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ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
CELEBRATING
WOMEN
ENTREPRENEURS
KEEP IT LOCAL p13
Frank Soave’s North Star Landscaping
p22
Ann Carson’s Excalibur Trophy & Awards
p24
Kelly Farrell’s Oak Learners
p26
Women Entrepreneurs at Office146
FAMILY AFFAIR
SCHOOL’S IN SESSION PROFILES
ON THE COVER AMANDA KIRKLAND Owner of Blu Concierge and New Long Branch Resident
p16
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MASTHEAD EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS The ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS is the only free, monthly lifestyle magazine focused on South Etobicoke. Published by Fiat Lux Media, it is mailed to houses in Long Branch by Canada Post. Additional copies are available at selected local businesses and high-traffic pick-up locations. Our aim is to capture life in South Etobicoke by highlighting the many positive contributions to our community by local business owners, elected officials, and residents. 146 Thirtieth Street, Suite 100, Unit 25.
BILL ZUFELT Long Branch Resident and Chair of the History & Culture Committee, LBNA
BRAD JONES President & Owner of Ridley Funeral Home in New Toronto
DEREK STOCKLEY ANDREA TURPIN Principal, Lakeshore Campus; Dean, Mimico Resident and Co-owner of Faculty of Social & Community Services Adrian + Andrea Toronto Real Estate JENNIFER BAZAR DR. MELANIE DECUNHA, ND Long Branch Resident and Curator, Naturopathic Doctor and Founder of Lakeshore Grounds Interpretive Centre ONE Health Services in Long Branch JONATHAN NHAN Pharmacist & Associate Owner at Shoppers Drug Mart in Long Branch
MARIA TERZAGHI Pharmacist & Certified Health Coach at Shoppers Drug Mart in Long Branch
NATASSIA MORRIS JESSICA TUMMINIERI Long Branch Resident and Operations Mother of two very active boys, Family Manager at Lakeshore Arts Life Editor, Wife of the Publisher JENNY SHEARMAN KAM SARAN Personal Chef / Owner at My Sweet South Etobicoke Resident and Beet and New Toronto Resident Community Lead at Office146
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TABLE OF CONTENTS MARCH 2020 PUBLISHER’S NOTE...p8
ON THE COVER...p16
Who’s the Boss? Well, if you look around at the retail landscape of South Etobicoke...Women are!
Amanda Kirkland, owner of Blu Concierge, finds freedom in Long Branch.
COMMUNITY...p10
FOOD & DRINK...p18
Join us as we celebrate the Women Entrepreneurs of Office146; the business hub of South Etobicoke.
Jenny Shearman, personal chef and owner of My Sweet Beet, shares her entrepreneurial story.
LONG BRANCH HISTORY...p11
WELLNESS...p22
Bill Zufelt writes about one of Long Branch’s most influential women; Marie Curtis.
Feeling overwhelmed with entrepreneurship? Dr. Melanie DeCunha, ND is here to help!
KEEP IT LOCAL...p13
LIFE’S UNDERTAKINGS...p28
Featuring Frank Soave, Long Branch Resident and owner of North Star Landscaping.
Do women grieve differently than men? Brad Jones says, Yes. Read why.
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PUBLISHER’S NOTE WHO’S THE BOSS? determination, perseverance, and fortitude. The women featured in this edition possess all of these attributes and, in my opinion, should be commended for their contributions to our local business community. Who’s the Boss? They are! Among them in particular is this month’s cover feature, Amanda Kirkland. She recently moved to Long Branch from Liberty Village and is the owner of Blu Concierge - a new business designed to make people’s lives easier. Read her inspiring story on page 16 and listen to our interview with Amanda on the Etobicoke Lakeshore Podcast. You can find it on our website. Ann Carson, owner of Excalibur Trophy & Awards, is also featured in this edition. She took a leap of faith in 2007 and hasn’t looked back since. Read Ann’s feature on page 22.
ROGER TUMMINIERI
Publisher , Etobicoke Lakeshore Press
Welcome and thank you for picking up the March edition of the Etobicoke Lakeshore Press. This month, we’re shining a light on some of the local Women Entrepreneurs in South Etobicoke! In my experience publishing this magazine, I’ve discovered that the majority of local business owners in South Etobicoke are women. Why is that? Are women bigger risk-takers than men? Do they dream bigger? Are they more efficient at getting things done? The truth is, I don’t know the answers to these questions, but I think they’re worthy of consideration.
We’ve also featured Kelly Farrell, owner of Oak Learners; an alternative school in Mimico. See page 24 to find out what inspired Kelly to start her business and why Oak Learners might be a good fit for your child. Office146 is close to my heart. I run my business from there and it’s very much a community within a community. This month, we’re highlighting the Women Entrepreneurs of Office146 on page 26! Now just to balance things out a little here, we’ve included a feature on Frank Soave, Long Branch resident and owner of North Star Landscaping. Frank built his business from scratch in 1977. Fast forward almost 45 years and it’s still thriving. Read his story on page 13. Thanks for reading!
Entrepreneurship is no small feat. It takes guts,
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COMMUNITY WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS
As I mentioned in my Publisher’s Note, Office146 is a community within a community. It’s the hub for entrepreneurism in South Etobicoke. It’s my home away from home. It’s a privilege form me, then, to feature the very talented Women Entrepreneurs of Office146! All of whom come from different backgrounds and lead different businesses, but they all have one thing in common; Office146. Consider this a brief introduction to some of the Women Entrepreneurs who call Office146 their home away from home. See page 26 for a more in depth look at who they are and what they do. - R.T.
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ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
LONG BRANCH HISTORY MARIE CURTIS Marie Curtis; a Long Branch Woman of Influence! In the year of the Titanic tragedy (1912), in Midland, Ontario, Ann Marie McCarthy (Curtis) was blessed upon the Ontario stage. In her early years, she was raised by her aunt is St. Louis, Missouri. In her late teens she returned to Ontario and worked in a Toronto hat factory. The metaphorical “off wearing many hats” vocation would later prove to serve her well in a purposive life of activism and governance. In 1933 she married her husband, Bryce Curtis, and settled in a modest bungalow at 10 Thirty First Street in the pre-amalgamation Village of Long Branch.
populist and conservative. After retiring as Reeve she continued to serve for an additional six years as Executive Director of the Association of Mayors and Reeves in Ontario (the forerunner to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario). As a Metro Councillor, Curtis was a dauntless critic of the Toronto Transit Commission. She was bitterly opposed to the two-fare system for Long Branchians to continue travelling the streetcar from the Humber Loop to the Brown’s Line Loop. She avidly fought the likes of TTC commissioner Allan Lamport and William Russell and the twofare system was eventually decommissioned in 1973. Sadly though, it cost Curtis her seat at Metro Council and she was replaced by pro-TTC councillors.
A Toronto Star headline stating that “seven teachers had been fired” was the igniting spark for Curtis to begin her vigorous life in teacher’s rights, humanism and public life. She was quickly elected as president of the South Etobicoke Home and School Association and was successful in implementing kindergarten classes into the region.
Retired Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion has many fond recollections of Curtis.
She began attending local Long Branch council meetings to learn more about the business of politics. In 1952, she learned that the position of Deputy Reeve was being filled by acclamation because the incumbent, Thomas Carter, had no competition. Curtis, who was ‘no shrinking violet’ decided to run against him and won.
The thirty-five acre park at the mouth of the Etobicoke Creek, which Curtis helped to create, is a perpetual testament this Long Branch Woman of Influence.
During her undisputed tenure as Reeve of Long Branch from 1953 to 1962, storm sewers were installed on every street, roads were paved and many crab apple trees were planted throughout the community. With only a year into her appointed Reeve Council office, Curtis tenaciously assisted the homeless victims of Hurricane Hazel in 1954. Five years later in 1959, the newly formed Toronto Conservation Authority would open a park on the Etobicoke flat lands and named it in her honour. Curtis’ popularity of a serious, feisty and plain spoken style of politics blossomed into Toronto’s bigger picture when she was appointed to be the first woman on the powerful Metro Council. At the time, Metro Chairman Fred Gardiner (Gardiner Expressway) and Curtis sparred on many issues including the expropriation of lands north of Long Branch for the expanded QEW and Gardiner roadways.
“If you wanted a job done, call Marie,” said McCallion. “When she was active, I was just a junior in local politics and I always admired her and had great respect for her.”
In 1959 there was a discussion as to the exact name of the park. According to Curtis’ daughter, Joan McGee, “First they were going to call it Curtis Park…then [former Ontario premier] Les Frost told Fred Gardiner that they would have to call it Marie Curtis Park, because there was only one Marie Curtis.” In 1988, Marie Curtis was inducted into the Etobicoke Hall of Fame. She passed away peacefully in 2006 at the Grey Gables Retirement residence in Markdale, Ontario in 2006.
BILL ZUFELT
Long Branch Resident and Chair of the History & Culture Committee Long Branch Neighbourhood Association bill.zufelt@lbna.ca
In her final year as Long Branch Reeve, Curtis’ swan song was in organizing a citizen committee to raise privately $97,000 of the $100,000 price tag needed to build the Long Branch Arena. Curtis’ political position was considered both
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ARTS & CULTURE HAPPY WOMEN’S MONTH! Celebrating Women Leaders in the Arts! In honour of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day, we’re highlighting two leaders who are championing community arts in Etobicoke and beyond: Performer, mentor, and arts programmer, Collette Murray, is an established arts leader whose work was recently recognized with a Toronto Arts Foundation Community Arts Award. She is dedicated to paving socially innovative pathways to cultural arts through her mobile dance education business, rooted in African and Caribbean experiences. Last year she worked with Rexdale youth in a 10-week dance mentorship program as part of the City’s Cultural HotSpot initiative. Check out more on Collette at: misscocomurray.com We couldn’t let this month pass without mentioning our very own Executive Director, Susan Nagy! This past January, Susan celebrated 20 years with Lakeshore Arts, with a legacy that has seen the organization grow in size and impact. She is a passionate and dedicated arts champion, fuelled by the desire to provide innovative and accessible arts programming to all. Over the years she has built a strong and diverse team at LSA, advocated for arts funding at the municipal level, nurtured internal and cross-sectoral partnerships, and has been recognized as a leader within the community. Kudos, Susan! Happy Women’s Month!
NATASSIA MORRIS
Operations Manager, Lakeshore Arts
and Long Branch Resident 2422 Lake Shore Blvd W / 416-201-7093 @lakeshorearts / www.lakeshorearts.ca
ST. PADDY’S DAY
TUESDAY MARCH 17, 2020
COME EARLY. COME THIRSTY.
COLBY KRIEGL
Owner, T.J. O’Shea’s Irish Snug and Long Branch Resident
3481 Lake Shore Blvd W / 416-253-5500 INSTAGRAM: @irishsnug
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ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
KEEP IT LOCAL NORTH STAR LANDSCAPING
FRANK SOAVE
Long Branch Resident Owner, North Star Landscaping Inc. www.northstarlandscaping.com Office: 905-990-7778 I started North Star Landscaping Inc. in 1977 with a lawn mower strapped to the trunk of my car. Since then, it’s grown into a family owned and operated landscaping and award-winning fiberglass pool installation business that services clients in the GTA and surrounding areas. We strive to create a dream come true for your most important investment - your home! We say with pride and commitment that our crews are trained, efficient and courteous and we have all the equipment necessary to work on your next outdoor project.
We can also provide our customers with corporate and industrial property maintenance and snow services, as well as Design/Build Landscaping. If you are looking to add a new fiberglass pool, interlocking driveway, walkway, patio or retaining wall, think of North Star Landscaping. No budget is too small. We are proud to have helped homeowners install their dream landscape over the past 43 years. Our goal is to always provide you with “Five Star Service”. NORTH STAR LANDSCAPING INC. 1273 St. Marys Avenue, Lakeview 905-990-7778
AWARD-WINNING LANDSCAPE DESIGN AND POOL INSTALLATION Shining a Light on Local Businesses Since 2015
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HUMBER COLLEGE COMMUNITY UPDATE With our unusually warm winter, it almost feels like spring is right around the corner here at Humber’s Lakeshore campus. Dogs are already out chasing, the wildlife has started to emerge and the sun is shining off the water. Knowing Canadian winters, we’re still not holding our breath just yet, but this beautiful weather is getting us excited for what’s ahead. When I think about the beauty of our campus, I’m proud of the work Humber does, on large and small scales, to embed sustainability in everything we do. This month, we will have specific events focused on environmental stewardship and you’re welcome to join us for each of these events. Mark your calendars for our annual Humber Campus Clean Up! On March 25th from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, we will be hosting Humber Campus Clean Ups. These clean up days, hosted in part by our Office of Sustainability, are designed to encourage our staff, students and neighbours to come together in cleaning up our campus and surrounding areas. Our starting point is the Lakeshore Commons building – 1st floor in the display area, next to the elevators. There, you will receive gloves, bags and a map of their route for the cleanup with respective drop off points. If you bring a reusable mug, you’ll also get free fair trade coffee. So, all you need to do is show up ready to clean up!
There’s a small bonus – all participants are provided with pizza for donating their time. If you’re interested in participating, you can register as a team or as an individual. Teams and individuals are eligible to win prizes, so it’s a great opportunity to bring yourself or your family out and be rewarded even more for your community service. To register or find more information, please visit: www.humber.ca/sustainability/campus-cleanup. On March 23rd, Humber’s Office of Sustainability and the Principal’s office have partnered for a great new event – SWAP and SHOP. Our SWAP and SHOP pop up initiative, taking place in the L building (2nd floor), will allow you to explore gently used items and exchange a canned food item for a piece of clothing, office supplies and anything else that is available. The initiative is to support a local charity and reduce waste of our unused or gently used items. Feel free to come check it out and snag some good swag! Our students and staff are always looking for ways that we can reduce our environmental footprint, and help our local community. I invite you come to join us at one of our sustainability-focused events in March and experience the fun of working to ensure our campus stays beautiful and healthy. DEREK STOCKLEY Senior Dean & Principal Humber College Lakeshore Campus
HUMBER LAKESHORE CAMPUS
Credit: Weihao Zhao, student in the Bachelor of International Development program
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ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
COVER STORY AMANDA KIRKLAND OF BLU CONCIE Entrepreneurship is about new beginnings. Fresh ideas lead to new strategies and execution plans. Independence and perseverance prevail. Caution is thrown to the wind. This month’s Cover Story feature, Amanda Kirkland, embodies the essence of entrepreneurship. She’s transitioning out of the old and into the new. Here’s her story... R.T. Tell us about your Entrepreneurial journey. I’ve always cherished freedom; especially when it comes to setting my own dress code. I want to be able to wear yoga clothes or jeans to work and play by my own rules! I had an amazing 25 plus years of leadership roles in the Real Estate Development industry. The past 18 years were spent focused on Liberty Village but as our last building nears completion, my services will no longer be needed. Knowing the end was near, I needed to figure out what comes next – to stay in the industry or to branch out and do something completely different. Being in this position inspired me to look for something new and challenging. I’m a different person than I was back when I was just starting my career. Call me re-invented or a better version of my former self. What better time to make a complete fresh start? Finding my dream job was all about reverse engineering the activities I enjoyed doing on a daily basis. I wanted to discover those attributes that would meet my end goals and manifest on their own. Speaking of manifesting, I recently created a vision board and, for some reason, cut out the words, “Etobicoke Lakeshore” from the cover of this publication. Now I’m ‘On the Cover’! After a lot of introspection and exploration, I have clearly identified what I do best and decided to create a business that takes advantage of my skills and passions and allows me to do the activities I enjoy on a daily basis. Blu Concierge was born. I will be doing something I believe in. It was created with the belief that I can help my clients find more balance and more time to do and enjoy the things that are important to them and what they value most. What does a Personal Concierge do? Imagine handing over your To-Do list. For example, having help coordinating, scheduling and managing a home renovation; big or small. Consider me a lifestyle manager; assisting you on a personal level with many different aspects
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of your life. There’s a misconception that hiring a personal concierge is only for the very wealthy, or it’s not a service anyone can afford. Fortunately, this is not the case. You have the option to choose from a la carte services. Handing over some of your daily tasks to a Blu Concierge can help you feel less overwhelmed and tired; and instead, help you find relaxation, peace of mind, and time to focus on the things that matter most to you. How can Blu Concierge make life easier? Project Management Price, source, co-ordinate, oversee small scale renovations. Day-to-Day Errands Personal shopping (retail or on-line), picking up groceries, gift buying, return or exchange merchandise, pick-up and/or deliver items. Organize and Declutter From the kitchen to the garage, to every room in between, we can help you get it organized and get rid of the clutter. Home Décor and Staging Transform your space through the use of painting, accessories, artwork, etc. We help dress your home for sale creating ambiance and appeal for buyers or renters. Waiting Service Save your vacation days at work for vacation. I will arrange, wait for and meet with a contractor, installation tech or any other service rep on your behalf at your home House Watch For a professional who travels regularly or peace of mind for those who are planning a vacation. We can pick up your mail, water your plants and even have the fridge stocked for your return. Online Research Upcoming events, places to vacation, ordering tickets, registering for events. Party Planning Help with all the details – send out invitations, pick a theme, pick up decorations, order cake, arrange catering, order flowers – all with a personal touch. Liberty Village to Long Branch. Why move? It was just time. I needed a change. I looked for 11 months before finding my new ‘Hood. Moving out of a high-rise condo in Liberty Village has been liberating – no pun intended. I am so happy with my decision to move to Long Branch. I only moved in December and the timing was
ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
ERGE FINDS FREEDOM IN LONG BRANCH
AMANDA KIRKLAND
Owner, Blu Concierge and New Long Branch Resident Location: Office146
perfect over the Holidays to start exploring my new home. On foot, bundled up with my dog, Ticket, we explored (days and nights), enjoying the peacefulness of quiet neighbourhood streets, houses lit up with Christmas decorations and lights. Now, I wake up to see squirrels playing in the trees and have even discovered a house that backs on to a local park that has two chickens in the backyard! What are some of your Local Faves? My favourite place to pick up breakfast on the weekend is DeCourses – Spinny Benny, hold the potatoes and a black coffee. Solis Movement for yoga and Farm Boy for my groceries!
Any final thoughts for our Readers? I’m passionate about making my new business succeed. I am excited and energized to work in a new environment that changes daily and utilize my expertise and skills at “getting things done”. Your advice for aspiring Entrepreneurs? Dig deep into what you really love to do and what your personal life experiences have taught you. Turn those two things into something to serve your fellow human. ...
BLU CONCIERGE
amanda@bluconcierge.ca www.bluconcierge.ca
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FOOD & DRINK MY SWEET BEET This March, we are celebrating great women entrepreneurs and I am sure throughout this issue you will meet some of them in Etobicoke and around Office146. If you have not been to the Office yet, please stop by and say hi; it is where I work most days when we are not cooking in our lovely client’s homes. The reason I started my own business was to have more freedom and do what I love (cooking!) outside of being in a restaurant working evenings and weekends. I created My Sweet Beet to be able to help my clients spend their time on what matters most to them; not in the kitchen.
JENNY SHEARMAN
Personal Chef & Owner, My Sweet Beet 647-457-0093 / IG: @mysweetbeet www.mysweetbeet.ca
I have a solid family life that lets me be flexible around my family’s schedule and be there with them at dinner, on weekends and during all the other important events in life. If you are looking for a unique way to spend quality time with your family, we offer cooking classes. Consider planning a cooking class night with your family. It would be fun! You can learn some new meal ideas and get everyone involved. Find me on Instagram @mysweetbeet
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ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
URBAN GARDENING WITH LEGS Lakeshore Environmental Gardening Society (LEGS) has been Urban Gardening since 2003! Their focus is to grow our community one plant at a time. They honour the land and the resources by sharing resources as gardeners at every level of the gardening process: information, knowledge, seeds, plants, gardens, tools and time. INITIATIVES • grow organic & local food for people in need • members can grow food for their own use • share knowledge on gardening & orchard care • use environmentally-friendly practices, such as growing pollinator & butterfly attracting flowers • grow, save & share heirloom seeds UPCOMING EVENT Seed & Plant Exchange - Community Event Sat. May 9th; 9am-1pm at The Assembly Hall info@legsetobicoke.ca  www.legsetobicoke.ca 416.347.5449  Contact Monika Meulman Chair of LEGS - 2019/2020 Lakeshore Environmental Gardening Society 2861 Lake Shore Blvd. West
CHEVAPS
signature dish
MY SECRET KITCHEN
316 Lakeshore Rd E / 905-990-2057 www.mysecretkitchen.ca
ROYAL MEATS BAR/BEQUE 710 Kipling Ave / 416-251-1144 www.royalmeats.ca
“Best Breakfast” in Long Branch
3232 Lake Shore Blvd W (West of Twenty Second St) IG: @decourses / 416-855-1362
Avo Benny w/ Bacon
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MIMICO THE FIFTY-EIGHT What enticed you about Mimico to make the move here and what do you love about it?
TARA MCCALLUM & COLIN MARTIN Mimico Residents, Owners/Operators The Fifty-Eight Event Space www.thefiftyeight.ca What is the Fifty-Eight? We both work quite closely with artists, creatives and entrepreneurs at our day jobs in Toronto and the most common thing we hear is that there is a lack of space in the city to create and gather. Our mission is to be part of the solution and help shift the GTA’s development into a more human-centric environment.
We were originally looking for a space in the Leslieville or Junction areas, but it was impossible to find what we were looking for: a place where we could live upstairs and activate the main floor. Finally, we found the space of our dreams smack dab in the middle of Mimico! Since making the move we have fallen in love with the area. We spend a lot of time on the waterfront and exploring local restaurants (if you haven’t already, definitely check out Tita’s Mexican Food, Chaban, Mama Martino’s, Tich). We’re also right around the corner from Lakeshore Arts which is an amazing non-profit organization that we hope to collaborate with soon! INTERVIEW BY ANDREA TURPIN Royal LePage Signature c: 416-319-6893 / o: 416-205-0355 andrea@adrianandrea.com www.adrianandrea.com
READ ALL OF OUR INTERVIEWS AT www.adrianandrea.com
The Fifty-Eight is a creative gathering space for all things outside of the “grind”. It’s a small retreat within the city where you can put your feet up with a biodynamic glass of wine, participate in mind-expanding workshops, work on a passion project, practice yoga, meditate and host celebrations with family and friends. The space is dedicated to the things that make us human: personal relationships, physical and mental health and connections to the environment. What kinds of events can be held in the space? Almost anything! Have an idea? Shoot it our way and we’ll help make your wildest dreams come to life. The most successful uses of the space we’ve seen so far have been pop-up shops, yoga & meditation workshops, chef-created pop-up dinner events, studio space for artists/photographers and community activations (such as the Christmas event hosted by Adrian + Andrea in December). We’re also happy to rent the space out for daytime baby/wedding showers and [tame] birthday parties (so you don’t have to throw another party in your bland condo party room)! How do people go about booking the space? Just fill out the form on our website, specifying date/time of the event and we’ll be in touch within 24 hours.
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ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
MAKING GOOD MEN BETTER
IN MIMICO SINCE 1912
SUPERIOR LODGE No. 501 23 Superior Ave, Mimico
inquiries: SuperiorLodge501@gmail.com
WELLNESS WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS Ahh, women entrepreneurs. I SEE you. I AM you. I share in the same highs, lows and everything in between. I treat a lot of entrepreneurs in my practice and time and time again I see them struggle with the same things. Reaching for an extra cup of coffee at 3pm. Feeling a rollercoaster of emotions, leading to overwhelm. Not knowing if you should use that hour in the morning to work out, sleep in, meditate or tackle your to-do list. Having so much on your plate that you just can’t turn your brain off when your head hits the pillow at night. If you’re a busy entrepreneur, chances are you’re a high-achieving, motivated person. And chances are your long hours and high expectations for yourself have been coming at a cost to your own wellbeing – AND YOU MAY NOT HAVE EVEN NOTICED! Now, I’m not at all saying that you need to lower your goals or settle (gives me the heebie jeebies even saying that word). What if I told you that you could have extraordinary health and work/life balance AND still crush your goals? In fact, what if I told you that you NEED extraordinary health in order to reach those lofty goals that you are so capable of crushing?
DR. MELANIE DECUNHA, ND
Naturopathic Doctor Founder, ONE Health Services in Long Branch
I so firmly believe that extraordinary health is possible for every person. And that you need extraordinary health to live an extraordinary life. It’s not one or the other. It’s both. Ladies, it’s time to shatter that glass ceiling!
FEATURE ANN CARSON I remember my husband, Adrian, asking me back in the spring of 2007: “Are you sure you want to give this a shot?” I emphatically said, “Sure! Why not?” At that time, my husband knew the gentleman who owned and operated Excalibur Trophy & Awards at 3405 Lakeshore Blvd W., and discovered that he wanted to sell the business. I was in between jobs at the time and when this opportunity came up to buy a small business on the Lakeshore, I was extremely interested but again, at 50+ years young, I had my trepidations. Now, thirteen years later, I have never looked back. I invested some time into training and learned everything I could about engraving. I also worked on my own at the store, picking up and working for the existing Customer base who had dealt with the previous owner. Along the way, I purchased a heat-press and a laser machine in order to provide customers with some options on various types of engraving / printing jobs. Five years into the business, the Customers as well as Sales were on the rise. How convenient it was for my eldest daughter, Wendy, to come on board and help me out at the store. She has been a blessing to work with and
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ANN CARSON
Owner, Excalibur Trophy & Awards in Long Branch
her knowledge and talent have increased Sales to the next level. Over the past year, my youngest daughter, Laura, has taken a keen interest in the business and comes in on a weekly basis. I feel very fortunate to work with my family and now feel proud to say that Excalibur Trophy & Awards has turned into a bona fide family business. EXCALIBUR TROPHY & AWARDS 3405 Lake Shore Blvd. W / 416-255-9928 www.excaliburtrophy.com
ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
YOUR LOCAL WELLNESS PROFESSIONALS IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
READ IT ONLINE AT
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Dr. Melanie DeCunha, ND Founder, ONE Health Services
ONE HEALTH SERVICES
3515 Lake Shore Blvd W / 647-748-4884 www.onehealthservices.ca
N0W OPEN
9ROUND ETOBICOKE
3411 Lake Shore Blvd W / 647-689-6044 www.9round.ca/lakeshoreblvdetobicokeon “I love fitness and boxing and believe that excersize is the key to good health.” - Marc Foto, Franchise Owner & Etobicoke native
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FAMILY LIFE I’M A STAY-AT-HOME MOM NOW
Oak Learners 394 Royal York Rd. 416-820-5233
JESSICA TUMMINIERI Wife of the Publisher Mom to Luke and Jaxon
Clearly my husband didn’t leave me with much space to work with in this edition. Ironic, since I, too, am a Woman Entrepreneur. Or at least I was. I ran a successful dog training business and recently shut it down just before Luke was born to focus on raising our boys.
My husband jokes that I’m retired now, but I don’t find it very funny. My new career as a stay-at-home Mom offers many rewards and quite a few extra gray hairs, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything...except maybe for some sleep.
FEATURE KELLY FARRELL Oak Learners wasn’t something that grew from a spark of sudden inspiration, but rather a project that evolved organically through my own experiences and discussions with other parents and educators searching for an alternative school setting where our children could thrive instead of merely get by. Through the eyes of our children, we recognized that the outdated model of industrialized education has long since served the needs of all students, particularly those with mental health, social or learning challenges who are the first to lose individualized support when educational cuts force larger class sizes and reduced course options. I saw an opportunity to blend my own passion for the Arts and for Education and my experiences preparing students for the 21st century to build a unique school where students from Kindergarten through Grade 6 can learn at their own pace and through experiential learning opportunities that enrich and enhance their skills. Oak Learners also follows a strengths-based learning philosophy, which starts from the belief that children learn best when we focus on their strengths before their challenges. As a result, our students and our own children are happy, engaged and truly thriving.
equal amounts of passion and persistence. The days can be long but the rewards of watching something grow and evolve is incredibly fulfilling and inspiring in itself. The key to the success of Oak Learners has always been the incredible team. Our passionate and committed team of educators and our supportive community breathe life into our school each and every day.
The challenges of directing a busy not-for-profit learning centre while also being the Principal and teacher within our school are unique and require
OAK LEARNERS 394 Royal York Rd / 416-820-5233 www.oaklearners.ca
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KELLY FARRELL Owner, Oak Learners in Mimico
ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
DRAGONS RUGBY: A MOM’S PERSPECTIVE.
MATTHEW, 15
New Toronto Resident # of Years Playing for the Dragons: 6 I didn’t grow up knowing much about rugby. To me, it was a sport that only guys played and it looked awfully rough. 6 years ago, a friend in the neighbourhood mentioned he was introducing rugby to his daughter; would my son want to try it, too? My son had tried different sports but still hadn’t found ‘his sport’ so we went to a Toronto Dragons practice. I was a bit apprehensive - was he going to get hurt playing this rough sport? I didn’t have to worry - he really enjoyed that first practice and the same observations I made that day are the ones I still see now: Coaches who love the sport teaching these kids how to play properly and safely, kids who are keen to learn are doing fun drills that help them develop the skills to play, everyone learning to work as a team, and they all have fun. No kid is too big, too small, too slow or too timid - there is a place for everyone, especially with the Dragons. That was 6 years ago and he still loves playing. A few years later, my daughter reluctantly decided to try it. She was watching a lot of the practices and games and they needed more kids her age. But I know why she was hesitant - she was arguably the smallest person in her grade, her sports were gentler (synchronized swimming and gymnastics) and she feared getting hurt. Turns out she’s far tougher than she realized and was soon pulling flags off opponents and scoring trys! She’s still often the smallest on the field but size is not a factor (at least at the Mini and Junior level) so she loves it. When she tells people ‘I play rugby’ she secretly loves seeing their surprised
KATIE, 13
New Toronto Resident # of Years Playing for the Dragons: 4 faces. I will go so far as to say rugby has given her the confidence to try new things, things that were previously not a consideration, like cross country, football, rock climbing, and judo. Looking back at my kids’ experience with the Dragons, I can say they have learned how to work as a team, how to think strategically, how to play safely, and how to lose and win graciously. These are important life skills. And not once have either of them gotten hurt (touch wood)! The Toronto Dragons is a fantastic organization run by people who truly want to see others enjoy the sport of rugby. Their focus is on fair play, safety, having fun, and making rugby accessible to all. I’m so glad we found it (even though I still don’t really understand how the game works). If anyone is thinking of rugby, even just curious, why not come to a practice? The coaches are caring and patient, fellow parents are eager to share their experiences, and the kids love welcoming a newbie. There are always new people coming to try it out, and most have no rugby experience at all. Who knows, maybe your daughter/son will find ‘their sport’. CINDY G. MOM TO MATTHEW & KATIE New Toronto Resident and Proud Toronto Dragons Rugby Mom
The Toronto Dragons Rugby Football Club (RFC) is a rugby club in the west end of Toronto. Youth programs start at ages 4 or 5 for any gender, with non-contact options available for kids under 10. www.TorontoDragonsRugby.ca
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FEATURE CELEBRATING WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS
Jennifer Hooper is the Managing Director for the Academy for Sustainable Innovation, a not-for-profit organization working in education for a low-carbon, socially-just future. She also runs her own consulting practice focused on corporate sustainability, leadership development and strategy. www.sustainableinnovation.academy
Natalie Colalillo is the founder and CEO of Happy Healthy Women, a Canada-wide collective of women entrepreneurs who see happiness, health and success as one full circle. Natalie is also a Plantbased Lifestyle & Business Coach specializing in empowering Solopreneurs to establish and succeed in their dream business. Find out more about Natalie and Happy Healthy Women at: www.happyhealthywomen.ca
A French native, Clarisse Lievre has developed over the past years a strong expertise in Account Management and Business Development within an international environment. She has been working for Thomas Thor for 5 years. Lievre has been appointed to open the Thomas Thor office in the Toronto area to serve local clients and take the business to the next level. www.thomas-thor.com
Carolyn Bergshoeff, founder of WindWater Marketing, helps small and medium businesses with their content creation, lead generation, website systems and marketing campaigns. Carolyn’s 20 years of experience in marketing gives her a rare blend of skills in strategy, technology, and implementation that allows her to blend proven tactics with cutting-edge campaigns. With a clear understanding of the pieces involved, her executions are measurable and ideas actionable. For more information on how WindWater Marketing can help your business, visit windwatermarketing.ca or email Carolyn at carolyn@windwater.ca. As an Institute of NLP, Cynthia Roemer is a Trainer and Master Coach, using a series of NLP, Hypnosis and Time Line Therapy techniques in her magical tool box to create fast results. Cynthia is also a Best-Selling Author, National Speaker and Certified Image Consultant. Cynthia’s philosophy is people are less complicated than they think and instead of changing the person, focus on changing the behaviour. Through her magical tool box, behaviours and emotions can change within minutes WHEN you work with the unconscious-mind. Cynthia’s passion for helping others has driven her throughout her career, with over 15 years experience in creating local and international programs, team and leadership development. www.cynthiaroemercoaching.com
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ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
AT OFFICE146 For the past 12 years Jenny Shearman has been cooking across Canada from an upscale fly-in fishing lodge in the Haida Gwaii, to fine dining establishments in Vancouver, and now in Toronto where she owns My Sweet Beet Personal Chef Services. She and her team cook meals for busy families allowing them to spend their time on what matters most to them. www.mysweetbeet.ca
Renee Pilgrim R.Ac, R.TCMP has been practicing Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine for over ten years. She has expanded her practice to empower her patients through Transformaven Wellness; an in person/online coaching program for those needing more attention, guidance and accountability to live their best lives. www.reneepilgrim.com & www.transformaven.ca
Kirsti Stubbs is a local mom and owner of Embrace Simplified - she teaches ambitious people how to unlock a simpler, healthier lifestyle through education on using premium doTERRA essential oils. She also works with entrepreneurs and executives who want to show up more authentically online - she offers personal brand coaching, LinkedIn profile updates and social media roadmaps that influence with intention. Follow her online @kirstistubbs or email her at embracesimplified@outlook.com
Charmaine Moules has been running Visions 2 Performance for over 10 years. She’s a one-stop shop when it comes to your training and development needs. Through the leadership training, coaching, team effectiveness, culture change and customer loyalty work she does, she aims to create positive change in people and organizations to improve their personal and business success. She’s worked nationally and globally with all levels of team members from front line staff to emerging and experienced managers/leaders to business owners and entrepreneurs. She is passionate about doing work locally so she can come into your business and “roll up her sleeves” to get actionable change happening. www.v2p.ca
Elyse Lam is a Logistic Co-ordinator at Vinzan International; a global cannabis trading company, focused on exporting from low-cost cultivation regions to high-value retail markets. www.vinzan.com
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LIFE’S UNDERTAKINGS FEED A BROKEN HEART There has been hell and there has been high water between the “battle of the sexes” for a long time. Men and women, girls and boys are as wonderfully different as they are similar. We all love and deeply long for people who nourish our most tender selves. Funeral director Brad Jones considers how grieving men and women are treated differently when daily life transforms into a hungry new normal. Back in the 1980s when I was a much younger man, blessed with more hair and less belly, we used to hand out a cookbook to the families we served. Only the men of the household – a household that no longer included a wife or mother – received the book. Funeral directors are not traditionally renowned for their creativity so our book title was bare-bone thin: “The Widower’s Cookbook.” A cookbook written by men for men. Soft-boiled eggs. Baked pork chops. The three-step “bangers and mash” recipe featured the cookbook’s most popular ingredient, a bottle of beer. Half the beer was poured over the sausages and the rest was poured into the widower’s glass, likely to be drunk alone. Looking back, I don’t recall worrying about how grieving women would feed themselves. I believe my colleagues and I were confident in the widow’s social network, her real-time friends, family, neighbours and community members, to drop in for a visit and drop off the traditional tuna casserole or mystery crockpot dish. There was a silent understanding that grieving women would find comfort food for body, mind and soul from their friendships and their inner emotional world. Yes, grieving husbands and fathers received food back then, too; love and comfort packaged up inside steaming Tupperware and warm deep dishes. But just like now, food deliveries into grieving households eventually stop. So do the phone calls, drop-ins and invitations to go out. These days, if food is even made and dropped off at all (texts are disturbingly popular as expressions of “support”), grieving people are left to their own devices much more quickly. At the risk of sounding horrifically old-fashioned, I believe the majority of women, then and now, are more polished at attracting and nurturing meaningful friendships than men.
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Women talk more, share more, collaborate more, create more. They’re braver emotionally and socially. Women are usually the catalyst and coach when couples have friends: the women reach out and connect. The men show up and chit chat. If you want to see the bountiful harvest that vulnerability and authenticity bring, look at the gap between how men and women grieve. When a beloved dies, both sexes are forced to transform big loss into new life. My father’s generation and all generations before him were rewarded for a stiff upper lip and a silent independence that would make John Wayne proud. Following a “boys don’t cry” worldview is one of the fastest and most effective ways to stunt grief and increase suffering for everyone: men, women, boys and girls. Yes, men and boys have more emotional freedom today when they feel sad. Yet despite male grief not being judged as harshly as in the past, a man’s emotional state is still observed closely and expected to lighten up quickly. A woman is expected to fall apart. A man is expected to toughen up. When my father died this past spring, my four sons and two daughters saw my tears. I wanted them to. As a funeral director I would be the world’s biggest hypocrite if I didn’t believe in the healing power of ugly cries and staring into space for hours. At the same time, I realize my uncommon vulnerability and shattered emotional state made my kids and my wife a little bit nervous. Daddy/Dad was not behaving in his usual (charming) way. If I had been a white knight, I definitely lost control of my horse, fell off and rolled into the mud called grief. My 15-year-old daughter, the only one of my kids interested in taking over the family funeral business, responded to me and her grandfather’s death in a way that exemplifies why women are natural leaders and natural healers. Jessica didn’t try to fix, rush or correct my feelings. She asked for stories about Grampa and she listened to stories about me and my dad. She kept teenage tantrums and whining to a minimum (which I really, really appreciated) and enforced new rules of engagement among her brothers and sister.
ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
All of my kids are caring people but Jessica has a particular wiring that goes beyond the natural gifts of strength, femininity and compassion. It takes tremendous courage to reach out to someone who is grieving, especially someone you love deeply, and accept there’s nothing you can do to heal them of their pain and heartbreak. The best funeral directors know this; we’re limited in what we can do emotionally for you but we know exactly what types of support and healing we can promise and deliver. Like Jessica did in our own family, funeral directors model styles of behaviour and acts of reverence that remind family and friends that grieving people are not functioning at full capacity. They’re wounded and raw. Whether a widow or widower, mother or brother, grieving people need help. They need patience. And absolutely, grieving people need delicious food, which represents comfort, love and support. I am grateful that when I think of my daughters’ futures, I’m not focused on whether they’ll “marry well.” They’re young women with deep reservoirs of emotional wellness and courageous compassion they show themselves and others.
If we have a sincere desire to close the gap between acting as if everything is fine (when everything is in fact falling apart) and showing people, men and women, who we really are, there’s one small step we can all take. We can show kindness to those wounded parts of ourselves that want to shy away from other people’s pain. By showing ourselves love and kindness, we open up and deepen our role as friend, family member and colleague. There’ll be less hell and less high water in the world when men and women are united in their desire to nourish hungry, broken hearts. Each of us can help starve the behaviours that keep us separate, alone and grieving. Just as my daughter taught me, we really are stronger together. Brad Jones is president of locally owned, commission-free Ridley Funeral Home in Etobicoke. at 3080 Lake Shore Blvd West. He can often be found coaching his daughter’s basketball team while teaching parents about slam dunks, toilet bowls and ball hogs. You’re always welcome to call Brad 416.259.3705 or email him at: BradJones@RidleyFuneralHome.com
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BRAD JONES
Owner, Ridley Funeral Home
YOUR HEALTH TALK TO YOUR PHARMACIST Change is easy! So why do we often find it difficult to change? The hardest part is accepting change, and being ready to change. Once you have that, making the actual change is simple. When thinking about change, we may often get stuck in our initial reactions and be blocked from achieving what we want by these limiting beliefs. Sometimes, challenging yourself to consider alternatives could give you a different perspective on your situation. The great thing about this is, if you don’t like the new perspective, you could easily go back to the way you felt about things before. You may find, though, that you like the new perspective and you don’t want to go back to the way you used to see things. Take smoking for example. For those of you who smoke, or know someone who smokes - how often do you hear or say to yourself “I am a smoker”? In this perspective, you are identifying yourself as a smoker - it becomes part of who you are and it may seem like an impossible change. What if smoking was just a behaviour? (i.e., I am a person who smokes cigarettes). Really think about this and see how different you feel about this behaviour now. It’s harder to change who you are, but it’s easy to stop a behaviour.
JONATHAN NHAN, RPh, CDE Pharmacist / @nhanjonathan903
Challenge yourself to look at things from a different perspective. Again, you can always go back to how you saw things before. If you find a shift useful, then keep it! Back to smoking - sometimes it can be hard to do something new without knowing the steps, and to stop smoking can be a new behaviour for some. Make an appointment with our pharmacists to discuss smoking cessation and see how we can help you learn a new behaviour.
One of our patients repeatedly says: “Motion is Lotion!”, and off he goes on his bike for long, long rides - even in Winter! At the same time, a young mom of two craves for time and looks at me, saying: “Forget about that bike, there’s nothing like the treadmill”. For myself, I think I wish I had time for swimming: what a complete and invigorating exercise!. So, now you may be asking yourself “what is the best exercise?”. Well, the answer is that since we are all different, we all have a particular “best type” of exercise in this present moment. And don’t forget, that may change in a few months or years from now, or not! The WHO recommends at least 1 hour exercise for children and at least 20 mins per day of aerobic activity for adults most days of the week. So whether you are an avid swimmer, a biker, or like to do yoga, just get it done. On top of increasing the levels of “the happiness hormone” it makes you stronger and mentally sharper.
MARIA TERZAGHI, RPh, CHC Pharmacist / @4betterself
SHOPPERS DRUG MART IN LONG BRANCH 3730 Lake Shore Blvd W / 416-255-5243 / www.shoppersdrugmart.ca
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