FACES Magazine - Issue 49 - March/April 2018 - Bobby Ryan

INTERVIEW

RIC FLAIR

INTERVIEW

NATALIE PORTMAN

One-on-One With The Nature Boy

+

Talks New Movie Annihilation

2018 FACES AWARD WINNERS

ELIJAH WOODS X JAMIE FINE THE

THEIR LAUNCH TO STARDOM

Bobby RYAN INTERVIEW

Spring Fashion

MAT_OTTAWA Faces Magazin

File Name: MAT_OTT_049_Fa Trim: 2” x 2” Bleed: 0.125”

COMING SOON TO WATERIDGE VILLAGE

VOLUME 49 MARCH / APRIL 2018 FACES MAGAZINE | 1

mattamyhomes.com

MATTAMY BRINGS NEW TOWNS TO DOWNTOWN OTTAWA

LUXURY TOWNHOMES COMING SPRING 2018 TO WATERIDGE VILLAGE

Welcome to stylish downtown living in the heart of the nation’s capital. Welcome to unparalleled amenities and beautiful parks. Welcome to Wateridge Village At Rockcliffe.

Minutes from downtown and overlooking the Ottawa River, Mattamy’s architectural excellence will blend seamlessly into this innovative master-planned community. Live surrounded by the best of Ottawa – live in Wateridge Village.

REGISTER TODAY MATTAMYHOMES.COM

Proposed Wateridge Village Community

A Mattamy home is a HOME YOU’LL VALUE for a lifetime All illustrations are artist’s concept. All dimensions are approximate. Prices, specifications, terms and conditions subject to change without notice. E.&O.E.

1

VOTED # FOR BEST ITALIAN FOOD IN OTTAWA BY CTV VIEWERS

5816 Hazeldean Road Ottawa, ON 613.592.3097

4 | FACES MAGAZINE

K2S 1B9

info@cabottos.com

ANGING A CHA CHANGING THE WAY W WE MOVE

2018 ECO SPORT SE PLUS from $ HST

27,400

185 1

$

& Lic

@ .49% APR - O.A.C.

Bi-Weekly Plus HST - 72 Months

JUST A SHORT DRIVE TO BETTER SERVICE

2018 ESCAPE SE 2018 MUSTANG ECOBOOST COUPE PLUS from $ HST

31,900

215 1

$

& Lic

@ .99% APR - O.A.C.

ffrom

29,900

$

PLUS HST & Lic

199@1.99%

$

APR - O.A.C.

Bi-Weekly Plus HST - 72 Months

Bi-Weekly Plus HST - 72 Months

1,500 Factory Rebate Applied

$

Prices includes Freight, PDE , Air tax , Admin, Registration ,OMVIC Fee , Tire Levy.

All current Manufacturer to customer discounts and rebates applied.

Prices valid on date of publication. Prices are subject to change without notice.

Vehicles may not be exactly as shown. See dealer for complete details.

1500 CARLING AVENUE Good People People... Straight Talk Talk... Always the BEST Deal!

613.725.3611

www.campbellford.com FACES MAGAZINE | 5

We’re changing the way people view dentistry Come experience what everyone is talking about Complimentary lattes, coffees, speciality drinks, biscotti and more served to you TVs with Netflix above chair with noise cancelling ear phones Massage dental chairs Fun for the kids – surprises, gifts, colouring station and a gaming station Warm and welcoming team Kids under 3 years get a free exam All new patients get a free annual whitening

1300 Stittsville Main Street, Suite 204 613.763.2657 www.warmstone.ca

IT’S AN EXPERIENCE WORTH SWITCHING FOR! LET US TREAT YOU THE WAY YOU DESERVE TO BE TREATED 6 | FACES MAGAZINE

CREATE YOUR OWN TABLE D’HÔTE Enjoy an evening out at award winning Perspectives Restaurant from Monday to Saturday TWO COURSES ONLY $36 Add a third course $8 Plus on Friday’s enjoy 50% off select bottles of wine!

Plus tax & gratuities. Available until May 30, 2018. 2 course option includes your choice of one main and starter or dessert.

To view menu or make a reservation visit:

WWW.BRO O KST R EET. CO M / P ER S PECT IV ES /Brookstreet

525 Legget Drive | Ottawa, Ontario | K2K 2W2 @BrookstreetOtt 613.271.1800 reservations@brookstreet.com FACES MAGAZINE | 7

FACES IN THIS ISSUE

16

44

68

48 Bobby Ryan

92

“It’s more than just joining a hockey team, you’re joining a community in Ottawa. Even though it’s a major capital city it doesn’t feel like one.”

25 Emily Ratajkowski

From the beginning, when I didn’t have as much popularity, I made the decision to be as honest as I could about who I am and what I believe, and I have never apologized for that.

32 Gabriel Gagne

“Just never stop and work hard. You may think your dream is far away but you can never know for sure.”

88 Bill Carroll

“Be authentic. Don’t try to make your audience like you. Be real everytime you turn on that mic and hope your audience will find you.”

8 | FACES MAGAZINE

34

76

85

21 Natalie Portman

66

“Probably in my thirties, the decade where you gain more security in your choices and desires, you stop, or at least you criticize your choices less, and I see acting now as a job with immeasurable facets and levels.”

73 Ric Flair

“To be great, you have to find the right personality. I’m stuck on this because if you aren’t comfortable with your persona then you’re never going to pull it off. You cannot sell the people something that you don’t feel. You have to wake up and go to sleep feeling it, which is hard to pull off.”

79 Elijah Woods x Jamie Fine

“It’s an honour to work with those people, when we’re in the moment, we try to keep everyone as equals. What we’re thankful for is those people that we work with actually do the same.”

60

Filip Chlapik

“Be a difference-maker every shift, that’s another focus of mine. I feel like if I continue working on that, I’ll have a better chance of making it to the NHL.”

FACES MAGAZINE | 9

MARCH/APRIL : Volume 49 FIND FACES

Editor In Chief Evan Childerhose

Faces Magazine is distributed bimonthly and offered free at select locations across Ottawa and in cities across Eastern Ontario. You can find the publication in over 2400 high-traffic venues in the city. 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

Accounting/Finance Linda Zhang

Art Director Amanda Vo Vicky Sun Sales Manager Kelly Tranmer

@facesottawa @facesott @facesottawa

Contact info@facesmag.ca

1.613.591.6093

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

1849 Maple Grove Road Ottawa, ON Canada K2S 1B9 Sales advertising@facesmag.ca Submissions echilderhose@facesmag.ca

10 | FACES MAGAZINE

Contributors Joshua Chartrand Kimberley Brooks Jordan Palleck Alex Feeney Jan Janssen Amanda Havey Sarah Kelly Jenna Larkin Breanna Eyre Derryn Allebone Julia Solimine Piers Manning

Contributing Photographers Cover: Marc Brigden Editorial: Yoni Sambo Emma McIntyre / Staff Rachel Murray / Stringer Jason Scourse Sam Greenwood / Staff David Banks / Stringer Andrew H. Walker / Staff Sean Sisk

M A T T A M Y

H O M E S

P R E S E N T S

THE 6TH ANNUAL

casino royale S AT U R DAY M A R C H 3 1 s t , 2 0 1 8 HOSTED BY CELEBRITY DJ BRODY JENNER

H OST ED

BY

B RO DY

B RO O KSTREET

J E NNE R

H OTEL

CASINOROYALEOTTAWA.COM

FACES MAGAZINE | 11

OTTAWA

WHERE TO GO IN

MARCH

This Season in the City

BEAU’S ST. PATRICK’S PARTY\

March 10th

Celebrate St. Patty’s Day in style at the third annual Beau’s St. Patrick’s Day Party at the Aberdeen Pavilion in Lansdowne Park.

Don your green, and enjoy live music and traditional Irish activities. A selection of Beau’s beers along with other local Ottawa Breweries will be featured to commemorate the patron saint of Ireland.

12 | FACES MAGAZINE

ANNUAL ST. PATRICK’S PARADE

OUR LADY PEACE AND MATTHEW GOOD

Starting off at the intersection of Elgin and Laurier at 11:00 am, the St. Patrick’s Day parade will make its way through Ottawa via Bank Street and end at Lansdowne. The annual festivity will feature more than enough St. Patty’s day spirit to go around.

Canadian rock band Our Lady Peace tours the country with native rock musician Matthew Good and stops in Ottawa at TD Place.

PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY

THE JUNO AWARDS

About a three hour drive from Ottawa, Prince Edward County has a lot to offer during winter months. Take part in outdoor activities like cross country skiing, ice fishing, and skating. If the indoors are more to your taste, there’s also fitness centers, restaurants and places to just curl up with a book and some company.

After last year’s JUNO Awards in Ottawa, Canadian music will be celebrated in Vancouver and hosted

by Canada’s favourite jazz singer, Michael Bublé.

Tune in to see the annual celebration of the best in Canadian music.

March 8th

March 17th

NELLY

March 26th Algonquin Commons Theatre

March 24th

ROD STEWART March 30th

One of the best-selling artists of all time, British singer and songwriter Sir Rod Stewart makes a stop in Ottawa at the Canadian Tire Centre on his Canadian tour.

Ottawa Senators Vs Calgary Flames Friday March 9th @ CTC

CASINO ROYALE 2018 March 31st

The 6th Annual Casino Royale is Ottawa’s largest charity Casino event coming to the Brookstreet Hotel. Try your luck at traditional casino games and use your earnings to win incredible prize packages. This year’s event will host celebrity guest Brody Jenner!

FACES MAGAZINE | 13

OTTAWA

WHERE TO GO IN

APRIL

This Season in the City

OTTAWA POUTINE FEST April 27-29th Ottawa City Hall

One of Ottawa’s most anticipated annual events, PoutineFest invites you to discover the ‘World of Poutine’. The event, hosted at City Hall, is full of vendors who offer the best and most extreme variations of the Canadian classic. Admission is completely free to Poutinatics everywhere.

14 | FACES MAGAZINE

EARTH DAY April 22nd

Earth Day is a great reason to schedule some time outdoors with friends or co-workers, a community cleanup, or a trip to the Museum of Nature.

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE

April 8-9th @ The Bell Centre You read that right! JT makes his mark in Montreal for two whole shows this month—the perfect reason to spend a weekend away.

FULTON’S PANCAKE HOUSE AND SUGAR BUSH Until April 15th

OTTAWA SENATORS VS WINNIPEG JETS

April 2nd @ CTC Last Game of Regular Season

Learn more about one of Canada’s best exports and visit Fulton’s in Pakenham for the experience and of course, authentic maple syrup. Have an all-day breakfast of pancakes, sausage, bacon, and maple beans at the pancake house, some maple taffy on snow, and take a walk through the forest to see where it all comes from.

INVESTORS GROUP STARS ON ICE PRESENTED

BY LINDT April 29th @ CTC

This year’s show will feature many skaters returning from the 2018 Winter Olympic games to bring that same excitement and skill live to Ottawa.

Also gracing the ice will be 2014 Olympic silver medalist, 2017 World silver medalist and three-time National champion Kaetlyn Osmond, as well as many other decorated Canadian skaters.

DREAMWORKS ANIMATION: THE EXHIBITION @ CANADIAN MUSEUM OF HISTORY Until April 8th

The limited time exhibition features more than 350 items from various Dreamworks favourites like Shrek, Madagascar, How to Train Your Dragon, Kung Fu Panda and more. View behind the scenes interviews, sketches, and maquettes from the beloved films.

THE NATIONAL WOMAN’S SHOW April 14-15th

Shaw Centre The National Woman’s Show is described as the ultimate girl’s day out with over 200 vendors showcasing healthy living, makeup, travel and more. On stage entertainment includes fashion shows, culinary shows and celebrity guests.

LIGHTS: WE WERE HERE TOUR April 4, 2018

Algonquin Commons Theatre

FACES MAGAZINE | 15

It’s safe to say that being a #2 overall draft would make a player used to playing with pressure.

However, one would think that Bobby Ryan could never have been prepared for the amount of hype and expectations that were placed upon him after the Senators acquired him in the summer of 2013.

Bobby Ryan had superstar-like numbers during his seasons with the Anaheim Ducks. He had the 14th most goals in the NHL between 20082009 and 2012-2013, including four 30-goal seasons in a row.

Bob Ryan

bby Photo by: Marc Brigden

FACES MAGAZINE | 17

While these numbers alone would have had Senators fans giddy, the fact that he was acquired the day that Daniel Alfredsson left for Detroit as a free agent, made the expectations unlike anything we’ve seen in team history.

Ryan didn’t do himself any favours by scoring 6 goals and 9 points in his first 9 games as an Ottawa Senator. His scorching hot start— coupled with his good looks and charisma— quickly made him the face of the franchise to many. To them, Bobby Ryan would replace Daniel Alfredsson and lead this team to a championship.

Photo by: Marc Brigden

18 | FACES MAGAZINE

F

ast forward to 2018 and no, Bobby Ryan has not yet led the Senators to the Stanley Cup. But, he has come awfully close as he arguably was the team’s best player during their phenomenal run just 9 months ago to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final.

His production has dropped off at times due to multiple injuries, but when healthy— as he was in the Stanley Cup Playoffs last year—he reminds everyone just what kind of player he is. He reminds everyone why we were so excited to acquire him in 2013 and why, to this day, he is one of the most popular players in franchise history.

To us, Bobby Ryan is a lot more than who he is on the ice. We didn’t ask him about his childhood, but if you do any research on him, you can learn just how difficult a childhood he had and how much he has had to overcome in his life.

You can also see what kind of person he is by what he does off the ice. His suite at the Canadian Tire Centre for underprivileged kids to attend games is not something I would ever have known about had I not walked into it by accident one night. He doesn’t brag about his good deeds off the ice, he just does them.

We sat down with Bobby to talk about the season, being a dad, and to take a look back on the past four and a half years on the team.

Just weeks before you were acquired by the Senators there was the much-publicized departure of Daniel Alfredsson via free agency. With your hot start out of the gate (6 goals and 9 points in 9 games) fans and media looked to you as a new face of the franchise, perhaps putting too much pressure on you. Did you feel any added pressure at the start of the season? What was it like for you to be brought in as a top line winger, to essentially replace the most iconic player in team history?

I tried to just not focus on that narrative. Whenever people asked me that I would just deflect it, there’s no replacing a guy like that, we’re not even the same type of player. I took all of those things and tried to put them aside and let that work itself out. I just wanted to come in and have a good start, but I felt the added pressure just being in Ottawa. Coming from a market in California where no one was building their weekend around games into a city where I was the main focal point was stressful. I tried to embrace it as much as I could and from there it’s become home.

How has being a father changed you? What would you say is the best thing about being a dad?

I think it changes on every given day. Right now, watching her learn something new is huge.

She’s just in that stage where her patterns and what she likes to do are always changing. Watching her grow and learn is probably the best part. I think it’s insane how you learn to stop thinking

for yourself and think of somebody else at all times. When I’m out to dinner with friends, she doesn’t care if your having a good time or what not she’s always ready to go at 7:00pm. You learn about responsibility and it’s the most humbling experience you’re ever going to have, she’s gonna bring you to your knees at least once a week and test every part of your patience.

“We were the underdogs and took it as far as we could.”

During your time in Ottawa, you’ve been part of two of the most memorable runs in franchise history. The incredible 23-4-4 run to the playoffs at the end of the 2014-2015 season and last season’s playoff run, led by your 15 points in 19 games, to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final. Looking back, what would you say has been your best memory with the team so far?

My best memory is definitely the playoff run last year. I think when people think about the two runs they either identify with one or the other. We came within a goal to the Stanley cup finals.

I think that’s pretty impressive for a team that was set to lose every round, who wasn’t really supposed to be there in the first place. We were the underdogs and took it as far as we could.

FACES MAGAZINE | 19

“There is nothing more important than having kids there to watch you play and getting to bring a smile to their faces. It’s very rewarding, I don’t usually get to meet the kids, and that’s the downside, but I look up to them on the big screen.”

You’ve been more than a little snakebitten with injuries since you arrived here in Ottawa.

How frustrating has it been for you to deal with these injuries?

You do your best. Some of them I was able to play with right away and then you have to live with not being able to play at 100%.

I think the frustration level and how lonely you get doesn’t really get recognized by the people around you. It’s hard when the guys are gone for 12 days and you’re just left doing treatment.

It’s been hard for me having it been the same body part now 7 times in a row. You sometimes feel useless knowing you’re never going to get ahead of the injury for the entire year. You have to accept you’re only going to make small plays, and you won’t shoot or dig for pucks in the same way.

20 | FACES MAGAZINE

People always say ‘oh, he’s hurt’ but don’t realize your playing through it and trying to bring something positive. That’s where you rely on your teammates and coaches because they’re the only ones that understand what’s going on.

Let’s look at this year for a minute. Obviously, you guys are not where you want to be but you really are a lot closer to the playoffs than it looks on paper. What do you think the keys are for the team to get back in the playoff race?

First of all, we have to take care of home ice. We must be more consistent to the system, especially since we’re a fragile team (as we’ve been called). We have to find a way to chase the game and just know we’re gonna get one in the third period because we almost always do. The problem is we compound a 1 or 2 nothing lead by making a mistake on a dumb penalty. They’re not systematic or work ethic related, they’re just mistakes that are mental. If we clean those things up and know we can score every night we can do great things. We have strong lines offensively and we know Andy is going to give us a chance.

When things aren’t going well, is there something that you like to do away from the rink to get you back in a good state of mind?

You know if you asked me years ago I would say playing guitar or golf. Golf is a big thing but now it’s just being a Dad. My wife made it a rule that when I leave hockey I’m just a Dad at home. At the rink I’m hockey player Bobby Ryan but when I go home I’m Dad, so I separate those two lives. I think for a guy

that’s gone through the ups and downs of the season and injuries it’s nice to have my daughter. She doesn’t care about those results, they don’t make any difference to her. It’s whoever has the remote to turn on Elena of Avalor right now or a new show. That’s who’s most important to her. It’s been a blessing, having a daughter has been a way to take my mind away from the negative.

Tell us a little about Bobby Ryan away from the ice. We’ve found out that Zack Smith is quite a wood worker for example. What are some of your hobbies that you enjoy?

I’m always pretty candid with the media and give a little more, a little less cliché, but I think people wouldn’t believe I’m very much an introvert. We just moved and I bought a new boat, so I’ll be spending a lot of time lake fishing, living the cottage life. And I want to introduce my daughter to all those things.

What was your reason for starting up Bobby Ryan’s AllStar Kids? How important is it for you to be able to give back to kids and families going through difficult times in the Ottawa area?

It’s extremely important. Somebody mentioned it as something I could do and it took about 30 seconds for me to say yes. There is nothing more important than having kids there to watch you play and getting to bring a smile to their faces. It’s very rewarding, I don’t ever get to meet the kids and that’s the downside but I look up to them on the big screen.

What are some of your favourite spots to visit in the Ottawa

Photo by: Marc Brigden

FACES MAGAZINE | 21

History’s BEST OLYMPIC MOMENTS

“There’s a real sense of community here, people in Ottawa rally together for a foundation or cause” Photo by: Marc Brigden

22 | FACES MAGAZINE

area? What are some of your favourite restaurants?

I always say remember that what you post is open to scrutiny to everybody. I remember taking some heat for liking something once and you can’t really defend yourself in 140 characters.

FOR OTTAWA ATHLETES I love Rivera, I don’t get as many date nights though being a dad (laughs). Aperitivo in Kanata is great and Pocopazzo on March road, I eat every pre-game meal there. Those are my top three and of course La Roma.

What is it like to see a teammate get traded? Is it hard to focus on hockey because you see a friend leaving?

Maybe for young guys that haven’t been around or seen it happen. As you get older you understand the business side a lot more. Change is inevitable, I remember one year I was in the league I think we went through over 40 players wearing our jersey. You get used to it. It does suck when you get to know a guy and his family, and it sucks to see him move on but at the same time you respect the decision he made and know it’s for the best.

Tell us a little about how great it was for everyone to see Clarke MacArthur come back last year and play the way he did in the playoffs? For people that don’t know him personally, what kind of person is he?

Well for one, Clark and I came here the same year, and signed on here to stay.

He was a big part of why I stayed, I felt when I was playing with him I was playing my best hockey. To watch him go through that 2 year process, I felt for him everyday and I just wanted him to make the right decision. Then for him to come back and contribute, he ended the series against Boston with the overtime winner and then to walk away on his own terms after that was great. I was thrilled he was at peace with his decision, he’s one of the most sarcastic dry and quick-witted guys I have ever met.

His presence is missed.

What is your opinion on athletes and social media? Do you have any advice for athletes that are about to sign up for a twitter account?

Do you do any travelling during the off-seasons?

Yeah, I mean I try to get back to Arizona at least once a year for the golf but Jackson Hole is home for me, it’s just a small ski town.

If you had to survive 2 weeks in a jungle with 3 guys on the team, who would you want there and why?

I would say Smitty (Zack Smith)—he’s scrappy. With a glue stick and cotton swab he would build me a shopping mall. And I’m gonna say Burrows, just in case there is something else on the island we need to fight off. I would also bring Chris Wideman if I had to survive 2 weeks in the jungle for his satire to lighten the mood and he’s small so you could send him out first (laughs).

A lot of kids say you are their favourite player. What does that mean to you to hear that from kids around the city? What advice would you give kids reading this who look up to you and one day want to follow in your shoes and play for the Ottawa Senators?

I think having kids shows how full circle it comes. I grew up idolizing Brett Hull, Mike Modano, the American guys. Then I got a chance to not only play with Modano but compete against him. I was wearing #9 because I grew up idolizing him. It all comes back full circle and it’s rewarding. It makes you realize why you do what you do. My best advice for kids is to be consistent. Find a way—even if your just shooting pucks in the basement—to be consistent in your work ethic. Then the opportunities will come because people will start to notice the effort you’ve put in.

FACES MAGAZINE | 23

24 | FACES MAGAZINE

PRESENTED BY

TO OK PL ACE ON J AN UARY 27T H AT T HE BR O OK S T RE E T HOT EL, AN D R ECOG N IZ ED

OVE R 150 AWA RDEES.

THANK YOU TO E VERYONE WHO ATTENDED!

FACES MAGAZINE | 25

THE 2018 FAC ES O F OT TAWA AWA RD S WI NNE RS Max Keeping Humanitarian Award

Favourite Dental Hygienist

Favourite Nutritionist

Jonathan Pitre Award

Favourite DJ

Favourite Nurse

Entrepreneur of the Year

Favourite Electrician

Favourite Personal Trainer (Female)

Favourite Accountant

Favourite Emcee

Favourite Personal Trainer (Male)

Female Artist of the Year

Entertainer of the Year

Favourite Photographer

Male Artist of the Year

Favourite Event Planner

Favourite Instagram Photographer

Group of the Year

Favourite Ottawa REDBLACK

Favourite Physiotherapist

Female Athlete of the Year

Favourite Florist

Favourite Politician

Favourite Angler

Favourite Financial Planner

Favourite Professional Recruiter

Favourite Author (Female)

Government Relations Specialist

Kyle Turris

Tysen Lefebvre Tony Greco Gary Katz Anisha

Bowen V.O.K

Elijah Woods x Jamie Fine Rachel Homan Ryan Flaro

Barbara Avon

Favourite Author (Male)

J. Robert Kennedy

Favourite Legal Assistant:

Michelle Gauthier TDot

Brian Young

Stefan Keyes

Jaymes White Jenny Dao

Brad Sinopli Pretty Pots

Tatyana Burylova

Darpan Ahluwlia Lisa Meeds

Emma Wallace Tony Greco

Justin Hawkins

@littlemissottawa Dave Bellefleur Jim Watson

Ashley Thompson

Favourite Organizer / Promoter

Ravi Verma

Brandon Bird / Diamond Mine Agency

Favourite Journalist

Favourite Radio Personality (Male)

Carol Anne Meehan

Stuntman Stu

Jessica McGin

Alyna Vakariouk (Glam Fairy)

Hair Extensions

Favourite Radio Personality (Female)

Favourite Dance Instructor

Favourite Hairstylist (Male)

Favourite Real Estate Agent (Male)

Favourite Dental Assistant

Favourite Hairstylist (Female)

Favourite Real Estate Agent (Female)

Favourite Lawyer

Favourite Receptionist

Emilie Phaneuf

Macy McGregor Favourite Dentist

Dr. Ben Fong

Favourite Esthetician

Nelson Renouf Arzie Latifi

Lawrence Greenspon

Jenni (HOT 89.9) Joey Grimm

Colleen Lyle

Ashley McCarthy

Lucie Rosano

Isabelle Laviolette

Favourite Paralegal

Favourite Salesperson

Favourite Executive Assistant

Favourite Make-Up Artist

Favourite Server (Male)

Favourite Bartender (Male)

Favourite Manager

Favourite Server (Male)

Favourite Bartender (Female)

Favourite Massage Therapist

Favourite Server (Female)

Favourite Blogger/Blog

Favourite Mechanic/Auto Repair

Favourite Social Services Worker

Emma Snider Rick Crego

Erin Gorman APT 613

Favourite Business Owner

Taryn Miller

Chelsea Miller Lisa Corbin

Scott Campbell

Evan Malamud Connor Jarvis Tony Cafaro

Ariane Levasseur

Shontelle Prokipcak

Cheryl Mason

Katlyn Linton MacNaughton

Favourite Model (Female)

Favourite Tattoo Artist

Favourite Business Lunch Location

Favourite Model (Male)

Favourite Teacher

Favourite Chef

Favourite Promotional Model

Favourite Travel Agent

Favourite Chiropractor

Favourite Mortgage Broker

Favourite TV Personality (Male)

Favourite Comedian

Favourite Naturopathic Doctor

Favourite TV Personality (Female)

Joey Lansdowne Michael Blackie

Nathalie Beauchamp Mark Hatfield

26 | FACES MAGAZINE

Pip Puveendran

Michaela Dorans Darren Walker

Joel Villeneuve

Lea Maurice

Susan Dunlap

Erin Novodorsky Henry Burris

Sarah Freemark

THE 2018 FAC ES O F OT TAWA AWA RD S WI NNE RS Favourite Veterinarian

Dr. Ian Cameron

Volunteer of the Year

Event Planning Company

Favourite Marketing Company

Favourite Farm

Favourite Medi-Spa

LOVE Local Ottawa Valley Events

Dylan Black

Saunders Farm

Favourite Yoga Instructor

Favourite Fine Dining Restaurant

After Work Drinks Location

Favourite Fitness Centre

Best Place to Work

Favourite Furniture Store

Nigel Walker Moxies

Scissors

Giovanni’s

Movati Kanata

Ottawa Marketing Guys Hummingbird

Favourite Modelling Agency

Models International Management Favourite Music School

Ottawa School of Music Favourite Nightclub

Upper Room

The Lookout Bar

Favourite Game Night Venue

Favourite Not-For-Profit

The Works

The Loft Board Game Lounge

CHEO Foundation

Favourite Car Dealership

Tony Graham Toyota

Favourite General Contractor

Randy Devine (Hany Randy)

Copper Spirits + Sights (Andaz Hotel)

Favourite Luxury Car Dealership

Favourite Golf Course

Favourite Pet Store

Favourite Caribbean Food

Greek / Mediterranean Restaurant

Colonnade Pizza

Favourite Chinese Food

Favourite Home Builder

Favourite Child Care Centre

Tiny Hoppers

Favourite Hotel

Brookstreet Hotel

Dore Property Management

Favourite Cleaning Service

Favourite Indian Restaurant

Cheshire Cat

Favourite Audio/Visual Company

Favourite Insurance Company

Favourite Clothing Store

Favourite Interior Design Company

Clothing Apparel / Designer

I.T. Company

Favourite Burger

Otto’s BMW

Island Flava

Golden Palace

Molly Maids

Quality Entertainment NRML

The Marshes Evoo

Mattamy Homes

Coconut Lagoon

Bradley’s Insurance Laurysen Kitchens

Favourite Patio

Critter Jungle Favourite Pizza

Favourite Plumbing Company

DS Plumbing

Favourite Property Management Favourite Pub

Favourite Radio Station

HOT 89.9

Favourite Real Estate Agency

Ziglu

Favourite Restaurant

Vittoria Trattoria

OTT – Over The Top Lifestyle

High Tech Genesis

Favourite Coffee Shop

Favourite Italian Restaurant

Favourite Cosmetic Clinic

Favourite Japanese/Sushi

Corporate Function Venue

Brookstreet Hotel

Favourite Jewellers

Magpie Jewellers

Nordik Spa Nature

Favourite Country Bar

Favourite Late Night Food

Big Rig Kitchen + Brewery (Iris Location)

Best Customer Service

Favourite Landscaping Company

Algonquin College Residence

Favourite Dance Academy

Favourite Limousine Company

iTan Advanced Tanning Studios

Favourite Date Spot

Favourite Leisure Sales Company

Ink & Iron Tattoo Co.

Favourite Dental Clinic

Favourite Local Winery

Orleans Veterinary Hospital

Quitters Cafe

Dr. Tosoni – Ottawa Cosmetic Clinic

Lonestar

Salon Bliss

Pointe of Grace Cabotto’s

Giovanni's Tomo

Elgin Street Diner

Artistic Landscape Design East Coast Limos Mermaid Pools

Warmstone Family Dentistry

Jabulani Vineyard and Winery

Favourite Dessert Spot

Favourite Local Brewery

Employment/Staffing Agency

Favourite Lounge

Suzy Q Doughnuts Excel HR

Beau’s Brewery The Moonroom

Favourite Salon

Hair Republic Beauty Lounge Favourite Security Company

Iron Horse Security Favourite Spa

Favourite Sports Bar

Favourite Student Living Facility Favourite Tanning Salon Favourite Tattoo Parlour

Favourite Veterinary Hospital

Favourite Volunteer Organization

Ottawa Stray Cat Rescue Favourite Wedding Venue

Stonefields

Favourite Yoga Studio

Yogatown

FACES MAGAZINE | 27

TH ANK YO U TO A LL O F O U R S PO NS O RS

28 | FACES MAGAZINE

FACES MAGAZINE | 29

Thank you for voting us Ottawa’s favourite

(613) 836-5353 www.laurysenkitchens.com

Thank you for voting us

OTTAWA’S FAVOURITE ITALIAN RESTAURANT

THANK YOU FOR VOTING US

Ottawa’s Favourite I.T. Company!

HIGH TECH GENESIS PROVIDES

and OTTAWA’S FAVOURITE FINE DINING RESTAURANT

the services of Software Developers and Testers to the High-tech Sector.

WE’RE HIRING! www.HighTechGenesis.com 613-667-5586

30 | FACES MAGAZINE

362 PRESTON STREET OTTAWA, ONT. K1S 4M7

(613) 234-3156

info@loulourentals.com

· loulourentals.com · 613.789.1967

· lounge furniture · dining tables · bars · barstools · tables

· accessories

& SO much more!

WESTBORO

ANIMAL HOSPITAL Celebrating 25 Years of Veterinary Care In Ottawa

Visit us at 348 Whitby Ave, Ottawa, ON K2A 0B5 or call (613) 722-5717

Westboro Animal Hospital

Dr. Ian Cameron Winner of Ottawa's Favourite Veterinarian At The 2015 & 2016 Faces Awards Winner of Ottawa's Favourite Veterinarian Clinic At The 2017 Faces Awards FACES MAGAZINE | 31

DR. BEN FONG 5 REASONS TO CHOOSE

A general dentist with 35 years of experience, focusing on aesthetic dentistry and Invisalign orthodontics.

• Director of Ottawa Invisalign Clinics- 5 Ottawa Invisalign clinics across the city.

Go to OIclinics.ca to find the office nearest you.

• He has completed thousands of Orthodontic cases including 1200+ active and completed Invisalign cases.

• His experience in Invisalign® treatment has encouraged many general practitioners to refer their Invisalign® cases to him.

• He has convenient hours and offers flexible and affordable monthly payment.

• He offers free initial Invisalign consultation.

SEE HIS WORK

@DrBenFong

WINNER OF OTTAWA’S FAVOURITE DENTIST AT THE 2018 FACES OF OTTAWA AWARDS

Find over 900 before and after pictures of Dr. Fong’s Patients, information on each type of malocclusion (bad bite), and virtual teeth movement videos: www.InvisalignResults.ca, and www.BracesResults.ca Dr. Ben Fong employs an array of techniques that facilitate his patient’s treatment objectives. The Itero® Scanner replaces traditional dental impressions with highly accurate digital images to simplify the experience for Invisalign patients.

He uses Acceledent®, a device that is used for 20 minutes a day, creating gentle micro pulses that speed up the remodeling of bone tissue for faster and safer tooth structure movements.

He ensures quick healing with Propel®, an instrument to perform small micro-osteoperforations in selected areas to create local inflammation. This aids in speeding up the Orthodontic process.

Dr. Fong’s clinic offers its services in 8 different languages.

HERONGATE DENTAL 1 - 1739 WA LKLEY RD. OTTAWA ON

32 | FACES MAGAZINE

613-737-7321

WWW.OT TAWAIN VISAL IG N D E N T IST.CA

SPRING BREAK TRAVEL

YOUR GUIDE TO

Tips (And Confessions) from Your Air-Line Attendants

FROM FINDING TURBULENT-FREE FLIGHTS TO CHOOSING THE PERFECT MIX OF PEACE AND PARTY, HERE IS YOUR GUIDE TO STRESS-FREE SPRING BREAK TRAVELS.

MIND YOUR MANNERS According to your attendants, your attitude has a profound effect on the level of service you are offered. A smile or a thank you can mean the difference between a long wait, or an upgrade.

THE BEST THING TO BRING TO YOUR SEAT Airplanes have very tight schedules, and while they go through lots of ground maintenance between flights, inside the plain doesn’t see the same TLC. Your arm rests, tray table and headspace are proven to host bacteria—more than the plane’s bathroom.

Bring some anti-bacterial wipes on the plane and quickly refresh your seat space before take-off.

BOTTLED IS BEST

AM FLIGHTS ARE THE EASIEST For those who hate bumpy flights, try to grab a seat in the morning—which is when flights are typically smoother. Still not convinced? For truly bump-free travel, do your research before booking.

Some airlines use weather tracking technology to commit to turbulence-free routes.

When it comes to water, try to stick to the bottled water offered by the attendant.

Water offered in cups or used for coffee and tea comes from a storage tank that may be located near the sewage tank—both being changed at the same time. The tank itself also is not regularly cleaned, and scum easily builds up on the inside.

FACES MAGAZINE | 33

Natalie Portman attends the premiere of Paramount Pictures’ ‘Annihilation’ at Regency Village Theatre in Westwood, California.

34 | FACES MAGAZINE

Photo credit: Emma McIntyre / Staff

W

hen she stepped up to the microphone to announce the five directors nominated for Best Director at this year’s Golden Globes, Natalie Portman was intent on making a point. Clearing her throat, she calmingly introduced the line-up by calling it, ‘the ALL MALE nominees for Best Director’. Immediately there was an audible gasp from the room of A-listers.

How does the star look back at that? “I was stating a fact,” she laughs. “It wasn’t creating a controversy, everybody was already aware, I was simply reiterating the fact that it was an all-male line-up.” There’s a quiet, regal conviction in her response.

Something that the majority of her peers wouldn’t pull off in the same way.

Making Natalie’s words and presence astonishingly powerful for someone still quite young. And while generally perceived as stoic and intellectual, Portman likes to laugh and joke as we chat about her latest movie, Annihilation.

She’s achieved a pleasing balance, making her an always affable interviewee. In the follow-up from his excellent Ex-Machina, Alex Garland directs Portman as a military biologist who along with a crack team of operatives including Tessa Thompson and Jennifer Jason Leigh, volunteer to enter a bio hazardous area after her husband returns in a catatonic state. In order to save his life, she must discover the secret to the Shimmer before it’s too late. In an absorbing, engaging often terrifying look at humanity’s relationship with nature, Portman is typically scintillating in the performance.

NATALIE PORTMAN New Movie Introduces an All-Female Leading Cast Perhaps it’s a result of her lifetime in the spotlight? Portman shot to fame at the tender age of 12 with a leading role in Luc Besson’s Leon [or the Professional as it’s known in the States]. Her mature performance thrust her into the big leagues and she grew up in Hollywood starring in blockbusters like Heat, Mars Attacks, Cold Mountain and Star Wars.

She balanced a Harvard degree in psychology with roles in Closer, V For Vendetta and The Other Boleyn Girl and eventually went onto nab her first Oscar for Black Swan. And yet, she’s still only 36. But carries herself with the guile and pedigree of a star twice her age.

The actor however is mostly chuffed with the movie’s feminine subtext and with five women leading the action, the 36 yearold believes it’s the start of a new wave of female dominant scripts. She chats about the effect of the #metoo campaign on Hollywood and her previous experiences on set as the only woman. Natalie also chats about self-doubt, family balance and values, fame, subverting perception and her imminent rap career. The star lives in LA with her husband, dancer and choreographer, Benjamin Millepied and their children, Aleph, 6 and new-born, Amalia.

FACES MAGAZINE | 35

This is a remarkable movie, it’s not difficult to see why you signed on. In that there’s so much to attract an actor, what stood out for you?

Alex Garland is remarkable. I’m a huge fan of his writing, his vision and then what he did with Ex Machina was incomparable, it raised the bar for moviemakers everywhere. So to discuss with him his vision for Jeff Vandermeer’s original novel grabbed me by the throat and wouldn’t let go. I was in it before I was in it, you know [laughs]. I was invested and moved and wanted so badly to tell this story about these powerful women. Because that was another huge draw, five incredible, different, extraordinary women from very different perspectives join together on this mission, it’s sadly, virtually unheard of.

For it to be something to rave about, must be quite maddening as an actor too?

Five women, saying it out loud amazes me and saddens me too but mostly I feel so much optimism and hope that this will become the norm and we won’t be saying how significant this is, it will be completely normalized. But we have a long way to go to get there.

How many movies have we watched with a group of men going on a mission together? Hundreds, thousands of times. Isn’t it so telling that a group of women leading a mission like this, is something to talk about.

Was it a very different experience because of that for you?

I’m used to being the only woman on set, it’s unfortunate how normalized it’s become to me and all other female actors, and each time, you feel like you’re representing your entire gender on your shoulders rather than representing yourself. Your personality, your intellect, your intentions almost don’t matter, a lot of the time, they don’t matter at all because you are simply the woman in the case, the woman in the movie.

I’ve never had an experience like this where I felt so close to other actors, I’ve never really had actor friends in my life but coming off this, I came away with four sisters, not only friends, but sisters [laughs].

We bonded over this special, shared experience, we’d be all sitting in this tent together every day because

our trailers were far away and it was too much to be going back and forth so we’d be in there just swapping stories and jokes and creating a kinship that’s very dear to me and we’re all really close now and talk all the time.

It’s perfect timing for a movie like this, it couldn’t be more perfect!

Wouldn’t it be great to take credit and say, this is exactly how we planned it [laughs]. We knew this was the perfect time [laughs]. It just happened like this but how great to be releasing to an audience who have been evolved and empowered by a movement, an unprecedented movement like this.

You did an amazing job on Saturday Night Live.

Thank you very much.

The rap was especially amazing and so not what we come to expect of you, do you enjoy that aspect of surprise?

I think what’s so funny for me is people’s reactions, they’re like, ‘I had no idea you had that in you’ and it’s like, ‘well why did you think that, nobody can know what anyone is capable of.’ I like playing with that idea of who I’m supposed to be and surprising people.

But there’s not that much thought gone into it, in what world am I going to get the chance to produce and perform my own rap song in my own rap video, I’m doing it. It’s so much fun and sometimes, I like to do stuff just to blow off some steam and have fun. There doesn’t always have to be any real depth to it beyond that.

So saying that, would you go one further and really shock people with your own rap album?

It could happen. I like the idea of bringing out my first rap album when I’m 80. Nobody will expect that, will they?

Your so often seen as the academic movie star, who went to Harvard and studied and I think the industry was half expecting you to quit acting and become a lecturer or professor. Is that a fair assessment?

Yes, it is [laughs]. I love the art of acting, I love the art of storytelling. Which wasn’t something I was always comfortable with or set on.

“

Probably in my thirties, the decade where you gain more security in your choices and desires, you stop, or at least you criticize your choices less, and I see acting now as a job with immeasurable facets and levels.

36 | FACES MAGAZINE

”

FACES MAGAZINE | 37

Why not?

My family, my upbringing was quite academic, nobody in my family had any connection with the film industry, they had no experience of it or understood it and I think they thought maybe one day, I would stop all this and get a serious job [laughs]. And I think that was always a little in the back of my mind.

When did that change for you? When was that lightbulb moment?

Probably in my thirties, the decade where you gain more security in your choices and desires, you stop, or at least you criticize your choices less, and I see acting now as a job with immeasurable facets and levels and in playing another person, I’m dealing with illustration and psychology and human behaviour and social science and being able to bring that to the audience and hopefully have that impact means a lot, it gives me that drive and will to do more and more.

And also because I love it. I really love acting, It’s my passion and if you can entertain your passion as your job, what can be better than that.

Do you ever audition anymore? Or when was the last time you did?

I don’t, and that’s a very fortunate position to be in as an actor, you’ve already scaled that impossible obstacle. But there is a downside as an actor because without auditioning, I feel like I can’t show a filmmaker what I can do, the perception is already in place so it can limit me in some ways as an actor.

38 | FACES MAGAZINE

Aside from the character, the director, which is what every actor says, which I know is the case, but what drives you to say yes to a film now, especially as mom of two young kids? Is that the top priority?

Yes, definitely, I’m a mom and being able to shoot in my hometown where I can be part of their day is so important to me and the impact it has on families is ignored, I wasn’t aware of it myself until I became a mother but having to spend extended periods away from your loved ones is the life of an actor and it can be very damaging. So I choose very carefully now for the sake of my family.

How is fame with your family, how hard is that to balance and keep them shielded from the glare? Do you get hounded much by the photographers?

Honestly, I do and have for a long time but I can’t complain too much, I have it pretty good. I get a lot less attention than others I know. Which I do not take for granted, I’m so thankful.

Hugely, especially with kids, that was my fear for them but so far, it’s ok. I like to think, I’m pretty sure it’s because I’m small I can go a lot more undetected than those of the taller variety [laughs].

I can weave in and out, you can’t really pick me out in a crowd. It’s like a natural camouflage.

BY PIERS MANNING

“

My family, my upbringing was quite academic, nobody in my family had any connection with the film industry, they had no experience of it or understood it and I think they thought maybe one day...

” FACES MAGAZINE | 39

Bon Voyage STYLISH TRAVEL BAGS WORTH THE INVESTMENT VX Touring Extra Large Wheeled Duffel Bag, $320, Victorinox Swiss Army®

Chevron 29-Inch Spinner Suitcase, $202, Nordstrom

Louis Vuitton, Pégase Légère 55 Business Travel Bag, $5,000, louisvuitton.com Trade Large Wheeled Packing Case, $180, Herschel Supply

HIS 40 | FACES MAGAZINE

HERS Calpak Medora Glitter 24-Inch Hardshell Spinner Suitcase, $254, Nordstrom

Ted Baker London 31-Inch Four Wheel Suitcase $650, Nordstrom

Eddie Harop Voyager leather-trimmed printed canvas weekend bag, $850, eddieharop.com

OOKONN Printed leathertrimmed hardshell suitcase, $415, ookonn.ca

Globe-Trotter Mini Safari 9-Inch Utility Hardshell Travel Case, $1,253, Nordstrom

Louis Vuitton, Horizon 55 Hardshell Suitcase, $3,500, louisvuitton.com FACES MAGAZINE | 41

Catching those

Z ZZ’s O ur parents always told us how important sleep is and now that we are older, that couldn’t be more true. These days, “short sleep duration and poor sleep quality are prevalent among Canadian adults. About onethird sleep fewer hours per night than recommended for optimal health”(Statscan). Sleep is a critical and simple way to improve our overall health, mental function and even our mood. Imagine waking up when your alarm goes off, feeling refreshed, focused and having energy throughout your day - without the need for excess caffeine. By focusing on increasing the time and quality of your sleep, you can expect a strengthened immune system, reduced anxiety and increased libido! There are of course numerous aspects to a healthy lifestyle, but sleep is one of the top indicators, so do yourself a favor this year and get some rest.

Are You Ready To Spring Forward?

Daylight Savings Time Begins on Sunday, March 11, 2:00 am

3

Sure Fire Ways to Get Better Quality of Sleep

1. Refrain from using your phone screen or

watching television an hour before bed.

Try a book, podcast or meditation. Buy a pair of blue blockers if you want to use screens before bed, this will help your brain wind down and prepare you for a good night’s sleep.

2. Front-load your day with water. If you

stop drinking liquids around dinner time, you won’t have to get up in the middle of the night to use the washroom, which disrupts important REM sleep.

3. Invest in a new pillow, some amazing

sheets or even a new mattress. We spend 1/3 of our entire life sleeping, so start the new year off right and make your bed a very comfortable space, your body and mind will thank you !

42 | FACES MAGAZINE

OTT AWA

OTTAWA SENATORS

IN MARCH 1998

Senators finished March 1998 with a 28-31-13 record on their way to finishing the season at 34-33-15 and making the playoffs for the 2nd straight season.

The Senators upset the New Jersey Devils in the 1st Round, before falling to the Capitals in the 2nd Round.

Alexei Yashin led the team in scoring that year with 33G and 72Pts

NUMBER 1 SONGS OF MARCH 1998 My Heart Will Go On – Celine Dion Getting Jiggy With It – Will Smith All My Life – K-Ci and JoJo

TOP MOVIES OF MARCH 1998 • Titanic - #1 for all of March 1998 • As Good As it Gets • Good Will HuntinG

TOP RATED TV SHOWS MARCH 1998 • ER • Friends • Frasier

INFLUENCERS OF 1998 Jennifer Love Hewitt Aaliyah Jennifer Aniston Cameron Diaz Jakob Dylan Mariah Carey Drew Barrymore Leonardo DiCaprio Will Smith

FACES MAGAZINE | 43

Emily

RATAJKOWSKI THE

naked FEMINIST

I

44 | FACES MAGAZINE

t’s hard to pin down Emily Ratajkowski. An independent-minded young woman with the body of a goddess, she has generated massive controversy over her penchant for posing nude or nearly so in magazines and social media. While in the process of establishing herself as a serious actress in the 2014 David Fincher thriller Gone Girl, starring Ben Affleck, Entourage [2015], and We Are Your Friends [2015], with Zac Efron, the London-born, California-raised Ratajkowki has maintained a parallel presence as a revisionist feminist model anxious to celebrate her cleavage at every opportunity.

Cultivating a reputation as one of the sexiest women alive, whose appearance in Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” music video [500 million views and counting] turned her into an instant YouTube sensation, Ratajkowski has adopted a Kardashian-like approach to mass Selfie-exposure and parlayed that into a burgeoning film career. This summer sees the Polish-American provocatrice co-star in two films - I Feel Pretty opposite Michelle Williams and Amy Schumer, and Welcome Home, a thriller set in Tuscany in which she shares top billing with Breaking Bad star Aaron Paul. Is this the Year of the Rat(ajkowski)?

And why not? A strong case could be made that she possesses the best breasts in show business and flaunting those assets has already won her over 15 million Instagram followers as well as two major campaigns as brand ambassador for DKNY and Kérestase hair care products.

“That’s basically my strategy,” said Ratajkowski. “I’m so grateful I have modelling and so many other things that I’m doing – because if I didn’t have other ways of making money, I’d be like, ‘OK, I guess I’m doing the bathing-suit-girl role.’ You really have to prove yourself in this industry and I’m very much up for

Photo by: Rachel Murray / Stringers

FACES MAGAZINE | 45

the challenge. It takes a really long time to not only prove yourself, but also prove that you’re more dynamic than just this one part of you that they see.”

She’s also had to confront the contradiction that comes with having rocketed to fame on the basis of her physical charms yet wanting to be taken seriously as an actress. Ratajkowski has turned down numerous projects that are purely exploitative of her beauty but at the same time directors and casting agents have rejected her because her looks would be too distracting. Sighed Emily:

“

There’s this thing that happens to me: ‘Oh, she’s too sexy’. It’s like an anti-woman thing, people don’t want to work with me because my boobs are too big.

“What’s wrong with boobs? They’re a beautiful, feminine thing that needs to be celebrated. Like, who cares?...They are great big, they are great small. Why should that be an issue?”

During the past year she’s effectively proclaimed herself a naked feminist warrior by asserting that a woman’s embrace of her body—nude or otherwise—is an act of empowerment.

It takes a certain amount of gumption or ballsiness on the part of Ratajkowski to chart such a course in the current age of manic political correctness.

She opens herself up to accusations of reckless self-promotion and self-exploitation from women’s movement hard-liners, while also inviting ridicule from media pundits such as the curmudgeonly Piers Morgan who labelled her a “global bimbo” after she appeared in a LOVE Magazine video clad in her undies and lathered in pasta and olive oil. Cons counters that kind of

46 | FACES MAGAZINE

criticism as “sexist” and “stigmatizing,” arguing that there shouldn’t be any limits to a woman’s right to (sexual) self-expression.

“I think a lot of people really feel that the idea of a woman being sexual or being sexualized is the opposite of feminism,” declared Ratajkowski.

“To start saying that certain people need to have a license to be feminist is insane. Emma Watson said feminism isn’t some kind of tool to beat other women with, it’s supposed to be a freedom of choice.”

“From the beginning, when I didn’t have as much popularity, I made the decision to be as honest as I could about who I am and what I believe, and I have never apologized for that.”

“And I believe in sexuality. I think it’s a wonderful thing and, if anything, I want women to understand their own sexuality outside of a patriarchal male gaze. We’re the core of sexual beings, and I think that’s something that should be celebrated rather than attacked.”

Certainly, Canadian psychology professor and trailblazing libertarian intellectual Jordan Peterson would defend Emily’s right to brandish her boobs any way she deems fit. “Strengthen the individual. Start with yourself. Take care with yourself. Define who you are.

Refine your personality. Choose your destination and articulate your Being.”

This is precisely Ratajkowski’s leitmotiv for living: “From the beginning, when I didn’t have as much popularity, I made the decision to be as honest as I could about who I am and what I believe, and I have never apologized for that.”

“I could have been like, ‘I’ll never post a sexy selfie again because I want people to take me seriously as an actress,’ or I could have said, ‘I’ll never talk on political issues because I want people to see me as this sex symbol,’ or whatever.”

Instead, Emily has doubled down on her right to project herself into the feminist landscape by arguing that beauty and ownership of one’s boobs and buttocks is—via naked photo shoots, selfies, or nude sex scenes in movies—can also be understood as vital acts of female empowerment.

Photo by: Rachel Murray / Stringers

Photo by Chris McPherson

FACES MAGAZINE | 47

Emily wonders why a woman can’t take a specific example of constant female objectification—boobs—and take Amazonian charge of one’s sexual identity. If we take her at her word and not try to take cheap shots at her omnipresent nude photomontage, why shouldn’t we embrace her as a young woman who is deliberating exploiting her beauty and undercutting feminist orthodoxy at the same time.

“It really bothers me that people are so offended by breasts,” said Ratajkowski. “That’s when I realized how f---ed our culture is.

When we see breasts, we don’t think of beauty and femininity. We think of vulgar, over-sexualized images.”

sensibilities until her stunning adolescent beauty landed her a contract with Ford Models at age 14. Four years later, she enrolled at UCLA where she studied art history before dropping out after her third semester to concentrate on her burgeoning modelling career. Yet she continues to collect art and has amassed an impressive collection of paintings and sculptures by up-and-coming American artists in her Los Angeles loft.

(She recently broke up with boyfriend Jeff Magid).

Emily recalled that as a young woman she was constantly being pursued by men and grew uncomfortable with the attention and relentless stares and pick-up lines:

She added: “Any expression that is empowered and is your own as a woman is feminist.

If a woman decides to dress sexy, it doesn’t mean she’s not a feminist. [We] should be doing things for ourselves. If that is the woman’s choice, and it makes her feel good, then that’s great. Good for her.”

“It was really difficult for me to understand and to come to terms with—that identity, people’s perception of me... It’s hard for a 12-year-old girl, who is basically feeling like,’Why don’t you just leave me alone’, because I don’t see men having to justify what they wear or how they express themselves.”

Ratajkowski is anything but a naive ingénue looking to Instagram her way to the top.

She’s very much aware that weaponising her body is risky business and has led many people to be both skeptical and dismissive, consigning her to the Kardashian heap of sublime superficiality. Emily admits that her greatest fear is that her attention-grabbing nudism will ultimately prove self-defeating.

“She [her mother] told me, ‘wear whatever you want, do whatever you want, it doesn’t matter, that’s just your body and that’s who you are so it’s not your issue.’ There was an acceptance there.”

She worries about “not making anything of life and not doing anything that’s important...I’m really scared of that. Especially because I chose this as my career, this superficial thing.”

After being born in London in 1991 to American parents—her father, John Ratajkowski, is an artist, while her mother, Kathleen Balgley, is a university professor—Emily’s family relocated to San Diego when she was five. She still counts London as one of her favourite cities however and returns often to indulge her taste in theatre.

“I think London was the first time I ever fell in love with theatre,” she recalled., “My mum was teaching there and she got inexpensive tickets. Every Friday, instead of going to the movies, my parents would take me to Les Misérables or Cats, or one of the other [musicals or] plays in the early ’90s that were very popular.”

She loved to draw as a child and was encouraged by her father to pursue her artistic 48 | FACES MAGAZINE

This year it will be interesting to see whether Ratajkowski’s mass appeal will translate into a sustainable Hollywood career. She’s had a difficult time following up her work in Gone Girl and We Are Your Friends with anything remotely interesting since. But working opposite Michelle Williams and Amy Schumer in I Feel Pretty has been a “big step forward” and could trigger similar studio projects down the road. In the meantime, she intends to continue teetering on the edge of controversy while remaining true to her brash self: Said Emily: “People try to put women in boxes and stereotype them as one thing. There’s a need, even as a woman, to become a certain “type” of girl. But I feel extremely multifaceted.

“One moment I can be super-silly with my friends, and the next minute I feel like the sexiest woman in the world. And that to me doesn’t change what my core ideals are, or what I have to say. Just because someone can be sexual doesn’t mean they can’t be serious!”

by Jan Janssen

I can honestly say that I absolutely love every aspect of my Cosmetic Practice and feel extremely privileged to be able do this work all day, everyday.

THE FACE OF TOSONI MD: OTTAWA’S BEST COSMETIC CLINIC

I

t is not hard to understand why TosoniMD, also known as the Ottawa Cosmetic Clinic, was voted Ottawa’s Best Cosmetic Clinic for the 2018 Face Awards. Upon walking through the doors, you will be warmly greeted by a smiling receptionist and surely be taken in by the serene, professional and elegant decor of this boutique style cosmetic clinic. From the design of the front desk, the clinics layout, the colours and the choices of the Art pieces on the walls, every item was drawn, designed and hand picked by the physician, Dr. Caroline Tosoni, giving you an immediate insight into both the medical and artistic sides of her personality as well as her attention to detail and desire for perfection in all that encompasses her Cosmetic Clinic.

Dr. Tosoni has been in Medical Practice for 20 years and dedicates 100% of her professional time to the practice of Cosmetic Medicine at her Byward Market location, and is loving every second of it.

When asked what she feels has contributed to the success and continued growth of her cosmetic practice, Dr. Tosoni will tell you that ‘’ I am very fortunate. I have had the privilege over my career of being trained not only by some of the best injectors in Canada, but in the world. It is my personal belief that if you want to be the very best at what you do, you should take this seriously and dedicate 100% of your energy and time to it. Too many injectors practice medical aesthetics a few hours here and there and think that it’s sufficient to develop and maintain the skills required. Quite frankly, I find that offensive. Cosmetic Medicine is not a hobby, it is a medical specialty and as with any other medical specialty, if you want to excel at it, you need to be completely dedicated and immersed in it. It takes a tremendous amount of hard work and meticulous focus to give the highest level of client care and

to achieve the best possible results for every single patient that sits in my chair.’’

Dr. Tosoni has a reputation for being meticulously attentive to details, having an acute artistic eye and always seeks to achieve refined, youthful and natural outcomes for her clients.

My Cosmetic Practice has continuously grown as a result of word of mouth and referrals from existing clients. I believe this is a true indication that I am succeeding in helping my patients achieve their beauty goals.

As a result of her skills and years of experience, Dr. Tosoni is now recognized as one of the premier injectors of Botox and Dermal Filler in Canada. She is the first and only physician in Eastern Ontario to have received, in each year since 2014, the distinguished Double Diamond Status with Allergan: a status achieved by only a handful of doctors across the country. And this year, her clinic, TosoniMD was voted Best Cosmetic Clinic in Ottawa for the Faces Awards. ‘’I would like to sincerely thank all of those who voted for me and my clinic. What a fantastic honour!’’

Dr. Tosoni is also a trusted source of information and as such has been a regular guest on local television and interviewed by various journalists over the years for her opinion, knowledge and insight into the world of Cosmetic Medicine. When she is not at work, you will find Dr. Tosoni either cheering for her son at the arena, spending time with her 3 beautiful daughters, planning a trip with her husband, at the gym with her personal trainer or out on the road running.

Refined. Youthful. Natural. 110A Clarence, Ottawa, ON (Byward Market) | 613-244-5151 www.ottawa-cosmetic-clinic.com | @tosonimd

FACES MAGAZINE | 49

Ready Set

Spring

Warmer Days Ahead.

Clothing Available at Bayshore Shopping Centre Shot at Fresh Towns Apartments Photography by Yoni Sambo Makeup by Emily Wood Her outfit, Hudson’s Bay

50 | FACES MAGAZINE

FACES MAGAZINE | 51

His top, sweater, Jack and Jones Her Top, Hudson’s Bay, pants, Old Navy, shoes, Blackwell’s

52 | FACES MAGAZINE

Her top, Stitches, pants, Guess, purse, shoes, Old Navy His shirt, Old Navy, pants, Jack and Jones

FACES MAGAZINE | 53

Her top, Old Navy, pants, Stitches, shoes Blackwell’s 54 | FACES MAGAZINE

His outfit, Stitches Her top, Stitches, pants, Guess

His shirt, Old Navy, pants, Jack and Jones

FACES MAGAZINE | 55

Her outfit, Hudson’s Bay

56 | FACES MAGAZINE

A FRESH NEW YEAR AT F R E S H T O W N S

PHASE 1 SOLD OUT INTRODUCING PHASE 2 Start fresh this year and discover modern affordable living close to it all. Following last year’s success, Fresh Towns offers more of what you’re looking for with Phase 2 of this spectacular townhome community: Too Fresh. Imagine open concept living, modern designed chef kitchens, and spectacular rooftop decks. Close to parks, schools, shops, transit, and Highway 416 & 417.

STARTING FROM THE LOW

$

300’s FRESHTOWNS.CA IRIS ST BASELINE RD

HUNT CLUB RD

GREENBANK RD

MORRISON DR

HWY 416

QUEENSWAY 417

N

REGISTER TODAY 613.693.0808 2795 BASELINE RD. Mon. To Thurs.: 11AM - 6PM Sat. & Sun.: 11AM - 5PM Fri.: closed

Exclusive Listing Brokerage, Milborne Real Estate Inc. Brokers Protected.

Prices and specifications are subject to change without notice. Renderings are artist concept only. E. & O. E. 2018

FACES MAGAZINE | 57

4 More Reasons to Spring Clean The time is upon us to shake the last of winter out of our rugs and finally open our windows to the world. But research shows that not everyone is on-board with spring cleaning.

Here are a few more reasons why tackling the mess is a must—in case you needed them.

1 Research shows that 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.

Kitchen chaos leads us to be less disciplined in our diets, and has us reaching for snacks much more often.

2 Your carpet makes a larger impression than you.

A study done in the city of Oakville found evidence to support that almost 40% of people draw impressions—or judge— others based on the cleanliness of their carpet.

58 | FACES MAGAZINE

3 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 your using dryer sheets, the silicon-based chemicals from the sheets will build up an invisible barrier that will block your vent in no time. Try to wash (and let dry completely) your filter every four months.

4 Spring cleaning could help 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 to mean the difference between frustration and appreciation. Tackling the task as a couple also makes for some fun together-time.

5

Ways To Spend a Rainy Day in Ottawa

As we all gathered from Willie Nelson, rainy days suck. Not only do the grey skies make you feel unmotivated to even leave bed, but rain can ruin what you may have had planned for the day, especially if those plans were supposed to take place outdoors. Don’t let this curveball destroy the entire day, because there are several ways you can spend a rainy day having fun in Ottawa, that don’t include your pj’s, your couch and a tub of ice cream.

1

Spend The Day At A Museum Being the capital city of Canada, it is safe to say that there are no shortages of museums to explore on a rainy day. In addition, several of them offer discounted admission rates to both high school and post-secondary students, as well as seniors. You can even visit the Museum of History, the War Museum, the Nature Museum, the Aviation and Space museum, and the National Gallery during select days and hours for free! (just make sure to check for exact times on their website).

2

Spend The Day Doing Yoga With Goats Goat Yoga is the latest trend among the 613 yogi community.

According to Goat Yogi’s, goats are great to accompany a yoga class. Not only do goats love people and are extremely cuddly, but they also help motivate and encourage participants throughout the class by jumping from back to back.

3

Spend The Day Indoor Rock Climbing Rock climbing is a great way to stay active on a rainy day.

The activity is a total body workout, using not only your shoulders, arms and legs to pull and push yourself up the wall, but your core to remain balanced throughout the entire thing. Several places offer group discounts, so next time you’re trapped inside on a rainy day, grab some friends and get in a different, yet good, kind of workout!

4 5

See a Movie At The Mayfair Theatre The Mayfair Theatre is one of two neighbourhood cinema’s that still exist in the city, the other being Bytowne Cinema located downtown. Mayfair was first built in 1932 during the Great Depression, and still stands today as one of Canada’s oldest surviving independent movie houses. In 2008, the theatre was officially declared a heritage building for the cultural and architectural value it adds to the city.

Visit Ottawa’s Only Cat Cafe Feline Cafe operates as a cause-focused business that offers visitors a unique cafe experience. Not only will you get to spend your day enjoying delicious coffee while being surrounded by cats (all of which are available for adoption, might I add!), but you will also be supporting a good cause by doing so. in support of rescue felines. The cafe is run by volunteers who use all profits made towards housing, feeding and making sure these rescues are in good health while they search for a forever home.

FACES MAGAZINE | 59

Super Easy

SUPER GREEN Experiment with these super healthy green meals to start your spring off right! You might be surprised with how much energy these meals will fuel your body with.

1 SPRING ENERGY SMOOTHIE double ingredients to make a smoothie for a friend Ingredients • • • • • • • • •

60 | FACES MAGAZINE

½ apple ½ cucumber 1 stalk celery Handful spinach, kale or Bok Choy ½ lemon juiced ½ orange juiced 1 tbs freshly chopped ginger 1 scoop coconut oil ½ cup any frozen berries of your choosing

Directions 1. Mix all ingredients together slowly in mixer, adding in parts. Feel free to add water for desired consistency but stay away from adding sugary juices! a. The best thing about smoothies is they become mega- doses of nutrition. You can almost add anything that will fuel your cells and supercharge your body for the day. This is a good base but here are some extras you can throw in there b. Extras: Hemp hearts, chlorella, spirulina, turmeric, cocoa powder, cinnamon, clove of garlic, protein powder. (side note: color may vary)

2

Roasted Broccoli, Arugula and Apple Salad Ingredients • • • • •

• •

1 Head of Broccoli Olive Oil 1 of your favourite apples chopped 4 cups Arugula 3 tbsp. Dried Cranberries OR fresh pomegranate seeds 3 tbsp. Pumpkin seeds ½ cup fresh parmesan

• •

Pico De Gallo

Ingredients • 2 ripe avocados • 5 cherry tomatoes finely chopped • 1 tbsp. of lime juice • 1 clove of garlic finely grated • 1 Serrano pepper, stems and seeds removed • ½ tsp. Himalayan pink salt • Fresh black pepper to taste

Ingredients • 3 ripe tomatoes, chopped • 1 medium red or white onion chopped • cilantro chopped and added to taste • ½ lemon or lime juiced • 1 tsp of salt

Directions 1. Spoon out the avocado and mash with a fork in the bowl 2. Add the lime juice, salt and pepper 3. Add the tomatoes, pepper and garlic and mix up

Lemon Dijon dressing • • • • •

Guacamole

2 tbs. Olive Oil 1/2 lemon- juiced 1 tsp. Maple syrup 1 tsp. Dijon Mustard 1 tbsp. red wine vinegar Pinch oregano Salt and pepper to taste

3

Directions 1. Chop tomatoes and add 1 tsp. of salt, toss to combine then allow to drain for 15 minutes in a strainer 2. Combine tomatoes with chopped onion, cilantro and citrus juice.

3. Add salt and pepper to taste (chili flakes optional) 4. Serve with favorite chips

Directions 1. Toss the Broccoli florets in olive oil and roast in the oven at 435 degrees on parchment paper until they are crisp on the outside (20 mins) 2. Whisk together all of the ingredients for the dressing 3. Toss remaining salad ingredients together once broccoli is done

4

Sautéed Kale and Green Beans Side dish, snack, awesome for leftovers Ingredients • • • • • • • • •

1 large pack of kale 20 green beans 3 shallots 2 cloves garlic 2 tsp. coconut oil ½ cup vegetable stock Red pepper flakes Salt and pepper Sesame seeds

Directions 1. Heat coconut oil in large sauté pan, add green beans and begin to cook for about 7 minutes until the color becomes a rich green 2. Add shallots and cook for 3 minutes 3. Add the garlic, salt and pepper and red pepper flakes cooking everything together for 2 minutes stirring often 4. Add kale, broth and mix well.

Cover and cook for 5 minutes, tossing occasionally 5. Remove cover and continue cooking until broth as cooked away 6. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve hot

FACES MAGAZINE | 61

We’ve Given These

ST. PATRICK’S DAY DRINKS The Green Light

The St. Patty’s Girlfriend

The Pot of Gold Shooter • • •

.5 oz Goldshlager .5 oz Whiskey .5oz Bailey’s

Shake the goldshlager and whiskey on ice, strain and top with baileys float.

62 | FACES MAGAZINE

The Party Leprechaun • • • •

1.5oz Orange Vodka .5 Lychee Liquor 1 oz Passionfruit syrup .75 Lime Juice Soda

Shake all ingredients on ice and top with 4 oz of soda.

• • • • • • •

5-6 Mint leaves 2 strawberries 2 oz Coconut Tequila .5 Triple Sec 1oz Lime Juice .25 oz Maple syrup 1oz water

Blend ingredients with a few ice cubes in mixer, put in popsicle tray and make the best adult popsicle you’ve ever had OR Muddle strawberries and mint leaves. Add ingredients together and shake over ice.

TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY

DATE NIGHT COME VISIT OUR

NEW LOCATION 613-836-1811 5547 HAZELDEAN ROAD STITTSVILLE, ON K2S 0P5 WWW.LACUCINAOTTAWA.COM

FACES MAGAZINE | 63

PREVENTATIVE

ANTI-VIRAL

THIS WINTER

FIGHT THE FLU WITH OMEGA-3

Research shows that taking omega-3 on a regular basis can prevent the flu virus from replicating and even act as an anti-viral for those experiencing the flu.

CALL 1-866-999-4077 TO ORDER www.dpagold.com

64 | FACES MAGAZINE

OMEGA 3

HEALTHY OR HYPE? THE VERDICT IS NOT OUT ON THIS QUESTION...

THE ANSWER IS HEALTHY! Here’s the rundown on fish oil: it comes from the tissues of oily fish, the best sources being cold-water, fatty fish. They provide EPA and DHA, two long-chain omega 3 fatty acids important for the maintenance of good health including healthy brain function and cardiovascular health.

Here’s the issue: too many omega-6s and not enough omega-3’s causes inflammation in the human body. Inflammation=chronic illness. Our health goal is to balance our intake of omega-3 and omega-6 fats in order to reduce inflammation in our system.

Each of us have different health goals but here are just a few of the benefits associated with taking a high quality Omega 3 SHARPENS BRAIN POWER: The essential fatty acids can slow cognitive decline and fight against Alzheimer’s disease. (Association of fish oil supplement use with preservation of brain volume and cognitive function. US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health) FIGHTS AGAINST ANXIETY: Fish oil has been shown to aid in subsiding anxiety and depression like behaviors (European Journal of Neuroscience) SMOOTHS AND MOISTURIZES SKIN: Fish Oil benefits and nourishes the skin with fats and adds vitamins that help the skin maintain a smooth, elastic texture and even can aid in the ageing process, preventing wrinkles. (University of Maryland Medical Center, Eczema) INCREASES FERTILITY: Fish Oil has been shown to balance hormones and regulate a woman’s cycle by reducing inflammation therefore increasing fertility. Additionally, DHA plays a key role in the mobility and health of sperm. (Omega 3’s Vital for Health, Welsh J.) FIGHT AGAINST CANCER: There is evidence suggesting that omega-3s have antiproliferative effects - inhibiting cancer cell growth in cancer cell lines. (Mechanisms of Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Prostate Cancer Prevention, US National Library of Medicine) FACES MAGAZINE | 65

15 QUESTIONS WITH

1

Tell us a little bit about your childhood growing up in Praha, Czech Republic and what were some of your favourite things about growing up there?

Growing up in Praha was amazing. It’s a huge city and it’s a lot of fun there. I spent a lot of time with my brother; we were always really close together. He’s three years older than me, so we always spent time together. My favourite thing to do was to just be downtown with my friends and to just relax.

2

When did hockey become a real passion for you? Were there other sports you played as a kid growing up?

When I was growing up, I played in almost every sport. I wasn’t really good at hockey when I was younger, and I was always sort of in the shadow of my brother.

When I went to play in Canada, it started to be a real thing for me and that’s when I started to take it more seriously.

3

When did you make the decision to pursue a career as a professional hockey player and how did you manage to make such a life-changing decision?

I think it was when I went to Canada. Seeing those guys and what hockey meant to them, and the fact that they took it so seriously. After I was drafted, I just kind of took it over. I think if you want to be successful, you have to make those changes and get ready for it.

4

What was draft day like from your perspective, having been selected in the second round 48th overall by the Ottawa Senators? Who was the first person you called after finding out you were drafted and how did that conversation go?

I was hoping to go in the first round on the first day. I went home after and I was just sitting there with my family, so it was kind of sad. After the second day, you know or are hoping that you’re going to get drafted, so I just stayed with my family to hear the news. It was a special moment for my family and for me too. They

Photo credit: Jason Scourse 66 | FACES MAGAZINE

FILI

never dreamt of me being drafted when I was young, so it was a special moment.

I called my grandfather right after. He was really happy. He was crying with my grandmother too. They’re from a really small village, so they got a lot of recognition because of that from their older friends (laughs).

velopment camp. We kind of knew each other from that and while we’ve played together, we’ve gotten to know each other even more. I think the group here is awesome and the young guys get along too.

I’m living with Jordan Murray and Macoy Erkamps. They’re like my best friends here but I think every guy here is awesome and I’m having a great time.

5

8

What are some of the immediate differences you noticed from playing in Czech, the QMJHL and the AHL? How did the transition and adaptation process go for these changes?

In Czech, the ice is bigger and in the Junior’s league, the guys don’t really care.

Guys show up an hour before the game, there’s no pre-game meals, there’s no physiotherapy or anything like that. In the QMJHL, it’s faster, stronger and you have to be careful with small details in the defensive zone. Just have to play it safe from a defensive perspective. Between the QMJHL and the AHL, if you’re on a good team in the QMJHL, you’ll probably get a lot of points, and it really does matter where you play. Here in the AHL, every team is very good, and the league is so strong. It’s stronger and faster. You have to go into every game being prepared.

6

Do you have a fondest hockey memory to date and if so, why does it stand out over the rest?

It would be Silver Medal in the U18 with the Czech Republic. We had a really good team but we never thought that we’d go that far. We beat Canada in the semi-finals and we beat Russia in the quarterfinals, I never had a tournament before, so I went straight to the U18 because I had a good playoff run. So for me, it was a great moment to be there and to win a silver medal.

7

What’s the chemistry like between the guys playing with the Belleville Senators and who are two teammates who you’ve become really close friends with since joining the team?

It’s great. We were drafted in 2015 or 2016, so we were with the guys in de-

You had the honour to play your first NHL game this season with the Ottawa Senators. What was it like stepping onto the ice for the first time and can you tell us about the emotions that ran through your head before that game?

I got called up the day before, so I was still nervous from that. My first shift was on a power play, so I was kind of nervous...I didn’t want to do anything bad. If you saw the play, I just kind of skated through the zone. It was a great moment and all of my family was watching from back home. It was unbelievable, just an unbelievable experience.

9

Outside of hockey, what do you enjoy doing with your spare time? Are there any restaurants that you enjoy going to from time to time?

I’m a big fan of PS4, so we play Fortnite all of the time. It’s our favourite hobby now.

Favourite restaurant is the Dragon Roll because I love sushi. We make a lot of food at home too.

10

Tell us something about yourself that most people wouldn’t already know?

I cook so that I don’t have to do the dishes (laughs).

11

What are some of your short-term goals that you’re currently working on? Any long-term goals?

I’m just trying to work in the defensive zone all of the time. You go on the ice and you work hard every shift, that’s my main focus right now. Be a difference-maker every shift, that’s another focus of mine. I feel like if I continue working on these, I’ll have a better chance of making it to the NHL.

12

Having played your first 10 NHL games this season, can you tell us what it’s like to reach the final step in pursuing your dream of becoming a professional hockey player in the NHL? It was unbelievable. You’re out there with the guys you grew up watching, and you become friends. You see how far you still have to go and how much you have to work on because those guys are so unbelievably skilled. You don’t see many mistakes, so that’s what you have to focus on doing. You can have a good couple of shifts but you still have to focus on the small things too.

13

What’s your most significant/meaningful goal that you’ve scored to date and why?

I didn’t score too many (laughs). The most significant would be at the World Juniors when we were down 3-1 against Switzerland. We had to win, if not, we would have gone to Group B. I scored like 12 seconds before the third period. It was great because my family was there and lots of people were watching too.

14

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given throughout your career thus far and why did it have an impact on you?

My mom always told me, “you only get one chance and you have to do everything to make it count. If you get the chance, do everything you can, because there’s no guarantee that you’ll get a second chance”.

15

Looking at the Ottawa Senators NHL team and their roster, where do you see yourself coming into play in the near future and how do you feel you would be a fit permanently for the team?

I think they have me as a centre, so I’m just trying to develop myself as a good twoway centre. That’s what I’m trying to do and I think if you’re in the AHL, you just try to do everything to move on, but it’s a slow process so I have to work on my defensive zone skills, and we’ll see what happens.

OTTAWA SENATORS PROSPECT

IP CHLAPIK FACES MAGAZINE | 67

1

Tell us a little bit about your childhood and what it was like growing up in Ste-Adele, Quebec? Was it a big sports town? How did your passion for hockey spark?

I’m from Adele and I played there since I was about thirteen years old. After that, I went to play midget AAA and then I went into Junior in Victoriaville Tigers for about two years. I played a lot of normal hockey during my childhood.

I think every kid in Laval and Montréal was born into hockey. Everyone knows the Montréal Canadiens. It started because my dad noticed how excited I’d get whenever Montréal was playing on TV. He put me on skates and I never stopped.

2

As a kid, who were some of your favourite NHL players to watch and why?

I’d say Vincent Lecavalier because he’s from Laval and he was a pretty big star. He was a great NHL player and his jersey just got retired. I also really liked Crosby too.

3

If you had to compare yourself to that of a current NHL player, who would that be and for what reasons?

I think a guy like Rick Nash, who can shoot the puck very well. I’d also say maybe a Corey Perry but I’d have to be a lot meaner and more of a harder guy to play against.

He’s a big guy who can shoot well in front of the net.

4

You’ve been described as a tall center with great skating skills and an impressive release on your shot. Furthermore, you’ve also been recognized for your mobility and your lower body strength. Are all of these traits things that you’ve been working on for a while now and is there any specific part of your game that you’re currently trying to improve?

I’ve never stopped growing since I was young. I was always pretty tall for my age and I’m still pretty tall now. When you’re young and a tall, 6’5 guy, it’s harder to skate and to have better mobility. For me,

it was more normal. For sure I worked on it, I mean, I had to because I’m 6’5 and I need to be stronger and everything. Fortunately, it has never been an issue for me, and I think I played a lot of sports when I was young, so that helped me. I played baseball and soccer, and so I think that helped my movement.

5

You spent a few years playing in the QMJHL with the Victoriaville Tigres and the Shawinigan Cataractes. What are some of your favourite memories from your time spent with those teams?

In Victoriaville, we never made it far in the playoffs. However, my first and second year there, my draft year there, it was a great experience. With Shawinigan, we had a really good team there even though we lost in the finals. It was a great experience playing there and playing in the playoffs.

6

How has the experience been for you playing with the Belleville Senators and how has your time there improved different aspects of your game so far?

It’s been huge. Last year, I didn’t play as much in Binghamton, I played a lot with the Colts. I worked a lot on my play with the puck and got a lot of help. It’s my first year here with this AHL team and it has been great. The fans are always with us, so that’s very fun to see. It’s a good hockey town.

7

Do you have any unique superstitions or pre-game rituals?

Not really. I’m not the type of guy to have them. I do always eat the same thing; tortellini before every game but I’m not the guy who’s going to do anything out of the ordinary. I just come to the rink and tape my stick, nothing special.

8

Who’s one teammate that you’ve really become close with in the last 2 years and who has helped you with regards to your career?

I’ll say Francis Perron because we work out together, he’s like my brother. He’s very good in the defensive zone with the puck,

so he’s helped me out a lot there. He’s a good friend and a good hockey player, so we help each other out.

9

What’s the best piece of advice you could give to a U20 hockey player looking to pursue a career playing professional hockey?

Never stop. If you don’t get drafted, don’t let it affect you. Look at Yanni Gourde on the Tampa Bay Lightning NHL team. He was never drafted by the NHL and he’s got over twenty goals in the NHL right now.

Just never stop and work hard. You may think your dream is far away but you can never know for sure.

10

How do you intend to make yourself eventually become a permanent asset on the Ottawa Senators NHL roster?

Just being stronger, more consistent and better with the puck. That’s it for me.

11

Looking at the Ottawa Senators’ team as a whole and their progress this season, what are some of the reasons that you think the team isn’t performing as well as everyone knows they can be?

Things can definitely change very quickly in the NHL. For Ottawa, it’s not easy to win a game. I’m not there so I don’t know for sure but I do watch a lot of their games.

We have some good prospects here. Colin White is doing very well up there. It’s fun seeing my good friend Thomas Chabot up there, he’s doing really well too. Look at teams like Toronto Maple Leafs last year, nothing happened in the playoffs and now they’re one of the top teams in the league.

Things can change quickly for sure.

12

What are your short-term goals with the Belleville Senators and how are you working on reaching these goals?

I think it’s the same overall goal here with everyone, and that is to make the playoffs.

We didn’t make playoffs last year in Binghamton. Some people think “oh, we’re done already and now it’s time for fun”,

OTTAWA SENATORS PROSPECT

GABRIEL GAG 68 | FACES MAGAZINE

but it’s not fun, especially when you train for four months or so. We want to make the playoffs. It’s good for everybody and it’s not good on your resume when you don’t make playoffs two years in a row, so that’s my goal now and we work hard on that everyday.

13

From your perspective, what’s it like to see one of your teammates get called up from time to time to play with the Ottawa Senators and how does that motivate you and the rest of the team to continue giving it your all in Belleville?

For sure it’s fun for them. Everyone who gets called up deserves it. That motivates me for sure because everyone wants to get called up. I’m happy for them for sure but I also want to get called up, and I’m going to work hard and do everything I can do and one day, maybe it’s going to be me.

14

15 QUESTIONS

WITH

Do you get to come to Ottawa often and if so, what do you like to do with your spare time while in the Nation’s Capital?

I’ve been there a couple times for sure, especially during training camp and what not. It’s a great city. I’m from Montréal so that’s a pretty big city too.

I find Ottawa quite a bit smaller and I prefer it for that reason. There aren’t as many people there and I love the small city feel it has. There are some really good spots to go out to for dinner and I hope to go to Ottawa more often in the future. My favourite place to eat is Moxies in Kanata.

15

What are two things about yourself that even most of your friends might be surprised to find out?

I love listening to Justin Bieber. I don’t know if that’s a good thing but I think most people might already know that about me.

GNE

Photo credit: Jason Scourse FACES MAGAZINE | 69

70 | FACES MAGAZINE

FAT OR FICTION

For years, we’ve been told that consuming fats will make you fat and increase your risk of heart disease, cancer and diabetes. In general, the message has been that fats are bad for you. While consuming too many of the less-desirable fats such as saturated fats, animal saturates and trans fast can most definitely be detrimental to your health, there are some fats with proven health benefits.

GOOD VS. BAD These bad fats aside, many other fats have numerous health benefits and should be an important and regular part of your diet.

One such fat that has an ever-increasing body of evidence supporting its health benefits is fish oil. Fish oil is rich in the essential fatty acid (EFA) and alpha linolenic acid (omega-3). EFAs are fats that we can’t manufacture in our body and must therefore consume in our diet. There are two EFAs: omega-3s and omega-6s. Of these two, omega-6 is being over-consumed and omega-3 under-consumed. Studies suggest that we’re getting a 20:1 ratio of omega-6 to omega-3, when a ratio between 1:1 to 4:1 is optimal. Although omega-6 fats are essential, an excess consumption of them has been associated with an increased risk of cancer, heart disease, obesity, inflammation, diabetes, depression and auto-immune diseases. Omega-3 fats are very much the polar opposite in terms of their impact on our health. They reduce the risk of all the previously mentioned conditions and recent evidence suggests they may increase life expectancy. Fish oils may even offer athletes numerous benefits, such as protecting muscle fibres from stress associated with intense exercise, reducing inflammation, and protecting athlete’s brains from concussive damage.

THE OMEGA TYPES There are two other forms of omega-4 fats that have both a different structure and function than alpha linolenic acid. They are EPA and DHA. Omega-3 fats are converted in the liver and enterocytes into EPA and DHA. This conversion, however, has been shown to be very poor. Omega-3 conversion into EPA is between 5-10% and 0-5% for DHA. Omega-3s from plant sources (flax, hemp, chia, walnuts, etc.) can’t provide us with EPA and DHA, but fish oil provides both. Many experts have shown that consuming omega-3 fats from plant sources alone aren’t enough and one should include both EPA and DHA from fish oil.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR We’ve established the need for omega-3 fats, EPA, DHA and their health benefits, so what should one look for in a quality fish oil? For starters, we need to appreciate that some fish harbour unwanted contaminants like mercury, PCBs and dioxins, to name a few. To reduce the likelihood of contaminants, choose smaller species of fish like sardines, anchovies and mackerel.

Through a process known as bioamplification, larger fish accumulate more of these unwanted compounds than smaller ones.

Our oceans are so polluted that this alone may not be adequate, so look for fish oils that have been filtered using a process known as molecular distillation. For added

security, ensure your oil has been tested by a recognized and independent third party lab. IFOS is a renowned lab that sets some of the highest industry standards for fish oils. They measure potency, purity and rancidity and if all three pass with flying colours, they’re awarded an IFOS 5 Star rating, the highest possible. They go as far as to list fish oil companies’ test reports on their website. www.ifosprogram.com/IFOS/ ConsumerReport.aspx.

FAT FACTS Fish oils are very sensitive to oxidation.

When oils oxidize, they can easily become rancid. A rancid fat not only loses its benefits, but it becomes a toxic fat too. Studies have shown that some fish oils on the market have gone rancid well before their expiration dates. To prevent rancidity, the oil should be stabilized with antioxidants like vitamin E, green tea extract and grape seed oil. Ideally, the bottles holding these oils should be nitrogen flushed. In this process, nitrogen gas is pumped into the bottle, displacing the air and in turn reducing the likelihood of oxidation. A quality fish oil should provide a healthy dose of both EPA and DHA and a balanced ratio of the two.

As an example, a fish oil with 1000mg of EPA and 550mg of DHA providing a 2:1 ratio would be a great place to start. Armed with the right knowledge, you can now separate the fat facts from fiction, or as the title suggests, “fact from fiction).

Nelson Narciso Herbalist & Reiki Practitioner

www.keepwell.ca FACES MAGAZINE | 71

Photo by: Bruce Bennett / Staff

72 | FACES MAGAZINE

SENATORS

T

COULD LAND HIGH PICK IN JUNE

his year has been ugly for the Ottawa Senators. On the heels of an appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals in 2017, the Senators came into this season with sky-high expectations. After finishing just one goal short of having a chance to play for the Stanley Cup, it seemed like this was a team with all the pieces in place.

And then the bottom fell out.

The Senators have been stuck at the bottom of the league for most of the year and the possibility of a playoff spot faded way back in December.

But one of the perks of a nightmare of a season–a high draft pick in June.

And this is a good year to have a high draft pick.

While the Draft isn’t necessarily considered a deep one, there are a handful of strong players at the top end of the draft. In fact, you could make the argument that there are six or seven guys that have the potential to be impact players at the NHL level.

At number one overall is franchise defenceman Rasmus Dahlin. The smooth-skating Swede is far and away the best player in this draft and the team that gets him is walking away with a player that can step into their line up right away. Dahlin is playing with Frolunda in Sweden but he’s also made appearance at the World Juniors and even on the Swedish Olympic team.

He’ll be adding “1st overall pick” to his resume in June.

After that, it becomes a bit of a guessing game.

But there are no shortage of options.

Andrei Svechnikov is a an elite goal scoring forward currently ripping it up with the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League. Filip Zadina seems like a safe bet at 3rd overall. Another dynamic offensive forward, Zadina turned heads with a strong showing at the World Juniors. He’s been near the top of the QMJHL in scoring most of the year.

Brady Tkachuk–younger brother of Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk and son of 1000 point man Keith Tkachuk- is right up there too and could go as high as 2nd, depending on who you talk to. He’s another player that had a strong showing at the World Juniors and he has carried that over for Boston University.

Dahlin, Svechnikov, Zadina and Tkachuk are the likely top four but there are good options after that too. Adam Boqvist, Evan Bouchard and Quinton Hughes all seem like impact players.

If you’re a Sens fan looking for a positive in a dreadful season, landing one of these players would certainly qualify. It’s a not a playoff spot but it’s a decent consolation prize. @SensChirp

FACES MAGAZINE | 73

WORDS WITH FRIENDS...

HOW ABOUT BUYING A HOME WITH A FRIEND We’ve never been more connected to each other than we are now. We share our “good mornings” over Snapchat, our afternoon coffee art on Instagram and post about our dinner at one of Ottawa’s trendy restaurants on Facebook. So why not share home ownership with a friend?

With the cost of housing going steadily up, home ownership may become out of reach for many on their own but here’s an opportunity to pool resources together, pool incomes and still potentially look at home ownership. I mean you’ve already vowed to be friends forever. A 25-year mortgage should be no problem.

However, even the most maintenance-free friendships can face some tough times when it comes to sharing a home purchase.

That is unless both parties are prepared for what co-ownership may bring. Here are some major conversations you must have before entering into co-ownership: What is your Vision of Home?

You and your friend should create a Wants & Needs Checklist for your potential home. Discuss the differences and similarities between theirs and yours and what you want your living space to be like -- everything from location, to the type of building, to cute/old/ charming vs. cool/new/modern. EVERYTHING. And make sure you know each other’s must-haves and deal-breakers.

Know all the costs and how will you split the costs?

Picture this, you and your friend walking into an office, slamming a briefcase full of money on the desk, and saying “WE’LL TAKE IT”, …. But if that’s not your reality then most likely you and you friend will be looking at using external financing (ie. a mortgage) to buy your home and you’ll both be responsible for making monthly mortgage payments on the property. And, no, splitting a mortgage is not like splitting the bill for a night out.

It is important to have a conversation about fees like the down payment, closing costs, monthly mortgage payment before you even begin to consider looking at homes together.

However, home ownership is more than just a mortgage payment. Don’t forget to include other monthly homeownership fees like utilities, regular maintenance, property tax and oneoff expenses. How will you split all of the certain costs – plumbing issues, roof leaks, etc. - that

come along with owning a home? Will you all contribute to a contingency fund? Try DIY options or immediately call in an expert?

These discussions should happen before the basement floods or furnace craps out.

What will happen if someone is unable to hold up their end of the deal or wants to get out of the mortgage?

Any conversation about the potential costs of owning a home must be accompanied by a conversation about what will happen in the event that one or both parties is unable to make their payments or wants to leave the agreement altogether. Though this conversation may not be as fun as reminiscing about your old college antics, it is a must-have talk before you can confidently enter a home purchase with a friend.

Hard times happen for everyone so create an exit strategy. Have a contract about what to do when one housemate wants to leave.

For example: 1. How much notice will you require if someone decides to leave the agreement?

2. What buyout options will exist for the remaining owner(s)?

3. How will you determine the fair market value of the home?

4. When, how, and under what circumstances will you ask an unsuitable co-owner to leave?

5. What happens if something happens to a co-owner? How will those choices affect estate planning decisions and the rights of heirs?

6. Make sure you consider the “what ifs” before you and your friend are forced into an uncomfortable situation.

The Bottom Line Buying a house with a friend has lots of benefits: It may be easier to qualify for a mortgage; you get to share all the monthly expenses, including utilities, maintenance/repair costs and the mortgage payment. And, unlike renting, you get to build equity as you pay down the loan. Such a purchase also has challenges, however, and it’s important not to rush the decision.

To avoid trouble down the road, it’s a good idea to speak with a lawyer to discuss putting in place a comprehensive agreement that details who is responsible for what, what happens if one of you wants to move on, and how the property will be handled if one of you passes away.

Are you prepared to have a few tough financial conversations with a friend? Are you also prepared to face a few certain disagreements along the way to happy homeownership? If you confidently answered “yes,” you—and your friendship—may be ready to stand the test of owning a home together!

DIANA TEBBY practices real estate/wills and estates law at Mann Lawyers LLP. Mann Lawyers LLP is a full service law firm operating in Ottawa’s Hintonburg area. This article is not intended to provide legal advice. Should you require legal advice, please contact Mann Lawyers LLP at 613.722.1500 or visit mannlawyers.com.

74 | FACES MAGAZINE

NATIONAL PANCAKE DAY

March 12th

IN HONOUR OF IHOP’S NATIONAL PANCAKE DAY IN MARCH, HERE ARE SOME OF THE GREATEST FEATS EVERY ACHIEVED IN THE WORLD OF PANCAKES—AS RECORDED BY THE GUINNESS WORLD OF RECORDS.

THE MOST PANCAKES EATEN IN ONE SITTING

THE HIGHEST PANCAKE TOSS

The record for the most pancakes eaten in one sitting was most recently set at the 2016 World Pancake Eating Championship, held in Chicago, California, by professional eater Matt Stonie—who ate 113 pancakes in approximately 8 minutes.

It took a lot of upper body strength for Dominic Cuzzacrea to toss a pancake an incredible 31 feet and 1 inches up in the air on Nov. 13, 2010.

THE MOST PANCAKES FLIPPED IN TWO MINUTES

This record is held by Efteling Bv of the Netherlands, who stacked 35ft of pancakes on October 16th, 2014.

This record remains tough to beat—as the most flips of a single pancake ever performed was 416 flips in two minutes, tossed on June 6th, 1997 by Ralf Laue of Germany.

THE LARGEST PANCAKE EVER MADE The Co-operative Union Ltd of Manchester, England, holds the record for the biggest pancake ever to be created on the face of the earth—a whopping 49 foot pancake that measured, 2.55 inches in diameter on August 13, 1994. in Rochdale, England. The creation weighed about three tons, and was estimated to have been two million calories.

THE TALLEST STACK OF PANCAKES EVER BUILT

THE MOST PANCAKES MADE IN ONE HOUR In just 60 minutes, Ross McCurdy, owner of the Oak Table Cafe in Kingston, Washington, cooked 1,092 pancakes on Aug. 13, 2013.

THE MOST PANCAKES MADE IN 8 HOURS - 76,382 PANCAKES A team of 300 volunteers were able to create this record on May 9th, 2009 using 38 griddles to cook 76,382 pancakes.

FACES MAGAZINE | 75

Photo credit: Sam Greenwood / Staff

RIC THE NATURE BOY

76 | FACES MAGAZINE

I grew up watching giants. During the ‘80s and ‘90s, wrestling was home to the greats. Andre the Giant, Ricky the Dragon Steamboat and Hulk Hogan were captivating. They were athletic, over-the-top and awe inspiring. But none could match the flash, attitude and nastiness of Ric Flair. Everyone loved to hate him, and I was no different.

Ric Flair is the quintessential blueprint for how to be a heel (bad guy). He’s a stylish and clever cheater that riles up the audience like no other. Put Flair in the ring with your worst enemy and you’ll walk

FLAIR

away loving that enemy and hating Flair.

He controls the audience and makes them hate him. Ric Flair is not good, he’s exceptional.

Flair recently experienced a health scare, but he’s bounced back. An ESPN 30 for 30 documents and book, co-authored with his daughter, mark the return of the Nature Boy. But does a giant like Flair ever truly go away?

Faces had the chance to speak with Ric Flair about his health, career and upcoming projects.

FACES MAGAZINE | 77

“

Those years of being so fortunate to be so healthy despite running wild like I did. I’ve really had an opportunity to step back and look at everything for what it is.

How are you feeling? Has your recent health scare changed your outlook on life?

I feel great, thank you. I look at things unbelievably differently. I don’t take anything for granted, obviously. It brought a whole new awareness to health in general for not just myself, but everybody. All those years of being so fortunate to be so healthy despite running wild like I did. I’ve really had an opportunity to step back and look at everything for what it is.

How important has your family been during his process? Have you become closer during this experience?

The key component has been my fiancee Wendy. She never left the ICU for the 11 days I was there. But my whole family also visited me. I don’t know if it brought us closer together, per say, but it does make everybody more aware about the importance of time.

My problem is that despite the health scare and an impending surgery, I still feel like I’m 25-years-old. I feel great! My hips, knees and back all feel great. I’m just living each day and I stopped drinking, which I don’t even miss anymore. Apparently I had severe DTs while I was in the ICU. But I woke up, had to learn how to walk again and took a month to get my memory back.

Everything has come back and I’m mentally sharp. So I feel great.

Your daughter is carrying the torch of the family business. Did you ever think she’d become a professional wrestler? Were you supportive of her decision?

I never thought she’d be interested, but when she did take an interest I knew she would excel. I didn’t think it would happen this fast. She was ready to come up long before they brought her up. But strategically, as usual, they were right and I was wrong. The way they introduced her and brought her up was the key. The timing was right and I’m not surprised by her success.

78 | FACES MAGAZINE

”

Ashley (she wrestlers under the name Charlotte) has always had an amazing work ethic. My one knock is that I think she’s too hard on herself. But that helps translate to her success.

You and Charlotte co-wrote a book called ‘Second Nature: The Legacy of Ric Flair and Rise of Charlotte’. Describe the experience of working together.

I thought it was a great opportunity for us to work together. It’s time consuming, but allows you to explain where you’re at in life and what’s going on. Looking at the history of the business, I think Charlotte and I are a very unique story - a father-daughter story.

I think Charlotte, at the risk of sounding too much like a dad, is the best athlete in the company. She’ll probably break my record for championships. The sky is the limit for her. There’s nothing Ray Mysterio does that she can’t do. She’s doing great and I couldn’t be prouder of her. She’s happy, successful and very committed to what she does.

WWE recently signed Rhonda Rousey to the women’s division. Do you think it’s inevitable that we will see a Rousey-Flair match? Do you think it will be headlining WrestleMania this year? Or do you think they should build it up next year as the first women’s match in the main event for WrestleMania?

A year from now it will be old news. To me, I’d have them up there right now. It doesn’t necessarily have to be WrestleMania. It could be Summer Slam or another show.

But if you wait a year Rousey will wrestle 10 other people, which won’t be the same as wrestling Charlotte out of the gate.

That’s my opinion, but I’m not booking or charging it.

I’m sure whoever is working on the creative for it will have a great idea. Maybe it’s Rhonda in a tag match, I don’t know what the scenario will be. Like anybody else I

want to be surprised by it and I’m sure it will be great. The company are the kings of coming up with ideas that none of us would have thought of. So I’m sure it will be good and hope Charlotte is an intricate part of it.

Looking at the WWE today, if you could have a match with a current wrestler who would it be and why?

If I could be a bad guy, I’d love to wrestle Roman Reigns or Seth Rollins. I could turn the crowd and have them screaming for them. Just give me five minutes with them (laughs). I like a lot of the guys today. I think Roman is incredibly handsome, and being the lady’s man is right up my alley. Seth Rollins is the same, and both are great athletes, too.

My favourite wrestler is Dolph Ziggler, but I like all the guys. I’m being a bit more personal with Dolph Ziggler because I think he’s highly underrated. He’s a phenomenal performer.

You’ve had such a storied career. But if you could only point to one match and one promo to say this is the best of Ric Flair, which ones would it be?

Probably one of my matches with Ricky ‘The Dragon’ Steamboat. My favourite match, of course I had nothing to do with it, was when Shawn Michaels wrestled a belt at WrestleMania and I was in the ring.

As for a promo, the one people seem to like the best is the one where I say I’m having a hard time keeping these alligators down. That seems to be the most iconic.

What’s your relationship like with Vince McMahon? What’s something people would be surprised to learn about Vince?

My relationship with him is phenomenal.

He reached out to my fiancee Wendy every day when I was in a coma. He reached out to me personally a lot afterwards, too.

My best friend in the business is Hunter Hearst Helmsley (HHH). We’ve been friends since 1993, I think. He’s a guy that really helped me regain my self confidence when I was having problems later in life. Which I think is natural when your 55-years-old and wrestling in a main event on Pay Per View. It can really play on your confidence a bit. He was right there and kept pushing me.

He didn’t pull any punches on the 30-for30, and at the end of the day he’s right.

“

”

Photo credit: David Banks / Stringer

I think Charlotte, at the risk of sounding too much like a dad, is the best athlete in the company. She’ll probably break my record for championships. The sky is the limit for her. There’s nothing Ray Mysterio does that she can’t do. She’s doing great and I couldn’t be prouder of her. She’s happy, successful and very committed to what she does.

FACES MAGAZINE | 79

“

Photo credit: Andrew H. Walker / Staff

None. I wouldn’t give him any advice. Because if I did, I wouldn’t be talking to you today. It would be easy to correct a lot of things, but I wouldn’t be who and where I am today.

”

Photo credit: Andrew H. Walker / Staff 80 | FACES MAGAZINE

Shawn Michaels was right too. I was just so wrapped up in being Ric Flair. I told Shawn that I figured out who I am.

It wasn’t the right way to find out, but I found out. After 45 years I finally figured it out.

Everyone knows you’re a Rolex-wearin’, limousine-ridin’, jet-flyin’ son-of-a-gun, but what are you like at home on days off?

I’m thankful for all the friendship and support I’ve got from Vince and other wrestlers. I love the business. I still love it. And not just because Charlotte is an intricate part of it. I couldn’t be happier for her or the company. They never fail to excel at whatever they do.

Right now, because of all the time I have, I’m addicted to Netflix. I never really watched much TV before, but now I’m watching it once in a while. My favourite show is Shameless. Wendy, my fiancee, calls me Frank (laughs). So life is good, man!

We’re a Canadian publication so I’ve got ask you about Canadian wrestlers. Chris Jericho is a great wrestler who hasn’t really got the same level of respect as guys like you, Hogan, Stone Cold, the Rock, etc. Do you think his name will be remembered the same way when he retires?

If you could go back in time and give 20-year-old Ric Flair advice, knowing what you know now, what advice would you give him?

I don’t know. I personally like Chris Jericho and think he’s a great talent. I don’t know if it’s because he takes time off periodically, because he’s a very talented musician. But I’m not sure why he’s not reached that same level.

I’d say that Edge got the recognition he deserves. I think Christian will eventually, too. There’ve been a lot of great wrestlers that came from Canada like Rowdy Roddy Piper. But I think Chris Jericho will get there at some point. Though I don’t think he worries about it too much. He’s touring with his band and enjoying life. I don’t think he’s concerned with his level of recognition, but I think he deserves it and he’ll get it.

Speaking of Canadians, Brett Hart is a huge name in Canada. He often credits you as ‘doing a favour’ when he won his first title, for which he seems genuinely appreciative. Do you have a favourite match or moment with Brett Hart?

I always liked Brett. I always thought the best match we ever had was in Dayton, Ohio for WCW. We stole the show that night on Pay Per View. But I don’t think I’ve ever had a bad match with Brett.

He’s a wonderful performer. I see Brett a few times a year and he’s doing well.

He’s also had some health issues, but he’s doing well. There’s a guy that had a phenomenal career and he’s a genuinely good guy.

Well, I listen to ‘Ric Flair Drip’ every day! (laughs)

None. I wouldn’t give him any advice. Because if I did, I wouldn’t be talking to you today. It would be easy to correct a lot of things, but I wouldn’t be who and where I am today.

You’re always going to be known as arguably the greatest wrestler of all-time.

What advice would you give young wrestlers coming up today? And what do you think makes a truly great wrestler?

What the hell? Arguably?! Where did you get that word from? (laughs) First of all, I wouldn’t want any wrestlers to be like me. That wouldn’t work with social media today. But I think, to be great, you have to find the right personality. I’m stuck on this because if you aren’t comfortable with your persona then you’re never going to pull it off. You cannot sell the people something that you don’t feel. You have to wake up and go to sleep feeling it, which is hard to pull off.

You also need athleticism. Thirdly, you need charisma. You have to be happy with yourself and excited about going to work.

I couldn’t wait to get to work. It had nothing to do with my personal or private life. I just loved working.

Do you have any business ventures you’re focusing on right now?

I’ve got so much going on it’s crazy. It’s just starting to unfold, but follow my social media and website to see what’s coming up next. I’m as busy as I want to be, which is a nice position to be in. @RicFlairNatrBoy

FACES MAGAZINE | 81

LEARN TO SPEAK DOG 82 | FACES MAGAZINE

For National Pet Day, April 11th

April is full of ways and warm days to show your dog just how much you appreciate them. And if you really want to say thank you, learn these five tips to dogcommunication: His tail is like his smile, and he has many

When he doesn’t hug you back, or doesn’t

If your dog is standing off-balance in any way, he is most likely scared. When a dog is fearful or unsure of something in his environment, he will be prepared to run in the direction that will be the safest. The way in which your dog is leaning will point towards the direction he is thinking of running.

If your otherwise friendly dog is acting cranky, he may be in pain. Any sort of

ways to show it. Wagging it high is a confident and playful gesture. Middle-level wagging means he is thoroughly excited. A low wag is similar to a nervous laugh.

If he growls while his tongue is out he is only playing. Anytime your dog’s tongue is out, he is completely relaxed and having fun. If a dog is feeling aggressive and is ready to bite, they will keep their tongue inside their mouth and show their teeth.

lean into you when you hug him it may be because you are invading his space. In the dog world, a ‘hug’ or any invasion of space is considered an assertion of dominance— which may make him uncomfortable. Dogs can sense your calm and loving emotions and may understand your intentions, but if the dog doesn’t know you well, he may bite as a response to this challenge.

change in behaviour can be a sign that your dog is hurting, but this one is not as obvious.

Dogs act defensive when they do not feel their best. Try not to get mad at your dog for acting unusually aggressive until you know if he/she is alright.

How to Catch a Liar

5 SIGNS THAT SOMEONE IS LYING

THEY REPEAT SMALL PHRASES When someone repeats the beginning of sentences or small phrases like “I mean” or “I didn’t”. They may just be trying to buy time to gather their thoughts, or sound extra convincing.

THEIR HEAD MOVES UNNATURALLY When a person is consciously telling a lie, their head may rest more sideways or upward subconsciously as they begin speaking.

THEY GIVE TOO MANY DETAILS An overkill of information is a tell-tale sign that someone is trying a bit too hard for you to believe their story. Sometimes this may just come across as talkative, but be sure that the excess information isn’t meant to cloud the truth.

THEY MAKE AN ERROR IN LOGIC This happens quite a lot when people lie, but it is the most difficult to catch. When a story is falsified, small details will be overlooked. A person may say that they ran when they heard someone yelling—but naturally people look towards the noise before they determine whether they should run.

FACES MAGAZINE | 83

84 | FACES MAGAZINE

If this is the first time you’ve read the names Elijah Woods and Jamie Fine, please believe it won’t be your last.

Those who watched them take over the second episode of CTV’s The Launch are familiar with Jamie’s commanding musical presence and Elijah’s electric instrumentals.

The show follows a group of emerging artists as they are mentored by famous producers—including Shania Twain, One Republic’s Ryan Tedder and Nikki Six of Mötley Crüe—in creating a new original song. The show takes these unsigned artists and ‘launches’ them from ‘discovery to stardom’ in just two days.

GREAT THINGS TO COME

FOR SENATORS PROSPECT The pair were picked by Tedder, Scott Borchetta and Sugarland singer Jennifer Nettles to release a song co-written

by Ryan and Camila Cabello called ‘Ain’t Easy’ on the show. In the studio, the pair made sure to keep true to themselves, changing the song’s key and tempo and surprising Tedder with the rendition. It was a bold move by the new artists that paid off, earning them writing credits on the song along with superstars Tedder and Cabello. The song has since become number two on iheartradio’s top 6 at 6.

X

ELIJAH WOODS JAMIE FINE Photo by: Marc Brigden

FACES MAGAZINE | 85

LAUNCHED TO STARDOM Photo by: Marc Brigden

86 | FACES MAGAZINE

F

our years ago, Elijah first heard Jamie’s voice through a friend’s iphone. Right away, the young producer knew he had to work with her. Today, the two have gone on to create multiple electric pop and soulful singles, some of which are now played around the world and on the radio. Their powerful live performances show just how talented these young artists are in creating music with grit and feeling. And after sitting down with them to talk about their experience, it is clear to see the close bond they share that has helped them become so successful as artists.

How did you two become connected in the music industry?

Elijah: Jamie and I were making music for a few years, probably a decade each. We connected about 4 years ago at Algonquin college. I was taking music industry arts and Jamie was in a culinary program and working at the time when I heard her voice. I dragged her into the studio on Saturday and we just kind of clicked, I’ve never made music that quick or that effortlessly with anyone before.

We just kept making music from there.

You guys have some great chemistry on stage.

Outside of your music do you spend a lot of time together?

Jamie: We do, we’re best friends in real life. It definitely started as a musical connection and it grew very quickly and organically into a really great friendship, he’s definitely my brother through and through and I’m his brother through and through.

Same, same (laughs) we’re very close and he’s definitely my main support system in and out of the industry.

What made you guys decide to give CTV’s “The Launch” a shot?

Elijah: It was a really supportive team, we were reached out to from the team probably last April.

We initially didn’t think it was the look for us but we started talking to them and going through the avenues of what The Launch was all about and found it really spoke to what we were about musically. The Launch is really about the music and the experience of getting to work with a high calibre of people and we love that. We can’t say enough about their team, they were super supportive and just really got us.

How did it feel to realize that you were going to be a part of this experience?

Jamie: It felt like a closed door that was leading to the next one to open. It had been such a long process and we really had to decide if this was the right look for us. When we finally accepted it and got the call, that’s when we felt like we had made our next move and started to prepare for the show itself.

Who were some of your favourite people to work with on the show? Did you have any specific star struck moments?

Jamie: Elijah and I try to stay grounded as much as possible and we try to be professional in every kind of setting obviously. Working on The Launch—with people like Jennifer Nettles and Ryan Tedder—it’s really exciting. It’s actually sort of our comfort zone though, that’s what we do. A professional is a professional, is a professional, right? That’s what we do every day, we’re in the studio and we work with people. Although it’s an honour to work with those people, when we’re in the moment, we try to keep everyone as equals. What we’re thankful for is those people that we work with actually do the same.

Elijah: Working at that level and at that pace is something that Jamie and I are familiar with, but working with people who have credits like that is pretty wild. It’s pretty humbling when they respect your ideas and treat you like an equal. At the end of the day, they were all really great people and great artists too. I’ve been a huge One Republic fan since day one. We’re huge creeps, so when we figured out our filming time, we went online to figure out when Ryan Tedder was working in hopes of working together (laughs).

Jamie: The three days that he wasn’t touring happened to be the three days that we were filming on, so we figured we definitely had Ryan Tedder.

When you walk in and you see someone like that, the frontman for One Republic, you try to play it cool (laughs).

You two must have been through a whirlwind these past few months. How has this effected your relationships with family & friends?

Elijah: The most difficult thing for the both of us is that we’re moving at such a fast pace that it’s tough to even involve people. There are so many things on the go and you want to inform people about it

FACES MAGAZINE | 87

all, but bringing them all up to speed and sharing the emotions with them is often tough. There are thirty things in a day that you want to fill them in on.

Jamie: It’s such a different job but that’s what people forget; it’s our job. I don’t go to my mom’s law office and ask how I can help, for example. This is such an interactive and social job that people want and think they can be involved in, and we want them to be involved too, but we do often forget that it’s our job and that we can’t bring everyone everywhere.

What was your reaction when you found out that you were Launched?

Jamie: We kind of forgot that the cameras were there. When we went upstairs and into the studio, they told us that they were filming and it became so surreal. They made us film our reaction again because we didn’t quite realize what was happening at the moment.

Your song ‘Ain’t Easy’ has become a hit.

How does it feel when you hear your song come on the radio?

Elijah: The first time that we heard it in the studio, it was at a point where we already had it memorized even before the chorus.

Like Ryan said in the episode, the song was about 20% too ‘pop’ for us, so I think that was the most fulfilling part of it, that we made the song ours. It was cool hearing it on the radio. We have other songs on the radio but none that did this well. It’s been cool seeing snapchats from all over the world, whether it was Texas, Australia, etc. We’ve never seen that before, and it’s humbling.

Can you tell us a little bit about your recording process?

Elijah: Inspiration comes from everywhere for us. Sometimes, Jamie will send me a rough idea of something she was thinking, or an idea of something relative. It’ll stem from anywhere. I’ll write a scratch instrumental then Jamie and I will try to play off of it. We also use things going on in our lives sometimes too.

Do you have a favourite song to perform together?

Jamie: Yeah. Elijah and I love performing

88 | FACES MAGAZINE

Lean On. We do a rendition of Lean On a little bit differently than we do in the show.

It’s a little grittier, it’s like a rock concert that hits you good.

If you could describe each other in one word what would that be?

Jamie: I would say great hair (laughs). No but for real, accepting is what I would say for Elijah.

Elijah: Versatile for Jamie.

I’m sure you’ve heard this one before Elijah, but you share the name of the actor who played Frodo in Lord of The Rings, has anyone ever mistaken you on social media?

Elijah: Yeah absolutely. I think about 3 times a day, I get a tag on Instagram or something like that saying I’ve been tagged in a photo of Elijah Wood in Mordor, or something like that, some sort of Lord of the Rings tie.

I don’t think his actual Instagram is Elijah Wood, it’s something else, so people tag me by accident all the time. Whenever we’re in the airport, the flight attendants always give me a look or two and I know what they’re thinking, so I tell them I just came from Isengard or somewhere like that.

Speaking of social media—what ways do you use social media to connect with your fans?

Jamie: We got really good advice from Rick Barker. He works with the label that we’re signed to quite often. With a duo like Elijah and I, I think it’s really important for people to get a sense of who we are, and I think that’s how they’ll connect to our music more. We use social media as a way to show fans who we are, we’re goofy and fun and that’s how we want people to see us. I think that’s what’s great about social media because you can show people who you really are.

When you’re not in the studio or working on music where would we find you? What are your favourite things to do in Ottawa?

Jamie: I love going out and dancing more than anything else in the world, it’s like my release. People on George Street and Kavali on Clarence are my spots. Very rarely do I drink, I just drive down and go, so I’m often the designated driver. It’s a good release since music is such a big part of our lives.

Elijah is terrible in a club by the way, don’t ever go to a club with Elijah (laughs).

With Elijah, I think his comfort zone is in the studio and in the Sun Flower Bake Shop.

Spending time with his girlfriend and his family is really important to him. For me, being around friends and family is super important, so we try to get as much of that in as possible, whether that’s at our parents house or whatever. We want to take advantage of the time we do have especially since we’re away so much.

Where do you guys see yourself in the next 5 years? Any hard goals?

Jamie: Elijah and I try to avoid that question as often as we can, and here’s why. We try to avoid it because we so strongly believe in trying to stay in the moment and to take it day by day. The perfect example is this T.V. show. We met our manager about a year and a half ago, and we made a plan. It completely changed at the end of that year and a half. We were somewhere completely different than where we thought we were going to be. We realized the importance of setting short-term goals and also long-term goals, but we try to take in the moment and we know things are going to change. In five years, we’re still going to be making music and we’re still going to be working hard, but hopefully with a couple of Grammy’s under our belt (laughs).

Elijah: I think Jamie and I’s biggest goal is to do something that we love each day.

We’ve been lucky enough to do that for a while now. Our ultimate goal is to be writers, and I think that’s a pretty liberating career. You can write and sell whenever you want with no ties attached. I think our long term goal is to keep the adrenaline going.

A lot of people get caught up with the money and whatnot but I don’t want to get side-tracked. I need to stick around this and continue being happy because we never want to lose it. @ewxjfmusic

AVOCADO

Avocado’s are a delicious superfood food that your heart will thank you for. They are packed with all of the right fats, while remaining sodium, sugar and cholesterol free. Not only do their high levels of mono and polyunsaturated fats help reduce the risk of heart disease, but the abundance of potassium makes avocados a fruit you should be eating every day. A medium sized avocado provides you with about 750mg of the recommended 4.7 grams of daily potassium.

SWEET POTATOES

Incorporating these root vegetables into your diet is a great way to reduce your risk of hypertension, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. Sweet potatoes are a nutrient-dense, complex carbohydrate that provide 12% of our daily recommended potassium intake, and over 400% of our vitamin A requirement.

Be sure to always leave the skin on!

SPINACH

These dark, leafy greens are packed with potassium, iron, calcium and vitamin A. One cup of raw spinach contains roughly 167 mg of potassium. This may not seem like much for an entire cup, but when it comes to spinach, vitamins and nutrients add up quickly because of how much the leaf cooks down when sautéed or steamed. 10 cups of raw spinach yields roughly 1 cup of cooked spinach, meaning one cup of cooked spinach provides you with 1,670mg of potassium.

BANANAS

Bananas are a fruit that are well-known for their high potassium levels. In a single, medium sized banana there is roughly 422mg of potassium and absolutely no fats, cholesterol or sodium, making bananas a great food for maintaining a health heart.

BEANS

McDonough recommends black beans as a great way to achieve the recommended daily potassium intake. In just ¾ cup of black beans, you are receiving almost 50% of your daily potassium, lowering blood pressure, and reducing the risks of kidney stones and bone loss.

5 FOODS

THAT CAN HELP LOWER YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE

By Julia Solimine

High blood pressure is a health condition that makes it difficult for our hearts to pump oxygen and nutrient-rich blood throughout our bodies and to our most vital organs.

Overtime, the walls of our arteries stiffen as a result of hypertension, forcing our hearts to work overtime at exhaustive rates. Eventually, the pressure of our stiff arteries forces our hearts to grow larger in size and makes them unable to pump blood at the rate they once could. High blood pressure is the number one risk factor for stroke, and one of the major risk factors for heart disease, which is why maintaining a healthy blood pressure is a crucial aspect to maintaining an overall, healthy life.

A recent study conducted at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, concluded that increasing your dietary potassium intake can have beneficial effects on lowering blood pressure. Dr. Alicia McDonough, professor of cell and neurobiology, explains that when you increase your dietary potassium, your kidneys excrete more salt and more water, which encourages potassium excretion. This aids in maintaining healthy blood pressure because when we do not consume enough potassium, our bodies begin to hold onto the sodium we consume in order to compensate for the lack of potassium. The typical Western diet, according to McDonough, severely lacks potassium and has normalized a significantly high daily sodium intake. We must step away from the sodium-rich processed foods that are causing us hypertension, and instead increase our consumption of fresh, potassium-rich fruits and vegetables. McDonough recommends a grand total of 4.7 grams of potassium everyday to lower our blood pressure and ease the effects of dietary sodium. A low potassium diet can put us at just as much of a risk of developing high blood pressure as a high sodium diet can, which is why it is crucial that we are incorporating these 5, potassium-rich foods into our diets every day.

FACES MAGAZINE | 89

C OMING TO

TH I S S PR I NG

1. UNTITLED DAVID

LETTERMAN TALK SHOW

Everyone knows the name David Letterman, he’s one of the top rated comedians on the market, at least until he retired. Fortunately, the 70-year old comedian has come out of retirement and is back to host a new six-episode series which focuses on long-form interviews with various celebrity guests, similar in some ways to James Cordon’s show.

deadline.com

projectcasting.com

hollywoodreporter.com

THESE FIVE SHOWS ARE SURE TO BE WORTH THE WAIT.

2. THE BALLAD OF BUSTER SCRUGGS

With some familiar cast members including James Franco, Zoe Kazan and Tim Blake Nelson, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs is a new old-western anthology series with six different story lines. The famous film directors, Joel and Ethan Coen are working alongside one another to put something special together, which will come in late 2018.

90 | FACES MAGAZINE

Although it’s not a new series, it’s absolutely one that you need to check out. With it’s 8.4/10 rating on IMDB, Jason Batemen will continue to play the ultimate “accountant”. You’ll see why we put those apostrophes on accountant in this upcoming season of one of Netflix’s top drama series.

as you might recognize the name, this is an upcoming American science fiction T.V. reboot of the original 1965 series of “Lost in Space”. It follows the adventures of a family of pioneering space colonists who get lost millions of miles away from earth. Stay tuned for this science fiction film.

5. 13 REASONS WHY crusadernews.com

hollywoodreporter.com

4. OZARK: SEASON 2

3. LOST IN SPACE

Again, not a new series but if you haven’t seen the first season, you should really give it a go.

With everything that goes on in the world of social media, this show comes at just the right time, and season 2 is likely to keep fans on their toes once again. Wait for it in Spring 2018.

FACES MAGAZINE | 91

“Be authentic. Don’t try to make your audience like you. Be real everytime you turn on that mic and hope your audience will find you.”

Bill Carroll is the provocative, opinionated and entertaining host of The Morning Rush with Bill Carroll from 6-10 am (EST) on AM580 CFRA in Ottawa. Born and raised in Scotland and moving to Scarborough Ontario at a young age, his career in talk radio started at his high-school’s radio club. Bill ruled the air in Southern Ontario on Astral Media’s flagship station for twelve years until the lights of Hollywood called... Friday, February 19th, 2010 was his last broadcast from Newstalk 1010 in Toronto. Bill packed-up and moved to Los Angeles to begin work at KFIAM•640 where his unique brand of humour, insight and opinions quickly captivated the talk-show scene as his ratings climbed to the top of his time slot in talk-radio. In 2016, Bill left KFI and moved back to Canada to take The Morning Rush show on AM580 CFRA in Ottawa.

BILL CARROLL 92 | FACES MAGAZINE

You were born in Scotland, at what age did you come over to Ontario? What was it like growing up there?

my life. I’ll save the details in case I ever finish the two paragraphs I’ve already written for my book.

We moved permanently when I was 12 years old. Our small town of Coatbridge near Glasgow was a tough former coal mining town. I remember it as a place with a lot of rain and not much of a future.

How did you come to work for CFRA on the Morning Rush in 2016?

When my second contract was drawing to a close at KFI, my wife Sylvie and I started to look around for other opportunities.

What made you decide to pursue a career in Radio? What is it about radio that you enjoy?

I was an extremely shy kid who joined the radio club in high school because my only friend at the time wanted to join.

It seemed like a very bad idea to me at the time. Alone in the basement studio at Stephen Leacock CI in Scarborough, I fell in love with radio. You can perform to many while being seen by none.

It was pure chance to find a great radio station who needed to replace a legendary morning man who had just retired. Ottawa was also a great choice for our bilingual family with roots in Toronto and Quebec City.

For those who are unfamiliar with talk radio, what is different about it and regular radio?

We don’t get to put on a long song and sneak out for a bathroom break, and you better have a lot to say or you will be stuck interviewing a lot of boring people just to fill the time.

After working various radio jobs around Ontario, you moved to LA to work KFIAM-640 where you were an instant success. What drove your decision to move there?

Sunny and 80 degrees everyday was a great motivator to move to LA. It was also a great chance to see if you can perform your craft at one of the most competitive places in the world.

What was that experience like for you?

Being on the air in LA was the most exciting and disappointing experience of

What is your favourite thing about the work you do?

Finally working for a boss who understands what I’m trying to do. A boss who lets me say whatever is on my mind without endless meetings with management after the show is over.

The Morning Rush starts at 6 am. How do you wake up so early? What does your morning routine look like?

Technology allows me to research much of the show before bedtime. That means I can sleep late until about 4:30.

I don’t actually wake up fully till about 8 AM. Sorry about those first two hours of terrible radio!

Beyond CFRA, what are your other hobbies?

Boating on the Rideau. Taking my kids to all of their after school events. Movies and watching hockey on a big screen.

How important is family time to you?

What do you do on your time off with family?

I am an older Dad, despite the youthful looking photos you’ve seen. My family

is everything for me now. I had plenty of years to be selfish. My kids are entering their teen years and are so much fun now to travel with and take to restaurants. They are such a pleasure to just talk and laugh with.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve received in your career?

Be authentic. Don’t try to make your audience like you. Be real everytime you turn on that mic and hope your audience will find you.

What advice would you give to someone looking to get into newstalk radio?

Listen and read, and learn when you’re not talking or you will have nothing important to say.

What skills do you think are important to succeed in newstalk radio?

Learn about everything and then learn to tell a story well.

What does success mean to you?

The love of my family and respect of my colleagues.

What ritual could you not live without during your work day?

The first text of the day from Sylvie saying she just heard something on the show that she liked.

What do you love most about living in Ottawa?

I love my morning drive along the canal, just at that final turn where I get the first glimpse of the parliament buildings, I remember that I work in a city that is both beautiful and important. @billcarrolltalk

THE MORNING RUSH

If you’re looking for bold hiphop in the Ottawa music scene rising star Brandon Owen is where it’s at. Originally from Nova Scotia, Bowen VOK has a growing following in the east coast, from his town of Halifax to P.E.I, Newfoundland and New Brunswick. To him, his next move was obviously to the Capital. If you haven’t had a chance to listen, be sure to check out his latest single Swerve. The single was a personal success, generating over 3,500 views in the first day. When he’s not in the studio or advocating his opinions VOK can also be found helping his best friend and music partner Duppy market his clothing line.

Stay on the lookout for new work from Bowen VOK including some inter-lingual music mixing Arabic and English creating a truly unique rhythm.

Photo credit: Yoni Sambo

AN INTERVIEW WITH LOCAL ARTIST

94 | FACES MAGAZINE

“AS FAR AS WRITING GOES, I THINK MY INSPIRATION COMES FROM TRAVEL AND THE PEOPLE THAT I MEET ON THE ROAD.” What was life like for you, having grown up in Nova Scotia and who were some of the key influencers of your passion for hip-hop music?

Most people would expect me to say Classified or something like that but you know, old school stuff like Buck 65 is what I love. Rap music has always been big on the East Coast, especially in Halifax.

Everyone I knew was always into the underground hiphop. Seeing guys like Classified make it out of Nova Scotia was definitely an influence for me to try and do this professionally.

Tell us a little bit about why you chose to come to Ottawa for hip-hop music? Why did you think Ottawa would be the best fit?

Honestly, I had done everything I could’ve done in Nova Scotia, as far as playing music.

I’ve played some big shows and I’ve got my following there so I figured it was time to brand out to a new market.

I’ve also got a good network of friends in Ottawa, a few buddies who do promotions and stuff like that.

Having just recently moved to Ottawa, what have your first impressions of the city and what are some of your favourite places to hang out at in the city?

I’ve been here for about 3 and-a-half months now.

When I first came here, it was cool to see the Parliament buildings, that was neat to see the history of Canada.

I also discovered that there were a lot of cool dispensaries around town, and I like those. I actually got a job at one of them, I was working at

Cannabis Culture downtown on Bank Street. We’ve been raided before, we just recently got raided and I was arrested there too (laughs). That was quite the event for sure.

Tell us a little bit about one of your latest singles, Swerve, what has the feedback been like for the most part?

The feedback has been phenomenal for Swerve. Within the first two days, we had about 3,500 views on Facebook, so we definitely are getting our numbers. I personally like to release on Facebook before anything because you can track your analytics much more closely on Facebook than on YouTube. Plus, in today’s society, people aren’t watching an entire music video, their attention span is about a minute and then they’re going to swap videos.

When you post a video on Facebook, it’s already playing when they scroll to it, so they just have to push the volume button to hear it. Facebook helps make the video more accessible to fans and that works really well.

How did you and Duppy first connect out East and how much time/effort did it take to put together the music video for your new release, Swerve?

Duppy and I met in Halifax.

He was going to school for events and promotion while I was going to school for music business, but there was a lot of crossover with events and shows. Just from our circle of friends, we met and got together almost instantly.

We went to FMP Studios in Dartmith, that’s where a lot of East Coast bands will go

to record their music. Once Duppy and I started making music together, that was it – it was game over. We started doing shows and opening for people like Wacka Flacka, Zeds Dead and to get our names out there on the East Coast. Once we had a good monopoly on Nova Scotia we branched out to P.E.I., then to Newfoundland, New Brunswick, plus a little bit into Ontario and Quebec.

As far as the music video, we got that together when I first got to Ottawa and we’re on track to do more over the next few years. He was working on his clothing line at the time, so I suggested writing about his clothing line and we showcased it in the music video, I think they did a really great job with it.

You’ve also just released a new clothing line here in Ottawa. Tell us a little bit about this and what made you want to launch your own clothing line?

The whole clothing line is Duppy’s. He started that, he designed that and he’s backing it financially. I’m sort of the liaison, helping with the marketing and things like that. With the clothing line, it was easy to get on board because I love the brand. I got involved because of my marketing and inventory experience. We try to get people involved through the music video. We had 600 pieces and we’re down to 200 pieces, with another 1,000 coming soon. It’s a tough industry, so we’ll see how it goes from here.

FACES MAGAZINE | 95

When you aren’t working on hip-hop or your clothing business, what sorts of things do you do with your spare time?

With my spare time, I like to think a lot. I like to spend a lot of time thinking, contemplating plans, I’m always in preparation mode. If I’m not doing music or extra-curricular activities, I’m trying to plan something else. Things like writing in general, skateboarding, video games, just normal stuff I guess.

In your opinion, what’s the hip-hop scene like here in Ottawa versus out East in Nova Scotia?

Honestly, it’s a lot more tough on the East Coast. There are a lot more artists, there are a lot more guys pushing CD’s, there are a lot more guys trying to do shows. I haven’t met “the” person in the hip-hop scene in Ottawa yet but I’m looking forward to meeting whoever it is. I had a show late November at Barrymore’s with Will Windex, he’s Canadian and he has a huge following. My friend Brandon owns Dynamite Tours, and they do most of the hip hop shows here in Ottawa so I hit up my buddy and told him about my stuff, and he put me on the show.

What’s next for Bowen Vok? Any works-in-progress that you’re focusing on at the moment?

Absolutely. I’m working on a new song with a guy from Lebanon named Habeet. We’ve been working on some cool inter-lingual music so it’s Aerobic and English. We’re trying different stuff, the kind of stuff where when people hear it, they’re really going to be turned on by it. A lot of the stuff out there is very similar, so we’re trying something different. He’s got a lot of people in Lebanon who’ve heard it, so we’ll see how it goes there and we’ll see if we can expand out there too.

What’s one of your songs that your most proud of to date and why is it so meaningful to you?

Swerve is one of my favourite songs right now, I loved how well the production came out, it was also the first song I did in Ottawa. If it came out great and I’m looking forward to improving even more on the next one. @bowenvok 96 | FACES MAGAZINE

“ONCE DUPPY AND I STARTED MAKING MUSIC TOGETHER, THAT WAS IT – IT WAS GAME OVER.”

FACES MAGAZINE | 97

98 | FACES MAGAZINE

FACES MAGAZINE | 99

362 PRESTON STREET OTTAWA, ONT. K1S 4M7

(613) 234-3156 WWW.GIOVANNIS-RESTAURANT.COM

Open Monday through Friday for lunch and every night for dinner.

100 | FACES MAGAZINE