The Body Issue (Summer 2010) by Sandbox Magazine

Chrissy troy leads our big, beautiful

Body Issue

Designer panties in the Desert,

smokinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; hot gimli girl-rock,

queens of the small screen,

and way more

$3.50 summer 2010

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the body issue

20 departments 8) party on 9) From the gays, with love 10) hot stuFF from bare butts to boot camp, what we just can’t live without this summer.

16) by design

24) beautiFul man

sugar blossom’s in bloom: how Kelli miller is cashing in on her savvy scavenging skills.

a day at the beach with personal trainer bradley hansey. life is good.

18) the screen meeting up with the beautiful stars of Todd and the Book of Pure evil, shot right here in Winnipeg.

28) talent & tits how the inspirational leanne hearn stopped counting calories and started making them count.

13) Fed up

20) the sound

31) notes on love & sex

a protein-packed meal that won’t leave you hiding behind your towel at the beach.

the city’s own James struthers: the cute crooner who loves to love.

Columnist annabelle ross explores the ups and downs of “manscaping.”

22) the stage

62) bucket list

the bustiest show this fringe festival has to offer.

ten reasons to take it off before you kick the bucket.

14) about town elegance, glamour and planetfriendly products make berns & black salon an instant favourite.

sanDbox | summer 2010

32 Features 32) leather and lace Wandering the desert in pretty little things from designer madison rosa’s debut line of lingerie.

36) hey, chrissy, you’re so Fine one-on-one with Chrissy troy, one of the most endearing voices in the city.

42) good girls gone rad

52) bring it, boys the sexy, straight, girl-tossing male cheerleaders of Central Cheer squad.

54) starting From scratch

Uncovered

Photo by tony nardella. hair by april miller for berns & black. makeup by daena groleau for fine eyes. styled by Casey downes. Chrissy troy’s outfit from ragpickers, Vintage Bling glory and town shoes.

meera bahadoosingh relives the debilitating stroke that forced her to re-learn how to walk and talk—at only 26 years old.

57) body love

introducing the Paps: the best thing to come out of gimli since fish n’ chips.

four real, local women embrace the bodies that make them beautiful.

46) warriors oF Fashion

61) Fashion Finder

We declare war. serious summer trends that beat the heat.

your guide to locating the fashion featured in this issue.

Correction: The shoulder harness meaghan waller wore on the spring cover was by norwegian wood.

sandboxmag.Com

sandbox magazine

Jeffrey Vallis

Editor

braden alexander

Creative Director

suzy bodiroga Editorial Assistant Mia leVine Editorial Intern Writers Faye Armstrong Meera Bahadoosingh Emily Baron-Cadloff Megan Dee Benedictson Felix T. Cat Brenlee Coates Jillian Coubrough Maeghan Heinrichs Dunja DunjaKovacevek Kovacevic Annabelle Ross Kristy Rydz Jaime Zaporzan stylists Sambeth Bo Casey Downes Madison Rosas Niki Trosky Copy editors Jillian Coubrough Camille Dupas Melody Rogan Alex Varricchio Website design Melissa Krawetz Webhost MyNetMojo.ca

photographers Brittany Alyse blfStudios Rodney S. Braun Meganelizabeth Diamond Brittany Dona-Lyn GaĂŤtan Harris Brittany Hildebrandt Matthew Kristjan Janine Kropla Ian McCausland Valentin Mittelstet Tony Nardella Justin Pokrant James Vandal Lisa Varga hair Julia Dyck Haley Golin Guy Lemieux Roger Medina April Miller Britney Robson Amy Zacharius Makeup Crystal Bourbonnais Aimee Cardinell Kristen Dingwall Brittany Fenn Daena Groleau Janique Lavoie Sabrina Wall

speCial thanks to

Vaughan Alexander Linda Averbach Berns & Black Kayla Dickin Alex Espinosa

Fine Eyes Makeup Freshair Karen Kull Kirsten Law Brittany Leschasin

Yelena Maleyev Matthew Meisner Jasmin Pichlyk Bryce Raffle Ashley Risk

Amber Saleem Jaret Sereda Joshua Shaw Chrissy Troy Vault Salon

sandbox | summer 2010

the sandbox collective

“Shooting a summer look in May is a little colder than you would like it to be,” says Ashley Farr, who nonetheless modeled like a pro for our summer fashion shoot. Despite arresting good looks, this babe is more interested in makeup artistry. “I have a special interest in horror movie makeup.”

“I love that makeup gives you the ability to change your personality, instantly. You can throw a red lip on, or a black eyeliner and your whole look has changed,” says Aimee Cardinell, who painted face for “Warriors of Fashion” on pg. 46 and “Body Love” on pg. 57. The makeup artist is bent on growing her craft, while working with more artists on beautiful editorial.

“I felt like I was talking to an old friend,” says Jillian Coubrough, who interviewed Winnipeg’s radio queen for the cover story. The political science student has her sights set on studying journalism. “I never grew up wanting to be a writer and then I became one. I want to write all of my friend’s biographies— they’re mad.”

Photos by lisa Varga

“Chrissy was a gem to work with,” says cover shoot photographer Tony Nardella. “She kept trying new ideas, never complained and gave it her all in every shot.” The self-taught photog has been in the business for 30 years, but is always honing his craft. “I keep searching for a better way to shoot or light.”

sandboxmag.Com

Photos by brittany hildebrandt

Party on

there ainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t no party like a sanDbox party

shoTs from The glamour ParTy In CeleBraTIon of our sPrIng Issue In marCh

BODY LOVE THURSDAY, JULY 15 MYSTIQUE NIGHTCLUB $10 AT THE DOOR. PARTY UNTIL 3 AM

sanDbox | summer 2010

from the gays, with love

s a young gay boy, gym class was always the most painful experience. I was self-conscious about everything from the way my legs would jiggle to the amount of hair on my arms. I hated taking off my shirt in the locker room, petrified one of the guys would make fun of my skinny arms, hairy stomach, or worse—my love handles. (Being gay and timid I basically had a big red target on my forehead.) Those fears carried on through my adolescence, but eventually I learned to deal with them. Watching friends, classmates and ex-boyfriends battle eating disorders (whether they knew it or not) and body issues, made me think twice about what my

ideal body type was. Who’s to say what’s “right” for people? Isn’t beauty in the eye of the beholder? That’s why Braden and I chose “The Body Issue” as the theme of our summer issue. When the weather gets warm, the clothes start to come off and everyone starts to panic about what they’ve got, right down to the last dimple. It’s the perfect time to explore these body issues and how they affect anyone and everyone, both physically and emotionally. We found a nutritionist who turned her battle with weight issues into a healthy and profitable business. We met with a personal trainer who was overweight and unhappy and now helps others become com-

fortable in their own bodies. And, we heard from a local journalist who suffered a stroke at the young age of 26 and has now learned how to function in her body all over again. On the cover we feature the beautiful, the boisterous, the curvaceous Chrissy Troy. No one represents this issue better than the woman who has lived her life (and everything in it, including diets and workout plans) on air and in the public eye for the better part of a decade. She’s the host of Winnipeg’s favourite morning show, a proud Prairie girl and one of the busiest people in the city. On average, she sleeps four to five hours per night, waking up at 3:30 a.m. to prep for the show, while having to stay out late at various charitable events and community functions. Just weeks ago she helped raise over $200 000 for the Children’s Hospital before giving up the majority of her Sunday to do a photo shoot with us, and she does it all with a smile on her face. We dedicate this issue to Winnipeg’s sweetheart, Chrissy Troy and to all those who celebrate what makes them beautiful. So shake that booty, work those hips and let down that hair. Although it may be too late to strut it in the locker room, now’s your chance—join us in taking it all off. Jeffrey Vallis & Braden Alexander

Photo by blfstudios

sandboxmag.Com

hot stuff

nice bum,

where ya from? JusT as I am ProVes to be more than Just a damn good Coffee table booK “We’re far more the same than we are different,” says Rodney Braun of Eve Studios. “It’s so easy to hide behind an image when we’re dressed up. When we don’t have the clothing on, there’s a certain amount of honesty that comes about.” Earlier this year, the Winnipegbased photography company released the book Just As I Am, a collection of nude photographs celebrating the beauty of “normal” bodies. So, what qualifies as a “normal” body? Simply put, “it includes all of us,” says Braun. The idea for the book came about when a friend of Braun’s, working as

an art teacher in B.C., called him up in regards to a recent class field trip to a local art gallery. When a curious student asked why there weren’t any “normal bodies” in nude art, he was perplexed. Unable to provide an appropriate response, he turned to Braun for some advice. “That struck me, something needs to change,” says Braun, who took the challenge, and set out to create the book. He started by putting out a public call for all those willing to take it off. Evidently, he had an overwhelming response; even an enthusiast from Montreal called in offering to bare his goods. However, Braun decided to keep it all local. Aside from its beautiful, sepiatinged photographs, the book offers models’ personal commentary. In an interview, one woman announced, “if I have something they haven’t seen,

one of us has to get it out there.” “It’s a really interesting description of things [and how] we are very similar,” says Braun. Just As I Am is available at McNally Robinson for $40. Visit justasiam.ca for more information.

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you betta work

all stories by suzy bodiroga. Photos on this Page by lisa Varga. toP left: Janique’s outfit from f&q, styled by sambeth bo.

a good beauty bootCamP should maKe you sWeat

Great news, girls: bootcamps aren’t just for your booty anymore. Janique Lavoie and Daena Groleau, the ingenious forces behind Fine Eyes Makeup Artists, have created a beauty bootcamp for those inept in the realm of blushes and brushes. After a number of customers asked them for “how-to” advice, the dynamic duo conjured up the idea of a focused training session to teach girls. Originally created with the young professional in mind, the program is ideal for the career woman in need of a new look, or those simply in need of a pick-me-up in their daily makeup routine. “We thought it would be something really fun,” says Lavoie, who recently teamed up with her hairstylist at HairFX, adding basic hairstyling to the course. Now, the girls provide not only the fundamentals of makeup (for both day and night), but the how-to’s for a great head of hair. “It’s the biggest, most stressful part of a woman’s day: ‘what do I do with my hair and makeup?’” explains Lavoie, who believes that the course improves looks and confidence. The bootcamp runs twice a week for one month. At the end of the program, students are required to demonstrate the skills they’ve acquired over their four weeks of training. And don’t worry, if you’re unsuccessful, you’re simply admitted to the next available course, free of charge. So please ladies, if you’re still using the Avon shadow your mother handed down to you in junior high, consider a beauty bootcamp. Find more info at fineeyesmakeupartists.com.

maDe for Walkin’ although their popularity has yet to take off in Winnipeg, rugged work-like boots are a staple of men’s style in toronto and sturdy suede shoes are must-have basics in europe. but the only place in this city to find boots for boys from high-end brands like fluevog, Camper, fly, red Wing, and frye is Cha Cha Palace on main. the shoes may run at boutique prices, but they’re durable, and guaranteed to last. “that’s a good twenty-year boot,” says elynore Kendryna, the store owner, who firmly believes that men need to treat their feet too. so ditch the square-toed, faux-leather “italian” loafers for something a little more masculine and a lot more stylish. if there’s one truth in this world, it’s that nothing can ruin a good-looking man like a bad pair of shoes. Cha Cha Palace is located at 468 main st. and 173 lilac st. sandboxmag.Com

FRIENDS WITH

BENEFITS? Students working for the federal government are prevented by law from receiving beneﬁts or joining a union. The PSAC thinks this is unfair and we’re going to court to prove it. Join us. Visit www.psac-afpc.com or “Protect student workers!” on Facebook.

sanDbox | summer 2010

fed uP

quintessential summer quinoa recipe by Jaime zaporzan you will need: -1 cup of quinoa, rinsed -1 ¾ cups vegetable stock -3 tbsp. olive oil -2 cloves of garlic, minced -1 floret of broccoli, chopped into mediumsized pieces -½ a red onion, diced finely -½ a cucumber, diced - 100 grams soft goat cheese, crumbled (you may use feta if you prefer) -½ cup of pine nuts, lightly toasted (pecans or walnuts also work well in this recipe) -a few sprigs of fresh mint, stems removed, chopped finely -zest and juice of one lemon steps to culinary excellence: 1. Warm up a medium-sized pot on mediumhigh heat. use 1 ½ tbsp. of your olive oil requirement. reserve the rest. 2. sauté 1 cup of quinoa with your minced garlic for approximately 2 minutes. garlic burns easily, so keep an eye on your pot. 3. add your vegetable stock. bring your stock to a boil, cover your pot and reduce the heat to medium until your liquid is at a simmer for just 15 minutes. 4. add in your finely chopped broccoli, stir and cook for 4-5 minutes until liquid is absorbed and broccoli is tender. 5. fluff your quinoa with a fork, transfer it to a bowl and allow to cool down. (this recipe is best served chilled.) 6. once the quinoa is at room temperature, add in your remaining ingredients. stir in the remaining olive oil, chopped red onion, cucumber, mint, lemon juice and zest, pine nuts and goat cheese. salt and pepper to your liking. Jaime is a food lover who shows her affection for her loved ones the way her grandmother does: by stuffing them silly. Photos by lisa Varga.

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about town

black and white

With the inimitable Kitty at the helm, berns & blaCK salon simPlifies the searCh for gorgeous, edgy hair story by faye armstrong photos by brittany alyse

When Kitty — first name only, á la Madonna — was who she describes as “a wee little babe out of hair school,” she was already no stranger to the hair industry. At age 12, she was a hair model, traveling between hair shows and helping out behind the scenes, until she landed her first in-salon gig as a towel girl and receptionist at 16. Six months after graduating high school and in the midst of a not-so-glamorous stint at KFC, she decided to try her hand at cosmetology school. With big dreams in mind, and scissors in hand, she spent over a decade in the biz before combining forces with business partner Elynore Kendryna to build the fashionable and forward-thinking Berns & Black Salon and Spa.

froM left: kitty, haley, tina, april and Chantal

sandbox | summer 2010

“When I was a kid, I would constantly be like, ‘sit down and I’ll play with your hair,’” says Kitty. “I loved having my hands in other people’s hair, but I never knew exactly what it was that I loved about it. I think it was a tactile, textural thing. It wasn’t until my first day of hair school that I realized what that was.” Today, Kitty and the skilled staff of Berns & Black spend their time getting their clients glammed up– they even offer makeup application classes, so you can look as hot leaving your own home as you do leaving the salon. But the beauties of Berns & Black are also committed to keeping the earth looking its best, too. The products you’ll find on shelves are all-natural, not to mention perfume-, ammonia-, lauryl-sulfate- and paraben-free. They also offer a vegan colour line. With more than two years of research,

Kitty and Elynore have made it their mantra to ensure that “everything that’s going to touch your skin or go down the drain” is environmentally friendly. “The salon has a really organic, happy, chilled feel,” she adds. From the art on the walls featuring local artists, photographers and faces, to the connections made within those walls, Berns & Black is not only a hot spot for Winnipeg to get beautiful, but showcase all of the beautiful things it has to offer. “I really want to make Winnipeg famous,” says Kitty. “I want cool people to stay in Winnipeg’s arts community and fashion industry. I want to make people look good, feel good and get people together, creating a buzz about Winnipeg and being confident.” And it’s no question that Kitty has the look-good, feel-good vibe down pat. After having an Oprah-inspired

aha! moment at the age of 23, she took off on a solo trip to Europe where she learned to love herself. “I pretty much spun the globe and literally stood in the mirror doing squats, and focused on the three things I liked about myself,” she explains. “I’d say, ‘I have a great stomach, a perky butt and nice teeth’ over and over again until I felt that confidence. Learning to be comfortable with myself and not have another person as a crutch is what really taught me to be confident.” Kitty hopes to pass on this faith in self-confidence — along with her many look-hot tricks of the trade — to her clients, a belief shared by the entire Berns & Black crew. “It’s a very nurturing environment. We like to educate our clients,” she says. “Each one of our staff is a true master of their craft and is ready to help the next person.” Y

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by design

under lock and key exPeCt big things from sugar blossom’s small PaCKages story by Jillian coubrough photos by ian mccausland

iamonds may be a girl’s best friend, but self-proclaimed “girly-girl” Kelli Miller and her devoted online shoppers prefer chunky, nostalgic jewelry, with a modern twist. The 26-year-old is a model and public relations girl by day, and jewelry designer by night (and, likely, at heart). An instant hit, Miller’s collection “Sugar Blossom Design” was launched in the fall of 2009, selling faster than her hands could bevel, braid and box her designs. The collection started merely as a hobby, made its way on to the web and now, can be found on the necks and wrists of fashionistas everywhere. “My whole life, I’ve been buying [jewelry] pieces and inevitably ended up taking them apart to fiddle–necklaces were never the right length, some charms looked prettier with others. Eventually they would just become my own creation.” It wasn’t until Miller was stopped in the streets of Toronto by a woman offering her $500 for the bracelet off her wrist that she realized she might be in the wake of something promising. While many would

sandbox | summer 2010

have had the $500 high-fiving their bank account before the bracelet was unclasped, Miller declined the woman’s generous bid. “I decided it would be more beneficial to keep it as a prototype. I figured I had to be onto something.” “Sugar Blossom” gets its name from a design project Miller did at Ryerson University. Since then the collection has grown, and her clientele is growing faster. “It’s hard to keep up. I think I’ve made well over 200 pieces so far. I have a few regulars in Toronto and New York and many here in Winnipeg.” The collection features all oneof-a-kind, handmade necklaces and bracelets in bulky brushed silver, chunky copper, and girlish gold, on braided textured chains, tied off or intertwined with leather, all offset with Miller’s signature vintage, handpicked charms: antique skeleton keys, locks and circular statement clasps. The look is oxymoronic–antique, yet modern, clean, but complicated, casual and elegant all at the same time and not compromising in the least. She hand-plucks all of the

charms and keys from flea markets and is inspired by the mysterious little stories of who once donned them. As for the antique keys, Miller says, “I’ve been told if you wear them, they will open the doors to different opportunities.” Even though no two pieces are alike, they still work together. “I really love to incorporate old and new and mixing textures and materials together. I love chunky,” she beams. Although Miller loves rings as well, they’re not something she has delved into just yet. “To make rings you need more of a manufacturer and I mean, I’m no goldsmith,” she jokes. “It would be great to be able to make this my career, and the way to do that would be to manufacture my designs. But either way, I will always keep a line that is handmade.” It’s the handmade care that makes her pieces so unique, and, as Miller found out, difficult to part with. “It was really hard at first. I made a few pieces, would like them, and decide to keep them. Finally, I said to myself, ‘This isn’t realistic. I can’t keep everything!’” she laughs. Y

Kelli millerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hair by amy zaCharias for freshair salon. maKeuP sandboxmag.Com by sabrina Wall. Key neCKlaCe and loCK braCelet by sugar blossom design.

the screen

prom queens meet the small-sCreen sirens Who Were Paid to head baCK to high sChool and fight Pure eVil

t’s not every day that a Winnipeg café is sprinkled with celebutante actors with devoted fans from the Disney Channel variety and credits for working in blockbuster movies like The Time Traveller’s Wife. On any given day during the last few months of production on Todd and the Book of Pure Evil, urban dwellers could spot Maggie Castle with co-star Melanie Leishman, dining at Fresh Café on Corydon, getting Kawaii Crepes in the Village, or doing poses at Moksha Yoga Winnipeg. Castle sounded like an in-theknow Winnipeg resident as she listed off some of her top destinations such as Osborne Village, Corydon Avenue, Ten Spa, The Lobby on York and Birds Hill Park. “There’s like a 20 km radius that I can turn my GPS off for now,” says Castle. “I really enjoyed the food here and I loved the little areas (like Birds Hill). I hope we come back.” The show–a 13-episode series to air on Canada’s SPACE network that channels John Hughes’ touch on teen comedies–had cast and crew settled into Winnipeg for 10 weeks, doing most of the shooting at the now-defunct Silver Heights High School. If the show finds success, Castle hopes to be back in Winnipeg next year shooting more

sanDbox | summer 2010

story by brenlee coates photos by lisa varga

episodes. The 13-episode run was prompted by a well-received pilot shot here last winter. “It was just such a fun project — it was like summer camp,” echoes Leishman. “We’ve really bonded. We’ve (Castle and I) just sort of cruised around Winnipeg together and had the best time.” Castle plays Jenny in the series, a bad-ass chick and the object of main character Todd’s affection. In real life, though in wardrobe and makeup, Castle’s warm nature quickly escapes the façade. “She’s really kind of a rocker chick and I’m kind of preppy/conservative,” says Castle, who credits her hometown of Montreal as a big influence on her conservative-chic fashion. Castle’s headshots reveal a squeaky-clean, natural look that couldn’t be more different than the dark-lidded, ripped jean-wearing Castle I met in her trailer. Leishman plays Hannah, the nerdy science whiz in the series. Previous credits to Leishman’s name include a role in the Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize-nominated film Victoria Day. Castle has worked on projects with the likes of Billy Zane, Bruce Willis and Richard Gere and most recently played Rachel McAdams’ sister in The Time Traveller’s Wife. The education she got from work-

ing with the admirable A-list actress was immeasurable. “I always sound like I have a crush. She’s really lovely and she’s really focused,” says Castle of the film’s star. “I’ve really admired the career that she’s had for herself.” Castle has made the move to LA to keep working to replicate the kind of career someone like McAdams has. She lists Amy Adams, Zooey Deschanel and Anne Hathaway as other’s careers she’d love to imitate. “Someone like Angelina Jolie, I can’t relate to that. Someone like Laura Linney, I could maybe be,” explains Castle. Leishman is just about to move to L.A. and since their friendship bloomed during the 10 weeks of production, Castle offered to have Leishman stay with her for awhile and introduce her to the city (much like in Winnipeg). Just as production was wrapping up for Todd and the Book of Pure Evil, the stars’ lives started to mirror those of real high schoolers. The cast and crew cleverly scheduled a prom-themed wrap party for their final night together. The girls were co-scheming again, planning a visit to Ragpickers to pick up some bad vintage prom dresses. “We’re going around like ‘Do you have a date yet? Are you getting a corsage?’” Y

hair by haley golin for berns & blaCk. Makeup by sabrina Wall. styled by niki trosky. on Maggie, left: dress, belt and bag froM f&q. hat and neCklaCe froM edWard Carriere. gloVes, stylistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oWn. on Melanie, right: dress and ClutCh froM f&q.

sandboxmag.Com 19 pearl ring froM edWard

Carriere. green ring, her oWn. sunglasses, stylistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oWn.

hooded shirt by lennard taylor.

sandbox | summer 2010

the sound

strummin’ my pain meet the irresistably Charming (not to mention guitarPlaying and loVe song singing) James struthers

story by megan dee benedictson photos by Justin pokrant

ames Struthers sometimes worries if people will ever grow tired of hearing him sing about the highs, lows and everything else he feels while in love. But the theme plays heavily on his mind, hidden beneath his boy-next-door good looks, and like he says, “there’s no reason to fight what comes natural.” There’s also no reason to fight what works. The 21-year-old writes songs that are fun and playful–like new love–with melt-your-heart lyrics filled with devotion, sung in his laidback, relaxing style. The music gets attention, too. Less than a year after he started performing solo, he sold out the release party for his six-song debut release, Nadia. He gives some credit to his decision to inject the party’s promotion with the same personal touch he does his music. He hand wrote letters inviting people to the show and left them in libraries, bus shacks and other random places all over Winnipeg. “There were a lot of unfamiliar faces,” he says with a big smile while remembering the show and all the new people who heard the music he worked so hard to create. He says that for him, “songwriting is a strange process,” which

starts with some chord progressions, before he just starts singing whatever nonsense comes to him. That helps him nail down what’s hiding in his subconscious, and the songs that take shape have very personal messages. According to Struthers, Nadia actually traces his first love from its inception to its recent decay. (Yes, he is single, and although he says he’s too busy for a serious relationship, he wasn’t shy to mention that he doesn’t mind company.) Although he is trying to move his songwriting into realms other than love, he is deliberately tapping into himself and believes, “most music that lasts a long time, comes from that.” And he is determined to make his music last. While he is still in university earning an honours degree in psychology, this summer Struthers is working full-time to further his career. That wasn’t always the plan. After growing up in Winnipeg’s Woodhaven neighbourhood, he started playing guitar in ninth grade, on a Yamaha, which was soon run over by a truck. He got another and kept growing as a musician, but says, “I told myself this was going to be a hobby and then see what material-

izes, but you can’t do it that way.” Now he has thrown himself not just into his music, but also into the music industry. He says the business side “is a strange and foreign beast to me right now,” but is diving in to try and learn as much as possible. Soon he will shoot a video for his song, “You and Me and Optimus Prime,” and in June, he is embarking on his first Western Canadian tour. He will likely do the tour alone, unless he finds someone to come along to sell merchandise at shows. The plan is to throw not much more than a tent and his gear into his car and play as many solo shows as he can before returning to play at Winnipeg’s Jazz Fest on July 3. “This is the first stride,” he says with genuine excitement, sharing plans to get friends to distribute the same type of invitations he did here in every city he is playing in, because this man is willing to do anything to gain the fans he needs to make this his career. He says in the long term, “I’d like to be a recognized Canadian name in music.” But it can’t do it alone; tell your friends. Y Listen to Struthers’ music and order his debut EP Nadia at jamesstruthers.com sandboxmag.Com

breast Friends

Forever as WinniPeg gears uP for fringe, sandBox gears uP for What Promises to be the most titillating shoW of the festiVal story by emily baron-cadloFF photos by brittany dona-lyn

sanDbox | summer 2010

a lright

ladies, fess up. You have a story about yours. Maybe it’s the realization that you’d be the last chicky in your class to get ’em. Maybe it’s the unfortunate time you realized tube tops were just not the best choice for you. Or maybe your tale is about accepting yours as they are—and celebrating them. That’s right, I’m talking about breasts. These hot lady lumps fill the pages of magazines, hang on the

the stage

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walls of major museums and can cause riots when exposed. Yet each set—and each woman attached—is unique and beautifully different. Isn’t it time to celebrate that? The women of Breast Friends, a Winnipeg Fringe Festival show premiering this summer, think so. “Women are always told there is something wrong with their breasts: they’re too big, they’re too small, you need a water bra, they

should be shoved up, they should be shoved in, they shouldn’t have stretch marks, you shouldn’t show them when you’re feeding your baby,” says co-producer Celeste Sansregret. “It’s all about how other people look at, define and commodify your body. This show is a bunch of women talking about their own commodity, their own body. I’m going to take what’s left of my good rack and go make money with it.” The show sprung from a piece co-producer Kim Zeglinski wrote for a cabaret act called They May Be Little But They’re All Mine in 2007. Zeglinski opens her act by saying she’s a “small-breasted woman trapped in a large-breasted woman’s body,” and goes on to talk about her decision to have elective breast reduction surgery. Not your usual theatre fare. But these ladies aren’t your usual theatre troupe. Made up of Zeglinski, Sansregret, stand-up comic Heather Witherden, burlesque artist Miss La Muse, and legendary Fringe performer Alison Field (of Sensible Footwear fame), each woman is performing a different piece meant to highlight the individual struggles and celebrations that come along with having breasts. “Whether you’ve got ’em or you want ’em, everyone has a story to tell,” says Zeglinski. “It’s sort of like realizing we’re all hot.” “I’m hot in flashes!” cracks Sansregret. As much fun as they are having putting the show together, the ladies are well aware that some people might check out the show hoping for a little peep show. “There’s some titillation— Women! Breasts! A Fringe show! —that will sell us some tickets,” says Sansregret. “But it’s a variety show,

and there’s something for everyone.” Zeglinski and Sansregret are lighthearted and excited when talking about the show – but the subject matter is important. In between the laughs, the women hit on some heavy stuff, like a woman realizing she has a family history of breast cancer, or the idea that women aren’t at home in their own bodies. “I’m an early years teacher, and I see girls as young as five saying ‘teacher am I pretty today?’ and it’s like, where is this coming from?” asks Zeglinski. The women of Breast Friends hope their show allows other women to feel comfortable with their bodies. But they’re also excited to entertain another type of audience, including one that SANDBOX readers are familiar with – the gays. “Gay men will love this show,” says Sansregret with a smile. “One of the things feminists and gay men have done is revolutionized culture. We’ve changed, through activism, to show that what you can do as a person isn’t defined by what you do in your bedroom.” So, if you’re strolling around the Fringe grounds this summer, and looking for some titillating comedy, check out the bevy of buxom beauties in Breast Friends. The show will make you laugh, but more importantly, it will make you proud of your own terrific ta-tas. And that’s one of the best things you can do for yourself this summer. “As women, we let a lot of people tell us if we’re okay or not okay by someone else’s rules,” says Sansregret. “Well, we’re outlaws, we make our own rules.” Y For showtimes and photos visit kimmyzee.com. For the full festival schedule and information visit winnipegfringe.com. sandboxmag.Com

beautiful man

one morning on

muscle beach We head to birds hill ParK With Personal trainer and all-around dreamboat bradley hansey

fter months of flirting with hot, straight men for our ongoing “Beautiful Man” feature, I have to admit, I’m getting tired. It’s exhausting always trying to be cute and witty, trying to push the sexual envelope and convince these guys to experiment, but still always walking that fine line between a friendly come-on and plain ol’ sexual harassment. So for once, I decided to take a break. For the first time ever, SANDBOX is featuring an out and proud gay “Beautiful Man” (them gays are prettier anyway). But as it turns out, it’s not as fun flirting gay-on-gay and our conversation quickly turned from guilty pleasure to girl talk. But, on the bright side, I did manage to pick up some tips on a sweet summer workout plan. Meet Bradley Hansey, the 23-year-old personal trainer and my new gay BFF. SANDBOX: So summer’s here and my beach bod most definitely is not. What can I do to change that – and quick? Bradley Hansey: Some people want to go to the gym, but they don’t actually do anything about it. Or, a lot of people will go, but then they get there and have no idea what to do. They’ll go on the treadmill for 10 minutes and leave, then they’ll get discouraged that they’re not seeing any results and it’s really overwhelming. So, if you have a program and you have a plan you’re working toward, then you’ll start to go more often and be excited about it. SB: Been there. Done that. So how did you get into personal training? BH: I’ve had trainers in the past who have really helped me and I’ve lost a lot of weight myself. It’s really done a lot for

sanDbox | summer 2010

story by jeFFrey vallis photos by valentin mittelstet

me and made me more confident, so it just seemed natural for me to help other people feel the same way. SB: With a chest like that, you’re trying to tell me you were once a bootylicious babe? BH: I wasn’t big, but I was overweight and I was a little bit depressed about it. In my teenage years, I think my highest recorded weight was 220, so pretty high up there. It feels so good to accomplish something like that. SB: You go, girl. Do you think your weight gain had anything to do with being a closet homo in high school? BH: I think it did have a little bit to do with it. Before I came out, I had a lot of people poking fun or teasing me. It wasn’t that bad, not like you’d see in movies, but I was really shy and sensitive about it. When I came out, I was 16 and at that point I felt like I could be myself a lot more. SB: And then you took a boy to grad and were crowned prom queens? BH: No, I didn’t. I didn’t have really any serious relationships until my most recent boyfriend. I wasn’t really interested at all. Is that weird? SB: You’re asking someone who’s going through an unseasonably long dry spell, so I’m going to go with “no”. Any man candy in your life now? BH: I’m seeing someone. It’s kind of weird because it’s my ex. We broke up and we’re on the verge of getting back together, but we’re just trying to work through why we

broke up in the first place. SB: Ahh, gay love. It touches my heart. What’s the most memorable date night you’ve had? BH: For our one-year, we went to Ichiban and it was really cute. We told them it was our anniversary and as the guy was making our food, he made a heart out of the fried rice and then put an arrow through it. Then, he stuck the spatula underneath it and made it look like it was beating. SB: Adorable! And then… BH: My boyfriend surprised me and got a room for us at the Hotel Fort Garry. He put rose petals on the bed and in the bathtub. I loved it. It was so cheesy though, but I loved it. It made me happy. SB: You’re totally the chick in the relationship, aren’t you? BH: I guess physically, I’m more manly. But emotionally, I’m way more sensitive. Whenever I see straight couples, I always feel like I relate more to the girl, emotionally speaking. SB: You and me both, sister. It’s probably why I’m so obsessed with romantic comedies. What’s your fav? BH: I liked Marley and Me. Does that count as a romantic comedy? SB: Hrmph! Hardly. Looks like you’re manlier than you think, lady. Wish I could say the same.Y Email us at mail@sandboxmag.com to nominate the next “Beautiful Man.”

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beautiful man

sandbox | summer 2010

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talent & tits

fresh out

the oven hoW leanne hearn turned her body image issues into a Passion for nutrition and the seeds of her oWn Personal nutrition emPire

story by maeghan heinrichs photos by brittany hildebrandt

eanne Hearn had no idea that her personal struggles with weight-loss and achieving a healthy body image would lead her to a career in nutritional counselling, let alone inspire her to build a successful business by the age of 25. However, after finding a healthy relationship with food and learning to love her curves, Hearn changed the direction of her studies at the University of Manitoba from optometry to nutrition. Like many women at some point in their lives, Hearn succumbed to the social pressures to be perfect. With a lack of nutritional knowledge, she attempted to achieve her goals in an unhealthy manner. At 21, Hearn decided to seek help for her negative body image issues, a move that led her to pursue a degree in nutritional science, with the ultimate goal of counselling others about healthy weight loss and eating patterns, so they too could feel the benefits of a healthy lifestyle.

sandbox | summer 2010

“I just knew. I knew that I was done with being unhealthy; I knew that I was done with being extreme when it came to my eating habits and, now that I had gained this healthy body image, I knew I wouldn’t go back; I knew I would do it right. So, against everyone else’s advice, I went and studied nutrition and I don’t regret it one bit,” says the now fit and fabulous, green-eyed beauty behind Right Fit Nutrition, an affordable, customized nutritional counselling service for Winnipeggers. Hearn started Right Fit Nutrition in April 2009 after completing her degree and, in seven short months, has built a client list of over 50 people. Not bad for a one-woman operation. She attributes Right Fit’s success to her individuallycustomized approach, where she works with her clients on a case-bycase basis to help them achieve their nutritional goals in a healthy way. “Each one of my meal plans is developed individually for that person, I don’t have them pre-made beforehand and that’s very impor-

tant to me,” says Hearn. “I don’t want to ever give them something that worked for someone else, so it would probably work for them. You have to tailor it to them individually so they can achieve the best results.” Although the majority of Hearn’s clients have been looking to achieve weight-loss by adopting a healthier lifestyle, she offers a variety of nutritional counselling services that work with diabetics, pregnant women, migraine sufferers and even those looking to improve their sleeping patterns. One of the more unique services Hearn provides, and also one of her personal favourites, is the grocery store tour. During the one-to-twohour appointment, Hearn accompanies her client to the grocery store they frequent most, and depending on their nutritional history or goals, she teaches them how to read the labels of regularly-purchased products and ultimately, how make the right food choices for them. “It’s kind of cool because they teach me stuff too. I haven’t been in the grocery store shopping for fami-

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talent & tits

lies like they have, so they’ll teach me things, mostly about prices. Whereas the first thing I look at is the nutrition label, not the prices. So, they’re teaching me too and I like that,” says Hearn. Her approach to developing individual meal plans is actually quite simple. She meets with her client one-on-one for an initial interview to get to know them, establish a feeling for their current diet, address any problems they’ve had in the past and discuss their overall nutrition goals. From there, Hearn develops a meal plan that’s the “right fit” for each specific client, complete with recipes and their goal for the first of the four to six weeks. “We start with small changes,”

explains Hearn. “The first week is usually behaviour modification, so if it means them waking up early to eat breakfast, because if they don’t eat breakfast and they’re looking for weight loss, that’s huge. You want to maintain your energy levels throughout the day, so you don’t overeat later.” As well as assigning her clients simple step-by-step goals, Hearn also checks in with her clients once a week to counsel them through any problems they may be experiencing and discuss the goals and meal plans for the following week. “I try to make sure I break it down so I don’t give them a diet plan and say, ‘Here, you have to do this, this and this.’ Instead, we break it down into simple steps,” says Hearn, as she explains her own

sandbox | summer 2010

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recipe for success with her clients. “They like that because it’s not super overwhelming for them. I feel that anyone who is given an overwhelming set of restrictions is not going to be successful in their goals.” In the near future, Hearn plans to expand the services to her clients by studying holistic nutrition. But despite her growing business, she has no intention of ever losing the personal touch that is so dear to her. “I’m excited to grow the business but I want [the personal aspect] to remain the same. So it will likely be a little challenging for me because I could make everything generic and I could maybe grow a lot faster, but I don’t want that, because I feel that’s one thing that sets me apart and it would break my heart if it ever got to that.” Y

notes on love & sex

taking it oFF Columnist annabelle ross liKes it trim and tidy

We got it on, and as my tongue slowly made its way down his shaven-off “treasure trail”, I was in for another surprise: the shaving had also gone below the belt. It was gone. Bald. Any remnants of puberty wiped away clean with the swipe of his Gillette. It was a little shocking at first, but once I got over the mild tongue burn, I totally got into it. Another boy’s fetish wasn’t with wiping the chest clean, but with shaving his pits. When I asked why, he claimed his hairs were so wiry and long it just made sense to shave. He was also trimmed down there, but more sparse than bare. According to an Internet source, last year, STRIP spa in London saw a 47 per cent increase in men getting their chests waxed and an 88 per cent increase in the male bikini or Brazilian wax. Which begs the question: if more and more men are shaving and waxing their nuts, pits and chest clean, how will they now feel if they notice an errant hair on our bodies? Are women going to be held to an even higher standard of hair removal? I think most ladies would agree that the fact that men now take their personal grooming to a more closely shaven level is a welcomed sign, despite the precedent it might set. And while, for me, there will

always be something a bit macho about a hairy chest, nobody wants to go bushwhacking when giving a blow job. Am I wrong ladies? Bring on the clippers, boys. Mama’s got some work to do! Y The views expressed in this column are soley those of the author. SANDBOX loves us some hairy mens.

Photo by gaËtan harris

or years women have been waxing, ripping, plucking, sugaring and pulling the hair out of every follicle we can find. We’ve suffered the indignation of having our bits thoroughly brandished bald by the Brazilian. We’ve unleashed motorized gadgets on our legs to tear out each hair one by one. We’ve paid countless amounts of cash to be stripped clean of our hairy selves or have globbed acidic creams onto our private bits in hopes the only thing it actually does take off is the hair. But what about our hairier other half? For years, the men in our lives have gotten off wax- and depilatory-free. Not any more. The boys have come over to the bald side. And it’s about time! But when it comes to the art of manscaping, what are the rules? And is there such thing as too close a shave? At first I wasn’t quite prepared for my dude to be stripped clean of his manly mane. True story, I was lining up a date to come over for a little fun. He said he would be there shortly... just after he finished shaving his chest. I paused and thought surely he was being sarcastic. But no, he showed up showered, clean and with nipples as bald as a baby’s ass.

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I want your leather, I want your lace. 32

sanDbox | summer 2010

The debuT, hand-made line of sexy, girly lingerie from designer madison rosas

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| summer 2010

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by ruby featHers. fringe Jacket and earrings from vintage gLory.

Hey, Chrissy, Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re So Fine. 36

sandbox | summer 2010

chrissy wears skirt and sequined cardigan from vintage glory. lace top from ragpickers. necklace by vintage bling.

innipeg is used to waking up to the heartfelt laughter of Chrissy Troy. We sit down with the radio darling to discover the vixen behind the voiceâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; the small town girl who used to work in fast food and still loves to play dress-up. Story by Jillian Coubrough. Photos by Tony Nardella. Styled by Casey Downes. Hair by April Miller for Berns & Black. Makeup by Daena Groleau for Fine Eyes. Nails by Crystal Bourbonnais.

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“T

sanDbox | summer 2010

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here’s something about the radio,” she explains. “I love being in a vehicle, driving into the middle of nowhere and having the companionship of someone you don’t know, or maybe you feel like you know, playing your favourite songs for you. I love the radio— everything about it, even the commercials!” laughs the girl with the proverbial voice, the lofty job and even better sense of humour. I relate right away. She is that voice to me, to Winnipeg. The companion who woke me up grades seven through twelve, when I set my radio just right. In the morning, when I can’t decide whether to get up or give it five more minutes, I listen to that girl that loves my songs and my city as much as I do. As we talk, I get the feeling that I’m talking to my radio, but after about 10 seconds the peculiarity passed. She has an immediate ease and kindness about her, paired with a better than book on tape voice. She wanted to know more about me—what I do, where I lived and what I was up to—rather than to talk about herself. It’s hard to consider that Chrissy Troy hasn’t always been Chrissy Troy of Hot 103. She grew up on a dairy farm in Arborg, Manitoba, just north of Gimli. “It isn’t exactly exotic, but I have always been super proud of it,” she says. The queen of morning radio got her foot in the tiny door of CJ1240, a little AM station in The Pas. She describes it as an extremely small operation, where she did everything from sales, to reception, to traffic logs, to news. “If the station ever went down for whatever reason, you (the host) had a key to the transmitter. You’d get in your car, drive outside the city to a field, enter a pasture with an (at times) aggressive llama, climb up to the transmitter and turn the radio back on yourself. There was literally a loose-leaf paper taped to the side of the wall inside that said ‘how to turn the radio back on,’” she laughs. Troy has been with Hot 103 for almost seven years now. She is a familiar figurehead in the Winnipeg community who has been candid on just about everything from her body to her weight loss endeavours and major celebrity crush, Josh Holloway (from Lost). “Almost everything has kind of come up over the course of time I’ve been on the radio,” she admits. But she still manages to dig deep on her body image, what she would change

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about herself, how she finds time to stay healthy with her lofty job and even wilder schedule, her relationship with co-host Ace Burpee and what she really hopes for herself in the future. “If I could rate how happy I am with my body, I’d say a 7/10. We’ve been through a lot together,” says the lively 31-year-old. “I used to be really athletic, probably the story of most people’s lives,” she jokes. Troy’s typical day is comparative to a productive week for most regular people. “For me, every day is different. I do the radio show in the morning with Ace from 5:30 - 10:00 a.m. and then today, for instance, I was at the McPhillips Station Casino talking to a guy who created a new billiards game and before that I was working the window at McDonald’s on Goulet for McHappy Day (great fun, by the way) and around midday I was doing voice tracking for a radio show I do in Brandon.” To put things in perspective, it’s barely half past three. “And on Saturday, it was the radiothon and the Women of Distinction Awards,” she says, not the least bit overwhelmed. How anyone can possibly stay healthy—never mind awake—with a schedule like Troy’s is amazing and can definitely make a healthy diet difficult. “Before, I used to leave it up to chance, and my body forgave me. Now, it’s not so forgiving.” Troy insists that maintaining her health and weight has been, in her words, pure trial and error. “The biggest key for me is that I know I need to prepare ahead. Even if it means a soggy salad that’s been sitting all day in my purse and I always have granola bars strewn throughout my blazer.” The radio host, who most recently competed in the Biggest Loser Winnipeg, has experimented with other diet plans throughout the years. “I could probably be about 30 pounds lighter,” she admits lightheartedly. “I’ve done Weight Watchers, which I think can be great if you pair it with exercise. I’ve never done the grapefruit-cottage cheese diet,” she says, admitting savoury

sanDbox | summer 2010

“If you put a bowl of M&M’s in front of me, and a bowl of bacon, I’d choose the bacon.” foods are her biggest vice. “If you put a bowl of M&M’s in front of me, and a bowl of bacon, I’d choose the bacon.” While Troy is working hard at it, she confesses she hasn’t met all of her body goals just yet. “I haven’t gotten moderation quite through my head. There are times I reward myself with a bowl of chips after I’ve had a good workout,” she jokes, before admitting the one thing she’d change about herself. “I have my mom’s toes. I could tell her that to her face, because she has her mom’s toes, and her mom probably has her mom’s toes,” she laughs. The radio name also confirms plastic surgery is not in her cards. “I wouldn’t do it. I love laugh lines; I like wrinkles. They tell a great story. They are the layers of your life, they tell where you have been, what you have accomplished.” But surgery aside, there are other ways a girl can feel beautiful, even with an ever-demanding lifestyle such as Troy’s. “When I left the SANDBOX shoot, I just wanted to drive around looking like that all day. I felt unbelievable,” she says endearingly. “I also never realized that I could wear vintage clothing for my body type. The stylist put together the coolest stuff. What really makes me feel beautiful, though, is being outside. Does that sound corny? Being in the sunshine with a touch of wind is liberating. That’s probably why I liked the wind machine at the shoot so much!” Her humour and congeniality are unrelenting and I wonder how that plays off of fellow personality and comedic co-host, Ace Burpee—and what their relationship is like off the air. “I get asked this question a lot,” she laughs. “We’ve known each other for close to 10 years now. He is exactly the same way he is on the radio, off the

radio. I’ve never known anyone like him before. Although I wouldn’t say it to his face, he is a born entertainer.” Living a life so public, a personality so open and well-known, listeners would be surprised to learn that the radio personality with the distinct voice–and a track record for loud hair–is actually quite shy. “I am an introvert,” she admits. “No, I am. I was once told the true definition of [an] introvert is if you are placed in a room of people you don’t know, your natural reaction is to keep to yourself. That would be my natural inclination. I still get really nervous in front of a crowd.” At just 31, Chrissy Troy has already had an impressive and involved 12-year career in radio. But, as much as she loves the radio, she has her future sights set on something different. “I’ve always joked I want to do voice work for Safeway. You know, when you’re walking around Safeway and you hear the woman’s voice doing all the pre-taped advertisements? I want to be that,” she explains, before admitting a more warm-hearted future goal. “I never thought I would get emotional—I am not normally—but I hope one day to be at least half of the woman my mom is and I don’t care how cliché that sounds,” she admits. “My dad passed away when I was 10. My mom not only lost her husband, she was left a single mother to three young kids and the labour and financial burden of our dairy farm. Even though she is now into her sixties, she is still running the farm today. Her actions speak louder than anything she’s told me.” As it turns out, the girl with the big voice, the big job and the big sense of humour isn’t short on a big heart to match. Y

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good gir gone rad The gorgeous girls of ManiToba-based rock band The paps are here To reMind you ThaT despiTe being preTTy young Things, They’re here for The Music. sTory by dunja kovacevik. DUNJA KOV ACEVIC. phoTos by MeganelizabeTh diaMond.

“s

hooters aren’t that expensive here,” says Jodi Dunlop, drummer for the Paps—the fierce all-girl band (distinction: not “girl band”)—glancing over the drink menu at The Academy. Her long red hair falls loosely around her shoulders and she shoots us all a playful, challenging look. The gaggle of girls I’m sitting with consists of Fiona Axelsson and twin sisters Jodi and Jordan Dunlop. Together, the three make up the founding members of the Paps; formerly known as the Pap Smears. “When we named the band the Pap Smears, it was sort of a joke. We were in seventh grade and never thought it would go anywhere,” explains Jodi. There’s no denying their immediate babe factor. They’re all immaculately dressed and impossibly longlimbed, making it easy to write them off as just another marketable girl band. As a Winnipeg Sun review put it, “a record executive’s fantasy, come to life.” But I’m having difficulty

sanDbox | summer 2010

sexualizing their friendly, open faces and natural childlike curiosity. The three girls, (Fiona, Jordan and Jodi) are of Icelandic descent, born and raised in Gimli, Manitoba. Fighting off small-town boredom, they started the band in seventh grade and entered the school’s talent show. They won, playing “12:51” by The Strokes—an influence of the band but also a song without lyrics. “We can’t sing,” says Fiona. Laughing, the girls recount the real motivation behind the inception of the band… a slightly less innocent one: they were trying to impress some musician-types, so they pretended they had started their own band. “We started digging ourselves deeper and deeper into this lie and we were like, ‘I guess we have to start a band,’” Jodi recalls. Jordan is quick to add, “And now, we’re still a band and who knows what happened to those boys!” Soon after, the trio picked up a singer and started booking shows in

the city, playing local pubs—underage. “We were good, we didn’t even drink,” says Fiona who explains how their parents would accompany them to shows. “We were 16 and going to Winnipeg to play bars, while everyone else was… drinking on a farm,” Jodi adds. Throughout the years, the band has endured various transitions, including a couple of different singers. Cue Terra Stevenson: an edgy, platinum blonde and certified bombshell, in whom the girls found their frontwoman. “She’s got the ’tude. She’s feisty, that one and we need that,” says Fiona. I mention that their sound has changed considerably from their last EP, to the one they’ve just released: Not Looking for Romance. “Before we were somewhat limited. But as we’ve grown more comfortable with our instruments, we can do more complicated stuff,” says Jodi of the melodies. Jordan, who does most of the songwriting, adds, “The first EP

rls d

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JorDan Dunlop, terra steVenson, JoDi Dunlop, anD fiona axelsson

was more hypothetical, but this one is based more on experience.” A change that can only come with age and wisdom. The new EP was recorded by Brandon Friesen and Ron “Obvious” Vermeulen, who have worked with such bands as Domenica and The Subhumans, respectively. On this disc, the girls move from what was considered punk, garnering comparisons to The Runaways and Blondie, to what they call “power pop”. The band is tighter, with every song packing a catchy hook, pulled off by Stevenson’s melodic vocals. As for a full-length album, the girls are unanimous that it’s not the direction they’re looking to go. They state firmly that the “era of the full-length is dead,” and they’d rather continue releasing new material on a more regular basis in the form of EPs. As for performing, “I hate being on stage,” says Jordan. “I just want to be like the fourth member of Green Day, in the shadows.” Her opinion isn’t shared by the rest of the group, but they agree that she’s the shy one. “I’ve grown to love it, I just hate attention,” she adds. But none of the girls were complaining when one of the band’s hometown performances garnered attention from Winnipeg’s own Guy Maddin (who owns a cottage in the Gimli area). After seeing the girls on stage, he asked them to open for him at the Burton Cummings Theatre. “It was easily the best experience we’ve had as a band,” says Jodi. “We got one room and he got another and he was so nice,” says Fiona. “He popped in five minutes before we were about to go on and was like ‘Can I come in? I’ve never seen a rock band get ready before.’ We were like, ‘Sure!’ Jodi was curling her hair and Terra was doing her makeup…we’re girls, we have to get ready like that. Half of the fun is dressing up!” That being said, the girls are adamant about not being labelled as a girl band. “We just happen to all play together and be girls,” says Fiona, to the approval of the table. Their general nonchalance and disinterest in all things feminist speaks volumes about who they are as both people and performers. And in a way, it’s evidence of an emerging brand of nouveau feminism: girls who don’t want to be seen as girls at all, empowered or not. “We don’t want to be good for a girl,” says Fiona. “We just want to be good.” Y

sandbox | summer 2010

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Warrio

of fas bold PrinTs, sleek doâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and heavy accessories make for fierce summer fashion.

PhoTos by briTTany dona-lyn. sTyled by madison rosas. hair by guy lemieux and julia dyck for vaulT. makeuP by aimee cardinell and janique lavoie.

sanDbox | summer 2010

ors

shion

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left: marney wears Wears dress Left: from hush. neCKlaCe from HusH and arm band from featHers. laKe life. from ruby

sanDbox | summer 2010

right: asHLey ashley wears Wears dress rigHt: belt from connect ConneCt and beLt four. earrings by ruby feathers. sungLasses sunglasses by featHers. Cinzia designs. cinzia

marney wears sandboxmag.com 49 dress from HusH. neckLace by ruby featHers. braceLet from vintage gLory.

leFT: Marney wears dress FroM hush. necklace and cuFFs by ruby FeaThers righT: akosua wears dress FroM hush. headpiece by ruby sandbox FeaThers. earrings and blue braceleT FroM lake liFe. green braceleT by alexis biTTar.

| summer 2010

leFT: akosua wears baThing suiT by klas cloThing. shirT and necklace FroM lake liFe. sunglasses by cinzia designs. righT: ashley wears baThing suiT by klas cloThing. Tunic FroM lake liFe. cuFF FroM kaThryn kerrigan.

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tossing girls around and tearing down stereotypes — all in a day’s work for the boys of winnipeg’s central cheer squad Story by Kristy Rydz. Photos by Valentin Mittelstet. an you lift a girl over your head with one hand?” That’s male cheerleader and former football player Scott Kuz’s comeback anytime someone tells him his sport is “gay.” “We don’t really fill the persona of the ‘gay’ athlete because we don’t have a lot of tumblers,” Kuz explains. “Our guys come from football backgrounds and rely more on their strength, rather than a gymnastic background.” The 20-year-old is one of nine selfproclaimed straight, girl-tossing (and catching) male cheerleaders on the 2010 provincial champion Central Cheer Outlaws 18+ squad. No, they don’t have pom poms. And yes, they’re proud of it. “Sure, there’s a cheer aspect of it,” Kuz says. “But we perform. None of our guys are afraid to say they’re a cheerleader. We just do what we do.” As an 11-year veteran defensive back for teams like the Winnipeg Rifle Junior Football Club, cheerleading caught Kuz’s eye when a teammate kept showing off his back flips at practice. Though a little skeptical, when Outlaws founder, long-time cheerleader and fellow football star Kevin Cady brought him to check out a practice, Kuz was hooked. “When I got there, I was thinking, ‘Not only is it kind of fun to do, but I’m also coming to practice with 30 girls; This is something that I can come to twice a week,’” he reveals with a smirk. At first relying on his brute football muscles to throw girls up in the air and catch them, Kuz has had to work at the more complex aspects of the sport. “To tumble and to look good tumbling is actually really difficult,” he says.

sanDbox | summer 2010

But with two-hour practices twice a week from September to May and three provincial competitions each season, Kuz and his fellow rah-rah rowdies have grown–and grown to love the teamwork that is crucial to the sport. “Football was a lot of one-on-one match-ups, but on the floor in cheerleading you have to work together. I have to work physically with you to accomplish this one thing,” he says. “Cheerleading is [the idea that] we have to accomplish this holding hands, essentially.” After one season of both cheering and playing for the Rifles in 2008, Kuz decided to quit football and shift his focus to developing his technique with the Outlaws. “Football was something that I wanted to pursue as a career, but once I realized that wasn’t going to happen, I decided I was going to transition that passion into something else,” the soon-to-be electrical engineering student explains. The shift from catching end-zone passes to catching girls is something almost all of the male Outlaws have in common. Dave Roncadin, a veteran of the Manitoba cheer scene and now one of Central Cheer’s most senior members, knows those physical realities all too well. After a career-ending injury, the former running back started cheering in high school and soon became a member of the Manitoba Association of Cheerleading Demo Team. He’s no stranger to the aches and injuries that come along with the passion. “If you play football, you’re wearing padding. In cheerleading, you’re throwing someone 20 feet up in the air and it’s bone on bone,” the 31-year-old says. “You take quite a beating doing it. I’ve gotten worse injuries cheerleading than I ever did in football.”

Kuz, two years in and totally immersed in the cheer community, sports head-to-toe Outlaws gear, shows off his own back flips for shots at the bar with his team and does his best to educate people about what competitive cheerleading is really about. “A big part of it is lack of knowledge. I think it’s a lot of not understanding what we actually do,” he says of the backlash and mocking that often occurs when he first tells someone about the sport. “When people hear cheerleading they think the Blue Bomber cheerleaders, but that’s not what we do.” Unlike a dance team, competitive cheerleading requires teams to develop a unique, choreographed two-and-ahalf-minute routine that includes mandatory elements such as stunting, tumbling, jumping and dance to a mash-up of music and sound effects. Adding more guys to the mixed team that includes around 18 girls has allowed the Outlaws to be more competitive with the other three 18+ teams in the province. “You can have more people in the air,” Kuz’s girlfriend and fellow Outlaw Brittany Johnson muses. “You’re able to push your team further with more boys.” The seasoned 22-year-old’s passion has been cheering since junior high and she can feel the difference more guys make in practice and in competition, as she also competes with Central Cheer’s all-female senior team, the Green Jackets. “It’s fun to be on the co-ed team. It’s easier to do bigger, higher stunts. It’s a little bit more rambunctious, a little more high-energy. They’re generally focused, but it’s what you imagine. Boys will be boys,” she laughs. Y

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STARTiNg FROM SCRATCH i

Meera Bahadoosingh suffered a massive stroke at age 26, forcing her to leave her job as a TV reporter while she learned to walk again. This is the story of how she rebuilt her life.

have never been a great cook, but I can make an awesome turkey chili from scratch. First, I chop up green peppers, onions and mushrooms, then I season the meat with spices, garlic and hot sauce. One night, I was making dinner and as the oil in the pan started to simmer, I smelled smoke. I had no idea where it was coming from. After a few seconds, I looked down and realized that my right hand was on the element and it was burning. I could smell it, but I couldn’t feel it. Numbness in my right hand was one of the after-effects of my stroke. I also had problems walking and when I got tired, the left side of my face would droop. At the time, I thought my body–and my life– would never be the same. Before the stroke, my daily routine was pretty rigid. I would wake up and brush my teeth before jumping into the shower, then listen to the morning news while getting dressed. But the morning of Feb. 18, 2009 was different. I woke up and felt really nauseous. The room was spinning. It was really hard to get out of bed. So I laid back down, hoping the feeling would pass. A few minutes later, I kicked off the blankets and hopped out of bed. My knees buckled and I fell back down. I managed to stumble into the

sanDbox | summer 2010

shower, but I was so disoriented that I couldn’t stand up. I sat there hoping the hot steamy water would wake me up. It only seemed to make things worse. I managed to get myself back to my bedroom and tried to get dressed for work. I lifted up one leg to put on my pants, but I couldn’t keep my balance and kept falling over. I finally gave in to the fact that something was seriously wrong and went to the emergency room. I was admitted to the hospital and subjected to a series of tests every 15 minutes. They looked at my eyes and made me touch my finger to my nose, walk in a line and squeeze their hands. After an hour, I was taken by ambulance to another hospital for more tests. I had a CT scan, MRI and angiogram. Then, the results came back. The doctor told me I had suffered a stroke. I had torn an artery at the back of my brain and the blood clot that healed over it got loose and cut off the circulation. I was put on an intravenous blood thinner immediately to break up the clot. The shock didn’t hit me until weeks later: I had a stroke and I could have died. I spent a week in the hospital under constant care, with regular blood tests every few hours. After I was released, my doctor suggested that I enroll in a stroke recovery pro-

gram at the Riverview Health Centre. I had suffered a few long-term effects, such as balance problems and loss of sensation in my hand and this would give me a chance to work on them with professionals. I decided to give the program a chance. I remember getting to Riverview and being impressed with the facility. It was beautiful, spacious and didn’t really feel like a hospital. I met my physiotherapists, speech therapist and occupational therapist. I was told I would see them five days a week to work towards getting back to my old self. I was satisfied with my decision to go there–that is, until I had to eat lunch for the first time with the other patients. Even though we were all in wheelchairs or using walkers, I was the youngest person by 30 years. The majority of the patients had more significant long-term effects. Some couldn’t talk or even feed themselves. A stroke has the power to even change a person’s personality. I looked over and saw one older man drooling on himself and staring off into space. My heart broke and I started to cry. Then, I got angry. I didn’t belong here. I wanted to leave. Through my next month of treatments, I eventually lost the need for my wheelchair, then, my walker. I could feel myself getting stronger

Photos by Janine KroPla.

every day. By the following week, I was able to leave the grounds on a day pass. My friends and family would pick me up and take me out for a few hours. It was nice to go to a restaurant or to the mall and forget about what happened. Four months after my stroke, I was healthy enough to return to work as a full-time reporter. I was very nervous that my skill set would have changed, but luckily that part of my brain wasn’t affected. My bosses and coworkers were great at getting me back up to speed. I felt as though I hadn’t missed a beat. Although the problems with my balance, hand sensation and droopiness in my face have all disappeared, so have parts of my confidence. Deep down, I wonder if people notice that I slur my words when I’m tired or that on a “bad day” I get winded from walking up a few flights of stairs. But what I’ve come to realize is now I’m part of a bigger “survivorhood.” Whether it’s cancer, diabetes, or multiple sclerosis, there are millions of people walking around with a story, just like mine. It’s not fighting for your life that’s the hard part, it’s living every day after the battle. It’s the biggest challenge, but one that makes you stronger in the end. Email us at mail@sandboxmag.com if you know someone with a “Life Story”. Y

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sanDbox | summer 2010

body love four real Women Consider What they loVe most about their flaWed, beautiful bodies—for no other reason than to Celebrate What their mamas gaVe them.

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Photos by mattheW KristJan. this Page: hair by haley golin for berns & blaCK. maKeuP by daena groleau for fine eyes. folloWing Pages: hair

sandboxmag.Com 57medina and by roger guy lemieux. maKeuP by aimee Cardinell.

“i loVe my hair. it’s Curly and thiCK. it has a lot of Volume.” marianna santizo-lepe

sanDbox | summer 2010

â&#x20AC;&#x153;i loVe, loVe, loVe my legs. they are ridiCulously long and alWays one of the first things that Come uP in ConVersation. they maKe Wearing a sKirt or a dress Phenomenal.â&#x20AC;? tolu ilelaboye

â&#x20AC;&#x153;i Could say my eyes are my faVourite, beCause they get the most attention. but the real reason is: they are mine. i looK a lot liKe my mom, also liKe my dad and i get told i looK liKe my sister eVery day of my life. my eyes are the only thing that are mine and mine alone.â&#x20AC;? samantha JeWell

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by felix t. cat. photo by James VanDal.

PROU PROUD

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1. after a few months, you’ll be in the best shape you’ve ever been in. at times, i ache in places i didn’t even know existed, but it’s so worth it. i’m 10 times more flexible than i’ve ever been, and i used to figure skate. 2. any self-doubt you had prior to dancing will quickly melt away. you learn to rock what you’ve got and hold your head high. 3. human beings are interesting as all hell. you want to learn something about humanity? spend some time as a stripper, talking to the patrons. it’s almost like interactive people watching—everyone gives you a little, candid glimpse into their psyches. 4. Costumes! you get to spend stupid amounts of money on costumes, as if every day is halloween. 5. it pays better than subway.

sanDbox | summer 2010

PROUD TO BE GAY

6. it’s nice to be worshipped once in a while.

7. i’ve met some of the most solid, strong, amazing and intelligent women in the world through this job. if i could say i have a hero, it would be a dancer. 8. being able to do crazy shit on a pole is bloody awesome. end of story. i can climb 15 feet in the air and hang upside down and not crack my skull in two. 9. i can sleep until 2:30 p.m. every day. 10. i’m going to be able to pay my way through school and be debt free once i’m done. that’s really the winningest part of this whole roller coaster. felix T. Cat dances all over winnipeg, but you can usually find her at her favourite joint, s City (formerly sin City).

UD TO BE A FAMILY PROUD TO BE A WINNIPEGGER PROUD TO B

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