Boulevard Vancouver English Feb/Mar 2021

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2021

VANCOUVER LIFE AT ITS FINEST

Elegance &Grace Living high on the hill in West Van

ARTIST & MUSE The bold nature of neutrals

ROAD THERAPY

Taking the high road to health

BOUNTY OF THE SEA Seafood shines in Italian il pasto

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CONTENTS 43

46 FEATURES

ON THE COVER Devon Owen, Realtor Photo by Lia Crowe Story by Lisa Manfield Styling by Sarah D’Arcey Wardrobe provided by Nordstrom Vancouver: GIVENCHY Paris evening dress in silk and lace, $11,805; Oscar de la Renta floral drop earrings, $514; Chanel sunglasses, price upon request; mixed rings, stylist’s own

LIVING HIGH ON THE HILL

34

10

B O U L E VA R D

34 LIVING HIGH ON

THE HILL

Subtle luxury that ups the ante on family living

By Lisa Manfield

46 ELEGANCE AND OPULENCE

Magnificent South Surrey lottery home

By Angela Cowan

62 TELLING THEIR STORIES

Erin Cebula

By Angela Cowan

68 ROAD THERAPY

Taking the high road to good health

By Susan Lundy

72 ARTIST & MUSE

The bold nature of neutrals layered in multiple textures

By Jen Evans & Lia Crowe

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72

78

DEPARTMENTS

10

CONTRIBUTORS

22 IN STUDIO

78 FOOD & FEAST

Keilani Rose

Bounty of the sea

By Lin Stranberg

By Julia McInnis

16

EDITOR’S LETTER

Road trip down memory lane

26 WEEKENDER

84

TRAVEL

By Susan Lundy

A golden reward

Adventures in Vietnam

18

By Suzanne Morphet

By Lauren Kramer

LIFE. STYLE. ETC.

Sharon Hayles

By Lia Crowe

20 WELL & GOOD

30 GOOD TASTE 90 SECRETS AND LIVES

A passion for pinot

Stephanie Smith

By Jennifer Schell

By Angela Cowan

Every body beautiful

43 BUSINESS CLASS

95 NARRATIVE

By Kaisha Scofield

Daniel Frankel

Epidemic

By Joe Leary

By Norma Hinds

B O U L E VA R D

11

contributors “There’s no better way to discover

LAUREN KRAMER WRITER ADVENTURES IN VIETNAM

PAGE 84

yourself than travelling, especially to a destination that is extremely different— culturally, historically and religiously—from everything you know. The trip I took to Vietnam with my family was precisely that: a process through which we realized how little we know and understand of what the Vietnamese have been through and how it has impacted them. We saw richness and rawness and witnessed beauty and devastation, and surmounted communication, cultural and culinary challenges daily. We returned home just before COVID-19 forced the world to shut down, deeply grateful for this opportunity to explore, learn and grow.” A BC-based professional writer with a lifelong passion for travel, Lauren has notoriously itchy feet and is always planning her next trip.

“Photography has been my passion

SHEILA SAY

PHOTOGRAPHER LIVING HIGH ON THE HILL

as long as I can remember. I grew up working in my Dad’s camera shop and I have always worked in some way within the photographic arena ever since. I have gone from being a darkroom rat to presenting solo gallery exhibitions of my work. Architectural photography has always been my first love, and it was an enormous pleasure to begin shooting prize homes for the VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation a few years ago. It was this exposure that brought me to Boulevard, and having the opportunity to work on this featured property was pure joy!” sheilasay.com

“I am in love with love stories.

WRITER A PASSION FOR PINOT

PAGE 30 14

B O U L E VA R D

BLACK PRESS GROUP PUBLISHER Penny Sakamoto BOULEVARD GROUP PUBLISHER Mario Gedicke mario.gedicke@blackpress.ca 250-891-5627 PUBLISHER Harry van Hemmen harryvh@blackpress.ca 604-649-1707 MANAGING EDITOR Susan Lundy ASSOCIATE EDITOR Lia Crowe CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Lia Crowe, Angela Cowan, Jen Evans, Norma Hinds, Lauren Kramer, Joe Leary, Susan Lundy, Lisa Manfield, Julia McInnis, Suzanne Morphet, Kaisha Scofield, Jennifer Schell, Lin Stranberg DESIGNERS Lily Chan, Michelle Gjerde, Tammy Robinson, Kelsey Boorman ADVERTISING SALES Vicki Clark vicki.clark@blackpress.ca PHOTOGRAPHERS Lia Crowe, Darren Hull, Sheila Say Photography

PAGE 34

JENNIFER SCHELL

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2021

Whether the love story is between two people, a pet, a tree, a zucchini plant, a chicken casserole or a glass of wine, I am in. I share stories of passion that remind us of our individuality and celebrate the world’s unbelievably diverse and exciting community of creative humans. I also love to eat and drink and decorate and travel to other places to do all of those things with the one that I love. Every day is a new story.”

Jennifer is the author of four cookbooks that celebrate BC’s food, drink and farm community. The BC Wine Lover’s Cookbook is her newest creation. She says her heart is with the ocean and her soul on an orchard in the Okanagan.

ILLUSTRATION Sierra Lundy DISTRIBUTION Marilou Pasion Marilou@blackpress.ca 604-542-7411

VANCOUVERBOULEVARD.COM Boulevard Magazine is published 6 times per year by Black Press Ltd. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited. The publisher is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts and photographs.

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road trip down memory lane

Last fall, my husband and I took a five-day road trip around the West Kootenays. It was a dazzling escape: the weather was perfect, the scenery stunning, and the time away an excellent antidote to the craziness of 2020. You can read about it in this issue of Boulevard.

Usually on our road excursions we take our decade-old Toyota FJ Cruiser—a solid, safe-feeling ride that nevertheless lacks creature comforts. On this trip, we test-drove a fully loaded Volvo XC90 T8, enjoying all the gadgets, options and pass-anyone-anytime power.

I owned a Volvo wagon back in the late ‘80s, and this recent trip reminded me that, for years, that Volvo was my favourite of a long line of vehicles in my possession. So it was with great interest—just after our road trip—that I stumbled upon a newspaper column I’d written in 1989 about purchasing my Volvo wagon.

Apparently, at the time, I was less impressed by it than my companion, who was then my fiancé, and is now my ex-husband. For one thing, I had my eye on a red 1969 MG that seemed more suited to my teen-hood namesake of “Little Hell on Wheels.” I pictured myself racing around corners in it, sliding over hills and dips in the countryside and tearing down the highway with the tunes blaring and muffler blasting. And my big dog? Well, I guess, he’d stay at home. And the inevitable arrival of offspring? Their friends? The groceries? Reluctantly, I let the dream dissipate.

At the next dealership, my ex spied the Volvo wagon.

“This car sells itself,” said the salesman (which was probably true since my ex was a big Volvo fan). He popped the hood: “You could eat breakfast off this engine.” My ex was so excited, I suddenly wondered if men actually dreamed of staring at a fuel injection system while they forked down bacon and eggs. Interesting.

A test-drive was next. And this I’d forgotten: I couldn’t even testdrive the wagon because at that point, I hadn’t yet had the extremely delightful experience of being taught by my ex to drive a standard vehicle—lessons that soon afterwards occurred on a one-ton pick-up with a four-on-the-floor stick shift. (You can picture how much fun that was!)

After the test-drive, during which I pushed a few buttons on the dash and made sure the radio worked, my ex’s face was awash in enthusiasm. “So!?”

“Nice colour,” I admitted. “Leather seats, air-conditioning, rear windshield wiper.” (Big deals back then.)

I realized, with the wisdom of my mid-20s self, that a capital-F Family car was probably the inevitable choice. (And think of the breakfasts!) So I bought it and once I discovered that driving a stick shift turns any vehicle into a sports car, I fell madly in love with it. I loved the leather interior; I loved its spaciousness.

But there was one issue. We always named our cars. That one-ton truck was called The Silver Bullet; our Land Rover was named The Heap, and my current husband and I call our FJ The Beast. But back in the day, my ex gave the Volvo a joke name and it stuck. We tried and tried to call it something else, but that car became: The Vulva.

Thankfully on our Kootenays road trip, we found a better name for our shiny blue Volvo: we called it Blue Georgia in honour of the newly-turned-Democratic state in the US election, the results of which were playing out on SiriusXM as we drove the Kootenays.

There is much more than road travel in this issue of Boulevard, and we invite you to take a spin through the following pages. Enjoy!

Susan Lundy Editor Susan Lundy is a former journalist who now works as a magazine editor, author and freelance writer. Watch for her new book, Home on the Strange, out April 13, 2021 via Heritage House Publishing.

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B O U L E VA R D

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life.style.etc.

SHARON HAYLES, OWNER, DIANE’S LINGERIE WORDS + PHOTOGRAPHY LIA CROWE

i

meet Sharon in the lively and colourful neighbourhood of South Granville, where Diane’s Lingerie is located—a business she has owned since 2012.

“I was a retail consultant for 18 years,” she says, “and Diane’s Lingerie was a client for eight years. I came to know the business very well and when the original owner wanted to retire, she approached me about purchasing it.”

Asked what fires her up the most about her work, Sharon says, “The ultimate reward is witnessing women gain confidence when they obtain a proper bra fit.”

And what is she passionate about outside of work?

“My family—being actively involved in my two young grandsons’ lives, practicing ongoing personal wellness and, other than during a pandemic, spending time with my amazing group of friends.”

Sharon describes her personal style as “casual elegance,” but authenticity is also at the core of good style for her. “Staying true to who I am, dressing how I like to dress, and not conforming to whatever the fashion statement of the day is, but playing with the newer trends and incorporating them in to my style.”

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B O U L E VA R D

STYLE INSPIRATIONS & LIFE FASHION & BEAUTY Currently coveting: Prada handbag.

Favourite pair of shoes: My Manolo Blahniks.

Favourite day-bag: Michael Kors.

Favourite work tool: Laptop.

Favourite jewellery piece or designer: My wedding ring and BVLGARI. Fashion obsession: Shoes and lingerie, of course.

Necessary indulgence for either fashion or beauty: Sisley makeup.

Moisturizer: Sisley All Day All Year essential anti-aging day care.

Scent: Chanel Allure Sensuelle.

Must-have hair product: My stylist.

Beauty secret: Confidence and finding joy every day.

Style icon: Coco Chanel and Karl Lagerfeld.

Favourite artist: Picasso, Toni Onley and Chihuly.

Piece of art: Paintings from my grandsons.

Favourite fashion designer or brand: Sarah Pacini, Crea, Eileen Fisher and Ayrtight.

Favourite cocktail or wine: Scotch and French Margaux wine.

Album on current rotation: Paul Hardcastle: The Chill Lounge.

Favourite flower: Peony.

Favourite city to visit: Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France.

Favourite app: Apple Health App. Favourite place in the whole world: At home with my husband.

One thing that consistently lifts your spirits during these hard times: The generosity of others.

READING MATERIAL What do you read online for style? Vida Magazine, The Lingerie Addict and industry-specific publications for trends; YouTube for designers' latest collections.

Fave print magazine: Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar and, of course, Boulevard.

Fave style blog: Too many to mention; I am always looking to new bloggers for inspiration or ideas.

Coffee table book/photography book: In Love with the Mystery

by Ann Mortifee.

Last great read: The Essential Law of Attraction Collection by Esther and Jerry Hicks.

Book currently reading: A Promised Land by Barack Obama.

Favourite book of all time: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë.

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well and good

every body beautiful

Body positivity, body neutrality and self-acceptance WORDS KAISHA SCOFIELD

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B O U L E VA R D

T

To be body positive is to recognize that all bodies exist and are beautiful in their own way. This is practiced by engaging in acts of self-appreciation with an emphasis on gratitude toward your body.

here is no one, anywhere, who has the same body as you. Out of the seven billion bodies on earth, every single one is perfectly unique. All bodies vary in size, colour and shape, yet many of us spend an enormous amount of energy and time hating our bodies for not looking more like someone else’s. To be fair, however, we are only doing what we’re told.

As a society, we are presented with impossible standards of beauty. Women, in particular, are expected to be tall, but not too tall, and slim, but not skinny. We’re expected to have muscle definition, but definitely not actual muscles. We must have an hourglass figure with an impossibly tiny waist and curved hips, but a flat stomach and a round booty. Hair must be shiny and long but not too long and definitely never unkempt. The skin must be dewy and glowing at all times, eyelashes must be long and lips must be plumped. If it sounds like I’m describing a Barbie doll, I am. If that sounds ridiculous, I encourage you to look closely at popular media and tell me I’m wrong.

We are saturated with images of unrealistic perfection from an early age. The importance of being pretty is recognized by children as young as age three, and between the ages of seven and nine many girls have started their first diet. Heading down this path can quickly lead to more restrictive eating patterns, disordered eating, obsessive exercise regimens, constricting shape wear, and even invasive surgeries. This constant striving for perfection often creates a cycle of disappointment and a resentment toward the body for not conforming to an unattainable standard.

It is easy to understand, then, why the idea of simply loving your unique and incredible body feels like an act of rebellion.

And yet, there is a growing movement that is encouraging you to do just that. The body positivity movement brings together diverse groups of people who are fighting against society’s obsession with body uniformity. They are rejecting impossible beauty standards and holding the beauty and fashion industries accountable for promoting unrealistic standards.

Body positivity is a movement that was born out of the desire to recognize the diversity in body types, shapes, sizes, colours and abilities. To be body positive is to recognize that all bodies exist and are beautiful in their own way. This is practiced by engaging in acts of self-appreciation with an emphasis on gratitude toward your body. Fitness and health are intentionally removed from the conversation with the understanding that self-love can and should be practiced at any stage of health, age or fitness.

Further, the body-positive movement looks at how, in society, we exist in a power and desirability hierarchy, ranked by our physical appearance and capabilities. In response to this, it challenges impossible beauty standards, recognizing that they

are constructs of society that don’t have to determine your selfconfidence. Instead, the focus is placed on building a positive body image in order to improve self-confidence.

While this is undoubtedly a step in the right direction and clearly a movement based on inclusivity, for many, body positivity feels out of reach. Body neutrality is an approachable alternative, based on the recognition that your body isn’t a definition of who you are. Rather, it is the idea that it is possible to exist within your body, without obsessing about how it looks. There is no pressure to either love or hate your body, but simply acknowledge that your body is there to serve a purpose outside of its appearance.

Body neutrality can help to limit external societal expectations and provide room to develop outside of these expectations. Many find this movement freeing in that it removes the energy necessary to constantly monitor others’ expectations. For those who have suffered with body dysmorphia and poor self-esteem, body neutrality can provide the space to practice self-acceptance.

Making peace with your body may feel out of reach, but there are steps you can take to move yourself toward acceptance: • Try to limit your exposure to impossible standards.

Remove media that promotes unhealthy body standards.

This should include unfollowing anyone who uses before and after photos, as these tend to promote unhealthy stigmatization.

• Follow social media accounts that promote realistic body image standards, for example Canada’s @thebirdspapaya.

• Take some time to acknowledge what you like about your body. Go one step further and thank your body for what it does for you every day.

• Pick a part of your body that you feel uncomfortable with and try to find positive things to say about it. This may feel difficult at first but over time, it may sink in.

• Alternatively, simply acknowledge that your body is there to house you and that is enough.

Most importantly look at your own biases, lifestyle choices and aspirations. Exercise because it makes you feel good, not because you have to work off that extra bowl of ice cream.

Nourish your body with food that is nutrient-dense and beautiful—not because it promises to flatten your stomach but because it makes you feel great. Finally, practice celebrating your own special and perfectly unique body more for what it does and not how it looks.

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in studio …

WITH KEILANI ELIZABETH ROSE

Purpose & inspiration WORDS LIN STRANBERG PHOTOGRAPHY LIA CROWE

22

B O U L E VA R D

“My best way of coping is to create.”

K

eilani Elizabeth Rose is a Vancouver-based young woman with multiple talents, deep convictions and a very busy calendar. She dances, acts, writes, produces and even deejays—and she makes her feature film debut this winter in The Sinners, a teen cult thriller that premiered at California’s Mammoth Lakes Film Festival under its pre-Netflix title of The Color Rose.

She has several projects on the go, all of which began during the pandemic.

“My best way of coping is to create,” she said.

So when COVID-19 hit last spring, she co-created FLIMSY, a web series, with two-time Grammy winner Printz Board and an all-star cast.

“FLIMSY was born because we desperately needed some light and love to take our minds off of the heavy time the world was in. We found an innovative way to film in isolation, bring our community together across borders and countries despite the lockdown, and make some art. It kept our minds distracted, our hearts hopeful and the frequency positive.”

FLIMSY went on to win awards at international festivals, and Keilani went on to another collaboration with Printz Board on Within the Silence, a short film about domestic abuse involving a hearing-impaired seven-year-old, which she hopes will draw some much-needed attention to the disabled community.

After a deejaying stint in Tulum this winter, she’s back in Vancouver for a project dear to her heart. She’ll produce and play the lead in Breathe, an experimental short written

by Cody Kearsley (of The CW’s Riverdale).

“Our hope is to uplift communities struggling with addiction and substance abuse, specifically the Indigenous community. Part of our exploration with this film is to create awareness of the destructive generational effects of colonization on Indigenous peoples. It’s important to us to share this story through a resilient lens, which inspired us to establish the first Native Youth Mentorship Program, inviting local Indigenous youth to shadow crew members dur-

ing principal filming so they can get a feel for the industry.

I want them to know they can have a place and a voice here.”

As part of her journey, Keilani has also started to write her first feature film, a story about an Indigenous girl who survives the foster care system as part of the “Sixties Scoop” and finds her way back to the strength of her family and her community. Its working title is Sunflower. Keilani identifies strongly with the Indigenous community and her intersectional cultural heritage: she grew up in Prince George, BC, with a Hawaiian mother and Lheidli T’enneh antecedents, including the famed Granny Seymour, a highly honoured elder of the Lheidli T’enneh Nation.

“Storytelling is part of my existence,” she said. “My people, both Lheidli T’enneh and Hawaiian, never had a written language before colonization: history, knowledge and culture had always been traditionally shared through stories, song, dance and chant. This is a beautiful way of life I get to represent and perpetuate with my creativity.”

Her Hawaiian mother, an accomplished hula dancer, was a huge influence.

“She really instilled in my sisters and me valuable lessons about creativity, following your heart and fighting for your beliefs. We grew up in poverty but our home was always filled with joy and love. Mamma made sure of that.

She can make magic out of anything.”

With the support of her mom and her community, she was able to study dance as she grew up.

“Seeing all the sacrifices my mom made so that my sisters and I could grow up with our artistic outlets is something that stays with me every step of the way. Without her selflessness, my sisters and I would not be where we are today. We were also blessed to have in our corner angels like Judy Russell and Bunny Murray at Enchainement Dance Centre, who made space for us to access our brightest potential.”

Keilani was the first recipient of the Performers North Special Assistance Fund, established to enable underprivi-

B O U L E VA R D

23

leged kids to participate in the company’s festival tours that their families otherwise couldn’t afford.

“This was my first experience with a community that stood for inclusivity.

That feeling of people believing in you so deeply is a driving force for me to do everything I can to make it count, and do my part to give back and make space to include others with less privilege whenever I have the chance. “ She moved to Vancouver to pursue dance and landed a contract on the Disney Dream, part of the Disney Cruise Line, which introduced her to Broadway-level production values.

Dancing at that level led her to an agent, and that led her to acting.

Right before her big break on screen, Keilani got excited about deejaying. She quickly became professional and played on the international circuit, as well as for local legends like the Vancouver Canucks hockey team and musicians Tegan & Sara. Her signature sets weave together stories and messages through music, which has always been a big thing in her family.

Her sisters Tiare and KeAloha play ukulele, her uncles played drums, and KeAloha also sings and writes music.

“Music and dance and acting are so complementary that I feel the strength and diversity they give my artistry. Acting reconnected me to the power of my voice and led me to the questions, ‘What stories do I need to tell?’ ‘Whose stories need to be elevated and amplified?’ and ‘How can we create greater unity and compassion by sharing these stories?’”

She adds: “Especially right now, with the momentum of awareness and progression for the #MeToo, #BlackLivesMatter and #IndigenousSovereignty movements and the fight against Indigenous invisibility, we as artists really get to recognize the power we hold with our platforms and make informed, deliberate choices about the content we create to promote unity and equality.

“Representation matters so much.

And being a female person of colour in this industry gives me the ability to influence great change. It is a responsibility that fills me with purpose and inspiration.”

24

B O U L E VA R D

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PREC.

weekender weekender

A golden reward 26

B O U L E VA R D

Larch madness in Golden, BC WORDS SUZANNE MORPHET

A

“I feel like Alice in Wonderland,” laughs Laura as we come to a golden meadow where we’re surrounded by them.

pproaching Golden, BC on the TransCanada Highway, we’re straining our necks to scan the surrounding mountainsides through the car windows.

It’s late September and the start of the short season known as “larch madness.” That’s when people in the know partake in the western equivalent of leaf peeping.

While eastern Canadians admire sugar maples with their stunning orange and red leaves, those of us in the mountainous parts of the west can savour larch trees that turn golden yellow.

In Banff National Park, larches create so much excitement every autumn that traffic backs up on highways, parking lots overflow and people ditch their cars wherever they can.

To cope with the onslaught of visitors, Parks Canada provides buses to shuttle people from Lake Louise to Moraine Lake, the most popular spot for viewing the trees in their golden glory.

“Almost every day we’re moving about 1,200 to 1,300 people,”

lamented a Parks Canada manager to CBC Radio one year recently.

I dearly wanted to see larches, but not in a line like ants on a trail.

After a bit of research, I decided to base myself in the BC town of Golden, where surrounding mountains have lots of larches, but there’s none of the “madness” of Lake Louise.

Golden is still a blue-collar town, with Canadian Pacific Railway and lumber companies the biggest employers, but adventure tourism has deep roots here too. This is where mountaineering began in Canada when CPR brought guides from Switzerland in the late 19th century. Their collection of chalets, called Edelweiss, still stands and descendants of those early guides still live here.

Having spent a few days in Golden one summer, I liked its authentic feel, its impressive range of good dining options

B O U L E VA R D

27

and, of course, its easy access to wilderness. No fewer than six national parks are within a two-hour drive.

The window for larch viewing begins as early as the third week of September and can run into the second week of October. Arrive too early and the larches will look like any other evergreen. Arrive too late, warns my colleague Andy, who’s lived in Golden for 12 years, and they’ll look like dead trees.

The window for larch perfection is even smaller.

“If you can get the light dusting of snow on the larches, that’s like the unicorn jumping over the rainbow,” jokes Andy over dinner our first night.

But it seems my friend, Lise, and I might have arrived altogether too early when Andy tells us the larches haven’t yet turned in nearby Yoho National Park, where we planned to hike.

Then he whips out his phone. “What about this instead?”

We see an image of dozens, perhaps hundreds, of what look like pine trees gilded in gold leaf covering a mountain slope under a cloudless blue sky.

“Stunning,” says Lise as we nod our heads “yes” in unison.

Early the next morning we pile into Andy’s Toyota 4Runner along with local hiking guide Laura Crombeen and head south on Highway 95 towards Radium Hot Springs.

Mist rises from the Columbia River wetlands, the largest intact wetlands in North America, but there’s no time to stop. We have a six-hour hike ahead of us.

At the Diana Lake trailhead we begin climbing. After an hour we emerge from an evergreen forest into the subalpine level. Far above, we see gold dots sprinkled among patches of solid green.

Finally, we come to our first larch tree. Its needles are unexpect-

SEE SPAWNING SALMON.

HIKE TO WATERFALLS.

edly soft, almost silky. I caress them in my hand and wonder how these trees survive the tough winters on the very edge of the tree line.

Larches are a biological oddity.

“If I asked you if a larch is a conifer or a deciduous tree, you would be correct to say it’s both,” Laura tells us, explaining that larches shed their needles.

Hiking on, larches soon outnumber other trees. “I feel like Alice in Wonderland,” laughs Laura as we come to a golden meadow where we’re surrounded by them.

Reaching Diana Lake, we celebrate more good luck. Even though it’s warm and sunny, there’s not another person here; we have this gorgeous alpine lake all to ourselves. Eating a picnic lunch on the shoreline, we admire the golden reflection of larches on the turquoise water.

Later, I scoop up handfuls of golden needles that have already fallen and recall the legend of Gold Mountain, a mythical mountain of gold that encouraged Chinese people to immigrate to North America during the Gold Rush era.

While theirs was just that—a myth—it feels like we’ve truly found a mountain of gold, as fleeting as it is beautiful.

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Coinciding with the turning of the larches is the migration of spawning Kokanee. More than one-quarter million land-locked salmon swim up the Columbia River every autumn and into tributary rivers to spawn. The best place to see them around Golden is on the Blaeberry River, where several spots offer great viewing. Also of note, when the Kokanee are spawning, the big bull trout follow them for an easy meal and anglers routinely catch (and release) trout weighing over eight kilograms.

After hiking amid the larches of Diana Lake, try another trail with a different focus. In Yoho Valley of Yoho National Park, for instance, you’ll discover numerous spectacular waterfalls. The biggest, Takakkaw, is just a five-minute walk from the parking lot. Our day-long hike there also included Laughing Falls and the magnificent Twin Falls. The historic tea house at Twin Falls is being restored and will reopen this year.

Locals love Eleven22 with its focus on modern comfort food. I wouldn’t typically order seafood in a small town in the interior, but the Dragon Boat seafood platter was beautifully presented and tasty. For a more casual dining experience, slide onto a banquette at Whitetooth Mountain Bistro, where the wide-ranging menu includes braised boar belly and seared tuna burgers. For breakfast, Bluebird Café offers specialty coffee and fresh baking.

While you’re there, pick up a bagged lunch to go.

Cedar House Chalets are just seven minutes from the town of Golden but are immersed in nature. Each chalet has a private deck with hot tub and barbecue, a fully equipped kitchen and luxury amenities, including terrycloth robes and linen duvets. We chose the Green Chalet, which also has a wood-burning stove and second-storey master bedroom with striking mountain views.

Cedar House Restaurant offers farm-to-table cuisine.

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Bailey Williamson, winemaker at Blue Grouse Estate Winery.

a passion for pinot Sea to sky on the BC pinot noir trail WORDS JENNIFER SCHELL

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PHOTOGRAPHY DON DENTON

Pinot noir, dubbed the heartbreak grape by winemakers and grape growers, has found the spotlight in British Columbia. This notoriously finicky grape needs specific conditions to nurture its thin skin and temperamental nature. In wine-geek speak, it also mutates easily and is susceptible to disease and pests. However, regardless of the drama and risk, it seems that for BC winemakers the rewards are well worth the extra love and attention.

British Columbia’s pinot success is palpable...

With styles ranging from masculine to feminine and each ref lective of its own vineyard, BC’s pinot noir gets rave reviews from wine critics everywhere.

Pinot noir goes by a couple of different handles. It hails from France’s Bourgogne or Burgundy region where pinot noir and Chardonnay reign collectively as king and queen (pinot noir for Bourgogne Rouge and Chardonnay for Bourgogne Blanc).

Pinot noir culture has travelled globally, achieving major celebrity in New Zealand and the USA, primarily in Oregon and California. And then there is our very own beautiful wine country. British Columbia’s pinot success is palpable. A growing selection that graces wine-store shelves is evidence of our local winemakers’ love affair with it. With styles ranging from masculine to feminine and each reflective of its own vineyard, BC’s pinot noir gets rave reviews from wine critics everywhere.

“I love that pinot expresses its place and time with clarity,” says Shane Munn, GM and winemaker at Martin’s Lane Winery in Kelowna. “In terms of what particular characteristics I love about pinot, I can only offer a bunch of adjectives: charm, beauty, complexity, intrigue, and all in a delicate combination of elegance and power.”

Pinot noir is most commonly described as elegant. It is lightto medium-bodied and usually the only red that a white-wine drinker will consider. It is fruit forward, revealing a lovely bouquet with notes ranging from earth to spices, herbs and florals.

The palate can offer up a range of flavours, including berries, maybe with notes of mushroom, tobacco and/or vanilla (depending on barrel aging). Usually drunk best young, the finish is not tannic and should be long and smooth. These characteristics make it a very versatile food wine and an all-weather sipper.

The passion for pinot has wineries like Martin’s Lane in Kelowna focussing almost entirely on its production (the winery produces pinot noir and riesling exclusively). Shane is a master craftsman, who has brought from his native New Zealand a style that finesses the certified organic vineyards into the super-premium range of four pinot labels. These are created from four different vineyards—one in West Kelowna, two in East Kelowna and one in Naramata.

In describing his winemaking process and vision, Shane says, “I’d like to think there is no defined Martin’s Lane style per se—sure, there are elements of things we use that others do (and don’t)—but really my aim is that our wines equally reflect

Martin’s Lane Winery.

the site and the season. That site can be an entire vineyard or just a small block. It’s important that the grapes and resultant wines are handled sensitively, that every movement is gentle, considered and justified.“ On our BC pinot noir celebrity list, Vancouver Island wine has some serious stars and pinot noir is fast becoming a signature grape. Blue Grouse Estate Winery in the Cowichan Valley has been racking up the awards and big news accolades for its two pinot noir labels. So too have neighbours like Unsworth Vineyards, Venturi-Schultze Vineyards, Averill Creek Vineyard and Emandare Vineyard.

Surprised at Vancouver Island’s success? Blue Grouse winemaker Bailey Williamson, who has been crafting these winning wines from the vineyard’s estate-grown pinot, says, “Pinot noir is perhaps the only noble red-wine grape that is not suited to hot climates, which makes it a natural fit for most regions in BC. The diurnal shift from hot days to cool nights is what it truly enjoys. It allows it to maintain its acidity and develop its bright cherry aromas and flavours. At Blue Grouse, with our south-facing slope and being only one-and-a-half kilometres from the ocean, we have this diurnal fluctuation in spades: daytime temperatures can be 32 degrees in the vineyard, and at nighttime it can be 12 degrees.”

And what many may not know is that the island has old vines from some pioneering vineyards.

As Bailey notes, “Our oldest planting of 30 years is the Ritter clone, which is Germanic in origin, and produces a more tannic, deeper representation of pinot noir. We have planted the Dijon clones as well and are hopeful they will yield more blending options for the future.”

If you are into pinot, and when travelling is safe again, plan a dynamite road trip around the vast BC wine country, exploring from sea to sky this unique pinot noirian culture, and taste these gorgeous expressions of this grape.

In the meantime, you can order the wines from the wineries and do a taste tour at home. Here are some suggestions:

VANCOUVER ISLAND: BLUE GROUSE ESTATE WINERY 2018 Quill Pinot Noir

This wine starts on the nose with red plum, vanilla and cranB O U L E VA R D

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berries followed by flavours of cherry pie and warm spices in the mouth.

Food pairing: A perfect accompaniment to wild sockeye salmon or hearty pasta dishes.

LILLOOET: FORT BERENS ESTATE WINERY 2017 Pinot Noir Reserve

The rich Pinot Noir Reserve has an intense aroma of dark cherries, tobacco leaf and wild roses. On the palate, a mouthwatering acidity balances perfectly with the rich flavours of spices, ripe cherries and forest floor. The wine has a very long finish.

Food pairing: This wine pairs beautifully with stew, quiche and mushroom dishes.

KAMLOOPS: PRIVATO VINEYARD & WINERY 2018 Pinot Noir

This wine is an expression of sun-warmed black and ruby plums, blackberry jam and hints of wild thyme. A lingering soft palate together with approachable tannins add to the elegance of this wine.

Food pairing: Dishes with a touch of spice, seared salmon or tuna, barbecues, roast beef, beetroot dishes and especially dishes that feature cherries or figs are all fabulous choices.

OLIVER: ANTHONY BUCHANAN WINES 2018 Ashlyn Pinot Noir

Unfined, unfiltered, gentle winemaking featuring black cherries, sage, plums, violets, baking spice and sweet cherry cola with a savoury, saline component.

Food pairing: The winery’s Anthony Buchanan suggests, “Pork tenderloin (perhaps with truffle oil) with roasted veggies or pork belly with garlic mash. The acidity in the wine will cut through some of the fat and should be delicious.”

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SIMILKAMEEN: CORCELETTES ESTATE WINERY

2017 Reserve Pinot Noir Micro Lot Series

This pinot noir features 22-year-old vines. The nature of the old vines drives greater complexity in fruit and is further enhanced by these rugged and hot soils. Mineral, mushroom and earth flavours.

Food pairing: Make this elegant Pinot a perfect pairing with dishes like seared duck breast, pork tenderloin and mushroom risotto.

KELOWNA: MARTIN’S LANE WINERY

2015 Naramata Ranch Pinot Noir

Deep ruby red. Dense, dark cherry aromas with fine, floral notes. The palate is sleek with a compact texture and complex silky tannins.

Food pairing: Says the winery’s Shane Munn: “I’m liking any of our pinots with mushroom dishes in this cold weather.

Been making lots of pasta—so something like a mushroom tagliatelle or even mushroom risotto would be appropriate this time of year.”

LAKE COUNTRY: O’ROURKE PEAK CELLARS 2018 O’Rourke Pinot Noir

Aromatics that pack a full punch of big red fruits with Bing cherry, dark cherry, chocolate-covered cherry, cassis and black currant, accented with herbs, and earthy forest floor with just a hint of a floral note. The palate is soft and elegant, yet fullbodied and delightfully complex, with well-developed flavours of black currant, berries, leather, tobacco, cigar box and cedar spice with characters of coffee and cocoa leading through to a long finish of silky warm tannins.

Food pairing: Very versatile and perfect on its own. Would be amazing with roasted chicken, squash soup or mushroom pizza.

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Living high on the hill This 7,000-square-foot hillside estate was designed for optimal function, with a suite of subtle luxuries that ups the ante on modern family living WORDS LISA MANFIELD

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X PHOTOGRAPHY SHEILA SAY PHOTOGRAPHY

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“I’m very much about function-forward. I grew up in a large family with lots of kids and lots of people over all the time. I pay great attention to furniture layouts and traffic pattern f lows.

Then I take the f loor plan and adjust the plan to fit the form. So it’s not all function; form does, of course, kick in at some point.”

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et high above Burrard Inlet with unfettered views of the undulating waters below, this 2018 West Coast contemporary home, created by residential designer Craig Chevalier, is an ode to modern functional design and modest luxury stylings for today’s busy family.

A master of outside-in design elements and futureforward architecture, Chevalier’s intent was to build for today while planning for tomorrow, ensuring a seamless integration of function and form with minimal flair and maximum purpose.

“Everything fuses together,” Chevalier says about this home on Roseberry Avenue in West Vancouver. “Nothing punches out. It has it all, but it’s minimal and it’s going to be timeless.”

Chevalier doesn’t mince words when it comes to sharing his take on current luxury design trends.

“So many homes are overdesigned,” he says. “In this home, you won’t find a wine cellar in the middle of the dining room, or drop ceilings flooded with neon strip lighting. I’m trying to create timeless, classic architecture.”

He says many of his clients, particularly empty nesters who had moved into condos, are now leaving strata properties behind in favour of smaller lots that allow them to custom build to their specifications and without the constraints of strata regulations.

In this case, a family of three required an accessible space where they could all comfortably work and study from home, accommodate extended family members, and undertake in-home physiotherapy sessions, while enjoying the beauty of their natural surroundings.

The build, on a medium-steep sloping lot, meant prioritizing practicality, which suited Chevalier’s style perfectly.

“I’m very much about function-forward,” he says. “I grew up in a large family with lots of kids and lots of people over all the time. I pay great attention to furniture layouts and traffic pattern flows. Then I take the floor plan and adjust the plan to fit the form. So it’s not all function; it’s evident that form does, of course, kick in at some point.”

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In top form

The result is a 7,000-square-foot, five-bedroom, eightbathroom house that is perfectly suited to its owners’ current needs.

“There’s no such thing as a forever home,” says Chevalier. “You have to think about resale. It’s my job to make a product future-forward and timeless enough that it’s sellable 10 to 20 years down the line.”

The oversized entrance door opens onto a cosy foyer, which leads immediately into an open-concept great room.

Here, 12-foot ceilings and floor-to-ceiling, south-facing windows (a signature of Chevalier’s work) highlight the multimillion-dollar view, while bringing an abundance of natural light into the heart of the home.

To the left, an immense basalt wall frames an oversized fireplace set atop a leathered black granite sheet, providing a fiery foundation for a mounted entertainment centre.

A peek-through marine glass panel offers glimpses of the neighbouring main-floor office space, while a unique double-sided bookcase wraps around into the adjacent office.

Beyond the great room and dining area, another basalt wall separates the dining space from the large, open kitchen, where a lengthy centre island offers ample countertop space for after-school homework and family congregation. In the corner, nestled between kitchen cabinets and cooktop, a concealed spice kitchen functions as a discreet prep space and pantry storage—perfect for high-temperature cooking and messy culinary capers. To the left of the kitchen, a covered patio enables barbecued meals at any time of the year.

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A guest bedroom, laundry facilities and a powder room plus full bathroom round out the main level.

Upstairs, a split office/lounge space makes working from home both comfortable and functional, but the space could easily convert to a bedroom if needed. A master bedroom and child’s room complete the upstairs level, each with their own private en suite and walk-in wardrobe.

Downstairs, a guest bedroom with en suite is tucked in next to an open entertainment space, sectioned off by a midroom fireplace and wet bar. Behind sliding barn-style doors, an exercise room offers a private space for physical activity, with an adjacent sauna and change room, plus a hot tub located on the patio right outside. Down the hall, a media room provides ample space to stretch out and relax.

All in the details

To achieve a cohesive look both inside and out, Chevalier worked with interior design duo Claudia Leccacorvi and Paul Mason of Raveninside, a partnership that has already produced upwards of eight homes—most in West Vancouver.

“The owners wanted a tailored home with clean lines and an elegant palette,” says Leccacorvi. “We’re known for this style of work, and people come to us because they like that look.”

Elements such as the basalt stone walls, smoky marine glass and signature millwork bring a cool, monochromatic consistency to the design that whispers of classic luxury and timeless beauty without unnecessary flair.

“We made sure to pick up on signature details, whether it

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Claudia Leccacorvi, of Raveninside, and Craig Chevalier, of Chevalier Design.

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was the stone around the fireplace that echoed the stone on the exterior or the millwork colour that was consistent throughout.

We like to ensure the palette of each space delivers a cohesive language,” Leccacorvi says.

A stairwell connecting all three levels is illuminated by a stunning multi-piece black-stained walnut light fixture visible from both inside and outside the house. And, at the other end of the home, an elevator offers access from bedrooms to kitchen to the bottom floor.

But Leccacorvi says the true masterpiece in this home is the open-concept kitchen, which allows people to be together, even while engaged in separate activities.

“Real estate is expensive,” she says, “and you don’t want to shut the door on the dining room, you want to use every square foot of your home. If someone is preparing food in the kitchen, they’re not isolated from someone sitting in the living room; people can be more social.” After all, she adds, “these days, we live more casually.” And the kitchen is the central hub that brings us all together.

Smokey grey oak floors extend throughout the area, while a white calacatta marble feature wall is a focal point in the open kitchen.

The design team worked with bulthaup, a high-end European kitchen supplier, to implement features that really elevate the kitchen design—from the cabinet quality to the luxury walnut drawer inserts.

“I’ve always joked that if this was my home I would leave the drawers open because this kitchen is literally beautiful inside and out,” Leccacorvi says.

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business class

Trial, error and success Daniel Frankel of Tap & Barrel Group WORDS JOE LEARY

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PHOTOGRAPHY LIA CROWE

According to the old William Edward Hickson proverb, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” But you could also add in: don’t be afraid to alter course along the way if need be. Daniel Frankel is a testament to this.

As founder and CEO of the Tap & Barrel Group, the everengaging and extremely likeable restaurateur has certainly experienced the ups and downs of business during his varied work life. And with a family history within the restaurant industry, one might assume it was anticipated that Daniel would follow down that same path.

“No, never at all,” he says, emphatically. “We came here from Israel in 1979 and at that time the urban planning landscape was changing. My dad—a New York boy—was a serial entrepreneur with several quick-service restaurants under his belt in Israel. My uncle in Vancouver called and told him about a project he was working on called Bridges on Granville Island. The area was changing from all industrial to a hospitality hub with shopping, artists, artisans and restaurants. It was a struggle in Israel and my dad was encouraged to come to Vancouver.”

mortgage matters Woman of influence Angela Calla

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“If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.”

But you could also add in: don’t be afraid to alter course along the way if need be.

Suddenly, an idea was in motion but not necessarily in the young Frankel’s mind at the time.

Once in Vancouver and following an early venture operating an ice cream cart, Daniel pursued film studies at Western University.

“I wanted to get into storytelling,” he says. “I really enjoyed the medium of film as you have sight, sound and a great reach, as well as the ability to tell stories. At Western, a few buddies and I made some short films for a closed-circuit campus network before moving to California where I did some editing and PA work.”

Moving back to Vancouver, he eventually met Larry Sugar, his soon-to-be business partner and mentor.

“Larry became my partner in a few ventures and my goal then was to produce episodic television; looking to do whatever the heck I could get paid for and what I could get off the ground.”

It was a veritable mélange of vision and he worked on a naked cooking show called Barely Cooking, a music show for then VTV (now CTV 9) and a few corporate reels.

“Then Larry and I started a format called Pitch-Off before Dragon’s Den became a thing. We launched it as a feature event of the Vancouver Film Festival. The goal was to turn that into an entity on its own but it was very tough.”

Eventually, Daniel was shown an ad in the Westender Newspaper; it was a request for proposals for a coffee shop at the Coal Harbour Community Centre. At that point, he recalls, he’d gone a few years making very little income in the Vancouver film and television business. He submitted a 12-page proposal and won the public tender.

In life, timing is everything—both good and bad—and in this case, it was the latter.

“This was my first attempt in the hospitality industry, selling coffee, ice cream and sandwiches,” he says. “My girlfriend and I made it all ourselves, waking up at 5 am and opening the doors at 6:30; doing our own accounting and driving to Costco for supplies. Then we woke up and saw the first plane crash into the World Trade Centre on 9/11. Suddenly nobody was going out and everybody was in shock. Our business was absolutely dead for months after that.”

After a lengthy struggle, Daniel saw another public tender, this time for Harbour Green Park, that would eventually become The Mill restaurant. By then doubts about his restaurant future had set in.

“I was tired of mediocrity and I realized that I wanted to do something of value,” he says. “You’re only here for a short time and you want to have something of impact and live a life

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worth living. That’s what it came down to. I wasn’t happy with my output.”

Future hospitality ventures came and went, but eventually it became apparent that a restaurant group was starting to take shape.

Today, Frankel’s empire boasts an impressive portfolio of establishments encompassing six locations, including three Tap & Barrel venues, Tap Shack, Bridges on Granville Island and Brewhall, with more plans in play.

“It was a 10-year education for me and your failures are the tuition you pay for that education,” he says. “In 2001, we opened up in Coal Harbour and 2011 was the RFP for Olympic Village. Over those 10 years, I failed and I succeeded, and it was an extraordinary lesson.”

By 2011, he realized he needed to pivot.

“Every once in a while you hit a fork in the road and you have an opportunity to draw up the blueprints of your life. In 2011, I put in the application for Tap & Barrel. It was then called The Village Kitchen as I just made up some name to submit as a placeholder. Everybody was telling me I was crazy because the City of Vancouver had gone bankrupt on Olympic Village and the area was an absolute ghost town.”

But the rest is history.

Embracing the community, the Tap & Barrel Group takes great pride in serving local craft product from beer to wine and spirits.

“We support local farms, local artisans and local artists, and our mandate is to create something sustainable that we can take pride in. I hear the root word ‘organism’ in organization.

It has to be sustainable. I’ll consider myself successful when I’m rendered obsolete. I’m really just a curator. My team is way smarter than I am. I can see the vision and my role is to empower them.”

That said, a worldwide pandemic certainly threw the entire industry a curveball. “Prior to COVID-19, we were on an incredible run,” Daniel says. “Two years ago I purchased Bridges and we opened Brewhall—we were on a great roll. We had three new deals, two of which we announced at our annual leadership summit in March right before the pandemic.

A week later we hit a wall. Our sales went down 35 to 40 per cent, and at the time I thought it couldn’t get any worse than this. I had a friend who said that in China revenue was down 90 per cent. It was dismal but at least we had some heads up and could do some business projections. A month later we were down 50 per cent and already seating every other table.

Literally, on March 15, we made the call to shut down that night at 10 pm—a week prior to the provincial health order mandating restaurants to close.”

The pandemic also took a toll on the team in which he takes such incredible pride. “In 2019 we were pushing close to 1,400 staff on payroll, company-wide in the peak season. We were at about 700 this summer…this winter, we are down to about 350 staff.

Unfazed and undaunted, Daniel ponders the day when “normal” resumes and he repeats his daily mantra as a reminder: “I am to be of service to everyone in my sphere of influence every day.”

Despite all the hurt COVID-19 threw his company’s way, he remains focused and fixated on better days ahead.

“Stars shine brightest in the darkest moments,” he adds. “We will emerge from this stronger, wiser and better versions of ourselves.”

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Elegance and

Opulence

Red Tree Creative Homes goes “a little bit extra” in magnificent South Surrey lottery house WORDS ANGELA COWAN

X STYLING SARAH D’ARCEY

PHOTOGRAPHY DARREN HULL + SHEILA SAY PHOTOGRAPHY CLOTHING PROVIDED BY NORDSTROM VANCOUVER

QUICK FACTS:

> 6,200 square feet > 5 bedrooms > 6.5 bathrooms > 3 gas fireplaces > yoga studio and gym > dry sauna B Oceiling U L E VAfeatures RD >46 Velum

“Knowing where the funding is going and how it’s supporting the research that’s so needed... that’s a big part for me and my designers.”

DARREN HULL PHOTO

T

wice a year, the BC Children’s Hospital Lottery offers up an impressive collection of prizes, including cash, cars and dream homes, to raise millions of dollars for critical research and innovations in pediatric medicine, and this year’s grand prize home is truly spectacular.

Set in South Surrey and impeccably built by Red Tree Creative Homes, the Morgan Creek house is 6,200 square feet of spacious luxury and unique design.

Vic Sanghera, owner of Red Tree, worked with interior designer Alexandra Hristova of A2H Design Studio, who brought an invaluable eye to the design as a whole, and Mortise Group of Companies—an industry leader in home construction—was able to source many of the spectacular features in the home through its extensive network. The end result is a home that is beautiful and elegant, with soft touches of opulence throughout.

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DARREN HULL PHOTO

BLAZER: PATCH POCKET DUCHESS BLAZER, SMYTHE $795 DRESS: BEADED SILK SLIP DRESS, DRIES VAN NOTEN $2835 EARRINGS: OSCAR DE LA RENTA

SHEILA SAY PHOTOGRAPHY

Step into magnificence Step into magnificence

Entering through the front foyer, a generous guest suite sits to the left, while the flow of the house naturally pulls you through to a comfortable living area on the right, where a corner fireplace exudes warmth both here and into the adjacent dining area. A subtle entrance to an impressively stocked wine room lies just beyond, and through that, a sleek kitchen optimized for entertaining.

“The kitchen was definitely top of mind when we designed it. We wanted to do something completely different from a lot of homes in the area,” says Sanghera. “We wanted to give it a European feel, and more of a masculine feel, so we brought in some darker colours with the woods.”

A Faber hood fan was installed over the island to allow for cleaner sight lines, and an entirely separate fry kitchen was built in behind—accessed through the wine room—to provide a tidy and tucked-away spot for the bulk of the food prep.

Taking up the majority of the back side of the main floor, an 18-foot lift and sliding-glass door opens onto the patio, effortlessly bringing inside the great outdoors in warmer weather, and also an incredible abundance of natural light.

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SHEILA SAY PHOTOGRAPHY

“The kitchen was definitely top of mind when we designed it. We wanted to do something completely different…We wanted to give it a European feel, and more of a masculine feel, so we brought in some darker colours with the woods.”

SHEILA SAY PHOTOGRAPHY

In the in-between

In the in-between

Moving into the rest of the main floor, another unique feature stands out: two spacious landings that rest in the in-between spaces between floors. Two steps down from the main floor, the lower landing was designed to house a piano—indeed, the striking feature wall behind it, with its panels of smoked and bronzed glass, was meant to reflect the feel of ivory keys. It’s effortless to imagine a gentle Debussy melody echoing out over the house like low waves breaking over a beach.

Half a flight up, the upper landing houses several chairs and a checkerboard bookshelf system, perfect for bibliophiles who love a view when they glance up between pages.

It’s such an interesting way of using the space, and not commonly seen, although Sanghera admits with a laugh: “It’s sort of my company’s specialty.”

He notes, “It really adds to the way people live in their homes. In an open concept, it gives you more defined spaces. You can use them as an office, a kids’ study area, a sitting area...and still have a pulse on what’s going on in the rest of the house.”

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there be light Let Let there be light

SHEILA SAY PHOTOGRAPHY

Everywhere, the light fixtures are spellbinding. Hanging from the great heights of the cathedral ceiling at the top of the staircase, a long chain of large interlocking circles—each delicately lit along its inner edge—hangs right down to eye level on the main floor.

Two abstract branching fixtures light the foyer and smaller living area with exposed bulbs shaped like the unopened buds on a willow, while a more traditional quintet of thin cylinders hangs suspended over the dining table just a few feet away.

And at the zenith of the great room, with its 16-foot ceilings,

sits a fixture that looks as though the caster found a way to trap the peak of a firework explosion in metal and filaments.

And the fixtures aren’t the only features of interest in looking up.

“We’re always looking to do something not seen before,” says Sanghera, “and those ceiling details were really important to us.”

Soaring above it all

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DARREN HULL PHOTO

Soaring above it all

Several of the “rooms” in the open-concept design have rectangular dropped ceilings, lending another subtle sense of boundary between different areas, and giving the lighting fixtures their due. But there are also several spots where the ceilings themselves are the stars.

“We did want to push the envelope a little bit, in the sense that we wanted to put in products or ideas that haven’t been seen in our previous homes or lottery homes,” says Sanghera.

To that end, Red Tree brought in stretch ceilings from Velum Design Canada.

“It’s kind of a cloth material, and you can put any kind of LED lighting in it as well,” he explains.

Once attached to the ceiling, it has an almost glass-like finish, highly reflective and flawless, and creates a truly unique effect. The white panels in the kitchen and en suite are clean and bright, with zig-zags of light shooting through, while the grey panel in the family room has a slightly softer look.

But it’s the startlingly black panel above the pool table in the lounge downstairs that is unquestionably most striking.

Slashed through with angled LED light, the surface reflects the pool table below like a mirror, and cultivates the distinct feeling of being in an exclusive lounge. (A feeling which is amplified by the nearby yoga studio, home gym and dry sauna on the same floor.)

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DARREN HULL PHOTO

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SHEILA SAY PHOTOGRAPHY

Sweet master suite

SHEILA SAY PHOTOGRAPHY

SHEILA SAY PHOTOGRAPHY

Sweet master suite

Upstairs, the clean luxury of the whole design transforms into true opulence in the master suite, and particularly in the en suite. Expansive marble tiles with bold veining line the floor and walls. A deep soaker tub sits like a centrepiece, cradled by a curved wall covered with thin vertical marble strips inlaid with angled gold accents.

Behind the wall is a doorless dual-shower system that evokes visions of the end of an afternoon at the spa. It’s the kind of bathroom you can imagine spending hours in, escaping from the rest of the world.

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But it’s the startlingly black panel above the pool table in the lounge downstairs that is unquestionably most striking.

DARREN HULL PHOTO

A little bit extra

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.

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With a smooth flow from room to room, expansive spaces that still feel liveable and the highest attention to detail, the Morgan Creek home exemplifies Red Tree’s high standards, but there’s also just a little extra care put in, knowing the house is promoting the BC Children’s Hospital Lottery.

This is the fifth time Sanghera has partnered with the lottery group, and “it’s been outstanding for Red Tree,” he says.

“We’ve had a long-term relationship with Red Tree and BC Children’s Hospital, and it’s really humbling being part of these campaigns.

Knowing where the funding is going and how it’s supporting the research that’s so needed...that’s a big part for me and my designers. And even my sub-trades, when they know it’s going to be a lottery home, they’ll do everything they can to put in that little bit extra.”

Throughout the home, that “little bit extra” is clear in the design, the details, the finish and the feeling.

And come April, it would make a spectacular home for one very lucky winner.

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SHEILA SAY PHOTOGRAPHY

QUICK FACTS

BC Children’s Hospital Lottery

BY ANGELA COWAN

• 2021 is the 20th year that the Choices Lottery has been raising funds for BC Children’s Hospital Foundation.

It’s expected to raise between $4 and $5 million for the hospital this year, and is a significant annual fundraiser.

• More than 1,000 researchers at BC Children’s are working to solve the mysteries surrounding the illnesses that make kids sick, including cancers and rare diseases. They are also discovering life-changing breakthroughs in the way experts deliver care or perform surgeries.

• The seven fabulous dream homes are located around the province, from the Morgan Creek home in South Surrey, to a luxury condo in False Creek, to a home overlooking the vineyards in Okanagan Falls, to the gorgeous condo steps from the Inner Harbour in Victoria, and more.

• Over 96,000 kids visit BC Children’s every year for specialized pediatric care.

• Early bird prizes (for tickets purchased by March 25) include a trip for six to Maui plus a 2021 Audi and $75,000; a fully furnished one-bedroom condo at Watermark Beach Resort plus $40,000; or $250,000 cash.

Plus, there will be 50 winners of $1,000 cash, drawn separately.

• Discoveries and innovations made here impact the lives of children across the province, and throughout the world.

• Further Bonus Prizes include a variety of brand-new cars, luxury trips or cash, with ticket purchase deadlines as early as February 5.

• The BC Children’s Hospital Choices Lottery has eight Grand Prize options, including one for $2.2 million, and

• For more information on the lottery and the foundation, and where to buy tickets, visit bcchildren.com.

• BC Children’s Hospital serves the largest geographic region of any children’s hospital in North America.

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is one of only four hospital lotteries in the province that offers a cash option.

B O U L E VA R D

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create your own unique ceiling and lighting design, various color variants, matt, satin and glossy surfaces are available.

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Telling their stories Erin Cebula relishes her role as BC Children’s Hospital Lottery spokesperson WORDS ANGELA COWAN

L

X PHOTOGRAHY DARREN HULL

STYLING SARAH D’ARCEY

CLOTHING PROVIDED BY NORDSTROM VANCOUVER

ong a familiar face in Canadian broadcasting, Erin Cebula is as ebullient and genuine in a one-on-one conversation as she is when the cameras are rolling.

Chatting just after doing some voiceover work for the latest BC Children’s Hospital Lottery, she’s energized and excited about the upcoming campaign.

“It’s always the way I start the year, and I look forward to it,” Erin says.

“I feel really grateful to have this job. To be with the team and be doing something that’s positive. People need something to get excited about and to get behind. If you’re helping someone else, it always helps you feel better about your own situation.”

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“By buying a ticket, you have a really good chance of winning amazing prizes— potentially lifechanging prizes—and you know that ticket purchase is going towards changing the life of a sick child and their family.”

After a year of living within the COVID-19 pandemic, that’s perhaps never been truer. And Erin is definitely one for grabbing every opportunity for joy that she can.

She’s a regular contributor to DRIFT magazine—finding hidden getaways around the world—as well as an advocate for a number of organizations that help those in need and put positivity out into the world, including World Vision, the BCSPCA and 2016’s BeYou empowerment campaign for young women.

Her background includes more than 20 years of being on camera, in just about every facet.

She started out learning the technical side of things at BCIT, where she graduated with a diploma in TV broadcasting before landing the arts/entertainment reporter spot at Global BC in 2000, a role she held for 16 years.

Erin also hosted Vancouver talk show Urban Rush, HGTV’s Makeover Wish, and Entertainment Canada, where she covered the gamut of award shows, including the Oscars.

She’s interviewed actors and musicians all the way across the A-list, travelled to dozens of spots around the world, had a cameo in a Michael Bublé music video, and even eaten a scorpion while filming a national network special for Survivor.

“I’m experience-driven; I’m like a junkie for new stuff,” she explains with a laugh.

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“People need something to get excited about and to get behind. If you’re helping someone else, it always helps you feel better about your own situation.”

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Erin, who is also co-owner and content creator for Vancouverbased boutique firm Blu Realty, got involved with the BC Children’s Hospital Lottery 12 years ago, and it was one of the best decisions she’s made.

“At the time I was working for ET Canada and for Global BC, and I really wanted to do something that gave back,” she says. “I was just really excited to do something that was helping people, but still using my television background.”

She adds: “I help tell the stories.

It’s my job to get people excited about it and help them recognize what their ticket price is going toward. By buying a ticket, you have a really good chance of winning amazing prizes—potentially life-changing prizes—and you know that ticket purchase is going towards changing the life of a sick child and their family.

“My little nephew has been in and out of BC Children’s since he was born, and he’s three now,” she says, her voice softening. “And that’s just one of thousands of stories. Everybody in this province is in some way impacted or connected by the work they do.”

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Road

THERAPY Taking the high road to mental health

BY SUSAN LUNDY

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CO-ED

PRESCHOOL–GRADE 12

New world. New challenges. New learning. admissions@qms.bc.ca

www.qms.bc.ca

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2021

VANCOUVER LIFE AT ITS FINEST

Elegance &Grace Living high on the hill in West Van

ARTIST & MUSE The bold nature of neutrals

ROAD THERAPY

Taking the high road to health

BOUNTY OF THE SEA Seafood shines in Italian il pasto

Inspiring readers with stunning visuals and enticing stories.

40,000 Magazines delivered directly to homes throughout Metro Vancouver

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W

e’re driving along the Crowsnest Highway on the southern edge of BC, a little east of Osoyoos and west of the quaint town of Greenwood. Over the last few hours, the landscape on the other side of the windshield has played out like a fast-changing kaleidoscope: at one point a snowy wonderland at the peak of Manning Park; then a lush forest splashed with red-orange-yellow fall trees, and now an expanse of rolling hills coloured in burnt yellow and topped by a vivid blue sky.

As the visuals change and the landscape opens up, so too do our minds. Conversation has stopped for now as the hum of the car lulls our thoughts into a meditative place. At times, we’ve had the tunes blasting, singing along to our standard road fare: Elton John, Cat Stevens, Steve Earle….We’ve also had time to dissect a lingering issue from back home—but problems seem far away and we’re happy to let it sit at the back of our minds for a while.

There’s no medical-school definition of “road therapy,” but this is what it’s all about. It’s hitting the road and just driving.

Releasing yourself from the cares of home, letting your mind wander into a daydream or even nothingness. Feeling the bliss of being in motion. Letting your subconscious chew away at a problem, while you—in the present—relax.

Road trips help you live in the moment and be spontaneous. They give your brain a workout as you navigate space and process new information. They provide time to think and daydream. Singing releases endorphins, the brain’s “feelgood” chemicals, and exploring the outdoors provides fresh air and doses of Vitamin D. Road therapy looks different at different times. As a teenager and young adult, I often found sanctuary on the road in my old Datsun B210 with the Simon & Garfunkel tunes cranked.

On the road, singing along, I could quell the emotion of a break-up or forget the angst of an exam. A few years later, now a writer at my first newspaper job in Salmon Arm, I’d take to the highway at night, driving to Kamloops and back, daydreaming and writing stories in my head.

Concerns over environmental footprint and the price of gas over the last decade have limited some of the advantages of road trips, but with recent advances in hybrid and electricvehicle technology, we can once again hit the high road.

On our early November road trip, we decided to explore the less-travelled highways and roadways of the West Kootenays—relishing the area’s perfect combination of wide-open spaces, mountain views, lake views, snowy passes and vividly coloured fall scenery that would be equally beautiful any time of year.

We travelled 1,700 kilometres and included four overnight stays on our journey, but road therapy can work as a day trip,

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too; it’s a good way to get out and still adhere to most pandemic health protocols. (But be sure to check with different regions’ pandemic regulations before setting out this winter and spring.)

Here are a few ideas to create your own road therapy expedition:

MAKE A PLAN… SORT OF

Part of the point of road therapy is being spontaneous, driving to places unknown. Our five-day trip loosely followed a route that started in the Lower Mainland, taking Highway 1 to Hope and then the Crowsnest to Castlegar; driving various highways through Nelson, Kaslo, New Denver and Nakusp, riding a ferry across Upper Arrow Lake, and travelling on to Revelstoke, Vernon and Kelowna, down the Coquihalla and back to the coast.

But we left lots of time to aimlessly drive from point A to B, X or Y. For example, one day, we set off on a driving jaunt out of Nelson, loosely heading for the small town of Salmo. It turned out that the destination itself was less interesting than the journey, as we spontaneously turned off the road here and there, discovering some beautiful scenery in addition to the tiny town of Ymir, once a thriving mining hub and now just a small cluster of cool historic buildings.

PICK A RIDE

Thanks to the generosity of Volvo Canada, our road trip involved test-driving a fully loaded, plug-in hybrid Volvo XC90 T8. Since the point of road therapy is to hit the pavement and free the mind, the ride doesn’t really matter. But travelling in complete luxury and comfort with a gas-efficient vehicle doesn’t hurt!

Some of this seven-seater’s perks included a 19-speaker surround-sound system—perfect for the multi-stationed SiriusXM system—and heated leather seats with a massage component.

Travelling in this car, with its huge front window, elegant interior and so many comforts, put me in mind of a first-class train ride.

And the ability to talk to it—“Hello beautiful car, please turn on the heated steering wheel”—was a lot of fun.

Road trip safety is another consideration and we experienced the Volvo’s steer assist twice—once when we skidded on a snowy pass and the car quickly recovered—and another time, just at dusk, as we swerved to avoid a herd of elk that had suddenly appeared on the road right beside us.

The car had three drive mode settings for steering feel and response, and Bruce was particularly fond of the power mode, which immediately turned it into a supercharged, corner-hugging sports car. Whatever the mode, the highways in the Kootenays are a great place to test-drive a vehicle.

It’s about hitting the road and just driving.

Releasing yourself from the cares of home, letting your mind wander into a daydream.

STOP, BREATHE, ENJOY THE OUTDOORS

Our route gave us plenty of opportunities to stop, hike, breathe in the fresh air and enjoy the bountiful benefits of nature.

The West Kootenays have myriad waterfalls, many within easy access of the highway. The Fletcher Falls turnoff is located about 10 minutes north of Ainsworth and accessed via a short walk. Lone Falls, near Nakusp, is a popular picnic spot located just a few metres from the parking area, while Sutherland Falls—one of the most visually stunning waterfalls in the Revelstoke area—is found near Blanket Creek Provincial Park.

A visit to Begbie Falls, also near Revelstoke, includes a glorious trail walk.

We also hiked the beautiful Kaslo River Trail with its unique Hide & Seek art installation, and the Nakusp Waterfront Walkway, where we revelled in gorgeous views of Arrow Lake and the surrounding mountains. Ahhhh.

RELAX

In keeping with the Volvo-Swedish theme, we were introduced to the concept of “fika,” which is an important part of Swedish culture. Defined as “a state of mind, an attitude and a ritual,” it’s said to refresh the brain and strengthen relationships. It means making time for friends and colleagues to share a cup of coffee (or tea) and a snack.

To this end, coffee experts Jay Lijewski and Joshua Boyt— or, The Coffee Car Guys—have created a mobile coffee bar for the back of their Volvo XC90; the kit includes coffee beans, grinder and French press/mug.

If it involves coffee, I’m all in. So the concept of fika—es-

pecially if it occurs on the road in the middle of nature—is a wonderful idea. We stopped early one morning at Fletcher Falls, sipped coffee at a vantage point and enjoyed the natural setting of woods and water (think forest bathing with coffee).

The Kootenays offer another way to relax: the area is spotted with naturally occurring hot springs. We stayed overnight at Ainsworth Hot Springs, enjoying a mesmerizing float around the steaming main pool and then taking a few trips through the hotter pools in the natural caves, which are a unique feature at Ainsworth. You’ll also find hot springs at Halcyon and Nakusp on this route.

OVERNIGHT IN STYLE

In addition to staying at Ainsworth Hot Springs, we overnighted at the historic Hume Hotel & Spa in Nelson and the upscale Explorer Society Hotel in Revelstoke. Both offered unique experiences.

The Hume is centrally located, steeped in history and extremely comfortable with super friendly staff. The Explorers Society is a nine-room boutique hotel with beautiful exposedbrick rooms, a rooftop lounge and hot tub. It also features the Quartermaster Eatery, which combines a fire-and-smokethemed menu and a thoughtfully curated collection of unique wines and spirits.

THE LAST STOP

Finally, return home refreshed, invigorated and ready to face the challenges of the day, knowing that a bit of road therapy has opened your mind to possibilities of a new world.

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fashion

Strapless dress by Club Monaco, $60, from Turnabout Luxury Resale.

A RT I ST & M US E PHOTOGRAPHY LIA CROWE + STYLING BY JEN EVANS

This fashion year starts with a sigh of softness showing the bold nature of neutrals. Clay tones of pink, cream and grey are layered in multiple textures of wool, woven and silk fabric. Sculptor David Hunwick invites Boulevard into his studio to inspire and to be inspired. As in the relationship of the artist and the muse, the creative energy flows two ways as beauty and strength spark new ideas, angles and a fresh perspective.

Reclining Nude of Estoi Necklace, $285, and Love Lock Chain Necklace, $195, both by Pamela Card, Ligne Stud Earrings by Uni, $285, all from Bernstein & Gold.

Jessamine Dress

by Malene Birger, $625, from Bernstein & Gold.

Long-sleeved turtleneck by Baserange, $110, knit collar by Monica Cordera, $290, plant-dyed silk skirt by Tannin and Toil, $400, basket bag by WORN, $110, all from Open House Shop; scarf, $110, and crystal necklace (on bag), $69.95, both from Migration Boutique.

Bodysuit by Baserange, $96, dress by Boheme, $400, plant-dyed silk scrunchie

by Tannin & Toil, $45, all from Open House Shop; raven skull necklace from Migration Boutique, $40; large necklace

by Krysia, $50, from W&J Wilson.

Reclining Nude of Estoi Necklace by Pamela Card $285, Love Lock Chain Necklace by Pamela Card $195, Ligne Stud Earrings by Uni $285 all from Bernstein and Gold; Morocco Pants $190 by Eve Gravel from Migration Boutique

Makeup and hair: Jen Clark Model: Tessa Hamelin Photo assistant: Blair Hansen Photographed on location at David Hunwick’s sculpture studio and at Cinderbloc Studio.

A huge thank you to all for hosting our team.

food and feast

BOUNTY of the sea

Seafood shines in three-course Italian il pasto WORDS CHEF JULIA MCINNIS, ZAMBRI’S

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PHOTOGRAPHY LIA CROWE

L

ike many of you, I have spent the majority of my life living on the West Coast. For me, much of the appeal of life here is proximity to the Pacific Ocean.

For the scenery, yes. But even more so, for the way the air smells: briny, savoury and delicious.

One of the aspects of cooking Italian cuisine that speaks to me is taking quality seasonal ingredients and presenting them simply to let the ingredients shine.

This time of year (when it feels like it always has been and always will be raining) it’s the ocean’s time to shine. The colder temperatures are ideal for freshness of product and firmness of flesh.

First, some notes on choosing quality products and keeping them as fresh as possible. General advice when handling seafood is: less is more. Try to buy the fish as soon as possible before you intend to eat it, ideally the day of.

When storing clams in the fridge, keep them in the mesh or plastic bag in which you bought them. This keeps them closed and less likely to open up and breathe in too much air. Wash your clams by placing them in a bowl and covering them with cold water, then agitating the clams around in the water, rubbing them against each other to release any sand caught in the crevices.

Chef Julia McInnis.

Pro tip: Lift the clams out of the water, don’t pour the water back out over them or you risk getting that sand caught right back in their shells. Repeat this at least three times or until the water is no longer cloudy when you agitate the clams.

When choosing white fish, pick a piece that looks slightly translucent and is uniform in colour throughout, free of dark spots on the flesh. To store in the fridge, remove the fish from the packaging and place it on a clean plastic, porcelain or glass container and wrap it well with saran wrap. Avoid metal as it may react with the fish and impart a tinny flavour. Handle the fish as little as possible to keep the heat and oils of your hands from disrupting the natural pH balance of the fish.

Below is a three-course meal built from my personal favourite winter comfort foods, and highlighting the best of the ocean’s bounty: warm and fragrant broth from the liquor of clams, white wine and butter, served with crunchy bread spread with parsley pesto; sweet buttery white fish cooked with savoury olives, salty caper bombs and tomato; anchovy breadcrumbs with white beans and bitter greens, which bring a nice richness of flavour in contrast to the salt and acidity of the fish dish; and for dessert, a citrus-rich olive oil cake to cleanse the palate.

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White Fish Baked with Tomato, Olive and Caper.

White Fish Baked with Tomato, Olive and Caper Serves 4

1 tbsp vegetable oil ½ small onion, chopped fine 4 garlic cloves, sliced thin ½ lemon, zested 1 tbsp capers 3 ⁄4 cup olives, Sicilian hot mix or Picholine 1 pinch chili flakes 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved ½ cup white wine 2 cups (500 ml) Zambri’s tomato sauce 1½ lbs white fish, rockfish or sole ideally 1 tbsp chopped parsley olive oil Preheat oven to 375 F. Place garlic, chopped onion and vegetable oil in a medium-sized sauce pan. Turn heat to medium. Cook garlic and onion until soft and beginning to colour. Add a small amount of water halfway through to speed along the process. Add capers and olives and continue to cook for 1 minute. Add cherry tomatoes and continue to cook until cherry tomatoes are soft and beginning to burst. Add white wine and Zambri’s tomato sauce. Simmer 5 minutes to let the flavours get to know each other.

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Prepare fish by giving a gentle rinse and patting dry on paper towels. Cut fish into 4 pieces of approximately the same size. Place fish in a shallow oven-safe casserole dish. Season fish with salt and pepper. Pour sauce over fish and place in oven. Bake 7 to 10 minutes or until fish is opaque throughout and just beginning to flake.

Serve immediately and garnish with chopped parsley and a drizzle of good olive oil.

Clams and White Wine with GarlicRubbed Crostino and Parsley Pesto Serves 4

½ bunch parsley ½ tsp capers 1 tbsp grated hard-rind cheese ½ lemon, zested 2 tbsp olive oil ½ loaf crusty, day-old bread (like a baguette) 3 lbs clams 4 garlic cloves 1 cup white wine (anything cheap and cheerful) 1 tbsp butter 1 pinch chili flakes Pre-heat oven to 350 F. Cut bread in slices no bigger than one-inch thick. Place on parchment-lined baking tray. Drizzle

with 1 tbsp of olive oil. Bake at 350 F for 7 to 10 minutes or until lightly toasted and dried most of the way through.

Rub with one garlic clove on both sides of each crostino to “butter” the bread with the raw garlic.

Stem parsley and chop fine. Squeeze capers and chop fine. Combine chopped parsley, capers, cheese, lemon zest and olive oil in a bowl. Adjust seasoning as needed.

Smear pesto on each crostino.

Wash clams as described above. Slice 3 cloves of garlic lengthwise as thin as possible. Place 1 tbsp of the olive oil, half of the butter and all of the sliced garlic in a cold, shallow sauce pot. Turn heat to medium low and heat the oil, butter and garlic until the butter just begins to foam.

Add clams and stir around until the clams start to sizzle and begin opening. Add white wine and cover pan to trap in all the liquor from the clams.

After 2 minutes, remove the lid and move the clams around with a spoon. The clams will not all open if they are stacked on each other, so moving them around gives them the space to open up and fully cook. Clams are ready when they are all fully open.

Taste the broth and adjust seasoning as you see fit.

Serve immediately in warm bowls with crostino.

Clams and White Wine with GarlicRubbed Crostino and Parsley Pesto.

White Beans and Bitter Greens with Anchovy Breadcrumbs Serves 4

1 tbsp butter 1 tsp anchovies, chopped 3 leaves sage, chopped ½ cup breadcrumbs 1 tbsp olive oil 1 ⁄4 cup water 1 bunch bitter greens (such as dandelion greens, rapini or black kale) 1 can white beans, drained Place butter and anchovies in a small, straight-edged sauté pan, ideally cast iron if available. Press the anchovies with a fork to break them up into smaller pieces.

Cook together until anchovies have mostly dissolved and the butter begins to brown. Add sage and breadcrumbs.

Cook together, stirring constantly for 2 minutes until breadcrumbs have absorbed all the butter and are light brown in colour. Remove from heat and place on a plate to cool. Set aside.

Prepare greens by washing if needed and gently patting dry. Cut into pieces approximately 1 inch in length.

Place a medium-sized saucepan on medium heat, and add greens, olive oil and water. Cover pan and let greens steam down until soft and water is mostly evaporated.

If using rapini or kale, you should be able to squish the stems with your fingers. Add white beans and cook together until beans have softened slightly. Use a fork to mash the beans lightly until they are creamy in texture.

Season with salt and pepper.

Serve in a shallow bowl and top with anchovy breadcrumbs and a drizzle of olive oil. Serve hot.

White Beans and Bitter Greens with Anchovy Breadcrumbs.

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Citrus Olive Oil Cake 3 eggs 3 ⁄4 cup white sugar 1 ⁄3 cup olive oil ½ cup milk 2 tbsp orange juice 1 tbsp lemon juice ½ lemon, zested ½ orange, zested 1 tsp vanilla extract 1½ cups all-purpose flour 1½ tsp baking powder ½ tsp kosher salt

Citrus Olive Oil Cake

Preheat oven to 350 F. Oil an 8-inch round cake pan and line bottom with parchment paper. Using either a stand mixer or a handheld electric beater, beat eggs and sugar together until eggs are light and fluffy—approximately 1 to 1.5 minutes. While mixing, add oil slowly in a steady stream until fully combined with milk, citrus zest, juice and vanilla extract. Sift or mix together flour, baking powder and salt. Slowly add flour, baking powder and salt mixture to wet mixture, beating softly until fully combined. Stop to scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula if needed. Pour batter into prepared dish.

Bake 30 to 35 minutes. Let sit in pan at least 5 minutes before turning onto a wire rack to cool completely before serving.

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Adventures in Vietnam WORDS LAUREN KRAMER

PHOTO COURTESY GRASSHOPPER ADVENTURES.

s the darkness of the pandemic months starts to lift, travel—or, the thought of travel—is opening up again and offering opportunities to rejuvenate, refresh our minds and bodies, and escape the monotony of routines stuck in a seemingly endless logjam since March 2020.

If you’re keen to treat yourself to a trip off the beaten path, look no further than Vietnam. This is a country with many faces: the major cities are a noisy symphony of gridlocked traffic, while sandwiched between them, the rolling waves of the South China Sea lap up to pearly white stretches of beach and quiet fishing villages, where locals ply the water in round basket boats.

There are night markets redolent with exotic scents and foods unique to Vietnam, and myriad fascinating, strange encounters that define a country where past and present merge to create a spellbinding rhythm to daily life. Domestic flights are frequent and ridiculously inexpensive, making it easy to traverse the country north to south.

TO THE NORTH

In Hanoi, book a scooter tour of the city. Scooters are king of the road in Vietnam and they zip around in a crazy chorus of honking horns, transporting everything from entire families to caged chickens and ducks.

My guide, a young woman in her early 20s, calmly navigated the chaos, weaving expertly between the cars in the warren-like alleyways of the Old Quarter, whose streets are named for the merchandise on sale. There’s kitchen street, silk street, eastern medicine street and silver street, all packed with narrow stores that elbow against each other, vying for attention.

At the Temple of Literature, an ancient, 1,000-year-old structure, we learn how Vietnamese monarchs once tested the

knowledge of students who, in years past, traveled on foot for up to six months for their exams.

We cross the Red River on the Bridge of Love and Friendship, designed by famous Frenchman Gustave Eiffel, and we stand sombrely before the dank cells of the Hỏa Lò prison.

Now a museum, it was previously a place of desperate suffering and deprivation, serving as a chilling reminder of the brutalities inflicted here just 50 years ago.

CENTRAL VIETNAM

Hội An: By day, escape the tourists by venturing on a guided bicycle tour into the nearby villages with Grasshopper Adventures. We biked over bridges and alongside farms and rice paddy fields still plowed by oxen. Our guide, Lyna Tran, led us through the boat-building yard of Kim Bồng village, a small town of 4,000 whose history of carpentry goes back to the 15th century.

Invited into one home, we witnessed the family rice paper business in motion, even helping to crank the old hand-turned mill that transforms rice into rice paper, a staple of the Vietnamese diet.

At night, Hội An becomes a magical fairyland, with colourful silk lanterns adorning the bars and restaurants of the Ancient Quarter and paper versions floating gently down the Thu Bồn River. Locals and visitors throng to this area after sunset, browsing food stands selling barbecued frogs, roasted birds, pork wraps and dried squid.

The night market stalls fill the enclave with Gucci knockoffs and interesting knickknacks, and a vibrant energy fills the warm night air. We stopped for a game of bai choi, a traditional, musical outdoor game in street theatre format, then took a sidewalk seat at an outdoor bar, ordered a 30-cent beer and watched the crowds go by.

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This is a country with many faces: the major cities are a noisy symphony of gridlocked traffic, while sandwiched between them, the rolling waves of the South China Sea lap up to pearly white stretches of beach and quiet fishing villages.

Beachside Bliss: When city life begins to feel overwhelming, you know it’s time for the beach in Central Vietnam. We headed two hours north of Hội An to Angsana Lang Co, an upscale resort sandwiched between a quiet, private three kilometres of pristine coastline and a swath of thickly forested tropical mountains.

The exquisite property features bedrooms with private dipping pools and sunbathing patios. Rooms are steps from the beach where an assortment of water toys await, from surfboards to kayaks and jet skis.

At sunrise, I take long walks on the soft sand, feeling the waves lap gently at my feet. Later, I bike to the local fishing villages of Cảnh Dương and Binh An, exploring market stalls selling chicken, glassy-eyed fish not long out of the water and the freshest, largest mangoes I’ve ever seen. I watch school children walk home for their lunch break hand-in-hand, before biking back to the beach, past fishing boats baking in the hot sun. Far from city traffic, smog and noise you feel lost in time here, the days passing in a blissful rhythm of sun, surf and starry-skied nights.

DOWN SOUTH

Saigon is the city where past and present converge with momentum. Home to nine million, it’s a place of contrasts.

Cyclo drivers pedal passengers on three-wheeled bikes through the streets alongside motorbike taxis and luxury cars. Modest apartment buildings, home to local families, are just a quick walk from the skyscraper five-star hotel chains that dot the banks of the Saigon River.

We visited the War Remnant Museum for a better understanding of the American War on Vietnam, shocked by the graphic images of violence and destruction. The museum offers a glimpse at the horrific effects of the war, and how its after-effects continue to ricochet through the country to this day.

Yet the new, modern Vietnam is rising, with signs of con86

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struction everywhere. After dark we headed up the Bitexco Financial Tower, a lotus-shaped, 63-storey structure that’s one of the city’s tallest buildings. Towering over the city, it’s a proud symbol of contemporary Vietnam and the extent to which the country is rebuilding in the half century since it fought a bitter, ravaging war.

ISLAND LIFE

Our final stop in Vietnam is Phú Quốc, an island located an hour away from Saigon, where the Marriott Phú Quốc Emerald Bay, named the best hotel in Southeast Asia by Travel + Leisure, sits on the shores of Khem Beach.

Straight out of a fairytale, the four-year-old property was constructed around the fictional campus of “Lamarck University,” with each building themed to represent a different department. Staff wear old-fashioned, college-like blazers and pinafores, the general manager is addressed as “dean” and references to learning, like the massive floor-to-ceiling bookcases packed with old books, are everywhere.

Far from tacky, the theme of higher education is so perfectly executed that it feels novel, authentic and the furthest thing from a staid, traditional hotel environment.

Not far from the property, other beachside land is being transformed from jungle to elegant hotels as more and more of the island yields to tourism. Quietly and shyly, Vietnam is just now beginning to welcome travellers and to share its beauty, culture and cuisine with the rest of the world.

If You Go: For reservations at Angsana Lang Co visit Angsana.com or call (800) 591-0439 Grasshopper Adventures offers a variety of soft adventure biking tours throughout Southeast Asia, combining exercise with local guides and insider tours. Info: grasshopperadventures.com or call (844) 874-3720

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For those looking to unleash their inner foodie, Whiskey Prime Steakhouse and Jade Fusion are two of the top culinary destinations at Angel Of The Winds Casino Resort. At Whiskey Prime Steakhouse, which has received celebrated guest reviews, guests can savor Xceptional steaks and seafood in an upscale casual atmosphere, and also pair their meal with one of the several local Washington wines and barrel aged whiskeys on the menu. Jade Fusion offers guests a taste of Southeast Asia, with favorites such as sushi, spring rolls, and soups, plus innovative monthly sake cocktail specials.

The perfect complement to an Xhilarating day of gaming is a delicious meal, and when guests dine at any Angel Of The Winds Casino Resort venue,

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they will Xperience fresh and Xciting flavors, influenced by Executive Chef, Dean Shinagawa.

Chef Dean began his culinary journey at the age of 10, when he used to make pork dumplings with his mother. Over the past 35 years, Chef Dean’s passion for cooking allowed him to become a culinary apprentice at the prestigious Kahala Hilton Hotel in Oahu, Hawaii, a competitor at the James Beard House in New York City, a restaurateur in Everett, Washington, and, finally, the Executive

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secrets and lives —

AND THE 7 SINS with STEPHANIE SMITH

D

espite being exposed to the art and design world from her youngest years, Stephanie Smith never really thought she’d end up there for her career.

“My mom is an artist and is in design, and she also did art studies at Emily Carr,” Stephanie says. “She had a gallery when I was a young teen, so I learned how to cut glass and frames, and do all the assembly from about 12 years old.”

After finishing a degree in business and marketing, Stephanie agreed to let her mom train her at Ethan Allen furniture—“I really thought it was going to be a shortterm venture”—and she has been in the design and furniture industry ever since.

Now the president of Oriental Casa’s flagship North American store on South Granville, Stephanie has come back to loving furniture after taking a few years away.

“I saw people shopping for mostly throwaway pieces, things that would just end up in a landfill in a few years. I’d been in interior design for so long, and I had been losing the passion,” she says. “So I left furniture for a few years, but this line really brought me back. It’s so unusual, and just the details in each piece...you could easily mix in a piece and create real interest in your room, or do a whole room and create a dramatic, beautiful look.”

Besides being beautifully designed with intricate detail work, it was the quality of the pieces that sold Stephanie.

WORDS ANGELA COWAN 90

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X

PHOTOGRAPHY LIA CROWE

“There are no springs...it’s all solid rosewood. It’s some of the heaviest furniture I’ve ever moved, and I have moved a lot of furniture in my life!” she says with a laugh.

Seeing how the pieces fit into her clients’ homes and knowing they’ve invested in something that will last decades has brought her a whole new level of satisfaction too.

“I love helping people, and I love finding design solutions,” she says. “This became the passion, and it fulfills me so completely. I’m never tired of it.”

WRATH:

Pet peeves?

Restless legs! I’d never experienced it until pregnancy.

I’m pretty busy as it is, and hate anything slowing me down. And insincerity. I’ve always trusted that people are generally good. Over time, they always show their true character: they’re either reliable or they’re questionable, and it’s only a matter of time until the latter reveals itself. I have such a love of people that it always stings to uncover insincerity, and it’s one thing I’m always disappointed in.

SLOTH:

The 7 Sins ENVY:

Whose shoes would you like to walk in?

Arlene Dickinson from Dragon’s Den. I’ve always loved what a great business woman she is for so many reasons. Watching her over the years has been inspiring, and I have always felt I related to her. From building her self-made fortune, seeing all of her supporting causes and how she shows her passion for what she believes in, I have always admired her...not to mention, her shoes are always fabulous!

Where would you spend a long time doing nothing?

On a lake. Although I’m not a strong swimmer—I mean, I learned how by diving for money my grandmother would throw in the lake—but I am a water baby, and as long as there is a boat or flotation device, I’m there! I always thought I’d live in a floating home and be able to feel free, anchoring down wherever and whenever I felt like.

PRIDE:

GLUTTONY:

What is the food you could eat over and over again?

Sushi! I never tire of sushi, although, funny enough, I have a severe shellfish allergy. I’ve always loved a meal with variety, and there is always endless selection with sushi.

What is the one thing you’re secretly proud of ?

Knowing my strength, on so many levels. Knowing I can get through tough times is definitely something I heavily value. I’ve been faced with situations both in my business and my personal life—you know, the ones you want to avoid or try to ignore—but I’ve been fortunate to have some incredible mentors who showed me that it’s how you deal with things that have the biggest impact. I’ve worked really hard to keep a good perspective and see things from other views than simply my own, and that’s allowed me to be mindful and sensitive when confronting anything.

GREED:

LUST:

You’re given $1 million that you have to spend selfishly. What would you spend it on?

Leisure property! I’ve always been a dreamer, and I’ve dreamed of having a small quaint place on a lake— somewhere that memories are made for a lifetime. A place to get away and enjoy fun experiences and time together with all the people I love. A place to leave for my kids to cherish time spent together.

What makes your heart beat faster?

Sharing in someone’s happiness. I’ve naturally always been a pretty positive person, and I love seeing people succeed and grow and celebrate the little and the big wins. I believe that celebrating these things attracts more of the same, and I love being around people who also adopt this attitude. Life is short, and it sure is better with like-minded people around you!

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narrative

i

WORDS NORMA HINDS

X ILLUSTRATION SIERRA LUNDY

EPIDEMIC

n the spring of 1953, the polio epidemic hit our Manitoban town and our family. Later, I learned this epidemic was the most severe ever recorded in Canada at the time, with more than 2,300 cases in Manitoba alone—or 300 per 100,000.

My mother, Bessie, unable to breathe, was taken to the local hospital. That night, as Audrey, my older sister, and I watched the rain beating on our bedroom window, she whispered to me that she was not feeling well. Then she too was gone.

My Dad was left in a desperate situation. My brother, Marvin, was only a year old; Irene was five and I was six and a half. Who was going to look after us?

The town folk either had family members stricken with polio, or were afraid to get too close for fear of contracting the disease. People were told to avoid exposure by avoiding crowds, beaches, swimming pools and “strange” children. This disease was mostly confined to the young and most common in summer.

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Dad’s sister, who lived in Winnipeg, agreed to take Marvin as she had two older sons and she was not working at the time.

That left Irene and me…

The next morning, Irene and I were sent to my paternal grandparents’ house in Beausejour, Manitoba. Even though we lived in the same town, we had rarely seen them.

Dad dropped us off on his way to visit Mom in the hospital.

He was back within the hour, this time driving his ambulance, which was part of his funeral business. He was angry. “Those doctors know bugger all. Bessie almost died last night. She couldn’t breathe. I’m taking her into the city for proper treatment. That’s why I brought the ambulance.”

Grandpa questioned him, “Where are you going to get the money to pay for that?”

Dad responded, “I don’t know. We just applied for Blue Cross insurance, but I don’t think it takes effect yet. Don’t worry, though, I’ll see that you get paid for feeding the kids.”

And with that, he and the ambulance were gone.

Twelve children grew up in the grandparents’ two-bedroom bungalow, built in the early 1900s. The bed engulfed our small bedroom. Luckily, it had a screened window as the summer was hot and humid. Also, the heavy down comforter made the room stifling at night. Irene loved to curl up and sink into it.

Grandma and Grandpa’s bedroom was off the kitchen, a forbidden area. To the back of the house, beyond the kitchen, was the porch, where, in a gigantic barrel, the slop pail oozed strong nauseous smells. The porch was ominous with its dark and windowless state.

Excitement for that summer was a trip to Princess (Queen) Elizabeth Hospital in Winnipeg to get our polio vaccine shot.

This “shot” was apparently in great demand and only available to children. When we got to the hospital, I learned the shot was a needle—and in the bum. Did it ever hurt!

However, Irene and I then got to visit Audrey. She sat in a high, white-blanketed hospital bed. Audrey proudly showed us where she hid the food that she didn’t like to eat. And yes, the hiding spot was under her bed. Audrey gave us some cut-out dolls. I thought she was lucky that she had so many cut-outs that she could afford to give some away.

After our visit with Audrey, we waited outside for Dad as he was visiting Mom in King George Hospital nearby.

The polio virus had affected Mom’s throat and bronchial tubes. She spent months in the King George Hospital in an iron lung, our present-day ventilator.

AFTERMATH

With the end of summer came the end of our banishment.

It also heralded Mom’s homecoming. The last time we saw her, Mom was an attractive, strong woman but…now? We were shocked and repelled by her appearance. She was very thin and fragile with white hair, a lopsided mouth and crooked face.

She was only 40 years old.

Because of the paralysis of her throat muscles, Mom had difficulty chewing and swallowing. Even eating baby food was a difficult and slow process as she used her hands to manipulate her jaw. I can still hear the gagging and choking noises she made.

Audrey’s arrival home, weeks later, was less traumatic. Polio had caused paralysis in Audrey’s legs, and left her with one leg 96

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The polio virus had affected Mom’s throat and bronchial tubes. She spent months in the King George Hospital in an iron lung, our present-day ventilator. shorter than the other. She walked with a limp but, to Irene and me, she seemed normal. However, polio exacerbated Audrey’s scoliosis. She eventually had back surgery which meant more hospitals, a body cast, back brace and more pain.

I have little remembrance of Marvin’s homecoming. He could walk by this time and someone said, “He was so happy to be home, he kissed the floor.” I suspect this was wishful thinking.

Although it was a difficult time for our family, we were blessed to have Mrs. Friesen, a pleasant and capable Mennonite woman, who provide much-needed care and support. Mrs. Friesen was with us for many years.

There was also a financial cost to the polio epidemic. Dad had applied for Blue Cross coverage but because Audrey and Mom were hospitalized prior to the plan’s waiting period, they were not eligible for coverage. From the municipal hospitals (the Queen Elizabeth and King George) there was an outstanding debt of $413.45. The town of Beausejour was owed $413. In addition, the Department of National Revenue assessed $914.81 plus interest for unpaid taxes. I found these bills in 2019 when I was cleaning out documents from my brother Marvin’s estate. He had kept much of my Dad’s business information.

According to my parents, Dad had been mayor of Beausejour at the time of the epidemic. Because he could not pay the town property taxes, he was not allowed to run for a second term. He was very bitter about this. However, years later he again served as a councillor on the town council.

FINAL THOUGHT

Years later, when Mom was talking to a friend, the friend said, “I’ve never heard of anyone having polio in the throat.”

Mom’s answer was, “Because few survived.”

It is now May 23, 2020. I am writing this during the COVID-19 pandemic and have had two months of social distancing and isolation.

We survived the polio epidemic and we will survive this pandemic.

®

behind the story

B

oulevard editor Susan Lundy and her husband, Bruce Cameron, hit the road a few months ago, test-driving a hybrid Volvo XC90 T8 in BC’s West Kootenays region for this edition’s feature story, called Road Therapy. “Road trips have been a huge part of my life, pretty much from the moment I got behind the wheel of my first car,” says Susan.

“When my daughters were young, we spent dozens of glorious weekends travelling to swim meets around the province. Later, my husband and I memorized all the twists and turns of Highway 1 as we drove countless times between our homes in Calgary and Salt Spring Island. Since then, we’ve driven across Canada, all around BC and through the western states. Each time we get in the car and head out, it’s like an immediate exhale. Then we feel a surge of excitement at all the possibilities—all the things to discover, all the potential for adventure. And these days, when pandemic-forced isolation has transformed our relationship with private spaces, our cars are more than just a means of transportation; they’re a safe space to escape into. Road therapy might not be a medical term, but it has offered an antidote to the pandemic—as well as a whole lot of adventure and fun.”

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PHOTO BY BRUCE CAMERON

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