Spring Fall 2012 2015 || Vol. Vol. 06 09 || No. No. 03 01 | www.TopChoiceMagazine.com | $4.99 CAN
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Gordon Ramsay Steak He may seem intimidating on TV, but what about his restaurant 28 in Las Vegas? Is the hype real? Read the review to find out.
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Beauty may be skin deep, but intelligence, determination and good instincts go right down to the bone. Stratford native Emily Lyons is proof. The former model is the brains behind the beauty at Femme Fatale Media, the award-winning event staffing and promotion agency she founded in 2009. “I always wanted to do something really big, and get noticed,” said Lyons Tuesday from Toronto, where the business is based. With a long list of high-profile clients, a string of industry awards and hundreds of the most talented models in the country under management, it’s safe to say she’s on her way.
Success didn’t happen overnight, though. At age 19, a sense of curiosity prompted her to move from Stratford to Australia,
“because I knew there was something bigger out there.” She was a nanny for a few years before moving back to Canada, where she did some modelling work in Toronto. But it was a gift from her sister Julia (who died in 2011 after a courageous battle with cystic fibrosis) -- a book entitled Career Renegade: How to Make a Great Living Doing What You Love – that helped to stoke her entrepreneurial spirit. So she made the leap. “I didn’t have any business experience whatsoever,” she recalled. “And I thought, if I can just support myself, then that’s good enough.” What she lacked in experience, she made up for in determination. “I loved it so much that I started reading everything I could, researching whatever I could. I’d stay up until four in the morning researching and Googling how to do business plans, how to do this or that,” she said. “Every single moment I had I spent on my business, and every bit of money I made I put back into it.” “I didn’t sleep for the first two years at all,” she added with a laugh. The hard work and sleepless nights paid off. What began as a small operation with a few girls has grown into a Canada-wide operation, with hundreds of models (women and some men), professional dancers and hosts working out of Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal and Ottawa. They appear at everything from nightclubs and trade shows to product launches, entertainment venues, fashion shows, charity events and corporate gigs. And they’re more than just pretty faces, suggested Lyons. “Pretty faces are good, but if they don’t have the personality and they don’t have the drive and they’re not reliable, they’re no good to me,” she said. Intelligence and likability are also key, she added. She’s been rewarded for that attention to detail, and an ability to not only attract the right people but also to meet the needs of diverse range of companies with whom she’s worked. Over the past four years, Lyons has built up an impressive portfolio of prominent clients, including Warner Bros., National Bank Financial, Rockstar Energy, MTV and Playboy. During the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival, her staff helped to host an event with fellow Stratford native Justin Bieber and rap star Snoop Dogg. She was involved with Drake’s birthday party, and had models at a UFC fight in Toronto to promote the movie The Hangover 2. In each of the last four years, the company earned the Toronto Nigtbclub Award for best promotional models, also claiming three Top Choice Awards for top event staffing. Accolades from family, and especially her mother Gail Lyons, a nurse at Stratford General Hospital, are important to her as well. “My mom is so proud,” she said, adding that she told her recently that she could see her daughter as one of the dragons on Dragon’s Den. She’s certainly aiming high. After being approached several times about doing a Femme Fatale reality show, Lyons said she’s now “seriously entertaining the idea” and is even meeting with a producer about it. It fits in with her goal of doing something big and getting noticed. “The attention does feel good, but I want bigger,” said Lyons. “Much bigger.”
Features
28 14 ILAC Hosts Anti-Bullying Event ILAC
Review: Gordon Ramsay Steak He may seem intimidating on TV, but what about his restaurant in Las Vegas? Is the Hype Real?
22 Eliminating the Roadblocks to Studying Abroad Language Connections
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The Family behind Vaughan's An Inside Look at the Top Choice Awards Gala 2014 newest Portuguese grill The Grill House
Event 4
Spring 2015
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2013, 2014 & 2015 Top Choice Award Winner for Best Weight Loss Clinic
Table of Contents
Events
Top Choice Magazine
10 Top Choice Awards Gala 2014
Top Choice Magazine is dedicated to showcasing excellence. It features businesses, business professionals, entertainers, and media that are recognized with awards. Top Choice Magazine is produced by Top Choice Media Group Inc. The magazine is published 4 times a year and is a reliable guide to the top products and services in your community!
Features 14 ILAC Hosts Anti-Bullying Event 18 Top Choice Awards Voting 2015
Success 20 IBX Services
Education 22 Language Connections: Eliminating the Roadblocks to Studying Abroad
Food & Drink 24 The Grill House
More than 100,000 copies are distributed throughout Top businesses and professionals in Canada, the magazine works like a promotional tool to the participants. Readership is estimated at more than 300,000 per issue.
Advertising Inquirers Only award-winning, reputable or recognized businesses, entertainers, media providers, and business professionals are promoted in Top Choice Magazine.
30 Review: Cluny Bistro
If you would like to advertise, call us at (416) 662-2123 or send an email to info@TopChoiceMagazine.com. Media kits are available in print and digital format.
Humanitarianism
Copyright notice
34 Cooking for a Cause: Drew Munro's Experience
The content and photographs in this magazine are protected by copyright. Reproduction in any form, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of the publisher.
28 Review: Gordon Ramsay Steak
Volunteering in Guatemala
Entertainment 38 G Pinto: One Musician, Many Possibilities
Contact us
40 Celebrities on Winning the Top Choice Award
Top Choice Magazine 160 Applewood Cres., Unit 24 Vaughan, ON L4K 4H2 Canada
Business & Marketing 46 Benefits of Winning a Business Award
info@TopChoiceMagazine.com Tel. 905 761 1980 www.topchoicemagazine.com
48 Responsive Websites: Go Mobile or Go Home
Follow Us
50 Fotografia Boutique
Finance & Legal 52 Bergel Magence, LLP 54 Di Nardo Financial
Profile 56 Shiva Negar: Actress, Producer, Model and Musician
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Message From The Publisher
Hello everyone, David Silvestre Publisher Managing Editor Monica Couto Art Director Michael Fillier Accountant Executive ITA Accounting Editor Marco Luccisano Sabrina Cugliari Sales Manager Fay Xuan Graphic Designer Tessa Rola Photographers Sam Santos George Pimentel Maggie Habieda Writers Francesca Filippelli Sabrina Cugliari Monica Couto David Silvestre Marco Luccisano Dyvine Silvestre
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The time has come again where we focus on selfmotivation and greet another year of challenges with a smile. Hopefully, this magazine issue finds you in good health and will save you time and money in finding the products and services you need! With the cold temperatures and snowy weather, saving time and avoiding disappointments is a sure way to put a boost in our sometimes gloomy winter moods! Now that the cold weather is behind us and a new season has commenced, we need to look forward and focus on improving ourselves to achieve our goals. I came across a quote recently that grabbed my attention and taught me a lot: “Ignorance on fire is better than knowledge on ice.” - Dexter Yager The 10th Annual Top Choice Awards Gala is in the making as you are reading this message and this year we will share the history of our business to celebrate “10 Years of Magic”. Yes, we believe in magic - after all, we live it everyday. We can’t wait to let everyone know the HOW, WHERE and WHY we started the Top Choice Awards. Hopefully, our story will inspire you to free yourself and finally get around to doing that “thing” you were scared of. It worked out wonderfully for us!
We believe that all Top Choice Award Winners are masters of “balancing knowledge with fire”. It takes guts to launch yourself head first into a passion without much experience or knowledge, not knowing what the end result will be. And even if there was previous experience/knowledge in a certain field, one thing is for sure, people who have taken a chance to pursue their goals and dreams took a stand for what they believe in and melted the ice! Results become apparent when one has the courage to take a chance even without “knowledge”; results are not apparent when people have all the “knowledge” they need, but do nothing with it. A s u s u a l , t h e To p Choice Magazine showcases award winning businesses and promotes their services and products. This issue is no exception
and offers you information and direct contact to the best of the best in your city. We reserved four pages of this magazine to showcase the 9th Annual Top Choice Awards Gala that took place November 7, 2014 at the beautiful Distillery District in Downtown Toronto - an event that provides people with the opportunity to network with powerful individuals that share the same flame of passion. Hope you enjoy and take advantage by contacting one of them and taking the first step towards jumping in that winners circle!
Top Regards,
David Silvestre, Publisher
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Event
Top Choice Awards Gala 2014 The 9th Annual Top Choice Awards Gala was a huge success, honouring businesses from all across Canada in style. Here are some of our favourite moments from the gala.
Liz Rodrigues, Singer/Songwriter Tracy Moore – Host of CityTV's Cityline Live painting of the venue by Olga Pankova
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(Clockwise from top): Our Geisha Girl served sushi during the reception, Roz Weston – KISS 92.5, Fusion Events Orchestra, Dr. Draw, Scott Fox – Z103.5, Josie Dye – 102.1 The EDGE
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Event
(Clockwise from top): Dr. Kris Conrad with Wife, Jeff Kahane, Tokaji Wines, David Silvestre, Patrick Reynolds - CityTV Cameraman
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(Clockwise from top-left): Lion Dance, Statues Alive, Top Choice Production Team, Edllusion Entertainment, Tracy Moore with David Silvestre and Monica Couto, Mohamad Fakir
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FEATURE
Kill Them With Kindness, Silence Them With Success ILAC Hosts 2014 Anti-Bullying Event Sabrina Cugliari The Dalai Lama once
said, “Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.� In our busy lives, it is easy to forget the message behind this quote and become a little selfish. We tend to concern ourselves only with things that directly affect us while everything else fades into the background. On November 17, 2014, ILAC (International Language Academy of Canada) hosted an event in honour of Bullying Awareness and Prevention week to remind
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us that bullying is an ongoing issue that affects us all. With more than 150 students and some very special guest speakers in attendance, the day was filled with positivity and possibility - the possibility that with the right attitude, you can achieve anything, which is exactly what we believe defines excellence. ILAC is no stranger to excellence. Voted the number one English Language school in Canada with over 17 years of experience, the school
offers English programs to students from over 70 countries with locations in Toronto and Vancouver. With small class sizes and partnerships with over 60 universities and colleges in Canada, ILAC gives students learning English the opportunity to flourish. A mosaic of cultures comes together within the walls with one common goal. What better place than here to host an antibullying seminar. This was the foundation behind the massively successful event.
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It’s all about attitude. It’s belief in yourself. It’s coming over here with an attitude that you are going to get better today somehow, somewhere! Ten years ago I couldn’t speak any English at all. I have never thought that I could be here, where I am right now. – Greivis Vasquez, Toronto Raptors Player Bullying continues to be a prevalent problem, particularly among today’s youth. With the ever rising popularity of social media and the standards set by society, it is almost impossible not to make comparisons and, at times, feel inadequate. We are often made to feel like the qualities that make us unique should be hidden rather than celebrated. On November 17, attendees were able to listen to stories from people who embraced their differences and followed their dreams to greatness. Guest speakers included Bernice Carnegie, daughter of Canadian hockey player Herb Carnegie, from the Future Aces Foundation, Miss Universe Gabriela Isler from Venezuela, Miss Universe Canada Chanel Beckehnlehner, and Toronto Raptors star Greivis Vasquez. To begin the day, ILAC welcomed Bernice Carnegie who spoke about her father’s
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legacy. African-American Herb Carnegie, Bernice’s father, was unable to play in NHL because of his skin colour regardless of the fact that he was an outstanding hockey player. While sharing a story about an event at Maple Leaf Gardens, Bernice recalled, “More than 3000 articles have been written about my dad - and here he was, as a senior citizen, in tears, remembering how it felt to be treated unfairly.” She went on to describe the different types of bullying and noted how they are all used to ‘keep people down’. As she shared what it was like when people tried to break her father’s spirit, she also reinforced the message that our differences are what we must embrace. Herb eventually founded the Future Aces Foundation, a non-profit organization that focuses on “assisting individuals to be better citizens” with ‘The Creed’
consisting of 12 sentiments based on things such as attitude, courage, and empathy - qualities that we should all strive to display in our daily lives. ILAC then welcomed Miss Universe Gabriela Isler and Miss Universe Canada Chanel Beckenlehner, two outstanding women with inspiring words.
As Gabriela took the stage, she explained to students that she understood what it was like to be criticized. While it may be difficult to picture Miss Universe bullied in anyway, she recalls the criticism she received as a child for her accent and her body type. “Be happy with yourself ”, she implored, emphasizing how important
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Feature it was to respect not only each other, but ourselves as well. Chanel then spoke about striving to always maintain integrity and being successful. “I encourage you to pursue your unique attributes!”, she shared with the crowd, further promoting the idea that we must love ourselves first. Finally, Grievis Vasquez took the stage remembering how far he has come and how much has changed. “Ten years ago, I couldn’t even speak any English at all...to me life is all about attitude. It’s believing in yourself.” With hard work and determination, anything is possible! As each guest took the stage to talk about how important it is to never give up on your dreams regardless of what comes your way, the crowd was left with resonating sentiments regarding respect, integrity and always doing what is right. While each speaker described particular setbacks and discouragements, the one common factor was that negativity did not prevent them from succeeding. While the guest speaker’s at ILAC’s event differed in gender, culture and lifestyles, they all shared one thing: the will to succeed. These celebrity speakers helped make the day a profound success and helped demonstrate the notion that being kind is always a possible choice. When given the opportunity to choose, let’s start choosing correctly!
I think the most important thing about the Bullying Awareness Week is maintaining your integrity and speaking up when you need to stand up for yourself. I encourage you to pursue your unique attributes. Go out! Be successful! Don’t let anyone tear your spirit down! - Miss Universe Canada 2014, Chanel Beckenlehner Sometimes people may criticize you because you have a different accent, your skin is darker or lighter. I say: “If you don’t like the colour of my hair, if you don’t like the colour of my skin, if you don’t like my accent. You know what?
For more information about ILAC and their campuses in Toronto and Vancouver. Call toll-free 416-961-5151, email info@ilac.com or visit ilac.com.
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I don’t care! I am happy with myself. – Reigning Miss Universe, Gabriela Isler
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Feature
Top Choice Awards Voting 2015 We're giving you an inside look at the data we collected during this year's extensive surveying process. It was an incredible year for voting, with more sharing and more comments than ever before. Remember, whenever you need the very best products and services, visit winners.topchoiceawards.com
WE
BSI
450,000
+
VOTES 25
%
INCREASE IN SURVEY PARTICIPATION VS LAST YEAR
TE
HOW
ENTR
VOTED
CALL C
PEOPLE
Includes Nominating, Sharing and Voting
3 1
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to
SOCIAL MED
IA
WINNER RATINGS
NOMINEES THAT NEED IMPROVEMENT VS WINNERS THAT NEED IMPROVEMENT
THE AVERAGE RATING AMONGST ALL 2015 TOP CHOICE AWARDS WINNERS
91
89
92
89
IMAGE
TREATMENT
QUALITY
SERVICE
VALUE
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5 times more people answered the question “How can this nominee improve?” on nominees that did not win, versus those that did win.
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SALON spa
success
IBX Services Service You Can Trust When You Need It Most Bersi and Ivi Xhelili, Owners and Founders of IBX Services
David Silvestre Everyone loves a good success story. One that reminds us that anything is possible no matter how bleak the situation may seem. In pop culture, heroes always seem to be the underdogs - the ones who defied the odds. When we think of the word hero we might envision a cape wearing billionaire who may or may not have superpowers. But in everyday life, overcoming difficulties to achieve a goal is undoubtedly heroic, whether a cape is present or not. IBX Services is a great example of one such story. As the largest Disaster
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Restoration Company in the GTA, the team at IBX are no strangers to success. Growing steadily for the last 16 years, the company offers a full range of professional services along with 24 hour emergency response services. The company has also been distinguished by the community. IBX Services has been recognized as the Winners of the Top Choice Award for Business Excellence from 2007 to 2015. But for Ivi and Bersi Xhelili, this road to success was not without some speedbumps. Arriving in Canada from Albania as teenagers, Ivi and Bersi were faced with
the seemingly impossible task of creating a life for themselves in a foreign country. It would be hard to imagine picking up and starting over in another country. It’s even harder to imagine doing so without anyone to turn to for guidance, without a thorough knowledge of the country’s language and without any solid plans for the future. This was the situation these two men were faced with. If not for their determination and remarkable will to succeed, then this story would end here and could hardly be classified as one of success. However, as we’ve all been told time and time again, if you refuse
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The management team of IBX Services
to give up and continue to chase after your dreams, you’ll achieve them - and that’s exactly what they did. After spending a few months in Covenant House Toronto - Canada’s largest homeless youth agency, and a cause very dear to their hearts, Bersi and Ivi were able to find jobs. They then decided to respond to an ad in the paper which promised up to $4000 a month with one catch...an investment was required. After meeting with the poster of the ad and then taking out a $12,000 loan to buy his carpet cleaning machine, they approached a few more speedbumps. The man and his ‘company’ were never heard from again and the $12,000 carpet cleaning machine was only really worth $1,700. People have given up in the face of less difficult situations, but for two people who had already come this far, giving up was not an option and the Xhelili’s started their own carpet cleaning company. The business slowly grew from one crew to ten crews and as expansion continued so did the services they offered. After receiving calls for water damage, which has grown to become IBX’s primary service, IBX steadily grew into the multifaceted company that it is today.
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If not for their determination and will to succeed, then this story would end here and could hardly be classified as one of success. IBX Services offers a wide range of emergency services and cleaning services tailored to suit client needs. Specializing in disaster restoration, including fire and smoke damage, windstorm damage, odour removing and more they provide 24 hour emergency service with a response time of 1 hour or less within the GTA. Other services include and are not limited to carpet, upholstery, window, air duct and furnace cleaning, painting, tile, hardwood floor and laminate installation as well as general contracting. IBX Services along with their trained, certified and insured technicians are available residential,
commercial, industrial, condominium and governmental properties. With a 100% satisfaction guarantee, IBX services the GTA and surrounding areas including Oakville, Oshawa, Barrie and Newmarket, making them leaders in their field. Offering clients professional and reliable service with competitive pricing, IBX is unmatched in the industry. As 2015 continues to fly by, Ivi, Bersi and the team at IBX can add another year of success to the list, however, their story is far from over. Their history is a fantastic example of the magic that results from hard work and dedication. The refusal to give up even when it seems like all the odds are against you is worth being recognized. With a goal in mind, belief in yourself and a strong support system anything can be achieved. IBX Services is proof of just that.
1-800-962-7814 ibx.ca
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Education
Language Connections Eliminating the Roadblocks to Studying Abroad Studying abroad is one of the most gratifying experiences you may have throughout your life. Discovering new places around the world, meeting new friends and learning at a great school overseas is an experience that will not only distinguish you professionally, but take you further in becoming a global citizen as well. However, there are many roadblocks along the way to this remarkable path. That's why Language Connections was born; an education agency that will help you plan and achieve your academic goals abroad. After almost a decade in the industry of recruiting international students, Language Connections has proven to be one of the best in the market despite its very price sensitive and unique clientele. Leonardo Masricobetre and Astrid Villarroel, founders and owners of Language Connections wanted to create an education agency that specializes
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in recruiting international students in foreign markets who are seeking opportunities in studying abroad. According to Leonardo and Astrid, recruiting students from Venezuela to study in Canada s a matter of taking “three steps forward and two steps back. However, that makes us always one step ahead.� Colleges and universities that are interested in maintaining diversified populations of international students create strategic business relationships with foreign educational agencies to help them with their recruitment efforts and needs. This win-win situation is also very beneficial to students because they can use local agents as a great resource of information to help them reach their goals. For the majority of agencies in the world, the process of recruitment takes a lot marketing effort, but after students have been successfully registered and enrolled the process
becomes a primary exchange of communication between education providers and agencies. However, in Venezuela it's a completely different story. Due to its current unstable and uncertain business environment, an agency becomes extremely useful in the process of providing students with information and services. Agencies help facilitate students and remedies the frustration caused by constant changes and uncertainty in Venezuela in terms of foreign exchange regulation, cancellation of business between airlines and visa documentation and processing. These are just a few of the biggest issues that Venezuelan students have to deal with to study abroad. Language Connections is the most recommended agency to study abroad in that country due to a customer service sector that is always willing to take one step further to help its students, educational partners and service providers. With seven offices, including Resource Centres in Venezuela in Canada, the company has invested in everything they can to ensure customer satisfaction. For international students, the first step to studying abroad is to narrow down the
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multiple options of study that may be presented to them through channels like the internet, social media, or an educational fair. Just gathering information is a process that can take up to many months, however, with Language Connections, students can achieve this in a few of hours. This is achieved through a huge database of programs offered in Canada, USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand, France and Germany to name a few, and the help of expert academic advisors in international education that have been trained locally and overseas to answer questions involved in this process. Since 2006, Language Connections has been recruiting thousands of international students from Latin America and placing them in the best colleges, universities and language training institutions in Canada and other countries of the world. They offer language training courses, high school, graduate and postgraduate programs through some of the most recognized names of educational institutions. The best part is that their service is free for the students. Language Connections became an innovator in the educations industry when, despite cost considerations, they developed a unique service called the Integration Service, which helps international students in the transition between their home and the new destination of study. Through this service, international students experience some degree of relief and Language comfort knowing that people will help them upon their arrival to the new city in their
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Since 2006, Language Connections has been recruiting thousands of international students from Latin America and placing them in the best colleges, universities and language training institutions in Canada and other countries of the world. own language. With a bilingual personnel, Language Connections provides support to students, personalizing their arrival to the city including airport pick-up and drop-off, opening bank accounts, learning how to use the public transportation, accommodation orientation, insurance and general information. Currently, Language Connections is on the verge of expansion to countries like
Brazil, Mexico, Colombia and Chile and the most popular destinations for their students to study are cities like Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary, Boston, New York, Miami, San Diego, Los Angeles, London, Manchester, Brighton, Bristol, Cambridge, Paris, Malta, Ireland, Auckland and Zurich. For more information about Language Connections visit www.lccanaca.com
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Food & Drink
The Martins Family Michael, Gina, Jorge, Susana Owners and operators of The Grill House.
The Grill House Vaughan's newest Portuguese grill, where their slogan, “come hungry, leave happy”, could not ring truer. Sabrina Cugliari Conveniently located at W e s t o n R o a d a n d
Rutherford road, just minutes from Highway 400, The Grill House brings authentic Portuguese dishes to the GTA. While many Portuguese chicken restaurants boast of serving the best authentic chicken, few of them have the dishes to back up their claim. The Grill House is an eatery amongst these claims that truly delivers. The restaurant is the product of a long time dream of the Martins family. Parents Jorge and Eugenia, along with son and daughter, Mike and Susana took their love for authentic Portuguese delicacies and made their dream a reality by
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deciding to start their first family business. After working in the construction business for many years, the family decided on a change of pace, opening their doors in July 2014. Open 6 days a week during the winter months, and 7 days a week during the summer, The Grill House takes Portuguese dining to a new level. With an array of tasty options and service that will have you smiling, leaving happy is a guarantee. The Grill House emphasizes authenticity using family recipes and only the freshest ingredients to deliver mouthwatering items to their customers. Their variety of meats and fish are always fresh
rather than frozen along with their speciality ingredients including their ever popular house sauces that are always made in house from scratch. Offering both take-out and dine in options, The Grill House is the perfect option whether you’re looking for a sit-down dinner or delicious bite to grab on the go. The atmosphere is welcoming, casual and cozy. A modern decor allows customers to relax and get ready to enjoy any of the fabulous meals on the menu. Whether you’re looking to enjoy a family dinner or to have the perfect date night, The Grill House is the place for you. A fully licensed L.L.B.O, the
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restaurant also boasts a patio overlooking the city that can seat up 70-80 people. Patio dining in Vaughan is often a rarity, making The Grill House the perfect place to kick back with a drink and enjoy the view. The Grill House will also be home to future speciality nights, where sporting events will be broadcasted. Patrons had a little taste of this excitement as the restaurant opened at the tail end of The 2014 World Cup last summer. ‘Game days’ will make The Grill House quite the popular spot. Equipped with big screen tvs and speakers, the patio is sure to come second only to the dining. The menu is stocked with mouthwatering dishes that make it hard to choose just one! With an array of appetizers and mains, you’ll want to try every dish. Start your meal with your choice of appetizer included grilled or fried calamari or the homemade soup of the day. Next get ready for the main course - the options are truly endless. Their BBQ chicken dish with a delicious speciality sauce comes with a choice of two sides, options which include rice, potatoes, garden salad and more. If you’re a seafood lover, you’ll be able to choose from a list of shrimp, salmon, mussels, cod and more. If meat is your guilty pleasure, you can satisfy your craving with
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Food & Drink
chicken, pork, steak, and ribs. The list goes on. The variety of options helps set The Grill House apart. This is not your average chicken restaurant. A lot of factors are taken into consideration when choosing a restaurant, perhaps most important among these - aside from quality of food of course, is portion size and pricing. At The Grill House, customers truly get bang for their buck. With amazing portion sizes at great prices, every item on the menu is worth trying. Their BBQ chicken dish, worth mentioning twice it’s that delicious - will satisfy any kind of hunger! Aside from the perfectly cooked chicken, the sides are just as filling as the main course, with the garden salad coming highly recommended. The warm and attentive staff will be happy to answer any questions you may have in regards to ingredients and love to provide recommendations to inquiring customers. When asked what dishes they would recommend to customers, Mike and Susana immediately agreed. “The BBQ chicken.” Perhaps the most popular choice, this meal is appealing to even the pickiest of eaters. Next on the list, is the seafood platter, an enormous arrangement of the freshest seafood cooked to perfection. Another recommendation among the siblings was the Bitoque dish. A traditional dish made up of Portuguese steak topped with a fried egg with an optional mushroom gravy on the side. And finally, a Portuguese favourite, among the Martins family and foodies alike, Mike and Susana recommend any of the cod - or bacalhau - options on the
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menu and there are quite a few to choose from! Cooked in different styles, cod lovers can pick from Bacalhau a Bras, Bacalhau Com Natas, and Bacalhau a Gomes de Sa. While they may sound like a mouthful, your tastebuds will thank you! In today’s society, it takes a certain something special to stand out from your competition. The Grill House has the dishes, the ingredients, the service and the passion, but what is it that makes this family owned restaurant truly worth returning to time and time again? When asked what they believe is the key to building and maintaining a successful restaurant, Susanna immediately replied, “Customer service and the quality of food.” The Grill House hits both of these nails on the head. The customer service is top notch. The passion which the Martins family employs in their restaurant daily is enough to make anyone want to return. Customers cannot help but feel like they’re part of the family
when they walk through the doors. As for the quality of food, it speaks for itself. With speciality recipes, the highest quality ingredients and a love for authentic Portuguese cuisine, a meal at The Grill House will without a doubt have you finishing your meal and already looking forward to the next one. Customers are guaranteed to leave happy - and anything but hungry!
(905) 417-2222 3600 Rutherford Rd. Unit 99, Vaughan, On thegrillhouse.ca
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Challenge Accepted: Gordon Ramsay Steak He may seem intimidating on TV, but what about his restaurant in Las Vegas? Is the hype real, or is it just a pretentious establishment riding on the coat tails of it’s infamous owner? Read the review to find out. David Silvestre They say whatever happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but if you ever have the pleasure of visiting Gordon Ramsay Steak, you’re going to want to share the experience with the world. It’s not my first time to Las Vegas, so I knew what was in store. Great weather, amazing lights and unmatched entertainment. There’s something for everybody in Vegas, that’s why they call it Sin City after all. I must admit that I have never visited Vegas with a plan before, but this time would be different. There are two, very special objectives on the list. The first is to see one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Grand Canyon and the second, which may not seem so “grand” in comparison, is to visit Gordon Ramsay Steak. Visiting the Grand Canyon is something that cannot be put in to words. It was truly uplifting and helped put a lot of things in perspective. Yet, it’s not the Grand Canyon that I visualize every time I sit down to eat, it’s my experience at Gordon Ramsay Steak and this is something I can try to put into words. This was my first time experiencing a Gordon Ramsay restaurant and it finally helped me understand what all the hype is about. Located in the Paris Las Vegas,
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Review
Each course would stand alone in excellence, but they truly shined as a whole, working together to create a dining experience that was memorable and unrivaled. Gordon Ramsay Steak is not just about food. The place itself and the service throughout are an experience in themselves. The staff here truly define what it is to be a team. Welcoming, cheerful and eager to please; from the front-line hostesses to the many, many experts servers, the people who work here seem as happy as the patrons. They aren’t just about looks either, every person we encountered shared a depth of knowledge about the restaurant that made it feel like they owned the place. They truly wanted to make the experience memorable and they definitely succeeded. As we were escorted to our booth on the second floor, we were treated to a tour of the facilities, with an overview of the different areas of the restaurant and their purposes. Once seated, I was able to take in the great birds-eye view of the restaurant. The ambient lighting in our area was provided by billboard-sized neon lights fashioned in the form of Ramsay’s signature. When you have your signature, in neon lights, on the walls. That, my friends, is how you know you’ve made it. (I am working on getting mine up in the Top Choice Media office, wish me luck at that meeting.) On the menu tonight is the Hell’s Kitchen Limited Edition Tasting Menu: Appetizer, 3 courses and dessert, all served with expert pairing. Putting the food aside for a moment, I must mention the preparation put into each course. Prior to being served, each course is first presented by experts who know the ins and outs of the meal and its pairing. They go into painstaking detail about the origins of the course and ensure that everything is served to your liking. We have never met so many people during one meal! This type of passion and dedication to what you do cannot go unnoticed and gave me a true appreciation for the quality of establishment I was in. Now, I could go into the details of each course, my likes and dislikes, but the truth is,
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everything was perfect. The best part about experiencing this menu is the variety of different courses presented. The freedom of not having to choose was quite liberating. It allowed me to open myself up to food I might otherwise overlook. The combination of courses was unique, but what was consistent about each was the attention to detail to making food that not only looks wonderful, but tastes great. Each course would stand alone in excellence, but they truly shined as a whole, working together to create a dining experience that was memorable and unrivaled. I have experienced the fine dining circuit of Toronto pretty thoroughly and this, right here, is on a whole new level. To end our meal, we were greeted by the polite and attentive Anthony Bourgon, the restaurant’s manager. He was excited to know that we had travelled so far to give an honest review. As is standard with all our reviews, we like to look for anything that we feel needs improvement. The only suggestion I had was that they should open a location in Toronto. If you’re a married man, I am sure that at least once in your life you have had to choose between your wife and mother’s cooking. Well, I need to apologize to both of them right now, because neither of them can touch what the chef’s are churning out at Gordon Ramsay Steak in Las Vegas.
Gordon Ramsay Steak Paris Las Vegas Quality:
Service: Value:
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REview
Cluny Bistro Loud, Fun and Delicious Sonia Couto We always get very excited when we receive emails asking us to provide one of our services - business reviewing! We get even more excited when it involves reviewing a gorgeous, recently opened restaurant. That was the case when we were invited to review the Cluny Bistro located in the Distillery District in downtown Toronto. Upon approaching the front doors, patrons are already able to tell that this won’t be just another regular restaurant as it is located in the heart of one of the most historical places in Canada. The Distillery District is rich with history and culture and the Cluny Bistro fits in nicely. When the doors open, guests are transported to Europe. More specifically, to France. Bon Appétit!
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We would encourage making reservations prior to visiting the bistro as the 500 seats available begin to fill very quickly during a Saturday night or Sunday brunch. There’s no secret as to why. From the moment we walked through the threshold, we felt as if we were truly in Paris. It actually takes a few minutes to become used to the atmosphere as you need time to take in the amount of gorgeous details and unique aspects. It’s not every day you enter
a restaurant to find a fully functioning bakery to your left and a full premium bar to your right. With warm, fresh bread constantly available to the tables and delicious European cocktails within arm’s reach, the entrance is just the beginning. As you are escorted to your table, the artwork in the ceiling makes it hard for you to focus on anything else. You’ll want to stare at it until dessert arrives. Your attention will also be captured by the hand
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Review
Whether you’re looking to host a private function or looking for a fun place for a date night, this place was designed to accommodate all your needs and go beyond your expectations, guaranteeing satisfaction and a memorable night
painted tiles, the winery or the oyster bar - however - it won’t be for long since your nose will keep you wondering what that delicious smell coming from the table next to you is. Cluny Bistro is a true getaway within the city. Jaclyn, our beautiful and attentive waitress, was an embodiment of the excellent service the restaurant provides. Ready to take our drink order almost immediately, we were never made to feel as if we were forgotten. The appetizers matched the European atmosphere. They were rare and fun to try making them our most recommended items on the menu. A great app is the key to a fantastic meal after all. By the time we began our main course, we had the chance to meet Andrew who explained the overall idea behind the restaurant and how it works, while promising us that the snow falling outside onto the
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patio, which will hopefully open soon, was just part of the ambiance created for us and would stop when stepped outside. Our fingers remained crossed! Although the main courses could be improved, the desserts and the caring service from Jean-Valery Lacasse, General Manager, truly went above and beyond making it a wonderful dining experience. His French accent and love for what he does were contagious! Whether you’re looking to host a private function or looking for a fun place for a date night, this place was designed to accommodate all your needs and go beyond your expectations, guaranteeing satisfaction and a memorable night. The warm welcoming staff makes it easy to feel comfortable, allowing you to worry only about what you’ll order next. As we left speaking a bit of French, we said Au revoir to the new faces we’d met and noticed that, as promised, the snow had indeed stopped falling. Ambiance
Appetizers
Main Course
Dessert
Service
Value
Cluny Bistro 35 Tank House Lane The Historic Distillery District 55 Mill Street. Toronto 416.203.2632 • clunybistro.com
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Cooking for a Cause Drew Munro of Drew Cooks! on his volunteer experience in Guatemala. Written by Sabrina Cugliari. Photos by Renee Poznikoff. We all have the same 24 hours in day — it’s what we choose to do with them that makes all the difference. We either choose to accomplish as much as we can, bettering ourselves and helping others in the process or we choose to remain idle and simply ‘get through the day’. When we at Top Choice heard about Drew Munro of Drew Cooks! and his recent volunteer experience, we knew that he was a shining example of the former choice. Owner of Drew Cooks! Catering and winner of the 2014 Top Choice Award for Best Catering Service — Vancouver, Drew embodies what we at Top Choice love to celebrate — dedication, determination and passion. Starting out in 2008 as a private chef catering small dinners, Drew Cooks! Catering has now expanded to a staff of 15 chefs, event planners, and operations staff as well as 60 event service staff able to handle events with as many as
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Humanitarianism
Visiting an outdoor market near Zacapa, Guatemala to source local ingredients
3500 guests all over the Greater Vancouver Area. However, his success did not come without obstacles. Despite challenges, Drew believed in what he was doing — something that he believes his first few clients recognized. Today, he attributes his ongoing success to a few things. “Building a team of staff that excels in areas where I don’t, committing to the idea of being ‘memorable’ — a memorable event is more than just great food — and challenging ourselves everyday to be creative and better than we were the day before”. Drew’s love of food began at a young age. “[For] as long as I can remember I’ve been fascinated with food. On my 10th birthday, my parents took me to a nice restaurant for dinner. When they asked what I wanted to order, I said I either wanted the squid, the snails or the beef tartare.” With an exceptional palate for a young boy, Drew’s fascination grew into a passion that he continues to
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pursue today. So when he had the opportunity to use his passion to help others, there was no other option than to say yes! Recently returning from a 3 week long volunteer trip to Guatemala, Drew shares his life changing experience with us.
How were you presented with the opportunity to volunteer in Guatemala? A good friend of mine had been in Guatemala volunteering for over a year for Hope of Life International and approached me to come and help the kitchen program there. It’s in a remote area of the country approximately 3.5 hours from Guatemala City. The kitchen serves food every day for up to 200 volunteers from all over the world who come to build houses, work in hospitals, build clean water projects, and help with numerous other infrastructure projects. Food is also prepared and distributed to areas of extreme poverty. It’s a staggering amount of
Children at “the dump” returning back to their homes with food and supplies
work for a small team of Guatemalan cooks working in a kitchen pieced together from old donated equipment. Most of the ovens/equipment were either broken or barely functioning. Our challenge was to make this kitchen more organized, efficient and put out better quality food overall.
What was a typical day volunteering like?
My sous chef Adam and I spent a total of 3.5 weeks working at the camp. We had very basic accommodations, however it was more than sufficient as we didn’t sleep much during this trip anyways! Our days began around 4am each day. Breakfast was served at 7:30 am sharp and with next to no refrigeration, everything was brought in and prepped from scratch each day. We had a few
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I would certainly return to Guatemala to work again. While I’m proud of what we were able to accomplish in 3.5 weeks, there is much more that can be done! short hours to have hot breakfast set up and served for 100+ people. After that, we had a few short hours to prepare lunch from scratch and then only another 4 hours until dinner. Our days ended around 6:30 pm after dinner. We were blown away by the work ethic and eagerness to learn of the cooks we met. They welcomed us into their kitchen and often stayed late into the evening with us to talk or practice dishes — it was truly humbling. We would usually collapse into bed around 11 pm knowing that 4am alarm clock was only a few short hours away. In addition to cooking every day, we visited hospitals, and several villages in areas of extreme poverty to distribute food and supplies. We visited a place the locals call “the dump”. As the name implies, it is a garbage dump used by nearby cities where many families make their home, searching through garbage each day for food, supplies, or anything they can use to survive. Much of the garbage is constantly on fire throughout the day so billowing smoke and awful smells fill the air. We assisted to set up a feeding here to provide food, water and basic supplies to the families here.
Alot of people find it hard to make time to volunteer. What made you decide to dedicate your time to this cause? We both wanted to use our skills to directly help people in need and this was the perfect opportunity for us to do so. I am fortunate to have a terrific team in place in Vancouver that allowed us to be able to step away from our business
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to dedicate ourselves to this project.
What was your most memorable moment during this trip and is it something you would do again? There were so many incredible moments that it’s hard for Adam and I to pick one, however, one that stands out for both of us is the final night at the camp. The kitchen staff spent their own time and money to organize a surprise party for us. After working a 15—hour day, they baked us a cake, prepared extra food and got everyone together. Each of them took turns to say a few words (in Spanish of course) about how thankful they were for us coming to help the kitchen at Hope of Life. It was a very special experience that I will never forget. I would certainly return to Guatemala to work again. While I’m proud of what we were able to accomplish in 3.5 weeks, there is much more that can be done! If anyone is interest in volunteering their time for a week or longer, I would strongly encourage them to consider Hope of Life International, who provides a great platform for people to get involved in many different areas of aid for those in need.
Children from a small village using their newly installed well for clean drinking water
Distributing food and water at “the dump”, one of the poorest areas in Guatemala
Spending time with children at St. Luke’s Hospital, built by Hope of Life
For more information on Hope of Life International reach out to: contactusa@ hopeoflifeintl.org 1-401-421-9078 To learn more about Drew Cooks! visit: drewcooks.com
Taking a quick break to pose for a photo with Virginia, one of the hard working kitchen staff at Hope of Life
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Entertainment
One Musician, Many Personalities From classical, to rock, to pop and all the way back again. When Grenville "G" Pinto takes the stage you never know what to expect, but you are guaranteed to get on your feet. Photos by Fotografia Boutique CAN YOU NAME AN artist who can break your heart with Brahms, rock with AC/DC, fiddle with Charlie Daniels, bust a move with DJ Mensa, thrill with Michael Jackson, bounce to a Bollywood beat and raise your heart to the sky with Pachelbel? T h e r e ’s o n l y o n e w e know who can do all of that: Canadian violinist Grenville Pinto. A performance by G Pinto, as he’s come to be known, is so much more than his violin virtuosity. He’s a showman who can raise a crowd to its
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feet – or have them clutching their hearts – with any piece of music he chooses. He has to be experienced to be believed. He recently headlined a sold out Toronto gig (his first as the main attraction) to rave reviews and standing ovations from the audience. “It was spectacular,” said one fan afterwards. “What a show! I counted 16 performers other than Grenville. It was so much more than I expected!” The concert was in support of his latest album, Perfect Day, produced by renowned
guitarist Pavlo (who was one of the 16 performers) and has been submitted in the hopes of a Juno nomination. Also, a portion of the proceeds from the concert was donated to the Canadian Arthritis Society, a cause near and dear to Grenville’s heart since his mother suffered from the disease for many years. Now, G Pinto won’t bring a gang of 16 to every event, but his technical wizardry and skill on the violin will make it seem that way. He is so much more than the wandering fiddler of yore. His repertoire includes
thousands of songs and arrangements, including many of his own creation. Whatever the genre, no matter the style (from classical to hard rock, Bollywood to pop), his talents bring favourite songs to life in vibrant, unexpected, brand new ways. “With a crowd of people at any event, you know there will be a wide variety of musical tastes in the room and I want to do my best to make as many of them happy as possible – I like to tailor my act to make the crowd happy and connect with my audience,” said Pinto. “When he played my wedding a few years back, Grenville played Danny Boy for my Irish mom and some old Italian standards for my Sicilian mother-in-law – along with some kids music for the children and a couple of selections from the pop charts too,” said one of his clients, Greg O’Brien. “People who attended my wedding always talk about Grenville’s music and how much it added to that day.”
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G Pinto has a much more exotic name – and wardrobe (no one can pull off a blue metallic suit like he can) – than what might be expected from someone from humble Hamilton roots, but he was infused with a love of music and passion for performing by his late mother, a music teacher. She also taught Grenville’s two sisters and the three originally performed in and around Hamilton as a trio when they were kids. Christabel and Annette played piano, electronic keyboard and accordion during his Toronto concert.
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So you can say he’s been honing his craft for decades. As his grade school friends around him were learning to read, Grenville was doing that – and also happily learning to read music and perform for crowds too. All that work, all that love, has led to many thousands of delighted fans who can look forward to more concerts on the horizon. Stay tuned for much more from G Pinto! Learn more about Grenville Pinto's upcoming shows at gpinto.com
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Entertainment ENTERTAINMENT
Celebrities on Winning Top Choice Awards
“Wow, thank you Canada! It’s an honor to be recognized by the Top Choice Awards, as the Top Humanitarian of the year. I love your country, although I nearly froze my buns off in Hamilton and Edmonton.” – Oprah Winfrey
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“I want to thank you for voting on me as Toronto’s Top Business woman of the year, and being an honoree tonight is an incredible recognition. I love Toronto and especially now that we have one of our Tower hotels I can stay in, I love it even more. Thank you again.” – Ivanka Trump
“My Father in Law Sargent Shriver, once said “tear down that mirror that makes you always look at yourself and you will see the millions of people that need your help”. That had such an impact in my life, so thank you, and I am honoured to have received the 2008 Canada’s Top Choice Humanitarian Award.” – Arnold Schwarzenegger
“Visiting Toronto and receiving an award, I won’t forget it. Thank you to everyone that listens to our music, Love and Peace!” – Will.i.am www.TopChoiceMagazine.com
“Receiving the Top Choice Award for Humanitarian of year is very flattering, but going to places like Sri Lanka or Malaysia and seeing little children begging for a meal really brings you the sense of how lucky we really are in Canada. I bring them hope and thank you for recognising what I do.” – Gord Martineau “Winning the Top Choice Award is an honour, and this award belongs to the entire team, I am just a representative. Thank you so much Canada.” – Luiz Felipe Scolari
“This award belongs to all of those behind the cameras at CP24, I want to thank all the folks in the control room that “yell at me”; a big “thank you” to the “Attending the Top Choice producers for putting Awards Gala is so much this show together. fun; On behalf of our team Thank you to all the pubthank you everyone for lic that voted me their taking your time to tune favorite TV personality.” in and stay with us.” – Steve Anthony – Kevin Frankish www.TopChoiceMagazine.com
“Award shows blow, this one blows just a little less ”, the best Gala we have ever been to, well organized, great food, great drinks, and I have no idea who voted for us but we thank you because we are having a great time.” – Dean Blundell
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Entertainment ENTERTAINMENT
“It’s hard to run a business and to keep up with the competition, but congratulations to everyone that won the Top Choice Award because you love what you do. To those who love listening to me on the radio every morning thank you, because I love what I do.” – Scott Fox
“Receiving the Top Choice Award on behalf of the Top Tv Morning show is an honor and a huge responsibility to maintain our viewers happy and informed, thank you to everyone that voted us 3 years in a row.” – Jennifer Valentyne “Wow! Business Man of the year? Really? It’s an honor to accept this award... it's real and it's legitimate... Thank you so much” – Dana White
“Winning the Top Choice Award for Top Radio Personality is an honour that represents all the efforts from one team and not just me. Thank you for voting me and congratulations to the other nominees.” – John Derringer
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Entertainment ENTERTAINMENT
“Winning the Top Choice Lifetime Achievement Award, is looking back and knowing that something was done right; it also enlightens my hope in knowing that through this recognition others will be motivated and keep on doing what they love.” – Dick Howard “Thank you to all the voters, wow “Top TV Female personality” it is such a treat and a gift to work with this amazing team every morning, and being with the viewers in their living room. This Award inspires us to keep doing what we love. Thank you.” – Dina Pugliese 44 54
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“This award is bringing me closer to my goal, which is getting the whole world to do yoga; I would put the award as a belt but I already won the belt like 7 times so I will hold this one on top with great pride to inspire other women to follow their dreams.” – Trish Stratus
“Being Voted Top Radio personality of the year is a great responsibility, and the Top Choice Award Gala showcases how serious this award really is, because it really turned the spotlight on me, thank you for your love.” – Ashley Greco
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Business & Marketing Gain New Customers What makes a customer a “regular” is the quality and popularity of a business. Potential new customers may choose you over your competitors upon realizing that your company is trusted by others as proven by your award winning reputation.
Visibility Get funding or get purchased. Being nominated or winning awards will naturally increase the chances of your business being trusted among the banking community and powerful buyers.
Voice
Benefits of Winning a Business Award Can you afford to miss out on the opportunity to have your business nominated for an award in excellence? Francesca Filippelli Nowadays, image is everything
and it’s no secret that businesses are facing the challenges of a competitive global economy. Now more than ever, adapting to today’s fast-paced changes is vital to keep your business rolling! A new way to effectively stand out and adapt to the new “Global Bizbuzz” is by having a third-party validation; ie: getting nominated for or winning a business award in your city. Does your company know the strategic value of being nominated or winning a business award? Below are some benefits that may encourage you to do some research and associate your business with a reputable and trusted business award:
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Motivate and Retain Your Staff When a business is nominated or wins an award, it shows the employees that they are in a good company, making it easy for people to feel proud about being a part of it. Awards of distinction make it easier to sell services or products by using the nomination/award winning status as the unbiased source of endorsement
Attract New Talent Intelligent employees look for economic reassurance and companies that showcase prosperity. Being nominated or winning an award can draw the best potential employees to your company.
Awards and award nominations are huge indicators to the public. With today’s giant social media presence, being nominated for or winning an award can be a huge PR opportunity that will not only give you public recognition, but also associate you with an elite league of great companies and potential business colleagues. However, remember that not every “award company” will align with what you want your business to be associated with. We encourage you to do your own research and determine what business recognition would benefit your company the most. With so many methods of choosing and presenting awards, award companies themselves should be carefully considered. Chamber of Commerce Awards, Readers’ Choice Awards, Viewers’ Choice Awards, Independent Survey Awards, Public Survey Awards, Product Awards, the list goes on. Think about how approachable and easy to reach the award company is; how many likes, followers, views and public interactions they have on social media; search their name and and read up on their history; educate yourself on their marketing and logo fees. Is the investment worthwhile? The foundation of business is a monetary transaction in exchange for a product or service. Competition is often loud and aggressive and we know that using a third party endorsement as part of any company’s yearly marketing budget is a business savvy decision. Not only is it an intelligent investment to increase sales, but it is also a necessity for company growth. Perhaps it’s time for your business to evaluate the marketing budget. By adding a coveted, trusted and affordable business award to your already established marketing strategy, your business will stand out and become a trusted top choice!
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Call 416-651-3873 TODAY for a no obligation initial meeting. www.fusion-events.ca i info@fusion-events.ca
Technology
Business Websites: Go Mobile or Go Home
Mobile browsing, via a smartphone or tablet, is at an alltime high, comprising 60% of all online traffic.* With the decline of the desktop and the rise of mobile, is your business’ website ready to respond to your customers? Michael Fillier
It is more challenging than ever to remain competitive in business. Technology is advancing quickly and social media is now a key player in many industries. From the perspective of a business owner who is trying to do what they do best, it can seem like a challenge to remain up to date with the times. When it comes to websites, things were much easier 5 years ago. Mobile browsing was a growing, but not yet fully mature, form of browsing the internet. It was much easier to build a website then, you only had to worry about a limited variety of screen sizes. Desktop monitors and laptops. That was it. Today, your customers expect your website to work properly on mobile devices! Smartphones are just one screen people use to browse the web, what about tablets, televisions, refrigerators and even cars! It would be costly and inefficient to maintain a series of websites for each of these different screen sizes. But, there is a solution to all the madness and it’s called “Responsive Design”. A responsive website adapts a website to the size of the screen that it is being viewed on. So, instead of creating different websites for different screen sizes, a responsive website rearranges elements to fit the screen it is being viewed on.
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A few years ago, the question might be “Is your business ready for a responsive website?” today the question is “How many customers are you willing to lose because you don’t have one?” The problem with traditional, unresponsive websites, is that their user experience on mobile is terrible. Besides appearance, websites that aren’t properly prepared for mobile users are often not optimized to begin with. This means the load times on mobile devices can be really slow when users are accessing the site through their mobile network. Today’s websites need to be minimal, to the point and extremely lean. Forget less is more, think NOW is more. Users today are accustomed to speed. If your site is slow, you will lose users and, in turn, potential customers.
It is not just new customers that you should be concerned about. What about existing customers? What perception are they going to have about your business when they have a bad mobile experience on your website? Keeping your website “with the times” is as important as improving any other part of your business. A responsive website, however, is a more future-proof, easy to maintain investment that ensures your business the maximum coverage on today’s devices and the devices of tomorrow. A few years ago, the question might be “Is your business ready for a responsive website?” today the question is “How many customers are you willing to lose because you don’t have one?”
Ready for a responsive website?
905 761 1980 info@topchoicemedia.com topchoicemedia.com
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Feature
Capturing your Beauty, Professionalism, Love and Dreams At Fotografia Boutique we believe there is beauty in everything and in everyone. Legacies are created through memories and memories are kept with capturing them in time through photographs. A picture is worth a thousand words, and it reflects how you feel better than any words ever could. Portraiture is our specialty; we capture beauty and love while creating timeless works of art. Whether it is a creative shoot where we can transform you into a whole new world, or something more conservative, to reflect your confidence as a business professional, we are very versatile in our work, we cater to all walks of life. What does your business portrait say about you? Does it attract the right attention? Does it reflect who you really are? Book a session with Fotografia Boutique today and all these questions will fade away into a brilliant new presentation of you.
Model for AngellsBeauty.com
For booking information, call the studio at: 905-338-3686 or visit fotografiaboutique.ca Maggie Habieda, Founder of Fotografia Boutique
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Rob Burton, Mayor of Oakville
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Dorota Kardasz, Sales Rep at Royal LePage Realty
Suzie Saya, Yoga instructor at Lifetime Athletic
Chris Mei, Master of Ceremonies Specialist
Ivan Komarenko, Singer and Recording Artist
Mariela Burkett, Personal Trainer, Instructor and Coach
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FEATURE
The Team of Bergel, Magence LLP Sitting, left to right: Andrew Bergel Hy Bergel Jeremy Magence Ilan Bergel Standing, left to right: Sahar Hajian Netanel Munk Helen Bergel Tanya Annarilli Monica Meza Christopher Finlay Linda Suter Natalia Poliakova
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Bergel, Magence LLP Being voted "Top Choice" 6 years in-a-row is no accident! Sonia Couto “The fact that we were selected as the Top Choice Award for Personal Injury Lawyers 6 years in a row by the voters means we must be doing something right”, says Hy Bergel founding partner of Bergel, Magence LLP. “This firm was started over 40 years ago based on the principles of providing expert legal advice and personal service to all of our clients.” Over the years the firm has grown from just Hy Bergel to a 6 lawyer firm with over 120 years of collective experience. One of the firm’s slogans is that “we treat you like family.” This is based in part because over the years Hy was joined by his son in law, Jeremy Magence, the firm’s managing partner, sons and partners Andrew and
"We believe one of the things that set us apart from other personal injury law firms is that we empathize with our clients and their predicaments" – Jeremy Magence
Ilan Bergel, his wife Helen, the firm’s office manager and his daughter, Shawna Magence, the firm’s COO.
However, Jeremy is quick to point out that the concept of family goes beyond the management team. “We believe one of the things that set us apart from other personal injury law firms is that we empathize with our clients and their predicaments. They did not ask for the accident to occur and now their world has been turned upside down. Their health, jobs, family life have all been affected. We provide them guidance, experience, and assistance coupled with compassion. We believe that the client should only have to focus on getting better. Our job is to try make a difficult situation as easy as possible for our clients and ensure they are awarded everything they deserve.”
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THE FIRM'S PARTNERS Andrew Bergel, Jeremy Magence, Hy Bergel and Ilan Bergel
“We are a mission driven law firm,” adds Andrew Bergel. “Our mission is to provide first rate legal advice to our clients and to go the extra mile for them. We recognize that clients can’t always make it to our office during regular business hours. Therefore, we are happy to meet clients at the hospital, their home, early in the morning, late at night or even on the weekend. Anything we can do to help accommodate our clients and their families.” Another aspect of their award winning service is their extensive network of experts in every area they can call upon to assist their clients. “Over the years we have established great working relationships with some of the top physicians, surgeons, accountants and engineers in the Province. Their expertise is instrumental in your medical recovery and also allows us to get you the most amount of money for your accident claim,” says Ilan Bergel. “We have also earned a reputation in the industry for our honesty, integrity, toughness, mixed with pragmatism
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Our mission is to provide first rate legal advice to our clients and to go the extra mile for them – Andrew Bergel
and fairness. This allows us to get clients more from the insurer than most other law firms. No wonder so many current and former clients refer their family and friends.” When asked why he thinks Bergel Magence LLP has won 6 straight Top Choice Awards for Personal Injury Lawyers, Magence replied, “that’s easy, it’s our award winning service. Our clients’ best interests
"Top legal awards are NO accident" EXPERIENCE COUNTS Helen & Hy Bergel founded the firm 43 years ago
are our top priority. We look after not only the client but, the entire family. We ensure that each and every client gets the individualized personal attention they require and the settlement they deserve.”
Read our tips on "What To Do After An Automobile Accident" on page 40 Spring 2015
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Finance
“
Just a quick note to say thank you for all your help in getting me a fantastic rate, and sorting through the myriad of emails and paperwork to keep the rate! Also, for looking after my aunt and uncle. They are amazing people, and my aunt is like a second mother to me. They never ask for anything and are often forgotten - except from great people like you! I was truly touched by what you did for them, and I WILL be sending other family and friends your way whenever I hear they are shopping for mortgages. Thanks for everything DFI Team!" – Walter Moniz
Di Nardo Financial Trying to understand the advantages of dealing with a brokerage over a bank can be a challenge. Di Nardo Financial Inc. helps individuals by educating them about the most important investment in their lives. Why Use a Mortgage Broker as Opposed to a Bank?
I Am a First Time Home Buyer. Any Advice?
By walking into your bank to inquire about getting a mortgage, you are limiting yourself to their product lines. As a result, you may suffer by receiving mortgage products and rates that are not suitable for you. You may miss out on a wide array of mortgage options that suit your needs better and save you a lot of money over the long run.
The best place to start before shopping for a home is with a mortgage broker. We can pre-approve you for a mortgage. This way you will know what to expect and how much you can afford. With access to a variety of lenders, we will be sure to find the mortgage product that is right for you. The mortgage process can often be a confusing maze of lender options, mortgage documentation, and unfamiliar terminology. We will be sure to provide you with step-bystep guidance making your first mortgage experience a pleasant one.
Are There Any Fees Involved With a Mortgage Broker? No. In most cases, mortgage brokers receive a commission from the lending institution that funds your mortgage application. Mortgage brokers work for YOU, there are no hidden costs.
Should I Wait For My Mortgage to Mature? No. Most banks/ lenders send out their renewal notice for you to sign, offering existing clients their posted rates. Most of the time, the rate you are being offered is not the best one. Before your mortgage matures, allow us to shop for an interest rate that best suits your individual needs. Our lenders will guarantee you a rate for up to 120 days before your maturity date.
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has more defined boundaries and is more restricted to what they can offer you because they are only drawing from one lending institution; themselves. It is difficult to hold negotiating power in these situations. Recent changes to legislation effecting mortgage lending and borrowing has made it more difficult for clients to achieve the best results. Simply put, banks don’t take on as much risk as they used to, narrowing the mortgage products that are available for the consumer. With our team of professionally trained and licensed brokers and agents we will determine your financing needs, negotiate with lenders on your behalf, and get you the most competitive rates in the province. Furthermore, we will counsel you on credit and mortgage qualifications, offer efficient and highly personalized service. Whatever your situation, first time home buyer, repeat buyer looking to renew or refinance, good credit or bad credit, we will do our best and help you every step of the way.
Why Should I Choose Di Nardo Financial Inc.? Di Nardo Financial Inc. (DFI) is a family owned and operated business. With over 35 years of combined experience in business, financial services, and mortgages, the team at DFI has helped clients and companies obtain financing for home purchases, commercial/ recreational properties, construction financing, and debt consolidation. We deal with a number of credible lenders and are able to bring the best mortgage products to the table. We cover every aspect of the mortgage process from assessing your credit situation, determining what you can truly afford, and presenting you with options that are tailored to your situation. A bank
Lic #12255 905-832-0059 9461 Jane Street, Unit 105, Maple ON L6A 4H8 dinardofinancial.com
2 015
3 YEARS ON TOP
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(905) 417-8989 9591 weston rd (weston rd. and ashbury blvd.)
in woodbridge emilys.ca
Profile
Shiva Negar We sat down with local, Iranian-Canadian Actress, Producer, Model and Musician, to learn about the future of this bright talent. How did you decide to become an Actress? For me, Performing Arts was always something I was very passionate about since I was a kid. According to my Mom, when I was about 5 years old, I would go in a room and act out scenes with different characters and create a whole play all by myself. I always loved singing and I would voluntarily go in front of a crowd at events or family gatherings and I’d sing for them and demand everyone's attention. This passion led me on a journey at a young age, when I learned how to play the piano and guitar. In my youth I performed at many music recitals and school plays. It was in high school when I realized what I really wanted to pursue as a career and that I was determined. It was, however, very difficult to embrace my inner rebel, considering the kind of family and culture that I come from. I wanted to study Fine Arts in University, but unfortunately that wasn’t considered good enough of a degree and I had to choose something more “safe”. I graduated with a degree in Psychology while trying to still pursue my passion on the side. I got a second degree in Events Management and Public Relations as well, but once I graduated I just went full force into what I always wanted to do and that is performing.
How has this profession been treating you? What have you done so far?
Well, one of the biggest issues with being in this business is that 90% of things that happen are beyond your control, especially as a performer! You can always train, work on your craft and be ready to take on the world, but you never know when that opportunity comes knocking on your door. As good as it is to set goals and work hard to achieve them, the timing is never predictable. There has definitely been great progress in my career so far and I’m very thankful for that knowing the extent of competition and probabilities in this business. I’ve been a part of many great projects,
Films and TV shows from Disney to Syfy to Medical drama to Mafia… It has been a quite fun and exciting ride with of course plenty of bumpy roads, which only make you stronger. I have a great hard working team of agents and managers who are constantly getting me auditions and bookings. I’m also co-producing an Independent Film called “Day Players” which had a very successful turnout on Indiegogo campaign. I was always eager to learn more about the business side and what goes on behind the camera, which will only make me a better performer. This project will allow me to not only be a part of a great film but also to understand this Art in all aspects. Therefore the journey continues!
Where do you see yourself going in near future? How do you prioritize your goals in life? Career is my priority right now and I am focused on working hard and keep moving forward. I do feel that now is my time and there is no turning back or slowing down. Eventually, besides working as a professional actor I would like to create my own projects. I have already started writing and I have a lot to say just from my life experiences. So Acting and Producing are my main long term goals in my career. As to other priorities, of course family for me always comes first. I know it’s very hard for them to be supportive of such crazy profession, where nothing is guaranteed! But, they know and they see my ambition and they are really trying to be there for me which means a lot.
shivanegar.com @shivanegar facebook.com/shivanegar
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