There are certain emotions that everyone experiences - the desperation for love, falling in love at the most surprising of times, anger with family member and friends, utter shame and guilt for one’s mistakes, and overwhelming hope. There are few books that can capture moments like these, and even fewer sentences that can describe varying degrees of love, fear, and pain. Tessa McWatt does all of this and much more in her latest novel Higher Ed. Higher Ed reads something like the film He’s Just Not That Into You where you follow the lives of five different people who happen to be connected in some way. The characters in this novel are linked by their occupations and their experiences.
They are experiencing the same things: job cuts, stress, and looking for love. The main players of this novel are Francine (an overweight American administrator living in London), Robin (a film professor who falls in love with a waitress), Olivia (a law student trying to save the dignity of the dead while trying to connect her father with her mother), Ed (a civil servant with a reckless past who just wants to be there for his daughter), and lastly Katrin (a waitress from Poland trying desperately to be British-English). Although I didn’t care much for Francine or several of the “extra” characters, they each played an important role in the novel. The great thing about the novel being broken up
by character is the feeling that you’re reading five short stories that meld into one another seamlessly, but can still stand their own ground separately. Higher Ed tugged at my heartstrings and while it had beautiful moments that described the basic human condition, I finished the novel with an empty feeling. I felt like there were questions I hadn’t received the answers to. It was as if I wasn’t quite finished with the characters, like I needed more. Even though some of McWatt’s one-liners gave me goosebumps and had me reaching for my notebook to ensure that I could keep them forever, that emptiness I felt is forcing me to give Higher Ed 3 out of 5 stars.
Before I begin, I need to clarify a few things: 1 – I am a true Canadian, as I am a lover of winter. 2 – I am a bit crazy, but it’s the good kind, I promise. For these reasons, I was ecstatic to have found a Groupon back in October for a half price stay in Québec City’s beautiful Hôtel de Glace. The ice hotel is the only one of its kind in North America, and this year it is celebrating its 15th anniversary. Every year the hotel is re-created and re-carved with a new theme each time. This year, the theme was space-time, referencing different time periods ranging from the big bang to space travel and anything in between. Naturally, I dragged my Filipino-born partner as I now have a personal quest to show him as much of Canada as possible (I think subconsciously I also wanted to freeze him out
since the night we stayed was one of the coldest in Québec City this winter). We managed to brave the cold despite this because hey, how many people do you know can say they’ve stayed in an ice hotel?! As you walk through the hotel, you witness bits and pieces of the past, present, and future, captured and carved into beautifully intricate scenes and sculptures. Using both ice and snow, the detail achieved by the sculpting artists was unbelievable. From dinosaurs to hockey players (of course there’s going to be a hockey room, its Canada) to astronauts, there was a lot for visitors to see. Not only were the 16 different themed suites absolutely breathtaking, but also the artistry in the grand hall and the ice bar were incredible! There was even an ice slide for your enjoyment! Needless to say my
partner and I indulged while sipping some maple cider from our ice tumblers – it doesn’t get much more Canadian than that. Once your shutter-happy fingers are tired, the hotel also includes an outdoor spa for patrons to warm up with after a cold day of exploring. The spa includes four large hot tubs and a small sauna, all surrounded by beautiful trees and a snow wall. While the run from the main pavilion to the spa is a bit of a chilly one, you quickly forget it with the tingling of your body as you jump into the wonderfully warm water. The hotel provides you with towels and bathrobes, which help to make the run a little less nippy. Within the main pavilion are change rooms and showers in case you need to warm up just a little bit more before calling it a night.
I’m sure half the people that are reading this are going “Seriously? You stayed overnight in a giant glorified igloo in -25°C weather? Are you nuts?!” And yes, you are correct. I did put my disclaimer saying I was both Canadian and crazy, but the experience is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Although, for those of you who don’t want to brave an entire frosty night here, you can get a day pass to check out all the sights and then retreat to a warm hotel or Airbnb for the night. However, if you want to hear more in-depth about my experience, please check out my travel blog at ivebeenbit.wordpress.com! Lindsay Davies
It’s not that little Olivia didn’t agree with life, it’s that life didn’t quite agree with her. For starters she was allergic to everything, and by everything I mean gluten, dairy, nuts, most fruits, and the sun. These allergies could have contributed to her tiny stature – at sixteen years old she was just under 4’2 and weighed what seemed like a little more than a sixteen-month old child. She was quiet and reserved with a mousy nose, china doll complexion, and black lifeless doll eyes. I describe them as lifeless only because she was a chronic insomniac and therefore always tired and un-excitable. She was odd in the way one would expect, she had a difficult time making friends in grade school, what with her strange foods, constant applications of sunscreen and squeaky little voice. On top of all this she had a mother who didn’t pay any attention to her, a father who was rarely around and a nanny who didn’t speak English. Leaving her with only a pet fish to talk to ( Due to her allergy to animal fur this was the only acceptable pet for her). In spite of all her shortcomings, Olivia was the most positive person on the earth. She always saw the bright side, no matter who ignored her or who made fun of her. She was healthy, she had her beloved book, and that was more than enough. Well, it was enough until her seventeenth birthday. Her father disappeared without a trace, no emails or phone calls, let alone a goodbye to her face. She found her mother staring at her half-empty closet, muttering on about “not seeing it coming”. Olivia patted her mother’s back and told her “all would be well”, resulting in a slap that came so quickly, Olivia fell. Her mother remained silent, but Olivia could feel the blame, did her father leave because she was this way? She went into the bathroom and stared at herself. Weird and weak is what people had called her, but not her father. He called her lovely – with her allergies and her books and all her odd quirks, she was his daughter and he loved her that’s for sure. “Could he have lied?” She thought to herself. That was the first morning that she cut herself. A thin horizontal
line on her skinny little wrist that poured rubies that gleamed as they fell into the sink. She thought that is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. Fast forward a few years and you’ll notice that her lifeless eyes are the same, but not for lack of sleep. She wears mostly black turtlenecks and long-sleeved shirts, even on the hottest day. She hasn’t spoken to her mother since her seventeenth birthday and moved in with her aunt the day after. If you catch her pull up her sleeves at the restaurant where she works, you’ll notice faint scars. Thin horizontal bumps that have healed, been hacked at over and over again. Grooves that never had the chance to soften or smooth into her pale white skin. Reminders of her father’s abandonment and her mother’s silence. Reminders of her inability to make friends. Loud, forceful reminders that there isn’t always a bright side. Instead of talking to her fish, she now talks to her customers. She makes them smile with her senseless banter, her wit, and her thoughts on politics. She doesn’t know this but sometimes she is the best part of their day. She can remember orders on a dime and even with dead eyes, her smile lights up the room. On the rare occasion that a customer makes her laugh, sunshine bursts throughout the dining room and pours onto the streets. Her ‘regulars’ see a certain sadness in her and wonder why a smart girl, who always has a book nearr by, is waiting tables. They don’t pry but they worry. What they will never know is that on her seventeenth birthday Olivia took control of her life, her body, and turned it into steel. She feels only what she wants, when she wants – pain, beauty, happiness, fear. It’s all a little strange, but lovely to her.
when
Lovely meets
STRANGE by: Vanessa Grillone
Photo by: Volkan Olmez
SO YOU’RE MOVING IN
TOGETHER?
By Nadia Rukavina
My partner and I took a leap of faith and we decided to move in before really thinking things through. As a result, we faced horrible consequences later on that almost jeopardized our relationship. There are a few things you should consider, question and talk over with your partner before you decide to move in together.
1
Are you comfortable with each other?
You must be well past the farting stage. You are going to be living in close proximity to each other every day. You are going to be witnessing each other’s daily habits, routines and hygienic care. You will most likely be lying in bed and hear the sounds of your partner laying a few logs. It’s okay. He/she is human and you do it too. Get used to this. Get used to being REALLY close. If you weren’t already best friends, consider yourselves best friends when you’re living together. You should be able to be completely yourself.
Embrace this new intimacy.
2
Talk about finances.
How are you going to split the cost of things? Are you going to split the rent in half and do the same with groceries? Or will you alternate on a weekly basis who buys the groceries? Make sure things are fair between both partners so one does not feel like they are carrying the other person. One shouldn’t feel dependent on the other. Also, don’t continuously spend money on things that don’t matter and things you don’t need. Spend it on things
that will advance both you and your partner.
3
Are you both similar or opposite in personality?
If you’re the latter, I’m worried. Sure, it’s true in science, but when it comes to human relationships, it’s false. Birds of a feather flock together in this case. People generally get along better with those who are most similar to them. Relationships shouldn’t be work or a struggle; they should bring you joy and love and make you feel free. Trust me, it’s a lot easier dating someone with the same life goals and passions as you.
4
Here’s the fun one: CHORES!
5
Do you see a future with your partner?
No one likes them. I hate them. Actually, I hate dishes and washing bathtubs but I don’t mind any other cleaning. Do them together while listening to music or alternate doing dishes. Offering to help is always a nice gesture and don’t avoid doing something; if you notice the toilet paper needs to be changed, don’t wait for the other person to do it - just do it!
The whole point of this next stage is just to reconfirm what you already believe: you two are eventually getting married. If this isn’t what you want then you’re going to run into possible disagreements and disappointments in the future. One person may want a future while the other person does not. Make sure you’re on the same page.
6
Don’t let little things bother you.
You’re going to start noticing things about the other person you probably haven’t before. Their
cute, quirky habits and their gross, annoying habits. But if you don’t love the person unconditionally for every part of who they are, then you aren’t ready to move in with them. Things are going to bother you, and if they do, communicate. But try not to let them. You both need to learn to adapt to each other’s lifestyle and respect that you both may do things differently. Accept and appreciate. Don’t stress over small things, it really isn’t worth it. Small things aren’t big things, and they aren’t any reason to get into any argument. You need to work through getting used to living together. Make suggestions and offer alternatives to things that might be pushing your buttons. Be nice about it, though; you love each other!
7
Continue to date each other!
Once moved in, you start feeling like you are married. You forget the romance. The excitement fades. Soon you find yourself falling into a routine even though you may hate routine. Nights lounging on the couch munching on leftovers because ordering pizza is so much easier than cooking. Of course you’re still enjoying each other’s company, but you’re not doing anything to bring new excitement
to your relationship. Don’t forget to surprise each other with little gestures and ways to make each other smile. Go out on dates and make it a goal to try something new together every month. I do the smallest, simplest things to keep my boyfriend smiling. I write notes on the eggs in the fridge or give them faces. I bring him Cold 911 from DavidsTea when he’s sick. I offer to buy us coffee. I even made a winter date-to-do-list to remind us of all the things we can enjoy doing together that does not involve being lazy indoors. Obviously there is more to moving in with someone than just what’s listed here, but this will get you thinking in the right direction. It won’t be easy. In fact, it might even be scary. However, thinking about these things now can save you a lot of frustration and heartache later on.
This page was designed by Avista Shour.
Ontario “Pit Bull” Co-op
10th Anniversary & Art Show The Ontario “Pit Bull” Co-op was founded in the wake of Bill 132 (a.k.a. the “pit bull” ban) in 2005. The group sought to bring together responsible owners of dogs who may be considered “pit bull types” to help maintain a quality of life for the dogs. The Co-op has created a community where owner’s come together to help each other and their dogs deal with the repercussions of the ban.
on the topic vs. media hysteria, breed neutral legislations, and above all the importance of owner responsibility.
Members have met and will continue to meet with their “pit bulls” or dogs who may be deemed substantially similar, as well as supporters with dogs of all makes, for leashed walks and other positive events. These walks/events provide time for socialization opportunities for dogs and owners, as well as the ability to meet and greet with the general public.
Although 10 years of BSL is NOTHING to celebrate, the Ontario “Pit Bull” Co-op is taking the opportunity to create yet another positive event to generate discussion about BSL through art and special events and guests.
The Co-op constantly strives to enlighten the public about Breed Specific Legislation (BSL); the importance of proper education
The Co-op sincerely hopes that by standing together to enhance the perception of all of their beloved family members, they will play a part in ridding Ontario of the horrors of BSL.
From April 3rd to April 26th the Arcadia Art Gallery (680 Queen’s Quay W, Toronto) will feature artwork for sale from Artists within the Co-op. The gallery will also host special guests, events, and workshops throughout the entire month.
Oysters. by: Julia Selch
Photo by: Taylor Leopold
As she glanced across the shiny plate that had been dropped in front of her by selfimportant hands, her nose wrinkled in dismay. There it sat, the oyster, bedded on ruby-red leaves of whatever lettuce, and sparkled with fleur de sel diamonds. It was inoffensive looking – really – glistening like a wobbly, dead tongue in its sapphire shell. She looked across at him, and thought much of the same. Inoffensive was fine, that was what you wanted, and what you got used to. When you swallowed the delicate, grey meat along with the fear, you were bound to love it surely. That was how love worked, wasn’t it? She smiled across at him, and he returned the favour with a sort of upward frown. He looked good this evening, with his unkempt blonde hair, and dull green eyes. His thin lips were nearly relaxed, as he rested his hand close to hers. It made her itch. She looked down, and across at the oyster. “Don’t you like it?” he said, and she thought she imagined a tinge of annoyance in his voice. “I do, but if you don’t we can go somewhere else after,” she said, suppressing the definite tinge in her own. “No, this is fine. Try it with some lemon,” he said, squeezing the fruit all over her oyster, turning the glistening grey mass into a slimy abomination. “I don’t like- thanks,” she said, staring at the atrocity in front of her. Was she being too harsh? Perhaps she would like it. She was expected to, wasn’t she? This was meant to happen.
She thought back to the time some weeks ago when she’d tried an oyster elsewhere. This one hadn’t looked grey or slimy at all. It had been perched on a wooden board, and smelled of sea, and sunshine. The shell had glittered green and blue in the sunlight, and she’d smiled down at it with longing, before taking it into her fingers, and slurping up its contents with a hunger she’d not felt in a long time. She’d nearly shuddered with pleasure at the sensation, and the delicious taste that lingered long after. That oyster had been across from him though, from the one with the gentle, blue eyes, and the soft hair. The one whose smile had melted her insides until she’d felt like a warm, oceany breeze. She had watched his eyes glitter in the sun, and felt her lips tingle in anticipation, until there was a constant, brilliant buzzing under her skin. His hand had been next to hers on the table, and it had taken all her strength not to grab it. When he took hers, it wasn’t near close enough anyway, nothing was. She blinked as the reality in front of her came into focus again. “Are you going to eat your oyster or what?” She shook her head, pushing out her chair delicately as she got up. “No, I don’t think I should have that kind anymore.”
I first met Skye Mackenzie and her horse Joey back in 2013 at a wonderfully, beautiful little barn in Minesing, Ontario called Pine Grove Farm. From the large log laying in the middle of their outdoor ring, to its unusual collection of grey horses I knew this farm was like none other I’d been on before. The girls there train every week for the adrenaline pumping, exhilaratingly dangerous, horse sport of Eventing.
THE SPORT Eventing (a.k.a. horse trials), is an equestrian triathlon where horse and rider teams compete across three riding disciplines ─ dressage, cross country, and show jumping – over the course of one, two, or three days, depending on the length of courses and the number of entries. The dressage phase is always held first and requires teams to execute a sequence of movements as perfectly as possible. Judges are looking for balance, rhythm, docility, and above all, the obedience of the horse and the harmony between horse and rider. The purpose of this phase is to demonstrate that an extremely fit horse, capable of completing the other two phases on time, is also able to perform with grace in a relaxed and precise manner. Cross country is usually the second phase. It requires horse and rider teams to be in excellent physical shape; as well as brave, and trusting of each other. Lower levels consist of 12-20 fences and higher levels around 30-40 fences placed along a large outdoor circuit. Fences are made from
very solid nature objects, such as large tree trunks, telephone poles, and stone walls, and are accompanied by various other natural obstacles including ponds/streams, ditches, drops and banks that one may encounter along the countryside. Speed is also a factor in this phase, as each second after the optimum time before horse and rider reach the finish results in a penalty. The show jumping phase tests the technical jumping skills of horse and rider, as well as obedience, fitness, and athleticism. Courses often consist of 12-20 fences set up in a ring. Unlike cross country fences, these obstacles are typically brightly coloured and easily knocked down. This phase is also times, and penalties again are given for every second over the required time. With this phase generally being held after cross country it tests the fitness and stamina of both horse and rider. There are several other ways outside of time to acquire penalties across all three phases, as well as ways teams can end up getting themselves eliminated from the competition completely.
THE RIDER Skye first started riding at the age of 9, taking weekly lessons. As she grew older she began spending more and more time at the barn, doing chores in exchange for extra riding time. At age 14, Skye began work at another barn for several months, where she leased a horse to ride 6 days a week. After about a year she decided to stop the lease and buy a horse from the racetrack to retrain herself. Skye is now 18 and she has been working with Joey, her horse, for nearly two years.
THE HORSE Joey (show name Whovian) is a 6 year old, Thoroughbred. Joey was raced in 2011 and 2012, before it became obvious he would not make it as a racehorse. Skye spent the summer of 2013 retraining Joey from a racehorse to an eventing horse. They had a very successful show season in 2014, finishing 6th at the Ontario Horse Trials Association championships.
THE WORK Skye took her passion for the sport of eventing to a new level when she made the move in September 2014 to fill the working student position at Cranmore Farms. She has since been working under Penny Rowland, a rider she as admired for a very long time. As a 12 year old, Skye witnessed Penny competing in the indoor eventing competition at the Agricultural Royal Winter Fair. Penny is not only a top level rider in the sport, but she is also highly respected by her peers. Skye says, “Penny’s also a very hard worker and is a person I look up to in life, as well as in riding”. The improvements in her riding, as well as the valuable experience in barn management and general life skills has been far from disappointing thus far.
A TYPICAL DAY When I asked Skye what a typical day working at Cranmore Farms was like she told me, “Busy! Usually I’ll get out to the barn at 8:00am, feed the horses, turn them out, muck stalls, and give them all hay and water”. She generally finished morning chores around 10:30am and then takes lunch until noon. “The afternoons vary between days and time of year. Most days I’ll exercise about 2-4 horses, however sometimes I’ll ride up to 5. What I do with each horse depends on what it needs, some will go out on trail rides through hills for fitness, while others will need to work on technical dressage or jump training. We will also do general maintenance of the farm in the afternoons, things like harrowing arenas and paddocks to improve the footing or fixing fencing; basic husbandry
on the horses; and cleaning and maintaining equipment we use.� After all the riding and chores are done for the day, any horses that are still turned out are brought in; they are all fed again and given more hay and water. An average day in the barn will end between 5:30pm and 6:30pm, but a final check is made again between 8:00pm and midnight to top up hay and water once more, and ensure all horses are comfortable and settling in for the night. In the warmer months of summer Skye will go with Penny to other farms to train for cross country through the week and attend competitions almost every weekend.
THE FUTURE This summer Skye and Joey will be doing a few more events at the Pre-Training (PT) level, before upgrading to the Training level (in Canada there are 7 different levels, PT is the 3rd of 7 levels). Once at the Training level they will remain there for most of the summer, with hopes of qualifying for the OHTA (Ontario Horse Trials Association) championships at that level. Ultimately, Skye intends to sell Joey before attending University, but she is really hoping they can compete at the Preliminary level (next level after Training, and the 5th level overall) before she sells him, however that will depend entirely on how well they both handle the Training level.
Article/Photography by: Jessica Copeland
Skye has an immense passion for horses, and the sport of eventing. She constantly pushes herself to become a better rider, by working hard and training on as many different horses as possible. She has a number of goals she aims to achieve this show season between herself and Joey, but she also understands that some are more attainable than others. Personally, I look forward to watching their relationship and ability grow even more this year!
EMBRACING the positive WORDS BY CATHERINE VENDRYES
How I started speaking more positively and then feeling it too I’m a big believer in the power of positive affirmations, but it wasn’t until a friend of mine pointed out how positive sounding one of our peers was that I started to think about how positive speech to others can make a difference at work. All three of us were Orientation Week volunteers and we were admiring how a fellow volunteer had a habit of saying “Absolutely!” Not “Yes” or “Sure,” but “Absolutely.” If you aren’t familiar with them, affirmations are positive statements which you repeat until they’re impressed on your subconscious. So as the volunteer responded to requests with “Absolutely” she was also affirming her abilities to us. In other words to she could take care of everything absolutely! Then I had a brain wave, I would stop just saying “Yes” and start saying “Absolutely!” at my job too and see if it really did make a difference. I wanted my manager and my coworkers to feel the same way I did when I heard it. Sure enough, there were positive changes almost right away. It started with a simple email from my supervisor: “Could you please print 15 copies of this file and bring it to Boardroom B?” It wasn’t a particularly challenging task, but I sent her a quick note. “Absolutely! I’m on my way,” the email read. When asked if I had capacity for another project: “Absolutely!” When asked if I could edit an image in Photoshop: “Absolutely!” When asked to organize a conference call with the other office: “Absolutely!” I was hooked. As time went on I wasn’t just saying the words either. I truly felt confident in my ability to do everything. Even if it had been over a year since I’d used Photoshop and I had never set up a conference call before, using affirmative words helped me to feel like I could handle it. My usual anxieties when confronted with
something new took a backseat. I was certainabsolutely certain—I could handle anything thrown my way. My supervisor started to notice too. In a weekly check-in meeting she told me that I “was very accommodating and accepted tasks positively.” Another one of my coworkers thanked me when I took some packages for her to the mail room and said, “You always know how to get things done.” I also noticed a change in the people I said it to. Worries and consternation disappeared when I assured them I could do it, and I received more smiles and positivity in return. I’m sure some of my coworkers probably think I’m overenthusiastic but is that really a bad thing? I can’t help feeling more positive and even assertive when I use “Absolutely.” “Yeah” or “Sure” feels flippant to me now, an automated response like “Good” or “OK.” I also started to use “Certainly” when I felt I was being too repetitive. Using affirmations when talking to other people transformed the way I think about myself and the way others think about me. I feel more capable and know others think I am too. I certainly don’t plan on going back to “Yes.” How can you get onboard this positivity train? Just start thinking before you answer—don’t automatically respond with “Yes”, “Yeah” or “Sure” put the effort into an “Absolutely” or “Certainly.” Not only do the latter sound more professional and assured, it’s hard not to say them without smiling a little bit. (Physically your tongue has to tap the top of mouth and then your lips have to close make the “-ly” sound; it kind of looks like a smile). So try it out! Maybe you’re looking to start this spring on a positive note or want to feel more empowered. If you do then stop simply agreeing and start affirming, it really makes all the difference in the world.
e h t fty i r th irrel u q s
MODELS: NICOLE PAPP, ZAC HOGG PHOTOGRAPHER: CASSANDRA TULECKI GREEN RETRO STYLE DRESS SIZE SMALL WOMEN'S - $15 MOORES BLACK SUIT JACKET - SIZE LARGE MEN'S - $25 BLUE TIMBERLAND BLUE LONG SLEEVE - SIZE MEDIUM MEN'S - $15
MODELS: ALEXANDRA DEAN, CLARISSA DIOKNO, NICOLE PAPP FOREVER 21 YELLOW FLORAL DRESS - SIZE WOMEN'S LARGE - $15 DESIGNER: ANGELINA FACCENDA PEACOCK BRIDESMAID DRESS - SIZE 8 WOMEN'S $75
MODELS: LALIT AGARWAL, IDAHOSA ADAGHE, ZAC HOGG YELLOW AMERICAN EAGLE POLO - SIZE MEN’S SMALL - $7 COLOUR BLOCK GEORGE POLO - SIZE SMALL MEN'S - $7 SKY BLUE OLD NAVY POLO - SIZE SMALL MEN'S - $7
MODELS: MICHAEL BUSTAMANTE, ALEXANDRA DEAN, NICOLE PAPP, CLARISSA DIOKNO BROWN STRIPED QUIKSILVER POLO SIZE SMALL MEN'S - $7 FOREVER 21 WORLD FLAG BOW BARRETTE - SIZE 6 ¼" X 2 ¼" INCHES - $3 BLUE POW T-SHIRT - SIZE SMALL WOMEN'S - $5 PINK BONGO JEANS - SIZE 1 WOMEN'S - $10 YELLOW CITY GIRL KNIT CROP TOP SIZE 10 WOMEN'S - $7 SWS GRAY CROPPED VEST - SIZE SMALL WOMEN'S - $5
Meet The Thrifty Squirrel’s co-founders Nicole Papp and Clarissa Diokno!
Ideas are easy,
EXECUTION is what’s hard
On March 6 & 7 at the Kairos Social Impact Initiative, there were no shortages of ideas. It’s likely that many of the delegates of this conference left OCAD University with more ideas then they knew what to do with. I was invited to spend part of my weekend with the delegates and team of this conference focusing on providing solutions to some of the world’s most challenging issues. Surrounded by a group of inspiring young professionals and entrepreneurs, delegates were able to network and mingle, sharing their own inspiring stories. Then there was me, seeking out these stories to share with other young professionals in the pages of my magazine, Passion8.
The importance of networking for young professionals is growing. This is something the delegates were well aware of, wasting no time on Friday night to get to work mingling with some of the brightest minds of our generation. The food was delicious, the drinks were flowing and the music was bumpin’, but that didn’t stop the young professionals from sharing their ideas, passions and aspirations. Moving into Saturday, all eyes were on centre stage as we heard from Ashutosh Sayal of EyeCheck, Daniel Pearson Hirdes from HealthIM and Desmon Choi from Sparkgig. Following our speakers, we were given the opportunity to ask a variety of established entrepreneurs a variety of
questions during a panel moderated by Desmond, including Blake McDonald of Soapbox, Harry Ghandi of Medella Health and Ashutosh of EyeCheck. After a short break we heard from business builder Steven Holmes, Founder of educational platform, Chalk. com, William Zhou, and I’ll Go First CEO and Founder, Jessica Minhas. Jessica then joined a panel of non-profits to discuss the challenges of non-profit organizations. She was joined by Steve Bussey of the Salvation Army and Anna Martin of Gumption Inc. From there we were shuttled along to OCAD University to participate in a working lunch Charity Hackathon. Delegates were assigned to different tables each with a business mentor
and charity with an issue needing to be solved. Teams used their intuition and creative problem solving to help tackle some of the charities challenges, and give them new perspectives on how to move forward. This not only provided time to show the business mentors and the charities their ‘chops’ it also gave the young professionals opportunity to continue to discuss how they hoped to solve their own problems and issues in their startups. The best part of a conference such as this is that people are excited to share their stories, but also just as excited to hear yours. The speakers spoke of passion, drive and innovation, as well as the struggles and failures necessary for success. They challenged young professionals to use their skills and knowledge to solve the
world’s most challenging issues, and to keep the passion alive while doing so. The delegates shared their passion for collaboration, healthcare, digital media, the environment and sustainability, the list goes on. It’s obvious that the people in attendance are destined to do great things, both within their ventures, and in whatever else they attempt to accomplish. Keep the ideas flowing!
My Paleo Cleanse Journey Written & Designed by: Nicole Papp
T
hroughout university, I always focused on my studies, but I also socialized a decent amount. While socializing, fast food and drinking became a norm, which I realized two years later; although fun, it really affected my weight and my energy levels. The freshman 15 happened and I needed to do something to fix it! I did not want to feel bad about myself anymore so I decided to go on a detox to start fresh from what I had done to my body. I started searching around for a solution for a detox and quickly became overwhelmed with the choices available to me. Programs such as “the master cleanse”, the “ juju cleanse” and “Dr. Oz’s 48 hour cleanse” were just some of the thousands of available solutions to my problem. I thought to myself“what do I do now?!”. I didn’t know where to begin until my mom handed me a business card for a Naturopath. Now I know what you may be thinking…either you think I’m crazy or you are cheering “hurrah another believer in medicine!”. The truth is, it all comes down to your values, informing yourself of your options and what you feel comfortable with. All I am here to do is tell you about my experience and you be the judge. I started out my 30 day cleanse journey by going into my naturopath’s office for an appointment. Luckily Dr. Som Thammasouk’s office was located in Kitchener and although it seemed far initially, the bus ride was quick and I got there in no time. It would be easily accessible to any student in the Kitchener Waterloo region.
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Dr. Thammasouk greeted me at the door and welcomed me in for my appointment. We talked about my past history, and what I have been doing currently. Her questions were very holistic in nature and she was trying to understand my life as a whole, rather than asking about my current problem, which is what I was used to in traditional medicine. I really liked that and it made sense to me. Instead of masking the specific issue, why not try to figure out what lead up to the issue occurring? I liked her style.
Next, she gave me some homework- a sheet that had questions about all of my body parts and how they functioned , my activity and energy levels and my mind and emotions. I had to rate their functionality on a scale and base my assessment on the past year. This sheet helped provide Dr. Thammasouk with a comprehensive look into my medical status. I was also given a food diary that I was expected to fill in with all the foods I had eaten over a period of a week. Once I was completed those profiles, I simply emailed her the sheets. How easy! After the preliminary assessment, we ordered blood work that would assess my hormone and nutrient levels. It took a while to get those done because we had to work in collaboration with MD doctors. As soon as the results were in, Dr. Thammasouk realized my hormones were imbalanced and I needed a liver cleanse. Finally! I have some clarity. She also conducted a live blood sample test using a specialized microscope that was hooked up to an HD television and showed me the excess yeast in my blood stream. I love sugar and it showed physically and scientifically! I immediately started cutting out refined sugar out of my diet (chocolate, candy, cookies etc) and started eating more wholesome options like fruit, almond butter and nuts. I will be honest, this change was severe for me since I really did enjoy my sweets and it wasn’t very pleasant at first. As time went on and I became more and more committed to my end goal- to feel better, I started welcoming the idea of unrefined sugar more and more.
Dr. Thammasouk and I both worked out a meal plan that followed a diet that was considered paleo. I ate nuts, veggies, and lean meats. Everyday, I made breakfast smoothies that contained Mediclear Plus, which assisted in my detox. I also had treats made of almond butter, oats and honey. That’s when the real innovation started to happen! I came up with all sorts of creative recipes for deserts that were still delicious and good for me. I ate them, they tasted rich and sweet and I didn’t feel bad afterwards.
Berries with chocolate made out of coconut oil, coco powder and honey.
No bake Raw Nut based desert with coconut chocolate. Absolutely delicious!
Vegan no bake raw cheese cake (it has no dairy and tastes just like cheesecake!)
I was so excited about the delicious discoveries that I have made, and the way I was feeling, so I continued on my cleanse journey while regularly exercising, and was amazed at the results!
. If you decide to go on a cleanse yourself, I will say that it won’t be an easy task and you will have days where you just want to eat what you love, but keeping your eye on the prize in whatever you wish to achieve and believing that you can make it to the finish line is probably one of the best feelings after the process is done. Achieving a cleanse can be pretty difficult in today’s world if you don’t cook for yourself or do careful planning. Luckily there are restaurants in the KW region such as Rawlicious, Thrive Juice Bar, Seven Shores Urban Market and Café , Jane Bond Café, Queen Street Commons, The Healthy Owl Bakery Café and more (http://www.happycow.net/ north_america/canada/ontario/kitchener_waterloo/) that cater to a paleo, gluten free, or vegan diet. I would love to see more restaurants like these, that promote truly healthy eating.
Going on a cleanse shows characteristics of strong will power and determination and make you feel awesome. So readers- are you up to the challenge? If you have any questions, comments or concerns, feel free to email me at nspapp@uwaterloo.ca. I would be happy to help!
The biggest difference between how I was feeling before my cleanse and during/ after is that I felt more energized, fit and less bogged down. Although the cleanse was hard in the beginning, I always reminded myself of my end goal in feeling better. I didn’t choose to go on a liver cleanse to loose weight, that was just a bi-product, but rather, I choose to go on a cleanse to improve my health.
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The best free lessons online Written & Designed by: Nicole Papp
With today’s competitive job market, it’s always a good idea to stay up to date with skills and abilities. Personally, I love learning and I would certainly love to brush up on a few skills for the lowest price. Heck, I’ll even take free. Luckily for me (and you) there are several With today’s competitive job market, it’s always a good idea to stay up to date with great free online resources that offer youlove can takeupfrom skills and abilities. Personally, I love learning and I courses would certainly to brush on a few skills for the lowest price. Heck, I’ll even take free. Luckily for me (and you) there accredited universities. I felt I that needed to brush uptake onfrom technical are several great free online resources offer courses you can accredited universities. I felt I needed to brush up on technical skills like web design, coding, skills like web design, coding, prototyping, engineering concepts, prototyping, engineering concepts, etc. As an entrepreneur, its always useful to know a little bit everything, so when you collaborating withto others, you aactually etc. Asofan entrepreneur, itsarealways useful know little know bit ofwhat you are talking about. So I did a little bit of research to figure out some good places to everything, so when you are collaborating with others, you actually start. know what you are talking about. So I did a little bit of research to figure out some good places to start.
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1. Coursera sets out to offer “the world’s best courses, online, for free”. There are 986 courses available from Chemistry to Information tech and design and everything in between. A really cool thing about coursera is that they offer specializations, where you can apply a specialized skill to a capstone project. That would look awesome on a resume!
In the end, as long as you have a craving and passion to learn, there are several options for you. In the wise words of Steve Balmer: “The number one benefit of information technology is that it empowers people to do what they want to do. It lets people be creative. It lets people be productive. It lets people learn things they didn’t think they could learn before, and so in a sense it is all about potential.”
2. Opencaulture.com is a website that promotes sharing and open source education also known as MOOCs (massive open online courses). They have a free course credential key that will help guide you through the world of free online courses in a systematized format. 3. Alison.com is a web portal full of free online courses that actually include diploma courses, IT skills, languages, soft skill development, health and safety, education etc. One thing that stood out to me were the corporate partners such as walkgrove, Google, Microsoft and Macmillian and was featured by BBC News, The New York Times, The Economist and Forbes. I think this one is worth a look! 4. Oyc.yale.edu: Another one for reputation; Yale offers free and open access to a selection of introductory courses with the aim to expand access to educational materials for all that wish to learn. Heck yes to free! And from Yale at that. Similar projects are happening at other universities such as Staford Free courses (online.standord. edu/courses, webcast.berkeley.edu, MIT OpenCourseWare (ocw.mit.edu) Duke (courser.org/duke), Harvard (edx.org/ school/harvardx), UCLA (on youtube), Carnegie Mellon (oli. cmu.edu) This list, is of course, just scratching the surface of the courses available to us at our fingertips, for free. The Mac and Angel Hack Life blog has posted a very comprehensive list of web resources based on subject and what you’d like to accomplish as your end goal: http://www.marcandangel. com/2010/11/15/12-dozen-places-to-self-educate-yourselfonline/.
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RO C K STA R UN PLUG G E D
Ro c k star Café has exp lod ed into the Waterloo st a r t u p s ce n e i n a bi g way. Aim ing to streng then com m unities by co n n e ct i n g co llab oration with culture, Rockstar Café h a s a l re a d y made strid es in securing their very first p hysica l l o cat i o n . We were ab le to g o unp lug g ed with Rockstar f ro nt m a n M a r k Kr ys ht alskyj to d iscuss where the Rockstar id ea ca m e f ro m , t h e st r ug g les they’ve overcom e and how he m a i nt a i n s p a s s i o n al ong the way. Ro c k star Café is so m uch m ore than sim p ly a pl a ce to g ra b a qu i c k coffee. It is an outlet for Rockstars to m e et i nflu e n t i al l ead ers in their com m unities, g et involved i n s o m et h i n g t h at m atters, or to start som ething them selve s . Ye s , s o o n Ro c k star Café will b e a f ully-f unctioning coffe e h o u s e, b u t t h e po tential for this initiative is unlim ited . Ro ckst a r g i ve s st u dents and young p rofessionals the op p ortunity to d a b b l e i n an d d iscover their p assions (that ’s why we li ke t h e m s o mu c h !) and allows for innovation to flow f reely ove r a cu p o f a co ffe e (or tea!). AND, not only is Rockstar Ca fé a n awe s o me place to g rab a treat or start the next b ig p ro j e ct , yo u c an l eave knowing that you were m aking a d iffere n ce j u st by s i mpl y m aking a p urchase. That ’s rig ht, rest assu re d t h at a l l
som ething challeng mys e l f p rod rele a as s s upo stss aiinblabl possib le, and s o mething challengand ing myself ing s a re as suustctasin a b e, e as eyond myI blim Soon, I b eg an to re a l i ze and are go i nbeyo g toward nd mys lim b its. Soon, egits. an to realize pro ce e d s t haere pro goceeds in g towards I could b ring all my p assions roill j e ctbetter s t h at t hwi r bthe co uld ring all my p assions tog ether by to g et h e r by projeam ctsazin t hgat pw e l l Ibette b ecomreneur.” ing an entrep reneur.” co mmu n ity. beco m ing an entrep ity. Mark tries b ring to thishisp assio n to h i s Mar k tries to b ring this to p assion team and ers. to his ark ins ays t hio atnt hfoer i tnhsepiirat fo r t he ini-to his and custom “If custom you’re ers. a “I f yo u ’ re a ys that Mthe s pirat n i -i o n team sm art entrep reneur, you’re t i at ni veh ec ara me w h ent hhee ver rany i nto t h te entrep very reneur, you’re d oing it for d oi n g i t fo r s mar ame whe n into the pwho eop le—those who you stand b e h i n d yo u rob lem at féRohcokpes st ar to Cafét hheop eop es le—those to stand b ehind t hat pRoc k st a r t hCa (your team ) and those who to fin d(yot huer team rig ht) and those who stand in f ront stan d i n f ro nt wh ere so d ol ve— I g“ow htoerefi ndo d t Ih egor i ght of youers).” (your custom ers).” e oon p le, anget d fu n di to (your g et custom o fn gyou conne p cti s a nco d n fnuect n dii o nn g s to t hte e rgro u nagger d?” After a st a g g eroff th emy g roi duea n d?o”ff Af a st The Loop od el b el i eve s t h at i ng n u mber o f co nvers at i o n s wi stuTh e th Loop tail b usiness mtail od elb usiness b elievesmthat ber of co nvers at io ns wi t h st u if you try to create hap p iness w i t h i n yo u r e nts u saes c ro ss ampu s es h ei n Oi fntyo ario, u tryhe to create hap p iness within your cro ss dcamp in cOnt ar i o, b usiness, comrig e ht f ull ci rcl e r i g ht al itzed bu s i ness, it will com e it f ullwill circle he wa re s no a lohnee. wa s n o t al o n e. b ack to you. Mark says that bac k to you. Mark says that as a lead er, as a l e a d e r, m ore invest into For M a rRo k c khst owever, morehis you the invest intoyou each ind ivid ualeach i n d i v i d u a l rk however, ar was Rohci skst art h ewas p erson’s g rowth, allows everyo n e to d i s o n ,a bres u t onuorce t yet o u rce h eon’s could pers g rowth, allows everyone to d isbut no vt i si yet h e acores uld cover their own inner assion a n d p u r swer i s ibu i o ns.their So, own cover inner p assion and ppurnswe r use hi s to bu rannin g q uhest o nrsn. i n Sg o, qu est p ose, and they will work to aLobo o kaicl alby l ed Lo poosptail e, andbythey will work hard er to m akehard e r to m a ke ed to aheb tu o orkn ed c a lled o pt the p roject success. B ruce o n nTip, Can adi t hrepreneur. e p roject a success. The asam e g oesThe for sam e g o e s fo r oon Tip, a Ca nPo a dia E ntarepren euan r. Ent your custom ers, if you can bo onkg I was was readi was ers, if you can showcase yourshowca s e yo u r yo u rng custom ike th“eItb felt o o k like I watshereadi assions and p urp ose to i teng ra lly o mweth i n g Imys h ad pass myself. ions and ppurp ose to them , they willthem , t h ey w i l l s ometlhi I h as d r i tten el f.wr i tten flock to sup p ort you. Al lfe my idgea s a nd rfeel were flo r i ght there c k to sup p ort you. deas and elin s were i ghti nt gs h ere i n fro nt o f me.” of me.” every g reat Wi t h every gWith reat id ea, com es id a ea, few com e s a few hurd les to overcom e. Mark B ruce ives t hree t i ps thhuat helpto ed overcom rdles e. Mark says that his says t h at h i s ves t hre e magin t ips t h atmai h elnped b ig g est ones are trying to sell a s o ci a l ark elieve el fj ect an d. i n bi h i ggest s project. ones are trying to sell a social ieve i nMhi m sbelf a n d in in hhiims s pro a p rod d riven i n d u st r y, H e sin u ggest i n iany bu s i n ess if you to exp experience a perience rod uct dto riven ind uct ustry, ests that a ny sb utshat i n ess f yo u and that social enterp rises fi d n dpu pass d upu s ed ithat n your social enterp rises in Canad a are in Ca n a d a a re nd pacan ssi ona )a n r poisoen i nanyo r r poan p erceived as com p anies sacrifici n g p ro fit s , b) ward andd c)perce t ranscend ived as com p anies sacrificing p rofits pay i twork forwa rd pay a n d itc)fotrran s cen for environm ental or social r y, u c an l .be fo s ur ccessf ul. ental or social g ain. Millenni- g ain . Mi l l e n n i environm du stry,your you incdu a nst b e syo u ccessfu alsit.thoug g eterstand it. They und erst a n d t h at ark o katnhdatappl fo r mu it to al s i ed t houg h, g et Theyh,und that ok thatMfo rmto u la i edl ai t an tod appl coffeehouses haven’t chang Rock a r hto h al sucffeth ehouses haven’t chang ed in hun- ed i n h u n to chal l e nst ge im scel f, l en wi ge t h shui cms - el f,cowi of years, and have dreds of years,d red ands have a d esire to seea d esi re to s e e esu l ts !ce ssf u l res u lt s ! m ore offered . mo re offered . As p ro m o ters of pass i o n , we were curious oters o f p a ss io n , we were c u r i o u s Mark says, “Our the p rodtea uct or isn’t t h e te a o r r kn keep i o n a- mai n kcom p o- “Our Mar says, p rod uct isn’t k ke e phow s p aMssaio a m sai npass co mpo itself, iterisexp theerience custom er ex p e r i e n ce nejnt an d i sffel ife. He it coffee e itself, is the custom t he pro e cto, f a tnhde inprohjiect s l i,fe. H ei n hco of having som eone share yo u r i d e a g oe st abila caks to Lo o pt l as a way reflect som eone to share your toid ea o f toh aving ck to Loop a way toaireflect with, the ab ility to others i n s i m i l a r o n pwahssatiohnis t r u e pass i o n s were. wi t h , the ab ility to join others in join sim ilar hi s tr ue s were. d ialog ues, having the inclusive e nv i ro n di al og ues, having the inclusive environm ent and resources yo u r i d e a s a r ted a tt l ove r tdh e co tt age andresources ment and to launch yourtoidlaunch eas ed with“ Ita st l ove fo r wt hiteh co agefoan and p aying it forward yoursel f. Th i s i s mo re anI dt houg ht it forward yourself. This is p aying bi l ity, sust b uta in t haebility, m o rebuI t t ht hoeu ght hard to to com m unicate toepof eop le o u t s i d e o f ab re o u tI it , t hteh at moIrewas I s aw wa to s pcom as- m unicate p eop le outsid , th e mo s aw past-h at hIard the Kitchener-Waterloo reg b ogust to o to. h erI ltoved h i n gs to I loved t ho.e Kitchener-Waterloo reg ion or who are ion or w h o a re ab out sioonate t he r t ha in used to tang ib le I innovations. I try and e i ng aan lea ang. d Ianl oved u n derdo loved u sg. edI to tang ib le innovations. try and le a de rb and u n d er erdo p osition Rockstar next to som eth i n g t h ey nn in g peo pl e g their po si n i tion Rockstar next to som ething they ng witco h p e ect o ple a nw d ithhear ing t han ei rd h ear canas relate as a way n g, ve relate d esig nit to a wayitoftoovercom ingof ove rco m i n g I love dstories b ra n d.inI gloved , c re atbran i ve di des i gnc reatc ian this.” s peaki n g. for i sding .” lic speand ak i n p g u. blic I loved st an di nI gl oved fo r stt han
Addi i o n al lpr y, i s o i alarenterp Ad d i t io n a lly, s oc i al t enter e cst t up s inrise startup s in eral h ave m ore d ifficulties Canad a g en eraCan l l y ada h avegen mo re l ydi ffi culties ‘st ar t i n g u p’ t h an t rad itional ‘start in g u p’ t h an t radi t i o n al tec h o nes. In tech ones. In KWk Regi o n , res Marources k utilizes resources t he KW Reg iotnh, e Mar u t i l i zes s u c h as Un i vers i ty o f Waterloo’s St. Paul’s such a s U n ivers i ty o f Water l o o ’s St . Paul’s H o u snei tec an dh ’sCoASCent. mm unitech’s ASCent. Gre e n H o u s e a nGdreen Co mmu Bo t h res o u rces are aid ing in the creation B o t h res o u rces are ai di n g i n t h e c re ation fo r s ocial entrep reneurs. o f e co systemso ffoeco r s osystems c i al ent repreneurs. H owever, Mar k f und ing is H owever, M a r k ment i o n s , fu nmentions, di ng is s c, arce. , t hRichard ere is hop e. Richard scarce. Th o u gh t h ereThi so uhgh o pe. Bran s o n (Fo u n der o f up), the Virg B rans o n ( Fo u n der o f t h e Vi rgi n G ro a in Group), a o n enter fo r pr s oi scei al has enterp rise has cham p io n fo rc h ampi s o c i al invested $5M i nto Canad a via the MaRS i nve sted $5 M into Can ada vi a t h e MaRS re fo ri nImpact Investing . Ce ntre fo r I m pCent act Invest g.
l l go long way to p roving “Thi s f u n d w ill“Th goi sa fu l onndg wi way to aproving t h at s o c i al enter pr i s es eserve an eq ual t hat s o c ia l ente r pr i s es des er ve an eq d ual e di c utss o ng ard tabsle with reg ard s se at at t h e dissceat u ss iat o n t thabl e swi h i re d eb by we th eret i2m5e atnhdey we to ROI [Ret u r n o n Investm ent].” their d eb ut by their the tim e ut they to R O I [Ret u r n o n Invest ment ].” b e st wo by t h e released their released b est worktheir by the tim e rtkh ey were 30. In five ye a rs H ow do yo u get a s eat at the tech startup were 30. In five years I see Ro ckst aIr s e e H ow d o yo u g et a s eat at t h e tec h startup having exp and e d Otnt h ro ghout abl c h antogesee youinwant having to see inexp and ed throug hout a rui o, t ab l e? B e t h e tch ane? geBe yo tuh ewant while g etting re a d y to e nte t h e wo r l d. S h are yo u r id eas with all those while g etting read y to enter m a r ket s i n r m t he wo r ld. Sh a re yo u r i deas wi t h al l those other p rovinces we wh. o D evel wi l l o lpi sten b usiness p rovinces as well. It ’s no at se a sy,l l .bIut ’s t not w ho w ill listen t h e. D buevelop siness the other it ’s d oab le.” ac u men to s h ow t h at your id eas are cred it ’s d oab le.” acum en to s h ow t h at yo u r i deas are cred ib l e. Address yo u r weaknesses and turn i b l e. Ad dress yo u r weak n ess es an d turn n e,t h eRom ean tim t h em i nto st ren gt h s . On the horizonOnin the the horizon m ean t iim ckt he m into st ren gt h s . star focusedthoeni r gorow star is focused on isg rowing n l i ni n eg the ‘p ay-it-forward ’ co m m u n i ty, Mar k ’s advi ce to t h o se looking to p ursue ‘p ay-it-forward ’ com m unity, whi l e d i s cu s - w h i M ark ’s a d vice to t h o s e l o o ki n g to pursue sions sp forace a pin hysi l snt p ai nce i n KW ei r ere’s pass i oa nbi s?g “Th ere’s a b ig dsions ifference for a p hysical KWcaco u e. t he i r pa ss io n s?t h“Th di ffe rence “By b ring ing tog et h e r d i ffe between h avi n g i deas and actually d oing “By b ring ing tog ether d ifferent g ro u p s o f re nt b etwe en h avin g i deas an d act u al l y d oing p eop le an andenviro creatni m n ge nt a n foe rnv i ro n h i nI’gmwi10 t h0 % t h em… I’m 1 00% psure that eop le and creating so met h in g w it hs otmet h em… s u re that them to collab orate, t h e mo st growt h o cc urs in uncomfortab le them to collab orate, we reall y a re we co n re - ally t he m o st grow o cc u rs i n u n co mfo rtab le necting com m un i ty We w i t hj u st cu l t u re at iionngs t an do thing s that scare necting com m unity with culture. si tuat io n s a n d siint udo h i ndgsi n t h ati ng scare recently m oved i nto a co yo u .” recently m oved into a corp orate o ffice r p o ra you.” andan while n roy, l d we b ox fa c and while it is old bitox isfaacto d on’t p ay rent an d I l ove Mar k s u ggest s t h at if you can find your d on’t p ay rent and I love the c h a ra cte r.”t h e ch a M ark s u g gest s t h at i f yo u c an fin d your yo u osuhtos ui de l d step p assi o n , yo u pass s h o uilodn , step your outsid e your e weint hd eMa r kr h a s e co mfo r t zo n e an d rally around While our tim eWhile with our Marktim has d fo co mfo r t zo n e an d ral l y peo pl e aroundp eop le thissure issue, wecoll area b s uore r lbran s kmes i l l set that com es issue, f rom we are this that rattihoat n s co l l a your b ra n d. Thyo e suki l s etd.t hTh at eco f rom with Passion8 wi l l co nt i n u bei n g an ent repren eur is som ething you with Passion8 will continue, and we t h a n e, k and b e i ng a n ent repren eu r i s s o met h i n g you Mark andteam the Rockst teeal pm fo r anmn ever m working entryMark and the Rockstar for t h eai r h can n ever g et cf ro wo r kiget n g ifro n an entry- in an on this issue. Ro ckst a r level co r po rate envi ronm ent. on this issue. Rockstar is host i n g a miass -h o st i n l eve l co r p o rate envi ro n ment . sivefall event thet hfael le to bring t sive event in the to binring nt i re KW com m unity to g et h e r i Wh en as ked wh ere h e and Rockstar will KW com m unity tog ether in cel e b rat i o n onf ce l e b Whe n a s ked w h ere h e an d Ro c kst a r will youthand innovatio n h iap.n d Bilge a d e rs i n kfive years , Mar k rs says years old innovation lead e rs b e i n fi ve yea rsbe , Mar s ays at 27 yea oldat 27 youth thing s are com i n , s ooke h e’ l l be i n h i s pr i me. “Whether you look at thing s are com ing , so keep an geye p eenp a n he ’l l b e in h is pr i me. “ Wh et h er yo u l ook at on everything r lat bu, swh i n ess , mu sanybo i c , whdy atever, od yeverything who Rockstar at thRo e ckst re ceant y the b usi n ess , mu s ic atever, who anybon renovated www.ro ckst a rca fe.ca . ac h i eved a h i gh l eve l of success m ad e renovated www.rockstarcafe.ca . achi eved a h igh l evel o f s u ccess m ad e