City Life Magazine — Oct/Nov 2014

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A LOCAL PIECE OF PIE: FALL RECIPES TO SINK YOUR TEETH INTO P.

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WILL THE “T-REX OF WINTERS” SEND THE GTA THROUGH ANOTHER ICE AGE? P.

THE PROPERTY BROTHERS LAY DOWN THEIR HOME RENOVATION TIPS

Super Sarah THE FACE OF A HERO

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VOLUME 12 ISSUE 5 | OCT/NOV 2014

COVER STORY

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A LOCAL PIECE OF PIE: FALL RECIPES TO SINK YOUR TEETH INTO P.

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WILL THE “T-REX OF WINTERS” SEND THE GTA THROUGH ANOTHER ICE AGE? P.

THE PROPERTY BROTHERS LAY DOWN THEIR HOME RENOVATION TIPS

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80 44 THE SIMPLE LIFE Take a stroll with Global News broadcaster Susan Hay through her 20 acres of farmland

52 SARAH’S HOPE How Vaughan’s littlest hero is inspiring the city’s citizens to don their own capes in the fight against cancer

64 2015 LINCOLN MKC Ford’s luxury line introduces its first compact crossover — but is it enough to winner over the younger demographic it so desperately needs?

Super Sarah

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68 SAVOURING THE SEASON: A pinch of cinnamon, a dash of nutmeg — inspire

THE FACE OF A HERO IN THE FIGHT AGAINST

your autumn palate with these seasonally-charged desserts

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78 CHECK IT BEFORE YOU WRECK IT Dreaming of renovating? Before taking a hammer to the wall, the Property Brothers have the tips to make sure you’re reno-ready

Photographed by Jesse Milns, Sarah Watkin wears a Happy Soul Project cape at her family home in Vaughan See story on page 52

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80 SUPERIOR INTERIORS From Mississauga to Britain, sift through our handpicked collection of designers and décor pieces you need to know about now More stories inside … www.citylifemagazine.ca

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PUBLISHER’S NOTE PUBLISHER / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Michelle Zerillo-Sosa • michelle@dolce.ca DIRECTOR OF EDITORIAL Simona Panetta • simona@dolce.ca MANAGING EDITOR Michael Hill • michael@dolce.ca DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Angela Palmieri-Zerillo • angela@dolce.ca ART D E PARTM E NT COFOUNDER/CREATIVE DIRECTOR Fernando Zerillo • fernando@dolce.ca WEB PROJECT MANAGER Steve Bruno SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Christina Ban, Luay Saig JUNIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Sal Malak WEB DESIGNER Yena Yoo E D ITO R IAL D E PARTM E NT FASHION & HOME DECOR EDITOR Michelle Zerillo-Sosa

DEFINING A HERO

COPY EDITOR Simona Panetta PROOFREADERS The Editing Company, Toronto; Simona Panetta WRITERS Michael Hill, Amanda Storey CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jennifer Cheng, Justin Mastine-Frost, Judy Kuriansky, Howard VanEs

“Hard times don’t create heroes.

It is during the hard times when the ‘hero’ within us is revealed”

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Jesse Milns, Sal Pasqua, George Pimentel, Christoph Strube, Gil Tamin

— Bob Riley

PUBLISHER

If

I were to ask you to describe a hero, how would you describe him or her?

Would he or she be six feet tall, have the ability to fly at supersonic speed and the strength to bend iron and steel? Anyone that possessed powers like these would certainly be above the norm. And if these supernatural abilities were used for the good of humanity, then yes, they would have every right to be called a hero.

But the hero on our cover is not six feet tall. Nor can she fly or bend iron and steel. This hero is only seven years old. She knows the feeling of having her body being hit with rounds of chemo, knows what it feels like to lose her hair and feel extremely sick from all the side effects. Her only superpower is the ability to make you giggle and smile when you meet her — and, of course, her courage. For as she fights the evil in her body called cancer, she does so with the same conviction and strength as a superhero facing the most evil of villains.

She does have one more power, perhaps, and this is the strongest one ever: her conviction in the power of hope. See Sarah’s story on page 52.

There is nothing more terrible than when a child is hit with cancer, and Sarah’s story is just one more reason why we need to learn how to become donors and maybe even wear that superhero cape, even if just for allowing someone else a second chance at life.

We hope you enjoy this Oct./Nov. issue of City Life Magazine, as we continue to bring you stories of people that shape our community and remind us that life is a gift. Cherish it, share it with those you love and continue to believe in heroes.

Michelle Zerillo-Sosa Publisher/Editor-In-Chief

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BEAUTY & TRAVEL EDITOR Angela Palmieri-Zerillo

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VI D E O D E PARTM E NT VIDEOGRAPHER Daniel A. Cooper

ADVERTISING T: 905-264-6789 info@citylifemagazine.ca DIRECTOR OF MARKETING Angela Palmieri-Zerillo • angela@dolce.ca DIRECTOR OF NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Susan Bhatia (MATERNITY LEAVE) ACCOUNT MANAGERS Mario Balaceanu, Lina Muasher FRONT COVER Sarah Watkin Photo By Jesse Milns City Life Magazine • Volume 12 • Issue 5 • OCT/NOV 2014 City Life Magazine is published bimonthly by Dolce Media Group, 111 Zenway Blvd., Suite 30, Vaughan, Ont. L4H 3H9 T: 905-264-6789 • F: 905-264-3787 info@citylifemagazine.ca • www.citylifemagazine.ca Subscribe online at www.citylifemagazine.ca or by calling 905-264-6789. City Life’s yearly subscription fee is $13.80.

We accept Visa, MC & AMEX. Send cheque or money order to Dolce Media Group, 111 Zenway Blvd. #30, Vaughan, Ont. L4H 3H9.

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DISTRIBUTION AND CIRCULATION City Life Magazine reaches 251,200+ readers annually through household distribution, newsstand sales and event partnerships across Canada. Inquiries on City Life Magazine’s newsstand distribution may be directed to Dolce Media Group: info@dolcemedia.ca or 905-264-6789.

ISSN 1206-1778 Next Issue: Dec/Jan 2014/15 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 18 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. ©2014 Dolce Media Group • www.dolcemedia.ca • Printed in Canada

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EDITOR’S NOTE

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GUEST EDITORS

Photo By Jesse Milns

he sky was grey on a midAugust afternoon as former Vaughan MPP and minister of finance of Ontario Greg Sorbara and our photographer rallied a neon ball back and forth on Sorbara’s personal tennis court. I watched from the sidelines as the pair casually whacked the ball back and forth, exchanging pleasantries and the odd “Sorry!” for an errant shot. They'd been at it for a while.

“Interview time?” Sorbara asked after a rally ends.

I hesitated.

“Three more,” he said as he reaches Michael Hill, Managing Editor into his pocket for another ball.

Oh, yeah. Sure. Who am I to argue?

It turns out that the 68-year-old, now-retired politician has been taking lessons and, despite his steel hip, is quite spry on the court. “I’m a struggling tennis player, but I love the game,” he said as we head back up the steps to his Richmond Hill home. The sport he’s really passionate about is baseball, which anyone who’s followed his 25-year career would know. The problem is you need at least nine people to play a real game of baseball. “So I restrict myself to watching baseball and playing tennis.”

I certainly wasn’t expecting to get Sorbara in his all-white tennis gear and out on the court, but if there’s one thing I learned from sitting down with the veteran Ontario politician, it’s don’t judge a book by its cover.

Which, in a way, is why we were together. He was only a few weeks away from the release of his memoir, The Battlefield of Ontario Politics, and we were graciously given access to a revised manuscript before the book actually hit the press. Despite being one of the leading figures in Ontario politics for the past few decades, Sorbara grew up a bit of a rebel. He dropped out of university after skipping class became the norm and lived a very bohemian life in B.C. while working as a volunteer for the Company of Young Canadians in his early 20s — an experience that helped to shape the personable politician he would become.

It was one of those fun and insightful interviews where you get to see the other side of an individual who influenced modern Ontario. Battlefield is also filled with a behind-the-scenes look into the strategies and workings of politics in the province; the ups and downs, victories and defeats that politicians must contend with. You can read more about Sorbara and his new book in “Political War Stories” (page 36).

We’ve also packed this issue with a plethora of other enticing pieces, from coverage of TIFF (page 75) to predictions about the winter weather that’s on its way, to more emotionally powerful tales about one family’s struggle with cancer (page 52).

We’re glad you’ve joined us for another issue, and hope you enjoy the journey.

Until next time,

INTRODUCING OUR OCT/NOV

City Life Magazine

If you’re in pain and are looking for an alternative other than painkillers, writer and yoga instructor Howard VanEs has the advice you’re looking for. As the author of many yoga-focused books, including Yoga, The Back Pain Cure, VanEs knows the ins and outs of yoga’s positive influence on the body, and on page 28 he teaches us how to use it to bend, twist and pose our way out of pain.

JUDY KURIANSKY GUEST PSYCHOLOGY EDITOR In the wake of Robin Williams’ unforeseen and tragic death, the world has its eye on the disorder that ultimately took his life: depression.

World-renowned clinical psychologist, author and speaker Judy Kuriansky shares her take on the struggle that Williams shared with millions of people across the globe. See story on page 48.

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

Michael Hill Managing Editor

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HOWARD VANES GUEST WELLNESS EDITOR

Oct/Nov 2014

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PEOPLE & PLACES

For sponsorship inquiries, please email events@dolce.ca For more events, please visit www.citylifemagazine.ca/people_places

RITA STIRPE NOMINATED FOR A CONTESSA AWARD — VAUGHAN from brides to Hollywood stars. Stirpe’s nomination is a proud moment for Vaughan and is also timely as the makeup artist and educator launches her own beauty college in the community, Allure Beauty College Inc., this fall. www.salonmagazine.ca

3 1. Rita Stirpe, Vaughan-based beauty guru and cofounder of the city’s new Allure Beauty College 2. From weddings to red carpets, natural to glamorous, Stirpe is known for creating a diverse array of flawless looks 3. The winner of the Contessa Awards’ Makeup Artist category will be announced at the gala in Toronto on Nov. 9

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PEACEFUL WARRIOR YOGA RETREAT AT STE. ANNE’S SPA — GRAFTON Ste. Anne’s Spa in Grafton, Ont., is celebrating Breast Cancer Awareness Month by offering a three-night, four-day yoga retreat for breast cancer fighters, survivors and their loved ones. Throughout the retreat, which takes place from Oct. 7 to 9, 2014, participants will be led through a gentle yoga program — suited for yogis of all levels — of breath work, restorative yoga, traditional hatha yoga and meditation. The retreat is hosted by Ste. Anne’s resident yoga instructor, Jenn Hall, who is a breast cancer survivor. The retreat includes deluxe accommodation, a $360 spa and wellness allowance, three group meals per day, yoga practices, guided walks, a wellness workshop, a skin care class and more. According to the Canadian Cancer Society, by the end of this year 24,400 women will have been diagnosed with breast cancer. www.steannes.com

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1. Participants of the Peaceful Warrior Yoga Retreat are provided with yoga mats, blankets, yoga props, pillows and eye pillows for the duration of the retreat 2. The retreat consists of a gentle yoga program suited for women of all levels that includes breath work, restorative yoga, meditation and more 3. Fellow breast cancer survivor Jenn Hall, the resident yoga instructor at Ste. Anne’s, hosts the retreat 4. Ste. Anne’s is recognized as one of Canada’s favourite spas

www.citylifemagazine.ca

Photos Courtesy of Rita Stirpe

Local beauty icon and television personality Rita Stirpe has been nominated for a Contessa Award in the category of Makeup Artist of the Year. Hosted by Salon Magazine, the annual Contessa Awards is one of the most buzzed-about events in Canada’s beauty industry.

Currently placed in the top 10 semi-finalists in her riding, which were announced in mid-September, Stirpe will run alongside nine fellow makeup gurus from across the country. The finalists in each division will be announced in mid-October, followed by the announcement of the winners at the Contessa Gala on Nov. 9, 2014, at the Westin Harbour Castle in Toronto. With over 15 years of experience in the beauty industry, including her time as host and community producer of Cosmetic Art on Rogers TV, Stirpe is considered Vaughan’s beauty crush, known 1 for beautifying everyone

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

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Oct/Nov 2014

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PEOPLE & PLACES FREED HERITAGE LINE PREVIEW AT THE RITZ-CARLTON — TORONTO 1

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1. The Montrealer is inspired by the Québécois city 2. The Torontonian was designed for Toronto’s harsh winters 3. The Vancouver embodies the hip vibes of Canada’s West Coast

Photos Courtesy of FREED Press

Winnipeg-based family business Freed & Freed’s new heritage line might just replace the ubiquitous Canada Goose parka as the de facto uniform for Canadians this winter. Inspired by old English tweed, Freed’s coat collection was unveiled at an exclusive VIP preview at the Ritz-Carlton in downtown Toronto on Aug. 20, 2014, where guests were guided through the luxurious collection by Marissa Freed, the company’s fourth-generation president, who leads its creative direction. Freed & Freed has been long recognized across Canada as the manufacturer of the official uniforms for the Canadian military and RCMP, as well as those of VIA Rail and the Canadian team of athletes at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics. The new Freed heritage line by the nearly century-old company is now available at Holt Renfrew, Pink Tartan, Honey, Gotstyle and other high-end retailers. www.freedandfreed.com

CAFTCAD CELEBRATES COSTUME — TORONTO

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1. CP24 on-air personality Patricia Jaggernauth 2. Hip-hop artist Kardinal Offishall 3. Peroni was one of the event’s sponsors 4. Actress Meghan Heffern 5. R&B artist Jully Black, costume designer Antoinette Messam and Zoomer magazine contributing editor Charmaine Gooden

www.citylifemagazine.ca

Photos By Ryan Emberley

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The Canadian Alliance of Film & Television Costume Arts & Design returned to TIFF this September to celebrate show-stopping costumes with a star-studded guest list.

Spotted was actress Natalie Brown, womenswear designer David Dixon, Toronto Fashion Incubator’s Susan Langdon, Juno-winning R&B artist Jully Black, Fashion Week fixture Robin Kay and other prominent personalities. The crowd of over 300 got an up-close look at the work of CAFTCAD’s members, which encompasses wardrobe from television (think Master’s size-24 boots from FX’s new horror drama The Strain and 16th-century-inspired garments from CW’s Reign) and film (historical-adventure movie Pompeii, action-packed The Masked Saint and the Romeo and Juliet-inspired dance film Make Your Move ). The Sept.

9 shindig at the Spoke Club on King West continued the non-profit organization’s mission of promoting Canadian costume design in both industries — with a steady stream of drinks from Tag Vodka, Bear Flag wine and Birra Peroni. www.caftcad.com

Throughout the month of October, for every gallon of any colour of Benjamin Moore eco-friendly paint and products and Para Paints zero-VOC paint sold, Steeles Paint will donate $1 to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation – Ontario Region. Show your support and help us “Give Pink” to create a future without breast cancer. Visit our in-store photo booth to earn your wings t-shirt & join our Wall of Angels!

Visit North America’s biggest retailer of Benjamin Moore Paint and see why our staff is tickled pink to be supporting CBCF! JOIN US FOR THE CHEQUE PRESENTATION ON NOVEMBER 1ST, 2014 4190 Steeles Ave. W.

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PEOPLE & PLACES FORD UNLEASHES MUSTANG T-SHIRTS — TORONTO Since 1964, the Ford Mustang has always, and unabashedly, been a staple of pop culture. This year the sleek and sporty car turns 50 and five global fashion visionaries — American fashion icon Anna Sui, Rogan Gregory and Scott Mackinlay-Hahn of Rogan, luxury handbag designer Paula Cademartori, Tomaso Anfossi and Francesco Ferrari of CO|TE and jewelry designer Pamela Love — joined Ford to celebrate with Mustang Unleashed, a limited-edition line of graphic T-shirts inspired by the car. Each designer created three shirts, which VIPs got a sneak peek of during a preview at Toronto’s Hazelton Hotel on Aug. 27, 2014. Guests were treated to various sweets and a manicure using OPI’s six-shade Ford Mustang collection, such as the aptly named Race Red. Mustang Unleashed, produced by Loomstate, is now available exclusively on Gilt. www.gilt.com/unleashed

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1. Mustang Unleashed T-shirt collection preview at Hazelton Hotel 2. Brazilian-born designer Paula Cademartori’s glamour T-shirt for women 3. Candy bar of Hershey’s Kisses, sour gummy keys, chewy red berries and other delights

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Photos Courtesy of Raph Nogal

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On Aug.16, 2014, the Kleinburg Leo Club held its premier large-scale event — a four-hour dodgeball tournament at Trio Sportsplex — in support of the Canadian Diabetes Association. Five teams of 10 participated to bring awareness to diabetes and the importance of a healthy lifestyle for both diabetics and non-diabetics. In between games, players donned cowboy hats, sunglasses, Hawaiian garlands and other wacky accessories at the photo booth table set up by the club. Some even sported hairbands with cat ears as their uniform, but it was the Mighty Dodgers in Nike headbands who were the best dressed and winning team. At night, about 30 people 18

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Oct/Nov 2014

headed to Kleinburg’s much-loved bakery Dolcini by Joseph for awards and a silent auction filled with prizes ranging from Amado Salon hair products to Telus phone holders. Guests enjoyed a special diabetic dessert from Dolcini by Joseph and hors d’oeuvres from The Doctor’s House. The event raised close to $3,000. www.e-leoclubhouse.org/sites/kleinburg

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1. Dolcini by Joseph owners Maria and Joseph Montinaro 2. Kleinburg Leo Club president Maddalena Vani 3. Guests outside the pastry and cake shop’s Kleinburg location 4. Fruit cheesecake from Dolcini by Joseph

www.citylifemagazine.ca

Photos By Sal Pasqua

DODGE4DIABETES WITH THE KLEINBURG LEOS — VAUGHAN

PHOTOINREWIND

Photos By Sal Pasqua

07-19-2014 The seemingly endless line of eager shoppers outside of Sherway Gardens waiting to get their hands on the new Apple iPhone 6.

Apple reportedly sold a record 10 million new iPhone 6s over its first weekend on the market.

Hundreds of people showed up to Sherway Gardens to get their new iPhone — so many we couldn’t fit them all into one shot.

www.citylifemagazine.ca

Oct/Nov 2014

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PEOPLE & PLACES After Vaughan’s leading lifestyle publication City Life Magazine unveiled its new cover design for its August/September 2014 issue, Masthead, the premier website destination for the periodical industry, picked up the story and reported on the magazine’s new look and direction.

The piece outlined how City Life ’s redesign displays a modern and cutting-edge art style that matches its bold new content.

The logo redesign is also reflected in the publication’s digital platform citylifemagazine.ca , which is also undergoing a full revamp, along with its parent company, Dolce Media Group (previously named Dolce Publishing Inc.).

Since 2002, City Life has published nearly 75 issues and this new direction represents an evolution of the brand. “We are a complete media house from print to web and everything else in between,” says Fernando Zerillo, cofounder and creative director of Dolce Media Group. “City Life ’s new visual identity needed to match our new editorial direction, which has a heavier focus on investigative and impactful stories.

We couldn’t be more proud of this new direction.” www.mastheadonline.com

BINDER TWINE RETURNS TO KLEINBURG FOR 48TH YEAR — KLEINBURG

The Manors of Kleinburg will be comprised of custom-designed estates to reflect each homeowner’s individuality

MAPLE DENTAL HEALTH’S PATIENT APPRECIATION BBQ EVENT — VAUGHAN

1. Festival-goers stopped by Inverno Snow Management’s booth to enter a ballot for free snow removal 2. A true family affair, Binder Twine entertained the kiddies with face painting and other fun-filled activities

City Life Magazine

Oct/Nov 2014

Great food, live music and a Yogurty’s food truck made for a picture-perfect Sunday as friends and patients of Dr. Paul Sclodnick and his associates at Maple Dental Health gathered at the clinic’s Patient Appreciation BBQ on Aug. 10, 2014. Over $800 was raised during the event in support of Hemophilia Ontario, a national voluntary health charity that strives to improve the health and quality of life of people with inherited bleeding disorders and, ultimately, to find a cure. The raised amount was matched by Dr. Sclodnick, bringing the clinic’s total donation closer to $2,000. www.mapledentalhealth.com

Dr. Paul Sclodnick, his team and his clients raise money for Hemophilia Ontario at Appreciation BBQ

www.citylifemagazine.ca

Photo Courtesy of Maple Dental Health

On Sept. 6, 2014, the Binder Twine Festival returned to the quaint village of Kleinburg for its 48th year. A rural tradition dating back to the 1800s, when farmers visited the community to purchase twine, the annual celebration was once again packed with family fare, juried craft exhibitors and Olde Tyme activities, namely and most notably a spoof of traditional beauty pageants known as the Queen Contest. From flipping pancakes to milking a cow, eligible young ladies, aged 16 and over, exercised their pioneer skills for the chance to draw a winning ticket for the festival’s Quilt Raffle. A nod to a simpler time, Binder Twine, organized and run by over 800 volunteers, is a celebration of the community for the community – with proceeds going toward local schools and clubs. www.bindertwine.ca

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On Sept. 20, Shyamora Luxury Homes celebrated with friends, family and guests as it launched the grand opening of Manors of Kleinburg, a new community of custom homes. This new development strays from the uniformity of most subdivisions by creating a map of unique estates. Shyamora Luxury Homes offers clients one-on-one consultations with award-winning architect Gus Ricci and an award-winning interior designer to ensure that custom wish lists are realized. The grand opening celebration depicted luxury at its finest, with guests served a glass of white wine and a delicious buffet from Efinka — Catering With Elegance. www.shyamora.com

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Photos By Angela Palmieri

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SHYAMORA LUXURY HOMES CELEBRATES GRAND OPENING OF THE MANORS OF KLEINBURG — VAUGHAN

Photo Courtesy of Shyamora Luxury Homes Inc.

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ME

PEOPLE & PLACES STEELES PAINT LAUNCHES SECOND ANNUAL GIVE TO PINK FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN — VAUGHAN This October, Canada’s biggest independent paint store, Steeles Paint, is bringing back its Give to Pink campaign, which last year raised over $25,000 for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation — Ontario Region (CBCF). In honour of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, all October long Steeles Paint will donate $1 from every purchased can of Benjamin Moore eco-friendly paint or Para Paints’ zero-VOC paint. New this year is the Give to Pink photo booth, where visitors to the store can donate to don fun, angel-themed props and pose for the camera in honour of breast cancer awareness. All pictures taken in the booth will be posted on the store’s “Wall of Angels.”

The campaign will wrap on Nov. 1 with a cheque presentation to CBCF. www.steelespaint.com

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1. This year’s Give to Pink T-shirt will be worn by the Steeles Paint team throughout the month of October, and can be purchased as a form of donation 2. The Steeles Paint team is all smiles 3. The graphic on this year’s Give to Pink T-shirt is as fun as it is inspiring

Photos By Jesse Milns

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PEOPLE & PLACES FEAST OF FIELDS — NOBLETON There are still 10 minutes to go before the doors open to this year’s Feast of Fields Organic Food Festival, yet there are about three-dozen cars lined up at the entrance. Foodies, Earth lovers and those who are a little bit of both have trekked to the rolling pastures of Cold Creek Conservation Area in Nobleton, Ont., for the annual event.

Founded by Jamie Kennedy, Michael Stadtländer and a select group of culinary masters, Feast of Fields is more of a massive picnic in the park than a culinary festival.

This year, nearly a hundred vendors of organic food, wine, beer and other delights wait at their stations to tend to curious patrons, all of whom carry a wine glass and plate for taste-testing. It’s bigger than it’s ever been, and yet despite the event’s evolution, president Daniel Gilbert says it still stays true to the philosophy it was founded upon.

“This all began more than 25 years ago, when we decided to put an event together that would bring organic chefs and organic farmers together,” says Gilbert. “It was also to promote organic agriculture and organic products to everyone. And we’ve been reasonably successful,

because now organics is getting to be pretty much mainstream, so this is really a celebration of how far we’ve come.”

Navigating through the maze of vendors, who are scattered strategically to prevent lineups and promote vendor-patron dialogue, guests get to savour the delicious diversity of the organic world. Vancouver-based Sip, which creates natural craft soda, shows off its naturally sweetened bubblies (the Lavender Lemon Peel is a must-try), while the Orangeville Dinner Series dishes out samples from an assortment of crafty meals (gazpacho with goat cheese, a summer-vegetable fritter from the Mono Cliffs Inn and pulled pork wrapped in brussels sprout leaves are just a few options). Chef Suman Roy from Toronto’s Wild Burger is blowing guests’ minds and taste buds with his burgers made from wild game.

While the new restaurant has become renowned across the city for serving scrumptiously unexpected burgers — think ostrich, camel, crab and kangaroo — today Roy is sampling his wild rabbit slider, made from locally hunted meat.

“We work directly with our Aboriginal partners who do the hunting,” says Roy, who has been participating in Feast of Fields for the past eight years. “Everything is made fresh in-house — even our bun is a proprietary recipe, and everything is scratch-made.”

The rest of the vendors range from big city stars like the Drake Hotel’s Alexandra Feswick, Wanda’s Pie in the Sky from Kensington Market and Steam Whistle Brewery, to small-town sensations like Caledon-based Pommies Dry Cider, the Orangeville Dinner Series and Nature’s Emporium from Newmarket and Vaughan. But no matter where they came from, the chefs and restaurant and organic gurus spend some time with each guest who moseys by their stations.

“At the end of the day, I really hope Feast of Fields helps people see just how interesting and good tasting and beautifully presented organic food can be,” says Gilbert. “I want them to hold those tastes with them and remember where they got it and remember that it’s organic.” www.feastoffields.org 4

3 1 5

1. This year’s Feast of Fields was the biggest yet with tons of booths boasting organic, artisan products from across the GTA and Canada 2. Eventgoers sipped and savoured their way through the festival 3. From fine wines to handmade salsas and everything in between, Feast of Fields provided an unforgettable culinary experience 4. The inspiration didn’t stop at the edibles — eye-catching works of art could be found throughout the festival 5. One vendor took advantage of end-of-summer’s sweet peaches

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Photos By Sal Pasqua

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A WALK WITH

DANIEL

DeVITO

Meet the 28-year-old IT consultant who wants to be the next mayor of Vaughan Written By Michael Hill

City Life: You’re a relative unknown going into this election. For those who don’t know you, what are 26

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you hoping to achieve with this campaign?

Daniel DeVito: I graduated from York University [with a political science degree] in 2008. About two years later, I got involved at the municipal level with Maurizio Bevilacqua, the current incumbent. I worked on his campaign, I helped him represent his platform and I did most of his IT work. Around that time I learned the ins and outs of the municipal campaign process.

I’ve always wanted to run at the municipal level to serve my community, so I decided this time around that I would do that with the standpoint that I’m trying to actively involve the youth in this city to take an interest in some of the issues that have been, I would say, relatively prevalent for the last four years. To be honest, I haven’t seen a lot of change, so I would like to take an active interest in accomplishing some of those things, like getting a hospital built.

I feel that my age, and me taking that position, is a very good example to people who are within my age group who maybe have lost interest as a result of a bureaucracy that overshadows them, giving them very limited perspective

or very limited power of voice within the city. So I’m hoping to really change that myth, if you want to call it that, in Vaughan. If that inspires other people in other municipalities within my age group and younger to do so, then all the better for it, I’d say.

City Life: You’re only 28 and it’s not a stretch to suggest that the public may have an issue voting for someone so young for the top seat in the city. How do you overcome that hurdle?

Daniel DeVito: All I can really say is that honesty is my No. 1 policy. It’s hard to trust somebody alone on that, but at the same time, I’ve been a Vaughan citizen all my life. I grew up in Kleinburg, I was raised by the people of Vaughan, so I consider them more like my family than just the people that I live around.

I’m here personally representing the people that raised me and that’s the philosophy that I’m going for. I’m taking care of what I consider my extended family, and the city that has given me everything. So in my opinion, I owe this city everything. That, I would say for me, would be what you should put your trust in when deciding to vote for me or against me. www.citylifemagazine.ca

Photo By Sal Pasqua

T

he municipal election is just around the corner and the people of Vaughan will once again head back to the polls to decide who will lead the city as mayor. You’ll see some familiar names on the ballot, such as Paul Donofrio and Savino Quatela, both last-minute entries into the mayoral race and both of whom lost by a landslide to current incumbent Maurizio Bevilacqua in 2010. Bevilacqua, of course, is running for re-election, and many believe he’s a lock to win again in 2014.

But there’s a fourth name on the ballot, one that is paradoxically the most and least familiar. And no, it’s not Hollywood legend Danny DeVito.

It’s Daniel DeVito, a 28-year-old York University poli-sci graduate, IT consultant and born-and-raised Vaughan native who feels he’s the guy you should tap to take the reins of the city. But who is this plucky candidate and why does he think he’s the man for the job? I took a stroll with DeVito to find out why he’s aiming for the top.

City Life: Before Bevilacqua was elected in 2010, city hall was rife with scandal. But things seem to be in order with him at the helm. Why do you think we need change in the city’s leadership?

Daniel DeVito: I believe that no doubt he’s done a very good job of putting council in order, so to speak. At the same time, I believe, and from what I’ve heard from a number of the voters and the constituents, that it’s a little too quiet. It’s great and all — Vaughan doesn’t have the reputation, council is running smoothly again. So why aren’t we tackling the big issues? Things like the hospital, which we’ve waited for over a decade to get and still we’re hearing one thing after another. Things like congestion in Vaughan. Traffic is horrendous in this city, and I’ve only seen it get worse year by year. I believe that while council, again, maybe has been focused on providing its citizens with a good image of itself ... I think it’s now time for it to be accountable for the issues and why these haven’t been solved.

City Life: Many are already saying that Bevilacqua is

certain to win this election. How do you feel when you hear those things?

Daniel DeVito: I think that that’s a good thing. He’s done his job in getting a faithful following behind him, and he is an honoured politician. He represented Canada fi scally under Jean Chrétien, and if I weren’t running I would probably be voting for him as well.

At the same time, it isn’t discouraging to me to know that there are people that will stand by their decision. That’s actually a good thing; it means that the democratic process is working. For me, running at that level is not so much about competing, it’s about gaining the experience and getting my name out there. I’m good friends with Maurizio — I represented him, he knows my character, and he knows that what I’m doing is to serve the public. It’s not for any other specific reason. That’s really what I want people to know.

City Life: You were born and raised here, so tell me a bit about some of your favourite things to do in the city.

Daniel DeVito: I’m an outdoorsy type of guy, so in my spare time I really love mountain biking through the McMichael Conservation [Collection of Art]. I’ve been doing that for as long as I can remember. I swim at least once a week at the Al Palladini Community Centre. I learned to swim there when I was five years old and I still go there and do laps in the pool. As far as establishments go, I’m kind of a movie buff. So I do like to go to the movies occasionally.

City Life: What’s your favourite film, then?

Daniel DeVito: I would probably have to say The Shawshank Redemption.

City Life: Oh, great movie. Love that scene at the end where Andy escapes and reaches his arms up to the sky in the rain.

Daniel DeVito: Exactly. He’s liberated at the end. Kind of the way I look to liberate Vaughan by opening up everybody’s mind to new possibilities.

City Life: Nice spin.

Municipal Voting Day is October 27, 2014

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BEYOND PAINKILLERS

How yoga can eliminate the need for medication and address the source of physical pain Written By Howard VanEs

N

obody wants to be in pain.

Unfortunately, though, the first treatment option that most western doctors reach for is pain medications.

In Canada alone, some 19 million prescriptions for opioid painkillers were written in 2013, making Canadians among the highest users of prescription opioids in the world.

Yes, they can help relieve pain, but prescription painkillers also come with a host of negative side effects, including digestive problems, decreased sex drive, kidney disease, liver damage and dizziness. Prescription painkillers are also very addictive and the most abused category of drugs; opioidrelated overdose deaths now outnumber 28

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overdose deaths from all illicit drugs, such as heroin and cocaine, combined.

The problem with painkillers is that they can mask the issue, allowing for additional injury to occur, and do not address underlying imbalances. Imagine for a moment that what is causing you pain is a pebble in your shoe. You’re given pain medication and no longer feel the ache of the pebble, but with every step you take you continue to risk further injury. In order to heal, the pebble needs to be removed.

One modality that offers a host of natural ways for dealing with pain is yoga. First, yoga is very good at bringing balance back into the body.

One of the major reasons that injury and pain occur is because of some type

of imbalance in your body; something is out of alignment or has been strained.

If this imbalance can be addressed and relieved then the body can quickly begin to heal on its own. Applied correctly, yoga postures help your body return to balance by putting the bones, muscles and organs where they belong, thereby improving alignment, flexibility and strength.

When an injury exists, there is a tendency to contract muscles around the site in an effort to protect it. This is often accompanied by stress and anxiety, which only heighten sensitivity to the pain. The breathing practices of yoga can help you relax, which helps lower stress levels and loosen the constriction around the injured area.

The result is that your pain levels are lowered and blood can flow more freely to the injured site.

Meditation is another great tool from yoga for relieving pain. The practice helps to focus the mind, distract it from the pain, and like the breathing practices of yoga, helps you relax. What’s more, research suggests that meditation can reduce the transmission of pain signals from the thalamus, a major relay centre in the brain, to higher brain centres where pain signals are interpreted.

In meditation you also get to observe your thoughts and emotions and begin to see how they may or may not be contributing to your pain.

Of course there are times when pain medications are appropriate, and only through consultation with your physician can you properly determine when to use them. With that being said, remember that there are natural alternatives like yoga that can help you shorten the amount of time you use painkillers, reduce the strength and amount of medication you use or eliminate them entirely.

HOWARD VANES GUEST WELLNESS EDITOR Howard VanEs is a yoga instructor and the author of Yoga, The Back Pain Cure, as well as several other health- and wellnessoriented books.

His books can be found on Amazon and on his website: www.booksonhealth.net

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

KLEINBURG

WOODBRIDGE

MAPLE

KING CITY

CITYGUIDE

From pampering spa treatments and flowers to unique gifts and other treats, bring your season to life with Vaughan’s hidden gems SAVOIR FAIRE MEDICAL AND WELLNESS SPA One of Vaughan’s newest beauty havens, Savoir Faire integrates top-of-the-line esthetics with an innovative self-awareness program to ensure each client feels beautiful inside and out.

Monthly special promos available.

8611 Weston Rd., Unit 19, Woodbridge 905-266-1073, www.savoirfairemedspa.com

MAPLE BAKERY It’s the season of gathering around loved ones in celebration, and Maple Bakery wants to sweeten these moments with homemade custom cakes and irresistible artisan desserts, all made from trusted family recipes. Maple Bakery also offers catering services to bring creativity to the table at your next big event.

10040 Keele St., Maple 905-832-2987, www.maplebakery.ca

KLEMENTINE BOUTIQUE This charming boutique is a treasure trove of unique European-inspired gifts, from bejewelled accent pieces from brands like Myka Designs, Elisabetta Ricciardi and Siro — all adorned with real Swarovski crystals — to Mary Frances purses, luxury soaps and perfume from Acca Kappa and bath bombs from Bomb Cosmetics.

19 Queen St. North, Bolton 905-857-7380, www.klementineboutique.com

ALLURE BEAUTY COLLEGE

FIORI BEVILACQUA FLORAL STUDIO As we prepare to snuggle into another frosty winter, let Fiori Bevilacqua beautify your season with its holiday magic. From specialized home décor, including their breathtaking holiday trees, wreaths and urns, to memorable corporate gatherings, the floral designers at Fiori Bevilacqua will ensure your holidays are merry and bright.

A new beauty college has just opened its doors in the heart of Vaughan, and it’s already generating buzz. Founded by two local icons in the makeup and esthetics industries, Allure Beauty College offers a mix of practical and theoretical learning to educate aspiring beauticians in various related fields.

3255 Rutherford Rd., Unit 21, Vaughan 905-660-0339 or 1-855-539-6886 www.allurebeautycollege.ca

361 Carrville Rd., Richmond Hill 905-882-9761

GREAT TO HEAR This season is a time to be thankful for everything. The specialists at Great to Hear are particularly grateful for the health and prosperity of their clients’ hearing and invite you to discover the superior services and products that will allow you and your family to keep the conversation flowing this holiday.

8787 Weston Rd., #7A, Woodbridge 905-850-7997, www.greattohear.ca

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NEW ARRIVALS NOW AVAILABLE AT DESIGNER KIDS WE WEAR

YOU CAN NOW SHOP THE LATEST TRENDS ONLINE! VISIT OUR NEW WEB STORE www.designerkidswear.ca w

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A LITTLE MORE OF

MOORE Shemar Moore is back with his next big project — only this time, he’s stepping both in front and behind the camera

Photo By Gil Tamin

Written By Amanda Storey

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for each other. (Cue a dramatic sound effect à la Y&R).

That’s all that the Internet will share about the film for the time being, but at tonight’s bash everyone on the guest list will be treated to an exclusive preview that promises to reveal more about the self-produced project, which is putting Moore on the map as not just an oncamera staple, but a whiz behind the scenes, too.

Moore’s fans — which he affectionately calls his “baby girls” — have a particularly special relationship with The Bounce Back, since many of them are investors. Moore took an

“LOVE STORIES HAVE BEEN TOLD A MILLION WAYS, AND OBVIOUSLY I’M BIASED, BUT I THINK WE’VE FOUND A MILLION AND ONE” — Shemar Moore

Photos Courtesy of The Bounce Back

t’s a few days into the Toronto International Film Festival and Shemar Moore is running late, but his evening companions don’t seem to mind. About 400 adoring fans, fellow filmmakers and camerawielding media members are content passing the time by chatting with each other about the Criminal Minds star and his self-produced film The Bounce Back as they wait at the edge of the red carpet outside Toronto’s Uniun Nightclub, where tonight Moore and his co-stars host an invite-only wrap party for the flick. Smushed together with their iPhones at the ready in case of any potential selfie-taking opportunities, the crowd faces west, anticipating the moment when a shiny SUV pulls in carrying its tall and talented cargo.

The crowd inches closer to the barricade as Moore and his fellow cast and crew appear. Moore hugs, highfives and autographs his way into the spotlight, where the cameras flash and questions are thrown at him from all angles — something he’s used to by now.

“This actually isn’t too bad,” he says of the commotion. “Whoever’s here, I’m just excited and humbled and nervous and proud, because we’re showing the industry and getting the fans excited that we’ve got this movie, a little train that can.”

Moore, a California native, was deemed drool-worthy after stepping foot on the set of The Young and the Restless in 1994 to portray Malcolm Winters, a role he kept until 2005 when he was cast as Derek Morgan on the successful crime drama Criminal Minds. More than a decade after his acting debut, Moore is now tacking the title “executive producer” to his list of feats as he brings The Bounce Back, a romantic comedy, to life.

The Toronto-filmed production, which is tentatively set to hit theatres in 2015, tells the story of Matthew, a relationship expert on tour promoting his best-selling book when he runs into fellow love guru Kristin (Nadine Velazquez) who challenges his work as phony. Matthew, played by Moore, is taken by even further surprise when he and his opponent unexpectedly fall

Moore is putting his charm to good use in front of and behind the camera by producing and acting in The Bounce Back , the rom-com scheduled to hit theatres in 2015

unconventional route when getting the show on the road, launching an Indiegogo campaign to raise the $500,000 needed to fund the production. By the time the campaign closed in August of 2013, supporters from all over the world had pitched in nearly $700,000, raising 128 per cent of the project’s initial goal.

“I found out first-hand as a producer how hard it is to get a film made,” says Moore, who made a brief return to The Young and the Restless this fall for two special episodes. “But through the help of the fans — and I mean this not just to say the right things and be politically correct — we raised more than what we needed.”

The star’s thankfulness shows. Since his arrival 10 minutes ago, Moore hasn’t turned down a single request for a kiss, embrace or picture, interacting with

every fan, and giving each one a moment of his attention. It’s a kind of humility that isn’t often exercised by Hollywood folk these days, but Moore is bringing humbleness back to Tinseltown not only through his affection for his fans, but by having turned to them as a source of support for his next big thing.

And it is a big thing. For an actor who’s successfully conquered the prime-time realm, he’s taking on the been-there, done-that rom-com — a risk he thinks might be worth taking.

“They’ll compare us to other movies, I’m sure, but The Bounce Back is a different take. It’s going to make you laugh, cry, think and self-reflect,” says Moore. “Love stories have been told a million ways, and obviously I’m biased, but I think we’ve found a million and one.” www.shemarmoore.com Oct/Nov 2014

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WHERE TO

Dine IN VAUGHAN

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

Dimmi Bar & Trattoria

Ristorante L’Antipasto

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140 Woodbridge Ave., Vaughan

8001 Weston Rd., Woodbridge

905-893-1144

905-605-8775

Avlyn Gardens

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905-264-0033

140 Cumberland St., Toronto

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416-975-1100

www.dimmibar.com • Specialties: Great Italian food served by amazing people • Atmosphere: Fun • Dinner for 2: $60 — $85 • Capacity: 68 inside and 57 on the patio • Reservations: Recommended but not necessary • What customers say: Unique restaurant concept that mixes traditional Italian cuisine with a fun, modern vibe. Also the perfect place for private functions

• Specialties: Authentic Italian cuisine made from secret family recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation • Atmosphere: A family-friendly environment that still holds a dateworthy romance • Dinner for 2: $80 — $100 • Capacity: 70 • Reservations: Recommended • What customers say: A perfect spot that makes meals inspiring again!

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www.villaggio-ristorante.ca • Specialties: Mediterranean and Italian cuisine with a modern twist and an extensive wine list • Atmosphere: Warm and inviting with friendly service and fine dining • Dinner for 2: $120 • Capacity: 100 • Reservations: Recommended on weekends • What customers say: Amazing food, great service and beautiful décor make Villaggio the perfect destination for a quick, savoury getaway

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Book early for your Holiday party NOW BOOKING COMMUNIONS & CONFIRMATIONS

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A DV E R TO R I A L

DO YOU WANT TO SEE A POSITIVE CHANGE IN YOUR CHILD?

PURCHASING AN INVESTMENT PROPERTY Dominion Lending’s Sarah Colucci shares three tips to help you become a savvy real estate investor

Our daughter has been attending Canada’s Best Karate for the last five years and the staff and members have become like family to us. The CBK program has provided our daughter the opportunity to grow and develop essential life skills such as self confidence, respect, focus and determination.

The school has instilled a sense of “the value of hard work,” which has carried over into other areas of her life like her school work.

We are proud to be members of Canada’s Best Karate.

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2. Make sure your credit score is strong Borrowers are usually surprised at how the simplest oversight can cause their score to plummet. Ensure your credit cards are at least 30 per cent below their limit. Also, don’t take out new credit or apply for credit cards or other forms of credit before getting a mortgage, as this can reduce your score. Old credit is a lot better than new credit.

3. Research the property you are buying Before purchasing a rental property, ensure the numbers add up. Have an appraiser provide you with the property’s fair market value. Determine all costs of the property, including renovation, mortgage payments and maintenance, and make sure that you could carry the costs of the property in the absence of rental income.

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POLITICAL

WAR STORIES Former provincial politician Greg Sorbara gives City Life early access to his memoir The Battlefield of Ontario Politics and reflects on his time on the frontlines WRITTEN BY MICHAEL HILL PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRISTOPH STRUBE

T

he darkest hour of Greg Sorbara’s political career came swiftly and without warning.

It was Oct. 11, 2005. Sorbara, then Ontario’s minister of finance, had just wrapped up a meeting with Paul Beeston and Dr. Paul Garfinkel, respectively the chairman of the board and the president and CEO of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, who were lobbying for funding for their organization.

He had just left his office in the Frost Building and was heading toward the legislature in Queen’s Park when Globe and Mail reporter Karen Howlett approached him. She didn’t waste time. The RCMP, she said, had raided the offices of the Sorbara Group, his family’s development business, as part

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Greg Sorbara, former MPP of Vaughan and minister of finance of Ontario, at his Richmond Hill home

of an investigation into Royal Group Technologies, a public company of which Sorbara was once a member of the board.

“Did you know your name is mentioned in the search warrant?”

Howlett asked.

He didn’t.

“I resigned my seat on the board of Royal Group Technologies two years ago when I became minister of finance,” he said, “so there’s no way this could involve me.”

But it did.

Sorbara had been pulled into an RCMP criminal investigation, one that could potentially snuff out his political life and forever mar his reputation as a public figure. That evening, he met

“IN THE MORNING I AM THE SECOND MOST POWERFUL POLITICIAN IN THE PROVINCE, AND BY THE EVENING I’M OUT” — Greg Sorbara

with Peter Wilkinson, his chief of staff, to discuss options. There was only one course of action: Sorbara would have to resign.

“It was certainly a painful decision,” Sorbara says, reminiscing about the worst day of his life in Ontario politics.

“In the morning I am the second most powerful politician in the province, and by the evening I’m out.”

It’s a cool, overcast day in August as Sorbara, 68, reflects on his days in the Ontario legislature from his Richmond Hill home. The “Royal Issue,” as he calls it, is the jumping off point of his new book The Battlefield of Ontario Politics, a memoir that chronicles Sorbara’s and his family’s life and gives a behindthe-scenes look at the inner workings of the world of politics in the province.

I’m meeting with the now-retired MPP and former minister of finance to discuss this new book, which isn’t due www.citylifemagazine.ca

out for another two months, but we’re fortunate enough to get our hands on a revised manuscript before it hits the press.

Sorbara explains he’s worked on the Battlefield project for the better part of the past 12 months, essentially since he officially retired and left his position as chair of the Liberal election campaign a year after he stepped down as MPP of Vaughan.

“I talked to a few friends and thought, ‘You know what? We don’t have enough in print on Ontario’s political history,’” Sorbara says of his motivation for the book. “Having been there for almost 30 years I thought maybe it’s up to me to add something to the analysis of Ontario politics.”

He begins Battlefield with the Royal issue because it was such a pivotal point of his life. It was a highly publicized white-collar criminal investigation over conflict of interest regarding Royal’s purchase of an industrial building.

Sorbara left his position on Royal’s board before being named the minister of finance in 2003, so he knew he was innocent, that the RCMP was just gunning for a high-profile target. But accusations can be just as damaging as verdicts and it was a struggle to keep his head above water.

“For the first month I thought this would be the defining issue,” he says.

“Every story that might ever be written about me would start with, ‘Greg Sorbara, who had to step down as finance minister because of an RCMP criminal investigation.’ I thought that would be the frame within which all stories were told.”

For eight months Sorbara lived with that burden weighing on his mind, but he would persevere. In the spring of 2006, he would find redemption when his name was finally cleared. The release of anxiety when he was given the good news was like a ball and chain being unshackled from his neck. “I’ve never felt anything like that,” he says, “and truth be told I could not stop crying for a half an hour.”

Sorbara is unquestioningly a captivating speaker, something he no doubt honed over his 25 years in the legislature. He’s personable and charismatic, constantly shifting the Oct/Nov 2014

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tempo and rhythm of his voice, talking he cares about issues and he is the kind with his hands and moving his body to of guy who is really easy to connect the flow of words. It all adds an element with,” Paikin adds. of drama and theatrics, like he’s right Dalton McGuinty shares this back up on the grandstand, speaking to sentiment. “I liked Greg from the scores of onlookers. moment I met him,” says the 24th It’s no surprise that Sorbara was premier of Ontario. “I always found his so successful in the public light. Love energy, his creativity and his youthful him or hate him, as so many right- idealism remarkable.” leaning voters did, there’s no denying In the late ’80s, Ontarians began the achievement of his career. When falling out of love with the Liberals. he tossed his hat into the political ring in 1985, he was part of the Liberal election campaign that dethroned the Progressive Conservatives for the first time in 42 years. Once elected, he became the first Italian-Canadian to be appointed to the Ontario cabinet and was given two portfolios in his rookie year as both the minister of colleges and universities and the minister of skills development. Before he served as the finance minister of Ontario — which amounts to being a four-star general in the political world — he was the campaign chair for the Dalton McGuinty-led Sorbara returns Liberals during their string a serve on his of election victories in 2003, personal tennis court 2007 and 2011 — a feat the Grits hadn’t accomplished in over 100 years.

That displeasure amounted to the Steve Paikin, Canadian journalist, Liberals being “thrashed,” as McGuinty anchor of TVO’s The Agenda and puts it, in the 1990 general election, personal friend of Sorbara, believes as the party lost 59 seats. McGuinty that Sorbara was an indispensable and Sorbara were two of the few player during McGuinty’s historic run survivors of the left, and negativity as premier of Ontario. “It’s probably permeated throughout the camp. not going too far to say he was the chief Sorbara, however, saw the silver lining. architect of those three consecutive “Greg’s a never give-up, never give-in victories,” he says. kind of guy,” McGuinty explains. This Paikin still remembers meeting situation presented plenty of exciting Sorbara back in 1985 after he won opportunities, “and he brought this the seat for the Vaughan riding. It irrepressible optimism into the room was obvious that Sorbara was raw and wherever he went.” and inexperienced, but the recently Thirteen years later, when the elected MPP had a “new energy” and Liberals would regain power, McGuinty dynamic quality to him — an attitude feels that as minister of finance, Sorbara emblematic of the new wave of Liberals wielded a responsible approach to his in the ’80s. “The fact of the matter is fiscal policies. As party president and he’s a terrific speaker, he loves people, chair of the Liberals general election 38

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campaign in 2003, Sorbara helped Liberals be “true Liberals,” meaning he brought “a balanced, thoughtful, progressive plan to Ontario politics” that benefitted infrastructure, schools, health care and the disadvantaged, says McGuinty. For McGuinty, Sorbara was a colleague, a mentor and a friend.

Sorbara’s energy was undoubtedly key to why so many gravitated toward him during his career. He’s charismatic and friendly, with a warm, fatherly quality about him. Even if you’re a diehard conservative or NDP advocate, Sorbara has an effortless affability that is hard not to like. He speaks openly about his life, making it feel like you’ve known each other your whole lives.

In Battlefield he’s equally as open, writing candidly about his family history. When his father, Sam, moved from Calabria to Canada in 1925, for example, he lived in real poverty in Guelph, Ont. Sam’s father was an alcoholic and his mother passed only a few years after he arrived.

Being the eldest child, Sam was thrust into the role of surrogate parent. During the Great Depression, Sam would be forced to do whatever he had to to survive, which included bootlegging alcohol.

Sam would spend three years in prison for passing counterfeit money — a charge he was officially pardoned for 30 years later.

Sorbara’s personal upbringing was a complete contrast to his father’s.

He grew up in Toronto with a “silver spoon lodged firmly in my mouth,” he writes, never having to worry where his next meal came from. He credits that life to his father’s success with the Sorbara Group. In his teens, Sorbara considered joining the priesthood, but celibacy didn’t quite appeal to him.

He spent four unsuccessful years at the University of Toronto, where he “quickly learned to skip classes” and “avoid exams.” Counsellors suggested that perhaps business wasn’t right for him; maybe social work was more up his alley. In ’67 he joined the Company www.citylifemagazine.ca

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39

of Young Canadians as a volunteer and, along with a band of other “young radicals bent on changing the world,” he was assigned to work with dropouts in Vancouver, B.C. It was during these rebellious days that he would meet his future wife, Kate. It was love at first sight. “I just remember thinking, ‘That’s the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with,’” he says. “It was a startling realization.”

Of course, a book titled The Battlefield of Ontario Politics certainly wouldn’t be complete without action from the frontlines, and Sorbara dedicates plenty of room to outlining the struggles and strategies of election campaigns and overcoming political obstacles without shying away from the times when promises had to be broken, including the introduction of the HST and Ontario Health Premium, two tax reforms that drew the ire of the opposition and the public alike.

“It was a rough period,” Sorbara says of implementing the OPH, which came only nine months after promising not to raise taxes in the 2003 election. It was the toughest decision he made during his time as the minister of finance, but with the $5.6-billion deficit left by the Tories, the Liberals needed more funds to follow through with their commitments and balance the budget.

“We knew we had to do it if we were going to have enough revenue to deliver on the promises that we had made in health care and education.”

Perhaps one of the most interesting moments of the book is Sorbara’s breakdown of the Oakville and Mississauga gas plant cancellations of 2011, a $1-billion scandal that spurred McGuinty’s resignation and brought on an attack from the opposition that included a contempt motion at energy minister Chris Bentley, allegations that political staffers had deleted crucial emails regarding the plant cancellations and a criminal investigation by the Ontario Provincial Police.

Sorbara defends the Liberals and McGuinty’s decision to close both plants, arguing that the opposition supported cancelling both gas plants.

When it was announced that the Oakville plant was to be cancelled in October 2010, a year before the 2011 40

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Over Sorbara’s 25-year career he would experience the highs and lows of the modern Liberal party, including chairing the campaign of Dalton McGuinty’s three consecutive election wins in 2003, 2007 and 2011

“THE WHOLE BUDGET WAS DIRECTED AT HELPING THOSE WHO REALLY NEED GOVERNMENT TO HELP THEM, AND I WAS VERY PROUD OF THAT. AS A LIBERAL, THOSE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT” — Greg Sorbara

election, “there was no human cry from the opposition,” he says. “They supported it. They were onside with the decision. It was a non-story.” Tim Hudak, the PC’s leader, even vowed to close the plants if elected.

“Politics can be a very vicious business,” Sorbara says. “Because the government was in a minority situation, the opposition parties decided to exploit the gas plant closures as effectively as they could. I give them credit: they did a very good job of developing

a mythology and then putting that mythology before the public. And the public ate it up like crazy.”

But, he adds, the general election is always the “cleansing element” for all political scandals. “And the general election that gave Kathleen [Wynne] a majority cleansed all of that negativity that the opposition parties were trying to throw at us.”

But not everything in politics is all war and metaphorical bloodshed. There are those times when the long days, sleepless nights and hard-fought battles result in something worth being proud of. For Sorbara, that’s the 2007 budget.

That budget, he explains, was geared toward the most vulnerable populations in Ontario. It included increased WSIB premiums and resources to legal aid, but the centrepiece was the Ontario Child Benefit. Over five years, the OCB gave more than $2 billion of financial support to low-income families to provide for their children. “The whole budget was directed at helping those who really need government to help them,” says Sorbara, “and I was very proud of that. As a Liberal, those things are important.”

For the past hour we’ve gone through the highs and lows of his political career and chatted briefly about his future: about being named chancellor of York University, his ongoing work to raise money for the Vaughan hospital and about becoming a hotelier (they recently purchased and are restoring the Royal Hotel in Picton, Ont.).

But looking back, I ask, what is the most valuable lesson you’ve learned?

“The best lesson?” he says, pausing to let the thought percolate. “I think the best lesson is that it’s important to persevere, to keep on toiling at the mission that you’re on.”

He uses the example of the subway extension to York University. He first proposed it in 1986. It will open in 2016, 30 years later.

“You can’t allow yourself to be overcome by adversary or missteps or setbacks.”

And Sorbara should know: it hasn’t steered him wrong yet.

The Battlefield of Ontario Politics will be available this November www.citylifemagazine.ca

www.citylifemagazine.ca

Oct/Nov 2014

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A DV E R TO R I A L

Owner of Integrity Fitness Paul Walker has over 15 years of experience professionally training women

INTEGRITY FITNESS EXPANDS WORKOUT SERVICES

The renowned fitness studio unveils two new offerings for the busy modern woman

P

aul Walker knows that the everyday demands of life can make it difficult for the modern woman to squeeze fitness into her routine.

“It’s assumed that because women are busy, they’re lazy. That’s not the case,” says Walker, the owner of Integrity Fitness, a leading women’s fitness centre in Vaughan. Many don’t have 60 minutes to train, 20-30 minutes to travel to and from the gym and another 30 minutes to clean up after. “That’s two hours out of their already hectic day.”

To better accommodate his members, Walker has expanded the West Vaughan Integrity Fitness to house an all-new fitness solution, METCON30.

METCON30 offers world-class circuit workouts designed to spark the metabolism and burn fat in short 30-minute sessions, all for an incredible price of just $44 per month.

Trainers will lead small, intimate groups of members through half-hour sessions that combine multi-joint compound movements such as tire flips, kettle bell swings and jump boxes with aerobic activities. These cutting-edge exercises

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push muscles hard, and right when they reach their limit, members switch to vigorous cardio to maintain an elevated heart rate while muscles recover. A brief break follows before the circuit is repeated multiple times. The result is quick, accessible and affordable workouts that burn up to 300 calories per session.

Walker explains that METCON30 workouts will be offered six days a week, with three sessions from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and three sessions from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. New circuits will also be implemented weekly. Sessions will be intense and give members a workout they expect from his awardwinning facility, but because they’re only a half hour, they’re also short, sweet and effective. “They’re over, just when you’re crying out for mercy,” says Walker, who’s been professionally training women for over 15 years. “You’re in and out in 30 minutes, satisfied that you did something really special for you and your body.”

METCON30 is ideal for young and new fitness enthusiasts, post-pregnancy moms, women with busy lifestyles who want to maximize their time in the gym, those who love Integrity Fitness boot

camps but find them too intense or just the average woman trying to stay healthy.

Walker is launching METCON30 this October alongside his new Supportive Cardio & Fitness Boutique, which allows women to workout independently in a state-of-the-art studio but also gives them access to a certified personal trainer that can offer guidance and coaching.

The Fitness Boutique lets members train the way they want, but has the added edge of professional instruction to give further motivation and increased results. “We give you people, not machines,” says Walker.

“METCON30 is easy, affordable and it works,” Walker concludes. “It’s made for the busy woman, not the lazy woman.”

METCON30 is available through membership or on a per-session basis.

Book your session by contacting Integrity Fitness by phone or through its mobile app.

Integrity Fitness 8000 Hwy 27, Unit 1, Woodbridge, Ont. L4H 0A8 905-851-7722 paul@integrityfitness.ca www.integrityfitness.ca www.citylifemagazine.ca

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Oct/Nov 2014

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Global News broadcaster Susan Hay sits on the porch of her rural Newmarket home

the

SIMPLE LIFE S

usan Hay marches through a field of knee-high grass in pursuit of one of her three Norwegian elkhounds. An unforgiving sun beats down as the veteran Global News broadcaster tries to round up her dogs before they wander too deep into her expansive 20-acre horse farm. “Tiko!” she calls, attempting to coax the enormously furry canine, the middle and craftiest of her pack, back toward the gate and out of the pale green meadow. Tiko, unfortunately, is far more interested in roving; sniffing out whatever it is he’s sniffing. But Hay, in blue jeans, a white T-shirt and tartan Wellingtons, remains undeterred by either the heat or her carefree animal.

To say this scene was unexpected is an understatement. Those who tune in to Global’s nightly News Hour will be more accustomed to seeing Hay in urban settings and adorned with more professional attire, a blazer and collared 44

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Global News broadcaster Susan Hay opens up about her life north of the city WRITTEN BY MICHAEL HILL PHOTOGRAPHY BY JESSE MILNS

shirt perhaps, something that evokes “downtown” as opposed to, well, this.

“A lot of people think they know you because they’ve watched you for so long,” Hay explains later from her farmhouse living room. “I think I resonate with people, so I think they think they know what Susan Hay is all about, and they have a pretty good idea, but there’s still a lot they don’t know.”

Hay has been a fixture of Global Television for the past 25 years. Her sandy locks, infectious smile and sharp broadcasting have seen her transition from weather presenter to host, anchor and producer of her own segment, “Making a Difference.” But despite her citywide beat, it’s the quiet and modest

life here among thick drunken trees and buzzing insects that she prefers.

“What I love is it’s very private,” she explains of the expansive and lush property, which she shares with her partner, Randy Marshall, a veterinarian who she’s been with for the past seven years. Hay, who was born and raised in the smaller northern city of North Bay, moved to the Newmarket area two years ago when the pair decided to merge lives. It’s a stark contrast to her former life in the city, but it’s one that helps her balance the conspicuousness of her career in the public eye.

“We really have a full life, but it’s a simple life,” she explains. Morning coffee on the front porch; evening walks around the property; hitting golf balls in the spacious meadow; cooking meals with Marshall and her stepdaughter Brooke (being a stepmother, she notes, has been a wonderful experience, one that’s made their family closer); weekends at their island cottage on www.citylifemagazine.ca

Hay shares the modest farmhouse with her partner, Randy Marshall, a veterinarian she’s been with for seven years

“SURE, I LOVE NICE THINGS, BUT FOR ME IT’S ABOUT THE LOVE IN THE HOUSE”

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Georgian Bay, where they’ll be Friday to Sunday no matter the weather — it’s a humble existence that she’s come to appreciate.

“I just love to make a house a home,” she says. “I don’t think I’m Susan Hay from Global Television. I’m just Susan Hay. The real me is I want to provide and support my family. I don’t mean financially. I just mean I want a nice home, a comfortable home. Sure, I love nice things, but for me it’s about the love in the house. It’s about wanting to come home and to be with these people that are now in my life.

“And just making sure we’re raising Brooke in a way that she knows it’s not about how you look, it’s how big your heart is,” she adds.

It’s this optimism and compassion that has really connected with audiences over the years. For more than a decade, Hay’s bread and butter has been her personal segment “Making a Difference.”

Originally titled “Susan Hay’s Heart of the City,” which ran as a weekly halfhour show when it was launched in 2001, “Making a Difference” focuses on, as she likes to say, “ordinary people doing extraordinary things.” Running during Global’s evening News Hour, these features uncover the inspirational stories of regular Canadians making a difference at a grassroots level. She researches, writes, hosts and produces every segment. More recent profiles have featured organizations such as Sketch, a community arts initiative that provides at-risk youths with opportunities for expression and growth; the annual Unionville Lavender Fair, which raises awareness for Alzheimer’s disease; and a Habitat for Humanity project that gave a family of 14 with 5 children with disabilities a big enough home to house them all.

Hay explains that during the Habitat for Humanity project she asked the mother of the family what was the one thing she wanted when they finally moved into the new home, and the mother replied: a table big enough to seat everyone, something they were never able to do before. “There is so much love in this family,” Hay says. “So I found a designer that got somebody to donate a table for 14 and we surprised them with it.” It was such a touching 46

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moment, Hay just couldn’t hold back the tears.

Hay has supported numerous charities over her career, including Reach for the Rainbow, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada and World Vision, all causes she’s supported for over a decade. The most significant moments of that work were three journeys she made to Africa with World Vision in the 2000s. In 2003, she travelled to Mozambique

efforts in 2009. “I’m lucky enough to have a platform with a voice that people listen to, so I can speak on behalf of those who can’t speak for themselves.”

And it’s those experiences that Hay will always treasure. “When you’re on your last days in life, those are the memories that are going to come flooding back — love and family and those special moments.”

Hay celebrated 25 years with Global this past May, but she’s still looking

“WHEN YOU’RE ON YOUR LAST DAYS IN LIFE, THOSE ARE THE MEMORIES THAT ARE GOING TO COME FLOODING BACK — LOVE AND FAMILY AND THOSE SPECIAL MOMENTS”

Hay balances on the wooden fence surrounding the vast field on her 20-acre property. Moments later she would be chasing Tiko, one of her three Norwegian elkhounds, as he went for a run through the knee-high grass

to help children orphaned by the AIDS epidemic. It was also where she sponsored her first child, Assiva. In 2005, Hay made a similar trip to Kenya and in 2006 she ventured to Tanzania to build schools. During that time in Tanzania, she helped save two sick little girls, one with malaria and the other with walking pneumonia, by taking them to a hospital for treatment.

Her time in Africa resulted in a one-hour documentary that aired in the United States and Canada and won her a Telly award for excellence in broadcasting. “I think my work in Africa really brought everything home for me,” says Hay, who received a Gemini Award for her humanitarian

to the future. Her plans? “I would like my own show,” she says. She explains that she’d love to do a cooking show where she interviews chefs or iconic Canadians while they prepare and eat a meal together. It’s an interesting idea, one that puts a unique spin on the standard interview.

But what would it be called?

“Simply Delicious With Susan Hay,” she says with a smile.

Is that locked in?

“That’s going to be locked in,” she laughs. “I’m going to throw it out there.”

So you should buy the domain name, then?

“I think so. Because I’m simple and I want it to be simply delicious.” www.citylifemagazine.ca

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THE SAD CL WN

A psychologist’s take on the Robin Williams tragedy WRITTEN BY JUDY KURIANSKY

N

ot long ago I encountered the exceptionally talented comedian and actor Robin Williams in a New York City restaurant. In his typical high-energy, seemingly casual way, he said to me: “Oh, Dr. Judy, I need a psychologist.”

“Call me anytime,” I quipped back.

Half of me thought he was just jokingly relating to me by what I do, but the other half thought he was being truthful, given what I knew about his history of emotional issues.

I didn’t hear from him, and now, after news of his tragic suicide, I’m painfully aware of how serious his remark was.

All too often a cry for help is masked, or unheeded.

According to his publicist, Williams was battling severe depression. Williams’ wife, Susan Schneider, confirmed this, and added that he was also experiencing anxiety and early stages of Parkinson’s disease. Though she insisted he was now sober, Williams had a long history of addiction, from which the addict is always in recovery.

A trio of problems — addiction, depression and a physical disease — can certainly add up to overwhelming hopelessness and drastic responses to

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end the pain, even if research doesn’t prove that patients with Parkinson’s are any more suicidal than those without the disorder. Yet, for a performer like Williams, who banks on fluid speech and exaggerated movement, facing such a diagnosis might be too much to bear.

Wisely, Schneider made a plea for troubled souls to seek help: “It is our hope in the wake of Robin’s tragic passing, that others will find the strength to seek the care and support they need to treat whatever battles they are facing so they may feel less afraid.” Although Williams had checked in at a Minnesota rehab centre and was receiving treatment before his death, his stay may have been too brief.

Despite marvelling at Williams’ lightning-paced ad-libbing, the psychologist side of me always worried that his over-the-top energy belied a darker side and a serious underlying condition. In my view, warning signs were evident even eight years ago in an ABC News interview with Diane Sawyer when Williams referred to standing on a precipice and hearing a quiet little voice say “Jump.”

Williams’ stream of consciousness and free association were intrinsic to his comic genius. But such over-the-

top talk is also symptomatic of cocaine use, to which Williams admitted in the 1980s. In the psychology profession, there is another possibility, where symptoms of “pressured speech” and “word salad” indicate a manic state.

When combined with reported depressive bouts, the condition is called bipolar.

The term “bipolar” — which in recent years replaced the diagnostic term “manic depression” — is characterized by severe highs and lows and disabling seesaw swings of moods, energy and activity. People in a manic phase have so much fun and are so entertaining they don’t want to dull that with medication that would even out their mood and moderate their behaviour. Yet, the thrill of great highs extracts a high price when the opposite painful pole of depression hits. Suicide is always a danger.

The question I’m always asked is: Why would anyone who seemed to have so much to live for want to end their life? The answer is severalfold.

For one, no one knows the private pain another person suffers, even if they seem to have it all. Failure at work, rejection in love and other fears can trigger deep desolation that leads to the desire to escape it all and end the pain. www.citylifemagazine.ca

Making matters worse, impulses can be totally out of one’s control when ruled by chemical imbalances in the brain, which occur with drug and alcohol abuse or certain mental and physical conditions. Another problem is that the person suffering may hide his/her true self.

Psychological studies show that comedians often use humour to cover underlying despair. One survey of 532 comedians found they have a much lower ability than ordinary people to focus and control their moods and a much higher rate of impulsivity and unusual experiences. British researchers attributed these results to creative talent, but also associated them with personality conditions.

More than five million people are estimated to similarly suffer from bipolar disorder, including celebrities Carrie Fisher (Star Wars) and Catherine Zeta-Jones (The Mask of Zorro). Those with bipolar disorder can lead productive lives — with treatment.

An effective ongoing “maintenance” plan includes a combination of “talk therapy” and medication to stabilize moods and behaviour. Education about treatment, prevention, early diagnosis and the need for more funding for research and programs is crucial.

In playing a psychiatrist in the film Good Will Hunting, Williams advises Matt Damon’s troubled character to taste love, happiness and life instead of using defence mechanisms. He calls the Will Hunting character a “genius,” empathizes that “no one could possibly understand the depths of you” and advises him to talk about who he really is. The celluloid Williams could have been talking about himself. Had he taken this wisdom to heart, he might still be alive and with us today.

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JUDY KURIANSKY GUEST PSYCOLOGY EDITOR Judy Kuriansky is an internationally known clinical psychologist and relationship counsellor and the chair of the Psychology Coalition of NGOs at the United Nations.

She is also a TV and radio personality and the author of many books, including The Complete Idiot’s Guide to a Healthy Relationship. www.DrJudy.com

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How a young girl’s heroic fight against cancer has become her legacy

SARAH’S

HOPE Written By Simona Panetta Photography By Jesse Milns

T

his is a story of a child’s losing battle with cancer. It’s also a story about how I failed her.

On a grey September evening, the rain softly washing the streets, I weave through city traffic toward the Watkin family residence, the fastfalling dark of a new season receding in my rearview mirror. Shifting into park and shutting the car door, I collect my thoughts with a succession of deep breaths before walking up to the home, a typical house on a typical street in a typical suburban neighbourhood.

Everything is as it should be. Only it’s not.

“Hi, I’m Mitch!” says seven-yearold Sarah Watkin, eyes twinkling with little-girl mischief. “Hi, I’m Sarah!” parodies the real Mitch Krystantos, her towering best friend and co-conspirator.

The two collapse in a fit of laughter at my bewildered expression before Sarah races off to the playroom, her younger sister, Elizabeth, and the plush brown teddy bear I brought for her in tow.

Sarah is the classic first-born, a natural leader, whose inherited silliness and spirit shine through the contents of framed family photos hung disparately throughout the home: 52

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Sarah and Elizabeth with sudsy smiles in the bathtub, parents Leah and Mark giggling in bed with their babies, Sarah’s cropped golden hair peeking through a gilded crown.

“She’s fun and energetic. She loves life, she loves to play,” explains mother Leah Watkin, 37, with nine-month baby boy Matthew tucked safely in the crook of her arm.

“She likes worms and bugs and junk in the mud, but at the same time she likes pretty dresses and high heels,” adds father Mark Watkin, 39. His winning smile belies the pained sadness pooling in both their eyes. “She’s the perfect girl.”

The three of us now sit facing each other on the couch in the family room, the TV left on to muffle our voices.

We speak cautiously and sometimes in whispers, eyes often darting over our shoulders. Sarah suddenly bursts into the room, her Minnie Mouse dress hanging off her lanky 54-pound frame.

She quickly zeroes in on the stranger in her home, who is teetering between empathy and journalistic objectivity. As if sensing something amiss, she shoots me a quizzical look and asks who I am and why I’m here, and will you please www.citylifemagazine.ca

Sarah nestles in her parents’ embrace at their Thornhill home. Despite everything cancer has taken from them, the Watkin family continues to smile and display remarkable courage

www.citylifemagazine.ca

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days of distinctively cold, hard drops in their stomachs whenever Sarah’s blood counts came back dangerously low. “We do whatever it takes to make every day a happy day. But once the kids fall asleep we look at each other and do a lot of crying, there’s a lot of denial, a lot of disbelief, a lot of ‘how is this happening to us?’” says Mark. An interminable silence fills the room.

In October 2012, Sarah was first diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a life-threatening form of

Photo By Mark Watkin

come play with me? Sarah has hardly any friends her age anymore, the breach to living in and out of hospitals for so long. Before a half-truth stammers out my mouth Mitch, 46 — a former volunteer at SickKids who met his forever sidekick in the oncology unit — acts on his feet with an irresistible offer of hide-and-go-seek. The unspoken truth is that Sarah’s cancer is back.

The elephant in the room is large and overpowering, but we do our best to tiptoe around its encroaching shadow.

This photo posted on the Sarah’s Drive for Hope Facebook page in January 2014 shows Sarah — who was undergoing radiation and chemotherapy in preparation for a half-match bone-marrow transplant — lending strength to mom Leah, whose stem cells from her bone marrow were being directed into her peripheral blood for Sarah’s procedure

Mark is now a crackerjack comedian, disguising his feelings behind an impermeable wall of witticisms, while Leah’s convincingly calm and collected front helps to distribute the weight of their agony. Yet the boiled, heavy edges of heartbreak are conspicuous, blurred only by one-liners and the ear-to-ear smiles of parents doing everything they can to rise above the quicksand crumbling at their feet.

“What’s important to our family is to keep smiling, to have joy,” says Leah.

“We can’t fall apart in front of our kids because they deserve more than that, they deserve to be normal.”

The couple hardly take their eyes off each other as the words escape their mouths, a language of their lives that is foreign to me: sleepless nights and poor prognoses, months of wracking fear; 54

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blood cancer that progresses rapidly without treatment. While classmates her age settled into senior kindergarten, Sarah was rushed to the Hospital for Sick Children, her health deteriorating faster than her parents could even absorb her name and the word “cancer” in the same sentence. From that moment on, the happy, normal life Leah and Mark had built for their young family quickly began falling around them.

What followed was a whirling vortex of cold reality and upheaval: Mark immediately took a leave of absence as a high school teacher to relocate his family from Thornhill to Toronto, where Sarah was hospitalized at SickKids for close to six months.

Living out of a condo within walking distance of the hospital — with rent hovering just below $3,000 a month —

was an astronomical price but a small one to pay to be next to their ailing daughter. Next came a barrage of blood and platelet transfusions, and rounds of intense chemotherapy to obliterate the cancerous cells coursing virtually everywhere in Sarah’s blood system.

According to the Canadian Cancer Society website, leukemia develops when blood stem cells in the bone marrow change and no longer grow or behave normally. In AML, these abnormal cells, or leukemic cells, develop quickly and suddenly, crowding out normal blood cells and preventing them from transporting oxygen and carbon dioxide to and from the tissues and staving off infection.

Dr. Johann Hitzler, Sarah’s treating oncologist at the Hospital for Sick Children, elaborates on the perplexity of this rare and aggressive blood cancer.

At least 250 Canadian children are newly diagnosed each year with a form of leukemia. AML accounts for about 15 per cent of childhood leukemia diagnoses, with the chance of diseasefree survival sitting at around 55 to 60 per cent — significantly lower than the success rate of 80 to 90 per cent for children diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). “When treatment does not work and the cancer comes back — the AML shows a relapse — then the chance of success becomes much smaller. At this stage, children with AML frequently will not be treated with chemotherapy but with a stem cell transplant,” he explains.

Sarah’s first relapse surfaced during treatment in December 2012; two months later the Watkins readied themselves for a possible stem cell transplant by shedding light on her story through a Facebook page called Sarah’s Drive for Hope. At that point, no one in her family, including sister Elizabeth, a toddler, and baby brother Matthew, whose cord blood was tested after he was born, came up as suitable matches.

Documenting her ups and downs on Facebook with status updates and photos of Sarah smiling through the bad days, Leah and Mark held on to hope as they waited for Sarah’s stem cell match to materialize. With the help of the Canadian Blood Services’ www.citylifemagazine.ca

Leah and Mark Watkin bring a sense of normalcy and positive energy to the lives of their children: Sarah, 7, Matthew, nine months, and two-and-a-half-year-old Elizabeth

“

WHAT’S IMPORTANT TO OUR FAMILY IS TO KEEP SMILING, TO HAVE JOY. WE CAN’T FALL APART IN FRONT OF OUR KIDS BECAUSE THEY DESERVE MORE THAN THAT

“

— Leah Watkin

One Match Stem Cell and Marrow Network program, a total of 17 stem cell and blood donor drives were held in Sarah’s name. Sadly, no match was ever found for her. Having first heard about Sarah in the early part of 2013, an overwhelming wave of guilt and shame washes over me — I had never thought to step forward as a donor. Could I have been the one to save her? The realization of my diffusion of responsibility, of being a bystander, gnaws at my conscience for days.

When Sarah relapsed for the second time in October 2013, it dealt a decisive blow to the family. “We thought we won, we thought we won the first round, you know. You fight Mike Tyson, and you [really] fight Mike Tyson, and you win the championship, you hold the belt, you get out of the ring and go home and then a few months later, Mike Tyson www.citylifemagazine.ca

wants to fight with you again. That for me was the hardest part,” says Mark.

For Leah it was the first day they were told Sarah had AML after filling a prescription for strep throat. “It felt like my chest was being ripped out; my body just exploded. I tried everything I could do to keep my pieces together.”

Time was running out. “[Sarah’s] leukemia was extremely aggressive,” says Dr. Maarten Egeler, medical director of bone marrow transplantation at SickKids. “To give her any chance, we wanted to give her a transplant with ‘new’ stem cells. But as we all know, medicine is not black and white.” Because there was no family match or unrelated donor worldwide for Sarah available, the Dutch doctor in the field of stem cell transplantation and histiocytoses put Sarah on the map to haploidentical transplantation — a half-match bone-marrow transplant more often performed in Europe.

Because children get half of their human leukocyte antigens (HLA) from their parents, Leah and Mark were both tested to identify Sarah’s best half-match. Leah’s cells proved to have greater compatibility with Sarah’s to fight cancer on a cellular level. With no hesitation, Leah donated the stem cells from her bone marrow to Sarah in January 2014. “You feel achy for a few days but I’d do it again and again, for people I don’t even know.”

The chance of a cure for leukemia drops dramatically once it returns after transplant, more so if it comes back

multiple times and very shortly after transplant.

Less than five months after the halfmatch bone-marrow transplant, the unstoppable, angry cancer in Sarah returned for the third time, sparking an outpouring of support for the family.

“When you get a cancer diagnosis, as bad, as terrible as it is, you do see rainbows. We have seen kindness from strangers you wouldn’t believe. The bright side to things is that we have seen amazing things on the cancer floor, in the community, around the country.

I have faith in the human spirit, I do,” says Mark.

The Watkins then embarked on a variety of adventures that “packed 10 years’ worth of summers into one,” with a trip to Disney World, a visit to Toronto’s Ripley Aquarium and hanging out with lemurs and an adult tiger at the Bowmanville Zoo among the highlights. Sarah even got to walk down the aisle with her father at her uncle’s summer wedding, which was quickly arranged to ensure her presence.

“We were terrified because they told us she had weeks left, so we didn’t know if she would make it. Every once in a while you have a night you don’t want to end, and that wedding was one of them,” says Mark.

Sarah is now living as normal a life as she can at home with her family and receives supportive treatment twice a week at SickKids. Leah and Mark praise the hospital’s doctors and nurses who continue to fight for cures and the best treatments for all children fighting leukemia. Although Sarah’s condition is stable for now, she continues to battle AML without knowing it; her mother’s cancer-fighting cells from the halfmatch transplant are proving to be a worthy opponent of time.

It’s all the Watkins can ask for at this point.

“Mark and I look at her and see this is the happiest she’s been in the past two years. She feels free, she feels free of cancer, and to give her that burden, that anxiety … we’re not ready to do that to her,” says Leah, a former nurse. “[Doctors] say children don’t see death the same way, but Sarah knows death.

She would be terrified. Her biggest fear is getting cancer again and going back Oct/Nov 2014

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Anyone in general good health between the ages of 17 and 35 who is willing to donate to any patient in need anywhere in the world Younger male donors provide patients with the very best quality of life after transplant. Men are also typically larger than women, and can produce a greater volume of stem cells for the patient. Only 16% of the Network is made up of young men under 35 Diverse registrants from all communities are in great need.

Because different antigens appear more frequently in different communities, a patient’s best chance of finding a match is much greater with someone of similar ancestry Right now, there are over 300,000 Canadians signed up to donate stem cells either by bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cells If you are a match and agree to donate, bone marrow stem cells are taken from your hip bone using a special needle. The procedure is done under general anesthetic, with some stell cell donors experiencing some soreness in their lower back for just a few days Visit www.blood.ca/onematch if you’re interested in becoming a potential stem cell donor. You can register at home, make an appointment or visit a local school holding a drive in your community

INFORMATION PROVIDED BY

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“

IN THIS WORLD, SARAH’S NAME STANDS FOR A LOT OF GOOD. IF WE CAN KEEP GOING, AND KEEP PUTTING HER FACE TO CHILDHOOD CANCER, IT’S WORTH IT. IT WON’T HELP SARAH, BUT IT WILL HELP SOMEBODY ELSE OUT THERE

“

WHO CAN DONATE?

to the hospital again. We were walking one day and she was making a wish on the first star, you know, ‘I wish I may, I wish I might,’ and she said, ‘I wish I never got cancer again.’”

Despite everything, the Watkins have always demonstrated a remarkably positive outlook on life for the sake of all their three children. When Sarah began losing her hair, Leah and Mark shaved their heads; when Sarah regained strength during remission, the family participated in the annual Light the Night Walk Toronto last October, helping to raise funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada.

They continue to live like tomorrow

— Mark Watkin

doesn’t exist because it’s the only way they know how.

“Some people lose their kid in an accident or a school shooting. We know the end is coming and so our priority is to,” Leah takes a deep breath, “to bring joy to Sarah.”

Another goal for the couple is to increase funds being directed to childhood blood cancers, and to continue to raise awareness for muchneeded stem cell donors. At any given time, there are close to 1,000 patients in Canada searching for an unrelated donor for a stem cell transplant.

“In this world, Sarah’s name stands for a lot of good. She’s gotten thousands of people to come out and donate their stem cells and blood,” says Mark.

“We’ve had four people find matches

because there was a face to the cause, to the need. This is Sarah’s legacy. If we can keep going, and keep putting her face to childhood cancer, it’s worth it. It won’t help Sarah, but it will help somebody else out there.”

“She went through chemo smiling.

When you say who’s your hero, it’s Sarah, she’s the one,” says Leah.

Saying goodbye to Sarah is hard. It’s not every day you meet someone who’s helped save lives, especially someone who’s just seven. She eagerly gives me a hug and a wave as I leave her behind in the bright playroom of Despicable Me minions and a kiddie tent draped with a fuchsia Happy Soul Project cape, Sarah’s first initial embossed below a rainbow. Leah has gone upstairs now, putting Matthew and Elizabeth to bed.

Mark walks me to the door. As I look back for one last glance at Sarah, her eyes and hands poring over puzzles of a colouring book, the clarity of the moment is blinding.

A few weeks later I’m back in the car, driving through tree-lined streets blazing with the foliage of a fall come too soon. I pull into the parking lot of the Chris Gibson Centre in Brampton, where a stem cell and blood donor drive is being held. Walking through double doors, a volunteer looks up from a table covered in red plastic, asking if I’m here to become a stem cell donor. With a nod I reply yes, and fill out a form with my information before swabbing my mouth with sticks that have cotton ends.

Twenty minutes later I’m back outside, looking up at an expansive blue sky, wishing I had taken time out of my much-more-important busy life to do this two years ago, shaking my head at how easy it is to save a life, how selffulfilling and selfless. And if my day ever comes, if I’m ever contacted with the news that I’m a match for someone, I know painfully in my heart that it won’t be for Sarah, but it will be because of her.

Visit the “Sarah’s Drive for Hope” page on Facebook, and Smiles for Sarah at www.gofundme.com For more information on childhood blood cancer, visit llscanada.org and sickkids.ca www.citylifemagazine.ca

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AUTOMOTIVE RUNDOWN

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Not your grandfather’s Lincoln Written By Justin Mastine-Frost

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he face of the Lincoln Motor Company has been going through some pretty dramatic changes over the last few years.

Finally moving away from that “makes a good shuttle or rental car” vibe and into a more bold and focused design esthetic, Lincoln has been fighting to win over that younger demographic it so desperately needs. With the launch of the new MKC — and a big marketing push that includes a string of artsy yet somewhat cheesy TV adverts featuring Matthew McConaughey — the brand has pushed into the premium compact crossover segment in the hopes of generating more growth.

The new MKC is by far the most visually appealing vehicle in Lincoln’s growing repertoire. Sharing the same base platform as the Ford Escape, the MKC carries the same spot-on proportions as the Escape. Combining this with Lincoln’s wing-shaped front grille and funky rear tail-light setup, and you wind up with one unique and stylish end product. The compact crossover segment has become massive over the past five years, so Lincoln was smart to make sure that the new MKC would not blend in with the rest of the pack. That being said, from its side profile you could almost mistake it for

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the Volkswagen Tiguan.

On the inside the MKC is equally as stylish and refined. The use of wood trim and faux metal trim panelling is tastefully executed and, though I’d rather see proper aluminum, it’s still a fine effort considering the entry price of just over $39,000. With so many manufacturers going overboard with multiple types of trim and accents to dress up interiors, the MKC comes across as refreshingly simple in execution. Being a compact crossover, cargo capacity isn’t massive, but in the grand scheme of things, it’s still reasonable for the segment offering 712-Litre of cargo area behind the rear seats.

In terms of performance the MKC is by no means that wafting, cushy old cruiser of generations gone by. The Escape/MKC chassis is set up to be firm and well balanced without feeling abusive on rough roads, and engineers at Lincoln went out of their way to give the MKC a bit of a better handling setup than the Escape. Ford’s 2.0-L Ecoboost engine is available in the base model and offers a very respectable 240-horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque. The MKC is quick off the line in base trim, and for those wanting a little more get up and go, the optional 2.3-L Ecoboost engine goes a step further to

The plush interior of the Lincoln MKC

GENERAL SPECS LINCOLN MKC Engine options: 2.0-L Ecoboost Power: 240-hp, 270 lb-ft torque Fuel economy: 12.4-L/100 km (city), 9.0-L/100 km (highway) MSRP: $39,940 270-hp and 305 lb-ft of torque, making the MKC quick enough to compete with the likes of the BMW X3 and Audi Q5.

In many ways, the new MKC is the “make it or break it” car for Lincoln as it struggles to boost sales. But does it have the chops to save the Detroit nameplate?

That’s up to the paying public. www.lincolncanada.com www.citylifemagazine.ca

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Raffi Tokmakjian (centre), president of Tokmakjian group, is surrounded by his mother, Helen, and sisters Sylvia and Ani (back), and vice-president of financing Lee Hacker (left), as he announces the fate of his father, Cy, who was recently sentenced to 15 years in prison in Cuba

CY TOKMAKJIAN SENTENCED BY CUBAN COURT Vaughan businessman Cy Tokmakjian is handed a 15-year sentence after a “sham” of a trial

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HOW MUCH DOES IT REALLY COST TO BUY A HOME IN VAUGHAN? P.

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10 MINUTES WITH A CEO INSIDE THE MINDS OF BUSINESS LEADERS P.

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PRESERVING THE SEASON LOCAL RESIDENTS SHARE THEIR RECIPES P.

JEANNE BEKER ON THE MESSAGE, INTELLECT AND POLITICS OF FASHION

IMPRISONED IN CUBA NOTHECHARGES. NO JUSTICE. TRIAL OF VAUGHAN BUSINESSMAN Publication Mail Agreement 40026675

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affi Tokmakjian could barely hold back his tears as he held up a photo of his father, Vaughan businessman Cy Tokmakjian, who, after being held in Cuba for three years, was given a 15-year sentence on corruption-related charges on Sept. 26.

“This is who we’re here to talk about today,” said Raffi, president of international transportation company Tokmakjian Group, as he held the photo. “Father of three, a husband and a grandfather of seven. An innocent man.”

Cy, 74, is the owner of Tokmakjian Group, which has provided engine repair and transportation services in Canada and abroad for over 40 years, including distributing Hyundai passenger cars, commercial vehicles and construction equipment in Cuba since 1996. He was arrested in Havana in 2011 along with a number of other foreign executives during a countrywide sweep to weed out corruption.

Cy was held in La Condesa, a Cuban prison for foreigners, for nearly two

Cy Tokmakjian

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Cy Tokmakjian’s ordeal was the cover story of the Aug./Sept. issue of City Life Magazine

and a half years without charges while the Cuban government seized roughly $100 million of company and personal assets — an ordeal outlined in the cover story of our Aug./Sept. issue of City Life Magazine.

The family maintains Cy is innocent and is asking for support in getting him home.

Raffi explained that the charges against Cy, which include economic crimes and bribery, are false. For two decades the Tokmakjian Group has done business in Cuba without issue,

Raffi says. “Why? Because he ran it appropriately and in accordance with every single law in the jurisdictions.”

Lee Hacker, Tokmakjian Group’s vice-president of finances, called the charges against Cy “absurd” and described the trial as “a complete sham” and “a show trial” held simply to portray the workings of a legal system.

The family was convinced beforehand that the outcome of the trial was predetermined: the files of the two-anda-half year secret investigation against Cy were withheld until two months before the trial and only four of the family’s 18 key foreign witnesses would be allowed to testify. These witnesses, Hacker explained, included Cubans living outside of Cuba whose testimony would show that the company did not violate any law in the Communist country.

Two other Canadian employees of the Tokmakjian Group, Marco Puche and Claudio Vetere, were also sentenced to eight and 12 years, respectively, and are currently under house arrest.

The Tokmakjian family hasn’t www.citylifemagazine.ca

Photo By Michael Hill

Written By Michael Hill

seen Cy in three years, but Raffi explained they speak to him over the phone whenever he has the chance to call, which is always at an indeterminate time.

“Every time he calls he reminds us, ‘I’ve done nothing. You know that.

Everybody knows that. You cannot stop fighting for what’s right. They’ve already taken three years of my life, but I will not admit to anything that I have not done. I’ve done nothing wrong and I’ll continue to say that,’” said Raffi.

The family is fighting the charges through the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris, France, and the Ontario Superior Court in Canada. The total amount of these claims is in excess of $200 million.

Hacker explained that Cy has been offered deals if he were to give up the claims levied against Cuba. Cy, however, refuses. “Cy wants to clear his name, he’s been there for three years and he has consistently said, ‘I am going to clear my name and stay here until I do so.’”

Raffi’s message to anyone thinking of investing in Cuba is to stay vigilant and keep a close eye on your situation.

“You might have been down there for a couple of years and think you know the lay of the land, but we were there for 20 years plus and this happened to us.”

Raffi added that the Canadian government has been extremely supportive and that the Department of Foreign Affairs has been involved since Cy’s initial arrest.

If his father had done anything wrong, said Raffi, “we’re a family of principles and we would say, ‘You know what? Justice prevails.’ But he wasn’t, and justice is not prevailing. If it was, he should be home, and he’s not. He needs to come home.”

When Cy’s wife, Helen, visibly distraught and understandably so, was asked how she is holding up throughout the ordeal, the family matriarch stepped to the microphones propped up on the table before her, fought through the tears, and delivered a single message: “I want my husband and my children’s father and my grandkid’s grandfather to be home as soon as possible.

“He is innocent,” she said firmly. “He is innocent.” www.citylifemagazine.ca

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A mother of two, Fina Scroppo loves cooking up healthier versions of her favourite Italian desserts

FALL RECIPES

SAVOURING THE SEASON

Autumn is in the air, and we’re stocking our cupboards with pumpkin purées and seeds, cinnamon, nutmeg and walnuts — but how to use it all? Get crafty in the kitchen this season with the help from two local foodies and their signature home recipes. Unlock the flavours of fall with these deliciously simple dishes that are sure to please any crowd!

Written By Amanda Storey

fruits of fall, this high-fibre variation of one of Italy’s favourite desserts is a must-have for any autumn gathering.

ina is a woman of many talents.

As an award-winning writer and editor, she’s worked her magic on the pages of some of Canada’s favourite publications, she’s a fulltime mom to two young boys, and she somehow found the time to self-publish her own cookbook, The Healthy Italian, just last year.

While she’s known and loved for her healthier, craftier takes on classic (and not-so-classic) Italian dishes, Fina claims she’s more of a chef than a baker.

“I’m not so good with baked goods, to tell you the truth,” she says. “But this crostata, I’m telling you, is the easiest thing you can make. And it’s so good.”

What could be more perfect for a scrambling host, working parent or beginner baker? Baked with vibrant

PRUNE-PLUM CROSTATA

F

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INGREDIENTS CRUST

1¼ cups unbleached all-purpose flour 1¼ cups whole-grain spelt flour 1 tbsp. ground flaxseed 1 pkg. (0.6 oz.) Bertolini Lievito Vaniglinato ¼ tsp. salt 3 tbsp. unsalted butter, softened ¼ cup granulated sugar 3 large eggs ¼ cup low-fat 2% vanilla Greek yogurt Milk for brushing PRUNE-PLUM TOPPING

3 cups prune (blue) plums, pitted and cut evenly into quarters (about 1½ lbs.)

2 tsp. honey

Zest from ½ orange 1 tbsp. freshly squeezed orange juice 1 tbsp. light butter, melted ½ tsp. ground cinnamon Icing sugar DIRECTIONS 1. In a large bowl, combine flours, flaxseed, Lievito Vaniglinato and salt.

Set aside.

2. Cream butter and sugar together on medium speed until light and fluffy.

Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in yogurt.

3. With the mixer running on mediumlow speed, gradually add the flour mixture until all ingredients are combined. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 1 to 2 minutes. Reserve about 1 cup (or a handful) of dough to make latticepatterned crust on top.

4. Grease a deep, round 12-inch nonstick baking pan or 12.5-inch nonwww.citylifemagazine.ca

Photos By Sal Pasqua, Floral Arrangements By Terracotta Home & Gardens

FINA SCROPPO Editor, writer, soccer mom Maple

stick fluted tart pan with removable bottom. Using a rolling pin, roll out dough to about ½ inch thick and large enough to fit pan size. The dough will rise so don’t be afraid to roll it out thinly.

5. Transfer dough to greased pan and gently press dough up the sides of the pan. (If you don’t have an extra-large deep pan, use a round pizza pan to flatten out dough and pinch up the edges.)

6. Preheat oven to 350 F. 7. In another large bowl, combine prune-plum quarters, honey, orange zest and juice, butter and cinnamon.

Gently toss until prune plums are well coated.

8. Arrange prune plums in a circular pattern in a single layer onto crust, starting from the outer edge until you get to the centre. You’ll want to overlap them only slightly as you arrange them. Drizzle any syrup left in bowl over the prune plums.

9. Take the reserved dough, sprinkle with extra flour and flatten with a rolling pin to form a rectangle about 6 x 10 inches. Cut dough into six long strips, about ¾-inches wide. Place over filling, evenly spaced from end to end. Lay the remaining strips diagonally over the first strips. Cut off any remaining dough at ends and pinch dough at the perimeter.

10. Bake for about 40 minutes or until crostata is lightly browned. Remove crostata from oven and let cool for about 10 minutes before removing from pan. Once cooled, sprinkle with icing sugar and serve.

Location Provided By Napa Valley Kitchens

Note: Try Fina’s apricot variation of this recipe — find it in her book, The Healthy Italian.

ZOE RENGLICH Pie and pastry guru Thornhill

Y

ou may recognize Zoe’s face from the Woodbridge Village Farmers’ Market, where she sells her handmade pies and other baked goods every Saturday during the warmer months. She began selling her artisan treats at the Market after her high school graduation in 2012 before www.citylifemagazine.ca

Zoe Renglich bakes her pies from scratch before sending them off to be sold at local bakeries and cafés

pursuing the culinary management program at George Brown College.

After a few years of working her magic at different bakeries and restaurants, Zoe launched her own business, Humble Pie & Pastries, in April of 2014. “I’ve been busier than anticipated, which is great!” says Zoe, who still sells at the Farmers’ Market as well as wholesaling to bakeries and cafés in downtown Toronto. She shares her signature pumpkin pie recipe, in all its brown-sugary, cinnamon-spiced glory, to sweeten our autumn.

PUMPKIN PIE INGREDIENTS CRUST

1 cup all-purpose flour ½ tsp. salt ¼ cup cold butter ¼ cup cold vegetable shortening 3 tbsp. cold water FILLING

1 cup pumpkin purée 2 eggs 1 tsp. vanilla

¾ cup whipping cream ½ cup brown sugar ½ tsp. salt 1 tsp. cinnamon ½ tsp. nutmeg ¼ tsp. cloves ¼ tsp. ground ginger DIRECTIONS 1. Begin by making the pie crust. Cut the butter and shortening into small pieces and blend into the flour until it is pea size. You can do this by hand or in a food processor.

2. Sprinkle the cold water into your dough and form into a ball.

3. Let the dough rest in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before rolling out.

4. Once the crust is ready, move on to the filling. Mix brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger together.

5. In a separate bowl whisk together pumpkin purée, eggs, vanilla and whipping cream.

6. Whisk the sugar and spice mixture into the pumpkin and pour mixture into crust.

7. Bake at 350 F for 45 minutes.

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A DV E R TO R I A L

FROM WHOLESOME TO WHOLESALE

Euro Harvest’s wholesale business continues to deliver its sought-after Italian-style breads across Vaughan

T

he in-house spin pizzas, custom cakes and fresh pastries at Euro Harvest have become something of a must-have in Vaughan, but the family-run bakery’s wholesome breads have also caught the eye of foodies across the city. Authentic breads — prepared daily in-house — are what the company was founded on, and are available at customers’ favourite markets all over Vaughan and the GTA. So when one can’t make it to Euro Harvest to pick up tonight’s loaf, it can also be found at the likes of Longo’s, Cataldi Supermarket, Highland Farms, Coppa’s Fresh Market, Grande Cheese, Garden Foods and Concord Food Centre.

www.citylifemagazine.ca

“We’re so thankful for the wholesale sale side of our business because it means eans we can reach such a wide audience, nce,” says Rose Candido, who runs the bakery kery alongside her husband, Mauro. Euro Harvest’s collection of preservativetivefree loaves, which range from crusty usty Italian, hot pepper and rapini-stuffed fed to whole grain and organic spelt, are e distributed across Vaughan and the GTA seven days a week, ensuring that deliciously unaltered European flavour can be added to at-home meals any time.

8677 Weston Road, Unit 2, Woodbridge, Ont. www.euroharvestbakery.com • 905-265-7444

Rose and Mauro Candido, owners of Euro Harvest Bakery

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“THERE’S NOT GOING TO BE ANY MESSING AROUND. THERE’S NO MIDDLE GROUND. HERE IT COMES” — Jack Burnett, editor of The Old Farmer’s Almanac

SNOWPOCALYPSE II:

THE RISE OF

THE REX

Will the GTA be rocked by another soul-crushing winter this year? Yes! …

Well, maybe not Written By Michael Hill

T

he Old Farmer’s Almanac has released its predictions for this coming winter, and if you thought last year was bad, think again.

According to the Almanac — a reference book that’s printed practical information, such as tide tables and weather forecasts, folksy stories and other interesting facts for 223 years —

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this winter will be another cold and nasty one, with above normal snowfall and temperatures one to two degrees below normal for most months.

“I’ve been calling it a ‘T-Rex of winters,’” says Jack Burnett, editor of The Old Farmer’s Almanac.

For those who haven’t seen Jurassic Park, that means that this winter doesn’t

want to be fed. It wants to hunt. Which is bad. Really bad.

The most teeth-chattering periods will be during mid-December and the first two weeks of January and February, the snowiest periods will be in December and mid-to-late March, and the point of our collective sanity snapping will depend on the quality of therapy we all received after last year’s Snowpocalypse Part I: The Snowreckoning. (My bookie has Jan. 30-31 at 2:1 odds, which, like, has to be a lock!)

Burnett adds that we’ll be getting less precipitation, such as sleet and freezing rain, but we’ll still have to contend with an onslaught of flurries, which will no doubt turn the city into a playground for the hordes of Abominable Snow Monsters that are to follow.

“There’s not going to be any messing around,” he says. “There’s no middle ground. Here it comes.”

The Almanac uses “instructions” originally outlined by its founder Robert B. Thomas that takes into account meteorology, climatology, solar radiation, such as sunspots, and historical weather conditions to make its weather forecasts. It crunches all that info through computer algorithms to make its predictions, which, although made a year and a half in advance, the Almanac claims are 80 per cent accurate.

So what does this all mean? Well, you’re going to want to stock up on industrial-sized pack of long johns and buy more shares in Big Road Salt. And if your snow blower isn’t powered by a V-8 Hemi you might as well just quit your job right now, ’cause you’re not getting out your front door, never mind your driveway. We’re in for a doozie, so bundle up.

Or, maybe not.

Continued on page 74

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“We don’t take Farmer’s Almanac predictions seriously,” says Peter Taylor, professor of atmospheric science at York University.

Taylor explains that most models of weather forecasting are good up to about 10 days or so. After that they start to lose their accuracy — there are too many factors at play.

“The horizon of which you can forecast with some reliability is increasing,” he says, “but it’s not a year.”

The issue is we don’t know how conditions will “evolve from a given initial state.” Slight changes or fluctuations in that initial state can cause massive changes over the long run, making it difficult to plot longrange forecasts.

Like the butterfly that flaps its wings in South America and causes a tornado in the U.S.? “That’s perhaps a slight exaggeration, but the idea that slightly different initial states of conditions can lead to a significantly different evolution of the weather pattern is still true.”

While the Meteorological Service of Canada gives seasonal forecasts, Taylor suggests that those interested in long-term weather predictions visit the website of the International Research Institute for Climate and Society. “That is where I would tell my students to go look. That’s where I would look,” he says. This organization, located at Columbia University, is supported by the U.S. National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration and collaborates with various groups around the world to collect data from many different circulation models to make its forecasts.

“Right now their models say it’s going to be pretty much a normal winter, maybe slightly above normal temperatures,” says Taylor.

While the Almanac’s prediction might be contentious, Burnett does have a great tip for those dreading the looming winter.

“It might be nice to have a vacation this year,” he says. “The practical advice is it costs less to book your vacation further in advance.”

And that’s one thing we can all agree on. www.citylifemagazine.ca

TIFF 2014

T

Written By Amanda Storey

oronto was once again transformed into a mini Sunset Boulevard as TIFF returned to the city from September 4 — 14th, bringing its camera flashes, screaming fans and the hottest Hollywood celebrities. As red carpets, VIP screenings and star-studded after-parties popped up throughout the heart of the city, City Life kept up with the frenzy to bring you the run-down on Canada’s star-studded festival.

Stacey McKenzie at the Artists for Peace and Justice Festival Gala at Casa Loma — Photo By George Pimentel

Lil John at the 99 Homes cast cocktail party at America Restaurant — Photo

By George Pimentel

Natasha Koifman and Sylvia Mantella at the Artists for Peace and Justice Festival Gala at Casa Loma — Photo

By George Pimentel

Elisha Cuthbert at the premiere of Giorgio Armani’s Films of City Frames at the CN Tower — Photo By George Pimentel

Tina Fey at Cluny Bistro for the This Is Where I Leave You after-party — Photo By George Pimentel

Shemar Moore at NKPR’s It Lounge — Photo Courtesy of NKPR

Jonathan Scott and Drew Scott at the Artists for Peace and Justice Festival Gala at Casa Loma — Photo By George Pimentel

Kardinal Offishall at NKPR’s It Lounge — Photo Courtesy of NKPR

Keira Knightley at the junket for Laggies at the Trump Hotel’s “Wall Street” suite — Photo By Lu Chau

www.citylifemagazine.ca

Oct/Nov 2014

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SUIT UP FOR FALL Written By Jennifer Cheng

“Fit is the most important detail for a suit. Marry that with classic colour options and quality fabric, and you have a great looking, versatile suit for every occasion” — Dwight Fenton, Bonobos VP of Design

FENTON’S

3SUIT TIPS SIMPLE

TO FIND THE RIGHT FIT:

1

Fit starts with the shoulders: The jacket should grab your shoulders snuggly but not be overly tight. If the shoulders fit, pretty much anything else can be adjusted.

2

Length matters: To determine the appropriate length, you should be able to cup the bottom of the suit with your arms by your side.

3

Show some shirt: A flexible but general rule of thumb is to have a quarter inch of your shirt cuff showing. If you’re wearing a heavier cuff, like a french cuff, you may want to show a little more.

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Initially a web-driven apparel brand now partnered with Nordstrom, Bonobos just launched its new fall collection of tailored wool suits, tweed blazers and tuxedos www.bonobos.com

www.citylifemagazine.ca

FLANNEL FUNDAMENTALS Crafted from fine Italian wool, Bonobos’ new flannel suit is a must-have

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◀ GOING RED, GOING WHITE This fashionable accessory is no longer relegated to the red carpet, thanks to Justin Timberlake bringing sexy back to bow ties.

What goes around comes around, just perhaps not polyester www.etsy.com

◀ POWER PLAY With 30 hours of battery life, a stainless-steel frame and the industry’s first touchenabled keyboard, all eyes are on BlackBerry’s latest gadget — the Passport, a 4.5-inch square screen showing power moguls how form and function are one www.blackberry.com

www.citylifemagazine.ca

▲ IN GOOD HAIR For bold and beautiful hair, detox with John Allan’s deep cleansing volumizing shampoo.

This thick treatment’s antioxidant-rich ingredients will remove excess oils using aloe vera, nettle, sea kelp, sage, vitamins A and E, soy and wheat proteins www.johnallans.com

Oct/Nov 2014

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CHECK IT BEFORE

YOU WRECK IT Interview By Simona Panetta

Property Brothers ’ Drew and Jonathan Scott give us the lowdown on home renovating

H

ome prices are relentlessly pushing skyward, with more and more Canadians opting to stay put and invest their hardearned dollars in their current residence as opposed to upgrading to a new home. The less expensive option to renovate has since percolated, sending homeowners to hardware stores to Drew and Jonathan Scott are the hosts of W Network’s Property Brothers and Buying & Selling

search for ways of improving their space and boosting the value of their homes.

With the DIY category exploding, we turned to Drew and Jonathan Scott, TV’s Property Brothers, to find out what the biggest mistakes homeowners are making, and how they can turn disaster into success.

1

Inadequate preparation. The fix may not be quick — in fact, spending more time in advance can save time and money later. As we like to say, “Check before you wreck.”

Do as much research as possible to determine exactly what you want and what it should cost. You can learn a lot about design and construction from magazines, websites and home renovation shows like ours. Consider your options beforehand and you’ll avoid costly changes later.

2

3

Budget bloopers. Talk to several contractors, verify that they’re licensed and insured, and get estimates from at least three. Keep in mind that the best bid may not be the lowest. And make sure your budget includes a contingency of 10 per cent or more for unexpected problems and changes. The nasty surprises

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www.citylifemagazine.ca

Photo By Caitlin Cronenberg

DIYing too much (or not enough). Being handy can save you money, but don’t overestimate what you can handle. For most people, it’s better to leave trickier tasks like plumbing, electrical and structural modifications to the experts. It can be a relief to leave everything to your contractor. However, doing some of the work yourself — demolition, say, or painting — can reduce costs and give you hands-on pride in the final result.

As you can tell from our shows, we like clients to have some skin in the game!

our clients encounter — structural flaws, foundation problems, mould or asbestos in the walls and so on — aren’t just for dramatic effect, they’re what really happens. Also, for everyone’s benefit, get everything in writing — costs, materials, design, schedule and warranty.

4

Overimproving. Look at typical home prices and features in your area to gauge whether the changes you want to make will pay off when you sell your home. The biggest bang-forthe-buck areas are the kitchen and the bathroom. Yes, these can be big-ticket projects, but bear in mind that smaller changes can have a large impact — for example, giving the kitchen a new tile backsplash and energy-efficient appliances or the bathroom a doublesink vanity and glass shower enclosure.

If market values (or your budget) won’t support your ultimate fantasy reno, focus on cost-effective upgrades such as fresh fixtures, lighting, counters, flooring or furniture design to create a more open plan. Of course, it’s worth splurging a bit to get what you want. If you’re planning to stay put for years to come, the home theatre or hot tub you crave will repay you in greater enjoyment.

5

Failing the stress test. When renovating, inconvenience and anxiety are as common as sawdust.

Everyone who lives under your roof should be prepared and know what to expect — for example, putting in new plumbing or wiring may mean shutting off water or power, requiring homeowners to stay somewhere else.

Couples should talk through the pros and cons and share decision-making to ease tensions when the inevitable glitches occur. A good contractor will keep the site as neat as possible and manage workflow to minimize delays. To ensure harmony with your neighbours, inform them about the project. It’s better for them to address any complaints to you, not the local authorities. Avoid the usual reno pitfalls, and your results will be worth all the effort and expense.

Follow them @MrDrewScott and @MrSilverScott.

Catch new episodes of Property Brothers starting September 29th on W Network. www.citylifemagazine.ca

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1

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Jean and Oliver Pelle met while studying at Yale School of Architecture

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SUPERIOR INTERIORS

Bring the season of change indoors by starting fresh with your home’s style — and take some cues from City Life’s autumn inspiration board Written By Amanda Storey 1. The husband-and-wife team behind Brooklyn-based Pelle gather inspiration by reimagining their surroundings, as they did with the Bubble Chandelier composed of glass globes hand-painted with 24-karat gold leaf. www.pelledesigns.com 2. According to Mississauga-based interior designer Elizabeth Metcalfe, design makes a difference — and she proves it with a simple flip through her before and after gallery. www.emdesign.ca 3. The Pelican Chair was designed by Danish architect Finn Juhl in 1940 and it’s still considered “wacky” by today’s design standards. www.finnjuhl.com 4. Architecture is important to Atlanta-based interior designer Amy Morris, prompting her to design to enhance a space’s structure while injecting beauty of her own. www.amymorrisinteriors.com 5. Stacklab in Toronto doesn’t believe in meaningless design. Each distinct piece is created with a purpose and a specific owner in mind. www.stacklab.ca 6. Every carpet created by Vaheed Taheri in San Francisco is handmade from natural and renewable resources like wool, silk, mohair, linens, aloe, hemp and cotton. www.vaheedtaheri.com

A home’s architecture is the star of Morris’s designs

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A DV E R TO R I A L

DAVID’S

FINE LINENS

LUXURY DOWN AND SILK-FILLED DUVETS ARE IN AT TORONTO’S LINEN AUTHORITY

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here’s nothing quite like coming home after a brisk autumn day and slipping under a cosy, cloudlike duvet. The design experts at the renowned David’s Fine Linens have created a collection of exquisite duvets from elite international brands to make bedtime a heavenly experience. Staying warm this season is easy when wrapped in an eiderdown duvet from St. Geneve — the finest down-filled duvet in the world — or curled up beneath a toasty-warm duvet from St. Pierre filled with luxury Mulberry silk. www.davidsfinelinens.com

www.citylifemagazine.ca

BAYVIEW VILLAGE SHOPPING CENTRE

2901 Bayview Ave., North York, Ont. 416-590-7311 Toll-Free: 1-877-591-1115 RENAISSANCE COMMERCIAL PLAZA

8099 Weston Rd., Unit 25 Woodbridge, Ont. 905-264-7778

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This design duo started their business 24 hours after first meeting each other

INJECTIONS OF TEXTURE, POPS OF COLOUR AND PLEASANT SURPRISES AMPLIFY THE STYLE OF ANY ROOM

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Tom Dixon dropped out of design school after a motorcycle accident and spent some of his 20s playing in a rock band

7. Made by hand from reclaimed teak branches, these dip-dyed stools from California-based Serena & Lily twine modern chicness with natural simplicity. www.serenaandlily.com 8. Vintage Marquee Lights brighten the home in unexpected ways. From letters of the alphabet to the “om” symbol, these light sources are designed to draw smiles. www.vintagemarqueelights.com 9. Mississauga-based designer Elizabeth Metcalfe uses one of fall’s favourite colours to create an energetic ambience in the home all year round. www.emdesign.ca 10. Bad boy of the design world Tom Dixon creates pieces to reawaken Britain’s furniture industry, even through the smaller details like the Etch Candleholder in brass. www.tomdixon.net 11. Every Charmed Aroma candle comes with a ring hidden inside that’s worth anywhere between $10 and $5,000 — a sweet, scented surprise that brightens homes and spirits. www.charmedaroma.com 12. “Start from scratch. Stick to common sense,” are Achille Castiglioni’s words of design advice, evident in the Gatto Lamp, which he co-created with his brother Pier. www.achillecastiglioni.it

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Italian design gurus Achille Castiglioni and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni created the Gatto Lamp together

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