorded himself singing

his song, subbing in the words from her video, which has become one of her favourite moments. And, well, that’s how the “Interrupted” series got started. The videos themselves have morphed over the past few months. Her piano needs work, so she’s had to get creative and now she puts out snippets of a conversation or pulls a few pranks sometimes. “I sprinkle a little of everything in there,” she says. Like most people during the pandemic, Melwani is finding her way, trying to make it work with two kids. “Life is crazy — as it is for most people,” she says. She tries to not spend too much time over-producing the clips, working mostly later in the evenings, after her kids are in bed, but they are pretty supportive, too. “They get up every morning and ask ‘Can we see what you posted?’” she laughs. Something like this can take on a life of its own and it has to be managed, but Melwani is quick to point out that she gets a lot from all the feedback, too. “I spend hours answering comments — but it’s important, connecting with the audience is half of the joy that comes with it.” She loves that her videos make people laugh, especially at a time when we all need it. And that’s why she likes to keep the videos clean, too. “They’re cross-generational. I hear that people watch them with their children and send them to their parents. I hear they send them to their grandparents, too.” Melwani also receives some heartfelt messages, like the one she received from someone who had lost their partner, saying that even though they are at home now, the videos are helping to get through the grief, or one from someone who was depressed, telling her that her videos are a welcome relief. “It’s just really heartwarming,” she says. “When the pandemic hit, we turned more to music, we turned more to laughter, and this was what was born of it — I really feel like I have the ability now to sing and also to connect with people in a way not really explored before,” she says. “And I feel really lucky to be able to share that with people.” www.sheenamelwani.com @sheenamelawani www.mycitylife.ca

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