Dolce Magazine - 2022 Vol.26, Issue 1 by Dolce Media Group

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JOE MANGANIELLO

A MULTIDISCIPLINARY TALENT & THE MASTER OF HIS OWN GAME WHO DREAMS OF LIVING IN ITALY TO ESCAPE THE PRESSURES OF HOLLYWOOD STORIES OF PERSEVERANCE, COUTURE FASHION, ARCHITECTURE & ALL THAT MAKES LIFE EVER SO SWEET

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DREAMS SHOULD HAVE NO LIMITS

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Sophisticated, durable, super matte and carbon neutral.

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Prices and specifications subject to change without notice. Brokers protected. Illustrations are artist’s concept. E.&O.E. 2022

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LA RESERVE RESI D ENCES

KLEINBURG HER I TAG E ESTAT ES

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Glamorous, even when you’re not.15 2022 VOL. 26, ISSUE 1

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26, ISSUE 1 contract. Not intended to solicit properties currently listed for2022 sale VOL. or buyers under

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2022 • VOLUME 26 • ISSUE 1 Publisher/Editor-in-Chief MICHELLE ZERILLO-SOSA michelle@dolce.ca Director of Operations ANGELA PALMIERI-ZERILLO angela@dolce.ca

ART DEPARTMENT Co-Founder/Creative Director FERNANDO ZERILLO fernando@dolce.ca Senior Graphic Designer CHRISTINA BAN Senior UI/UX Designer YENA YOO Web Developer JORDAN CARTER Junior UI/UX Designer MARIA KOROLENKO Digital Content Designer MARCO SCHIRRIPA Multimedia Assistant MASSIMO SOSA

EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT Fashion & Home Décor Editor MICHELLE ZERILLO-SOSA Beauty & Travel Editor ANGELA PALMIERI-ZERILLO Copy Editors and Proofreaders SAMANTHA ACKER, JENNIFER D. FOSTER Contributing Writers CEZAR GREIF, RICK MULLER, DONNA PARIS, MURSAL RAHMAN, CECE M. SCOTT, JOSH WALKER, ESTELLE ZENTIL Contributing Photographers GEOFF FITZGERALD, JESSE MILNS, EMAD MOHAMMADI, MOHAMMAD SEIF Contributing Videographers DANIEL COOPER, EMAD MOHAMMADI Social Media Manager & Content Creators REUT MALCA, MONICA MARANO, MURSAL RAHMAN PR Manager & Editorial Assistant ESTELLE ZENTIL PR Coordinator & Editorial Assistant MURSAL RAHMAN Office Administrator JEN MARTINEZ-SILVA

ADVERTISING Director of Marketing ANGELA PALMIERI-ZERILLO angela@dolce.ca Senior Account Managers MARIO BALACEANU, CHRISTINA BONO

ADVERTISING INQUIRIES T: 905-264-6789 info@dolce.ca • www.dolcemag.com Front Cover JOE MANGANIELLO Portrait by JESSE MILNS | Photoshoot location BEL AIR, LOS ANGELES

Dolce Magazine is published quarterly by Dolce Media Group, 111 Zenway Blvd., Suite 30, Vaughan, Ont., L4H 3H9 T: 905-264-6789, info@dolce.ca, www.dolcemedia.ca Publication Mail Agreement No. 40026675. All rights reserved. Any reproduction is strictly prohibited without written consent from the publisher. Dolce Magazine reaches over 900,000 affluent readers annually through household distribution across Canada. Dolce Magazine is also available to over 100 million digital consumers of Magzter Inc. and Issuu. Inquiries about where else Dolce Magazine is available for sale may be directed to Dolce Media Group: info@dolcemedia.ca or 905-264-6789. Visit www.dolcemag.com for single copy and yearly subscription fees. The opinions expressed in Dolce Magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher or advertisers. Dolce Media Group does not assume liability for content. The material in this magazine is intended for information purposes only and is in no way intended to supersede professional advice. We are proud to be a Canadian company that has successfully published magazines for the past 26 years without any government funding or financial assistance of programs to cover editorial costs. It has all been possible thanks to the wonderful support of our readers and advertisers. ISSN 2370-4063 Next Issue: 2022 Vol. 26, Issue 2 ©2022 Dolce Media Group. Printed in Canada. Follow us at:

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Ta’ Pinu Basilica, Go

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PUBLISHER’S NOTE PUBLISHER’S NOTE

Don’t Stop Believing

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

Believe In a world that is fast becoming soulless Be challenged to ﬁnd your own soul Then make it selﬂess. When the television portrays only tragedy Be challenged to turn it off secondary education Spend your time working on your own humility. this year. It’s a lifeIf you’re surrounded by people who are envious changing opportunity Fernando Zerillo Be challenged to cull Michelle Zerillo-Sosa the herd around you that will be offered Co-Founder/Creative Director Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Fill your life with those who bring joyousness. to 4,000 graduation During the times you feel utterly hopeless Be challenged to claw your way out public school students thatplay genuine is to timeless. in Chicago this year. And, in a multi-generational to Understand kids who can’t or justhappiness be allowed be kids Find your soul. Believe in yourself. Trust in your God. educational opportunity, the organization will because of their illnesses. That’s why he made the Love your family. Share your plenty. Lean when you also send a student’s parent back to school. With call to Dungeons & Dragons, asking for donations need. Live out loud. heartily. yourcould humanity. plans Zerillo-Sosa to raise $1 billion over the next 10 Fernando years, it’sZerilloto Love the library, soGrow that kids forget about their Michelle Infect the world Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Co-Founder/Creative original, disruptive and ambitiously next level — a Director afflictions and justwith haveyour fun faith. for a few hours while

s children, we all believed in the power of magic; it was practically as powerful as facts. Peter Pan could fly and he never got older, and Cinderella went to the ball in a pumpkin that was transformed into a golden coach by her fairy godmother. We all can thank Disney for allowing us to dream and believe in fantasy. But at what age do we lose the ability to feel the joy that comes from believing in magic as a child? Unicorns, mermaids and superheroes are all put to rest as we grow up — until, of course, we are able to become parents and then allow scholarship like no other. Some might even call our own children to explore the world through it magical. When we asked Kadens what la dolce magical characters. vita means to him, he was honest. “About four As adults, we leave that sense of wonder behind. years ago, I woke up one day, very, very rich in the Yet, some believe that on a full moon, we are more traditional sense of money in the bank, but very restless, and that is the doing of astronomical relationship-poor, and that wasn’t happy,” he says. effects. Some researchers have found that these not “So, for me, the sweet life is about happiness and only affect our sleep, but also our finances. It’s a fact fulfillment, and doing things that make me and my Michelle Zerillo-Sosa, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief ll too often these days, people are family that stocks on the American and Asian exchanges happy.” (Read the article on page 84.) publicized for the wrong reasons, have taken a dip on the days following a solar or More about finding fulfilment can be learned such as their popularity on social from The Minimalists, Joshua Fields Millburn and lunar eclipse. mediaof channels, rather actions Ryan Nicodemus, who believe that money isn’t bad, Matthew Hutson, author the book The 7than Laws they’ve taken to improve the of Magical Thinking (Hudson Street Press, 2012),world. and stuff isn’t bad, either, but the constant pursuit Furthermore, the media’s attention on women in believes that magic can be valuable, as it infuses of these things often makes us miserable if we don’t the spotlight is often problematic, focusing more life with a deeper sense of meaning. “It weaves know why we are pursuing them. We’re often told, on who wore less than who did their best. a story where there is an ultimate purpose, and “If you buy this thing, you’ll be a better version of But the unforgettable woman gracing our cover, the universe is looking out for us, or at least cares will a more complete version.” But be ell, in thebecase of Yolanda Gampp, this could Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, was yourself. You a real possibility. If you’re not yet familiar with about what we care about,” he writes. This quality you are already complete, even in an empty room, both a role model and a pop culture icon. her work, shethen isBader athe multi-millionaire YouTube of purposeSoon is vital to human well-being, increasing and if you realize this, power of advertising — Ruth Ginsburg after graduating from Cornell University, baker (3.3 million subscribers, that is) … all self-esteem, longevity andher resilience. Ginsburg married husbandPsychologists and gave birth to has less pull on you. thanks to her incredible imagination. who study and religious have fties The Minimalists teach that being a minimalist theirparanormal first child. Societal values beliefs in the mid-fi This is a woman who dreams up cakes for a living — not observeddemanded that people believe magic tend to isn’t about having less, but making room for more. thatwho Ginsburg quitinher career to become traditional tiered shapes and flavours, but cakes that look like a housewife and a stay-at-home mother, but she find more pleasure in other aspects of their lives, removing the excess stuff, we thethe hot dogs,By huge candy apples, watermelons, in flremove avours like andwho her husband equal partners in life.ultimate The anxiety and stress in our lives make room and those don’t canwere experience the inability red velvet and chocolate cake and … You get the idea. Law for For 27 years, she ruled onthe issues ofempowering constitutional more more joy, more to enjoynext life atyear, all. Ginsburg enrolled in Harvard Sweet mother offreedom, God, this lady has power to tempt even School, one of only women in her classinof 500 law, becoming well-known not only for her fight the strongest-willed person with her cakes! Her belief is that Magic happened in a nine school auditorium relationships and more contentment — more magic. men. There was only one women’s restroom on for equality, but also for the eye-catching collars anything is possible, and with the love and support of family Chicago this year, when students were gathered Our cover photo features actor Joe Manganiello, the entire campus, one of the libraries didn’t allow made beads,levels lace and even shells that she wore the of highest of success are attainable. Read for an announcement. The room went quiet.and friends, who credits Transcendental Meditation for the women inside, and the dean himself questioned with her her story on page 38.robes. These collars came to symbolize The announcement was repeated, and that’s many good changes in his life, and he dreams the female students’ right to be there. theofsubstance work herfaith position, Speaking belief, weofallher pray thatorour need such neverasbe of a simpler life away from the stressors in when everyone exploded: there were cheers and tested the the waycollar Paul she De wore Lio’s on is. days Manyshe of dissented. us go through life The blatant sexism Ginsburg faced throughout tears of her disbelief. Delivered by Janice K. Jackson,without Hollywood — possibly Italy. Aleagues bigstrike kidofatour heart, question in why tragedies career became the core of her legal work. A ever having “JusticetoGinsburg inspired menlives andor CEO ofpioneer Hope Chicago, an organization that was he made sure that kids were able to enjoy the the lives of others in the world. A few years back, we published in gender equality legislation, she rose to women to fi ght for equality based on gender, co-founded by PeteinKadens, announcement magical of nition dragons anthe article about the basic defi of and God.dungeons, I remember askingtothe prominence her field,the eventually reaching race world and civil rights,” says Shanathanks Knizhnik, to pose this question to various leaders: “Where was simple. The organization fund anywriterhis contribution the UPMC Children’s Hospital pinnacle of her profession inwould 1993, her appointment a lawyer whotocreated the religious blog (and, later, book) in moments such as 9/11?” Given the recent state student at who wanted of Pittsburgh. He explains how his heart goes out of to the the school U.S. Supreme Court. to go on to post-was God “The Notorious RBG,” which compares Ginsburg

— from The Wife by Iris they are in role-playing characters. (Read theImeneo interview on page 92.) natural disasters and believe extreme in weather So, ask us if we magic,conditions, and we’llone could ask the same question now. In De Lio’s case, where was God answer in unison with a resounding, “Yes.” The when deadly bacteria infected his body, nearly taking his life and universe scattered a little magic right here at resulting in the amputation of both of his legs? theInmagazine It the came in the religious form leaders that articlethis yearsmonth. ago, one of questioned ofreplied a letter Dolcegoing Magazine had to rescue thatannouncing God was in thethat firemen up the stairs been recognized as one the winners of date the gives me the people in the towers. It’s aofresponse that to this to beloved rapper The Notorious B.I.G. Designer comfort. Likewise, now, God in is in the rescue workers Top 50 Best Luxury Media the World 2022 by bringing Frank and Rico, writerMexico Aminatou Sow created the was in the relief toChi Puerto and Florida. And God Luxury Lifestyle. doctors who fought save Paul De Lio. He was with famous “Can’t Spellto Truth Without Ruth” image The company’s research into the world’s bestthe family and friends who prayed for De Lio’s life and later, for that graces posters and stickers. Fans of Ginsburg luxury media required a careful examination ofhis a recovery. Today, just a few months after his ordeal, De Lio is filled with have tattooed themselves with images of her face, large number of media resources and an evaluation, positivity He is ready to help others worn her and mostgratitude. famous quotes on shirts and pins,find ways to according to certain Dare criteria, including live with motivation. then, Godreliability alsothe resides in De and dressed up as her forI say, Halloween. On ofLio’s published readership, audience heart. Seeinformation, hisshow storySaturday on page 32. popular comedy Night Live, Kate coverage, design, customization of articles, quality Of course, it’s possible you do not agree with my thoughts McKinnon’s impression of Ginsburg delivered ofsharp circulation, publication geography, onprinting, the put-downs whereabouts of God. We all know that one with the catchphrase, “That’s should not speak casually of politics ormarketing religion, for these are sensitive social media of each brand, procedures a Gins-bur.” topics (although theclients. weather isn’t exactly a safe topic anymore, and feedback from Sadly, Ginsburg passed away in September 2020 either). But perhaps youmore will be interested story about it even incredible forinusour is to atWhat the agemakes of 87 due to complications of metastatic the Bahá’Í Faith, a relatively new religion with 5 to 7 million be sharing this award ourmade peers,history such as pancreatic cancer. Evenalongside in death, she adherents practising globally. If you believe in the betterment of Architectural Digest, Town Robb to Report as the first woman and the fi& rstCountry, Jewish person lie the world, in unity, love and service, you might find your place in state at the U.S. Capitol Building. She told NPR and Departures magazines, to name just a few. here. Bahá’Í’s believe in equality of all sexes, races and creeds, in 2019 she had noreligion. regrets about us These are the samethat that inspired anda in theinterview harmony ofpublications science and Story on page 74. her professional life,weand trail-blazing legacy as were publishing ourher first issues. Inwe this day and age, could all use more unity, love and faith, will be remembered by generations to come. regardless of you whatenjoy form our it takes. May you enjoy this edition of We hope latest edition of Dolce. WeLife hope you enjoy spring feel City Magazine. It, our likewe life, is edition yours toand experience and do And, until the next time, hope you stay happy, empowered and inspired to follow suit. with what you will. healthy and magical. That’s la dolce vita.

Strive to be notorious

CAN YOU HAVE YOUR CAKE “I do think IAND was EAT TOO? bornIT under a very

bright star”

Michelle Michelle Zerillo-Sosa Zerillo-Sosa Michelle Zerillo-Sosa Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Publisher/Editor-in-Chief

Fernando Zerillo

Fernando Zerillo Co-Founder/Creative Director Co-Founder/Creative Director

@dolcetweets @amorebagstoronto @dolcemag @amorebagstoronto / @fernandozerillo @dolcemag // @amorebagstoronto / @fernandozerillo

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2022 VOL. 26, ISSUE 1

Just a few of the reasons why,

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www.dolcemag.com | DOLCE MAGAZINE

CONTENTS TENTS 2022 / VOLUME 26 / ISSUE 1

JOE MANGANIELLO: He’s more than Magic Mike. Manganiello on everything from hockey and fitness to his unexpected love for his rescue pup, Bubbles

110

CARLA COULSON: The photographer’s journey to understanding that money can’t buy you love, purpose and passion

OBJECTS OF DESIRE: This spring’s glossiest finds for a fresh start to the season

RICHARD WENGLE: Inside the home of one of North America’s most respected and admired designers and architects

JOANNA PIETRAS: Meet the woman behind ultra luxury man caves

102 56

FEMININE FANTASY: A look at Ziad Nakad’s Spring-Summer 2022 collection, celebrating femininity to the max

BEING THE ONE: Sam Mizrahi on building the tallest building in Canada

59 THE MINIMALIST MOVEMENT: The power of embracing minimalism and how it can change your life 62 EXTRAORDINARY WOMAN: Retired astronaut Kathryn Sullivan on what it’s like to experience the interstellar More stories inside . . .

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2022 VOL. 26, ISSUE 1

Competent. Proven. Unmatched.

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BROKER

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Find Your Gem in Kleinburg Illustration is an artist’s concept only. Prices are subject to change without notice. E.&O.E.

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DOLCE EXCE LLE NCE LOCATIONS

With 6,800 square feet of interior space surrounded by 31,000 square feet of private gardens, the villa is an urban sanctuary unlike any other

RARIFIED AIR IN BEL AIR

The location of this issue’s cover shoot was a villa in Bel Air of exceptional quality and design resort

estled in the hills of Bel Air overlooking Los Angeles is one of the most stunningly magnificent private luxury estates in North America and the location for this issue of Dolce’s cover shoot with actor Joe Manganiello. This 6,800-square-foot Mediterranean-styled villa offers unobstructed views of Los Angeles and, for additional privacy, sits overlooking the exclusive Bel Air Golf Course. The home contains six bedrooms, six bathrooms, a formal living room, dining room, media room and is centred by a grand foyer featuring a circular staircase accented by intricate iron railings. Numerous large windows allow an abundance of natural light in, giving the home a bright and spacious feel with large balconies affording

forever views. No detail in craftsmanship, or its design featuring exquisite décor, was overlooked in creating this private resort like sanctuary, highlighted by a spacious master suite complemented by an unrivalled master bath. The home’s flexible floor plan is ideal for entertaining at formal affairs or cocktail parties, with the chef ’s kitchen opening to a large balcony and pizza oven to take advantage of its Southern California environment. The outdoors of this mansion is what truly separates this estate from others, as the villa is surrounded by 31,000 square feet of expansive private gardens. This perfectly manicured and landscaped urban oasis features three waterfalls, beautiful gardens, a pool and an outdoor tea, meditation or massage area.

It’s entirely possible the villa may seem vaguely familiar as it is rented out to stage any number of events where the décor, ambience and setting must be of the highest standard. Music videos, fashion shoots, movies, television series and commercials, yoga and fitness videos, high-profile charity events and fundraisers, corporate parties and art shows have all found a home at this estate. Dolce Magazine has been bringing its readers the finest in global luxury lifestyle for more than 25 years, and we were proud to visit this beautiful villa, and even sorrier to leave. www.giggster.com/listing/belair-villa-mansion-house www.peerspace.com www.vrbo.com chalonestate26@gmail.com

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF GIGGSTER

WRITTEN BY RICK MULLER

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TASTEMAKER

PERSONAL CHEF Chef Jason Bangerter’s new book brings his recipes and secrets for exquisite cooking from the Relais & Châteaux Langdon Hall’s luxury estate hotel to everyone’s kitchen

PHOTO BY COLIN FAULKNER

WRITTEN BY RICK MULLER | INTERVIEW BY ESTELLE ZENTIL

Chef Bangerter enjoys a world-renowned reputation and is the World Culinary Council representative for Relais & Châteaux

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF LANGDON HALL

or fine-dining enthusiasts, the thought at the conclusion of an outstanding meal is a common one as you gently place down your dessert fork or spoon and quietly muse to yourself, I wonder how they did that? Now, the secret to outstanding cooking is out, thanks to chef Jason Bangerter’s new book, Langdon Hall: A Cookbook, a collection of seasonally inspired recipes from the executive chef of this Relais & Châteaux hotel, one of Canada’s most gorgeous country house hotels. The book goes behind those swinging kitchen doors to reveal the secrets, scents, tastes and ingredients that make up the world-famous recipes of Langdon Hall’s gastronomic delights. “Cooking is fun,” says Bangerter, in a recent interview with Dolce. “Cooking should be fun. It shouldn’t be stressful, and you should have the things that you like. Be creative and have fun.” Co-written with Chris Johns, one of Canada’s most respected food critics and food writers, Bangerter and Johns chose to organize the book by seasonality, since Langdon Hall sits amid nature about two hours from Toronto and enjoys the benefits and changes of the four seasons. The recipes in the book are divided into four sections: Eight Degrees, Solstice, First Frost and Snow Cover — each of which inspires home chefs to pull from seasonally available ingredients to create the decadent foods available at Langdon Hall from its 75-acre vegetable garden and locally sourced produce from the many surrounding farms. “The book is not separated into afternoon tea or specific meals; it is designed to flow through the seasons,” says Bangerter. “A big part of it is our property here and our local farms. These are the things that inspire the dishes — the local ingredients — and you’re not going to see any of the dishes we do here in Toronto or anywhere else because everything is inspired by this place.” Bangerter now enjoys a world-renowned reputation and is the World Culinary Council’s representative for Relais & Châteaux. He has received many awards throughout his distinguished career, including Rising Chef Award in Paris in 2015, Hospitality Pinnacle Award for Chef of the Year 2017, Canada’s 100 Best Farm to Table Award 2017, the DINE Magazine Award for outstanding Chef 2020–2021, and he was presented with The Slow Food Hero award in 2019, being recognized for his virtuous initiatives supporting sustainable fish and seafood programs as well as local, Indigenous and forgotten foods in Canada. However, while growing up, he didn’t see the kitchen as his future. “I didn’t know I wanted to be a chef at an early age,” recalls Bangerter. “I knew I loved food and was interested in cooking, and at family gatherings in Nova Scotia or Ontario, it would always be about food, with the hunting and the fishing. I really didn’t realize I had such a connection to food. After high school, I was

Chef Bangerter (second from right) and his team at Langdon Hall (from left) Daniel Angus, Rachel Nicholson and Philippe de Montbrun

Surrounded by nature, Langdon Hall is a centuryold luxury estate located two hours from Toronto

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Filled with stunningly gorgeous food and location photography, the book transports readers to the 75-acre estate through the recipes that the bounty of nature has enabled its chefs to create

cooking for some friends, and they all said I should become a chef, and that’s when it clicked, and I thought, Wow, I should become a chef!” He enrolled in cooking school and worked for six years at Toronto’s prestigious King Edward Hotel before further studies in London, England. He was also a head chef in St. Moritz, Switzerland, before returning to Canada and joining the Oliver and Bonacini Restaurants group for more than 10 years, then arriving at Langdon Hall in 2013. “When I first came to Langdon Hall, I drove up the driveway and was amazed by the beauty and magic of this place,” says Bangerter. “I also realized I was much closer to the land and to the farms. It was an opportunity for me to take a step back and go back to what I really loved about cooking and what got me into cooking in the first place, and that was about being closer to the ingredients and being able to be more creative.” Langdon Hall: The Cookbook features Bangerter’s

creativity in abundance, as the book is filled with stunningly gorgeous food and location photography, transporting readers to the centuryold luxury estate. The book also contains notes on cooking techniques, wine pairings and stories about ingredients, cooking, farmers and purveyors. Some of the dishes are ambitious, while others are simpler and come together easily. More than just the recipes and photography, the book communicates Bangerter’s passion for his chosen culinary craft. He doesn’t hesitate when asked about his heroes, some in the culinary world and some not. “My grandfather passed just recently during the pandemic, and, at 90, he was still baking fresh bread. That, to me, is inspiring, and I love that. That passion and that dedication to something that is so humble, but so important. And, my management team here, who amaze me every day and were such a huge part of this book,” he says.

Cooking can be a challenge, but also a huge joy. Cooking can be an experiment or a triumph, a disaster or perfection. As a literary personal chef, Bangerter has some advice for budding home chefs in that the one thing cooking should not only be about is appearance for a photo on your smartphone — teaching younger chefs this is a challenge in these days of social media. It should always be — first and foremost — about taste. “Taste always has to rank higher than appearance,” says Bangerter. “Taste and flavour are the first and most important components of any dish, as it has to be delicious. You’re going to see some beautiful food in this book but, for me, the most important thing is always taste, because people are going to forget what it looked like, but they’re not going to forget how it tasted.” www.langdonhall.ca @chefbangerter

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2022 VOL. 26, ISSUE 1

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Stephan Crétier and wife Stephany Maillery have built up Roy Estate from the ashes into an elevated wine lovers’ experience

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PHOTO BY MICHAEL ABRIL

GRAPES FROM WRATH

WINE LOVERS

Devastated by California’s 2017 Atlas wildfire, Stephan Crétier rebuilt and rejuvenated Roy Estate to continue to produce some of Napa Valley’s finest nectar WRITTEN BY RICK MULLER | INTERVIEW BY ESTELLE ZENTIL

GardaWorld’s success has made Crétier and Maillery global citizens. Residing in Dubai since 2010, they travel extensively and meet many interesting people, which happened at a dinner one evening in Venice. “I never woke up and said I want to own a wine estate,” says Crétier about the serendipity that led him to Roy Estate. “This came by accident. You meet someone at a dinner in Venice, and you start talking about wine. And this person becomes a very close friend, and they were looking for a caretaker for the property.”

‘‘

BEING IN THE WINE BUSINESS IS AGRICULTURE, AS IT IS A FARM BEFORE ANYTHING

‘‘

One day, I became the owner of a wine estate, and, literally, just a few hours later, four out of the five buildings on the estate were destroyed by fire, including the house,” recalls Stephan Crétier, in an interview with Dolce about the devastation caused by the California wildfire when the ink was still drying on his ownership papers in 2017. “But, I am an entrepreneur, and the fire presented some opportunities.” Fortunately, the wrath of the Atlas wildfire spared the vines, allowing Cretier and his wife of 27 years, Stephany Maillery, to begin anew and build the property into an elevated wine lovers’ experience with an unparalleled home and hospitality space on the estate, while producing world-class wines. It once again demonstrated the resiliency and drive that has defined the career of Crétier’s, who, as founder, chairman and president and CEO of GardaWorld Security Corporation, now presides over the largest privately owned security services provider in the world with 122,000 employees operating in 45 countries. “I don’t know where I developed my business side or entrepreneurial skills,” says Crétier. “I just wanted to make it out there, at exactly what, I didn’t know. I saw my parents struggle financially, and it wasn’t easy, so I wanted independence and liberty.” On his resumé as a young adult was a minor reference to being a store detective at The Hudson’s Bay department store when he was 19, which his recruiter had picked up on. The recruiter sent him to interview at four or five security companies, which Crétier found very interesting, and he soon landed a job at one of them. “I grew that company and told the owner we could consolidate and go national,” recalls Crétier of this pivotal moment of his professional career. “He said, ‘No, this is a family owned business,’ but told me not to worry because, when I turn 65 and retire, he’ll give me a nice cheque. I was 30 and ambitious, so I convinced my girlfriend I could start my own business.” Crétier started GardaWorld from scratch with $25,000 from a second mortgage, and today its global reach and security services are increasing in demand in an ever-more-dangerous world. “There are three certainties in life: You need to pay your taxes, everyone is going to die, and you’ll always need security,” he says.

Known for its elegant, single-vineyard estate wines from the cooler, southern end of the Napa Valley, the 42-acre Roy Estate’s wines are among the most highly allocated and critically acclaimed wines in all of Napa Valley. This is made possible by its location and its terroir, that magic elixir of all the factors that go into producing fine wine, from the climate to the soil to the elevation of the vineyard. “Being in the wine business is agriculture, as it is a farm before anything,” says Crétier. “There is the sexy part of tasting wine and drinking it and selling it, but there is also the difficult part of making it. Working with nature is interesting, as you wake up, and you don’t know what you’re getting, depending on heat and rain.” In 2006, Crétier and Maillery founded the Stéphan Crétier Foundation, a Canadian charity with the mission to give back to the community. Given his expertise in security issues and his passion for public safety, perhaps the most innovative part of the foundation is Crétier’s Bolo Program. Bolo stands for ‘Be on the lookout,’ which is commonly used to designate actively wanted

suspects. While seen globally as a relatively safe country, Canada is not immune to major crimes and security issues. Few Canadians realize that tens of thousands of arrest warrants are currently outstanding in the country, with hundreds of those warrants being for major crimes. “Education and security are everyone’s responsibility, and we’ve had success with the Bolo Program,” says Crétier. GardaWorld has been committed for years to welcoming military veterans into its ranks, as there is a natural fit for a post-military career with a security services company. As part of its respect for veterans, the Stéphan Crétier Foundation also supports the Vimy Foundation and its museum, which preserves and promotes Canada’s First World War legacy, as symbolized by its hardfought victory at the Battle of Vimy Ridge in April 1917, seen by many observers as Canada’s ‘coming of age’ as a nation. In June 2021, the Vimy Foundation announced the creation of the Stéphan Crétier and Stéphany Maillery Peace Circle at its Centennial Park in Vimy, France. Another major benefactor of the Stéphan Crétier Foundation is in his hometown, with the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. A major donation from Crétier and Maillery in 2018 enabled the museum to realize a large-scale project that celebrates diversity and fosters intercultural dialogue through art with The Arts of One World Stephan Crétier and Stéphany Maillery Wing, which opened in November 2019. The foundation also supports women’s causes, especially violence against women measures, and all of its giving back is a natural extension for Crétier and Maillery in their continuing efforts to help their community. For their philanthropy, both have been recipients of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. “For me, giving back was about trying to find a way to be active in a certain way, and the foundation is still a work in progress,” he says. Crétier has a refreshingly non-materialistic take on what the sweet life, or la dolce vita, means to him. “I think it’s liberty,” says Crétier. “It’s the capacity to get up in the morning and decide what your day is going to be like and what your life should be about. That should be the top priority, and, hopefully, you finish that day with a great wine from Roy Estate.” www.garda.com www.royestate.com

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VIVA ITALIA

A Summer Adult Education Program in Italy may be the superlative way to once again enjoy the magic of travel and the joy of learning WRITTEN BY RICK MULLER INTERVIEW BY ESTELLE ZENTIL

THE PASSION OF EXPERIENCES The Sant’Anna Institute offers a superlative and stunning setting from a historic structure perched on the cliffs of the Amalfi Coast, overlooking the centre of Sorrento

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2022 VOL. 26, ISSUE 1

PHOTOS COURTESY OF CIBPA

ersonal experiences — we’ve never needed them more. The last two-plus years have demonstrated how much we have all missed personal experiences. The experience of travel to see new places or visit old favourite ones … the experience of seeing old friends or making new ones. These past turbulent years have deprived us all of the joy and learning that can only come from the simple act of firsthand personal experiences. An elevated personal learning experience is the idea behind a collaboration this summer between the Sant’Anna Institute in Sorrento, Italy, and the Canadian Italian Business and Professional Association of Toronto (CIBPA), which are offering a Summer Adult Education Program to visit Italy, introduce yourself to the language and immerse yourself in the culture, heritage and tradition. “When you can pick up a language, you can better understand the community and the culture,” says Cristiana Panicco, president and founder of Sant’Anna Institute, formed in 1998 to educate, support and assist international students in becoming active citizens of the world. “When I moved to Sorrento from Torino, Italy, I totally fell in love with the place, for the landscapes, the history, the beauty, the architecture and, of course, for the food and wine, but most of all for the people, because everything is authentic here. Pictures don’t do it justice, and the reason is you’ve got to feel it. You have to spend time here to feel the culture and traditions. There is a difference between being a tourist and living somewhere. Attending a school like ours is a way to belong to the community and become a temporary citizen, then you can really understand everything that is around you.” The Summer Adult Education Program is offered in both two-week and four-week blocks, with a variety of personal experiences included in both packages, with basic Italian language courses being the core of both programs. Also included is a trip to the Pompeii Ruins and the Amalfi Coast, full-day trips to both Naples and Capri Island, a Mediterranean cooking class, visits to both a coffee factory and mozzarella cheese factory and in-depth lectures on signposts of

Italian history, including cinema and the Mafia. The four-week packages also include a walking tour of Sorrento, a full-day trip to Procida Island and a trip to the Herculaneum Ruins. The price for the two-week package is $2,830 per person, and the four-week package is priced at $4,000 per person (accommodation not included). This innovative partnership with the Canadian Italian Business and Professional Association is another way Sant’Anna is spreading its brand internationally in promoting the knowledge of Italian heritage and culture to groups and younger generations who realize where their families are from, but have never had the opportunity to fully experience that. Again, it’s the longing for much overdue personal experiences. The CIBPA mandate, as a non-profit member organization, founded in 1952, is to promote and cultivate the business, professional, cultural and social interests of its members and to represent the Italian-Canadian community-at-large in creating opportunities to build sustainable professional relationships. “We were formed so our forefathers collectively had a voice to be able to move forward with their initiatives to integrate into a society, which was new to them, and to be able to contribute to that society by forming networks,” says CIBPA president John Lettieri. “When I first visited Italy when I was eight or nine or 10, and I came back to Canada, it reinforced my understanding and my passion of where my family came from. I find it important for my generation to express what the past has created for us and to pass that onto other generations. From the south of Italy to the north, there is nothing but beauty. And now through our partnership with the Sant’Anna Institute, we have the ability to offer to our community the opportunity to visit Italy and to come home and say, ‘I get it.’” The institute also offers semesters and summer terms for college students to study abroad, take classes and earn credits. Summer terms are offered for one-month periods in either June or July, or a two-month term for both June and July, and are the ideal opportunity to introduce young adults to the language, traditions and culture of Italy firsthand. The learning during the Summer Adult Education program will take some concentration, given the Sant’Anna Institute is housed in an impressive historical structure perched on the cliffs of the Amalfi Coast, overlooking the fishing village of Marina Grande, just a short walk from the city centre of Sorrento. But if there is anywhere to immerse yourself into the full Italian experience, this is it. The program’s basic Italian language course is offered in a four-hour time slot, five days per week in both two- and fourweek packages, and the institute offers a WiFi connection. There are also welcome and farewell receptions for both packages. It’s entirely possible

The Summer Adult Education Program is an elevated embrace of Italian experiences, tradition and culture, with food, wine and scenery thrown in for good measure. Offered in both two-week and four-week packages, included are trips to the Pompeii Ruins and the Amalfi Coast, full-day trips to both Naples and Capri Island, a Mediterranean cooking class, visits to a coffee factory and a cheese factory and in-depth lectures on Italian culture and history. The four-week packages also include a walking tour of Sorrento, a full-day trip to Procida Island and a trip to the Herculaneum Ruins. The core of both packages is a basic Italian language course

you may speak English at the first reception and Italian at the last one. This Summer Adult Education Program is an opportunity we all haven’t had in quite some time — to travel, to experience the heritage, traditions, landscapes, beauty, music, wonder and culture of Italy. To explore the joy of family, to revel in the comfort and warmth of Italian food and wine, to bask in the glow of fading light and good conversations over a large table with friends

or to enjoy the awakening of a morning espresso in a piazza. Perhaps Cristiana Panicco puts it best about personal experiences when she simply says, “It’s one thing to hear about where you came from. It is another thing entirely to live where you come from and continue the feeling of being Italian and have an Italian heritage.”

www.cibpa.com @cibpatoronto

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FOODIE

MARK MCEWAN’S RECIPE FOR SUCCESS With an array of acclaimed restaurants, gourmet food shops, catering and more than a decade on television, chef Mark McEwan has become the face of the food industry in Canada WRITTEN BY RICK MULLER INTERVIEW BY ESTELLE ZENTIL

McEwan enrolled at George Brown College and graduated in 1979. In 1981, he was hired as executive sous-chef by the Sutton Place Hotel, then one of Toronto’s top hotels and a hotbed of celebrity parties and gatherings in the early days of the Toronto International Film Festival. Two years later, McEwan was promoted to chef.

‘‘

I THINK ABOUT FOOD IN A VERY APPROACHABLE WAY AND ALWAYS WITH QUALITY AS THE MAIN FOCUS

‘‘

rom his first job making $1.60 per hour as a dishwasher in Buffalo, NY, to becoming the face of cooking in Canada and head judge on Food Network Canada’s Top Chef Canada, you can call Mark McEwan many things, such as entrepreneur, influencer or innovator. Just don’t call him “celebrity chef.” Says McEwan in a recent and wide-ranging interview with Dolce: “I hate the handle ‘celebrity chef,’ personally.” So, let’s settle on “very well known” and respected and admired, as McEwan has opened some of Toronto’s best-known restaurants and was part of the movement that introduced elevated cuisine to the city during the 1990s. It’s a far cry from his childhood spent in Buffalo, which he recalls was like playing a role in a 1950s television series. “Growing up there was great. It was a bit like Leave It to Beaver, to be honest,” recalls McEwan. “A subdivision where every house looks the same, but is painted a different colour, and everybody took pride in their yards. We had a hundred kids just on my block alone, as the average household had three to four kids, some five or six kids, and we had a school nearby. It was a lovely little neighbourhood. All the moms were generally home taking care of their kids, and dad was working. Moms wore dresses those days, and we ate dinner at 6 p.m. It was very nostalgic and very different from today. It couldn’t have been better, so I was a very lucky kid.” McEwan’s father was executive producer of the CBS Television affiliate in Buffalo, and when he took a job in Canadian television in 1975, the family moved to Toronto. Mark was 18 and just out of high school. With his interest in food and cooking,

While at Sutton Place, McEwan had the experience of a lifetime in cooking for Pope John Paul II during his papal visit to Toronto in 1984. Turns out the hotel owners had connections in the Catholic Church, and McEwan was asked to cook breakfast and dinner for the Pope for five straight days at the residence of Cardinal Carter of Toronto. “His Holiness would come in the kitchen every day, but he didn’t eat a lot. However, his entourage, they ate a lot,” laughs McEwan.

During his time at Sutton Place, McEwan was inspired and influenced by the great chefs of the times, studying not only what they created but, also perhaps most importantly, how they worked in a kitchen. “I know a lot of people who think they can cook, but they’re not a ‘coordinated cook,’ says McEwan, making an astute observation. “I think it takes a lot of physical dexterity and natural handeye coordination to be a good chef and a working chef. It’s a tough trade. Physically, I was very adept at it, so I fell into it very quickly and found it was easy for me. I don’t think everybody should be a chef. Everybody can cook at home, but to make a living at it, you have to have some natural talent there.” McEwan has done far more than just make a living at cooking, with McEwan Enterprises Inc. behind some of Toronto’s most notable restaurants in the past 30 years and expanding into gourmet food shops and catering to the influential and elite. His first landmark restaurant was North 44, which he opened in 1990 directly across Yonge Street from Centro, owned by a former business partner. They developed one of Toronto’s great restaurant rivalries, with executives from Toronto’s financial district travelling to this area of north Toronto just for lunch. He followed up the success of North 44 with Bymark in downtown Toronto in 2002, ONE Restaurant in Yorkville’s Hazelton Hotel in 2007, Fabbrica at the Shops at Don Mills in 2010, the gourmet food supermarket “McEwan” in 2009 and a second location in downtown Toronto in 2015. If this sounds more business than cooking, McEwan says he enjoys both aspects of the restaurant business equally.

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Despite all the success of his ventures, Mark McEwan remains first and foremost a chef with a passion for food

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“I really enjoy the business side and enjoy coming up with a concept and seeing it through to opening and then sitting across the street and seeing it operate. I find that very satisfying,” he says. “But at the same time, I really enjoy coming up with different food ideas and different concepts. We have a chance to relate to people, really interesting people, as with restaurants and catering, you meet everybody in the city, and there’s very few businesses where you have the opportunity to connect with people over a beautiful plate of food, people otherwise you would never have the opportunity to meet. So I find it interesting on all levels.” McEwan is quick to point out that, while he has many restaurants and businesses on the go, he can’t be everywhere, and his success is due in large part to the dedicated people he has involved and who share his passion for quality, including his son, Eric, who has joined the company. “I’m always very generous with the people I work with, as they do the work,” he says. “I’m not in every restaurant in every location every day, so they carry the load of the restaurant; they’re the ones taking care of the clients and cooking the meals. We don’t live in the luxury category all the time, so when we make a burger, I want it to be memorable.” McEwan’s first book, Great Food at Home, was published in early 2011, and his second book, Rustic Italian, is based upon recipes featured at

Fabbrica. While his television projects, first with The Heat, which ran for four seasons, and Top Chef, now entering its 10th year in production, have dramatically increased his notoriety, McEwan is still first and foremost a chef, and it is, and always will be, about the ingredients and the cooking, as well as the creative process he undertakes with his discoveries. “I pretend I’m eating it while I’m thinking about it, as I know what tastes good and what doesn’t,” says McEwan. “I also know that when food gets very ‘posey-looking’ on a plate, it generally doesn’t taste very good. For me, I’m a little more down to earth, as I like regional foods. And I love food that has a bit of a casual feel about it, or ring to it, and it eats incredibly well. I look at dishes and I look at the seasons and what product is available. You can cook with very humble ingredients and make it just amazing, and that’s where we live as a general rule.” Being an engaged and active member of his community, McEwan has partnered with the Sunnybrook Hospital Foundation, and, for the past 31 years, he has also been an ambassador for Second Harvest in Toronto, spreading the word about food rescue, insecurity and hunger relief. With the success he has enjoyed with his enterprises, it’s important he gives back to his city. “We live in a community. And there is an ebb and flow, and you have to be engaged,” says McEwan about his philanthropic efforts. “Second Harvest is an easy charity to love. I’ve been in the

fancy food business my entire life, so you’ve never had to look for a meal, but you think of families where kids go to school and don’t eat. Or a single mom with two or three kids, barely squeaking by, and what’s in the fridge? You take food for granted as a chef, but there are a lot of people who don’t know where their next meal is coming from. Second Harvest is a great cause. Through the pandemic, we were feeding first responders and paramedics, and we’re still doing that. We’re sending food to the shelters and to the hostels and to the food centres to feed people. You have to be a part of that.” Despite all the success of his ventures, his journeys into retailing, cookbooks and television, while at the same time cooking for celebrities and a pope, at his core Mark McEwan remains a chef, and his philosophy clearly shows you can’t take the cook out of the kitchen. “I think about food in a very approachable way,” says McEwan about his cooking philosophy. “And always with quality as the main focus, as I just want the food to be memorable. I’m 64 years old, so I don’t think I have anything left to prove, other than you better be happy with the last meal you had in one of my restaurants; otherwise, I’m not happy.”

mcewangroup.ca @chefmarkmcewan

Luxury at Every Price Point

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RECIPE

STRAWBERRY CARDAMOM CAKE WITH ZERILLO STRAWBERRY JAM AND TOASTED MERINGUE FROSTING Recipe by Betty Shin Binon

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INGREDIENTS FOR THE CAKE 3 eggs ½ cup milk

Binon is the force behind her brand, Stem & Forks, and is sought after by other brands for her distinct chiaroscuro style and visual storytelling

1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 cups or 260 g all-purpose flour 3 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon table salt 1 teaspoon ground cardamom 300 g or 1 1/2 cups granulated white sugar ¾ cup or 170 g unsalted butter, softened but not quite room temperature 250 ml or 1 jar / 1 cup Zerillo Strawberry Jam 675 g or 24 ounces (2 1/2 clamshells) fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced

INGREDIENTS FOR THE TOASTED MERINGUE FROSTING 4 large egg whites 200 ml or 1 cup white granulated sugar

DIRECTIONS FOR CAKE With rack in middle, preheat oven to 350 F. Spray and grease two nine-inch cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper. Set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs, milk and vanilla extract. Set aside. In stand mixer bowl, sift the flour, baking powder, salt and cardamom. Add sugar and mix on low with paddle attachment until well combined.

Jewelled with fresh strawberries and freshly whisked meringue, this cake is as delicious as it looks

Add the butter a tablespoon at a time and beat on low until the texture looks mealy, scraping sides and bottom of the bowl. Beat in about half of the milk/egg mixture on medium for about 30 seconds. Scrape sides and bottom. Then add the remaining milk mixture and beat for another 30 seconds. Scrape sides and bottom, and beat another half minute. Divide batter into the two cake pans evenly and smooth out with offset spatula. Bake for about 23–25 minutes until toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean. Let cakes rest a couple minutes in their pans before transferring to cooling racks. Chill cake layers overnight before assembling cake.

PHOTOS BY BETTY SHIN BINON

ASSEMBLING THE CAKE DIRECTIONS FOR THE TOASTED MERINGUE FROSTING

With an offset spatula, spread about 1/2 cup Zerillo Strawberry Jam on your first cake layer.

Whisk together the egg whites and sugar in a stand mixer bowl over a pot of simmering water, making sure the bowl doesn’t touch the water.

Add a layer of sliced strawberries. Place your second layer and repeat.

Whisk constantly until the sugar has completely dissolved, about 4 minutes, or when the egg whites reach 150 F.

Using an offset spatula, frost the entire cake with meringue. Lightly toast the meringue with a kitchen torch.

Transfer the bowl to the stand mixer and whisk until stiff peaks form, about 5–7 minutes.

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MARKET LEADER

Palace Row Uncovers Timeless Value in the Ultra-Luxury Real Estate Market

ne of the most surprising and interesting industry phenomena of the last two-plus years has been not only the resiliency but growth in value of residential real estate. The value of and appreciation for the safety and security of a treasured sanctuary has never been stronger. From the doomsayers of March 2020 predicting its collapse, to the furious buying and selling of Spring 2022, now, more than ever, real estate has earned its stature as the best investment, especially and most notably in the niche market of ultra-luxury real estate, and Toronto has become one of the world’s hottest such markets. “People are realizing that real estate is a safe and tangible asset and, as an investment, there is the security that comes with it,” says Saghi Elahi, broker with Ferrow Real Estate, which includes

Palace Row, its luxury division. “The Toronto real estate market of single-detached homes has appreciated year over year 15 per cent since 2020. You do not need to be an expert to make money in real estate. You just need to connect with a knowledgeable real estate team that you can trust and that can help grow your investments.” Backed by the extensive market intelligence of Ferrow Real Estate, the trusted experts at Palace Row have their finger on the pulse of ultraluxury real estate in Toronto, always being ahead of the curve and trends in development to give their clients the edge in opportunities for solid investments. “At Palace Row, we offer access to exclusive offmarket real estate in Toronto and the surrounding areas,” says Ankit Malhotra, salesperson with Ferrow Real Estate, about its competitive advantage in this elite segment of the market. “We

have yielded strong relationships with developers and builders, which allows us to help our clients acquire the best real estate properties for their portfolio.” Palace Row has more than $250 million worth of exclusive resale product both on and off-market, as well as $2 billion worth of luxury pre-build product it will be launching in the next two years. Its diverse team of real estate professionals speaks more than 14 languages fluently, a significant advantage in a city as internationally diverse as Toronto, and they have relationships with exclusive networks from Toronto, through Europe, Dubai, Shanghai and Singapore. They specialize in some of the most exclusive properties in the high-end Toronto market and land for development, which can include boutique condominium buildings, homes and luxury estate properties.

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Standing above Toronto’s skyline with exquisite finishes, The One’s penthouse is one of the most sought-after residences in the city, an exclusive off-market property available with Palace Row

“Purchasing real estate in a healthy location is always a good investment choice,” says Malhotra. “With integral knowledge of prime real estate, we cater our residences to realize timeless value — this profits both short term and long term based on our clients’ needs. Understanding the exclusivity allows us to continually offer our clients optimal residences.” An example of a luxury boutique condo in the perfect location is Palace Row’s current listing at 128 Hazelton Ave., a nine-storey building of only 17 residences in total, offering valet parking and ultra-modern finishes. Another notable and exclusive off-market property includes a coveted $35 million, 7,000-square-foot penthouse in the Yonge/Bloor area. “We are seeing a greater demand for privacy, whether this be on two to 10 acres of land or in a boutique mid-rise building with under 20

residences,” says Malhotra. “128 Hazelton is located in the heart of Yorkville within walking distance to high-end designer shops and exclusive restaurants. Its size allows for more personalized concierge services, intimate amenities, shorter elevator wait times, very few neighbours and offers the ultimate in privacy. And, next year, we will have more information on a beautiful building we are bringing to a nearby location at 30 Scollard St.” Palace Row understands the importance of what they do in assisting their clients with perhaps their most important lifetime purchase — their home. With that understanding, they take a customized, personal approach to every transaction, handle all the processes in-house and help their clients from start to finish. “At Palace Row, we make sure that our buyers and sellers feel like family,” says Elahi. “We love helping people, and we’re passionate about helping

people find their forever homes and building long-lasting relationships. Our goal is to not make one deal happen but to grow relationships and continue to help in any real estate transaction. Our clients are always 100 per cent satisfied and are confident in their purchase and their home because they can always rely upon us and trust us.” As history has clearly demonstrated, the rarer and more valued a gem is to be determined, the more valuable it becomes. And the value of companies like Palace Row to continually uncover such rare gems in the ultra-luxury real estate market has never been greater.

www.palacerow.com @palacerowinc

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DESIGN

JOANNA PIETRAS:

APPROACHING PROJECTS WITH MODESTY 46 DOLCE MAGAZINE | www.dolcemag.com

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One of Pietras’s projects, the Man Cave, was a garage showroom that featured a charging outlet beneath each vehicle

The founder of Basal opens up on design as art, finding inspiration and why one of her clients calls her a ‘hidden gem’ WRITTEN BY JOSH WALKER | INTERVIEW BY ESTELLE ZENTIL

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‘‘

I LOVE PUSHING THE ENVELOPE, AND I LOVE TO DO THINGS THAT ARE OUT OF THE ORDINARY

‘‘

here’s an endearing humility to Joanna Pietras. During our interview, she speaks of projects she’s completed, while giving credit to others. She says thanks to her clients for putting her in the position she’s in today. When we ask what the future holds for her company, Basal, she answers with modesty, saying she doesn’t want it to grow any more than it already has. “I don’t want to be the person who comes in to collect the cheque after designing the property,” she says. “I want to be the person who’s constantly there updating the client with what’s going on. I love that interaction and being on the job site.” Luckily, Pietra’s work speaks for itself. As the co-founder of Basal with her partner and husband, Sebastian Tomczyk, the pair uses their more than 20 years of experience in the industry to bring their clients’ visions to life. The name Basal comes from the same word to define the base or important foundation of something, giving a sense of what Pietras and her husband do. As a company, it specializes in the design and build of custom homes, project management, interior design and has a portfolio of stunning properties that lean on both contemporary and traditional styles. Her time in the industry hasn’t all been smooth, though, and she shares anecdotes of meeting people who supported her and those who didn’t. She talks of her struggle as a woman in a maledominated industry. “Some people will find every excuse to bring you down because you’re female,” Pietras says. She also talks of going to Google or contacting others who had spent more time in the business than her if she didn’t know the answer to something. Today, it all combines to propel the work she does with Basal.

“I love pushing the envelope, and I love to do things that are out of the ordinary,” Pietras says. “I’ll design something, and clients will say, ‘I’ve never seen that before.’ That’s the whole idea. I like that my clients are open-minded.” Many of the specifics of her projects are kept under wraps, with Pietras saying, “the privacy of my clients is paramount.” However, the details she can share start to illustrate the scale and level of work she’s completed. She talks of helping one client, in her late 60s, build her first house. “It was the easiest project because she, as a personality, knew exactly what she wanted,” Pietras explains. “We went to one store to pick tiles and plumbing. Sometimes, that process will take months. We were there for an hour and a half. She was full of life, design, ideas and knew exactly what she wanted. It was my job to execute it.”

At the other end of the spectrum, Pietras talks of fully redeveloping acres of land into a 22,000-square-foot home, complete with a basketball court, indoor and outdoor pools and a cabana. Whatever project she’s working on and whatever the budget, for Pietras, inspiration can strike at any time. She talks of an incident where she designed a gate. “The idea came from a farmers’ market in Europe,” she says. “I saw a lady weaving a basket and loved the idea of intertwining.” Another time, she introduced over 20,000 square feet of large format porcelain slabs, taking inspiration from a private tour of a Ferrari factory. It’s for this reason she calls design an art, rather than a science. “Science is painting by numbers,” she says. “There’s a formula for everything. With design, there is no formula. It’s what your eyes see, and what you like.” She continues to say, “I want beauty, and I want people to enjoy and be happy knowing there’s no limit. Just because you have a smaller budget doesn’t mean your house can’t be incredible. It’s how you balance it, use it and where your imagination takes you.” However, she makes sure it’s not at the sacrifice of practicality. As Pietras says, “The houses I design are about what will fit someone personally. It’s not a generic build. It’s designed for you and your lifestyle.” These are the reasons one of her clients went as far as to call her a “hidden gem.” Says Pietras: “I always think I could have done better. I could have changed this. I don’t post [on social media] a lot.” That’s maybe why he called me a ‘hidden gem.’ You wouldn’t know until you get to know me.” www.basalmasterbuilds.com @basalmasterbuilds

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF BASAL MASTER BUILDS

Pietras is co-founder, lead designer and project manager at Basal

Pietras makes sure every project is custom-built to a client’s lifestyle

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SPONSORED CONTENT

Brothers Dino and Carlo Taurasi founded StateView Homes in 2010 by bringing together their combined 35+ years of home building experience.

DELIVERING THE ‘GOOD BUILD’ THROUGH QUALITY AND SERVICE 50 DOLCE MAGAZINE | www.dolcemag.com

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PHOTO BY JESSE MILNS

STATEVIEW HOMES:

With the core values of integrity, commitment, accountability, responsibility and experience, StateView Homes has quickly become one of the most respected builders in the York Region

ervice and quality have been on full display as never before these past two years. From our homes, we’ve all had time to fully evaluate which companies truly excel at these key attributes. Whether it was delivering food or a product or the convenience of online ordering, the gap in service and quality was clearly and often quickly evident. Some companies had it and thrived, while some others did not and were exposed. Award-winning homebuilder StateView Homes has been thriving since its founding in 2010, not only because of its superior customer service and the recognized quality of its product, but for its innate ability to craft distinctive niche communities that answer each homeowner’s individuality, design preferences and lifestyle aspirations. Brothers Carlo and Dino Taurasi brought their combined 35+ years of homebuilding experience together and founded StateView 12 years ago because, in company president Dino’s words, “We just felt that, between the two of us, we could build homes just as good if not better than the builders we were working for.” The success of the company — widely recognized as being among the most respected builders in York Region, north of Toronto, one of Canada’s fastest growing municipalities — has been built upon key core values that live within every aspect of the company. “Our team is guided by the principles of performing with integrity, commitment, accountability, responsibility and experience,” says CEO and president Carlo Taurasi. “These are the foundations that make up our iCare Service Program, and we ensure these principles are carried out throughout our business, from upper management through to our trades and site workers.” StateView is probably best known for respecting homeowners’ individual design preferences and lifestyle choices, so that each home they build is not only of the highest quality in craftmanship, but also in finishes. They install luxury appointments as standard finishes, whereas other builders would consider them upgrades. “When we are designing our homes, we take the approach that we would be designing these homes for us, for our families,” says Carlo. “We

also have our own in-house architects, so when our homeowners meet with their décor consultants, if they want structural changes, we have a team on hand who can facilitate that. Oftentimes, it’s like our homeowners are getting a completely custom home.” StateView Homes is made up of three corporate divisions: LuxView Fine Homes, its custom-home division, which provides customers with the highest level of personal attention that

WHEN WE ARE DESIGNING OUR HOMES, WE TAKE THE APPROACH THAT WE WOULD BE DESIGNING THESE HOMES FOR US, FOR OUR FAMILIES

exceeds every expectation; Taura Developments, where StateView develops the lands they wish to build upon; and Taura Properties, its commercial rental division. As its notoriety grows, StateView has begun to expand in the Region and beyond, with BEA in Barrie, Ont., its first venture outside of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and where they sold 218 townhomes in just under two months, as well as MiNU Towns, its third project in Markham, Ont., since 2019. This year, it is launching the Tesoro Collection, an exclusive community of just 12 single homes on a private cul-de-sac in Kleinburg, Ont., one of Canada’s most exclusive communities, as well as Elia, a collection of 72 townhomes in the heart of Newmarket, Ont. StateView’s reach across the GTA will continue east to Brooklin, Ont., this fall with the first phase of a multiple-phase project of nearly 500 homes, and then to Stouffville, Ont., with a master-planned community of townhomes and seven high-rise condos.

The company has been recognized by BILD, which honours excellence and innovation in the design, construction, sales and marketing of new homes in the GTA. BILD named StateView’s Enclave project in Kleinburg as Low-Rise Project of the Year. It has also been honoured with wins from the National Association of Home Builders of California, where they were up against the best in North America. “The BILD Award was very rewarding because we know just how competitive the GTA market is, probably the most competitive in North America,” says Dino. “But, while these awards are great, at the end of the day, though, what really matters to us is that our homeowners are happy with the home we provide.” The company’s success these past 12 years has allowed it to grow its philanthropic side by giving to world-renowned hospitals such as the Hospital for Sick Children and Johns Hopkins, thereby helping communities and the people who live in them. “StateView is a family, and we all have kids,” says Dino. “That is why we’re so committed in our continued support to SickKids, to whom we’ve donated more than $800,000 through various events, such as its ‘Get Loud’ campaign or its annual Bubble Hockey Tournament.” “My brother-in-law, Julian, who is also our Director of Sales, was diagnosed with MS several years ago,” says Carlo. “So, we have a very personal connection to MS4MS, which raises funds for Johns Hopkins. It’s not only our responsibility to give back and make the world a better place, but we’re happy to do it.” Passion for their people and their work is the living and breathing embodiment of service and quality that allows StateView to stand apart and is how it defines what in their industry is known as a “good build.” “It’s when we’ve heavily vetted our plans to be the best they can be, and we see that reflected in the excitement our clients have,” says Carlo. “It’s when we plan to phase out a project, but it sells out in a few weeks. And it’s when we get emails from our homeowners saying how happy they are with their home, or the service, or our site staff. These are the things that constitute a ‘good build’ for us.” stateviewhomes.com @stateviewhomes

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A DV E R TO R I A L

Dr. Pearlman is the medical director and owner of PearlMD Rejuvenation

Dr. Jennifer Pearlman is Pioneering the Future of Aesthetic Medicine

or Dr. Jennifer Pearlman, beauty is more than skin deep. It’s something that’s holistic, governed by what happens on the inside and outside of the body. For the last 17 years, she’s dedicated herself to helping people age well, harnessing the best science and techniques at her clinic, PearlMD Rejuvenation. At PearlMD, she refers to the multitude of treatment options she offers as her “arsenal,” in which each tool has its optimal use. Dr. Pearlman’s approach is informed by the years she’s dedicated to her field, ongoing training and her international role as faculty and Global Ambassador for the

Aesthetic Multi-Specialty Society, the largest group of cosmetic doctors in the world. Her international work keeps her first to know and able to operate at the leading edge of the most advanced treatments and emerging technologies. “Like a carpenter knows not to reach for a screwdriver to hammer in a nail,” Dr. Pearlman explains, similarly, “we expertly weave together a plan using the right tools for the right person, in the right place at the right time.” Customization is the key to the future. And for Dr. Pearlman and her team at PearlMD Rejuvenation, her approach to delivering the utmost of customized cosmetic care is designed around four pillars of therapy.

The first pillar includes the many injectable or needle-based treatments that have revolutionized how we can proactively impact the way we look and age with minimal to no downtime and no scalpel. Treatments like Dysport® to relax wrinkles and Restylane® to sculpt facial contours and enhance features like the lips and eyes have become so widely adopted because of their phenomenal benefit and preventative effects. Not to mention the instant incision-less results. As Dr. Pearlman says, “In just 15 minutes, with simply a needle, virtually no pain or downtime, I can transform you.” Results can be dramatic or subtle — it’s all in the personalization of her approach, which

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PHOTO BY EMAD MOHAMMADI

The internationally recognized medical expert, director and owner of PearlMD Rejuvenation discusses the changing beauty landscape and how dedicated she is to not leave science behind.

As a pioneer in the future of aesthetic medicine, Dr. Pearlman works with patients to shape their health and prevent disease on a personal level through a deep understanding of hormonal, nutritional, metabolic and genetic footprints

PHOTO BY GEOFF FITZGERALD

she prides herself in. Even millennials seek not only enhancement procedures, but are also now, according to Dr. Pearlman, “very much in the know that with tiny injections repeated throughout their late twenties and thirties, they can prevent aging before it even occurs. We call it prejuvenation.” The second pillar of her approach is the use of energy-based devices to treat the skin, face and body by harnessing lasers, light, heat (radiofrequency) and ultrasound, delivering cosmetic results in a minimally invasive way. “From the very first medical lasers used to correct vision and remove unwanted hair, we have come such a far way,” enthuses Dr. Pearlman. “And with an eye into the inner circle of next-generation cosmetic technology, the future has me extremely optimistic that the best is yet to come.” The emerging field of regenerative medicine and therapies comprise her third pillar, and here, PearlMD Rejuvenation is a true innovator. With an expanding portfolio of regenerative treatments including enriched PRP, growth factors and stem cells, Dr. Pearlman is proud to be one of the first clinics in North America to offer autologous stem cell harvesting and cryopreservation. This means that a patient’s own regenerative potential locked up in the stem cells associated with one’s hair follicle can now be easily retrieved, harvested and stored for future therapeutic use. As Dr. Pearlman excitedly gushes, “We are now able to truly future proof our patients’ health, aging and beauty by storing their youthful stem cells to address signs and diseases of aging down the road.” So, whether stem cell therapy is offered for cosmetic use like treating hair loss and aging skin or to address future injuries and illness such as neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s dementia, Dr. Pearlman is taking a long view when helping her patients age their best. As a pioneer in her field, Dr. Pearlman has coined the idea of combination therapies with her first three pillars by connecting injectable traditional and regenerative therapies to the skin that is first bioactivated with a range of energy-based treatment. Customized bioactived regenerative therapy is the next frontier of cosmetic care. The final pillar key to her approach is using a more holistic approach to deliver precise and personalized care. Her Bespoke Beauty program is shaped by a patient’s underlying genetics, hormones and nutrients, as well as one’s anatomy, skin type and biological aging profile, all combined with a patient’s expressed preferences, needs and goals. “Many of my patients lead busy lives, and as we return to social gatherings, and with the masks coming off, they once again have little to no tolerance for downtime.” Dr. Pearlman has coined the concept of “custom, curated cosmetic care” to describe her approach. With her rare set of combined expertise in hormones, holistic health, aging and beauty, she is uniquely positioned to build a master plan.

I AM IN AN UNRELENTING PURSUIT OF OPERATING AT THE HIGHEST STANDARD WITH THE BEST TOOLS, TECHNIQUES AND TECHNOLOGIES TO WORK WITH EACH PATIENT ONE BY ONE IN THE MOST PRECISE, PERSONALIZED AND SAFEST WAY To illustrate, Dr. Pearlman describes a common genetic trait she finds, detecting the susceptibility of collagen to breakage and degradation. Armed with this insight, her team will curate a treatment plan harnessing bio-stimulant collagen boosters like Sculptra®, a treatment offered to vastly improve skin appearance with results lasting for years combined with regular sessions of Restylane® Skinboosters™, involving mini-injections of hyaluronic acid to hydrate skin and skin-tightening treatments using RF devices. Patients always know that the lineup of devices at PearlMD Rejuvenation are not only the most advanced, but also the safest based on leading science and not fads. As someone who believes you should “never leave your science behind,” Dr. Pearlman prides herself on embracing the constant process of education, critically evaluating emerging and promising technologies and has in several cases been key to the development and approval of these technologies for the North American market. She is in constant pursuit of the key treatments and technologies for which she can be first to market, with the best-in-class treatments delivered with the most comprehensive approach. “The future is getting personalized. And to deliver this type of care, we have to really know our patients.”

With an understanding that “no one’s anatomy matches the textbook precisely,” Dr. Pearlman and her team go that extra mile to ensure treatment is tailor-made, having introduced real-time imaging and skin analytics to map out each patient’s exact anatomy to deliver the safest and best results. “I am in an unrelenting pursuit of operating at the highest standard with the best tools, techniques and technologies to work with each patient one by one in the most precise, personalized and safest way.” Dr. Jennifer Pearlman and her team offer their expertise and services at her Toronto location and her two seasonal Muskoka locations in the heart of Port Carling, Ont., and dockside at the SWS Boatworks Marina in Minett, Ont . With a stateof-the art virtual-care platform, Dr. Pearlman is equipped to care for patients anywhere across the world, and she does. TORONTO 1650 Yonge Street

MUSKOKA 78 Joseph St. Port Carling SWS Boatworks Marina, Minett pearlrejuvenation.com @pearlmdrejuvenation

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SPONSORED CONTENT

Between The Grand Harbour (above) and the Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmelin (below) in Valletta, Malta is never short of beauty, whether it be from its incredible views or historic buildings

LOSE YOURSELF IN THE MAGIC OF MALTA

ituated in the Mediterranean just south of Sicily, it wasn’t hard for Malta to earn the reputation it has. Surrounded by beaches with clear, blue water, Malta has a history that’s as rich as its food and sights to cater to all tastes. That’s particularly true for the luxury traveller. Whether it’s the accommodations on offer, curated gastronomic experiences or private tours of historic sites, Malta is well suited for those who want to indulge. With opportunities to sail the island’s secluded bays on a private Maltese yacht charter or even take a trip to Gozo, one of Malta’s sister islands, there’s plenty of ways to get lost. As a place acclaimed for its luxury hotels, palazzos, private villas and historic farmhouses, there’s unrivalled freedom when it comes to where you want to stay. In the same way that you have options to stay in a restored 16th-century palazzo, you can relax in a luxury boutique hotel overlooking the city of Valletta. Many have wellness spas close by, which only emphasizes the island’s promise of tranquillity and calm. During the day, you could take an after-hours private tour of the history-steeped Saint John’s

Co-Cathedral. Completed in 1577, it was designed by renowned Maltese architect Girolamo Cassar and constructed so it could be seen from almost anywhere on the island. Alternatively, you could visit the Ġgantija Temples, dating back to before Stonehenge, and even the Pyramids, with a name that derives from the giants that the Gozitans believed built the ancient structures. For those looking for a more private, personal look at the region’s history, owners of grand Maltese residences have their doors open for a behind-the-scenes look at the palazzos behind some of the region’s most prominent families. Where the Palazzo Parisio Palace Gardens, one of the finest privately-owned gardens, open to the public, promises Italian symmetry and a sensorial experience of colour and scent, Casa Rocca Piccola offers guided tours, typically by Marquis and Marchioness de Piro. Situated so close to Sicily and North Africa, Malta’s cuisine is the antithesis of the Mediterranean. Its Michelin-starred restaurants include the likes of De Mondion, headed up by Chef Kevin Bonello and Noni, a restaurant that fuses dishes from Malta and the Mediterranean

with French cuisine, headed up by Chef Jonathan Brincat, as well as Under Grain and ION-The Harbour in Valletta and Bahia in Balzan. Alongside the food selection, powered by an ideal climate and fresh ingredients, visitors to the island can indulge in the fruits of Malta’s vineyards, which are renowned for creating some of the world’s finest wines. Whether you’re looking for an escape from the city, a culinary trip around the Mediterranean or an opportunity to submerge yourself in culture, Malta will be waiting. www.visitmalta.com @visitmalta

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF VISITMALTA

Whether you’re looking to treat your tastebuds or experience moments of mythology, it is Malta, the sunsoaked archipelago in the Mediterranean, that has it all

The original stabilized hyaluronic acid dermal filler Restylane aesthetic treatments for your own unique beauty.

Learn more at Restylane.ca Follow us:

@RestylaneCanada

Restylane is a family of dermal fillers. Ask your healthcare practitioner if Restylane is suitable for you.

2022 VOL. 26, ISSUE 1

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VISIONARY

ONE BEING

THE

SCAN THE QR CODE FOR DOLCE’S EXCLUSIVE FOOTAGE OF OUR INTERVIEW WITH SAM MIZRAHI

Sam Mizrahi is building the tallest building in Canada, an achievement which befits this man of commanding power, vision, determination and drive WRITTEN BY RICK MULLER

he One Residences at Yonge and Bloor in midtown Toronto is the most documented, complex and notable building to be developed in the city in two generations. It will, at 338 metres (more than 1,000 feet) and 94 storeys high, be the tallest building ever built in Canada and the country’s first “super-tall building.” But, more than that, it will be a symbol of Toronto’s coming of age as a world-class global city, thanks to the vision and determination of Sam Mizrahi, who was born in Tehran, Iran, and moved to Toronto at the age of six with a love of architecture and design. From humble beginnings in the dry-cleaning business, Mizrahi began building luxury custom homes in Toronto’s tony Forest Hill neighbourhood with his newly founded Mizrahi Developments, graduating to luxury boutique condominium

buildings in the exclusive Yorkville area and making a name for his company for its innate sense of great locations, high-quality craftsmanship and the style, luxury and design that are reflected in all its developments. Location, craftsmanship, luxury and design have all come together at The One, designed by London-based architect Foster + Partners, to be not only the tallest building in Canada, but also the best. A mixed-use development anchored by retail, including a five-star hotel and luxury condominiums topped by the most spectacular penthouses in the country, the project is the result of a three-year process in city-building by Mizrahi to receive the proper approvals to build this mega-project. Construction began in 2017 on what is perhaps Toronto’s most complex development project,

now growing rapidly into the skyline. Building something this big and so high on such a tight site at the intersection of Canada’s busiest intersection, and atop two converging subway lines running underneath, takes more than just a little nerve. It has been a synchronistic symphony of logistics and perhaps the best window yet into the vision of Mizrahi — to have the audacity of thinking such a project could be built at this location surrounded by such density. The result upon completion will be a building of striking design with champagne colour and lighting, which will be a landmark structure in a city already filled with them. It is Mizrahi’s way of giving back to his city, by creating something that will put Canada and Toronto on the map, in terms of international architecture. Dolce recently sat down with Sam Mizrahi to

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PHOTO BY JESSE MILNS

INTERVIEW BY ESTELLE ZENTIL

Experience, passion, vision and a dogged determination have led Mizrahi to develop The One

E discuss The One, his business philosophy and what it might be like to stand atop a lofty industry.

Q: Have you always been a visionary? A: I always looked at the future and looked at how I could step into an industry or a sector that wasn’t being developed or served well and do something different. For me, it was more about: “Can we service a need in a specific area that nobody was servicing?” When we were first doing development, we were doing mid-rise buildings, and most of the smaller custom home builders were not in the mid-rise space, and most of the high-rise builders were not in the mid-rise space, so there was a vacuum that we were filling. We always look at niche markets and where we could come in and do something unique that nobody is doing. In anything we do, that’s what we look at.

Q: Where do you think your business acumen comes from? A: Definitely my family. A lot of business acumen comes from my father, a lot comes from my mother, but it was a combination of the two of what to do and what not to do, as well as friends and those you associate yourself with as you grow up. A lot of that influence comes from your community and your own personal circles. Q: Is there an anecdotal story you could share that really taught you a certain lesson that you carry with you today? A: I would say the most important lesson I learned was, you want everybody who meets you to say they’re better off because they met you and know you. You don’t ever want anybody to meet you and, because they met you, they’re worse off. One of the most important business lessons my father taught me was, make sure everybody who comes into contact with you says that they’re better off knowing you. So, you look at that as your moral compass in life, in business, in family, and you apply that, and I think everything else will go right under those foundations. Q: You say that every property you purchased for The One was assembled off-market and done through relationship-building. What would you say is your “little black book” for acquiring a property/negotiating? A: I think the secret to it is knowing the hidden needs of a person. In most of the successful negotiations, it’s not what’s apparent — I would say it’s what’s not apparent. The hidden needs are the key success factor to identify because they’re not identifiable so easily. And once you identify what really the person’s hidden needs are and what problem they are solving for, and you address that, you’re going to gain success in whatever you’re negotiating, because it becomes a win-win. In most negotiations, when they don’t go well or when they fail, it’s that you haven’t addressed the hidden need. For me, the secret sauce has always been to identify the hidden need in whatever the off-site negotiation is or in whatever I’m doing. If you do that and address that, the rest of it comes together beautifully. Q: You’ve said before, “It takes more than one person to put a man on the moon.” That being said, can you share all the moving parts of putting your vision together? How do you get people to believe in your vision? A: I think the way you get people to believe in your vision is to get them to believe you’re going to take them to a better place. The key factor in any leader or any leadership or in anybody who’s going to do anything visionary is: “Are you going to take the people around you and your community and your city and your country to a better place?” It’s a very easy buy-in from everybody around you if you have a road map to do that, and they believe in that. Then, you build a great team and you’re

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able to do things that most people can’t do or most people thought were impossible to do only because of the fact that they see the vision that you’re actually going to do something that’s going to make life better for them. Q: What other buildings around the world would you consider to be One Bloor calibre? A: The Swiss Re building in London, without a question, which Foster + Partners did the architecture for. If you look at buildings in New York, in Manhattan, like 432 Park Avenue, for example, that was just completed a few years ago. I look at which buildings are unique and stand clear of what’s “formula-built,” and those are like The One. The One isn’t formula-built. It’s a very unique, one-of-a-kind building that, for Canada, is something that’s on the same scale as the CN Tower, in terms of putting Canada on the architectural map. We haven’t really done anything to that scale since the CN Tower, since 1977, so I look at that. And I look at buildings around the world and what inspired me on The One was to put Toronto again, architecturally, back — to be in the same realm of other international cities. Q: Can you speak to some of the challenges you’ve faced? A: Which ones? There are so many. I mean, every time you do a project to this gravity, there’s going to be challenges. Everything from acquiring the site and actually assembling the site was a challenge because you had over 14 private assemblies to a site that was not for sale, to the zoning, to the approvals, to the financial engineering of a project of this magnitude. The One is approximately now $1.5 billion, and, for a single tower, it’s never been done before in Canada. There were many aspects of it that were incredible challenges, and those incredible challenges are what made it successful. There is no success of magnitude that does not come with extreme challenges. I think if you don’t have challenges, the magnitude of success is equal to those challenges and so, in a way, I’m happy I had the challenges because it allowed the building to be what it is. Q: Can you speak to the partners that you chose to collaborate with on The One? A: They were the “Ones” of industry. They are the superstars in each one of their sectors and the scopes of work that we needed. You look at Foster + Partners, out of the U.K., and I would say they’re one of the top architectural firms internationally around the world who were able to envision and be able to put to paper the vision that we had for the city, for The One and for Toronto. They were able to structurally build such a building, with the structural engineers from RJC Engineers, and so forth to do something in this calibre. Again, they were the “Ones” in the industry. Every consulting firm and every partner that we collaborated with

were really the superstars in their own industry. I kind of looked at myself like a conductor, where I was bringing in the best percussionist, the best drummers, the best violinists, the best celloists in each area and bringing them together and knowing how to fit them together in concert. Q: You’ve talked about expressing your art through your developments. Would you consider yourself creative? A: I look at myself as an entrepreneur, but my canvas for entrepreneurship are my buildings. There are many different canvases for many different artists, but I look at myself as an entrepreneur because that’s my passion, that’s what I love; my DNA is that. I express my entrepreneurship through the developments and through the designs. We’ve done that with every business, whether it was this development or my prior companies; again, that was the canvas that I expressed myself. Q: What is most important to you when it comes to running and managing your business? A: Delivering on our promises is the most important thing to me and exceeding expectations. Q: What would you like the Mizrahi legacy to be? A: Exceeding expectations and having it seen and known for building buildings that make people’s lives much better, make the city much better and the community much better. And creating an art through those buildings for the country and the city that inspires others to do similar types of developments. Q: What does your family life look like? A: It is incredibly busy. Incredibly wellprogrammed. We live life. Everybody, from my son, my daughter, my wife, myself, individually and united, looks at everyday filling the hours in ways that really make you enjoy and experience life — so it’s very programmed. Q: Do your children understand the gravitas of what you’re building right now? A: Yes, because I share it with them all the time when we’re at the dinner table. They hear me in the car on phone calls. They’ve been absorbed in it since they were born. They understand it, maybe better than I do, at times. Q: Who is your support system? A: My wife, my best friend. Q: How do you re-energize? A: I re-energize with my family by just spending time with them and what I call one-on-one time with either my wife, my son or my daughter, and that re-energizes me. I have a passion for flying, so, for me, every time I fly, it re-energizes and recharges my batteries, and it’s a passion that has worked for me for over 30 years. I’ve been doing it since I was 19.

Q: What types of people are you drawn to? Personality traits, etc.? A: Self-made, entrepreneurs, people who have overcome great challenges, great struggles. I love all sorts of different people, but the ones who I naturally gravitate toward have defied the odds and had naysayers who said they weren’t going to make it, but they achieved great things [anyway]. Q: Speaking of naysayers, how do you deal with the controversy and pressure of negative press? A: I don’t listen to it. Anybody who does great things will have negative press. I don’t think you can put yourself into the arena and not expect to have negative press because it’s the blessing and the curse. So, every time you’re going to do something great, there will be a naysayer, and there will be negativity to challenge that and to have it stand up to debate. I think that you need that to be able to have the mirror to see whether you are passionate and you are doing the right thing. I look at the negative press as a reflection of if I’m on the right course, and it gives me determination to punch through a lot of struggles. I don’t look at negative press in a way that it’s a setback; I look at it as a set-up to actually propel you forward in a much more constructive way. It’s hard, obviously, when someone reads that, but it’s a great way to look at what you’re doing and push through. And, without it, I don’t think one can. Q: What would you like people to know about Sam Mizrahi? A: I love what I do and I never give up. Q: Do you work to live or live to work? A: Both. Q: What’s your idea of an ideal vacation? A: Where I’ve done something that gives me joy and I’m experiencing joy, which you can’t experience unless you have others with you. That’s the difference between joy and happiness. Happiness I can do on my own, but joy I can only do with someone else, so a great vacation for me is to experience joy. Q: How do you take your coffee? A: I actually don’t drink coffee. I drink a lot of water. Q: What does la dolce vita mean to you? A: Making the lives of everybody around you happy and better; by default, if you do that, you’ve got the sweetest life in the world. onebloorwest.com @mizrahidevelopments

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

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MINIMALISM You can see how The Minimalists, Joshua Fields Millburn (left) and Ryan Nicodemus (right), take on minimalism in their second documentary, The Minimalists: Less Is Now on Netflix

THE MINIMALIST MOVEMENT It’s time to take on minimalism with Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus WRITTEN BY ESTELLE ZENTIL

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE MINIMALISTS

e live in an age of hyperconsumerism. In addition to billboards, television spots and other forms of traditional marketing, consumers are inundated by increasingly personalized and targeted advertisements on their Instagram and TikTok feeds (or even in their Google search results). Their message is incredibly effective, but deceptively simple: You. Need. More. As a result, people are hungrier for consumption than ever before, and yet, measures of dissatisfaction and dislocation have never been higher. Enter The Minimalists. Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, childhood best friends, have dedicated their lives to helping others heal their “relationship with stuff.” As they explain it, “By

dealing with the excess stuff first, we start to see some calm, and we remove that anxiety and stress in our lives, so that we can make room for more. And that more looks different for everyone. It’s not more stuff; we already have too much stuff right now. Maybe it’s more time, more freedom, more contentment, more peace, more joy in our lives, more empowering relationships and letting go of the excess stuff is what makes that room.” We spoke with one of The Minimalists, Joshua Fields Millburn, on his personal journey to discovering minimalism and how we can add more to our lives by consuming less. Q: What do you believe you were born to do? A: You know, I think it’s fascinating, and we see this all the time, at universities, career fairs, self-help advice, where people tell you to follow

your passion. On the surface, it seems great, because, what’s the alternative to that? It’s like, “Don’t follow your passion?” But I think we get really confused, because following your passion sometimes presupposes as though you were born to do one specific thing. I think when we’re born, we have the capacity to be passionate about dozens of things and so I think, maybe, the more useful question for me is, “What do I value?” and then, “How do I align my short-term daily actions with what my long-term values are?” Fundamentally, what I’m doing now, what I really value is helping people heal their relationship with stuff, with consumerism, and there are other relationships that need healing as well, but as one of The Minimalists, I think quite often it starts with our rather unhealthy relationship that we have with stuff.

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Q: Can you tell me about how being a minimalist doesn’t mean less; it’s actually making space for more? A: When we think of minimalism, we often think of our material possessions, and I think that’s great. We sort of start with the stuff — it’s sort of the initial bite at the apple, it changes everything. But really, the reason we start with our stuff is because our material possessions are a physical manifestation of what’s going on inside of us. If I look around my house and I have a lot of material clutter, it’s probably because I have a lot of internal clutter, emotional clutter, spiritual clutter, psychological clutter, mental clutter, career clutter, relationship clutter, calendar clutter — those things that we hold onto that we try to amass, they are a representation of a far greater problem. By dealing with the excess stuff first, we start to see some calm, and we remove that anxiety and stress in our lives, so that we can make room for more. And that more looks different for everyone. It’s not more stuff — we already have too much stuff right now. Maybe it’s more time, more freedom, more peace, more joy in our lives, more empowering relationships, more contentment — and letting go of the excess stuff is what makes that room.

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BY DEALING WITH THE EXCESS STUFF FIRST, WE START TO SEE SOME CALM, AND WE REMOVE THAT ANXIETY AND STRESS IN OUR LIVES, SO THAT WE CAN MAKE ROOM FOR MORE

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Q: How did your childhood help shape the values you carry today? A: That’s a good question, because I sort of went through two phases in my life. I grew up really poor. We were on food stamps and then on government assistance. I lived in a very povertystricken neighbourhood, but then, there was a lot of drug abuse, alcohol abuse in our home, physical abuse as well. Ryan, the other minimalist, grew up in very similar circumstances. We’ve known each other since we were fat little fifth-graders. I think one of the things that we thought, that we misunderstood growing up, is, Oh, you know why were so unhappy; it’s because we don’t have any money, and so when I turned 18, I went out and got an entry-level corporate job, and I spent the next 12 years climbing the corporate ladder. By the time I was 30 years old, I had sort of achieved everything I ever wanted, everything I was supposed to have: the big house, the luxury cars, the walk-in closets full of designer clothes, all this stuff, all the trappings of a consumerist lifestyle, and I was sort of living the American dream. I was living the American dream, but it wasn’t really my dream. And so, in a weird way, it sort of took getting everything I thought I wanted throughout my 20s working 60, 70, 80 hours a week to accumulate stuff or status or the trophies of success to realize that, Oh, maybe this isn’t meaningful. Maybe this isn’t fulfilling? Maybe there’s a different way to live? Money is not bad, stuff is not bad; the constant pursuit of these things, quite often, makes us miserable if we don’t know why we’re pursuing them.

— The Minimalists

Q: You’ve known Ryan since you were a “chubby fifth-grader.” What do you love about Ryan? Why does your working relationship work so well? A: Because we’re so different. I mean, we are literally the exact opposite. If you look at our personality test like Myers-Briggs, I’m an ISTJ; he’s an ENFP. They’re literally the exact opposites — yin and yang. They’re almost like a parody of each other, and so in a weird way, we have a mentor-mentee relationship. He is my mentor and mentee, and vice versa, and so not only are we able to help each other, but we’re also able to learn from each other. And I’ll tell you the other reason, because both of us really understand what love is. To love someone is to see them for who they are without trying to change them. I’m never trying to convince him of anything; I’m not trying to manipulate him. He’s not trying to manipulate me, convince me or persuade me of anything. We have different political views. We have different religious and spiritual views. We have different medical views. We have all these different views; they’re just different beliefs. But we have similar values that bind us together. We just have these different paths to get to those values. Q: Do you think marketing and advertisers are to blame for our need to want more? A: The average person sees about five to 10,000 advertisements a day, according to Forbes magazine, and so we’re steeped in advertising. I think part of that is, well, we can agree to

pay for certain things to remove ads. There’s a premium version of YouTube or a premium version of Spotify. Or you can pay for Netflix, which is advertisement-free, so you’re paying for certain services. But if you’re not paying for it, you become the product, and they are now using you to aggregate your eyeballs, so that they can sell you their products and services. So, are advertisers to blame? I mean, yeah, sure, there are statisticians and demographers and scientists who are paid millions of dollars in order to make you feel inadequate. Even the word “happiness,” the concept of happiness was invented by marketers to make you feel unhappy, so that you could buy things to increase your happiness, the pursuit of happiness. We’re often told, “If I buy this thing, I’ll be a better version of myself. I’ll be a more complete version.” But you are already complete, even in an empty room, and if we realize that, the power of advertising has less of a pull on us. Q: What are some of the things you’d like to teach your daughter as she grows up? A: This is going to sound a little weird, but I think I probably learn a lot more from her than she does from me. When we grow up, we sort of get programmed in a way to be discontented. We’re often told that we need self-improvement, that we need to improve ourselves, that we have to grow, we have to do better, we have to compete, but you never say that to a baby. You’re never like, “What are the three ways to improve your baby?” That sounds like a crazy person — no one would

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ever say that. And yet, we’re doing that with ourselves all the time. The thing that I’ve learned with her is that happiness is not external, and so if I can help her continue to understand that, then that’s the best I can do. Happiness is always inside. The problem is that we cover it up with stuff, with obligations, with expectations, with toxic relationships, with societal norms. And so if I can help her understand that we can pursue the things that are already inside us — that peace, that joy — you don’t have to reach somewhere for it. It’s already there. Q: If you had to recommend one of your books, which one would you recommend to start? A: I think the newest one is probably the most comprehensive and gives people the most sort of on-ramp into minimalism. It’s called Love People, Use Things, and it goes into the backstory for people who are completely unfamiliar with minimalism and who The Minimalists are, but then it goes really deep into our relationship with stuff, with ourselves, with our finances, our relationship with distractions and technology. It really dives into these different areas that make us miserable with stuff. Q: What does it mean to be happy? A: A happy life is a life with high standards, but low expectations.

Q: What does it mean to be free? A: Freedom is to untether from the power structures and expectations of others. Q: What are your essentials that you need to live a fruitful life? A: Sleep, movement, real food. Q: What are some of the qualities you find most unbecoming in people, and which qualities do you admire most in people? A: Unbecoming: judgment, self-righteousness, an unwillingness to let go. And then what’s becoming or attractive in people, well, sort of the opposite of those things: a willingness to let go, a desire to not blame others is beautiful. That’s a real sign of maturity, when someone is not willing to blame other people, even if something seems blame-worthy. Joy. If you see joy in someone, you can sense it. I mean, it’s a smile, for sure, but it’s an aura, it’s a presence, it’s emanating love — that is definitely becoming. Q: Who do you look up to? A: I have two answers for that. One, I look up to Ryan, whom I’ve known for 30 years now, because he is the most honest and authentic person I know. You know, I just turned 40, and I look up to my 50-year-old self, because I aspire to be a less tangled version of myself. You know,

as a minimalist, we untangle from the complex structures of the world, to understand the world around us, and I’m certain that my 50-year-old self will have a better understanding of the world than my current self. Q: I’m just curious: What are you hoping to untangle in the next 10 years? A: I think quite often it has to do with what society has programmed into us, so we talked a bit about expectations in this conversation, but untangling from the structures, from the desire for approval or validation or veneration. While I’ve gotten relatively good at that relative to my 30- or 35-year-old self, the need for someone else’s approval or veneration is sort of a prison in a way. The weird thing about that is that those are their prison bars. If someone else doesn’t approve of me, I can walk away from that. And so, I obviously understand that intellectually, but understanding that viscerally in your heart, it’s a different kind of understanding. Q: What does la dolce vita mean to you? A: A life without excess is a sweet life. www.theminimalists.com @theminimalists This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

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EXTRATERRESTRIAL & EXTRAORDINARY

In Sullivan’s book published in 2019, Handprints on Hubble, she recounts her experience as the first American woman to walk in space and her work as part of the team that launched, rescued, repaired and maintained the Hubble Space Telescope

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PHOTO COURTESY OF NASA

IT’S THE JOURNEY, NOT THE DESTINATION

The race to space has already begun, but what is it like to have actually experienced interstellar? Time to find out from retired astronaut and lifetime explorer Kathryn Sullivan WRITTEN BY ESTELLE ZENTIL

Q: Where do you think that your curiosity comes from? Is it something your parents taught you? A: I think it came pretty naturally to me. I mean, my parents were really great about supporting and eliciting our curiosity, and, I mean, sometimes, when a grown-up does that, it feels a bit like a test, but it was never like that in our family. I would say that they were more like co-explorers, especially my dad. We’d be wondering about something, and he’d say, “Well, let’s think about that. What do you think?” I think he was trying to help us build the muscle, the mental muscle that lets you turn your curiosity into something you learn and something you can do, instead of just, “Did I pass the test if I answer Dad’s question?” Whether it was a profile on a person or a story with the early astronauts, or

a National Geographic person going off somewhere, all those stories really absorbed me. I also think somewhere along the way, it was not just the story of where the National Geographic guy went to, but the realization that, “Man, there are people in the world whose livelihood is to go to these places and see them and learn about them and learn enough to write a good article, which teaches me something, not just stamp your passport and buy a trinket.”

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THERE’S ABSOLUTELY NO NOOK OR CRANNY ON THIS EARTH AND NO LIVING THING ANYWHERE ON THIS EARTH TO WHICH EACH OF US IS NOT CONNECTED

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here are some among us — those with insatiable curiosity, keen intellect and a desire for adventure — who are destined to be modern-day explorers. For some, this means rocketing into space as an astronaut, while for others this might mean submarining into the deepest depths of the oceans. Or, for Kathryn Sullivan, it means both. Sullivan is an American geologist, oceanographer and a former NASA astronaut and U.S. Navy officer. In 1984, she was the first American woman to walk in space. But, in addition to having travelled to the moon and back, Sullivan became the first woman to dive to the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench, the deepest part of the Earth’s oceans, in 2020. In light of her profound experiences and exclusive perspectives, in September 2021, Sullivan was appointed to the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology to advise the president and the White House on policy matters in science, technology and innovation. Between being in space and deep in the ocean, Sullivan has seen it all and continues to be inspired by the Earth we live on. “I’m amazed by this planet, so, any chance I get to explore, for me, preferably first-hand experience, and explore some other place, some other aspect of it, I find it fascinating. It’s expanding my understanding of this marvellous little ball we live on.” Her perspective, having seen views most civilians will never be able to, reminds us of how precious life really is, and that staying curious is a gift, in itself. “Being of a mindset of seeing what’s there to appreciate, whether it’s a small little gem of something or something more grandiose.” Dolce spoke with the retired astronaut to learn what it’s like to have explored the world through her eyes.

Q: What did it feel like to be the first American woman to walk in space on October 11, 1984? Can you describe what that mission was like? A: Well, the first part meant nothing to me at all. I wouldn’t have cared if I was the 783rd woman to do a spacewalk — it was my first chance to do a spacewalk. And when you say spacewalk, you might think, Well, a walk around the park. You’re only going outside of the spaceship to do some real work that matters. It matters to your spaceship, to the station, or, in our case, it matters to a bunch of researchers, so it’s not just a fanciful little stroll. It’s a complex thing. It’s a lot of responsibility. It indicates a lot of confidence in you. It’s a lot of confidence in you to select you to be on a crew with five or six or seven other people. But if you are assigned to go do a spacewalk, it means, you, yourself, only you, are going to get in a small spaceship that’s shaped like your body — because that’s really what a spacesuit is — and you’re going to be pilot in command of your own spaceship while you’re outside, so it’s by far the most hazardous thing that astronauts do in space. The whole thing has got its hazards — that’s kind of out there — and so I was just fascinated to get the work done. I was intrigued. I knew a lot

about the experiment we were doing, and so that was interesting. I think the main thing in my mind was, If you ever want to do a second spacewalk, you got to be sure to do this one very well. But for who would have written my name in a history book, that really never entered my mind. It was never something that I really paid attention to. My first spacewalk was a chance to prove myself and my responsibility to do this well — that’s what I was focused on. Q: Flying to space most certainly tests your mental health, in terms of reaching an emotional and physical feat that you may never experience before. How did it feel when you returned to planet Earth? A: Even long before my first flight, and I can’t put my finger on how or why this became clear to me, but it was, “This will undoubtedly be the most heralded thing you will ever do, and that in no way means there’s nothing more interesting and valuable and worthwhile to do here on Earth, so you go and explore those things.” You just understand that the peanut gallery won’t be there applauding you, like when you were an astronaut, but that’s not the indicator of what something is worth — how many people are applauding you or how big they write your name in an article. That often has nothing to do with how worthwhile and, to you, how satisfying it should be to be a part of that experience. So, I mean, I think there’s a little bit of a downer after a space flight because you’ve been sprinting in such an intense run, with a completely full and completely structured life, getting to the flight and through it. And you come back, and suddenly your days are quite unstructured in comparison. It might be that my background and my work as an Earth scientist helped me with this because, if you go somewhere like the Mahogany Desert or Antarctica, most people will say, “Oh God, there’s nothing there.” There’s a lot there that’s really fascinating if you get into the frame of reference where you can see it, but if you’re just going to whiz by it at 60 miles per hour, yeah, it looks completely empty. It’s more about your own frame of reference than anything else. Q: Was there ever a moment that scared you during the mission? A: For me, it’s about getting rid of the doubts, the uncertainties, before, by taking stock of the team you’re working with and the engineering that’s gone into it and my own level of preparedness. I think the skills I’ve built in many, many years of assessing risks and looking at engineering systems and managing risk … If I’m satisfied with the risks

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and the competencies, I kind of lean in. I could probably get afraid if something really, really unexpected and clearly dire happened, maybe that would be a moment of fear, but, especially as a crew member, you don’t have the option of just throwing your hands in the air and being terrified. You’re going to have to fix it and do everything you can to solve the problem. If you’re a passenger on an airline, you can just scream and be loud; the guys at the front can’t be doing that. Q: What message would you like to send to little girls whose dreams are to become an astronaut or geologist one day? A: I would say those are both fabulous goals to pursue. They will challenge you and make you grow and make you stronger both physically and mentally and that’s all to the good. That will all serve you well through every other aspect of your life, so that’s worth investing in. I would say even in this day and age, you may well meet people along the way who say you can’t, or you shouldn’t, or girls and women don’t belong here. Pat them on the head, say, “Thank you very much,” and ignore them. They’re just wrong. As long as you build the strength, and scientific and technical competence, you got to be good at what you do. That’s a got-to-have, so you have to invest in all the skills it takes to do those things. The final thing I would say is that everyone and anyone who aims at this, when they first start, when they’re honest with themselves, they’ll see some strengths that they could build on, and they’ll see some weaknesses. Build on your strengths, but don’t forget to strengthen your weaknesses. Shore up your weaknesses. So, if you’re not as good as you need to be in physics or math, get some tutoring. If you’re not as good as you think you ought to be in communicating, because communicating clearly and concisely is really important in all these things, go practise more, try more, get some help. I think there’s a flaw in the advice that says, “Find your passion and go with it,” because that kind of implies to ignore everything else you’re not as good at, and that’s not a good way to go through life. It’s got to be both and both build on those strengths and shore up those weaknesses. Q: Can you share a little bit about the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation? A: The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation — you can think of it almost as the alumni association of American astronauts. The organization was originally founded by the Mercury 7 astronauts and their families, but now it’s a much wider group of people. Many of us astronauts will help the foundation raise money to give out these scholarships, and a number of us will also serve as the reviewers of the applications. I think the value and importance of this, to me, is, across a wide number of universities across the United States, it allows the opportunity for sharp young

students. Most of them kind of have an eye on an aerospace career, many of them, I’m sure, hope to fly in space one day, but they’re not just playing for that. They’re really investing and building the knowledge and skills that give them a successful career in aerospace. Many of them are absolutely dazzling talents, even as undergraduate students. So, we review them carefully. All of them are involved in some sort of research project, so it’s not just reviewing the grades they got by studying the textbook. We’re looking at real evidence of these students in action, doing new research projects, trying new experiments, often being part of a top-notch research team. Even though, as young as they are, they’re bringing great ideas to that team. It’s kind of a launch pad, an accelerator. It’s clearly an endorsement of the folks who get the scholarship, but more importantly, it jump-starts them into another opportunity. And, for many of them, the financial contribution is an essential part of being able to continue on with their studies. We’d much rather have these students working on research projects, rather than flipping hamburgers somewhere or bag groceries at the grocery store to get the money to stay in school. They’re sharp, sharp students, and we’d rather make it possible for them to go all in. Q: What lesson did you learn on your expeditions? A: I think I would highlight two lessons. There’s absolutely no nook or cranny on this Earth and no living thing anywhere on this Earth to which each of us is not connected. Those connections are maybe not front of mind, but I think it’s important for us to all understand that’s a fundamental truth of this planet — the incredible and intricate ways in which we are all connected to every place on the planet and every living thing on the planet. I don’t just mean, “Nice to know you’re there.” I mean, there’s a substantive important relationship. The other thing, I don’t know if this is something so much that I learned, but one of the things that I’ve really appreciated on the path that I’m on is, I can kind of think back to my 26-year-old self, straight out of grad school, walking into the astronaut core and the refinement, and reaching up to that challenge and stepping up to it, and stubbing my toe and then stumbling now and then, but carrying on. I guess if I were to try to get this more concisely, I would say I think I knew this before, but I think I’ve come to deeply understand — there are three bullets on my resumé that say I flew in space each time — they’re not worth the ink that they’re printed with, but the person I became by reaching for that and succeeding at it — that’s what the real value is. And I think that’s true with anything on your resumé. You write “PhD from MIT or Stanford” on your resumé, that tells me what your degree cost, but if I want to understand what your degree is worth, I’m not going to look at your resumé, I’m going to look at you, the person you became by achieving the result. That’s where the worth of it is.

Q: What is your favourite meal in space or in the deep ocean? A: It’s a really simple meal, but it’s kind of hard to beat a tuna salad sandwich 33,000 feet below sea level. I did always like the shrimp cocktail. Turns out, you can actually dehydrate shrimp cocktail, with its cocktail sauce, rehydrate it, and not to say that it’s shrimp just taken off the boat, but it’s awful darn good. What’s even better about it is that you can suspend your shrimp in midair and have it twirl around a little bit, so a twirling shrimp cocktail is pretty hard to beat. Q: If you had to choose between living in space or in the ocean, which would it be? A: I like living on Earth with all of this planet, in the deserts, on the mountains, at the seashore, in the sea — this is the place I want to be. My primary motive in applying to become an astronaut was that I would get to see the planet with my own eyes from orbit if I succeeded in being selected, and I loved the rest of it, too, but what was I really hankering for? To see the Earth that way. Q: What did you miss the most when you were away from your loved ones? A: You know, I really wasn’t aware of missing anything. My space flights were five to seven days, that’s pretty short. I do remember, in particular, my first flight, reluctant to leave orbit and the view, and zero gravity. But, I think it was the very next morning, I was driving into the space centre very, very early, and so there was this lovely sunrise in the sky, and a flock of migrating birds flying across my field of view, and literally, the thought that came through my mind was, OK, that makes it worth coming back here. You’ve got great sunrises and sunsets in orbit, and you’ve got 16 [sunrises and sunsets] each 24 hours, but you don’t have flocks of birds flying against that backdrop. Q: Who do you admire? A: I take notes from more people than you could ever count, but I think I’d have to put Neil Armstrong at the top of that list, not just for the man that he was, but for the way he lived his entire life. Q: What does la dolce vita mean to you? A: There was a line in a pop song a few years ago that I think sums it up for me in a way that it’s not having what you want, it’s wanting what you have, which, to me, kind of means being of a mindset of seeing what’s there to appreciate, whether it’s a small little gem of something or something more grandiose. www.kathysullivanexplores.com @kathysullivanastronaut This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

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ARTISANS

TIME WELL SPENT

With Swiss training and by bringing this craftsmanship home to the Netherlands, Bart and Tim Grönefeld’s passion for watchmaking creates some of the world’s rarest and most exquisite timepieces WRITTEN BY RICK MULLER INTERVIEW BY ESTELLE ZENTIL

erhaps it is based upon some fable, but, for some reason in our mind’s eye, our stereotypical image of a watchmaker is of an elderly man with white hair hunched over a table in a cluttered backroom of a shop under some single, hot white light, with his eye clenching a single magnifying glass. Bart and Tim Grönefeld of the Netherlands are the furthest thing from that stereotype and today are among the most admired, respected and soughtafter independent makers of luxury watches in the world. A Grönefeld watch is a rare and prized possession. Rolex may manufacture close to one million watches in a year, but Grönefeld makes just 90 watches in a year. Each handmade timepiece is meticulously crafted by skilled artisans and technicians, and, for the most simple watch, it takes approximately one month to make, and the waitlist is long — three years, at the latest count. It is the continuation of a family tradition of

watchmaking dating back to 1912 in Oldenzaal, the Netherlands, when Johan Grönefeld established his workshop and boutique. Johan was known as both an exceptional watchmaker and consummate businessman. His shop was in the shadow of the Basilica of Saint Plechelm, which has a clock tower, dating from 1240. Johan was also charged with looking after the church’s clock mechanism. His prowess with watchmaking tools, combined with his creativity and inventiveness, led to his growing reputation far beyond his hometown. “We are third-generation watchmakers,” says Bart Grönefeld, in a recent interview with Dolce. “Our grandfather began in 1912 by repairing and servicing watches — that began the Grönefeld legacy. My parents took over our grandfather’s shop when I was born in 1969, so I was raised in a jewelry store. The idea was for my brother and I to go to jewelry school, which would include watchmaking, but we are both technically minded, and the gears and levers interested us instead

of the art aspect of jewelry, so we decided to become watchmakers.” Both Bart and his younger brother, Tim, travelled to Switzerland and trained at the prestigious watchmaking school of WOSTEP (Watchmakers of Switzerland Training and Educational Program), Neuchatel, and learned the complexities of the leading luxury brands of watches, but both had bigger dreams. “We missed family and wanted to return to the Netherlands,” recalls Bart. “So, we contacted the big brands to see if they had work for us back home, and, they did, so we started with an aftersales service shop. But, we were itching to show the world what we could do and tell the world what we are capable of and decided to launch our own brand in 2008.” With the financial collapse of 2009, luxury items took a direct hit, and Bart and Tim sold just a single watch in their first year, but, due to the quality, complexity of movements and

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF GRÖNEFELD

Continuing a family tradition dating back to 1912, Bart (right) and Tim Grönefeld craft only 80 watches per year, making each one a rare and prized possession

Few luxury products in the world require the technical skill and meticulous craftsmanship as does a handmade and complicated timepiece

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WHY NOT ENJOY LIFE AND FINALLY BUY WHAT YOU’VE ALWAYS WANTED TO BUY

mechanisms involved, that watch sold for 255,000 euros. They sold no watches in their second and third years, but the business began to grow through quality and reputation, and, by 2014, they were making 25 timepieces per year. The intricacy of handmade watchmaking is a delicate dance of precision and time-honoured craftsmanship. Few luxury products require the skill, passion and knowledge needed to produce that kind of handcrafted timepiece. Grönefeld likens it to the difference between a photograph and a painting. “The big brands are very nice and technically brilliant, but there’s not really a soul inside,” says Grönefeld. “They are like a photograph because everything is perfect, as you see it. But with a painting, there is a touch of the artist inside, and, with our watches, you can really see they are handmade. They are different.” Grönefeld watches are so exclusive and rare that, today, only 440 Grönefeld timepieces exist worldwide. The niche-market luxury items business faced another challenge with the onset of the pandemic in March 2020. The brothers feared they might be in peril, but, instead, the pandemic actually revealed the loyalty of their customer base, as not one order was cancelled, and after a few months, the business took off again with more than 250 watches on back order. “Watch collectors were working from home, and sometimes you do things for yourself, and many people discovered us,” observes Grönefeld. “I think there is also a sense of ‘You Only Live Once.’ Why not enjoy life and finally buy what you’ve always wanted to buy?” The market for luxury handmade independent watches began in Asia, specifically Singapore, with the United States now being the largest market. Grönefeld is currently not taking orders, and its customers are only too happy to wait the three years after paying their deposit on a timepiece, which has an entry-level starting price of 33,000 euros. “People pay a 30 per cent deposit when they place an order, and say, ‘I’ll see you in three years,’” says Grönefeld. “Our customers are serious watch collectors and are enjoying the wait, as well.” There are few luxury products in the world as treasured and valued as a Grönefeld handmade watch, and certainly few products where customers happily pay a 30 per cent deposit and wait for three years. Because of the sense of excitement and anticipation for the beauty and quality of the timepieces, for these customers, and for the Grönefeld brothers, time is not standing still, but it’s time well spent, indeed.

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www.gronefeld.com @gronefeld_watches

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DRESSING FOR SUCCESS

SCAN THE QR CODE FOR DOLCE’S EXCLUSIVE FOOTAGE OF OUR INTERVIEW WITH IAN ROSEN

MADE TO MEASURE

As the new president and COO of famed menswear retailer Harry Rosen, Ian Rosen will be respecting his family’s legacy, while driving the company in bold new directions

Harry Rosen store in Edmonton and, during that decade, Harry began signing exclusive deals with top designers in Europe and the United States to sell their menswear in Canada. The landmark 32,000-square-foot, three-level Harry Rosen store on the exclusive Bloor Street in Toronto opened in 1987 and, today, is perhaps the most wellknown menswear store in the country. Today, Harry Rosen Inc. is a retail chain with 17 luxury clothing stores across Canada, and the Rosen name is emblematic in menswear. It has become

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THERE IS SOMETHING EXCITING ABOUT BUILDING SOMETHING AND THEN SEEING WHAT THE CUSTOMERS DO

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here is a scene in 1964’s A Hard Day’s Night which seemed appropriate for the times and seems to be repeating itself almost 60 years later. In it, George Harrison inadvertently wanders into a marketing research agency in the middle of swinging London and is immediately grilled by its market research analysts looking for the next big trend in fashion, style and clothing. After several minutes of being on the receiving end of the famously unsheathed Beatle wit, the analysts wonder aloud that George may be “an early clue to the new direction.” Meet Ian Rosen, the new president and chief operating officer of the classic men’s clothier Harry Rosen. As retailing attempts to move forward from the devastation of the pandemic, Ian’s innovative thinking and approaches in the world of men’s clothing and retailing may make him that same “early clue to the new direction.” “When I started to speak with my father about joining Harry Rosen, I said two things,” says Ian in a recent interview with Dolce. “Are you willing to push things really forward, as in, ‘Can we take what’s great about this brand and modernize it, evolve it and make it resonate with my generation?’ And the answer was ‘Yes.’ The second question was, ‘Are you willing to take digital seriously, because that’s where the world is going to live, and we’re going to have to push really hard to make sure we’re not just a B student, but an A+ student,’ and my dad was enthusiastic.” Ian’s dad is Larry Rosen, chairman and chief executive officer of Harry Rosen Inc., son of the legendary men’s retailer Harry Rosen. In 1954, Harry, after working in a clothing factory and in a quality menswear store, together with his brother, Lou, opened a small made-to-measure store in the Cabaggetown area of downtown Toronto with a $500 down payment. The success of the store allowed them to move to a larger store in the heart of Toronto’s financial district in 1961, and the store soon became a destination for customers across Toronto, Canada and the United States. National growth began in 1981 with the first

synonymous with high-quality fashion, expert tailoring and excellence in customer service. Ian saw all this growing up, long before the notion of ever joining the company that bears his grandfather’s name crossed his mind. “People ask me if I always wanted to do this, and I say this was the thing I was trying not to get into,” he recalls. “I was always Harry Rosen’s grandson, something I was proud of, and it was exciting to watch the business he and my father were building. But it got me thinking, What does charting your own path look like?” Ian’s path led him from business school to the world of management consulting, where he

dealt in financial services, natural energy and even worked on many mining projects, but something intangible remained missing. “I thought, These are very interesting projects, but the gamble isn’t there, the customer isn’t there,” says Ian of this key time in his career. “There is something exciting about building something and then seeing what the customers do. The first time I got involved in any type of consumer-based business, my brain kind of lit up, as it was so exciting.” Success in business requires the abilities to observe, to listen, to communicate and to keep an open mind, as you never know where the next great idea will come from. Ian Rosen possesses all these attributes, plus the understanding that generations can learn from one another. “The working relationship I’ve developed with my father, and even the relationship with my grandfather in his advisory role, over the years has become very comfortable because there is so much to learn from them,” says Ian. “But they also recognize we’re in a whole new era, and that I have a lot to offer, so we all come into those conversations with a ton of respect.” In his continuing studies of learning about customer behaviours and retailing, Ian had the considerable fortune of learning at the feet of the great master, his grandfather. But he also had some tips of his own to share with the older generation. “Pre-pandemic, I would always take Harry out to a store and pick his brain on what he’s seeing,” recalls Ian. “Because he’s kind of the master of the visual: ‘Is this right? Are we telling the right stories? Do we look like we’re in the business of X or Y?’ He’d teach me a little about what he was seeing, then I’d take him to Starbucks and teach him how to mobile order. It’s good to see the world through different eyes.” Transforming legacy businesses may seem challenging, but it is not without its success stories. An example may be The New York Times, which used to land with a thud outside doors every morning, but today it is one of the most popular and streamed digital media services in the world.

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PHOTOS BY JESSE MILNS

WRITTEN BY RICK MULLER | INTERVIEW BY ESTELLE ZENTIL

Seen in the personal closet of his Toronto home, behind Ian’s casual style and affable nature is a man serious about success

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Facing forward, Ian’s innovative ideas may change the future of menswear retailing in Canada

Why restrict yourself to delivering your paper simply around the block when the entire world is your newspaper route? Legacy retailers like Harry Rosen Inc. are facing the same challenges. In an industry which used to rely solely on in-store foot traffic, the new direction being brought by Ian Rosen is driven by new thinking and new visions. “Having a vision and bringing people along are paramount because, so much as it’s a business, it’s also a journey,” says Ian. “We really want to

push the envelope on what retail should and ought to feel like, and that is what our team is rallying around, that vision. When we got into e-commerce in a serious way, we didn’t pretend we were logistics experts, so we brought in a senior person who used to work at Walmart, and we defer to him. A key lesson in shaping the future is getting out of a comfort zone and empowering employees to drive the change.” Retailing is at an inflection point. The growth of digital and online shopping, coupled with the

COVID-19 pandemic, which shuttered many stores temporarily, caused Harry Rosen Inc. to pivot to online retailing, with some remarkably impressive results. Currently, online sales generate 25 per cent of Rosen’s total store volume, with company projections showing that total could rise to 40 per cent by 2025. From his previous position as Harry Rosen’s executive vice-president for digital and strategy, clearly Ian has been transforming the world of online into becoming the company’s largest storefront. While online is a key component of its success, it’s equally important the Harry Rosen face is prominent in supporting causes that are important in the communities where it operates. The company supports cancer research and causes which support marginalized parts of communities, including the Black Business and Professional Association, and assist in ensuring clean drinking water initiatives in Indigenous communities. It’s reflective of the company culture that lives within the organization. “We’re very customer-centric and precise — we call it ‘measure twice and cut once,’” says Ian. “We dress leaders, so we behave like leaders. And we’re a welcoming and inclusive company, as diversity and equality are very important, and we want our company to be representative of the entire fabric of Canada.” Ian Rosen likes to say, “It may be my father’s suit store, but it’s not your father’s suit store anymore.” As evidence, the company will be launching a line of golf-styled clothing this year, along with a Harold Brand this spring, which allows for customization and personalized fashion and style to celebrate individual tastes. Harry Rosen will also be introducing lines of casualwear, activewear, yoga wear, sleepwear and loungewear products. New product offerings will be enhanced by the famous Harry Rosen customer service. “We want to be incredibly focused on delivering to the new customer expectations,” says Ian about goals moving forward. “We need to integrate digital tools into that experience and launching things like same-day shipping. Nobody has any patience anymore and will not wait in a store for 15 minutes while you look up their past order, so we are redefining what great service looks like, as well as giving customers more choices in online ordering.” Clothiers need a critical eye, a fine eye — an eye for quality, craftsmanship, tailoring and style. And because they’re in retailing, what will sell, given current and future trends, the secret is to be ahead of the curve. For Ian Rosen, this new direction will be taking one of the world’s great clothiers to even higher levels, which should be a fascinating journey to watch.

www.harryrosen.com @harryroseninc @mr_ian.rosen

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CHANGEMAKER

SCAN THE QR CODE FOR DOLCE’S EXCLUSIVE FOOTAGE OF OUR INTERVIEW WITH VINCENZO GUZZO

SHOW MAN

PHOTO BY EMAD MOHAMMADI PHOTOSHOOT LOCATION: SHANGRI-LA TORONTO

Dragons’ Den star Vincenzo Guzzo has become one of Canada’s most successful entrepreneurs. In this revealing interview with Dolce, Guzzo talks about the triumphs and tragedies which have shaped his life WRITTEN BY RICK MULLER INTERVIEW BY MICHELLE ZERILLO-SOSA

n inspiring impresario, Vincenzo Guzzo has his hand in many pots. As president and CEO of Cinémas Guzzo, the chain is now the largest independent operator in Quebec and the thirdlargest movie exhibitor in Canada. Guzzo also owns Groupe Guzzo Construction Inc., one of the most successful general contracting outlets in Quebec, two fine-dining pizzerias, Giulietta, and has entered the retail food space with Good Pantry, Giulietta@Home and Mr. Sunshine Popcorn, all of which grew from the family business of running independent movie theatres, which his father started in 1974. “We build a better mousetrap at a lower cost,” says Guzzo, about his family theatre empire in his lengthy sit-down with Dolce. The interview covers many aspects of his personal life, his business philosophy and the future of theatres after the pandemic is over in this revealing portrait. Among them: • He is worried about skyrocketing inflation and rising interest rates and the impact on the overall economy, saying, “There is nothing great about having a country and its people suffer through economic insecurity.” • He feels the theatre business will recover from the pandemic shutdowns because “people don’t want to stay in their homes anymore,” as they miss community experiences. • Guzzo also speaks from the heart about the tragedy of his parents losing four other children in infancy due to a rare medical condition. “There is a lot of pain at the heart of the Guzzo story,” he admits. Guzzo also speaks about his family’s philanthropic efforts on behalf of cancer research and mental health issues, for which he is a recipient of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. The interview is an in-depth glimpse of the man behind the show-business personality, showcasing an engaging, expressive and unbridled optimist. www.mrsunshine.com @lordguzzo

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SPONSORED CONTENT

Pamela Ventresca is one of the real estate experts who came together with technology visionaries to bridge the gap between realtors and developers with a 3D metaverse backed by leading technology called NTRY, the ﬁrst 3D interactive, cloud-based real estate marketplace in the world

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PHOTO BY JESSE MILNS

PAMELA VENTRESCA IS ABOUT TO TAKE REAL ESTATE INTO THE FUTURE

A female industry leader on the verge of launching NTRY, a tool that stands to revolutionize and reinvent the way real estate does business

amela Ventresca’s entry into the real estate industry was an unconventional one. After finishing a career at a large corporate automotive firm and waiting a month to start a new position at another, she started going into her parents’ home-building company to help them out and keep herself busy. Then, Ventresca never left. “Those early experiences laid the foundation for my career and helped me understand what I wanted, what I liked and where I saw myself in the next 30 years of my career,” she says. Armed with the entrepreneurial understanding of working for a major global brand, as well as the insight of working with her family, spearheading the sales department and bringing everything inhouse, she expanded into her own venture. “When you’re joining a family business, you’re emotionally connected. I was able to play a key part from the beginning and own that role more. That really appealed to me in making the career switch.” In 2017, Ventresca founded a boutique real estate brokerage offering services to both developers and the public in all real estate sectors. “It grew and took on a life of its own, which I’m very proud of. I love my team,” Ventresca explains. “Now I have multiple locations, developer clients and great relationships I’ve managed to leverage in the industry.” All of this experience has given Ventresca an exclusive perspective on preconstruction real estate. She understands what it is, what it isn’t and, perhaps most interesting, what it needs. Her newest venture, NTRY, is testament to not only this vision, but also an answer to the industry’s current problems. Alongside partners Julian Pucci and James Borst, NTRY is best described by Ventresca as “the metaverse of real estate.” NTRY is the world’s first preconstruction 3D marketplace. Bridging the gap between realtors and developers, it works by showcasing preconstruction properties as they would be when built, using 3D visualization technology to allow users to engage with the property and take virtual tours. Setting the stage in the GTA, the firm’s home base, and the largest preconstruction market in North America,

they have ambitious plans to share it with the world. “The concept began as a Toronto-based digital solution, but expanded into a global tool for real estate showcasing,” she says. “We’ve built a team of over 30 people, including agents, developers, administrators and technical specialists.” Ventresca calls it “an arsenal of a team,” who’ll help bring NTRY to the global market.

TORONTO’S OUR HOME BASE AND WHERE WE’RE EMOTIONALLY CONNECTED, BUT ALSO, IF WE HAVE TO START WITH THE HARDEST MARKET OUT THERE, THAT’S A GREAT LEARNING OPPORTUNITY FOR US “The younger generation is a big topic in our office,” she continues. “The affordability factor for millennials, the way they purchase, how they purchase, what they want to purchase, but can’t because of various factors. We’re really cognizant of how future demographics are coming into the market.” And while NTRY has the potential to change how the real estate sector approaches its work, particularly with the rise of the metaverse, NFTs, cryptocurrency and the acceleration of digitization thanks to the pandemic, Ventresca makes a point of saying it’s a solution designed to improve, rather than replace. “We’re not approaching this as the new kids on the block to tear everything apart,” Ventresca says. “We’re taking all the amazing things that are complementary to how everyone works in

the industry, the many years of development and why things are rolled out the way they are. We’re simply trying to complement that and be a tool in the [tool]box to move into the next chapter of where the world is moving.” There are also a number of challenges Ventresca is repurposing, so they can be used as opportunities. As someone who believes Toronto’s real estate market is one of the hardest to break into and change the standard ways business is conducted, archaic, in some instances, she believes that launching here will set up NTRY well for the future. “It’s extremely challenging to do anything new and fresh in Toronto’s real estate market. It’s not receptive to change,” she says. “Toronto’s our home base and where we’re emotionally connected, but also, if we have to start with the hardest market out there, that’s a great learning opportunity for us.” She also feels that her background not being closely associated with technology is another benefit, because of her ability to bring a fresh perspective. As she says, “not knowing can be an advantage.” With the official brand launch on April 21, 2022, that was a huge success, hosting hundreds of the who’s who of the Toronto real estate industry with special celebrity guest Ryan Serhant. It was an evening not soon to be forgotten, and with the NTRY platform set to launch in the coming months, the days are busy for the NTRY team. But, for all the successes and progress she’s making in her career, and as a mother of four, it’s her family who makes her feel the most accomplished, and she defines success as something much closer to home. “Success is waking up in the morning, opening your eyes and feeling excited about getting out of bed to do what you love; I’m blessed that way. To know you’ve done everything you can to better yourself and those around you. When I come to work and see people thriving in a work culture I’ve helped build, that’s success.” p2realty.com ntrygta.com @pamela_ventresca @ntrygta

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BORN TO DESIGN

SCAN THE QR CODE FOR DOLCE’S EXCLUSIVE FOOTAGE OF OUR INTERVIEW WITH RICHARD WENGLE

EMOTION BY DESIGN

Architect Richard Wengle’s luxury home designs create excitement, warmth and emotion

blessing in life for a fortunate few is knowing how you want to spend it, at an early age. For the vast majority, we stumble through our awkward teenage years without a clue, searching for the spark of interest that could launch us on a satisfying career path. One of those fortunate few, for whom the career spark came early and bright, is Richard Wengle, now one of North America’s most respected and admired designers and architects of customdesigned luxury homes and residences. “My interest in architecture started in high school,” says Wengle in a recent interview with Dolce. “I always loved construction and design and drawing as a kid and was always building things and by Grade 11 I was 100 per cent sure that’s what I wanted to pursue.” Following graduation from architectural school in 1983, Wengle spent his first years at the same company before starting his own firm in 1992 to, in his words, “pursue my own ideas” and unlock the emotion and passion he possesses for good architecture. “Good architecture will touch emotion first,” observes Wengle. “It could be subliminal, but someone can look at something and it will create a feeling of excitement, curiosity, warmth and, almost, sometimes, exuberance because it might remind you of something, and that plays on your emotions. The wonder of space and light is incredible, but it is also tied to experiences and an emotional attachment to things in order to appreciate them. Part of being an architect is the appreciation for the built form.”

He began to build his reputation with customdesigned single-family luxury homes and he has kept his Toronto-based Richard Wengle Architects Inc. intentionally small, with a staff of fewer than 20 professional designers and architects, so he could meet all his clients and get to know their dreams and aspirations for their homes. “I’m involved with every project from the beginning, so it is our vision and it’s consistent,” says Wengle in explaining his firm’s process. “For me, it’s all about connecting with our clients and maintaining a relationship with them, and after the project is completed, we remain friends. Some clients know exactly what they want, while others depend upon us to guide them. We have a broad range of architectural styles on purpose, and it’s nice to be able to speak in many dialects of the architectural language.” Wengle describes his firm’s signature as “detail, proportion and style” in creating bespoke residences with tailored elegance of the highest quality. “Pragmatic design is important, so the house has to function well,” he says. “There is no point in designing something beautiful that doesn’t work. The flow and functionality of the home are very important, then you can get into the elegance and the special moments of a home, which become creative. The house should be designed so that it caters to those large events you may host, but also when you are there quietly, as your home is your sanctuary.” Just over a decade ago, developers of luxury boutique condominiums in the Greater Toronto Area began to notice what Wengle was doing, his many different styles, his thoughtfulness in

PHOTOS BY JESSE MILNS

WRITTEN BY RICK MULLER | INTERVIEW BY ESTELLE ZENTIL

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Wengle stands at the top of his profession as an acclaimed designer and architect of luxury homes

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Two of Wengle’s recent projects speak to the quality, craftsmanship and artistry he brings to his designs. The luxury boutique condominium 89 Avenue Road (left) is in the heart of Yorkville, while One Forest Hill (right) is a luxury boutique condominium overlooking trees and parks in one of Toronto’s most exclusive neighbourhoods

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THERE IS NO POINT IN DESIGNING SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL THAT DOESN’T WORK. THE FLOW AND FUNCTIONALITY OF THE HOME IS VERY IMPORTANT

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design of the highest calling and, perhaps most importantly, in a vertical city of glass-box towers, how his projects met the streetscape. We care most about architecture where we interact with it, and, for most of us, that is at street level. Do we really care that a building may soar 40, 50 or 60 storeys above us? Probably not. But we do care about architecture when we can see it right in front of us, as impactful design is a major part of the look and feel of our community surroundings. “Developers wanted to bring the designs of their condominiums up a notch, and we started with a building in Oakville, Ont., and that was a major turning point for us,” says Wengle. “We’re doing about eight or nine more currently and we are getting approached all the time to build more unique, boutique-style buildings. Developers tell us they see in our designs our abilities to really relate to the streetscape, have a lot more character and more of an everlasting presence in order to bring their buildings to the next level.” Richard Wengle Architects is designing projects in some of Toronto’s most desirable neighbourhoods, including the exclusive midtown enclaves of Forest Hill and Yorkville, where construction has started on 89 Avenue Road by Armour Heights Developments, a 20-storey

luxury boutique condominium reminiscent of the Central Park area of New York. “The 89 Avenue Road condominium is pre-war style, and we’re doing 77 Clarendon for Menkes Developments and we just finished One Forest Hill by North Drive,” says Wengle. “So, there

are a lot of beautiful buildings, and we’re sort of leaving Toronto in a better place than we found it, hopefully. The goal with each project is that we want to raise the bar and bring ideas that we have to our new projects.” Architects notice things the rest of us do not, and as an avid word traveller who lived in Venice for six months as a student, Wengle receives much of his inspiration from historical sites and buildings. “My inspiration comes from tactile surfaces or things like that,” he says. “I’m known to look at a stone wall somewhere and take many pictures of it, as I just get excited by the historical details and employ some of that in our buildings. I also learn about the interpretation of materials that are different than what we haven’t used here in a long time and new ways to employ them. A lot of architecture you see is just glass and metal panels and there is no life to them — they are just there to fill space. When you look at a building that is wellbuilt and well-crafted and you see all the details that have been put into it, for an architect, that’s what you dream about. Probably only an architect can appreciate what a builder can provide.” The firm has become known internationally, designing homes in the United States, Croatia and the Bahamas and recently designed a home

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in Stockholm for former National Hockey League star and former captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Mats Sundin, which Wengle termed one of the highlights of his career. Despite this international recognition, Richard Wengle likes his position in the centre of the architectural field in Toronto, where he continues to see the city punching above its weight when it comes to design that is world-class. “What is really great about living in Toronto is, we’re not locked into one particular esthetic here,” he observes. “We have so many different architectural styles open to us, more than probably any city in North America. In Toronto, there is a huge array of modernism, contemporary and traditional work, and even within the traditional, there are many variations on this theme. It is truly really an incredible city and it is one of the best cities to be in. And I am proud to be able to contribute to it.” For someone who is so in tune with how and where we live, Wengle has some interesting and insightful thoughts on the importance of home, especially considering what we have all experienced these past two-plus years. “What I have learned about society these past two years is that home is a lot more important to people than they ever thought,” says Wengle. “It wasn’t just a place to come home to, especially when you’re living in it all day, every day. It’s a sanctuary, it’s an office, it’s a place to raise your kids, but it’s also a place for a respite, so it has to have that soothing quality that you have a place to escape to in order to relax. I know a lot of people who have enjoyed being at home, and I’m one of them, as long as you have the tools and the space, and we’re seeing a lot of that now because of COVID.” Architecture is one of those fields we all have opinions about, similar to art or music. We may think something is bold and new, but it takes the keen eye of a professional to reveal that what may appear to be a new trend has visited us many times before. “Architecture is like the ballet or the symphony, as people still go to see and hear both of those art forms, and they are hundreds of years old,” says Wengle. “Architecture is still progressive because styles have repeated themselves over the years as things of influences. You see a lot of modernism, but that is influenced from the 1940s and 1950s. Look at art deco architecture, that was 80 years ago. Styles cycle and they repeat themselves, but they have new interpretations of them, as they are all still influencers.” From a 16-year-old kid who knew exactly what he wanted to do to an internationally respected architect doing exactly what he loves, Richard Wengle has brought his emotion and passion to his craft — for the benefit of his community. @richardwengle

Passionate about architecture since he was 16 years old, 2023 will mark Wengle’s 40th year in the industry

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FOOD

SCAN THE QR CODE FOR DOLCE’S EXCLUSIVE FOOTAGE OF OUR INTERVIEW WITH MARCUS SAMUELSSON

MARCUS SAMUELSSON:

EXPLORING THE UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE OF FOOD The restaurateur and chef talks about living in New York City and being inspired by Montreal’s push and pull

ituated inside the Four Seasons Hotel Montreal, the MARCUS Restaurant + Terrace, and MARCUS Lounge cater for all moments of the day, from power breakfasts to nighttime cocktails, with a dinner menu that champions produce from both land and sea. It’s also a space where chef Marcus Samuelsson brings his vision of food to life. “Montreal is an incredible place,” says Samuelsson. “It’s beautiful, historic and there’s a push and pull between the English and French.” He talks about walking around the city in the years before opening his restaurant in 2019, and how much that push and pull inspired him. When the time came to open MARCUS, he made sure the establishment captured that ethos. “The night bar has one energy and then the dining room and kitchen have another. You have this push and pull, where people can go back and forth. It creates a beautiful, fun way of dining.” Born in Ethiopia and moving to Sweden after his mother died of tuberculosis and a nurse aided in getting him and his sister adopted, Samuelsson has an interesting perspective when it comes to food. “I’ve gone back to Ethiopia many times, so I’m very connected to it,” he notes. “Spiritually, through food and through my love for the country.” Where he has memories of going fishing with his father for crayfish, lobsters and mackerel on the west coast of Sweden, his lasting connection with Ethiopia offers an appreciation for the depth of spice. “Crab is something I grew up with, along with searing fish,” he continues. “It’s very simple. Our mackerel was seared and served with horseradish and potatoes. It’s very distinct flavours.” Over the course of his years in the kitchen, both his craft and renown have moved from strength to strength. In 1995, at age 24, he was the youngest

chef to receive a three-star restaurant review from The New York Times, while being executive chef of Scandinavian restaurant Aquavit. In 2013, he accepted the James Beard Award for Writing and Literature for his memoir, Yes, Chef. In 2009, he was guest chef for Barack Obama’s first state dinner. He’s also enjoyed a television career, featuring as a judge on the Food Network’s Chopped, American show The Taste and most recently as head judge of Top Chef Family Style. “Any time me and my mum sent a letter to get a scholarship, there was anticipation, nervousness,” Samuelsson explains, looking back to where it all started. “Not only did I have to work in a different environment and take care of myself from an early age, but I also had to do it in different languages. In the kitchen, I always felt a sense of pride that I could operate in multi-layered, complex environments.” While he’s had to navigate working in different cultures, kitchens and in different languages, the one language that’s been universal through it all is a love for food. When you’re talking with Samuelsson, you can hear the passion for flavour in what he’s saying, and how he translates that to the plate. He talks of food as therapy, describing how touching, thinking, cooking and communicating about it with his chefs are some of the most calming things he can do. As he says, “I’ve worked for 25 years. I’m equally, if not more, inspired today than before. The minute I’m not inspired, I should be doing something else.” Today, he resides in the neighbourhood of Harlem, New York City, a place where he says he feels most at home. “Even if you don’t live in America, you know so much about New York City because of TV shows and the like,” he says. “You go to a small village in France or Japan and you don’t know anything. I found it almost easier to be

in the [United] States, because there was a level of comfort.” Looking at what Samuelsson has achieved and accomplished over the years, it would be easy to say it’s been a natural progression. He’s reached celebrity status, with hundreds of thousands of followers who connect with him on social media to follow his food journey. However, he’s quick to share how it’s not about follower count or acclaim. For Samuelsson, it’s always about the food. “You set out to love your craft,” he says. “I’m working on that craft and talking through my food. Everything else I can’t control.” As well as serving people’s palettes, he’s a philanthropist and is passionate about giving back. When asked how he’d define hospitality, he responds by saying that “it’s to serve your community.” As well as being co-chair for the Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP), which helps educate and guide underserved highschool students toward a career in the culinary sector, he works with initiatives like City Harvest, a food rescue movement which helps to feed New Yorkers who are hungry and in need. “I come from a hut that’s twice the size of this table,” he says. “I can talk to you because I was lucky. I survived tuberculosis and I had the goodness of others, like the nurse who took us in. When you come from environments like that, you have to acknowledge it and give back.” What’s next for Samuelsson is unwritten. Whatever it is, however, he believes it will be good. When asked what his most fun experience has been as a chef to date, he replied simply by saying, “It’s still to come.” marcussamuelsson.com @marcuscooks

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PHOTO BY GEOFF FITZGERALD

WRITTEN BY JOSH WALKER | INTERVIEW BY ESTELLE ZENTIL

Samuelsson has been awarded a number of accolades during his career as a chef

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LUXURY REALTOR

E mma H ernan

PHOTO BY JASON KENT

FROM CEO AND LUXURY REAL ESTATE AGENT TO REALITY STAR

Hernan strikes a pose while being the glamorous and confident businesswoman she is

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Real estate agent and founder of Emma Leigh & Co., Emma Hernan talks about Season 5 of Selling Sunset and shares what has made her into the successful woman she is today WRITTEN BY MURSAL RAHMAN

mma Hernan joined Selling Sunset because she wanted to inspire other women with her entrepreneurial journey. Her motto? Be positive and always take the high road. She believes that knowledge is power and that being confident is crucial. We had the pleasure of chatting with the reality star about friendships, investing advice and tips on how to be confident.

Q: Can you give us some insight into the not-soglamorous side of real estate? A: We don’t go into every little showing in sixinch stilettos. I’ve gone crawling in a house trying to find the light switches and going to inspections with my clients. You’re looking at the

Q: What kind of person would you consider to be a good friend? A: Someone who has your back through thick and thin. Someone who will be there for you the same way you’ll be there for them. If you need someone to pick you up at 3 a.m. because your car stopped working and needs a jump, they’ll be there. I’m that type of friend. I go above and beyond for everybody in my life, and everybody would say that. And the people I choose to have in my life would do the same for me. I treat everyone in my life like family, and I think there’s something to be said about that. I don’t treat my friends like casual friends; I treat my friends like family.

PUT ALL YOUR ENERGY INTO POSITIVE VIBES. AND, JUST HAVE THE MANTRA ‘YOLO’ [YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE]

Q: You invested in the stock market at a young age. Any advice for people looking to invest? A: I definitely think it takes some reading, and that’s how I got into it. For three months before I put money anywhere, I read about the different options. There are risky plays and then there are safer plays. The great thing about it is that, by starting younger, you can take more risks. And I think that’s played a huge role in my success. I started investing so young, so I was fortunate enough to be a little riskier when it came to the investment. You know, I started investing in health care when I was 15 years old — not the sexiest thing to invest in, but very beneficial for the future because you always want to invest in things that will make a positive influence on the environment.

most luxurious homes in the entire world, but the interesting thing about real estate is that it’s 24-7. It’s not nine to five. I know personally; I have clients overseas in Singapore, so we literally are working non-stop. I’ve gone to houses that are completely under construction. We’re in sneakers and a hard hat. It’s not always glamorous, but that’s what makes it fun.

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Q: How do you navigate working in male-dominated industries? A: Definitely take the high road on that one. The number of times I was looked at funny or told that I was in the wrong meeting place is endless, and I used that to my advantage. When I walk into an investor meeting or if I’m walking into a meeting

representing my company or another company, a lot of times it’s assumed that I’m somebody’s girlfriend. I wait for my turn to talk. These are CEOs of major Fortune 500 companies, and their jaws all drop to the ground by the time I end what I’m saying because I know exactly what I’m talking about. Knowledge is power. I’m very intelligent, and I know people judge based on looks, and that’s why I use that to my advantage. I explain the situation and I tell them exactly what we’re going to do, and I will take control of the room. For me, it’s fun to watch because I go from being judged to people thinking I’m more involved in the company. Q: Do you have any advice on how to build your confidence? A: I’ve walked into a meeting before and I didn’t know what they were talking about. I was at a super-high-level meeting, and I wrote down every single thing that was said and learned about it. We don’t always know everything, but you put a smile on your face and you go back and you figure it out. Knowledge is power, and you’re going to have days when you’re down, but you should make the best of everything. Q: What’s the key to living la dolce vita? A: That’s so funny. I feel like I use that quote all the time. I actually texted it last night to a couple of friends. I think it’s just so important to live your best life. Don’t worry about the small things. Put all your energy into positive vibes. And, just have the mantra “YOLO” [You Only Live Once]. I do think you will live your best life if you focus on the good and you put your everything into everything that means something to you. ogroup.com @theoppenheimgroup @emmahernan

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HEALTH

SCAN THE QR CODE FOR DOLCE’S EXCLUSIVE FOOTAGE OF OUR INTERVIEW WITH DR. SEBASTIAN RODRIGUEZ-ELIZALDE

DR. SEBASTIAN RODRIGUEZ-ELIZALDE: A MAKER OF MOVEMENT The Humber Hospital surgeon discusses balancing life as a dad and a doctor, advancing technologies and approaching surgery as a dance WRITTEN BY JOSH WALKER | INTERVIEW BY ESTELLE ZENTIL

r. Sebastian Rodriguez-Elizalde has an impressive resumé. While he’s an orthopedic trauma and adult hip and knee surgeon at Humber River Hospital in Toronto today, his training includes, but isn’t limited to, completing an orthopedic surgery residency at the University of Ottawa, fellowship training at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York and another in orthopedic trauma at Toronto’s Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. It’s been a lifelong pursuit for him, one that he always pictured himself exploring. “Surgery can be technical and hands-on, and some of those stresses aren’t suited for everybody,” he says. “I’ve always enjoyed working with my hands, whether it was with painting or something else when I was younger. I could see myself doing surgery.” It’s something he goes as far to describe as a dance. “It’s choreographed,” he explains. “When someone goes to sleep, how you move them, how you prep them, the surgery you do — everything is a well-choreographed performance.” While no one in his family is in the medical field, they always talked about the importance of education. “My mother’s from India, and my father’s from Argentina. They met in France,” he continues. “Education was always a big cornerstone for both of them. It allowed them to travel the world and come to Canada, so they saw it as the way to bring up their kids.” It’s that importance of education that’s built Dr. Rodriguez-Elizalde’s resumé. In our conversation, he mentioned that “education doesn’t end,” and even recently, he completed a master’s in health administration from the University of Toronto’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health.

But for all the education he has under his belt, it’s the real-life experiences as a surgeon that are paramount. “You get to see the results of your surgery very quickly, so it’s gratifying to know if you fix someone’s broken hip or knee, you’ll see results in patients within days or months.” He continues to say how “so much of health care is spent on disease prevention or management. We don’t really cure diabetes; we manage it with medications. With arthritis of the hip, for example, if we do a replacement, we’ll essentially cure someone, and they’ll go back to a regular life.” Part of what drives Dr. Rodriguez-Elizalde is his interest in advancing or new technologies. Even in the years since he’s started working in orthopedics, he discusses change and how a deeper understanding of anesthesia, surgical planning and technique has led to being able to send people home early. “When we started training, people were in hospital for a week before we sent them home. Then it was five days, four days, two days. Now, 90 per cent of my patients go home the same day.” Another major advancement he’s been able to experience is the Hana table, a piece of medical equipment that allows legs to be placed in stirrups, offering surgeons like Dr. Rodriguez-Elizalde the opportunity to easily reposition legs and hips during surgery. It also means the surgeon can access the hip from the front, leading to a safer procedure with a speedier recovery. Humber Hospital has three Hana tables, provided by donors, which Dr. Rodriguez-Elizalde says changed the way they operate. “I was very fortunate that our hospital was the first to adopt it in the GTA,” he says. “It’s done in London, [Ont.], in Ottawa and scattered about the country, but not regularly in Toronto. We found a huge difference

in patients, and they were able to feel more stable immediately after surgery.” As well as his work in the city, Dr. RodriguezElizalde’s philanthropic work has seen him helping people farther afield. His work with Operation Walk, which provides free hip and knee replacements to patients in developing countries, takes place once a year. “I’ve been to Ecuador and Guatemala,” he says. “That’s been some of the most gratifying times of my life.” As a father of three, most of Dr. RodriguezElizalde’s spare time is spent with family. He shares that he has a place in Collingwood, Ont., skiing and snowboarding with them there in the winter, or enjoying bike rides and baseball sessions in the summer. He also says how life is busy and admits it can be hard to get a good routine in place. “Even if it’s just going for a walk or getting to the gym, that’s really important for my own mental clarity,” he says. “We’re lucky at Humber to have a gym in the basement we can use. It’s nice after we operate to go down there and work out for 45 minutes before we go home.” For Dr. Rodriguez-Elizalde, it’s clear that working as a surgeon is a privilege. “People trust me to let me do surgery on them and make them better,” he says. “There’s no greater gift, as far as I’m concerned.” Not only has it led to him doing something he loves, but it has also offered up countless stories he hears from his patients. “Hearing they can go back to ballroom dancing, go to the cottage and take steps to the dock or crouch down and play with their grandkids — it’s the stories they tell that keep you going.” rhksurgery.com @rhksurgery

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PHOTO BY JESSE MILNS

Dr. Rodriguez-Elizalde is an orthopedic surgeon at Toronto’s Humber River Hospital

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PHILANTHROPY

LEARN THIS BOOK

This fall, Hope Chicago will send about 4,000 students to college debt-free. That’s a big deal, but that’s not all: In a multi-generational educational opportunity, the foundation will also send a parent back to school. With plans to raise $1 billion over the next 10 years, it’s exclusive, disruptive and ambitiously next-level — a scholarship model like no other WRITTEN BY DONNA PARIS | INTERVIEW BY ESTELLE ZENTIL

f education is the best vehicle to disrupt cycles of generational poverty, then Hope Chicago is driving the school bus. For students who don’t have the funds to attend college or university, post-secondary studies are just a dream that dissipates. And it’s not just finances; there are other barriers, too, like GPA requirements. “My passion is to provide opportunity to people where it doesn’t exist or

where it’s hard to access,” says Janice K. Jackson, CEO of Hope Chicago. “We’re going to meet you where you are, and that’s everything that Hope Chicago is about.” Actually, Jackson spent more than 20 years working in Chicago public schools, and she had never even heard of the foundation. When she decided to step down, she heard from Pete Kadens, the co-founder and co-chair of the organization.

“Janice is the real deal,” says Kadens. “She could have taken a lot of jobs [after] running the thirdlargest school system in America, almost any job paying far more, but she took this one because she believes in this community.” In the United States, education is mainly a state and local responsibility, unlike in Canada. Here, different provinces regulate education, but the federal government also contributes to post-

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF HOPE CHICAGO

Last February, the kids in the auditorium at Morgan Park High School couldn’t believe it when they got a visit from Hope Chicago and were told that all of them — and their parents — would receive full, debt-free college scholarships to partner colleges and universities

Janice K. Jackson, Hope Chicago’s chief executive officer (left), and Pete Kadens, Hope Chicago’s co-founder and co-chair, are both working hard to open the door to opportunities for Chicago’s public-school graduates

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IT’S A LIFE-CHANGING OPPORTUNITY, ONE THAT THE ORGANIZATION HOPES WILL REVERBERATE THROUGHOUT FUTURE GENERATIONS, SETTING A NEW STANDARD FOR SUCCESS

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secondary education. “The biggest challenge we have [in the States] is making sure that there’s access to higher education and that it’s affordable,” says Jackson. And that is really the goal of Hope Chicago, a non-profit, first-of-its-kind organization that’s funding post-secondary scholarships for Chicago public school graduates — and an adult family member who wants to return to school, too. The organization will cover the full cost of attendance at participating institutions. It’s a multi-generational scholarship program that covers tuition, room and board, books, fees and surcharges. Co-founded by businessman Ted Koenig and Kadens, the organization is modelled after a scholarship program that Kadens pioneered in his hometown of Toledo, Ohio. This past fall, the organization used information, including census data, college enrolment and completion data, to help identify neighbourhoods and schools that could use a boost, launching in partnership with five Chicago public high schools. The first cohort of Hope Chicago students will begin this September, and the scholars can use their scholarships at one of Hope Chicago’s 20 partner colleges, universities or other educational programs across Illinois, including four-year colleges, two-year City Colleges of Chicago and some private colleges, as well as trade and professional schools. It’s a life-changing opportunity, one that the organization hopes will reverberate throughout future generations. At one school announcement, the students were gathered in the auditorium, and the room went silent. The announcement was

repeated, and that is when everyone exploded. Many cheers — and tears — ensued. For Jackson, it was an incredible experience to deliver this kind of good news to students. In one instance, she explains, the principal came onto the stage to reinforce that even undocumented students had access to the program, too. “In America, undocumented students, many of whom migrate from Mexico, don’t have access to federal aid,” Jackson says. That means the gap for these kids to go to college is even bigger. If they don’t get a scholarship, education is really off the table because they don’t have federal funds to support it, she adds. “And just for them to see that those barriers have been removed, something that is a huge barrier for a lot of our undocumented students … that one is going to sit with me for a long time.” The organization has already raised more than $40 million with funding partners, including corporations, financial institutions and private family foundations. And, with investments totalling more than $20 million by The Kadens Family Foundation and Koenig, the organization’s operational and administrative costs are fully funded for the next three years, so that every dollar raised will go directly toward supporting students and their parents with scholarships and other services. This two-generational model has proven to increase the likelihood of completion, setting a new standard of success for the entire highereducation sector and creating lasting economic impact for families. Another hurdle that doesn’t need to be overcome is that eligibility isn’t dependent on GPA or test scores. Participants are

only required to have the desire to pursue their post-secondary goals. Their long-term goal is to raise $1 billion in the next 10 years to cover both tuition and non-tuition expenses, with plans to add additional partner high schools to the program each year, prioritizing communities where post-secondary success can make the most impact. It’s an ambitious goal, but it is necessary to think big. But that’s not all. Hope Chicago is also committed to breaking down other invisible barriers, like loneliness and psychological stress, which prevent students from completing their post-secondary education. By forging partnerships with community organizations and outreach programs, the organization can reach an additional 71,000 high-school graduates with support services, including mentoring, guidance and counselling. Kadens thinks big and he dreams big, too, and he inspires the people he works with to do the same. “I just feel like anything is possible with Pete, and that’s what I like about working with him: the optimism and the belief that anything is possible,” says Jackson. “I think we need that in education.” As for Kadens, he is grateful now. “About four years ago, I woke up one day, very, very rich in the traditional sense of money in the bank, but very relationship-poor, and that wasn’t happy,” he says. “So, for me, the sweet life is about happiness and fulfillment, and doing things that make me and my family happy.”

www.hopechicago.org @hopechicagoedu

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WELLNESS JOURNEY

SCAN THE QR CODE FOR DOLCE’S EXCLUSIVE FOOTAGE OF OUR INTERVIEW WITH MATHEW EMBRY

A FATHER AND SON’S JOURNEY TO WELLNESS AND HOPE Health is wealth. When we are in a positive state physically, mentally and emotionally, we have the world by the tail. But in a heartbeat, all that can change

magine you are a healthy, athletic 19-yearold who has just come back from a rigorous ride on your mountain bike. You’re kicking a soccer ball around in your driveway as you cool down and then, all of a sudden, you can no longer feel the ball under your feet. And in that heartbeat, life as you know it changes — forever. “In a matter of 20 minutes, I experienced a combination of numbness and hypersensitivity. I knew right then that something was really wrong,” Mathew Embry, the 19-year-old in question, states. After spending a few weeks in limbo waiting to see his family doctor, followed by another few weeks waiting to see a neurologist — who eventually ordered an MRI — Mathew, accompanied by his dad, Dr. Ashton Embry, a scientist, and his mom, Joan, a nurse, were given the heart-rending diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS). “Even though I have a background in science, I didn’t know much about MS,” Dr. Embry says. “I was shocked when the neurologist said there was nothing that could be done about it.” If you are unfamiliar with MS — an autoimmune condition that affects the brain and spinal cord — and you are wondering why an MS diagnosis is so completely terrifying, it can be summed up in one word: fear. And that outsized emotion of fear can be broken down into two components: fear of the unknown and fear of the known, both of which exist in the physical and emotional aspects of the diagnosis. The physical symptoms of the disease manifest in things such as loss of balance, spasticity and spasms, ataxia, cognitive issues and heat sensitivity. The emotional impacts manifest in bouts of anxiety and depression. And with that, Mathew’s youth-driven plans,

goals and dreams for the future were put on hold — at least for the interim, until the ramifications of the condition, the scope of what needed to be dealt with and how that was going to play out were assessed and understood. “As a parent, it is the worst thing that could happen,” Dr. Embry says. Understandably, the details of that time frame are a blur for Mathew — between the initial shock and the fact that 26 years have passed since the original diagnosis — but he does remember vividly one of the things the neurologist told him at the time. “Don’t put on the concrete shoes and jump off the bridge just yet,” is the advice that Mathew recalls being given more than two decades ago. “My first emotion was shock; I didn’t know a lot about MS, but I knew it was bad, one which resulted in decline, severe disability and potentially early death. I was 19 years old and I was really scared.” While Mathew went through a course of steroid treatment, which resulted in a struggle with depression, his dad was spending untold hours in a medical library at the University of Calgary, researching everything he possibly could about the disease. In what he says was an incredible moment of serendipity, one of Mathew’s high-school teachers gave the Embrys a book on the value of adopting a positive diet regime. Within six weeks, Dr. Embry had developed a series of protocols around diet and exercise, which Mathew embraced immediately. “The science around the protocols of diet and exercise is solid — there is no disputing it,” Dr. Embry says.

“There are certain foods that need to be eliminated altogether, and others that need to be reduced in an MS person’s diet,” Mathew concurs. “One of the worst things for people with an autoimmune condition like MS is to eat dairy products, including any kind of milk, cheese, yogurt and ice cream, all of which need to be cut out of the diet immediately.” “In fact, by eating dairy, you are telling your immune system to attack the central nervous system,” Dr. Embry explains. Other products that need to be eliminated immediately include foodstuffs that contain gluten such as bread, pasta, cakes, crackers and granola bars. The high sugar content found in pop, sweets and chocolate is also a definite no-go. However, fruits and vegetables, low-fat animal protein such as skinless chicken, fish of all kinds and lean meat are recommended foods on Dr. Embry’s personally crafted MS Best Bet Diet. “Once I started the diet, it took four to five months for my symptoms to abate,” Mathew states. “But, I really only had two choices: be in a wheelchair, or change my diet. I choose to change my diet.” A minimum daily exercise regime of 20 minutes is also key to managing MS symptoms and includes cardio activity such as biking, hiking and swimming, as well as weight lifting and engaging in sports activities. “It is a matter of fighting fears by putting your body in action,” Mathew says. “Exercise is incredibly important, because it oxygenates the cardiovascular system and keeps the muscles active.” However, there has been a great deal of controversy around the MS management

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WRITTEN BY CECE M. SCOTT | INTERVIEW BY ESTELLE ZENTIL

Mathew Embry hosts monthly Zoom meetings on his website, mshope.com, to encourage people to advocate for themselves and develop their own road map to wellness

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WE ARE NOW WORKING WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE SEVERE DISABILITIES IN HOPES OF STOPPING THE PROGRESSION OF THE DISEASE. HOW DO WE BRING PEOPLE BACK WHO ARE SUFFERING WITH SEVERE DISABILITIES — THAT IS THE NEXT PIECE

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— Mathew Embry protocols championed by Mathew and Dr. Embry, versus those recommended by the traditional medical community. In fact, neither Mathew nor his dad feels the MS Society genuinely champions options that are outside of traditional drug treatment protocols. “I am not against drugs and, in fact, I believe that they do have value,” Dr. Embry says. “However, they are not a cure.” The doctor’s main concerns centre around the relationships between the pharmaceutical companies and the medical world of neurologists and physicians, not to mention the MS Society, all of which he believes are tied to financial remuneration. “Drug companies give money to neurologists and the MS Society in order to sell as many drugs as possible to maximize their profits. You have to consider the MS Society as a part of the complete medical pharmaceutical complex,” Dr. Embry states. Interestingly, while the Embrys have invited the MS Society to meet with them on several occasions, they have only been granted one interview. When asked to comment on the pros and cons around both the Embry family’s approach and that of the MS Society, Ian Royer, the director of public relations for the MS Society of Canada, stated in a recent email communication that: “We support people making personal decisions when it comes to their healthcare choices, and strive to provide the most up-to-date and accurate information to assist people on their journey.

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Mathew (right) and his father, Dr. Ashton Embry, who crafted the MS Best Bet Diet in order to help people with health challenges incorporate the right foodstuffs into their daily lifestyle regimens

We fund research that looks at several aspects of symptom management including diet and exercise as well as diseasemodifying therapies.” As far as supporting alternative drug treatment protocols, the MS Society of Canada states on its website, mssociety.ca: “Twenty years ago, there were no diseasemodifying therapies for MS. Now, there are 14. It’s up to each person and their healthcare team to determine which, if any, is right for them.” The site goes on to state that common tools used by people with MS for effective management of their condition include: exercise, healthy eating and looking beyond traditional approaches for holistic options. Although, the website does caution that “having a traditional healthcare team is a must for most MS protocols.” Robyn (Baldwin) Pineault, who is now 40, is a former model, fitness competitor and CFL cheerleader, who was diagnosed with MS in 2014. Within a week, Pineault was hit with a loss of feeling in her limbs and heightened tingling in her legs. “I tried to go through the five stages of grief as fast as possible in order to get to acceptance,” she says. And so, after having an MRI and receiving the diagnosis, Pineault — who calls her condition a health “sidekick” — decided to start researching her condition and the methods and tools that would help her to take better and different care of herself. She developed and adopted new lifestyle regimens that centre around diet and nutrition (Autoimmune Paleo Protocol), exercise, quality and quantity of sleep, stress management and reducing toxic load. “I knew it was something that I had to live with for the rest of my life, so I decided do something about it, so that it didn’t ruin my life or shorten it,” she says. Featured on the MS Society website (under her maiden name Baldwin), Pineault states: “I have not been following the MS Society since they decided to feature me on their website. Other than a vitamin D study which I was a part of several years ago, and which took four years to be published, I just haven’t seen them having a focus on educating the MS community around holistic health.”

Dr. Terry Wahls, however, is living proof that Dr. Embry’s approach to managing MS with his conventions is not only hopeful, but also authentically possible. One of the featured MS patients in Mathew’s 2017 documentary, Living Proof, Dr. Wahls had MS for 16 years and was by that point using a wheelchair. Having been referred to Dr. Embry’s protocols around diet and exercise — in 1996 Dr. Embry was the first to build an MS website, direct-ms.org — Dr. Wahls adopted the doctor’s suggested path to wellness as outlined in his MS Best Bet Diet and spent several months researching the list of food options she wanted to stress in her diet, including significantly increasing her intake of vegetables. Not long after she started her new wellness journey, Dr. Wahls arrived at her staff office in a wheelchair, with cane in hand. She was able to walk from exam room to exam room to observe her patients, her cane the only aid. Interestingly, in that month, her brain fog had also dissipated considerably. Within months, Dr. Wahls was walking uphill without a cane — something she hadn’t done in quite some time — and before the year was out, she was able to get back on her bike again. “It was a miraculous moment that showed me that recovery was possible if I stayed on the path, as laid out by diet and lifestyle,” Dr. Wahls says. “The description that it [MS] is only downhill is incorrect.” Mathew, who has two children, 13 and 11, and who has been symptom-free for 26 years, is a successful television producer and writer. However, in addition to his busy family life and career, he is driven by his passionate belief that his and his father’s commitment to helping people

with MS both fight the disease and, in fact, stop the progression is one that he is genuinely responsible for sharing. All of Mathew’s work around MS — his ongoing videos and content on the Embry’s website, mshope.com — and his many speaking appearances at MS events, all of which are crafted to inspire and educate, are 100 per cent effected on a volunteer basis. “Everything we provide is completely free — that has been our mandate from Day 1,” Mathew states. “I host a monthly Zoom Q&A the first Tuesday of each month on mshope.com and I encourage people to advocate for themselves and learn as much as they possibly can. People need to find the successes and develop their own road map.” What’s next for the Embrys on their continued commitment to wellness? Just 12 days after testing positive for COVID-19, Mathew ran the Oceanfront Half Marathon in Maui, Hawaii, and placed third in his age category. “We are now working with people who have severe disabilities in hopes of stopping the progression of the disease,” Mathew says. “How do we bring people back who are suffering with severe disabilities — that is the next piece. We are looking at what is happening with stem cell research, as well as what is happening in the future with antivirals. There is also the possibility of a vaccine in the future, one that is linked to EpsteinBarr. Because we are so focused on viruses right now, it is a good time to be looking at it.” Importantly, Pineault wants anyone who has been diagnosed with MS to know that it is not a death sentence. “Embrace different ways to take care of yourself; it is important to understand that you can find new passions and projects, so that you can thrive,” she says. “Although this is an article about MS, it is really the flashpoint for anyone who is really sick,” Mathew says. “For me, the dolce vita life now is defined by the making of choices in the now in order to make the now beautiful. The mission continues.” mshope.com @MathewEmbry

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Joe Manganiello is nowhere near your average Joe. Behind his massive frame hides a kid at heart: a sensitive and artistic personality, with far-ranging interests that span graphic novels, role-playing games, hockey, fitness, theatre and small cute dogs WRITTEN BY CEZAR GREIF | INTERVIEW BY ESTELLE ZENTIL

Never judge a book by its cover,” the saying goes. It could not be more relevant to the case of one Joe Manganiello. Born in Pittsburgh, 45 years ago, Manganiello casts a massive figure with his 6-5 frame. He was the captain of three sports teams in high school (football, basketball and volleyball), he’s had part-time jobs as a bouncer and a bodyguard and he’s been on the cover of numerous fitness magazines. He’s a hockey fan (don’t get him started on Mario Lemieux), works out diligently and has published a fitness book called Evolution, with the foreword by his idol, Arnold Schwarzenegger. But forget you just read this. Forget his fantastic performances as a werewolf in five seasons of the HBO series True Blood and as a male stripper in Magic Mike, the latter of which earned him legions of adoring fans. Forget all this, because Joe Manganiello is first and foremost a nerd — both a theatre nerd (he studied acting at the prestigious Carnegie Mellon University) and an actual, real nerd. He wasn’t playing a part when he guested on the hit TV show The Big Bang Theory as a Dungeons & Dragons aficionado. No, that’s the real him. He’s been running celebrity Dungeons & Dragon games for years now every Friday night (Vince Vaughn and Tom Morello are part of it) and he’s now the showrunner on an upcoming Dungeons & Dragons–related show. But he’s also writing a graphic novel, developing a new technology for a broad range of games, directing documentaries and writing another TV show. He’s still doing movies, though, with an important role in the upcoming film Metal Lords. Beyond his love of role-playing games, Manganiello is a thoughtful person who doesn’t hesitate to poke fun at himself and the movie industry’s fascination with celebrity. He looks at things from a broad perspective and says he’ll try anything that pushes him beyond his limits. The son of a father of Italian descent and a mother with Croatian, German and Armenian roots, he exudes Midwestern charm, like Brad Brad

Pitt and Jon Hamm, but does Transcendental Meditation. Married to actress Sofia Vergara, he dreams about living in Italy and relaxing far away from the pressure of Hollywood. He’s a kind of stealth renaissance man, but completely aware of contemporary culture. We had to fly out to the posh neighbourhood of Bel Air, in Los Angeles, to discover more about this multi-dimensional talent and meet his cute chihuahua, Bubbles. Manganiello arrived right on time and was funny and easy to work with. But, don’t ever try to separate him from his puppy. Q: We hear you’re a hockey superfan. And we, as Canadians, have a big connection to you because of your love for hockey and for your recent narration of the audio documentary Sidney Crosby: The Rookie Year. Tell me about that. A: Over the past few years, I’ve had the great fortune of being involved with some really great hockey documentaries. I come from Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh is a hockey town because of Mario Lemieux, a Canadian. He really changed the culture there, and because we won Stanley Cups, Pittsburgh became a hockey town. Lemieux retires, the team goes bankrupt and they start taking the team away from Pittsburgh. That year, the NHL had a lockout, which even further hurt the league and Pittsburgh because they couldn’t pull in attendance revenues. We wound up winning the draft that year, No. 1 pick, and it wasn’t any old draft, it was the Sidney Crosby sweepstake. So, all of a sudden, this generational talent à la Lemieux is going to be available through the draft, and we were going to have the No. 1 pick, and he wound up saving the franchise. He and Lemieux kept the team in Pittsburgh. It was such an incredible honour to be a part of that and tell the story of Sidney’s rookie season. He’s such a great guy. I’ve gotten to know him really well over the years, but I don’t think I would’ve gotten that job had I not been the narrator for the history of the Pittsburgh Penguins. There’s a 50-year documentary of the first 50 years of the team, and I narrated it, and our team actually won the Mid-

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JOE MANGANIELLO: MASTER OF HIS OWN GAME

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As an American actor, director, producer and author, Manganiello is best known for playing Alcide Herveaux on HBO’s True Blood and Big Dick Richie in Magic Mike FULL LOOK: Brioni BOOTS: SCAROSSO

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Manganiello devotes his philanthropic endeavours to UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, describing his childhood in Pittsburgh as “the ideal best place to raise a kid” SWEATER: ZENGA Silk-Cotton Crewneck Sweater, available at HARRY ROSEN WATCH: CORUM Admiral 45 Chrono Titanium Case Watch @corumwatches BRACELET: Joe’s Own PANT: BOSS Kaito Slim Fit Stretch-Cotton Pants, available at HARRY ROSEN

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IT’S A MULTILAYERED PROCESS [ACTING], AND AT DIFFERENT TIMES, YOU KIND OF CALL ON DIFFERENT THINGS”

Atlantic Emmy Awards for it. So, I actually have an Emmy on my shelf for narrating this Penguin documentary that was such a pleasure to do. It just goes to show you that every once in a while, you get one of those jobs you just love, that does really well, that people love and, in turn, I love talking about it. Q: What was it like growing up in Pittsburgh? A: I love Pittsburgh. I love it with all my heart. I miss it so much. It was so great; it was like the ideal best place to raise a kid. The town I grew up in, Mt. Lebanon, especially the high school, was incredible. My mother would leave the keys in the car at night, leave the door unlocked; there just wasn’t crime. Kids would leave with their bike in the morning and wouldn’t come home until night. It was kind of like Stranger Things without all the monsters and craziness. It was a really idyllic childhood, where anything I wanted to do, I could do, Anything I could come up with. The high school had some sort of club. I made my own films when I was a kid, and that’s how I got into acting, through making my own movies. I wouldn’t have been able to do that somewhere else at that time, unless I had the equipment, and so I’m so lucky to have had that. I also was a captain of three sports teams, I was on the honour roll. I did well on the SATs, I was in the theatre club, I made my own movies. I was always busy. I was always an artist; I knew that there was always something in me beyond sports, there was another side to me. If I went to college for sports, it was always going to be to get into a better school. I just wasn’t looking to pursue a career in professional sports or even collegiate [level]. I wanted to get in quickly to what I was going to do for the rest of my life, and when I really looked at what was realistic for me, I really just thought, I could do this. I made enough of my own movies, like I said, that my friends kind of nudged me in that direction, like, “You can do this.” And it was enough to satiate the artist in me, but not enough. So, that’s why I wound up 10 years ago, I turned back to producing. I turned back to writing; I

turned back to all the stuff that really excited me when I was younger. I’ve kind of come full circle in a way. Q: What does your acting process look like? A: My process is very much like the process which you brought up like with True Blood for all roles, which is, you know, for acting, for me is, I’m capable of anything. So, what do I have inside of me that understands that person, that character, and then what do I need to go and experience? And what I need to experience is what becomes my research, is what becomes my work. So, if I’m playing a guy who transforms into a wolf, then I’m going to spend a lot of time with a wolf and wolf-handlers and wolf experts. You’re digesting all of this material and you’re throwing it in this big gumbo pot as you’re working toward actually performing. And then, of course, chopping up the scenes and character arcs in the way that it works with your text. It’s a multilayered process, and at different times, you kind of call on different things. Like for True Blood, I’m going to go hang out with wolves. But on another role, I may be learning to use a katana and cutting bamboo — it just depends what you do for a role. Q: Arnold Schwarzenegger is one of your childhood idols, and eventually, you had the opportunity to work with him in David Ayer’s Sabotage, as well as have him write the foreword to your book, Evolution. If you had to write another book, what would it be about? A: Not about working out, because I’ve already said everything that I need to say. I think every person in entertainment thinks about the day where they don’t need the business anymore and they could just say everything they want to about everybody. But when that time is, I have no idea. I don’t know that there will ever be an appropriate time to do that. But, oh boy, I know everybody thinks their life should be a reality show or on television. But let me tell you something: I’ve seen stuff that people would like to read about. I am developing a TV show as a showrunner, based on my favourite series of books growing up.

So, there’s that, and there’s so much of me in all of those characters that I’m writing. I’m also writing a graphic novel that’s in the greenlight process, and there’s stuff snuck in there. That’s what’s fun — you get to kind of stand up there completely naked, and people don’t even, don’t necessarily, know what’s you and what’s not. Q: I saw that you practise Transcendental Meditation (TM). What are some of your wellness routines that are essential to your well-being? A: I’ll try anything, really. I’ve been doing TM for probably 19 years or something like that, a long time. It’s changed me in a lot of great ways. As far as wellness, I also do acupuncture, Chinese acupuncture, and I do like training. I like working out. I’m not one of these actors who hates it or is forced to do it, or people have to tell you to do it. I just enjoy it. I like discipline, self-mastery. I like pushing myself and I think all of that is applicable to life. I actually want to do Wim Hof, which is breathing in super-cold temperatures. So, I’m looking into that, but I just take on something new every once in a while. I mean, getting a tattoo is hard core. There are some fun tests you can put yourself through, and I’m always excited. Skydiving, swimming with sharks — yeah, I’ll do whatever. I do it all. Q: You are married to the beautiful Sofia Vergara. Your love story is unlike any other and quite romantic. Can you share what the secret is to your relationship? A: Good communication. You got to be able to talk to each other, and I think just letting the other person just have their stuff. However they want to feel about something, they’re allowed to feel that way. I think if you can just let other people just be who they are, I think that’s a really good one. It’s sometimes hard to do. I think that good communication and being fully developed separate people who then just enjoy the time together — I think has been the real key. Q: What does it mean to be a Dungeon Master?

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Believe it or not, Manganiello won’t go anywhere without his little rescue pup, a chihuahua/Pomeranian mix named Bubbles POLO: KING & TUCKFIELD BLAZER: Angelo Nardelli Double Breasted Grey Check Jacket, available at TOM’S PLACE PANT: Angelo Nardelli Grey Check Pant, available at TOM’S PLACE RING: DEATH SAVES WATCH: Joe’s own

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I’VE BEEN DOING TM FOR PROBABLY 19 YEARS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, A LONG TIME. IT’S CHANGED ME IN A LOT OF GREAT WAYS”

Manganiello has been practising Transcendental Meditation for the last couple decades and says he’ll try anything that will push him both mentally and physically TOP: Brioni PANT: Brioni SHOES: SCAROSSO

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Manganiello is a big fan of Dungeons & Dragons, and is known to host a celebrity D&D Club with a wide range of celebrities joining him at the table, including Game of Thrones co-showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss NECKLACE: Capsule Eleven FULL LOOK: DZOJCHEN

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Can you tell me what you love about Dungeons & Dragons, and how it relates to what you do today? A: Yeah, I mean, Dungeons & Dragons, for kids like me, was long-form narrative storytelling. So obviously, we had the regular channels on TV, but cable as it’s seen now with The Sopranos, Rome, The Wire, Sex and the City. You name it: True Blood, Game of Thrones — those didn’t exist in that form. But for us kids, it did. We were learning to tell really exciting stories, and for me, I was writing stories, and my friends would play the characters. All that became applicable to my career, and there’s so many of my generation. I bumped into Jon Favreau at a party, and we were talking about how he used to play as a kid and how The Mandalorian is just me Dungeonmastering. Dan and Dave, from Game of Thrones, they’re in my group. They made a dragon show because when they were kids, they played a dragon game. For all of us, it was interchangeable. James Gunn, he’s another one, he would come and play at my house. And even Vince Vaughn, as an actor, it’s character development. So to kind of get back into the fold, especially as an adult, to be able to write for Dungeons & Dragons, and to be able to work with them, and, yes, like you said, to eventually develop a property as a showrunner, it’s what I did every Friday night as a kid. And then as an adult, so it was just picking it back up as an adult. Q: Can you tell me why it’s important for you to give back? More specifically, why UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh? You even found a way to merge your love for Dungeons &Dragons with the kids at the Pittsburgh hospital. A: I love Pittsburgh, I love staying connected to Pittsburgh. I started working with Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh a long time ago. I’ve been there a long time. And, you know, to me, my heart goes out to kids who aren’t really allowed to be kids and go through that fun phase of life, and they have to deal with such serious issues. And then also, once you start hearing the stories of the parents and what they have to do to support a child who’s sick, I mean, it’s just anything I can do to help. I had the idea that, because they have a library and games room and kind of art room, where kids can go and play instruments and paint, and stuff like that. I said, “Let me call upon D&D to donate a bunch of books and dice, and things like that.” And if I could add that to library at the hospital, so that when kids were there for a long period of time, their parents are away, they’re alone, all they have are the other kids. They’re getting infusions for, you know, sometimes hours at a time, so they can play a game with each other. If I teach the kids and have a seminar on how to play, that will also help them get out of themselves and not have to think about their affliction because for three hours or two hours, they don’t have to be sick; they can

be this other character. I’ve watched it work. I tried it out and I saw it work. And they still play, the kids I taught. And all those books are still there at the hospital, so I hope that that spreads because especially once those kids get out, what are you going to do when you get home? How are you going to be social? You can’t go out and play with the kids. Well, now the kids can come in and have a reason to play with you, and so it gives those kids a group of friends, where it doesn’t matter if you just had surgery and you can’t run around and catch a football, you can do this thing inside. Q: Let’s talk about your dog, Bubbles. You brought her to the shoot today. I hear she’s a rescue? A: I’ve never had a pet and so I never knew about

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Q: What are some upcoming projects you’re excited about? Metal Lords is coming out soon, right? A: Yeah, Metal Lords is such a funny movie about high-school kids who are obsessed with death metal and want to win the battle of the bands with their high school. It’s great. You know, Tom Morello does the music, who’s in my Dungeons & Dragons Friday night group, along with Dan Weiss, who co-created Game of Thrones. He cocreated the movie and he was the one who asked me if I would play this part, and so it’s a really fun character. Moonhaven, the show I shot in Ireland, is supposed to come out late summer, on AMC. Zac Snyder’s Army of the Dead anime series will come out at some point. I just launched an augmented

I THINK THAT GOOD COMMUNICATION AND BEING FULLY DEVELOPED SEPARATE PEOPLE WHO THEN JUST ENJOY THE TIME TOGETHER — I THINK HAS BEEN THE REAL KEY”

“rescue” anything. And my wife wanted a dog, and I always travelled so much and, you know, I knew other people with dogs. Or I had ex-girlfriends with dogs that didn’t like me or whatever it was; it would make tons of noise. And so I was like, “The last thing on Earth we need is a yappy crazy dog at the house that I can’t take care of because I travel.” Sofia had the shelter bring the dog over, and chihuahuas are notorious for picking one person, and that’s their person. And the dog didn’t pick Sofia; the dog picked me. I don’t know why, because maybe, “He’s a big primate. He’ll beat up everybody. I can bark at whomever I want now, and he’ll get me food. Look at him.” And so she ran over to me and didn’t want to go back to Sofia and didn’t want to go back to the shelter and just wanted to sit with me. She never wants to leave me, so I take her everywhere. I took her to Ireland for four months for work. I went to concerts, to the movies. I went to see Dune in the IMAX, and she just went to sleep. I took her to the gym in Ireland.

reality that I’m on the board for. It’s really going to revolutionize the way that people do things because it’s this interactive technology for gaming, and we just launched on Kickstarter this week and met fulfillment in under eight hours, so people are liking it, and it’s doing well. It’s called ARcana. Q: What does la dolce vita/the sweet life mean to you? A: Fellini, that’s what it means to me. Being Italian, you know, I take great pride in being Italian. For me, what it’s going to mean very soon is, once I get my Italian passport and my citizenship, then I can go buy property in Italy and then I can go live the sweet life. You know, I can go get my fresh cheese and meats and have my friends over and live the Italian life — that’s la dolce vita. And Bubbles — she’s got la dolce vita all day long, every day. This is it for her, sitting on Daddy’s lap. @joemanganiello This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

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CREATIVITY Hong Kong-born Lo’s Dialogue 38 creates inspiring interior design for a variety of global clientele

INTERIOR WORKINGS Bennett C. Lo’s Dialogue 38 is setting new standards for creativity and style in world-class interior design that are not only beautiful, but also work WRITTEN BY RICK MULLER INTERVIEW BY ESTELLE ZENTIL

SCAN THE QR CODE FOR DOLCE’S EXCLUSIVE FOOTAGE OF OUR INTERVIEW WITH BENNETT C. LO

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PHOTO BY EMAD MOHAMMADI

or designers, being asked to design a local residence or commercial space is a heady experience, knowing your creative eye, imagination, talent and skill are in demand. But being asked to design on the world stage, for the viewing of people across the globe, takes your notoriety to another level. That’s the level where Dialogue 38 lives and works, Toronto-based international commercial and residential interior designers extraordinaire, with its creativity seen annually by hundreds of thousands of discerning people expecting the best in comfort, design and environment. Founded by Bennett C. Lo, the studio has been responsible for a wide range of award-winning interior-design projects throughout North America, Europe and Asia. This is a boutique design firm you may not have heard of, but you may have experienced and enjoyed, first-hand, as among its notable works are the rebranding of Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges in two of Europe’s busiest airports, Frankfurt and the new lounge at London Heathrow Terminal 2B. “We were hired to rebrand Air Canada’s Maple Leaf Lounges,” says Lo, in a recent interview with Dolce. “The first we did was in Frankfurt, but the space in London, which is in a brandnew terminal, is much more interesting, with huge windows looking at the runways, with a lot of light and different areas for dining, offices and lounge space. It was a fun project, because how many times do you get to rebrand a VIP lounge for a major airline? And, with Air Canada representing Canada, we wanted to showcase Canada, so the marble used is from Owen Sound, Ont., and we have different Canadian artists and furniture makers we used, so, putting that together was great.” Born in Hong Kong, Lo did his graduate studies in architecture in the United States and worked in New York City before the pull of family brought him to Toronto in the mid-1990s. While working for a large Toronto branding firm, he began to freelance in restaurant interior design and became so successful he ventured out on his own and founded Dialogue 38, with the distinctive name reflecting the company’s approach. “The kind of work we do in design and architecture is really a collaboration,” says Lo. “It’s teamwork, and my approach was that it is a company, a group of people working together

PHOTOS COURTESY OF DIALOGUE 38

Full-height windows overlooking the Heathrow runways allow an abundance of natural light

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IT WAS A FUN PROJECT, BECAUSE HOW MANY TIMES DO YOU GET TO REBRAND A VIP LOUNGE FOR A MAJOR AIRLINE?

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to create things, and, within that, there is always a ‘dialogue,’ between your team, contractors and your client.” The company takes a broad-based, multifaceted view of design, believing successful space must work in harmony with all other aspects of a company’s brand identity. Respecting and understanding the brand attributes and objectives of your client takes more than just design capabilities — it takes insight and business acumen and a client-first approach. “What we do is for our clients, as they are our priority,” says Lo. “We do a lot of commercial work, and the majority of the time there is an objective, what the client needs and wants. So, we’re really trying to make our clients’ vision come true, and everything we do is looking out for our client, and we do the best we can to make their business successful.” For Dialogue 38, that approach is the same in designing both a major world-class airport VIP lounge or a local restaurant or commercial space. The same thought, care, creativity and imagination are used, whether designing in Tokyo, London, Frankfurt or a restaurant in Richmond Hill, Ont., or a major shopping mall in Toronto. For YU Seafood in Richmond Hill, the design approach reflected the area’s Asian population and family dining habits, so the design included eight large, private VIP dining rooms, while at

Yorkdale Shopping Mall, the design was more retail-oriented to reflect its location. It is also a testament to the vast international experience of the Dialogue 38 team, who have lived and worked in Asia, Europe, Australia, the United States and Canada. “The more you see, the more you understand things,” observes Lo. “Does it mean it’s better? Not necessarily, but you can see different things. So, the more you see, the more you learn, and you are

equipped with better tools in your pockets, and it’s better to have more tools than not enough tools.” Dialogue 38, while always mindful of its clients’ specific needs, markets and business objectives, also realizes that good design does sell more than products or services — it sells an experience. In that way, the firm creates spaces that inspire, spaces where people feel and remember, and spaces that reflect Lo’s personal philosophy on design. “We find in design it’s always a challenge with how do you create something exciting, but timeless at the same time?” he says. “Can a design last forever? Most likely, no, but we don’t want to appear dated. We’re fortunate to have a great team and great clients, and our projects are not dated. If you’re honest with design, the look and feel will last a little bit longer.” There has long been a debate about design as to whether it is art or whether it is science? To Bennett C. Lo, who lives at the top of his profession, it is neither one, alone. “I don’t think it’s either of them on their own. Design is a space, the environment. It may have a little bit of art to it and a little bit of science to it, but it has to be an environment that works. Design is fun, and you should enjoy it, but a lot of design is common sense.” www.dialogue38.com @dialogue_38

The Yu Seafood interior space also includes eight large private dining rooms for family dining

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FEMININE FANTASY Ziad Nakad’s Spring-Summer 2022 collection celebrates an undeniable thread: femininity

PHOTOS BY MOHAMMAD SEIF

TEXT BY E STE LLE Z E NTI L

Sewn square by square in the atelier in Beirut, this gown, sealed by a golden belt, exudes the utmost regal allure

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Marked by its oversized shoulders and underlined by its meticulous embroidery, this teal treasure commands attention by nature of its grandiosity and focus on detail

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Bold and beautiful, this red gown duo is an homage to sensual femininity

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A peek-a-boo shoulder and turquoise adornments accentuate the striking shape of this canary yellow gown

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As a one-shoulder, high-slit coral dream, this whimsical design is bound to fill every moment with magic

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Adorned with green crystals with a scalloped high slit, this silhouette is complete with its oversized earrings and dainty gold strap heels

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BUSINESS

SCAN THE QR CODE FOR DOLCE’S EXCLUSIVE FOOTAGE OF OUR INTERVIEW WITH SABAINA MALIK

SABAINA MALIK IS AN ENTREPRENEUR BUILDING BRANDS TO LAST A LIFETIME The founder of M Industries on being a leader, changes in luxury and striking a healthy work-life balance WRITTEN BY JOSH WALKER

abaina Malik is someone who knows what she likes. Her coffee order is an oat milk cappuccino. She buys her day planners in an assortment of different colours from Italian stationery brand Campo Marzio. Her favourite restaurants include Pierluigi in Rome, Oliver’s Steakhouse in Oakville, Ont., and Annabel’s in London. She spends her days helping and inspiring brands at her company M Industries, drawing from her experience of working with some of the biggest companies in the world and a personal mantra of “looking at everything and thinking about how it can be better.” In her own words, M Industries is “a branding and marketing agency, and clients come to us for different reasons. Sometimes it’s because they’ve been successful for 25 years and, suddenly, they’re not competitive anymore. My expertise is figuring out why and then finding a solution and implementing that solution.” Before founding M Industries, Malik had extensive experience with several notable brands. While working with The Gap, she had an opportunity to help the team bring Old Navy to Canada, where she got her first taste of launching a brand in a new country. Afterward, she worked for L’Oréal Paris Canada, specifically Kiehl’s, building a business organically from the ground up. “I learned how to become an entrepreneur in that job because it gave me all the freedom to do it the way I wanted to. That’s where

this brand-marketing thinking came into my life in a serious way.” As someone who’s held many roles as a leader, both before and after M Industries, including having working at Apple, Malik has learned what it takes to have the most impact. “Leadership is all about people and service,” she continues. “People get hung up on titles and being important, but the more people you lead — it’s a huge responsibility. If you’re not understanding their careers, well-being and that their livelihood is dependent on you, you don’t deserve to be that leader.” Early on, Malik’s ambition was to be a psychotherapist and that, along with human resources and business, was what she studied at university. While her career moved toward brandbuilding, an understanding of how people think and their behaviours still influences her work. “I have a natural curiosity for people, their stories, their companies and what makes them tick,” she says. “It allows me and my team to become a longterm partner with trust.” One particular shift she’s seen in popular culture is an increased interest in the world of luxury. She talks about how, thanks to the Kardashians and shows, like Selling Sunset, we’re more interested in luxury than ever. She also notes how “all things luxury are accessible because we’re in a time of side hustles and having access to more money at a younger age.” Because of that, Malik explains the struggle of

appealing to that without sacrificing the essence of a brand. “While we need to cater to where our current culture is at, I’m trying to keep honesty and authenticity in the brands we’re building. We build brands to last a lifetime.” When asked to describe M Industries, she says it’s “creative, connected and always evolving.” While the ever-evolving nature is true to her business, the case is also true personally, and Malik is open about her journey as an entrepreneur. She made a conscious decision to fuse her personal Instagram with her business one, saying “no one wants to follow a company account because it doesn’t have a personality. People aren’t looking to consume content; they’re looking to connect with it.” Having grown the business as a single mother, she also talks about the different phases in an entrepreneur’s life and the importance of figuring those out early. “Not every year in your business is about making the most amount of money,” she says. “Sometimes it’s about making an impact, finding the best talent or finding the work-life balance for your family.” However, after years spent in the industry, she’s learned to strike a healthy balance. “There are three things I want to do,” she says. “I want to leave everything better than how I found it. I want my personal relationships to be fulfilling and impactful, and I want to make sure I raise my daughter to be a lovely human being.” www.youandm.co @sabainamalik

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PHOTO BY EMAD MOHAMMADI | PHOTOSHOOT LOCATION: THE RITZ-CARLTON, TORONTO

INTERVIEW BY ESTELLE ZENTIL

Malik is the founder of M Industries

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I WANT TO LEAVE EVERYTHING BETTER THAN HOW I FOUND IT. I WANT MY PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS TO BE FULFILLING AND IMPACTFUL, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE I RAISE MY DAUGHTER TO BE A LOVELY HUMAN BEING

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FIND YOUR PASSION

Coulson found her passion — photography — but now she’s also moved on to life coaching, helping other women

JOURNEY TO JOY

If you spend your twenties starting and building a business, then turn it over for more than $1 million less than a decade later, you might think it would make you happy. Who wouldn’t? But Carla Coulson learned that money can’t buy you love, adventure, community and passion for your work WRITTEN BY DONNA PARIS | INTERVIEW BY ESTELLE ZENTIL

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PHOTOS BY CARLA COULSON

t’s not as if we get a blueprint for our lives when we are born. We have to make the journey ourselves to find our passion, but many of us just don’t know how, and so we take whatever comes along. That’s what happened to Carla Coulson, when she started working in sports marketing in Australia and ended up becoming a partner in a new business, which was fun in the beginning, but not so much as the years passed. “This happens to many people: we get messages that we’re unhappy, but we just keep ignoring them,” says Coulson. “I got to the point where I really hated my life.” Then Coulson had a watershed moment. About 20 years ago, she walked into her local Thai takeout restaurant. They congratulated her and gave her a small jewelry box: she had won Client of the Year for eating more takeout than anyone in Darlinghurst, a suburb of Sydney. “I sat in my car and sobbed up 10, 15 years of unhappiness and discontent,” she says. She just knew she had to go; she wasn’t even afraid anymore. And so, she hopped on a plane to Italy. When she arrived in Florence, she fell in love with the city and decided to stay, taking a photography course. “I didn’t know anything about photography,” she says, and even after the course ended, she kept taking photographs. And when a woman she lived with suggested she become a photographer, she thought, OK, I’ll try. “I had a beginner’s mentality, and it allowed me to be free,” she says. Coulson started working for magazines like Harper’s Bazaar and Gourmet Traveller, then published her first book, Italian Joy. But she still wasn’t living her best life. With life coaching, she realized that she was caught in a trap with fearful old beliefs that if she became a successful photographer, she would return to her old story of building a successful business, but she wouldn’t have any creativity or joy. And so, she says, she played it small. Enter the second watershed moment. Coulson was diagnosed with three auto-immune diseases: alopecia, a thyroid condition and lichen sclerosis. She was scared and endured many visits to different doctors. In the end, she chose to work with a naturopath, changing her diet,

Her most recent addition to the Young Girl in Bloom series is “See Me,” to encourage women everywhere

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A young woman carries a glorious giant bouquet of lilacs in “On My Way,” from the Young Girl in Bloom series

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HOW PRECIOUS IN A WORLD WHERE WE’RE JUST SO PRODUCTIVE … IS THE ART OF DOING NOTHING

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managing stress and the way she lived her life. “Working with a naturopath changed everything,” says Coulson. “I don’t have alopecia, I don’t have a thyroid condition and I don’t have lichen sclerosis now,” she says, which she admits is pretty amazing. She started getting support, with staff to help her and manage her life. That changed everything, and that is when her business really took off. “Now, for me, I see every crisis in my life as a gift — to change something or to do things better,” she says. Coulson parlayed that “aha” moment into her most popular photography series, Young Girl in Bloom, which she started in 2015, after she moved to Paris in 2005 with her partner, Francesco. The series features huge bunches of beautiful flowers in season. Last year, she added a new photograph, “Centred in Self,” which is a girl covered in take-your-breathaway blue hydrangeas. For Coulson, photography is almost a homecoming for her soul. She grew up moving a lot, as her father, a bank manager, moved around Australia every few years. All those moves weren’t easy for her, and, in fact, these lost years ended up becoming inspiration for everything, including the Young Girl in Bloom series, and everything she’s done since then to help find her way home again, to a place that feels authentic to her, she adds. Wanting to share what she has learned, Coulson is now a life coach, putting together courses on her website, reconnecting women with their passion, creativity and joy. She really

wants to address the problem that many women have of just going about their lives automatically, starting things and not finishing them. “We think there’s something wrong with ourselves, but often we start things that we don’t care enough about,” she says. “I like to do the litmus test on myself — can you be excited about this for the next two years or three years? Because most of the projects that you work on, sometimes they take a year to come around before you do them.” Coulson is working on a new series of photographs about the stages of the evolution of women, which she started last year in Greece. “If I can, I would love to launch it in September or October this year — if I put my head down and really focus on finishing it,” she laughs. “And I’m very lucky to have a gallery in Toronto, On the Wall Framing, that represents my work in Canada.” Asked what la dolce vita means for her, she replies that it is actually dolce far niente, the art of doing nothing. “How precious in a world where we’re just so productive, what a sweet thing it is, the art of doing nothing,” she says. And, as for her idea of an ideal day, she just wants to do the things she loves and enjoy the people around her. “Having time out, creating and taking pictures, being with family and friends,” she adds. And, for the animal lover in her, “Taking time to be with the animals.” carlacoulson.com @carlacoulson

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ENTREPRENEURSHIP

SCAN THE QR CODE FOR DOLCE’S EXCLUSIVE FOOTAGE OF OUR INTERVIEW WITH MANDY RENNEHAN

CAREER BUILDER

Mandy Rennehan’s new HGTV series shows her passion for building and the trades that build our world

he world has always built things, and it will never stop. Be it a rural bungalow or a 100-storey skyscraper, humans, like most other species, like to build, as it’s in our nature to create, nest and shelter. The message to young people seeking a career is obvious: develop a skill in the building trades and you will most likely have a rewarding and satisfying career for life — and never stop building. A champion of this career building is Mandy Rennehan, self-made entrepreneur, celebrated contractor and tireless advocate for the trades, who documents her rise with her new book The Blue Collar CEO: My Gutsy Journey from Rookie Contractor to Multi-Millionaire Construction Boss and illustrates her passion for young apprentices in her new HGTV Canada show Trading Up with Mandy Rennehan. Hers is a storied life and a career built from modest beginnings, while growing up in Yarmouth, N.S., in a childhood she describes as “solid, simple and charming.” “When you’re older, you start to realize what a gift it was being brought up in a community with these people who were never taught to aspire to be bigger, they were only taught to live in the moment and give what they had,” says Rennehan in a recent interview with Dolce. “Confidence happens in stages, and these sports leaders and community leaders gave that to me. It was incredible to see there was such selflessness that was so evident in that small town of Yarmouth, and I don’t know how I can ever repay them. The people of Yarmouth are truly the guiding force of what I was to become.” Rennehan’s larger-than-life personality and burning ambition also had a little to do with her success, making her first money as early as 10 years old foraging for bait and selling it to local fishermen for profit. As the daughter of a lobster fisherman, she saw the economic hardships faced by her parents in a seasonal industry and vowed that would not be her future. Leaving home at 18, Rennehan wanted to learn everything she could

about contracting and building, and worked for free for two years for electricians, plumbers and general contractors. She never turned down a job, and her reputation in that male-dominated industry grew throughout that Maritimes as “that girl in the trades from Yarmouth.” The jobs kept getting bigger and more complex, and people were impressed by her confidence, energy, enthusiasm and a personality that was engaging, upbeat and splashed with just a hint of moxie — “respectfully uncensored,” as she calls herself. People also started to call her to see if she could find them certain other contractors, which Rennehan realized was a skill set she could turn into a business. “I realized my entrepreneurial, efficient-way-ofthinking skill set and knowing the ins and outs of the industry were an advantage,” says Rennehan. “What I realized was that customers were having to call different people to do different trades and I thought I could manage all the trades for the customer. And I was one phone call, 24-7. And that concept was the first of its kind, and it worked, as clients would simply call Mandy for this or call Mandy for that, and they only had to deal with one person, as I source the most appropriate subcontractor.” The result was the formation, just 10 years after foraging for bait in Yarmouth, of Freshco, the first full-service, 24-7, on-call facilities and retail maintenance provider with complete coverage across Canada and the eastern United States. Today, with three divisions handling maintenance, projects and reconstruction, Freshco is the most successful and fiscally responsible retail maintenance business in Canada, with a client roster that includes such blue-chip companies and luxury brands as Apple, Lululemon, Tiffany & Co., Sephora, Banana Republic, Nike and The Home Depot. “My business evolved with a menu of services based upon the different needs of our clients that customers saw as a cost savings by going through just one company,” says Rennehan.

The new HGTV Canada series illustrates Rennehan’s driving passion to break down the North American myth that a university degree is the only way forward in a professional career by emphasizing that trade schools are a solid route to success. In it, Rennehan renovates three extraordinary properties in her hometown of Yarmouth by mentoring three trade apprentices, giving them the tools to develop their own successful careers. The series is full of Rennehan’s infectious humour, heart and homespun East Coast teachings and learnings, while delivering the strong message that a career in the trades is rewarding and satisfying. “My whole life, I have recognized that even though I wasn’t personally discriminated against in the trade industry, I see so many people who are,” says Rennehan passionately. “In North America, the narrative was built around, ‘If you’re going to be anybody, you need to be white collar, and the stupid kids went to trade schools.’ When you realize how massive this industry is in the world, without it, we’d have nothing. By taking some trades out of schools, it’s done systemic damage to our economy, because we don’t have enough people in the trades,” she says. “Which is why I’m bridging the gap between white-collar and bluecollar industries, because there can’t be a hierarchy because we’re killing the economy. We’ve got to change the perception of our kids going to trade school, because there is so much opportunity for them there, and they’re willing to sacrifice to achieve their dreams. So, I’m saying, ‘Look at me. I’m building people as I’m building things.’” Given global population projections, the world is clearly going to need more contractors, carpenters, electricians and plumbers to create the spaces for the increased population in which to live, work and engage in commerce. Most definitely, the world also needs more Mandy Rennehan. mandyrennehan.com @mandyrennehan

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PHOTO BY GEOFF FITZGERALD

WRITTEN BY RICK MULLER | INTERVIEW BY ESTELLE ZENTIL

From “that girl in the trades from Yarmouth” to her new HGTV series, Rennehan is a bold, selfmade success story

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TIMEPIECE

THE BIG TIME

When it comes to these timepieces, it’s OK to binge-watch TEXT BY E STE LLE Z E NTI L

FRANCK MULLER, MENS 45MM, CARBON FIBER, NAKAMOTO With only 100 watches that made in this unique collection, The Nakamoto is a timeless piece. With a Bitcoin symbol in its centre, Nakamoto is a moment to honour Bitcoin’s creator Satoshi Nakamoto. www.kilanijewellery.com

GOLDEN BRIDGE AUTOMATIC WITH PANORAMIC SAPPHIRE CASE DESIGN Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Golden Bridge Automatic watch series is finished with a soft-touch alligator strap, triple folding clasp and smoked crystal, adding to its mystique. www.corum-watches.com

CÉDRIC JOHNER “ABYSS TOURBILLON” PLATINUM WRISTWATCH This platinum tourbillon was produced in 2001 and is completely handmade by an independent Haute horology watchmaker, Cédric Johner, in Geneva, Switzerland. Johner makes and finishes the case and all movement parts by hand in his workshop. www.davidcharlescollections.com

1968 ROLEX COSMOGRAPH DAYTONA 6241 STAINLESS STEEL STEM WIND WRISTWATCH Meet the Paul Newman Holy Grail of watch collecting. One of the rarest of all Daytonas of its period, the case and case back material are made of stainless steel, and the watch features a silver dial with black sub-dials. www.davidcharlescollections.com

RM 11-04 If Roberto Mancini, Manager of the Squadra Azzurra, is fit to wear this Automatic Winding Flyback Chronograph by Richard Mille, we should all wonder what lies in its magic. Perhaps it’s its excellent resistance to micro-cracks and splits or distinctive blue strap. www.kilanijewellery.com

ROLEX DATEJUST 31 Characterized by hour-markers fashioned from gold, this Rolex Datejust features a silver floral motif dial grained finish. The dial is the distinctive face of a Rolex watch, the feature most responsible for its identity and readability. www.damianijewellers.com

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The first watch brand to embrace the world of sailing, the Corum Admiral collection celebrates its nautical origins. With its unique 12-sided case and nautical pennants as hour markers, it is instantly recognized the world over. ADMIRAL 45 CHRONOGRAPH • ADMIRAL 38 CORUM-WATCHES.COM • @CORUMUSA (954) 279-1220 • info@cwjbrands.com

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Luxury division of Ferrow Real Estate Inc. Brokerage

THE LEADING AUTHORITY IN PRESTIGIOUS REAL ESTATE

For exclusive access to our portfolio visit palacerow.com or call 647-801-8024 With offices in Yorkville and Markham 118 DOLCE MAGAZINE | www.dolcemag.com

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