ReFINEd St. John's Fall 2016

FALL 2016 VOLUME 2 ISSUE 2

ST. JOHN’S/AVALON

CELEBRATING SHAKESPEARE AT PERCHANCE THEATRE YOUR HEALTH TIPS TO IMPROVE YOUR WELL-BEING A LAND BEFORE TIME GROS MORNE NATIONAL PARK

ST. JOHN’S SONGSTRESS

AMELIA CURRAN

BEST of the

BEST 2016

UNIQUE AS WE ARE

CONTENTS

VOLUME 2 ISSUE 2

45

34

FEATURES

DEPARTMENTS

22

STYLE & BEAUTY | 6

Cover Feature: Amelia Curran

YOUR HEALTH | 10

34

FOOD & DRINK | 16

Looking for a Unique Golf Vacation with Gourmet Appeal? Consider France

CITY LIFE | 22

45

AT HOME | 45

The Modern Kitchen: Incorporating Glass into Cabinetry and Backsplash

MOTORING | 56

RECREATION & TRAVELSCAPES | 34

BUSINESS TO BUSINESS | 60

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Fall 2016 Volume 2 Issue 2 Publisher Andrew Freake andrew@refinedmagazine.ca

FIRST WORD With ReFINEd editor LORI MCKAY

F

“Autumn... the year’s last, loveliest smile.”

– William Cullen Bryant

all finds us enjoying the last of summer’s warm weather and welcoming the beautiful colours of the new season.

This is also the time when we bring you our annual Best of the Best special edition — featuring some great businesses in and around St. John’s.

For many people, fall means back to routine. But it doesn’t have to mean an end to travel, entertaining or even barbecue season.

In this issue you’ll find a mouth-watering selection of barbecue recipes — along with some great wine pairing suggestions — that will keep you enjoying the great outdoors well into winter.

This issue’s cover features St. John’s songstress Amelia Curran, who is lauded as one of Canada’s all-time gifted songwriters.

Curran updates ReFINEd on her latest album and her grassroots advocacy group It’s Mental.

Also in this magazine, you’ll find travel articles on France, Costa Rica and closer to home, Newfoundland’s breathtaking Gros Morne National Park. We also feature stories on local fashion designer Megan Sooley, the IceCaps Care Foundation, yoga retreats, and more.

Editor Lori McKay lori@refinedmagazine.ca Design Ghislaine Moffitt Contributing Writers Katrina Geenevasen-Garlough, Amanda Hookey, Anita Draycott, Dillon Collins, Charles Dart, Tori Stafford Cover Photography Matt Barnes Photography Mandee Sugimoto, Donna McMullin, Danielle Irvine, Pam Whelan, Colin Peddle, Brian Carey, Matt Barnes Distribution & Subscriptions andrew@refinedmagazine.ca 709.730.7874

Andrew Freake Publisher andrew@refinedmagazine.ca 709.730.7874

Ghislaine Moffitt Designer ghislainem@refinedmagazine.ca

Enjoy!

Lori Best of the Best There are a multitude of qualities that make a best business, including customer service, quality products, company culture and effective marketing. This issue aims to highlight some of these engaging companies — telling their stories of accomplishment and entrepreneurship.

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ReFINEd St. John’s / Avalon is published by ReFINEd Magazine Ltd., which is independently owned. Opinions expressed in ReFINEd Magazine Ltd. are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher or advertisers.

ReFINEd Magazine Ltd. does not assume liability for content.

All rights reserved ©ReFINEd Magazine Ltd. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is strictly prohibited. For reproduction requests, please call 709.730.7874.

Return all undeliverables to 10 Montgomery St., Mount Pearl, NL, A1N 3B2.

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STYLE & BEAUTY

A Night of

Fashion, Food & Cocktails Sooley Designs raises $7,000 for Boys and Girls Club of St. John’s

By Lori McKay Photos Mandee Sugimoto

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STYLE & BEAUTY

Styles in pastels, black and white, sleek lines and full skirts graced the runway of Sooley Designs’ summer fashion show, held at the St. John’s MercedesBenz showroom in May.

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he event — a sellout show with about 300 guests — raised more than $7,000 for the local Boys and Girls Club.

“I always like to pick a charity that I feel makes

a real difference in our community,” says Megan Sooley, owner of Sooley Designs. Other local charities supported by the fashion designer in previous shows include Iris Kirby House and the Autism Society.

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Sooley grew up surrounded by art.

Her mother’s an artist, and Sooley was introduced to every medium imaginable as a child. She chose fabric to work with. “I was nine when my mom bought me my own sewing machine because she couldn’t keep me off of hers.”

It started out as a pastime. She made clothes for her friends and herself, and eventually three years ago she decided to open her own company.

“People started asking about the dresses and wanting their own pieces, so a girlfriend of mine made me a Facebook page, and it just took off from there.”

Sooley worked out of her mother’s house for the first year before finding a studio on the St. John’s Harbourfront. “It’s a converted old garage in a beautiful historical building. We’re still somewhat hidden away, but I love it,” says Sooley.

Sooley Designs makes women’s clothing, including dresses, shirts, gowns, coats, pants and sweaters.

She says her pencil dresses are her signature piece, but she makes countless other styles, many of which are one-of-a-kind designs. “I have something for everyone,” she says.

Her latest endeavor is trying her hand at lingerie. “The brand has been

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growing and expanding, and lingerie seemed like an obvious choice for my next line. I have always loved lingerie and how it makes you feel, and have been making my own for a while now. Friends and clients have been requesting it, so why not?”

Sooley has a great team helping her, including Robin Follett, Ashley Prim and Erin Sooley. She says she’s also thankful to the local sponsors who contributed to the success of her fashion show.

“It was a joint effort... I’m thankful to Mercedes-Benz for hosting, Jeremy Charles from Raymonds for providing the unbelievable food, Alan Collingwood with Collingwood Spirits and Wines, Third Place Tonic for creating an amazing beverage and Quidi Vidi Brewery for providing the Iceberg beer. Without these generous locals this event would not have been the same.”

Sooley’s studio-showroom is located at 72 Harbour Dr., St. John’s.

STYLE & BEAUTY

It’s All in the Details

Must-Have Accessories this Fall

By Katrina Geenevasen-Garlough

According to famous designer Michael Kors, accessories are the exclamation point of a women’s outfit. The right necklace or handbag can elevate any outfit, and take your look from ordinary to extraordinary.

SHORT CROSS-BODY BAG Whether you’re dashing to the office juggling a cellphone, coffee and laptop, or corralling your children on a trip to the grocery store, the cross-body bag is the perfect (stylish!) solution. While they’ve been around for a while, this fall, the trend seems to be the shorter the straps, the better. In fact, many major designers, including Prada, were taking small-sized shoulder bags and having models wear them as a cross-body purse on their runways. To take the look from runway to real life, try shortening the straps on a cross-body bag you likely already own so it sits above your hip.

POINTY-TOED PUMPS

STATEMENT CHOKER Reigning supreme on Paris’ fall runways, statement chokers are a chic trend the everyday woman can easily embrace. Don’t fret: today’s chokers are nothing like the ones we donned in the 90s (remember those stretchy chokers we were so fond of?). Instead, they range from classy and elegant to bold and bohemian. Sometimes, they’re a little rebellious. Not sure how to pull off the trend? Try wearing one with a simple off-the-shoulder top for a standout look.

A trend many women will happily embrace this season is the pointy-toed pump. Ladylike and versatile, designers paired them with everything from sleek skirts, to trousers and leggings, making them the ultimate accessory.

CAPELETS Designers such as Christian Dior and Burberry featured this lovely, ladylike trend on their fall 2016 runways, taking a decidedly retro style and putting a modern twist on it.

For an elegant, everyday look, try pairing a capelet with a statement necklace, slim-fitting jeans and a floppy hat.

If you want to amp it up for evening, pair it with a mini skirt and tall boots. There really are no rules; the capelet is simply a fabulous way to swap out your regular jacket for something just a little bit different.

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

Retreat From the

Ordinary

By Katrina Geenevasen-Garlough

Seeking a transformative experienced designed to renew and revitalize you to your very core? A yoga retreat may be the answer.

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piritual author Eckhart Tole once said, “Realize deeply that the present moment is all you ever have.” Perhaps this is true, but it can be hard to be mindful and present when we’re wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Between getting out the door in the morning, putting dinner on the table in the evening and surviving the hectic workday in between, it’s often difficult to catch a breath, let alone live gratefully in the present. Indeed, most of us are just thankful to fall into bed, exhausted, once the day is over.

It’s been proven time and time again that slowing down and being more

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mindful is essential to overall health and happiness, and yoga retreats have become an essential part of the overall health equation for many people. They force you to unplug, be present and immerse yourself in your yoga practice.

The best part? You don’t need to be an experienced yogi to take part.

If you’re new to yoga retreats, you may find yourself wondering what they entail. In addition to the expected yoga classes, you’ll find that many retreats also provide participants with delicious and wholesome meals, the opportunity to take part in restful meditations and calming walks, and chances to nurture your spirit with a book. If you simply

HEALTH & WELLNESS

can’t bear the thought of being totally secluded from home, some even offer Wi-Fi. Still need some convincing? It’s important to remember that to be able to serve others, you must first serve yourself. Taking a break and stepping away from it all — all work obligations and family responsibilities — can allow you to recharge and be better equipped to handle what life throws at you.

Remember to journal while you’re on your retreat. Once you’re home, you might slip too easily back into your old routines. Reading back on your experiences may help you establish new routines aimed at better self-care.

Retreats will also help you gain an important sense of mindfulness — this can help improve both your physical and mental health. It takes some practice, but with dedication you’ll find you learn to notice how you’re feeling and what you’re doing.

If you’ve recently gone through a major life change — a divorce, or the loss of a loved one, for example — you might find that participating in a retreat provides you with the opportunity to make a fresh start and to find balance within your life.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

If you’re still undecided, consider this: yoga retreats are located in some of the world’s most beautiful locations. Whether you want to perfect your eagle pose on the idyllic beaches of Thailand, or master your half moon pose on a mountaintop in the Himalayas, there are endless locales to choose from. Want to stay close to home?

There are always wonderful retreats being held at beautiful locations throughout Newfoundland and Atlantic Canada.

Don’t waste any more time finding your inner peace; you owe it to you.

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Tips to Improve

YOUR WELL-BEING

By Amanda Hookey

Life is busy, but taking care of yourself needs to be a priority! Your overall lifestyle can be improved with simple routine changes that will boost your mood, add enjoyment and help remove toxins from your body. By simply tweaking your exercise level and diet you can improve your health tenfold. Here are five simple ways.

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Inhale. Exhale. Outdoors.

Drink. Drink. Repeat.

Get outside and explore the wideopen landscapes this wonderful province has to offer. Not only will it allow you to connect with nature, but it will provide exercise as well. Adding 30 minutes of exercise to your daily routine can reduce stress and improve your mood — so why not head outside for it? The sounds in nature induce a natural Zen-like environment, creating a therapeutic balance between the two. Go hiking. Meditate in nature.

Inhale fresh air. Clear your head.

Water is a necessity of life, but are you drinking enough? If you are dehydrated, your body will send warnings signs that cause pain and ailments. Drinking anywhere from eight to 10 glasses of water a day optimizes bodily function and helps prevent kidney and liver failure by flushing the digestive system.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Now is the time to take responsibility for your health! Become mindful about what you ingest and what techniques you use to get exercise and reduce stress.

Remember, life is all about balance, and routines you start today may reduce your risk of illness tomorrow.

Eat. Be Merry.

Ingest. Detoxify. Release.

Laugh. Release. Remedy.

Quinoa, salmon and seaweed are just a few superfoods that pack a nutritional punch. When implemented into your diet they can boost your metabolism, assist with mental clarity and help you reach your optimal weight. By reducing empty calories, you will feel fuller longer. Next time you’re at the market, stock up!

Detoxifying is a proven technique to eliminate harmful toxins from your body, which improves mood and body function. Drinking tea has been known to cleanse the body internally of toxins, and according to Dr. Iman A. Hakim, director of Health Promotional Sciences at the Arizona Cancer Center, “green tea is rich in polyphenols, which are antioxidants and inducers of phase-2 detoxification enzymes.” Phase-2 enzymes filter harmful substances from your liver and facilitate the removal of carcinogens.

Laughter is one way to brighten your mood, reduce stress and release endorphins. “Your sense of humor is one of the most powerful tools you have to make certain that your daily mood and emotional state support good health,” says Paul E. McGhee, Ph.D, developmental psychologist and author of The Laughter Remedy.

So, if you find yourself grumpy, change your perspective and find something to laugh about.

By releasing those mood stabilizing endorphins, you’ll be a happier you.

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TEA TIME

By Katrina Geenevasen-Garlough

C

DID YOU KNOW?

onfucius once said, “Tea tempers the spirits and harmonizes the mind, dispels lassitude and relieves fatigue, awakens thought and prevents drowsiness, lightens or refreshes the body, and clears the perceptive faculties.”

With a host of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants in every cuppa, Confucius was obviously onto something. It’s been proven time and time again that a cup of tea can be beneficial to your health and well-being. So put the kettle on, ready your favourite mug and read on to learn more about the surprising ways tea is steeped with health benefits.

Green Tea

There have been endless studies done on the health benefits of green tea, and there seems to be a general consensus that it can boost metabolism, prevent cancer and ease the pain commonly associated with arthritis.

Studies suggest it can also help those suffering from IBD, lower cholesterol and reduce inflammation. No wonder it’s touted as a wonder drink!

The University of Maryland Medical Center suggests adults (it’s not recommended for children) drink two to three cups a day to achieve optimal health benefits. Caffeine-free versions are available.

Black Tea

The most popular type of tea, black tea contains the most caffeine with around 40 milligrams per cup. (To put that in perspective for you, coffee has roughly 50 to 100 milligrams a cup.)

Scientific studies have shown regularly drinking black tea can help to reduce the risk of stroke and may also lower the risk of high cholesterol, kidney stones, osteoporosis and Parkinson’s disease.

Oolong Tea

Hoping to shed some pounds? Try drinking oolong tea, which some studies suggest can aid weight loss because it activates an enzyme responsible for dissolving triglycerides, the form of dietary fat that’s stored in fat cells.

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Tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world, next only to water.

According to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University, oolong tea may also “protect against cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis and dental caries.”

Other studies have indicated oolong tea lowers blood sugar levels, which might help people with diabetes maintain good glucose control.

White Tea

White tea comes from young leaves and buds, which results in a sweet, mild flavour. And with only about 15 milligrams per cup, the caffeine content is very low.

Studies completed at Pace University in New York have shown white tea extract can kill bacteria, viruses and fungi in the body with more success than other teas.

Another study, done at Oregon State University in Corvallis, discovered white tea can help prevent colon cancer. White tea also has a very high polyphenol count, which means it contains plenty of healthprotective antioxidants. (There’s also lots of polyphenols in high-quality extra virgin olive oil.)

And if you want to look younger, look no further. According to the official journal of the International Society for Complementary Medicine Research, white tea can also prevent wrinkles by strengthening elastin and collagen. Alas, we can rejoice! We’ve found the fountain of youth!

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What’s the best brew for you?

Here are more of our top picks. [ CHAMOMILE ] Soothes the stomach | Relieves bloating and indigestion | Promotes relaxation [ GINGER TEA ] Energizes and stimulates | Eases digestive troubles | Helps with nausea | Anti-inflammatory [ PEPPERMINT ] Aids in digestion | Helps those with irritable bowel syndrome | Eases nausea | Freshens breath [ NETTLE ] Eases arthritis pain | Helps with coughs and colds | Eases kidney and bladder problems [ LAVENDER ] Can help with sleep issues | Sooth upset stomachs | Sooths the mind

EA

EXPERT ADVICE

EXPERT ADVICE

HEARING DEVICES TO FIT YOUR LIFESTYLE

P

ardon? Sorry? What? Are these common words used in your household? Is your spouse or loved one telling you to get your hearing checked because they are tired of repeating themselves?

Sometimes, it’s just selective hearing.

Your wife wants you to clean the garage and you are just not feeling it. We get it!

But sometimes you actually didn’t hear what she said, and you might even get into a little trouble!

The first thing to do is find a hearing professional to test your hearing. If hearing loss is the case — sometimes the problem is just earwax plugging your ear canal — they can help you choose a hearing device that fits your lifestyle.

Not all hearing aids are the same. Most hearing aid manufacturers provide different levels of technology, with various devices that are suitable for different lifestyle situations. Thankfully, the days of big, bulky, ugly hearing aids are long gone!

Today’s hearing aids are made to connect straight to your SmartPhone (Android or iPhone), so you can stream your phone calls directly to your hearing aids.

If a hearing loss is diagnosed at the time of your fitting, verification that your hearing aids work for your type of hearing loss is an essential part of your success.

Make sure your devices fit your hearing

loss, and have enough reserve gain for future fine-tuning. After all, you are looking to keep these devices for the next five years, at least.

The second and probably the most important thing is finding a hearing professional that you are comfortable with to help you on your journey back to better hearing. Your hearing professional should book follow-up appointments to ensure you are doing well and adjusting to your new hearing devices. Having your hearing aids fine-tuned and adjusted will alleviate any issues you may be having.

pride ourselves on being supporters of the Starkey Hearing Foundation, where every hearing aid we sell gives someone in a third world country the gift of hearing as well.

Nothing makes us happier than seeing our clients doing well and living life to the fullest! Your success is our success.

Let us help you hear what’s going on around you.

Another key step is to see your hearing specialist every six months to have your hearing aids cleaned and checked, especially while your devices are covered under the manufacturer’s warranty. Too often people don’t bother to go back to make sure things are working properly until the warranty is expired, which often results in repair costs.

Customer service is paramount! At Newfoundland Hearing we take pride in our customer service and love taking care of our clients. Working together with Starkey Hearing Technologies, we strive to fit our clients with the latest in hearing aid technology. We also share their commitment to superior quality, where we fit you with the latest technology to help you re-connect with your loved ones and the world around you. We also

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Michelle Ritchie BC-HIS Newfoundland Hearing Health Centre 760 Topsail Rd., Mount Pearl 709.745.5133 1.888.745.5933 nflhearinghealthcentre.com

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FOOD & DRINK

The Perfect Pair

SMOKED & OAKED

By Amanda Hookey

Just because summer is over doesn't mean you have to put away the barbecue. The grill is perfect for quick, easy dinners after work or school, and weekend get-togethers. But do you always know the best wine to pair with barbecued food? In the following text, you’ll find some great go-to wines to match your grilled fare.

Beef: The Big, Bold and the Outrageous A simple rule applies when matching beef to its grapey mate: the fattier the meat, the bigger the red. The trick is finding the proper amount of acid in a wine to cut through the fat. Second to this, is balancing the fruit flavours in a wine with the char on the meat. The smoke imbued onto meats during the grilling process is an awesome match for an oaked Cabernet Sauvignon. The oaky-ness satisfies the char, while red fruits blend perfectly with its fleshy counterparts. Fat joins forces with tenacity and delivers a wonderful show. The duo works nicely together; combined, they are a work of art.

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FOOD & DRINK

Smokes & Oaks Chardonnay has a propensity for being a good teammate with white meats. The grape is often finished in oaked, steel and lees, while ageing thus adds a woodiness to the wines. Ageing can also dictate which food is better suited to the wine. A typical summer seafood experience would pair grilled lobster with an oaked chardonnay. The oak from the Chardonnay will complement the smoked flavours from the grill. The smooth textures of the two will dance nicely together and give you a buttery treat.

Alternative, International & Inspirational Gewürztraminer is a truly underutilized but highly compatible wine.

Its oiliness and lack of acid allows you to match it to the bossy flavours of curried pork or chicken, and Asian foods. Undertones of lychee and a perfumed nose make pairing a breeze with spicier dishes. Vegetarian cuisine is typically hard to find a pair for, but tofu, tempeh and grilled veggies such as portabella mushrooms, eggplant and zucchini come to life with Gewürztraminer.

The aforementioned food and wine combinations are meant to be a compendium of wines with barbecue distinction. The guide should allow you to pick a wine that will be good for your next get-together. While I suggest some matches, it does not necessarily mean that any wine has to be sipped with any one food. The beauty in finding the perfect pair comes down to trying them on your own.

Salad: Your Grill’s Friend Salads show up at barbecues too! Having chilled Sauvignon Blanc is never a bad idea. The pungent properties of this wine are an appropriate match with the herbaceous flavours of vegetables such as asparagus and leafy greens.

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4Sliders that are big on taste

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FOOD & DRINK

Beef

Chicken

4 slices bacon 1 onion, finely chopped 2 garlic cloves, minced 3 pounds lean ground beef 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce Salt and pepper 24 small dinner rolls

4 chicken cutlets 1-cup teriyaki marinade 1/3-cup mayonnaise 1 large clove garlic, grated Dash salt & ground black pepper Nonstick grilling spray 4 slices fresh pineapple 4 slices Pepper Jack cheese, quartered Lettuce, optional

In a skillet, cook bacon until crisp. Remove bacon and drain on paper towels. Discard all but two tablespoons of bacon fat.

Cook onion in bacon fat until translucent, about three minutes, and then add garlic and cook 30 seconds longer. Remove mixture from pan and let cool. Crumble bacon when cool enough to handle. In a large bowl combine beef, bacon, onion mixture, Worcestershire sauce and salt and pepper, and mix well.

Combine chicken and teriyaki marinade in resealable food storage bag. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, stir together mayonnaise, garlic, salt and pepper in small bowl; set aside.

Place chicken and pineapple slices on grill grate; grill on both sides or until chicken is cooked and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and pineapple is browned lightly.

Form into 24 small patties and chill.

Pork 12 ounces extra-lean ground pork 1-1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 2 ounces Monterey Jack cheese, shredded (about 1/2 cup)

Vegetarian 1/2 red onion, finely diced 6 button or baby bella mushrooms, diced Salt and pepper 1-15 ounce can kidney (or black) beans, well rinsed and drained 3/4 cup cooked quinoa 1 Tbsp chili powder (or sub cumin)

2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

1/2 cup raw walnuts, crushed or ground into a loose meal (divided)

1/2 ripe peeled avocado

OPTIONAL: For even more flavour, add a shake of vegan Worcestershire or A-1 sauce when adding the chili powder. Yield: 10

2 small ripe tomatoes, sliced 8 small Bibb lettuce leaves Combine pork, parsley, salt, and garlic powder in a medium bowl, gently mixing with hands. Divide mixture into eight equal portions, shaping each into a 1/4-inch- thick patty. Lightly coat both sides of patties with cooking spray.

Combine lemon juice and avocado in a bowl; mash avocado with a fork, and stir to combine.

Spread avocado mixture evenly over bottom halves of buns. Place one patty on each bottom bun. Top each with tomato slice and lettuce leaf.

Top with top halves of buns. Serve immediately.

Heat a large skillet over medium-low heat and add a bit of olive oil.

When hot, add the onion and slowly sauté; season with salt and pepper. When the onions are soft turn up the heat to medium and add the mushrooms and cook until the mushrooms and onions are slightly browned and fragrant.

Remove from heat and add beans and mash. You’re looking for a rough mash, so you can leave some whole or halved if you want. Transfer the mixture to a mixing bowl, add the quinoa, chili powder or cumin and stir. Lastly, add the walnuts a little at a time until the mixture is thick and malleable enough to form into patties.

Pop in the fridge for 10-15 minutes to cool. Once chilled, form into eight small patties. Cook longer to dry them out even more and achieve more crisp.

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FOOD & DRINK

SPANISH 2 Tbs sea salt 1 Tbs smoked paprika 2 oranges, zested and juiced 2 Tbs chopped flat leaf parsley

TEX MEX 1 cup ancho chile powder 1/3 cup smoked paprika 3 Tbs dried oregano 3 Tbs dried mustard 3 Tbs dried coriander 1 Tbs cumin 1 Tbs salt 1 Tbs black pepper zest of 2 limes

MONTREAL 2 Tbs paprika 2 Tbs crushed black pepper 2 Tbs kosher salt

DIRECTIONS Combine ingredients, rub all over marbled beef slabs (think ribeye, strip and sirloin) and pop it in the fridge (two hours max) to soak up all those beautiful flavours. Cook in cast-iron skillet or grill on the barbecue to desired doneness.

1 Tbs granulated garlic 1 Tbs granulated onion 1 Tbs crushed coriander 1 Tbs dill 1 Tbs crushed red pepper flakes

TIP For the juiciest steak possible, salt your beef after you’ve cooked it.

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CITY LIFE

St. John’s Songstress

Amelia Curran Being heard through music, advocacy

By Dillon Collins

Amelia Curran can be called many things: singersongwriter, virtuoso, trailblazer, fighter and survivor.

Her musical endeavours have seen the St. John’s-based songstress lauded as one of Canada’s all-time gifted songwriters, but these days it is her efforts outside the musical spectrum that have earned her the praise of her peers and contemporaries.

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urran has been a vocal advocate of mental health awareness for years, opening up about her own struggles with depression and striving to make legitimate and fast-acting change through her grassroots advocacy group It’s Mental.

Her award-winning career as a musician is where we first begin our dialogue with Curran, who caught up with ReFINEd during a rare period of downtime between recording her latest album.

Curran and her band have been recording the follow up to 2014’s acclaimed They Promised You Mercy in Toronto, and the album is currently being mixed and tracked. Calling the project “still very young” in its production stages, Curran reflects on the aftermath of her applauded seventh album, and the innerworkings into new material for her follow-up.

“I managed to carve out five days and head to a friend’s house in the countryside of Nova Scotia and look at all of the things I had written over the past two years, and compile all that,” Curran shared. “I brought a bunch to the band and we worked away and now here we are.

“You make a product and you finish and you have to carry it around,” Curran adds, delving into the long-process surrounding an album’s birth and subsequent touring years. “You have to wave the flag of that for however many years after. So you want to make sure it’s something you can live with and it’s something you can stand behind. I think we did that with the last album.”

While Curran acknowledges there can be some song-fatigue in terms of tiring of playing the same tracks through the progression of a lengthy tour, she notes a song tends to take on a life of its own during a live performance, and may never sound the same way twice.

“If we’re on a heavy tour where you’re playing every single day or night, you’re sort of honing your sound the entire time,” said Curran. “You never just get PHOTO RIGHT BY Matt Barnes

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CITY LIFE

“You spend so much time as a musician trying to find your place, find where you fit in and how you can sustain work and your life.” - Amelia Curran

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Amelia Curran with her 2015 touring band

there and that’s the show. It’s less like theatre and it’s more in the moment. Different things will happen all the time. Songs will change and evolve. Even though they’ve been recorded I’ll always say that that’s just a version of the song. Hopefully a very good version, but anything can happen afterwards.”

Determination seems to be a trend that Curran has carried over into both her advocacy and musical careers. Tapped by many as the heir-apparent to Leonard Cohen, one of the nation’s songwriting gems, it’s hard to argue with Curran’s critical and commercial prowess.

Branching in to her ever-broadening mental health advocacy work, Curran noted that 2016 has been a year of development for It’s Mental. Finding their footing, Curran shared that she spent the bulk of the summer recording a made-for-television documentary series with director Paul Pope. Titled Gone, the doc premiered in Newfoundland and Labrador Sept. 17 on CBC.

Curran is a multi-time Juno nominee, banking the trophy in the spring of 2010 on home soil for her fifth studio album Hunter, Hunter for Roots and Traditional Album of the Year: Solo. This win has been reinforced by numerous other high profile awards and nominations, including Canadian Folk Music Awards, East Coast Music Awards, Music NL awards and the honour of gracing the long-list for the Polaris Prize.

“It’s an advocacy piece for sure,” says Curran. “It’s stories of suicide, but also about advocacy.”

Curran took It’s Mental on the road last year and attended events in Calgary, as well as journeying to Nunavut for suicide prevention week. “All of that is in the film as well.”

While Curran admits that projects such as Gone go a long way in broadening public perspective on stigmas and misconceptions of mental health, her advocacy has somewhat resembled a holding pattern. As with every positive endeavour and step forward, forces beyond her control tend to slow the progression to a dim crawl.

“I’ve been at this work now for two years. The first year it was really exciting because I was meeting a lot of other advocates around the country, and I learned a lot about this movement that was happening,” she said. “Now, another year into that I realize it’s a bit of a hamster wheel of advocacy. It’s spinning its wheels. It’s more of a tidal pool than anything else… There’s a lot of economic stuff going on and there’s hard times ahead.

But we’ve done this before, Newfoundlanders know how to do hard times.”

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Her sound is hard to tie into one particular genre, which speaks volumes to a career that has matured and evolved over the past 15 years. She has the subdued and calm demeanour of one of her career inspirations in Cohen, with tips of the hat to a bygone era of smokey, sultry country and folk artists of the candlelit nightclubs of Greenwich Village. She is equal parts powerhouse and restrained, a quiet storm behind a cool exterior.

While the life of a singer-songwriter is not without its hurdles and headaches, Curran admits she feels blessed to be living a lifestyle that allows her and her bandmates the opportunity to globe-trot, to entertain across continents and hemispheres, and above all, to share her chosen art form with those who have a hunger and passion for music.

“You spend so much time as a musician trying to find your place, find where you fit in and how you can sustain work and your life. I always think it’s a great job if you can keep it and that’s kind of it. We work really, really hard for the reward of then getting to travel around and bring music to people and sing for people and hope they enjoy it.”

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events FALL

OCTOBER 13 Bob Dylan 75th Birthday Tribute Holy Heart Theatre

OCTOBER 28 Face to Face: The Music of Roy Orbison and Elton John Holy Heart Theatre

OCTOBER 13 – 15 The Good Body ACC St. John’s | Barbara Barrett Theatre

OCTOBER 28 IceCaps’ versus the Rochester Americans (home opener) Mile One Centre

OCTOBER 14 Keep The Faith – A Tribute to Bon Jovi Holy Heart Theatre

OCTOBER 29 IceCaps versus Rochester Mile One Centre

OCTOBER 15 A Woman’s Worth ACC St. John’s

OCTOBER 29 Toopy and Binoo: Fun and Games Holy Heart Theatre

OCTOBER 15 The Wiggles Mile One Centre

OCTOBER 30 Sesame Street Live Mile One Centre

OCTOBER 16 Concert of Hope ACC St. John’s

NOVEMBER 2 FOUR BY FOUR | An exciting tribute to the music of: The Beach Boys, The Beatles, The Bee Gees & Motown Holy Heart Theatre

OCTOBER 22 – 22 Not Myself Today – A pop musical that deals with teen mental health issues St. John’s ACC | Barbara Barrett Theatre

NOVEMBER 12 Johnny McEvoy Holy Heart Theatre

OCTOBER 23 RELIVE THE ELVIS EXPERIENCE | Thane Dunn’s new “Aloha from Hawaii Re-Creation Tour” Holy Heart Theatre

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Test Your Puzzle-Solving Skills, Build Teamwork, Have Fun!

By Lori McKay Photos Mandee Sugimoto

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t’s been 28 days since the dead rose up against the living and St. John’s is overrun with zombies. You and a handful of fellow survivors have managed to stay alive, but the future looks bleak — until yesterday …

This may sound like the premise of a video game, but it’s actually a night out with friends, a birthday party, a bachelor/bachelorette or a company team-building event at Escape Quest’s ‘Undead On Duckworth’ game room.

Escape rooms like this one are the latest trend for thrill seekers.

and TV. “I immediately said, ‘This is what I’m going to do!’”

Upon his return to St. John’s, he invited Noseworthy out for a pint and told him about his idea. They brought the rest of the team onboard and started working from there. It took about a year to design everything, secure the space and build everything up. “We opened almost a year to the day we went out for that first planning beer,” says Denine.

Friends and partners Kevin Noseworthy, Nicole Kieley, Mark Denine and Mark Webber opened Escape Quest in St. John’s on Labour Day weekend last year, after Denine visited an escape room in Vancouver.

All four are avid gamers who have been playing board and video games most of their lives. They also all take part in an annual Survival-style event, where they design large-scale games and compete. “We took our experience in game development and decided to apply it to this type of game instead,” says Noseworthy.

“I thought this is my life’s work combined into one thing,” says Denine, who has a background in set design and stage management for theatre, as well as film

The partners bring with them a range of backgrounds and work experience; Noseworthy works as a substitute teacher and Kieley in community

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development. Webber, who says he’s a jack-of-all-trades — including a magician — says when his friends approached him with the idea, almost everything about the escape room idea appealed to him.

“Basically it seemed like a perfect fit. I was like, ‘how can I say no to this?’”

Escape Quest has four game rooms for visitors to choose from. In addition to the zombie room — which is a fan favourite — they have 1892, a room about the great St. John’s fire; The St. John’s Superhero Saga; and The Impossible Room, which is a collection of their toughest obstacles and puzzles.

“About 80 per cent of our first-time customers want to try the zombies first,” says Noseworthy. “But once they get their feet wet they want to play all of them. We often see a customer come in one weekend and then see them for the next three or four. They come down and check each room off their list. We’ve even had customers who’ve

“People are excited, onboard, energized and doing team building without actually realizing what’s going on. They come in and use communication right off the bat. It’s an effective and unique professional development opportunity.”

beaten everything and come back just to improve their time.”

Customer reception for Escape Quest has been overwhelmingly positive and Kieley says participants are often surprised at what they can accomplish with their team.

“Everyone who goes through feels like they’ve contributed. And that’s a great feeling for people. We’re not just favouring a particular skill, such as puzzle solving or math, it’s looking at diversity of skills and experiences. It’s not about the escaping — if you do escape, yay! That’s awesome! But there’s also these mini challenges and successes as you go along that just keep people energized and excited and ready for the next challenge.”

She says escape rooms are great for corporate groups because they allow people to open up.

“People are excited, onboard, energized and doing team building without actually

realizing what’s going on. They come in and use communication right off the bat.

It’s an effective and unique professional development opportunity.”

Corporate rates are available for teams with six to 60-plus players.

“It’s really a game that anyone can play,” adds Noseworthy. “We’ve seen kids as young as 11 for birthday parties and card clubs of men and women in their 60s.”

A great indoor activity, Escape Quest saw a lot of people throughout the winter months and even more mainstream traffic when the weather turned warm.

“It seemed our numbers went up with the temperatures. We’ve seen a lot of tourists so far,” says Noseworthy.

difficult version. And don’t be surprised if you see an expansion to their building or pop up locations around the city.

They have big plans! Check out Escape Quest’s website for extended hours and upcoming events.

Escape Quest 156 Duckworth St. 709.221.EPIC (3742) escape-quest.ca info@escape-quest.ca

Escape Quest is planning a few promotions for patrons, including something called the Wonder Box that includes an additional set of puzzles.

They are also planning championship rooms; if you’ve already mastered a room, you can come back and try a more

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The Things We Do For

Love

Newfoundland’s Connection to Shakespeare

By Charles Dart

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CITY LIFE

LEFT David Feehan as Romeo and Erin Mackey as Juliet PHOTO BY Pam Whelan; RIGHT Perchance Theatre PHOTO BY Danielle Irvine

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ucked away in the picturesque and historic coastal community of Cupids, Newfoundland — a town with just under 800 residents and located about an hour from St. John’s — stands a wooden and canvas structure. At first glance, a passerby may see it as no more than an outlandish, Newfoundlander’s shed amongst the trees.

But under the broad, white, weatherworn covering is a wooden stage and 140 seats on a grassy floor, all dedicated to the works of one of greatest playwrights: William Shakespeare.

Founded in 2010 by Geoff Adams, Aiden Flynn and Brad Hodder under the name New World Theatre Project, the theatre company formed as part of the Cupids 400 foundation anniversary. The three men designed and helped build the theatre as a celebration of Shakespeare and Cupids together. It was constructed by drawing upon the famous Globe theatre in London in sync with the ships that brought Europeans over to the new-found-land in the 1600s. Shakespeare had penned his compositions during the same years that the first waves of English settlers were sailing over to establish the colony at Cupids.

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“It celebrates Newfoundland, it celebrates Cupids, and it celebrates Shakespeare and love of language,” says artistic director Danielle Irvine. “Newfoundlanders are deeply connected to Shakespeare — our sense of debate and love of a good argument and our accent comes right out of Shakespeare’s time. If you go online and listen to Shakespearean expert linguists David and Ben Crystal you’ll hear our accent is very near to what Shakespeare originally sounded like; he could have been from Trinity Bay.” Irvine, the 2015 Arts NL BMO Artist of the Year and casting director for Republic of Doyle as well as the upcoming Discovery Channel show Frontier, had long desired the chance to come home to work with a professional classical production company. In 2014, the theatre was rebranded as Perchance Theatre, under the guidance of Irvine as the new artistic director.

“I’ve been working in Shakespeare since before 1993. The first company I co-founded was Shakespeare by the Sea here in St. John’s, but then I went on to other companies,” said Irvine. “I’ve done a lot of travelling for my career, between the National Theatre School and the Stratford Festival, so for me to come home and do what I love is amazing.”

Although the job is a dream come true, taking on the theatre hasn’t been an easy ride for Irvine and the company.

“When I took over it was severely in debt and damaged, and pretty much ready to go under. I was picking up the pieces of this beautiful, broken little company and thought, ‘Here we go once more folks, let’s try this,’” said Irvine.

Now, three summers after the rebrand, Perchance has established itself as an exceptional local and international destination to take in cultural renditions derived from the Bard of Avon’s writings.

British High Commission Ottawa, UK in Canada, named Perchance Theatre as “One of six most unique ways to experience Shakespeare in Canada” earlier this year. Drawing on the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s passing in May and this top honour, this past season saw the theatre’s attendance nearly double from last season.

“We got people from all over; international travellers, Canadians and Americans alike. They said they have seen shows on Broadway and after watching the shows in Cupids they said, ‘This is fantastic.’ It’s very inspiring to us as individuals and as a company.”

This installment of summer productions featured the classic Romeo and Juliet, directed by Michael Waller, as well as the comedy Twelfth Night, directed by Irvine. Both pieces show the two extremes of love, from the serious romance within Romeo and Juliet to the foolishness of Twelfth Night.

Twelfth Night highlighted a Christmas-themed, crossdressing cast that fall in love with the appearance of another person, an absolute farce and in many ways related to Newfoundland culture.

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Greg Malone as Malvolio PHOTO BY Pam Whelan

“My play was set as if the actors were mummers coming into the theatre and taking over and telling the story,” says Irvine.

“We took the costumes and the world of Romeo and Juliet and inverted it; the costumes are backwards, the women are wearing corsets on the outside, the set is upside down and the flowers are growing from the ceiling.

“Every year as an artistic director I try to pick a scene that is close to my heart, and going into this summer I asked myself, ‘Why do I keep going back? This is such hard work rebuilding, even three years later.’ It’s because I love it. I love Shakespeare; I have since I was in Grade 8. I love the theatre and I love Cupids. I love being by the ocean and being able to do this work right here in Newfoundland. And that’s what this season’s theme was about — the things we do for love.”

CITY LIFE

PHOTO BY Colin Peddle

ICECAPS CARE FOUNDATION sees Summer Success

By Charles Dart

Nearing $3 million in total financial donations since its formation in 2011, the IceCaps Care Foundation’s contributions and connections with young Newfoundlanders and Labradorians doesn’t break for an offseason, even after IceCaps players give their final stick salute to fans.

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PHOTOS BY Colin Peddle

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he foundation, created by St. John’s IceCaps president and CEO Danny Williams and COO Glenn Stanford, is committed to providing opportunities to youth and organizations across the province. The staff envisioned a hockey franchise that would give back to the entire province.

“We wanted to be a big part of the community, throughout the province of Newfoundland and Labrador,” says Trevor Murphy, IceCaps’ senior director of community relations and fan experience. “We’ve been working very closely over the past, entering our sixth year now, with the Williams Family Foundation. The IceCaps Care Foundation has been focused primarily on organizational type efforts with regards to youth, health and wellness, and education. The Williams Family Foundation concentrates more on individual requirements, and is mostly centered on children and health.”

As well as delivering direct financial assistance to hundreds of programs and

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“It’s fair to say the IceCaps have had a very real and positive impact on the community, and not just in the St. John’s area. Financial donations have been made to schools up in Labrador, the West Coast, through central and out east.

We truly try to be a provincial team in all aspects.” – Trevor Murphy

organizations, the two foundations have also contributed many in-kind donations, such as signed hockey memorabilia in the way of sticks and jerseys, and have delivered support to youth through player appearances.

“We’re very proud we’ve been able to do that along with our fans, and it’s fair to say the IceCaps have had a very real and positive impact on the community, and not just in the St. John’s area. Financial donations have been made to schools up in Labrador, the West Coast, through central and out east. We truly try to be a provincial team in all aspects.”

Although the IceCaps season ended in April, Murphy and the Care Foundation have been busy at work.

“There has been a lot going on this past summer and although it was a wonderful

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time of year to catch our breath, we were still very busy out in the community,” says Murphy.

In May, the fifth installment of Buddy’s Book Club (IceCaps’ mascot Buddy the Puffin) in partnership with Statoil was launched at St. Peter’s Elementary School in Mount Pearl. The program runs each summer and encourages kids to read for 20 minutes a day throughout the course of the summer to keep up their reading and improve literacy.

“We’ve had more than 500 students each summer and have in the range of 400,000 minutes read by these students,” said Murphy. “They’re excited about reading because the IceCaps are talking about it and because Buddy the Puffin is talking about it. When we see young people and organizations

“We’re a hockey team, but we’re also an important part of the community. We want to make sure we continue doing that because we see the benefits. It’s an opportunity for us to say thank you to our fans for being so supportive and our corporate partners for being so great.” – Trevor Murphy benefitting from these types of programs it’s just a wonderful thing to be a part of.”

As part of the book club, Buddy visited libraries and community groups throughout the summer to promote reading to youth.

PHOTOS ABOVE BY Jeff Parsons

The loveable Puffin joined Murphy, the IceCaps street team, and other IceCaps staff for various baseball, soccer and street hockey tournaments, as well as music festivals.

On June 25 and 26, the IceCaps and IceCaps Care Foundation once again partnered with Play On!, a four-on-four street hockey tournament that is hosted in several cities across Canada each year.

“We had a booth set up where we had some IceCaps prizes and giveaways and encouraged families to come by and try their hardest shot. It was a fun place for parents and kids to come hang out, even for just a few minutes.”

For the 198th running of the Royal St. John’s Regatta on Aug. 3, the IceCaps partnered with Young Adult Cancer Canada and their dunk tank game. And IceCaps representatives travelled to Gander Labour Day weekend to take part in the inaugural Street Jam Gander street hockey tournament.

“We’re big into youth sports; it doesn’t just have to be hockey,” Murphy stated.

Buddy’s Book Club with Kory Harnum

“Certainly Danny [Williams] and Glenn [Stanford] have stressed the idea of being part of the community right form the start and that mantra has continued throughout the five years, especially when the IceCaps aren’t on the ice,” said Murphy. “We’re a hockey team, but we’re also an important part of the community. We want to make sure we continue doing that because we see the benefits. It’s an opportunity for us to say thank you to our fans for being so supportive and our corporate partners for being so great.”

The IceCaps and Care Foundation kick off their final season as the Montréal Canadiens affiliate in mid-October and are aiming to surpass the $3 million milestone early in the season.

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RECREATION & TRAVELSCAPES

Looking for a Unique Golf Vacation with Gourmet Appeal?

Consider

FRANCE

By Anita Draycott Photos courtesy of Château des Vigiers

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RECREATION & TRAVELSCAPES

If ever a nation has mastered the art of living well, it’s the French. Think champagne, foie gras, haute couture, fairytale castles and you think of France, right? But did you know that France also has more than 500 golf courses? You don’t have to parler Français. A green is a green, a slice is a slice, and a birdie is a birdie. I’ve enjoyed golf and the good life all over France but there’s one gem that comes about as close as it gets to living out the fairytale fantasy.

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ucked into the famous vineyards between Bordeaux and Bergerac, Château des Vigiers will wow you from the first glimpse.

A white swan glides upon a lake beside the 18th green. Behind is the grand 16th century Château, nicknamed “le Petit Versailles.” I knew I was in the heart of the Dordogne, famous for its foie gras, wine and truffles, when I spotted bottles of Château des Vigiers’ own estate wine on sale at the pro shop.

Des Vigiers was the creation of Lars and Elisabeth Petersson who bought the (then) decrepit property in 1989. Lars supervised the golf course construction and château restoration while his wife proved her talents as the interior decorator. Her romantic and luxurious vision for the Château’s

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interiors is the stuff of dreams. A sweeping staircase leads to beamedceiling bedrooms decorated with rich tapestries, Oriental carpets and canopy beds. Bathrooms are wall-to-wall marble.

A fire burning in one of the salons tempts you to curl up with a book on the generous velvet sofa.

Newer accommodations at Relais des Vigiers, are located next to the first tee and within a few yards of the pro shop

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and Brasserie restaurant. Each of the 40 rooms is bright, airy, and refreshingly spacious with a fragrance of crisp linen and modern, streamlined furnishings.

Although modern, solar-powered and eco-friendly, Relais des Vigiers still pays homage to tradition. The architectural concept is based on the traditional tobacco-drying barns, typical of the Dordogne, and Relais des Vigiers is constructed from locally sourced sustainable materials.

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But let’s get back to the golf. As befits such grand style, the 27-hole course (Les Vignes, 3,372 yards; Le Lac, 3,212 yards; La Vallée, 3,403 yards) designed by Donald Steel, considered one of Europe’s best “natural” golf course architects, radiates amongst the plum orchards, vineyards and forests, using the dramatic red-roofed Château and lake as its centrepiece. When asked by Golf World to name his favourite hole, Steel chose the 9th of Le Lac — a dogleg over a ridge

for the second shot over the lake onto the green in front of the Château. Also tastefully landscaped into the tract is a driving range on which the distance flags are appropriately anchored into wine barrels, plus a six-hole academy training course.

I could happily have played 36 holes a day here but the charming concierge suggested some tempting outings. In the walled, medieval town of Saint-Emilion, a UNESCO Heritage Site, they arranged a tour of the cellars and a wine tasting at the prestigious Angelus winery whose vintages are found on some of the world’s poshest wine lists.

Another day, I drove toward Bordeaux to the Les Sources de Caudalie, a unique vinothérapie spa where you literally steep in a barrel of mineral water and wine extracts. Mathilde Thomas, daughter of the owners of the Château Haut Lafitte winery, has created a unique series of rejuvenating treatments using grape extracts and the estate’s hot spring water. Where but in France would you indulge in a Crushed Cabernet Scrub or a Pulp Friction massage using fresh grapes and essential oils?

Back at des Vigiers, the staff treated me like a longtime friend and houseguest.

The chef gave me his recipes for scrambled eggs spiked with truffles and a fabulous fig and peach soufflé. The chap in the pro shop had my clubs ready on trolleys each morning. It was almost like being queen of the castle with my own private golf course.

Usually I’d play a round after a leisurely breakfast, go sightseeing in the afternoon and shoot a few holes before evening aperitifs. The cuisine was decadent and delicious and the wine outstanding.

It was a lifestyle to which I could enthusiastically become accustomed.

Aah, la vie en rose.

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GROS MORNE NATIONAL PARK

A Land Before Time

By Amanda Hookey

Gros Morne’s landscape was formed meticulously over eras, where sheer force gave birth to a land characterized by fossils, geological process and time.

A cataclysmic union of plate tectonics and glacial movement caused rocks from the Earth’s mantle to end up on mountains!

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The area’s truly unique characteristics have garnered it a UNESCO world heritage site, giving the region international recognition. Preservation of the oldest rocks on the planet and a 1.2-million-year-old seabed are protected by national and international mandates, while Parks Canada and CPAWS are onsite to protect the lands and wildlife.

This piece of heaven is the ultimate playground for adventure. It lures tourists and travellers from all corners of the world to camp, hike and explore.

Adventures, Geology & Entertainment Once you have completed your eight-hour trek across the island from St. John’s, Parks Canada has some one-of-a-kind

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Where the land, sky and water come together to create one of the most beautiful sceneries you would ever be lucky enough to gaze upon.

accommodation’s to choose from. A range of camping sites, cabins and tents are available for all levels of adventurer, from novice camper to deep-woods scout.

A variety of local adventure-tourism outlets in the region provide services of guided camping, hiking and a variety of awe-inspiring boat tours. You can literally design your own adventure. On the water you can choose between kayaking, canoeing and larger scale boat tours that scoot you off through the scenic Western Brook Pond fjord. The pond is land locked and its perimeter showcases the drama of coastal fjords, and beautiful waterfalls pour over the top of mountains.

Hiking trails run throughout the park. Some have been chartered.

In particular, The Tablelands hike takes you across a flat-topped trail where you will find peridotite, a rock typically found in the

Earth’s mantle. The process found here proved the theory of plate tectonics, causing geologists to demonstrate continental drift occurred and the area was once a part of the super continent Pangea.

Nearby towns boast provincial heritage by providing entertainment that has been drenched in Newfoundland lore, culture and heritage.

Combined, the educational, historical and geographical proximity of this natural wonder puts it on many adventure-seekers to-do list. At least once in your lifetime you should expose yourself to the sheer beauty of a landscape carved out by glacial actions. For those lucky enough to call Newfoundland home you can simply take a few days off work and travel west to Gros Morne. For everyone else, it’s worth the trek. You won’t be disappointed!

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BEST of the

BED & BREAKFAST

BEST 2016

L-R Aaron Jones, Erika Pardy and Tanner Coombs

LUXURY, HISTORY AND CHARM ROSE MANOR INN

By Lori McKay Photos Brian Carey

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estled among a grove of tall trees overlooking scenic Conception Bay you’ll find a bed and breakfast with history, class and beauty. Named one of seven romantic escapes in Newfoundland by Reader’s Digest, Rose Manor Inn will enchant and entice you with five star dining, traditional Victorian teas and tales of pirate lore.

Although the 19th Century house has been an inn for the past 14 years, new owners Erika Pardy and her son Tanner

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Coombs, as well as her partner in life and business, Aaron Jones, have been putting their personal touches on the inn.

“We’re really enjoying being innkeepers,” says Pardy, who took over the business on June 1 with her partners. “We want to take it to a level above being an inn.”

Located only an hour from St. John’s, she says it’s a great place to come for not just a quiet get-away, but also for conversation and intellectual brainstorming. “We want it to become a social gathering place. A storytelling

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place, a fun cultural centre... A place to share ideas.”

Pardy says they’d also like to extend their appeal to the younger demographic.

“We’re hosting events such as murder mysteries, and other special events such as birthdays, anniversaries and Christmas parties. We’re also very interested in theatre and corporate team-building activities.”

The new owners have a vast and diverse background of experience, which they are excited to apply to their new venture.

“Many Thanks - We had a fabulous time in this beautiful place with such nice people! A delicious meal, too!”

– Alice and Bob “This is by far the best B&B we’ve had the pleasure of staying at.

The owners have been wonderful, friendly and helpful. The food and accommodations are five-star. We hope to return for a longer stay!”

– Pat and Marie “Wow! Incredible service, incredible hosts, incredible food… Just incredible!” – JH

Accommodations

The romantic Rose Room luxury five-star suite is second to none in Newfoundland.

Pardy worked in marketing and business development, Jones is a biology and chemistry instructor as well as an entrepreneur, and Tanner has a degree in business and is also the chef and kitchen manager.

Fine Dining & Tea Times With a fulltime dining room, Rosebello’s, open to the public as well as guests, visitors will experience fine dining gourmet meals, including a three-course breakfast and a four-course white-glove served dinner.

Victorian Teas are held throughout the year. A Devon tea (a traditional, less formal afternoon tea with Devon cream, scones and jam) is held every afternoon, by reservation. A Westminster tea — a formal affair that also includes costumes, champagne, decadent desserts and finger sandwiches — is held once or twice a month by reservation and for groups of 6 or more. Dates are available on their website. The High Tea, which Pardy notes was voted one of the best Victorian High Teas in Canada by Canadian Living Magazine, has been a popular attraction for people from all over since 2011. Many of their

Westminster teas are fundraisers, such as a mid-summer tea held for the youth centre in Harbour Grace in August.

History & Folklore Mr. Bennett, who was the speaker of the house in Newfoundland and Labrador at the time, built the house in 1878. Mr. Bennett sold the property in 1902 to a prominent merchant family, the Crons.

Following their ownership, the home was left empty for many years, often referred to as ‘the house in the woods,’ until the former inn owners took over and restored the house. Today, everything in Rose Manor is authentic and antique, revived and refurbished.

Harbour Grace — located along the picturesque Baccalieu Trail — is considered one of the oldest communities in North America. “We’re full of pirate lore and history,” says Pardy.

Amelia Earhart once stayed in the town for a few days, and her plane took off from Harbour Grace. Peter Easton, one of the wealthiest and most successful pirates in history, operated along the Newfoundland coastline between Harbour Grace and Ferryland from 1611 to 1614. The town is also famous for its shipbuilding.

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Want to experience the history of the town in luxury? You can stay in a room named after Peter Easton, Amelia Earhart, SS Kyle or even Mr. Bennett!

Guests of Rose Manor Inn have a choice of five rooms or suites. Rooms are comfortable with deluxe bedding, air conditioning, mini fridge, flat screen TVs, private ensuite bathrooms, robes, ocean and garden views, and complimentary services. They have three Jacuzzi rooms, two king size beds, and one room with a queen bed that can also accommodate a single.

The Rose Room, the inn’s luxury five-star suite, is second to none in Newfoundland. With an air jet tub for two with head rests, a separate deluxe spa shower, heated floors, fireplace, three crystal chandeliers, a custom king size bed, ocean view, private courtyard, breakfast nook, and his and her sinks, it’s the perfect romantic getaway! They have custom romance packages available.

Plan a stay or visit to Rose Manor Inn and chat with the owners and staff, enjoy the view from their beautiful gardens, hear the history of Harbour Grace and enjoy a cup of tea or two. A 4.5 star rated inn, Rose Manor is open year round.

Rose Manor Inn 43 Water Street East Harbour Grace 1.877.596.1378 info@rosemanorinn.com www.rosemanorinn.com

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RECREATION & TRAVELSCAPES

COSTA RICA

Surf, Wildlife, Rainforests & Adventures

By Lori McKay

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n Costa Rica, the frequently used expression ‘pura vida’ has many uses.

Spanish for ‘pure life,’ it’s a greeting, a synonym and a lifestyle.

“There are so many things to love about Costa Rica, but it’s the people that really make it,” says Ashley Jean, business development manager for Canadian tour company G Adventures. “‘Pura vida’ is a way of life there. It’s stress-free, everyone’s accepted, everything’s accepted and it’s just a really happy, laid back atmosphere. You feel it from the moment you arrive. It’s a vibe I can’t even explain.”

From pristine beaches and smoldering volcanoes to tropical plants and exotic wildlife, life in Costa Rica is good in many ways.

Jean, who recently returned from a trip to Costa Rica with 14 travel agents from across Canada, says the country is a perfect travel destination for a wide range of people. The rainforest-covered mountains are a paradise for ecotourism, travellers love the unique hiking opportunities, and the water is ideal for surfing, diving, deep-water fishing and snorkeling. The wildlife is another big draw. Exotic animals such as turtles and toucans are common sights. Resorts offer relaxation with luxury spas and beautiful golf courses.

And accommodations can be found in private and secluded environments at a variety of price points, offering all the modern comforts of home.

“I recommend it all the time for people getting into adventure travel or those just looking to get away from the typical destinations. It’s so incredibly diverse,” says Jean, a seasoned traveller herself, who has visited more than 50 countries.

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QUICK FACTS LOCATION Costa Rica is a country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua, Panama, the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea POPULATION Approximately 4.5 million people CAPITAL San José GEOGRAPHY The northernmost regions are flat and arid and the south is covered by jungle

She says many people spend time on the Pacific side, which is great for surfing and enjoying beaches and wildlife, but also recommends the Caribbean side.

“The Caribbean side offers a completely different feel than the rest of the country; different people, culture, food … everything.

There are some really great beaches there too, and different wildlife than you’ll find anywhere else.”

Visiting the centre of the country is also a unique experience. The charming town of La Fortuna is just 6.4 km from the Arenal Volcano, which is visible from the town on clear days. “It’s a great place to do some volcano trekking, white water rafting, canyoneering and nature hikes. You can also enjoy a different culture and the town.”

She says the Monteverde cloud forests are also a must-see destination. A different temperature than the rest of the country, it’s a lot cooler and damper, and again different wildlife, insects and flora. “You can do some amazing trekking, canopy walking and zip lining. You can do zip lining everywhere, but everyone will tell you it’s the best in Monteverde.”

traveller was 21 and the oldest was 72.

Everyone enjoyed it. The general consensus for Costa Rica is that if you want to relax and have a beach vacation or cultural experience, it’s great. And if you really want to amp it up and go all out, you can do that too.”

She recommends a mix of tour and solo travel. Vacationers can do a tour portion that hits all the highlights and tourist spots. Local guides will organize everything and make it stress free. “It’s also nice to have some time on your own,” says Jean. “I’ll usually go earlier or stay after the tour and do a few things on my own. Some of the great things about Costa Rica is that most people speak English, it’s very safe to get around, and it’s easy to do your own thing if you want to do that.”

A beach fanatic, Jean says she loved the coastal experience of her trip to Costa Rica and particularly enjoyed Manuel Antonio, a national park on the Pacific side.

Jean says it’s a great vacation for people of all ages. “On our last trip the youngest

“The wildlife was unbelievable. You’re on the beach and monkeys are running up to you and trying to take your purse,” she says with a laugh. “So much wildlife and beautiful crystal clear waters and white sands. There was an area to do some surfing and a really nice town with great food and a little shopping.”

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WEATHER December through April are nice months to visit, as the landscape is green and the rain typically holds off. The long rainy season runs from May through to mid-November. The Caribbean coast receives rain year round.

THINGS TO DO • Check out the Arenal Volcano in Arenal National Park • Sightsee in San José • Hike the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve • Zip-line in Monteverde and Selvatura Park • Check out stunning national parks, including Manuel Antonio and Tortuguero • Go wildlife spotting in Corcovado National Park • Relax and enjoy beautiful, pristine beaches

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Photo courtesy Lisa Sandham Interior Design

The Modern

KITCHEN

Incorporating Glass into Cabinetry and Backsplash

By Tori Stafford

Pristine and sleek, glass has the ability to open up a room and can be used in all styles of kitchen design — from traditional or stately to contemporary or ultra-modern — especially when incorporating technology. The applications of glass are nearly limitless when you consider options in texture, facets, clarity, finish and colour.

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“I love using glass, especially when it’s a modern or contemporary design. I love mixing materials in the kitchen so the fronts aren’t so monotonous. I look at a kitchen as more than just functional; I like to make it look like a piece of art” - Lisa Sandham

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Clear Choices in Cabinetry For fashion or function, the use of glass in cabinet fronts can enhance any design theme, with options in textures, clarity, etching, faceting, frosting and even stained glass. Including glass fronts on cabinets is also a way to avoid the bland monotone that solid front cabinets can create, explains interior designer Lisa Sandham.

“I love using glass, especially when it’s a modern or contemporary design. I love mixing materials in the kitchen so the fronts aren’t so monotonous. I look at a kitchen as more than just functional; I like to make it look like a piece of art,” says Sandham, who also points to glass as a means of bringing in colour.

The versatility of glass fronts in cabinetry also allows cabinets to serve as a way to bring in colour or design elements when using transparent glass. Using clear glass in the fronts of upper cabinets allows the cabinetry to act as a display case. These

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can showcase coloured ceramics, china, glassware, metal kitchenware such as silver teapots or copper cookware, or even items less associated to the kitchen, such as family heirlooms that complement your design aesthetic.

Glass in Backsplash While the idea of glass in the kitchen might bring to mind an immaculate, shiny and perfectly organized space, it’s no secret the room where storing, preparing and cooking meals take place sees its fair share of messes — another reason glass is so great in the heart of the home.

Whether applied in mosaic, subway tiles or on a mounted pane spanning the length of a counter, glass in backsplash is a surefire bet for an easy wipe down while making spaghetti or after a minor blender mishap.

An altogether different use of glass in backsplash is the use of glass panes to

cover an image or a photograph. One such installation is that of Toronto-based photographer Tony Koukos, whose world travel photography has the ability to transport and inspire.

“The concept came first. A client recently purchased a penthouse in downtown Toronto and we were curating some art for his residence. His request was ‘a big burst of colour in the allwhite kitchen that you can see from the dining and living room,’” Koukos says of his backsplash installation, which uses his image, Le Metro, taken during the restoration of the Paris Underground.

“After finding the perfect production partner, I was able to source tempered glass and do a direct-to-glass print.”

Moisture and heat-resistant, this application allows Koukos’ clients to make his images from around the world into their own personal murals, an idea his urbanite clients have eagerly embraced, he says.

“The response has been incredible,” says Koukos. “Many downtown dwellers reside in glass boxes in the sky with very little wall space. A custom kitchen backsplash is an inexpensive way to personalize a space and add a design element.”

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Photo courtesy Tony Koukos Photography

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BEST of the

FLOORING

BEST 2016

THE CARPET FACTORY SUPER STORE

Quality Brands, A Trusted Name

By Dillon Collins Photos Mandee Sugimoto

C

ustomer confidence cannot be bought, packaged or manufactured. Rather, it can only be earned through tireless efforts, devotion and commitment to one’s craft. The team behind The Carpet Factory Super Store recently celebrated their fourth straight Consumer Choice Award. They can attest to the rewards of giving everything to their loyal clientele.

Founded by Lamont Whalen and Rod Abbott in 1993, The Carpet Factory Super Store has become a trusted name and brand of confidence in Newfoundland and Labrador. Entering their 24th year of operations, Whalen and Abbott continually seek new strategies and customer friendly approaches to stay ahead of the curve, proving once again why they are the onestop-shop for all flooring needs.

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“We’re always looking for innovative creative marketing strategies to grow our business,” Whalen shared with ReFINEd. “We’re pleased at where we’re at, but we know we can go further and we’ve been going further for the past 23 years.

“Our name, The Carpet Factory Super Store, doesn’t tell the whole story,” Abbott adds, eager to accentuate the wide array of services The Carpet Factory offers customers. “Basically, we’re a fullrange flooring store.”

From kitchen back splashes to custom showers, heated floors and intricate ceramic flooring jobs, the store has evolved into a multi-dimensional outfitter of the highest quality. Two decades of top notch service and customer approval has cemented the brand as a fixture in the St. John’s marketplace.

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“We’re not a price point store, we’re a custom flooring store,” says Whalen.

“If you want a professional job done the way it’s supposed to be done and have no grief, this is the place you need to come. We’re not here saying we have $1.49 or $1.59 and have the best price in St. John’s. That’s not our game, and that never was our game. We spend a lot of time looking at things, what direction we want to go in, what gives us the advantage over our competitors and what offers the best options for our customers. That’s what we’re all about.

“Business is very simple,” Abbott adds.

“You get a plan and stick to it, you take care of your customers and you take care of your staff.”

The Carpet Factory Super Store 1 Logy Bay Rd., St. John’s 709.726.8232 www.carpetfactorysuperstore.com

Got water?

The Next Generation of Floor Covering Newfoundland and Labrador weather means we sometimes need to have practical flooring or suffer water damaged floors. For you, The Carpet Factory has Floorte, a lineup of luxury vinyl flooring products that are practical and waterproof, meaning you don’t always have to sacrifice for style. As flooring experts, The Carpet Factory installs what they sell, and they carry a range of flooring options to suit any lifestyle. Celebrating their 23rd year in business, The Carpet Factory is proud to provide the best quality products and service to their loyal customers.

1 Logy Bay Road, St. John’s www.carpetfactorysuperstore.com

709.726.8232

Celebrating 23 Years of Servicing You – the Customer!

BEST

INTERIOR DESIGNER

of the

BEST 2016

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Robin St airs Making interior design easy, fun and convenient.

elping homeowners create a room that has just the right look and has furnishings that are perfect, that fit their personality and lifestyle, is what drives Robin Stairs, owner of Decorating Den Interiors in St. John’s.

“I’m down to earth; I want to know what it is my clients want, and give them that instead of what may be my style. I don’t like being pressured to buy, or cornered into a sales pitch, and so I don’t do that to my clients,” Stairs explained.

“Our company is all about custom, service, and a wide range of choices,” Stairs says. “My goal is to make the whole process of interior design easy, fun and convenient. As part of North America’s largest home furnishings and interior design franchise company, I have access to more than 100 top-quality suppliers of window coverings, furniture, bedding, lighting, accessories, wall art, floor covering and wall coverings. The best part? I bring the design ideas and samples to the most convenient showroom in the world — my client’s home or office.”

Many of Stairs’ clients are working professionals who especially value convenience. “They enjoy the fact that I can meet them in their home, on their schedule, and that we can make selections in the light and space where the furnishings will be used,” she says. “They don’t have the time or desire to go shopping and then find out what they purchased doesn’t work.”

The result: “After I’ve listened to your design dreams, I create a customized, functional design and product plan just for YOU.”

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After three years with the provincial government as a social worker serving families and children, Stairs was looking for more balance in her life. She began to explore starting an interior decorating because “that is the one thing that, when I think of doing it every day, makes me excited and fills me with energy.”

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“I found out about Decorating Den Interiors while researching opportunities to start my own business” she recalls. “For me, the most attractive thing was the training and support from such a large, long-standing corporation, which would not otherwise be available to me if I started out on my own. And the drool-worthy product availability was certainly eye catching.”

Dream Room competition, which has been held for 32 years.

Some are shown on my website.”

“Simply put, my love of decorating and creating the perfect space for others to love is what motivates me to provide the best service and products to get the end result — a beautiful design,” says Stairs.

Stairs has been plenty busy with clients in the east end of St. John’s, CBS, and Portugal Cove, for example. Mostly, they’ve been full makeovers of living rooms and dining rooms, but she’s also done master bedrooms and foyers. She is always available to present decorating tips workshops, which is something she enjoys.

To see more of Robin’s designs, and to schedule a complimentary consultation, visit her website at www.robin.decoratingden.com

“Another advantage we have,” says Stairs, “is being able to help clients visualize concepts for home furnishings with our extensive library of room makeovers from our International

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BEST of the

STAIRCASES

BEST 2016

SUPERIOR STAIRCASES WITH CLASS AND QUALITY

By Dillon Collins Photos Donna McMullin

F

or 20 years, Precision Industries has been a trusted name with a reputation for high-quality craftsmanship, immaculate design and reliable customer service.

Formed by John Penney and the late Steve O’Driscoll, Precision opened up shop in the Donovans section of Mount Pearl, before relocating to St. John’s. They’ve garnered a reputation for affordable, yet pristine work, carving out an undeniable niche in the province’s

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woodworking market and becoming the go-to brand for superior stair needs of the highest quality.

“It’s about quality work,” said John. “I’d rather not make a cent off a staircase and have a good job done then to make $10,000 of it and not feel proud when I walked away.”

Despite industry lulls and an economic downturn in Newfoundland and Labrador, Precision has managed to stay

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consistent through reliable do-it-rightthe-first-time jobs, which have seen their customer base grow over the course of the past 20 years.

“We don’t compete on price-point, we compete on quality, and no one can compete with us on quality,” said John.

“That’s been our driving force since we started.”

John has molded his business practices through techniques that have been

passed down through the generations.

He himself has dabbled in the industry for decades, building his first set of stairs when he was 14 years old.

“When I was eight my father would go down in the basement and show me how to put the jointer this way and that way,” he shared. “It’s usually used to straighten and square up materials, but in this case he was using it to actually make it out of square so he would make it fit into an out of square corner.”

Precision prides itself on being able to tackle any type of job, big or small. Being versatile and adaptable to customer needs and customizations has been one of the driving forces of the business since day one.

“We can build the stairs any way you want them,” John adds. “We can make modern stairs, we can make them traditional … we can do anything.”

John himself has developed certain techniques utilizing a self-made uni-stringer, resulting in a unique design that has yet to be replicated by his competitors.

The uni-stringer is just part of the innovative approach utilized by John and his staff. Ninety-five per cent of all products are made in house, utilizing 100 per cent hardwood. By using the finest quality materials and expert craftsmanship, they promise each project is done right the first time by professionals who are tried and tested at their craft.

“There’s a big difference between us and the competition,” John said. “Anything the customer really wants we can bring in. It takes time, but we make everything here. We give the customers exactly what they want.

John Penney

Naturally, after 20 years of business, John and Precision have seen numerous changes within the industry, some of which he shared with our readers.

said they didn’t like oak, that the grain was too heavy on it and that they wanted birch or maple. They were outselling them three or four to one, and now oak seems to be surging back again.”

“There’s been a trend away from wooden barristers to rod irons. There’s a trend coming back now for oak. Oak was everything when we started 20 years ago and people wanted oak staircases and then somewhere along the way people

John takes stock in the fact that he and Precision have worked at a high level for nearing on two decades. The appreciation of their clients is a source of pride for the company.

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“I’ve had people come up to me and say they bought a particular house because of our staircase. That means a lot.”

Precision Industries 61 James Lane 709.745.1928 Fax: 709-745-1938 pi@nf.aibn.com

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How to make your house really stand out (and get those buyers in your door)!

1. Paint your front door a bright colour to make it pop.

2. Add shutters and paint them to complement the door colour. If you already have shutters, paint them a complementary colour.

EA

3. Plant some annuals for lots of colour.

EXPERT ADVICE

EXPERT ADVICE

4. Spread bark mulch to clean up messy areas.

5. Add a couple of urns with flowers on each side of the front door.

DO YOU JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER? DO YOU JUDGE A HOUSE BY ITS CURB APPEAL? (IF YES, YOU’RE NOT ALONE)

T

he weather is beautiful and it’s a great time to sell your house. So why isn’t it selling? There could be several reasons, but there is one I see way too often. And that is poor curb appeal.

give them a reason to choose your house to view. And then, after they get inside, give them a reason to buy your house!

When sellers put their houses on the market, curb appeal is often not the priority. There is so much interior work to be done — painting, cleaning, repairs, updates and the seemingly endless job of decluttering — that the exterior is often neglected.

1. Clean all the windows and doors, and power wash the siding.

I happen to believe curb appeal is just as important, or even more important, for this simple reason: The vast majority of buyers will do a drive-by of your house to help them decide if they want to see it inside. If the curb appeal is poor, they will often move on to another house.

Their thinking is that the condition of the exterior is a good indication of the interior. Now, that is not always the case, but unfortunately that’s how most buyers’ minds work. I know, I’ve done it myself! Unfortunately, we often do judge a book by its cover.

3. Trim any trees and shrubs to allow lots of light inside and to make your house easily visible from the street.

Remove any dead or dying trees or shrubs.

So the goal should be to get as many people in that door as possible by enticing them with your curb appeal. There are many houses available in this market, so

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6. Hanging baskets are great, especially if you have a front veranda.

7. Add a small bistro table/chairs, or two comfortable chairs on the front veranda/step if there is room.

8. Don’t forget the back of your house!

If you have a deck, arrange an eating area and a lounging area with some nice patio furniture. Flowers in large flower pots always add appeal.

The basics of curb appeal include:

2. Ensure all the door/entrance hardware is in good condition; if not, replace it. That would include the doorbell, the light fixtures, the door handles/locks, mailbox, etc.

4. Keep the lawn free of weeds and freshly mowed.

5. Replace or repair steps and walkways if needed.

6. Move children’s toys, bikes and garbage/recycling bins, hoses to an inconspicuous area.

7. Touch up paint/caulking if needed.

8. Paint or stain the steps, veranda, deck and fence if needed.

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Cathy Tarrant CCSP Canadian Certified Staging Professional Homestyling by Cathy 709.341.7115 info@homestylingbycathy.com www.homestylingbycathy.com

For Your Plumbing Needs‌

Founded more than 90 years ago, James G. Crawford Limited is a family-owned wholesale business supplying plumbing and heating fixtures and materials to the St. John's and surrounding community. Our customer service staff looks forward to assisting you as you choose the fixtures for your new home construction or renovation project.

Hours: Monday to Friday 8:00 am to 4:45 pm | 29 Shaw Street, St. John's | 709.579.4062 | www.jamesgcrawford.ca

now making House Calls FREE In-home Consultations for Flooring & Window Treatments* One-on-one time with a Professional Interior Decorator

Atlantic Canada’s Largest Home Decorating Centre * At participating locations. Some restrictions may apply.

MOTORING

LUXURY SUPERCARS

IN A CLASS OF THEIR OWN

Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Staking its claim as “the most powerful muscle car on the planet,” the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat boasts a mind-boggling 707 horsepower engine guaranteed to turn heads wherever you go.

By Katrina Geenevasen-Garlough

The crème de la crème of the automotive world, luxury supercars allow drivers to take the wheel in ways that are anything but standard. Here, we look at a few rides guaranteed to get your motor running.

An aggressive, sexy car, it features a supercharged 6.2-litre engine — the “most powerful production V8 engine ever,” says the company.

Drivers are able to choose between a new HP90 eight-speed automatic transmission or manually shift gears with a Tremec six-speed transmission.

And the options don’t end there; choose between Nappa leather with Alcantara inserts and ultra-premium Laguna leather. Take your pick; either way, you’re guaranteed the ride of your life.

Ford Shelby GT350 Mustang Your eyes may be on the road, but when you’re in this car, all other eyes will be on you. According to the company, “From the signature HID headlamps to the standard signature LED Tri-bar tail lamps, the 2016 Mustang attracts attention from every angle.” Does it ever.

Car enthusiasts will appreciate the car’s naturally aspirated 5.2-litre, 90-degree V8 engine with a flat-plane crankshaft, Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat

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“If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough.” - Mario Andretti

Corvette Stingray

magnetic ride control and carbonfibre wheels.

And if you just appreciate a seductively sexy car, you’re all set with this beauty.

It’s modeled after the classic Mustang fastback, its design sleek and sporty enough to attract drivers of all kinds.

Dual exhaust pipes come standard, and enhance the look and performance of the car.

Camaro stands out in every way possible — and there’s no denying it’s true. Designed to improve airflow and performance, the car is aerodynamically “chiseled to perfection,” says Chevy. It has a roof that features a stylish reverse Mohawk channel, and lift-reducing stanchion spoiler, among other qualities.

And that’s just the exterior.

Those into customization will love the ability to choose from a long list of options, including 12 available wheel designs.

Inside, the car screams style. With features like a leather-wrapped steering wheel, an available eight-inch radio touch screen and tailored stitching, drivers will no doubt be noticed and envied wherever they choose to go.

Chevy Camaro

Corvette Stingray

It was April when a highway patrol officer clocked an unidentified man from Minnesota hurtling 171-mph down the highway in his 2016 Chevy Camaro, proving just how fast this set of wheels can fly.

Take control of the road in a bold and daring way with the 2016 Corvette Stingray. According to Chevrolet, it’s the “quickest, most powerful, most refined Stingray ever made.”

Boasting a “strong yet sophisticated design,” the company says the 2016

A “perfect driving machine” its performance epitomizes precision and it features brilliant engineering. Every

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element of the provocative design serves a purpose, says Chevrolet, from functional exterior vents to intelligent driver controls.

It’s features the world’s fastest-acting suspension, and 6.2 litre V8 engine.

Drivers can choose between a sevenspeed manual with active rev matching, or available eight-speed paddle-shift automatic transmission. Take your pick: the road is yours.

There’s a Stingray for every driver, with design packages that take customization to a whole new level. Depending on your style, choose between Twilight Blue, Spice Red or Jet Black Suede packages.

If you’re into technology, you’ll love the Stingray’s performance data recorder.

It lets drivers log drive videos with real-time performance data onto a SD memory card so they can improve driving ability. Someone else behind the wheel? Don’t fret. Valet mode, which also records video and data, gives you peace of mind.

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BEST of the

CAR DEALERSHIP

BEST 2016

Mercedes-Benz The best or nothing.

By Lori McKay Photos Mandee Sugimoto

“The drive with a Mercedes is always industry leading. That’s one thing everyone notices right away: the quality of the ride over any other luxury competitor.” – Braden Bradley, general manager of Mercedes-Benz St. John’s

B

ehind the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz C-Class is a very nice place to be. With its sleek exterior, strong performance and comfortable compact

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size, the four-door sedan is at the top of the luxury car category.

“People are loving the all-new model,” says Braden Bradley, general manager

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of Mercedes-Benz St. John’s. “The C-Class coupe is brand new, with the ‘latest and greatest’ features and leading in innovation. The car has a lot of features you won’t find in other cars,

Braden Bradley

phase of their renovation project was recently completed, which involved the addition of four service technician bays, giving them a total of nine.

“Our appointment booking times will be cut in half,” he says, adding that the average wait time will be only three days.

The second phase of the project will be the service drive-thru renovation, which should be completed by Christmas.

Clients will be able to pull up in the indoor service drive-thru, hand their keys to a valet and go straight in to speak to their advisor.

The renovation increases both the showroom and service areas for a total of 4,500 sq. ft. “We’re providing a newly renovated space, and offering our customers great services.”

In addition to the amazing luxury vehicles they offer, Bradley says it’s his staff that makes a difference with customers.

“We’ve been growing a very strong team.

There have been a lot of changes in the industry in 2016 and for our dealership, specifically in terms of renovations and staff additions, and we look forward to 2017 and serving customers better with our new facilities and experienced staff.” such as the materials. The quality of the build is very high, compared to a lot of our competitors.”

The C43 AMG hot rod model, with 362 horsepower and 384 lb-ft of torque, will be available this fall. The dealership is already taking orders.

Bradley says the GLC has also been a huge hit for them this year.

“We essentially couldn’t keep any GLCs in stock. It’s the right size for everyone.

It’s hitting on all the right aspects with regards to size, pricing, fuel economy, space for passengers, luggage and all the newest technology, such as lane keeping assist, 360 cameras, self parking, etc.”

As we move into the fall season, customers will notice changes to the dealership at 211 Kenmount Rd. The first

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Mercedes Benz employee Ralph Evans is retiring after more than 30 years in the car business, and the staff would like to wish him all the best. “We congratulate and thank Ralph Evans for his years at Mercedes Benz-St. John’s!”

Mercedes-Benz St. John’s 211 Kenmount Rd. St. John’s 709.738.2369 stjohns.mercedes-benz.ca

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BUSINESS TO BUSINESS

FIT TO WORK Encouraging a Healthy Workplace

By Katrina Geenevasen-Garlough

I

magine an office with on-site physicians and nurses, a gourmet cafeteria that provides three meals a day, physical fitness programs, a gym, and access to perks like massages. Sounds unbelievable, doesn’t it? To the more than 5,700 employees at Google, it’s reality.

While such a health-conscious workplace will remain only a dream for the majority of office workers, many employers are taking steps to create a healthy environment for their staff. Such forward thinking not only increases productivity, it makes for happier and healthier employees, as well. Here’s a few ways to take your personnel from stressed-out to blissed-out.

Go Green

Move It Employees today work long hours — and many of those hours are spent sitting at a desk. This not only contributes to a strained neck and sore shoulders; prolonged sitting can also contribute to heart disease, poor circulation in legs and muscle degradation, among other things. One way to combat these health hazards is with the help of a height-adjustable treadmill desk; it’s a gentle and effective way to integrate movement into everyday work tasks. Most models top out at around two miles per hour, so you won’t break a sweat during your average workday, but you will burn calories.

If such an expensive piece of equipment is not in the company’s budget, move your meeting out of the boardroom and into the great outdoors with walking meetings. Contrary to popular belief, walking does not hamper effectiveness. In fact, increased blood flow can bolster creativity and overall thinking.

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You have to start somewhere, so begin by choosing a variety of plants to distribute around the office. Not only do they enhance the overall appearance of the workplace, they have the potential to help reduce stress and air pollutants. The Peace Lily is a great first choice; they tolerate low-light conditions quite well and are known for their ability to keep the air around them cleaner. The Corn Plant is another suitable option; they are easy to care for (why add to the stress of the office with a plant that requires lots of upkeep?) and they are also known for their pollutant-eliminating abilities.

Take a Seat

If such an active environment just isn’t going to happen at your workplace, consider providing a variety of options for desk seating. Exercise balls — normally reserved for time at the gym — engage core body muscles, abs and large lower back muscles in order to hold the body upright and balanced on the ball. Users also gain better posture, because the chair lacks any kind of back.

A balance stool is another option. Much like an exercise ball, they force users to sit up straight. Some models even bounce up and down, further engaging those core muscles that are far too often ignored sitting in a standard office chair.

Meanwhile, kneeling chairs can reduce some lower-body strain, while encouraging good posture at the same time. In a kneeling chair, the shins provide stability, allowing the user to remain seated. When titled slightly forward, the spine is in a more neutral position. This can help to ease lower back pain commonly associated with sitting for long periods of time.

Corporate Gym Memberships

According to the Canadian Obesity Network, one in four adult Canadians has clinical obesity. But this number does not have to be so startlingly high; many gyms today offer great deals and corporate memberships. If you think such spending is too costly, consider this: work related stress is the No. 1 health risk affecting Canadian employees. This not only impacts employee attendance, but benefit costs and short and long term disability leaves.

Break Away

Encourage your employees to take active breaks throughout their workday; this also means eating lunch someplace other than their desk. It’s not always easy to step away from the computer, but it’s vital for overall health. Just a few minutes of fresh air and sunshine will help to improve overall productivity and mood. Be serious about blocking time aside; consider two 15-minute breaks (one in the morning and one in the afternoon) for your employees.

However you go about encouraging a healthy workplace, just remember a better work environment equals a better employee.

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BEST of the

ENGINEERING & CONSULTING

BEST 2016

DOING BUSINESS THE TRADITIONAL NEWFOUNDLAND WAY PROGRESSIVE ENGINEERING AND CONSULTING INC.

By Lori McKay Photos Donna McMullin

W

hen the owners of Newfoundlandowned-and-operated Progressive Engineering and Consulting Inc. (PEC) opened their company four years ago, their goal was to create a different kind of business environment for their customers and staff.

“We wanted to get back to the traditional model of Newfoundland business,” says co-owner Darryl Mills. “Our motto is ‘service-solutions-success.’”

Mills and partner Kelly Hickey worked together during the early stages of their professional careers, eventually moving in different directions when Hickey went out on her own. They reconnected in 2012, at a time when Mills was thinking about starting his own business.

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“I thought to myself, ‘Kelly has gone through the motions of starting her business and I’m looking to make a move myself to start up an engineering consulting firm, I’m going to give her a call,’” says Mills.

They began meeting for coffee and after several get-togethers the two decided to go into business together. Hickey became a financial partner in 2013.

The company offers civil and municipal engineering and consulting services, including everything from water and sewer, to treatment plants and building site development. “We are a very wide ranging and diversified company,” says Mills.

When Mills developed his original business plan, he created a target market with several layers. It included private

BUSINESS TO BUSINESS

developers, municipal clients and other Newfoundland-owned-and-operated architectural, mechanical, electrical, structural and marine firms. “We felt this would give us our security, from a business perspective,” says Mills, noting it did just that. “We’re holding our 2012 business plan in our hands right now as we speak, and it couldn’t be any closer to the truth, as to how this transpired.”

They wanted to create an understanding with other local engineering discipline firms that they would support one another and go back to doing business the traditional Newfoundland way.

“We would go out and gather work and clientele and when we needed the resources of the other discipline firms we would contact them, and when they needed our resources they would contact us.”

L-R Darryl Mills and Kelly Hickey

The business is located in Paradise, PEC’s largest client, near the cities of St. John’s and Mount Pearl and the town of Torbay — communities with a demand for infrastructure. PEC is now heavily involved with private developers in those areas and is doing a tremendous amount of work within Paradise, Torbay, Placentia and Lewisporte, and a significant volume of private work with the Avalon Region.

“They say in this business that the summer is your busiest time because construction ramps up, but we don’t slow down any time of year…. We’ve branched off and become a very technical group internally. We can handle any type of computer modeling or complex project … We can handle any type of design challenge our clients throw at us.”

It’s very important to Mills and Hickey that they have an office relationship that resembles a family, as opposed to the large company office structure that they both experienced in the past. “We

wanted to move away from that large corporate entity ideal, which battled with a huge amount of administration and offered clients inadequate service.

It’s all about building relationships with our clients. We start our conversations with, ‘How are you?’ ‘What do you think of this weather?’ ‘Who’s your dad?’

‘Where’s your family from?’ Those are all questions we ask as we get to know our clients.

courses and broadening their knowledge.

If there’s something they want to learn and pursue — be it surveying, software modeling, and so on — we support them.”

Mills says they can take any of their designers off the floor at any time and send them out with a GPS to do a survey, and this is a prime example of their versatility and well-rounded experience.

“At PEC, every person is proud of the company and our staff and our work are our best sales tools. From the lady at the front desk who handles the accounting and answers the phone, right to Kelly and myself, we all promote this firm,” says Mills.

The sincerity of the staff, combined with their broad, shared knowledge brings a unique demographic to the company.

“We have a lot of new technologists coming into the office with drive and initiative who are constantly taking

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Progressive Engineering and Consulting Inc. 1243 Kenmount Rd. Paradise 709.368.3446 darryl@pec-eng.ca

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BEST of the

SIGNS

BEST 2016

SHAPING IMAGES FOR 25 YEARS

By Lori McKay Photos Mandee Sugimoto and courtesy of Bugden Signs

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reg Bugden grew up in the sign industry. His father was a neon tube bender, and from a very young age Bugden worked alongside him on the service trucks, sometimes putting in the lamps and other odd jobs. Interested in the industry and following in his father’s footsteps, Bugden became a graphic artist.

Newfoundland and Atlantic Canada.

With a commitment to quality and professional service, Bugden Signs has been leading the industry in the manufacturing and installation of custom signage for more than 25 years.

“Originally that meant sign painter. I came from the old school,” says Bugden.

“I used to draw up the pattern and my father would hand-bend the neon tubes to the patterns. Between the two of us, we had the artistic ability and the know how.”

Today’s sign painter doesn’t carry an assortment of brushes, paints and turpentine. But they are still craftsman, just with a different set of tools. Bugden Signs has four colour process digital imaging machines, laminators, a CNC router and engraving systems, and a vinyl printing/plotting system. This technology allows them to create signage that is colourful, dimensional and long lasting.

Bugden and his father, Les, started Bugden Signs in 1990. They have since served thousands of clients throughout

“We’ll show you what the old sign guy can do with today’s technology,” says Bugden.

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Although Les is no longer an owner, he still works part time and bends their neon tubes on demand.

“The days of neon have kind of slipped away,” says Bugden. “Everything has gone to LED. We still have a lot of neon in the field that we repair and service, such as bar signs and exposed neon signs.”

Specializing in LED, florescents and still working in some neon, Bugden says no job is too small or too large for the company.

“The smallest thing we do is engrave lapel pins,” says Bugden. “We do channel letters, illuminated fascia signs, large pylons, large illuminated signs, excavation and installation of the concrete bases. We do all kinds of engravings and vinyl graphics,

“Bugden Signs offers excellent customer service with quick response to requests for estimates, and consistent on time delivery.”

– Lisa Carey (Husky Energy) “I have been dealing with Bugden signs for more than 20 years. I have found their service and quality of work is No. 1. When I have had an idea, but didn’t know exactly how the finished work should look, Bugden’s staff would take my ideas and give me several proofs to help in the final decision.” – Don Powell (Atlantic Grocery Distribution) “I have used Budgen Signs on two separate occasions and I have been pleased with the job they did for us. They are helpful with suggestions and options. They are also willing to work with you as long as it takes to ‘Get it Right.’” – Den Billard (The Co-Operators)

fleet graphics and full car wraps. We do everything.”

Like any successful company, Bugden Signs is built on the experience and skill of their staff; some employees have been with the company for more than 20 years.

“I’ve been around the industry my whole life, and so has my father, and we have an amazing staff,” says Bugden. “The business is really about the people. There are some good fabricators here, some good sign people that have been with us a long time.”

Bugden would like to give a special mention to a few long-time staff members, including Gary Hollott, a fabrication craftsman and sign technician who has been with the company 25 years; Wayne Squires who has held several positions, including graphic artist, shop foreman production manager and currently represents the company as an account executive; and Brad Moores, who came to the company as a sign technician and now holds the position of production and service manager.

“Everyone brings a special set of skills that makes Bugden Signs successful and brings great products and service to our customers on a daily basis,” says Bugden.

About 80 per cent of their business is repeat customers, which Bugden says is due to the quality and workmanship of their products.

“We have a good rapport with many of the national sign shops and have been

doing their work for a lot of years. We have a really good reputation within the industry across Canada.”

Some of their largest customers include Canadian Tire, Sobeys, Irving Oil, Ultramar, McDonald’s and Shopper’s Drug Mart, just to name a few.

“We do a lot of third party installation and service maintenance programs for bigger signs shops on the mainland,” says Bugden. “They fabricate for say the McDonalds of the world or the Ford Motor companies. The product is sent to us and we do the installation for them and service and maintenance programs after.”

The company focuses on custom fabrication that is done in-house — from the rough drawing on a piece of scrap paper to completed technical drawings and finishing the product to the end.

Their plant is inspected on a quarterly basis and has the CSA standard behind them.

“We work with our clients’ needs and ideas to develop an image that meets their vision and budget,” says Bugden.

Bugden Signs 8 Hallett Cresent St. John’s 709.754.3355 Toll Free: 1.866.754.3355 info@bugdensigns.com

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