Fine Lifestyles St. John's/Avalon Winter 2014

FineLifestyles WINTER 2014 | VOLUME 1 ISSUE 4

ST. JOHN’S/AVALON

ALAN DOYLE ON HIS NEW BOOK Where I Belong

THE DAZZLE AND SHINE

OF BOGART’S

SARAH MCLACHLAN: STAYING TRUE TO HERSELF ST. JOHN’S ICECAPS BACK IN ACTION

OUR MISSION To provide the best service through training and empowering our team; to push for growth through change, but remain constantly dedicated to people, for they are the reason our company excels.

Danny Sheehan and Dave Feaver

575 Kenmount Road, St. John’s Sales: 888.906.5421 | Service: 888.336.9374 | www.billmatthewsvolkswagen.com

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first word

FineLifestyles ST. JOHN’S/AVALON

With Fine Lifestyles editor AnnA DelAney

W

ell St. John’s/Avalon, here we are — our final issue of 2014!

What a whirlwind this year has been. From our first issue in the spring to now, our winter edition, it has been a delight bringing you this magazine.

Gracing the cover of our winter issue is the lovely Bogart’s family. It was a pleasure meeting owner Richard Rooney, his wife Cathy and their children. Richard has created quite the empire in our community with his jewelry business. A true family man, each venture shares a name with one of his children: Bogart, AJ (Atlantic Jewellers — his wholesale company) and Davanna. For their feature cover story, Bogart’s brings you their seasonal picks in their Christmas Gift Guide — you definitely don’t want to miss that!

www.finelifestyles.ca Winter 2014 Volume 1, Issue 4 Editor Anna Delaney annad@finelifestyles.ca Art Direction Amber Moon, Senior; Lisa Redden, Associate Design Natasha Burkholder, Candace Haiko Staff Writers Trina Annand, Henny Buffinga, Melanie Furlong, Tobie Hainstock, Rebecca Henderson, Tonya Lambert, Tori Stafford, Courtney Tait Cover Photography Becki Peckham Cover Christmas Tree Courtesy of O’Neill’s Gardenland

In this issue we also bring you interviews with two of Canada’s biggest musical superstars: Alan Doyle and Sarah McLachlan. While Doyle talks about his new book, Where I Belong, McLachlan opens up about life, success and being back on the road.

Photography Scott Bowering Photography, Cheri Brushett, Joe Chase, Joanne Coady, Duncan de Young, Amy Fitzpatrick, Heros Gnesotto, Erin O’Mara, Jeff Parsons, Mandee Sugimoto, Robert Young, Signal Hill Hiker Photography

Lastly, we have two special features to get you in the festive mood. Ready to shop? We’ve got your list taken care of with our Christmas Shopping Special Feature. ’Tis the season to celebrate! Since there’s no better place to have some fun than George Street, we take you there in our George Street Special Feature.

Contributing Writers Ken Beattie, Meredith Heron, Sarah Vermette

Thank you so much for welcoming us into the community this year, St. John’s/Avalon. We have enjoyed every minute!

Associate Publisher Atlantic Canada Seann P.W. Gervason seanng@finelifestyles.ca 902.476.4700 Distribution & Subscriptions seanng@finelifestyles.ca

Wishing you a beautiful, safe and happy holiday.

Anna

finemags MARKETING CONSULTANTS

@finemags

Fine Lifestyles St. John’s/Avalon is published by the Group of Fine Magazines Ltd. Fine Magazines is independently owned. Opinions expressed in Fine Magazines are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher or advertisers.

Fine Magazines does not assume liability for content.

All rights reserved. ©Fine Magazines Ltd. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. For reproduction requests, please call 306.540.3320.

Canada Post Publication Agreement #41818060. Return undeliverables to 3440 Balsam Grove, Regina, Sk, S4V 1H1

Andrew Freake Sales Manager andrewf@finelifestyles.ca 709.730.7874

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Miranda McCarthy Jennifer Tipple mirandam@finelifestyles.ca jennifert@finelifestyles.ca 709.693.1210 709.986.9871

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CONTENTS STYLE ............................................8 HEALTH AND WELLNESS........58 ARTS, DINING AND ENTERTAINMENT.......................78 SPORTS, RECREATION AND TRAVEL ............................108 HOUSE AND HOME...................117 BUSINESS...................................126

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WHEELS......................................138

COVER STORY: The Dazzle and Shine of Bogart’s.............12 SPECIAL FEATURE Your Christmas Shopping Guide.............50 ALAN DOYLE SHARES STORIES BEHIND Where I Belong.................................................78

SARAH MCLACHLAN On Life, Success and Touring Again.......86 SPECIAL FEATURE The Magic of George Street.......................98

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THE UNDENIABLE

ALLURE of Gemstones

By Trina Annand

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arilyn Monroe famously sang Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend, but it was only in the 1930s that De Beers began an aggressive marketing campaign to increase the stone’s popularity. With crystal clear white diamonds flooding the market, many people are turning to uniquely coloured diamonds and precious gemstones to create pieces as unique as their wearers. rUBY Traditionally known as July’s birthstone, this crimson beauty has been mined in Myanmar since 600 AD. More recently, rubies have been discovered in Madagascar and under the receding glaciers of Greenland, yielding stones of astounding sizes. For centuries, the gem has been associated with strength, royalty and wealth. Rubies larger than five carats are so rare and prized that the most expensive ruby ever sold went for more than $3.6 million in 2006, greatly overshadowing white diamond prices at $425,000 a carat.

Rubies have also been the traditional choice of royalty. Sarah Duchess of York received a Burmese ruby engagement ring and Queen Elizabeth II’s ruby tiara incorporates 96 stones, given to her by the Burmese people for her wedding in 1947. The precious gemstone ranges in colour from blood red and pink to pigeon’s blood — which is the most valuable and features a blue tone. The crimson colour of this stone symbolizes undying passion and courage, the perfect gift for any man or woman.

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sapphirE Historically worn by royalty as a symbol of good fortune, virtue and wisdom, this September birthstone is most known for its dark blue colour.

However, the stones can also be found in orange, purple, green and an almost coral pink colour called Padparadscha (lotus flower), which is the most valuable. In 1997, the world’s largest sapphire, at more than 61,000-carats, was discovered in Madagascar. Named the Millennium Sapphire, it is currently valued at $180 million. The stone was carved featuring the evolution of human history, with representations of historic figures like Christopher Columbus, Mozart, Newton, Shakespeare and Albert Einstein.

Legendary beauty Helen of Troy was reputed to draw her power from a large star sapphire and Jean Harlow and Elizabeth Taylor both collected the stones.

More recently, sapphires made headlines due to Kate Middleton’s stunning 18-carat engagement ring, securing Prince William’s wife as a fashion plate the world round. Often associated with stability, sapphires are the perfect centrepiece to a modern setting.

EmEralds Mined in Egypt since 1500 BC, emeralds were used to great effect by Cleopatra to emphasize and solidify her royal status. Unlike diamonds, there is no such thing as a flawless emerald; each stone has its own inclusions that make it one-of-a-kind and allow gemologists to trace the stone back to its original mine.

The gemstone can be found around the world and was even discovered in the Yukon in 1997, for those looking for a uniquely Canadian piece. Depending on where emeralds are harvested, they can range in colour from a deep green to a misty mint. Often noted as the May birthstone, the subtle glow of the emerald wowed Spanish conquistadores.

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Emeralds feature prominently in the world’s most expensive tiara. At 500 carats, the headpiece sold for more than $14 million at Sotheby’s. Recently, the stone has graced the red carpet on celebrities including Angelina Jolie, Victoria Beckham and Uma Thurman.

Encapsulating enduring love, luck and intelligence, the emerald is the ultimate statement piece for a truly unique person.

Whether you have that perfect engagement ring, an heirloom statement piece or a small token of affection in mind, the beauty and symbolism of precious stones have entranced people for centuries. With rubies, sapphires and emeralds, jewelry can go from ordinary to extraordinary.

© Forevermark 2014. Forevermark®,

®, and The Diamond. The Promise.™ are Trade Marks used under license from The De Beers Group of Companies.

A TRUE PROMISE WILL NEVER BE BROKEN

AVA L O N M A L L

|

709.570.2399

WWW.DAVANNAS.COM

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Bogart’s Top 12 Gifts

That Make you go

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Mmmmm

Pandora Unforgettable Moments Pandora offers women around the world high quality, hand-finished, modern jewelry at affordable prices.

Every woman has a story — a personal collection of special moments that makes her who she is. That is why we celebrate these unforgettable moments.

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Forevermark A True Promise Will Never Be Broken Forevermark believes in the power of promise — from our own promise of beautiful, rare and responsibly sourced diamonds to the promise imparted when you hold hands with someone you never want to let go.

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A Forevermark diamond is the ultimate expression of life’s most important promises.

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Chatham Gemstones Cultured To Perfection Smart, beautiful, real…just like her.

A Chatham Created gemstone is real, made from nature’s own crystals, in an environment with controlled conditions to allow the crystal to grow to its ultimate beauty.

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Endless Colour Your Life Jennifer Lopez and Endless have entered an exclusive partnership to introduce a brand new collection of fine jewelry. Endless is about letting each women express her personality through her jewelry. The collection will let women celebrate what is unique and beautiful about themselves.

Wear and share the best moments of your life.

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Kameleon Design Your Own Kameleon Jewelry is fun, interchangeable jewelry that is versatile and reflects a sense of individualism and style. Kameleon sterling silver comes with the added value of infinite possibilities, tailored for every mood and wardrobe change. Embrace the Kameleon motto: “Change is Natural.”

The ELLE jewelry collection, with

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classic with fine jewelry glamour, to

ELLE Style Has No Price Tag Using fashion as a benchmark for creative inspiration, ELLE jewelry designs reflect the most up-to-date, ready to wear trends. Like the pages of Elle magazine, ELLE jewelry evolves from season to season, as colours and fashion trends change.

hypoallergenic materials that resist tarnishing, offers a distinguished look and edge that is chic, modern, and bold.

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Swarovski We Add Sparkle To People’s Everyday Lives

A collection of timeless style, from modern with contemporary elegant design, Swarvoski is always feminine.

Colourful crystal jewelry creates a powerful look that stands out from the crowd.

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Tissot Swiss Made, Swiss Movement, Made In Swissland

The Tissot innovation leadership is enabled by the development of high-tech products, special materials and advanced functionality; it has a more versatile range of high quality timepieces at an attractive price than any other Swiss watch brand.

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Gucci Timepieces Gucci timepieces are renowned

for their superior quality and unique blend of Italian style and Swiss watch making craftsmanship.

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Gucci Jewelry The Gucci jewelry collection is exclusively developed, handcrafted and manufactured in Italy.

The excellence of the materials, the exclusive design and the ability to clearly predict the most significant trends have been key factors in determining the continuous success of Gucci jewelry.

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Juicy Couture……

A Premier Lifestyle Brand Juicy Couture is a fun lifestyle brand for the decidedly fashionable.

Its brand DNA is casual, glamorous, flirty, feminine, youthful, bold, recognizable, unique and expressive.

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Thomas Sabo Charm Up Your Life The charm that is playful, creative and meaningful, hip and happening.

Thomas Sabo presents a Charm Club Collection that makes the world of charms more fun. Choose your favourite to remind you of your best moments in life.

There is no limit to fantasy……

bogartsjewellers.com

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Stylish Salon

in Rising Neighbourhood

By Henny Buffinga Photos Amy Fitzpatrick

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he Headroom is a boutique salon in Paradise that offers stylish cuts and high-end services, including a spa in the salon. Thriving on a growing loyal clientele, the Headroom offers consistently great service, new styles, and a talented and innovative staff.

“We grew out of the Headroom on LeMarchant Road, which has been in business for more than 25 years,” says Eryn Wall, who owns the new location with Trish Molloy, the owner of the original establishment. “Trish and I

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worked together for a number of years, and we came up with the idea to open another location in Paradise. It’s such an up-and-coming area, and one of the fastest growing parts of the city; it just seemed like the perfect fit for us.”

“I’ve always loved hair and I always knew I would do something within this industry,” she continues. “Working with Trish Molloy has been amazing, she’s been a mentor, a partner, and she has really helped me grow as a stylist. I’m grateful for this opportunity, and the clients make it worth it every day.”

The Headroom is a Wella Concept Salon, and they carry Wella, Sebastian, and Nioxin products. Their entire staff is trained with colour and curly hair, and the salon specializes in hair extensions, carrying two of the best brands in the world: Great Lengths and Hot Heads.

They also specialize in bridal parties and event styling, including fitness competitions, and hold photo shoots within the salon as well. Their spa offers waxing, HD brows, and eyelash extensions.

The Headroom is very focused on education, and make sure their staff is absolutely up to date on everything that’s going on. “This industry is evolving all the time, and we make sure to keep up with it,” Wall says. They send stylists away for education opportunities and they make sure to keep them on their toes while in the salon.

As part of their education, they offer an apprenticeship program where people interested in the business can start by shadowing and assisting the stylists.

The Headroom stylists teach them inhouse in all areas until they are able to hold their own on the floor. It’s a pretty unique program, but Wall believes in it fully. After starting as an assistant and being groomed into a stylist herself, Wall is a great example of the success of an apprenticeship program.

An award-winning stylist, Wall has won the Wella Trend Vision Award two years in a row, and is part of Wella’s artistic team. She is also a Great Lengths educator, working across the country teaching cutting, colouring and extensions. Teaching is her true passion inside and outside of the salon.

When asking new clients why they’re looking for a new stylist, Wall finds they often say they were looking for a change they couldn’t get with their old salon. The Headroom staff makes sure to stay up on the trends and enjoys helping their clients find a new look.

This year, the Headroom is celebrating their grand opening and one-year anniversary, and would like to thank their wonderful clients and skilled staff for a great first year.

For more information about the upcoming events, check in with them online or by phone.

The Headroom Inc. 69 Karwood Drive Paradise www.theheadroomsalon.com |

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Holiday Gift Giving Guide

Alison Halleran owner Opal + Oynx Clothing 2–140 Stavanger Drive St. John’s 709.754.3100 www.opalonyx.com

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he holidays are fast approaching and it’s time to minimize those shopping lists. Here is a gift giving guide to get your through the season, so you can cross those fashionistas off your list.

Merry rebecca Minkoff baG To you! It’s the ultimate ‘It’ accessory right now. An industry leader in accessible luxury handbags, Rebecca Minkoff’s girly and subtly edgy designs can be spotted worldwide on women, celebrities and bloggers alike. With a wide range of colours and styles, the options are almost endless when it comes to Rebecca Minkoff Bags. This is a gift any gal would love to unwrap on Christmas day! oH So cozy and cHic We all know our winters can be a bit harsh at times, but that doesn’t mean your looks

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should suffer! Why not surprise her (or treat yourself!) to a coat that’s built for our climates and conditions, without sacrificing your style. At Opal + Onyx, we’ve finally found an outerwear solution that offers just that: Montreal based line, Rudsak. These coats don’t make you feel like you’re blending into a crowd; you’re going to stand out! The line offers rabbitlined hoods, slim to the body goose down, and lambskin detailing. They’re high fashion meets functionality, a must-have for this holiday season!

LocaL iS beST We can’t forget our own! It’s always a nice treat to give a little something produced by those from our own province. A sterling silver piece from Naeve Jewelry (pronounced NEE+IV) is the perfect present to ship abroad!

Handmade by St. John’s native, Anna Tobin, the pieces are inspired by Nordic minimalism and the rustic natural landscape of Tobin’s Newfoundland roots. An easy gift to ship, and appropriate for all ages, these edgy pieces should help you cross a few names off your Christmas list!

GifT cardS are ok! We don’t suggest this one for a spouse to give a spouse (then you are looking a little on the un-thoughtful side — sorry!). However, friend to friend or parents to children, go for it! If they’re getting a gift card for Opal + Onyx Clothing, it’s only going to bring a smile to their face! It’s the perfect solution for what to get for that somebody who has everything. Also, we often know stores people love, but that doesn’t mean we’ll know what they want once we go inside the store. A gift card solves this dilemma. Then there is the ‘I know what she wants but it isn’t in my budget’ scenario, why not help contribute to their funds with a gift card?

Another way we like to help with the Christmas shopping experience is to create wish lists for our customers and keep them on file. Drop in, give us a name and we can let you know exactly what your special someone wants under the tree!

50 White Rose Drive St. John‘s, NL A1A 0H5 Tel: 709-576-2001

256 Water Street St. John‘s, NL A1C 1B7 Tel: 709-739-8087

www.leboudoirlingerie.ca www.facebook.com/leboudoirfit

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MAKING HIGH-QUALITY BRANDS More Accessible in St. John’s

By Trina Annand

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Photos Mandee Sugimoto and Signal Hill Hiker Photography

t is often said that clothes make the man or woman. An outfit can make or break a special occasion, and the right outfit has the power to boost confidence. Filling a wardrobe with high quality pieces not only ensures a stunning expression of personal style, but the longevity of your investment.

In a world where malls are filled with disposable clothing options, Lush Consignment Boutique stands for quality, with a unique selection of labels from high fashion brands like Prada, Dior and Burberry to fast fashion options like H&M and Banana Republic — items you can’t find anywhere else in the province. Owner Jason Lush and his team of stylists are proving every day that great style and quality doesn’t have to mean paying full price.

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Each and every item in the store is hand picked by Lush Consignment Boutique’s experts for style and quality, and many items still have the tags on them. With the setting of a luxury boutique, Lush allows clients to relax and shop for that perfect special occasion outfit or an entire wardrobe. This unique boutique helps clients find upscale and designer outfits from around the world. Providing a one-ofa-kind shopping experience is the staff’s specialty at Lush Consignment Boutique.

A relatively new phenomenon in St. John’s, consignment shops offer high quality clothing in nearly new condition at a fraction of the original sticker price.

Along with allowing clients to reduce, reuse and recycle, consignment stores also allow savvy shoppers to clear out their closet to make room for the latest must have fashions, while recouping some of their original investment. “I have always loved fashion and finding amazing deals, I wanted to help people do the same. There are a lot of people who shop elsewhere — in New York, Toronto, London and beyond — to get the brands they love that we don’t have access to.

When they are done with that outfit they wore once, or that outfit they never wore, we’re here to help,” notes Lush.

The shop is currently focused on expanding their menswear section, too. “It’s much harder for men to find great quality pieces; we want to develop a selection to help.

There are a lot of men in the city with fantastic clothes and a great sense of style.

We’d love to work with them,” Lush says.

and a great evening of fun for friends.

Making fashion more accessible to St. John’s is the guiding principle at Lush Consignment Boutique. “We are trying to get away from disposable clothing.

Our community is coming out of a generational funk, we’re a modern city now and our retail options should reflect that,” says Lush.

Lush Consignment Boutique 110 Water Street, St. John’s 709.579.4813 www.lushconsign.ca

From silk and polyester, to supple leathers and luxurious laces in sizes 00 to 4XL, Lush Consignment boutique has something for everyone and every occasion. On November 20th, Lush Consignment Boutique, partnered with Outport Magazine, will create an extravagant night of fashion. At the Glacé Fashion Show guests can see what the boutique truly has to offer. The shop is even planning to offer private shopping parties for groups going into the holidays, allowing for one-on-one fashion advice

TOP RIGHT Jessica Hill, Jason Lush, owner, Alyse Stewart, MISSING Kennedy Lush FineLifestyles

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Light up THE NIGHT.

Sterling silver charms from $29

Introducing the new 2014 Winter Collection from PANDORA

Experience at: 20

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www.aubade.com Ph: Sven Baenziger Agence:

Exclusively available at…

Exclusively available at…

50 White Rose Drive | 256 Water Street 50 White | St. John’s Rose Drive | www.leboudoirlingerie.ca | 256 Water Street | St.| John’s /leboudoirfit | www.leboudoirlingerie.c FineLifestyles

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Edgy, Innovative, Current: Modern Looks from An Established Salon

By Henny Buffinga Photos Terry Rice and Maria Hillier

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eyond providing excellent customer service and fantastic hairstyles, Hair Factory is known not only for following the latest trends, but for setting them. With an environment that encourages creativity and skill development, Hair Factory provides the setting for greatness.

“The stylists are passionate about their work, and their excitement is contagious,” says owner of the flagship Churchill Square salon, Dale Abbott. “It makes us all want to be the very best that we can be. We’re never satisfied with the status quo, we are always working to be better.”

While the stylists at Hair Factory love their day-to-day work in the salon, their enthusiasm comes from working in an environment that fosters their skills and values their personal success, as well as that of the salon as a whole.

ABOVE Jenn Ghaney, Jessica Murphy, and Ali Bradbury

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Hair Factory recognizes they are more than just stylists: they are also designers, chemists and architects when it comes to creating new looks. “At Hair Factory, we are really proud that we have established a supportive environment that allows our stylists to indulge in their creative side,” Abbott says. “Seeing our team come together creatively makes for a highly motivated and electric atmosphere in the salon. For example, our office administrator and manager, Heather Dyke, is also a trained makeup artist and her work is fantastic — perfect for our photo shoots.

Andrea Powell, one of our estheticians, truly enjoys doing creative makeup — perfect for our fantasy looks. Jenn Ghaney, who is an artist — and has actually had her paintings shown at the Botanical Gardens — created all the backdrops for our fantasy looks. Cam Patey from our Halifax salon completed his fashion design course in Australia, so he often creates our clothing styles for clothing shoots, as well. The competitions we participate in are always truly team efforts.”

The stylists are incredibly enthusiastic and motivated at work because of the support and the education opportunities available to them. Hair Factory encourages all staff to participate in the Hair Factory Academy, which is led

by Ghaney, Ali Bradbury and Jessica Murphy. “We encourage all our stylists to develop as artists, allowing them to take risks and develop their personal style,” Abbott says.

Their education also includes travel for advanced education, and recently several staff members were in Berlin for colour education. The Goldwell Concept Salon means they are masters of colour, and they continue to learn how to push the envelope and develop innovative new styles.

Not only are their stylists up on the latest trends, which are constantly changing, they are trained in all the classic styles as well. “They are trendsetters in their own field,” says Abbott with pride. Clients who aren’t looking for an avant garde look can still count on the skilled stylists to deliver a top-notch execution of classic styles.

Continuing the award-winning streak of the salon, and of owner Abbott who was a past finalist for the Global Salon Business Awards, Hair Factory currently has several stylists competing ABOVE Bailey Squires, Leo Byrne, and Chantal Tamlyn OPPOSITE PAGE & THIS PAGE Terry Rice Photography, featuring make up by Andrea Powell FineLifestyles

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AFTER

BEFORE

in Contessa, the Canadian Hairstylist of the Year Award. Among their competing stylists is Leo Byrne — a finalist for Atlantic Hair Stylist and Extension Hair Stylist of the Year — and Melanie White, a finalist for Atlantic Hair Stylist. Furthermore, Patey, from their Halifax location, was a finalist in Canada for Goldwell’s Color Zoom competition in Berlin.

Their first-place winning look for the fantasy competition, designed

by Bradbury, Murphy, and Ghaney, showcased a 1960s inspired kaleidoscope created entirely from hair. Their other winning look, created by Byrne, Chantal Tamlyn, and Bailey Squires, was Audrey Hepburn inspired and demonstrated Hepburn in all stages of her life, with an oversized hat made entirely of hair as well.

Among their very creative staff are Jeremy Dawe and Arlene Fry, who have

recently started their own business, Hair Factory Events Stylists. With this new venture they decorate weddings, functions and holiday events around the city. Another staff member, Ida Ingram, excels at and enjoys marketing, and is a great representative for the salon at the St. John’s Board of Trade.

Along with their expansion downstairs with Hair Factory Spa, the flagship location also features a boutique by David Hynes, Rosalyn Cooper and Mary Simmons, allowing them to showcase their passion for fashion with tasteful leather purses, scarves and jewelry brought in directly from Florence, Italy.

Between the two St. John’s salons, the spa in Churchill Square, and the salon in Halifax, Hair Factory is going strong, proving they remain at the top of their game. Through constant reinvention and

ABOVE & INSET Stylist Melanie White, Make Up Heather Dyke, Photographer Maria Hillier Photography

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AFTER

BEFORE

the support of talented staff, Hair Factory remains modern, edgy and competitive.

“The Hair Factory team endeavours daily to be what our tagline says,” Abbott concludes. “Less average, more remarkable.”

To book an appointment, call Hair Factory today.

The Hair Factory Terrace on the Square St. John’s 709.726.4247 115 Cavendish Square St. John’s 709.722.6062 1475 Lower Water Street Halifax 902.492.5343 www.thehairfactory.ca

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AVAILABLE AT

www.davannas.com

www.bogartsjewellers.com

A GIFT

FOR YOU Receive a pair of ELLE Solitaire CZ earrings (a $79 value) with any ELLE purchase of $200* or more. *Before tax. While supplies last. Limit 1 per customer.

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AVALON MALL FineLifestyles

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AlwAys in Vogue H i g H Fa s H i o n For 50 Years

By Henny Buffinga Photos Erin O’Mara, Joe Chase and courtesy of Always In Vogue

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Always in Vogue is now located in a much larger storefront further east at 167 Water St., and they have rebranded themselves to reflect the high fashion nature of their wares. Always abreast of the latest styles and fashion trends, Always in Vogue is a well-established furrier that offers only the highest quality furs and sealskin products. Bernie Halloran now owns the business with his wife, Cindy. With both sons working in the store, it is a true family business. “We’re still about quality and service,” says Halloran. “We haven’t strayed. That’s the bottom line in every business, but there are different levels of it, and we maintained that highest level.”

“It’s not work to me. It never has been, ” he continues. “It’s not a job, it’s fun.”

When he was young, becoming a furrier was Halloran’s passion and he started off by working in manufacturing. He begged Benny to teach him how to be a cutter, which was the most complicated and important job in the process. Every day, Halloran came in two and a half hours early to learn from Benny at 5.30 a.m., unpaid for his time. “I was always sewing,” Halloran says. “When I first met my wife, I used to make her dresses.”

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riginally a small but successful shop in Sydney, Nova Scotia, brothers Benny and Louis Friedman opened Always in Vogue in 1964. At that time the shop was known as Vogue Furriers, and Benny’s skills as a furrier were well known across Atlantic Canada after training under master furriers in Québec in the 1950s. In 1982, Danny Williams, who many years later was to become premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, came into their shop in Sydney, Nova Scotia looking for a coat, and convinced Benny he should open a shop in Newfoundland and Labrador. In 1983, Benny and his former apprentice, Bernie Halloran, took up the challenge, and opened the doors of their first store in Newfoundland in the Murray Premises — and they haven’t looked back since.

“One Christmas long ago, I remember sitting around the Christmas tree opening presents and one of my four sisters got a hockey stick, and I got a sewing basket,” he recalls. “My father looked at my mother, and said ‘Hilda, where did we go wrong?’ My dad always joked, but he knew inside I always had this passion to create and design,” says Halloran.

When Always in Vogue moved to Newfoundland, Halloran’s passion translated well into the new province where he fell in love with sealskin. Quickly becoming an expert with the material, Halloran has led Always in Vogue to become the longest running sealskin shop in Canada, if not the world. Sealskin is more popular than ever now, and the competition has pushed Always in Vogue to develop amazing designs they are very proud of. For example, this year they are introducing a limited edition line of unique seal bags, and they will soon be introducing their new styles for 2015.

While sealskin is one of the main draws of their business, Always in Vogue also carries many types of fur, leather, sheepskin, cloth and down garments,

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as well as diversifying their selection to include stylish sealskin boots, hats, and all types of handbags. Their coats and accessories will soon be available to purchase online with shipping worldwide.

With 30 per cent of their inventory made right in the building, Always in Vogue has a carefully selected and talented staff of manufacturers. They will custom make anything for their clients so it will fit to a tee.

Their website — alwaysinvogue.ca, which will be launched this month — will allow customers to choose a style, input their measurements, and get the perfect coat sent right to their door. They also repair and update the style on older garments, and have been storing customers’ coats in Cold Storage since 1983.

Their business has expanded beyond St. John’s with a new store in Moncton, New Brunswick — which is run by Halloran’s son, Darren, and store manager, Suzie Gruenewald. As part of their constant improvement, they are also expanding their business into China, where they will be opening the first Always In Vogue store in October 2015. Always in Vogue has already opened a small factory in Northern China (Guangzhou) and they are shipping sealskin from Newfoundland to China to make bags and many other different items for their new retail location. They already have a number of opportunities to franchise in China, as well.

This move abroad offers a great prospect for expansion into a market that doesn’t have sealskin available. Bringing this into a new region will not only showcase what

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Newfoundland and Labrador has to offer in terms of raw materials, but also what we have to offer in luxury fashions.

“The sealskin industry is the most bullied industry in the world,” says Halloran, who hopes to bring sealskin to a market that doesn’t have the same qualms about it, a country that is changing the world in fashion and design.

Very limited quantities of sealskins are actually available each year. Despite a maximum catch of 400,000 seals annually, the province only caught 50,000 last year. When comparing that to major boot manufacturers, it is a very limited number. “It bothers me that the injustice towards the seal industry has gone on for so long,” Halloran continues. “It’s just easy to take advantage of the optics of the seal industry. The PETAs of the world know this and have made a business out of trying to destroy the culture and heritage of good people. The good news is the tide is turning,” says Halloran. “Truth and justice will win out. We are hoping the new markets will prove us right.”

The most rewarding part of Halloran’s work is seeing the finished products on the streets of St. John’s and abroad. “Walking down the street and seeing something we designed looking gorgeous on someone is very special,” he says. “It’s a great feeling to design something unique and have people really appreciate it.”

From a small shop in Nova Scotia, to a bustling 10,000 sq. ft. shop in downtown St. John’s, to expanding in a foreign market, Always in Vogue has maintained the old-fashioned quality and service they started with.

To see their beautiful designs, visit the shop today, or check them out soon at alwaysinvogue.ca.

MODELS Joe Chase photo by Collete Phillips. Megan Kung and Zoha robie

Always in Vogue 167 Water Street, St. John’s 310 Mountain Road, Moncton 709.722.9432 | www.alwaysinvogue.ca |

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Find Great Looks and Positive Outlooks at The Hair Connection and Samshara Spa

By Melanie Furlong Photos Mandee Sugimoto

From applying eyelash extensions to providing the latest hairstyles, the staff members at The Hair Connection and Samshara Spa have a broad range of skill sets. But they all have one thing in common: fantastic personalities.

“You’ve got to be happy to work with me,” says owner Brenda Chaytor. “Totally happy. It’s a pretty upbeat place.”

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T

he 3,500 sq. ft. location in Kensington Gate Plaza welcomes clients with such warm greetings many say they feel they’re treated like a friend. The relaxed and upbeat vibe in the reception area continues into The Hair Connection, which consists of 20 stylists’ chairs and two colour areas for privacy — one with eight chairs and one with four, for the 25 stylists. On the quieter side, Samshara Spa offers seven aesthetic rooms, a five-station nail bar and a six-chair pedicure room. Ten aestheticians and two registered massage therapists are also on staff.

Clients like Linda Fancy have been coming to The Hair Connection for years. “Tara always does a wonderful job on my hair,” she says. “She reads my mind and knows

what I want better than I do. The salon is a very lovely place to visit and is run with the utmost professionalism. I wouldn’t go anywhere else.”

Chaytor opened The Hair Connection in 1989 with four employees. Three years later, Samshara Spa opened as its sister company to provide therapeutic and aesthetic treatments for their clients.

Today, the landmark hair salon and spa has a total of 45 employees and a growing number of clients from all walks of life.

Whether the staff has one or 35 years of experience, The Hair Connection is constantly providing education. “I believe that when you’re green, you grow and when you’re ripe, you rot,” says Chaytor.

This year, 10 stylists went to Montreal to train with Redken. In August, seven more stylists went to Toronto to learn about the latest fall styles from KMS and Goldwell.

Chaytor and another stylist travelled to Berlin this fall to work with Goldwell International on the newest 2015 styles.

“We cater to the whole family in the salon and the spa,” says Chaytor. “We do a lot of families including moms, dads, boys and girls. And because we’ve been in business so long, we have clients who’ve been with us for 25 years and stylists who’ve been in the business 35 years.”

When a client comes in, the stylist provides a thorough consultation. “We find out who you are, what your interests are and what you would like at the end of the day. Sometimes what you think you want is not what you need,” says Chaytor.

“We also want to make sure the client has

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the right tools and products at home to support the style they choose.”

The staff members strive to do better for their clients every time they come in, and their hard work and dedication have paid off. The professionalism of the men and women at The Hair Connection and Samshara Spa have earned the salon approximately 30 awards, both locally and nationally, since they opened — including the 2011 Consumer’s Choice Award.

When a new hairdresser comes on board at The Hair Connection, Chaytor makes sure they have opportunities to constantly learn by being paired with a senior stylist. “Their confidence is built from day one,” says Chaytor. “They’ll take from them what they need to know to improve their own service.”

Client Steve French says the service at The Hair Connection is awesome. “It was one of my best cuts ever! I also had a great experience with the front desk team and even bought some product.”

Chaytor says she teaches her staff customer service every single day.

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“Customer service is as important as the craft when you start out,” says Chaytor.

“You show people you want them to be there. On the spa side of things, I train my team the same way.”

Samshara Spa offers a wide range of services as well as a number of specialties that set them apart: eyelash extensions, Light Concept nails and Bio Sculpture nails, electrolysis and sports pedicures for men. Samshara Spa uses Spa Dermalogica, one of the most well known lines in Canada, to treat everything from teenage acne treatments through to antiaging skin resurfacing. Staff can perform couples’ pedicures and manicures, as well as offer the latest airbrushed makeup applications to give clients a polished look for special events.

Client Colinda Ronayne says, “I’ve had regular appointments with Debbie at Samshara for six or seven years now.

She’s always very positive, pleasant and very accommodating. Samshara is lucky to have such a wonderful person as part of their staff.”

The Hair Connection and Samshara Spa want to spread their positive vibes as far as they can — they do so by helping to raise money for charity. “We do an annual hair show called Real Illusions with KMS and Goldwell to raise money for kids with cancer,” says Chaytor. “It’s an avant garde hair show that the public is invited to see. We look to all the salons in town to get involved.” The Hair Connection and Samshara Spa are also involved in fundraising for autism, breast cancer and the Health Care Foundation.

Making people look and feel better is the ultimate goal at The Hair Connection and Samshara Spa. “Bringing smiles to people’s faces makes everybody a winner,” says Chaytor.

Open Monday, Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The Hair Connection and Samshara Spa 386 Stavanger Drive, St. John’s 709.576.8900 709.576.2606 www.hairconnection.ca

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®

HOLIDAYS Limited Edition

Holiday Pendant, FREE with the purchase of $100 in JewelPops®!

Available until Dec 24th or while quantities last.

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WHERE

jewellery BECOMES

ART

Carrie Lamb, owner

J

ewellery is more than simple adornment; it is a personal declaration of one’s individuality and style. Designer Carrie Lamb, known for her visually creative pieces, has elevated her jewellery to the status of art.

Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of downtown and nestled on the Halifax waterfront, The Piazza at Bishop’s Landing is where Frida calls home.

The European charm and sophistication of Bishop’s perfectly compliments Lamb’s aesthetic.

Festooned with flowers in the summer and evergreens laden with snow during winter the Piazza at Bishop’s reminds Lamb of home. Born in England, Lamb reflects in her art the subtle yet undeniable influence of her culture. The boutique aptly called Frida; as Lamb explained, her fascination

with Norse mythology inspired the name which derives from the old Norse words “Frioa” meaning Beloved and Beautiful and “Frid” meaning inner peace and tranquility.

Weaving historical references into her signature collections, Lamb mixes metals and gems deliberately.

When asked if she preferred a specific metal, lamb replied, “Gold! If, however,

TesTimonials

“I am a collector and lover of art and jewellery. Carrie Lamb’s work is both. She has an amazing talent which I have not seen in the many countries I travel. When I discovered her shop in Halifax I was blown away by the quality and magnificent designs, not to mention the variety of unheated spectacular gem stones. Her designs are show stoppers!”

– Nancy Smithers , D.C.L., President, NNS Organics Ltd.

“We are an average couple with average incomes, and like most average people, we have big dreams and our dream was to have unique custom made wedding bands. Thankfully, our dream was bigger than our trepidation as we entered Frida, fully prepared to be turned away.

From the minute we met Carrie, our hearts loved her. She made us feel like we were as important to her as any millionaire client. We will never forget what Carrie has given to us; not just gorgeous meaningful rings, but a very special experience that we will carry in our hearts forever.”

– Rodney and Adele

I am designing for my Shield or Ocean collections, I typically incorporate both gold and silver. Yellow gold is the metal of our past and representative of the sun; thus it harbours its strength, beauty and power while the white of silver perfectly balances the piece with the femininity and mystery of moonlight. Life, as in art, is all about balance.”

Walking into Frida is most definitely a visual treat. A profusion of colour awaits in the form of stunning gemstones, pearls and diamonds.

Nothing is ordinary, everything is exclusive.

Frida is not only a destination for Lamb’s signature artisanal collections, but also for her distinctive beautifully made fine jewellery creations. All executed in 18kt, typically showcasing amazing sapphires, spinel, ruby and emeralds.

Appealing to a discerning clientele, Frida provides a bespoke design service.

Whenever possible a private consultation for custom work is encouraged. In an atmosphere that is both relaxed and sophisticated, Lamb’s attention to detail and style will ensure your visit becomes an occasion: “I am absolutely passionate about what I do and feel that therein lies my strength. My aim is always for my client to feel that their vision is fully understood and then to create a beautiful jewel that exceeds beyond expectation.”

From custom engagement rings to bejewelled cuffs, Lamb intrinsically echoes her brand’s luxury image. In Lamb’s words, “Frida represents luxury beyond brand, for the woman who defines herself.”

Frida Bishop’s Landing 6A–1477 Lower Water St. Halifax 902.492.2947 www.frida.ca

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A few of our

favourite things from…

50 White Rose Drive | 256 Water Street | St. John’s | www.leboudoirlingerie.ca | 42

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/leboudoirfit

You Dream. We Design!

www.karlandedesigns.com | 709.466.3578 | 12 Balsom Street Ext., Clarenville

Customized Jewellery

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Put Your Best Face Forward This Holiday Season

By Henny Buffinga Photos Courtesy of Satin Laser Spa

T

he holidays are all about family and friends — gathering for food, drink, and making memories that will be cherished for years to come. Holiday photographs are often snapped in candid moments, and good memories can be dampened by unflattering angles. Be prepared for the holidays by visiting Satin Laser Spa to make sure you look and feel your best.

Satin Laser Spa uses non-invasive medical esthetic technologies to help people look and feel younger, thinner and more vibrant. Their procedures offer immediate and lasting results. Owner Tammy Norman is a trained medical esthetician and laser technician, and she travels extensively to find the best medical esthetic technologies to bring to Newfoundland. As a result, Satin Laser Spa has a lot of equipment and treatments available that you just can’t find anywhere else in town.

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“Our unique technologies set us apart,” says Norman. “We’re like a candy store for adults. Anything I could think of that I would want, it’s in here. And luckily that translates very well to the needs of our clients.”

Satin Laser Spa offers a range of services with a registered massage therapist, an acupuncturist, and two other medical estheticians on staff. “We do a customized treatment plan for every client,” Norman says. “All of our staff members are very knowledgeable; clients feel comfortable talking about whatever issue they are addressing here, and most importantly, they get results.”

Among their exclusive technologies is their Saltarium, which was shipped directly from Europe. The Saltarium provides halotherapy, which helps with colds, flus, bronchitis, sinusitis, asthma, ear infections, emphysema, cystic fibrosis, dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis and more. For this treatment, clients sit inside the capsule as medical grade ground sea salt vapour is disbursed, allowing them to breathe in or soak the skin, depending what symptoms they are trying to alleviate.

pounds through diet and exercise,” Norman explains.

“She had excess skin she was hoping to tighten without surgery, and she is so pleased with her results.” Using photonuematic, infrared, ultrasound, bipolar radio frequency, and no-needle meso therapy, the Lumicell Wave 6 is able to target the different stages of cellulite and drain inches from your waist, thighs, buttocks and upper arms. “Diet and exercise can get you so far, and we can help get you the rest of the way,” says Norman. Clients typically lose anywhere from one to four and a half inches using this technology, and the inches lost during this procedure are of fatty cells, not water (individual results may vary).

Satin Laser Spa also exclusively offers HydraFacial, a mild skin resurfacing with many functions, including a hydradermabrasion, glycolic peel, extractions to clear pores, an ultra-hydration treatment, and an optional dermabuilder treatment (a peptide infusion similar to a topical Botox). “You will leave looking and feeling refreshed

Their Lipolaser treatment is unique in Newfoundland as well. The Lumicell Wave 6 is a multifaceted treatment system without needles and without pain. It has five technologies that can help drain out cellulite and tighten skin. “We had one client in particular that had lost 180

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and bright,” says Norman. This treatment is even safe for sensitive, rosacea prone skin, and deeper skin resurfacing options are also available for acne scarring, pitted skin, and deeper lines and wrinkles.

Perfect for the holidays, IPL-DPC PhotoFacial skin treatment provides a glowing look to your skin by treating broken capillaries and brown spots, decreasing pore size, and tightening skin with no downtime. The IPL-DPC also offers a safe and comfortable permanent hair removal treatment. “It is by far the most comfortable permanent hair removal treatment I have experienced,” Norman says. Their chill tip cools to minus eight degrees, and the sessions take only five to 40 minutes depending on the area being treated.

For a touch of glam on New Year’s Eve, Satin Laser Spa offers Misencil Eyelash Extensions, which can last up to six weeks and can be extended with “fill” visits. They also offer Cosmetic Teeth Whitening for the perfect Kodak smile.

With a passion for helping clients, and a personal interest in medical esthetics that grew into a successful business, Satin Laser Spa is now a leading medi-spa in Newfoundland. “I love helping transform my clients,” says Norman. “Witnessing the joy on their faces when they see the results we can give is quite rewarding. It really drives me to do what I do. I’ve had clients break down in tears and hug me due to their results. They didn’t realize these treatments were available and what a difference it could make to their lives.”

For more information about Satin Laser Spa, call today for a complimentary consultation. Gift certificates are also available online or in-store for the loved one that needs a little pampering.

Satin Laser Spa 655 Topsail Road, St. John’s www.satinlaserspa.com satinlaserspa @satinlaserspa

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BEFORE

AFTER

NATURAL SKINCARE It’s Cold. versus Look Hot...

CHEMICAL BASED NATURALLY!!

products — without health risks! Natural

Lee-Ann Fleming | Darlene McCarthy Ossetra® Wondrous Earth Lee-Ann Fleming I.C. Spa Products, St. John’s, NL

I

Darlene McCarthy

ndulge yourself this holiday season with aI.C. natural skincare regime that Spa Products promises a gorgeous glow from head 149 Airport Rd. to toe while St.staying John’snatural. Try these top tips and 709.754.7772 revel in natural beauty during the cold winter months.

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What do you get when you mix Iceberg FEED YOUR SKIN Enjoy antioxidantwater, whelk-shell, shrimp and rich seaweed, super foods such as cranberries, seapartridgeberries cucumber, capelin caviar, summer and veggies. Seaweed savory, herbs, berries and glacial mud? veggies are also a great source of vitamins Environmentally and minerals. friendly ingredients for a 100 per cent pure, natural, healthy and BE effective ACTIVE skin Exercise key and helps highly careisline. speed fresh oxygen to your skin, which

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Research indicates the ingredients you putREST on your skinBODY are as Remember…sleep vital as the foods YOUR youdeprivation put in your body.premature Toxins penetrate can cause wrinkles theand skin can cause skin irritations, mayand exacerbate skin problems! reactions or allergens and even serious SAYissues CHEERS Drinking plenty of health over time.

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Other key and Natural,and organic and green products and sea cucumber. ingredients natural skincare aremarketGET MUDDY Using a mask once a servicesinrepresent a vastproducts growing help tighten and firm the skin. seaweed (helps detox the skin) and keratin to consumers interested in healthyweek will The purity of the icebergs, sheltered from Look for natural/organic masks containing (assists in keeping the elasticity in your skin). products that are virtually chemical free. pollutants, that drift skin balancing/neutralizing Icebergalong water,the coasts However, often Natural get confused SHED OFFconsumers THE LAYERS of the island provide the oldest, purest rich anti-oxidants and nutrient binding by these and big exfoliants willterms help remove deadmanufactures surface waterandsource in thewhich world. glacial clay seaweeds, alsoComprising count confusion.

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One of here’s the difference: “natural” productreceptors in your skinown will quickly the skin’s naturalrecognize cellular structure, ourisfavourite is whelk shell,natural derived ingredients from plants, or other and benefit from natural ingredients.

Iceberg water as the base in its skin care featuring omega 3 and chitosan, which sources, and does not use potentially formulations will hydrate and neutralize diminish fine lines, creases and wrinkles. harmful chemicals in the formulatingSTAY CALM Stress dilates blood vessels the skin, enhancing the efficacy of luxury Pumpkin is also a super natural ingredient, or manufacturing of that product. Ancausing redness, dehydration and sensitive containing natural enzymes and vitamin anti-aging products — the skin. Love, laugh and skin alwayscare remember to “organic” requires asthat C that promoteproduct new cell production it the oldest water for the youngest looking plants used dry in skin the cells. product be grown,dance like no one else is in the room! helps to dissolve

skin! harvested and manufactured accordingGO NATURAL FROM THE SEA & BEto FIRM Toners set the “Eco-friendly stage for regulatory standards. orLAND!These Naturalgifts ingredients are accepted from nature inspired I.C. Spa everything else!

Natural/organic toners with green” generally refers to products by the human body and synthesized Products in the creation of Ossetra®; remove make up and dirt particles and packaging that has little or no harm to thethroughathe skin more readily, because 100 per cent pure, healthy, safe and help refresh and re-balance the skin back after it has been discardedthe skin recognizes natural ingredients to environment its natural pH level. effective skin care line responsibly or used. And remember...many productsand responds more positively to nonharvested and manufactured in STAY COVERED Now’s the time or to greenintrusive alternatives. that claim to be natural, organic Newfoundland and Labrador. It is the first switch from lightnot lotions Protect are actually so;toif cream. you are interested Ossetra® is the first natural skincare lineskincare in the world line in the natural professional and your skin products to combatyou the must inmoisturize healthy skincare to use Iceberg water and is enjoyed by professional world to use Iceberg water and is enjoyed signs of aging day and night with natural become a label reader! spas worldwide. Ossetra® promotes whole health, and potent antioxidant products. Creams by professional spas worldwide. and its innovative, go green, high quality products Ossetra® containing krill oil, which feature omega promotes whole health, and are for fine spas, wellness centres, gyms and its the innovative, Because of the northern climate, isolated 3, rich antioxidants and natural sunscreen health conscious individual alike.

Exclusive master go green, high quality products are sold location and plenty of untouched terrain, properties, are becoming extremely distributorship opportunities are still available. Please in fine spas, wellness centres, gyms and Newfoundland Labradorare providevisit our website www.ossetra-global.com or contact popular.

Native wildand mushrooms used by thetollhealth conscious individual an abundance of potent natural rawus at 709.754.7772 or call free at 1.866.443.7SPA. another key ingredient, containing alike. Exclusive master distributorship ingredients that are heavily infused with opportunities are still available. Please nature’s antioxidants and nutrients of visit www.ossetra-global.com or contact which the skin can indulge. Antioxidants FineLifestyles 47 us toll free at 1.866.443.7SPA. prevent free radicals from potentially St. John’s / Avalon

Tracy Hayley, artist

UNIQUE, GENUINE SEALSKIN JEWELRY & ACCESSORIES

sealskinjewelry@gmail.com | 709.682.7478 | www.sealedwithakiss.ca

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Have Yourself a

Local

Lovely,

Christmas

By Anna Delaney and Jennifer Tipple

Christmastime on the Avalon Peninsula — what glorious words. While it may be cold and snowy, there is something magical about it. Strolling through the city streets, picking up Christmas goodies for loved ones near and far, there is a certain warmth in the air that fights the bitter cold.

W

hen doing your Christmas shopping this holiday season, why not make an effort to shop local? Our cities and towns offer unique, high quality gifts you can’t find anywhere else. You can receive one-onone customer service and staff expertise in a relaxed atmosphere, all the fun without the stress of the hustle and bustle. Not to mention, dollars spent shopping local stay in the community and help to keep our neighbourhoods vibrant and distinct.

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At Christmas there are often extended store hours and extra benefits available such as a gift-wrapping service. And with the new parking garage at 351 Water St. and the promise of better snow clearing, downtown shopping will be a joy this winter. The downtown area has more than 3,000 off-street parking spaces and metered parking is free after 6 p.m., on weekends and statutory holidays. Churchill Square, another local shopping gem, has both metered and unmetered parking available.

And of course the holidays aren’t all about shopping. Local events such as the Annual Downtown St. John's Christmas Parade and the Downtown Christmas Parade Food Drive — the largest community event and the largest food drive in the province, respectively — are not to be missed. During the parade you can deliver letters to Santa and see the man himself. This year the parade will be on Sunday, November 30 at 12 p.m.

Local exhibitions and craft fairs are another great place to spend an afternoon.

In the next few pages you will see our Christmas Shopping Feature — consider this your guide to shopping local this holiday season. With so many options you are sure to find something for everyone on your list. Please join us in getting to know these special businesses, we know you won’t be disappointed!

SHOPPING FEATURE

ANY MUMMERS ‘LOWED IN? As the oldest souvenir store on the oldest street in the oldest city in North America, Irene’s is the perfect place to get a piece of Newfoundlandia for your friends and relatives away from home. Irene’s has something for everyone, including prints by local artist, the late George Murphy, painted row house platters and coasters, and giftware for family and professionals.

They carry Christmas ornaments, linens, and an assortment of nightlights to make your home cosy for guests. With Irene’s unique mummer prints, coasters, mugs, beer mugs and more, they give the feeling of being home for the holidays.

Irene’s | 324 Water Street, St. John’s 709.579.3316 | www.irenes.ca

TVAL IS CALM, TVAL IS BRIGHT Pamper yourself with these Swedish inspired, high-quality handmade soaps and skincare items this holiday season. Made with all natural, pristine ingredients, their products are suitable for all skin types, and these practical and fun soaps make perfect stocking stuffers. Featuring products for men, women and children, they carry full facial skincare lines and gift sets in a variety of sizes so you can find the perfect gift. This Christmas, Tval has created gingerbread, cranberry and spice, candy cane and sparkle berry soaps. To wrap up the full shopping experience they also offer free gift-wrapping, gift certificates and worldwide shipping.

Tval Skincare Inc. | 280 Water Street, St. John’s 709.579.SOAP | www.tvalskincare.com

SPRUCE UP THE MAN CAVE FOR THE HOLIDAYS Get your sports fan something he or she will really appreciate this Christmas at Maverick Sports and Collectables. With a wide selection of sports apparel, sports cards, collector’s items, sports souvenirs, as well as Newfoundland and Canadian coins, you’re sure to find something to place under the tree. Maverick carries items with logos from the NHL, NFL, MLB, NBA, UFC, NASCAR, and they are a proud supplier for the St. John’s IceCaps. Perfect for decorating the man cave, they also carry pictures, lights, clocks, signs and more. For stocking stuffers, they have mini Zambonis, Stanley Cups, Sports Lego, and toques. And just like Santa, they deliver worldwide.

Maverick Sports and Collectables | 250 Water Street, St. John’s 709.738.2888 | www.maverickcollectables.com |

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DECK THE WALLS WITH LOCAL ART THIS HOLIDAY SEASON Perfect for that spot above the fireplace, Hancock Gallery features local art from talented photographers Jonathan Hancock, Jennifer Hancock and Mike Ottogalli. Choose your favourite Newfoundland scene and print on canvas, acrylic, photo paper, fine art paper or metallic paper. Situated in the heart of downtown, this local gallery also offers custom printing, handcrafted Italian mouldings and computerized mat cutting services. The photography savvy can also transform their own photos into unique gifts for friends and family.

Pictured here are “Winter Battery” by Jonathan Hancock and “Where Old Boats Lay” by Mike Ottogalli. Celebrating the dramatic views of our shores, the colourful houses and historic settings, these prints are the perfect complement to your living room décor in time for the holiday season and they are sure to impress any out-of-towner. Visit the gallery today to check out their other limited edition prints.

Hancock Gallery | 276 Water Street, St. John’s 709.364.1764 | www.hancockgallery.ca | www.canvas.ca

Where Old Boats Lay by Mike Ottogalli Winter Battery by Jonathan Hancock

HAVE YOURSELF AN ELEGANT CHRISTMAS Looking for a festive, charming little shop with tasteful décor items this holiday season? By Sharpe Design offers many rental options for any type of event, as well as trendy home décor, giftware and seasonal items to make the perfect gift — for you or someone on your list. Have a friend that loves to entertain, or are you trying to make your home look its best for the holidays? Their selection of tea sets, throws, pillows, candles, frames, and so much more may just be that special thing. For the person decorating their own home for Christmas, they have the materials — including garlands, sprays, florals, ribbon and ornaments to trim your tree, stair railing or mantle. They also feature a great selection of figurines, wreaths and table linens.

If you are picking up your tree in Churchill Square, be sure to pop in to get a new ornament, some decorating ideas or just to say hello while warming yourself up!

By Sharpe Design Inc. Gift Shop & Event Décor 43 Churchill Square, St. John’s 709.576.7293 | www.bysharpedesign.com

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SHOPPING FEATURE

MAKE HANDMADE, BUY HANDMADE, GIVE HANDMADE Looking to make your Pinterest-inspired Christmas décor and gift ideas a reality? Urchin has a variety of beautiful, high-quality paper and art supplies that will make your crafts the envy of your social media followers. With unique cards and other finished handmade products, such as jewelry and home décor, you are sure to find an original gift for the creative person on your list. If you’re feeling lost among the supplies, Urchin can put together a customized art kit for you. Perfect for the budding artist, their Get a Start in Art kit is available in acrylic, watercolour and oil paints, as well as graphite and coloured pencil.

urchin Urchin Art Materials and Papery | 197 Water Street, St. John’s 709.237.7303 | www.urchingreen.ca Urchin is the source for creative sorts this holiday season with the Get a Start in Art kit — available in acrylic, watercolour and oil paints, as well as graphite and coloured pencil, from $38.50 to $44.50 each.

CLASSIC GIFTS FOR CHILDREN OF ALL AGES Gingersnap is Newfoundland’s original neighbourhood toy store, proudly serving children of all ages. Specializing in classic toys and gifts from around the world: French designed baby dolls, Playmobil from Germany, tea sets and spin tops. They also have Canadian made nursery furniture, Hunter boots, Jack in the boxes, and books, Calico Critters, all natural nail polish and even laser blasters. Selling every wooden food imaginable, and a thorough selection of children’s musical instruments, Gingersnap also does free gift-wrapping, and gift delivery upon request. It’s a place where everyone is welcome to come and play, and enjoy old-fashioned service. Stroller friendly, plus you can sit and feed your little one in their made in Canada glider.

Gingersnap, a modern classic. Come play!

gingersnap H A P P Y. H E A LT H Y. K I D S .

I’M DREAMING OF A CHIC CHRISTMAS Island Designs and Gifts and The Elegant Pantry offer something for everyone. Perfect for the gourmet chef on your list, they have chic kitchenware including high-end utensils, tea towels and oven mitts. Wine aficionados will love their wine glasses, holders, charms and aerators. Manly men will love the oversized beer mugs and dart board appetizer platters, and divas will adore the aprons and purses. Along with a selection of Newfoundlandjanet murphy themed stocking stuffers, baby items, bath accessories, chic proprietor furniture, ornaments, and even Grumpy Cat items, Island Designs and The Elegant Pantry will truly make your dream of a chic Christmas come true.

Island Designs and Gifts & The Elegant Pantry 170 Water Street, St. John’s | 709.579.3655 www.tinyurl/elegantpantry |

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Toys, clothes & accessories for today’s child.

Gingersnap General Store 202 Water Street St. John’s, NL A1C 1A9 janet@gingersnap.ca www.gingersnap.ca (709) 722–ABCD

Gingersnap General Store Inc. 202 Water Street, St. John’s 709.722.2223 |

Available at

NOW THAT’S COMMITMENT

295 Water St. | 709.753.4653 | thegoldentulip.ca

SHOPPING FEATURE

HATS OFF TO THE HOLIDAYS Voted the Best Place for Women’s Hats and Accessories by The Overcast, Posie Row can top your head with the best of them. With more than 20 years experience accessorizing the people of St. John’s, Posie Row has all the scarves, gloves and mittens you will need for the holiday season. They also have the biggest selection of hats in town, featuring dress hats, casual hats, fascinators and wigs. Perfect for the downtown hipster on your list, their unique sterling silver and costume jewelry is something you won’t find anywhere else.

Posie Row | 210 Duckworth St., St. John’s 709.722.2544 |

POWER THIS CHRISTMAS WITH YOUR IMAGINATION Visit Flowerchild for a traditional Christmas, featuring toys that could have been made in Santa’s Workshop. With no batteries in the store, their toys are powered by muscle and imagination. Find the perfect stocking stuffer like yo-yos, castanets, Jacob’s Ladders, ball mazes, spin tops and more.

They also feature classic wooden toys, including: mobiles, dollhouses and spaceships. Perfect for eco-conscious parents, they carry organic pajamas, handknit slippers, cloth diapers, baby carriers and natural skincare lines. If you’re pressed for time, order on their website and pick up in store, or get it shipped to your own address. Bring your kids down to play with the toys and create their list for Santa.

Flowerchild | 116 Duckworth Street, St. John’s 709.738.7375 | www.flowerchildonline.com

NATURAL, ETHICAL AND ON TREND: UNIQUE ITEMS FOR PEOPLE WHO CARE Update your image of Hempware and discover a wide array of specialty eco-friendly products, unique stocking stuffers, and funky gift items. Get cosy with handmade Padraig slippers and clothing made from strong hemp, soft bamboo, organic cotton, soy, and recycled materials. Light up your home for the holidays with natural, chemical-free candles — perfect for family members with asthma. And their one-of-a-kind jewelry features Labradorite, opalite or amber, and is perfect for a touch of glamour on New Year’s Eve. Hempware also offers fair trade men’s and women’s jewelry from the Dominican Republic and Guatemala.

Hempware 98 Duckworth Street, St. John’s | 709.738.4367 www.hempwareonline.com |

SHOPPING FEATURE

COLOUR YOUR CHRISTMAS WITH JELLYBEAN ROW From the sweeping hills of Newfoundland to the sweeping walls of open concept houses, celebrate our colourful heritage with Jellybean Row. The perfect gift for friends living on the mainland or family at home, these mailboxes, plaque mounts, stretched canvases, cards and more depict details of the Victorian and Second Empire architecture Newfoundland is known for. Based on real houses in town, the designs have details like stained glass windows, decorated mouldings and even pets on the doorstep.

For Christmas, they have created homes with snow, decorations and a warm light shining out the windows, inviting you in for a hearty scoff.

Jellybean Row | 245 Duckworth Street, St. John’s 709.691.0632 | www.jellybeanrow.com

PURE, ORGANIC SKINCARE IS IN THIS WINTER Pamper your skin for the holidays with pure organic skincare and cosmetics made with exotic blends of therapeutic essential oils that rejuvenate and restore your skin and spirit. A beautiful gift anytime of the year, Esskin offers scent-free and custom designed products for sensitive skin. This Christmas, choose a pure and beautiful gift for that special someone. Products are available on our website or at the Lotus Centre. Delivery is free within St. John’s. Find them at the Newfoundland Craft Council Christmas Craft Fair Booth 116 at the Arts and Culture Centre from Nov 20th - 23rd.

Esskin | 709.746.4039 | www.esskin.com Lotus Centre | 709.739.4429 | 52 Prescott St., St. John’s

BOOKS MAKE GREAT GIFTS! Looking to give the perfect gift this holiday season? Creative Book Publishing has just the gift for you! In Bruce Templeton’s The Man with the White Beard, sequel to the Globe and Mail bestseller The Man in the Red Suit, we continue our journey with readers as we explore the true meaning of Christmas. Another great gift idea that is sure to please that special someone on your shopping list is Island Kitchen: An Ode to Newfoundland by Chopped Canada champion Chef Mark McCrowe with photographer Sasha Okshevsky. In this cookbook, traditional indigenous ingredients and local artisan products are showcased in unique recipes that bring a new light to Newfoundland cuisine.

TUCKAMORE BOOKS • KILLICK PRESS • CREATIVE PUBLISHERS

Creative Book Publishing I 430 Topsail Rd Village Shopping Centre | St. John’s 709.748.0813 | www.creativebookpublishing.ca

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The

VAST

WORLDof Alternative Health Part 3 of 3

BY SARAH VERMETTE

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n the western world, people are used to standing in line at a pharmacy to have prescriptions filled. Too often, people misuse prescribed medicines by not completing the full prescription cycle. This causes the body to develop resistance to that drug, rendering it useless in the future. Several sources, such as the Mayo Clinic and the American College of Physicians, have reported that as this occurs on a wide-spread scale, there are fewer drugs for doctors to turn to for treatment, which could

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cause worldwide epidemics. More so, the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse issued a troubling report discussing the prevalence of prescription drugs being used for recreational use. This obviously belittles the legitimacy of what they are to be used for: to save lives.

Many conditions, but certainly not all, can be successfully treated with gentler types of treatment. There are various branches of alternative medicine that use naturally occurring or manmade substances for treatment.

Homeopathy Homeopathy is a system of medicine that treats the individual with highly diluted substances, given mainly in tablet form, with the aim of triggering the body’s natural system of healing. In its current form, homeopathy has been widely used worldwide for more than 200 years.

Aromatherapy Aromatherapy is the practice of using the natural oils extracted from flowers, bark, stems, leaves, roots or other parts of a plant to enhance psychological and physical well-being. The inhaled aroma from these essential oils is widely believed to stimulate brain function. Essential oils can also be absorbed through the skin, where they travel through the bloodstream and can promote whole-body healing.

Homeopathy is based on the principle that you can treat like with like; that is, a substance which causes symptoms when taken in large doses can be used in small amounts to treat those same symptoms. This concept is sometimes used in conventional medicine: for example, the stimulant Ritalin is used to treat patients with ADHD, or small doses of allergens such as pollen are sometimes used to de-sensitize allergic patients. However, one major difference with homeopathic medicines is that substances are used in ultra high dilutions, which makes them non-toxic.

Homeopathic medicines (which homeopaths call remedies) are prepared by specialist pharmacies.

Though little is known about the history of aromatherapy, the actual term “aromatherapy” first originated in 1937 when French chemist, Rene-Maurice Gattefosse, invented the word after a burn incident spurred his curiosity about the healing power of essential oils.

Aromatherapy is used for a variety of applications, including pain relief, mood enhancement and increased cognitive function. There are a wide number of essential oils available, each with its own healing properties.

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Naturopathy Naturopathic medicine is a distinct primary healthcare system that blends modern scientific knowledge with traditional and natural forms of medicine.

The naturopathic philosophy is to stimulate the healing power of the body and treat the underlying cause of disease.

Symptoms of disease are seen as warning signals of improper functioning of the body and unfavourable lifestyle habits.

Treating both acute and chronic conditions, naturopathic treatments are chosen based on the individual patient: their physiological, structural, psychological, social, spiritual, environment and lifestyle factors. In addition to diet and lifestyle changes, natural therapies including botanical medicine, clinical nutrition, hydrotherapy, homeopathy, naturopathic manipulation and traditional Chinese medicine/acupuncture may also be used during treatments.

Alternative therapies are a good option for people who want healthcare that is less invasive, gentler on the body and oriented to individual needs. Many people find that a more holistic approach is required to find lasting results when conventional medicine has been unsuccessful.

Others find a combination of conventional medicine and alternative methods is the most successful approach to managing overall well-being. At the same time, depending on the person, different symptoms are best treated with different modalities. Because every person is unique, what works for one person may not work for another. If venturing into this area for the first time, it may take some trial and error before finding the method that is best suited to you.

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Unlock your body’s hidden healing potential Let natural medicine show you the way

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Our African Journey

By Dr. Derrick Batten Photos Courtesy of Cowan Heights Dental Centre

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ou never know what opportunities might be around the corner, who you may meet in your day and where that could lead. I, and the entire team at Cowan Heights Dental Centre, have been fortunate to know Dr. Louis Bourget, an oral surgeon from Nova Scotia. We offered Dr. Bourget office space to provide much needed oral surgical services to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. Little did we know, this working relationship would lead us to travel to Benin, Africa

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with Dr. Bourget as part of his medical team through his family’s foundation (www.bourgetfoundation.org).

In April 2013, I had the pleasure of accompanying the Bourget team, along with a hygienist, Nicole Kielly, from our practice, to offer preventative and restorative services to patients who would otherwise not receive this type of care. We were able to help wherever we could — from sorting and unpacking medical equipment, to repairing or

extracting fractured teeth from a motorcycle accident, to assisting in the operating room repairing a cleft lip on an eight-day-old infant.

We brought donated dental supplies, thanks to Larry Abbott of Dental Supplies Limited, and beautiful pillow dresses made and donated by the children at Roncalli High in Avondale — but restrictions on luggage forced us to pack wisely. Before our departure, it was unclear if we would have water

or electricity while performing dental treatment; we had to prepare for various scenarios and this involved a lot of tools and materials. These situations make you think outside the box and improvisation is a quickly learned skill. And still, we couldn’t help but wonder if it was enough, and whether or not we could make a difference. In hindsight, we know every little thing helps. Whether you’re performing surgeries, assisting with surgeries or just organizing supplies.

Benin is a small French speaking country in West Africa, just east of Nigeria.

It is slightly bigger than the island of Newfoundland, but is home to more than 10 million people. Before our trip last year, our office manager, Joanie Trainor, was invited to join the Bourget Foundation in 2012 to the village of Zinvie. She was able to give us insight and a better understanding of what to expect, but it is truly impossible to grasp their way of life until you’ve experienced it yourself.

The images you see on TV often portray poverty and desperation. It isn’t until you’re immersed in the culture that you see and feel their tight family ties, deep religious beliefs and their perseverance to protect their children and provide for their families. They were rich in other ways and not a whole lot different from us; the women complained about their husbands, the husbands complained about their wives (they said they had too many). If a family member was sick and staying at the local hospital where we worked, the whole family came and stayed. They slept on hard floors day and night, but never left. It was very admirable to see. And on Sundays, at least in our village, everyone attends church in their Sunday best — a beautiful sight. It definitely makes you take notice and be grateful for all the benefits we are so very fortunate to experience on a daily basis.

It was an experience I am so happy to have and one I will never, ever forget.

Cowan Heights Dental Centre 181 Hamlyn Rd St John’s 709-364-2654 www.cowanheightsdental.com

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DENTAL ADVICE Dental Implants: The Future of Tooth Replacement is Already Here

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MISSING FROM PHOTO: Karen Delaney and Angela Brady.

n spite of the combined efforts of dental health professionals and patients, there are times when tooth loss is unavoidable. The most common way to replace missing teeth has been, for many years, in the form of removable dentures. Most patients have found this solution less than ideal. Many have tried paste and powder adhesives, or unsightly clips, to help stabilize their dentures with limited success.

Dr. Paul Lutz Dentist Cowan Heights Dental Centre 181 Hamlyn Rd., St John’s 709.364.2654 www.cowanheightsdental.com

Dental implants offer a much more predictable and reliable solution for the replacement of missing teeth. Whether replacing a single tooth, several teeth or the entire dentition, there are dental implant treatment options to suit every situation.

If all the upper teeth are missing, a fixed denture can be made on as few as four dental implants. In some cases it is even possible to have a fixed denture (although temporary) placed in a single day.

Dental implants were first used as a platform for tooth replacement around

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40 years ago. Of course, in the early years, they were placed by a limited group of specialists in research facilities.

As time has passed, the predictability and reliability of dental implant treatment has been proven. The ability to provide such treatment has spread all over the world. Dental implants have in fact been placed and restored by qualified dental specialists and general dentists right here in Newfoundland for more than 20 years. There is also great support from local dental laboratories that have years of experience in fabricating the tooth replacements that are attached to the implants. Every treatment option requires maintenance and dental implants are no different. Local professionals can provide essential post treatment support that patients require.

The use of dental implants can improve patients’ quality of life greatly by improving speech, function and comfort.

The future of tooth replacement is already here.

Breathe a Little Easier

By Henny Buffinga Photos Erin O’Mara and Courtesy of Respiratory Therapy Specialists

D

o you snore? Fall asleep easily during the day? These seemingly harmless and even cute characteristics may actually be an indication of sleep apnea, a common disorder that causes your breathing to pause while you sleep — making you tired and irritable during the day.

When people with sleep apnea fall asleep, their airway collapses, obstructing their breathing. This interruption may only last a few moments, but when it occurs consistently throughout the night, their blood oxygen levels drop. This can cause a strain on the body over the long term, including strain on the heart or high blood pressure, among other things.

Respiratory Therapy Specialists can help, offering home respiratory services, including diagnosis and treatment.

They provide respiratory products that can be easily used right in your own home with remote monitoring capabilities, saving clients the expense of driving into town.

Symptoms to watch for include snoring, daytime fatigue, morning headaches, high blood pressure, restless sleep, memory loss and depression. Diabetes and obesity are found to have a high correlation as well. If left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to heart attack, hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias, stroke, falling asleep behind the wheel, and other serious

issues. “It also affects mood and can induce depression because these people are simply so tired,” says Nicole Kelly-Brown, RRT clinical sleep consultant. “Often their spouses are the first ones to complain.”

Awareness of sleep apnea is more prevalent today, and upwards of one in four people is thought to have undiagnosed sleep apnea. “More and more companies are adding a sleep study to their medical examinations for employees,” says Kelly-Brown.

“Offshore companies and trucking companies especially are making it mandatory, because they are awake for such long periods and working with heavy equipment.”

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“There’s a lot of other things that can be caused by sleep apnea too,” KellyBrown adds. “For example, we have people coming in thinking they are just tired because they have diabetes. But in actuality, they might have sleep apnea and that is why their blood sugar levels are so hard to control.”

Once a client gets a referral from their personal physician, they come to Respiratory Therapy Specialists for a sleep diagnostic. Their sleep consultants will give the client a monitor to take home to see if they stop breathing during the night, as well as measuring blood oxygen levels.

When clients are diagnosed, they are given an Auto-CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine, which provides continuous pressure in the airway, essentially acting as a splint to keep it open while the client sleeps.

Because breathing is a passive process, we aren’t thinking about it while it happens (especially while we sleep),

so the machine helps keep the airway open. “With the technology nowadays, the machine is able to make it so close to how you naturally breathe,” says Jaime Williams, director of Respiratory Therapy Specialists.

With the CPAP, the respiratory therapist will download information from the machine to keep an eye on their patients, to measure compliance with the treatment and to make sure the patient is getting the proper care.

“But now, there’s an app for that!” says Williams. An app called SleepMapper

by Philips Respironics helps patients monitor their own information to see how their therapy is working on a daily basis. Patients can now see what their sleep was like the night before, and whether they are having trouble with their mask. It also contains educational material about sleep apnea and how to use their CPAP machine — providing some helpful troubleshooting for patients as well.

OPPOSITE TOP L-R Nicole Kelly-Brown, RRT - clinical sleep consultant, Jennifer Lewis –customer service representative, Kim Downs – AR administrator, Jaime Williams, RRT – director, Jessica Welsh, RRT - clinical sleep consultant, Bond Swain, RRT – operations manager, Scott Bartlett, RRT – homecare consultant.

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Not only is it simply more convenient for patients to be able to see their own information, but once they spot a problem they can just call Respiratory Therapy Specialists to ask about it, as they automatically receive the data as well. This not only saves the patient a lot of time, but in some cases, the long drive into town. “We have a huge population of patients outside of the city,” says Kelly-Brown. “It can save them literally hours driving into town for an appointment that will only last 15 minutes.”

The respiratory therapists can also make changes to the machine remotely. This will automatically update once the client puts the secure digital (SD) memory card back in, saving time for everyone. This can be a lifesaver for patients they serve in Labrador, and many people who travel for work or work offshore. “This gives them a quick fix without having to send anything down,” says Kelly-Brown.

The friendly and talented staff at Respiratory Therapy Specialists provides diagnosis, treatment and long-term support to their patients. For more information about their services or sleep apnea itself, visit their website or call today.

Respiratory Therapy Specialists Inc. 50 Pippy Place, Unit 2, St. John’s 709.579.3749 115B Roe Avenue, Gander 709.256.2693 17 Main Street, Corner Brook 709.632.2693 www.rtsatlantic.com ABOVE L-R Nicole Kelly-Brown, RRT - clinical sleep consultant, Jessica Welsh, RRT - clinical sleep consultant.

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Join the Conversation with

NewLife HeariNg HeaLtH CeNtre

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By Henny Buffinga Photos Mandee Sugimoto

ewLife Hearing Health Centre opened its doors in November 2012 and has quickly become an industry-leading provider of expert, passionate and patient-focused hearing healthcare in Newfoundland and Labrador. NewLife Hearing is a locally owned, independent audiology clinic located in the Lawton’s Building, 11 Elizabeth Ave. East in St. John’s.

NewLife Hearing offers a full range of hearing services, such as complete hearing assessments completed by a registered audiologist, hearing aid evaluations and fittings, Tinnitus (sounds in the ears) counseling, multimanufacture cleanings and adjustments, custom hearing protection, musician’s custom protection, and swim plugs.

Jillian Ryan, principal audiologist and owner of NewLife Hearing Health

ABOVE rhonda fancey, Jillian ryan RIGHT Jillian ryan MSc., aud (c) audiologist/Owner

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Centre, believes in a respectful hearing healthcare approach driven by patient needs, and supported by research evidence and professional integrity.

NewLife Hearing’s mission is to build meaningful patient relationships that support the journey to better hearing, and communication through understanding, empathy, education and family support.

“My role as an audiologist is to provide my knowledge to my patients and their families, guiding them through their hearing health, learning about their listening demands and concerns,” Ryan emphasizes. “It’s a team approach. We are fully dedicated to improving our patients’ hearing needs.”

Ryan takes an active and long-term approach to supporting patients and their overall hearing health. “There is a misconception that a hearing aid fixes the problem immediately,” she continues.

“Appropriate counseling, in combination with hearing education classes, family support, and advanced technology, improve patient communication and rehabilitation success. A hearing aid is just a small part of that process.”

NewLife Hearing is passionate about supporting its patients, and their journey to better hearing health. Ryan recommends having a baseline hearing test by the age of 55, as getting your hearing tested is the first step towards better hearing and communication. Hearing loss is the most common chronic disability in North America, and its prevalence rises with age.

According to Ryan, approximately 50 per cent of those with hearing loss are under the age of 60. Symptoms are often so subtle individuals fail to realize they are affected — often saying they can hear, but just can’t understand.

Listen for Jillian Ryan on the NewLife Hearing Health Minute on VOCM Thursday mornings with Claudette Barnes, and keep an eye out for her Expert Advice column in Fine Lifestyles St. John’s and Avalon.

NewLife Hearing Health Centre 11 Elizabeth Avenue, Suite 202, Lawton’s Building, St. John’s 709.800.7343 www.newlifehearing.ca

“NewLife Hearing spells professionalism. From a pleasant reception to a competent assessment, one is treated with dignity and respect.

Ms. Ryan displayed knowledge, understanding, caring and a high level of service… in my opinion NewLife is at the top of the ladder."

Roland A. “After sudden and complete loss of hearing in one ear, I sought help at two other hearing clinics in St. John’s.

Neither clinic could address my problem appropriately, leaving me unsatisfied, depressed and attempting to cope with hearing in one ear. Then I was introduced to Jillian Ryan at NewLife Hearing Health Centre, who offered hearing aid technology that specially addressed my hearing loss.

With the follow-up care provided by Jillian and Rhonda I am now coping better than I ever thought possible!”

Steve W.

At NewLife Hearing, the patient’s partner and family are considered to be a key part of the process. “It is very important that the patient has a strong support network,” Ryan says. “We believe in educating our patients and their families as part of the whole process to improve communication. Hearing loss affects everyone we communicate with — our loved ones often the most.”

As such, NewLife Hearing offers complimentary hearing education classes as part of every fitting. The patients and their families learn tips and strategies on how to incorporate their new hearing device into their new hearing world, and ultimately learn how to become better listeners.

“As Newfoundlanders, we love to engage in conversation,” she adds. “It’s all about sharing a cup of tea, laughing, telling stories, and not being able take part in that is very difficult. I help my patients see they don’t have to become disengaged from their lives, withdrawing from the things they once enjoyed. They can take control and get their lives back with better hearing.”

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Your ENERGY Starts HERE

By Trina Annand Photos Mandee Sugimoto

E

veryday life takes its toll on a person’s body, and as we age the effects are amplified. This is why it is so important to approach fitness as a means to overall good health and wellness, not simply for weight loss or mass gain — these quick fixes are not sustainable. At the capital city’s only athletic club fitness facility, members can enjoy the benefits of cutting edge fitness equipment with the helping hand of truly passionate trainers who are invested in their well-being. At The Energy Company, better health and more energy go handin-hand, making every day a great day.

dedicated to their success as they are.

With more than 75 years of combined experience in the fitness industry, the experts at the gym have developed a unique system to achieve the best results for each client. “Our training philosophy focuses on corrective exercise first, then we assess any injuries that may have incurred over time and we put people back together. Overall wellness is key to our approach. Once they are moving better, we start working on their overall strength and goals. Our goal is to improve people’s overall health and quality of life,” says owner Michael O’Neil.

Upon entering The Energy Company, clients are greeted by a relaxing spa-like atmosphere and a friendly face that is as

With a master’s degree in physical education and health, and a nearly completed doctorate in naturopathic

medicine, O’Neil takes the whole body approach to client care. There are no quick fixes or “one size fits all” training solutions; every client gets a program based on their individual needs and goals.

Every body has limitations and it’s The Energy Company’s mandate to alleviate the potential for further damage. “It’s hard not to love helping people feel better; giving them more energy and less pain is an amazing gift they well carry with them forever,” remarks O’Neil.

The Energy Company also extends this unique service model to a corporate wellness program, where the main focus is on no injury and no illness for employees. “With our approach we reduce the cumulative trauma people

ABOVE Rob Brown, Mark Nichols, Dustin Sutherland, Tanya O’Neil, owner, Kyle Spracklin, Mike Peddle, MISSING Darrell Dalton

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face on the job site and combine it with a variety of options, from custom stretching regimes and nutritional guidance to ergonomic audits and injury prevention policies,” says O’Neil. Corporate wellness is about creating a strong and healthy company from the ground up, one person at a time.

Using technology to great benefit, The Energy Company provides clients with web-based access to all their personalized programs and guides, 24-hour trainer support via a messaging system, as well as the monthly report card for training clients. This report card is a monthly evaluation that allows trainers and clients

to evaluate the progression towards a client’s goals, ensuring a greater sense of personal accountability and success.

By creating a low-stress environment, clients can work on their goals as it fits into their busy lifestyles — not with highly restrictive plans and diets — creating a more sustainable system. “We’re interested in maximizing human potential and have built an industry-leading facility to reach these goals,” O’Neil says.

The Energy Company 709.738.1616 25 White Rose Drive, St. John’s http://www.energyco.ca info@energyco.ca

TOP RIGHT Mike Peddle & Mark Nichols CENTRE Dustin Sutherland & Mark Nichols BOTTOM RIGHT Mike & Tanya O’Neil, owners FineLifestyles

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Move Through Life With

Grace and Confidence

By Rebecca Henderson Photos Mandee Sugimoto

L

isa L. Payne knows it can be challenging to let go of bad habits and overcome mistakes of the past. The owner of Connections for Success Inc. has lived through the fears and doubts herself and understands poor choices can negatively affect our self-esteem, making it difficult to not only believe in ourselves, but also in the possibility of a fulfilling life.

“Every day provides the opportunity for a fresh start and a fresh perspective,” says Payne, who began as a motivational speaker and moved into life transition coaching in 2009. “This is what I’ve always wanted to do. It is who I am. I have

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always seen the potential in others. I am my clients’ biggest cheerleader.”

After working in financial services for 20 years, Payne describes her career shift as an organic evolution. “I’m very open with my own experiences,” she says. Payne shares her personal story of transformation as a contributing author in Freeing Godiva: A Woman’s Journey of SelfEmpowerment and as the author of her latest book, What If They Knew? Secrets of an Impressive Woman, where she expands on the insights she has gained as she healed past wounds and re-created her own life, on her own terms.

The holiday season is a wonderful and inspiring time. During this time of year, consider these powerful steps on the road to success: celebrate, reflect, and plan.

Christmas provides a natural time to celebrate the year’s successes with friends, family, and colleagues. The new year is a great time to reflect on what has been working well and what needs improvement. “Resolutions don’t often survive past the third week of January because the focus is usually short-term. I encourage my clients to connect with the deeper reason they would like to break disempowering habits and instill positive behaviours to bring about the change

they desire. Once people are clear about what they want, understand what has held them back in the past, and establish a strong commitment to change, they can confidently plan how to make 2015 the best year yet.”

“Everything you think, say, and do either brings you closer to or farther away from your desired outcome,” continues Payne. “Your mindset determines your behaviour. Committing to a clear vision and believing it is possible is critical to creating a life that excites you. It can be a difficult process to change the way you think and behave. This is where you have to ask yourself, ‘How badly do I want it?’ and ‘What will happen if I don’t change?’”

Payne offers a six-month individual coaching program with weekly sessions designed to help you move through life transitions with grace and confidence.

She offers corporate programs as well, including keynotes and workshops that are customized and designed to improve employee engagement and create a culture of empowerment.

For Payne, she uses her coaching strategies daily. She got married this year after being single for 10 years, and now has a blended family that includes four teenagers. “I feel more deliberate in the choices I make,” she says, citing how her journey has changed the way she does business. “I know the feeling of peace that comes when I honour my own personal values, and I want others to feel the same way. That fills me with a sense of purpose and keeps me motivated every day.”

Lisa L. Payne Life Transitions Coach Connections for Success Inc. www.LisaLPayne.com Lisa L. Payne

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KENNY’S POND: Warmth, Satisfaction and

I ND EP E N D E N C E Photos Mandee Sugimoto

I

t’s morning on Kenny’s Pond. The six-storey property, with its view of The Narrows, stands in the reflected glow of the sunshine on the water.

Many of the residents of Kenny’s Pond Retirement Community have already started their day.

Located in the east end of St. John’s, Kenny’s Pond Retirement Community caters to seniors, providing a variety of amenities and programs and the peace of mind that accompanies 24-hour security and nursing supervision.

Kenny’s Pond provides lifestyle options for active seniors, as well as those that require additional assistance, as their health needs change.

The community contains 113 suites in a variety of layouts — including bachelor, one bedroom and two bedroom suites.

In the dining room — tastefully appointed with white linen tablecloths, fresh flowers, and silverware — residents are enjoying breakfast. In the kitchen, the accomplished executive chef manages all aspects of a high quality food and beverage operation to meet the nutritional needs of the residents with a fine dining approach. Weekly buffet nights are especially popular among guests, serving everything from Jiggs dinner to Chinese themed to barbecue.

The dining room serves three delicious meals a day — breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Many seniors, when living alone, tend to eat less than their body requires due to challenges with meal preparation. Arriving at Kenny’s Pond means returning to a healthy routine of balanced meals. Most families see a positive difference in their loved ones within their first few weeks.

There’s an air of lightness and ease throughout the building. It’s a vibe that can be felt in any happy neighbourhood — people going about their day, on their way to appointments, or socializing with friends.

Kenny’s Pond’s amenities include a viewing theatre, lounge, games room, hair salon and a shuttle bus for daily scheduled outings. Each monthly social calendar features great choice in activities, regular run programs and live entertainment.

In the lobby, residents are picking up their mail, leaving to run errands, or relaxing in the lounge with the morning paper.

The horticultural room is a bright, windowed space, lined with benches topped with clay pots and potting

soil. Still life paintings of flowers from the recent painting class hang nearby.

Since many seniors find it difficult to leave their home and hobbies behind, there are now renewed opportunities to engage in their favourite past times. Kenny’s Pond is a community of individuals that are rediscovering the feeling of independence.

“Groceries, meals, home upkeep… there’s always a worry, caring for your own home,” says Kimberly Edwards, marketing and community relations coordinator for Kenny’s Pond. “When you have difficulty trying to keep up with those requirements, you can feel dependent on family members and that can create a strain on the relationship.”

“When a resident arrives, that kind of dependence just isn’t required anymore,” she says. “They can focus their energy on other things — a modified yoga class or having coffee with a friend.” One family member says she now has time to enjoy her mom. Everyone is freed from the fears of accidents at home and the daunting task of maintaining a house.

The staff is vigilant and handles duties with kindness and discretion.

LEFT George and Dorothy Parsons celebrating their 63rd wedding anniversary. ABOVE Joan Coleman.

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BELOW Joey Holt, Executive Chef OPPOSITE Kimberly Edwards, Michelle Collins- Marketing and Community Relations

“When we opened our community in April 2009, it was our desire to provide a warm, caring environment with family values as the foundation,” says Mary Davis, executive director. “Since that time, we have had the privilege of sharing the lives of many residents.

I’ve come to treasure the wealth of knowledge and life experiences our residents have shared with us, enriching our lives and fostering family values. The commitment and dedication of our management team and staff, to provide the best care and service, is our greatest strength. It is our desire to provide a home environment that makes you feel confident that you or your loved one reside here.”

Safety and security is paramount at Kenny’s Pond. Suites do not have ovens, but instead

feature kitchenettes for preparing small meals.

The secure building is outfitted with state-ofthe-art fire suppression technology, including a sprinkler system throughout the entire building.

Twenty-four hour emergency power, supplied by a generator, keeps the kitchen and elevators running at full capacity, while providing heated areas during power outages.

Five of the six floors are Independent Living. The building’s second floor is dedicated to residents requiring Assisted Living.

“There are different levels of care here at Kenny’s Pond,” says Michelle Collins, marketing and community relations manager for Kenny’s Pond.

“It’s not just black and white. We believe seniors should be able to age in place, meaning we adjust

as their needs change, so that our residents can live safely, independently and comfortably.”

Care and services are tailored to suit every resident’s needs, from daily medications to bathing assistance to light housekeeping. Despite the different level of care available on the second floor, the aesthetic is consistent with the rest of the building.

Pierce Penney is one of the residents of the community. “I like the fact that I don’t have to do anything!” he says with a laugh. “I think it’s the feeling of contentment, peace of mind, here. The degree of care, safety and security that staff has put in place… that impressed me from the very beginning. I’m able to come and go, which I like very much, and I’m able to do that here. They are concerned enough to know when

you’re out of this building and when you’re back. The security that I have and the comfort that I feel when I go to bed… that’s important.”

Kenny’s Pond is now welcoming new residents. For seniors looking to find out more about life at Kenny’s Pond, they can consider the Winter Stay Program. This is a recommended fourto-six month stay, including all the same benefits and services available to full-time residents. This short-term stay allows a senior to come and spend the most difficult months of the year in comfort, experiencing the best of retirement living.

Kenny’s Pond Retirement Community 135 MacDonald Drive St. John’s 709.738.1611 www.kennyspondresidence.com

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Tall Tales from Petty Harbour and Other Stories by

AlAn Doyle

By Henny Buffinga Photos Courtesy of Alan Doyle

A

lan Doyle made his writing debut this month with the autobiographical Where I Belong: Small Town to Great Big Sea. While many readers may be expecting a tell-all of the beloved band, the book instead focuses on life in Petty Harbour and how the elements of his childhood eventually formed him into the perfect front man for Great Big Sea. The story is populated with colourful personalities: from his father who hitchhiked to town every day for his job at “the Mental,” to his best friend and partner-in-crime, Perry Chafe, co-creator of Republic of Doyle, to the ageless Jack Walsh who predicted the weather better than CBC. Doyle’s childhood was littered with an interesting cast of characters and

events that seem to uniquely represent growing up in Newfoundland.

“I was grateful to be able to tell the stories, and grateful to have that many stories to tell,” Doyle says. “Some people don’t have the rich history to call upon that I had, where every day there is a tall tale unfolding before your very eyes.”

These tall tales include stories that surprised even his mother, who was shocked to learn he and his friend Perry had climbed down a dangerous cliff called Old Woman’s Gulch to find discarded girly magazines. Nothing was off the record with his friends and family though, with Doyle saying he just wrote whatever came to him. “I was nervous about the reception because it’s a story

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about my favourite town in the world and my favourite people in the world. So far so good though,” he says modestly.

As a seasoned songwriter but novice writer, Doyle’s debut shows his roots in music, with critics and readers alike suggesting his voice as an author is lyrical.

“Writing a song is kind of a reflex; you get an idea for something and then you just go do it,” he says. “If you don’t have it in a day, it’s probably not going to come. A book takes a lot more time and perspiration.”

Doyle wrote the book himself but thanks his editor, Nita Pronovost, for her invaluable input and guidance in navigating the new form of writing.

As with his songwriting, Doyle was focused on maintaining an authentic voice. “I never sing anything I wouldn’t say, and I kind of stuck to that rule in my book as well,” he says. “When I tried to write something and I wasn’t sure if it sounded like me, I would do the only thing I knew how: I went down to the recording studio in my house and read it out loud.”

The difference between writing music and writing about himself is not lost on him, though. He says, “You can easily hide behind a song, or a character you’re playing on TV, but when it’s just words about yourself, your town, and your family, you’re naked out there.”

Where I Belong reads as a tribute to Doyle’s hometown, and a celebration of Newfoundland in its prime. The moratorium and all that it brought is lurking on the edges of the book, but never intrudes into the story as it happened after Doyle left home for university.

“When I went back I could start to see the beginning of the end of the heyday of a town that I never thought would budge an inch,” he says. “I thought the way of life in Petty Harbour was as permanent as the cuts in the rocks made by the ocean over thousands of years. One brushstroke from Parliament, and that way of life was over.”

Doyle has an album coming out in January named for the title track So Let’s Go. He says we can expect a combination of all his influences from the very folky to the very pop, with guest appearances from familiar voices. A North American tour promoting the new album will begin in Ontario on Jan. 21, 2015 and end May 8th in Halifax. www.alandoyle.ca

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Experience

BORDEAUX At Its Best

By Trina Annand Photos Mandee Sugimoto

W

hen imagining a perfect night out or a relaxing evening at home, uncorking a favourite wine is often a highlight of the day. For the epicurean palate or a novice sommelier, wine is more than a simple drink — it is an experience. At Newfoundland Labrador Liquor Corporation’s (NLC) Wines of Bordeaux event, guests get all the glamour of a global wine tasting tour, with the very best wines of the Bordeaux region, without having to board a plane or wait in customs with their favourite wines from the trip. On Jan. 24, 2015, an exquisite European experience is just a short drive away.

With more than 9,000 wine producing châteaux and 13,000 growers, the Bordeaux region of France produces an unparalleled level of complexity of flavour. More than 50 wine growers and Grand Cru producers will be on hand at the Wines of Bordeaux event, allowing guests to discuss the finer points of wine creation, and experience the passion that goes into every bottle, while sampling the area’s 2010 and 2011 vintages.

“Bordeaux has been creating wine for centuries, their passion and expertise are unmatched. We are hosting this event to educate our clients and encourage them OPPOSITE Steve Winter, President and CEO of the Newfoundland Liquor Corporation Photo by Maurice Fitzgerald

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to buy better wines, not more wine,” notes Steve Winter, president of NLC. In the early centuries of wine making, Bordeaux was a major seaport that drew fans the world round. And the same is true today, but they are venturing out to meet the world.

The tour, which will make stops in Toronto, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C. and New York City, is truly a world-class event.

As the smallest stop on the wine tour, as well as the only Atlantic Canadian stop, the St. John’s event will have limited tickets, creating an intimate experience for guests. Attendees will sample wines of all price ranges, from $27 to several hundred dollars per bottle. All Bordeaux wines are a blend of grapes, which shifts depending on how the grapes grew that year. Using Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Muscadel, the region creates one-of-a-kind flavours.

The micro climates in Bordeaux create different tastes each year, those from the left bank tend to be Cabernet Sauvignon based and those from the right bank are Merlot based. “As a result of these unique conditions, and the fact that everyone’s palate is different, two people can taste different things in a glass of wine. So, one person might prefer a $50 bottle and another a $100 bottle. The event is about discovering your own personal taste and experiencing the best wine the area has to offer,” remarks Winter.

An onsite store will allow guests to bring their favourites from the tasting home, whether it’s a bottle for dinner with friends, a gift or simply something to enjoy after a long week. The wines are also available through NLC stores.

Winter also has some words of advice for guests. “Be open-minded, swirl the wine, inhale deeply and let the flavours of the wine reveal themselves. Sip, savour and enjoy the best wines in the world.”

NLC’s Wines of Bordeaux Event January 24, 2015 7-10 p.m.

Sheraton Hotel Newfoundland, Main Ballroom

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The Magic of

Chocolate

By Henny Buffinga Photos Amy Fitzpatrick

When I walked into the brand new location of the Newfoundland Chocolate Company in the Avalon Mall, the first thing I noticed was the sensational chocolate aroma wafting from the back of the store. I was given an exclusive tour of the store before its official opening in October, and what struck me was it really isn’t like walking into a regular store; it’s a tour of the full chocolate experience from start to finish.

customers, with chocolatiers working in the shop every day and explaining the process to customers along the way.

Their truffles are all named after historic streets in St. John’s, and when I dropped in, the chocolatier was busy making a batch of Circular Road Truffles. With a delicious smooth milk chocolate ganache blended with caramel and Newfoundland sea salt and wrapped in a dark chocolate shell, it was to die for.

With the whimsy of an old-fashioned candy shop, the Newfoundland Chocolate Company has created a haven for chocolate lovers of all ages to enjoy the magic of making chocolate. Calling on all our childhood nostalgia, a Lionel model train runs throughout the store making chocolate deliveries, and runs through a model of their original Newfoundland Chocolate Company store. Pipes pump chocolate throughout the ceiling feeding into their chocolate fountain, and they even have a cacao tree to show where it all comes from. And mounted above the counter is a Chocolate Moose. “It’s a celebration of cacao itself,” says Brent Smith, owner with wife Christina Dove of Newfoundland Chocolate Company.

Opening a new location marks a significant change for the company. “This was a big move for us to open a second location in the Avalon Mall,” says Smith.

“We are still a young business. When we opened the chocolaterie on Duckworth it was a leap of faith to move into our own retail business, and it turned into a wonderful experience. Now we are building on that strength and into a new customer base in the mall.”

The store itself celebrates the richness of chocolate with warm browns and caramel colours, and handmade hardwood displays made by cabinetmaker John Manuel of Twillingate.

The shop maintains the boutique feel of the downtown store, while showing the pageantry of the chocolate making process.

Combining all the senses, you are able to smell the chocolate, see it being made, and taste the truffles moments after the chocolatier finishes the newest batch.

The shop in the mall offers even more interaction between the chocolatiers and

As the most wonderful time of year approaches, you’re sure to want to check out their Christmas items, which include their Mummers Selection as well as their annual collector’s tin full of chocolates.

This year’s tin cover features art from local artist Elizabeth Burry and her painting, Christmas Morning Crossing.

They also have a few fun Christmas items, including a silk bag of chocolate “coal,” which includes a Naughty List on which you can add the recipient’s name.

To experience the magic of chocolate, add a trip to the Newfoundland Chocolate Company to this year’s holiday activities.

Newfoundland Chocolate Company 166 Duckworth Street, St. John’s 48 Kenmount Road, St. John’s newfoundlandchocolatecompany.com /Newfoundland Chocolate Company /@NLChocolateCo

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S t ay i n g t r u e t o H e r S e l f

Sarah McLachlan

By Trina Annand

W

ith her new album, Shine On, and recent U.S. and Canadian tours, beloved singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan is looking to the future with hopeful optimism.

“All my albums are postcards of where I am emotionally in my life,” McLachlan tells Fine Lifestyles in an interview just weeks before leaving on her cross-country fall tour. “I tend to tell stories about my own experiences through music. I feel like I have worked really hard to come back to a place where I feel strong and whole again, and Shine On reflects that.”

In just a few short years, McLachlan faced a crisis of identity with a divorce, the death of her father, a split from her manager of more than two decades, and a failed reprisal of Lilith Fair. With a near complete collapse of her support system, she released Laws of Illusion in 2010. It was punctuated with the anguish and grief of that period of her life, a stark contrast to Shine On. After the chaotic

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period of change, the artist has found light at the end of the tunnel and is embracing life with renewed enthusiasm, drinking up every moment.

The dedicated mother of two girls — India Ann Sushil, 12, and Taja Summer, seven —McLachlan credits her children for keeping her afloat through the hard times. “My girls are my biggest and most beautiful distractions. I was very lucky to have them when I was fairly established and could take time off to just be a mom. It has opened up my heart exponentially and I get to see the world through their eyes,” says McLachlan.

For the vocalist and musician who has sold more than 40 million records, won three Grammys and eight Junos, McLachlan counts her Vancouverbased Sarah McLachlan School of Music among her greatest achievements. The free after-school music program draws droves of youth, sparking their creativity and nurturing a love of music.

There are almost 700 kids in the program this year, making a very real change in their lives.

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Drawing inspiration from Cat Stevens, Simon and Garfunkle, Willie Nelson, Joni Mitchell and other North American folk music, as well as Gaelic and Irish music, McLachlan has developed a unique sound all her own — a sound she has stayed true to throughout her career. She says there will be no pop or jazz albums in her future just to stay on a Top 10 list.

“The best advice I ever got about my career was from Annie Lennox when I opened for her in New York many years ago. She said, ‘Don’t let anyone sway your heart.’ It’s advice I really took to heart,” remembers McLachlan.

This year has seen McLachlan’s return to the electric guitar, releasing in her words a more wild side to herself. Being proficient in both guitar and piano also gives the artist the ability to work through songs with different instruments, often creating those coveted breakthrough moments in the writing process. “There are no mathematical equations to finishing a song, it’s different every time.

The important thing is to stay open and knowing when to quit.”

“I feel very lucky to have been doing this for 26 years and that people still want to hear my work. There are a lot of ways to view success, I am my own harshest critic and knowing I’ve done my best, worked as hard as I could and was true to myself is important,” says McLachlan.

The artist’s eighth studio album, Shine On contains song dedications to McLachlan’s father (Song for My Father and Broken Heart), her daughters (Beautiful Girl) and boyfriend, former NHL player Geoff Courtall (Flesh and Blood), whom she met at a Sarah McLachlan School of Music fundraiser.

Shine On also includes a song that was originally about bullying and the

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strength of the female spirit, which later became an ode to education activist Malala Yousafza, who survived a Taliban assassination attempt in 2012.

While on tour, McLachlan returns to her childhood home of Halifax, the scene of relentless childhood bullying and her musical awakening.

At the tender age of four, McLachlan began learning to play the ukulele and taking voice lessons. “When I was a kid I wanted to be Joan Baez, my mom always had her music playing. I was drawn to beautiful melodies. I loved the feeling music gave me; it lifted me and nourished me. I was always singing for as long as I can remember, it was always in my head,” says McLachlan.

Though writing her own music takes more time (there are often three to seven years between albums), the end product is well worth the wait. It creates a more authentic sound for her fans that she loves to share. “Performing live is a culmination of all the blood, sweat and tears I have shed spending months, if not years, on something. Writing is a very isolated experience, so it’s great to be able to finally share it with people.

There is a unique energy that is created playing live.”

At 46, the artist has seen a lot of shifts in her life and in the music scene as a whole, but she has stayed true to herself and her sound through it all. Looking forward, McLachlan is planning to make the most out of every second she has. “If I am lucky my life is half over. I have been taking a good look at my life and thinking how I want to live it. I want to do as much as I can, have as much fun as I can, live as much as I can, love as hard as I can and give as much as I can. I want to shine, not just endure, to suck the marrow out of everyday. When you put forth that energy and light you get so much back,” says McLachlan.

NOVEMBER 17 Chris Hadfield Mile One Centre

NOVEMBER 20-23 Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador 2014 Craft Fair Arts and Culture Centre

events ST.J OHN ’ S/AVALON

WINTER 2014

NOVEMBER 22 Sarah McLachlan Mile One Centre

NOVEMBER 26-30 Fiddler on the Roof Arts and Culture Centre

DECEMBER 5-6, 9-10 St. John’s IceCaps Hockey Games Mile One Centre DECEMBER 6 Festival of Music & Lights Bowring Park Duck Pond

DECEMBER 11-14 Our Divas Do Christmas Holy Heart Theatre DECEMBER 11-13 RCA Presents Penning the Carol LSPU Hall

DECEMBER 19 Hey Rosetta!

Mile One Centre

DECEMBER 22 Shelley Neville Presents O Holy Night Arts and Culture Centre JANUARY 10, 2015 NSO: Welcome Bach D.F. Cook Recital Hall

JANUARY 24, 2015 NLC Wine Show North American Tour – Wines of Bordeaux Sheraton Hotel Newfoundland

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Sedna Vodka is our offering to the hugely popular and competitive vodka market.

Teaming pure Iceberg water with small batch tamed alcohol, our premium Sedna Vodka was developed to compete with the best vodkas in the world — and the taste is the true decider.

A gift from Sedna, goddess of the sea, this superb vodka is amazingly smooth and clean to the palate and, while wonderful alone, makes any mixed drink sparkle and shine.

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Route 81 Markland Road Whitbourne 709.759.3003 www.rodrigueswinery.com |

BLACK CURRANT WINE

CRANBERRY WINE

BLUEBERRY WINE

Our most recent gold medal award winner in the All Canadian Wine Championships, Rodrigues Black Currant wine is a rich, full-bodied wine that bursts with captivating black currant flavour and deep colour. At Rodrigues Winery, we don’t try to emulate a grape wine. Instead, we capture the true fruit flavours of the berries and fruit from which we make our premium wines. Our wines have no artificial additives and can be aged deliciously. They are fine to drink young, yet they evolve to more depth of flavours as they age. Our black currant wine pairs wonderfully with shellfish and seafood dishes.

Newfoundland is a very boggy place, and that allows us to grow exceptional cranberries. Our cranberries are 100 per cent Newfoudland grown and the taste and bite has far surpassed other cranberries we have tried. We pride our production on extremely high levels of quality control, including kosher certification, as well as a winemaking process that does not use added sulfites. This makes our wines cleaner and more easily available for today’s increasingly discerning wine drinker. Rodrigues Cranberry Wine is a perfect addition to turkey and chicken meals, as well as refreshing one’s palate with light salads.

Made from wild Newfoundland blueberries, Rodrigues Blueberry Wine is our original and best selling wine. Newfoundland blueberries are the tastiest we have found and we are proud to offer our award winning wine to the rest of the world so they may have a chance to taste an example of what makes our home so unique. Our first batch of blueberry wine was released in 1993 and we sold out our 300 cases within 2 weeks. We have since sent out thousands of cases across North America, Southeast Asia, and Europe — making us the premier blueberry wine producer in Canada. This wine pairs well with red meat and also fits nicely with spicy meals.

Route 81 Markland Road Whitbourne www.rodrigueswinery.com FineLifestyles

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“There’s something nice about making wine; if you’re having a good day or a bad day, you can always have a drink at the end of it,” Lionel says.

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Pure Ingredients, Pure Taste Showcasing the Best of Newfoundland Wine

By Henny Buffinga Photos Erin O’Mara

T

he first winery and only distillery on the island, Rodrigues Winery and Distillery is showcasing the abundant resources Newfoundland has to offer on an international scale. Using as much local produce as possible for their wines, liqueurs, brandies and vodka, Rodrigues is trying to emulate the historic winemaking process by using clean ingredients and few additives. They use only what would traditionally have been available to individuals making wine in Newfoundland.

nutritious berry powder made in Canada.

Instead of using the spray and freeze-drying options, they have introduced a drying process that makes their berry powders a world leader in bioactive retention.

Rodrigues Winery and Distillery makes seven different kinds of wine and seven different kinds of spirits, including fruit wine, fruit liqueurs, fruit brandies and vodka. Their main building is the historic Markland Cottage Hospital and, while being next to the town of Whitbourne, the winery is in the adjacent town of Markland. “We get two types of visitors,” says Lionel Rodrigues, the general manager of the winery.

“People who come to visit our winery and nutraceutical plant, and people coming to see the hospital where they were born.”

The winery’s products are completely kosher and use no meat or dairy ingredients, as some wineries do, during the filtering process. For their products they also use a longer filtering process, meaning they don’t need to add sulfites to the wine to kill the yeast because it is strained out instead.

Because of this, the wine can be tasted right away instead of having to let it breathe.

There are a surprising number of people who have allergic reactions to sulfites, and they can therefore drink Rodrigues wine with no ill effects.

In business for 21 years, they have sold across Canada, the United States, Japan and China, and they are still growing.

Hilary Rodrigues, a practicing dentist originally from Tanzania, started the business. With job offers across Canada, Hilary came to Newfoundland to visit a friend and fell in love with the province.

Always an entrepreneur, his early interest in winemaking proved to be too big for his house, and in 1993 he bought the property that currently houses the winery.

Now it’s a family-run business with his son, Lionel, working as general manager of the winery. They’ve also expanded with a sister nutraceutical company, Sedna Nutra, founded by Hilary in 2007.

Above all else, Rodrigues Winery showcases pride of place and the abundant natural resources available in Newfoundland. “I’d like to portray where we are,” says Lionel. “Newfoundland is so clean, and we want to produce products that are clean too. We use the best berries in the world, and the cleanest waters. When you’re using our products you are getting something that is natural and clean. We want to show the rest of the world what Newfoundland can do.”

Sedna Nutra creates berry powders that retain 94 per cent of the nutrition of the berry they started with, making it the most

Through Sedna Nutra they have done many tests on Newfoundland blueberries and have found them to have higher levels of antioxidants than blueberries grown elsewhere. Their high-end products and clean ingredients reflect their philosophy of clean eating.

“We have some of the best resources in Canada,” he continues. “I think that Newfoundlanders can stand together and do something amazing in the world.”

Rodrigues Winery and Distillery Route 81 Markland Road, Whitbourne www.rodrigueswinery.com www.sednanutra.com | |

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Black Magic

2 shots – Sedna Vodka 2 shots – Sedna Black Currant Liqueur Spiral of lemon zest Mix Sedna Vodka, Sedna Black Currant Liqueur with ice in a martini shaker. Shake like your drink depended on it. Pour into a martini glass and add lemon zest for effect. Enjoy and be styling — you have the coolest drink in the room.

© 2014 SWAROVSKI AG

Miranda Kerr

Avalon Mall 48 Kenmount Road, St. John’s, NL Tel.:(709) 570-2399

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GEORGE STREET: 98

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An Experience Like No Other

By Henny Buffinga Photos Courtesy of George Street Association

“Y

ou always hear George Street has the most bars per square foot than any other street in North America,” says Seamus O’Keefe, executive director of George Street Association. “Whether or not it’s true, it’s a good story!” George Street is a vital part of the downtown core, bringing tourists to our town and drawing appeal to hotels and restaurants in close proximity to the area. Everyone wants to come and see what’s going on in town.

At the heart of our vibrant city lies George Street, a gathering place for the community and where most locals experience many rites of passage. From festivals to screechins to just wandering the street, George Street has evolved into a premier entertainment destination for locals and tourists.

While such bustling activity is desired, it can also bring issues to the area, too.

George Street Association is looking to take a proactive attitude to the various problems that have arisen in the last few years. “In my opinion, people have a love/ hate relationship with George Street,” says O’Keefe. “I always joke it’s where everyone has their first kiss, first dance, first drink, and first affair. And somewhere along the line, some people have come to see us as the root of all evil. When something goes wrong, it’s ‘Oh that’s George Street.’

I would argue it’s more of a societal issue; if people are staying out late they will drink more, and George Street is just a collecting point for those elements.” With this in mind, the association has created an action plan to make the street safer, cleaner and better regulated.

None” program in England, which has been replicated in Ontario and Alberta. George Street Association will be working with the city, fire department and the Newfoundland Liquor Corporation (NLC) to implement the program to ensure the processes, operations, facilities and training for each establishment are all in line with the norms established by the program.

“We are taking steps to further ensure the safety and comfort of our patrons,” says O’Keefe. They also plan to look into a Swipe ID program in the next few years, which will allow the bars to share information about who is in each bar and prevent someone who caused trouble to get into other bars.

The George Street Revitalization project has also been in talks and the association is lobbying with the City of St. John’s to have the plans come into effect in the next few years.

George Street Association recognizes its role as a gathering place for the community, and takes this community involvement seriously. The association gives approximately one million dollars every year to charitable events, through donations, giving up cover on fundraising events for specific charities and 50/50 draws held at the festivals.

This plan includes short-term and longterm goals, including trying to work with buses and shuttle services in the upcoming months to make it easier for patrons to get home at the end of the night. This summer also saw more police officers on the street, providing peace of mind.

George Street is the beating heart in our city’s dynamic core, providing a preeminent destination for food, drink and entertainment.

They are also creating a certification program modeled after the “Best Bar

George Street Association www.georgestreetlive.ca

“You just can’t get this experience anywhere else,” adds O’Keefe.

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GEORGE STREET:

A partnership between DJJO and Sure Fire Entertainment, Allure is the newest dance club/live venue to open on George Street. Our focus is to bring top EDM, Urban and Hip Hop acts to St. John’s on a regular basis. With state-of-the-art light shows and led screens, an array of top notch resident DJs and amazing staff, Allure is George Street’s must-visit nightlife destination.

Located at 3 George St., Lottie’s Place was established in 1994 by Charlotte & Douglas Dooley (the name Lottie is short for Charlotte). The White Russian has been their signature drink since they opened the doors, and Lottie’s Place is well known as the “Home of the White Russian,” where White Russians are always on special —don’t forget to ask how you can join the White Russian Club.

Lottie’s is also known for great rock n’ roll music. Each Friday and Saturday night, DJ Rocketboy plays your requests — everything from AC/DC to Lady Gaga to Dropkick Murphys. We also have live music from time to time. There is never any cover charge at Lottie’s.

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GEORGE STREET:

The Martini Bar is an urban, classy multi-level bar located on George Street.

Patrons of our establishment can expect a night of fantastic drinks, music and a great atmosphere. Entertainment features a variety of live bands and house DJs. We offer private bookings for your personal or company functions with full catering and entertainment upon request.

The oldest bar on George Street, Christian’s Bar (est.1979) couples its premium drafts, high-quality spirits, and expertly mixed cocktails with Screech-Ins: a daily/nightly ritual of fish kissing. In order to become honorary Newfoundlanders, visitors, tourists, and lovesick aquarium owners are asked to down a shot of local Screech rum before puckering up to a cod.

· EnRoute Magazine’s “Canada’s Favorite Bars 2014” (Top50) · The Scope 2010 “The Best Screech In Ceremony”

Opening at 3 p.m. daily, regular patrons are treated to free popcorn and can watch a variety of sporting events on a 70” Sharp Aquos LCD HDTV. The upstairs portion is available to rent for private functions (6-10 p.m.) or play Golden Tee Golf while sipping libations such as fine whiskeys, ryes, tequilas, and other spirits — including indulgent ounces of luxury Louis XIII cognac. Imbibers can also gulp down premium wine and Dom Perignon or transform into a caffeinated tornado after chugging a specialty coffee. E-mail any inquiries to bday@nl.rogers.com or call 709.753.9100

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GEORGE STREET:

Ideally located in the heart of George Street, Green Sleeves has been providing superb cuisine for more than 25 years.

Green Sleeves is renowned for great wings, mouth-watering steaks and friendly service. We are the restaurant that ‘rocks’ with live entertainment daily beginning at 6 p.m. For our full menu and entertainment lineup visit greensleevespub.ca.

The Well, above Green Sleeves, offers the same great menu and superb service in a more relaxed atmosphere — an awesome spot to take in your favourite sporting event on the big screen, or to host your private function or party. Entrance off Williams lane or through Green Sleeves. Green Sleeves and The Well are proud to be your St. John’s Icecaps Game day Headquarters and Home of the Icecaps. Join us for game day specials and watch the Caps’ away games on the big screen.

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GEORGE STREET:

This little pub resides in the bottom of a 100-year-old building at 8 Beck’s, on the eastern end of George Street. It is located in the former industrial area of Olde St. John’s and now houses the busiest nightlife in North America.Trinity Pub is very much a popular city pub, which has been recently refurbished and retains a lot of the Newfoundland style and charm. The natural stone features and exposed wood make the Trinity Pub popular amongst professionals looking to relax and enjoy themselves for the evening. As the evening turns into night, the true colours really come out as local musicians can be heard for all to enjoy each weekend. The centre bar, although imposing to look at, provides an ideal location for its patrons to cosy up and enjoy a local pint and chat about the weather. Besides the Celtic cross being the bar symbol, there is something about the whole place that makes it warm and welcoming. It is all done to magnificent effect and that’s why, although being at the end of George Street, it’s really where George Street begins.

A little bit of Newfoundland and Labrador’s culture infused with the excitement of the downtown St. John’s scene, Trapper John’s was opened in 1984, and has since established itself as one of the more distinguished bars in the province.

With the finest live entertainment combined with Newfoundland’s famous hospitality, Trapper John’s Museum N’ Pub brings a creative perspective to our unique and beloved culture. This archive of local antiques is the backdrop for one of George Street’s

most famous pubs! Join us for our renowned Screech-In ceremony, now boasting more than 100,000 members!

Take in local live entertainment, hoist up the house special — a Dark N’ Dirty — and get a taste of authentic Newfoundland hospitality. Trapper John’s has been recognized as a Top 10 Pub in Canada by the Canadian Tourism Commission and

by Reader’s Digest as one of the most interesting and unique pubs in the world to visit.

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GEORGE STREET:

O’Reilly’s Irish Newfoundland Pub was established in December 1995 in St. John’s.

Proprietors Brenda O’Reilly and Craig Flynn were intent on capturing, presenting and celebrating the ultimate Newfoundland cultural experience. Although O’Reilly’s gratefully recognizes our colourful Irish heritage, we are primarily a Newfoundland social experience steeped in character, romance, resilience, melody, rhythm, humor, tragedy, song and narration.

13 George Street | 709.722.3735 | oreillyspub.com

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Sitting where George Street intercepts Water Street, YellowBelly corner is a testament in stone and masonry. A survivor of the Great St. John’s Fire of 1892, the building’s walls resonate with the history of Irish immigrants who duked it out in the street that run by its sides. Now this remarkable piece of St. John’s heritage is home to YellowBelly Brewery & Public House — five floors of character-filled brewery, pub, dining and meeting space.

Offering unmatched historical atmosphere fused with forward thinking cuisine.

288 Water St | 1 George St | 709.757.3784 | yellowbellybrewery.com

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GEORGE STREET:

DUSK is everything an ultralounge should be and more, with a rich and eclectic mix of contemporary and retro styling, a total premium look and feel, an unparalleled sound and lighting system, and a rich tapestry of fabrics, stones and wall treatments. Topped off with the most extensive LED lighting environment that St. John’s has ever seen, DUSK Ultralounge is the favourite hotspot for those who want something extraordinary from their ordinary social experiences. Come and enjoy a great cocktail hand mixed by one of our fantastic mixologists, and then be amazed as DUSK Ultralounge becomes transformed into the hippest dance bar east of Las Vegas! You’ll experience a great mix of the best music to appease even the most discerning club goer. DUSK Ultralounge, a place to relax, toast a friend or just leave it all behind on the dance floor.

Here’s where it all began more than 30 years ago. The Sundance is the first and most famous landmark on George Street. The Sundance offers original dishes to satisfy any hunger, tasty beverages from one of our 5 bars, and the best DJs in the city.

The Sundance is the ultimate party place on George Street. Eat, drink and go crazy: that’s our motto. And if it’s a wild time you’re craving — an unforgettable escape from the daily grind — look no further than our full service nightclub. But remember — what happens on the dance floor stays on the dance floor.

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GEORGE STREET:

Konfusion, the hottest dance bar on George Street, has been open for more than 10 years. Open Thursday to Saturday with happy hour before 12:00.

Don’t miss State of Konfusion on Thursdays, House Party, kegs, limo and the wildest shooter bar.

Looking to host a private party, fundraiser, VIP party, pub or bus crawls?

Hit us up, we will do all the planning so you don’t have to!

Established in 1977 as George Street’s first bar, the Rob Roy is a great venue for parties, functions and a great time. Open mic, Toonie Tuesdays, staff events and live music on weekends will keep the party going.

709.728.7020 | hildacoffey@hotmail.com | robroypub.com | @RobRoyKonfusion

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GEORGE STREET:

The Fat Cat Blues Bar is a contemporary blues bar located in downtown St. John’s, Newfoundland, on the world-famous George Street. The Fat Cat offers its visitors a beautifully refurbished bar and deck area. The Fat Cat has been around since the early 1990s, offering a unique atmosphere to relax after a long day’s work. A variety of spirits and beers on tap are served with nightly specials throughout the week. The Fat Cat offers live entertainment seven nights a week with a variety of local and visiting bands.

Established in 1995 and located on George Street in the heart of old St. John’s, Turkey Joes has been providing patrons with exhilarating evenings tended by courteous and experienced staff who invite you to drop by for a cold one and a chat.

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T H E S T. J O H N ’ S

ICECAPS Back In Action

By Anna Delaney Photos Jeff Parsons

Winter means hockey. And in St. John’s, hockey means the St. John’s IceCaps. Our beloved team is finally back for a fourth season at Mile One Centre.

And for hockey fans, that’s a very good thing.

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Winnipeg Jets’ prospects. Rookie forward Scott Kosmachuk brings an impressive pedigree after a four-year career with the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League. A third round selection by Winnipeg in the 2012 draft, Kosmachuk scored 49 goals and 101 points in 68 games last season. Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck also boasts a stellar resume.

The first-year netminder played 29 games with the University of MassachusettsLowell of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) last season, winning the inaugural Mike Richter Award as the most outstanding goaltender in Division I men’s hockey.

Joining Hellebuyck in the crease is National Hockey League (NHL) veteran Peter Budaj. The Slovakia native has played in 296 career NHL games with the Colorado Avalanche and Montreal Canadiens. He was acquired by Winnipeg in a trade with Montreal prior to the start of the season and should form a solid tandem with the youngster Hellebuyck.

Notably missing from the IceCaps lineup this season are playoff hero Michael Hutchinson and power forward Adam Lowry. Both Hutchinson, a goaltender, and Lowry, a centre, made the Winnipeg Jets team out of training camp. While it’s a loss for us, it’s a gain for Winnipeg and a huge accomplishment for the two players and the IceCaps organization.

F

resh off their huge success last year — the team went all the way to the Calder Cup Finals — opening night at Mile One was a special time for the IceCaps as they proudly rose their Eastern Conference Championship banner. Returning this year are fan favourites Carl Klingberg and John Albert, who have both been a part of the team since its inaugural season.

Klingberg is the IceCaps’ all-time leader in games played — currently at more than 200 — while Albert was last year’s

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top goal scorer with 28. Jason Jaffray is also back for his fourth season as team captain and defenceman Brenden Kichton looks to build off his strong rookie season, during which he was selected as an American Hockey League (AHL) All Star and was named to the AHL’s AllRookie Team.

Despite the departure of veterans Andrew Gordon, Jerome Samson, Kael Mouillierat and Zach Redmond, the IceCaps have been infused with a new wave of

After it was reported last year that the St. John’s IceCaps were only signed on with the Winnipeg Jets for a three-year contract with an additional year added, fans were quite distraught. However, the contract has been extended until 2016 and we can expect at least one more season with the IceCaps occupying Mile One after this year is completed. With the excitement of last season’s Calder Cup run still fresh in the minds of IceCaps fans — the team ultimately lost in five games to the Texas Stars — this season has been highly anticipated. In three seasons since the team’s inception, the IceCaps have reached the conference finals, or better, twice — no small feat in a league that sees significant turnover of its players from year-to-year. With at least one more season of AHL hockey in this province, and the majority of this season still left to be played, there is still a lot to look forward to with the St. John’s IceCaps.

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Make the Most Out of Your

WINTER By: Trina Annand

Photos Cheri Brushett Courtesy of White Hills Resort

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n Canada, winter is one of our greatest natural resources. When you have the luxury of experiencing four seasons why not make the most of them? Every wintery weekend is the perfect opportunity for an outdoor adventure. Located in the mountains of Clarenville, White Hills Resort combines the best of winter sports with a fantastic getaway, whether you have a free day or a full week.

The beauty of White Hills Resort is clear the moment you set foot on the hill.

Scenic views of the sparkling waters of Random Sound — and in the distance, the Atlantic Ocean — can be found, as well as the abundant wildlife that make their home in the province’s interior; and of course there is the perfectly groomed snow and powder. Much more than a great place to ski and snowboard, the resort has something for everyone, with kilometres of snowshoeing, cross country skiing and snowmobiling trails to explore and enjoy. With nearly 25 thousand visitors last winter, it is clear people are feeling the draw of White Hills Resort.

Promoting a healthy lifestyle is one of the best investments parents can make in their child’s future. To support this philosophy, the resort offers school trip discounts. “It’s harder for people to be active in the winter, but people who are more active in the winter tend to lead healthier lifestyles throughout the rest of the year,” says Jason Crawford, manager of White Hills Resort. “There’s nothing better than getting out in the sun and enjoying the day. It’s a great way to have fun with family and friends.” It’s scientifically proven outdoor activities are energizing, and it’s more important

than ever to get out and feel better in the winter when people tend to go into hibernation mode.

This year, the resort will feature a number of upgrades and additions including widened trails, brand new snow making machines that will further extend the season, as well as snowmobile trails and a racing track. With White Hills Resort’s ski and stay packages, visitors can enjoy the ultimate family getaway or a romantic excursion for two. After a long day of winter fun, guests can relax in the lodge with soup or a mug of hot chocolate — they even offer the Canadian classic, poutine — in front of one of the facility’s fireplaces. In this fast paced digital world, it’s hard to get everyone to unplug for family time. White Hills Resort is the perfect place to unwind and create memories that will last a lifetime.

Among C ra w f o rd ’s personal recommendations is Nature Trail. “It’s like a roller coaster. The trail is a lot of fun for all skill levels, from beginner to expert.

Downhill skiing is my favourite winter sport because it is so freeing, all your problems melt away and it’s just you and the great outdoors,” remarks Crawford.

“We’re keeping some of our trails more natural for those who love the adventure in our chutes and glades, at White Hills we’re all about having fun.”

Your next great escape is just a short drive away. Experience winter at White Hills Resort.

White Hills Resort 877.466.4559 100 White Hills Road, Clarenville www.whitehillsresort.com

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BRIDGE OF THE

AMERICAS

By Ken Beattie, NPD, Ph.D., Enrichment Speaker Photos courtesy Oceania Cruises

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he weather encountered during a Canadian January is often less than balmy! Indeed, this may be why so many Canadians are found aboard cruise ships sailing exotic lands, enjoying the warm weather of the tropics. I for one will be soaking up the sun from January 16 to February 3, 2015 aboard yet another exotic adventure with Oceania Cruise Line’s beautiful Regatta.

As the enrichment lecturer aboard, my responsibility is to enhance the already spectacular 18-day itinerary with itineraryspecific regular presentations, related to plants and peoples of the regions we visit. This voyage originates in Miami and meanders along the coast of Central America to the famed Panama Canal

through which we have a daylight transit — spectacular! Roughly halfway through the itinerary, we will sail along the Pacific coast of Ecuador for several days until we reach neighbouring Peru.

Docking in Lima for two days allows for an expedition to the famed site of Machu Picchu.

Oceania regularly offers itineraries that include airfare as well as many of the “a la carte” options one would pay extra for on other lines. One example is dining options in the specialty restaurants, Toscana and the Polo Grill, requiring only a reservation and no additional fee. Actually, on a previous cruise we received a note from the concierge with reservations already made for us as we just hadn’t had time to make them ourselves. The Toscana experience was exemplary but not over-the-top fancy. We felt extremely welcome and very comfortable dressed in country club casual attire — no tie for me and most men weren’t wearing jackets.

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If you like to dress a bit more “uptown,” that is perfectly fine too, and you do see some passengers who indeed dress. I often slide a jacket on simply because it hides a multitude of sins (and my tummy) after several days of cruise food. On occasion, we are invited to a “Captain’s Reception” and we do dress appropriately, including a tie and jacket for me and a dressy outfit for my wife. This affair typically happens once on an itinerary — very impressive events indeed.

Oceania is very much a family, and that attitude and respect comes across in everything a guest experiences, including special functions with senior officers.

Recently, on an Amazon expedition, the cruise director made a point of chatting with every individual sitting on the pool deck and addressed most by first name.

This level of dedication and incredible customer service is a hallmark of Oceania and not to be underestimated. Never

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have I felt any crew member was just being courteous out of obligation; their approach was always genuine. This sincerity was not applied specifically to me because of my position as speaker; it was standard and consistently remarked on by others. As a matter of fact, on our Amazon expedition more than 60 per cent of the passengers were repeat guests - that speaks volumes. Ask anyone who has sailed Oceania, and I submit the response will be similar.

This itinerary aboard the beautifully refurbished Regatta is very popular; actually many categories are waitlisted. Mid-sized vessels (680 guests), tremendous guest services, the best food at sea, and a very interesting lecture series makes Oceania’s Regatta and this journey an absolute delight. I invite you to review the cruise and come along for the time of your life — no regrets.

In the event your specific category is sold

out, as they do rapidly, you might consider joining me in October 2015 on a grand journey from Istanbul to Dubai. This itinerary is 21 days and offers fantastic rates including airfare. Sailing aboard the sister ship Nautica, we sweep our way through the most eastern regions of the Mediterranean, visiting Israel, passing through the Suez Canal, the great land of Egypt, sail the Red Sea and arrive in Dubai October 25, 2015. A lecture series is in development for this fascinating part of the world as well as our extended voyage to India, the Seychelles, Madagascar and South Africa.

Plan, dream, save and then come play with us as we traipse the world in search of new and wonderful experiences; disappointment is not an option!

Ken Beattie is the Manager of Habitat Programs with the Canadian Wildlife Federation. www.cwf-fcf.org www.oceaniacruises.com

Cooking Like

THE STarS

inspiration from Celebrity kitchens

W

By Courtney Tait

hile red carpet premieres, personal drivers, and private planes may feel out of reach for most of us, there is an area of daily life in which we can sample celebrity glamour: the kitchen. From high-end appliances to custom counters, the homes of the famous feature kitchens designed for function, flair, and of course, luxury. Whether you’re transforming your cooking space from great to gourmet or simply want to introduce a few shiny new elements, you’ll find inspiration from these three stars — they know how to slice and sauté in style!

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The Gwyneth: Cool Glamour Oscar-winning actress and author of cookbooks My Father’s Daughter and It’s All Good, Gwyneth Paltrow has lived — and cooked — in many luxury homes, including a mansion in London, a penthouse in New York, and a country estate in the Hamptons.

Her style is cool (white is the dominant shade) and always glamorous, and the kitchens are no exception.

Consider the countertops she prepares meals on in her New York apartment.

White marble — softened by flowing white drapes that dress the adjacent windows — is Gwyneth’s stone of choice.

If you appreciate a clean, classic look, this may be the countertop material for you.

Choosing honed marble (the matte finish achieved by abrading the stone) is wise, as it’s more scratch resistant.

A celebrity kitchen wouldn’t be complete without a few expert appliances.

Gwyneth favours the Vitamix blender, a self-cleaning machine known for its power and precision. To sharpen knives, she uses a MinoSharp, a device filled with water before the knife gets pulled between ceramic whetstone wheels.

Perhaps Gwyneth’s biggest indulgence, aside from owning two backyard pizza ovens, is the fully equipped outdoor kitchen in her Hampton’s abode. Designed for entertaining, the Kalamazoo outdoor kitchen features a Hybrid Fire Built-in Grill, which can cook with gas, wood, and charcoal.

Refrigerated drawers ensure groceries stay cold even on hot summer days.

The Nigella: Touch of Comfort If anyone is deserving of a seven-foottall fridge, it’s Nigella Lawson, the British cooking show host and award-winning author of How to Be a Domestic Goddess.

The Sub-Zero appliance is just one of four fridges in her London kitchen — two are half fridges, for drinks and produce, and one is dedicated to cooking “projects.”

But while her fridge to kitchen ratio is extravagant, Nigella’s approach to her

cooking space is mostly centred around comfort and ease, with commonly used tools visible and easy to reach.

Tired of searching for the right knife? You might consider displaying them the Nigella way: on a magnet. If you want to emulate her prepping methods, keep a mezzaluna (a moon-shaped herb chopper) on hand — it’s her go-to tool. Hang essentials such as pots, pans, and cooking utensils from wall racks, where you can quickly find them.

the place where your arms feel most comfortable. Raise or lower the sink height first, then match the other surface heights to that.

The Martha: Organized Opulence

If you’re renovating your kitchen, one of the best investments you can make for comfort is customizing your countertop height. Consider who in your household spends the most time in the kitchen, and design accordingly. Nigella’s rule? Simply stand over the kitchen sink and choose ABOVE Martha Stewart. Photo courtesy Dreamstime

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Founder of media and merchandising company Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. and publisher of Martha Stewart Living magazine, Martha Stewart remains the queen of homemaking. Her multiple residences, from a Manhattan apartment to a farmhouse in Bedford, New York, feature kitchens that prove organization is a style element all its own.

Most high-end kitchens come equipped with an island, but if you want to entertain Marthastyle, you’ll want the versatility of two islands — one stationary, and one on wheels. Do your cooking prep on one and seat guests on the other for casual dining. Or place them side-byside for buffet-style serving.

Want to maximize your vertical space?

Try shelves instead of cabinets. By

opening up the space this way, you’ll be inspired to use the tools and dishes normally hidden away. Martha favours “bird’s beak” shelving supports, which feature notches so the shelves can easily slide in and out.

The key to optimal organization is a heavy helping of customized drawers, with similar items grouped together, displayed on trays, and labeled. In a Martha Stewart kitchen, the ubiquitous “junk” drawer doesn’t exist.

We can’t guarantee that adding these celebrity-inspired elements to your kitchen will transform you into a domestic God or Goddess, but it will certainly create a luxurious and functional

atmosphere to hone your cooking skills.

However you design your space, you can’t go wrong with Gwyneth’s advice from My Father’s Daughter: “Invest in what’s real. Clean as you go. Drink while you cook.”

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An International Style

GARDEN CENTRE O N T H E AVA L O N

By Courtney Tait Photos Joanne Coady

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estination Garden Centres are the norm within many parts of North America and Europe.

They are places where families and friends can meet, wander through at their leisure, be inspired by their surroundings and find products to help personalize their lifestyles.

Friends arriving at O’Neill’s Gardenland (OGL) — a European-inspired garden centre and landscape business in Spaniard’s Bay — will experience exactly that. Guests can wander through the centre and have their spirits lifted by walking through a variety of plant life, find a gift for a loved one, and be inspired by designer décor products from around the world, all while sipping a hot drink from Joe Bob’s cafe, an on-site café serving Jumping Bean coffee, hot chocolate and snacks.

Opened in 1990, OGL is an all season greenhouse,nursery and landscape operation offering the most extensive selection of horticultural services and products in Newfoundland. While OGL is a paradise for anyone who loves plants, it also caters to those who love the holiday season, featuring 12,000 sq. ft. of space, which transforms each autumn into a spectacular Christmasland.

“With up to 18 decorated Christmas themes, such as Country Lane, Chocolate & Cinnamon, Red Rhapsody and more, you are sure to be inspired and find great ways of expressing your special lifestyle during the Christmas season,” says OGL co-owner Anthony O’Neill.

Along with thousands of floral picks, figurines and European décor pieces, OGL offers the largest selection of highquality, everlasting artificial Christmas trees in Newfoundland, displayed in the centre’s “Enchanted Forest” atrium.

Looking to decorate with a fresh tree?

OGL carries Balsam Fir trees, as well as nursery grown Fraser Firs, which will not shed their needles for months.

As experts in decorating, the OGL team offers all-season indoor and outdoor services, creating unique plant-based arrangements, including planters as well as other décor. Guests can have everything from a floral arrangement, centrepiece or hanging basket created to their preferences.

The Christmas season is a popular time for wreaths and planters made from wintergreens that allow you to make a

ABOVE Steven O’Neill and Anthony O’Neill

welcoming statement for your entrance.

OGL also offers personal decorating services for your home or business.

Interested in learning how to create beautiful wreaths, contemporary tree décor or other seasonal decorations? OGL features a calendar of Christmas workshops, with private group bookings also available.

The centre also holds two Santa events, including one that is run by the SPCA, where people can bring their pets to include in a picture with Santa. Other community events are held throughout the year and in the past have included pony rides and Pink Days in Bloom, a fundraising event for breast cancer.

“We love having community events at OGL; everyone always has such fun,” says O’Neill.

Whether you are looking for natureinspired, traditional, flamboyant or unique Christmas décor this holiday season, or are interested in professional landscape services and home and garden supplies, O’Neill’s Gardenland promises to “wow” you with its vast selection and friendly, professional service. “We are always in season,” says O’Neill, “and we consider everyone who walks in as our guests and our friends. OGL is much more than a garden centre; it’s a lifestyle centre.”

O’Neill’s Gardenland (OGL) 238 Conception Bay Hwy Spaniard’s Bay 709.786.9533 www.oneillsgardenland.ca Follow us on Facebook

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A CHRISTMAS WONDERLAND: Find Everything You Need at Hallmark

By Henny Buffinga Photos Mandee Sugimoto

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alking into our shop is like being transported into the display window in a midcentury department store at Christmas,” says owner and operator Margaret Butt. With lavish decorations and Christmas all around, this winter wonderland is a treat for the eyes and a treasure for your loved ones when you discover the perfect gift.

Featuring six Christmas trees in store, each with different festive themes, they provide inspiration while featuring the newest trends and classic concepts to make your Christmas special. Themes include Grandmother’s Jewelry Box, Shabby Chic, Peacock for Christmas, Snowmen, and more. “A customer walked

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in the other day and said it looked like an elf sneezed in here,” Butt says with a laugh. “But she meant it in the best possible way.”

Ornaments in the store range from eyecatching tree toppers to chalkboard themed balls to realistic feather bird ornaments. The Keepsake Ornament Collection is a Hallmark tradition, creating 300 unique designs every year with intricate detail and infinite creativity.

This year’s ornaments offer a wide range of styles, from Star Wars collectibles to the legendary leg lamp from A Christmas Story. They also offer unique sentimental ornaments for everyone in the family, from an ornament that simply says “Mother” to an ornament for a family who

has recently adopted a child. “There is literally something here for anyone,” says Butt. “They really think of everything.”

Hallmark is also known for quality giftware, including such Christmas themes as Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, North Pole, and Under the Tree for kids. They also carry an assortment of décor including door hangers, centrepieces and stuffed animals.

Their cards offer the same attention to detail, with cards for specific milestones, including, for example, ‘Congratulations on getting a PhD’. “We help people express their feelings to one another,” says Butt. “To do that we try to speak to as many people as we can.” While it is

a self-serve store, they try to maintain a warm, friendly atmosphere where customers feel comfortable browsing, or can seek help from staff when they are looking for something in particular. With the giftware, cards and wrapping, they have everything you need to finish up your to-do list before the rush.

Butt has been working in this field her whole life. She started in her parents’ store, Parkdale Pharmacy, which had a Hallmark store inside the pharmacy since it opened 50 years ago. When Hallmark decided to open the current locations in Newfoundland, they came to her family first to see if they would be interested in running the store on Stavanger Drive and in Mount Pearl. Now, they are the first Gold Crown stores in Newfoundland.

“Christmas is bigger in Newfoundland,” Butt adds. “No one comes home for Christmas the way Newfoundlanders do.” Because of this, the local Hallmark stores stock more Christmas items than any other location in Canada.

For help finding the perfect words this holiday season, or to discover a new way to show the Christmas spirit in your home, drop in to Hallmark today.

Hallmark 95 Stavanger Drive St. John’s 709.753.5707 21 Merchant Drive, Mount Pearl 709.747.3338 HallmarkNFLD @HallmarkNFLD

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SEASONED HANDS MAKE BEAUTIFUL WORK.

REAL WOOD. REAL VALUE. REAL SIMPLE.

of

NL

MANY STYLES. ONE STANDARD.™ 193 Kenmount Rd, St. John’s, NL

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Telephone: 709.576.5613 www.simplyamishnl.com

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NetworkiNg

the Right Way tips from

Charles the Butler

By Melanie Furlong

W

hen you’re attending a business networking session, your goal is to meet new people and make a good impression. You want to put your best foot forward, but you may have a lot of questions about how to handle the situation: How should I shake someone’s hand?

When should I shake it? When should I introduce someone I’ve just met? How should I introduce them? How should I introduce someone I’ve known longer?

Charles MacPherson, better known as Charles the Butler from his regular appearances on The Marilyn Denis Show, and best-selling author of The Butler Speaks, says, “Everyone is attracted to selfconfidence whether you’re at a networking event or at a wedding.

The secret is putting others at ease. Having social skills relaxes you and will help you meet lots of people. It puts you in a position of power.”

One of the first steps is to make a good impression with eye contact. Try memorizing the person’s eye colour as it will let you focus on them and what they are saying. Even if you know the answer to their question before they’re finished, don’t interrupt them. A good handshake, which consists of three pumps and release on the fourth, is also important.

Then, turn off your cell phone, unless, of course, you are a surgeon on call or your wife is about to give birth. Even then, the phone should be set on vibrate and you should excuse yourself from the room to take the call.

“A cell phone is a tool,” says MacPherson. “In a networking environment, it is not a tool that will help you: it will hinder you. Unless someone says, ‘Would you like to exchange cards electronically?’ it should not be in your hands. You are there to pay attention to the people you are meeting.”

The biggest mistake you could make at a networking or business event is to disrespect someone else in the room. “You may not agree with what that person is saying,” says MacPherson, “but even if they’re a goofus, as I like to say, at least give them some respect. They’re at the table for a reason and whatever that is, you have to respect them. If you treat everyone graciously, you’ll never be criticized for that. You’re a better person for it. People will want to do business with you because of the way you treat others.”

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ChaRles MaCPheRson’s

Top 5

tips for NetworkiNg

1 2 3 4 5

Be respectful to everyone in the room Make eye contact with the person you’re talking to Turn off your cell phone A good handshake — three pumps and release on the fourth Follow up the next day

families as a caterer when the lady of the house asked him if he would like to be her butler. She offered to teach him once a week on all aspects of the job, including everything from how to properly pack luggage to setting tables. Being a butler came naturally to MacPherson and he soon became majordomo of all their homes.

Now MacPherson runs a butler school in Toronto and heads the hospitality advisory and consulting portion of Charles MacPherson Associates, consulting with clients all over the world.

After the event, it’s important to follow up with the people you’ve met. MacPherson says, “You can call the next day and say, ‘It was great to meet you. I know you are looking for XYZ and I have a good lead for you. Please let me know when’s a good time to sit down and meet.’ Don’t over push or abuse the new contact. You may have a good lead, but what you’re doing may not be a top priority for that contact.”

Etiquette, or the social rules of how we interact, is not just for the rich. “Once you learn how to handle social interactions, your life will be made easier,” says MacPherson. “When you know what to do, you will be at ease.”

Early in his career, MacPherson was working for one of Canada’s greatest

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His career highlights include having tea with one of Canada’s prime ministers and working in the palaces of various royal families in the Middle East. “I was born in Thunder Bay, Ont., and see myself as an average Canadian,” says MacPherson.

“I’ve had incredible experiences and when I’m in these situations I’m amazed at what a fascinating position I’m in.”

Ford of Canada has recently hired MacPherson to bring its customer service representatives to the next level in service.

“Customer service has no value, but it will bring customers back,” he says. “People will remember how they were treated and made to feel. It doesn’t matter where you are: at a networking event, at the office, at the dinner table, or in a coffee shop. Learning how to be of service is paramount.”

LET ME MAKE YOUR CLOSING EASY AND AS STRESS-FREE AS POSSIBLE

Denis G. Barry P.L.C.

OFFERING FULL REAL ESTATE LEGAL SERVICES • Real estate closings • Contract negotiation • Refinancing L-R Denis G. Barry P.L.C., Legal Assistants: Karen Mahoney, Lillian Budden, Hillary Winter, Law Student (Denis’ son) Luke Barry

DENIS G BARRY PROFESSIONAL LAW CORPORATION

• Leasing • Residential & Commercial

365-367 Duckworth St., St. Johns 709.754.1666 | denisbarry@nfld.net FineLifestyles

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Friendly

LEGAL

SERVICE Guiding You Every Step of the Way

By Henny Buffinga Photos Mandee Sugimoto

O

ffering the kind of personalized service people appreciate, Denis Barry, Q.C., is not what most expect from a lawyer. Denis (as he prefers to be called) knew he wanted to be a lawyer from a young age. His Grade 8 class was a talented group, and among 32 students, nine eventually became lawyers. He graduated in the top tier of his class at the University of New Brunswick and has excelled on his own against larger firms for four decades.

Virtually everyone needs a lawyer at some stage in their life, particularly when buying a house, writing a will or power of attorney, when in need of representation for a criminal or civil matter in the various courts, or when seeking an opinion on a family matter — be it divorce, support or custody. Small law firms are, in Denis’ opinion, usually better equipped to deal with these kinds of issues, providing the comfort of a friendly face and personal attention to detail.

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“Small firms tend to do everything that an ordinary person who has no significant legal issues in their lives will need throughout their life,” says Denis, of Denis G. Barry Professional Law Corporation.

He has been practicing law for 42 years, and has served the public through small firms for his entire career. Offering highly valued expertise, Denis has taken a step back from the brash world of litigation and uses the experience gained in courts and tribunals to better advise his clients.

Denis calls upon his extensive experience in litigation, labour law and criminal work to help him identify the crux of his clients’ issues. Specializing in commercial and residential property, he also facilitates share and asset purchases, corporate financings, corporate restructurings and other business-oriented files.

As a result of the type of service he provides, Denis has built up his client

base to include many loyal, repeat clients.

Approachable, personable and available, Denis makes it a point to carefully explain to clients the processes of what they are dealing with and the expected outcomes.

“A comment I always get from clients is that they often do not get to sit down with someone and have the process explained to them the way that it should,” he says.

Buying a house, for example, is a very important event in someone’s life, but many people get lost in the paperwork.

With Denis, you get hands-on experience; he will walk you through the process to ensure you understand what is happening at every step.

Always very involved in the local community, Denis has been a member of the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Canadian Bar Association since 1972, was a former Branch President of the Canadian Bar

Association for Newfoundland and Labrador, and also served as the president of the Heart and Stroke Foundation. His charitable spirit and involvement in local sports like basketball, rowing on Quidi Vidi and running the Tely 10 has helped him get to know the community he serves.

Recently, Denis took a small firm under his wing. Wadden Peddigrew Hogan Law approached him to share office space, and they are now offering support to him in larger cases while he mentors them in their successful new business venture.

For more information about Denis G. Barry P.L.C., call or email today.

Denis G. Barry Professional Law Corporation 365-367 Duckworth Street St. John’s 709.754.1666 709.754.0106 (fax) denisbarry@nfld.net

ABOVE Dennis G. Barry OPPOSITE PAGE L-R Denis G. Barry P.L.C., Legal Assistants: Karen Mahoney, Lillian Budden, Hillary Winter, Law Student (Denis’ son) Luke Barry FineLifestyles

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NO REGRETS: Train for Success at Gardiner Centre

By Tonya Lambert Photos Mandee Sugimoto

F

ive hundred years ago, polymath and genius Leonardo da Vinci wrote, “Learning is the only thing the mind never exhausts, never fears, and never regrets.” Following his own advice, da Vinci’s lifelong pursuit of knowledge led him to be employed by some of the most influential men of his day, and with their support, his insatiable curiosity and imagination were given the room they needed to soar and create wonders.

At Gardiner Centre, Memorial University in St. John’s, Director Brian Hurley and his staff have created a comfortable, professional learning environment where business people can come together to acquire and enhance the management skills and knowledge to empower their organizations to soar, creating their own

wonders today. As part of the Faculty of Business Administration, Gardiner Centre has developed a wide variety of courses and programs to assist both organizations and their employees in the continued pursuit of their dreams and goals. Like da Vinci, the staff at Gardiner Centre believes all learning is valuable and can help you to grow and succeed in both your personal and professional life.

Last year, the instructors at Gardiner Centre provided more than 6,500 person days of training delivered both at the Centre and in offices throughout the province. Gardiner Centre offers training in business topics from digital and social media to project management, human resources and leadership as well as everything in between. Register in

an open enrollment course, or attend a seminar that has been modified or customized to meet the unique needs of your industry and organization. The Centre’s numerous certificate programs have been developed either internally or with the assistance of industry, government and other universities, such as York University’s Schulich Executive Education Centre. The Centre’s many seminars and programs have been designed to fit easily into the busy life of today’s professional; seminars generally run one-two days, and the programs are comprised of short modules, which complement the severe time limitations of today’s employees. All programs and seminars are non-credit and there are no previous education requirements.

ABOVE & OPPOSITE RIGHT Lyle Wetsch. digital and social media instructor

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“The Digital and Social Media certificate program at Gardiner Centre, Memorial University has increased my skills and knowledge of new and upcoming marketing trends. I have integrated many aspects of the program into my current role as marketing manager with O’Brien’s Whale and Bird Tours. I would recommend the Centre to anyone that is interested in expanding their education and professional capabilities.”

- Kate Jewer, marketing manager, O’Brien’s Whale and Bird Tours

At Gardiner Centre, you will receive an exceptional educational experience.

The friendly and conscientious staff works hard to maintain an atmosphere in which clients can focus on learning free from distractions. “Our clients experience a comfortable setting in which to learn. Our facilitators are not just great teachers, they’re experienced practitioners who’ve been there and done that, so our students can learn from that experience in an interactive handson environment,” Hurley explains. “Our team is experienced in managing all components of professional development delivery. We have staff dedicated to providing advice in program and seminar selection, designing program content, selecting instructors, scheduling training, managing registration, handling logistics and conducting post-training evaluation.”

“People walk through Gardiner Centre’s doors because they want to learn, grow and advance,” says Hurley. At Gardiner

Centre, people can grow in confidence, practice their presentation skills, create new contacts and expand their knowledge of new technologies and methodologies.

In short, they learn to soar.

Live your life with no regrets. Enroll in a professional development program through Gardiner Centre today and start seizing your dreams.

Gardiner Centre Faculty of Business Administration Memorial University of Newfoundland St. John’s, NL A1B 3X5 Phone: 709.864.7977 Fax: 709.864.7999 gardinercentre@mun.ca www.gardinercentre.mun.ca

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Arup CANADA

Respectful, Responsible, Resourceful “We shape a better world: to enhance prosperity and the quality of life, to deliver real value, and to have the freedom to be creative and to learn.”

By Tonya Lambert Photos Courtesy of Arup

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A

rup is a company that lives up to its claim of wanting to build a better world. Evidence of this can be found all over — in the respect and encouragement given to their employees, in the integrity and dedication they show to their clients, and in the sustainable and innovative designs seen in their projects.

Arup’s corporate philosophy is one of responsibility — to the people they employ, to the projects and clients to which they commit, as well as to the environment. They believe the pursuit of happiness must be combined with consideration of others and with a sense of social and environmental responsibility. They know each of their projects, no matter how big or small, will impact people and the environment for many years to come, and they do everything possible to ensure this impact is a positive one. In short, at Arup, they look at the bigger picture.

THE GROWTH OF A GLOBAL PRESENCE Ove Arup, the founder of the firm that bears his name, was a keen philosopher, an innovative designer and a person with a great deal of respect for others.

Opening a small consulting engineering company in London in 1946, he developed a reputation for integrity, quality and imaginative ideas. Arup hired like-minded people, who shared his enthusiasm for investigating new ways of building, ways which were more economical, environmentally responsible and forward thinking. In 1965, as an organization of some 500 employees, Arup established an international reputation as engineers on the iconic Sydney Opera House.

Today, Arup employs more than 11,000 people and has offices in 39 different countries. During its nearly 70 years of astounding growth, it has steadfastly maintained its commitment to its employees, its clients and to the community at large. In keeping with these values, in the mid-1970s Arup transferred its ownership from a private partnership to a trust established for the benefit of all employees, in effect giving share of ownership to all those who worked in the company.

LEFT Royal Ontario Museum

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At Arup, they realize their huge international presence means their work affects many lives, many communities and the environment both now and in the future. It is important that this impact be positive.

A POSITIVE PRESENCE At Arup, they take being environmental stewards very seriously, promoting and incorporating sustainability into their designs rather than trying to add it in afterwards. This is part of their ‘Total Architecture’ methodology, whereby all relevant design decisions are jointly considered and integrated into a whole by a team of experts. Arup strives for the highest standards in environmental excellence, attaining certifications such as LEED whenever possible.

In order to best meet these high standards, Arup brings together professionals from different disciplines, and with complementary skills, from all around the globe. Combining their various areas of expertise and diverse experiences and opinions through friendly debates and challenging, imaginative projects fosters an atmosphere of learning where ideas are given wings and creative solutions are found. The firm’s independent ownership structure is one of mutual investment which fosters feelings of value, loyalty and responsibility in all employees. Every Arup project is designed with the future in mind. Arup designers consider future trends, such as climate change, as well as how an individual site or its immediate surroundings may be developed in the future. The availability of materials and best practice in sustainability also play a significant part.

“Our work should be interesting and rewarding. Only a job done well, as well as we can do it — and as well as it can be done — is that. We must therefore strive for quality in what we do, and never be satisfied with the second-rate.” (Ove Arup, Key Speech) Arup IN NEWFOUNDLAND In 1959, the city council of St. John’s hired this London-based engineering firm to design a new bridge for the city. Work got underway on Jan. 2 of that year. Two years later, on that same date, Ove Arup himself was in St. John’s for the opening of the Bowring Park Bridge.

As the engineering firm grew, it established offices in countries around the world. In 2012, Arup opened an office in St. John’s, working closely with prestigious local engineering firms such as Wood Group PSN, C-Core, Allstar Rebar Ltd, hiring many local people, including four recent engineering graduates from Memorial University, to work on the White Rose Extension Project for Husky Energy. This project consists of the detailed designing of a Concrete Gravity Structure (CGS) in 118 m of water supporting a well head drilling platform with an integrated topside and a number of subsea wells tied back to the wellhead platform. After being constructed in a purpose-built graving dock in Argentia, the completed CGS will be floated out and towed to the field for installation.

TOP Royal Ontario Museum by Sam Javanrouh BOTTOM Lester B Pearson International Airport (c) by GTAA

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Since the founding of the firm 68 years ago, Arup employees have been encouraged to be actively engaged in the communities in which they work and live, they believe people who are invested in their community work harder to leave a significant and beneficial legacy for future generations. This legacy is to be found not only in the sustainable buildings and infrastructure created by Arup employees, such as the Bowring Park Bridge and the White Rose Extension, but also in the humanitarian and charitable causes which they embrace, including the Cape to Cabot Run for MS, MS Bike, the GoodLife Kids Foundation’s Spin 4 Kids, and Habitat for Humanity.

Arup consults, plans, engineers and advises on many different projects worldwide, designing and building sustainable and economical structures that are aesthetically pleasing. Everywhere you travel, you will see examples of their innovative and harmonious designs, from the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube in Beijing to the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, from the Aldar Headquarters in Abu Dhabi to the Bowring Park Bridge in St. John’s. For more information on Arup and their many projects, as well as pursuing a career with the company, please consult their website – www.arup.com.

Arup Canada 17 Duffy Place St. John’s 709.793.3113 www.arup.com TOP Yas Island Marina Hotel (c) Bjorn Moerman Photography CENTRE Beijing National Aquatics Centre, The Water Cube (c) Argus Photo BOTTOM Arup Memorial University Grads by Heros Gnesotto FineLifestyles

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CHARGE T O P L AY S P O RT Y EL E C TR I C C A R S

By Trina Annand Photos Courtesy of Respective Car Manufacturers

With today’s focus on alternative fuels, environmentally responsible vehicles with the soul of a sports car are beginning to take centre stage, proving that responsible consumerism can still be fun — and anything but ordinary.

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has finally perfected their engines enough to offer sporty performance vehicles that perfectly blend form and function with true driving enjoyment. All that’s needed is a home charging station and a sense of adventure to enjoy these electric beauties.

Tesla Motors has been making waves in the American automotive industry since its creation in 2003. With a motor based on electrical engineer and physicist Nikola Tesla’s original 1882 designs for an AC motor, the brand is truly rooted in history.

The company is currently spreading into Canada and has various locations in Europe and Asia.

The Tesla Roadster is famously the first fully electric sports car and the first to use lithium-ion battery cells. In 2010, the Roadster was the first electric car to win the Monte Carlo Alternative Energy Rally.

With an acceleration of 96 km/h in 3.7 seconds and a range of 394 km before charging, stopping at the gas station is a thing of the past.

Scheduled to be in production in 2015, the Rimac Mobil’s Concept One may be the fastest electric car ever created. With four magnetic motors at each wheel, the Concept One delivers an unbelievable 1088 horsepower and can accelerate from zero to 100 in 2.8 seconds. It blows away its top-of-the line gas-guzzling counterparts in test runs.

Hybrid ElEctric It seems all the major car companies — from Mercedes and Bugatti to Ford and Toyota — are clamouring to create hybrid vehicles.

Providing superbly fuel-efficient engines with battery-driven options for travel, hybrids offer high performance with low fuel consumption and low emission levels.

A true standout in the luxury hybrid race is BMW’s i8, a car so stunning people tend to stare. First featured as a concept car with glass doors in 2009, the car made waves with its unique design. It was even featured on the silver screen, making an appearance in Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol.

The impressive carbon fibre structure of the car allows for a 50 per cent lighter frame, reducing drag on the electric

engine. This channels the power where it needs to go: performance.

With an overall maximum speed of 250 km/h and the ability to go from zero to 100 km in 4.4 seconds, performance is one thing the car isn’t short on. For the distance driver, the vehicle has a range of 600 km before it needs a charge and refuel stop. With tailored leather seating for four and a distinctive style all its own, the BMW i8 is built for the true car enthusiast.

Fully ElEctric With zero engine emissions, it is easy to see why consumers and eco warriors alike are so interested in electric vehicles.

After releasing a multitude of sedans and matchbox-sized wonders, the industry

Providing an outstanding 500 km range between charges, Concept One is not simply for racing; it is for those who enjoy the ride. What is truly amazing about Rimac is that they have achieved in a decade what most car companies took a century to do. With a full carbon-fibre body and electronically adjustable ride height, Concept One is literally the car of the future, seamlessly blending modern technology and performance with an elegant chassis.

Whether you are in the market for a sedan or a luxurious racing machine, there is much more out there than the standard gas guzzling cars we’ve embraced in the past. As with most large-scale cultural shifts, it begins with small changes enacted by people who have a vision for a better future.

The future is now and it is electric.

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Putting People First at Bill Matthews Volkswagen/audi

By Anna Delaney Photos Mandee Sugimoto

W

hen a customer brings you homemade Oreo cupcakes and a Thank You card, you know you’re on to something good. At Bill Matthews Volkswagen/Audi, General Manager Dan Matthews is on to something great.

In the past calendar year Matthews has made quite a few changes; a process he’s dubbed “G2G,” meaning “good to great.” The most obvious change is likely

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their physical renovation. “We have committed to customers and staff by investing back into ourselves and have doubled the service capacity,” Matthews says. Also in this G2G strategy, two new hires — Danny Sheehan, service manager, and Dave Feaver, sales manager — have changed the game. “Danny and Dave have both set strings of consecutive record months,” Matthews says with pride. “It’s been record months with the highest customer satisfaction we’ve

experienced in more than two years. So they’ve done very well in sales, but even better, they’ve made more people happy.”

Sheehan, much like Matthews, grew up in the industry. In fact, though Matthews grew up in Newfoundland and Sheehan in Dublin, Ireland, there is a fascinating parallel between them. Both lived and breathed cars with each of their fathers operating family-owned dealerships. “I was working in that (dealership) since I

LEFT Blair hong, Parts Manager ABOVE danny sheehan, dave Feaver and dan Matthews

was able to walk,” Sheehan says. “It was family-run as well, so I liked the feeling here; it’s much the same as I was used to at home. A nice, wholesome familyrun business with our customers’ best interests at heart.”

Feaver, on the other hand, is a Newfoundlander from Corner Brook who had his eyes and heart set on Volkswagen/Audi when he moved into the city. “This is the only place in town I wanted to come work,” he says.

Feaver was originally hired to run the dealership’s used car department, but in six months he took over running the whole front of the store. When asked how that happened Matthews simply says it was “his attitude.”

The management style has also changed at Volkswagen/Audi. “In the auto

industry it is infamous to have four sectors in a store. You have new car sales, used car sales, parts and service.

Quite often, you have four individual things that don’t operate as one. I would say now that we have one team,” Matthews explains. “And we’ve started to invest a lot more time and resources into our own people, to make sure they’re happy here,” Sheehan adds.

Though the changes have been recent, they are fully supported by owner Bill Matthews. His legacy inspires the team to keep moving to make the dealership better every day. “When he ran it, it was the best. And now he’s just as big a part of this in his retirement as anybody else,” Matthews says. “We’re still Bill Matthews. It’s still a family-run store, we still sell cars like all our competitors do; we still service cars, but the way we

operate and manage who we are is, I bet you, 180 degrees different than anybody else inside this city.”

“The roots are the exact same as they were, and they’ll stay the same, but we’re changing the way we do things to better ourselves for our clients,” Sheehan says.

Feaver adds, “I want this to be the premier place on Kenmount Road, in St. John’s, in Newfoundland, to buy or service a car. I want it to be that ‘wow’ experience from the moment you drive onto the lot to the time you leave.”

Bill Matthews Volkswagen/Audi 575 Kenmount Rd. St. John’s Sales: 888.906.5421 Service: 888.336.9374 www.billmatthewsvolkswagen.com

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Making Automotive Dreams Reality N ewfou n dl a n d a n d Labrad or’s Firs t A uto Boutiqu e

G

marble auto A

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23 Forest Hills Road, Corner Brook | www.marbleauto.ca

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A GREAT RIDE

From A Green Business

By Henny Buffinga Photos Mandee Sugimoto

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“

W

e try to give a luxury brand feel without the luxury brand price,” says Greg Stowe, general manager of Capital Subaru. Subaru is known for their quality, safety and performance. Perfect for the Newfoundland climate, these sporty Japanese-made cars are ideal for outdoor adventures or family rides in the city.

Capital Subaru was purchased in 2000 by Frank Howard, who transformed the dealership from a small two-car showroom to the current expansive, modern location on Kenmount Road, the mecca of car dealerships in the city. Reflecting Howard’s concern for both the environment and the health of his clients and staff, the building features a fitness facility for Capital Auto Group employees, which can also be used by clients while their car is in service.

Their environmentally progressive building was built in 2011 and promotes a healthier, greener lifestyle for their business and its employees. The 30,000 sq.-ft. building uses geo-thermal heating, eliminating the need for furnaces or oil, motion-sensored lighting to reduce energy, and six wells that feed into the building so they don’t rely on the city’s water. The building features floor to ceiling windows letting in natural light, allowing them to use minimal artificial light. As well, their ramps are operated using water instead of other hydraulic fluids, which is more eco-friendly. “The biggest thing around here is our effort to make it green, to preserve tomorrow,” says Stowe. “We try to minimize our environmental footprint as much as possible through things like the heating, water and lighting.”

Another feature Capital Subaru offers, that is very much appreciated in Newfoundland weather, is a delivery bay. When customers are given the keys they aren’t just left out in the rain or snow to take a look at their brand new car.

At Capital Subaru, Howard’s family-oriented, hands-on approach is still reflected in the way the business is run. The staff is a very close-knit group of people who work to create a friendly, welcoming atmosphere for clients when they come in the showroom. Far from the high-pressure space of some showrooms, the relaxed atmosphere makes it an ideal place to come and do business. The sales staff is knowledgeable about the cars, and many customers are lifetime Subaru drivers. “Some of the customers that come here know more about the cars than we do,” jokes Chris Smith, sales manager. “We have tremendously loyal customers, and they are very passionate about the cars.”

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Their sales have been increasing in the past few years, partly due to their brand new facility and partly because of the boom our province is currently experiencing. And, of course, because the car models are always improving. “The quality speaks for itself,” says Stowe. In fact, the dealership is now selling almost seven times more cars than they did when Howard purchased it, and is actually one of the premiere dealerships in the country. This year, Subaru Canada held their dealer meetings in St. John’s, with dealer principals from across Canada coming to the island for the events. Despite their size, they are still a small dealership at heart, one that gets to know their customers, often recognizing them by name.

At the dealer meeting, they released the 2015 Outback at Capital Subaru; with its redesign, the Outback has better fuel economy and all the latest features, including enhanced collision avoidance systems like the back-out camera, lane detection, and EyeSight. With a wide range of vehicles from a compact car to a luxury car, at Subaru they like to say they have a car for everyone.

Subaru is very concerned with safety for their customers, and they are the only car manufacturer that receives the top safety pick for every model they make. In addition, almost all their cars have all-wheel drive (the one exception being the BRZ Roadster Coupe). “If safety is what you want, this is where you have to go,” says Stowe.

Capital Subaru is also very involved in the community, giving to charities like the Ronald McDonald House, Daffodil Place and the Heart and Stroke Foundation. The employees at Capital Subaru take equal pride in helping the community and are always looking to lend a hand to a worthy cause.

With a young but veteran staff, Capital Subaru can help you find the right vehicle to get you where you want to be. “With a new building, a reduced environmental footprint, excellent product development and a great looking lineup, we have a recipe for success,” says Stowe.

For more information, check out their showroom today.

Capital Subaru 150 Kenmount Road, St. John’s 1.888.720.6489 www.capitalsubaru.ca TOP Capital Subaru Staff BOTTOM RIGHT Frank Howard, president PHOTO BY Duncan de Young

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More Than You’d Expect for Less Than You’d Imagine.

Capital Subaru

150 Kenmount Road, St. John's | capitalsubaru.ca FineLifestyles

St. John’s / Avalon

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