Winnipeg women winter 2013

Winter 2013

g n i v i G WOMEN winnipegmag.com

THE SPIRIT OF

TAKING CARE OF OUR COMMUNITY

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FROM THE CHEF What a Dish!

A side dish that is

FITNESS

Choosing Fitness for the Long Haul

DREAMSPACES Buying a Condo

It takes a village to raise a child.

Parents • Friends • Family • Neighbours • Teachers • Partners • Spouses

visit www.withchildwithoutalcohol.com to get tips and tools for an alcohol-free pregnancy

It’s time to rethink diesel.

With up to 30% better fuel economy than gas* and 15% more energy in every drop of fuel**, Audi TDI® clean diesel engines are not only incredibly efficient but surprisingly powerful as well. Making the intelligent choice has never been so easy.

Now available on the A8, A7, A6, Q7 and Q5 models.

Contact our Audi Brand Specialists and allow us to amaze you with a test drive today!

670 Century Street 204-788-1100

Winnipeg www.stjamesaudi.com

©2013 Audi Canada. *Based on the estimated fuel consumption rating, determined using Natural Resources’ Canada’s approved criteria and testing methods, for the 2014 Audi A8 NWB 3.0 TDI clean diesel with Tiptronic® automatic transmission of 5.3/100 km (highway) compared to 7.6L/100 km (highway) for the 2014 Audi A8 NWB 3.0 TFSI with Tiptronic® automatic transmission. Actual fuel consumption will vary based on driving conditions, driver habits and vehicle’s additional equipment. **Diesel fuel has 15% higher energy density by volume (approx. 36.9MJ/L compared to 33.7MJ/L). Source: European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, 2013. “Audi”, “A8”, “A7”, “A6”, “Q7”, “Q5”, “Vorsprung durch Technik”, and the four rings emblem are registered trademarks of Audi AG. “TDI” and “TDI clean diesel” are registered trademarks of Volkswagen AG.

Contents

WINTER 2013

14 FEATURES

14 Cover

The Spirit of Giving: Taking care of our community

20 Parenting

Monkey See, Monkey Do: Model values about alcohol to your kids

24 Local Assets

Passport Not Required: Let Global Kitchen be your guide

DEPARTMENTS

5 We Love 6 Ask the Expert

DISH

23 From the Chef 26 From the Cellar 28 Out to Lunch DREAMSPACES

30 Buying a Condo 33 Bigger isn’t Always Better 35 The New Neutral

13 Q&A 10 Fashion

26 WINNIPEGMAG.COM

22 Fitness 37 Chatterbox

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editor’s perspective

H

appy winter! I’m not sure where that came from, but I do know that despite not having command start on my car and the fact that I’m out of the house before the sun is even awake isn’t dampening my spirits. That’s most definitely a new view on the season for me.

With the holidays here and icy temps all around, we’ve taken the opportunity in our cover story to focus on the giving spirit of Winnipegers. This really is quite an amazing city when it comes to lending a hand or 10, and The Spirit of Giving lets you know how you can help.

Peruse our pages for what to wear to holiday gatherings, what drinks to mix up at a party, or where to go when you’re jonesing for a cozy table and a sinful dessert. Or find out what you need to know when buying a condo, and what the “must haves” are by way of colour on your walls when you’re ready to move in.

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Be responsible with what you portray to your children about alcohol.

I’d also like to take a moment to respond to an email I received recently, indicating that the reader felt that Winnipeg Women and Winnipeg Men were gender stereotyping based on our covers and content. While I understand that there may be people with that view, we try to celebrate that which makes us unique. We understand that men get breast cancer, that women are interested in luxury vehicles and even that anyone can enjoy decorating. I, for instance, wear dresses, have tattoos, can change my own oil and know my way around a tool bench. That’s the benefit of having a flip magazine, which represents both genders. While we feel it’s important to have the two separate sides of the magazine in a representation for both, it’s our hope that women will flip to the Winnipeg Men side and vice versa.

That all said, we encourage any comments on this or future issues of the magazine. Please don’t hesitate to contact us either through the website, or at editor@mediaedgepublishing.com.

From everyone at Winnipeg Women and Winnipeg Men magazine, we wish you safe and happy holidays, whenever you may be celebrating, and wonderful things for 2014.

Winnipeg The guide for living local

WOMEN

Winter 2013: Volume 14, Issue 4

EDITOR Alison Mintenko editor@mediaedgepublishing.com CONTRIBUTORS Amanda Thomas, Ian McCausland, Holli Moncrieff, Randy Sawatzky, Kathryne Grisim, Rob Thomas, Candice G. Ball, Annika M. Friesen, Rebeca Kuropatwa, Anrea Zaslov

Published by

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT MEDIAEDGE PUBLISHING INC. Robert Thompson robertt@mediaedge.ca MEDIAEDGE PUBLISHING INC. BRANCH MANAGER Nancie Prive nanciep@mediaedgepublishing.com SENIOR SALES EXECUTIVES Kari Philippot karim@mediaedgepublishing.com (204) 480-4426 Shannon Uhryniuk shannonu@mediaedgepublishing.com (204) 480-4407 SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER James T. Mitchell jamesm@mediaedgepublishing.com WEB DESIGNER Caleb MacDonald For inquiries contact: editor@mediaedgepublishing.com (204) 480-4400 Subscriptions Write or subscribe via our website: winnipegmag.com Winnipeg Women Magazine 531 Marion Street Winnipeg, MB R2J 0J9 (204) 480-4400 FAX: (204) 480-4420

MISSION STATEMENT

Winnipeg Women Magazine celebrates the diversity and accomplishments of Manitoban women and offers information and inspiration for personal and professional success.

Winnipeg Women Magazine is published four times a year by MediaEdge Publishing Inc; promotional copies are distributed free to selected areas in Winnipeg and throughout Manitoba. Reproduction in whole, or in part, is prohibited without written permission from the publisher. © MediaEdge Publishing Inc. 2013.

All rights reserved. Printed in Canada.

Canada Post Publication no. 40787580 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to the MediaEdge Publishing address shown above.

To preserve the editorial integrity of our magazines, MediaEdge Publishing follows strict editorial guidelines based on those set out by the Canadian Society of Magazine Editors. To read more on these guidelines, go to www.magazinescanada.ca, the website of Magazines Canada and head to the Advertising—Editorial Guidelines link under Advertising.

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Holiday Cheer The Jacques Bruére 2006 Cap Classique Cuvée Rosé Brut is a beautiful pale pink bubbly that will get the holiday cheer started the minute you pop the cork! Loaded with strawberry, raspberry, and citrus flavor this sparkler from South Africa’s Bon Courage Estate is the perfect pour to have with friends and family this season! $29.99. Available at Banville & Jones Wine Co., 1616 St. Mary`s Road

we love

y l e v o LGifts

Gourmet Gifts Fruit & Gourmet baskets made custom for any occasion, dressed up in cello wrap and a big bow. Seasonal Fresh Fruits pineapple, oranges, bananas, grapes, kiwi, red and green apples, nectarines, grapefruit, $49.99 and up. Gourmet Cheese & Crackers - Laughing Cow cheese, olives, antipasto, seasoning dips, assortment of crackers, bread sticks, $59.99 & up. Available at Balloon Empire & Floral Designs, 276 Aldine Street

Tropical Ginger Arrangement Tall one sided holiday arrangement includes red ginger, Leucodendrum, magnolia leaves, roses, winter greens and gold accents. Ginger is a tropical, proud and majestic flower. The ginger flower coveys diversity, tolerance and wealth. Its beauty provides a very unique and vibrant holiday design, $75 - $100 (prices may vary depending on size and quantity of flowers). Available at Ann’s Flowers & Gifts, 150-2025 Corydon Ave.

WINNIPEGMAG.COM

Cake Creations What better way to share a bit of sweetness this season than with mouth-watering cakettes? Cake mixed with butter cream and then dipped in chocolate, they are finished in white or milk chocolate and can be decorated in a couple different ways. Flavours available are chocolate, vanilla, red velvet, raspberry, chai spice, chocolate peanut butter, chocolate mint, coconut, mocha, and lemon, $1.50 each, $7.50 half dozen, $15/ dozen. Available at Cake-ology, 85 Arthur Street

Smells like the Holidays Made with vegan, skin loving ingredients including shea butter, coconut oil and olive oil, each bar is rich with naturally occurring glycerin. Blue Christmas is a wonderful mulberry scent, lightly accentuated with woods, spice, fruit and flowers to enhance the Christmas Spirit. Festival! Let’s celebrate the season with the tartness of spiced oranges, apples and cranberries!

This soap comes complete with a little green apple on top! Candy Cane is a custom candy cane-y scented with vanilla fragrant and peppermint essential oils.

Each bar $7, complete Christmas set $20.

Available at Soga Artisan Soaperie, 157 Chestnut Street

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Ask the Expert

Don’t Let a Bad Will Be Your Legacy AVOID COMMON PITFALLS WITH PROPER WILL DRAFTING

By Annika M. Friesen

P

lanning for death is a difficult task for many to consider.

However, it does not have to be daunting. If you take simple measures to plan your estate today, you can better ensure that the administration of your estate will go smoothly for your loved ones and that your ultimate wishes will be executed.

and rray

There are a number of common occurrences that happen time and again that thwart the usual administration of a person’s estate after her death. Estate litigation can be hostile and painful and can eat up a good chunk of an estate’s assets in legal fees.

Be aware of the following snares that can entangle your family after your death:

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1. Issues of will validity: Any interested person can challenge the validity of a will. These challenges are often based on whether the person who made the will (the “testator”) had the mental capacity to do so and/or whether the testator was unduly influenced by another person to change her will or make a new one. Such allegations put great strain on those involved after a loved one’s death, especially where family members are at odds over the validity of a will. Good legal advice is required to create a will that can withstand specious claims on this ground.

2.

Handwritten wills and changes: Handwritten wills (“holograph wills”) and handwritten changes are valid in Manitoba if they meet the requirements of The Wills Act. However, many questions can arise which may affect the validity of a holograph will and it may be necessary to have the court rule on its validity. Take measures now to ensure there is no question about the validity of your will and its content.

5.

Engage a lawyer in estate administration: Executors and administrators are tasked with administering a deceased’s estate, whether a will exists or not. They usually need legal advice and services to assist in the completion of estate work. The executor needs to be fully informed and have a good grasp on what he or she is undertaking.

Those with an interest in the estate (“beneficiaries”) are also supposed to be kept fully informed and sometimes need advice where an executor is not acting properly. Issues can arise whether the estate is big or small, but

are best handled by involving a lawyer from the outset.

In planning your legacy, do not leave the fate of your estate to chance. A lawyer with expertise in wills and estates can help you avoid the perils outlined above and limit the cost and stress on your loved ones after you are gone. Keep the points raised above in mind and be sure to discuss any potential issues you foresee with your lawyer.

Annika M. Friesen is an associate lawyer at Fillmore Riley LLP and can be reached at 204.957.8328 or afriesen@fillmoreriley.com.

Executors and administrators are tasked with administering a deceased’s estate, whether a will exists or not.

3. Ambiguous or problematic wording: When a person drafts her own will, ambiguous or problematic wording often causes headaches after death.

Sorting out the meaning of such wording can be complex and costly to the estate, especially if the matter needs to go to court for a ruling.

Engage a lawyer to ensure your intent is clear after you are no longer around to explain it.

4. P roper consideration of gifts to minors: Gifts to minors (in Manitoba, anyone under 18 is called an “infant” under estate law) are subject to special rules and laws that govern the management and control of monies that will be held in trust for persons until they reach the age of majority. Proper steps should be taken to protect the minor and the legal guardian of the minor’s property.

WINNIPEGMAG.COM

1120 Grant Ave www.octoberboutique.com WINTER 2013

7

Advertorial

Total Wrapture Medi Spa T

his spa is unique in offering the most sought after and trendsetting Spa and Medical Aesthetic Treatments. The highly trained technicians take their jobs seriously to provide their clients with excellent results. They don’t just perform skin treatments, but take a new approach to understanding your skin and customizing its needs.

Their Palomar Icon IPL/Laser is the newest technology on the market for treatments of hair reduction, photo rejuvenation, fractional resurfacing, stretch marks and acne treatments. Total Wrapture is proud to have invested in the first Palomar Icon in Manitoba with a Skintel™ melanin reader.

The Skintel™ provides an additional element of safety by

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Understanding how much melanin is in the skin is critical to providing safe and effective treatment outcomes, while minimizing the risk of overtreatment.

Beautiful skin begins with healthy skin and TWMS’s product lines, Image and Dermalogica Skin Care, are designed to increase and maintain outstanding results. Enhanced with potent antioxidants as well as Alpha and Beta hydroxy acids; these product lines will revive, regenerate, soothe and minimize the appearance of sun damage, age spots and wrinkles, with the added benefit of restoring your skin to its optimal health.

The Image skin care line is pharmaceutical grade and contains active ingredients such as Glycolic, Retinol and Stem Cells that penetrate the live tissue to stimulate collagen production and is paraben free, unlike over-thecounter products that only treat the surface of the skin and contain parabens.

With the Image skin care line, experience the most amazing peels for incredible results without taking a lot of your valuable time.

The peels will lighten, tighten and brighten in just one treatment.

For the time-compressed client, TWMS offer a Dermalogica targeted and effective treatment that addresses pressing skin concerns.

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WINTER 2013

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This treatment is done in 20 minutes at a budget friendly price of only $30.

TWMS also carries the full line of Moroccanoil body products.

Moroccanoil has been used in hair products for years but now is available in a line of innovative products with authentic ingredients that instantly replenish skin’s moisture, leaving it smooth and rejuvenated.

The shimmering body oil spray instantly infuses the skin with a nourishing blend of antioxidant-rich argan and sesame oils. After using one or more of the Moroccanoil products, your skin will thank you with the results being silky and smooth.

In addition to their Medical aesthetic services, they also offer make-up artistry and Micha lash enhancements. Micha is the latest trend in lash extensions and are extremely durable, water and heat resistant.

After mentioning all that this incredible trendsetting spa has to offer, we cannot exclude their boutique. They have the latest styles in handbags, scented soy candles, beautiful 14-18k goldplated jewelry that is price point friendly and spa gift certificates that everyone would love to receive.

TWMS also welcomes group bookings for those special occasions and can accommodate groups of up to 20 with advanced booking.

From the moment you enter this incredible atmosphere, your senses will instantly tune into relaxation. From the warm glow of the scented soy candles, to the cozy lounge where you are greeted with tasty treats and the soothing sound of the in-house waterfall, your mind will allow you to begin to unwind.

Whether you are looking for a relaxing spa experience or a result driven Laser or Skin Treatment…

Total Wrapture Medi Spa has it all.

Call us today at 204.837.9727 to book your FREE consultation.

WINNIPEGMAG.COM

WINTER 2013

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P E E H S K C A L B E H T BE

Fashion

 Navy knit cardigan

by Dept with a wool Aztec inspired print, navy jeggings

by Denimocracy, wide strapped cami from Niki Biki, navy riding boots by Volatile.

Red Niki Biki peacoat with gold and black button detailing, cream sequined BB Dakota sweater, Henry & Belle tan corduroy pants, Niki Biki thin strap cami in tan, tan volatile boots.

Clothes provided courtesy of

Black Sheep Boutique 7-1170 Taylor Avenue 204.475.9114 blacksheepboutique.ca

Models: Tracy Chernick and Michaela Lalonde

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STEP

OUT

IN ST YLE

Silver metallic blazer by Dept.

James & Joy, purple dolmen sleeve top, Henry & Belle indigo skinny jeans, tan volatile shoe-booty, black and gold phone pouch by Supertrash.Â

Black and silver open cardigan

by BB Dakota, Kut silver sequin top with mesh detailing, black coated denim pants by Supertrash.

WINNIPEGMAG.COM

WINTER 2013

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Fashion

Beige and brown snake print peplum dress by Niki Biki.Â

Black Supertrash dress with silver detailing, BB Dakota black multi- oloured faux fur vest, dark grey volatile boots.

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Q&A

Marcy Markusa found everything she wants right here

Local Love M

arcy Markusa has been a fixture on CBC airwaves for over a decade and her passion for local news shines bright. An excellent interviewer, selfproclaimed foodie and enthusiastic Winnipegger, Markusa is right where she always wanted to be.

Q: You’re a born and raised `Pegger!

What is the main connection that has kept you in Winnipeg?

Well here I have found the job of my lifetime and the love of my life and I feel very fortunate for that. Winnipeg is my home and I’ve never been a person that has been anxious to live somewhere else, but when you’re a journalist, ambition can take you to another city. Somehow, I’ve been able to find my dream job within CBC while staying in the place I was raised. Plus, I get to have my yard and my garden here, and walk my dog, and be five minutes from work, in a city I love, and I don’t think you could have that in other places.

Q: What is the most memorable event your career in media has allowed you to be a part of?

WINNIPEGMAG.COM

I would say without a doubt the flood of 1997. It was one of those stories where you don’t realize how significant it was until you look back on it. I was a young reporter working in southern Manitoba, so I covered all of the small towns and how they were affected. I reported from both ground level and in a plane and I was able to see the flood develop from those viewpoints. I literally saw water wiping out people`s homes and when the army was sent out and people were displaced, it was surreal, the kind of thing you don’t expect to cover in Manitoba, in the place you live. It taught me a lot about perseverance, people and community.

Q: Is there one thing that stands out that you were proud to report on?

Every day I am proud to report, mostly because I am continually amazed that people will open up and be honest about their stories. I interviewed a 73-year-old lady named Agnes, who shared her story with me. She couldn’t read for her whole life and she said she felt like a con artist.

But at 73 she decided to learn to read.

For me when you share a story like that it shows people that it’s never too late, and it allows people to know they can overcome things. Those stories make me feel proud,

By Amanda Thomas

and you can measure the impact of that and how it affects people. Now Agnes speaks at schools to encourage kids to learn to read. When I first met her I had to convince her to go on the radio because she thought her story wasn’t worth it. And seeing the snowball effect of that, and her courage, that makes you proud.

Q: What’s been your greatest lesson as a woman in a professional world?

To grow a thicker skin. To be able to handle criticism for what it is and make sense of what it means for you professionally. And as a journalist you’re always going to face a lot of opinions and criticisms and in the beginning it was hard for me, because I’m an emotional person and I feel things. But that’s a positive attribute to my job which I would never want to give up because I connect with people and their emotions and stories every day.

Q: Winnipeg’s best restaurant is...

This is the death knell question because I am a foodie. There’s so many but I`m going to go with Pizzeria Gusto on Academy. It feels urban, it’s loud and the food is consistently good. It’s the first place I had ever had fig jam on a flat bread pizza and now I’m addicted.

WINTER 2013

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g n i i v G

Cover Story

THE SPIRIT OF

By Candice G. Ball

TAKING CARE OF OUR COMMUNITY

T

here’s nothing like a cold Winnipeg winter and the holiday season to separate the haves from the have-nots.

For some that could mean not being able to afford to dress their kids in appropriate winter clothing for the bone-chilling temperatures. For others that could mean going to bed on an empty stomach.

Fortunately, Winnipeggers are a generous bunch, both with their time and their money. They consistently strive to help the less fortunate and that spirit of giving is particularly evident during the holiday season.

From gathering up winter clothing for kids and donating toys, to creating Christmas hampers with ingredients for festive meals, Winnipeggers pay it forward.

It would be impossible to capture all the ways in which they give back and support their community, but there are some programs that have a huge impact on thousands of people. Winnipeg Women will shine a spotlight on these organizations and initiatives and tell you how you can make a difference.

Christmas Cheer Board Dating back to 1919, a number of Winnipeg churches founded the Cheer Board with the intent of providing Christmas hampers and toys to the widows and orphans of the soldiers who died during World War One. This year will mark the 95th Christmas the Cheer Board has been providing food hampers and toys to those who are less fortunate in Winnipeg. There are two different request lines: one is for people who are on Employment and Income Assistance and the other is for people who are just struggling to make ends meet.

There are about 4,000 hampers that are done through the Feed-a-Family program, which involves making and delivering a hamper to a family in need. Both individuals and organizations can register and the Cheer Board will provide information about the family. The individual or organization does all the shopping, wrapping and delivering of the hampers.

There are literally thousands of volunteers that commit to bringing Christmas cheer to those in need. In the warehouse alone, there are a couple hundred regular volun-

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teers who come in and do part- to full-time hours leading up to the holidays. There are about 1,000 school children who come in to pack up the hampers and then there are thousands of people who deliver.

“There are very few people in this wonderful city who don’t have some connection to the Christmas Cheer Board,” says Linda Grayston, donation officer at the Cheer Board. “Whether that’s dropping some coinage off in one of our collection boxes or bringing in a can of food to work to contribute to a hamper, there are very few people the Christmas Cheer Board doesn’t touch.”

To volunteer or find out ways you can help, visit www.christmascheerboard.ca or call 204-669-5369 (year-round) or 204-9895680 (November 4 - December 30).

United Way’s Koats for Kids (Photos by Doug Little) As the mercury drops, the need for winter clothing for children whose families can’t afford it becomes dire. Koats for Kids, which has been a Winnipeg institution since 1989, strives to meet that need so no child has to endure a winter without being protected from the elements.

The program runs from October to February every year. Donna Albak, the program manager for Koats for Kids, estimates that about 400 volunteers make the program happen each year, generating over 2,000 volunteer hours. A corporation, for instance, may send employees down to do a volunteer shift that involves sorting of the clothing during company time.

The Koats for Kids’ media partners promote the program and run public service announcements to get the word out that kids’ winter wear is needed and Perth’s washes all donated clothing.

In 2012, they washed about 6,500 coats and those coats ultimately kept many children warm last winter.

How is the need determined? It’s often a teacher, case worker or social worker who puts in orders for coats for children in need through the United Way website. “You meet a lot of caring, wonderful teachers and social workers who are out there trying to keep children warm,” says Albak.

How can you help? There is always a need for donations, including coats, ski pants, mitts and scarves. You can drop off gently used children’s winter wear at any WFPS Fire Hall, Perth’s or AMJ Campbell Van Lines. To learn more about Koats for Kids, visit http://unitedwaywinnipeg.ca/impact/koats-for-kids/

WINNIPEGMAG.COM

WINTER 2013 MLC 19498

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Cover Story Winnipeg Harvest Without Winnipeg Harvest, many Winnipeggers would go hungry this holiday season. Since Winnipeg Harvest opened its doors in 1985, the organization has been a lifeline for Manitobans who are struggling.

Each month on average, 60,229 Manitobans receive food from food banks. Nearly half are children. Over the last year, Winnipeg Harvest moved more than 11 million pounds of food through their warehouse. How does Winnipeg Harvest sort and move that volume of food to more than 350 agencies (including soup kitchens, food banks and youth programs)?

Volunteer power.

“Last year we had more than 23,000 volunteers,” says Kate Brenner, Director of Development at Winnipeg Harvest.

“That includes school children, professionals and many of the people who volunteer are also our clients. That’s how they give back.”

It adds up to more than 315,000 volunteer hours—or the equivalent of 150 full-time jobs.

“You can easily see that there’s no way in the world we could operate this organization without our volunteers.”

Winnipeg Harvest does do about 300 to 400 additional Christmas hampers for people who fall through the seasonal cracks or who may not qualify for hampers with other programs. They also do their best to address any additional needs partner agencies such as Siloam Mission, Union Gospel Mission or Agape Table may have during the holiday season.

Winnipeg Fire Department’s and Salvation Army’s Toy Mountain The Winnipeg Fire Fighters do more than put out fires and save lives. They are an incredibly giving, community-minded bunch.

So it should come as no surprise that Toy Mountain was the brainchild of the late firefighter George Smith.

Toy Mntain, which is now a partnership between the Winnipeg Firefighters and the Salvation Army, is an effort of collecting and distributing new toys for underprivileged children.

“Last year was a record year,” says Bob Wright, the chair of Winnipeg Firefighters Support Group. “We collected 25,000 new, unwrapped toys.”

In addition to collecting the toys, the Winnipeg Fire Department puts on a pancake breakfast at The Salvation Army on December 7, feeding up to 1,200 children and adults.

How can you help? You can donate food, time or money. “Food is obviously valuable,” explains Brenner. “And time is money. We could not operate without all our volunteers helping us out.

You can also donate money. The beauty of dollars is because we have such an incredible volunteer force which keeps our operating costs down, for every dollar we receive we can distribute $20 worth of food.”

To learn more about how to donate or how to become a volunteer, visit http://winnipegharvest.org/ Those are just a few of the programs that show how Winnipeggers take care of their own. There are plenty of other programs fuelled by the energy and generosity of volunteers.

There are also random acts such as the Winnipeg Transit driver who literally gave his shoes of his own feet to a barefoot man in downtown Winnipeg.

It may be cold outside but many Winnipeggers hearts are warm and generous this holiday season.

Around December 20, the distribution of the toys begins and parents who have registered come down to select toys for their children. “It’s a real emotional time. It’s very humbling to see some of the parents get down on their knees to thank you,” says Wright. “When some of the ladies do the Toy Mountain handouts, most end up crying because some of the sad stories you hear.”

How can you help? You can drop off new, unwrapped toys at any fire station or at the Salvation Army.

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Whether you’re looking for the perfect gift for family or a friend, the gifts below are sure to be a hit with anyone on your list.

Mordens’ of Winnipeg Candy Manufacturing Ltd. Since 1959 Russian Mints This holiday season give the gift of love with Mordens’ World Famous Russian Mints & Chocolates. A great hostess gift for all families.

674 Sargent Ave. 204783-4551 or visit us at mordenschocolate.com

WINNIPEGMAG.COM

Lola Boutique Trollbeads

FortWhyte Nature Shop Natural Cedar Hopper Bird Feeder

FortWhyte Nature Shop Canadian Shield Rock Jewellery

Every story has a bead. Let your Trollbeads tell the most meaningful stories of your life.

The Trollbeads Winter 2013 collection features hearts, snowmen, sparkling stars and captivating glass. Beads starting at $33.

11 - 2090 Corydon Avenue, 204-896-5652

Handcrafted in Manitoba, these easy-fill cedar hopper feeders have a large capacity and will protect seed from wind and rain.

Will attract most feeder birds, including grosbeaks, sparrows, chickadees, jays, and much more! $33.95.

1961 McCreary Road, 204-989-8355, www.fortwhyte.org

Share the beauty of the Canadian Shield. Handcrafted from genuine diamond drill core samples, each necklace is a unique and original work of art.

Starting at $45.

1961 McCreary Road, 204-989-8355, www.fortwhyte.org

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00

A MONTH

Visit your nearest MTS Connect store for details. mts.ca General Conditions: Unlimited local calling applies to calls made in a Canadian local calling area to a local Canadian phone number. Limited time offer and subject to change. Price of plans reflects fixed monthly access fee only. Price does not reflect hardware activation fee or any usage above chosen plan. Unless otherwise indicated, unlimited text messaging is available only in Canada and to wireless devices that have been activated with a Canadian carrier. The transport of picture and video messaging will use the data included in your smartphone plan. Data included in plans available in Manitoba only (Canadian data usage above 400 MB is 25¢/MB; US data roaming charged at $3/MB). Unlimited data use is subject to our excessive use policy – see mts.ca/excessiveuse for details on our network management practices. Trade-marks: Samsung Galaxy S4, Galaxy S4 Mini, and Note 3 images © 2013 Samsung Electronics Canada Inc. All rights reserved. Samsung is a registered trademark and Samsung Galaxy S4 and Samsung Galaxy Note 3 are trademarks of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., used with permission. Screen images simulated. BlackBerry® is the property of BlackBerry Limited and is registered and/or used in the U.S. and countries around the world.

Used under license from BlackBerry Limited. MTS design mark is a registered trade-mark of Manitoba Telecom Services Inc., used under license.

Parenting

MONKEY SEE, MONKEY DO MODEL VALUES ABOUT ALCOHOL TO YOUR KIDS

By Rebeca Kuropatwa

E

ven before you begin discussing alcohol with your kids, there is modeling. Your children are observing how you act with and around alcohol, probably before either of you even realize it.

“All kids start off learning through imitation of what they see,” said Roxane Sarrasin, Addictions Foundation Manitoba (AFM), program supervisor for the AFM Youth Community Based program.

LoLa Boutique Jon Klar Jewellery Hand-made in Canada.

11-2090 Corydon Ave 896-5652 20

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“They see how parents and others behave around alcohol, so even then, you’re already sending a message around alcohol use. So, it’s very important to be aware of what our use looks like – if we’re a good example/model,” said Sarrasin.

At this point too, your particular family values play a role. “If, in your family, you use alcohol, then the model you’re offering to your children should be responsible alcohol use. If you choose in the family not to use alcohol, then that’s a conversation you have with your children as they’re growing up,” she continued.

After modeling responsible use comes talking about alcohol. And the best time to do this is when your children are ready to listen – which, typically, is when they ask you about it.

As parents, it is also important to be teaching responsible hosting, making sure there are alcoholic as well as nonalcoholic drinks for people to choose from at gatherings.

The subject of alcohol use in our children is something almost every parent will have to deal with – questions like What age should I start educating my child WINNIPEGMAG.COM

about alcohol; how much should I tell them; what is the best way to go about it; and what do I do if I find out my child has been drinking alcohol?

be geared around what is happening in your life around alcohol and according to the young person’s ability to process information.

“There’s definitely opportunity to talk to children in their pre-teen years, but it has to be in a natural, teachable moment when the topic comes up,” said Sarrasin.

“If your children talk about it – ask questions about alcohol – it’s a good time to discuss it.”

“Try to avoid forbidding alcohol, or anything else for that matter, as it typically makes it all the more attractive,” said Sarrasin.

The information you provide your young people with concerning alcohol should be factual and age appropriate. “It’s also important to listen to their questions – not to give too much information – being age appropriate in a very natural, teachable moment,” she said.

Young people may have heard about alcohol through a friend or they might bring up the subject because it is present in the home. The discussion needs to

“As for what age, you have to look at your child’s maturity, there’s no formula that fits everyone. We don’t want to give alcohol to children for a number of reasons. Apart from it being illegal if they’re under 18, alcohol is considered a drug and you don’t want to be giving drugs to a growing body.

“But, there is natural curiosity kids have, as well as, in adolescence, the natural desire to fit in, have fun, and experiment.

Often, that’s where the curiosity ends, but sometimes, kids develop problems due to alcohol involvement.”

“IF YOU’VE BEEN TALKING WITH YOUR CHILDREN THROUGHOUT THEIR LIFE AND THAT’S A HABIT, THEN IT’S EASIER TO EXPRESS CONCERN ABOUT CERTAIN BEHAVIOURS, LIKE ALCOHOL USE”

Whenever a young person under the age of 18 is using alcohol, it is a flag to be reasonably concerned.

If you suspect your young person is using alcohol, have a conversation with them to express your concern and explore whether or not it is an issue (i.e. if it is just experimentation, curiosity, or if there is more to it).

Be attentive to your child’s life and any behavioural changes, such as grades, attendance, or attitude toward school, unusual mood swings or increased defiance, dramatic peer group changes, physical changes, etc. From these signs, you can get a sense of whether or not something of concern may be happening with your young person.

But, the first step is talking.

“If you’ve been talking with your children throughout their life and that’s a habit, then it’s easier to express concern about certain behaviours, like alcohol use,” said Sarrasin. “Remember, not all children using alcohol have a problem and this problem doesn’t develop overnight.”

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Parents wanting more information can contact the AFM office (200 Osborne St, 204-944-6235).

An intake worker can schedule an appointment with the parent referring the child to AFM and the young person needing to agree (voluntarily) to go.

Typically, the young person goes to the appointment on their own and the counsellor gives recommendations to the parent. AFM also offers family therapy, where families can get therapy with or without their child.

In Sarrasin’s unit, specifically, counsellors can see the young people in the AFM office or via their outreach positions (in partnership with Manitoba Justice and with Child and Family Services).

Besides this option and the family therapy option, Sarrasin’s AFM department also runs a monthly (excluding July) parent program – a four-evening program where they speak with parents about young people using (i.e. signs and strategies of use).

For more information, visit www.afm. mb.ca or www.betheinfluence.org.

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fitness

Choosing Fitness for the

Long Haul Written by Jason Penner; BESS, NSCA-CSCS

Aspire Fitness, 3501 McGillivray Blvd, 204-832-0328 www.aspirefitness.ca

I

t has often confused me why people choose physical activity they don’t enjoy just because they think it’s good for them, the old adage that “If it tastes horrible it must be good for you” for some reason has made its way over to exercise. It’s simple: if you enjoy doing something you’re more likely to stick to it.

When it comes to living a healthy life, adherence is king. Little bouts of exercise don’t do anything for you in the long run. Exercising for a month, six weeks, 90 days or whatever isn’t the ticket to a life full of the joys of being healthy.

These little flings with different programs or different activities might be what you enjoy, and if that’s

the case good on you. It’s the people who are doing these stretches of activity because they think it’s good for them and falling off the bandwagon that are destined to fail.

Let’s take a look at what makes a fitness regime successful. In my humble opinion it comes down to three main factors: enjoyment, convenience and progression. Let’s dive into the first factor, enjoyment. By choosing activities you truly enjoy you will go into it with enthusiasm and excitement.

And time will fly by. I liken it to a class in school you loved vs. a class that you didn’t enjoy. The loved class usually ended too soon while during the less than enjoyed class the clock seemed to defy all known laws of time. The second important factor is convenience. Keep it simple. If it’s a simple walk down the street or a quick bus ride, there are fewer obstacles in your way than if you had to take 20 minutes (each way) out of your day just to get to the gym. This of course can be solved by making it a part of your regular schedule. Many people will go to the gym before work, shower and get their day going. When choosing healthy activities keep schedule in mind as it can be the difference of sticking to it or letting it fall to the wayside.

The third factor is progression. Making even the smallest of gains will help keep you motivated and coming back for more. Gains don’t have to be huge leaps and bounds; progression of any size is key.

Let this guide your way when choosing new fitness activities. The satisfaction of being able to get to the top of the stairs without losing your breath can be just as rewarding as running a marathon.

If you take away anything from this article I hope it’s this: do what you love. Don’t try to force fitness on yourself, it is a recipe for disaster. Instead, keep it fun and fresh and you will see success.

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WINNIPEGMAG.COM

From the Chef

What a Dish!

A side dish that is

Brussels Sprouts & Butternut Squash with Bacon Vinaigrette

D

uring the holidays we tend to focus on the main courses and neglect the side dishes. If you want your meal to be remembered, try this amazing side dish. It’s full of so much flavour that it might become your go-to side dish for special occasions.

It can be made without bacon if you prefer.

By Rob Thomas INGREDIENTS

6 oz. Thick-cut bacon slices, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch pieces 1

Shallot, finely chopped

1 t

Chopped fresh thyme

4 T Olive oil Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

2 T Cider vinegar

1 1/2 lb. Brussels sprouts, trimmed and cut in half

1 T Firmly packed light brown sugar 1 t Grainy dijon mustard

1 Butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cut into 3/4-inch dice

DIRECTIONS

1

2

3

oss T the butternut squash in olive oil, salt and pepper (not the four tablespoons of olive oil from the recipe).

Spread the pieces on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and roast at 375 F for 20 minutes, (cooked it should be soft like a baked potato) remove from the oven and keep warm.

4

5

I n a sauté pan over medium heat, cook the bacon until browned and crispy. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.

Save two teaspoons of bacon fat in the pan, discard the rest. dd the shallot to the A remaining fat in the pan and sauté over medium heat until tender, let cool

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I n a small bowl, whisk together the vinegar, brown sugar, mustard, thyme and shallot, whisk in the olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Set the vinaigrette aside.

M eanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the Brussels sprouts and cook until just tender (two minutes). Drain Brussels sprouts and add them to a large bowl, then add the crispy bacon and roasted butternut squash, followed by the vinaigrette.

T ransfer to a casserole dish and cover. Keep warm in the oven until ready to serve. Serves six to eight.

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Local Assets

Passport Not Required

By Holli Moncrieff

LET GLOBAL KITCHEN BE YOUR GUIDE

Y

ou don’t need a passport to experience some of the finest cuisine the world has to offer. You could just watch Global Kitchen.

The new cooking mini-series, aired on MTS TV, pairs award-winning Selkirk chef Mary-Jane (MJ) Feeke with world traveller Kit Muir. Although she’s only 17, Muir has already visited more countries than most people will in a lifetime, including Africa, France, Chile, Iceland and Turkey.

I’m inspired more and more by other cultures and the way they do things,” says Feeke. “Food is such an integral part of their day. Here, we tend to take food for granted. It’s not an experience like it is in other countries.”

Feeke, who has taught baking at Red River College and Kildonan East Collegiate, found the cooking class style of Global Kitchen to be a perfect fit for her skills.

“I’ve always thought of myself as a teacher in the kitchen, so this came very naturally to me,” she says. “I want to teach people about food and make them realize how much Manitoba has to offer.

As much as we’re talking about travelling in the show, we’re also bringing it home.

Manitoba is an amazing place to live because we can afford to get away but then we also get to come home to this great lifestyle.”

The two co-hosts share travel tales and favourite flavours from around the world.

The four-episode series features food from France, Chile, Singapore and Egypt.

Being on television was a completely new experience for Muir, a tourism management student at Université de SaintBoniface.

“I had to learn a lot, but it has been amazing getting to work with all these people. It’s an incredible life experience,” she says. “It’s been interesting to see what flavours go best together, and how to use local ingredients in these really exotic recipes.”

Feeke was born in Selkirk. Soon after graduation, she travelled to South Africa on a Rotary exchange. While she was there she had the opportunity to receive culinary training at a Swiss-run hotel.

Shortly after returning to Canada she opened up Benjamin’s Gourmet Foods as a catering operation in Selkirk. Today the business includes a banquet facility, a coffee shop and a retail store.

She has served on two Canadian Culinary Olympic teams and is a Red Seal Chef and Red Seal Baker.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to travel a lot in my life, and every time I go away,

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Croissants

INGREDIENTS: DOUGH: 4 cups all-purpose flour, divided 3 tablespoons sugar 1⁄2 teaspoon salt 1⁄4 cup lukewarm water 1 cup milk 1⁄2 cup heavy cream 2 (.25 ounce or two 1⁄4 teaspoons per package) packages active dry yeast 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1 and 1⁄2 cups unsalted butter, at room temperature

Local Assets In one of the episodes, Muir reminisces about her trips to France, where there’s a pâtisserie on every corner. Feeke teaches Muir how to make French pastry and reveals the secret to her own ham and cheese-stuffed croissants that people drive for miles to enjoy. In exchange, Muir teaches Feeke a few French phrases.

Global Kitchen is the first program of its kind to be made in Selkirk and is available as part of MTS TV’s Stories From Home.

MTS approached local TV producer Shirley Muir (Kit’s mom) to see if she had

any programming ideas. Muir created the idea for the show and her team was shooting Global Kitchen a month later.

“The best lesson I can give to everybody is to pick something you love to do. If you don’t enjoy it, you’re going to have a hard time with the hours, but if you love it, you’ll go to work enjoying it everyday of your life,” says Feeke.

The cooking lessons are available on MTS TV on demand and all the recipes are posted online on Feeke’s website at www.benjaminsgourmetfoods.com.

FILLING: 2 cups ham 2 cups shredded cheese 1⁄2 cup mayonnaise Egg wash: 1 egg 1 tablespoon water DIRECTIONS: Preheat oven to 425°F. DOUGH: Measure flour, sugar and salt into mixing bowl. Heat milk, cream and water to lukewarm in saucepan (not too hot so it doesn’t kill the yeast). Add yeast to warm liquid mixture, stir to dissolve.

Add warm liquid to dry ingredients.

Knead/mix until it forms a soft dough.

Cover with Saran Wrap and chill.

BUTTER: To prepare butter, cut butter vertically into 1/2 inch thick pieces.

Place six pieces on parchment paper in the centre forming a rectangle. Pound butter rectangle with rolling pin for 30 seconds, and then put butter rectangle in the fridge.

LAMINATION (ROLLING) PROCESS: Roll out dough into a rectangle three times the size of the rectangle of butter, place butter in centre, fold dough over butter and enclose. Roll out into a rectangle and allow to rest for 20 minutes.

Repeat the rolling process (or turn) three more times.

FILLING: Prepare filling by mixing ham, cheddar cheese and mayonnaise in a small bowl and set aside.

ASSEMBLY: To prepare croissants for baking, cut the dough into two long strips and place the filling in the centre of each strip. Pull up the sides to enclose the filling, pinch tops together and roll over. Cut strips into equal size pieces and place on baking pan.

EGG WASH: In a small bowl, mix egg and milk together to make egg wash.

Brush tops of croissants with egg wash.

Bake filled croissants at 425°F for 20 minutes.

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25

From the Cellar

Tis the Season

By Randy Sawatzky

FOR DRINKS AND MERRIMENT

I

really like entertaining. My wife and I enjoy when a multitude of friends and family come over. I love cooking and they love eating, drinking and laughing. I’m not a huge fan of cleaning up, but our guests chip in, so it’s a win-win situation.

The holiday season is the perfect time to throw a party. Of course there’s work involved, but on a positive note, the house will be clean, you’ll have fantastic food in your fridge and hopefully everyone will bring a great bottle of wine. You’ll be set for at least a week… maybe.

Silverado Cabernet Sauvignon

(Napa, California; De Luca’s and The Winehouse) Lovely dark red colour with ripe black cherry, earth and dried herb aromas. It is medium to full body with dense fruit and oak flavours.

Chewy, but with balanced tannins.

Great gift idea.

Darnley’s View Gin (Scotland; MLCC; $39) is simply one of the best gins on the market! It’s a five time distilled small batch London Dry gin with six key botanicals, including juniper, elderflower and citrus.

Mix it with a martini or try a Red Snapper.

to be daunting, nor do you need to be a gourmet chef. All you need is a guest list comprised of people you really want to spend an evening with, some good food and a few bottles of festive cheer.

Make your event even easier by contacting some local caterers such as GJ Andrews (gjandrews. ca), Calabria Market or Shawn Brandson’s Fort Gibraltar (fortgibraltar.com). Fantastic people to deal with.

At the end of the day, keep it simple!

To help with your holiday entertaining I’ve compiled this collection of wonderful wines and spirits as well as fun and festive cocktails that are sure to get the party started. Most of the ingredients used in these cocktails are easy to find, and the instructions for creating them are very simple to follow.

Surround yourself with family and good friends. Enjoy the cold and snow. And have a Happy Christmas!

Quinta do Portal 10 year old Tawny Port (Portugal; MLCC and The

Winehouse; $42) is a blend of different wines aged in old casks for many years where they acquire the amber colour and turn the young rich fruit into elegance. It’s big yet balanced by fine acidity. It has developed aromas of caramel and cafe au lait, along with nutty flavours.

Trevo Vinho Verde (Portugal; MLCC and The Winehouse; $12) is a great light white wine. Think Perrier water with a bit of a kick. It’s a blend of Loureiro, Trajadura and Arinto grape varieties and has very fresh fruit with some tropical fruit and floral notes.

Dry and fresh with some complexity and persistence, enjoy as an apéritif, with seafood and sushi.

Mestis (Spain; MLCC; $19) is a delicious blend of Bobal, Tempranillo, Syrah, Cab Sauv and Merlot. It has an exotic aroma of espresso, black cherry, and blackberry. On the palate, spice notes and layered black fruits emerge on a smooth, savory and well balanced finish.

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From the Cellar

Mulled Tawny Port Ingredients 20 whole cloves 2 Clementines or small oranges 2 bottles Yali Cabernet Carménère wine 3 cups apple cider 2 cinnamon sticks 4 pinches nutmeg 2 cups Quinta Do Portal 10 year old Tawny Port

Red Snapper

Directions Press pointed end of 10 cloves into each Clementine.

Place Clementines, wine, apple cider, cinnamon sticks in a large pot. Bring to a simmer over low heat for 30 minutes. Do not boil.

Remove from heat; add the tawny port and cover. Serve warm and garnish glass with a cinnamon stick.

Sipping Sangaree

(aka Awesome)

(Chilled Mulled Tawny)

Ingredients 2 oz. Darnley’s View Gin

Ingredients 2 oz. Darnley’s View Gin

6 oz. Clamato

1/4 oz. Simple Syrup (boil 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup water over medium-high heat until sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat and let cool completely before using.

Refrigerate left overs)

Juice of half a lime 6 dashes Tabasco 3 dashes Worcestershire sauce 2 pinches coarse sea salt 2 pinches freshly ground black pepper Celery stick to garnish Directions Run a lime wedge around the rim of the glass and then dip the wet rim into the black pepper and sea salt. Shake all other ingredients over ice and strain into ice-filled glass.

WINNIPEGMAG.COM

1 oz. Quinta Do Portal 10 year old Tawny Port Directions Shake gin and simple syrup with ice and strain into a short glass or champagne flute.

Pour the port wine which will sink through the drink and mix, leaving a thin clear layer at the top. Garnish with a dash of nutmeg.

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Out Out to to Lunch Lunch

Café ce Soir Pink Banana Cream

Baby it’s

By Kathryne Grisim, The Media Chef www.foodmusings.ca

Cold Outside WARM UP WITH A DELECTABLE DESSERT

Dessert Sinsations diabetic torte

W

inter is upon us and the days of patios and flip flops have been left behind for the time being. Living in Winnipeg, we certainly get to enjoy the full range of seasons and winter is the best time to search out a cozy café and imbibe in a rich and creamy dessert. We need those extra calories to stave off the cold!

I have never attempted this pie at home but the recipe looks a lot to me like the manner in which my mom used to make lemon pies, where you fold the meringue right into the sweet citrus mixture. This would be the perfect choice when you feel as if you could not eat another thing, as it is light and clean tasting and as a result, almost makes you feel less full.

Yum.

BAKED EXPECTATIONS For 30 plus years, Baked Expectations has been a centre-pin on the Osborne Village dining scene. The old-school atmosphere has always been one of those “Hello neighbour! Pull up a chair and let me get you something…” kind of places. More recently their offerings include soups, salads, burgers, sandwiches and pastas, but in truth, I have only visited because of their famous sweet treats.

CAFÉ CE SOIR This past October, chef Tran at Café ce Soir invented an array of pink desserts to increase awareness and fund-raise for Women’s Cancer. Cam Tran, who is a member of Slow Food Canada, cleverly baked up a dense pineapple coconut cake, crowned it with ganache and edged it in raspberry crème. He then dubbed it Gateau Rochelle and shared a portion of the revenue with Cancer charities.

Although we did not have the space left in our tummies to sample it, his banana cream was a masterpiece to gaze upon.

I clearly remember the time, many years ago, that I first tasted their Shmoo Torte. Since then I have happily eaten my way through their Old Fashioned Chocolate Cake, Banana Cake and Carrot Cake.

With equal zest, my husband has tucked into their Caramel Pecan and Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cheesecakes. His favourite is and always has been, the German Chocolate Cheesecake.

On this visit, my eye caught sight of the Key Lime Pie in the display case.

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Owner and chef, Tran threw open the doors to his quaint little cafe in November 2012. The bistro has an unenclosed kitchen and the midday sun absolutely envelops those sitting near the south facing windows. The warmth seems impossible if you visit in the middle of winter. And so you should, because not only are his made from scratch desserts sensational, but so are the other samplings we could not resist on our visit: WINNIPEGMAG.COM

roasted beet salad, gnocchi and frog legs! Tran is quite obviously an accomplished pastry chef as well as being proficient with savory selections with a French influence. His on the job training was at the now-revamped La Vieille Gare, the place that many Winnipeggers first tasted French cuisine west of Quebec.

ings are pressed into the icing before it completely sets. A representative of the second generation of O’Hara’s explained to me that only Callebaut chocolate is used on premise because in their opinion, it is the very best chocolate available to them in Winnipeg.

So pull on those comfy boots, don a sweater, wrap up in a cozy scarf and DESSERT SINSATIONS head out to one of these three excelI have known one half of the Dessert lent cafes; for it is dessert eating time Sinsations’ team for decades, as we met in Winnipeg, a.k.a. winter! in the restaurant business years ago.

When my mom, sisters and I visit the Winnipeg Art Gallery, we often stop in for a late lunch or early dinner. The restaurant is a breeze to park at and then maneuver around which is a blessing, as our mom is wheelchair confined.

(RIGHT) The expansive window on two full Baked Expectations walls means that the room is less Red Velvet cozy and intimate than the two locales mentioned previously, (BELOW) but has a spacious and open feel Baked Expectations that is equally pleasant.

Best of all, Rich O’Hara and his wife Chef Barbara make their dessert offerings accessible to all. My mom is diabetic and often has to miss out on the desserts that she loves, but the café has a number of diabetic tortes made with Splenda and reduced sugar.

The last time I visited, the choice was a Vanilla Strawberry creation. Gluten sensitivities are also a considerable concern as of late and Dessert Sinsations can also accommodate these dietary needs.

They use gluten-free flour which does not interfere with the taste in the least.

Key Lime Pie

The Chocolate Chocolate Torte is beautifully assembled when two layers of chocolate chiffon smothered wedges of a deep and dense chocolate cake. After which a chocolate ganache is added and then Callebaut chocolate shav-

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westwood store & natural deli

now open 3500 portage ave

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Dreamspaces

BUYING W A CONDO

ith housing prices on the rise many people are looking at purchasing a condo as a way to break into the world of home ownership. But before you make the leap for that castle in the sky, there are a few things to learn.

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER

By Amanda Thomas

In almost all cases when you purchase a condo, you generally pay condo fees. What those fees cover differs depending on each building or condo complex so you need to look into what your specific arrangement will include.

Marty Maykut, the manager of StreetSide Developments, explains what is covered in most cases.

“The market continues to become more educated on condo fees, which are paid monthly. At times there are misconceptions of what is included in condo fees, specifically compared to a house. When you go through a condo operating budget you’ll see many costs that you’d pay for in a home such as building insurance, utilities, maintenance and upkeep, and common area utilities (hydro and gas) that are all typical costs but are just paid for collectively amongst owners, not directly to each company. Other condo fees are related to services and lifestyles that people enjoy such as common area amenities like gyms, pools and shared public space, and removing individual responsibility for snow clearing and landscaping.”

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Dreamspaces Snow removal, gym or pool facilities are all added bonuses that a condo lifestyle can provide. There’s also a sense of community when living in a condo. However, when you live in a community you share decisions and costs. Condo buildings have condo boards that are made up of unit owners, and the board meets as a group to discuss what the buildings needs are. For example a building can need a new roof or new flooring in the common areas. The condo board will meet and vote on when that new roof should be put in, and once that’s decided then the cost is split up evenly between all of the condo owners in the building, so that would be an added unexpected cost. In a lot of cases a condo building will have a reserve fund set up. A reserve fund is an account that each owner contributes to and it is used to help subsidize the cost of building repairs.

TOP 10 TIPS 1 Pick your desired location and visit the area to make sure you’re comfortable 2 Get the help of a realtor, it’s at no cost for the buyer

7 Look at comparable prices for units that have sold in the same complex

3 Consider the placement of the unit, try to avoid units beside the elevator or garbage room

8 Investigate if your unit comes with a parking space or storage unit

4 Find out what the monthly condo fees include and what’s in the reserve fund

9 Inquire about the age of the building

5 Crunch the numbers to make sure everything fits into your budget

Warmth Comfort and Love

... always in season.

Select from our exclusive collection of coats and jackets for men and women, as well as hats, slippers, mitts, gloves and much more.

250 Dufferin Ave. • 204-586-8097 www.worldofsheepskin.com

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6 Ask if there is visitor parking for guests

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10 Try to speak with current owners in the building and listen to their feedback

Lori Enns, a realtor for Royal LePage Prime, urges condo buyers to look in to what upcoming costs the condo board is anticipating.

“It’s important to see what the financials are for the building you’re looking at purchasing your condo unit in. Once you have made an offer on a unit you will receive a copy of the financials and the minutes from the condo board or management company. Then you will have 48 hours to look over what repairs are being discussed over the next year for the building. You will also get to see what amount is currently in the reserve fund. It’s beneficial to have a lawyer look over these documents because if you’re not happy with what’s stated you can withdraw your offer without losing your deposit and walk away from the property scot-free. That’s an added peace of mind when purchasing a condo rather than a single dwelling home.”

StreetSide Developments estimates that 600 or more condos have been built in the last year in Manitoba and that number is climbing.

Buyers of new construction condos should look at the developers experience and success with past projects. Also, when purchasing a newly constructed unit you can have more control of the features you’d like in the unit. If it’s a newly built building you should be able to pick what floor you’d like to live on and what direction you’d prefer your suite to face.

If you’re looking at an older condo building then you should try to speak with other owners in the building and listen to their feedback on what it’s like to live there and if there have been any problems with the condo management company or board in the past. With older construction buildings usually the reserve fund will have more contributions which can be helpful in the event there’s a repair needed down the road.

With this information in hand and our Top 10 Tips guide you should be ready to tackle the condo market and find your dream suite.

WINNIPEGMAG.COM

Dreamspaces

BIGGER

ISN’T ALWAYS

BETTER

By Anrea Zaslov

PROPER DESIGN IS THE KEY

A

re you procrastinating against organizing the clutter in your closets? Do you feel defeated?

Embarrassed? Do your clothes end up on the floor rather than the hanger? Take comfort in knowing there are affordable ways to maximize your space. There are informative individuals and resources available to assist you on your journey.

The Closet Design Guide for New Construction 2012 is valuable information for new home builders and for those looking to renovate existing space (www.

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organizedliving.com). It claims the newest and fastest growing storage systems are adjustable and utilize wire shelving with various accessories, ideal for changing storage needs while adding to the resale value of a property. A larger closet isn’t always the best way to go, a properly designed one is.

Though the above resource suggests wire organizing system as being the most popular, Harvey Boehlig, owner of Rosehill Woodcrafters Ltd, says this isn’t always the case with his customers. “Wire is not as popular because it leaves marks in clothes

when they lay on the wire,” says Boehlig, and after 20 years in the business, he knows what he`s talking about.

Boehlig says they can create fully custom cabinetry to fit closets, or modular systems which are semi-custom designs.

He says the modular systems are more popular because they are very reasonably priced. “We can do the melamine or wood closets and they are very customizable. We look at what the customer wants to organize and design from there.

We give them detailed drawings on our design and installation is very quick, but WINTER 2013

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Dreamspaces we do encourage professional installation by our trained installers as the closet systems are not designed to be installed by the average customer,” he says.

Taunia Grantham, sales and design consultant at Rosehill, agrees that the melamine systems are popular. The basic melamine shelving systems are the most popular, but a customer can upgrade to the other door options. “They are the most cost efficient and are available in many colours,” she says. “For example, for the door and drawer fronts, we have a wide variety of options including Oak, Maple, Cherry and Thermowrap. As a custom cabinetry shop, we can make most anything the customer would desire.”

Grantham says trends are to use as much of the closet space as you have rather than purchasing more dressers for bedrooms.

What are commonly asked for are his and her portions of the closet, such as smaller drawers for items such as jewellery, socks and undergarments. ``We have popular items such as side mounted tie racks that pull out to display multiple ties at a

time, belt racks, pull out hampers, pullout pant racks, pullout closet mirrors, pullout baskets… no two closets are alike,`` she says, and each homeowner will have different requirements for what they are looking to organize. ``We try to work with the individual so that they get the most out of the space they have to work with.”

Grantham suggests keeping an open mind about new shelving ideas, customized drawers and new hanging options.

Their website has an informative blog.

One of the posts discusses proper hanging options and additional drawer space advantages. Hanging clothes can take up a majority of your closet space. The blog suggests trying bi-level hanging poles to make room for twice as many shirts and pants that are shorter in length. Adding additional drawers to your closet space can be a great way to hide and protect your accessories. It says to consider having custom drawers made with dividers to hold specific items. Drawers with compartments

to store rolled up belts, jewelry and even ties are recommended.

Boehlig and Grantham recommend customers do a proper inventory of the items they wish to store. For example, how many shoes, long dresses, suits or handbags do you have? Going through this process at the start will save time and money, plus it will help to customize a space exactly to what the customer wants.

ut Come in o of the cold

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WINTER 2013

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Dreamspaces

GRAY IS THE NEW MUST HAVE

THE NEW NEUTRAL F

By Holli Moncrieff

ifty Shades of Gray isn’t just a series of novels anymore. It’s also the hottest trend in interior decorating.

“We’re still seeing a lot of gray. Gray is taking over as the new neutral,” says Bahia Taylor, Owner of Envy Paint and Design Ltd. “There are cool grays and warm grays. Which one you use depends on the mood you want to create.”

Envy Paint and Design’s most popular all-around colour is Benjamin Moore’s Revere Pewter HC-172.

“It’s a really warm, light gray that has a green undertone in some lighting situations. It’s just a fantastic neutral,” Taylor says. “It’s not beige; it’s not gray. It falls somewhere in the middle. It goes with anything I’ve tried to put it with. If people want something a little bit warmer, we recommend Smoky Taupe CC-490. It’s a really good neutral.”

More and more people are choosing to decorate their homes in neutral shades, whether they plan on reselling or not. Michelle Chisick, interior designer WINNIPEGMAG.COM

at Interior Illusions, agrees that gray is the colour of the year for 2014.

“We’re noticing that people are looking for a soft, neutral feel. There are many shades of gray available. We’re moving away from the cooler tones into warmer shades, colours that have the warmth of beige but with the modern look of gray,” she says.

“We’re definitely seeing people keep it neutral.

We’re also seeing lots of soft blues. Even navy blue is popular.”

There may be psychological reasons behind blue’s current popularity.

“Blue is a comfortable colour for a lot of people. It’s a nice way to go out of your comfort zone but still feel safe. Research shows people tend to gravitate towards blue after recessions and economic downturns,” says Taylor, adding that Benjamin Moore’s colour of the year for 2014 is a pastel blue (Breath of Fresh Air #806).

Even if you choose a neutral palette for your home’s WINTER 2013

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Dreamspaces walls, there are plenty of opportunities to play with colour and design.

“People need to do what works for them and works for their style. They can look for smaller walls that aren’t connected to anything else to do something different, something funky,” Chisick says. “We recommend keeping your paint neutral and using accents like pillows to add pops of colour.”

Taylor is seeing a lot of mustard yellows and grayed out purples used as accent colours, along with many shades of blue.

“People are tending to be bold with their accessories because accessories are temporary,” she says. “Home owners can really decide for themselves how they want to accent each room.”

Colour isn’t the only way to add dimension and creativity to a neutral room. Using different patterns is another technique.

“Wallpaper is huge right now, but people are also going back to stencils. I’ve seen lots of bold stripes and chevrons. People are using neutral colours for these looks as

well,” says Chisick. “No one does ragging or sponging anymore, but we’re still seeing lots of stripes.”

Taylor is seeing a 50 per cent split between matte and eggshell finishes.

“Eggshell finishes used to be really predominant, but we’re seeing a lot of matte finishes now, particularly in washrooms,” she says. “This is a nice change because everything else in the bathroom is already shiny. It’s nice to have the juxtaposition of the shiny fixtures with a matte finish on the walls.”

She recommends Benjamin Moore’s Aura Bath & Spa line. These paints repel water, which results in minimum steam streaking on the walls.

“It’s a very nice product,” she says. “People are using it to paint their entire homes, not just the washrooms.”

When decorating your home, Taylor recommends picking your paint colours last.

“Paint is there to make everything else look good. We recommend you go out and fall in love with something—a painting, a piece of furniture—and design your room around that,” she says. “We’ve had customers

bring in cushions, floor samples, and carpet samples. Bring it all in so we can see what else is going on with the room. With smartphones and iPads, it’s also easier to show us photographs of each room so we can get a really good idea.”

Both Interior Illusions and Envy Paint and Design offer in-home consultations at an hourly rate.

“In-house consultations are great if you don’t want to bring all that stuff in or you have tricky lighting situations,” adds Taylor.

Painting is still the most inexpensive way to update the look and feel of your home, Chisick says.

“There are lots of ways to freshen up a space by adding some paint. Even changing the colour slightly can give your home a completely different feel. It’s a great way to update it. Paint can always be changed.”

Interior Illusions and Envy Paint and Design have contacts with professional painters and will be happy to hook you up.

“Painting is an art,” says Taylor. “We have very trustworthy painters that we work with and we’re happy to give customers their contact info.”

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WINTER 2013

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CHATTERBOX

The latest events, promotions and info on Winnipeg Women Magazine and our advertisers.

Looking to Jazz things up this Winter?

Brooke Van Ryssel is an inspiration to the jazz community. She is currently a student with the University of Manitoba, enrolled in their jazz program where she has performed trios and duos where she can be heard live on the UMFM 101.5 FM station and other various stations.

Featuring Brooke Van Ryssel on vocals she will be performing a trio In December she will be performing for a night of jazz, pop, and Christmas tunes at the Loft Gastropub.

At Your Service!

We are thrilled to introduce the new Winnipeg Women and Winnipeg Men sales team! Shannon Uhryniuk (left) and Kari Philippot have joined forces to work for you, promoting your business in Winnipeg’s number one luxury magazine. Winnipeg Women & Winnipeg Men - Your guide for living local.

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Winter 2013

WOMEN

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