York Life Aurora/Newmarket Nov/Dec 2017

York Life AURORA | NEWMARKET

NOVEMBER – DECEMBER 2017 YORK LIFE: AURORA, NEWMARKET EDITION

l loca gift guide

Easy appetizers, signature cocktails and tasty treats

+tips for healthier holidays

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contents

N OV E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 01 7

IN EVERY ISSUE

HOME

TRAVEL

9

24

48

LIVING WELL

64

IN THE CROWD Polo for Heart

65 66

27

IN THE CROWD Magna Hoedown

BATHING BEAUTY How designer Lisa Canning transformed a Newmarket bathroom

News, tips and fun facts

31

ONE LAST THING

Exploring French Polynesia

52

COOK UP EASY CHANGES Five ways to update your kitchen

FEATURES 57

Set a seasonal table

18

INDULGE WITHOUT THE BULGE Tips for healthier holidays

20

REST ASSURED

Cover photo: Ellie Kistemaker

Insight on improving your sleep

4 | York Life November December 2017

37

LOCAL START-UPS Quick and easy appetizers everyone will love

44

IN THE KITCHEN WITH Ginger’s Cupcakes & Desserts

HANDMADE FOR THE HOLIDAYS Our roundup of great gift ideas, all made in York Region

FOOD & DRINK HEALTH

TRAVEL SMARTS Tips for a cleaner, healthier flight

STEP UP YOUR ENTRY Pretty, personalized DIY planters

VAYCAY: TAHITI

60

NATURAL LEADER How Nature’s Emporium came to lead the the charge for organic living

14799 Yonge St. Aurora 905-727-4626 Est. 1981

York Life

editor’s note

PUBLISHER Dana Robbins REGIONAL GENERAL MANAGER Shaun Sauve

Making Memories

EDITOR Jacqueline Kovacs COPY EDITOR Deanna Dority

This time of year always takes me back to the mouth-watering aromas coming from my mother’s kitchen. Her turkey was always juicy and accompanied by creamy mashed potatoes, broccoli casserole and homemade stuffing and gravy. And then there were the cookies: shortbread, gingerbread, pinwheels, thumbprints and usually some kind of square thrown in for good measure. She was — and still is — one of the best cooks I know, and her holiday feast was probably the highlight of the season for me.

With my own family, I confess, I have to take some shortcuts. Yes, I roast a wickedly good turkey and my garlic-whipped mashed potatoes are a family fave, but my stuffing comes from a box and my gravy from an envelope. And while I generally make about three kinds of cookies (often with children assisting), I don’t shy from supplementing my seasonal treats with offerings from local bakeries.

That’s why I’m delighted to feature the delicious work of Ginger’s Cupcakes & Desserts on our holiday cover and in our pages. After all, if you don’t have time to bake yourself, buying from a local bakery is the next best thing (and probably better than what I can cook up anyway).

Besides baking, we’ve got appetizers and signature cocktails to round out your holiday entertaining. Plus, we show you how you can take “local” one step further and find some unique gift ideas from York Makers, a group of talented artisans who are all based right here in York Region.

Happy holidays!

Jacqueline Kovacs

Stuff I’m Swooning Over Over:

CONTRIBUTORS Liz Bruckner, Jim Craigmyle, Mike Guilbault, Naomi Hiltz, Sue Kanhai, Andrea Karr, Ellie Kistemaker, Joann MacDonald, Leslee Mason, Rachel Naud, Dawn Ritchie, Karen Robock,Kasie Savage, Julia Suppa, Doug Wallace DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING Amanda Smug ADVERTISING MANAGER Tanya Pacheco ADVERTISING SALES Jeremy Brown, Vern Catania, Mike Cudmore, Judy Fulton, Laura Harding, Joelle Hawley, Carola McKee, Alexis Reinhardt REGIONAL DIRECTOR, PRODUCTION AND CREATIVE SERVICES Katherine Porcheron EDITORIAL DESIGN Brenda Boon, Nick Bornino, LuAnne Turner, Jennifer Dallman, Emily Ayranto, Karl Strasser DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Phil Sheehan DIRECTOR OF DISTRIBUTION Mike Banville

York Life, Aurora, Newmarket and area is published by Metroland Media, York Region. Statements, opinions and points of view are those of the sources and writers and do not necessarily represent those of the publisher, advertisers or York Life magazine.

Contents copyrighted. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any article, photograph or artwork without written consent from the publisher is strictly prohibited.

Submissions are welcome from writers and photographers. We assume no responsibility for unsolicited material.

For the Foodie Christmas Spatulas, $2.97, Walmart and Walmart.ca

6 | York Life November December 2017

Gift Idea for Him Shoe Shine Kit, $34.99, At selected Winners

For the Beauty Junkie Wella Oil Reflections, $33.99 At selected hair salons

York Life 580B Steven Ct., Newmarket, ON L3Y 6Z2 905-853-8888

At TMS, I am known.

When students are genuinely known, their learning can be fully understood and beautifully supported. They can thrive.

TMS creates opportunities for children to be inspired by learning through experimentation, exploration, and self-discovery. Located in Richmond Hill, our Montessori Lower School is for students 18 months to Grade 6. You hear the laughter, see the joy on students’ faces, and feel the trust parents have as they drop off their children. Our Upper School (Grades 7-12) offers the only independent International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme in York Region. On any given day, this modern campus may showcase a student art exhibit, impromptu debate or a pop-up lab for group projects. But don’t just take our word for it. Finding the right school for your child is too important. You have to visit and see and feel it for yourself.

Our Montessori start and IB finish provide a unique framework within which your child can say

I Am Known.

www.tmsschool.ca We are worth the visit.

Richmond Hill

living well

Put a

Ring

on It!

It’s one of the most recognized signs of the holidays — a wreath, hung on a door, used as a centrepiece or populated with candles. But wreaths have been used since ancient times to denote people’s heritage, occupations and achievements. Later, as a Christmas symbol, the wreath’s circular shape and evergreen construction were said to symbolize spirituality and everlasting life. These days, though, wreaths come in a range of sizes and are made from a variety of materials, so you can easily find one to suit your own style and budget.

Pom Pom Wreath $29.96, walmart.ca

Flocked Winter Wreath $27.98, walmart.ca

Pre-Decorated Artificial Wreath $60.99, walmart.ca

Holly Berry Wreath $39.98, walmart.ca York Life November December 2017 | 9

living well | Health

Puppy Love What parent hasn’t heard the plaintive plea: “Can we get a dog?” And often the answer is no, because of the work responsibility and sometimes a concern about the dirt and germs our four-legged friends may bring into our homes. But it may be time to give Fido a second thought. A new study in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology suggests that exposing kids to pets and other common indoor allergens before age three may prevent the development of asthma and other respiratory issues. That’s right, having a pooch may be even better for your kids than you thought. Just be prepared to take over your pup’s care needs once the novelty has worn off! — Karen Robock

Burn Out

Get in Gear

This upgraded GPS sports band from Samsung boasts smart new features, including nutrition tracking, swim training and sleep monitoring. Take it on the trails, to the gym or in the pool, so there’s no excuse for missing a workout this winter.

Automatic activity detection will recognize when you’re active — and customized personal motivation can prompt you to get moving when you need a kick in the butt!

Gear Fit2 Pro, $299.99 — K.R.

Fans of scented rooms, you may want to shelve those incense sticks, say French researchers. It turns out they give off pollutants like benzene and formaldehyde when they burn, which can cause respiratory problems and may even be carcinogenic. And that’s not the only fragrant danger. The study, by Directorate-Generale for Competition, Consumer Affairs and the Prevention of Fraud, found that many plug-in air fresheners and scented candles can also be harmful to indoor air quality. They recommend limiting the use of these products and opening a window or door for at least 10 minutes afterwards. — K.R.

It’s The Balm

Beat dry, chapped lips this winter by treating your pucker to a layer of protective and nourishing moisture. We love that these lippies contain natural pout-protecting ingredients like beeswax, antioxidant-rich orange extract and green tea leaf. — K.R. Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm, $4.89 Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment Advanced Therapy, $32 Drunk Elephant Lippe, $22

Rest Assured We all know how important a good night’s sleep is to our health, so many of us aim for a good “sleep hygiene” routine, including a warm bath, no electronics and a cooler temperature in the bedroom. But when was the last time you thought about the state of your mattress? If it’s old (over 10 years) and looks saggy or feels lumpy, it’s time for an upgrade. Consider it your holiday gift to yourself! This made-in-Canada mattress uses CertiPUR-US foam, meaning it’s free of harmful chemicals, and contains a stay-cool top layer for a more comfortable trip to dreamland. Best of all, it’s easy: Buy online and your new mattress ships straight to your door rolled in a box the size of a hockey bag.

Just move it to your bedroom, unroll it and hit the sheets. Still not convinced? Endy mattresses come with a risk-free 100-night trial, so you can, ahem, sleep on it. — K.R. $775 for a double at Endy.com

10 | York Life November December 2017

living well | Home

TREND:

The Rustic Touch

If wintry weather is giving you a bad combination of cabin fever and the chills, consider a little decor therapy.

The Rustic Collection from Canadian home fashion and decor shop Bouclair is a new line that’s sure to bring warmth to any home. Picking up on the trend of wood details with brushed-metal accents, the collection offers a sophisticated yet rustic look.

You can find such pieces as a metaland-wood two-door buffet, fabric sectional sofa, mirrored pinewood and metal coffee table, and more.

Priced from $169.99 to $1,999.99, bouclair.com — Rachel Naud

BREAKING TRADITION Of all the familiar sounds of the holidays, the one that makes us cringe is the smashing of fragile glass ornaments hitting the floor on decorating day. This is usually quickly followed by the shooing of pets and small children from the area to avoid cut feet. This Christmas, however, you can change that not-so-great tradition. These shatterproof ornaments have the lustre of real glass but the safe practicality of plastic. Available separately or in a combo pack. $3.98 to $19.98, walmart.ca — R.N.

Powerful Stat If you’re feeling the pinch to heat your home this winter, you’re not alone. According to the Fraser Institute, from 2008 to 2016, electricity prices in Ontario rose by 71 per cent. To reduce your heating bill, consider installing a programmable thermostat, such as the Honeywell 7-Day Programmable Thermostat (Best Buy, $89.99), to adjust your home’s temperature according to your schedule.

WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO? Enbridge Natural Gas offers these tips: • Close doors in unused areas.

• Open blinds and curtains during the day to let the sun’s warmth in.

• Set the thermostat lower — a 3°C reduction can save you up to six per cent. — R.N.

12 | York Life November December 2017

Bright Idea Remember the old “clap on, clap off” lighting system from the ’80s and ’90s? Well, new technology has pushed illumination light years forward. Philips Hue, from Philips Lighting, works seamlessly with voice-activated speaker Google Home. Use Google Home to control lighting and create the ideal ambience in your home. Simply say “Okay, Google, dim my dining room lights 20 per cent,” and your lighting wish will be Google’s command.

Meethue.com — R.N.

SMART Grilling Well Done Barbecue season may be over, but grilling doesn’t have to wait until spring. This indoor grill combines the patented grilling technology from T-fal’s original OptiGrill with unique smart technology that lets you program your cooking setting and monitor the progress — all from an app on your smartphone. T-fal OptiGrill Smart, $329.99, available at Hudson’s Bay and Best Buy. — R.N.

2017 LINCOLN MKX

The Feeling Stays With You.

Discover Ingenuity You Can Feel When elegance and intensity converge, remarkable ideas take shape. Lincoln MKX exemplifies this progressive way of thinking. From the moment you slip behind the wheel, a feeling of quiet confidence washes over you. With its effortlessly engaging drive, the 2017 Lincoln MKX influences you in ways that are truly empowering. Ways designed to inspire extraordinary drives and exceptional experiences.

When you’re away, your Lincoln MKX patiently awaits your return, to welcome you, invite you in, and even illuminate your path in the darkness. As you approach, it senses your key fob from about 3 metres away and slowly raises its exterior LED lights and signature lighting. It also graciously casts a luminous welcome mat with the Lincoln logo on the ground beneath each sideview mirror. LED lights in the door handle pockets glow with an intensity that’s finetuned to the exterior colour. Inside, the cabin puts on a show with ambient lighting. Once you close the door and relax into your seat, Lincoln MKX deploys the autofold sideview mirrors with memory according to your personalized settings. It’s been expecting you.

18001 LESLIE STREET, NEWMARKET (SOUTH OF GREEN LANE)

905.853.5000 www.shanahanlincoln.com

living well | Food & Drink

That’s a Wrap?

Do you try to reduce waste with reusable containers, but end up using plastic wrap for food items that just don’t lend themselves to lidded containers? Here’s your green solution. These all-natural beeswax food wraps keep your leftovers fresher longer, reduce kitchen waste and make packing litterless lunches a snap. Just hand-wash in cold water and hang to dry, and you can reuse them again and again. $18 for 3 medium size at abeego.com — Karen Robock

TIP!

p!

Butter U tter for a

ened bu Need soft ring at a you’re sta t u b , e ip rec tter from of cold bu ck lo b rd a h lem. Just ? No prob the fridge ou need amount y grate the sit on the it and let l w o b a into minutes. r about 10 .R. counter fo king! — K Happy ba

WHAT’S COOKING?

Cheers!

For a personalized gift, write a message on a bottle using a metallic marker.

Whether you’re ringing in the New Year or toasting a holiday feast, your guests will appreciate having a splash of this pretty bubbly. This special edition bottle of rosé also makes the perfect gift for the Champagne lover on your list.

Laurent-Perrier Champagne, $99

Got a foodie on your gift list? Or maybe the chillier temperatures are inspiring you to whip up big family dinners and lots of comfort food. Whatever the reason, you’ll find loads of mealtime inspiration in this season’s hottest cookbooks.

Set-it-and-forgetit meals make weeknight dinners a snap. Leave it to Martha to show us how to make everything from cinnamon buns to stews in the good old slow cooker. Martha Stewart’s Slow Cooker, $35.

14 | York Life November December 2017

Take “Meatless Monday” to the next level. Toronto-based YouTube star Candice Hutchings’ new collection features 138 vegan recipes that promise to satisfy even the most enthusiastic meateaters. The Edgy Veg Cookbook, $32.95.

Food writer Amy Rosen is back for seconds with a sequel to her bestselling Toronto Cooks, including 100 recipes by 50 of the city’s top chefs. Toronto Eats, $37.95.

— K.R.

living well | Travel

Stopover: Los Angeles On your way to Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii or Tahiti? Los Angeles is a cool place to pause en route to break up the journey. It also makes a great city start to a beach break if you’re heading to Mexico’s west-coast hot spots. For your short visit, it’s best to pick one or two neighbourhoods to concentrate on, rather than spreading yourself too thin around too much. Setting up home base in West Hollywood puts you within easy reach of the sensations of Sunset Strip, the riches of Beverly Hills, the glamour/ seediness of Hollywood proper and the serenity of Venice Beach. Foodies will have trouble narrowing down their restaurant choices. This is a town where even the burger joints make the top-10 lists. You’ll definitely need a car and a plan mapped out in advance — L.A. is not a place to wing it. Mix the kitsch with the cool stuff for an allaround great weekend. discoverlosangeles.com. —Doug Wallace

Turndown: Chic by Royalton All Exclusive Resort PUNTA CANA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC This all-inclusive, adults-only hot spot on golden Uvero Alto Beach sports a glam Miami South Beach feel, with its five à la carte restaurants, 24-hour room service and premium drinks at six bars. It comes complete with an upscale casino, a state-of-the-art health and fitness complex and a headache-erasing Detox Oxygen Bar for short recreational oxygen shots. Go for the Diamond level for the butler perks and privileges. From $300, chicresorts. com. —D.W.

ESSENTIA L :

Sound Investment Isolate earplugs are a smart choice for travellers looking to catch a proper 40 winks. Tune totally out with an aluminum, titanium, gold or rhodium finish.

The aluminum version comes in a range of colours, while the denser titanium can sport a natural or mirror finish. Two sizes, too: standard (4 mm) and mini (2.5 mm, shown).

From $40, flareaudio.com. — D.W.

Flight Plan: See Ya! Canadians made

32.3 million overnight trips outside the country in 2015, of which 82% were for leisure.

This is more than twice as many international leisure trips per capita than

in the United States.

York Life November December 2017 | 15

living well | Beauty

Sweet Surprises For the product junkie in your life, a beauty Advent calendar packed with 24 days of mini goodies is sweeter than a gift of chocolate. L’Occitane’s seasonal offering comes with bath and body items like hand cream, shampoo and shower gel; NYX features lipsticks and glosses; and Sephora Collection has a mix — everything from nail polish remover wipes to lip liner. — Andrea Karr

Sephora Collection Fairyland Advent Calendar, $56, sephora.ca

Smile Pretty

NYX Lippie Countdown 24 Days of Lips Advent Calendar, $65 at Shoppers Drug Mart

TEENAGE DREAM This past summer, Pickering, Ont., native and teen heartthrob Shawn Mendes launched his debut scent, Signature — a unisex “floriental” fragrance with fruity top notes, a woody base and a rose and frangipani heart. The Canadian touch? A sugar maple accord. The scent’s adorable bottle has a guitar pick engraved with Mendes’ signature and a cap crafted to look as if it’s wrapped in guitar string. Give it to the teen on your Christmas list and wait for the smiles.

Shawn Mendes Signature Eau de Parfum, $60/50 mL at Shoppers Drug Mart. — A.K.

If you love using whitening strips to brighten your smile, you won’t be able to get enough of the latest addition to the Crest family: Whitestrips With Light.

The new innovation uses a blue-light device — similar to the technology at the dentist’s office — to weaken the bonds within stains for a megawatt grin in less time. — A.K. Crest 3D White Whitestrips With Light, $120 at mass retailers and drug stores.

Night Shift

Skin regeneration and repair happen while you sleep, turning bedtime into prime time for slathering your face with lotions and potions. — A.K.

Try a night treatment like Omorovicza Midnight Radiance Mask — it uses sand lily and salicylic acid to exfoliate the skin and reduce discoloration.

Omorovicza Midnight Radiance Mask, $155, omorovicza.com.

16 | York Life November December 2017

L’Occitane Advent Calendar, $69, ca.loccitane.com

Try Canadian-made Pura Botanicals Overnight Watermelon Mask, which contains both watermelon extract to brighten and neroli to improve elasticity, and wake up to a refreshed complexion.

Pura Botanicals Overnight Watermelon Mask, $64, purabotanicals.ca.

health

To Your Health It’s the time of year to get your glow on. But shopping, socializing, party planning, later nights, and sipping holiday cocktails followed by caffeinated mornings can all take their toll on your body, leaving you feeling tired and foggy and your complexion tired and dull. Sure, you can drink water to help hydrate, but why not kick your H2O up a notch with Rejuvenate, a protein-and-more powder from Canada’s Age Quencher. The six-in-one formula delivers collagen, vitamin C, silica (to support hair, skin and nails), a prebiotic and fibre — all in one powder you can throw in a smoothie or in your water bottle. agequencher.com

York Life November December 2017 | 17

health | Holiday Survival

Indulge

Without the Bulge The experts dish on how to stay on track with healthy eating over the holidays 18 | York Life November December 2017

T

A traditional turkey dinner can deliver up to 3,000 calories!

he holidays are just around the corner, and as much as this is a time for fun, family, friends and food, it can also be a stressful time to stay on track with healthy eating. With events to attend and so many goodies around, making the right food choices and watching your waistline can be challenging.

How challenging? Here’s some perspective: one turkey dinner with all the trimmings and one piece of pie is actually about 3,000 calories.

That’s equal to eating six fast-food burgers!

When it comes to alcohol, 1.5 ounces of spirits totals 70 calories, a glass of wine comes in at 120 calories, and a beer will set you back a whopping 140 calories.

But don’t get discouraged. You can balance enjoying holiday indulgences with healthy eating habits. Here’s how: • Never show up to the party hungry; fill up on veggies and fruit before you head out the door.

You’ll be less likely to grab those calorie-laden puff pastry appies being passed around.

• Don’t skip meals the day of the party in hopes of saving your appetite — you’ll likely feel that you can overindulge in unhealthy foods.

• Skip sweet bevvies and avoid the associated empty calories. Choose water flavoured with lemon, lime or cucumber to keep your taste buds satisfied.

• Use a small side plate instead of a large dinner plate. That way, you’ll take smaller portions of the food you enjoy.

• Avoid snacking on mini-chocolates or nuts.

Those snacks look small, but the fat and calories add up quickly.

How else can you stay healthy during the holiday season when you’ve got a busy schedule of socializing?

Most importantly, try to relax, have fun and really enjoy this special once-a-year time with friends and family.

Water flavoured with lemon, lime and mint is a calorie-free way to satisfy your taste buds.

• Wash your hands with soap and water often, especially before eating.

• Get enough shut-eye; aim for seven hours of sleep a night.

• Remember to keep up your intake of fresh fruit and vegetables to help meet all your body’s vitamin needs.

• Reduce likelihood of food-borne illnesses by making sure your food is properly cooked. And don’t guess; always use a meat thermometer to be certain.

Tips provided by Southlake Regional Health Centre’s registered dieticians Michelle Fedele and Jacqueline Hornick.

A U R OR A ’S P R EM IER 10 000 sq f t HOM E F U R N ISHINGS SHOW R OOM 2 4 2 E A R L S T E WA R T D R I V E • A U R O R A • 9 0 5 7 2 7 2 7 2 7

York Life November December 2017 | 19

Rest Assured Why prioritizing sleep should rank high on your to-do list and the simple changes that can help you get enough

BY LIZ BRUCKNER

20 | York Life November December 2017

When it comes to scoring a deep, restful sleep, the obvious rules are well known: No coffee after dinner. No bright lights before bed. But it’s not just the pre-bed prep that can help you nod off quickly.

Here’s expert intel on why sleep is so necessary, how to get more and whether sleep aids are worth trying.

Why is sleep so vital?

Sleep’s main benefit is that it enables our bodies and minds to rest and recover, says Wendy Hall, a professor of nursing at the University of British Columbia’s School of Nursing. “When adults don’t sleep enough, beyond feeling like we’re in a fog and having difficulty with problem solving, we can feel very sleepy.” Daytime sleepiness has been equated to walking around as though you’ve been drinking, which can make driving and operating machinery unsafe. When children don’t get enough sleep, they can become aggressive, struggle to pay attention and become depressed or anxious. Teens with chronically inadequate sleep may engage

in risky behaviour, such as take drugs and alcohol, and reckless driving.

How many hours do you need?

While people differ when it comes to individual sleep requirements, Hall says that generally the younger you are, the more sleep you need. Newborns benefit from 14 to 17 hours, while infants need 12 to 15 hours and toddlers do well with 11 to 14 hours. Preschoolers will ideally sleep 10 to 13 hours, school-aged kids need nine to 11 hours, and teens do best with eight to 10 hours each night.

Sleep needs settle into a more regular pattern in young adulthood, with seven to nine hours as the norm for those between 18 and 64, while adults over 65 benefit most from seven to eight hours.

What’s the best way to get more sleep?

There are myriad options for increasing your sleep intake, but should dreamland continually evade you, Hall hails behavioural therapy as

the best restorative course of action. “It looks at changing people’s thoughts and feelings about falling and staying asleep, incorporates sleep restrictions to the point that time in bed is limited to help consolidate sleep,” she says. “It also encourages changing negative sleep habits, improves sleep routines, employs techniques like mindfulness, meditation or relaxation, and promotes the approach that activities in the bedroom should be restricted to sleep and sex.”

Are sleep aids a safe option?

A natural approach that’s been highly touted in recent years is the use of melatonin, a hormone made by your brain that regulates your internal clock. While some users swear that it helps them fall asleep, others find it largely ineffective. Though Hall says studies have shown it has positive effects on jet lag and some small benefits for adults struggling to fall asleep, she adds that unless you aren’t producing enough, incorporating it into your nightly routine isn’t likely to affect your sleep pattern.

As for prescription and over-the-counter pills, they can be very helpful and many are a safe, viable option for the infrequent user.

However, Hall cautions, it’s important to ensure that you weigh the pros and cons of this type of medication in advance. “It’s always wise to have a conversation with your doctor before you begin to take anything so as to avoid complications and potential health problems.”

Meditation, relaxation and yoga can make for a more restful night.

The Chesterfield Shop SOFAS

SOFA BEDS

RECLINERS

SECTIONALS

CHAIRS

THEATRE SEATING

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NEWMARKET 17940 YONGE ST. (N. OF HWY 9/DAVIS DR.) • NORTHYORK • SCARBOROUGH • DOWNTOWN • MISSISSAUGA

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www.thechesterfieldshop.com

(416) 667-1150 • TOLL-FREE 1-800-721-0081 York Life November December 2017 | 21

Compassionate, Caring, Consistent

Caregivers... always there for you, helping families in need.

Help in the Home Do you or a loved one need help because of limited mobility due to injury, age or recent hospital discharge?

• Personal care • Meal preparation • Housekeeping • Footcare • Companionship • Medication administration

GEM Health Care Services proud past recipient of the Business Excellence Award: Professional Services Business of the Year!

Happy Holidays from all of us at GEM Health Care Services!

GEM Health Care Services 905.836.6999 • www.gemhealthcare.com 30 Prospect Street, Suite 303 Newmarket

Sue Bauer, President

sue.rae.bauer@gemhealthcare.com

home

Hot Stuff Do winter’s cold, dark days have you wishing you had a fireplace, or an additional fireplace? These days, installation can be as easy as bringing one home and plugging it in. And if the words “electric fireplace” conjure up images of cheesy glowing fake logs, fear not: modern units come in a range of styles — from traditional and rustic to sleek and contemporary — as well as sizes and budgets, and can work in any space. This Tyson media cabinet with a built-in electric fireplace adds warmth, ambience and functionality with its open-storage design. Plus, it warms up to 1,000 square feet and comes with either traditional logs or acrylic ice. $1,099.99, dimplex.com.

York Life November December 2017 | 23

home | Room Tour

Bathing Beauty Who doesn’t love a long soak in a hot bath? And lingering in a totally gorgeous en suite? That’s like a prescription for relaxation. To create a luxury retreat-like bathroom, designer Lisa Canning offers her insights PHOTOGRAPHY BY DANN TARDIF

First Add White When I think of a spa, white comes to mind.

Fresh walls combined with the beautiful natural light in this recently renovated Newmarket bathroom is ideal. Here we used my favourite — Benjamin Moore Decorator White.

To avoid the room being bland, we incorporated a lot of texture. We used Daltile’s Octagon & Dot mosaic on the floor, and its Florentine tile on the shower walls. This tile is glazed porcelain with a marble design printed on it, so it’s a great budget-saver. Having a mix of patterns and textures ensures a monochromatic colour scheme like this doesn’t feel boring. We picked up the grey on the floor with the neutral grey in the Auguste vanity by Foremost.

It’s in the Details Have you ever thought about trim? Well I do,

24 | York Life November December 2017

in every room I ever design. Trim can help you achieve a whole new level of luxury with a material that has a very reasonable price point.

To ensure this white room didn’t feel too basic, we added crown moulding, trim and baseboard in Metrie’s Pretty Simple collection.

There are so many options, sizes and profiles available, but if you want to add a level of luxury through trim and don’t know where to start, Metrie has simplified the process with its curated Then & Now Finishing Collections.

They take away all the guesswork by presenting coordinated lines. Each moulding element within each collection has been meticulously designed, so every joint and reveal is seamless.

Add Natural, Rustic Elements All the white in this room called for some contrast, so we incorporated pieces from one

of my favourite retailers, Artemano. This tree stump makes for a perfect perch for a wine glass or book while relaxing in the soaker tub.

Artemano’s buying team travels the world in search of modern, solid-wood furniture pieces, and other home decor accessories that add artistic flair. We also added a small, rustic wooden shelf adjacent to the tub for candles.

These little contrasts give the bathroom a grounded, earthy element. And what spa would be complete without candles? Handcrafted candle holders in textures such as concrete are definitely essential.

Fixtures Are Room Jewellery Plumbing fixtures are like jewellery on an otherwise plain outfit — the jewellery makes it fancy. Here, we used the Ara collection by Delta, with its geometric angles, to bring a bit

of a modern edge to this space, and it took the room’s luxury level up to that of a five-star spa. I love the contrast of the modern fixture next to the traditional soaker tub — it makes such a bold statement.

Luxury Can Be Affordable There are so many ways to add luxury to any space, and a bathroom is no exception. This room wasn’t just supposed to be a bathroom, it needed to feel like a spa. So, we added as much luxury as possible, without breaking the bank. First, we created a custom shower, complete with a bench. This looks and feels grand, but we kept the costs reasonable by using prefabricated glass shower enclosures (as opposed to all custom glass) by ShowerHaus.

For an invigorating touch, we added body jets.

A few perfect touches included adding a

decorative hamper, a modern stool, and a leaning towel ladder from Bouclair, which adds a gorgeous visual element and can show off plush, luxurious towels. Quality towels are a must, and I love these striped Turkish cotton towels. The detail you can’t see: floors heated by the Nuheat flooring system, so your feet are happy when you get out of the shower.

And the final piece of this puzzle — the tub!

This soaker tub has been with the homeowners for years, literally sitting in the garage just waiting for the perfect bathroom renovation.

With a brand new coat of Benjamin Moore’s Newburyport Blue, I must say that this tub steals the show.

These tips will help you to create a spa-like oasis in your own home. Remember, creating a spa is all about relaxation, comfort and luxury.

And you deserve all that!

York Life November December 2017 | 25

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26 | York Life November December 2017

Step Up Your Entry

DIY PLANTERS ADD A BADLY NEEDED TOUCH OF CHEER TO YOUR DOORWAY

BY KASIE SAVAGE

W

inter, the season when our outdoor landscape is cloaked in ice, snow, slush or a dreary mix of all three. It’s also when gardening is far from our minds, yet winter is arguably the season when a splash of personality and colour is needed most — not only to visually warm up our exteriors, but also to create an inviting entry to our homes.

Saving money, enhancing curb appeal and showcasing your creative side are just three of the reasons why you should tackle your own winter planters this season — think custom DIY versus pricey big-box cookie-cutter grab ’n’ go. We asked HGTV’s Home to Win host, author and international landscape designer Carson Arthur, as well as Aurora-based floral designer Karrie McFee, for professional tips and tricks that they use when creating their own winter planters.

York Life November December 2017 | 27

home | Planters Timing “One of the biggest mistakes that homeowners make is letting the soil in their fall planter freeze. The water in the soil causes it to expand, often splitting the pot,” Arthur says, adding that he’s a fan of creating a transitional planter — one with dried grasses and twigs. “As we get closer to the holidays, I can bulk this planter up with boughs or other winter-inspired pieces.”

McFee, meanwhile, relies on a local tradition as her seasonal barometer: “I like to save my clients’ planters until after the Aurora Santa Claus parade (end of November), unless there’s greater exposure to sunlight or elements — then I would hold off until the end of the first week of December for maximum enjoyment.”

Preparation “You need to be able to fill your winter planter with something other than soil,” Arthur says. “Some use packing noodles or sand, but I prefer to use mulch, because it can go into the garden come spring. Make sure to buy one bag per planter; that way, you know you’ll have it when you need it.”

Opting to spare her planters any wear and tear, McFee uses inexpensive planter inserts instead. “Make sure the planters are free of old roots or plants that could prevent the fullness of your display,” she says. “If your existing soil is frozen, thaw it with some hot water from a kettle.

I like to use a mix of fresh, damp soil and florist sponge, as well as a disposable container, for easy removal in spring.”

Let your winter planters showcase your style, creativity and personality, rather than copying existing styles

Design Arthur, a lover of big-bang-for-the-buck, recommends hardy evergreens and unexpected favourites like euonymus, but for the wow factor, he recommends thinking outside and inside the box. “If you want to save money, add items like wrapped empty Christmas boxes. They are a great way to fill a planter on a dime.” McFee, the traditionalist, recommends the tried-and-true standards. “Evergreen varieties such as cedar, pine

Landscape designer Carson Arthur recommends evergreens for outdoor planters. To up the wow factor, try adding empty wrapped Christmas boxes.

28 | York Life November December 2017

….ooooops!

Feeling like a fish out of water?

and fir are the most popular and longestlasting. Broadleaf evergreens such as boxwood and oregonia are also long-lasting, but pricier.”

Bonus tip: Shop for supplies at supermarkets and nurseries where these plants are sold in bundles at competitive prices.

Maintenance To water or not to water? “No!” Arthur states emphatically. “Water is your enemy in the winter months. The natural material like boughs and greens go dormant and freeze, which means they don’t need any water until it starts to warm up outside.” But if you create your planters when temperatures are still above freezing, and you’re using a disposable planter insert, McFee disagrees. “You do not have to water to keep your greens fresh; however, give it a good soak to encourage the soil to freeze.”

Style Your winter planters are more about showcasing your style, creativity and personality versus copying existing styles. But this doesn’t mean spending a lot of money. “Adding a pop of colour in a strategic spot is a fantastic way to draw the eye,” Arthur says. “I love the intense red of feathered cardinals from the local dollar store. You immediately see them, they last all through the cold months and, if you catch them before the spring rains, you can save them for the following year.”

McFee’s rule of thumb is simple: “For high impact, I use the ‘Can you see it from the road?’ approach. I like to use large plastic ornaments in bright colours, or natural ornaments such as white-painted pine cones or birch balls.”

On trend When it comes to contemporary style, Arthur says creating small vignettes is key. “Layering elements makes the entire space feel like a display, and it’s so simple to do. I’ve even painted an old pair of rubber boots red and stuffed them with leftover boxwood clippings. Total cost was under $10.” For McFee, a trend that we can all mimic is a more modern and formal look. “Stacking layers of greens as opposed to mixing them — think more uniform and less cascading.”

No matter your style or budget, creating your own winter planters can start as a fun project and evolve to become an annual, decorative household tradition.

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York Life November December 2017 | 29

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Easy

Entertaining Made

Treat yourself to Vince’s party platters, gift baskets and prepared foods The holiday season is here and while we all look forward to time with friends and family, the idea of hosting get-togethers can sometimes put a damper on festive fun. An easy cheat? Made-to-order platters from Vince’s Market, an award-winning chain of independent grocery stores.

“We’ve got cold offerings for just about every party and palate,” says Giancarlo Trimarchi, who along with Carmen Trimarchi and Brian Johns, is a partner in the company. There are antipasto platters, fruit and veggie trays, meats, cheese, seafood, pumpernickel loafs and more, he says, adding that platters can be made for six to upwards of 40 to 50 people. There are also cookie trays and mouth-watering desserts. “Typically, people will use us for their appetizers and dessert, and then they’ll do their mains. And there are lots of options.”

That includes the platters. If you’ve got a specific look in mind, the team at Vince’s can work with you by using your platter ware, saving you the hassle of prep and clean up. Delivery adds even more convenience.

“We have multiple delivery times throughout the day,” he says. “If someone is having a party they don’t have to worry about keeping their fridge full with all these different things. We bring it and they just put it out.”

And like all of Vince’s offerings, there’s peace of mind in knowing what you’re serving is fresh and made with quality ingredients.

A Basket of Goodies Are you a guest? “Baskets are really easy gift giving,” says Trimarchi. From simple fruit to combination and customized offerings, Vince’s baskets offer something for every foodie in your life. “Nowadays, we’re putting in a lot artisan products, such as different types of cheeses and crackers,” he says.

Prepared for the Season And if you’re too busy to cook, Vince’s prepared foods are an easy alternative. You’ll find an array of freshly-prepared foods in store, such as pork loin rolled in cornmeal. There’s also a variety of soups, now including butternut squash and roasted red pepper.

“They’re made fresh in our commissary multiple times each week so there’s no additives, no preservatives and they typically have a five- to seven-day shelf life,” Trimarchi says.

Easy Ordering You’ll find some ready-made platters and baskets at the four Vince’s locations, but if you’ve got a day or two to work with, a wider variety of options can be ordered in-store or online at Vincesmarket.com/shop. Got a special request or want something truly customized?

Call the team at (905) 852-2442.

Learn more at www.vincesmarket.com

home | Room Tour

The kitchen is where families are nourished, memories are made and people are cared for. This sentiment was kept in mind during a recent renovation project for nutrition expert Jenn Pike. In eight weeks, Newmarket designer Lisa Canning and her team transformed the Keswick space from dark and dreary to a textured and bright space.

While renovating can be challenging, it doesn’t always have to be hard. Read on for five easy ways to update your own kitchen.

BY LISA CANNING | PHOTOGRAPHY BY DANN TARDIFF

York Life November December 2017 | 31

home | Room Tour 1. Add a Rustic Touch This is a great way to update your kitchen without making a big mess. In Jenn’s kitchen, we added this beautiful table-and-chair set and hammered metal pendant lights from Artemano. It’s this kind of handmade touch that makes this trend so popular. If you’re ready for a messier reno, consider adding a hardwood floor with a rustic element, like this engineered hardwood from Torlys.

2. Update a Fixture

1 3. Change Your Backsplash The backsplash is one of the ways you can make a major visual win in the kitchen. Whether you add some sparkle with the glass mosaic tile, or choose a more natural, rustic material, the backsplash can add a pop of colour and texture for a big impact. This Silver Fox backsplash by ErthCoverings provides another rustic element and looks like a piece of art. Made of highquality natural stone, the multi-height backsplash comes in large modular pieces (as opposed to individual small strips), so installation is quick and clean. For a custom look, consider bringing your backsplash all the way up the wall above your upper cabinets. It will create a cohesive look and make your ceilings soar.

This is a really easy way to update the look of your kitchen. Usually it is fairly simple to replace an appliance of the same size, or a fixture like your kitchen faucet. Between feeding her family and creating recipes for her cookbooks, Jenn uses her kitchen constantly and needs products that will last. We replaced her kitchen faucet with my favourite, Delta Trinsic faucet, which boasts touchactivated technology — no fumbling with the faucet when your hands are covered in kitchen mess — paired with matching soap dispenser.

2

3

5

Add Some Colour

4 4. Change Your Cabinet Hardware Updating your exterior cabinet pulls is another easy way to refresh your kitchen. But why not think about updating your interior hardware as well? In Jenn’s kitchen, we used Grass soft-close cabinet and drawer hardware. You might be thinking, “What’s the big deal with interior hardware? No one will even see it.” As much as I want to create exterior beauty, I also want to create amazing function in my projects.

Quality drawers and hinges that won’t slam or pinch little fingers.

32 | York Life November December 2017

A space should really reflect the personality of its owner, and Jenn is as vivacious as they come, so we included pops of orange and teal in accessories from HomeSense to add life to the neutral Cabot Trail by Benjamin Moore on the walls. The orange toaster and planter are charming additions.

Style a surface like a pro by using a mixture of textures. I always try to incorporate a mix of natural woods and linens, shiny ceramics, sparkly glass and matte concrete in a space for a modern, on-trend look.

Repeat a colour at least three times in a space to keep things cohesive.

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Teaching The FuTure Today Pickering College’s approach to technology and learning results in students who are digital innovators It’s not unusual to see toddlers with tablets in their hands, making children today adept at using technology at an increasingly early age. At Newmarket’s Pickering College, technology is a core focus from Kindergarten through to Grade 12 — with one clear distinction.

“Even though students of this current generation are widely considered as digital natives, most will develop into digital native consumers without any purposeful engagement of the mind,” says Gordon Chiu, Technology Integration Specialist at the independent school. “At Pickering College, our mission is to develop students who are digital native creators and innovators.”

Students learn to code from Kindergarten onward.

In the early days, Pickering staff use physical resources

like Code-a-Pillar, a learning toy that has nine individual segments that kids can piece together, directing the toy’s movements toward targets. “I like Code-a-Pillar because he can move,” says Kindergartener Keira Adams. “I can make him move by myself by putting the pieces together and then I push the magic button.”

In Grades 1 to 3, students use Dash and Dot, small robots that can be programmed via apps on phones and tablets. “Dash and Dot teaches me how to make Dash work,” says Grade 1 student Tristan Simpson. “You swipe actions and sounds and then the arrow makes him go.”

Adds classmate Sophia Lara, “I learned that if you go slow it’s easier to control Dash. If you go fast, it’s harder because it goes out of control and keeps on crashing.”

Learning to code starts in Kindergarten with Code-a-Pillar. Later, in Grade 5, students create programmable robots (left).

Grade 5 students use Lego Mindstorms kits that contain software and hardware to create customizable, programmable robots. “I learned that there wasn’t instructions for the sensor, so I needed to create my own support to hold the sensor up,” says Julian Gal, a Grade 5 student. “I had to connect wires to the right connection. If I didn’t, it wouldn’t work.”

Pickering has also mandated the use of laptops mandatory from Grade 6 onward. “In Grades 4 and 5, we want them to use their laptops appropriately to make decisions, with guidance,” says Grade 5 classroom teacher Alex Au Yong. “I find that from Grade 4 on, they’re very comfortable to think, to make good choices and conduct themselves responsibly.”

The school has invested in technology of all types, including computers, mobile devices, 3D printers and robotics. “Our students are taught that these tools help express ideas, create original content and solve problems,” Au Yong says. “The high level of engagement and interest in our design and build challenges such as Lego robotics and coding is incredible. Our students in the Junior School also love using Google Apps for Education and Edsby, our learning management system, as a natural part of their learning.” Throughout their schooling, students have the opportunity to participate in technology-related national and global initiatives such as FIRST LEGO League and Hour of Code.

PickeringCollege’senrichedGlobalLeadershipProgram benefits every student from Kindergarten to Grade 12.

The program centres on six core competencies, including Design and Build and Enact Change.“At Pickering, we want

them to create new things that have impact around them,” Chiu explains.“Students are posed with authentic questions and use coding and robotics to solve them.”

Teachers also harness audio-visual power to nurture leadership skills. “We use photographs and videos to assist students in reflecting back on their thinking,” Kindergarten teacher Alexis Furlan explains.“We might look at and discuss photos of students engaged in an activity and with a quote of something they said in the moment.”

Students in various grades record each other and get instant feedback on their reading, public speaking and presentation skills. All grades have the opportunity to use the school’s CRTC-licensed radio station, 102.7 CHOP FM, speaking live on air. Even primary students can share a book report, read poetry aloud or interview a special guest. They learn to speak in a clear voice, slowly and enthusiastically.

“They are experiencing these practices right from the beginning of Junior Kindergarten,” Furlan says. “They’re confident and comfortable with various media before they reach the later grades.”

Pickering’s Global Leadership Program is carefully crafted to best prepare students for university and the workplace. “The ability to use technology in an innovative way to create products and solve problems is critically important for 21st century students,” says Julia Hunt, Director of Global Leadership.“Creativity and innovation are transferable skills that can be applied to any context, giving Pickering College students a competitive edge.”

In Grades 1 to 3, students learn with small robots programmed via apps on phones or tablets.

Visit www.pickeringcollege.on.ca or call 905-895-1700 ext. 259 for admission information.

food & drink

Whisky Is the New 40 Looking for a way to toast to the New Year and cap off Canada’s big 150th? Forget the beer and indulge in some Canadian Club. After all, the oh-so-national distillery recently launched its special 40-year-old whisky, just in time for the holidays.

With age has come flavour — resting in American oak barrels in Windsor, Ont., for 40 years has resulted in a whisky with an aroma of dark plum and vanilla with a backdrop of toasted toffee and sweet oak, and a taste that is slightly sweet, with hints of nutmeg, clove and fruit, and a touch of caramelized sugar.

What hasn’t changed is CC’s characteristic smoothness. Available in limited quantities at the LCBO, $249.95.

36 | York Life November December 2017

food & drink | Recipes

CURRIED CARROT AND POTATO SOUP SHOOTERS

Local Start-Ups Entertaining season is here and that means being prepared, not only for your planned soirées, but also for unexpected drop-ins.

We’ve got you covered. These appetizers come together quickly, or can be made ahead of time, to get you out of the kitchen and into serious socializing. Best of all, they feature Ontario produce, so you can offer your guests the freshest flavours possible.

Warming and delicious, this surprising starter is quick to prepare. Serve in espresso cups or tiny shooter glasses.

4 medium potatoes, peeled and coarsely chopped 2 large carrots, peeled and chopped 1 medium onion 1 cup peeled and chopped sweet potato or butternut squash 3 large cloves garlic, quartered 1 tbsp hot or mild curry powder 4 to 6 cups sodium-reduced chicken broth 1/2 tsp salt 1/4 tsp pepper Light sour cream In a large heavy saucepan, combine potatoes, carrots, onion, sweet potato, garlic and curry powder. Pour in enough broth to just cover vegetables; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat and simmer gently for 20 to 30 minutes or until vegetables are very soft.

Purée vegetable mixture in a blender or food processor until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Serve hot or cold, garnished with sour cream.

Makes about 20 shooters.

York Life November December 2017 | 37

food & drink | Recipes

MINI POTATO PANCAKES WITH SOUR CREAM AND SMOKED TROUT Best served right away, these little gems are quick and easy.

4 large potatoes, peeled 2 onions 2 eggs, beaten 1/4 cup all-purpose flour salt and pepper, to taste vegetable oil 1/2 cup sour cream 4 oz smoked Ontario trout, in small strips snipped fresh chives or small sprigs of dill (optional) In a food processor or by hand, shred potatoes and onions. Place in a clean tea towel and squeeze out excess moisture; transfer to a bowl.

Stir in eggs, flour, salt and pepper.

In a large heavy skillet over medium heat, heat a thin film of oil. Using about 1 tbsp of the mixture for each pancake, place round mounds in hot skillet, a few at a time, and press to flatten.

Cook until golden brown, about 3 to 4 minutes each side, turning once. Add more oil as needed for remaining pancakes. Drain well on paper towels.

To serve, top each pancake with a dollop of sour cream. Arrange strip of trout on top and garnish with a length of chive or dill sprig.

Makes 24 pancakes.

SAVOURY APPLE AND GOAT CHEESE LOG This simple make-ahead appetizer is a life-saver during the holiday season. Serve with crackers or crostini.

5 oz herbed Ontario goat cheese, softened 2 oz cream cheese, softened 1 apple, peeled and coarsely grated 2 green onions, finely chopped 1/2 tsp pepper 3/4 cup toasted pecans or walnuts, chopped In a medium bowl, blend together all the ingredients except the pecans until combined. Place on a large sheet of waxed paper. Using paper to help, form into 1½-inch-diameter log. Refrigerate until firm.

Place nuts on a plate. Roll log in nuts to cover. Wrap log in waxed paper and refrigerate until ready to serve. Garnish with apple slices, if desired.

Makes 10 to 12 servings.

Printed with permission from Foodland Ontario.

38 | York Life November December 2017

York Life

DININGGUIDE RESTAURANTS • FOOD • ENTERTAINMENT

Let’s Be Frank - Come enjoy a deLiCious meaL at our newLy expanded & renovated restaurant or order tHe Best itaLian CaterinG For tHe HoLidays!

Whether it is a business function or special occasion such as a wedding, birthday or anniversary, nothing will wow your guests more than a mouthwatering meal catered by Let’s Be Frank Italian Eatery.

Proprietor Sam Farnaghi and his accomplished team use only the freshest ingredients to achieve the most authentic Italian culinary experience. Let’s Be Frank features a wide selection of menu options to suit all tastes including entrees such as veal, chicken and salmon cooked to perfection, meat or vegetable lasagna as well as a variety of pastas with a choice of meat, tomato or cream sauce. Delicious appetizers, soups, homemade pizzas, sandwiches, salads and chicken wings are also available.

Let’s Be Frank can accommodate groups of 10 to 500 people.

Call today to place an order for your next event or visit the newly renovated Newmarket location if you prefer to dine in for lunch or dinner. Let’s Be Frank……. it is truly the best Italian food for miles around.

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CYNTHIA’S CHINESE RESTAURANT ENJOY AUTHENTIC CHINESE CUISINE We have dedicated ourselves to offering two things: fine dining and a truly authentic Chinese cultural experience. Your meal begins with your host dressed in costume leading you to the table. Once seated, you’ll be greeted by your cocktail waitress and your drinks and appetizers will be brought by a cocktail waitress trained to understand both Chinese cuisine as well as every customer’s specific dietary needs.

Cynthia’s was founded by Cynthia & Joe Lam, in 1993. Joe learned the restaurant business in Hong Kong where he trained as a chef at one of the top restaurants. When he met Cynthia in Australia, they married and opened a series of successful restaurants in New South Wales and Victoria. In 1992 they came to Canada and opened Cynthia’s in 1993, working with Cynthia’s brother Andy, another accomplished restaurateur. Nothing is overlooked as Cynthia’s entire experience is designed to make your meal an event to remember!

16715 Yonge Street (at Mulock), Newmarket | 905-836-8113 | www.cynthiaschinese.com York Life November December 2017 | 39

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food & drink | Cocktails

s t i r i p S SIGNATURE

BY DAWN RITCHIE PHOTOGRAPHY BY ELLIE KISTEMAKER

Hollywood caterers do it for their celebrity clients and now you, too, can create a buzz at your next party. Ready to take your entertaining to the next level? Then personalize those party libations with a unique signature cocktail. We’ll show you how in six simple steps.

Step 1: Design Your Cocktail Around Your Party’s Theme

Choose a cocktail theme that gels with your event. For yuletide celebrations, think frosty, sparkly, spicy, creamy holiday concoctions — the Santa’s Sleigh, the Jack Frost, the Gingerbread Crumble.

The same goes for a celebration around any major achievement, such as a wedding shower or even a significant weight loss. Dropping the pounds and revelling with friends? How about tall, thin highballs filled with muddled herb creations? Call it The Last Ten, the Skinny Shinny or the New Me.

ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT Depending on your particular drink, you’ll need: • Alcohol: vodka, gin, whisky, tequila, creamy and clear liqueurs • Mixes: cola, ginger ale, club soda, orange and pineapple juice • Flavourings: salt, spices, herbs, berries, fruit, bitters • Bar set: stainless steel shaker, mixing glass, ice tongs, muddler, strainer, shot glass, long-handled spoon

York Life November December 2017 | 41

food & drink | Cocktails

Step 2: Choose Your Spirits Selecting spirits has a lot to do with your party’s vibe. If it’s a quiet gathering around a fire, a full-bodied liquor is in order — something with a slow burn, like bourbon or a creamy chocolate liqueur. An afternoon brunch, on the other hand, calls for a sparkling berry burst of gin or an orangey Aperol spritz. Will there be dancing? Nothing gets a party rolling faster than a flight of festive shooters.

Tequila shooters are standard fare, but layered shooters are signature drinks!

Creating a layered shooter: Pick three different-coloured liqueurs. Form distinct layers by pouring the liquor over the back of a spoon into a shot glass very slowly. It will prevent the liquor from plunging into the layer below and mixing.

Step 3: Build Your Recipe

Your aim is to deliver a delicious drink with a level of complexity. Take the palate on a ride by firing off several taste buds — sweet, sour, salty, savoury, bitter.

Use the fundamentals of perfume formulation — top note, heart note and base note — as a model to build your drink.

Top note: The introductory sensation. Think bright, citrusy fizzes that tickle, or luscious, creamy, chocolatey hits .

Heart note: After the top note subsides, it sneaks in as the body of the main spirit bleeds through. Choose something savoury.

Base note: The lingering taste. This is your closer, that herb you mashed in, a spice or that splash of bitters. Go for sour or bitter.

Your three ingredients don’t have to include a mix at all; all three notes could be alcohol. Just keep in mind, you want to take the palate on a ride and give your guests a friendly buzz, not have them crashing into furniture.

42 | York Life November December 2017

Step 4: Mix It Up

Decide how you want to mix your cocktail during the party. Here are your options.

The straight pour: This works for layered drinks and triple-note alcohol drinks.

Shake and stir: Shake or stir your cocktail in front of guests and let them be a part of the show. Have all mixes, herbs, berries and bitters ready ahead of time.

Infuse: Infuse flavour in syrup or alcohol in advance; then just pour and dress it up.

Consider spices, herbs, or floral infusions like lavender or elderflower. Simple syrup recipe: 2 cups of sugar dissolved into 1 cup boiling water. Add spices or flavourings to infuse. Let steep, then strain and cool before using.

Muddle: A muddler is a long, wooden pestle, great for crushing herbs, spices and berries right in the glass. Herbs are de rigueur in signature cocktails. A muddled drink also brings out the strong flavour of an herb or spice.

Step 6: Name Your Drink

Give your signature drink a snappy, fun, memorable name — the Snowball Splatter or Naked at the Off-Ramp are two examples. Guests will love using it and you’ll hear it repeated numerous times around the party. It cements your party’s theme. Bottoms up!

Step 5: Master Presentation

It’s theatre! The colour, the glass, the rim, the ice, the garnish. And for the adventurous, smoke, fire and foam. This is where your signature drink will truly shine.

The colour: A shot of Blue Curaçao liqueur and you have a sapphire in a glass. Add pineapple juice and you have an emerald.

Layered drinks also supply that rainbow explosion.

Ice and garnish photos by Mike Guilbault

The glass: Don’t just use highballs, snifters and martini glasses; be creative — jam jars, coconuts, even small bowls can be used as a glass.

A rim adds taste, complexity and sophistication.

The rim: Dip your rim in a syrup, plunge it into a bowl of shredded coconut and you’ve created a snow treatment. Drip puréed raspberry coulis inside the rim and guests relive summer in December. Make your own rim salts using colourful spices and salts. Rub the rim with a lemon, dip in the salt and voila! It adds to the complexity and hits that salty taste bud receptor.

The ice: Plain cubes are so yesterday. The ice for signature cocktails should be unique.

Buy moulds to create ice balls. Infuse ice with flavour or embed it with flowers, herbs, berries, even gumdrops or chocolates. What a nice surprise when the ice melts and there’s still a treat to be had.

The garnish: You can’t get too crazy here.

Swizzle sticks can hold sliders, sushi, candies, fruit and flowers. Make the garnish outrageous enough to fit the event. A baby shower with frothy milky drinks and candy soothers on swizzle sticks? Why not?

Smoke, fire and foam: Molecular gastronomy has entered the world of cocktails, but if you don’t have the wherewithal to create a foamy froth, a little whipped egg white with a spray of flavouring will do. You can also shake a teaspoon of gelatin in a cocktail shaker with your mix to create that velvety texture top.

Tip: Experiment first. Smoke guns are a slightly pricier addition to your bar set, but create a spectacular effect that will really impress your guests.

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York Life November December 2017 | 43

food & drink | In the Kitchen

Rolled Gingerbread Cookies ½ cup butter ½ cup golden brown sugar ½ cup molasses 1 egg 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour ½ tsp salt

½ tsp baking powder ½ tsp baking soda ½ tsp nutmeg ½ tsp cloves 1 tsp ginger 1 tsp cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350°F. Using a stand or hand mixer, cream butter and brown sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy — about 2 to 3 minutes.

Stir in molasses and egg, mixing until blended.

Mix all dry ingredients in a medium-sized bowl and add to creamed mixture. Mix until well blended. Wrap in plastic and chill at least four hours in the fridge.

Using a generous amount of flour on your rolling surface, roll dough to approximately ¼-inch thickness. Using a cutter, cut cookies and place on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. (For a softer cookie, reduce baking time.)

Makes about 12 three-inch cookies.

44 | York Life November December 2017

In the kitchen with...

Ginger’s Cupcakes & Desserts When the holidays arrive, it’s all about the cookies at this York Region bakery, where nut-free treats make for sweeter celebrating

BY JULIA SUPPA | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ELLIE KISTEMAKER

York Life November December 2017 | 45

food & drink | In the Kitchen

C

ue the carols, break out the bells and top everything with tinsel. The holiday season is upon us and it’s a time to be cheerful, merry — and big-time prepared.

Between the parties, family gatherings and social outings, this can be a hectic time of year.

And while it’s always a thoughtful gesture to bring a homemade treat to thank your host, it’s not always possible. But with Ginger’s Cupcakes & Desserts, it actually is.

Now with two locations — the Aurora store, which opened last year, and the original Richmond Hill bakery, opened by co-owner Anna Herd five years ago — Ginger’s embraces its small-town roots.

“They are very welcoming communities,” co-owner Amanda Spiteri says. “They have a very small-town feeling, even though they’re close to the city.” And the owners want to keep it that way. The modern-vintage bakery is bright and airy, with turquoise accents and a large communal table, perfect for sharing a bite with a friend or neighbour.

Those tasty bites are all made from scratch and nut-free. Although the bakery specializes in wooing your sweet tooth with cupcakes, cakes, muffins and hand-pies, as the holidays approach, it’s all about the cookies.

“Christmas is my ultimate favourite holiday,” Spiteri says. “For me, Christmas baking was always a family event. My dad has his special chocolate-chip cookies. My mom always did pies for Christmas, my grandma always made cookies and tarts. So I grew up with that homemade sense of dessert.”

Her fave? The thumbprint cookie. “I love jam,” Spiteri says.

Herd also brings her own family memories to the business. “We would make sugar cookies and gingerbread, and my mom always made cinnamon rolls Christmas morning,” she says. “So, we serve those here around the

BETTER BAKING Kick your cookies up a notch with these tips from the pros at Ginger’s Cupcakes & Desserts

46 | York Life November December 2017

Ginger’s Cupcakes & Desserts co-owners Amanda Spiteri (left) and Anna Herd embrace their business’s small-town roots. Their bakery includes a large communal table, perfect for socializing over a treat.

holiday season, too.” For Herd, gingerbread is the holiday winner. “We use my grandma’s (top secret) gingerbread recipe.”

Each year, the bakery creates more than a thousand cookies for individual sale, but also for gift boxes, featuring 20 handcrafted holiday cookies for $22. Inside, you’ll find a combination of Herd’s grandma’s gingerbread, salted millionaires (“a giant Twix bar”), thumbprint cookies, bergamot cookies,

pinwheels, sponge toffee and merengue.

Cookie boxes are only available by preorder, from mid-November through to December 22. You can also find Ginger’s at the Aurora Holiday Market selling cookies, homemade caramel sauce and hot chocolate mix, leading up to Christmas.

For the co-owners, it’s all about keeping it homemade. Says Spiteri: “It’s like a warm, fuzzy feeling.”

1. Start with a delicious cookie dough. If you’re making your own dough, make sure it’s cold before you roll it out. If you don’t want to make your own, you can buy ready-made dough through Ginger’s Cupcakes & Desserts.

off the cookie. There are lots of YouTube videos you can watch on consistency.

2. Have an appropriate-size cutter. Aim for a cookie with a three-inch diameter, a quarter-inch thick.

4. Have your icing colours ready to go in your piping bags. You can find piping bags at Bulk Barn or online. There is the element of icing drying right away, which is the point. Start with your base and then add your polka dots or complementing icing.

3. If you’re using royal icing, make sure it’s the right consistency. If it’s too thick, it’s hard to pipe and will hurt your hand. If it’s too runny, it’s just going to flow

5. Have all your decorations ready: sprinkles, dragées, decorator’s sugar and so on. You want to apply them immediately, before the icing cools. – J.S.

Giant Jam Thumbprints 1 cup butter, softened ¾ cup sugar 1 egg 1 tsp vanilla 2½ cups all-purpose flour ¼ tsp baking soda ¼ tsp salt jam

Preheat oven to 350°F. Using a stand or hand mixer, cream butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy — about 2 to 3 minutes.

Stir in egg and vanilla; mix until smooth.

Add flour, baking soda and salt all at once; mix until thoroughly combined.

Scoop approximately 2 tbsp of dough per cookie and roll gently into a ball.

Press your clean thumb into the centre to create a crater.

Place about 2 inches apart on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Fill each crater with your choice of jam.

Bake 12 to 15 minutes.

Makes 12 to 15 cookies.

Variation: Bake the cookies fully without jam and then fill with caramel sauce.

York Life November December 2017 | 47

Special Promotion

Face

Saving

Whether you hibernate or hit the slopes this winter, cold air and indoor heating may wreak havoc on your skin. Without a change in your skincare routine, reduced humidity can lead to tight, dry skin on your face and body.

“Cold weather makes the air dry and really draws moisture from your skin,” says Susan Khalili, owner of The Derma Lounge in Aurora. “The heating system further dries out the air and affects the natural barrier of the skin so it is not able to repair itself as well.” Khalili, a medical aesthetician, creates custom skincare routines for her clients, providing relief from conditions such as redness, signs of aging, acne and rosacea. She offers these tips to protect skin from the elements this season.

1. Wear sunscreen – always!

Use a broad spectrum sunscreen 365 days a year.

“It helps skin to fight against damage caused by free radicals,” Khalili says. “This is the most important step people can take to have healthy, glowing skin.” You need sunscreen whenever there is daylight, with or without sunshine. “Daylight equals UV rays,” she says.

2. Switch up your skincare routine.

Khalili evaluates clients’ skincare routines each season and sometimes advises switching to a gentler cleanser.

3. Look for a hydrating serum.

Serums have a higher concentration of active ingredients than moisturizers. Khalili’s clients are sometimes surprised to discover she doesn’t recommend a moisturizer for everyone. “A nice serum has a lot more to offer your skin,” she says.

4. Use a humidifier – or two.

Even if you have a household humidifier, consider placing a portable humidifier in your bedroom to hydrate skin during rest.

5. Wear protective clothing.

Don a hat, scarf and gloves to protect delicate skin from wind and cold. “Please don’t forget about your hands and your neck,” Khalili says.

6. Hydrate from the inside out.

Drinking water is important, but if you can’t stomach eight glasses a day, supplement with hydrating vegetables. “Cucumbers are amazing for your skin,” Khalili says. She recommends eating plenty of antioxidant- and water-rich fruits and veggies, such as berries, cantaloupe, celery, papaya and broccoli. Eat salmon twice weekly or supplement with fish oils to consume skin-friendly Omega-3 fatty acids.

Visit The Derma Lounge for a custom skincare program and services such as facials, facial peels, microneedling, laser hair removal and cosmetic injectables. Products for purchase are medical-grade and physicianapproved. Khalili provides new clients with a free consultation and is passionate about educating rather than pushing products and services. “I want to deliver results that make people happy,” she says.

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York Life November December 2017 | 49

travel | Vacay

Island Hopping

in Tahiti Rise from your pillow and dive into crystal-clear blue water a few feet away while you wait for breakfast to arrive via canoe.Yes, you’re in for a pretty good day

BY DOUG WALLACE

W

hen practically anyone can find a beach to sit on somewhere for a week, privacy is the ultimate luxury. No one knows this better than visitors to French Polynesia, the gem of the South Pacific — distant, exotic, romantic and unspoiled — which sees as many tourists in one year as Hawaii does in one week.

The isolation is the attraction. After all, this is one of the last places on earth to be settled by humans. The weather comes a close second, with year-round temps averaging 27°C. The charming French flavour is point number three, from the baguettes tucked under everyone’s arms in the morning to the double-kissing and the simple-yet-perfect cuisine.

50 | York Life November December 2017

York Life November December 2017 | 51

travel | Vacay

TOP: Moorea’s over-water rooms are worth the splurge. BOTTOM: It’s hard to beat Moorea’s tranquility.

Huahine, a two-island grouping, is one of the most authenic communities in the whole region. It’s also a bit of an artist enclave with a slightly bohemian vibe.

A visit to French Polynesia reveals a tranquil, reserved haven that has been enchanting people since the European explorers started arriving in the early 1500s. Five chains of 118 islands cover a fairly wide swath in the southern Pacific Ocean, spread out over 2,000 kilometres, on about the same latitude as Lima, Peru. The islands are autonomous, yet administered by France as a “collective,” with those ties going back to the mid-1800s. Like Hawaii, the biggest island’s name has come to denote the whole region. The capital city of Papeete is your international jumping-off point via Air Tahiti Nui.

and more lavish than they look from the outside. Their biggest benefit is the fact that you don’t really have to leave your room, because you can see everything from your deck: the lagoon, the ocean, the beach, the boats. You can even watch the fish swim under your cabin through the window in the floor — when you’re not snorkeling, that is. Just add room service and a good book.

Enjoy Island Hopping Unlike typical sunny locales, there aren’t a ton of all-inclusives in French Polynesia, nor is it the type of place you pick just one spot and stay there the whole time. You need to island hop, so your visit becomes less of a beach rest and more of an adventure.

Your first stop should be the tranquil island of Moorea, just a half-hour ferry ride north of Papeete. Close enough to the big island but still rather isolated, this is a small community where you’ll get your first lesson in slowing down — the maximum speed limit is 60 km/h — and your first taste of the over-water bungalow experience.

While they are more expensive, over-water rooms are worth the splurge, as well as larger

52 | York Life November December 2017

Take In History and Culture Moorea is famous for its two magnificent bays — Cook’s and Opunohu — with Secret Mountain sitting between them, long considered sacred, the bottom of it ringed with temples and shrines. Also found throughout this and most regions of French Polynesia are maraes: stone monuments where the elders of the ancient tribes would come to talk religion, politics and business.

Twenty minutes by plane farther north sits Huahine, a two-island grouping, one of the most authentic communities in the region.

Unspoiled and more reflective of true Polynesian life, with a history that predates both Hawaii and Fiji, this is the place to learn about the past while immersing yourself in the present. Huahine is a bit of an artist enclave, with a slightly bohemian vibe. It’s also great value: the top spot for finding alternative accommodations like family home-stays, hostels and smaller hotels.

A visit to the museum at Maitai Lapita Village uncovers the history of the Lapita people, the pre-Polynesian ancestors. Ancient pottery shards from 1500 BC, wooden and whalebone sculptures and tools, tinted engravings, 19th-century photographs, reproductions of war clubs, fishing lures and jewellery all help illustrate early life here.

You will also learn that Polynesian culture in general is experiencing a renaissance of sorts, with people now embracing their history, getting back to their roots and reviving their culture — tattoos included. The hos– pitality industry champions this in a number of ways, with traditional cuisine and entertainment, and with coral nurseries established to encourage reef rejuvenation.

Get More Social The next stop? Bora Bora, “the pearl of the Pacific.” With a larger lagoon comes more hotel chains with more over-water bungalows and more people. But that doesn’t take away from the experience; it just makes things a bit more social. Bora Bora is also the most exotically beautiful — shades of aqua too numerous for your eye to properly process, big Mount Otemanu looking down on you, seemingly taking everything in. Lagoon cruises will take you out to snorkel coral gardens, feed giant stingrays and swim with black point and lemon sharks, all before sitting down to a bar-

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becued lunch on a private island set on picnic tables in the shallow water, while ukuleles play and palm trees sway.

As for your fellow adventurers, you’ll soon start seeing familiar faces in the airport lounges and get chatting with those who seem to be following you around. In general, this is a well-travelled bunch.

Naturally, the French love this place. And it’s not just those who have money; many middle-class French families flock here, happy for the easy kinship their passports and common language allows. Mix in the Japanese, Americans and Canadians and you’ve got a melting pot. Peak season is from March to October, with May and June being the driest.

Avoid the rainy season, from November to January, when it can rain for three weeks straight.

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The capital city of Papeete has the only international airport. Air Tahiti Nui (airtahitinui.com) flies there in eight hours from Los Angeles up to five times a week. All French Polynesia domestic flights are run by Air Tahiti (airtahiti. com), which flies to 46 islands in the five archipelagos, as well as to Rarotonga in the Cook Islands.

705.727.6111 john@weberteam.ca

York Life November December 2017 | 53

EnhancE thE charactEr of your homE!

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travel | Smarts

Just Plane Dirty

Good, clean advice on how to stay healthy during your flight

BY DOUG WALLACE How many times has this happened to you?

You have a fabulous vacation or weekend away, then immediately feel as if you’re getting a cold the minute you step off the plane. Was it the woman with the runny nose in the seat next to you? Did you pick something up from the beverage trolley?

Or, were you just run down and overly susceptible? Whatever the cause, here are 10 tips to protect your health in flight.

1. Accept the fact that your hands are going to be filthy throughout the airplane experience — from security, the waiting area, the handle of the baggage cart and more. You need to considerably step up your handwashing.

2. From the second you board the plane until you are at your final destination, never ever touch your face. Even though you washed your hands before you boarded, keep fingers out of your eyes, nose and mouth — particularly if you are one of those licky pageturners.

3. Immediately upon boarding, wipe down arm rests and your tray table — especially the latch — with a disinfecting towelette. Include the air-vent nozzles and the seat belts; no one ever cleans those. If you get looks from your seatmates, offer them a towelette. You’ll be surprised how many will accept.

4. The seat pocket in front of you is a cesspool of germs. Never put anything in it. Avoid over-handling anything that is already in the seat pocket. Do not take the free magazine with you when you deplane — do not even touch it.

5. Put all carry-on luggage in the overhead bin, leaving the space under the seat in front of you for just your feet. This will help stave off deep vein thrombosis. Loosen your shoes so your feet can swell freely.

6. Speaking of which, if you take off your shoes, put on a second pair of socks.

Why? The floor is germy beyond belief.

Never go the lavatory without shoes.

7. Speaking of which (again), use the anti-bacterial gel instead of the soap and water in the lavatory. Bring a small bottle of your own to use once you’re back at your seat.

8. Only drink water you can see is coming from a bottle. (The ice is okay.) Never drink the coffee or tea, regardless of how good it smells. The water holding tanks on airplanes are seldom cleaned or replaced. Bring your own litre of water.

9. Staying healthy also includes sleeping well. A neck pillow and ear plugs go without saying, but throw on an eye mask as well. Keep sleep aids simple: melatonin, an anti-nausea treatment (check with your doctor before taking any medications). Alcohol just tends to make an in-flight sleep more fitful, so try to keep that to a minimum.

10. Worried about in-flight air quality?

Don’t be. The ventilation systems do their jobs extremely well. Not convinced and still dabbing antibiotic ointment in the nostrils? You can stop: It’s a myth.

York Life November December 2017 | 55

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H

andmade

for the

Holidays

When you’re looking for a gift for that special someone, consider going beyond the mainstream stores with massproduced items and look closer to home for something as unique as your recipient-to-be. After all, York Region is home to countless creative people, like the members of the York Region Handcrafted Maker’s Association. While this group of talented local artisans create an incredible array of handmade treasures all year long, their holiday offerings are extra special.

Here’s a sampling.

BY SUE KANHAI PHOTOGRAPHY BY JIM CRAIGMYLE

MEET YOUR MAKERS

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

York Region Handcrafted Maker’s Association

Handcrafted Christmas Market

yorkmakers.ca Interested in joining? To be a member, you simply need to make your crafts by hand and live in the area. New members and sponsors are always welcome.

Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017 Newmarket Old Town Hall 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Admission: $2 or a food donation

York Life November December 2017 | 57

feature | Gifts

1

Soft Touch

Canadiana pillows from Blue Lake & Rocky Shore Artist: Jillian Bache, Richmond Hill Gingham Moose Pillow Cover, $45 Birch Trees Pillow Cover, $50

4

On a String

Embroidered ornaments from ThreadXLove Artist: Stephanie Gauthier, Newmarket Small Hoops, $30Medium Hoops, $40

58 | York Life November December 2017

2

Sign of the Times

3

Let It Shine

Wooden sign from Rustic Hustle Artists: Leigh Gordon and Kyryl Tsymbal, Oak Ridges Holiday Sign, $45.99

Candle holders from A Cut Above Woodcrafts Artist: George Jazzar, Aurora Three Applewood Tea Light Candle Holders, $45

5

In Print

Under Wraps

Blanket from Winter’s Woolies Artist: Winter Mitchell, Keswick Chunky Knit Blanket, $125

6

Fine art digital print from Karen Hoepting Art Artist: Karen Hoepting, Markham Woodlands Animals Art, Paper GiclĂŠe, $115

7

Get Crafty

Holiday ornament kits from NV Craft Co. Artist: Natalie Viecili, Maple DIY Tiny Toque Garland, $16 DIY Collage Ornaments, $16

10 My Type

Holiday art from Ink and Dirt Designs Artist: Karen Jansen, Markham Frosty the Snowman Print, Typography, $18.94

8

Child’s Play

Fleece toys from Sew Shenanigans Artist: Meghan Larkin, Newmarket Handmade Fleece Penguin Family, $65

11

In Stitches

Embroidered ornaments from La Petite Stitcherie Artist: Ariane Griffiths, Keswick Star, Stocking and Poinsettia Ornaments, $10 to $25

9

Season’s Greetings

Cards from YFL.Art Artist: Yolanda Fernandes Ly, Vaughan Christmas Card Set, Assorted Hand-Illustrated, Watercolour, $6.20

12

Make Arrangements

Ceramic floral arrangements from Flower-Girl Artist: Tracey Paul, Newmarket Red, White and Green Floral, $75 Blue and White Floral, $45

York Life November December 2017 | 59

feature | Business Profile

Natural

60 | York Life November December 2017

Leader

How Nature’s Emporium came to lead the charge for organic living

BY LIZ BRUCKNER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JIM CRAIGMYLE

I

t’s fair to say that Nature’s Emporium has always been committed to healthy living. Long known to locals as a trailblazer in the arena of organic food, vitamins, supplements and more, the company can trace its beginnings back to 1976, when owner Angelo D’Addario and his sons, Joe and Guy, began their foray into the natural-living sphere.

What followed were countless hours at their local weekend flea market in Ajax, Ont., selling bulk foods, building what is now a flourishing, multi-city health and bulk foods brand.

York Life November December 2017 | 61

feature | Business Profile

Cutting the ribbon at Nature’s Emporium’s Burlington location are (l to r) Guy D’Addario, co-owner; Rosemary Cescolini, Appleby Common; James Cescolini, Appleby Common; Nick Tavernese, co-owner; Joe D’Addario, co-owner; Keith Hoey, president and CEO, Burlington Chamber of Commerce; Cosimo Tavernese, co-owner; Joe Tavernese, co-owner, Anthony D’Addario, regional manager; Angelo D’Addario, regional manager.

At a time when the green approach to living was far from the norm, the D’Addarios’ involvement in that grassroots community prompted them to pursue creating the unique, diverse and interactive brand customers know and love today. But that success hasn’t come without difficulty.

In 1991, a devastating fire destroyed the family’s Ajax store. Following months of uncertainty as to whether they would rebuild, it was a visit to the growing city of Newmar-

62 | York Life November December 2017

ket that caused the family to switch gears and head west. As Joe says, “Out of the ashes of Ajax rose Newmarket.”

Fast-forward two years and Nature’s Emporium Newmarket was launched in a 5,000-square-foot building within the Weston Produce plaza. Following many years of success, in 2009, the brand uprooted again — this time to the 50,000-square-foot former home of Newmarket’s Weston Produce. This move, the company’s director of communications, Ryan

Dennis, says, sparked the next stage of growth, as its huge success spurred on their plan to expand into Vaughan and Burlington possible.

What’s the secret to the brand’s longevity and growth? The willingness to evolve. “We continue to operate as an independent, familyowned retailer committed to the fundamentals of eating and living well,” Dennis says. “And we’ve come to define ourselves as an organization that’s every bit as committed to education — both of our customers and our team members — as we are to offering the latest and greatest in natural and organic foods, sup­ plements and whole-body care.”

The decision to enlist, invest in and promote knowledgeable experts — including naturopaths, homeopaths and holistic nutritionists — as well as host educational events such as cooking classes also helps. So does taking an active role in the community through local events to educate and inform. “One of the most notable examples of this has been our work with former NHLer Gary Roberts, who now works on the cutting edge of high-performance training,” Dennis says. “Together, we’ve helped demonstrate to kids and adults alike the incredible results that eating well brings to top sports stars and those looking to be the best they can be.”

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Come and see the difference

ONLY AT

Aurora Home Hardware Dennis also credits Nature’s Emporium’s internal digital media team, created in 2009, as having done much to boost the brand with its in-house recipes, blog posts, newsletters and videos — all of which deliver on their commitment to educate on a broad scale.

“All that said, every change we’ve undertaken has always been carefully measured against our desire to remain an accessible brand that our customers consider to be genuine,” Dennis says, “a down-to-earth gathering place for those looking to live well.”

What’s next for Nature’s Emporium?

Growth in local markets ranks high on the agenda, as does the goal of opening additional locations within the next few years. Evolving in-store and online offerings to best deliver variety and selection will also continue to be a top priority, Dennis adds, as will expanding the brand’s philanthropic efforts in Burlington, while strengthening their commitments in Newmarket and Vaughan.

“From the beginning, the focus of Nature’s Emporium has been to set ourselves apart from others in the grocery industry, and it’s become our strength,” Dennis says. “Our team members engage with customers, know many of them by name, know their families and their unique health situations. Our customers know that we’ll spend as much time as they need, any time they need it.”

Customers have also come to rely on the individualized experience that only comes with an in-person visit to Nature’s Emporium.

“We’ve found that despite the fact that there’s more information than ever distributed across the web and social media, there is still tremendous value offered in first-hand, face-to-face conversation and education that is specific to the unique needs of every customer,” Dennis says. “We are keenly aware of this and will continue to consistently deliver transparent, helpful, tailored information to each guest we welcome into our stores.”

Find out more at naturesemporium.com.

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Installation Available

905-727-4751

Solid Oak Pine & Maple Mennonite Hand Crafted • Solid Wood • Custom Designs Choice of Stains • Delivery & Set-Up

Hwy 9 & Hwy 27, Schomberg 905-939-2899 • 905-775-8031

www.mennonitefurnitureontario.ca York Life November December 2017 | 63

in the crowd | Polo for Heart

P OL O F O R H EA RT This past summer, supporters from all over York Region headed to the Toronto Polo Club in Richmond Hill as part of the three-day Polo for Heart fundraiser. The event, which includes boutiques, silent auctions, live entertainment and, of course, thrilling polo matches, raised more than $150,000 for the Heart & Stroke Foundation and Southlake Regional Health Centre Foundation.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY NAOMI HILTZ

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Mercedes Segura and Alain Boudreau

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Cliff Sifton, honorary event chair, and Shelley Grant, communications, both Polo for Heart

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Steve Cromwell, manager, Defence Construction Canada, and Toni Cromwell

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Shelby Annis and Elizabeth Theil, associate product manager, Trauma

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Mimi Gagnon, Amy Smith, and Lori Yep, animal chiropractor

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Angela Kominek and Paul Kominek, chiropractor, Optimal Rehabilitation Center

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Wendy McLaren, grounds manager, Woodbine Entertainment Group; Rosemary Oxenham; Martha Gonzalez, Gonzalez Racing Stable; and Debbie Miller

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Anthony Clarke, manager, business development, Regal Security

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Sara Brueckner, personal trainer, Jim Falle, polo player and director of Toronto Polo Club, and Gloria Cheung, chiropractor, South Riverdale Community Health Centre

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Yoni Donis and Sandra Manson, business development, Family Tax Recovery Services

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Lori Armour, senior area manager, Heart & Stroke Foundation and Risa Hoddie

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Matthew Waddington, owner, and Michelle Waddington, both CPG Aerospace

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Nicole Ryan, Christian Horizons, and Alex Coffey, Best Buy Insurance

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Trish Drew and Cindy Harrison

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Margaret Hardwick, Highland General Motors; Jennifer Copley, general sales manager, and Lisa Campbell, financial services representative, both Highland Automotive Professionals

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Robin Wall, University Health Network, and Sarah Brooks

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David McVicker, president and owner of Novick Fabricating & Design Inc.; Stef Edwards, mortgage specialist, RBC Royal Bank; Neal Romanchych, president, 411.ca; Maureen Romanchych; Stacey Sutherland,VP and sales representative, Lennard Commercial Realty; Lori O’keefe; Kevin O’keefe; and Scott Sutherland, partner and sales representative, Lennard Commercial Realty)

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Mari Riley, Gary Montgomery and Nora Montgomery

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Lauren Howe, Miss Universe Canada 2017

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in the crowd | Magna Hoedown

MA G NA H O ED O WN This past September, York Region residents came together for some good old boot-stomping fun at the Magna Hoedown. The annual event, which raises money for 20 local charities, features a competition among local country singers, as well as live entertainment, line dancing, raffles, dinner and more.

This year’s event, which raised more than $534,000, included headliner Tom Cochrane with Red Rider.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY NAOMI HILTZ

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Stephanie Clarke and Taylor Wilkinson, volunteers

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Nicki Wanless and Julie Banks, volunteers

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Danielle Vandervecht & Eva Vandervecht

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Lynda Poole and Melanie Reed

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Greg Attridge, Andrea Attridge, Bill Ayotte and Jennifer Schoutsen

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Sharon Dickens and Peter Dickens

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Joe Bentolila & Andrea Bentolila

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Laurie Thomas, Becky Knowles and Brenda Hillaby

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Mark Jones and John Galbraith

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Katelyn Meyer & Alexa Hall

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Heidi Bonier, Shiela Darnowski and Suzie Quan

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Abigail Vandervecht and Ruth Selin

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Natasha Barrett and Hayley Hunter

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Beverley Mahood, Hoedown host, country singer, songwriter and TV host

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John Bloemen, senior program manager, Magna International; Mary Jane Law; Joan Kelley Walker, reality TV personality, TV host and model; and Cole Walker

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Jerry Carroll and Shirley Carroll

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Laura Cunsolo and Jaime Pace

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Sean Lonroy & Emily Copping

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Judges Tom Cross, manager and partner, MC & Associates; Joan Kelley Walker; and Steve Hinder, chair of Magna Hoedown Committee

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John Anderson, musician and Hoedown Showdown winner

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Sarah Campbell Mills, musician and Hoedown Showdown finalist

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Mike Chianelli, musician and Hoedown Showdown finalist

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Ainsley Whelpton & Alexa Cooperman

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Mary Georgopoulos, former owner, Jonathan's Restaurant; Brian North, president, Brian North Consulting Services; and Dale Downey, senior project manager, Downey and Associates

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one last thing

GET SET! You’ve planned, made lists, shopped, sliced, diced, roasted and baked, so make sure you do all of that work justice by showing it off on a beautifully set table. And that doesn’t have to mean fancy — cheery touches of seasonal colours plus a dash of fun make the difference between place setting and place sensational. So bring on the layers, ornaments and, of course, food, family and friends. Happy holidays!

Metallic Flatware (20-piece set), $59.99; Table Runner With Tassels, $16.99; available at selected HomeSense stores.

66 | York Life November December 2017

14799 Yonge St. Aurora 905-727-4626 Est. 1981

P:905.853.5495 • F:905.853.3236 • 1151 Gorham St., Units 11/12, Newmarket • info@fischercustomcabinets.com • www.fischercustomcabinets.com