Avenue August 2017

CALGARY’S

SEE WHICH COMMUNITY RANKS NUMBER ONE!

piano | festival | competition

FESTIVAL

FOUR DAYS OF MUSIC WITH A SIDE OF MAPLE SYRUP.

7 TO 10 SEPTEMBER 2017 | T ick ETS aT h O n E n S.c OM

AN INSPIRED PERSPECTIVE ON CALGARY

The Paramount Suites on the highest floors of the buildings feature over 1800 square feet of open living space, expansive balconies and panoramic views of the Calgary skyline and Rocky Mountains. Suites start at $1.4 Million.

“I’m proud to be Canadian because we have an all-inclusive culture that I’m proud to raise my family in Jenny Shouldice TV Personality

Outfit by Blu’s Hair by Hedkandi Nails by Butter

306152 64 Street W, Rural Foothills, AB $4,200,000 Dennis Plintz 403.608.1112

Sotheby’s Auction House has been marketing the world’s most cherished possessions since 1744

#404 600 Princeton Way SW, Calgary, AB

Bright and airy sub-penthouse in the luxurious Princeton Grand- the pinnacle of luxury downtown urban living. MLS C4106791

Waddell

#324 63 Inglewood Park SE, Calgary, AB

Stunning 2 bedroom 2 bathroom contemporary 900 sq.ft. industrial loft-like suite at SoBow in Inglewood. MLS C4109469 Julie Dempsey & Tim Huxley

#3902 1188 3 Street SE, Calgary, AB Paramount Suite - The Guardian - panoramic views, +1,725 sq.ft., 2 bedrooms, 3 baths, media room & 2 parking stalls. MLS C4103552

#501 250 Marina Way, Penticton, BC

Lofted Penthouse unit with 1,762 sq.ft. of interior living space and 20 foot floor to ceiling windows. MLS C4124377

#1511 450 8 Avenue SE, Calgary, AB

Brand new 2 bedroom/2 bathroom, fully furnished condo on the top floor of N3 Condos in East Village. MLS C4122588

$1,859,000

Unique parcel of land; nestled between 2 hills, with stunning views of the mountains. MLS C4121975

Marianna Kindrachuk 403.870.1700

306152 64 Street W, Rural Foothills, AB

Polospring Farm offers a stunning home, guest house, and equestrian facilities on 360 acres. MLS C4122448

11370 Valley Ridge Park NW, Calgary, AB

Set on an acre, Evergreen on the Bow is a stunning Timberock Home designed into the surrounding forests. MLS C4123651

2222 13 Street SW, Calgary, AB

Huge 75’ x 185’ lot in Mount Royal with 6 bed/3.5 bath home. 3,179 sq.ft. plus 1,315 sq.ft. walk-out. Quad garage. MLS C4110458

$1,365,000

19 Summit Pointe Drive, Heritage Pointe, AB

This property is a melding of open spaces, with discreetly placed walls & varying ceiling heights adding to the uniqueness. MLS C4122440

Adam Kuzik 403.233.4577

$1,650,000

67 Lakeshore Drive, Rural Kananaskis, AB

An idyllic escape along the shores of Lower Kananasksis Lake less than an hour and a half from Calgary. MLS C4119962

Christopher Vincent 403.707.8048

$1,495,500

56 Pumpmeadow Crescent SW, Calgary, AB

Huge well-treed lot on quiet street in prestigious Pump Hill. Bright and sunny 6,088 sq.ft. of living quarters. MLS C4123265

Renata Reid 403.630.3991

A rare brick home on a corner lot in Elbow Park with historical character seamlessly blended with modern luxury. MLS C4112918

$1,350,000

326 39 Avenue SW, Calgary, AB

Stunning character home with gorgeous renovations and curb appeal in sought-after Elbow Park. MLS C4124424

Dennis Plintz 403.608.1112

$1,297,000

92 Joseph Marquis Crescent SW, Calgary, AB

This fabulous executive home backing onto a park with many upgraded features is stylish and comfortable. MLS C4121991

Heather Waddell 403.471.0467

$800,000

709 18 Avenue NW, Calgary, AB

2 Storey attached quality build with high end granite, in floor heating, ICF concrete walls, and south-facing backyard. MLS C4112187

Kyle Stone 403.669.5390

« CONDOS SINGLE FAMILY»

HEALTHY, CONNECTED LIVING IN A VIBRANT FAMILY-FRIENDLY COMMUNITY

A fully master-planned community that embraces its natural surroundings, Carrington connects active, healthy living with beautiful home designs in one of Calgary’s most desirable locations. Within or adjacent to the community are ample green spaces, including the Rotary/Mattamy Greenway with paths connecting residents to the Green Corridor and amenities within the community. This inspiring collection of Townhomes and Detached homes is a unique community to live, play and grow.

43

Best Neighbourhoods

Our annual Best Neighbourhoods survey uses feedback from our readers and data from the City and others to rank Calgary’s communities. See which ones came out on top in 2017.

By Shelley

62

Main Attraction

Building neighbourhoods around a walkable main street is both an old-world and progressive model. We look at what the City of Calgary and new-community developers are doing to make main streets vital again.

By Cara Casey

68

Great Things in Great Neighbourhoods

Our annual roundup of things and places that will make you want to get out and explore parts of the city you’ve never been to before.

By Shelley Arnusch,

Inspiring Chefs

Some of Calgary’s premier chefs, including Michael Noble, Jessica Pelland and Liana Robberecht, let us in on what inspires them. Plus, a look at how those working in chef-driven, brand-driven and classic-cuisine-driven restaurants find their muses.

By

Arnusch, Andrew Guilbert, Käthe Lemon and Karin Olafson

Meredith Bailey, Jennifer Hamilton and Andrew Jeffrey

Shannon Cleary, Jacquie Moore, Gwendolyn Richards and Julia Williams

33 Detours

Meet the founder of the 100% Skate Club, an all-ages, girls-only skateboarding community in the city. Plus, a look at a project that’s aiming to capture the rich legacy of late sports announcer Ed Whalen.

93 Mountains

Avoid the beaten path (and the Banff/Jasper National Park throngs) and head for one of these less-crowded locales.

102 Style Q&A

Vine Arts’ brown-spirits expert Aaron Prasad explains the evolution of his look and why the boulevardier is his cocktail dopplegänger.

40 Good Taste

Everything you need to serve up a Southern-barbecue feast in the Great White North, from meats and sauces to sides and salads.

98 Wellness

Navigating cancer care options can be a trying, confusing task. Avenue talks to individuals facing the challenge of isolation and loss of self-esteem and profiles six services and organizations involved in access to care.

106 Decor

How Laurie and Raman Minhas created a decor aesthetic to suit their growing family.

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‘‘The Haskayne MBA empowered me to transition my career from engineering to business, my true passion. The program taught me how to embrace challenges and how to take control of my career. My time at the Haskayne School of Business was an excellent experience and helped push me to become stronger, a better leader and ultimately more accomplished.

Trevor Sterner, MBA’11 Senior Finance Manager ATB Financial

The Haskayne MBA. Calgary’s MBA.

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The Best Place

Loving Calgary is one of the occupational hazards of working for Avenue.

It’s both our job and our privilege to learn as much as we can about the city and understand what makes it great. That includes an annual deep dive into a well of data on almost 200 residential neighbourhoods in the city, allowing us to see what’s going on in individual communities and compare them.

Although our annual Best Neighbourhoods survey pits communities against each other in a sense, ranking them based on criteria determined by survey respondents, year after year the most striking revelation is that, regardless of whether the economy is booming or experiencing a downturn, the city continues to grow and improve.

One example of the work being done right now to make our neighbourhoods better is in the approach the City and new developers are taking when it comes to main streets. While the neighbourhoods built in the late 20th century tended to be car-centric, with large groups of similar types of homes built within driving distance of a big-box shopping hub or mall, several communities that local developers are working on today feature a walkable main street and a mix of different styles and sizes of homes.

These communities of the future look a lot like some of the inner-city communities of the past,

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

with living spaces, working spaces and socializing spaces all in walkable proximity. Along with the new communities being built from the ground up, the City has launched its own initiative to improve main streets in existing communities.

The ways we live in our communities also continues to evolve, and it appears that the City and community developers are in sync in key areas. In our survey we found that Calgarians value green space above all other characteristics — parks and pathways were the number one thing that respondents told us makes a neighbourhood a great place to live — and the City is responding to that by creating new parks and

EDITOR ’ S PICK

August is the perfect time for a mountain getaway. See our last-minute trip suggestions on page 93.

redeveloping existing parks in both new and older communities.

In this issue, we also tap into the local community of chefs to learn about what inspires them creatively (page 78). We’ve also brought back our annual Great Things in Great Neighbourhoods roundup (page 68) that pinpoints unique places and things in neighbourhoods around the city.

Whether these stories inspire you to get more involved with your community, to get out and explore parts of the city you may not know or to seek out a new restaurant, we hope your love for the city grows a bit bigger as well.

It’s patio season and boy do we have a good one!

BEST IN CANADA

We’re usually not ones to brag, but this time we can’t help ourselves! Our Kensington Townhouse project just won the CHBA award for best multifamily project in Canada. The project’s success started with our collaborative design approach to make sure that each dwelling suited the needs of our clients. A continuous stream of communication during the construction process ensured that the finished homes were built to the clients’ and Alloy’s standards... Needless to say, we are proud of what we do!

CONTRIBUTORS

403-264-3667

alloyhomes.com

info@alloyhomes.com

ANDREA COX

Andrea Cox is a freelance writer, editor and photographer with passions for architecture, design, urban planning, food, wine and sustainable living. Her work has appeared in newspapers and magazines across the country and abroad. She has held the position of editor for several niche publications and was the regional managing editor of Our Homes Magazine. She is currently working toward an MFA in creative writing from Fairleigh Dickinson University and penning her first novel. Cox lives in Calgary with her daughter Lauren and their Maltese puppy, Casey.

TEDDY KANG

Teddy Kang is a freelance illustrator based in Toronto. He currently creates art and illustrations for a range of editorial and commercial clients including Reader’s Computer Arts, Life Monthly and others. Kang is one of the “25 most creative visual artists under the age of 25 in the world,” according to Adobe Photoshop. He has also been recognized by the 3x3 Illustration Show, The AOI (Association of Illustrators) and the Hiii Illustration International Competition. To see more of his work, visit teddykang.com.

REBECCA MIDDLEBROOK

Rebecca Middlebrook graduated with a degree in communications studies from the University of Calgary and a diploma in graphic communications and print technology from SAIT Polytechnic. To counter her desk life as a production designer for Avenue, she spends as much time outdoors as possible — hiking, backcountry camping and drinking wine in her yard. When she’s not having fun mountainside, she loves to cook, eat and hang out with her dog, two cats and husband (not necessarily in that order).

SILVIA PIKAL

Silvia Pikal is a Calgary-based freelance writer and prose editor of FreeFall literary magazine. She has written on a range of topics, from the stigma surrounding mental illness to food and entertainment. When she’s not working, you’ll find her at local food or literary events, hosting a dinner party or planning her next trip. To balance out her love of cheese and chocolate, Pikal runs, hikes and attempts yoga — she once held crow pose for three seconds and was very proud. Find her on Twitter @silviapikal.

SPONSORED EVENT

TIMERAISER150 IS A CANADA

10 Timeraiser150 parties in 10 provinces allow Canadians to bid on original art by investing volunteer time, not dollars, to causes they care about. Each Timeraiser150 pulls out all the stops to throw a great party. From live performances to delicious local food and drink. Timeraiser is truly a celebration of creativity and community!

2017

Avenue is proud to support local initiatives in our community. Visit AvenueCalgary.com/events to find out more about upcoming events in the city.

photo credit: Kelly Hofer

2017

LIVE A CREATIVE LIFE

What does creativity bring to the business community and the City as a whole? We check in with representatives of several organizations engaging with Calgary Arts Development’s Live a Creative Life initiative.

BULLISH ON BUILDING

Despite high vacancy rates, Calgary developers have kept building condos, office complexes and new residential developments. We talk to the experts about why the building trend continues and why it’s a good time to buy.

FALL FASHION

Our look at this season’s fashion trends for women.

Photograph by Jason Stang

cityDETOURS

Feminine Wheels

Erica Jacobs is very familiar with the gendered stereotypes people have when it comes to skateboarding, an activity she’s been doing for going on 15 years.

“When I skateboard down the street, people turn their head twice because they’re like, ‘is that actually a girl on a skateboard?’” Jacobs says. “I remember when I first started doing it, I was like, ‘I wonder if people are ever going to stop turning their head.’”

Extreme Cowboy competitor Heather Burchnall.

Photographs by Marlene Hielema

100% Skate Club founder Erica Jacobs.

Having long questioned why she was surrounded by men in skateboarding, in 2015, Jacobs founded the 100% Skate Club, an all-ages, girlsonly skateboarding community that she hoped would encourage more women to participate.

The club has thus far exceeded her expectations. Based on turnout at its weekly Wednesday meet-ups at various skate parks throughout the city (the club primarily skates outdoors and goes on hiatus during the winter), Jacobs estimates participation doubled from 40 women in 2015 to 80 in 2016. Members range from five to 50 years old, coming from all over Calgary and even Red Deer and Medicine Hat.

Jacobs’ positive work in her community coincides with what she predicts could be a wider appreciation for skateboarding in upcoming years thanks to the exposure it will receive when it debuts as an Olympic sport at the 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo. She’s also excited at the potential for more women to carve out careers for themselves in skateboarding — as the sport grows in popularity so do the opportunities for people to be involved in the athletic and business sides of it.

Olympics and lofty career ambitions notwithstanding, the mandate of the club is grassroots — to provide a space for participants

to be active, discover their passion for skateboarding within an inclusive community and create new friendships. Jacobs says some teenaged girls in the club have told her that they have struggled with depression and making friends and that the club gives them something to look forward to.

“The greatest reward is hearing how the girls are affected by skateboarding,” Jacobs says.

“You see the girls making friends and now, all of a sudden, these teenage girls that were maybe struggling can share something in common and forge friendships that could last a lifetime.”

—Andrew Jeffrey

Insider

JOSH MULLER, CO-OWNER OF BOLDER CLIMBING COMMUNITY, ON PLANNING THE PERFECT CLIMBING WALL.

More than 5,000 square feet of bouldering await climbers at Bolder Climbing Community, all of which had to be planned out. The team at Bolder experimented with more than 50 models over three months before settling on the current design.

“The training wall we kept really simple, really basic,” Bolder owneroperator Josh Muller says. “You want to have a much more uniform or plain angle, because it allows you to create your own movements with no permanent limitation.”

On other walls, Bolder used steep angles to create more difficult routes for climbers looking to challenge themselves. In the middle of the gym is a boulder feature that Muller calls the “showpiece.”

“When you walk in the gym, it’s what you see first,” he says. “We wanted a bit of a shockand-awe effect, so we went a little out of our character with it and added a lot more angle changes and funky features than we typically would, primarily just to shock people.” —

A.J.

100% Skate Club members.

“THE GREATEST REWARD IS HEARING HOW THE GIRLS ARE AFFECTED BY SKATEBOARDING.”

—Erica Jacobs

Whalen and Dealin’

“Hello, hockey fans!”

For many Calgarians, this catchphrase is an unmistakable reminder of one of their city’s most beloved figures.

Ed Whalen was the voice of Calgary sports for years, calling Stampede Wrestling play-byplays for more than a quarter century as well as Flames’ games for two decades, before passing away in 2001. Now, Al Del Degan and Liam Rathgeber are compiling and preserving his life story through their startup company, Capturing Legacies.“I grew up in Okotoks, [watching] Calgary TV, and Ed Whalen is the first celebrity that I can remember ever being aware of as himself,” Rathgeber says. “He was just such a character on his own; he had such a distinctive voice.”

Del Degan launched Capturing Legacies two years ago, with Rathgeber coming onboard a year later. The pair conduct interviews and research an

individual’s life and compile all the information and stories they find into a leather-bound keepsake book, a series of audio files, an ebook or a website (based on the family’s preference).

The idea behind Capturing Legacies is to record the history of everyday people so that their stories can be passed on from generation to generation, but Del Degan and Rathgeber wanted to launch their service by sharing a local celebrity’s story.

“[Ed Whalen] just loved Calgary,” Del Degan says. “He donated a lot of his time and effort to local charities. If you’re going to do a profile of somebody, why not pick someone people relate to and care about?”

The two have interviewed Whalen’s family and friends, cultivating a range of stories from the broadcaster’s life. There’s the one about an album of Sinatra songs Whalen sang and recorded for his wife, the farewell the Flames organization

gave him when he retired in 1999 and a ring Whalen bought for his wife that was delivered after he passed away.

The Whalen project is a labour of love for the two fans, with all proceeds going toward the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation, a charity Whalen himself supported.

The project will be completed later this year and Whalen’s story will eventually be made available to the public via ebook. Until then, Capturing Legacies will be posting items online for fans to read. —A.J.

Ed Whalen and his wife, Nomi Whalen.

Openings

COTTO ITALIAN COMFORT FOOD

Located in Pie Cloud’s former space in Kensington, the recently opened Cotto Italian Comfort Food offers a thoughtful menu of classic Italian fare in a comfortable environment. Owner and chef Giuseppe Di Gennaro serves a variety of pastas such as pappardelle ragu, meaty entrees such as grilled sirloin and vanillabean pannacotta for dessert. 314D 10 St. N.W., 587-356-4088, cottoyyc.com, @cottoyyc

BARRE BELLE

Barre Belle’s third location in Auburn Bay offers five different fitness classes that incorporate barre work and other exercises.

Designer Alykhan Velji outfitted the new studio with a mixture

of modern black-and-white decor and bohemian details. Childcare is also available during workouts. 608, 100 Auburn Meadows Dr. S.E., 587-356-3596, barrebelle. ca, @barrebelleyyc

OLLIE QUINN

The first Ollie Quinn location in Alberta is now open in Lower Mount Royal. The sleek, minimalist-styled eyewear store only carries its signature designed-in-house brand,

offering 70 different frame styles for men and women, with all frames priced at $145. Ollie Quinn also offers optometry services. 829 17 Ave. S.W., 403-287-9977, olliequinn.ca, @oqstories

PLATO’S CLOSET

Teens and young adults can up their fashion game affordably at this consignment store in southwest Calgary. The shop is just over 4,000 square feet and carries gently used apparel and accessories from brands such as Forever 21, American Eagle and Urban Outfitters. Get your hands on a stylish top or pair of shoes for around 50 to 70 per cent less than the original price.

10233 Elbow Dr. S.W., platosclosetcalgarysouth.com

Barre Belle photograph by Klassen Photography

Barre Belle studio.

Even More Events in August

Calgary International Blues Festival

this month do to

SPORT TOUR DE BOWNESS

AUG. 5 TO 7

This three-day event started in 2001 and is now the biggest amateur bike race in the province. The tour features a road race in the region around Cochrane, a hill climb up MacKay Road in Montgomery and a short speed race (known as a criterium) that loops past Bowness Road. Watch one race or take in all three events over the three days. 403-202-4359, tourdebowness.com

MUSICAL THEATRE THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA

AUG. 9 TO 20

Broadway Across Canada brings Andrew Lloyd Webber’s awardwinning musical to the Calgary stage this month. It’s the same story (based on the French novel by Gaston Leroux) and score that you know (you’ll hear “Angel of Music” and “Think of Me”) but with new choreography and special effects.

Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, 1-866-532-7469, calgary.broadway.com

FESTIVAL CALGARY JAPANESE FESTIVAL “OMATSURI”

AUG. 12

Learn about Japanese culture this month by attending this festival. (The word omatsuri can be translated to mean “traditional festival” in Japanese.) The oneday event includes Japanese arts and crafts as well as kiosks selling Japanese foods. In the past, the festival has also included sake tastings, kimono-dressing demonstrations and anime screenings.

Max Bell Centre, calgaryjapanesefestival.com

FOOD BREWERY AND THE BEAST

AUG. 20

This outdoor food festival is for all the meat- and beer-lovers out there. Festival attendees can sample a range of premium proteins prepared by local chefs from restaurants such as Ricardo’s Hideaway, Pigeonhole and Trolley 5, and wash everything down with a beer (or wine or cider) while listening to live music. Pumphouse Park, 2140 Pumphouse Ave. S.W., breweryandthebeast.com

MUSIC

K.D. LANG

AUG. 23 TO 24

Singer-songwriter k.d. lang is celebrating the 25th anniversary of her platinum-selling album Ingénue with a cross-Canada tour. This 1992 album was a breakthrough success for the Albertaborn lang, earning her multiple Grammy Award nominations. Hear all the hits like “Constant Craving” and “Miss Chatelaine” as well as other songs from the original album.

Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, 403-297-8000, jubileeauditorium.com

JULY 31 TO AUG. 6 Various venues, calgarybluesfest.com

Calgary Fringe Festival

AUG. 4 TO 12

Various venues, calgaryfringe.ca

Taste of Calgary

AUG. 10 TO 13

Eau Claire Plaza, tasteofcalgary.com

Calgary Dragon Boat Race and Festival

AUG. 12 AND 13

North Glenmore Park, calgarydragonboatsociety.com

GlobalFest

AUG. 15 TO 26

Elliston Park, globalfest.ca

ReggaeFest

AUG. 17 TO 19

Shaw Millennium Park, reggaefest.ca

Country Thunder

AUG. 18 TO 20

Prairie Winds Park, countrythunder.com

Expo Latino

AUG. 18 TO 20

Prince’s Island Park, expolatino.com

Calgary Pride

AUG. 25 TO SEP. 4 Various locations, pridecalgary.ca

Tour de Bowness photograph by Higuchi Photos

Brewery and the Beast.

Tour de Bowness.

GOOD TASTE

BY Julie Van Rosendaal PHOTOGRAPH BY Jared Sych

Cue the ’Cue

Living on the prairies shouldn’t stop you from enjoying some Southern-style barbecue, but there’s no need to own a smoker or make cornbread from scratch to pull off an authentic spread in your own backyard.

COOKED MEATS

If you don’t have your own backyard smoker, you can order Wade Made smoked brisket, ribs, pulled pork, chicken, turkey, bacon, back bacon and sausages from Boreal Cuisine, whose portable smoker brings smoked meats to the masses.

403-836-6587, borealchef.com

BARBECUE SAUCE

Holy Smoke BBQ has an array of dry rubs and house-made sauces to take home and dress up burgers, steaks, chops, chicken, wings or ribs. Choose from House, Mesquito, Pig Pickin’, Smokin’

Hot Mama and Lip Blister sauces. If you’re craving smoked meat, pick up some ribs to go.

4, 4640 Manhattan Rd. S.E., holysmokebbq.ca

MAC ’N’ CHEESE

There is no more popular barbecue side than mac ’n’ cheese. Pick it up fresh or frozen and heat in your oven or on the upper rack of your grill until it’s bubbly and golden.

216, 10816 Macleod Tr. S., 403-264-6336, meezcuisine.com

BUNS

The Parker House buns from Glamorgan bakery make a soft envelope in which to tuck pulled pork or sliced brisket and slaw, or use them to mop up your plate.

19, 3919 Richmond Rd. S.W., 403-242-2800, glamorganbakery.com

POTATO SALAD

The newly made-over Cured Delicatessen in Haysboro has creamy and German-style (vinegar-based) potato salads you can pick up by the tub. While you’re there, grab some fresh and house-cured sausages that would be welcome on any grill.

8409 Elbow Dr. S.W., 403-244-0570, curedyyc.com, @cureddeliyyc

TIP: LOCAL MEATS

Apna Desi specializes in locally sourced chicken, fish, lamb and goat, butchered and marinated in robust spice blends, ready to toss on the ’cue.

734, 5075 Falconridge Blvd. N.E., 403-568-4455

BEST NEIGHBOUR HOODS

2017

ach year since 2010, Avenue has worked with Leger, a research and marketing company, to run a survey that gets to the heart of the question: What are Calgary’s best neighbourhoods to live in?

Rather than simply voting for their favourite neighbourhood, survey respondents consider various characteristics and tell us which ones are most important when they think about a good neighbourhood. Are parks and pathways preferable to bars and boutiques, for example? Is it more important to have access to major roads than access to schools? Is proximity to a public library preferable to proximity to a movie theatre?

Each year we tweak the survey for clarity and to respond to the previous year’s results, eliminating characteristics that were deemed unimportant to most and trying new questions. We also update the quantitative data that Leger uses to compare each neighbourhood once we know how important each characteristic is.

This year, we did a total data overhaul and that caused a few exciting changes in the results.

With the launch of the City of Calgary’s Open Data Portal in late 2016, we had access to more detailed and more accurate information than ever before. What changed the most this year was how we counted parks. Previously, we simply counted how many green spaces were in each neighbourhood. Using the City’s open data, we could include information on the actual amount of park space — the more hectares a park is, the more points we allocated to it. This change caused some big movements in the rankings. Varsity moved from 47th overall in 2016 to first and Edgemont moved from 70th in 2016 to third.

In many other ways, the results are similar to what we have found in the past. This year, Calgarians’ top-five most important neighbourhood characteristics were access to parks and pathways, low crime, walkability, access to restaurants, cafés and pubs, and high community engagement. In 2016, parks and pathways, low crime and access to restaurants were also among the top five.

It’s important to note that the best neighbourhoods in Calgary, as determined by this survey, aren’t necessarily going to be the best for every Calgarian in the city. Different people value — and need — different things. Fortunately, each neighbourhood offers something that makes it the best to someone and there is a neighbourhood that offers the best for each of us. K.O.

BY Shelley Arnusch, Andrew Guilbert, Käthe Lemon AND Karin Olafson PHOTOGRAPHY BY Jared Sych

BY Shelley Arnusch

VARSITY

This year’s overall Best Neighbourhood sits in that sweet spot where you get all the best parts of being both old and new. Seniors aging in place in modest bungalows share calm streets lined with mature trees with energetic young families in new builds, creating a nice, welcoming mix.

The neighbourhood also occupies a sweet spot in terms of getting around. Located just west of the University of Calgary, residents get the benefit of both a reasonable commute to downtown (either by vehicle or via the C-Train from the Brentwood and Dalhousie stations on Varsity’s eastern edge) and an easy escape to the Rockies.

The banks of the Bow River beckon to the south, while Market Mall provides a convenient hub of shopping amenities within the community, everything from fun and frivolous boutiques to a full-sized Safeway grocery store.

Varsity’s streets and pathways are conducive to walking around, yet the neighbourhood’s expansiveness means you never feel fenced-in — even the actual fenced-in residential lots are spacious and comfortable-feeling. Plentiful park space and recreation facilities, including the scenic Silver Springs Golf and Country Club on the banks of the Bow, encourage active living in residents of all ages.

It’s a neighbourhood with a view, a river on one side and the C-Train on the other, wide-open sunny spaces and mature, shade-giving trees. It perfectly encapsulates what expat Calgarians dream about when they think about home, and it’s why Varsity deservedly owns the sporting chant of “we’re number one!”

ROOM TO IMPROVE

While it’s hard to find fault with Varsity, advocates for urban density would identify the relatively low number of people per square kilometre (1,855) as potential grounds for improvement. The proximity to the university and the neighbourhood’s conduciveness to a car-free lifestyle would make Varsity a prime candidate for secondary suites; however, as of January 2017 there were no approved secondary suites registered in the community.

2016 population 12,612

Crime rate 64.94

Walk score 62

Transit score 56

Commuters who walk or bike 11.8%

Engagement score 95.88*

Average tax assessment value $495,000

Change in average tax assessment value from 2013 9.29%

CROWCHILDTRAIL

* The Engagement Score is calculated based on the percentage of community members who are members of the community association; number and frequency of community events, communications and projects; and voter turnout in the last municipal election.

ROOM TO IMPROVE

17th AVENUE S.W. CROWCHILD TRAIL DEERFOOT TRAIL MACLEOD TRAIL

2. GLENMORE TRAIL

2016 population .................. 21,958

The vibrant area south of the downtown core known as the Beltline is chock full of great restaurants, cool cocktail bars, packed pubs, bumpin’ nightclubs, boutiques and bookstores, coffeehouses, yoga studios, boxing studios and anything else a connected Calgarian would be tuned into. Tucked into the mix are charming urban parks and green spaces to chill out in, heritage monuments like the Memorial Park Library and Lougheed House to explore and admire, a handful of hip hotels and a variety of options for residents to do their grocery shopping and run drugstore errands. Plus, you can get your bike fixed, get your skis tuned and get yourself a nice bottle of wine, all within a few buzzing blocks.

Sure, living in the heart of the action isn’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea, but for the many Calgarians seeking a vibrant scene (not to mention an easy walk, bike or skateboard ride to work), the Beltline brings it.

SARCEE TRAIL BOW RIVER

It should come as a surprise to no one that a highly populated area with an active nightlife that draws crowds from outside the community will have problems with crime. The Beltline’s rate of 439 crimes per capita is this inner-city neighbourhood’s Achilles heel, putting it leagues above the 65 crimes per capita of top-ranked Varsity.

BELTLINE

3.

Crime rate 438.66

Walk score ................................. 90

Transit score 76

Commuters who walk or bike .. 41.9%

Engagement score 121.38

Average tax assessment value $306,000

Change in average tax assessment value from 2013 9.48%

Nose Hill Park, the expansive prairie-grassland preserve in the city’s northwest, is a huge asset (literally) to the neighbourhoods nestled around its borders. It’s one of the key reasons why Edgemont, which tucks up against Nose Hill Park to the west, edged up into the top five this year.

ROOM TO IMPROVE

Easy access to arteries such as John Laurie Boulevard and Shaganappi Trail is a boon for car commuters, but outside of that, the picture gets bleak. With strikingly low scores in both walkability and transit access, just over two per cent of Edgemont residents walk or bike to work.

2016 population 15,708

Crime rate 36.92

Walk score 33

NOSE HILL PARK

But Edgemont has more going for it than just its proximity to this favoured destination of cyclists, runners and owners of energetic dogs. The community association’s membership count of 780 exceeds that of top-ranked neighbourhood Varsity, and Edgemont also scores high in the area of community-supported projects. These, and other indicators of healthy community involvement, could be due to the fact that the neighbourhood is comprised primarily of single-family homes, with the majority of dwellings (86 per cent) occupied by the homeowners. That pride of ownership, in both home and community, is likely one of the reasons Edgemont can also claim a reassuringly low crime rate, well below any of its fellow top-five.

STONEY TRAIL STONEY TRAIL CROWCHILDTRAIL DEERFOOT TRAIL 16thAVE

Transit score 37 Commuters who walk or bike 2.1%

Engagement score 111.01

Average tax assessment value $552,000

Change in average tax assessment value from 2013 9.06%

Brentwood is a perennial strong finisher in the Best Neighbourhoods survey, which makes sense since it has many similar attributes to this year’s numberone, Varsity. Brentwood sits just across Crowchild Trail to the north of Varsity, positioning it to be walkable to the University of Calgary and just a zip of a commute downtown, either by car or C-Train from Brentwood station. Residents include a mix of old-timers and young families and everyone in between, with a vibrant universitystudent population, as well.

A wealth of shopping amenities includes four grocery stores. There are also several communityfostering organizations within the neighbourhood, including a Calgary Public Library branch, a community garden and the well-used Brentwood Sportsplex, which is a hub for everything from figure-skating and hockey programs to Scrabble and bridge groups. All contribute to the sense that this is a neighbourhood that’s friendly, fun and comfortable in its skin.

BRENTWOO

ROOM TO IMPROVE

From the outside, Brentwood seems like the ideal community for aging in place; however, the lack of any nursing-home facilities means that long-time residents who might require this kind of care in their twilight years are forced to uproot.

SIGNAL HILL

The west-end neighbourhood of Signal Hill is easily identified by the striking geoglyphs on the hillside at Battalion Park. The large-scale installation of whitewashed stones placed to create groupings of numbers serves as a memorial to the Albertan soldiers who fought in the First World War in battalions 137, 113, 151 and 51. This unique fusion of heritage and public art sets Signal Hill apart — as does the exceptional shopping at the base of the hill. Westhills Shopping Centre is practically a neighbourhood in its own right, with everything from a Real Canadian Superstore (with liquor store and gas bar) to a Cineplex Odeon multiplex. Among the vast array of retail options is arguably the city’s best Winners store, which contains a trove of high-end designer items at double-take prices.

Bordered to the south by Highway 8, Signal Hill is also well positioned for getting out to the mountains, whether for biking in Bragg Creek in the summer or skiing at Nakiska in the winter. For these reasons, and more, it can proudly claim its spot in the top five.

ROOM TO IMPROVE

While Signal Hill has an admirable number of registered community members, the neighbourhood lacks a community centre, which hinders its community engagement.

BY Andrew Guilbert

6. Huntington Hills

Nestled between Nose Hill Park and Deerfoot Trail, Huntington Hills scored among the top Calgary neighbourhoods for playgrounds, access to libraries and parks and pathways. It also ranked among the top 15 for recreation facilities, schools and grocery stores. Between its community centre and sportsplex — which offers a number of recreational programs such as curling, soccer and ringette — and its skateboard park, there’s always something happening in the Hills.

7. Bridgeland/ Riverside

As the home to great restaurants such as Shiki Menya, Tazza and Blue Star Diner, Bridgeland/Riverside has people talking (often with their mouths full). A wealth of amenities — including grocery and drug stores — as well as proximity to downtown make this inner-city community very walkable, and more than 20 per cent of commuters here opt to bike or walk to work.

8. Arbour Lake

At the crossroads of Stoney Trail and Crowchild Trail, this northwest community is well situated for getting around the city and getting out to the mountains. But it’s what’s inside this neighbourhood that really counts, particularly the residents’ association members-only beach around the community’s eponymous lake. Not surprisingly, Arbour Lake also benefits from a high community-engagement score.

9. Downtown Commercial Core

High walkability and easy access to public transit make living in the Downtown Commercial Core carefree for the car-free set. This urban area also brings an abundance of shops and restaurants to the table, as well as the theatrical and musical happenings at Arts Commons and the summer fountain-turned-winter skating rink at Olympic Plaza.

10. Crescent Heights

Straddling Centre Street, just north of the Bow River, Crescent Heights benefits from being close to downtown, with the walkability and transit access that affords. A variety of amenities and good community engagement also helped this ’hood rise in the rankings. It’s also home to McHugh Bluff Park, which offers one of the most picturesque views of the city’s skyline.

883.19

93

84

THE BEST OF THE REST

BY Karin Olafson

Scenic Acres #11

Located near some impressive green spaces like Baker Park, Bowmont Park and 12 Mile Coulee Park, it’s not surprising that Scenic Acres is one of the best neighbourhoods in Calgary for access to parks and pathways. The community also offers indoor recreation opportunities at the Crowchild Twin Arena.

Bowness #12

The number of “I Bowness” stickers out there is evidence of how much Bownesians feel connected to their ’hood. And the data backs that up — Bowness received the fifth-highest community-engagement score this year. Of course, it’s easy to be proud when you can claim lovely Bowness Park as your own.

Dalhousie #19

Three of Dalhousie’s four sides are major roads, making it easy to get downtown, to the Dalhousie Station Shopping Centre (where there’s also an LRT station and a Park ’n’ Ride) or out to the mountains.

NORTH WEST

Silver Springs #16

Like its neighbour Scenic Acres, Silver Springs has great access to parks and pathways. The majority of 164-hectare Bowmont Park is within Silver Springs’ boundaries, while Bowness Park and Baker Park are both nearby. Silver Springs also has an outdoor pool to keep everyone cool during the summer months.

Beddington #22 Heights

Families here are spoiled for choice when it comes to playgrounds — with 18, Beddington Heights has the most City-operated playgrounds of any Calgary neighbourhood. There are also great park options just outside the neighbourhood’s borders, including nearby Nose Hill Park.

Beyond the Top 10 overall Best Neighbourhoods, these communities ranked as the best in each quadrant.

Thorncliffe #18

This neighbourhood has addresses in both the northeast and the northwest, and it performs well across the board, scoring in the top 50 for parks and pathways, recreation facilities and community engagement, plus proximity to Deerfoot Trail means you can get to the airport with ease.

Renfrew #32

Residents of Renfrew have access to great eateries. The western edge of the neighbourhood is where you’ll find popular brunch joints Diner Deluxe and OEB Breakfast Co., casual hangouts such as Boogie’s Burgers and the wellloved restaurant duo of Big Fish and Open Range.

NORTH EAST

Winston #39 Heights/ Mountview

With one public and one semiprivate golf course within the neighbourhood and the McCall Lake municipal golf course kitty-corner to the northeast across Deerfoot Trail, Winston Heights/Mountview is a local paradise for dedicated duffers.

Whitehorn #49

Longtime Calgarians may remember this neighbourhood as home to the final C-Train station along the original Northeast Line for more than two decades. In addition to its good transit score, Whitehorn offers great amenities for families in the northeast with a variety of schools and grocery stores within the community.

Marlborough #51 Park

Big

Park, an 18-hectare green space with an outdoor skating rink, earns this northeast neighbourhood points for parks and pathways. It’s also close to Village Square Leisure Centre, which has indoor arenas, gym facilities, dance studios and a wave pool.

Canyon #20 Meadows

One of this community’s key assets is its proximity to Fish Creek Provincial Park, one of the largest urban parks in North America. The neighbourhood is also home to the Canyon Meadows Aquatic and Fitness Centre, which reopened this spring after a two-year expansion and renovation.

Altadore #26

This central-southwest neighbourhood has easy access to the pathways along the Elbow River to Sandy Beach Park — a popular put-in spot for river rafters — as well as restaurants and shops in the Marda Loop Business Revitalization Zone (BRZ). Altadore is also one of Calgary’s most engaged communities.

Eau Claire #28

You’ll find Prince’s Island Park and beautifully landscaped pathways here, but Eau Claire’s biggest asset is its accessibility. A range of restaurants, shops and recreation outlets, including the Gray Family Eau Claire YMCA and a summer spray park, make it the fourth most-walkable neighbourhood in Calgary.

Haysboro #29

This is a neighbourhood that performs well across the board. There are plenty of restaurants and stores along the sections of Macleod Trail and Elbow Drive that run through the community, and it’s bordered to the west by South Glenmore Park and to the east by the C-Train, which helps it get a high Transit Score.

Southwood #38

It’s easy to get around the city from Southwood — the neighbourhood is located along a C-Train line and has several bus routes running through it, plus, it’s bordered by two major arteries: 14 Street S.W. and Anderson Road. The community also has a shopping hub with an organic grocery market and veterinary hospital.

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Lake #13 Bonavista

It borders Fish Creek park and has two arenas and an athletic park, but the best parts of Lake Bonavista are the lakes. The two man-made lakes within the community — Lake Bonavista and Lake Bonaventure — provide year-round recreational opportunities for community members, such as skating, swimming and boating.

Acadia #14

Established in the 1960s, Acadia offers a wide variety of recreation opportunities with an ice rink and racquet sport courts at the Acadia Recreation Complex, swimming at the Acadia Aquatic and Fitness Centre and the Osten and Victor Alberta Tennis Centre offering stateof-the-art tennis courts and coaching.

Riverbend #15

Bordered to the west by the Bow River, this neighbourhood benefits from being close to Carburn Park, which features three man-made ponds and is known as a good spot for fishing. Riverbend residents are also close to Sue Higgins Park, which has the largest fenced off-leash park in the city.

Inglewood #17

This is one of the best neighbourhoods in Calgary for shopping and dining out. Add in its proximity to downtown and its good community engagement and it’s easy to see why Inglewood is so beloved, even getting a nod as Canada’s Greatest Neighbourhood according to the Canadian Institute of Planners in 2014.

Willow Park #21

Ranked second overall for schools, Willow Park is also one of the best neighbourhoods in Calgary for shopping. It’s home to Southcentre Mall, which houses retailers such as Sporting Life and Crate and Barrel, as well as the boutique retailers of Willow Park Village, and the specialty stores along its Macleod Trail border.

MACLEOD TRAIL

Bathrooms are an often misunderstood part of residential design. Like bedrooms, a count of the number of bathrooms is a standard real estate metric. Having a large number of bathrooms is a common way for unscrupulous developers to falsely inflate the apparent value of a new house. Unfortunately, many of these bathrooms are not well-designed, wasting space at the same time that they fail to provide enough counterspace and storage. Master bathrooms are particularly susceptible to these problems, with many designed to be more marketing feature. Too often these supersized rooms with supersized fixtures end up being less functional and enjoyable to use than more conventional bathrooms half their size.

A FAB house approach to bathroom design begins with a simple common sense agenda. First, bathrooms should not dominate the floor plan, taking space away from other rooms in the house. This means keeping the number and size appropriate and modest. Second, they should be efficiently and effectively laid out with an abundance of storage options and vanity counters. Finally, every bathroom should be a pleasant space with good lighting, ventilation, and the right combination of materials. A great bathroom should lift your mood and help make the daily rituals of getting ready a little easier and more enjoyable. To learn more about good bathroom design, visit our FAB Concept House.

John Brown is a registered architect. He is a founding partner in Housebrand and a Professor of Architecture at the University of Calgary where, through the Design Research Innovation Lab, he explores the future of age-in-place design.

BY Käthe Lemon

AThe Great OUTDOORS

venue’s survey isn’t the only one out there showing the importance of parks and pathways to Calgary residents. The City of Calgary’s 2016 Citizen Satisfaction Survey showed that 77 per cent of Calgarians think parks are a “very important” service, with 21 per cent saying that parks were at least “somewhat important.” The City is putting resources into parks and pathways and the Citizen Satisfaction report also seems to reflect that — just over 50 per cent of respondents said they were “very satisfied” with parks and pathways, with a further 41 per cent describing themselves as “somewhat satisfied.” (The remaining five per cent includes those who answered that they are “unsatisfied” with City parks as well as those who didn’t answer at all.)

Between 2012 and 2014 the City spent $4 million on redeveloping about 40 parks in more than 20 communities and there are many ongoing parks redevelopments, including the recently re-opened Prairie Winds Park, West Eau Claire Park, Century Gardens and others.

Michelle Wong, capital lead, Parks Calgary, says that the city has targets for green space. “New communities have 10 per cent of the land allocated to green space and developers have to dedicate that land,” she says, “but older communities don’t and it can be a challenge to get to that goal.” Instead, Wong says, the City focuses on improving the quality of existing parks and open spaces in inner-city communities.

The City is also focused on redeveloping existing park spaces to meet the needs of today’s Calgarians. “The approach we take now is much more multipurpose. These parks have to work harder and do more,” Wong says. “As the city grows and the population increases, your personal space starts to get smaller. You might go from having an acre, to a small yard, to a balcony, so public spaces are more and more important. Having that connection to open spaces is important to everyone.”

The Beltline neighbourhood has been identified by the City as having the lowest per-capita availability of open space, and the opportunities

to add more space are few and far between. However, even in that community, the City recently managed to add park space — the Thomson Family Park — on the former site of the Calgary Lawn Bowling Club, which was moved to a new location.

Realtor Tanya Eklund, managing partner of the Tanya Eklund Group, Re/Max, notes that even the inner-city Calgary neighbourhoods have good access to parks, though, for her clients in the Beltline and other southwest inner-city neighbourhoods, proximity to downtown and good schools tend to be more important than parks and pathways. “I can’t remember anyone mentioning parks or pathways,” Eklund says, but she also cautions against drawing too many conclusions from that. “By the time I meet with [clients], they already have their neighbourhoods picked out.”

Best Neighbourhoods for access to parks and pathways

1 Edgemont

2 Huntington Hills

3 Varsity

4 Riverbend

5 Collingwood

6 McKenzie Lake

7 Evergreen

8 Bowness

9 Woodlands

10 Patterson

Crunching the Best Neighbourhood Numbers

Parks Calgary

TOP 10 characteristics according to our survey and the weighting they received.

Our annual Best Neighbourhoods survey is designed to get respondents to tell us what characteristics are most important

to them in a place to live. The survey presents lists of characteristics and asks respondents to rank them in terms of importance. Leger takes those responses and does a max differential statistical analysis to determine just how important each amenity and characteristic is. Then they use that info to weight the data in the ranking of Calgary’s neighbourhoods.

“THE APPROACH WE TAKE NOW [WITH PARKS] IS MUCH MORE MULTIPURPOSE. THESE PARKS HAVE TO WORK HARDER AND DO MORE.”

–Michelle Wong,

Käthe Lemon

vs.

To rank our Best Neighbourhoods, we use the most important characteristics identified by the survey respondents to weigh the various pieces of data. But we know that what makes a neighbourhood great is subjective, so we also look to see where there are differences of opinion based on the demographics of the respondents.

This year we found an interesting trend. While respondents didn’t differ too much in their thoughts on what was important based on their age, whether they had kids or even if they rented or owned their home, there was a difference between those respondents who currently lived in inner-city neighbourhoods compared to those who lived in the suburbs.

MOST IMPORTANT CHARACTERISTICS

INNER-CITY DWELLERS

SUBURBAN DWELLERS

The great news here is that Calgary neighbourhoods seem to be offering what their residents want in them, no matter where they are.

NEIGHBOURHOODS WITH THE LOWEST CRIME RATES

Inner-city Burbs Safe City

inspector with the Calgary Police Service (CPS). “If you want to be close to exciting things and live in a neighbourhood where other Calgarians spend their time, there may be more traffic and more crime. But we can make those high-volume spaces very safe. We work with communities to make them safer and more vibrant through urban design, street design, community engagement and deployment.”

It goes without saying that safety is important when considering somewhere to live. But just how important is it, and how does it balance with other characteristics of a good neighbourhood?

This year, as in most of the past years, low crime was identified in the Best Neighbourhoods survey as one of the most important characteristics of a good neighbourhood to live in. The only characteristic that ranked higher was access to parks and pathways.

However, the safest communities often don’t do that well on our list. That’s because other amenities that people want — namely bars, restaurants, transit access, schools and even parks — are often correlated with higher crime.

In fact, you have to go down to the 11th-safest community before you find one of our overall top 10 communities (Edgemont, which ranked third overall).

Our overall best community for 2017, Varsity, had the 59th-lowest crime rate in Calgary, which puts it just inside the top 30 per cent for safety of the 185 communities included in our rankings.

“It’s not disproportionate to the number of people there,” says Ryan Ayliffe, District 1

Our second-ranked community, Beltline, was 180th out of 185 for crime. The Beltline is part of CPS’s District 1, which also includes the inner-city neighbourhoods south and west of the Bow River, east of 14th Street and north of Glenmore Trail. The Calgary Police Service recorded 9,632 total crimes in the Beltline between September 2015 and September 2016, giving the neighbourhood a crime rate of 438.66 per 1,000 residents. Further to that, the neighbourhood with the highest crime rate, the Downtown Commercial Core, still was able to rank ninth overall because of all the other amenities it offers, including walkability, shopping, restaurants and, yes, parks and pathways.

Areas with high crime rates are also the areas with high CPS officer and resource deployment, Ayliffe says. “We have a police service that is able to respond not only reactively, but also to prevent crime. The city of Calgary is really safe. There aren’t any neighbourhoods I wouldn’t want my family to be in.”

VS. RIGHTSIZING

Expert Advice

What is RightSizing?

RightSizing is the term we prefer vs. downsizing. The decision to move is often made for many reasons beyond finding a smaller home. Not only those heading into retirement are looking to make a lifestyle change. Condos and attached homes are becoming more sought after as Calgarians look to RightSize which can be accomplished with well thought out floor plans. After all, it is important that you love your home, that you are able keep your treasured pieces of art and furniture and have the room to host your cherished family gatherings. Is it time for you to consider RightSizing? Moving from a large home into a condo or town-home can actually be exciting if done the right way.

10 Important Questions to Ask:

1. When is the right time to move?

2. What style of home should I consider?

3. What should I be looking for in a floor plan?

4. Do I want to live in a more walkable community?

5. How much outdoor space do I need?

6. What will I gain by moving?

7. What are my responsibilities in my new home?

8. If I buy a condo how is it different?

9. Am I ready for a lock-and-go lifestyle?

10. What amenities are important?

Our team specializes in helping you RightSize by carefully identifying your priorities, requirements, stage in life, and matching it to the home and community that is a perfect fit for you.

Making a change can be an exciting time - once you take the first step through the door.

Anne Clarke and Leslie Schroeder are licensed real estate agents with Sotheby’s International Realty Canada. They specialize in “RightSizing” and offer over 30 years of combined experience helping hundreds of families.

BY Andrew Guilbert

she didn’t want to live between neighbouring properties that were being converted into infills — though that wasn’t the only reason. “I’d get a lot of transients. I’d had to phone the police a few times when they were drunk, sleeping on the street,” says Redjepi.

Trading Places

In the debate between downtown and suburbia, both sides have their share of converts.

Livia McCabe and Brendan Hughes are realtors with Re/Max Real Estate (Central) who’ve helped many people move from outer communities to downtown and vice versa. In their experience, the people moving into the city centre from the outskirts tend to be empty nesters looking to downsize and simplify in their retirement. “With the kids grown up and gone, most of them find their current property too large and in need of a large renovation,” says McCabe. “They would rather sell and find something turnkey that they could enjoy immediately.”

The opposite category is primarily made up of younger people looking to shift from renting to buying. “When they look at their preapproval amounts and the housing choices within their budget,

as well as looking longer term to where young families are generally located and amenities for [growing families], many of them choose to move to the suburbs,” says McCabe.

Nancy Redjepi is one of the people who moved to the burbs from the city centre. She lived for more than a decade in her 900-square-foot Bridgeland bungalow before deciding to head out of the downtown area because

Four years ago, Redjepi moved into a 1,600-square-foot house in the northwest community of Royal Oak, and loves her life outside the core. “I like that my backyard is the country hills with no houses behind me and I like the convenience of [nearby] stores,” she says. “As for development, sure Bridgeland’s great, but Royal Oak’s great too. When I look out my back window, I see the new YMCA being built there, and in the summertime I hear the Butterfield Acres roosters crowing, right in my backyard. I love it up here.”

On the flipside, Tim and Kelly Heembrock, a couple in their mid-50s-early-60s, moved from the Hamptons to Mission in order to be closer to the places they enjoyed visiting. “We were down here [in Mission] quite a bit anyway. Most weekends we’d come down,” says Tim. “Our longterm goal had been to move downtown.”

Kelly says it was a combination of location, walkability and less maintenance that convinced them to downsize from a 2,500-square-foot walkout bungalow in the northwest to a 1,280-square-foot apartmentstyle condo in the inner city. “The neighbourhood was really key,” she says. “We’re a block off the river and two blocks off 4th Street and a few blocks from Lindsay Park, so it’s super convenient to walk to so many places. We love this area.”

“OUR LONG-TERM GOAL HAD BEEN TO MOVE DOWNTOWN.”

–Tim Heembrock

Kelly and Tim Heembrock outside their apartmentstyle condo in Mission.

Ask an Expert:

How can we adopt a more inclusive attitude year-round?

Brian Gervais, Senior Vice President, Prairie Region, TD Bank

More than 10 years ago, TD Bank took a very principled stand to break down barriers, embedding diversity and inclusion into its mission statement and advocating and advertising in ways that reflect its customers and communities.

Today, in addition to being a long supporter of Pride in Calgary, TD Bank now supports 42 individual celebrations across North America. Its committed support for the LGBTA community is served via several efforts, and its ongoing dedication doesn’t just end with annual celebrations – it continues 365 days a year.

This is why TD has invested $1.2 million to support more than 100 LGBTA community organizations and initiatives across North America through funding, partnerships and employee volunteerism.

The support that TD provides local organizations extends beyond donations and sponsorship – it’s about taking action and providing support through all means necessary.

There is still much to do on the road to full inclusion and acceptance, and TD has maintained itself as a dedicated leader in this fight, revising workplace guidelines, benefits, education, awareness, outreach and partnership with the Canadian Professional Association for Transgender Health. A sentiment that echoes our company motto where “everyone can bring their whole selves to work.”

To find out more about TD’s commitment to the LGBTA community, please visit td.com/lgbta

Brian Gervais Senior Vice President, Prairie Region TD Bank Brian.Gervais@td.com

Main

ATTRACTION

City planners and developers of new communities are working to create residential communities with vibrant main streets, a shift in thinking that will change the shape of the city for generations.

BY Cara Casey ILLUSTRATIONS BY Teddy Kang

n recent years, Bridgeland has evolved into one of the city’s coolest addresses, an inner-city enclave just north of the Bow River and Memorial Drive where shiny new buildings play nice with the historic homes and storefronts built at various points in the community’s 110-year history. The heart of the neighbourhood is First Avenue N.E., a bustling strip of restaurants, bars, cafés, shops and studios, bookended to the east by a locally run grocery market and to the west by a locally run drugstore-cum-coffee bar that also sells records and artisan cocktail bitters.

This concentration of independent businesses and social spaces qualifies First Avenue as Bridgeland’s “main street,” a feature that adds vibrancy, walkability and value to the neighbourhood. In this sense, it’s understandable that both developers and City planners would seek to replicate and encourage the main street model — both at the drawing-board stage in brand-new communities and retroactively in older communities.

By encouraging main-street development, the City hopes that more services will be offered within communities, local businesses will thrive and the population within established neighbourhoods will grow.

The City has since launched its Main Streets Initiative, which identifies 24 “main streets” with the greatest potential to benefit from revitalization and development initiatives. Between 2014 and 2016, it gathered input from residents on how to proceed in development and enhancement of the main streets through

projects like rezoning, infrastructure changes and improvement to public spaces. The process drew more than 3,600 respondents who collectively volunteered more than 1,600 hours of their time, making it one of the largest local-planning-public-engagement efforts initiated by the City of Calgary. The phased public-consultation feedback for select communities was reviewed in early 2017.

“Residents were looking for safe streets that they felt comfortable on, places where they wanted to walk, shop, hang out, and potentially live beside,” says Kevin Barton, who has been the lead planner on the Main Streets Initiative since its inception. “They wanted the City to build a better sidewalk, build a better bus stop, but they also wanted to make it easier for businesses to attract more customers, whether it be through pop-up retailer events, art events or outdoor events that allow private businesses to spill out onto the sidewalk,” Barton says.

One of the key components of the Main Streets Initiative is encouraging mixed-use development (as opposed to buildings that are meant for residential or commercial use only) in order to increase density and vitality. Having street-facing businesses with parking at the back or underground and three to six storeys of condos above helps to offset expensive inner-city land prices and parking costs and also encourages residents to walk around their neighbourhood.

Following the review of community-engagement feedback, the next step will be planning and implementation. The Main Streets Initiative has received City Council funding to the tune of $30 million so far, and approval to ask for a further $170 million in the

next budget cycle, to proceed with revitalization efforts in the first 14 key transportation and destination corridors.

The northwest community of Montgomery is one of the 14 neighbourhoods considered ripe for development investment within the Main Streets plan. Montgomery has seen a lot of single-family housing development in recent years and the two main streets in the community (Bowness Road and 16th Avenue N.W.,) are considered priority areas.

“We want a vibrant, public space in the community with plenty of small businesses and we would like to encourage new small businesses to the neighbourhood,” says Marilyn Wannamaker, president of the Montgomery Community Association. “The main feedback from residents was that the City needed to put money into infrastructure in order to promote and encourage densification and development within those corridors. The community is underdeveloped and is ready for growth, but not willy-nilly growth — high-quality, thought-out development.”

Killarney-Glengarry is also surrounded by several main streets identified by the City’s plan, including Richmond Road, 37th Street S.W. and 17th Avenue S.W. Mathew Beaudoin, acting vice president of the Killarney-Glengarry Community Association, says that the community, while supportive of growth, does have concerns about traffic and how rezoning will affect the neighbourhood in the long run. “One of the biggest concerns is that we’re going to get too much commercial [development] that will extend hours along the main streets,” says Beaudoin. “A big push should be to engage local businesses because we don’t want a bunch of Burger Kings and McDonalds opening up in the community.”

According to Barton, Beaudoin’s view that unique, locally owned businesses are preferable over chain businesses was echoed by many Calgarians who attended the neighbourhood engagement sessions. However, Barton is quick to cite research showing that well-known chain retailers bring a lot of customers into an area, which ultimately brings them into other nearby businesses. Barton believes that having “big-box” retailers in a customized form and scale that’s appropriate for the area can entice new people into neighbourhoods. (One prominent local example of how a big-box retailer can be incorporated into a bustling “main street” is the Best Buy store on the second level of the building at the corner of 17th Avenue and 8th Street S.W.)

The idea of building communities centered around main streets that incorporate retail and business space and a mix of housing all within a walkable area is both progressive and oldworld. During the mid-century era, however, urban planning had a much different mindset. Communities were designed to be car-centric rather than focused on walkability, and rather than being a desirable address, the inner city was considered a primarily commercial district that workers should escape from at the end of the workday. The dream home was out in a verdant suburb with a big lawn. The modernist model also valued new over old, making civic planners quick to demolish characterladen urban areas, rather than investing in their renewal.

It was during this era and with this mindset that Calgary experienced some of its key periods of growth. In 1965, Calgary had a population of just over 300,000. In the years following the 1973-74 Arab oil embargo against the United States, when the per-

barrel price of oil went from less than $3 to nearly $40, Calgary’s oil industry boomed and the city experienced an influx of almost 200,000 residents. In the late ’70s, the City of Calgary gave out more than $1 billion worth of construction permits annually — a volume that exceeded that of cities like Chicago or New York at the time. The priority was to build homes quickly and affordably, and the geography of the city provided seemingly unlimited space for car-centric suburban expansion.

Compared to many major American cities, Calgary didn’t experience a significant “white flight” during the ’70s and ’80s. The term describes a migration of middle-class white home-owners

out of inner-city neighbourhoods and into racially homogenous suburbs primarily as a response to Supreme Court-imposed school integration. Rather, in Calgary, it was the promise of bigger lots, newer homes and suburban schools that enticed many families away from the core.

Rollin Stanley, general manager of urban strategy for the City of Calgary, cites The Future of Downtown Calgary, a planning document from 1966, as an example of modernist planning that is in stark contrast to the theories that the City is using to inform planning today.

Stanley believes Calgarians were lucky that the City didn’t have the funds in 1966 to carry out some of the plans suggested in The Future of Downtown Calgary. The heritage neighbourhood of Inglewood — today considered an urban gem and recognized in a New York Times travel story as a must-see part of the city — would have essentially been mowed down to make way for a multi-lane highway called “The Penetrator,” that would have provided easy access to downtown for suburban commuters coming off Deerfoot Trail. Another multi-lane parkway would have run parallel to the Bow River through what is now the south side of Chinatown and Eau Claire. Numerous large parking lots would have dotted the perimeter of the downtown core as commuter entrance points into the city.

“What the City did do right was invest in the LRT in the ’80s, which has kept the downtown viable by allowing people to get downtown quickly whether they walk or drive,” says Stanley.

Though Stanley says a walkable downtown core has always been part of the history of Calgary’s city planning, it wasn’t until the late ’90s that the downtown crowd started to engage with street-level businesses in a more significant way. By the end of the century, planners were putting more emphasis on the rehabilitation of older structures, mixed-use development and the concept of a “24-hour city,” rather than a downtown that shutters at the end of the workday.

The mid-century suburban model — residential streets lined with similarly designed homes, a few parks and a clump of retail and services within driving distance in a mall or big-box shopping district — has continued to inform the planning of the majority of North American suburban neighbourhoods until very recently. Ironically, the main street design model that is starting to gain traction draws much of its inspiration from old-world European villages. Central markets and village plazas were (and remain) a staple of everyday life in these places, providing residents with services, work opportunities, nightlife and shopping within walking distance of home. In periods of growth, rather than building out into car-centric suburbs, new communities are planned around subway links and other public transportation hubs, maintaining walkability even as the city expands.

Increasing walkability is also one of the main goals of the Main Streets Initiative. While our winter weather is often held up as an argument against the viability of making this city truly walkable, Calgary is in no way unique in its quest to create pedestrian-focused communities despite an inhospitable climate. Cities in the Middle East face the opposite climate problem — the weather can be too hot to be comfortable for pedestrians. Phil Bonds, the director of urban planning at Broadway Malyan, an international architecture,

THE IDEA OF BUILDING COMMUNITIES CENTERED AROUND MAIN STREETS THAT INCORPORATE RETAIL AND BUSINESS SPACE AND A MIX OF HOUSING ALL WITHIN A WALKABLE AREA IS BOTH PROGRESSIVE AND OLD-WORLD.

urbanism and design firm, has experience with both ends of the climate spectrum, having worked on plans for Calgary’s East Village (which is hailed as an urban renewal grand slam) and recently on transit-oriented development planning in the Middle East.

“The Middle East is arguably the complete opposite to Calgary’s [winter] climate, in that it’s blistering hot, but in the same extreme, as it’s difficult to walk around in,” says Bonds. A key component to maintaining walkability in a region with a challenging climate is a well-planned and effective transit system, Bonds says. “At the end of the day, it’s about pedestrian comfort, about connecting bus and train stops and making them accessible from where people live. When the government invests $200 million in a new [transit] station, in theory, it should trigger a lot of reinvestment and jobs in that area. Transit investment is a good investment in the long-term.”

Bonds says that technology and good urban planning can be used to address climate-related challenges, citing heated sidewalks for cold-weather locales, or using architectural elements to block strong winds or optimize natural light.

Birol Fisekci, president and CEO of Bordeaux Properties, also believes that winter weather needn’t be a barrier to the creation of vibrant outdoor public spaces. He cites both Banff and Vail, Colorado, as examples of wintery destinations with pedestrian-friendly retail, commercial and residential offerings (Vail even has heated streets to make walking and driving in the winter safer and more comfortable).

Bordeaux Properties is partnering with Qualico Communities to co-manage the development of the new lake community of Harmony, west of Calgary in Springbank. The Harmony master plan aims to provide the complete community experience, providing a place not just to live, but also to work, be active and be social. Harmony offers a variety of housing choices, from singlefamily detached homes, to townhomes, condos, “boat houses” and seniors’ residences. The community is designed around a main street lined with shops and dining, with a lakefront village plaza at one end and a new school at the other end — all within walking distance for residents. The hope is that the walkable design will create “harmony” among neighbours as well, encouraging a tight-knit community.

Fisekci says that the old-world European village was definitely an inspiration for Harmony. “It’s no longer enough to just develop a community,” he says. “You have to consider how people age in place and how we address all demographics. We wanted to avoid what we refer to as the ghettoization of affordable product [estate housing on one side and multi-family elsewhere]. You can address this by mixing income brackets and having seniors in the community.”

New-community developers like Fisekci are in the fortunate position of being able to plan from the ground up. With the future Green Line LRT set to transform Centre Street North into a transportation corridor, several new communities (among them Livingston and Carrington) are currently being planned around its eventual final stop, just north of Stoney Trail.

The shift toward walkability and transit-oriented design is a major difference between today’s new communities and the developments of previous decades says Kelly Schmalz, a development manager at Genstar Development Company. The previous model is responsible for large-scale, car-centric shopping areas such as Crowfoot Landing in the northwest or 130 Avenue in the southeast. Surrounded by parking lots, these shopping areas are on the perimeter of several communities and are difficult to navigate on foot.

“You see people walking much more in new [suburban] neighbourhoods than in older ones,” says Schmalz. “This is all from the move by the City to think about neighbourhoods as wholly functioning communities. So, instead of building pockets of single-family homes, you create pockets of all types of homes, thereby increasing density. You increase the viability of commercial development because you have more rooftops. It’s holistic planning.”

It’s a case of what’s old is new again, where the most progressive suburbs in Calgary are the ones drawing inspiration from the pre-war past, and the main streets of heritage neighbourhoods like Inglewood, Bridgeland and Kensington (the business revitalization zone that encompasses parts of Hillhurst and Sunnyside) are what developers want to recreate. “We’re borrowing ideas to ensure new neighbourhoods are successful,” says Schmalz, “in terms of scale, services, what their built-form looks like and what it feels like as a pedestrian walking down the street.”

“IT’S NO LONGER ENOUGH TO JUST DEVELOP A COMMUNITY. YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER HOW PEOPLE AGE IN PLACE AND HOW WE ADDRESS ALL DEMOGRAPHICS.”

–BIROL FISEKCI, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF BORDEAUX PROPERTIES

Calgary's neighbourhoods are a treasure trove of attractions and activities, restaurants and boutiques that make them uniquely charming and worth a visit. So get out and explore some of these gems.

BY Shelley Arnusch, Meredith Bailey,

Jennifer Hamilton AND Andrew Jeffrey

Varsity Neighbourhood.

Photograph by Jared Sych

ACADIA

Carriage House Inn Bakery

Who knew this Macleod Trail hotel was home to one of the best bakeries in the city? Specializing in kosher delicacies and also offering freshly baked bread, cookies, pies and more, the in-house bakery sells goodies to-go every Friday. —J.H. 9030 Macleod Tr. S., 403-253-1101, carriagehouse.net, @carriagehouse13

ALTADORE

The Garrison Pub & Eatery

The Garrison is the ideal neighbourhood watering hole — well-kept but not too fancy, a menu that covers the basics, cold pints, sports on the TVs and front windows that open wide on warm days for an instant patio feel. Oh, and no kids allowed, which may infuriate the “cool parent” set, but earns the Garrison points from those who consider pubs a grown-up domain. —S.A.

2020 42 Ave. S.W., 403-243-4483, garrisonpub.com, @thegarrisonpub

ARBOUR LAKE

The Spa Ritual

What makes this day spa so worth the trip are the excellent amenities. Between treatments, guests can relax on the infrared-heated natural stone loungers or sip tea in the serene Som’ta Lounge. Couples can book the private Royal Thai Suite with cascading shower and Bali Moon Tub. —M.B. 106 Crowfoot Tr. N.W., 403-547-9558, thesparitual.com, @thesparitual

BANFF TRAIL

Nick’s Steakhouse & Pizza

Located across from McMahon Stadium, Nick’s has been a favourite of Stamps fans since 1979. But you don’t have to love football to love their cuts of AAA Alberta beef and house-made pizzas (try the “euphoria” with garlic butter, onions, roasted red peppers, tomatoes and mozzarella and feta cheeses). This family-owned restaurant also has a Sunday buffet-brunch. —M.B. 2430 Crowchild Tr. N.W., 403-282-9278, nickssteakandpizza.com, @nickscalgary

BEDDINGTON HEIGHTS Beddington Heights Community Arts Centre

This arts centre is a hub for community theatre in the city, housing both StoryBook Theatre and Front Row Centre Players, two of the longestrunning community theatre companies in Calgary. Productions include musicals and children’s theatre shows. —M.B. 375 Bermuda Dr. N.W., 587-329-9545, calgarycommunitytheatre.ca

BELTLINE Saturday Jam Sessions at Kawa Espresso Bar

Every Saturday afternoon, the walls of this Europeanstyle coffeehouse reverberate with the sounds of jazz. Musicians of any age or experience level play alongside guest musicians booked by JazzYYC, creating a catchy backdrop for the café’s customers. —A.J. 101, 1333 8 St. S.W., 403452-5233, kawacalgary.ca, @kawacalgary

BOWNESS The Light Cellar

The Light Cellar has one of the largest selections of super foods in Canada — everything from fermented items and medicinal mushrooms to housemade raw chocolate. It’s also home to the Elixir Bar, where you can get made-to-order drinks and soups. —M.B. 6326 Bowness Rd. N.W., 403-453-1343, thelightcellar.ca, @thelightcellar

BRIDGELAND Bike and Brew

The trend of bike shops doubling as cafés came to Calgary earlier this year when Bike and Brew opened in Bridgeland. The shop’s friendly atmosphere and knowledgeable staff create an accessible entry point for cyclists, while the coffeehouse aspect makes it a hub to meet up with cycling peers. —A.J 921 1 Ave. N.E., 587-356-2739, gobikeandbrew.ca, @gobikeandbrew

CAPITOL HILL Community Association Pub Nights

CANYON MEADOWS Canyon Meadows Golf & Country Club

This 60-year-old private course is best known for hosting the annual Shaw Charity Classic Champions Tour. New memberships are $45,000, but you’ll be paying to tee off on the same greens as Tom Watson and John Daly. For a taste of club life without a membership, the clubhouse is open to the public for Sunday brunch during the off-season. —S.A. 12501 14 St. S.W., 403-281-1188, canyonmeadowsgolf.com, @canyonmeadows

About once a month, the community association in this centralnorthwest neighbourhood turns its hall into a convivial pub, serving local beer from Village Brewery. The event allows minors until 8 p.m., although kids are usually more interested in the adjacent play-park than socializing with the adults. The nights are restricted to community association members, so if you don’t live there you’ll have to get one of them (local MLA Craig Coolahan is a regular) to bring you as a guest. —S.A. 1531 21 Ave. N.W., 403-2890859, capitolhillcommunity.ca, @captiolhillca

Bike and Brew photograph by Alana Willerton; Canyon Meadows photograph couresty of Canyon Meadows Golf & Country Club

CLIFF BUNGALOW One Cycle Spin Studio

There are many places that offer spin classes in town, but this boutique studio on 4th Street S.W. was one of the first to introduce Calgarians to L.A.-style spin culture. From club-inspired theme classes such as the “Riri vs. Yonce Tight and Bright Battle of the DJs,” to the pre- and post-session hangout scene in the foyer, One Cycle isn’t just a workout; it’s a lifestyle. —S.A. 2115 4 St. S.W., 403-244-4484, one-cycle.com, @onecyclespin

COLLINGWOOD Nordic Skiing Trails at Confederation Park

The Foothills Nordic Ski Club, a non-profit that dates back to 1964, launched the Ski Confederation Project last winter, greatly enhancing the XC ski experience at the Confederation Park golf course. The club farmed and harvested snow to maintain paths throughout the winter, making for more consistent conditions through warmer temperatures and keeping ski trails open for more consecutive days. —A.J. 3204 Collingwood Dr. N.W., foothillsnordic.ca, @foothillsnordic

CRESCENT HEIGHTS

Ukrainian Museum of Canada — Calgary Collection

Branches of the Ukrainian Museum of Canada can be found in cities across the country. Calgary’s collection is at St. Vladimir’s Ukrainian Orthodox church. Artifacts of the Ukrainian-Canadian pioneer experience share space with religious and historical items, depicting the impact of Ukrainian heritage on Canadian history. —A.J. 404 Meredith Rd. N.E., 403- 264-3437, stvlads.com

DOWNTOWN COMMERCIAL CORE Royal Canadian Legion No. 1

With its kitschy militaria decor and bingo-hall seating, the downtown Legion is an unlikely candidate for the city’s hippest venue, but that’s what it has become. Each year, Sled Island saves its most buzzed-about bands for the Legion stage. Several other local festivals have also done shows at the Legion, including Wide Cut Weekend and the International Festival of Animated Objects. —S.A

116 7 Ave. S.E., 403-269-5548

DOWNTOWN EAST VILLAGE Trout Beach at St. Patrick’s Island Park

Calgarians are starved for beaches, so the wading area created as part of the renovation of St. Patrick’s Island Park has been enthusiastically received. The cool waters of the Bow River flow in and out of a pebble-lined cove, creating a calm oasis for kids to splash around in while their parents chill out nearby. On nice weekends, count on seeing ice cream-treat vendors to complete the summery picture. —S.A. 1300 Zoo Rd. N.E., 403-2682489, evexperience.com/ patrick-island

EDGEMONT Edgemont Ravine

The network of ravines that make up the natural area known as Edgemont Ravine were formed by run-off from ancient glaciers. Today, the park is a municipal environmental reserve and includes a marsh where you can spot white-tailed deer and waterfowl. The area also features paved pathways, a playground, toddler-sized bunny statues, tennis courts, outdoor fitness equipment, picnic tables and a gazebo. —M.B. 9401 Edgebrook Blvd. N.W.

One Cycle photograph courtesy of One Cycle; Trout Beach photograph by Sarah McMenemy

ELBOW PARK Elbow Park School Restoration

Originally built in 1926, this public elementary school suffered catastrophic damage during the 2013 flood, leaving the interior unsafe and unusable. The Tudor-Revivalstyle façade, however, stood firm and was incorporated into the new building. Reopened this past February, the school stands as a symbol of resilience and respect for local heritage. —S.A.

721 38 Ave. S.W., 403-777-6920, schools.cbe.ab.ca/b119

FOREST LAWN The Alex Community Food Centre

Combine a cooking school, produce market, garden, restaurant and learning centre and what you get is the Alex Community Food Centre — an organization that brings people together to grow, cook, share and advocate for healthy food for everyone. —J.H. 4920 17 Ave. S.E., 403-4555792, thealexcfc.ca, @goodfoodyyc

EAU CLAIRE Alforno Bakery & Café

Since opening in 2016, Alforno has been a welcome addition to downtown Calgary. Aside from their house-made pastries and artisan drinks, one of Alforno’s biggest draws is its bikefriendliness, with on-site bike racks and a complimentary air pump making it a convenient stop for urban cyclists. —A.J. 222 7 St. S.W., 403-454-0308, alforno.ca, @alfornobakery

HAYSBORO Cured Delicatessen

Opened in 2016 in the space that housed the former European Deli for more than half a century, Cured Delicatessen has brought a modern touch to the location, carrying on the traditional recipes and techniques of the former owners and adding house-made charcuterie and weekend brunch specials. —A.J. 8409 Elbow Dr. S.W., 403-2440570, curedyyc.com, cureddeliyyc

INGLEWOOD Esker Foundation Contemporary Art Gallery

This spacious gallery on the top floor of the Atlantic Avenue Art Block building in Inglewood is the largest non-commercial, privately funded art gallery in the city. Exhibitions by local and international artists rotate in and out regularly, while free admission and a variety of public-engagement programs mean art-loving Calgarians have plenty of reasons to keep coming back. —A.J. 444, 1011 9 Ave. S.E., 403-9302490, eskerfoundation.com, @eskercalgary

KILLARNEY/GLENGARRY Calgary Nikkei Cultural & Senior Centre

The home of the Calgary Japanese Community Association and the Calgary Kotobuki Society (the Calgary Japanese Seniors Club) features picturesque Japanese gardens and is a hub for cultural events such as film screenings, sakura tea gatherings and an annual kimono fair. —S.A. 2236 29 St. S.W., 403-242-4143, calgaryjca.com

GLENBROOK Sproutz Kidz and U-Turn Consignment

Consignment clothing is an affordable and fun way to outfit your family and this 5,000-square-foot store makes the process a convenient one-stop shop. Sproutz has kids’ clothing ranging from newborn to size 16, while U-Turn has adult items. Sproutz also carries toys, books and baby equipment, and features a kid zone with a playhouse and TV so parents can peruse the racks in peace. —S.A. 2835 37 St. S.W., 403-242-9877, sproutzkidz.com

HILLHURST Kensington Riverside Inn

This recently renovated 19-room boutique hotel on the north side of Memorial Drive is an ideal urban escape, while its recently relaunched Oxbow restaurant provides a casually chic dining experience for breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch — or cocktail hour any night of the week. —S.A. 1126 Memorial Dr. N.W., 403-228-4442, kensingtonriversideinn.com, @kri_calgary

Both photographs by Jared Sych

LAKE BONAVISTA

The

Lake House

This rustic-elegant restaurant in Calgary’s original man-made lake community offers a little taste of lake living right in the middle of the city. Part of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Resorts group, the Lake House’s seasonally inspired “Rocky Mountain cuisine” makes this restaurant more than just a pretty setting, not to mention one of the most sought-after wedding venues in town. —S.A 747 Lake Bonavista Dr. S.E., 403225-3939, lakehousecalgary.com, @thelakehouseyyc

LAKEVIEW Lakeview Golf Course

This nine-hole, par-three and -four course is a perfect golf outing for beginners, intermediates or anyone who appreciates that you can complete a round in two hours or less. The verdant landscape of this mature urban course takes you miles away from busy city living. —J.H. 5840 19 St. S.W., 403-300-1003, calgary.ca/csps/recreation/

MOUNT PLEASANT

Aquila Books

Somewhat out of place on drab 16th Avenue N.W., this tidy, captivating and meticulously curated shop specializes in rare books and also deals in antique maps and prints, historic photos and antique scientific instruments. It’s delightful for browsing or shopping for the person who has everything. —J.H. 826 16 Ave. N.W., 403-282-5832, aquilabooks.com

MERIDIAN King’s Restaurant

This northeast restaurant is famous for its wor wonton soup — a big bowl of Chinese comfort food loaded with crunchy veggies, wontons, pork and noodles in a rich flavourful broth. —J.H. 104 Meridian Rd. N.E., 403-272-2332, kingsrestaurant.net, @kingswonton

NORTH GLENMORE Pfanntastic Pannenkoek Haus

If the brunch lineups are any indication, Pfanntastic Pannenkoek Haus really is fantastic. The sweet or savoury Dutch-style pancakes are almost like a pancake pizza. Try the “western” with sausage, leeks, mushrooms, cheese and a drizzle of stroop — a saltysweet syrup. —M.B. 2439 54 Ave. S.W., 403-2437757, dutchpancakes.ca, @dutchpancakesca

OGDEN The Oak Leaf Club

The tiny, members-only Oak Leaf Club is the only place in Western Canada to offer authentic Russian banya, a bathing practice dating back to the 10th century that involves a super-hot sauna followed by an ice-cold bath, and a massage that includes being struck with an oak branch. —S.A. 3, 1603 62 Ave. S.E., 403-4524095, oakleafclub.ca

PARKDALE Morpheus Theatre

Now entering its 23rd season, Morpheus Theatre does workshops in its Parkdale rehearsal centre and sets the stage for actors, singers, directors and crew members to apply that education in performances at Pumphouse Theatre. —A.J.

3512 5 Ave. N.W., 403-246-2999, morpheustheatre.ca, @morpheustheatre

RANCHLANDS Ranchlands Park

Ranchlands Park is a packed 12 hectares. Home to Ranchlands School, St. Rita Elementary and the Ranchlands Community Centre, the park has three playgrounds, tennis courts, soccer fields, ball diamonds and a tobogganing hill. There’s also a natural area with glacier-formed geographic features such as “knobs” and “kettles.” —M.B.

700 Ranchlands Blvd. N.W

RAMSAY Chalkboard House

Inner-city Ramsay has a laidback, artsy vibe, exemplified by the home at the corner of 18th Avenue and 10th Street S.E. On the alley-facing side of the garage, the homeowners have mounted a chalkboard with daily instructions — from “draw a cowboy” during Stampede to “draw what you dreamed last night.” Whether you stop to contribute or just look at what others have done, its creativity captures the zeitgeist of this quirky ’hood. —S.A. 1002 18 Ave. S.E., facebook.com/ramsaychalktalk

The Lake House photograph by CineArt Photography; Kings photograph courtesy of King's Restaurant; Chalkboard House photograph by Sarah McMenemy

Kent

Supported in part by the Government of Canada and the Ontario Arts Council.

Lead Sponsor: Donald R. Sobey Family Foundation Kent Monkman, The Massacre of the Innocents (detail), 2015, Private collection

Produced by the Art Museum at the University of Toronto in partnership with the Confederation Centre Art Gallery, Charlottetown.

SCENIC ACRES Santa School

The next best thing to the North Pole, Scenic Acres is home to Santa School, a training program for aspiring old St. Nicks founded by the late Santa Victor Nevada, who literally wrote the book on the subject: All About Being Santa — The Manual

of Bringing Joy

In addition to training and manual sales, Santa School also offers agent services and custom-made costumes. —S.A. 620 Scimitar Bay, N.W., 403-209-3108, santaschool.com

SOUTHVIEW Paradise Lanes

The best bowling alleys are those with vintage charm, which Paradise Lanes has in spades. The retro bowling-pin sign is straight out of The Big Lebowski, while the snack bar offers retro-priced beverages and treats, including $3 mini-donuts and $4.75 domestic beer. —S.A.

3411 17 Ave. S.E., 403-272-4570, paradiselanes.ca, @paradise_lanes

STRATHCONA PARK PurpleSaurus

Tucked into the Strathcona Shopping Centre, Purplesaurus has been outfitting stylish kids and teens with kid-sized designer clothing, shoes and accessories for 25 years. —M.B. 136, 555 Strathcona Blvd. S.W., 403-242-0997, purplesaurus.com, purplesauruskid

THORNCLIFFE Golden Acre Home & Garden

Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, Golden Acre has long been a go-to for bedding plants, houseplants and tropical plants, as well as trees, shrubs and holiday greenery. In addition to anything and everything you need to make something grow, it also carries a selection of furniture and home-decor items. —S.A.

620 Goddard Ave. N.E., 403-274-4286, goldenacre.ca, @goldenacre

TUXEDO PARK Italian Eats

VARSITY Euphoria Cafe

Nestled in Crowchild Square Plaza, Euphoria is one of the northwest’s coziest cafés, with a menu that includes microroasted, organic, fair-trade coffees, a selection of pastries that are baked in-house and authentic Belgian waffles made from scratch. —A.J. 5403 Crowchild Tr. N.W., 403-313-0503, euphoriacafe.ca, @euphoriacafeyyc

WILLOW PARK Willow Park Village

SUNNYSIDE Vendome Café

Vendome has all the charm of a European café with a cast of characters that includes artsy students, creative professionals and hip urbanites, all communing over must-order brunch items such as mushroom Benedict and French toast “peaches and cream” bread pudding with cream cheese, peaches and brown-sugar rum sauce. —J.H. 940 2 Ave. N.W., 403-453-1140, vendomecafe.com, @vendomecafe

If you want a taste of Italy, head to Tuxedo. The central-northeast neighbourhood is bookended by two established Italian grocers — Lina’s Italian Market and Italian Super Market — with bustling inhouse cafeterias, expertly pulled espresso shots and fresh baking. If it’s a sit-down meal you want, you’ll find Scopa Neighbourhood Italian restaurant right next door to Lina’s. —S.A. 2202 Centre St. N.E., 403-2779166, linasmarket.com; 265 20 Ave. N.E., 403-277-7898, italiansupermarket.com; 2220 Centre St. N.E., 403-276-2030, scopacalgary.com, @scopacalgary

Talk about one-stop shopping at its best: Willow Park Village is home to a stellar collection of independent retailers, including one of the finest liquor stores in the city and a variety of specialty food shops. —J.H. 10816 Macleod Tr. S., 403-215-0380, wpv.ca

WEST HILLHURST Pizza Bob’s Classic Pie

Dating back to the ’60s, Pizza Bob’s has long been a staple of West Hillhurst. With its thin-crust Neapolitan-style pizza, quirky decor and weekly karaoke nights, Pizza Bob’s isn’t just a restaurant — it’s an institution. —A.J. 2610 Kensington Rd. N.W., 403-521-2627, pizzabobs.ca

Vendome photograph by Sarah McMenemy; Golden Acres photograph by @life_fling

BY Andrew Jeffrey

WINE APPRECIATION NIGHTS

MARDA LOOP COMMUNITITES ASSOCIATION

This monthly event invites guests into the MLCA Hall for wine and cheese tastings, with selections provided by professionals from Springbank Cheese and Highlander Wine. Admission is $25 and attendees can register in advance at mardaloop.com.

3130 16 St. S.W., 403-244-5411, mardaloop.com

BOOK CLUB

MOUNT PLEASANT COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

This club meets on the fourth Tuesday of every month (except December) to discuss moving reads and gripping tales over snacks in a casual, open atmosphere.

602 22 Ave. N.W., 403-2821314, mpca.ca

BOW VALLEY MUSIC CLUB

STRATHCONA, CHRISTIE & ASPEN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

The Strathcona Community Centre stage hosts touring Canadian and American folk and country artists every month (except during summer).

277 Strathcona Dr. S.W., 403-249-1138, scacalgary.ca

CALGARY YOUNG PEOPLE’S THEATRE

RIVERBEND COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

Riverbend’s community hall serves as the south location for Calgary Young People’s Theatre, an organization that offers summer drama camps and classes through the winter and fall for kids up to 17 years old.

19 Rivervalley Dr. S.E., 403-236-7270, riverbendcommunity.ca

DRUM CIRCLE

INGLEWOOD COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

Every Friday night, people gather at the Inglewood Community Hall for a drum circle. All ages and experience levels are welcome and djembe drums are provided.

1740 24 Ave. S.E., 403-2643835, icacalgary.com

FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT

CRANSTON CENTURY HALL

If you’re looking to take the whole family out to see a movie, the Cranston Residents Association provides an affordable solution. The monthly screening costs just $5 per family — including admission, juice and popcorn — to see some of the newest family-friendly films.

11 Cranarch Rd. S.E., 403-781-6614, cranston-connect.com

JAZZ NIGHTS

CLIFF BUNGALOWMISSION COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

The Jazz Under the Cliff performance series presents instrumental and vocal jazz musicians for the reasonable ticket price of $15 ($10 for students, seniors and CBMCA members).

2201 Cliff St. S.W., 403-245-6001, cliffbungalowmission.com

LAUGH & LEARN

SCENIC ACRES COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

SACA’s monthly Laugh & Learn sessions offer useful life lessons and tips for seniors on subjects such as buying insurance, selling your home or advance-care planning.

8825 Scurfield Dr. N.W., 403-547-9589, scenicacresca.ca

SUNDAY FLEA MARKET

HILLHURST SUNNYSIDE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

This weekly market kicks off bright and early at 7 a.m. and is a great place to browse for quirky decor items, vintage clothing and other odds and ends.

1320 5 Ave. N.W., 403-283-0554, hillhurstsunnyside.org, hsca.ca

SALSA DANCING

CAPITOL HILL COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

Different types of salsadancing classes (Cuban salsa, bachata, casino rueda and kizomba) run most Tuesday and Thursday nights. Programs are offered for both beginners and intermediate dancers with options to sign up for full sessions or on a drop-in basis.

1531 21 Ave. N.W., 403-289-0859, capitolhillcommunity.ca

Some of our favourite events at Calgary’s community halls.

INSPIRING CHEFS

How chefs embrace global flavours, local ingredients, exacting techniques, rule-breaking innovation, creative collaboration and collegial relationships as inspiration in the kitchen.

BY Shannon Cleary, Jacquie Moore, Gwendolyn Richards AND Julia Williams PHOTOGRAPHY BY Jared Sych

MICHAEL NOBLE

CHEF AND PROPRIETOR, NOTABLE AND THE NASH

How inspiration in the kitchen springs from relationships built outside of the kitchen.

You’d be forgiven for expecting a conversation with Michael Noble to touch on food. The inaugural chef at Catch, innovator of Earl’s menus and now chef-owner of The Nash and Notable is, after all, four decades into an enviable career that pivots on developing some of the restaurant industry’s most creative and enduring dishes.

But nope: food is not the thing that inspires and drives Noble.

Rather, the exuberant chef would prefer to talk about his appreciation for the long service of his wait staff or the illustrious trajectory of his former mentee, the chef and SAIT instructor Hayato Okamitsu. “Relationships — that’s always been what has inspired me,” says Noble. “It’s the personality part of being a chef that really defines me.”

That said, the potatoes cannot be overlooked.

On Easter Sunday, 1999, Noble made culinary history as the first Canadian chef to appear on the Japanese cooking show Iron Chef. Noble was, at the time, already a heavy hitter on Canada’s west coast. Nearing the end of his illustrious six-year tenure at Vancouver’s lauded Diva at the Met, the chef had Bocuse D’or and World Culinary Olympic competitions under his belt, and had won GQ magazine’s coveted Golden Plate award for his famous stilton cheesecake. Still, he would lose the battle that day to Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto, whose potato dishes beat out Noble’s — possibly, says the chef, due to a slightly overcooked potato-

wrapped loin of lamb (“I got distracted by all those cameras”). As it turned out, the outcome didn’t matter a whit. Overnight, Noble was catapulted from enviably successful chef to celebrity.

Arguably western Canada’s first high-profile chef, Noble rode the wave of his career from having “a certain mystique in certain circles” to “suddenly — wow” following that fateful TV appearance that ultimately elevated Canadian celebrity-chefdom to global awareness.

That moment, says Noble, “really turned the chef-thing inside out.” Indeed, he recalls being the only student in his class-of-1980 culinary program who seemed to genuinely want to be there. “Back then, the profession was not highly respected — I was the only one in my class of 16 [at Vancouver’s former Pacific Vocational Institute] who paid for the program. Everyone else was on the dole, just looking for something to do.” Iron Chef was the beginning of the huge increase of TV cooking shows and competitions. The increase in popularity of those shows changed the way people thought about chefs, says Noble. “I felt like people were looking at me — at all of us in the profession — a lot more.”

While such attention has had a notoriously inflationary effect on the egos of many a chef, for Noble, it served to further liberate his natural desire to tear down the old-millennium barriers that still existed between chef and diner. “I had already busted through the kitchen doors and started talking to people,” says Noble. “But the cult of the celebrity chef enabled more relationship building. People wanted to talk to chefs and farmers about these great ingredients they were eating. There was just more desire for connection.”

Indeed, Noble is among the first chefs in the country to run with the open-kitchen concept — a set-up that’s become ubiquitous in urban eating establishments. His perennial focus on being visible, conversational and connected — to diners, farmers, vintners and other chefs — has long put him on the vanguard of all that is coveted and respected in contemporary cuisine. That relationship building continues to inspire him today, and ensures that the vibe in both his restaurants is warm, and the food delightfully interesting and appealing rather than trendy or precious.

Nearly 20 years after his Iron Chef moment, Noble is still startled and amused when he’s asked for an autograph or to participate in a selfie. “I’m not hip like these new chefs out there,” he says with levity. “I still wear the white jacket; I don’t have any tattoos.” Some Halloween, he promises, “I’m going to wear a T-shirt and get a fake sleeve of tattoos so I can look like a hipster chef.”

Whatever. No matter what he shows up in, he’ll still be the inimitable Michael Noble. —J.M.

JINHEE LEE

EXECUTIVE CHEF, FOREIGN CONCEPT

On finding inspiration in conversation and talking technique.

Back in February, Jinhee Lee won gold at the national Gold Medal Plates competition in Kelowna, B.C. On the drive there, Lee and her friend and mentor, chef Duncan Ly, talked technique. “We talk about food a lot. That really helps me,” Lee says. “I’m not a genius about creativity. It’s more about process and learning.”

Lee says she depends on books and travel for inspiration, as well as conversations with fellow chefs. Under the pressure of competition, Lee says her thoughts turned to the hard-working team at Ly’s Foreign Concept restaurant, where she is executive chef. “I wanted to do the best I could so I could bring something to my crew,” she says. —J.W.

FINDING INSPIRATION IN BRAND-DRIVEN RESTAURANTS

At upscale-casual restaurants like Chop and Earls, menu planning is less whimsical and more the result of consistent execution.

In restaurant kitchens where Claire Cameron had free rein, seasonal ingredients and a variety of cookbooks informed the dishes she created. Now, as the head chef for Chop’s Barlow location in the city’s northeast, inspiration isn’t just about what’s on the plate. “Inspiration is what drives you. It doesn’t have to be just food,” says Cameron, who was also the personal chef for rapper-actor Common when he was here filming Hell on Wheels.

When making the switch to a corporate-chef role, Cameron came to a position where all the structures — staff, inventory, process guidelines, menus — were already in place. It is within this structure, Cameron says, that she finds her inspiration, along with a balanced approach to ensure equal attention is paid to guests, staff and the business.

On the food side, Cameron participates in taste panels with the executive chef and other staff and has some say on what goes on the menu. (The Barlow location is a test site for new menu items and dishes that eventually get rolled out to other restaurants.)

“I’m proud of the brand and the food we’re serving, which is inspiring,” Cameron says.

Like Chop, Earls also has test restaurants — including Earls Tin Palace in Mission — which serve as spots to dish up trial-run offerings created by the group’s culinary development department.

The main source of inspiration behind those new creations are the trips that take the Earls culinary development team around the world to discover what’s new in the world of food, says Phil Gallagher, Earls executive chef for Western Canada.

“We come back from that and put our heads together and talk about what’s happening in our market and how we can take things [from our travels] and apply them,” he says.

While those trips serve as the backbone for the inspiration, Gallagher adds eating locally, staying on top of social media, seeing what’s up-and-coming through newly published cookbooks and simply visiting Earls restaurants are also sources of creativity.

“The more we talk to our customers about what they’re eating today, the more we can get inspired,” he says. —G.R.

DIANA NACITA

SENIOR EXECUTIVE CHEF AT VIN ROOM

CHEFS CREATE AS ARTISTS WOULD. WE HAVE TO CONSIDER MANY FACTORS THAT GO INTO A DISH BESIDES FLAVOUR, SUCH AS TEXTURE, SMELL, STRUCTURE, SEASONAL INGREDIENTS AND TRENDS. WE ENCOURAGE OUR GUESTS TO EXPERIENCE THE DISH THE WAY THE CHEF HAS INTENDED IT TO BE.”

Earls test kitchen.

LIANA ROBBERECHT

EXECUTIVE CHEF, WINSPORT

On how inspiration is everywhere.

Liana Robberecht says she’s always had creative visions. “I thought everyone in cooking thought that way.” She finds inspiration everywhere.

“I can walk down the street and see a colour on a tree, and that spins me off into thinking about a flavour or a dish or a technique,” she says.

After 18 years as a chef at the Petroleum Club, Robberecht is now the executive chef at Winsport, where she translates clients’ flavour preferences into memorable feasts for weddings and other occasions. From a starting point like “lemon,” Robberecht can create an entire menu. It’s an approach best summed up by the words Robberecht had painted over the Winsport kitchen door last summer: “Magic Happens Here.” —J.W.

SPONSORED EVENT

DINNER FOR DOORS –ACCESSIBLE HOUSING’S FUNDRAISING EVENING

OCTOBER 12, 2017 – 5 P.M. AT THE GREY EAGLE RESORT & CASINO

Dinner for Doors is an experiential evening that strives to elevate levels of awareness of accessibility challenges and inspire compassion for people in need of adequate housing. Guests experience part of the evening in a wheelchair, with a walker, visionlimiting glasses and other aides.

Join us on October 12 for an impactful client story, presentation of The Kent Hehr Leadership Award, a delicious buffet, and an incredible silent auction. Funds raised will help open doors to accessible and affordable homes in community.

Purchase Tickets Today at Accessiblehousing.ca/dfd-2017 Or call 403-282-1872

Avenue is proud to support local initiatives in our community. Visit AvenueCalgary.com/events to find out more about upcoming events in the city.

THE JOY OF PLAYING BY THE RULES

How traditionalists find inspiration in classic techniques.

These days, fusion reigns on restaurant menus. Chefs borrow from innumerable cuisines to make their own creations and are less restricted in what they offer diners. Some chefs, however, continue to follow the rules that strictly define the food they serve. For the chefs who adhere to the precise definitions of the cuisines they love, inspiration comes from that restriction — and the joy of seeing diners enjoy dishes prepared the way they have always been prepared.

Behind the counter at Sushi Bar Zipang in Bridgeland, Naoya Umino prepares sashimi and maki rolls as sushi chefs have for generations. He learned at the side of Hiro Hyakutake, the master behind Sushi Hiro, who taught Umino not only about how to prepare fish with requisite exactness, but also trained him for the role of a counter chef in the time-honoured tradition of interacting with customers.

Working at the counter, he can see directly, immediately, the joy of the first bite. “I can change people in 15 minutes,” says Umino. “If they come in hungry and cranky, I can give them a good meal, have some conversation and they leave happy. When I see [that], it’s inspiring.”

Though sushi does have strict rules of technique and preparation, it nonetheless lends itself to creativity — at least in terms of what goes in a roll. On the other hand, few dishes have stricter preparation rules and regulations than Neapolitan pizza. Training is rigorous and ingredients and method are severely restricted — right down to the type of tomatoes for sauce, the wood-burning oven and the required addition of three specific types of pizza on the menu. Secret shoppers are sent out by a governing body in Italy — the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana — to ensure pizzas being served at establishments that have its endorsement meet its demanding standards, and Domenic Tudda wouldn’t have it any other way.

The chef-owner of Pulcinella finds he is inspired by the masters who continue to enforce the traditions of Neapolitan pizza. “I love the challenge,” he says. “If you make it work and give the people the product that they’d pay $1,500 for a flight, hotel and car rental for, but give them that experience in Calgary, that’s the joy of it.” G.R.

OUR STAFF PUTS IN A LOT OF HARD HOURS, ESPECIALLY ON DAYS THAT OTHERS CONSIDER HOLIDAYS. MOST OF US SEE THE PEOPLE BETWEEN OUR RESTAURANT WALLS MORE THAN OUR SIGNIFICANT OTHERS. WE HAVE A PASSION FOR WHAT WE DO, THOUGH, OR YOU WOULDN’T FIND US HERE. WHEN YOU’RE A GUEST IN OUR RESTAURANT, YOU’RE A GUEST IN OUR HOME.”

BENJAMIN MILLS CHEF AT BONTERRA TRATTORIA AND POSTO PIZZERIA

NAOYA UMINO EXECUTIVE CHEF AND OWNER, SUSHI BAR ZIPANG

MICHAEL ALLEMEIER

On how inspiration is a sum of many parts.

To chef Michael Allemeier, inspiration feels like a moment of clarity. “Things are going your way. There’s less resistance, challenges, drama, stress, fewer obstacles,” he says.

That clarity comes when other factors align: experience, discipline and skill.

As a culinary instructor at SAIT, and one of only three Certified Master Chefs in Canada, this is what Allemeier tries to teach the next generation of chefs. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, but Allemeier believes it’s possible to impart the skills, habits and values that bring that spark of inspiration within reach. “I think it’s a form of confidence, ultimately,” he says. “It’s a sum of many parts.”

It’s also a long game. Allemeier is still inspired

by certain mentors he had 30 years ago because they shaped him, not just his culinary technique. “Motivation is short-term. Inspiration is longterm,” he says. “To inspire someone to be a better cook or person or leader lasts.” So he nurtures his students’ communication skills and encourages them to set goals.

For Allemeier, inspiration is usually a by-product of action. A chef with a long and storied career, including a stint as executive chef at Teatro, he has never sat around waiting for his muse. “When you’re cooking at a high level you simply can’t have a bad day,” he says.

But powering through only gets you so far; Allemeier acknowledges that part of any creative career is unteachable. He loves music but cheerfully admits his talents lie elsewhere. “You can teach people how to play notes, but you can never teach people how to play music,” he says. “Cooking can be the same way.” —J.W.

I HOPE DINERS UNDERSTAND THAT BEYOND THE PASSION AND EXCITEMENT, THERE IS THE GRIND. COOKS GRIND IT OUT TIRELESSLY DAY AFTER DAY, PERFECTING THEIR CRAFT IN PURSUIT OF MAKING EVERY GUEST MATTER, REGARDLESS OF THE SITUATIONS THAT ARE PRESENTED TO THEM.”

MASTER CHEF AND CULINARY INSTRUCTOR AT SAIT

MICHAEL DEKKER

CHEF INSTRUCTOR AT SAIT

Michael Dekker photograph courtesy of SAIT

We Chose To Create Our Dream Kitchen.

YOU DECIDE HOW TO REWARD YOURSELF!

When you build with Trico Homes you’ll receive your very own Trico Red Card . It comes pre-loaded with rewards you can spend however you choose. AND it qualifies you for incredible ongoing savings and rewards!

FINDING INSPIRATION IN CHEF-DRIVEN RESTAURANTS

With free rein in the kitchen, chefs become culinary innovators, finding inspiration in everything from global cuisines to hyper-local ingredients.

Menus at restaurants with a single chef at the helm are parallels in culinary creativity. The dishes differ, the techniques vary, and the backgrounds and resumés of chefs are a study in contrast, but what they all have in common is that they are driven by personality.

Seasonal ingredients, travel and collaborating — or even conversing — with other chefs form the backbone of what inspires those leading the kitchens at their establishments.

“The season dictates everything for me,” says Neil McCue, chef-owner of Whitehall.

While that can be restrictive, especially with Calgary’s limited availability of local produce in the winter months, McCue says it can be exciting when the seasons shift and ingredients become available again. Then, he says, the inspiration comes straight from what’s available and making those flavours shine. “You take the freshest ingredients and then do as little to them as possible,” he says. “There’s an excitement that comes from fresh produce.”

But good, fresh, local ingredients are only part of the inspiration puzzle.

Speaking with chefs who have similar visions also serves as a source of creativity. When chefs are together, the conversation inevitably turns to food and they start to bounce ideas off each other.

Collaborative dinners with other chefs have a similar effect. At a dinner last spring that saw several area chefs descend on Brasserie Kensington’s kitchen, Charbar’s executive chef and co-owner Jessica Pelland found she was greatly inspired by what other chefs were dishing up.

Pelland says she picks up on things she observes — an ingredient or a technique — and then reinterprets it back at Charbar. Many dishes at Charbar are Argentinian-influenced, which stems from her having worked at restaurants in that country as part of her menu research.

“Travel is huge,” Pelland adds, saying her two trips to South America encouraged her to take inspiration from dishes she ate and techniques she learned there and translate them here. —G.R.

JESSICA PELLAND EXECUTIVE CHEF AND CO-OWNER AT CHARBAR

JAN HANSEN EXCUTIVE CHEF, HOTEL ARTS GROUP

KENNY KAECHELE

EXECUTIVE CHEF

AND

OWNER, WORKSHOP

On finding inspiration in the hub of the wheel.

When chef Kenny Kaechele sketches out his daily menu for Workshop, the stylish lobby restaurant at Theatre Junction Grand, he doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel. In fact, he draws inspiration from it. “Imagine a bicycle wheel that has spokes coming out of a central hub,” said Kaechele. “For us, it’s about that hub, that center of the dish.”

Kaechele then uses “hyper-seasonal, hyper-local” ingredients and contrasting textures and temperatures to build the supporting elements.

“It’s a little spoke of this, a little spoke of that,” he says. “A wheel has to be perfectly round for it to roll smoothly.”

Once you embrace these general rules of great tasting food, Kaechele says, “the creative possibilities are endless.” —S.C.

When Chef Jan Hansen designed the menu for Oxbow at the Kensington Riverside Inn, one of the restaurants he oversees as executive chef for the Hotel Arts Group, one of his inspirations was what he calls “bums in seats.”

“We want [Oxbow] to be somewhere you can bring your family on a Tuesday night,” he says. To achieve that unpretentious feel, Hansen seeks to indulge Calgary’s appetite for high-quality dishes without fine-dining formalities. “It’s not tweezer food. We’re not little dollops of this and little dollops of that,” he says. “We’re building cravings. We’re making food that people want to come back for.” —S.C.

On the approachability factor and creating flavours for the antipretentious foodie.

Sept. 22–24, 2017

So many ways to LEARN, CONNECT and PLAY!

ucalgary.ca/alumniweekend

That inner-city lifestyle you’re dreaming about? Build it, and it will come.

Chances are you didn’t just wake up one day and decide you wanted an inner-city lifestyle. You’ve been dreaming about it for years, the convenience of downtown proximity mixed with local restaurants and shops. And, after months of stalking the real estate market, you’ve chosen the ideal neighbourhood. Now you need the right custom home builder to make it all real. At Sagebrook Developments, we get it. We specialize in turning the loftiest aspirations into reality. And we’ve got the portfolio and awards to prove it. Stop dreaming it. Let’s get it built.

lifeMOUNTAINS

BY Andrew Penner

LASTMINUTE MOUNTAIN GETAWAYS

Make the most of the final weeks of summer with an off-the-beaten-path alpine adventure.

Clean, pine-scented air, crystal-clear rivers, inspiring vistas — what’s not to love about the mountains? How about crowds of tourists who clog up the roads and hold up your hikes?

And just try booking a last-minute room or campsite in Banff, Jasper or Lake Louise this month. Good luck! But that’s the bad news. The good news is that if you take the roads less travelled, you’ll have all the space you need (and it will make all the difference).

For a mountain getaway to make the most of the remaining weeks of summer, your best bet is something a little off the radar. These five places are a good start.

Ridge-top trek from Kicking Horse Resort to Gorman Lake near Golden, B.C.

Photograph by Agathe Bernard, courtesy of Kootenay Rockies Tourism

Go for Golden

The town of Golden, B.C., is proof that you can’t judge a book by its cover. The roadside truck stops and fast-food greaseries along the TransCanada Highway definitely don’t do this mountain town justice. Late summer and

Zip down to Nelson

Ask anyone who has been there and they’ll confirm that Nelson seems like it’s in an entirely different galaxy. Spinning on its own trajectory, this small city in the West Kootenays is a hub for artists and other free-spirited folk. Hikers, mountain bikers and paddlers will also find their happy place in Nelson.

Sitting on the shores of the West Arm of Kootenay Lake, Nelson is a lengthy drive from Calgary (622 kilometres), which is all the more reason to get there before the snow starts falling. To acclimatize on your way into town, try the Kokanee Mountain Zipline adventure. Located approximately 30 minutes east of Nelson outside of Kokanee Creek Provincial Park, this thrilling tour incorporates six different “zips,” whereby zippers soar over 300-foot canyons and through old-growth forest, reaching speeds up to 100 km per hour. Given Nelson’s normal orbital velocity (slow and slower), that’s definitely fast.

early fall, when Golden literally lives up to its name, is the ideal time to slide into town (the real town), don your sporty shoes and hit the local trails. Mountain bikers looking for a white-knuckle ride will find it on the Canyon Creek Trail in the Moonraker trail area south

of town, an epic rip that dips and dives along the rim of a deep canyon. Base yourself out of the Cedar House Chalets, which are also out that way on a serene, 10-acre spread.

The hiking hard core will want to take on the 16-km ridge-top trek from Kicking Horse Resort to Gorman Lake. The trail starts with a ride up the Kicking Horse gondola (an adult summer sightseeing ticket is $49.95) and sets out from the top. The entire hike is almost exclusively in the high alpine, save for the descent to Gorman Lake at the end. Take note: the 16-km distance is one-way, meaning hikers will need to drop a vehicle at the endpoint before setting out (the backcountry logging road to Gorman Lake isn’t exactly car-friendly, either). For something a little easier and simpler, try Thompson Falls in the Blaeberry area north of town, a secret gem of a trail that leads to a stunning waterfall.

ABOVE Kokanee Mountain Zipline adventure near Nelson, B.C.

RIGHT Mountain Shadows mountain-bike trail, one of many great trails near Golden, B.C.

Zipline photograph by Allen Rollin; mountain biking photograph by Jeff Bartlett, courtesy of Tourism Golden

Go Western in Porcupine Hills

The beautiful Porcupine Hills region of Southern Alberta is arguably the epicentre of the province’s ranching and “Western” culture. Urbanites in search of a memorable horseback or dude-ranch experience will find it here in the cow-peppered rolling grasslands, aspen parklands and montane and subalpine forest terrain. Located just west of Claresholm, historic Lucasia Ranch is about as authentic as it gets. Founded in 1881, the get-your-hands-dirty guest experience at Lucasia is all about connecting with the animals and immersing in the day-to-day life of a genuine working ranch, set against a backdrop of foothills scenery. Guests stay in the main ranch house or in self-contained cabins and are treated like family, while the cattle drives, overnight pack trips, branding days, roundups and daily rides will make you the cowboy or cowgirl you always yearned to be.

Go Exploring in Nordegg

Looking for the road that’s truly less travelled? The stunning David Thompson Highway delivers. Named for the prodigious British-Canadian explorer and mapmaker, the David Thompson (Alberta Highway 11) runs from the Saskatchewan River Crossing on the Icefields Parkway up into central Alberta.

Approximately one hour’s drive east of the Crossing (175 km west of Red Deer) lies the former coal-mining town of Nordegg. Little-known Nordegg and the pristine wilderness that envelops it are an explorer’s dream — no crowds, no fuss, no $500 rooms. Visit the Brazeau Collieries Mine Site, a National Historic Site, for a glimpse into the area’s coal-mining past.

Outdoor pastimes around Nordegg include the half-day hike to the spectacular view at the Baldy Fire Lookout and sightseeing at photogenic Abraham Lake. Or, drive 64 km south on Forestry Trunk Road AB 40 to Ram Falls Provincial Park, which has the eponymous falls and a network of trails that are well used by mountain bikers.

As far as accommodations go in Nordegg, your best bet is camping. Snag a lakeside spot at Goldeye Lake or Fish Lake, or, if a quaint cabin in the woods is more your style, try the offerings at Western Wilderness Adventures. Wherever you end up, don’t leave town without having a giant piece of pie at the Miner’s Café.

Wake up at Wheeler

Established in 1906, the Alpine Club of Canada (ACC) has long been the leading mountaineering organization in the country. On top of offering camps and courses, it also operates the largest network of backcountry huts in North America (32 total). You won’t find spas, butlers or infinity pools at the huts, but, for a truly “out there” mountain adventure, the ACC huts deliver. Booking for some of the most popular ones, such as the historic Elizabeth Parker Hut near Lake O’Hara in Yoho National Park, is done via a lottery system (so don’t bet the farm on staying there this summer). However, other huts, such as the Wheeler Hut near the top of Rogers Pass, can often be booked on short notice.

Unlike, say, the remote Glacier Circle Cabin, an idyllic timber-framed hideaway deep in Glacier National Park, you can actually drive right up to the front door of Wheeler Hut. It sleeps 30, so don’t expect to have it to yourself, but regardless of how many hikers are using it as their home base, Wheeler is a great way to dip your toes into the world of ACC huts and the spectacular hiking trails that typically surround them. Though ACC members can make bookings a year in advance, non-members can book up to 30 days in advance, with non-member overnight rates coming in around the $40 mark.

Fishing photograph by Andy Best, courtesy of Travel Alberta; Wheeler Hut photograph by Fort Properties Ltd.

ABOVE Ram Falls Provincial Park. LEFT Lucasia Ranch.

RIGHT Alpine Club of Canada’s Wheeler Hut.

At the heart of your Parks adventure.

Golden B.C. is surrounded by six of Canada’s most stunning national parks; Yoho, Glacier, Banff, Jasper, Kootenay and Mount Revelstoke. Golden’s unique location is made even more special in 2017 as Parks Canada, in celebration of the 150th anniversary of Canadian Confederation, is offering free admission to all national parks.

Stay in Golden to enjoy an authentic mountain town and our close proximity to the national parks to experience spectacular scenery, iconic hiking trails, waterfalls, lakes and heritage sites.

Hillside Lodge and Chalets

Stunning. Personal. Relaxing. Weddings at Hillside are all of those things and more. Barn venue, mountain & river ceremony backdrop. Perfection is possible.

1-250-344-7281

www.hillsidechalets.com

Cedar House Restaurant & Chalets

Enjoy one of our luxury chalets complete with private hot tubs, breathtaking views and our award winning restaurant just south of Golden, B.C.

1-250-290-0001

www.CedarHouseChalets.com

lovethenationalparks.com

Photo by Chris Wheeler

BY Silvia Pikal ILLUSTRATED BY Rachel Wada

Facing Forward

Many women living through cancer treatment find that, in addition to dealing with a life-threatening illness, the effects of chemo, radiation and surgery can rob them of their self-esteem and alter their perception of themselves. A growing number of Calgary services aim to help them regain control of their health and rebuild their self-image.

On an October night in 2015, Sharon Shewchuk lay in an isolation room in the hospital, begging the nurses to let her go home.

In 2013, Shewchuk had been diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a blood cancer that affects plasma cells. She was warned she would lose her hair while receiving high-dose chemotherapy, but she didn’t want to be in a hospital bed watching clumps of hair fall from her head.

Shewchuk wanted to be in control of losing her hair.

“I thought, ‘Dammit, if I’m going to lose my hair, I’m going to have a party,’” Shewchuk says. “I wanted my friends to be there at such a traumatic time. I was so tied to my hair.”

The next day was to be her head-shaving party and 17 guests would be expecting her.

Shewchuk felt fine, but she was running a high fever and with a compromised immune system, her body wasn’t able to fight an infection, which was why she was in isolation.

The morning of the party, a doctor told her she could go home, as long as she was back in the hospital by 8 p.m. that night. Shewchuk quickly texted Colleen McDonald-Sanheim, a hair stylist at Compassionate Beauty oncology boutique and spa, to say the party would go on.

Everything was ready to go at Shewchuk’s home. Earlier that week, she had stocked up on chocolate, Crave cupcakes and Champagne. Shewchuk’s doctor made her promise she would stick to one small glass of Champagne.

As McDonald-Sanheim shaved her head, Shewchuk looked at the pieces of hair on the floor without the devastation she had been expecting. She even felt comfortable with her

friends snapping photos on their phones as she debuted her new look.

“I thought I’d just be a big, blubbering mess, but not at all,” Shewchuk says. “It ended up being a nice day.”

Shewchuk first saw McDonald-Sanheim in 2013 for thinning hair before she received any active cancer treatment. Doctors couldn’t find a reason for the hair loss. She liked having her hair cut in a private room, away from the bustle of a salon. “It’s a really nice, comfortable environment where nobody judges you,” Shewchuk says. “Nobody looks at me and goes, ‘Oh, her hair’s so thin, I wonder what’s wrong with her?’”

Shewchuk says she’s grateful that she had already been familiar with Compassionate Beauty by the time she was experiencing cancer-related hair loss.

“It takes away some of the fear,” she says. “When you get that cancer diagnosis, it’s shocking. Your mind goes to a million places. I was so worried about losing my hair. If I didn’t know where to go, I think I would have been out of control.”

Many women going through cancer treatment, find it hard to maintain self-esteem. Their bodies change drastically — they may lose their hair, eyebrows and eyelashes and gain weight. Many of the women Colleen McDonald-Sanheim sees at Compassionate Beauty describe losing their hair as one of the most difficult things they experience after their cancer diagnosis.

“You’ve lost something that your confidence is rooted in,” McDonald-Sanheim says.

McDonald-Sanheim says her job is to help women find their new normal. She says wearing a wig after hair loss is not just a fashion statement for women, it is more like a prosthetic. It helps them feel confident leaving the house.

Wearing a wig, they can go to work, the gym and see people without having to tell anyone about their diagnosis. They gain back some control of their lives.

Compassionate Beauty, Calgary’s only oncology spa and boutique, provides wig fittings and styling, massages, facials, manicures, pedicures and other spa services for women not comfortable in their regular salon. The company also sells wigs, hats and scarves, post-mastectomy bras, swimsuits and clothing.

Shortly before her head-shaving party, Shewchuk purchased a human hair wig. It looks just like her own hair — shoulder-length and golden-blonde. Many women opt for a realistic wig that allows them to blend in, but it comes at a high price. A quality human-hair wig costs several thousand dollars, and many insurance companies only cover a small percentage (if any) of the cost. (Services like eyebrow and nipple tattooing, a procedure that helps make a reconstructed breast look more realistic, may be considered cosmetic and therefore not covered at all.)

The Canadian Cancer Society lends new and used wigs free of charge, and some women skip wigs altogether.

Cancer Chic, a local charity that runs free workshops for women living with cancer on topics including fitness and natural beauty, teaches women about using scarves to cover hair loss. That’s what the group’s co-founder, Karla Laing, used when she lost her own hair.

Laing co-founded Cancer Chic in 2011 after she and her co-founder Heather Alvas were both diagnosed with cancer. They noticed there weren’t programs for Calgary women with cancer to learn the benefits of fitness and other self-care strategies.

“We didn’t feel like there was anything targeted to what you can do for yourself, and if there was, it was only for breast-cancer patients, which leaves a lot of women out,” Laing says.

In Cancer Chic’s workshops, participants receive a swag bag filled with chemical-free makeup, and a makeup artist demonstrates a simple routine that includes how to draw on eyebrows. Laing talks about her own experience with hair loss and how to tie scarves. Participants also learn

about the importance of keeping active during and after treatment and how to keep motivated, even when they’re fatigued.

Fitness was very important to Laing after she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2009. “It helps you reform your identity during treatment and after,” Laing says. “After everything I went through, I was looking and feeling very different. I felt like I was floating around in a sea of not knowing who I was.”

“WHEN YOU GET THAT CANCER DIAGNOSIS, IT’S SHOCKING. YOUR MIND GOES TO A MILLION PLACES. I WAS SO WORRIED ABOUT LOSING MY HAIR. IF I DIDN’T KNOW WHERE TO GO, I THINK I WOULD HAVE BEEN OUT OF CONTROL.”

–SHARON SHEWCHUK

WELLNESS

Michelle Shah, who has attended many of Laing’s workshops, says Cancer Chic was her starting point to recovery. At 19 years old, Shah was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia. Her main concern at the time of her diagnosis was living her life as close to normal as possible.

Pushing herself at school and work, she beat back feelings of anxiety and stress with multiple cups of coffee and cigarettes.

Chemotherapy pills made her tired; half the time she skipped taking them.

Health-care professionals chided her whenever she wasn’t taking her pills. They urged rest, exercise and healthy eating, but Shah says it was hard to take care of herself when she was so sick.

“I know I need to exercise and eat well, but I’m struggling,” Shah says. “I’m depressed. I’m anxious. I feel alone. You need someone to say, ‘You can do it. Here are the tools and resources and support to take care of yourself.’”

In 2016, she hit her breaking point. She left school and work, feeling too exhausted to keep up. Her weight plummeted to 90 pounds. Shah felt lost and didn’t know how to continue. She needed support. In the spring of 2016, Shah contacted Wellspring Calgary, a community-based support centre. They pointed her to Cancer Chic, which meets in the Wellspring building.

“I didn’t even know how to take care of myself,” Shah says. “I didn’t feel pretty anymore. I didn’t feel capable anymore. Everyone has to start somewhere and I started with learning how to take care of myself physically again.”

In her first workshop, Shah felt instantly at ease with the community of women from all backgrounds. She loved everything about the workshop, from the giant goody bag that put a smile on her face the minute she walked in the door, to the information on fitness, nutrition and the community of women who were going through similar experiences.

Cancer Chic immediately put her in touch with Thrive Centre at the University of Calgary, a free fitness facility for people living with cancer. Today she’s a regular at Thrive, where she works with a trainer. The support from the programs enabled her to start taking care of herself.

Now, a year later, Shah has regained 40 pounds. She’s halfway through a degree in behavioural sciences and takes daily chemotherapy pills. And she wants other women to know there is help. Sometimes Shah doesn’t feel like going out if she’s tired. But she says when Karla Laing calls and invites her to an event like a DIY scented-oil workshop

at Neal’s Yard Remedies, it’s hard to say no. So, Shah says, she puts on a bit of makeup. She looks through her closet until she finds a cute baggy shirt to pair with skinny jeans, an outfit she learned to put together thanks to a Cancer Chic wardrobe consultant. She feels good. She’s excited to see friends she’s made through the workshops, friends who know exactly what she’s going through.

“Don’t get sad,” Shah says. “Because there is so much out there and a community you haven’t discovered yet that will remind you of your inner strength.”

Shewchuk has similarly found a support community. She keeps herself busy. Aside from spending time with her husband, two grown children and her many groups of girlfriends, she regularly attends myeloma support meetings. To stay active, she’s on a dragon boat racing team for people living with breast cancer. They train twice a week on the Glenmore Reservoir.

Shewchuk started biweekly chemotherapy treatments again for multiple myeloma in March 2016, a course of treatment that continues to this day.

Shewchuk says her cancer is incurable. It’s hard some days, but she says you have to stay positive. “I used to think, ‘Why me? Why me? Why me?’ But you have to let that all go. I’m a fighter and I’m no quitter, let me tell you. I want to be around. I want to enjoy my life.”

CALGARY CANCER SURVIVOR SELF-CARE SERVICES AND PROGRAMS

Canadian Cancer Society

Wig Lending Program

Free service that lends out new and used wigs for temporary hair loss while people are living with cancer. Call the Calgary office at 403-2053966 to make an appointment. cancer.ca

Cancer Chic

Free workshops for women on inner and outer beauty, physical fitness and survivorship. Participants take home a bag filled with chemical-free makeup. cancerchic.ca

Compassionate Beauty

A variety of services intended to improve the self-image of women undergoing cancer treatment and medical hair loss. Services offered include massage, manicures and pedicures. Wigs, post-mastectomy clothing and other products are for sale.

22 Richard Way S.W., 403-686-6936, compassionatebeauty.com

Cinnamon Girl Clinic

Semi-permanent eyebrow tattooing after hair loss and areola repigmentation following breast reconstruction after a mastectomy. Clients should consult a doctor before undergoing any type of tattooing.

4411 16 Ave. N.W., 403-288-2769, cinnamongirlclinic.ca

Wellspring Calgary

Free programs and resources that support the healing of the body and mind of people living with cancer. Programming includes yoga, nutritional information and courses on finances and returning to work.

1404 Home Rd. N.W., 403-521-5292, wellspringcalgary.ca

Thrive Centre

University of Calgary’s free fitness centre for cancer patients. The gym is monitored by exercise specialists and volunteers who have specific cancer and exercise training.

1829 Ranchlands Blvd. N.W., 403-239-3000, ucalgary.ca/ healthandwellnesslab

“DON’T GET SAD, BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH OUT THERE AND A COMMUNITY YOU HAVEN’T DISCOVERED YET THAT WILL REMIND YOU OF YOUR INNER STRENGTH.” –MICHELLE SHAH

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Q&Astyle

BY Andrew Guilbert PHOTOGRAPHY BY Chris Amat STYLING BY Sheena MacLean (ARTISTS WITHIN)

Aaron Prasad

As general manager of Vine Arts’ 17th Avenue S.W. location, Aaron Prasad is right at home in the Calgary spirits scene, which he says is populated with passionate people who are always looking to experience new things. “I love cognac, and in a lot of the world cognac has a stigma attached to it that’s it only for old men, but out here people are open to learning and finding out what it has to offer,” Prasad says. While he’s obviously well versed in all things alcohol, Prasad also has a background in fashion, having worked as a stylist with Forman’s Fashion Group, as well as a manager at Tristan and Aldo. A love of hunting, Italian leatherwork, video games and other eclectic passions combine to make him as complex as any well-crafted cocktail.

How much do you have to drink for work?

I’d say a beer a day in order to cleanse the palate and either a glass of wine or an ounce and a half of spirits per day. To be fair, a lot of it is just tasting. We spit a lot of booze so we’re not wasted all the time, otherwise days at the shop would be a real mess.

Before you got into the spirits industry, you worked in fashion. How did that come about?

I stumbled into fashion by accident. I was walking by Forman’s Fashion Group when they first opened 12 years ago, saw a “now hiring” sign, got the job, and was like, “Oh s**t, what does this mean?” I always had a thing for how I presented myself, but didn’t really know how that fit into fashion.

How has your style evolved?

I went from wearing things that were super loud — black suits with teal pinstripes and bigfloral-print shirts — and it slowly evolved into something that is a little more country fashion. I have a ton of cowboy boots and big belt buckles and that kind of stuff.

What attracts you to country fashion?

Even when I was living and growing up in Vancouver, we went to the Chilliwack rodeo. I love doing that stuff. I love being around horses and being out in the country. I do hunt, so having the guns out in the country is a big part of who I am. So I think I want my style and fashion to represent that a bit.

What is Calgary fashion to you?

The typical fashion downtown is maybe not the best for fit, but at least people are trying to be dressy-casual. I think one of the greatest things about this city is the cowboy culture. I think it grounds the city.

How does cowboy culture ground the city?

Every time you put on a pair of cowboy boots or a big belt buckle you’re kind of forced to remember where that comes from, so you end up with this great small-town feel.

What’s your work wardrobe like?

It depends on the day. My office and stock days tend to be jeans and a T-shirt with comfortable shoes. My sales days on the floor, I wear my nicer jeans and something over top of a T-shirt. I love wearing brand swag because some of it is legit cool.

What events do you dress up for?

The big one for me is Carnival Cocktails, [Vine Arts owner] Jesse Willis’ charity event in May. I love taking that kind of circus theme and going all out. It’s one of the only times I can wear my really nice San Fran top hat.

What are your favourite hot spots around Calgary?

I love eating at Ten Foot Henry. Natives Tongues for the food and the crowd scene. Pigeonhole is really great. Royale has halfpriced magnums on Sunday — you can’t go wrong with that.

Where do you like to go for drinks?

There are quite a few places where I love to drink — Proof, Milk Tiger, Ricardo’s, Bourbon Room is pretty solid, Royale is really good.

Any tips on how to order?

I love sitting at the wood and telling the bartenders to go nuts. Getting bartenders to make you

what they’re interested in is a great way to get the best drinks possible.

Where do you like to shop in Calgary?

If you shop at stores like Understudy and LESS17 then you’re going to get stuff that isn’t anywhere else. They only bring in a few of each item and when they’re gone, they’re gone.

“ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS ABOUT THIS CITY IS THE COWBOY CULTURE. I THINK IT GROUNDS THE CITY.”

OPPOSITE PAGE Belt buckle from the Calgary Stampede 100 Years collection; Dan Post boots from Riley & McCormick; Ted Baker shirt, Tellason jeans purchased in Brooklyn; Four Winds Brewing Co. hat; Frederique Constant watch. THIS PAGE Celio shirt purchased in Paris; pants from Club Monaco; Leonardo’s shoes purchased in Florence, Italy; handmade belt purchased at a market in Greve, Italy; watch by Tissot.

What’s the MVP of your wardrobe?

I have a pair of shoes by Swear with Keith Haring’s iconic band outline on them. That is my one thing that I love wearing as much as I can.

What was the last thing that you bought?

A pair of New Balance runners from Understudy. No tongue, pink up the middle, black and grey.

Is there a specific piece that you pine for?

A one-button, shawl-collar Tom Ford tuxedo. Price is a big part of it, but I also have two other tuxes in my wardrobe so having a third — do I really need it?

What was your favourite outfit growing up?

From the time that I was about 10 until I was 19, I almost exclusively wore tracksuits. I didn’t even own a pair of jeans.

If you were a cocktail, what would you be?

I would be a boulevardier. It’s equal parts bourbon, Campari and sweet vermouth. Bourbon is big, brash, bold and sweet and really simple. Campari is exactly the opposite. It’s fiery and red, really bitter, high acid, an unbelievable complexity of herbal components, but it’s a bitterness that balances the sweet brash of the bourbon. Sweet vermouth, which is a beautiful aromatization

LIGHTNING ROUND

What do you do?

I am a spirits pro at Vine Arts

Wine and Spirits.

What did you think you’d do growing up?

I thought I was going to be an engineer.

What would you do if you didn’t have to make a living at it?

Probably what I’m doing right now, just playing with booze and drinking it.

Radio station?

Wild 95.3.

Currently playing?

Darius Rucker.

Favourite book growing up?

Lord of the Rings. The Two Towers was my favourite. Red or white?

Red.

Denim or leather?

Denim.

Favourite breakfast?

Sausage and eggs.

Favourite fictional hero?

Jaina Proudmore.

Dream vacation?

A two-month drive around the Iberian Peninsula.

Pet peeve?

People pretending to know more than they do in any situation. It comes up a lot in wine, but it happens everywhere. Favourite locally made edible treat?

Native Tongues’ doughnuts or Village Ice Cream’s coconut ice cream.

Guilty pleasure. Cruising Highway 2 in my car listening to Usher.

Keith Haring shoes by Swear are from gravitypope; Penfield shorts from Understudy; shirt by Shipley & Halmos; Brooks Brothers belt; sunglasses from Spareparts; watch by Frederique Constant.

of red wine, brings in another area of my life that I love, which is drinking wonderfully complex wines and things that have more subtlety to them.

“I HAVE A PAIR OF SHOES BY SWEAR WITH KEITH HARING’S ICONIC BAND OUTLINE ON THEM. THAT IS MY ONE THING THAT I LOVE WEARING AS MUCH AS I CAN.”

Meet Tanya.

Meet Tanya. She’s been one of Calgary’s top selling Real Estate Agents for years. She has valuable experience working within Calgary’s Inner City Real Estate market, and she understands every client is as unique as their home.

Tanya takes the time to listen; to understand your wants and needs. She doesn’t expect your trust, Tanya earns it by consistently remaining honest, accessible and tenacious. That’s what sets Tanya apart.

The Tanya Eklund Group was founded on Tanya’s principles. The professionals within her group don’t work for Tanya – they work for you, the client. They provide unparalleled expertise, skill and service to Calgary’s inner city.

And their clients know it.

WWW.TANYAEKLUNDGROUP.CA

Tanya@tanyaeklundgroup.ca

Direct 403-863-7434

“Connect with me today — about your real estate needs for tomorrow”

Room to Grow

When Laurie and Raman Minhas tied the knot, they forged a new design aesthetic for their new family.

Homeowners Raman and Laurie Minhas tried out three different dining-room tables before turning to designer Jeannie Sturdy, who created an intimate feel with a lightgrey washed-oak table and hutch. The room’s built-in window bench provides an element of softness and is a perfect afternoon-reading nook for the family.

BY Andrea Cox PHOTOGRAPHY BY Jared Sych

INSTAFAMILY

When Raman and Laurie Minhas decided to get married, they set out to create a home that would allow their two worlds to blend seamlessly. Laurie, a busy dental hygienist and president of the Perio Laser Institute, had recently refurbished a home in Acadia where she lived with her two daughters, Ella, 11, and Ava, 10. Raman, on the other hand, had been living in typical bachelor style at his Elbow Park home. “It was really Raman that had to do most of the adjusting — he just got this instant family,” says Laurie.

Raman’s busy career as a dentist with his own practice as well as his work with The Alex Dental Health Bus (a non-profit organization that provides free dental care to low-income children and youth) kept him from taking the time to make his house a “home,” despite its spectacular views of the Elbow River and design possibilities.

The couple decided to sell Laurie’s place in Acadia and keep the Elbow Park home, as it was close to both their practices and Laurie’s girls were already attending schools nearby. Plus, as Laurie and Raman are both avid cyclists, the Elbow Park home’s proximity to the city’s pathways couldn’t be beat.

WEST COAST MEETS OLD WORLD

Before Laurie and her children could move in, however, the home had to undergo major renovations. “It was a bachelor pad with one gigantic master bedroom,” says Laurie. “We kept asking ourselves: ‘How do you fit an instant family into a one-bedroom home?’”

To help them with the transition, and to make the house more family-, kid- and dog-friendly, Laurie and Raman hired William Blake Homes to rejig the floor plan.

The renovation began in November 2015 and involved adding a guest bedroom and playroom to the lower level. Upstairs, the ensuite was updated to provide added storage and more of a warm and welcoming feel with the addition of an authentic brick feature wall, sliding barn doors and an old-fashioned claw-foot tub. Three bedrooms and a four-piece bathroom were carved out of an open loft space and hardwood flooring replaced the white shag carpet.

The master suite quickly became Raman’s favourite place to unwind. “With work, it’s go, go, go, and with the kids, it’s go, go, go. I really wanted a place where I could take 30 minutes and sit down and do some meditation,” he says. “Now the room just feels like home. A lot of times we will all be in there, hanging out — the kids, Laurie and me. It’s really nice.”

As the family grows into the space, the home continues to evolve. The attached double car garage was recently converted into a home gym complete with ballet barre. “We’ve put lots of time, effort and love into this home. We plan to be here for a long time,” says Raman.

“WE REALLY WANTED THE HOME TO TELL THE FAMILY’S STORY.”

–JEANNIE STURDY, STURDY DESIGN CO.

DRESSING IT UP

When it came to decorating their home, Laurie and Raman chose to chart new territory. She loves West Coast style — lots of white and grey with generous use of antique pieces — whereas his style is heavier, more old-world and masculine, with dark, earthy colours.

“It is a modern home and neither one of us really likes modern [decor]. We had all of these styles in the house — my single-mom furniture and Raman’s bachelor furniture — and nothing went together,” says Laurie.

Initially, the couple chose finishes and furnishings on their own and painted the home a dark taupe. But nothing looked right. “It just wasn’t coming together. We spent all of this money on new furniture and once we got it into the house, it was the wrong size or it just looked all wrong,” says Laurie.

That’s when they made the call to designer Jeannie Sturdy of Sturdy Design Co. “We’d been through three dining-room tables and that was enough for us to hand this [home] over to a designer,” says Laurie.

Sturdy stepped into the project in August 2016 with a fresh approach. “We really wanted the home

TOP The living room blends eclectic pieces such as a blue velvet wingback chair with practical items such as the Restoration Hardware sofa with removable slipcovers.

BOTTOM Patterned silk wallpaper in dark hues provides a dramatic backdrop for the artistic fixtures in the powder room.

to tell the family’s story,” she says. The taupe walls were repainted in white and groupings of art were peppered throughout.

Partway through the renovation, Laurie and Raman found themselves expecting a baby (son Zane), and Sturdy accounted for this when planning one of the gallery walls. “The family-portrait wall was really important to them, so we did this collage of photos and left a few empty because we knew the baby was coming,” Sturdy recalls.

Classic furniture pieces from Restoration Hardware proved an excellent fit for the family’s diverse tastes. “It was a good mix for them, with the light greys and fresh colours and washed-out oaks,” says Sturdy, who worked diligently to suss out Laurie and Raman’s likes, dislikes and create a “must-haves” list.

For Raman, that included cultural pieces, especially a Persian rug that made a strong statement. “We like stuff with history, pieces that are meaningful, things from our travels and art that friends have created,” he says. For Laurie, it meant practical items like couches with removable covers and a laundry room with two washers and two dryers.

ABOVE The master bedroom is a cozy retreat, grounded by a 50-year-old Persian rug (an item that Raman Minhas put on his musthave list).

RIGHT Laurie Minhas had a strong vision for the master ensuite, aiming for antique-style ambiance with features such as the red-brick wall and claw-foot tub.

DECOR

TIPS FOR BLENDING STYLES

Jeannie Sturdy of Sturdy Design Co. offers her advice on how to compromise on decor without losing out.

1. Chat It Up “Get to the heart of what each family member loves. What are their favourite rooms? How does the family move through the house? Where does everyone interact together? Where do they like to hang out alone?”

2. Don’t Get Hung Up on Style Labels “Design categories such as ‘traditional’ or ‘contemporary’ often ring hollow and are meaningless because they’re overused. Use visuals from magazines, Pinterest or houzz.com to determine what you like.”

3. Stay Minimal “A neutral backdrop will set the stage for a variety of diverse pieces. Keep walls and large furniture items in a minimalist palette, allowing for pops of interest in accessories and displays.”

4. Mind the Scale “Keep the scale of the pieces similar and group items by colour, size and texture. And remember that less is more — fewer pieces create a better impact. Once completed, consider editing; it makes a huge difference.”

5. Match the Mood “Maintain consistency throughout a space. If a room is used for casual hanging out, don’t add in fussy, formal pieces.”

TOP Bold blue-and-white-striped wallpaper was a cheerful choice for 10-year-old Ava’s room.

ABOVE When Laurie Minhas found out she was expecting son Zane midway through the renovation project, designer Jeannie Sturdy converted a second-floor office into a nursery.

Reserve your seat at Avenue’s 2017 Dinner Series.

Dining experiences

presented by Avenue’s Best Restaurants Award winners.

SEPTEMBER 20 – BLINK

THE SOURCE

DECOR

PAGES 106 TO 110

Rugs in master bedroom, nursery and dining room from Boft Fine Rugs 1225 9 Ave. S.E., 403-457-2633, boftfinerugs.com

Five-drawer dresser, bed and nightstands in master bedroom from Restoration Hardware Southcentre, 403-271-2122, restorationhardware.com

Brass sculpture in master bedroom, and side table and tripod floor lamp in living room from Interior Living 1124 10 Ave. S.W., 403-246-6240, interiorliving.ca

Custom drapery in master bedroom, custom pillows and dog bed in living room and seat bench and pillows in dining room from Sturdy Design Co. 4640 Manhattan Rd. S.E., 403-532-4029, sturdyco.com

Baskets in master bedroom from Pottery Barn CF Chinook Centre, 403-259-2100, potterybarn.ca

Bedding in master bedroom from Pottery Barn and West Elm

868 16 Ave. S.W., 403-245-1373, westelm.com

Day bed in master bedroom, ottoman and occasional chair in living room, and tray on dining-room table from Home Evolution

7133 11 St. S.E., 403-253-5552, home-evolution.com

Bedside lamps in master bedroom and Edison glass displays in dining room from Domaine Fine Furnishings & Design 7130 Fisher Rd. S.E.,403-301-2339, domainefurnishings.com

Items displayed on shelving in master bedroom from Pottery Barn, West Elm, IKEA and IndigoCeramic stool in master ensuite from HomeSense various locations, homesense.ca

Beanbags in Ella’s and Ava’s rooms from My Beanbag, mybeanbag.ca

Bedding in Ava’s room from Pottery

Barn Teen pbteen.com

Table lamp in Ava’s room, and task floor lamp, tray (on ottoman) and plant holder in living room from Crate and Barrel Southcentre, 403-278-7020, crateandbarrel.com

Wallpaper in Ella’s room, Ava’s room and powder room from Crown

Wallpaper & Fabrics

crownwallpaper.com

Window coverings in Ava’s room, living room and dining room from Hunter Douglas hunterdouglas.ca

Crib, bedding and rocker in nursery from Restoration Hardware Baby & Child rhbabyandchild.com

Side table in nursery supplied by client and refinished by Home Grown Painters 587-999-8216

Tray, gold vases and palm leaves in powder room from West Elm Sofa and nailhead stools in living room, and dining table, chairs, dining cabinet, mirror and wall light in dining room from Restoration Hardware

Living room rug from House of Persian Rugs Gallery 3220 5 Ave. N.E., 403-262-5323, hprgallery.com

Artwork above living-room fireplace from Newzones Gallery of Contemporary Art 730 11 Ave. S.W. 403-266-1972, newzones.com

Mirror floor screen in living room from Wayfair wayfair.ca

Fern in living room from Silk Plant Warehouse 6108 Centre St. S.E., 403-252-8282, silkplantwarehouse.ca

Tic tac toe and piano lamps in living room from Red Door Home Living 12, 15425 Bannister Rd. S.E., 587352-6322, reddoorhomeliving.ca

Artwork in master bedroom, master ensuite and Ella’s room and pendant light fixture in Ella’s room were all created by the clients.

FAMILY LAW LAWYERS

ABOVE Eleven-year-old Ella’s bedroom overlooks the backyard and features shelves for her collection of horse carvings — not surprising for a competitive equestrian rider.

CURATED BY Katherine Ylitalo

Hope, Love, Peace, Healing, Generosity, Purpose, Harmony

Eight bowls of mesmerizing crystals circle around a vintage sound system. Each cluster is a crystal collector’s dream — a treasury of forms, textures and colours. They are carefully nestled in speakers that are lifted up on cinder blocks and wired to a central amplifier.

According to the artist, Jason de Haan, the individual crystals reverberate at various frequencies, amplifying the sound (like an early radio receiver). If crystals do have healing powers, they would be augmented. As an artist, de Haan makes room for questions about human perception of time and our understanding of being in the world. This sculpture is sassy and strangely satisfying,

TITLE: Hope, Love, Peace, Healing, Generosity, Purpose, Harmony, 2008

ARTIST: Jason de Haan

MEDIUM: Crystal specimens, speakers, cinder blocks, amplifier, Sony Discman.

SIZE: Approximately 244 centimetres in diameter.

LOCATION: Part of the exhibition Oh for eyes! At night we dream of eyes! running until Aug. 27 at Esker Foundation Contemporary Art Gallery, 444, 1011 9 Ave. S.E.

situated somewhere between a refreshingly quirky junior high science project and a proposal for an experiential, experimental dip into New Age urban shamanism.

Jason de Haan is a multidisciplinary artist who graduated with a BFA from the Alberta College of Art + Design in 2006 and an MFA from Bard College in New York State in 2015. This work was shown in galleries in eastern Canada, the U.S. and Europe before being presented in his hometown at the Glenbow Museum in 2014. It is currently on display at the Esker Foundation Contemporary Art Gallery in a solo exhibition that showcases work he has done in the past decade.

French Art de Vivre

llusion. Large 3 seat sofa in leather, design Roberto Tapinassi and Maurizio Manzoni. Wing. Cocktail and occasional table, design Renaud Thiry. Vento. Floor lamp, design Carlo Zerbaro. Manufactured