Faces Magazine March/April 2021

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Issue no. 66

Ottawa’s

Hockey Night In Canada’s

Vincent De Haître

KYLE BUKAUSKAS

Is Training To Make Olympic History

DRAKE BATHERSON Ottawa Senators New Rising Star

1 on 1 With

LINDSAY EASTWOOD from the Toronto Six

CHRIS PHILLIPS

+

JAIoftheRise

THE BIG RIG HAS A NEW GIG

CHRISTINA SUCCI

S P O R T S + E N T E R TA I N M E N T + L I F E S T Y L E

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SIT BACK, RELAX, ENJOY THE (VIRTUAL) SHOWINGS. We are now open for virtual appointments.

The relationships we build are just as important to us as our homes and communities.

We’re happy to be back helping you start your next chapter with a process that’s as easy, safe, and stress-free as possible.

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TO ALL FRONTLINE AND HEALTHCARE WORKERS,

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Caroline Dagenais, RPN, at the Brewer COVID-19 Assessment Centre

$150,000 RAISED IN SUPPORT OF THE OTTAWA HOSPITAL In support of

À l’appui de

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In This Issue

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SPORTS Photography by Sean Sisk

DRAKE BATHERSON

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CHRIS PHILLIPS

LINDSAY EASTWOOD

5 years after retirement, Chris Phillips reflects on his early career and his transition to a new role with the Ottawa Senators.

VINCENT DE HAITRE

Vincent de Haitre is currently training to make Olympic history in the next two years. The now 26-year old, who grew up in Cumberland, is already a 2-time Olympic Speed Skater. But here’s the catch: he’s also a National Track Cycling Champion Lindsay Eastwood is living her who is on-track (no pun intended) for the 2021 dream as a professional hockey Summer Olympics. player in the NWHL. After

Drake Batherson by Claus Andersen/Getty Images

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a successful college career playing for Syracuse, where she was named the all-time leader of goals scored among Defenders, Eastwood returned to Ontario where she joined the Toronto Six in its Inaugural Season.

8 | FACES MAGAZINE Photography by Sean Sisk

Ottawa Senators Right Wing Drake Batherson on his first impressions of Ottawa, his focus for the rest of the season, and his best advice for aspiring hockey players.

Vincent De Haitre by Claus Andersen/Getty Images

CHRIS PHILLIPS

Lindsay reflects on her hockey career, her experience in a National Hockey League bubble, and how she scored the very first goal in Toronto Six history.

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/ AB PE RR I L2 022002 1 N O V E M B E R M/ DA ER CC EH M

2020

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In This Issue Photo by Koko King

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ENTERTAINMENT

CHRISTINA SUCCI We caught up with CTV Ottawa Anchor Christina Succi to discuss her journey to journalism, her favourite hobbies off-camera, and her best advice on confidence and career.

66 KYLE BUKAUSKAS We caught up with Sportsnet reporter Kyle Bukauskas to discuss the most memorable moments of his early career, his thoughts on the latest edition of the Ottawa Senators, and some of his best advice for aspiring broadcasters.

JAIoftheRise

Ottawa-born artist JaioftheRise makes music that calls to people. But he wasn’t always the songwriter, singer, and rap artist he is today - first, he had to go through some serious living.

We caught up with Jai to discuss his journey to music, his new releases, and his best advice for aspiring artists.

Photography by Sean Sisk

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How To Sell Your Home For the Highest Possible Price in Any Market, Without Wasting Time!

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The Ottawa Awards are the Capital’s annual people’s choice awards event that names the best in over 400 categories of professionals and businesses over a 2-month nomination and voting period.

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Fitness Goalsetting: What’s best?

Here’s what recent studies have to say about setting fitness goals.

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How To Be A Better Listener Hear us out, if you listen to anything this month, let it be our guide to truly being all-ears.

4 Reasons Why You Can’t Fall Asleep

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Here’s 4 surprising, yet common, reasons why the otherwise regular sleeper may have trouble falling asleep.

Tim Stützle:

Helping Restore the Faith in Ottawa

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March/April Volume 66 FIND FACES

Editor In Chief Evan Childerhose

Faces Magazine is distributed bi-monthly and offered free at select locations across Ottawa and in cities across Eastern Ontario. Full issues are also available online. Faces Magazine is a non-traditional print medium with a strong brand presence on social media.

Publisher Justin MacKinnon Hank’s Paw Publishing (A Division of 8624771 Canada Inc.)

www.facesmag.ca @facesottawa @facesott @facesottawa

Contact info@facesmag.ca (613) 591 - 6093

Event Info

www.facesmag.ca/awards To request our event sponsorship packages, please email info@facesmag.ca. For all other information regarding our events, please call or visit our event website.

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Art Director Vicky Sun Sonia Mehour Operations Manager Courtney Wheeler Accounting/Finance Linda Zhang

Contributors Alex Feeney Catheryn Risto Lucy Dong Morris Miller Tayna Gautier Meaghan Vincent Steve Warne Laura Pietrobon Max Polizi Kate Wright Todd Hamilton Stewart Clarke Liam Fox Ryan Bova Trevor McIssac Kenzie Harrison Connor Khonick Corey J. Stone

Contributing Photographers Cover Photo: Sean Sisk John E. Sokolowski Jana Chytilova Andre Ringuette Connor Armstrong Taylor Condon Peter Wright Yana Klaiz Lucas Short Koko King

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MARCH

The best month for…

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VISITING THE PRO SHOP It’s almost time to tee-up for another year, and new products are just about to hit the racks. But before they do, don’t miss your chance to snag some of last year’s roster on discount.

STOCKING UP ON CHOCOLATE Valentine’s Day overstocks are a facet of our North American lifestyle, so take advantage of the abundance of cheap chocolate on the shelves this month.

NEW FITNESS REGIMES March is the perfect month to pick up some brand new fitness equipment, as retailers begin to make space for their new models in time for the better weather. It’s a great time to hit refresh on your at-home gym.

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On this Day in March March 29th,

1848

The Eiffel Tower, which took two years, two months, and five days to build, was completed.

Due to a blockage of ice upriver, Niagara Falls almost completely stopped. Many thought that the end of the world was near.

March 31st,

1889

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In Ancient Rome, March was the First Month of the Year Historically, the roman calendar had ten months, with March being the first of the new year. Years were only 304 days. And the other 61?

January and February were just known as ‘Winter’.

The March Equinox Is The Closest We Come To a 50/50 Split When our clocks spring forward, marking the start of longer days in spring, it is the closest we will come to a day that is half night and half daytime. After which, we’ll see the sun a whole lot more.

Did You Know March 7th,

1897

Monopoly was invented

by Charles B. Darrow in Germantown, Pennsylvania

March 2nd,

1949

Elvis Presley made his first television appearance, and started his journey to being the King of Rock n’ Roll.

The first Cornflakes breakfast was served to researchers at the Kellogg’s Health Institute

March 7th,

1933

The first non-stop flight around the world came in for a landing after 94 hours and 1 minute. The plane was flown by Captain James Gallagher and 13 crew members. It had to be refeulled four times, while still in the air.

March Has No Statutory Holidays...

Technically.

As Easter falls in April this year, March is left without any stat holidays. But don’t let that stop you from catching a break - you can choose to celebrate National Goof Off Day on March 22nd, or National Make Your Own Holiday Day, March 26th.

March is One of the Worst Months for Productivity In the US alone, reports estimate that businesses lose about 1.9 Billion in dollars from workers who are busy in betting pools for March Madness.

March 3rd,

1955

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The best month for…

SPRING APPAREL

april

While April may seem like the time for Spring’s new arrivals, Spring Fashion actually debuts in February. By April, you’ll find a tidy sum of spring fashion on deep discount.

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THRIFTING With spring cleaning underway, thrift stores set the perfect scene for some impressive finds.

SNOW REMOVAL EQUIPMENT Did your shovel or snowblower not live up to its name this winter? With snow becoming a distant memory by April, equipment is being cleared out to make way for lawn mowers. This is the perfect time to stock up on snow removal supplies for next season.

J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y

Did You Know

On this Day in April April 6th,

1896

The First US Astronauts were announced by Nasa.

April 17th,

1964

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Over 40% of all April Fools Pranks are now played online.

The first Olympics of the modern era were held (since the last games 1500 years prior).

April 9th,

1959

April is a great month for Meteor Showers. Your chances of spotting a shooting star go up this month.

Ford unveiled the first Mustang. It had a price tag of only $2,300 US.

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CHRIS PHILLIPS C

hris Phillips had one of the most memorable careers in Ottawa Senators history.

After playing for almost two decades with Ottawa, Phillips retired in 2016, and joined Daniel Alfredsson as the only two players in modern Senators history to be honoured by having their jersey retired by the franchise.

Chris worked hard to build a legacy both off and on the ice.

He recognized the important opportunity that professional athletes had to bring awareness to causes in their community. In his rookie year, he was invited by Sens veteran Lance Pitlick to attend an event with the Candlelighters of Ottawa, a local non-profit dedicated to supporting patients and families diagnosed with childhood cancer. There, he saw firsthand the tremendous efforts of the Ottawa community in supporting families in need, and since then, he has never looked

back. Chris and his family continued to be avid supporters of local organizations like Candlelighters, CHEO, Ronald McDonald House, and Ottawa Boys and Girls Club, for the next 20 years.

After a back injury in his last year of playing slowed down his ice time, Chris found that there were still many ways to contribute to the Senators organization, and to the community and fanbase that supports it. Making the transition to retirement is difficult for any player, but Chris found many avenues to continue working with the team as a community ambassador.

Amid seismic shifts in the world of professional sports, and to the Senators organization as a whole, the new Senators Community Foundation was founded in 2020. The new foundation is a chance for the team to renew their commit-

ment to supporting youth and recreation in the community.

Chris was named the Executive Director of the Senators Community Foundation in late 2020. With the challenges that COVID-19, a young and ambitious team on the upswing of a rebuild, and a fanbase that is ready for change present, Chris has his work cut out for him. But, after 17 seasons leading the Senators both on and off the ice, he is a natural fit for the role, and is determined to continue his work as a community leader in the years to come.

We sat down with Chris to discuss his early years as an ambassador for the Senators, his new role with the organization, and his best advice for young and aspiring hockey players.

Photography by Sean Sisk

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n a few short months, it will be 5 years since you officially announced your retirement from the NHL. Looking back, was it a smooth transition for you after leaving the game?

I think it was. The biggest reason for that was really my back injury. My last year that I was with the team, I never ended up playing a game. I had surgery the previous year, tried to rehab and get back, and just wasn’t able to do that. So I basically had a year of going into the rink in the morning, getting treatment, hanging out with the guys, but not travelling on the road. Not even being at the games at night. Once I was done at the rink in the morning, I was back home, going to my kids sports, watching them do their thing. Just being able to be a dad. As much as I would not have wanted to go through that back injury and ending that way, in hindsight, it probably made for an easier transition.

Tell me about Feb 18th of last year, when your number was retired, and you had your entire family with you in front of a crowd for that special moment. Knowing now that that was soon to be one of the last full arenas due to COVID, what do you remember from that night?

It was incredible. The team did an amazing job of taking care of my family and me. The fan support we had out, and former teammates, made it a really special night.

That was one of the last home games in front of fans, with media and TV. But to see that number and banner hanging in the arena is pretty special. It will be even more so when we can go back in there.

And it’s also about the legacy for my family. When they go to a game, to see that hanging there, is so special.

You spent your entire career in Ottawa, and have always been deeply involved in the community. How did you first start to give back to the community as a pro athlete?

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‘‘Every night.

No matter what.

There’s no excuses, there’s no ‘I wasn’t feeling good’. You have to fight through it. Most nights, you’re not feeling great and fans don’t know it, and you’re still expected to be at your best. And that is a grind, and I think that is what separates a lot of guys from making it and not making it.’’

I was a new guy on the team, and Lance Pitlick, had formed a relationship with Jocelyn Lamont of Candlelighters, and basically said “I’m going to this fundraiser at Local Heroes at 7, and you’re coming with me”. When you’re that young and a veteran says you’re going to do something, you’re going to do it. I’m really thankful for that introduction to that part of the game, for what feels like a responsibility as a pro athlete in a community to be able to help bring attention to, and raise awareness or money for any organization.

That’s really how it started, and I was with Candlelighters for my entire career.

Along with my wife, who ended up being a chair of the board for a while. We became really close with them.

What has been the Ottawa communities response to the work you and your wife have done over the past two decades?

It really is an amazing city that way.

We’ve said it many times, it seems like every night you turn on the news, there is always a story about a local fundraiser or organization raising money and how well they’re supported by the community.

I was just really taken aback to see how supportive this city is. I think that’s why it makes Ottawa, even though it’s a city of over a million people and the Nation’s Capital, feel like a small town and a community, because of the closeness.

Who are some of the guys you played with over the years, or coaches you worked with that had the biggest impact on you both on and off-ice?

I think everyone I had as a teammate or coach helped in little ways. But really the veterans we had on the team when I first came in as a 19-year-old, Lance Pitlick, Randy Cunneyworth as the captain, the defence for me was Jason York, Igor Kravchuk, Sean Hill, you know, those guys really just took me under their wing and made me feel like a part of the team right away.

Wade Redden, who was only a year older than me, but had a year of playing under his belt playing. We had a relationship already—we had played World Juniors and, had had a very similar upbringings playing Junior Hockey both in the Alberta Junior Hockey League and then the Western Hockey League. So I had that comfort level with him. We actually lived together for my first year.

Pierre Gauthier, along with Jacques Martin, Perry Pearn, Craig Ramsay, that coaching staff when I first came in were very patient with me, even though I was in and out of the line up at the start, and played a bunch of games at forward which was very new to me and I’d never done. But they really allowed me to take my time, cut my teeth, and learn the game at that level.

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It’s a great goal and dream to get there, but you have to enjoy the process of trying to make that happen and all the steps along the way.

“

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Moving forward, Bryan Murray’s trust in me and the relationship I had with him as both a coach and general manager. He just made it fun to come to the rink and we had a great relationship. The fact that I was able to negotiate my last deal as just the two of us, speaks to that fact. He was a huge part of the team and the success that we had going to the Cup final, but also for me personally as well.

Do you have any aspirations to become an NHL coach or General Manager one day?

(Laughs) Not at this time, no. Maybe at some point some coaching or helping out. But, stepping out of the game and being able to be home, and with the ages of my kids right now… if I don’t have to get on an airplane and travel around right now, I am fine with that.

What is the best thing about being a Dad? Just watching my kids become the people they are. Supporting and following their ambitions for whatever they want to do or want to be. Just being around the characters that they are, their personalities, and watching that develop is a lot of fun.

Would you say that you are a cool dad? Or a dad who has some embarrassing ‘dad jokes’?

Probably both. I think it’s a dad’s rite of passage to embarrass your kids when you can and where you can. At the same time, you want to be a dad that they want to be around and have their friends around, and build good relationships with them.

You are now the Executive Director of the Senators Community Foundation. How did you get involved with the Foundation and what attracted you to that role?

Post-retirement, I went into an ambassador role with the team, which was great. Just to keep a connection with the team and be involved. I was

able to go to the rink and hang out there, and there were still guys in the dressing room that I’d played with at that time. During COVID, things obviously came to a pretty big halt in terms of doing that stuff, but I was still in talks with the team. Then this opportunity came along. Coming from the experiences that my wife and I have had with the community, and being able to get back into a role that allows me to have a relationship with the city and the team, just felt like a natural fit.

Looking back on this last year, with all of the changes that COVID has brought to Canadians, Ottawans, and hockey players and fans alike, what is one thing that you appreciate now more than before?

I think maybe just the down time. I’m sure that’s everybody’s answer. I think it was March 14th that everything got shut down. We had plans to go away for March Break, and had booked them on the 12th when the hockey was getting canceled and had the time, and then literally canceled the next day. We moved up to the cottage and were there right until school started. Just to have that family time with nothing going on, playing games and reconnecting and slowing down our lives altogether was, in hindsight, something I appreciate now.

We have to ask you about the current edition of the Ottawa Senators.

Do you think the team is going in the right direction?

I’m really excited about this team. It’s been a tough couple of years going through the rebuild. I’d say that with the age of the team, they’re coming out of that. They’re on the upswing.

Between the guys that are in Ottawa right now, the kids they have in Belleville, and the kids they have drafted that are in Junior and University right now that look like great prospects, I’m excited for this team to do some great things in the next couple of years.

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I’m in awe of the talent that they have there, but I also think they’ve drafted some great character guys.

The community is going to be able to relate and have relationships with them. They are guys that want to give back, that are big names with the team. Seeing how guys like Chabot, Tkachuk, and Colin White are growing into being young leaders makes me really excited about this team.

What is your best advice for any young hockey player looking to follow in your footsteps?

It sounds so cliche, but honestly, it’s to enjoy the game. It’s a luxury to have a dream come true and play in the NHL, but at that level, you’re also in the business of winning. Every night. No matter what. There’s no excuses, there’s no ‘I wasn’t feeling good’. You have to fight through it. Most nights, you’re not feeling great and fans don’t know it, and you’re still expected to be at your best. And that is a grind, and I think that is what separates a lot of guys from making it and not making it.

But, at the end of the day, it’s a game, and you have to enjoy it. I think if you love it, and you’re having fun, there are so many aspects of the game that are able to help you out in life, no matter what level you get to.

It’s a great goal and dream to get there, but you have to enjoy the process of trying to make that happen and enjoying all the steps along the way. From when you’re young and just putting on skates, to wherever you end up getting to. Enjoy it.

If you do enjoy it, then you’re willing to put in the extra work that’s needed to get to the next level.

If you’re not enjoying it, then there’s probably no point in doing it.

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GUIDE: Health & Happiness Every issue, we find four lifestyle changes that are so simple, so surprising, and so successful that they are sure to spark a massive difference in your health and happiness.

Take Breaks In Your Workouts To Burn More Body Fat

Try a Sunrise Alarm Clock for better Mornings If you struggle to get out of bed in the morning without feeling drowsy, try an LED light in your next alarm clock. These types of alarms will slowly cast light into your room leading up to your wake-up time, to mimic the sunrise and kickstart your circadian rhythm.

This will help your body to move out of deep REM sleep, so that your alarm isn’t blaring you out of the depths of a sleep cycle, which is one reason people struggle to get up and feel awake in the morning.

A Japanese study that compared two methods of exercise (one with breaks between bouts of exercise against one exercise with no breaks) has found that breaks can help to improve your results. “Many people believe prolonged exercise will be optimal in order to reduce body fat, but our study has shown that repetitions of shorter exercise may cause enhancements of fat mobilization and utilization during and after the exercise. These findings will be informative about the design of [future] exercise regimens,” says the study’s lead researcher, Kazushige Goto, Ph.D.

Smile To Feel Better No, don’t smile even though you are having a down day. Instead, smile to help your day improve. Activating the muscles that help you to smile release small amounts of dopamine and serotonin in your brain, and can help you to feel better or lower anxiety. If you don’t feel like smiling, biting on the end of a pen or pencil will activitate the same muscles.

Handwrite Notes to Remember Them Better Many studies, including one from the University of Indiana, have shown that handwritten notes come with better recall. This is because the task of writing out your notes helps your brain to process the information (it needs to know what to write), which is a type of processing that can be much more effective than typed notes.

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FITNESS GOAL-SETTING: WHAT’S BEST? Setting fitness goals and targets is an age-old practice. But, we know that it usually is wrought with unmet expectations: in January alone, over 90% of fitness goals fail.

Humans seem to be hard-wired for ambition when they are feeling like it, and because of this, many of us set fitness goals that are way too unrealistic. This has an ironic outcome: our method of goal-setting becomes the very reason we do not achieve our goals.

Behavioural scientists have studied fitness motivation for decades. And, we know that different types and measures of motivation have more success than others.

QUANTIFYING MOTIVATION A new study has actually looked to quantify successful motivational goal-setting.

Conducted by researchers at the University of California and published in the Journal of Health Psychology, the tasked participants with daily walking goals of varying degrees, repeatedly for an extended period of time.

Researchers then looked to see what degree of motivation (how extreme or high of a goal) had the most significant motivational effect.

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THE SWEET SPOT The study focused on finding the sweet spot for the degree in which you up your goal above a reasonable amount. In other words, if you regularly walk for 15 minutes, or you know that you can without breaking a sweat, what is the best amount of time to add onto your walking workout to increase the fitness level?

Is it 5 minutes, an hour? Three hours?

Will 5 minutes be too little to have an effect, and will 3 hours be too long to actually achieve?

The answer is to aim higher, but not too high.

KEEP IT JUST OUT OF REACH Your fitness goals should act like a carrot - a constant expression of your current ability (not your ability last month, or anyone else’s ability, either).

Dr. Chevance, one of the study’s lead researchers, suggests to keep your goal setting to 10%. If you are currently walking for 15 minutes a day, always add on 10% to that goal.

WEEKLY REVIEW The key is to keep that 10% moving, and Dr. Chevance suggests adjusting that 10% every week. In that way, you’re conquering 10% each week, and slowly moving up in difficulty while staying in the motivation sweet spot.

WORTH A TRY While there is no one-size-fits all approach to fitness goal-setting, the idea that your goals should be just far enough out of your reach to push you, while still being realistic enough to actually attain, makes a ton of sense.

But, as any fitness fan would tell you, listen to your body. And remember, your fitness journey is between you and you, and no one else.

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THE 11TH ANNUAL OTTAWA AWARDS PRESENTED BY

P L A T I N U M

M E D I A

G O L D

S P O N S O R S

S P O N S O R S

S I L V E R

B R O N Z E

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S P O N S O R S

S P O N S O R S

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Mattamy Homes Presents

THE 2021 OTTAWA AWARDS The Ottawa Awards are the Capital’s annual people’s choice awards event that names the best in over 400 categories of professionals and businesses over a 2-month nomination and voting period.

The awards are 100% people’s choice, from nominations through to voting. This year, the awards received over 1 million votes across over 4,000 nominees.

The awards span over 300 categories of businesses and professionals in diverse industries, and recognize the unique, dedicated, and hardworking professionals that make our city world-class.

www.facesmag.ca/awards

BUSINESS - PROFESSIONALS Ottawa’s Best Business Owner Andre Grzela

Ottawa’s Best Receptionist Terri Bruce

Entrepreneur of the Year Andrew Abraham

Ottawa’s Best Administrator Tracy Noble

Ottawa’s Best CEO Shelley True

Ottawa’s Best Marketing Manager Monica Boudreau

Ottawa’s Best Manager Michael Laurysen

Ottawa’s Best Social Media Manager Chris Fry

Ottawa’s Best Executive Assistant Cassandra Oakley

Ottawa’s Best Advertising Specialist Denis Sabourin FACES MAGAZINE | 33

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BUSINESS - PROFESSIONALS Ottawa’s Best Marketing Professional Monica Boudrea Ottawa’s Best HR Professional Rupali Dattani Ottawa’s Best Professional Recruiter Sakura Gomi Ottawa’s Best Sales Manager Jeremy Hutton Ottawa’s Best Salesperson Ryan Zullo Ottawa’s Best Account Executive Julie Prud’Homme Ottawa’s Best Project Manager Harminder Kaur Ottawa’s Best Bookkeeper Tabatha Petrin Ottawa’s Best Business Development Coach: James Cummings Ottawa’s Best Business Development Professional: Ethan Rosenberg Ottawa’s Fundraising/Philanthropic Professional of the year Ashley Richer Ottawa’s Best Consultant Nicholas Marengere Ottawa’s Best Public Relations Professional: Andrea Maclean Ottawa’s Best Communications Specialist: Mina Trandafilovski Ottawa’s Best Engineer Charlotte Caron Ottawa’s Best Mortgage Broker Gurpreet Dhillon Ottawa’s Best Client Services Specialist Tracey Bonner Ottawa’s Best Career Coach Tanya Smith Ottawa’s Best Sales Coach Catherine Fair Ottawa’s Best Security Guard Patrick Godard Ottawa’s Best Data Analyst Abtin Shakiba 34 | FACES MAGAZINE

BUSINESS - COMPANIES Ottawa’s Best Commercial Cleaning Serviceleaning Service Jaiko Cleaning Services Ottawa’s Best Compliance Company Taylor’D Safety Services Ottawa’s Best Consulting Firm Coradix Tech Consulting LTD Ottawa’s Best Customer Service Company Club Piscine Nepean Ottawa’s Best Home Insurance Oegema, Nicholson & Associates Ottawa’s Best Green Initiative Earthub Ottawa’s Best Insurance Company Trigon Insurance Brokers Ottawa’s Best IT Company Capitaltek Ottawa’s Best Marketing Agency Posh Media Ottawa’s Best Printing Company BKL Design Group Inc. Ottawa’s Best Recruiting Company/Employment Agency Newfound Recruiting Ottawa’s Best Mortgage Brokerage CENTUM Mortgage Masters Inc. Ottawa’s Best Small Business Elysian Wellness Centre Ottawa’s Best Security Company Phoenix Private Security Ottawa’s Best Advertising Agency Posh Media Ottawa’s Best Executive Office Space/ Coworking Space Innovative Professional Offices Ottawa’s Best Local Business Suzy Q Donuts Ottawa’s Best Start Up Of The Year Vaultt Ottawa’s Best Professional Writing Service DocDoctor Ottawa’s Best Business Interiors West of Main Ottawa’s Best Office Moving Company Two Men and A Truck

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Ottawa’s Best Dessert Spot

FOOD & DINING PROFESSIONALS Ottawa’s Best Chef Phil Cameron Ottawa’s Best Server Vanessa Rowe Ottawa’s Best Bartender Julie Beaulieu (The Lookout) Ottawa’s Best Mixologist @barddaddyjovan Ottawa’s Best Restaurant Manager Amy Caruso Ottawa’s Best Restaurant Owner Milito Brothers (Bella’s Boys)

Stella Luna

Ottawa’s Best Donuts Suzy Q Donuts

Ottawa’s Best Fine Dining Giovanni’s Ristorante

Ottawa’s Best Gluten Free Menu The Foolish Chicken

Ottawa’s Best Greek Food EVOO Greek Kitchen

Ottawa’s Best Happy Hour Joey Rideau

Ottawa’s Best Ice Cream Carp Custom Creamery Ottawa’s Best Indian Food Mehfil Indian Cuisine

Ottawa’s Best Italian Restaurant Cabotto’s

Ottawa’s Best Japanese/Sushi 168 Sushi Buffet

FOOD & DINING BUSINESSES

Ottawa’s Best Late Night Food Elgin Street Diner

Ottawa’s Best After Work Drinks Local Lansdowne

Ottawa’s Best Bakery Art-Is-In Bakery

Ottawa’s Best Breakfast/Brunch Cafe Latte Cino

Ottawa’s Best Bubble Tea ChaTime (Merivale)

Ottawa’s Best Burger The Works

Ottawa’s Best Business Lunch Location OCCO Kitchen

Ottawa’s Best Caribbean Food Run2Patty

THANK YOU

For Voting Us Ottawa’s Best Driving School

Ottawa’s Best Chinese Food Golden Palace

Ottawa’s Best Coffee Shop Cafe Latte Cino

Ottawa’s Best Country Bar The Crazy Horse

STEER’N GO DRIVING SCHOOL Phone: 613-413-6699 Email: admin@steerngo.ca steerngo.ca

Ottawa’s Best Date Spot Black Dog

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Ottawa’s Best Local Brewery Ridge Rock Brewing Company Ottawa’s Best Local Winery Jabulani Vineyard and Winery Ottawa’s Best Patio Tavern on the Hill Ottawa’s Best Pho Kanata Noodle House Ottawa’s Best Pizza Louis Pizza Ottawa’s Best Pub Cheshire Cat Pub Ottawa’s Best Seafood Pelican Seafood and Grill Ottawa’s Best Sports Bar Local Heroes Ottawa’s Best Cocktail The Moonroom Ottawa’s Best Street Food / Food Truck Golden Fries Ottawa’s Best Tacos/Burrito Sí Señor Mexican Street Food

Ottawa’s Best Dinner NeXt Ottawa’s Best Fajitas Lone Star Texas Grill Ottawa’s Best Tea Room The Vanitea Room Ottawa’s Best Steakhouse Al’s Steakhouse Ottawa’s Best Shawarma Shawarma Palace Ottawa’s Best Pad Thai Chili Thai Takeout Ottawa’s Best Poutine Golden Fries Ottawa’s Best Pasta Fratelli’s Ottawa’s Best Smoothies Juice Dudes Ottawa’s Best Locally Inspired Menu Meatings Ottawa’s Best Thai Food Chili Thai

Ottawa’s Best Oyster Bar The Whalesbone Ottawa’s Best Mexican Pancho Villa Ottawa’s Best Meal Delivery Red Apron Ottawa’s Best Vegan Menu Pure Kitchen Preston Ottawa’s Best Sandwich Bella’s Boys Ottawa’s Best Catering CMB Catering

POLITICS & GOVERNMENT Best Government Relations Specialist Kathleen O’Neil Best Municipal Politician Jim Watson Best Policy Analyst James Campbell

Ottawa’s Best Food Supplier Ottawa Valley Meats Ottawa’s Best Wings Wild Wing Orleans Ottawa’s Best New Restaurant Back to Brookyln Ottawa’s Best Ottawa-Based Food Product Good Grazes Grazing Boards Ottawa’s Best Fast Casual Food Kettleman’s Bagel Co Ottawa’s Best Casual Dining Poco Pazzo Ottawa’s Best Lunch Lola’s Kitchen 36 || FACES FACES MAGAZINE MAGAZINE 36

HUMANITARIAN Jonathan Pitre Award For Overcoming Adversity Stu Schwartz Max Keeping Humanitarian Kwadwo Kyeremanteng Not For Profit Slay Foundation Ottawa’s Volunteer of the Year Mamata Dutta

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FUTURE PROOF YOUR BUSINESS Absolutely free - with Digital Main Street.

Government-funded training, expert advice and digital services to help main street businesses get stronger online sales and a more efficient business.

No matter what stage your business is at, teams of digital marketers, designers and expert advisors are ready to help – for free.

WWW.INVESTOTTAWA.CA/DIGITAL-MAIN-STREET

Ready to Future Proof your business?

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Volunteer Organization Ottawa Stray Cat Rescue Volunteer Animal Care Worker Irene Harding New Humanitarian Initiative Ability First Ottawa

Ottawa’s Best Bath Company ArtReno Ottawa’s Best Architectural Firm Figurr Architect Inc. Ottawa’s Best Driveway/ Concrete Sealing Prestige Sealing Ottawa’s Best Hot Tub Sales & Service Beachcomber Hot Tubs Orleans Ottawa’s Best Cabinets Laurysen Kitchens

HOUSING & RESIDENCES Ottawa’s Best Property Management Company Sentinel Management Ottawa’s Best Deck & Fence Company The Urban Concept LTD Ottawa’s Best Flooring Company Barwood Flooring Ottawa’s Best Furniture Store Dufresne Furniture & Appliances Ottawa’s Best Home Builder EQ Homes Ottawa’s Best HVAC Company Furnace Factory Direct Ottawa’s Best Interior Design Company Westyle Interior Design Ottawa’s Best Kitchen Company My Kitchens Ottawa Ottawa’s Best Moving Company Checkers Movers Ottawa Ottawa’s Best Residential Cleaning Service Top 2 Bottom Cleaning Services Ottawa’s Best Roofing Company Alteck Group Ottawa’s Best Tile & Stone Company DZN Centre Ottawa’s Best Windows/Doors Company Dalmen Pro Ottawa’s Best Landscaper Peartree Property Services Ottawa’s Best Property Manager Christopher El-Feghaly Ottawa’s Best Tree Removal Service Rock’s Tree Service Ottawa’s Best Interior Designer Sonya Kinkade Ottawa’s Best Fine Furniture Store Upper Room Home Furnishings 38 || FACES FACES MAGAZINE MAGAZINE 38

Ottawa’s Best Lighting Multiluminaire Ottawa’s Best Eavestroughing Bronson Johnson (Seamless) Ottawa’s Best Painting Company JZ’s Painting & Renovations Ottawa’s Best Window Cleaning 911 Window Cleaning Ottawa’s Best Boutique Condos St. Charles Market Ottawa’s Best Basements Devine Hands (Randy Devine)

REAL ESTATE Ottawa’s Best Real Estate Agency/Brokerage Colleen Lyle Real Estate Inc. Ottawa’s Best Real Estate Agent Dinesh Sharma Ottawa’s Best Commercial Real Estate Agent Alex Mateas Ottawa’s Best Luxury Real Estate Agent Lucas Smith Ottawa’s Best New Real Estate Agent Matt Assaf

FINANCE Ottawa’s Best Accountant Jarrett Erwin Ottawa’s Best Accounting Firm Envolta Ottawa’s Best Financial Advisor Harpreet Singh Ottawa’s Best Financial Analyst Parmod Chhabra Ottawa’s Best Wealth Management Firm PWL Capital

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LAW

Ottawa’s Best Visual Arts Artist Jordan Childs (Art by Jordan Childs)

Ottawa’s Favorite Law Firm Grenier Law

Ottawa’s Best Web/ Website Developer Princess Rada

Ottawa’s Best Lawyer Mehrak Hazaveh

Ottawa’s Best Ottawa-Based Influencer Jamil Abiad

Ottawa’s Best Legal Assistant Crystal Gareau

Ottawa’s Best Foodie Influencer Frank Chabot

Ottawa’s Best Paralegal Jamie Labonte

Ottawa’s Best Fashion Influencer @maryciancibellostyle

Ottawa’s Best Litigator Katherine Cooligan

Ottawa’s Best Fitness Influencer Joey Berry

DIGITAL & SOCIAL Ottawa’s Best Blog MamaUntoldThoughts Ottawa’s Best Graphic Design Agency Excentric Agency Ottawa’s Best Graphic Designer Tara Remenyi Ottawa’s Best SEO Agency Excentric Agency

Protecting your business is our business Every business is unique. This means there is no one-sizefits-all solution when it comes to finding business insurance.

Your clients depend on you for high-quality service and you can depend on us to help identify the unique insurance needs of your business. BrokerLink’s connections to specialty insurers allow us to customize policies to provide coverage in the areas relevant to you and your operation to ensure your peace of mind. Our goal is to save you time and money, so you can get back to running your business!

15 locations to serve you in the Ottawa Region.

Call us for a free, no-obligation insurance quote.

1.844.977.2066

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BrokerLink.ca

©2020 Brokerlink Inc. ™BrokerLink & Design is a trademark of Brokerlink Inc. All rights reserved.

Ottawa’s Best Lifestyle Influencer A Labour of Life Ottawa’s Best E-Commerce Based Business Sparrow & Oak Ottawa’s Best Photography Account Mystikopoulos Ottawa’s Best Youtube Channel The Ali H Ottawa’s Best TikTok Account Saltina Shaker

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EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Ottawa’s Best Dance Instructor Karina Karmakar Ottawa’s Best Dance School Denise Smith Dance Studio

Ottawa’s Best Audio/Visual Entertainment Company Sparkk Entertainment Ottawa’s Best Black Tie Event Maddy’s Gala Ottawa’s Best Comedian Dawn Xanklin Ottawa’s Best Corporate Event/Conference Venue Sala San Marco Event & Conference Centre Ottawa’s Best Corporate Team Building Activity Escape Manor Ottawa’s Best Craft Beer Festival Orleans Craft Beer Festival Ottawa’s Best DJ DJ Arjun Ottawa’s Best Event Planner Matt Ward Ottawa’s Best Event Planning Company LTE Entertainment Ottawa’s Best Food Event/Festival South Asian Fest Ottawa’s Best Game Night Venue The Loft Board Game Lounge Ottawa’s Best Nightclub The Lookout Bar Ottawa’s Best Organizer/Promoter Harmony Concerts Ottawa’s Best Professional Speaker Alfonso Cuadra Ottawa’s Best Event Venue Stonecrop Acres Winery Ottawa’s Best Trade Show Queer Sphere Expo Ottawa’s Best Fundraising Event Puppy Yoga – Inner Soul Yoga and Cycle

MUSIC & ART Ottawa’s Album of the Year This One’s for Me (Cee Lawrence) Ottawa’s Best Author Michel Weatherall Ottawa’s New Book of the Year Thin Places: The Ottawan Anthology Ottawa’s Best Choreographer Muskan Bhatia 40 | FACES MAGAZINE

Ottawa’s Best Dancer Naomi and Muskan Ottawa’s Best Hip Hop Artist Bullyzone Ottawa’s Music Group of the Year Upadhyay Sisters Ottawa’s Best Music School Canada Music Academy Ottawa’s Best Music Store Long & McQuade Musical Instruments Ottawa’s Best Music/Drama Coach Dancia Susilo Ottawa’s Best Painter Arya Landers @theguildhouseoflanders Ottawa’s Song of the Year Carter Hickey – Heart on Lockdown Ottawa’s Best Tattoo Parlour Sorry Mum Tattoo Studio Ottawa’s Best Theatre Group Rural Roots Theatre Ottawa’s Artist of the Year Anisha Gulati Ottawa’s Best Country Artist Brea Lawrenson Ottawa’s Best Jazz/Blues Artist Jw-Jones Ottawa’s Best Producer T MAY Ottawa’s Best Studio The Cave Ottawa’s Best Actor Mikael Conde Ottawa’s Best Film Director Maissa Houri Ottawa’s Best Acting Coach Shannon Lawson

FASHION & BEAUTY Ottawa’s Best Barber Nathalie Jones Ottawa’s Best Barber Shop Kelly’s Barber & Beauty

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“ I’m extremely proud of the OCM business model and growth over the past year and the years ahead. We are still hiring and growing even during these unprecedented times. ” Andrew has brought his vision, determination, and passion for small business to every company and role he has undertaken as an entrepreneur. He believes that collaborative teams lie at the heart of each successful company, and knows the value of small business as pillars of your society.

Andrew Abraham, Voted Ottawa’s Entrepreneur of the Year

A Leader, Creator, and Mentor: Meet Andrew Abraham Ottawa’s Entrepreneur of the Year

I

t has been a challenging year for all, and this includes businesses.

Ottawa’s Andrew Abraham knows all too well the struggle of managing growth in the pandemic.

Andrew is the Managing Partner and President of Elite Accounting, a firm he founded after a successful career with Deloitte. Elite provides accounting services and support to small businesses across Canada, and it’s a way that Andrew can help entrepreneurs like himself make their dreams come true. “Elite really allows me and the team around me to use my philosophy/ strategy to assist other small businesses to prosper.” Says Abraham.

Entrepreneurship is something that comes naturally to Abraham, who was raised in a family of small business owners. Outside of his role at Elite, he is also the CEO and co-founder of OCM Auto Financing Fund, a company that connects drivers to needed capital, and lenders to a unique investment opportunity. The OCM Auto Fund launched in 2018, and it is now used nationally by hundreds of Canadian dealerships. This was followed by a company Abraham founded in 2013, Ottawa Capital Management which became the business concept for the OCM Auto Fund. This year, the company has continued to grow despite COVID setbacks, says Abraham. “I’m extremely proud of the OCM business model and growth over the past year and the years ahead. We are still hiring and growing even during these unprecedented times.”

As for his 2021 Ottawa Award win as the Capital’s Entrepreneur of the Year, it comes at no better time for Andrew, as he begins work on two new companies at the forefront of innovation in Canada. “I have a few new projects on the go that I’m excited about. I’m the co-founder and Director of two startup companies that will be innovative, technology based, and new to Canada.”

‘‘I have a few new projects on the go that I’m excited about.

I’m the co-founder and Director of two startup companies that will be innovative, technology based, and new to Canada.”

As a people’s choice award recipient, Andrew is honoured and grateful to be recognized, and uses his win as extra motivation to continue to grow his companies and serve Ottawa’s Small Business Community.

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Ottawa’s Best Clothing Brand BBxCollection

Ottawa’s Best Marina/Yacht Club Ottawa New Edinburgh Club

Ottawa’s Best Clothing Store BBxCollection

Ottawa’s Best Museum Diefenbunker

Ottawa’s Best Cosmetic Clinic Face Plus Aesthetics Ottawa

Ottawa’s Best Spa Le Nordik

Ottawa’s Best Esthetician Lucie Rosano

Ottawa’s Best Tour Jabulani Vineyard

Ottawa’s Best Eyebrow Specialist Beauty Spot by Young

Ottawa’s Best Tourist Attraction Winterlude

Ottawa’s Best Fashion Designer Entin Gartini

Ottawa’s Best Travel Agency Unforgettable Escapes

Ottawa’s Best Fashion Stylist Mary Ciancibello

Ottawa’s Best B & B Boston T Bed & Breakfast

Ottawa’s Best Hair Extensions Glam Fairy Hair Extensions

Ottawa’s Best Travel Agent Erin Novodvorksy

Ottawa’s Best Hair Salon Salon Bliss

Ottawa’s Best Winter Attraction Enchanted Holiday Drive

Ottawa’s Best Hair Stylist Ashley Steeves

Ottawa’s Best Summer Attraction The Drive-In Experience at Wesley Clover Parks

Ottawa’s Best Makeup Artist Catherine Dupuis – Deecato

Ottawa’s Best Fall Attraction Saunders Farm

Ottawa’s Best Nail Salon Simple Aura Spa

Ottawa’s Best Spring Attraction Canadian Tulip Festival

Ottawa’s Best Tailor Dow’s Lake Tailoring

Ottawa’s Best Hotel The Brookstreet Hotel

Ottawa’s Best Colourist Jessika Lemay Ottawa’s Best Lash Technician Lashes by Brae Ottawa’s Best Wigs Beauty by Hawaye @beautyybyh_ Ottawa’s Best Model Andrea Noftall

HEALTH & WELLNESS Ottawa’s Best Chiropractor Dr. Gregory Stoltz Ottawa’s Best CrossFit Trainer Andy Stewart

LEISURE & TOURISM Ottawa’s Best Bowling Alley Merivale Bowling Centre Ottawa’s Best Corporate Retreat La Vida Local Food & Wine Tours Ottawa’s Best Golf Club Equinelle Golf Club Ottawa’s Best Leisure Sales Club Piscine Nepean

Ottawa’s Best Dental Assistant Sindy Ferguson Ottawa’s Best Dental Clinic Kent Street Dental Centre Ottawa’s Best Dental Hygienist Sherianne Verneuil Ottawa’s Best Dentist Dr. Rami Yassine Ottawa’s Best Dermatologist Dr. Jennifer Lipson Ottawa’s Best Family/General Practitioner Dr. Leigh Fraser-Roberts

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Ottawa’s Best Fitness Centre Premium Performance Fitness Centre

Ottawa’s Best Spin Class Inner Soul Yoga & Cycle

Ottawa’s Best Foot Specialist Laura Mazier

Ottawa’s Best Dispensary Stash & Co.

Ottawa’s Best Hearing Specialist Almonte Hearing Aid Clinic

Ottawa’s Best Daycare Stepping UP Daycare Inc.

Ottawa’s Best Life Coach Kristina Marie

Ottawa’s Best Pilates Instructor Lisa Khera

Ottawa’s Best Massage Therapist Mason Timm

Ottawa’s Best Bootcamp Mighty Maestro Fitness

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Ottawa’s Best MediSpa SKINS Derma Care Ottawa’s Best Natural Wellness Company Manotick Natural Market Ottawa’s Best Naturopathic Doctor Dr. Harsimranjeet Singh Ottawa’s Best Nutritionist Sara Awija Ottawa’s Best Occupational Therapist Joan Bailey Ottawa’s Best Optician/Optometrist Nathalie Zalzal Ottawa’s Best Personal Trainer David Fontaine Ottawa’s Best Pharmacy Constance Bay Pharmacy Ottawa’s Best Physiotherapist Michael McCreight Ottawa’s Best Physiotherapy Clinic Elysian Wellness Centre Ottawa’s Best Registered Nurse Ashley Veilleux Ottawa’s Best Yoga Instructor Jas Bhandal Ottawa’s Best Yoga Studio Inner Soul Yoga & Cycle Ottawa’s Best Orthodontist Dr. Charles Cohen Ottawa’s Best Wellness Coach Sarah Boyd Ottawa’s Best Holistic Specialist Lyn McCuaig Ottawa’s Best Strength & Conditioning Coach Coach Donny (@the_fitduck)

SPORTS Ottawa’s Best Angler Jamie Pistilli Ottawa’s Athlete of the Year Brooke Henderson Ottawa’s Best Driving Range Kevin Haime Ottawa’s Best Equestrian Stable Royale Equestrian Centre Ottawa’s Best Golf Pro & Instructor Duncan Heywood Ottawa’s Best Hockey Coach Shean Donovan Ottawa’s Best Recreation Centre Rideau Gymnastics @ Resolute Center Ottawa’s Best Swim Instructor Sebastien (Ibbotson) Henningsson Ottawa’s Best Coach of the Year Lindsay Calder Ottawa’s Best Sports Volunteer of the Year Karen Christie Ottawa’s Best Gymnastics Coach Ruoping Zhang Ottawa’s Best Sports Club Kanata Sports Club Ottawa’s Best Equestrian Coach Nathalie Beauchesne Ottawa’s Best Youth Sports Program NL Fitness

Ottawa’s Best Sports Injury Therapist Adam Bourne

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TRADES

PHOTOGRAPHY

Ottawa’s Best Carpenter Deluxe Fencing and Decks

Ottawa’s Best Landscape Photographer @Kopke613

Ottawa’s Best Construction Company Highbridge Construction

Ottawa’s Best Portrait Photographer Tiny Marvels

Ottawa’s Best Electrician Hyperion Electric Ottawa’s Best General Contractor Devine Hands (Randy Devine) Ottawa’s Best HVAC Technician Anthony Mariano Ottawa’s Best Paving and Interlock Company D Roy Contracting Ottawa’s Best Plumber C & C Plumbing Ottawa’s Best Welder Sean McConomy Ottawa’s Best Drywall Finisher Borsato Drywall Inc Ottawa’s Best Refrigeration & Air Systems Company Shawn Robinson Refrigeration Best Restoration Specialist Paul Davis Best Locksmith Pop-a-Lock

WEDDINGS Ottawa’s Best Wedding Florist Floral Envy Ottawa’s Best Wedding Makeup Artist Yelena Perunov Ottawa’s Best Wedding Planner & Decorator Hera Events & Decor Ottawa’s Best Wedding Venue Stonecrop Acres Winery Ottawa’s Best Bridal Boutique Revelle Bridal Ottawa’s Best Wedding Caterer Smoque Shack Ottawa’s Best Wedding Cakes That Wedding Girl Ottawa’s Best Wedding Videographer Brillante Films Ottawa’s Best Wedding Photographer Chelsea Mason Photography

EDUCATION Ottawa’s Best School Administrator Jackie Curran Ottawa’s Best Early Childhood Educator Cazerine P Alibhai Ottawa’s Best Principal Mr. Jon Harris Ottawa’s Best Special Education Teacher Amanda Swift Ottawa’s Best Teacher Stephanie Stephens Ottawa’s Best Professor April Pierrot

SOCIAL SERVICES Ottawa’s Best Mental Health Worker Mahsan Maz Ottawa’s Best Public Health Worker Vera Etches Ottawa’s Best Social Services Worker Andrea Stadhard Ottawa’s Best Support Worker Michael Francis Ottawa’s Best Health Educator Patrick Wright Ottawa’s Best Counselor Michael Francis

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MEDIA Ottawa’s Best Emcee Sandy Sharkey Ottawa’s Best Journalist Stefan Keyes Ottawa’s Best Podcast/Podcaster The Interview Dudes Ottawa’s Best Publisher/Publishing House Broken Keys Publishing Ottawa’s Best Radio Personality Dylan Black Ottawa’s Best Radio Station BlastTheRadio.com Ottawa’s Best Sports Broadcaster/Reporter Lee Versage Ottawa’s Best Talent Management Agency Angie’s AMTI Ottawa’s Best TV/Media Personality Dylan Black Ottawa’s Best Videographer Tushar Kumar

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SHOPPING & RETAIL Ottawa’s Best Book Store Singing Pebble Books Ottawa’s Best Children’s & Baby Store Once Upon A Child – Orleans Ottawa’s Best Farmers Market The Navan Market Ottawa’s Best Florist Beloved Bloom Ottawa’s Best Grocery Store Farm Boy Ottawa’s Best Hardware/Appliance Store Preston Hardware Ottawa’s Best Jeweller Magpie Ottawa’s Best Mall/Shopping Plaza Bayshore Shopping Centre Ottawa’s Best Sporting Goods Store Kundstadt Sports

Ottawa’s Best Sports Podcast Dynes Sports Podcast

Ottawa’s Best Store Manager Samantha Yost

Ottawa’s Best Interview Podcast Jesse & Jenna’s Messy Podcast

Ottawa’s Best Garden Centre Ritchie Feed & Seed Inc

Ottawa’s Best Production Manager Gabriel Proulx

Ottawa’s Best Gift Store Lasting Impressions Gifts Boutique

Ottawa’s Best Animation Studio Jam Filled

Ottawa’s Best Consignment Store Plato’s Closet

Ottawa’s Best Animator Julian Obas

Ottawa’s Best Boutique Delilah in the Glebe

Ottawa’s Best Film Editor Tushar Kumar Ottawa’s Best Multimedia Specialist Farhan Khan

PETS Ottawa’s Best Dog-Friendly Destination Stay Dog Brewing Company

TRANSPORTATION & AUTOMOTIVE Ottawa’s Best Car Dealership Myers Automotive Ottawa’s Best Car Detailing Waxed Detailing Services Ottawa’s Best Mechanic O2 Automotive

Ottawa’s Best Pet Boarding & Sitting Kat’s Critter Care Ottawa’s Best Pet Grooming Salon Purrdy Paws Ottawa’s Best Pet Store March Road Pet Food & Grooming Ottawa’s Best Pet Training Carolark Ottawa’s Best Vet Assistant/Technician Katie Birtch

Ottawa’s Best Luxury Dealership Otto’s BMW

Ottawa’s Best Veterinarian Katie Jones

Ottawa’s Best Auto Repair/ Auto Body Shop VIP Autocare

Ottawa’s Best Veterinary Hospital Nepean Animal Hospital

Ottawa’s Best Automotive Sales Specialist Nesrin Darrat

Ottawa’s Best Dog Walking Loving Paws

Ottawa’s Best Glass Repair Glass Guys

Ottawa’s Best Dog Daycare Waggs ‘n Whiskers

Ottawa’s Best Limousine/Executive Transportation Company Rolling Luxury Inc.

Ottawa’s Best Ottawa-Based Pet Brand Hearty Tails

Ottawa’s Best Driving School Steer N’ Go

Ottawa’s Best Pet Social Media Personality Little Miss Otis FACES MAGAZINE | 45

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Freelancing & Insurance: What To Know In the gig economy, many professionals are finding freelance work to be a great way to specialize their skills, supplement their income, or find full-time work that is flexible and remote.

Freelancing can have a ton of benefits, except for, of course, the insurance, healthcare, and unemployment-related benefits that come from being an employee. So what does this mean for freelancers in the realm of insurance? Elizabeth Mclean, Commercial Account Executive, and Gilles Charron, Commercial Account Executive, from Orlean’s BrokerLink Insurance sat down with us to discuss what insurance implications come from freelancing.

“When working as an employee you are automatically covered for the work you do under the company’s insurance policy.”

Says the team. This, of course, isn’t the case when you are working under contract, and any healthcare or insurance expenses are covered solely by you, as the freelancer.

But what some may not know is that when working under contract, you still require insurance, say Mclean and Charron. “You are required to purchase your own insurance policy and provide evidence of insurance to the companies you may provide services to.”

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Freelance Work Still Requires Insurance This goes for all types of freelance work, and work agreements, too, say Mclean and Charron. “Even if the company you are doing freelance work for does not require you to provide evidence of insurance you should still have it. Should the work you do result in some type of bodily injury or property damage to a third party you can be sued. The company you have provided the work for will look to you to recover for damages. If you don’t have proper insurance in force you would have to pay for your legal defense and any damages awarded out of pocket. Having a Commercial General Liability insurance policy will protect your interests to the limit of insurance selected (as long as it is a covered loss). The industry standard is currently $2,000,000, however, depending on the work you do, higher limits may be required.”

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How Much Are Premiums?

While adding Commercial General Liability insurance to your freelance business may seem like an added cost (the type of costs you generally try to avoid by becoming a freelancer), in reality, policies and rates are usually based on your revenue. “The revenues allow an insurance company to gauge their exposure. The more you make shows an insurer exactly how much work you do and also the more likelihood of having a claim.

The type of operations you have also play a large part in the premiums charged. The more risky work you do, the higher your premium will be. For example, a general contractor who makes approximately $50,000 a year could pay $700 in annual premiums, whereas a general contractor who makes $5,000,000 could pay around $10,000 per year.”

Showing (And Asking For) Proof of Insurance Most businesses will require that you show proof of insurance before starting a job. And equally as important, freelancers should also ensure that the parties they work with are covered, too. “Proof of insurance is generally provided in the form of a certificate of insurance. A certificate of insurance is usually free to obtain for someone who has Commercial General Liability insurance. It will outline the effective and expiry dates, name of insurer, policy number, and the coverage and limits they have. It is basically a summary of the insurance information in force as of the day it is issued. We could have an entire article on the specifics and importance of requesting a certificate of insurance from anyone you do business with, whether you are a freelancer or the company requesting it.”

Don’t Wing It Mclean and Charron’s best advice? Don’t wing it. It’s always best to make sure you’re covered, no matter the scope or circumstances of the job. “Don’t do any work without having Commercial General Liability insurance in force!

We recommend that you discuss and determine your business set up with a financial advisor or accountant. Your insurance coverage can then be tailored to cover the unique needs of your business.

Choosing A Broker As a freelancer or business owner, it’s important to not only have, but understand your insurance coverage and plans, and why they are needed. This is the work of a good broker, say the pair.

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You can contact BrokerLink’s Orleans office at 613-8371060, or visit their website at Brokerlink.ca GILLES CHARRON Commercial Account Executive FACES MAGAZINE | 47

SPORTS

TIM STÜTZLE:

HELPING RESTORE THE FAITH IN OTTAWA

by Steve Warne

T

he fan base of a pro sports franchise can endure just about anything, so long as they have hope for better days ahead. In Ottawa, hope for the local NHL team has been in rather short supply. And, after the Senators started the year with a 2-12-1 record, it was starting to look like hope might be on hold for yet another season.

But, just in time for the spring, hope appears to have been renewed with young prospects now starting to bloom. It’s also likely that this team was always far more talented than its performances and record showed, victimized by an unprecedented 10 month off-season, followed by a brutally insufficient amount of preseason preparation time.

Yes, there’s now a clear view of light in the distance and one of the brightest lights has been German forward Tim Stützle, the third overall pick in the 2020 NHL draft. Stützle has infused the lineup with a mix of speed, skill and hustle at levels the franchise has rarely ever seen. His joy for hockey and bubbly personality has been infectious with everyone.

Apparently, he’s always been this way, even as a little kid.

“He thought it was the greatest when he could practice twice a day or even three times,” said his mother, Marion, in an interview with Magenta Sport.

“Everyone else went to the outdoor pool when it was 38 degrees Celcius.

They had off-ice practice in this stinky gym. And I said to him, ‘Don’t go to practice today. Go to the pool with your classmates.’ He said, ‘I’ll only go to the pool if you pick

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me up and I’m at practice on time.’

(Hockey) was always the greatest thing for him.”

Stützle continued to do things his way when it came to hockey. Two years ago, his parents weren’t pleased when he turned down a full scholarship to play hockey for the University of New Hampshire, a situation his mother called “a dream.” Instead, he stayed in Mannheim to play pro hockey, which he felt would be a better path to the NHL.

‘‘He continues to get better away from the puck.

He works hard, he’s getting better on the power play. Sky’s the limit for this guy. A guy that’s going to be a good player for a long time.”

“My goal was to play (NHL) hockey as soon as possible,” said Stützle. “To play adults. I just thought the sooner I can play against adults, the higher I can go in the draft. And because I thought it would help in life. I learned so much from (my older teammates).”

That includes Mannheim forward David Wolf, who briefly played for the Calgary Flames in 2014-15. At 31, Wolf has been around the block.

A guy like that might have very little time for a driven, teenaged teammate, but Stützle quickly earned everyone’s fondness and respect. Despite the age gap, Wolf regard Stützle as a friend and a peer.

“He treats people the way he wants to be treated,” said Wolf. In October, he and the entire team showed up for Stützle’s NHL draft party, which didn’t begin until around midnight Germany time.

The learning process now continues for Stützle in the NHL, getting used to the higher pace, improving defensively and figuring out which individual tactics still work and which ones won’t cut it anymore.

In the NHL, he can’t just skate past players like he so often did

SPORTS

at the recent World Junior Hockey Tournament in Edmonton.

On January 15th, Stützle made his NHL debut on his 19th birthday and then, a night later, scored his first NHL goal. It came on a Saturday night at home, as the Sens hosted Toronto in front of a national TV audience. And it was a goal that will never be forgotten.

Somehow, a puck got lobbed about 40 feet in the air, but Stützle waited for it, camped underneath it like an outfielder under a fly ball and, the second the puck hit the ice, he smashed home a one timer.

Stützle is already among the NHL’s rookie scoring leaders and miles ahead of last year’s number one pick, Alexis Lafreniere, who’s opened his career with just 2 points in his first 17 games.

Ottawa head coach, D.J. Smith, couldn’t be more pleased with the kid’s early days in the league.

“Once or twice a night he does something no one else can do,” said Smith. “He continues to get better

away from the puck. He works hard, he’s getting better on the power play.

Sky’s the limit for this guy. A guy that’s going to be a good player for a long time.”

Other teams know this too and the last thing they want is for Stützle to be comfortable out there. So teams like Toronto and Montreal haven’t been shy with the occasional cheap shot.

Last month, Stützle was a country mile away from the puck when Leafs’ defenceman Jake Muzzin hammered him with a hard, awkward cross-check.

Stützle missed some game action after that. This month, Montreal’s Philip Danault speared Stützle in the throat and Ben Chiarot cross-checked him in the back of the head.

It’s possible Brady Tkachuk, Stützle’s new roommate, took down Chiarot’s number after that. Tkachuk got into a dustup with the Habs’ defenceman in their most recent meeting. As Tkachuk sat in the penalty box after the fight, the TV cameras caught he and Stützle sharing an extended smile and chuckle.

Meanwhile, Chiarot had to go off for repairs.

While Stützle has been a breath of fresh air, it sounds like fresh air may be in short supply inside the new home he shares with Tkachuk and Josh Norris, two of the other young players who’ve helped restore faith in the club.

“It’s definitely been fun,” said Tkachuk.

“For the first couple of weeks my girlfriend was there. She was always cooking and cleaning for us. But now, since she went back home, now it’s kinda like the college frat house. On day one, it became a mess and now we’re just having a blast, playing tons of Xbox, watching lots of hockey, so it’s been good.”

As Stützle’s mom pointed out, things have always seemed to go her son’s way.

So, if things are this good now, one can only imagine the kind of player the kid will be in two or three years.

With Stützle onboard, along with many other excellent young prospects, Ottawa’s renewed hope in its team appears to be well placed.

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vincent de haître Ottawa’s Vincent De Haître is currently training to make Olympic history in the next two years.

The now 26-year old, who grew up in Cumberland, is already a 2-time Olympic speed skater. But here’s the catch: he’s also a national track cycling champion who is on-track (no pun intended) for the 2021 Summer Olympics.

Vincent is poised and training to be a dual-sport Olympian, something that only a handful of Canadians have ever done.

As the pandemic postponed the 2020 Olympics, this moved Vincent’s goal to compete in both the Summer and Winter Olympics from a feat that has only been achieved by few, to a goal that has never been done before in Olympic history.

Vincent will compete in both the upcoming Summer and Winter Olympics, with only 181 days in between closing and opening ceremonies. He’ll have about 6 weeks from the end of the Summer Olympics to the beginning of trials for Olympic speed skating.

It’s a lot of pressure, but it is clear that Vincent knows himself, his sports, and what he needs to do. And despite having an enormous goal he is aspiring to achieve, Vincent knows the importance of small victories when it comes to training and everyday life.

We caught up with the Capital’s dual-sport Olympian to discuss how he found his passion for both sports, and how he is preparing to take on a feat described as ‘nearly impossible’.

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“They taught me the value of seeing things through. Of owning up to your own decisions, planning things, and really sticking to it.

Those were all lessons my parents taught me through sport.”

You grew up in Cumberland.

What are some of your favourite memories of growing up there?

My favourite memories of growing up in Cumberland were going to the public arena. I would ride my bike there and skate during some of the public ice times for like, two dollars.

I was always riding my bike around the neighbourhood. Which was fairly spread out… we weren’t really close to anything. It would take me 15 minutes to ride to the nearest corner store.

When did you first discover speed skating? And when did you know that it was what you wanted to do?

I first discovered speed skating when I was going to public skating with my kindergarten class after school in Cumberland. One of the dads had a family friend who speed-skated, and they told my parents that I seemed to like to skate, and suggested it. We found the Gloucester Concordes Speed Skating Club, and I started skating then.

But it wasn’t till about age 12 that I knew I really wanted to pursue it at a higher level.

Tell us about your childhood and teen years, balancing speedskating, track cycling, and

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school and normal life. Something had to give, what was it?

If something had to give, it was the normal kid life. I didn’t do too many school sports. I tried doing Track and Field but it never really fit into my schedule. I tried wrestling in grade 7 and I only did that for a few months before I got injured skating. I still tried to do the wrestling competition, and I made my injury worse... the coach ended up pulling me out of the competition because I couldn’t walk anymore but I was still trying to wrestle (laughs).

I started cycling with a club when I was 16 and before that it was BMX Racing, but that was only in the summer and it was only on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so it was pretty easy to balance that.

As a skater in Ottawa, you can’t really skate that often because all of the ice times are pretty well booked for hockey.

So for speed skaters, we could skate like twice a week for a total of three hours.

So growing up with that, performance wise, it’s not ideal, but for what we had and for getting people interested… it was. Because kids won’t usually take an interest in something if you tell them, ‘hey, you’re going to be doing this five times a week for ten hours’.

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So I did have a bit of an open schedule for a lot of other stuff, but I was still busy overall. In my second to last year of high school, I went to Calgary four times in one year. I would leave on Thursday evening and then I’d be there Friday, race Saturday and Sunday, and come back and go Monday to school.

Who were some of the most influential people in your early career?

My parents. I can’t even begin to describe everything they’ve done to support me. The constant driving to practice, paying the bills... it was a lot, but they saw it as an investment in my future as a person. It gave me something to focus on, and goals to strive for. They taught me the value of seeing things through. Of owning up to your own decisions, planning things, and really sticking to it. Those were all lessons my parents taught me through sport.

What was it like to be the youngest member of Team Canada’s speedskating team in 2014. You were surprised that you even qualified. Tell me about that experience?

I did Junior Worlds the year before, and I ended up qualifying for the development team for the following season, which was the Olympic

season. I qualified for Calgary and Salt Lake World cups, but because we had an extra quota spot, I ended up qualifying fifth, which means I could go. Normally they just take four but in this case they took five because it was a home World Cup. And so I did a 1500m race in Calgary and Salt Lake City, which are two ovals that I’ve already skated at other events, so it was still like racing on my home ice the whole time.

Going into the Olympic Trials, I ended up winning the 1,000m race which I had finished 7th in at the fall trials. And then placing third in the 1500m race which I came fifth in at the fall trials. It was a bit of a surprise to win at trials.

I knew the plan was to be at my best for trials. Most other athletes at the highest level don’t try and be their best at trials, because they want to be their best at the Olympics. You can’t just be at your best all the time, so you have to really pick and choose your events. Some of the top athletes can be at 90% of what they can do and still win. But I ended up messing that up for a couple of them.

But that set me up for the rest of my career. Because I had done well at trials and gone to the Olympics, I then was retroactively given national team funding.

Photo by Speed Skating Canada, Dave Holland

Tell me about how the pandemic put a wrench in your plan to compete at both the Summer and Winter olympics.

It took something that few people have done, that was already very challenging, and made it into something that no one has ever done, that is nearly impossible.

The hard part is the turnaround time between both games and between trials. I have about 180 days between closing ceremonies from one Olympics to the opening ceremonies of the next.

In those days, I only have 6 weeks for the first trials from the closing ceremonies to the first trials for the winter olympics.

To finish top two or preferably first in Canada. And then I have another 8 weeks before the next trials. It’s a really short turnaround time, and that’s essentially the biggest challenge.

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So I likely won’t have a good performance until the Olympics... if I can find my way there.

You’re currently in Calgary. What does your training routine look like right now?

We’ve been allowed to start training somewhat together, wearing masks, but essentially the only thing I’ve done indoors in the last two months is ride my bike. Everything else I do outdoors.

I skate outdoors, I do my running and jumping outdoors... I can’t really jump in my apartment because it shakes the building (laughs). But basically I do everything outdoors except ride my bike, which is the one thing I’d rather do outdoors (laughs).

I train mostly alone or within proximity of my teammates. I’m working both with my cycling and skating teams to develop a training plan that meets the demands of each sport. I’ve just spent a big block of time in skating and I have a few days off right now, and I’ll be starting my prep to get ready to do the first cycling camp in a few weeks.

What are you looking forward to the most about the 2021 Olympics?

The end of the waiting. Not in a bad way, but... we were four months away, focused on doing it, and then all of a sudden we’re like ‘ah actually, one more year.’

It was about thinking that something is right there and then all of a sudden it’s not, and you have to keep on it.

At the same time, it’s a bit of a blessing in disguise. Our team has been improving, and we’ve definitely seen some gains that could be made and we’re changing our program accordingly to make the team faster when the Olympics come around.

So we’re hoping for a decent performance, and it’s nice that we have the time to do it. At the same time, it’s hard to stay on it for that long.

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For athletes, things are really time sensitive. You can only do your sport for so long, and everyone has different years where they’re good. So, the challenge is that we’ve had to do another full year and have had to hope that in that year there are no injuries. And hope that in that year, we get all the training we need in. So, that’s really been the challenging part... the waiting a year, and being expected to perform even though we will not have raced since the World Championships in February of 2020. The next race is the Olympics in August 2021. Which is over a year since our last competition.

From reading and watching your interviews, it’s clear that you are very driven and very competitive with yourself. How do you manage that intense pressure you put on yourself, and make sure that it stays positive? Not negative?

Whenever there is a circumstance in front of me, and I know that something I’m about to do is not going to be fun, and I’m not going to enjoy doing it, I remember that by doing it I will be setting a building block to become better later on. Because that’s what your training is: you’re setting building blocks so that

you’re better later on. Until it’s later on and it’s the race and you’re like “okay, I have everything I need, I’m prepared.”

But until then, all your doing is training so that you can do a different training session later on. For example, you work on strength so you can do speed later.

So all of these things work together. And athletes are basically just big legos. You just keep putting things together until things work.

No matter how unpleasant a training session is going to be in my mind, I like to think that at the end of it, I’ve reached 100% of the enjoyment I could have gotten out of it. So maybe the session had very little enjoyment to be had. But I found 100% of it and I took that. I try to think of it that way.

So it’s really just being clear on the program and knowing what’s expected and what you can do, and having clear goals.

How important has and is goal setting to your success as a dualsport Olympian?

The big thing is setting multiple goals. Not just end goals, but also process goals. For

Photo by Speed Skating Canada, Dave Holland

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example, I want to move my hip a certain way to achieve a certain position, and if I can do that 90% of the time, I’ll be very happy. And that’s a small goal. A big goal is I want to go to the Olympics in less than a year. But there’s loads of goals inside of that, so you always have something to work towards. And it’s not just having that one goal at the end and it seeming so far away that you don’t know how to relate it to what you’re doing right now. You need to have little goals all along the way.

You have to make sure you have both big and small, easy and hard goals… so if you’re having a really bad day, then you can just start focusing on the easy goals, and then you have a bunch of small victories to work your day around.

What is your best advice for anyone looking to follow in your footsteps?

Um, don’t do it during a pandemic (laughs). I would say be very clear with your national team or national teams about what you plan to accomplish. It has to be a team effort.

“It took something that few people have done, that was already very challenging, and made it into something that no one has ever done, that is nearly impossible.”

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4 More Reasons To Spring Clean When spring arrives, doing a deep clean of your home isn’t just a great idea or a longstanding tradition, it comes with a host of surprising benefits.

A cluttered kitchen can lead to weight gain A study done by Cornell Food and Brand Lab found that the messier a kitchen is, the more calories you are likely to consume. The study found that kitchen chaos leads us to be less disciplined in our diets, and has us reaching for snacks more often.

Your Carpet Makes A Larger Impression Than You Do A study done in the city of Oakville found evidence to support that almost 40% of houseguests draw impressions of others based on the cleanliness of their carpet, more so than their hospitality.

If You Use Dryer Sheets, You’re Not Cleaning Your Dryer Properly Removing lint from your dryer certainly helps to clear the filter from visible congestion, but if you’re using dryer sheets, the silicon-based chemicals from the sheets will, overtime, build an invisible barrier that will block your vent. Try to wash (and let dry completely) your filter every four months.

Spring Cleaning Could Improve Your Relationship It’s not surprising that over 47% of couples report fighting over who should clean (and those are just the ones who admit to it). A good spring clean can help thwart frustrations, and tackling the task together also makes for some fun together-time.

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NowThis Surprising finds from the world of research.

Here’s The Most Popular Cocktail In The World (And It’s Not A Margarita) While quick-match dating apps have gotten a bad rap in recent years for making it too easy to ‘match, meet-up, and repeat’, a new study published in the Journal PLOS ONE suggests that dating app flames aren’t all quick to rise, quick to fall relationships.

The study surveyed over 3,000 couples who met on dating apps like Tinder and Bumble about their experiences and made some interesting suggestions.

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While dating apps can absolutely promote shorter-term relationships, many long-term relationships are formed because users are able to meet people who are motivated to enter a serious relationship and are more likely to do so than if they were to meet someone compatible in person.

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When Technology Fails, Our Stress Levels Double, New Study Says New research is showing that our dependency on connectivity can have detrimental effects on our health when things go awry.

New Study Says Diet Drinks Are Just As Bad For Your Heart

Neuroscience firm EMOTIV recently conducted a study that looked at the brainwaves of people experiencing technical glitches during standard, every-day interactions with their phone or computer. The glitches were things like slow internet speeds, failed log-in attempts, and loading failures.

A 10-year study of over 100,000 participants has found that diet drinks aren’t a healthier alternative when it comes to heart health.

The study, which was based on research from french company NutriNet-Sante, was recently published in The Journal of the American College of Cardiology. It concludes that in a tenyear follow-up, participants who drank both sugary and artificially sweetened drinks were both leading to heart disease risk.

“Our study suggests artificially sweetened beverages may not be a healthy substitute for sugar drinks,” says the study’s lead author Eloi Chazelas from the Nutritional Epidemiology Research Team at Sorbonne Paris Nord University.

The study observed that when people were met with consistent tech glitches, their stress levels more than doubled, a reaction that doesn’t usually happen during our daily lives.

Stress levels caused by technology also took a long time to calm down to normal rates, unlike other forms of stress, like arguments, or stubbing your toe.

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Drake Batherson Talks hometown, his top NHL moments, and his best advice.

Ottawa Senators rising star Drake Batherson on his first impressions of Ottawa, his focus for the rest of the season, and his best advice for aspiring hockey players.

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Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images

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“

I’ve had a lot of passion for the game. I’ve been cut from teams my whole life, and I just kept playing.

Y

our father Paul played in the Senators organization and your uncle, Dennis Vial, was a fan favourite during his 5 seasons here in Ottawa.

Did that make it any more special when you came to the organization?

Yea, it was pretty special. My uncle used to play for the Senators and my dad played for the minor league affiliate team for a year. I came here when I was 12 on a trip with my uncle. He brought me up for a couple of games. It’s funny, you come into the room now and it’s still the exact same.

“

Tell us about the 2018 World Junior Championships. You were a key part of Canada winning gold, scoring 7 goals in 7 games, how did it feel to win Gold for Canada and how big a moment was that for you?

It was unbelievable. Growing up in Canada, everyone watched the World Juniors. It is a family tradition for my family every Christmas, we watch the whole tournament. Being able to have the opportunity to play for them, let alone win the Gold Medal, has probably been the best experience of my hockey career so far, to be honest with you.

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What, if anything, did your Uncle Dennis tell you about playing for Ottawa and living in Ottawa before you came to the city?

Speaking of your small town in the Maritimes, did you find coming to Eastern Canada was a change?

I know he liked his time here. He played here for five years, so he was here for a long time and really liked the city.

It’s a little different here. I mean, we don’t have a whole lot of restaurants in my hometown. So coming here, I get a little spoiled and get to go out to eat all of the time. It’s definitely a treat, and when I go back in the summer it’s very relaxing. I love it.

I’m from a small town, so any city I go to I think is unbelievable. I love it here.

Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images

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November 15th, 2018. You got to live a day that most Canadian kids only get to dream about.

You play your 1st NHL Game, it’s a home game against an original 6 team, the Detroit Red Wings, with your family all up from Nova Scotia cheering you on. You score your first NHL goal. Do you remember what that felt like, and how you celebrated?

It was special, I scored right off a face-off in the second period. My whole family was sitting behind the net. I think I had, like, 15 people at the game all sitting in the same row. When I went in I kind of blacked out, I got to the bench and I don’t even remember what I did for a celebration. But overall, it was a moment I’ll never forget.

What is it like for you to play in front of no fans this season? When we see it on TV, with the fake crowd noise and commentators, it’s sometimes easy to forget you guys are playing in an empty arena. What is that experience like for you and your teammates?

It’s a little different. The first couple of games without the fans was weird, but we’ve played so many games in such a short time, we don’t really notice it.

We’re just so focused on what we gotta do during the game.

You do hear the odd fan noise they put in, but, I think you hear it more on TV than we do on the ice. It was a change at first, but now we’re used to it.

You’ve scored twice in your last 3 games, and you’re playing with a bit more confidence now. Where is your head at going forward?

Just getting used to the league.

Whenever you come into a new league full time, there’s definitely some growing pains. But I’m focusing on playing with confidence.

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Having chemistry with your linemates is also key in this. It’s hard to score, but the more confidence and chemistry that you play with leads to more scoring opportunities. So that’s what I’ve been focusing on.

And my linemates have been awesome.

Tell us about that incredible 6-5 win over Toronto this past week. What was it like for you as a player? Was there something someone said in the intermission that really fired you guys up?

I haven’t been a part of a comeback like that in a really long time, maybe three or four years. And I think it was the first time in franchise history that they came back from that big of a deficit.

We scored a goal at the end of the second to make it 5-2. Going into the intermission, they just said “keep playing, you never know what could happen.”

We scored a goal right off the bat and then got one late to tie it up and then the overtime goal was awesome. The boys are pretty fired up and happy to get that win, for sure.

Tell us about some of the guys on the team. Who, would you say, is the funniest guy on the team?

We have a lot of different characters on the team. You get a mix of all different types of people.

There’s a few funny guys. Nick

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Paul is always making people laugh. He’s never had a bad day at the rink, he’s always in a good mood. There’s so many guys like that, young guys I’ve played with in the minors, and guys I’ve played with in bits and spurts up here in the last two years.

We have a great room and we have a lot of fun every day.

Do you have a favourite Netflix Show or movie? What’s your recommendation to anyone reading this?

That’s pretty good (laughs). I’ve probably watched Prison Break on Netflix three or four times, the full thing. I love it.

Favourite movie....I liked the Dumb and Dumber movies.

Those are always classics. Not a big movie guy, to be honest.

I like watching Netflix shows more.

What’s your go to pre-andpost game meals?

Before every game I like penne with rose sauce with a little chicken. Maybe a salad.

After the game, there’s always pizza in the room so I have a slice or two of that. And maybe a steak… if we’re getting spoiled (laughs).

We want to get to know you off the ice a bit. What are your hobbies? Do you play Fortnite with some of your other teammates?

Yea, I’ve played Fortnite for a long time. It was more of a thing

in my first year of pro and now I think a lot of the guys are on the Call of Duty train. We’re playing all the time. We’re stuck at home, so there’s not much else to do.

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Just getting used to the league.

Whenever you come into a new league full time, there’s definitely some growing pains. But I’m focusing on playing with confidence.

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Drake Batherson #19 of the Ottawa Senators arrives on the red carpet prior their NHL home opener against the New York Rangers at Canadian Tire Centre on October 5, 2019 in Ottawa, Ontario.

Are you big into fashion? What’s your thing?

I like a little bit of fashion. I’m not the best dressed guy on the team, but I like shoes. I’m a big shoe guy. I probably have about 40 or 50 pairs. I have a big collection… my mom gives me heat for buying new shoes all the time.

I’m definitely not up there in style, but I like having a few nice things, for sure.

How have you enjoyed Ottawa as a city? Any favourite spots to go to?

Lastly, what is your best advice for anyone looking to follow in your footsteps?

I’ve had a lot of passion for the game. I’ve been cut from teams my whole life, and I just kept playing. I think I mostly play for the fun of it, I love competing.

Never give up on your dream, and work hard. And have fun. It’s pretty cliche, everyone says to have fun, but it really is about that. We all play in the NHL and we’re still having fun every day and working hard, so that’s my advice.

I love it. This year we’re not really allowed to go anywhere but my favourite place for lunch is Pestos. It’s a deli sandwich place in Kanata. I mix it up for super, I live out in Kanata so I like going to Moxies for dinner, or Fratelli’s.

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CTV Ottawa’s CHRISTINA SUCCI When a love for journalism led CTV’s Christina Succi away from a career in education and into the newsroom, she never looked back. Now a dynamic and dedicated face of CTV Ottawa, the Toronto Native continues to bring breaking news stories to a community she says is “like no other”.

Christina got her break into reporting when she was offered a position with Global News Alberta. At just 25, she moved across the country, by herself, to pursue it. Now, with years of experience reporting for news outlets in Alberta, Kitchener, and Ottawa under her belt, Christina continues to drive local news and impact stories in the Nation’s Capital.

We caught up with the CTV Ottawa Anchor to discuss her journey to journalism, her favourite hobbies off-camera, and her best advice on confidence and career.

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” You grew up in Toronto. What are some of your favourite memories from your childhood?

Certainly the unrelenting buzz and contagious energy of downtown Toronto, one that I believe is truly unmatched by any other city in Canada.

When your high school is located just outside of Yorkville, you quickly gain your independence by constantly traveling to and through that neighbourhood. Being immersed in its refined, posh culture does shape you, though I didn’t entirely realize it at the time, I find as I get older, there are traits I picked up in those teenage years, that now serve me well as an adult.

You attended Queen’s University for Arts & Education, and began your career as a writer for Sportscentre. It wasn’t until 2016 that you got into broadcasting.

Tell us about the moment you knew you wanted to be in front of the camera?

It was in the final months of my postgraduate program at Queen’s University, closing in on my Bachelor of Education in 2013, when I began to feel unfilled by the field of education. Boredom, with a splash of uncertainty, had me contempla-

The Capital is full of educated, compassionate, and invigorated people who care more about their city than I’d ever observed anywhere else.

”

ting other career paths. I was even in LSAT prep programs, bracing to write the LSATs to apply for law school. However, the education program did allow you a 3-week practicum (essentially an internship) where you could observe an

unconventional learning environment’. I’ve always been drawn to sports, and being a huge fan of the Canadian sports talk show “Off The Record”. So doing my practicum at the Sports Network was truly a turning point. It changed my career path. I was enthralled with the chasing, the producing, the writing, the interviews, and of course, the brilliant mind that is Michael Landsberg. He took me under his wing and saw that I had a natural gift for the world of journalism and the fast-moving, thrilling television industry.

I could only agree that it just felt right.

I then pursued an accelerated Bachelor of Journalism in Toronto. In my first year, I was offered the job of writer at TSN’s Sportscentre.

I balanced classes during the day before zipping across the 401 to TSN for an evening shift, where I produced the highlight packages (you know, the 2 minute summary of the Leafs vs. Habs game that night) and handed it off to on-air talent. I knew I had to pay my dues, but I wanted more for myself. I wanted to be the one telling the city the news, not just writing the news. I began accepting any and every opportunity for any role in community television to build an onair demo reel. I threw it up on YouTube. It wasn’t long until I was head-hunted for an on-camera reporter and anchor position for Global News

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in Alberta (a small market) and at age 25, I made the very necessary decision to move solo, across the country, to capitalize on this critical break into the industry. After less than a year, I was offered a position back in Ontario as an on-air reporter for CTV News in Kitchener (medium market), and within months, was made anchor there too.

importance of having an entire city rely on you. It was crucial to decipher all the hesaid-she-said and quell community-wide fears of the coronavirus. During these critically sensitive and fluctuating times, I have never been more driven. I have never worked harder in my life to seek truth and ensure accuracy and precision in my reporting, anchoring, and journalism.

You landed your role at CTV in 2018. Who was the first person you called when you found out you had gotten the job?

What is the most memorable story you’ve reported on so far?

I called my agent in New York City first.

When I received the offer, I had actually been interviewing with major American networks in NYC. I’ll never forget it. I was in a cab, on my way to JFK airport, wrapping up a week of interviews and meetings, still riding a high from my last one with CNN, and then my phone rang. I was torn. I had always deeply admired CTV Ottawa, which was known to be one of the best newsrooms in Canada. After spending one year in Kitchener, I was incredibly keen on a new challenge. But what would my agent say? He was fabulous and incredibly supportive, keen too, to see me succeed. After a brief conversation, we mutually decided CTV Ottawa was the right next step for me, and would allow me the opportunity to cover large-scale stories that impacted more people, and in more ways, while growing and refining my journalism alongside some of the best journalists in Canada.

What were your first impressions of Ottawa?

I honestly loved it. It was like all the best parts of Toronto were married together in a big city, albeit it felt and still does feel like a small town at times. If you’re not into politics, at the federal, provincial, and municipal level, though, you might find it dull. But the community of faithful CTV viewers is second to none. The Capital is full of educated, compassionate, and invigorated people who care more about their city than I’d ever observed anywhere else.

Obviously, COVID19 has impacted the way you bring news to our community.

What has been the most challenging part of the COVID transitions for you in your job?

There are no words that could ever properly convey the massive transition of reporting and the endless challenges we were met with along the way this year. The suffocating uncertainty of what started as an unknown, foreign virus, was perhaps the most terrifying, as we attempted to compile as much accurate information as possible. We understood the absolute

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Without a doubt, the Westboro Bus Crash is the most memorable story I have ever reported on. I will never forget that day or that night. It was the coldest day of 2019 yet, and that was originally my assignment that day. Around 4 p.m. on Friday, January 20th, everything changed. I received a call as I was on the road, and immediately turned the vehicle around and took a back route before arriving at one of the most shocking scenes I had ever seen. I had been a breaking news reporter for 2 years now, so I was accustomed to witnessing frightening scenes, most of which are collisions or fires. But nothing could have prepared me for what I saw and heard that night. It was the beginning of 8 hours of non-stop news coverage at one of the biggest tragedies Ottawa has ever seen. The story, nor the trauma or the suffering ends there, though. It lives with the reporters, witnesses, and first responders there that night. The memories forever ingrained in our heads, absolutely pale in comparison to the shattered families who lost innocent lives of loved ones that afternoon.

What is it like working alongside Stefan Keyes?

Stefan is such a deeply talented and incredible individual both in and outside of the newsroom, and I am eternally grateful for his mentorship and partnership in both business and personal life. What I admire most about Stefan, aside from his remarkable writing, is the very high expectations he upholds for himself, and as do I, and so together, we consistently raise the bar of our weekend newscasts. It comes together in a very harmonious, natural way.

What is one piece of advice you can give to people who are camera shy?

How do you overcome being nervous on live television?

Confidence is everything. If you don’t have it, fake it until you make it. And many of the minor or mild mistakes or flubs are forgettable - but that does not apply to misinformation or reporting falsities, as that is quite serious and should be corrected immediately. Viewers can be forgiving, but not all of them, so you’d do yourself good to grow a thicker skin, as the keyboard in 2021, tends to give some people a pass to be very cruel.

Outside of work, what do you like to do on your time off?

I love to cook. I find the process cathartic, and a way to detach from work and covering what is often very heavy content. My guilty pleasure is certainly reality television. It helps in the detaching and unwinding process, as it gives you something to not really “have to think” about. I also find fitness and working out to be the main channel for outletting any stress, pressure, and frustration. I have never regretted a workout. It’s an instant mood-lifter.

What are some of your favourite places to go (restaurants, coffee shops, salons) in Ottawa?

This is a tough one, because I certainly would like to think I am an avid supporter of local businesses.

Restaurants: Riviera, Giovanni’s, Shore Club, North & Navy, Mati, Wellington Diner (best breakfast in the city) and honestly, if you’re a sucker for a Cobb salad like myself, the one at Joey Rideau or The Brig in the Byward Market, is what dreams are made of.

For more quick bites or pizza, DeRienzo’s, Greek on Wheels, Lorenzo’s Pizza.

Salons: Fiorella, Pure Beauty Studio, Refined Image, La Crystal Nail Salon.

What kind of music do you listen to? Who are some of your favourite artists?

I listen to everything. Honestly. Even country. Actually, more recently, it’s been only country on replay. During the one year I spent living in Alberta, I was immersed in the undying love for the country and culture there, I will forever be a fan. Favourite artists in the overall picture, though, are Luke Combs, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Drake, Billie Eilish, Sam Smith, and too many deep house DJ’s to name.

Lastly, what’s your best piece of advice for anyone looking to establish themselves in their career?

Succeeding in a cutthroat television industry comes down to one simple concept: work hard. There is no room for laziness here.

When you’re not practicing, someone else is. And regardless of how hard you work, there is someone else out there, working harder. Yes, you are on your own path, and the only person you should compare yourself to, is yourself (block out the rest), but always remember, your work yesterday, becomes the current benchmark to beat, so constantly upholding yourself to higher standards will ultimately be your key to success.

You’re only as good as your last story.

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Photo by Koko King

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WHY? LIFE

B l ac k Y o u t h h e l p l i n e

BYH is a Canadian-run organization that offers accessible, safe, and culturally-appropriate resources to youth of all backgrounds. Its services begin Why Do We with a helpline, but include professionCall It A al, culturally relevant youth and family ‘Hamburger?’ assessments and intervention, stay-inschool initiatives and referral assistance, It has been written helping black youth overcome barriers to that the name accessing social services in Canada.

“Hamburger” came from a dish known as “Hamblackyouth.ca burg Style Beef” 1-833-294-8650 which arrived in 19th Century North America from the city of Hamburg in Germany. ‘Hamburg Style Beef’ was simply chopped meat which was to be eaten raw.

Why Do We Say ‘O’Clock’?

This term came to fruition as a way for people to distinguish between whether they were getting the time off of a clock instead of from something like a sundial, for example. This term dates back as far as the 14th Century, where people would say something along the lines of “it is seven of the clock”, as time went by – in about the 16th Century, this became shortened to ‘Seven O’Clock”.

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Why Do We Tell Performers To Break A Leg? We often tell our friends to “break a leg” prior to going on stage or to do a performance/ speech. This term apparently reflects a theatrical superstition where wishing a person ‘good luck’ is considered to bring bad luck… so we wish them to have bad luck (ie: go break a leg) as a way of bringing good luck.

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HOW TO BE A BETTER LISTENER H

ere’s some truth: most of us are bad listeners. In fact, if you consider yourself a good listener, then you most probably exhibit most of the traits of a bad listener. Hear us out - if you listen to anything this month, let it be our guide to truly being all-ears.

3 THINGS TO KNOW

PEOPLE WHO ASK FOR ADVICE RARELY WANT ADVICE People who need a listener will often engage you by asking for your opinion. Most of the time, what people really want to do is talk through their problem, but asking for your counsel sounds way better than asking you to become an emotional backboard. When you fail to recognize that, and begin to launch into our own opinions, the confidant may feel that you perceive them as incapable of solving their own problem.

Instead, help your friend work their problem through and offer your opinion on the small decisions as they come up in the convo, instead of an in-depth analysis.

LISTENING IS THE EASY PART When listening, keep in mind your body language. If you’re on your phone, fidgeting, straightening the coffee table in front of you, anything but focusing on them, a friend can take this as you being not really interested. Recognizing when someone needs some undivided support is key to being a good listener when it matters most.

MIND READERS NEVER IMPRESS

LISTENING 101

Here are three quick and easy steps to improve your listening skills: After they are done talking, take a pause before you begin. It will help the person feel as if you heard them, and are genuinely thinking about what they said (as you should be)

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Say their problems back to them in a quick summary. It will help them to gain perspective on their problems, and make them feel heard.

Rather than stating an opinion, ask questions to clarify what is being said. This helps your friend to work through their problem. Only after you’ve done this, should you offer an opinion.

When a listener tries to infer unspoken meanings and motives from their friend, what is an attempt to really dig deep and think about another’s problem becomes a shot in the dark that tells your friend that you may have spent the conversation thinking about what you were going to say rather than listening.

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The Best Things In Life.

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3 TIPS FOR FIXING A PHONE CHARGER THAT ISN’T WORKING Phone chargers are our connection to the digital world. Without a working charger, we’re running on borrowed (cellular) time.

So what happens when your phone charger stops working? Before throwing it out and heading to Apple, try these three hacks for cleaning out your port.

COULD IT BE DUST OR LINT?

Simply put, if you check both

Your charging port may have

plugging it in each time,

too much dust in it, causing your phone to not charge.

After rattling around your pocket, your purse or even on the shelf, the chance of dust, lint or any other material making its way into

you will greatly decrease the chances of any future charging problems. However, if there is a dust problem with your port, simply shine a light into it. If there is dust or lint clearly visible, then it

your charging port is all too

definitely needs a cleaning.

common. If this is the case,

USE A TOOTHPICK

when you plug your charger in, this could prevent a strong electrical connection, immediately stopping any power going towards the battery.

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your port and charger before

Easily enough, gently use a toothpick to scrape the inside of the port. This will loosen up any dirt that is stuck in there

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and when you shake it afterwards,

The wood on the toothpick is also

blow into the port with your mouth.

you’ll be surprised as to how much

softer than any metal, lower the

Remember when you thought blowing

crud will fall out. However, there

risk of permanent damage.

into your Nintendo cartridges would rid

are two major things to keep in mind if you follow this option.

One, make sure you use the

USE COMPRESSED AIR

toothpick as gently as possible.

the dust and make it work better? Well that is not the case.

Unlike the compressed air in the can, your mouth is full of water vapour, or

Usually only used by the professional

spit in a simplistic terms, that could

You don’t want to bend or scratch

phone repairers, compressed air

damage the electronics within the port.

anything because if you end up

is a useful tool that will easily blow

Do not use your mouth to blow the

damaging the port, you’ll have

any unwanted substances from your

dust out because fixing water damage

to either pay big bucks to have

charging port. You can actually buy

could hit your wallet pretty hard.

it fixed or replaced. Two, do not,

them in cans at your local hardware

under any circumstances, use

store, Walmart or even online. The

If you are not comfortable cleaning the

anything other than a toothpick

most popular brand is called Dust-Off,

port on your own or if the situation

when cleaning the port. It will be

a can of compressed air with a long

surpasses a dirt problem, there are cell

tempting to use a pin, needle or

straw-like nozzle for more powerful

phone repair shops around Ottawa that

paperclip because they will fit

and precise air shots.

can service you including Mobile Klinik,

in the hole better but the metal

Rideau Cell PHone Plus and Cellphone

substance risk a short circuit that

Using these, you can loosen up the

could inevitably destroy your entire

dirt and lint enough to shake out with

phone.

little to no risk of damage. However,

Repairs Ottawa

BY KORY GLOVER

it’s important to note you should not

+ naturally alkaline spring water

+ essential minerals + electrolytes

+ 100% sustainably sourced

+ pure taste

+ planet-friendly pack FACES MAGAZINE | 75

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4

ST. PATRICK’S DAY COCKTAILS AND HOW TO MAKE THEM

EMERALD ISLE INGREDIENTS: 2 oz. Barrymore Pinot Grigio 4 Cucumber Chunks 5 Mint Leaves ¾ oz. Lime Juice ¾ oz. Simple Syrup DIRECTIONS: To make syrup: mix equal parts hot water + sugar until sugar is dissolved. // In a cocktail shaker, muddle cucumber + mint leaves. // Fill shaker with ice and add the lime juice, simple syrup, and wine. // Shake and Garnish with 3 mint sprigs and a cucumber slice.

SHAMROCK SHAKE UP INGREDIENTS: 1 ½ oz. Vodka 1 oz. Simple Syrup (equal parts sugar + hot water) ¾ oz. Lime Juice 6 Mint Leaves 1 oz. Soda Water DIRECTIONS: Muddle mint leaves with simple syrup + lime juice in a shaker. // Add vodka, shake, and strain into a highball glass filled with ice. // Top with soda + garnish with a mint sprig

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GREEN (SPIKED) ICED TEA INGREDIENTS 1 TeaBag of Ginger Lemon Tea 3 oz. Cucumber Juice (put cucumber in blender, blend, and strain) 1 ½ oz. of Tequila Splash of Lemon Juice Garnish: Lime Wedge DIRECTIONS In a glass, let tea bag diffuse in the tequila for 30 minutes. // Remove bag + squeeze out excess. // Combine all ingredients with another in a glass filled with ice. // Stir and garnish with a lime wedge.

EMERALD CRUSH INGREDIENTS: 2 oz. Vodka ½ Kiwi ½ Lime Juice 1 tsp. Sugar DIRECTIONS: Peel Kiwi + Cut Lime into Quarters Muddle fruit + sugar in a shaker until well crushed + juicy.

Add ice + vodka, then shake well Pour all contents into a glass and add a straw

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KYLE Kyle BUKAUS Bukauskas KAS Photography by Sean Sisk

Kyle Bukauskas is an avid supporter of dreaming big. Growing up in a small town in BC, his love for hockey was fueled by his admiration for the game, the energy, and for hockey greats like Paul Kariya. After high school, he left to study broadcasting at SAIT in Calgary, and at only 19 years old, he traded the sprawling mountains of the West Coast for the bustling cityscapes of Eastern Canada, to land his first role working behind the scenes of Sportsnet in Toronto.

As he progressed in his career, these cityscapes also included Ottawa. Though Kyle admits that Ottawa’s small-town feel seems a bit more like home, it has been an instrumental market for the reporter to build a name for himself in sports broadcasting.

Kyle currently lives in the Capital, covering the Ottawa Senators.

We caught up with him to discuss the most memorable moments of his early career, his thoughts on the latest edition of the Ottawa Senators, and some of his best advice for aspiring broadcasters.

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ou grew up in Campbell River, British Columbia. For those of us who’ve never had the pleasure of heading out West, tell us what your hometown is like.

Well, it’s a smaller town, about 30,000 people when I was growing up. Right along the eastern side of Vancouver Island. Big fishing community, heavy logging community… my father worked in the woods industry his entire working life.

It was a great spot for me to grow up because everything was outdoors. It wasn’t cold enough there in the wintertime to have the frozen outdoor rinks, but I played minor hockey.

In the summer, I played sports like baseball and lacrosse, went mountain biking, things like that. It was all just right there for me.

I love going home every time I get to now.

It’s funny, as a kid, you take the scenery and the climate for granted. It was all I ever knew.

I did my broadcasting school in Calgary. In my first year on campus, I was up on the 9th floor looking at the Rockies and Banff. All of a sudden the mountains that I used to just reach out and touch from my bedroom window were way off in the distance. I thought “what have I done?”

So now when I go back, I never take any of it for granted. And I wouldn’t trade growing up there for anything.

Were you a fan of the Canucks? Who were some of your favourite players?

Paul Kariya was my favourite player. So naturally, the mighty Ducks of Anaheim were my first love as a kid. My dad took me to my first NHL game when I was 7 years old. It was in Vancouver when Anaheim came to town.

Anaheim lost that night, 8-1. The only goal that Anaheim scored was by Paul Kariya. It came early in the second period, and at that time my dad had convinced me to go get

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stuff in the concession because the lines would be short.

Of course he scored then. To this day, I have no idea what that goal looked like, but you know I was in my seat for all eight Vancouver goals (laughs).

That probably played a role in why I wasn’t a Canucks fan growing up, and later on became a Flames fan.

You attended SAIT (Southern Alberta Institute of Technology) to study Broadcasting. Even before you had graduated, you had an interview with Sportsnet in Toronto. What was it like to be a student in school flying, across the country to interview for a national sports network?

A whirlwind would be one way to put it. I mean, it was always a goal of mine to get to somewhere like Toronto, because I knew that was where the head offices were for TSN and Sportsnet at the time, I wanted to work at a sports network and I wanted to read highlights.

I mean, you go into media and you understand that there are certain steps you have to take in your career after school. You’re told that you have to start somewhere small to hone your craft and work your way up.

And I was totally fine with that. So, when that all came about, I was completely floored.

When I flew out there, I was 19 years old. I was obviously really excited and terrified all at once. But on the other hand, I also knew that this may be as good a chance as I was ever going to get, even though it came a lot quicker than I had originally thought.

I remember going in and doing an audition in the Sportsnet studios, just minutes after Hazel Mae finished her 6 PM connect show. It felt like I certainly wasn’t in Kansas anymore.

It was an incredible opportunity, and I’m so fortunate that it led to a career that has me still at the company over 7 years later.

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Who were some of the people at Sportsnet that took you under their wing? Do you remember any advice that has stuck with you throughout your career?

Arash Madani was the first one. When I first got started there, I wasn’t on air right away. I was tagging along with different reporters, going to a Leafs practice or a Leafs game, or a Raptors game… just seeing how they went about gathering information and putting stories together.

Arash was one of the guys that I worked with and we really hit it off right away.

One piece of advice he gave to me early on was “keep your eyes open, your ears open, and your mouth closed”. Be someone to absorb everything, but don’t be speaking out of turn. I’ve always remembered that and kept that in mind as I’ve tried to carve out a role for myself here at the Network.

Another piece of advice that still sticks with me now and I think about quite often is from Sid Seixeiro, a About a year after I started working there, and had moved to Ottawa but was back in Toronto on assignment for a couple of days. We were sitting in an Irish pub, and over a plate of blarney chips he told me that you have to pick.

However many it is… the 8, 10, 12 people in your life. Maybe it’s your boss, your direct colleague, your close friends, girlfriend, parents or siblings...

That close group of people whose opinion of you really matters. How they view you matters. Those are the opinions you really take to heart, and everybody else, you just can’t worry about.

That’s something I’ve always tried to keep in mind. In a business like this, you’re obviously in the public eye and it’s easier than ever before for people who want to tell you that they don’t like how your tie is tied or the suit you’re wearing or what you’re saying on the air that night. It’s very easy for them to let you know about that. So, it’s important to have those people in your life that, if they think you’re doing okay, then any other criticism you can take with a grain of salt and try not to lose too much sleep over.

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You had a memorable encounter on live TV with the Flyers Mascot, Gritty.

You showed incredible poise while the mascot was messing around with you. Did you know that was about to happen?

I knew going in that there was a pretty good chance that he was going to be part of our 30-second opening to the game that night, and that there may be some fun had at my expense. So, I was at least mentally prepared for that going in. But when I got blasted on the side of my face with the silly string, I honest to God had no idea that was coming.

So when you watch that back and you see my reaction, that was a pure, 100% authentic reaction to silly string on live TV. You currently live in Ottawa, how do you enjoy the city? What are some of your favourite things to do and places to go around the area (when we’re not in lockdown)?

When the weather is good I love to golf, and though I’m not a member anywhere, I get out where I can. There’s a couple of really nice public courses in the area that I love to play at whenever I get the chance to. It’s funny, when things are normal and I’m traveling a lot for work, I don’t get as much of an opportunity to take in everything the city has to offer. But, we love skating on the canal, we also bought road bikes last spring so we’ve been cycling a lot.

That’s another reason why I like Ottawa so much, being a West Coast guy. I love how easily accessible the outdoors are here, even though it’s still a pretty big city.

We don’t eat out a lot (Dana is a great cook), but since the pandemic hit, we’ve been trying to support some local businesses and eat out when we can a couple of times a week. We really enjoy The King Eddy down there in the market.

They’ve been very good to us.

What are your thoughts on the Ottawa Senators this season?

They’re a young team that clearly has some young potential. There’s some star power there, in Chabot and Tim Stützle. And Brady Tkachuk, too, just seeing how beloved he’s become in the city and in this market.

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But it seems like they’re starting to take steps in the right direction, even though there are nights when it doesn’t feel like it.

It’s been a long, slow grind since they first announced a rebuild, but they seem to be taking steps towards being a team that competes, and a team that fans want to come out and watch.

One thing you’ve become known for is your great hair. What’s your secret?

First off, I completely blame my man Dino down at Fernandino in Ottawa, because nobody took a second look at my hair until I started going to him back in 2014. He’s the brains behind the operation.

In terms of maintaining it, I use Davines.

It’s really good quality. There’s no real trick to it, shower, blow-dry, and throw on a bit of that stuff and away you go.

I’m fortunate to have my mother’s hairline, so there’s a lot to work with there, and with the right product, I can wrestle it into the look I want.

What advice would you give to someone reading this that wants to follow in your footsteps and get into broadcasting, or someone looking to establish themselves in their career?

Because of the way we are seeing this industry change, I think the ability to be multi-functional in this business is key.

Whether it’s on-air presenting, being able to write a little bit too, having an understanding of using social media to your benefit… just not being a one-trick pony.

You also want to be someone that people enjoy working with. I feel that I’ve been awarded a lot of special opportunities at Sportsnet. When I think back at where I was in my life and my career when I first got those opportunities, in hindsight, I was probably not totally ready for the job at the time. But, I was committed to working hard at it, and was going to be someone that got along with whoever I was working with.

So I think when you have those qualities, even if you don’t have the experience of some of your coworkers yet, people are willing to give you a chance and help you to work through the speedbumps along the way that you will inevitably face as you find your way in this business.

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SO, IT’S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THOSE PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE THAT, IF THEY THINK YOU’RE DOING OKAY, THEN ANY OTHER CRITICISM YOU CAN TAKE WITH A GRAIN OF SALT AND TRY NOT TO LOSE TOO MUCH SLEEP OVER.

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4 REASONS WHY YOU HAVE TROUBLE FALLING ASLEEP Staring at the ceiling at night, especially with a big day ahead, can be stressful (the type of stress that can keep you up at night). Whether it’s a rare occurrence for you, or you experience regular bouts of insomnia - categorized by experiencing sleep disruption for over 3 nights per week lasting over 3 months - finding the cause can be both tricky and frustrating.

Over 25% of people experience insomnia at least once per year, but few will develop regular insomnia. Still, if one can avoid the experience altogether, it’s usually preferable.

There are many causes of insomnia, and below are 4 common reasons why the otherwise regular sleeper may have trouble falling asleep (if insomnia is a regular issue for you, be sure to consult a doctor or specialist).

YOUR DIGESTIVE SYSTEM IS STILL VERY MUCH AWAKE The time you eat dinner, and what you eat, can interfere with your ability to fall asleep.

If you are eating big meals late at night, your digestive system is going to have to work overtime into the night, and this can keep you up.

Spicy or fatty foods can also keep you awake.

While a small midnight snack may actually help you to feel sleepy, in general, eating a meal or a heavy snack before bed will release insulin in your body and with its regularlyscheduled ‘bed-time’ signals (hormones that help your body fall asleep, linked to your circadian rhythm).

Experts suggest that you stop eating a few hours before bed, to give your digestive system time to work through any large meals before shutting down for the night.

Keep your meal light, and avoid any fatty or spicy foods.

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YOUR SCREEN TIME IS KEEPING YOU UP Our screens emit blue light wavelengths that are also found in sunlight. When you look at a screen with blue light, it sends signals to your brain that are similar to if you are standing outside in the middle of the day, telling your body that it isn’t time to sleep.

If you are staring at blue light (think your phone, TV, laptop) before bed, this can interfere with your circadian rhythm, making it harder for your to body to wind down and enter into sleep cycle.

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YOUR BODY IS DEHYDRATED Not drinking enough water throughout the day can affect your ability to fall asleep, too. You may not be able sleep due to discomfort or headaches that you might experience from dehydration, but more importantly, due to dehydration’s link to your oh-so-important circadian rhythm.

Being dehydrated can affect your body’s ability to produce melatonin, a hormone that promotes sleep.

But, the answer isn’t to chug a bottle of water before bed, because that will keep you up with trips to the bathroom.

Instead, make sure you are regularly hydrated throughout the day, and avoid super salty snacks into the evening.

Experts suggest shutting your screens off a whole two hours before bed and doing activities that don’t include a screen - like reading or writing.

IT’S TOO HOT (OR COLD) IN YOUR ROOM Your body temperature decreases during the night, and a cooler room (around 18.3 degrees Celsius) can help you to fall asleep. If your room is too hot, your body will be working to regulate itself, and can keep you up. A cooler room puts your body in the right environment to fall asleep, and if you’re warmer, it will have to work overtime to get to where it needs to be.

Experts suggest opting for a cooler room temperature with warmer blankets, instead of a hotter room with lighter blankets.

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LINDSAY EASTWOOD Lindsay is living her dream as a professional hockey player in the NWHL. After a successful college career playing for Syracuse, where she was named the all-time leader of goals scored among Defenders, Eastwood returned to Ontario where she joined the Toronto Six in its Inaugural Season.

The team, which has had its start amid COVID lockdowns and restrictions, has pushed through schedule changes, hockey bubbles, and restricted practices to become a force in the NWHL. As for Ottawa’s Eastwood, she continued to break records in her new role by scoring the first goal in the Six’s history.

We caught up with Lindsay to discuss growing up in Kanata, following her passions, and how the Six has come together.

Photography by Sean Sisk Makeup by Corey Stone

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ou’re originally from Ottawa. What are your best memories of growing up here?

your life’s work (in one way or another), and how does it feel to finally realize that dream?

My best memories have to be playing on the outdoor rink.

I learned how to skate on the outdoor rink that my dad used to make. Later on, my neighbor used to make a state-of-the-art rink; I swear that ice was NHL certified. I would spend hours on end out there with the neighborhood kids. My parents would have to drag me in.

It was my eighth birthday when I blew out my candles and wished to play in the NHL. Shortly after my 24th birthday, I was gearing up for my first season in the NWHL. I guess it was in University that I realized I wanted to continue playing hockey at the pro level. I wasn’t ready to hang up the skates yet, and the opportunity was right in my lap. It was pretty surreal when I signed my contract with the Six, my life’s work was paying off. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to saying I’m a professional hockey player!!

Ottawa has lots to offer. I always loved skating on the canal. Every year, my dad and I do our annual bike ride from where we live in Kanata down the trans-Canada path to Downtown.

You’ve talked about wishing to be in the NHL since you were little. When did you know that you wanted to make hockey

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Tell us about how your spot on the new Toronto Six team came to be. When did you hear about the team, and what was the moment like for you when

you realized you had made the team?

Our General Manager, Mandy Cronin, gave me a call and asked that I speak with the Six’s President, Digit Murphy.

So, I hopped on the phone with Digit and I liked what she had to say. She shared with me the Six’s mission, and how they were going to grow the team and the league. At the time I had also needed to fulfill my master’s program requirements that summer by completing an internship in Sports Media and I explained that to her. So, Digit suggested that I do some media stuff for the team outside of playing.

It was a two for one and essentially a no-brainer for me to sign with Toronto.

I was pumped to continue playing hockey and bring it to the next level. Also, getting to

be a part of the team in the inaugural season was very special!

What were the first few practices like? Describe the team dynamic, and were there any defining moments for you as a team early on?

It was a tough start for us due to COVID protocols. It wasn’t until right before the season that we actually had full team practices. But, in our small group practices and workouts I could tell everyone was happy to be there. We all shared this passion and drive for the sport.

Being surrounded by likeminded, passionate people is so exhilarating; it pushes you to be the best you can be. I had a good feeling about the team from the start.

Take us inside the bubble, what has that been like?

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“Being surrounded by like-minded, passionate people is so exhilarating; it pushes you to be the best you can be. I had a good feeling about the team from the start.”

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watching in person. My parents have set me up so I can succeed. Growing up, they would work overtime so I could have the best stick or play in that extra tournament.

They sacrificed so much for me to play hockey. It also helped to have my dad by my side, who has been through it himself. He knows what it takes to be an elite athlete.

But even seeing my extended family support me this season has been amazing. Having that kind of support helps more than they know.

Outside of hockey, what are some of your favorite hobbies, and things to do on your down time?

I love the outdoors. Anything to do with being outside: biking, hiking, swimming... My family has a cottage just outside of Ottawa, so I love spending time up there in the summer on the water, soaking up the sun.

What kind of music do you like? Who are some of your favourite artists?

The bubble was like something I have never experienced before. Like being out in the real world, there wasn’t a whole lot of face to face interaction. We spent a lot of time in our hotel rooms. I was never bored though, during the weekday I worked remotely for my 9-5 job and then I’d go to the rink. Any off time I had I was exhausted, so I’d just relax. We only ever really saw each other at the rink but even then, we were separated into two dressings rooms. Until this day we haven’t ever been in the same room, all together, at once.

Tell us about the moment you made hockey history and scored the first goal for the team.

That was a goal I will never forget, that’s for sure. In the moment, I didn’t realize I had just made history. I was just excited that we had the lead on Minnesota.

It wasn’t until I took to social media that I realized how big of a deal the goal was.

Tell us about the bubble suspension that took place right as you were about to get on the ice for playoffs. What was the atmosphere like in the dressing room, and how did you guys stay positive?

We were obviously heartbroken. We were hot! We had finally caught our stride and were on a four-game win streak. I had a really good feeling about it heading into the playoffs. We felt ready for the semi’s so it really sucked how

everything played out but of course they made the right call.

Off the ice, you are an aspiring Sports Broadcaster who has been blogging for Sportsnet throughout the season. What is it about the profession that attracts you?

I can’t even fathom being able to talk about sports for a living. Sport is my greatest passion. So, being able to break down sports and talk about the best athletes in the world is definitely what draws me in. I am very extroverted and love talking to people, so it feels like my calling.

With hockey and writing, do you see any similarities?

I’ve learned that it’s a team effort when writing. You have your editors and colleagues who you work with to produce the perfect piece. Just like playing hockey, there’s a lot of preparation that goes into it. You don’t just sit down and write or go out and play hockey, you have to prepare and do your research just like you train and practice for hockey.

What role has your family played in your success? How have you stayed connected with them this past season in the bubble?

I’m a “today’s top 40” kind of gal. I also like country and have lately gotten into folk music. My fav. is without a doubt Justin Bieber. I still have the Bieber fever (no shame). I also love Taylor Swift and Luke Combs.

When you come home to Ottawa, what are some of your favorite things to do, places to see or eat at?

I love a good skate on the canal and always go for a Beaver Tail, obviously.

I also like going down to the market or to Lansdowne. Favourite places to go to eat are Local Lansdowne for the vibes or Pure Kitchen for some cauliflower wings.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Five years from now, I think I will have hung up my skates but will be continuing to stay in the game, by coaching or helping a minor hockey team. Ideally, working for Sportsnet, TSN, or perhaps the Sens as their reporter.

Lastly, what is the best piece of advice you have ever received in your career so far?

You have to trust the process. Good things take time and work. It doesn’t just happen overnight.

My family is my biggest support system.

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Style Guide March/April’s

Top Looks for Early Spring

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JAI OFTHE RISE Ottawa-born artist JAIoftheRise makes music that calls to people. But he wasn’t always the songwriter, singer, and rap artist he is today - first, he had to go through some serious living.

Since then, his music career has skyrocketed him to being one of Ottawa’s most prominent artists with a roster of hits, top tier videos with striking visuals, and a consistency in his sound that

,,

What were some of your best memories of growing up in Ottawa?

I spent most of my childhood growing up in Little Italy. I remember staring out my window and all seeing all of these fancy Ferraris and Porsches.

Did I start to envision myself living like that one day? Can’t say I didn’t.

Growing up I was hopping shelter to shelter with my mother, I saw her go through enough of pain and torture and all I’ve ever wanted to do is give her financial peace of mind, a luxury she never saw since the day she stepped into this country. Once things got a little better and we had moved to Preston, I saw how far hard work and money could take you, and I’ve been on that pursuit ever since.

My best memories as a child would probably be

matches some of the industry’s top names in hip hop. Jai’s music has taken him to performances across the Capital and even America, where he had the honour of opening for the late Pop Smoke in his last appearance.

We caught up with him to discuss his journey to music, his new releases, and his best advice for aspiring artists.

“Oh I think there might be a voice hidden inside of you”. I don’t why but that stuck in my head for a while and a seed was planted that day.

,,

playing ball with my boys from middle school, I went to a school called Fisher Park, that school brought all sorts of kids together, a real melting pot.

When did you know that you wanted to make music? How old were you when you started?

I think I was like 11 years old at the time. I didn’t think I’d ever be drawn to singing because of just like.. life and the circumstances at home that I was coming from. But one day in grade 4, the school choir teacher was going around classrooms picking out new members for the choir that year.

She went around my classroom and had each student sing a little snippet.

When it came to my turn, to be honest, I was a little embarrassed by it but I did it anyway. I remember her telling me something like “Oh I think there might be a voice hidden inside of you”. I don’t why but that stuck in my head for a while and a seed was planted that day.

When I was in grade 7, I participated in my first singing competition and I placed 3rd. But I wasn’t satisfied, I didn’t win. I grew up wanting to be the best at everything I did, so anything but the best wasn’t good enough for me. I was chasing, being stubborn, but the music wasn’t chasing me. So I put the singing to the side and switched my vision to something more “realistic”.

The external pressures turned into

internal pressures and society got the best of me.

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Took me a bit of living, stamina, and a heart-aching breakup to understand I ain’t made to be realistic, and that’s when the music came back and started chasing me. I believe we are all made to do great things, “unrealistic” things if you wanna call it that, and we need to speak them into existence and make them the new standard.

to exchange a few words after the show. I told him if he ever came up to Canada that we and the rest of the city would gladly welcome him.

on the line but everything ended up going smoothly. A ton of people came to show love, we had a crazy turn out and the vibes were just mad lit.

Take us behind the scenes of creating/ planning/shooting your music videos.

What is it like?

Tell us about your latest song, ‘Take A Soul’. How did it come to be?

Looking back on your first few songs as an artist, to now, what is the biggest change? What has stayed the same in your work?

It’s a lot of planning and work to be honest.

It looks easy on screen but it takes weeks and sometimes months to put everything together. I’m a perfectionist, and I’m never really satisfied with any of it no matter how many revisions we do, I’m sure a lot of artists can relate. I think that stems from me taking the craft very seriously because, in a way, I’m contributing to the culture and so I feel like whatever I put out has to meet a certain level of quality that provides value to it, because at the end of the day I’m representing myself and the city. I do have to mention that we do have a lot of fun with it, especially on shoot days, even though most of the time they run 16 hours long.

Who have been your greatest supporters of your career?

My mom has definitely been a great support of mine, along with my cousin and so many friends. But, most importantly, I think I have to give credit to my fans. They have definitely been my greatest supporters and we have a very special connection. The amount of love I get from them is incredible. I love interacting with them on Instagram and keeping updated with them. At the end of the day I make music for those guys. I just wanna be able to help them get past whatever obstacle they may be facing, especially in these hard times, and I feel like music has the power to do that.

Tell us about opening for Pop Smoke.

What was that like?

It was a once in a once in a lifetime opportunity, literally. That was the last show Pop Smoke did before he passed. I was super lucky and fortunate to have had that chance and am incredibly humbled by the whole experience. The team and I drove down to Waterbury, Connecticut to perform at the Van Gogh Nightclub, it was a surreal night and the attendance was crazy.

I was a little nervous before the show. The adrenal was pumping, but something took over me right before I hit the stage and the rest I don’t even remember. His set was exceptional, seeing him perform was an honour, and little did I know that I’d never get to see him again. We had the chance

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I mean I was just pouring out what I was feeling at the time. Mental illness is a real thing and for me having music as an outlet really helps me cope with that. When I first started making music it was all centred around one topic, a heartbreak that I was trying to get over. When I finally got over that and matured, my music started to shift as well. It went from a lot of the darker sounds to something more moody and melodic. The process of making music has always stayed the same. I mostly write alone (with a ton of lit candles) but in terms of the production, I’ve got a really great team of producers. We kick it at the studio and create the vision from there.

Took me a bit of living, stamina, and a heartaching breakup to understand I ain’t made to be realistic, and that’s when the music came back and started chasing me.

,,

What is your favourite track/video that you’ve released so far, and why?

That’s a tough one. My favourite track would probably have to be between ‘Poison’ and ‘Scarface Halfino’ although I think I lean a little bit more towards Poison just because it was one of my most vulnerable moments.

When I go back and listen to that record it instantly brings me back in time to that very moment. I think I really let it all out that night at the studio. My favourite video has to be Hopscotch, featuring Lil Berete. That one was really dope, a lot of things were

I mean without giving away too much that song was meant to highlight how good people can be driven to do evil things under the right circumstances. Sometimes we start to spiral down into a direction that we never intended to go. That’s life though, things can take unexpected turns. You just have to learn and adapt as best you can, and despite all that I think it’s important to keep your intentions pure and to not lose sight of what your true purpose is. That’s why, towards the end of the hook, I mentioned the promise I made to my mother. Sure the method might get twisted in the short term, but as long as your intentions are right I know you’ll find the righteous way out soon enough. You just gotta stick to the plan.

What are your thoughts on Ottawa’s music/hip hop scene, compared to other Canadian cities?

I think the scene is growing faster than it ever has before and we’ve never had as many artists as we do now so it’s great to see the evolution. Names like Night Lovell, City Fidelia and Maurice Moore have done a great job repping the city which has definitely allowed a lot of young artists to draw inspiration from. We’re getting there, I just think we need to collaborate a lot more as a collective and continue to raise the bar on the quality of music we produce.

What is your best advice to anyone looking to follow in your footsteps?

Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Dylan Thomas. That’s one of my fav quotes which is pretty much.. don’t ever give up.. In a super dramatic, lit kinda way. That and to hold on to the spark that pushed you to do it in the first place, stay youthful.

What’s next for you?

I can’t say too much, but stay tuned..

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Style Guide March/April’s

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