Community leader bringing down barriers – Tonia LaRiviere

WORDS BY MONA BUTLER PHOTOGRAPHY STEVEN HOPE

Bringing Down the Barriers

Tonia is a leader in our community but before the advocacy and achievements, she had to overcome the anger and defiance she felt as a result of her diagnosis

WHAT began as a couple of sore digits turned into a life-altering diagnosis. At only 12 years old, Tonia LaRiviere learned she was suffering from Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. From one day to another, she went from active and rambunctious to being completely debilitated due to pain. Her life began to revolve around doctors, hospitals, physio and occupational therapy, needles, x-rays, and medications.

“I remember being brave but genuinely thinking, I am not going to be scared of this diagnosis - whatever it was. I had no idea. Within weeks it had spread to every joint in my body. I went from being an active kid to being completely bedridden. There were moments when I couldn't move a finger by myself; the pain was so bad.”

Back then, there was no community for her to lean on, no support system, and her school and teachers were not equipped to deal with the challenges she faced on the days she was able to attend. Tonia was faced with a new hurdle to overcome, one that sapped her emotional strength, on top of the strain her disability put on her body. Her battle with clinical depression is one of the most difficult things she had to face.

“I was desperate to get better, so I called the hospital and said, ‘I need help’. I saw psychologists and psychiatrists; it was an interesting and at the time frustrating process because I was going to them thinking they could ‘fix’ me... they couldn't. They could be an ear and provide me with tools to help, but I realized that I was the only one who could ‘fix’ me.”

Though support systems for those who suffer from arthritis and their families were few and far between

back then, she didn’t want help. What she wanted was to be like everyone else. She was angry, defiant, and isolated.

“That anger and defiance didn't serve me or my family well; the first time I ever met another person who had arthritis was when I was in my early thirties. My mom, dad, sister and myself were completely isolated in navigating all the physical, psychological and emotional elements of this, having that community would have changed our lives.”

Tonia’s leap into being a leader within the arthritis community was an unexpected and initially reluctant one. She was approached by an acquaintance who thought she would be a great fit, but Tonia wasn’t so sure, “I live with arthritis every second of my day and focusing on it, even more, was not an attractive proposal!” She went for the interview regardless and when she didn’t hear back right away she was taken aback by how genuinely disappointed she was.

“The divisional boards have since been dismantled

but I really enjoy participating in educational seminars where I can represent The Arthritis Society and effectively convey the realities of arthritis.”

Kitchen Inspiration

WORDS BY BRANDY BELITSKY PHOTOGRAPHY SUPPLIED

Lindsay Elms

Lori Elms Design Group Traditional Kitchen Design

From a young age, Lindsay Elms could be found rearranging furniture and reorganizing her home. Interior design is in her blood, literally, with her Mom, Lori Elms of Lori Elms Design Group, being her mentor. Lori Elms Design Group is a full-service interior design firm that was founded over 30 years ago.

Lindsay loves design as a creative outlet and is passionate about helping clients discover their personal style. Lindsay’s personal style can be described as eclectic, balancing both modern and timeless elements.

For Lindsay’s traditional kitchen design, she used pieces that are timeless but trendy. “As we all know the kitchen is the heart of the home, so I wanted this design to be inviting and warm. The rich textures and warm neutral tones, combined with the classic brass elements in the lighting and hardware lend themselves to a classic beauty that can hold up style-wise for years to come.”

WWW.LORIELMS.COM

Kitchen Inspiration

Three local interior designers, three themed kitchen designs

Pria Rajput

Black Label Designs Modern Kitchen Design

Pria Rajput, founder of Black Label Designs, grew up with a passion for art, fashion and beauty. It was this passion that led her to pursue an education in architectural design. Pria loves using spaces to bring her clients’ stories to life. Each of her projects are unique and include a customized wall installation or bespoke art piece that she has specially designed herself.

Pria’s design style is a perfect balance between luxury and contemporary aesthetics. “I love incorporating the elegance of marble, but I may juxtapose it with concrete or metal. I tie this all together using a mix of raw earthy elements, neutral colors, and hints of black and gold.”

For Pria’s modern kitchen design, she wanted to showcase an eclectic aesthetic that fits perfectly within the local culture and weather. A moody ambiance has been set with dark-coloured cabinetry. To keep a sleek and modern appearance, she has used push latches to reduce visual clutter. Hanging greenery is a perfect addition to add a sense of calmness. The Bearbrick is Pria’s all-time favorite decor piece which brings character to any space. She added in the BLD Melted Disco Ball collection as a fashion statement. Gold accents are used throughout as an effortless way to add luxury.

WWW.BLACKLABELDESIGNS.NET

Etienne Grossi

Shantam Interiors Bohemian Kitchen Design

Born in Brazil with an Italian heritage, Etienne Grossi grew up amid architects and designers. His family was in the hotel business and his father was a builder. Etienne found his love for design while helping his family with home and hotel renovations. He later traveled the world and got to experience art and design from all over the globe.

Etienne is the founder at Shantam Interiors, a full design service firm specializing in private residences, restaurants and commercial establishments. He doesn’t like to define himself with a specific style. Etienne prefers, instead, to deliver a coherent design in any style that his clients wish to have.

For Etienne’s bohemian kitchen design, he used bright nature-inspired colors with different contrasting patterns and vintage touches. “The bohemian style is associated with artistic types of people…the freethinkers. Many design details can work with the bohemian look - displaying pots and pans, plants, books or anything you love. Almost anything goes; patterns, colors, and textures are delightfully welcomed.”

WWW.SHANTAMINTERIORS.COM

WORDS BY BRANDY BELITSKY PHOTOGRAPHY SUPPLIED

Bright And Bold In Glenora

Nestled in the heart of Glenora, this custom built home brims with charm and style

FROM the street, the house at 10415-139th street looks like your typical suburban home, but step through the front door and you will quickly see that this house was designed with plenty of thought.

Built in 2020, cozy sophistication defines the lifestyle offered in this detached, single-family home. Boasting 2,823 square feet of open-concept living space, this home features four bedrooms, six bathrooms, three garages, a dream kitchen, heated flooring, a finished basement with a wet bar, an entire garage suite and more.

Upon entry you’ll be greeted with a bright, open foyer. Hardwood flooring and wood accents throughout the main floor add rustic charm to this modern beauty. To the right, a sliding barnwood door opens up to a large custom mudroom with an entire wall of builtin shelving. To the left you’ll find a bright den, offering the perfect office space. Further down the foyer, you’ll find a set of stairs leading both upstairs to three bedrooms and downstairs to the fully-finished basement.

Located just off the entry, natural light floods the cozy living room area. This enticing sitting area offers a great spot to put your feet up and relax with your favorite book. The custom-built gas fireplace is accented with a dark wood border providing a pleasing contrast to the crisp white walls.

Just past the living room, a stunning chef’s kitchen awaits. Fully equipped with granite and quartz waterfall countertops, a large island, double sink, and plenty of storage space, no detail has been missed in this kitchen. Sear, simmer and saute like a master chef with the

Wolf™ gas range stove. A charcoal built-in buffet hutch accents the white kitchen and

features a wine fridge. The large dining area is ideal for hosting family dinners. French doors open up to the back deck, making summer barbecues a breeze.

Three spacious bedrooms can be found upstairs, each with their own ensuite bathroom. The master suite is a calming retreat, featuring a gas fireplace and a generous walk-in closet with built-in shelving. A master bedroom deserves a master ensuite and this ensuite comes fully loaded with a walk-in shower, double sink, soaker tub, built-in vanity and a private toilet area.

The large open concept basement is fully finished with plenty of space for entertaining, including a two-piece powder room and another bedroom with an ensuite for guests.

Outside you’ll find a fully landscaped yard with an enclosed sitting area on the deck to keep those pesky mosquitoes at bay. Nature is at your fingertips with Edmonton’s beautiful river valley just steps away. Also in walking distance, you will find everything you need with the downtown core just a short jaunt away. The triple-heated garage features extra ceiling height allowing for a car lift. A quick climb up the stairs to the second level of the garage will reveal a permitted garage suite with a full kitchen, bathroom and living area. This space would be great for guests or it could be used as the ultimate home business space.

WWW.ALANGEE.COM

WORDS BY BERYL BACCHUS PHOTOGRAPHY MATT BARNES

After a Highly Anticipated 2 Year Wait, Jesse Cook is Finally Coming to Edmonton

The multi-award winning, internationally acclaimed Guitarist, Composer & Producer reflects on his career and passion for breaking down the rules to be Jesse Cook

You were born in Paris, France. Tell us about your childhood and how it influenced your music. but my mom claims I had a little toy guitar, and I would walk around the apartment singing Guantanamera.

My parents had been living in France for a while. I remember my mother loved this gypsy guitarist from the south named Manitas de Plata and I remember

just loving that sound. I love the story of you hearing your daughter's 808 Trap music and how you came to incorporate it into your latest album, Libre. Do you ever worry about staying true to your flamenco inspired style?

My parents separated before my sister, my mother and I moved back to Canada when I was around 4, and my father moved on to have a very successful career as a film director in Europe. Eventually he retired to Arles in the south of France which is famous for two things: Van Gogh and the Gypsy Kings. My dad, completely by chance, happened to buy a little house in Gypsy Barrio in Arles and his neighbour was Nicolas Reyes of the Gypsy Kings. At the time, they were just this local band that would play the bull fights and local gigs.

There was a gypsy encampment at the end of my dad’s street. The gypsy kids would hang out and play guitar there. It was a very unique sound and style that was rhythmic and it really sounded like they were even playing drums on the box of the guitar. As a teenager, I visited my dad on summer vacations and totally fell in love with it and I would try to figure it out and copy it. This was pre-YouTube so I had to learn by actually standing in front of them.

Also, apparently we lived in Barcelona for 6 months when I was about 2. I have no recollection of it whatsoever, Well, no. For me, my music has always been a hybrid. I’ve never been a purist. I come from a family of artists. My uncle is the famous Canadian artist Arnaud Maggs. My cousin was a ballerina with the National Ballet of Canada, then later she was the head of choreography at Cirque du Soleil. My parents were filmmakers. So for me, I always think an artist’s job is to learn the rules, then break them and create something new. I love the past but I am interested in the future. I want to find something new. That’s what kind of gets to me and wakes me up.

What musician is your dream collaboration?

There are so many people that I love. Lhasa de Sela made this beautiful record called La Llorona. I absolutely love that record and played it non stop for a couple of years and at one point I actually sent a song to her. I said I think we should record it and she didn’t quite hear it. But we met and she was just lovely. She said she would get into cabs in Montreal and the cab drivers would say to her, you know who you should work with? Jesse Cook. Sadly she passed away from cancer. It was a terrible

loss of a person and a loss of a great, great talent. So my dream collaboration will never happen.

Other than Lhasa, I’ve always been a Peter Gabriel fan. He was a huge influence on me growing up. I love Tommy Emmanuel; I’ve had the pleasure of collaborating with him a few times in the past. Vicente Amigo is a great Spanish guitarist who I think is amazing.

Tell us about your love for video and filmmaking.

If you look at the last 10 years, you will find that I’ve produced infinitely more videos plus a TV special than I have music. I’ve always thought that film, movies in particular, are the ultimate medium because it incorporates music, literature, spoken word and the visual - it’s like a moving painting. For me the whole thing is sort of the greatest of all these art forms coming together. I’m really passionate about it.

Is there a favourite song you have released?

There is one song that has risen above all others. It’s called Mario Takes a Walk from my second record in ’96. It ended up at the Olympic Games. At one point the Japanese and Russian skaters were both skating to parts of Mario Takes a Walk. If I remember correctly, the Japanese skater won bronze but I felt like I won bronze.

It also got rewritten into a huge Bollywood hit movie, Dhoom.

There is this super successful Bollywood composer, and his whole career has been basically stealing other people’s music. And probably the biggest hit he ever had was this song called Dhoom Machale which is basically Mario Takes a Walk. In some ways I’m really proud. That’s like my song but on the other hand I wish he’d called me and asked, “Hey, would you be ok with this?” It would have been nice.

Playing that song live has sort of evolved over the years and now I find when we are in concert, I feel there is this energy that hits the audience. Sometimes the magic comes for certain songs and for me, that song was Mario Takes a Walk.

What message do you have for your fans here in Edmonton?

First of all, I want to thank them for waiting. I was supposed to be in Edmonton 2 years ago.

With 27 years behind you, what advice would you give to the next generation of young aspiring flamenco guitarists?

When I first started in the music industry, the gatekeepers were the record companies. If you wanted to find an audience, you had to pass through those gates and that meant they decided who got heard and who didn’t.

Then downloading happened and the industry changed dramatically. For the next period in my career, television was the answer. If you’re not making music that’s heard on mainstream radio, there’s really no way for people to discover you.

Now linear TV is sort of coming to its end and I really feel like these days it is algorithms that are really deciding who gets heard and who doesn’t.

I think for young artists, they have to realize that the world is constantly changing and you really do have to constantly find ways to connect with your audience. I feel like the algorithm allows audiences to connect with music they would not have heard before. There are all sorts of different types of music you can just explore and rabbit holes you can go down, and I feel like there is something great about that. Because that means whatever you do as an artist, the world is available to you.

I also feel like we as artists have to work constantly to find that audience. And in my case, learning other art forms. Not just playing the guitar. Learning to compose, arrange, record and make videos so I can do it myself. I wouldn’t be limited by a lack of a budget. It’s like yes we don’t have funding but I have sweat equity. I can roll up my sleeves and do it myself. If you’re Christina Aguilera, you don’t need to worry about that. But if you’re kind of off the beaten path, then the ability to create your own work and not have to wait for someone else’s approval is very valuable.

What’s next?

Slowly the world is opening back up and I am really enjoying it. Twenty-five years of straight touring - after a while you don’t always stop and smell the roses. I have to say, going back and playing and being with audiences again is so exhilarating. That’s what I’m going to be really enjoying in the next year - getting back to touring and trying to make little videos along the way.

That’s my story.

WWW.JESSECOOK.COM