ISSUE 06 • 2021
WAT E R D OW N , CA R L I S L E , K I L B R I D E
'Giving Back from Behind the Lens' Photo by Nicole Lem
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6 Watermelon R E CI PE
Refresher
8 It’s a Bird! COM M U N I T Y
It’s a Plane! It’s Lil Heroes!
10 Ice Cream and
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Gelato in Burlington
12 Giving Back SPOT LIGH T
from Behind the Lens
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Watermelon
REFRESHER
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INGREDIENTS 1 small seedless watermelon (pixie is a good variety for this) 7 cups of water 2 tbsp honey (optional) 1 lime Mint sprigs for ganish
FOR A 'SPIKED' RECIPE add an ounce of gin, vodka or St. Germaine elderflower liqueur (my favourite).
Prep Time: 10 minutes ı Serves: 6
DIRECTIONS STEP 1: Cut the watermelon in half, and then take one piece and cut it in half again. STEP 2: With the quarter pieces, cut away the rind and put the flesh into a blender with the water and add the honey (if using). Blend until liquid is opaque and no chunks remain. STEP 3: Strain into a pitcher, add ice, a few slices of lime and some mint, and serve. NOTE: If you don’t drink it all at once, remove the lime after a few hours, or the bitterness of the rind will seep into your juice.
JANETTE MITCHELL - After years of owning and operating a decorating and home staging business, Janette pivoted her career and sights on becoming a food stylist. She enrolled in culinary school and began assisting some of the best food stylists in Toronto. Janette now prepares food for print, packaging, editorials, social media and motion. @janettecooks ■ janettecooks.com NEIGHBOURHOODMAGA ZINE .CA
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IT'S A BIRD! IT'S A PLANE!
IT'S LIL HEROES! By Jason Stacey
Lil Heroes is on a mission to spread the powers of hope, humour and kindness. Over the past year, seeing the world turned upside down by the global COVID-19 pandemic and feeling powerless and saddened by the grim news stories, Oakville resident Celina Ip began searching for something she could do to bolster people's spirits. "In particular, I wanted to brighten the lives of children who have been shuttered in their homes, unable to see their friends and live a normal childhood for over a year," said Ip. Inspired by the idea of the 'superhero' as well as the 'Random Acts of 8
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Kindness' movement, Ip determined to create educational superhero play kits for children. "Ultimately, superheroes are all out to save the world; something most of us wish we could do, especially right now during this global pandemic," Ip said. "But while we can’t fly or time travel or magically heal someone who is sick, we can save the world in other ways. We can do that by using the powers that we are all born with: kindness, hope, humour... to make the world a better place. That’s
where Lil Heroes truly stemmed from, my vision of inspiring the younger generation to channel and hone these innate powers to the best of their ability, to spread more joy and hope in our world." By February 2021, Lil Heroes was launched (online at lilheroes.ca and @lilheroes.ca on Instagram and Facebook) with support from Ip's family and friends, living up to the small business' slogan of 'Greatness From Small Beginnings'.
"We're a small business but we are mighty and we are working hard to make big waves within the local community - Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton, Mississauga - and reach others coastto-coast," said Ip. "And that's why I chose that slogan for Lil Heroes, to remind our young generation that they might be 'small' but they are mighty.
EVERYONE IS BORN WITH GREAT POWERS AND GREAT POTENTIAL, BUT IT'S UP TO US TO TAKE THAT FIRST SMALL STEP TOWARDS THAT BIG DREAM THAT COULD HAVE SOME IMPACTFUL AND POSITIVE CHANGE." The first Lil Heroes play kits were inspired by the power of kindness, humour and hope. Each play kit includes a handmade felt cape, eye mask and a few special tools (such as Kindness Cards) that Ip hopes will instill kids with the confidence to be real-world superheroes, ready to spread some positivity among their family, friends and neighbours. "By putting on their superhero cape and mask, having their super sidekick (a stuffed animal or a pet!) tag along and using the tools in their kit, kids can begin spreading positivity (hope, humour, kindness) in the world — to make someone smile, make someone laugh and brighten someone's day!" said Ip.
THIS JUNE, LIL HEROES WILL BE RELEASING A NEW CANADIANA-THEMED PLAY KIT IN ANTICIPATION OF CANADA DAY. "This kit will focus on promoting 'Pride' — to teach kids about the importance of being proud of one's roots, proud of one's history, and being proud to be Canadian," Ip said. You can check out Lil Heroes on Facebook and Instagram at @lilheroes.ca and on the web, where you can place an order, at lilheroes.ca. NEIGHBOURHOODMAGA ZINE .CA
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DELICIOUSLY INDEPENDENT ICE CREAM AND GELATO PARLOURS IN BURLINGTON // LA CREME DE LA CREME La Creme de la Creme is a staple in Downtown Burlington (and in our house). They are a family-owned and run creamery specializing in the Belgian Chocolate Dipped Ice Cream. They use 100% real soft ice cream and 18 imported Belgian Chocolates for the dip. // EASTERBROOK'S Easterbrooks' Aldershot Hot Dog stand (behind the RBG) has been there for over 85 years! Clearly, they know a thing or two about ice cream.
ICE CREAM AND GELATO Article by Amber Rohal of ActiveParents.ca
Temperatures are rising and I can’t think of a better way to cool down than with a frosty dessert! Read on for YOUR GUIDE TO THE BEST SPOTS FOR GELATO, FROZEN YOGURT, AND ICE CREAM IN BURLINGTON.
// RC'S BOARDWALK RC's Boardwalk is a Burlington gem. What beats ice cream and a walk down memory lane? While the shoppe isn't open for seating, they're serving up big scoops of over 30 flavours of ice cream and gelato or get it delivered thru UberEats. // TASTY SCOOP ICE CREAM Tasty Scoop Ice Cream in Aldershot is a yummy little spot for a delicious treat, serving Kawartha ice cream in cones, sundaes and milkshakes. // LOLA'S CHOCO BAR AND SWEET HOUSE Lola Choco Bar is in the heart of Burlington's Village Square, serving up fresh and delicious gelato. They're open now and ready to cool you down on a hot day. // I LOVE GELATO I Love Gelato has a great gelato selection and a fabulous patio to enjoy it on. Located at Brant and Lakeshore, they're open for takeout and curbside pickup. Call 905 632 6565 to order. // LAKESHORE COFFEE HOUSE Lakeshore Coffee House serves up Kawartha ice cream and it's delish! // KELLY'S BAKE SHOPPE Kelly's Bake Shop is the ideal stop for anyone looking for cold indulgences with dietary concerns.
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MULTI-LOCATION PARLOURS // BASKIN ROBBINS Baskin Robbins has been in Canada for over 30 years and Burlington is home to 5 Baskin Robbins ice cream shops. Each parlour is operating its own hours, with some delivering via Uber Eats and some open for pick up. Look up your local store for complete info. And get the mint chocolate chip! // CAFFE DEMETRE Caffe Demetre is currently open to pick up desserts and ice cream in Burlington. Order your favourite treats online visit the cafe from 5:00pm till midnight to pick them up. // DAIRY QUEEN Dairy Queen has locations for ice cream in Burlington on Appleby Line, Plains Road, Alton Village area, and currently open. And be sure to take some Dilly Bars home with you! // MARBLE SLAB Marble Slab Creamery is another delicious experience! You choose the ice cream and fixings and you watch them get mixed just for you! // PURDY’S CHOCOLATIERS Purdy’s Chocolatiers are located in your city’s mall, and they scoop up some decadent desserts. // YOGURTY’S Yogurty’s is always a treat because you get to build your own frozen yogurt sundae!
AS BUSINESSES START TO REOPEN... opening dates and hours of operation will fluctuate. We do our best to stay on top of these changes but always call ahead to avoid disappointment.
About Amber Rohal Amber is the creator of Active Parents, and loves nothing more than finding something new and noteworthy to share with local parents. Active Parents is your go-to resource for families in Halton and Surrounding areas. Their mission is to make finding family fun easier for parents. They do the legwork to curate the biggest list of local, family-friendly activities, events and businesses in the region. activeparents.ca NEIGHBOURHOODMAGA ZINE .CA
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Giving Back
FROM BEHIND THE LENS Article by Jason Stacey ■ Photography by Nicole Lem, Lemography
THE FRONT STEPS PROJECT (#thefrontstepsproject) was born in March 2020 when friends Kristen Collins and Cara Soulia kicked off a local fundraiser to unite their neighbours through images of life in quarantine. Along with other local photographers, they took a few hours each day to go to neighbourhoods in Needham, Massachusetts and photograph residents in front of their homes in exchange for donations to their local food pantry. It was a way to give back to their community during these uncertain times and it’s by that spirit so many photographers around the world, including Canadian Nicole Lem of Lemography, decided to carry the torch in their own communities.
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AT FIRST, Nicole was apprehensive about approaching strangers to participate so she did some test runs with family and friends. Careful to stay at a distance, the photoshoots went safely and better than expected and gave her the confidence to move forward. According to Nicole, the feedback from her subjects was incredibly positive. The families in her photos seemed to crave a bit of normalcy while living through the pandemic. "People would get so excited when I would text I have arrived outside” remarked Nicole. “After being told of the importance of staying home, the photoshoots gave these families a reason to shower, get changed out of their pajamas and get outside (if only to their front steps of course) It was nice to give them something to look forward to."
Nicole has always had an affinity for photography. Growing up, both of her parents were camera enthusiasts and through their passion, she found a passion of her own. Her love for photography combined with her adoration for travel has allowed her to be well rounded in order to preserve beautiful memories for herself and others. Her passion not only took her behind the lens, but on the other side of it as well as she began modelling at the age of 12. "Modelling has taught me that photography is about patience," says Nicole. "People think that taking a photo is just a point and click, but there is a lot more to it.
It’s an extension of what you see and how you perceive it, an art form that embodies your style. It’s a connection with your subject. Modelling taught me posing, to be creative and to go with the flow. Some of the best photographs are the in-between moments."
The Front Steps Project wasn’t just beneficial to the families Nicole shot, it was also an uplifting experience for her and her own mental health. "Keep in mind, when I started on this endeavour, we had been in the pandemic for nearly three weeks," exclaimed Nicole.
"Taking part in this project allowed me to safely chronicle the experiences and emotions that people were going through, during this unordinary time. Being able to capture real smiles on people’s faces was an uplifting experience for everyone." In exchange for the professional images, the families were asked to donate to a local charity. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada was her charity of choice, as they provided her and her brother great support during their time of need, at a very young age. To this day, Nicole and her brother Paul keep in contact with her brother’s “Big Brother”, Bob Beauchemin and by supporting this great cause, it has become a way to honour their relationship. TO DATE, NICOLE HAS RAISED OVER $2,000. NEIGHBOURHOODMAGA ZINE .CA
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To commemorate The Front Steps Project, a photo book was created to shine a light on the breadth of how far one idea can go. It demonstrates a massive effort of good will through inspiring photographs and poignant stories of both heartache and triumph. With so many beautiful and emotional stories from across the globe, Nicole was ecstatic to hear that some of her photos made it into the keepsake.
"Connecting with the community and giving back while supporting a charitable organization that has meant so much to me, has been gratifying. It has helped to bring a little bit of joy into people’s lives. I’m excited to have been part of something so momentous." About Nicole Lem Born in Brampton and now living in Mississauga, Nicole Lem’s career in photography began about 8 years ago with the desire to pursue her passion by going back to school for Digital Photography.
In times of crisis, everyone looks for a beacon of hope. While photographs may not be the vaccine for COVID-19, The Front Steps Project brought light to so many communities. It brought a sense of making an impact and it gave everyone something to look forward to.
"I’m happy that I decided to participate in this project and see it unfold in its entirety." It really does show that even in the most challenging of circumstances, incredible kindness, love, courage, and hope exist to build, bind and connect communities around the globe. 14
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The Front Steps Project has come to a successful conclusion and the book, 'The Front Steps Project: How Communities Found Connection During the COVID-19 Crisis' is available in independent local bookstores, bookshop.org and Amazon. Proceeds from book sales will be donated to charitable organizations fighting the global effects of COVID-19.
As a flourishing side business, LEMOGRAPHY is getting quite the extensive portfolio. She received her Certificate for Digital Photography in 2012 from Sheridan College. Capturing events is one type of photography that Nicole enjoys. From scenic landscapes worldwide to memorable wedding photos, to fun family portraits, Nicole has photographed it all. You may have even seen some of her art from her ‘Hello From’ Collection, in one of your neighbour’s homes. LEMOGRAPHY’s diverse portfolio is influenced by her vast travel experiences and her love for adventure. Her strong connection with her clients, and her passion in capturing the moment is what has contributed to her thriving business. With always room to grow she enjoys the challenges photography presents with every new shoot. Nicole has an excellent eye and appreciation for this art and with her broad range of education as well as an abundance of experience, she will be the perfect fit for your photography needs.
Contact Lemography lemography@nicolelem.com nicolelem.com
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Article and Photography by Peeter Poldre
he abundant springtime dandelion is an important source of pollen and nectar. Up close imagery reveals intricate bilobed stigma that sit atop styles and anthers. Plentiful pollen can also be seen. Nikon D850 camera with f2.8 105mm macro lens.
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