Special Features - Bastion Magazine Nanaimo Fall 2017

bastion FALL 2017

Celebrating

Nanaimo as a Lifestyle!

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FALL'S FRESH LOOKS!

Fun & Funky All Dressed LAYERED LOOKS

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FALL 2017

WHIP IT - DJ

Whipped Cream

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SERVING VANCOUVER ISLA ND FOR 28 YEARS!

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HOSPITAL BED FEATURES IN YOUR HOME Sometimes a great mattress just isn’t enough to ease the aches, pains and maladies that some of us experience with aging.

Sometimes we need a different position altogether. Snoring, acid reflux, and sleep apnea are only a few of the ailments that could benefit from an adjustable bed. Maybe there aren’t any maladies, maybe you’d just like to raise your feet, head or both and possibly enjoy a massage while reading or watch TV?

At John’s, I have 4 great models to choose from.

Basic models come with just foot and head raising/lowering capabilities to our 400 Series with massage and a convenient wireless remote.

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WHY LATEX? Talalay vs. Memory foam.

Of the top four mattress companies in the US, one spends more in annual advertising than the other 3 combined, and this company only makes memory foam beds. This is why we see so much hype about memory foam. While memory foam seems to be good at relieving pressure, it actually only works one dimension – you sink into it until you hit the firmer surface underneath. Latex is two-dimensional: it supports you while reducing pressure. At John’s our latex mattresses have a 6” medium and/or firm base (and yes, we can build you a mattress that is firm on one side and medium on the other) with a 3” soft latex topper.

This combination gives you the best of both worlds – supportive, and pressure relieving.

As a consumer in today’s marketplace I strive to purchase products that are made as close to home as I can get, items that are cleaner and greener, always with an eye on value. With over a quarter of a century in the sleep industry I’ve seen thousands of mattress fails and very few wins. One of those wins is good quality, natural, pure, Talalay latex which I get from Talalay Global (TG) who in my opinion produces the best product.

Latex doesn’t sleep hot.

“Too hot” is the biggest complaint I hear about memory foam. Memory foam requires body heat to collapse the foam cell structure in order to conform to your body curves; this collapse prevents air flow and traps body heat. This same process also creates a crater where you sleep, when you turn over the feeling is like rolling uphill leaving a hole behind. I’ve had many people tell me they wake up exhausted from this process.

TG Latex is seven times more breathable than memory foam.

Talalay latex is healthier.

Our Talalay latex is harvested from rubber trees that create an inherently hypoallergenic, dust mite resistant, mold and mildew resistant sleep environment that doesn’t off-gas like as memory foams can.

Latex lasts longer.

I have a sample of latex that was in a client’s favorite chair for 50 years and is still in pretty

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bastion FALL 2017

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Bastion is a special quarterly publication of the Nanaimo News Bulletin and Black Press.

PUBLISHER | Sean McCue EDITOR | Greg Sakaki PRODUCTION MANAGER | Darrell Summerfelt CREATIVE | Ava Clay

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CONTRIBUTORS | Tamara Cunningham, Greg Sakaki ; Chris Bush; Nicholas Pescod; Karl Yu SALES | Chantal Richard; Luke Winkelmans; Erin Burden; David van Deventer; Tammy Coles, Lesley Livingstone-Gray; Breanne Muller CONTACT | 250.753.3707

11 Nanaimo is going to be looking good this fall.

Every year, autumn represents a fresh start for a lot of people. It takes us back to our childhoods, when back-to-school shopping wasn’t all bad because it generally meant new outfits. Depending on the lingo of our era, those new duds were pretty hip, groovy, rad, or cool.

Even those of us who are long finished school can still use a fashion refresh at this time of year, and with that in mind, we at Bastion magazine present our fall fashion edition. We’ve managed to find out a little bit about the looks and colours that are going to be in style here in the Harbour City, or anywhere, for that matter.

The best part is blending what’s in style with one’s personal style. And we can definitely say that Nanaimo, we love the way you look.

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FASHION

Fall's Fresh Looks This autumn's fashions will feature some fun, funky combinations

BY TAMARA CUNNINGHAM

W

hen it comes to fall fashion for women, it’s an exciting season, says personal stylist Michelle Addison.

Fall is just around the corner and Addison, a Vancouver-based style expert on CTV morning live, finds a lot is trending: menswear-inspired blazers, embellished jeans, white ankle boots and even vinyl.

This season, Addison suggests tucking away those knee-high boots in the closet for another day and switching to an ankle boot, which has been trending for the last few years and is a good update for everyone’s wardrobe, she said, also pointing to white boots and pumps as something people will see a ton of in fashion circles.

High-shine silk, including dresses and tops, are also in style this season, and men's wear is trending on all fronts – though, Addison said it certainly doesn't mean going to your dad’s closet and getting his blazer. She describes the look as menswear-inspired, longer and with strong tailoring. She'd pair a blazer with a tight pencil skirt and ankle boots, a juxtaposition between conservative and feminine, or with slim jeans, a silk blouse and ankle boots.

“If I had to say anything about the way fashion is going it’s definitely moving into a more casual realm and it’s this idea of casualization which is amazing for everybody because it becomes less dressy but it becomes something you’ll get more bang for your buck,” she said. “The mindset is having some key strong trending pieces, but mixed in with our classic staple investment pieces.”

Layering is always popular for the fall and Addison finds it's more so this year.

Nearly all jean brands will have some kind of embellishment on their jeans this season –embroidery, patchwork, pearls and ruffles – she said.

“That’s probably the most exciting for the general public is switching up their jeans to have a little bit more fun.”

Layering is always popular for the fall and Addison finds it's more so this year. She said people will see layers of sheer underneath a sweater, popping out a little at the sleeves or a turtleneck underneath a button-up top.

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Fred Jeffery, owner of Lucid in Nanaimo, said there's an “Island esthetic where they don't quite dress the same way they do in the city.

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“It's why plaid will always be popular here, plaid and hoodies. We're more practical. There has to be some practicality to fashion.”

He said overalls are making a comeback and things from the ’90s like turtlenecks and camo. An idea for a look this year would be denim overalls, with a horizontal-striped Width 30.5” Width 30.5” Width 30.5” shirt underneath or turtle neck. Also trending are toques, beanies or a Width 30.5” wool felt hat, he said.

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FALL 2017

Nanaimo’s Quintessential has fall trends on display and owner Carla Samson is finding embroidery is big this year, whether it’s on jeans, jean jackets or tunics. Cold sleeve and off-shoulder tops that accent the shoulders are also big this season.

“They go pretty quick when we get them in,” she said.

Samson suggests people insert trends into their wardrobe with key pieces for the fall. One look could be to have an ankle jean, embroidered or regular wash, with a pair of ankle boots, a cold shoulder or off-the-shoulder top or T-shirt with an oversized scarf and a kimono to dress it all up.

“Most of the time I think we want to try to look current but that being said, you still want to feel like yourself, so pick things you love versus you think you have to wear.”

Stacked bracelets and chokers, layered with medium and longer necklaces are also trending. It's creating a story with your jewelry, Samson said.

As Addison said, a lot is trending, but the stylist says if the trend doesn't appeal, avoid it.

“Most of the time I think we want to try to look current but that being said, you still want to feel like yourself, so pick things you love versus you think you have to wear,” Addison said. “You won’t really get me in a vinyl raincoat. It’s just too crazy and bold, but I’ve seen it on people and it looks amazing.

“It’s just pick what you love and avoid the rest.”

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FASHION

All Dressed Up Layered looks will be functional and fashionable this fall

BY NICHOLAS PESCOD

F

all is just around the corner and as it turns out, bundling up is in fashion.

Ryan Lewis, store manager at Moore’s Clothing for Men, says in terms of casual wear for men this upcoming fall season, layering is in.

“That would be things like v-neck sweaters over top of sport shirts or even over top of dress shirts with ties underneath the suit jacket for the little bit colder days,” he said. “We are also going to see more of the three-quarter length jackets. Like rain coats or overcoats in all sorts of different colours.”

When it comes to more formal wear such as suits and coats, Lewis says men can expect to see more green tones in stores this year.

“Olive, dark tan, things like that,” he said.

Of course the traditional colours like black, navy and grey are always trendy, but Lewis explains that there will be more shades of "new" blue.

“It’s a little bit lighter. The traditional navy is sort of transitioning more into a business thing whereas weddings, work and casual things like that are what is called a new blue, which is a royal blue or a light blue,” he said. “Not like a sky or baby blue but more in that in sort of royal tone.”

And when it comes to the cut of the suit for the fall season, slim is the way to go.

“It’s going to be all slim fit. You’re going to be pressed to find anything classic fit. It’s all flat front and plain bottoms," he said. “There is going to be a little more of a resurgence of double-breasted suits coming back, but still in that slim, modern look.”

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FALL 2017

Lewis says customized suits are Although socks are mostly hidden, becoming more and more popular these thanks to pants, they're still days, a trend that is likely important. In the past to carry forward into the the trend has been fall season. towards straight colours.

But straight colours are “When it comes to more “In the old days you could out and playfulness is in. formal wear such as go get a suit made for suits and coats, Lewis $2,000, but most people “Everything is going says men can expect to didn’t want to do that,” to be colourful, funky see more green tones he said. “Now there are socks,” he said. “You in stores this year." custom-made options for don’t see a whole $500.” lot of people doing black, grey and Skinny ties have been blue anymore.” trendy for the last couple of years, but Lewis says that is starting to change and the ties are starting to get a little bit wider again.

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FASHION

Sears Feeling Support Department Store's Nanaimo Location Isn't Going Anywhere

BY KARL YU

A

s far as Nanaimo is concerned, the rumours of Sears' demise are greatly exaggerated.

While it was announced in June that 59 of the department store’s locations would close, Nanaimo isn't among the ones shuddering.

While it is still summer, fall isn't far away and Gemma said fall and winter goods have been coming. People may not be thinking about winter coats and rubber boots now, but this is when the selection is best for those items, he said.

Thomas Gemma, general manager of Sears at Nanaimo North Town Centre, said the customers have been amazing and foot traffic is up substantially. The store is seeing a lot more people and more people buying more. He is grateful to the store's customers.

“Women's and men's fashions we expect probably in the next few weeks,” said Gemma. “I know darker colours of course, longer lengths, sweaters, those sorts of things are important as we move into transitional fall ... just look for great quality basics at outstanding prices.”

“We're really excited to stay open,” said Gemma. “We have about 100-plus people working in the store and obviously these are your neighbours in Nanaimo, so everyone gets to keep working at this point and we're pretty pleased with that.”

"It's all about the treasure hunt and there's some unbelievable deals."

Gemma also said the store started an initiative called The Cut at Sears, which is designer fashions and home decor finds at 30 to 60 per cent less.

Thomas Gemma, general manager of Sears at Nanaimo North Town Centre, says while it is still summer, fall and winter fashions are coming in.

When there’s a will, there’s a way.

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Support a future VIU student with a gift in your will, or consider a gift now to establish an award.

Contact Susie Caswell with VIU Advancement at 250.740.6216 to learn how your gift can change lives.

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FALL 2017

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ESTHETICS

Making People Feel Beautiful

Employment Prospects Look Good for Grads of VIU's Professional Esthetics Program

A

fter spending her 20s working as a bartender, Lindsay Jacobson was tired of the late nights and ready to find her forever career.

The 34-year-old had taken a makeup course when she was 19 and loved the creativity and freedom of the profession, so she decided to pursue a career in the beauty industry with the help of Vancouver Island University’s professional esthetics certificate program.

Estheticians perform a number of beautyrelated services, from relaxation massages and skin care treatments, to manicures and pedicures. Students leave VIU’s eightmonth program fully qualified and licensed to work as an PHOTO: The days fly by for esthetician.

Lindsay Jacobson and Melissa Saxby, estheticians at Breze

“I graduated in April 2014 Salon and Day Spa, who both and was hired at Breze Salon love meeting new people and and Day Spa that week,” said learning new things. They both Jacobson. “I’ve been working in found work right after finishing the industry for more than two VIU’s professional esthetics program. years now and I love it. Every day is different. You’re constantly learning to keep up with the latest industry trends, and I really enjoy making people feel good about themselves. It’s such a positive industry to work in.”

Melissa Saxby, 26, also a VIU esthetics program alum and esthetician at Breze Salon, agrees that helping people is the best part of the job. She loves watching people transform after they enter the spa – if their shoulders relax and they stop checking their phones every few minutes, she feels like she’s done her job.

“The biggest compliment is if they fall asleep,” said Saxby. “I love that you get to meet people from all walks of life and no day is ever the same. You have to think on your feet and improvise, so you don’t get bored.”

Saxby and Jacobson graduated two years apart, but both of their graduating classes experienced 100 per cent employment upon graduation, a trend that Lesley Osborne, Chair of the Esthetics program, says has been going strong in recent years.

“People in the industry know we are here and I’m getting e-mails all the time about job openings,” she said. “They are coming to us before students have a chance to go to them.”

Seasonal changes in Nanaimo BASTION MAGAZINE

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LOCAL SPIRITS

The Spirit Realm Arbutus Distillery's Offerings Create Opportunities to Expand One's Liquor Cabinet

BY GREG SAKAKI

H

ard bar is easy to love at Nanaimo’s Arbutus Distillery.

The city’s craft distillery is continually creating at its Boxwood Road location, so there’s always something new and cool going on in the realm of spirits.

Michael Pizzitelli, owner and distiller, set up shop a little over three years ago. A single-malt vodka was an early offering, and a few months later, gin was up for sale.

“Maybe every six or seven months, we’ve phased in another product and we’ve kind of always been putting whisky away over time when we have the chance,” Pizzitelli said.

In addition to Coven Vodka and The Empiric Gin, Baba Yaga Absinthe is a signature, as well as an espresso vodka.

“We never really planned on that, it

MICHAEL PIZZITELLI

“You can literally add anything under the sun…” he said. “You’ll end up with the biggest varietals of gins; they’re all massively different.” was just the opportunity was there, so we did it as a small batch and it kind of caught on and now it’s become, maybe, a staple,” said Pizzitelli.

The most popular alcohol sold is gin; Arbutus makes a London dry-style with a floral taste. Pizzitelli said it’s been neat to see gin’s renaissance happening and speculated it’s because of its flavourforward structure and its versatility – so long as it’s made with juniper, gin is loosely defined.

As for the aforementioned whiskey, Pizzitelli said it seems to be aging faster than he’d anticipated, but predicts it’s still at least a year away from hitting the shelves so he hasn’t given much thought yet to bottling and branding.

Arbutus has gained a reputation for its inimitable labels, created locally

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the-dark elements. The Empiric labels feature foils and embossed details depicting plague doctors and the Baba Yaga packaging tears off to reveal a label with a scary smile.

Arbutus doesn’t just sell its spirits and send people on their way. Last year, the distillery opened the Arbutus Lounge...

Arbutus doesn’t just sell its spirits and send people on their way. Last year, the distillery opened the Arbutus Lounge – open during daytimes and three nights a week – when folks can consume beverages including a long, ever-changing list of cocktails.

“Some of them are just classics and then some of them are in-house signatures,” Pizzitelli said.

Arbutus is finding itself in a more vibrant neighbourhood with each passing year. There were just a couple of other businesses near the corner of Boxwood Road and Dufferin Crescent when the distillery started, but more keep opening.

“It’s interesting to watch because we were one of the first buildings to go in…” Pizzitelli said. “It seems to be a neat area.

We were kind of hoping that in a few years it would all flesh out and be a nice area and it seems it’s going that way.”

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ENTERTAINMENT

Whip It

Nanaimo's DJ Whipped Cream More Determined Than Ever

It has been quite the ride for Nanaimo DJ Caroline Cecil...

In the span of two years, Cecil, better known as DJ Whipped Cream, has gone from performing at small nightclubs to playing across the United States to thrilling thousands of people at some of North America’s biggest festivals including Shambhala, Life in Color and Hard Fest.

"It’s been quite the journey,” she said.

“Every time that I go and play a new show or meet someone through music or write a new song, it forms me into a new human being. I’ve been extremely fortunate to have gone to all these places and try new food and meet new people."

She’s been on lineups that have included universally recognized artists like Ludacris, Mobb Deep, DJ Snake and Afrojack and is fresh off a performance in Thailand.

Now, Cecil is gearing up for the release of her latest EP, Persistence, on Sept. 19.

“This EP is just showcasing how persistence has driven me to form into who I am now,” she said. “At some points I go through very low lows and then very high highs in this industry. Just the way people are or how things have happened. So, the songs were all written in different stages. It is very real and I am more proud of this work than anything.”

Although Cecil is feeling plenty of positive vibes, she said the ride hasn't been easy.

“The [stuff ] that I’ve had to go through, no man would have ever had to go through.”

In July, Cecil shared screenshot of a highly inappropriate Facebook comment that alluded to her having a ghost producer on one of her YouTube videos.

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FALL 2017

and been mistaken for a male DJ’s girlfriend at shows.

“What in your mind thinks it is OK to write something like that?” she asks. “They don’t believe I did it. They think ‘oh she must have ghost writers’ and that is the biggest f-you to me. It’s just so ignorant.”

She decided to share the comment not because she wanted sympathy, but because she wanted to speak out against the sexism and inappropriate language that she and other female artists have to endure on a regular basis.

“There is no way a woman is actually working to get to where she is. It’s who did you sleep with to get to where you are now? It’s insane,” Cecil said. “I want to be a role model for other women. I don’t blame women and I don’t blame men. It’s just society.”

She said she isn’t fazed by it anymore, and is speaking out in order to be voice for other women in the industry.

Cecil refuses to let any of that disrespect slow her down or change CAROLINE CECIL who she is. Having performed at DJ WHIPPED CREAM shows with such big-name artists, she's more determined than ever tongue. I thought if just keep working to continue making music and doing on the music, my art will do the talking what she loves. and it has,” Cecil said. “But it would be a mistake for me to bite my tongue “There is nothing else that I do in my now. It is going to be people like me life, but this, DJing. I am absolutely and other women and men to make the obsessed and insane with it," she said. change.”

“I think a lot of women are afraid to speak up on it. For me, I thought I would get further if I just bit my

Cecil said she’s been booked for shows strictly based on her looks, not taken seriously simply because she’s a female

“I think anyone would go insane with the things that have been said to me or about me and I feel alone because there are not many girls doing it,” Cecil said.

"I have never been more sure of anything in my life. This is what I need to be doing."

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