Faces Magazine - March / April 2022 by FacesMagazine

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

2 0 2 2

FACES MAGAZINE | 1

F A C E S

M A G A Z I N E

O T T A W A

THE CROWN OF STONEBRIDGE

NOW OPEN! Thrive in this dream-come-true community, where passion, amenities and nature come together.

SALES OFFICE CONTACT 613-825-7932 sls_crownofstonebridge@mattamycorp.com

Find your dream home in Barrhaven Elevate your life and make memories made to last at The Crown of Stonebridge. Surrounded by parks, adventure trails, and a spectacular 18-hole golf course, this innovative community oasis was thoughtfully designed for life, well-lived. Set in a friendly and secure neighbourhood just 30 minutes from Ottawa, these beautifully crafted Townhomes and Detached Homes will inspire you to celebrate this life you’re building, one day at a time.

Homes are subject to availability. All dimensions are approximate. Prices, specifications, terms and conditions subject to change without notice. E.&O.E.

F A C E S

M A G A Z I N E

O T T A W A

Fine Dining in Kanata’s Distinctive Heritage Building

2022

Also Voted#1#1 Also Voted

Italian Food ForFor BestBest Italian Food in in Ottawa by CTV Viewers Ottawa By CTV Viewers

OPEN

Mon - Thurs: 11:30 - 2:30 pm Mon - Thurs: 5:00 - 9:00 pm

11:30 - 2:30 pm, 5:00 - 9:00 pm Friday 11:30 - 2:30 pm

5:00 - 9:30 pm Friday 2:30pm pm, Saturday:11:30 5:00 -- 9:30 Sunday Closed 5:00 - 9:30 pm

Saturday 5:00 - 9:30 pm Sunday - Closed 4 | FACES MAGAZINE

5816 Hazeldean Road 5816 Hazeldean Road Ottawa, ON, K2SON, 1B9 K2S 1B9 Ottawa, 613.592.3097 613.592.3097 info@cabottos.com

info@cabottos.com

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

2 0 2 2

FACES MAGAZINE | 5

In This Issue

MARCH/APRIL 2022

STEFAN KEYES

BRADY TKACHUK

Stefan Keyes has carved a career in journalism while keeping his passions for acting, singing, and modeling alive. He looks back on a year marked by challenge, change, and community.

The youngest-ever Captain in Sens franchise history discusses leadership, fashion and advice for young hockey players.

20 BOB MCKENZIE

30 MADS SOGAARD

21 year-old Mads Sogaard on his journey to the AHL and becoming a Sens top prospect.

The 'Bobfather' speaks on semiretirement, a new business venture, and his early years in sports media.

SOPHIE MOROZ & JEFF HOPPER From 6-10am, Jeff and Sophie make mornings bearable as the hosts of The Morning Pickup. They take us behind the scenes of Ottawa’s Pure Country 94’s The Morning PickUp! 6 | FACES MAGAZINE

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

2 0 2 2

FACES MAGAZINE | 7

In This Issue

MARCH/APRIL 2022

DJ PROSPER Dj, rapper, and producer DJ Prosper is well-versed in the music industry. The Montreal-born artist now rocks the Canadian Tire Centre as the Official Ottawa Senators DJ.

BILLY TALENT Guitarist and backup vocalist Ian D’Sa dives into the band's 6th studio album.

SARAH THOMPSON

Ottawa-born Sarah Thompson, who now plays for the Syracuse Orange, is fundraising to bring hockey to low-income communities in Argentina.

MARK OSTAPYK We caught up with Mark to talk about how he got into construction, living in Vancouver and becoming a business owner.

8 | FACES MAGAZINE

ANDY AKANGAH This Ottawa-born creative has turned album covers into comics, raising interest from his celebrity muses.

JAKE PRESCOTT Jake Prescott is a popular real estate rep with the Tracy Arnett team, one of the most reputable property brokers in the metropolitan Ottawa area. He shares his best advice for discovering a meaningful career.

N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y

2020

2 0 2 0 2 0 2 2

FACES MAGAZINE | 9

FACES MAGAZINE | 37

F A C E S

M A G A Z I N E

10 | FACES MAGAZINE

O T T A W A

FACES MAGAZINE | 11

F A C E S

M A G A Z I N E

12 | FACES MAGAZINE

O T T A W A

CONTENTS 36

AND THE WINNERS ARE....

A Crash Course In Graphology

SIPPING INTO SPRING

WHAT YOUR HANDWRITING SAYS ABOUT YOU

Four cocktails for a new season.

Expert graphologists say that there are over 5,000 different personality traits that can be seen in handwriting. Here’s a crash course in analyzing your own writing in the name of self-awareness.

Here are 5 PRODUCTIVITY HACKS TO SPRING FORWARD

The Top 5 Things WE TEND TO FORGET

Here’s what is ordinarily overlooked in our daily lives.

FACES MAGAZINE | 13

March/April 2022 - Volume 72 FIND FACES Faces Magazine is distributed bi-monthly and offered free at select locations across Ottawa and in cities across Eastern Ontario. Full issues are also available online. Faces Magazine is a non-traditional print medium with a strong brand presence on social media.

Editor In Chief Evan Childerhose Publisher Justin MacKinnon Hank’s Paw Publishing (A Division of 8624771 Canada Inc.) Art Director Sonia Mehour Operations Manager Courtney Wheeler

www.facesmag.ca

Accounting/Finance Linda Zhang

@facesottawa @facesott @facesottawa

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

Event Info

www.facesmag.ca/awards To request our event sponsorship packages, please email info@facesmag.ca. For all other information regarding our events, please call or visit our event website. Suite 101-105 Schneider Road Kanata, ON K2K 1Y3 Sales advertising@facesmag.ca Submissions echilderhose@facesmag.ca 14 | FACES MAGAZINE

Contributors Alex Feeney Steve Bunda Catheryn Risto Morris Miller Corey Stone Christopher Lord Alex Dobsky Jonathan Rock Dan Lalande Maija Stevenson Tayna Gautier Meaghan Vincent Steve Warne Max Polizi Kate Wright Todd Hamilton Stewart Clarke Liam Fox Ryan Bova Trevor McIssac Kenzie Harrison Connor Khonick Jordan Palleck Gary Cassidy Jennifer Marwick Guillaume Dubois Allison Dupuis Trever MacIsaac Ryan Bova Kenzie Harrison Dave Rock

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

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

2 0 2 2

cadieuxinteriors.ca • 1280 Old Innes Road • 613 - 745 -1230 FACES MAGAZINE | 15

F A C E S

M A G A Z I N E

MARCH

MOVIE RELEASES

O T T A W A

MAR

MARCH

HERE’S HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF THIS MONTH

March National Compliment Day

THE BATMAN

Did You Know?

From Warner Bros. Pictures comes The Batman, with Robert Pattinson starring as Gotham City’s vigilante detective, Batman, and billionaire Bruce Wayne.

MARCH 4TH

A 2019 study found that complimenting others can effectively reduce your anxiety and improve mood. It can foster feelings of social connection and help to ground those experiencing anxious feelings or symptoms.

March National Cereal Day

North America’s Most Popular Cereals

GOLD When two drifters travelling through the desert stumble across the biggest gold nugget ever found, the dream of immense wealth and greed takes hold. They hatch a plan to protect and excavate their bounty with one man leaving to secure the necessary equipment to pull it out of the earth. The other man remains and must endure harsh desert elements, preying wild dogs and mysterious intruders, whilst battling the sinking suspicion that he has been abandoned to his own fate.

MARCH 11TH 16 16 | | FACES FACES MAGAZINE MAGAZINE

3. FROSTED FLAKES

1. HONEY NUT CHEERIOS

In America alone, 30 million bowls of Frosted Flakes are poured each week. Tony The Tiger, the Frosted Flakes Mascot, has come a long way in his 60 years of fame. Originally, the tiger had a football-shaped head, and walked on all fours.

General Mill’s Honey Nut Cheerios is cereal’s long-time heavyweight champion in North America. During the pandemic, sales of this cereal rose every single month for 37 months straight.

2. CINNAMON TOAST CRUNCH Not only are these delightfully sweet squares a top choice in 52% of households with children, they are also Taylor Swift’s favourite cereal.

RCH 17

OPERATION FORTUNE: RUSE DE GUERRE MOVIE

3 FACTS Your odds of finding a four-leaf clover are roughly 1 in 10,000.

•

The most popular beer sold on St. Patrick’s Day, worldwide, is Guinness. On March 17th alone, over 13 million pints of the beer will be consumed.

•

The average celebrator will spend about $39 dollars on March 17th. About $4.6 billion will be spent by party-goers worldwide.

2 0 2 2

March St Patrick's Day •

M A R C H / A P R I L

Super spy Orson Fortune (Jason Statham) must track down and stop the sale of a deadly new weapons technology wielded by billionaire arms broker Greg Simmonds (Hugh Grant). Reluctantly teamed with some of the world’s best operatives, Fortune and his crew recruit Hollywood’s biggest movie star Danny Francesco (Josh Hartnett) to help them on their globe-trotting undercover mission to save the world.

MARCH 18TH

March National BackUp Day

How often do you backup your computer or smartphone? You know, save and protect your data, files and information? A 2021 survey found that a solid 20% of people never do. Another 13% only backup their information about once every two or three years. To celebrate this holiday, join in on the fun of saving your data, by scheduling monthly backups. Some people (11%) schedule daily backups, or weekly (another 11%). This can be done simultaneously on your computer while you work away.

DEEP WATER An attractive young married couple's mind games with each other take a twisted turn when people around them start turning up dead. The couple staves off divorce in a loveless marriage by allowing each to take lovers, but it becomes messy.

MARCH 18TH FACES MAGAZINE | 17

F A C E S

M A G A Z I N E

APRIL

MOVIE RELEASES

O T T A W A

APRIL

HERE’S HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF THIS MONTH

THE CONTRACTOR After being involuntarily discharged from the U.S. Special Forces, James Harper (Chris Pine) decides to support his family by joining a private contracting organization alongside his best friend and under the command of a fellow veteran (Kiefer Sutherland). Overseas on a covert mission, Harper must evade those trying to kill him while making his way back home.

APRIL 1ST

April Is April's Fool Day Did You Know? No one knows the exact origin of April Fool’s Day, but the most popular theory is that it stems from 16th Century France. When the gregorian calendar was adopted, New Year’s Day was moved from April 1 to January 1, and anyone who still celebrated in the old day was referred to as ‘April Fools’.

April Is National Vitamin C Day Did You Know?

MORBIUS Dangerously ill with a rare blood disorder, and determined to save others suffering his same fate, Dr. Morbius attempts a desperate gamble. What at first appears to be a radical success soon reveals itself to be a remedy potentially worse than the disease.

APRIL 1ST 18 | | FACES FACES MAGAZINE MAGAZINE 18

Though oranges are the poster boy for Vitamin C, Guava is actually the best source of the vitamin in the world.

PRIL 17

April Is Easter Sunday

Did You Know? The last time Easter was celebrated on April 17th was 1960, and will be again in 2033.

M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 2

FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE SECRETS OF DUMBLEDORE Professor Albus Dumbledore knows the powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald is moving to seize control of the wizarding world. Unable to stop him alone, he entrusts Magizoologist Newt Scamander to lead an intrepid team of wizards, witches and one brave Muggle baker on a dangerous mission, where they encounter old and new beasts and clash with Grindelwald’s growing legion of followers.

APRIL 15TH

April Is National Look Alike Day What Are The Odds Of You Having A Doppelganger? We tend to subconsciously evaluate the similarities of people’s faces by their eyes, mouth, and nose, in that order. But there are actually about 8 different facial features that need to align for someone to be truly identical, including the spacing of their eyes and their head shape. The odds of you meeting someone who looks like you is about 1 in 135, experts say. But the odds of meeting a true doppelganger of anatomical equality is much, much larger… 1 in one trillion.

MEMORY Follows Alex Lewis (Liam Neeson), an expert assassin with a reputation for discreet precision. Caught in a moral quagmire, Alex refuses to complete a job that violates his code and must quickly hunt down and kill the people who hired him before they and FBI agent Vincent Serra (Guy Pearce) find him first.

APRIL 29TH

FACES FACESMAGAZINE MAGAZINE| |19 19 FACES MAGAZINE | 19

F A C E S

M A G A Z I N E

O T T A W A

At 22, Brady Tkachuk has become the youngest-ever Captain in Sens franchise history. At such a pivotal time in the team's development, Brady, who has just signed a 7-year, 57.5 million dollar deal, has big shoes to fill. But the 6'4 left-winger also has years of exposure to great hockey leaders. He's grown up in the NHL, watching his dad, Keith, play for the Blues. It was always about hockey when it came to the Tkachuk family. It's all he knows, says Tkachuk, whose hobbies off the rink don't seem to stray too far from the sport. He's not one to care too much for fashion, nor does he have expensive taste, opting for crocs and sweatpants when he can. In his downtime, video games are his choice of entertainment. And his favourite? NHL. It's the qualities you could only hope for in a captain: focused, passionate, and modest. What he lacks in experience, he makes up for in work ethic - a drive that has placed him among the top young players in the NHL today.

Sitting down for an interview, Brady is authentic, thoughtful, and relaxed. He wears Dior sneakers to match a stylish bomber jacket, an outfit that is quickly credited to his girlfriend's stylish eye. He dives easily into questions about his lengthy contract negotiations and his goals for the team. It's the personal questions that make him think or laugh at himself. He jokes about his resemblance to Will Ferrel, his shortcomings in fashion, and his sweet tooth. He's relatable and humble with a self-deprecating sense of humour, something that seems at odds with the fact that he's a 2-time NHL All-Star with one of the biggest contracts in Sens franchise history. He is someone who is equally as great a teammate as he will be a leader, and exactly what the franchise needs in the years to come.

Photography by Sean Sisk Props & Furniture By Lux Rentals

20 | FACES MAGAZINE

M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 2

FACES MAGAZINE | 21

M A R C H / A P R I L

hat was it like growing up in rinks, watching your dad play hockey?

It was pretty cool. I got to meet a lot of great people and see how he interacted with everybody, which taught my brother and I a lot. There were many great people we looked up to; one guy, in particular, was Barret Jackman. He’s a former player that lives in St. Louis, and now we sometimes go and watch his kid play hockey, so it comes full circle. It's cool to get to meet and become friends with guys like that. How much have you been able to lean on your dad for advice throughout your hockey career? I've definitely leaned on him heavily this year because of the added responsibility. He's been a captain before, so I've gotten a lot of advice from him. Your brother Matt plays for the Calgary Flames, and your sister Taryn plays field hockey at the University of Virginia. How much hockey did you three play growing up? Every day after school. We would put the rollerblades on, go on our driveway, and we had two nets set up. We had a pretty big driveway, so there was plenty of room to skate out there. It was always my sister and I versus Matt. We lost a lot, but we had a ton of fun. You were best friends with Josh Norris before either of you were in the Sens organization. What’s it like to be teammates now and have him as your centre? I think he had mixed feelings about being traded, because he had just been drafted to the Sharks. I think once he processed the emotions, he realized how cool it was. You don't get to play with your best friend often and on the same line, as well. We’ve had a lot of fun. I think what’s been great about us is how much we pushed each other on and off the ice over the years, and we’re still pushing each other now. And we're making great memories. What do you like so much about this Ottawa Senators team? I think everyone knows how much fun we have, on and

2 0 2 2

away from the rink. We’re always so close and hanging out with one another, whether it’s here or on the road; I love the closeness that we have. It’s going to be exciting for the next couple of years when we’re all together, and we continue to get better. I think we’re entertaining to watch. We have a lot of different skillsets within our group. Down the road, it’s going to be fun for us and for the fans to come to watch and rally around us. Last year, you lived with Josh Norris and Tim Stützle. How much fun was that for you three? It was great, especially with nothing open and not being able to do anything. It was nice always having someone at the house to hang out with. There are a lot of great memories we got to share throughout that challenging year. We had fun, kept each other busy, had a lot of laughs and watched plenty of TV together. Last September, you got a taste of the business side during your contract negotiations. What was that like? How hard was it to miss training camp and not be in the lineup on opening night? It’s a business, but I was lucky to have my dad, brother, and my uncle, who’s my agent, help me through it; I trust all of them with their advice. The whole process was my decision, and it was tough because I wanted to be with my teammates. At the start of training camp, there’s so much excitement to be with the guys again, hanging out, doing things away from the rink like team bonding and being on the ice. It stunk not being with the guys, but at the end of the day, it’s part of the business. I tried doing the best I could at the U.S. program in Plymouth, Michigan, with those guys. I wanted to make it a training camp, and those guys pushed me pretty hard. Honestly, it stunk being there, but that was a huge honour for the U.S. program to help me out, and they definitely pushed me to the limit. What was the first thing you bought after signing your 7-year $57.5 million contract? The first thing I bought was a recliner from La-Z-Boy. I’m still waiting for it, but that was a big purchase that I made. FACES MAGAZINE | 23

F A C E S

M A G A Z I N E

26 | FACES MAGAZINE

O T T A W A

BRADY M A R C H / A P R I L

A few weeks after signing your deal, you were named the 10th captain in franchise history. What does that mean to you? The role is important to me, not just on-ice, but off-ice, too. It's a chance to be a part of the community and leave your mark. There are big shoes to fill from the guys who were here before. But now it's not just one person leading our team in this situation, there's a collective group. Everyone leads in their own way, but we all lead by example, and that's important. My philosophy is that everyone has to lead in their own way. What was your experience like at All-Star weekend in Vegas? Well, you can’t go wrong in Vegas. There were plenty of things to do and a couple of long nights. We had a lot of fun. My parents were there, my girlfriend and her parents were also there, so we had some great dinners. Plenty of great memories, and like I said, you can never go wrong in Vegas. What’s your game day routine like? Do you have any superstitions? I don’t really like to do the same things; I like to spice it up a bit, but no superstitions. I take it as it comes and like to switch it up by playing soccer or football before games— nothing crazy like some other guys. Are you into fashion at all? What’s the signature ‘Brady Tkachuk’ look or pieces of clothing you love to wear? Number one on my list, Crocs. That’s a fashion statement I feel like people know me by. My girlfriend is pretty into fashion, so she’s helped me out with my wardrobe a little bit, but I’ve still got a long way to go. I think the one fashion item that really reflects me is my Crocs.

What about clothing brands? Do you have any favourites? I like comfy clothes like Lululemon. If we're talking more dressy, Saint Laurent's shoes are cool. As I said, I need to work on my fashion game a little bit more, but it’s trending and getting better. Music-wise, who are the two artists you love listening to right now? I like The Fray; you can never go wrong with them and all those old songs. Elton John is another one. What’s the best movie you’ve ever seen? Wow, that’s a tough one. I love The Other Guys; I think that movie’s hilarious. I love Will Ferrell, so that movie is pretty high up there. You have your signature ‘Frank the Tank’ celebration and dressed up as plenty of Will Ferrell characters for Halloween. What do you love about him and his movies? Growing up watching all those movies when we were younger, we didn’t understand half of the jokes they were saying, but re-watching them now, it’s hilarious. People have always told me I look a bit like Will Ferrell or John C. Reilly, so I’m just kind of rolling with it right now. You can never go wrong with a Will Ferrell movie. I feel like no matter what, you’re laughing pretty hard during it. Sweet or salty snacks? Sweet. You have to give up one of golf, nice cars, or dessert. Which one are you picking? Wow (Laughs). Man, that’s a tough one; it’s making me think. I’ll go with desserts to please a lot of people.

2 0 2 2

Who’s the funniest Ottawa Senator? Nick Paul.

Austin Watson and Josh Norris also said that. What makes Nick Paul so funny?

I think he’s just so unpredictable and a little outrageous. Some of the jokes you just never think of. The way he pulls it off and acts as if nothing happened. He’s just hilarious. What’s something you’re good at that not a lot of people know about?

I’d say video games. I’m pretty good at NHL. What advice would you give to a young hockey player?

My dad always taught my brother and I two things: work hard and be a good teammate. You’ll be a better player if you do that and try to better yourself by shooting pucks, stick handling at home, or doing extra skills workouts.

Every team needs a good teammate, and if you also have a good work ethic, you'll be successful. Those are the two main things.

Also, just have fun. It’s a lot of memories with your buddies and a lot of new relationships you get to make. Take advantage of the fun in the game because there’s a business side of it that’s not so fun and be thankful to your parents; they sacrifice a bunch to take you to practices and games. @BradyTkachuk71

FACES MAGAZINE | 27

F A C E S

M A G A Z I N E

O T T A W A

IRISH TEA PARTY Ingredients: 1 oz. Irish Whiskey .25 oz Absinthe 4 oz Green Tea (sweetened or unsweetened) 1 Lime Slice, for Garnish Directions: Pour the absinthe into a rocks glass, and swirl around until the inside of the glass is completely covered, up to the rim. Pour out the remaining absinthe, and add large ice cubes. Add irish whiskey (over ice), then add green tea. Garnish with lime.

28 | FACES MAGAZINE

IRISH MAID Ingredients: 2 oz. Irish Whiskey ½ oz. Elderflower Liqueur ¾ oz. Simple Syrup ¾ oz. Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice 3-4 Thin Cucumber Slices Directions Take two cucumber slices and muddle in a shaker. Add irish whiskey, liquor, lemon juice, and simple syrup, and ice, and shake. Strain into a glass over ice, and garnish with cucumber.

MINI EGG MARTINI Ingredients: 1 Small Package of Mini Eggs 1 ½ oz Vodka ¾ oz. Creme de Cacao ¾ oz Baileys 1 tsp Honey Directions Crush mini eggs and spread on a small plate. Using a pastry brush, dust the honey around the rim. Rim the glass with mini eggs. Pour the vodka, creme de cacao, and baileys into a shaker over ice. Shake well, and strain into a martini glass.

WHITE RABBIT Ingredients: 1 ¼ oz. Gin 1/3 oz. Amaretto1 ½ oz. Double Cream ½ tsp lemon curd Splash of vanilla paste Directions Put gin, amaretto, double cream, lemon curd, and vanilla paste into a shaker on ice. Shake well and strain into a cocktail glass.

FACES MAGAZINE | 29

F A C E S

M A G A Z I N E

30 | FACES MAGAZINE

O T T A W A

M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 2

STEFAN

KEYES

hether it’s reporting for CTV News or making cameos as an actor in the latest Christmas movies or Netflix series, Stefan Keyes is inspired and motivated by the women in his life.

Stefan grew up in Ottawa as an only child to his mother in a complicated upbringing. He found happiness through faith and was always supported by the family and community that surrounded him. Last November, Stefan found himself as a storyline when he was trapped in South Africa due to a positive COVID-19 test and could not return home as planned. What was supposed to be a week where he celebrated a wedding quickly turned into a stressful extra two weeks. We caught up with Stefan to talk about his journey to the media industry, the stressful time he spent returning from South Africa and the women who inspire him every day.

Photography by Sean Sisk

FACES MAGAZINE | 31

F A C E S

M A G A Z I N E

O T T A W A

You were born and raised in Ottawa. What was your childhood like growing up? My childhood was complicated; but happy. Complicated in the sense that I had to come to terms with the fact I was going to be fatherless my entire life. When society has hyper-normalized the ideas and benefits of a two-parent household, it can skew your understanding of self-worth. Add that to race-related issues, and what it means to be Black in Canada, the complexities of childhood are magnified. My family ensured that I was a trillionaire when it came to the currency of love. I learned the value of a dollar at a young age; and learned to appreciate how it was earned and spent. I’m my mother’s only child, and she worked weekends, so she would send me to church with other members of the Jamaican community, where I deepened a love for gospel music and singing.

In high school, you did a segment with CBC Radio called Outfront and started writing as a teenager for 'The Spectrum.' How did that come about? In my last year of high school, I looked at the freelance opportunity at CBC as a way to dip my toe in broadcasting to see if I would like it. Many don’t realize, but I sit on the cusp of being an introvert. It was a self-reflective collection of spoken word, singing, and testimony around faith. The producer working with my overly ambitious 17-year-old self, Laurence Stevenson, pushed me to dig deeper and go further. I’ll never forget working with Laurence. I likely tested his patience, but I’m glad he took a chance on me. On the other hand, writing for the Spectrum was a more natural endeavour. It wasn’t national mainstream media; It was a monthly, local community newspaper that showcased Black success and catered to the interests of Ottawa’s Black community. It was a publication spearheaded by Jamaican-Canadian Ewart Walters, who studied 32 | FACES MAGAZINE

M A R C H / A P R I L

journalism at Carleton University. Having been featured in it several times for various academic achievements, it was natural to start writing for the publication I grew up reading when considering a career in journalism. Why did you want to get into journalism? I gave up a scholarship to study musical theatre in New York City, so it wasn’t my first plan, but I’ve been fascinated with television for as long as I can remember. I watched a lot of Fresh Prince of Belair in addition to the TGIF lineup religiously. Perhaps, that’s where the acting came in. I also watched the news regularly with my mom. CJOH (now CTV Ottawa) was always on at 6 and 11:30; no arguments come news time. I grew to like news. It gave me a new mission to study journalism and take the presentational and production skills I learned from theatre and apply it to this new craft. My English teacher at the time, Mr. Blauer, was a former journalist himself and encouraged me to consider it as an option as he thought I would do well.

What are some of the more memorable stories you've reported on? Sadly, tragedy always lingers with you, and I’ll never forget covering my first fatality in 2009. It was a triple fatality in Navan at the end of summer. Two of the victims, 18, had just graduated high school and a 16-year-old girl also died. Bouquets of flowers, tears streaming down faces, arms folded, hats turned backwards, and their hearts turned upside down. I’ll never forget the discomfort of doing my job that day asking for comments when all they needed was compassion. The other time that really sticks with me was when I was anchoring the 11:30 news a couple of years ago and had to stay composed and professional while reporting my friend as the victim of a fatal crash in Kanata. Memorable for all the wrong reasons. In November, you were stuck in Cape Town, South Africa, after contracting Covid-19. How long were you forced to

2 0 2 2

stay there, and how challenging was this situation for you?

hostage by an agent without explanation. He just said, “follow me,” after recognizing where I was coming from.

It was a very emotionally conflicting period. I was attending a wedding that had been pushed back several times because of the pandemic. Things were finally looking up, and two or three days after landing, I started getting frantic messages from Canada and the U.S. about Omicron. What was supposed to be a quick one-week trip turned into a three-week extended stay.

I was diverted from any familiar airport area and questioned about my trip and quarantine plan. I missed my connecting flight but was granted the clearance to do my second round of isolation at home in Ottawa and flew out on a flight that left several later. At that point, I was getting close to being in transit for about 30 hours.

I got sick but not to the point requiring a doctor, hospitalization or even prescription medication. I had 3 to 4 days of feeling ill and one day of extremely bad symptoms. The primary stressor was air travel shutting down and countries rejecting foreign nationals trying to reach North America. It was probably a whole week after my original departure date of not knowing how the heck I was going to get home. Ethiopia was recommended as an option by the Canadian consulate. We found flights and bought them urgently before the prices increased further. A day later, the UN issued a warning about the ongoing Tigray conflict encroaching on the capital Ad-dis Ababa, where we were supposed to go for a connecting flight. The day after that, Canada issued an advisory telling Canadians to avoid Ethiopia at all costs. We cancelled that flight and then received confirmation our only approved option would be through Frankfurt, Germany, on one specific airline before December 13th. At that point, the complicated rules around when I tested positive and whether or not the virus would still be detected in my system after 10 days were worrisome. Luckily, I received a negative PCR test result. What was it like for you when you finally got back to Ottawa? The experience at the airport in Montreal wasn’t great. Travellers from specific southern African nations were treated like criminals about to be put in detention (i.e. so-called quarantine hotels) instead of the same warm dignity afforded to other travellers returning home. My passport and boarding pass for my connecting flight were held

Despite leaving in the fall and coming back to full-fledged winter weather, it was good to be home in my own bed and hear the sincere collective sigh of relief from those feeling anxious about my situation. Isolating while not sick and having negative test results from Cape Town and the Montreal airport was tough. The rules changed in the middle of my isolation period, and I was released before Christmas. I wasn’t feeling the holiday spirit and had adopted the mindset of a cancelled Christmas. I was heartbroken by the awkwardness of it all and not getting the opportunity to buy gifts for my Godchildren. On top of your journalism career, you're also a vocalist and an actor. What are some of your favourite moments that you've experienced in acting? Theatre is my first love; so, while being part of productions featuring the likes of Mel Gibson and Kiefer Sutherland have been amazing, my favourite moments have been on the stage and not the screen.

WHEN YOU HAVE MOTHERS AND AUNTS WHO SACRIFICE THEMSELVES AND LIVE WITH A PURPOSE DRIVEN BY LOVE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION, IT INSPIRES AND MOTIVATES YOU TO DO YOUR BEST AND NOT DISAPPOINT. FACES MAGAZINE | 33

F A C E S

M A G A Z I N E

O T T A W A Performing at the National Arts Centre at age 13 is a favourite and proud moment. It was an honour given to those of us who scored high marks from an adjudication by Oxford’s Trinity College in the UK. The Ottawa School of Speech and Drama would fly the adjudicator in for our exams back then. I had recently joined the school on scholarship through an arts education organization called MASC and had way less formal training than my peers. It was pivotal because I realized my life opportunities didn’t have to be limited by my financial circumstances. Who's someone that inspires you every day? I’m inspired by the strength and resilience of the women in my life. It likely comes from a family where my mom is the youngest of 10 girls. A few didn’t live to adulthood, but growing up watching the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood and the roles they played as matriarchs, nurturers, counsellors, nurses, and breadwinners is what motivates me. When you have mothers and aunts who sacrifice themselves and live with a purpose driven by love for the next generation, it inspires and motivates you to do your best and not disappoint. What advice would you give to your younger self? Enjoy the journey and worry less about the destination. My broadcast career didn’t come together within the allotted timeframe for myself. It heavily impacted my self-esteem, and the harder I worked for it, the less likely it appeared that my goals would align with the opportunities being presented to me. I would let my younger self know that perseverance is heavily linked to patience. The two are inseparable. @Stefan_Keyes

34 | FACES MAGAZINE

M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 2

FACES MAGAZINE | 35

F A C E S

M A G A Z I N E

36 | FACES MAGAZINE

O T T A W A

M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 2

THE OTTAWA AWARDS are the Capital's annual people's choice awards event that names the best in over 300 categories of professionals and businesses over a two month nomination and voting period. The Awards are 100% people's choice from nomination through voting. This year, the awards received over 1 million votes. The Awards aim to recognize the unique, dedicated, and harworking professionals that make our city world-class.

FACES MAGAZINE | 37

F A C E S

M A G A Z I N E

O T T A W A

BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS Ottawa’s Business Owner of the Year

ALAN WEHBE

Ottawa’s Best Account Executive

EBEN SEAMAN Ottawa’s Best Project Manager

MICHAEL BUDGE Ottawa’s Best Bookkeeper

Ottawa’s Entrepreneur of the Year

SISSI MENG

BRAD ROLLO

Ottawa’s Best Business Development Coach

Ottawa’s CEO of the Year

JENNIE WEST-CORREIA

RON PALACZKA

Ottawa’s Best Development Professional

Ottawa’s Manager of the Year

RANJITH MATHEW

MIKE WALLACE Ottawa’s Best Executive Assistant

ALANA SAIKALY Ottawa’s Best Receptionist

BRITTANY PROVOST Ottawa’s Best Administrator

NAVIN STEELE Ottawa’s Best Marketing Manager

JOEY FRANGIONE Ottawa’s Best Social Media Manager

COURTNEY CONTO Ottawa’s Best Advertising Specialist

DAVID JOSHUA ORR Ottawa’s Best Marketing Professional

MONICA BOUDREAU Ottawa’s Best HR Professional

KIM PILON Ottawa’s Best Professional Recruiter

BACHIR YASSINE Ottawa’s Best Sales Manager

NATASHA VAUX

Ottawa’s Best Fundraising/ Philanthropic Professional

ROGER GREENBERG (MINTO) Ottawa’s Best Consultant

DANIEL PERRY Ottawa’s Best Public Relations Professional

ANDREA MACLEAN Ottawa’s Best Communications Specialist

AMY MCMAHON Ottawa’s Best Engineer

VIRGINIA JOHNSON Ottawa’s Best Mortgage Broker

BOBBY GULATI Ottawa’s Best Client Services Specialist

CASSANDRA OAKLEY Ottawa’s Best Career Coach

WAYNE THROOP

Ottawa’s Best Sales Coach

MALLORY ROWAN

Ottawa’s Best Security Guard

SALMA BELOK

Ottawa’s Best Data Analyst

Ottawa’s Best Salesperson

ABTIN SHAKIBA

PHIL BEAUCHAMP – CLUB PISCINE

Ottawa’s Best Insurance Broker

38 | FACES MAGAZINE

SYLVIE FORGET

M A R C H / A P R I L

BUSINESS COMPANIES Ottawa’s Best Commercial Cleaning Service

ADDED TOUCH CLEANING SOLUTIONS

Ottawa’s Best Compliance Company

2 0 2 2

Ottawa’s Best Executive Office Space/ Coworking Space

INNOVATIVE PROFESSIONAL OFFICES Ottawa’s Local Business of the Year

GROUNDED KITCHEN

FIRE-ALERT MOBILE EXTINGUISHERS

Ottawa’s Startup of the Year

Ottawa’s Best Consulting Company

Ottawa’s Best Professional Writing Service

STRATFORD GROUP Ottawa’s Best Customer Service

OTTAWA EASY WHEELS

PLANTAFORM

DOCDOCTOR INC.

Ottawa’s Best Office Moving Company

PROFESSIONAL MOVERS

Ottawa’s Best Home Insurance Company/ Brokerage

BROKERLINK Ottawa’s Green Initiative of the Year

EARTHUB Ottawa’s Best Insurance Company/ Brokerage

OEGEMA, NICHOLSON & ASSOCIATES Ottawa’s Best IT Company

CAPITALTEK

Ottawa’s Best Marketing Agency

POSH MEDIA

Ottawa’s Best Printing Company

SURE PRINT

Ottawa’s Best Recruiting Company

LRO STAFFING

Ottawa’s Best Mortgage Brokerage

CENTUM MORTGAGE MASTERS Ottawa’s Small Business of the Year

FOOD & DINING PROFESSIONALS Ottawa’s Best Chef

CHEF PHIL CAMERON Ottawa’s Best Server

TINA FERREIRAAL’S STEAKHOUSE Ottawa’s Best Bartender

SUE PLOWMAN (THE LOOKOUT BAR) Ottawa’s Best Mixologist

BAR DADDY

Ottawa’s Restaurant Manager of the Year

COGNEATO TOY CO

IAN FORRESTER

Ottawa’s Best Security Company

Ottawa’s Restaurant Owner of the Year

TRIFECTA SOLUTION SECURITY

STEPHEN BECKTA

Ottawa’s Best Advertising Agency

ANAKO MEDIA

FACES MAGAZINE | 39

F A C E S

M A G A Z I N E

O T T A W A

FOOD & DINING BUSINESSES Ottawa’s Best After Work Drinks

HEART + CROWN Ottawa’s Best Bakery

ART IS IN

Ottawa’s Best Gluten Free Menu

GREEN DOOR

Ottawa’s Best Greek Food

GREEK ON WHEELS

Ottawa’s Best Happy Hour

JOEY

Ottawa’s Best Ice Cream

CARP CREAMERY

Ottawa’s Best Indian Food

Ottawa’s Best After Work Drinks

ALL SEASONS INDIAN CATERING

HEART + CROWN

Ottawa’s Best Italian Restaurant

Ottawa’s Best Bakery

Ottawa’s Best Japanese/ Sushi

ART IS IN Ottawa’s Best Breakfast/ Brunch

WILF & ADA’S Ottawa’s Best Bubble Tea

CHATIME

Ottawa’s Best Burger

THE WORKS

CABOTTO’S 168 SUSHI

Ottawa’s Best Late Night Food

MOM’S HOMEMADE INC. Ottawa’s Best Local Brewery

STRAY DOG

Ottawa’s Best Local Winery

KIN VINYARDS

Ottawa’s Best Patio

Ottawa’s Best Business Lunch Location

CHESHIRE CAT PUB

Ottawa’s Best Caribbean Food

KANATA NOODLE HOUSE

OCCO KITCHEN + BAR JERK ON WHEELS

Ottawa’s Best Chinese Food

GOLDEN PALACE

Ottawa’s Best Pho

Ottawa’s Best Pizza

GABRIELS

Ottawa’s Best Pub

Ottawa’s Best Coffee Shop

CHESHIRE CAT PUB

Ottawa’s Best Date Spot

PELICAN SEAFOOD

HAPPY GOAT PUB ITALIA

Ottawa’s Best Dessert Spot

STELLA LUNA

Ottawa’s Best Donuts

SUZY Q

Ottawa’s Best Fine Dining Restaurant

GIOVANNI'S

40 | FACES MAGAZINE

Ottawa’s Best Seafood

Ottawa’s Best Sports Bar

BIG RIG BREW PUB Ottawa’s Best Cocktail

RABBIT HOLE

Ottawa’s Best Street Food

GOLDEN FRIES ORLEANS

M A R C H / A P R I L Ottawa’s Best Taco/ Burrito

EL CAMINO

Ottawa’s Best Oyster Bar

WHALESBONE

Ottawa’s Best Mexican Restaurant

Ottawa’s Best Pad Thai

CHILI THAI TAKEOUT Ottawa’s Best Poutine

GOLDEN FRIES ORLEANS Ottawa’s Best Pasta

MEXICALI ROSA

VITTORIA TRATTORIA

Ottawa’s Best Meal Prep/ Food Delivery

Ottawa’s Best Smoothie

RED APRON

Ottawa’s Best Vegan Menu

PURE KITCHEN

Ottawa’s Best Sandwich

DIRIENZOS

2 0 2 2

JUICE DUDEZ

Ottawa’s Best Locally Inspired Menu

MAKER FEED CO

Ottawa’s Best Thai Food

CHILITHAI TAKEOUT

Ottawa’s Best Catering Service

LOLA’S KITCHEN

Ottawa’s Best Food Supplier

OTTAWA VALLEY MEATS Ottawa’s Best Wings

WILD WING ORLEANS Ottawa’s Best New Restaurant

RIVEREST

Ottawa’s Best Local Food Product

ST. ALBERT’S CHEESE

Ottawa’s Best Fast Casual Food

KETTLEMAN’S BAGEL CO Ottawa’s Best Casual Dining

CHANCES R

Ottawa’s Best Lunch

PIRHO

Ottawa’s Best Dinner

BLACK TARTAN KITCHEN Ottawa’s Best Fajitas

LONE STAR TEXAS GRILL Ottawa’s Best Tea Room

CHATEAU LAURIER

Ottawa’s Best Steakhouse

AL’S STEAKHOUSE

Ottawa’s Best Shawarma

SHAWARMA PALACE FACES MAGAZINE | 41

F A C E S

M A G A Z I N E

O T T A W A

HOUSING FOOD & DINING & RESIDENCES PROFESSIONALS UPPER ROOM

Ottawa’s Best Fine Furniture Store

Ottawa’s Best Property Management Company

Ottawa’s Best Bath Company

TAGGART REALTY MANAGEMENT

PRESTON DESIGN CENTRE

Ottawa’s Best Deck & Fence Company

Ottawa’s Best Driveway/ Concrete Sealing

DESROCHERS INC.

PRESTIGE SEALING

Ottawa’s Best Flooring Company

Ottawa’s Best Hot Tub Sales & Service

WESTBORO FLOORING & DECOR

CLUB PISCINE

Ottawa’s Best Furniture Store

Ottawa’s Best Cabinets

DJW’S FURNITURE

Ottawa’s Best Home Builder

TAMARACK

Ottawa’s Best HVAC Company

RICK MENARD HEATING & COOLING LTD.

LAURYSEN

Ottawa’s Best Lighting

MULTI LUMINAIRE Ottawa’s Best Eavestroughing

MAIZE SIDING & EAVESTROUGHING Ottawa’s Best Painting Company

Ottawa’s Best Interior Design Company

MACPAINTS

Ottawa’s Best Kitchen Company

GLASS MATE WINDOW SOLUTIONS

WESTYLE INTERIOR DESIGN DOUG THE CABINET GUY

Ottawa’s Best Moving Company

Ottawa’s Best Window Cleaning Company Ottawa’s Best Basements

DEVINE HANDS

TWO MEN & A TRUCK

Ottawa’s Best Residential Cleaning Service

JADOC-INGLIS CARPET & RUG CARE Ottawa’s Best Roofing Company

JORGENSEN ROOFING

REAL ESTATE

Ottawa’s Best Tile & Stone Company

EURO TILE & STONE

Ottawa’s Best Windows & Doors Company

VERDUN WINDOWS & DOORS Ottawa’s Best Landscaper

PEARTREE PROPERTY SERVICES Ottawa’s Best Property Manager

CHRIS ANDREWS

Ottawa’s Best Tree Removal

TRILLIUM TREE EXPERTS Ottawa’s Best Interior Designer

LISA POIRIER

42 | FACES MAGAZINE

Ottawa’s Best Real Estate Agency/ Brokerage

SOLID ROCK REALTY

Ottawa’s Best Real Estate Agent

COLLEEN LYLE

Ottawa’s Best Commercial Real Estate Agent

MADAT KARA

Ottawa’s Best Luxury Real Estate Agent

LANA BURNLEY

New Real Estate Agent the Year

NATHAN PONTIROLI

M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 2

FACES MAGAZINE | 43

F A C E S

M A G A Z I N E

O T T A W A

HUMANITARIAN Jonathan Pitre Award for Overcoming Adversity

FINANCE Ottawa’s Best Accountant

LAURA DILL

ISKANDAR ALEX NASRALLAH

Max Keeping Humanitarian Award

Ottawa’s Best Accounting Firm

SHAWNA THIBODEAU

Ottawa’s Not For Profit of the Year

FREEDOM DOG RESCUE ‎ Ottawa’s Volunteer of the Year

DYLAN BLACK

Ottawa’s Volunteer Organization of the Year

OTTAWA FOOD BANK

MCCAY DUFF LLP

Ottawa’s Best Financial Advisor

JASPREET KAUR WADHEN Ottawa’s Best Financial Analyst

PARMOD CHHABRA

Ottawa’s Best Wealth Management Firm

OPES FAMILY ADVISORY

Ottawa’s Volunteer Animal Care Worker of the Year

SASH MAR

New Humanitarian Initiative of the Year

ONLY TAKES ONE

LAW POLITICS & GOVERNMENT Ottawa’s Government Relations Specialist of the Year

MARTIN KRUMINS Ottawa’s Municipal Politician of the Year

JIM WATSON

Ottawa’s Best Law Firm

KELLY SANTINI

Ottawa’s Best Lawyer

MICHELLE DOODY Ottawa’s Best Legal Assistant

SUSAN NAHAS Ottawa’s Best Paralegal

KELLY GAGE

Ottawa’s Best Litigator Ottawa’s Policy Analyst of the Year

JESSICA FAUBERT

44 | FACES MAGAZINE

KEVIN CARON

M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 2

DIGITAL & SOCIAL

CHEO’S FOR THE KIDS GALA

Ottawa’s Best Blog

Ottawa’s Best Comedian

MEENAKSHI SHARMA MAMAUNTOLDTHOUGHTS Ottawa’s Best Graphic Design Agency

BRITELY GRAPHIC DESIGN Ottawa’s Best Graphic Designer

JENNIFER COMACCHIO Ottawa’s Best SEO Agency

WEBSUITABLE

Ottawa’s Best Visual Arts Artist

JENNIFER PREVOST

Ottawa’s Best Web/Website Developer

BROADLENS

Ottawa’s Best Influencer

SALTINA SHAKER

Ottawa’s Best Foodie Influencer

JENAN ZAMMAR

Ottawa’s Best Fashion Influencer

THE CHIC ACADEMIC

Ottawa’s Best Fitness Influencer

JOEY BERRY ‎

Ottawa’s Best eCommerce-Based Business

BRO DOUGH

Ottawa’s Best Youtube Channel

ANISHA LOVES TO SING ‎ Ottawa’s Best Tiktok Account

LIRISHFWANIME

Ottawa’s Best Black Tie Event

RORY GARDINER

Ottawa’s Best Corporate Event/ Conference Venue

BROOKSTREET HOTEL

Ottawa’s Best Corporate Team Building Activity

ESCAPE MANOR

Ottawa’s Best Craft Beer Festival

ORLÉANS BEER FESTIVAL Ottawa’s Best DJ

DJ ARJUN

Ottawa’s Best Event Planner

MICHEL KAFROUNY

Ottawa’s Best Event Planning Company

GIZA ENTERTAINMENT

Ottawa’s Best Food Event/ Festival

SOUTH ASIAN FEST

Ottawa’s Best Game Night Venue

HOUSE OF TARG

Ottawa’s Best Nightclub

THE LOOKOUT BAR Ottawa’s Best Organizer/ Promoter

MICHAEL BUDGE

Ottawa’s Best Professional Speaker

ALFONSO CUADRA

Ottawa’s Best Event Venue

MAYFAIR THEATRE

EVENT & ENTERTAINMENT Ottawa’s Best Audio/Visual Entertainment Company

SPARKK ENTERTAINMENT

Ottawa’s Best Trade Show

OTTAWA HOME & REMODELLING SHOW Ottawa’s Best Fundraising Event

WORLD PARTNERSHIP WALK Ottawa’s Best Karaoke Venue, Event, Service

GARAOKE

FACES MAGAZINE | 45

F A C E S

M A G A Z I N E

O T T A W A

MUSIC & ART Album of the Year

ROB FRANK, ISOLATION Author of the Year

PAT MAGUIRE

New Book of the Year

LOVE & CATASTROPHE POETRE

Jazz/Blues Artist of the Year

JW JONES

Producer of the Year

AUSTIN ODIGIE

Ottawa’s Best Studio

ALTS PRODUCTIONS STUDIO Ottawa’s Best Film Director

TUSHAR KUMAR Ottawa’s Best Actor

Ottawa’s Best Choreographer

MIKAEL CONDE

Ottawa’s Best Dance Instructor

YOUR CASTING ACADEMY

KARINA DUTTA KARMAKAR MELINDA CRITES

Ottawa’s Best Acting Coach

Ottawa’s Best Dance School

ECOLE DANCE LOUISE Ottawa’s Best Dancer

PAIGE EDWARDS

Ottawa’s Hip Hop Artist of the Year

CODY COYOTE

FASHION & BEAUTY Ottawa’s Best Barber

Ottawa’s Music Group of the Year

NATHALIE JONES

Ottawa’s Best Music School

KELLYS BARBER & BEAUTY

EVIL CREEK

ALLEGRO MUSIC SCHOOL Ottawa’s Best Music Store

LONG & MCQUADE

Ottawa’s Best Music/Drama Coach

KIM KASKIW

Ottawa’s Best Painter

COLLEEN GRAY Song of the Year

ROB FRANK, SOME DAYS Tattoo Parlour

SORRY MUM TATTOO Theatre Group

MISSISSIPPI MUDDS, CARLETON PLACE Artist of the Year

NTHN

Country Artist of the Year

DRAKE JENSEN

Ottawa’s Best Barber Shop

Ottawa’s Best Clothing Brand

MEAGAN & MORGAN

Ottawa’s Best Clothing Store

BBX COLLECTION

Ottawa’s Best Cosmetic Clinic

MEDICAL AESTHETICS CANADA Ottawa’s Best Esthetician

NATALIE DUPUIS

Ottawa’s Best Eyebrow Specialist

UVAROVA VALARIA

Ottawa’s Best Fashion Designer

DIANNE WENNERWALD (STUDIO D) ‎ Ottawa’s Best Fashion Stylist

MARY CIANCIBELLO

Ottawa’s Best Hair Extensions

GLAM FAIRY

46 | FACES MAGAZINE FACES MAGAZINE | 46

M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 2

Ottawa’s Best Tour

Ottawa’s Best Hair Salon

UNEXPECTED JOURNEYS

Ottawa’s Best Hair Stylist

CANADIAN TULIP FESTIVAL

SALON FIORELLA ‎

ROXANE BURELLE

Ottawa’s Best Makeup Artist

CATHERINE DUPUIS Ottawa’s Best Nail Salon

ESTHETICS BY LUCIE Ottawa’s Best Tailor

THIRD SON TAILOR

Ottawa’s Best Tourist Attraction Ottawa’s Best Travel Agency

MIDEARTH TRAVEL Ottawa’s Best B&B

BOSTON T.

Ottawa’s Best Travel Agent

LOUISA GIAMPAOLO

Ottawa’s Best Winter Attraction

Ottawa’s Best Colourist

AMANDA HORTON

THE RIDEAU CANAL SKATEWAY

Ottawa’s Best Lash Technician

Ottawa’s Best Summer Attraction

Ottawa’s Best Wigs

Ottawa’s Best Fall Attraction

LASHES BY BRAE

LOVE MY HAIR BOUTIQUE Ottawa’s Best Model

MYLEE BATISTA MISSI

BLUESFEST

SAUNDERS FARM

Ottawa’s Best Spring Attraction

CANADIAN TULIP FESTIVAL Ottawa’s Best Hotel

BROOKSTREET

LEISURE & TOURISM Ottawa’s Best Corporate Retreat

STANLEY’S OLDE MAPLE LANE FARM Ottawa’s Best Golf Club

ROCKLAND

Ottawa’s Best Leisure Sales

CLUB PISCINE

Ottawa’s Best Marina/Yacht Club

NEPEAN SAILING CLUB

HEALTH & WELLNESS Ottawa’s Best Chiropractor

GREG STOLTZ

Ottawa’s Best Crossfit Trainer

KRISTINA PRICE

Ottawa’s Best Dental Assistant

SINDY FERGUSON

Ottawa’s Best Dental Clinic

Ottawa’s Best Museum

KENT STREET DENTAL

Ottawa’s Best Spa

OXANA OSHTAKOVA

MUSEUM OF NATURE SPA JADA

Ottawa’s Best Hygienist

FACES MAGAZINE | 47

F A C E S

M A G A Z I N E

O T T A W A Ottawa’s Best Nurse

Ottawa’s Best Dentist

YVETTE RENAUD

Ottawa’s Best Dermatologist

MEGHAN FISH-BELLEFLEUR

Ottawa’s Family/General Practitioner of the Year

INNER SOUL YOGA AND CYCLE

Ottawa’s Best Fitness Centre

DR. CHARLES COHEN

DR. RAMI YASSINE DR. CHLOE WARD ABISHEK TULI

A FOOT ABOVE FITNESS Ottawa’s Best Foot Specialist

ALLIANCE PODIATRIST/PODIATRIE (DR. ANNIE JEAN) Ottawa’s Best Hearing Specialist

KARINE BOSSÉ

Ottawa’s Best Life Coach

KRISTINA PRICE

Ottawa’s Best Yoga Instructor Ottawa’s Best Yoga Studio

Ottawa’s Best Orthodontist

Ottawa’s Best Wellness Coach

HELENA MIKHAEL (@SOAR.SEE.AIR)

Ottawa’s Best Holistic Specialist

DARPAN AHLUWALIA

Ottawa’s Best Strength & Conditioning Coach

DAVID FONTAINE

Ottawa’s Best Sports Injury Therapist

Ottawa’s Best Massage Therapist

SCOTT RICHARDS

Ottawa’s Best Medispa

INNER SOUL CYCLE AND YOGA

MASON TIMM

WESTEND LASER CLINIC Ottawa’s Best Natural Wellness Company

ELYSIAN WELLNESS CENTER Ottawa’s Best Naturopathic Doctor

DR. HARSIMRANJEET SINGH, ND Ottawa’s Best Nutritionist

SARA AWIJA

Ottawa’s Best Occupational Therapist

REBECCA LABONTE

Ottawa’s Best Optician/Optometrist

SALEH YAACOUB

Ottawa’s Best Personal Trainer

JODY O’BRIEN

Ottawa’s Best Pharmacy

METCALFE PHARMACY ‎

Ottawa’s Best Spin Class

Ottawa’s Best Dispensary

STASH & CO.

Ottawa’s Best Pilates Instructor

LISA KHERA

Ottawa’s Best Daycare

STEPPING UP

Ottawa’s Best Bootcamp

KICK IT UP FITNESS

TRADES Ottawa’s Best Carpenter

DESROCHERS INC. (SHANE DESROCHERS) Ottawa’s Best Construction Company

Ottawa’s Best Physiotherapist

MIKE MCCREIGHT

SML CONSTRUCTION Ottawa’s Best Electrician

Ottawa’s Best Physiotherapy Clinic

ELYSIAN WELLNESS CENTRE

M2 ELECTRIC

Ottawa’s Best General Contractor

DEVINE HANDS

48 | FACES MAGAZINE

M A R C H / A P R I L

Ottawa’s Best Paving & Interlock Company

CAPITAL ASPHALT

SPORTS Ottawa’s Best Angler

Ottawa’s Best Plumber

CABELA’S PRO STAFF – CARA CARMICHAEL

Ottawa’s Best Welder

BROOKE HENDERSON

GK PLUMBING AND HEATING INC ‎ ERIC PROVOST

Ottawa’s Best Drywall Finisher

BORSATO DRYWALL

Ottawa’s Best Refrigeration & Air Systems Company

CORE CLIMATE LTD Ottawa’s Best Restoration Specialist

HIGHBRIDGE CONSTRUCTION Ottawa’s Best Locksmith

A EVEREST LOCKSMITH Ottawa’s Best HVAC Technician

MIREILLE ST. DENIS

2 0 2 2

Ottawa’s Athlete of the Year

Ottawa’s Best Driving Range

KEVIN HAIME

Ottawa’s Best Equestrian Stable

WILLOW CREEK STABLES Ottawa’s Best Golf Pro & Instructor

DAVE KALIL

Ottawa’s Best Hockey Coach

JAMIE AXFORD

Ottawa’s Best Recreation Centre

NEPEAN SPORTSPLEX

Ottawa’s Best Swim Instructor

CATALINA MAASS

FACES MAGAZINE | 49

F A C E S

M A G A Z I N E

O T T A W A

B I R D S

I N

F L I G H T

GET THE GEAR TO SEIZE THE MOMENT

FIND THE BEST ASSORTMENT OF CAMERAS, LENSES, ACCESSORIES AND MORE AT HENRY’S. SHOP IN STORE OR ONLINE AT HENRYS.COM.

267 BANK STREET, OTTAWA HENRYS.COM

50 | FACES MAGAZINE

M A R C H / A P R I L

Ottawa’s Coach of the Year

WEDDINGS

Ottawa’s Sports Volunteer of the Year

GEMMELL’S FLOWERS LTD.

Ottawa’s Best Gymnastics Coach

CAROLYN BEAUTY AND STYLE

RYAN FRASER

CHRISTOPHER HIPWELL SUZANA DIACONESCU

Ottawa’s Best Wedding Florist

Ottawa’s Best Wedding Makeup Artist Ottawa’s Best Wedding Planner

Ottawa’s Best Sports Club

SEA & SILK EVENTS

Ottawa’s Best Equestrian Coach

STONECROP ACRES WINERY

GREATER OTTAWA AREA HOCKEY LEAGUE ‎ VERONICA GRAJEWSKI

Ottawa’s Best Youth Sports Program

DAVE STATHOS GOALIE PERFORMANCE CENTRE

Ottawa’s Best Gymnastics Facility

STARR GYMNASTICS

2 0 2 2

Ottawa’s Best Wedding Venue Ottawa’s Best Bridal Boutique

SINDERS BRIDAL

Ottawa’s Best Wedding Caterer

SUNDARI’S KITCHEN

Ottawa’s Best Wedding Cakes

VALENTINA’S SWEETS

Ottawa’s Best Wedding Videographer

AMAR AULUCK

Ottawa’s Best Wedding Photographer

PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEOGRAPHY

MATTHEW EMMERSON PHOTOGRAPHY

SOCIAL SERVICES

Ottawa’s Best Landscape Photographer

KOPKE613 ‎

Ottawa’s Best Portrait Photographer

ANNA ODEH PHOTOGRAPHY Ottawa’s Best Photography Account

@MYSTIKOPOULOS

Ottawa’s Best Videographer

RYAN TU

Ottawa’s Best Film Editor

JOHN MCKINNON

Ottawa’s Mental Health Worker of the Year

RICHARD ROBINS

Ottawa’s Public Health Worker of the Year

VERA ETCHES

Ottawa’s Social Services Worker of the Year

JESSICA DUMONT

Ottawa’s Support Worker of the Year

KAYLA SMITH

Ottawa’s Best Health Educator

DR. OWEN WISEMAN

Ottawa’s Counselor of the Year

MARIETTE ST-DENIS

FACES MAGAZINE | 51

F A C E S

M A G A Z I N E

O T T A W A

TRANSPORTATION & AUTOMOTIVE Ottawa’s Best Car Dealership

AUTO AGENTS ‎ Ottawa’s Best Car Detailing

OPTICS DETAILING OTTAWA

Ottawa’s Teacher of the Year

MELISSA HUTTER Ottawa’s Professor of the Year

PATRICE HALL Ottawa’s Best Summer Camp

CAMP SMITTY

Ottawa’s Best Mechanic

JOHN STOTHERS ‎ Ottawa’s Best Luxury Car Dealership

OTTO’S BMW Ottawa’s Best Auto Repair/ Auto Body

MYERS CAR STAR ‎ Ottawa’s Best Automotive Sales Specialist

NIKKY ADEWUNMI-SCOTT Ottawa’s Best Glass Repair

GO! GLASS & ACCESSORIES

MEDIA Ottawa’s Emcee of the Year

STU SCHWARTZ Ottawa’s Journalist of the Year

GRAHAM RICHARDSON Ottawa’s Best Podcast

THE INTERVIEW DUDES Ottawa’s Best Publisher/Publishing House

Ottawa’s Best Limousine/ Executive Transportation

BROKEN KEYS PUBLISHING

MCCOY BUS SERVICES

Ottawa’s Radio Personality of the Year

Ottawa’s Best Driving School

DYLAN BLACK @DYLANBLACKRADIO

STEER’NGO

Radio Station of the Year

HOT 89.9

TRANSPORTATION & AUTOMOTIVE Ottawa’s School Administrator of the Year

Ottawa’s Sports Reporter of the Year

IAN MENDES Ottawa’s Best Talent Management Agency

SMYTH CASTING Ottawa’s TV/Media Personality of the Year

SHELLA MITHANI

MATT SKUBE

Ottawa’s Early Childhood Educator of the Year

Ottawa’s Best Sports Podcast

MUMTAZ MAWJI Ottawa’s Principal of the Year

JULIE HANNA Special Education Teacher of the Year

MYA MILITO 52 | FACES MAGAZINE

WALLY & METHOT SHOW Ottawa’s Production Manager of the Year

DANIEL ALLARD Ottawa’s Best Animation Studio

JAM FILLED ENTERTAINMENT

M A R C H / A P R I L

Ottawa’s Best Animator

JOEL HANSEN Ottawa’s Best Multimedia Specialist

RHONDA MCINTOSH

2 0 2 2

PETS Ottawa’s Best Dog-Friendly Destination

BRUCE PIT Ottawa’s Best Pet Boarding & Sitting

DOG WORLD ‎

SHOPPING Ottawa’s Best Book Store

AU COIN DU LIVRE Ottawa’s Best Children’s & Baby Store

ONCE UPON A CHILD ORLEANS Ottawa’s Best Farmers Market

METCALFE FARMERS MARKET Ottawa’s Best Florist

REBEL PETAL Ottawa’s Best Grocery Store

FARM BOY Ottawa’s Best Hardware & Appliance Store

PRESTON HARDWARE Ottawa’s Best Jeweller

FLOURISH STONEWEAR Ottawa’s Best Mall/ Shopping Centre

BAYSHORE SHOPPING CENTRE Ottawa’s Best Sporting Goods Store

KUNDSTADT SPORTS Ottawa’s Best Store Manager

Ottawa’s Best Pet Grooming Salon

KAY’S NAIL PARLOUR Ottawa’s Best Pet Store

REN’S PET STORE Ottawa’s Best Pet Training

KAY THE DOG WHISPERER Ottawa’s Best Vet Assistant/Technician

ERIN HALEY (BYTOWN CAT HOSPITAL) Ottawa’s Best Veterinarian

KATIE JONES Ottawa’s Best Veterinary Hospital

NEPEAN AND CHAPMAN MILLS Ottawa’s Best Dog Walking Service

SHEILA KERR (SHEILA’S DOG SERVICES) Ottawa’s Best Dog Daycare

DOG WORLD Ottawa’s Best Local Pet Brand

CHILLY DOGS Ottawa’s Pet Social Media Personality of the Year

RIVER_LITTLEMISSOTIS

SEAN MCKAY, HOT TOPIC BAYSHORE Ottawa’s Best Garden Centre

ROBERT PLANTE GREENHOUSES Ottawa’s Best Gift Store

LASTING IMPRESSIONS Ottawa’s Best Vintage Consignment Store

CONSIGNED COLLECTIVE FACES MAGAZINE | 53

F A C E S

M A G A Z I N E

O T T A W A

Five Productivity Hacks

TO SPRING FORWARD FOLLOW THE 20/80 RULE, which dictates that 20% of what you do drives 80% of your results. Whether you want to be more productive at the office, with housework, or on your personal goals, write them down and identify that 20% that produces the most for you, these are your ‘high leverage’ activities, and you need to make sure you hit a minimum threshold of dedicating 20% of your time to them. DON’T MULTITASK. Multiple studies have concluded that trying to do two things simultaneously makes your output on both worse. If you haven’t heard, multitasking is dead, and focus is the new it-man.’

NEVER SIT DOWN unless you know exactly what you’re working on. Many of us look forward to having time alone, finally, to ‘work’. And yet, work is not defined. So, we check our emails, get ‘caught up’, but never tackle those high leverage activities. Make this the last day you ever sit down to work, without a specific task.

54 | FACES MAGAZINE

BATCH THOSE TASKS. You’ve heard of time blocking, but have you heard of task batching? This productivity must-try asks you to write out all of those little tasks that you can feel piling up, group them together, and get them done once. This can include email for those whose job will allow. Many successful people check their email max once a day, some once a week. Others who need to plan weekly items, like weekly menus or social media posts, will do a month’s worth of those tasks in one sitting.

ERADICATE YOUR NEWSFEED. Solutions abound for people looking to cut out the distractions of email and social media. The best we’ve found is Newsfeed Eradicator: it will keep your socials active so you can see notifications, messages, and tags, but will block your newsfeed, so you don’t get caught in the scroll.

M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 2

FACES MAGAZINE | 55

F A C E S

M A G A Z I N E

O T T A W A

Talking ''Sticks Together'' with

SARAH THOMPSON

Meet the Syracuse Orange forward with plans to bring her love of hockey to Argentina.

arah Thompson’s a sophomore forward playing hockey at Syracuse University with a mission to make an impact both on and off the ice. She grew up playing street hockey with her friends in Orleans but will now take the game to Argentina in May to help grow the sport through her project Sticks Together. After her parents signed her up for hockey when she was 6 years old, Sarah fell in love with the sport.

56 | FACES MAGAZINE

That love blossomed into her starting Sticks Together, where she will be bringing equipment to underprivileged youth in Argentina to share and teach the game of hockey. Majoring in sports management, Sarah’s also an intern with the Syracuse Crunch, the AHL affiliate of the Tampa Bay Lightning. We caught up with Sarah to discuss growing up in Ottawa, her hockey journey, and her project, Sticks Together.

M A R C H / A P R I L

What was it like growing up in Ottawa? I’m so fortunate to have grown up in Ottawa and played youth hockey in one of Canada’s biggest hotbeds. I grew up learning to play on the streets in the summer and on the outdoor rinks in the winter. Fortunately for me, there were a dozen outdoor rinks within walking distance and a bunch of young kids like me to play with. Given the impressive amount of youth hockey associations in Ottawa, I had the chance to play with and compete against some of the best players in the country. How did you get into playing hockey? My parents put me into Timbits hockey when I was six years old. I absolutely fell in love with the game and the remarkable feeling of scoring a goal. My passion for the game flourished through street hockey and trading hockey cards with the boys in my neighbourhood. By the time I was about 10, I had played in AAA spring tournaments and decided I wanted to train and play the game yearround. Why did you choose to attend Syracuse? I chose Syracuse University because it was everything I had ever dreamed of. I had the opportunity to pursue an education in sport management at a top-tier university while playing a DI sport for an impressive NCAA athletics program. Although, I think what drew me most to Syracuse was its undeniable spirit. Students, staff, and people in the Syracuse community are eager to donate their orange and support ’Cuse. All that to say, the best part about being a Syracuse Women’s Ice hockey player is my teammates. I may not have known it when I committed here, but my ‘Cuse Ice family would become the best thing that came from my decision.

2 0 2 2

Working with the Syracuse Crunch has been an incredible learning experience. Under the direction of Jim Sarosy, the Chief Operating Officer of the Syracuse Crunch, I’ve had the opportunity to get hands-on experience in all aspects of event management in professional hockey. Jim has been a wonderful mentor and has been extremely generous with his time, knowledge and dedication to help me learn and develop. I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to learn and work with such an enthusiastic and motivated staff and for a leading AHL hockey club. What do you like to do when you're not working or playing hockey? When I’m not on the ice, studying or working, I like to spend time with my friends/teammates. I enjoy getting a bite to eat with the girls or hanging out and watching a movie. We don’t have much free time as student-athletes, so I’ve learned to enjoy the little moments. As silly as it sounds, I look forward to little things like our Thursday night frozen yogurt at Sweet Frog; the froyo only lasts a few minutes, but the chatter lasts much longer. What are some of your favourite things to do when you're in Ottawa? One of my favourite things to do when I go home is to hit the Byward Market. I love walking around, checking out the market, grabbing a bite to eat and exploring the nightlife. I always look forward to getting on the ice and in the gym with the girls I grew up playing with from Ottawa. Although, what I enjoy most about going home is going for long drives and getting into some car karaoke with my sister!

How special was it to be a part of Canada's U18 team? Putting on the Hockey Canada jersey was a feeling like no other. It was a fantastic, humbling experience to compete with and against the top hockey players in the world. The U18 Women’s World Championship was an experience of a lifetime. I met some of the most amazing and impressive people and learned much about myself and what hockey means to me. You're currently interning with the Tampa Bay Lightning's AHL team - Syracuse Crunch. What's that like?

FACES MAGAZINE | 57

F A C E S

M A G A Z I N E

O T T A W A

Who's been a significant influence in your life or someone you look up to? My mom’s been the greatest leader in my life. Although she may not be an elite athlete, she has given me every opportunity to pursue my dream of becoming one myself. She has shown me strength and courage off the ice, which has helped me find that on the ice. My mom, a teacher at Our Lady of Wisdom Catholic School, always puts others before herself and puts so much effort into impacting those around her, especially her students. I wouldn’t be where I am today without her. International Women's Day is March 8th. How happy are you with the growth of women's sports, and what changes would you like to see to bring more exposure? I’m incredibly proud of all the efforts that the women at the professional level are making to grow the game. The current professional hockey leagues are pushing to set the standard for representation of women’s sports. I would love to see more coverage of women’s hockey and for management to continue to be aggressive when it comes to marketing to stay competitive in the global market. Where did the idea for Sticks Together come from? I’ve been planning on partaking in a volunteer trip for well over a year now. I had come across a volunteer abroad organization that offers a variety of sports volunteer opportunities that help foster a healthy, active lifestyle for those living in under-resourced communities. I wanted to grow my impact by starting a project that would give kids the chance to learn to play a new sport. In many low-income communities worldwide, kids miss out on the opportunity to play sports in school with their peers due to the lack of qualified physical education teachers and insufficient funding. The hockey community is strong and giving. I was confident that I could collect enough sticks and equipment to donate to a school that would need them. My mission through Sticks Together is to give every kid the opportunity to play and find something they are passionate about. You're spending 3 weeks in Argentina to help grow the sport of hockey. What are you looking forward to most about that opportunity?

58 | FACES MAGAZINE

I’m looking forward to connecting with the kids and teaching them the game I love. I’m excited to teach them how to stickhandle, pass, shoot, and celebrate when they score! With that said, I also look forward to learning from them and playing the sports that they love. How can people help with "Sticks Together"? You can support Sticks Together by donating to my GoFundMe found on my website, www.stickstogether.org, or by sharing on social media! Any support of this project is greatly appreciated. Twitter: @thompsonsarah_

Twitter: @thompsonsarah_ Instagram: sarah.thompson_

M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 2

GUIDE:

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

Try Cinnamon To Curb Sugar Cravings

Drink Green Tea For Improved Concentration If you’re feeling unfocused and have trouble remembering small things throughout the day, blame your working memory. Also known as short-term memory, this function of the brain is what allows you to get stuff done by being able to recall task-specific information. Green Tea has been shown to improve connectivity between two parts of the brain associated with working memory.

If you’re looking to cut sugar, try reaching for cinnamon for your breakfast, coffee, tea, or to put on your snack. Cinnamon tastes and smells like it should be sweet, and we associate it with sweet, so it can trick your brain into thinking you’ve cashed in on that craving. Cinnamon is also antiinflammatory, has a ton of antioxidants, and can help lower cholesterol, among a host of other benefits.

Wake Up & Drink Water If you don’t drink water as one of the first things you do when you wake up, you are committing yourself to lower energy levels throughout the day. We become dehydrated during the night, and the best thing you can do to kickstart your day and boost your energy is to restore order. You’ll notice a massive improvement in your entire day.

Massage Your Scars For Healing Help If you’re looking to get rid of the appearance of scrapes and scratches, try massaging them. Oil and lotions help, but are not as effective as increasing blood flow to the area.

FACES MAGAZINE | 59

F A C E S

M A G A Z I N E

Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

60 | FACES MAGAZINE

O T T A W A

M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 2

The original hockey insider on semi-retirement, the old days, and a new endeavour.

ob McKenzie used to be known as the “BobFather” when he would break the latest hockey signing or trade on TSN. Now semi-retired, you can still find him working on his NHL draft rankings or World Juniors broadcasts, but with the new nickname “Bobby Margarita.” Bob grew up in Scarborough, loving the game of hockey. Whether it was watching the Leafs on Wednesdays, Hockey Night in Canada Saturdays or collecting O-Pee-Chee cards, he was glued to the sport.

He would meet his wife, Cindy, in high school and would go on to get married in 1979. They’ve been together ever since and have two sons, Mike and Shawn, both currently working in hockey. Bob changed his name on Twitter to “Bobby Margarita” in the summer of 2016, and little did he know it would turn into working alongside his son, Shawn, to create their very own margarita. We caught up with Bob McKenzie to discuss growing up in Toronto, his love for hockey and how “Bobby Margarita” came about. FACES MAGAZINE | 61

F A C E S

M A G A Z I N E

O T T A W A

How did you enjoy growing up in Toronto? I’ve always loved being a true Torontonian or Scarberian, I guess. I note the difference because some City of Toronto proper snobs would suggest Scarborough wasn’t exactly in the city, which it wasn’t. I was born at East General Hospital in East York, which is in the east end of the City of Toronto, but when I was three years old, my family moved to Scarborough, which was part of Metro Toronto but was viewed as “way out there.” Scarborough is known now as one of the most culturally diverse communities in all of Canada, but when I grew up there, it was mostly a white-bread suburb of Toronto. Though it probably skewed more to blue-collar than white-collar, which was certainly true of my family. Both my parents worked and worked hard. My Dad always had two jobs. When people ask me now where I’m from, I just tell them Toronto, and it gives me a great sense of pride to say that. Toronto is a great city. Did you play hockey or any other sports growing up? I started skating on an outdoor rink at Bendale Public School when I was four or five before playing organized minor hockey, which started when I was 6 or 7. I played a ton of road hockey. Even as a small kid, it was always hockey all the time for me, on and off the ice. I watched the midweek Leaf game on Wednesday night and, of course, Hockey Night in Canada on Saturday. I collected hockey cards as a kid; I remember having a complete set of O-Pee-Chee in kindergarten, which would have been 1961, I think. But I played soccer and box lacrosse in the summer, and I always enjoyed the change of sporting seasons. I highly recommend that to kids today. Play a summer sport other than hockey. What made you decide to get into media, and why did you attend Ryerson? Like most kids, I dreamed of playing in the NHL, but I always knew I was not even close to being good enough to fulfill that dream even as a young kid. I guess I’ve always had an objective mind. Anyway, what I remember most about the Leafs winning their last Cup in 1967 is that I kept a scrapbook of all the daily stories in the 62 | FACES MAGAZINE

Photo by Brad White/Getty Images

Star and Telegram that playoff year. I also remember that I was interested and enthralled with the story bylines and columnists with the Leafs. So while I idolized Tim Horton, Dave Keon, Frank Mahovlich, Bob Baun, Allan Stanley, Bob Pulford, Johnny Bower and Terry Sawchuk, I was also quite taken with Red Burnett, Milt Dunnell, Jim Proudfoot and all the hockey writers and columnists. By the time I got into high school, all I wanted to do was to be a hockey beat writer and cover the Toronto Maple Leafs for the Star, the Sun or The Globe and Mail. That’s why I went to Ryerson. I figured that would help me get my dream job. Who did you look up to in the media industry? Well, all those hockey writers and columnists I mentioned from the 1960s, for sure. Frank Orr was another one. John Iaboni, Rex MacLeod, Jim Coleman, Scott Young.

Once I got to be in the business when I was covering the Soo Greyhounds for the Sault Star in Sault Ste. Marie, I really looked up to John Herbert, the junior hockey writer for the London Free Press. He was the top junior hockey writer, and all of us newbies in the business wanted to “be like Herbie.” What are some of the more memorable stories that you've broken over the years at TSN as an Insider? I get that asked a lot, and my answer always stinks. I’ve mostly forgotten all the stories I’ve broken. I mean, and I say this humbly, there was a lot, but the story-breaking stuff is pretty transient, especially now. A scoop now lasts about as long for someone to read your “breaking story” on social media, and within five minutes, everyone is reporting it. In the really old days, when you had a nighttime deadline for your newspaper story, and the paper came out

M A R C H / A P R I L

“

BY THE TIME I GOT INTO HIGH SCHOOL, ALL I WANTED WAS TO BE A HOCKEY BEAT WRITER AND COVER THE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS FOR THE STAR, THE SUN OR THE GLOBE AND MAIL. THAT’S WHY I WENT TO RYERSON. I FIGURED THAT WOULD HELP ME GET MY DREAM JOB.”

2 0 2 2

the next day, THAT was a scoop because your competitors couldn’t match it until the next day. There was no internet, no online editions—just the actual newspaper in the box or on your driveway/doorstep. I was on the winning end of some of those scoops, and I was on the losing end a lot too, and there was no better/worse feeling than back then getting a scoop or getting your ass kicked. But there are a couple of breaking stories that stand out. One, I reported in the Star that interim NHL president Gil Stein was trying to orchestrate his own induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame by stacking the board with his cronies. He was, and my story helped kaibosh that and perhaps limited his run as NHL president. The other was the hardest story to break — TSN losing the NHL rights on a 12-year-deal to Rogers. That one hurt, a lot, but I was proud to be the one to report it. How did you meet your wife, Cindy? We met in high school. She was in my homeroom in Grade 12, her first year at the school, but we didn’t know each other or even talk to each other that year. We were in many classes together in Grade 13 and started going out on the final day of high school in 1975. We got married in 1979 and have been together ever since.

FACES MAGAZINE | 63

F A C E S

M A G A Z I N E

O T T A W A

Tell us about your sons, Mike and Shawn. Mike will be 36 in April, and Shawn will be 33 in July. Mike is the GM-head coach of the Kitchener Rangers of the OHL, and Shawn is a hockey broadcaster on Rogers Sportsnet. He’s the host/rinkside reporter on Maple Leaf broadcasts and does games, including Sens and Habs, on Hockey Night in Canada. I’m really proud of both of them. They’re both very good at their jobs, and they don’t have easy jobs either. We can all thank Cindy for doing such a great job raising them because I was very busy with work back in the 1990s when they were both young kids. What have you enjoyed most about semi/soft retirement? The best part is losing the 24/7 aspect of the job. I still have lots to keep me busy at various times of the year—the World Juniors, TSN pre-season, mid-season and final draft rankings, four Leaf broadcasts, Trade Deadline Day and Free Agent Frenzy day—but everything has a start time and a finish time, and I know precisely what days or weeks or months I’m busy and what days, weeks and months I’m free. I’m still busy with book projects, running my business that requires attention... but I’m no longer chained to my phone, I don’t have to watch hockey games at night if I don’t want to, and I don’t have to wake up to a steady stream of radio hits where I was obliged to know everything that was going on in hockey, on and off the ice. Now I have more time for my wife, kids and grandkids and more time to walk or work out or do things without the pressure of doing something else. What do you like to do that's not hockey/sports-related? Going for daily walks, riding my mountain bike in the summer, going to Florida in the winter. Reading non-hockey or non-sportsbooks, drinking wine and margaritas on my dock at the lake or on my lanai in Florida. Visiting my grandkids. I’d say talking to my sons, but many of our conversations end up being hockey or the business of hockey or broadcasting. How did the idea for "Bobby Margarita" come about? It was mostly a social media gag I started in 2016 when I got a Jimmy Buffet Margaritaville frozen concoction maker. When I fired it up for the first time on vacation that summer, I posted a pic or a video and changed my Twitter name to Bobby Margarita. It kind of took off a bit. Over the years, I leaned into that vacation persona and character, and so did a lot of other people. Last March, my son Shawn was contacted by an old acquaintance, Brock James, who used to be a Molson rep in London when Shawn went to school there back in the day. He works for Ace Beverage Group now and was just reaching out to Shawn to get him to try some free beer (Ace Hill Mexican Lager) and tweet about it if he liked it. Shawn asked him about the idea of a Bobby Margarita ready-to-drink cocktail, and he said, let’s do it. That led to a partnership between Shawn and I and ABG, a big ready-to-drink cocktail maker in Ontario/Canada. They do Cottage Springs and Ace Hill. Fantastic partners.

64 | FACES MAGAZINE

We worked together on everything from the taste of the liquid to can design, colours, branding, logos. It’s been an absolute blast. Where can people find Bobby Margarita drinks? Bobby Margarita is currently available in Alberta and Nova Scotia, but it will be in the LCBO’s in Ontario with widespread distribution in April. Also, Saskatchewan and PEI in April, too. I can’t wait for it to be in Ontario. It’s very exciting. When can we expect Bob McKenzie to retire fully? I have no clue, really. My current contract at TSN doesn’t expire until the summer of 2025. So I won’t be any “more” retired until then, and, hopefully, I’ll be in a position health-wise where I can decide whether to keep doing some things or shut it right down. I’m 65 years old right now, I’ll be 66 in August, and I don’t look too far ahead. Take every day as it comes, try to treat each day like it could be my last because, well, you just never know. Memento Mori, as the Stoics like to say. Twitter - @TSNBobMcKenzie Instagram - Bobbymargs

Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 2

A Crash Course In Graphology What Your Handwriting

SAYS ABOUT YOU

Upper Loops Take a look at the way you write your L’s, T’s, P’s, H’s, and F’s. What kind of loops or tips do the tops of these letters have? If they have wide, outgoing loops, this may mean that you’re optimistic and hopeful. If no loops exist, and you seem to retrace your writing on the descent, you may be a more disciplined person who likes to take a realistic perspective. Interestingly, if your lowercase T’s are looped, this may indicate that you are sensitive to criticism.

he study of handwriting for personality traits, known as Graphology, has been around for 1000s of years. A Graphologist studies for two years at a recognized school, and can build a career working with police and investigators. They help to analyze ransom notes from kidnappers and identify criminals by their handwriting. Though Graphology is an observational science (not evidence-based or proven), it can still be used as admissible evidence in court. Expert graphologists say that there are over 5,000 different personality traits that can be seen in handwriting. While the general rules of graphology are more suggestive and may not apply to everyone, here’s a crash course in analyzing your own writing in the name of self-awareness. We suggest taking a sample of writing along for the read.

Lower Loops Size

Slant

How big is your writing? Does it stay within the confines of a standard line, or does it jump out at every opportunity, printing much larger than normal? If your writing is larger than normal writing on a lined piece of paper, this means you’re a generally outgoing person who likes to be noticed. If your writing is smaller than normal, you’re more withdrawn.

According to graphology, the direction of your writing’s lean gives insight into your mindset on life in general. If you’re writing slants to the left, you’re a more reserved person who tends to dwell on the past. If you write to the right, you tend to be more outgoing and optimistic about the future. If your writing doesn’t have much of a lean, then you tend to remain in the present more than your angled equivalents.

Now look at your Y’s, J’s, G’s, and writing in the ‘lower zone’. If your loops are bigger, you may be more outgoing and have a big circle of friends. If they are smaller, the opposite may be true. If the length of your ‘tails’ in the lower zone is shorter, you may be more of a homebody than someone whose tails are longer. These people, according to graphologists, like to travel and explore.

F A C E S

M A G A Z I N E

O T T A W A

By Dan Lalande

hat’s the advice of Jake Prescott, the popular real estate rep with the Tracy Arnett team, one of the most reputable property brokers in the metropolitan Ottawa area. Knowing he had a lot to learn, Prescott strategically targeted a working culture that would expand his professional horizons. “I decided that I would take whatever job I was offered so long as I had the mentor that I wanted,” he explains. Three weeks after embedding the first footprint on his career path, Prescott found himself the assistant to Arnett’s assistant.

Photography by Sean Sisk

66 | FACES MAGAZINE

M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 2

FACES MAGAZINE | 67

F A C E S

M A G A Z I N E

O T T A W A

“

IN MY EARLY YEARS, I WAS REGULARLY WORKING OVER SEVENTY HOURS A WEEK. SO, EXPECT TO WORK HARD. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, DO IT RIGHT; GET YOURSELF SET UP FOR SUCCESS. MAKE SURE YOU ALIGN YOURSELF WITH THE RIGHT PEOPLE: HONEST, PROFESSIONAL, AND HARD-WORKING.

68 | FACES MAGAZINE

“

“It wasn’t glamorous, but I got to work side by side with an agent that was outperforming the average agent tenfold. She was also the chair of the Ottawa Real Estate Board’s Professional Standards Committee. She would have other agents from all over the city calling her to ask for advice. She was exactly what I needed: well-respected in the community and known as a consummate professional. After three years, I was given the opportunity to work as a salesperson on her team. I’ve never looked back.” If Prescott ever does, he’ll find a long history of satisfied clients and a website full of glowing reviews. But that’ll be two or three decades from now, in his laurel years. Right now, he’s too busy still doing what he first fell in love with fresh out of the Linguistics program at Ottawa U, the degree he was urged to earn in case he couldn’t make good on his real estate ambitions. Fat chance. His plan to penetrate that highly competitive industry was up and running while he was a student. Prescott earned his real estate license during his final year and made the rounds with his CV on the day of his final exam. A native of the Toronto area, Prescott came to Ottawa to attend school. Like a lot of visitors with no plans to stay, he fell in love with the city. Since setting roots in the nation’s capital, he’s had addresses in Sandy Hill, Centretown, and

M A R C H / A P R I L

South Keys, areas in which he now sells homes and condos. His continued success is predicated not only on his sound knowledge of both the city and the industry, but a reputation for doggedness, a discipline he acquired as an athlete and coach in competitive gymnastics. Clients who sign with Prescott can rest assured that no stone will remain unturned in the search for an ideal domicile. “I don’t cut corners,” he maintains proudly. It's that reputation, along with his personable style, that continues to feed his career. “I’ve built a business that is now predominantly fed by past client recommendation and agent referrals,” beams the smiley, bearded Prescott. “Over the next twenty to thirty years, I’m hoping to continue to grow my business and serve my clients.” Prescott’s other ambition is to give back to the industry he keeps, along with his wife – Arnett’s director of marketing – and his two school-aged children, close to his heart.

2 0 2 2

And, of course, he’s more than happy to dispense advice to the next gen of real estate reps, just the way that the industry groomed him. “This business is not for the faint of heart,” he warns. “In my early years, I was regularly working over seventy hours a week. So, expect to work hard. But at the same time, do it right; get yourself set up for success. Make sure you align yourself with the right people: honest, professional, and hard-working.” In other words, find yourself a Jake Prescott. jake@tracyarnett.com www.tracyarnett.com

“For the past seven years, I’ve been volunteering with the Ottawa Real Estate Board. I started as a committee member on the Professional Standard Committee. In 2020, I accepted a position on the Board of Directors where I continue to serve members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board. I am also chair of the OREB Technology Committee, as well as a committee member on the MLS Rules of Cooperation Committee.”

FACES MAGAZINE | 69

FF A A C C EE SS

M M A A G G A A ZZ II N N EE

O O TT TT A A W W A A

The Top 5 Things We Tend to

FORGET

Here’s what is ordinarily overlooked in our daily lives.

he common adult has a 20-minute attention span for things that they aren’t interested in. With the rise of social media, fast content, and the stream of byte-sized information we take in daily, researchers estimate that the adult attention span has decreased by about 12 minutes in the last 10 years. Your shortterm memory, also considered your working memory, can hold up to 7 pieces of information at one time. But regardless of the amazing feats of the brain, occasional forgetfulness affects us all, and things like lack of sleep, anxiety, and overworking can exacerbate it. A survey conducted by Avery Office and Consumer Products identified the top 5 things people forget on the regular; most of which are small, simple tasks. The reason? We simply have too much going on.

TAKING OUT THE GARBAGE Even in 2022, remembering garbage day is still something we will struggle with. For those who need reinforcement, download the Ottawa Collection Calendar mobile app for Apple or Android. On the app, you’ll be able to confirm your collection day, merge important dates into your personal calendar, and sign up for email and phone reminders.

70 | FACES MAGAZINE

M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 2

PASSWORDS Every human who has ever made a password has forgotten a password in their lifetime. We try our best to avoid this, though, by creating ‘unforgettable’ passwords. In the 1990s, the most common password on the web was ‘12345’. Today, it is ‘123456’. Most women use a password that includes a meaningful name, and most men use a hobby in their password.

CHARGING PHONES Unless you have a ritualistic routine for charging your cell phone, you may be one of those who routinely forgets to account for your battery life. Despite how common it is, it’s not good for your phone. When your phone dies, a chemical reaction takes place in the battery that limits its capacity. Over time, this can reduce the power of your battery, in a somewhat self-fulfilling prophecy.

DEFROSTING MEALS Whether you’re a meal prep pro or you prefer to be inspired daily, many of us forget to defrost the meat we intend to cook before our prep time. It usually takes an entire day to defrost even a small amount of frozen meat. The rule of thumb? 24 hours for every 5 pounds of turkey, 4-7 hours per pound of larger steaks, and 3-5 hours per pound for thinner steaks.

RETURNING CALLS The most commonly forgotten to-do in North America? Returning phone calls. Though we have to wonder how many phone calls are subconsciously forgotten (in the digital age, many people prefer to text than to call), it stands that many people genuinely forget that someone has called earlier in the day.

FACES MAGAZINE | 71

72 | FACES MAGAZINE

M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 2

IAN D’SA On Crisis Of Faith

In January, Billy Talent released their sixth album, Crisis of Faith, after almost six years. The ten track LP was produced entirely by the band’s guitarist and main songwriter, Juno-nominated producer Ian D’Sa, in the band’s Toronto studio and was mixed by the legendary Chris Lord-Alge. Billy Talent's Canadian tour begins in April, with an Ottawa show date on April 4th.

FACES MAGAZINE | 73

F A C E S

M A G A Z I N E

O T T A W A

Crisis of Faith is your first album since 2016. How does it feel to finally release it? Oh, it feels incredibly good. We wanted to have the record out last year, but the timing didn’t make sense with not being able to tour, and it took longer than usual to record, as well. So yeah, we’re more than stoked that this album’s finally out. The album features many songs that detail the struggles of the pandemic. What were some struggles you guys dealt with as a band during these challenging times? It became difficult in March of 2020 when we were recording the second half of the album. We had some time booked to record drums, which was the same week they announced the lockdown. We were really unsure of how to proceed at that point, so everyone was kind of on edge. Going forward, we had to work smartly and take calculated risks. It was basically myself and our engineer Kenny in the room or myself recording Ben’s vocals from there forward. We kept it down to a bare minimum, which took a lot longer. We’re all used to being in the studio, having two engineers and things going a lot faster, so that’s another reason it took longer to record the album. Musicians are creatures of habit. What was it like not being able to tour or do the things you’re used to doing? It really changed our perspective on just about everything. Spending this much time at home is something I don’t think we’ve done since the late ‘90s. It’s been great for several reasons. Spending more time with family, reconnecting with friends, but missing touring and doing what we do for a living is the biggest thing for us. We really, really miss it. It’s so much fun, and it taught us to not take this band we have for granted and how incredibly lucky we are to even do this for a living.

“

OF COURSE, WE’RE GOING TO BE NERVOUS, I THINK WE MIGHT HAVE FORGOTTEN ALL OF OUR STAGE MOVES, BUT THAT WILL COME BACK IN TIME.

74 | FACES MAGAZINE

You’ve played a few shows but haven’t fully toured since 2018. What are your emotions like as you get set to hit the road again? Yeah, there’s a bit of nervous anxiety. We were all very nervous before getting on stage when we played those shows in St. John’s. When we got on stage, it was the best ninety minutes of our year and a half at that point. Seeing so many people having fun and singing in a room was so fun. That’s what we’re looking forward to again. Of course, we’re going to be nervous, I think we might have forgotten all of our stage moves, but that will come back in time (laughs). You guys introduced saxophones, trombones and trumpets on your single Forgiveness I + II. Where did that idea come from? I had gone on a trip to India with my parents. They’re both from Goa, India. There’s a huge trance scene there, and that music just permeated on the beach non-stop, so it really got into my head. It’s very basslineheavy and has a fast galloping beat to it. When I came home, I was totally into that kind of music. I love all sorts of music, and I was just trying to play that kind of rhythm on guitar. I ended up coming up with this hybrid electronic guitar version of Forgiveness. Then, in the second part, I wanted to do something with a lot of vocal harmonies and a slower pace coming out of that first part that’s super-fast. So I had these two separate ideas, and when you put them together, they sounded amazing; when you took them apart, there was just no reference for the second one. We decided just to keep them together; that’s why the song ended up being almost seven minutes. Now the saxophone solo came about when I tried to play that jazzy solo on guitar, and it sounded pretty good but just felt like it was missing something, and if I played it with distortion, it sounded too ‘80s glam (laughs). I tried a virtual plug-in of a bunch of different horned instruments, and the saxophone really just stuck out the best. I ended up getting a friend, Dennis Passley, to do the saxophone solo. He’s part of Northern Soul Horns, who ended up doing all the horns in that song. The song ‘End of Me’ features Rivers Cuomo of Weezer. How cool was it to have him contribute to one of your songs? That song originally started out with a Hendrix-style riff, and the next part of it started sounding like Weezer from the ‘90s. I had written it on the board as Hendrix +

Weezer for the longest time before we had any lyrics or anything like that. When I played the demo for Ben, he was like, ‘How cool would it be to have Rivers Cuomo sing this?’ I never thought it would happen. Ben had sang the whole song, including the second verse, but we decided to reach out to his management once it was all finished. He ended up liking the song, and next thing you know, his engineer sent over his vocals for that second verse a few weeks later, and it was amazing. We never got to meet Rivers Cuomo, but we’re still super stoked and honoured to have one of our idols from the ‘90s sing on a Billy Talent song. The message you’re trying to relay with Crisis of Faith is Hope and Resilience. Why is that so important to you guys? Right now, more than ever before, there’s a huge divide happening across Canada. We have to remain positive and try to keep people united and not give in to either side of this divide because it can get dangerous. That’s where the hope and resilience comes from; putting things on the table and having honest debates about them rather than just choosing a side and not hearing the other person out. What are some of the hardships you guys have experienced as a band? Losing our drummer, Aaron Solowoniuk, on our last two albums due to health reasons is the biggest one over the last few years. After playing with Aaron for so long, we tried to figure it out moving forward, but it’s been the most significant hardship; It was like losing a limb. We had to explore and figure out how to keep the band going and involve Aaron. He’s always going to be there and be a member of the band in some capacity. You’re in Ottawa on April 4th. What are some memories from playing here over the years? I’ll never forget we played at the Capital Music Hall for one of the first tours that we did on Billy Talent one. It was us, Metric and Death from Above; We all went to Barrymores after the show. I have a lot of memories of Ottawa; I used to work at an animation studio in the ByWard Market for a summer. I still have a lot of friends there and love playing in Ottawa. Zaphod’s was always a place we would hang out after shows as well. You just released Crisis of Faith, but are you already working on new material? Yeah, there’s a lot of material that was written during the pandemic; the ten tracks you hear on the record are just half of them. I’m going to keep working on the rest of them,

M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 2

and maybe there will be a Crisis of Faith Part Two or something like that sooner than expected (laughs). What’s some advice you’ve received over the years that really impacted the band? Some of the best advice came from Richard Kruspe of Rammstein. He talked to our bassist Jon Gallant and told him that being in a band is like a revolving door at a hotel. If you push on it, it stops, but you make it through to the other side if you go with it and let it take its course. You can’t push too much; things have to take their courrse e and a grow organically. That’s advice I wish we had in the early days when you’re trying to become successful, but you get bummed out easily when it doesn’t happen. It will take its time, so don’t give up hope.

FACES MAGAZINE | 75

M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 2

SENS DJ ON LIVE, LOVE & PROSPER DJ Prosper lives to entertain an audience and looks to inspire every time he takes to the stage. When you’re waiting between periods at a Sens game, you can find DJ Prosper spinning some ‘90s tunes to get you moving. He fell in love with music at the young age of 4 and has put together an illustrious career along the way. Even though he’s the Sens DJ during intermissions, DJ Prosper grew up a fan of the Montreal Canadiens in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. From working with his wife in their hip-hop group, to his clothing line, DJ Prosper has many projects to keep him busy. Prosper is the host of the Canadian Gospel radio show Power House Radio, where he gets to express his faith, something that means a lot to him. We caught up with DJ Prosper to chat about splitting time between Ottawa and Montreal growing up, his journey to music and what projects he’s working on next.

Photography by Sean Sisk FACES MAGAZINE | 77

F A C E S

M A G A Z I N E

You were born in Montreal; how much time did you spend there growing up? I spent my entire childhood in Montreal. I moved to Ottawa in grade 6 for high school, then moved back to Montreal for my 2 years of college at Vanier, doing music with my then rap group, Technical Sense and playing Football. Now you live in Ottawa, what are some of the differences you've noticed between the two cities? First off, Montreal is a predominantly French city with a sense of community and support on its own, without looking for accolades from other provinces. The summers in Montreal are way more exciting; There are different activities and restaurants downtown and in old Montreal. Ottawa has way more opportunities to offer in terms of jobs with a high level to get into the government. Ottawa is a calmer city and family-oriented field, less risky and more conservative, but it’s changing. Ottawa Bluesfest outshines any of the Montreal festivals. What influenced you to get into the music industry, and who are some musicians that inspired you? Music has been in my DNA since I was 4 years old; Elvis Presley was my superhero (More the young actor Elvis movies version). I’ll never forget the day my older cousin brought me to his basement and showed me the Michael Jackson - Beat It video. It changed my life. Fast forward to my High School’s first talent show; Feeling the reaction and energy of the crowd on stage with my group, Technical Sense, I never looked back. Some other musicians that truly influenced me as far as studying stage presence, charisma and crowd motivation were the Fugees and Busta Rhymes. Then, what I call the golden era of Hip Hop (the 90s) was a huge era that inspired me. You're the Ottawa Senators DJ during intermissions; how do you enjoy that, and did you grow up a Senators or Canadiens fan? Having the opportunity to spread love and unity amongst 15+ thousand fans every night is undeniable. It never gets redundant seeing the arena packed, getting up and dancing, having a good time with a smile 78 | FACES MAGAZINE

O T T A W A

on their faces waving their cell phone lights in the air. Honestly, I grew up a Montreal Canadiens fan and experienced them win the Stanley Cup led by then-rookie Patrick Roy. The way we’ve witnessed the city partying after advancing to the Stanley Cup Final last year, multiply that by 10 when they won in ‘86. The team was stacked with all-stars and legends from Guy Lafleur, Larry Robinson, Claude Lemieux, Bob Gainey, Shayne Corson, Guy Carbonneau and more. The quality of players that the franchise would recruit was nonstop. Then it started crumbling slowly when the ex-players started getting into executive positions and made wrong decisions starting with Mario Tremblay, in my opinion, ha-ha. You've been working in the music industry for over 20 years as a hype man for Ashanti, co-founding your hip-hop group GPM with your wife and as a DJ; what are some of your favourite memories or experiences over the years? My favourite memories always go back to being on stage, travelling and changing people's lives, hearing their testimonies after experiencing one of my concerts. From constantly rehearsing to perfecting a performance concept, I love seeing the crowd’s reaction after bringing it to life. A couple of years ago, I got a request from a young man for me to DJ at his wedding. He expressed that I was the first-ever concert he had gone to, and it would mean the world to him for me to DJ at his wedding. Not only did it make me feel old, but it confirmed that I was doing the right thing and making an impact. Faith is something you bring up a lot, and you host "Power House Radio" on CHRI 91.1. Why is this so important to you? I don’t shy away regarding my faith because it’s a significant source of substance for survival after all the challenges I’ve gone through in my life, especially in these unprecedented times that we are living in. If it weren’t for faith, I wouldn’t be the seasoned man I am today and maybe would not even be here. My motto is to inspire, motivate, show love to everyone and change people’s lives for the better. You started a clothing line called "Prosper 22" with shoes, hockey jerseys and hats. Where did the idea for this come from? That idea came when things suddenly slowed down for me at the beginning

of the pandemic. I had so many new opportunities that were happening south of the border. When everything was cancelled, I had to recalibrate and tap into what I always wanted to do, which was succeed in my passion for music, entertainment and fashion. Music was out, entertainment was out with no events, allowing me to get into fashion branding. What projects are you currently working on? I’m currently working on releasing my upcoming EP called Arena Anthems, which I can’t wait for the world to hear. I launched my new podcast called “Live, Love & Prosper.” With the buzz of my P22 premium sneakers and the “P” hats, I’m about to start working on designing my second shoe drop and expanding the PROSPER BRAND. I’m working on an OTT (Over The Top streaming service network) called Lift TV

M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 2

with content to inspire, motivate and uplift your days. I’m also starting a music label and more. What advice would you give to anyone looking to get into the music industry? Make sure you’re getting into the music industry because it’s all you eat and sleep about to the point that it’s in your DNA, and you would do it rather if there is an industry to make it or not. As much as it looks like music is more accessible, the game is not built for you to “make it.” Do it for the love. Do it for the fact that it is a true gift within you that you need to release to the world without any hard expectations, but by studying the greats and working hard at it, you’ll be surprised how the bigger doors will gradually open for you. Twitter: @PROSPERGPM Instagram: djprosper22

FACES MAGAZINE | 79

Mark Ostapyk

Problem-solving is one of Mark Ostapyk's strongest qualities. He learned this working as a labourer on construction sites in Vancouver for many years. Whenever he ran into a problem, his mentors would always respond with the same question: "Okay, so what's the solution to this problem?"

Now, as the owner of Remarkable Construction, he makes his workers think the same way whenever he's approached with a problem. Mark was born and raised in Ottawa but moved to B.C. for college following high school. He wasn't sold on the idea of working in construction for the rest of his life, but after completing a four-year apprenticeship to become a fully licensed carpenter, he discovered his dream job. Mark discusses building his construction company in the capital.

Photography by Sean Sisk

80 | FACES MAGAZINE

F A C E S

M A G A Z I N E

O T T A W A

You were born and raised in Ottawa. How was your childhood? I grew up in Kanata, and my childhood was great. I was raised in a hardworking family; my mom and dad were in real estate. We were heavily into hockey and other sports as kids; There’s just me and my brother, John. It was a happy childhood; we spent our days playing road hockey and just being kids. When did you know you wanted to work in construction? I moved out to Vancouver in my early 20s, and from there, I got into some low-level positions as a labourer on a construction site. At that point, I wasn't convinced I wanted to do construction. I already had a diploma in marketing and advertising from a college out west. As I was working as a labourer, one of my bosses offered to sponsor me as a red seal carpenter; It was a four-year apprenticeship. From that point, I started to get excited because I wasn't just digging holes and moving plywood around, working in the cold rain every day. I was doing fun stuff, like learning how to hang doors and finer carpentry stuff. I worked for a high-end company out in Vancouver on multimillion-dollar houses, doing work that you would never really get an opportunity to do other than in a city like Vancouver or Toronto. It was amazing because I didn't even consider it a job; I just loved the environment. We were able to listen to music; I was hanging out with some good friends, we were laughing and doing good work. I was getting paid to do something that I love to do. So for me, the win wasn't even the pay; it was just doing something that didn't even really feel like a job to me. I was very interested and passionate about it. What made you move to B.C.? I was in Prince George at the College of New Caledonia; when I graduated, I moved to Vancouver because it was a bigger city; there's more fun there. I liked mountain biking, snowboarding, wakeboarding, and when I went there, I did all these things. There could be days where I could go snowboarding and wakeboarding on the same day. I never intended to stay until I went down for a visit with some friends, and I really loved it. At the time, I worked at the Holiday Inn here in Ottawa as a Bartender. I sent my letter of resignation and stayed out there to work as a labourer in construction. Why did you come back to Ottawa? I got married, and we wanted to start a family. I'd been in Vancouver for eight or nine years, and the cost of living was expensive. We couldn’t afford a house because the prices were crazy.

82 | FACES MAGAZINE

M A R C H / A P R I L

I also missed Ottawa; that was home. That's where all my friends and family were. We could afford a house here, so the decision was to move to Ottawa to be closer to family and friends. When did you get the idea for Remarkable Construction? When I came back here, I decided to start my own business because I didn't want to work for another company. I wanted to be my own boss, have my own vision and everything else. What services do you offer with Remarkable Construction? When I first moved to Ottawa, I had the opportunity to build new semi-detached houses in the Westboro area under my company. I think they sold for over a million dollars each and that was 11 or 12 years ago.

2 0 2 2

Whenever my workers come to me, and there's a problem, I now ask the same question that my mentors asked me. I try to get them to think the same way these guys made me think, and if they need some help, I’ll guide them a little, but try to let them come up with it on their own because I love the whole problem-solving aspect of construction. What's the biggest thing you've learned from running your own business? The biggest thing I've learned is that there's always a solution to any problem and always to do good quality work. Never rush anything and make sure it's done the first time correctly. What advice would you give to someone aspiring to be in construction or wanting to start their own business?

I built a project on Hilton and Carleton Avenue. Those were my first two big projects where we tore the house down, excavated, built everything from start to finish. We were there for eight or nine months.

Always work at it even when you get frustrated or impatient. Never sacrifice your integrity towards the client. If somebody wants you to do something and it's not the proper way, you have to steer them into doing it properly and not take any shortcuts.

From there, we've been doing primarily renovations like custom kitchens, bathrooms, basements, editions and pretty much anything that revolves around residential. We also do some commercial setups. Ale Restaurant in Stittsville; we renovated that when they first opened at the golf course and a few other places.

remarkableconstruction.ca

How much did you learn in Vancouver, and did it inspire your work when you started Remarkable Construction? It inspired my work a lot because the types of work I was doing out there were so specialized and so custom that I was never really doing the same thing. It was constantly changing, always something new, and I was always learning. My mentors in B.C. were always giving me good advice like if there were ever a problem, one of my lead guides would always say, ‘Okay, so what's the solution to this problem?’

F A C E S

M A G A Z I N E

84 | FACES MAGAZINE

O T T A W A

M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 2

OTTAWA ARTIST

ANDY AKANGAH CAPTURES CULTURE IN COMICS

Andy Akangah is an Ottawa-based artist and the Founder/CEO of AKARTS Comics. His work portrays artists and entertainment culture today with a classical comic lens, and has been found in Esquire and Complex Canada. At 17, Andy moved to Ottawa from West Africa, and completed a Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing at the University of Ottawa. We sat down with Andy to discuss how he came up with the idea for AKARTS Comics, some of his favourite pieces, and where he wants to see his company go from here.

Photography by Sean Sisk

FACES MAGAZINE | 85

F A C E S

M A G A Z I N E

86 | FACES MAGAZINE

O T T A W A

M A R C H / A P R I L Where did the idea for AKARTS Comics come from? To be honest, I wasn't sure what I was doing at first. I believe that "I want to see it come to life" drives all I do. I'm simply getting things out of my head, as I often say. When I first started learning how to draw pictures on my laptop in 2015, I thought to print them out on paper. When that happened, I thought, now I want to see it blown up on a canvas. I'd save my money to test samples from various places, figure out costs, make mistakes, and see the quality. Funny enough, I heard about Etsy and wanted to try my luck there, so I hastily uploaded one of my designs and wrote a so-so description, cause again, I just wanted to see what would happen. I got my first sale a few hours later, and I was stunned. It grew well, so I decided to move to Shopify and expand into unique streetwear clothing inspired by hip hop and pop culture. AKARTS is a play on my initials, Andy Kwame Akangah, and Comics is a nod to my love of comic books and how they have influenced my work. I grew up reading them, flipping through the pages, and I think it's cool that it's almost like I'm a publisher now myself. Now, I’m designing comics. What are some of your favourite pieces that you've designed? My work involves bringing together musicians and comic book covers. I think my all-time favourite pieces are Frank Ocean "Blond" and Kendrick Lamar’s "The Legend of Kung Fu Kenny," which have been bestsellers for years now and brought about a lot of growth for me. These pieces blew up on Reddit, Tumblr, and Timothée Chalamet grabbed a Frank Ocean long sleeve. I think what's so special about these pieces is that they set the tone for the rest of my work. I felt like I was coming into my own. I created something that came naturally to me, portraying rappers as heroes since they were, and still are, heroes to me. They shaped my perspective, sense of self-confidence, and approach to overcoming obstacles. Aside from that, I believe one of my other favourites has to be The Weeknd's “Echoes of Abel.” It's a piece that depicts all eras of the Weeknd, and it was difficult for me at first since every panel had to work together; I wouldn't know whether this was the case until I was almost done. I had to experiment with colour and visualize the finished piece for a long time before it was completed. These pieces are really fun because you get to play with easter eggs and references I'm fond of. Have you had any artists reach out to you about your work? Not artists specifically, but I have had record labels like Empire and SALXCO approach me for some projects, and I designed merch art for Palestinian-Chilean singer, Elyanna. It was

wonderful to build connections and learn more about the process that goes into this. Hopefully, there are more projects thrown my way. Who are some artists that inspire you both drawing and music? My favourite musicians are Drake, Kanye, Gunna, and Young Thug. Their tracks are often on repeat and are instant mood boosters. I love artists with a range and don’t just stick to the same flow or beats and are truly versatile. My favourite digital artists are McFlyy, VanGoathe, RhymezLikeDimez, & Sam Spratt. Their unique style is super inspiring, and to see their growth, showed me that there was not only room for me to improve but endless possibilities for my art to grow. I'm talking about working with brands on so many things: making merch or album covers for musicians or animations for music videos to NFT's. It motivates me to step out of my comfort zone and spend 30 minutes longer on a piece or send that extra follow-up email. You have to put the work IN until it works OUT. Your work consists mainly of modern artists. Do you have any plans for a throwback or old-school hip-hop? My work is inspired by nostalgia and legacy, so it's something I'm definitely exploring and interested in. I love to juxtapose the past and present and highlight the similarities and differences. For example, I flipped the Outkast - Stankonia album cover, and instead of Big Boi and 3000, I replaced them with Drake and Future. I switched 50 Cent - Get Rich or Die Trying cover with 21 Savage. I’d love to work on old-school hip-hop; it’s a matter of what sort of inspiration strikes.

2 0 2 2

I moved to Ottawa at 17 to attend the University of Ottawa, and it didn't take too long for me to understand how much drive and talent there is in this city. I believe we are a city of underdogs compared to Montreal or Toronto, and I prefer being an underdog; it makes the story that much more enjoyable. I came here from Benin, West Africa; the city welcomed me and provided every way for me to flourish. From NRML allowing me to have two pop-ups on Rideau Street, to be able to befriend and connect with so many local creatives, it's truly a blessing. You received a Bachelor of Commerce Marketing from the University of Ottawa; how did you like that experience? I'm a self-taught artist, and I imagined that with enough YouTube tutorials, a stubborn streak, and a genuine interest in learning, I could figure out this art thing on my own. I wanted to learn marketing to promote myself and the brand. I'm happy to say that it's been working out. I've learned how to improve my website, design digital ads, connect with my customers and grow steadily over the years. AKARTS Comics now serves customers worldwide. What do you like to do around Ottawa when you're not working? When I'm not working, I love checking out food spots, going on late-night walks, and shooting portraits. Where can people find you and your work? I'm incredibly grateful for the growth. If you're interested in checking out my work, it's all happening on Instagram: @theakarts and my website: www.theakarts.com

In terms of expansion, where do you want to see AKARTS Comics grow to? I want AKARTS Comics to be a brand that touches on anything and always doing something dope and creative. I'd love to open a physical storefront, design it intentionally in so many creative ways, come in with my friends, and work on creating more stuff. I'd love to work with artists to design their merch, like their tour visuals, music videos, and everything in between.

Direct Message me anytime to discuss music and art. I appreciate the support, and this city inspires me so much; I only hope to repay the favour.

I love music so much for its ability to help us get through our day-to-day, whether it’s a great day or a bad day, so it'd be an honour of mine to support musicians. I'd love to collaborate with brands on clothing or installations. I'd love to design comic book covers for Marvel and DC or create animations for studios. I honestly think the sky's the limit. I don't shy away from challenges, and I'm always looking to learn something new to increase my skill set. At what age did you move to Ottawa, and how did you enjoy growing up here? FACES MAGAZINE | 87

F A C E S

M A G A Z I N E

O T T A W A

Do You Have

ONE OF THE 3

MOST COMMON COMPLEXES?

e all have our vices – do we have our complexes, too? Psychologists suggest so…these three complexes are found to be some the most common to walk among us.

The Jonah Complex If you hide your talents in order to ﬁt in, you may have a Jonah Complex. This makes people unwilling to strive towards achievements due to the fear of success—that their talents will make them noticed, when they would rather ﬁt in.

The Guilt Complex If you are always apologizing when things go wrong, you may have a Guilt Complex, which creates a constant sense of guilt, magniﬁed in times of strife. People with this complex tend to be obsessed with the rights and wrongs of the world, and feel an overwhelming sense of responsibility for outcomes they cannot control.

The Martyr Complex If you feel unable to catch a break from the injustices in life, you may have a Martyr Complex. Martyrs portray themselves as heroes among the rest, continuously blaming others for their hardships, and considering everyone around them to be selﬁsh in comparison.

FACES MAGAZINE | 88

M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 2

FACES MAGAZINE | 89

F A C E S

M A G A Z I N E

90 | FACES MAGAZINE

O T T A W A

M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 2

When you’re driving to work in the morning, Sophie Moroz and Jeff Hopper are there to keep you entertained on Ottawa’s Pure Country 94’s The Morning PickUp. They've got you covered for advice and plenty of laughs from “Text the Truth Tuesday” to “Therapy Thursday.” Sophie and Jeff both grew up in Toronto, but after finding their way to the media industry, they migrated to Ottawa and are now coworkers every morning. They take us behind the scenes of Ottawa's new PURE Country.

Photography by Sean Sisk Makeup by Corey J. Stone

FACES MAGAZINE | 91

You were both born and raised in Toronto. What was that like? Jeff: It was a great place to live; when I was there, I thought it was the best - but then, so does everyone from Toronto. You can’t blame me, though; I hadn’t met Ottawa yet. Sophie: I loved growing up in Toronto. It's an enjoyable place to be as a kid, with a lot of culture, a lot of tradition, so much to see and do. Like many Italians, my grandparents immigrated there from Ukraine, just like many Italians- I grew up in a very Italian neighbourhood. At the same time, my family was active in the Ukrainian community, so I spent a lot of time around lots of family, friends, great food and tradition. I'm thankful for those memories. You've both spent time as both a radio and TV host. Do you enjoy both or have a particular preference? Jeff: I like them both, but they’re so different. TV is very prepared, often very scripted. A team of producers comes up with content ideas, guests and everything else. I like it a lot; it’s fun to work with a big team. On the other hand, while still requiring preparation, radio is way more immediate. It’s just Sophie and I deciding what to chat about. Then, once the mics go on, it’s anything goes. I would say TV is like a climbing gym and radio is like free-soloing. Sophie: I love both for various reasons; it’s really cool that the skills are interchangeable, and I've been fortunate enough to do both. But if I was being really honest, my heart is in radio for sure. I prefer when all eyes AREN'T on me. What do you two like to do when you're not working? Jeff: I hang with my family - we like to ski as much as we can in the winter. In the summer, it’s all about the cottage - hanging at the lake with family and friends, campfires and day drinking… that’s the vibe! Sophie: So many things! I love Ottawa for that; there’s always something going on (sans pandemic, lol). 92 | FACES MAGAZINE

My boyfriend and I like to go on culinary adventures together; we’re sorta "foodies" and find trying out local eateries to be a great way to spend our free time. We also enjoy being active, so we frequent many beaches, parks and nature trails with our dog. Ottawa's a beautiful city. How do you like working together on 'The Morning Pickup' and The iHeartRadio Pure Country Countdown? Jeff: I love our audience - they are so funny and down-to-earth. They aren’t afraid to call us out and joke with us. We try to keep the show as relatable as possible so that people feel like they’re just chatting with friends. And Sophie is so much fun - we honestly spend the entire morning laughing. Sophie: I think it’s important to point out that we’re not “trying to be something”… Jeff and I are friends outside the studio and often like to make the audience feel the friendship. What's some advice you two would give to someone looking to get into broadcasting or media? Jeff: Keep your social media skills razor-sharp. Broadcasting has expanded to a multi-format business. That means that you have to be active across all platforms. It’s a mix of traditional media and new media - just because you go into radio doesn’t mean you won’t have a Youtube channel or a big TikTok audience - they’re all connected, so make sure you’re on top of it. Sophie: Find your strengths and build on them. Never expect things to happen overnight; work your butt off and take any gig you can get to prove you’re dedicated. You’ll get there. Jeff Hopper, how did you know you wanted to get into broadcasting? I didn’t. I had no idea what I wanted to do, so that was kind of a problem. I remember working a summer job baking donuts and in a 40-degree kitchen standing over 400 degree oil; I was pretty miserable. But, I was listening to the radio and realized that I would love the job - and I was right, I do!

Looking back at your career, what memorable events have you hosted or interviews you conducted? Oh man, what a question - I have interviewed so many interesting people from the weird interviews like ‘food athlete’ Joey Chestnut (hotdog eating champion many times over) to actual athletes like former Blue Jay Josh Donaldson and every major Canadian Music star to some of the biggest stars in music in the world, like Thomas Rhett. But, the most memorable would have to be the band Great Big Sea - they co-hosted a Friday night show with me once, and they were a blast. What do you love most about working and living in Ottawa? The affordable housing! No, it’s the people, hands down. I love how downto-earth everyone is - everyone is so chill. People are always saying hi and having a chat. I love that. Other than the people, you can’t deny the city’s liveability - there’s a reason people are flocking here, it’s the best. Sophie Moroz, what made you decide to get into broadcasting? A combination of things, but mostly I just followed a path that seemed to have been previously laid out for me. I've always been passionate about travel and hoped to get into travel writing, so I started by taking a freelance journalism course while in University (for something totally unrelated), and it sort of snowballed. I quit my University degree program, travelled around and landed myself in Broadcast Journalism. During my internship in my final year, I was hired to join a morning show as the "traffic girl" and eventually became an official fulltime cast member. I've been doing morning radio ever since. I was 22 or 23 then? Wow. lol

M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 2

Who's someone that inspires you? I've always been drawn to strong female figures, specifically those who balance being a badass in their careers and have a kind and gentle side to them. Those who give back to their families, communities, animals, and the planet. Women like Princess Diana, Michelle Obama, Dian Fossey and Jane Goodall. I'm going to add Betty White to the list; what a fabulous human she was, she did wonderful things for others and worked really hard- that's inspiring. What's something most people would be surprised to know about you? I can be a bit of an introvert at times. I'm not always great or comfortable in large group situations or being the centre of attention. @PureCountry94 @HopperJeff @sophiemoroz

FACES MAGAZINE | 93

F A C E S

M A G A Z I N E

94 | FACES MAGAZINE

O T T A W A

M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 2

Belleville Senators Goaltender

MADS SOGAARD

ads Sogaard took a leap of faith, leaving his family in Denmark to pursue his hockey dream, and it’s certainly paid off.

The Ottawa Senators drafted the 6’7 Danish goaltender in the second round of the 2019 NHL draft. Sogaard grew up in Aalborg, Denmark playing hockey with his friends and younger brother. When it came to finding out if he could play at the pro level, Mads packed up and moved to the United States when he was 16 years old.

You were born in Denmark. What was it like growing up there? It was awesome. I grew up in Aalborg, which is a very nice city in Denmark. I grew up playing hockey and had a lot of fun with the game and my friends. It was an awesome place to grow up. How did you get into hockey? Did you play any other sports growing up?

Mads had always had the support of his parents when it came to his hockey career, and no one was more excited than his brother when the Sens drafted him. After going undefeated in his first few games with Belleville, Sogaard continues to develop in the AHL, waiting patiently to make his debut in the NHL. We caught up with the Sens prospect to talk about growing up in Denmark, his hockey journey and how his brother became a die-hard Sens fan.

early age, and I like to be on the ice for as much time as possible. So that was a big reason for it. I also just like the gear, so at an early age, I just kind of got really excited about goaltending and just stuck with it. I still feel the same way today.

ice and something I had to get used to, but I thought I got more comfortable as the season progressed. I started playing better hockey, so at the end, I was happy with that year, and I thought it was a perfect learning lesson for me.

You moved to North America in 2017. Was that difficult for you? How much of an adjustment was it, both lifestyle and also playing-wise?

Take us back to draft day. You get taken in the second round by the Ottawa Senators. What was that like for you? What do you remember from that day?

Why did you want to become a goalie?

It's an adjustment; I tried to prepare myself the best I could. The year before I moved away from my hometown, I went to play for Esbjerg for a year to see how it is to be away from your family. Instead of being on the other side of the world, you're a three-hour drive away from your parents. It was a good early test for me. It turned out that I liked it a lot and was comfortable with being away from my family.

That's a pretty good question. Well, I found out that the goalies get to play the whole game at an

After that, I decided to go to the States to play hockey. It was still a significant change on and off the

My dad was a huge hockey fan. He would go to the pro team games all the time, and I think in that sense, I became a hockey fan ever since I stepped on the ice. I never thought about anything else. I think I maybe went to one soccer practice, and that's about it. Other than that, it's been hockey my entire life.

It's really hard to describe. I went to the draft with my family, and my parents got divorced when I was pretty young, but they've done an amazing job of maintaining really good friends, and there's never been a problem there at all. It's been unbelievable how my parents have been able to parent me and make sure that I have no worries but just playing hockey; it's awesome. So, to have both of my parents there in Canada at the same time was a really cool moment. FACES MAGAZINE | 95

F A C E S

M A G A Z I N E

O T T A W A

It was super exciting getting drafted by the Senators in the second round. My older brother’s been a Sens fan for many years now. I think he was probably the most excited one. The look on his face, I'll never forget. Honestly, just hearing your name get called, you see all the hard work and hours you put in flash before your eyes, and just it's an indescribable moment. It's so hard to put into words, but I’m thankful that I got the opportunity and that I’m in the Senators organization now.

“IT WAS SUPER EXCITING GETTING DRAFTED BY THE SENATORS IN THE SECOND ROUND. MY OLDER BROTHER’S BEEN A SENS FAN FOR MANY YEARS NOW. I THINK HE WAS PROBABLY THE MOST EXCITED ONE. THE LOOK ON HIS FACE, I'LL NEVER FORGET.” How did your brother become a big Sens fan? It's a really funny story. There's no big meaning to it or anything, honestly. We were playing shootout mode in an NHL game, and he was just kind of getting into hockey and didn't have a favourite team. He said, ‘I'm going to hit the randomizer, and the next one I land on will be my team,’ and it was Ottawa. I thought it was kind of a joke, but he's been a diehard Sens fan ever since. His younger brother getting picked by that team; It's obviously something that’s not just special for me but him as well. Seeing the excitement in his eyes is something I’ll never forget. When you debuted playing pro hockey with Belleville last year, you went 7-0. How did it feel to have that kind of success at the pro level right away? It was awesome. It was a bit of a weird situation last year; I don't think I played games until November. Honestly, I was just practicing and didn't really know what was going on. I got to play some hockey in Esbjerg and put together a solid season. After that, I signed my NHL contract and was told to get on a plane and go to Belleville to finish the season 96 | FACES MAGAZINE

with them. I didn't expect much when I got here. It's just about learning as much as possible. It's a pretty big step from the Danish Hockey League, so I was just coming with a learning mindset. Then with the taxi squad and everything going on, it gave me an opportunity to play. I put together some games that put the team in a position to have a chance to win. I gained some confidence from my play and the guys and the coaches. Next thing you know, you haven't lost any games in your first little taste of action in the AHL, so that was a really cool moment. It was a great way to finish the season, and it really motivated me to work even harder and get ready for this season. How much has Troy Mann and the coaching staff in Belleville helped you with your development? Oh, it's fantastic. We have an unbelievable staff in Belleville, and it's a great environment. I just turned 21, and they’ve given me many opportunities to play. As a goalie, it's a vulnerable spot. If you're not on it, everyone will notice, so it takes a lot to put a 20-year-old guy in the net. I'm really thankful for the confidence and trust Troy has in me. Justin Peters has helped me out on the technical part of the game and become a better pro. Learning what it's like to be a professional hockey player, finding ways to stay consistent, and doing what I can to still enjoy the ups and downs of a season because it will not be perfect every night. What's your gameday routine like? Do you have any superstitions? I don't like to call it a superstition; it’s more of a routine just going through the stuff that I usually do that prepares me to play a game. I listen to the same playlist every game, and after our team meeting, I always go to the bench to tape my stick and visualize what I have to do to be successful that night. I'll get all my thinking done at that time, so I don't have to overthink for the rest of the night. I just play and go with my instincts. That's been my routine for a couple of years now; it's something that makes me feel comfortable and ready to go. You’re roommates with Egor Sokolov. What's that like? Do you have any funny stories?

We have a great time, all the time. We're always on each other and are pretty easy-going guys that can take some heat, so we're constantly chirping and what-not. The days he scores fewer goals on me in practice is better than when he scores more than I save; It's always a battle, but it's great. He's such a good guy and a hard worker. It's good to learn from a guy like him because he's a super professional guy. He takes care of his body, goes to bed early and all that stuff; it’s just amazing. What do you like to do when you're not playing hockey or have an off day? For me, the perfect day looks like a trip to the golf course with a couple of my buddies and hopefully a couple of birdies. How much are you looking forward to making your first start with the Ottawa Senators one day? It's obviously in the back of my head, and it's something that I'm excited about whenever that time comes. All I can do is just focus on the everyday in Belleville and make sure that I'm ready to go here because ultimately, that’s what needs to happen. I have to be the best goalie here to get the chance to play for the Ottawa Senators one day. I do believe that it's going to happen. For me, the biggest battle is staying patient because you always want to move further ahead and get as far as you can. I’m staying patient and working my butt off because I believe in the coaches and the game plan we have so that the rest will take care of itself. So for me, it's just about working hard and mentally, just staying patient. Instagram: mads.sogaard

M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 2

FACES MAGAZINE | 97

F A C E S

M A G A Z I N E

O T T A W A

THE MORNING RUSH WITH BILL CARROLL WEEKDAYS 6-10AM

98 | FACES MAGAZINE

M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 2

Discover a Place to Thrive in Barrhaven Where passion, nature, and amenities come together, The Crown of Stonebridge is a dream-come-true community in Barrhaven. Surrounded by parks and built to exceed expectations, this neighbourhood will inspire you to pursue life and everything in it with vitality.

SALES OFFICE CONTACT 613-825-7932 | sls_crownofstonebridge@mattamycorp.com Homes are subject to availability. All dimensions are approximate. Prices, specifications, terms and conditions subject to change without notice. E.&O.E.

FACES MAGAZINE | 99

M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 2

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.

FACES MAGAZINE | 100