FineLIfestyles Regina Winter 2009

Winter 2009/10 • VOLUME 1 ISSUE 4 • www.finelifestylesregina.com

Up Close & Personal with the Sillingers World Junior Hockey

2010 Automobile Profiles

2009-2010 Wedding Guide

Winter Fashion • Room to Room: Home Renovations • Builders’ Showhome Showcase Rod Pedersen on the Pats and Riders • Moose Jaw & Weyburn Features • Dilwari Auto Group After the Game: Larry Bird • Dr. Krishna Kumar • The Willetts on Wine • And much, much more.

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www.investorsgroupsasksw.com Louise Squire • Joined Investors Group in 1995 at age 22 • Qualified for President’s Elite in 2007 • Qualified for President’s Club in 2005, 2006 and 2008

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Winter 2009/10 EXPERT ADVICE COLUMNS Wheels 33

Style 70

Health and Wellness 158, 161, 167, 172

House, Home and Real Estate 187, 195

Business, Financial and Legal 223, 224, 225, 227, 230

Winter 2009/10

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Winter 2009/10

A note from the editor

Mike and Karla Sillinger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 World Junior Hockey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Wheels

Welcome to winter! The snow and temperature are both falling, but life in Regina has never looked better. Don’t believe me? Check out what we’ve got for you in this issue of Fine Lifestyles Regina. It’s our biggest yet, stuffed as full of goodness as a Christmas turkey (but less damaging to your waistline!).

Our cover features just-retired NHL player Mike Sillinger and his family, back home in Regina after 17 years moving from city to city, most recently New York. Inside, there’s more hockey-related goodness with information about the World Junior Hockey Tournament.

What else will you find inside? A special Wedding section bursting with the information you need to make your big day unique and perfect, a guide to the latest automobile models, and our regular Room to Room renovation showcase.

You’ll also read about the start of the second century of the Regina Symphony Orchestra, take a colourful (and warm!) trip to Albuquerque, get some tips on hot holiday fashion (and avoiding fashion faux pas), rev up with a look at Regina racecar driver Ken Campbell, meet our new wine columnists, read Rod Pedersen’s thoughts on the Pats and the Riders, and learn the fascinating story of Regina’s world-class neurosurgeon, Dr. Krishna Kumar.

We once again have expert advice on everything from hair styles and life insurance to home finance, hearing, and health.

We’ll take you to Weyburn and Moose Jaw for a glimpse of what our neighboring cities have to offer. And, of course, on almost every page you’ll find information about the amazing variety of goods and services offered by Regina businesses.

Read the interview with the Sillingers, and you’ll see that despite living in some of North America’s most famous cities, they’ve come back to Regina because it offers the quality of life they crave. “It’s home,” they say.

It’s my home, too, and probably yours. And as Fine Lifestyles Regina continues to prove, issue after issue, a very fine home it is.

Dilawri Automotive Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Ken Campbell Racing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Regina Motor Products. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Auto Gallery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Crestview Chrysler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Southey Mortors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Universal Auto Spa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

Style Look Fabulous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Diva for a Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Elegant Image . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Dress for Success . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Rhoda’s Elegance Again . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

!'&&+/)

6+&'

80

Dining, Enertainment and Arts RSO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111 Java Express South . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 Silver’s. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119 Willetts on Wine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124 Cathedral Village Free House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126 Entertainment Guide. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129 Casa Latina. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131

Edward Willett, Editor

Winter 2009/10

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Winter 2009/10 Sports, Recreation and Leisure

186

Jordan Eberle Mission Ridge Albuquerque

133 135 138

Saskatchewan Roughriders 145 Minard’s Leisure World 148 Pokey’s Tackle Shop 150

Health and Wellness Dr. Krishna Kumar Wellness Knocking Vacuum Master

153

153 157 162

Oxford Learning Prairie Wellness Group

165 170

House, Home and Property Please Take Your Seat Home Automation Urban Stone Emerald Park Homes Preston Place

174 180 191 199 203

Zarkor Construction Bullfrog Spas Building Dreams Northridge Development

209 212 214 216

Business, Financial and Legal Joseph Pettick

174

219

Larry Bird

228

231 236 240 242

TLC Laser Hair Removal York Jewelers

247 249

251 255

Moose Jaw Culture Centre 257

Weyburn Opportunity City T & C Restaurant Great Plains Ford The Void

Moose Jaw

225 Winter 2009/10

Historic Buildings Nits Café

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WINTER 2009/10 VOLUME 1, ISSUE 4 Publishers Randy Liberet Wayne UnRuh Editor Edward Willett ewillett@sasktel.net In-House Advertising and Design Tasha Fraser Josh Legendre Cover Photography Linell Grudnitzki Photography Jesse Covert-Ruttenberg Vienna Di Ruscio Kari Fortune Linell Grudnitzki Dave Leslie Craig Livingston Jessie Zoerb Contributing Writers Linda Aksomitis Michael Bell Kris Brandhagen Susan Easton Kathryn Lavallee Marie Powell Mendenhall Lee Parent Myrna Petersen Judith Silverthorne Meagan Thomas Christopher Tessmer Edward Willett Advertising Consultants Brooke Watson: 306.551.4789; brooke@FineLifestylesRegina.com Brenna Glascock: 306.999.3463; brenna@FineLifestylesRegina.com Trena Olfert: 306.581.2756; trena@FineLifestylesRegina.com

A message from Mike and Karla Sillinger

Publishers Randy Liberet: 306.540.3320; Randy@FineLifestylesRegina.com Wayne UnRuh: 306.541.3365; Wayne@FineLifestylesRegina.com 3440 Balsam Grove Regina, SK S4V 2S4 Website www.FineLifestylesRegina.com Fine Lifestyles Regina is published four times a year by Fine Lifestyles Regina, Ltd. We reserve the right to edit any materials chosen for publication including photographs. We reserve the right to reject or accept any article, photograph, image or advertisement. All contents of Fine Lifestyles Regina, Ltd., are copyrighted 2009/2010 with all rights reserved, except for original articles submitted to Fine Lifestyles Regina, where copyright resides with the author. No other part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of Fine Lifestyles Regina or its writers. The name Fine Lifestyles Regina, its logo and material cannot be reproduced without the written consent of the publishers. The views and opinions expressed in the expert advice columns herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of Fine Lifestyles of Regina or the company’s they represent. The information contained herein is of a general nature and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although we endeavour to provide accurate and timely information, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No one should act upon such information without appropriate professional advice after a thorough examination of the particular situation.

Winter 2009/10

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We were very excited to be asked to be featured in Regina’s newest magazine. To be able to represent such a great city and province is something we are very proud of.

After many years of only spending our summer months here, we are looking forward to being fulltime residents once again. Even with Regina’s growth and development, it still maintains a warm sense of community that we are excited for our three boys to experience.

It is clear to us, after living in many different NHL cities, that we are home again!

Mike and Karla Sillinger

fine lifestyles regina

Mike and Karla Sillinger have been everywhere...

but Regina is home

BY EDWARD WILLETT

Winter 2009/10

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fine lifestyles regina

Feature Article

MIKE’S RECENT RETIREMENT PARTY AT CRAVE RESTAURANT & BAR. L TO R: BOB SILLINGER (MIKE’S DAD), MIKE SILLINGER, ANNA SILLINGER (MIKE’S MOM), JOAN DREGER (KARLA’S MOM), KARLA SILLINGER, IVAN DREGER (KARLA’S DAD)

“The last five years we were tossing the idea back and forth, ‘Where were we going to end up?’”

Winter 2009/10

M

ike Sillinger holds the National Hockey Leage record for playing with the most teams—12 in all. He was traded nine times, another record.

All of which means that in 17 years as a professional hockey player, he moved around—a lot.

In fact, the list of teams he played for after being drafted from the Regina Pats by the Detroit Red Wings back in 1990 sounds like that old Geoff Mack song, “I’ve Been Everywhere.”

Mike could sing, “I’ve been to Detroit, Anaheim, Vancouver, Philadelphia, Tampa Bay, Florida, Ottawa, Columbus, 12

Phoenix, St. Louis, Nashville, New York...I’ve been everywhere, man!”

When he retired in August, Mike could easily have moved back to any of those places—or, indeed, anywhere at all. It says something about both him and Regina that he and his family chose instead to come back here.

“We had a taste of living on the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, in the desert, the Midwest, but we never got a chance to dig our heels really good into any of those places,” says Mike’s wife, Karla, who, like Mike, was born and raised here.

“The last five years we were tossing the fine lifestyles regina

Feature Article

idea back and forth, ‘Where were we going to end up?’” But, she says, “We’d come home in the summertime and it seemed we were happiest here.

“A great place to raise a family”

PHOT OGRAPHY: DAVE L E SL IE , DAVE ’ S CAVE

“It’s a great place to grow up and a great place to raise a family,” she adds, and that’s an important consideration, since the Sillingers have three boys, Owen, 12, Lukas, nine, and Cole, six.

The boys have wanted to come back to Regina in the winter ever since the family spent Christmas here in 2004—made possible because of the NHL lockout that year. “The kids loved it,” Mike says.

“They’d never seen Regina with snow.

This is what they’ve asked for every year, and they have it now!”

All three boys are now enjoying their first full year at Jack MacKenzie School, and (of course) playing hockey. “Owen plays Tier 1 Pee Wee, Lukas plays Tier 1 Atom, and Cole thinks he should play both,” Mike says with a laugh.

MIKE WITH (LEFT) JAMIE HEWARD & (RIGHT) FRANK KOVACS – THE ORIGINAL “PUP LINE” WITH THE REGINA PATS

Mike and Karla, of course, have seen plenty of snow in Regina, having both grown up in the city’s north end.

during the summers for the next few years, they bought their first home in the city in 1997. They’ve had one ever since.

They met while Mike was playing for the Regina Pats, recording three consecutive seasons as the Pats’ top scorer. “I was thumbing through the newspaper, and was intrigued by this hockey player,” Karla says. “We met through a mutual friend, and I said, ‘This is the guy I’m going to marry.’ That’s how it happened.”

“We lived in a home in the summer time for 10 years in Westhill, then we bought a home in Lakeridge and owned it for two years,” Mike says. Now they’re in Windsor Park. “We thought we’d try the East End. This end of town I really enjoy.”

But although she might have been thinking marriage right from the beginning, Mike wasn’t. “I thought she was a beautiful girl and we got along, but that’s not what was on my mind at age 17 or 18 years old, while I was playing with the Pats,” he says. “It wasn’t until a couple of years later, when I went and played in the Detroit organization, and we had a long-distance relationship, that I think I realized I had a good girl back in Regina.

The following year we got engaged.”

They were married in 1994, and even though they only made it back to Regina

Winter 2009/10

Injuries end career Still, it wasn’t a foregone conclusion that they’d return to Regina at the end of Mike’s career. The way his career ended influenced things.

Mike’s final team was the New York Islanders; he played the 1,000th game of his NHL career with the Islanders against the Tampa Bay Lighting on November 1, 2007, his family joining him on the ice for a special pre-game ceremony. But that season was cut short by a hip injury that required surgery in February, 2008. The following season, he 13

had further hip problems, undergoing surgery again last February and missing the rest of the season. On August 26, he announced his retirement.

It was a “difficult way” to end his career, Mike says, and helped him make up his mind to get out of New York. “While I was having my last surgery, Karla and I decided, ‘Let’s put the house up for sale’—in the worst possible market ever.” Despite the poor market, the house sold by June, and Mike and Karla headed for Regina.

Not only would Mike have felt awkward remaining in New York after the way his career ended, they’d never felt comfortable there. “New York was a big change,” he remembers. “We’ve always enjoyed living in the Midwest. Easy going, easy living, no rush, no hustle. We always envisioned ourselves living in a Columbus or Saint Louis.

It reminded us of back home.”

But instead of just moving someplace that reminded them of “back home,” they actually moved back home “Everyone thought we were crazy,” Mike

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Feature Article

Mike & Karla Sillinger Get Pampered at

MIKE & KARLA EXPERIENCE A SOOTHING AND REPLENISHING BODY RUB WITH A LITTLE BIT OF ISLAND MILK AND HONEY. KARLA ENJOYING MINERALOLGIE MAKE UP FOR WEDDING, GRAD OR ANY SPECIAL OCCASION. MIKE’S PAMPERED WITH CÕCÕ’S FINGER AND TOE TREATMENTS THAT USE THE LIPPMAN COLLECTION NAIL CARE LINE.

admits. “But when I have buddies come to town and take them up to my place at Pasqua Lake, they’re in awe. They never envisioned a place like that so close to Regina. They just think it is beautiful.”

“We’ve been in some cutthroat places, where you don’t get the please and thank you...some really stressful places,” she continues. “They’re great to be in for a bit, but we have three kids involved in hockey, we’ll be involved in minor hockey for a lot of years. You take for granted here that you don’t have to travel for half an hour or an hour and take a flight to a hockey tournament.”

Winter 2009/10

PHOT OGRAPHY: L IN E LL GRUDN IT Z KI

“It may seem glamorous to have lived in all of those places, but we can never call any of those places home,” is how Karla puts it. “It’s a comfortable feeling when you can go to the grocery store and wave at people...You take for granted the friendliness that you’re accustomed to when you come back to a small city like this.

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Feature Article

PHOT OGRAPHY: L IN E L L GRUDN IT Z KI

MIKE GETS A GREAT FIT AT OLIVER’S MENSWEAR.

PHOT OGRAPHY: L IN E LL GRUDN IT Z KI

KARLA LOOKING HER BEST WITH THE HELP OF LEE SEAL OF RUMORS HAIR STUDIO.

Mike’s new job That’s not to say that all the travel has ended for Mike—far from it. Almost immediately upon his retirement, he took on a new job as director of player development for the Edmonton Oilers.

“I probably travel the same amount as if

Winter 2009/10

I were playing the game,” he says, noting he’d just come back from Sweden. “It takes up a lot of my weekends. My job is, I’m in charge of the drafted players in the organization. They range anywhere from 18 to 22, 23 years old. A lot of college kids. I have good reads on these players, and I have to mentor them, teach them how to be an ultimate pro.

I’m a player who’s been there, done that, been in all different situations.

“There’s such a variety of them,” he goes on. “My main focus is the 22 or 25 players who are going to be top prospects.

There’s such a small window of opportunity for these players to make it. After I was drafted I didn’t know what I was doing, good or bad. Fortunately I had lots of great teammates.

“It’s my job to be these guys’ mentor and follow them along. Our scouting staff still watches these guys, but I want to make sure they have the opportunity to make it to the National Hockey League.

If you’re drafted into the organization, you’re drafted for a reason.”

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Mike didn’t expect to go straight to work after retiring. “I never planned to do anything,” he says. “I was just going to kick back. When the Oilers approached me—and I retired and I had this job all within a week—I had people call me from the media, saying, ‘I thought you weren’t going to do anything!’

“And I wasn’t! I was going to hang out in Regina and coach my kids’ hockey and watch them grow. But when this opportunity presented itself, Karla and I both thought that if I was to pass it up and it was November and December, we’d be

fine lifestyles regina

Feature Article

wondering what the Oilers wanted me to do.

“It almost seemed too good to be true. I wasn’t expecting to be hired that quick.

But pretty much my interview the end of August was, ‘Now that you’re retired, I’m going to offer you a deal, and I need you in Edmonton next week!’”

“That’s what you wanted,” puts in Karla.

“You didn’t want to find something, you wanted something to find you.”

Mike agrees.

“I was flattered to be contacted by the Oilers,” he says.” It’s a team I never played on, but here I am working for the Oilers, seven or eight hours down the road. It’s almost like it was meant to be.

Family comes first It’s important to Mike to be able to spend time with his boys, even if he isn’t coaching them as he thought he might be this winter. “It’s not about coaching minor hockey, it’s their lives I don’t want to miss!”

With three boys playing hockey, the family spends a lot of time at rinks. The boys are very “sports-oriented,” Mike says, not

only playing hockey and lacrosse but enjoying watching Roughrider games and Regina Pats games. “Every time I have to go to a Pats game, they always says, ‘Can I come? Can I come?”

Mike and Karla both work out at Level 10 Fitness. They like to dine out at places like Crave, Rock Creek and the Roof Top. Mike mentions The Tap and the Press Box as two pubs he favours if he’s going off to watch football or hockey. The Keg and Earl’s rate a mention, too. But, says Mike, “We’re mostly home bodies.”

And that, ultimately, is why Mike and Karla Sillinger have chosen Regina over all the other places they could be living.

“We’re back here,” says Mike, “because home is home!”

PHOT OGRAPHY: L IN E L L GRUDN IT ZKI

“I figured I won’t know if I’m going to like it unless I try it,” he continues, and

so far, “the Oilers have been nothing but first-class. I can work out of Regina, and still stay connected to the NHL. They’re very understanding that I have a family.

They want me to do my job and do it correctly, but if my son has a tournament, they’ll say, ‘Go ahead, go with your boy to his tournament.’”

MIKE & KARLA ENJOYING A FINE DINNER AT SILVER’S STEAKHOUSE, SERVED BY AMBER ROBERTS (LEFT) AND BRIANNA STEVENS (RIGHT) Winter 2009/10

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PHOT OGRAPHY: L IN E L L GRUDN IT Z KI

THE SILLINGERS AT SILVERS – MIKE, KARLA & SONS (L TO R) OWEN, COLE, & LUKAS

Winter 2009/10

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fine lifestyles regina

Eberle looking for same golden result at 2010 world juniors

PHOT OGRAPHY: AN DRE RIN GUE T T E HOCKE Y CAN ADA. CA

BY GREG INDZEOSKI

Last year in Ottawa, Team Canada captured its fifth straight World Junior title after defeating Sweden in the gold medal game. Jordan Eberle, a Regina native, was a member of that team. f Jordan Eberle had to write a script for the upcoming 2010 World Junior Hockey Championship, it wouldn’t differ much from what took place at the 2009 World Juniors. The story would have a golden ending.

I

Last year in Ottawa, Team Canada captured its fifth straight World Junior title after defeating Sweden in the gold medal game. Eberle, a Regina native, was a member of that team.

Winter 2009/10

This year, the 19-year-old forward of the WHL’s Regina Pats has one goal on his mind heading into the 2010 World Juniors, which will take place in his home province of Saskatchewan beginning December 26. “Obviously you want to win a gold medal,” says Eberle. “That’s thegoal and mindset we have going into the tournament.”

Eberle, a first-round selection in the 2008 NHL draft, played a prominent 19

role in Team Canada’s gold-medal per-formance in Ottawa. It was the semifinal game against Russia in the 2009 tournament that stands out in the minds of most Canadians. With Team Canada down by a goal and the clock ticking down, Eberle scored one of the most memorable goals in World Junior history, propelling Team Canada into a shoot-out victory over Russia and into the gold-medal game. fine lifestyles regina

Anytime you give your team a chance to win a hockey game it’s exciting. At that moment in time you’re just excited to keep your team going and give them a chance to win.”

The IIHF 2010 World Junior Hockey Championship will take place in both Regina and Saskatoon, with the round-robin portion of the 10-team tourna-ment beginning Boxing Day in both locations. Relegation and medalround games then move to Saskatoon beginning January 2, 2010, with the gold medal game scheduled for January 5. For Eberle, a little hometown cooking will be an added bonus.

Eberle will join his Team Canada mates in Regina in mid-December for final se-lection camp before playing two pre-competition games at his home rink, the Brandt Centre.

On December 20 Team Canada will take on Sweden, and then on December 23 Canada takes to the ice against the Czech Republic.

Fans in Regina could see Eberle wearing a Team Canada jersey as opposed to the familiar Pats colors.

“Anytime you get to put on the Canada jersey, it’s special,” says Eberle. “There’s a lot of history on the maple leaf. It will be special this year because it is in my home province and the tryouts are in my hometown. I’m excited!”

PHOT OGRAPHY: AN DRE RIN GUE T TE HOCKE Y CAN ADA. CA

While there may be a little bit more pres- sure playing in front of a hometown crowd, Eberle, being one of several re- turning players, knows what to expect. “I will be looked up to as a leader. Hopefully I will play a similar role to what I did last year. Being at home, I will be familiar with the rink and with the boards. Also, there’s no time change, so from a physical aspect it will help me out and the crowd will definitely, hopefully, be on my side.”

Canada is looking for its sixth straight gold medal, a record that Eberle hopes he can help achieve right here in his home province. “Canadians expect us to win gold.

It’s a tribute to Team Canada, how dominant a hockey country we are and how well we’ve done.

“We want to set the record by winning six gold medals in a row. It’s going to be special!

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Wheels

Calm under pressure Ken Campbell, Regina’s underdog racer

n orderly fashion, 10 colourful stock cars flow into the race track’s final corner. The fiberglass-encased vehicles rocket toward the crowd, side by side in two rows, inches apart and tailgating one another as though tethered together.

Their engines howl like mythic dragons.

The pack passes by the cheering audience on the front straightaway. Above the track, a man on a tower frantically waves a green flag, releasing the drivers from order to restrained chaos.

PHOT OGRAPHY: MICHAE L BE L L

PHOT OGRAPHY: MICHAE L BE L L

BY MICHAEL BELL

I

Now on the back straightaway: an orange car becomes the leader, grey-blue Number 20 locks in behind him, the rest of the pack jealously roars. One lap later: orange still in first, Number 20 in second and green-black Number 5 in third.

These form a trio, and begin to pull away from the mass.

Something is about to go wrong.

RISK IS PART OF RACING As the trio plunges into the back corner in single file, Number 5 fails to brake enough and bumps Number 20’s back end. At nearly 160 kph, the laws of physics condemn Number 20 to a 180degree spin and sudden deceleration.

Tires squeal like terrorized pigs. Another car brakes hard. His back end slides out at right angles to the track and slams into Number 20, whose front end now faces back. The rest of the pack whips around

Winter 2009/10

the corner unharmed. Grey-blue Number 20 rolls to a halt, perpendicular to the track, front end smashed in, hood jutting up in a folded mess. The sudden motionlessness seems odd.

Six months later the driver of Number 20 sits in his kitchen, watching the crash on his laptop. The shaky handheld video was captured by someone in the crowd that evening, May 15, 2009. It was the first race of the season at Auto Clearing Motor Speedway in Saskatoon, and a discouraging way to begin a summer of racing.

“Yeah. I’m on YouTube,” Ken Campbell says grimly.

The risk of crashing is part of competitive racing, as is the adrenaline fix from extreme speed and the challenge of building a car, tuning its engine, and then beating your opponents on the track. There isn’t a driver who hasn’t experienced it all, Campbell says.

Since he was a kid, there was racing. Ken Campbell grew up watching his cousin win snowmobile races. He won his first 32

snowmobile race in 1972 in Pense. A photo of the event shows a beaming 10year-old Campbell—still in his navyblue snowmobile suit and white helmet—proudly holding up a trophy to the camera.

In the same year as his first win, Campbell’s cousin, father and uncle began to race stock cars at Regina’s King’s Park Speedway. He was too young to help in the pits where the racing teams prepare and tune their cars, so he sold popcorn and drinks in the stands. But his job was also an opportunity to get close to the action.

“Sometimes I used to carry the drinks down to the pits for the pit crews and drivers, carrying 24 paper cups full of Coke and Pepsi and 7-Up,” Campbell recalls. It was his chance to be close to the cars and the drivers. “I wanted to be like them,” he says.

Campbell began stock-car racing in 1980 with a pit crew of friends and a 1964 Dodge Belvedere. In 1985, he moved up to a more competitive racing fine lifestyles regina

PHOT OGRAPHY: MICHAE L BE L L

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class, winning the Regina Super Stock Championship in 1992. In 1999, he set a track speed record during a tour of the Western Racing League. Since 2005, Campbell has raced in the Super Late Model Class.

At this level, there is nothing “stock” left on the car, Campbell explains. The engines are designed for racing, the chassis is built from the ground up, and the safety requirements are stringent, including fire suits and fire extinguishers mounted in the car’s cab. He is the only driver in Regina that competes in the Super Late Model Class, which means most of his races take place at the Auto Clearing Motor Speedway in Saskatoon.

It takes passion to compete at Campbell’s level, not to mention a fair bit of money.

His decent wage as a full-time employee of Sysco Food Service strains under the weight of racing expenses. To replace his car would cost $45,000 $50,000, while yearly maintenance and repair costs run from $10,000 to $20,000. Travel costs are also a factor.

ALWAYS AN UNDERDOG In this regard, Campbell is an underdog compared to other Western Canadian racers in the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) Series. One competitor from Calgary is a corporate lawyer, for whom $20,000 is a “drop in the bucket,” Campbell figures. ARCA’s 2009 season champion was a team from Edmonton: they have two cars and a $200,000 budget, and fly in a professional driver from the U.S. Aside from the financial challenges, Campbell is also restricted by lack of practice time. The key to racing on an oval is to constantly shave hundredths of seconds off your lap time, and that requires intimate knowledge of the track.

So while King’s Park Speedway in Regina is close and available, it is of little practice value. Campbell says Regina’s track is “more of a horsepower track,” very different from Auto Clearing Motor Speedway in Saskatoon, the track where he races most frequently. Before each competition,

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PHOT OGRAPHY: HE AT HE R DE IT Z

Campbell makes do practicing during the “hot-lap session” in which a driver can test how his car is running and make suspension and engine adjustments.

Nevertheless, you won’t hear Campbell complain: these factors are just part of what it takes to be based in Regina and compete in the Super Late Model Class.

Grateful for his sponsors—among them Regina Florists, Fleet Check, Club Towing and others—his team (www.campbellmotorsports.ca) always welcomes new sponsorship opportunities from local businesses.

After a 20-minute tour of his car, Ken Campbell asks: “Have you ever heard the engine of one of these?” He reaches into the cab and fires up the engine. Standing next to the car, I not only hear the engine but feel it, each stroke creating a sound wave that hits me in the chest like the beat from a speaker at a rock concert.

He reaches under the hood and repeatedly tugs a lever, the engine replying with bursts of wailing energy. He kills the engine, and the garage is silent again.

I ask Campbell what it’s like behind the wheel during a race, and if in those repetitive orbits around the track, his mind ever wanders off to other places.

Absolutely not, he explains: in every moment, the driver is constantly searching for “a different line.” It’s a line that allows you to stay on the throttle a little more, to brake a little less. Every 13-second lap, every foot on the track requires complete focus to be as fast as possible.

WHY GO RACING? Campbell seems to be a calm, gentle person. He answers my questions thoughtfully, articulately. He doesn’t waste words.

Perhaps that’s the kind it takes—the “calm under pressure” type—to strap themselves in a couple of feet behind a 415-horsepower demon, hitting corners at extreme speed, and always trying to get ahead of the competition. But it takes more than the right personality to pay track fees and maintenance costs, do major and minor repairs, and travel long hours to compete against better financed teams. I ask: what’s behind it?

“The drive. The challenge. The adrenaline rush. It’s a serious challenge to go out and compete against the best. And these are the best. The fastest cars, the best drivers in Western Canada.”

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PHOT OGRAPHY: J E SSE COVE RT-RUT T E NBE RG, COVE RT OPZ . COM

Jason Ledingham, President, RMP

Regina Motor Products

Putting People First for 57 Years

BY JUDITH SILVERTHORNE

A

dedicated staff, caring customer service, and top-quality vehicles are the strengths that set Regina Motor Products apart from other car dealerships—and have given the thirdgeneration family business 57 years of continuing success.

“People are important to us; it’s as simple as that. We care about our clients, so customer service is a top priority,” says President and General Manager Jason Ledingham, who has followed in his father’s and grandfather’s steps, both philosophically and in business acumen.

Jason’s grandfather, Bill Ledingham, started the business in 1952 when he moved from Edmonton. Given the opportunity to buy Regina Chevy Sales, he jumped at it, changing the name to Regina Motor Products (RMP). He ran Winter 2009/10

the business, then located in downtown Regina, until 1970, when his son Blaine took over. Blaine successfully ran the dealership until 1999 when Jason became President and General Manager.

Jason has been involved with RMP in one way or another for most of his life.

He started working there as a youngster and continued throughout high school, training from the bottom up; washing cars, cleaning and sorting parts bins and the like. After graduating from University in 1990, he began working full-time, moving up through the ranks, learning every aspect of the business. His wide experience and knowledge made him a natural for taking over the helm of the company and gained him the respect he has today from clients and staff.

RMP Sales Manager Bob Ramsay, who 37

has been with the company 17 years, says, “Jason brought forward his grandfather and father’s ‘family first’ environment. He looks after his people very well.

He takes an interest in our families and is always good to our kids. He’s as downto-earth as apple pie and ice cream.”

Jason’s friendly manner has garnered his staff ’s respect, and in turn, he appreciates his managers and staff. Bob explains, “He always respects opinions, and listens. He’s willing to look at options and he lets us make decisions. Sometimes he challenges us to think outside the box.”

Bob adds, “He always makes us feel like it’s ‘our’ place. We feel ownership and pride.”

Bob Ramsay is also quick to credit Jason for the success RMP experiences today.

“Since he took over there has been confine lifestyles regina

“We maximize our strengths and become better at what we do, so people have a good experience in whatever department they come into,” he says.

“We want to make sure we’re there in the future for our customers.” sistent, steady growth. He’s created a stable environment and he’s taken the company to another level. He’s what sets us apart.

“He can be friends with his staff, but he can also separate this from business when needed,” Bob says. “He’s a very smart businessman and well-respected in the community.” Besides having a real knack for the business, one of the reasons Jason has been so successful is that he’s both kept experience and brought in youth with fresh ideas.

Besides selling new and used cars, RMP has a full service department, a body shop, and a parts department. In 1996, RMP added a new service drive-through and brought the dealership up to GM Image Standards. “Our salespeople and technicians are trained professionals.

They’re smart and skilled,” says Bob, noting RMP provides opportunities for their staff to be promoted.

Since the beginning, RMP has offered its clients the option of used vehicles and

new ones, selling over 110,000 vehicles during that time. RMP also had to expand the Optimum Used Cars aspect of the business, which resulted in the elaborate new 2,000-square-foot addition being constructed this year.

In 2004, Jason’s Brother Kent Ledingham, who worked for him, decided to become more immersed in the business.

They bought a dealership in Steinbach, Man., and that’s where Kent now runs Ledingham GM. The biggest change Jason and his staff have noticed in recent years is that customers are more knowledgeable because of the Internet. “Customers come in and know what they want because they’ve checked out their options on the Internet. Sometimes they know more about the vehicles than we do,” Jason laughs.

“For instance, they may know more

PHOTOGRAPHY: J E SSE COVE RT-RUT T EN BERG, COVE RT OPZ . COM

“Our strength is the people who work for us,” Jason says of his management driven dealership. “We have lots of longterm employees. Some have been here for 30-40 years. Some go away and come back.” He modestly adds, “It’s the people you put around you that make you successful.”

Jason and his staff have seen many changes over the course of the years, both in GM products and within RMP. “Our business was smaller when we operated out of 1850 Albert Street, but it kept expanding. In 1979, Blaine built a new facility in the south end of the city at the junctions of Highways 1 and 6, which is our present location.”

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about the range of prices, so we have to be competitive.”

high fuel efficiency coupled with additional cargo space.

RMP is also using the Internet more as a marketing tool, offering live specials and a number of services. They make sure their website is current and easy to use.

RMP’s website is able to fulfill virtually any automotive need, including making appointments for repairs or other service work or ordering a part. “Customers come in and they know exactly what they’re looking for, because they’ve checked our website.”

Regina Motor Products has adapted and evolved through all the industry changes, always continuing to grow. In recent years, RMP managed to weather the General Motors restructuring, survive the 250 dealership cuts across the country, and continue to service its clients with exceptional service throughout. In fact, it’s emerged on top, with record sales in 2008. “And 2009 is shaping up to be even better,” says Jason.

Since the doors at RMP opened, GM has also gone through many changes, with dramatic improvements to the quality of vehicles. “The 2009 Malibu and 2010 Camaro are world-class cars,” Jason says, noting that Chevrolet Trucks are still industry leaders in the pick-up and SUV markets.

“At RMP we work at improving the things we can control. We maximize our strengths and become better at what we do, so people have a good experience in whatever department they come into,” he says. “We want to make sure we’re there in the future for our customers.”

Now 70 percent of the vehicles RMP sells are trucks and SUVs. With minivan sales on the decline, sales of cross-overs are on the rise, with the new Chevy Equinox and Traverse being extremely popular because of their wide versatility.

These five to eight-passenger crossover SUVs are perfect for families because of

Bob Ramsay explains that there are two kinds of selling: transactional and relational, and RMP favours the latter. “Customers need to know you care. We listen to the people who come in. We take the time to find out who they are and what their needs are. We can better meet their vehicle needs by listening to them.”

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Over the years, RMP has seen many repeat customers. There’s a reason for that, Bob says. “We make sure we have the type of vehicles people need. We make people feel comfortable. People are smart and knowledgeable, so they come to people they like.”

RMP’s friendly, upfront and forthright atmosphere has garnered great success in its 57 years of operations. Others have seen its achievements and have wanted to buy the business, but Jason Ledingham has no intention of selling any time soon. He’s proud to be the third-generation owner of RMP. He takes pleasure in being able to offer a full range of services, great customer relations and a staff ready to be of assistance.

Potential and repeat customers are invited to peruse RMP’s website at www.reginamotorproducts.com, or stop by for a chat about their automotive needs. Regina Motor Products (RMP) is located on south Albert Street at the intersection of Highways 1 and 6.

Phone 585-1770 locally, or toll-free 1-800-363-6822.

fine lifestyles regina

PHOTOGRAPHY: JE SSE COVERT-RUT T E N BE RG, COVE RT OPZ . COM

One of the reasons RMP has seen so many repeat customers over the years, is because they make sure they have the type of vehicles people need and want!

2010 Equinox Taking Advantage of Possibilities It's about taking full advantage of all the possibilities. Making a plan – and then being flexible enough to change when a new opportunity presents itself.

That goes for you – and the vehicle that takes you there. Wherever life takes you.

With Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing on both the standard 182 HP 2.4L ECOTEC fourcylinder engine and the available 264 HP 3.0L V6 engine, power and fuel efficiency are both maximized.

At 6.1 L/100 km, the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox consumes less fuel on the highway than any other vehicle in its segment. And the standard six-speed automatic transmission further improves fuel efficiency, with an ECO button that allows you to switch to a fuel-saving mode on models with the 2.4L engine. Advanced technology - for the power you need and the fuel efficiency you demand.

2010 Camaro Driven by Passion A standard 3.6L, 304 HP, V6 engine with variable valve timing (VVT) and Direct Injection offers a whole new kind of power the efficient kind. And for those who like to kick it up a notch, an available 6.2L 426 HP V8 adds even more pedal-to-the-metal prowess. Add front and rear independent suspensions and available Active Fuel Management® on the 400 HP 6.2L V8 engine paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission, and you've got a ride that's light years ahead of the competition. Powerfully efficient. When mated with the standard six-speed manual transmission, the 3.6L, 304 HP 2010 Camaro achieved an amazingly frugal 6.9 L/100 km highway fuel consumption rating.

2010 Traverse Power and Fuel Efficiency (The Dynamic Duo) Traverse achieves an incredible combination of robust power and unexpected fuel efficiency. The dynamic duo in play here is Variable Valve Timing (VVT) and Direct Injection. The 3.6L V6 engine produces 281 HP in LS and LT models and 288 hp in LTZ. That substantial power translates into an impressive 2359 kg (5200 lb.) towing capacity when properly equipped. The fuel efficiency is also exemplary - the V6 engine and six-speed automatic transmission combination help Traverse deliver 8.4 L/100 km highway ratings.

It isn't only the volume of space that makes Traverse such a versatile vehicle; it's also the interior's flexibility. If transporting cargo becomes your priority, you'll be gratified to learn that Traverse offers class-leading maximum cargo space - 3296 L (116.4 cu. ft.). That's a whopping amount of space available for your gear. Traverse includes Smart SlideTM second-row seating that makes it easier to enter and exit the third-row seat, or to expand second-row legroom.

Traverse is equipped with a thoughtful series of technologies.

Some help you navigate immediate challenges, such as the available Rearview Camera System and available ultrasonic rear parking assist.

Others help you plan your best route, like the available Navigation System that includes voice recognition functionality.

Traverse also provides entertainment you won't want to miss, with standard XM Satellite Radio.

2010 Malibu It’s More Than Just Our “Best Buy” Malibu provides a unique combination of distinctive styling, extraordinary fuel efficiency and exemplary quality. No wonder Malibu has won more than 30 prestigious awards, including the 2009 Best New Family Vehicle** from Kelley Blue Book and Automobile Magazine in February 2009 wrote: " ... Drive one, and you will see why we've named it an ... All-Star winner two years in a row." It’s the car that sets the standard for all other mid-size sedans: the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu.

As Automobile Magazine affirms, Malibu is "a family sedan that is more enjoyable to drive than the Toyota Camry, better looking than the Honda Accord ..." Malibu's sporty personality is established by its long wheelbase and short overhangs - the same characteristics, coupled with a tight wheel-tobody relationship, contribute to Malibu's confident handling. Your control is further enhanced by the standard four-wheel disc brakes with ABS and StabiliTrak.

Winter 2009/10

2010 Corvette

Not Your Average Driver

Pop the hood on a Corvette Coupe, Convertible or Grand Sport model and you're face to face with the most powerful standard Corvette engine in history.

The original Corvette Grand Sport was the product of an intense factory effort to defeat purpose-built North American and European competitors on race tracks around the world.

The cars were engineered for ultra-light weight with an extensive use of aluminum, and featured an early use of four-wheel disc brakes.

The Grand Sport legend began in 1963, when Corvette godfather Zora Arkus-Duntov ordered up five hand-assembled prototype race cars designed to take on all comers. The newest chapter starts now, with the introduction of the 2010 Grand Sport Coupe and Convertible. Under the Z06-inspired wide-body styling, Corvette Grand Sport bristles with race-bred technology.

Corvette is pure, 100 percent sports car, engineered by and for people who want the most excitement they can get out of the driving experience. From the long, low profile to the lightweight chassis to the unforgettable rumble of the V8 engine under the hood, Corvette is all about exhilaration. Want the full-on, flat-out high-performance ride of a lifetime? Get yourself a Corvette.

REGINA MOTOR PRODUCTS (1970) LTD Hwy 1 & 6, Regina, SK (306) 585-1770 www.reginamotorproducts.com

Hurry In. Limited Time Offer!

CHEVROLET 60-DAY SATISFACTION GUARANTEE

If you don’t love your Chevy, bring it back for a full refund!

2010 SUBARU FORESTER Remarkably capable. Unexpectedly stylish.

Completely SUV. An honest-to-goodness SUV with a number of un-SUV-like qualities, the Subaru Forester brings an unexpected balance of desirable attributes for a truly unsurpassed level of driving confidence. Go ahead and forge a new path courtesy of Forester's powerful yet efficient SUBARU BOXER engine and world-renowned Subaru symmetrical full-time AllWheel Drive (AWD).

A low centre of gravity and generous ground clearance enable the Forester to climb higher but corner flatter. Surefooted all-wheel drive handling is complemented by reassuring class-leading safety ratings.

And the harmonious arrangement continues: An available Multimedia Option equips the Forester with the latest technology, including a Bluetooth hands-free system and GPS DVD-based navigation, for the ultimate in convenience at your fingertips. Whether you choose the spirited Forester 2.5X or the 2.5X with Touring or Limited Package; the highperformance, turbocharged Forester 2.5XT Limited or the brand-new, smog-fighting Forester PZEV, there's plenty of rugged SUV capability and stylish comfort that's thoroughly fun for any outing.

525-6700

609 WINNIPEG STREET, Regina

1-888-763-6700 www.autogallery.com

2010 SUBARU TRIBECA Decidedly progressive. Incredibly refined. Completely SUV. The Subaru Tribeca is the progressive SUV designed to satisfy the most discerning drivers and shatter all notions of what an SUV should offer.

Underneath its bold exterior, there is superior engineering in the form of an ultrasmooth 3.6-litre 6-cylinder SUBARU BOXER engine and the legendary Subaru symmetrical full-time All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system, both honed in world rally competition.

These technologies are expertly aided by a fully independent suspension system, a 5-speed automatic transmission with SPORTSHIFT and blipping control, and class-leading active and passive safety systems. The superbly equipped introductory model features seating for seven and includes such standard features as a power moonroof, rear-view camera, premium audio system and Vehicle Dynamics Control.

Make safety a safe bet.

Some things should never be left to chance - especially the safety of you and your passengers. That's the very reason why every Subaru vehicle is designed to meet the very highest standards for safety. To begin with, active safety systems - such as Subaru symmetrical full-time AWD and the Vehicle Dynamics Control system - give the driver the tools needed to avoid an accident at all costs. In the event that an accident is unavoidable, passive safety systems like the Subaru ring-shaped reinforcement frame, whiplashreducing front-seat head restraints and six airbags provide much-needed layers of protection, resulting in top marks for crash-test ratings across the board.

525-6700

609 WINNIPEG STREET, Regina

1-888-763-6700 www.autogallery.com

2010 SUBARU OUTBACK Unconventional un-SUV. A vehicle that truly defies convention, the all-new Subaru Outback delivers all-road/all-weather capability, massive versatility and a surprising level of handling refinement. With more room for passengers and their gear plus desirable features such as available voice-activated Bluetooth hands-free systems, in-dash DVD-based GPS navigation and improved audio integration, the Outback is as thoughtful on the inside as it is road-ready on the outside.

Under the skin, there's a choice of two potent and efficient SUBARU BOXER engines: the smooth and refined power of the 6-cylinder, 3.6-litre engine or the 4-cylinder, 2.5-litre engine with available PZEV technology.

All models are equipped with the world-renowned Subaru symmetrical fulltime All-Wheel Drive system and class-leading safety systems for confidenceinspiring handling and performance. And all of this is wrapped up in an athletic package that is bolder and more powerful-looking than ever before.

Abundant safety features + astounding crashworthiness = peace of mind.

The Outback is fully loaded with standard safety features and plenty of reasons not to use them. To help you avoid a collision in the first place, the Outback offers responsive handling, superior stability and heightened control, courtesy of a symmetrical full-time AWD system and a lower centre of gravity. Excellent evasive capabilities are also provided by finely tuned suspension, powerful brakes, quick steering and standard Vehicle Dynamics Control (also known as Electronic Stability Control). In order to protect you in the event of a collision, the passive safety story begins with the advanced ring-shaped reinforcement frame that's designed to divert impact energy away from the cabin.

525-6700

609 WINNIPEG STREET, Regina

1-888-763-6700 www.autogallery.com

The Japanese engineered Subaru Impreza comes loaded with its famed symmetrical All Wheel Drive and Boxer engine. And right now it also comes with $500 worth of bonus genuine Subaru accessories. How can we pack so much into a small car? We dare you to test drive one and find out.

2010 Subaru Impreza with Symmetrical AWD.

Leave the sliding to the ski slopes.

Lease Rates

Payment/mo.

as low as

Only

1.9% $259 $20,995 Incomparably equipped from

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4 DOOR

$500 Bonus Accessories

FOR THE HOLIDAYS

525-6700

609 WINNIPEG STREET, Regina

1-888-763-6700 www.autogallery.com

Winter 2009

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Wheels

Universal Collision Centre’s Auto Spa

pampers cars—and their owners, too!

B Y E D WA R D W I L L E T T

P

eople go to spas to be pampered and polished until they look their best. Why shouldn’t automobiles have the same opportunity for a little tender loving care? After all, they work hard for us, in all kinds of weather, facing mud and snow, heat and cold to transport us in comfort to our destinations. Don’t they deserve a little luxury, too?

The team at Universal Auto Spa think so, which is why among the automotive services they offer in their 40,000-squarefoot facility in the Capital Auto Mall at

3910 Rochdale Boulevard (Canada’s largest and most technologically advanced auto body, repair and paint shop) is the AutoSpa. Universal knows just how important your vehicle is to you, and treats it with the care and attention it deserves. Employees use only the highest-quality cleaning products...Canadian-made, environmentally friendly, and biodegradable.

As General Manager P.J. Morris likes to point out, for most people their car is their second-biggest investment after

their house—so it’s important for them and for Universal to have the right tools to keep it clean. (And if you like what you see, you can purchase those same professional products in the Universal show room, so you can continue giving your car top-notch care at home!)

Technology also aids the Universal Auto Spa staff in their quest to keep your car looking its best. The spacious, highceilinged facility can accommodate vehicles of nearly any size. There are 20 bays for washing, polishing and sham-

pooing, bright lights to illuminate every spot and speck of dust, and a central vacuum system.

The heated floors (a first for the province) may sound like a luxury, but they’re not only more comfortable for customers and workers, but also help cars dry, so that even the underside of your vehicle will be relatively free of moisture when you drive away.

Among the packages and treatments available to customers are paint sealants, rust inhibitors, leather conditioners, undercoating, fabric guards and water-repelling glass treatments...and Morris promises that you’ll get the same attention to detail no matter which package you purchase. “We have a full menu of services to choose from,” he notes.

Customers get pampered, too!

Of course, while it’s nice that your car is getting pampered, it’s even nicer if you get pampered a bit, too, and Universal Auto Spa certainly doesn’t fall down in that regard.

With 22-foot ceilings, lots of comfortable seating, an indoor waterfall, and a 50-inch plasma television, Universal’s 5,000square-foot showroom might be mistaken for the lobby of a five-star hotel. “There’s freshly brewed coffee and tea on hand “ and, boasts Morris, “plus the cleanest washrooms in the business”. High, wide windows let in plenty of natural light, and a climate-control system ensures it’s warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

While you’re in that spacious show room, enjoy the display of work by local artists— and take a look at the custom wheels, too.

Universal Auto Spa is one of the province’s only distributors of American Racing

Winter 2009/10

Wheels and is now an exclusive certified DuraShieldTM premium urethane film protection provider. DuraShieldTM is a transparent, durable, high-performance urethane film that is scratch and tear resistant. When professionally installed, DuraShieldTM is designed to provide a virtually invisible layer of protection between everyday road hazards and the damge prone areas of your vehicle. DuraShieldTM performs as a tough barrier to prevent samll rocks, debris, and insects from coming in contact with your vehicle’s painted or metal finish.

Skillful staff Elegant surroundings are nice, but the real key to the Universal Auto Spa difference is the staff. Every member of the team is a professional detailer, trained by the company, Morris explains. In fact, new employees will spend a whole week just learning how to wash a car’s exterior, what each product is, and what it’s used for.

The result is a consistent, quality job, no matter who works on your car.

One of the major nuisances of dropping off a car at some auto-care shops is not knowing exactly when the vehicle will be ready. But at the AutoSpa, a real-time production board provides up-to-theminute information on all vehicles to all staff, both those working on cars and those in the front office.

That means customers can get an accurate estimate of when their vehicle will be ready, allowing them to better make their transportation plans for the day.

And if they’re going to be without their vehicle for a long period for time, they’ll find a Thrifty Car and Truck rental desk conveniently located in the Universal Collision showroom.

Open Mondays to Fridays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and by appointment on Saturdays, the AutoSpa can accommodate anyone’s needs.

Quality products, quality staff, quality equipment, quality service: Universal Auto Spa isn’t just at the head of its class, it’s really in a class by itself.

3910 ROCHDALE BOULEVARD, REGINA, SK S4X 4P7 PHONE | 306-525-6000 TOLL FREE | 1-888-484-9UCC (9822) FAX | 306-543-9UCC (9822) WWW.UCCREGINA.COM 56

fine lifestyles regina

Style

Look fabulous

(and avoid fashion faux pas) this festive season

BY MEAGAN THOMAS WITH DEAN RENWICK

W

ould you rather get fashion advice from an expert or an icon? Why not both?

Regina’s premier fashion designer, Dean Renwick, and I spent many happy hours in the downtown getting a glimpse of this season’s hot (and not!) looks, while Renwick riffed on the wisdom of fashion icon Coco Chanel to impart timely and timeless advice that will get you through this—and really, any—festive season.

When accessorizing, before you walk out the door, put everything on—and then take one thing off.

Enjoying all things in moderation applies to fashion too. Like that one-ornament-too-many that topples the tree, the wrong balance or abundance of pieces—be it layers, jewellery, or accessories—is the razor-thin line between elegance and excess.

Pick one standout piece—top, jacket, shoe, pant or shirt—and add pieces that emphasize

and don’t compete with the piece you want to highlight. You might have a terrific shirt and a fabulous jacket and a stunning skirt, but if you wear them all at the same time none of the pieces will stand out.

The same goes double for jewellery and make-up. A single broad cuff studded with chunky crystal makes an outfit an understated standout, but too much sparkle and shine and the look goes from tasteful to tawdry. Ditto in the makeup department: choose one feature

Luxury must be comfortable, otherwise it is not luxury.

The expression “eating pants” may be inelegant but let’s face facts: festive is synonymous with food. We’re going to be snacking and feasting our way through the holidays, and statistically come out eight pounds heavier before it’s over.

This holiday cheer will manifest itself somewhere between your ribs and your hips, aka “The Worst Place Ever”—the

tummy.

Relax, have another butter tart and wash it down with some eggnog. It’s perfectly possible to have a stunning silhouette while packing away a third helping of turkey, cabbage rolls, mashed potatoes, gravy and perogies.

Use wrap-around tops, strategic crunching, and—personal favourite—empire waist styles, which hide a multitude of sins, are especially forgiving and offer absolution for healthy eaters. And how’s this for sneaky: suede—classy with a bit of edge—is available elasticized. Hallelujah!

Find comfort in quality fabrics that feel sensual and stand up great to wear. There are lots of amazing knits and sultry fabrics right now. Touch and go—if it feels good, it is good. Choose pants and skirts that can withstand travel, standing, sitting, over-warm indoor

settings and brisk outdoor errand running.

Pick jackets, blouses, sweaters and the like with similar care. Functional is more fashionable than you think.

Take a close look at the styles in the many high-end boutiques in Regina’s downtown, and you’ll find comfort and luxury to spare in most ensembles. Several boutiques carry Canadian designers (Aria specializes in Canadian couture) and Canadian design is red-hot on the world stage for uncomplicated and classic looks.

Fashion passes, style remains.

This is definitely the year to party like it’s 1989. Shoulders are back. Skinny jeans, batwing tops, shapeless bulky sweaters, and military and martial looks have marched back onto the racks, too: elf boots and big bags and plaid, oh my!

Here’s the good news: in most cases, looks have been softened and updated.

But the key word is “most.” Skinny jeans, alas, still only look good on the irritatingly slim. Still, if you’ve got the form, get the look while it lasts. Tailoring and top-end fabrics make them versatile favourites, an elegant staple that needs only a spiffy jacket or dynamite blouse to take it from an office party to a chic art gallery opening.

The Dickensian return of the Ghosts of Fashions Past should give us pause.

There is a reason “The ’80s” is now a popular Halloween party theme. Big bags are crowding out smaller, more elegant (and frankly, practical) totes. Metal on everything— studs, rings, rivets, loops of chain—can,

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and make that your focus. Smokey eyes and a rich, full lip are classic holiday looks. Highlight your best feature to the max and go subtle on the rest.

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pardon the pun, weigh down an otherwise clean look. What works never changes: simplicity is elegance, and elegance endures.

Aldo, Sterling and other stores have the look of the moment, but you’ll still find classics in among the tall boots and kitten-heel pumps.

It’s possible to be over-dressed, but not over-elegant.

The tech revolution was supposed to give us all more free time, but these days people are busier than ever before. It’s not inconceivable that some will be going to three or more parties in a given week, or even two or more in a single day.

The challenge isn’t so much what to wear but when to wear what. Office party?

Wear a dynamite top or jacket with a tailored but not overly dressy pant or skirt.

A dressy-dress is too much even for the most formal office holiday come-and-go.

Dinner party? Wear clean lines and one

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or two eye-catching embellishments (dazzling broach? up-do?) and be classy and classic at the same time. Open house? A dressy pant with a simple top will be stylish and not make casually dressed guests feel underdressed.

Build your look in layers and add (a snazzy belt) or subtract (one bangle too many) on the fly as need be. It’s hard to say whether over- or under-dressing is the greater fashion faux pas, but both will get you noticed and remembered.

The difference between too much and just right is part quantity and part detail.

Little embellishments—colour-on-colour beads, an unusual but lovely cut—make the average extraordinary. A structured but subtle shoulder? Lovely. Padded shoulders? You’ll be the prettiest linebacker at the ball. Appliqué on a jacket?

Fabulous. Less so with appliqué pants.

Less is more, more is too much.

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Check out Stella & Sway and Aria for dressy pieces that’ll do double duty asformal office wear.

If it doesn’t fit, don’t wear it.

The most common cause of holiday fashion discomfort isn’t food induced— it’s pilot error right from go. Fit is all about proportion, and proportion varies wildly from person to person. Try on clothes until you find ones that sit and fit where they should. Well-tailored clothes may cost more, but you’ll wear them more and own them longer.

Don’t be boring.

Dark and dramatic is huge this year. Stores are packed with purples and browns and wines and jewel tones. If black is still your only dress-up comfort zone, then bling it up with a daring up-do. The “little black

fine lifestyles regina

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dress,� the elegant shoe, a classic blouse and an elegant pant are sure-fire winners for any social gathering.

Add and subtract.

Go shopping and treat yourself to a few amazing pieces that will become the foundation of an occasional wardrobe.

Next, toss out an equal number of dated looks and loved but worn-to-death items. Sentimentality won’t make your favourites look current or fresh. Treat yourself to one (or two, or three) classy and classic items each year and you will always be ready for anything.

Mix it up.

Dark jeans, yes. Faded everyday jeans, no. Dressy, tailored jeans can be a playful take on casual elegance when paired with a very dressy jacket or blouse.

Paired with a plain pant or skirt, your most fabulous call-the-law boots or a pair of sizzling-and-smart Fluevog shoes will stop traffic and provoke envy. Done right, blending casual with dressy can be an all-day winner that goes from day to

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fine lifestyles regina

Let us help you make your own

FASHION STATEMENT

• JAG JEANS • TRIBAL SPORTSWEAR • FDJ FRENCH DRESSING • PURE SWEATERS • WOOLRICH

night without a wardrobe change. Just one rule applies: all pieces must be quality. Big-box togs don’t always play well with their tailored counterparts.

Now that you’ve got the goods on how to get it right this and every holiday season, go forth be fabulous!

• LIBRA • BANTRY BAY • HIROKO We also carry holiday/ cruise wear.

Regular and petite sizes.

Our goal is customer satisfaction.

FASHION STATEMENT Victoria Square Shopping Centre Stacy Svendsen, Owner

Winter 2009/10

Regina (306) 761-5222

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Beaded dress: Aria Boutique, Jacket/purple top/skirt and belted-coat ensemble with scarf ensembles: Stella & Sway, Knit sweater/jeans ensemble and Crystal cuff: Aria Boutique Dean Renwick is an internationally known and respected designer specializing in women’s wear. In Hollywood he worked at Azar-Woods, designing for some of the most wealthy and influential women in the world, and he continues to create sensational, timeless pieces at his Scarth Street studio. Special thanks to the owners and staff of Stella & Sway, Aria Boutique, Sterling and Aldo for their expertise and insight.

fine lifestyles regina

Step into our shoes you’ll be impressed

Great Christmas Gift!

• Amalfi • Bostonian • Clarks • Josef Seibel • Mr. Seymour • Munro • Roberto-Capucci • Rockport

Since 1907, we have been providing our customers with outstanding service and footwear they are excited to wear. From boots and casual wear to dress shoes and the perfect accessories for your evening out, our staff can fit even the most discerning foot.

• Ros Hommerson • SAS • Trotters • Van Eli

Come in and see if “the shoe f its”!

Fine Lifestyles Regina Subscription

Only $29.95/yr ($49.95/2 years) Although Fine Lifestyles reaches approximately 90,000 people every quarter, we don’t reach everyone.

As a Christmas gift, for any reason, or for yourself, ensure your hardcopy of FineLifestyles, simply by registering online or calling:

306.541.3365 www.finelifestylesregina.com

522-3492 1843 Hamilton Street www.loggieshoes.com Winter 2009/10

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fine lifestyles regina

Daniel Pritchard Myst Salon & Spa www.mystsalon.com 525.4020

re you the one to whom everybody says, “You haven’t changed a bit in years!”? (This can be a good or bad thing!) Do you get any comments on your hair, or does the friend you hang out with get all the comments? Are you getting bored with what you see but are afraid to change?

A famous socialite once said, “Life is too short to just blend in!” Changing your hair does not mean you have to do something radical, though. It could be very subtle. The biggest obstacle to change is fear: fear of getting a look that you don’t like, fear of coming out of your comfort zone, where the style you have is easy and works.

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style EXPERT ADVICE

WHEN IS THE RIGHT TIME TO CHANGE YOUR LOOK? Some of the guests who have come into our salon wanting a change have said they were afraid to change because they had a bad experience with their hair in the past.

This can be avoided by having a good consultation with a stylist. Asking a stranger where they got their hair done, because you think it looks great, works, too: it is a compliment to them, and it gives you a referral to a good stylist.

One thing to consider when choosing a new look for yourself is that it is often a reflection of your personal style. Are you classic, romantic, trendy, etc.? If you don’t know what your personal style is you

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might want to try one that best suits you.

Otherwise you could end up with a hairstyle that looks good on you but you feel uncomfortable with.

Here’s a tip to help you find a style that suits you best and the clothes you wear: start off with something small, like some highlights or lowlights. You will be surprised at the change it can make to your look!

If your hair doesn’t look up-to-date it doesn’t matter how nice your outfit is— it loses its impact. If you hair looks great it can take an average looking outfit and pull it all together for your new look.

fine lifestyles regina

Style

A beautiful dream becomes reality

Diva for a day

PHOT OGRAPHY: MARIO ISITA

Once upon a time, three friends had a beautiful dream: what if they combined their individual expertise in fashion, hair dressing, and professional make-up and skin care? Could they make the world (or at least, Regina) a more beautiful place, one person at a time?

Yes, they can. Renowned fashion designer Dean Renwick, hair dresser Grant Bray and make-up artist Krista Stevenson met while working on the set of Corner Gas. The talented trio volunteered their talents to put up a “Diva for a Day” silent auction prize for a Saskatchewan Motion Picture Industry Association event. The winner delighted in her makeover, a daylong fashion audit and image overhaul. Media got wind of it and before long Renwick, Grant and Stevenson were booked solid for months at a time and their Diva-for-a-Day service was born.

Rena, a long-time client of Renwick’s, was thrilled to have a diva-day. The pampering is just part of the fun; thanks to the team’s combined efforts, Rena will glimpse her weddingday look well before she and fiancé Richard Kim tie the knot this New Year’s Eve. Beauty requires sacrifice, though—soon-tobe bride Rena Blondeau gave up season tickets to the CFL’s Western Divi- sion Final (don’t feel too bad for Rena; she and Richard will be heading to Calgary for the Grey Cup) to treat herself and her mother, Mary Blondeau, to an unforgettable experience.

“This is a great opportunity to see what I’ve been visualizing and to get creative,” saysRena. “It’s exciting to see what your make-up and hair and dress can be like before the actual day.”

Mary’s makeover day included a designer original from Dean, a ’60s-inspired jacket and dress, hair touched with warm whiskey and caramel highlights plus a cut that frames her flawless oval face, and a beauty consultation, make-over and skin-care regime.

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PHOT OGRAPHY: MARIO ISITA

“Women don’t treat themselves enough”, says Mary. “We work, by the time we get home we’re drained, and we don’t remember to take time for ourselves. This is fantastic; we’re having so much fun.”

There are two makeover programs. The ultra version is an all-day—usually a Sunday—event that starts in the client’s home, pauses for an Italian lunch and a hair-style overhaul at Grant’s hair salon, Il Biondo, and ends with a photo shoot at Stevenson’s beauty salon, Blush Beauty Bar. The concept is What Not to Wear meets how do I look?, but with a view to working with the clothes you have, giving you style and cut you can maintain with ease, and a make-over you can recreate, plus all the insider-savvy to go forth and be fabulous—always.

There is also a diva-on-the-go version, ideal for busy people who just can’t spare a full day. Clients get the same fashion and beauty consultation and their new ’do, but they’ll partake of each separate element during the week at a time that’s convenient for them.

and also does alterations.

Grant Bray is the owner of Il Biondo Salon. Bray earned his licence very young and was cutting by the age of 18.

After many years on the west coast, Bray returned home, taught at Marvel Beauty School, transitioned to working in the film and television industry for a time, and then opened Il Biondo in 2006.

Krista Stevenson had her first brush with the beauty business when she worked for The Edge, a talent and modelling agency in Regina. Stevenson travelled to Toronto for formal training, returned home, and taught at Richards Beauty College and Aesthetics before she was hired to do make-up for the Gemini Award winning

To find out more, contact: Dean Renwick 569-2938, Stevenson 205-3628 Bray 757-9424.

Renwick is an internationally renowned and respected designer who has dressed the literati and the glitterati alike. He dressed some of the most influential and powerful women in American while working at Azar-Woods in Hollywood.

Dean Renwick Design Studio specializes in original designs for men and women

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Corner Gas and Renegade Press television shows.

Renwick, Bray and Stevenson can take you and your style in a new direction or serve as a means to simply update a look you’re already comfortable with.

“I wanted to keep my hair long for the wedding, but otherwise I’d be open to anything,” Rena Blondie says. Mary, too, would be eager to try something new with her look. Right now though, their new wedding fashions, hair styles and makeovers are excitement and novelty enough; after the wedding, who knows?

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fine lifestyles regina

Melissa Zaran Rumours Salon 924-3114 ot only am I a stylist, I am a dedicated nail technician. I'd like to share some of my knowledge about artificial nails with you.

Artificial nails are great to have-but only when they do not jeopardize the quality of your natural nails.

When you are deciding on a nail technician, you should first look at the cleanliness of their work station. When instruments aren't sterilized, an infection can result from something as simple as reusing the same nail file or electric file bit. when you do get an infection, it could be some type of mold or fungus, both take time to treat and may change they way your nail grows in the future.

Many technicians use other than hand

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Trina Fader Trino’s Men’s Wear 2445 Quance Street www.trinosmenswear.com

ondering what’s hot and what’s not this Christmas? Whether you are looking for ideas for great gifts for the one you love, or shopping for your own wardrobe this holiday season, here are a few tips to get things moving in the right direction!

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What’s HOT There’s nothing a woman finds sexier than a well-dressed man.

What’s always sexy: straight-leg, flat-front dress pants; a leather jacket (minus excess zippers and tassels); a cashmere sweater; a fitted sport shirt (one size does not fit all); ankle boots or fashion-forward square-toe shoes or round-toe Oxfords (having different shoes for different looks is essential).

Also on the sexy list: a mock-neck sweater, crew-neck or V-neck layered with a shirt underneath; a fitted, white cotton T-shirt;

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style EXPERT ADVICE

ARTIFICIAL NAILS filing: a dremel or an electric file. for example or an electrical file.

A dremel is a hardware tool that spins at a high rate of speed. It can burn through a nail plate and damage the nail bed in seconds. An electrical file, on the other hand, is made for use on artificial nails. It has special saftey features and when used properly, will not damage you natural nails.

Highly flexiblity is important in artificial nails. Inflexible artificial nails will not move with your natural nail and may cause severe breaks.

Many nails systems use a primer. Intended as an adhesive to stick the product to the natural nail, the primer is acid-based, and although it gives great

adhesion, it will deteriorate, dehydrate, and chemically resurface your natural nail with every application, making your nails very porous and thus more susceptible to fungal infections.

Maintenance for artificial nails is very important. You will need to get them filled on average, every two to four weeks.

Artificial nails can be removed in several ways. Some can file off or simply allowed to grow off. Others can be soaked in acetone to make them easier to remove, however this is an unhealthy choice.

You may have to pay a bit more for quality products, but when you find a qualified nail technician and a great product it's simply a wonderful investment.

style EXPERT ADVICE

MEN’S CLOTHING tops that are fitted but not skin-tight (big mistake: wearing your clothes too big); a monochromatic outfit (a simple and very clean look); a good pair of jeans (no saggy butts); a collared shirt—with no more than the top two buttons undone; a classic tuxedo; a casual sport jacket with jeans; a trim-fit or classic two- or three-button suit; a man that is well-groomed; a cashmere or merino wool scarf; classic leather gloves.

What’s NOT At the other end of the scale, here are some things that are definitely not hot for Christmas: doublebreasted suits; a four-button tuxedo; ties that make you yawn; black leather pants; cargo pants; nylon running pants (unless you’re working out); over-gelled hair; baseball caps, especially when worn backwards (unless you’re at the ball dia66

monds); wrap-around eyeglasses.

Some more not-hot fashion statements to avoid: visible underwear; sweat pants, a.k.a. pajama bottoms (unless it’s nap time); sneakers with dress pants; cuffed jeans; pleated pants; fuzzy mittens; suits worn with a bomber jacket (your outerwear should look just as finished as what lies beneath); too many undone buttons (showing too much chest hair is never a good thing).

Those are just a few tips about what’s hot and what’s not this holiday season. Express yourself with a creative fashion statement. If you’re not positive what path to take, feel free to pop by and ask your local fashion experts.

Merry Christmas! Here’s wishing you and yours the very best holiday season.

fine lifestyles regina

Regina Florist Co. Ltd.

757-4196 1965 Hamilton St. www.ReginaFlorist.com florist@accesscomm.ca

style EXPERT ADVICE

CHOOSING FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS Regina's First Florist Shop“celebrating over 90 years of service”

here is JOY when a baby arrives; When a new business begins; When friends open their new home to you.

There is EXCITEMENT when we celebrate family birthdays; With associates for business anniversaries; With friends when they get married.

There is EXHILARATION at graduations; At awards for excellence; At the achievement of friends and business associates.

We can help you build and strengthen your NETWORKING, With friends, family and businesses... Flowers will do it all!

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Candyce Bakke, Owner Shear Escape Salon & Spa www.shearescape.ca 949-0599

style HAIR STYLING

MAKE YOUR COLOUR STATEMENT THIS PARTY SEASON arty season is just around the corner. Our team at Shear Escape Salon & Spa can help all you social Butterflies work the crowd with the hottest, most prestigious hair hues available.

From Burgundy to Plum, from Chocolate to Rich Vanilla Blonde, whichever shade you desire, complexion is the key to making the right colour choice. Be inspired by the new trends, but be sure it suits your skin tone.

A general rule is that people with pale, ivory skin tones like, say, Keira Knightley and Scarlett Johansson can be as adventurous as they like. If you have a rosy-red complexion, neutral or ashy tones will complement you best. Those with dark skin like Rihanna can rock violet and red or blue as accents.

Staying with your natural colours does not have to be boring. Your natural hair colour is determined by three factors:

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Winter 2009/10

1. The type of natural colour pigment melanin present in your hair’s cortex (there are only two types of pigment: black and yellow/red); 2. How many melanin granules exist; 3. Whether those granules are close together or far apart.

You also have to consider any grey in the hair. Most will not see grey in their hair until their late 30s, but premature grey can happen sooner, depending on genetics.

What causes grey hair? Wouldn’t we all like to prevent that! As you age, the natural production of pigment slows down and your natural colour loses its strength.

The number of strands with no colour against the pigmented strands will determine how grey your hair looks.

When choosing to enhance your natural colour, complementing tones similar to your own undertones will create the best 70

overall look. Stars like Jennifer Anniston, Lisa Rinna and Miley Cyrus are all stunning examples.

Now, once you have determined how to shock your party guests with your new colour, a finished look is essential. This year’s red-carpet looks have been soft waves loosely pinned, making an elegant and classy statement. It’s never too late to try something new! Take that chance, get out of your comfort zone, and WOW your peers.

Candyce has been nominated for Chamber of Commerce Young Entrepreneur and was recipient of a 2007 YWCA Young Women of Distinction award.

Shear Escape has been featured in Canadian Hairdresser Magazine and the salon continues to be involved in many community fundraisers and events. Get to know us better. fine lifestyles regina

Style

Dress for Success® Regina One of Regina’s most heartfelt charities

BY TRENA OLFERT Dress for Success Regina Volunteer & Board Member of Professional Women’s Group

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ocated right in the heart of the city, Dress for Success® Regina is one of Regina’s most heartfelt charities.

In 2006, the vision of co-founders Barbara Hildebrandt and Jan Forrest had of helping less fortunate women became real when Westminster United Church in Cathedral provided them with the space to run their charitable business.

Barbara began research on Dress for Success in the fall of 2005 and presented Westminster United Church with the information. The church immediately jumped on board. Most of 2006 was spent awaiting the approval of the application, and Dress for Success Regina’s Board Members met for the first time on December 28, 2006, in the basement of Barbara’s home.

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“Do not underestimate a group of women that gets together with vision and passion,” Barbara exclaims. “It’s amazing what we can accomplish!”

The next year, 2007, was marked by preparation, planning on many fronts, and the transformation of the boutique with the help of a multitude of volunteers. “We became the footwork and legwork support…behind the scenes,” says Linda from Westminster United Church.

Many local Regina businesses volunteered endless time and supplies, including paint and painting, electrical work and flooring. In the summer of 2007 CIBC Customer Contact Centre did the

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first “suit drive” to collect inventory. The Leader Post wrote a story that brought many—and many more—phone calls to Dress for Success Regina.

The Grand Opening was held February 29, 2008, and Dress for Success Regina’s first client was successfully suited on March 17, 2008. The volunteer-based operation is open to the public on Tuesday evenings, and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It is organized by Kathy Wilson.

“Recruiting and maintaining volunteers; holding workshops that facilitate personal shoppers; hosting volunteers, maintaining relationships and finding volunteers other jobs is great. Volunteers are responsible for suiting clients and for any other event…. I love that the volunteers are interested in the same mission and want to help women on their journey to success,” Kathy enthuses.

People from all walks of life, backgrounds and interests make up the volunteer list, and everyone agrees the experience is valuable. As one volunteer puts it, “I know from similar experiences in my work that there is no greater gratification than to see someone I may have helped or mentored go on to do the same for someone else.” Volunteers have also provided their time to help at events and offered their homes to family and friends as a local clothing drop-off.

Upon entering Dress for Success Regina above Westminster United Church, you first will find a welcoming volunteer to give you an informative personal tour.

The Inventory Room consists of 650 square feet full of donated clothing, shoes, accessories, undergarments, etc., from Regina locals and local businesses like Marler Shoes Ltd. (which donated more 200 pairs of shoes, valued at $32,000, in the fall of 2008!).

Conexus Credit Union serves as the official drop-off point for donated clothing, and delivers the clothing to Dress for Success Regina. There, volunteers endlessly provide their time, sifting through large garbage bags full of items.

Those that do not qualify for Dress for

fine lifestyles regina

Success Regina are passed on to Community Living for their use. There is a full range of sizes, including professional suits, skirts, blouses, jackets, tops and pants, all arranged by size and colour.

Behind the scenes, there are a lot of laughs and getting to know each other among the volunteers in the Inventory Room.

“From an environmental perspective, what better way to re-use perfectly fine clothes? And I can contribute by making sure it all fits properly, doing alterations where necessary,” comments a volunteer.

Volunteers are required to go through a small training seminar to be a personal shopper, as it does entail finding the proper attire for the client and also enabling a peaceful and fun experience at the Boutique. “I always loved dressing up my little sisters and friends in my mom’s old dresses...it’s amazing the feeling I get being able to provide the same service and see their (the clients’) eyes light up,” says a young volunteer.

But it doesn’t end at a large supply of clothing for these clients. This past fall, Dress for Success Regina launched its new program, Professional Women’s Group. This is a complimentary monthly meeting for Dress for Success Regina clients to attend to learn personal and professional development. The agenda includes Balancing Work & Life, Taxes, Business Etiquette, Health & Wellness, Handling Stress, to list just a few. The meetings also help them develop networking skills and get out of their comfort zone in a safe environment. As Jan puts it, “Our pleasant task is to further

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Across the small hall is The Boutique, a beautiful, quaint, 650-square-foot room featuring this season’s hottest clothing and accessories... a place that is magical for Dress for Success Regina’s clients.

Upon entering the Boutique, the client experiences a personal shopping experience like no other. It really can be an emotional day. Most woman have a fairy-tale desire to play dress up for the day, and clients are given clothing at no charge to wear to their interview or to their new full-time career.

bolster their confidence so they can secure their jobs and grow in their career and life” As Dress for Success Regina enters its third year of operation, co-founders Barbara and Jan are excited to see community awareness of the program, and the number of clients, continuing to grow.

“Whenever we needed help, money, people, events...it has been awesome to see Regina locals and other provinces like Ontario display such a generous spirit!”

Local businesses have been a huge help with raising funds and promoting the organization to the community. Farm Credit Canada has held two Winter Fashion Show Events and usually attracts 200-plus guests for a night of champagne, mingling and a fashion show to raise money for Dress for Success Regina.

You can find many more upcoming events on the Dress for Success Regina website (www.dressforsuccess.org/ regina/) and on Facebook.

3025 - 13th Avenue 306.54.DRESS www.dressforsuccess.org/regina 75

fine lifestyles regina

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Rhoda’s Elegance Again A second-hand store with an up-scale image!

BY JUDITH SILVERTHORNE

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hoda’s Elegance Again is a treasure trove for women with flair, a good eye for basics and a rich sense of fun. Twenty-two years after creating her clothing consignment store in the midst of an awakening awareness regarding the environment and its protection, Rhoda Keil remains passionate about her business.

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Rhoda opened her first consignment store in 1988 in an old house on College Avenue. Today, Rhoda’s Elegance Again has two locations in Regina and one in Alberta, and has become known all across the country for large selections of ladies’ clothing at budget-conscious prices.

“The services we provide women are three-fold,” Rhoda explains. “We take the guilt out of shopping…we provide a place for women to buy good-quality clothing at very reasonable prices...and we supply a huge quantity of clothing for a variety of charitable organizations which reaches many women in need.”

Once, second-hand clothing stores and consignment shops were considered the

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domain of the poor or the low-budget shopper. Now, the push for being environmentally friendly and for recycling, along with the average shopper becoming more price-conscious, has resulted in consignment stores becoming the place to shop.

Rhoda’s Elegance Again is at the top of the list, providing all women with the opportunity to project a professional look.

Women of various income levels can buy good-quality, gently used clothing at very reasonable prices, so they look and feel good. “A right every woman deserves!” says Rhoda with pride, as she surveys the wide array of items on display in the south Albert location, from separates, suits, dresses, coats and denims to shoes, handbags and other stylish accessories.

“We are geared to the working woman or teen who is looking for a shopping adventure, not knowing what treasures might be found at bargain prices with merchandise running 50 to 80 percent below retail,” Rhoda says. “Our stores allow women on a ‘priority’ or ‘limited’

fine lifestyles regina

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budget, or those who choose to live below their means and ultimately save for those retirement years, to dress well.”

From denim to formal wear, and jewelry to footwear, Rhoda’s Elegance Again has something suitable for a wide variety of people. The store on Park Street is older and more boutique-like, but with the same calibre of clothes. Clients come from everywhere from Victoria to Montreal to bring clothes for consignment and/or to shop. As a result, Rhoda’s has plenty of loyal and regular customers.

“I believe the key to our success is the honest, friendly and courteous environment offered at all our stores,” Rhoda says. “Women can shop leisurely, under no pressure to buy, and know they will be given an honest opinion when asked for.

“From time to time we’ve all made a purchase mistake and feel guilty every time we see it in our closets. Ladies can now clear their closets of excesses, shopping mistakes or clothes that no longer fit...and get a small return on their investments.

“As our economy wavers women still want to wear designer labels, but they don’t want to pay designer prices. So the bargain-hunters keep searching for that hidden treasure that lies amongst the racks at Rhoda’s Elegance Again.”

Rhoda is particular about the merchan-

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dise she brings in. “Our standards are getting higher,” she says. “All of our clothes have gone through a cleaning cycle, so they are quality and stand up.

We reject 50 to 60 percent because it simply doesn’t qualify. We don’t accept graduation or bridal gowns, or furs.”

Clothes are only in the stores for two months before they are shifted out.

There are two price reductions on items: first by 25 percent, and then to less than half. If they still don’t sell, those under $30 are donated to charity. Higherpriced items are returned to the owners, if they want them back.

Out of the Albert Street location alone 20 to 30 bags are donated per week, with the Park Street location also having many discards. Organizers from Regina MCC Thrift Shop on Dewdney Avenue pick up the unsold clothing and volunteers from different churches help them sort.

The recycled clothing goes to different outlets to reach people in need: for instance, those who have suffered a fire, or women sent through Social Services who need clothes to help them on their way.

Rhoda takes great pride in being able to outfit women on very low budgets.

“Whenever I go away, I’m always excited to get back to work,” says Rhoda. She’s also pleased that both her daughters share her enthusiasm for the consignment business. Dara Hapape has begun 77

to take over the reins of the Regina stores and Kristin Hapape has opened her own store in Okotoks, Alberta. Both derive a great sense of satisfaction from helping women and being able to continue this goal.

Rhoda has a word of advice: with only one of everything in the store, you need a sharp eye and plenty of time. But that’s all part of the adventure of shopping at Rhoda’s Elegance Again.

Have fun treasure-hunting in any of Rhoda’s three locations: 2040 Park Street, Regina 347-0070 3839 Albert Street, Regina 584-5405 49 Elizabeth Street, Okotoks, Alberta (403) 995-3637

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Creative Concepts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

PHOTOGRAPHY:

Vienna di Ruscio Photography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

SPA & BEAUTY:

C천c천 Nail Lounge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86

WINTER WEDDING DRESSES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 HAIR:

Salon 306 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

JEWELLERY:

Fire & Ice Custom Jewellery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

DJ SERVICES:

Thumpers Entertainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94

DESTINATION WEDDINGS: WINE:

TPI Tropical Escapes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

Andrew Peller Ltd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98

CATERING:

Peg's Kitchen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100

DREAMY EYES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 DANCING:

Sheridance Studio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103

FIRST HOME:

Melanie Massoneiuve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105

BRIDAL PROFILES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106 CREATED BY: TRENA OLFERT PHOTOGRAPHY BY: VIENNA DI RUSCIO PHOTOGRAPHY

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A Wedding Expo Simply the Best Bridal Show of the Year!

Sunday January 17th, 2010 Queensbury Convention Centre EVRAZ Place Complimentary Parking Doors open at 11:00 a.m.

See Two Completely Different Fashion Shows Featuring Regina’s Leading Wedding Retailers First Fashion Show 1:00 p.m.

More than $25,000 worth of prizes to be won.

Grand Prize draws made at the end of each fashion show.

Tickets are $10.00 in advance or $15.00 at the door.

For information or tickets call (306) 525-4777 or visit our web site at www.aweddingexpo.ca

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ongratulations on finding and choosing to celebrate love!

We all want the perfect wedding.

Whether this is your first time saying “I do” or you have some experience (maybe this is your second time around or you have decided to recommit yourself to the one you love), every wedding is a happy occasion and the planning of it should be a reflection of this. More importantly, your wedding should be a reflection of you as a couple, customized to suit your own tastes and imagination.

Do you have a vision as to what will define your day—a big picture of how things will look, sound, and feel? Allow me to help make your occasion unique and unforgettable!

When planning your wedding, I’d suggest starting as early as possible. It’s important not to leave things ’til the last minute. Determine your budget, and remember you don’t have to spend a fortune to have a fun, memorable wedding.

Sit down with your fiancé and discuss what you want most for the wedding— a certain location, a special meal, a large guest list. Find out what things cost, compare ideas, and prepare to compromise or omit certain ideas from your budget as it gets stretched.

Next, you’ll need to complete your guest list. The number of people you invite will determine the size of the ceremony and the reception locations you’ll be looking for. Decide what type of wedding you’d like—whether it’s traditional or modern, has a theme, is formal or informal, will be indoors or out, day or night, in the city or the countryside— and decide on the colours you’d like.

Whichever option you choose, plan your wedding in a way that expresses your

Winter 2009/10

unique style and celebrates your love.

Once your date has been set, a to-do timeline will be helpful. There are more details than some realize that have to be considered when planning your big day.

Having a wedding coordinator is like having a personal assistant who is there to look after the details that you may not have time to deal with.

You’ll need to book your ceremony and reception locations. Reserve a block of hotel rooms near your venue for out-oftown guests. Start shopping for your wedding gown and bridesmaids’ dresses.

Hire service providers and suppliers: a photographer, DJ or band, ceremony musician, marriage commissioner, florist, jeweler, formal-wear provider, caterer, cake decorator, decor rental service, wed82

ding-day transportation company, hair stylist, and make-up artist! Ask for recommendations from your wedding coordinator. The range of products and services offered is limitless and the best isn’t always the most expensive. Don’t procrastinate! The longer you put off ordering products or booking service providers, the less time you’ll have to switch to Option B or C if Option A doesn’t work out.

Your wedding invitations will need to be mailed out two months before your wedding date, unless you are having a destination wedding, in which case letting your guests know sooner is best so they can make travel plans. Mailing out savethe-date cards would work well in this situation. fine lifestyles regina

From save-the-dates to ceremony programs, seating cards to thank-you notes and invitations, Creative Concepts can design them all for you! I strongly believe that your invitations should reflect your own wedding style and colours, and who you are as a couple. When personalized to your unique tastes they will set the tone for your upcoming wedding, tying it all together, and add to your guests’ excitement for the event to come!

menus. Have Creative Concepts design something for you that reflects your personalities. The key to personalization is not to overdo it. Subtle, meaningful touches that make the day special and honour you as a couple are what you are aiming for.

You may also want to consider having a wedding website that matches your invites! Wedding websites keep your guests informed with more of your wedding event details, fun photos, stories, and hotel and gift registry information.

There’s also an online RSVP service available. Hire Creative Concepts to create one for you (plan to book your website design nine to 12 months before your wedding).

Details like your guest book often get overlooked—but they shouldn’t. It’s fun to look back and read all those heartfelt messages written by your family and friends, especially since for most brides the day is often a blur. To ensure that no guests are forgotten, an excellent idea is to turn your guest book into an album, featuring your guests....with a photo of them at your wedding and their heartfelt messages beside them. Creative Concepts can set this up for you.

On your actual wedding day, hire a wedding coordinator to deal with any possible problems that may arise at the ceremony or reception, to eliminate everyone running to you about every little thing. I can alleviate the stress by taking care of all the necessary on-site management details.

Your wedding coordinator will have talked to you ahead of time to know the details of your day so they can be the trustworthy go-to person that makes the decisions for you—leaving you to be able to enjoy your day. If you don’t want to stress about all the little things that go into your big day, a wedding coordinator is worth her weight in gold.

Remember that the wedding-planning process is all a build-up to what will be one of the happiest days of your life. So stay focused on what’s important, which is a fabulous celebration of the uniqueness of your love and the life you’ll share for years to come. When the day finally arrives, don’t forget to have fun and enjoy every moment!

Kick it up a notch and tie everything together by personalizing your stationary accessories with a unique design featuring your names or initials, for that sophisticated touch! Put that on everything from wedding invitations, programs, favours, centerpieces and place cards to

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apturing priceless, timeless moments that will make you smile forever is what wedding photographers strive to do.

Think ahead “Most people are booking now for weddings next year,” Di Ruscio says. High season for weddings used to be July and August, but nowadays just about every Saturday between May and October is a wedding day for someone. Di Ruscio gets about five advance-booking requests per week, but she also hears from couples that need a photographer on just one month’s notice. Booking sooner rather than later can guarantee you can hire who you want.

Apart from the marriage certificate, photos will be one of the most enduring and treasured records of your special day.

Vienna Di Ruscio is one of Regina’s leading wedding photographers. Not only is she masterful at creating breathtaking images, she’s adept at helping couples plan and create wedding photos they’ll cherish forever.

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The bottom line “After the meal, photography will be the single largest expense,” says Di Ruscio.

Couples in Regina can expect to pay between $700 and $6,000 for their wedding shoot. Each photographer prices their offerings differently. Know exactly what you’re getting and understand the fee structure before you sign on the dotted line. Be prepared to pay a 15-to-30 percent deposit on your wedding package when you book. Typically, the balance will be due by the wedding day.

What you see is what you get Just because someone has decades of experience doesn’t mean they’re the best, or that they can create the look you want.

“Photographers aren’t like doctors; there’s not one certifying body that sets a quality standard,” said Di Ruscio. A talented student and a seasoned professional may produce comparable work.

Make sure, however, that the photographer you hire has experience shooting actual weddings. The best thing to do is review his or her portfolio, and ask to see shots from several weddings. Then, if you love the images, hire the photographer. Couples reviewing Di Ruscio’s portfolio will see a fluid and candid reportage style with little formal posing.

Like traditional group shots? Hire a photographer who loves them, too. “Know what you want and look for it,” Di Ruscio advises. Make sure your photographer is aware of your needs and expectations and can deliver accordingly.

in 10 years, what story do you want the photos to tell?” Di Ruscio asks. Di Ruscio often encourages her clients to add an element or scenario to the photos that will set their images apart from anyone else’s.

It may be some shots in the bowling alley where they first met, having a drink on a patio, or lighting up some celebratory cigars. “Some things that aren’t tradition make the best photos in the end.”

Posing a couple on a backdrop with a soft-focus lens is a thing of the past; natural and spontaneous is the hot trend right now. “We want to capture the day, not create it,” Di Ruscio says. The shift to digital photography and digital post-production means an end to awkward shots as well. “Did you blink? We can switch in your eyes from another shot, or remove the hair that blew into your eyes, if we need to,” says Di Ruscio. Digital editing can get rid of little flaws, enhance light, turn colour into tones and add textures–the possibilities are almost limitless.

Focus on you “If you want to have fun, sexy or romantic photos, you have to be fun, romantic and sexy,” Di Ruscio says. “Be good subjects. The best subjects are the ones who aren’t afraid to be intimate in front of the camera.” Shooting the couple from a distance when they’re having a quiet moment together can yield the

most memorable results. “Ignore me if you can, or just smile if you can’t,” is Di Ruscio’s advice to the self-conscious.

What sets her apart Overwhelmingly, what couples rave about the most when hiring Vienna (aside from their photos) is that she was so easy to work with. “Unfortunately, couples have to spend the majority of their wedding day hanging out with me, a total stranger. The last thing I want is to intrude or impose upon such an important day. I make it a priority that my clients are able to spend time with each other and their wedding party just having fun, enjoying the moment,” Di Ruscio states. That’s what her clients are always the most grateful for.

Di Ruscio checks in with her couples with a post-shoot questionnaire. The answers affirm that her clients were having fun, felt super-relaxed and couldn’t be happier with the resulting images. “I’ve heard horror stories of photographers pushing people around, pressing them for time and location moves. A good photographer lessens stress, not adds to it!” says Di Ruscio. “After all, it should be the happiest day of your life.”

Di Ruscio offers four wedding packages.

All her clients have copyright and can make unlimited prints of their wedding photos.

Your photos, your story “When you look back on your wedding Winter 2009/10

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hink you need to live in Calgary or Toronto to book an appointment at one of Canada 10 best spas? Think again.

In its first year in business, CõCõ Nail Lounge was named one of the Top 10 Canadian Spas by LouLou Magazine, a respected consumer guide that reports on women’s fashion, services and beauty trends. Right around CõCõ’s first anniversary, LouLou named it Regina’s Go-To Nail Bar and Spa. LouLou’s editor also blogged that CõCõ’s offers the best body butter. Ever.

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One can only wonder that CõCõ will accomplish in its third year.

CõCõ Nail Lounge is the creation of two seasoned service- and beauty-industry professionals, massage therapist Melissa Mann and Curves Health Club coowner Shannon Clarke. They opened CõCõ in March, 2008, to be a different kind of salon, one offering exclusive product, ultra-quick service and the best spa and massage care in Saskatchewan.

Mission accomplished, and then some.

“We both come from a spa background, 86

and I have experience in the service and public relations industries. We wanted to offer very fast luxury services, the way salons in bigger cities like Toronto or New York City do,” Clarke says. “CõCõ Nail Lounge offers quick service and spa-like treatment at the same time, without compromising quality.”

Other amenities include serving their very own brands of speciality teas, putting out healthy snacks for their customers to nosh on, their own cappuccino bar, and more. fine lifestyles regina

uppose your best girlfriend is a brilliant hostess. She owns a spa and beauty centre and you’re her very favourite client.

She wants you to come over with all your friends to get pampered, watch movies and have fun. That’s what it’s like at CõCõ Nail Lounge!

PHOT OGRAPHY: L IN E L L GRUDN IT Z KI (IN SPIRAT ION PHOT OGRAPHY )

“When Melissa and I developed CõCõ, we wanted to create a place where people can come with their friends,” says Clarke. “Our pedicure lounge seats five, on big comfy couches! The manicure bar has seating for four. The way the space is designed you can host a party.”

For a bride-to-be and her friends, family and attendants, no other beauty centre compares to CõCõ Nail Lounge. Some brides can book the entire spa and spend four or five hours treating their family and friends to a full spa experience.

“Our customers are also welcome to bring in food and some brides have even had caterers come in to feed their wedding party,” Clarke says. Some people even create party themes and bring in movies and music to play on the lounge’s big screen TV and entertainment system.

CõCõ Nail Lounge can accommodate groups large or small. One bride booked the salon for herself and 20 attendants.

Over the course of several fun-filled hours, the bride and her entourage rotated through an assortment of treatments while visiting, laughing and having a memorable day.

“It’s special because it has an SPF of 26, the highest in the industry. That’s very good because it protects the skin from damage from the sun,” says Clarke. “And because Mineralogie is a loose mineral, it doesn’t clog pores, and if you have acne the make-up actually treats it and, over time, minimizes it.”

CõCõ Nail Lounge likes to get brides off on the right foot early. Clarke recommends starting a beauty regime weeks, even months, before the big day. “We recommend the bride coming in a couple of months before to start off with eyebrow waxing and shaping, and if they are considering a hot honeymoon bikini, waxing is a must,” says Mann. CõCõ Nail Lounge is one of only two companies in Canada that uses Mineralogie, a mineral-based make-up that gives extraordinary coverage, even on problem skin. Even though it has a barely-there feel, it provides excellent long-lasting coverage—a wedding day must—and looks natural on every skin type.

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“We want our brides to feel stress-free and that we will take good care of them.

Booking a massage the day before or even the day of is also recommended,” Mann said.

3424 Hill Avenue, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada S4S 0W9 tel: 306.757.COCO (2626) fax: 306.757.2627 HOURS OF BUSINESS Tues. - Sat.: 10am - 6pm Wed. & Thurs.: 10am - 8pm

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WINTER WEDDING DRESSES

!#-,+/) +/ # $3+&#- 80/&'3-#/& '#3%*+/) (03 5*#5 1'3('%5 &3'44 (03 # 8+/5'3 8'&&+/) %#/ $' 53+%,: '41'%+#--: +/ #4,#5%*'8#/ -''7'4 03 (#69 (63 %0#54 0(('3 8#3.5* #/& *'-1 *+&' 4,+/ 5*#5 *#4/<5 4''/ 5*' 46/ +/ .0/5*4 ''1 5*' -#%' 4*''3 #/& :06<--00, 4/08:=8+5*065 %0.+/) 0(( #4 5*' +%' 26''/ Silver Bells Add captivating sparkle, glitter and silver beading to your dress to create a harmonious look for your winter wedding gown.

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Accessorize with: Crown: A beautiful jeweled silver crown for any Winter Princessâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s desires!

Pearls: Gorgeous fresh-water pearls complement any wedding dress and sharpen the look of white or red roses.

Snow Fairy

Christmas Cheer

Light sheer lace sleeves added to this enchanting wedding gown will leave you looking breathtaking!

A beautiful real-fur or faux-fur coat will keep you snuggled beside your Prince Charming while providing warmth for photos outsideâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;or if the temperature dips below -50 Celsius!

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17 years in Los Angeles as a celebrity colourist to Hollywood A-listers.

Now she’s home, and has fulfilled her dream of opening her own salon—and is ready to put her talent, skills and topnotch experienced staff to the service of brides, bridesmaids, and anyone else who wants to look and feel their best, for a wedding, special occasion—or just because. “Our staff has more than 60 years of combined expertise and experience,” Nicole says.

Finding the perfect look Nicole Dumelie, Diana Myers, Candace Donnelly, Fadila Mahmutovic, Liz Foster and Sara Kokoski are experts who can guide a bride-to-be through the endless possibilities to create a look perfect for her, and one that complements her wedding’s overall theme and mood. n her wedding day, a bride is the centre of attention, admired, watched—and photographed! —all day long, right into the evening. For that one day, the bride feels like a celebrity—and like any Winter 2009/10

celebrity, she wants to look amazing for that special someone.

Nicole Dumelie, owner of Salon 306, understands brides. She also understands celebrities: a Regina native, Nicole spent 90

Nicole recommends brides start thinking about their hair and makeup early on in the planning process. Booking in advance allows the stylist to provide the bride with a variety of options, including hair colour, highlights, shaping, exfine lifestyles regina

tensions, etc., in order to achieve the bride’s ideal vision for how she will look on her wedding day.

Closer to the big day, a hair trial and make-up trial ensures that everything is perfect. “We’ll do our best to deliver what the bridal party wants,” says Nicole.

On the wedding day itself, the bridal party can pretty much take over the salon, which will have a caterer provide food so that the bride and bridesmaids can relax and enjoy each other’s company while their hair and makeup is done.

Professional makeup artists Salon 306’s makeup artists, Candace Donnelly (educator), Kaitlyn Rae (www. kaitlynrae.ca) and Sonja Clifton-Remple (www.sonjacliftonremple.com) are both professionals with years of experience, not only in a salon setting but in the worlds of photography, television and movies.

For visual artists, the airbrush is a valuable tool that achieves a smooth, even application of paint no other means can achieve. Now make-up artists are using the same tool for the same reasons.

Airbrushing is like painting on a canvas, only with makeup. It’s flawless and blended, and lasts and lasts. (That’s an important consideration for brides, who will spend their wedding day hugging, kissing, smiling, crying, drinking champagne and eating wedding cake!)

skin need pampering, too, and Salon 306 offers manicures and pedicures, along with threading and henna designs.

There’s a comprehensive list of threading and waxing services—from browshaping to Brazilian, which can ensure a flawless complexion on the big day itself.

Denice Meaden, Salon 306’s certified laser technologist, can perform laser hair removal and state-of-the-art laser liposuction, a painless, non-invasive means of removing between half an inch and a full inch from the treatment area. FDAapproved, completely safe, and affordable, laser liposuction is available for both men and women, and consultations are free. (Both laser hair removal and laser liposuction sometimes require multiple treatments, so again, it’s important to plan ahead!)

comfortable here,” says salon coordinator Jaclyn Lekivetz.

All of these services are offered in warm, welcoming surroundings, full of natural light from rows of windows lining two walls of the salon. “We want them to feel

She hopes clients will leave impressed by the salon’s great vibe, innovative techniques, state-of-the art styling and creative personnel.

Another special technique you’ll find at Salon 306 is eyelash extensions. Each extension is bonded to an individual lash, framing your eyes with a lush look that lasts for weeks—because the extensions don’t come off until the eyelashes they’re attached to are naturally shed.

PHOT OGRAPHY: VIE N N A DI RUSCIO

“They’re so stressed out,” Nicole says.

“It’s their time to bond with their bridesmaids and have a really special, unique experience—and to feel very comfortable knowing that they’re going to look their best.”

Salon 306 4041 Albert Street, Regina, SK Tel: 306.347.3306 www.salon306.ca

Additional services Of course, Salon 306 offers more than just hair and make-up. Hands, feet and

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One sign of that quality: the weight. A Fire and Ice ring may weigh as much as three or four times as much as one of the mass-produced rings from the big manufacturers.

“We don’t hollow the rings out,” Chris explains, “and the bottom portion of the ring, the shank, we do a little thicker.”

The result is a ring that doesn’t look any bigger than the big manufacturers’ but that has extra heft—and extra strength, so that every ring will last a lifetime.

In fact, Fire and Ice is so confident in the quality of its rings that it offers one of the few lifetime warranties in the industry*.

From design to delivery, custom rings can be ready in eight to 12 weeks. And while custom-designed rings are typically more expensive than off-the-shelf rings, their unique appearance and outstanding quality (and that lifetime warranty!) means the value far exceeds the price.

Chris compares it to buying a car.

Wouldn’t you pay a little bit more if you could be assured that the next car you buy would last the rest of your life without requiring any maintenance? Fire and Ice strives to create rings that offer precisely that assurance.

And even if your budget is limited, Fire and Ice’s talented designers will work within it to provide you with extraordinary jewellery at a down-to-earth price.

Unique and timeless beauty, symbolizing the priceless bond between you, starts at Fire and Ice. Set a budget, make an appointment a few months before your special day, and bring in your ideas, and Fire and Ice will create rings that exceed your dreams.

The best quality, incomparable design: that’s the Fire and Ice promise.

PHOT OGRAPHY: VIEN N A DI RUSCIO

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ou want every detail to be perfect, you want unique touches that will make your wedding one-of-kind, and above all, you want the highest quality.

Why not put the same care and attention into the choosing of your wedding rings?

“Your wedding bands are the most lasting and beautiful testament to your love,” says master goldsmith Chris Neil, a partner in Fire and Ice Custom Jewellery.

“Too many couples start looking too late, and then have to settle for something that doesn’t meet their expectations for quality, design and beauty.”

Fire and Ice creates one-of-a-kind jewellery for all occasions, and specializes in wedding and engagement bands.

Custom jewellery begins with creative input from the couple. “The sky’s the limit on creativity. I’ve seen industrialinspired designs, designs from nature, nostalgic designs,” says Chris. “If you can dream it, we can do it!”

Each Fire and Ice creation exceeds industry standards. Only the best-quality gemstones and purest gold—certified 14.4 carat—go into Fire and Ice’s extraordinary rings.

* Limited manufacturer’s warranty covers normal wear and tear.

Phone: (306) 585-FIRE (3473) Fax: (306) 585-3474 3125 Quance St., Regina, SK S4V 3B7 Email: fireandice@sasktel.net www.firenice.ca

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Making wedding entertainment

ow! We are getting married! What do we do now?” Well, you might look to wedding coordinators, event planners, magazine articles and even books for the answer, but the best way to find out is to call Thumpers Entertainment. We specialize in making the most memorable part of your special day entertaining for all your guests, and worry-free for you, the happy couple.

ing the couple plan by getting their insights and ideas on what sort of reception it will be. Will it be formal or informal? Will there be dancing, and what does your crowd of friends and family most like to dance to? Do you favour a particular genre of music? Tell us and we’ll tailor our entertainment offering to meet yours and your guests’ preferences.

There are plenty of ways to entertain your guests at the reception: live bands, a disc jockey service, piano players and karaoke are some popular options. The choice will come down to what sort of mood you want to set and what type of entertainment best suits your guests. We at Thumpers Entertainment start help-

Hiring an entertainment service

“W

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That sounds simple enough, but is it?

When hiring an entertainment service, you should approach it the same way you would choose a gardener to prune your prize-winning roses. There are no second chances at the reception to get it right.

Ask the most important questions first.

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Questions pertaining to cost or the types of music available are very important, but won’t really give you a great sense of what the entertainment company can do you for. Most companies can supply any and every kind of music and pricing is more or less consistent across the industry.

How long has the company been in business? Do you take requests? Do you use professional equipment? What happens if something breaks down? How much time do you need for set-up? Is there a contract? Will your staff conduct themselves with appropriate etiquette for the occasion, and dress appropriately as well?

There are no stupid questions. This is one of the biggest, most important occasions you’ll ever experience. It’s got to be right, so ask for and get what you want.

fine lifestyles regina

worry-free They also usually have a group of veterans that serve as a great base to teach the new people the proper way of handling the biggest night of your life. Some of the smaller companies tend to provide a more intimate service and can spend more time concentrating on your function.

How far in advance should I book?

This is an excellent, and really important, question. There are plenty of companies that provide excellent service. The larger companies tend to book up the quickest, especially for long-weekend events. When you have decided on what sort of entertainment you require, you should book as far in advance as possible. At Thumpers, the ideal booking would be a year in advance for a summer weekend wedding, and we recommend 18 months in advance for weddings happening on a long weekend. To get the company you want for your date, book as soon as you can.

What sort of entertainment should I choose?

There are as many answers to this question as there are couples. Flexible is what an entertainment company must be in order to offer services that cater to a wide spectrum of interests. Thumpers Entertainment provides many entertainment packages and tailors its service around your needs. We take pride in giving our customers the flexibility of choice to make their evening a memorable one.

Now go get â&#x20AC;&#x2122;em!

And be sure to make lots of requests!

What sort of entertainment company should I choose?

I have found that many of the established larger companies have great training programs for newer entertainers.

Winter 2009/10

Regina Beach, SK S0G 4C0 Tel: (306) 729-2276 www.thumpersent.com 95

fine lifestyles regina

WEDDING GUIDE

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#3#&+4' ongratulations from TPI-Tropical Escapes. We offer travel options specifically designed for about-to-be-weds, newlyweds and the romantics at heart!

There is nothing more precious than having your dream wedding come true.

Planning a wedding these days can be very stressful and expensive. This is why so many couples want to celebrate their wedding, honeymoon and a muchneeded vacation all in one.

Having a dream wedding and honeymoon in paradise is a break from the every-day tradition, and gives the couple a stylish expression of their love for one another. From an exciting Las Vegasstyle wedding to a romantic sunset ceremony on a beach, there are a variety of packages to select from, ranging from a quick and simple â&#x20AC;&#x153;I doâ&#x20AC;? to large, lavish ceremonies. It can be intimate, featuring just the two of you, or it can include family and friends to join in the celebration; they could use a vacation, too!

With so many beautiful destinations to choose from, the options are endless. It is important that the setting be enchanting, whether you are tying the knot or renewing your vows. Plus, the best part is that all of the arrangements are taken care of. Leave all the preparations and concerns to us and focus on what matters the most: relax, look forward to the big day, and maybe work on the tan!

TPI-Tropical Escapes is a certified destination-wedding design company. We specialize in consulting, planning and coordinating destination weddings, honeymoons and romantic escapes to the most beautiful destinations in the world.

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TPI-Tropical Escapes has assisted couples with their dream destination weddings since 2000.

I started this division as an addition to my travel agency, TPI-Your Holiday Headquarters. I felt it deserved to have its own identity, and it is now the main focus of my business.

I believe that the wedding couples deserve to have my full attention when planning one of the biggest days of their new lives together. We are a franchise of Travel Professionals International, which is Canada’s largest network, with more than 700 associates. This year, TPI is celebrating its 15th anniversary. As a Certified Travel Counsellor (CTC) and a Destination Wedding Specialist (DWS), I love to travel the world and then share my experience and professional knowledge with my clients.

wedding come true, and in any destination they desire. Besides planning our destination wedding in Hawaii, we have renewed our vows in Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, Las Caletas in Puerto Vallarta, Varadero, Cuba, at a drive-thru wedding chapel in Las Vegas.

A paradise promise to you...

TPI-Tropical Escapes, DWS will reduce the stress of planning the special day by helping couples find a beautiful destination, the perfect resort and the romantic wedding package to suit their needs. So

start working with me today, and enjoy the peace of mind that comes from knowing that every last detail is going to receive dedicated and expert attention!

As a destination-wedding bride myself, I know first-hand what needs to be done, exactly how perfect it needs to be, and what is to be expected.

It started 10 years ago when my husband and I wanted to have a destination wedding. At that time, no one had any idea where to start, or what was required to have a wedding away. After many months of research, I planned and booked our destination wedding in Hawaii. After realizing that there must be other couples that are dreaming of a destination wedding but have no idea where to start, I decided to start my own company and help couples with their dream weddings.

I’m a big romantic at heart, and that’s one of the reasons we try to renew our vows every year. Not only do I get to remarry my soul mate again and again in the most beautiful and romantic places, this also gives me a chance to experience the destinations first hand. It’s important for me to get to know the culture, get acquainted with the local wedding coordinators, and become knowledgeable about the marriage requirements and other destination details.

Tammy Prost, CTC Certified Travel Counsellor and Destination Wedding Specialist 306 530-3841 tammy@tpitropicalescapes.ca www.tpitropicalescapes.ca

I have a strong commitment, passion and desire to make every couple’s dream

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WEDDING GUIDE

*004+/) !+/' he right wine can make your wedding banquet memorable.

With all the decisions you’ll be making for your big day, selecting the meal and the wine may seem rather low on the priority list. However, selecting the right wine to complement your meal can make your wedding banquet an especially memorable dining experience.

Whether you choose a buffet or plate service, the right wine can make all the difference. Providing a quality wine to accompany the meal doesn’t have to break the bank, either.

My name is Amy Cudmore. I work for Andrew Peller Ltd., an nationally acclaimed family of wineries. I can help guide you through the process of selecting the right wines for the meal as well, and give you a sense of how much you will need for your day.

If featuring complimentary wine on the table is something you’re considering, consider placing a card describing the wine instead. Guests will get the bottle from the bar, eliminating the need for ice buckets at each table. Redeemable cards save money, too. If each table opens both bottles but only drinks one, the second bottle is a costly waste!

I would be delighted to help you select, order and take delivery of wines that will add a touch of class to your special day.

Some of our most popular choices include: • Copper Moon Shiraz • Copper Moon Cabernet Sauvignon • Copper Moon Merlot • Copper Moon Sauvignon Blanc • Copper Moon Chardonnay • Copper Moon Pinot Grigio Copper Moon wine is available in six different varietals and retails for as low as $9.29 per 750ml bottle. These wines are available at select SLGA locations.

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A Guide to Wine Pairing Selecting just the right wines to complement a meal is not easy, especially if you consider all the individual palates at the table. Wine preference is very personal; some of us enjoy rich, bold, tannic reds, while others enjoy more tropical, almostsweet-yet-slightly-acidic whites.

With all the wine offerings available, this task can seem overwhelming, but I can help make it easy and even fun. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve compiled six easy-to-follow guidelines to help you through the process of pairing wine with every meal.

Match the wine to the strongest flavour on the plate. If peppercorn steak is the entrĂŠe, then mimic the spicy flavour in the meat with a bold wine such as a Shiraz.

Balance the weight of the wine to the weight of the food. A full-flavoured meal requires a full-bodied wine; a lighter dish requires a lighter wine.

The wine should always be slightly sweeter than the food.

Wines with good acidity, such as Pinot Grigio, pair well with spicy dishes and even fatty meats. The acidity in the wine helps clean the palate so you can taste all the flavours in the dish.

Meats that are prepared well-done work well with fruity reds with little tannin such as Gamay. Meats that are served rare work better with young tannic reds such as Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon.

Champagne or sparkling wines pair beautifully with almost every dish. When you are unsure about which wine is the best choice, serve a sparkling wine.

Winter 2009/10

ANDREW PELLER LIMITED Amy Cudmore P.O. Box 37056, Regina, SK S4S 7K3 Tel: 306-527-5342 Fax: 306-569-5801 Email: amy.cudmore@andrewpeller.com

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WEDDING GUIDE

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eg’s Kitchen, at 1653 Park St., is Regina’s destination for Ukrainian home-style cooking, just like your beloved grandma used to make. Peg’s Kitchen is proud to be Regina’s finest caterer serving traditional Ukrainian fare, hand-made using traditional techniques and ingredients.

They offer a full dinner menu appropriate for any occasion, and weddings are certainly a specialty. From supper to midnight lunch, the delectable dishes include beef, ham, or turkey with all the fixings, kobasa sausage, cheddar-cheese perogies, and their famous hand-rolled German-style cabbage rolls.

PHOTOGRAPHY: VIE N N A DI RUSCIO

Peg’s Kitchen makes banquet planning as easy (and delicious) as their amazing Saskatoon pie. They offer a choice of six different meat entrées plus sides, salads, rolls, accompaniments, and after-dinner dainties. Lunchtime and midnight lunch menus featuring contemporary and traditional foods are ideal for rehearsal dinners, night-before family gatherings and showers, too!

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WEDDING GUIDE To make a sweet day even sweeter, be sure to feature Peg’s Kitchen’s handmade dainties and pies. They make a wide assortment of homemade dainties, including sticky cinnamon buns, tarts, slices, and other delectable sweet bites.

Their berry pies are unbeatable. From the way the pies look and taste, you’d suspect that a platoon of babas is working all hours in the Peg’s Kitchen kitchen—and you’d be half right: the recipe Peg and her staff use was written

by Grandma Bep of Swift Current. As they make each Saskatoon berry, apple and a special prairie berry (a blend of several fruits) pie, Bep’s recipe is followed to the letter to preserve and celebrate this traditional, and flavourful, dessert.

Peg’s Kitchen is a true made-in-Saskatchewan success story. From their humble beginnings in a kitchen near Kronau, proprietors Peg and Vern Leippi have built a thriving enterprise. They contract with growers from the Craven area to supply the tens of thousands of cabbages they require to meet the demand for their everpopular cabbage rolls. In fact, their cabbage rolls are almost as famous as they are! Their humble rolls are served in some of Regina’s finest restaurants and at other commercial venues.

Peg’s Kitchen isn’t just your source of great, homemade foods for special events. Come in and sit a spell! Peg’s is also a restaurant and their home-cooked breakfasts and lunches will hit the spot as you take a break from running wedding errands. Breakfast is hot off the grill starting at 6 a.m. weekdays and 6:30 a.m. on Saturdays. Their homemade sausage patties and thick-cut bacon are a great, energizing start to the day.

Lunch runs from 11 a.m. until 2:30 p.m., and be sure to come hungry. With different items featured each day, there are always plenty of tasty options to choose from. The Ukrainian lunch— sausage, a cabbage roll, six perogies and a bun—is a perennial favourite. Other featured items include beef on a bun, savoury smoked sausage, Peg’s famous perogies, hearty sandwiches and soup/

Winter 2009/10

sandwich combinations.

Peg’s signature hand-rolled cabbage rolls are the business’s number-one product and the product that made them famous.

“Our cabbage rolls are definitely a bestseller,” saysPeg. And she ought to know: she and her staff hand-roll as many of 6,000 of these tasty, savoury favourites each day. Peg’s Kitchen sells four varieties

of cabbage rolls, too: beef and pork rolled in sweet cabbage, beef and pork rolled in sour cabbage, rice and onion in sweet cabbage, and vegetarian.

The most popular by far are the meat varieties, which are made with a filling that is 66 percent meat. In the same way they get their cabbage from a local supplier, Peg and Vern proudly buy Saskatchewan and get their meat from local producers.

“It’s important to us, as a business and as individuals, to support the people and businesses in our area,” Peg says. “The big chain stores will always be around, but if we don’t support our local producers, we all lose out.”

For more information about the services and products available at Peg’s Kitchen, please drop in or visit Peg’s Kitchen online

www.pegskitchen.ca 101

fine lifestyles regina

TRENA OLFERT TANDA Holistic Spa and Skin Therapy 306.586.1321 www.tandaspa.com

How to create

Dreamy Eyes

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EXPERT COSMETIC ADVICE reating the perfect look for your wedding day does not have to be tricky. If your unsure about make-up application, hire a professional to do your makeup!

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The most feature that says the most words and share the most feelings are your eyes. They are like the windows to your soul. Creating the perfect eye-pop will have your man lost in your gaze.

After the foundation has been settled in, you are ready to do your eyes: 1. First step, prepare your real makeup brushes.

2. Be sure you place a oil-free eye base to the lids and blend upwards towards the brows. Dab loose powder on to the eyes for extra security.

3. Choose up 2 colours that you will blend to create the flawless eye.

4. We love to use a light shadow as ivory or off-white with a hint of shimmer, not metallic.

5. Apply light shadow from lash to brow.

6. Choose the correct darker shadow for your crease. We use a browngrey or chocolate brown depending on your eye colour. Some peo ple get hung up their eye colour an there are some rules, but we find creating the classic bridal look with the suggested colours should provide you with the look your looking for.

7. Apply darker colour to centre of your crease and use the “wind shield wiper” effect by rolling your brush back and forth in the crease.

Slightly bring the colour onto the outer conrer of your lid to seal the eye look. Gently take a small, liner brush and lightly smudge the dark colour from outside to middle of your lower lid.

8. Take the lighter-colour from step #4 and blend your colour together to rid of harsh edges.

9. Next eyeliner- we use both liner and shadow to hold the liner in place all day. Dark brown or black are most popular followed with a very dark brown smudged onto the liner and don’t forget to sneak in between each upper lash as this creates a “full lash”.

10. Choose the best mascara that is dsigned for fullness, curl and length!

Begin at the base of lash and rock it back and forth to get every lash and then bring it upwards toward your brows. Apply two coats or more if needed. If you accidently glob or some lashes are stuck together, have an extra clean mascara wand to slip through your lashes to clean it up.

11. Applying separate lashes to the outsides help make your eyes look big ger too!

Please practice several times prior to your BIG day and you will create that professional look!

Winter 2009

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hen are you ready for your first home?

Home-buying readiness is different for every couple, but couples ready for their first home are ones whose financial house is already in order.

“A house is more than a home, it’s an investment. Over time, it can become collateral that is always there when you need it. A home can even generate income as a rental property,” says Melany Maisonneuve of The Sutton Group. “But before buying, there are a few important things that couples should know and be prepared for.”

The first consideration is affordability. If the home of your dreams would leave you scrambling to make ends meet, that can put a lot of stress on a new marriage.

The ideal home is one you can afford right now. Because housing values tend to go up—even in the darkest financial times—couples can wait a few years, sell, and use the profit to upgrade to a more expensive home.

The best asset that home-shopping couples can have—besides cash for a down payment—is good credit. Even the smallest of missed payments can put a dent in your credit rating. Credit ratings improve only through prompt bill payment and time, so start now to ensure an excellent future credit score.

Debt is something many couples have.

As you prepare to buy a house, try to reduce that debt load as much as possible.

Start by paying off the most expensive debts, the ones with the highest interest rates. Debt consolidation is a convenient option and can reduce debt quickly at a uniform interest rate.

After setting a spending limit and reducing debt comes the next step: saving.

You’ll need at least five percent of the Winter 2009/10

home’s value for the down payment.

You’ll also need to have funds for legal fees (usually one to 1.5 percent of the home’s value), home and furnace inspections (if you’re not buying a new home), and insurance and taxes.

SUTTON GROUP - RESULTS REALTY

To get this money ready, some couples tap into their RRSPs. Borrowing from parents and family members is another way many first-time buyers get help financing their first home.

No matter the individual situation, Maisonneuve urges couples to be patient when considering their first home. “If you can buy a home now, great, but don’t buy and put stress on your marriage in the first year. You’re planning a lifetime together, you’ve got years to do this,” she says. “Waiting a year or two might even be the best option. It can buy you the time you need to repair your credit, get your debt load down and save cash toward fees and the down payment.”

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Melany Maisonneuve (306) 347-1955

fine lifestyles regina

BRIDAL PROFILES

JEN

KELLY

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JEN RULAND 63 !'&&+/)

KELLY KOZAKAVICH

#: July 11, 2009

/'8 The first time we met I knew. I just knew.

I’d love you always, forever, and true.

You made me laugh as friends often do I had to do it, I had to tell you.

That I was so deeply, and passionately in love.

You were that “IT,” all I could think of.

The moment I told you, my life changed forever.

imply put, our wedding day was magical. We had the wedding we had always dreamed of. The most important focus for us was that we were embarking on a lifelong journey with each other, best friends and lovers. We wanted a day that would showcase to our family and friends the essence of our relationship: a love built on passion, strength, trust, and humour. We knew from the start that our wedding would be the best day of our lives and that it would truly illustrate what type of couple we were.

One of the most memorable moments of the day was the speech by my friend Jen to my Dad, and witnessing his reaction to it. I get a tear in my eye every time I read it. Another great memory was listening to how our friends described us in their speeches. You’ll never how you’ve touched your friend’s lives until you hear them speak about you. One of the best moments to recall was when I was walking down the aisle while a song that reminds me of my husband played and it wasn’t the classic wedding song, because of course it had to be unique to us!

Being with our families was also very special to us, especially being able to have our grandparents there. From the very start of planning, we decided that the pictures

Winter 2009/10

I knew I’d be there for you, wherever, and whenever.

Your smile illuminates my being, through and through.

It’s a love that’s bonded with infinite amounts of glue.

You give me strength, I never knew I had.

You give me love, encouragement, and

support, which makes me glad.

Our love is like the purity of a beautiful blue ocean. were going to be the most important keepsake of the day, so we had to find the right photographer. Vienna Di Ruscio was it! She captured the passion, the emotion, and the true love we have for one another. Every time we look at our photographs great memories come flooding back, and that is exactly what we wanted!

Vienna is truly a gem. She is a talented and wonderful photographer.

Truth, honour, and utter devotion.

We loved everything about our wedding day. At one point, the Black Eyed Peas song “I Gotta Feeling” came on, and we think of our wedding every time we hear it! I recall telling my husband and bridesmaids over and over that this “is the best night ever!” It was, and it was a day we will never, ever forget.

Cake: Northgate Bakery Gown: Debra Dee Tuxs: Tip Top Tailors Hair: Urban Hair Design Nails: Jagged Edge DJ: Rhino's Catering/Venue: Sandman Hotel Photos: Vienna Di Ruscio, 351.934 Limo: Classic Limo Flowers: Gales Florists on 13th Ave.

Below is the poem that I wrote for my husband. It was part of our ceremony.

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I will treasure you always like a precious stone.

Like no other love that’s ever been shown.

Know that I am ready to love you for life.

I am saying, “of course, I’ll be your wife.”

RESOURCES

fine lifestyles regina

BRIDAL PROFILES

DUSTIN MEGAN

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DUSTIN 63 !'&&+/)

MEGAN ZMETANA #: August 28, 2009 A good idea is to have a memory vase or mention the person in your speech.

Something special my Mom did for me was to attach my Dad’s ring to one of my garters. That way he was with me as I was walking down the aisle, something he would have loved to have had the chance to do.

Once the reception came around, it was time to relax! The speeches were definitely a highlight of the night. It was such an honour to have some of the people who stood up for us say such kind words about us. We also had a blast at the dance. We let loose and danced the night away!

Getting married to your best friend is definitely a day no bride will ever forget!

!

aking up that morning knowing I was about to marry the love of my life was one of the most exciting and fulfilling moments of my life. The morning was filled with happiness and excitement, but also anxiety and nervousness.

This day was a dream come true. It was the day I got to be a princess, even if it was only for that day. Everyone had their attention on me; it was my day to shine!

It was so fun to get all dolled up and made beautiful. The hair, nails and make-up were all done for me, leaving me time to gossip and spend time with my best friends.

MEGAN’S TIPS FOR YOUR BIG DAY: • Pack a pair of comfy shoes for yourself and bridesmaids!

• Overestimate the amount of alcohol you will need. You can always return what you don’t use!

• Prepare your thank-you speeches ahead of time and write them down!

So much energy goes into the planning of a wedding, from finding the perfect dress, picking colours, to deciding if Aunt Suzy should sit beside Uncle Frank.

SOURCES

I can say that I have never felt more loved when I walked down the aisle and saw my husband-to-be’s face. At that moment I knew I would be in good hands and that I would have a partner in crime for the rest of my life! Some guests traveled quite a distance to celebrate this special day with us. Being surrounded by all the people we love and cherish most was a wonderful feeling.

Cake: Liz Mahony, Dustin's aunt Bridal Gown: New Line Fashions Bridesmaid Dresses: NWL Tuxes: Tux and Tails Hair: Rumours Hair Studio Makeup: TANDA SPA 586.1321 DJ: Thumpers Catering: Rybchuks at St Mary's Hall Photographer: Suzanne Blake Videographer: inFOCUS Limo: Custom Limo Flowers: Monika Zmetana

A wedding is also a great time to honour the loved ones who are no longer with us.

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WEDDING GUIDE

Chair Covers Sashes Overlays Specialty Linens Centerpieces & more

306.581.7222 www.beautifulchair.ca

Winter 2009/10

Beautiful Beginnings Chair Cover Rentals by Amber Thomas

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Shake, rattle & drumroll The RSO fizzes with new music and new ideas as it begins its second century

BY MEAGEN THOMAS

PHOTOGRAPHY: ME AGAN T HOMAS

I

t’s an interesting conundrum: The 1812 Overture is to be the big number at the Regina Symphony Orchestra’s August 23 season opener, Symphony Under The Sky, but the artillery operator can’t make it.

An 1812 Overture without cannons is like Canada Day without fireworks, but Victor Sawa, music director of the Regina Symphony Orchestra, has a plan.

Volunteers will hand out paper bags, which the audience will pop on cue.

It’s an unconventional solution, to be sure, but then, Sawa is as unconventional as music directors come. During his 13 years with the RSO, the orchestra has gone down musical roads few orchestras Winter 2009/10

dare explore. Pops? Sure, everyone does Pops, but music from Halo and Pac Man? Sawa blends the staid with the fun and manages to be both wise and whimsical as a musician, a music director and the RSO’s frontman-in-chief.

Playing it safe is so last century. In 101 years, the RSO has evolved as much as any orchestra can, and is aggressively reaching out for more.

This is not your grandparents’, or your parents’, or even the musicians’ orchestra. It’s yours, your dentist’s, it’s everyone’s, Sawa says. It’s RSO 2.0.

“My first season here I was asking people at the mall, at Starbucks, anywhere, what they wanted to hear, and if they 111

made a suggestion I’d promise to do it on the condition that they showed up.

So I did...and they came,” Sawa says. “It was really kind of neat and it started to spread and now everyone is getting pumped and thinking, ‘Hey, maybe this new stuff will work!’”

Looking back at Laubach Franklin Ludwig Laubach, founder of the orchestral group that would become the RSO, probably would have liked Sawa. They have much in common.

Both gave generously of their time as teachers and mentors; Laubach started a music department at the local college while Sawa dreams of launching one for fine lifestyles regina

PHOT OS COURT E SY T HE L E MAN FAMILY

In 1904, Laubach organized a group of talented musicians into the Regina Philharmonic Society. Four years later, he established the Regina Orchestral Society, which would evolve into today’s Regina Symphony Orchestra.

conductors. Both share an impish delight in pushing musical boundaries, and both hold firmly to the concept that orchestra music should be accessible to the masses, whatever their musical tastes and interests may be.

Laubach was born in Edinburgh in 1857. The son of a bandmaster, he became an accomplished cellist and bandmaster in his own right for the King’s bodyguard for Scotland.

He immigrated to Canada in 1904. If he had taken the slightest interest in farming, musical culture in Saskatchewan might have evolved along a very different path, but after staying very briefly on his son’s homestead he decamped to Regina to take up a more familiar occupation: music.

Laubach organized the province’s first competitive music festival. At Regina College, then a small residential school of 27 students, he established a music department and taught violin and orchestral instrument. He was a choir director and dance orchestra conductor, composed The Saskatchewan (both a march and a two-step) for the province’s 1905 inauguration celebrations, co-wrote a musical comedy, and played on troopships during the First World War. In his final years, he served as the chief reference librarian at the Regina Public Library.

In 1904, Laubach organized a group of talented musicians into the Regina Philharmonic Society. Four years later, he established the Regina Orchestral Society, which would evolve into today’s Regina Winter 2009/10

Symphony Orchestra.

At its first performance on December 3, 1908, reserved seats were $1 and general admission was 50 cents. (Adjusted for inflation, that’s $24 and $12 respectively, not very different from what tickets sell for today.)

Even when the Depression limited prairie life to the bare essentials, the orchestra continued to play, though often for meagre pay or no pay at all. Most players held other jobs, played private gigs here and there and taught when they could get students...but they kept coming together to play for the sheer pleasure of it.

A treasure-trove of RSO history There’s a surprising dearth of information about the RSO’s early history. Laubach has a few entries in Saskatchewan and Canadian encyclopaedias, two Regina streets bear his name, and the $2,500 Frank L. Laubach music studies scholarship was created in 1990. But as far as the early players go, in many cases only their 112

DAVID AND FLORENCE LEMAN (FAR LEFT) DARKE HALL RSO PROGRAM 1958 RSO 1952 LP RECORDED AT CKRM

families remember who they were.

That could be about to change John David and Florence Lemon emigrated from England in 1911, but a document foul-up replaced the “o” with an “a,” rechristening them Leman on arrival. Both were principal musicians in the RSO’s early years; John David, also a talented painter, played cello, and Florence played viola and violin. Florence may even have even been the concertmaster at some point in her music career, which lasted well into her 70s.

Three of the Leman grandchildren—Russ Baker, a recording engineer and part-time fine lifestyles regina

RSO, POSSIBLY LATE 1940S OR EARLY 1950S.

musician in Edmonton, Patti Poskitt, a producer for Global TV in Vancouver, and her cousin, Don Leman, a Vancouver musician with an audio business—are just now starting to sort through box upon box of RSO sheet music, recordings, programs, photographs and musical instruments recovered from the Leman

family home at 3002 Regina Ave. in 2002 after the death of the Lemans’ second-oldest daughter, Dorothy.

“It consumed their lives, it was their big social thing back then,” says Poskitt, whose 93-year-old mother, Irene, is the last surviving of Leman’s five children.

Marching to a different beat Sawa is a busy, busy man and his “office” at Starbucks lets him mix business with friendship. Office hours are two-ish to whenever during the week and some Saturdays, no appointment necessary. Lowkey to say the least, but then Sawa has always marched to a very different beat.

A native of Montreal, Sawa holds a Bachelor of Music with Distinction from McGill University and a Masters of Music Performance (Honours) from the New England Conservatory of Music.

As his career in music direction and conducting took him to various cities in Canada and abroad, he earned a reputation for being a maestro for the masses, whose exuberance and humour made him uncommonly accessible.

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PHOT OGRAPHY: ME AGAN T HOMAS

“From what we can tell, they had rehearsals in the house and were probably active as a chamber group. Music was there all the time,” says Baker. “Between the orchestra and John David’s painting they didn’t have much time for anything else.”

If the Leman name rings a bell, it’s because every visitor to the Legislative Buildings sees his work. John David painted Before the White Man Came, the mural in the south alcove of the rotunda, in 1933 while working as a decorator with the Department of Public Works.

John David himself was painted by F.H. Portnall, an architect and artist who designed the Dominion Government Building on the corner of Scarth Street and Victoria Avenue, among many other notable buildings.

Most treasured of all the items discovered are the violin and viola that belonged to Florence, now in Baker’s keeping. Don Leman and Baker have shared many of the images and documents on the photo-sharing website Flickr, and at some point may share, lend or donate the images, which include professional group shots of the orchestra at Darke Hall and other venues, to the RSO, museum or other historic organization.

VICTOR SAWA AT THE OFFICE

He got not one but two job offers in 1997. “Sudbury’s and Regina’s orchestras approached me at the same time. Since it wasn’t a deal-breaker to Sudbury if I didn’t live there, I decided to take both and commute,” Sawa says.

Regina’s orchestra presented an interesting challenge. “We were playing to 50-percent-full houses at best. My philosophy then and now is that classical music should not be like a root canal,” Sawa says.

“I would tell people ‘It’s not your duty to go; go because you like it,’ and people were like ‘What? Who likes symphony?’ It was tough.” Now, full houses and sold-out concerts aren’t exceptions, thanks to Sawa’s radical approach.

“Establishing tone was my first priority, so I began to talk to the audience. It just wasn’t done. It was controversial with the players, a little with management, too, although they went with it, but the audience thought it was great,” says Sawa. “I told them they could cheer, shout, clap— I wanted to unfreeze the atmosphere.”

To bring the players and the audience closer—literally—Sawa proposed seating the players on risers. They balked, so he tried what he calls the GST trick: “Let’s do it for one year and see.” Risers are standard now, and so is the sense that performances are interactive.

The Saskatoon challenge Having resuscitated one orchestra, can he do the same for an embattled orchestra that’s more or less on life support? On 114

October 1, the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra signed Sawa to a three-year contract as the SSO’s new music director.

Until his official start date in July 2010, Sawa is working as a consultant and taking preliminary steps toward healing an orchestra plagued by debt, derision and discord.

“I feel for them, it’s like The Out-ofTowners, anything that can go wrong, has. The first thing—it’s gotta stop. We have to focus on fiscal responsibility, growing some support, and no warfare,” Sawa says.

“My take is, ‘Here’s your chance to stop it, so let’s stop it.’ I’m counting on it. That’s part of the mission. I’m not accepting the can’t part: it’s going to happen.”

Best-case scenario, it’s going to take at least a year to see changes, Sawa cautions.

“RSO attendance went from 1,100 to 2,000 in one concert, and that’s when we knew it was on. In this case we’re not sure. I’m assuming human nature is human nature. People like quality. I have a firm belief in the art. Quality is quality.

Goodness is goodness, and when you hear great stuff, you just need to be openminded enough to judge it.”

Not a one-man show Sawa is quick to emphasize that an orchestra is by no means a one-man show.

A tiny staff of four extraordinary individuals takes care of the RSO’s day-today operations and the 12-person board of governors oversees policy and human resource issues. Staff, board members and fine lifestyles regina

the public all get a say in the season’s program, however, something Sawa says is the RSO’s most important evolution yet.

A real coup was getting the touring Video Games Live concert to come to Regina last May. “Top composers and orchestras are being commissioned to write music for game companies, and it’s great music,” says Sawa. Dazzling video game footage accompanied music from Halo and Final Fantasy, even Pac-Man and Donkey Kong. It got truly interactive when an audience member, the winner of a promotional Guitar Hero contest, got to take the stage and be an Orchestra Hero. It was a sold-out sensation and one of the most popular concerts in recent RSO history.

“There were people there that had probably been in their basements gaming for 18 years and had never seen the sun before. That’s what I’m talking when I talk about cultivating new audiences,” Sawa says.

“Now we’re trying to introduce video screens because you can put anything on them to enhance the music. They’ll be big so that people in the nosebleed seats will be able to see, and we’re going to start that this year, I hope.”

His balance of edgy and classical fare is certainly hitting the right note with Regina subscribers.

“There are many good conductors, but not all are good PR people as far as gauging who goes to the concerts,” says long-time subscriber Dr. Alan Ross. “The previous conductor wasn’t outgoing in the same way; he’d come on the stage, conduct, then walk off. Sawa relates well to the other members of the symphony; they play well and they like him.”

Not every idea gets a green light, though. Sawa’s expanded Children’s Series, to feature half a dozen concerts just for children between the ages of three and 11, has yet to materialize, although the RSO season includes several children’s concerts, plus the kid-friendly Christmas concert.

Sawa would also dearly love to see opera and ballet revived in Regina, too. “It’s expensive to do but it would be worth it, and it’s not something we should ignore,” he says.

Training more conductors to act and think more along his lines is at the top of Sawa’s wouldn’t-it-be-great-if list. “Being a maestro isn’t supposed to be like what I do. I tried to be stiff but it didn’t work,” says Sawa. “If you’re going to be doing this, don’t you think you should be having a good time?”

Sawa was certainly having a blast the day the cannons failed to roar this past August in Wascana park. The Roughriders’ mascot, Gainer, led the crowd of thousands in a virtuoso bag-popping performance so enthusiastic it would measure on the Richter scale.

In all, a bang-up start—pardon the pun—to the RSO’s second century.

“Change is necessary or you die; one must adapt to the times or risk becoming fossilized,” Sawa says. Everything from hip-hop to heavy metal is fair game as far as he’s concerned.

“It’s like what the founder of Sony, Akio Morita, says: ‘I don’t want to make something the customer wants; I want to make something the customer couldn’t live without 10 years ago.’

“I think about what tomorrow’s audience will want, so that’s how I proceed.”

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Java Express South not just a café, but a second home

C

omfortable and cozy, warm and welcoming, Java Express South boasts an appealing décor, a delicious menu, great specialty coffees—and, above all, friendly, personable baristas.

“I receive positive feedback on my staff pretty much on a daily basis,” says owner/manager Laurel Taschuk.

Exceptional staff is key to the cafe’s welcoming atmosphere. They enjoy getting to know their customers, and pride themselves on remembering a customer’s “drink of choice” and serving it up with a smile and a chat.

cozy up by the fireplace with a favorite book.

“Java Express,” says Laurel, “caters to all walks of life. Business people, contractors, students: everyone feels at home here.”

Free Wi-Fi is offered, as well as a desktop computer for those just wanting to check email or browse a few websites.

Laurel has owned Java Express South for 51/2 years, and from the very beginning, has striven to make her cafe unique and customer-friendly.

Laurel spends as much time on the front lines as she can, working alongside her staff, overseeing the everyday operations.

“We keep it fresh by changing the local artwork periodically, updating the décor and adding special touches, such as fresh flowers, and candles in the evening.”

Customers come in for their favorite beverage, to catch up with friends or to

You can even catch live music at Java Express. That’s most common in the sum-

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mertime when musicians are touring, but the café is always open to providing a venue for up-and-coming artists.

Java Express is open early, at 7 a.m., and closes at midnight seven days a week.

Besides a great selection of pastries and cakes, they offer an extensive menu of baked panini sandwiches, wraps, soups and salads.

All food items are served right up until closing time, including the ever-popular “breakfast bagel.”

The environmentally conscious will be pleased to know that Java Express is “really big on recycling.” Milk jugs, cardboard, bottles—everything gets recycled.

With the holiday season upon us, you’ll also want to check out the giftware, variety of teas and flavour syrups as well as gift certificates for the coffee-lover on your list.

Pleasant surroundings, quality coffee, top-notch food, and most of all, friendly, personable, professional staff: no wonder that, for a growing number of customers, Java Express South is like a second home.

JAVA EXPRESS SOUTH 4114 ALBERT ST. REGINA 924-5282 OPEN 7 AM - MIDNITE - 7 DAYS A WEEK

Winter 2009/10

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OWNERS JEROME RINK, MARK SMITH & WAYNE FOLK

Silver’s offers casual fine dining

in an atmosphere of elegance PHOTOGRAPHY: L IN EL L GRUDN IT Z KI

B Y E D WA R D W I L L E T T

A

diner’s first impression of Silver’s is one of quiet, restrained elegance. From the impressive portico that allows passengers to be dropped off out of the rain, to the interior’s subdued earth tones, highlighted by wood, bronze and glass, everything signals that you’re in for a first-class experience.

And then the food arrives, and confirms it.

Silver’s, located at the southwest corner Winter 2009/10

of Pasqua Street and Rochdale Boulevard, opened in February, 2008. It’s the brainchild of Mark Smith, Wayne Folk and Jerome Rink.

“Wayne and I are partners in The Tap (located next door to Silver’s),” Smith says.

“We were pioneers on this corner, and as we built The Tap we saw lots of growth in the area. The land next door to us was available, and we thought it would be in our best interest to purchase it.”

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What the northwest needs They began researching what was needed in the city’s burgeoning northwest, and the answer came back from major developers all over town: a higher-end restaurant.

“We’re getting more and more people up here,” says Wayne. “There’s never been a place like that up here. North-enders have been driving to the south end for a hundred years.” One goal of Silver’s is to fine lifestyles regina

Dining, Entertainment & Arts change from the initial vision of “highend.” That’s a result of the restaurant’s evolution over the past few months.

“We did make some mistakes in the beginning,” says Smith. “Unfortunately, there were maybe a few people who didn’t have the experience they hoped.”

But they’ve learned from those mistakes.

“We’ve gotten better at what we do.

We’ve revamped the menu. Our price points are a lot better—more affordable for the family. We’ve added pastas. We’ve even got a burger on the menu.”

The change is the result, in part, of the slumping economy. “When we started building, it was economic boom, growth.

We couldn’t do any wrong...Our clientele were the Baby Boomers. When they lost 40 or 50 percent of their portfolios, they tightened up the purse strings.”

Quiet, restrained elegance is a hallmark of Silver's Steakhouse.

PHOT OGRAPHY: CRAIG L IVIN GST ON

A lot of the credit for the restaurant's improvement goes to the staff, Smith says.

“We’ve had a lot of the same staff right from day one. They’ve gotten quite good at what they do. They really do care about the restaurant.”

convince south-end Reginans that it’s worth the drive to dine in the north end.

But it’s a long way from deciding to build a restaurant to actually opening one. “It’s not just building the building, it’s the décor, right down to buying the plates and the glasses and the cutlery,” Folk says.

Then there was the question of the name.

“We wanted a classy, one-word name that would reflect some substance,” says Folk.

They threw around a lot of possibilities, but in the end, “We just thought Silver’s was a cool name,” says Smith. “My vision Winter 2009/10

was a silver knife. Our whole décor was developed from the silver knife.”

As for the decision to make the new restaurant a steakhouse, “It’s always been a dream of mine,” says Smith. “Maybe it goes back to the fact I grew up on a farm and raised cattle. I like a good steak.”

“And this area really doesn’t really have that, or a casual fine dining place,” adds Folk.

The evolution of a restaurant “Casual fine dining” is the owners’ preferred phrase to describe Silver’s, a slight 120

“They have a passion for it,” agrees Rink.

“They want to see the place succeed.

That’s why they’re still here.”

But, of course, fine décor, excellent staff and an intriguing menu won’t get you very far in the restaurant business if the food isn’t any good. At Silver’s there’s no worry about that, thanks to Head Chef Dan Taylor, himself a partner.

A focus on beef The menu may have changed, but it’s kept its focus on beef: Silver’s is, after all, a steakhouse. “All of our steaks are certified Angus, which is a very, very high caliber of beef, the top five or six percent,” says Smith. The steaks are selected and cut to be incredibly consistent.

They’re all centre cuts. Their marbling has to fall within certain parameters.

They’re all aged 21 days. “What we want to have is if you come in and have an eight-ounce tenderloin steak, every time you come in that steak will be as close as possible to the one you had last time.” fine lifestyles regina

Scrumptious desserts

Pasta to die for

Incredible prime rib

Mouth-watering soups

Delicious steaks

The menu even educates people about steak, explaining what rare, medium rare, medium, etc., mean, and describing how the steak should look inside, and its temperature. Steaks are cooked at 1,700 degrees in an infrared broiler that almost instantly sears the meat, sealing in the juices, and can cook a six- or seven-ounce sirloin to medium rare in six minutes.

Those who don’t want steak can choose a stir-fry, chicken, pork, pasta, a chicken burger, a beef burger—or one of several seafood options.

“One dish that always seems to hit home is our seafood platter for two,” notes Smith.

“When that platter goes out, every head in that place turns,” agrees Folk. “‘Wow, who’s going to eat all that?’ Crab legs and scallops and shrimp and two lobster tails...”

“It has been said,” Smith concludes gravely, “that marine biologists are concerned!”

In fact, the first thing you see when you enter is the wine rack, with the bottles displayed on their side so every label can be seen.

Knowledgeable staff Not sure what you’d like, from either the menu or the wine list? Talk to the staff.

“Anything on the menu our staff have tasted, or eaten, so they have an understanding of what we have,” says Folk.

Winter 2009/10

PHOTOGRAPHY: CRAIG L IVIN GST ON

A fairly extensive and eclectic wine list complements the menu. “You’ve got to offer something to everyone,” says Smith.

“If you can have a nice selection, they will choose or try something different.”

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On Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., you don’t need to worry about the menu: that’s brunch day. “We dare anyone to try all the items at once!” says Smith.

“There’s roast pork, roast beef carved as you like, eggs Benedict, omelettes, hash browns, bacon, cold cereals, cold cuts, buns, salads...” Folk begins.

“Perogies to die for,” adds Jerome. “A big dessert layout, too. Our pastry line is endless.”

“Everything is homemade,” Smith says.

“The king thing is Chef Dan’s homemade bread pudding with rum sauce.

People come here for that.”

“We didn’t have it one day and people complained,” confirms Folk.

Room for 200 Silver’s seats about 200 people in total, between the dining room and the large, comfortable lounge. There are two patios, one that holds 50 and a smaller one that holds about 24. In the summer both are usually open, although the smaller one may be closed if there’s a function in the private room (which accommodates about 25); if that’s the case, the smaller patio becomes a private patio for that function.

Aside from Sunday brunch, the restau-

rant is open from Tuesday to Sunday, 4 p.m. to close.

When people exit through the elegant entrance into the spacious parking lot after finishing their meal as Silver’s, Smith says, “We want them to feel satisfied for the money they spent, first and foremost. And we want them to have had an enjoyable time. We want them to have had the comfort they were looking for along with the value.

“And we definitely want them to go away and tell their friends how good it was.”

Rave reviews from Regina diners

“My husband and I love your restaurant!

The atmosphere is so welcoming, the service is always excellent, and the food is simply delicious. We have a terrific time every time we dine here. We will definitely be back and will highly recommend it to others!”

Rob and Amy Johnson

Donovan and Bonnie Carroll

“We went out for a wonderful evening at Silver’s. We enjoyed a couple of glasses of wine, incredible appetizers, and an excellent meal. It was a really nice evening for the two of us. Thank you to Silver’s for the awesome hospitality!”

“As busy parents of three little ones and business owners we need a relaxing night Winter 2009/10

PHOT OGRAPHY: L IN E L L GRUDN IT Z KI

out to enjoy ourselves. Silver’s is by far the best steakhouse in the city. Silver’s always meets our top three requests: a fantastic meal, modern atmosphere, and great service. Hands down, Silver’s is our top place to dine, whether it is just the two of us or a group of friends. The only problem we ever have is deciding what to order from the multiple entree choices!”

“When Silver’s first opened we were fortunate to be some of the early customers and we can honestly tell you that it was good then, but keeps getting better and better every time we go back.”

“The food and the service are nothing but first class. The northwest end of Regina needed a first-class restaurant rather than fast food places and pubs.”

“Not only is the food great, but the building’s exterior and interior are warm and inviting. We think this is the best restaurant in the city and is on par with or better than anything in the country.”

“We must say the staff is always friendly and will bend over backward to make sure our needs are taken care of. The staff at Silver’s truly do care!”

Reg Gross and Diane Marchuk

Darren and Darlene Gelowitz, Owners, Village RV 122

fine lifestyles regina

Sunday Brunch...

A Decadent Brunch every Sunday, from 10 AM - 2 PM

BOOK YOUR

Christmas Party today!

Special Every Day

CALL CHEF DAN: 775-5888

Add an 8 oz. Lobster Tail with any Entree, for only $8.95

Visit Silver's on your birthday and your entree is absolutely FREE! (MINIMUM PARTY OF 4)

TGIT...

That's right, thank goodness it's Thursday!

Come in and Enjoy a Full Rack of Baby-back Ribs with Home-made BBQ Sauce, for only $19.95!

Silver’s Gift Cards Make a Great Gift for that Someone Special!

1060 Pasqua Street North

•

Tel: 306.775.5888

•

www.SilversSteakHouse.com

Dining, Entertainment & Arts

THE WILLETTS ON WINE

WINE It’s what’s for dinner B Y E D WA R D W I L L E T T

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Throw in the expectation of a perfect wine match, and the whole act may end in disaster (there’s no safety net for dinner-party hosts!).

Our advice? Forget everything we just said. Holiday flavours are so complex that matching them is a terrific challenge. Many a fine bottle of wine has crashed and burned alongside our turkey or ham dinners.

If your personal knowledge of wine is limited to the fact that some of it is red and some of it is white, then maybe it’s time you got some expert advice.

Sometimes, though, you don’t have the time or energy to worry about the perfect match. When we feel that way, we reach for one of our reliable standbys. If we’re in the mood for a white, that’s likely to be a Viognier. The floral aromas and fruity peach and apricot flavors marry well with almost any food, and Viogniers are much easier to find than Winter 2009/10

For a red, we more and more often turn to the Spanish section of the liquor store.

Many Spanish wines feature a great balance of fruit and earthiness that goes well with the rich, flavorful cuts of meat we place on our plates today. You’ll find many of the vintners have already aged the wine for you, so that you can pick up a 2001 vintage right off the shelf. The Marqués de Cáceres reds, from Crianza to Reserva to Gran Reserva, are ready to go when you are.

With the festive season approaching, the need to find a great wine to match great food will grow. Surely, with all the varied flavours at the Christmas table—especially that scrumptious turkey!—a big Chardonnay or maybe one of those Rieslings we just recommended would be the way to go?

t seems like cooking dinner these days is a high-wire balancing act.

You’re expected to perfectly balance protein, veggies and carbohydrates while also serving up fresh (preferably local) ingredients, delectable tastes, and tantalizing textures.

There are lots of wine reference books, but one of our favorites is Harmony on the Plate by Shari Darling (no, really, that’s her name!). Her advice can be summed up by two basic tips, either of which can lead to an excellent food/wine match: 1) match like flavours with like (but make sure the wine’s flavor characteristics are stronger than the food’s), or 2) when in doubt, remember that opposites attract.

wines from the country most famous for the variety, Germany. Even if you find their wines too sweet for your taste when drunk alone, you may find they’re just the thing to match with food.

But don’t give up! There is a grape that offers a way out of the holiday wine-matching dilemma: the finicky, hard-to-produce heartbreak grape known as Pinot Noir.

The challenge here is finding a Pinot that tastes like it’s worth the money.

they once were. Our go-to choice? The Clay Station Viognier from the Lodi foothills of California’s Sierra Nevada.

On the lighter end, check out Rieslings.

Their crisp taste and light body make them good matches with a variety of foods, from fish to fowl to smoked pork.

They can even go well with strongly flavored and scented spicy foods with lots of acid and heat.

While you can find Rieslings from Australia, the U.S. and Canada, start with 124

Here are two choices to consider, both fruit-forward New World-style wines: Greg Norman’s Pinot Noir from Santa Barbara, California, and the Prospect Pinot from the Okanagan. As a bonus, both will also go great with salmon if you’re planning a non-traditional Christmas dinner.

Right after Christmas, of course, comes New Year’s. Champagne, Cava, Sekt... whatever you call it, sparkling wine is a tradition well worth keeping as the old year gives way to the new. Although our recommendation is French, it’s not fine lifestyles regina

Edward and Margaret Anne Willett drink wine, buy wine, taste wine, write about wine, conduct wine tastings, belong to three different wine clubs, and have more corkscrews than they can count.

PHOT OGHRAPHY: L IN E L L GRUDN IT Z KI

Champagne: it’s the Saint Odile Cremant from Alsace. Not as hard on the holiday-depleted wallet, and with many more nuances of toasty yeast and fresh lemon than its counterparts at this price point can boast.

Try it! And not just on its own: its fizzy freshness effectively counters the typically salty seasoning of New Year’s appetizers. It even goes with salt and vinegar potato chips!

You don’t have to spend a fortune to get your high-wire food-and-wine act together, at the holidays or any other time. There’s more wonderful wine available in Regina than ever before, something for every taste, every budget— and every recipe you attempt.

And with every issue of Fine Lifestyles Regina, we’ll be here to point you toward more of it.

Cheers!

EDWARD AND MARGARET ANNE WILLETT

LEAH MCDONALD

CHARLES EISBRENNER

Terre Dei Volsci Velletri Rosso Riserva

Ex Nihilo Riesling

A crackling fire, a good book and a glass of wine make Regina’s cold winter nights enjoyable. Terre Dei Volsci Velletri Rosso Riserva is an Italian blend of Cesanese, Sangiovese, Montepulciano and Merlot grapes. It has a rich, dark colour, with complex tastes and a good nose (more Merlot than anything else). Good by itself, it also complements a roast, steaks, lasagne, or spaghetti with a rich red sauce. Regina’s new Willow Park Wines & Spirits will specialorder it from Alberta.

PHOT OGRAPHY: E DWARD W ILL E TT

PHOT OGRAPHY: BOB MCDON AL D

OUR READERS RECOMMEND...

Leah McDonald is a Regina schoolteacher and past president of the German Wine Society.

Winter 2009/10

The Okanagan creates great wines! Two Okanagan Rieslings won gold medals at recent Riesling Du Monde competitions.

The judges’ comments: “Beautiful colour, rich aromas and superb complexity, a Riesling of pleasure!” Even more of a pleasure: you can actually purchase one of these winners, the Ex Nihilo 2007 Riesling, here in Saskatchewan. This fall, I tasted the 2006 and 2007 vintages at the Ex Nihilo Winery. I preferred the 2006; the 2007 needs more time in the bottle.

Charles Eisbrenner is a Regina IT consultant, gourmet cook, and passionate oenophile.

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CATHEDRAL VILL

An exemplary experience for Regina gourmands

BY KRIS BRANDHAGEN

B

ack in 1996, I was working my after-school job in the Cathedral area when Cathedral Village Freehouse opened up for business. Even in the ’90s, the area had a bit of a 1950s time-capsule quality about it. And there was certainly nothing by way of “gourmet” dining.

The Freehouse brought with it a refreshing alternative to the humdrum mundanity of the tried-and-true Quality Tea Rooms and Embassy Café (both closed now). It made a bold statement. The Freehouse was going to get involved in the area by supporting local artists and community endeavors, as well as by providing corporate sponsorship to the Cathedral Village Arts Festival (www.reginakiosk.ca/Cathedral-Village-

Free-house.php). The Freehouse showed confi- dence that it would provide enjoyment not just for area restaurant-goers of the area but for gourmands from right across Regina. The experience is definitely worth a drive across the city.

Because it is called The Freehouse, when it opened its doors, a number of people expressed the hope they wouldn’t have to pay. These folks soon learned that Cathedral Village Freehouse’s “name and philosophy hearken back to England during the Industrial Revolution,” as the website (www.thefreehouse.com) puts it.

“At that time, the vast majority of pubs were known as ‘tied houses,’ owned by certain breweries and thus restricted in the products they could offer their patrons. Over time, new establishments—

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‘free houses’—emerged. Publicly owned, they became synonymous with independence, variety, and choice.”

Three seating areas When my guest and I walk Cathedral Village Freehouse, we’re greeted by a smiling, hip, attractive person. Diners can choose to sit in the lounge, the dining area, or (in the summer months) the patio. The lounge is dimly lit, with an Albert Street view through the French doors that line the front of the building (and can be opened in summer). The dining area toward the back is cozy, more focused on intimate conversation. The patio is generally very lively, usually equipped with its own DJ or live music in the summer evenings. As it is November, we choose the lounge.

The Freehouse, true to its name, offers a beverage for every palate. I enjoy that the

fine lifestyles regina

LAGE FREEHOUSE

bar carries a full range of domestic and import beers as well as local Bushwakker beer, so I order a glass. We put our server—a smart and casual young guy— to the test; after a couple of questions, he amiably lists a number of “big red” wines off the top of his head. My guest settles on a Shiraz and we take in the ambiance.

High-ceilinged and comfortable, the atmosphere is artful and welcoming.

When the Freehouse opened up, each tabletop was covered with a unique painting done by one of the servers. This gave me a reason (I was frequenting the place on Wednesday nights at the time) to sit at a different table for each visit.

A place for music and the arts The music right now is something I have never heard before, ambient, and contemporary, but with traditional roots, and I like it. I don’t doubt that it is a contribution from one of the staff. I am pleased to see an establishment allow the staff that level of expression.

I have seen many of my favorite Regina performers here. From independent rock to blues to poetry to live on-site paintWinter 2009/10

ing, the Freehouse supports the local arts. It is also a satellite location of the Art Gallery of Regina. I am looking across at a wall of abstract paintings, which truly are captivating: warmly colored big bold canvases on big bold walls.

Here’s another example of how the Freehouse facilitates the arts. I remember years ago writing down my biggest fear on a little slip of paper, and putting it in a box at the Freehouse. I was then 21 and hanging around with a bunch of photographers; I had a feeling of impending doom about all the cameras and so my biggest fear in 2000 was “being photographed in the nude.” The fears were exhibited elegantly handwritten at the Central Library location of the Dunlop Art Gallery.

The Freehouse makes great food and has nothing to hide; many parts of the kitchen are visible. They recognize that one of the reasons that people come out is to be a part of the spectacle, so why not make the cooking of the wood-fired pizza part of their visual representation?

If their menu lists dishes like the Prosciutto Wrapped Steelhead Trout, why not let the people see them (at least in 127

part) prepare it? Not to mention that the olfactory and gustatory senses are perked by the scent coming from the kitchen.

Several notches above standard So while I enjoy my beer, I peruse the menu. Cathedral Village Freehouse takes standard menu items and raises them up several notches. We started off with the Tandoori chicken tenders.

When they say “tender” they mean it; the chicken strips were falling apart on my plate. They have the warmth I am looking for in this particular mélange of spices, marinated to perfection and surrounded by a crisp batter, with a hot and creamy dipping sauce.

I mingled a little with a vegetarian acquaintance that just happened to be seated across the room. When I asked her about her favorite dishes from the menu, she named the five-cheese pizza. Now this may seem like an obvious answer, as cheese pizza is a readily available option for vegetarians in any pizza-serving restaurant. This thing, however, is made with mozzarella, cheddar, brie, Monterey jack, and provolone. Not to mention that it is thin-crust and wood-fired. fine lifestyles regina

She raved about the mushroom sandwich, naming with gusto all the ingredients therein. The Freehouse knows how to put together disparate tastes. The key feature of this sandwich is obviously the wild mushrooms, but add to that tofu, spinach, apple, brie and radish on ciabatta, and you’ve got a mouthful of taste!

I’m going on about these dishes because those vegetarians I know are continually disappointed with the boring and unimaginative options with which they are constantly faced when going out to eat.

A smart restaurant is going to think about vegetarians when planning a menu.

I have mentioned just two of the options but there are more. Vegetarians, The Freehouse is thinking about you.

After the chicken tenders we thought we would go the mile and have the nachos. Mmmm, salty goodness in three different eye-pleasing colors, dripping with not one, not two, but three cheeses, plus tomato, onion, and jalapeño —dipped in not just salsa and sour cream but also a somewhat chunky, very homemade deliciously garlicky guacamole. Just the way I like it!

I can see the menu planners now, seated at a table, discussing whether to offer extra cheese and guacamole as an up-sell. And I can see them Winter 2009/10

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shaking their heads. “If our customers want a plate of nachos, let’s just go ahead and give them a really fabulous plate of nachos!” This makes me happy. Very happy.

Local and world cuisines Now let’s talk about protein. The Freehouse embraces the local as well as world cuisines, from Saskatchewan Walleye to Kashmiri Chicken to Moroccan Braised Short Ribs. My mouth is watering, and I know that I can expect perfection because they’ve proven it to me over the years of patronage.

And for dessert, made from scratch inhouse: maple crème brule, cheesecake of the moment, seasonal fruit, and chocolate lava cake—my favorite! I topped off the evening with the chocolate lava cake and a coffee. Need I say more?

2062 Albert St., Regina, SK 306-359-1661 www.thefreehouse.com fine lifestyles regina

Dining, Entertainment & Arts

That’s Entertainment!

SASKATCHEWAN SCIENCE CENTRE KRAMER IMAX THEATRE Now playing:

Dunbar and Other Tales of Whimsical Sadness Created and performed by Melanie Hankewich and Jeremy Sauer

Wild Ocean Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure

February 25 - March 6 WhyRobotsMakeBetterLovers Created and performed by Johanna Bundon and Lee Henderson

SASKATCHEWAN SCIENCE CENTRE

March 24 - 27 Fusion Directed by Jayden Pfeifer and Johanna Bundon

POWERHOUSE OF DISCOVERY New visiting exhibit Germs! Germs! Germs!

Every Saturday and Sunday Family-friendly 2 p.m. activities December 31 New Year’s Eve Family Event

GLOBE THEATRE MAINSTAGE On through December 27 Peter Pan

By J.M. Barrie Adapted by Jeff Pitcher Directed by Ruth Smillie January 20 - February 6 Marion Bridge

By Daniel MacIvor Directed by Geoffrey Whynot February 17 - March 6 Tuesdays With Morrie

By Jeffrey Hatcher and Mitch Albom Based on the book by Mitch Albom Directed by Andrew North March 17 - April 3 The Syringa Tree

By Pamela Gien Directed by Jillian Keiley

BRANDT CENTRE EVRAZ PLACE December 20 - January 5 2010 World Junior Hockey Championship January 20 Guns N’ Roses with Sebastian Bach and Danko Jones January 23 Alan Jackson

SHUMIATCHER POPS Conexus Arts Centre January 9 Going for the Gold Guest Artists: Danny Wright, piano February 20 The Oscars March 20 ABBAmania Guest Artist: Jeans n' Classics

GOVERNMENT HOUSE January 30 & 31 Mozart & Mendelssohn February 27 & 28 Schumann 200th March 27 & 28 Classical Winds

REGINA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

March 18 Billy Talent with Alexisonfire, Against Me and Gallows

RSO UNCORKED Hotel Saskatchewan Radisson Plaza

March 30 Hedly with Boys Like Girls, Stereos and Fefe Dobson

March 6 Wine, Dine & Melody RSO Chamber Players

CONEXUS ARTS CENTRE REGINA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA MOSAIC MASTERWORKS Conexus Arts Centre

SHUMIATCHER SANDBOX SERIES January 28 - February 6 The Unforeseen Journey of Nathaniel

February 13 Romance of Dance

Winter 2009/10

REGINA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

January 28 Motley Crue with The Joe Perry Project

January 23 Spanish Flair Guest Artists: Raymond Ko, violin Sophie Bouffard, soprano South Saskatchewan Youth Orchestra

GLOBE THEATRE

March 13 Crouching Tiger Guest Artist: Georeg Gao, erhu

December 28 Jesus Christ Superstar January 16 Blue Rodeo January 22 Colin James January 28 Wind in the Willows Do It With Class Young People’s Theatre January 30 Second Annual Pet Expo

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fine lifestyles regina

January 31 Cheech & Chong: Get it Legal

January 13 Mel Tillis

February 25 The Wiz Do It With Class Young People’s Theatre

January 15 Lighthouse

March 10 Jesse Cook

CASINO REGINA SHOW LOUNGE December 15 Wayne Newton Holiday Show December 18-20 Rory Allan “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” Elvis Tribute Show December 26 Tom Reinhardt - Monthly Old Time Dance Party

REGINA PATS HOME GAMES January 8 - Moose Jaw Warriors

January 16 This Is It - The Michael Jackson Experience

January 9 - Medicine Hat Tigers

January 22 Chubby Checker

January 15 - Edmonton Oil Kings

January 23 An Evening With Lucille Ball: “Thank You For Asking”

January 22 - Swift Current Broncos

January 16 - Swift Current Broncos

January 25 Ficor Show - Monthly Old Time Dance Party

January 24 - Kootenay Ice January 29 - Moose Jaw Warriors February 2 - Red Deer Rebels February 5 - Saskatoon Blades

January 27 Deric Ruttan with guest Hey Romeo

February 6 - Kootenay Ice

January 29 Kick Axe & Queen City Kids

February 20 -Chilliwack Bruins

February 10 - Calgary Hitmen

February 24 -Vancouver Giants

December 31 Spirit Of The West with guest Carl Dixon

March 5 - Lethbridge Hurricane March 6 - Prince Albert Raiders

January 8 Pauly Shore

Winter 2009/10

January 13 - Brandon Wheat Kings

March 12 - Brandon Wheat Kings

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Dining, Entertainment & Arts

Casa Latina Latin-American dining in the heart of downtown Regina

BY SAMANTHA MACIAG

OWNER TAMMY WITH SERVERS STEPH & NICKITA

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ucked inside downtown Regina, Restaurante Casa Latina’s diverse menu offers delicious dining with a touch of Latin and Spanish flavour. And, come mid-January, new owners Tammy Leipert de Montas and chef Julio Montas Castillo will return from their trip to the Dominican Republic with new ideas and an expanded menu and wine list.

Though the restaurant has been located at its current location, 1849 Broad St., for more than 18 years, the couple opened the doors to the newly renovated restaurant on May 22, 2008. The decor is not the only thing revitalized—so, too, is the menu. However, the menu does include some of the old favourite recipes of the previous owners.

PHOT OGRAPHY: COVERT OPZ PHOT OGRAPHY & DE SIGN

“Most people, when they hear, ‘Latina,’ they automatically think of Mexico,” Tammy said. “But Latin America is a lot bigger than just Mexico—there’s all of Central American, South American, the Caribbean, and Spain. So our menu has a lot more influences from those South American, Caribbean, Spanish countries, than it does Mexican.”

However, for those looking to dip into Mexican cuisine, you can find plenty of enchiladas, tamales, and chipotle on Casa Latina’s lunch menu.

TOP: FULL VIEW OF THE ELEGANT DINING ROOM DON'T LET THE OUTSIDE TRICK YOU. CENTRE: A VIEW OF CASA LATINA ABOVE: JULIO & TAMMY WITH SONS ANEUDY AND ANTHONY

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“We’re always changing and expanding the lunch menu,” Tammy said, adding the average cost for lunch ranges between $6 and $12. It’s perfect for those with an hourlong lunch break. “You can be in and out in an hour, but not less than that.” fine lifestyles regina

PHOT OGRAPHY: COVE RT OPZ PHOT OGRAPHY & DE SIGN

TOP: EVERYTHING AT CASA LATINA IS MADE FROM THE FRESHEST OF INGREDIENTS. CENTRE: THE HOUSE FAVORITE SEAFOOD PAELLA ABOVE: CHEF ANEUDY MONTAS ZAPATA

On the evening menu, there is more Creole, cilantro and tomato-based sauces. The Latin Creole sauce is traditionally milder than Cajun dishes and is made with green peppers, tomato, onion and cilantro. Julio will make the dish more spicy, depending on a customer’s preference.

The Creole is just one of Julio’s specialties. The other is Julio’s paella—a traditional Spanish rice dish made with seafood (lobster, calamari, mussels, fish) and saffron to give it a distinct yellow colouring, adding the true essence of authentic paella flavour. Over time, Julio has expanded the way he creates paella, making both vegetarian and chicken-, pork- or beef-based versions.

For each and every dish, all of the ingredients are fresh to get just the right flavour.

“There are so many kitchens here and I Winter 2009/10

worked for awhile (in some of them) and all their ingredients they use are more than 65 per cent in powder and something dry. Here we use all of the condiments fresh—from garlic to cilantro to pepper, everything is fresh,” Julio said.

Steak, pork, pasta, chicken and a variety of seafood and other items grace the pages of Casa Latina’s menu—the food is not so different from other high-end restaurants.

And the creative menu is composed in a way in which customers have options. For example, main courses come with side dishes. Choose either white rice and beans, or sautéed potatoes and vegetables—depending on your taste.

Also, because all of the food is created fresh and to order, Julio is happy to adjust ingredients to fit the customer’s needs, especially in the case of dietary restrictions or allergies.

After more than 20 years in the dining industry in the Dominican Republic, he saw a gap in Regina’s fine-dining options. “I knew all of the dishes I made in the Dominican and I knew what everyone liked and I said, ‘Maybe now is the time to bring that to Regina because there is nothing like that here, before.’”

But Casa Latina does not just do things with a Latin fusion. Several holiday parties booked at the restaurant will be having traditional turkey dinners with all the fixings. Businesses are attracted to the restaurant because of the ambiance, the music and the atmosphere, but come back again and again for the food.

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WINOSKI & HORN ONE OF THE MUSICAL GROUPS SEEN REGULARLY AT CASA LATINA

“For a very small group of 50 to 60 people, you can have the whole restaurant to yourself and have your own private party,” Tammy said. “So, we’re pretty open to doing anything.”

Customers rave to the staff, the owners and on comment cards about the ambiance, the music, the cleanliness and the service they enjoy each time they visit Casa Latina. With a wait staff of five people who have all been well-educated in not only the menu, but also the wine list, the experience is guaranteed to be a satisfying, delicious one.

While Casa Latina may be a delectable place to dine, it is also the perfect place to start your weekend with live entertainment. Each Friday evening from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., musicians perform live acoustic music inside the dining room at no cost to those enjoying their dinners.

“People’s responses have been they feel like they’re on vacation, they feel like they were in a different city. We mainly use one trio right now that’s Caribbeanand-Salsa-infused acoustic, two guitars and a conga player. But there are some groups in Regina that we’re looking to try out and then maybe alternate them,” Tammy said.

Restaurante Casa Latina is open for lunch Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. and for dinner Tuesday through Saturday evenings from 4:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. To book reservations or private parties call (306) 525-3636 or visit their website (www.casa-latina.ca) for more information. fine lifestyles regina

Sports, Recreation, Leisure and Travel

Jordan Eberle PLANS TO REMAIN A PAT

BY ROD PEDERSEN, VOICE OF THE REGINA PATS

“Of course he’s disappointed,” admitted Pats coach Curtis Hunt. “He told me when he left for Oilers camp ‘I have no intentions of coming back’ and you know what? That’s the right attitude. But there’s no grey area about where his heart is, and that’s with us. He gives us hope, and with his leadership abilities and on-ice play, he’s going to have a major impact for us.”

Eberle’s flashy statistics are evidence of this, but his exploits only helped the Pats to a 10-11-3 record through the opening third of the season. As they entered the middle third, Regina stood eighth in the WHL’s Eastern Conference—the final playoff spot.

There’s considerable speculation that if the Pats don’t prove to be a contender with Eberle and his Pats and Canadian World Junior teammate Colten Teubert, then the pair could be shipped off to the Memorial Cup host Brandon Wheat Kings in advance of the WHL trade deadline January 10. That would enable the Pats to get some good-quality prospects in return, and set the franchise up for the future.

However, Eberle isn’t buying it.

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think about it (the trade talk),” Eberle revealed. “Obviously there is talk out there, but as far as my thoughts go, I want to help Regina be a Memorial Cup contender.”

“I’ve grown up through this system and I owe a lot to it. So in my mind I would love to help Regina do well and finish off my career here on a winning note.”

he Pats concluded the first third of their 72-game schedule on November 15 with an 8-7 overtime loss at Brandon. Fittingly, Eberle was named the game’s first star after netting two goals and three assists for a fivepoint night in an eventual loss.

T

And so it goes for Eberle, the 19-year old Regina product who’s in his fourth season with his hometown junior team.

After being returned by the National Hockey League’s Edmonton Oilers on September 27, Eberle has gone on a tear.

In his first game with Regina, Eberle netted two goals and two assists in a 9-3 vicWinter 2009/10

tory at the Prince Albert Raiders.

After his first 19 games, Eberle led the Pats in all offensive categories, including goals (18), assists (22), points (40), power-play goals (8), shorthanded goals (4) and game-winning goals (2).

DRAFTED BY THE OILERS The Oilers originally drafted Eberle in the first round of the 2008 NHL Draft, and broke his heart this fall by sending him back to Regina for another year of junior hockey. He was understandably devastated at not cracking the Oilers’ lineup.

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HUNT A DIFFERENT COACH THIS TIME Head coach Curtis Hunt is in his second stint on the Pats’ bench after spending the 2008-2009 season with the NHL’s Ottawa Senators and their AHL affiliate, the Binghamton Senators. Prior to that, Hunt spent five seasons as coach of the Pats, guiding the club to the East Division pennant in 2008.

Another Regina product, Hunt admits to being a different coach the second time around. The difference is reflected in the mood of the Pats players, who are fine lifestyles regina

enjoying their experience with the team.

Smiles are evident around their Brandt Centre dressing room. What prompted the change?

“Well, that’s a good question,” Hunt laughed. “Obviously everyone loves to win and it’s a lot more fun when you win. We break the day into preparation, where the morning belongs to us (the team), and in the afternoon you have to do what you’ve got to do to get prepared.

We’ve had, if you want to call it, a lighter

atmosphere before games, where it’s a time to get loose and spend time with your teammates. But at some point in time everybody shuffles off on their own and does what they have to do to get ready. There’s no one formula that works for every one individual in terms of preparation.

“Up until the point in time where we see our team not ready to play, then our approach could change. The players are continuing to learn how to be a player, how to live away from home and manage school and hockey, and the anxiety and pressures of playing in this league.

“It’s a little bit of both, I guess. Part of it is my approach this year, and part of it is we’re having a little success.”

Jordan Eberle has seen a change in Hunt as well.

“Yeah, I have seen a change in Curtis but in a good way,” Eberle said. “After coming back from the NHL I can see the experience he brings now as a coach and I

know the younger players, as well as myself, respect him a lot more for it.”

WORK CUT OUT The Regina Pats have their work cut out for them if they plan to challenge for the team’s first WHL championship since 1980, but they continue to work towards that goal. Their roster has been a continual moving target, with plenty of trades and transactions as Hunt looks to find the right mix.

However, with Jordan Eberle in their lineup, anything’s possible.

“The first part of the season has been just like our record shows, and that’s mediocre,” explained Eberle. “We have been getting better as a team but we need to find that consistency in our game where we play well every night.”

As always, time will tell.

Rod Pedersen is the Voice of the Regina Pats on 620 CKRM Radio.

hot winter destination. During the week, hoards of energetic children and teenagers take part in the popular Mission Ridge school field trips. Many are introduced to a sport that they will participate in for a lifetime. On the weekends, individuals and families of every skill level flock to Mission Ridge from throughout Saskatchewan to ski, snowboard and participate in public group lessons.

PHOT OGRAPHY: CRAIG L IVINGST ON

A DECADE OF IMPROVEMENT

Top-notch downhill skiing in Saskatchewan? Yes, thanks to

Mission Ridge!

B Y K AT H R Y N L A V A L L E E

Co-owners Don Williams and Mike Smith have been working steadily at improving the facilities of Mission Ridge since they took over the park 10 years ago. Their tireless efforts have turned Mission Ridge from a collection of narrow and ungroomed trails to a beautiful and challenging set of paths that includes eight ski trails, two bunny hills, four ski-lifts and a terrain park.

The chair lift added in 2005 is the newest and most comfortable lift at Mission Ridge. Bought from Canada Olympic Park, it holds the distinctive honour of having been used for the 1988 Winter Olympic games.

Don and Mike added the lift to increase their customers’ ease and enjoyment in the park. “The T-bar lifts are hard for some people to use,” Don explains.

Adding the chair lift not only increased customer satisfaction, it increased the park’s popularity. “Since it's installation, we've seen lapsed skiers return to the sport," says Mike.

SKI LODGE RENOVATED

hen Saskatchewan residents are searching for an enjoyable winter activity, downhill skiing isn’t necessarily the first sport that comes to mind. Saskatchewan’s predominantly flat prairie landscape obviously limits opportunities to ski or snowboard.

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Winter 2009/10

But for 36 years, Mission Ridge Winter Park has offered the residents of Saskatchewan a fabulous, high-quality skiing experience within the city limits of Fort Qu’Appelle, only 45 minutes from Regina.

The impressive park on the edge of the scenic Qu’Appelle Valley has long been a 135

The ski lodge has also undergone a major renovation. The lodge has always been a popular feature of Mission Ridge, and boasts comfortable seating and a stunning view. Bubba’s Pizza offers delicious food for hungry skiers and snowboarders in need of refuelling. “They have a really good menu,” Don grins.

The renovation has added 2,000 square feet of space to the interior for seating and viewing, 2,000 square feet to the rental shop, and a 2,000-square-foot deck. The addition has opened up the fine lifestyles regina

lodge and greatly increased the customer capacity. “Everything’s been expanded,” says Don. “And the additional rental shop space was badly needed,” Mike adds.

The renovation has also allowed Don and Mike to redesign the entrance to the day lodge. Initially, visitors had to cross a run to access the lodge. With the new design, a tunnel underneath the runs allows those in need of a break to access the lodge entrance easily, while those still enjoying the hills can ski and access the lifts unimpeded on top of the tunnel.

The already infamous Mission Ridge is a favourite location for many people in the winter months, and Don and Mike are determined to make sure the winter park’s reputation continues to grow.

Rather than letting the park remain as is, they have continually looked for ways to improve the park’s functionality and appearance, happily re-investing every penny to help make Mission Ridge the premiere ski area in Saskatchewan.

The unpredictable Saskatchewan weather makes snowmaking machines an essential piece of park equipment. Mission Ridge has gradually expanded from two snow making machines, purchased in the second year of operation, to the present collection of 20 machines. “We don’t need snow on the ground,” says Mike.

“With about two weeks of minus-10 weather, the entire park is fully operational.” The upcoming purchase of a second water pump will double the amount of water that can be pumped through the machines, allowing the park to open even sooner.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE Though Don and Mike have just finished many upgrades, including the ski lodge renovation, they are already looking forward to the future.

What’s next for Mission Ridge? “Well, we have plans to add a second chair lift,” says Don. “We’re also planning on expanding the terrain park into a nearby coulee. And we’re looking into having housing develWinter 2009/10

opments along the edge of the valley that would offer ski-in/ski-out access.”

Don and Mike are also planning to partner with a hotel at some point, and are thinking about cabins in the park for overnight and weekend visitors. “Fort Qu’Appelle desperately needs more hotels for overnight stays,” Don says.

Everyone who loves winter sports will find something at Mission Ridge Winter Park. The dynamic energy of the landscape is a perfect reflection of the energy of its owners. Don and Mike are determined to put both Mission Ridge and Fort Qu’Appelle on the map.

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“The ultimate goal,” says Don, “is to make Fort Qu’Appelle a real tourist destination.

And we want to stay at the top of that.”

With such dedication, there is little doubt that Mission Ridge will be a top destination for winter enthusiasts for many, many years to come.

Mission Ridge Winter Park 800 Sioux Ave. Fort Qu'Appelle, SK. P: 306-332-5479 F: 306-332-6300 E: daylodge@missionridge.ca

fine lifestyles regina

Sports, Recreation, Leisure and Travel

History, adventure, food...take a left turn to

Albuquerque What had possessed me, a woman who refuses to get on the rides at Reginaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Queen City Ex, to step into an 8,000-pound tramcar going 2.7 miles up the side of a mountain with a total vertical rise of 3,819 feet above the desert floor? The view, of course!

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PHOT OGRAPHY: L IN DA AKSOMIT IS

BY LINDA AKSOMITIS

T

he air crackled with the whirr and whine of metal cables as the tram slid skyward. Inside, I huddled, toe-to-toe, with 40 others, my hand firmly clamped on the door handle. Why, I’m not sure, since each second that passed shot me 20 feet closer to the top of Albuquerque’s Sandia Peak.

Bailing out wasn’t an option.

What had possessed me, a woman who refuses to get on the rides at Regina’s Queen City Ex, to step into an 8,000pound tramcar going 2.7 miles up the side of a mountain with a total vertical rise of 3,819 feet above the desert floor?

The view, of course!

PHOT OGRAPHY: L IN DA AKSOMIT IS

It seemed as though I could see all 11,000 square miles of New Mexico’s Rio Grande Valley.

TOP: HIKERS AT THE PETROGLYPH NATIONAL MONUMENT TRAILS. ABOVE: VIEW AT THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN FROM THE OBSERVATION DECK FOR THE SANDIA PEAK TRAMWAY.

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Growing up in Saskatchewan, I’d never thought a lot about climbing mountains, but the view from Sandia Peak gave me an idea of why mountain climbers might hang their lives on pegs hammered into solid rock. It seemed as though I could see all 11,000 square miles of New Mexico’s Rio Grande Valley. I turned in a full circle: looking south, the Estancia Valley and Manzao Mountains shimmered in the fading sunlight; to the east, the Sangre de Cristo Mountains filled the far horizon, while winter ski runs and thick forest cascaded near me down the backside of the Sandias; Cabezon, the stump of an eroded volcano, stood out among other volcanic necks and plugs in the north; and the Rio Grande crossed the western horizon, along with Mount Taylor, more than 100 miles away.

Landscape to ignite the imagination As the sun started to sink over the city of Albuquerque below me, the most amazing thing happened to the mountains. Mesmerized, I watched as the blend of mica, feldspar and quartz rocks took on sunset’s pink glow—it was easy to see why hundreds of years earlier the Spanish had named these mountains the Sandia, which means watermelon...and why New Mexico’s nickname is “Land of Enchantment.”

Hikers on a ski lift rocked their way up the mountainside through the ponderosa pine forest that dominates the terrain around the 7,000-feet elevation mark, having already left the chamisa, piñon juniper, and apache plum behind. At 8,500 feet or so, they passed the blend of aspen, scrub oak, and mixed conifers, before reaching the top at 10,678 feet, where I stood in the Hudsonian zone, with its Douglas fir, spruce, aspen, and limber pine. It was hard to imagine winter snows in the desert, but the ski runs at Sandia Peak provide world-class skiing and snowboarding where hikers and mountain bikers enjoy the trails in other seasons. fine lifestyles regina

PHOT OGRAPHY: L IN DA AKSOMIT IS

Once we’d left the mountain behind, my focus turned to the desert and its mesas—another part of the landscape that ignites my imagination. The enormous red-rock mesas are similar to their smaller cousins, the buttes of the badlands here in Saskatchewan. With squared-off steep sides, lumpy protruding rock layers, and flat tops, like tables, they seem to be exquisite carvings done by giants playing in their desert sand box.

Rather like Saskatchewan’s Great Sand Hills, where hardy sage and natural grasses fight for survival, this northern edge of the Chihuahuan Desert is home to many plants, from wild onions and desert honeysuckle to yucca and pricklypear cactus. Blending with the scent of sage, the aromatic piney smell of the state tree, piñon, fills the air.

this jewelry—the specialty shops in Old Town offer some of the most unique, authentic pieces.

Since there’s a lot to know about turquoise, I visited Albuquerque’s Turquoise Museum. There I found answers to my questions about how to tell the quality of each piece of turquoise, and how to judge the craftsmanship of the silver work that often forms part of turquoise jewelry. The Lowry family has owned this collection of artifacts and gemstone samples from more than 100 mines worldwide for five generations, and generously provides free identification of mine origin and valuation of turquoise pieces for museum visitors.

Turquoise treasures of the southwest Whether or not the New Mexico gemstone, turquoise, protects wearers from dark and evil, it’s certainly one of the treasures of the southwest. My personal motto is that no trip to Albuquerque is complete without finding a new piece of

ABOVE: DISPLAY OF TURQUOISE GEMSTONES AT THE TURQUOISE MUSEUM. TOP: PUEBLO WOMAN MAKING BREAD IN AN OVEN AT THE INDIAN PUEBLO CULTURAL CENTER. RIGHT: HANDWORK AND BUNS AT THE INDIAN PUEBLO CULTURAL CENTER. CHILI PEPPERS DRYING IN THE SUN.

Winter 2009/10

The Pueblo people My explorations of New Mexico history began with the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque. There are 19 different Pueblos (Pueblo refers to both groups of indigenous people, and to the stone, or adobe brick, structures they live 140

fine lifestyles regina

PHOT OGRAPHY: L IN DA AKSOMIT IS

Sport is Art

in) in New Mexico, all descendants of a Native American culture that has established itself over many centuries. The livinghistory Cultural Center has galleries that exhibit Pueblo art; murals to illustrate stories; and the Pueblo House, which provides an experience in daily life, from the clay ovens where traditional breads are baked to the displays of woven materials and clothing.

Like Saskatchewan, New Mexico has a vast land space, so some of the most interesting historical attractions are away from the cities. The Acoma Pueblo is about a hundred-mile drive each way from Albuquerque, but while we consider anything beyond a hundred years old in Saskatchewan to be historic, this Pueblo is more than 2,100 years old and still intact!

Centuries ago, the people of Acoma Pueblo built their homes high on the top of a mesaâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the Sky Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;now the oldest continuously inhabited community in North America. Since 1150 A.D., the Acoma people have dwelt at the top of this 367-foot sandstone bluff, overlooking a vista that extends for miles across the desert. The steep sides of the mesa defy all but the most daring to scale their height, so the only access is up the steep road that takes visitors from the Sky City Cultural Center to the historic community.

Walking through the Sky City reminded me of a trailer park filled with long narrow dwellings, not of wood and metal, but of stone. Underfoot, the sandstone felt soft and powdery, more like beach sand than rock. San Esteban del Rey Mission, the enormous Catholic mission built in 1629, gleamed in the desert sun, as beautiful as it must have been nearly 500 years ago.

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Winter 2009/10

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PHOT OGRAPHY: RONBE HRMANN

For more information:

ALBUQUERQUE INTERNATIONAL BALLOON FIESTA®.

Stories in rock The Petroglyph National Monument is co-operatively managed by the city of Albuquerque and the National Park Service. While I’d already seen petroglyphs, or stone carvings, at St Peter Petroglyphs near Willow Bunch, this monument far exceeded my expectations!

About 150,000 years ago a volcano erupted in the Rio Grande River Valley, spewing out magma that spread and hardened, turning into black- or charcoal-coloured basalt rocks, which seem to have been strewn for kilometers across the landscape by a giant hand. Over 20,000 birds, lizards, snakes, parrots, and various other images have been carved into the rocks with stone tools.

The petroglyphs range in age from about 1600 A.D. right to the arrival of the Spanish in the 1600s. My hike through the park gave me much to appreciate!

More and more…

Albuquerque is the hot-air balloon capital of the world, hosting more than 700 balloonists at the annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® every October. It all began more than a century ago, when a daring bartender piloted a gas bag up from the center of town, floated through the cloudless, calm skies, and came down a few miles west of the city. While I didn’t quite work up the Winter 2009/10

courage to sail over Albuquerque, I certainly saw lots of other visitors taking advantage of the numerous balloon rentals!

And of course, when we’re talking about the southwest, there’s always the food!

The blend of Mexican, Native American and Spanish flavours, especially the everprevalent red or green chilies, introduced me to a lot of tastes I’d never experienced. My first daring meal—barracuda—was at the High Noon Restaurant in Old Town Albuquerque. With a texture more like calamari or alligator, this fish was far from my favourite. The tortilla, and fried ice cream for dessert, topped the day’s dining for me that evening at Garduno’s.

I also had other five-star meals. The Pueblo Harvest Café at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center introduced me to calabacitas, a dish made from zucchini, squash, onions and tomatoes. Red snapper, my favourite fish, was delicious served with red and green peppers at Sandiago’s Mexican Grill, at the Sandia Peak Tramway. Tucanos Brazilian Grill, which claims no other dining experience can compare, was certainly right. Along with an enormous salad bar and side dishes, enthusiastic staff served the barbecued meat and fish—churrasco—on skewers to my table.

From the dining to the desert, my trip to Albuquerque was one to write home about!

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Albuquerque Convention & Visitor’s Bureau – www.itsatrip.org Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® – www.balloonfiesta.com/ Garduno’s Restaurant – www.gardunosrestaurants.com/locations_NM.html High Noon Restaurant – www.999dine.com/nm/highnoon/High-NoonHome.html Indian Pueblo Cultural Center – www.indianpueblo.org Old Town Albuquerque – www.albuquerqueoldtown.com/ Petroglyph National Monument – www.nps.gov/petr/index.htm Sandia Peak Tramway – www.sandiapeak.com/ Sky City of Acoma Pueblo – sccc.acomaskycity.org/ Tucanos Brazilian Grill – www.tucanos.com/ Turquoise Museum – www.turquoisemuseum.com/ Turquoise Trail – www.turquoisetrail.org/

fine lifestyles regina

33 YEARS: THAT’S ENOUGH! he 1988 edition of the Saskatchewan Roughriders recorded and released a rap song entitled “11 Years, That’s Enough.”

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The song never made it anywhere close to the Billboard Top 40 Charts, but it served its purpose nonetheless. The title was in reference to the team’s prolonged drought without a Canadian Football League playoff berth, and the team’s growing frustration at its own lackluster performances.

The 1988 Roughriders were able to kick that dry-spell to the curb by finishing in second place and hosting the western semifinal that season, but not even they could equal the heroics pulled off by this year’s Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Winter 2009/10

After a 30-14 victory over the Calgary Stampeders at a sold-out Mosaic Stadium on Saturday, November 7, the Green and White accomplished something that 32 straight Rider teams couldn’t do before them: finish in first-place in the CFL’s West Division.

That’s right. No Rider team since Ron Lancaster’s 1976 crew had been able to finish on top in the Wild,Wild West.

That is, not until this year.

On the strength and nimble arm of quarterback Darian Durant, the ’09 Roughriders finished first with a 10-7-1 record after beating Calgary in the final game of the regular season. Ironically, Michael Bishop led Saskatchewan to a 12-6 record in 2008 and Kerry Joseph did the same in 2007, 145

but their 12 wins were only good enough for second-place. Heck, Nealon Greene guided Saskatchewan to an 11-7 mark back in 2003, but that was only good enough for third.

But no, this year’s scrappy players on “Canada’s Team” punctuated a scintillating regular season with a 16-point victory over their top rivals when it mattered most; a one-game, winnertake-all showdown for first-place in early November on their own turf.

It was a wild celebration when the clock ticked down to 0:00 that night.

“A DREAM COME TRUE” “I was three years old the last time this fine lifestyles regina

PHOT OS COURT ESY T HE SASKAT CHE WAN ROUGHRIDE RS

BY ROD PEDERSEN, VOICE OF THE RIDERS

RIDER PRESIDENT JIM HOPSON

It was also a goal for Rider President Jim Hopson, who ironically played for the Riders as a lineman on that 1976 squad.

However, he admits to being a little cautious during that final game as well.

“I was nervous,” Hopson admitted. “Understanding how much that game meant, how couldn’t you be? It was a great game, the guys played tremendously and really worked hard. Our fans were unbelievable.

“Finishing first was very big. It was one of the goals that I had on a personal level for the organization. I wanted to see us return to home playoff games, get a Grey Cup, and finish first. This means a lot, and it makes it a lot easier to get to the Grey Cup. It’s one of those goals that you can check off, but I don’t think this is a one-shot thing. I think we’re a team that’s set up for the long-haul and sustainability, and we can look forward to doing this on a more regular basis.”

Second-year Rider head coach Ken Miller, a Coach of the Year finalist in 2008, did something that no other Rider coach had done since John Payne in 1976.

“I am just so proud of the men,” smiled Winter 2009/10

PHOT OS COURT E SY T HE SASKAT CHE WAN ROUGHRIDE RS

happened. Finally!” shouted the longestserving Rider, 15-year veteran offensive lineman Gene Makowsky. “These fans deserve it. It’s a dream come true. It’s the last thing left I had to accomplish. It feels great.”

Miller. “It was a nail-biter, but in the end it was a great accomplishment for the men in our room.”

caster, including stars such as Kent Austin, Tom Burgess, Reggie Slack, Henry Burris and Kerry Joseph, but it was only Durant who got his team to the top.

DARIAN DURANT MAKES HISTORY

“Man, this is huge,” Durant revealed. “To be a part of history and do something that hasn’t been done for a long time, I feel great. There were a lot of doubts about me at the beginning of the season and people thought I wasn’t the guy for

Darian Durant could be equally as proud.

So many quarterbacks have come and gone from Saskatchewan since Ron Lan146

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With his accolades and leadership ability, Durant is drawing comparisons to the great Ron Lancaster, who is the undisputed “greatest Roughrider of all time.”

“He’s not maybe the classic quarterback in terms of throwing motion and height and all that stuff, but he reminds me so much of Ronny,” Hopson continued.

“He’s so confident and he’s so smart and he has the confidence of his teammates.

And he’s not into personal goals. He’d be happy to complete 10 passes as long as we win the game, and that’s what you want. A lot of guys can put up big numbers, but it doesn’t always add up to victories and Grey Cup championships.”

PHOT OS COURT E SY T HE SASKAT CHE WAN ROUGHRIDE RS

“Oh my goodness, you could just feel it on the sidelines the last few minutes of that last game,” said the Riders’ defensive MVP, defensive end John Chick. “It’s pure joy in that locker room right now.”

POSTSCRIPT Two weeks later, the Saskatchewan Roughriders again defeated the Calgary Stampeders, 27-17, to win the Western Division and advance to the Grey Cup November 29 in Calgary.

HEAD COACH KEN MILLER

this team and I used that for motivation to prove them wrong. Right now though, I don’t really know how to feel.”

Durant started all 18 of the Riders’ regular season games in 2009 and was named the club’s Most Valuable Player in the process. He was also the West Division All-Star quarterback and has made it known that he’d like to be the starting quarterback in Regina for years to come.

Ken Miller took a large gamble going with Durant as his quarterback to start the season, as he was still largely unproven, given the fact he’d only started a handful of games the year before. In the end, the move paid off.

“As an organization we’ve always tried to Winter 2009/10

make decisions that’ll help us win in the short-term, but keep us competitive in the long-term,” said Jim Hopson. “It was a tough decision and I really give Kenny and Eric a lot of credit because we talked about bringing in Kevin Glenn or Casey Printers and they said no. They said we have a great group of young players here and decided to develop a quarterback.

Darian has shown a lot and it’s worked out as well as anybody could have imagined.”

“What we’re hoping is we have a quarterback here that can be our franchise guy for years to come, like Edmonton’s done with Ricky Ray, Montreal with Anthony Calvillo, and what we did with Ronny (Lancaster) decades ago.”

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Thousands of Rider fans made the trek to Calgary to see the game and be part of the party, and for 59 minutes and 59 seconds of the game itself, the Riders had the upper hand against the Montreal Alouettes, outplaying and outscoring the team considered to be the cream of the CFL. A last-second field goal gave the Alouettes the victory, 28-27, but even though the Riders were denied the fairy-tale ending they deserved against the heavily favoured Als, nothing can take away from the history made at that final regular-season game.

Despite that heart-breaking Grey Cup loss, the 2009 season was definitely a success. And we won’t soon forget the remarkable efforts of the Roughrider players who provided us with endless entertainment all year and kept us on the edge of our seats.

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Looking for a more permanent location?

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Cravin’ Country CravinCountry@gmail.com Agents: Lorne Orthner (529-7307) and Matt Dominguez (533-8880) Developer: Adrian Leusink, 539-9882, adrian@tamcoconstruction.ca Dyer Straits is just a few minutes away from Regina. Same size lots and features as Cravin Country. Starting at only $130,000!

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Sports, Recreation, Leisure and Travel

Pokey’s Tackle Shop Your one-stop shop for fishing

BY JUDITH SILVERTHORNE

F

PHOT OGRAPHY: COVE RT OPZ PHOT OGRAPHY & DE SIGN

or the past 24 years, Pokey’s Tackle Shop has been known as the place that “Always Has Everything” for the fishing enthusiast. For original owner Greg Prokopetz and his brother Gord, who joined him a short time later, this is their ultimate goal.

“We like to stay on top of the trends, so if it’s the latest, greatest, we carry it,” says Greg. They spend a lot of time keeping abreast of new equipment, attending trade shows, scouring the Internet and watching current fishing shows to see what they’re using and promoting.

“If it’s a good product, we either have it in stock, or it’s coming as soon as it’s available to us.” Greg adds that they research new products to make sure they are workable and won’t fall apart. “We don’t sugar-coat things. We want our customers to know the truth. We sell stuff we know about and want our customers to enjoy themselves.” They also want people to have trouble-free experiences.

When Greg started the business, he operated part-time out of room the size of his current office with the help of his wife. He saw a need and filled it, and it took off. He soon expanded beyond the original focus on fly-fishing gear and a year later moved to a bigger space. His brother came on board, and after nine years, they expanded again to their current location.

Greg says he and Gord grew up hunting and fishing. Between them, they have a great deal of knowledge and are still avid fishermen, as is Greg’s son, who works for them during the summer months. Today they have one of the most complete fresh-water fishing shops in Canada.

Their bulk supplies of walleye tackle are

Winter 2009/10

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second to none, according to their repeat customers, who come from all over Canada to check out their lures, spinners and blades and other related items.

“We’ve seen things come and go. There are always new products and will be much more,” says Gord, referring to the current trends with the new carbon-fibre reel, and cutting-edge technology in rods, tackle and other equipment. “We haven’t seen everything yet.”

Whether customers are shopping online, looking for a local shop, or coming from out of town, Pokey’s Tackle Shop is the one-stop shop they gravitate to because of the spectacular inventory and warm family atmosphere.

With Christmas around the corner and the ice fishing season soon to start, Greg and Gord are ready for everyone’s yearround fishing gear needs.

Pokey's Tackle Shop 1001 Osler Street, Regina, SK P: 359-1910 F: 757-6311 E: pokeystackle@accesscomm.ca fine lifestyles regina

Health and Wellness

Dr. Krishna Kumar Regina’s world-renowned neurosurgeon

BY MYRNA PETERSEN

No sooner had Dr. Kumar set up his office in June, 1962, than the province was embroiled in a full-scale doctors’ strike.

As the new kid on the block, Kumar offered his services free to Regina hospitals during this controversial period.

When the strike ended, Dr. Krishna Kumar’s services were in high demand— and they have remained so for nearly five decades.

Treatment of chronic pain

F

rom a humble beginning in the country of India, Regina’s own Dr. Krishna Kumar has achieved international renown as a neurosurgeon— and the highest civilian honour that his adopted country of Canada has to offer.

The global struggle to help those who suffer from unrelenting pain is being led

by Dr. Kumar with state-of-the-art research and treatment, based in Regina. In the course of his work, Dr. Kumar receives and continues to review countless referrals of patients who have been suffering with chronic pain for years. This has led him and his team of specialists into decades-long ground-breaking research into the treatment of chronic pain.

“I was grieved by seeing people suffering with pain and no one paying attention,” says Dr. Kumar. “The only recourse available to these people is to daily drink 40 ounces of whiskey or buy street drugs.

With medical degree in hand, Dr. Kumar and his wife, Shubha, left India in 1959 so Dr. Kumar could study neurosurgery in Canada. Although originally they intended to return to India once Dr. Kumar had completed his studies, they found the Canadian opportunities for neurosurgeons were superior to those in their native land...and so they stayed.

Like a seed planted in brand-new soil, Krishna and Shubha Kumar were looking for an environment where they could grow and flourish into an integral part of the community. When an invitation came for Dr. Kumar to open his neurosurgical practice in the Medical Arts Building in Regina, he accepted. Privately the Kumars agreed that if the situation didn’t pan out to their liking, they could always return to India.

Winter 2009/10

In Brussels, with other world leaders in SCS research.

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As CTV's 2005 Citizen of the Year, Dr. Kumar receives congratulations from Mayor Pat Fiacco.

Ashok Kumar travelled from Houston when his father was named the SMA 2008 Physician of the Year.

Their constant pain prevents them from working—no employment, no money, no mortgage payments. House is gone, wife leaves with the kids, and then one is out on the streets.

treatment, Dr. Kumar has focused on three types of implants which have proven successful where traditional or conventional therapy has failed.

“I began to ask people, ‘Why are you drinking?’ And they answered, ‘No one believes me. Do you believe me, Dr. Kumar?’ And I would answer, ‘Yes.’ “I was convinced that it couldn’t be all in their head, that there had to be some solution for ongoing pain persisting after an injury or an insult to the nervous system. To treat people with chronic pain you have to believe them. While an injury may have healed, the nervous system has learned pain behavior.”

Pain is a vicious cycle and a heavy burden on the community through medical and social costs.

Dr. Kumar’s team attempts to break the vicious pain cycle and return quality of life to a patient.

One of the ways to relieve pain is by neuromodulation, which means altering the activity of the nervous system electrically or pharmacologically by means of implanted devices. The intent of Neuromodulation is to dampen a patient’s awareness of pain.

Throughout his years of research for pain Winter 2009/10

Intrathecal Drug Therapy (IDT) is when a specific drug is delivered intrathecally (that is, into the space surrounding the spinal canal) by an implanted, fully programmable pump which dispenses a prescribed dose of morphine or other painrelieving drugs.

The second therapy, Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), involves an implant that delivers low-voltage electrical stimulation to a predetermined area of the brain to dampen the feeling of chronic pain.

In the third therapy, Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS), a small medical device is implanted in a patient’s spine or spinal cord. It reduces awareness of chronic pain but won’t dampen acute pain elsewhere in a person’s body. In other words, nature’s warning system remains in place, and perception of pain which may occur in another area of the body remains unaltered.

Dr. Kumar’s expertise in low-voltage electrical stimulation has inspired pain clinics in other parts of the country. In 2003, Dr. Kumar and his team were asked to be the principal investigators in a global research study with 11 international cen154

fine lifestyles regina

tres to “Evaluate the Effectiveness of Spinal Cord Stimulation vs. Conventional Medical Management.”

The touch of success His passion for his work has brought Dr. Kumar international recognition, and his influence has a special touch. Colleagues have suggested that if one wants to be successful, just follow Dr. Kumar around as his success will rub off on you.

His credentials, past and present medical involvements, and awards are numerous.

He has 154 papers to his credit, and continues to present and publish scientific papers.

Dr. Kumar is the backbone of the neurosurgery department in the ReginaQu’Appelle Health Region. When other neurosurgeons have a problem to solve, they go to him for advice. He has played a major role as a godfather to many medical personnel with his unique ability to reach all generations. His philosophy is

that everyone must give something back to society by serving the community.

International star While attending medical college, Regina native Dr. Jeff Wilson had the opportunity to work as Dr. Kumar’s research assistant for several summers. He’s now a second-year resident in neurosurgery at the University of Toronto.

“The significance of Dr. Kumar coming from Saskatchewan is amazing, as it is more difficult to be an academic doctor in the province,” Dr. Wilson says. “In a larger metropolitan area someone can be paid to be an academic, but in a place like Regina, no such incentive exists.

“In this setting he has been able to elevate himself to become one of the most prestigious researchers. He works in the operating room all day, so research must be done on his own time.

“He’ll sit down at the computer at 6 p.m. and type until 10 p.m., only because he is

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member of the Order of Canada “for his contributions as a clinical professor and researcher in neurosurgery, and for the development of innovative brain and spinal implants used for the treatment of chronic pain.”

For Dr. Kumar, receiving the highest civilian honour from his adopted country brings great satisfaction. After being honoured by his friends, community, city, province, country and with two lectureships presented annually in his name, he reflects, “I can’t ask for anything better.”

Watch for Reaching the Impossible—Dr. Krishna Kumar’s Story, a new book by Myrna Petersen, to be released in 2010.

Dr. and Mrs. Kumar and family celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. interested in seeing advancement in his field.

chewan wouldn’t recognize how important he is in these circles!”

“This speaks of how dedicated and what an amazing person he is,” says Dr. Wilson. “There is no one else in the province who can compare, from the place that he has come from to where he is now at. He is ahead of the pack in what he has been able to produce in relative isolation.

At a time in life when most people are retired, Dr. Kumar is still globetrotting as a highly sought -after conference speaker.

This year alone he has lectured extensively across North America and at world conferences in far-off places like Seoul, S. Korea, and Dubai.

“When he goes to one of the big conventions in a large metropolitan meeting, Dr. Kumar is the center of attention.

Two years ago in Las Vegas, as the lead author, Kumar presented the paper on spinal cord stimulation versus conventional management. It was the first trial of its kind and a huge piece of work. He was the star attraction and amazed a lot of important people from large institutions. The average person in SaskatWinter 2009/10

Order of Canada On Canada Day, July 1, 2009, newscasts throughout Canada and India reported Dr. Krishna Kumar was among 60 Canadians named to the Order of Canada.

Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, announced that Krishna Kumar, C.M., S.O.M., was being named as a 156

fine lifestyles regina

Health and Wellness

Wellness is Knocking at Your Door

BY MACKENZIE BROOKS

I

try my best to take care of myself. Like most busy people, I have pressures on my time that leave me with precious little for myself. My situation is not unique. Exercise is a challenge for me because of my hectic schedule. I’ve been a gym member for ages, but I always have an excuse. Sure, I had bursts of ambition, but never seeing any results, I got discouraged and my enthusiasm waned. Sound familiar?

Recently I was introduced to Brittany Warren, the owner of Wellness on the Way. Wellness on the Way is an intimate company of certified Personal Training Specialists who, with the motto “when and where it works for you,” are true to their word.

All from-high performance backgrounds, the members of Brittany’s team are well-educated in their fields and in delivering value and a holistic lifestyle approach to wellness. Wellness on the Way (which recently expanded to include a dietician and a massage therapist) will work with you to customize your optimal workout schedule. Best of all, they come to you and train with you in your home. They even bring the equipment!

"This is a workout I will stick with! I love the convenience of having Brittany come to the house."

- DONNA TURNER

"I look forward to exercising for the first time in my life! I've noticed a significant increase in my energy level and overall outlook."

- RENA MCINTOSH

"I hired Brittany and my back aches have ceased.

I am off anti-inflammatory drugs and I'm more flexible."

Like many people, I find the gym intimidating. Wellness on the Way’s unique purpose, delivering what their clients want, when they want it, is working for people of many ages and ability levels here in Regina. Brittany and her team are helping people to live better lives, manage their chronic diseases, lose weight, train for high-performance sports, and manage their health in the way that suits them best.

- JOHN INNIS

I’m a single-mother of a very busy little boy and always found it difficult fitting exercise into my routine.

Having the trainer come to me maintains my commitment to fitness.

- TARA RICHTER

Clients find Brittany and her team members a much-needed tall glass of water. “I’ve learned that nothing is better than positive customer feedback. And we’re getting a lot of it!” said Brittany in an interview from her home. She attributes this positive feedback to her skilled team. It’s obvious that her team members are more than just employees. Wellness on the Way is building stronger bodies and confidence through strong customer loyalty.

“Our clients are what we are all about,” says a confident Brittany.

ANNOUNCEMENT

Wellness on the Way has recently added a dietician to the team.

Welcome Krista Sawatsky

Given that Wellness on the Way is a high-energy company, it’s not surprising that they are always looking to expand their client base. Wellness on the Way currently trains clients ranging from teenagers to retirees in their 70s. With Wellness on the Way’s enthusiasm, it’s hard not to get caught up in it.

Top 3 Reasons We Don’t Exercise: REASON I don’t have time I am intimidated to go into a facility

To get in touch with one of the highly-trained Wellness on the Way staff, visit www.wellnessontheway.com or call Brittany at 569WELL (9355) wellnessontheway.com.

Winter 2009/10

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W. O . W. S O L U T I O N Efficient workouts with no travel time Workout in your own home Leave the planning to us!

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SKIN CARE

Is your skin feeling like to Sahara Desert? ost of us have the heat cranked in the home, in our vehicles, and atwork. Everywhere I turn, most of us are complaining about dry hands, cracked lips, tight cheeks, dead skin dangling from the nose, or bleeding hangnails! The causes? May be the combination of 2 things : external and internal factors. As we are now in cold winter and if your like most of us, its hot bubble bath every night! The heat is cranked and who really enjoys reaching for a glass of water when you want to be comforted by your 6th cup of hot java? As humans, we also crave starches like yams and potatoes which are nutritious but

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don't over do it as the body can only handle so much starch weekly. Be cautious of soup that's not made in your kitchen as it contains both high levels of sugars and sodium, which may lead to dehydration.

External helpers: green clay mixed with honey is an amazing purifying facial mask; make a little spray bottle with water with lavender oil to spritz on your face throughout the day; soothe Vitamin E oil or Aloe Vera gel directly on dry skin; invest in a humidifier; use your loofah sponge and run over your body dry prior to getting in the shower to

boost circulation; use a gentle facial exfoliant as needed; indulge in natural-non chemical soaps and shampoos to help keep your natural moisture barriers.

Internal helpers: take fish oils; daily vitamin; eating raw fruit and vegetables; indulge in grains, seeds and nuts for healthy skin balance; eat foods high in sulfur like garlic, asparagus, onions and eggs for smooth skin; drink more water, more water and you guessed it, more water.

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health EXPERT ADVICE

PERSONAL FITNESS One of the problems when people take up a fitness program is that they do not set their goals realistically and they choose activities they feel they “should” do, not what they feel is fun and enjoyable.

When training clients for specific sports, I look at how to prepare their bodies for the sport and how to keep them motivated.

Whether they are over-training is also questioned.

TRAINING TIPS Whatever your sport, it is important to consider all aspects of physical fitness in your preparation and training. Usually these are called the three S’s, which are: Stamina. This refers to the cardiovascular component of your sport. Are the demands of your sport aerobic or anaerobic, or does it combine both? Lack of stamina, particularly in contact sports, can lead to fatigue and increased risk of injury.

Strength. Does your sport overdevelop the dominant side of your body? If so, you need exercises to balance this effect. Do you have adequate strength for you activity? Maybe an increase in strength would improve your sporting performance.

Suppleness. Regular flexibility exercises are essential to maintain the suppleness in our joints, ligaments and muscles and will enhance sporting performance.

EXERCISES AND MOTIVATION Many people take up a fitness program with zest and enthusiasm, but within a few months have abandoned it. The usual reason given is they have lost interest, suffered an injury, are too tired to keep it up or simply do not have time to do the activity regularly.

Winter 2009/10

EXERCISE AND MODERATION Unfortunately, it is possible to exercise too much. With the upsurge of interest in sport, there has also been a corresponding increase in injuries. Many of these could have been prevented had the necessary precautions been taken, while others are purely related to the fact that people do too much exercise for their bodies to cope with. Injuries falling into this category are called “overuse injuries.”

How much exercise is enough and how much is too much is not an easy question 161

to answer, as every individual and his or her respective needs are different. The answer lies in common sense. If you are waking up each morning feeling tired and exhausted and are having to walk down the stairs backwards because you are too sore to walk straight down, it is highly likely you are over exercising! Fatigue is the prime precursor to injury, so common sense should be adhered to for even the smallest injuries to prevent chronic problems developing. fine lifestyles regina

Health and Wellness

Heating for forhealth healthwith withinfrared infrared Heating

BY JUDITH SILVERTHORNE

T

he health benefits and energy savings of infrared heaters and saunas are two superb reasons why Vacuum Master in Regina carries them. As owner Wayne Freeland explains, “I’m always searching for innovative and new products that will assist my customers.”

When the infrared heaters and saunas first came to his attention, he thoroughly researched them, finding them efficient, easy and safe to use, and therapeutic.

The portable heaters promote improved cardiovascular circulation and destroy bacteria, viruses, moulds, mildews and other organisms that cause respiratory distress, colds and ’flu.

They also use 35 percent less energy than a conventional electric baseboard heater or gas or propane heater. They are whisper-quiet and provide heat from floor to ceiling, using an energy-efficient fan that circulates and recycles ambient purified air. You can use them for zone heating with no loss of humidity, no combustion and no fumes—and, because they come in tasteful wooden cabinets on castors, they can even be used as furniture. They are 100-percent environmentally friendly and as simple to use as plugging them in and setting the temperature you prefer.

The infrared saunas have become increasingly popular both for individual homeowners and for providing innumerable therapeutic benefits to wellness clinics, spas and massage therapists’ offices. Doctors also use them to help treat cancer, arthritis, fatigue, weight loss, and heart and skin problems. They are so safe that hospitals use them to warm newborn babies.

Infrared saunas are also recommended for detoxifying the body of potentially carcinogenic heavy metals, alcohol, nicotine, sodium and cholesterol. People who suffer from pain or stress, or want

Winter 2009/10

“The infrared saunas have become increasingly popular both for individual homeowners for providing innumerable therapeutic benefits to wellness clinics, spas and massage therapists’ offices.” to improve their immune system, will also find relief.

The technology incorporates absorption of naturally occurring infrared heat, which is transferred through a radiator, Freeland explains. These waves have an effect like the rays of the sun (without UV radiation), sending the heat directly onto the skin, penetrating up to five centimetres to raise the body’s core temperature from within.

Because of the health benefits, the saunas appeal to Baby Boomers who are looking for “feel-good stuff,” says Freeland. The 163

infrared saunas come equipped with AM/FM radios, a CD player, light-therapy capabilities and reading lamps. Sizes vary from one-person units to those that accommodate four people comfortably.

Vacuum Master has been serving Regina and all of Saskatchewan for the past 26 years, and stocks a selection of these infrared heaters and saunas, priced the same as from the factory.

The infrared heaters have a three-year warranty and every Far North infrared sauna comes with a lifetime warranty for as long as you own it.

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Health and Wellness

Teens Can Beat the Exam Blues with Oxford Learning

BY JANET KLASSEN

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xams can stress even the most organized of students—but they don’t have to. With a little preparation, even the most unorganized students can ace their exams. The trick is to start early.

“Students should always be sure to give themselves plenty of time,” says Janet Klassen, Director of Oxford Learning Regina. “If students begin to study weeks ahead of time, they have time to review all the material and to ask questions about anything that they might not understand fully.”

According to Klassen, having plenty of time to study is only one part of a having good study skills. “The school habits that students use on a day-to-day basis can make the difference between stressful studying and stress-free studying.“ All students should use an agenda, every day. “ Agendas help students stay organized day-to-day, which can cut down on confusion and help students prioritize their study time, “ says Klassen.

Oxford Learning Regina offers these study tips to help high school students succeed on tests and exams:

Set up a study area.

This is an area where students can leave their notes, their pens and pencils, and any other study supplies that they may need. This is handy so that students don’t have to waste precious study time searching for needed materials. A study area should also be some place comfortable, with few distractions.

Divide the study time.

Students should look at how many pages in total that they have to study and how Winter 2009/10

much time they have to study it. If students have 50 pages to cover in 10 days, then that’s 10 pages to read per night.

Breaking the workload down into manageable chunks of time keeps students from feeling overwhelmed.

Don’t study what is well known.

Students should always allocate the most challenging sections the most amount of study time. There is no point spending valuable time studying material that is well understood. A quick review of understood material is usually enough.

Look for Keywords.

Students should scan the chapter, unit or section and pay attention to titles, headings and subheadings as well as any bold words. The student should write the bold words down. These are key words and are great indicators to help students understand what the material is about and focus on important information.

Paraphrase.

Students should become experts at putting what they’ve read into their own words. This is known as paraphrasing and is a great technique to help students really understand the material. After reading a section, students should close the book and explain what the section is about using their own words. If a student can teach the material to someone else, he or she understands it.

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Make classroom time active learning time.

The best study tip is one that doesn’t even involve studying, but happens way before studying—in the classroom. Students need to be mentally active in the classroom, raising their hands, asking questions, participating, and actively listening. The more involved a student is in the learning process, the easier that learning, understanding and studying becomes.

For more information on how students can improve their study skills contact Janet Klassen at Oxford Learning Regina, 306-790-2000, regina@oxfordlearning.com.

Visit oxfordlearning.com for more program information. fine lifestyles regina

Dr. Laura Montgomery, O.D. Optometrist Advance Eye Care Center 500-4010 Pasqua St. 586.7036

ver one million Canadians have some form of Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of vision loss in North Americans over the age of 55. The Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) states that more Canadians have AMD than breast cancer, prostate cancer, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer’s disease combined. However, not many of us know much about the disease itself or the ways in which we can help to prevent it.

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Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is a progressive condition that painlessly and silently dismantles the central vision for both far and near while leaving peripheral vision intact. Because it leaves the peripheral vision intact, someone with AMD can see whatever lies at the edges of their vision but cannot clearly see something they may look at directly. For example, someone with AMD might be able to see the numbers at the edge of a clock but not the clock’s hands.

Dr. Nicole Mitchelson DTCM, R.Ac, RMT, B.Sc. Allied Health Centre University of Regina Phone (306) 337.2643 www.drmitchelson.com

raditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture have been around for 2,500 years. There are literally billions of people in the world using these therapies as their primary form of health care.

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In my practice at the Allied Health Centre (University of Regina), TCM is conWinter 2009/10

health ADVICE FROM YOUR OPTOMETRIST

AGE RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION There are two types of AMD, commonly called dry and wet. Dry AMD accounts for 85- 90% of AMD. As you age, the macula (the area responsible for central vision) can develop an accumulation of deposits which can lead to decreased vision. Wet AMD accounts for 10-15% of all AMD. Wet AMD however, develops quickly and can be more damaging than the dry form. Wet AMD is called ‘wet’ because it is characterized by new abnormal blood vessel growth under the macula. These abnormal blood vessels are weak and can leak fluid and bleed.

Currently there is no cure for AMD; prevention is therefore the key. Our first step to prevention is to know the risks.

Some risk factors we can not change include age, family history, gender (female), blue or light coloured irises and a fair complexion. However, quitting smoking, reducing high blood pressure, limiting UV exposure and maintaining a diet high in fruits and vegetables are all changes

that will reduce the risk of developing AMD. Limiting exposure to sunlight by wearing sunglasses, staying in the shade or wearing a hat will also help to decrease your risk. Certain vitamins, antioxidants and Omega 3 fatty acids have also been shown to reduce risk and slow down the progression of AMD. A diet high in beta carotene (a form of vitamin A), vitamin C and E, zinc, lutein, zeaxanthin and selenium may reduce the risk of AMD. Many of these can be found in fruits and dark green leafy vegetables.

Whether you fall into a high risk category or not the most important message is early detection. Regular eye health examinations by your optometrist are essential to diagnose the early stages of AMD. You can then be counseled regarding the treatment and preventative measures that can be taken specifically for you. Your eyes deserve an optometrist.

health EXPERT ADVICE

TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE sidered complementary medicine rather than alternative medicine. I work closely with other health professionals to provide the best treatment for my patients. One clear difference between TCM and western medicine is the approach to treatment. TCM is from the inside out, treating the underlying cause of disease, 167

thereby restoring balance.

My TCM journey began early. White City Elementary School had the forethought to offer Mandarin as a second language; this continued at the University of Saskatchewan (Bachelor of Science with Distinction—Biology); then, Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine fine lifestyles regina

athletes. As doctors, we put equal emphasis on TCM and Western treatment, providing patients the best of both worlds.

TCM is focused primarily on the diagnosis and differentiation of syndromes.

In Beijing, I began to realize the importance of TCM in disease prevention. Patients often came in for treatments even before they began to show symptoms of disease, because they noticed disruptions in their energy level or sleep patterns.

from the Calgary College of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture.

My internship was at the Sino-Japanese Friendship Hospital in Beijing, China, where I rotated through Internal Medicine, Dermatology, Gynecology, and Acupuncture. My training occurred just before the Beijing Olympics, and this hospital provided treatment for the Olympic

In TCM, the pathways of qi, or energy, flow throughout the entire body. By differentiating signs and symptoms, a TCM doctor analyzes the root cause of a patient’s condition. To formulate the specific treatment we consider personal history, sleep, dietary habits, supplements and drugs, emotions, energy level, appetite, and digestion.

The World Health Organization designated TCM as effective in treating a number of disorders including:

• Respiratory disorders, including colds, hay fever, sinus inflammation, asthma; • Gastrointestinal disorders, such as constipation, diarrhoea, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), nausea, vomiting; • Nervous system disorders, including headaches, migraines, insomnia, fatigue, anxiety, depression, stressrelated disorders; • Musculoskeletal disorders, such as frozen shoulder, neck and back pain, sciatic pain, knee pain, tennis elbow, osteoarthritis; • Menstrual disorders: spotting, heavy/ painful periods, irregular periods, PMS, breast tenderness, and menopausal symptoms.

TCM includes a variety of techniques including acupuncture. We will discuss these techniques and some of their applications in the next column.

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Health and Wellness

Prairie Wellness Group On the cutting edge of health and wellness tracts by reflex. While you stand barefoot on the Whole Body Vibration machine, vibration is sent through your whole body, passively stretching your muscles. This causes millions of muscle contractions, which in turn increase muscle tone and size. As muscle density increases your metabolic rate goes up, because an increase in muscle mass requires more energy.

Because Whole Body Vibration is a “passive” exercise, neither perspiration nor lactic acid is generated. What this means for you is no increase in heart rate, no need for a shower after, and no achy muscles the following day!

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rom Whole Body Vibration to biofeedback stress-reduction, muscle re-education, pain management and massage therapy, Prairie Wellness Group offers a variety of services that are on the cutting edge of health and wellness technology...and a perfect way to reduce stress and look and feel great!

It all begins when you walk in the door and are greeted by the friendly, down-toearth staff and offered organic tea or healthy coffee.

Whole Body Vibration Need to shed a few inches? Imagine a total body workout in 10 minutes without ever breaking a sweat! That’s the promise of Whole Body Vibration.

When muscle fiber is stretched, it conWinter 2009/10

Research has demonstrated that a 10minute Whole Body Vibration workout, barefoot but in the clothes you wear during your busy day, delivers the equivalent of an hour of weight training at the gym.

However, unlike time-consuming health club workouts that concentrate on a specific muscle group, Whole Body Vibration exercises muscles in the entire body.

Whole Body Vibration benefits other body systems, too, including: Hormones. Whole Body Vibration helps balance hormones, in particular reducing levels of the stress hormone cortisol (responsible for that extra tummy fat).

Hormone balancing can also help with depression and seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

Bones. Whole Body Vibration improves bone density when the muscles are strengthened, excellent for people with (or wanting to prevent) osteoporosis.

Blood vessels. Whole Body Vibration opens the vessels and improves circula170

tion, and can be used as therapy for disturbed peripheral circulation, especially in the legs.

Neurotransmitters. The vibrations positively awaken the nerve tract, benefiting conditions such as partial paralysis and MS. Joints. Whole Body Vibration increases synovial fluid to the cartilage, which maintains and improves cartilage function. That makes it excellent for injuries to the joints and arthritis, especially in the lower body.

Lymph system. Whole Body Vibration encourages the lymph system to pump out excess water and toxins, acting as a “flush.”

To see if Whole Body Vibration is for you, come and see us for three complimentary visits—and let your body tell you!

Massage therapy If it’s massage therapy you’re after, you’ll find our massage therapy rooms very inviting, with soothing relaxation music and a spa-like feel—and Prairie Wellness Group is one of the only massage clinics in Regina to offer side-by-side massage, perfect for couples.

Our massage therapists specialize in providing clients with a gentle approach to deep tissue massage that minimizes discomfort. Hot stone massage is also available.

Biofeedback If you’ve come for biofeedback treatment, one of our treatment rooms will fine lifestyles regina

have been prepared for you with a prewarmed massage bed for your comfort and relaxation. Tranquil sounds of nature, soothing relaxation music, and positive affirmations can be heard in the background while soft, dim lights enhance the mood.

A device is connected to your body through electrodes at five contact points, forehead, wrists, and ankles, and then connected to an advanced computer program that interprets the body’s electro-physiological response to various electrical stimuli.

manner the technician can address a variety of emotional, spiritual, and physical health issues and reduce the stress that causes disease in a non-invasive way.

As you begin to relax, you will slip into a theta brain-wave state where your mind and body can be re-programmed and re-educated to come back to a state

of homeostasis. Leaving our centre, you will feel refreshed, relaxed, and reenergized with a renewed sense of wellbeing.

Prairie Wellness Group is family-friendly and kid-friendly. Come pay us a visit— and leave feeling great!

About 9,000 possible stressors are painlessly measured in three minutes. Blockages to health such as viruses, parasites, imbalances, allergies, stress, deficiencies, toxins, addictive substances, emotional trauma, etc., have their own unique frequencies or wave patterns.

Once the biggest areas of concern are identified by the technician (based on both the client’s concerns and the test results) the technician programs the device to feed back its own frequencies. These new, positive frequencies reassess or neutralize destructive wave patterns. This process “wakes up” or stimulates the energetic body to deal with stress in new ways and begin to heal itself. In this Winter 2009/10

6244 Rochdale Boulevard Regina, SK S4X 4K8 (306) 522-2068 www.prairiewellnessgroup.com 171

fine lifestyles regina

By Debbie Davis, Au.D Doctor of Audiology 306-359-3277

health EXPERT ADVICE

HEARING egularly, I get patients telling me, “I’ve had this done before,” when they are referred for an audiological evaluation. But after they have gone through the 45-minute evaluation that I provide, the common statement back to me is “I’ve never had such a thorough test!”

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As a Doctor of Audiology, I view people that walk into my clinic as patients as opposed to customers. Although many of my treatment recommendations revolve around hearing aids, it is not my only focus. I have patients that present with sound tolerance issues, ringing in

Spiro Kangles BSP Pharmacist/Owner The Medicine Shoppe 5928 Rochdale Blvd.

306.775.1343

the ears, balance problems, and people concerned with background noise.

As an audiologist with 10 years of postsecondary education and more than 15 years of clinical experience, I look at empowering my patients through knowledge.

Everyone that comes to me is unique in regards to their specific needs. There is no such thing as a “standard recommendation.”

If you are concerned about any recent testing you’ve had done, I strongly urge you to get a second opinion.

health EXPERT ADVICE

FISH AND OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS amounts of fish is associated with less coronary artery disease and sudden death.

The key seems to be a unique type of polyunsaturated fat called omega-3 fatty acids. Some fish, particularly fatty types prevalent in cold water, such as salmon, mackerel, and herring, contain high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega3’s are also present in smaller amounts in green leafy vegetables, soybeans, nuts, flaxseed, and canola oil. Omega-3 fatty acids may:

bout 2 decades ago, researchers discovered something surprising about people living in Greenland.

These people had a low rate of heart attack despite eating a diet laden with fat, including about a pound of fatty fish and whale meat each day. Since then, scientists have found that eating moderate

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• Lower the blood triglyceride level. If the triglyceride level is extremely high and doesn’t respond to prescribed medication, the patient’s doctor may suggest fish oil supplements in addition to their medication • Reduce the risk of blood clots. They act as a natural anticoagulant that al 172

lows platelets to become less sticky, so clot formation is less likely. Blood clots formed in narrow arteries increase the risk of stroke or heart at tack.

• Lower blood pressure. Studies have examined the effects of omega-3’s on blood pressure. Those who eat fish tend to have a lower incidence of borderline or high blood pressure.

It is generally recommended that at least two meals of fish every week are needed for possible heart benefits. If you choose to supplement, check with your pharmacist to see which supplement and dose is right for you since omega-3’s may interact with some medications, especially anti-platelet drugs like aspirin or anti-coagulants such as warfarin.

fine lifestyles regina

House, Home and Property

Please Take Your Seat Choosing the right chair for your space

BY JILLIAN BILAWCHUK

A lot of furniture in style today is actually inspired by past creations. The Barcelona chair is one of the most recognizable and iconic chairs in history. We are seeing the Barcelona chair in almost every design magazine published. Because of its modWinter 2009/10

JESSIE ZOERB, RUBY BLUE PHOTOGRAPHY

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hen choosing the perfect chair for your space it is critical to observe all aspects of the space. What is the scale and size of the room in comparison to the chair?

What is the style of the room and the shape of the chair? What is the color scheme in the space and the material and aesthetics of the chair? Most importantly what is the function of the chair? Form always follows function in design and although the chair must be aesthetically pleasing it must also be functional. What will your chair be used for and by whom?

Will it be used daily by you for reading and watching T.V. or used occasionally by guests when visiting. If it is going to be used frequently for long periods of time such as movie watching, perhaps an armchair would be best. If it is more of an accent chair only used occasional for additional seating then perhaps an armless chair may be the right choice. Is your space modern with clean straight lines, transitional with softer curved lines, or traditional with ornate detailed lines? Be sure to keep your look consistent with similar lines and scale of all furnishings.

Do you have a small room that would best be suited by a less obtrusive chair such as a slipper chair, or do you have a large room that requires a chair with more presence such as a Wingback chair?

It is important to use the correct furniture to complement the purpose of the space in order to create harmony in design.

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As an accent chair in the bedroom, the purpose of this chair was more for aesthetics, although it is very comfortable to sit and enjoy your morning coffee.

Winter 2009/10

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A great way to add texture to a dining room is with an upholstered chair. ernist style, size and comfort it is a great choice for a contemporary space. The Barcelona was designed by Ludwig Mies Van de Rohe a modernist architect back in 1929. The purpose of the chairs was to be thrones for the King and Queen of Spain when they visited the Pavilion he was commissioned to build for the World Arts Fair. This chair is difficult to construct and because it is made of stainless steel, expensive to produce; however, you are paying of a piece of art and history. Its success in design has inspired versions of sofas and footstools with the same legs and square style upholstery. The B3 Wassily chair is another modernist chair designed in the roaring 20â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. It was created

by Marcel Breur in 1925, constructed of chromium- plated steel and leather.

The arm chair was originally used by people of wealth or church dignitaries, while common people sat of stools or simple benches. The Wingback chair was designed in the eighteenth century and its original purpose was to prevent drafts in old houses from reaching the upper body. Although Wingbacks are still seen today in more traditional style homes, we are seeing a more modern fine lifestyles regina

style of arm chair emerge.

Pictured in the space above is a more modern arm chair which was chosen due to its scale and clean lines. The chairs are used daily for reading and watching T.V., therefore a comfortable armchair was required. The pair of chairs are called the Erin chair by Vangogh and because they are custom ordered, the client was able to choose the ideal fabric that suited the design scheme perfectly.

As an accent chair in the bedroom, the purpose of this chair was more for aesthetics, although it is very comfortable to sit and enjoy your morning coffee. This space required a stunning piece of furniture that didn’t take up much space visually and was also sculptural in beauty.

I believe that the Maurice chair by Sunpan did just that.

Leah Schill Insurance Broker Shenher Insurance 407 Broad Street 543-4200

hen families go on vacation they plan ahead. They pack sunscreen, buy travel insurance, and arrange for caregivers for pets who are left behind. But what about their homes? Who is looking after one of their most important assets while they are away?

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If you are planning on leaving your home for a holiday during the regular heating season, the last thing you want to come home to is a house full of water due to frozen pipes. Water claims are easily one of the most expensive home insurance claims and also one of the most preventable.

Most, if not all, home insurance policies contain a clause that has the potential to Winter 2009/10

Investing in the right chair that is right for you, your space and your developing design plan is crucial. If done correctly, this chair can carry you through many years and perhaps have many faces in its lifetime. I love taking a well constructed chair with great lines and giving it a facelift with new upholstering. This is cost effective, environmentally friendly and often keeps some character or uniqueness to the space.

A great way to add texture to a dining room is with an upholstered chair. You can also add new life to an existing dated or antique wood table by pairing it with more modern chairs upholstered in a complementing fabric. The tufted back chairs pictured in this dining room provide the elegance to the theme of the space.

The importance of choosing the correct chair to complement the purpose of the space will help to create harmony in your

design. Remember to keep in mind the style of your space, the scale in proportion to the room as well as your personal size and most importantly the function of the chair. So take your time, get professional advice if desired, and have fun picking a chair that suits you, your daily life and your space.

Jillian’s Design Elements 14 High St. E. Moose Jaw Tel: 306.693.0673 jill@jilliandesignelements.com

EXPERT ADVICE

HOME INSURANCE deny coverage if proper precautions are not taken. In order for you to be covered in a claim, you typically need to take one of the following precautions: shut off the water supply and drain all pipes, attached fixtures and appliances; have a reliable person enter your home daily to check on the heating; or have your dwelling electronically monitored 24 hours per day by a company that monitors and responds to a low-temperature signal.

Insurance companies do not want to burden a homeowner with finding a responsible person to enter their home on a daily basis to check on their furnace.

Most insurance companies are offering up to a 25 percent discount on your annual home insurance premium for hav178

ing an alarm that is monitored for break-in, fire and change in temperature. Wouldn’t you feel better knowing that if your furnace quit or an emergency happened, a trained professional would be notified and could be at your home in a timely matter to deal with whatever issue had arisen?

To better understand your options, or to take advantage of potential savings on your insurance bill, my colleagues and I at Shenher Insurance and Cooks ISI Insurance (both soon to be renamed “Harvard Western Insurance”) would be happy to help. Just drop by one of our 5 locations in the Regina area, or check out our website (www.harvardwestern.com) for more information.

fine lifestyles regina

Home Automation Makes Home Management Worry-Free PHOTOGRAPHY: CRAIG L IVIN GST ON

Safety Entertainment Energy Management Convenient Interfaces Winter 2009/10

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fine lifestyles regina

BY CHRISTOPHER TESSMER year and a half ago, as Tammy Simair was preparing to move into her soon-to-be-finished dream home, she made a decision that turned her home into the proverbial castle.

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She and her husband determined that they would launch themselves head-first into the world of home automation with a Home Automation, Inc. (HAI) system. They haven’t looked back.

The first evidence of Simair’s amazing system, installed by Century Electric, comes as you walk up the sidewalk and notice the front entrance lights slowly brightening.

Run primarily through a touch screen installed near the front entrance, the system operates everything from climate Winter 2009/10

control to security, entertainment, and energy efficiency. It allows a family to simply enjoy a home instead of having to manage it.

“When we first talked about setting up a home automation system,” says Simair, “I really didn’t know what to expect.

Having the house automated and using the system has turned out to be better than I had imagined. When everything is done for you, you feel taken care of, almost pampered. You can just live your life and not worry.”

A typical day begins with the motion sensors picking up family members moving around. That tells the system to begin warming the air—and the heated floors—in the main living areas. As the 181

family leaves for school and work, a press of a button turns down the thermostat, turns off all lights, and alarms the security system. When the kids return from school later that day they’ll use their security code to disarm the alarm, and Simair will then receive an email on her Blackberry alerting her that the children are home. At the end of a long day, shutting down the house is as simple as pressing the “Go To Bed” button, which alarms the system, dims the lights by the kids’ rooms while turning off the rest, and adjusts the climate controls.

“When we leave for the day, there’s a person in the house who is notorious for not turning off the office light,” Simair says with a laugh, “so when his garage door opens the system automatically turns that light off.”

The Simair home is also perfectly suited for entertaining, because although the system isn’t media-based, you can incorporate a media system into it, and Century Electric wired the entire house for sound while installing the automation system—even the garage.

The system lowers its volume as guests approach the front door from outside, so the doorbell can be heard, and similarly mutes itself whenever the phone rings. A portable remote allows adjustments to be made on the fly. The music can come from any audio source, from an iPod to a CD player to a TV—there’s no need to purchase expensive new components.

Learning to use the system is a breeze, Simair says. “The whole system is visual, so you don’t even have to go through the manual if you don’t want to. You can scroll through the screen and press the buttons. There’s no way you can accidentally go in and change the settings.

Once it’s installed, you don’t have to worry about using it and changing anything you don’t want to.” As well, she notes, there’s plenty of assistance offered after installation.

“All the programming is done for the clients–you simply make a list of everything you want done, and it’s taken care of. You also get updates, so as you move

Winter 2009/10

furniture around, or figure out what you like and want to adjust, you can do it anytime.”

The system can be tailored to suit individual lifestyles, she says. “Home automation should be simple to use—and it is!”

When doing an estimate, a Century Electric representative will walk through the home or go over any floor plans with the owner to get an idea of what is required. A second walk-through will be completed after building or renovations are finished and furniture is installed to fine-tune the system. After that, Century Electric remains available for future updates or alterations whenever the client asks.

Control your home theatre and home automation with one remote.

Despite all the bells and whistles that the HAI technology offers, Simair admits its greatest benefit to the household is the energy efficiency and safety it offers.

With the added focus on energy efficiency and home renovations through government grants and the Home Renovation Tax Credit, home automation not only improves a home’s infrastructure, it also adds to its resale value.

A revolutionary way to enjoy music throughout your home.

“It’s complete peace of mind—and I would miss it if I didn’t have it.”

The Energy Star-certified system promotes energy efficiency in a number of ways, Simair says. “The thermostats are set back at night or when we are away.

Our air conditioning is programmed to come on when needed, based on the outside temperature, unless we want to leave the windows open instead—then the automation system knows that and will leave it off until they are closed again.

“The floor heat doesn’t have to be controlled separately, either. In the morning, and if it’s cold outside, the floor heat is activated for a set period of time. When we leave, or go to bed, it’s turned off again.”

The HAI system also monitors humidity and maintains it at the desired level.

For security, the HAI system’s sensors detect intrusion, smoke and fire, carbon 183

HAI’s innovative, award-winning SNAPLINK software comes on an USB key that plugs into any computer.

monoxide, water leaks, and even sumppump failure. If a security, fire or carbon-monoxide alarm is triggered, all of the interior and exterior lights are turned on, a siren sounds and notifications are sent. fine lifestyles regina

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HAI home control system is the ‘brain’ of your automated home.

Hidden behind rolling closet doors, HAI panels serve as your home’s brains, eyes, and ears, controlling and monitoring systems to maximize safety, comfort, convenience, and energy savings.

For a Home Consultation, Call: (306) 537-7570 centuryelectric@accesscomm.ca

www.homeauto.com

“If we are going out for the evening, we arm the security and the lights go off,” Simair says. “If we are leaving for an extended period of time, the lighting is alternated for a lived-in look, but the water is turned off and on again for the pre-programmed HAI-controlled sprinkler schedule.”

Security codes can be given to cleaning staff or someone who needs access to the house on certain days. Their codes will only work during the set time of day when you expect them to be entering and exiting your home.

Wherever the family goes, it can check on its home—with no hassles, and no additional subscription fees. The system

can be programmed to notify them by phone, email, Internet surveillance or text message in the event of an alarm, and they can call via telephone or log in through the Internet to check or change the temperature, lighting or security.

The family also has the system installed at their cottage, so they can check on their vacation property—even use the security cameras to see if they need to leave a day early to do yard work before company joins them.

Simair can’t imagine going back to the days when her home wasn’t automated.

“Having the system in our home has changed our life,” she says, “because now our home is worry-free.

“I love the peace of mind of knowing that everything is taken care of. I can hit one button when I leave and know that everything is fine. I don’t have that worry about whether I left the iron on or a window open anymore. There aren’t any questions of second-guessing yourself.

The installers: Century Electric Century Electric Ltd., which installed the Simairs' Home Automation system is and independent, locally owned company that has been in operation for more than 12 years. A complete commercial and industrial electrical contractor, Century Electric is also the only certified dealer and installer of HAI systems in Regina. Century Electric is also certified in computer cabling and fiber optics installations, and offers complete installation and programming of business and home automation.

Complete Electrical Services Commercial • Industrial • Home Automation Computer Cabling • Fibre Optics

Since 1985, Home Automation Inc. (HAI) has been the leading manufacturer of home control products for homeowners and businesses around the world.

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Quick Response Mortgages 585-2150 352-4616 irst of all, I wanted to extend to you and yours Seasons Greetings from the Coppola family personally, and together with our work family and team at Quick Response Mortgage Services.

We would like to thank and extend our appreciation to our existing clients for their business and continued referrals. It is truly the biggest compliment to know our clients’ experience with us was worth sharing with friends and family.

F

The Bank of Canada held prime at its existing all-time low. While analysts expect that this will continue into 2010, it is inevitable that the prime rate will rise. With that, individuals in variable products will see their payments rise. When they do, the very low fixed rates available to them today will no longer be low. It should be a priority for all homeowners to examine

EXPERT ADVICE

MORTGAGE SENSE their existing mortgage obligations to ensure they are sitting in a good spot when the inevitable rise in rates occurs.

With today’s low rates still available and with the residential market being balanced but continuing to increase in value year over year, NOW is definitely the right time to look at purchasing or refinancing. Why not update the kitchen, flooring or bathrooms, finish the basement, replace windows or shingles, or install a high-efficiency furnace? This could have an immediate return, increasing the equity in your property. New owners can look at a purchase-plus improvements product to do this, and existing owners can make this happen through a refinance. Zero-down purchase mortgages are still available for qualifying clients.

What about making a rental investment?

Regina’s rental market was at near depletion, which meant an increase in rents over the last two to three years. As reported in CMHC’s Rental Market Report, Regina continues to be among the Canadian major urban centres with the lowest vacancy rates. Regina’s average rent prices are sufficient to carry existing mortgages on the property plus provide you with a bit of additional income.

That, coupled with the low-interest-rate options available, makes a move into the rental market ideal. Together, we can look at your existing financial obligations and map out a plan with you to see what is best suited to your specific needs.

Call Quick Response Mortgages today.

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To earn your trust To advertise your property To conduct open houses To exceed your expectations What Our Clients Say When my wife and I first decided on making a move there were so many unknowns, but one thing we thought for sure is that owning a brand new house was definitely never going to be a possibility. One Sunday afternoon we wandered into a showhome to dream a little bit and that's where we first met Katrina.

Immediately upon meeting her we felt different than any other agent we met in the past. There was no pressure, no hassles, it was almost like dealing with a friend right from the beginning. She gave us some different options to look at, and told us to take our time and let her know if she could help any further.

Once we had made a decision, she immediately jumped into action, she listed our house, and prepared all of the paperwork

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for our new house all faster than we had ever seen before.

Throughout this whole process she has answered every question, made every change, and completely catered to us regardless of what time or what day it was, and at the same time made the whole process feel personal and pleasant.

At the end of this whole process we ended up making a friend, and having something that we never had dreamt would be possible... a brand new home. I remember the first day we met her she said "if you want something bad enough, you always find a way to make it happen" she was right.

Jeff and Pamela Gibbs

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Urban Stone offers hand-crafted opulence B Y E D WA R D W I L L E T T

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tone makes any room seem special.

Whether it’s a stone countertop in a kitchen, a stone-topped serving island in a family room, a stone mantelpiece over a fireplace or a stone vanity in a bathroom, it adds a feeling of richness, solidity and permanence that no other material can match.

“I like the look of stone,” says Lisa Richer, co-owner of Regina’s Urban Stone with her husband Claude, who is also the company’s chief fabricator. “It’s

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very opulent. It’s like the icing on the cake. It’s an indulgence.”

Claude has been in the stone industry for about eight years, beginning in Calgary. Almost everything he and his fellow fabricators at Urban Stone do is done by hand. “We don’t rely on CNC (computer numerical control) machines,” says Lisa. “All of our fabricators are masters of their craft, each being able to do everything we need to do by hand.

“If we ever do move into getting a CNC machine, and for some reason it’s inoperable, these guys are still able to put out a product.”

Urban Stone offers a lot of different stone to choose from, including quartz, marble, onyx and travertine, basically “anything you can make a countertop out of that looks good,” says Lisa. “But our main focus is granite.”

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An all-natural product

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There’s a reason for that. “Granite is an all-natural product. It comes 100 percent from the Earth. The only thing we’ve done is shape it and polish it to make it look pretty. What you see coming out of the Earth is what you’ll see on your counter when we’re done with it.”

As well, she adds, “Granite is by far, in my opinion, the best surface to work on.

It’s fabulous for working with doughs and piecrusts. You can’t scratch the surface, you can’t discolour it with heat.

Pots and pans can go onto it. It’s virtually indestructible.” (A particularly important consideration for Lisa, who has five children!)

When a client comes to Urban Stone looking for countertops, “The first I’d ask is if they’re using new cabinetry, and if they happen to have a sample of their door or colour with them,” Lisa says.

She’ll ask if they’re looking for contrasting colours, complementary colours, light or dark colours, “something consistent, or something that has a little more life and character.

“We make sure we keep their cost point in mind, and then move into edge profine lifestyles regina

Ross went in with a set idea in mind for a dark chocolate-brown countertop. But when she took in samples of her cupboard doors and flooring, Lisa changed her mind. “She put down my cupboard door and flooring with this piece of granite we ended up getting, and it took our breath away. It was beautiful, beautiful,” Ross says.

Being a conscientious homeowner, she went elsewhere and got a competing quote. But it came to “$75 more for a product I was not happy with at all,” she says. That sent her back to Urban Stone. file,” she continues. “We offer some of the best edge profiles available in Western Canada.”

The next step is a trip to the home to create a template. “We make a custom template, either of the existing cabinets or those going in.”

The template is brought back to the shop, where the slabs of stone are cut using that template, to ensure that the resulting countertop is going to fit exactly the way it’s supposed to. Then comes fabricating, profiling, polishing, and, finally, installation. “The time from templating to installation is between three and five weeks,” Lisa says.

Lorenzo Bernini. “I saw a book on what he did and was blown away,” Phillips says. “There’s so much more you can do with stone.”

Although there is some granite available in Canada, particularly from Quebec, most of the granite Urban Stone uses is from Brazil and India, because that’s where the most popular colours are found. Marble comes from Italy.

Although the company specializes in countertops, “we can also do bathroom vanities, laundry room countertops, and fireplace surrounds and mantles,” Lisa says.

Sometimes a countertop can’t be done with a single piece of stone, but if that’s the case, “we are very good at matching up seams. It’s not entirely invisible, but you won’t be able to feel it.”

As well, “We are more than happy to accept commissions for custom pieces of furniture, side tables, coffee tables, etc.

Outdoor kitchens have been a great business for us this year.”

Skill is the key

“The best place in town”

Key to the work is the expertise of the fabricators. Brendan Phillips is one of Urban Stone’s master fabricators. He loves the stone he works with every day.

“I grew up in northern Manitoba, surrounded by stone, so I was naturally drawn to working with it,” he says. “It’s a beautiful, natural product, with so much depth. It’s a chunk of the Earth. It has its own life, you bring it out.”

The best way to get a feel for what a company offers is to talk to its customers. Jackie Ross recently had Urban Stone create and install a granite countertop in her kitchen, and was absolutely thrilled by the experience.

He draws inspiration from other stonework he has seen, such as the work of 17th century European master Gian Winter 2009/10

She’d checked out other companies before she and her husband came to Urban Stone. “We were so impressed with the customer service, the knowledge they had with their product and how confident they were in their installation abilities.”

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The installation process, Ross says, “was wonderful.” Claude Richler and Brendan Phillips did the honours, and “it went very, very smoothly. They were very cordial in our home—and with the crazy dogs that we have. It was perfect! It was a great day.”

And now that the new countertop is in place? “It looks like it should always have been there,” is how Ross describes it. “I walk around walk around the corner and I see this countertop and it takes my breath away, that’s how perfect it looks.”

She was so pleased with Urban Stone’s work that while her “baby slab” of granite was still sitting in the Urban Stone shop, she took three people there to show them and introduce them to the company, “because I think they’re just the best place in town.”

It’s that kind of word-of-mouth that has brought Urban Stone most of its business so far. It’s beginning to do more marketing now, though, and Lisa says she’s excited to see where that’s going to take the company.

“We’re very excited to see what comes this year with the economy getting back on its feet, and people getting excited again about renovating and building,” Lisa says. “I think it’s going to be a very big year for stone!”

Urban Stone Lisa Richer Tel: 565-0085 288 Hodsman Road, Regina www.urbanstoneinc.com fine lifestyles regina

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Barry Woolhether (306) 359-1535 www.PayRight MortgageSolutions.com

EXPERT ADVICE

GETTING OUT OF DEBT ith mortgage payments that barely cover the interest, mounting credit card debt, and rising expenses, Canadians are looking for solutions.

The Money Merge Account™ program is a powerful new tool that can help everyone get control of debt, and start realizing dreams.

This specialized, simple-to-use computer program gives a step-by-step, personalized financial plan that doesn’t involve refinancing your mortgage, changing your regular payment schedule, or changing your lifestyle.

I decided to market the program because I started using it myself, and realized how effective it was.

Compound interest is a major reason people can’t control their finances.

On a $200,000 mortgage over 30 years at six percent, a homeowner will pay back $431,677, almost 21/2 times the amount borrowed.

But that same principle of compound interest can also help you pay down the debt.

The monthly payment for that 30-year mortgage would be $1,199.

Put $5,000 extra on the principal right away, and the total mortgage is reduced to $195,000. That reduces the original interest of $231,677 to $203,373, a saving of $28,304 over the course of the mortgage.

Where does the $5,000 come from? That’s where the Money Merge Account program earns its keep.

The program uses well-known banking tools to cancel interest. For example, it requires a deposit account and a secondary facilitating account, such as a savings account.

The program puts 24 pages of math algorithms to work for you, monitoring the funds in the deposit account and prompting you at strategic times to pay down specific debts, how much money to move, and from what account.

As an agent for United First Financial, I begin by sitting down with you to go over your finances. Once the account is set up, all you have to do is keep it updated with your current financial information.

Many people find that takes as little as 15 minutes a week.

For example, John and Rebecca Jones, age 40, carry a mortgage, credit cards, and other debts totaling $238,700. Through conventional payback programs, they would pay back that debt over 30 years, adding another $247,764 in interest. With the Money Merge program, they can pay down that debt in only 15.3 years, paying only $125,878 in interest.

In other words, I can help them pay off their debts in half the time, and save $121,855 in interest, all without refinancing their mortgage, changing their regular payments, or changing their lifestyle.

Anyone interested in paying debt down early and planning financial freedom is welcome to give me a call for a debt analysis.

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House, Home and Property

Emerald Park Homes puts the “wow!” factor in home designs

BY JUDITH SILVERTHORNE

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uilding a “Wow!-factor” home with all the features they’d always dreamed about became a reality for Nina and Trent Langford when they teamed with Emerald Park Homes. A grand staircase leading from the main floor to the basement level is only one of the unique aspects in their new 1,700square-foot bungalow in White City.

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“We work with the customer to develop the new home specs that form the contract to build the home that they want,” explains Garry Sawchyn, owner of Emerald Park Homes. “People are used to having to build the exact home offered by a home builder with only a few options and modifications available to them, so that their dreams are only par199

tially fulfilled.

“We take it to the next level: tell us what you want, we send you to the designer, and we work with the designer after you have met to make the plans and dreams work.”

It certainly worked for the Langfords. Traditionally bungalows are all on one floor —but the Langfords wanted to make full fine lifestyles regina

use of their basement and have a bigger, uncluttered living space upstairs.

One of the first things that appealed to the Langfords was the landscape in White City. “It wasn’t totally flat,” says Nina. Their lot backs onto the Aspen Links Golf Course. It’s not a walk-out lot, but the distinctive style of the house makes it look like a walk-out lot.

Doing their homework Before they started to design the layout, the Langfords researched every aspect.

“We looked at a lot of show homes here in Saskatchewan and in Alberta, took ideas from magazines and had ideas of our own,” says Nina. They were also familiar with the styles and abilities of the designer they hired, who took all the ideas they liked and tied them together.

“This also wasn’t the first home we’d had built, so we had some experience behind us,” adds Trent. They knew they wanted an open concept with plenty of big windows, and a see-through fireplace between the living area and the big friendly kitchen.

They planned lots of storage to accommodate their own needs and that of their two kids and a dog. Besides the abundant storage in the three-car attached garage, there is storage off the mudroom, plenty in the kitchen and all the bedroom closets, and in various other areas of the house.

Elevated elements add to the visual impact. In the living room the ceilings are 11 feet high, and they’re nine feet in other parts of the home. The entrance areas are lower than the rest of the floors to minimize the spread of outside debris to the rest of the house.

Deciding on upgrades Once they’d decided on the layout, the Langfords looked at upgrades. Trent focused on energy efficiency, upgrading to a high-efficiency variable-speed-motor furnace and superior spray-foam insulation. Although it’s usually a restaurant or institutional element, they also added Winter 2009/10

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the pot-filler faucet. Other features in the kitchen include the reverse-osmosis water system, a natural-gas five-burner cook-top with a robust exhaust system and two ovens, and a side-by-side fullsize fridge-and-freezer combination.

“The kitchen cabinets are painted, because we wanted to get away from seeing the wood grain,” says Nina. They also used granite counter tops. A curved main wall with three niches features prominently between the living area and kitchen. Details are stylized with chrome and glass, like their glass dining table, which ties in with the rest of the decor.

Colours and themes flow together throughout the entire house and show off detailed elements. “I kept looking for ‘Wow!’ factors,” Nina says. She consulted an interior designer of her choice to help with this aspect. “Everything had to work together and the house had to be efficient.” The designer steered her towards something that reflected who she was and was fresh and new. The result is an elegant home that is rich and warm, tasteful and classic, with different shades of browns threading throughout.

Nina indicates the artwork on the main wall of the living room and the distinct chandelier over the stairway. “It was super important to have the painting to pull everything together,” she says. “The painting gives the house presence.” She also had to have the distinctive chandelier, which is extremely heavy, but swings over for changing light bulbs.

Unusual touches Throughout the house there is an unusual juxtaposition of straight walls, curves and surprise niches, and other features like the keyhole staircase, which, from the bottom, appears to be floating. The basement walls were raised an extra two feet to accommodate 48-inch windows and higher ceilings. Lighter colours were used to brighten the lower-level space.

“We spend most of our time down here,” says Nina. This is where the TV and recreation area is, as well as their Winter 2009/10

three main bedrooms. Although there is one master bedroom on the main floor with an en-suite bathroom, it’s currently being used as an office. There is a second master bedroom in the basement, along with bedrooms for each of the children, plus a finished laundry area and a linen closet with plenty of storage.

The large en-suite bathroom off the downstairs master bedroom has a custom-made shower with a pebbled floor, and a jet-stream tub. There are three full bathrooms in the bungalow, each with “his-and-her” sinks, plus one half-bath.

“The designer was really worth it,” says Trent. “They bring out the value of the home and the ‘Wow!’ factor. The percent the designer costs is a fraction of a percent of the cost of the entire house.”

The Langfords relate how great it was to work with all the professionals in building their home. Garry Sawchyn was able to accommodate all their building needs as their home progressed. Emerald Park Homes invites clients to be on site as much or as little as they want, barring safety issues. The Langfords were in regular contact with Emerald Park Homes, and watched their home being built from start to finish.

Garry Sawchyn says the Langfords chose an innovative concept, but they knew what they wanted. They were very precise and particular about every detail and were able to make decisions, because they were well-prepared. “There are so many options when building a home, but good planning and research like the Langfords did will contribute to success,” says Garry, adding, “Being able to be flexible when changes are requested is the key. So many things look great on paper, but sometimes they don’t work out as visualized. That is where the 201

homeowner and builder can work together to make a change if needed.”

Start planning now!

Garry advises that if anyone wants to start building in the spring it would be wise to choose a lot now and start planning their design. Emerald Park Homes has plenty of lots available in White City and Regina, he says. They also build homes in rural areas within an hour radius of Regina. “Rural builds are different only because of water and sewer systems being part of the build,” says Garry. “We can take care of it all.”

As a custom home builder, Emerald Park Homes gives personalized service and can accommodate everyone’s individual taste and budget, giving high priority in providing exteriors that are maintenance-free and energy-efficient.

Nina and Trent Langford, who have been in residence for just over a month, are pleased with the results. They have a home they are proud of, with many eyecatching features, and wouldn’t change anything. “We’ve achieved that ‘Wow!’ factor and can enjoy living here for many years to come.”

64 Great Plains Road Emerald Park, SK S4L 1C3 (306) 781-3383 fine lifestyles regina

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Call, Stop-In, or Visit Us Online Today and Experience The QRM Difference.

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4633 Rae Street • Regina • Call: (306) 585-2150 #6 - 2318 Assiniboine Ave. • Regina202 • Call: (306) 352-3616

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You Choose!

Bungalows - 2 Stories - Suites

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ou’ve finally decided to take the plunge. You’re tired of renting, of never really having a place of your own.

You’re ready to buy your own home. Then the first question you have to answer is “Buy used—or buy new?”

If the answer is “new,” then there’s a great new condominium development that’s just for you, a place where you can be part of building a brand-new neighborhood community: Preston Place.

Developed by Windsor Crossing Development Corporation and located in Lakeridge between Preston Crescent and Junor Drive, in Regina’s burgeoning northwest, Preston Place has something for buyers of any age, including very affordable options for those who are jumping into home ownership for the first time.

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Starting at just $184,900 There’s no reason to rent when you can buy!

In Preston Place, choices range from two-story homes (1,136, 1,202 or 1,395 square feet), 1,053-square-foot bungalows, and even three-to-a-building suites (main floor, upper floor, and basement) that measure 1,038 square feet each.

“What makes Preston Place unique,” says Janine Wilson, Marketing Coordinator for Windsor Crossing Development Corporation, “is that it offers something for everyone: not just twostorey condos or bungalows, but a mixture of everything including some with attached garages. Families, couples, retirees, singles—anyone of any age can find something to suit them in both style and size. And not only is there something for every taste, there’s something for every budget.”

The condo suites are one of the new concepts at Preston Place. These lowerpriced homes start at $184,900, a big selling point in a market where it’s hard Winter 2009/10

to find anything new at under $200,000, making home ownership in Preston Place available to people who usually find new condominiums out of their price range.

Although Preston Place is the fourth Windsor Crossing Development Corporation development to mix bungalows, bi-levels and two-storeys, it’s the first to include suites. But while that mix of styles within a single condo complex may be new to Regina, it’s not for Windsor Crossing.

“In fact,” says Wilson, “offering options for everyone, in both style and price, is central to Windsor Crossing’s development philosophy, setting its developments apart from those condo complexes where all buyers have to choose from are flooring and colours, but otherwise end up with something that looks just like their neighbours”.

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Preston Place is also located in a great neighbourhood, one that offers shopping, restaurants and services, lakes, parks and schools, and easy access to Highway 6 and Lewvan Drive “Ultimately,” Wilson says, “while choosing to buy instead of rent benefits homeowners in a multitude of ways, the biggest advantage may be emotional.”

“When you own your own home,” she says, “you no longer have to worry about rent increases, or the demands of a landlord.”

But most importantly, you can personalize your home however you see fit. It’s your place, your home—your decision.

So if you’re ready to give up renting, take a good look at Preston Place. With styles and prices to suit everyone, it could be your future neighbourhood— just waiting for you to call it home.

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Simplify life in Lakeridge 6 Show Suites with 5 Models to Choose from

MODEL E

MODEL B

MODEL X

MODEL EDE

MODEL F

SHOWSUITE OPEN Weekdays: 7-9pm, Weekends: 1-5pm

Preston Place

lake, school, park

Preston Place townhouses • bungalows • two-stories • bi-levels • suites

Windsor Crossing D E V E L O P M E N T C O R P O R AT I O N

JANINE WILSON 306.537.3200

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DANIELLE WILSON 306.536.0027

MICHELLE DAVID 306.536.9868 205

PAULETTE ROBINSON 306.530.3000

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House, Home and Property

Zarkor Construction A home renovation company on the grow

BY JUDITH SILVERTHORNE

Whether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re remodeling your home for a much needed upgrade, renovating the basement for your growing family, or simply looking for a reliable craftsman to lay down that new hardwood floor, Zarkor Construction offers outstanding, quality contractor services designed to meet all of your building needs.

SHAHEEN ZAREH

Winter 2009/10

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KITCHENS

arkor Construction may have only started operations eight months ago, but since then it’s expanded from two people running the company to employing up to 30 trades people at times. Shaheen Zareh, president of this new home renovation company, says the growth has been phenomenal. “We filled a niche that was there, never expecting it to be this successful this fast.”

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Before

Shaheen believes this accomplishment comes from his being in real estate for the past three years and his familiarity with the pre- and post-sale implications of being in the housing market. His experience allows him to anticipate what people want and what they expect as they go through the buying and selling process.

After

He’d found that clients often needed a few little things done before they sold their home to give it that little extra finishing touch and make it more valuable. Or once they’d bought, they wanted to do some cosmetic or practical renovations.

They’d ask Shaheen for recommendations on who they could get to do the work.

BATHROOMS

With his great intuition and business sense, Shaheen saw beginning a construction company as a natural step in providing convenience for his clients. “They are trusting you to sell their house, and so they trust you to fix it up,” Shaheen says.

“We have fair prices and we’re reliable.”

Before

Because Zarkor Construction specializes in home renovations, they can do almost anything the client needs, from fixing a roof and soffits to painting and other minor structural repairs to improving rooms in preparation for selling. Once a clients purchase a home, they often wants more major renovations done, from replacing flooring and transforming bathrooms or kitchens to finishing their basements or installing a new furnace. Zarkor Construction can do it all and more.

After

They provide clients with information about what they need to consider to bring their home up to more saleable standards. They are also able to tell clients which repairs or refurbishing will add more value, helping them choose between, for example, landscaping or upgrading windows.

Anything that makes a home more energy-efficient is a plus, while cosmetics changes to the yard are a little lower on the scale of what appeals to buyers, Shaheen says.

EXTERIOR SIDING Before

Many people are also taking advantage of the new government ‘Green’ program. This has resulted in people installing high-efficiency furnaces, adding extra insulation and upgrading old windows for savings on the heating bills. Zarkor Construction builds to the specs for the grant, which has helped drive the company’s rapid growth.

After

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As well, Zarkor Construction understands the need to listen to its customers. The company pays attention to the details of the customer’s request, from the planning stage to the final touches. The staff and trades people understand that some210

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one’s home is their most prized asset, and they go to great lengths to make certain all projects are carried out to the highest standards of professionalism.

The friendly craftspeople who work for Zarkor Construction take pride in their work, completing each job in a timely manner, using only superior-quality materials without any mark-ups. They provide affordable, creative and carefully planned solutions designed to meet budgetary needs, crafting that beautiful living space to suit a particular family’s lifestyle.

If mistakes are made by one of their people, they make sure to fix it. “All of our people want to make sure our clients are happy,” says Shaheen, explaining their company motto, “100/0,” which means 100 percent accountability, zero excuses. “We stand by our work and make sure to get the job done right.”

Shaheen is quick to give accolades for his successes to his phenomenal staff. “I have the vision, but they deserve the credit,” he says. He notes that he couldn’t do without Leslie Davis, the Vice President of Zarkor, or Dave Farrell, his personal assistant and right-hand man, who buys the materials, hands the paperwork in and does the behind-the-scenes work. Warren Smith is the Chief Financial Officer who keeps everything running financially, while Tiffany Kleppe, the Director of Sales, takes care of marketing and invoicing. Shaheen also relies on Cody Eastman, the flooring and bathroom tiling specialist, and Stan Jarrett, an expert in finishing basements and doing the plumbing. “They all have such passion for what they’re doing,” says Shaheen.

Besides Zarkor Construction, Shaheen also has investment properties and operates Dust Bunny Cleaning Service. His years as a district manager for Frito-Lay Canada and other administrative and executive positions have all contributed to his wealth of knowledge and his successful management style. He’s studied the marketplace and all his hard work has paid off. “Our goals have been totally blown out of the water.

It’s been an exciting year.”

Shaheen Zareh knows there are still many challenges to face and lots of work ahead to continue as a renovation leader, but he’s up to the demands. He has surrounded himself with professional, passionate people who care about their customers.

Zarkor Construction welcomes being able to not only meet but exceed customers’ expectations for all their renovation needs.

Because Zarkor Construction specializes in home renovations, they can do almost anything the client needs, from fixing a roof and soffits to painting and other minor structural repairs to improving rooms in preparation for selling.

Because Zarkor Construction specializes in home renovations, they can do almost anything the client needs, from fixing a roof and soffits to painting and other minor structural repairs to improving rooms in preparation for selling.

LANDSCAPING Before

After

FENCES Before

After

Phone: 1.866.246.9005 Email: info@zarkor.ca www.zarkor.aitrk.com Winter 2009/10

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House, Home and Property

Revolutionary Bullfrog Spas

turn a luxury into a necessity B Y E D WA R D W I L L E T T upgrade, because you can install the latest JetPak whenever a new one comes out!

There are currently 17 different JetPaks to choose from, each designed to massage different areas at different levels of intensity, from the light, soothing RainShower to the intense, deep-tissuemassaging ClusterBurst. Every member of your family can choose a JetPak to create his or her own personalized spa experience. And if you try a certain JetPak and don’t like it, you can always replace it for one that suits you better!

The JetPak technology also makes for a very simple design that is very easy to operate. For example, there are no powerdraining diverter valves. You don’t have to turn off jets in one section of the spa to power up another section, so all jets can operate at full power at the same time.

Bullfrog Spas come in 10 different models, seating up to eight people and featuring anywhere from two to six JetPaks.

There are seven colours to choose from for the spa shells and JetPaks (Platinum, Mirage, Pearl, Graphite, Tanzanite, Sandstone and Snow), four different wood looks for the cabinet (Teak, Redwood, Driftwood and Mahogany) and two different colour choices for the cover (Graphite and Sienna).

E

very once in a while a product appears that’s not just a slightly different version of a hundred similar products, but a complete revolution.

The Sony Walkman revolutionized the way we listen to music. The Apple Macintosh revolutionized home computers.

Flat-screen TVs revolutionized home entertainment. And now Bullfrog Spas have done the same for hot-tubs.

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Bullfrog Spas are unique in a number of ways, but what makes them truly revolutionary is the fact that they’re customizable, thanks to their patented JetPak technology.

JetPaks are modular jetted seats that you can use to customize your spa any way you want. You can interchange JetPaks within the seats of your spa—and that means that Bullfrog Spas are a snap to 212

In other words, there’s a model for every need and every budget...and if you think a spa is a luxury you can’t afford, maybe you’re not thinking about it the right way.

After all, what’s unaffordably luxurious about maintaining your health? And how much more productive could you be in your work life (and how much more enjoyment would you get out of your leisure time) if you could eliminate some of the side-effects of stress? Looked at that way, fine lifestyles regina

Not only that, fully a quarter of the plastic used in manufacturing the spa is recycled. Any excess plastic from the production process is also recycled and re-used—and no hazardous pollutants are released during production.

The all-plastic structure means the spa is strong, durable, and will last for years.

And that means you’ll still be enjoying it long after another spa might have been reduced to unsightly, landfill-bound junk.

a spa is hardly a luxury at all: it’s almost something you can’t live without.

Bullfrog Spas can help you feel great and have more energy without the premium price tag you may have associated with hot tubs up until now.

And whatever colour you choose, all Bullfrog Spas are “green”: they’re the most energy-efficient spas in the world, and they’re built without wood. The base

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is made of ABS molded plastic, the structure is injection-molded Z-Beams, and the cabinet, though it looks like beautiful wood, is a synthetic.

Easy to use, easy to customize, superbly built, and practically unbreakable (they come with the only truly lifetime leakproof warranty in the industry), Bullfrog Spas have revolutionized the spa industry.

Buy one for yourself, and it will revolutionize your life, as well!

1345 Albert Street, Regina, SK 306.347.2700

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House, Home and Real Estate

Building dreams

D

uane Petersen takes pride in his unique renovations, and his passion for what he does is evident in everything he builds, from home theatres and wine rooms to basement renovations and creating furniture.

one-of-a-kind custom woodwork

With 6 1/2 years of architecture behind him and a year studying furniture design, plus working in carpentry for almost 20 years, his workmanship has attained a high standard of quality.

BY JUDITH SILVERTHORNE

For the past seven years, he has continued to hone his skills through his own successful business, Duane Petersen Construction. “I do everything, except for the plumbing, electricity and flooring,” says Duane, who has plenty of experience in a wide range of carpentry skills, from rough framing to finishing work.

His greatest love and speciality is fine woodworking and furniture making.

This comes as no surprise when one realizes he is recognized as an artist in his craft, schooled in the traditional art of joinery. Pieces of his furniture have been shown in galleries in Seattle.

He pays particular attention to detail, building things as if they were his own.

“I don’t cut corners,” says Duane. “I am honest, fair, and upfront, and I give my clients lots of options.”

“Trust is a big thing with me,” he says. “I trust my clients and they trust me.” He adds that he builds unique spaces for his clients that are well-designed, not trendy, so that the work is long-lasting, timeless and classic. “On every job, I do more than what they’d expect.”

What Duane prefers most of all is the challenge many of his clients give him of creating a one-of-a-kind project. He’s done a number of special requests, like rock-climbing walls in people’s homes, libraries with hidden bookcase doors, Winter 2009/10

PHOTOGRAPHY: DARRY L KAJ AT I

Once he’s consulted his clients as to their requirements, he starts by researching ideas and designs. From there he draws up sketches, floor plans and other drawings which he presents to his clients.

They choose a design, and he then modifies it to their personal tastes.

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PHOT OGRAPHY: DARRY L KAJ AT I

Greg and Brenda Hutch couldn’t be more pleased with the work Duane did on their unfinished basement.

“We had ideas, like we wanted a home theatre and a wine room, plus an open area for entertaining. sound-proof recording rooms, and home theatre spaces. He’s also built a variety of bars, including one that was cement embedded with glass illuminated by unusual lighting, which gave the cavern effect his clients requested.

“I’m a visual person and I like to express myself through my renovation work,” says Duane, who likes to focus on one job at a time and doesn’t try to do too many at once. “I run a small company.

That way I keep a personal hands-on approach, making sure things are done properly and professionally.”

Something about the process of envisioning something in his mind, then creating a three-dimensional finished product, inspires him. “It’s not the money that gets Winter 2009/10

me up in the morning,” he says. “It’s the love of the work.”

Greg and Brenda Hutch couldn’t be more pleased with the work Duane did on their unfinished basement. “We had ideas. We wanted a home theatre and a wine room, plus an open area for entertaining. He had to work with the existing beams and teleposts to maximize the space. He made various suggestions and we collaborated,” says Brenda Hutch.

“The result is more than we pictured.”

Duane Petersen enjoys transforming people’s homes from something that is outdated and poorly designed into something with a whole fresh new look. “I believe I have an eye for what is good design,” he says.

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For the Hutches’ one-of-a-kind wine room, Duane did full-scale plan drawings, full-scale elevation drawings and various sketches, consulting them on their specifications. He avoided a repetitious look and introduced curves and diagonals, including an arched ceiling and special rope display lighting. He considered several focal points, surface articulation and nuances of detail.

The result is a totally sealed, temperaturecontrolled wine room with a solid 1 3/4inch walnut door. The various-sized racks are entirely made of walnut milled in his shop and then installed. The one-of-akind wine room, which is kept at the recommended 56 degrees with 65 percent humidity, holds 850 bottles of wine and has a humidor for cigars.

“I had to use some trigonometry, because of the curves. Everything is precise,” says Duane, who spent three months on the project. He also made use of bevelled edges, inlays, and intriguing designs on the drawer fronts, paying full attention to detail in every aspect. He has created a rarefied atmosphere, transforming a typical wine room into a practical and beautiful work of art that is both functional and has a lasting elegance.

“My husband Greg and I were thrilled with the vision Duane came up with for our wine room,” says Brenda Hutch.

“His work is way above and beyond our expectations.”

Duane Petersen is pleased with their reaction. He likes to create something that people can appreciate for a long time and that he’ll remember as a job welldone. He’s passionate and enjoys what he’s doing.

“It doesn’t feel like I’m working,” he says.

“Clients who want to have rooms, spaces or furniture made that is unique are a challenge, but one I love.”

Duane Petersen welcomes all requests for renovations, and can be contacted by phone at 539-1506.

fine lifestyles regina

House, Home and Property

Continues to set the housing standard

N

orth Ridge Development Corporation is setting the housing standard once again. The company is currently pre-selling townhouse condominiums in its newest development, Blackstone Estates in Regina’s Windsor Park.

The elegant 44-unit townhouse community offers the benefits of home ownership combined with a worry-free lifestyle for those constantly on the go. The 1,413- or 1,336-square-foot units have a

Winter 2009/10

three-bedroom design with upgraded cabinets, hardwood flooring, a single-car garage (14 by 23), and a private individually fenced backyards. The units start at $279,900.

“As far as luxury condos go, you are getting great value at Blackstone,” says Randy Pekar, the company’s Vice President of Operations. “Single professionals, young families, and established homeowners looking to rigthsize will find this development the most appealing.

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“They want a high-quality product with zero maintenance and no headaches.

Condos don’t have to mean limited choice!”

“The ability to customize each unit is also seen as a big benefit to many of our buyers,” adds Pekar. “The neat thing about these units is that you get the opportunity to make it your own. You can pick your own flooring, cabinets, countertops, and even fixtures. There are also several floor plan upgrades to choose from, which infine lifestyles regina

clude adding a larger bonus room and even a master bedroom en-suite.”

Blackstone Estates is close to all the major east-side amenities, including restaurants, grocery stores and shopping.

You can actually walk to Best Buy to pick up the newest DVD, or just get out to coffee with a friend.

The show home is expected to be complete for spring 2010, but until then, Pekar encourages interested buyers to visit Pine Point Condominiums, located at 4701 Child Ave. in Lakeridge, or the Sales Centre at 4002 Lepine Dr. For more information, visit the website at www.blackstonecondos.ca

Prairie Views subdivision North Ridge has expanded outside of Regina to offer fully serviced lots in the Village of Pense. Its Prairie Views subdivision is a mere 15-minute drive from Regina and a 20-minute drive from Moose Jaw. The community is ideal for commuter couples or families who don’t work in the same city but are looking to find a halfway point between the two.

With larger-than-average city lots starting at $49,900, Prairie Views has become a very attractive subdivision. In that area, North Ridge is also offering a three-bedroom 1,200-square-foot bungalow with lot and GST included for $299,900.

But Pekar says price is not the only reason people move to a smaller community. “It’s really a lifestyle choice. Pense is more for the person who likes to chat with their neighbours and take a more active role in the community, as opposed to city living where you may not know your neighbours. The smaller centres tend to have much more of a community centre focus… people just seem to be friendlier there.”

The Village of Pense is being enhanced by the western growth of Regina, which includes Harbour Landing, the Global Transportation Hub, and the Westfair Distribution Centre. The Village also has a school and a hockey rink, and is loWinter 2009/10

cated near several employers, such as Yarra Belle Plaine (formerly SaskFerco), Mosaic, and Terra Grain.

fect for the life of the dwelling,” says Pekar.

Phase One of Prairie Views is located on Willow Street and is composed of eight lots (54 feet by 120 feet). In the phases to follow both crescent and bay lots will be available. For more information on Prairie Views, visit the website at www. prairieviews.ca.

“Unfortunately, ‘life happens,’ and a small amount of warranty and service work is required for the majority of new homes. The difference with us is that we don’t just come out and ask you if there is anything wrong…we actually subscribe to the ‘regular tune-up’ model borrowed from the automotive industry .”

North Ridge sets the standard in service and warranty, offering both one-year and 45-day inspections. “Service is a big differentiator to our company. We’re very proactive with service, with obviously the ultimate goal to turn over a deficiency-free house that will remain per-

After 45 days, a North Ridge service representative schedules an appointment and goes through the home, completing an 18-point checklist, to ensure the safety and longevity of the home. If there are any issues, North Ridge fixes them.

The process is repeated again at one year.

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More than a decade’s experience North Ridge Development Corporation, headed up by Pekar, has been successfully operating out of Regina for more than 10 years. It has also won several awards, including both the 2008 Consumer’s Choice Award for multi-family housing and the 2008 Environmental Housing Leadership Award for multi-family housing from Regina Regional Home Builders Association (RRHBA). North Ridge was also listed as one of the Top 100 companies in Saskatchewan and was this year’s ABEX Business of the Year.

More to come North Ridge is very excited about its new in-office design studio coming this winter.

“It’s going to be a one-stop shop for our homebuyers,” Pekar says. “This centre will be packed with almost every housing option imaginable, broken up into spaces by category—interior and exterior. It will be an experience…You’ll be able to see, feel, and use the newest hous-

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ing options and technologies available in this state-of-the-art facility.”

Customers will save a great deal of time by having everything in one centralized location.

“It really makes life easier to be able to pick everything you want without driving all over the city, making several appointments with each supplier, and relaying your selections back to the builder,” Pekar says. “With us, you come 218

in, book your appointments with our inhouse technologists and interior designer, you see everything you need to, and it’s done. We try to remove the frustrating parts of building a new home while accentuating the exciting and enjoyable ones.”

For more information about North Ridge and its ongoing projects, visit www.northridge.sk.ca or call 352-5900 to arrange an in-person consultation.

fine lifestyles regina

Business, Financial and Legal t 85, Joseph Pettick is still working to change the world through art and architecture.

A

Pettick is a prominent Regina architect.

During his 50-year career, he is credited with designing some 500 of the province’s most distinctive buildings. In the city of Regina, Pettick’s designs include the Sask Power head office building (1963), Regina City Hall (1976), the SGI head office building (1974), and the Bank of Montreal building (1981).

Today, Pettick spends some of his retirement time painting professional-quality abstract art using various media. He moved into his new home a few months ago, and already displays some 40 of his own works on the walls. In the back yard of the home he occupied for 50 years, he left a showpiece sculpture that he created with mesh and plaster, commemorating a dead weeping birch tree which also serves as the base.

When he’s not creating works of art, he can be found at the drafting table in his home office. He continues his quest to design buildings that address the world’s current knowledge and concerns in sophisticated and elegant architecture.

“We have to get away from building boxes,” Pettick says. “We have to have buildings that are eye candy. [We need] more delight.

Buildings that have some romance and humanity.”

Joseph Pettick Artist, sculptor, architect

Lately he’s experimenting with a domed housing design, combining the natural high-insulating factor with energy efficiency.

BY MARIE POWELL MENDENHALL

“I believe that we have to face up to our climate. We have a flat prairie, and we build upright buildings that are completely exposed to our climate. We don’t take advantage of the wind and the sun.” He is also designing a winter playground to top the huge amount of parkade space in downtown Regina, offering everything from skating to tobogganing to celebrate winter.

“I’m one of those naïve people who still believe that democracy works.”

He still writes letters to the mayor about Regina zoning laws, as well as letters about energy efficiency to U.S. President Barack Obama and the heads of government in Saskatchewan and Ottawa.

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Pettick, born in Hungary in 1924, grew up on a farm near Kipling. At 16, when Second World War broke out, he took a job as a mechanical draftsman in a machine and tool design department of a Regina munitions plant. When he was 18, he enlisted in the Navy as a stoker (boiler room hand).

After the Navy, he says he faced three choices. He wanted to go back to machine and tool design, but opportunities were only open in the armed forces. His other two choices were to work as an understudy window dresser, or an apprentice architect.

He chose architecture.

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SASKPOWER BUILDING

STUDYING WITH GOFF

He apprenticed with the Regina architectural firm Portnall and Stock Architects. They wanted him to pay them $40 a month for the opportunity, he says, but he convinced them that since he had to use public transit, they should pay him $55 a month instead. He became the chief draftsman, supervising other staff members. He also finished Grades 10 to 12 by correspondence.

In 1954, he received his professional regWinter 2009/10

istration as a qualified architect. During his apprenticeship, he had often discussed projects with university graduate architects. “They would say, ‘Joe, we respect your position as a senior associate, but you didn’t go to university. We went to university and we know everything.’

“As soon as I became registered, I quit my job and decided to go to university.

I was already an architect, so I did it backwards.”

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He wrote to Bruce Goff, an American expressionist architect, at the University of Oklahoma’s School of Architecture.

He had read an article about Goff and was impressed by his design work. “It really was so abstract that you wouldn’t think those buildings could be built, and he was producing that work.”

In turn, Goff was impressed enough by Pettick that he offered to develop an advanced program of study for him.

Pettick’s mentor there was Mendel Glickman, who had engineered work for renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

Goff and Glickman set up classes spanning first- to fifth-year material in only one year, in Aesthetic Design and Town fine lifestyles regina

Planning, as well as Structural and Mechanical Engineering.

“In my view, it was just what I needed,” Pettick says. When he came back to Regina in 1955, he had a new vision. “I thought we had a long way to go in servicing our mission, which is not only to reflect our environment but to contribute to its ennoblement. The buildings we work in and pass through and come in contact with really do shape our personality and our attitude towards life.

I felt there was a very great timidness expressed in our architecture at that time, after I came back from Oklahoma. I thought that we had a long way to go.

“I still think that of course, but what’s happened in the intervening time is communication has taken over. We know instantly of the troubles but we also know of all the great things that are happening in the world, in all fields. Social, political, physical, and abstract. There’s a tendency to play it safe, but we are being caught up in the tide of forward movement.”

DESIGNING SASKPOWER’S HEAD OFFICE Before and after his return, Portnall and Stock offered him a partnership to head up a branch office in Saskatoon, but not to make him a principal or have his name on the door. Instead, in 1956, he decided to open his own Regina office, Joseph Pettick Architect Ltd. He began doing small jobs, and as a new architect, he put his full talent and energy into them. During the reception for a small office building project, he happened to meet and talk with David Cass Beggs, then president of Saskatchewan Power, just as they were planning the construction of a new head office building.

Beggs researched Pettick, and convinced the government to appoint him. One night about 6 p.m. Pettick was still in his office working when he received a phone call. It was Beggs: “Joseph, I thought you would be pleased to know that the province has appointed you the architect of the SaskPower Building.”

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“I was so appreciative of the assignment that I did everything under the sun to make the project successful.

“So much of our life is related to chance meetings and forks in the road,” he says now. “You have to make decisions based on circumstance. Often we pass those opportunities by.”

Making the most of every opportunity helped to forge Pettick’s career. He even went to Brazil at his own expense, where he was able to see the Brasilia under construction, and meet Oscar Niemeyer. As a result, the curve of the Power building shows the influence of Brazilian modernism, says Bernard Flaman, Saskatchewan’s heritage architect for five years.

“He added things he felt related to Saskatchewan,” Flaman says, “like the ceiling, like the color of the tiles in the interiors, the brick, the color palette on the interior and exterior.” Also the curve “is very particular to that site in the way it addresses the park, and the way it allows the drive-through underneath and connects two streets.” This and many other Pettick buildings influenced Flaman, and many others of the next generation of Saskatchewan architects.

AWARD-WINNING DESIGNS Pettick’s award-winning designs also include the Moose Jaw Civic Centre, which won him the Governor General’s Massey Medal for Architecture in 1961. In 1967, Pettick was elected into the College of Fellows of the Royal Architecture Institute of Canada (FRAIC). He became head of the international relations committee and representative at the International Union of Architects. He led the Canadian delegation to Cuba, where he met Fidel Castro and Che Guevara.

“I had an international curiosity,” Pettick admits. He has traveled to more than 80 countries, and an international perspective influences his major designs.

His characteristic combination of curiosity and humanity led him to rescue monkeys from tiny cages and give them homes, while lobbying to change the import laws governing the trade in primates. In 1983, in recognition of his work for the care of animals, the Regina Humane Society named its new shelter and administrative offices the Joseph Pettick Animal Shelter.

He was senior partner with P3 Architecture (formerly Pettick Phillips Partners

During his 50-year career, he is credited with designing some 500 of the province’s most distinctive buildings.

MOOSE JAW CIVIC CENTRE

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Architects), from 1996 until his retirement. He has been president of the Saskatchewan Association of Architects, and chaired the Saskatchewan Design Council, the Civic Committee of the Regina Chamber of Commerce, and the Regina Housing Authority. He holds life memberships in the RAIC, the Regina Construction Association, and the Saskatchewan Association of Architects. He received the BOMA award for the Bank of Montreal provincial main branch, the George Bothwell Heritage Award for Public Service, an honorary doctorate from the University of Regina, and a Saskatchewan Order of Merit (2006).

A FULL LIFE “I’ve had a full life,” he says. “I have been privileged to meet decision makers in society and I’ve been privileged to contribute my ideas to architecture and public life.”

He still believes in the value of travel in foreign countries for young architects. “Be sure to get a firm grounding in all of the liberal arts, and exposure to the architecture of the world through travel so to get a correct balance between social and political life and the science of constructs. Architecture is really a blend between science and art, and has been down through the ages. Remember the work of Michelangelo in Italy, who was a geometra, or someone trained to be a draftsman, who was an artist and a sculptor and an architect.” Indeed.

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Bill Allen,CFP Sun Life Financial 306-757-8631 ext 2251 Fax 306-359-7447

ast issue, we discussed how our changing Life Insurance needs make an evolving insurance portfolio essential.

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Not insuring today does not simply mean paying more tomorrow. The cost of, and our ability to qualify for, life insurance is not only determined by our age, but by our health, weight, habits, lifestyle, occupation, recreational activities, travel destinations, driving record and family history.

Over time it becomes harder, and eventually impossible, to qualify. Many people wait too long, or allow their spouses to wait too long. It is crucial to purchase life insurance while you can!

business EXPERT ADVICE

FINANCIAL over time and can be used as loan collateral. It can also be withdrawn, but this usually requires giving up coverage.

At the time of purchase, you can choose whether the premiums are guaranteed and if you’d like to have the policy paidup in, say, 20 years, or at age 65.

Universal Life insurance blends term and permanent insurance with a savings account. You get the affordability of term, the lifetime protection of permanent, and the advantage of tax-deferred savings growth.

Your premium goes into a policy fund

that pays for the insurance, with the balance invested on a tax-deferred basis.

With your advisor, you decide how much to contribute and how to invest.

Excess premiums and tax-deferred growth are used to pay future premiums, enhance the death benefit or provide collateral for loans, or withdrawn for an emergency or retirement funding.

With the right amount of insurance in place, we then discuss how to ensure your portfolio is sustainable for your children and grandchildren. In the next Fine Lifestyles Regina, we’ll do a case study. Any volunteers?

There are three basic types: Term, Permanent, and Universal Life.

Term insurance is inexpensive in the early years, but the cost increases with age and it eventually expires. Ideal for temporary coverage, while the children are young, until the mortgage is paid, or until permanent or universal life insurance is more affordable, it can also be changed, in whole or in part, to permanent or universal life insurance without having to re-qualify.

(Note: life insurance purchased through an association, lender or group benefits is usually not convertible or has limited conversion options. If you intend to convert to permanent or universal, be diligent and know your options.)

Permanent insurance will last as long as we do. A flat lifetime premium is based on your age at the time of purchase.

Early on, this premium is more than for term insurance. Later, it’s less than the increasing premium for term insurance.

This level cost helps ensure the insurance remains affordable and sustainable.

“Cash value” is a common feature, which similar to equity in your home, grows Winter 2009/10

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Dion E. Tchorzewski, Partner Olive Waller Zinkhan & Waller LLP

business EXPERT ADVICE

STARTING A BUSINESS

I have a great idea for a new business. Now what? any times a day, all over Regina, people share with their spouses over dinner, a friend over a beer, or a colleague over a coffee a great idea for a new business. Most of those same people never take the next step towards actually starting that new business. One of the reasons many potential entrepreneurs don’t follow through on those great ideas is simply that they do not know where to start.

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The following are some of the key components to starting a new business. This list is not exhaustive and is intended to simply be a starting point. Before taking any steps towards a new business, it is critically important to obtain full professional advice.

Select a business structure. The many structures that may be used to own and operate a business include a corporation, a partnership and a sole-proprietorship. The decision as to what structure will work best for you will depend on many factors such as how many individuals will own the business, how active the owners will be in the daily operation of the business, the type of business, tax issues, liability concerns and financial requirements.

A sole-proprietorship is simply a business owned by one individual. A corporation is a separate legal entity owned by its shareholders and controlled by its directors. As a separate legal entity, in almost all circumstances the corporation (and sometimes its directors) and not the owners of that corporation (its shareholders) would be liable for the activities of the corporation. A partnership is formed if two or more individuals come together to operate a business with an aim to generate profit.

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One of the reasons many potential entrepreneurs don’t follow through on those great ideas is simply that they do not know where to start. and operation of a business are a key component of how the business should be structured and should be carefully considered before any decision is taken with respect to the structure.

Choose a name. In Saskatchewan, every business must have its name registered with Saskatchewan Justice, Corporations Branch. The Business Names Registration Act sets out the rules for what names are acceptable, how to register, and other related issues. The Act provides some protection against another person using your registered business name, as the Registrar will not register a name that is already registered; however, the Act does not replace the protection that comes with registration of a trademark or the general protections that exist at common law.

Select a location for the business. One of the key decisions is the location from which the business will operate. The op224

tions range from a home-based business to construction of a new building. Often, due to the lack of start-up capital, a new business will initially lease space. While the initial capital outlay with a lease may be less, a lease is often a long-term commitment and a significant financial obligation and therefore great care should be taken in reviewing and signing such a document. A good commercial realtor can be of great assistance in regard to this part of your new business.

Register for tax. During its infancy your business may not generate sufficient income to pay a lot—or even any—income tax. However, right from the beginning you will need to be registered with the Federal and Provincial governments to collect and remit tax. Federally a business applies for and receives a Business Number. This Business Number is used to register for GST as well as for fine lifestyles regina

payroll remittances. All businesses in Saskatchewan are required to be registered with Saskatchewan Finance. Certain businesses that sell goods and services will need to obtain a Vendor License for the purposes of PST. Hire employees. If the business is large enough you may need to hire employees.

With the hiring of employees comes the obligation to register with the Canada Revenue Agency for source deductions and with the Worker’s Compensation Board. Before hiring anyone, it is also critical that a new business owner contact Saskatchewan Labour to get information about labour standards and occupational

Troy Edwards RBC Dominion Securities Inc. troy.edwards@rbc.com.

health and safety requirements. Depending on the number and types of employees a new business may want to enter into written employment agreements with its employees.

Obtain your license. The Cities Act provides local urban municipalities with the power to regulate businesses. In Regina the bylaw governing most business licenses of 2006-86. Generally home-based businesses require a license, as do businesses operated from property that is taxed as commercial or industrial property.

Retain a lawyer and an accountant. No decisions with respect to your new busi-

This article is for information purposes only and is not intended to replace situation-specific legal advice. Please consult a professional advisor before taking any action based on the information contained in this article.

business EXPERT ADVICE

TAX REDUCTION

hile it may be harder to make money in today’s challenging markets, at least you can do something to protect the money you do make from taxes. Here are some strategies:

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low of one percent, creating an unprecedented opportunity to maximize this proven, yet often overlooked, strategy.

The rate may change after March 31, so consult with a professional advisor.

A historic opportunity: the Spousal Loan Strategy. If you pay taxes at the highest rate, you know how punishing Canada’s marginal tax system can be. But if your spouse earns little or no taxable income, you have a historic opportunity to reduce your family’s overall tax bill using the Spousal Loan Strategy.

Helping your family while reducing taxes: The Family Trust. You could see some large capital gains over the next few years as stock markets recover. While this is welcome news, capital gains are taxable outside a non-taxable account.

With the RBC Dominion Securities Family Trust, you can transfer the taxreporting obligation for the taxable income generated in the trust to your children or grandchildren. Because of the basic personal amount they can claim, they can each earn up to approximately $50,000 in tax-free income, depending on the income mix generated in the trust (which varies by province).

First, you make a loan to your spouse, backed by a simple promissory note setting out the terms. Then your spouse invests the entire amount in his or her own name. This way, the investment income is taxed at your spouse’s lower marginal rate, reducing your overall taxes.

To ensure this, your spouse must pay you interest at a rate set by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). However, until March 31, 2010, this rate is a historic Winter 2009/10

ness should be taken before you retain both a lawyer and an accountant who have experience working with small businesses. Most decisions regarding the start-up and operation of your business require good legal and accounting advice. Making the decisions first and then seeking legal and accounting advice will very likely lead to extra costs or situations that do not optimize your chances of success.

The income must be used for the benefit of, or allocated to, the beneficiaries of your RBC Dominion Securities Family 225

Trust. If you are currently paying for things like your children’s education costs from your after-tax income, the Family Trust can make a lot of sense.

Earn tax-free investment income. The new Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) allows you to earn tax-free investment income and make tax-free withdrawals any time you want. You can contribute up to $5,000 annually. While this may seem like a small amount, over time it can make a big difference, thanks to taxfree compound growth.

Please contact us for more information about these, and other, tax-reducing strategies.

This article is supplied by Troy Edwards, an Investment Advisor with RBC Dominion Securities Inc. Member CIPF. This article is for information purposes only. Please consult with a professional advisor before taking any action based on information in this article.

fine lifestyles regina

Grant Karst, CLU CHFC Certified Financial Planner

business EXPERT ADVICE

FINANCIAL PLANNING Now that you have saved all this money, how do you spend it? emember when you had to learn how to save? Not saving to spend—everyone does that—but saving for many years down the road.

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Who would have thought we would have to learn how to spend in retirement?

Too often we hear of two types of people who didn’t learn how to spend. The first spent too much too soon, and their money ran out before they did. The second, afraid of running out of money, denied themselves any “extras” in retirement, died, and left behind a big pot of money to be taxed and fought over.

Our Blue Sky Planning Process separates retirement spending needs into four categories: • Must-have money: money you need for groceries, taxes, car and house maintenance, insurance premiums, gifts, utilities, health-care costs, etc.

It has to be there every month without fail.

• Nice-to-have money includes special holiday trips, golf-club memberships, educational assistance for grandkids, dining out and vehicle upgrades. This spending is important, but can be adjusted or delayed if necessary.

• Inflation-fighting money. Inflation affects certain kinds of spending more than others. Money that has some market or equity exposure will usually keep you ahead of inflation, but it isn’t consistent or guaranteed, so its use must be discretionary.

• Money I probably won’t need in my lifetime. These are investments earmarked for the next generation, a charity, or a scholarship fund—but you still want access to them if necessary.

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Next, we use a Product Allocation Process to create an Income Matrix which matches the best retirement income product with the appropriate type of spending. Some of the products and income streams we use are GICs, Segregated Funds, Long-Term Care Insurance, Canada Pension Plan, Old-Age Security, Private Pensions, Registered Retirement Income Funds, Mutual Funds, Registered Annuities, Tax-Free Savings Accounts, Prescribed Annuities, Prescribed Registered Retirement Income 227

Funds, and Life Insurance.

Retirement spending was much simpler when people didn’t live for many years after retirement. Now the retirement or “transition” phase is almost as long as the working phase, which brings challenges like inflation, long-term care costs, bear markets, and out-living your income.

Our specialized planning concepts and tools help our clients graduate from good savers to even better spenders.

fine lifestyles regina

Business, Financial and Legal: After the Game seasons with the Green and White, Bird helped lead his teammates to six Western finals, two West Division championships and two Grey Cup appearances.

In 1976, while still part of the Roughriders, Larry and his wife Linda bought and operated the milestone hotel. They eventually sold the Milestone in 1979, but in ‘83 Larry decided to form a partnership (with…) in order to buy two hotels that were for sale in Regina, the downtown Plains Hotel and the Holiday Inn, now the Best Western Seven Oaks Inn. Bird remains partner – the only original one – and senior partner of the Best Western Seven Oaks Inn. During the 1980s both the Plains and the Seven Oaks had extremely busy nightclubs. During this time Larry decided to extensively renovate both hotels and make the hotels much more welcoming. Reminiscing on the nightclubs, he recalls that in 1987 the Seven Oaks Club sold over one million units on table covers, an unheard number at the time. Needless to say operating clubs at that time in Regina was a very interesting job for anyone.

LARRY BIRD, TODAY

PROFILE: LARRY BIRD

One of Regina’s Finest

BY TED TEJADA

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he Story of Larry Bird is an exemplary Saskatchewan success story.

It is a story of dedication to his work and family, strong moral values and being a great team player Larry Bird was born and raised in a small town in Prince Albert and later moved to Debden, Saskat-chewan.

From 1971 to ‘78, Larry anchored the Roughrider offensive line at centre. In addition to being a fierce competitor, Bird

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possessed great natural strength, agility, and a remarkable work ethic. Bird was also a key force behind the Roughriders’ tremendous running games. With Bird in the Roughrider line-up, the great George Reed rushed for over 1,000 yards five times, and Mike Strickland added one 1,000-yard rushing season.

Prior to joining the Roughriders in 1971, Larry played his trade with the Edmonton Huskies, Alberta Golden Bears and Western Ontario Mustangs. In his eight 228

Jokingly, Larry says that his great personality played a key factor in the success of his clubs. During these years both clubs, the Seven Oaks Inn and the Plains Hotel were mainstays of the Regina Music Scene, featuring local bands, D.J. entertainment and karaoke.

Eventually in 2005 Mr. Bird decided to sell the Plains Hotel and concentrate his efforts in one hotel. More over the night club in the Seven Oaks was converted into a sports pub that same year. At that time Larry believed he was getting too old for night clubs and would leave that job for the younger generations.

After selling the Plains Hotel, Mr. Bird decided to invest that money into a total renovation of the Best Western Seven Oaks Inn. Everything from the lobby, restaurant, pub, off sale and guest rooms have been renewed and rebuilt. “We spent a lot of money on the renos,” commented Larry, “but we are well-rewarded for our efforts.

We will soon be finish with our renos; it has been three years of hard work.” fine lifestyles regina

Larry believes that if anyone is to survive or even do well in the hotel business these days, they must go with the changes of the 21st century. A hotel needs continuous improvement due to the high volume of traffic that goes through it and our dynamics at the Best Western Seven Oaks Inn is to continuously improve what we offer to our guests.

proud to be a part. He has also contributed greatly to his business community, serving in the Saskatchewan Hotel Association and Regina Hotel Association as president. Larry is also proud to have been part of the founding member of the Breakfast Club of Regina starting in 1983, which after 26 years he is currently serving as president.

Mr. Bird also commended his staff who have been working with him year after year. He believes that success is not achieved by one person but by a team.

Apart from the renovations, he has invested in training for his staff. Says Larry, “Business has changed tremendously since the 1980s; now at least 20% of business is done via the internet, and this is why we continuously invest in our staff so that we can keep with the fast pace this world is going.”

In May 2009 Larry was awarded The Mayor’s Arts & Business Awards 2009 Corporate Support of the Arts Award for his kind support to Arts and Business in Saskatchewan.

In May 2002 Mr. Bird was inducted in the Plaza of Honour for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, which he is so Winter 2009/10

Presently the Seven Oaks Inn employs about 120 full time staff, and Larry is proud of this accomplishment. Larry believes that he must retire some day to enjoy the good days of hunting, fishing, or even travelling, but at the moment he can’t seem to come to terms with not being at his desk at 7:00a.m. doing what he loves: serving others.

Mr. Bird believes that his accomplish229

SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS, 1977

ments would not have been possible without the support of his wife, daughter and two sons. “They have been the pillars of my life and they continue to provide me with the comfort and joy of life now with my grand children.”

fine lifestyles regina

Charlie Baldock, CA KPMG 791-1204

business EXPERT ADVICE

SUCCESSION PLANNING

The nuts and bolts of succession planning he succession planning process generally takes 12 to 18 months, with an orderly transition taking as long as three to five years. This time horizon makes it tempting for an entrepreneur to put succession planning “on the back burner” and deal with shorter-term business issues first. This is one reason why increasing numbers of entre- preneurs are seeking outside assistance with their succession planning process.

Independent professionals not only contribute their objectivity, specialized skills and experience, but they can also “keep the ball rolling” when day-to-day business issues threaten to interfere.

The succession planning process itself involves all family members reaching a consensus, and then formalizing their collective agreement in a written plan.

Here’s a brief outline of the process we use to help entrepreneurs.

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STAGE 1 Gather pertinent information through one-on-one confidential interviews with the entrepreneur, each member of the next generation, and each key non-family executive, if applicable.

STAGE 2 Report generalized results of the interviewing process back to the family, and schedule a series of planning sessions. In these meetings, discuss feedback from the interviews without violating confidentiality. Make some key decisions in principle regarding: • who the next leader will be; • when the transition will occur; • how the leader’s current shareholdWinter 2009/10

ings will be bought out and by whom; • what role the leader will play after stepping down; • how the leader’s retirement will be funded; • what are the key management positions and whether family members want them or require additional training/experience to fulfill them; • how to deal with non-active family members regarding compensation and ownership; • how to communicate the transition to employees, non-family executives, suppliers and customers.

As these decisions are being made, consider the concept of “fair versus equal,” whereby the existing entrepreneur can commit to treating non-working family members fairly but differently than those who will take over management of the family business. For example, the entrepreneur may choose to: • equalize non-working family members outside the company with other personal assets; • use life insurance to augment the value of the estate; • have the company buy out nonworking children over a period of time to protect the financial condition of the company.

STAGE 3 Help compose a formal written plan of action, with specific timelines including: • date when ownership begins to be transferred.

• date when ownership transfer is completed.

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• date when responsibility for day-today operations shifts.

• date when current entrepreneur no longer intends to work full-time.

This schedule will help identify the amount of time available to train successors for a smooth transition.

In addition, a shareholders’ agreement should be completed and a contingency plan agreed upon in the event that something happens to the successor or he or she does not work out. Depending on the complexity of your succession plan, there may be large or small roles for your lawyer and your insurance agent as well as your chartered accountant. The completed succession plan should be continually reviewed and updated as circumstances change.

Succession planning is a process rather than an event. The greatest advantage a family business leader can bring to this process is lead time. Unhurried planning will minimize opportunities for sibling rivalry, and protect the family and the company in case something unexpected happens to the leader. It also creates confidence with customers, lenders, employees and key suppliers.

Only after Stage 3 is complete should the owner entertain any corporate restructuring.

The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of KPMG LLP. Information is current to November 18, 2009. The information contained herein is of a general nature and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity.

Although we endeavour to provide accurate and timely information, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No one should act upon such information without appropriate professional advice after a thorough examination of the particular situation. © 2009 KPMG LLP, a Canadian limited liability partnership and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International, a Swiss cooperative. All rights reserved.

fine lifestyles regina

Weyburn n the heart of one of North America’s hottest oilfields, the Bakken Play, you’ll find the booming city of Weyburn.

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Located 100 kilometres southeast of Regina, and 70 kilometres north of the U.S. border, Weyburn, “The Opportunity City,” is a city of more 10,000 people, filled with endless opportunities for economic development, community growth and prosperity.

Saskatchewan's Opportunity City

is yours to discover!

The current economic trend has catapulted Weyburn into a bustling community that boasts stores, restaurants and amenities that, 10 years ago, residents could only have enjoyed by driving to Regina. The recent establishment of WalMart and Canadian Tire stores, a Tim Horton’s, and new Ramada and Canalta Hotels, gives Weyburn more permanence. And there’s more to come.

PHOT OGRAPHY: KARI F ORT UN E

BY LACEY JOHNSON AND JEFF RICHARDS

Weyburn, the opportunity city, is a city of over 10,000 people filled with endless opportunities regarding economic development, community growth and prosperity.

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Entrepreneurs have discovered Weyburn!

For many years businesspeople have found Weyburn a great place to not only establish a business but to grow and expand. As you travel around Weyburn and talk to the people and the business community, you will find drive, passion and creativity taking over. You can do anything! Weyburn is home to many businesses that have demonstrated you can grow in a small city and expand that business nationally and internationally. Many entrepreneurs have been able to take advantage of the oil industry right in Weyburn’s back yard, inventing and manufacturing equipment used in the field.

Weyburn is home to Minard’s Leisure World, 2009’s Number 1 dealership in Canada and Number 2 dealership in all of North America for KZ-brand RVs. Minard’s stocks everything from lightweight expandables to top-of-the-line examples of RVing comfort. Minard’s Leisure World is a full-service, parts, accessories and RV Sale Centre with outstanding selection and outstanding customer service. Minard’s has also recently become the exclusive dealer for Jacuzzi Hot Tubs in the Weyburn area.

Interested in health and fitness? Weyburn has three fitness facilities that cater fine lifestyles regina

Weyburn is poised to make you look and feel your best. There are seven hair salons located in the city, all featuring fantastic and unique hair styling and beauty treatments. Weyburn is home to Total Effects Day Spa, which is all about personal wellness and rejuvenation of body, mind and spirit. Total Effects is a state-of-theart spa excited to offer the most up-todate and innovative services in a spa and salon setting. Numerous esthetic serv-

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PHOT OGRAPHY: KARI F ORT UNE

to every individual’s needs. Lu’s Train Station is a facility where everyone feels “at home.” Its relaxed, friendly atmosphere welcomes people of all ages, health, fitness and social status. Olympia Fitness is an energetic and enthusiastic environment equipped with knowledgeable staff, offering group fitness courses, power lifting, muscular development, toning, athletic training and more.

Olympia also features an athletic clothing shop and juice bar. Curves For Women offers a complete fitness and nutrition solution, exclusively for women!

ices such as manicures, pedicures, facials, body treatments, waxing, teeth whitening, nail enhancement, hair services and

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much more are available. Focus on your personal wellness at Total Effects Day Spa…where it’s all about you!

fine lifestyles regina

Weyburn has three car dealerships to suit everyone’s tastes. Barber Motors features Cadillac, Chevrolet, Pontiac, Buick and GMC models. Great Plains Ford features all the top-of-the-line Ford models. Red Coat Chrysler features Dodge, Jeep and Chrysler models. All dealerships display fantastic customer service and products.

Looking to give your home a new look? Weyburn has home furnishing stores where you can find that perfect piece and unique décor that will truly delight and enhance your home. New Age Home Furnishings and Sleep Centre features brand-name furniture, beds, mattresses, and electronic equipment. Weimer’s Hometown Furniture stocks premier electronics, bedding, furniture, appliances and home accessories. Majestic Spas and Home Furnishings offers the ultimate in luxury, featuring home spas, saunas and furniture. The Void features the eclectic and unique; that special décor piece that will have everyone inquiring where they can get one for their home.

Weyburn is home to nine hotels ranging from simple to luxurious, with two brand-new hotels having just been built in the last year. The Ramada Hotel, which opened in August of 2008, features Jacuzzi suites, an indoor pool with water slide, hot tub, business services, free wired and wireless Internet, and conference facilities. The Canalta Hotel, the first hotel built in Canada under this title, opened in August of 2009 and features a hot tub and steam room, free wireless Internet, business services, and conference facilities.

Is golf your passion? The Weyburn Golf Club is a beautiful and challenging championship golf course which features two distinctly different sets of holes: the front nine are longer, with larger greens and more bunkering, while the back nine are more mature, with trees, tighter fairways and smaller greens. The club also provides excellent food services with a fully licensed lounge and also features a pro shop. Mainprize Regional Park and Golf Course is located 30 minutes south of Weyburn in the rolling prairie valley of the Rafferty Dam. Its beautiful 18-hole links-style course features large greens and generous fairways, enhanced by the tranquil country atmosphere. The park also contains tournament facilities, a pro shop, and a licensed lounge and restaurant.

Dining is an essential part of everyday life, and Weyburn is no exception. With more than 20 dining facilities, ranging from casual to family to exotic to fast food, there is a restaurant sure to satisfy even the pickiest of palates.

Weyburn isn’t just for the ladies–we have something for the boys, too! Whether you’re into snowmobiling, ATVing or motorcycling, Weyburn has dealerships waiting to help you find that perfect toy. Prairie Wind Recreational features Ski-Doo and Can-am products and parts, Terry’s Cycle carries Yamaha products and parts, and New Age Motorsports stocks boats, motorcycles, ATVs and more.

Luxury, relaxation, indulgence, and pleasure await you. This is our Weyburn… come discover yours!

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Just plug in and relax, you will love a

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Majestic Spas & Home Furnishings 106 Railway Ave., Weyburn (306) 842-4580

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Kiran Basra B.Sc. Phm., Doctor of Pharmacy Kiran Basra is a registered pharmacist, a graduate of the University of Toronto and has obtained her doctorate in pharmacy. Kiran has served as a lecturer to students of pharmacy and pharmaceutical technology; she has also spoken on variety of topics at women’s shows and to healthcare professionals and corporations.

Dehydration Causes Weight Gain

Yes, you read the headline correctly. Most people think that the more water you drink, the more you retain and the heavier you get. In fact, just the opposite is true. Two-thirds of the human body is made of water; even a small drop of 2% in the body’s water supply can trigger the brain to think the body is becoming dehydrated. Dehydration causes the body to retain water.

CLOTHING Frank Lyman Spanner

You need to drink plenty of water if you want to lose weight and keep it off. If you don’t get enough water, the body secretes a hormone called aldosterone which tells the body to conserve water (and salt). This leads to water retention or “water weight”.

Donna Renuar Not Your Daughters Jeans

Here are some tips to reduce “water weight”. Follow them and you’ll notice a difference:

Sheryl Crow Bootheel

• Drink up to eight glasses of water a day to replenish the water we lose (approximately two litres through sweating, breathing and urine). When your body is well hydrated, it does not retain water.

Cartise Louben Simon Chang

• Water is calorie free and appropriate water intake also increases the feeling of fullness so you eat less.

Svetlana

• Fruits and vegetables are also a good source of water in addition to providing key vitamins and minerals and fibre.

also ... organic and soy candles and lotions

• Avoid alcohol and caffeinated beverages (including diet pop) – they also cause dehydration/water loss and ultimately water retention.

FOOTWEAR Miz Mooz

Herbal Magic programs consist of well-balanced food plans with grocery-store bought food, based on modest calorie reduction and appropriate natural products to stop cravings, increase metabolism and reduce appetite.

Our Personal Health Coaches will support you through this process and are with you every step of the way.

PURSES Guess Joanel JEWELLRY Myka Toca Anne-Marie Chagnon

306-842-7773

219 Railway Avenue, Weyburn Tel: (306) 842-5263 Winter 2009/10

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Weyburn

T & C Family Restaurant/Dallas Pizza

High-end dining in Weyburn

PHOT OGRAPHY: KARI F ORT UN E

BY SUSAN EASTON

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ince 1993 Anna and Bill Georgacacos have owned the Town & Country Family Restaurant/Dallas Pizza in Weyburn, Saskatchewan. Although the restaurant has been serving Weyburn and area for more than 40 years, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no longer the cafeteriastyle dining establishment it was when first opened.

Anna and Bill have taken it to the next level and made the restaurant a higher-end dining experience. Now the T & C Family Restaurant provides an upscale, comfortable atmosphere, while Dallas Pizza covers the pizza end of the Georgacacos enterprise.

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PHOT OGRAPHY: KARI F ORT UNE

The restaurant offers a varied menu and caters to a wide variety of clientele. Diners will find this eatery doesn’t emulate the regular pizza and pasta houses.

Seafood, steak and a variety of Greek dishes can be found on the menu as well as the pasta and pizza. It’s also interesting to note the full menu is available for takeout. T & C will deliver too, but if a request comes from outside the city limits, they will add on a delivery charge per kilometre.

The restaurant is in the process of building a website, although no launch date has been set yet. They are aiming for early 2010. However, they can always be reached at (306) 842-2933.

Located at 72 Third Street N.E. in Weyburn, T & C Family Restaurant/Dallas Pizza opens daily at 10 a.m., except on holidays when it opens at 4 p.m. During the week the restaurant remains open until 10 p.m. for dine-in and midnight for deliveries. On Fridays and Saturdays, it stays open until 2 a.m. for delivery.

A wide variety of clientele dine at the T & C Family Restaurant, ranging from young adults to families to seniors. Seniors’ portions can be ordered from the menu. T & C draws a good lunch crowd, so they offer daily lunch specials to encourage people to come in for a quick meal. They also offer daily evening specials where diners can enjoy a more relaxed evening atmosphere.

The restaurant recently hired five executive chefs from India. The addition of InWinter 2009/10

dian chefs to the T & C Family Restaurant staff had not been planned, but rather came about when T & C applied to find international chefs to work in their restaurant. T & C Family Restaurant is very happy to have found these men, who are all professionally trained chefs. Each of these five chefs has worked at five-star hotels or resorts.

When asked about the difficulty of convincing the chefs to move to Saskatchewan, Anna indicated these men really wanted to come to Canada. They have been in Weyburn now for six months.

Having arrived in Saskatchewan in March, they’ve had a small taste of our winter weather. “We’re very happy with them and they seem happy here. They’re the most pleasant, most polite young gentlemen I’ve ever encountered.”

These chefs introduced Anna and her husband to authentic Indian cuisine. T & C Family Restaurant then decided to incorporate their dishes into the restaurant specials. These Indian specials, both appetizers and main dishes, include Butter Chicken, Chicken Tikka, Lamb Curry and Vegetable Pakora.

Although Indian dishes are traditionally served in bowls and eaten with the fingers, T & C Family Restaurant does not serve it in this manner. In keeping with the restaurant’s varied menu, the dishes are served as a single serving, cutlery provided. Although none of the Indian dishes have been added to the menu, there are Indian specials available each 237

day along with the regular daily specials.

The Indian cuisine derives its flavours from a variety of spices, such as cumin, cinnamon, and curry (to name a few of the more common seasonings associated with Indian cuisine). Although some people may think Indian food is spicy, it’s not really considered a “hot” spicy but rather a flavourful spicy. But if a diner has any concerns about the spiciness of the Indian food, mild, medium and hot options are available.

Although T & C Family Restaurant/Dallas Pizza is now serving Indian cuisine and is still known for its pizza, Anna would like people to be aware they can also get a good steak, an awesome souvlaki, or great pasta at the restaurant. They serve a lot of fish too. And their Greek Feast platter has become a very popular menu item. It includes a variety of finger foods: cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, pita bread, calamari, ribs, and shrimp served with tiri feta.

Anna and her husband, Bill, consider themselves “hands-on” owners. They enjoy getting to know their customers and building a relationship with them.

Anna emphasized that T & C Family Restaurant is a family run business focused on taking care of their customers.

“That’s our main goal: that everyone has a wonderful experience when they come to our establishment.”

Town N Country Restaurant 72 3rd St NE, Weyburn (306) 842-2933

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The Void The funky little store downtown B Y K AT H R Y N L A V A L L E E hen the residents in and around Weyburn are looking for gifts that are guaranteed to please, they know that The Void won’t let them down. The offbeat gift shop located in the heart of Weyburn has been offering a unique array of items for years and its popularity is growing as fast as its inventory.

Owner Chantal Brown was raised to run a business. Her mother owned a combination gift shop and tanning salon in Chantal’s hometown of Midale. Chantal’s experience in retail business led her to a job at an athletic store in Weyburn, but she soon decided to open her own store. “I just wanted to do my own thing,” she explains with a smile. She found the perfect building, and began filling the store with as many original and fashionable items as she could find.

The Void has always had an eclectic mix of merchandise. Chantal first noticed the lack of a body jewellery store in Weyburn and was quick to fill that niche in the market. A huge range of reasonably priced purses soon followed. One-of-akind vases, lamps and other home décor items were added as Chantal discovered them. Her keen eye for the trendiest and most fashionable merchandise has ensured that The Void is a must-stop spot for those looking for unique items. Indeed, many of the brands The Void carries are known for being style trendsetters.

Angelina Wrona-authorized and official prints are just one of Chantal’s many hot items. The Ontario artist’s dark and beautiful paintings are an amazing and surreal combination of Japanese anime, folk art and representational styles. The resulting collection is referred to by An-

PHOTOGRAPHY: KARI F ORT UN E

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gelina as the “Senta-Mental Dolls.” The gorgeous prints are one of the most sought-after items The Void carries.

The famous and fabulous Colonial Candles are another much-loved item. The company prides itself on creating home fragrance and décor products with uncompromising quality and outstanding style. With more than 50 distinctive scents, ranging from Apple Orchard to Winter Woods, everyone is able to find a favourite. The fashionable candleholders and accessories are unlike any others and make the Colonial Candles even more appealing.

The Void’s collection of Ed Hardy barware is, quite simply, the coolest barware to be had. The glasses are adorned with the best Ed Hardy vintage tattoo designs available. The well-known style of the prints and the vibrant colours bring a whole new dimension to cocktail hour.

The barware is available in classic sizes ranging from shot glasses to pint glasses, and never fails to impress customers.

The comfortable baby shoes of lil Jo’s are also popular. The shoes are handmade in a family-owned-and-operated factory in British Columbia. While Chantal isn’t surprised that the Saskatchewan Rough-rider baby shoes are the best seller, she notes that many of the Rider shoes she sells are pink.

“Everyone wants their baby girl to have Roughrider shoes,” she laughs.

The Void also carries the popular knitted toques, scarves and mittens of Ark Imports. The accessories come exclusively from Nepal and offer a cool, colourful and fun assortment of styles. Ark Imports provides dependable, sustainable and progressive employment to hundreds of workers and prides itself on being not just fashionable but also socially responsible.

Chantal works hard to make sure that customers continue to see a steady flow of high-quality merchandise. “We add new items at least every couple of weeks,” she says. The constant addition of inventory ensures that customers will always have

access to the newest and trendiest products available. One of her most recent additions to the shop is a fresh and natural line of baby skin-care products.

Yet the biggest collection in the store is the assortment of body jewellery Chantal has steadily added to since opening the store five years ago. Today, The Void has more than 600 different pieces of body jewellery available. The jewellery remains one of the hottest items in the store to this day.

With such a fashionable and diverse variety of merchandise, The Void’s popularity continues to increase. Weyburn residents can rest easy knowing that whether they need a perfect gift for that special someone or a little something special for themselves, Chantal will be there to offer her expert advice along with the trendiest body jewellery, fashion accessories, home décor and baby items available.

Clearly, this “funky little store downtown” will always be a hot spot in the city of Weyburn.

The Void 109 2nd St NE, Weyburn (306) 842-4499

PHOTOGRAPHY: KARI F ORT UN E

When Chantal introduced the Bearington Baby Collection to The Void’s inventory, mothers were quick to fall in love with the plush and stylish items.

The award-winning company originally focused solely on plush animals but its

expansion to baby wear has been greeted with such enthusiasm that the Bearington Baby Collection has even been featured in O, the Oprah Magazine. The collection contains coordinating plush diaper bags, bibs, blankets and baby coats in a variety of animal prints.

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Weyburn

TLC LASER HAIR REMOVAL Offering a unique service to Weyburn

BY MYRNA PETERSEN he pull to return to her hometown was just too great for Leyna Cugnet to brush off. After obtaining her dental assistant certificate from SIAST in Regina in 2005, she returned to work in a Weyburn dental office for two years.

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When her entrepreneurial spirit kicked in, it seemed no obstacles could get in the way of setting up her own shop. She knew she had a unique service to offer, something different for the city of her choice.

In 2007, Leyna took the initiative to study at the Laser and Cosmetic Academy in Calgary, and was privileged to train under an experienced physician who had worked with lasers for more than 30 years.

Leyna returned to Weyburn and rented a room in Total Effects Day Spa. She purchased a laser for hair removal—the same model, in fact, that was highlighted on The Doctors TV program. With her background in dental care, it seemed a wise move to also purchase a bright-light system (LED) for teeth whitening. She opened the doors to the public on October 3, 2007, and her business has pretty much been booming ever since.

With her marriage to a local farmer in February, 2008, her commitment to the Weyburn community was cemented.

Within two years TLC Laser Hair Removal has grown into a successful business enterprise within a thriving prairie city.

Leyna regularly receives compliments regarding how comfortable she makes her customers feel as they come through the door. She has created a home-like environment where customers can feel confident they have come to a safe place for effective permanent hair removal.

Winter 2009/10

LASER HAIR-REMOVAL TREATMENTS

ments for permanent upper-lip hair removal.

While the most popular hair-removal treatments are to the facial, bikini, and underarm areas, Leyna’s services also include laser to one’s arms, back, chest, abdomen and legs. Three questions potential clients often ask first are, “How much will it cost?” “How many sessions will I need?” and “How long will it last?”

However, should the same individual want to receive treatment for hair on both the upper lip and chin, the fee is slightly higher at $70, with the same return scenario required.

The removal of unwanted hair is a gradual process, since a laser can only remove growing hairs. This results in 15 to 20 percent of hairs being removed each time a client is treated, and necessitates return visits. The number of sessions a client requires will vary with the treatment area and with the amount of unwanted hair which needs removal.

For instance, a treatment to the upper lip will cost $50 for a 15-minute session, with the client required to return in eight weeks for a second treatment. It normally requires four to eight treat247

Laser to the bikini line will take about a half-hour to an hour a session, depending on the area, and can cost between $70 to $100 a treatment. Clients will usually need six to eight treatments over a number of months to receive satisfactory results.

Those requesting laser treatment to their legs and chest can anticipate intervals of 16 weeks between sessions. In most cases, clients will require anywhere from four to eight treatments to receive their desired results.

Although everyone’s pain tolerance differs, laser removal is virtually pain-free for 80 percent of the clientele. Leyna attempts to keep her clients comfortable fine lifestyles regina

at all times, and there are numbing creams available if needed.

The biggest requirement for this procedure is that hair must be dark to be removedâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;white and blond hair do not respond to the laser. Lighter-skinned people rarely experience scarring, but someone with very dark skin has a greater risk of scarring. When working with a darker-skinned client, Leyna is careful to lower the energy level of the laser.

PHOT OGRAPHY: KARI F ORT UN E

If you are a person who has unwanted dark hair, then you are a perfect candidate for the laser hair-removal treatment.

TEETH WHITENING

The procedure is pain-free and lasts about one hour, and the charge for one treatment is $200. If you are already a laser client, the fee is reduced to $150.

For those who want a touch-up and return in six to 12 months, the follow-up booster session costs $100.

Males and females alike are finding their way to the TLC Laser Hair Removal facilities located in the Total Effects Day

Spa at 138 First Street N.E. in Weyburn.

Clients consist of men and women from age 16 to 80, proving one is never too young or too old to enhance their appearance.

PHOTOGRAPHY: KARI F ORT UN E

Anyone who doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like a dental setting will be happy to discover Leyna offers a teeth-whitening service. Clients can get their teeth lightened from four to six shades with just one treatment, at a cost lower than that of the average dentist.

Leyna purchased a bright-light system which is safe for an esthetician to use, and with her background in dental work, Leyna can easily assist clients with teethwhitening procedures.

For consultations and to book appointments, phone Leyna Cugnet at 306-848-0303.

TLC Laser Hair Removal facilities located in the Total Effects Day Spa 138 First Street N.E. in Weyburn.

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Weyburn

Going the extra mile Weyburn’s York Jewelers celebrates its 30th anniversary

BY MARIE POWELL MENDENHALL

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ow celebrating its 30th anniversary in business, York Jewelers in Weyburn combines oldworld charm with modern products, and service that goes the extra mile.

“We’ve done away with the stuffy atmosphere that people might expect of a jewelry store,” says owner-manager Al York.

“We’ve gone with a laid-back approach, something that makes people a lot more comfortable. We like to have fun with everyone who comes through the door.”

York Jewelers offers the largest collection of diamonds in general, and Canadian diamonds specifically, in the province. Al purchases Canadian diamonds from mines in the Northwest Territories. His customers like getting diamonds from Canada, and the quality is high.

“The ones that we choose are better clarity, better colour, and a better cut of stone, and that translates into much more brilliance,” he says. “That’s really what we’re concerned with: having a betterquality product. We sell better-quality diamonds.”

PHOTOGRAPHY: KARI F ORT UN E

Canadian diamonds are a top seller for two main reasons. First, Canadian diamonds are conflict-free. People have been injured or killed in the process of mining and transporting diamonds in other countries, Al explains. “That just doesn’t happen here. There are tight regulations, and the industry is run above-board, right from start to finish.”

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As well, one of the main identifying features unique to Canadian diamonds is a laser mark on the girdle of the diamond.

“The lasering marks are a permanent mark on the side of the stone that tells you it’s a Canadian diamond,” he explains. “It also gives you a tracking number so that you can take your diamond right back to the point of origin and tell which mine it came from, how big the rough diamond was that it was cut from, and the clarity, colour, and cut of the diamond as well. All those characteristics are tied back to the laser mark on the diamond.”

The Yorks are the third owners since the store opened in 1909. The first owner was Bob Armit, and the second was Jim Weir. That kind of history is important to Al. He is proud to point out the original quarter-cut oak cabinet display units that were used in 1909.

“We’ve had numerous people try to buy them over the years, but that’s the part of the atmosphere of the store,” he says. “It makes it warmer to come into, and it’s very much old-world when you look at it.”

At the same time, the 4,000-square foot store also has a contemporary, welcoming atmosphere. The product mix at York Jewelers also includes in-house custom jewelry design, Al says, to please customers that want something unique.

Whether the customer has ideas for design, or needs design options, the three designers on York’s staff can provide exactly what the clients want. They use a variety of metals, from platinum, palladium to gold in every colour, including yellow, white, rose, and brown.

As well, Al likes to offer many of the newest trends, such as Steelx stainless steel and Elle silver jewelry. He travels to various trade shows throughout the year to keep up with trends.

York Jewelers also specializes in giftware, Winter 2009/10

PHOT OGRAPHY: KARI F ORT UN E

Al’s father, Jim York, purchased the business in 1979. It’s a family business, starting with himself and his father and his mother, Pat, who was born in Weyburn, and now with his wife, Janice, who originally came from Saskatoon.

and is an authorized Bradford exchange dealer. The store offers a large trophy department with a laser engraving machine, and they bronze baby shoes. “There are still lots of people asking to have that done.”

Al says his biggest weakness, though, is a love of watches and clocks. He carries all shapes, and designer brands such as Movado, Wittaneur, Esq, Bulova HarleyDavidson, and Buffalo. “We have access to virtually any watch line a customer wants,” he adds.

Watches today come in a range of colours and shapes, with a variety of functions. “I probably have two dozen myself, ranging from antiques to the newest thing out there.”

York also provides watch, jewelry, and clock repairs, and this makes up a large portion of the business. “This is something a lot of places don’t do anymore,” Al says.

It’s no cliché to take customer service seriously, he adds. “We’re more than happy to sell something to a customer, but it’s the after-sales service that matters.”

For example, at York, they still make house calls. Al and his staff will clean and check jewelry or clean and service clocks any time. They will even travel to people who are housebound or otherwise unable to come into the store.

Mechanical clocks need to be oiled every year, for example. “It’s not unusual for me to hop in a car and travel 120 miles or so to service one.” He will take merchandise out to the customer’s home so they can choose exactly what they want, and then return to the store, wrap it up, and deliver it back to the customer again.

“It’s important,” he says. “This is the way I was brought into the business. You go the extra mile.”

YORK JEWELLERS LTD 39 3rd St NE, Weyburn • (306) 842-5484 250

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Moose Jaw

Historic buildings add to the charm of Moose Jaw’s vibrant downtown B Y E D WA R D W I L L E T T

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he City of Moose Jaw is a vibrant community full of interesting places to shop, exciting attractions to visit and wonderful places to eat. Add to that a well-preserved historic downtown, and you’ve got a place that people will flock to from all over— and they do!

While you’re in Moose Jaw enjoying some of the fine businesses featured in this section of Fine Lifestyles Regina, you might also want spend some time just looking at the historic buildings that give Moose Jaw much of its charm.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY E DWARD W IL LE T T

Interestingly, today’s charm is the direct result of early disasters. Moose Jaw grew quickly after the Canadian Pacific Railroad reached the site in August of 1882 and established a divisional point—but almost all of the early buildings were built of wood. Two devastating fires, one on December 12, 1891, which destroyed the first block of Main Street, and another four months later that destroyed the second block, resulted in a city bylaw requiring all further buildings to be made of brick—a decision which has given us the beautiful downtown we enjoy today.

ST. ANDREWS UNITED CHURCH

There isn’t room here to point out all— or even most—of the interesting historic buildings in downtown Moose Jaw, but here are just a few examples:

Moose Jaw’s size). It boasts a two-storey rotunda, a stained-glass dome, and more marble, in its columns and trim, than any building in Saskatchewan besides the Legislative Building.

Court House 64 Ominica St. W.

Moose Jaw Public Library 461 Langdon Cres.

Built in 1912 and 1913, this was Moose Jaw’s defiant response to the refusal of the Carnegie Endowment to assist the city in establishing a library (the plans were deemed too elaborate for a city of 251

Built in 1909, this is the oldest continuously functioning court house in Saskatchewan, and its design influenced many other court houses built across the province. In 1986 it became the first Moose Jaw building to receive Provincial Heritage status. fine lifestyles regina

Grayson House 30 Stadacona St. W. William Grayson was Moose Jawâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest land owner when he had this house built in 1911-12. It originally boasted 22 rooms and featured oak paneling, decorative glass, elaborate fireplaces, a fine foyer, and even a central vacuum system.

Zion United Church 423 Main St. N. Built in 1906-1907, this church echoes many of the architectural themes of the Pantheon in Rome, especially the central

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PHOT OGRAPHY BY E DWARD WIL L E T T

dome, whose interior is 12.8 metres above the centre of the 1,200-seat auditorium, and features an octagonal, stained-glass skylight just under five metres wide. This is the only remaining example of this style of church architecture in Western Canada. Former Saskatchewan Premier Lorne Calvert served as minister here from 1979 until 1986.

Land Titles Building 76 Fairford St. W.

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Walter Scott Building 12 High Street E. Storey and Van Egmond, the architects of the Regina Land Titles Building on Victoria Avenue, also designed this building, built in 1910 (and expanded in 1922). The style was designed to evoke permanency—the government wanted those purchasing titles to homesteads in the West to feel a sense of safety and security. This is now home to the Yvette Moore Gallery.

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Designed by Regina architects Storey and Van Egmond for the Moose Jaw Times Herald, the Walter Scott Block (named after the newspaper’s owner, who was also the first premier of Saskatchewan) was the largest office building in the province when it opened in 1912, by itself doubling Moose Jaw’s office space. The latest construction techniques were used throughout, and it

fine lifestyles regina

was touted as the city’s first fireproof building. Its basement extends 16 feet beyond the walls and under the street.

Old CPR Station 3 Manitoba St. W. Built in 1920-1922, the station’s owes its unusual size to the importance of Moose Jaw as a divisional point and terminus of the Soo Line from St. Paul, Minn. During its heyday, the huge waiting area was always full, and the restaurant attracted diners from all across the prairies.

Moose Jaw City Hall Hall, 228 Main St. N. Originally Moose Jaw’s post office, this is one of only two buildings of this design in Saskatchewan, the other being Regina’s old post office on Scarth Street.

It became City Hall in 1965.

So whether you’re in Moose Jaw for shopping, dining, entertainment, or a soak in the fabled Temple Gardens Spa, take time to also enjoy the history on display on every block.

For more information, look for my book Historic Walks of Regina and Moose Jaw, published by Red Deer Press.

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Moose Jaw

Nit’s Café offers authenticThai food in Moose Jaw

hile we’ve all learned to avoid “junk food” and “fast food” when dining out, we aren’t as aware as we should be of the health benefits of other cuisines.

J E SS Z OE RB, RUBY BL UE PHOT OGRAPHY

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Thai food, for example, offers one of the most consistently healthy and well-balanced diets available. Many of the fresh herbs and spices used in Thai cooking, such as turmeric, galangal, coriander, lemongrass and fresh chilies, have immune-boosting and disease-fighting power.

In South Asia, turmeric is used as a readily available antiseptic for cuts and burns, as an antibacterial agent, and as a dietary supplement to help with stomach problems and other ailments. Lemongrass is used in Chinese medicine in the treatment of colds and flu-like illnesses.

Chilies and their extracts may help maintain a healthy cardiovascular system, while galangal (a variant of ginger) is renowned for its effectiveness in relieving digestive and gastric disorders, and is also reputed to reduce the pain and stiffness caused by arthritis.

Where can Saskatchewan residents find authentic Thai cuisine? According to many magazine articles, travel guides and Winter 2009/10

Thai food offers one of the most consistently healthy and well-balanced diets available.

Internet reviews, the experience is close at hand, at Nit’s Cafe, a cultural landmark in Moose Jaw and one of the best Thai restaurants in Canada.

Nit’s Cafe was started by Nitaya Chuennai.

Her husband, Bruce Fulford, owned a restaurant in Toronto; Chuennai had commercial cooking experience in Bangkok and Toronto. “When we moved to Moose Jaw in 1991, it seemed natural to open a restaurant, and Thai cooking was all we 255

knew,” explains Fulford. “Nit’s Thai Food Ltd. was the result.”

Travelers might stop at Nit’s the first time because they’ve read about it in a magazine or online; many return time and again, planning their Trans-Canada trip around this meal stop. Diners think nothing of driving from Regina or Saskatoon to revisit a favourite dish.

“Our most unique offering is Number 2 on the menu, meing com,” Fulford define lifestyles regina

J E SS Z OE RB, RUBY BL UE PHOT OGRAPHY

clares. “It’s a dish that no one else in Canada even attempts, with roasted slivers of coconut, dried shrimp, peanut, lime, onion and ginger bits, served with a sweet sauce on an edible leaf.” Terrific even when made with bok choy, the dish is a special treat when the appropriate leaves, from “a Thai type of persimmon,” can be obtained directly from Thailand.

While Nit’s offers Canadian and Chinese cuisine, too, the real draw is the authentic Thai dishes, personally created by Chuennai and enhanced by fresh spices ground on-site. In all, almost 50 Thai items grace the menu. There are several seafood specialties and vegetarian selections are available on request.

Nit’s is a Saskatchewan institution...an unpretentious eatery offering a unique cuisine that’s a welcome addition to a healthy lifestyle.

NITS

THAI FOOD RESTAURANT • 124 Main Street, Moose Jaw • Tel: 306.694.6404

While in Moose Jaw, Enjoy Your Stay at

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40 Unit Motel with Cable Vision & Free High-Speed Internet • 20 Single & Double Wide 2 & 3 Bedroom Mobile Homes as Motel Extensions 68 Pull-Through Trailer Spaces with Full Hook-up • 25 Water/Electric Sites • 4 Electric Sites & Unlimited Tenting Sites • Indoor Water Slides, Pool, Hot Tub & Children's Pool • Restaurant for Family Dining • Banquet/Meeting Room • Children's Playground • Confectionery Tempo Service Station with Propane, Diesel & Cardlock • 175 Permanent Mobile Home Lots • Close to Shopping Mall & Three Golf Courses

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Moose Jaw

Moose Jaw Cultural Centre’s winter programming offers outstanding entertainment

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he Moose Jaw Cultural Centre certainly contributes a great deal to the essence of Christmas in the community, beginning with concerts that evoke the spirit of the season in the most unmistakable manner.

Beginning on December 13, local schools Holy Trinity Roman Catholic School and Sacred Heart School will offer concerts, followed by one featuring the Moose Jaw Festivale Singers. What better way to hearken back to past happy holidays and prompt plans for this year’s celebrations than to listen in comfort to the music of Christmas? To continue this theme, on December 19 Rhubarb Productions presents White Christmas Holiday Classics with Evie Koop and Jeffrey Allen Sawatzky.

Following these festive presentations, the Centre will be closed from December 24 until January 12, 2010. Then, to open the new season, vocalist Jeffrey Allan Sawatzky will return to perform.

Sawatzky was born and raised in Saskatchewan, and as a lifelong Rider fan, he is proud to be the official national anthem singer for the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Having performed for special events, fundraising concerts and corporate functions right in his home province, Sawatzky is known internationally as well. His debut CD Fields of Gold was named the Classical/Traditional Album of the Year at the 2009 Covenant Awards; this collection of original romantic ballads and inspirational classics sung in English, Italian and Spanish was recorded entirely in Saskatchewan with an outstanding group of musicians that included guitar virtuoso Jack Semple and members of the Regina Symphony Orchestra.

In February, patrons of the Moose Jaw Cultural Centre will be entertained by the gospel music of the Hunter Family, whose members declare that “Hockey, farming and music, along with our various personalities, abilities and dispositions, make up who we are.” Their faith is profound and evident in the quality of their musical presentations, adding to the enjoyment of their audiences everywhere.

Obviously, during this season, as in the past, the Moose Jaw Cultural Centre will fulfill its goal of bringing outstanding entertainment to the community, and drawing visitors from the surrounding area. Past presentations have included drama, magic, dance and comedy, as well as music of all types, from jazz and classical to rock and country; future presentations will continue to showcase a variety of talent in this venue which perfectly embodies the entrepreneurship and sense of history that makes Moose Jaw such a special place.

Winter 2009/10

Upcoming Events at a Glance December 13 HOLY TRINITY ROMAN CATHOLIC SEPARATE SCHOOL CONCERT December 15 SACRED HEART SCHOOL CONCERT December 18 THE MOOSE JAW FESTIVALE SINGERS CONCERT December 19 WHITE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY CLASSICS With Evie Koop and Jeffrey Allan Sawatazky Presented by RuBarb Productions January 23 JEFFREY ALLAN SAWATZKY IN CONCERT Presented by the Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Councils and the Moose Jaw Cultural Centre Born and raised in Saskatchewan, vocalist Jeffrey Allan Sawatzky has performed across Canada with a variety of choral and vocal groups, and is proud to be the official national anthem singer for the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He received national recognition from the Canadian Gospel Music Association at the 2009 Covenant Awards where his debut CD Fields of Gold was named the Classical/Traditional Album of the Year.

February 26 THE HUNTER FAMILY Presented by the Moose Jaw Cultural Centre Music has been a part of the Hunter Family heritage for a long time. Both parents sang in many different groups, and all of the children took piano and other instruments, and often sang together at home, at church and eventually at local events.

Over the years the family was asked to sing more frequently, and in the summer of 2007 made the decision to focus on farming and singing on a more full-time basis. Their newest gospel CD is called It Takes Faith.

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Parade of Homes 4637 - 4665 Malcom Drive

Showhome Hours: Monday - Thursday 7:00 - 9:00 Weekends & Holidays 1:00 - 5:00

306.347.8130 www.harbourlanding.net

Featuring Seven of Reginaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Finest Builders Another Master Planned Community by Dundee Developments