Vancouver Magazine September 2015

HOW TO DETOX IN

FRANCE

WHERE TO GET A DECENT MEAL

DOWNTOWN

WHY WE NEED A NEW

ST. PAUL’S

Plus

THE REAL ESTATE ISSUE

Living the

FALL FASHION Trends

DREAM

HOW TO GET

BY IN A CITY OF HOUSES WORTH $2.33M (!)

PLAY HOUSE

In 1973, a Vancouver Special cost $45,000.

Today, that would buy you the cutout in the base of this third-scale model

SEP TEMBER 2015

HAS OUR REAL ESTATE MARKET SPARKED A CLASS WAR?

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WHAT A MILLION BUCKS BUYS RIGHT NOW

(Blueberry farm, anyone?)

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Photo Michel Gibert. Special thanks: SANAA-Building, Zollverein World Heritage Site. Fabric Sculpture by jj-meyer.com. *Conditions apply, ask your store for more details.

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Date: July 23, 2015

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VOLUME 48

NUMBER 7

SEPT F E AT U R E S

54 The Million

Dollar Question

Skyrocketing home prices, elusive ownership data, an infuriated mass of the young and the middle class—just another day in the life of Vancouver real estate

By Kerry Gold

Cover: Clinton Hussey; styling Nicole Sjöstedt. This page: Evaan Kheraj; styling Luisa Rino

74 Free Style After a long, hot summer of utilitarian dressing, fall gifts us the opportunity to express our most authentic selves—from top to toe.

Get a head start on the season with these up-tothe-minute selections from across the fashion spectrum

FALL FASHION TRENDS THROUGH THE LENS OF PERSONAL STYLE, PG. 74

S E P T E M B E R 2 O 15 | VA N C O U V E R M A G A Z I N E

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SEPT

***

“THE COMMUNITY WANTS TO SAVE THE HOSPITAL. BUT I’M NOT SURE THAT’S POSSIBLE. MY FOCUS IS ON SAVING THE SERVICES”

—pg. 29

THE

THE

THE

44 TASTEMAKER

BRIEF DISH 20 VANCOUVER LIFE The flourish-

ing of luxury retail; an avian expert’s crucial relationship with YVR; financially marginalized young adults’ efforts to bend the ear of government PG. 24

24 BLOCK WATCH

Prioritizing the future of the city’s schools: what stays, what goes, what’s on its way 26 ON THE RECORD Natalie

Tin Yin Gan on how she and her colleagues address race and identity through dance 28 URBAN FIX

Those who once lobbied to keep St. Paul’s Hospital intact now concede it needs a new home 35 THE ESSENTIALS

PG. 84

From a perennial film fest to a Britpop legend—the best things to see and do this month

GOODS PLUS

An historic Chinatown address enters its next phase as an adventurous, thoroughly modern eatery

82 PERSONAL SHOPPER Make

16 FROM THE EDITOR John

both your home and your self seasonally appropriate with these fabulous finds

46 BRIFELY NOTED

84 MODEL CITIZEN At 82,

Burns draws a parallel between Vancouver’s ongoing transformation and his imminent departure from this magazine

WildTale Coastal Grill arrives in Yaletown, while La Brasserie gets resurrected on Davie Street

this model and design consultant proves style is not only timeless but ageless 86 NEW SHOPS

The city’s retail landscape is ever expanding. Here bland architecture of the office district, are our picks for tasty eats are yet to hottest recent arrivals be found

48 MOVEABLE FEAST Amidst the

50 THE DECANTER

90 MY SPACE

The best islands are unique and captivating. Often, so are the wines they produce

A frenzied life requires a tranquil home for two ambitious entrepreneurs

52 MIX MASTER

92 SWEAT EQUIT Y A recog-

Neglected for decades, a key pioneer from the early years of gin has returned to reclaim past glory

nized champion in Canada, this mountain biker is now aiming her wheels beyond our borders 94 FIELD TRIP

98 SNAP CHATTER Scenes

of philanthropy and star power from some of summer’s most glamorous social events

PG. 82

Va n m a g .co m See hundreds of winners from past Restaurant Awards, with chef videos and more PG. 48

10

Dorothy Miller: Trevor Brady

Yes, there is such a thing as heaven on Earth. Welcome to Provence

VA N C O U V E R M A G A Z I N E | S E P T E M B E R 2 O 15

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size: Full page (7.875” x 10.75”)

magazine: VancouVer magazine

FALL’S

NEW MOOD ExclusivEly ours design lab lord & Taylor s h o p t h e b ay. c o m

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We invite you to visit us at our new location

EDITOR-IN- CHIEF

John Burns ART DIRECTOR

Paul Roelofs SENIOR EDITOR

Michael White ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR

Naomi MacDougall TRAVEL & STYLE EDITOR

Amanda Ross ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR

Jenny Reed CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

Frances Bula, Christina Burridge, Mario Canseco, Petti Fong, Kerry Gold, Michael Harris, DJ Kearney, Neal McLennan, Fiona Morrow, Malcolm Parry, Guy Saddy, Jim Sutherland, Timothy Taylor, Daniel Wood CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS

Suzy Taekyung Kim Coloured Love 2015 Mixed media on panel 42” x 61”

Clinton Hussey, Evaan Kheraj, Joe McKendry (contributor illustrations), Andrew Querner, Carlo Ricci, John Sinal, Martin Tessler, Milos Tosic, Luis Valdizon EDITORIAL INTERNS

Julie Kanhnha, Jessica Roberts-Farina ART INTERN

Jamie Yeung

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VANCOUVER MAGAZINE is published 10 times a year by YP NextHome. Copyright 2015. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without publisher’s written permission. Not responsible for unsolicited editorial material. Privacy Policy: On occasion, we make our subscriber list available to carefully screened organizations whose product or service might interest you.

If you prefer that we not share your name and address (postal and/ or email), you can easily remove your name from our mailing lists by reaching us at any of the listed contact points. You can review our complete Privacy Policy at Vanmag.com. Subscriptions in Canada: one year $39.99. Subscriptions in the United States: one year $59.99. Rates include GST. Back issues $10, including postage and handling. All figures in Canadian funds. For address change, send old and new address to our circulation department. Indexed in the Canadian Magazine Index by Micromedia Ltd. and also in the Canadian Periodical Index. International standard serial no. ISSN 0380-9552. Canadian publications mail product sales agreement #40064924. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Circulation Dept., Suite 560, 2608 Granville St., Vancouver, B.C., V6H 3V3. Printed in Canada by Transcontinental Printing G.P. (LGM Graphics), 737 Moray St., Winnipeg, MB, R3J 3S9. All reproduction requests must be made to: COPIBEC (paper reproductions) 800717-2022, or CEDROM-SNi (electronic reproductions) 800-5635665. Distributed by Coast to Coast Ltd.

PROUDLY CELEBRATING OUR 48th ANNIVERSARY!

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A SOLID FOUNDATION

THIS

MONTH

THE CONNECTIONS SURVEY DATA IS STILL APT: HALF OF US BELIEVE THAT VANCOUVER IS BECOMING A

FROM THE EDITOR

The Big Picture

FOREIGN-OWNED RESORT TOWN, YET 62% STILL FEEL THEY BELONG. VANCOUVERFOUNDATION.CA

This is my final note as editor-in-chief. Thanks to this unique job I’ve had a chance to connect and engage with so many of the city’s best and brightest, from CEOs to sexologists

Only Connect as far as i’m concerned, one of the most interesting moments for this city happened three years ago, when the Vancouver Foundation released a report called Connections and Engagement. The study was significant for the questions it asked about who we are as a community. Do we know our neighbours?

Do we feel safe in our homes? Do we trust those around us? The responses weren’t always inspiring (in short, no) but did suggest a way for us to overcome some of the fears now dividing us.

It’s faddish these days to predict a time when we (or our kids) will work in nothing but service jobs, handing over all our paltry wages to offshore landlords who’ve parked their dirty money in the bank accounts of a handful of local developers controlling city hall. What hogwash. But it is true that real estate—at least, the old dream of a single family home on a quiet, leafy street—is not attainable for the bulk of Vancouverites. For many years, Kerry Gold has been studying the reasons for that shortfall; she summarizes them in this issue’s look at affordability (“The Million Dollar Question,” pg. 54). But the larger question—do we address this shift as self-interested competitors, or can we work together?—speaks to a moral choice addressed, I believe, in that Connections report: only through deeper relationships with all of those around us can we effect positive change.

Speaking of which, I’m making a change in my own life. This is my final note as editor-in-chief. I wrote my first the same month the Vancouver Foundation released its report, and thanks to this unique job I’ve had a chance to connect and engage with so many of the city’s best and brightest, from CEOs and scientists to chefs and sexologists. It’s been a PhD’s worth of study, and I’m grateful to have had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn first-hand how a city evolves and (hopefully) matures with the willing contribution of impassioned contributors.

That’s how magazines are made, too, so my final thanks go to the inspiring journalists and artists inside the office and out, who have made this magazine sing over the last 30 issues. And to you, my readers. Because in the end, I did it all for you. VM

john.burns@vancouvermagazine.com

16

I love all the old issues, but these have special pull.

Look them up on Vanmag.com

THE INNOCENCE PROJECT Life after wrongful conviction. By Joan McEwen, Oct. 2012 ADVERSE REACTIONS Victoria versus PharmaNet. By Paul Webster, Apr. 2013 ARRESTED DEVELOPMENTS The rise and fall of Steve Fonyo. By Guy Saddy, Oct. 2013 WAITING TO EXHALE What really makes Chip Wilson tick?

By Frances Bula, June 2014

Portrait: Evaan Kheraj; styling: Luisa Rino; clothing courtesy Holt Renfrew

JOHN BURNS

4

OF MY CHERISHED STORIES

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T I A A R C L I N E A L I G N E R O S E T F L O U MOO O I F LO S M D F I TA LI A L I V I N G D I V A N I E 1 5 A R P E R K A R T E L L H E R M A N M I L L E R PAO L A L E NT I A L E S S I F L O U

IT E L E M A M E TA L A R T E F O S C A R I N I S A N TA & C O L E G A N D I A B L A S C O K N O L L E X T R E M I S R O D A B O C C I M I N O T T I M D F I TA L I A K R I S T A L I A L I V I N

170 6 WES T 1S T AV E A R M O URY D I S T R IC T VA NCO UVER 6 04 6 8 3 1116 LI VI NG S PA CE. CO M

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Reecting Vancouver

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VA NC O U V E R L IF E

BL OCK WAT CH

ON THE RECORD

URBAN FIX

THE ESSENTIALS

“I’m concerned that what’s going on with the renewal of health facilities is that it’s a real-estate play”

T HE

PG. 32

The month in politics, real estate, business & culture

Game Changer there’s a revolution shaking up UBC, courtesy a group of powerhouse football alumni. In a bid to recapture the Vanier Cup glory days of the ’80s, sweeping changes to Thunderbirds staff, players, and facilities began with the December appointment of a new head coach. Blake Nill, transformative at the University of Calgary, has already made his mark: a new associate head coach (Cowtown colleague Steve Buratto), a new academic facility, new uniforms, and a stadium under renovation.

On the field, new talent—like impressive NCAA transfers Michael O’Connor (quarterback) and offensive linemen Jared Caputy and Ben Harrington—is also part of a plan to reverse a decade of basement stats and to make UBC, says Nill, “the top destination for student-athletes not only in British Columbia, but from across Canada.”

Carlo Ricci

From left: running back A.J. Blackwell, quarterback Michael O’Connor, and linebacker Ian Henderson prepare for the season, which starts with a homecoming game Sept. 12 versus Regina.

Gothunderbirds.ca

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MY THREE SONS ERIK NORDSTROM RUNS

THE

THE COMPANY WITH BROTHERS PETE AND BLAKE. GRANDPA EVERETT DID THE SAME

BRIEF

VA N C O U V E R L I F E

WITH BROTHERS ELMER AND LLOYD, ALL SONS OF FOUNDER JOHN W. NORDSTROM

Tr e n d i n g S t o r i e s

TARGET BAILED ON CANADA; GAP IS SET TO CLOSE 140 NORTH AMERICAN STORES

BY YEAR’S END. YET LUXURY THRIVES SHOPPING

Hey, Big Spender Judging from the construction dust, luxury brands are thriving in a tepid economy by super-sizing the boutique vibe

L 20

let’s get one thing straight: despite inhabiting the shell of a department store, being described on Wikipedia as a department store, and literally being a store with departments, Nordstrom is not, in fact, a department store.

“We’re a big store with an escalator, but our foundation is as a fashion specialty store,” clarifies co-president Erik Nordstrom.

The Seattle-based retailer opens its third Canadian location—a 230,000-square-foot, three-storey marvel—this month, and now is a crucial time for branding.

Nearby Holt Renfrew also disputes the label. “We’re not going to

buy like a department store or display like a department store. We’re going to shop the world,” explains Mark Derbyshire, president of Holt’s. “Last year we attended 164 runway shows. We introduced 35 new brands. And that’s because that’s what the people of Vancouver want to see in their shop.”

It’s no surprise these titans are keen to distance themselves from a descriptor they see as pejorative.

Separating the wheat from the Walmarts will be key to high-end stores’ success. In a tough consumer economy, it’s hard to be a mid-level retailer. Target bailed on Canada after two half-hearted years; the carcasses of abandoned Sears locations are scattered across the country (or rebuilt as a Nordstrom, in Vancouver’s case); Gap is set to close 140 North American stores by year’s end.

Yet luxury thrives. Before the dust from Nordstrom’s construction settled, Holt Renfrew began work on an expansion that will extend the showroom floor to 400,000 square

feet. This summer, McArthurGlen Designer Outlets opened for business, slinging Armani and Coach just outside the airport. Saks Fifth Avenue is rumoured to be coming to town in the next few years.

“There’s a lot of talk of luxury in Vancouver, but there’s nothing new about it. It’s been alive and well and flourishing for a long time,” says Derbyshire. “We’re cultivating existing relationships but also seeing new customers, who are either new to the city or at that point where looking good and feeling great is now part of your life.” As the city’s population grows, so does the number of people who see value in high-end experiences.

Holt Renfrew owes much of its success to the experiential nature of its shop. The soon-to-beupdated Vancouver location—part of a $300-million cross-country renovation plan—aims to “develop the intimacy of a boutique,” explains Derbyshire. “Retail should be fun; it should be about the thrill.

There’s something in the journey of

VA N C O U V E R M A G A Z I N E | S E P T E M B E R 2 O 15

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Jenny Reed

acquiring. Whether it starts with the valet or a spot to have your stuff monogrammed, today’s customer wants an experience.” (A personal shopper might spend time each month hosting a customer for meals or jetting off with them to markets and fashion shows, just to pick their brains.) “A huge part of my job is just listening.”

Nordstrom is ready to offer Vancouverites something special too, boasting a roster of decidedly un-cookie-cutter features in the new shop—think themed pop-ups curated by the director of creative projects, a concierge desk for making dinner reservations, and an in-store cocktail and wine bar. The store stocks plenty of Nordstrom exclusives, like Delvaux’s leather goods collection, alongside goodies from Vancouver designers (jewellers Poppy Finch and Melanie Auld; menswear line Wings + Horns).

It’s luxury, it’s local, it’s everything we love. After all, this is a city for which the special is truly special. We’ll spend all weekend picking up gourmet sausage from the nose-to-tail butcher, cute bags from entrepreneurial designers, and artisanal beer priced like rare Scotch. It’s no surprise high-end brands here are trying to get in on the action of big-box stores with a boutique vibe.

The faux-cobblestoned McArthurGlen also sells itself as something more than a place to snag a sweet deal on a Lolë sweater.

There’s the “European food hall” and a live-music series planned for the main square. “It should feel like a little village, somewhere to just come and look around and enjoy the experience,” says general manager Robert Thurlow, touring the site. “And if they shop? All the better.”—Stacey McLachlan

ZOOLOGY

LUXURY REBOOT

ON A WING AND A PRAYER CSI meets The Birds  Ildiko Szabo is accustomed to receiv-

The northwest corner of Robson and Granville was previously a César Pelli design infamously described as an “unending urinal wall” and “early washroom architecture.” James Cheng (locally, the Shangri-La and Fairmont Pacific Rim) is aiming for something less scatological—and tenants seem to approve. Alongside Nordstrom, the spot will host Boss, Kate Spade, and Ted Baker shops, as well as office space for Sony Pictures Imageworks, law firm Miller Thomson, and Microsoft

ing strange mail. “Take a look at this,” she says, pulling out a Ziploc bag. “It arrived last week.” Inside is a scrap of feather the size of a stamp—all that’s

along the barbs of feathers—jump into

left of a bird that met its end at YVR.

sharp relief. An owl’s, for example,

“Birds go through a jet engine incred-

feature blunt spikes; a duck’s have tri-

ibly fast, and often there is no blood

angles; and a hawk’s have long spines.

or visible trace left,” she says. “But

After determining bird family, Szabo will

sometimes you can wipe out the grease

try to pinpoint the species by finding a

in the engine and find the fluff.”

match in the museum’s collection.

Szabo’s task is to identify the spe-

Appropriate to her scientific spe-

cies this fluff came from, a job that

cialty, Szabo’s career path is uncon-

requires unique expertise as well as

ventional. Born in Paris to a Hungarian

access to a large number of bird speci-

father and a Canadian mother, she

mens. She qualifies on both counts: one

was raised in Montreal, then moved to

of only two people in the world certified

Vancouver. After a BSc in oceanography

as an avian forensic morphologist, she

from UBC, she coauthored a tabular key

is also an assistant curator at UBC’s

on zooplanktonic crustaceans, and did

Beaty Biodiversity Museum, which

work for the Canadian Wildlife Service:

houses 21,000 bird specimens.

“My first assignment was studying the

Identifying the remains is important

regurgitation of the Cassin’s auklet.”

because it helps airports devise effec-

After a few years of fieldwork she made

tive wildlife-control measures. Bird

a major detour, serving as a project

strikes can smash windows, damage

manager for a Vancouver construction

engines, even cause crashes. The cost

contractor before returning to academia

to commercial airlines worldwide is

to split the year between international

estimated at US$1.2 billion a year.

bird surveys and the Beaty.

American airports can send the

Today, in tandem with her curatorial

remains of birds killed in this way to the

duties, she maintains a Working With

Smithsonian Institution for free analy-

Birds webpage that many schools use as

sis. Canada has a costlier response. If

a tool and teaches a university course on

only blood and tissue—or “snarge” (short

preparing avian specimens. Holidays are

for snot and garbage)—are recovered,

often spent pursuing rare bird families.

they go to the Canadian Centre for DNA

Her most recent trip saw her slogging

Barcoding at the University of Guelph.

through the papyrus swamps of Uganda

DNA and the Beaty’s feather identifica-

in search of the shoebill—a bizarre,

tion cost $250 each, so not all airports

prehistoric-looking stork with a yellow

bother—fortunately for Szabo, who

beak shaped like a size 12 Dutch clog.

would otherwise be swamped.

Szabo finds her forensic work to be

The primary tool is a microscope.

an absorbing challenge. “When I get a

Under extreme magnification clues

package, I never know what’s going to be

about the barbules—filaments extending

inside. It’s like Christmas.”—Kerry Banks

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THE

BRIEF

VA N C O U V E R L I F E

Tr e n d i n g S t o r i e s

DEMOGR APHICS

Squeezed Out With no housing or jobs, and struggling to make it in an impossible city, a generation plots revenge for jennifer fox, 37, life in Vancouver has not turned out as she’d hoped. Despite having three university degrees and dreams of a West Coast home and family, she finds herself caught—like thousands of her contemporaries—with none of the accoutrements of success. She lives in a no-bedroom, 380-square-foot West End shoebox and is happy if her income as a research assistant at UBC leaves her $100 extra at month’s end.

Discouraged by the few job opportunities, massive education debt, and the conviction that life is passing them by, 10,000 members of the newly coined Generation Squeeze—ages 20 to 40s—have left the city in the last five years, according to Statistics Canada.

Too expensive. A career black hole.

In fact, every one of Fox’s dozen closest friends has moved away. “I feel stupid not leaving in 2010,” she admits. “I’m young and live in Vancouver: my glass is half-empty.”

This sentiment is familiar to Paul Kershaw, a professor at UBC’s School of Population and Public Health. Kershaw, 40, invented the term Generation Squeeze four years ago, and has spent the time since studying the economic and cultural trends that have led many of Canada’s frustrated millennials to ask themselves: “What am I doing wrong?” His conclusion?

Nothing, but 21st-century demographics and economics—and their own political apathy—have

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conspired against them. This is particularly true, he knows, in Vancouver. Security based on higher education, job opportunities, a good income, affordable home ownership, manageable debt, and optimism about the future—touchstones of the boomer generation—is elusive in one of the world’s most expensive cities.

The economic and demographic statistics Kershaw has gathered provide vivid comparisons between what boomers faced in 1975 and what their millennial counterparts encounter today.

Adjusted for inflation, the average household 40 years ago earned $65,000 (one family member working)—virtually the same as today’s $68,000 (two members working). But the average adjusted cost of housing in Metro Vancouver in 1975 ($251,000) is over three times higher today, at $813,000.

These ratios—typically two to three times worse for today’s Squeezers—apply to amount of student debt, likelihood of still living with parents, and chances of finding work in one’s chosen field. This, despite members of Generation Squeeze having higher levels of post-secondary education and working longer hours, often at two jobs.

Trying to overturn these odds is Iain Reeve, 32, who works as a union researcher by day and a Generation Squeeze organizer by night. He doesn’t blame the boomers, who by their numbers dictated

CRUEL SUMMER As the magazine went to press, area reservoirs were already standing a third empty. Responding to the worst drought in recent years, Metro Vancouver upped water restrictions to Stage 3.

This means no lawn sprinklers, “dormant” parks and boulevards, pools and hot tubs unfilled, cars unwashed… As the heat rises and we’re urged to cut usage by 20 percent, this question arises: Can we stop with the drought shaming and rule-breaking, and just all do the right thing?

Metrovancouver.org

the cultural trends of the ’60s and ’70s, and still define government priorities today. For example, every year Ottawa spends up to $40,000 on each person over 65, but less than $12,000 per person under 45. To redress this imbalance, Reeve, along with Jennifer Fox and 20 or so others—some, PhD-holding baristas—formed a Vancouver chapter of the new, 8,000-member Generation Squeeze (Gensqueeze.ca) in June.

The organization is a national lobby aimed at pressuring governments to pay attention to the crisis facing today’s alienated, underemployed, over-indebted youth. Its plan is modelled on the boomers’ million-member CARP (formerly the Canadian Association of Retired Persons). When pensions or health care get discussed, CARP by the tens of thousands speaks out and writes to MPs. But until now, no one has spoken for the often-cynical millennials.

The goal is to unite and amplify the voices of the Squeezed around economic and political issues that affect them: better terms on student loans; more affordable buying and renting of houses; a national child care program; jobcreation investments in innovative fields that don’t contribute to global warming.

Reeve, for one, is optimistic about this new chapter. “We need to mobilize. We need to get political. That’s what the boomers did.”—Daniel Wood

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* STRATHCONA IS THE CITY’S OLDEST

SURVIVING SCHOOL. ADDITIONS AND RENOS IN 1904, 1915, AND 1929 ARE NOW BEING

B L O C K WAT C H

RENEWED. A MORE COMPACT SCHOOL—THREE BUILDINGS, NOT FIVE—WILL OPEN IN FALL 2017

Real Estate

THE BIG PIC TURE

Class Warfare Facing a $15 million shortfall, the Vancouver school board is under pressure to cut costs.

Could real estate someday fix its financial woes?

UNIVERSITY HILL SECONDARY

SEISMIC S TAT US

STATS No. of schools 110 Average age 74

the struggle between the Vancouver school board and the provincial government has ground on ever since Gordon Campbell first brought the Liberals to power 14 years ago. (Certainly, the two bodies had their disagreements even before.) That means an entire generation of children has come of age on a battlefield, dodging bullets from both sides as standardized testing, the cancelling of various non-core programs, and two teachers’ strikes have redefined what was once a relatively peaceful system.

The latest salvo comes from independent auditor Ernst & Young, whose June 8 Report on the Special Advisor’s Review of the Vancouver Board of Education (District 39) recommends that to stanch financial hemorrhaging, the school board should consider selling—sorry, reducing “surplus capacity through an aggressive asset rationalization approach” to—19 unnamed schools, for revenues of up to $750 million.

24

That’s a mix of giving up leases (including Kitsilano’s Vinery Program) and offloading some school board properties. Chief Maquinna Annex, near Renfrew and East Second, already won’t be reopening this month, though the board is adamant it’s not planning to engage realtors anytime soon.

Maquinna was looking at 33 percent occupancy, and overall, student flight from underperforming schools, combined with shifting demographics, has seen facilities on the East Side run significantly emptier than those on the West; 37 buildings are threequarters full or less; of those, all but three— University Hill secondary, Sir William Osler elementary, and Sir Wilfrid Laurier Annex—are east of Main Street.

For newly elected head trustee Fraser Ballantyne (the previous chair lasted six months), these considerations and many more will reignite after Labour Day, as real estate becomes mandatory curriculum for many buildings.—John Burns

Surplus seats across the district 8,952 Oldest school still running * Strathcona Elementary Junior Building (built 1897) Schools at considerable risk of seismic damage 40 With capital projects under way 29 Total area of elementary and secondary schools 4.4 million square feet

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Sir William Macdonald: Dan Toulgoet; International Village Elementary courtesy Francl Architecture

648 (65% capacity) Purpose-built FU T URE U. Hill recently moved into this former National Research Council facility, retrofitted at a cost of $38 million PRO JEC TED ENROLMENT

SCHOOL

Stats from Vancouver School Board and its 2013/14 capital plan. Occupancies courtesy Vancouver Sun

3228 Ross Dr. BUILT 2013

30–50%

50–75%

Sir William Macdonald Elementary 1950 E. Hastings St. BUILT 1905 70 (36% capacity) Highest risk of damage F U T URE Listed on a 2010 closures report, this fiercely loved community icon—home to the Aboriginal Focus School—isn’t going anywhere now PRO JEC TED ENROLMENT SEISMIC S TAT US

International Village Elementary 55 Expo Blvd.

BUILT 2017 (expected) 510 (100% capacity) The first of five potential new schools to be funded; the rest are under review in the East Fraser Lands, UBC’s Wesbrook Village, the West End, and Coal Harbour PRO JEC TED ENROLMENT

Sir William Macdonald: Dan Toulgoet; International Village Elementary courtesy Francl Architecture

F U T URE

M A IN S T REE T

Stats from Vancouver School Board and its 2013/14 capital plan. Occupancies courtesy Vancouver Sun

2015 PROJECTED CAPACITY

Sir Wilfrid Laurier Annex 855 W. 59th Ave. BUILT 1969 58 (56% capacity) Completed F U T URE A densifying Cambie Corridor means potential additions PRO JEC TED ENROLMENT SEISMIC S TAT US

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ON THE RECORD

 PET TI FONG

Newsmakers

The Inbetweener

PF In one of Hong Kong Exile’s performances, Eatingthegame, you use racialized perceptions of foreign investment as a narrative.

Natalie Tin Yin Gan is the dancer in Hong Kong Exile Arts.

How do you take a topic that everyWith Milton Lim (theatre) and Remy Siu (music), she creates one has an opinion on and move it performances that consider a most complex and Vancouver-centric into an artistic form? question: what does it mean to be Canadian-born Chinese?

NG The great thing about art is there is space for all of these conversations to converge. That’s the PETTI FONG Exile is a strong word exciting thing about art and perfor your group’s name. Why use formance: because it’s in live time, that particular term? it doesn’t have to move in a linear NATALIE GAN It is provocative, but way. It can take you places and that’s not necessarily why we were then bring you back. drawn to it. In this age of globaliza- PF Who is your audience? tion and mobility, a lot of people are, NG We hope we’re able to engage more than just those who underfor one reason or another, exiled.

PF You were born in Canada. How stand the exile part. There is a can you feel exiled from a place pervasive tension out there— where you’ve never lived? strife and concern about what’s hapNG For us, as second-generation pening, how this tension is building Chinese, there is a space between up. Again, what’s the motherland? familiarity and being foreigners.

What’s our identity? That’s what the As Chinese, we are trying to figure Umbrella Movement was about.

IN BRIEF Natalie Tin Yin Gan, 26, studied dance and international development at SFU. This month, the troupe’s absurdist show Nineeight plays at Richmond’s Gateway Theatre Pacific Festival

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out where our homeland is, and the work we’re creating has a lot to do with notions of motherland and how tenuous and artificial that notion is as immigrants. We’re exploring when that becomes relevant.

PF So what’s the answer?

NG Motherland becomes important at times of political, social, and geographical transition. The questions are, what do you perceive to be the motherland? Is it changing? Who calls the shots? Who do you pledge allegiance to?

PF What shaped you more as an artist—the Tiananmen Square uprising in 1989 or the Hong Kong handover in 1997?

NG Tiananmen was influential, but in all honesty I was too young at the time to understand. But the handover from the British took place when I was just under 10; it’s history that I can’t relegate to the past. You can wonder, why does it matter if I wasn’t there? I challenge the idea that because I wasn’t there, it doesn’t have relevance to me now. VM

John Sinal

IN THIS AGE OF GLOBALIZATION AND MOBILITY, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE, FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER, EXILED

2015-07-21 3:54 PM

+

WITH GREAT POWER, COMES GREAT CONVERSATION BE A PART OF IT! The next Vancouver magazine + Brian Jessel BMW M Power Speaker Series takes place on Monday, September 14. Join Michael Audain, Polygon Homes Chair and Audain Art Museum founder, in conversation with Anthony von Mandl, proprietor of Mission Hill Family Estate.

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Recap: The July 6 Event The third instalment of the M Power Series featured Anne Giardini, SFU Chancellor and Jody Wilson-Raybould, Vancouver Granville Liberal candidate, discussing the importance of trust in business, politics and personal relationships. More than 120 guests and VIPs enjoyed wine from Richard Massey Wine and Spirits, beer from Big River Brewing Co. and food from Truffles Fine Foods.

Anne Giardini and Jody Wilson-Raybould share their insights about trust

The Q + A session gives guests a chance to ask the experts

JUST ONE MORE M POWER EVENT LEFT THIS YEAR: Monday, November 2, 2015

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 FR ANCES BUL A

Civic Af fairs

Mission Critical This month, St. Paul’s begins a campaign to win hearts and minds as it plans a move to the Flats. Let the PR begin illustr ation by rob dobi

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it’s not even a full moon or anything—just a regular Tuesday morning, yet still the emergency department at St. Paul’s Hospital looks one step away from collapse.

Two ambulances jostle for space in the five-stall lot outside. In the corridor that handles overflow, an

elderly woman wearing a breathing mask lies on a bed next to the reception area. Two more women lie in beds beside her, occasionally bumped by people rounding the corner too abruptly. Off to the side, an older man in a baseball hat is quivering slightly as he

waits, tranquil enough that he doesn’t appear to need removal to the Acute Behavioural Stabilization Unit, whose doors stand behind him. Ashley Lis, a business administration student at BCIT, 29, is having blood taken while her boyfriend, still in his construction vest, holds her hand. Gerald Blaney, a 59-year-old Sliammon band member, walks gingerly through, a cane in one hand, an IV tube poking out of his Canucks T-shirt, the legacy of near-death complications from gallstones earlier in the year. What this random assortment of humans has in common is that they’ve all made the pilgrimage—from the West End, Powell River, the Downtown Eastside—to be cared for in this 121-year-old institution.

St. Paul’s isn’t just another hospital. Its hold on people comes partly from the building itself. The second-oldest facility in the province squats, like something from a Victorian fever dream, between hotels and motels, churches, condo towers, and shabby low-rises. But it’s not just looks that set it apart.

St. Paul’s is also the treasured neighbourhood hospital for two unique communities. On the one hand, seniors, singles, gays, immigrants, and families leading the West Coast version of a scrappy New York City life. On the other, our poorest, most messed-up citizens, for whom the emergency room is a lighthouse guiding the way home. It’s intensely local but serves people across the province in key specialties: heart transplants, kidney and renal care, HIV and AIDS research. It embodies the complexity of the city in a way the bland, ’50s-ish Vancouver General never could.

And then, news this spring that after years of teeter-tottering, the

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St. Paul’s has been seen as the hospital that belongs to the West End for decades.

But 10 people from outside Vancouver become patients in the hospital every year for each one person in the West End

province and the Catholic-based Providence Health Care, which runs St. Paul’s, will move it just outside the Downtown Eastside, to a field that now sits empty beside the train station. When a similar announcement was made in 2003, West Enders rushed to the barricades. Political foes came together. Everyone agreed: St. Paul’s had to stay. NDP-affiliated Aaron Jasper was part of the group that formed. He invited Liberal MLA Lorne Mayencourt to join him, and Mayencourt became a strong voice in the new Liberal caucus arguing that the hospital should be saved.

“Maybe this time they’ve won,” says Jasper now. A realtor who became a Vision park-board commissioner (partly as a result of the profile he developed during the hospital fight), he’s back to selling real estate full-time. He admits that he’s moved on, busy with two young kids (born at St. Paul’s). “It doesn’t seem like the same pushback as 11 years ago.”

Other people active a decade ago have also let go. Some are ill.

A few have died. Even people who use the hospital aren’t clinging to the existing St. Paul’s. Gerald Blaney doesn’t think it matters where in the city the hospital is. “I’m leaning to a new building,” he says. Ashley Lis figures it’s just another few stops on the SkyTrain; her main concern that there be something in the West End beyond walk-in clinics after St. Paul’s moves on.

The week of the announcement, city council passed a motion supporting the plan. (Mayor Gregor Robertson claimed to be surprised by the news.) To be sure, there have been community meetings with anxious seniors. Some have complained about the condos that

will take its place; a few have asked how the new hospital, to be built on False Creek fill, will survive an earthquake. MLA Spencer Chandra Herbert, a fierce attacker on other issues (new casinos, BC Place cost overruns), sounds pragmatic on the subject. “The community wants to save the hospital,” he says on a quiet morning in his Denman Street office. “But I’m not sure that’s possible. My focus is on saving the services.” Its fate seems set. with each passing year, it leans ever more eastward.

With psychiatrists like Bill MacEwan and Steve Mathias, researchers like Julio Montaner and Evan Wood, the hospital has turned into a base camp for services and research among the crummy residential hotels, rooming houses, and streets of the Downtown Eastside.

More than half of all ambulance callouts to St. Paul’s now come from that benighted area.

Even the medical staff, once divided about leaving downtown when so many of their offices were adjacent, are resigned. More than resigned, they’re done with working in an old building. Between 2003, when the fight to stay peaked, and 2014 there were endless problems: the electrical system blew; elevators didn’t work; plumbing leaked; and always there was the knowledge that an earthquake could bring the whole place down. Last year, staff went through a planning exercise meant to get them excited about how the hospital could be renovated and improved. No one was inspired. They would still end up with half their beds in multipatient rooms, something the research unequivocally says leads to longer stays and more infections.

They’d still be working in a complicated, rambling old complex with

OPERATING FUNDS For years there’s been a note in city financial statements about an option to buy an unnamed property whose owners have until May 2017 to proceed with their “intended development.”

That land, valued in 2014 statements at $38 million, is the 18.5-acre Station Street site for St. Paul’s. Before the tech bubble popped in 2001,a local owner named Ron Schroeder was going to develop it as a high-tech park, but the property passed to a bank, then to the nonprofi t formed by St. Paul’s supporters to hold it for future hospital development.

(Much hay has been made about those supporters’ Liberal links.)

departments plunked randomly across several buildings, radiology still a block and a half from the emergency ward.

An imperfect renovation was still going to take a massive amount of money. And money, it turned out, would be onerous to raise. Back in 2012, when Premier Christy Clark was making vote-winning campaign commitments, she said her government would provide $500 million for renovations. Unstated was the fact that the half-billion would be (at most) half of what was needed; anything more would have to come from fundraising or leveraging new condos on-site or whatever else Providence could think of to keep St. Paul’s where it was. As far as the hospital’s board could see, the funding gap was $350 million.

St. Paul’s found itself in the same terrain that Vancouver Art Gallery director Kathleen Bartels identified with her own historic albatross, which she considered at one point expanding above and below ground: not many people want to give to renovate or construct additions. At St. Paul’s, most of the money would be needed just to redo the existing buildings; the only new structure would be a tower with ambulatory facilities on the Thurlow side. “We took the concept plan out for a walk among the senior philanthropic community. There was zero enthusiasm for a renovation or a building at the back,” says Geoff Plant, who just retired as chair of the Providence board. “And the guy who was the clearest no was Jimmy.” Jim Pattison is a powerful force in the city: “His support counts for a lot.” That’s when Plant, once B.C.’s attorney general, knew it was over. Where Pattison goes, people follow (transit excepting).

In the meantime, another board member, real-estate wizard Bob

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Left: St. Paul’s, 1898. Members of the Sisters of Providence moved north from Portland and purchased the lot on Burrard for $9,000.

In 1894, they opened the 25-bed hospital, named for PierrePaul Durieu, the area’s first bishop.

Right: the graduating class of the St. Paul’s School of Nursing, circa 1927. City of Vancouver Archives

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Lee, was out for coffee one day in early 2013 with a man connected to an 18.5-acre site on Station Street.

It’s land that the province had been hanging on to since 2004, paying three-quarters of a million a year in taxes, through a nonprofit called the Vancouver Esperanza Society.

The chair of that group is Hugh Magee. At his coffee with Magee, Lee put his real-estate brain to work: “Government promised $500 million. I said we could get $400 million on the land”—meaning both the False Creek and Burrard sites. That would leave relatively little cash, at least in the hospitalfundraising universe, to raise.

Quietly, Providence hatched a new business plan that it took to the province by June of that year. Meetings about how it would work went on for months, but the circle was small and few rumours trickled out. I heard several times that moving St. Paul’s to the False Creek Flats was under consideration, but a Providence spokesperson said no, not in the cards. When I mentioned it to the premier a couple of times, she went into deep message mode, talking about how

vice-president in charge of developing the new clinical plan. “It’s about transforming how we deliver health care.” Sitting in one of the many the real deciding factor Providence buildings scattered in came from another directhe blocks near St. Paul’s, Byres, tion entirely. Like every provincial earnestly explains the vision. government, ours struggles with The idea, which has received health-care costs. B.C. has allocated relatively little attention, is to have $31 billion in 2015/16 to the Minis- a core hospital with traditional try of Health, out of a total budget acute care—but one in line with of $46 billion. Both Providence and policies the province has been those involved with the health file enacting over the past couple of got excited about the idea of using years. Under the ambitious new a revamped St. Paul’s to deliver plan, expensive acute-care beds health care in a different way— will be reserved for those who something that hadn’t been hapreally need acute care, while othpening while the government kept ers—frail older people who need committing tens of millions on one intensive residential care, patients hospital fix-up after another. “Why who end up in emergency due to don’t we look at this as an opporlack of alternatives, those who just tunity to do something new?” was need good drop-in services—will an idea that got everyone excited, be helped in other ways. says Plant. The health ministry was Apart from emergency services, developing models and policies on the new St. Paul’s will have areas how to remake the care system, for residential care, AIDS care, and St. Paul’s could be the proof of a mental-health and addictions concept, not so much a hospital as a block, and a primary-care service campus of medical services. open 24 hours a day. There may “This is not about replacing a be additional connected services hospital,” confirms David Byres, as well: research facilities, staff a former nurse who is now the daycares, medical offices. “This is

the province was too strapped for big spends. In the meantime, those in the know worked on.

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A R A R E CO L L E C T I O N O F WAT E R F R O N T H O M E S A limited collection of townhome and apartment residences has come to the North Vancouver waterfront, alongside magniďŹ cent Cates Park and near charming Deep Cove.

3919 DOLLARTON HIGHWAY NORTH VANCOUVER OPEN NOON TO 6PM DAILY (EXCEPT FRIDAY) TELEPHONE 604.929.5746

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Two views from 1942. Left: babies in the nursery.

Right: nurses and children during a wartime air-raid drill.

City of Vancouver Archives

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a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Byres says. “If we really do things differently, it will be a beacon for the country and for the world.”

That’s a best-case vision. The danger is a new hospital, built with a different mix of acute and nonacute beds, opening without healthcare delivery having changed at all: people will still need acute care, but it won’t be available.

This all requires a heavy dose of salesmanship. Byres and project lead Neil MacConnell have already started meeting with community and business groups. In September, they start full-on community engagement. MacConnell admits he lies awake at night worrying about the magnitude of all that has to be done. Not just the $800 million or so that Providence needs to get out of its real-estate assets, or the fiendishly complex plan for the new campus, but the daunting challenge of turning our Queen Mary of a health system in a new direction. “We can’t afford to lose our grip in making this a reality. Everybody needs to be working together.”

What everybody needs in

exchange is details, now conspicuous in their absence. One key partner is at 12th and Cambie. City manager Penny Ballem, uniquely qualified as a former deputy health minister to assess the move, supports it, always has. When she was in Victoria, she appeared at Treasury Board a number of times and was baffled by the emotion and the politics surrounding discussion of St. Paul’s. For her, as for many others, it’s is a provincial resource that needs efficient, new facilities. “The notion that this is a little city hospital is just dead wrong,” she says.

“It desperately needs renewal.”

She acknowledges it’s not her role to start dictating what health services look like, but the city has “a real, vested interest in this.

People who move here are looking at these things. At the end of the day, it is our business.” So she supports the theory; it’s the reality that worries her. “There is a whole opportunity to model a new way of working,” she says. “But there have to be the resources to go with it.”

Talk about maximizing realestate value worries her. “I’m concerned that what’s going on with

the renewal of health facilities is that it’s a real-estate play,” she says. In meetings and emails with Providence officials and consultants, she and Brian Jackson, the city’s general manager of planning, “told them there will be no market residential in the Flats.”

Or social housing, another idea that was floated. “We have to really protect job space down there.” It’s unclear exactly how Providence plans to get the $400 million Bob Lee envisioned.

Aaron Jasper is concerned too, wondering whether it’s all just a land grab on a grander level, with Mount Saint Joseph (another Providence property) also in the mix. Geoff Plant acknowledges that Providence may use other land assets to help pay the bills, but not Mount St. Joe’s, a beloved small hospital in Mount Pleasant. “There are important communities of loyalty you have to manage,” he says diplomatically. “Chinese Canadians have a great attachment to Mount Saint Joseph.” Analysis of what assets will be leveraged and how is ongoing, with those details, like so many, to be released…soon. VM

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THE ESSENTIALS

S t u f f You Should Do

Filmmaker Charles Wilkinson in his Deep Cove home studio.

On the monitor, Haida Gwaii: On the Edge of the World. Behind, a souvenir from Highlander

Carlo Ricci

Legends of the Fall This month brings must-see music, movies, and visual arts from world-renowned talents to our city’s venues

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 FIONA MORROW

S t u f f You Should Do

F I L M F E S T I VA L

The Best Revenge

Partners in life and film, Tina Schliesser and Charles Wilkinson

To understand the fight between resources and environment, one documentarist turns to Haida Gwaii. The hope he finds is surprising HAIDA GWAII: ON THE EDGE OF THE WORLD, VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

for charles wilkinson, haida Gwaii was a life-changing destination.

The documentary filmmaker had travelled to the archipelago to work on the final part of an environmental trilogy he began in 2011 with Peace Out, a look at the impact of fracking in northern B.C., and continued with 2013’s Oil Sands Karaoke, a glimpse into life in Alberta’s tar sands.

He spent several months on Haida Gwaii, interviewing locals working in everything from solar power to marine biology, organic farming to kelp harvesting. Haida Gwaii: On the Edge of the World captures a community for whom living a simple life is the greatest act of resistance. The islands’ beauty is inescapable, but he digs below the postcard views to find a history marked with successful push-back by the Haida.

“It’s very noticeable that this is Haida land,” he says, on the phone from Deep Cove.

“They are dominant, yet they have been so smart in welcoming collaboration to protect their environment.”

With the Haida in principal control of logging and fishing, these resource industries are returning to the sustainable model that flourished before contact. “What hits you with real force,” he continues, “is that the first European traders, so determined to plunder all the natural resources they found in the New World, missed the most valuable

natural resource of all: the sustainability system of the First Nations.”

Wilkinson may have a green agenda, but his documentaries are not polemics: instead, he draws audiences in by looking at issues through the eyes of those living amidst the resource extraction. He himself came to the issue late, forced to confront his complacency after asking an acquaintance if climate change was as big a deal as people were making out. “They looked at me, incredulous, and said, ‘Where have you been?’ ” The admonishment was enough to turn his focus away from the good living he was making as a director of episodic TV (Road to Avonlea, Highlander) and set off for northern B.C. with his producer and life partner, Tina Schliesser. Their films have been well received: Haida Gwaii won best Canadian documentary at Hot Docs in Toronto earlier this year.

The sense that it’s not too late to change course to protect B.C.’s coast is evident in the documentary. But, Wilkinson says, that’s not to overlook the coming fight. “I’ve been surprised to find many people who believe the First Nations are our last hope,” he says.

“White society has a lot to lose if they stand up and fight, but look at how put-upon the First Nations communities are. The very fact they don’t have a lot to lose is what makes them such a threat to the political agenda.”

DIRECTOR’S CUTS

Programming director Alan Franey’s early picks for this year’s VIFF THE MEASURE OF A MAN (FRANCE) “Vincent Lindon took

the best actor award at Cannes this year, playing a man forced to work as a security guard in a supermarket after losing a good job. Most of the cast is made up of non-actors playing themselves. It’s a touching and very real eye-opener into French economics.”

STEAK (R)EVOLUTION (FRANCE)

“This globe-trotting documentary looks at best practices and traditions in cattle rearing and ecology—as well as the different cooking traditions—found from Argentina to Scotland to Japan. It’s beautiful to go from country to country and see people working in the fields with animals.”

VICTORIA (GERMANY)

“A cinematic treat, all shot in one take—no cuts at all. The script is also truly gripping, forcing you to constantly re-evaluate your view of the characters as you spend a summer’s night with them. Unexpected and wonderful.”

VERY SEMI-SERIOUS (USA)

“This documentary about the cartoonists at the New Yorker is fascinating. We meet these people and see how the magazine comes together every week. Following these eccentric cartoonists as they try and make sense of life is a brilliant device.”

LOVE IS ALL: 100 YEARS OF LOVE AND COURTSHIP (UK)

“A beautiful, breezy collage of British movie history, culled from the archives and cut to a soundtrack from ex-Pulp guitarist Richard Hawley. It really is so delightful and romantic.”

THE VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL RUNS SEPT. 24 TO OCT. 9. FOR SHOWTIMES AND MORE INFORMATION, SEE VIFF.ORG

36

VA N C O U V E R M A G A Z I N E | S E P T E M B E R 2 O 15

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Be a Vancouver VIP

Sign up for our newsletter and our contests at VanMag.com to snag exclusive party invites, win prizes and receive special offers from our local partners.

The new VanMag.com—your playbook for our playground.

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15-07-24 3:19 PM

STAR POWER THE VSO HOSTS ASTRONAUT

THE

GUITARIST CHRIS HADFIELD IN A PROGRAM

BRIEF

INCLUDING, NATURALLY, HOLST’S PLANETS

THE ESSENTIALS

AND ELTON JOHN’S “ROCKET MAN.” GET TICKETS NOW FOR SHOWS APR. 1 & 2, 2016

S t u f f You Should Do

VISUAL ART

The Passionate Eye Then and now, the city through the lens of a prodigal son GREG GIRARD, TO SEPT. 12. MONTE CLARK GALLERY

greg girard is best known for his images of modern-day Southeast Asia, where he lived and travelled extensively, beginning in the early 1970s. Since returning to Vancouver in 2011, he has been revisiting his early works, unearthing untouched contact sheets and developing them into new prints.

These works provide a record of the city at once nostalgic and startling. They also show the beginnings of Girard’s own point of view: generally, subjects are on the margins or hidden from mainstream view (burlesque at the PNE; life in

the pool halls, diners, and car lots of the Downtown Eastside).

The evolution is ongoing, but many points on the path are here on display, these early pieces contrasted with more recent views of the city he left behind decades ago.

Again, his eye has been taken by elements usually left out of Vancouver’s narrative as an international destination defined by towers of glass and natural beauty. Girard instead focuses on what keeps the city moving, chronicling the heavy industry still to be found on the docks. Monteclarkgallery.com

CL ASSICAL MUSIC

ROCKET MAN Bramwell Tovey on building a season at the VSO “every season is curated by myself and the programming committee. We always try and hit the zeitgeist in some way, and we’ve been very lucky so far.

This season, we’re opening with a bang. We have two incredible women: Miriam Fried, one of the greatest violinists of the past

38

50 years; and a new work from Canadian composer Vivian Fung [Sept. 26 & 28]. Opening nights used to be an entrenchment in the classics, but we’ve incorporated new pieces to great success.

“Every year, we also have landmark concerts. This season, we are delighted to have the Kronos Quartet [Feb.; dates to be confirmed] as part of the New Music Festival, playing both alone and with the VSO. And then legendary violinist Itzhak Perlman [Mar. 2] performs in a program that includes Max Bruch and John Williams’s extraordinary theme from Schindler’s List.

“Every arts organization—just like every business—has to constantly reinvent itself, and I don’t

Greg Girard, Untitled, c.1970.

Archival pigment print Courtesy of the artist and Monte Clark Gallery

regard that as a pressure, but rather a great stimulation. When we bring in artists such as Anoushka Shankar or Lang Lang, it has paid off for us big time. It is our remit to introduce music to people across the board, and I am pretty proud of what we have achieved. This season we have the Chinese national circus [Sept. 2] and our hugely popular Bollywood night [Sept. 23].

“When I joined the VSO in 2000, I came with the philosophy that we would build this cultural institution brick by brick—every handshake helps. If you are constantly out making those connections, the community tends to come out for you. It’s not rocket science.” Vancouversymphony.ca

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1

2015-07-23

10:16 AM

Join us!

Friday, November 13, 2015 5:30pm - 9:00pm, dancing to follow.

Fairmont Hotel Vancouver As we present the inaugural Big Sister Luminary Award to Fiona Macfarlane, Managing Partner and Chief Inclusiveness Officer at Ernst and Young.

The Luminary Award honors an outstanding individual, male or female, who has distinguished themselves as a mentor in our community who also embodies our core values; we champion potential, every connection counts, and showing up matters. Fiona leads with these values every day. Her particular focus has been on creating diversity in the workplace, and access to education and employment for disadvantaged community groups.

2015 marks the 55th anniversary of Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland.

We hope you can help us reach our goal of raising enough funds to support 110 life-changing matches in our community. Each match between a “Big” and a “Little” costs $2,000. We encourage you to learn more about our mentoring programs by visiting our website: www.bigsisters.bc.ca

Tickets: $250 Tables of 10: $2,500 To purchase ticket(s) or table(s) or to inquire about sponsorship opportunities, please contact us at: 604.873.4525 ext. 321 or adubelko@bigsisters.bc.ca

This year, Big Sisters has touched the lives of 767 at-risk girls in the Lower Mainland. Help us continue to support girls by purchasing a ticket, or becoming a sponsor.

PRESENTING SPONSOR:

EXCLUSIVE AWARD SPONSOR:

PETER & JOANNE BROWN FOUNDAT ION

DIAMOND SPONSOR:

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MEDIA PARTNER:

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2015-07-23 12:12 PM

THE WHO TURNS 50! TALKING ’BOUT A WHOLE OTHER GENERATION,

THE

THE MOD KINGS COME TO TOWN ONE LAST TIME (THEY SAY) SEPT. 29.

RUMOURS OF A POST-WHO COLLAB ARE ALREADY IN THE WIND, BUT

BRIEF

THE ESSENTIALS

FIRST, SURVIVING FOUNDERS ROGER DALTREY, 71, AND PETE TOWNSHEND, 70, START UP THE WINDMILL AGAIN. TICKETMASTER.CA

S t u f f You Should Do

SUBHE AD 4

POP MUSIC

Talks Like a Pirate ROCK MUSIC

Quebec chanteuse Coeur de Pirate shares her last meal, perfect day, and desert-island discs COEUR DE PIRATE, SEPT. 19. COMMODORE BALLROOM

the québécois singer-songwriter born Béatrice Martin released third album Roses on Aug. 28, follow-up to 2012’s Blonde. That year, the artist, now 25, won Francophone Artist of the Year at the Junos.

IT MUST BE JELLY

the Casino de Paris.

Favourite city? Berlin.

Describe your perfect day. Work out in the morning, light dancing after, picnicking in the park, and watching Netflix in the evening.

When and where were you happiest?

Who are you listening to today? Years & Years.

The morning after my daughter was born. I was

Vinyl or digital? Digital.

in the hospital, but I felt so connected to my

You can listen to fi ve albums for the rest of your

family and so in love.

life. What are they? The Rolling Stones, Sticky

What is your proudest achievement?

Fingers; Bon Iver, For Emma, Forever Ago; Oasis,

Being a parent every day.

(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?; Amy Wine-

It’s your last meal. What’s on the menu?

 After a (what some might call over-

house, Back to Black; Bright Eyes, Cassadaga.

Avocado, poached egg, whole-grain toast.

extended) period of merely competent

Best gig ever (not your own)? Arcade Fire at

Timbreconcerts.com

’Cause the Jam didn’t shake like that PAUL WELLER SEPT. 29. COMMODORE BALLROOM

rock albums, Paul Weller roused himself a decade ago and started throwing ideas together again. The results—

S P E C TA C L E

which experimented with everything from dub reggae to Krautrock and back through jazz—weren’t all exactly understood or appreciated by his longtime fans, but with this year’s slightly psychedelic, upbeat Saturns Pattern,

HIP-HOPE

he appears to have found his groove again. Now 57, Weller is also showing

In a concert for voice and body, two sons of immigration preach tolerance

up clean and sober, having kicked the

BLACKBIRD, FLY, SEPT. 25. CHAN CENTRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

sauce fi ve years ago.

Like any Weller gig, his stand at

Add the social activism that

the Commodore should gather an

 Composer/musician Daniel

eclectic audience of die-hards,

Bernard Roumain and spoken-

forays into everything from

devoted to one or another of his

word artist Marc Bamuthi

the avant-garde to hip-hop,

Blackbird, Fly—through music,

phases—from the pounding post-punk

Joseph share more than a

Roumain (known as DBR) is

movement, narrative, and the

mod beats of the Jam through the cool,

sensibility. Both are sons of

a musician celebrated for his

richness of Haitian folklore—is

mellifluous soul-fuelled funk of the

Haitian immigrants to the U.S.,

voracious appetite for col-

a determined attempt to illumi-

Style Council and (skipping the rock

and their experience and the

laboration and eclecticism—

nate universal themes of inclu-

years) up to this past summer, when

struggles of those around

the New York Times called him

sion and tolerance through an

he shared a bill at Glastonbury with the

them have inspired them to

“about as omnivorous as a

intimate exploration of shared

Who. Commodoreballroom.com

educate and empower others.

contemporary artist gets.”

strife. Chancentre.com

40

With a résumé that includes

powers Joseph’s poetry, and

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“We focus on the small details that move ordinary to extraordinary.”

introducing executive chef Montgomery Lau | secretlocation.ca

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2015-07-22 10:53 AM

TA S T E M A K ER

MO VA B L E F E A S T

THE DECANTER

MIX MASTER

“Sometimes you just need a world-class culinary brain to come up with combinations like this that are innovative yet perfectly logical” PG. 45

T HE Hot restaurants, food trends, wines & chefs

Slice of Life when stanislava oben and her family moved from Slovakia to Canada in 1995, she fell in love with traditional North American pies, but she felt they often lacked the “lightness and melt-in-your-mouth quality” of the pastries she had enjoyed in Europe. After studying under German-born master pastry chef Marco Ropke, she and husband Christopher opened Lime & Moon Pie Company on Bowen Island in 2012. The venture has been such a success that the couple launches a second location, in Yaletown (“The focal point of Vancouver’s downtown food scene,” she says), early this month. Using local, organic ingredients whenever possible, she aims to “combine the sophistication of European pastry with the wholesomeness of the North American pie”—a mandate that applies to creations like chocolatecrusted walnut pie, cranberry shortbread, and savoury tourtière.

A percentage of all sales goes to local and international charities.

LIME & MOON PIE COMPANY

Milos Tosic

1066 Mainland St. Caption Limeandmoon.com

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2015-07-24 3:17 PM

FALKEN REYNOLDS INTERIORS, IN COLLABORATION

THE

DISH

WITH DOMAIN CREATIVE, REDESIGNED THE SAI WOO SPACE, WHICH OPENED AS THE ORIGINAL SAI WOO

TA S T E M A K E R

CHOP SUEY HOUSE IN 1925

Recently Reviewed

World’s Fare

Sai Woo Chop Suey House, which was the original tenant at 158 East Pender, just a few doors down from Ho Ho. But its namesake successor Chinese cuisine is its springboard, but has, in its own modern way, a wow the playful menu at Sai Woo incorporates factor almost as great as that neon culinary influences that span nations from long ago: high brick walls, by timothy taylor original fir floors, skylights, and banquettes nestled between ornaphotos by a ndrew querner mental trees. And if you make your way downstairs from the airy 100sai woo, which opened in china- seat main floor, you’ll find the cooltown after much expectation and est hideaway bar since the Marine delay this past March, stands on a Club—this one old-school-Chinablock of East Pender that ignites town style, with hanging red-globe old memories for me. When I was lampshades and a low ceiling. a child, my father would drive the However, it’s the culinary idea family down there, from the leafy behind this whole venture that’s remove of Whytecliff, to eat at most appealing. Chef Douglas revered holes in the wall like the Chang says his menu was inspired Green Door and Ho Ho Chop Suey, by his travels as well as his Chinese the latter marked by a spectacular and Jamaican roots, informed at neon sign of a rice bowl with a risall times by lightness and a sense of ing plume of steam. humour. I’m drawn to projects like I don’t recall if we ever ate at this, where dishes emerge from a

S

44

chef ’s experience and enthusiasm.

One feels encouraged to join in, to share a bit of what made him. And with a chef like Chang—who spent time in the kitchen of New York City’s Eleven Madison Park (widely considered to be one of the best

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THE

TICKET SAI WOO

Clockwise from top left: Sai Woo’s main-floor dining room and storefront; chef Douglas Chang; beef carpaccio with parmesan; the dining room’s banquette seating and Persian

ironwood trees; tempura-battered cauliflower florets with ginger-scallion dipping sauce

158 E. Pender St., 604-568-1117 HOURS Tues.-Fri. 11am-late; Sat.-Sun. 5pm-late PRICES The vast majority of the dinner menu is under $20 per plate. (Many are made for sharing.)

A tight lunch card features rice and noodle dishes for less than $15 each NOTES Happy hour (Tues.Fri., 3-6pm) offers discounted beer and wine ($5), cocktails ($8), and “bar bites” ($5 to $7)

fine-dining establishments in the world) as well as local rooms like Bambudda and West—that invitation is enticing and exciting.

Our hungry party of three explored many of the dinner menu’s 20-plus plates, some of which were stellar. The first and last of them really stood out.

Tempura-battered cauliflower florets are just about the best starter nibble I can recall eating: hot and salty but very light, with a zingy dipping sauce of ginger and scallion. At the other end of the meal was a spectacular dessert of Sichuan peppercorn panna cotta.

Sometimes you just need a worldclass culinary brain to come up with combinations like this that are innovative yet perfectly logical: sweet poached strawberries and smooth cream, animated by a tickle of Asian heat.

We enjoyed (and devoured) the other dishes we tried. Yet while they consistently incorporated excellent elements, they didn’t always coalesce with the same liveliness and focus. Pork buns arrived folded like tacos, but the flavours were, to me, quite muted, stranded between Texas barbecue and char siu. Chinatown Jerk Chicken was superb—perfectly cooked and seasoned with a great spice mixture.

But egg fried rice with preserved vegetables (recommended as an accompaniment) was slick with fat, and the vegetables’ earthy flavours never really synced.

Other dishes’ ingredients came together more assertively and successfully. But after that amazing cauliflower, I kept noting missed opportunities to work with caramelization and crispness. Colamarinated wings were tasty and fun, but the no-fry technique left them oddly flabby. Sweetbreads are glazed with tamarind, but not

IF YOU MAKE YOUR WAY DOWN FROM THE AIRY 100-SEAT MAIN FLOOR, YOU’LL FIND THE COOLEST HIDEAWAY BAR SINCE THE MARINE CLUB

S E P T E M B E R 2 O 15 | VA N C O U V E R M A G A Z I N E

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THE

DISH

TA S T E M A K E R

Recently Reviewed

B R I E F LY N O T E D

WildTale Coastal Grill

dipped our frites into it); grilled albacore tuna (from a rotating fresh sheet) arrived perfectly seared yet rare within.

1079 Mainland St., 604-428-9211

La Brasserie

 A poetic circularity brings colleagues

1091 Davie St., 778-379-5400

John Crook and Erik Heck back to the Yaletown address that houses WildTale.  Among Davie Village’s most beloved The two chefs/entrepreneurs used to

restaurants since it opened in 2009—

work in its kitchen when it was the origi-

and one of the few serious dining rooms

nal Glowbal Grill, gradually hatching the

in a neighbourhood rife with pizza slices

plan for their own casual restaurant,

and budget sushi—La Brasserie was

the Flying Pig. The remarkable success

shuttered last year following a sud-

of that venture (its three locations

den and precipitous plunge in quality.

bustle) allowed them to procure the

It bloomed again in April, after being

space from Emad Yacoub, founder of

handed over to a new proprietor.

the Glowbal empire, and in short order

made La Brasserie an enduring suc-

temple of seafood.

cess. Long-time chef Kai Sengewitz is

All traces of Glowbal Grill’s pulsing

in a way that produces any texture.

(It must be noted that the accompanying smoked fingerling potatoes were so delicious and inventive as to largely compensate.) We encountered the same thing with a dish of pork belly. Here you have a high-fat protein, highly amenable to slow cooking before a final crisping. While spiced greens definitely gathered the dish and made it complete, the lack of browning only drew attention to what might have been. I was reminded of an insane Thomas Keller recipe of brined and sous-vided pork belly that is—in a final step involving hot oil and the complex mysteries of the Maillard reaction—transformed into ambrosia that wafts up to Mount Olympus carried by doves.

I recommend Sai Woo for its stunning and convivial room, and for its chef, who is doing things I admire. Not every dish I experienced was brilliant, but some absolutely were. The doves, I think, will come. VM

46

Above: pork belly glazed with fermented tofu, with market vegetables and taro purée

Wisely, no one has toyed with what

they transformed it into this welcoming

leading the kitchen once again, and the

nocturnal mood have been obliterated,

menu of hearty Franco-German fare is

replaced with a room that—perhaps

more or less unchanged from its glory

unwittingly—evokes a tony country club

days. Consequently, the 35-seat room

in Boca Raton. Happily, this atmos-

(which leaves enough space between

phere of cleanliness and composure

tables to facilitate intimate chatter) fills

complements the menu’s straightfor-

up early most nights. Bistro staples—

ward pleasures: all manner of marine

French onion soup, rotisserie chicken,

provisions—raw and cooked—prepared

frites of both the moules and steak

with a minimum of fuss. Thyme-scented varieties—are consistently good. Staff chowder delivers a lovely note of

strike the right balance between pol-

ocean-like pungency; fresh oysters are

ished and nonchalant, always happy to

presented atop a mound of crushed

recommend the wine (mostly French) or

ice and are accompanied by excellent

beer (German and local) that best pairs

horseradish-spiked cocktail sauce (we

with your meal. VM

WildTale Coastal Grill

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THE

DISH

MOVEABLE FEAST

Neighbourhood Bites

DOWNTOWN

Workers’ Compensation Despite plenty of trash, there’s also treasure among downtown’s daytime dining options

BURGER VS. BURGER

together they coalesce into, without

Few foodstuffs are as subjective a

exaggeration, perhaps the best burger

passion, as susceptible to heated

in the city. It costs $2.85, or $3.50

debate, as the humble hamburger.

with cheese.

These two purveyors offer polaropposite variations. Best known for

MEALS ON WHEELS

lascivious commercials in which

Remarkably, it was only in 2010 that

stacked models greedily devour

the City of Vancouver finally loosened

by michael white photos by david strongma n

stacked sandwiches,

bustling by day, barren by night, our city centre can be feast or famine—for both patrons and proprietors. Like most urban commercial hubs, Vancouver’s office district—roughly bounded by Burrard to the west, Richards to the east, Cordova to the north, and Georgia to the south—is home to few actual homes, so a disproportionate number of eateries shut up shop at 5 p.m., when its sidewalks become eerily deserted. (The destination-worthy and tourist-magnet likes of Hawksworth and Cactus Club are exceptions.) In short, this is a decidedly lunch-focused enclave, and the tens of thousands who toil in its smoked-glass skyscrapers know the lay of the land best. Here are some of their favourite (and newest) fuelling stations.

48

Carl’s Jr.

the antiquated laws that permitted few

(625 Howe St., 877-799-7827) opened

edibles other than chestnuts and hot

its first Metro location in 2013. The

dogs to be sold on our streets. Since

menu is a monument to unashamed

then, more established restaurateurs

American-style gluttony: beef patties

and ambitious young entrepreneurs

precariously supplemented with the

than anyone would have dared to imag-

likes of jalapeño poppers or a slather-

ine have seized upon the opportunity

ing of guacamole. Excess is entirely

to transform our sidewalks and

the point, and one either loves it or

curbsides into a buffet wonderland.

keeps a wide berth. A stone’s throw

Grateful crowds queue (im)patiently

away, at Granville and Pender, is word-

most weekdays for burritos, que-

of-mouth sensation

Wakwak Burger

(Facebook.com/wakwakburgerdesu),

sadillas, enchiladas, and more from Arturo’s Mexico to Go (Cordova

a food cart offering a teriyaki-slicked

and Howe; Arturos2go.com); artful

“Japanese-style” burger that is a

mash-up creations like a duck confi t

marvel of restraint and exactingly

Philly sandwich or a turducken grilled

determined proportions. Individually,

cheese from Fat Duck (location varies;

its components seem average, but

@FatDuckTruck); and butter chicken

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schnitzel with a refreshing almondmilk chai from Vij’s Railway Express

L AW N & OR DER

(location varies; @VijsRailway).

DU

sandwich/salad empire Pret A Manger is virtually as ubiquitous as Starbucks.

This is the rare fast-food success story that feels wholly deserved: its wares are ridiculously good, and until it decides to invade Canada (please!), plenty of savvy entrepreneurs have been busy appropriating its formula.

Alas, it didn’t work for Rocket Shop, at Dunsmuir and Seymoir, which shuttered in early summer after little more Peqish (552

Seymour St., 604-681-3999) is more than holding its own. Its refrigerated and heated display cases offer a bounty of ready-made breakfast and lunch options, including a very good smoked-salmon baguette and “Booster Cup” side salads, the latter costing a mere $3.49. Upscale

R

ST

OR

OR

GE

N

BY

UI

GI

THE TAKEAWAY

hardtfinefoods.com] aims to open its

The increasing sophistication of diners’

long-awaited location at Granville

palates means the separation between

and Dunsmuir in late September; the

fast food and a mannerly sit-down meal

hoarding surrounding it promises

has become evermore blurred. Having

“fresh meals on the go.”

only half an hour to eat shouldn’t mean

H

In its native England, quick-service

than a year. But nearby

SM

ST

GR AB-AND-GO

N

grocer Meinhardt Fine Foods (Mein-

A

ST

THE COURT YARD 639 HORNBY ST. Loath as we are to share our secret, the best downtown spot in which to pause and savour your midday meal is the little-known patch of tuckedaway greenery known simply as “the courtyard,” sandwiched between Cathedral Place and the Bill Reid Gallery.

Grab a bench or, in good weather, pull up some lawn and feel the urban chaos recede

settling for an egg-salad wrap glumly

FAIR’S FAIR

masticated in a 7-Eleven doorway.

Seemingly unknown to everyone other

Annexing his eponymous fine-dining

than nearby office workers, Inter-

temple, chef David Hawksworth’s Bel Café (801 W. Georgia St., 604-

national Food Fair (530 Hornby St.) is almost entirely populated by indepen-

673-7000] offers refined sandwiches,

dent ethnic eateries whose offerings

salads, and signature pastries and ice

are often better than typical food-

creams that justify a slightly higher

court fare. Among the many purveyors

price point. Tractor Foods’ bright,

in the dark, narrow space, best of all is

lovely space in the Marine Building (335

Pho Express, where harried hordes

Burrard St., 604-979-0500) sends you

line up for enormous servings of pho

on your way with a bellyful of Moroccan

(try the Vietnamese beef stew noodle

chicken stew, a grilled-to-order half

soup) in proper ceramic bowls and

avocado, and house-made lemonade

inexpensive bánh mì. If you don’t want

for under $20. And in the recently

to waste your lunch hour searching for

opened Telus Garden, the eager staff

a seat, or you have an aversion to din-

at

ing elbow-to-elbow with strangers (a

6674) will bring your order of lasagna or

large communal table divides much of

tuna niçoise to you while you wait in the

the room), arrive before noon.

airy, spacious atrium. VM

Nosh (510 W. Georgia St., 604-449-

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DISH

THE DECANTER

 DJ KE ARNE Y

Wines Discovered

Isolated Cases

MORE ISL AND TRE ASURES

Wines that come from islands offer evocative expressions of their unique terroir there’s something bewitching about islands.

Part of it is the getting there: the unhurried pace of a ferry, seaplane, or sailboat. Time slows, cares dissolve, and relaxation suff uses mind and body. Vines must feel it as well, because the wines they produce possess a laid-back charm and distinct character—just drinking them invites serenity.

Islands have featured prominently in wine’s colourful history. Vines were first planted on Sardinia and Sicily more than three millenniums ago, and Madeira and the Canaries 500 years ago.

Crete reveals the earliest evidence of Grecian viticulture, and Chios and Lesbos were famous sources of Bacchus’s nectar of the gods.

Perhaps the most brilliant thing about islands is their very insularity: they can’t help but be distinctive. Surrounded by water, they’re often breezy (or downright wind-torn), usually have fascinating geology (the lavas of Lanzarote, the volcanic ash of Santorini), and are the last stronghold of obscure grapes (ever heard of vijariego or marmajuelo?).

Here we discover four special birthplaces: multicultural Sardinia, with its ancient vinous traditions; Tasmania, Australia’s coolest growing region; Vancouver Island, big enough to be a country; and tiny, pastoral North Pender Island.

They all have one thing in common, and that is difference. VM

50

UNSWORTH VINEYARDS ALLEGRO 2014

EDDYSTONE POINT TASMANIA PINOT GRIS 2013

SEA STAR SIEGERREBE 2014

($20)

($25.29)

($19.90)

Wild, nettle-y, and made from a 50/50 blend of petite milo and sauvignette grapes grown in the bucolic Cowichan Valley, this smells and tastes like the bottled essence of West Coast woods in spring.

Dry, delicately fruity, and utterly mesmerizing

Eddystone Point is a new project on the northeastern tip of Tasmania— an unspoiled corner of Australia’s cold-climate wine region. Aged on its lees to add mouth-filling texture, this barely dry pinot gris is alive with apple and crisp acidity

Siegerrebe is perfect for the cool conditions of North Pender Island.

Light and juicy, this has fleeting aromas of elderflower and underbrush combined with flavours of apple and berries, and a slightly salty finish that evokes the Salish Sea

ARGIOL AS CANNONAU DI SARDEGNA COSTER A 2011 ($21.99)  Cannonau is the Sardinian name for the Spanish grape garnacha (grenache in French), and this mellow but gutsy red delivers a mouthful of plummy fruit, a punch of spice, and a dusty finish. Make sure you inhale its captivating fragrance before you sip

BEST

CELLAR

 Self-described “wine nerd” David Stansfield is the sommelier for Tap and Barrel (1055 Canada Pl., 604-235-9827) as well as the oracle at Vancouver Urban Winery’s popular Sunday School seminars. He is proud to offer Unsworth Vineyards Allegro on tap, where it pairs well with a patio, sunshine, and the sea.

Unsworth: Sean Fenzl Photography

THE

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The West Lives Here

(and Tweets, Instagrams, Facebooks, Pins, Wins)

The NEW WesternLiving.ca Daily stories that connect you to the best of Western Canadian designs. Fresh, local topics that keep you in the know.

Plus the Western Living Recipe Finder, with hundreds of our best recipes that you’ve come to expect from Western Canada’s lifestyle source— as gorgeous on your phone as it is on desktop.

The hottest shop picks.

But that’s just the beginning.

See more at WesternLiving.ca.

The West lives here. Daily.

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THE

DISH

MIX MASTER

 NE AL MCLENNAN

Spirit Guide

A Spirit Rises Once the king of gins, Old Tom fell out of fashion more than half a century ago. All hail the comeback in the realm of spirit showdowns, the battle between former reigning champ Old Tom gin and its up-andcoming challenger, London Dry gin, was a doozy at the start of the 20th century. Old Tom, a variation on Dutch genever (shortened simply to “gin” in England), was generally made in an old-fashioned pot still, and its mass—and I do mean mass—consumption was the defining theme of drinking in 19th-century Jolly Old. Sugar was usually added, and it was often stored and aged in wooden casks, giving it a light mahogany patina and a viscous, full-bodied taste.

But then along came London Dry and its distinctly stronger, cleaner profi le—made possible by the widespread adoption of technically proficient column stills. What resulted wasn’t much of a fight. Year after year, boozehounds voted hugely in favour of London Dry, and by the end of World War II the victory was absolute: there were no meaningful Old Tom producers left. To this day, London Dry’s flavours are what we think of as the staples of gin: botanical, fresh, powerful.

Which is a shame, because if you want to make a proper Tom Collins, Martinez, or Gin Rickey, you

should be using Old Tom. Thankfully, modern-day bartenders’ obsession with all things LIBERT Y historical means an Old Tom DISTILLERY revival is now underway, with a ENDEAVOUR OLD TOM number of craft distillers stepping ($60) up to fill the void. First up was HayMore woody than man’s (London), followed by Ransweet, this would som (Portland). They’ve recently lead to an interesting holiday Negroni been joined by Vancouver’s own Liberty Distillery, whose Endeavour Old Tom was born of the goal HAYMAN’S OLD TOM to “make a gin that whiskey lovers ($50) could enjoy,” says director of operaYou get the sweettion Lisa Simpson. It seems you ness right away, can’t keep a good spirit down. VM then juniper and THE BOT TLES

citrus. An excellent starting point JENSEN’S OLD TOM

($65) This slickly packaged import is only marginally sweet, and it has a very prominent botanical rush that makes me think it’s not 100 percent committed to the Old Tom cause

THE DRINK

The Martinez

From Sabrine Dhaliwal, West Restaurant, 2881 Granville St., 604-738-8938

2 oz Liberty Distillery Endeavour Old Tom gin 1 oz Vya Sweet vermouth 1⁄2 oz maraschino liqueur

 Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker halfSabrine Dhaliwal was promoted to bar manager of West in May Caption White

filled with ice, and blend until chilled (about 30 seconds). Strain into a cocktail glass and, if you desire, garnish with an orange twist

52

Andrew Querner

2 dashes orange bitters

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Gutter Credit

*

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L REA TE ESTA 2015

THE MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION Prices are dividing the city to a record degree—and that’s before we even address the actual average cost of a detached home * by kerry gold

illustr ations by rob dobi

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L REA TE ESTA 2015

1

Calgary’s rank for median income of census families, by city ($101,260)

26

Vancouver’s rank for median income of census families, by city ($73,390)

1,972

Average monthly rent for a 2-bed Vancouver apartment (2014)

3,437

Average monthly mortgage costs for a 2-bed Vancouver apartment (2014)

25,469

Number who’ve signed the Change.org petition to restrict foreign investment in Vancouver’s real-estate market

1,123,900

Benchmark price of a detached house in Metro Vancouver

2,230,000

Actual average price of a detached house in the city

4,400,000 Forecasted average price of a detached house in the city (2030)

163,400,000,000 Value of local clear-title equity held by homeowners over age 55 (and accessible to younger family), according to the Urban Futures Institute

56

B

ack in the Middle Ages, lords of the manor owned the land and serfs scraped by in a desperate bid to live safely within the fiefdom.

How little things have changed. These days in the fiefdom of Vancouver, the homeowners are the lords and everyone scrambling around the periphery to find affordable, central housing is a serf.

That’s Saeid Fard’s deliberately hyperbolic take on things, anyway, but there are many who feel he’s not far off. Fard is the young entrepreneur and blogger whose incendiary Tumblr post “The Decline of Vancouver” went viral earlier this year.

In it, he says, “We have two classes of society forming along a divide that is growing difficult to cross.”

Therein lies the nub of our unaffordability problem: it’s creating a class divide, a deepening division between the haves and have-nots.

Never before has the gap been so wide. For decades, we had an East Side vs. West Side rivalry based on class distinction (and a downtown vs. Shaughnessy rivalry before that). But anyone from the rough part of town could work their way up. Those days are gone: home ownership throughout the city is now a privilege, not a certainty.

Today, the average detachedhome price in Vancouver proper is $2.23 million. That’s

according to journalist Brent Jang, who requested detailed data from the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver.

Normally, the board only releases “benchmark” prices for the city of Vancouver, a calculation that overlooks high-end houses. (It does publish average prices for the Lower Mainland.) This benchmark notion has caused some confusion about the reality of detached-home prices within city limits. For example, the June figure of $1,123,900 caught fire as the average price for a property in Metro Vancouver.

But that figure doesn’t come close to reality. Remove Burnaby, North Vancouver, Richmond, et cetera, and the actual Vancouver average is double that inflammatory number—and, increased by 19.2 percent from the true $1.873 million average of May 2014. If this trend continues, by 2030 the average price of a detached house in the city will be $4.4 million, according to

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THE END OF THE STARTER Still believe you can leverage a basement suite?

Even mortgage helpers are rising beyond reach The local housing market

the stock market tanked),

seems impenetrable to

the cameras have never

first-time buyers, yet every

crossed the Rockies. After

week the HGTV show Income

all, what young couple could

Property introduces another

afford to buy a single-family

starry-eyed Canadian couple

home here—with or without a

who are “making their finan-

mortgage helper?

cial dreams a reality.” Yes,

There is one shortcut into

there are hurdles: leaky base- the market, though, explains ments, falling roofs, and/or

Eitan Pinsky, a broker with

rats. But with a little help

Origin Mortgages. “Proper-

from host (and real-estate

ties selling for over $1 million

investor) Scott McGillivray,

go to professionals in their

buyer after buyer learns how

late 30s with large salaries

to offset mortgage payments

and down payments saved,”

by developing and renting out

he says. (The law requires

a basement suite.

at least 20 percent down.)

The catch? In 10 seasons

“Few young adults have that

(Income Property launched

amount of cash without help

in September 2008, just as

from parents.”—Jenni Elliott

HOUSE ENVY

McGillivray: Arash Moallemi

We ask HGTV’s Scott McGillivray, If it’s good enough for Toronto…

What is the average house

There is no cash flow with the

price on the show? For

high pricing and rent levels.

downtown Toronto, it’s

What advice do you give

super-expensive. Detached

people here? High prices

homes with an income suite

are driving folks out of the

are going for at least a million

city. We’re working with a

dollars. Typically, those are in

lot of investors in B.C. using

affluent neighbourhoods.

equity in their homes to buy

Have any of your clients

larger, more luxurious places

bought for over a million?

south of the border. Or using

Five in the last three sea-

their equity to get real estate

sons, but those weren’t nec-

outside Greater Vancouver.

essarily first-time buyers.

We’ve been taking investors

Could the model work here?

up to Fort St. John. There is

Vancouver has been great to

better opportunity there, a

those who have been able to

strong job market, housing

capitalize on appreciation,

prices are lower, and there’s a

but there is no strategy really.

chance for positive cash flow.

RealEstate.FINAL_N1.indd 57

WEST SIDE 1351 MAPLE ST.

4 beds, 3 baths (2bed basement suite) $2,388,000 Down payment $819,000 Min. payment $6,300 a month Annual family income (no basement suite) $209,250 Annual family income (with basement suite) $172,370

EAST SIDE 737 E. 13TH AVE.

5 beds, 3 baths on duplex lot (2-bed basement suite) $1,598,000 Down payment $424,000 Min. payment $4,715 a month Annual family income (no basement suite) $157,500 Annual family income (with basement suite) $120,500

Income Property host Scott McGillivray

2015-07-24 10:59 AM

L REA TE ESTA 2015

n thearket e e h “ W sing m r abov hou iced fa eople is prt local ppe to whaever ho must can rd, theyo the affoer foreg ning eith m of ow e or m o a dre r own h here” thei e elsew mov

58

a forecast by Vancity. Meanwhile, the average household in Vancouver brings home around $78,000 a year. As experts say, there has been a complete decoupling of housing from income. in his book middle power, Middle Kingdom: What Canadians Need to Know About China in the 21st Century, author and former ambassador to China David Mulroney says: “When the housing market is priced far above what local people can ever hope to afford, they must either forego the dream of owning their own home or move elsewhere.”

Such is life in the decoupled

city. South China Morning Post columnist Ian Young, who covers Vancouver real estate for a mostly Hong Kong-based audience, prefers to call it a “freak show.” We used to understand how our city ticked. Now most of us don’t have a clue. There’s little tolerance for old Vancouver. We stand by as old housing stock is razed, to the tune of three houses each day.

If you’re already a homeowner without much of a mortgage, you’ve reached the end of the rainbow to find a pot of gold. But what is left for a millennial like Fard, who’s the co-owner of a startup? Having worked in the investment industry, he believes like many that home

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ownership is one of the best ways for average folks to grow their wealth.

He bristles when critics lambaste him for being “entitled,” as if members of his cohort are expecting too much by wanting to buy a detached house in their hometown. (To those urging purchasers to enter the market with a condo: new condos are getting smaller, not bigger, and have flatlined in resale value. A realestate agent told me today’s resales are still at 2006 prices.)

In his post, Fard put it this way: “Most in the room say, ‘Hey, look it’s an elephant.’ Property owners say, ‘No, we can’t be sure it’s an elephant, there’s a bed sheet covering part of it.’ Politicians say, ‘We can’t be sure it’s an elephant, we need to study it more.’ And developers say, ‘We did a survey and concluded it’s a hamster.’ ” the most overt example of doublespeak on the topic comes from the premier. Around the time that housing activist Eveline Xia mounted her #donthave1million social-media campaign, someone asked Christy Clark if she intended to introduce a tax on foreign buyers, to make the market more affordable. She responded that if we were to move foreign owners out of the market, housing prices would drop.

“That is good for first-time owners, but not for anyone who is counting on the equity in their homes.”

At least the premier acknowledged the impact of foreign ownership.

However, she later said of it: “The data we have does not support this perception.” She went on to say that, according to her analysis, foreign ownership accounts for only five percent of the market. It would be interesting to see data that does support such a theory, especially data that are not provided by a BC Real Estate Association with a

NO MORE PICKET FENCES A tear-down crack house now costs more than a Shaughnessy mansion did a generation ago. Is it time to redefine our dreams?

A sampling of what $1 million buys around the region photos by lucas finl ay

VANCOUVER 5408 LARCH ST.

$948,800 1,218 sq. ft., 2 beds, 3 baths Tidy urban townhouse in the heart of tranquil Kerrisdale opens onto a quiet inner courtyard.

Living/dining area features limestone fireplace.

VANCOUVER 5437 WILLOW ST.

$999,000 1,364 sq. ft., 2 beds, 3 baths Three-storey townhouse with two bedrooms, plus den with ensuite on the main floor. Only blocks from Queen Elizabeth Park and whatever Oakridge will one day become.

continued…

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L REA TE ESTA 2015 ng urgi o e s o t To thhasersarket purcr the mo: ente a cond are with condos ller, newing sma nd gettbigger, aed not e flatlin lue. hav sale vaales are in re y’s res prices Todaat 2006 still vested interest in keeping luxury taxes at bay. (Clark’s analysis was conducted by the BCREA and the Ministry of Finance.)

Fard says the idea that we need more data is a weak justification for doing nothing. He compares it to littering: do you launch a study to determine the extent of the littering or do you just issue a fine?

“Sometimes I wonder if it’s wilful ignorance or if it’s intellectually dishonest,” he tells me. “You hear people make these statements and part of me thinks, ‘You’ve got to know better than that.’ ” UBC geography professor David Ley says he finds it astounding that the B.C. government has done nothing to collect the data that are standard in other cities undergoing economic transformation. The academic has studied housing markets in Singapore, Sydney, Hong Kong, and London, and has written a book about the emergence of global Chinese wealth, called Millionaire Migrants. He does not mince his words: “I am talking about foreign investment, because that’s what drives the top end of the market,”

60

what $1 million bu ys

NORTH VANCOUVER 4665 MOUNTAIN HW Y

$1,078,000 2,158 sq. ft., 4 beds, 2 baths In the upper heights of Lynn Valley perches this aerie on a quarter-acre lot (backed by a Crown land greenbelt). Wood-burning fireplace, 600-sq.-ft. sundeck—country luxury.

BURNABY 9350 UNIVERSIT Y HIGH ST.

$1,188,000 2,340 sq. ft., 4 beds, 5 baths Built in 2014, this row house on the summit of Burnaby Mountain offers four bedrooms, each with an ensuite, plus a 1,000-sq.ft. rooftop deck and three parking stalls—the ultimate bespoke frat house?

BURNABY 6560 NELSON AVE.

$999,800 1,198 sq. ft., 3 beds, 2 baths Atop the new forest of glass near Metrotown, this penthouse overlooks park/suburb panoramas all the way to the strait. In-building amenities include virtual golf, a karaoke room, and a 10-pin bowling alley. continued…

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Elegant and stylish inside and out, W1 is a reflection of the sought–after west side. With its hotel-inspired grand lobby, regal porte–cochère, beautifully landscaped garden terraces with lush green and water features and an array of luxurious amenities, W1 truly is the best of the best.

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L REA TE ESTA 2015 he tells me in one of our many interviews. “Anyone who says otherwise is either misleading or misled. This was said all through the 1990s as well—that it’s not overseas investment driving the market—and yet when it ceased and the market dropped, that pretense fell away.”

Fard has never been fooled by politicians or anyone else inclined to maintain the status quo. He understands that any pressure applied to the top end of the market directly affects the rest of it. “You don’t need a degree in economics to see what’s going on,” he says. “Even a small increase in demand for housing that is detached from the local economy could have a massive effect on local prices. If that five percent is willing to do anything it takes to buy a detached house, they are defining the pricing of the market. The locals aren’t.”

So here we are. In a city that seldom protests, housing has become deeply politicized. We’ve seen a blog post gone viral; a petition for government to intervene that has been signed by 25,000;

eed n t ’ don “ Yougree in to a denomics going eco what’s rcent see f five peo do on. Iwilling ttakes are thing it ached any uy a det are to bse, they prichou ning thearket. defi f the mren’t” ing olocals a The 62

what $1 million bu ys

RICHMOND 5177 BRIGHOUSE WAY

$968,000 1,260 sq. ft., 2 beds, 2 baths Southeast-facing River Green unit has a Snaidero kitchen from Italy. Building amenities include lap pool, sauna, concierge, and more.

NEW WESTMINSTER 524 FIRST ST.

$1,180,000 2,620 sq. ft., 3 beds, 3 baths Family home adjacent to Queen’s Park has updated roof and furnace, period details like double-hung windows and a claw tub.

Standout garden/lawn.

WHITE ROCK 949 MAPLE ST.

$1,024,000 2,575 sq. ft., 3 beds, 2 baths Custom-designed (2008) Whistler-inspired post-andbeam house with vaulted ceiling and rock fireplaces with a cedar mantel. continued…

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L REA TE ESTA 2015

what $1 million bu ys

a hugely successful hashtag campaign that mobilized the online masses; a couple of rallies for affordable housing; and a market where houses sell for—on average—$2.23 million. So far, the premier has offered up only one solution: if you can’t afford Vancouver, she says, move to Fort St. John or Kitimat or Prince Rupert.

“The views are amazing.” VM SQUAMISH 2068 CRUMPIT WOODS DR.

$999,000 2,288 sq. ft., 4 beds, 3 baths New-built home, customdesigned with plenty of windows to soak up unobstructed views of the mountains and the Chief.

Fully landscaped yard, large garage.

ON THE COVER PORT MOODY 311 IOCO RD.

In March, artist Ken Lum—most visible in the city for works like the

$1,170,000 2,893 sq. ft., 5 beds, 3 baths Old-timer bungalow renovated for expanding family.

Grassy lawns (two-fifths of an acre), a nearby creek yet steps from a future Evergreen Line station.

East Van cross and the boats atop the VAG—constructed Vancouver Especially, an installation that comments on our most dearly held obsession: land value and house prices. The premise is simple. Lum, shown with his work above, set out to build the Vancouver Special of East Side), using its 1970s property value as his modern-day budget.

The problem? That $45,000 would now buy him a dollhouse one-24th life sized, so he re-multiplied it eightfold to its current scale. The installation, a project of the 221A artist-run centre, remains open at 271 Union Street until Feb. 26, 2016. For information, visit 221a.ca

64

Dennis Ha, 2015. Courtesy 221A and the artist

his childhood (he grew up on the

ABBOTSFORD 35230 ANDERSON RD.

$1,075,000 3,419 sq. ft., 7 beds, 5 baths Large house (1997), lots of bedrooms, mortgage-helper suite on ground level. The kicker? Nine acres planted with blueberries 75 kilometres from downtown (68 minutes, no traffic)!

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Paul Denton, MD, FRCSC Medical Director SERVICES • Facial Surgery • Medical Aesthetics • Laser Treatments • Professional Skin Care • Medical Grade Products

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PEN D ER MEDI S PA PHYSICIAN DIRECTED SKIN CARE 1366 West Pender Street, Vancouver pendermedispa.com

15-07-24 11:00 AM

sponsored report

Because there’s No oNe size Fits all Whether you like it hot, or prefer to keep it cool, with Vanquish and Coolsculpt technologies Skinworks has the fat-busting treatment for you

M

ost of us would quite like the idea of vanquishing those final stubborn pounds, but without turning to surgery it tends to feel beyond our grasp. At Skinworks, located in Vancouver’s Westside, Vanquish isn’t just a nice thought, but a leading edge non-invasive technology that heats unwanted fat cells using radiofrequency to rid you of them once and for all.

Vanquish’s heat-based technology was designed to reduce fat in generalized areas and has recently been approved for slimming legs. In contrast, Coolsculpting uses freezing to target pinchable areas of fat. These two medically proven technologies are now available at Skinworks to allow customizable fat reduction for their entire range of clients.

Skinworks features the complementary expertise of dermatologist Dr. Frances Jang, MD, FRCPC, and plastic surgeon Dr. Nick Carr, MD, FRSCS, offering patients the complete spectrum of aesthetic medical services.

Dr. Frances Jang MD, FRCPC, Dermatologist SERVICES • Cosmetic Dermatology & Laser • Cosmetic Plastic Surgery • Skincare

3568 West 41st Avenue, Vancouver skinworks.ca Call 604-737-7100 for your complimentary consultation (promo code “VM”)

HealtH and Beauty togetHer in one Place

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False Creek Healthcare: your home for expert solutions and trusted care

L

ook good. Feel good. Investing in yourself is one of the best investments you can make.

False Creek Healthcare is a one-of-a-kind medical centre offering a full suite of health and beauty solutions under one roof. A full medical practice offers everything from family medicine and spinal surgery to advanced diagnostics, together with an extensive list of aesthetic treatments that will have you looking as good as you feel.

False Creek Healthcare is known for its large team of cosmetic surgeons and its comprehensive variety of options in plastic surgery, cosmetic rejuvenation—think chemical peels, Botox®, and lip enhancement—and distinctive cosmetic gynaecology procedures, like labial contouring & vaginal rejuvenation.

Thanks to a unique partnership with EVA Vein Care, you can say goodbye to varicose veins with minimally invasive treatments, while a partnership with SmartShape Weight Loss offers the clinically proven Lap-Band surgery for weight loss.

OvEr 100+ pHYsICIANs AND sUrgEONs & 11 COsMETIC sUrgEONs HEALTH (falsecreekhealthcare.com) • Executive Health & Family • 3.0T MRI/CT/Ultrasound/X-Ray • Orthopaedic • Neurosurgery • Otolaryngology (ENT & Sinus) • General Surgery • Male & Female Urology • Podiatry • Pain Management & more

BEAUTY (falsecreekbeauty.com) • Plastic Surgery (Breast, Face & Body) • Cosmetic Gynaecology • Botox®, Juvederm® & Fillers • Cool Sculpting • Chemical Peel • Latisse Eyelash Growth • Lip Enhancement • Dermatology/Skin Care

COMBINED • Varicose Veins/Vascular Surgery (evaveincare.com) • Weight Loss/Bariatric Lap-Band (smartshape.ca)

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Your Care. Our Focus. falsecreekhealthcare.com 555 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver | 604.739.9695 | facebook.com/falsecreekcare

15-07-23 3:16 3:02 PM

SPONSORED REPORT

ANTI-AGING MEDICINE Fight the signs and symptoms of aging with a visit to Dr. Bramley and Partners’ new Whistler location

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ejuvenating scenery, an abundance of outdoor recreation options, and Dr. Bramley and Partners’ second location combine to make Whistler the ultimate anti-aging escape.

For YVR native Dr. Lauren Bramley, the expansion of her Hong Kong-based practice to the West Coast is about more than a move home. Her new Whistler practice brings the active mountain town’s health and wellness amenities full circle and caters to her loyal Vancouver- and Whistler-based clientele.

Dr. Bramley and Partners’ original Hong Kong clinic, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, has attracted patients from around the world with its reputed anti-aging credentials.

Dr. Bramley, who has a Masters in Endocrinology, remains at the forefront of her field, implementing advanced clinical and medical technologies for early detection, prevention, treatment and reversal of age-related diseases and disorders.

With a personal interest in sports medicine, physical fitness, nutrition and balancing, Dr. Bramley and Partners will provide locals and vacationers with anti-aging tools that suit their lifestyles.

The village centre clinic lists bio-identical hormones, medical aesthetic services, platelet-rich plasma therapy, stem cell and regenerative sports medicine, epi-genetics and methylation among the services offered by a team of knowledgeable and forwardthinking physicians.

“Bio-identical hormones are critical to our health,” explains Dr. Bramley. “As we get older and there is a decline in our hormones, there are a lot of invisible symptoms—such as osteoporosis, heart disease, onset of dementia and memory loss—that can be prevented and corrected with bio-identical hormones.”

If you’re hoping to look and feel younger, start with a mountain retreat and a visit to Dr. Bramley’s serene new setting, now accepting patients.

Dr. Lauren Bramley, MD SERVICES • General & Family Medicine • Anti-aging Medicine • Bio-identical Hormone Therapy • Aesthetics • Athletic Performance & Regenerative Medicine

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info@laurenbramleymd.com laurenbramley.com

15-07-24 10:54 AM

SPONSORED REPORT

COSMETIC DERMATOLOGY Why choose a cosmetic dermatologist?

C

hoosing a qualified cosmetic professional is a vital personal decision.

Although many refer to themselves as a skin specialist, a board-certified dermatologist offers unique expertise and skills. Certification combined with extensive hands-on experience is what distinguishes the doctors at Pacific Dermaesthetics.

Aesthetic medicine is a subspecialty that focuses on enhancing the appearance of the skin, hair and nails. Building on a core foundation of medical dermatology, our doctors incorporate aesthetics approaches that focus on the biology of the skin and the use of non-invasive procedures with proven scientific basis.

To uphold a standard of excellence, our physicians engage in educational and research initiatives to maintain competency and broaden their knowledge on new and developing areas in both cosmetic and medical dermatology—ongoing professional education, contributing to medical literature, performing clinical studies, attending medical conferences, and teaching.

We are committed to helping you choose the procedure that best suits your skin type and lifestyle. For your comprehensive assessment with Drs. Ulmer and Rivers please call Pacific Dermaesthetics.

Dr. Jason Rivers MD, FRCPC, FAAD Aesthetic & Medical Dermatologist

Dr. Marcie Ulmer MD, FRCPC, FAAD Aesthetic & Medical Dermatologist

AREAS OF EXPERTISE • Cosmetic and Medical Dermatology • Anti-aging - Botox Cosmetic® injections, Xeomin®, Dysport®, and dermal fillers including Juvéderm® and Radiesse® treatments • Skin tightening and lifting - Thermage® • Skin rejuvenation - Fraxel® and other lasers; IPL • Scar treatments - acne and traumatic scars • Vascular lesions of the face and body • Laser tattoo removal - Picosure® • Body contouring - Liposonix®, Thermage®

Suite 1790 - 1111 West Georgia, Vancouver 604.682.7546 | vancouverskin.com

We Know Skin

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directory Dr. Lauren Bramley MD Dr. Lauran Bramley & Partners info@laurenbramleymd.com laurenbramley.com

Dr. Alastair Carruthers MA, FRCPC Board Certified Dermatologist Carruthers & Humphrey Cosmetic Medicine Suite 820 943 West Broadway Street Vancouver, B.C. V5Z 4E1 604.714.0222 carruthers-humphrey.com

Dr. Jean Carruthers MD, FRCS C, FRC(OPHTH) Oculoplastic Surgeon Carruthers & Humphrey Cosmetic Medicine Suite 820 943 West Broadway Street Vancouver, B.C. V5Z 4E1 604.714.0222 carruthers-humphrey.com

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False Creek Health Care 555 West 8th Avenue Vancouver, B.C. V5Z 1C6 604.739.9695 facebook.com/falsecreekcare falsecreekhealthcare.com

Dr. Shannon Humphrey MD, FRCPC, FAAD Cosmetic & Medical Board Certified Dermatologist Carruthers & Humphrey Cosmetic Medicine Suite 820 943 West Broadway Street Vancouver, B.C. V5Z 4E1 604.714.0222 carruthers-humphrey.com

Dr. Frances Jang MD, FRCPC, Dermatologist Skinworks 3568 West 41st Avenue Vancouver, B.C. V6N 3E6 604.737.7100 skinworks.ca

Pender Medi Spa 1366 West Pender Street Vancouver, B.C. V6E4S9 pendermedispa.com

Dr. Jason Rivers MD, FRCPC, FAAD Aesthetic & Medical Dermatologist Pacific Dermaesthetics Suite 1790 1111 West Georgia Street Vancouver, B.C. V6E 4M3 604.682.7546 vancouverskin.com

Dr. Marcie Ulmer MD, FRCPC, FAAD Aesthetic & Medical Dermatologist Pacific Dermaesthetics Suite 1790 1111 West Georgia Street Vancouver, B.C. V6E 4M3 604.682.7546 vancouverskin.com

15-07-24 3:31 15-07-27 2:36 PM

Age Gracefully Age Gracefully

Dr. Shannon humphrey, Dr. alaStair CarrutherS & Dr. jean CarrutherS answer your questions about today’s cosmetic advances & issues

We are a specialized medical aesthetics clinic offering a variety of Health Canada approved anti aging aesthetic services administered by a team of highly trained and experienced medical professionals.

OUR SERVICES INCLUDE: Neuromodulators & Fillers • Scars & Stretch Mark Revision • IPL Photo Rejuvenation • Microdermabrasion • Neck & Jawline Tightening

Now that I’m older, is there any point in starting to avoid the sun or is the damage already done?

Sarah Goldberg, West Vancouver Contrary to popular belief, it’s actually never too late to start with photoprotection. Scientific studies have shown that regardless of age, there is an immediate and dramatic reduction in the development of pre-cancer and skin cancer as soon as you initiate effective sun protection. There are also other immediate benefits related to photoaging, such as preventing sunspots and wrinkles.

What constitutes effective photoprotection?

Sunscreen alone is not enough, consider your daily habits too: choose your time outside carefully and seek out shade, avoid the sun between 10:00am and 2:00pm, and wear sun-protective gear, like a wide brimmed hat and long sleeves. Sunscreen is a good insurance policy when you are spending time outside—choose a broad spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF 30 for daily use and SPF 50 if you’ll be in direct sun for a long period of time.

There are now sunscreen formulations to match every skin type and preference, including foams, creams, lotions, oil-free emulsions, powders, and sprays. There is even an oral sunscreen being developed. Your Dermatologist can help select one best suited to your needs.

As we share with all of our clients, it’s important to practice sun safety year round. While it’s particularly critical in the spring and summer, UVA rays are consistent year-round, and when skin is unprotected, these rays penetrate the dermis and cause sun-related premature aging. By starting proper phototection—at any age—you’ll cut the risks of skin cancer and photoaging immediately.

– Shannon Humphrey, frcpc – Alastair Carruthers, frcpc – Jean Carruthers, frcsc ✳

Over 20 years experience

✳

706 - 1160 Burrard Street Vancouver BC T. 604.558.4558 www.LaDerma.ca

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Suite 820-943 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC 604.714.0222 reception@carruthers-humphrey.com www.carruthers-humphrey.com

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VAN CO U V E R I N T E R NAT I O NA L FI LM FE S T IVA L SEPTEMBER 24–OCTOBER 9 2015 | 340 FILMS | 70 COUNTRIES ON SALE AT VIFF.ORG: August 4: Passes + Ticket Packages; Se tem er 3: All Ticket Sales IN-PERSON SALES: Se tem er 12: At Vancity Theatre, 12pm–7pm

TRACTION CREATIVE COMMUNICATIONS

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COMP FILE: NOT FOR REPRO !

DSGN: RH

AE: BS

CMYK

2015-07-20 1:11 PM

FALL FASHION

PERSONAL SHOPPER

MODEL CITIZEN

MY SPACE

THE

SW E AT EQUI T Y

FIELD TRIP

“My grandmother asked me to stop. But through this sport I’ve found my career, my friends, my boyfriend— my life was written from biking” PG. 92

The best shops, fashion, beauty, design, travel & fitness

Blue Crush denim, that sturdy cotton warp-faced twill textile, is our closet’s most artful chameleon. Depending on the day, it can be faithful friend, sexy siren, or breezy tomboy. Political messenger, status conveyor, democratizer, these classic pants—the bedrock of any wardrobe—continue to effortlessly articulate the collective imagination, generation after generation.

Their wearers honour them in the most peculiar way: beating them and ripping them, then lovingly hangdrying and folding them. But whether soft like a stuffed animal or hard like a board, our jeans are a personal tattoo that has the singular ability to immediately telegraph our mood: lively, quiet, energetic, sad. With this season’s fresh crop, we’re definitely happy.

Evaan Kheraj; styling Luisa Rino

Caption Top: Banana Republic, and K.O.I. Kings of Indigo and Levi’s (both from Dutil). Centre: Won Hundred (One of a Few) and Frame Denim (Nordstrom). Bottom: H&M, Gap, and Community Thrift & Vintage

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The

GOODS FA L L FA SHION

Free Style

By the time September comes around, fall’s catwalks have long been rolled up, but the season’s dictates resonate until spring blooms again. Fleeting, fickle fashion always bursts and fades: dramatic, powerful, quick—like fireworks. Style, however, is that slow-burning constellation in the firmament, a baseline that guides, steady and constant. Anyone with a wallet can slavishly limit themselves to one-label looks, but the confidence to weave together threads of love, life, and experience—Grandma’s cherished scarf, that quirky souvenir, an investment couture piece, a consignment find—is a rare talent indeed. True style always resolves itself into a seamless blend of high and low. Here’s a primer on how to make fall’s looks your own.

photos by eva an kheraj || styling by luisa rino makeup: mel a nie neufeld, lizbell agency.com || hair: isabelle cummins, idaburn.com || model: crystal z., lizbell agency.com || st ylist’s assista nt: ar aceli ogrinc

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Thigh-high boots, denim shorts, turtleneck, broach, coat, and tweed purse by Chanel (prices on request) at Holt Renfrew, 737 Dunsmuir St., 604-682-0522. Chanel.ca.

For instructions on how to make the DIY denim hat (stylist’s own), visit Vanmag.com

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above JNBY turtleneck dress ($300) at JNBY, 2201 W. Fourth Ave., 604-737-0022. Jnby.ca; denim vest ($5) at Community Thrift & Vintage, 41 W. Cordova St., 604-682-1004. Communitythriftandvintage.ca; MICHAEL Michael Kors mohair coat ($695) at Michael Kors, 701 W. Georgia St., 604-630-2323. Michaelkors.ca; H&M choker ($6.99), earrings ($9.95), stacked cutout rings ($9.99), and midi rings ($7.95) at H&M, 609 Granville St., 604-692-0308. Hm.com; Amber Sceats bracelet ($299) at Rebecca Bree, 3680 W. Fourth Ave., 604-714-0085. Rebeccabree.com facing A Détacher denim coat ($725) at The Block, 350 W. Cordova St., 604-685-8885. Theblock.ca; J.Crew turtleneck ($31.50) at J.Crew, 701 W. Georgia St., 604-685-9726. Jcrew.com; Banana Republic button-up top ($95) at Banana Republic, 1098 Robson St., 604-331-8285. Banana­ republic.ca; Celine trousers ($1,450) at Holt Renfrew, 737 Dunsmuir St., 604-681-3121. Holtrenfrew.com; Hermès Lexi boots ($1,420) at Hermès, 755 Burrard St., 604-681-9965. Hermes.com; Rachel Comey shearling purse ($653) at One of a Few, 354 Water St., 604-605-0685. Oneofafew.com; Antonini Aurea Collection diamond earrings ($8,150) and ring ($5,600) at Palladio, 855 W. Hastings St., 604-685-3885. Palladiocanada.com

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above Coach shearling vest and leather vest (prices on request) at Coach, 701 W. Georgia St., 604-681-9943. Coach.com; denim shirt ($24) at Community Thrift & Vintage, 41 W. Cordova St., 604-682-1004. Communitythriftandvintage.ca; Rachel Comey denim jeans ($425) at One of a Few, 354 Water St., 604-605-0685. Oneofafew.com; Lulu Frost bracelet ($650) at Rebecca Bree, 3680 W. Fourth Ave., 604-714-0085.

Rebeccabree.com; bandana scarf ($65) at Gravity Pope Tailored Goods, 2203 W. Fourth Ave., 604-731-7673. Gravitypope.com facing Minimum rabbit/raccoon bomber ($600) at J2, 650 W. 41st Ave., 604-263-4482. J2clothing.com; BCBGMAXAZRIA turtleneck Amiera sweater ($298) and Favianna chiffon dress ($698) at BCBG, 1080 Robson St., 604-681-3733. Bcbg.com; Stuart Weitzman knee-high boots ($750) and Lulu Frost necklace ($555) at Holt Renfrew, 737 Dunsmuir St., 604-681-3121. Holtrenfrew.com; J.Crew belt ($52) at J.Crew, 701 W. Georgia St., 604-685-9726. Jcrew.com; A Détacher purse ($1,095) at The Block, 350 W. Cordova St., 604-685-8885. Theblock.ca; for instructions on how to make DIY denim scarf (stylist’s own), visit Vanmag.com; H&M earrings ($9.95) at H&M, 609 Granville St., 604-692-0308. Hm.com

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above Victor & Rolf jumpsuit ($1,995) at Boboli, 2776 Granville St., 604-257-2300. Boboli.ca; Hermès Ex-Libris silk scarf ($1,025) and Maxibox Mini clutch ($7,805) at Hermès, 755 Burrard St., 604-681-9965. Hermes.com; Clyde denim visor ($167) at One of a Few, 354 Water St., 604-605-0685. Oneofafew.com; Lulu Frost cuff ($405) at Holt Renfrew, 737 Dunsmuir St., 604-681-3121. Holtrenfrew.com; H&M midi rings ($7.95) at H&M, 609 Granville St., 604-692-0308. Hm.com; Stuart Weitzman tassel boots ($1,095) at Browns, 701 W. Georgia St., 604-632-0102. Brownsshoes.com. facing 3.1 Phillip Lim top ($550) at Hudson’s Bay, 674 Granville St., 604-681-6211. Thebay. com; Obakki wool duster coat ($780) at Obakki.com; H&M wide-leg jeans ($39.95) at H&M, 609 Granville St., 604-692-0308. Hm.com; Mimosa boots ($398) at Browns, 701 W. Georgia St., 604-632-0102. Brownsshoes.com; Backes & Strauss Piccadilly Renaissance Classic watch with two rows of diamonds in 18-karat white gold ($32,200) at Palladio, 855 W. Hastings St., 604-685-3885. Palladiocanada.com

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THE

GOODS

PERSONAL SHOPPER

Best Buys

Autumn Almanac Get ready for the season ahead with the best of everything to wear, carry, use, see, and feel by a ma nda ross

Interior designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard unveils Hollywood, his porcelain line for Haviland (from $72 a piece). Atkinson’s, 1501 W. Sixth Ave., 604-736-3378.

Atkinsonsofvancouver.com

Les Automnales de Chanel limitededition Entrelacs eyeshadow palette ($70) arrives Aug. 31 in five silky shades of fall, from golden beige to deep brown.

Thebay.com

CND Vinylux’s new Contradictions Collection ($12 each) delivers seven-day colour in shades of grunge and glamour (pictured: Safety Pin, Peacock Plume). Cnd.com

The Kate Spade for Keds collab looks cunning with the Keds + ksny Triple Decker Fox slip-on ($90). Katespade.com Clé de Peau Beauté unveils Synactif, an upscale, revolutionary skin-care line (from $130) that targets the lymphatic system.

Holt Renfrew, 737 Dunsmuir St., 604-681-3121.

Holtrenfrew.com

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***

made in vancouver, the wee VONBON X MINIMOC leather Shoe comes with suede soles and stitched antler design

($55, Vonbon.ca)

As ever, Leone serves up fall fashion with a bang—or bag, in this case—with the Alexander McQueen Legend in burgundy ($2,155). 757 W. Hastings St., 604683-1133. Leone.ca

James Read’s new, lightweight tan-extending sleep serum ($54/1.7 fl. oz.) works overnight to hydrate, prolong summer’s glow, and prevent signs of aging. Arrives September at Sephora, 1045 Robson St., 604681-9704. Sephora.com It’s the MUUU Irony Chrono by Swatch ($200) in polished stainless steel and cowhide leather.

Metrotown Swatch, 4800 Kingsway, Burnaby, 604-4301984. Swatch.ca

Forgot your key?

August’s new smart lock ($300) unbolts your door remotely via an app, and keeps a log of who goes in and out.

(Set temporary access for your cleaning crew, too.) August.com

With yarn dyed in small-batch open pots, artists from Delhi create this ’70svibe woven wall decor ($299) by hand. CB2, 1277 Robson St., 604669-9797. CB2.ca

zig zag Local design maven and former HGTV host Amy McKay teams up with Bed Bath & Beyond to showcase bedding and textiles, like this summer-light throw ($40), to showcase vibrant colours that mix well with neutral palettes.

Bedbathandbeyond.ca

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THE

GOODS

MODEL CITIZEN

Personal St yle

DOROTHY MILLER

***

SPRING ETERNAL: FOR MORE SHOTS OF MILLER FROM OUR MARCH 1982 ISSUE, VISIT VANMAG.COM

Catch the full interview with Dorothy Miller at Vanmag.com

SALES & DESIGN CONSULTANT, PALL ADIO

“i have to wait for a few more people to die before I release my book,” says model Dorothy Miller with a laugh. Discovered at 51, Miller has a grin that makes you wonder what she’s not telling. Now 82, she flaunts a classic grace and style that could easily be lifted from Paris’s Avenue Montaigne. “I’m always in black or white,” says this feisty octogenarian. But in other ways, all bets are off: “I’m disorganized, unpredictable, and game for anything.”

What design house has infl uenced your style? Versace. There are so many beautiful black pieces. I can be driving by, look in the window of a store, and know that piece is for me. If I see it, it fi ts.

How were you discovered? I was

What’s your favourite piece?

working for Alberto Leone. A lady

The one I’m wearing now. I wore it

from Blanche Macdonald model-

to my boss [Jason Bosa]’s wed-

ling school came in and gave me

ding. His bride [Ashley] was very

her card—which I later tore up. I

gorgeous, but I was told my speech

assumed she was trying to sell me

was great and that I looked terrifi c.

for something.

Several times, Jason has fired me.

I always reply with, “I quit.” But I’ve

And how were you rediscovered?

never left the store.

I have shopped at Leone for 20 What is your guiding principle

a horrendously expensive leather

for personal style? My favourite

jacket, and I sat at a white grand

expression for older women is

piano. Someone must have seen

that I don’t like to see mutton

the picture and thought they could

dressed up like lamb—just wear

work with me.

what suits you. VM

Trevor Brady

years. The stylist there put me in

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THE

Ne w Shops We L o ve

In Store Australian botanicals, technical cashmere, and designer havens—13 stylish new addresses, all with a decidedly sophisticated twist, across the city this fall by lucy l au

Nicole Bridger & Melanie Auld 14 Water St., 604-730-1129.

Nicolebridger.com & 422-55 E. Cordova St., 604-428-1520.

Melanieauld.com  Vancouver designer Nicole Bridger has found a new home in Gastown, relocating her flagship to a bright open-concept space that serves as the perfect backdrop for her ethically made and eco-friendly threads. Not far off, jewellery designer Melanie Auld has set up shop at the historic Koret Lofts, where visitors can view her entire collection’s modern pretty pieces in a clean-lined, edgy boutique—solo or by private shopping party.

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Aesop

Goodge Place

19 Water St., 604-915-6995.

Aesop.com

1523 W. Eighth Ave., 604-714-1133. Goodgeplace.com

 Australian skin-care line and cult beauty brand Aesop has landed this side of the Pacific with a modest 57-square-metre shop in the heart of Gastown. The intimate space— decked out entirely in locally sourced Douglas fir—is a nod to the area’s historic role in the forestry industry while the medicinal skin, hair, and body care products—from gingerroot-infused oils to coriander-seed cleansers—tell their own story of longstanding (and scientifically proven) success.

 This South Granville gem—from well-travelled mother/daughter duo Patricia and Emily McLean— draws on the best in European style and design, delivering an impeccable mix of décor, gifts, and accessories from both at home

Kit and Ace

Dior

151 Water St., 778-372-5000.

Kitandace.com

900 W. Georgia St., 604-891-1810.

Dior.com

 Shannon and JJ Wilson—wife and son of Lululemon founder Chip Wilson—launched Kit and Ace last year, and its success has been hard to ignore. Known for its game-changing “technical cashmere” (movementready, comfortable, and machinewashable), the Gastown spot stays true to its B.C. roots with a number of hyper-local elements, including a Dallas Matson-designed communal table and an in-shop exhibition space that showcases work from local artists. A second, Kits location is freshly unleashed on W. Fourth Ave.

 Inspired by the original concept of the brand’s Avenue Montaigne fl agship in Paris—imagine 18th-century chic in a liaison dangereuse with contemporary glam— Canada’s debut stand-alone Dior boutique features a full range of elegant accessories, eveningwear, and

(World Mosaic) and abroad (House of Hackney, Jake Phipps, and Dr. Vranjes home fragrances, to name a few).

The treasures—arranged like art on clean, white shelving— sit among an in-house florist, café, and rentable design “lab” for area creatives.

shoes, plus—another first for Canada—Dior’s exclusive ready-to-wear women’s collection. Design buffs will appreciate the store’s finer details, including a beautiful antique fireplace and lighting that evokes in its shape Mr. Dior’s zodiac sign (Aquarius).

Goodge Place: Emily Mclean

GOODS

OPENINGS

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SPONSORED REPORT

FALL FASHION PICKS The hottest, style-centric time of the year is here. So whether you’re looking to keep the rain off your brow or eyes on your gym body, check out these local picks that put the mmmm in autumn.

EIDON MUNDAKA MADISON BRALETTE BIKINI TOP Washed out neon colours with tribal inspired print. Centre cut out detail and 2-way back design (so you can adjust for your best fit). swimco.com

EIDON MUNDAKA MILA CHEEKY BOTTOM Washed out neon colours with tribal inspired print. Low rise style with minimal back coverage for a cheeky look.

Sides have criss-cross straps detail. swimco.com

PEARL NECKLACE 14k yellow gold oyster pendant with pink pearl, designed Alison Lou. secretlocation.ca

ANNA-KARIN KARLSSON SUNGLASSES Not for the shy and retiring - these sunnies are a’bloom with style and can be made to prescription. Allergic to excess? We have those too. Shop bruce eyewear and bruceToo. bruceeyewear.com

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HENRIETTA HAT with gold metal floral band, designed

by Maison Michel. secretlocation.ca

PANDORA DAZZLING DAISY MEADOW RING Delicate flowers embellished with glistening stones are linked together in a dainty daisy chain.

This shimmering sterling silver PANDORA ring is perfect for stacking and layering—wear it with other floral pieces to maximize the botanical effect. pandora.net

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GOODS

McArthurGlen Designer Outlet yvr, #1000-7899 Templeton Station Rd. 604-231-5525

openings

Ne w Shops We L o ve

Neighbour/ Woman

(Mcarthurglen.com)

Wilfred

Versace Home

1112 Robson St., 604-684-3251.

Aritzia.com

310 W. Cordova St., 604-336-7390. Versacehome.it

 The most surprising part of Wilfred’s arrival on Robson Street in its stand-alone space is that this wasn’t its first location. (The new store for local darling Aritzia’s in-house label follows two openings in Toronto.)

Though the collection is now showcased in an industrial, loft-inspired concept, style devotees can expect much of the same from the Wilfred they know and love: lightweight knits, casual-cool dresses, and tailored pants that ooze West Coast sophistication with decidedly Parisian flair.

 The world’s first Versace Home flagship (and one of only five Versace Home stores internationally) speaks to Italian opulence in every detail—from the custom-made furnishings with 24-karat gold (a mere 20-karat is incorporated

Durant Sessions & Bailey Nelson

Want Apothecary

Ted Baker London

315 W. Cordova St., 604- 974-8008.

Durantsessions.com & 303 Cambie St., 604-974-9130.

Baileynelson.ca

2956 Granville St., 604-731-4957.

Want­apothecary.com

701 W. Georgia St., 604-661-4544.

Tedbaker.com

 Making its West Coast debut on South Granville late last year, Montreal-based Want Apothecary is part luxury fashion boutique and part 19th-century pharmacy. The store houses a selection of coveted European brands—think Flippa K and Maison Kitsuné—plus its own inhouse label of mostly leather goods.

But the real star is the apothecary counter, which showcases cult beauty favourites like Ursa, Stop the Water, and the exclusive Byredo fragrance line.

 British whimsy and backwoods chic collide at Pacific Centre’s newest retailer from across the pond. Modelled after a midcentury log cabin, Ted Baker London pays homage to Western Canada’s rustic heritage by combining antique wood, mirrors, and traditional

45 Powell St., 778-379-1409 Shopneighbour.com  Four years after the opening of popular menswear shop Neighbour comes its female-focused counter­ part: an equally minimalist space that’s home to a collection of European labels, from the classic (Acne) to the offbeat (Christopher Ræburn) to the elusive (Lemaire.) A stone’s throw from big brother, Neighbour/ Woman also carries a handful of shoes, accessories, and home goods that fit nicely with the brand’s clean, quality-overquantity M.O.

 Gastown, always upping its style game, recently welcomed two eyewear additions. Durant Sessions—inconspicuously tucked in on Cordova—offers customizable frames from celebrated luminaries like Eyevan 7285 and Oliver Peoples.

Down the street, Australia-born Bailey Nelson boasts its own impressive range of chic, no-fuss eyewear in a playfully pared down space designed by Vancouverbased studio Falken Reynolds.

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into the ceramic dishware) to the floors’ white porcelain Versace tiles. If you’re looking to upgrade more decorative elements, the boutique also offers lighting, fixtures, and a collection of textured wall coverings fit for even the most lavish of abodes.

First Nation patterns with repurposed everyday objects such as teapots, tennis rackets, and telephones. The result is a distinctly Canadian space that stands in brilliant opposition to the brand’s bold, fanciful designs—for men and women.

Neighbour/Woman: Ian Lanterman; Versace Home: Ema Peter; Durant Sessions: Trevor Brady; Ted Baker: Desy Cheng

The

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2015 Saturday, October 17th, 2015 | Gala ticket: $300 |

6:30 pm |

Performance Works, Granville Island

Bursary ticket: $500 |

Patrons Circle: $5,000

Culinary Capers Catering featuring Chef John Bishop PREVIEW THE COLLECTION September 21st to October 2nd, 2015 Pendulum Gallery, 885 West Georgia Street Or online at artsumbrella.com/splash

To learn more and purchase tickets visit artsumbrella.com/splash or call 604.681.5268

Join us for Splash— a fine art auction of exceptional curated works, from stunning to sublime, where accessible children’s art education is at the heart of it all.

All funds raised at Splash help ensure that over 21,000 kids access high-quality arts programming each year.

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The

GOODS

M y Space

Storied Homes

Once Upon a Time in the West Establishing a new empire can be hectic, but the Leone home provides sunny, calm respite in Kerrisdale by jen ni elliott || photos by tr acey ay ton

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“we didn’t want to alter the house too much—you’ve got to respect the history,” says Gaby Leone as she gestures to the high ceilings and original windows of her circa-1926 Kerrisdale home.

History is important for both Gaby and husband. Since he left the iconic clothing business seven years ago, Marcello Leone has worked hard to secure a new place in the family legacy.

Using his sartorial experience

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working with iconic brands like Prada and Versace, the entrepreneur now sits as president and CEO of RYU, a new sportswear name that aspires to oust Lululemon. The couple is also throwing its weight behind Trace, a blackhued mineral water sourced from Bridesville, B.C. Their home is where they escape the frenetic pace of business. The light-filled sunroom, an oasis of serenity unmarred by technological distractions,

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HANDMADE IN VANCOUVER, THESE DOGGY BOW TIES ENSURE MAN’S BEST FRIEND IS FIT FOR THE CATWALK

($15, Danesanddivas.com)

LIVING IT UP

Gaby and Marcello Leone met in an elevator in NYC 23 years ago: “I knew then that I would marry her,” says Marcello SMALL PACK AGES

Trace shares her name with the couple’s mineralwater venture STAR POWER

Gwen Stefani’s L.A.M.B. clothing line at Leone meant daughter Sienna enjoyed a meet-and-greet MADE TO ORDER

Marcello’s closet is everything you would expect from sartorial royalty GIVING BACK

Son Luca’s bedroom pays homage to his dad’s role in the Brad May and Friends hockey game that raised over $1 million FAMILY TIES

captures daily life at a glance: dog beds reign supreme for their tiny Yorkie-cross, Trace, and terrier Ralphy. Upstairs, there’s a princess room fit for teenage beauty queen Sienna (who just took home the Miss Teen B.C. title) and a sporting room fi lled with signed jerseys and tartan pillows ready for son Luca’s return from Europe.

(The former Vancouver Giant is currently playing in Austria.)

Clearly, a new history is already in the works. VM

The dining room blends the couple’s backgrounds: an Italian Muranoglass chandelier hangs near a Mexican artwork WELCOME HOME

The entry highlights the original staircase and art

by Mexican artist Francisco Zuniga

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THE

GOODS

S W E AT E Q U I T Y

Workout Plans

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LIGHTEN THE LOAD: HITCASE TURNS YOUR IPHONE INTO A WATERPROOF, SHOCKPROOF ACTION CAMERA

(Hitcase.com, from $80)

Gear Up Riding high with the queen of the mountains growing up in granby, Quebec, Vaea Verbeeck met her fair share of mountain bikers.

(The town next door, Bromont, hosted plenty of international competitions.) At 17, she joined in—and was soon hooked on hurtling down mountains on two wheels.

In 2013, Verbeeck finished up her studies in sports marketing and moved west. Now she spends her days exploring North Shore trails or trekking out to Sun Peaks and Whistler to compete or watch other pros. At 23, she’s won a national championship and placed sixth at last year’s Mountain Bike Downhill World Championships in Norway. Yet recovering from a broken femur, lacerated liver, and broken wrist was tough: “My grandmother asked me to stop, as I had proven I was capable already,” she says. “But through this sport I’ve found my career, my friends, my boyfriend— my life was written from biking.”

With that, Verbeeck hopes to head to France in an attempt for the world title.—Stacey McLachlan

THE BURN up to

600 CALORIES/HR*

* by someone weighing 155 pounds

WHERE TO GO

Hone your bike skills in a 2-person 1.5hour intro class with North Van’s Endless Biking ($75), then head out for a nearby trail ride.

Endlessbiking.com

BRING FRIENDS

Inter River Park features a Nationalslevel BMX track and plenty of extreme

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dirt jumps, but the 2-acre bike park is also a great place for novices to practice too. Nvrc.ca

BRING A BODY CAST

The double-blackdiamond Skull trail on Mount Fromme is a death-defying plunge down a rocky road. Wear a helmet…maybe two.

Trailforks.com

John Sinal

BRING GRANDMA

VA N C O U V E R M A G A Z I N E | S E P T E M B E R 2 O 15

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PRESENTED BY

THANK YOU TO ALL OUR SUPPORTERS FOR HELPING RAISE OVER $360,000 TO BENEFIT THE CONSERVATION OF OUR OCEANS.

FANCY A RIDE?

JO I N U S FO R T HE 3 RD A NNUAL

VANCOU V E R T W E E D R I D E S E P T 2 0 T H - W W W .V A N C O U V E R T W E E D R I D E . C O M

SUPPORTING

In support of adventure based programs for youth & families living with a disability.

PRESENTED BY

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THE

GOODS

FIELD TRIP

Nex t Destinations

Le Couvent des Minimes, founded in 1613 for the Minimes order of monks

Fields of Glory A year in Provence would be nice, but a few days will also do the trick

Minimes’s pastel-hued lobby

in life, there are mo ments of cliché and there are moments of transcendence.

And sometimes, in rare and fortunate settings, they dovetail to create something that is breathtaking, seminal—forever etched into your memory, like a stolen kiss or a glorious sunset.

Provence—revered by Cézanne, Van Gogh, Matisse, Gauguin, and Picasso; immortalized by Peter Mayle; hijacked by Brangelina—is as clichéd as it gets. This southeastern province’s Mediterranean climate, coupled with quaint villages brimming with crumbling churches and those ridiculous lavender fields, contributes to a symphony of senses that any monkey with a screensaver could rhapsodize about. So it’s just another moment in paradise when Dorothy, our pint-sized biking guide

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FIELD NOTES GALLIC FL-AIR Enjoy Air France’s new direct flights from Vancouver to Paris

CIT Y OF FLIGHT All fares allow for a free stopover in Paris on inbound or outbound flights.

(Bien sûr, there are 38 other Air France-serviced French cities to choose from)

LIBERTÉ, ÉGALITÉ There’s free inflight Champagne in all travel classes Airfrance.ca

(Veloloisirprovence.com), stops by the side of the road to point out the spreading carpet of red poppies, blooming with abandon.

You can’t help but wonder how the inhabitants can live so casually with such spoils: olive oil, rosé, perfume, truffles, afternoon idylls, and now flowers that line the fields in artful licentiousness. It’s this unbridled beauty that makes for the most cliché of moments: Enjoying France’s Countryside Charm.

Yet no matter how many times you visit Provence, inured to its postcard allure, this moment of rapture always jumps up and bites you dans le derrière.

This time around, it’s a different kind of beauty that has brought me here. I’ve ensconced myself at Le Couvent des Minimes (Couventdesminimes-hotelspa.

com), a retrofitted 46-room former convent that has fully embraced worldly delights as part of the Relais & Châteaux empire. But it’s the hotel’s owner that’s truly special: L’Occitane en Provence (Loccitane.com), the skin-care behemoth that has made a fortune capturing the region’s spirit in those little green bottles. The factory still operates in nearby Manosque, but post-bike ride we’re a tad more interested in the newly refurbished L’Occitane spa in the hotel—kitted out in playful white-and-yellow tiles and modern organic furniture—and the chance to have our tight muscles kneaded out to the heady scent of citrus, verbena and lavender.

In this light-fi lled sanctuary, L’Occitane showcases its products from derivatives and variations of essential oils, celebrating local

Gérard Fayet

by a ma nda ross

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midland appliances by design

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THE

GOODS

FIELD TRIP

Nex t Destinations

Le Pesquier Bistro

Fields of lavender-scented dreams

P A R I S AT A GL ANCE WHERE South Pigalle, or SoPi, between the 9th and 18th arrondissements WHY The former redlight district is Paris’s newest centre of cool HOW Hire Guillaume Le Roux (716lavie.com] for tour gems like the Musée de la Vie Romantique’s courtyard garden STAY The Grand Pigalle for history reimagined [Grandpigalle.com)

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ingredients such as lemon, honey, and that verbena and lavender.

Post-treatment, a quick stop at the spa boutique, with its array of fragrant goods, yields a collection of restorative magic to tote home.

From the meandering gravel driveway outside, this circa-1613 property doesn’t reveal itself as a perfect ode to contemporary French elegance. But reimagined through a spare, pastelhued palette set against ancient limestone and oak beams, the space effortlessly straddles history and cutting-edge glamour. You never know which will dominate: wander down a hall and you might encounter a mysterious dead end or a light-fi lled courtyard with sleek loungers and AstroTurf.

Down a fl ight of stairs, in the white-walled Le Pesquier Bistro, Provence’s gastronomic riches

shine: consommé of sea urchin, fresh goat cheese with herbs (the rugged landscape makes for excellent grazing), wild sorrel.

A basket of fresh rolls arrives accompanied by a small-batch bottle of local olive oil with subtle notes of artichoke: it tastes suspiciously like our bread is mopping up liquid gold, but the complete insouciance with which it was placed on our table suggests otherwise.

We cap things off with a bottle of 2009 Domaine Saint Jeannet Tuilé (left for several months in large glass bottles in direct sunshine—it, too, enjoys the Provence lifestyle—before being transferred to oak barrels). Hot weather, little rain, and the famed mistral may make for demanding grapegrowing conditions, but the results pay off. I file this away as another

clichéd moment: Drinking Rosé en Plein Air. The next day, we rise before dawn. Stumbling into the van, we twist and turn our way down the winding roads to a little pullout for a better vantage point. I climb an embankment leading to the edge of a field to chart the sliver of early morning light as it rims the horizon. The sun patiently muscles its way higher into the sky, and I watch its poetic ascent until it hangs as a perfect, unreal circular backdrop.

Heading back through the tall, dewy grass, I gingerly try to dodge an army of snails inching their way home under the weight of their massive shells. This quotidian Provençal moment—surely more arresting than ordinary—calls to mind one final cliché: I came, I saw, I cried. VM

Virginie Garnier; Christopher Michel; Daniel Intartaglia

L’Occitane en Provence’s factory

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BACK

PAGE

S N A P C H AT T E R

 M A L COLM PA RRY

A b o u t To w n

“Anyone who could use a helping hand is in our sights. We proudly focus on those in our own backyard” — Face the World founder Jacqui Cohen, at the 25th-annual gala

Ewa and George Taubenfligel

Jill and Mike Killeen

FUNDR AISING FACE THE WORLD June 13 At her Point Grey waterfront residence, Jacqui Cohen hosted an annual $2,500-ticket gala, which generated $1.5 million for the foundation she founded in 1990; it has raised $15 million for regional charities, including many supporting in-need women and children

Jacqui Cohen and Rob Menard

FILM & T V

LEO AWARDS June 14 Sara Canning won for female lead in a dramatic series (Remedy) and Kyle Rideout for motion-picture production design (Eadweard) when the 20th annual event ran in the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver under foundation president Walter Daroshin (who, with Gary Harvey, won the inaugural top award for The War Between Us)

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Gloria Tang

Sara Canning Ling Qiu

Raymond Lam and Thomas Fung

PHIL ANTHROP Y

Tina and Walter Daroshin

Agent Esther Cohen and client Kyle Rideout

GARDEN PART Y July 18 Fairchild Group CEO Thomas Fung and wife Amy hosted Raymond Lam and other Hong Kong actors and singers at their University District home to encourage medical achievements and philanthropy

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Safety: 7.25”

All-wheel drive all the way from Italy.

The all-new FIAT® 500X has arrived and it’s fantastico. It arrives packed with four doors, seating for five, all-wheel drive, 9-speed automatic transmission and over 65 standard and available safety and security features.* Plus, all the incomparable Italian touches that make FIAT so fun in the first place. If you’re looking for an all-new crossover with style, function and performance, look no further than the latest Italian arrival.

*Certain features shown are optional and not offered on all models.

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Some jewelry displayed patented (US Pat. No. 7,007,507) • © 2015 Pandora Jewelry, LLC • All rights reserved • PANDORA.NET

YOUR JEWELLERY ISN’T JUST JEWELLERY IT’S THE STORY OF YOU. EVERY DAY, A NEW CHAPTER. AN EXPLORATION OF CHARACTER AND MOOD. WHO WILL YOU CREATE TODAY? SHARE THE #ARTOFYOU

RICHMOND CENTRE METROPOLIS AT METROTOWN WILLOWBROOK SHOPPING CENTRE PACIFIC CENTRE

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