February 2017 t8nmagazine.com
CYBERCHONDRIA The Dangers of Dr. Google
May We Suggest…
MEET STEPHEN KHAN
TAKING THE DAY OFF
A T8N Interview
We’ve Got a Crush on Valentine’s Day
THE MORE, THE CHOCOLATIER!
WORKPLACE WELLNESS This Isn’t Your Grandpa’s Office
MEN, ENJOY A CLOSE SHAVE
. . it’s the perfect gift for both of you
140 St Albert Trail • 780-470-4144
February 2017
Contents CONVERSATIONS 6 An (Almost) Universal
Healthcare System Making sense of prescription drug prices
ARTS & CULTURE 30 Meet Stephen Khan
A T8N interview
Amazing Lace What’s old is new again
CITY 34 THEN & NOW Hospital 11 Finding the Artist Within Sturgeon Then & Now Art at River Ridge Retirement Home 36 THE 8s 18 MEET YOU THERE
Sturgeon Valley Athletic Club Setting the tone for fitness in St. Albert
20 COMMUNITY CALENDAR LIVING 23 FOOD & GATHERINGS
Love at First Bite We’ve got a crush on chocolate
28 TRULY DEEPLY MADLY
May We Suggest… Taking the Day Off
ABOUT THE COVER "True love comes quietly, without banners or flashing lights. If you hear bells, get your ears checked." –Erich Segal IMAGE BY BRENDA LAKEMAN PHOTOGRAPHY
TRENDING 38 Workplace Wellness
This isn’t your grandpa’s office
40 Cyberchondria (n.)
A diagnosis from Dr. Google
T8N February 2017  3
From the Editor T8N MAGAZINE
FEBRUARY. IT KINDA sneaks up on you. But not
in an altogether bad way. We’re just so busy in January setting the new year “right,” that we get a little pummelled by our lists of good intentions. Somewhere around right now, our “New Year, New You” T-shirts start to itch a little. And smell a lot. Well, cue February—the Command Z of resolutions gone sideways. Intrigued? Good. Because it’s time we all cut ourselves some CARMEN D. HRYNCHUK EDITOR-IN-CHIEF slack and started thinking of our New Year’s resolutions as “get-tos” rather than “got-tos.” Sometimes, that takes a few tries. And those tries are what this month’s “Take Care” theme is all about—giving ourselves more chances to be a little better to ourselves. To get you (and us) inspired, we’re exploring topics such as workplace wellness, art in retirement homes—even the dangers of Dr. Google. And since taking care includes indulgence in moderation, we’ve baked up a recipe section that’s decidedly… to die for. That’s right. We’re talking chocolate, in all its glorious incarnations. We’ve added it to bread dough and waffle batter, drizzled it on coconut squares and even combined it with red wine to make Valentine’s cupcakes. So join us in welcoming February and the chance to turn “got-tos” into “get-tos.”
VOLUME 4 ISSUE 2 February 2017 PUBLISHER
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Rob Lightfoot
Carmen D. Hrynchuk
ART DIRECTION
Carmen D. Hrynchuk, Brenda Lakeman PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT & DESIGN
Correna Saunders PHOTOGRAPHY
Brenda Lakeman FOOD STYLING
Little Fire Creative PROOFREADING
Amy Lightfoot CONTRIBUTORS
Shawna Dirksen, Jennie Drent, Rhonda Kronyk, Markwell Lyon, Robert Michon OFFICE MANAGER
Janice Lightfoot CONTRIBUTING AGENCIES Image page 6 ©maglara/Adobe Stock Image page 8 ©macrovector/Adobe Stock Image page 28 ©Julia Tim/Adobe Stock Image page 38 ©Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock Image page 40 ©Africa Studio/Adobe Stock
Take care!
ISSN 2368-707X (PRINT) ISSN 2368-7088 (ONLINE)
Feature Writers ROBERT MICHON
Robert has a degree in History and English Literature from the University of Alberta and is pursuing a second degree in Communications from MacEwan University. Robert fills much of his free time reading, blogging or writing fiction. But when he doesn’t have a book in hand, he can usually be found outdoors, hiking or enjoying one of Edmonton’s many summer festivals. RHONDA KRONYK
Rhonda is a freelance writer and editor who calls Edmonton home. Her current writing projects question identity, colonialism and Canadian history, and she’s recently contributed to an anthology called In This Together: Fifteen True Stories of Real Reconciliation. She’ll happily tell you all about it—if you dare ask.
For editorial inquiries or information, contact T8N magazine at info@t8nmagazine.com. Have something to say? Letters, suggestions or ideas can be sent to letters@t8nmagazine.com. FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION
Rob Lightfoot rob@t8nmagazine.com 780 940 6212 or visit t8nmagazine.com T8N magazine is published 12 times a year by T8N Publishing Inc. Copyright ©2017 T8N Publishing Inc. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is strictly prohibited. Content marked by the Sponsored Content icon was produced in partnership between content producers and T8N magazine. PRINTED IN CANADA
T8N PUBLISHING INC Visit T8Nmagazine.com to meet the rest of our team and regular contributors.
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Conversations
AN (ALMOST)
UNIVERSAL
HEALTHCARE SYSTEM Making sense of prescription drug prices BY ROBERT MICHON
$
HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
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CANADIANS HAVE LONG been proud
of their universal healthcare system— and—fast to compare it to the state of healthcare in the United States. But when Canada’s healthcare system is measured against those of other industrialized nations, the World Health Organization doesn’t rank us a nywhere nea r the top of the list. It places us 30th out of the 193 member states of the United Nations ( U N ) — on ly 7 p o sit ion s h ig he r than our American neighbours. In fact, according to Canadian Doctors for Medica re, ou r country is one of the on ly moder n i zed nations i n t he world to of fer u n iver s a l healthca re to its citizens without also offering universal pharmacare. This means that while our hospital visits are free, many Canadians still lack access to affordable prescription drugs. When left to finance prescriptions on their own, many Canadians can find themselves at the mercy of drug company prices. With all of the legal distinctions between things like medicare and pharmacare, or federal and provincial health policies, the healthcare conversation can be difficult to navigate. But with a little bit of background knowledge, you can start to make informed decisions about your prescriptions that will benefit both your health and your bank account.
The Story So Far Definitions of universal healthcare differ by country, but in essence, it is the idea that all citizens of a nation, regardless of personal wealth, should be able to access the same basic medical resources free of charge. This is why you don’t have to pay your emergency-room doctor for mending a broken bone. However, Canada’s definition of universal healthcare does not include access to prescription drugs. This means that after you leave the doctor’s office with your prescription in hand, you are responsible for covering the cost of your own medication,
AROUND THE WORLD Universal healthcare doesn’t look the same in all countries. Because of the diverse standards around the world, the number of countries practicing universal healthcare isn’t agreed upon. In the most generous estimates, upwards of 60 countries have implemented universal healthcare systems, while low estimates place the number closer to 32. either through an up-front payment or a pre-arranged insurance plan. It is difficult to compare healthcare systems around the world because each system arose independently, according to the needs of each individual nation. Canada’s healthcare plan has its origins in Saskatchewan in 1947, when the provincial government implemented an experiment to “unionize” the hospitals in the province. Alberta followed suit in 1950 under the leadership of the Social Credit Party, and by 1961, the rest of the provinces had gotten on-board, too. It wasn’t until 1984 that the federal government, under the leadership of Pierre Trudeau, implemented a nation-wide healthcare proclamation: The Canada Healthcare Act. Politicians, medical professionals and citizens alike have been lobbying to get universal coverage for prescription drugs (pharmacare) since 1968, well before healthcare was considered a national issue. But despite numerous attempts to pass pharmacare legislation on both provincial and federal levels throughout the decades, this contested policy has yet to get off the ground.
Pharmacare Today Compared to the price of operating a hospital or paying doctor’s fees, the price for prescription drugs might seem small. But that doesn’t
necessarily mean it’s affordable. On average, Canadians spend $500 on prescription drugs per year, and Statistics Canada estimates that 10 percent of Canadians simply can’t afford their doctor-prescribed medication. As a result, many are forced to leave their prescriptions unfilled. There is relief for certain groups, however. In Alberta, our healthcare system guarantees seniors and people with severe disabilities access to premium-free prescription drugs. What those patients do pay for, however, is the cost of having the prescription filled, which amounts to 30 percent of the cost of the prescription to a maximum of $25. Apart from being affordable, this policy is in part designed to protect vulnerable citizens from over-paying for brand-name drugs. But this system comes with restrictions. To keep these specialized pharmacare programs sustainable, Alberta Health asks doctors to prescribe from an approved list of “lowest-cost alternative” drugs (LCAs), which are generic forms of brand-name drugs. However, if a doctor believes that a more expensive drug will yield better results, the individual must pay for the cost difference out of pocket. There are about 4000 of these LCA drugs in Alberta, and together, they make up the Alberta Drug Benefit List. While this list makes it possible for Albertans to be more critical T8N February 2017 7
simply pay an agreed-upon percentage of the cost of the equivalent brand-name drug. In extreme cases, this can cause LCA drugs in Canada to cost up to 36 times the amount that they would overseas. The fee negotiation doesn’t end with the drug company though. Next come the pharmacy markup and dispensary fees. The pharmacy markup is intended to cover the business expenses of running a pharmacy, while dispensary fees are the charges associated with the professional service of filling your prescription. While neither charge is covered by Alberta Health, the provincial government has negotiated limits to the extent that pharmacies are allowed to increase the price of their prescription drugs.
The For & Against
shoppers, it is not without its restrictions. For example, most over-the-counter drugs are not included on the list. Regardless of your financial situation or age group, these off-list drugs will not be covered by Alberta Health Services.
Setting Prices Just as definitions of healthcare differ by country, in Canada, they also differ by province. The universal healthcare system in Canada is nationwide, but each province is responsible for planning and operating its own provincial healthcare system. This is
Part of the duties of the Ministry of Health is the evaluation of all new drugs that pharmaceutical companies wish to sell in Canada. The Ministry researches and evaluates each drug and attempts to set reasonable limits on the amount of money that drug companies can charge for them. After this first step, federal involvement ceases. From this moment on, it’s up to the provinces to strike their own deals with pharmaceutical company representatives to decide which drugs they want to include in their various coverage plans and how much further they will negotiate the price from the federally imposed maximum.
DID YOU KNOW? The state of pharmacare in Canada is the source of much disparity among the provinces. While 10% of Canadians are unable to afford prescription drugs, in Atlantic Canada and British Columbia, the numbers reach as high as 30%. because Section 92(7) of the Canadian Constitution dictates that healthcare is a purely provincial matter. The federal government’s role is to mandate provincial participation, as well as to provide the legal framework for each province to build upon. But even though the federal policy makes no mention of prescription drugs, Canadians are not without representation when it comes to dealing with pharmaceutical companies. Our biggest advocate at the federal level is the Ministry of Health. 8 T8Nmagazine.com
Drug companies do have production costs and can be expected to make a reasonable profit from their work, but the job of balancing these corporate needs with the financial realities facing Canadians falls to multiple levels of government. It’s a difficult thing to balance, and as a result, some high prices can be expected. But while other industrialized nations like the United Kingdom and New Zealand negotiate for LCA drug prices by leveraging the competing companies against each other, Canada’s strategy has been to
The main argument against reforming our healthcare system to include pharmaceuticals is, of course, the cost associated with expanding our healthcare programs. To say that we, as individual Canadians, don’t pay for our healthcare is not entirely true. We pay for our healthcare system through taxation, and to add access to prescription drugs to our healthcare plans, taxes would have to rise— or so the argument goes. There is, of course, a counter-argument to this cost-effectiveness stance. Doctor’s associations all over the country are quick to point out that when hospital visits are free but medication is not, low-income individuals are, in some ways, incentivized to ignore their prescriptions. Even if someone can’t afford their prescription, they can always count on another free hospital visit when their condition inevitably worsens. Millions of Canadians are currently forced to manage their health in this way, whether intentionally or not. By providing access to universal pharmacare, however, these individuals who move in and out of hospitals as a matter of necessity might be able to better manage their health conditions on their own and wouldn’t place as much of a burden on hospital resources. By comparing our healthcare model with those in countries like Germany and the United Kingdom, studies done by the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions suggest that a pharmacare program could save taxpayers as much as $11 billion each year. In addition to cutting costs for taxpayers and hospitals, pharmacare would have the added advantage of removing the need for businesses to provide health plans for their
T8N February 2017  9
employees, which would free up finances to be invested elsewhere in the economy. The largest objectors to a universal pharmacare system are the pharmaceutical companies themselves. It is easy to imagine these companies as greedy corporations trying to profit from the misfortunes of Canadians, but their argument is a valid one: by providing free access to prescription drugs, the Canadian government would be crippling pharmaceutical industry profits by eliminating demand for all drugs except for those on governmentapproved lists. Since their interests are largely opposed to those of the average Canadian, drug companies don’t receive a lot of sympathy. But to some, the consequence of upsetting the livelihood of so many people is something to stop and think about.
False Advertising One of the most striking differences between Canadian and American television channels is the advertising. While American advertising is full of different ads for medications that promise various miracle cures, such practices are prohibited in Canada. But while drug companies are not allowed to advertise to the public here, there are no restrictions to them advertising directly to medical professionals.
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A common fear is that drug companies could pay doctors to promote their own products, which in turn could lead doctors to recommend sub-par medication to their patients or medication that is needlessly expensive. It isn’t well documented or known how often this kind of behaviour occurs, but the belief is that a universal pharmacare system would do a lot to alleviate these fears by making the cheapest option the norm.
What You Can Do While shopping around for prescription drugs, most Canadians are at the mercy of the system. There are no easy solutions that will guarantee cheap and effective coverage, but there are a few steps you can take to gain a bit more decision-making power. The first and most valuable thing you can do is to find a doctor you trust. Don’t be afraid to ask him or her about what your options are. If you want to balance the effectiveness of the drug with an affordable cost, your doctor is the best authority to walk you through your options. Make use of Alberta Health’s Alberta Drug Benefit List to shop around and compare prices of other brands in the same group as your prescription. Without medical experience,
you likely won’t be able to gain much information besides the price, but take that information to your doctor to see if changing your existing prescription to a cheaper equivalent is a possibility. Talk to your pharmacists, as well. Ask how their markup prices work, as well as how they compare to the provincially imposed maximum. If the markup and dispensary fees are costing you too much money, try shopping around to find a better price. Research what kinds of health plans you might qualify for. Here in Alberta, everyone over the age of 65 is entitled to pharmaceutical coverage. Certain specific health conditions qualify for coverage as well. Calling Alberta Health to see what your options are is never a bad idea. Lastly, if you cannot afford your prescription drugs or you or someone you know is struggling financially because of it, advocate for yourself and others by writing to your elected representative to let him or her know that you do not feel represented and would like the policies to change to reflect your needs. The first step to changing any government policy is making your voice heard. t8n
FINDING THE ARTIST
WITHIN Art at River Ridge Retirement Home PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRENDA LAKEMAN
PABLO PICASSO FAMOUSLY said, “Every
child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” Well, River Ridge Retirement Home in St. Albert takes this to heart with its extensive recreation program—an important part of which is the art studio. Run by its art facilitator, Carly Greene, the studio is a warm, welcoming space where com munity members ca n collaborate, create and communicate. As Greene explains, that’s vital at all stages of life: “Our residents are people just like you and me, just at a different stage in their lives. They don’t want to lose their community involvement or their activeness and creativity.” And it’s not just Greene who thinks so. Science has proven that creative activities contribute to a healthy mind and body by alleviating boredom, reducing depression and improving hand-eye coordination. As we discovered on our visit, the residents at River Ridge realize these benefits through intergenerational collaborations, a sense of purpose, productive creativity and a tremendous pride in the work they’ve created. It’s no wonder this studio is so well loved. Take a look. T8N February 2017 11
“We try and find ways for everybody to be involved, whether it’s directly working on a project or coming and helping me hang pictures or having coffee and talking about the work and seeing what’s going on.”
–Carly Greene, Art Facilitator
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When Greene joined the program in 2013, she brought with her an intuitive style that prioritizes creativity over technique. While the studio space is always open, Greene is also available five days a week to guide residents on their creative journeys and help them realize their own artistic point of view—rather than force her own vision on them. That journey, however, doesn’t begin and end with the residents. In 2016, Greene, along with a group of high school teachers and a local youth leader named Ben Huising, brought seniors and students together for seven weeks to create abstract art—a genre outside the comfort zone of many residents.
The seniors and students discussed art, told jokes and built friendships. And the final works were exhibited at The Marketplace, a youth collective in St. Albert, where more than 50 friends and family enjoyed and celebrated the finished works. The initiative was so successful, in fact, that Greene is actively looking for ways to continue building intergenerational programs. Not only do these large projects help create a sense of community, Greene notes that “There’s so much less pressure on the creative process when you have help and can respond to other people.” T8N February 2017 13
“The studio has become a cornerstone of the community. It’s a unique space and has taken on a life of its own.” –Carly Greene, Art Facilitator
In her focus on creativity, Greene sees the potential for residents to try things they may not have otherwise attempted. Those new projects, however, are often based on community donations, which can come in diverse forms. Greene uses those donations—and restrictions—to teach residents how to be creative with any material. As such, the art studio boasts a refreshingly diverse variety of mediums—paint, pastel, fabric and paper, to name a few. Residents have told Greene how much they love being in the space and how important it is to their well-being. She even gets calls from families talking about the joy their loved ones get from the space. Maintaining those personal connections is important to Greene, so when activity levels slow, she uses her own creativity to revitalize the studio and draw residents back in. The space has become a point of pride with residents, who given any opportunity, will talk about what they and their community have created.
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AUTO • HOME • LIFE • COMMERCIAL T8N February 2017 15
The studio has been so successful in St. Albert that River Ridge’s parent company, Rivera, is looking for ways to bring the project to two sister communities in Edmonton. Greene points out that it can be isolating to live in a retirement community, so River Ridge looks for ways to bring the wider community to their residents. Families and friends are welcome to create with residents, and works are exhibited once a year. Community members are invited to donate art supplies and visit the annual exhibition. Greene hopes the studio becomes a hub where the healing powers of art and community bring people of all ages together. t8n
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T8N February 2017  17
Meet You There
STURGEON VALLEY ATHLETIC CLUB
Setting the tone for fitness in St. Albert
STURGEON VALLEY ATHLETIC Club
(SVAC) has been going strong in St. Albert for more than two decades. So much more than your average gym, this full-service fitness facility offers everything from personal training and high-tech assessment tools to group fitness classes and active-play child-care services. Whether you’re a cardio queen (or king), a heavy lifter, a devoted yogi or something in between , S VAC has created a community conducive to crushing your fitness goals.
SVAC AT A GLANCE Location: 205a Carnegie Drive Owner: Tamara Klein
DID YOU KNOW?
Club Manager: Ramonde Maxfield
SVAC embraces technology. The facility
Specialty: Creating a sense of community and making the gym fun
is home to the Bod Pod—a high-tech, body-fat measuring tool. In fact, SVAC is the only place in Northern Alberta that offers this assessment tool to the general public. People have come from as far as Saskatchewan to use it. 18 T8Nmagazine.com
Interesting Fact: SVAC’s newest group fitness class is called Evolution—it’s an hour of high-intensity interval training led by an experienced trainer. No two classes are ever the same, and it’s suitable for all fitness levels!
Tamara Klein opened SVAC with her husband in 1996. “We are not from the fitness industry,” says Klein. “We hire experts and listen to them. We wanted to do this because St. Albert is our home, and we wanted to bring something great to the community.” The couple has certainly succeeded. Today, SVAC maintains a strong, long-term membership base, has about 50 employees and offers more than 35 group exercise classes per week. The 22,000-square-foot space contains not only a well-rounded gym and luxe locker rooms but also fitness studios, assessment rooms, a members’ lounge, a supervised children’s play area, a spacious café and a professional medi-spa. “We are
full-service,” says Klein. “You can come here, get in a great workout, then get ready to go to work or meet your girlfriends for coffee.” Customer care, convenience and a sense of community seem to be the secrets to SVAC’s ongoing success. Ramonde Maxfield, who has been SVAC’s club manager for about four years (and a member from the start), says there are many reasons that clients keep coming back. “We make things convenient and easy. Parking is easy, and we have all the amenities,
new members as well—even those new to working out. “Each new member receives an equipment orientation. A trainer will show them how to use the machines, and they get a basic program to follow. We get to know them and recommend services they may be interested in,” explains Maxfield. Klein recommends that new members “come in when it’s not as busy in the afternoon” until they feel more confident with their routines. Overall, SVAC is about helping St. Albert residents of all ages and abilities maintain
a positive, healthy lifestyle. “I was athletic in high school. I’m trying to find that girl again,” says Klein. “When you’re working out, you have that strut in your walk. You feel so much better about yourself, like you’ve got all your ducks in a row.” Maxfield adds, “For me it’s empowering. I like feeling strong and capable, and exercise is the best way to do that.” So, if you’re looking for a community vibe and a little encouragement alongside your daily burn, check out SVAC. t8n
FUN FACT The kids are just as important as the grown-ups at SVAC. The Kleins actually created SVAC’s entire concept around providing a play area for kids. Playcare offers childcare services (and hosts birthday parties) for kids nine and under. Focused on active play, the space includes a climbing wall, slides and tunnels. like towel service. Our customer service is platinum-level. It’s a friendly atmosphere, and there’s a sense of belonging here. We listen to concerns and respond right away.” To Klein and Maxfield, the social side of their members’ experience is just as important as the fitness side. Maxfield thinks of SVAC as a family that grows and changes: “The members get to know each other, and the kids get to know each other.” Klein couldn’t agree more, and added, “Our staff also get to know our customers and their kids. They make a connection.” The team at SVAC works hard to create a supportive, unintimidating environment for T8N February 2017 19
COMMUNITY
CALENDAR
Things to do, watch, hear and see this February. EVENT
Image credit: Sian Richards
Pond Hockey Championship The 7th Annual Canadian Progress Club Pond Hockey Championship is on. This all-day event is a 3-on-3 tournament. There will also be a public beer garden, hayrides for the kids and much more. Date: February 4 Location: Lacombe Lake Park, 135 Larose Drive For more information: visit cpcstalbert.ca/what-we-do/pond-hockey/ EVENT
Measha Brueggergosman: Songs of Freedom
EVENT
Margaret Trudeau: Changing My Mind Wife of a former Canadian prime minister and mother to Canada’s current prime minister, Margaret Trudeau will be coming to St. Albert. A bestselling author of four books, including the title Changing My Mind, Trudeau will be speaking about her life, the importance of looking after the whole body and mind, and her mission to remove the stereotypes surrounding mental health issues.
EVENT
Sabrina’s Dance Instruction 30th Anniversary Dinner Join Sabrina Thievin as she celebrates 30 years of teaching dance to the people of St. Albert and Greater Edmonton. There’ll be dancing to the Black Key Band, great food, door prizes and dance lessons. Purchase tickets in advance.
Date: February 3
Date: February 4
Location: Arden Theatre, 5 St. Anne Street
Location: Cornerstone Hall, 6 Tache Street
For more information: visit stalbert.ca/exp/calendar/events/
For more information: visit sabrinadance.ca
WE ARE MOVING
Visit our online store at
TheHealingCenterInc.ca
LeeAnna Binder, CHN, Certified Holistic Nutritionist, Certified Health & Lifestyle Coach Quintessential Pure Essential Oil Skin Care • Chubby Cherub Baby Products • Kids Immune Boosting Products 20 T8Nmagazine.com
Treat yourself to an evening with worldrenowned Canadian soprano Measha Brueggergosman when she visits St. Albert. As February is Black History Month, the repertoire will follow the troubling history of North America through songs of freedom. Songs include “Amazing Grace,” “Swing Low Sweet Chariot” and “Go Tell It On The Mountain.” Date: February 17 Location: Arden Theatre, 5 St. Anne Street For more information: visit stalbert.ca/exp/calendar/events/ EVENT
Canadiana-rama Art Gallery of St. Albert is holding its 27th Annual Fundraiser. Celebrate all things Canuck in support of your local public art gallery by raising loonies, toonies, Kings and Queens to keep the Gallery exhibitions and programs going. There’ll be artistic demonstrations, themed food, live music, silent auction, cash bar, prizes and more. Date: February 25 Location: St. Albert Place, 5 St. Anne Street For more information: visit artgalleryofstalbert.ca
Maximum Sleep Care Inc.
Getting to the root of your sleep issues
E
veryone has the occasional sleepless night. But when the occasional sleepless night becomes a regular occurrence, a person can become irritable, drowsy or anxious. In fact, if a person is having trouble sleeping, just the thought of going to bed can become stressful. Maximum Sleep Care is a local sleep therapy clinic that will help a person get on the right path to a more fulfilling night’s sleep. With people’s lives getting busier, stress is a reality. As much as people want to leave work at work, it usually doesn’t happen. As owner and sleep therapist Gary Yung informs, “We live in a very busy society and sleep gets neglected. A lot of people work long hours, do shift work or have two or more jobs. People think about things they had to do that day, what they have to do tomorrow and next week when they should be sleeping.” With snoring or sleep apnea (when the sleeper stops breathing for a few seconds or dangerously longer), help could come in the shape of a mouth guard or a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. Sometimes the CPAP machine is mistaken for an oxygen machine, but it’s actually a medical air compressor. It works by drawing in air. It’s equipped with special sensors that monitor pressure and air flow to better analyze the ideal air pressure for the client. This pressurized air acts like a splint in the person’s trachea; if, during sleep, the airway is relaxing, rumbling or vibrating, the pressurized air will keep an open airway. The mask that supplies the pressurized air can be one that just fits over the nose, over the mouth or a face mask.
Gary offers every client a trial basis with a CPAP machine. He says, “The biggest thing is trying to find the clients’ comfort level with the machine, finding what will work for them. If that client is willing to do the trial—sleep with a mask on their face—I want to make every effort to find a mask that fits and fits comfortably.” Once a client has been referred to Maximum Sleep Care by his or her family doctor, Gary meets the client through a consultation to get better insight into the sleep issue. After the consultation, the client is given a diagnostic machine to take home. The machine itself is about the size of a cell phone and straps around the person’s chest. While the person sleeps, the finger sensor monitors the wearer’s heart rate and oxygen levels, while the nose sensor (similar to the nasal cannulas used in hospitals) monitors breathing patterns and snoring levels. Once the data is collected, it’s sent off to a specialist who will accurately diagnose the sleep issue. With this information, Gary discusses the results with the client and the family doctor, and what therapeutic options are available. With stress-related sleep issues such as falling asleep, staying asleep, insomnia or dietary habits impacting nightly digestion cycles, Maximum Sleep Care may refer you to your other care team members such as dieticians, nutritionist or a counsellor in the St. Albert area. Maximum Sleep Care is not only a sleep therapy clinic, but also an information source for anyone who needs it. Next time you’re having trouble sleeping, don’t turn to google for an answer; Gary will be able to tell you what you need to know, in person, and will help you on your way to getting a better night’s sleep.
Do You Have a Sleep Issue? The Epworth Sleepiness Scale measures a person’s overall fatigue via a number scale: 0= no chance of dozing; 1= slight chance; 2= moderate chance; 3= high chance. Answer the questions (using the scoring system) according to your likelihood of dozing off. If you score over 10, you may want to talk to your doctor. 1. Sitting and reading 2. Watching TV 3. Sitting inactively in a public place (e.g. movie theatre or in a meeting) 4. As a vehicle passenger for an hour without a rest stop 5. Lying down to rest in the afternoon, circumstances permitting 6. Sitting and talking to someone 7. Sitting quietly after lunch without consuming alcohol 8. In a car in traffic while stopped for a few minutes
Summit Galleria, St Albert across from DynaLife | 780.569.5252 www.maximumsleep.ca gary@maximumsleep.ca This sponsored content was produced in partnership between Maximum Sleep Care Inc. and T8N magazine.
Food & Gatherings
Love at
First Bite We’ve got a crush on chocolate OH, VALENTINE’S DAY. How you turn our hearts aflutter at the slightest thought of being near… chocolate! But not just any chocolate—we’re talking rich cocoa powders, mochaccino flavourings, chocolate frostings, chocolate drizzles, and let’s not forget breakfast chocolate—the most important chocolate of the day. That’s right. We’ve concocted a chocolate and beer walnut bread to knock your slippers off. So get ready to get indulgent. Because when it comes to this month’s recipes, the more the chocolatier. Happy Valentine’s Day.
T8N February 2017 23
Pumpkin Chai Latte Waffles Leftover waffles are ideal for freezing and popping in the toaster on rushed mornings. The secret ingredients in this pumpkin version? Eggnog and coffee! 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 2 tbsp cocoa powder 1 1/2 tsp instant coffee powder 1 tbsp baking powder 1/2 tsp baking soda 1 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp pumpkin-pie spice 1/2 tsp allspice 1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup coconut oil, melted 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed 2 eggs 1/2 cup pumpkin purée 1 cup eggnog 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract Whipped cream and berries, to garnish
In a medium bowl, combine the flour, cocoa, instant coffee powder, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, pumpkin-pie spice, allspice and salt. In a second bowl, whisk together the coconut oil, sugars, eggs, pumpkin, eggnog and vanilla. When the wet ingredients are combined, add the dry ingredients, and mix well. Next, grease and preheat your waffle iron according to its directions. Then pour 1/4 cup of batter into each mould. Close the lid, and let the waffles cook for 6 minutes (peek for doneness after 5 minutes). Serve with whipped cream and berries.
Cream Cheese & Red Wine Frosting Slather this frosting on your favourite cupcake for a delightfully spiked Valentine’s Day treat. 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened 1/4 cup cream cheese, softened 2 cups powdered sugar 1/4 cup Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
With an electric mixer, beat the butter and cream cheese until smooth. Add the sugar, and mix again. With the mixer set to low, gradually pour in the red wine. Increase the speed to medium, add the vanilla and whip until light and fluffy.
Chocolate & Red Wine Cupcakes 4 tbsp butter, softened 4 tbsp walnut oil 1/3 cup brown sugar, packed 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1 egg 1 egg yolk 1 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon 1 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 cup cocoa powder 1/2 tsp baking powder 1/4 tsp salt 1/4 tsp cinnamon 1/8 tsp baking soda
Preheat your oven to 350˚F, and line a 12-serving muffin pan with cupcake liners. In a large bowl, whisk together the butter and walnut oil until smooth. Add the sugar, egg, egg yolk and vanilla, and beat again until creamy. Stir in the red wine, and mix until combined. In a small bowl, combine the flour, cocoa, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and baking soda. Add the dry mixture to the wet, and mix to combine. Evenly spoon the batter into the prepared muffin pan, and bake in the preheated oven for 17 minutes. Transfer the cupcakes to a cooling rack. When cool, frost, garnish and devour.
Bourbon-Soaked Chocolate Cherries
Fruit & Nut Bark
If chocolate-covered cherries are your Valentine’s Day indulgence, this tipsy version is for you.
Sweet, salty and effortlessly customizable. Just add imagination.
25 to 30 Bing cherries 3/4 cup Bourbon 1 wide strip of orange zest
1/2 tsp vanilla extract 3/4 cup dark chocolate chips
Carefully pit the cherries on a slight diagonal so that the stem stays intact. Next, place the cherries in a medium-sized bowl, and pour in the bourbon. Add the orange zest and vanilla, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place it in the fridge for 12 to 24 hours. Remove the soaked cherries from the bourbon, and place them on paper towel to drain and dry. As for the bourbon, it can be stored in a Mason jar and kept in the fridge for jazzing up a cocktail or dessert. Melt the chocolate chips over a double boiler, stirring often. When the chocolate is glossy and fluid, gently dip each cherry, coating them from bottom to top. Tap off the excess chocolate, and place the cherries on waxed paper to set. Share responsibly!
24 T8Nmagazine.com
2 cups dark chocolate chips (milk chocolate, if you prefer) 1 tsp Cointreau (or any liqueur you like) 1/8 tsp ground cardamom 1/3 cup honey-roasted almonds, roughly chopped 1/4 cup salted cashews, roughly chopped
1/4 cup macadamia nuts, roughly chopped 1/4 cup dried cranberries 10 candied orange pieces, chopped 10 candied cherries, chopped 7 dried apricots, sliced
Line a 9-by-9-inch pan with parchment paper, ensuring that the paper extends past two of the sides. Then place all the nuts and fruit in a bowl, and toss to combine. Melt the chocolate chips over a double boiler, and then stir in the Cointreau and cardamom. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan in an even layer. Evenly distribute the nut-and-fruit mixture atop the chocolate, and gently press them so that they sink in slightly and adhere. Place in the fridge to chill for 1 hour, then lift out the slab by the parchment paper, and slice into random shapes with a sharp knife.
No-Bake Chocolate Tart When a serious chocolate craving calls, answer with this no-bake masterpiece. 30 Oreo cookies (original, chocolate, vanilla or mint) 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted 3/4 cup whipping cream 1 cup milk chocolate chips 1/2 cup of bittersweet chocolate chips
2 tbsp Baileys Irish Cream 1 tsp vanilla extract 1/4 tsp salt Berries, to garnish Chopped pistachios, to garnish Powdered sugar, to garnish
In a food processor, blitz the cookies until they are crumbs. Add the melted butter, and blitz again until moistened and combined. Press the crumb mixture into the bottom and up the sides of a round, 9-inch tart pan with removable bottom. Place in the freezer to chill 10 minutes. Heat the cream in a small pot over medium heat. When it’s hot (not boiling), remove the pot from the heat, and stir in the chocolate chips, Baileys Irish Cream, vanilla and salt. Continue stirring until smooth. Pour the chocolate filling over the prepared crust, and place in the fridge to chill for 3 hours. Decorate with berries and pistachios, dust with powdered sugar and serve. T8N February 2017  25
Coconut Raspberry Bars No-bake, no-fuss and no chance of them lasting long. Give these squares a try. For the crust 1 cup coconut peanut butter (or any nut butter you like) 4 tbsp coconut oil 3 tbsp agave syrup (or birch or maple syrup) 1 tsp vanilla extract 1/4 tsp salt 1 1/4 cups shredded coconut (desiccated)
For the filling 1 cup raspberry jam 1 tsp freshly grated lemon zest 1 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice 1/4 cup shredded coconut (desiccated) 1 tsp agave syrup (or birch or maple syrup) 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips, to melt and drizzle 1/2 cup chopped pistachios, to garnish Candied rose petals, to garnish
Line a 7 inch-by-7-inch pan with parchment paper, and set aside. In a small pot over medium heat, melt the coconut peanut butter and coconut oil. Add the agave syrup, vanilla extract and salt, and stir to combine. Remove the pot from the heat, and stir in 1 1/4 cups of the coconut. Press 3/4 of the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan to form an even crust. To the remainder of the mixture in the pot, add the raspberry jam, lemon zest, lemon juice, 1/4 cup of coconut and the agave syrup. Mix until combined, and spread in a smooth, even layer over the crust. Place in the fridge to set for 3 hours (overnight is best). When the squares have set, drizzle the top with melted chocolate, and sprinkle with chopped pistachios and candied rose petals. Slice into squares, and enjoy.
Candied Rose Petals Some garnishes try harder than others. And these candied rose petals steal the show. 2 tsp powdered egg whites 1 1/2 tbsp lukewarm water 1/2 tsp vodka
Superfine white sugar Pesticide-free rose petals
Whisk the powdered egg white in a small bowl with the water and vodka. Using a soft paintbrush, gently coat both sides of the petals with the egg-white mixture, and sprinkle them liberally with sugar. Place the sugared petals on a cooling rack to dry for 12 hours (or until completely dry). Store in an airtight container.
Nutella & Banana Crescent Rolls Store-bought crescent-roll dough is key to many a delicious thing. These Nutella-banana roll-ups are no exception. 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1 can crescent-roll dough (8 crescents)
8 tbsp Nutella 2 bananas, each peeled and cut into 4 segments
Preheat your oven to 375ËšF, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Combine the sugar and cinnamon, and sprinkle it onto a work surface to create a 10-by-8-inch sugary rectangle. Open the crescent-roll dough, unroll it and place it atop the cinnamon sugar. Gently press the dough into the sugar, cut the dough into 8 crescents (follow the pre-scored lines) and place on the prepared baking sheet. Spread Nutella on each crescent, then place a banana segment at the wide end and gently roll up each crescent (rolling toward the pointy end). Space out the rolls evenly, and bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes. Serve while warm and gooey.
Tiramisu Hot Chocolate Coffee meets rum, meets mascarpone cheese… Hello, new friend. 2 tbsp mascarpone cheese, softened 1/4 cup whipped cream 1 1/4 cups chocolate milk 1 tsp instant coffee powder
2 tbsp Amaretto 1 tbsp dark rum Chocolate shavings, to garnish Ladyfinger cookie, to garnish
In a small bowl, whisk together the whipped cream and mascarpone cheese until smooth. Place the chocolate milk and instant coffee powder in a small pot, and bring it to almost a simmer (not a boil) over medium heat. Remove the pot from the heat, and add the Amaretto and rum. Pour into a cup, and top with a generous dollop of the whipped-cream mixture. Garnish with chocolate shavings and a ladyfinger cookie.
Chocolate Beer Bread with Walnuts & Raisins We can’t even begin to describe how good this is. And toasted? Heaven! 3 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/2 tsp salt 1/4 tsp quick-rise yeast 3 tbsp granulated sugar 3 tbsp cocoa powder 1/2 cup walnut halves, roughly chopped
1/2 cup golden raisins 1/4 cup dried cranberries 1 cup water 1/2 cup dark beer (poured slowly so there’s no head) 1/3 cup semi-sweet mini chocolate chips
Place the flour, salt, yeast, sugar, cocoa, walnuts, raisins and cranberries in a large bowl, and mix them together. Add the water and beer, and stir with a wooden spoon until the mixture forms a messy, shaggy dough. Add the chocolate chips, and knead them into the dough for even distribution. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and let it sit 14 to 24 hours. Punch down your risen dough, form it into a ball and place it on a well-floured dinner plate. Generously dust the top with more flour, and loosely cover with waxed paper. Let rise for 2 hours. Place a large cast-iron pot (with lid) in the oven, and heat to 450˚F. Remove the heated pot from the oven and carefully centre the risen dough inside (bottom side of dough up). Cover the pot with the lid, and place it back in the oven for 30 minutes. Remove the lid, reduce the heat to 425˚F and bake 15 minutes more. Place the baked loaf on a rack to cool. t8n
T8N February 2017 27
Truly, Deeply, Madly
TAKING THE
DAY OFF WITH SO MUCH of our daily lives spent trying to please others,
we sometimes forget to give ourselves a little break. And though even the thought of taking the entire day off is an indulgence that many can’t imagine, setting aside just 20 minutes for yourself can reduce your stress and recharge your energy levels for the day. Ready to get started? Here are some ways to carve out more “me-time.”
Plan Ahead Most of us already schedule time for important events like meetings, kids’ soccer practices or visits to the dentist’s office. But there’s nothing that says you can’t schedule me-time into your day planner, too. So set aside a block of time every day to devote to yourself. You don’t even have to do anything during this time. Ditch your phone, forget your obligations and let yourself unwind for a few minutes. If at all possible, turn it into a daily ritual. You may soon find yourself looking forward to these one-person appointments.
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Wake Up Early This might sound like a non-starter for some, but getting up a few minutes earlier than usual is an excellent way to make time for yourself. At the very least, rising early means you don’t have to run around in the morning like you’re on fire. You’ll have more time to eat a healthy breakfast or exercise or read a magazine. Doing something you enjoy, rather than lying in bed hitting the snooze button repeatedly, will help you start your day on a less stressful note.
Go for a Walk When your routine gets a little too frantic, try grabbing your walking shoes and hitting the streets or a nearby park. A daily solo stroll benefits both mind and body. It helps you strengthen your bones and organs, reduces the risk of conditions like heart disease and high blood pressure and aids in maintaining a healthy weight. Getting away from work and obligations will also help clear your head and brighten your mood. Walking is a relatively low-cost activity, too. With the right clothes and preparation, it can generally be done at any time of day and in any season.
FUN FACT The practice of taking an early afternoon nap is built into a number of cultures around the world. Known as a siesta in Spanish-speaking countries, these naps are most common in areas that feature large lunches and high midday temperatures. Get Creative Creative endeavours are a great excuse to spend more time with yourself. The list of activities that could be considered creative is virtually endless, too, which means there’s something for everyone. Journal writing, sketching, crocheting, gardening and woodcarving are just a handful of examples. If it involves getting absorbed in something that doesn’t feel like work, it’s probably good for you. It can also be rewarding to take up something you’ve never tried before. So check out what evening classes are available in your area to see if something appeals to you.
Take a Nap Nodding off might be the ultimate way to remove yourself from the affairs of the world, at least for a short time. Napping has
all sorts of benefits, such as improved mood, alertness and creativity. The trick to good napping is to not overdo it. The proper nap length may vary from person to person. But as a guideline, the National Sleep Foundation in the United States recommends short naps of 10 to 30 minutes. Going over might cause grogginess or even interfere with your regular sleep habits. t8n
DID YOU KNOW? A 2014 poll in the UK revealed that the average British mother gets just 17 minutes per day to herself. Work, children and an uneven split of the household chores were cited as the main time-eaters.
T8N February 2017 29
MEET STEPHEN KHAN A T8N interview
M OST R ESIDE NT S O F St . A lber t
will remember Stephen Khan as the Progressive Conservative MLA who represented our city from 2012 to 2015. When the New Democratic Party of Alberta swept the election two years ago, Stephen, along with the majority of his PC peers, lost his seat in the legislature. But this province-wide defeat of the Progressive Conservatives didn’t turn him away from politics. He’s currently running for the leadership of the PC party on a platform that he calls “fiscally conservative, but socially progressive.” His goal is to modernize the party by making it more representative of what Alberta looks like today. Last month, we sat down with Stephen to ask him a bit more about his vision for Alberta. Here’s what he had to say. t8n: Which aspects of your platform do you think will convince St. Albert voters to support you? 30 T8Nmagazine.com
SK: I think that people are used to seeing me being an active member of the community. I’ve lived in St. Albert since 1973, and the people here have a really clear understanding of who I am and what I stand for. St. Albert being St. Albert, if you don’t know me personally, chances are you know at least one person who has interacted with me, whether I went to school with them, coached their kids in hockey, baseball or basketball, or just interacted with them in one of the many community volunteer activities I take part in. There is a level of connectivity with my perspective in St. Albert and a level of familiarity with what I stand for. People here understand my platform more than the other communities that I’ve visited as I travel the province. This is something that I think will become clear throughout our conversation. t8n: You’ve branded yourself as “socially progressive.” What does that mean when it comes to LGBTQ rights in schools? SK: My barometer on LGBTQ issues when it comes to schools has always been my two children. I have a son who is a recent graduate from Paul Kane and a daughter who is in Grade 10 at Paul Kane right now. When it comes to LGBTQ concerns for them,
they’ve really become non-issues. As young people, they often wonder why the government is expending so much time focusing on these issues when the people who are impacted the most—the students—have already moved so far beyond the current governmental conversation that, to them, the issues are already solved. The overwhelming majority of students want their schools to be a safe and inclusive space for all children. Educators want their students to be in a position where they can succeed. These issues have been resolved by a younger generation, and I’d like to leave them as resolved issues. t8n: In terms of policy then, would you like to see the government take a more hands-off approach? SK: I’d like to see the government make sure that there is a level playing field for all Albertans, regardless of who you love or where you play. We’re all equals, and we should all be treated as such. In any instance where people are being made to feel marginalized or threatened, we definitely need to address those issues, and I think that the government has a role there. But when it comes down to questions like, “Does the government belong in the bedrooms of Albertans?” I think that the question was resolved years ago, and the answer was a resounding “No.” To use my own language, I think that this perspective is a very modern one. There is something that I call “The Myth of the Alberta Redneck” where there is a perception outside of the province that Alberta is full of rednecks. I’m here to tell you, as someone who looks the way I do, as someone who has lived in Alberta from the 70s through to today, that Alberta is a place where it doesn’t matter what you look like or where you’re from. If you work hard, you can have opportunities here. That’s the Alberta way. Albertans, overwhelmingly, dislike intolerance. If you can show up on time, you can find success here. It speaks to the modern values of Albertans, and those values are reflected in my platform of being a modern conservative. t8n: The federal government’s climate plan closely mirrors the NDP carbon tax here in Alberta. In the face of these restrictions, how would you transition Alberta away from a reliance on the fossil-fuel industry? SK: I think there are two questions there. One is regarding the NDP version of the carbon tax, which I believe people are really going to start feeling the impacts of early this year.
“Albertans, overwhelmingly, dislike intolerance. If you can show up on time, you can find success here. It speaks to the modern values of Albertans, and those values are reflected in my platform of being a modern conservative"
Ultimately, it’s an insincere wealth-transfer. When I’m leader, we will absolutely do away with it. I truly believe that it’s not effective and that it’s not going to achieve the purposes that it aims to accomplish. That’s my critique. I’ll say, from a historical perspective, Alberta was one of the very first jurisdictions to put a tax on carbon. I’ve talked to some of the folks who were in the federal government’s Department of Trade at that time, and what they’ve said is that the way we implemented the tax in 2007 didn’t have an adverse effect on the pocketbooks of individuals in Alberta, and it helped both Alberta and Canada from a competitive standpoint. If you look at jurisdictions like British Colombia, who have put a tax on carbon without taxing individuals, you’re seeing much better results. What we need are Alberta-made solutions. We need to come from a standpoint that recognizes that the taxpayer can only be hit so many times. Anything we do with that carbon tax needs to be based on sound data and sound scientific evidence. These are the things that we need to talk about, and at the same time, we need to take a page out of the books of places like Saskatchewan, where they are pushing back on the feds and investing in tech that will help reduce their carbon footprint while
–Stephen Khan
maximizing their resources. That is an intelligent and practical way to handle things and a value-for-money way to handle things. To ignore the fact that our economy is driven by the petro-chemical industry is folly. We need to increase the value of industry throughout the province—and not just when it comes to the petro-chemical sector, but in agriculture and forestry as well. In doing
SK: Bullying on any level is completely unacceptable. We teach our children in school that bullying is unacceptable, and in the workplace there are countless HR manuals being produced that forbid bullying and intimidation. I just can’t fathom how anyone in a leadership position would tolerate bullying in the political arena. Under my leadership, there will be a zero-tolerance for bullying and threats. I
“Ultimately, it [the NDP version of the carbon tax] is an insincere wealth-transfer. When I’m leader, we will absolutely do away with it. I truly believe that it’s not effective and that it’s not going to achieve the purposes that it aims to accomplish.” –Stephen Khan so, we can develop technologies that we can use to become global leaders and then export those technologies around the world. Those are the real and tangible ways of diversifying and sustaining our economy at the same time. t8n: Sandra Jensen crossed the floor, and Donna Kennedy-Glans dropped out of the leadership race due to threats and harassment. How would you address the widespread bullying that’s taking place in Alberta politics?
spoke with Sandra the day after she dropped out of the leadership race, and it wasn’t just the incident in Red Deer that drove her to her decision. That was just the tip of the iceberg. The harassment was on social media and in public forums. She was just being belittled everywhere, by and large, by one segment of the PC leadership campaign. It has to be declared loud and clear from anyone in a leadership position that bullying tactics are completely unacceptable. T8N February 2017 31
t8n: What, if anything, would you do to change the climate for women in politics? SK: When it comes to gender equality and women taking on prominent leadership roles in politics, I’ll tell you as a husband, and as a father to a daughter and as somebody who has been surrounded by strong, brilliant and incredibly effective women all his life, this is an issue that needs to be resolved. It’s going to take strong leadership to do so. That comes from building a team that is a reflection of Alberta and the values that Albertans hold. The team that I intend to build will be a younger team. It will be a gender-balanced team. It will be a team that is ethnically diverse and one that fully represents what Alberta looks like in 2017. The average age of Albertans is 36 years old. In 2015, the PC party completely lost track of that. There was this question going around during the election, “Who are all of these young people that are showing up to vote?” The data will show you that it wasn’t a bunch of university students. This is just what Alberta looks like now. The average Albertan wants to ensure that there is gender equality, that there is an acknowledgement of the LGBTQ community and that there is an embracing of ethnic diversity. Any government that I lead will be a reflection of this modern Alberta and the values that it holds.
32 T8Nmagazine.com
t8n: Parallels are being drawn between the openly sexist and hateful behaviour of some of Trump’s supporters and the behaviour of Albertans who chanted “Lock her up” at a rally to protest the Alberta carbon tax. How would you address Albertans who make up this perceived far-right demographic? SK: What we’re seeing in those examples are an obvious result of a lack of trust between the citizenry and the elected officials. For me, that all starts with re-establishing trust, and I talk about this at every campaign stop. We need to re-establish trust with the 87 constituency associations across the province. There is no other party in Alberta that has as high-functioning constituency boards as the PC party. It begins there. We need to heal our party first and re-establish that trust. Once we do that, we can go back to the voting populace of Alberta and start rebuilding trust there. Those chants are a reflection of the fact that trust has been broken. It comes back to what I was saying earlier about doing the right thing. Politics doesn’t have to be a game of chess. We can get to a spot where we’re doing the right thing for Albertans. I’m not naïve enough to think that every single Albertan is going to agree with the decisions that we make, but they should understand why we’re making them, what our motivations are and that we’re really trying to do the right thing. Once we get to that place politically, a
lot of that anger we’re seeing will dissipate, and those issues will subside. t8n: What is your hope for Albertans, regardless of who leads them? SK: I’ve been saying this to a lot of people as I tour the province. My sincere hope for Alberta is that our children will continue to have the amazing opportunities that we’ve enjoyed in the past. I want Alberta to be able to take a position of global leadership when it comes to innovation and quality of life—things that we’ve occasionally taken for granted in the past. To me, that’s what this is all about. Getting back to that space where Alberta is the best place in the world to live, work and raise your family. For the first time in a very long time, people are opening their eyes and beginning to question whether or not that is what Alberta will look like in the next 10 or 15 years. My primary motivation in seeking the PC leadership is that I believe we can get back to the point where we are the envy of the world. We’ve been that place before, and my hope is that we can get back to being that place. Want more? For exclusive access to rest of this interview, visit www.t8nmagazine.com and sign up to receive our e-newsletter. In it, Mr. Khan’s answers our questions regarding, Alberta’s minimum-wage increase, the American presidential election, climate change and much more. t8n
Sabrina’s Dance Instruction
Keeping St. Albert for
dancing 30 years D
ancing. It’s great exercise, a good way to socialize and there’s a dance to suit everyone whether you have two left feet or “channel” Fred Astaire. If you say you can’t dance, it just means you haven’t found the right dance school or the right instructor. Owner and instructor Sabrina Thievin of Sabrina’s Dance Instruction believes everyone can dance, and that anyone who wants to learn should be given the chance.
TESTIMONIAL
“As a teacher myself, I was impressed by Sabrina’s patience, humour, ability to explain things in different ways so everyone can understand, and most importantly her unwavering belief that every one of her students possesses the ability to dance. Our first dance is one of the things I remember most about our wedding day. It wasn’t just the rave reviews from our guests or the fancy lifts and dips we learned to make it extra special, it was the feeling of closeness that only comes with knowing you’re dancing with the person you’re meant to spend the rest of your life with. We’re so grateful to have stumbled upon Sabrina’s Dance and we look forward to continuing to dance together for many years to come.”
— Courtney & Greg Richard
Sabrina began her instruction career in1987 in Edmonton. She first started working in St. Albert as a group dance instructor for the city in 1992, but she wasn’t sure she wanted to teach group classes. Traditionally with group dance lessons, students have to switch partners, yet her students repeatedly said that they wanted to stay with their partners. So Sabrina decided to break with tradition and allow students their time with their partner. Because after all, dancing is about relationships. That is the reason Sabrina loves teaching dance - the relationship she has with her students and, more importantly, the relationship of the couple. Dancing isn’t just about moving across a dance floor with someone. It’s about listening to your body and your partner’s body and its combined energy. Sabrina teaches each couple how to work together by understanding your partner’s physical and emotional clues. You can tell if your dance partner is upset, tense, happy, confused or even injured just by how he or she moves or even looks at you. When you’re a beginner, you’ll be more concerned with yourself and not stepping on anyone’s toes, but after time, you’re able to focus on your partner.
But, most importantly, dancing is about trust. Sabrina tells her male students, “A gentleman asks a woman to dance, then the man tells her what to do on the dance floor.” She explains that partnership dancing is trusting your partner; he’ll feel more confident because she trusts him, and she will feel more relaxed because she can trust him to keep hersafe as he leads her around the dance floor. “It’s an incredible experience to have that trust in each other. If you don’t trust yourself, if you don’t trust your partner, things will go wrong—just as in life.” No matter how or why you enter the world of dancing—you can learn to dance. After 30 years teaching couples’ dancing, Sabrina firmly believes that, whether a single or a couple, dancing is a fantastic way to socialize with others, to have private time with your partner and to escape the everyday for a little while. In her 30th year of instruction, there’ll be many exciting things to come.
CLASSES
Sabrina’s Dance Instruction has several classes for students: • Private lessons for individuals and couples • Semi-private lessons for two couples. • Custom groups for three to seven couples. • Off-site or corporate group events (small or large). • Group lessons for beginners and more advanced. • Practice dances are held every few months for anyone, not just for her students. Minimum of two prior dance lessons. • Contact Sabrina via sabrinadance.ca, phone number 780 459 3100 or on Facebook at Sabrinas-Dance-Instruction -196992201214.
This sponsored content was produced in partnership between Sabrina’s Dance Instruction and T8N magazine. T8N February 2017 33
Then & Now
STURGEON
HOSPITAL THEN & NOW
CONSTRUCTION ON THE Sturgeon
Hospital began in 1968, and truth be told, it never really stopped. Over the last half century, the Sturgeon Hospital has undergone an almost constant process of expansion and renovation and has even undergone one complete relocation. As a county grows, a county hospital has no choice but to grow along with it—a fact that the Sturgeon Hospital can attest to all too well. Here’s a look at its history.
1960s During the first century of the region’s history, Sturgeon County residents who required specialized medical aid had no choice but to make the long trek into Edmonton. But as the population of the capital region expanded, Edmonton hospitals became overburdened and began to deny referrals from Sturgeon County doctors, unless it was deemed an emergency. By the early 1960s, residents of Sturgeon County, St. Albert, Morinville and Legal were fed up with the lack of medical care they were able to receive and gathered together to form the Sturgeon County Hospital 34 T8Nmagazine.com
Sturgeon Community Hospital, 2016.
Committee. Their sole purpose was to create a medical facility that would be capable of serving the needs of the county.
1970s After nearly a decade of planning and fundraising, the efforts of the committee finally paid off when the Sturgeon General Hospital opened its doors on August 5, 1970. The hospital was a four-storey brick building constructed along what would soon become McKenney Avenue. The building was strategically positioned on the northern edge of town so that it could cater to the northern communities of the county, as well as to the anticipated northern expansion of St. Albert. Though it may seem quaint today, the Sturgeon General was touted as a state-of-the-art facility in the 70s. Among its amenities, the hospital boasted a capacity of 100 beds, 3 operating theatres and a 4-bed intensive-care unit, which was unheard of in a rural hospital. The waiting room of the maternity ward was even constructed intentionally too small as a way to encourage fathers to be present during labour—a novel idea at the time. At the opening ceremony, provincial government representatives called the hospital, “the last word in accommodation
DID YOU KNOW?
As part of its technological innovations, the original Sturgeon Hospital was home to the very first elevator in St. Albert. and facilities.” Unfortunately, that couldn’t have been further from the truth. As early as 1974, there were calls to expand the hospital because it couldn’t keep up with the county’s rapidly expanding population.
1980s The anticipated northern expansion of St. Albert was realized, but it came a little earlier than the hospital planners had expected. In fact, residential developments wrapped themselves so tightly around the hospital’s footprint that it limited the facility’s potential for growth. By the late 1980s, it was clear that the only viable option was to demolish the hospital and to start over on a new site.
1990s In 1992, the new Sturgeon Community Hospital opened its doors to the public. The hospital had once again been constructed on what was, at the time, the northern edge
Sturgeon General Hospital, ca. 1970–1992. Image credit: Musée Héritage Museum
of the city, but this time it was built with growth in mind. This proved a good decision, as it wasn’t long before the upward limits of the hospital’s capacity began to be tested once again.
2000s The new hospital had been constructed to accommodate about 25,000 emergency-room visits per year, but by the early 2000s, the emergency-room visits had grown to double the maximum intended capacity. Though only a decade old, a renovation plan was soon drafted to better accommodate the ever-increasing health-care demands. In 2005, the hospital started construction on a new emergency room, a new main entrance and a new administration building, as well as a number of smaller add-ons and adjustments. t8n
FUN FACT The original Sturgeon Hospital cost 2 million dollars to construct in its entirety. In contrast, the latest renovations to the current hospital cost over 34 million dollars. T8N February 2017 35
The 8s
Amazing Lace What’s old is new again GONE ARE THE days of lace being
1
thought of as either risqué or crochet. Today’s lace—in all its interpretations —is as dynamic as the individuals who fancy it. It’s being imposed onto textiles and stencilled onto cakes, upcycled into jewellery and fashioned into apparel. It’s for everyone. Lucky for us, it’s also everywhere. From small shops and galleries to box stores and malls, there’s a place to find lace around every corner.
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1. Fulton Umbrella, from Marshalls, $11 2. Vintage Charms Key Necklace, from Haiku Lane, $38 each 3. Lace-trimmed Scarf, from Marshalls, $29.99 4. Mod Pots Ceramics Dandy Cups & Granny Vases, from Art Gallery of St. Albert, $18 to $30 each
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5. Cake Stencilled with Lace Doily and Powdered Sugar 6. Rebellion Lace Bomber, from Marshalls, $29.99 7. Stronger iPhone Case, from Winners, $12.99 8. Voluspa Mini Tin Candles, from Chapters Indigo, $11 each
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T8N February 2017 37
FOR MANY EMPLOYEES, the idea
of a lifelong career with the same organization is a concept left behind with shows like Leave It to Beaver. And though the workplace has changed since Beaver’s dad went to the office (thank goodness!), the idea of some “golly gee” politeness around the water cooler is not without its charms. Fortunately, many of today’s employers are investing in tools for fostering workplace wellness and mitigating conflict. From understanding your HR policies to surviving your co-worker’s stinky lunch, here are some simple strategies to help create a healthy workplace.
Respect in the Workplace Respect in the workplace isn’t simply about manners. It includes the ways in which you engage and collaborate with others. A respectful workplace is one in which every person in the organization is treated with dignity and valued for their contribution. It begins with leadership but includes the entire organization. As a valued employee, respect is being asked to do meaningful work and to be fairly compensated for it. Respect also helps foster a strong workplace culture that’s more productive, has high morale and retains long-term employees. So refrain from gossip and non-constructive criticism and, instead, look for opportunities to praise the work of colleagues and contribute to a positive atmosphere.
Workplace Culture Understanding your workplace culture is a key component to fitting into any job. A strong workplace culture prioritizes respect and dignity and reflects the mission and values of the organization. But a “good fit” means different things to different people. 38 T8Nmagazine.com
WORKPLACE
WELLNESS This Isn’t Your Grandpa’s Office BY RHONDA KRONYK
Recognizing how the organization functions on a personal level is important, so whenever possible, try to learn these things before signing an employment contract. For example, if everybody dresses in a suit and tie, your favourite khakis could garner some side-eye. If you are an introvert, an office full of cubicles may not be your best fit. Learn how often meetings are held and if they’re chaired or informal. Do they include team-building exercises that might make you cringe? And are there policies about dating? The answers can help you understand your workplace culture and make your job a more comfortable fit.
Surviving Cubicle Nation Cubicles are the bane of many employees. From the cubicle partner who insists on using the speakerphone to your neighbour who won’t stop talking for five minutes so you can complete your work, cubicles can be a nightmare. How do you combat the noise, lack of privacy and ever-present smells of a large space that houses dozens of staff members? First, don’t contribute to the problem: keep your own
noise levels down, don’t stick your nose in other people’s cubicles and keep perfumes and food out of the office space. While you’re at it, leave your shoes on—your fellow workers will thank you. When you need time without interruptions, use headphones (if allowed) or tape a Please Do Not Disturb sign to the back of your chair or cubicle entry. Better yet, if your workplace has quiet rooms, book one while working on difficult tasks or meeting deadlines.
Know Your Workplace Policies Workplace policies and procedures manuals clearly define the expectations for employees and the organization. So always familiarize yourself with them. If you are a contractor, this document may even be considered the contract that outlines your terms of work—so always ask to see the manual… if it exists, that is… Many organizations, especially smaller ones, don’t have written policies. So if your organization hasn’t defined its expectations, ask your employer or Human Resources (HR) department to clearly define your position
IS IT TIME TO LEAVE? Deciding to leave a job is never easy. However, if your job is affecting your mental or physical health, it’s likely time to look for an alternative. Do your best to have a plan in place before handing in your resignation, and never use office time to look for a new position—book a personal or vacation day instead. Regardless of why you leave, do it respectfully, and never burn your bridges. and their company policies. Always have specific questions so that your discussion is focused and productive—it’s up to you to advocate for yourself and make the most of your job. As an employer, remember that policies are living documents that should constantly adapt to reflect changes in the workplace. “We’ve always done it this way” can lead to inefficiencies and discontentment. As an employee, review is opportunity to find new ways to contribute to a healthy, productive workplace.
Hello, HR Department You likely met at least one member of the HR department when you were hired. And it’s in your best interests to continue that
relationship. If you’re not sure about a policy or think a mistake has been made on your paycheque, make an HR appointment. If you have a problem you can’t take to your supervisor, ask HR for advice. Remember, though HR personnel work for the company, their role is to act as a liaison between management and staff, which makes them a valuable resource for problem solving.
Sick Days There are often questions about what constitutes a sick day, as opposed to a personal day. If you are legitimately ill, stay home to recover, and avoid being the person who gave this year’s big flu bug to the entire office. If you choose to use a sick day because you need a day off to recharge, plan it carefully—try not to book it when you are in
the middle of a critical project or nearing an important deadline. Some employers also allow for personal days. These days cover the often unexpected realities of life such as family emergencies, military duty or religious holidays. Be sure to know what’s available to you.
Social Media Etiquette More and more organizations have social media policies, so read and follow them carefully. Not doing so could lead to embarrassing situations (for you and your organization) or even to losing your job. Social media policies often cover issues relating to language (profanity, tone, political correctness), harassment, brand messaging and respectful interactions. Policies may also cover your personal use of social media, both at work and away—if your company does not allow social media during office hours, save it for your break. Some policies even go so far as to monitor your personal social media accounts. In those instances, if you wouldn’t say it at the office, don’t say it online. t8n
T8N February 2017 39
CY• BER• CHON• DRI• A (n.) A diagnosis from Dr. Google
WE’VE ALL BEEN there. Something
seems a bit off, health-wise—like a mole you swear wasn’t there before or a cough that just won’t go away. And though you know it’s probably nothing, concern creeps in. Thanks to the Internet, the days of going directly to the doctor for a diagnosis are dwindling. For many, Google has become the first stop for symptom checking. This practice, though convenient, may be doing more harm than good. Here we explore cyberchondria.
What Is Cyberchondria? Cyberchondria is the compulsion to search the web for health-related information and information about specific symptoms (real or
medical conditions share symptoms with more serious diseases. And an online search can easily link your symptom with something sinister. Pretty soon you’ve entered into an anxiety-inducing cycle of symptom checking—a few clicks of your mouse has turned your heartburn into a heart attack and your tension headache into a brain tumour.
A Growing Concern Cyberchondria can cause people to have a distorted or incomplete understanding of their symptoms, which is a concern for many doctors. A doctor considers many factors when making a diagnosis—things like the patient’s age, overall health, medical history and family history. When patients self-diagnose on the Internet, they often aren’t looking at the full picture of their health, yet their
Could You Be a Cyberchondriac? The line between taking a healthy interest in your well-being and obsessively checking symptoms online is blurry at best, but there are specific signs that you are vulnerable to cyberchondria:
FUN FACTS
• When you experience any symptom, the first thing you do is Google it.
A 2009 Statistics Canada survey found that 70% of Canadian Internet users search for health information online. The same study revealed that 74% of women and 66% of men used the Internet to search information about health or medical conditions.
• You don’t stop at one website. You visit multiple sites for each symptom you experience.
imagined). People who have cyberchondria tend to use the Internet to self-diagnose, usually assuming the worst-case scenario.
health anxiety is causing them to believe the (not always reliable) information they found online over their doctor’s professional opinion.
Its Origins
When a patient has self-diagnosed and has spent hours researching a certain medical condition online before visiting their doctor, it can lead to an incorrect diagnosis from their doctor. Patients may unintentionally exaggerate certain symptoms, suppress certain symptoms or even imagine symptoms to support their Internet diagnosis, which means their doctor can’t diagnose them correctly.
• You spend a lot of time looking up health-related information online— sometimes hours a day. You may have even missed work, family time or social engagements.
The term “cyberchondria” began popping up in the early 2000s; it blends the words “cyber” and “hypochondria,” which is the tendency to fear that you have medical conditions you don’t actually have.
The Good & The Bad Checking your symptoms online isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In fact, researching health-related topics can make you a more informed patient. Internet research can help you communicate more effectively with your doctor, ask smart questions and take an active role in your health. Problems arise, however, when turning to the Internet for answers doesn’t help you feel more in control of your health, but instead makes you feel more anxious. Many common 40 T8Nmagazine.com
DID YOU KNOW? One of the most-at-risk groups for cyberchondria is new parents—or, more specifically, new moms—who search the Internet or visit online forums to check that their newborn’s symptoms or behaviours are normal.
• Your primary online activity is searching health information. • You trust your online research over your doctor’s opinion—even though you’ve gotten the all clear from your doctor, you still aren’t convinced you’re fine.
How to Combat It The next time you experience a symptom, resist the urge to Google, and make a doctor’s appointment instead. If you must go online, make sure you visit a reputable source for medical information. Ask your doctor to recommend a credible website. If health anxiety and online symptom checking is affecting your daily life, it may be time to seek advice from a mental health professional. t8n
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