FA L L 2 0 1 9
BIANCA
ANDREESCU HOW SHE WON BIG, MADE HISTORY, AND CAPTURED THE HEARTS OF OUR NATION
HOCKEY PREVIEW
THE PLAYERS THE FASHION THE TRAINING
STEVE NASH TAKES ON PREMIER LEAGUE Snake Oil
THE WELLNESS INDUSTRY IS NOT HELPING WOMEN. IT'S PREYING ON THEM.
HOW TO THINK LIKE A CHAMPION
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CONTENTS
C ove r
What does it feel like to be a champion? Ask Bianca Andreescu. With her recent domination of the US Open, Andreescu made history as the first Canadian to win a Grand Slam singles title. And she’s only just getting started.
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Photo: Genesis Bonilla
46.
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CONTENTS
Puck Off
Ahead of the 2019-2020 hockey season, we caught up with a few NHL players to talk about everything from career milestones and mental health to fashion and fitness.
19.
Tro p hy Ro o m
A look at what it takes to create the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy.
54. H o o p S i ste r s
In Africa, Masai Ujiri’s mission to create opportunities for young women starts on the court.
Fa st ra c k
24.
28.
From ocean conservation to climate change, these five luxury timepieces are doing their part to protect the planet.
As the world descends upon Japan for the World Rugby Cup, we’ve put together a guide on the sights and history of the country’s rugby capital, Higashiosaka.
Wo r l d - S av i n g Watc h e s
Mountaineer Gabriel Filippi has escaped a Taliban attack and survived Everest’s deadliest disaster. How did he deal with the resulting mental trauma?
26.
Who says performance and practicality have to be mutually exclusive? Here are the cars you should consider.
Escape
37.
30.
Fa s h i o n
58.
Whether you’re running errands or navigating the concrete jungle, inject some personality into your wardrobe this season with bold colours and textures.
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Think L i ke a Champion
32.
Mental Health
When it comes to overcoming obstacles, sometimes the battle is purely in your head. A sports psychologist’s tips on how to perform at your max, both at work and at home.
Ta ke Two
Steve Nash may be known as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, but now he’s got his ambitions set on conquering an entirely different sport: soccer.
66.
52.
S n a ke O i l
For ages, the wellness industry has staked its flag in championing women and their health. Instead, it preys on them while pretending to listen.
Raised by SUVs. Go where no other sedan dares in the all-new 2020 Subaru Legacy. Symmetrical Full-Time All-Wheel Drive comes standard for dynamic handling in all weather and road conditions. Together with a class-leading interior, advanced tech and available 2.4L Turbocharged SUBARU BOXER® engine, find what you’d expect in an SUV in one surprisingly capable sedan. THE SUV OF SEDANS.
WELL-EQUIPPED FROM
$26,395* Visit subaru.ca
*MSRP of $26,395 on the 2020 Legacy 2.5L 4-cyl DI Convenience Pkg CVT (LA2 CP). MSRP excludes Freight & PDI of $1,650. Taxes, license, registration and insurance are extra. Model shown is the 2020 Legacy 2.4L 4-cyl DI Turbo Premier GT CVT (LA2 PG) with an MSRP of $39,095. Dealers may sell for less or may have to order or trade. Prices may vary in Quebec. EyeSight™ is a driver-assist system which may not operate optimally under all driving conditions. The driver is always responsible for safe and attentive driving. System effectiveness depends on many factors such as vehicle maintenance, and weather and road conditions. Vehicle shown solely for purposes of illustration, and may not be equipped exactly as shown. See Owner’s Manual for complete details on system operation and limitations. Some features described or shown may not be standard features or equipment. ALG is the industry benchmark for residual values and depreciation data. www.alg.com. SUBARU STARLINK® Connected Services are offered on an initial three-year free subscription on select Legacy trim levels. Customers are required to enrol in the SUBARU STARLINK® Connected Services program. To operate as intended, SUBARU STARLINK® Connected Services require a sufficiently strong cellular network signal and connection. See your local Subaru dealer for complete details. Legacy, Subaru and SUBARU STARLINK® are registered trademarks.
EDITOR’S LETTER
MASTHEAD PUBLISHER
Dav i d K i n g
GLORY & GRIT
E D I TO R - I N - C H I E F
What does it mean to be glorious? When we were thinking of creating a new media brand focusing on sports culture, health, and wellness, we wanted to distill everything associated with those worlds into one word. We landed on “glory”. To be glorious means, of course, being number one. It means the pursuit of excellence and being the best at what you do. Glory is that feeling of standing on an Olympic podium or winning a championship trophy. It’s the weight of a medal hanging from your neck or crossing the finish line of a marathon before collapsing in euphoric exhaustion. But glory takes grit. It takes discipline, sweat, blood, and pain. It is a gauntlet that tests us and demands sacrifices that often prove to be too great for many. Champions may be immortalized for their wins, but it is their stumbles and ability to rise back up again that truly defines them. Perhaps what makes glory so special is that it can be defined in so many different ways. Yes, it is something that translates easily into the world of sports, but it also goes beyond that. We wanted to create a media platform where we could explore how each of us is defined by our own personal glory. For some, that has meant summiting the world’s tallest peaks (like Cory Richards and Gabriel Filippi in this issue), and for others, conquering the battles that toil within us (like former NHL player, Jordin TooToo, and his path to sobriety in our 2019 hockey preview). Toronto Raptors president, Masai Ujiri, embodies the very essence of glory. Earlier La n c e C h u n g this year, he led his team to an E D I TO R - I N - C H I E F, G LO RY NBA Championship win before @ M R L A N C EC H U N G going to Africa to spearhead his non-profit basketball camp, Giants of Africa, which aims to nurture and cultivate young men and women into the leaders of tomorrow. I encourage you to read his inspiring story in “Hoop Sisters” on page 54. Rounding out an absolute banner year for sports in Canada, our cover star, Bianca Andreescu, made headlines in September for conquering the US Open courts and defeating arguably the greatest athlete in tennis, Serena Williams. The Mississauganative made history by becoming the first Canadian ever to win a Grand Slam singles title — and she’s only 19. Young as she may be, that road is one that has been marred by injuries, disappointing losses, crushing pressure and blind ambition to be the best. Hers is a story that will continue to inspire Canadians for generations to come. To be glorious is to be great. It means getting back up when we’ve fallen, staying focused, and defeating the odds. It can mean winning gold, but also finding the strength to ask for help. It means fighting for ourselves, but also for those who can’t fight for themselves. As you read through this issue, I hope it will leave you feeling empowered and inspired, and encourage you to ask yourself one question when you’ve finished:
How do you live gloriously?
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C R E AT I V E D I R E C TO R
La n c e C h u n g A RT D I R E C TO R
T h e o La m a r D I R E C TO R O F S T R AT E G I C PA RT N E R S H I P S
Sheldon Cooper D I G I TA L E D I TO R
Ro s s D i a s I N T E R AC T I V E D I G I TA L M E D I A E D I TO R
H o l l y Wa l ke r
C O N T R I B U T I N G P H OTO G R A P H E R S
Genesis Bonilla Fra n c i s c o G a rc i a Ilich Mejia CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
C a ro l i n e A k s i c h C a ro l B e s l e r Madelyn Chung J e a n G ra n t Ben Kaplan K a re n Kwa n J u st i n M a st i n e - Fro st Chris Metler C h r i sto p h e r Pe n ro s e Re b e c c a Tu c ke r
Head Office 3 0 2 - 1 8 3 B AT H U R S T S T R E E T W E S T TO RO N TO , O N TA R I O M 5 T 2 R 7 C A N A DA
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CONTRIBUTORS
Fra n c i s c o G a rc i a
Ben Kaplan
C a ro l B e s l e r
M A K E A S TAT M E N T,
S H E T H E N O RT H ,
W O R L D -S AV I N G WATC H E S ,
FA S H I O N P H OTO S H O OT
C OV E R S TO RY
TIMEPIECE
Born in Toronto and raised in Chile, Francisco Garcia has emerged as a fashion and advertising photographer, who has graced the pages of Cosmopolitan, Nylon and Rolling Stone. He’s also shot campaigns for clients like Ray-Ban, Aritzia and Holt Renfrew. He is also the co-founder and visual director of creative studio, Anti-Matter.
Ben Kaplan is originally from Brooklyn, New York, and the author of Feet, Don’t Fail Me Now. He worked as an editor at GQ and staff writer at New York magazine before spending eight years as a feature writer at the National Post. His work has appeared in the New York Times and Entertainment Weekly, and he writes frequently about cannabis for the National Post and the Globe and Mail.
Carol Besler started out as a newspaper journalist but got hooked on watches sometime in the 1990s and has been writing about them ever since. She has shared her horological insights with readers of Forbes, Robb Report, Journal Haute Horlogerie, Nuvo, Hollywood Reporter, The Globe and Mail, Revolution, Sharp and others.
P H OTO G R A P H E R
WRITER
K a re n Kwa n
Ilich Mejia
WRITER
C a ro l i n e A k s i c h
NEXT GEN FITNESS, G LO R I O U S G E A R
WRITER
Karen Kwan is a travel, health and lifestyle freelance writer and social media manager whose work has appeared in many of Canada’s top outlets including Best Health, Flare, Metro, Toronto, Elle Canada and VitaDaily.ca. Originally from Montreal, where she studied marketing at Concordia University, she’s now based in Toronto where you’ll find her running her blog, (healthandswellness.com), training for marathons and exploring the city with her rescue dog, Billie Jean.
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WRITER
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A G U I D E TO H I G A S H I O S A K A , ESCAPE
Caroline Aksich is a writer and researcher living in Toronto. The two-time National Magazine Award nominee is passionate about food, chef culture, urban planning and municipal politics. When not tethered to her laptop, Caroline enjoys running and biking around her ever-growing city.
P H OTO G R A P H E R O F F - C O U RT, TA K E T W O
Ilich Mejia got his start shooting major campaigns for Roots Canada with the likes of The Weeknd, Josh Donaldson, and Wayne Gretzky to name a few. His work has appeared internationally in magazines, billboards, and newspapers. He now works as a freelance photographer and designer, and continues to shoot, develop and print using the analogue process.
Available at Select Roots Stores follow
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ENTERTAIN GLORY Celebrates Canada Basketball’s Road to the 2019 FIBA World Cup Upon arriving at the Thompson Rooftop, guests were greeted with a Martell Sidecar as a refreshing cool down from the summer heat. With an exclusive Martell bar on the rooftop patio as well as passed cocktails, there was every opportunity to fete the warm summer night while dancing to music provided by Innov8shon. A basketball arcade game customized by The Local Collective was a hotspot all night with guests lining up to test their hoop skills. Close by, guests could get a tasty
keepsake at the edible photobooth, Selffee. Speeches from publisher David King, Nick Nurse, and Rowan Barrett were the highlight of the evening for many, with fans clamouring to get pictures with Nurse, who recently led the Raptors to their first NBA championship. Afterwards, guests captured the night at the Martell photobooth. Toasting to the evening, guests sipped on a selection of G.H. Mumm champagne and Peroni Nastro Azzurro beer while others kept themselves caffeinated with a cool can of Miura.
Photo: Nick Lee/Best of Toronto
TAKING PLACE AT the Thompson Hotel’s renowned Thompson Rooftop for an exclusive invite-only event on August 6th, the evening hosted Team Canada players and staff, including notable guests Canada Basketball President & CEO Glen Grunwald, Senior Men’s National Team General Manager Rowan Barrett and head coach of the Toronto Raptors and Team Canada, Nick Nurse. Canada’s roster featured some of the country’s top players from the NBA and several top leagues around the world.
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GLORY DIGITAL
g l o r y . m e d i a
Straight from the Web. From thoughtful athlete profiles and the best in gear to the wellness and workout trends creating buzz across Canada, GLORY.MEDIA is your go-to spot for daily updates and engaging content. Don’t forget to find us on social media either! Below, you’ll find a recap of the most exciting stories on GLORY.MEDIA right now.
Ro s s D i a s D I G I TA L E D I TO R
ro s s vd i a s
S u b s c r i b e to o u r we e k l y n e w s l e t t e r a t w w w.g l o r y. m e d i a / n ew s l e t t e r .
On Instagram, we’ve got you covered with up-to-the minute happenings in sports, health and wellness. From viral athlete images to inspiring sports and wellness images to unforgettable moments from games, we’ve got it all. CO M I N G S O O N :
Interactive video series for social and online with a focus on sports news, health and wellness.
P RO F I L E :
Vlad Mateksvi on Training Basketball Superstars C U R R E N T C R AV I N G :
The Parlour’s 99.9% Raw Wraps Recipe “The wrap itself is very tricky to make,” Holland says. “It takes us 12 to 14 hours to make one wrap, so we really make sure we pay attention to each step and quality check along the way.” In the end, it’s deliciously worth it. For this recipe and more, check out GLORY’s healthy eating series, Current Craving.
T R AV E L :
Winter Hotspots in Quebec
L E A D E R B OA R D :
The NFL at a Glance Draft picks have been made and jersey’s have been put on: The gridiron gang is back. The Baltimore Ravens built this team around Lamar Jackson for success. But is it enough? Our overview sheds some light.
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Ice fishing in a frozen river, snowshoeing in the Laurentian mountain range, and a thermal water circuit on-board a floating spa are all activities you can enjoy this winter in Quebec. Our guide to making the best of the Canadian ice season.
From seasoned NBA players like Andrew Wiggins to the next generation of basketball greats, players of all backgrounds trickle out of Vlad’s gym with one thing in common: dedication and hard work. Toronto’s preeminent basketball trainer shares what it takes to reach elite levels. G LO RY C OV E R :
Get the exclusive first peek at all our print covers right on Instagram.
LEADOFF| TROPHY ROOM
The Larry O’Brien Trophy is crafted every year by iconic luxury jewellery company, Tiffany & Co. Created in 1977 and renamed to the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy in 1984 Made out of 16 pounds of sterling silver with a brilliant 24-karat-gold vermeil finish 24 inches in height Worth an estimated USD$13,500 The year and team names are engraved on each trophy, which are often prominently displayed in the winning team’s arena. The trophy is etched to resemble a basketball net and has the appearance of a regulation size basketball in play.
The Anatomy of the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy Every year, the NBA Teams compete against each other in a battle royale to reach the ultimate goal: the Championship trophy and ultimate bragging rights as the best in the league. Originally referred to as the NBA Finals trophy, the cup-like trophy was later renamed to the Walter A. Brown Trophy in 1964 after the Boston Celtics founder, who was instrumental in establishing the Basketball Association of America (BAA) and, ultimately, the NBA. A new trophy design was created for the 1977 NBA Finals and exists as we know it today, depicting a basketball over a hoop and basket. It retained the Walter A. Brown title until 1984, where it was renamed to the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy after the former NBA Commissioner. While the original trophy was kept by the winning team for a year before being given to the subsequent winners of the NBA finals, today a new trophy is bestowed upon the top team every year.
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LEADOFF| GLORIOUS GEAR
Next Gen Fitness From on-demand spin classes to “smart” boxing gloves, the new era of fitness is here. WRITTEN BY
Karen Kwan
WHILE YOU CAN’T download yourself a set of six-pack abs—showing up remains half the battle when it comes to working out—the modern advancements in the world of fitness make sticking to your sweat sessions and maximizing your workout experiences easier in today’s fastpaced lifestyle. Traditional methods (think fitness buddies and journals) have gotten a major digital upgrade and social connectivity features give you that push to be accountable while precise, detailed metrics give the nudge you need to keep working on those gains. Although personal trainers are not obsolete, the Internet of Things is shifting the future of fitness by gamifying, delivering data, and providing personalized guided journeys via innovations you can use on your own to make the most out of your workout.
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Pe l o to n
The Peloton spin bike (dubbed the “Netflix of fitness”) is equipped with a 22-inch screen and serves up live-streaming classes from New York City featuring expert instructors (including pro athletes), which have a massive cult-like following. For those that can’t tune in, there’s a library of pre-recorded classes that can be filtered by difficulty, class type, instructor, and more. Trudging through the snow or getting stuck in traffic to get to your favourite class is now a thing of the past.
Te c h n o g y m S k i l l r u n
Don’t mistake the Skillrun as a mere treadmill. With Technogym’s signature Multidrive Technology, this machine combines a treadmill, sled, and parachute into one thanks to training modes that deliver controlled resistances on the slat-belt running surface. With guided workouts and your personal running profile saved, measuring your performance on the app or the 19-inch touchscreen during your workouts is guaranteed to keep you motivated and on target.
. FOR MORE . g o to
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H yd row
Row with world-class athletes right from your home. Hydrow transports you to the water with live streaming and ondemand classes on the 22-inch touchscreen mounted on their state-of-the-art rowing machine so you can join a crew on the rivers of Boston, Miami, or New York. The visuals and sounds of nature will feed your soul while joining a team every workout provides the support and strength you need to propel forward.
M i r ro r
A sleek full-length mirror when off, and a high-tech interactive display with embedded camera and speakers where you can see yourself, workout instructor, and fellow classmates when on. Offering a broad range of classes (including everything from yoga to boxing) from its New York studio either streaming live or on demand, Mirror uses your fitness profile and biometric data to ensure you’re getting workouts for optimal results.
FightCamp
To n a l
Get fit at any time of the day with your own high-tech boxing studio you can set up even in the smallest of apartments. Composed of a shock-absorbing mat, boxing gloves, wraps, a freestanding bag, and advanced trackers you sport in your wraps that track volume, speed, and output in real time, FightCamp offers a library of workouts from beginner to advanced from expert instructors.
This all-in-one piece of equipment composed of a screen mounted to your wall and digital weight with adjustable arms (which pack 200 lbs of resistance) consolidates every machine to work your arms, legs, core, shoulders, back, and chest into one sleek and compact piece of hardware. With advanced intelligence built in, every rep and workout on Tonal is recorded and measured in real time, and customized based on your performance.
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LEADOFF| MY GYM BAG
How do you get in the right headspace before a show? I do a lot of visualization before a performance. I think through the ballet from beginning to end a few times and see myself executing everything the way I imagine it should be. Then I let all the weeks of rehearsal and preparation go so that I can live in the moment onstage. I find this helps with any nervous excitement I might feel. I like to stand alone for a few minutes on stage before the curtain goes up to take some deep breaths and centre myself. When the curtain goes up, I am ready to go!
On Pointe
For The National Ballet’s Greta Hodgskinson, staying ready means a disciplined routine, reliable essentials, and mental clarity.
Can you take us through your gym bag? What are the essentials that you rely on?
G LO RY S t a f f P H OTO G R A P H Y BY K A RO L I N A K U R A S W R I T T E N BY
I have two bags in order to hold various pairs of pointe shoes (at least four pairs broken in and ready to use at a time), second skin adhesive, toe tape, a foot roller, a Fletcher Pilates towel (for exercises), various sizes of massage balls (a baseball, a golf ball, etc.), a shoe scraper, muscle rub, a sewing kit, my “booties” (slippers I wear to walk the halls between rehearsals that keep my feet warm), and a back roller. I carry all of this plus my exercise mat with me to each rehearsal in case I need to change shoes, re-tape my toes, or do some stretching after rehearsal.
FOR GRETA HODGKINSON,
the dream of becoming a renowned ballerina became a reality as she worked her way up to become The National Ballet of Canada’s Principal Dancer. From touring the world to working with the best in the business, she is at the top of her industry. While captivating in its deceptively effortless performance, the sheer athleticism of dancers tend to be disguised by the whimsy of the performer. Make no mistake, they are elite athletes. Here, Hodgskinson shares a few of the routines and essentials that keep her prepared.
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What do you use to recover from injuries or sore muscles?
I do a lot of visualization before a performance.
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I see a physiotherapist every day and try to get a massage once a week. This helps to keep me healthy and injury-free. Epsom salt baths are also a good relaxing tool after long rehearsal days and performances. I also use Woodblock medicated balm and an awesome rub that I bought in Japan on sore muscles. They work miracles!
What are your go-to stretches and exercises? I believe it’s important to work the muscles first and then stretch them out once you’re warmed up. I like to start my day doing a gentle spine warm up, rolling down and up to a standing position. Then I lie down on my back and do the “bridge” exercise to engage my stomach, glute muscles, and hamstrings. Lying on my side, I’ll do some leg lifts for the outside and inside leg muscles and then the “banana” (lifting the feet and shoulders up off the floor simultaneously) to engage the entire core and obliques. Then I stretch my hamstrings and glutes, do some neck and ankle rolls, and my body will start to feel warmed up.
GLORY// FWD From Work to Workout This homegrown brand is about to make your post-work fitness routine so much easier. W R I T T E N BY
To commit to an active lifestyle is to commit to compromise. From skipping after-work happy hour drinks with friends to losing out on a crucial extra hour of sleep for an early workout, these common sacrifices help build tenacity and achieve goals. But maintaining an active lifestyle shouldn’t always take away from actively living life. Ideally, it would slip into a part of your everyday, so no aspect of your life would have to suffer when you’re making the time to workout. With everything from convenient, portable deodorant wipes to the thoughtfully crafted on-the-go backpack, active lifestyle brand FWD—an acronym for Forward With Design, which is also the brand ethos—is here to help ease the transition between work, workouts, and going out. Available exclusively at Sport
Chek and sportcheck.ca, the line features products that solve this daily struggle in most categories including accessories, cosmetics, body care, and hydration. FWD is a first of its kind, creating products to connect the dots between work, fitness, and social time. You can curate the perfect on-the-go bag that makes moving from one activity to the next seamless, integrating fitness into your routine. Made from durable materials that are meant to last, FWD’s bags are designed function-first for easy access to your tools for a healthier lifestyle.
the brand’s carbon footprint, the wipes are made in a North American solar-powered factory—owned and operated by women—using sustainably sourced and biodegradable wood and bamboo pulp. In addition, the deodorant wipes are specially formulated to remove sweat, oils and body odours, to ensure you always arrive fresh.
Of particular interest are the brand’s body and deodorant wipes. Perfectly proportioned and mindfully created, the wipes are made with 95 percent plant-based ingredients, additional botanical actives, and superfoods. To decrease
FWD will take away hassle from your everyday and replace it with smooth, easy transitions so you can live your life to its best potential and keep moving forward—with great, functional design at your side.
Glory Staff
Available in muted colourways with bright accents and a sleek, streamlined design, the innovative Canada-born brand will not only help save time, but also compliment your everyday wardrobe.
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ON DECK| TIMEPIECE
WORLD-SAVING WATCHES These 5 luxury timepieces are doing their part to protect the planet W R I T T E N BY
C a ro l B e s l e r
James Bond and Jack Reacher might be saving the world in the movies, but companies that contribute to environmental conservation are the real heroes in our world, and several watch companies are among them. From cleaning up the world’s oceans to studying the effects of climate change, the following brands support environmental initiatives aimed at preserving the planet in some way. You can look like a debonair spy, all while helping to save the world for real.
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Oris Clean Ocean Limited Edition, $2,900
Each watch in ORIS’S Ocean trilogy is dedicated to a specific environmental program. The Blue Whale Limited Edition (200 pieces) supports the work of the Whale and Dolphin Conservation, the Great Barrier Reef Limited Edition III (2,000 pieces) supports the Reef Restoration Foundation program to regrow devastated coral reefs, and the Clean Ocean Limited Edition (2,000) supports a partnership with Pacific Garbage Screening, which is developing technology to capture plastic before it enters the oceans. Each watch, and the trilogy set, comes in a box with an outer shell made of environmentally friendly algae and a recycled plastic inlay.
CHOPARD is uniquely serious about tracking its supply chain in support of sustainable luxury. The cases of its elite gold watches, most in the L.U.C collection, are made with Fairmined gold, sourced from certified, responsible, artisanal, and small-scale mining operations who meet high standards of working conditions, including fair labour practices, the prohibition of child labour, social development, and environmental protection. The Fairmined Standard also ensures miners are given a fair price for the gold they produce. The premium is used to improve living and working conditions for artisanal miners and their communities. Chopard L.U.C XPS Twist QF, $27,100
BLANCPAIN has been supporting ocean conservation since it introduced one of the world’s first diving watches, the Fifty Fathoms, in the 1950s. The limited edition Fifty Fathoms Ocean Commitment collection is dedicated to the case. Blancpain will donate 1,000 euros from the sale of each of the most recent edition, for a total of 250,000 euros (it is limited to 250 pieces). The brand has also co-financed 18 major scientific expeditions over the years, resulting in the doubling of marine protected surface area around the world.
ROLEX recently consolidated its decades-long support of environmental initiatives into one program called Perpetual Planet. The three-pronged approach includes: a partnership with the National Geographic Society that involves an expedition to Mount Everest to study the impacts of climate change; support for biologist Sylvia Earle’s Mission Blue Ocean conservation program; and the Rolex Awards for Enterprise, which recognize people working to advance our well-being and/ or protect the environment. One of this year’s five laureates is Canadian Miranda Wang, who is working to turn previously unrecyclable plastic waste into products like cars and electronics.
Rolex Oyster Perpetual Explorer II, $9,300
Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Ocean Commitment III, $18,800
A portion of the sales of OMEGA’S Seamaster Planet Ocean collection is earmarked to support the GoodPlanet Foundation, whose mission is to raise awareness about environmental conservation through photo exhibits, films, and other campaigns. Omega collaborated on two conservation projects in Indonesia, one of which focused on protecting the ecosystem and coral reefs in the northern region of Sulawesi. The Planet Ocean watch is one of Omega’s elite collections, with Co-Axial chronometer movements that have been certified for accuracy by the Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS). Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Chronograph, $10,000 follow
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ON DECK| FAST ESCAPETRACK
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PRACTICAL PERFORMANCE
Drive with pleasure without sacrificing creature comforts
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W R I T T E N BY
J u s t i n M a s t i n e - Fro s t FOR SOME REASON, there seems to be this idea that an elevated driving experience and practical functionality are mutually exclusive. That you can’t have both of these things in one ride. The reality is, there’s no shortage of options these days, as performance variants of a number of practical rides exist. You don’t have to choose between one or the other, and these cars are a shining example of such.
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Audi RS3
A l fa Ro m e o Giulia Ti Sport
Audi has been a key player in this category for some time now, with their RS line delivering peak level sleeper car performance. In the case of the RS3, you get a compact sedan with a 394 horsepower turbocharged 5-cylinder engine, capable of a 0-100 sprint in a meager 4.1 seconds. Audi’s Quattro all-wheel drive system will ensure that you’ll have no shortage of traction regardless of weather conditions, and though compact, its rear seats and trunk deliver a reasonable volume of passenger and cargo-carrying capability. From $63,000 2
5
Po r s c h e M a c a n Tu r b o
The Macan Turbo may be compact in proportions compared to the Cayenne, but this works in its favour overall. You still have a reasonable amount of storage on board, and that taller seating position that many drivers love, but you also get a Porsche-tuned chassis and a snarling V6 that delivers 434hp. It’s nearly as quick to 100 as the RS3, completing the run in as little as 4.3 seconds, but in trade you get a fair bit more cabin space. $94,200 6
3
Mini John C o o p e r Wo r k s
This list could never be complete without a hot hatch of some sorts in the mix. The recipe is simple; mate a lightweight hatchback body with a highly-tuned engine and front wheel drivetrain, et voila—a practical and daily driveable rocket that’ll put a grin on your face every time you’re at the wheel. In the case of the JCW Mini, you get a boosted 228hp turbo 4-cylinder, and a refined interior that feels a little less “boy racer” and a little more style and sophisticated. From $39,055
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As Alfa Romeo slowly returns to the Canadian market, they’ve been rather tactful about ensuring that performance and driving pleasure (not to mention sharp styling) are part of the equation. In the case of their 4-door Giuli sedan, what’s interesting is the fact that the Ti Sport variant is coveted by some over the roaring V8 Quadrifoglio. Sure, it’s underpowered by comparison, but the nimbleness and balance of having a very quick 280hp 4-cylinder under the hood in such a well-tuned chassis makes this Alfa a prime candidate for grin-inducing daily use. From $54,045
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B M W M 24 0 i
With BMW models growing larger, heavier, and more luxurious by the day, the brand’s most compact entrant in the North American market (not counting the electric i3) remains one of the most engaging and driver-focused Bimmers out there. Without being a full “M car” like the M3, M5, etc, the M240i still delivers razor sharp handling, and 0-100 sprints in only 4.4 seconds thanks to its boosted inline 6-cylinder engine. You won’t want to cram full-sized adults into the back seats, but the trunk will pack a couple of sets of golf clubs or a reasonable amount of luggage for your next road trip. $47,300 6
Subaru WRX STi
If you aren’t familiar with the WRX STi by now, you should be. The car has proven itself on the World Rally Championship circuit time and time again, and its cleverly engineered symmetrical allwheel drive system makes it the perfect performance-focused practical ride for tackling our Canadian climate year-round. It’s a real treat to drive, even when loaded with four adults and a trunk full of gear. $40,295
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ON DECK| ESCAPE
Kintetsu Liners
Prince Chichibu
A Guide to
Higashiosaka Exploring Japan’s rugby capital C a ro l i n e A k s i c h I L LU S T R AT I O N S T h e o La m a r W R I T T E N BY
Japan’s Prince Chichibu was a rugby zealot who was instrumental in growing the sport. While en route to a shrine in nearby Nara, the prince looked out the train window and decided, you know what would be a great addition to these fields? A rugby stadium. Shortly after, Hanazono was built in 1929.
Japan
What hockey is to Canada , rugby is to… Japan? Ok, rugby is still the sport in New Zealand, Australia, Polynesia, the UK and South Africa, but recently, it has been growing a huge new Asian fanbase. Thanks to the Asia 1 Million Project, an initiative that sought to engage a slew of new ruggers, rugby clubs are popping up in Pakistan, India, China, Vietnam, and beyond. In Asia, Japan has had the biggest uptick in rugby fans, spurred perhaps by the Brave Blossom’s (the country’s national team) 2015 Rugby World Cup victory over South Africa’s Springboks. After unexpectedly beating the juggernauts, rugby fever spread across The Land of the Rising Sun. With Japan hosting Rugby World Cup (RWC) this autumn, the entire country is going mad for the game, but one city has worshipped the egg-shaped ball more than any other: Higashiōsaka, a small industrial city that lives and breathes the sport. Although Hanazono Stadium is only hosting four first-round RWC games, rugby pilgrims attending the tournament would be remiss not to at least trek over to Higashiōsaka for a day trip. This is, after all, the self-declared “City of Rugby.”
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Osaka
Da i s u ke O h at a
Every year Higashiōsaka hosts Japan’s biggest high school rugby tournament. It’s a huge deal, and most of the country’s best players— including Daisuke Ohata, a speedy wing who broke the world record for most tries scored in test matches—have kicked off their careers on this very pitch.
Higashiosaka
Visiting outside of the RWC? Catch the hometown team, the Kintetsu Liners, play a game.
Hanazono
Higashiōsaka is home to Hanazono, the country’s oldest purpose-built rugby stadium. RWC games will be taking place all across Japan, with Japan’s O.G. rugby stadium hosting Tonga’s games against the United States and Argentina, as well as Italy versus Namibia, and Georgia’s showdown with Fiji.
IshikiriTs u r u g i ya
Perhaps it’s no coincidence that a rugby town should be in close proximity to a Ishikiri-Tsurugiya, a temple known for curing lumps, bruises, and other niggling injuries. No word on if you can pray away your hangover at this shrine.
Higashiōsaka might be the birthplace of instant noodles (no, really), but it’s famous for its street food. When visiting, pack some Lipitor because the local delicacies are all deep-fried.
K a re Pa n e
This curry-stuffed pastry is loved because it’s both deep fried and shaped like a rugby ball.
Ta ko ya k i
Takoyaki: Battered and deep-fried octopus balls. Make sure to let these molten morsels cool. They’ll wipe out your taste buds, otherwise!
HANAZONO RUGBY STADIUIM
Ku s h i k a t s u
Kushikatsu: Deepfried skewered meat and veggies. Like a Pogo, but better.
C o nveyo r Belt Sushi
Yo s h i d a Kasuga Shrine Manhole Covers
Even the manhole covers here are adorned with rugby balls.
Tr y - Ku n
Try-kun, a scrum cap-sporting rugger, is the city’s mascot. It’s only appropriate considering that in 1991 the town declared itself “Higashiōsaka: the City of Rugby.”
In the birth country of nigiri and maki, this recommendation might seem sacrilegious, but Genroku Sushi was the world’s first conveyor belt-sushi shop, and it’s still rolling out rolls to this day.
Yoshida Kasuga Shrine, also known as “The Rugby Shrine”, is where local players come to pray for a successful season (that means many Ws and no injuries). The shrine is populated by sacred deer that roam the grounds.
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Most people are so impressed
ON DECK| MENTAL HEALTH
by the physicality of the world’s speediest sprinters, nimblest skiers or most explosive gymnasts, that they forget the real secret to their success: their minds. Becoming the best in the world goes way beyond perfecting a particular sport. It’s a mental game, requiring impeccable focus and the ability to block out all kinds of negative thoughts. That’s actually great news for regular folk, because whether you’re making a big sales pitch at work or dealing with a stressful parenting moment at home, having the mental fitness of an elite athlete (without having to train for hours every day) definitely comes in handy. Peter Jensen is a Toronto-based sports psychologist who has trained athletes at nine Olympic games (he’s helped over 70 of them win Olympic medals). He also lectures at Queen’s University and Cornell University, advises major corporate clients and has written three books. His latest, called Thriving in a 24/7 World, talks about how regular people can use energy management techniques adopted by many athletes to perform better under pressure. According to basic psychology principles, every time someone masters a new skill, new synapses are formed in the brain. There’s no question, then, that the brains of someone who can effortlessly execute a triple axel, or release an archery arrow in between heartbeats, are going to look far different than the average contractor or marketing manager. But Jensen suggests that the mental acuity it takes to perform
THINK LIKE A Are your thoughts getting in the way of being the best version of yourself? A sports psychologist’s tips on how to perform at your max, both at work and at home.
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athletic feats—especially in competition in front of thousands of fans—is something that can be taught to anyone. A major part of Jensen’s job is teaching athletes how to control their perspective. He draws on popular meditation and mindfulness practices, and tells athletes to notice the difference between their self (a.k.a. their consciousness) and their thoughts, and to make choices accordingly. “The voice in your head is not God,” he says. “It’s stories you’re making up about how difficult this is going to be.” For example, if a figure skater complains that her legs feel heavy precompetition, Jensen will follow up with other questions to put that particular feeling into perspective. He’ll ask what kind of shape she’s in, how she feels about her program, and if she’s ever skated well when her legs feel heavy. The answers to such questions are usually positive. “Negative feelings don’t predict anything,” he says. Non-athletes have similar habits, tending to hone in on the one thing that’s wrong in their lives—like getting yelled at by their boss, for instance. Jensen suggests that putting the scenario into perspective, perhaps listing all the things you’re grateful for (like actually having a job) or asking yourself, “Will this matter in two months?”, can eliminate any negative feelings. “We have to remember all of who we are, and all of our capabilities,” says Jensen. “We always over-emphasize the one thing that isn’t.” Resilience is another key skill that successful athletes are forced to adopt. Jensen calls it a “meta-skill”, meaning it’s useful anywhere and everywhere. No athlete wins every game, competition or race they participate in, and productively dealing with setbacks, losses and challenges is usually what
separates the true champions from everyone else. According to Jensen, any emotion—whether it’s disappointment, nervousness or euphoria—is basically just energy that you are free to channel wherever you see fit. Champions channel it somewhere productive: as basically every Ted Talk will tell you, the most successful people in all areas of life are those who have tons of failures under their belt. Instead of feeling defeated, they’ve learned to harness their disappointment and throw that energy into new projects. When it comes to managing your energy, Jensen tells both athletes and regular folk to behave like a thermostat, rather than a
But while the major issue with athletes in competition and anyone under pressure is energy levels that are too high, that’s typically not the case for the average citizen. Jensen admits that the most common energy problem executives complain about is a lack of motivation (think: that time in the middle of the afternoon, when you’re feeling flat and can’t focus). Perhaps counterintuitively, he recommends getting used to taking more breaks, and, yes, even naps. “You have to start thinking of yourself not as someone running a marathon, but as a sprinter,” says Jensen. “You’re only good for 90 to 100
CHAMPION thermometer. When you can set your own energy level, you’re less likely to be influenced by outside sources, whether that’s cheering fans or a whiny child. To do this, he recommends practicing special breathing techniques. When you’re hyper, you tend to breathe in more than you breathe out, with leads to over-oxygenation and a jumpy, rattled feeling. Breathing from the diaphragm, on the other hand, lets in more carbon dioxide, which acts like a tranquilizer. Jensen’s found the ultimate breathing rhythm for relaxation is inhaling for four seconds, holding your breath for one second, and exhaling for six seconds. Ultimately, it can stop people from reacting poorly to a stressful situation.
minutes, maximum.” After that amount of time, he says, you need to revitalize yourself somehow. If you’re doing an intellectual activity, for instance, your break should be physical (going for a walk) or emotional (calling an old friend). He also predicts that refreshing, 20-minute naps will become the next big wellness trend. “There’s no substitute for sleep,” he says. “If you look at people with high-octane intellect— Einstein, Edison, et cetera— they all napped!” It makes sense: when you’re thinking like a champion, amping up all areas of the brain for maximum performance in your day-to-day life, your mind might need a little more down time.
YOUR EVERYDAY GUIDE TO THINKING LIKE A CHAMPION GET ENOUGH SLEEP
Jensen recommends using an app that wakes you up at an appropriate time in your sleep cycle, and taking short 20-minute naps throughout the day as needed. DO BREATHING EXERCISES FOR FIVE MINUTES A DAY.
If you’re stressed, Jensen says breathing exercises do wonders for calming the body down. He recommends breathing from the diaphragm and exhaling longer than you inhale. TAKE INVIGORATING BREAKS FROM WORK.
According to Jensen, our attention span is 90 minutes, maximum. After working for that amount of time, you should do something else, like going for a walk outside or calling a friend.
BANISH NEGATIVE THOUGHTS.
Jensen says negative thoughts are just stories you make up in your head. Once you recognize that, it’s easier to reframe your perspective into a productive state of mind.
REMEMBER ALL OF YOUR CAPABILITIES, NOT JUST YOUR WEAKNESSES.
Jensen says that in moments of stress, we often dwell on our faults, when in reality they’re just a small piece of the puzzle. LEARN HOW TO SET YOUR OWN ENERGY LEVELS.
According to Jensen, the less your energy levels are influenced by outside sources, the better.
USE YOUR EMOTIONAL ENERGY FOR GOOD.
Jensen says all emotions are just energy, and whether they are positive or negative, they can be channelled wherever is needed.
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ON DECK| MENTAL HEALTH
MOVING MOUNTAINS From narrowly escaping a Taliban attack that left 11 dead on the side of a mountain to surviving the deadliest disaster in Everest’s history, Gabriel Filippi has seen more horror and beauty than the ordinary man. But at what cost? W R I T T E N BY
H o l l y Wa l ke r
For many, climbing is about the challenge. It is born in the festering desire of man to conquer the almighty mountain. However with each arduous step closer to the summit, the external challenge often evolves to an internal one; man versus himself. No climb is the same, offering ever-changing landscapes and lessons that see people transform and return altered, perhaps weakened from the journey yet stronger in spirit. With high-altitude areas ominously named “The Death Zone,” the physicality required is obvious and unequivocal, but it is mental strength that can be the distinction between life and death. This is a reality Gabriel Filippi, one of Canada’s foremost mountaineers, knows all too well. When death is not only a looming possibility but something he has faced many times, it begs the question: What pulls him back to the mountain where so many others have been lost — or fear ever to go? The North Face athlete did not always live a life of expedition. Born in Lac-Mégantic, Québec as the third of 10 children, Filippi grew up and worked in air-traffic control for many years before finding his love for the mountain. Since then, he has become the second Canadian to have climbed Everest from both
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W H AT I S SOMETHING UNEXPECTED YO U TA K E O N A CLIMB?
Duct Tape. We say silence is golden but duct tape is silver. W H AT P I E C E OF HOME DO YO U TA K E ?
I always have a photo of my family, and something to write notes to them in. W H AT C A N MAKE A BAD DAY B E T T E R ?
I take little candies, and gummy bears. Some days are hard and you need something small to cheer you up.
sides and has scaled six of the highest peaks in the world. Some think of climbers as part of the fringe, a subsection of society with either a death wish or egos to feed, but for Filippi it’s about the community. “I call it taking a vacation,” he laughs. “You have to see it as fun. If it’s competition or ego, you will never make it back,” he says. While the possibilities of exploration are exciting, the dangers are real. He knows this. The mountain has been his greatest teacher. “It teaches you mental and physical perseverance, and how to trust yourself. We are all animals that have an instinct that tells us when something doesn’t feel right. We have to listen and let that guide us,” he explains. It is that very instinct that would lead him to quit an 11-man expedition on Nanga Parbat in Pakistan in 2013 — a choice that would ultimately save his life. After almost two weeks of being unable to move past base
camp due to weather conditions, Filippi and his climbing partner, Ernestas Marksaitis, finally reached Camp 1 only to find it buried in snow. It would be hours of digging out the site to have momentarily relief before another avalanche would sweep through and bury every tent except Filippi’s. It was not the mountains notorious nicknames of “Man-Eater” or “Killer Mountain” that led to his change of heart, but rather visions that came later that night of what would happen to his daughter if he did not survive. “When you are wondering if you should turn around or not, if you have doubts, you think about those that you love. You come home for them,” he explains. An integral quality of mental strength and emotional intelligence is knowing when to implement restraint and make difficult choices. He decided to leave. Only hours after he left to begin his journey home, a group
People put labels on you as a hero or an athlete, but I am just a human like everyone else. Mental strength has gotten me through
of Taliban gunmen disguised as police arrived in the meadow and massacred a guide and 10 climbers, including Marksaitis. The loss was incredible, the pain unfathomable. But this would not be the only tragedy Filippi would encounter on a mountain. In April 2015, only two years after the attack, Everest would see the deadliest disaster in its history. And Filippi was at its base. An earthquake sent waves of tremors through Nepal, killing more than 5,000 people in surrounding villages. Some miles away, the effects were climbing through the mountains as an avalanche rushed towards base camp. Death and destruction were everywhere. For some it was too late, for others their last breath was taken in Filippi’s arms. Reminiscent of that night on Nanga Parbat, amongst the devastation on Everest, his tent sat untouched. His body was intact and uninjured as if a fossil preserving the peace of only moments before. But those that live know surviving is only half the battle. Gratitude and guilt were conflicting emotions that he grappled with. The questions began to permeate, “Why did I live and they did not?” — He had felt the effects of The Death Zone, what it was like to be storm-lashed with lungs starved of oxygen, and still, nothing in Mother Nature’s beautifully weaponized landscape bore the weight quite like survivor’s guilt. These experiences led him to seek treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder. “I’ve had PTSD three times and now have the tools to cope. You have to talk about it, or it will kill you,” explains Filippi, pointing to the importance of breaking the stigma and seeking professional help. “Learn to overcome your fears and don’t let them control you. People put labels on you
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as a hero or an athlete, but I am just a human like everyone else. Mental strength has gotten me through,” he explains. Just as the mountain has taught him many things, loss has offered lessons of its own. His outlook on life is simple: practice gratitude, stay curious, and do what you love. “Every step I take I think about who has helped me get here. With each step I say thank you.” Unlike other sports, there is no finish line or trophy to thrust in glory. “When you reach the top you’re happy. But you can’t let your guard down, you still have to get down safely,” he explains. For the unexpected moments, Filippi still doesn’t have any answers as to why he lived when others did not; luck, spirituality, a higher power — only the mountain knows. But if his career in air traffic control taught him anything it’s that not all accidents are perplexing. When a plane crash occurs, a black box records data, essentially pointing to the cause, he explains. “Black boxes taught me that many accidents are simple human error,” he says. “Climbing is the same. It’s often poor planning or someone trying to cut corners.” Looking at a situation logically, understanding what went wrong and why has helped Filippi cope with loss. “If I can understand it, I can accept it.” As for when he will stop climbing, he does not know. “If I’m safe, if my mind is alert and strong, I can climb till I’m 100,” he laughs. Like the first rays of sun peaking over shadowed mountain tops, against all odds in the face of darkness, Filippi chooses to see the beauty in life. “People have walked on the moon and explored Mars, but there’s places right here that we have yet to discover. We still have so much to explore.”
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ON DECK| EXTREME GLORY
Peak Potential
Explorer, Cory Richards, on the struggles of modern day mountaineering and exploring uncharted territory W R I T T E N BY
J u s t i n M a s t i n e - Fro s t
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other tests throughout Richards’ journey, and it survived it all effectively unscathed. Here, he recounts his latest trek and discusses his take on the world of modern day exploration. HOW HAS TECHNOLOGY AND GLOBAL CONNECTIVITY CHANGED THE WORLD OF MOUNTAINEERING?
The biggest changes that have come through are reflected in real-time storytelling. You’re able to tell a story as it’s unfolding, rather than just a revised and curated version. This allows a more honest look at what can be and is. There’s now an added a layer of immediacy to exploration.
HOW REAL IS THE OFTEN REPORTED OVERCROWDING OF EVEREST?
The fact that there’s this impression of overcrowding due to the lack of attention to the mountain’s carrying capacity is frustrating. There aren’t too many people, but there’s def initely some mismanagement of people. More thoughtful and pragmatic management of both routes, in conjunction with better management of teams at basecamp, would solve a lot of issues. There’s also a need to better communicate the fact that just because you’ve paid to be there, it doesn’t mean you’ve paid for a shot at the summit. WHAT KEPT YOU MOTIVATED IN
WHAT WERE THE BIGGEST HURDLES
COMPLETING THE EVEREST EXPEDITION?
INVOLVED IN YOUR EVEREST EXPEDITION?
Ever since I was a child, I read books about the Himalayas. Climbing Everest has always been my truest love. A new route on any 8,000-metre peak was a target I’d had in my mind for quite some time. These mountains are astounding and impressive. The experience that’s offered that we can bring back into our daily lives is unlike anything else. It’s a search for an act of perfection. The consequences are so severe that it’s either perfection or nothing.
It all came down to weather this year. [It] didn’t play nice, and it just wasn’t a great season for climbing. There’s also the matter of the extreme mental challenges that come with this kind of expedition. It’s like being asked to describe a colour that you’ve never seen before. There’s no way to understand what you’re trying to do because no one has done it. It’s a massive psychological struggle to overcome that giant quagmire that stands in front of you.
Photo: Courtesy of Vacheron Constantin
Though more and more people attempt an ascent up Everest each year during the narrow climbing window of May, the deadly expedition is no less challenging than it was in 1953 when Tenzig Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary first reached the summit. Cory Richards is no stranger to the risks of this kind of expedition. The world class photographer (known for his work with National Geographic, among many others) has made the climb twice successfully thus far (once without additional oxygen). This past year, his attempt involved taking on a new uncharted route. His latest expedition garnered additional attention through luxury watch manufacturer, Vacheron Constantin, who created a prototype of their Overseas Dual Time out of tantalum for Richards to wear on the expedition. This sort of practice was once more popular among luxury watchmakers, as it’s expeditions like this one that truly test the reliability of their mechanical watches in the most extreme and challenging conditions. The prototype was subjected to extremely cold weather, impact, shock, and a litany of
My back goes out more than I do.
Tell us everything. And we’ll match you to a better sleep.
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PASCAL SIAKAM, Toronto Raptors Glory Cover Alumni
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PUCK OFF Sure, the off-season may be the time to recharge for hockey players, but that hardly means they’re spending all their time lazing around on lakeside decks. (At least, not all their time.) On the contrary, the summer is an important opportunity to reflect, hone skills, and improve training programs. Ahead of the 20192020 season, we caught up with a few players (both active and retired) to talk about everything from career milestones and mental health to fashion and fitness. Behold, the inaugural GLORY hockey off-season review.
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PUCK OFF
MORGAN RIELLY I N T E RV I E W BY
C h r i s Pe n ro s e
Morgan Rielly was born in Vancouver and is entering his seventh season in the NHL, all of which has been spent with the Toronto Maple Leafs. As defenceman and alternate captain on a team stacked with talent, he is a veteran presence that brings a laid back west coast demeanour to the squad. The 2018-19 season was his most impressive across every stat line, which he’s looking to build on as the Leafs work towards the 2020 NHL Playoffs. HOCKEY IS A SPORT WITH SO MUCH RITUAL AND COMMUNITY AROUND IT, FROM EARLY MORNING PRACTICES TO PICK-UP AND SHINNY. WHAT PARTS OF THE GAME KEEP YOU CONNECTED TO THE LOVE OF HOCKEY WHILE PLAYING AT THE HIGHEST PROFESSIONAL LEVEL?
When you’re a young kid growing up, you do a lot of those things, like go to the rink early. With me, it was my dad that was coaching me so it was pretty easy to get motivated. I’m pretty lucky to have the job that I do, so I try to make the most of it. I don’t think I’ve lost any of that kind of passion towards practicing and playing, that’s still something that I really enjoy. I’m looking forward to getting back to Toronto and my teammates, who have all become close friends.
TEAM
Toronto Maple Leafs POSITION
HAVING BEEN ON THE LEAFS SINCE YOU STARTED YOUR CAREER AND BEING AN ALTERNATIVE CAPTAIN MEANS PLAYERS ARE LOOKING TO YOU AS A LEADER. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR LEADERSHIP STYLE?
Defence AGE
25 HEIGHT
6’1 WEIGHT
For me, it comes naturally. I don’t try to do anything that is
221 lbs
WHAT TO WORK OUT TO
A browse through Morgan Rielly’s regular rotation
Chance the Rapper Ed Sheeran The Lumineers
The Rolling Stones The Notorious B.I.G. Blazer ($270), pant ($130), shirt ($80), tie ($50), and pocket square ($25) by RW&CO.
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A GUIDE TO VANCOUVER too unique or out of character. I do genuinely enjoy going to the rink everyday, being around my teammates, and practicing. That helps. When you go in and try to be the best person you can be, try to be a good teammate and enjoy what you’re doing, that can be contagious. I’ve also had the opportunity of playing with some players over the years that are great leaders, and I’ve learned a lot from them in terms of how they talk and handle themselves. THE EXCITEMENT IN TORONTO OVER THE RAPTORS CHAMPIONSHIP LAST SEASON HAS ENERGIZED THE CITY – INCLUDING PLAYERS FROM THE BLUE JAYS, ARGOS, TFC AND THE LEAFS. HOW DO YOU SEE THAT EXCITEMENT TRANSLATING TO LEAFS FANS AND THE HOPES WITHIN THE TEAM THIS YEAR?
It was great for the fans to watch what happened and to see how great the turnout was during the parade and all of those playoff games - it was just a crazy environment. As a player, it’s great and you’re happy for Toronto and Raptors fans, but you become a little bit envious because you want to be able to bring that to Toronto. You want to be able to bring that championship back. It adds some motivation and it makes you train a little harder during the off-season. I think that Leafs fans are the best in the league and they real-
ly deserve a championship, and that’s what we are going to try and bring them in the future. To watch the Toronto Raptors do it makes you realize that it’s possible in the city of Toronto, and like I said, it makes you envious, driven, and motivated. STATISTICALLY, YOU HAD A HUGE JUMP ACROSS THE BOARD LAST YEAR. ONE OF THE MOST NOTABLE WAS STATS WAS YOUR PLUS/MINUS, WHICH TELLS US THE MOST ABOUT YOUR IMPACT ON THE ICE, GOING FROM -4 TO +24 . WHAT IS BEHIND THAT IMPROVEMENT?
I think it’s just a matter of confidence. In sports, it really comes down to believing in yourself and in confidence. Having good teammates and a coaching staff in place helped me go out and do my thing, enjoy playing hockey, and have fun. My plus/ minus was the result of being in the league a little longer and understanding what works and what helps me the most. I really don’t think I changed too much, I’ve always trained hard. It’s a product of being in the league longer and really understanding how the game works at a higher level and having confidence. The combination of being in the league for six years, having confidence, and playing for a good team made it all come together. You gotta do it year after year though, you can’t just do it once – that’s the goal.
I’m pretty lucky to have the job that I do, so I try to make the most of it. I don’t think I’ve lost any of that kind of passion towards practicing and playing, that’s still something that I really enjoy.
When he’s not on the ice, Morgan Rielly migrates back to Vancouver where he grew up. Here are a few of his favourite things to do in his off-time.
YOU DREAMED ABOUT BEING IN THE NHL FOR MOST OF YOUR LIFE AND MUST HAVE HAD IDEAS ABOUT WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE IF YOU MADE IT. WHAT IS THE ONE THING THAT SURPRISED YOU THE MOST ABOUT WHAT PLAYING IN THE NHL IS ACTUALLY LIKE?
The one thing that really surprised me is that the team – whether we are in the locker room or on a plane travelling – is like being around a normal group of guys. We talk about the same things, we play cards. It’s really like playing hockey with a bunch of your best buddies. I think that really surprised me because when you’re younger you have an image in your head of people having egos and being ultra-serious, but it’s really not like that. We have a young team and we’re all very close. We have a lot of great players that are really down to earth, so when we’re around one another we have a great time and try to make the most of what we’re doing. Obviously, you’re motivated and have bigger goals in mind once you’re at the rink, but when you go for dinner, it’s great and just a lot of fun. I think that’s the best part. THE GOAL FOR ANY PROFESSIONAL TEAM IS TO WIN AND TO GO AS FAR AS YOU CAN WITH THAT, BUT WHAT IS YOUR PERSONAL GOAL THIS SEASON TO CONTRIBUTE TO THAT BROADER AIM?
I’m looking forward to getting going again, but you can’t get too carried away. You need to keep your goals in mind. I just want to get back there and have a really good training camp and opening month. It’s easy to talk about having a good playoff run, but that’s a bit far down the road. So right now, I’m just really focused on my summer training. Personally, I just want to build off of what I was able to do last year. I want to contribute, be a good teammate, be a leader, and be part of a good team.
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Fish “The other day I went to Indian Arm, which is close to the Pacific Ocean. I like going there, getting on a boat and doing some fishing with my friends. It’s almost like you are in a different environment.” Eat “I like seafood here at home.
We are pretty spoiled to be close to the ocean. There is a place downtown I like to go to called Bluewater Café, right in Yaletown. Closer to my parents, there are some great sushi places. There is one called Zen, which is really good.“
Hike “There is [a hike called] the
Grouse Grind, which I live close to. It’s difficult, but I enjoy it. It’s fun. There are a lot of opportunities to get outside and really enjoy where you’re at. Here in Vancouver, we’re pretty lucky to be in this natural beauty.”
Explore “I like to go to Whistler
a lot. It’s about a one-hour drive, and we are pretty lucky to be so close to that because it is so beautiful. There are some great golf and mountain-biking courses over there, and also beautiful lakes.”
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PUCK OFF
PHILLIP DANAULT I N T E RV I E W BY
C h r i s Pe n ro s e
The fan base of the Montreal Canadiens takes their homegrown players seriously. So when Phillip Danault, who grew up in Quebec, was traded from the Chicago Blackhawks to the Canadiens, the fans were electrified. Danault has now become a pillar on the team he grew up watching. BEING IN THE NHL IS A DREAM ACHIEVED, BUT PLAYING FOR THE CANADIENS AS A PLAYER FROM QUEBEC IS ANOTHER LEVEL. WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER ABOUT FINDING OUT YOU WERE ON YOUR WAY TO MONTREAL?
I grew up in Victoriaville, just outside of Montreal, so that was our team growing up. I was at home with my wife cooking dinner when I got the call from the Blackhawks and it was completely unexpected. At first, the news wasn’t good because Chicago was going for a Stanley Cup and Montreal was struggling, but it turned out to be the best thing in my life. It happened really fast, and I was playing the next day. The first people I called was my family. They were really happy. It really is the best thing that could’ve happened, and the fans are amazing here, like nowhere else. DO YOU REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME YOU HEARD MONTREAL’S FAMOUS HOME-ICE HORN GO OFF FOR A GOAL YOU SCORED? TEAM
I don’t remember the sound of the horn, but I remember my first goal in Montreal as a Canadien. It was against Dallas, and it’s something I will never forget. When I was on the bench after I scored,
Montreal Canadiens POSITION
Centre AGE
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6’1 WEIGHT
198 lbs
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they announced my name in French and in English. It wasn’t my first NHL goal, but it felt like the first goal I ever scored. AS A CENTRE, YOU LITERALLY FACE OFF WITH THE MOST DOMINANT PLAYERS IN THE NHL EVERY NIGHT. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW YOU PREPARE FOR THAT CHALLENGE?
To prepare, there is a great team with video, stats, and information on what they do and how they take faceoffs. I also like to be in the moment. I think about what I need to do. We work hard during the season but I think you need to work even harder in the off-season and that’s the time that really makes the difference. WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED FROM PLAYING AGAINST SOME OF THE BEST PLAYERS IN THE LEAGUE?
I enjoy playing against the best. Patrice Bergeron, Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid—they are some of the best. Bergeron was my role model growing up, so I love playing against him. They are all honest players. They don’t cheat on plays and work hard every night. I don’t want to be like them, I want to be known for what I do. But, I learn from them. I see all of the little things that they do on the ice and in the corners, and those are things I have picked up. WHAT IS YOUR PERSONAL GOAL THIS SEASON TO HELP YOUR TEAM WIN?
I have always been a two-way player, but my goal is to be even more consistent on offence and defence. I also want to be more confident with the puck. I give it up really quickly sometimes. I want to take my time with the puck and have more confidence with it.
RINK ROUNDTABLE OFF-SEASON FITNESS Staying in shape throughout the year is fundamental to success on the ice. While the summer months may be an opportunity to recharge and recover, it’s also a time where players can make the biggest gains in their training and skill development. Here’s what a few of them work on in the off-season.
A n i m a l M ovem en t s
“I have a good plan with my trainers and a strategy behind it. There is always some back and forth in what we are doing but one thing I like to do that I find beneficial is animal movement training. I’m a big fan. It keeps your body very pliable and loose.” - Mark Schiefele
Yo g a
“On off days, it’s really important to rest and make sure your legs are feeling good. When you are in the league a bit longer, you care more about your nutrition and your sleep, and that becomes really important as you prepare for the next game, the next practice, and the next season. During the off-season it’s about strength and stretching, and yoga is a big part of that.” - Morgan Rielly
P l yo m e t r i c s
“I focus on explosiveness. For that, I do lunges. They help with the explosiveness that you need in the corners [of the rink]. You can feel that that exercise helps in the game.” - Phillip Danault
S t re n g t h Tra i n i n g
“I’m a smaller guy, so any time I get in the weight room is important for me. I have to stay in shape and try to be as strong as I can, especially in my lower body because the speed of the game is so fast. Staying on track with that is really important so I have to get in the weight room as much as I can. It’s really important.” - Johnny Gaudreau
Biking
“A lot of my training is pretty hockey-specific and focuses on the lower body. I had knee surgery in February so I haven't been able to play tennis, racquetball, or anything that I normally would do to keep those muscles moving. Golf is a huge part of most hockey player’s summers. I also do a lot of biking. It’s a good way to keep your legs in shape and strong.” - Taylor Hall
PUCK OFF
CANADA’S BEST GOLF COURSES
MARK SCHEIFELE
The ice may be home during the season, but the green is the terrain of choice for players when it comes to staying active during the off-season. Try out these renowned courses for yourself. 1
I N T E RV I E W BY
For eight seasons , Mark Scheifele has played for the Winnipeg Jets. Born in Kitchener, Ontario, he was drafted as the Atlanta Thrashers relocated to Canada, giving Winnipeg a second chance at an NHL franchise. Heading into this new season, Scheifele’s looking to continue to have an impact as a skilled offensive force in the league.
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PLAYING FOR THE JETS IS A SPECIAL EXPERIENCE BECAUSE WINNIPEG IS A HOCKEY-LOVING CITY GETTING A SECOND CHANCE AT BEING AN NHL TOWN. HOW DO THE FANS COMPARE TO OTHER CITIES?
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1 Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course - Banff, AB Nestled in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, this Stanley Thompson-designed course is world-famous for its picturesque vistas and distinctive bunkering. Check out The Devil’s Cauldron, a par 3 hole that lies overtop a glacial lake under the shadow of the towering Mount Rundle.
It’s awesome being a Canadian kid playing in a Canadian market. The fans in Winnipeg are so passionate and have so much love for the game. For a guy who loves the game as much as I do, I appreciate how much they care for us and the team, and take care of us in the community. YOU PLAYED YOUR ROOKIE YEAR AS THE JETS RETURNED TO WINNIPEG. WHILE IT WAS ALL BRAND NEW TO YOU, IT WAS ALSO A NEW EXPERIENCE FOR THE WHOLE ORGANIZATION. WHAT WAS THAT FIRST YEAR LIKE?
2 St. George’s Golf and Country Club - Toronto, ON Five-time host to the Canadian Open, St. George’s is a world-class golf oasis located only minutes away from Toronto’s downtown core. With winding fairways and undulating greens, the course offers a challenging, yet pleasant, experience for both the expert and rookie player.
3 Cabot Cliffs - Inverness, NS Overlooking the Gulf of St. Lawrence, this jaw-dropping course is carved right into the iconic Cape Breton landscape and contains all the trappings of an adventure epic: sweeping oceanside panoramas, mountainous dunes, and both highland and lowland holes. You can thank legendary course designers, Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, for a game like no other.
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Centre AGE
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I was with a lot of guys who had been in the league for a long time, but it was cool coming up with a team that was in a new city. In a new city, everyone is trying new restaurants, new food, and finding new places to live. That kind of thing brought us closer together.
GYM BAG ESSENTIALS
C h r i s Pe n ro s e YOU’VE SCORED 151 NHL GOALS IN YOUR CAREER. WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER ABOUT YOUR FIRST GOAL AGAINST THE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS ON THEIR HOME ICE, OF ALL TEAMS?
Growing up close to Toronto, it was very special. Having my friends and family all there for the game made it that much more so. That moment replays in my mind a few times a year. It humbles me and brings me back up when I look where I was eight years ago, and where I am now. In terms of scoring my first goal against Toronto, I was never a Leafs fan. We were always Detroit Red Wings fans growing up. The Leafs were actually our least favourite team growing up, so it made it that much more sweet. WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE ABLE TO SCORE A SINGLE GOAL IN THE NHL?
I think what a lot of people don’t realize is how many good things have to happen on a play to score a goal. There has to be some nice passes and good plays across the entire ice to create a goal. When you actually look back at a goal, you see how many plays were made and where a mistake might have been made to score that goal. That’s something that a hockey-junkie like me really appreciates, watching a nice hockey goal or being part of one. There’s no better feeling. WHAT ARE YOUR PERSONAL GOALS THIS SEASON TO HELP YOUR TEAM WIN?
It’s always team-based. Whatever I’m doing as a player, you want it to be the best thing to help your team. Team success is the biggest thing. Everything that I do is for the team and to make the team better. That’s how I view my success and how I set my goals.
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I have a pair of Jabra headphones, which are bluetooth. You can shake your head or jump up and down, and they won’t fall out. Those are a staple. I also wear Nike Metcons and have juggling balls that I use before a game, or when I’m bored on an off-day.”
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JOHNNY GAUDREAU I N T E RV I E W BY
C h r i s Pe n ro s e
Entering his seventh NHL season as a Calgary Flame, Johnny Gaudreau made waves on his way to the NHL earning the Hobey Baker Award in 2014 as the NCAA’s best player while playing for Boston College and for his role in winning a gold medal for Team USA at the World Junior Championships. This past season, he finished eighth overall in NHL scoring thanks to his precision, stick-handling, and an exceptional offensive intelligence. YOU SUCCEEDED IN A DIFFICULT TRANSITION FROM COLLEGE TO THE NHL. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE ANOTHER PLAYER BASED ON YOUR EXPERIENCE?
You need to learn a lot really quickly. If you don’t, you’ll find yourself not playing in the NHL very fast. Coming into training camps out of shape and not as prepared as the rest of the team, that is something that isn’t just going to hurt yourself, but will hurt your team. That’s something that I had in the back of my mind when I was working out over the summer in the gym and on the ice. It’s not just for me, it’s for the rest of my team. COMING INTO THE LEAGUE, YOU GET THE CHANCE TO PLAY AGAINST PLAYERS YOU GREW UP WATCHING AND ADMIRING. WHAT WAS IT LIKE PLAYING AGAINST TOP PLAYERS LIKE SIDNEY CROSBY?
TEAM
Calgary Flames
I was in shock when I got to play against Sidney Crosby the first time. You see him on the ice and hear from different players in interviews [that] he is the hardest working guy on the ice. It’s not surprising how successful he is because of the
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way he works. When you see the most skilled guys in the league, and their teammates are talking about how hard they work, that’s something that you pick up on. WHAT HAS YOUR EXPERIENCE BEEN OF THE COMRADERY THAT IS BUILT BET WEEN TEAMMATES ON AN NHL SQUAD?
From the first day that I got here, even though we went through different coaches, the majority of the guys that I was playing with are still here. From the first rookie camp and that first year as a rookie, they made me feel really welcome. They didn’t make me feel like a rookie, they made me feel like I was a part of the team. That was the mindset we had in the Flames organization, and that is the mindset we have now. That is something that has stuck with our team and our identity, and it has been great to be a part of it. THE GOAL FOR THE TEAM IS TO WIN, BUT WHAT IS YOUR PERSONAL GOAL TO CONTRIBUTE TO THAT BIGGER AIM?
It’s about getting better every day. You don’t take practice or workouts for granted. Mark Giordano is one of the hardest working guys on our team on the ice and off the ice. It’s easy to get better when you have your captain working as hard as he does every day. I’ve been fortunate to learn and train with him for the past five to six years, which has made a difference for me. Blazer ($270), pant ($130), shirt ($80), tie ($50), and pocket square ($25) by RW&CO
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Taylor Hall for BonLook
When you see the most skilled guys in the league, and their teammates are talking about how hard they work, that’s something that you pick up on
IS THERE A SPECIFIC PART OF YOUR GAME THAT YOU’D LIKE TO IMPROVE ON?
Each year, my aim is to get better in the defensive zone. Being smart in your own defensive zone and helping your team out at that end of the ice isn’t as much fun to do but it helps your team win games. That’s something I’ve been aiming to get better at over the years. I’ve been fortunate because Mark takes a lot of pride in his defensive game. He is a guy I get to skate with and play against in practice every day, and that has helped me in the long run. THE ODDS OF MAKING IT INTO THE NHL ARE SO EX TREME AND MOST PEOPLE LOOK AT SIZE AS A MAJOR FACTOR. HOW DID YOU MAINTAIN THE BELIEF THAT YOU COULD MAKE IT, ESPECIALLY AS A SMALLER GUY?
Growing up, it was my parents. My dad was always a smaller guy and grew up playing hockey. He always made sure that I believed in myself, and would say, “when you are playing with bigger guys, you gotta be faster than them and work harder than them.” [Having] that mindset was really important. When I got into the NHL, my first year I got to play with
a guy named Jiří Hudler who was a smaller guy and won a Stanley Cup. He really helped me believe in myself and made sure I was working hard each day. He was a role model for me when I was playing with him. OF ALL OF THE GOALS YOU’ VE SCORED, WHICH ONE WAS THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU?
It was my first NHL goal. I came out of college and I got to play one NHL game that entire year. I remember it like it was yesterday. All of my college teammates and roommates were at school and watching it in the dorms. Snapchat was big and they were all sending me videos of them celebrating in these small dorms, crowded around a tiny TV. When I look back, it’s kind of amazing for them to have supported me like that. I will always remember that and it will always stick with me. I had my parents at that first game, and they were pumped and excited to see me score. My dad coached me for 15 years and always believed in me, and my mom supported me the whole time. To have them there in that moment, for them to be there that night and celebrate after the game, it was pretty special.
RINK ROUNDTABLE FASHION & STYLE When it comes to style, people are looking to athletes like never before. We spoke with Morgan Rielly, Phillip Danault, Taylor Hall, Johnny Gaudreau, and Mark Scheifele about their fashion sense, who has helped them in the evolution of their style, and how being well-dressed translates to on-ice performance. DO YOU HAVE ANY SENTIMENTAL PIECES THAT YOU WEAR FOR GOOD LUCK?
When I go to the gym and the rink, I bring my pocket watch: it’s a gold Caravelle, and it was a gift from my wife’s grandfather who passed away. I also wear my gold necklace that was a gift from my wife, and the cufflinks she gave me.
DANAULT
HOW HAS YOUR ST YLE EVOLVED? SCHEIFELE I’d say I’ve really grown in the
past few years. I was hopeless a few years ago but I started to learn on my own and from the guys on the team. My partnership with RW&CO has also helped a lot by encouraging me to wear things that I wouldn’t normally try. My fashion sense is very simple, but I continue to grow. It’s all about trial and error, and finding the things that I like and don’t like. You just go from there. GAUDREAU Over the years, it has gotten a lot better. When I was in college, I was wearing sweatpants and sweatshirts to class. In my first year in the NHL, guys would joke around and give me a hard time. They’d say, “you need to dress a little bit nicer. You’re not in college anymore.” Working with RW&CO has been great. I thought I knew a lot about fashion around hockey, but I didn’t know as much as I thought I did.
DOES FASHION INSPIRE CONFIDENCE FOR YOU ON GAME DAY? RIELLY I really enjoy wearing suits to games. It’s fun to try new things, experiment, and use a bit of your personality to dress up. As I’ve gotten older and more comfortable with my-
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self, my style has changed. I recently partnered with RW&CO, which has been cool because they feel the same way: look good, feel good, be comfortable. I think that’s important when you’re going to a game, to walk in and have confidence. HALL Game day is always pretty fun
to pick out what you’re wearing. Personally for me, I love dressing in the fall and winter. You can create so many different looks with some overcoats or deeper colours. I have a suit guy and stylist that I work with, Tom Marchitelli, who has done a lot for me in terms of my suits and the way I look going into the arena. It’s always fun to try to look good and feel good when you’re walking in. GAUDREAU I’m not too fancy but want to look respectable and presentable. It’s something that I try not to take for granted anymore because, in my first year, I really didn’t dress properly. It’s something that I learned about over the years. I think it makes a difference on the ice when you come into the rink and are dressed a little more appropriately. You walk in with a little more style and feel better about yourself. That is something that translates to the game as well.
PERHAPS A FEW COMMENTS FROM DON CHERRY ARE IN ORDER NOW? RIELLY I
try to be a bit low-key. Don Cherry commenting on your suit isn’t always a good thing [laughs].
DANAULT That’s every hockey player’s dream, to have him comment on your suit game!
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ICE BREAKER How Jordin TooToo, the first Inuk player in the NHL, conquered addiction to save himself — and his community. I N T E RV I E W BY
La n c e C h u n g
At 36 years, Jordin TooToo has already lived an extraordinary life. Born in Churchill, Manitoba and raised in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, TooToo spent the majority of his days surrounded by ice and confronted by obstacles as a young athlete who quickly rose through the ranks of the NHL, becoming the league’s first Inuk player. Despite struggling with alcohol addiction and the crippling suicide of his brother, Terence, the retired athlete has defied the odds and come out on the other side with a newfound mission to help heal his community and raise awareness around mental health and addiction. YOU WERE THE FIRST INUK TO PLAY IN THE NHL AND ENJOYED A GREAT CAREER PLAYING WITH THE PREDATORS, RED WINGS, DEVILS, AND BLACKHAWKS BEFORE RETIRING IN 2016 AFTER 13 SEASONS. WHAT DOES LEGACY MEAN TO YOU?
It’s a huge honour, first and foremost, to be the first Inuk to ever lace up in the NHL. I think at a young age I didn’t quite understand or realize the impact that it would have on the Indigenous communities throughout Canada. I’ve travelled to many First Nations communities across North America and the one common factor in our people is that we know how to persevere through tough times. A lot of us have dealt with similar issues. We understand each other. Ultimately, we struggle with a lot of issues within our communities. We all know that suicide rates are a lot higher in Indigenous communities, as well as substance abuse and mental health [issues]. At this point in my life, the right thing to do is to give back and share my story. My legacy would just be to let people know that it doesn’t matter where you come from. Anything’s possible in life if you put your mind to it and have a great support system. The sky’s the limit. YOU HAVE BEEN AN ADVOCATE FOR MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS BY DRAWING ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES IN THE PAST. HOW HAS THAT JOURNEY BEEN FOR YOU SO FAR?
I’m only 36 years old and I’ve experienced a lot of similarities to the Indigenous communities. For
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me, when you’re comfortable and content in your own skin, you’re able to share that part of your life. A lot of our people are afraid to open up and be honest. I didn’t know how to communicate or express my feelings up until I sobered up and was in recovery. It took a lot of years to be where I’m at today. Things don’t just happen overnight. It’s a process. Dealing with suicide within the family and substance abuse, I look back and continuously tell myself that I’m very grateful for the life that I led and experienced because ultimately successful people fail more often than not. And people don’t see that side. I can only share my experiences and hope I can help one person along the way. WHAT IS THE MOST VALUABLE LESSON YOU HAVE LEARNED SO FAR?
To me, it’s about connecting with the land. I feel like [our people] are most comfortable and content when we’re out on the land. That’s something that I’ll never forget: where I come from, my culture, my traditions. Successful people, in my eyes, give back, share, and educate, and that’s what my intent is. It is to educate people on our history and what we believe in. YOU’ VE RECENTLY BECOME A CANADA GOOSE GLOBAL AMBASSADOR AS A PART OF THEIR “LIVE IN THE OPEN” CAMPAIGN, WHICH SHOWCASES INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE BREAKING NEW GROUND AND GIVING BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITIES. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU TO LIVE IN THE OPEN?
For me, this was a program that was the right fit. They seem to be focused on enhancing the world that we live in. My sister
Corinne is a seamstress and the craft was handed down to her by my grandmother. To know that they are making a serious effort to preserve this part of our culture and heritage is very special to me. It’s also incredible that they aspire to make their jackets to the same standards that Indigenous people do in keeping us warm no matter where we live. It’s about educating and showing people that the Indigenous people are for real, and it’s something I take pride in. THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF PROGRESS BEING MADE IN THE DIALOGUE AROUND MENTAL HEALTH, BUT THERE IS STILL MUCH WORK TO BE DONE. WHY DO YOU THINK THERE IS STILL SO MUCH STIGMA?
In our communities, it’s years and years of verbal, mental, and physical abuse that we’ve endure. Things don’t happen overnight. Mental health issues are going to take time. It’s a process, just like my sobriety. When I entered rehab eight years ago, my initial reaction was that when I get out, life was going to be great again. Well, that wasn’t the case. It took a number of years where I had to learn how to communicate and go about things on a day-to-day basis because of change. I think our people are afraid of change and we’ve just got to get them to step outside of the box and experience being uncomfortable. When you grow up living a certain way and you’re unhappy, and things aren’t going your way, it’s a process when you change your lifestyle. It happened in my hockey career, in my personal life, and today I’m sober and just putting one foot in front of the other. I’m taking it one day at a time.
PUCK OFF
I LEARNED IN MY SOBRIETY THAT A REAL MAN SHOWS EMOTION. IT’S ABOUT CONVERSING AND OPENING DOORS FOR MALE ATHLETES, THE STIGMA AGAINST MENTAL HEALTH CAN BE ASSOCIATED WITH TOXIC MASCULINIT Y AND WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A “MAN”. WHAT DO YOU THINK MEN NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO COMBAT THIS, ESPECIALLY IN PROFESSIONAL SPORTS?
I can totally understand that aspect around men not crying or showing weakness because in my household, that’s how it was. I never saw my father cry or back down from anyone. I think the biggest hurdle for me was to admit that I had a problem and to ask for help. It was my ego; of being known as “The Enforcer” in the NHL and then showing that
weakness of not being able to control my addiction. For any man, it’s hard to admit that you’re not strong enough. And I learned in my sobriety that a real man shows emotion. It’s about conversing and opening doors. When I share my story, I see a lot of men in tears saying, “Thank you for opening up. It’s something that I need to hear.” And that’s what it’s all about. WHO HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST TEACHER?
For me, it would be my late brother Terence. He was three years older than me. He was a father figure, a mentor, my best
friend, and my brother. He paved the way for me to be successful and [helped me] understand that when you lose a loved one, their legacy lives on through another person. My purpose is to keep his legacy going and to show people that when you lose a mentor or a loved one, life doesn’t end. You have to be able to take what they’ve taught you and turn it into a positive. That’s what my brother’s given me. WHAT WAS THE MOMENT WHERE YOU FOUND YOUR VOICE?
I think early in my sobriety. I sobered up December 2010 and
it wasn’t until probably four or five years into sobriety where I really dug deep and was able to express my feelings and what I believed in to the ones closest to me. I didn’t know how to communicate. I didn’t know how to talk about the tough times because in my household we didn’t talk about that stuff. I think five to six years into my sobriety was where I really knew that my calling was to give back to our people and share my story. I get to wake up and go to bed every night being comfortable and content in my own skin. There’s no better feeling than that.
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BIANCA ANDREESC
COVER STORY
She the North How Bianca Andreescu won big, made history, and captured the hearts of our nation. W R I T T E N BY P H OTO S BY
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COVER STORY
I WANT TO BE AT THE TOP OF MY SPORT “Pressure is a privilege.” Four words immortalized by tennis legend, Billie Jean King, and inscribed on a plaque as athletes enter Arthur Ashe Court during the US Open. For Bianca Andreescu, the 19-year-old Mississauga native who defeated Serena Williams during the 2019 US Open women’s final and first Canadian to win a Grand Slam singles title, those words could not be more true. In an arena filled with an audience rooting for Williams to win her 24th Grand Slam title (which would have tied her with Margaret Court for the most in tennis history), Andreescu had to confront incredible pressure to not only overcome the cacophony of the crowd, but also make history and cement herself amongst a pantheon of elite athletes as one of the best in the world. She was a force to be reckoned with and ultimately harnessed that pressure to achieve victory. As they say, pressure makes diamonds. And Andreescu shone bright on that day. “Bianca plays well under pressure. She goes out and plays hard,” Williams said. “She does what she does best and that’s hitting winners.” In the time leading up to her Grand Slam victory, Andreescu was characterized by her prowess on the court, as well as her integrity and character as an athlete. As the CEO of Tennis Canada, Michael Downey witnessed Andreescu’s growing talent, but it was her spirit that set her apart from so many other players. By July of 2018, Andreescu had already won Indian Wells and made a name for herself in Italy and Santa Fe, but she was hardly a household name
Ro g e r s Cup
Andreescu, 19, shocked the world by beating Serena Williams. It was the first time a Canadian took the title on home soil since 1969
at that point. She had missed much of the season with a bad back, and was still only 18 years old. During a 2019 campaign aimed at raising funds to help nurture the next generation of high-performance Canadian tennis players, Downey asked Andreescu for a favour and wanted to use her likeness in the advertising that would support it. Andreescu agreed to let them use her image, but wanted to do more. She learned the game through the Tennis Canada program and wanted to give back, an opportunity that became possible after securing the USD$1.3 million purse from Indian Wells. Andreescu, the athlete of the moment, not only donated CAD$50,000 but also convinced Felix Auger Aliassime, her counterpart on the men’s side, to do the same. Tennis has been Andreescu’s Canadian experience since she grew up on its courts and she’s spoken about her parents arriving in Canada from Romania with nothing but two suitcases. By the time Tennis Canada called, Andreescu had found her calling in sport. Tennis
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is where she found fearlessness. It’s how she learned heart. It’s the place she found home. That summer, they raised CAD$210,000 in their fundraising efforts. Andreescu, before she was a household name and before taking the US Open, was almost singlehandedly responsible for nearly half of the purse. Andreescu was entering the limelight. She was generous — and she was hellbent that she was going to stay. “I’m feeling really confident in my game and looking forward to what I can do here,” said Andreescu in New York on the Sunday night before her first match of the US Open. Over the phone, Andreescu sounds calm and happy. She sounds ready to enjoy her time under the sport’s brightest lights. She says responding to the moment has been the defining point of her career. “The first time I actually thought I could do things in the sport was in 2013 because that was the first time after a match that I was asked for an autograph and to be interviewed, and I realized I enjoyed that. I told
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COVER STORY myself then and there, I want to be at the top of my sport,” Andreescu said. “Confidence is as important as anything in tennis — you get on the big stage and you either love it or you don’t, and when people were starting to know my name I felt comfortable. I have no hesitation and that’s been a big part of my game.” Andreescu’s game could do for Canadian tennis what the Toronto Raptors have done for basketball in Canada. Before making history at the US Open, she was coming off a preposterous 2019 season, in which Andreescu already shocked the world once by beating Williams at the Rogers Cup in Toronto. Most tennis fans would agree that Williams is the greatest female tennis player of all time, and though their match would end in disqualification — a back injury forced Williams to retire after the first set, down 1-3 — it was the first time a Canadian took the title on home soil since 1969. Andreescu had previously won in Indian Wells and Auckland, major tournaments that proved she was the real deal. But her journey hasn’t been without struggle. A natural talent, she won Les Petits As in 2014, the world’s most prestigious tournament for players 14-and-under, but lost in the first round at both Wimbledon and the French Open the very next year as she aged into the sport. She won her first professional tournament, but then lost again in the first round of the US Open — one step forward, one step back is how she learned how to fight. It’s grit that has been the defining characteristic of her journey. Any professional athlete experiences a seesaw beginning, it’s how they learn their discipline. But Andreescu grew into herself as she adapted to a country in which she still speaks Romanian with her parents at home. An only child, she told the New York Times that her Romanian upbringing is part of her spirit. She’s Canadian, but like most children of immigrants to this country, she’s proud of where she’s from. It makes her who she is. “We are very passionate, and we leave it all out there,” she said. “It’s all heart.” Heart has become synonymous with the young fighter and her donation to Tennis Canada would only be just the start. At the US Open, Andreescu was told by a reporter that she had dropped into the Women’s Tennis Association’s (WTA) top ten ranking (a pointbased system upon which a player’s seeds are determined, earned at tournaments across the previous 52
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HAVING TO QUIT ONLY TOUGHENS YOU UP IF YOU LOOK AT IT RIGHT. weeks). Her response was priceless. “What? You’re kidding me,” she told the gathered press in a clip that went viral, showcasing her earnestness, youth, and unadulterated glee. “Oh man, give me a sec... Wow.” By the end of the US Open, Andreescu ranked fifth in the world, a jaw-dropping jump from being ranked 178th at the end of 2018. However, it was the way that she comforted Williams after her Rogers Cup withdrawal — the way she crossed the court and gave her weeping hero a hug — that showed the world that Andreescu had class. “This is how women should treat each other,” wrote King on Twitter. The winner of 39 Grand Slam titles, King is tennis’s great moral compass. Though she beat Bobby Riggs in the Battle of the Sexes, she’s perhaps even more well-known for her sportsmanship and advocacy. She is her sports éminence grise. “Thank you for all that you’ve done,” Andreescu wrote to King in response. In Downey’s opinion, Andreescu is changing how the world sees Canadian women in sport. “I think fans were starstruck by the fact that they saw history in the making at the Rogers Cup and Bianca showed a maturity beyond her age,” says Downey, who’s been in professional tennis since 2004. “There’s no doubt that she’s stolen the hearts of our country and the shocking thing is that she’s only 19 — there’s no ceiling on what her potential could be.” Andreescu would never put a ceiling on her potential. She’s dealt with rotator cuff injuries and back problems, serious injuries that have affected her game and forced her to miss this year’s Wimbledon and the French Open. But she came back in New York and Toronto, exhibiting a nature that separates the talented from those ready to sacrifice everything to be amongst the greatest of all-time. She says that she’s learned how to chalk
up every setback as a learning experience. She’s spoken often about visualization, spending 15 minutes off the court to anticipate what the match might bring. It’s mind control, she says, that has led to her success. At a press conference in Toronto after her US Open win, Andreescu was funny and poised, talking about Drake and Jimmy Fallon. But she also made it clear that she was eager to get back to work. “There’s always room for improvement. I’m going to keep working on my game,” she said, mentioning dreams of both the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 and being number one in the world. “I’ve accomplished a lot in this past year and now I believe I can do more — I want to create history.” History has been made by the young Canadian on the court and there’s nothing she can’t do with a racket. She has a powerful forehand and a deadly serve, she’s good at the net and can hit deep backhands with punishing strength. Experts have credited her overall game and great court instincts, her ability to know both where a shot is coming and how to work the angles in returning slices, lobs or drop shots, while also hitting with tremendous power. She hits big, serves
Photo: Tennis Canada
big, and has a strong second serve and endurance to outlast even the toughest opponents. “I don’t think there’s any shot she can’t hit,” says Downey. She’s beaten bigger players with overhead smashes and she’s played deep in the backcourt and matched blast for blast with the strongest players in the world. And yet Venus Williams is 39. Simona Halep, her mentor and the most famous Romanian player on the tour, is 28. Andreescu has proven that she can play with anybody, and she’s just getting started. Seizing the moment, she says, is what’s responsible for her stunning success. “I think 90 percent of the game is mental. That’s what I’ve been working on through my whole career,” she says. “Having to quit only toughens you up if you look at it right. A setback is a test to stay optimistic and while I sat on my butt for three months, hoping I could carry my win into Miami, the French Open and Wimbledon, sadly I couldn’t, so during that time I looked at other aspects of my life and tried to improve.” It’s a mature athlete who, forced out by injury at the peak of their playing, finds a silver lining in the forced break. By resting, improving her visualization techniques, eating right, and studying the game, she was able to return to the sport mentally tougher. Tennis gave Andreescu a platform for Canada around the world and her improvements have made history. It helped usher in the next generation of young female athletes
US Open
Andreescu made history by becoming the first Canadian to win a Grand Slam singles title at the 2019 US Open against Serena Williams
benefitting from a new dawn of support and engagement in the world of female sports. We saw it when Naomi Osaka comforted 15-year-old Coco Gauff at the Open. Sports are changing and while women compete every bit as hard as men do, the best of them bring a different compassion to the proceedings. They remind us all how to live. Its effect is an overdue phenomenon, from Penny Oleksiak at the Olympics to the US Women’s Soccer team. There’s still pay discrepancies, idiot announcers, and television coverage more apt to show men’s athletics than their often more popular female counterparts. But a change is in the air and Andreescu is leading the charge. “I want to be the best that I can be and make everybody proud. [I want to] show people what I can do,” she says. During the Rogers Cup, many of her matches went three sets, and she was on the
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court longer than anyone else, even though most followers of the sport worried that her injuries would return. Instead, she has 45 match wins on the season, 17 of them coming in three sets. Ten of them would be victories earned after coming from behind. At New York’s US Open, Andreescu was stunning. She proved her win at the Rogers Cup was no fluke and played with ferocity, cunning, and tact well beyond her years. Perhaps there were people still stunned in the tennis world. Andreescu, however, believes there’s nothing that she can’t do. “What clicked is having zero expectations. I think if you expect nothing and take what comes your way, good things can happen,” she says. “The mental side kicks in, and that’s when I have the advantage. It’s only good vibes I’m feeling and when you’re strong mentally, you can conquer any obstacle that comes your way.”
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CULTURE
Snake Oil
For ages, the wellness industry has staked its flag in championing women and their health. Instead, it preys on them while pretending to listen. W R I T T E N BY
Re b e c c a Tu c ke r T h e o La m a r
I L LU S T R AT I O N BY
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I stopped working out at my fitness studio when they went full Goop. The downtown pilates studio had announced that it would be participating in the brand’s upcoming Vancouver summit. To what capacity, I’m not sure. But, being Goop-averse as I am, it was all I needed to stage my silent one-woman walkout. Associating with Goop isn’t exactly break-your-brand controversial, particularly if your audience is already predominantly female. Gwyneth Paltrow’s lifestyle empire is essentially shorthand for the alternativewellness movement that has invaded the collective consciousness so effectively, you’d think it was always there. So what was my problem? I think Goop is an opportunistic, manipulative, and dangerous pillar of an industry that peddles pseudoscience as a viable alternative to modern medicine. It preys (and capitalizes) on the desperation of women born out of the misogyny of modern institutions, and makes them feel worse while pretending to listen. “The wellness industry has appropriated the language of medicine and mixed it with feminism,” says Dr. Jen Gunter. “But they’re also using words like ‘pure’ and ‘clean’ — words that have been used to control women — and rebranding them as empowerment.” Gunter, a Canadian obstetriciangynecologist, has staked a reputation for her crusade against pseudoscience and the wellness industrial complex. Take a quick tour of her Twitter account on any given day and you’ll see her poking holes in all sorts of alternative medicine and wellness marketing claims. It’s entertaining to read her takedowns as she often squares off against Paltrow, Goop, and its various acolytes. But there is a grave seriousness to her crusade. Wellness products aren’t vehicles of altruism, yet people seem to be consuming them as such. “You cannot get reliable information from people who are selling you the product [they’re informing you about],” Gunter says. “It’s very easy to use language to confuse people. [The] use of those words can be predatory. It’s the weaponization of language that’s ‘science-ish’.” Using science-y language to sell products that promise a better life will be particularly familiar to women. Every shampoo commercial, skin cream, and cosmetic ad features vernacular that sounds as if it’s come from a lab. At the same time, western medicine is notoriously unhelpful (if not fully antagonistic) towards the needs of women thanks to the field being male-dominated for centuries,
from research to practice. So is it any wonder that women, who are neglected by the medical community and already desensitized to (or, perhaps, primed for) “science-y” marketing, are the wellness industry’s prime targets? “These companies and brands, they do a very good job of marketing,” says Tim Caulfield, the University of Alberta law professor and host of The User’s Guide to Cheating Death, a Netflix documentary series that investigates pseudoscientific wellness practices and claims. “They make them sound legitimate. The other thing that’s happened is that it’s becoming more difficult to parse real from fake. I’ve been following it for a long time. It’s not being marketed as if it’s built on a different world view. It’s being marketed as if it works. As if it’s science-based. Quantum physics is used to justify homeopathy. You have this science-y language being used.” “There’s an issue with trust,” Caulfield, who in 2015 authored a book called Is Gwyneth Paltrow Wrong About Everything?, continues. “That makes room for these alternative voices, and it makes them seem more appealing” On the surface, the alternative wellness industry seems designed for good in a way that traditional cosmetics and western medicine have not: additive-free cosmetics, feel-good focused exercise programs, and meditation programs aimed at improving mental health. All of these are a refreshing departure from programs that emphasize physical appearance over all else. However, it’s key to consider the sources. Paltrow, often held up as the personification of the wellness industry for the industriousness with which she’s marketed Goop, is a wealthy actress and part of a Hollywood dynasty. She can afford to buy the USD $245 chromeplated toothpaste squeezer on her website. The Kardashians, who routinely showcase their affinity for weight-loss teas, also have an army of stylists, nutritionists, and trainers at the ready. Miranda Kerr has an organic skincare line and gave birth naturally but she’s also a Victoria’s Secret model. It begs the question, what makes these celebrities more of an expert than, well, the experts? Wellness seems nice but it’s no less aspirational than its chemical cousins. Regardless, there’s massive buy-in. By the end of 2017, the global wellness industry was valued at a whopping USD $4.2 trillion, according to the Global Wellness Institute. Science-y or not, this industry has found its recipe: a market base
of vulnerable women, a dash of aspirational celebrities, and a sprinkle of social media-ready misinformation. Combine these ingredients and you’ve got a real moneymaker on your hands. The problem, of course, is that this can become dangerous. “I think there has always been quackery, but the Internet has allowed nonsense to proliferate unchecked,” says Dr. Margaret McCartney, a Glasgow, Scotlandbased doctor and advocate for evidence-based medicine. “I think there is a movement to counter this, but really the companies allowing anti-science on the internet have to invest in fact checkers and editors … it shouldn’t be left to volunteers to sort this out.” Gunter agrees, and cites this illusory effect (that is, the more we see something repeated, the more we accept it as fact) as one of the most significant bolsters supporting the wellness industry. “I think that doctors have not learned how to counteract this in a way that speaks to patients,” she says. “When a doctor dismisses information, it can feel like they’ve [dismissed] you. If people don’t feel listened to, the best medicine in the world is useless.” Indeed, when alternative health treatments are used as a last-ditch effort to ameliorate the failings of modern medicine, there are massive risks. And lawmakers are taking note: Goop recently settled a lawsuit in California stating the company is no longer allowed to make scientific health claims about the benefits of their jade eggs, a smooth stone meant to be inserted in the vagina for detoxification purposes. For Caulfield, better communication is needed to restore faith in evidence-based medicine. “Dumping facts on people isn’t working,” he says. But also, better listening— where are people being failed? What do people need from their doctors that they aren’t getting? And specifically, how can we encourage and empower more women and non-binary individuals into medical fields, where their voices are essential? Modern medicine has its shortcomings, absolutely. However, when it fails us, we shouldn’t be looking to alternative medicine and potentially dangerous “wellness” fads as a solution. The wellness industry is a predatory and misogynistic one that has carefully cultivated itself into a seductive solution to all our maladies. Instead, we need to demand institutional change, more research, and better services in order to shift the healthcare landscape to help us all, especially women.
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CULTURE Hoop Sisters In Africa, Masai Ujiri’s mission to create opportunities for young women starts on the basketball court. P H OTO S
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I N T E RV I E W BY La n c e C h u n g Kev i n C o u l i au , C h a r l i e L i n d s ay, a n d J a m a l B u rg e r
Earlier this year, the Toronto Raptors made history by claiming the top place in the league and winning the NBA championship — a first for the team, and Canada. Much of that success can be attributed to Masai Ujiri, President of the Raptors and mastermind behind the team’s rise to greatness. While his leadership is well known in the league, Ujiri’s impact has been felt beyond the NBA courts through his non-profit basketball camp, Giants of Africa. Established in 2003, the camp lifts communities by using the sport as a vehicle of opportunity for underprivileged youth. Part of that mission has been the empowerment and championing of young women. In its most recent year, the tour added Somalia and South Sudan to its schedule, nations that have experienced unconscionable trauma from war and conflict. Marred by religious extremism, young girls in Somalia are hindered in their access to basic resources (including the watching of and participation in sport), denying them the vital skills and lessons that would otherwise be developed. In places like Mogadishu, a basketball camp for girls is as much about human rights as it is about sports. Here, young women are unapologetically encouraged to play, learn, and take the first steps towards realizing their dreams. WHAT DO YOU THINK THESE YOUNG CHILDREN TAKE AWAY WITH THEM AFTER THEY’VE ATTENDED A CAMP LIKE GIANTS OF AFRICA?
We have to give them a sense of hope and opportunity. If we can do that, it’s going to open their eyes to see that they can make it. And that’s what I really want to show with Giants of Africa. I have to show these young kids around Africa, and around the world, that they can do it. I grew up in Africa and [the same] environments that these kids are growing up in. A lot of people on my staff are the same. That’s why we bring a lot of African players, scouts, and coaches; so these kids can see that if these guys can do it and grew up in the same way as them, then they can do it, too. Whether it’s Patrick Mutombo or Jama Mahlalela, these guys are Africans. I’m African.
These kids can see that if these guys can do it and grew up in the same way as them, then they can do it, too
WHAT LESSONS DO THEY LEARN ABOUT COMPASSION AND HUMILITY FROM SPORTS?
We teach them all the basic fundamentals of the game. But we also teach them life skills, which
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CULTURE builds their confidence. We teach them about honesty, being on time, and respect. We teach them how to look at people in the eye, talk to others, and how to be confident with yourself. We teach them about being proud of where you’re from. It’s about all of these things. We think of lifting young women up and telling them that they are equal. For me, that’s what Giants of Africa is about. That’s the compassion that we want to show and leave wherever we go. WHAT DID IT MEAN TO TAKE THE NBA CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY ON TOUR WITH YOU THROUGHOUT AFRICA?
I saw all the celebrations when I was growing up on VHS tapes or on TV with Larry Bird and Michael Jordan, and then recently with LeBron and the Golden State Warriors. Now, we’re actually the ones carrying it and bringing it home. That’s amazing and it’s still not real for me. I’m still trying to put it together. I was just talking to Bobby [Webster], our General Manager. He took it to Hawaii and told me that he brought it to the gym where he started playing basketball. Somebody came up to him and asked, “Why did you bring the trophy here?” It was as if he was implying that it was too big and grand to bring there. But that’s the feeling. I hope it means something. I hope it inspires people to know that they can do it.
I always say that there’s a small amount of bad people in this world, and there’s a huge amount of good people. for
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THROUGH GIANTS OF AFRICA, YOU RUN WOMEN’S BASKETBALL CAMPS IN MALI, CAMEROON, AND TANZANIA. THIS YEAR YOU ALSO KICKED OFF A CAMP IN SOMALIA FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE ORGANIZATION’S HISTORY, DESPITE THE CONFLICT THAT EXISTS DUE TO RELIGIOUS EXTREMISM. WHY WAS IT IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO TAKE IT THERE?
It’s very important that we go into these areas because they are wonderful places with wonderful people, and this is just their experience now. I read somewhere, “God bless Giants of Africa. We will remember Giants of Africa when Somalia becomes great again.” And Somalia is going to become great again. There’s no question about it. That’s just how the world works. I’ve seen what President Kagame has done in Rwanda,
a country that went through genocide. I’ve seen countries like Sierra Leone and Liberia, and how they’re picking up. I always say that there’s a small amount of bad people in this world, and there’s a huge amount of good people. Good people have to overwhelm and influence the bad. I think with good leadership, these problems are going to be overcome. As an African, why would I be afraid [to go there?] There’s no reason because these people are just like me. There’s no part of me that feels afraid of going anywhere in Africa because that’s where I’m from. DO YOU THINK HAVING ACCESS TO SPORTS IS TIED TO WOMEN’S RIGHTS?
Sports is going to give women a big voice. I think it’s going to get bigger, and it’s going to
take over the world. We see it already. People watch it and are engaged in it so much, especially in Africa where we have the physical abilities, the smarts, and the intelligence. We have to give women that opportunity. I don’t know everything, but I do know sports. That’s my expertise. I hope to take back a little bit of what we’re doing here and make it more accessible on the continent. And that’s done by building arenas and influencing leaders to think, talk, and do more in sports. That’s going to encourage women. I’m very happy about some of the meetings I had on the continent with good people that I think are going to take it to another level in influencing sports. And not only that, but also hopefully encourage more women to play sports in places like Somalia, South Sudan, Mali, and Tanzania. Those girls
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need love and they need to be encouraged in a lot of ways. ARE THERE ANY STORIES FROM THESE YOUNG WOMEN THAT HAVE REALLY STUCK WITH YOU?
They all have stories about where they’re from, the things that happen to them, people that have influenced them, good experiences, and sometimes bad experiences. That builds them up as people. You see some of those women and you just know that they are going to be leaders. I can see it in the way they carry themselves on the basketball court and the way they speak. You just know that it’s just one little opportunity that they are looking for. They might not play in the WNBA or become professional players but when I see them walking tall at the end of camp, I know they’re going to go somewhere.
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FASHION Whether you’re running errands or navigating the concrete jungle, inject some personality into your wardrobe this season with a palette of vibrant colours and bold textures. Fra n c i s c o G a rc i a M a rc A n d rew S m i t h G RO O M I N G BY A n t o n i o H i n e s / Va l e n t i n e A g e n c y MODEL A b e A b u d a i a h / D u l c e d o M o d e l s P H OTO G R A P H Y BY S T Y L I N G BY
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FASHION
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HEALTH
FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS, THE MICROBIOME.
Your microbiome is the collective genetic material of all the microorganisms (mostly bacteria, but also fungi, protozoa, and viruses) that live in and on your body. In total, there’s a community of 38 trillion microorganisms in your body, which makes up half of you by cell count. The majority of your microbiome resides in your gastrointestinal tract, primarily the colon or the “gut,” but many live in other ecosystems of your body like your mouth, skin, vagina, and armpits.
Gut Check Is the digestive tract really the key to your immune system? W R I T T E N BY
Madelyn Chung
For the past few years , “gut health” has been a major buzzword in the dialogue around our immune system. Health-conscious individuals have been stocking up on probiotics, prebiotics, fermented foods, kombucha — pretty much anything to have a so-called healthy gut. In fact, the demand for probiotics has been so high that it has emerged as one of the fastest growing markets globally and is expected to reach a value of USD $52-billion by 2020, according to California-based market research firm Grand View Research, Inc. For many, the growing interest may have to do with battling digestive issues, like celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, constipation, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). But gut health goes way beyond digestion — it can affect your immune system, weight management, cognitive well-being, mental health, and more. “There’s really no area of our health that the microbiome does not impact,” explains Ara Katz, the co-founder and co-CEO of Seed, a consumer health company focused on the microbiome. “Every day we wake up to hundreds of new studies that are illuminating the fact that [the microbiome] is literally connected to almost every aspect of our health and, more optimistically, the prevention of disease. Hopefully, it will also be involved in the treatment of many of these conditions.” Still, the gut remains a mystery to many. Here’s what you should know to know to get started.
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BUT WHAT IS THE GUT?
Your gut itself is a series of organs that starts at your mouth and ends at your anus. It digests and processes food, turning it into energy or waste. This process is important as it allows for broken down food to be used for growth, energy, and repair. If the gut isn’t healthy and absorption is poor, this may lead to a deficiency in important vitamins, minerals, and nutrients, which your organs need to function properly. WHAT CONSTITUTES A HEALTHY GUT?
No one’s microbiome is the same, so it’s hard to say what a “healthy gut” looks like. However, Katz says, researchers have come to one general conclusion: biological diversity. WHAT MAKES UP AN UNHEALTHY GUT?
According to Dr. Sara Celik, of digestive health company Renew Life, there are several different factors that can alter the delicate balance of microorganisms in the gut, and therefore, affect its health, including antibiotics, poor lifestyle, stress, and a diet high in sugar and processed foods. “Our gut is home to trillions of live microorganisms which work hard 24/7 to protect us
from harmful bugs. Our lifestyle can either fuel these protective microbes or kill them off. Once they are killed off and the balance of gut bugs is altered, health issues may arise,” she explains. Dr. Celik says some obvious symptoms of an unhealthy gut includes gas, bloating, heartburn, constipation, and diarrhea. Less-obvious symptoms include skin problems, like acne or eczema, fatigue, depression and anxiety, allergies, headaches and brain fog, all of which can develop from an underlying issue in the gut. A poor immune system can be a telltale sign as well, which is unsurprising considering that 70 percent of it lies in the gut. HOW CAN I SUPPORT MY GUT HEALTH?
This is where probiotics and prebiotics come in. A probiotic is a protective microbe (live bacteria) that, when administered in the correct dosage, has been shown to have an impact on the human host. Probiotics can help replace any “good” bacteria that is lost from your body (such as after you take antibiotics) and can help achieve a state of balance. In order for probiotics to flourish, however, they need support. That’s where prebiotics come in. Typically, they are referred to as the “food that feeds your probiotics.” But Katz notes, there’s another strain of prebiotics (which Seed uses) that are compounds that bacteria use or break down to create metabolites, substances formed in or necessary for metabolism. According to Dr. Celik, the average diet does not feed protective microbes and can starve probiotic bacteria, especially for diets high in processed foods. She says in order to help protective bacteria thrive in the gut, we need to eat enough fibre and natural foods that are high in prebiotics such as garlic, Jerusalem artichokes, and asparagus.
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TAKE TWO Steve Nash is focused on the bright, colourful screen of his iPhone. Except the finest basketball player to ever hail from these parts isn’t checking out highlights of the Raptors’ historic NBA championship victory, which took place mere weeks before this exchange. (He’s done enough celebrating, he says.) It’s DAZN that has captured his undivided attention. The nascent online subscription service, dedicated to live and on-demand sports, is what brings us to Nash. Specifically, the fact that the brand has secured exclusive rights in Canada to Premier League, cementing its position as the new home of European football across the country. Despite being remembered as an eight-time NBA AllStar, seven-time All-NBA selection, and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, it’s clear that Nash is a fitting ambassador for the platform, Premier League, and, of course, soccer. PREMIER LEAGUE ISN’T JUST THE TOP LEVEL OF THE ENGLISH FOOTBALL LEAGUE SYSTEM, IT’S PERHAPS THE MOST POPULAR FOOTBALL LEAGUE IN THE WORLD. WHAT CAN CANADIANS EXPECT THIS SEASON?
It is an electric competition. Not only the race to the crown the champion, but the relegation battle. The ability to watch every single game for Canadians through DAZN and to be able to stream whatever your team is, or whatever battles are going on in the middle of the season, is phenomenal. It’s going to be a fun year. YOU’RE A STAUNCH TOT TENHAM HOTSPUR SUPPORTER, PART OWNER OF BOTH THE VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC AND REAL MALLORCA, AS WELL AS A TELEVISION ANALYST FOR THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE. WHERE DID YOUR PASSION FOR THE GAME FIRST DEVELOP?
“Goal” was my first word. I grew up in a British household on the west coast of Canada. My dad was a semipro soccer player and fanatical about all sports. In particular, soccer. So, I loved it. I remember waking up early on Saturday mornings to watch Tottenham. Those are some of my oldest memories. Even though I started playing basketball when I was 13, the game never really left me from a fanship point of view. I still love to play. It’s a big part of my life and getting an opportunity to cover the game has been incredible.
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WHAT KEY PARALLELS DO YOU SEE BET WEEN BASKETBALL AND SOCCER?
I think they’re the two biggest sports. The players are really raw. There’s no helmet, no mask, no hat. You get a close-up feel of the emotions and the output of each player. They’re one part Broadway, and one part reality TV, which is an advantage as far as fans getting engaged in the personalities and the drama. Psychologically, they’re similar, too. They’re team sports where chemistry and an ability to find cohesion is so important. In fact, it’s debilitating if you can’t find it. You have no chance of winning. It’s also the most beautiful thing when those teams do. HOW BIG OF AN INFLUENCE HAS SOCCER HAD ON YOUR BASKETBALL CAREER?
Basketball was something I came into late. I probably wouldn’t have made it in the NBA if it wasn’t for soccer. The anticipation, the awareness, the angles, the vision — all those things that were really important to me as a basketball player, they came from soccer. Moreover, as we’re seeing soccer players and fans get more involved in basketball, and basketball players and fans getting more open and more aware of soccer, it’s an exciting time for the crossover of both sports.
You already know Steve Nash as one of the greatest point guards of all time. But were you aware his fervour for soccer is nearly as legendary as his boundary-breaking basketball career?
OFF-COURT INTERVIEW BY
Chris Metler Ilich Mejia
PHOTOGRAPHY BY