Boulevard Vancouver English, June/July 2023

VANCOUVER LIFE AT ITS FINEST

FLUIDITY

Fashion that flows and flies from form to form

THE INFLUENCERS

ALL TOGETHER NOW The feel-good power of singing in a choir

THE SHOW MUST GO ON Theatrically themed food through the ages

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THE EXCITEMENT OF AN ELECTRIC FUTURE WITH THE

Valentino Almeida VIP Sales Master

Khan Parveez VIP Sales Master

Rachel Zheng BMW Canada Gold Sales Master

Calvin Lam Director of Sales

MASTER OF MATERIALS

RADO CENTRIX

Unsurpassed collision repair for the world’s finest automobiles

A brand-new, luxury car repair facility opened last month in downtown Vancouver. This new 30,000-square-foot center is just one of five in the No. 1 Collision Group family, a 50-year-old company renowned for its excellence in repairing high-end automobiles, and for its factory-certified technicians who specialize in luxury vehicle repair.

It feels like you’ve stepped into a bougie hotel lobby

The facility itself is worthy of a spread in Architecture Digest or its own HGTV special—it’s that unique. It feels like you’ve stepped into a bougie hotel lobby rather than auto-repair facility. The reception area is furnished with leather chairs and couches created by Danish designer Fritz Hansen and worthy of your favourite Pinterest board. Additionally, the space is lit by beautiful Bocci lights by famous Vancouver artist Omer Arbel. And with the goal of making your visit as seamless and fast as possible, No. 1 Collision Group has a valet service and over 300 underground parking spots.

All luxury brands, including BMW, Porsche and Tesla, plus a dedicated Mercedes-Benz facility

No. 1 Collision Group doesn’t just provide an interior designer’s dream space, valet, and expert services, but factory-certified professionals for all luxury brands including BMW, Porsche, and Tesla to name a few, plus it has a dedicated Mercedes-Benz facility. The newest location at Vernon Drive and Parker Street offers carbon fibre repair, vehicle detailing, courtesy rental cars, onsite estimates and everything you need to ensure that your vehicle is fully restored to its original, factory condition. It even has a lavish rooftop lounge. Now that’s something you don’t typically see at your average collision center.

B y Lia Crowe

Photo

“In this issue of Boulevard, I had the pleasure of writing about my trip to Spain where I studied flamenco dance and enjoyed all things Spanish: Spanish tapas and sherry, live flamenco, Andalusian horse dressage, the rich history and a daily siesta.” Lia is an awardwinning editorial and portrait photographer and writer, who has a passion for flamenco as a dancer and teacher.

LIA CROWE

WRITER + PHOTOGRAPHER

OLÉ!

PAGE 84

“Nashville offered the ultimate deep immersion into country music—its history, nostalgic lyrics and the musicians who have transformed this incredibly rich genre. It made me want to rush out, buy boots and a cowboy hat, and learn to two-step!” Born in Cape Town and based in Richmond, Lauren is an award-winning writer who relishes the opportunity to pen features on travel, food and fascinating individuals.

LAUREN KRAMER

WRITER MUSIC CITY

PAGE 24

BOULEVARD GROUP PUBLISHER

Mario Gedicke

250.891.5627

info@blvdmag.ca

MANAGING EDITOR

Susan Lundy

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Lia Crowe

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Angela Cowan, Lia Crowe, Jen Evans, Lauren Kramer, Sierra Lundy, Lisa Manfield, Joanne Peters, Kaisha Scofield, Ellie Shortt, Chloe Sjuberg, Devon Smith, Dawn Sondergaard, Jane Zatylny

DESIGNERS

Lily Chan, Tammy Robinson

Crea Zhang

ADVERTISING SALES

Vicki Clark

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Lia Crowe, Don Denton, INFrame Real Estate

Photography, Janis Nicolay

ILLUSTRATION

Sierra Lundy

DISTRIBUTION

Marilou Pasion

Marilou@blackpress.ca 604-542-7411

“When I was assigned to write about choirs, I thought to myself, ‘Nice for others; no way for me.’ But as I worked on this story, I quickly learned that you don’t have to be a virtuoso to raise your voice in unison with others. The community of choir is what matters most.” Jane is a communications specialist, writer, and owner of Fernwood Fashionista, an Etsy vintage shop.

JANE ZATYLNY

WRITER

ALL TOGETHER NOW

PAGE 52

PHOTO BY LIA CROWE

Centre stage

Occasionally, the proverbial apple falls far, far from the tree and your offspring have talents or joys that completely confound you. For example, both my daughters seem comfortable dancing, singing, speaking on stage and, in fact, one daughter even does it for a living. Personally, I’d prefer to spend a day working on my tax files than step in front of an audience.

But with a performing-arts theme interwoven through this edition of Boulevard, my thoughts took a jig into the past, landing with my daughters on various stages.

Danica first took the stage she was about six years old. Dressed in a bewitching and bejeweled costume, she was one of the three solo-singing kings in her school’s Christmas Nativity. When it was time for her song, I lifted the camcorder and pressed play; however, my hands shook so badly with nerves on her behalf that the resulting video was merely a blur of bobbing colour. (She’d also just lost her front teeth and hid her mouth behind a favourite stuffie as she sang, so the audio wasn’t much better than the visual.) She later took on roles like Gretel in The Sound of Music and Michael in Peter Pan, and each time I sat in the audience, nauseous with nervousness, palms sweating.

Sierra also had roles in musical theatre. But her crowning moment came when she played a leading pirate in Treasure Island. For this performance, my characteristic nervousness was compounded by an element of “well, this is awkward.” Sierra had recently attached herself to a new “pet”—a small shop vac named R2D2. It was imperative that R2D2 watch her performance— hence the reason I had a shop vac seated next to me in the audience. (Is it any wonder I was a single mom at the time?)

These days as a musician in the folk duo Ocie Elliott, Sierra lives much of her life either on stage or in the process of getting to the stage. And even though I’ve now been to a gazillion of her concerts, I’m still overridden by pre-show jitters and mid-show palm sweating.

Last November I jumped on part of a European tour with Sierra and her partner Jon, warned ahead of time that touring is not all fun and games. There would be no late-night, post-show barhopping, no leisurely breakfasts and no touristy visits to the Eiffel Tower or London Bridge. There would be a mesh of planes, trains and automobiles, afternoon sound checks, pre- and post-show greenrooms and lots of time spent waiting. (“You’ll be on your own a lot, Momma.”) And yes, yes, it was all this—but mostly, it was a lot of fun! I spent lots of time exploring London, Paris and Amsterdam; I palm-sweated my way through several shows and learned all sorts of things about tour life.

I learned that a six-hour bus ride from Paris to Amsterdam amid a train strike—and plucking dinner from a gas station grocery store—is not a sexy part of tour life. Waiting in airline and train station security lineups, buried in gear, is also not very sexy. Until Sierra and Jon met up with their driver in Amsterdam, they trekked everywhere with suitcases (clothes and accessories for a month on the road), backpacks, guitar, keyboard and stand, and a heavy box of merch, including a thick stack of vinyl, which probably had them pining for the good old days of CDs.

I learned most greenrooms aren’t green and that acquiring setlists is a thing. After each show, I watched people saunter up to the stage and stand around it with feigned nonchalance, until someone surreptitiously scooped up the setlist and casually walked away. Who knew?

But most of what I have learned about tour life comes from a daily journal that Sierra inputs into her phone while she’s on the road, sharing it with me and her sister, mostly so she doesn’t have to constantly text us with updates. One of these entries runs in the Narrative section of this edition of Boulevard.

Sierra’s collection of tour journals now amounts to enough words to fill a book, so it turns out (ha!) that perhaps that proverbial apple didn’t fall so far from the tree after all.

Susan Lundy Managing Editor

Susan Lundy is a former journalist who now works as an editor, author and freelance writer. Her latest book, Home on the Strange, was published in 2021 via Heritage House Publishing.

life.style.etc.

GABRIEL MARK HASSELBACH

JAZZ MUSICIAN, ANIMAL LOVER AND SOCIAL ACTIVIST WORDS + PHOTOGRAPHY LIA CROWE

“Balance and patience,” Gabriel says when I ask what his best life lesson has been.

Born in Denver, Colorado, Gabriel started playing music at the age of eight, and when he made an album with the school concert band that year, the die was cast.

“At 12, I was listening to latenight jazz from east coast cities via AM radio waves bounced off the ionosphere to the Mile High City. I started paying gigs at 14 and did battle-of-the-band contests with a jazz combo going up against rock bands. I won some classical trumpet competitions around then, too. I started touring after high school.”

Asked what fires him up the most in his work, he says, “I do love the feedback of an audience, and improvisation—composing solos on the fly—is my sweet spot.”

But when it comes to his recipe for success, Gabriel leans into smart planning rather than “on the fly.”

“I’m thorough in planning and complete what I start. The devil is in the details and if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Success requires risk taking and confidence.”

Outside of the limelight, Gabriel loves his two dogs and his wife Sylvia, as well as her cooking: “It’s like having an in-house restaurant-level chef.”

He describes his personal style as “left of centre” and adds a few of his unique choices in life, like “vintage cars, vintage trumpets, intentionally bold or nuanced shirts, jackets and shoes. A mix of retro and ultramodern in spirit. My cherry 1999 Beemer is in the folder.”

But all in all, good style to Gabriel is, “In clothes: a pleasing (or shocking, as it may be) interaction between colours and textures. In music: a pleasing (or shocking, as it may be) interaction between melody, harmony and groove.”

STYLE INSPIRATIONS & LIFE

Favourite artist: Gustav Klimt.

Favourite fashion designer or brand: Desigual, Giovanni Testi, TailorByrd, Robert Graham.

Favourite musician: Me.

Era of time that inspires your style: Midcentury modern.

Film or TV show that inspires your style or that you just love the style of: The Best Man: The Final Chapters

Favourite local restaurant: Admiral Pub & Grill.

Favourite cocktail or wine: Negroni.

Album on current rotation: Michael Broening.

Favourite city to visit: Lisbon, Portugal.

Favourite hotel: Wedgewood Hotel & Spa.

Favourite app: Amazon.

Favourite place in the whole world: Home in Burnaby, BC.

CLOTHES/GROOMING

Uniform: I lean to black.

Favourite denim, brand and cut: Black slim cut.

Current go-to clothing item: I lean to black with a cool jacket.

Favourite pair of shoes: Robert Graham, Calvin Klein.

Best new purchase: Johnston & Murphy leather sport coat.

Accessory you spend the most money on: Shirts.

Favourite work tool: Computer.

Sunglasses: Maui Jim.

Scent: Calvin Klein's Obsession for Men.

Necessary indulgence: Hair tips colour.

Favourite skincare product:

Trader Joe’s Enrich SPF moisturizer.

Favourite hair product: Got2B (powder), Kenra (mousse).

READING MATERIAL

What do you read online for style: Esquire

Fave print magazine: New Yorker, Esquire and TIME

Coffee table book/ photography book: Ansel Adams.

Last great read: Living While Human by Arwinder Kaur.

in the limelight

Chelsea Hobbs embraces her many roles—as an actor and a mother

WORDS LAUREN KRAMER X P HOTOGRAPHY LIA CROWE

At 38, Vancouverite Chelsea Hobbs is already an accomplished film and television actress whose credits include HBO’s Transporter, CSI: Miami, Lords of Dogtown and Make It Or Break It

Chelsea, also a mother of four, is a talented actress who loves her work. But she also loves the fact that she’s not a Hollywood superstar. It means she can walk around Vancouver with her family without attracting much attention, and live the normal, grounded life she wants.

As a child Chelsea loved dressing up and putting on shows for family and friends. When she was eight, a family friend watched one of her performances and suggested she try acting.

“My parents had just divorced, and my mom thought acting would be a great distraction for me,” Chelsea recalls.

Over the next few years, she acted in over 100 commercials, among them advertisements for Barbie dolls and Sky Dancers toys.

The commercials helped pay for the lessons in jazz, tap, ballet, musical theatre and lyrical dance that Hobbs loved more than anything. At Vancouver’s Magee Secondary School she enrolled in a young artists program that allowed her to leave school at noon and dance for the rest of the day.

“It was competitive, and it held me accountable and kept me out of trouble,” she recalls.

However, scoliosis—a curvature of the spine—put an abrupt end to Chelsea’s dream of becoming a dancer, so instead, she began to focus on acting. By Grade 10 she was attending an actors’ studio program in Gastown, and interacting with other actors who were in their 20s. Her first leading role occurred at 16, when she starred alongside Bridget Fonda (niece of the renowned Jane Fonda) in Hans Christian Andersen’s Snow Queen

“I turned 17 on that set and it was a real coming of age experience for me,” she says. “I was filming alongside adults, working 12-hour days, travelling and shouldering the responsibility of carrying a miniseries. When you take something like that on, you grow!”

You also miss a lot of school work. Snow Queen took Hobbs out of the classroom for three months. Eventually, she homeschooled for the rest of high school, graduated and moved to Los Angeles.

It was 2003 and Chelsea’s agents and managers adopted the young, promising star, inviting her to stay in their homes. They drove her to her auditions and cared for her as if she were a family member.

“There are really good people in LA, and I was blessed,” she reflects. “There was a love between me and my agents early on. They believed in me and wanted to do everything they could to support my career.”

One of them, Jennifer Millar of Paradigm Talent Agency, remains Chelsea’s agent to this day.

Soon after moving to LA, Chelsea booked her first television role in a Fox pilot called Save the Last Dance. One role followed another and success came quickly and easily over the 11 years she lived in LA. Eventually she moved out of her agents’ homes and into an apartment in Hollywood.

Life as an actress in LA exposed Chelsea to all the social

Be curious. Be kind. Be brave. Be you. Vancouver Island, British Columbia

evils that ruin the lives of many Hollywood stars, she says. But luckily, she did not fall victim to any of them.

“My mom always scared me about the dangers of using drugs and it was really important to me that I not disappoint her or let her down,” she says. “At one point I dabbled in things, but I very quickly understood that it was not for me, and that the people who were around me at that time weren’t right for me either.”

At 20 she married and had her first child, a milestone that gave Chelsea new insight into her work.

“It gave me a new passion for my career, and I really began to appreciate everything more,” she says.

One of the roles she landed was the lead in the television show Make It Or Break It

“As an actress that’s a role you dream about getting,” she confides. “The successes I had after becoming a mother have been the best of my career.”

When Chelsea was expecting her second child, she realized she was homesick for Canada and her family.

“LA can be a very isolating place, and I’d been raising my kids with no family around me at all, which can be very lonely,” she recalls.

With family support she was able to leave an unhealthy marriage and return to Canada to raise her family in North Vancouver.

“I loved being back in Vancouver, discovering myself as a woman on my own and raising my kids in a safe, beautiful place. It gave me a feeling of control over my life. And as an actress I liked being a bigger fish in a smaller pond.”

Chelsea knew she’d make less money in Vancouver than if she had stayed in LA, but money and stardom were not her motivation.

“I truly love living a normal life and being able to walk down the street without being hassled. Being back in Vancouver I could take a deep breath, do what I loved to do and have a family and the lifestyle I dreamed of.”

Acting remains a big part of her life, and she’s loving the roles she gets to play.

“I’ve developed a really beautiful relationship with Hallmark and am loving what this network has become as their material and storytelling changes. It’s been awesome to be a part of that,” she says.

Recently Chelsea starred in The Holiday Sitter, a gay romantic comedy where she played the sister of the lead character. In her most recent movie, Dream Moms, she plays a single mom who wanted to be a Broadway dancer but put aside her dreams in the name of motherhood.

“It’s a beautiful story about finding your passion again, and something I can really relate to,” she says.

Chelsea is remarried now and has a bustling family life, with children spanning ages one through 17. When she’s not working, she’s a full-time mom. When work calls, with its rigorous 15-hour-long days on set, it can be a major challenge to find a nanny who can fill in.

“But you just figure it out,” she says.

Chelsea is also learning how to use her voice to propel causes that are near and dear to her heart. After her last pregnancy, and a premature delivery that resulted in a two-month hospital stay, she became more interested in women’s health. She joined the BC branch of the Young Women’s Council and is also working with a Canadian fertility group.

“I’ve realized I can use social media to bring awareness to causes I’m really passionate about. And to have my kids see me do things that can help others makes me feel really good as a mom.”

For the next 10 years Chelsea hopes to continue acting, and to sell two series she has written.

“Being the person who decides what’s on the camera really appeals to me, so I want to work towards that,” she says. “But I also want to be the most present mother I can be to my children.”

When she’s not on set or packing lunches for the kids, Chelsea’s favourite thing to do is slip into her hiking boots and take to one of the many trails near her home in Deep Cove.

“I hike to a mountain top and look down at this beautiful place we get to live in,” she says. “That’s my meditation, my religion and my peace.”

Music Honky-tonkCity

and southern charm in upbeat Nashville

WORDS LAUREN KRAMER PHOTOGRAPHY NASHVILLE CONVENTION & VISITORS CORP.

The 350,000-square-foot Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is a Nashville landmark and a tribute to country music.

There’s no such thing as a quiet night in Nashville, a city with no fewer than 180 venues for live music. When we visited in February, the low season, we made our way to the city’s famous South Broadway district expecting a subdued mid-week crowd.

We couldn’t have been more wrong. Robert’s Western World, a narrow honky-tonk bar with wood floors sticky with beer residue and a collection of cowboy boots lining the walls, was packed with people. Everyone’s eyes were on the band, its members performing with expressions of pure ecstasy on their faces. We absorbed the foot-tapping rhythm as we watched dancers twirl and swirl on the tightly packed dance floor, in an exuberant salute to the country music that has long been the heartbeat of Nashville.

Entry is free and performers play for tips at the honky-tonk bars so if you don’t like the music in one bar, you simply saunter into another. Around us, 20-somethings in town to celebrate bachelorette parties rubbed shoulders with seniors and every age group in between. You don’t have to be young or stylish to feel right at home on the Honky-Tonk Highway.

Nashville is a city exploding with growth. Cranes suspended over downtown are building skyscrapers for technology and medical companies that dwarf the modest, red-bricked buildings which once dominated the skyline. A city with a fascinating history, we took three days to experience Nashville’s top sights and explore its unique vibe.

Country music is everywhere in Nashville, and the best place to learn about its evolution is at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The two-floor exhibit reveals how this musical genre has changed over time and delivers insights on individual performers and their trajectory to success. Back in the 1930s, country music was associated with hillbillies, a negative perception that changed when the genre began to embrace cowboy culture, like life on the open range and the connotations of courage, romance and tough living. The museum is full of interesting artifacts, like Elvis Presley’s extravagant 1960 Cadillac, with portholes in the rear windows, a gold-plated television in the backseat and crushed diamonds embedded in its paint.

Browsing the museum, you get a sense of how various performers, now household names in the industry, started out. There are pictures of Martina McBride in her 1980s Dairy Queen uniform, well before she became famous. Jimmie Allen, who was honoured as country music’s new male artist of the year in 2021, was living out of his car for years when he moved to Nashville in 2007 to pursue his musical dream.

Many of the musicians whose careers are on display at the museum have played at the stately, red-brick Ryman Auditorium, Nashville’s oldest venue for live music. Built as a chapel 130 years ago, it still features its original church pews and a spiritual something in the air.

To pay the bills, the chapel became a music venue over time, and the Grand Ole Opry radio show broadcast live inside its hallowed walls until 1974, when it fell into disrepair. For close to 20 years the building sat derelict, with the threat of demolition hovering over it. Then, in the early 1990s, performers and locals worked to save and restore the historic structure. Over the years many famous figures have appeared at the Ryman, among them Charlie Chaplin, Nat King Cole, Harry Belafonte and Dolly Parton. Affectionately called the Mother Church of Country Music, the Ryman is a special place with a unique aura. Tour the building and you notice how many musicians have remarked on the Ryman’s distinct difference and its ability to inspire and elevate their performances.

After the Grand Ole Opry left the Ryman, the famed country music radio show built a new 4,000-seat venue, where, to this day, it broadcasts live several times a week, featuring the

music of established and up-and-coming country music performers.

You can’t visit Nashville without taking in one of these two-hour-long performances, a 97-year tradition in the city. The night we attended, the Grand Ole Opry was packed with an audience that had come out to hear musicians Ricky Skaggs, The Whites, Jeannie Seely and Crystal Gayle among others. In a behind-the-scenes backstage tour we peeked into the rehearsal rooms, abuzz with performers waiting for their turn on the hallowed stage, an experience that even the regular performers consider an honour. Watching the show, I reflected there must be something about country music that keeps its musicians feeling youthful. While everyone performed with gusto and looked great, the age range of performers leaned considerably into the senior crowd, the oldest being 92-year-old Buck White, still in full control of his fiddle!

To get a sense of antebellum Nashville and the wealth produced as a result of the slave trade, we visited Belmont Mansion, an ornate home built in 1850 on what is now the grounds of Nashville’s Belmont University. The mansion was owned by Adelicia Hayes Franklin Acklen Cheatham, a socialite and art collector who, through marriage and shrewd investment, became one of Nashville’s wealthiest residents. Adelicia spent much of her wealth on lavish shopping expeditions in Europe, returning laden with the artwork and sculptures now on display in the mansion.

Her grand salon, considered the most elegant room in Tennessee, has Corinthian pillars, Roman busts and a level of extravagance that’s shocking even by today’s standards. Little is said of the 32 slaves who lived on site and maintained the 177-acre property, but the mansion tour offers an astounding glimpse at Nashville’s high society in the mid-to-late 1850s and the values of Adelicia and her contemporaries in the years leading up to the Civil War.

IF YOU GO:

WestJet will start direct flights from Vancouver to Nashville in May 2023. Contact Nashville Visitor Services at visitmusiccity.com or call 800-657-6910.

Hundreds of gold and platinum records adorn the Record Wall in the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s permanent exhibition.

The picture of personalized health

VitaminLab sets a new standard in the supplement industry

Anton Solonnikov.

rue personalization”—that’s the buzzword and tagline that inspires and keeps BC-based business owner Anton Solonnikov moving his business, VitaminLab, forward.

“Building this business has been challenging but in a good way because we’re really changing the status quo. We want it to be the norm that people are getting their supplements truly personalized, made to order, just for them,” Anton explains, sitting down with Boulevard on a sunny afternoon in Victoria.

To understand Anton’s journey to becoming a successful entrepreneur, we need to rewind to 2017.

“I’m a pharmacist by trade, so prior to starting my own business, for about a decade, I worked as a pharmacist for Shoppers Drug Mart and also in a hospital,” Anton explains, adding that he began to notice similar questions arising from physicians, customers and other wellness practitioners.

“It all kind of came down to the fact that people were looking for information and support on supplement dosage and form, and I was often sending people to the natural food store with a personalized prescription to find what they needed.”

It was this recurring experience that eventually led him to pursue the start of his own business, something that—looking back on now—makes complete sense.

“I’m someone who is growth-oriented and creative, so starting my own business venture was definitely something I had in the back of my mind, but just hadn’t acted on yet,” he explains.

So armed with an idea, creativity and drive, Anton developed VitaminLab, a subscription service that can create, manufacture and send a personalized supplement formula direct to a customer’s front door.

“In the beginning of starting the business it was a lot of trial and error, but problem solving is something you learn a lot about and do a lot of as a pharmacist, so I enjoyed it,” he laughs. “It’s been challenging but in a good way because we’re really changing the status quo of supplementation.”

In short, VitaminLab provides clients with personalized supplement formulas. An online quiz asks a series of questions to gather information on a customer’s diet, lifestyle, health history and health goals. Additionally, a team of registered nutritionists can provide customers with support in creating a unique formula through a complimentary consultation.

Based on the information gathered, VitaminLab then suggests nutrients for a custom formula. Alternatively, customers can also create their own formula if they already know what vitamins and minerals they want combined.

“Our goal is that every single customer is safely supplementing for their exact needs, goals and lifestyle based on actionable health data,” says Anton, adding that the company believes everyone deserves a well-informed supplement that evolves with them and their lifestyle.

VitaminLab’s subscription service sends customers their formula automatically once they are subscribed. Supplements

can either come in vegetable capsules or powder and are sent in a 90-day supply.

“On average, it takes around three months for people to notice a difference in their health after starting a new supplement, so that’s why we focus on the 90-day supply model,” explains Anton, adding that formulas can be easily adjusted as needed up to 14 days prior to the next refill date.

Building the business from the ground up came with both its challenges and its opportunities, like engineering and building a production system.

“In the very beginning we were outsourcing our production and packaging, but we eventually built out our own manufacturing facility in 2018, giving us greater quality control and assurance. We invested in our own robotics system, and we now have our own engineering team which is helping us move toward a fully automated system,” Anton explains.

When complete, the automated system will cover almost all aspects of the business—from ordering and dispensing to dosing and encapsulation.

“It’s very exciting for us and we’re looking forward to seeing that come to fruition,” Anton adds.

Aside from using the direct-to-consumer format via online orders, the company also works closely with a variety of practitioners who can custom order specific formulas for their patients and even choose to have their own private labelling and branding included.

Today, VitaminLab has about 50 employees and a NSF and GMP (National Science Foundation certified Good Manufacturing Processes) registered facility in downtown Victoria.

“It’s been an incredibly interesting journey creating something that doesn’t exist,” says Anton, smiling. “There was no blueprint to follow, but we’ve created this infrastructure from the ground up. And it’s an amazing feeling to now have the brand established.”

So, what’s next for this BC-based business?

“Growth,” says Anton. “We’re looking to expand in Canada as a consumer brand and grow our relationships with practitioners, as well as expand production into the US, all in the next couple of years. So, it’s an exciting time for VitaminLab.”

To learn more about VitaminLab, visit getvitaminlab.com and use code Van30 to take 30 per cent off your next order.

“We want it to be the norm that people are getting their supplements truly personalized, made to order, just for them.”

“T

Award-winning builders, renovators and designers

54 PRESTIGIOUS HAVAN AWARDS ANNOUNCED

Winners of the Homebuilders Association

Vancouver (HAVAN) Awards for Housing Excellence, presented by FortisBC, were announced on Saturday, April 22, at the JW Marriott Parq Hotel in Vancouver. An exclusive industry event, 500 builders and designers attended with special guests, including the Honourable Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing, and Vincent Tong, CEO, BC Housing.

Celebrating the 14th annual awards season, 49 builders and designers were awarded 54 prestigious HAVAN Awards. Notable mentions include: Interior Designer of the Year, Designs by KS with six nominations and five wins; Custom Builder of the Year, Smithwood Builders with eight nominations and two wins; Residential Renovator of the Year, My House Design/ Build Team with 11 nominations and three wins; and double Grand HAVAN Award winner, Miracon Development for Grand HAVAN Best Residential Community: Multi-Family, and Grand HAVAN Multi-Family Home Builder of the Year, totalling eight nominations with four wins.

Close to 400 entries were juried by a peer-reviewed panel of award-winning builders, renovators and designers from across the country. The complete list of winners can be viewed online at havan.ca/awards/finalists.

Ron Rapp, HAVAN CEO, said, “We are thrilled that 2023

marks 14 years of the HAVAN Awards, which have become an important program to showcase the accomplishments of our industry, as builders, renovators and designers across the province adopt the advancing BC Energy Step Code requirements.”

The code requires most new construction in BC to be 20 per cent more energy efficient than the base BC Building Code 2018, as of May 1, 2023.

Rapp continued, “It is significant to note that many of our members have been building above code for years and are leaders in the high-performance design and building space.”

The Step Code is raising the bar for construction of higherperformance homes with advanced techniques and technologies, resulting in improved energy efficiencies.

Rapp noted, “In addition to efficiencies, increased resilience, consistent comfort, better indoor air quality and improved sound abatement are just some of the added benefits to be realized by the homeowner when building to these new, higher-performance levels.”

Showcasing a broad variety of archetypes from ultra-modern condos to luxurious custom-built homes, the HAVAN Awards for Housing Excellence offer inspiration and resources for anyone looking to buy, build, design and/or renovate their home.

WORDS DAWN SONDERGAARD

2023 WINNERS

>CRESCENT BEACH RESIDENCE

Builder: Marino General Contracting

Winner: Best Outdoor Living Space: New or Renovated Home

The magnificent Crescent Beach Residence is a masterpiece meticulously built by Marino General Contracting, and the award-winning outdoor living space is a natural extension of this majestic home. With a vision to create an outdoor sanctuary reminiscent of a tranquil Japanese garden, a mature Scots Pine was craned over the house, planted and pruned by a Japanese bonsai tree specialist. Nearby, a haven of relaxation and indulgence awaits with a sublime plunge pool and hot tub adorned with a swimmable current and custom-designed, zeroclearance pool cover, sturdy enough to support one’s weight. Lose yourself in the serenity of this extraordinary outdoor living space; it’s a testament to the harmonious blending of nature’s magnificence and the epitome of luxury living.

PHOTO: LUKE POTTER PHOTOGRAPHY

>FOSTER MARTIN

Builder: Landmark Premiere Properties Ltd.

Finalist: Best Multi-Family Condominium Unit and Best Multi-Family Production Development: 7 Storeys and Over

The careful and deliberate design of Foster Martin, undertaken by acclaimed IBI Group, was approached holistically to authentically capture the essence of White Rock. The sea, the mountain backdrop and the lively community are all interpreted in the rhythm and dynamic of the design. An organic flow is articulated from the ground to each summit, seamlessly bonding form, function and character. This is the birth of a landmark—in both aesthetic and spirit. A sea-facing balcony is the jewel of every home at Foster Martin, with expansive views to an endless horizon.

PHOTO: LANDMARK PREMIERE PROPERTIES

We’re finding low-carbon energy in unlikely places

Like biogas captured from compost to create Renewable Natural Gas1 (RNG). It’s a low-carbon energy2 that can be used in homes and businesses across the province—and we’re adding more to our supply every year.

Our natural gas delivery system can provide RNG to buildings and developments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This means buildings can meet strict emissions guidelines without expensive upgrades or retrofits.

Find out more about RNG at fortisbc.com/rngbuild.

Connect with us @fortisbc

2023 WINNERS

>QUEEN MARY

Builder: Kingdom Builders Inc.

Designer: Architrix Design Studio Inc.

Finalist: Best Custom Home: $3 Million and Over, and Best Energy

Labelled Home: Custom

Immersed in the rich tapestry of the homeowner’s personal history, Architrix Design Studio collaborated with Kingdom Builders on a remarkable journey to create an exquisite award-winning residence. Ingeniously combining the timeless allure of the past with visionary concepts for the future, the principles of Certified Passive House construction were embraced for the ultimate in sustainable living. The grandeur of the space unfolds with soaring 11-foot ceilings, bestowing an air of magnificence with a central staircase that seamlessly connects all levels of this opulent dwelling. Envisioned with the utmost care and consideration, this home is thoughtfully equipped with an elevator, ensuring effortless accessibility and the ability to age in place.

PACIFIC PENTHOUSE AT YALETOWN

Builder: Bayview Construction Ltd.

Designer: Architrix Design Studio Inc.

Finalist: Best Townhouse/Condominium

Renovation: $500,000 and Over

Embarking on a feat of unparallelled magnificence, Bayview Construction flawlessly transformed two adjacent corporate units into a palatial penthouse residence spanning 4,000 square feet. Fulfilling the homeowner’s aspiration for the epitome of opulence, this extraordinary home’s open-space circular living room and kitchen are designed around a mesmerizing glass sculpture by renowned West Coast artist Dale Chihuly. This central space serves as the focal point of the homeowner’s dreams, embodying the essence of a grand entertainer’s paradise. Adorned with a 15-foot-long mixology bar and a captivating wine wall, a secret speakeasy awaits, offering an exclusive

haven for intimate gatherings. Beyond imagination, a concealed poker room invites guests to revel in a world of sophistication. Further enhancing the allure of this resplendent abode, a living green wall gracefully connects the living spaces to the luxurious bedroom loft, harmoniously blending nature with modern indulgence.

PHOTO: ROBERT POPKIN

PHOTO: PINK PALM MEDIA

hat makes a house a home? For the designer of this modern 7,345-square-foot home located on a lush and quiet residential street in South Vancouver, it’s all about purposeful design, open-concept living and positive energy flow. And enough functional space for three generations to comfortably live together.

When a multigenerational family purchased the sixbedroom, eight-bathroom property at 6848 Hudson Street, interior designer Sita Walia set to work on a plan to remodel it. Her goal? To maximize room sizes, improve feng shui and create a seamless, modern aesthetic that could be enjoyed by everyone in the extended family.

Originally built in 1999, the house was in great condition, built on an unusually deep lot in a perfect location.

“The family had always lived in this area because they love the easy access to everything,” Sita says. “It’s close to the highway, close to the airport and it’s nice to have the land—even the roads are more spacious in this area.”

But it did have a few drawbacks, mainly an inefficient use of space. So, the remodelling had to go beyond a simple renovation. The family made the decision to rebuild so they could extend the back of the house, adding space to the kitchen and family room, removing a second staircase and using that space to increase the size of the bedrooms upstairs and a downstairs office.

“We ended up taking the house right down to the studs,” Sita says.

The result? An understated mix of modern and traditional styling that maximizes both function and aesthetics, creating a comfortable nest for family members young and old.

MAKING A DREAM HOME

Their first step was to bring in architect Frits de Vries, with whom Sita had previously worked on several family homes. Together they envisioned updated ways to make the house more functional—and beautiful.

W“We ended up taking the house right down to the studs.” The result? An understated mix of modern and traditional styling that maximizes both function and aesthetics, creating a comfortable nest for family members young and old.

“We wanted a sleek look, but it took a lot of craftsmanship to get it,” Sita says. “We were also able to reuse a lot of the wood and existing materials.”

Starting in the grand foyer, they anchored the large space with a sparkling 26-pendant Bocci hanging chandelier and updated the stately curved staircase underneath it.

“The staircase was free floating originally, but we mounted it in and re-clad it,” Sita says. “We kept the original maple framing and covered it with Corian.”

To the left of the entrance, they added more space to a bright and quiet office and hid it behind a pivot door that closes flat. White oak floors were added to ramp up the brightness throughout the home. To the right, open living and dining areas were also extended for the ultimate in entertaining guests.

“We raised the ceilings here, to give more head space, and used millwork as partitions instead of walls for a modern feel,” Sita says.

Oak paneling combines with the white oak floors to add to the airy spaciousness, while ample sitting space is framed by the warmth of an elongated horizontal fireplace.

Down the hall, a concealed elevator and closet precede a beautiful main bathroom featuring concrete tile constellations. And then, a pause. A granite slab feature wall with leather finish demarks the exterior from the inner rooms, providing separation for the kitchen and family room spaces, and a sense of grounding before going further into the home. It’s also a key element in the home’s energy flow.

BEAUTY IN THE DETAILS

Just past the feature wall to the right, a sparkling white kitchen with a 10-foot-plus custom Corian island and backsplash features integrated sinks and cabinets that continue the seamless aesthetic. An integrated Wolf stovetop is perfect for warming food prepared in the adjacent spice kitchen.

Hidden details elevate the space, including storage cabinets built into every nook. A concealed panel door leads to a mudroom behind the kitchen, facilitating entry from the backyard garage, making grocery loading easy. This entryway is also connected to the small spice kitchen, designed for storing, prepping and cooking food. Here, a gorgeous porcelain sheet on the wall, back-painted glass backsplash and cedar paneling bring abundant light into the small space, while black hardware gives a sense of solid contrast.

Back in the great room, a marble porcelain slab frames a horizontal fireplace in the adjacent family room, where an unobstructed view of the extensive outdoor living space is made possible thanks to a 33-foot sliding glass door from Belgium. Entrance to and from the backyard is seamless as you step onto the wraparound deck to take in the waterfall and extended grassy area beyond (which has been roughed in for a potential swimming pool).

A sunken patio below offers a hidden enclave for relaxation or quiet entertaining, while surrounding lavender and jasmine plants keep bugs at bay and tall cedars add greenery to the perimeter.

“Around every corner is an oasis to enjoy in many ways,” Sita says.

And just beyond, a four-car garage flanked by an outside car park offers space for car washing or sports play.

UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS

Up the stairs, panelled walls conceal linen and HVAC closets. An original skylight opens for added ventilation in the summer.

At one end, the master bedroom looks out over the front yard. Panelled walls conceal a gorgeously appointed his-and-hers bathroom with soaker tub, marble backsplash, Bocci lights, gold hardware and black glass. A large walk-in closet completes the room.

Down the hall, a second master and third bedroom, all with en suites, provide ample space for a growing family.

Heading back down the stairs, past the entranceway and to the lower floor reveals a bright and open bottom level that feels nothing like a basement. To the right, a recessed reading nook. To the left, a beautiful bar and wine cellar.

While the white oak floors extend the bright and airy feel downstairs, grey panelled walls here offer some contrast. Beside the bar, a media area in greys and whites, with walllength storage, provides space for gamers and movie buffs.

On the other side of the landing, two guest bedrooms with en suites offer private solace for extended family and friends, while an open gym area provides lots of space for workouts and waterfall views.

Here, you can head right outside, to the lower-level patio. And upon re-entry, a mudroom with a dog shower is a convenient spot to scrub pets’ and kids’ muddy feet. Or, for more refined relaxation, choose the spa bathroom complete with steamy sauna, soothing Bocci lighting, Corianwrapped sitting space and smoky black glass.

“It’s my favourite room in the house,” Sita admits. Finally, the laundry and mechanical rooms live here too, tucked carefully away to conceal the brains and brawn of the operation: a Control4 Smart Home system, highefficiency boiler and rough-ins for solar roofing.

For its residents, the open and airy spaces, seamless integrations and elevated design have become the definition of home. And now they could be yours, too. Listed at just over $10 million through faithwilson | Christie’s International Real Estate, this architectural work of art is truly the epitome of open-concept family living.

INFRAME REAL ESTATE PHOTOGRAPHY

Where Garden Builders Shop

Pavers & Flagstone

Pavers & Flagstone

Drystack Wallstone

Drystack Wallstone

Lightweight Planters

Lightweight Planters

Standing Stone

Standing Stone

Concrete Fountains

Concrete Fountains

Outdoor Furniture

Outdoor Furniture

fashion

Fashion that flows from form to form, somewhere between masculine and feminine, and flies with ferocity. Fanciful flounces, flourishes and frills, from billowy to bodyhugging, ruffles and ruching. Fashion that makes you want to move, to express with the form because freedom lives in the space of dance when the mind quiets and the soul soars.

Creative direction by Lia Crowe

Hair and makeup by Jen Clark

Models and dancers Vítor Freitas and Djuna Nagasaki

Production assistant Christina Compton

PHOTOGRAPHY DARREN HULL X STYLING JEN EVANS

On Djuna: Vintage silk turquoise gown ($375) from House of Savoy.

On Vítor: Flamenco skirt from Lia Crowe’s personal collection.

White singlet (stylist’s own), black and white vintage patterned shorts ($48) from House of Savoy.

On Vítor: Silk “Bleu Blouse” by Forte_Forte ($130) from Turnabout; “Lazul” linen pant in sand by Faithful The Brand ($315) from Bernstein & Gold; tan leather sandals by Ron White ($130).

On Djuna: “Alejandra Top” in floral print ($217) and “Circa Pant” in floral print, both by Faithful The Brand ($327), and both from Bernstein & Gold.

Beige long skirt/ dress by Pacini ($310) from Hughes Clothing; “Clement” necklace by Lizzie Fortunato ($420) and “Cornichon” tote by Lola Hats ($512), both from Bernstein & Gold; vintage straw hat ($55) from House of Savoy.

On Vítor: Black dress pants by Ralph Lauren ($28.50); dress/ jacket by Parterre ($195), black leather boots by Hudson ($52), all from Turnabout; “Alexo” tank by Samsøe Samsøe ($70) from Bernstein & Gold.

On Djuna: Caramel tulle strapless top by Zara ($26) from Turnabout; vintage black leather skort ($45), black leather YSL pumps ($398), vintage floral bangles ($48 each), all from House of Savoy; “Longing Illusion” gold earrings by Pamela Card ($310) from Bernstein & Gold.

business class

Top of the food chain

Glowbal CEO

Yacoub

restaurants

it might come as a surprise to some to see Emad Yacoub at Riley’s Fish & Steak, rolling up his sleeves to shuck fresh oysters on a blazingly sunny weekday afternoon. He’s scrutinizing the seafood display loaded with lobster, Dungeness crab, king crab, and more, his back to a magnificent wine wall, the cruise ships across the street from the sumptuous eatery forming a postcardperfect backdrop.

The process of forcing open so many bivalve mollusks to reveal the delicate meat inside just isn’t the kind of repetitive task you’d expect from the co-founder, president and CEO of Glowbal Restaurant Group, one of the most successful dining companies in Vancouver, perhaps Canada, with its sights set on $100 million in revenue for 2024.

This, however, is very much how Emad runs things: literally hands-on. When he’s not sourcing out new locations for any number of brands he has brewing in his brain, he’s expertly managing cash flow, checking measurements with tradespeople, connecting with chefs about menus at the group’s nine current establishments, mentoring staff members or stopping by guests’ tables to chat. He’s the

enviable kind of guy who might routinely put in 12-hour days but never feels like he’s working.

Emad says his passion for hospitality goes back to his roots in Cairo. He remembers a group trip he went on in Egypt years ago, spending a few days on boat called a felucca, floating down the Nile, stopping to visit temples along the way. On one of the excursions, in a remote village, the tour leader knocked on the door of a humble house without any electricity and asked if they could have some mint tea. The woman of the household was thrilled, immediately ushering people in while saying, “welcome, welcome, welcome!” Everyone sat down on the floor and enjoyed a cup of the hot herbal drink together.

“This is Egypt: everybody opens their houses for strangers. That’s hospitality. It put a smile on my face. That’s the passion.”

Emad came to Canada with his parents when he was 19 after his third year of university, where he studied accounting, the move allowing him to avoid conscription. He didn’t speak a word of English. He first lived in Toronto and landed a job at Harbour Castle Hilton as a kitchen helper; he remembers peeling and squeezing oranges for juice,

Emad

is passionate, deliberate and hands-on when it comes to running his highly successful group of

WORDS JOANNE PETERS X PHOTOGRAPHY LIA CROWE

determined to pick up speed day after day. He was recognized for his hard work and went on to become chef de cuisine at the renowned King Edward Hotel. Later, he was recruited by Vancouver’s Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House, where he worked for a few years before starting in on his empire.

Today, Glowbal Restaurant Group’s portfolio consists of Glowbal (the first, which opened in 2002), Trattoria, Italian Kitchen, Black + Blue Vancouver, The Roof, Five Sails, Coast, and Riley’s. Then there’s its newest hot spot, the recently opened Black + Blue Toronto, in the heart of the city’s financial district. It’s early days yet, but things at the 9,000-square-foot restaurant with 2,000-square-foot patio are going phenomenally well, Emad says.

With a staff of about 1,400, Glowbal Restaurant Group makes a point of taking part in various charitable efforts; during the pandemic, for instance, it donated more than 100,000 meals through its Ten Days of Glowbal Giving program. Emad also believes in rewarding long-time, loyal leaders with “a piece of the action,” making them part owners; he owns 55 per cent of the company, the rest is divided among the select others.

“I used to make four bucks an hour when I came to Canada. As long as I have money in my pocket I’m happy,” he says. “I have incredibly loyal partners, bartenders, cooks, junior

managers… We all get along so, so well. We don’t question each other.”

Emad, who has children aged 19 and 17 and a set of twins who are nearly three years old, has no intention of slowing down anytime soon. He was recently in Miami scouting out locations.

“I really believe we would love to open in the States,” he says. “We have the secret sauce. We know how to run on a very slim margin, and everything is more expensive in Canada. A good Canadian restaurant group would do extremely well there. I’m going to Tokyo for five days—it has such great food and great restaurants. Maybe I’ll find a couple people to recruit. I’m always looking.

“The goal of the company has always been: Can we do it better every day?” he says. “Better quality food, better quality service…We work harder to make it better. I love the operation of plans—how to design a restaurant, negotiate a lease, look at whether ideas will work or not, buildouts...It’s never been about the money. If it would have been about the money, I would stay with a single concept and open it other places every day. I have three or four deals I was just negotiating today. And I love being on the floor. I love everything about it.”

“I love the operation of plans—how to design a restaurant, negotiate a lease, look at whether ideas will work or not, buildouts...It’s never been about the money. If it would have been about the money, I would stay with a single concept and open it other places every day.”

Considering a move in 2023?

Regardless of the challenge, I will be there with the solutions, services, expertise and over ten-years of experience to ensure a successful outcome.

It’s about being there to guide you through the ‘big issues’ – market advice, neighbourhoods, pricing, marketing, and negotiating. It’s being there to help you with the ‘details’ – assisting in the preparation of your house for sale; moving boxes and pizza to lighten your move; a post transaction visit to your lawyer’s office and more.

Whether you’re upsizing or downsizing, I’ll be there for you.

MICHAEL TUDORIE REAL ESTATE MARKETING

All together now

The feel-good power of singing in a choir

WORDS JANE ZATYLNY X PHOTOGRAPHY LIA CROWE

Choir singers Josie Osborne, Lynda Kaye and Tanya Dowdall.

ilove to sing—privately. In the shower. In the car. And around the house. I’ve never thought I was good enough to sing in any kind of public way. But singing in a choir, I’m learning, is about more than just hitting the right high notes.

“If you want to sing with other people, just do it,” urges Marc Jenkins, director of The Choirs YYJ. “It feels good, whatever your skill level.”

Marc tells me that Victoria has the highest number of choirs per capita in the country. “There are more choir singers than hockey players in Canada, too,” he quips.

Different sorts of choirs are springing up all across the province, from the traditional symphonic, educational or auditioned choir to choirs that practice and perform pop music or gather to sing a hit together on a single night.

Choirs, of course, are all about community. And after the seclusion of the pandemic, it obviously feels great to gather again and work together as a community on a song or two. But something else happens when people gather to sing together, Marc says: “If two people sing next to one another for four months, their bodies get to ‘know’ one another. That’s when the hook goes in with choir.”

Lynda Kaye felt a strong pull when she first started singing with the Tofino Ucluelet Choir. She was part of a choir in junior high and loved it, but didn’t do anything with singing again until her 60th year.

“Some musician friends of mine told me about a woman named Sophie L’Homme, who was starting a choir. I went in to that first rehearsal and—wow—it changed my life overnight.”

Seven years later, Lynda is still hooked on choir.

“There wasn’t a rehearsal in Tofino where I didn’t laugh and cry and feel fantastic. It was just an extraordinary, extraordi-

nary experience. And everybody that I know who’s done it has felt the same way,” she says.

The creation of harmony—literally, as well as metaphorically—is another very powerful aspect of choir, says Marc: “In a way, we’re like bees in a hive.”

I dropped in to listen to one of Marc’s rehearsals and saw immediately what he meant: there was laughter and close camaraderie as people arrived, greeted one another, and set up chairs. And then sweet, sweet sounds flowed across the room, from soprano voices to alto, then from to tenor to bass.

The vibe in the room was contagious, even from my chair at the back of the room. I couldn’t help but sing softly, too, close my eyes and sway to the music.

Rebecca Lam, creative director of the Vancouver-based Chorus Studio, explained why: singing, she said, releases endorphins and oxytocin, the famous feel-good hormones. Ah, that makes sense.

“Connecting with music and expressing yourself creatively is an empowering endeavour,” says Rebecca. “Singing in a choir is also a wonderful way to meet people and make new friends. We’re vulnerable with each other because you have to be while singing. This naturally cultivates camaraderie between people.”

Lynda now divides her time between Tofino and Victoria and continues to participate in her Tofino Ucluelet choir via Zoom. She’s been checking out local Victoria choirs, too, and expects to find a new choral home in Victoria soon.

To anyone thinking of joining a choir, she advises: “If you have even an inkling that you might want to sing in a group, give it a go. Go someplace, find a drop-in choir or go to a choir performance and observe how it’s done. Talk to a choir director or someone else who’s in choir. Just give it a go.”

“There wasn’t a rehearsal in Tofino where I didn’t laugh and cry and feel fantastic. It was just an extraordinary, extraordinary experience. And everybody that I know who’s done it has felt the same way.”

And don’t let your musical insecurities or inexperience hold you back. In the Tofino Ucluelet choir, Lynda said, half of the people knew how to read music and half didn’t.

“It’s an advantage if you can read music, but it’s not a requirement,” she explains. “When you raise your voice with a group of people, the community of choir pulls everybody with it. It’s okay if you miss a note or forget your lyrics because we’re all there to hold you up.”

The joy of choir all comes back to that undeniable feelgood factor, says Marc. “If you sing in the shower or you sing in the car, and want to do that with other people, do it, because it feels really good.”

Here are some tips to consider if you’re thinking of joining a choir: DO YOUR RESEARCH.

Go online and find out what sorts of choirs there are in your area, then go to a few concerts to see what you like.

“Most choirs will have a website or social media presence,” says Marc. “There you can get a flavour of what the choir will be like.”

RECOGNIZE THAT CHOIR IS A COMMITMENT.

“You’re all doing it and you’re all working hard at getting good at it,” says Lynda. “You have to learn the music, you have to practice the music, you have to show up for a rehearsal. And you have to be okay with repeating, repeating, repeating until you get it right.”

SHY ON COMMITMENT?

Consider a drop-in choir. There are many one-night per-

formances where you learn a pop song and record it with the group in a single evening.

“We’ll still obtain a goal,” says Marc. “We’ll do a little threepart harmony.” (The Choirs YYJ will do a Beatles drop-in choir night in June.) Check online for a drop-in choir event in your area.

DON’T BE INTIMIDATED.

“We like to say, ‘If you can speak, you can sing,’” says Rebecca. “It is outdated to believe that one is either born with talent or not. Musical ability can be cultivated and nourished.”

AND LASTLY, DON’T GIVE UP.

It may take time to find the right choir, says Marc. It’s like buying a car; sometimes you have to kick the tires.

“Some of it can be social too,” he says. “For instance, if you’re really extroverted and you join a choir that’s pretty introverted, you might be like, ‘Why does nobody like me?’ It’s worth scoping around and trying things until you find your way.”

INFO

The Choirs YYJ thechoirsyyj.com

A collective of three Victoria-based ensembles that represent over 200 people of all ages, genders, experiences, vocal abilities and musical tastes.

Chorus Studio thechorusstudio.com

A Vancouver-based community of adult pop choirs, professional voice lessons and performance workshops, and regular open mic and karaoke nights.

Meet Lorenzo DeCicco

A REAL GAME CHANGER

ith an aggregate of 21 years working as a senior executive within the corporate arena of Canadian telecommunications, Lorenzo DeCicco has identified several key trends in business.

His years of wide-ranging experience have taught him that business owners and CEOs alike are increasingly on the lookout for ways to improve the customer experience, alongside increasing revenues and inspiring relevance with team members. Succeeding at this makes them indispensable to their customer base.

And it all starts with a great team.

DeCicco has undertaken leadership roles in numerous entities, ranging from Fortune 500 to professional sports and private and public companies. His job experience runs the gamut from start-ups and small businesses, all the way up to multi-milliondollar operations. So, it’s no surprise he sensed an opportunity—and GAME CHANGER, a professional leadership organization, was created in 2000.

“The best strategy in the world means nothing if you don’t know how to execute it,” says DeCicco.

“This is where GAME CHANGER comes in.

There is no escaping hard work on the path to success. Strategy is not the silver bullet: execution is the key.” Says DeCicco: “Building a great team that understands the power of culture and execution is the only way. In today’s modern business era, when many organizations struggle to execute on their vision, the ‘what’ is often clearly understood, but the ‘how’ is missing.”

The GAME CHANGER method offers a unique, modern approach to traditional leadership and consulting practices.

With a list of clients that includes professional sports organizations, marketing and brand agencies, hitech, property developers, luxury automotive, various franchises and numerous other public and privately held businesses, the GAME CHANGER programs and methodologies are not just theoretical concepts. It has been proven that, when executed effectively, they are guaranteed to deliver results focused on people as an organization’s single greatest competitive advantage.

In creating GAME CHANGER, DeCicco based it on real-world experiences in business, creating proven strategies effective in today’s fast-paced business environments.

“The post-pandemic era created an unprecedented leadership challenge for many organizations,” he says, adding, “and the market is screaming for leadership.

GAME CHANGER is well-positioned to help modernize your business. It takes more than a great strategy to win these days. Culture doesn’t only eat strategy for breakfast; it also eats it for lunch and dinner, too.” With these firsthand observations, DeCicco was able to effectively map out his winning formula.

“These are the very elements that I have spent a career developing and are the cornerstones of the GAME CHANGER methodology.

There is no theory to our program: everything within the framework has been tested and proven to drive results.”

Acknowledging that businesses can differ dramatically from one another, GAME CHANGER is adaptable for each specific client.

Today, you will find DeCicco applying his trade at MET Printers, where he works closely with industry icons George and Nikos Kallas, focusing on the evolution of the 45-year-old company, taking it from commercial printer to brand partner.

It serves as the perfect illustration of the power of people, innovation and flawless execution in a most inspiring way.

And DeCicco is in the business of inspiration.

“There is no greater opportunity to change the game than this post-pandemic moment in history,” he says.

“Are you ready?”

JAMIE BANFIELD DESIGN INC.

From a studio with a breath-taking view of the Port Moody inlet, Principal Designer Jamie Banfield oversees a talented team of designers and architectural technologists passionate about creating efficient and functional residential projects. Jamie Banfield Design Inc. crafts a wide range of residential projects for every kind of family and tailor-makes them to fit their unique needs and lifestyles. As an award-winning residential design firm, they cover projects such as custom homes, renovations, interior, and exterior designs across Canada.

It starts from a complimentary consultation, dubbed a “Meet + Inspire,” where Banfield builds a rapport with clients to gain an understanding of their needs, inspirations, and lifestyle. With this knowledge in hand, Banfield provides the client with an in-depth scope-of-work and a fixed-fee service package which outlines the detailed process from vision to completion to ensure the client is never blindsided by unanticipated fees.

Banfield and his team believe that a well-thought-out design should be approached with a creative and proactive process. Throughout the experience, maintaining communication and collaboration with clients and the build team is a priority. A unique combination of skill sets and experience provides the team with an understanding of all the different disciplines that go into crafting a home. As part of their dedication to sustainable and approachable design, a part of this education includes being certified Passive House designers. From conceptual vision, throughout the design development process, to creating high-quality construction-ready drawings, they are mindful of all parties involved to ensure that the process runs smoothly and on budget.

Since moving to the Pacific Northwest from Wales, Banfield felt inspired by his new surroundings and implements its features in his work. His background in construction and millwork provided him

“West Coast style is all about taking inspiration from our surroundings. When I was 11, I fell in love with my new home after moving here from Wales. I aim to incorporate natural textures, colours, and the general feel of the West Coast into my designs by harmonizing tactile elements like real stone or real wood with modern functionality and space-planning.”

“We ask the ‘why nots’ and the ‘how to’s’ to ensure we are always exploring efficiency and function for the projects our clients call

with insider knowledge of the construction process. To pay homage to the West Coast scenery and to limit the environmental impact construction causes, Banfield often works with reclaimed materials. Banfield has collaborated with families from all lots of life. He and his team craft projects for all lifestyles and their expertise can accurately predict changes to the future of the family home. With their combined skillsets and experiences, they understand how to tailor deliverables to fit all the families who entrust Jamie Banfield Design Inc and its approach.

2729 Clarke Street, Port Moody, BC 604 385 1646 /

Banfield and his team believe that a well-thought-out design should be approached with a creative and proactive process.

Jamie Banfield

Principal Designer, Jamie Banfield Design Inc.

Photo credit: Lia Crowe

Photo credit: Janis Nicolay

The Influencers

Meet some of Vancouver’s top entrepreneurs as they describe who they are behind their public persona.

Business superstars in Vancouver include myriad individuals who have their own outside-of-work personalities. We asked Vancouver businesspeople, “Who are you behind your public persona? What would we be surprised to discover about you?”

For this “peek behind the curtain,” we photographed members of the Vancouver business community at the at Hudson Wren Vancouver, a boutique portrait studio.

Photos by Lia Crowe

Words by Chloe Sjuberg

Makeup by Farrah Sanei

Shot on location at Hudson Wren Vancouver

KOSTUIK GALLERY INC.

KOSTUIK GALLERY INC.

Jennifer Kostuik

I was born in Canada, but moved to the Southern US and grew up in Birmingham, Alabama. I am essentially a hybrid, which has informed my approach to my business (Southern hospitality) and the selection of artists I showcase that are not only local, bringing the world of art to the local door here. I love cornbread, Southern BBQ and any Italian food—I studied art history in Venice, Italy!

Owner/President kostuikgallery.com / 604-737-3969

@jkostuikgallery

IN THE HOUSE PODCAST

We are owners of our respective brokerages, and our highly acclaimed podcast is a hub for female professionals in real estate and surrounding industries to connect and share expertise. But beyond these professional achievements, we are on a mission to revolutionize the service industry by bringing our divine gifts into the equation. By infusing our work with a deeper sense of purpose, we make a positive impact on our clients, colleagues, and the wider community.

Toni Sing

In negotiations and in business, I present myself as a shrewd and formidable force, yet beneath the surface, I reveal a softer, more malleable side, akin to that of a delicate puddle.

Principal, Bel-Air Realty Group

Jenny Wun

My entrepreneurial prowess extends to multiple ventures, but I also don the mantle of a spiritual embodiment of the divine feminine during my moonlighting hours.

Principal, Oakwyn Realty Northwest inthehousepodcast.ca @inthehousepodcast

NATASHA RAEY

I’m quite a simple person. Spending time with my family, enjoying a peaceful cup of coffee at home— these are the things that feed my soul. I am as driven as I am relaxed. Entrepreneur, Investor, Philanthropist, Media Personality (ZoomerMedia Ltd.) @nraey

WAVE 9 8.3

Tara Jean Stevens

I’m a huge Carol Burnett fan. I once had the privilege of meeting her backstage at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. She held my hand the entire time we chatted, like we were the oldest of friends catching up on our lives. It was the most moving gesture from a woman who has been one of my greatest inspirations.

Morning Show Host wave983.fm

DESIGNS BY KS

Katerina Vastardis with Iliana

I am mom to Iliana and wife to Michael. My family are my biggest supporters. Food is my love language—I love to eat and feed people! I create life-changing experiences through well-designed spaces.

Owner/Lead Designer designsbyks.com / 778-896-1778

HELIJET INTERNATIONAL

Carla Kovacs

I am a professional hockey mom! My husband Ernie and I are proud parents to Nicholas and Easton, who are dedicated hockey players and now play their sport away from home. When I am not travelling to watch them play hockey, I will be walking our two doodle pups, Maui and Oakley, who are full of energy and antics.

Director, Client Relations

Karen Sabourin

I am a wife to Shawn, mom to Logan and Laurel, and cuddler of our cats, Calvin and Hobbes. When I’m not at work, I unwind by riding motorcycles with my husband. We just got back into riding after a 25-year hiatus. This is a beautiful province full of twisty back roads and small cafes just waiting to be discovered.

Director, Human Resources

helijet.com

PACIFIC REAL ESTATE

Sidra Subzwari

Pacific Real Estate has set records in luxury estate sales and pre-construction sales/marketing throughout BC. My career success has allowed me to give back to my local community as well as to support global initiatives. One of my greatest accomplishments is partnering with World Housing to build communities for families in need of safe and secure housing in developing countries across the world. In my downtime, I enjoy spending time with loved ones.

Real Estate Agent and Founding Partner pacificrealestate.ca / soldbysid.com 604-356-0077

COIT CLEANING AND RESTORATION SERVICES

Mike Fischer

I appreciate the relationships I’ve built with clients over my 20 years with COIT. Many of them have become good friends outside of work. I believe in building trust through integrity and attentiveness to projects and client needs. I’m an avid baseball fan and turned to coaching after an injury ended my playing days earlier than planned. I’ve spent the past few years watching my daughter dance, and countless hours at the ballpark with our dog, Moe, watching our boys play.

Senior Business Development and OHS Manager

Emma Mihan

COIT is a place where I can proudly say I work. I get to be surrounded by like-minded professionals who work as a team and support one another in achieving our goals. As an artist, home cook and self-proclaimed homebody, I feel COIT is a place where I can grow and feel supported.

Commercial Department Coordinator

Jerri Griffiths

I have had the pleasure of working with COIT for five years. I am a people person and I like to solve problems with customers, ensuring they are 100 per cent satisfied. My life outside COIT includes kayaking at Jericho, riding my e-bike, reading (mysteries and biographies) and photographing nature anywhere in the Lower Mainland. I am also a bit of a risk-taker. I have tandem hang glided off Grouse Mountain—wow, what a view!

Business Development Manager

James Chung

With over 22 years of experience in the cleaning industry, I am positive and hardworking, and someone you can always count on. I take pride in the fact that I am a people person. People enjoy meeting me and being around me, and that makes me happy! I am well versed in Mandarin and Cantonese languages and love golf, hockey and the outdoors. When asked what my greatest achievement is, my proud and humble response is, hands down, my kids!

Business Development Manager

Stephan Buree

As a NADCA-certified HVAC department manager, I have specialized knowledge to ensure that jobs are done safely and properly according to industry standards. Known for establishing strong professional relationships and being innovative and skilled in project management, I take pride in these attributes because they allow me to help my customers on every level. Outside of work life, you will find me on the field coaching youth soccer.

HVAC and Business Development Manager coit.ca / 604-296-4000

RENNIE & ASSOCIATES REALTY WHISTLER

Carleigh Hofman

A tea-drinking introvert is something I embody. I’m typically seen wearing the colour ivory while I arc turns through life’s obstacles with grace. And yet I keep a fast pace with great focus on my business and clients in the mountains of Whistler Blackcomb.

Real Estate Advisor carleighhofman.com / 604-805-5358

Devon Owen, PREC

Combining my passion for interior design, deep knowledge of the local housing market, and meticulous attention to detail, I have built a thriving real estate career. Recently, I welcomed the birth of my daughter, adding the immeasurable joy and fulfillment of motherhood to my repertoire. Achieving a harmonious balance between my professional and personal life remains paramount, as I never lose sight of the things that truly matter.

Real Estate Advisor and Mother devonowen.com / 604-614-8380

DEVON OWEN

SHIMA JAVAN DESIGN

Shima Javan

I am not content with just one passion! I have pursued two very different paths: interior design and movie directing. My imagination knows no bounds. Whether it’s through design or producing a movie, I pour my heart into everything I do. My ambition fuels my determination to achieve my goals, and I never settle for anything less than my best.

Interior Designer shimajavan.com /

604-363-3631

ALLEYLANE HOMES CONSTRUCTION

& MORE LTD.

Steve Chandra with Sunita Nair (fiancée)

I am a master builder specializing in Passive House and Net Zero-ready custom-built homes, which have won both HAVAN and Georgie awards. In addition to building environmentally friendly homes, I decided to trade my Mercedes in for a Tesla to further make a difference against climate change. When I am not building, I love cooking—which is my Zen—relaxing with my fiancée Sunita and our children, and finding new hiking trails to tackle.

Master Builder alleylanehomes.com / homebuildersvancouver.com 778-320-5471

ENGEL & VÖLKERS VICTORIA Randall

Mang

I’m an active guy. And I like it that way. Whether it’s through my work as an Engel & Völkers Victoria and Saanich Peninsula specialist, my marketing agency randallanthony.com, or my volunteer service on three local charity boards, I sincerely enjoy helping people. Outside of work, I am an avid fitness hound and boater, and I love entertaining family and friends.

Real Estate Advisor

randallmang.com / 604-817-6204

Theatrically themed foods throughout the ages

The show must go on… the table

if all the world’s a stage, then is everything we do, create, even consume, a performance? Are the seemingly simple daily tasks of grocery shopping, cooking and eating some sort of presentation signifying, perhaps, our preferred or perceived roles in the great show we call life?

Even if that feels like a bit of a stretch to you, I know I have put on dinner parties which certainly felt like major productions. Setting the “stage,” conceptualizing the “acts,” even keeping in mind the various “players” and how they would interact with, contribute to, or otherwise mould the evening’s “show.”

I have also been a delighted attendee of many multi-course meals, orchestrated by a true artist, performed by a large ensemble all working in tireless harmony together night after night, and emceed by well-rehearsed servers who nail all their lines. Dessert has always seemed to me like a stunning grand finale, whereby I’ve sometimes felt inspired to stand-up and cheer “Encore! Encore!”

Historically, food and performance have had a fascinating love affair. Since humans began putting on productions, we’ve enjoyed combining our viewing pleasure with some sort of snack. When exploring sites of ancient Egyptian, Roman and Greek theatrical performances and gladiator events, archaeologists discovered food fragments of figs, grapes, cherries, blackberries and walnuts.

Similar foodstuffs were found on the floor of the Rose Theatre and Globe Theatre (where Shakespeare’s plays were performed). There they found evidence of grapes, figs, blackberries, raspberries, plums, almonds, hazelnuts and a bit of bread, as well as small animal bones that suggest playgoers “could certainly have eaten a cold chicken,” as suggested by archaeologist Julian Bowsher. The most copious food scraps found were in fact seafood shells (primarily oysters) and even some fish bones. Both theatres were located near pubs and food stands, and historians believe there were opportunities for pub employees and food vendors to sell bites and beverages in the play-yard, or even bring certain elevated items up to the higher seat tiers.

Perhaps one of the most famous foods associated with the theatre is French onion soup. While its origins seem to date to the 17th century, specifically the hunting lodge of King Louis XV, the soup gained popularity in the 19th century, solidifying its association with theatre-goers who, in wintertime, gathered in bistros and brasseries to warm up before or after a show with a hot bowl of cheese-covered comfort.

Around the same time, circuses and carnivals were gaining popularity, as were circus-themed snacks such as cotton candy, lollipops and caramel corn.

By the 1920s, the film industry was gaining such momentum that it heralded the beginning of Hollywood’s Golden Age, marked by the growth of major production companies and, of course, the arrival of the “movie star.” Suddenly people were fascinated with celebrities, such as Mary Pickford, who had a cocktail named after her. Pickford was

America’s sweetheart in the 1920s, and starred in silent movies alongside famous actors like Charlie Chaplin. Apparently, she and her husband Douglas Fairbanks (also a famous actor) were in Havana with Chaplin, when a bartender whipped up a tropical concoction and named it in her honor.

Food has also had some more analytical associations in the world of performance, whereby the potentially destructive nature of the food industry, mass production, over-consumption, waste, inequalities and injustices have been put in the spotlight through critical performance art. Even our roles as performers and upholders of societal norms as related to food have been explored. Sonja Stummerer and Martin Hablesreiter, under the sobriquet Honey and Bunny, created whimsical banquets for museum-goers that they emceed in clown makeup. They staged photos and videos starring themselves as diners in an odd parallel universe governed by outlandish etiquette. Whether eating colour-coded meals with paintbrushes and tweezers rather than forks or nibbling foods that hung at eye-level from the ceiling, their work evokes the underlying message that our accepted norms may be as arbitrary or even silly as the ones being performed by a pair of clowns.

Whether you’re examining gastronomic social contracts as you shop, cook and dine, taking a look at and taste of theatrically themed foods throughout the ages, or simply setting the scene for a dinner party worthy of a standing ovation, there’s no question food has a strong and fascinating association with performance.

Then again, I personally feel food has a strong and fascinating association with almost everything, but I might be a touch biased.

Shakespeare-Inspired Snack Platter

Add a bit of excitement to an otherwise ordinary charcuterie board with hearty additions like chicken wings and smoked seafood. Along with cured meats, cheeses, fruit, nuts and chunks of rustic bread, these were some of the favourite foods enjoyed by Elizabethan audiences of the Globe and Rose theatres, and will no doubt be a welcomed surprise to hungry guests at your next dinner party. Bonus points if the dress-code includes ruffled collars or theatrical masks.

ELEMENTS SHOWN HERE…

Rustic sourdough chunks

Smoked seafood: oysters, kippers and octopus

Meat: saucisson sec, bresaola and crispy salt and pepper chicken wings

Cheese: aged cheddar and Brie

Nuts: raw almonds and hazelnuts

Dried fruit: dates, figs and apricots

Fresh fruit: apple slices and grapes

Spreads: grainy mustard and fig preserve

French Onion Soup

I first learned how to make this soup while participating in a culinary course in Paris in my mid-20s. Our extremely traditional Normand teacher insisted that two onions per person was an appropriate ratio, although if you’re using very large onions, one per person seems to be enough. That, I leave up to you. Either way, it truly is the most satisfying supper on a cold and stormy night, or a surprisingly simple, yet always appreciated starter for a Frenchthemed dinner party. The oniony broth base can certainly be made ahead of time for added ease—I’ve personally kept it in the fridge for a few days and just sliced, toasted, grated and broiled as needed throughout the week, and have also found that it freezes quite well for the preppers and planners in the audience.

Cook time: about 1 hour

Makes 6 to 8 servings

Ingredients

6-8 large onions

Extra virgin olive oil (about ¼ cup)

Unsalted butter (about ¼ cup)

Sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste

2-3 cloves garlic, minced

About 8 cups beef stock, chicken stock, or a combination of the two ½ cup dry vermouth or dry white wine

A few bay leaves

A few sprigs of fresh thyme

6-8 thick slices of French bread, cut into rough rounds the size of your oven-proof bowls (the ones shown here are about 4 inches across)

1 ½ - 2 loose cups of grated Gruyere cheese

Directions

Peel and thinly slice the onions. In a large pot over medium heat, melt the butter and add the onions. Cook the onions, stirring every few minutes, until they have fully softened, about 15 to 20 minutes. Increase the heat to medium high, add a bit of olive oil and cook, stirring every couple minutes until the onions start to brown slightly. Bring the heat back down to medium, add the minced garlic and cook for a few minutes more, until the garlic is soft.

Add the wine or vermouth to the pot and scrape down the browned bits on the bottom and sides of the pot (i.e. deglazing the pot) for 5 minutes. Add the stock, bay leaves and thyme. Increase the heat to bring the broth to a simmer, then cover the pot and lower the heat to maintain a low simmer. Cook for 30 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Discard the bay leaves and thyme twigs.

While the soup is simmering, preheat the oven to 450 F. Lightly brush both sides of the bread with olive oil and place on a baking sheet. Put in the oven and toast until lightly browned. Remove from oven and set side.

To serve, spoon the soupy onions into individual ovenproof bowls so they that they fill about one quarter of each bowl (or more if you like it extra oniony). Fill the rest of the bowl with broth, leaving about half an inch for the bread to tuck in slightly. Carefully place the toasted bread rounds on top of each bowl and sprinkle with a handful of cheese. Place the bowls on a baking sheet and put under the broiler set to low for 10 minutes, or until the cheese bubbles and is slightly browned. Garnish with a bit of fresh thyme leaves, serve and enjoy!

Maple Pecan Caramel Corn

While caramel corn is readily available at many grocery stores, nothing beats a homemade recipe. Not only are you able to avoid many of the problematic preservatives and additives often mixed into foods of this kind, but you can make it your own with additional flavour options like maple syrup and pecans, as suggested in this recipe. Even a sprinkling of cinnamon or other spices goes wonderfully on a sweet snack like this! Make a batch for a movie night, or even serve alongside a charcuterie spread or dessert platter at your next gathering.

Cook time: about 1 hour

Makes about 6-8 servings

Ingredients

13 cups freshly popped popcorn (about ½ cup un-popped kernels cooked as per the instructions on the package)

¼ cup butter

1 ¼ cups (9.4 oz, 266 g) light brown sugar, packed

¼ cup maple syrup

2 tsp vanilla extract

½ tsp sea salt (plus more to garnish if desired)

¼ tsp baking soda

1 cup raw pecans

Directions

Place the popcorn and pecans in a large bowl and set aside. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter and then add the brown sugar, maple syrup and salt. Bring to a boil, and boil for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is fully dissolved. Remove from the heat, stir in the vanilla and baking soda, and mix well. Pour the caramel over the popcorn and pecan mix and stir until well coated. Transfer the caramel popcorn onto two large lightly greased baking sheets. Bake at 250 F for about 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. Cool completely and enjoy or store in airtight containers for up to a week.

photo: Yann Guerin

Mary Pickford Cocktail

Anyone can find a classic Mary Pickford recipe online or in almost any classic cocktail book— and there’s nothing wrong with the original. However, most recipes call for maraschino liqueur and I wanted to offer a fully non-alcoholic option for those avoiding the hard stuff. I also find Amarena cherries more rich and nuanced than maraschino, adding more depth and intrigue to an otherwise familiar flavour profile. You can, of course, purchase grenadine syrup, but once again, nothing beats homemade. The flavour is so much more satisfying, and you’re avoiding a wacky array of dyes, preservatives, additives and chemicals often found in store-bought cocktail syrups. This particular recipe for homemade grenadine is exceptionally simple and easy, and while sourcing the ingredients might seem somewhat daunting, they’re surprisingly easy to find at most Middle Eastern and European specialty stores.

Prep time: about 2 minutes

Makes 1 cocktail

Ingredients

2 oz white rum (or some soda water if making a non-alcoholic version)

2 oz pineapple juice

2 tsp homemade grenadine (see recipe below)

1 tsp syrup of jarred Amarena cherries (I use Fabbri brand jarred Amarena cherries, which can be found at many European specialty food stores)

Optional garnish of Amarena cherries

To make the cocktail…

Combine the rum (if using), pineapple juice, grenadine mix and cherry syrup in a cocktail shaker with a bit of ice. Pop on the lid, shake well for a few seconds and strain into a martini glass. If you’re doing the nonalcoholic version, leave out the rum, of course, strain into a rocks glass with a couple ice cubes in it and top with soda water. Garnish with some cherries and enjoy!

To make the homemade grenadine…

In a mason jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine ½ of a cup of pomegranate juice with ½ of a cup sugar, and shake vigorously until all the sugar is completely dissolved. Add in 1 tablespoon of pomegranate molasses and ¼ teaspoon of orange blossom water (both can be found at Middle Eastern specialty stores), put the lid back on and give it another good shake until fully integrated.

Re-invigorating Performance

Lost your mojo in the bedroom? You’re not alone. Up to 50 per cent of men over the age of 50—and about a quarter of men under 40—experience sexual performance issues resulting from erectile dysfunction.

Doctors typically prescribe a little blue or yellow pill for erectile dysfunction, but Tara Elston has discovered a completely different solution. And it’s working wonders for the men who visit her clinic Men’s Vigor (which has recently expanded from Nanaimo into Vancouver).

A serial entrepreneur, Elston, who also runs Revitalize Laser Clinic and Foxy Box Wax Bar in Nanaimo, has adopted a new technology recently approved by Health Canada to treat men’s sexual performance issues without pharmaceuticals. “There’s no pain, no downtime, no surgery and it takes 15 minutes,” says Beth Alden, director of operations at Men’s Vigor.

Called ViaSure shockwave technology, this solution uses a device to deliver acoustic shock waves—or pulses—to the affected area. The shock waves stimulate natural healing processes in the body, including the development of new blood vessels and the repair of smooth muscle tissue.

“Our predominant client is under 50, type A, works a lot and thinks too much,” Alden says. “They may be exhausted and they can’t get their body to work the way they want it to work —and many of them don’t want to talk about it. In fact, many would rather get a divorce than talk to their partner and admit they have a challenge! Now, instead of popping Viagra, there's a natural remedy that heals and rebuilds cells and increases blood flow.”

A unique treatment for erectile dysfunction has shown big growth opportunities for a Nanaimo-based business

Technician Beth Alden at Men’s Vigor.

Solve for the why/ and not just the when

The treatments take a holistic approach to healing, and include both counselling and physiotherapy exercises. “I will talk to you about breath work, pelvic floor work, visualization and the connection between the brain and the penis,” Alden says. “The focus is on healing from the inside out.”

A new spin on an existing tech

While the technology used in the ViaSure device isn’t exactly new, this application of it is. “This kind of treatment has been around since the 1980s, and was originally used to break up kidney stones,” Elston says. “Now it’s an approved treatment for erectile dysfunction and pelvic floor disorders. It can also be used to treat hip problems and frozen shoulder, but

we’re focused on making men’s lives better. We’ve talked to so many women who say 'I wish my husband would come and see you’.”

After six weeks of weekly 15-minute treatments, the results have been stellar. “We’ve had a 100 per cent success rate based on pre-qualified candidates,” Elston says.

For Elston, this business is the embodiment of her life philosophy. “We‘re all about being the best version of yourself,” she says. “And part of that is bringing spontaneity back to the bedroom.”

www.mensvigor.ca

778-269-4658

Olé!

Flamenco, sherry, culture and charm in Jerez de la Frontera

WORDS + PHOTOGRAPHY LIA CROWE

Every year, for two weeks in February and March, flamenco lovers from around the globe descend on Jerez de la Frontera for the annual Festival de Jerez, a flamenco festival that offers all levels of flamenco classes and nightly shows, ranging from large-scale theatre productions to intimate performances in the beautiful bodegas and midnight showings of the hottest new flamenco talents in the local peñas.

fter 20 or so hours of travel I find myself strolling the vibrant evening streets of Jerez de la Frontera, a small Spanish city in Andalusia, in a jet-lagged haze.

People are spilling out of the tiny sherry bars on to the streets, beer or sherry in hand, plates of olives, meats and cheese on small, tall tables in front of them. Along the busiest stretch of the Calle Larga, a wide, pedestrian-only street, my ear catches the unmistakable sound of the thing that has lured me to Spain in the first place—flamenco.

I follow the sounds of people shouting “Olé!” into a little “tablao” (an intimate flamenco venue) called Tabanco El Pasaje, elbow my way up to the bar and quickly utter a few of the Spanish words I know: “Oloroso (sherry), queso (cheese), y aceitunas (olives), por favor.”

I turn toward a small stage in one corner, and above the heads of the crowd I can see a flamenco dancer; her face squinched into a passionate grimace, skirt held high in her hands as her feet tap out a complex rhythm. A guitarist and singer are also on stage and playing in sync with the dancer as she crescendos to a feverish speed, holding us all in a trance with the repetitive rhythm.

Transfixed, I lift the little cylindrical glass of sherry to my lips and realize that tears of happiness are streaming down my cheeks. I’m standing in little tapas bar, which probably hasn’t changed since the 1920s, in the city known as the birthplace of flamenco, saturated in an art form that has the power to capture a person, heart and soul, as it has for me.

Every year, for two weeks in February and March, flamenco lovers from around the globe descend on Jerez de la Frontera for the annual Festival de Jerez, a flamenco festival that offers all levels of flamenco classes and nightly shows, ranging from large-scale theatre productions to intimate

performances in the beautiful bodegas (sherry wineries) and midnight showings of the hottest new flamenco talents in the local peñas (flamenco cultural clubs).

Since I am a long-time flamenco aficionado and student of the art form, the festival is part of the reason I have journeyed across the world to visit. The other is to vacation with my boyfriend, Peter, who is a newbie to flamenco. He arrived a couple days after me and also planned to join in on all things flamenco, as well as discovering all the other incredible things Jerez has to offer, which, I soon learn, is a bounty of flavourful, cultural and historical experiences.

The history of Jerez stretches way back to Palaeolithic times. However, the main city really developed during the Almoravid and Almohad dynasties (11th and 12th centuries) when Spain was taken over by the Moors from North Africa prior to being taken by the Christians in the 13th century.

This history was on full display as we visited the city’s monumental Alcázar, a Moorish fortress, which stands proudly as a testament to Jerez’s ancient past. As we wandered through the intricate courtyards and manicured gardens, the sound of trickling water from the many fountains created a soothing soundtrack to our exploration, while the vibrant tiles adorned with geometric patterns added a burst of colour.

Adjacent to the Alcázar lies the breathtaking Cathedral of Jerez de la Frontera. Built in the 17th century, the cathedral’s stunning baroque architecture and ornate interior make it a must-visit landmark. We climbed to the top of the bell tower for panoramic views of the city, admiring a sea of whitewashed buildings and picturesque view.

By day three of the two-week Festival de Jerez, we had settled into a rhythm, trying to emulate Spanish life as much as we could. In the morning we headed directly to Entre Vinos Y Arte, one of many outdoor cafes, for “café con leche

y pan tostado con tomate” (coffee with milk and toasted bread with tomato). The proprietor, dressed in a crisp pressed apron, cued up our order, with a simple nod of the head as soon as he saw us walking up the road. From there we headed to our individual dance classes, beginner classes for Peter and more advanced classes for me.

The streets and plazas of Jerez resounded with the music of flamenco, flowing from the dance studios, now packed with flamencophiles from around the world, all eager to learn from Spain’s renowned dancers, and each class featuring live guitar and singing by equally legendary flamenco artists. In addition to learning the complicated steps, a lot of discovery comes from just being in a room with these artists: the way they express, the passion that flows from them and their fearless, authentic energy.

Later in the afternoon, Peter and I would meet at the Mercado Central de Abastos, a huge market full of vendors selling gorgeous produce: endless varieties of olives, meats, fish, cheese and Spanish specialties such as membrillo (quince paste), which we discover pairs nicely with queso fresco (fresh cheese).

Then came the walk home though the narrow, sun-warmed streets that weave through pastel-coloured buildings reminiscent of a movie set, for some fresh market food and the necessary siesta to rest up for the night’s activities.

The night started with a few tapas and a glass of sherry, and then to the theatre. As part of the festival a large-scale flamenco production unfolds every night at the Teatro Villamarta, highlighting the most prominent flamenco artists. Here, the audience gets involved with waves of jaleos (calls of encouragement) such as “Olé!” “Guapa!” and “Toma!”

After the theatre performance, now about 10 pm, came dinner at Meson del Asador, where we devoured plates of cod with tomato, fried peppers, Iberian pork and fried potatoes— all washed down nicely with Spanish reds, beer or a dry sherry. Then—more flamenco, each night more spectacular than the last.

Within that daily routine, we sometimes relaxed in one of the many palm-treed plazas, sipping something cold, wan-

dered through streets heavily perfumed with orange blossoms or checked out the city’s attractions, like the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art. The school’s grounds boast majestic gardens filled with mature exotic plants and, in addition to pristine riding rings, museums, stables and show arena, include the Palacio del Recreo de las Cadenas, a beautiful example of 19th-century French architecture, designed by the same architect as the Palais Garnier in Paris.

But truly, the real diamonds on this crown were the horses and riders. We attended a horse show, which featured an equestrian ballet of classic dressage set to Spanish music with the skilled riders (graduates of the school) dressed in elaborate 18th-century costumes.

As our two weeks were coming to an end, we realized that missing from our Jerez experience was a deeper dive into sherry. Jerez’s legacy is so intricately tied to its world-famous fortified wine, the word Jerez translates to sherry and the city is home to numerous bodegas that produce this exquisite drink.

We toured Bodegas Fundador, the maker of the worldfamous Harveys Bristol Cream, where our knowledgeable guide, Fatima, led us through the winemaking process and intricate aging techniques. Their cellar, named “la mezquita” (the mosque), is an incredible monument: a vast building with columns that stretch in all directions, giving the cellar a sense of infinity. The highlight, of course, was the tasting session, where we delighted in the diverse flavours and aromas of the different sherries. Each sip was a revelation, a testament to the craftsmanship and tradition that define Jerez’s sherry production.

As we left Jerez, we reflected how this charming city had left a mark on our hearts and souls. From its rich history and cultural heritage to its warm and welcoming people, Jerez offered us an unforgettable journey of discovery. We left with the echoes of flamenco rhythms, the taste of exquisite sherry and the memories of a city that had truly captivated us. Jerez, with its timeless allure, will forever remain etched in our minds as a place of magic, passion and inspiration.

The wall cabinets are painted in a custom black ma e. The island is stained using Merit’s Seaside Timberwood, and finished with custom panels and shelves, providing the tailored look from all directions.

secrets and lives — AND

with

THE 7 SINS

MARTIN MAYER

At just 18 years old, pianist and composer Martin Mayer took out a $35,000 loan to produce his dream debut concert, and in the 20-plus years since, that determination and willingness to bet on himself and his passion has built Martin an incredible career in the music industry.

Born in the Czech Republic, Martin came to Canada with his family in 1989, spending the first 15 years in Edmonton before moving to Vancouver in 2004. Despite growing up in a very musical family—they had an upright piano in the living room, and another at his grandmother’s house—he didn’t become interested in piano until one fortuitous day in choir practice when he was in grade four.

“The lady that was accompanying us was playing along, and I remember being enamoured with the sound coming out of the piano,” he says.

Martin was determined to learn the piece of music, and when the accompanist at last gave him the clandestinely photocopied (and copyrighted) sheet music, he leapt into piano lessons with fervour.

WORDS ANGELA COWAN PHOTOGRAPHY KEVIN CLARK

Two years after his gamble on a debut concert, it paid off with his first music award nomination, but it also caught the attention of a Chinese arts agency, which sponsored Martin and his band on a 16-city, six-week-long concert tour in mainland China. His popularity soared to astronomical heights, earning him multiple sold-out tours and the title “Canada’s Prince of Piano” from the Beijing Times. But beyond the adrenaline rush of huge crowds and spectacular shows, the personal connection with his audiences remains Martin’s greatest love on stage and in the music he writes.

“When I started on the journey, my focus was always on the art first and foremost,” he says. “When you connect with people and you see their faces...when it goes from people being very reserved to suddenly having great big smiles and they’re dancing in the aisles...even though I don’t speak their language, we all speak the language of music. It’s those types of connection that make it so incredibly rewarding.”

This fall, Martin releases his newest album, The Solo Piano Collection, where he’s gone back over the last 25 years of his career and carefully chosen a collection of pieces that illustrate his passion for music and his growth as an artist.

“I’ve put together what I feel like defines my best work as a pianist and as a composer,” he says, adding that except for two tracks (one with a Grammy-Award-winning violinist and another with a cellist who regularly collaborates with Hans Zimmer), this album is just Martin and his piano. Hearkening back to those early idyllic days where it was just him and the keys, the songs are an intimate look at Martin’s lifelong relationship with music and his expression through it.

The album will also release with a book of accompanying sheet music of the songs as they were written and performed, flairs and improvisations and individual touches included— Martin’s way of building on that connection he believes is so important.

“That is the most personal expression,” he says, adding, “If people want to learn to play the songs exactly the way I’m playing them, they can.”

The 7 Sins

ENVY:

Whose shoes would you like to walk in?

I’m a huge Patrick Stewart fan, mainly from his role as Captain Picard on my childhood favourite TV show, Star Trek: The Next Generation, and the recently developed Star Trek: Picard. Considering the breadth of his work across theatre, television and film, in all kinds of genres, I’d love to see what that feels like [in his shoes], especially now with the resurgence of Captain Picard’s adventures at the young age of 82.

GLUTTONY:

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

That would have to be true Italian pizza, great authentic Chinese food and anything Charlie’s Chocolate Factory. Thankfully, I still have a high metabolism and burn a lot of energy playing the piano!

GREED:

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

I’d want to engage scientists and medical experts to see if the terrible disease my mom passed away from could be truly cured. That way, even though I might not be able to bring her back, I could help spare others the heartache of losing an incredible parent to a disease for which there are no drugs, surgeries or treatments whatsoever.

WRATH:

Pet peeves?

People who can’t stay off their phone when we’re hanging out, comments on people’s weight and the seemingly non-stop viciousness on social media. Just be kind to each other; it’s not that difficult. You never know what someone is dealing with!

SLOTH:

Where would you spend a long time doing nothing?

On a sunny beach with white sand, warm (not hot) weather, great food and a loving dog by my side.

PRIDE:

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

That I’ve been able to accomplish all that I have in my 25-plus year career, without a manager, agent, record label or publisher.

LUST:

What makes your heart beat faster?

Seeing my beloved come home. Doesn’t matter what I’ve had to deal with in business or music that day. I can have the worst day imaginable, and just the sight and smile of my beloved makes it all right again.

ON TOUR

Minneapolis: Arriving anywhere in the dark allows you to imagine you’re somewhere romantic, even if you can smell the strip mall plastic and tar-on-concrete that suggest otherwise.

Our hotel was, in fact, exactly where it smelt like it was, and the first 1.5 kilometres of my morning run included a dangerous dash across pedestrian-unfriendly highways and awkwardly fenced-in parking lots. But the remaining 10 kilometres were spent on a peaceful path that stretched along soccer fields, parks and the big Sioux River. The air was a crisp warning of colder weather finally chasing us down. And I guess it was actually us chasing it down as we moved northeast through Minnesota.

The first time I forgot something on this tour happened to be my shoes on the way to our first show, which wasn’t the greatest way to put “professional musician” into people’s heads. The second time was today at a juice bar when I paid for my juice and put my wallet down on a table instead of back into my bag. While we were all waiting for the one poor guy in there to make all nine of our orders, Jon and I ran down the street to Coffea Roasterie, linked arm-in-arm, singing Inspector Gadget and giggling like best friends going to the candy store for the first time without their parents. It was unusual to have time to stray from the pack on a gig day. Naturally, I noted I had no wallet when I went to pay for my coffee, but luckily the boys hadn’t left yet and grabbed it for me. I don’t know how I got through four months of tour in Europe with none of this happening.

By 11 am we were on the move to the Minneapolis venue with a lovely heavy-metal playlist blaring—to ensure the pain receptors in our ears were alert—followed by the final episode of the Star Wars series on the tour van’s screen. The entertainment theme of this boys-heavy trip became apparent on the first day’s drive to Seattle, when Tom, Hollow Coves drummer, blasted a techno remix of the Star Wars soundtrack, and then again on our second night when we were directed downstairs at 2 am to watch A New Hope—the first of many Star Wars films.

Yay boys! Of course, I shed a tear or two over it coming to an end until I found out there was another series just like it called Obi-Wan Kenobi—and then the tears really poured.

To accommodate our two bands and crew we have a 10-seater Mercedes Sprinter tour van with comfy leather seats and a high roof. Jon and I got the back four seats to share with a box of Hollow Coves vinyl, which is surprisingly comfortable to sleep on.

The drive was a swift four hours, which felt like a breeze in comparison to most of the others. We only stopped once or twice for “scenic pee breaks” and gas.

At the venue, the poster on the wall advertised the last few shows that happened there, including Tamino, Two Feet, Novo Amor and Julia Jacklin—it’s a pretty neat feeling to be following such great artists in their tour tracks, and seeing their scribbled signatures on the greenroom walls (customary in most band greenrooms).

Even though we finally had our own greenroom and “rider” (hospitality provided by the venue, including snacks and beer of our choosing), we walked four minutes to the Whole Foods to get sushi and fill a small chunk of the tedious wait-time for our turn to sound check. It was warm in the sun, but the shade was a shiver generator.

As soon as we got back and started digging into the food, a guy named Todd (who toured with Bon Iver as his guitar guy) came in to interview Jon and me and my drooling wasabi mouth. Jon had said he was coming in to ask him a few questions about his guitar, so I had no idea it was actually a full-on interview that was recorded and would be transcribed word for word. There are just so many words that I would have kept in the wasabi had I known.

We only got 20 minutes to sound check with crappy monitors, but good old Cory and Riley (house sound crew) made it happen fast. I love impressing the monitor people by saying, “Can you give me a boost in the high mids around 2k?” when I really have no idea what that frequency is or what it means. But it seems to give me a clearer voice every time.

Following is an excerpt from a tour journal written by Sierra Lundy, who, along with Jon Middleton, is part of the indie folk duo Ocie Elliott. This journal entry describes one day of a US tour undertaken last year with Australian folk band Hollow Coves.

GRACE CHANGES EVERYTHING

Yoga Events & Retreats at Predator Ridge, Vernon BC

Nine minutes before curtain call, I discovered two stubborn wasabi stains on my pants. I proudly whipped out my Tide-To-Go stick—I know myself—and went at the spots, succeeding only in turning them into white stains with smudged halos. Five minutes to go, I scrubbed them with soap, water and belligerence, and then they were watermarks dripping down my leg. I frantically pulled off a shoe to get one leg out and held the pant leg up to a hand dryer. They dried as subtle white blobs that I hoped would pass in the stage lights as soft lustre on the fabric. I always have backup pants, but those were crinkled and creased in all the wrong places (it somehow formed a bulge at the groin) and maybe looked even less professional than a milky way on the pant leg thigh.

During the set, my voice cut out at times, like the postCOVID laryngitis days, and was rickety and raspy from not being able to drink much water the day before: those “scenic pee breaks” on the side of the open road aren’t so easy for a woman, especially with eight boys around, so I had to be easy on my bladder in the van.

But the Minneapolis audience was kind and actually outdid LA in cheers and avidity. We could barely get a word in between songs, which was a relief, since I generally have more on-days than off, banter-wise. And then something happened that’s never happened to us in an opening slot: the entire audience sang Forest Floor with us. It wasn’t just one or two people that knew the words, it was a chorus overpowering our voices.

The performance wasn’t the best sonically, but it had personality and felt memorable and authentic. Since we had already sold out of our vinyl and CDs, we didn’t go out to the merch table.

After load-out, we blasted Britney Spears for the 20-minute ride to Ramada by Wyndham—I’d like to think this drastic shift from the heavy metal and robot sounds was made in my honour, being the only girl in the group, but the boys knew more Britney lyrics than I did.

Chris (tour manager and bass player) was pumped because Expedia told him he’d become a Ramada by Wyndham gold member and would get a free drink upon arrival, but he was denied hard by the sullen-faced check-in man.

That same sad man decided to slip our receipt under the door at 1:45 am, just as I was lying in bed, wide-eyed, listening to the room creak after something violently crashed to the floor in the bathroom. My spine was covered in spiky shifters as I imagined that noise coming from a vent cover which someone pushed open and was currently crawling through to get us. The room, and possibly the man too, were definitely haunted, and I was especially grieving the loss of Chris’s free drink at that moment.

Because of the haunting, Jon pushed back the alarm, giving us more sleep, but also less than half an hour to pack and put our faces together for a 9:30 am breakfast date with the Paper Kites. If you can’t tell, that is not written in a casual tone. They had become good pals with Hollow Coves from touring with them a while back, and our tour schedules happened to converge in the early hours, as they got in from a night drive in their sleeper bus and as we were rolling out to Chicago—where they had just been.

Even in laying at the fingertips of some imaginary hit man, I thought, as I drifted off: whether arriving or leaving, in the day or the dark, with Star Wars or Britney in my ears, romantic or not, the place I love to be the most is on tour.

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“

With each successful mortgage arrangement, I find immense satisfaction in knowing that I have played a part in turning dreams into reality.”

KHORRAM, Mortgage Broker |

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"A successful and lucrative business model"

Embracing a performing arts theme in this edition of Boulevard, the fashion team was thrilled to work with dancer, model and actor Vítor Freitas, who immigrated to Canada from Brazil in 2019. We were all treated to Vítor’s incredible talents on shoot day: his stunning movements, his ability to emote different feelings, and his bright personality that approached everything we threw at him with positivity and grace. Hailing from Saquarema, Brazil, Vítor has studied contemporary dance, ballet and ballroom dancing, and has performed in TV shows and a Netflix movie. Recently, he won Dance Victoria’s “Let It Move You” dance contest andhas studied at the Ballet Conservatory of Victoria. Among Vítor’s local credits is a performance with Pacific Opera Victoria as a tango dancer in the operatic film adaptation of For a Look or a Touch. On the modeling and acting side of his career, Vítor is represented by DEI talent agency.

PHOTO BY DARREN HULL