REAL ESTATE

REAL ESTATE Sweet surrender: McLachlan sells Whistler retreat

by Carlito Pablo

Sarah McLachlan has finally sold her Whistler retreat. The “I Will Remember You” singer and songwriter let go of the 5476 Stonebridge Place property for $11.5 million.

The luxurious mountain estate has a 2021 B.C. Assessment valuation of $10,954,000.

The assessment is broken down as follows: $4,905,000 for the custom-built house, and $6,049,000 for the 4.3-acre (1.7 hectare) lot.

Based on tracking by real-estate site Zealty.ca, the sale was made on June 11, 2021, and was reported on August 5.

Zealty CEO Adam Major told the Straight that McLachlan bought 5476 Stonebridge Place in 2003 for $3 million.

Later, Major continued, the writer of “Sweet Surrender” personally oversaw the design and construction of the threestorey home.

The realtor also recalled a chance encounter with McLachlan in West Vancouver.

“I was walking on a sidewalk in Ambleside five or six years ago with my kids and turned around and Sarah McLachlan was standing right behind us,” Major said. “She said ‘Hello’. I said ‘Hello’ back and then realized, ‘Oh, that’s Sarah McLachlan!’

“What surprised me about the experience is she was strikingly, charismatically beautiful,” Major continued. “Having grown up watching her on TV, I was taken

Take what you want when you want it

Singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan (photo by Sarah McLachlan) paid $3 million in 2003 for a mansion in Whistler that sold for $11.5 million. Photo by John Ryan/Whistler Real Estate Co. aback by the brief experience of meeting her in person. I will remember her!”

Zealty.ca tracking shows that the Whistler Real Estate Company Limited served as agent for the singer and the party that bought the six-bedroom, seven-bath home.

The property was listed on January 14, 2021, for $12,950,000.

The “Building a Mystery” singer designed the residence well, as one can visualize from the listing description, which states: “Stone and timber bring the heart of the West Coast alive in this luxurious mountain estate. Nestled in the exclusive Stonebridge neighbourhood, this secluded gated residence sits on 4.3 acres of manicured gardens and offers dramatic panoramic views that span an entire mountain range, including Whistler and Blackcomb mountains. At the heart of the home, a spacious kitchen and family area create a warm and inviting space, with more formal entertaining being offered in the grand room boasting vaulted ceilings and floorto-ceiling windows. Dine alfresco in the outdoor living area then submerge yourself in the cantilevered hot tub with a glass of wine from the private cellar and soak in the alpenglow.” The residence was also listed for $12,950,000 on July 31, 2020; that listing expired on January 1, 2021. A November 18, 2016, listing shows an asking price of $13.5 million. That earlier listing expired on May 19, 2017. There was also a previous listing, on November 13, 2014, with an asking price of $15.9 million. That listing expired on November 16, 2016, with a reduced price of $13.5 million. g

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from page 2 about Davies’s observation that political parties treat members of ethnic communities as political cannon fodder by fielding them in unwinnable election contests.

“I want to be very clear that I’m so grateful that the Liberal Party came to me and chose me and asked me to run in Vancouver Kingsway,” she said about her acclamation.

Bremner said that Davies is all about playing politics, or worse. “Hypocrisy,” Bremner said, meaning the NDP is doing what Davies is saying about other political parties.

In the 2019 election, the NDP fielded then–18-year-old Jaeden Dela Torre, a Filipino Canadian, in Steveston–Richmond East. Dela Torre finished a distant third.

Trudeau’s Liberals may likely win the September 20 ballot.

“Vancouver Kingsway needs to understand that in the last 14 years, we have not been at the table, and when it comes to infrastructure and the resources that families, seniors, our children need in the riding, we need to have a Liberal MP to be at the table with government,” Bremner said.

Bremner’s husband, Hector, is a former Vancouver city councillor and mayoral candidate. She was an aide to then–B.C. Liberal premier Christy Clark.

Marius Alparaque, a vice president with the Filipino Seniors Club of B.C., said that Davies has been “very helpful” to the organization. “Whenever we apply for grants, he gives us a very, very good reference letter and has been very supportive of our programs,” Alparaque told the Straight by phone.

Alparaque recalled that his group was supposed to present Davies with a certificate of appreciation before the election was called, but the event got delayed a number of times. He maintained that the August 20 event was not an endorsement for Davies’s reelection.

“We are a nonprofit society,” Alparaque said. “This is not an endorsement; this is just a follow-up on what we have planned to do.”

Alparaque said members of the seniors association support different political parties and candidates in their personal capacities.

Before Davies’s first election in 2008, federal Liberals won Vancouver Kingsway in the 1997, 2000, 2004, and 2006 elections. It is Bremner’s first time running for elected office. g

LAW Injury lawyer pushes for diverse judiciary in B.C.

by Charlie Smith

Manjot Hallen has two major passions as a lawyer. One is defending injury victims. The second is promoting greater diversity in the legal profession and, in particular, among the judiciary. Hallen also wants to improve the image of the South Asian community, which is repeatedly tarnished with negative media coverage as a result of gang conflicts in Metro Vancouver.

“There are more lawyers, doctors, and engineers who are South Asian and from the Sikh community than there are gangsters, if you just do the straight math,” Hallen recently told the Straight by phone. “One thing we can be doing is highlighting these individuals and highlighting the contributions that they make to British Columbia rather than focusing on the negative.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently appointed a judge of South Asian ancestry, Mahmud Jamal, to the Supreme Court of Canada. While Hallen praised that move, he also acknowledged that B.C.’s superior courts still have a vast majority of judges with anglicized names. In fact, there are relatively few superior court judges of Indigenous, South Asian, Chinese, Latin American, or African ancestry—something pointed out last December in two blistering tweets by Vancouver lawyer Veronica Cheng.

Hallen is a member of the South Asian Bar Association, which advocates for greater diversity at all levels of the legal profession, including the judiciary.

“The good news is that we’ve done better in recent years and we’re continuing to work toward that,” Hallen said. “But are we there yet? No. I think if you ask the courts—if you ask every level of government—they’ll agree with us that we’re not there yet.”

This year, Leonard Marchand became the first Indigenous justice appointed to the B.C. Court of Appeal, which is the province’s highest court. It’s a sign that the federal government is promoting more diversity on the bench. However, this appointment will barely put a dent in overcoming perceptions created by a photo of the B.C. Court of Appeal justices in its 2020 annual report—it’s a sea of white faces.

There’s more diversity at the Supreme Court level, with justices having surnames such as Ahmad, Basran, Choi, Dley, Iyer, Masuhara, Sharma, and Shergill. However, nonwhite and openly LGBT+ judges are still relatively rare in B.C. Supreme Court, which is the province’s highest trial court.

“The ideal thing would be to have a more diverse judiciary that would be able to relate to those different backgrounds and different upbringings that people may have,” Hallen said. “I personally would like to see a more diverse judiciary with different ethnic backgrounds. I would like to see more women in the judiciary, and I’d like to see members of the LGBTQ community, more of them, on the bench as well.”

Hallen noted that he was attracted to practising law because he was “always sort of an underdog” growing up in Richmond and Surrey as a South Asian Canadian in the 1990s.

“It was a natural fit for me to represent accident victims, who really are in a situation where they’re David taking on the Goliath of a huge multimillion-dollar insurance company,” he said. “It’s something I’m quite passionate about: being able to help people in that situation.”

When asked if there are any misconceptions about personal-injury lawyers, Hallen replied that it’s a myth that they’re ambulance chasers or that people who launch ICBC claims are taking advantage of the system.

“People contact us when they’re genuinely hurt,” Hallen said. “They contact us when they’ve already had an opportunity to speak with ICBC or other insurance companies. And it becomes apparent pretty quickly that they’re not being provided benefits or the compensation that they’re entitled to.” g

Lawyer Manjot Hallen thinks that all levels of the legal profession benefit from diversity.

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WINE /FOOD Pinot Noir perfect as we get ready for a cool fall by Mike Usinger

More so than most years, you can feel the change in the air. For the past three sunbaked months it’s been nothing but T-shirt, shorts, and sandals all day, every day. It was a summer for garden-hose misting stations, cold midday showers, and running the Utilitech oscillating threespeed fan around the clock.

Suddenly there’s a noticeable chill to the nights—the kind when hoodies become mandatory toward the end of happy hour. Get ready to move away from the Rosé and Sauvignon Blanc and reach for something that bridges the end of summer and the start of fall. Hello Pinot Noir, which has its roots in the clay soil of Burgundy, France but has since been embraced by winemakers from Australia and Austria to Chile and California.

Here are four o erings to help you embrace the cooler nights ahead. And admit it: more so than most years, you’re kind of ready for a change.

KIM CRAWFORD PINOT NOIR Sauvignon Blanc normally gets all the glowing praise at Kim Crawford on New Zealand’s famously scenic South Island, but Pinot Noir has established itself as the breakout bottle to watch. e Marlborough region’s cool nights make for the next best thing to slopes of Burgundy—or British Columbia—resulting in a wine with bright acidity that pops with juicy dark cherries, plump blackberries, and light oak. Lamb—while insanely delicious—is too predictable, so instead serve with an earthy portobello mushroom pasta or classic beef bourguignon. And don’t mention the Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, which already gets more than enough attention around the dinner table.

MEIOMI PINOT NOIR Ahh, California—arguably the most magical of all the states in the U.S.A. It’s the home of Hollywood and Disneyland and the birthplace of the Beach Boys, the Byrds, and Black Flag. e Golden State boasts endless beaches, dramatic parkland (Yosemite!), and a sprawling wine region with over 800 cellars. But, with land crossings at the Peace Arch border still a nogo, unless you’re getting on a plane with a negative COVID-19 test in hand, you’re not going there any time soon.

California dreaming right about now? Transport yourself with Meiomi Pinot Noir, which gets big points for its accessibility. is is a bold, joyfully jammy wine bursting with notes of eld-grown strawberries and falling-o -the-vine raspberries. Love wine, but don’t like the burn? Meiomi is your new best friend, going down like crushed-velour with whispers of freshly scraped vanilla beans and aromatic cedar. Given the price point, pure magic—kind of like California.

INNISKILLIN OKANAGAN PINOT NOIR As in past years, you had plans. Loading up on fresh Blazing Star and Elegant Lady peaches at roadside fruit stands. Getting a clear iPhone shot of Ogopogo in Okanagan Lake. And hitting the Inniskillin tasting room, praying to the Gods above that someone’s going to bust out a Texas mickey of Riesling Icewine. Instead, thanks to stumbling blocks like heatwaves, wild res, and a complete addiction to Gangs of London, it was another staycation summer.

Wash away the guilt with Inniskillin Pinot Noir, a medium-bodied and mildly spiced triumph with subtle oak and fruitforward washes of plump cranberries. Easy

If Pinot Noir offerings from Kim Crawford, Meiomi, Inniskillin, and See Ya Later Ranch have something in common, it’s a smooth and easy drinkability that is made for the end of summer.

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Downtown’s Honeybrew goes beyond the strudel

By Craig Takeuchi

Over the years, Vancouver has seen sweet spots specializing in particular types of dessert, be it croissants, eclairs, macarons, cream puffs, Malaysian coffee buns, or Japanese cheesecake.

The latest entry into the market is based upon a specific dessert but expands far beyond it.

Honeybrew Strudel Bar, perched at 785 Davie Street (on the corner of Howe Street) in Downtown Vancouver, had its soft opening on August 3, and its grand opening is yet to be announced.

The interior design of the intimate space is sleek but vibrant, with a stimulating use of fuchsia, violet, and pink neon to provide visual dazzle amid a setting of dark brown and white. That’s in addition to an L-shaped patio, which includes seating built around modern firepit features on tables.

Situated in the nexus straddling the West End, the Granville Entertainment District, and Yaletown, the adaptable menu is well-suited to accommodate everyone from the comings and goings of daily commuters or partygoers who are venue-hopping the night away.

While the establishment is based upon the strudel, offered in either apple or blueberry versions ($8, with $2 added for ice cream), the menu is light but versatile enough to span the various hours of the day, from breakfast on the go to lunch hour to evening cocktails.

In addition to the Austrian pastry, other baked goods ($3.50 to $5), such as the cheesecake bar, Danish, and a Super Cookie, are on hand, along with a range of caffeinated drinks, including espresso, latte, cappuccino, cortado, Americano, matcha latte, and chai latte.

There’s a range of small and shareable plates, from baked brie with toasted flatbread and spicy chorizo sausage to roasted red-pepper quiche, leek Parmesan bistro, chicken pesto flatbread, and a chicken-and-brie sandwich.

The drink menu covers cocktails and highballs—with spicy mango margarita, mint swizzle, and Aperol Spritz in the mix—as well as local beer and B.C. wines. g

drinking and velvety, it’s a natural when dinner plans include firing up the barbecue for thyme-crusted pork tenderloin with a sour cherry reduction. Make sure that those cherries are from the Okanagan, which you neglected to visit this year. Again.

SEE YA LATER RANCH PINOT NOIR At this point in time, there’s nothing we’d love better than yelling “See Ya Later” on multiple fronts. See ya later COVID-19, face masks, and hand sanitizer that smells like pine-scented industrial rubbing alcohol. See Ya Later 2021, and don’t forget to take the horror show that was 2020 with you. And See Ya Later British Columbia forest fires, 38° B.C. summer days, and rolling evacuation alerts. But enough of all that—let’s focus on something positive.

Bold and pleasantly peppery, See Ya Later Ranch Pinot Noir offers dark-plum heaviness with a hint of cassis and smoky wisps of charred cedar. Consider See Ya Later Pinot Noir’s silky smoothness, and then factor in the $20 price tag, and you’ve got a great value wine that punches well above its weight class. Crack open a bottle, roll out a charcuterie board loaded with Spanish chorizo, French Camembert, and Greek Kalamata olives, and then say ‘“See ya later summer of 2021.” Fall is here—you can feel it in the air. And, more so than most years, that somehow seems like a relief. g

FOOD / WINE Beloved Vancouver diner put up for sale

by Carlito Pablo

Dimitri Pantsios has a house on an island in Greece. However, the Vancouver restaurateur doesn’t have time to enjoy the sun and the sea over there. Even with the COVID-19 pandemic, Pantsios’s diner in Kitsilano has been busy.

Pantsios has owned Sunshine Diner, at 2649 West Broadway, for almost three decades, and he feels it’s time for him to let it go.

Through realtor Jean Seguin’s Restaurant Business Broker agency, the 62-year-old restaurateur is selling the place for $999,000.

“Don’t forget, I’m a Greek,” Pantsios told the Straight in a phone interview. “I have a house in Greece for the last 15 years, and I don’t have time to enjoy it. I think it’s time for me for the next three, four years, you know, just to relax a little,” he continued.

If Sunshine Diner sells, Pantsios will be seeing less of rainy Vancouver. “I live on an island,” he said about his property in Greece. “I could take my little boat. I can do a little fishing and then go home, enjoy my meals, [and] enjoy the sun. A little travelling, and that’s it.”

As Pantsios noted, Sunshine Diner has been in Kitsilano “forever”. It started as the Sunshine Café in 1970, and Pantsios took

The Sunshine Diner in the 2600 block of West Broadway is famous for its breakfast offerings as well as its collection of Elvis Presley memorabilia and statues of Marilyn Monroe and James Dean. over in 1992.

Sunshine Café is famous both for its food and its retro décor. The establishment has a collection of Elvis Presley memorabilia as well as statues of the late King of Rock and Roll, Marilyn Monroe, and James Dean. All of these are going to stay with the new owner.

When COVID-19 hit, the restaurant created an additional outdoor patio. It also started deliveries.

“Even with COVID, my clientele supported us very well. We don’t have a problem with that,” Pantsios said. He related that ever since opening in 1992, the place operated only from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. He said a new owner can double receipts by expanding hours. In 2018, Sunshine Diner came on the market for $1.3 million. Pantsios related that he received and accepted a “beautiful offer” at the time. “Unfortunately, the Chinese, she can’t bring the money. That was the time when the [Chinese] government closed the doors for them to bring the money, and then the deal, it fell. And I said, ‘Forget it now. Let’s go back to our regular lives.’” g

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