Agenda

A gentler start

I TYPICALLY DON’T MAKE RESOLUTIONS, although who can deny the promise of a shiny new year? While I’m not planning a complete renovation of my character in 2022—as much as I might need one—there are a few things I’ve been thinking about as we’ve been putting this issue together. Both are inspired by an album I’ve been listening to a lot lately, Brandi Carlile’s In These Silent Days. I’m a writer and editor, so it’s no surprise that what I’m drawn to most from the musicians I love—from Waxahatchee to William Prince to Taylor Swift (unapologetic fan here)—are the lyrics. I’ve been listening to In These Silent Days on my lunchtime dog walks through the woods near my house, and some of Carlile’s words have stopped me in my tracks, from the line “Make me kind again” in “Mama Werewolf” to the entirety of “Stay Gentle” (one standout verse: “Don’t let the world make you callous / Be ready to laugh / No one’s forgotten about us / There is light on your path”). So if there’s anything I’m resolving to do in 2022, it’s to keep these words in mind. Life is busy and overwhelming and scary for all of us, and it’s easy to let kindness and wonder fall by the wayside. I know I’ve been guilty of that in the past, and I’d like to be a little less so as I move forward. (As a side note, if you like female folk-rock with a country lilt, you’ll love Brandi Carlile.)

As we venture into 2022 together, I’d also like to thank you for reading Chatelaine. We are beyond grateful to our subscribers, whether you’re reading us in print, on Apple News+ or via our slate of newsletters. We’re an incredibly small team who love what we do, and your support makes that possible. Our resolution for 2022 is to keep telling the stories that matter to Canadian women, in addition to delivering no-BS, science-based health advice, highlighting our favourite homegrown brands and makers, and—of course— bringing you loads of recipes for weeknights and special occasions that are both delicious and doable.

What would you like to see more of from Chatelaine this year? Send us a note—I read every single one.

Maureen Halushak

@maureenhalushak letters@chatelaine.com

Also in this issue

The long-term care toll LTC in Canada needs a radical overhaul. But what about the families who rely on the system right now? (page 36)

30 days of salads I hate meal planning, but thanks to our food director, Irene Ngo, I now know what I’m eating for the next month. (page 50)

Can CBT make healthy habits stick? Whether you want to sleep better, exercise more or finally stop smoking, it could be the ticket. (page 31)

How to update a room via Zoom Want to redo your space but don’t know where to start? Consider a virtual design service. (page 26)

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[ W O R L D V I E W ]

Take a trip around the g lobe

 . . . via these five must-watch shows set in Madrid, North Korea and more

Borgen What does life look like for the first-ever woman to lead a country’s government? That’s exactly what this Danish drama explores—think The West Wing, but without the starry-eyed optimism. The series was so acclaimed that Netflix has commissioned a new season almost a decade after the last one originally aired, so you’ll want to catch up before the show really blows up.

Cable Girls Imagine the sophistication of a prestige workplace series like Mad Men combined with the breakneck pace and irresistible drama of a telenovela. Cable Girls is that show. The Spanish period drama is about four women in 1920s Madrid whose lives change when they get jobs at a telecommunications company. As the seasons unfold, the series reaches shocking depths you may not be prepared for.

Queen Sono Few genres provide the pure entertainment of a spy thriller. But the mainstream stuff can start to feel same-y. Not so with this South African drama, which follows an undercover agent (the titular Queen) whose mission is to protect the lives of people across the continent. The show enters edge-of-your-seat territory when Queen uncovers info about her own mother’s death that will have you bingeing the series in one sitting.

Thanks to French thriller Lupin, the Spanish crime series Money Heist and, of course, the world-dominating success of the Korean drama Squid Game, international shows took over pop culture in 2021. But these titles just skim the surface of what the world has to offer. Here are five other international series to check out on Netflix now

Written by PATRICIA KAROUNOS

Alice in Borderland If you got caught up in the do-or-die stakes of Squid Game, then Alice in Borderland is for you. The Japanese thriller has a similar premise, only instead of children’s games, people are sent to an alternate, abandoned version of Tokyo to compete in a series of competitions of varying difficulty to avoid death by laser. Adapted from a manga series of the same name, the show is about as tense, dark and relentless as you’ll find in the survival genre.

Crash Landing on You This sweeping Korean drama takes a concept that—on paper, at least—should raise eyebrows and executes it almost flawlessly. It follows a South Korean heiress and entrepreneur who crashes over the North Korean border in a paragliding accident. There, she meets a stony-faced army captain, and the pair overcome their differences to fall hopelessly in love. It’s surprisingly full of heart and features some of the best onscreen chemistry since ’90s-era Julia Roberts romcoms.

PHOTO, COURTESY OF IMDB. M’ENTENDS-TU? AND ANNE WITH AN E PHOTO, COURTESY OF KEN WORONER/NETFLIX © 2020. THE QUEEN’S GAMBIT PHOTO, COURTESY OF NETFLIX. LOCKE & KEY AND VIRGIN RIVER

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[ L O C AT I O N S C O U T ]

FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF YOUR FAVOURITE NETFLIX CHARACTERS

Ever wish you could knock back a whisky at Jack’s Bar? You’re in luck: The Netflix in Your Neighbourhood site maps out where some of the streaming service’s most popular titles were filmed across Canada

Written by ISABELLE DOCTO

Virgin River

The Watershed Grill in Brackendale, B.C., plays Jack’s Bar While this popular romance series is set in a fictional northern California town, it’s filmed in British Columbia. The mountainous backdrop and exterior of Jack’s Bar was shot at Brackendale’s Watershed Grill—and inside, it’s just as warm and inviting as its onscreen counterpart.

The Queen’s Gambit

A Winners location in Toronto plays the Ben Snyder Department Store Historic old Toronto is the perfect stand-in for 1950s Kentucky. The store selling the chess set Beth eyes in episode two and later buys with her tournament winnings is a Winners on Front St. E. Other picturesque landmarks nearby include the Gooderham (Flatiron) Building and the dog fountain in Berczy Park.

Anne with an E

Cape Tryon, P.E.I., plays itself Like Anne, you too can run to the edge of P.E.I.’s red sandstone cliffs and bask in the beauty of the Atlantic Coast. There, you’ll find a magnificent 40-foot lighthouse, while the Anne of Green Gables Museum is just 10 minutes away by car.

Locke & Key

Lunenburg, N.S., plays Matheson, Massachusetts Travel to this quaint seaside town and take a stroll down Montague St. Be sure to stop at Sweet Treasures Confectionery—which you know as Matheson Creamery on the show—for some ice cream.

M’entends-tu?

Montreal’s Bar R.V. plays itself Located in the Ville-Émard neighbourhood of Montreal, this bar is the go-to hangout for this dramedy’s main characters: Ada, Fabiola and Carolanne. Grab a drink and then go for a stroll at nearby Angrignon Park, one of Montreal’s largest green spaces.

[ H I B E R N AT I O N S TAT I O N ]

Don’t leave the house this month

5 riveting, newly released excuses to stay in

Written by CAROL EUGENE PARK

Toufah by Toufah Jallow with Kim Pittaway When Toufah Jallow wins a contest in Gambia, she catches the eye of dictator Yahya Jammeh. But after she refuses his proposal, Jammeh drugs and sexually assaults her. The attack prompts Toufah to flee Gambia and find refuge in Canada. After Jammeh’s deposition, Toufah testifies about her rape, sparking Africa’s own #MeToo movement. She wrote her memoir alongside Kim Pittaway, who was once editor-in-chief of Chatelaine. February 1. The Maid by Nita Prose This debut mystery—written by a veteran book editor—centres around 25-year-old Molly Gray, who has always struggled with social interactions. But her love for cleaning and decorum makes her work as a hotel maid a perfect fit. Her life takes a turn when she finds a wealthy man dead in his suite, and Molly becomes a suspect in his murder. With the help of friends, she searches for clues to clear her name and find the true murderer. January 4. The Last Grand Duchess by Bryn Turnbull Olga Romanov, the eldest daughter of Russia’s last czar, has only known life inside Alexander Palace. But due to a period of political tension that eventually leads to war, Olga and her sisters are no longer sheltered by privilege and must step into the fray as nurses. As controversies about her family spread—among them the disappearance of the czar’s mystical advisor, Rasputin—calls for revolution threaten to end the Romanov dynasty. February 8. Meet Me in the Margins by Melissa Ferguson When Savannah Cade isn’t editing poetry anthologies at her day job, she’s writing a romance novel in a secret room in the publishing house. One day, she accidentally leaves her manuscript behind and returns to find someone has left notes in the margins. The notes become more romantic, and Savannah sets out to uncover the identity of her mystery editor. February 15. Tides by Sara Freeman After a devastating loss, Mara runs away to a small but wealthy seaside town, where she finds comfort in spending her nights near the ocean. When she runs out of money, she takes a job at the local wine store, where she meets the lonely owner, Simon. As their friendship blossoms, she’s confronted by her attraction to Simon—and the past she ran away from. This debut novel has drawn comparisons to the works of Rachel Cusk and Jenny Offill. January 18.

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[ S C R E A M Q U E E N ] Watch Neve Campbell kill it on the big screen, again

“It’s like returning to summer camp,” says Neve Campbell about reprising her iconic role as Sidney Prescott in the fifth Scream. The California town of Woodsboro experiences déjà vu when a group of teenagers is the latest target in a string of killings by Ghostface. She’s in great company: Dewey Riley (David Arquette) and Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox) are back, too. — ZAINAB DAMJI In theatres January 14.

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[ YO U ’ V E G O T M A I L ]

Subscribe to an even smarter you in 2022

Written by ZEAHAA REHMAN

This year, instead of scrolling through the headlines—and the attendant outrage—on social media, give yourself the gift of being better informed by subscribing to these five smart and engaging Canadian newsletters.

If you . . . want to keep up with pop culture, catch up with Stacy Lee Kong as she unpacks the politics behind the week’s biggest stories in Friday Things.

If you . . . want bite-sized versions of big topics in Canadian business and tech that span from the upcoming Metaverse to mining Bitcoin, peruse The Peak.

If you . . . want to alleviate some of the apprehension that comes with consuming news, subscribe to Hannah Sung’s weekly newsletter, At the End of the Day, where she provides an in-depth recap of the pressing issues of the day in a compassionate and reassuring—rather than rage-inducing—way.

If you . . . have trouble keeping track of Canadian politics— both federal and provincial—and want a detailed yet digestible way to stay on top of your local representatives’ actions and help hold them accountable, sign up for The Maple.

If you . . . want help confronting your eco-anxiety, try Sarah Lazarovic’s Minimum Viable Planet (the term for a planet that’s sustainable and hospitable enough for humanity to endure). Each week she recommends actions both big, like refusing to think of climate change as someone else’s problem, and small, like practising “mendfulness,” that we can adopt to ensure, well, a minimum viable planet.

[ L E T ’ S C H I L L ] Leave the house this month

5 winter festivals that are worth bundling up for

Written by BIANCA BUJAN

EDMONTON Deep Freeze: A Byzantine Winter Fête January 14–23 An action-packed winter celebration where you can try your hand at the Deep Freezer Race (literally deep freezers mounted on skis) or cheer on contestants at the log-cutting competition (very Virgin River). Then warm up with poutine or a BeaverTail— or both. deepfreezefest.ca.

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WINNIPEG Festival du Voyageur February 18–27 This 10-day celebration is Western Canada’s largest winter festival. Acknowledging the adventurous spirit of voyageurs and the history of the Canadian fur trade, it includes live fiddling and jigging competitions, powwow performances and period food, like pea soup. heho.ca.

OTTAWA Winterlude February 4–21

Ottawa’s legendary annual winter festival features a massive snow playground, ice sculptures galore and a horse race held on the frozen Rideau Canal. Warming stations and indulgent food stalls featuring cream-covered Cronuts and deep-fried Oreos will keep you cozy and carb-ed. ottawatourism.ca.

QUEBEC CITY Quebec Winter Carnival February 4–13

Say bonjour to Bonhomme Carnaval, the iconic, red-toquewearing snowman who is said to represent the joie de vivre of Quebecers, at the world’s largest winter festival, where you’ll find everything from ice-canoe races and dog sledding to a life-sized ice palace. carnaval.qc.ca.

FREDERICTON FROSTival January 20–February 6

Culture and cuisine are the highlights of FROSTival, which includes a music fest, live theatre and three-course meal deals at local restaurants. Be sure to check out the Ice Sculpture Showcase that pays homage to the craft as an Indigenous art form. frostival.ca/en.

[ A N O T H E R D I M E N S I O N ] BUY AN AFFORDABLE TICKET TO SPACE

Canadian Stage makes an intergalactic return to indoor performances with the North American premiere of Solaris. The 2019 Scottish play based on the 1961 Polish novel that inspired the 2002 George Clooney movie (whew!) is a set-in-space story about our relationship to the unknown—a timely theme, and a huge get for Canadian theatre.

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[ O LY M P I C S P I R I T ] Lose yourself in Beijing 2022

Yes, there’s a significant time difference, but grab a coffee, because these are the women you’ll want to cheer for live

Fingers crossed

The Canadian women’s ice hockey team will try to regain their champ status after breaking their fourmedal gold streak with a silver in 2018.

Keep your eyes peeled for these breakout

stars Figure skater Piper Gilles, monobob/ bobsleigh athlete Cynthia Appiah and freestyle skiing champ Marielle Thompson.