Avenue January 2019

CALGARY SURVIVAL GUIDE

How to win at life in the city

MOUNTAIN HOTELS

Checking in on what's new out there

HEART OF THE HOME

Tips for creating a beautiful and functional fireplace

NOODLING AROUND 6 ramen spots to try now modern cakes, beautiful dreses, local venues

A New Year Means New Goals.

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433 - 2,047 sqft units. 3 storey townhomes feature rooftop patios, 10’ ceilings, private garden court yards and secure underground parking. Easy access to downtown, local shops, great dining, fresh markets and more.

Starting from $265,000 alvaro.yycinnercitytowns.com

Beautiful townhomes starting at 1,660+ sqft in Killarney. Minutes from downtown. Immaculate 9’ kitchen island, gas fireplace, double sinks in master suite, beautiful hardwood through main level, luxury finishes, 9’ ceilings on every level & private single garages.

Starting from $579,000 ktowns.yycinnercitytowns.com

1,811 sqft gorgeous townhomes, 320 sqft rooftop patio, private single garage, panoramic city view, open concept, 9’ ceilings on every level, gas fireplace, luxury finished throughout. Located in the heart of sought after Erlton neighbourhood.

Starting from the mid $600s etowns.yycinnercitytowns.com

@yycinnercitytowns yycinnercitytowns.com

Own a home that backs onto the Confederation Golf Course! Starting at 1,828 sqft, second floor deck off the dining room, large kitchen island. Upper bedrooms have their own ensuite, high end finishes, and attached garage.

Starting from $649,900 caphilltowns.yycinnercitytowns.com

Townhomes combine the convenience of traditional condo living with the independent living of a detached home. Imagine never having to worry about maintaining your property, living in a convenient inner city location and having plenty of living space all for less than the cost of a new detached home. Townhomes are a more secure investment opportunity than traditional condos and provide you with the feeling of independent home ownership.

At YYC Inner City Towns we only represent developers who are committed to quality and thoughtful design, we have the best collection of brand new, sophisticated and stylish townhomes within Calgary’s inner city.

It’s time for you to get in on the #yyctowns movement. Style, location and value, YYC Inner City Towns

Contact Giuliana Carbone (Associate) at 403.294.1500 or gcarbone@cirrealty.ca or Kamil Lalji (Associate Broker) at 403.294.1500 or klalji@cirrealty.ca

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Book today at westjetvacations.com or call your travel agent.

SOLD

740, 720 13 Avenue SW, Calgary, AB

BED:

shops, dining & downtown.

2 BATH: 2 1,505 SQ.FT.

Sold in the Estate, located in the heart of Calgary, perfectly situated in the Beltline looking across to the historic Lougheed House and park.

Dennis Plintz 403.608.1112

456 Whispering Water Trail, Elbow Valley, AB

BED: 4 BATH: 3/1 2,081 SQ.FT. MLS C4206408

Sophisticated 4,000+ sq ft walk-out bungalow, quiet cul-de-sac location, updated &

$1,200,000

22101 31 Av, Bellevue, AB, Calgary, AB

BED: 2 BATH: 3 1,558 SQ.FT. MLS C4182855

Magical mountain retreat featuring a 75 ft waterfall. 4.8 private acres, 10 min to amenities and just 2 hours from Calgary.

Jennifer Everingham 403.614.8772

SOLD

40 Wentwillow Lane, Calgary, AB

BED: 4 BATH: 3/1 3,263 SQ.FT.

Sold in West Springs. Beautifully landscaped with mature trees and water features in the perfect location backing onto greenspace.

Dennis Plintz

403.608.1112

SOLD

Slopes Grove SW, Calgary, AB

3,889 SQ.FT.

in Springbank Hill. With breathtaking mountain views, this custom masterpiece home on a half acre lot offers a functional open layout with elegance throughout.

Dennis Plintz 403.608.1112

SOLD

2016 44 Avenue SW, Calgary, AB

BED: 4 BATH: 3 2,480 SQ.FT. Sold in Altadore. This family home is located on a quiet street and is finished top to bottom with attention to detail rarely seen.

Dennis Plintz 403.608.1112

The Urban Survival Guide

What you need to know to rule at life in this city, including how to get around, get ahead and be safe out there.

By

33 Avenue Weddings

Our annual look at what the city has to offer if you’re planning a wedding, plus an up-close look at two very different (but equally lovely) local celebrations.

By Hannah Kost

ON THE COVER

Marble fondant cake made by Sweet Relief. See more cakes starting on page 33.

74

16

Detours

The local poet who is resonating with readers by putting her troubled background on the page, plus, local artists that are using crowdfunding to make their music and our monthly curated list of the city’s cultural offerings.

64

Workout

If your resolution is to have a great adventure this summer, start working out for it now.

66 Style Statement

The impeccable style of Dr. Jonathan Lee.

51

Dining News

Tasty bites from the food scene right now including six top spots for ramen.

By

56

Eat This

Alberta’s real liquid gold: honey.

60 Mountains

A roundup of what’s new and improved in the mountain hotels and lodges near Calgary, from a grand new property in Canmore to tiny homes in Fernie.

69 Decor

Tips from local designers on how to create a fireplace that will warm your heart and home.

72 The List

Thermae co-founder Hannah Arcega’s favourite things in the city.

Kevin Brooker, Christina Freudenthaler, Andrew Guilbert, Jennifer Hamilton, Jaelyn Molyneux, Jacquie Moore and Julia Williams

Tom Firth, Hannah Kost, Gwendolyn Richards and Alana Willerton

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Publisher Joyce Byrne, jbyrne@redpointmedia.ca

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Contributors Aldona Barutowicz, Kevin Brooker, Michael Chan, Matthew Coyte, Tom Firth, Christina Frangou, Christina Freudenthaler, Jennifer Friesen, Cole Hofstra, Pablo Iglesias, Sam Island, Citlali Loza, Jacquie Moore, Tina Shaygan, Gwendolyn Richards, Julia Williams, Katherine Ylitalo

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February 2019

DINNER DATES

Whether you’re going on a first date or celebrating a significant anniversary we tell you about some of Calgary’s most romantic spots for dinner and what you should consider before you make that reservation.

HOME SWEET HOME

A dive into renovations with two stories about how to make your house feel more welcoming, cozy and homey and what you need to know before starting a renovation. We also share perspectives from designers, decorators and realtors and find out what the City of Calgary is doing to make it easier to file the proper renovation permits.

THE SOCIAL WORKOUT

Combining hanging out and working out is a great way to see friends and stay motivated in your fitness routine. Find out about some Calgary studios with great social scenes.

Survive and Thrive

The new year always offers the promise of a fresh start. The misdeeds and missteps of 2018 are in the rear-view mirror and we can start the calendar year hopeful of new beginnings.

I’m not much for new year’s resolutions, mostly because they seem to be about setting rules that I know I’m going to break. Instead, I try to create a new mantra for myself. Without sounding too woo-woo, it’s more like setting an intention for the year than establishing new rules.

For 2019, I think my mantra will be “Slow Down — Change Ahead.” It might sound a bit alarmist but I don’t mean it that way. Rather, I see it as half-warning and half-reminder not only that things are in flux all over the place and you might as well embrace that and go into it willingly, but that we could all use a change to a slower pace.

Whether you’re talking about children growing up or industries being disrupted, things are changing quickly for most of us. Taking a beat to slow down — or even stop — and notice where the path seems to be leading is not only a good idea, it’s vital.

This issue of Avenue includes our Urban Survival Guide (page 21) with both practical and silly tips for getting through city life these days. We also give you a rundown of some of the restaurant news in the city, including where to get ramen right now. If, like me, you’re looking to slow down a bit, perhaps it’s time to create a cozy oasis at home with an updated fireplace — you’ll find tips from local interior designers starting on page 69. Or maybe take some time and head to the mountains to experience one of the new hotels (learn more on page 60). And, for those of you not in the mood to slow down, we also share some workout tips for getting ready for the summer adventures you’ve always wanted to try — if you’re hoping to go surfing, rock climbing, backpacking, or some other activity, you’ll want to start preparing now.

RESOLVE TO GO SUPPORT THE ARTS

Käthe Lemon Editor-in-Chief klemon@redpointmedia.ca

One of life’s biggest changes is getting married. If you’re planning a wedding, turn to page 33 for a peek inside two local celebrations and for information about different venue options and trends in wedding dresses and desserts. Whether you’re speeding up or slowing down, I hope 2019 gets off to a good start and that the path ahead is clear.

If you have yet to make a new year’s resolution, you could do worse than making this the year that you participate in Calgary’s vibrant arts scene. Start by checking out the 33rd High Performance Rodeo, which runs Jan. 9 to 27 and features a range of performances by international and local acts.

GET AVENUE ON YOUR TABLET! To get the tablet edition, go to avenuecalgary.com/tabletedition.

Photograph by Jared Sych, hair and make-up by Citlali Loza

ALDONA BARUTOWICZ

Aldona Barutowicz is a photographer, stylist and the founder of Aldona B Creative, a collective of Calgary-based media, communications, fashion and beauty professionals with experience producing branding, fashion and lifestyle content. She and her team work with theatre companies, lifestyle brands, artists, entrepreneurs and fashion boutiques. Barutowicz is also the lady behind Scarlet, through which she leads fashion styling presentations and offers personal styling services. To check out her work visit aldonab.com.

JENNIFER FRIESEN

Jennifer Friesen is a Calgary-based photographer and writer who fell in love with journalism in elementary school through a more-than-conspicuous obsession with Harriet the Spy. Her career as a freelance journalist has taken her across the world to tell stories about culture, human-rights issues, political battles, gender, religion and health care. Her work has appeared in many publications, including Avenue, WestJet Magazine, the Toronto Star, StarMetro and L'Oeil de la Photographie. It’s unlikely you’ll find her without a camera in-hand, but if you do, it’s probably because she’s making a new pot of coffee. To see her work, go to jenniferfriesen.com.

PABLO IGLESIAS

Pablo Iglesias is an Argentinian illustrator currently living in Toronto. He is primarily an editorial illustrator, creating smart, graphic illustrations with a distinct vintage quality that is heavily influenced by nature. Some of his clients include Adweek, The Washington Post, Village Voice, Variety, Scientific American and The Hollywood Reporter. When he’s not drawing, Iglesias loves to spend time camping, fishing or just exploring the beauty of the Canadian wilderness has to offer. To see more of his work, visit pabloi.com.

HANNAH KOST

Hannah Kost is an award-winning journalist who has freelanced as a videographer, produced media for the British Army and yelled ferociously as a military media stress-tester with Strategic Operations Tactical Training Canada. After two years behind the camera, she decided to refocus on writing with an editorial internship at Avenue Calgary. In her spare time she publicly reads highbrow literature, privately reads celebrity gossip magazines and drinks dirty gin martinis because they make her feel like a Real Housewife. She also strongly identifies with Garfield the cat, as they are similarly disdainful of raisins and Mondays.

Elliot Weinstein, Owner at The Beach YYC

The Pain and Power of Poetry

Running through the poems in Haley MacLeod’s first book Room 5608, are undercurrents of the pain she’s had to exorcise. It’s pain the Calgary poet only addresses obliquely in her writing, though she’s open about it when asked. “I don’t want to hide anything. I’m very comfortable with what I’ve been through,” she says.

What she’s been through includes too many dark twists to list here: she and her sisters spent time in shelters and in and out of homes and were told they were unwanted by their mother who left them when MacLeod was in high school. Their father was an alcoholic with money troubles who eventually took his own life. And throughout it all, MacLeod and her siblings battled drugs and

depression, taking care of each other when no one else would. From this past, MacLeod has produced poetry that has both helped her work through her demons and communicate with tens of thousands of readers.

The title of her debut collection, Room 5608, refers to the hotel room where she stayed in 2013, an important place and time in her life. That

Photograph supplied by Haley MacLeod

Poet Haley MacLeod.

room was where then 19-year-old MacLeod had a life-changing dream, in which she saw herself reading to a crowd of thousands, affecting them with her words, and so decided that writing poetry was her calling.

Published in late 2017, Room 5608 was five years in the making. During that time, MacLeod shared her poetry with others on Instagram, garnering a dedicated fan base of more than 26,000 followers. To this day, she frequently receives messages from people around the world who have connected to her words and found healing through them. One ardent fan even had one of MacLeod’s poems tattooed on her skin, a fact that so touched the poet that she included a photo of the tattoo in her book. “The amount of people I’ve connected with on this soul level is just insane to me,” says MacLeod. “People open up to me now because I’ve given them that comfort space. The number one thing people say is ‘thank you for letting me talk about it, being a shoulder to lean on or just listening to me.’”

The book (available at local bookstores and big-box stores) is a collection of poems that deal with love, loss and pain, a culmination of MacLeod’s life so far. And yet, she doesn’t want readers to dwell on the harshness of her life, but instead realize the grace she’s found, so that those in similar straits can find it as well. “That’s all I want to do with this message is say I’ve been there, I lived through it and I’m here today with a God-given purpose from it all,” she says. “No matter how dark it is in your life, there’s so much light to be found, and you just have to keep fighting.”

Andrew Guilbert

For more information, visit hmpoetry.com

Kickstarting a Music Career

Daniel Bennett, better known by his stage name Transit22, has been a part of the Calgary hip-hop scene for almost a decade. He was even a finalist for the city’s poet laureate position in 2012. As an independent artist, coming up with the money to produce his music has always been a struggle — his debut album was even titled “Insufficient Funds.” But Bennett’s latest album, Dark Day // Good Morning, marked the first time in his career he didn’t have to worry about how to pay to make an album.

In May of 2018, Bennett started a Kickstarter campaign with a $6,000 goal, and ended up raising $15,489. “I was blown away,” he says. “I took the whole experience really seriously. I made a point of reaching out to fans and talking to them. Not just a generic copied-and-pasted message — I tried to personalize it. It helped me raise funds, but also connect with people.”

When Bennett tours across Canada and the United States, he finds himself spending hours after each show at his merchandise table talking to fans. “The common thing fans always ask when I’m talking to them is: ‘How can I support you?’” he says. And since his fans have always been supportive of him during the course of his career, it made sense to turn to them for this record. “I don’t have $15,000 to spend on a record or a record label to give me that money,” he says. “Here, the fans act like the record label.”

Bennett isn’t the only Calgary musician to use the crowdfunding website to fund their musical projects. Perhaps the first Calgary band to successfully do so, medieval-rockers the Outlaws of Ravenhurst, raised $2,847 back in 2011 to create their debut album Book I.

Dan D’Agostino, the Outlaws’ bassist, says raising the funds themselves had a unique appeal. “I had seen different crowdfunding projects before, so it seemed like an interesting opportunity,” he says. “We wanted it to be a fun way to get that initial investment and have something to build on from there.”

D’Agostino mentions how difficult it was to ask friends, family and fans for money, however. “I remember posting the Kickstarter in a bunch of Facebook groups, and it made me feel a bit cheap,” he says, a sentiment Bennet shares.

Despite this, both were overwhelmed by the support they received; Bennett had a fan from Toronto donate $2,600 toward his album. He was shocked that someone believed in his project as much as he did, and was willing to put that much money toward it.

As of the time this story was written, Dark Day // Good Morning is the second-most-funded music project by a Calgary artist ever. As crowdfunding becomes more popular for artists, Bennett says it's important that artists keep in mind the people providing the funding.

“These are your core supporters, so you need to give the proper time to connect with them,” says Bennett. “It was a humbling experience, but it was also really encouraging because people were telling me why what I do was worth their money and why they believe in supporting me so I can continue to make music that has an impact.” —Matthew

Coyte

supplied by Haley MacLeod; Photograph of Daniel Bennett by Jordan Lee

“IT WAS A HUMBLING EXPERIENCE, BUT IT WAS ALSO REALLY ENCOURAGING BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE TELLING ME WHY WHAT I DO WAS WORTH THEIR MONEY.”

—Daniel Bennett, a.k.a. Transit22

Daniel Bennett, a.k.a. Transit22.

Room 5608.

—

“I DON’T WANT TO HIDE ANYTHING. I’M VERY COMFORTABLE WITH WHAT I’VE BEEN THROUGH.”

—Haley MacLeod

The Antiques of Iron Crow

Even if you’ve never been to Iron Crow, an antique store that spans three industrial bays in the city’s southeast, you may still have seen its “objects of intrigue” at various spots around town. Iron Crow’s antiques have partially furnished local period venues like the 1920s-themed speakeasy Betty Lou’s Library, served as set pieces on made-in-Alberta films like The Revenant and contributed to Christmas displays at the historic Lougheed House. Since opening in its current location five years ago, owner Terry Dixon has seen hundreds of items pass through her store. She told us about three that intrigued her the most. —

Hannah Kost

1) Maple butcher block stamped with RCAF. Circa 1920s or 1930s. Purchased outside of High River. When a High River rancher who appreciated Dixon’s collection passed away, he left his antiques for her to sell. She originally bought his maple butcher block stamped with RCAF for herself, but eventually put it up for sale. “I felt that it was time for someone else to enjoy it,” she says. “I hope it winds up in somebody’s kitchen as a showpiece.”

FESTIVAL HIGH PERFORMANCE RODEO

JAN. 9 TO 27

One Yellow Rabbit presents almost three weeks of innovative shows at the High Performance Rodeo, a festival that has been taking place annually for more than three decades. Theatre, music and dance blur across a multitude of shows produced in collaboration with a variety of arts partners in the city as well as artists and companies from outside Calgary. Various venues, with Rodeo headquarters at Big Secret Theatre in Arts Commons, hprodeo.ca

2) Stained-glass church windows, circa 1890. Purchased in Lethbridge. These 17 turn-of-the-century stained glass windows were removed from a small church in Quebec and preserved in crates for decades. “There’s an energy that goes with stuff,” Dixon says. “I felt warm when I looked at them, knowing somebody had taken the care to have them all crated.”

3) Hamilton Manufacturing Company 60-drawer printer’s cabinet, circa 1900. Once used to store type and font for a printing press, the cabinet is one of Dixon’s favourite pieces. “Everybody just wants to go over and touch it; it commands the room,” she says. “The work that went into making it ... the fact that it was in such complete condition, makes it unique.”

CONSUMER EXPO THE BASH

JAN. 19 TO 20

This is not your average wedding show. In addition to a curated market of vendors and artisans, guests are treated to cocktails, a swag bag and more. You can even turn your wedding stress into bliss with a Saturday-night dance party. And it all happens in the new event space on the 6th floor of the Hudson’s Bay heritage building downtown.

Hudson, 200 8 Ave. S.W., thebash.ca

FESTIVAL ICE MAGIC FESTIVAL

JAN. 16 TO 27

Lake Louise hosts the Canada Cup of Ice Carving each year in this celebration of winter. Competitors create elaborate ice sculptures on the grounds of the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise that guests and visitors can enjoy. The event’s popularity often exceeds its parking capacity and non-chateau guests may need to catch a shuttle from Samson Mall in Lake Louise Village during peak viewing hours.

Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, 111 Lake Louise Dr., Lake Louise, 403-522-3511, fairmont.com/lake-louise

FESTIVAL BIG WINTER CLASSIC

JAN. 24 TO 27

More than 80 bands perform on indoor and outdoor stages in multiple venues at this music festival in the dead of winter. Craft beer, spectrum-spanning acts and interactive pop-ups abound. New at this year's festival, Saturday afternoon will feature a free, all-ages event open to passholders and nonpassholders as well. Various locations, bigwinterclassic.com

this month

to

Openings

CANNIBALE BARBERSHOP

The next time you’re shopping at gravitypope, pop in for a trim at Cannibale’s third barbershop, which recently opened inside the clothing and shoe store.

1126 17 Ave. S.W., cannibale.ca

CONFLUENCE DISTILLING

Head to this craft distillery in the Manchester neighbourhood to pick up some small-batch gin or vodka, then stick around for a cocktail in the 30-seat lounge.

507 36 Ave. S.E., confluencedistilling.ca

GRETA

Snack on street eats, bust a move on the lowerlevel dance floor and play interactive arcade games at this new split-level bar in the Beltline. 213 10 Ave. S.W., 403-479-7842, gretasbar.com

SHOE & CANOE PUBLIC HOUSE

Located inside Delta Hotels by Marriott Calgary downtown, this new restaurant-bar pays tribute to land geographer David Thompson and features dishes like smoked brisket pappardelle and braised Alberta lamb shank.

209 4 Ave. S.E.

Food truck at Greta.

It’s hard to focus on a new you, when you have really old debt.

Like many Albertans, you may have gone into the holidays with lots of old debt, only to come out with new debt added onto it But you ’ re not alone We know how hard it is to get in front of debt, after-all, half of all Albertans live paycheck to paycheck At Money Mentors you can meet with an understanding credit counsellor for free advice Only Money Mentors provides the federally legislated Orderly Payment of Debts Program Which addresses ALL of your debt, even government debt, with a guaranteed interest rate of 5% Visit us at MoneyMentors ca

The practical skills you need for daily life in Calgary.

BY Kevin Brooker, Christina Freudenthaler, Andrew Guilbert, Jennifer Hamilton, Jaelyn Molyneux, Jacquie Moore AND Julia Williams

ILLUSTRATIONS BY Pablo Iglesias

HOW TO NEGOTIATE A RAISE

urviving a night alone in the wilderness is, in large part, about being prepared and conquering the elements one can control: superlative fire-starting skills; expert layering for all kinds of weather; perfectly broken-in hiking boots. The same is true of negotiating a raise. As The Office’s Michael Scott, put it, “negotiations are all about ... being in the driver’s seat. And, make one tiny mistake, you’re dead.”

Though you may or may not choose to heed the advice of a fictional character who once cut up his only pair of slacks to make a shelter in the forest, recall that Michael Scott did secure an enviable 12-per cent pay increase. (Then again, he was sleeping with his boss).

While there are plenty of “dos” when it comes to increasing your chance of a pay bump (we’ll get to those), there is also a world of badly timed “don’ts” that could easily tip a potential yes over to a big, fat no. For instance, don’t whine to your boss about financial need. Don’t brag to impress. Don’t approach the topic immediately after a round of lay-offs (duh). And, lastly, don’t delude yourself that a fatter paycheque is the key to satisfaction in a job you otherwise hate. A pay raise, after all, is just one peg in the pants-tent of happiness. Approach raise negotiations as a friendly discussion with a partner. Go in with amiable confidence; this is your career, and salary negotiation is a normal, expected part of the working world. A good manager may not be able to give you a pay increase when you’d like it, but they shouldn’t be taken aback by your desire to discuss your ambitions and plans.

A FEW MORE TIPS FOR PAY-RAISE NEGOTIATIONS:

• Keep a running list of accomplishments that prove that your performance exceeds the company’s expectations. Start that list now and give yourself time to gather solid evidence of how exactly you’ve contributed to the company’s bottom line and/or reputation; focus on as diverse a range of contributions as possible to prove your irreplaceability.

• Do your research: find out what people with your experience and job title are generally paid by competing companies. Networking is a must (more on that on the right side of the page).

• Business Insider suggests having a salary range in mind, rather than a specific target. Still, they advise to always prepare for a no. A manager’s hands may be tied with regard to pay but he or she might have more wiggle room when it comes to doling out additional vacation days, professional development courses or more flexible hours.

• If the thought of asking for money makes you squirm, consider joining Toastmasters. You’ll get to practice persuasive conversation in a supportive environment, and generally boost your confidence.

J.Moore

NETWORK IN THE CONCRETE JUNGLE

Sure, you can set up a tent by yourself. And, of course, you don’t need help chopping wood or fending off an aggressive squirrel. Sometimes though — when the marshmallows run dry and the tent fly springs a leak — even the most competent lone wolf admits to the benefits of, if not a little grounding companionship, at least some practical support.

Just like getting to know the resident forest ranger and the campers around you has the power to elevate your outdoor experience both fun-wise and safety-wise, widening your circle of influence brings perspective and expands opportunities to enhance your skills and increase confidence. While LinkedIn and other social media allows for a tremendously broad range of online exposure and potential connectivity, it does not, as former dot-com exec Seth Godin put it, “replace the quality of relationships.” In other words, you need to get out there and meet people.

These days, the word “networking” is sometimes ascribed smarmy overtones; to be sure, the prospect of being cornered at a buffet feigning interest in a new life-insurance policy makes many of us want to flee to the woods. Good networking, however, is genuine, helpful, reciprocal and feels exactly like an authentic, transparent conversation (because that’s what it should be). Maybe the word just needs a refresh — “connecting” or “building community” or hell, let’s just call it “making friends and allies keen to help one another succeed in work and life.” —

NOW GO GET OUT THERE!

If you meet an actual human, think “conversation” rather than “sales pitch.” Generally speaking, any interaction with a new human should be approached with authenticity and levity rather than with a pushy agenda. To boot, networking events are great places to practice listening skills, which will endear you to almost anyone.

Focus on connecting with a small handful of people rather than working the room at breakneck speed. People will be more likely to remember you, and more inclined to want to meaningfully connect later, if you prove you’ve got time for them.

Buy a membership to a co-work space. The Commons is a large and eclectic “work,

J.Moore

meet, play” space that caters to entrepreneurs and small-business owners who want to mix, mingle and stave off “lonesome freelancer” syndrome. Access to a variety of meeting and event spaces can be yours for a monthly payment of between $50 and $1,300. thecommonscalgary. com

Show up to the monthly Women in Business coffeechats. The group also presents occasional “lunch and learn” seminars on topics such as leadership, marketing, business and finances. meetup.com/women-in-businesscalgary

Mingle with entrepreneurial types at Startup Drinks Calgary gatherings. meetup.com/startup-calgary

HOW TO ZEN YOUR COMMUTE

he following is ridiculous and probably goes against everything you hold dear. But with one tactic you could solve all your commuting problems faster than it takes to pop an airbag: Just leave 15 minutes earlier.

Crazy talk, huh? As unhinged as, say, carpooling. Sure, it seems like having an alert co-pilot monitoring a live traffic app is a good idea, but we all know that other people are irritating, what with the noises they make eating breakfast burritos. Likewise, you might consider taking transit one day a week — kind of like the Meatless Monday of transportation — to confirm that your decision to drive is sound and not based on old information. Again, that’s about as wackadoodle as riding your bike just to prove you can.

So, traffic ninja, you’re going it alone. How, then, to drive and thrive? First, study that app, plus the City’s online list of traffic reports and road closures, then stash the phone out of reach so you won’t be tempted. (Nobody wants to be commemorated with the words “Cause of death: Googling.”)

Know every alternate route by heart, plus where and when to bail when Deerfoot turns into a doughnut drivethru. Be spritely but not aggressive. Own the right lane, rent the left. Use your rear-view mirror and know what’s going on behind you as well as in front. Smile fiendishly. Go out of your way to be courteous, if not to be nice, at least to feel smugly superior.

Select audio helps, but not if it’s going to get your blood up; heavy metal enervates as efficiently as spa music. Avoid political call-in shows, any station that has a phrase that pays, and talking books with tangled narratives. Instead, choose podcasts where the hosts yak about amusing yet thoroughly inconsequential subjects.

Relaxation is ever the goal. Breathe deeply. Flex your body. Practice Buddhist non-attachment. And, if nothing else, resolve to do a better job once you get to work, because being late will matter so much less. Oh, right. More nonsense. —K.B.

Local podcasts that are pleasant, informative and entertaining with littleto-no swearing or yelling.

In anticulture, musician and content-creator Josiah Sinanan speaks to cultural minorities, Indigenous people and other interesting locals. soundcloud.com

The Charmer’s Almanac from CJSW covers many things grassroots, local and charming. cjsw.com

The Haps covers local events, openings and initiatives. itunes.apple.com/ca/

House of Bob is a bunch of Calgarians playing Dungeons & Dragonsstyle campaigns, and it's surprisingly entertaining. houseofbob.buzzsprout. com

Ideas and Stuff, hosted by Michael Montgomery, is about Calgary and the people who make it great. ideasandstuff.ca

Two Bad Neighbors is two Calgarians deconstructing the first 10 seasons of The Simpsons. They’ve been going strong for three years now. —A.G. soundcloud.com

READ A PARKING SIGN

The numbers at the top mean you're in parking zone 3114. But as for whether or not you can park there, or whether you have to pay, it's going to take some figuring out. Here's how to avoid being ticketed or towed:

1. The Park Plus zone number tells the parking payment system where you are parked. When you input the zone number into the system through the meter, phone or app, it will also confirm whether you can park there right now. The triangle indicates that zone 3114 is to the right of the sign.

2. No parking anytime to the left of this sign post — you will be towed.

3. While on most nights you can park to the right of this sign overnight for free, you will be towed if you try it on Mondays or Wednesdays between 1:30 a.m. and 7 a.m.

4. You can park to the right of this sign for 2 hours by paying the Park Plus system (pro tip: put the zone

HOW TO

number in your phone and you can renew your time through the app or phone line), as long as it's Monday to Friday between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. or Saturday from 9 am to 6 p.m.

5. On weekdays from 3:30 to 6 p.m. you not only can't park here, you can't even stop. You could be ticketed or towed even if you're inside your car. Other than the times listed, you can park here for free — for example all day on Sunday.

WIN AT DRIVING DOWNTOWN

Everyone’s in a hurry on the mean streets. So once you penetrate the Downtown Commercial Core, being nice won’t get it done. Instead, channel the New York City cabbie of your imagination: fearless, pushy and equally ready with a cheerful wave or a threatening blast. Be your own best fare. The more efficient you are, the bigger your tip to yourself. Hyper-awareness is the key. It takes four eyes: one on the road and the rest on all three mirrors. Seek the flow in the middle lanes. Know when three right turns beat one left and use the alleys — they’re the most efficient shortcuts and the best foil to the one-way streets. And speaking of oneway streets: don’t gripe about them, learn them. All big cities have them, so deal. Ditto construction closures. Bank on making a few bad moves and factor that into your travel time. Blaming traffic for your lateness to a meeting is baloney. You’re not in in traffic. You are traffic. —K.B.

PARKING PRO TIP

Valet parking at The Core Shopping Centre is free, so why not outsource the stress of finding a spot? Regular parking rates apply — that means free after 3 p.m. on weekdays and for the first three hours on weekends. Drop-off on 3rd Street S.W. between 7th and 8th Avenues.

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ESSENTIAL GEAR

TREAT YOURSELF TO ALL THE SNUG SHORTS, CUP HOLDERS AND HANDLEBAR STREAMERS YOU LIKE — THERE ARE ONLY A FEW ITEMS YOU NEED TO BIKE COMMUTE.

Sturdy lock. U-locks are considered the most secure, but flexible cable locks can be easier to weave around weird bike racks, of which Calgary has an abundance.

Knog Party Coil, $39 from MEC, 830 10 Ave. S.W., 403-269-2420 and 710, 19587 Seton Cr. S.E.,

5 TIPS FOR BIKE COMMUTING

MAKE THIS EASY, BREEZY FORM OF TRANSPORTATION EVEN EASIER AND BREEZIER.

When I started bike commuting in Calgary, we didn’t have newfangled bike lanes and it was uphill both ways (thanks, river valley). Now, 14 years later, bike infrastructure is way better and the hills… continue to build character and muscle. Cycling remains my favourite way to get around.

Calgary has an astonishing 850 kilometres of regional pathways, including cycling and multi-use paths, bike lanes and designated bike routes. Of that, 500 km is cleared within 24 hours of snowfall ending. It’s easier to bike from A to B than many Calgarians realize. You don’t need to be super fit or spandexed-up to cycle commute (I know I’m not), but a little bit of know-how improves the experience. —J.W.

Plan your route.

The City of Calgary has a good bikeway map online. Give your route a dry run on a non-work day. Clock your time, check your sweat level and plan accordingly, including where you will store your bike.

Consider a bike computer.

This device helps you observe posted pathway speeds and log your mileage (a great motivator). You can spend from $20 for the basics up to $400 for a machine that talks to satellites and listens to your heartbeat.

Learn to patch a tire and fix a chain. Several organizations and shops offer bike-maintenance courses, including the University of Calgary Outdoor Centre, MEC and Bow Cycle.

Play nice. Follow the rules of the road, use arm signals and be courteous. If you’re rusty, refresh your urban-cycling skills with a course at Safer Cycling Calgary. safercyclingcalgary.ca

Talk about it.

Not to your non-cycling colleagues, of course, but to fellow riders. The Bike Calgary forums are great places to swap daily commuting tips, and Calgary-based cycling blog Shifter will help you dive into urban bike culture. bikecalgary.ca; shifter.info

(Cuteness factor is up to you.)

Copper bell, $24 from Recess Shop, 1323 9 Ave. S.E., 587-433-4226, recessshop.ca

A bag, basket or pannier. There are many, many options, so go with whatever fits your stuff and feels comfortable when you’re cycling. —J.W.

45 North Basket, $50 from Bike Bike, 3, 1439 10 Ave. S.E., 403-457-2453, bikebike.ca

403-283-1421, ridleys.com

STAY OFF THE SIDEWALK Cycling on the sidewalk is illegal if you’re over the age of 14. It’s dangerous to yourself and others and carries a fine of $25. A bicycle is considered a motor vehicle and has the same rights and responsibilities as a car. If you ride a bike, it’s your job to know the rules. Ditto if you drive a car. Learn them at bikecalgary.org. —J.H.

LEFT TURN RIGHT TURN STOP (ALSO RIGHT TURN)

STREET NAMES AND WHAT THEY MEAN

Trails are major high-speed transportation arteries.

Boulevards and Drives are major streets that lead out of subdivisions.

Gardens, Green, Grove, Heath and Park encircle or give access to spaces adorned with shrubbery, trees and other vegetation.

A Crescent is a U-shaped minor roadway accessible from either end.

A Close is a P-shaped minor roadway with entry from only one other roadway.

A Circle is a road that loops upon itself.

Road and Way are local roadways that may change direction.

Hill, Mount, Point, Rise and View are minor roadways with a noticeable slope.

Gate, Link and Passage provide crossing from one area to another.

A Parade is prone to large numbers of pedestrians.

Bay is a short cul-de-sac, usually near water.

Manor is usually a private roadway.

Landing is a minor roadway located near water, or located on an escarpment overlooking a valley. Streets run north-south; avenues run east-west. Odd numbers are on the west and south sides of streets and avenues; even numbers are on the east and north sides of streets and avenues. —J.H.

THE TIME I SURVIVED BREAKING DOWN ON THE CALF ROBE BRIDGE

n 20 years of driving, my car has broken down exactly once. It was in the sweet (or should it be sour?) spot northbound on the Calf Robe Bridge as it curves over the river. You know the spot where you pay extra attention, grip your steering wheel tighter and accelerate to make it up the slight incline?

My car slowed down and came to a stop instead.

More than 130,000 cars cross the Calf Robe Bridge every day, but when you are sitting in a Sunfire barely inched over to hug the wall it doesn’t matter if 10 or 10,000 cars pass because it feels like each vehicle makes the bridge sway and sends a gust of wind toward you.

Soon, probably just before radio stations reported my

situation, the traffic started to slow. Relief morphed into a twinge of self-consciousness as people craned their necks to see who the culprit of this traffic backup was.

A truck pulled in front of me and, like a traffic guardian angel, the driver directed the cars around me. Meanwhile, I called roadside assistance. The tow truck driver was new to Calgary and got lost. He asked for more specific directions. I wasn’t sure what to say other than,

“I AM THE ONLY RED CAR PARKED ON THE CALF ROBE BRIDGE.” I watched him drive past me in the southbound lanes before circling back. The stranger who guided traffic around me gave a wave and drove off. I scrambled into the tow truck, rescued at last. —J.Molyneux

WAYFINDING IN THE PLUS 15

There’s an app for that! Download the +15 app and never get lost in the downtown network again.

WHEN GOOGLE MAPS FAILS YOU, KNOWING THESE WORDS MAY MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING TRAPPED IN A SUBURB FOREVER OR NOT.

SURVIVAL SKILLS FOR THE FUN OF IT…

Although people keep talking about the zombie apocalypse, and the Walking Dead has been on for what feels like forever, we are skeptical this will ever happen, so just learn these things for kicks.

Archery Games Calgary

Combat archery is similar to dodgeball in that the objective is to tag all of the opposing players (in this case with foam tipped arrows) to eliminate them from the game. At Archery Games, each booking includes a variety of combat archery games like Dog Eat Dog in which there are no teams and it’s every person for themselves. Or Pandemic, the rules being once you’ve been tagged by the opposing team you retreat to their side of the field and become their newest team member.

22, 2015 32 Ave. N.E., 587-3872799, archerygamescalgary.ca

Aquabatics Calgary

With a philosophy that there is a paddlesport that everyone can enjoy, Aquabatics Calgary offers comprehensive kayak and SUP lessons like Zero to Hero — a multiple course whitewater progression from no experience to Class lll. Learn everything from introductory lessons to safety and rescue skills, or take your knowledge a step further and become an instructor.

300, 8435 Bowfort Rd. N.W., 403288-9283, aquabaticscalgary.com

Axe Throwing Calgary

Players go head-to-head throwing axes in a round robin competition, culminating in an elimination tournament to win a spot on the podium.

Skilled axe coaches facilitate your event from start to finish by teaching range safety and the fundamentals of throwing different axes. Hone your hand-eye coordination and feel empowered by throwing an axe at a target during these two-hour events.

5923 3 St. S.E., 1-844-403-2937, axethrowingcalgary.ca

Bolder Climbing Community

In the unlikely event of an apocalypse, you probably won’t have the necessary equipment to climb your way out of a dire situation. You might have to rely simply on your strength and stamina. This is why Calgary’s first bouldering-specific climbing facility should be your go-to training centre. Ideal for climbers of all abilities, Bolder Climbing’s personalized programs are designed to improve your climbing through a variety of strength, mental and technical training over six weeks.

5, 5508 1 St. S.E., 403-255-9565, bolderclimbing.com

Outdoor Survival at The Outdoor Centre

The U of C’s Outdoor Centre offers a variety of courses aimed at teaching you to how to survive outdoors including how to build a fire and a shelter, how to handle medical emergencies, what to carry and wear, how to navigate and signal for help and how to build a variety of snow shelters. Courses include a combination of classroom and field study.

2500 University Dr. N.W., 403-220-5038, ucalgary.ca/outdoorcentre/

The Shooting Edge Inc.

This professional, fun and safe shooting range accommodates novices and professionals alike. Here’s how it works: unlicensed shooters must be accompanied by a licensed shooter, or be in a group of two or more supported by a ranger officer at all times. Second, fill out the necessary paperwork (Government ID is required. You will not be able to shoot without it.)

Day passes are priced per person and include your own Range Officer, all day range access, firearm rental, one target, as well as eye and ear protection. Once you’ve had a safety briefing you’re off to the range for target practice. —C.F.

4, 510 77 Ave. S.E., 403-720-4867, theshootingedge.com

WHAT THE COPS SAY

“Calgary is a safe place to live, work and raise a family. During the first three quarters of 2018, the Calgary Police Service saw a [six per cent] increase in property crimes such as break and enters and vehicle thefts, as well as a [14 per cent increase in] person crimes such as robberies and assaults. Despite these increases, our city remains a safe place to be. A significant amount of these crimes are targeted in nature or are simply crimes of opportunity, such as a vehicle being stolen after it was left running with the keys in the ignition. Citizens can easily protect themselves by ensuring that their homes, vehicles, bikes and other personal belongings are always properly secured and reporting suspicious activity in their community to police by calling 403-266-1234 or 911 for a crime in progress.” —Amy Castonguay, a spokesperson for the CPS

THE BEST DEFENCE IS A TRAINED DEFENCE

IT’S ONE THING TO WONDER HOW YOU WOULD REACT WHEN FACED WITH A DANGEROUS ENCOUNTER. IT IS ANOTHER THING ENTIRELY TO KNOW HOW TO REACT. THESE SIX COMPANIES IN CALGARY TEACH SELF-DEFENCE.

Safe4Life

Safe4Life believes having a safety plan for yourself and your loved ones will help you prepare and avoid uncomfortable, potentially dangerous situations when they occur. The company offers classes in various venues for children as young as three years old, as well as teens, adults, seniors and children with disabilities. They will also come to you.

403-701-9037, safe4life.ca

LifeArmourYYC

Offering small group classes so you can maximize your ability to learn real life-saving skills, LifeArmourYYC leaves students with the knowledge of how to detect danger, understand their own fear, responsibilities of self defence and why avoiding confrontation is always better.

2880 45 Ave. S.E., 403-990-6558, lifearmouryyc.com

RDW Martial Arts Health & Fitness

At RDW, the main goal of self defence is to be able to remove oneself from a dangerous situation quickly and effectively. It believes self defence isn’t about fighting, but rather it is continuous training to learn life skills such as conflict management, respect and positivity that will give you the ability to effectively manage conflicts when they arise.

2, 110 Commercial Dr., Springbank, 403-797-1908, rdwmartialarts.com

CRIME BY THE NUMBERS

It feels like crime in the city is getting worse, and that’s because it is. According to the Calgary Police Service’s Third Quarter 2018 Statistical Report, person- and property-crime numbers from Jan. 1, 2018 to Sept. 30, 2018 were higher than those of the same period in 2017.

Empowerment Inc.

Empowerment Inc. focuses on assertiveness and self-defence coaching and training. Offering coaching, courses, speaking engagements and resources to its students, it believes transformational empowerment must include mental, emotional and physical components. Empowerment Inc. hosts courses at your location (private, corporate, families or groups). 403-801-2488, empowermentinc.ca

Master Rim’s Taekwondo

With kids’ martial arts, adult tae kwon do, and family martial arts classes, Master Rim’s Taekwondo provides students with the confidence, self-esteem, discipline and self-control they need to defend themselves in a variety of situations.

330, 12024 Sarcee Tr. N.W., 587-535-6560 and 1102, 288 St. Moritz Dr. S.W., 403-460-2472, masterrim.com

Studios Group Martial Arts

Studios Group Martial Arts specializes in teaching women self-defence methods such as using and reading body language, protecting yourself against assailants of all sizes and feeling safe and confident regardless of where you are. Women’s self-defence classes are available on the last Wednesday of each month from 8 to 10 p.m. —C.F. Fish Creek Sports Club #1, 259 Midpark Way S.E., 403-510-8787, sgma.ca

PROTECTING YOUR HOME

PRACTICAL TIPS FOR KEEPING YOUR LIVING SPACE SECURE.

total of 7,425 cases of break-and-enter crimes were reported to Calgary Police Services by the end of the third quarter of 2018. That’s an increase of more than 1,000 cases compared to the same period during the previous year.

Duncan Scoular, owner of Security Depot, says security is largely a mindset. “Security encompasses all sorts of things, not just a camera and an alarm system,” he says. There are many options: from window coatings and/or bars and steel storm doors to safes and surveillance equipment. Scoular says common sense should be your guide.

Do: Assess your property for vulnerabilities like bushes in front of windows, which provide cover for would-be burglars.

Do: Invest in security measures appropriate for your property and community. Think deadbolts, not razor wire.

Do: Make it obvious to potential intruders that they can’t easily get in, won’t find what they want and won’t be able to get away easily. Locked gates, automatic lights and security doors are good deterrents.

Do: Make sure your property is well-lit with clear, open sightlines, secure gates and sturdy exterior doors with reinforced deadbolts.

Do: Protect your garage and garage door (if you have one) especially if it attaches to your living space.

Don’t: Panic: security is a matter of risk-mitigation, not paranoia. “Just make it a little more difficult. That’s all you’ve got to do,” Scoular says.

Don’t: Wait until your home is broken into and then reinforce the door.

Don’t: Install a pricey alarm system (or worse, put an alarm system sign in your yard without actually installing one) and call it a day. “Alarms are the last line of defense,” Scoular says. “By the time they go off, the intruder is already inside.”

Don’t: Install a camera and not bother to monitor it.

Don’t: Be cavalier with your garage-door opener. If thieves break into your car and know where you live, it’s as good as handing them the keys. And deadbolt the door from the garage to your house. —J.W.

SEARCH AND RESCUE

IN A BIG CITY, SOMETIMES SURVIVAL DEPENDS ON THE COMPASSION AND VIGILANCE OF AN ARMY OF VOLUNTEERS.

few years ago, on a Saturday night in April, local engineer Russ Forrester was enjoying a folk concert at the Bow Valley Music Club. Sometime after 10 p.m., he answered a call from the Calgary Police Service (CPS), and immediately left the concert with a head full of details about a missing person.

Forrester is the assets director for the Calgary Search and Rescue Association (CALSARA). It’s a volunteer gig defined by duties that have, many times over the past decade, disrupted his sleep, dinner parties and other engagements — few of which have mattered more to Forrester than helping strangers out of potentially precarious situations.

While CALSARA volunteers don’t undergo fitness testing or training, it is often a physically demanding gig. “Many of our 100 or so volunteers are outdoorsy types, backcountry skiers and mountain climbers,” says Forrester. “But that’s not me.” In addition to helping people, he wanted to put his engineering skills to altruistic use and currently manages the organization’s mechanical resources.

That night in April, an elderly man with Alzheimer’s had wandered away from his family home in Tuscany. Bordered by Crowchild and Stoney Trails, and the Bow River to the south, the northwest Calgary neighbourhood is a fairly hazardous place for a confused person to wander alone, particularly in sub-zero darkness.

As is protocol, once the CPS determined that they needed more boots on the ground to help locate the man, they tasked CALSARA — a government agency-activated organization — with supporting their efforts. That night, says Forrester, “30 of us showed up and split into five teams, mainly on bicycles and on foot because of the pathways and the river valley.”

Forrester’s particular job that evening was to drive volunteers to their various meeting points. On one such trip, he and his passenger noticed a flash of movement between two houses on a street that had already been combed by crews, including CPS.

“It happens like that sometimes — a bit of movement at the right time, and you spot something that’s been right under our noses,” says Forrester.

Indeed, while volunteers undergo training to help them understand how a missing person might behave (for instance, an injured hiker will call for help whereas lost children may assume they’re in trouble and hide), an individual with dementia, in particular, is highly unpredictable.

In this case, the man didn’t seem to recognize his own name being called or understand that people were looking for him. Two kilometres from his own address, he was, in his mind, simply waiting for his family to return from church. “This gentleman’s first language was Russian and, though he’d lived in Calgary for decades, his English language skills were leaving him and he was very confused,” says Forrester. And it was cold outside.

Forrester and his fellow volunteer managed to keep the man calm until police and ambulance arrived. It was, happily, a fairly non-dramatic finale to a potentially traumatic scene. “Sometimes such individuals are found deceased because they don’t realize they’re suffering from exposure — we try to prepare ourselves for that sad result,” says Forrester. More often, however, people are safely returned to their loved ones. “That night was really gratifying,” he says. “It’s what we train for and why we commit to the organization.” —J.Moore

For information on how to volunteer with CALSARA visit calsara.com

FIRE

You can’t talk about survival without talking about fire. Here are a few things about fires in the city you may not know.

• Mesh screens or “spark guards” are now required for wood-burning backyard firepits.

• Fires must be no larger than one metre high and one metre wide.

• Fires must be out by 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and midnight the rest of the week.

• There are 138 public firepits and 416 barbecue sites spread across nine City parks. Call 403-268-3800 for information and to reserve a picnic site.

• Prairie Winds Park at 223 Castleridge Blvd. N.E. has a public tandoor oven you can rent if you’ve graduated from regular City barbecues. A permit is required (403-268-3800, calgary.ca).

• Always check calgary.ca or call 311 before having a fire to ensure there’s no fire ban in effect.

• Many cities in Canada require permits for backyard fires or have banned them altogether, so please respect the rules and your neighbours so the fun police don’t curtail Calgarians’ enjoyment of this outdoorsy pleasure. —

J.H.

BY Hannah Kost

34 36 44 46

DESSERTS

Wedding cakes (and other options) from four Calgary bakeries.

REAL WEDDINGS

See inside two gorgeous local celebrations.

DRESSES

Four local wedding dress boutique owners talk dress trends.

VENUES

Great places to wed for every style.

Semi-naked cakes, like this one by Whippt, have a rustic yet refined look.

Photograph by Jared Sych

Wedding Cakes & More

FOUR CALGARY BAKESHOP OWNERS ON CURRENT WEDDING DESSERT TRENDS.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY Jared Sych

The words “wedding cake” tend to conjure the image of white buttercream, but the possibilities have greatly expanded in recent years. We talked to the owners of four local bakeshops: Pretty Sweet, Whippt, 8 Cakes and Sweet Relief, and found out that while the classics are still requested, there has been a move toward unusual flavours, untraditional designs and even straying from cake entirely.

BOLD tastes

“People are going with flavours that are approachable, but different,” says Vicki Manness, owner of Pretty Sweet. From Pretty Sweet’s own maple stout cake, to Whippt’s passion fruit, rum and vanilla bean, to 8 Cakes’ rosemary and lemon, couples are exploring floral and herbaceous flavours. But this doesn’t mean the familiar isn’t still popular: chocolate-salted-caramel remains a crowd-pleaser and is the most requested flavour at nearly every bakery we spoke to.

CAKE STYLES FOR EVERY wedding look

Cool-and-modern marbled fondant is hot right now. “It looks like a rock on the outside,” says Deidre Lotecki, owner of Sweet Relief. The sleek style is frequently softened with refined metallic accents in gold or rose gold.

In stark contrast to marbled fondant, “nearly naked” cakes intentionally look unfinished, an aesthetic that suits a rustic-styled wedding. “The icing is kind of scraped off, revealing the cake layers inside,” says Alison LaFrance of Whippt. She suggests draping this gorgeously underdone cake in fresh flowers or finishing it with a drip of golden ganache.

At many weddings, however, tradition endures. 8 Cakes specializes in hand-piped buttercream flowers, and owner Sirine Berrached says that couples looking for a classic, romantic cake love the look. “You always get that ‘wow’ factor, especially when they’re done right,” she says.

DESSERT TABLES AND cutting cakes

Choosing a cake can be stressful for those hoping to satisfy everyone. One solution is a dessert table, which allows couples to provide options for guests with gluten-free and vegan diets, match a variety of sweet treats to the colour scheme and play around with flavours.

“You don’t have to pick just one cake,” says LaFrance. “You can choose a few flavours of macarons that are maybe orange blossom or lavender or Earl Grey, or you can do cheesecake parfaits, or little tartlets.”

“We have a lot of clients asking for our chocolate-covered Oreos, because we can match the colours of their wedding on them,” says Lotecki.

While the dessert-table possibilities are endless, all the bakers agree that the doughnut reigns supreme right now. “[The past year] has been insane with doughnuts,” says Manness. “Doughnut walls are extremely popular, and full-on doughnut bars as well.”

Couples who opt for a dessert table will often have a “cutting cake” to preserve the beloved ritual. “A lot of people are getting a single-tier cake just to take pictures with,” says Lotecki.

FIND YOUR CAKE AND eat it, too

With so many options to consider, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. The unanimous advice the bakery owners would give couples is to do their research and share their vision with their cake maker.

“If I have an idea of what you’re looking for, it’s going to make it easier to come up with your dream cake,” says Lotecki. “I definitely recommend bringing in photos or emailing photos beforehand.”

“Maybe bring one of your invites, or fabrics that are going to be used at the wedding,” says Berrached. “All of that can help me have an idea of the feel of the wedding, and it makes it easier to design the cake.”

CINNAMON-SUGAR AND BIRTHDAY CAKE-FLAVOURED DOUGHNUTS FROM PRETTY SWEET.

SEMI-NAKED TWO-TIER CAKE WITH FRESH FLOWERS BY WHIPPT.

LEFT TO RIGHT: MARBLE FONDANT CAKE WITH GOLD METALLIC ACCENTS BY SWEET RELIEF. FONDANT LAYER CAKE BY 8 CAKES.

Old Hollywood, NEW TRADITIONS

DAVID FEEHAN AND CATHERINE VIELGUTH MET IN UNIVERSITY AS ASPIRING ACTORS AND MARRIED IN BANFF FOUR YEARS LATER. THE WEDDING FIT THEIR PERSONALITIES AND PARTNERSHIP WITH A UNIQUE CEREMONY AND MOVIE-STAR DECOR.

David Feehan and Catherine Vielguth were theatre-school friends who started dating in February, 2014. But, like Romeo and Juliet, a correspondence snafu nearly derailed their romance. When Feehan developed a romantic interest in Vielguth, he told her he was going to a play. She already harboured a crush on him, and texted that she would be there, too. But Feehan missed that

message, and when Vielguth arrived at the show, he assumed she hadn’t responded to him in order to avoid having to sit with him. Feehan agonized in front of the theatre doors after the play ended, wondering if he should ask to walk her home. He eventually left without her, and like any lovesick millennial with a cellphone, reread Vielguth’s texts in order to wallow and only then discovered the one that he’d missed.

“Oh, I’m such an idiot,” he recalls thinking, and immediately asked her for coffee, thus reversing an alternate timeline in which they didn’t date, didn’t fall in love, and didn’t get married in August, 2018.

Vielguth’s dream was to get married on a mountain, so Banff provided the ideal setting. The couple tweaked tradition until the ceremony

PHOTOGRAPHY BY Michael Chan Photography

represented them: Vielguth walked herself down the aisle at Central Park in Banff and Feehan dashed from the altar to meet her halfway. It was symbolic of their equal partnership and the officiant invited Vielguth to kiss the groom when they were declared husband and wife to emphasize that.

The officiant, Mandy MacLeod, is a close friend of Vielguth’s, and she also made the decorations for the reception, held at the Banff Park Lodge. The theme for the wedding of these two actors was Old Hollywood, which was reflected in the vintage look of Vielguth’s dress and MacLeod’s black-and-gold decor.

“I wanted a really warm, cozy, romantic, fairylight-sparkle feel,” Vielguth says. Dark linens, shades of yellow and rose gold and flickering

candles set the tone. Framed movie quotes from classics like Casablanca romanticized the theme, and one table featured photos of married parents and grandparents to honour what MacLeod calls “generations of love.”

The Banff Park Lodge-catered buffet included maple-glazed chicken, pine nut-and-red beet vegetarian gnocchi and a beef carving station.

Vielguth and Feehan wanted the reception to be a great party, and they chose their DJ carefully. It paid off with a raucous dance floor, and they celebrated into the early hours with family and friends. “[The dance floor] was literally packed from the second song to the end of the night,” Vielguth says with a smile.

The wedding is now months behind them. The credits have rolled, the curtains have closed,

ENGAGEMENT AND WEDDING

RINGS: Custom made by Matthieu Cheminee, matthieucheminee.com.

WEDDING GOWN: Ferré Sposa, Toronto.

VEIL: Unravel Creations.

BRIDESMAIDS’ DRESSES: Nordstrom.

GROOM’S AND GROOMSMEN’S

SUITS: RW & Co.

DJ: Chris Brennan for Dance! Shout! Productions.

PHOTOGRAPHY: Michael Chan Photography.

FLOWERS: Dream On, Calgary.

VENUE: Banff Park Lodge.

the show is over. But the memory that lingers most with Vielguth and Feehan is the ceremony, in the park, in front of their loved ones.

“Just getting to be in that moment,” Vielguth says. “Everything in me just wanted to burst into happy tears, like I was going to explode and implode at the same time for just pure joy and excitement.”

It’s the happy ending — and beginning — for two actors who had their own rom-com, complete with a near-derailment and now an ever-after.

“We always say that we just cannot believe we found each other,” Feehan says. “That we met, and just fit together so well, and that every day is so fun and easy. It’s just amazing. We’re so grateful for that.”

“Everything in me just wanted to burst into happy tears, like I was going to explode and implode at the same time for just pure joy and excitement.””

–Catherine Vielguth

Stars ALIGNED S

SOZ IBRAHIM AND SALAM ALLAMI MET AS KIDS WHO WERE REFUGEES AND CELEBRATED THEIR MARRIAGE NEARLY TWO DECADES LATER WITH A RECEPTION THAT HONOURED THEIR CANADIAN AND IRAQI CULTURES.

oz Ibrahim and Salam Allami were introduced in childhood through their community of Iraqi refugees who came to Calgary in the mid-90s. As children, they watched movies and baked cookies in the house Allami’s parents still live in today.

Time passed and their lives grew apart until early 2014, when Ibrahim received a message from her old friend inviting her for a drink. As they caught up for the first time in years, Allami said that he thought about her as “the one who got away.”

“She kept on popping into my head while I was at university, while I was on my internship, while I was working,” Allami says. “I told her that, and she thought I was crazy.”

“It was kind of weird at first,” Ibrahim says, laughing. “But now, when I look back on it, it was really sweet and romantic.”

When Allami proposed the following year, it was during a recreation of that first date, which had ended looking out over the city from the neighbourhood of Crescent Heights. This time, Allami dropped to one knee.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY Cole Hofstra

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Ibrahim and Allami were married by an imam in a Muslim ceremony in July of 2015. They held their reception at the Sheraton Suites Calgary Eau Claire the following summer, and Ibrahim says the inspiration for the decor was romantic elegance.

“I just [wanted] to walk in the room and feel cozy and warm, like it was an intimate dinner,” she says.

They filled the hall with candelabras, glittering gold tablecloths and swaths of white flowers. Cobalt-blue silk serviettes provided a pop of regal contrast, and towers of macarons in vanilla, raspberry-peach and blackberry continued the colour scheme. “We love macarons, and it was just a special thing to us,” Ibrahim says of their decision to get a dessert table. “And we also just thought, ‘there isn’t going to be any waste.’”

The dress she chose reflected her minimalistic taste. The trumpet silhouette gown made of lustrous silk was gently fitted through the waist and embellished only with a thin, jewelled belt. “I loved how timeless it was,” Ibrahim says. “[The dress] was super simple, but it just felt so luxurious and beautiful.”

During Islamic engagements, Allami says wedding rings are worn on the right hand; the reception included a traditional transferring of the rings, followed by a modified cake-eating session. “You basically form a pyramid between the ring finger on your right hand and your weddingring finger,” Allami says. “Then you transfer the ring from the one side to the other, and we fed each other macarons after.”

Guests performed traditional Iraqi-Kurdish, Iraqi-Arab and Lebanese line dances to celebrate the heritage of both families. “The drum player was there for all of it, and the DJ was really good at selecting those songs,” Allami says. “All sides of the family joined in for all three variations of the dances, so that was very cool.” At the end of

ENGAGEMENT RING AND SOZ’S

WEDDING RING: Naji Khoury Jewelry.

SALAM’S WEDDING RING: Maison Birks.

JEWELLERY: Olive + Piper.

WEDDING GOWN: By Amy Kuschel from Pearl & Dot.

VEIL: Handmade by the bride and her sister-in-law.

BRIDESMAID’S DRESSES: Etsy.

GROOM’S AND GROOMSMEN’S SUITS: Derks.

BRIDE AND GROOM’S SHOES: Nordstrom.

BRIDE’S HAIR: Rabia Nasrullah.

VENUE AND CATERING: Sheraton

Suites Calgary Eau Claire.

DJ: DJ Rami.

MACARON TOWERS: Ollia Macarons & Tea.

PHOTOGRAPHY: Cole Hofstra.

WEDDING PLANNER AND DECORATIONS: Reflections Weddings and Events.

FLOWERS: Flower Artistry.

the evening, the drummer followed the couple outside and played as they got into a white Jaguar. Friends and family cheered from the curb as they drove from the reception and then followed in a line of honking cars.

“Salam and I always say that it turned out better than we could have ever expected,” Ibrahim says. “It was just beautiful.”

Two years later, Ibrahim says she is not someone who typically believes in fate. Healthy relationships, she believes, are the result of compatibility and hard work. But their marriage challenges this; to her, it seems incredible that it happened the way that it did. “The stars aligned, essentially, for us to wind up here in the same country, to be compatible,” Ibrahim says. “We both came here as refugees, but let’s say we didn’t make it here. I would have been a completely different person; as would have Salam.”

For Allami, the courage to pursue Ibrahim determined the rest of his life. “I didn’t really want it to just be something that I would always spend the rest of my life wondering, ‘What if?’” he says. “To me, it was always Soz.”

Think

Just 3 hours from Calgary, Fernie is an authentic, boutique-style mountain wedding destination. Plan your special day at one of many spectacular locations with the convenience and professionalism of local planners, flourists, photographers, hair and make-up artists, caterers and more.

TourismFernie.com | WeddingsInFernie.com

Raven Eye Photography

Trends WEDDING DRESS

DESIGNERS ARE INCREASINGLY CREATING DRESSES THAT LET BRIDES SHOW OFF THEIR INDIVIDUALITY — AND YOU CAN FIND THESE LOOKS LOCALLY.

Streamlined fabrics, lavish embroidery, daring cuts and mix-and-match separates — the variety of current trends means every modern bride has options. The only “rule” of 2019 is to find something that speaks to you.

CLEAN AND SIMPLE

Alyssa Conrad of Pearl & Dot says brides are asking for minimalistic fabrics that they can accessorize to make their own look. As such, the understated elegance of crepe is gaining momentum.

“That’s for sure one of the biggest trends that we’ve seen,” Conrad says. “Brides can just dress it up however they want.”

Crisp and clean, crepe is often made from silk and can have a subtly granular texture.

“It’s chic, it’s glamorous,” says Lynah Nguyen of luxury bridal boutique Powder Bride. “A timeless look that’s more classic.”

3-D APPLIQUÉS

Simplicity might be trending, but that doesn’t mean embellishments are out. Three-dimensional appliqués are also popular — and the results are beautiful and feminine.

Described by Jessalyn Thomson of Cameo & Cufflinks as “lace that also has three-dimensional flowers tacked on top,” these dynamic embellishments can be delicate or bold. Conrad says it is common to see the appliqués placed more prominently on the bodice and drifting delicately into the skirt.

NOT QUITE WHITE

Liane Knox of Blush & Raven says gowns featuring an ivory lace and a nude or latte undertone are popular at her store. Deep nudes allow lace and beading to pop,

while antique shades of cream and ivory lend a romantic feeling.

“A peachy-taupe is very in right now,” says Powder Bride’s Nguyen. “The whitest [gown] that we have is an ivory, but what’s very ‘in’ is a Champagne colour.”

SEPARATES

Clients can build a unique style with separates. Knox says that pairing a beautiful chiffon skirt with a tank or crop top is hugely popular at Blush & Raven.

“You can have these almostromantic and almost-classic looks that have these detailed elements that no one else is going to have,” says Knox.

Thomson says that overskirts allow brides to change their style from the ceremony to the reception. Sitting on top of a thinner dress underneath, the overskirt creates the illusion of a ball gown.

DARING DETAILS

Plunging necklines and side or centre slits give wedding dresses a sexy and sophisticated edge, while sheer bodices have remained popular since they first appeared a few years ago.

“Although the top is going to cover everything, there are going to be little bits of sheer where you can actually see your skin through it,” Conrad says.

As the sheer trend develops, you can expect designers to soften the look in 2019 by adding more appliqués. “It’s a little bit more modest,” Nguyen says.

“TO THINE OWN SELF, BE TRUE” When asked for advice for those in search of the perfect dress, the response from bridal shop owners was unanimous: choose what you want. “If you’re having 100 people at your wedding, not everyone is going to like your gown,” says Jessalyn Thomson of Cameo & Cufflinks. “It’s a simple truth. So just make yourself happy.”

The daring cut and three-dimensional appliques make this wedding dress from Powder Bride, designed by Pallas Couture, right on trend.

Photograph by Hannah Kost

Stephanie Couture Photography

Venues FOR EVERY LOOK

The right venue sets the tone you’re looking for on your special day. Customizing your ceremony and reception with a distinct setting will enchant your guests and bring your vision to life.

Lougheed House

HISTORIC & ELEGANT

This mansion in the Beltline offers nearly 130 years of history and refinement. Versatile as both an indoor and outdoor space, its richly furnished interior warms fall and winter weddings with crown moldings, chandeliers, Persian rugs and fireplaces. In spring and summer the gardens are a fresh setting for photos, and feature a staircase and concrete landing that can be used for outdoor ceremonies.

Capacity: 120 for cocktail hour; 96 for seated dinner.

Price: $1,100 to $3,500. Cake Pairing: A textured buttercream tiered cake with hand-piped sugar flowers.

707 13 Ave. S.W., 403-2446333, lougheedhouse.com

MORE VENUES LIKE THIS FAIRMONT PALLISER

133 9 Ave. S.W., 403-262-1234, fairmont.com/palliser-calgary

ROUGE 1240 8 Ave. S.E., 403-531-2767, rougecalgary.com

TEATRO 200 8 Ave. S.E., 403-290-1012, teatro.ca

The Lake House

RUSTIC & WARM

Overlooking Lake Bonavista, and with large windows that showcase the park and the water, The Lake House is a fine dining restaurant that feels like a cabin in the woods. The rustic venue is enhanced with striking chandeliers made from elk antlers, a bar created from the refurbished countertop of an 1800s general store, a massive glass-walled wine cellar and a statement fireplace. The wraparound patio allows the bride and groom to sneak away for a quiet moment — or photos as the sun dips below the lake’s horizon line.

Capacity: 150 to 190 for seated reception; 130 for seated dinner.

Price: $10,000 to $20,000.

Cake Pairing: A semi-naked cake with fresh flowers.

747 Lake Bonavista Dr. S.E., 403225-3939, lakehousecalgary.com

MORE VENUES LIKE THIS BOW VALLEY RANCHE RESTAU -

RANT 15979 Bow Bottom Tr. S.E., 403-476-1310, bvrrestaurant.com

DEANE HOUSE 806 9 Ave. S.E., 403-264-0595, deanehouse.com

RIVER CAFÉ 25 Prince’s Island Park, 403-261-7670, river-cafe.com

Lougheed House photograph by Gingersnap Photography; paired cake photograph by Sirine Berrached; Lake House photograph by Heart & Sparrow Photography; paired cake photograph by Marielle Louize

FINDING A NEARBY SETTING THAT SPEAKS TO YOUR STYLE MIGHT BE EASIER THAN YOU THINK.

MAIN IMAGE The steps at the Lougheed House offer a perfect photo setting.

LEFT Cake with hand-piped sugar flowers by 8 Cakes.

ABOVE Semi-naked cake from Whippt. LEFT The rustic interior of the Lake House.

photo: Elle R

Azuridge Estate Hotel

INTIMATE & CHIC

Once a private residence, the Azuridge Estate Hotel maintains an intimate atmosphere in spite of grand features like massive windows and sprawling views. Secluded in the Priddis foothills 20 minutes outside of Calgary, the 13-suite hotel offers butler service to the bride and groom and fireside dining. Glamorous yet cozy, the stylish interior of this boutique hotel offers a little bit of something for everyone and sets the tone for a wedding that is warm and personal.

Capacity: 180 for indoor ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner and reception; up to 250 with outdoor tents.

Price: Dependent on multiple factors.

Cake Pairing: A doughnut-focused dessert table.

178057 272 St. W., Priddis, 403-931-0100, azuridgehotel.com

MORE

Skyline, The Room With the View

MODERN & INDUSTRIAL

Skyline, an industrial-style event space that opened in the summer of 2018, sits high above West Hillhurst on the top floor of the 1918 Tap & Table building. Exposed pipes in the ceiling and modern light fixtures give Skyline the design hallmarks of a loft, and floor-to-ceiling windows promise spectacular views at sunset. The venue can host the ceremony, cocktail hour and reception, and offers decor, floral and catering services.

Capacity: 300 for ceremony, cocktail hour, reception and seated dinner.

Price: $4,500 to $6,000.

Cake Pairing: Marble fondant with metallic accents. 1918 Kensington Rd. N.W., skylineroom.ca

MORE VENUES LIKE THIS

CHARBAR 618 Confluence Way S.E. 403-452-3115, charbar.ca

THE COMMONS 1206 20 Ave. S.E., 403-452-7938, thecommonscalgary.com

STUDIO BELL, HOME OF THE NATIONAL MUSIC CENTRE 850 4 St. S.E., 403-543-5115, studiobell.ca

HOUSE INN

Cake photograph by Deidre Lotecki

LEFT Cake from Sweet Relief.

BY Tom Firth, Hannah Kost, Gwendolyn Richards

FOOD & DRINK

Ramen

Gorilla Whale

Steam curls from the edges of the wide bowl of broth hiding a tangle of noodles. Slices of crisp-edged pork belly, a soft egg and papery pieces of dried seaweed lie atop.

AND Alana Willerton

PHOTOGRAPHY BY Jared Sych

Belly-Up ramen bowl at Gorilla Whale.

5MORE PLACES TO SLURP RAMEN

GORO + GUN

On a cold afternoon nothing chases the chill like ramen. More than an hour into lunch service at Gorilla Whale, the parade of bowls keeps coming from the kitchen as hungry diners slurp up one of the three to five types on the menu.

Calgary’s love affair with ramen is in full swing with spots popping up across the city. Gorilla Whale, Inglewood’s “Japanese-ish” restaurant, also offers a robust cocktail list (try the Paper Crane or Big in Japan), a solid selection of local craft beers and a menu populated with lively takes on classic dishes such as yakitori (skewers of meats and other things grilled over binchotan charcoal) and creative desserts, in addition to the aforementioned ramen.

These January days, the lure of a noodle soup is strong, but don’t overlook the rest of the stellar options, especially the halloumi cheese yakitori and the massive karaage burger with a base of fried-chicken topped with melted American cheese and fresh green-onion slaw.

Brought to you by Brendan Bankowski and Dean Symonds of The Beltliner, Gorilla Whale (a reference to Godzilla) echoes the playful vibe of their Beltline diner and the gourmet approach to dishes that are normally considered simple. The feeling is fun, but the food is seriously good.

With the exception of the Belly-Up, Gorilla Whale’s signature ramen with house-cured pork belly, egg and shiso butter, the choices on the ramen menu change seasonally, so no matter the weather, you know there will be something worth slurping.

Not just one of the largest spaces serving up ramen, Goro + Gun also has one of the longest and most eclectic menus for their noodle soup dishes, including vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free versions. Classic tonkotsu is never a bad bet, but the fiery spicy lamb ramen with bamboo shoots and shiitake mushrooms will heat you from the inside out. 245, 225 7 Ave. S.W., 403-237-5596, goroandgun.ca

ICHINEN RAMEN

Go early, check Ichinen’s Facebook page first, or run the risk that the ramen will be sold out. This popular northeast spot offers seven types of ramen but you can choose your pork (belly or shoulder), greens, thin or thick noodles and even the level of spiciness. The lunch deal, which adds side dishes such as fried-chicken karaage or edamame for just a toonie, is a steal. 349, 3132 26 St. N.E., 403-454-2646

TONKOTSU RED RAMEN

SPICY LAMB RAMEN

CHILI GOMA

RAMEN TEKKOTSU YA

Off the beaten path, perhaps, but it’s worth the drive to the east edge of the city for this hidden gem. A mom-and-pop-type shop, the menu at Tekkotsu Ya is small and the prices are fantastic. Check out the lunch special, which offers a bowl of pork- or chicken-based ramen, and a pop for under $20. 4, 1704 61 St. S.E., 403-569-0785, tekkotsucalgary.weebly.com

SHIKI MENYA

There’s good reason people are willing to line up in sub-zero temperatures to get a seat in this tiny Bridgeland spot: the ramen is that good. With its house-made noodles and pork broth, the ramen is as rich as it is filling. Opt for the chili goma or any of the daily specials. Go early — once that stockpot is empty, that’s it for the day. 827 1 Ave. N.E., 403-454-2722, shikimenya.ca

SPICY

WAKADO RAMEN

One of the newest ramen joints to open, Wakado sets itself apart with its house-made noodles. Watch through the glass window as they roll out — a little entertainment while waiting for your steaming bowl of ramen to arrive at the table. —G.R. 907 10 Ave. S.W., 403-457-8828

MISO RAMEN

SHIO/SHOYU RAMEN

Q&A Mike Roberts

Sommelier manager, Co-op Wine Spirits Beer

WHAT

IS YOUR GO-TO WINE REGION?

The wine that fills my glass most often is probably Rioja. It is quaffable and fleshy, but more often than not there are layers of complexity and interest with a real bang for your buck. Great values [in Rioja] can be found for under $30. Riojas offer a great dichotomy of fruit expression against earthy components and the touch of the winemaker’s craft. The wines also satisfy a craving for a texturally rich experience.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE SPLURGE WINE THESE DAYS?

If I am splurging, the wine has to have some age on it: seven, 10 or even 15 years. I am willing to shell out for that hidden gem on the restaurant wine list or the bottle hiding on the shelf. It is so intriguing and exciting opening a well-aged bottle of wine and sniffing, swirling, sipping and relishing in its expression. Aged Super Tuscans, Riojas, rieslings, Bordeaux and especially aged syrah are all good.

WHAT’S YOUR TIP FOR PEOPLE TO GET THE MOST OUT OF THEIR WINE-DRINKING EXPERIENCE?

I often encourage my customers to look at alcohol content. This can tell you a little bit about what to expect in a wine before you buy it. Red or white wine with an alcohol content of 10.5 per cent and lower will usually be sweeter, while reds and whites going above 14 to 16 per cent will generally be drier. These higher-alcohol wines are produced with very ripe grapes and have lots of flavour, are more viscous and likely fuller-bodied. This is definitely helpful when choosing a wine that you are unfamiliar with.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE DRINKAND-MUSIC PAIRING?

So many options! I am totally down with moody music and a beverage with some swagger. Like Jimi Hendrix’s Blues (one of the best albums of all time) and a well-made manhattan with a “real” maraschino cherry. Jimi’s low-toned blues also go really well with funky aged syrah or Barolo. Pairing with art or music is fun and probably a little easier than some might think. Is the piece uplifting, upbeat, fun or more reflective? That should inform your choice in wine, be it refreshing, lively, flavourful and energetic or more layered, rustic, earthy or mellow.

ANY BOTTLES YOU ARE PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT RIGHT NOW?

I have been enjoying the lighter side of reds these days and really crushing on gamay and cabernet franc from all over the world. Some favourites include Malivoire gamay and cabernet franc, JoieFarm PTG, J. Lohr Valdiguié and Domaine de Pallus Chinon. All of these are super-friendly wines that don’t take themselves too seriously and go perfectly with that casual weekday dinner or catch-up with a friend.

DEERFOOT CITY’S FOOD LODGE OPENS

Deerfoot City shoppers can now grab a bite in the mall’s newly opened Food Lodge. In addition to an indoor playground and the mall’s guest services, the building is home to a 554-seat food court. So far, the Lodge features eateries like Chachi's, Mia Pasta, Chronic Tacos, Ono Poke and Regrub. —A.W. 901 64 Ave. N.E., deerfootcity.com

STEPHEN AVENUE PLACE RENOVATIONS

Big changes are coming to downtown’s Scotia Centre. Slate Canadian Real Estate Opportunity Fund recently renamed the building Stephen Avenue Place and will be renovating the 40-storey building until 2020. When it’s done, the space will feature a new food hall and two new restaurants on the top and street levels, respectively. Restaurant groups Oliver & Bonacini Hospitality and Concorde Entertainment Group are also on board to help bring the new dining spaces to life. —A.W. stephenavenueplace.com

THE CALGARY FARMERS’ MARKET IS GETTING A SECOND LOCATION

SINCE

IT’S JANUARY

(NEW LEAVES TURNING OVER AND ALL THAT), WHAT SHOULD WINE DRINKERS BE LOOKING AT?

Try some new varieties. Now is the time to get out and explore new places, new styles. Try bonarda from Argentina, gamay from Canada, syrah from South Africa, lesser-known indigenous varieties from Italy and maybe even peek into the world of Greek wine. There are so many interesting grape varieties out there, so be adventurous.

as told to Tom Firth

Also in 2020 — the Calgary Farmers’ Market recently announced that it will be opening a second location in the new community of Greenwich that year. Expect to see more than 75 vendors in the 50,000-square-foot location, as well as indoor and outdoor play spaces for children, open-air dining spaces, an outdoor mezzanine and more. —A.W. calgaryfarmersmarket.ca

Mike Roberts photograph by Jared Sych

LOCAL CHEF A CONTENDER ON NETFLIX’S THE FINAL TABLE

You can watch chef Darren MacLean, owner of Shokunin in Mission, compete on Netflix’s 10-episode series The Final Table. The culinary cook-off features 24 international chefs whipping up global cuisines for an accomplished panel of judges. MacLean has the distinction of being the only Canadian in the fray. —H.K. shokuninyyc.ca

THE BEERGUYS CRAFT CLUB LAUNCHES

BeerGuysYYC want the local craft beer scene to thrive, and they’ve started a program to help make that happen. BeerGuys Craft Club members get discounts at more than 20 local breweries including Village Brewery, Eighty-Eight Brewing Co. and Citizen Brewing Company, as well as various pubs and businesses such as Vine Arts Wine and Spirits. Club members also get access to exclusive events. A portion of the nominal membership fee goes to local charities. —H.K. beerguys.ca

EAT MORE LOCAL MEAT

Last year, premium meat-delivery service truLocal got funding (and massive exposure) on the CBC reality series Dragons’ Den, allowing the company to expand service from Ontario to B.C. and Alberta. Now Albertans can customize a monthly order of high-quality meat from local producers including TK Ranch, Lambtastic, Kingsland Hutterite Colony, and have it shipped overnight on dry ice right to their doorstep. TruLocal also delivers sustainably sourced fish. —H.K. trulocal.ca

EAT THIS

BY Jennifer Hamilton PHOTOGRAPHY BY Jared Sych

Honey

What you need to know about Alberta’s other liquid gold.

Crude oil might get all the glory (and the flak) as Alberta’s most important resource, but there’s another commercially desirable viscous substance produced in our province that’s deserving of our attention and respect: honey. While it can’t power your car or heat your home, honey has a host of healing properties prized since around 13,000 BCE, when it first appeared in cave paintings discovered in the region around Valencia, Spain.

Honey is a great energy-booster in the morning or before a workout. It’s said to be a powerful antioxidant and anti-bacterial agent that helps improve digestion and fight disease. It can even treat a hangover by helping the liver process alcohol. It’s especially soothing on a sore throat, and taken at night in hot milk, it has long been thought to help induce sleep.

But honey’s real attraction is surely its taste. Honey is the concentrated flower nectar collected by thousands of bees. Its exquisite flavour and complexity is derived from the diversity of flowers in the area and how they respond to sun, rain, temperature and humidity. In much the same way that good wine is a reflection of place, or what the French call terroir, so, too, is honey.

And what a sweet place Alberta is for honey. Our long summer days and vast fields of clover, canola

DRIZZLE HONEY

This wildflower-and-clover white raw honey is flavoured with hip-and-healthy turmeric, which adds rich, aromatic depth. Stir it into warm milk or chai tea for a soothing elixir.

$15.95 for 375 grams at Bridgeland Market, 1104 1 Ave. N.E., 403-269-2381, bridgelandmarket.com

and alfalfa allow bees to thrive. Alberta produces about 40 per cent of Canada’s honey and is the fifth largest honey producing region in the world, with our mild white clover honey commanding premium prices on the world market. In addition to the large commercial operators in Alberta, there are boutique producers making a glorious variety of undiluted, unpasteurized, raw honey — from light and crisp to dark and sultry — all expressions of the flowers the bees feast on and the essence of the place where they live.

MOB HONEY

Mob’s bees feast on dandelion, clover and alfalfa around Calgary to produce its Wild Raw Honey, which is bright, bold and floral with notes of vanilla. Use it in baking as a substitute for sugar for more depth of flavour and nutrition. $5 for 170 grams, order online at mobhoney.com

CHINOOK HONEY

Chinook Comb Honey is honey in its purest form. Spread it on toast with butter while the bread is still hot to release the aromas and soften the edible wax, or serve it as an elegant addition to a cheese plate.

$15.25 for eight ounces at Chinook Honey Company, 386079 16 St. W., Okotoks, 403-995-0830, chinookhoney.com. This location offers educational programs and tours of its apiary and adjacent Chinook Arch Meadery.

MCKENZIE’S COUNTRY FARM ICED HONEY

Iced honey is frozen for six months before it hits shelves — a process that allows the raw creamed honey to become exceptionally smooth. Stir it into hot oatmeal for a morning energy and flavour boost.

$18 for 1 kg at Ray and Helen’s Honey House, Crossroads Market, 403-288-1919, crossroadsmarket.ca

Celebrating the recipients of the 2018 Emerald Awards RECOGNIZING ALBERTA'S ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERS

The annual Emerald Awards recognize and celebrate outstanding environmental achievements across all sectors in Alberta. From classroom curricula to large, corporate initiatives, the program recognizes a variety of projects. The Emerald Awards categories celebrate those who demonstrate commitment to the environment and take

the initiative to make quantifiable, sustainable changes, educate others about the importance of sustainability and lead the way for other individuals and organizations to adopt their own environmentally friendly practices. Read on to learn more about the people and groups who are greening Alberta, one project at a time.

15,900-tonne reduction of CO 2 each year over the 20-year life spans of the LEDs. While decreasing electricity consumption by up to 50 per cent, Calgary’s LED street lights also offer more focused lighting and a decrease in light pollution, which can contribute to safer nighttime conditions for drivers and pedestrians.

lighting level standards, decreasing the City’s carbon footprint at the same time. Besides recouping installation costs through energy savings within about six years, the program has found even more savings by working with a local recycler to use the scrap metal from old lights.

“LEDs have so many inherent benefits over HPS

where necessary.

Gray says that the E2 Street Lighting Program is remarkable because of its scope. “The team is proud; it’s a culmination of five years of work and thousands of hours of research and planning,” says Gray. “It’s a huge achievement in environmental benefit, energy reduction and safer roads.” Ω

AGENTS OF CHANGE

Innovate | Education: School or Classroom

There’s no classroom at all with this unique program. Instead, Edmonton high-school students host and attend career fairs on urban agriculture, create gym-sized maps to understand the migration routes of bears and install solar panels on school rooftops.

Teacher Aaron Dublenko works with students and teachers from Edmonton-based high schools (Queen Elizabeth, Argyll Centre), and even with teens from across the province in a dynamic online platform. The topics include sustainable development and environmental awareness. Working with the idea that even though students may not have decision-making powers, they can still be agents of change, Dublenko has helped grow the program from simple beginnings in 2007, when he was a science teacher at Queen Elizabeth High School in Edmonton.

Back then, a project of getting a few solar panels on the school roof started a lesson in the challenges of real-world problems such as government and school board resistance. A decade later, the Edmonton Public School Board is engaged in this project, with over 200 schools installing solar panels.

Students work with Dublenko and community experts on projects like home-energy audits — which may lead to certification and dual-credit (high school/post-secondary) eligibility. Innovate students are already able to earn certification in sustainable energy. The program is also looking to expand into the elementary school level.

ConocoPhillips Canada is a long-time supporter of the Alberta Emerald Foundation and the Emerald Awards. We are proud to be the sponsor of the 2018 Education: School or Classroom category. Congratulations to the finalists who have shown leadership and creativity in educating students about the importance of environmental matters. Ω

AWARD SPONSOR

THE PARK THAT'S A CLASSROOM

Alberta Environment and Parks – Fish Creek Environmental Learning Centre Education Program Public Education and Outreach

Calgary students and residents know the gem they have in the Fish Creek Environmental Learning Centre. For over 35 years, its home in a 1,300 hectare urban park has connected people with nature; the birds, animals and landscape not only create an outdoor classroom for 15,000 students each year, it’s also a space for the 180,000 residents in 18 communities bordering the park to enjoy cycling or walking.

One of the largest urban parks in North America, Fish Creek Provincial Park sees three million visitors a year and has been named a top Calgary attraction on the Trip Advisor website. The six-classroom learning centre is at the heart of it all, offering curriculum-tied lessons — even scavenger hunts — to provide students with hands-on connections to nature in a way that textbooks alone cannot.

The centre has only two staff members. So, trained teachers, parent volunteers, scout leaders, etc. are empowered to lead their groups. Students from a nearby school recently combined science with art curriculum for a five-month mosaic project. Others have learned First Nations cultural history at the onsite teepee and life-sized mounted bison. The legacy of the learning centre is evident in students who return to work on projects for science fairs, whose science grades improve and who come back as volunteers.

At the Learning Centre, Friends of Fish Creek hosts day-long hikes, speakers events and even a summer camp with community partners.

Alberta Environment & Parks is one of the founders of the Alberta Emerald Foundation and continues to support environmental achievements and stewardship in Alberta, sponsoring the Public Education and Outreach category this year. Ω

AWARD SPONSOR

Shalane Friesen, Environmental Education Coordinator and Daniella Rubeling, Interpretation Education Team Lead, Alberta Parks

Aaron Dublenko, Coordinator, Innovate

Nominations for the 28th Annual Emerald Awards close February 15. Submit nominations today at emeraldfoundation.ca

WHERE THE BISON ROAM

Syncrude and Fort McKay First Nation - Beaver Creek Wood Bison Project Large Business

When a large corporation in Alberta’s oil sands teams with a neighbouring First Nations community to repurpose reclaimed land, it’s a good thing. But when a threatened species of wood buffalo flourishes, creating a genetically pure line of animal that is culturally significant to this and future generations of the First Nations people of Fort McKay, it’s a great thing.

In 1993, 30 wood bison from Elk Island National Park were released onto land reclaimed from Syncrude’s mining operations. What began as a five-year project meant to assess the capability of reclaimed landscapes to support forage crops for large animals has become, 25 years later, a working partnership between Syncrude and the Fort McKay First Nation at the Beaver Creek Bison Ranch.

“This started as a small project, so we’re proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish with our partners at Fort McKay Environmental Services,” says Will Gibson, media relations advisor for Syncrude. “Working with a keystone species, and having our responsible development recognized by the Emerald Foundation, is meaningful.”

While bison were once native to the region, they had already disappeared before the oil sands arrived. But, blessed by Fort McKay elders, bison were set free to forage on the reclaimed landscape once again. Today, about 300 wood bison graze on 300 hectares of land, with some 100 calves born yearly. The population — prized for its health and genetic purity — is managed through sales as breeding stock to other bison operations. Even with challenges (roundups

for inspections and vaccinations, threat from Fort McMurray’s 2016 wildfires), Syncrude will open more habitats going forward to allow for an even greater rotation of grazing pasture.

“Not only does the project prove that foraging plants can survive on reclaimed land, it has also successfully re-introduced an at-risk species to the region, and proves that it can thrive in the environment,” adds Gibson.

The Beaver Creek Wood Bison Project has been recognized with conservation herd certification status and has contributed to a genetic preservation project led by the University of Calgary, University of Saskatchewan, Canada Food Inspection Agency, Parks Canada, the Calgary Zoo and the Government of Northwest Territories. Ω

Wood bison at the Fort McKay site

MOUNTAINS

BY Shelley Arnusch

New & Improved Mountain Hotels

There has been a flurry of activity around the hotels and lodges in the mountains in the past year. As the 2019 winter season hits its stride, here’s what you need to know if you’re looking for somewhere new (or improved) to lay your head.

CANMORE

The red carpet rolled out this past November for the opening of The Malcolm Hotel, a brandnew flagship property within the Spring Creek development, which is building out a swath of land in the heart of Canmore that was formerly a dairy farm. The 124-room, four-star hotel is the jewel in the crown of Canmore-based Clique Hotels & Resorts. The hotel’s name pays homage to King Malcolm III of Scotland, who is also the namesake of the town (the imposing monarch was known as ceann mór, or “big head,” which became Canmore when Anglicized from the Gaelic). A large-scale commissioned

portrait of the king by artist Charles Malinsky presides over the hotel’s expansive lobby, right at home amidst the alpine-regal design with seating upholstered in metallic-hued crushed velvet. In addition to its full-service Stirling Grill & Lounge, the hotel has 8,800 square feet of event space, most notably the grand Edinburgh ballroom with a lofted ceiling that crescendos to a wall of windows. malcolmhotel.ca

If there is an unofficial royal couple in Canmore it’s Sara Renner and Thomas Grandi. The husband-and-wife Olympic-alumni-turned-boutique-

hoteliers have run the folksy favourite Paintbox Lodge since 2010, following their retirement from Canada’s cross-country (Renner) and alpine (Grandi) ski teams. Last fall, the couple added Talus Backcountry Lodge to their hospitality family, a remote property in the East Kootenays accessible only by helicopter or guided ski touring. It’s a natural fit for Renner — her parents Sepp and Barb Renner ran the legendary Assiniboine Lodge before passing the torch to Sara’s brother Andre Renner, who currently runs Assiniboine with his business partner, Claude Duchesne. taluslodge.com

Over the past year and a half, Canmore has gained three new properties from Basecamp Resorts, a company headed by local hotelier Sky McLean, who got her start working in Calgary’s property development industry. Basecamp Canmore, which opened in August 2017, is a home-away-from-homestyle condo-hotel on Bow Valley Trail that features fully equipped studios and one-, two- and three-bedroom units. Basecamp subsequently opened two more properties in 2018: Lamphouse, a 25-room hotel just off of Main Street near the Drake and Basecamp Lodge, a 30-room hotel converted from a former hostel located next to Basecamp Canmore. Lamphouse’s aesthetic is more modern, providing guests with “breakfast-in-a-crate” in their rooms, while Basecamp Lodge has a more rustic-cabineering vibe, and features a breakfast room that can also be booked as an event space with seating for up to 50. basecampresorts.com

ABOVE Talus Backcountry Lodge in the East Kootenays is accessible only by helicopter or ski touring.

LEFT The brand new Malcolm Hotel lobby.

Talus photograph by Chris Espinel; Malcolm photograph courtesy of The Malcolm Hotel

Located just off the SmithDorrien Trail that links Peter Lougheed Provincial Park with Canmore, Mount Engadine Lodge recently expanded its accommodation offerings by adding five glamping tents. (A portmanteau of “glamour” and “camping,” glamping tents are more like cabins with canvas walls.) Mount Engadine’s new digs have hardwood floors, stove-style gas heaters, kingsized beds and overhead fans, not to mention full bathrooms with showers. Each tent has an expansive front deck with views

of the surrounding peaks. The tents can sleep up to four with use of the pullout sofa. Dogs are welcome to come glamping, too.

mountengadine.com

In Kananaskis Village, the biggest news continues to revolve around the Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge. Formerly a Delta property within Marriott International, the Kananaskis hotel has undergone almost $40 million in renovations over the past two years since being acquired

by Alberta-based Pomeroy Lodging. Along with the name change announced last March, the hotel shifted its branding to Marriott’s Autograph Collection of unique, one-of-a-kind properties. Among the most dramatic changes was the construction on the premises of the Kananaskis Nordic Spa. The outdoor spa pools and sauna facilities opened in early 2018, followed by the opening of the Two Trees Bistro within the spa hub building last summer. lodgeatkananaskis.com; knordicspa.com

BANFF

The biggest news on the Banff hotel scene in 2018 was the reopening of the Mount Royal Hotel. The historic property in the heart of Banff, first erected in 1908 and now operated by the North American tourism company Pursuit, was shuttered after a fire in the winter of 2016. (Though hotel guests were displaced on account of the fire, thankfully, no one was injured.) While the exterior of the building wasn’t much affected, the interior had to be completely re-done, allowing for a much-needed refresh to the dated decor. The hotel’s new look draws inspiration from classic quilting motifs and incorporates archival imagery of Banff and the Rockies. The renovation also included the construction of two new rooftop hot tubs and an enclosed rooftop lounge with floor-toceiling windows that make the most of the hotel’s central location and the surrounding alpine scenery. banffjaspercollection.com/hotels/ mount-royal-hotel/

The Fairmont Banff Springs hotel experienced an eventful year on the food-and-beverage front, opening its new French bistro-inspired restaurant The Vermillion Room in the spring and welcoming a new executive chef, Robert Ash, last August. fairmont.com/banff-springs/

BELOW Mount Engadine Glamping tent interior.

Exterior of Mount Engadine glamping tents.

Mount Royal Hotel rooftop.

Mount Engadine interior photograph by Filomena Rosati, exterior photograph by Victoria Wakefield; Mount Royal photograph courtesy of Mount Royal Hotel by Pursuit

MOUNTAINS

FERNIE

The Snow Valley Motel in Fernie is expanding its accommodation offerings with a cluster of “tiny homes” — lofted one-bedroom units that can sleep up to four. Each tiny home has a full kitchen with gas stove, oven and refrigerator and a full bathroom, as well as a wall-mounted television. As of this past December, three tiny homes are up and running as guest suites, with a fourth home designated as a common area. Plans are to add three more guest homes over the coming winter as well as an outdoor area with a gas fireplace, barbecue and seating. snowvalleymotel.com

The Fernie RV Resort has also embraced glamping with the addition of five all-season yurts. The new yurts have wood floors, electrical heating and queen-over-queen bunk beds with eight-inch memoryfoam mattresses. ferniervresort.com

MORE FROM B.C.

The Fairmont Hot Springs Resort continues its multi-phased series of upgrades that includes renovations to guest bathrooms, new deluxe RV sites, new cabins that can sleep up to four, renovated pool change rooms and expanded grassy areas around the natural mineral hot springs pool, as well as the addition of pool cabanas with bar and food service. The resort has also completed menu and decor updates to two of its restaurants: the Bear’s Paw Bar & Grill and Antlers at the Lodge (formerly Mountain Flowers Restaurant). After breaking from July to

September 2018 for the peak summer season, construction resumed in the fall and will continue through 2019. fairmonthotsprings.com

Avid skiers heading to the West Kootenays will be happy to hear of the opening of The Josie Hotel this past November at the base of Red Mountain Resort in Rossland. The brand-new, 106room, ski-in-ski-out boutique hotel by Seattle-based Noble House Hotels & Resorts takes its name from the region’s Josie Mine — a nod to local history. The Josie has full-service dining in The Velvet Restaurant and Lounge and is just a hop, skip and a jump from Rafters, one of the all-time great après-ski bars. thejosie.com

Last August the Pangea Pod Hotel opened in Whistler. This easier-on-the-budget, adultsonly accommodation concept is more like a stylish hostel than a hotel, with guests bedding down in individual compact “pods” that are like a cross between a train berth and a bunk bed. Each pod has a double memory-foam mattress, a small lockable storage space and enough head room to sit up in, with a curtain for privacy. There are 88 pods in total, arranged into “suites” of up to 18 pods per suite, with private changing areas and communal washrooms. The downside of having to share bathroom facilities is made up for with Pangea’s prime location in the heart of Whistler Village and oh-so-cool common areas,

A PLACE IN HISTORY: THE CORNER HOUSE AT THE MOOSE HOTEL & SUITES

The Moose Hotel & Suites in Banff is a contemporary hotel built around a central courtyard, and in the middle of the courtyard is a restored heritage house that you can book as a guest. The “Corner House” was built in 1913 and was the original occupant of the site. It was moved offsite and restored during the construction of the hotel, then moved back into its current position in the courtyard, where it now serves as a functional guest suite and small-scale event space (not to mention an object of fascination). The house has an enclosed front porch and heritage elements throughout, such as a claw-foot tub in the bathroom and vintagecollectible baking tins as kitchen decor. And since Corner House guests have access to all the Moose Hotel facilities, such as the roof-top hot tubs and indoor pool and the Tesla-designated parking stalls, you can have your history and your mod-cons, too.

The Moose Hotel & Suites is part of the Banff Lodging Company group of properties. To book the Corner House call 1-800-5638764 or go to bestofbanff.com.

including a rooftop patio. The hotel also provides its guests with secure storage space for ski and bike equipment (a.k.a. The Toy Box) where you can also hang your outerwear to dry. pangeapod.com

Snow Valley Motel tiny home.

Pangea Pod Hotel.

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Please contact Laura for an in-depth evaluation and marketing plan to get your home sold.

Everyone has one great adventurous thing they’ve always dreamed about trying, and maybe this is the year you’ve resolved to actually do it. If that’s the case, you’ll be giving yourself a major boost when you’re out there trying it for the first time if you start preparing your body now. Whether it’s taking the plunge at surf camp, taking to the backcountry for an overnight hiking or canoeing trip or just taking your golf game up a level, we talked to instructional pros for their best tips on how to fine-tune your winter workout so you can give yourself the best chance of success this summer.

WORKOUT

BY Tina Shaygan ILLUSTRATIONS BY Sam Island

BUCKET LIST TRAINING

SO YOU WANT TO IMPROVE YOUR GOLF GAME...

The biggest misconception about golf is that it requires only upper-body strength, when in fact, overall body conditioning is key. “You’re not hitting the ball far just because you have strong arms,”

SO YOU WANT TO TRY ROCK CLIMBING...

According to Chris Adshade, director of facilities for the Calgary Climbing Centre, when it comes to rock climbing, mental preparation is just as important as getting physically ready. So if your plan is to get out on the rocks this summer, you’ll want to make sure you’re hitting the local indoor climbing gyms over the winter. “With indoor climbing, you’re going to learn to trust the system you’re using and to trust your body to hold on to the wall and push yourself up with your legs,” Adshade says. He adds that bodyweight exercises such as squats, push-ups and pull-ups are essential for conditioning the muscles most commonly used while climbing. “It’s about improving awareness of how your body moves and how to transfer bodyweight and use momentum,” he says.

says Pat Wilmot, head associate golf professional at Bearspaw Country Club. “It’s important to incorporate lower-body and core workouts because that’s where your strength comes from.”

In addition to full-body conditioning, off-season golf-training

is about pinpointing specific limitations and injuries. The Golf Canada Calgary Centre, a public facility in the southeast, offers the standardized TrackMan Combine Test, a technology administered by staff members who must be TrackMan University-certified.

The test provides a data-based analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of your game, which a trainer can use to create an exercise program to target problem areas. Do the work through the winter and you’ll be swinging like a pro by the time the snow melts.

Climbing photograph by Gabriel Rogers-Souliere

How to hone your winter workout so you can rock your New Year’s resolution this summer.

Climbers at Owl Rock in Arches National Park, Utah.

SO YOU WANT TO TRY SURFING...

Sure, Calgary has a decent river-surfing scene, but ocean surfing is something landlocked prairie people fantasize about and travel great distances to try. If you’re going to spend that kind of time and money for the chance to go surfing for the first time, Krissy Montgomery, owner of Tofino-based Surf Sister Surf School, recommends a couple things to make the most of your time on the water. “Push-ups and burpees are a great way to develop that upper body, because a huge part of surfing is the ‘pop-up,’ where we actually go from a laying down position to popping up onto our feet,” she says. Flexibility is also essential if you’re preparing to catch your first wave. “Yoga poses like warrior one and warrior two almost exactly mimic how your foot has to thread between your hands as you stand up,” Montgomery says.

SO YOU WANT TO GO BACKPACKING...

If you have designs on doing an overnight backpacking trip this summer, Rachel Oggy, the program coordinator for hiking and backpacking at the University of Calgary Outdoor Centre, says the best way to prepare is to keep hiking through the winter. “In the winter, you might not think so much about hiking, but we actually have a lot of areas [around Calgary] where you can go because they don’t get a lot of snow,” she says. Oggy also suggests hiking with the pack you will be using for your summer trip so you can get used to carrying the weight and can fine-tune it to fit just right. “Start by packing just for a day hike and then add more weight as you get more comfortable,” she says. “You can also train in the city with a hill or stairs. Just put on your backpack and get a good workout in. You’ll see lots of people doing this over the winter.”

If you’re planning on taking an extended canoe trip this summer, Finlay MacNeill, the Outdoor Centre’s cross-country ski and paddle program coordinator, suggests taking classes in an indoor pool to hone your technique. MacNeill also recommends cross-country skiing as a great way to stay in shape through the winter for canoeing. “The balance and dynamic motions of [cross-country skiing] lend themselves to a full-body fitness, which is really important in paddling sports,” he says. MacNeil also recommends doing yoga. “You’re often kneeling in the canoe for stability and that can be hard on people first thing in the spring if they haven’t been in their canoe all winter long and have lost that flexibility,” he says.

Backpackers on northern Vancouver Island.

Surfers at Venice Beach, Los Angeles, California.

Canoeing on Mayfield Lake in Dune Za Keyih Provincial Park, B.C.

Surfing photograph by Victoria Palacios; backpacking photograph courtesy of Northern Vancouver Island Tourism/Steven Fines; canoeing photograph courtesy of Destination BC/Taylor Burk

SO YOU WANT TO TAKE AN OVERNIGHT CANOE TRIP...

STYLE STATEMENT

STORY AND PHOTOGRAHY BY Aldona Barutowicz

Describe your everyday style. At work, I am either in suits or scrubs. On office days, I enjoy a quality fitted suit, a unique tie and a fun pocket square with some Chelsea boots. During my downtime, nothing beats a good fitting pair of jeans, a quality T-shirt and a tailored blazer. I love classic looks that can be accessorized and dressed up or down. What or who is your style inspiration? I like getting inspiration from my travels. It’s always interesting to see all the different styles and various fashions from around the world. I like to shop internationally for unique finds. Tom Ford is one of my favourite fashion icons and my favourite designer. What’s your favourite current thing to wear? Black skinny jeans and a black V-neck T-shirt with a scarf and my favourite leather jacket. Favourite local clothing store? I love the convenience of Harry Rosen — one-stop shop. Favourite local restaurant? I love food, all kinds of food! It’s one of my favourite ways to spend time with family and friends. Spiros Pizza is the perfect combination of old-school comfort homestyle dining and fantastic pizza. Atlas Specialty Supermarket & Persian Cuisine is my first choice for Persian food. And Vin Room is the perfect stop for great wine, cheeses and killer truffle popcorn! What are you currently reading? I always have about 10 different books on the go! I am currently reading Sapiens: a Brief History of Humankind, Screw Business As Usual, Living The Wisdom of the Tao: the Complete Tao Te Ching and Affirmations, The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living from the People Who’ve Lived the Longest and Judgment Detox: Release the Beliefs that Hold You Back From What is your greatest extravagance? Travel, by far. My greatest investments are in life experiences and adventure. Drink of choice? Single-malt Scotch is always a favourite. I love to go to Bar Annabelle for the great selection of Japanese whisky.

Dr. Jonathan Lee

Plastic surgeon at the Calgary Institute of Plastic Surgery and medical director at LAB 11.

THE CAST OF DISNEY AND CAMERON MACKINTOSH’S MARY POPPINS (2014). PHOTO BY DAVID COOPER

PLAYING with Fire

BY Käthe Lemon AND Sarah McMenemy

There are few things that make a room seem more warm and welcoming than a fire burning in a fireplace. But too often an unused fireplace is an unwelcome addition to a room, adding maintenance woes and taking up space in a central area. Replacing or renovating a fireplace and surround can be not only time consuming, but costly depending on the situation, so getting it right is paramount. We talked to local designers and decorators about what you need to consider, whether you’re building a new home, adding a fireplace to your current home or revamping an existing hearth.

Relieved of being the primary provider of heat, contemporary fireplaces play with style and ambiance.

Photograph by Phil Crozier

For gas fireplaces, the trend is shifting toward a more traditional look that replicates a log set rather than the glass beads that have been popular over the past few years.

ROOM DESIGNED BY NYLA FREE.

TREND ALERT: FLOOR-TO-CEILING . SURROUNDS .

According to decorator Louis Duncan-He, one of the biggest trends right now is playing with scale, especially floorto-ceiling surrounds.

LINEAR VS. SQUARE .

According to Jason Meyer, president of Hearth + Home Fireplace, for gas fireplaces the trend is toward taller fireboxes, while for wood-burning, the move is toward linear fireplaces like the one above, or on the previous page.

MODERN MATERIALS .

Modern fireboxes allow for combustible materials to be placed much closer to them. This means decorators and designers can even use wallpaper around certain models. According to interior designer LeAnne Bunnell, that ability to bring combustible materials right up to the firebox allows for very crisp and refined results.

FLOOR-TO-CEILING

Start with Intention

Designer LeAnne Bunnell tells clients to start by thinking about the intention of both the fireplace and the room you want it in. Is the fireplace meant to heat the room, create a focal point or add ambiance? “The aesthetic, the choice of gas versus wood, the size of the firebox and the finish selection, all hinge on the answer to these questions,” says Bunnell.

Self-taught interior decorator Louis Duncan-He echoes this sentiment. “A fireplace is a feature that naturally initiates gathering and conversation,” he says. “The way a family likes to spend quality time and entertain should inform the placement of the fireplace.”

Nyla Free, another Calgary-based interior designer, suggests thinking beyond the traditional placement of the fireplace in the living room. She notes that direct-vent fireplaces allow designers and homeowners to add a fireplace into a principal bedroom, dining room, outdoors or even into a bathroom.

No matter what your style or preference for gas or wood, there is a fireplace for you.

“The goal is for you to just love sitting beside your fireplace,” says Jason Meyer, president of Hearth + Home Fireplace.

Main photograph by Louis Duncan-He designs; smaller photographs by Phil Crozier (bedroom) and Jared Sych (living room)

ROOM DESIGNED BY LOUIS DUNCAN-HE.

ROOM DESIGNED BY NYLA FREE.

ROOM DESIGNED BY CHRIS KUZMANOVICH.

Wood vs. Gas

When thinking about whether to install (or convert) a wood- or gas-burning fireplace, again consider how you live, what you like about fires and how you want to use your fireplace.

Wood offers the advantage of a homey crackle, and the advantage (or disadvantage) of the smell of both wood and smoke. Gas is cleaner in every way: there are no ashes or wood chips to clean up, no smell and the fuel itself burns cleaner than traditional wood (although high-efficiency wood-burning fireplaces are more comparable). Gas inserts can also be installed more easily in many areas of the home.

“There is a lot to be said for the convenience of a gas fireplace,” says Duncan-He. “However, you just can’t replicate the smell, crackle and intimacy of a wood fireplace. I also really love the idea of there being a bit of a ritual in the starting of the fire.”

For many people though, the practical aspects of gas allow them to enjoy it that much more. “My favourite fireplace is the one I’m going to use the most,” says Meyer. “The fire creates its own magic in a space. It’s more than just warmth, so the more we have it in action — whether it’s wood or gas or electric — the more magic we create.”

TREND ALERT: CLEAN LINES .

Large-format tiles and stone slabs create cleaner visuals with fewer seams, allowing the beauty of the material to stand out, says interior designer Nyla Free.

STONE SLAB FIREPLACES

All photography by Jared Sych

ROOM DESIGNED BY LEANNE BUNNELL.

ROOM DESIGNED BY NICO HOMES. ROOM DESIGNED BY LEONARD DEVELOPMENT GROUP. ROOM DESIGNED BY REENA SOTROPA IN HOUSE DESIGN GROUP.

1 Meinklang Blauburgunder

Pinot Noir at Royale “I love the ambiance at Royale, and it’s the only place I can find this wine. I’m a huge fan of organic [and biodynamic] wine, and this one is purely biodynamic, tastes amazing and I never get a headache.”

2 sun & moon Aromatherapy

Sleep Masks by Tiffany Wollman “I’m a big fan of sleep, and I can’t sleep without my mask. Tiffany is a local artist, and she also does craft work like sleep masks She puts lavender and rose petals in them so they smell amazing.” (Thermae carries this product.)

Hannah Arcega

A self-described “health nerd,” Hannah Arcega has always known that health and beauty were connected. She began her career as a pediatric nurse, then moved to dermatology before co-founding Thermae Centre for Advanced Aesthetics with her sister Rossana, a physician, in 2002. At Thermae they blend traditional skin care with advanced medical treatments. Arcega says she wants to empower people to be the best versions of themselves. “I was 40 when I started my own business, which is kind of late,” she says, “but I think you just have to go and do your own thing.” Here are 10 things in Calgary she can’t live without.

3 Classic Body Oil by Jennifer

Joan Skincare “This is an allnatural luxury blend of essential oils for skin care, and it really is luxury. I love using the body oil after a shower, it just instantly hydrates.”

4 Barre Belle “I’m totally hooked. I went for three years in a row, and it completely transformed my body. It’s great for women because it really focuses on strengthening your core.”

6 The Gut Lab’s Chicken Bone Broth “Drinking bone broth is an old tradition, but it has really gained popularity as a health trend. The Gut Lab was created by two women, and it’s all locally made and great for your gut and immune system.”

7 Blush Lane Organic Market

“I really believe that beauty is health, so I always seek out the healthiest food. I go to Blush Lane [in Marda Loop] all the time because they offer all of the best organic produce.”

8 Weaselhead Flats “After work, I love going straight down to Weaselhead Flats park to unwind. You walk downhill to the river and you’re surrounded by trees and wildlife. It feels like you’re not even in the city.”

9 Lash Extensions at Fluff & Gaddess “I love not having to worry about wearing mascara or putting on false eyelashes. Fluff & Gaddess uses cashmere lashes, so they’re super fine and look really natural.”

10Bio-identical Hormone Replacement at EvolveWell

5 Henry Salad from Ten Foot

Henry “The best salad, handsdown. It has a tahini-miso vinaigrette and shiitake mushrooms. I love it and I could eat it every day.”

“The founder Jeanette Queen is a nurse practitioner and focuses on bio-identical hormone replacement. Having balanced hormones is so important to your overall health and beauty. It affects your metabolism and your energy.”

Photograph of Hannah by Asim Haque, Henry salad by Jared Sych, Bone broth supplied by The Gut Lab.

If you’ve been told you have gum disease and need deep cleaning, laser treatment, surgery or extractions, you may benefit from a visit to a periodontist.

Periodontists are specialists in treating gum disease, and they have a full understanding of the foundation structures that support teeth and implants.

They also know that straight, white teeth and a nice smile don’t necessarily mean you have a healthy mouth. Gum disease can begin to deteriorate your dental health before there are any visible symptoms. If left untreated, gums may swell and bleed, teeth can loosen or shift, and gum tissue may be lost. These are not normal signs of aging.

If these symptoms are ignored or treatment is delayed, gum disease can progress and may result in tooth loss and unsightly aesthetics.

Gum disease is the most common inflammatory disease in individuals today. It is also associated with other medical conditions including heart disease and diabetes.

When you are advised to get treatment for a gum-disease issue, you need the kind of expertise that a periodontist can provide.

WORK OF ART

CURATED BY Katherine Ylitalo

FISH

The giant eye of a super-size goldfish swimming up against the glass of its aquarium appears to follow you, as gazes do in some Renaissance portraits. The effect is one of the charms of the curved wall installation FISH on the third level of the new Central Library. The friendly creature has its mouth open, probably to breathe, but perhaps in wonderment at seeing you.

The illusion is convincing, bringing to mind a panoramic format of a digitally cropped, enlarged photographic detail. The coloured vertical pixels resemble fanciful bar codes in a palette mostly dominated by orange and blue. Upon close inspection, the image dissolves and the material reveals itself: each sliver of colour is in fact the spine of a hardcover, cloth-bound book.

TITLE: FISH, 2018

ARTIST: Christian Moeller

MEDIUM: Cloth-covered books, shelves.

SIZE: Approximately three metres by 14 m.

LOCATION: New Central Library, 3rd level, 800 3 St. S.E.

Approximately 11,000 books in 12 colours are lined up on bookshelves that reach floor to ceiling. The combination of digital technology and actual books poses a playful metaphor for the potential of a library as a place to apprehend the world through digital media and books. The installation also offers the particular satisfaction of facing an orderly arrangement of books on shelves.

Artist Christian Moeller brings innovation to a wide range of materials — he also designed the three bobbing sculptures, TRIO, that welcome library visitors outside. Moeller trained and worked in Germany and Austria before moving to the United States, where he is now the chair of the Design Media Arts department of UCLA. Among his public art projects around the world are two earlier library-book murals. FISH is the most complex, with curved shelves and a wider spectrum of colour. It is also the most whimsical, in line with the call for public art by the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation, lead developer of the new library.

As with other CMLC East Village projects, art was integral from the outset, so the artist could develop the installation to fit with the overall design of the building. FISH takes advantage of the natural light, echoes the graceful curves and arches of the architecture and is part of the library experience of exploration.

Photography by Alana Willerton

Giving into the Next Generation

Every family has their own traditions –perhaps it’s making a gingerbread house together or playing board games on a Sunday night. The Gibson family embraces similar rituals, but they started a new tradition five years ago that will contribute to their community for generations to come.

Once a year at Thanksgiving, Bob and Laurie Gibson, and their daughters, Nicole and Meghan, put their minds together to decide which charities they will support from their family endowment fund at Calgary Foundation.

“Calgary Foundation’s knowledge of community needs sets it apart. Their investment returns and expertise in grant making make it a compelling partner for anyone looking to establish an endowment legacy,” says Bob. “They really put our money to work.”

Since setting up the fund, the Gibson Family Fund has already granted one fifth of the original amount, with the money in the fund now greater than what they donated. “Essentially, that money lasts in perpetuity and keeps on giving,” Bob continues. “That is the power of endowment.”

Find your place at

This year, Calgary Foundation granted $45.2 million to 919 charitable organizations, making a difference in all parts of community.