ALEPH MAGAZINE - ISSUE 03 - FALL 2021

ALEPH MAGAZINE

1

VANCOUVER __ ISSUE 03 __ FALL 2021

AMIR HAMZEHALI PERSONAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION

AMIR IS PROOF THAT YOU CAN BE NUMBER ONE WITHOUT SACRIFICING YOUR VALUES. AMIR IS #1 REALTOR IN 2016, 2017, 2018, AND 2020

amir@hamzehali.com | 2397 Marine Dr. West Vancouver 2

ALEPH MAGAZINE

604 500 1010 OVER $750 MILLIONS SALES IN 2021 SO FAR ALEPH MAGAZINE

1

PERSONAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION

2

ALEPH MAGAZINE

2188 WESTHILL WYND, WEST VANCOUVER | $16,888,000

5385 Kew Cliff Road, West Vancouver, BC V7W 1M3 | $6,998,000 ALEPH MAGAZINE

3

­­__ ABOUT ALEPH

ABOUT ALEPH

‌‫درباره الف‬

ALEPH is Canada’s first Persian lifestyle magazine based in Vancouver dedicated to give stablished businesses a voice for Iranian community, helping them to reach this untapped and active segments of population.

ALEPH is a seasonal magazine that offers a space both in print and online.

It sheds light on what is important and relevant at the present moment, bridging the gap between the East and the West.

We believe that luxury is encompassed in the exclusive, in the unique, in the never-before-seen or experienced. These can be through fine dining, luxury automobiles, high-end fashion, premium travel destinations, high quality products and services which play an important role in refining our experiences and inspiring us to seek out more. It effortlessly allows Westerners to gain a better, more authentic understanding of Persian culture and traditions, while helping Iranians living in Canada discover Western customs and values.

4

ALEPH MAGAZINE

more views more amenities more luxury Apex is a stunning collection of one, two, and three bedroom homes that will redefine North Shore living. As North Vancouver’s tallest tower, rising 32 storeys, Apex promises to provide unprecedented luxury living – inside and out. Apex is everything you want, and more.

C O M I N G T H I S FA L L S TA R T I N G F R O M T H E M I D $ 5 0 0 ’ S REGISTER NOW

ApexAtSeylynn.ca

This is not an offering for sale. Any such offering may only be made with a disclosure statement. E.&O.E.

ALEPH MAGAZINE

5

TEAM RHINO R E A L E S TAT E

DISCOVER THE RHINO POWER. “SUCCESS is the MISSION”

You may not know it, but the Okanagan Valley presents the most affordable and probably best return in BC real estate today. The market is hot, from Vernon all the way down to Osoyoos, and if you’re looking for an affordable investment opportunity, look no further than Team Rhino.

Headed by Iman Sami Kashlooli, Team Rhino has significant experience on the buy side, finally offering clients an opportunity to get into the red-hot BC real estate market, with

Team Rhino’s beautiful secret

a lower down payment and an excellent opportunity for return on

The Okanagan Valley is more than just a pretty face!

lookout for homes and properties that fit Team Rhino’s client profiles.

investment. But it doesn’t stop there. The team has an excellent sellside network throughout the valley, and they’re constantly on the “Our network is extensive in the valley,” says Iman. “We always know where the best deals are, and who’s representing them. Our market insight and network make a big difference.”

In addition, the rental housing market is red hot in the Okanagan Valley.

From small condos to sprawling ranches, the demand for housing is as high as it’s ever been due to the attractiveness of the area, the booming economy and pressure from other Canadian provinces. Those who are looking for investment properties can rely on a high demand from renters, so this makes the area even more attractive, across the board.

Why Team Rhino? Although the team is based in North Vancouver,

6

ALEPH MAGAZINE

they have boots on the ground throughout the valley, and

better?” In addition, the team offers tailored services for every

have just recently done 15 deals in the area. They know the lay of

budget. Whether you’re after a 1-bedroom condo in Kelowna or

the land — and the market, inside and out. They’re in the valley

a sprawling ranch in Princeton, Team Rhino has the experience

usually every week acting on behalf of clients and taking advantage

and the expertise to make your real estate dreams come true.

of the beautiful scenery and the exceptional prices. But most of all, they know that the home rental market is booming with plenty of demand driving prices higher and higher. The time has never been better to invest in the area.

Finally, Team Rhino offers a strong presence in financing. “If you need a mortgage without the crazy terms and conditions, we can help you with that, too,” says mortgage team leader, Shirin Lak. “The fact is, it’s much easier to qualify for a mortgage

The truth is, you can’t beat the natural beauty of the Okanagan

in the Okanagan Valley because the prices are so much more

Valley. In the summer there’s the warm weather, the water sports,

affordable,” she adds. “For example, a $1 million budget

the golfing and the cycling (just to mention a few key features).

could easily give you a beautiful home to live in, as well as an

In the winter, you’ve got some of the best skiing in the world,

impressive mortgage helper downstairs,” says Shirin. “You just

ice fishing, curling and a number of other features that have

can’t find deals like that in Vancouver.”

made cities like Kelowna a destination for Canadians and the international investment community alike.

As Iman likes to say, “When you invest in places like Kelowna,

The Team Rhino mortgage and rental team is very knowledgeable about the area and the market and can help clients with every aspect of the transaction, from A - Z.

or Penticton or even Vernon, you’re getting a tangible asset and quality land in an area that’s safe and beautiful. It’s no surprise that people from the international investment community are taking a hard look at the Okanagan Valley for their investment dollars.”

“If you’re looking for an alternative to the Vancouver real estate market, contact the professionals at Team Rhino today!”

The Rhino Team offers professional real estate services with a focus on “service.” Iman says, “we’re very needs oriented. And what we see are a lot of people who can’t afford to invest in the Lower Mainland. The prices have just made it impossible.

However, the Okanagan Valley is close by and there are so many reasons to invest, but the main one is, you’re building equity in a tangible asset, and someone else is paying for it. What could be

604-379-1412 112 828 Harbourside Drive, North Vancouver, BC V7P 3R9 info@teamrhinorealestate.com • teamrhinorealestate.com

ALEPH MAGAZINE

7

A Salute to the Women in our Lives

One in Particular for Me Dear reader, Well, here we are at the 3rd issue of Aleph and the truth is, we’re going strong and building momentum. Who knew there’d be so much interest in a print magazine in the age of the internet.

But, here we are.

Personally, I couldn’t be happier with the support we’ve received from the Persian community, but even better, from a whole new audience — immigrants from other cultures who make the Lower Mainland home, too. The fact is, we’re resonating with a wide variety of people, now, and I think we may be onto something important here.

I’m going to roll with the success. I’ve decided to take Aleph to a national audience so we’ll be expanding across the country, telling stories about the immigrant experience from sea to sea, and helping to showcase the many great immigrant-owned businesses that are the engine of the Canadian economy. My vision is to make Aleph the foundation for an international media company. I have a lot of confidence that we can make that happen.

Also exciting is the fact that we’re now planning Aleph TV, coming to your living rooms this fall.

We’ve got a great plan to serve up a wide variety of content from interesting people, places and events. Stay tuned for more information.

Finally, this issue is dedicated to all the wonderful women in our community that keep our world turning. From business leaders to those behind the scenes, to artists and creators, moms and everyone in between, we salute you. Women have always played a very important role in Persian culture, and I am very pleased to bring attention to those that deserve it. We here at Aleph hope we can empower a whole new generation of smart, ambitious women to take their places at the head of the table and drive change to make the world a better place.

In keeping with this theme, I would like to thank my fiancé, Roya Momeni, who is an art director for Aleph magazine and a huge part of our success. Roya has worked tirelessly to make this magazine what it is today, and I can’t thank her enough for her creativity, dedication and hard work.

You’re invited to browse through these pages and find the content that resonates with your own experiences. And remember, we’d love to hear from you so if you have any feedback or suggestions, I’m all ears.

Sincerely, Farhad Mehrabi, Publisher ALEPH 8

ALEPH MAGAZINE

ALEPH MAGAZINE

9

__ CONTENTS 10

06

Team Rhino

14

Shima Javan

18

Elham Rezaei

26

ReCanvas

28

Turkish Consulate

32

Hong Kong

42

Peyman Salari

44

Glowbal Restaurant Group

48

Reyhaneh Ghannadan

49

Dr. Eli Akbari

50

Dr. Sadaf Fazel

51

Tirajeh Mazaheri

52

Golnaz Fakhari

53

Hedieh Safiyari

58

Saye Yabandeh

60

Mercedes De La Cruz

62

Nilufar Moayeri

64

Women’s National Hockey Team

66

Eurolux

72

Guinness Business Centre

74

A.A.G. Services

78

Slovenian Consulate

80

Mehran Halavi

82

Turkish Airlines

87

The Hidden Jewels of Pakistan

94

Matt Gul

ALEPH MAGAZINE

54

20

09 05

64

66 ALEPH MAGAZINE

11

Welcome to the North Shore’s most dynamic new community.

12

Renderings are an artist’s illustration only. This is not an offering for sale. Any such offering may only be made with a disclosure statement. E.&O.E.

ALEPH MAGAZINE

Live in the heart of it all. Located where Lower Lonsdale meets the new Moodyville, Innova offers the best of North Shore living in a one-of-a-kind community. Innova brings a vibrant new retail hub, daycares, impressive rooftop amenities, and one- to four-bedroom concrete homes and live/work spaces.

168 Residences Redefining Urban living 1 - 4 Bedrooms Condos and Townhomes Located at East 3rd & St Davids

For sales information, register today at LiveInnova.ca 778 882 3277 • liveinnova.ca

ALEPH MAGAZINE

13

Creating a Glamorous World with

SHIMA JAVAN Interior Architect & Designer

Photo: Afshin Sadeghi

Born in Tehran, Iran, Shima Javan is a Persian-Canadian interior architect and designer, as well as the founder and principal of Shima Javan Design in Vancouver. Shima received her Master of Business Administration from Tehran University and Certificate of Interior Architecture and Design from Tehran Institute of Technology. For nearly 10 years, she worked on numerous residential and commercial projects in Tehran and Dubai before moving to Canada and getting her Certificate of Interior Design from BCIT. Her expertise landed her projects in downtown Vancouver’s most luxurious buildings and houses, from Three Harbour Green to stunning newly built developments in the Yaletown area.

The services she offers her clients are as diverse and farreaching as her skills. Her firm offers everything from interior design, interior architecture and landscaping design, to

604 363 3631

Email: projects@shimajavan.com Website: shimajavan.com IG: shimajavan.interiordesign 14

ALEPH MAGAZINE

renovations, decorating, procurement management and job site supervision. She also collaborates with architects on new-build projects in addition to providing services like art positioning and even minor cosmetic changes.

With every project she takes on, Shima feels like she falls in love again and again.

“I should have a close relationship with my designs and be very responsible for them,” she says. To her, every project is an invitation to an enchanting journey.

I have had a passion for design and decoration since I was a teenager.

I loved accompanying my dad to his architectural projects and was always surrounded by his drawings and sketches. Throughout my family’s travels, I also derived a lot of inspiration from Iranian contemporary architects and designers. Visiting architectural sites around the world further instilled this desire that I continue to implement into my work.

My love for interior design is evident in my attention to detail and inherent sense of harmony. As a beginner, my first project was decorating my own place. My friends and family loved my style so they often hired me for their projects which snowballed into my thriving ten-year career in Tehran and Dubai.

My passion for creation also led me to direct 6 short movies, two of which were screened at Cannes Film Festival. This was all made possible with the help of movie directing courses spearheaded

by Abbas Kiarostami and Asghar Farhadi. Abbas, my mentor and internationally famous Iranian director, taught me that the world is our workshop and not our home, so we must design and create as much as we can.

My clients are my soulmates. For them, I design with the same glamour and artistry as I do for my own personal spaces. I believe that every one of my projects has a unique soul and must be exciting, timeless and refined. I also believe that my clients should remain faithful to their own tastes because a person’s home is a great definition of his/her character. I ask them to share that and leave the rest to me.”

Photo: Afshin Sadeghi

ALEPH MAGAZINE

15

16

ALEPH MAGAZINE

ALEPH MAGAZINE

17

ELHAM REZAEI

Mutual Fund Representative & Insurance Agent 778 321 9467 18

ALEPH MAGAZINE

Reasons to Work With a LICENSED INSURANCE AGENT & MUTUAL FUND REPRESENTATIVE

Canadians who work with a licensed Insurance Agent and Mutual Fund Representative will be provided with a disciplined process for their financial planning. They will also benefit from this professional guidance to reach their desired goals. Individuals who choose to get directions from such a professional will reap the benefits of achieving financial freedom along with the support necessary to avoid making costly mistakes.

Licensed Insurance Agents and Mutual Fund Representatives play a key role in helping Canadians reach financial freedom.

Establish Financial Freedom Whether you have a 5 or a 30-year plan, your agent will provide you with the tools and knowledge to see your vision come to fruition. As soon as Elham helps you understand where you stand today, she will help you plan for the future to establish peak financial health.

It is a common misconception that only entrepreneurs and business owners hire the services of a Licensed Insurance Agent or a Mutual Fund Representative, when in reality, individuals from all walks of life could benefit from professional help. An agent like Elham can help you with everything from building an effective financial plan to investing your money in the right places. Working with someone that you resonate with, is how long-term success begins.

World Financial Group (WFG) consists of: In Canada, World Financial Group Insurance Agency of Canada Inc. (WFGIA), which offers Life Insurance and Segregated Funds.

WFG Securities Inc. (WFGS), which offers Mutual Funds.

Headquarters: 5000 Yonge Street, Suite 800, Toronto, ON M2N 7E9.

Phone: 416.225.2121

ALEPH MAGAZINE

19

Maserati Levante. Experience an SUV like no other.

Yours from $96,960.*

20

ALEPH MAGAZINE

Immerse yourself in the exclusive world of Maserati and discover the beautiful range of luxury sedans, SUVs and coupes. As the only official Maserati dealership in Vancouver, we invite you to experience elegant Italian style and exhilarating performance with every drive. We share your passion for cars and provide a welcoming atmosphere where you can stop by for a coffee or talk about the latest vehicles and upcoming dealership events.

Visit our showroom at 1860 Burrard street, we look forward to welcoming you!

604.215.8778

•

1860 Burrard St.

•

Vancouver, BC

•

maserativancouver.com

ALEPH MAGAZINE

21

22

ALEPH MAGAZINE

“The best memories in your life have always been marked with a smile. Whether it is that first kiss or your child’s first steps, the embrace of a parent or the return home after a long journey, all that is good in life begins and ends with a smile. Invest in the ultimate luxury by investing in your own health. Our expert specialists at ByDesign Dentistry combine years of experience with the latest technology to transform your smile because we are committed to building a world where everyone smiles.”

Dr. Kevin Aminzadeh

604 558 3369

bydesigndentistry.co m 1 7 6 2 W Bro a dw a y, Va nco uver, BC V6J 1Y1 ALEPH MAGAZINE

23

__ MASTHEAD

President & Editor in chief Farhad Mehrabi Art Director Roya Momeni Account Manager Saloumeh Raeesi Cover Design Artist Roya Momeni Layout Design Artist Saloumeh Raeesi Copy Editors Elene Boycheva, Golnaz Fakhari Photographers Ali Dolatabadi, Kamran Safari Videographers Arian Rahimian, Afshin Sadeghi Social Media Manager S M Wahidun Nabi Digital Artists Matheus Wohlenberg, Mahdi Hajibabaei Web Specialist Zin Ng Marketing Coordinator Shekoufeh Kharajinezhad Makeup Artists Leila Dehghan, Farrah Sanei Models Nikki Zecha, Mariana Fey Special Thanks to Christopher Dallin Advertising Inquiries

Issue 03 — Fall 2021

On The Cover The model on the cover of this issue is Nikki Zecha, photographed by Kamran Safari in 2021. The Farsi calligraphy was crafted by Ali Mohammadi based on a design concept by Roya Momeni. The cover artwork is meant to evoke a powerful image of women’s empowerment and to illustrate that moment of a fight when the victory is imminent. In this issue we show our admiration to all the women in our community who are courageous, strong, and ready to conquer the world.

1-604-620-6206 info@alephmagazine.com Executive Office 1123 - 409 Granville St., Vancouver, BC V6C 1T2, Canada 604-620-6206 www.alephmagazine.com Published by Geeky Marketing This soft yet durable paper you’re touching is called Stone Paper®️. An eco-friendly and sustainable alternative to mainstream papers. We went through countless types of papers for ALEPH, and we chose Stone Paper®️ because it is the one we all can be proud of.

aleph.magazine

24

ALEPH MAGAZINE

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted by any form or by any means, including photocopying or other electronic or mechanical methods, without prior written permission of the editor, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.

with Ayoub’s Dried Fruit & Nuts

Shop Now At www.ayoubs.ca Discount Code ALEPHreaders20%off ALEPH MAGAZINE

25

THE ART OF BUILDING

Build a Symphony Building your dream home is a symphony of achieving your vision while ensuring quality craftsmanship, time efficiency and cost management.

The key to turning your vision into a reality is you, because only you know what’s best. We can help realize your vision. ReCanvas’s proven do it yourself (DIY) methodology: •

Enables you to be the builder of your home by giving you complete control over the key elements of the building process

•

Takes away the headache of ensuring things are done right by being by your side every step of the way.

Creek The Beauty We are proud of every home we’ve ever built. Here is an example of how the challenge of living next to a creek was turned into a powerful advantage of design and harmony.

The property located at 326 W 19th sits next to Wagg Creek. This creek runs south through city land which doubles as a park and towards the south tip of the plot shimmies and bends westward. This bend introduced several design challenges, including a building “no-go zone” on nearly a quarter of the property.

26

ALEPH MAGAZINE

To accommodate this we had two conventional options: downsize the building or have an obscure-looking wall at the southeast corner of the building. Neither option was appealing, so we went back to the drawing board. Certain elements were ruled as critical: •

Necessary environmental protection around the southeast corner of the plot

•

Not compromising the building’s shape with obscure walls and features

•

Building a dwelling area that embraced the scenery of the park surrounding the creek

The solution presented itself as a symphony of harmony: what if we pushed back the building envelope, creating a large front yard, and blending the backyard into the parkside? By embracing the natural restrictions instead as elements of the design, and redesigning almost every square foot of the original plans, we created a home that is functional, spacious and beautiful. Every interior and exterior space blends and flows naturally to the next, and ultimately to the outside creek and park.

This is building at its finest, when every element comes together to

Let’s Start

make one beautiful home.

Build Your Dream Home Today

Recanvas Transparency & Quality We’re Right By Your Side ReCanvas Development Inc. is a family-owned business that has been serving greater Vancouver for over 20 years. With an extensive network of qualified trades and suppliers, we’ve been able to provide exceptional service from pre-construction to the moment you take possession of your beautiful home.

Are You Ready?

If you want to build your dream home, you want to be involved every step of the way, and you expect quality and efficiency to be a given. We are here to make that dream come true.

With every happy new homeowner, ReCanvas has been changing the status quo of “how to build a home” one home at a time.

We welcome you to be your own future home builder!

Our mission statement is “transparency and quality”, and you can hold us to that from start to finish.

604 725 8374 | ReCanvas.ca | myproject@recanvas.ca

ALEPH MAGAZINE

27

AN INTERVIEW WITH MEHMET TAYLAN TOKMAK Consul General of the Republic of Turkey in Vancouver

28

ALEPH MAGAZINE

Welcome to Vancouver! How long has Turkey had a consulate in Vancouver and when were you appointed?

Thank you and thank you for the opportunity to be in your magazine. The Consulate General in Vancouver was opened in September 2015. I am the second Consul General and have started my tenure in September 2019.

Is there a huge Turkish community in BC? What is the reason for Turkey having a Consulate General in Vancouver?

Turkish community in BC is growing yet it is still less than ten thousand. Besides our Embassy in Ottawa, Turkey has consular missions in three cities in Canada which are Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal. Our Consulate General is responsible of five provinces, namely BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Yukon, and Northwest Territories. One of our motivations in opening a Consulate General was expanding our consular network to Western Canada, providing consular services both to Turkish citizens and Canadians. Needless to say, Canadian Turks living in the western half of Canada, who were previously registered to our Consulate General in Toronto and had to travel back and forth for some notary appointments or issuance of ID documents are very happy with the establishment of our mission here.

Turkish Airlines have recently started direct flights to Istanbul from Vancouver, can you please tell us about that?

In addition to expanding our consular service network, we are determined to increase our bilateral relations with Western Canada in every field. Turkey is still not much known at this side of

That direct flight is going to boost tourism to Turkey and Turkish Medical Tourism as well, can you tell us a little bit about this?

Turkey with its famous hospitality culture has the biggest and most modern five star hotel infrastructure in Europe. We offer a huge selection of boutique as well as all inclusive package deals which are more preferable by families with children. But our guests can go beyond sun and sea tourism and explore the incredibly rich history and culture our country harbours as well.

Before the global pandemic Turkey was hosting 36 million guests a year and there is no reason to go beyond that in coming years.

the country and we are here to promote it as it deserves so with

Additionally, for more than a decade a new feature has also

natural, historical and cultural riches it possesses. An important

gained momentum: Turkey has a very strong health infrastructure

part of this strategy was establishing a direct flight route between

and it became the center of attraction for patients from Europe

Vancouver and İstanbul. After a delay of 11 months due to the

and the Middle East for a wide array of medical treatments

global pandemic, our national flag carrier, Turkish Airlines had

ranging from plastic surgery to dental treatment and more

started direct flights between two cities as of May 2nd this year.

complex treatments such as In Vitro Fertilization with globally

It is a very new route but as the pandemic restrictions ease up

competitive prices. Even before the arrival of Turkish Airlines to

in the coming months, we will see how direct flights facilitate

Vancouver, through visa interviews we have seen a steady flow

growth of economic, touristic and cultural relations between

of persons who seek treatment in Turkey in aforementioned

Turkey and Western Canada.

categories regardless of the restrictions imposed due to the

Turkish Airlines has allocated a very modern aircraft for the route and you can arrive to İstanbul just under 12 hours. Moreover, as an international hub, newly opened İstanbul airport offers more than 300 destinations in Europe, Middle East, and Africa within three hours of flight time. Therefore, not only travelling to Turkey but also the ease of reaching third countries via İstanbul hub will make BC residents acknowledge the true value of this new route.

global pandemic. Accordingly, in the post-pandemic period I expect to see at least three fold increase in medical tourism from Vancouver thanks to the direct flights. Imagine getting the private treatment you wish at a time of your choosing with air travel, lodging and vacation combined costing less than Canada.

Can you tell us about investing in Turkey?

Turkey is one of the fastest growing economies in the world with

By the way, since we constantly receive similar questions, I will

an average annual GDP growth of 5,1%. In the first quarter of

seize this opportunity to inform fellow readers that prior to travel

2021, Turkish economy grew 7,5%. From legislative point of view,

to Turkey, Canadian passport holders need to obtain their e-visas

Turkey has a liberal investment climate with a clear foreign direct

through www.evisa.gov.tr; whereas blue Travel Document holders

investment law which is simple and complies with international

need to fill out the visa application form at www.visa.gov.tr and

standards while offering equal treatment for all investors. It takes

get their appointment for an interview at the Consulate. My

only 7 days to setup a company. A wide range of state incentives

staff assists all related inquiries either through phone or e-mail.

are also available for investors.

ALEPH MAGAZINE

29

Secondly, Turkey has a geostrategic location with easy access to big markets. It is the only non-EU member country which is in the EU customs union that enables easy access to the European market of 510 million people. Turkey’s population is 84 million with half of it being under the age of 33 and it’s young, dynamic and growing population is another

604 416 0366 vancouver.bk.mfa.gov.tr 1111 W Georgia St Suite 303, Vancouver, BC V6E 4M3

attractive factor for investors. While having a sizeable consumer base, Turkey also offers a skilled and competitive work force especially in terms of qualified engineers and senior managers. Moreover, Turkey concluded Free Trade Agreements with 27 countries totalling a market of 355 million people. Hence, investors in Turkey have the ability to easily reach almost one billion consumers.

Is it true that foreign investors are able to acquire Turkish Citizenship through buying property?

Indeed, anyone who purchases a property in Turkey with a minimum value of 250.000USD is entitled to Turkish citizenship along with the family members. The process roughly takes 60 days and the condition is to keep the property at least for three years.

Finally, we know Turkish films and series are getting more and more popular, even on

major streaming services we can access them, please tell us what is behind the success story regarding the Turkish film industry.

Turkish productions have transformed into export products almost two decades ago. Turkish series first became popular in the Middle East. Back then everyone commented that the key to success was the cultural similarities. But then European audiences have explored Turkish productions and gave similar positive reactions. Turkish series have also penetrated Latin American market and are already capturing attention of Canadian audience. Just as I had been doing in my previous postings, here in Canada I am responding to emails we receive about Turkish series and questions regarding İstanbul and other locations to visit. I think their success is a blend of charming locations, actors and a strong script which generally shocks and grasps the audience from the outset. And of course romance is always there.

In conclusion, I would like to thank again for the opportunity to reach your select readers and wish Aleph every success in its publishing life. Our Consulate General’s doors are open and we are ready to help in all matters we can.

ROYA MOMENI Art Director

30

ALEPH MAGAZINE

FARHAD MEHRABI ALEPH Publisher

MEHMET TAYLAN TOKMAK Consul General of the Republic of Turkey

MATT GUL Real Estate Investor

Getting a mortgage can be time-consuming and stressful. As a mortgage professional, it’s my job to research the market for you and arrange the mortgage financing that meets your needs so you save time, energy and money.

With access to over 65 lenders that compete for your business including major banks, credit unions, B-lenders and Private lenders your mortgage will have the features and rate that meet your needs. Whether you are purchasing a home or refinancing an existing mortgage, my goal is to provide you such a positive experience that makes the process as easy as possible for you.

Call me at 778-829-2785

maapp.ca/app/sara-mehjoo • sara@vancouver-mortgage.ca Unit 102B-6321 King George Blvd, Surrey, BC, V3X 1G1

to assess your situation because the right mortgage can build your wealth and save you thousands of dollars.

ALEPH MAGAZINE

31

HONGKONGERS ARE LEAVING FOR A SECOND TIME WITH A FORTUNE.

By Wyng Chow Special Contributor

Tens of billions of dollars are sitting in Canadian banks as an estimated 20 per cent of the Chinese-Canadians living in Hong Kong prepare for a gradual exodus from “Fragrant Harbour” due to the recent political developments and uncertain economic outlook in the city.

Call them the “double returnees”.

Capital flows in the past year out of Hong Kong, home to as many as half a million Canadian passport holders and prospective immigrants, reached an all-time record of nearly C$44 billion (US$34.9 billion) in electronic fund transfers, according to FINTRAC, Canada’s anti-money laundering agency that gathers financial intelligence on transfers exceeding C$10,000. Some speculate the actual amount is even higher.

Whatever the real amount of cash injection is, it has Canadian property developers and realtors – along with other segments of the economy such as financial institutions, automobile dealerships, furniture and appliance stores, luxury goods merchants, home improvement businesses and restaurants – all salivating over getting their piece of the action.

“Emigration has been a popular subject in Hong Kong,” said Jean-Francois Harvey, a Canadian lawyer based in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region who specializes in immigration for high-net-worth individuals.

Harvey, who moved to Hong Kong from Montreal 20 years ago, said in an interview he has seen a four-fold increase in clients looking to move to Canada since the middle of 2020.

32

ALEPH MAGAZINE

“There has been an incredible increase in demand especially for Canada in Hong Kong,” he said. “So much so that in the middle of COVID 19, I had to double the team and the size of our office in Hong Kong. This is more than a spike, this is a wave.”

Harvey said his clients in the past year have transferred at least C$1 million, and routinely as much as C$5 million or C$10 million to Canada.

In Hong Kong, HSBC, the largest bank in the city of 7.5 million people, has established a special international department to connect Hongkongers with other global markets – with Canada being at the forefront, along with Britain and Australia.

London-based HSBC’s Canadian subsidiary is headquartered in downtown Vancouver.

In Canada, online lender Equitable Bank, told media that it experienced a surge in deposits from Hong Kong right after Beijing passed the controversial National Security Law on June 30, 2020.

In recent decades, Hongkongers had grown weary of constant upheavals, prompting them to flee again and again to safer overseas countries where there are established Chinese diaspora, with Canada as the favored destination.

However, each time, after things cooled down, they returned to Hong Kong for better career prospect. It must be emphasized that many Hong Kong immigrants chose to stay after gaining Canadian citizenship. A lot of those who left did so because of poor employment opportunities for them in Canada.

ALEPH MAGAZINE

33

Back to the present, John Martin, a former Vancouver lawyer

no longer want to buy a ‘monster home,’ as before they could

now working in Hong Kong as an immigration consultant,

bring their housekeeper to Canada, but now, they have to do

echoed Harvey’s views about a growing exodus. “I think that’s

their own work.”

pretty accurate, although it will be a slow exit rather than a total retreat,” Martin said in an interview.

Tung emphasized that discerning Hong Kong buyers are especially attracted to units offering spacious kitchens with

As for himself, Martin, like a lot of other Canadian expatriates,

upscale European brand name appliances and cabinetry. “Among

has no near-term plans to return to Canada, since business for

smart developers, all new condos are being built with very nice

him remains brisk. “If enough people leave, someone has to fill

kitchens, as (end-users) plan to spend a lot of time in the kitchen,”

the void,” said Martin, chairman of Pan Pacific Group. “It has

Tung said. He added that in the past two years, his agents are

been busier here than it’s ever been.”

“seeing a lot of new faces” at Hong Kong showrooms marketing

Meanwhile, developers, property consultants and realtors in

Vancouver projects.

Canada – particularly in Vancouver and Toronto that are already

Tung said pre-construction sales are highly coveted by returning

both homes to hundreds of thousands of ethnic Chinese – are

Canadians since they don’t have to take occupancy right away

drooling over the prospect of cashing in on the lion’s share of

and can wait until the projects are completed in one to three

the billions currently stashed in Canadian banks from Hong

years. “So there’s no rush to move in,” he said. “It’s tailor-made

Kong depositors.

for them.”

Terence Tung, director of SQM Global Properties, is a Hong Kong-based licenced realtor who sells overseas properties to Hong Kong buyers. He indicated that real estate in Canada is highly coveted among Hongkongers, second only to the United Kingdom. Canada ranks ahead of other regions such as Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan and Taiwan. “They are end-users who are shopping around for self-use, preferably new projects in the pre-sale stage or under construction,” said Tung.

He also pointed out that in the Greater Vancouver area, the most popular locations are Richmond, downtown Vancouver and the city’s westside, like Oakridge. The highly sought-after homes for end-users are two and three-bedroom condominiums or townhouses. Hong Kong buyers are also keenly interested in locations with good schools for their grandchildren.

When you approach Hong Kong families, you must provide homes with more than one bathroom, luxury appointments such as open kitchens with high-end, European-made cabinets and appliances, and large closets. During the pandemic, people are forced to stay at home, and the kitchen has become the most popular common area where families spend the most time in.

This is one of the reasons why a great kitchen is a deciding factor for Hong Kong buyers when looking for new homes.

Terence Tung

Hong Kong commentator Albert Cheng, who is founding

Director of SQM Global Properties

president of the Hong Kong Chinese Canadian Association, predicted a significant surge in Hong Kong immigrants in Canada back in 2018. In his column for the South China Morning Post, he stated that at least 10 per cent of the 300,000 Canadian passport holders living in Hong Kong would move back to Canada, meaning at least 30,000 people. Cheng foresaw those particular immigrants would be mostly well-educated middleclass professionals, with the capital to buy new homes in Canada, as well as invest in the property market.

34

Jacky Chan, a leading Vancouver realtor, said that in postpandemic times, British Columbia’s housing market will boom again similar to the late 1980s and early 1990s, driven by Canadians returning home from Hong Kong and elsewhere. “A lot of people are coming back from all over the world. We’re seeing that each single day,” said Chan, president of Vancouver-based BakerWest Real Estate Inc, which works closely with developers, such as Concord Pacific and Aspac Developments. “Demand is naturally

Echoing Terence Tung’s views on the latest market trends,

increasing because of natural population growth and migration,

Cheng points out: “Unlike the 1970s, Hong Kong immigrants

and with recent Canadian immigration policy changes.”

ALEPH MAGAZINE

Other industry sources noted the Canadian government plans to admit more than 1.2 million new immigrants within the next three years – further driving housing demand.

Chan’s firm is a division of Toronto’s Baker Real Estate, the country’s largest condo pre-sales and marketing agency. Himself an emigrant from Hong Kong in 1994, Chan said Vancouver is the preferred destination for Canadians to escape the political uncertainty and high cost living in Hong Kong. Vancouver is favored over Toronto because of BC’s milder climate and the city’s “Gateway to the Pacific” location.

Keelan Chapman, founder of the Canadian Real Estate Investment Centre in Hong Kong, said he has seen a noticeable uptick in purchasers interested in properties in good public school areas, with Vancouver’s westside being most popular. “The buyers we’re seeing now intend to eventually become end-users rather than just investors,” Chapman said. While many of his clients are Hong Kong residents with Canadian passports, “We’re also seeing a lot of non-Canadian Hongkongers looking into Canada.”

Chapman also said Hong Kong buyers enjoy the flexibility offered by new pre-sale since they can wait for three or four years while the projects are being built. This gives them time to decide whether to take occupancy or to rent out their homes temporarily until they reach their ultimate decision to relocate to Canadian shores.

Chapman said some of his clients with Canadian passports have

Keelan Chapman

quickened their timelines for returning to about five years on average,

Founder of Canadian Real Estate Investment Centre (HK)

from approximately eight years previously.

ALEPH MAGAZINE

35

Meanwhile, local realtors expect to experience a post-pandemic boom in the Greater Vancouver property market. “Migration levels are expected to accelerate through 2021 onwards to account for the dip during the pandemic,” said Dan Scarrow, president of Vancouver-based Macdonald Realty. “This includes immigration levels, which will surpass 400,000 per year, along with a return of international students.

“As it pertains to Hong Kong, we expect more money and people to flow to Vancouver after the recent mainland Chinese crackdowns,” added Scarrow, whose firm has Asian operations in Hong Kong and Shanghai. “It won’t be like 1997 though. It will be much more subtle. There’s already a critical mass of Chinese people in Vancouver and most wealthy Hongkongers already have a beachhead in Canada, so the movement of money and people won’t be noticeable as in the 1990s.”

Kitchen Infinity Hong Kong Showroom Kitchen Infinity (HK) is the major distributor of European cabinetry in Hong Kong, being the sole distributor of high-end Germanmade Poggenpohl and Gaggenau products for over 30 years.

Company CEO Sandra Wong noted that as 75 percent of the city’s luxury residential developments now feature European appliances and cabinets, “that’s why Hong Kong home buyers who have moved to Canada are very familiar with European brands such as Poggenpohl and Gaggenau.”

Dan Scarrow President of MacDonald Realty

Realtor David Yang, broker-owner of Pacific Evergreen Realty, said besides Vancouver’s west side, areas in BC’s Lower Mainland that are now also attractive to Hong Kong buyers include Burnaby, Coquitlam, Surrey and Langley, as well as the good old standby, Richmond.

“The (Greater Vancouver) market has been the most active since

David Yang

2016,” Yang said. “After COVID 19, it will be more incredible,

Broker-owner of Pacific Evergreen Realty

with sales jumping 20 to 30 per cent.”

36

ALEPH MAGAZINE

home buyers are usually attracted by high-end European branded kitchen cabinets and appliances. They highly covet enjoyment and home investment value -- similar to their obsession for other European designs such as cars, yachts and fashion.

Property price appreciation in Vancouver has enriched home owners and sellers, boosting their discretionary budgets for kitchen renovations and enhancements. Recently, there have been increasing inquiries from local developers, contractors and home owners on European kitchen cabinets. They are interested in the European brands that are most popular among Hongkongers.

They always choose European-made custom cabinets over European-style cabinets manufactured in other countries.

Kitchen is one of the most important rooms in the house. There, we spend the most time in the company of our loved ones. It is a room where family and friends cook and dine together. The best memories are often created in the kitchen. Where there is a demand, there is a supply. Catering to the needs of modern families, newly designed homes feature a large and integrated space of living, dining and cooking areas all blended in together.

The open-plan design is highly sought-after in the property market.

Kitchen Infinity Vancouver is the major distributor of high-end

Bloomberg Business News reported that according to real estate

German and Italian products in Canada. In 2019, it opened in

firm Royal LePage, good kitchen designs can raise the value of

Gastown the largest kitchen cabinets showroom in the country.

a property by more than 12.5 per cent and are more attractive

Company Marketing Director Carl Müller said that Hong Kong

to buyers.

Kitchen Infinity Vancouver Flagship Store

ALEPH MAGAZINE

37

Vancouver Flagship Store 101 Water street Gastown, Vancouver

KI ATELIER Western Canada Sole Distributor

38

ALEPH MAGAZINE

ALEPH MAGAZINE

39

Personal Real Estate Corporation

With over 600 million dollars in property sales, Reza Kohan has the proven skills and unmatched commitment to simplify and streamline your next real estate project.

604.721.8050 40

ALEPH MAGAZINE

.

reza@rezakohan.com

.

www.rezakohan.com

ALEPH MAGAZINE

41

PEYMAN SALARI QAFP™

SENIOR FINANCIAL ADVISOR A WORD TO THE WISE

AS A BUSINESS OWNER: SAVE TAXES, MAXIMIZE BENEFITS Being the owner of a corporation is no easy task. You are expected to don the hat of an individual, performing multiple tasks ranging from taking care of your employees and their needs, your personal financial needs, creating your own financial retirement plan to optimize your corporate tax liabilities, and the like. You are required to periodically monitor, evaluate and make alterations to the investments and plans when needed. But the question is if you have enough time to design, manage and develop a financial plan that best accommodates you and your employees in addition to your various other responsibilities.

This is where a certified financial advisor steps into the picture. They partner with the corporate owners and offer their invaluable observations, professional expertise, and insight, helping accelerate finances, thereby saving the owners valuable time and effort. Hiring and consulting such professionals help owners steer their business in the right direction for the stability and growth of the company, optimizing tax liabilities, growing their assets tax-efficiently, offering novel solutions, and helping cover

the employee’s unexpected medical expenses. The advisors adopt a personalized approach and customize a plan based on each individual’s financial status to reach the financial goals.

While navigating through a series of essential strategies for a business, I decided to shed light on the four strategies that caught my eye and sparked my interest, as jotted below.

42

ALEPH MAGAZINE

Individual Pension Plan (IPP) If you are on the lookout for another alternative to save for retirement while saving tax, the IPP is the way to go.

An IPP is a registered defined-benefit pension plan solely sponsored by a company for either one individual and at times two individuals, provided they belong to the same family. It offers maximum retirement benefits permitted by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). The IPP is also ideal if the RRSP contribution limit has reached the maximum limit.

The money deposited in the IPP for the owner’s retirement due to being tax-deductible for corporations makes the corporate pay less taxes. Moreover, all the investment fees and expenses are deductible for corporations making it a

Establishing a Health Spending Account (HSA) For employee health and satisfaction, most employers make it a point to offer Group Insurance Plans to their employees. Since the conventional Group Insurance Plans have multiple deductibles and caps on the covered medical services, you mostly will not acquire the full benefits from the plan. Moreover, the premiums will increase based on the growing age of employees and the insurance claims history. On the contrary, though not recognized by many, the Health Savings Account is an exceptional savings account

total win-win solution.

Retirement Compensation Arrangement (RCA) The primary purpose behind the RCA is to furnish the business owners and senior executives with supplemental pension benefits, which they reap only at the time of retirement. It is more or less like a trust meant for those unwilling to let go of their lifestyle and wish to sustain a certain quality of life even during retirement. Typically, an RCA is a part of a retirement plan set up by the employer.

It is the perfect substitute for those who do not have a

that pays for health-related expenses while offsetting the

Registered Pension Plan (RPP) within their company.

increase in medical costs. Be it expenses related to getting

For better understanding, it may be noted that IPP

registered massage therapy, physiotherapy, ultrasound,

retirement benefits are subject to a maximum limit. As a

or even expensive qualified treatments, HSA has got you

result, the RCA may be considered a supplement to IPP

covered. The HSAs being ideal replacements for traditional

retirement benefits for high-income earners.

health insurance are backed by the option of either using the funds the same year or being rolled over to subsequent

Corporate Preferred Estate Transfer

years while deducting funds as corporate expenses, which

Are you tired of paying too much taxes on your dividends? Is

leads to less corporate taxes

it even possible to withdraw retained earnings immediately

Investing for Retirement by Using Corporate’s Funds

and defer the tax payment to a future date? Well, of course.

Corporate owners earning $100,000 or more a year often

business owner triggers passive income taxation, thus,

get overwhelmed and stunned when they notice how small

increasing your income tax rate. However, if the payments

their RRSP contribution rooms and retirement incomes

are deferred until retirement, they would be taxed only at

could be via RRSP, as the expectation was to attain a hefty

a lower effective tax rate.

pension amount.

We at WiseInvest have various other pointers and tactics

Considering the pension laws being far more generous

up our sleeves that ensure your corporate strategies are

than the RRSP laws, and owing to the Income Tax Act, the

optimized for success. Once you drop into our website

business owners and professionals can bridge the gap

and get in touch with us, we will take it from there. There

and narrow differences using Individual Pension Plans

is no commitment to take our services, but we are here

and a retirement planning solution called Retirement

to answer all your queries and can briefly discuss your

Compensation Arrangement

objectives and plans.

peyman@wiseinvest.ca

•

Parking and withholding large chunks of money within your corporation’s account does not help save money, but the

#850, 1185 W Georgia, Vancouver, BC V6E 4E6 ALEPH MAGAZINE

43

EMAD YACOUB

CO-FOUNDER, PRESIDENT & CEO GLOWBAL RESTAURANT GROUP I’m sitting with Emad Yacoub in his beautifully appointed Glowbal Restaurant on the main floor of the stunning Telus building. He’s dressed casually with a cardigan and slacks and he has a genuine and friendly smile on his face.

Effortlessly, he directs traffic for newly arrived customers, waves hello to a guest across the room as well as arranging coffee for our table.

His cool, calm, friendly demeanor makes for a highly enjoyable afternoon. Part of the enjoyment is the people watching — because the place is hopping.

There’s an energy and atmosphere to this dining room that makes you feel like you’re part of something special. And it’s a standard feature for any Glowbal Group restaurant … energy. It’s a feeling that this is where the action is at.

And that’s the whole idea.

It’s hard to imagine that the dynamic personality that is Emad Yacoub, co-founder, president and CEO of Glowbal Restaurant Group, and 2013 Restaurateur of the Year was once in charge of squeezing orange juice at the Harbour Castle Hilton in Toronto. But that’s the thing about Emad. He’s a bit of an enigma. A very successful enigma.

As the Orange Juice Story goes (as he calls it), he arrived in Canada from Egypt in 1984 at the tender age of 19. He had an accounting degree, but spoke no English, and started the tough work that many immigrants to Canada face — finding work.

44

ALEPH MAGAZINE

glowbalgroup.com

ALEPH MAGAZINE

45

After an unsuccessful stint at McDonald’s, he found himself at

Today, the Glowbal Restaurant Group has over 700 staff in

the Hilton as a kitchen helper cutting and squeezing oranges

restaurants across the Lower Mainland, and many of those

for 6 hours per day. Most might find this kind of work repetitive

staff spend quite a few extra hours volunteering their time to

and a bit boring. But not Emad. To him it was “an adventure.”

help those in need. “In 2020, we reached over 100,000 meals

“They used to call me the crazy Egyptian because every day,

donated,” says Emad. “Our Ten Days of Glowbal Giving is a

I challenged myself to make the orange juice faster and more

program that serves an important purpose and I think it’s the

efficiently. In fact, I even put a clock on the wall to time myself.”

least we can do for a city that’s been so good to us through

He got faster. A lot faster until finally, he got the orange juice

the years.”

done in 1.5 hours. The head chef was impressed.

So what makes the Glowbal group so successful? Well, it might

Later on that year, the kitchen was short staffed as many of the

have something to do with what Emad learned from his friend

cooks were off to a breakfast competition in London, Ontario.

and mentor Bud Kanke about creating energy. Or it might be

“That just happened to be one of the busiest breakfast services

more about this feeling of being welcomed into someone’s

we ever did, and I did over 300 covers that morning, all by

home. “No one is perfect,” states Emad. “Not Michael Jordan,

myself.” The head chef was impressed … again. Emad was

not us. But when you welcome someone into your home, the

offered a position as line cook, his reputation grew and his

customer’s expectation of perfection is demolished.”

career evolved, and by the age of 28, he was the youngest executive chef in Toronto, taking on the responsibility of chef de cuisine at the historic and luxurious King Edward Hotel in Toronto’s downtown core.

Although each brand has its own personality and serves a specific audience, there’s one common underlying theme, and that is people feeling at home. “The restaurant industry is filled with unpredictability,” says Emad. “Bad weather, storms, acts of God,

Fast forward four more years and Emad found himself recruited

pandemics can all impact business on a day-to-day basis, and

by Joe Fortes Seafood and Chophouse in downtown Vancouver,

you never know what surprises will come along. But if we can

under the tutelage of renowned restaurateur, Bud Kanke. “Bud

make people feel at home, then our job is half done.”

opened my eyes to the importance of ‘concept,’ but he also introduced me to innovative ways to create that ‘energy’ that people find so compelling. For example, back in the late ‘90s, Bud introduced the ‘early bird’ special, so when people arrived later for their dinner reservation at 7:00pm, they could see that this place was already jumping.”

At the end of that sentence, he pauses … “You’ll have to forgive me. I must make a phone call otherwise I’ll forget.” I’m curious. Something unpredictable? An emergency? Emad dials a number and asks, “Have we bought James a new watch yet?”

The conversation continues for a few minutes. I find out later that one of his chefs has been with the company for 15 years,

After a couple of successful ego-boosting years at Joe Fortes,

and as is tradition, they are presented with a “nice” new watch.

Bud let Emad go. “I was humbled by that experience. But it was

Emad just wanted to make sure he took care of that detail on

probably the best thing that ever happened to me, career wise.”

the spot. His team, it seems, is close to his heart.

In 2002, with his experience and a new attitude in tow, Emad

Emad comments that a key element of Glowbal’s success is

launched the glowbal grill steaks and satay in Yaletown with

rooted in this team approach. His chefs aren’t just great chefs.

8 staff members. He wanted to create a gathering place for

They’re part owners too. “I know good people when I see them,”

friends and family with worldly cuisine featuring the freshest

says Emad. “And in order to keep them on the team, they need

west coast ingredients. A week later they had 19 staff, as they

to feel like they have a piece of the action. It just makes good

knew they had a hit on their hands. And they’ve been rolling

business sense.”

ever since. Between 2002 and 2011, Emad and his team opened Coast, Italian Kitchen, Trattoria, and Black & Blue, all which have become Vancouver standouts.

What’s the future for Emad and his empire? Probably not squeezing orange juice. But with the continued success of his current restaurant brands, and expansion into the Toronto market

“Today we have over 10 restaurants each with its own concept

he sees substantial growth on the horizon. “We’re on solid ground

and personality,” says Yacoub. We have another chophouse

as a company, and I think we’ll be doing $100 million in 2024,”

concept in development that will be close to the Vancouver

he says. It’s a tall order, but if anyone can do it, I’ll bet on Emad

Convention Centre, but even more exciting is the fact that we’re

Yacoub. Knowing him, he’s probably got a clock on the wall.

now looking at Toronto as our next destination.”

AWARDS & ACCOLADES 2010 | Received Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2011 | Emad Yacoub inducted into the BC Restaurant Hall of Fame 2017 | Emad received Restaurateur of the Year at the annual Pinnacle Awards 46

ALEPH MAGAZINE

The individual definition of success may vary. For a young adult seeking the career of their dreams, getting their foot into the game is as big a triumph as walking is for a toddler who is taking their first steps. Success has a different meaning for each of the women you’ll meet here. But one thing they all have in common is this: they set their eyes on the prize, get their gear on and chase their dreams.

ALEPH MAGAZINE

47

REYHANEH GHANNADAN

Reyhaneh manages one of the most

Managing Director of Guinness Business Centre

Vancouver. She possesses a certain flair

prestigious business centres in downtown and excels at managing a household comprised of 3 beautiful kids whilst running a successful business gracefully.

Her personal style, dedication and commitment to client care has contributed to the success and engaging culture of the Guinness Business Centre. Reyhaneh deeply values building enduring relationships in her role as Managing Director of GBC, mother, friend and colleague. She seeks to understand what others need to do their most creative, fulfilling work.

In her own words “My entrepreneurial spirit is nourished through the many leaders and successful businesses that have grown at GBC in various industries” which range from legal, accounting, sales, recruiting and mining to technology, development & design, non for profits and tourism; “helping others to excel and succeed is a passion I’ve had since I was young.”

guinnessbusiness.com 48

ALEPH MAGAZINE

Dr. Eli Akbari MD, FRCSC

Facial Plastic Surgeon at Monarch MD Dr Eli Akbari is a superbly trained Facial Plastic Surgeon and the founder and Medical Director of Monarch MD Medical Aesthetics, and the cofounder of Hair Lab MD. She is Double Board Certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, and by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Her commitment also earned her the prestigious Kris Conrad Merit Award in Facial Plastic Surgery, for her perseverance in achieving the highest level of expertise in the performance of Facial Plastic Surgery. In her practice, Dr. Akbari applies her extensive knowledge of facial anatomy through the lens of art and science to empower and transform. Her minimally invasive approach to facial rejuvenation produces natural results that address her patients’ concerns and desires while enhancing the beauty that is already within.

She gives back to her community by mentoring young and aspiring students who are interested in pursuing medicine as a career.

604 912 0600

•

monarchmd.ca ALEPH MAGAZINE

49

Dr. Sadaf Fazel Dentist People ask, “Why dentistry?” My reply is always the same, “my father”. My father was not only a great dentist, but an amazing role model. To me, he was so much more than ‘dad’; he was my mentor-a passionate and intelligent dentist who shaped the person I am today. Sadly, I lost him to cancer while completing my first year of dental school and, in an instant, I lost a parent, and the dream of practicing with him, becoming his equal, and learning and honing my craft alongside him. There were many times during the remainder of dental school that I had to push through the desire to quit because the smells and sounds of dentistry were a constant reminder of my loss and it was so bittersweet. In processing life without him, the one thing I held tight to was his example of ‘never give up’ so I persevered through the emotional rollercoaster of grief and the obstacles of healing and growth. Today, I am at peace knowing he is with me in my career and proud of my personal and professional growth and accomplishments. Navigating my way through the financial hardships of a global pandemic, and continuing to expand my two dental practices against the odds, is a testament of what he taught me and his belief in me. What a comfort it is to me to feel his guidance and support as I continue forward to build ‘our’ legacy of people-centred leadership and service in the field of dentistry. Sometimes, when I pick up a hand piece, I can feel his presence with me--his smiling face, pat on the shoulder, and his words, “you made it!”

Fifth Ave Dental: 1808 w 5th ave, Vancouver, BC. 604 734 8880 Moncton Dental: 3511 Moncton st., Richmond, BC. 604 277 3515 50

ALEPH MAGAZINE

TIRAJEH MAZAHERI Real Estate Agent

Tirajeh Mazaheri is the Founder of the Vancouver Elite Real Estate Team. She has been ranked the #1 Realtor on Social Media out of 14,000 Realtors in all of British Columbia in both 2020 and 2021. Additionally, her team has been awarded the Top 10 Teams in Canada award for 5 consecutive years. In 2020 she also received the International Diamond Society Award.

Tirajeh has marketed and sold everything from luxury high-rises to $23 Million mansions. She is extremely passionate about her work and is excited to expand her team further.

tirajehm 51

ALEPH MAGAZINE

Golnaz Fakhari Writer & Entrepreneur

Do you know who you are?

I always wanted to introduce myself with one specific profession: “I’m an artist,” for example, or “I’m a journalist.” It seems easier, a bit more defined. But life had so much more in store for me. Today, when someone asks me what I do, this is how I reply: “I’m a journalist and a serial entrepreneur currently working on my second start-up in the travel industry; and oh, I’m also a bilingual writer. I have a book in publishing and I’m writing my very first novel.”

Like I said, life, as it turned out, had so much more in store for me.

52

g.0.l.a.k

ALEPH MAGAZINE

HEDIEH SAFIYARI CEO and Founder of PromptHealth My name is Hedieh Safiyari, CEO and founder of PromptHealth and I am disrupting the health and wellness industry by creating a platform that helps Canadians seeking care reach informed decisions about their health with credible educational resources and personalized care options.

At 16-years old, I immigrated to Canada from Iran.

I grew up as an athlete and suffered my fair share of injuries. My mother is a cancer survivor, and helping her through recovery, it was very clear that the preventative model of care has never been part of a typical traditional healthcare system.

Eventually, my interest in health and wellness led to obtaining my undergrad in kinesiology at the University of British Columbia. I went on to finish my master’s degree in cardiac rehab and worked as a clinician in cardiac rehab for over 15 years at one of the pioneer companies of private healthcare in Canada.

After 20 years in the health and wellness industry, I saw there were gaps in the way people discovered care options and wanted to do something about it. In 2015, I pursued my executive MBA at SFU to learn how I could approach this issue.

After completing 2 years of consultancy work in the health and wellness industry, I launched PromptHealth in 2020.

778 716 3124 info@prompthealth.ca

•

prompthealth.ca ALEPH MAGAZINE

53

PHOTOGRAPHER _ POOYA NABEI - pooyanabei.com STYLIST_ LACEY JUNE-BERRY MAKEUP ARTIST _ MARLAYNA PINCOTT represented by LIZBELL AGENCY MODEL _ ALECSA represented by KEY MODEL MANAGEMENT

54

ALEPH MAGAZINE

ALEPH MAGAZINE

55

PHOTOGRAPHER _ POOYA NABEI - pooyanabei.com STYLIST_ LACEY JUNE-BERRY MAKEUP ARTIST _ MARLAYNA PINCOTT represented by LIZBELL AGENCY MODELALEPH _ ALECSA represented by KEY MODEL MANAGEMENT 56 MAGAZINE

ALEPH MAGAZINE

57

SAYÉ YABANDEH Award-Winning Actress & Global Humanitarian

Photo: Josh Bishop

Photo: Josh Bishop

58

ALEPH MAGAZINE

Sayé Yabandeh is an award-winning international film actress and producer, who has been in over 34 films and several television programs since the launch of her career. The Iranian born humanitarian uses her childhood experiences during the Iran/Iraq War and Kuwaiti Invasion as the driving force behind her prolific film career and her global humanitarian efforts.

Her most important achievements have come through her advocacy and humanitarian work. Sayé focuses on empowering refugees and underserved children around the world through her non-profit, Saye.org. Through this organization, Sayé focuses on strategic partnerships to provide global humanitarian aid to children and families in countries around the world. She believes in educating the future generation on the importance of global values, protecting our environment and the planet’s natural resources.

Sayé was recently appointed as the Global Ambassador to the Global Citizen Foundation, an organization focused on supporting children and youth in need through education initiatives, community-centered building projects, and sustainable development programs.

She has travelled to over 50 countries attending events and supporting the organization’s initiatives. She also donates her time to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Red Cross, the Mother Miracle School in India, and AHEAD with Horses, an organization that provides therapy for disabled/ disadvantaged/at-risk/special-needs children using horses.

sayeorg.com • themisssayeshow.com • leoentertainment.com

Photo: Josh Bishop

ALEPH MAGAZINE

59

AN INTERVIEW WITH

MERCEDES DE LA CRUZ ACTOR Mercedes currently co-stars opposite Janel Parrish

in the made for television film RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME on The Hallmark Channel. She is currently filming The Machine for Legendary Pictures.

How has the #MeToo movement impacted the

way you have seen women show up on set and represented in film and television?

Since the #MeToo movement I have seen a huge shift in the number of female talent we see in production.

I was fortunate enough to work with two incredible female directors Lucie Guest and Linda Lisa Hayter, in the last two romantic comedies I did!

Do you prefer to be called an actor or actress, and why?

To me those are semantics. You can call me an actor or actress and it means the same thing to me. I’m a person that loves to act, period.

Who have been your role models as a woman? As an actor or model?

When I was a child I loved Oprah Winfrey. I thought she was such a strong and courageous woman and seemed to have such a positive attitude. I loved watching her show after school and I even wrote her fan mail and made suggestions for an episode! I got out my favorite kitten printed stationary and wrote her a letter in colorful felt pens requesting that she have a “star search” kind of episode where children from Canada could get recognized! I also watched Get Smart religiously after school and always loved Agent 99 played by Barbara Feldon. I loved her bangs and chic attire. I wonder if maybe that’s why I wore bangs for most of my childhood?

In the fashion world I absolutely loved Cindy Crawford and Claudia Schiffer! Kate Moss was a big inspiration to me too because she was the shortest model of her

Photo: Brandon Elliot

time at 5’6”! Her height and popularity gave me hope

60

of someday becoming a model myself. My height is just shy of 5’4” and somehow I have actually been able to make a somewhat decent career of modeling over the years!

ALEPH MAGAZINE

Did you always have freedom when it comes to your body?

No. I’d always compared myself to the unattainable photoshopped images I saw in fashion magazines. It seemed like no matter how ripped I got, I wanted to go further. I think that we all have some degree of body dysmorphia and don’t see ourselves the way others see us. I know I am definitely my own worst critic. Luckily over the past decade I’ve dedicated my life to a healing journey of self actualization and in that came great lessons in self appreciation.

Before, I thought I’d be better if I lost a little more weight, was taller, or applied my makeup more perfectly. But now I’m just happy with who I am. I feel prettier these days with no make on.

The more I love myself, the more free I feel, and the more I get out of my own way with the roles I play. I’m less worried about how I look and more interested in diving authenticity into the character that I’m playing.

You’ve been told that you might be taken less seriously for

certain opportunities as an actor if you did nudity. As someone who has embraced nudity in their career, is this true or have you found otherwise?

I have played quite a few roles that have called for nudity of some kind. I was warned in the beginning that if I were to take these roles it would limit me from working with more conservative productions such as the Hallmark Channel. Well...that obviously has not been the case considering the Hallmark production I just

their points of view. I know from my experience that the more accepting I am of myself and others, the more accepting the world is of me. The mirror effect is an interesting thing, It’s like it was just my judgments I saw. So I’m just gonna worry about me and lead by example.

We talk about the importance of women showing up for one another and yet we have a tradition of regularly pitting women against one another for entertainment purposes, from beauty

pageants to reality television. Why do we glorify female rivalry?

Is there a solution?

I think competition comes in all forms and with all genders. I don’t think it’s just with females in television. I think it’s based on striving for love through acceptance and claiming worthiness.

When we don’t see our own perfection then we try to gain acceptance from others and try to prove our worth. The things is...There is nothing to prove! We are all perfect just the way we are. We are uniquely ourselves, no one can be a better version of me than me. I think everything is about intension. Whatever it is I’m doing, I can do it with a goal of love, fun and connection or I can do it with the intension of rivalry. Whatever my goal or intension is, is what I will achieve. You get what you’re looking for. I think the solution is to teach by example. Again, I just need to see the beauty in myself and then that pours out into the world around me.

did this year. I think it’s important to forge our own path. Others can give their opinions, but essentially they’re just giving the

mercedes.dela.cruz1

advice that’s meant for them.

Do you think nudity is stigmatized?

Absolutely. I was very fortunate as a child to travel with my family in Europe and abroad. I saw at a young age that the naked body was not something to be ashamed of there. I saw advertisements showing breasts and went to nude and topless beaches. This is not the case in the West where there is a huge stigma that nudity makes you bad and guilty and is something to be ashamed of. It wasn’t until this past decade when I really was able to shed these old beliefs that had me trapped in that old way of thinking. Also, I have found over the years that the more confident I get with myself, the less provocative I want to dress. When I was younger I thought to be sexy I had to wear low cut tops; now I feel extremely sexy in a turtle neck. It’s not what the person wears that makes them attractive, it’s how they feel about themselves inside that shines. I feel very empowered showing less in my everyday life and feel extremely empowered getting nude at the beach.

I understand that all cultures have different ideas and it’s not for me to say that one is more right over the other. For me, I think the body should be free and embraced. Nudity doesn’t have to be sexual, it’s just being human. We were born naked.

I also don’t feel like it’s up to me to force anyone else to change

Photo: Brandon Elliot

How do you think we can overcome this stigma as a culture?

ALEPH MAGAZINE

61

NILUFAR MOAYERI

Internationally Acclaimed Artist & Painter Nilufar Moayeri grew up and studied in Istanbul, Turkey where she got her degrees. She got her bachelor’s degree from one of the top European universities in art before going on to studying fashion design for her master’s and continuing to PhD in film. Having studied such diverse art majors, she gained an immense knowledge and experience in all aspects of art. That was her educational background and gave her a base from which to flourish.

Nilufar has taught Art for more than 20 years in Pera Fine Arts Academy and was Pera Art Gallery’s Art Director in Istanbul and Vancouver.

Since 2002, she has been teaching painting and art history at one of the most well-known Fine Arts Universities in Florence, Italy (Palazzo Spinelli), for the summer term.

She used all of the experience she gained through her career to launch the first creative fashion design competition with the help of the Pera Fine Art Academy. This competition grew immensely and is now an annual art event in Turkey.

62

ALEPH MAGAZINE

778 317 2029 nilufarmoayeri.com nilufarmoayeri@gmail.com Facebook

Firenze”. The movie was shot on location in Florence, Italy.

Instagram

Nilufar has also written and directed a short film titled, “Amore Mio

“Every one of my paintings resembles a movie scene that immerses the viewer in a deeply articulate and carefully woven story.”

While working, Nilufar was also painting about five to six hours daily.

Besides establishing discipline, this expanded her abilities and gave her the material she needed to have multiple exhibitions. As a young aged artist, she was one of the top international contemporary artists who was able to have their work featured in numerous international art galleries and biennals. Her art has been in many group and solo exhibitions around the world in Paris, Rome, Florence, Milan, Brussels, Istanbul, Peking, New York, Toronto and Vancouver.

Her art work has been purchased, exhibited and appreciated in homes, businesses and galleries in North America, Europe and Turkey.

In her art, she mostly uses female characters and figures of power. She tends to centre each piece around one main character, creating stories around her identity and personality. Nilufar’s art explores elements of emotion, timelessness, attraction, and repulsion in existence. “Every one of my paintings resembles a movie scene that immerses the viewer in a deeply articulate and carefully woven story.”

Nilufar Moayeri has an art studio in North Vancouver, BC where she exhibits her art and teaches many different drawing and painting techniques to art enthusiasts. Nilufar is so proud that she has been able to influence so many students’ lives through painting and art.

“As an instructor, it’s so important for me to inspire my students to develop their own expression and style. I would love to invite everyone to come and see the art work at my studio (Pera Art Gallery). I am also always open to collaborate with other artists art lovers.”

ALEPH MAGAZINE

63

Because of my father’s profession, I entered the world of sports when I was four years old. I tip toed around a few fields until I was introduced to skating.

I started my professional career with speed skating and upon my coach’s recommendation, I started doing hockey; this is the field that I have continued my career in to date.

Almost all the other fields I had touched before hockey, had been individual sports, and this specific field was my very first try in team sports. The love, enthusiasm, and the ambition it entails is thrilling to me.

I started my career with in-line hockey. Since this field is somewhat unknown in Iran, we always received bewildering questions. Questions like: Do we even have hockey in Iran? Or do girls play hockey in Iran too? And they have a league, you say?

One of the most frequent questions we receive is about how much hockey costs and whether it can include different financial backgrounds. The truth is that hockey is an expensive sport, but that doesn’t mean that all our players come with money. Many of our players struggle every day, with limited resources and finances, to keep pushing forward. Their passion for hockey, along with the support they receive from their families and coaches, motives them, even in the absence of any form of aid from the federation.

Iran’s women national in-line hockey team have managed to compete in four rounds of Asian games and a round of international games against all odds and challenges that looms over athletes in Iran, and even more, on female athletes. The Interviewed and written by Golnaz Fakhari 64

ALEPH MAGAZINE

result of these competitions has been three bronze medals for the country.

The last tournament we played at, was the 2018 Asian games in South Korea that became one of the best competitions, and times, of our lives.

And though we faced numerous obstacles, from not having a few of our key players with us, due to financial misfortunes, to the increased number of powerful teams competing, we were able to fight hard and win hard.

Another thing that added to our high during these games, was the presence of Sam Kalantari, the movie director, and his team by our side from day one. Kalantari wanted to make a documentary about the women of in-line hockey in Iran and thus, he spent the entirety of the games with us. With his aid, we started a campaign called “battle by me, support from you”.

Little by little, the campaign was noticed by movie stars and influencer and over time, it brought attention to hockey and the team.

AZAM SANAEI Iran’s Women National Hockey Team Captain

Kalantari also produced a documentary called “No place for angels” which became a message of hope. This documentary shows how humans, regardless of their gender, earn success by trying hard. It also displays how men and women stand shoulder-to-shoulder in support of one another.

The third element that added to our glee during the 2018 games, was the championship of Iran’s men’s national hockey team. Their win brought hope and pride us all.

Fresh blood pumped through the veins of hockey after that, and it received more attention. Players’ spirits were lifted, and they worked harder than before. Even during the devastation of the pandemic, our players maintained their practices, mostly alone and on rare occasions, with a couple of teammates. Through this roller-coaster of hardships and diligence, one of our dreams finally came true and Iran opened its very first standard ice rink; from that point on, all the hockey players have been practicing ice hockey alongside in-line hockey.

Iran joined IHFF last year with the efforts of Kaveh Sedghi, the Head of Iran Hockey association and national teams’ coach.

Since then, the team has been preparing itself to compete in international fields in ice and in-line hockey. Our main goal is to win the championship in in-line hockey and shine in our very first ice hockey experience. With this much rigor and potential in the team, the future looks brighter than ever.

ALEPH MAGAZINE

65

Stacey ended his description by adding: “He’s so honest and caring and he really has a way with people.”

EuroLux, though modest in façade, is not your typical everyday automobile shop. The waiting area is decorated with a glass shelf displaying mini cars, caps with the shop’s logo and one very special mini open wheel car. The walls are a combination of white and red (the shop’s main colour scheme) and I am specifically in love with the collage of comic pages on the wall of the kitchenette. The leather chairs Stacey and I are lounging at are comfortable and the company of the couple is much cooler than what I had expected.

“I wanted to become an architect. I liked designing homes. But then

Turning Your

Dreams into a

Reality

I came to Vancouver and thought that it wouldn’t be something that I’d be successful in. Because houses here are like shoe boxes. They’re not designed by architects.” Hooman said.

“How did you end up here?” I asked. “And more importantly, why European cars?”

He explained that back in the day when he worked at his father’s automobile repair shop, they rarely ever worked on European cars.

“We always fixed domestic cars (American cars), and I got sick and tired of it. I don’t have passion for American cars because I never grew up with them.”

On their website, there is a short passage about Hooman’s first encounter with a luxury European car. But, of course, Hooman proves to be a much better storyteller than the descriptions on the website.

“In the late 90’s, my friend Mike bought a Ferrari F355, and asked me to fix it. It’s like the ultimate thing you got to do. So, I did that, and I fell in love with the car and the design of it; and the attention

Many of us might feel a bit timid when meeting a new person; especially if we’ve heard stories about their strong character. Before facing them, we might roll our shoulders, try to stand taller and push through the inevitable moment of truth.

I walked into EuroLux, a luxury automobile shop tucked cozily in the beautiful roads of Surrey, with my usual trembling smile. I had been right on time; the sun was up

the whole thing just snowballed after that.” Now Eurolux is one of a very few go-to mechanic shops in Greater Vancouver fixing Exotic European Cars.

On the other side of the interior windows that separates the repair shop with the office, there are two Ferraris on the car lift. An Aston Martin is parked on one side and a Lamborghini on the other and I thought to myself that this place could be any car lover’s small paradise.

in the sky and the drive down to Surrey had been a blast;

Hooman is a professional racer as well. He is a member of a private

the day looked promising.

racetrack in Oliver, BC, where he spends his weekends racing with

It’s not every day that you get the chance to meet someone

fellow enthusiasts.

like Hooman Rafie, EuroLux’s general manager and lead

“When I’m not racing, I’m skiing.” He explained that when the ski

technician. His warm, laid back smile and colourful Hawaiian

season starts, he spends almost all his weekends in the mountains.

shirt immediately melted my initial shyness, and I just knew that all the stories I’d heard about him had been true.

What stands out most about him is his passion for life. In his book, hobbies are beyond simple pastimes, and he tries to excel in everything

So, on that gorgeous Saturday morning, he and I sat

he does. This viewpoint on life is confirmed by Stacey who gushes over

together, joined by Hooman’s girlfriend Stacey, and talked

his cooking skills. He seems like a person who is comfortable in his

about his journey in establishing EuroLux and what it

own skin and does not see the need to please everyone all the time.

means to live for your dreams.

66

people pay, and the respect people pay you for fixing this car and

In a community where titles are admired and the dominant culture

“I’m a straight shooter,” Hooman said, when asked how

dictates people’s professions, it is refreshing to see someone who has

he would describe himself, “If I like you, I’ll say that I like

the courage to not only follow his dreams, but to build something

you; and if I don’t, I’ll just say I don’t.”

truly inspiring based on those dreams.

ALEPH MAGAZINE

HOOMAN RAFIE

If someone asked me to describe Hooman in one sentence, I would probably use one of his own quotes.

As he talked about his ideal vacation down the beach in Hawaii, he showed me a picture of a small plant blooming

General Manager & Lead Technician at

EuroLu x Motors International

within a volcanic lava flow. “I just love that area, and look

at this, isn’t it amazing? I really believe that destruction is the beginning of construction.”

And I think Hooman Rafie’s journey in life is tied to how he sees the world. Nothing is beyond reach; you just need to extend your arm a little more and welcome the unknown.

778 791 4589 | euroluxltd.com Interviewed and written by Golnaz Fakhari ALEPH MAGAZINE

67

HOSSEIN MEHRIZY BMO Mortgage Specialist When it comes to your mortgage, it is essential to make sure you get the home you want, with flexible financing solutions right for you; here is where I come in. I’m here to help you get the mortgage you need to suit your lifestyle and make your homeownership goals happen.

If you are looking to make informed mortgage decisions, contact me TODAY! Reach me @ (604) 719 - 6219 68

ALEPH MAGAZINE

“I am armed with the considerable resources and expertise of 7+ years of experience.”

ALEPH MAGAZINE

69

“For every project, our team takes the time to truly gain a thorough understanding of your style and desired outcome for a result that surpasses your expectation-while staying on schedule and within budget.

70

ALEPH MAGAZINE

Georgie Award Customer Satisfaction

Georgie Award Best Custom Home

AWARD WINNER DEVELOPMENT COMPANY

We were honored to have been recognized by our peers and receive some of the most distinguishable awards. We were also proud to announce that we were a finalist in two categories for 2019’s Ovation Awards.

ALEPH MAGAZINE

71

The Future of Smart Working

The way we conduct business now, and in a post-pandemic world, has transformed.

New challenges; new advantages. Recognizing the logistical, emotional, and mental health benefits of flexible work arrangements, businesses have pivoted. Company executives, professionals, freelancers, and entrepreneurs are loving the change from a traditional workplace to working remotely and in a hybrid office environment. This is where we introduce you to downtown Vancouver’s Guinness Business Centre. This beautiful space delivers flexible solutions in a professional and stylish environment with all the business resources you desire.

GBC provides a wide range of office spaces, shared offices, and virtual plans in an elegant and tasteful environment with friendly, thoroughly professional and highly effective support staff complemented with the prestige of a business address in the heart of downtown Vancouver. Members enjoy first-class fitness amenities, secure underground auto and bicycle parking, electric vehicle charging stations, corporate concierge, and access to the wellness events held by Oxford Properties and social events hosted by Guinness Business Centre.

72

ALEPH MAGAZINE

A Sense of Community Guinness members join as individual entrepreneurs, professionals, or members of a larger organization. One of the most valuable perks is becoming part of the GBC Network which will enhance growth and business opportunities in your organization. Meet fellow members from all corners of the business world.

Superior Work Flexibility Members enjoy top-of-the-line equipment and a boutique of 55 elegantly designed private offices. Each office rental can be customized to suit your unique needs as the business develops and excels. With 24/7 key cards, superior security is guaranteed, complemented by unrestricted freedom to work the hours you desire.

As hybrid working becomes the future, Guinness Business Centre sets a new standard for a beautiful and effective co-working space. No matter where you come from, or where you are going, your workplace should serve as a creative home.

Shared working spaces are the new way to do business in the 21st century, placing a world of opportunity at your fingertips. We invite to meet the great Executive Service Team at GBC, and see for yourself.

855 684 684 4 g ui nnessb us i n e s s . c o m 10 55 W Hast i n g s S t # 3 0 0 , Va n co u v e r, BC V 6E 2E 9 ALEPH MAGAZINE

73

BEHIND BRITISH PROPERTIES’ MOST EXCLUSIVE ESTATE When it comes to home development and remodeling, your main goal as a homeowner is to find a contractor you can trust. Regardless of your needs, finding a qualified and reliable contractor should be your top priority. An experienced company will keep your project on budget, on schedule and see it to success. This is exactly what AAG Construction does.

74

ALEPH MAGAZINE

Previous Project

True Mastery With a multidisciplinary team comprised of the industry’s best, the possibilities are limitless. From designers, engineers, and architects to builders and over 20 in-house craftsmen, AAG hand selects trades that offer unparalleled expertise. It’s their decade of experience in finishing over 500 projects that continue to allow AAG to develop homes of the finest quality, on an unimaginable scale.

A Distinguished Portfolio In 2017, AAG’s mastery took its success to new heights in building the most exclusive home in West Vancouver’s British Properties - 1121 Crestline Road. Expected to be completed in 2022, this estate sits at 28,000 sqft and is adorned with spectacular detail. A backlit stained-glass

Previous Project

ceiling, custom stone staircases and a striking three-story interior foyer all make for a breathtaking experience. The jewel of this house lies in the double-story office and library - a space that is exclusively being crafted in Italy.

This spectacular property is truly one of its kind.

For this project, AAG selected 22 of Vancouver’s most skilled and talented professionals, with none other than Vancouver’s most sought-after real estate designer David Christopher leading the design of the property. Needless to say, the artistry involved in bringing an estate of this magnitude to life is second-to-none.

With a collective so committed to excellence, you can trust that AAG Construction will go above and beyond in surpassing your highest standards. That is the AAG experience.

Website

Instagram

604 445 8471

1699 Mallard Ct, Coquitlam, BC V3E 3C7 ALEPH MAGAZINE

75

TAKE YOUR FITNESS & LIFESTYLE GOALS TO THE NEXT LEVEL WITH EXCLUSIVE PERSONAL TRAINING BY

Coach:

Mohammadreza Mahsouri

76

ALEPH MAGAZINE

TRAIN HARD. BE UNSHAKABLE. LIVE THE BEST OF YOU. Claim Your Exclusive Sessions 604-353-0060 ALEPH MAGAZINE

77

GREEN, CREATIVE & SMART SLOVENIA IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS! A friendly conversation with Dr. Margaret M. Rudolf Honorary Consul of Slovenia in Vancouver

78

ALEPH MAGAZINE

Farhad Mehrabi ALEPH Publisher

Roya Momeni Art Director

Dr. Margaret M. Rudolf Honorary Consul of Slovenia

Matt Gul Real Estate Investor

What Makes Slovenia Special?

It is in an advantageous geostrategic position with well-established, easy access to markets.

With a population of a little over 2 million, it experienced a GDP growth of 5%, according to The Economist, The World in 2021. It has quality infrastructure, a stable, export driven economy and an innovative workforce.

What Makes Slovenia Green?

Taking a responsible approach toward the future Slovenia is at the forefront of countries transitioning to a circular economy with focus on sustainability, green technologies, and corporate social responsibility. According to Numbeo, 2020, Slovenia ranks 13th in qualityof-life indicators. A local example of a green-tech product, which is assembled in Slovenia, is Greenline Yachts offering hybrid electric boats and yachts.

Creative and Smart?

Slovenia has a highly capable, educated and productive workforce. Almost 40% of students graduating in science and engineering, according to the Institute for Management Development, 2020. Under the auspices of UNESCO, the first global centre for artificial intelligence (AI) will be soon located in Ljubljana. The centre will provide open and transparent environment for AI research and debates on AI, providing expert support to stakeholders around the globe in drafting guidelines and action plans for AI

Gateway to Europe Slovenia‘s provides an ideal entry point for instant access to European markets, with more than 700 million customers. It is a committed member of the EU Single Market and the Eurozone.

In addition to its intellectual capital, Slovenia’s top export products include medicines and pharmaceuticals, electrical machinery and equipment, food and beverages, rubber and plastics products, road vehicles, iron, steel and metals.

Join the Business Network!

Canadian Slovenian Chamber of Commerce For the very reasonable membership fee of $250, you can join this vibrant business network which will help you establish a presence in Slovenia, and will work with Slovenian Chambers of Commerce to promote your business interests and identify opportunities. Go to: https:// www.canslo.com/about/membership/ For information locally, send an e-mail to SloveniaConsulBC@gmail.com, or leave a message at 778 279-0277

ALEPH MAGAZINE

79

IMAGINE YOUR DREAM

Experience a Simplified Immigration Process No matter where you’re from or where you’re going, immigrating to a new country can be stressful and even one mistake can set you back months in your initial plan. This is where Mehran Halavi and his team ease the process for newcomers.

Mehran has always been passionate about helping immigrants create new lives. He is an active member of the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC) and established Unican, an immigration consultancy, in 2011. He built the firm with the objective of easing the immigration process for newcomers. Throughout the years, Unican has helped countless people from all walks of life put down roots in Canada. Mehran is also CEO of Unican’s sister company Halavi.ca, which presents most important immigration news and the latest Iranian community news in Canada. Today, Unican and Halavi.ca have over 30 employees in both locations, Vancouver and Tehran, enabling a multidisciplinary, all-encompassing approach. This not only bridges the gap for Persian newcomers, but also makes for a bespoke experience.

You’re in Good Hands With decades of combined experience, Unican’s understanding of Canada’s immigration landscape is second-to-none. The team knows that every case is unique and their empathetic, client-centred approach enables them to treat your case independently. They focus on using highly reputable advocacy to help newcomers just like you make informed decisions that will be beneficial in the long run. Regardless of the complexity of your situation, you will be guided with the utmost clarity, compassion and legal know-how. Mehran has always been proud to extend support to his clients with the expertise of his one-of-a-kind team.

Regardless of your motives for immigrating, the journey you’re about to embark on requires a carefully monitored process best led by industry professionals. Mehran’s team will make sure that you and your family are among the 300,000 immigrants that get accepted into Canada every year through a warm, understanding and patient process.

Maximize your chances of success and get set on a path to a promising future.

604 505 1000 • 201A - 1571 Bellevue Ave, West Vancover, BC V7V 1A6 • halavi.ca 80

ALEPH MAGAZINE

MEHRAN HAL AVI Canadian Immigration Consultant

ALEPH MAGAZINE

81

turkishairlines.com

Marmaris

LAY OUT LIKE CLEOPATRA FOR THE SUN-KISSED GLOW OF HISTORY’S MOST REVERED BEAUTY History, Mythology and Natural Beauty Color the Complexion of 4,500 Miles of Coast.

82

ALEPH MAGAZINE

Ölüdeniz

Sun-seekers following the footsteps of timeless beauty, Cleopatra, can visit Turkey’s top beaches to bathe in the same turquoise waters,

Alacati

coves and coastal enclaves where the last Pharaoh of ancient Egypt fell in love with Mark Antony more than two centuries ago.

But visitors can get more than the same tanned complexion as Cleopatra when visiting Turkey, which has beaches where forests meet the sea, beaches where sands of time meet the sands of the shore, and beaches where city streets meet pebbly bays.

Having met Mark Antony in Tarsus, Cleopatra’s romance and honeymoon was played out along the Turkish coast, from Cleopatra’s Beach in Alanya, named after the princess’ visit and included in her dowry from Mark Antony, to Sedir Island, where Mark Antony is said to have deposited shiploads of Egyptian sand as a gift to his new Queen.

ALEPH MAGAZINE

83

THE TOP 10 AREAS TO VISIT FOR BEACHES, BAYS, AND COVES THIS SUMMER 1. Ölüdeniz: Considered one of the top five beaches in the

7. Bodrum/ Ortakent: On the southwest tip of the Aegean coast

world, Ölüdeniz is cocooned by a steep ridge of mountains

is Bodrum, known as the St. Tropez of Turkey for its seaside

where paragliders leap from the peaks down into Kelebek

resorts and inexhaustible nightlife. Lying mid-way along the

Vadisi (Butterfly Valley), known for its annual hatching of the

Bodrum peninsula, Ortakent Yahsı is the place for a relaxed family

rare tiger butterfly.

holiday with plenty of dining, entertainment and watersports

2. Marmaris: One of Turkey’s most popular summer destinations,

from wake-boarding to kayaking and sailing. The crystal-clear

Marmaris’ towering mountains frame beautiful bays and offshore islands. The jewel in the Marmaris’ coastal crown is Akyaka beach, which sits at the head of the bay of Gokova and is backed by pineclad hills and eucalyptus groves.

3. Patara Beach: The longest beach in the Mediterranean with a sandy shoreline extending more than 11 miles with mountains at each end and sand dunes along its length. Patara is one of the principal cities of Lycia, whose visitors included Apollo, Alexander, Vespasian, Hadrian, St. Paul and St. Nicholas, better known as Santa Claus.

4. Olympos Beach: Famed for its tree house accommodations, Olympos Beach has been on the backpacker trail for years and is fast attracting more visitors to the 3-mile sweep of beach lined by fir trees and surrounded by an amphitheatre of mountains, including the 8,000-foot peak of Mt. Olympos.

5. Kaputas: On the road between Kalkan and Kas, the beach at

and beaches like the town beach at the base of St. Peter’s Castle belie the region’s history as the land of Herodotus, of the Knights Templar, and of the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

8. Cesme Alaçati: Near the tip of the Çesme Peninsula, Cesme Alaçati is one of Turkey’s up-and-coming vacation havens. Visitors come for the charming old stone houses on narrow streets lined with sidewalk cafés, restaurants and boutiques. The small beach at Alaçati opens to a wind-swept bay ideal for windsurfers.

Nearby on the Çesme Peninsula is Ilica, where thermal spring waters bubble up under the sand, allowing visitors to steep in hot springs while immersed in the sea.

9. Iztuzu Beach: Millennia of sand deposited at the mouth of the Dalyan River has formed the sandbar of Iztuzu Beach. Accessible only by a fleet of pontoon taxis plying the reedlined river from the village center to the delta, the beach forms a natural barrier

Kaputas spreads out at the base of a gorge where fresh water

between the fresh water delta of the Dalyan River and the

mixes with the turquoise sea at a place that can only be accessed

Mediterranean Sea – where thermal springs and mud baths are

by descending 200 steps down the cliff face. From there,

said to heal diseases and beautify the skin.

beachgoers can swim to the sea caves of Güvercin Mağarası and Mavi Mağara, and waterside rocks that act as natural diving boards into the tranquil sea.

6. Hisaronu Bay: On a forested hillside along a turquoise coast, Hisaronu Bay has two small beaches that look out towards the Datca Peninsula. With a permanent breeze along the coast, the beaches are popular for water sports by day and restaurants, bars and shops by night.

Bodrum

84

waters quietly lapping onto the region’s countless bays, coves

ALEPH MAGAZINE

10. Kilyos: Offering respite from the crowds of Istanbul, the sandy stretch at Kilyos on the Black Sea is best-known for its beautiful beaches and coves, modern hotels and restaurants as well as summer entertainment and water sports such as beach concerts, kite surfing, and windsurfing.

ALEPH MAGAZINE

85

COMING OCTOBER 2021.

86

ALEPH MAGAZINE

The Hidden Jewels of PAKISTAN

From the mighty Karakorums, Hindukush and Himalayas mountain ranges in the North to the Indus River in the South, Pakistan remains a land of adventure and nature. It’s endowed with rich and varied flora and fauna, alpine meadows and snow lines. Pakistan is divided into Six Regions i.e., Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Azad (Free) Jammu & Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan.

The Indus plain offers an expansive variety of vegetation and wildlife. Ten of 18 mammalian orders are represented in Pakistan with species ranging from the world’s smallest surviving mammals, the Mediterranean Pigmy Shrew, to the largest mammal ever known: the blue whale.

Consulate General of Pakistan

Noor Mehal

ALEPH MAGAZINE

87

Hingol National Park in Balochistan

Punjab: The Land of Five Rivers Punjab, also known as the Land of Five Rivers, is the most populous province of Pakistan. Punjab was part of the Indus Valley Civilization over 4000 years ago, with the main site being the city of Harrapa. This Civilization spanned much of present-day Pakistan and eventually evolved into the Indo-Aryan civilization which shaped later cultures in South Asia and Afghanistan.

The province is home to several historical sites like the Shalimar Gardens, Lahore Fort, Badshahi Mosque, Rohtas Fort and the ruins of the ancient city of Harrapa. Several important Sikh shrines are in the province, including the birthplace of the first Guru, Guru Nanak.

Sindh: The land Where Peace & Nature Coexist Sindh is a place where history has been written and rewritten. It is a land that attracted refugees, saints and armies from many parts of the world. It has witnessed the invasion of Alexander the Great, the conquest of Muslims and wars with the Persian Empire.

The coastline of Sindh provides wonderful opportunities for water sports and its sun-kissed beaches invite you with open arms throughout the year. A visit to Sindh is, without a doubt, an exhilarating experience.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: The Land of Warriors & Hospitality Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is engrained in the fable narratives of Rudyard Kipling and history itself. It’s a place inhabited by a very hospitable tribal culture where every city has its own marvellous tale. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa sits in the northwestern region of Pakistan along the border with Afghanistan. It was the seat of the ancient Gandhara civilization, rich in archaeological remains.

The climate here varies with elevation. The mountain ranges experience cold winters and cool summers, and temperatures rise as you move south. The mountain slopes in the north support lush stands of evergreen oak and pine, with sparse coverings of bushes, acacia and grasses in the southern hills.

88

ALEPH MAGAZINE

Attabad Lake in Northern Pakistan

Balochistan: The Land of Bravery & Generosity

Gilgit Baltistan: The Land Where Mountains Meet

Balochistan, the largest of the four provinces of Pakistan, makes

Gilgit Baltistan is the capital of tourism in Pakistan. Formerly

up more than 40% of Pakistan’s landmass. Culturally, though

known as the Northern Areas (NA), it’s famous for its snowy

people speak different languages, there is a similarity in literature,

mountains, lush green valleys, mighty rivers, plentiful wildlife

beliefs, moral order and customs, with religion creating a uniting

and beautiful lakes. The World Wide Fund for Nature Pakistan

base.

(WWF-P) has been a pioneer in introducing sustainable ecotourism

The three main regional tribes, Brahvi, Balochi and Pashtoon,

initiatives in GB.

are known for their hospitality. Guests are held in high esteem

It has some of our planet’s highest mountain ranges including

and considered a blessing from God. Sometimes, in areas with

K2, which is the second-highest mountain in the world. From the

more houses, the guest is assumed to be the guest of the whole

waterfalls of Skardu and the ancient rock art carvings in District

village. This open-heartedness is the loving feature of the tribal

Diamer to the dry fruits and hospitality of Hunza, the region has

people and is not as deep in the city or town dwellers.

so much to offer throughout all four seasons. Tourists are also

Azad (Free) Jammu & Kashmir: The Land of Beauty

encouraged to explore the lush meadows and lakes in Ghizer and Astore and the Hopper glacier in Nagar.

Azad (Free) Jammu and Kashmir encompasses the lower area of the Himalayas. Its mountainous valleys, snowcapped peaks and lively woods, lakes and rivers make it one of the most beautiful regions of the subcontinent. Its turbulent streams and wheatscented valleys all thrive from a climate ranging from arctic to tropical. From stunning hiking sites to the remains of the Buddhist civilization of the Sharda Valley, this city makes for an impeccable tourist attraction.

Azad (Free) Jammu and Kashmir has distinctive languages and culture all developed by its people. The woodwork, famous Kashmiri handicrafts and traditional foods all create this ‘heaven on Earth’. The rich and traditional Society of AJK is also worth a visit, being a subject of great anthropological value.

Gasherbrum IV

ALEPH MAGAZINE

89

FARAWAYLAND WEDDINGS

ARTISTIC INTIMATE EMOTIONAL

farawaylandwedding.ca 90

ALEPH MAGAZINE

SPONTANEITY WITH A TOUCH OF SOPHISTICATION

Capturing that unique moment in time, but also understanding what that moment and that photograph mean to a couple in the context of a lifetime.

Your visual legacy begins here.

ALEPH MAGAZINE

91

Award-Winning Mortgage Specialist

MIENA NAJI

RBC Mortgage Specialist Buying a home is one of the biggest decisions you’ll ever make. Whether you’ve just started your search or are actively house hunting, you need professional guidance to

Contact me TODAY

604 767 6245 . Miena.naji@rbc.com

turn your homeownership goals into a reality. With RBC Mortgage Specialist Miena

Website

Being in the top 10% in all of Canada, Miena is a 2018 and 2019 Award of Excellence

Instagram

Linkedin

Naji and her team, you’ll be provided with personalized advice and solutions that work.

Convention Winner. In addition to having over 10 years of industry experience, Miena is also an expert in handling tough mortgage cases.

92

ALEPH MAGAZINE

Finding Your Forever-Home Miena commits to providing tailored advice and financing options that suit your current and future requirements. Whether you’re looking to get your first mortgage, refinance or move your mortgage to RBC, Miena’s tailored advice and fast approvals ensure an educational, efficient process.

Miena Specializes in Working With •

First-time homebuyers

•

Newcomers to Canada with no credit history, no income or minimal income

•

Healthcare professionals, practicing professionals and students

•

Self-employed clients with low declared income

•

Investors looking to grow their real estate portfolio

Regardless of your professional background, Miena makes reaching your goals approachable and easy. She is also happy to conduct her services in English, Farsi, and Arabic for clients with a particular language preference.

With Miena, you can have confidence that you’re working with an expert who has your best interests in mind.

“When you do what you love, you inspire yourself and awaken the hearts of others”.

ALEPH MAGAZINE

93

MATT GUL

PERSONAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION

778 888 8888

Sophistication. Elegance. Class.

A great opportunity to purchase a great Southland Estate Home with the potential rezoning under the AFFORDABLE HOUSING CHOICES INTERIM REZONING POLICY in process. The potential to built up to 28 Townhouses.

Rezone the current RS-1 site to CD-1 to accommodate a 28 unit family oriented development with a density of 0.74 FSR. The proposal consists of 16 townhouse units, each with 3 bedroom and 12 garden suites, 5 with 2 bedrooms and 7 with 1 bedroom. 26 off street parking spaces are proposed 19 will be located in an underground parkade accessed on the east side of the lot from Marine Dr.

94

ALEPH MAGAZINE

1890 SW MARINE DRIVE VANCOUVER

Matt, please tell us about what’s happening at 1890 SW Marine Drive; my understanding is that this beautiful single-family house is being replaced with 28 townhouses.

Yes, that is what’s happening - the story behind it is that my client purchased 1890 SW Marine Drive in 2017 for $10,500,000 as their home. After that, their plan changed, and they decided to move to West Vancouver. They purchased a waterfront home from me and asked me to sell 1890 SW Marine Drive. At the time, I told them that it was not even possible to break even because they had just purchased the home. However, I did some research and came up with a plan - rezone the property under the affordable housing policy, and increase the property’s value.

ALEPH MAGAZINE

95

Selin Gul Marketing Director

Matt, can you tell us about how you are building 28 townhouses in a RS-1 zoning at 1890 SW Marine?

Matt Gul Real Estate Investor

Tell us about the process!

I started by hiring one of the most outstanding architectural

As we applied for rezoning under the affordable housing policy,

companies, Stuart and Howard Architects Inc - the Principal,

we are building 28 townhouses to accommodate around 50

Neil Robertson, and Senior Project Manager, Ryan Martin. They

people instead of one family. The property will resemble a

have a fantastic team and experience regarding this policy. I

mansion from the outside, with strategic landscaping, the

also worked with an arborist and Fisheries and Oceans Canada

development of 1890 SW Marine will blend into the harmony

regarding the watercourse that passes through the property.

of the existing neighbourhood.

Several meetings took place with Vancouver City officials on

Could you explain the affordable housing choices interim

sight, it has been a great experience, and it has been lots of fun

rezoning policy to us?

On October 3rd, 2012 - the City Council approved the Affordable

working with all of these experts.

Wow-what a great strategy; I am sure it is also great for the

Housing Choices Interim Rezoning Policy, which aims to encourage

community! What is the current status of 1890 SW Marine?

innovation and enable real examples of affordable housing types

We applied for rezoning three years ago and completed our

to be tested at potential broader applications that will provide

application on time - therefore, we are grandfathered in - this

ongoing housing opportunities.

policy is no longer applicable to this area, so we are glad we took

The policy allows for the consideration of rezoning proposals which will be evaluated on criteria in the following categories: Affordability, Location and Form of Development, and the Council has provided guidance on each of these criteria. Council initially established a maximum of 20 rezoning applications to be considered under this interim policy.

On June 20th, 2018, Council removed the maximum cap of 20

action when we did. The property value has already increased, and we currently have the property listed for $15,500,000. We are looking for an investor group to purchase and use the singlefamily house until they develop the townhouses.

Thank you, Matt. This is very impressive; we knew you as a waterfront specialist, now it looks like you have become a rezoning expert as well!

rezoning applications to be considered under this policy. These changes are intended to be an interim measure to better meet the new Housing Vancouver targets for purpose-built rental housing – 20,000 units by 2027

96

ALEPH MAGAZINE

matt@mattgul.com

C U S TO M H O M E D E S I G N S

ALEPH MAGAZINE

97

VANCOUVER,

WELCOME ON BOARD Fly to new destinations safely with Turkish Airlines.

TEHRAN 98

ALEPH MAGAZINE