Faces Magazine - March/April 2023

IN THIS ISSUE

March/April 2023 - Volume 78

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

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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

Office Manager

Jonathan Rock

Contributors

Steve Warne

Dan Lalande

Duve Dagher

Alex Grant

Grace Whitmann

Mason Brown

Alex Feeney

Jordan Palleck

Courtney Wheeler

Corey Stone

Christopher Lord

Molly Burke

Garry Thom

Mark Steele

Ryan Bova

Eric MacIsaac

Kenzie Murphy

Jamie Brown

Robert Smith

Kate Wright

Meaghan Vincent

Guillaume Dubois

Connor Khonick

Todd Hamilton

Marc Paul

Catheryn Risto

Morris Miller

Contributing Photographers

Cover Photo: Sean Sisk

Chris Tanouye

John E. Sokolowski

Jana Chytilova

Andre Ringuette

Connor Armstrong

Taylor Condon

Peter Wright

Yana Klaiz

Lucas Short

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SINKS + COUNTER TOPS + TUBS

WHERE TO GO IN MARCH

THE OTTAWA HOME & GARDEN SHOW

Inspire your next home improvement by shopping stunning

A sneak preview of this season in the city.

displays featuring home-related products. Connect with industry experts and local home professionals as you tour over 300 booths.

23rd-26th

17th

8th

International Women's Day

8th19th

INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL OF OTTAWA Various Locations

This year, the Canadian Film Institute presents the third annual International Film Festival of Ottawa. This week-long exhibition showcases the best of contemporary Canadian and International cinema. From March 8-19th the festival will screen an eclectic mix of internationally acclaimed films from across from the globe at various venues in Ottawa’s downtown core.

Did you know? The most popular beer sold on St. Patrick’s Day, worldwide, is Guiness. On March 17th alone, over 13 mllion pints of the beer will be consumed.

4th

4th

I <3 BEER & TACOS FESTIVAL

Ey Centre

Aberdeen Pavillion

ST. PATRICK’S DAY

Photography by @carlamariabruno

WHERE TO GO IN APRIL

APRIL FOOLS DAY 1st

Some historians believe that April Fools Day started as early as 1582. While it is widely believed that all joke-related activities should end at 12:00pm on April 1st, April Fool’s celebrations in Scotland last for two full days.

BLUE RODEO AT THE NATIONAL ARTS CENTRE

April 1st

NATIONAL CARBONARA DAY

6th

A sneak preview of this season in the city.

SIGNATURES ORIGINALS

Earth Day

April 22nd

Browse over 150 artisans from across Canada at Ottawa’s premier spring shopping event. Signature Originals is an annual tradition that brings together artisans from coast-coast for an unforgettable showcase of handmade art and goods.

13th-16th

21st -23rd

KEVIN HART: REALITY CHECK AT THE CANADIAN TIRE CENTRE

Named the No. 1 Comedy Tour of the Year by Billboard in 2022, the tour is making its way to Ottawa this April.

14th

OTTAWA COTTAGE LIFE & BACKYARD SHOW

EY Centre

Prepare for the season ahead at the Ottawa Cottage Life & Backyard Show. Meet industry experts and explore exhibitors showing docks, construction, décor, entertainment and the latest in green home solutions.

I K E T H E S T R E E T S O F I N D I A

In India, a Dhaba offers traditional comfort food that replenishes and warms the soul. These roadside stops are incredibly popular with locals and tourists looking for a quick bite on their travels. Whether you’ve sought us out or stumbled upon us, please join us for a hearty and delicious meal that will refuel you on your journey.

By Dan Lalande

Photography by Sean Sisk

My mental health was in a horrible place,” confesses Stuart Schwartz, better known as “Stuntman Stu.” “I kept a lot to myself, ignored things, and tried to figure them out on my own.”

It’s a reference to the residual effect of living with leukemia.

The indefatigable Schwartz has fought two rounds with it. He’s still dealing with its aftereffects, physically and especially, mentally.

“This past November, it came to the point where I could no longer ignore the deep depression and PTSD I was trying to hide from my family, friends, and co-workers. I was sad. I was angry. I was lost.”

Schwartz took a much-needed sabbatical from his stint on radio’s MOVE 100, cut back on the over 200 public appearances he was giving a year, entered therapy, and spent more time with loved ones. The latter include his wife (“My rock!” he appreciatively calls her), his two teenage kids, and the countless friends and fans he has made since becoming a media mainstay in the late 1990s.

While Schwartz may be synonymous with Ottawa, he’s actually a Montrealer. Growing up, Schwartz was—surprise!—the class clown of every school he attended. “I was the kid that would always get the same comments on their report card: ‘If Stuart could apply himself more, he’d be more successful.’’ His ex-teachers might be happy to know that as far as regional radio and TV go, he’s a star pupil. As for his famous nickname, that alliteration was affixed to him by another local radio team, Doc and Woody of The Bear, after Schwartz, then an ambitious intern, upstaged a rival station at a Tragically Hip appearance.

bombarded with negative emails. But we appreciated that it would take time for people to accept a new morning routine. Angie and I are both incredibly grateful to all of the people who stuck around, listened to us, and have made us a part of their daily lives.”

person yet, but we’ve been in touch through Instagram. I was able to thank them for what they did for me.”

Schwartz is a grateful graduate of Algonquin College’s TV and Radio Broadcasting program, whose alum includes his MOVE 100 sidekick and longtime friend Angie Poirier. Says Schwartz, “Algonquin was a huge turning point for someone who did not like grade school or high school. I had great teachers and mentors there who really shaped me.”

After paying their post-college dues, Schwartz and Poirier were handpicked to provide a fresh, new presence for MAJIC 100’s top-rated morning show. It may have been a great break, but for a pair of lesserknown personalities, it was a tough transition. “The morning show we replaced had been successful for a long time,” Schwartz remembers. “When we took over, listeners were not happy. We would get

Since rebranded as MOVE, Schwartz and Poirier, along with the more recently imported Janel Steeper, continue to make magic, if not the kind spelled with a “j” anymore. “Janel’s a great addition to the team,” Schwartz enthuses, “and Angie and I have known each other forever. We’re close friends, have vacationed with our families, and have gone through major milestones together”— including Schwartz’s bravely publicized bouts with leukemia. Over the past few years, Schwartz has had the moving experience of being in contact with both of his bone marrow donors. “It’s a mind-blowing experience to meet the person who is the reason you’re still alive,” says Schwartz, reflecting on the first encounter back in 2018. “My dad had passed away several weeks before, so it was a very overwhelming and emotional moment for me, my mom, and my family. I haven’t met my second donor (from 2020) in

Thanks to their generosity, the Stuntman is back on the air, even if he’s otherwise a little less public. As mentioned, Schwartz was once almost as busy as a volunteer as he was as an on-air commodity. Part of that was due to his deepset love of community; part of it was due to his deepset love of hockey. “I had the good fortune to work for the Ottawa Senators for twelve seasons,” he marvels, referencing his days as the team’s in-game announcer. “It provided me the opportunity to work the Olympics, the NHL draft, the All-Star Game, and the Stanley Cup finals.” As for what he liked best about those assignments, Schwartz says, “I always cherished announcing a player’s first NHL goal. It’s such a huge accomplishment for them to get to such a professional level and to live out their dream.”

The much-loved Stuntman is still living out his, with gratefulness.

A Q&A WITH STUNTMAN STU:

Fave way to relax? Going for a drive in the Mustang or napping

Preferred musical artists? Huey Lewis, Michael Buble, Metallica

Top location in Ottawa? Beautiful Barrhaven!

Best moment(s) with your family?

BBQ’s by the pool

Breakthrough in broadcasting? My first solo shift, overnights at 106.9 The Bear

My jam is… My wife!

Alternate occupation? Car designer

Most watched movie or TV show? Back to the Future

The greatest moment in hockey history? Watching Alfie’s jersey retirement with my son in person

The person I was the most excited to meet ?

I was lucky enough to meet Michael J. Fox and caught him as he was running up the stairs at the NAC, he was kind enough to stop and pose for a photo

VISIT US TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR PROMOTIONS!*

Photo by Chris Tanouye/Getty Images

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HIS PRO HOCKEY CAREER, PARKER KELLY IS A FULLTIME NHL PLAYER. SURE, KELLY PROBABLY KNOCKS ON WOOD WHEN PEOPLE SAY THAT, BUT IT'S A FACT. HE HASN'T SPENT A DAY IN THE MINORS THIS SEASON.

The 23 year old from Camrose, Alberta didn't reach this point because of his highend skill. He didn't get to the NHL because he lit up the American Hockey League or because the Senators invested a high draft pick in him.

No, Kelly is a full-time NHL player because his work ethic and attitude are impossible to ignore. He's always on the unpaved extra mile – the type of player coaches go to bat for. D.J. Smith knows exactly what he's getting every

time Kelly jumps over the boards: that relentless energy and speed. And if you give the kid a chance to run you over, he'll give that a go as well.

"Parker has long been a consistently tenacious player for us," said Senators general manager Pierre Dorion, the day he signed Kelly to his current NHL contract. "He's competitive, hard-nosed, an efficient penalty killer and someone we can rely on to provide us with an energetic and determined effort every game."

While Kelly is thrilled to have played almost every Senator game this season, he does feel like it's been an up and down year.

“This is my first full season in the NHL,” Kelly said. “So you

really see the grind and the mindset you've got to have every day. And you've got to be consistent. That's one thing I'm trying to get better at is just being a good, consistent, fourth line winger. Some days, things are going to happen and you might not be the best, but it's all about flipping the page and coming right back. So it definitely hasn't been the year I wanted offensively. But I think my penalty kill and a lot of my defensive game has grown a lot. I think the offence will come, but I'm just happy with my consistency over these last like 20 or 30 games.

“Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard”

- basketball coach Tim Notke

Photo by Chris Tanouye/Getty Images

FACES: Almost everybody I spoke with about you said the same things. A leader, a great guy, works his tail off. Did someone teach you those qualities or is that something that's always come naturally?

KELLY: There are two different groups of people in that story. Obviously, my mom and my dad (Joanne and Kevin), I feel like they raised me the right way. My mom's a teacher, so it was, 'If you're not working hard at school, you're not playing hockey.' So grades came first. And my dad pretty much taught me everything I know about the game and was my biggest supporter growing up. The work they put in with me and my brother (Ashton) is something I try to take from them and put into my everyday life.

And then my coach in junior, Marc Habscheid. He's a really, really good person to have coached me in Junior. When I was 17, he sat down with me and was like, 'You know, you're kind of falling between the cracks here. If you want to get to the NHL, you've gotta play this way. You're gonna do the hard things that most guys don't want to do.' And that just clicked with me. So I think those three people in my life kind of pushed me and gave me the guidance to get where I'm at now.

How does your family feel about the rough, fearless style you play?

They're okay with it. It started in minor hockey in Camrose. We were rough to play against when hitting first happened. Our coaching staffs taught us how to hit properly. So, when we played city teams, we would rough 'em up. But when I got into junior, things kind of escalated with the peskiness or the rat mentality. I had to learn how to play on the edge. My dad kind of understood that style of play. But mom was more like, 'What are you doing? You look like an idiot out there.' But now she knows it's my job. I know how to keep it within the guidelines now and they understand it.

In 2017, you didn't get picked in the NHL Draft. So when did the Senators come into the picture?

Yeah, in my draft year, I didn't really do much of anything that season (with the Prince Albert Raiders) before Christmas. Then I had a really good second half and started to work my way onto the draft rankings. But I wasn't very high in the rankings so I wasn't too upset about not getting picked. Then, no more than ten minutes after the draft was over, my agent called me and told me I have two invites for development camps and one was the Senators. He felt like the Senators were the best fit for me personally. So the next morning, I grabbed my stuff, flew to Ottawa, and the rest is history. It's so crazy how it worked out with not getting drafted and then ten minutes later, I've got two different NHL choices.

You play a lot with Austin Watson and Dylan Gambrell, and people might not know you were all point-a-game players back in junior and college. What's the mindset of an NHL fourth liner? Do you think about offence at all now, or is it all defence, dump and chase, and hard forechecks?

Yeah, I think it's all time and place. The one thing about Junior is you're playing 25 minutes a night, all scenarios, both sides of the puck. So you kind of develop the skills for that. But when you come to the NHL, your mentality has to switch. We have other guys who are playing 25 minutes a night. So my job is to go out there and get momentum and not let whoever we're out there against get much offence. One shift you might get dealt a hand where you're in the offensive zone for 30 seconds with grade A scoring chances. And then you might get dealt a hand where you're hemmed in your zone. So you just gotta play good defence and take the highs and lows with it. But it's definitely all mental.

From a team perspective, have you been able to put your finger on why you guys had another poor start?

Yeah, I think we lost our first two games and then we won four in a row. Then we kind of turned into a team we didn't want to be. A lot of run and gun hockey and we weren't really playing with structure. There was a point where DJ and the coaches sat us down and said, 'You guys are a great team, great players, and you have a lot of potential. You guys can definitely live up to that and here's how you need to play to be successful.' And I think everyone's just been kind of buying in and playing their role and doing their job. And when that happens, good things happen for teams.

Over the last few years, you've been dealing with alopecia areata, a disorder which causes clumps of hair to fall out. Can you tell us about that?

Yeah, I was actually 17 and it was my grad day. My mom started fixing my hair, thinking it looked crooked. And she's like, 'Did the hairdresser cut you at all or run the clippers too close? And I was like, 'No, I don't think so.' There was this small bald spot and I was just like, 'Whatever.' And then things got progressively worse. At age 19, 20, 21, those years in pro, it started getting really bad. I've never really been insecure about it. I don't mind when guys poke fun or whatever.

A couple of years ago, I shaved it all off because it was getting kind of bad with the long hair. So I just let 'er go. And then this summer I actually went to a dermatologist and he gave me a pill and a spray and it worked. And my hair has actually come back pretty good. There's still a little spot on the back, but I can't see it, so it feels like I got all my hair back [laughing].

We did the Sens gala where we met all the sponsors and my girlfriend, Kiarra, was like, 'You should put some gel in, like, you actually have the hair now. So that was the first time in three or four years that I put gel in my hair. So, that was pretty cool.

Were you all hockey all the time as a kid or were there other interests?

I did everything. My other big sport is golf. That's my summer thing. I never played baseball but I wish I did. I was all school sports – track and field, cross-country, badminton, basketball, volleyball. Anything sport we could play as kids growing up, we were doing it. I'm kind of a big believer in not just playing hockey. Just get out there and play everything.

As a kid, was there a favourite place where you'd play or work on your game? Maybe an outdoor rink, driveway or a basement?

Yeah, definitely the rinks back home. I always asked to just go and hang out at the rink. It's a triplex now. Someone was always skating or practicing or watching the Kodiaks, our local junior A team. That was always the highlight of my week, going to watch them. But my backyard, that was a place where I shot a lot of pucks. And then my brother and I, playing mini sticks and video games down in the basement, like NHL Slapshot on the Nintendo Wii, all that stuff. So, yeah, a lot of memories.

What was your all-time favourite childhood hockey memory?

Kind of a crazy story, but in Bantam, we were playing Airdrie, a team just outside of Calgary. And we were the two lower ranked teams on that year, so it was a big game.

I blocked a shot in the second period and my hand was actually broken but we didn't go check until after the game. So I finished the game and ended up scoring the game winner with five seconds left. So, kind of a crazy story just the way it happened. I know it's Bantam and nothing really counts in Bantam, but it was a pretty cool feeling.

Before you told the whole story, I was thinking to myself, 'That's the most Parker Kelly thing ever, that his favorite hockey moment is blocking a shot.' But it's a great ending and a great story. Moving on, what NHL player did you most admire growing up?

Definitely Sidney Crosby. Just the way he carries himself. I think he's such a good human and the way he is with his teammates and the leader he's become, I think it's pretty cool to watch, especially when he first came into the league right from like 2005 on. He's definitely my favourite player to watch.

What's your favourite TV show?

I love Friends. My girlfriend and I always have it on. It's a big show at our house. And Formula One, Drive to Survive. Just give it a chance. I never watched Formula One in my life until that came out and it hooked me.

You just got off the ice from practice. You have a game tomorrow. How will you spend the rest of your day today?

I would just be hanging around the house. Just tidy it up a little bit. But mostly just sitting on the couch, maybe order some food in for dinner or make dinner depending on what I'm feeling. And then we have a dog, so I'll just hang out with her all day.

Photo by Chris Tanouye/Getty Images

What's her name?

Her name's Poppy. She's a miniature dachshund. A wiener dog.

Nice. What's your favourite place to eat in Ottawa?

Last year, when I was living at the Brookstreet, I was eating a lot of Fratelli. I would do that the day before every game. This year, living in Stittsville, I have done Napoli's and Cabotto's a lot. I'm a big, big Italian guy, as you can see. Love the pasta before a game

Any nicknames? Probably “Kells” right?

That's been a big one since junior. Before junior, it was P.K. Or Parks.

I've been hassling today's generation of NHL players for the general lack of creativity in nicknames. Back in the 70s, the Philadelphia Flyers had a guy named Bob Kelly. He played the same kind of game as you and had a bunch of nicknames. I want to know if you want to embrace any of his old school nicknames. How about, “The Hound?”

I like that. Yeah, I like that.

Mad Dog?

Mad Dog? Uh, I don't think I'm crazy enough to be Mad Dog.

He was also Mutt?

Yeah... [losing interest]

And finally... and this is one that still works today because he's a popular musician, but how about Machine Gun Kelly? Any interest there?

Wow. I like that. Like MGK? Yeah.

You don't have to commit to anything right now. Maybe sleep on it. How did you spend your vacation in February?

Actually, my girlfriend and I went to Disney World in Orlando. So, it was busy, lots of walk-

ing, full days. We were there for seven days and had a blast.

And you'd never been there as a kid?

No, first time. I was the big kid standing in line.

Riding the Teacups and everything, I bet.

Oh, yeah [laughing]. We did everything. Everything. It was awesome.

Lastly, would you have a message for kids out there who would love to follow in your footsteps?

Yeah. The first thing I'd probably say is don't take a day for granted. There are a lot of things that could happen and you don't really know what tomorrow holds for you. So every day playing hockey or just being a good human being is something important. My mom would tell me to say, 'School comes before hockey.'

What I want to say is that hockey creates good friendships and the life lessons that you learn are important. And I think that no matter what, if your mentality stays the same... like, I want to get to the NHL or I want to play this or do this... if you believe it, you can do it. And if you have to change something to get there, there are sacrifices that will have to happen along the way. They might seem like a lot of work, but when your dream pays off, it'll feel like it was nothing. So that's my message.

KELLY IS DEFINITELY LIVING PROOF THAT WORK ETHIC, PERSISTENCE AND ATTITUDE CAN TAKE YOU A LONG WAY IN THIS WORLD. AND THAT'S A GREAT MESSAGE FOR ANYONE.

By Steve Warne

Ottawa entrepreneur and community leader Jennifer Stewart took the pandemic to build one of the country’s most dynamic teams of communicators.

Whether managing a crisis, advising some of Canada’s largest corporations or running point on some of the biggest events in the city, #TeamSyntax is only getting started.

“Our team is not like other teams in the city or even the country. We have areas of extreme specialization that bring intense subject matter expertise and experience for our clients,” said Stewart.

Stewart founded the firm at the age of 25, without a clear business plan or way forward. Through hard work, vision and solid business intuition, Syntax is now widely known for its commitment to quality and for pushing the envelope.

Unique Specializations

“A huge value of our team is our out-of-the-box service offerings,” said Stewart. And she isn’t wrong.

This year, the Syntax team launched a number of practices and areas of specialization, including a sports practice led by two-time Olympian Lisa Weagle.

“The sports specialization is a growing need,” said Weagle. “Organizations need to understand the importance of their image and reputation more than ever before. That’s where we come in.”

Weagle is currently the point lead on experiential marketing for the Coaching Association of Canada’s Mental Health and Sport Resource Hub, among other sport-related clients looking to bring their message to the market.

Photography by Sean Sisk

Sarah Kastner was announced as the lead of Syntax’s Indigenous Partnerships and Social Purpose practice, bringing years of experience in community-engaged research and social impact projects, including a doctorate from Queen’s University.

Kastner, previously a Director of Social Development for the Native Women’s Association of Canada, is leading communications and stakeholder engagement for the Kebaowek First Nation Cultural Centre and Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada and working with the DisAbled Women’s Network of Canada.

“The Indigenous Partnerships and Social Purpose practice at Syntax is about helping organizations to advance their objectives through evidence-driven and community-engaged strategies,” said Kastner. “It’s been an honour to work in partnership with high-impact organizations and help build their capacity to make a difference.”

Events with Impact

Syntax’s events team is led by veterans in the nation’s capital. Hailing from the Ottawa Senators, Dana Telfer and Liane Mamo worked side by side for years at the hockey club before rejoining forces at Syntax to lead events for clients both in Ottawa and across the country.

When COVID-19 hit, the dynamic duo quickly leaned into new technologies and opportunities and were the successful partners of the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation as they launched their first virtual Cancer Champions Breakfast, which raised a record amount. This was one of many newly digital events that Telfer and Mamo executed flawlessly.

“Events, at their core, are all very similar. They need to be expertly managed, and details matter. Every detail matters. When you factor in online events, you have different details to manage but the outcome can be the same: a solid event that’s visually stunning,” said Telfer.

When 4-H Canada approached Syntax to transition their annual 4-H Leadership Awards from in-person to online, Syntax leaned into the compelling stories of the young people and volunteers being honoured, producing videos shot across the country.

As the pandemic wore on, we knew if we were to compete for people’s screen time, we needed to make it worth their while. These young people are truly impressive, and we wanted to show their stories, rather than just tell them. High-quality, stunning video paired with rich storytelling is a huge component of successful events today because you need your guests to feel something – to be immersed in the experience,” said Mamo.

Right: Dana Telfer

Left: Liane Mamo

Right: Lisa Weagle Left: Sarah Kastner

New Team Members

Syntax bolstered its media and advocacy presence this year, bringing in Janet Silver, former editor of iPolitics, and Megan Shaw, former CTV Ottawa reporter and journalist.

“More and more you need to bring in good people who have solid reputations to best advise clients. Bolstering our media practice has been good for our clients, and having people like Janet and Megan who have lived and breathed in newsrooms is invaluable,” said Stewart.

Strong Leadership

At Syntax’s leadership core are veteran journalist Jennifer Madigan and Director of Finance and Business Operations

Devon Larock. With a vision to scale and grow, Madigan and Larock bring discipline, systems and processes to client relations.

“We always say we want to be consistently consistent,” said Madigan. “We want our clients to know they are always going to get strong products, ideas and strategy from our team, and that takes leadership and processes that we have put in place.”

Larock manages the business operations of Syntax along with Stewart, ensuring the day-to-day of the business remains

seamless while long-term planning is always in sight.

“It’s striking that right balance between urgency today and planning for tomorrow,” said Larock. “We’re fully future-proofed and here for the long term.”

Vision for the Future

Stewart recognizes she’s only as good as her team, and by the looks of things, Syntax is just beginning to leave its long and impactful mark on the corporate and not-forprofit communities of Canada.

www.syntaxstrategic.ca

Megan Shaw

Photo courtesy: CTV Ottawa/Sean Sisk.

Right: Jennifer Madigan

Left: Devon Larock

By Dan Lalande

Photography by Sean Sisk

The media business is ever-changing. I’ve seen re-brands, name changes, and employee changes. Still, I love the broadcasting industry and have been fortunate to work alongside and learn from so many incredibly talented people.”

Who but the perpetually sunny Angie Poirier to endure and thrive in such a competitive industry?

The plucky blonde, currently part of the MOVE 100 morning team along with longtime friend and colleague Stuart “Stuntman Stu” Schwartz and the younger Janel Steeper, suffered from incredible shyness growing up. “I had no desire to be on camera or radio,” she admits. “Once I joined the industry, I had to push myself outside my comfort zone to speak in front of big crowds. Eventually, that led to an offer to be on TV!”

During her low-profile years, Poirier served as a writer-producer for TV’s The New RO. There, despite a decision to remain firmly behind the scenes, she was coerced into doing the in-game hosting for a number of area sports teams. Cue a bad case of first-time jitters. Fortunately, there was a security blanket. Fellow Algonquin College TV & Radio Broadcast alum Schwartz would be there, in the capacity of game announcer. Little did either of them know that that particular association would mark the beginning of a long and fruitful professional relationship. “We learned almost immediately that we had good working chemistry,” Poirier reflects. “It eventually paid off as radio co-hosts down the line.” Poirier went on to be the live eye for the newly launched A-Channel morning show, which eventually morphed into CTV Morning Live. Then came MAJIC, since rebranded as MOVE, again with you-knowwho. In 2018, the duo was joined by the energetic Steeper.

Like her co-stars, Poirier is thrilled to be part of such an energetic and eclectic trio. “Stu and I had long-established chemistry, but the quick chemistry we were able to build with Janel on-air came easily! It was a perfect fit when she joined us. We each have our unique perspectives. Our different walks of life and age differences make for an incredible dynamic.”

The initial move from TV to radio brought out mixed feelings in Poirier. Ultimately, though, she boldly made the move (and yes, pun intended). “Truth be told,” says Poirier, “I was ready for a change. I love the comfort of being in the studio every day just laughing with my two co-hosts—and, of course, not getting up even earlier to do hair and make-up for TV. But the skills for TV and radio are interchangeable. You have to be able to think on your feet and be very good at improv.”

Poirier, Schwartz, and Steeper do a lot of that, as they spin tunes, laud contests, and keep in admirably close contact with their much-prized listenership. “Our listeners make the gig for us every day!” affirms Poirier. “They interact with us all day, every day, through their calls, texts, and social media replies. We make it a habit to try to reply to each and every interaction. Many of those listeners have become friends!”

“Our listeners make the gig for us every day! They interact with us all day, every day, through their calls, texts, and social media replies. We make it a habit to try to reply to each and every interaction. Many of those listeners have become friends!”

Spoken like a true people person. That said, Poirier also enjoys her time out of the spotlight. Most weekends, you’ll find Poirier, her husband, and their three children boating on the St. Lawrence. An unapologetic homebody, she also enjoys yoga, reading, and just chilling.

As for anybody looking to walk in her shoes, the media veteran offers the following advice: “The secret is to be open-minded and to have as many tools in your toolbox as possible. I started off only intending to write. When I was persuaded to try TV, I very hesitantly gave it a shot. Loved

it. When I was asked to try radio, I hesitantly gave that a shot too. Loved it. If I hadn’t taken those chances, I wouldn’t have been lucky enough to have had the career that I’ve been so fortunate to have!”

A career that might someday take her where? “Who knows?” Poirier speculates. “But I do know that I’ll keep an open mind and continue to pivot with life. It’s worked out so far!”

HELPS CLIENTS REACH FOR THE SKY

by Dan Lalande

And for the past twenty years, Smith and her business partner Tim Barber have done just that unwaveringly.

Founded in 2003, Bluesky is a full-service public affairs firm providing government relations, media communications, issue management, and event design for clients looking to influence public policy. The well-respected firm partners with industry, academia, government, media, not-for-profits, and Indigenous and cultural communities, affording access to a team of seasoned journalists, former staff and MPs, political commentators, and other influencers who know how to grab a newsroom’s attention. In so doing, Bluesky brings causes stuck in the shadows into the spotlight.

Before Bluesky, the Smith-Barber tandem had been co-workers at another firm. But they shared a vision for a company that would approach its work with a greater degree of creativity, a decided advantage in the crowded GR field. “We’ve always been able to keep our ideas, insights, and tactics fresh,” says Smith. “We’re always working to take it to the next level.”

That process starts with a clear assessment and a honest audit of a client’s intentions. Says Smith, “Their goals have to align with our principles. We have to believe that we can help them. If a client comes in and they're asking for something we do not think is achievable, we will tell them that.” Adds Barber, “We always recommend that it start with a strategy. Too often, people walk in and say,

‘We want to talk to this person...we want access to this or that.’ You're not going to get access if you haven't thought it through.”

Over the past twenty years, Bluesky’s guiding hand has provided the roadmap for a wide variety of interests; if it’s in the news, being debated in Parliament, or the latest federal law, there’s a good chance that Bluesky has a client who is interested in the outcome. “We work with our clients every step of the way,” adds Smith. “We look at what the issue is, seek a solution, then implement what it takes to achieve it.”

And don’t think Bluesky’s efforts ebb and flow with changes in government. Explains Barber, “The guardrails of our politics are narrower than we think. The machinery doesn't change that much.” Adds Smith, “Every member of parliament in every government has one objective: to serve their constituents and to get re-elected. And Canada has a professional public service that we can be proud of. When you understand that principle, you can always have good government relations.”

Or great ones, according to the word of mouth that continues to affirm Bluesky’s exalted standing. “When I ask people, ‘How did you hear about us?’, they say “Oh, it’s

Examples of the firm’s long history of converting creativity into advocacy include the famous “Spread the Net” campaign, in which Bluesky mailed bed nets to MPs who had to bring them to a malaria awareness-raising reception to get them shipped to Africa. In another innovative move, Bluesky staged movie nights on Parliament Hill to champion the Canadian film industry. The team also works closely with officials on the nuts and bolts of policies and programs, helping clients deliver effective messages to decision-makers.

because you worked with so and so and they liked you.” says Smith, “It's reputational.”

“Our Bluesky team collectively has decades of connecting with people and businesses across this country—and beyond. We’re founding members of the Global Communications Alliance, a network of firms like ours all across the world. Our reach is local, provincial, national, and international,” added Barber.

As for the next twenty years, don’t expect Bluesky to slow down. Says Barber, “We are hardwired communicators.”

blueskystrategygroup.com

“Government relations can be complicated,” says Bluesky Strategy Group co-founder Susan Smith “It works better if you have a trusted reputation and strong relationships. You can only build those by working with integrity ”

By Dan Lalande Photography by Sean Sisk

By Steve Warne

In their 30th anniversary season, the Ottawa Senators continued to celebrate their past, officially retiring the number of their long-time tough guy, Chris Neil.

Photo by Chris Tanouye/Getty Images

Neil addressed his fans with an excellent speech and turned emotional when thanking his mother, Bonnie, who died in a car accident in 2005.

"OBVIOUSLY, I WOULDN'T BE WHERE I AM TODAY IF IT WASN'T FOR MY MOM AND DAD," NEIL SAID, PAUSING TO GATHER HIMSELF. "MY MOM IS NOT HERE WITH US TODAY, BUT I KNOW SHE WOULD BE SO PROUD. SHE PUSHED ME TO BE THE BEST THAT I COULD BE. SHE DROVE ME THOUSANDS OF MILES SO I COULD PURSUE MY DREAM. I WOULDN'T BE THE PERSON I AM TODAY WITHOUT HER. I MISS HER AND I WISH SHE COULD BE HERE.

"BACK IN MY FIRST YEAR, WHEN I WOULD GET IN A FIGHT, WHICH HAPPENED QUITE A BIT, I WOULD RAISE MY HANDS AFTER THE FIGHT TO GET THE CROWD PUMPED UP. BUT THE REAL TRUTH BEHIND IT WAS TO LET MY MOM KNOW I WAS OKAY."

Neil also thanked his father and three older brothers, who were all in attendance. He praised his wife, Caitlin, and their three children for their ongoing support.

Back in November, Neil's family helped the Senators surprise him with the news. Neil just thought he was recording a standard promotional video.

Don Cherry was always fond of saying, “When a crusher tries to be a rusher, he’ll end up an usher.” Whether Neil was aware of the theory or not, he effectively subscribed to it and believes he played as long as he did because he fully embraced the crusher role the Senators needed.

Back in his OHL days, Neil had to make a choice about what would get him to the NHL. Some fans would be surprised to learn the right winger was a point a game player in his last two seasons with the North Bay Centennials – the club’s top scorer in that time frame. After the Sens drafted him, he looked at the Sens’ depth chart at right wing and saw the

names Alfredsson, Marion Hossa and Martin Havlat.

It was immediately clear that Neil’s NHL opportunities as a scorer in Ottawa might be fairly limited.

But Neil could handle himself, even back then. He had no problems getting physical or sorting someone out, posting 446 minutes in penalties in those final two OHL seasons. When Ottawa needed someone to play the fourth line, tough guy role, Neil was ready.

That’s what he needed to do to play in the NHL, and for 16 years he did it beautifully. Neil was active from 2001 to 2017, with decent offensive numbers for a tough guy. He averaged just over 19 points per season.

But fans outside of Ottawa have spent the past couple of days debating whether a player like that deserves to have his number retired. Very few tough guys have their jerseys retired. What makes Neil the exception to the rule?

Well, we can start with longevity. Neil played 1026 regular season games and 95 more in the playoffs. That’s a hell of an NHL career for anyone, let alone a player who never took a shift off and would gladly throw his face in front of a slap shot if it would help his team win. The style of game he played was important, particularly in that era.

Neil seemed tireless and could change the tone of a game with a big timely hit or fight. He protected teammates, who all played a little bigger and stronger, confident that Neil had their back. And even though he’d often scrap with a smile on his face, the job was never easy. The role was physically brutal and frequently violent. Every new or veteran tough guy or random AHL call up would want to try and prove themselves against Neil. And more often than not, they failed.

Georges Laraque, probably the NHL heavyweight champion of his day, once referred to Neil and Riley Cote as, pound for pound, the toughest guys in the league.

Neil was part of the biggest runs of success the Senators ever had, going to all three conference finals in 2003, 2007 (also a Cup Final), and 2017.

Photo by Chris Tanouye/Getty Images

No one else can say that. No one. Not even Alfredsson or Phillips, whose banners now hang beside Neil's.

“The 2007 run was, in my opinion, the best run out of all of them,” Neil said last year on the 15th anniversary of the Sens only Cup final appearance. “When Alfie scored that overtime goal in Buffalo in game 5 to send us to the final, the goal wasn't even the best part. It was when we got back to the airport and there were 15,000 people at the airport waiting for us and just enough for us to drive through high fiving everyone. I'm telling you right now, there are shivers going up my back thinking about it.

“A mural of that scene should be our arena somewhere. There were enough people at the airport to fill the stadium. As we were landing, the pilot said, 'Look out your windows, boys!' We looked out and it was unreal. You're on top of the world when you see something like that.”

Now throw in the intangibles of playing your entire career with one team and making Ottawa his home. Or his massive community involvement, even to this day. Or how popular he's been with the fan base throughout his whole career and into retirement.

This isn’t a Hockey Hall of Fame discussion, which trips a lot of fans up. It’s not the same at all. This is a hockey community honouring a 16 year love affair with a man who played in all the biggest games and literally bled for this franchise again and again.

That should be good enough for anyone, and if it's not, don't panic. The night wasn't meant for you. It was a night exclusively for Neil and the fans who love him.

By Steve Warne

Photo by Chris Tanouye/Getty Images

| FACES MAGAZINE

Here’s How The

Food You Eat Can

Impact Your Mood

We’ve all heard the saying, “We are what we eat”, most often attributed to our body’s physical reactions to food. New research shows that the nutrients we put into our body impact almost every part of us, both physically and mentally. When it comes to food intake, what you eat is likely to affect how you feel. Why? The brain has first “dibs” on the body’s available supply of nutrients, meaning the effects of what we eat (good or bad) are often felt mentally first.

Here are 3 ways that the food you eat impacts your mood.

Reduce Stress

High sugar foods, processed meats, caffeine and alcohol have been associated with increased levels of cortisal – known as the“stress hormone”. Research suggests that certain foods containing omega-3 fats and vegetables may help to regulate cortisol and lower stress.

Plate Your Pick-Me-Up

Experts suggest being cautious of sugars that sneak into our“healthy”choices. Flavoured coffee is meant to give you energy but is loaded with sugar that will send you into a crash soon after. Yoghurt is often thought to be a health food, but sweetened varieties can carry up to 15 grams of extra added sugar per serving.

Trust Your Gut

The delicate microbiome of the digestive system is directly linked to our mental well-being. Poor gut health sends negative signals to the brain resulting in low moods. Foods high in Vitamin D, Zinc, Probiotics and B Vitamins can help improve the balance of your gut's microbiome.

By Dan Lalande Photography by Sean Sisk

Before you jump to the assumption that whoever wrote that sentence can’t count, you should be aware that all three personalities, who collectively form the popular MOVE 100 morning team, are Geminis (so’s this writer, but let’s not complicate things that much!) Those born under that sign tend to be playful, quick-witted, social, and, as their dual nature dictates, shy.

It’s a string of adjectives each member of the MOVE team uses to describe themselves, despite their differences in backgrounds and professional experiences.

Stu Schwartz, Angie Poirier, and Janel Steeper— you never met six nicer people.

“Radio is not just talking on the air anymore: We are on camera a lot. Whether that’s doing hits on CTV, commercials, or social media videos. The shooting and editing skills I developed have really come in handy in everything I do.”

Montreal-born Schwartz, a.k.a. “Stuntman Stu,” has been a fixture on the local media scene since the late 1990s. Poirier, the proverbial “local girl made good,” has been around almost as long. As for Steeper, she’s the new kid on the block—at least, Ottawa-wise. An import from Southwestern Ontario, the London area farm girl studied Radio and TV at Niagara College. At first, she hemmed over which medium to hitch her professional wagon to.

“I didn’t know if I wanted to do TV or radio,” she confesses. “It’s one the few programs in the country with a three-year diploma where you can learn both. I ultimately went the radio route—but I use a lot of my TV skills in my day-to-day work. Radio is not just talking on the air anymore: We are on camera a lot. Whether that’s doing hits on CTV, commercials, or social media videos. The shooting and editing skills I developed have really come in handy in everything I do. You have to be a multi-talent these days to survive.”

Once radio-fixated, Steeper set out to score a regular gig on a morning radio show. And she was willing to do what it took to get there: the long, nomadic apprenticeship of the on-air aspirant. It’s a path that took her to Yellowknife, Wingham, Chatham, Owen Sound, London, and Fredericton, to name but a few of the moves on the way to MOVE.

“Radio is not an easy career to get into,” the long-haired brunette admits. “There are limited entry-level positions, so you need to be willing to relocate. I wanted to accelerate my career quickly. I kept looking for better talent development and guidance. I wanted to hone my craft, excel, and ultimately, land in a major market. I made a lot of personal sacrifices to get there, missing countless birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays…not to mention limited time with my family and close friends—but hey, in the end, Ottawa!”

Relocating to the nation’s capital in 2018, the country girl was happy to find that nature was in such proximity. “You can escape it so easily here,” she enthuses. “I can paddle board down the Ottawa river, walk along the countless trails, or in fifteen minutes, be hiking in the Gatineau hills.”

She’s also crazy about her job, a gratitude she owes, in part, to the largesse afforded her by Schwartz and Poirier, who have known each other forever. “With any relationship, it takes time for everyone to get to know one another and feel comfortable,” Steeper theorizes, “but with Stu and Angie, it all happened very quickly and naturally. It helped that I knew that I was moving almost two months before I arrived. Over that time, there were lots of texts between the three of us—now, it feels like I’ve known them my whole life!”

As for why their collective chemistry clicks, Steeper chalks that up to a shared professional philosophy: “We all come to work with the same mindset: Let’s have fun, entertain, inform, and not take ourselves too seriously.”

Added bonus: The trio is as tight off-air as they are on. “We’re there to listen when someone needs to vent, ask for advice or is going through

something personally,” explains Steeper. Those circumstances include Schwartz’s well-publicized battles with leukemia and the topsy-turvy effects of Covid. Adds Steeper, “We’ve been there for each other through some challenging times. It makes our relationship that much stronger.”

At the moment, Steeper’s leisure hours are spent planning her upcoming wedding. Steeper and her fiancé, Adam, got engaged last March; they’ll be tying the knot at the family farm in June. When the pressure of organizing such a large, important milestone gets too much, Steeper the Gemini switches to her alternate personality: The quieter one who enjoys excursions in nature, DIY projects, and training her blue merle Australian shepherd. Says Steeper of her much-loved dog, “She is smart and eager to learn!”

Exactly like her owner.

IS TIMEBOXING THE ULTIMATE SECRET TO SUCCESS?

Is the productivity hack that Elon Musk swears by as ?simple as it sounds

Parkinson’s Law asserts that ‘work expands to fill the time available for completion’. If you’ve ever procrastinated, you’ve certainly felt the effects of this law in real-time. Over the past 100 years, multiple entrepreneurs and academics have developed techniques, generally referred to as timeboxing, to use this law to their advantage, allowing them to consistently begin and complete sessions of ‘deep work’: a win for productivity. Here’s what modern day theories (and practices) have to say about timeboxing.

Ready to knock out that to-do list? Here’s a crash course in timeboxing.

WRITE IT

CREATE THE ULTIMATE LIST

Timeboxing requires you to write down all of your large todos (or outcomes), divide them into smaller tasks, and then group them into similar tasks. Dividing overwhelming projects into manageable pieces will motivate you to reach your next milestone

TIME IT ALLOT FINITE TIME

IMPROVE IT TRACK YOUR PROGRESS

Reviewing timeboxing sessions is helpful when allocating time for tasks in the future. By tracking your productivity, you’ll be able to discover when you are most productive, and when it is best to schedule mundane work over highly analytical to-dos

Take time to assess the duration of the task, including time for breaks, food, and some unexpected interruptions. You can then choose the length of your timeboxes to fit your needs. Some time boxers choose to work for 40 minutes and break for 20. An older iteration of Martin’s timeboxing, Francesco Cirillo’s Pomodoro technique, dictates 25-minute intervals with 5 minutes of rest time between tasks

FIRST HOME SAVINGS PLAN

For those who long to buy their first home, there is some much-needed help coming in 2023! A new registered plan, aptly named the First Home Savings Account ("FHSA") would give prospective first-time home buyers the ability to save up to $40,000 on a tax-free basis, contributing a maximum of $8,000 per year. Like a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP), contributions will be tax-deductible, and withdrawals to purchase a first home, including accrued investment income/growth would be non-taxable, just like a Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA)

To open an FHSA, an individual must be a resident of Canada and at least 18 years of age. In addition, an individual must be a first-time home buyer, defined as not having owned a home in which they lived at during the calendar year before the account is opened or at any time in the preceding four calendar years

An FHSA would not be permitted to continue operating or be opened after December 31 of the year in which the earliest of these events occurs:

The fifteenth anniversary of the individual first opening an FHSA; or The individual turns 71 years old

If you are not able to utilize all $8,000 contribution room in a given year, the unused room can be carried forward to future years, again like the TFSA and RRSP Upon withdrawal, any savings not used to purchase a qualifying home may be transferred on a tax-free basis into an RRSP or Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF). Otherwise, the funds have to be withdrawn on a taxable basis. These transfers would not reduce, or be limited by, an individual's available RRSP contribution room Individuals that make a qualifying withdrawal could transfer any unwithdrawn savings on a tax-free basis to an RRSP or RRIF until December 31 of the year following their first qualifying withdrawal A nice benefit!

Investment choices are very flexible, just like a TFSA or RRSP It need not be a savings account It can hold a combination of mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, stocks, bonds, or private investments that can provide better returns depending of course on the time horizon, risk tolerance, and objectives of the investor. It seems a win-win to me!

There are several other factors and planning opportunities that are associated with this new incentive When the Canadian government officially launches the plan this year, it will provide much needed relief for first time homebuyers entering the market Paying yourself first by retaining at least 10% of your net income into savings is a great way to jumpstart your savings for a home and retirement, and if invested prudently, will serve you well over your lifetime.

If you desire more information, please contact us at Prittie Private Wealth and we will provide guidance on your journey to build savings for a home purchase or whatever other financial goal you may have

Written by Adam Prittie

Adam Prittie, CIM, BCOM Associate Portfolio Manager

A truer phrase was never spoken. The isolation brought on by the pandemic has converted even the most athletic of us into couch potatoes. And while this year’s shockingly temperate winter hasn’t forced us back inside, its atypical temperatures have wreaked havoc with ski trails, snowshoe grounds, and of course, the Rideau Canal.

Now, though, as ex-junior and semi-professional football player turned fitness entrepreneur Kevin Ling maintains in this article’s opening statement, there’s an up-and-running remedy to our inelastic tone, expanding waistlines, and waning endurance: Power Muscle & Fitness.

By Dan Lalande

Photography by Sean Sisk

“THERE’S NO BETTER TIME THAN RIGHT NOW TO GET IN THE BEST SHAPE OF YOUR LIFE.”

As the name suggests, this boutique fitness facility, known popularly as PMF, is for the recreational exerciser and the serious bodybuilder alike. PMF is divided into two streams: Basic Power, offering inclusive fitness for people of all shapes and sizes looking to push their limits, and Pit Power, for professional athletes wanting to take their training to the next level. Explains Ling, “PMF was born out of my desire to build a space that combined some of the aspects of fitness with the need to accommodate those who are into Olympic and heavy lifting.”

Believe it or not, PMF was founded at the height of the pandemic. That may have been a debilitating time for the fitness industry but for the visionary Ling, it was a golden opportunity. “In 2020,” he explains, “many fitness facilities and training studios were closing due to Covid. That resulted in new opportunities to acquire equipment and properly position myself. I knew that when we emerged on the other side, scores of people would be looking to return to the gym and their previous levels of fitness.”

Determined not just to fill a gap caused by widespread bankruptcies but to dramatically diversify Ottawa’s fitness landscape, Ling set out to offer an experience beyond those offered by the big chains and the pop-ups. “I realized as a longtime gym member and a former personal training studio owner that there was a different way of providing the fitness experience, one centered on programming, service, and value.”

Ling got a hands-on education in conditioning over the course of his storied football career. In 2022, he became the Sooners’ President and Head Coach, leading the team to its first playoff berth since 2016 and helping five players win Conference All-Star honors, plus a Rookie of the Year Award for quarterback Owen Cowan. For this, Ling won both the Ontario Football Conference Coach of the Year Award and the Brian Kilrea Excellence in Coaching Award.

Daily life in football’s trenches is the pool from which Ling borrows to create the performance atmosphere at PMF.

“We offer a range of fitness and wellness opportunities for our members,” beams an extremely proud Ling. “There’s boxing, individual or group fitness classes, Boot Camp training, and personal training sessions. We also invite guest coaches who can provide training specialty in areas such as powerlifting, bodybuilding, strength, and conditioning and dynamic stretching for athletes.”

The reverence Ling affords his coaches is significant. PMF might sound like it’s all about the quality and intensity of the workout, but its expert and accommodating staff is just as much of a draw. “We select our staff from all over the fitness spectrum,” Ling explains, “but the key commonality is how well they treat our members.”

Extremely well is the answer.

Judging from PMF’s online reviews, there’s nothing confusing about a gym co-shared by weekend warriors and big-time athletes. By all accounts, PMF is a tight-knit community.

“I read countless reviews praising the professionalism and welcomeness of our staff,” says Ling, “and that’s from everybody. It’s a healthy reminder that the key difference between fitness facilities comes down to the people who run it, the ones the members meet every day.”

Currently, Ling’s deeply appreciated staff work the floor at PMF’s two popular locations: 555 March Rd. in Kanata, and inside the Carlingwood Shopping Centre. But requests to expand, like the muscles on the clubs’ members, just keep growing. “Members who travel to our locations from the east end want us to look at a location in Orleans or the Clarence Rockland area. At the moment, though,” says Ling, “I’m focused on our existing locations and the continuation of our PMF family.”

For the immediate future, then, PMF will rest on its laurels—not that anyone really rests at PMF. You get the lean, toned, sculpted body you came looking for, whether you want it to look and feel your best or to hold your own against competitors. Ling and his highly qualified staff see to that.

Says Ling, “THAT FEELING OF APPRECIATION AND COMMUNITY IS WHAT WILL CONTINUE TO DIFFERENTIATE PMF FROM ALL OTHER LOCAL AND REGIONAL GYMS IN THE COUNTRY.”

GUIDE

Based on a theory developed by William Moulton Marston, and first seen in Cosmopolitan, here’s what your style of eating pizza says about your personality.

If you start at the bottom, and eat it with small bites, you like things to go according to plan. You don’t venture too far from the norm, and will stick to what you know best.

If you start by eating the crust, you are more spontaneous, and are more likely to try new things and strive to stand out.

How do you eat your pizza?

If you use utensils, you are an easy-going and friendly person who likes to be helpful and supportive.

If you fold your pizza, you’re an ambitious person who tends to be impatient. You like the challenge of multi-tasking, and are results-driven.

EXCEPTIONAL, AUTHENTIC ITALIAN CUISINE IN A RELAXED, CONTEMPORARY ATMOSPHERE.

OTTAWA'S LOCAL TIKTOKER ON THE RISE

As a local TikTok creator, Gabriel Yorke showcases Ottawa in all its quirks and quibbles in his unique comedic style. If you’ve ever fallen down the Tik Tok rabbit hole you might be familiar with Gabriel’s videos set to scenic views of our city.

Photography by Sean Sisk

You’re currently a student at Carleton University, what are you studying, and why did you choose this path?

I began my ‘academic career’ as a student in Environmental Engineering, and I actually hold the record in my family for the longest time in an engineering program…. One week! (Laughs) I realized that I wasn’t as interested in the field as I had thought, so I switched to the Business program because it was much broader. Once I switched, I was so much happier and more engaged in what I was learning. I think that is partially due to the fact that I can apply what I’m learning to my everday life. I’m glad I made the switch, and as a bonus, the program has a much less intense schedule than engineering, which gives me more time to make TikToks!

When did you start getting into content creation? What was a defining moment for you when you really decided to go for it?

I’ve been making videos since I was a wee lad! I, like many other kids at the age of 8 years old, went through the whole ‘making Minecraft videos for YouTube’ phase. Eventually, the content transitioned to a workout and fitness focus and I would post exercise and training videos. This transition happened when I was about 14 or 15 years old, because I was trying to get noticed by scouts for hockey. Long story short, the videos did not do that well. I think my only viewers were my mom, my dad, and my dog. It was my mom who suggested that I switch to TikTok to post my videos, and on January 1st, 2021, I created my TikTok account and posted my first TikTok. Now, this was not the first time I had downloaded the app. About a year earlier, I had found that I’d

been spending way too much time on TikTok and subsequently deleted it, swearing to never open it again.

I have actually kept that promise to this day. When I redownloaded TikTok and decided to post my first video, I swore to myself that I wouldn’t fall down the rabbit hole of spending 5 hours + a day scrolling through content. I would simply be a creator, not a consumer.

A defining moment in my ‘career’ as a creator came when I posted my first video about Ottawa in July of 2021. Looking back on it, I have absolutely no idea what possessed me to make this video. But legend has it I mentioned something about “5 reasons why Ottawa was rated the most boring city in Canada” and it got a million views in 2 days. I decided to see where I could go with that.

“PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF CREATING CONTENT FOR ME HAS BEEN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO I AM AND STAYING TRUE TO THAT PERSON ONLINE.”

Growing up, were there any people who inspired you (that you know personally or only through media/ internet) that influenced you?

I tend to get a lot of my comical inspiration from my idols, like Ryan Reynolds or Dave Chappelle, who I think have nailed the art of comedy. Alternatively, I find great inspiration from my mother. She has an incredible work ethic, one that I try to recreate every day. She’s routinely up at 5–sometimes 4–in the morning doing the stuff she needs to get done but she never ever says she’s tired. She is also the most helpful and loving person I have ever encountered. She could have just pulled a 10-hour work day after being up at 4 in the morning, and would still come out with me to the frigid winter streets of Ottawa late at night to hold the camera while I try to convince her that the stuff I’m saying is funny. She, like my dad and my sister, is very supportive and understands what I’m trying to do. She will help me come up with ideas for videos or help me work on the script of what I’m going to say. On top of being an absolute machine when it comes to work, she is also the most motivating person I know. How many other people have heard their mother say “I’m disappointed you didn’t make a TikTok today son” at 8pm on a Tuesday night?

What do you like the most about TikTok as a platform? What is one of the most surprising challenges about making content?

I really enjoy the fact that what I post to the internet can be shared by millions of people who can all enjoy and laugh at it the same way I do. I also love it when people come up to me in the street or at school and tell me how much they enjoy watching my content and that I made them laugh. I was never a popular kid in high school, so this kind of popularity is new to me. One of the most surprising challenges is trying to come up with ideas for my videos… that, or trying to combat Ottawa’s cold in the dead of winter. Seriously…a pair of thin gloves may be okay if you’re waiting at the bus stop, but when you’re standing outside for hours trying to wait for the perfect moment to say lines? That requires something a little more insulated.

What are your goals for your channel and for your career?

I hope I can take this all the way. God willing, I can make a career out of this and make people laugh for my entire life. Getting into the acting world would also be a dream come true and is also what inspires me to make these videos. I like to think of my TikTok account as a 21st century resume for anyone to see. My short-term goals, however, include getting to 100,000 followers and posting twice a week. Posting twice a week doesn’t seem like that daunting of a task, but when you’re also in university being plagued with assignments and midterms it can become quite a struggle.

What advice do you have for anyone aspiring to start their own channel?

Just start. Start today. You can think about how you will go about it for days/for months/for years but it doesn’t matter if you never actually begin. Perhaps the most important aspect of creating content for me has been trying to figure out who I am and staying true to that person online. Being yourself behind the camera will make the entire process exponentially more enjoyable.

Is it hard to put yourself out there in public?

It was at first. It did, and still does, take a lot of convincing and self-motivation for me to film these public videos. But overtime, I’ve gotten more comfortable with putting myself out there and being myself. Thankfully, I have never been camera shy which has helped me be more comfortable making these videos.

What do you like most about Ottawa? Any favourite spots or recommendations?

I like the scenery. At its heart it is a very pretty city. It's filled with colour and great architecture and not-so-crowded streets.

You recently hosted the 2023 Ottawa Awards Red Carpet on February 18th at the Shaw Centre. What was it like?

It was so much fun! One of the things I enjoy most about interviewing people is getting to hear the stories of people who I wouldn’t normally get the chance to speak to. And I spoke to a lot of people while hosting the red carpet. I spoke so much that the next day I did not have a voice. Picture me going up to customers in the footwear department at SportChek with a voice that sounds like I had been coughing for 16 hours straight asking them if they needed help finding shoes. Yes…this happened… for 8 hours…the day after hosting the red carpet.

Lastly, what’s next for you?

To be honest, I’m not sure. If you were to have told me five years ago that I’d be posting TikToks instead of playing hockey in the NHL, I would have probably broken down and cried. Also, for the longest time I thought I would go through university studying to be an engineer, but I quickly changed my mind once I got there. All this to say I have no idea what tomorrow may bring. I hope I can keep making these videos, making people laugh and ideally making people’s days just a little bit better because it is what I enjoy doing!

@gabrielyorke08

A CRASH COURSE IN: GRAPHOLOGY

The study of handwriting, known as Graphology, has been around for 1000s of years. A Graphologist study for two years at a recognized school, and can build a career working with police and investigators.

They help to analyze ransom notes from kidnappers and identify criminals by their handwriting. Expert graphologists say that there are over 5,000 different personality traits that can be seen in handwriting. While the general rules of graphology are more suggestive and may not apply to everyone, here’s a crash course in analyzing your own writing in the name of self-awareness. We suggest taking a sample of writing along for the read.

Slant

How big is your writing?

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

Size

How big is your writing?

Does it stay within the confines of a standard line, or does it jump out at every opportunity, printing much larger than normal?

If your writing is larger than normal writing on a lined piece of paper, this means you’re a generally outgoing person who likes to be noticed. If your writing is smaller than normal, you’re more withdrawn.

Upper Loops

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

Lower Loops

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

Though Graphology is an observational science (not evidencebased or proven), it can still be used as admissible evidence in court.

As a multi genre singer, songwriter and artist with hits topping 74k streams on Spotify, Shubz brings an upbeat lyrical style that is helping shed a light on Ottawa’s music scene. We sat down with this gifted freestylist to discuss his passion, determination and the process he uses for expressing his musical talents

Photography by Sean Sisk

TELL US ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND. WHERE DID YOU GROW UP AND WHAT WERE YOU LIKE AS A CHILD?

I grew up in Orleans, Ottawa for the majority of my childhood. I was really into sports since a young age playing football and basketball for competitive teams such as the Cumberland Panthers and Ottawa Pheonix respectively. I had my eyes set on becoming a professional athlete but due to severe lower back injury, I chose to take a step back from sports at the end of high school.

HOW LONG HAS MUSIC BEEN A PART OF YOUR LIFE AND HOW DID YOU COME TO REALIZE THAT MUSIC WAS THE WAY FORWARD FOR YOU?

I started listening to music as a source of motivation for my workouts and sports around seven years old and would primarily listen to Hip-Hop & Rap music.

I started writing music during high school however, never took the initial step of recording a song until one year after I graduated. There was a lot of judgement in high school and at that time I let it get to me never really spoke about the music I would write to my classmates. I found myself in a better headspace afterwards and once I recorded my first two-three songs, I knew this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Although I did not know one thing about the music industry, I was determined to make it work no matter how long it took.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR MUSIC?

How would you describe your current mood? I have a song for it all! My music is not tailored to one specific lane at all. I have Pop songs, I have Rap songs, I even have some Country and House-Party music up my sleeve. I believe the art of music is limitless and we should not set boundaries on what we can and/ or should create. The only thing I would say I like to incorporate into all my music is positivity. I love to create outlets for people to come and feel like their in a good place when they are listening to my music. With so much negative situations and issues in our world today, it is important to me to separate that for my listeners.

HOW DO YOU PUT WORDS TO PAPER? WHAT’S YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS LIKE AND WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT INSPIRE YOU THE MOST?

My favorite project so far has definitely been Don’t Let Me Go. It was the first song I decided I was going to shoot the music video outside of Canada and the entire process of creating the song and video is something I will never forget. I remember hearing the beat for the first time at a local hookah bar cafe and recording the song in Toronto while I was there shooting a music video for Gone, my first single I released. As I was recording the song, I already envisioned Morocco being the location for the music video as I stated in the first episode of my vlog series on my Youtube channel. Although the music video looked well organized, I can say that while in Morocco, the process to shoot the music video was far from easy. From location, to storyline, we had to cater everything on-site. There were very strict filming laws in Morocco, making it difficult to really record anywhere unless we had a permit from the government. But to see the final product makes it all worth it.

YOU SHOT THE MUSIC VIDEO FOR DON’T LET ME GO IN MOROCCO. WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO FILM IT THERE?

I am not sure exactly on why I was so determined to shoot this music video in Morocco. The last time I had travelled outside Canada was when I was 6 years old to go to India with my family. It struck me while I was recording the song in Toronto. I wasn’t even done the song and I was announcing to my friends that I would be shooting this music video in Morocco. We had no plan on anything but when I speak on something I want to do, I make sure I do it. I met Ashton (SIP Entertainement) for the first time the same day we were taking a flight to Africa. I’ve always been a person to step outside the comfort zone and I wanted to do just that with that project.

IF YOU COULD PERFORM ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, WHERE WOULD IT BE AND WHY?

I would love to perform in India! Although I have not been back in many years, its my roots. The people, the culture, the food is all amazing to say the least. It is also one of the top countries that listens to my music at the current moment. From what I have experienced, many indians back home love and cheer on their brothers and sisters who are in different parts of the world chasing their dreams. The people of India have shown me a ton of support and love in the past year and soon enough I will make it back to perform!

WHO ARE YOUR BIGGEST MUSICAL INFLUENCES?

50 Cent and Akon have been the biggest musical influences in my life. Those were the first two artists I remember searching up on Youtube when the platform was new. I still to this day don’t think there are any artists that I listen to more than those two. The way Akon was able to hop on hooks and verses with ease with his melodic approach was way ahead of his time and he killed each one. As I previously mentioned about my athletic career growing up, there is no better artist to listen to pre-game and during workouts than 50 Cent. He will get you pushing weights in the gym you didn’t know you can lift. Although I wouldn’t compare my artistic abilities to either of these icon artists, I do see myself following Akon’s footsteps in his musical approach when it comes to creating records. I envision myself to be a modern version of Akon just like Pop Smoke was to 50 Cent.

IN WHAT WAY WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR MUSIC TO IMPACT PEOPLE?

I hope for my music and brand to empower people. I want people to listen to my music and get inspired to do great things and to chase their goals and dreams.There does not have to be set rules on how to create art, how to take art in and even how to let it affect you. I am a person just like everyone else who was set to go to school and get a normal job but took a leap of faith into this world and I could not be more happier with my decision. The amount of messages I receive from people telling me how my music has helped them makes everything worth it.

IF YOU HAD TO MAGICALLY MASTER ONE SKILL, WHICH ONE WOULD IT BE?

I wish to master the ability to sing! Although I am not the best, I can guarantee I am way better than I was several years ago. Since a young age I would listen to artists such as Chris Brown, T-Pain and other well known singers in the music industry hoping to be able to sing like them in the future and throughout the past several years I have been learning to the best of my abilities. I feel like one of my greatest skills as an artist at the current moment is how to structure an engaging song however, if I am able to master the skill of singing then I feel that I will unlock a new level in music creation.

A WORD TO DESCRIBE THE MUSIC AND HIP HOP SCENE IN OTTAWA?

UNDERATED!!! The music and hip-hop scene in Ottawa is extremely underrated in my opinion. There is so much talent within the city that gets overlooked. Although we have been getting more exposure over the past several years, my goal is to help shed more light on our city to the world as I truly believe there is industry level talent that needs to be discovered.

IF YOU COULD COLLABORATE WITH ANY ARTIST, WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY?

If I could collaborate with any artist, it would have to be Akon. As I previously mentioned, he has been one of my greatest music influences and although he is not releasing as much music as he use to, it would be an honour to work with someone who has inspired me to create music like he did. I also feel like our styles of music would work hand-inhand.

HOW DO YOU SEE YOUR SOUND EVOLVING IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS?

I see my sound evolving into a very mainstream sound. I feel like I already have a mainstream/commerical sound however, I still feel like I have a long way to go on mastering that sound. My next project I have releasing is called Gold Roses and the music video was shot in both Morocco and Spain. In my opinion, it is one of my favorite music videos. It’s just good vibes and great scenery. I take pride in the videos I work to make as unlike many of the other hip-hop artists within the inidusty, I do not include cash, jewlery, cars, models to try and make the visuals appealing. I feel like if I can capture scenery that matches the vibe of the song, that alone is strong enough to keep viewers entertained. Gold roses is a record in which I freestyled the entire song and gives uplifting energy.

@therealshubz

10 Fast Facts

On the bunny. LATIN WORD FOR IT

Rabbits can live to be 10 or more years old and can grow up to 4 feet long.

Their teeth never stop growing. Domestic bunnies need to have their nails at least every six weeks, and monitored to make sure that their teeth aren’t overgrown and making it difficult for them to eat.

A baby rabbit is called a kit, a short form for kitten. A female is called a doe, and a male is called a buck.

Rabbits naturally live in groups. In the wild, they burrow underground. A group of burrows is called a “warren.”

Rabbits express joy by jumping and performing a ‘binky‘ doing twists and kicks in midair. They will also purr when they’re content and relaxed.

Jump Span

Rabbits can jump almost 3 feet high in one leap.

Their eyes on the sides of their head and can see almost all around them. It helps them keep a close watch for predators while they’re in the wild.

Their ears can grow up to 10 centimeters in length, and they can turn those ears 180 degrees.

They can jump almost as high as 3 feet in one leap.

Carrots aren’t a natural part of a rabbit’s diet, and can give bunnies an upset stomach if they eat too many. They eat ‘cecotropes’, which happens to be their droppings. It’s gross, but these cecotropes contain essential nutrients for our furry friends.

Rabbits are crepuscular, meaning they are the most active at dusk and dawn.

Mental Health Worker of the Year

Educational Assistant of the Year

Jenna Caron

Public Health Worker of the Year

Best Angler

Jamie Pistilli

Athlete of the Year

Brooke Henderson

Best Driving Range

Kevin Haime

Best Equestrian Stable

JM Equestrian

Best Golf Pro & Instructor

Matthew Peterson

Hockey Coach

Dave Stathos

Recreation Centre

Ray Friel

Swim Instructor

Avro Gallant

Coach of the Year

Ryan Fraser

Sports Volunteer of the Year

Mark Ouellet

Gymnastics Coach

Isabelle Beland

Sports Club

Greater Ottawa Area

Hockey League

Equestrian Coach

Veronica Grajewski

Youth Sports Program

Dave Stathos Goalie

Performance Centre

Gymnastics Facility

Starr Gymnastics

SPORTS SOCIAL SERVICES

Rosa Alicia Ramos

Social Services Worker of the Year

Alison Telford

Support Worker of the Year

Scarlett Sanabria Ramos

Health Educator of the Year

Dr. Owen Wiseman

Counsellor of the Year

Christine Harrison

Developmental Services Worker of the Year

Kristin Tillberg

EDUCATION

School Administrator of the Year

Kerry Clarke

Early Childhood Educator of the Year

Maurita Thok

Principal of the Year

Sr Nisrine Najjar

Early Childhood Educator of the Year

Maurita Thok

Special Education Teacher of the Year

Dominik Lavictoire

Elementary Teacher of the Year

Teresa Zappavigna

Secondary Teacher of the Year

Mireille Bechara

Undergraduate Teacher of the Year

Andra Smith

College Instructor of the Year

Adam Boxall

Best Summer Camp

Luv 2 Groove

Best Speciality School

Logiscool

Julie Foster

Best Daycare

Academic Providence

Best Tutor

Louisa Ho

Graduate Teacher of the Year

Karen Nelson

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Chiropractor of the Year

Alex Tieu

Dental Assistant of the Year

Nicole Melanson

Dental Clinic of the Year

Kent Street Dental Centre

Dental Hygienist of the Year

Emma Brooks

Dentist of the Year

Dr. Rami Yassine

Dermatologist of the Year

Dr. Chloe Ward

Family/General Practitioner of the Year

Myrlande Labbe

Best Fitness Centre

Inner Soul Yoga & Cycle

Foot Specialist of the Year

Alliance Podiatrie

Hearing Specialist of the Year

Karine Bosse

Life Coach of the Year

Helena Mikhael

Massage Therapist of the Year

Morgan Asquini

Best MediSpa

Westend Laser Clinic

AND VIDEOGRAPHY

DIGITAL AND SOCIAL

SHOPPING FOOD AND DINING

EVERYTHING GOOD IS IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD

Welcome to a community where a neighbourhood feel and conveniences come together. Near various shopping centres, your necessities are always at hand and downtown Ottawa is just a short drive away. Find opportunities to play and explore at local skating trails, golf courses and recreational complexes. When you’re looking for entertainment, head to the Canadian Tire Centre to cheer on the Ottawa Sens. Find space to roam and every amenity close to home at Kinwick.

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