Homes are subject to availability. All dimensions are approximate. Prices, specifications, terms and conditions subject to change without notice. E.&O.E. YOUR DREAM LIFESTYLE IS JUST STEPS AWAY Sales ContactOffice : 613-825-7932 | sls_promenade@mattamycorp.com Register for updates: Followmattamyhomes.com/ontario/ottawaus:@mattamyhomes Experience the lifestyle of your dreams at Promenade. Situated in the heart of Barrhaven, this thoughtfully planned community offers easy access to shopping, dining, transit, highways, schools, entertainment and more. With countless amenities within walking distance, Promenade keeps you connected to your wants, your needs and the luxuries of urban living.
Ottawa, ON, K2S 1B9 info@cabottos.com613.592.3097 Open Mon - Thurs: 11:30 - 2:30 pm 5:00 - 9:00 pm Friday 11:30 - 2:30 pm 5:00 - 9:30 pm Saturday: 5:00 - 9:30 pm Sunday - Closed Also Voted #1 For Best Italian Food in Ottawa by CTV Viewers
FACES MAGAZINE | 5 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020 FACES MAGAZINE | 37 2020
SEPT/OCTOBER 2022
After a breakout year in 2022, 27-year-old REDBLACKS receiver Nate Behar has become one of the top pass-catchers in the CFL. He shares his biggest pursuits this fall, both on and off the field in Ottawa.
BEHARNATE
REDBLACKS Lorenzo Mauldin reflects on the adversity of his childhood; his football career to this point; and his amazing turnaround – an inspiring tale of resiliencystrength.and
ISSUETHIS
IN
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TANNERSTEVEN
For the first time in his hockey career, Claude Giroux will not be leaving Ottawa at the start of the hockey season. Instead, one of Ottawa's greatest players of all time will actually be playing for the Ottawa Senators.
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Tanner Insurance is now in its fourth generation of familial leadership, and is celebrating its 100th anniversary. Steven Tanner, the company's current head, discusses the changes and leadership philosophy that have been integral to his success.
Jason Ralph reflects on career milestones as Royal Lepage Team Realty celebrates 20 years in Ottawa.
GIROUXCLAUDEJASONRALPHLORENZOMAULDIN
cadieuxinteriors.ca • 1280 Old Innes Road • 613 745 -1230
EVERESTALISON
IN ISSUETHISPHILXATRUCHGRAHAMRICHARDSON
How Weggon Allen's journey of perseverance built Ottawa's new powerhouse.media One of Ottawa's leading entrepreneurs, Andrew Abraham discusses a new vision for TAAG Accounting.
Meet Kevin Carruthers, the insurance broker who’s changing the policy-buying process, one cup of coffee at a time.
Phil Xatruch is a RE/MAX Affiliate with a unique academic background in architecture. He shares his best advice for aspiring realtors.
For most, the work of a criminal defense lawyer will only ever be seen through the lens of primetime television. For Brandon Crawford, it wasn’t the action and drama of a daytime soap’s criminal court that led him to a career in the field. Instead, it was a genuine passion for helping people.
A 17-year veteran of the mortgage industry, Alison Everest's roots as a small-town country girl lends itself to her straightforward and personable approach with the Mortgage Advisors out of Perth.
WEGGONALLEN ABRAHAMANDREW
CARRUTHERSKEVIN 84
SEPT/OCTOBER 2022 Graham andprofessionalshismilestones,professionaldiscussesandpersonalandsharesbestadviceforofallagescareerpaths.
CRAWFORDBRANDON 653486 90 50 76
FACES MAGAZINE | 11 Take a decade-long trip dow memory lane and rediscover top news, sports stories, popular culture.................................................................................... OTTAWA SENATORS SEASON PREVIEW FACES TIME CAPSULE: OTTAWA IN 2012 4028 2022OCTOBERSEPTEMBER F A C E S 4 carefully crafted twists on classic cocktails for fall............................... AUTUMNAL COCKTAILS 48 THE 10 SCARIEST MOVIES OF ALL TIME 80 HERE'S HOW YOUTHFUL, GLOWING SKIN BEGINS. Here's where to go to see Ottawa's best fall vistas........................................................................................................ CATCH THE COLOURS 54 4 simple changes for an instant style upgrade......................................................................................... STYLE HACKS FOR THE FALL 6674
12 | FACES MAGAZINE 90 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 www.facesmag.camedia. Contributors Steve Warne Dan Lalande Maija CourtneyJordanAlexStevensonAlexGrantFeeneyPalleckWheelerCoreyStoneChristopherLordMollyBurkeGarryThomMarkSteeleRyanBovaEricMacIsaacKenzieMurphyJamieBrownRobertSmithKateWrightMeaghanVincentGuillaumeDuboisConnorKhonickToddHamiltonMarcPaulCatherynRistoMorrisMillerHugoTremblay PhotographersContributing Cover Photo: Sean Sisk John E. Sokolowski Jana LucasYanaPeterTaylorConnorAndreChytilovaRinguetteArmstrongCondonWrightKlaizShort Editor In Chief Evan Childerhose Publisher Justin MacKinnon Hank’s Paw Publishing (A Division of 8624771 Canada Inc.) Art Director Sonia Mehour Accounting/Finance Linda Zhang Operations Manager Alex Dobsky Office Manager Jonathan Rock September/October 2022 - Volume 75 Contact info@facesmag.ca(613)591-6093@facesottawa@facesott@facesottawa 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 agrant@facesmag.caSales1Y3Submissionsinfo@facesmag.ca
Ram Jam - “Black Betty” Survivor - “Eye Of The Tiger” Semisonic - “Closing Time Katrina & The Waves - “Walking on Sunshine” The Weather Girls - “It’s Raining Men” CityFolk Fest returns to The Capital at Lansdowne Park this fall. Featuring performances by Zach Bryan, T-Pain, Tim Hicks, The Glorious Sons, JJ Wilde, Tré Burt, and many more. DAYDREAM Get behind the scenes with never-before-seen footage and per formances of the late David Bowie. Explore the creative musical journey of David Bowie.
SEPTEMBER DAYWONDERONENATIONALHIT SEPTEMBER NATIONAL BE LATE FOR SOMETHING DAY TH SEPTEMBER CITY FOLK FEST TH TH8-178-17 TH 2525 september MOVIE RELEASES MOONAGE
On September 25th, listen to your favourite one hit wonders to celebrate this national Someholiday.of the best one hit wonders of all time include the following:
JULY SEPTEMBER HERE’S HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF THIS MONTH
SEP 23RD FACES MAGAZINE OTTAWA 14 | FACES MAGAZINE
SEP 16TH DON'T DARLINGWORRY Harry Styles, Florence Pugh, Chris Pine star in this drama thriller directed by Olivia Wil de. The film is set in the 1950s, where a housewife living with her husband in an experi mental community suspects her husband's company may be hiding some disturbing secrets.
JULY SEPTEMBER Did You Know? Coffee is one of the most consumed beverages in the world. In 2020/2021, around 166.63 million 60 kilogram bags of coffee were consumed worldwide. SEPTEMBER COFFEENATIONALDAY TH 2929 613-257-2918 careers@thomascavanagh.ca www.ThomasCavanagh.ca BUILDING VIBRANT COMMUNITIES FOR OVER 65 YEARS AND COUNTING A dedicated team of over 800 professionals, committed to safety, the environment and superior customer service. 9094 CAVANAGH ROAD ASHTON , ONTARIO K0A 1B0 BLONDE Explore the complicated life of Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe as she rises to fame. JULY 29TH SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022
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OCTOBER 1ST BLACK ADAM Starring Dwayne Johnson, Rory Haines, and Sohrab Noshirvani, after 5,000 years of being bestowed with the almighty powers of the Egyptian Gods, Black Adam is freed and unleashed into the mod ern world.
Directed by David Winning (Canadian-American film di rector), this action-horror film is set in New Jersey, where Johnny Jones (Robert Crayton) goes through life experiencing abuse and poverty. The City calls Detective Cutchin to bring Johnny Jones to justice.
21OCTOBERST
The game of golf is both physically and mentally challenging. As one of the most popular sports, golfers experience all sorts of emotions out on the course. Not only is it competitive, it is also considered as zen. Did you know? The average steps it takes to walk an 18-hole golf course is +/- 11,948 steps.
HERE’S HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF THIS MONTH
THE LEGEND OF JOHNNY JONES
Although this should be everyday, celebrate National Be Nice Day on October 5th. Random acts of kindness may seem small, but can have a huge impact. Hug a friend Give a compliment to a stranger Call an old friend Send someone flowers for no Runreasonan errand for someone
OCTOBER GOLFNATIONALLOVERSDAY OCTOBER BENATIONALNICEDAY TH44 TH55 october MOVIE RELEASES
OCTOBER Halloween is an industry that continues to grow over the years. With the sales of decorations, candy, and costumes, consumer spending is expected to reach $10.8 billion this year. Top 5 Halloween Costumes: CruellaSpider-ManDinosaurRabbitWitchDeVil OCTOBER HALLOWEEN TH3131 Top 5 Halloween Candy: Reese’s Cups SourStarburstsM&M’sSkittlesPatch Kids Top 5 Halloween Decorations TombstoneGhostsBatsWitchSpiders TILL Based on a true story, view Mamie Till Mobley's pursuit of justice for her 14 year old son, Emmitt, who went to visit his cousins in Mississippi in 1955 OCTOBER 28TH SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022
PHOTOGRAPHY BY SEAN SISK
Now, roughly 28 years later (and take note of that number), one of Ottawa's greatest players of all time will actually be playing for the Ottawa Senators.
Back in the mid-90s, the Ottawa Senators were rumoured to have a deal on the table to acquire future Hall of Famer Steve Yzerman for the perpetually annoyed Alexei Yashin. It never materialized, of course, but it certainly would have been amazing to have one of Ottawa's greatest players of all time actually playing for the Ottawa Senators.
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It's a humid Sunday morning in Kanata and the Giroux boys are up early. First, it's a trip to the Brookstreet Hotel for an interview and photo shoot, then they'll be whisked off to a pro soccer game as guests of Atlético Ottawa. Gavin and Palmer Giroux are a busy, dynamic duo these days, rolling around town in their spiffy new convertible – a flashy, navy blue, double stroller. No, the Giroux boys (ages 3 and 1) aren't totally clear on what's actually happening this morning. But they are happy to be along for the ride. And what a ride it's been this summer for their father, NHL star Claude Giroux and his entire family, now fulltime Ottawa residents. This is usually the time of year Claude and his wife, Ryanne, are prepping for the move back to Philadelphia for another NHL season with the Flyers. That's been the tradition for 15 years – hockey season in Philly; summers in Ottawa; rinse and repeat. But back in March, with the team struggling again, and Giroux about to hit free agency at age 34, the Flyers made the decision to part company with the longest tenured captain in their history. The game plan was to move him at the deadline for future assets that might help the Flyers in what may or may not be a rebuild. Meanwhile, Giroux was getting ready to play in his 1000th game in the NHL. That was already destined to be a special night for him. Now with all the reports of an imminent trade, it was going to have to double up as G's farewell celebration too. That's a lot to take Phillyin.is usually the toughest sports town there is. But when the big night arrived, Flyer fans gave their beloved captain every ounce of brotherly love they could muster. Flyer legend Bobby Clarke was a part of Giroux-palooza that night. The Hall of Famer is the only other man to play 1000 games for the club. After briefly forgetting Giroux's name at the draft, Clarke was the man who announced Giroux's first round selection in 2006. He was there again – 16 years and 1000 games later – to send him off, presenting Giroux with a silver stick. In a striking contrast to the competitive, ruthless player Clarke used to be, he then stood off to the side, misty-eyed, smiling the smile of a proud parent.
“IT’S A FUNNY THING COMING HOME. NOTHING CHANGES. EVERYTHING LOOKS THE SAME, FEELS THE SAME, EVEN SMELLS THE SAME. YOU REALIZE WHAT’S CHANGED IS YOU.”NOVELIST F. SCOTT FITZGERALD
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on the red carpet was Giroux's actual parents, Ray and Nicole, along with Ryanne, Gavin and Palmer. Earlier, Clarke had ushered Ray into the dressing room to announce the Flyers' starting lineup, saving his boy's name for last. They all watched Giroux's video highlights on the big screen, decorated with tributes from friends and former teammates, and then they all posed for one final team photo. 1000 games, a beautifully played career, and a perfect night. 48 hours later, Giroux was traded at the deadline to the Florida Panthers.
While Giroux is planning to ease his way into things, his new teammates should be aware that he does have a couple of pet peeves (we specifically asked about them) about locker room etiquette.
The deal made perfect sense, checking all the boxes for both sides, and felt like something Ottawa fans and media had been trying to will into existence for months. Sens captain Brady Tkachuk even got into the act.
There's a lot of conversations to be had.”
“Ryanne and I began to talk and started looking at all the options,” Giroux said. “And Ottawa always seemed to come back to our conversation. With both of us being from Ottawa, being able to play here was obviously a plus. And the more we looked at it on the hockey side, it just kept making sense. Everything just clicked. I got excited, then Ryanne got excited, and we just never looked back."
“Obviously, Brady's the captain," said Giroux. "I've heard a lot of great things about him as captain. Just from playing against him, he just looks like a guy that you want to follow. So, I'm just gonna go out there and be myself. To be a leader, you don't really have to say much or push guys, you just have to be yourself.”
BESIDESTANDINGHIM
“I know people are going to have a hard time believing this,” Dorion said at the news conference. “But I remember sitting with Eugene (in February of 2018) and I said, 'I know one guy I want to sign in four years. He's going to help us to the next level.'
For the first time in a decade, Giroux will start a new campaign this fall without a “C” on his left shoulder. That's a role in Ottawa that, of course, belongs to Brady Tkachuk, who became Ottawa's 10th captain last November.
"Any day you trade your captain is a tough day, and with how much Claude has meant to this organization – how he has represented himself for 15 years –it makes it all the more difficult to say goodbye," said Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher. "Claude is one of the best players to ever wear a Flyer uniform."
Without Giroux, the rest of the Flyers closed the season with a record of 6-16. Ironically, that 22 game stretch ended exactly the way it started – with a loss to Ottawa. Giroux's cup of coffee in Florida was piping hot. He finished the season with 23 points in 18 games for the Panthers, the NHL's best regular season team. But he barely had a chance to unpack in Sunrise. Two months after the trade, his new team was eliminated by the Tampa Bay Lightning, who very nearly won their third straight Cup a few weeks later.
As Clarke had done 16 years earlier at the NHL draft, Dorion immediately messed up on Giroux's name, referring to him as 'Connor' before quickly correcting himself. It's safe to assume Dorion had a lot on his mind that day, including Connor Brown trade talks. Brown was dealt to Washington a few hours later. Whatever name you wish to call him, Dorion has had his eye on Giroux for a long time.
On July 13th, the opening day of free agency, Giroux signed a three-year, $19.5 million contract with the hometown Ottawa Senators – almost certainly the club's most impressive free-agent signing ever. According to CapFriendly.com, Giroux will average $6.5 million per season. He'll make $7 million in each of the next two seasons and $5.5 million to round things out in 202425. Giroux said all the right things at his first news conference as an Ottawa Senator.
“When you get a chance to add a player of Claude's calibre, you just look at the package. It's the skill, the leadership, the intangibles – as far as wanting to win. He's someone that's had long playoff runs, who's still almost a point a game player. And he was one of the best players that a lot of Cup contending teams were after. It excites us as an organization. It was time for us to take this step and show we mean business for the next few years.”
There's no doubt it will take some time to see how Giroux can support Ottawa's current (and much younger) leadership group without stepping on toes. Right now, he's just looking forward to meeting everyone. Before the trade, he wasn't that tight with anyone on the Senators roster.
“It was at the all-star game last year,” Giroux recalled. “Brady came up to me. I had never really met him before. He goes, 'I was told to be nice to you this weekend, so you can maybe come with us (to Ottawa) next year.' It was just as a joke. And I didn't even think anything of it. Since then, I never thought it would actually happen. But here I am.”
AND THAT WAS THAT.
“No, not really,” said Giroux. “I know some of the guys from skating in the summer, but it's not like we go to dinner or play golf together. I'm not a guy that likes to be buddies with players from other teams. But I'm excited to meet everyone. I heard from other guys it's a great locker room. In Florida, it was my first time to kind of walk into a locker room (in the middle of a season), not knowing a lot of people and trying to fit in. So to start a season with a new team, it's exciting.
Free agency is the NHL's annual July fishing trip and the Sens usually miss the boat. But with an emerging young team, the recent change in spending habits, the addition of fellow all-stars like Alex DeBrincat and Cam Talbot, and the chance for Giroux to play at home, Senators' GM Pierre Dorion finally had all the fancy lures he needed to land a big fish.
Three days later, as the disappointed Panthers packed up for the summer, the Florida media was all over Giroux, peppering him with questions about his future. Could he picture himself back in Florida in the fall?
“I wouldn’t sign here if I didn’t think we had a chance to win the Cup,” said Giroux. “You have to build on that one good season. And you need to have an identity. I’m not saying we’re going to win the Cup this year, but the plan is to build on it and have baby steps.”
“Yeah, I could,” Giroux told the media. “Obviously, there's a lot of things to worry about and a decision has to be made. It's a tough question because the season just ended a few days ago. We still need time to think – what they want to do and what I want to do.
Among the most important discussions were the ones with Ryanne. After a few weeks, the couple began talking about possibilities for their next chapter.
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Even as Giroux just tries to be himself, Ottawa hockey fans have definitely treated him a little differently this summer compared to previous ones. He is now an Ottawa Senator, after all.
“Obviously when you have your first, you're not too sure what to expect," said Claude. "You hear other parents talk about how great it is, how it's the best thing in the world. And now going through it, having two boys, it's very busy. But every day there's something new. They make you laugh and it's been awesome.”
To prove Claude's point, Gavin randomly makes a mad, giggly dash down the hotel hallway, hoping someone will chase him or engage him in a game of tag. Now take all that energy and multiply it by five. Claude's sister, Isabelle, who got engaged
“Yeah, I definitely get recognized a little bit more when I go skate or go to Farm Boy. People are excited. I mean, we made some big moves and there's that kind of buzz right now around the city. People are excited about this team, as they should be. That's one of the reasons I came here... to start winning some hockey games.”
For Claude's wife, Ryanne, getting her head completely around the transition is taking a little time, even though she hails from Kanata.
Claude and Ryanne stride through the parking lot looking like any other proud new parents – happy and full of love for their young children, but also that hint of distraction. Maybe it's a lack of sleep, something that just happened, something that might happen, something they may have forgotten or left behind, or all of the above. Standard stuff for new parents. Giroux says becoming a father has been awesome.
“I think it's still sinking in,” said Ryanne. “Everybody always asks how we're feeling and it still doesn't feel real because we would still be here (at this time of year). But the more we think about it, we get more excited every day. And then we think about being so close to the arena. Gavin is obsessed with going to the game. We drive past the arena every day and he talks about it. So I think we're just embracing it.” The young couple are definitely embracing parenthood.
Giroux is certainly having a laugh in the photo on his Twitter profile. It could easily feature an image from one of his hundreds of amazing hockey moments. Instead, it's an endearing image of Giroux grinning away with an electric toothbrush in his mouth as he teaches Gavin dental hygiene.
“I enjoy the teaching part of it," said Giroux. "And he wants to learn too. So, anything that daddy does, Gavin wants to do. Anytime I go do something, he always wants to be a part of it. I always try to make it as fun as possible for him. Every day it's something new with him and the memories are great.”
“Yeah, that day was actually pretty funny," said Giroux. "It was around Christmas time and we were going our west for maybe a week and a half for a road trip. And literally three minutes before I had to leave, Ryanne and I looked at the pregnancy test and saw that it was positive. And I had to leave! So, it was a very quick celebration. We had a few nervous laughs. We just couldn't believe that it was actually going to happen. We were very excited.
“I'm a pretty easy-going guy in the locker room," said Giroux. "If anything, I'm probably the one that kind of pisses off the other guys a little bit. But there's definitely one thing. When guys leave their wet towels on the ground and don't put them in the bin. Or they don't place their sandals back in their stall and let the trainer do it. That's a bad peeve for me.”
“I'm lucky that Ryanne is a star. She has a bond with the two boys that you just watch and enjoy. Gavin wakes up every morning and wants to see his momma right away. That's how it is 24/7. Ryanne is obviously a champ and it's great.”
Immersing the boys in life experience and family adventure is obviously a priority for the young couple. For example, Gavin and Palmer were on hand for Dad's 1000th game ceremony in Philly. Gavin sat right next to Claude at his welcoming press conference in Ottawa – completely decked out in Sens' gear. And of course, the whole gang is here for this interview and photo “They'reshoot.obviously a big part of our lives," said Giroux. "Any time we do something, we want them to be a part of it. Not only for our memories, but for theirs too. We did the press conference with the Sens and Gavin being able to be there and spend the whole day with me, that was just awesome. And he really enjoyed it. He was very patient. There were a lot of things that had to be done that maybe he didn't want be a part of, but he was very patient and we had a great day.”
When addressing how Claude is handling parenthood, Ryanne is equally complimentary. “I couldn't ask for much better," said Ryanne. “Really. He's always there when he can be. He's definitely not golfing as much anymore. If he has free time, that's what he would choose to do, though, for sure. But no, it's been really fun. And them being boys, they always want to be doing what he's doing. So it's fun to watch them have these new experiences all the time.”
ANOTHER MAJOR REASON IS FAMILY.
No one is breathlessly tracking prospects for the 2037 NHL Draft quite yet, but Gavin has definitely inherited Claude's love of “Yeah,sports.he likes pretty much every sport," Claude said. "He loves baseball and he's slowly starting golf. And definitely a lot of hockey. During the season, he's a little bit more into hockey because he sees the highlights and sees me at the warm ups and during the games. So, hockey is number one for him right now, but whatever he wants to do, we're gonna be there. There's a lot of soccer too. He just likes to move, so that's good with me.”
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Giroux vividly remembers the day he and Ryanne found out Gavin was on the way. That, too, was a great day. But the couple's celebration was a quick one.
As we set up for the interview and photo shoot in a quiet area of the Brookstreet, Ryanne begins happily playing with the boys around a hotel chair that resembles a giant, beige hockey puck. At a glance, Palmer is the spitting image of his older brother, both curious about everything, ready for fun, and maybe a little spark of mischief lurking behind perfect blue eyes.
As I greet them at the front door of the Brookstreet Hotel for this interview, their boys are cuddled up in their double stroller, and for a moment, it's easy to forget about the celebrity and wealth that comes with being an NHL star.
Claude looks back fondly on his own childhood. He spent his first 14 years in Hearst, about an hour and a half northeast of Thunder Bay. It's a mostly french-speaking community with 5000 people, and bills itself as the Moose Capital of Canada. He and Isabelle started playing hockey at the same time and each had stalls in the basement because every day of the week one of them was going to the rink to play.
In the spring of 2010, only five years after being completely overlooked in a second straight OHL Draft, Giroux emerged as a star in the NHL at age 21. It was his first full NHL season, and Giroux found himself in a Stanley Cup Final, posting 21 points in 23 playoff games that year. He fit in seamlessly with older players like Gatineau's Daniel Briere and Hall of Famer Chris Pronger. They were in their early 30s then and able to provide veteran leadership support to young players like Giroux and Flyer captain Mike Richards. Giroux is 34 now and will likely have an identical role, helping Tkachuk in Ottawa.
“Yeah, growing up where I'm from, pretty much everybody loves the Montreal Canadiens. I was a die-hard Habs fan. And at the draft, they were very interested in me with the 20th pick, and so were the Rangers at 21st. So, in my head, I was sitting there with my parents, and I told myself if I don't get drafted 20th or 21st, I probably won't get drafted in the first round. I'll probably have to wait till tomorrow. So, when Montreal didn't draft me and then the Rangers didn't draft me, I was very disappointed. I didn't want to go the second round. You want to be drafted first round, right? But then Philly drafted me. I didn't even know they were that interested in me. But that was a pretty crazy day.”
Hockey fans might assume Giroux would automatically be able to hand down an experience like that to Ottawa's younger players – telling them about the process, how hard it is, and what they need to do to get there someday. But it's not that simple.
OTTAWA during the annual family skate at the 2012 NHL Winter Classic, has three young sons on her branch of the family tree. So, the Giroux family gatherings are going to be good and lively for the next decade or so.
“It's hard because somebody told me all that when I was 21 and I was like, [sarcastic tone] 'Sure. Okay.' But now I think, 'Oh, he was right.' But anytime I have a chance to talk to younger guys about my experience, I will. Even if they don't believe me or don't want to listen to me, that's fine. But I remember telling Danny Briere after we lost the Blackhawks, I should have listened to him a little bit more.”
A Stanley Cup is Giroux's primary goal, but the next three years in Ottawa will also go a long way in rounding out what's probably a Hall of Fame resume. When I asked about it, Giroux admitted he thinks about it sometimes.
Well, yeah, obviously you sometimes think about that kind of stuff. But it's not the main goal. That kind of stuff takes care of itself, if it's meant to be.
It's not like I'm playing hockey to be in the Hockey Hall of Fame. If you start thinking or stressing about that kind of stuff, you can't really be yourself. But it would be a great honour , that's for sure.
It wasn't easy for a small town 14-yearold to leave everything behind for the move to a big, new city almost 1000 kilometres away. Hearst was all Giroux knew and all his friends were there. So, his first year at BéatriceDesloges high school in Orleans wasn't easy. But eventually, he met a lot of good people and friends through hockey. He played for the Cumberland Barons major bantam and minor midget, and then played for Cumberland Grads of the CCHL.
“I was ranked, like, sixth round to get drafted. And then that's when I opened up my eyes. I'm like, 'Oh my God, I actually have a chance to get drafted here. And I remember being more motivated than ever, and just kept working hard and having fun. That whole year happened so quick. I went from being invited to Gatineau's camp, to making the team and a few months later getting drafted in the first round in the NHL. So I didn't really have time to sit down and realize what was happening until it was all done. It was a crazy year.”
“I didn't get drafted in the OHL so I played for the Grads at age 16 (scoring 40 points in 48 games). And after that year, I still didn't get drafted in the OHL. Gatineau invited me to camp and I was prepared. I worked out pretty hard just to make sure I was ready, knowing there's a chance I may not make it. I understood that, but I wanted to give myself the best shot. I went to camp and the coach (Benoit Groulx) really liked the way I was playing. He had a lot of trust in me and pushed me a lot. And that first year went great." Giroux vividly remembers the first time he felt like he might have what it takes to make the NHL. At age 17, after he started the year with 10 points in 10 games, he casually picked up a 2006 NHL Draft scouting report and saw his name listed among the draft-worthy prospects.
“I get asked about that playoff run a lot, and how we got into the playoffs with a shoot-out win in the last game of the season. And then being down 3-0 to Boston in round one and coming back to win that series (only four NHL teams in history have done that). And then the final against the Blackhawks was pretty crazy (Chicago won the series 4 games to 2). It obviously leaves a bad taste in your mouth when you're that close. At that point, I'm 21 years old and telling myself, 'Oh, don't worry about it. You're gonna have a lot of more chances to do it.' And then you don't. You don't get a sniff; not even close. It's a very tough league to win in and I wish now I didn't take it for granted.”
“Hearst had a lot of snow and one of my best friends had an outdoor rink," said Giroux. "So, I was over at his house a lot, playing a lot of hockey. I played for HLK, the Hearst Lumber Kings. Hearst is a very small town, so whoever showed up to the tryout made the team, basically. But there were a lot of great players that played there and so many fun memories – playing in big tournaments and spending the weekend in a hotel. I think the parents might have enjoyed it even more than us, but those are memories that'll never go away.”
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As a childhood Habs fan, Giroux was secretly hoping Montreal might take him at the 2006 NHL Draft. The Habs had their chance at 20th overall, two picks before the Flyers selected Giroux. At the time, Montreal figured the better option was defenceman David Fischer, who never played a single game in the NHL.
“I'M LUCKY THAT RYANNE IS A STAR. SHE HAS A BOND WITH THE TWO BOYS THAT YOU JUST WATCH AND ENJOY. THAT'S HOW IT IS 24/7.”
If you could only choose one Claude Giroux highlight to be played at your retirement party, what would it be? There's this one goal I scored against Columbus. We were down by two in the third and we came back. I scored with a minute or two left and it was a pretty cool goal (Giroux had his back to the goal and roofed home a backhand while getting clobbered from behind). We won the game on that goal, but I'd also had such a tough start that year (2013-14). I didn't have a goal in like 19 games. That was the toughest stretch of my career, probably. So that goal meant a lot to me. What has your Ottawa trainer, Tony Greco, meant to your career? I mean, Tony took me in when I was 17 and we progressed a lot together. He pushes me like no one else can. He's always trying to find ways for me to be better and get better. And he just cares. So, we have a lot of great times together. I don't think I could ask for a better trainer than Tony. What will you miss about Philadelphia? Well, definitely my teammates. And I never thought I'd say this, but the fans too. It took me a while to understand them, but they're absolutely nuts – a good nuts. They're people you want on your side. I had a lot of great experiences with them, a lot of great memories and I can even relate to them a little bit. How would you describe your game at age 34 compared to where you were a decade ago?
I think I'm maybe not as flashy as I was, but I think I'm definitely smarter. You're trying to win hockey games, first and foremost. It's more of a team thing. I think when you get older and more mature, you realize what's really important. And I'd take the 34-year-old before the 25-year-old, any day.
@28cgiroux
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QUICKIES:CLAUDE'S
The Top Six
WereWhereNowWe? • 2021-22 Record: 33-42-7 (73 points) seventh place in the Atlan tic Division • Postseason: Failed to quality for a fifth straight year • Offensive leader: F Brady Tkachuk (79 games, 30 goals, 37 assists, 67 points) • Key Additions: F Alex DeBrin cat, F Claude Giroux, D Jake Sand erson, G Cam Talbot • Key Subtractions: F Connor Brown, G Matt Murray, F Colin White, G Filip Gustavsson, D Mi chael Del Zotto, F Chris Tierney, F Tyler Ennis, F Adam Gaudette
THE QUESTION
END THAT PESKY,
Let's begin with the most exciting part of this team – their top six forwards. Ottawa was already in pretty decent shape with four emerging young stars in this group: Brady Tkachuk, Josh Norris, Drake Batherson and Tim Stutzle. For all the talk of new roster additions, this foursome being another year closer to their prime is an extremely underrated reason why the Sens will improve this season.
CAN
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BUT LEADING INTO A NEW SEASON IS, THEY FIVE-YEAR PLAYOFF DROUGHT?
But GM Pierre Dorion has further bolstered the group by trading for 24-year-old Chicago Black hawks' sniper Alex DeBrincat. To get him, the Sens gave up this year's first and second round picks, and a third rounder in 2024. DeBrincat played in the All-Star Game last season, finishing 13th in NHL goal scoring with 41. With the 5-foot-7 winger set to make $9 million this season, and set to become an RFA next summer, the acquisition was wildly out of character for the Senators, who've traditionally tried not to spend more than they've had to. The Senators willingness to take on DeBrincat's contract suddenly made signing Claude Giroux in free agency a real possibility. And that's exactly what Dorion
Everything about the 2022-23 Ottawa Senators feels fresh and new. They have a skilled, youthful core that's just been infused with three NHL all-stars. After an injury-plagued season, everyone is back to full health. And Ottawa's front office appears to have thrown off the shackles of the past, suddenly brokering aggressive, exciting deals and showing a financial commitment to winning we haven't seen in years.
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heads at Sens' camp this fall. If Pinto falters or gets hurt, the Sens have what looks like a fantastic plan B in Greig. Regardless, Greig looks like a big part of Otta wa's future, even if it's not this season.
For all the
Mathieu Joseph arrived at the dead line for Nick Paul and scored 12 points in 11 games. Joseph then signed a fouryear contract worth $11.8 million in the off-season. The entire third line will be forechecking and penalty killing beasts. After missing all of last season to injury, their centre is likely to be Shane Pinto, who remains a blue-chip prospect. His ceiling has yet to be fully defined, but it should be noted the Senators are 12-4-1 when Pinto is in the lineup. The Senators would love to see him emerge this season as the skilled two-way centre they hoped Colin White would be someday.
did, giving “G” a 3-year contract with a cap hit of $6.5 million. At 34, Giroux describes himself as “maybe not as flashy as I once was, but definitely a smarter player now.” Split between Philadelphia and Florida, Giroux had 65 points in 75 games last season.
The Blue Line
At the moment, the fourth line will prob ably be Parker Kelly, Dylan Gambrell and Austin Watson. After an impressive World Junior showing for Team Cana da in August, former first rounder Rid ly Greig may complicate things in the bottom six. Greig is a skilled, fast, ornery player, very much capable of turning
It's fairly safe to say Giroux will shoul der the load on faceoffs. While Stutzle's faceoff percentage was 38.1 per cent last season, Giroux dominated at 60.1 per cent. Giroux's arrival sets up a nice men tor situation for the young German. Who better for Stutzle to learn from than the NHL's third-best faceoff man? You may not have noticed or maybe just forgot, but Stutzle truly arrived as a prime-time player in the second half of last season. Over the final 27 games, he had 31 points. Now he's a year older, and now he gets to play full-time with Giroux and DeBrincat? If you're in a fantasy hockey league, start your engines. The Sens top six is now as good as any in the league. The Bottom Six If opponents somehow manage to keep Ottawa's top two lines quiet for a night, they still have to deal with a pretty talented third line, which also hasn't hit its prime. You can count on one hand the number of pro hockey players in the world who are as fast as Alex Formen ton. He feels like he's been around forev er, but until last year, he'd never played more than 20 games in an NHL season. In his first full year in the league, Formenton was the club's fourth best goal scorer with 18. So, it may be premature to label him a career third liner.
Josh Norris also went hard into the end boards and suffered an injury to the same left shoulder he had surgically repaired in 2019. Fortunately, this injury wasn't that serious, but he did miss 16 games while still leading the club with 35 goals. For his troubles, he got an 8 year, $63.6 million contract this summer.
Photo by David Berding/Getty Images
Returning to Health
A major improvement to this season's squad will come through a return to health. The Senators had injury trouble all season long in Drake2021-22.Batherson missed 36 games with a high ankle sprain. Losing your all-star for almost half a season – your only point-per-game play er – is problematic for any team.
Matt Murray was signed two years ago to be Ottawa's answer in goal. He wasn't. And in juries were part of the reason why. He played just 47 games over two years. Murray may be gone, but the goaltending position now returns to health – physically and mentally.
Goaltending With Matt Murray and Filip Gustavsson being shipped out, the Sens will roll with Cam Talbot and Anton Forsberg in goal. Forsberg has been an amazing story of resilience and actually put up a winning record on a bad Sens team last season (22-17-4). The Sens rewarded Forsberg with some security and his first multi-year deal in the league. But they weren't fully comfort able with their NHL depth, so they shipped out Gustavsson and brought in veteran Cam Talbot from Minnesota. Talbot is more than just depth. He was an all-star last season and with his ex perience, he's probably the best bet to emerge as Ottawa's top option in goal this season.
Artem Zub and Travis Hamonic are probably the best bets right now to round out the top four. Zub would be a nice stay-at-home option to insulate Sanderson.
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Hamonic would have the same role alongside Chabot but it's probably a reach to have him in such an important position. Zub and Hamonic will both be UFAs at season's end. So it's possible we'll be discussing top four blue line depth for quite a while. Despite rumours of a buyout, Nikita Zaitsev remains with the club, as the does the popular Nick Holden. The Sens also have three former first rounders, who should all be arriving about now, ready for prime time. Erik Brannstrom (still an unsigned RFA as of this writing) was drafted five years ago. Jacob Bernard-Docker was drafted four years ago and Lassi Thomson three years ago. Brann strom is the best bet, but all three will have a chance to fight for jobs this fall.
Thomas Chabot missed 27 games with health issues, the biggest being a fractured hand that ended his season in mid-March.
Shane Pinto played just five games before going hard into the end boards and suffering a season-ending shoulder injury.
The Sens are hoping he can jump right in to give Chabot a breather from his heavy workload and the constant, singular attention of the league's best forecheckers.
Coaching
Photo by André Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images
The pressure is on. The Senators have now had two soul-crushing, season-destroying starts in a row. Two seasons ago, they started 2-12-1. Last fall, just days after an nouncing the rebuild was done, they started 4-15-1. D.J. Smith and his staff have now been dealt much better cards to play. For one, the Sens are healthy. They have elite forwards and more stability in goal. And the team has a slightly longer pre-season of eight games to fully rehearse everything for open ing night. If this team implodes again in the first month, that's not something a well-run team can tolerate. Another bad start would have to be “strike three and you're out” for Smith and his staff.
LineupOpeningProjectedNight
Praise Alfie!
One of the highlights on the Senators' schedule this season will be Daniel Alfredsson's induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame. As the Senators host the Islanders on November 14th, the game will start at 5pm, ending just in time for fans in attendance to watch Alfie's ceremonies on the big screen at Canadian Tire Centre.
The regular season for the Sens begins October 13th in Buffalo. The home opener is Oc tober 18th against Boston, probably the team the Sens will have to beat out in the At lantic if they're to make the playoffs. Ottawa's pre-season starts September 24th with a day-night doubleheader in Toronto. There are eight exhibition games (all against either Toronto or Montreal) but only one, October 1st against the Habs, will be played at Canadian Tire Centre.
OwnershipNew
Is this the year the Senators surge forward and finally get back to the playoffs? Con sidering they finished 27 points out of the final playoff spot last season, it's going to be difficult. But it's a legitimate possibility. And if it doesn't happen this season, it certainly won't have been for lack of trying.
By Steve Warne
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Key Dates:
This season will also be Anna and Olivia Melnyk's first full season as owners of the franchise. The team was left to them by their father, Eugene Melnyk, who died March 28 at the age of 62. Melnyk bought the Sens in 2003, when team was facing bankruptcy and an uncertain future in Ottawa. In his time as owner, the club went to three NHL Eastern Conference Finals, making it to the Cup Final once in 2007. Are Anna and Olivia Melnyk all-in on NHL ownership, investing this summer to try and become a contender and help build the new arena on Albert Street? Or are they NHL home-staging, sprucing things up to prepare for an eventual sale worth hundreds of millions of dollars? Both options are pretty enticing and it will be interesting to see what the Melnyks eventually decide to do.
As that company celebrates two decades of success throughout the National Cap ital Region, Ralph looks back on its many accomplishments, including his own rise from award-winning Sales Representative to member of the ownership and management Whileteam. the milestones are too many to mention, the one that impresses Ralph the most is the company’s record since 2005. “We’ve been the number one brokerage in Ottawa for units sold and dollar volume,” the russet-haired Ralph affirms. “When our founder Kent Browne started this business twenty years ago, it only took him three years to become the number one broker age in Ottawa. We’ve maintained that legacy for seventeen years through the hard work of our trust ed realtors and staff.”
For Ralph, real estate is a family business…well, sort of. While his fa ther, Johnathan Ralph, was Broker/ Owner of Royal LePage Gale Real Estate, Jason grew up with other aspirations—foremost, hockey. He credits the sport, which he played for the Kanata Lasers before moving on to DV1 school Union College in New York, for creating the tenacity and mindset it takes to rise through the ranks of the brokerage game.
Once Ralph started thinking about hanging up his skates, he went looking for a career where he could make good on the pre miums of sweat equity and self-re liance instilled by hockey. “I knew I wanted to work in an industry that rewarded you based on how hard you worked, rather than a salaried position,” he explains. That’s when the example set by his father took root. The younger Ralph got his real estate license in 2005. He played hockey over the winter and sold houses in the summer, an approach that let him test out whether or not the family business indeed suited his demeanour. It did—like a hockey glove. “I absolutely loved the work,” he dis covered. “A few years later, my wife and I moved from the USA to Canada so I could contin ue to work in the field full time.”
Ralph, in fact, considers the en tire Royal LePage culture one large family. “It might sound cheesy,” he offers sheepish ly, “but our company really is like that. We know the impor tance of taking care of our own.” Not to mention countless oth ers. Royal LePage has a long and proud history of commu nity involvement. “One of my partners, Kent Browne, was quoted saying at the beginning of his career, ‘I started giving back right away to become suc cessful.’ His philosophy has be come a tradition that we value. We’re involved with one hundred charities in Ottawa, whether it’s donating time to be a driver, vol unteering, or donating money.”
By Dan Lalande
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So reflects Jason Ralph, Broker of Record and President of Royal LePage Team Realty.
“I went on to captain two profes sional teams, along with being made a player assistant coach. Those experiences required peo ple management skills––and sharp ones at that because you’re managing twenty-some players who all have different expecta tions, skill levels, and personalities. That really helped my sales career. Every client has different person alities and expectations; you have to learn to manage those and work with them. Now, as an own er, people management is a huge part of my role. My athletic career set the foundation for the tactics I use to help our realtors succeed.”
Just as impressively, Royal LePage is also the only brokerage in Can ada that has its own registered charity: the Shelter Foundation. The initiative was created to curb violence against women and children. “My wife Kate has even gotten involved, helping to ren ovate some of the women’s shel ters here in Ottawa,” adds Ralph. His sports career reduced to keeping up with his three active kids, Ralph is more than happy to keep cultivating a culture of generosity. “This business truly isn’t just about becoming successful… it’s about helping people” www.teamrealty.ca “Twenty years is a long timefor any company.”
So, in the end, then, life turned out to be a case of “like father, like son” after all. “My father’s business was the largest independent real es tate company in Eastern Ontar io,” Ralph reflects. “Like I said, I wasn’t heavily involved in the business growing up, but I did get to watch and listen as he and his partner navigated the successes and the struggles of the housing market in the ’80s and ’90s. It’s been hugely ben eficial to have so much knowl edge at my fingertips that I can access with a simple phone call.”
PHOTOGRAPHY BY SEAN SISK
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GrahamRichardson needs no introduction in Ottawa. He's been a preeminent face of CTV News Ottawa for over 12 years as the Chief News Anchor. Before establishing himself in Ottawa in 2010, Graham covered Parliament for over 4 years, reporting from Kandahar Afghanistan, G-8 meetings, and a NATO summit, among many other visits. His much earlier career included time in Alberta, Calgary, and Edmonton. Graham balances his work both on-air and in the community with an active sub-career as a 'dance dad', and as a former hockey dad. Now, he spends much of his downtime as one of Ottawa's avid cyclists. For our fall issue interview, Graham discusses professional and personal milestones, and shares his best advice for professionals of all ages and career
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What is it like working alongside Patricia Boal? It is absolutely fantastic and a privilege to work with Pa tricia every day. She is a leader in the newsroom, a friend to everyone and she makes me better on the air every night. It is at the point now, that when she is away and I’m anchoring solo, it doesn’t feel right. Like it is not the way things are supposed to be. Patricia reads everything. She is better prepared than anyone I know in the business, for every interview and story. She has a deep love of sports and an encyclopaedic memory for all of Ottawa’s sports franchises. She is also a mentor to our young women, and spends a lot of time building relationships with people outside of work. When she is not working, we all feel a very big void on and off the air. She also has a very dan gerous sense of humour live on the air! Patricia is a riot.
I knew I wanted to be a broadcast journalist when I was about 15 years old. Watching news and political pro grams on my tiny tv in my little room, I was absolutely captivated. I was always interested in politics, devouring as many books as I could. I picked the shortest under graduate degree I could get, and the shortest post-grad uate degree too. I wanted to work. And managed to find a job in Calgary a few months after school. I couldn’t believe how lucky I was, to work in a real newsroom at 23 years old, in the profession I had been obsessed with since grade 9. Looking back you realize how much you didn’t know, and how much you leaned on senior people who were generous with their time and expe rience. I’ve always tried to do that too, later in my ca reer. I’ve now been in this business for almost 30 years. You’ve covered many stories over the years. What have been some of your most memorable stories?
Normally I would always answer this question with the fallout from 9/11, hurricane Katrina or the various na tional election campaigns I’ve covered. But the pan demic changed everything. It was the lead story in every country, in every city around the world for months. Each country handled it differently. It affected every aspect of our lives in profound ways. I don’t really think we have come to terms with how deeply it has impacted us. It will take years for us to fully understand what this terrible virus has taken from us. It is the biggest story of my life. Tell us about your career path, and how you ended up with CTV Ottawa?
You are an active cyclist. What made you get into cycling in the first place, and where are you go-to spots? The job can be quite high pressure and it is very public. You can also work all the time. For me cycling is a re lease, physically and mentally. An addiction I’m happy to have. I was never an athlete growing up, I was more in to music. About ten years ago, my brother sold me his old road bike, he was trading up, and he really pushed me to get into the sport because of where I live, and the amazing cycling routes we have in Ottawa-Gatineau. I’m really grateful he did. Given my hours and the fact that I’m an early riser, I can ride early for several hours before work, and arrive ready to go. It is a very big part of my life.
You were born in Connecticut, USA, and raised in Toronto, ON. What was your childhood like?
I left the United States when I was a baby. My dad was there on business and I was born there, so I am a dual citi zen, but I consider myself fully Canadian. I grew up in the west end of Toronto and spent a lot of time wondering what else was out there. In the 80s and 90s a lot of young people I knew spent time trying to escape the “big city” and live in other parts of Canada. I lived that too, moving east for school and west for work, ultimately leaving On tario for nearly a decade. Growing up there was exciting. I was very interested in live music and spent all my time and limited funds going to concerts whenever I could. You earned a Bachelors Degree from Queens U, and a postgraduate journalism degree from the University of King’s College in Halifax. What made you choose journalism?
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I started as an assignment editor/researcher at CBC Calgary…after four years, I moved north to cover Ralph Klein and the Alberta government for ITV News/Glob al Edmonton. In all, we spent eight years in Alberta and we loved it. We get back as much as we can. We have friends and family still there. My oldest son Jack was born in Edmonton. In 2001, we moved to Toronto, after I was hired as Queen’s Park Bureau Chief and host of Focus Ontario. I loved working there. Right downtown at the Ontario Legislature, covering politics in my home town. After four years and a change in government, I joined CTV News Toronto, then moving again with CTV National News as Los Angeles Bureau Chief. California was overwhelming. Exciting. Intense. And big. Every thing was big. I was only there for a year and a half. Pol itics called again, with the chance to come back to Can ada and work with Robert Fife at CTV National News, covering parliament. After four intense years of minority parliaments, and one majority, I was asked to take over the anchor duties at CTV Ottawa from Max Keeping who retired in 2010. It is hard to believe that was near ly 13 years ago. But time is ticking on and here I am!
My favourite ride is up to Champlain Lookout in Gatineau Park…down to Chelsea…up to the covered bridge in Wakefield and back. About 110km of bliss!
SCAN TO SEE HOW FIND IT • TRY IT • PAINT IT • LOVE IT • FIND IT • TRY IT • PAINT IT • LOVE IT • FIND IT • TRY IT • PAINT IT • LOVE IT • FIND IT • TRY IT You bring the vision, and we’ll bring the colour solutions to help bring your colour to life.
Tell us about your wife, Leigh Anne, how did you two meet? We met at Queen’s in the student housing area. She was very responsible and attended every class, until she met me. We met at a pre-homecoming “breakfast” party at my house. We were 21 and that spark was there from the moment we saw each other. She was from Alberta and took great pride in that, and grow ing up in a resource town. After I finished journalism school we packed up her mother’s Civic sedan and drove west looking for work. Leigh Anne is the true rock of our family, an incredibly accomplished person who lights up the room when she walks in. She takes such joy in supporting our sons Jack and Bennett, but she is also a force at work. She works as a civilian mem ber of the RCMP. Like every other job she has done, in every company or organization she joins, Leigh Anne becomes indispensable. She is also the CEO of keep ing me in line, and has been doing it for more than 30 years now. We have been married for 27 years. Lastly, what’s your best piece of advice for anyone looking to establish themselves in their career?
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Outside of work, what do you like to do on your time off? Ride bikes. Time with family on the dock at Bobs Lake. In the winter, cross country skiing and a bit of down hill. Oh and Pickleball. But that’s a whole other story!
Read everything. Be curious. Speak to people in person. Don’t just text…meet them in person and make a con nection. Work hard. Show up on time. Answer emails/ work texts promptly. Say yes to extra work especially when you’re starting out. Do every job in the organiza tion. Don’t be cynical. That’s easy. It is harder to be an optimist. And manage your own career. Nobody else is going to do it for you. You must kick down doors yourself.
@grahamctv
GRAHAMEXPERIENCE.YOUHOWHOWBACKLOOKINGYOUREALIZEMUCHYOUDIDN’TKNOW,ANDMUCHLEANEDONSENIORPEOPLEWHOWEREGENEROUSWITHTHEIRTIMEANDI’VEALWAYSTRIEDTODOTHATTOO,LATERINMYCAREER. FACES MAGAZINE | 39
looks back ten years ago to 2012 for their decennial anniversary. Take a decade-long trip down memory lane and rediscover top news, sports stories, popular culture, and the cost of living in Ottawa.
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SPORTS THE SENATORSOTTAWA · Ottawa Hosted the 2012 NHL AllStar Game · Erik Karlsson won the Norris Trophy after putting up19 Goals and 78 pts that season · Jason Spezza finished 4th in NHL ·ScoringTheOttawa Senators had the 6th Best Attendance in the NHL (18,342 per game) · The Senators finished 2011-2012 season 41-31-10, losing to the Rangers in 1st Round · Paul MacLean was a finalist for the Jack Adams Award LEADERS:TEAM · Goals: Milan Michalek (35) · Assists: Erik Karlsson (59) · Points: Jason Spezza (84) · PIMs: Zenon Konopka (193) STANLEY CUP: Los Angeles Kings beat New Jersey (4-2) SUPER BOWL: NY Giants beat New England Patriots (21-17) NBA CHAMPIONSHIP: Miami Heat (4-1) over Oklahoma City Thunder WORLD SERIES: San Francisco Giants (4-0) over the Detroit Tigers Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 FACES MAGAZINE | 41
IN POWER Prime Minister: Stephen Harper Ontario Premier: Dalton McGuinty Ottawa Mayor: Jim Watson LINEUPBLUESFEST2012 · Snoop Dogg · A$AP Rocky · The Weeknd · Alice Cooper · Tiesto · John Mellencamp · Tyga COST OF LIVING ·Average Gas Price: $1.18/Litre · Average House Price: $351,642 LIFE FACES MAGAZINE OTTAWA 42 | FACES MAGAZINE
POP CULTURE IN 2012 TOP BOX OFFICE 1. The Avengers 2. Dark Knight Rises 3. The Hunger Games 4. Skyfall 5. Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 TOP SONGS OF 2012 1. “Somebody That I Used To Know” – Gotye 2. “Call Me Maybe” – Carly Rae Jepsen 3. “We are Young” – Fun. Ft. Janelle Monáe 4. “Payphone” – Maroon 5 ft. Wiz Khalifa 5. “Lights” – Ellie Goulding OTTAWA CONCERTS AT THE CTC IN 2012 · Justin Bieber · Madonna · The Who · Bruce Springsteen · Carrie Underwood · Van Halen CANADA’S BEST SELLING CARS IN 2012 1. Honda Civic 2. Hyundai Elantra 3. Toyota Corolla 4. Mazda 3 5. Chevy Cruze
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“We’re not in the brick-and-mortar business, we’re in the people business.” And have been for one hundred years—and counting. Tanner Insurance is now in its fourth generation of familial leadership. That’s quite a mile stone, particularly in such a volatile industry. Still, Tanners have been underwriting Ottawans through the Great Depression, World War Two, the anything-goes Sixties, and into the tech-happy Eighties. In 1990, the company’s current head, Steven Tanner, joined its ranks. Even he has seen a lot of changes
By Dan Lalande PHOTOGRAPHY BY SEAN SISK
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Tanner spent his childhood watching his father run the business. In its own subversive way, the experience left a sizeable imprint.
Then, there was life on the road.
tannerinsurance.com
“My dad always said, ‘The first generation starts the business, the second builds it, and the third tears it down,’” Tanner laughingly recounts. “Although this was an ongoing joke in my family, there were always some high expectations to ensure that this would not be the case. To be the third generation in the family business and achieve continued suc cess, and now, to have my daughters make up the fourth generation and to help us to achieve the 100-year milestone is very surreal. Needless to add, I am very proud to have reached it. It motivates me to continue to build.”
“Back then,” Tanner continues, “house visits were common. I would sit in the car and wait, believ ing that it would ‘only take 15 minutes.’ I quick ly learned that 15 minutes turned into 20, which then turned into more. So, I started coming into the house to observe––and to get some pie.”
“Back then,” Tanner says, reflecting on his early years, “we had eight people working in Vars, On tario (a small town with a population under 1,500). Now, we have an office in Ottawa of nearly fifty.”
Steven wasn’t the only one paying such close at tention. His brothers Keith and Rob were keeping a keen eye on the paterfamilias too. They ended up joining the business before Steven did.
“I was completing my college program and had an itch to travel,” Tanner fills in. “I spent some time abroad, working in the hospitality industry. When I returned home, I met the girl of my dreams. I knew it was time to settle down and start thinking about the future. I brought up the idea of joining the family business, and it was embraced with open Tannerarms.”worked from the ground up till, just this year, he won the Broker of the Year Award from Travelers Insurance, the only Canadian candidate to be so honoured.
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“It’s nice to have recognition inside your industry,” he concedes, “but that award is not exclusive to me. It belongs to the entire team that supports me. I’m beyond thankful for them, many of whom have been with the company for a long time. It’s their efforts that make the business what it is to day. That said, to have been rewarded in the 100th year of Tanner Insurance makes it even more spe cial.”
That hundred-year designation begs the question: what's the secret to the company’s longevity?
“There is no one single secret to success,” says Tan ner, “but these are the ones that have worked for Tanner Insurance: creating a safe and respectful work environment; remaining resilient against ad versity; cultivating a dedicated staff; staying true to our vision for the company and using it to move forward and beyond; and having a solid founda tion, built by my grandfather, Allan Tanner.
“My dad was my mentor,” he explains. “I always admired him for his old-school ways; he was per sonable, he had a strong work ethic, and he took a genuine interest in people. His work kept him busy during the day, but he was always home for dinner––before heading off to work again. Shop talk was the norm, and the brokerage was always a big part of our lives. My mom would take pay ments and the home phone was used as the of fice phone. Clients would drop by the family home at different times for paperwork and to pay bills.”
“On a professional level, success to me is shown through the growth and performance of my busi ness, and the pride I feel in being a good corporate citizen to staff, customers, and the community. I measure professional success by achieving mile stones and striving to outperform industry aver Onages.”apersonal level, the silver-haired Tanner mea sures it by the stability and contentment of his family, including a bevy of daughters who are now part of—you guessed it—Tanner Insurance. Pre sumably, he imbues them with more confidence than his dad jokingly instilled:
(Serves 1) Ingredients:
Hosting dinner or drinks at your place can feel like a fulltime job; you have to pre pare the menu, the seating, chop the vegetables and braise the meat, hang all of the coats, and still have time to socialize. Rather than agonize at the bar all night putting together that complicated cocktail you saw online, let’s go back to basics with these simple recipes that will still leave your guests impressed. 2 oz pear brandy 2 oz pear nectar or fresh pear juice oz fresh lemon juice .5 oz simple syrup 1 pear slice 1 egg white (optional) Directions: Combine pear brandy, pear nectar, lemon juice and simple syrup into cocktail shaker with ice. (If including egg white, add with this step.) Shake and mix well. If egg white was added, be sure to shake vigorously. Strain into martini or coupe glass. Garnish with pear slice.
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.75
1 1/2 oz. bourbon 3/4 oz. sweet vermouth 3/4 oz. OrangeCamparipeel,for serving Directions: Combine bourbon, sweet vermouth, Campari, and ice in a cocktail shaker or glass; Stir with a long-handled spoon, 30 seconds. Pour over fresh ice and serve with an orange peel to garnish.
Ingredients: 2-ouncesIce vodka 2-ounces pink cranberry juice cocktail 1-ounce black cherry juice 1-ounce grenadine 1 tablespoon lime juice Candied blood (for rim) Vampire teeth (for garnish) Directions: Using a spoon, scoop out a small amount of the candied blood. A little goes a long way! Transfer the candied blood to the rim of your glass by tapping the spoon along the rim of your glass. Keep in mind that the “blood” will drip, even if you add the smallest amount to the rim. Start by adding very little and add more, if you need. Continue this process until you’ve coated the circumference of the rim.
KISSDRACULA'S BOULEVARDIER (BOURBON NEGRONI) SMOKED MAPLE OLD FASHIONED (Serves 1)
(Serves 1)
Ingredients: 1 lemon rind spiral 1/2 ounce maple syrup
(Serves 2)
2 to 3 ounces smoked maple bourbon cinnamonwhiskey stick if desired Directions: Use a kitchen torch to light the lemon or orange rind and place it in a glass, covering the top for a minute or two. Remove the rind, run it along the rim of the glass and add an ice cube. Add a few drops of bitters, then add the maple syrup. Add in the bourbon. Stir, add the cinnamon stick and serve.
2 to 3 drops angostura bitters
Ingredients:
PHOTOGRAPHY BY SEAN SISK
Like her literary hero, the equally adventurous Everest left a placid circumstance—in her case, a middling job in banking— for a world of crazy ups and downs: the mortgage industry, with its fluid regulations, tricky variables, and other surprises.
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By Dan Lalande
“I’m a huge Alice in Wonderland fan,” confesses Alison Everest (or should that be Alison Wonderland?) “I even have a large tattoo on my leg dedicated to the story!”
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And learn them she does. Then, she imparts that knowledge to her clients. Everest is a veritable Wikipedia of practical advice. Her Number One piece of precau tion? “Don’t put the cart before the horse. Make sure that before you go out looking to buy a house, you’ve had your prequalifica tion done, you’ve had your credit checked, you’ve had your docu ments reviewed. There’s nothing sadder than breaking the news to a client that they don’t qualify for a mortgage on their dream home. This can be prevented by pre-es tablishing what you qualify for. In doing this, clients can set out with reasonable expectations, and they won’t even look at the house that’s out of their means. My second piece of advice is to consolidate debt into your mortgage soon er rather than later. Don’t spend years living paycheck to paycheck with interest payments due on credit cards when it can be simpli fied––you can save thousands of dollars.”
Sage as Everest is, it’s not uncom mon for her to have to throw away the playbook and switch to anoth er tack.
“All they have to do is fill out one simple application and my team takes care of the rest—that’s it!” To say that people appreciate the approach is an understatement. Business is growing the way Alice did after sampling that mysteri ous mushroom. “I’m proud to be a small-town business that’s ex celling in this industry. We’re in the top ten for our company and our referrals are consistent. I’ve exceeded even my own expecta Everest’stions.”
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In an arena with so many mov ing parts, no less. “This industry changes so much, from the stress test that the government intro duces, to rates dramatically drop ping then increasing. As mortgage agents, it’s our job to stay on top of these changes and adapt for our clients. Every week there’s some thing new to learn.”
By her own admission, Everest likes to keep things basic. “I’m a smalltown country girl,” she explains. “I’m simple, I’m dressed down, I steer clear of the city. I prioritize a peaceful life for myself.” So, she keeps it rudimentary for her cli ents too. Everest does all of the leg work (that’s a lot of wear’n’tear on that tattoo!), sparing home seek ers the headaches of negotiation.
Alice,Like though, the blue-eyed Everest sur vives it all—thrives even. Part of the team of licensed professionals at The Mortgage Advisors working out of Perth, the seventeen-year industry veteran consistently col lects accolades from her clients, for whom she offers a dependable, forthright, and transparent experi ence—oh yeah: and a mortgage or property at the best available rates.
“Something that you set up one day for a client may prove to be unusable the next. Every case and every individual is different and has a different set of variables that go into calculating their rate. These variables include credit score, down payment, the location of the house, the acreage––among many others––and each of these factors is used to determine a client’s rate. Oftentimes, people will just want to know what our best rate is with out taking into consideration the fact that every circumstance is unique. This can be challenging, as no two cases are the same.”
long, brave, and suc cessful journey began when she was pregnant with her daughter. “I wanted to find something that would allow me to have a more flexible schedule. I applied to be come a mortgage agent when she was six weeks old. By the time her first birthday rolled around, I was a licensed agent. I knew that if I kept myself busy and got the clients, I could be in control of my own destiny rather than set tling for a position that would cap my earnings and growth potential. I took matters into my own hands.”
Still, everybody walks away satis fied. Whatever question or con cern they have, Everest is there to address it, whether she’s working from Mexico, BC, or from a near by campground. “You’ll rarely find me working with four walls around me,” the ever-adventurous Everest confesses. For a woman who can’t be housed, she’s pretty good at finding hous ing for others. themortgageadvisors.ca
What better way to enjoy the beautiful colours of fall and crisp autumn afternoons than a walk amongst the trees? Here are 4 of the best places to soak in the beautiful autumn scenery in and around Ottawa before the weather turns cold.
MountainManitouCalabogie: Gatineau Park Dominion Arboretum Rock NatureDunderReserve
Catch The Colours
The Arboretum is home to 2,000 differ ent varieties of shrubs and trees, making it a must see for stunning fall colours. You can catch the beautiful views by land or by water. Rent a canoe or Kayak from Dow's lake Pavillion for a peaceful afternoon while you take in the scenery. About an hour and a half outside of Otta wa, this reserve has several trails to walk which includes se rene lake views, geor gous lookouts and a quaint cabin trail.
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Eagles Nest lookout is a truly stunnin sight. Locaated in the trails of Calabogie, you can access this lookout from a shorter trail if you aren't in the mood for a long hike. At the end of the day you can head over to the brewery for a refresher.well-deserved There is a reason this park makes most lists - the views are spectacular. With trails for hikers and bikers alike, there is something for every one. The Pink Lake trail is a great trail for all levels of hikers and is a beautiful spot to sit and relax. Despite its name, this lake is actually a stunning shade of green.
Andrew Abraham should know. The third-generation Lebanese Canadian was raised by entrepreneurs. If you’re a native of the city, odds are you’ve visited a confectionary or restaurant run by his relatives. For years, small to medium-sized family-run businesses constituted the heart of the downtown core.
TAAG offers Ottawa’s “mom-and-pops” a small business package: bookkeeping, payroll, year-end financial statements and tax filings, and ongoing advisory services, all for a fixed monthly retainer. “That way,” Abraham explains, “it eliminates any surprises.”
As part of its new branding and mar keting, TAAG has the naming rights for the athletics field at Carleton University on Bronson Avenue. It will now be known as TAAG Park. As a proud Ottawan, Abraham commit ted to this civic investment without hesitation. Andrew Abraham and TAAG are leaving their mark on the city in more ways than one. www.taag.ca
By Dan Lalande PHOTOGRAPHY BY SEAN SISK
After making his mark at Deloitte, where he worked in internal accounting and as a part of their tax group, Abraham boldly set out on his own. Long before the pan demic made conducting business virtually a necessity, Abraham was working out of a home office using only his cell phone. By 2014, though, he had amassed enough clients to set up shop downtown. Now, with so many more,TAAG is on the move to a new location. In September they’re pulling up stakes and moving to a modern new space at 251 Bank Street. “Everybody said downtown is decimated. Nobody goes there anymore,” Abraham recounts. “I said, we need to lead by example. We’re going to bring jobs to the core, and we’re going to create jobs in the core.”
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TAAG also offers wealth advisory services to high-net-worth families, providing clients with a broader per spective on their wealth than what is traditionally offered by the banks.
The new space is a particular point of pride. Abraham describes it as “modern, innovative, and for ward-thinking. It’s a great place for teams to collaborate.” And collabo ration, after all, is what TAAG is all about, whether it’s working with family businesses or getting its team members to collaborate among themselves. “A mature family busi ness has a dynamic that’s the same as a start-up,” Abraham explains. “There are different ideas at work, different generations with different visions. So, first, we listen to our cli ents. Then, we develop a strategy and come up with a structure.” That practical optimism is one of the philosophical bedrocks of TAAG. Even the current state of the econo my doesn’t faze them. “It’s a time for opportunity,” Abraham proposes. “I tell my clients to ask themselves, ‘Where do I want to be when this is all over? Do I want to be bigger? Hire more people? Be more established?” And if not, then TAAG is happy to as sist them with exit strategies or the search for strategic buyers.
Now, due to factors ranging from a shift in generations to the impact of COVID-19, many are struggling to survive. That’s where TAAG, headed by Abraham, comes in. They’re determined to keep the vibran cy and variety offered by family business es alive.
“Ottawa is a special place. Family businesses are a little more cherished here than anywhere else.”
So, what do the experts have to say?
According to science, the best temperature for sleeping is around a cool 18°C (picture a nice spring day). Your body is constantly in a process of cooling down, from the moment you go to bed to the time you wake up. It reaches its coolest point in the early morning hours before the sun kick starts your circadian rhythm and your body temperature starts to rise to pre pare for the day. And so, achieving an optimal room temperature of around 18°C is a great way to improve your quality of sleep. When in doubt, also err on the colder side – your body is able to adjust much better to the cold than the heat, as the latter may disrupt its natural cooling processes worse.
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INFALLINCORPORATEFOODSYOURDIET RESTORE YOUR SLEEP SCHEDULE ZZZZ Z SEEK WORKOUTSFORCOMPETITIONHEALTHYYOUR
Pumpkins are an essential aspect of our fall season, whether you're looking for ward to getting that first sip of fall with a pumpkin spice latte or looking forward to the first taste of fall with a slice of pumpkin pie. Pumpkin seeds are highly nutritious and filled with powerful antioxidants. They have been shown to improve heart health, blood sugar levels, fertility & sleep quality.
With Thanksgiving around the corner it's a great time to incorporate new foods into your diet. Chestnuts are delicious with a mildly sweet taste and are rich in health benefits. They are packed full of nutrients like protein, fiber, Vitamin C and many more. Chestnuts are also very versatile. Whether you want to put them in your turkey stuffing, salad, soup or turn them into a desert. There is a place for chestnuts on your Thanksgiving dinner table.
Having a hard time getting to sleep? Having your room at the right climate can help you fall asleep, stay asleep, and improve the quality of your sleep, too, according to a 2012 study. A 2014 study found that one of the best ways to stay moti vated in your fitness goals is by forming a social network to set friendly competitive workout goals with, not a social support group who will cheer you on but do nothing but challenge you. In the study, the former group had significantly better results than the latter.
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Nate Behar is one of those people who looks comfortable and poised in every situation. You certainly see it on the football field. The 27-year-old REDBLACKS receiver has had a breakout year in 2022, becoming one of the top pass-catchers in the CFL.
Behar's comfort zone also extends to business, helping to create a new app that helps pair athletes with business brands and endorsement deals. It extends to his love and passion for the performing arts. And it extends to writing, which Behar creates as skillfully as his pass routes (it's very much worth your time to look up his powerful essay on race and understanding, following the 2020 murder of George Floyd).
Behar is even comfortable where most people are not – dealing with conflict and standing up for what's right. We saw it in Edmon ton, where a lowball contract offer led to a holdout right after being drafted in 2017. We saw it again this summer in Regina, when Be har made national headlines for his fiery, no-holds-barred, postgame tear down of a Saskatchewan player, whose dirty hit injured his friend and teammate. And naturally, Behar is fully com fortable at home in the Glebe, re laxing on the sofa with his best pal, Jorja, his pet rottweiler. That's where we caught up with the two of them, right after a sweltering, mid-season REDBLACKS' practice.
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Interview by Steve Warne PHOTOGRAPHY BY SEAN SISK
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STARTLET'S with the much talked about rant in Regina. During a game on July 8th, teammate Jeremiah Masoli got hurt on a late, low hit and you had that amazing post-game commentary, teeing off on the actions of Garrett Marino. Was there any fallout from that? Any regrets? I said what I said. I stand by it. I got a strongly worded letter from Mr. Randy (CFL Com missioner Randy Ambrosie) about my comments, but they would've fined me if he thought I was wrong. I have no love lost for Marino and I'm not gonna go into it here. But hearing from some other people, even people that played against him in col lege, everything I said I know for a fact was 1000% accurate.
For context, here's an ex cerpt from Behar's rant: “Anybody that cheers for that dude (Marino), supports that dude, cheers when he runs off the field flexing and all that stuff, I hope you find a way to sleep tonight," Behar said. "The same dude yelling racist sh*t in the bottom of a pile. The same dude who went low on one of the best quarterbacks in this league, one of the best dudes in this league. I literally cannot believe what I witnessed. That was the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever seen in my entire life." Was the rant spontaneous or did you know when the game was over that you had to go out and let people know how you feel? We were all upset in the locker room and our communications guy, Chris Hofley, gave me the I'm-so-sorry-Nate face. He was like, “I need somebody from the offense to talk to the media.” I looked at him and then I looked at RJ Harris be side me and I was like, “Okay. I'm getting fined. I hope you know that.” And out I went.
There's still this level of optimism, I think, which is insane to think about with our record (as of early August). But we just know that we have something and I think that's important. You had one of the biggest catches in Otta wa football history. The Gee-Gees led the 2014 Panda Game 31-27 and on the final play, quarterback Jesse Mills hits you with a 55-yard, hail mary pass for Carleton's game winning touchdown. What are your memories of that incredible play?
It's pretty awesome. It's so Ottawa in all of the best ways. Being at Lansdowne, being on the ca nal, north side versus south side, Carleton ver sus Ottawa U. It'll always be one of my favor ite memories. Sometimes, thinking back on it, I try to remember which parts are actually real and which parts are time beginning to exag gerate things. It really, really was a special day. I think one of the best parts was that it was my self and two of my best friends, Kyle VanWynsber ghe and Wilson Birch, who are on either side the diamond to go catch the tip. And you know, all the main photos of the play are the three of us running into the end zone, numbers 11, 12, and 13. We were all roommates, house mates. We're all in a wedding in a few weeks together. Wilson's get ting married. Like that's just one of those things that like, you can never take away. It's just re ally, really special and powerful. Tell us a little about your life growing up in London, Ontar io? Growing up, it was me, my mom (Mya) and my brother (Jared) for the most part in our house in London, Ontario. My dad (Ray) lived in To ronto. So, she was basi cally a single mom rais ing us, doing her thing – she's a rock star. She had my brother when she was 16, and had me when she was 21.
Yeah, absolutely. One of the biggest things for me is I'm acutely aware of my strengths and weaknesses. That can sometimes be hard because sometimes coaches are under so much pressure that they're not always trying to fit people into their perfect role. It's sometimes like, “No, just run my offense.”
In Edmonton, there wasn't really a role that suit ed me in Jason Maas's offense. The Canadian wideout there, it always bored me mentally, to be honest. And the inside guy needed to be real ly, really big and do a lot of stuff. I'd watch Cory Watson deadlift 405 pounds the day before a game. Last year, I finally started to feel it come to life. Anthony Coombs went down for six weeks, and coach LaPolice was maybe a little surprised I could do some of the things I could do. And now I get to just be who I think I am – a smart guy in the middle with sure hands, toughness, will ing to run up to the catch and savvy with my routes. So it's a breath of fresh air because I fi nally get to feel like I'm myself, rather than try ing to be the person coaches want me to be.
With so many new players, 2022 was sup posed to be the REDBLACKS' turnaround year. But so far, it hasn't worked out that way.
At the midway point of the season, you al ready had more catches in 2022 than you've had in any season in your CFL career. Are you starting to get comfortable with a bigger role?
I think what's made this year so frustrating has been that everything seems to be here, tal ent-wise, across the board. So it's been hard. Mor al victories were nice the first two weeks (both close games against Winnipeg). And then the moral victory in the third week was like, “Okay, at least we have games against the East coming up soon.” Then Saskatchewan happens and you lose a guy like Jeremiah and you lose another game. And all of a sudden, there are no moral victories left.
And then, as I was growing up, she went back and finished high school. From about grade one to four, I remember sit ting in university classes with her while she got her nursing degree. I remember trying to play hooky from school and my mom said, “Okay, cool. You have to come to class with me.” Single mother stuff.
I also went to a performing arts school from grades four to eight. That's a little known fact. It's called Lester B. Pear son school for the arts. I loved that place with all my heart. I played violin, played double bass, piano and drums. I sang and danced and acted and I found a love for Shakespeare. So that was London. So striving to keep up to your older brother and his older friends, do you think that helped you get to the level you have? I think it did help me, but at the risk of sounding contrarian, I think it actually helped me for the opposite reason that my brother and my mom gave me unending amounts of love and positive reinforce ment. The running joke when I was 16 was like, “Holy crap. We created an ego mon ster,” because I just thought I could do anything and everything at all times. So it wasn't necessarily as much of me feeling like the little brother, needing to do bet ter to feel like I belong. It was more like I had the greatest big brother on earth.
My brother was my best friend and almost a father figure to me, in a lot of ways. He and his group of friends raised me, for better or worse. They were all sports guys, which is great. We'd go to the field and I'd be the kick returner and seven, eight and nine of them would just try to lay me out.
What about your personal life? Is it okay if we talk about your partner, Erin? Oh yeah. I'm always proud to talk about her. Her name is Erin Harris. She's from Kingston, but she was a U of Ottawa grad. We had known each other for a few years and then just started talking. She's absolutely phenomenal. We live here in the Glebe together. She owns Soul Speak Yoga studios – one in Hintonburg and one in Kingston. She's a rock star. Let's talk about your new business ven ture, which ties into sports. Tell us about the Firework App. It started from seeing a need, but not ac tually from the athlete side of things. I had three different friends, all reach out to me. A couple of different business owners I knew who all said, “Hey. I'm launching a product. Can you have some of your ath letes market it for me, do some influencer marketing? And you hear it once you say yes. You hear it twice, you say, okay. But the third time you're like, what? Like what's going on? Why are they asking me? Then I realized there was nothing really to solve it, to help business owners find athletes. So, we built an app (TheFirework.app) for both athletes and brands, where brands can say, “Hey, I'm looking for an athlete to market our protein sup plements.” Great. And athletes can say, “Hey, I love protein. Let's do it.”
By Steve Warne
Do you have a message for the fans of Ot tawa to help them stay optimistic about the team?
Yeah, absolutely. I think the biggest thing is there's too much talent here. We have enough talent to win football games. We have a desire to win football games. How things have started, I don't think is indica tive of what we're capable of or what we're going to achieve. And because we believe, hopefully that's enough for R-nation to at least try and believe and stick with us.
Throughout our whole discussion, your dog Jorja has been happily and quietly sitting beside you on the couch. Tell us a little bit about her. She's named after R & B singer Jorja Smith. She's three and she's the cuddliest and big gest princess of all time. Like she just whines to be held and jump in bed, but she's pretty lovely. I got her when she was eight weeks old in 2019. She kept me sane through that very trying season. That's my best friend. She has this infectious, goofy smile. People will stop and be like, “She seems really nice for a Rottweiler.” And I'll say, “Well, you seem really nice for a judgmental person.”
Jared would rebound for me in the drive way and say, “Oh no, Nate. Try this turn around jump shot instead.” Instead of him making me hawk his rebounds down, he was like, “How do I help my little broth er be the best he could be?” Now he's got two little ones of his own, which is the best, because I know they're getting ev ery ounce of love that a child could ever need, because he really was the greatest. Did you play other sports? Yeah, basketball is the main one. There was sort of a seminal moment. I think it was probably grade 10. It was the first moment I ever beat my dad, one on one at basket ball. Or I blocked a shot or something. I'll never forget this. We're in Toronto, in Yorkville, and he was like, “You're deciding right now. Are you gonna be a pro basket ball player or pro football player?” I said football and he said, “Okay, cool.” And then he threw the basketball away. He is like, go get your cleats from the trunk. And then we ran sprints until I puked and that was it [laughing]. It was all football after that.
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For Brandon Crawford, it wasn’t the action and drama of a daytime soap’s criminal court that led him to a career in the field. Instead, it was a genuine passion for helping people. Today, as a partner at Edel son Foord Law, one of Ottawa’s most prominent criminal defense offices, Brandon regularly helps clients during some of the worst moments of their lives.
Brandon’s journey to crimi nal law was not easy, but it was straightforward. He re members committing to the career path as early as 10 years Brandonold. went on to com plete his undergraduate degree in criminology, and attended both Michigan State’s College of Law and the University of Ottawa for law school. It was in his last year of law school that he met James Foord under a student-proposed intern ship. James would become his mentor, and Brandon eventually joined his law firm as an associate. In 2019, James and Brandon became partners at Foord and Craw ford for three years. “I have been beyond fortunate to have been mentored by a lawyer, who is so well re spected,” Brandon reflects. “He remains an example of how this job should be done, both in court and behind the Recently,scenes.”
Brandon’s commitment to helping others has remained wholly intact throughout his career thus far, and remains the central reason for his success. “Not to sound cli che with this answer, but it’s extremely meaningful to be able to help people and to see the effects of my help,” he explains. “Clients often come to us in a situation that is one of the worst they have ever experienced––if not the worst. Sometimes it’s because they’ve made a mis take, many times they have been wrongly accused, or perhaps something occurred where their rights were vi olated. I have been very lucky to witness many cases of perseverance. Often, you develop a personal connec tion with the client, and the opportunity to assist them in these difficult times of need is very fulfilling work. Defense lawyers in general serve an important societal function.” Outside of his work with the firm, Brandon teaches Trial Advocacy at the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law.
Foord and Craw ford has merged with Edel son Barristers, headed by Michael Edelson, a preem inent criminal defense law yer in Ottawa for 40 years. Edelson, his partner Tony Pa ciocco, Foord and Crawford now work with an ambitious and hardworking group of associates and office staff. “ The firm has acted in some of the most high-profile cas es in Ontario. Our firm has a breadth of talent, with di verse experiences––the ben efits of which are already having an impact on our clients, which is ultimately by far the most important thing.”
“I have been very lucky to witness many cases of perseverance.”
Read more about Brandon and the team at Edelson Foord Law at: edelsonlaw.ca BY SEAN SISK
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For most, the work of a criminal defense lawyer will only ever be seen through the lens of primetime television.
PHOTOGRAPHY
It may seem superficial, but the way we present ourselves is an important aspect of day to day life––and it’s about much more than vanity. The way we choose to style ourselves can greatly contribute to our overall sense of self, and it can be the difference between a good day and a bad one. Despite the influence style has on our daily lives, it isn’t always easy to get it right; which is why we’ve compiled 5 foolproof ways to look and feel younger this fall––because a few small changes can make all the difference in your self-confidence.
Style Hacksto make you FACES MAGAZINE OTTAWA 66 | FACES MAGAZINE
Timeless is better than trendy
patterns and colour is definitely a scary concept when it comes to fashion. rather than over commit to a style that just isn’t you, consider adding a pop of colour into your outfits.
A good haircut can make all the colourofDon’tdifferencebeafraidapopof
The issue with subscribing to a trend is that once that style falls out of fashion, you end up looking dated, or like you’re trying––and failing––to fit into the mainstream. Instead, opt for pieces that are timeless and classic; for example, a properly sized white tee tucked into tailored denim will make you feel confident and look sharp. The power of a good hair cut can’t be understated. Finding a hairdresser that understands your hair type and lifestyle can completely change your look for the better.
While these types of styles work well for those who have cultivated a specific look, it’s less suc cessful for the fashion novice. Ultimately, these styles often only serve to make you look frumpy, which in turn, makes your style look out of date. You can never be too overdressed, so don’t be afraid to pop on the collared shirt, rather than that workout
When in doubt, it’s better to be OVERDRESSED
Mixingtee.
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Ottawa Interview by Steve Warne PHOTOGRAPHY BY SEAN SISK
pretty good for Lorenzo Mauldin IV. But it wasn't always like that. Mauldin had a very tough childhood, filled with poverty, anger and circumstances that would shake anyone, let alone a child. His biggest challenge by far was growing up without his parents, both sentenced to long prison terms when he was very young. Mauldin can only guess exactly how many foster homes he and his siblings had to live in from age 5 until he was 18 (for the record, his best guess is 12). We recently had a chance to connect with Mauldin to get to know him better, discussing the adversity of his childhood; his football career to this point; and his amaz ing turnaround –an inspiring tale ofandresiliencystrength.
LO REN ZOMAU LDIN
t's early August and things are going pretty well for Ottawa REDBLACKS defensive lineman Lorenzo Mauldin IV. While the team's won-loss record isn't where it could be, “Lozo” is the CFL sacks leader, already bearing down on Ottawa's single season record. Away from the field, Mauldin has a beau tiful young family and a fitness business, helping people stay in shape online. The 29 year old is easy with a smile, and walks with all the confidence you'd expect of a strong, young proYes,athlete.lifeseems
I
REDBLACKS Pass Rusher
As a player/person, it's definitely given me the re siliency and tenacity I need to be who I am, on and off the field. I pride myself in “sticking it to the man,” proving so many people wrong, and remember ing they told that little kid his chances were slim. As a father, I have so much to say, but the thing that matters is that my daughter will only know what hardships are by my description. She will never en dure it because I already have for her 29 times over. AT THE THEMYGAMETIMES.RIGHTIT’SJUST...THESAVEDLIFE.THECOACHES,THEPEOPLE,ANDALLOFSUPPORTITBROUGHTMECHANGEDMYLIFEFORTHEBETTER.
How did you deal with all that as a kid? I didn’t. I kept it all in and it made me a very angry child. I threw tantrums and lashed out a lot. I fought a lot and just used my circum stances as an excuse to do so. I had a “You’re not my parents so back the hell off,” attitude.
THE MEITSELFGAMEANDWHATITMEANSTOISUNEXIT'SPLAINABLE.MADESOMANYDECISIONS FOR ME
Our GM Shawn Burke was the guy who brought me into Hamilton for my first opportunity here in CFL, so why not follow where the trust is?
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At Louisville, you had a big upset win over #3 Florida at the 2013 Sugar Bowl. What do you remember about that game and your time at Louisville? I remember a lot. The first play of the game being a pick six by Terrell Floyd. I remember QB Teddy Bridgewater getting cracked by John Bostic, then coming back and picking their defense apart. That year was pretty special for us, going to a BCS bowl game and knocking off a high ranked team. It gave our team a lot of confidence. Louisville was a great city to play for, the fans are unbe lievable and the support there was unmatched!
You've had some amazing football mo ments in the past. What was it like to play in New York? That's a tough media there and it's been a long time since the Jets won. It was a great feeling playing in New York. I networked like crazy. It was great playing be side some future hall of famers and also being coached by Hall of Famer Kevin Greene, rest his soul (Greene died of a heart attack in 2020).
Can you describe how it felt hearing your name get called by the Jets in the 2015 NFL Draft? As a foster child dreaming of one day making it to the NFL, being told that the percentage of me go ing was low and having some doubt at times, hear ing my name made me doubt myself no more. On that note, you definitely man aged to come out strong from an incredibly challenging childhood. Can you tell us about your parents' issues and your life coming up in Atlanta? My parents were regular people who got caught up in the wrong things in life and the consequenc es led to parentless children. We were forced to become wards of the state and we hopped around so much, the dwellings became countless. None seemed to work out and my 4 siblings and I were separated. Group and foster homes were the story for a long time. After organized football started in Grade 10, everything became a blur.
What helped turn things around for you? Was it football? A person. A coach? Or a solo effort? I’d be lying if I didn’t say football. The game it self and what it means to me is unexplain able. It's made so many decisions for me at the right times. It’s just...the game saved my life. The coaches, the people, and all of the support it brought me changed my life for the better. How did football come into your life? One of my foster parents, Andrea Monique Good win, thought it’d be good if I played sports (little league football) and so I did. I was a wide receiv er but my career didn’t go too long after break ing my ankle within the first few games. I didn’t want to play anymore after that. I didn’t pick up a football until high school in my sophomore year. The coaches asked me what position I played and I told them wide receiver. They laughed and told me I wouldn’t be playing receiver. I had a gained a lot of weight and was one of the tall est kids in the school. So on to defense I went. Did you end up reuniting with your parents at some point? I did. My mom was in and out of jail but I saw her here and there. My dad was trying to get his life together before we went to see him in California when he was released from pris on. l met him for the first time when I was 18. Does it help you now as a person, player, husband or parent, knowing you successfully overcame that adversity?
You signed with Ottawa back in February after two years in Hamil ton. What went into your decision to sign here?
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Erika is both spicy and sweet and has the greatest per sonality you can’t hide. Serenity is a hefty ball of joy, I say hefty because the girl is rock solid. She’s 3 years old and people mistake her for 5. Her personality is pret ty unique. Many would say “she’s been here before.”
As a husband, it speaks for itself. The love I was neglected and the new love that found me, she is getting every bit of that from me. I know what it’s like being alone and I don’t like the feeling. I’ve let someone else love me and I know it’s true. My past has definitely given me a sense of satisfaction and appreciation for what I have today. Can you tell us a little bit more about your wife and daughter?
Yes, my wife Erika and daughter Serenity Mauldin. They are a lot of fun – their energy gives me a boost each day. I’m reminded each and every day they’re here for me during the toughest and the greatest moments.
I’m happy to be a part of your great city, bringing you entertainment and pride within this team. Win or lose, we know you will be there for us through thick and thin. Thank you for that. I will give everything I have in me to give you a good show while helping my brothers and our team win another Grey Cup! Let’s flip the script, Rnation!
Rest. Find a nice local restaurant, some good scenery and just rest. What would you like to do after pro football is over? I’d like to help people any way I can. I’ve always said I’ve entertained them long enough, why not save them or help them? Becoming a fire man and running my fitness/sports training business are pretty much what it’s looking like. Tell us more about your business, Iron Cardinal Fitness and Training.
What's it been like being a dad?
By Steve Warne | Magazine
In closing, what would be your message to the die hard Ottawa football fans out there?
The loudest I’d have to say it’s a tie between Shaq Johnson and Pat Levels. Pat Levels is definitely the funniest. I believe Tre Hornbuckle is Mr. Re liable and will come through when I need him. How are you enjoying the city so far? The city of Ottawa has a lot to offer and so far it's treated us pretty well. We’re excited to get involved. What do you like to do in Ottawa in your spare time away from football?
Which of your Ottawa teammates do you spend the most time with off the field? Mainly the other defensive linemen: Cleyon Laing, Davon Coleman, Tre Hornbuckle and Praise Martin-Oguike. Usually anyone that’s around. Which Ottawa teammate is the loudest? The funniest? And who's the teammate who'll do anything for you?
It’s everything I hoped it would be. I have so much fun with her it’s unbelievable. It’s lit erally something new every day. I'm infatu ated with her. After a long day at work, hav ing a little person run up yelling, “Daddy’s Home!” makes life that much more great. They came to Ottawa with you, right? What's that been like for you to have them around more? Yeah, they’re back and forth. It’s been great having them here. They give me a better sense of mental stability. I can focus because I know they’re safe at all times. I’m able to stay stressfree and hone in more on my game and have them cheer for me when the lights come on. It’s a blessing to have them by my side.
Twitter: @LozoIV Facebook:Mauldin.IVLorenzo IV
Mauldin
FACES MAGAZINE OTTAWA
I started the business during 2020 when every thing was shut down and people couldn’t get to the gym. It's an online service powered by Zoom to help people get fit in their living rooms with what they have in their home as props or weights. Our website is IronCardinal.com.
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This 5-Step Skincare Routine This Fall
It seems like everywhere you turn there’s a new product promising to solve all of your skincare problems. The truth is that you don’t need the $300 moisturizer or collagen serum to take care of your skin––consistency is the name of the game, and we’re gonna show you how to get there.
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You’ve probably seen toner on the skincare shelf at the store and thought “okay, but what does this actually do?”, we're here to help shed some light. Toner is the last step in your cleans ing routine, meaning it helps to remove any trace amounts of grime left after thatsaidRemembercleansing.whenwecleansingwasthemostimportantstep?Theremayactuallybesomecompetitionforcovetedspot.Theimportanceofinvestinginagoodfacesunscreencannotbeoverstated,asthesundamagesyourskinthroughexposuretoultravioletradiation,whichcanleadtoprematureagingandskincancer.Sourcingasunscreenthat’smadespecificallyforthefacewillhelppreventbreakoutsandcloggedpores.
Perhaps the most critical step in any skincare regimen, cleansing your skin removes built up grime, sweat, and dust from your pores. We expose our skin to a litany of debris and conditions that can affect the integrity of the cells––which is why cleans ing the skin at the end of the day is so important.
Once you’re finished stripping the bad from your skin, you might notice some tightness; you can thank the toner for that, as it can help reduce the appearance of pores by tightening them. To remedy this, and give your skin the barrier it needs to recover, apply a suitable moisturizer for your skin type. Moisturizers come in two basic types: oil-based and wa ter-based; an oil-based moisturizer is an excel lent option for those with dry or vulnerable skin, as it deeply pene trates and provides an oil barrier that the skin lacks. For those with oily or combination skin, opt for a hydratemoisturizer,water-basedasthiswillyourskinwithoutcontributingexcessoilthatleadtobreakoutsandbuild-up.
This step is important, especially when you live in a city. Remember the dirt and grime we mentioned in step one? That can settle deep in your pores, making it difficult to cleanse with a standard foam cleans er. Exfoliating should be completed after cleans ing, and no more than every other day––daily exfoliating can leave the skin dehydrated and lead to breakouts.
1. Cleanse 2. Exfoliate 3. Tone 4. Moisturize 5. Protect SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022
“When I walk into a house, I know exactly what I’m looking at.” Why wouldn’t he? Phil left the architectural industry to pursue his passion in Real Estate and became a RE/MAX Affiliate award-winning Real Estate agent.
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By Dan Lalande PHOTOGRAPHY BY SEAN SISK
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“Having respecthelpedarchitecturestudiedmegainand confidence from my clients,” he “Architectureexplains. was my first career path. It was definitely the right one at the time. I was able to design custom homes and work on amazing projects from condo build ings to small renovations.” (To this day, the enterpris ing Xatruch designs pro jects in 3D for friends and family). “The transition to real estate was very smooth and it helped me gain an ad vantage in the market right away. That knowledge goes a long way when clients want options on how they should renovate, the qual ity of the build and design, or even a decision as simple as furniture placement.”
“Take risks,” for example, a recommendation that he classifies as nerve-rattling. Still, by remaining focused he maintains, you can get past the jitters to a place of success. “With determin ation,” says Xatruch, “any thing is possible.”
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From the get-go, the Or leans native was fascinated by houses. Before his discovery of sports (Xatruch played soccer, lacrosse, and hockey, and remains an avid golfer), the handsome, dark-haired realtor spent hours building habitats of all kinds out of Lego—a forma tive experience. It set a path for a building and selling ca reer that would result in a RE/MAX Platinum Award, an accolade that was bestowed on him last year. “Reaching this milestone in what I con sider early in my career has been very rewarding,” he beams. “It also motivates me to keep striving for ex cellence and to challenge myself to surpass what I’ve already accomplished.” That might prove tougher than scoring a game-winning slapshot or achieving a holein-one.
As for life-work balance, he adds, “Play as much golf as you can. Once you have kids and a busy career, it becomes very difficult to fit it in the schedule.”
It's advice he’s eager to pass on to industry aspirants, along with a few other life lessons that he’s learned.
www.xrealestate.ca
“I know that I’m assisting in the biggest monetary transactions of people's lives,” he confides. “I take that very seriously. I’m hired to make sure they make the right decision and experience results.”
Xatruch’s premium on pro fessionalism, communica tion, and hustle has made him one of the most popular agents in Ottawa’s East End. If there’s a secret to his growing client base, he attributes it to his integ rity and personalism. “My clients can expect hon esty,” he explains. “I drive my business on that. I think being in sales, it real ly resonates with people.” Plus, he’s well aware of the magnitude of his professional assignment.
It’s a task that involves a lot of leg work, from ensuring that a listing remains rel evant and attractive to cre ating promotional videos and holding stagings. Still, despite a busy family life (he and his childhood sweet heart, Stephanie, are the proud parents of two kids, Hugo and Mika) and the odd yearn for an afternoon on the links, Xatruch manages to go the distance for his cli ents. “I’m very adaptive,” he explains, “and I always stay on top of market trends. I tell myself that all the hard work and long hours are worth it.”
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'Can you feel that chill in the air? It's time to get back into the spooky swing of things, just in time for Halloween. Here are 10 of the scariest horror movies of all time.
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10. THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT
The camera work alone is enough to leave you disoriented in the ‘found-footage’ classic from 1999. The film relied on amateur actors and an extremely short script to create the realism that permeates the movie. Audiences left the theatres terrified at the time of its release, kick starting the re-popularization of the found footage genre for years to come. The film follows a group of student filmmakers who go out to investigate an urban legend in the infamous Black Hills, only to never be seen or heard from again.
9. HALLOWEEN
You might be shaking your head at this one, but Halloween was one of the first films recognized in the “slasher” genre that we know today. This film relied on suspense to keep you on your toes, rather than the special effects and gore that can often be seen in mod ern slasher films. This tension created a film that will leave you squinting at the screen, waiting for Michael Myers to appear with his trademark mask and slow, deliberate walk.
This film combines two horror genres, leaning into the paranormal and the slash er-film style to create this disturbing––and terrifying 2012 feature. The movie pulls inspiration from many different classic horror films, using cursed found-footage as a plot device, similar to The Ring and The Blair Witch Project. The movie follows a true-crime writer’s desperate journey to write another best-selling novel, which leads him and his family into the scene of a crime and the hands of the paranormal forces that haunt their new home.
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7. THE CONJURING An instant classic, The Conjuring takes the ‘haunted house’ story to the next level. This 2013 film has a slow build that culminates in an explosive final act, relying on the use of suspense and surprising camera work to keep you engaged––and afraid––through out the film. The story follows a family that’s plagued by a dark entity after moving into their new home, which continues to torment the family in more ways than one as the movie progresses.
4. HEREDITARY
If you feel a bit sick to your stomach at the thought of this movie, you’re not alone. The 2018 film left audiences disturbed and deeply unsettled following its release. With shock after shock, this film does not take you where you believe you’ll go, but rather to deliberately disturbing examples of a family whose reality is crumbling beneath them. Between the shocking imagery and the unexpected plot twists, Hereditary is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat.
6. THE SHINING Even if you’re not a horror fan, chances are you’ve heard of The Shining. This 1980 classic from Stanley Kubrick is a quint essential member of the horror genre, with iconic stills from the film such as the twins in the hallway, and the wave of blood pouring from the elevator still remaining instantly recognizable to this day. This film blurs the line between the paranormal and the psychological, leaving you to ask yourself what actually happened to cause the main character to lose his mind.
The American adaptation of the wildly popular Japanese horror film Ringu left audiences shocked and terrified after its release in 2002. This was largely due to the breaking of the fourth wall that’s includ ed in the film, making the viewer feel as if they’re a part of the story, rather than watching from a safe distance. It’s easy to feel paranoid while watching a movie about a videotape that curses the person who watches it to die 7 days later, so approach this one with caution if you’re the nervous type.
3. THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE
This 1974 film follows a group of young friends as they go to visit the grave of one of their grandfathers––when they get there, however, they find a crazed group of outcasts living next door who begin to hunt them down one by one. The film’s villain, leatherface, is a chainsaw wielding apparition of your worst nightmares, and one that left audiences scared for years to come. You’ll seldom find a top 10 horror list that this movie isn’t on.
While it may seem cheesy now that special effects have come so far, A Nightmare on Elm Street remains a film with one of the most frightening premises: a villain that chases you in your dreams. With a 95% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and a concrete placement in the metaphorical Horror Hall of Fame, A Nightmare on Elm Street is a classic that still delivers the scare-factor to this day; relying on suspense, mystery, and––of course––it’s infamous ‘bad guy’, Freddy Krueger.
5. SINISTER
1. THE EXORCIST
The 1973 film The Exorcist remains to be one of the most profitable horror films ever made. This movie is nearly as terri fying today as it was on its release date, relying on atmospheric horror, rather than cliche jump scares, to build suspense and tension for the viewer. While there have been plenty of possession films since its release, The Exorcist was one of the first to present this now-popular horror concept on the big screen.
2. A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET
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By Dan Lalande
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At a time when the insurance industry is growing increasingly impersonal, Kevin Carruthers is taking the opposite tack. “You can buy insurance anywhere,” the approachable Carruthers philosophizes, “but when you actually need it, you’ll wish you were able to reach someone who knew you by name and had given you a personalized experience.”
PHOTOGRAPHY BY SEAN SISK
What I tell prospective and cur rent clients is, while we’re com petitive rate-wise, what you get with us is the same as going to Starbucks over Tim Hortons. When you come into the office, we know your name, and the music, the ambiance, the light ing––everything has been made to invite you in, and give you a personalized, comfortable expe rience. This isn’t a Tim Hortons drive-thru, which feels like an as sembly line––here, there’s a gen uine connection.”
In 2007, Carruthers opened his first office in Orleans, predicat ing his modus operandi on solid ifying the connection between client and agent. Part of his mo tivation was the proliferation of automated, online insurance agencies, anonymous entities that push prospective purchas ers to procure “one-size-fits-all” “Insurancepolicies.
That personalized experience in cludes, uniquely, doing business in the kind of place you might expect to drop into for that morning pick-me-up before you do business. “I always tell our clients that we’re the Starbucks of insurance,” he explains—and he’s not speaking metaphorical ly. “We’ve set up our new office in Orleans so that the entry area looks like one: there’s about 900 square feet of client lounge with a cafe feel. We've created this environment to invite people in to get comfortable, sit, have a cappuccino, and talk about their policy with a specialist. The cli ent experience is key.”
“The opening of our second lo cation at Carling and Kirkwood in Ottawa was a career high light,” he beams. “I was one of maybe six agents in Canada that was able to open a second loca tion.” And probably the only one to set up a third in the guise of a coffee shop, back in the neck of the woods where his insurance career began. “In 2019,” he recounts, segueing to his pseudo-Starbucks, “we ran out of space. I actually had to give up my own physical office to one of our team members. I realized there were two ways I could go: I could just take my foot off the pedal and let things ride and not really look to grow the business anymore, or I could continue to push forward and work to further my vision. So, we took on the project to expand in order to hire more agents. Our new 3500 square foot office is now operating with 12 new team members. Back in 2016, we were a team of 5, so in just a few short years, we’ve doubled our staff––and we hope to add another 6 team members in the next three years. We take more of an ‘over staffed’ approach, so that we’re never over-promising and un der-delivering.”
After opening his initial location in Orleans, Carruthers expanded to the city’s West End, setting up shop at Carling and Kirkwood.
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shouldn’t be a face less business,” Carruthers main tains—hence his use of tech nology to further the personal experience. “When a client signs on with us, they’ve got a point of contact that they can call or email anytime, along with my own contact information.”
SO, COME FOR THE WAYITPOLICY—ORSTAYCOFFEE,FORTHEISTHEOTHERAROUND?
Kevin Carruthers—the insurance broker who’s changing the policy-buying process, one cup of coffee at a time. kevincarruthers.com
“It’s a really cool concept. We ca ter to clients that want to come in, have a coffee, and discuss their insurance policy options with a real person. This new of fice has allowed us to further that mission and continue to improve the client experience.
The Desjardins representative’s fixation with personalization comes from an honest place. Twenty years ago, the former Nissan dealership manager un derwent a life-changing experi ence, one that created a bend in his career path. “My house burnt down when my oldest daughter was 6 months old,” the devot ed family man recounts. “I had purchased my home insurance through my dad’s broker––who I had never met. I did it without really looking at the policy. I re alized that I was way underin sured. I lost about $60,000. The customer service experience throughout the process was horrible––the broker never even called me! “But the adjuster was impressed with the way I negotiated the claim. He told me I’d have a lot of success in the insurance indus try. I had always wanted to open my own business, so when the opportunity arose, I jumped ship from sales to insurance.”
Fall is right around the corner, and what better way to get into the cozy season than soaking up some of the autumnal scenery–from the comfort of your temperature controlled home, of course.
@ottventuresOttventures Explore the Ottawa Valley through the eyes of two locals. This account offers year-round content from the scenery.Ontariocasinglandscapes,surroundingshowthebestofthecountryside FACES MAGAZINE OTTAWA 88 | FACES MAGAZINE
Jessica @jessicaexploringExploring
@pushtheimpossibleImpossible Catch a glimpse of Ottawa and differ ent Canadian cities through the lens of this extraordinary photographer. From top-of-building shots of the skyline to autumn leaves scattered on city streets, this account is the perfect escape from the more gloomy fall days..
Fall is the beginning of the holiday season, and what are the holidays all about? The food. This account shows you the best eats around Ottawa, recommending the spots you can’t miss this autumn.
This account is a recommen dation hotspot, whether you’re looking for the best Ottawa food, places to see, or upcom ing local events. Her bio states her account is “your Canadian city guidebook” and we couldn’t agree more.
Unique in Ottawa, the outdoor chapel in the gardens of the Tubman Funeral Homes Garden Chapel has become a distinctive setting for a celebration to recognize an extraordinary life. Surrounded by stately trees and perennial gardens and home of the Fountain of Reflections, the outdoor chapel offers a calm environment to honour a life. The setting can be designed to hold an intimate family remembrance for as few as twenty or for a public gathering of up to 250 family and friends. 613-726-0292
@yowfoodieYOWFOODIE
www.TubmanFuneralHomes.com
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Fitch and Weggon built the companies together after Weggon invested in his short film—after the initial creation of the com panies, Jelan came on as a partner. With their first feature film on the way, and four successful short films already under their belts, while also producing content for Bell Media & CBC, Lenz Media Group is proving to have what it takes to not only keep up, but excel in the rapidly growing Canadian film
eggon Allen is a force to be reckoned with in the Ottawa film industry; he, along with his business partners, Fitch Jean (Director) and Jelan Maxwell (DOP), have seen their company Lenz Media Group grow substantially over the past two years—and they have no intention of stopping now.
Thoughindustry.Weggon’s personal journey to suc cess wasn’t without its fair share of speed bumps, potholes, and, in some cases, full road closures. He was born in Guyana, and in a move that would solidify him as a lifelong entrepreneur, he started his own business at just 5 years old, selling candy and his mother’s homemade food. When Weggon, his mother, and his broth er immigrated to Canada when he was 14 years old, he found himself falling in with a bad crowd. Weggon’s mother worked tirelessly to support their family, and his father was absent from his life at the time—so he turned to the streets to seek out a sense of belonging that he couldn’t find at home. What he found instead, was a version of himself that he isn’t proud to remember, “I was young and mad at the world,” Weggon recalls of this time. By Maijia PhotographyStevensonbySeanSisk
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“When you discover that your mind is your greatest asset, you stop feeding it bad content,” Weggon states while looking back on this time in his life, and the decision he made to turn away from the music that had both helped and hurt him. After this turning point, Weggon’s life went through a series of twists and turns, hopping from one entrepreneurial venture to the next.
When asked about his experience as a lifelong entrepreneur, Weggon broke down his philosophy and experience: “picture yourself falling into a deep river and not knowing how to swim,” he starts with his characteristic passion that has us hanging off every word, “there are only three ways of getting out: someone jumps in to save you; someone throws you a life jacket; or at that moment, you figure out how to swim. Now, add all that you have lost along the way, like time with family, friend ships, sometimes even health––and the list goes on. My entrepreneurial traits have been my life jacket, but I’ve had to learn how to swim to shore on my own.” Weggon ends this particularly insightful look into his journey with, “making it out of that river can be a costly experience, so if I have survived this long without giving up, I guess I’m doing some things right,”––looking at the success he now has as a product of this perseverance, it’s clear to see that Weggon hit the nail right on the head. Now as the owner of a successful film and photography business, Weggon balances his creative ambitions with his mind for management, “If you develop your ability to lead and master the art of
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Even under the circumstances of his youth, Weggon still had an ambition that couldn’t be held down. He formed a successful rap group called Clarence Gruff, with their music video for the single Mystery Unsolved being featured on MuchMusic. “Music played a major role in the early stage of my life—and it influenced me in a negative way at the time, even when it comes to the content I was producing as an artist,” Weggon states. “There were times when I would listen to a song and be on my way to hurt someone; mind you, this was in the 90’s, and I’ve changed so much since then.” The success of Clarence Gruff was just about to peak when it all came tumbling down, and his past on the street caught up to him—Weggon knew then that it was time for serious change.
The future is bright for Weggon Allen, who exists as a true example of where unshakeable ambition and perseverance can get you. Though his life is not without its regrets and challenges, Weggon has found his place, both in the Ottawa film industry, and as a father, husband, and member of the community. “Success in life is defined in many ways, and at different stages of your life. It absolutely has to change over time, because change is necessary for growth. The people who failed to adopt this philosophy are the ones who are still talking about their “good old days’,” Weggon explains.
“This is why I have a bad memory: I only focus on the now and how I get to the next level of achievements... when you are born with many disadvantages, there is a lot of catching up to do, so I look at success like a moving plane that can’t afford to stop.” And stop, it will not.
www.lenzmediagroup.com
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 delegating, it then allows you to see the whole board—it’s a lot like chess in that way.” Weggon goes on to explain that many entrepreneurs aren’t able to balance the two sides and end up falling flat on their face—so, an even emphasis on both creativity and results-driven management is neces sary in order to succeed. Lenz Media Group is the product of this perspective, with a strong balance of both creative vision, and a knowledge of the needs of the market informing business decisions. The group covers a variety of different subcategories of the busi ness, including Lenz Studio, Lenz Creative, Lenz Film, Lenz Rental, and the soon-to-be-debuted Lenz Academy. “We see a gap in the industry when it comes to crew development, which is why we are creating an academy to provide expe riential learning to develop people's capacity to contribute to the industry,” Weggon explains. Though this isn’t the only project on the horizon for the group. “Our goal is to expand our studio space to provide more creative sets for our cus tomers and eventually have a sound stage, and also to grow our equipment list to attract more film production compa nies to rent, since the growth in the city is up by 60% from last year. We would also like to focus on collaborating with like-minded creators to produce some great content, from films, tv series, and documentaries.”
Weggon acknowledges that this is a particularly opportune time for his company to thrive, “the film industry is grow ing rapidly in Canada and a lot of the major networks are utilizing tax credits and crews across the country to produce great movies, TV series, and documentaries,” he explains.
“The murder of George Floyd in 2020 sparked conversation and action towards change, which affected all industries in so many ways. At this time, you were able to peek in and see that there were a lot of people at the table, but none of them looked like us,” Weggon continues, highlighting the cultural shift in 2020 towards accountability and diversity in the business world—and society as a whole. “Now that it’s being talked about, every company is pushing to add more diversity and a more inclusive image to their brand. There are more opportunities for BIPOC to showcase their talent in this industry today than ever before, and it isn’t lost on us that these doors weren’t open even just a few years ago.”
the first thing that comes to your mind is probably snow-topped mountains, perfect for ski and snowboard lovers. While it’s true Banff is home to some of the greatest slopes Canada has to offer, it’s also a lush and beautiful natural landscape with a huge variety of things to do, see, and experience all year long. Here’s a few recommendations to enjoy your time in the Rocky Mountains.
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Where to stay, eat and In AlbertaBanff,
When you hear ‘Banff’
Banff has a bit of a reputation for being a party town, which is why it comes as no surprise that there’s no shortage of bars and lounges to spend the evening. For a more laid-back night, try Banff Brewing Co., a great cozy spot with a large selec tion of craft beers and light eats. For a more elevated experience, head to the luxurious Rundle Bar, located inside the Fairmont Banff Springs. Go between 4pm and 6pm to take advantage of Rundle Rush Hour, which is the lounges’ version of ‘happy hour’. Where to stay to go
Banff is a resort town, meaning there’s no shortage of accommoda tions to suit any taste or style. If you’re looking for a truly wowing experience, the Fairmont Banff Springs is the height of luxury. Canada’s “castle in the Rockies” has been around for over 130 years, with a championship golf course open in the summer, an award-winning spa, and is located just a 10 minute walk from the pictur esque town of Banff. While staying here costs a bit more than some of the other hotels in town, it’s well worth it to experience the absolute grandeur of the castle, surrounded by the lush sights of Banff National Park.
Where to eat Where
For dinner, enjoy an experience like no other by dining at Sky Bistro, located at the top of Sulphur Mountain. Ride the gondola up to the top where you’ll find a theatre, gift shop, ecology exhibit, and of course, Sky Bistro. Enjoy their fresh assortment of lo cally-inspired cuisine, with breathtaking views of the surrounding Rocky Mountains. Try the Alberta braised short rib or chorizo gnocchi, and for any vegetarians or vegans, their endive dish is life changing.
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FACES MAGAZINE | 99 ENJOY THE CHARM OF SMALL-TOWN LIVING Homes are subject to availability. All dimensions are approximate. Prices, specifications, terms and conditions subject to change without notice. E.&O.E. Register for updates: Followmattamyhomes.com/ontario/ottawaus:@mattamyhomes Enjoy a more laidback lifestyle beside the Jock River in the peaceful village of Richmond. Surrounded by essential modern amenities, you’ll have easy access to all your necessities. Plus, downtown Ottawa is as little as half an hour away. A thoughtfully planned community, Richmond Meadows places you close to parks, trails, recreational facilities and the best that life has to offer. Sales ContactOffice : 613-444-6051 | sls_richmond@mattamycorp.com
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