T8N Magazine Volume 11 Issue 1

GREEN CUISINE

6 HEALTHY DISHES WORTH CREATING

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL

HOW ST. ALBERT STUDENTS STAGE A PLAY

WILD EARTH BAKERY

SUCCESS BY THE SLICE

SOPHIE GRAY FROM INSTAGRAM TO HEALTHCARE

RALLY ON ST. ALBERT’S PROTEST PAST

PUBLISHER EDITOR

Rob Lightfoot Gene Kosowan

DESIGN & PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT

Isaac White

PHOTOGRAPHY

Paula E. Kirman, Stephanie Cragg, and Brenda Lakeman

CONTRIBUTOR

Paula E. Kirman, Tom Murray, and Shima Zonneveld

OFFICE MANAGER

Janice Lightfoot

CONTRIBUTING AGENCIES

Adobe Stock, Musee Heritage Museum (https://archives. museeheritage.ca/beat-bounds-materials-file)

ISSN 2368-707X (PRINT)

ISSN 2368-7088 (ONLINE)

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T8N PUBLISHING INC

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Rob Lightfoot: rob@t8nmagazine.com

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Contents

Culture

6 THE PLAY’S THE THING

How Bellerose Composite High School stages a theatrical production

Living

12 FOOD & GATHERINGS

ALL THINGS GREEN

Try these 6 options to put a little ‘spring’ in your appetite

20 THE 8S A MODERN EASTER

Here’s a look at a few progressive gift ideas to celebrate the occasion City

22 MEET YOU THERE

BREAD WINNER

Wild Earth Bakery continues to keep it natural

25 THEN & NOW

A RETRO LOOK AT RALLIES

St. Albert protests tend to reflect the pride folks have for the city

Spotlight

27 ACCESSIBLE HEALING

A former fitness influencer finds a new way to deliver mental health services

Down Time

30 EASTER EXCURSION

You won’t get egg on your face taking part in this hunt

IN THE LAST couple of years, the provincial government has refocused its sights on education, with a proposed K-12 curriculum overhaul, handling gay-straight alliances, and — more recently — balancing parental roles with LGBTQ student needs. Fortunately, the teaching of arts subjects like drama has remained under the radar.

Education Alberta declares drama is part of its school system’s fundamental principles, calling it “both an art form and a medium for learning and teaching.” To all those involved, drama is not only a labour of love, it’s also an ambitious undertaking, crowned by the large-scale theatrical attractions mounted by high schools each spring. On page 6, we follow one local high school to trace a production’s development from conception to completion.

We also talk to Instagram influencer Sophie Gray, who’s leapt from social media to heightening social awareness of mental health with DiveThru, a chain of facilities that includes a new clinic opening in St. Albert on page 27. It’s a different story for Wild Earth Bakery owner Melinda Admiraal, who took over the establishment to preserve its legacy. Check out her progress on page 22.

Other stories of note include a number of healthy green recipe options (page 12), some unique Easter gift ideas (page 20) and a chronicle of some real drama from St. Albert’s past, in the form of notable protests and rallies concerning this city (page 25). Enjoy this edition and find out why all of St. Albert is a stage, from page to page.

On the Cover

As spring is about to add some organic life to the landscape in the wake of a mild winter, it’s not enough to think green. Eating snacks and drinking some unique concoctions in the spirit of the season also helps, which will be made clear on page 12.

Rob Lightfoot

Cover Photo by Brenda Lakeman

The play’s the thing

BY: TOM MURRAY PHOTOGRAPHY: BELLEROSE COMPOSITE HIGH SCHOOL, PAUL KANE HIGH SCHOOL, PAULA E. KIRMAN

How Bellerose Composite High School stages a theatrical production

IT’S RECEIVED WISDOM among many at Bellerose that basketball season is the longest season of the year at the St. Albert high school.

English teachers Jacey Burkholder and Mason McGuire, director and assistant director respectively of the school’s upcoming production of Sweeney Todd might disagree with that statement.

“Theatre season is much longer, so when we hear someone talk about basketball we kind of chuckle,” says Burkholder over the phone while McGuire chuckles beside her. “It’s a busy time with department head meetings on Mondays, rehearsals on Tuesdays and Thursdays and a flex block on Wednesdays where we sometimes ask certain departments to come in. There is definitely a level of commitment.”

No doubt. McGuire and Burkholder aren’t just working with a troupe of actors, they’re overseeing multiple departments responsible for every facet of the production. Assignments have been given to the tech departments such as sets, props, lighting and sound, costuming and stage management. Another group of students is responsible for organizing media. As with the school sports teams, the yearly theatrical performance might take place within the school year, but the seeds are planted in the summer months. It wasn’t long after the three-night April run of Anything Goes that Burkholder was brainstorming for 2024.

June

Burkholder and her producing partner from that year choose Sweeney Todd after discussing the pros and cons of any number of other possibilities. “There were some scripts that you would think would be appropriate, but turned out to be not very school appropriate,” Burkholder says.

Turns out that Sweeney Todd, for all of its grisly subject matter involving rape, murder, and cannibalism, is rated PG-13. According to the licensing web site Music Theatre International, the cost of licensing is based on such elements as ticket price and venue capacity; even a free performance demands as much as $1,000. The final step is to have the play signed off by the principal.

“It’s not hard to licence Sweeney Todd, but it can be expensive,” Burkholder stresses.

September

By the second week of September the gears are already rolling. Auditions and interviews take two weeks, followed by rehearsals; students are assigned roles at the first rehearsal on September 23. “For Sweeney Todd, each actor, regardless of whether they were auditioning for a named character or ensemble, had to audition with a monologue, a song, and a speaking piece where they had to present with an English accent,” Burkholder says.

With Sweeney Todd, the school has taken on a difficult assignment. “We chose a tough musical,” Burkholder wryly admits. “It’s technically quite complex. For instance, there’s a mechanized chair that can slide a person off. It’s intricate and requires a great deal more work than the average prop.”

Based on a mid-19th century Penny Dreadful, the basic premise of the musical revolves around a London barber who murders his clients and gives the corpses to an accomplice, who makes pies from them. The plot has been through a number of different iterations, but the most popular has to be Stephen Sondheim’s 1979 musical Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. This was the version that inspired the successful Tim Burton/Johnny Depp film in 2007, thus inspiring a new generation of theatre kids.

October/November

With Burkholder’s usual directing accomplice away on leave, Mason McGuire is pulled into the production. Things are beginning to coalesce, though the director and co-director still have a great deal of work to do. Behind the scenes, activity is ramping up, and there’s a great deal of talk about motivations as the actors grapple with their characters.

“We’re talking about what Sweeney Todd’s purpose was and having a lot of moral discussions with the kids,” McGuire notes. “The character of The Judge is very disturbing, for instance, so we have discussions where we give strategies to the students.”

“Sometimes it’s a pep talk,” Burkholder says. “We kind of say that the work you are doing is important, and it is good. We need to keep going. You know we have a show that’s going to be coming up in April, and we just need to do the best that we can. Hopefully, that gets through and makes them feel a little bit better.”

December/January

By now the team are very aware that they’re in for the long haul. “We’ve used the metaphor of being on a roller coaster,” says Burkholder. “Sometimes you’re up and it’s awesome, sometimes you hit that low. That is when we remember why we’re doing it, and that’s because we become a family. It’s absolutely worthwhile and you will remember these moments for the rest of your life, but right now you are in the trenches and it’s not awesome.”

It’s important to remember that this is a musical, and Sweeney Todd has a lot of songs for the students to memorize. “Oh, it’s tough,” Burkholder affirms. “There are 51 songs.” “A typical musical would have something like 21 or 22 songs,” McGuire chimes in. “And we have the added bonus of these songs being about the Demon Barber of Fleet Street.”

February/March

The bleakest months of the year sees the production looking at specifics. “We’re kind of getting through some of our bigger ensemble pieces,” Burkholder says. “Because those take the most time, coordination, and the most larger scale student involvement. We would like to be farther than we are, but that’s how it goes with something this complex.”

While the actors and crew struggle with their own Sisyphean tasks, Burkholder and McGuire put out the small fires that are constantly erupting. “We’re always dealing with a few glitches,” McGuire admits. “Materials that we need and whether we can get them. This is all very normal.”

April

Miracle of miracles, it will all have to come together, just as high school musicals always do. Everything is still up in the air, but Burkholder hopes that there will be matinee and dinner theatre performances (with Foods teacher Chris Tom-Kee in charge of the culinary part) taking place April 25-27 at the school theatre.

By that time, whatever chaos may happen behind the set, the audience will never know. There’s just one more thing for Burkholder and McGuire to do, and that’s to accommodate the possibility of the presence of the now-deceased Stephen Sondheim.

“We need to put aside a seat for the screenwriter,” Burkholder wryly acknowledges. “That’s part of the licensing fee with any production, in case they decide to show up.”

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICALS AT A GLANCE

Students in three St. Albert high schools have found themselves immersed in staging popular musicals throughout the 2023/24 school year.

Already completed at Paul Kane High School was the Feb. 5-7 mounting of the Broadway blockbuster Little Shop of Horrors by the playwright tandem of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken. The musical about a love-obsessed florist who creates a mysterious plant breed took place on the high school’s recently-constructed theatre facility.

April 25-27 will see Bellerose Composite High School stage its in-house production of Sweeney Todd, which has enjoyed repeated runs on Broadway, winning several Tony awards in the process. Its playwright, Stephen Sondheim, garnered a great deal of acclaim for other shows he’s created, from A Little Night Music to West Side Story

The Arden Theatre will host Les Mis, being put on by Ecole Secondaire St. Albert Catholic High School May 15-16. Better known as Les Misérables, the multiple Tony-winning musical take on the Victor Hugo classic novel chronicles the exploits of a freed French thief adjusting to life on the outside during the 19th-century June Rebellion.

Planning a Home Renovation: The Benefits of Using a Professional Contractor

Renovating your home can be an exciting and fulfilling process, but it can also be a daunting one, especially if you’re new to the world of DIY. Whether you’re looking to update your kitchen, add an extension, or overhaul your entire property, it’s important to have a plan in place to ensure that your renovation is a success. In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of planning a home renovation and using a professional contractor to help you achieve your vision.

Benefits of Planning a Home Renovation

The first step in any successful home renovation is careful planning. Planning allows you to define your goals, set a budget, and create a timeline for your project. Here are some of the benefits of taking the time to plan your renovation:

1. Defining your goals: By taking the time to define your renovation goals, you can ensure that your project stays on track and meets your expectations.

For example, if you’re renovating your kitchen, you might want to prioritize functionality, storage, or aesthetic appeal. By setting clear goals at the outset, you can make sure that your renovation is focused on what’s important to you.

2. Setting a budget: One of the biggest benefits of planning your renovation is that it allows you to set a budget and stick to it. By creating a detailed budget, you can avoid overspending and ensure that your project stays within your means. This can be especially important if you’re taking out a loan to fund your renovation, as you’ll need to be able to repay the loan without incurring significant debt.

3. Creating a timeline: A well-planned renovation can help you stay on track and meet your deadlines. By creating a detailed timeline, you can ensure that your project is completed on schedule and within your desired timeframe. This can be especially important if you’re renovating your home while you’re living in it, as you’ll want to minimize disruptions to your daily routine.

Benefits of Using a Professional Contractor

While it’s possible to DIY a home renovation, many homeowners choose to work with a professional contractor to help them achieve their goals. Here are some of the benefits of using a professional contractor for your home renovation:

1. Experience and Expertise: A professional contractor has the experience and expertise to handle even the most complex renovation projects. They’ll be able to help you design your project, obtain the necessary permits, and navigate any unforeseen challenges that arise during the construction process. Additionally, they’ll have access to the latest tools, techniques, and materials, which can help ensure that your renovation is of the highest quality.

2. Time and Cost Savings: While it might seem counterintuitive, working with a professional contractor can actually save you time and money in the long run. Because contractors have the experience and expertise

to work efficiently, they’ll be able to complete your renovation more quickly than you would be able to do on your own. Additionally, they’ll be able to purchase materials and supplies at a lower cost, thanks to their industry connections and purchasing power.

3. Peace of Mind: Perhaps the biggest benefit of using a professional contractor for your renovation is the peace of mind it can provide. Knowing that your project is in capable hands can help you avoid stress and worry, and can allow you to focus on enjoying the transformation of your home. Additionally, a professional contractor will be fully insured, meaning that you’ll be protected in the unlikely event that something goes wrong during the renovation process.

Tips for Working with a Professional Contractor

If you’ve decided to work with a professional contractor for your home renovation, here are some tips to help ensure that the process is a success:

1. Do Your Research: Before hiring a contractor, it’s important to do your research to find someone who is a good fit for your project. Look for contractors who have experience in

the type of renovation you’re planning, and ask for references from previous clients. You can also check online reviews and ratings to get a sense of a contractor’s reputation.

2. Get Everything in Writing: Once you’ve selected a contractor, be sure to get everything in writing. This should include a detailed contract that outlines the scope of the project, the timeline, the budget, and any other important details. Having everything in writing can help avoid misunderstandings and ensure that both you and the contractor are on the same page.

3. Communicate Clearly: Clear communication is key to a successful renovation project. Make sure you discuss your goals and expectations with your contractor upfront, and be sure to keep the lines of communication open throughout the project. If you have any concerns or questions, don’t hesitate to bring them up with your contractor.

4. Be Flexible: Even with careful planning and a professional contractor, it’s possible that your renovation project may encounter unexpected challenges or delays. Try to be flexible and patient, and work with your contractor to find solutions to any issues that arise.

In conclusion, planning a home renovation and working with a professional contractor can help you achieve your renovation goals with less stress and worry. By taking the time to define your goals, set a budget, and create a timeline, you can ensure that your renovation is a success. And by working with a professional contractor who has the experience, expertise, and resources to handle your project, you can save time and money while enjoying the peace of mind that comes with knowing your renovation is in capable hands. With careful planning and the right contractor, your home renovation can be a fulfilling and transformative experience that enhances your quality of life for years to come. This

ALL THINGS GREEN

Try these 6 options to put a little ‘spring’ in your appetite

HAPPY SPRINGTIME, EVERYONE! As we eagerly await green buds, longer days, rain and more sun to brighten our surroundings, the celebration of the

BY: SHIMA ZONNEVELD PHOTOGRAPHY: BRENDA LAKEMAN

new season isn’t complete without a few healthy things to nosh on. And with that, here are a few recipes to celebrate the green we eat and drink!

AVOCADO & BASIL PASTA

Fresh basil, kale and avocado provide a beautiful green colour to this fresh and creamy pasta dish which can easily be thrown together any night of the week!

500g linguine (any pasta of choice)

2 large avocado, peeled and pit removed

1 c. fresh basil

1c. fresh kale

7 tbsp. olive oil

1 tbsp. water

1 tsp. kosher salt

1/2 tsp. black pepper

1 tsp. lemon juice shake of chili flakes

In a food processor, combine the avocado, basil, kale, olive oil, water, salt, pepper and chili flakes. Process until smooth. Set aside, keeping the mixture in the food processing bowl.

In a pot of boiling, salted water, cook the pasta according to package directions. When the pasta is ready to drain, remove one cup of the pasta water and set this aside.

Return the pasta to the cooking pot and add in the avocado sauce. Add in pasta water if needed to loosen up the sauce and stir to combine.

Serve warm and garnish with a few leaves of basil.

PISTACHIO SANDWICH COOKIES

If you have never tried pistachio cream, run out and buy a jar right now! Think chocolate-hazelnut spread, but with pistachios and a beautiful green colour. Spread it on toast, eat it off the spoon or sandwich it in between two vanilla cookies for a delicious dessert.

2 sticks or 1c. unsalted butter at room temperature

1c. white sugar

1 tsp. kosher salt

1 large egg

2 tsp. vanilla extract

3c. all-purpose flour

1 jar of pistachio cream

1/4 c. finely chopped pistachios

Preheat oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper, set aside.

In either a stand mixer or using a hand mixer, cream together the butter and the sugar until light and fluffy.

Add in the vanilla extract and mix to combine. Add in the flour and the salt and combine the batter.

On a very lightly floured surface, turn out the dough. Flour a rolling pin and roll the dough out to approximately ¼ inches thick. Using a square, rectangle or circle cookie cutter, cut out the desired shapes and place on the parchment lined pans.

This dough can be rerolled until there are only a few scraps left!

Bake for 10-12 minutes until lightly golden around the edge of the cookie.

Cool the cookies completely. Taking two matching cookies, spoon on the pistachio cream on the bottom cookie in desired thickness, sprinkle with chopped pistachios and press on the top cookie.

Squish together and enjoy!

KALE, POTATO & CAULIFLOWER SALAD

Kale is a hearty salad green which can stand up to the addition of a spiced mixture of potato and cauliflower. This is a dinnerworthy salad with chopped cashews and a tahini dressing.

Salad portion:

1 bunch of kale, tough stems removed, washed and thinly sliced

1/4 c. thinly sliced red onion

1/4 c. salted cashews, coarsely chopped

2 tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro (divide in half, leaving half for garnish)

Combine these three ingredients in a big bowl and set to the side.

Dressing:

2 tbsp. tahini

2 tsp. white miso paste

1 tsp. rice vinegar

2 tsp. maple syrup

salt and pepper to taste

Add all the ingredients into a tall cup and using a hand blender, blend until smooth. Set aside.

Roasted Potatoes & Cauliflower:

Line a baking sheet with parchment and preheat the oven to 400°F.

2 c. cauliflower, cut down to florets

2 c. baby potatoes, quartered

2 tbsp. olive oil

In a large bowl, toss all four ingredients, ensuring that the vegetables are coated in both oil and salt. Pour onto the prepared baking sheet.

Roast for 25-30 minutes until the potatoes are golden brown and the tips of the cauliflower are darker. Set this mixture aside on the sheet pan.

In a large skillet, heat 2 tbsp. olive oil over medium. Once warm, add a shake of chili flakes, a shake of cumin seeds, 1/2 tsp. turmeric and cook until the spices are fragrant. Add in the cauliflower and potato mixture and give this a big pinch of salt. Stir and taste again for the salt.

Putting the salad together:

Add the dressing into the bowl with the kale, red onion and cashews. Hold a bit back to drizzle over the top.

On a large platter, spread the kale salad in an even layer. Spoon the cauliflower and potato mixture over the top. Drizzle with the remainder of the dressing and add chopped fresh cilantro previously set aside.

THE MELLITO

As we look forward to spring, why not try a refreshing take on a mojito using Midori? This melon-flavoured liqueur tastes just as good as it looks!

1/2 c. sugar

1/2 c. water

15 mint leaves juice of 1/2 lime

1 1/2 oz. Midori

1 1/2 oz. white rum

2 oz. soda water

Mint Simple Syrup:

In a medium sauce pan, bring the sugar, water and 10 mint leaves to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil for one minute, remove from heat and let the mixture steep for 30 minutes.

For the Drink:

In a tall jar, middle five mint leaves with 1 oz. of simple syrup and the lime juice. Add five ice cubes and stir. Mix in the Midori, the white run and the soda water. Stir to combine.

Serve with mint leaves and a wedge of lime.

Fun twist: Instead of white rum try coconut rum!

HERBY POTATO PIZZA

Bacon, potato, basil and parmesan, do we need to say anymore? Now combine those ingredients on top of a pizza for a tasty meal that hits all the right flavours!

1 store-bought pizza dough ball (homemade also awesome)

2 -3 tbsp. olive oil

1 c. basil

1/4 c. thinly sliced red onion

5 slices of cooked bacon, chopped

1/2 c. shaved parmesan

1 c. baby potatoes, sliced on the mandolin, dried in a dish towel Maldon sea salt black pepper

Preheat oven to 500°F.

Take 3/4 of the basil and slice it thinly, chiffonade style. Add in to the olive oil in a small bowl. Set aside.

Stretch out the pizza dough either into a circle or a rectangle. Spread the basil infused olive oil onto the top of the pizza. Then add the potato slices in one single layer. Top with onion, bacon and parmesan.

Bake for 8-12 minutes until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is bubbly.

Let the pizza set up for five minutes before slicing.

Serve with a sprinkle of sea salt and a grind of black pepper!

EGG & SPINACH BURRITO

A crisp burrito is great anytime of the day and there’s so much flexibility within the recipe to customize for all the different preferences in a family. Breakfast for dinner is a great time to flex with this recipe.

This makes four large burritos.

4 whole wheat or white tortilla wraps

4 eggs

1/4 c. milk

2 tbsp. finely chopped Jalapeno pepper

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. black pepper

1 c. shredded cheese of choice (Monterey Jack with Jalapeño is a winner!)

1 ripe avocado

2 c. baby spinach, stems trimmed off 1/2 c. corn zest from 1 lime

1 c. sour cream avocado oil

Mix the sour cream with the lime zest and set aside.

Combine the eggs, the milk and the pepper. Whisk this mixture vigorously. Add in the salt and pepper and pour this mixture into a preheated skillet over medium temperature.

Cook the egg without stirring until the bottom is golden brown and then flip and cook the other side. Once done, slide onto cutting board. Cut into two-inch strips.

Lay out the four wraps and start assembling the burritos. Spread either salsa or mashed avocado (or both) in the middle of the wrap. Next add 1-2 egg strips, a layer of cheese, a sprinkling of corn and 1/4 cup of the spinach.

Fold the right side of the wrap over, next fold in the top and bottom flaps and finish by folding over the left side. Turn the burrito over seam side down and finish preparing the other wraps.

Heat a skillet over medium heat.

Brush the all the sides of the burrito with avocado oil and pop them into the prepared pan. Flip when golden in colour and fry the other side.

Serve warm with zesty sour cream and salsa.

Tip: If the burrito wants to open, just rest a heavy bowl on top of it while frying.

6 good reasons for having life insurance

When your financial or personal situation changes, life insurance may be important to protect your loved ones in case of death. Here are a few reasons why life insurance may be right for you.

1. Covering funeral expenses

On average, a funeral costs between $5,000 and $10,000 in Canada.1 Even with low coverage, life insurance can prevent your loved ones from facing financial burdens to cover these expenses.

2. Paying off debts

Financial commitments, such as mortgage loans, car loans, lines of credit, and appliances purchased in installments, can multiply over time. Life insurance provides a lump sum that can be used to repay debts and prevent them from being transferred to your family.

3. Protecting against loss of income

For families with children who aim to make up for lost income in the event of a parent’s death, term life insurance may be a good option. A 10-, 20- or 30-year term life insurance will pay a lump sum upon death, provided you pay a fixed premium during the specified period. After the policy term, your personal life insurance coverage will end.

4. Safeguarding your business

If you have a business and something unfortunate happens to you, will your loved ones be able to take over your business? A shareholder agreement may put safeguards in place, such as insurance to buy back a partner’s shares. The estate thus

Jennifer Miles, Agent 125-15 Circle Dr

St. Albert

780-460-2279

jen@jmilesinsurance.com

jmilesinsurance.com

receives an amount for the shares, avoiding the need for other partners to co-manage the company with the deceased shareholder’s loved ones.

5. Maximizing your savings

If you’ve already put a lot into your RRSP and TFSA, insurance offers additional ways to save.

Permanent life insurance guarantees life insurance as long as the insurance policy is in effect and can be a tax-efficient way to pass on inheritance.

Participating life insurance is permanent coverage with flexible participation options. The insurer pays a participating interest annually, in the form of a dividend. You may even include a savings component, which can be used to provide a financial base for your loved ones, financing the growth of your business or increasing your retirement income. The cash surrender value of your policy accumulates tax-free.

Universal life insurance includes a savings component within the policy. The insured chooses the type of investment. As long as certain rules are followed, amounts are accumulated tax-free.

6. Because once it’s done, it’s done!

Getting life insurance usually requires the completion of a detailed questionnaire, and depending on age and health, certain medical tests. Based on the results, the insurer can determine a risk level and may adjust the rate.

Interested in learning more about life insurance?

Give me a call – and, for more helpful prevention tips, visit desjardins.com/en/tips.html.

Michelle Broadbent, Agent 3523 Tudor Gln St. Albert

780-470-3276

michelle@michellebroadbent.com michellebroadbent.com

A Modern Easter

Here’s a look at a few progressive gift ideas to celebrate the occasion

Traditional: Easter bonnets

Our Take: Vintage hats

PHOTOGRAPHY: STEPHANIE CRAGG

FROM ITS ORIGINS as a holiday celebrating the arrival of spring to an event that’s taken on more Christian significance, there’s no doubt that Easter has changed over the years. That’s not to say that chocolate bunnies and candy eggs are passé, but no doubt there’s a growing contingent out there wanting to modernize the occasion even more. For that crowd, here are a few ideas.

Vintage green hat with flower pin ($99), vintage pink velvet hat ($89) from Tattered Rose

Traditional: Pastel dresses

Our Take: Standout red dress

Toddlers red taffeta dress ($74.99) from Seasons Gift Shop

Traditional: Lambs

Our Take: Wool

Glerups wool slippers ($99.95-$135.99) from Seasons Gift Shop

Traditional: Basket of chocolate

Our Take: Tray of artisan chocolate

Oozy salted caramels ($15) by Jacek, Remington tray ($82) from Simone & Ivy

Traditional: Classic stories

Our Take: Today’s authors

Children’s book by Sandra Boynton ($8.99) from The Bookstore on Perron

Traditional: Off-the-rack cards

Our Take: Hand-made cards

Needle felted Cards ($17) by Holly Boone from Art Gallery of St. Albert

Traditional: Coloured eggs

Our Take: Egg plate

Easter egg plate ($22.99) from The Bookstore on Perron

Traditional: Easter lily

Our Take: Floral arrangement

Spring bouquet ($115) from Klondyke Flowers

WHERE TO FIND THEM

Art Gallery of St. Albert, 19 Perron Street

The Bookstore on Perron, 7 Perron Street

Klondyke Flowers, 19 Bellerose Drive

Seasons Gift Shop, 8665 McKenney Avenue

Simone & Ivy, 580 St. Albert Trail

Tattered Rose, 33 Rayborn Crescent

Bread Winner

Wild Earth Bakery continues to keep it natural

BY: GENE KOSOWAN PHOTOGRAPHY: PAULA E. KIRMAN

MELINDA ADMIRAAL is no stranger to the food and hospitality industry, having run for a while a catering company called Passionate Hospitality Group, which services venues that include the Sherwood Park Curling Club, Nisku's RAD Torque Raceway, and Edmonton’s Re/Max Field. So, she knew she was rolling the dice when asked to take over Wild Earth Bakery in May of 2020, just as the world was in the perilous vice grips of a global pandemic. “Of course, there were concerns and there was a risk, but to me, it was a risk well taken,” she recalled. “As with any business during COVID.”

It was a gamble that paid off, as the bakery weathered the lockdowns and quarantine periods that Statistics Canada reported had forced some 30,000 Alberta businesses to permanently shutter their doors that year. What helped was that the products being sold by Wild Earth were seen by the government as essential goods, allowing them to operate under strict health restrictions. But working around the clock while getting familiar with running Wild Earth got Admiraal and her workforce through that precarious period.

“It was a lot of hours, and at the end of the day, I’ve got a great team of exceptional staff at the front of the house and the back of the house,” she said of the company’s 11 employees.

Visitors to the bakery, located in The Enjoy Centre shopping mall on the western fringe of St. Albert, are greeted by a wide selection of breads and pastries, that include roughly a dozen types of cakes, from classic chocolate to London fog. Wild Earth also creates an eclectic array of scones, muffins, tarts, and squares. For the more health-conscious lot, many items made at the bakery are also available in gluten-friendly and vegan variations.

Wild Earth also services major clients with bulk orders that include brioche bread and cinnamon buns. Adding to the

It’s all about the customer, and that’s one thing that I’m very proud of is being there for the customer and creating things for them.

- MELINDA ADMIRAAL

revenue stream is a restaurant run by Admiraal’s business partner Shannon Butler that opened shortly after the bakery changed hands.

But the biggest seller remains their homemade breads and loaves that include whole wheat, multi-grain, Winnipeg rye and even jalapeno cheddar. It’s the sourdough bread that’s captured the palate of many of Wild Earth’s regular customers. Admiraal said that their sourdough bread normally sells out before the end of a working day and they still get requests for more.

“That’s the only bread I’ll eat now,” Said Admiraal. “There are different types of sourdough; our recipe is not sour. You know, it’s got texture. It’s got a crusty crust compared to your white breads or your whole wheat breads.”

The other major draw is something Admiraal stresses to customers who walk through the entrance of Wild Earth. She and her staff continue to use all of the original owner’s bakery recipes. She says not only are all the ingredients natural, they also contain no preservatives or any genetically modified organisms (GMO). She ensures that same rule applies to any new items they want to add to their bread and pastry lineup.

It’s also Wild Earth’s way of protecting a local legacy that’s nearly a century old. Its roots go back as far as 1932 when Tubby Bateman decided to take advantage of 500 square feet of store space and open up a butcher shop in Edmonton’s Mill Creek part of town. By 1948, his business expanded to the point where he took over the Red & White grocery store next door, where he expanded its inventory to include a milk bar and pharmacy. Eventually after renovations, the spot included a rumpus room and a place for all the neighbours in Old Strathcona to gather, making the store one of area’s most popular hangouts.

By 2002, Bateman’s granddaughter Dee converted the old grocery store into a Booster Juice franchise while her sister bought the space previously occupied by an IGA store, another Bateman property, where Wild Earth was established three years later. But urban renewal projects taking place on 99 Street forced Wild Earth to move from Edmonton to St. Albert in 2014.

It’s no surprise to Admiraal that a lot of regulars include those who used to frequent the old Edmonton location so she encourages them to make special arrangements before they head north. “A lot of the people that may live in south Edmonton, or wherever in Edmonton, will actually pre-order,” she said. “So, they’ll give us a call ahead of time knowing that they’ll be in the area or have to be in St. Albert and pre order items.”

Wild Earth continues to add more options, including a vegan loaf that one staff member wants to make, but what hasn’t changed is their strict adherence to traditional ingredients and their interaction with the folks who show up at the bakery. Admiraal receives regular feedback directly from customers on their preferences while working the front desk. It’s something she says she loves to do, a side benefit from her leap of faith to buy the establishment nearly four years ago.

“It’s all about the customer,” said Admiraal. “And that’s one thing that I’m very proud of is being there for the customer and creating things for them.”

Wild Earth Bakery

101 Riel Drive

780-651-7362

wildearthbakery.com | info@wildearthbakery.com

A RETRO LOOK AT RALLIES

St. Albert protests tend to reflect the pride folks have for the city

BY: GENE KOSOWAN PHOTOGRAPHY: MUSEE HERITAGE MUSEUM

ST. ALBERT IS recognized as the province’s oldest unfortified community and a municipality listed by destination pundits as one of the best cities in Canada, if not the world. Given those accolades, one might think the locals wouldn’t have much to complain about. Granted, protests in the city over

BEAT the Bounds (1979-1981)

With Edmonton’s population at around 600,000 and quickly growing, its city council applied to annex nearly 2,000 square kilometers of land that would quadruple Edmonton’s size. That included absorbing all of St. Albert, which had already been incorporated as a city. According to news site Taproot and archives at the Musee Heritage Museum, Edmonton’s northwestern neighbour objected to the bid and the quicklyformed St. Albert Citizens’ Committee, led by former mayor Richard Plain, fought tooth and nail against the proposal.

The committee spearheaded a “BEAT the Bounds” advertising campaign, organized protest rallies on the streets, and outdoor events to combat the annexation plan, while voters in St. Albert outright rejected the expansion in a plebiscite. In 1982, the provincial government gave Edmonton the green light to a different annexation plan, one that left St. Albert alone.

heady issues like human rights are rare, since nearby Edmonton is almost always ground zero for such rallies. But if anything, St. Albertans tend to get pretty vocal about matters specific to their city, indicative of the pride they have for this community. Here’s a look at a few instances.

Aurora Place (2010)

Residents in the neighbourhood of Akinsdale didn’t have to take to the streets to protest a proposed Habitat for Humanity development in their part of the city. Instead, hundreds of them packed the seats in City Hall to state their case. According to the CBC, many felt the 58-unit endeavour geared towards low-income families would create traffic problems and many issues associated with density.

But a letter issued a few months later addressed to the St. Albert Gazette tarred the optics of the complainants and angered Akinsdale residents, when the author claimed that the presence of residents in the proposed complex would attract crime and decrease living standards. The project, eventually called Aurora Place, was scaled back to a 30-duplex development and completed in 2013.

Idle No More (2013)

Aboriginal solidarity reached a peak with the launch of the Idle No More movement, originally triggered by the federal government’s omnibus bill that deregulated environmental protection of forests and waterways. In response, the indigenous community organized a series of flash mobs and gatherings across the country and St. Albert was definitely included in the mix.

CTV reported that one day in January, dozens of participants converged at the junction of St. Albert Trail and Sturgeon Road to perform a round dance and smudge ritual. Despite complaints about traffic delays, the half-hour event took place without incident.

Grandin’s flash mob of kindness (2018)

One family in the Grandin neighbourhood was shocked to find a letter in their mailbox that took issue over where they chose to live. The message was blunt and racist, with lines that included “We don’t like your kind around here,” and “Go back to the reserve where Indians belong.” A CBC story indicated that the mother expressed fear over her childen’s safety, while the RCMP opened an investigation into the matter.

Meanwhile, Global reported that a concerned neighbour decided to create a flash mob of kindness to support the distressed household, an event that challenged the hatred in the anonymous letter by showcasing a kinder, gentler side of Grandin.

Child sex offender protest (2020)

St. Alberta residents were livid over the release of a child sex offender who chose to reside in the city, more specifically, a home near where one of his victims lived. When the RCMP got word out in June that Donald George Dupuis was out of jail after serving a year-long sentence and was described as a high-risk offender, locals took a chance anyway to stage a protest at the home where he was staying.

The St. Albert Gazette reported that more than 50 people showed up for the impromptu rally, which lasted two days. Although one resident of the home traded harsh words with protesters at one point, no serious incidents occurred.

Sturgeon Hospital rollbacks (2021)

When the provincial government was proposing rollbacks to nursing wages in July, several employees at Sturgeon Community Hospital decided to make their voices heard on the matter. According to the Edmonton Journal, roughly 75 off-duty nurses demonstrated against the proposal which would have shaved off three percent of their earnings, killed lump-sum payments issued every six months, and cut down premiums on shift and weekend stints.

The United Nurses of Alberta were also negotiating a new contract at the time. The government backed down a few months later, after realizing the importance of nurses on the front lines of the COVID pandemic.

Freedom Convoy (2022)

Ottawa was undoubtedly ground zero for the Freedom Convoy, a rally originally involving truckers protesting mandatory COVID vaccinations for cross-border shippers, but grew to defy government measures to combat the virus. Still, most cities caught first-land looks at the convoy, including St. Albert.

In February, an independent YouTube video documented residents dotting the curbs of St. Albert trail cheering on a massive armada of 18-wheelers converging on the Legislative Building in Edmonton, where a demonstration was slated to take place. Although Edmonton events were mostly peaceful, Ottawa’s month-long rally resulted in 300 arrests and the federal government’s invocation of the Emergencies Act, which a federal court ruling determined was unjustified two years later.

Musee Heritage Museum

ACCESSIBLE HEALING

A former fitness influencer finds a new way to deliver mental health services

Life is busy, and I think developing a practice of checking in with yourself, a practice of getting to know yourself, is so important.

- SOPHIE GRAY

BY

:

PAULA E. KIRMAN PHOTOGRAPHY: PAULA E. KIRMAN

SOME PEOPLE EXPERIENCE a moment that forever changes the course of their lives. For Sophie Gray, it was a panic attack.

In the summer of 2015, Gray, who has struggled with her mental health throughout her life, was travelling a lot for work while ignoring her well-being. “I was boarding a connecting flight from New York to Toronto and had a panic attack as the flight was taking off,” says Gray, a popular fitness influencer on social media at the time. “When we landed, I was so shaken up that I couldn’t board the next flight. We ended up having to drive. I had panic attacks the entire way home.”

A friend she was texting with during the drive helped Gray realize that she needed to face the fact that she was not alright. “This was a pivotal movement for me as I had long avoided my issues,” she notes. “I could no longer pretend I was fine.”

As a result, Gray started to shift the content she was posting. She began to share stories about her mental health, something to which she found many in her audience could relate. At the same time, she ended her focus on working out and eating “clean,” both topics borne out of her body image issues. Gray also began posting photos of herself with a less perfect complexion and which no longer showed off her abs, as well as inspirational messages about body positivity and self-care.

We had built this engaged community around our mission of shamelessly talking about mental health. We connected with our community to better understand what they needed, and saw how my original vision for the company was what people were asking for.

- SOPHIE GRAY

She began losing Instagram followers, lots of them. Initially, she lost around 60,000. “I’ve continued to lose them [almost 200,000 now] but I don’t necessarily think that’s like a big deal. Because when you’ve been posting on social media for 12 years, followers come and go,” she says, adding that she doesn’t post as often as she is no longer an active “creator.” Despite not being as prolific online, her page still has 225,000 followers.

What she is creating instead is a way to help others access mental health care in a personalized and modern way. After returning from that cross-country drive home, Gray realized she needed to get help for her mental health. However, she found pursuing her new direction to be overwhelming. “Navigating the mental health system was so confusing, and took so much work. I went to a number of different therapists, and had to put in so much effort. It was also so cold and clinical. I felt like it was something to be ashamed of or kept quiet.”

Her experiences led her to found DiveThru, which started as a journaling app. “Throughout the pandemic, we evolved into a more comprehensive psychoeducation tool,” Gray says. “We had built this engaged community around our mission of shamelessly talking about mental health. We connected with our community to better understand what they needed, and saw how my original vision for the company was what people were asking for.”

DiveThru’s first in-person studio opened in Edmonton in February of 2023 and includes therapy services for individuals, families, couples, adolescents, and children. The St. Albert location for DiveThru is scheduled to open in early March. As well, virtual therapy sessions are also available, and there are reduced rates for those who qualify. The app allows users to find resources created by therapists while offering tools to help cope with and monitor a variety of mental health issues.

The 29-year-old was born and raised in St. Albert, but for the last decade Gray has made Edmonton her home. Her entrepreneurial roots extend back to her early teen years. “In Grade 9, I was in a Girl Power class through school where we did a project on a woman who inspired us,” she recalls. “I chose Eveline Charles, and I even got to interview her. At that time, I wanted to own a chain of hair salons, so I feel like the entrepreneurial spirit was always present for me. As I got older, I knew I wanted to make a positive impact in the world and solve a problem that I felt personally myself, which is why I started DiveThru.”

The busy entrepreneur manages to find a work-life balance by staying true to her personal values, which include family and health. As a result, she has firm work boundaries which include taking weekends off. “I like to think that in order for me to sprint five days a week, I need to rest two,” she explains. “I need time off for my health and I need to have balance with my work so I can spend quality time with my family.”  Gray suggests that people who want to improve their lives take the time to connect with themselves. “Life is busy, and I think developing a practice of checking in with yourself, a practice of getting to know yourself, is so important. From this place, you can be honest with yourself about what you need. You can also really establish your personal values and create a plan to prioritize those in your life.”

DiveThru

St.

1-866-658-0566

divethru.com | yeg@divethru.com

Thank you St. Albert for voting us Best Breakfast and Best Brunch

Easter Excursion

You won’t get egg on your face taking part in this hunt

Here’s an Easter egg hunt that won’t require kids ripping apart the landscape of your humble abode to find those delicious treasures. This page is all the territory you need to figure out how many blue eggs are in the jar.

Once you think you’ve figured it out, write down the answer on this page, whip out your smartphone to click an image of it, then post it on either Facebook or Twitter (tagging #t8n, of course) or direct message us instead. The closest guess wins. If there is a tie, we will randomly draw a winner. Prize is available only to St. Albert residents.