Boulevard Magazine, Victoria, Apr/May 2018

APRIL I MAY 2018

VICTORIA LIFE AT ITS FINEST

BY DESIGN Airy and bright, this Cadboro Bay re-build is a beachside beauty

MODERN CLASSIC

HOME AT THE OFFICE

BRUNCH BOWLS

Fashion flashback to a bygone era with a 1960s vibe

Creating balance and space working from home

A savoury, delicious, indulgent way to start the day

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Visit the Victoria Trail Appliances showroom to find Blomberg Appliances that fit your budget and lifestyle.

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STATEMENT LIVING Hudson Place One – the landmark of Victoria’s beautiful harbour skyline, will shine as a beacon of sophistication and luxury. Boasting the highest elevated views in the downtown core, these intelligently-designed, well-appointed residences with over 11,000 sf of indoor and outdoor amenities offer much more than just a premier lifestyle in a vibrant and energetic urban setting. They are undeniably statement making.

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CONTENTS 42

46 FEATURES

On the Cover Photo by Joshua Lawrence

BY DESIGN Formerly an older, split bungalow, this beachside beauty was gutted and torn down to the studs before rising again in all its current glory. Today, it is everything the homeowners envisioned.

32 BEACHSIDE BEAUTY

Airy and bright, this

re- built has it all

By Angela Cowan

42 ON THE CUTTING EDGE

Dr. Kenneth Smith and Clinic805

By Tess van Straaten

Story by Angela Cowan

46 MODERN CLASSIC HOT PROPERTIES

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Fashion flashback to a bygone era of pop art, Super 8 and ‘60s cool.

By Lia Crowe

A P R I L / M AY 2 0 1 8

54 ANOTHER DAY AT THE

(HOME) OFFICE

Working from home in beautiful spaces

By Lauren Kramer

84 SAVOURY, DELICIOUS, INDULGENT

Kick off the day with fabulous brunch bowls

By Chef Heidi Fink

54

18

84

14

DEPARTMENTS

6

OUR CONTRIBUTORS

22 inspiredHEALTH

106 FRONT ROW

Modern Matcha

What’s on this month

By Pamela Durkin

By Robert Moyes

12

EDITOR’S LETTER

Side-trip down memory lane

26 inspiredPEOPLE

14

inspiredSTYLE

Kate Gray

By Lia Crowe

16

116 SECRETS & LIVES

Danica Lundy

By Angela Cowan

96 TRAVEL FAR

inspiredDESIGN

Close Encounters Galápagos islands

Powder Power

By Lauren Kramer

By Janice Jefferson

Ruth Saunders

By Chelsea Forman

122 GET THE LOOK

By Lia Crowe & Cathie Ferguson

100 PEARL OF A FESTIVAL 18

inspiredEATS

Igor Duda, Freebeets

By Sean McIntyre

Oysters in Osoyoos

By Susan Lundy

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OURCONTRIBUTORS

V I C T O R I A L I F E AT I T S F I N E S T

ANGELA COWAN

JEN CLARK

WRITER: “THE GHOST I MADE YOU BE”

MAKEUP ARTIST: MODERN CLASSIC

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PAGE 46

“I’ve been loosely following Danica’s work as an artist for years now, and it’s such a thrill to have witnessed her evolution and progress, and to see how wonderfully her work is being received.” Angela is a freelance writer and editor who contributes regularly to Boulevard magazine and writes novels in her spare time. Find her on Twitter at @angela_m_cowan.

“What a magical delight working on this fashion story with the intriguing model Sierra Ritch. I could have played makeup all day! By the time we started at my studio at 9:30 am, model Zen and the team had already been shooting three hours. The whole team then came together at a hip, artsy flat in Chinatown to finish the day!” Jen is a Victoria based makeup artist.

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GROUP PUBLISHER Penny Sakamoto

PUBLISHER Mario Gedicke

250.891.5627

EDITOR Susan Lundy

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Lia Crowe

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Lily Chan

DESIGN Lorianne Koch Michelle Gjerde Claudia Gross

ADVERTISING Mario Gedicke Pat Brindle Vicki Clark

ASSOCIATE GROUP Oliver Sommer PUBLISHER

LIA CROWE

DON DENTON

BOULEVARD CREATIVE: ANOTHER DAY AT THE (HOME) OFFICE

BOULEVARD PHOTOGRAPHER: FIGHT CLUB

PAGE 116

PAGE 54

“Having worked from home for many years, I’m now enjoying the busyness and camaraderie of working in our downtown Black Press office. But every once and a while I miss the quiet and solitude of working from home, so it was fun to revisit that time while shooting home offices for our feature story.” Lia Crowe is a stylist, creative director, photographer and writer with a long history of working in the fashion industry.

“Clover Point was the perfect place to photograph Ruth Saunders, an avid kite boarder. The area is popular for the sport and the point allowed us to get Ruth, her equipment, truck and dog, Mila, close to the water. A rare sunny day added a summer feel. Ruth was a great subject with a natural flair for posing, keeping her giant kite positioned for the image despite being pushed around by the wind.” Don has photographed numerous high-profile events, including the Olympics, World Hockey Championships and a royal wedding.

CATHIE FERGUSON

HEIDI FINK

PHOTOGRAPHER:

WRITER: SAVOURY, DELICIOUS, INDULGENT

MODERN CLASSIC

PAGE 46

PAGE 84

CONTRIBUTING Angela Cowan,

WRITERS Lia Crowe, Pamela Durkin, Heidi Fink, Chelsea Forman, Janice Jefferson, Lauren Kramer, Sean McIntyre, Darcy Nybo, Robert Moyes, Tess van Straaten

CONTRIBUTING Lia Crowe, Don Denton,

PHOTOGRAPHERS Cathie Ferguson, Joshua Lawrence

CIRCULATION & Marilou Pasion DISTRIBUTION 604.542.7411 APRIL I MAY 2018

VICTORIA LIFE AT ITS FINEST

by dESIgN Airy and bright, this Cadboro Bay re-build is a beachside beauty

modern classic

home at the office

brunch bowls

Fashion flashback to a bygone era with a 1960s vibe

Creating balance and space working from home

A savoury, delicious, indulgent way to start the day

ADVERTISE Boulevard Magazine is British Columbia’s leading lifestyle magazine, celebrating 26 years of publishing. To advertise or to learn more about advertising opportunities please send us an email at info@blvdmag.ca Mailing Address: 818 Broughton Street, Victoria, BC, V8W 1E4 Tel: 250.381.3484 Fax: 250.386.2624 info@blvdmag.ca boulevardmagazines.com

“It’s always fun to shoot in and around Chinatown. One always finds some cool hidden surprises, such as super funky studios and a “vintage” phone booth that I didn’t even realize was there! Hopefully it’s still around for years to come.” Cathie is a freelance lifestyle and commercial photographer in Victoria.

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Brunch is literally my favourite meal, so spending several days developing and testing brunch recipes (for work!) was a highlight of my month. I hope you enjoy these recipes as much as I do!” Heidi Fink is a chef, food writer and culinary instructor, specializing in local foods and ethnic cuisines.

A P R I L / M AY 2 0 1 8

Victoria Boulevard ® is a registered trademark of Black Press Group Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the publisher’s written permission. Ideas and opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of Black Press Group Ltd. or its affiliates; no official endorsement should be inferred. The publisher does not assume any responsibility for the contents, both implied or assumed, of any advertisement in this publication.

Printed in Canada.

Canada Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement #42109519.

OURCONTRIBUTORS

CHELSEA FORMAN

JANICE JEFFERSON

WRITER:

WRITER:

FIGHT CLUB

POWDER POWER

PAGE 116

PAGE 16

“Listening to Ruth Saunders talk I learn the importance of pushing oneself to become their very best version of self. Ruth talks about the importance of setting goals, resilience, and discovering your personal power – body and mind.” Born and raised in British Columbia, Chelsea has had the opportunity to build her career writing about the people and places that make this diverse province so special.

“With fresh spring arrivals in the shops, I can’t wait to transform spaces with the latest hits of softness. See my favourite pastel pops in Inspired Design.” Janice is an Interior Designer who creates well-functioning spaces with an eye-catching mix of playfulness and refinement.

LAUREN KRAMER

SEAN MCINTYRE

WRITER: ANOTHER DAY AT THE (HOME) OFFICE

WRITER: INSPIRED CHEFS

PAGE 18

PAGE 54 “As a freelance writer with a home office and feet always itching to travel, I was thrilled to accept an assignment to write about Ecuador’s Galápagos Islands. As a guest of Adventure Life tours and an ardent lover of nature and wildlife, I was in birdwatching heaven for five full days.”

An award-winning Richmond-based feature writer and columnist, Lauren, is a proud mother of four, who writes about food, travel, interior design and family life.

ROBERT MOYES

TESS VAN STRAATEN

WRITER: FRONT ROW

WRITER: ON THE CUTTING EDGE

PAGE 106

PAGE 38

“Front Row welcomes to town two arts groups of global importance: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, renowned for their elegance and joyous physicality, and England’s Tallis Scholars, peerless interpreters of Renaissance choral music. And locally, the Victoria Operatic Society joins the #MeToo movement with 9 to 5: The Musical.” A born and bred Victoria native, Robert Moyes is a longtime freelancer and editor whose main focus these days is arts journalism.

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“Igor Duda’s story represents so many of the reasons Victoria is such an exciting place to live and work at the moment. Duda came for work but discovered a great lifestyle and the inspiration to launch a new business, all with a young and growing family.” Sean is a freelance writer based on Salt Spring Island. He enjoys writing about the people, places and flavours of Canada’s West Coast.

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“It’s always fascinating learning what inspired people to take their chosen career path and how one thing can change your life’s trajectory. In plastic surgeon Dr. Ken Smith’s case, it was an anatomy course at university that led him to his passion.” Tess is an award-winning journalist and television personality who has had the privilege of interviewing people for close to two decades.

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250.380.2600 rosenthalclinic.ca

EDITOR’SLETTER

Taking a side-trip down memory lane

BY SUSAN LUNDY

PHOTO BY ARNOLD LIM

my kids will go to their first protest/ festival, where Midnight Oil will wrap up its performance with the era-defining song, “Beds Are Burning.” (I recently found a YouTube video of this “ancient” performance which I shared with my daughters, who accurately commented, “Whoa. Old school.”)

A few years later, renting a cabin on Chesterman Beach has become an annual event. Waterfront properties on the beach are selling for $80,000 — but it’s beyond our budget. (Ugh — if only!) We befriend carver Henry Nola (although I avoid talking to him while he’s naked on the beach).

By the early 2000s, we’re undergoing a divorce and however amicable our separation is, Tofino is peripherally wound up in it, and I stop going for several years. Ironically, Bruce, who I meet in 2008, also has memories of the area wrapped up with his recent divorce. It takes us a few years to decide to reclaim the coast for ourselves — a happy outcome as we’ve travelled back to the beach several times in the last five years, each time discovering something new and wonderful.

More detailed stories about both these trips will appear in the travel sections of upcoming editions of Boulevard, but in the meantime feast your eyes upon all that’s “new and wonderful” in this issue as you journey through its pages.

Learn about the use of pastels in design; see what people have to say about working from home in snazzy workspaces; tour a spectacular house and check out the latest in local menswear. Discover the passions that have inspired the personal histories of plastic surgeon Dr. Kenneth Smith, “fighter” Ruth Saunders, artist Danica Lundy and realtor Katherine Gray.

Delight your taste buds by trying a brunch bowl created by Chef Heidi Fink, or a feast prepared by Igor Duda at Freebeets. Get your good health on by sipping a “modern matcha.”

Travel with me to an oyster festival (in Osoyoos!) or to the Galápagos Islands with writer Lauren Kramer. Finally, check out Front Row to discover all the latest and greatest in the world of local arts and entertainment.

May your own travels this spring be inspirational, memory-making and most of all, may they be seasonally warm.

PHOTO BY LIA CROWE

I

N THE space of three and a half weeks this spring, I took two polar opposite trips.

For the first, I jetted halfway around the world to spend four nights in Milan, Italy, and attend the opening my daughter’s first big solo art show. Here, the weather was unnaturally cold. In fact, it snowed most of the time.

Then, a week after returning — my body still in jet-lagged bewilderment — I travelled with my husband, Bruce, to the wild West Coast where, under atypically sunny skies and soaring, early-March temperatures, we enjoyed five days in Tofino and Ucluelet.

The first trip was spent exploring the art and architecture of the masters (and shivering) in an old European city marked by hundreds of years of history. The second took me to the edge of the raw, wild Pacific Ocean and two thriving towns that have burst with their own unique cultures over the last half century (although the history of the First Nations in this area goes back thousands of years).

The trips couldn’t have been more different, but it was the Tofino/ Ucluelet excursion that sparked a side-trip down memory lane.

My earliest memory of the area is actually of the road we took to get there. This was in the late ‘60s and the narrow, cliff-hugging, logging road snaked through the mountains, at times terrifying my brother and me to silence.

Mid 1980s now and I’m 21 years old, journeying to the coast with my new boyfriend, who will eventually be my first husband. At this time, we’re still permitted to carry a tent and cooler-full of beer down to the beach and camp on the sand. We spend our time wandering the edge of the crashing wake and drinking Kokanee by the campfire. In town, we snap photos of the late Henry Nola carving parts of the thenunder-construction Eagle Aerie Gallery. It’s home of Roy Henry Vickers’ famous artwork and a place I continue to visit each trip.

A few years later, we’re back and my husband is weaving a tale about trolls in the forest to my wide-eyed step-kids, when suddenly our dog yelps in pain. Apparently, a troll has attacked and sliced open a pad on his foot. Paw wrapped in a T-shirt, our dog Dexter becomes a patient at Tofino General Hospital, where the kind doctor sutures his foot and the nurse decides not to write this patient account up in the books.

Now it’s July 1993. I’m 28 years old and passionate about the environment. We have an almost-two-year-old toddler and a onemonth-old baby with us and we’re camping in a tent in the bush, amid the famous War in the Woods at Clayoquot Sound. Tomorrow,

We have an almost-two-yearold toddler and a one-monthold baby with us and we’re camping in a tent in the bush amid the famous War in the Woods at Clayoquot Sound.

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Susan Lundy is a former journalist and two-time recipient of the prestigious Jack Webster Award. Her stories have appeared in numerous magazines and newspapers. She is also the author of Heritage Apples: A New Sensation (Touchwood, 2013).

OPEN HOUSE SPRING 2018

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inspired STYLE

with

KATE GRAY

REAL ESTATE AGENT, SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY CANADA

BY LIA CROWE

LIFE

FAVOURITE LOCAL RESTAURANT: Stage Wine Bar. FAVOURITE COCKTAIL/WINE: “I honestly love a virgin mojito; it’s so refreshing.”

ALBUM ON CURRENT ROTATION: The soundtrack from The Greatest Showman. “I love musicals.” FAVOURITE FLOWER: Wild lilacs.

FAVOURITE CITY TO VISIT: Buenos Aries, Argentina. FAVOURITE HOTEL: Fairmont Pacific Rim. FAVOURITE APP: “The ParkVictoria App. No more tickets — or at least less tickets!”

FAVOURITE PLACE IN THE WHOLE WORLD: “I have travelled the world and lived in four different provinces.

Victoria is my favourite place in the world.”

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BEAUTY

NECESSARY INDULGENCE: “My eye lashes extensions are a guilty pleasure that I have tried to give up but can’t seem to live without them.” MOISTURIZER: Reset Well Shield Cream from Clear Skin Victoria. “It’s life changing and all natural.”

SCENT: Coco Mademoiselle by Chanel.

MUST-HAVE HAIR PRODUCT: “Purple shampoo; it keeps the brassiness out of my blonde hair.” BEAUTY SECRET: “Colorescience Sunforgettable SPF 50 mineral sunscreen powder from RENU Laser & Skincare Centre. It’s an effortless way to incorporate sunscreen into your morning routine.”

A

S I MEET KATE at her beautifully decorated Cook Street home, I’m greeted enthusiastically by her two Dachshunds, Grizzly and Oscar.

Originally from North Vancouver, Kate has called many places across Canada home, including Nova Scotia, where she went to university; Toronto, where she worked in shopping centre marketing; Grand Prairie, where her husband worked as a cowboy on the rodeo circuit; and finally to Victoria, where she and her husband plan to stay.

“I love Victoria. It feels like the country’s little secret and I’d love for no one to find out about it,” she says, laughing at the irony because her job happens to be about bringing people here.

“It’s funny. When I first moved here, I was going to Vancouver every weekend and now I never leave. Every weekend trip is to somewhere on the island — there’s so much to see.”

Passionate about adventure, Kate’s happy place is exploring the island on the weekends.

“I love paddle boarding all year. In the summers, we do a lot of fishing off our boat in Bamfield. There are so many cool islands to explore around here.”

Originally brought to Victoria to work in commercial leasing for Uptown shopping centre, Kate specialized in finding local tenants for it. But although she found it very rewarding, she eventually moved to residential realty.

“I get so excited by the potential I see when I look at homes.

People don’t always see what I see; I just can’t help but get excited about that sort of stuff.”

Asked what qualities have led to success in real estate, she says, “I was always told, ‘If you’re going to be in this business, you have to be hard.’ But I’ve found that the best approach is to just be open and honest with people and go about it in a respectful manner. I feel like people trust me and my opinion because I’m so open and honest.”

With a “less is more” approach to her style, Kate says her everyday look is driven by comfort.

“I like clean lines and a simple, classic style. I’m also guilty of being a total Instagram follower when it comes to fashion. I get a lot of style inspiration from there, but I never take fashion too seriously.”

READING MATERIAL

WHAT DO YOU READ ONLINE FOR STYLE: Instagram, Pinterest, LIKEtoKNOW.it. FAVE PRINT MAGAZINE: Adore Home, Domino Magazine. FAVE STYLE BLOG: Fancy Things Blog and Champagne and Macaroons.

COFFEE TABLE BOOK: Escape by Gray Malin. LAST GREAT READ: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn.

FAVOURITE BOOK OF ALL TIME: Rules for a Knight by Ethan Hawke.

FASHION

UNIFORM: Comfy jeans, tank top, blazer and some heels. ALL-TIME FAVOURITE PIECE: Nude Christian Louboutin pumps.

CURRENTLY COVETING: Pink Chloe bag.

“I love bags!” FAVOURITE PAIR OF SHOES: Jeffrey Campbell booties. FAVOURITE DAY BAG: “My go-to bag is my Louis Vuitton duffle bag.” FAVOURITE JEWELLERY PIECE OR DESIGNER: “My favourite piece is a necklace by Leah Alexandra, she is also my favourite jewellery designer.” FASHION OBSESSION: “Fancy dresses. I have a closet full and not enough places to wear them!” ACCESSORY YOU SPEND THE MOST MONEY ON: “It is 100 per cent bags — they always get me in trouble.”

STYLE INSPIRATIONS

STYLE ICON: Ashley Graham. “Being confident in your own skin is such an inspiration.” FAVOURITE ARTIST: Gray Malin. PIECE OF ART: “The Queen Bubblegum” by Michael Moebius. FAVOURITE MUSICIAN: Garth Brooks. FILM OR MOVIE THAT INSPIRED YOUR STYLE: Clueless.

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inspired DESIGN

BY JANICE JEFFERSON MODHAUS DESIGNS

6.

POWDER

POWER

4.

Like the sea of fluffy and soft cherry blossoms popping up along Victoria’s boulevards, so are pastels cropping up in fashion and décor. Each item is an expression of joy. Bring on the dusky shades, the pastel petals and the lipstick smiles!

7.

5.

8.

1.

2.

3.

1. Blu Dot Bumper Ottoman in lilac ($375) Chester Fields 2. Cocoon Sofa by Eilerson: contact Studio Y Design for more info 3. Cole and Son Folie Versailles in 99/15062 ($430/roll) Bespoke Design 4. KIKI knob ($12/ea) Anthropologie 5. Buttata Ceramic Salad Plate ($35) Smoking Lily 6. Planters by Cathy Terepocki ($48/ea) cathyterepocki.com 7. Thea Chair in blush/pink ($979) West Elm 8. ”YPPERLIG” multi-use box ($9) IKEA 9. Sonoma tile in Bubble Bath Crackle (4x4 $31.20/sf) Decora Tile 10. EOS-1 light ($1,500) Kurva Design 11. Shoe The Bear “May” in pale blush ($215) Footloose Shoes

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9.

_large.eps

10.

11.

Enjoy 20

% off

_small.eps

Lindberg frames — *until May 31 —

in stock frames

Join us for a special lindberg show april 27 & 28

Anything But Ordinary Oak Village Come in toBay find out more 2265 Oak Bay Avenue

250.595.2773 Oak Bay Village 2265 Oak Bay Ave. | 250.595.2773 Broadmead Broadmead Village 777 RoyalVillage Oak Dr. | 250.881.8252 777 Royal Oak Drive

www.AnythingButOrdinary.ca 250.881.8252 www.AnythingButOrdinary.ca boulevardmagazines.com | A P R I L / M AY

2018

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inspired CHEF

“She would take me to the old-school, open-roof market where farmers and village people from all over the country were bringing the most freshest ingredients.”

Igor Duda,

Freebeets Victoria Cooking up good habits TEXT BY SEAN MCINTYRE | P H OTO S BY D O N D E N TO N

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I

NSPIRATION CAN strike at the most unlikely times.

Igor Duda’s eureka moment came during the routine assembly of lunches and snacks for his daughter before school.

“I thought it would be a nice idea, once in a while, to have this ordered from somebody … and so it started,” he says.

Food prep wasn’t how Igor wished to spend his precious time away from working as a sous chef in the busy kitchen of a highend Victoria hotel. But he didn’t begin by upping the family food budget or resorting to pre-made, store-bought packaged meals. Instead, he spoke with nutritionists, began sifting through websites and recalled his earliest memories of cooking with his grandmother.

“It was a good adventure,” he says. “I had been thinking I should use my knowledge of very good food and very good quality to benefit everyone by creating simple, affordable, good and convenient meals.”

Igor grew up in the picturesque Lithuanian capital of Vilnius, and it was his grandmother who made sure everyone in the busy family was well fed.

“She took cooking so seriously. She would take me to the oldschool, open-roof market where farmers and village people from all over the country were bringing the most freshest ingredients,” he says. “We were spinning around in circles until she found exactly what she needed, and then I was helping peel garlic, chopping onions and making egg noodles.”

Those early days fed Igor’s love of cooking, encouraging him to pursue it as a career. Throughout his culinary training and positions in reputable kitchens in Europe, Toronto and Victoria, Igor recalls that the emphasis was always about promoting texture and flavour at any cost. Heavily salted, fried foods smothered in butter and rich sauces were staples. While excellent for fine dining and celebratory meals, Igor says, it’s not

a style he wanted to replicate for his wife and two young children on a daily basis.

Igor scratched many of his go-to techniques and shaved down his list of key ingredients to include only the freshest and healthiest options. Noticing a strong and growing appetite for quick, convenient meals among health-conscious Victoria residents, Igor developed Freebeets (www.freebeets.ca). Clients choose from a set menu or create a custom meal plan that’s

Salmon and prawn dish from Freebeets.

RECIPES LEAN TURKEY MEATLOAF WITH SPINACH AND AROMATIC VEGETABLES IN SWISS CHARD 500g of lean turkey, ground 1 medium size onion brunoise 50g celery brunoise 50g carrot brunoise Spinach and parsley, chopped 75ml whipped egg white Pinch of Madagascar salt and pepper 3-4 big leaves of Swiss chard blanched in vegetable stock for 10 -15 seconds Lay blanched Swiss chard over parchment paper. Mix all ingredients in a mixing bowl, shape into a log and place over Swiss chard. Roll all the mixture into the Swiss chard and place on a baking tray.

Bake in the oven 320°F for 35-45 minutes or until cooked.

VANCOUVER ISLAND BLACKBERRY AND ROASTED APPLE BARBECUE SAUCE 4 cups fresh blackberries 2 roasted apples, puréed 2 cups chicken stock (or vegetable stock) 1/2 Tbsp organic tomato paste 1 lemon, juiced

1/4 Tbsp blackberry ginger balsamic vinegar 2 Tbsp blackberry preserves 2 tsp kosher salt 2 cloves of garlic, grated or finely minced 1-inch piece of ginger, grated 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

Add blackberries, apples and chicken stock to a medium pot over high heat and bring to a simmer. Cook until blackberries start to break down, about 6-7 minutes. Mash blackberries well in the pan. Let the blackberry mixture cool a bit and then blend well in a blender. Press blackberries through a mesh strainer to remove seeds. Add sauce back to the pot and bring back to a simmer over medium heat. Add the other ingredients to the pot and continue to simmer for 30 minutes, or until sauce is thick and coats the back of a spoon. Taste and season the sauce with salt as needed. boulevardmagazines.com |

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freshly prepared, sealed and delivered twice a week.

Similar business models have taken off in larger, healthconscious markets like Los Angeles and San Fransisco, and Igor is quickly growing a niche of devoted clients who value good food and convenience right here in Victoria.

“We offer not just food, we offer time,” he says.

He believes the venture’s success is due to many of the same reasons he’s been so happy to call Vancouver Island home. He says Victoria has developed a thriving core of young newcomers who are helping to redefine the city as a hotbed for emerging industries and cultural activities.

As a history buff, Igor appreciates the region’s roots. His entrepreneurial spirit revels in the city’s forward-looking optimism. Igor has also discovered Victoria’s strong tradition of athleticism, fitness and appreciation for the outdoors, a fact that gels with his own passion for sports which dates back to his youth.

“I like to get out and be active at least five times a week,” he says.

He appreciates that wilderness areas can be reached within a 20-minute drive from his front door. It’s not uncommon for the Duda family to return from a trip to the countryside with a car filled with local meats like lamb, chicken or pork and several dozen farm-fresh eggs. Each trip offers the promise of many new sites and flavours to discover.

“Work brought me to the city, and we said ‘let’s just stay here.’ This coming summer will mark my 10th year in Victoria,” he says. “The people are friendly, the weather is great and it’s just an amazing place.”

MEET GENE, ROCKING A PAIR OF UNIQUE THIERRY LASRY SUNGLASSES.

1318 Blanshard Street 250-384-4175 maycockeyecare.com 20

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CLIENT: MAYCOCK EYECARE PUBLICATION: BOULEVARD MAGAZINE

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design

|

build

778 351 4088

|

|

enjoy

villamar.ca

inspired HEALTH

MODERN

MATCHA

A bowl of matcha latte and a bamboo whisk — called a chasen — at JagaSilk Teabar.

Health benefits of the green tea queen

BY PAMELA DURKIN | P H OTO S BY D O N D E N TO N

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“Truly fresh matcha will have a bright, cool-green colour and a natural sweetness with just a hint of bitterness.”

S

PRING IS perhaps the most welcomed and delightful season of all as it ushers in a sense of renewal and all that is fresh and revitalizing. For green tea lovers worldwide, the season holds a particular delight —it heralds the annual harvest of their beloved matcha tea.

Why would anyone be so passionate about something as “ordinary” as tea? The answer is simple. Matcha is anything but ordinary; it is the oldest and most celebrated variety of Japanese green tea for good reason. Since the 12th century, matcha tea has played an integral part in Japanese culture, and it is still used in the famous Chanoyu tea ceremony first introduced by ancient samurai warriors.

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What’s more, an overwhelming body of evidence suggests drinking this vibrantly hued brew is one of the healthiest habits you can adopt. Let’s take a closer look at the compelling reasons for matcha’s exalted status.

Matcha, like all green (and black) teas, hails from the Camellia sinensis plant. What makes matcha unique is the way in which it is grown, processed and prepared. Matcha tea leaves are only harvested once a year, in spring, when the leaves are young, sweet and tender.

A month before the annual harvest, the tea fields are covered with tarp-shading to block any light from reaching the leaves.

The tea plants compensate for this loss of light by increasing their production of chlorophyll, certain amino acids and sugars, resulting in matcha’s emerald-green colour, nutrient density and enhanced taste.

Only the best, hand-picked tea leaves are then steamed, dried and cut to remove veins and stems. These leaves are stoneground to make the fine, “talcum-like” powder that is matcha.

When you drink a cup of matcha you are, in fact, drinking the whole tea leaf, which is not the case with a steeped cup of regular green tea. It is precisely this “whole-leaf goodness” and the abundance of chlorophyll and amino acids, that make matcha superior in taste and nutrition to other green teas.

By now, most consumers are aware of the amazing health benefits of green teas in general. Countless studies over the years have established their ability to reduce the risk for cancer, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke and even neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Science has also revealed that regular consumption of green tea can help with healthy weight management and improved mental clarity.

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To reap all of matcha’s outstanding health benefits and truly savour its refreshing, aromatic flavour, it’s essential to prepare it properly.

The nutrient responsible for most of this salubrious benefit is EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate): an antioxidant scientists have hailed as an outstanding immune booster and cancer fighter.

And here’s what’s amazing about matcha — studies show it contains 137 times more EGCG than regular leaf green tea.

But that’s not all. Matcha also contains more L-theanine, an amino acid that can actually impart a meditative, blissful state by increasing alpha waves in the brain. Though matcha does contain caffeine, it does not induce the jitters like coffee, thanks in large part to the counteractive effect of L-theanine. So what else is in matcha? In addition to a plethora of disease-fighting flavonoids, it contains respectable amounts of vitamins A, C and E, plus B vitamins, minerals and nine times more beta carotene than spinach.

To reap all of matcha’s outstanding health benefits and truly savour its refreshing, aromatic flavour, it’s essential to prepare it properly.

“Matcha should never be prepared with boiling water,” advises Jared Nyberg, owner of Victoria’s JagaSilk Teabar and wholesale tea company. “The water should be boiled, then cooled down for two to three minutes (to 60°-70° C) to enhance the flavour profile and ensure nutrient retention.”

Proper preparation doesn’t end there. Immediately after pouring the hot water over the matcha powder, it is traditional to break up the powder with a special bamboo whisk called a chasen. The tea is then whisked briskly using a back-and-forth motion until the surface of the matcha becomes frothy. If you’re really after an authentic taste and texture, forget about using a wire whisk — it will not whip up the palate-pleasing froth that

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is the hallmark of the “matcha experience.”

Special matcha bowls called chawan, with high vertical sides and rounded bottoms, are also required to produce an authentic brew.

“You could just mix it with a spoon in a regular cup,” says Nyberg, “but the finished product will be entirely different, and nowhere near as pleasant in taste and texture.”

Not surprisingly, Nyberg and his wife and business partner Miyuki Nyberg, are such stalwart proponents of authentic preparation that they offer an array of workshops on the technique and more through JagaSilk’s “Tea Academy” (noted by the venerable New York Times, no less). There is even a certification course designed for the more vocationally minded.

If sipping tea isn’t your thing, don’t fret. You can still take full advantage of matcha’s healthful properties. The gem-coloured powder can also be used to make mouth-watering food.

“In Japan, matcha is used almost more for baking and cooking than it is for making tea,” explains Japanese native Miyuki.

Indeed, the tea is extremely versatile. It is delicious sprinkled over vanilla ice cream, added to cookie and quick bread recipes, and as a feature ingredient in dressings and dips. It is actually au courant to also pair the tea with food. In fact, many gourmands use matcha like a small, mid-course amuse-bouche or palate-

cleanser, creating a great flavour bridge from one course to the next. More importantly, when paired with a specific dish, matcha can help enhance its flavour.

“Matcha pairs beautifully with white chocolate and seafood,” enthuses Daniela Cubelic, owner of Victoria’s renowned tea emporium, Silk Road Tea Company. “Actually, anything sweet seems to pair beautifully with matcha — the contrasting flavours enhance one another.”

If you want to experiment with the tea at home, it’s important to know what to look for when purchasing matcha. Due to the increased demand for the healthful brew, some poor quality teas have crept onto the market.

Remember, if the tea hasn’t been shade-grown, steamed, de-veined, de-stemmed and stone-ground, it isn’t matcha. So how can you tell?

“Truly fresh matcha will have a bright, cool-green colour and a natural sweetness with just a hint of bitterness,” says Cubelic.

“If your tea doesn’t look and taste like that, it probably isn’t authentic matcha.”

Purchasing your matcha from a reputable supplier is the best way to go. A premium-quality matcha will list things like the harvest and grinding date on the label, in addition to the region where the tea was grown. Though premium brews are not inexpensive, they are worth every penny. Just think of them as an investment in good health.

“You could just mix it with a spoon in a regular cup but the finished product will be entirely different, and nowhere near as pleasant in taste and texture.”

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inspired PEOPLE

New York-based artist Danica Lundy grew up on Salt Spring Island.

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FIRST MET New York-based artist Danica Lundy when she was about 11 years old, and I accompanied my dad on one of his semi-regular trips to Salt Spring Island. The daughter of a friend of a friend, Danica was bright-eyed, competitive, feisty and a driven soccer player always sporting a bruised knee or two. But her creative talents shone through like a beacon even then.

Fast forward 15 years, and the 26-year-old artist has a Master of Fine Arts from the New York Academy of Art and is a 2017/18 Chubb Fellow — the highest honour the school can bestow upon its graduates — and she is selling art and making a living as an artist in one of the world’s major arts centres. In February, she had a solo show of her ballpoint pen drawings in New York, while a month-long solo show of her paintings opened March 1 in Milan, Italy. In August, she’ll be exhibiting back home on Salt Spring at Steffich Fine Art. These accomplishments are not surprising to anyone who’s ever been introduced to the artist. But as we sit and chat now, she says it all still seems a little surreal to her.

“Getting into the school was a huge accomplishment,” she says, shaking her head. “I couldn’t even dream of it for a while.

It felt closer to Hollywood, just a fantasy ... That place is full of people I admire.”

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“Bonefire,” oil on canvas, 60 x 72 inches.

“That dichotomy between repulsion and attraction is so important to me. I walk that line constantly.

I want the viewer to feel uncomfortable, to wonder if maybe she shouldn’t be looking.”

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The April before her program started, Danica, along with a few other students, was invited to the school’s prestigious Tribeca Ball, where she spent the evening surrounded by the glitz of celebrity and fashion and art. In New York for several days, she remembers finding herself in a tiny alley, watching a handful of leaves caught in the chaos of a ceaseless whirlwind.

“There was this parallel feeling inside.”

Once the masters program began, however, she was grounded, fast and hard.

“Your first year is boot camp,” she says. “You’re in classes from nine to six, work until midnight, then you go home and work some more.” She smiles and a shrugs. “It’s stressful.”

The summer between first and second years, she was chosen for a residency at the Leipzig International Art Programme, where she spent two months living and working on art in an old, repurposed cotton mill, before returning to school with a new sense of urgency.

“Being in New York, it’s such an invigorating, visceral place.

You can’t not be propelled by that.”

Work on her thesis continued in earnest, as Danica laboured on painting after painting, as well as an eight-foot-wide ballpoint pen drawing.

Danica’s hands fly in front of her as she tries to explain why she loves what she does, what she sees, how her work changed while in New York. She stopped painting from life and photographs, turning instead to the depths of her imagination, learned how to focus and “how to squish the spectrum of light into the spectrum of paint.”

Her pieces explore the complexities of adolescence, of connection, of that feeling of being an outsider, those “painful,

awkward moments that we all pivot off of.”

“I love how in painting something can be two things at once,” she says. “It can fill you up. It can empty you. I don’t necessarily paint things I like.”

Rather, she’s pulled to give a voice to things that hurt, or are jarring.

Magnificent in their complexity, her canvases hold no playful poppies or soothing seashores to be displayed in a hotel lobby.

Her work is visceral, complicated, physical, uncomfortable. She walks a line of contradictions with every stroke of colour: the sublime and the grotesque; intimacy pressed against voyeurism.

“That dichotomy between repulsion and attraction is so important to me,” she says. “I walk that line constantly. I want the viewer to feel uncomfortable, to wonder if maybe she shouldn’t be looking.”

Now as a Chubb Fellow at the school, Danica has the time and studio space to further explore those relationships and continue unearthing her own voice while mentoring incoming students.

The latest development in Danica’s artistic evolution was her Italian debut at the C+N Canepaneri Gallery in Milan, Italy, which ran until April 6. The solo show, “The Ghost I Made You Be,” includes a significant number of her most recent works, the majority of which were created specifically for the exhibit.

“The title…comes from a Leonard Cohen lyric from a song called ‘Treaty’ off his final album before he died last year,” she says. “The full line is ‘I’m sorry for the ghost I made you be/only one of us was real and that was me.’ Leonard, a fellow Canadian, has occupied a spot close to my heart for a long time. I think he

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At eight feet wide, “Da Capo” is a massive drawing made entirely in ballpoint pen.

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was an exceptional poet who spent his whole life clawing at what it means to be human.”

“This line struck me as incredibly poignant,” she continues. “To me, it relates to the power structures built in the space between people, and the slow unfolding of oneself into another person, and back. I think it relates to the work I’m doing right now.”

The gallery — which has purchased two of Danica’s pieces already — describes the work succinctly, as representing all of us: “uncertain and fluctuating identities suspended between amusement and latent violence, pleasure and abuses, freedom and surveillance, frustration and unexpected poetical impulses, individualism and communion.”

“I am grateful for their confidence in my work, and very much looking forward to this show,” adds Danica.

Though still at the beginning of what is surely meant to become a significant and impactful artistic career, Danica has already honed in on a delicate balance of contradictions in her work, and she’s done it through endless hours of practice.

“My process is probably brutal. I’m scrappy, like I am in sports,” she laughs, and I’m reminded of her “Bruise Bank,” a photographic collection of her battered body post-soccer games, which she ended up felting into “fuzzy badges.”

Possessed of an incredible talent, kind-hearted, gorgeous, Danica has an otherworldly quality that shines through until it seems as though sparks should fly from her fingers as she talks about her passions. But there’s no mistaking, this woman has a core of iron.

“It’s a bit of a battlefield,” she says of the art world, with an offhand smile. “But I’ve always been able to make it with drive and determination and work ethic.”

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HOUGH CARL Foght and Joanne Penn have only been in their Cadboro Bay home since late last summer, they already feel like they’re settled on familiar ground. Nestled snug against Mystic Pond, their home is part classic modern, part beach house and entirely a vision come true for the homeowners.

Former Calgarians, the married couple had long thought about making the move to Vancouver Island. After an extended visit in 2013 when they attended a few open houses, the pair kept their eyes on the market. When this property came up for sale suddenly, they jumped at the chance to buy it.

“My parents retired out here 30 years ago,” says Carl, noting that his parents actually lived just a few blocks from the area.

He adds with a smile, “I’ve been coming to this pond to feed the ducks for 30 years.”

The spot itself was perfect, with the ocean literally on the other side of the street and an abundance of light to help brighten grey, West Coast winter days.

As for the house, what was an older, straight-forward split bungalow was gutted and torn down to the studs.

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“There are a few walls in the same place,” says Carl, laughing.

Joanne nods in agreement. “I thought it was a renovation until I showed up and half the roof was off; and then I realized it’s more of a rebuild!”

The entire interior became spacious, light and practically designed for everyday living, with plenty of expansive windows to maximize the view, as well as a seamless transition from inside to outdoor living.

“It was definitely a collaborative process,” says Ryan Malone, project manager for Aryze Developments. “Carl and Joanne certainly had a solid grasp of the vision, style and outcome they were looking for very early on in the process. That was a huge help as it allowed us to narrow in on specific suppliers or trades that we felt met the style of home.”

A former personal chef, Joanne sold her Calgary-based business before the move, but intended to keep up her culinary practices for family and friends, and this became a major influence on the design.

“The kitchen was a big priority,” she says. “It was going to be a working kitchen, so all the surfaces had to be easily wiped down.”

With a complementary blend of flat white and walnut cabinetry, the finish is elegant and uncluttered. The side-by-side fridge and freezer blend into the space, hidden behind walnut

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A cosy TV room with a circulating fireplace and lounge-worthy wraparound sofa, it’s the perfect spot to snuggle up with popcorn and a good movie on chilly nights.

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doors, while a stainless steel six-burner gas range and oven impart both a professional and beautiful effect. Subtly build into the wall to the side are a steam oven and a speed oven, the latter of which can microwave, but also bake, broil and do all manner of things. (I’m fascinated by the steam oven, though, and its glorious home-baked baguette possibilities.)

Dominating the modestly sized kitchen is a quartzite island, its marbled grain shot through with veins of saffron-rust and swirls of earth tones. A naturally occurring metamorphic rock, quartzite was once pure quartz sandstone before being treated with heat and pressure, and it’s just gorgeous. Its size does give me pause for a moment.

“My dad calls it a continent, not an island,” laughs Joanne.

With a wide and tall bank of glass doors taking up much of one of the kitchen’s walls, though, visually there’s more than enough space. And for when the weather warms up a little, those doors cantilever out and open completely, turning the adjacent deck and sloping lawns into another living space.

The rest of the main living area cultivates a sense of space and serenity with elevated ceilings, clean lines and a beautiful blend of calming colours and wood finishes. Low-grain white oak floors extend throughout the house, creating continuity without being distracting; the fir front door is spliced with narrow horizontal windows to let in sunlight; and tonguein-groove cedar planks run the length of the ceiling at the entranceway, carried in from the exterior and infusing warmth into the otherwise clean, white overhead.

Blues, whites and greys are interspersed with vibrant pops of orange, one of Joanne’s favourite colours. Immediately on

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Window seats hide storage, built-ins maximize space and there’s even a low recessed hidey-hole in the downstairs hallway. turning away from the kitchen, my eye is caught by the fantastic light fixture over the dining room table. A wooden marvel by New Zealand designer David Trubridge, its structure is based on a sea urchin, and the inside shines out brilliant orange. The bar stools tucked beneath the kitchen island and the throw pillows in the living room echo variances of the same shade, as do the tiles and towels in the main bathroom on the upper split level.

“Citrus colours have always been my favourite,” says Joanne.

I find my favourite spot in the home next, as we pop into what they affectionately call “the snug.” A cosy TV room with a circulating fireplace and lounge-worthy wraparound sofa, it’s the perfect spot to snuggle up with popcorn and a good movie on chilly nights.

As we go from room to room, I’m also struck by the ingenious and efficient use of space for storage. Carl and Joanne downsized substantially from their Calgary home, and

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worked tirelessly with the designers and builders to use every inch and crevice available in the build. Window seats hide storage, built-ins maximize space and there’s even a low recessed hidey-hole in the downstairs hallway wall to keep shoes from underfoot in the narrow space.

Finding unique ways to make space was only one of the challenges with the build, however. There were also nesting herons who were sensitive to noise levels, riparian restoration mandated by Saanich council, a high water table and a busy, tight street with three other major construction projects happening at the same time.

The biggest challenge, though?

“Archaeological, hands down,” says Ryan. “Given that the home is situated in a known archaeological zone, archaeologists and First Nations representatives needed to be present for any digging. Soil was not allowed to leave the site unless it had been screened.”

“There were admittedly a lot of challenges and hiccups along the way, but Carl and Joanne remained positive the whole way through,” adds Ryan. “It was fun to see how they meshed with West Coast culture. Carl even grew a beard at one point!”

“This opportunity had never really presented itself before,” says Joanne of the process of helping design the home. “We wanted simple and clean.”

“We’re really fortunate we like the same things,” adds Carl. “This is our final house. It was important we build it for us.”

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HEN DR. KEN Smith started university, he never thought he’d become a doctor — let alone one of the most sought-after plastic surgeons on the West Coast.

“I was actually studying physical education because that’s what I thought was the easiest curriculum in university when I left high school,” the father of three says, laughing. “At the time, I wanted a post-secondary education but I was also having lots of fun and I thought Phys Ed was the way to go!”

But after taking an anatomy class on muscle and motion, Smith was hooked.

“I sort of fell in love with anatomy and switched into medical school,” explains Smith, who started Victoria’s Clinic805 almost a decade ago. “Anatomy is fascinating, the human body is fascinating and it’s incredible how it works.”

After graduating from medical school at the University of Saskatchewan in 1982, Smith did a post-graduate internship at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver. He then spent three years undertaking locums as a GP in small towns across British Columbia.

“I wanted to go out and do small town practice to be what I often term a ‘real doctor’ because I think the toughest practice you can have in medicine is to be a rural family physician,” says Smith, whose wife of 33 years is also a physician and was working as a rural GP at the time.

“I have a 95-year-old uncle who was a family doctor in small town Saskatchewan and went on to become the head of St. Paul’s Hospital in an administrative capacity and I think

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Plastic surgeon Dr. Kenneth A. Smith in a surgical room at his Clinic 805.

ultimately, he was probably my subconscious role model.”

It was another doctor — the head of the plastic surgery program at the University of Saskatoon — that inspired Smith to undertake his surgical training, which he did at the University of Toronto along with stints in Australia and Los Angeles.

“Dr. Les Chasmar influenced many of us who are now holding positions across Canada because he inspired us on multiple levels,” says Smith. “Plus, plastic surgery is such a broad spectrum — I just couldn’t find an area of medicine that covers such a wide spectrum as we do.”

After almost three decades as a plastic surgeon, on the cutting edge of medicine, Smith has seen a lot of changes.

“We’ve just moved leaps and bounds in cosmetic surgery,” he explains. “Some of the biggest advances have been in microsurgery. At the clinic we also have diagnostic tools like 3D imaging for skin assessments, a nurse who is an expert in skin who analyzes the patient, another team that looks at nonsurgical treatment modalities like Botox and fillers, lasers, and of course, surgical options.”

And unlike many practices, all of that is done under one roof. The swanky clinic at the Parkside Hotel & Spa has two operating rooms and patients can recover in the comfort of a hotel room, instead of the hospital.

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“I think it’s important to let employees know their personal and family lives take priority. And if you do that, it’s amazing how much you get back from them and what they put back into the practice.”

“Training in Toronto, I worked in multiple clinics and one of the doctors had built one into the side of the Royal York Hotel. It’s such a nice thing to offer patients the opportunity to convalesce in a nice room with the clinic in the same building so we can keep an eye on them,” says Smith. “I wanted to build a facility where patients saw me for consultation, I could refer them to my nurse specialists for non-surgical options and we were all under one roof.”

It was all part of Smith’s vision for Clinic805, which has grown from a two-person operation to a staff of 14 people. A new plastic surgeon, Dr. Jennifer Robinson, recently joined the team as both the surgical and non-surgical sides of the practice continue to grow.

“One of the most rewarding things is the tremendous loyalty I’ve had from staff,” says Smith. “I’ve had people with me for the full 25 years I’ve been in Victoria. I think it’s important to let employees know their personal and family lives take priority.

And if you do that, it’s amazing how much you get back from them and what they put back into the practice. We can handle anything inside the workplace if things are going well in our own personal lives and our family.”

It’s the most important life advice Smith has received and it came from his father, who also taught him to make short-term, intermediate term and long-term plans. As for the biggest business lesson he’s learned over the years, that’s to be very cautious about who you do business with.

“Make sure you are very comfortable with who you are getting involved with when you initiate business of any kind,” Smith cautions. “You should only get involved with people you think you can establish a strong relationship with and if you can’t, you probably shouldn’t include that person in your project or that patient in your practice.”

At 62, Smith is showing no signs of slowing down and says right now, he’s hitting his nicest stride. As for switching from what he thought would be the easiest field of study to one of the hardest?

“That depends,” he says. “If you love it, it’s not as hard as people might think.”

Let your family focus on what mattered most. You. Pre-Plan your final arrangements as a parting gift to those who love you most.

NOT-FOR-PROFIT

|

COMMUNITY-OWNED

|

4673 FALAISE DRIVE, VICTORIA, BC

|

250-658-5621

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ROBP.CA

A P R I L / M AY 2 0 1 8

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FASHION

White Oxford button-up ($185) by Denham, navy utility jacket ($249) by Grayers, and salmon pink, tapered leg pants ($175) by 34 Heritage, all from Citizen Clothing; cognac suede loafers ($195) by Hudson London from Outlooks for Men.

Modern CLASSIC

On him: Grey woven polo ($169)

by Outclass, grey patterned chinos ($255) and navy blazer ($290) by Mason’s, cognac suede loafers ($195) by Hudson London and tan leather duffel bag ($795) by Bosca, all from Outlooks for Men.

BY LIA CROWE P H OTO S BY C AT H I E F E R G U S O N

Be prepared to stop traffic in these simple, spring classics that flashback to a bygone era of pop art, Super 8 and ‘60s cool, when Bohemian was ultra classy and artistic sensibilities ruled. Keep it fresh in a muted colour palette that’s driven by retro shapes and vintage cuts.

On her: Black silk shirt ($264)

by Equipment, sand-beige trench coat ($895) by Smythe, patterned crop culottes ($89) by Gilmour, black leather loafers ($325)

by Hudson London, gold earrings ($189), tinted, cat eye sunglasses ($265) by Elizabeth&James, black leather shoulder bag ($372)

by The Stowe, all from Bernstein&Gold.

Little black heart dress shirt ($240) by Comme des Garรงons PLAY, classic long wallet ($300) by Comme des Garรงons, black over-shirt ($220) and grey, wool pleated cropped trousers($260) by Four Horsemen, black leather original Achilles sneakers ($595) by Common Projects from Four Horsemen.

On him: Striped crew neck ($45) by National Standards, sand-beige buck pants ($235) by Buckson and cognac suede loafers ($195) by Hudson London, all from Outlooks for Men. On her: Striped, navy knit ($119) by Armor Lux, white, straight ankle pants ($89) by PAIGE, 24-karat gold library of Celsus necklace ($350) by Pamela Card, all from Bernstein&Gold.

Printed short-sleeved button-up ($195) by Culturata, khaki shorts ($95) by 34 Heritage from Citizen Clothing.

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On him: V-neck cashmere sweater ($495) and navy casual blazer ($1,560) by Black Goat Cashmere from Black Goat Cashmere; sandbeige buck pants ($235) by Buckson from Outlooks for Men. On her: Navy mockneck shift dress ($395) by Eileen Fisher from W&J Wilson.

Makeup: Jen Clark, in-house makeup artist for COSMEDICA using glo.MINERALS makeup.

Model: Zen May represented by Mode Models.

Styling and production assistant: Vellar Chou.

Special thanks to Roshan Vickery for location production.

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More than 20 beautiful color blends and textures to choose from • Interlocking Pavers • HydraPressed Slabs • Retaining Wall Systems

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FEATURESTORY

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Another day at the

(home)

office

Creating balance and beauty working from home

BY LAUREN KRAMER | P H OTO S BY D O N D E N TO N boulevardmagazines.com  |

A P R I L / M AY 2 0 1 8

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Sarah Reid in her home office for her online art print company, Mammoth.

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SK ANYONE

who works out of a home office and they’ll tell you the same thing: they can get a lot accomplished, but they have to be disciplined. And creating a great space to work within can help with both.

For some, a home-work environment is the only way to make any kind of work possible. Sarah Reid, runs her online art print gallery, Mammoth, out of her home office in the Gorge Tillicum area and loves the fact that she can roll out of bed, make a cup of coffee and be at work right away. She recently renovated the second bedroom in her house to convert it into an office with great lighting and large desks where she can cut and frame her art.

“I bought my house three years ago and loved the room that’s now my office because it has great light,” she recalled. “But it also had forest green carpet and a horrible lighting fixture.”

Newly remodelled, the home office works well for her now that it’s been repainted, outfitted with new flooring and baseboards and had a new light fixture installed. The challenge now is making sure she gets out of the house enough.

“I can spend all day in my office which can be a disadvantage,” she admitted.

“My office is right next to the bedroom and I can work 12 hours straight without even thinking about it. I have to consciously build healthy patterns into my day to make sure I have breakfast, go to yoga, take a walk and have social time with friends. If I didn’t it would be easy to put my head down and spend all day by myself.”

Because Sarah prints, frames, packages and ships right from her office, the space needs to be functional. But she’s added a few touches to make its environment more approachable.

“The studio is full of records,” she says. “Music is a huge part of my life. There is nothing more perfect than printing art late at night with wine and records.

Plus, flipping records is a great excuse to get up from the computer.”

Working from home can make it challenging to separate work life from home

“There’s a lovely convenience and luxury to working from home. From my home office I look out to a beautiful exterior landscape and love gazing outside. I’m not tied down to specific hours … and I can work when I’m inspired to do so.

But you have to be disciplined, organized and efficient.”

Victoria | 250-920-2003 Lake Cowichan | 250-932-2004 southshorecabinetry.com boulevardmagazines.com |

A P R I L / M AY 2 0 1 8

57

Larry Myers with his home office tucked into an alcove

life because the two become so closely intertwined. But it’s a luxury to work from the comfort of your home, says Larry Myers, an interior and exterior designer with Alfresco Living Design.

“I started working out of a home office 15 years ago for practicality, lifestyle and convenience,” he said. “I don’t have any staff and I don’t need a commercial space. So it made sense to work out of my home in Esquimalt.”

Recently he renovated his home and opened up his living spaces. These days he’s working out of the great room, a main living area that includes the kitchen, dining room and living area. It contains a workstation with a desk and chair which is all Myers needs, since he works in a CAD computer environment with no need for paper or supportive materials.

“There’s a lovely convenience and luxury to working from home,” he admitted. “From my home office I look out to a beautiful exterior landscape and love gazing outside. I’m not tied down to specific hours or a specific office station and I can work when I’m inspired to do so. But you have to be disciplined, organized and efficient to manage a transition from a commercial office space to a residential one. If you succeed, working from home can be a more efficient use of your time ... and allow you the flexibility to have a more balanced lifestyle.”

Samantha Dickie, a professional ceramics artist and single mom of children ages 10 and 14, built her entire home around her second floor ceramics studio when she moved to the Victoria neighbourhood of Fairfield eight years ago.

“I need to have my work space at home so I can accommodate parenting and control drying times for my art,” she reflected. “At this stage in my life, it’s perfect.”

Finding Solutions with Fabric

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et your your indoor party expand to the the outdoors. Encourage the kids to play outside in the shade. Enjoy your lunch on your deck. All are possible when you have an awning with Sunbrella fabric. And if you want to have the heat of the sun in the winter but have the comfot of shade in the summer, then a retractable awning is perfect for you. GREENGARD Certified.®

Samantha’s 750-square-foot studio was designed to capture maximum light and engineered to withstand the weight of two large kilns and heavy clay.

“We added concrete floors, drainage and extraction ventilation specifically so I could have a healthy, safe home with the kind of work space I need,” she explained. “It’s such an inspiring space and I love working there. My studio has bog windows through which I get a lot of sunshine and a view of the trees. In between my domestic responsibilities I’m able to get a lot done in there.”

There are drawbacks to working from home as an artist and Samantha is the first to admit it.

“My work life is very interrupted by my responsibilities to drop my kids off at school or at dance. Also, I’m very isolated by spending so much time at home. If I worked artistically in an environment where there were multiple studios and lots of different artists I’d be surrounded by a community of people who mutually influence each other’s work and provide each other with creative touchstones. That would be ideal, but it’s not always practical, particularly if you’re parenting.”

For now she finds a compromise to the isolation by making an effort to be involved in creative endeavours outside the home.

Samantha does creative workshops at her children’s elementary school, participates in residency programs and shows her work in exhibitions.

“Whenever possible I try to work collaboratively and balance my year between doing residential design work, teaching and my own studio work.”

Lawrie Keogh, a registered designer with Gabriel Ross in Victoria worked with freelance writer Claudia de Veaux on

Ceramic artist Sam Dickie with her home office that sits on a landing just outside her studio.

VANCOUVER ISLAND just got sweeter sugarfina luxury candy, EXCLUSIVELY OURS Pharmasave Broadmead

Royal Oak Drive Phone: www.pharmasavebroadmead.com boulevardmagazines.com |

A P R I L / M AY 2 0 1 8

59

Freelance writer Claudia de Veaux in her Oak Bay home office with her dog Rody.

§

designing her home office. (See tips below).

“I’ve worked in a variety of spaces ... from a cramped laundry room to a vast warehouse,” says Claudia. “I discovered it didn’t matter what the environment, if I had a big desk with lots of surface, I was happy and productive. So once I figured out how to maximize the desk size for this space, everything else fell into place.”

She added: “Working at home can be distracting, so I made sure my office was fun and inviting. Lots of art, memorabilia, and the garden view keep me in my seat even when I’m feeling restless!”

Outfitting Your Home Office

If you’re thinking about transitioning to a work-from-home environment, give yourself the best shot at it by approaching it strategically and methodically. Lawrie Keogh, with Gabriel Ross, offers these tips to setting up the ultimate home office:  Ensure your office is a comfortable space where you’ll want to spend long periods of time.  Add art, a comfortable chair in the corner and something that makes the space personally and distinctly yours.

614 Johnson St. Victoria | 250.381.6260 www.aureagems.com 60

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A P R I L / M AY 2 0 1 8

 If you’ll be at a computer all day long, invest in an ergonomically comfortable desk and a chair that’s height adjustable.

 Pay attention to the quality of light in your home office so you will have visual relief from a computer screen and no glare.

Invest in window coverings if necessary and ensure you have good ambient lighting.  Ensure there’s good shelving or storage if you need to access resource documents in binders or boxes.  Examine your workflow needs so you can consider what kind of furniture you’ll need.

On display at the BC Boat Show!

Sidney, May 3 - 6 RivieRa 43 Open FlybRidge

Sidney, BC 250.656.1138 vanislemarina.com

Exceptional Custom Homes, Built for Luxury Living.

Photo Credit Christian J. Stewart

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PROPERTIES LTD.

VICTORIA’S FINEST REAL ESTATE

L U X U R Y AT YO U R D O O R S T E P

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Private West Coast Estate 412 Quayle Road, Victoria BC $2,469,000 MLS 388626 Contemporary home boasts almost 6,000sqft of living space. Completely renovated throughout. Design aesthetic is bright & airy with soaring vaulted ceilings & abundant natural light. Open concept encourages entertaining, with a brilliant white Chef’s kitchen contrasted with SS Miele appliances overlooking the dining room. Ideal location affords privacy, yet the convenience of proximity to parks, nature trails, beaches, schools and colleges and amenities

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#821-21 Dallas Road, Victoria BC Sub-Penthouse with Breathtaking Views $3,325,000 MLS 388796 Perched upon Shoal Point, one of Victoria’s most recognized and respected buildings. Inside discover over 2,800 square feet of luxurious living space, immaculately maintained. West Coast beauty subtlety dominates the space with lavish hardwood flooring and floor to ceiling windows framing spectacular ocean views. The open floor plan invites entertaining and emphasizes functionality of space. An incomparable property which enjoys postcard worthy views year round. ©2017 Engel & Völkers. All rights reserved.

Each brokerage is independently owned and operated.

735 Humboldt Street, Victoria BC, Canada V8W 1B1

The local real estate agent with the international network: vi.evcanada.com Scott Piercy, Private Office Advisor Personal Real Estate Corporation 250-686-7789 scott.piercy@evcanada.com www.luxurybchomes.com victoria.evcanada.com

Custom West Coast Contemporary

Spectacular 270 Degree Views

Beautiful Coastal Estate

1686 Lands End Road, North Saanich BC $2,695,000 + GST | MLS 386883

#1005-225 Belleville Street, Victoria BC $979,000 | MLS 388267

3807 Duke Road, Victoria, BC $3,400,000 | MLS 388514

Thoughtfully situated on a ½ acre lot to capture spectacular ocean, island & mountain views.

The lavishly appointed main level features an open concept layout with floor to ceiling windows to enjoy the spectacular ocean vistas. A chefs kitchen features a large quartzite waterfall island, spacious walk in pantry and high-end appliances. Downstairs find additional living space including a legal 1 bedroom suite. Enjoy the beauty of this impeccable custom built home and move in today.

Enjoy spectacular 270 degree ocean, mountain and city views from this 10th floor unit located in the Laurel Point Residences in Victoria’s beautiful James Bay. With over 1,200 square feet of living space this bright, well laid out 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom unit features views from every main living area. Take a short walk to close by Fisherman’s Wharf, Ogden Point Breakwater or Victoria’s Downtown Harbour

Upon entering the gates of this coastal estate you know you have arrived at where the land meets the sea. Situated on 1.7 acres of south facing waterfront with approx. 480’ of shore, the executive residence offers an unparalleled ocean edge location. The beautiful pool & patios are ideal for entertaining and enjoying the breathtaking Pacific Northwest scenery. The expansive 6100 sqft home features spacious main level with chefs kitchen, formal living, dining rooms and family room.

Beachfront Luxury Living

Ocean & Mountain Views

9165 Lochside Drive, North Saanich, BC $2,650,000 | MLS 387933

5204 Polson Terrace, Victoria, BC $2,498,000 | MLS 387426

Captivating beachfront home is a harmonious marriage of Westcoast beauty & state-of-theart luxuries. Completely redesigned and rebuilt in 2012. Clean modern interior allows dynamic 180 ocean views to be the focal point of all principal rooms. Celebrated feature: direct beach access through the private fenced yard.

180 feet of pristine low bank beach front invite you to spend countless hours casually strolling the sandy banks. Desirable location, minutes from Sidney the BC ferries & Airport.

Enjoy breathtaking world class ocean and mountain views from this spectacular executive home.

With over 4,800+ sq ft of living space including a private 2 level guest suite this home offers space for the whole family and more. Enjoy a main residence with 4 bdrms and 3 bthrms, a large custom kitchen with maple cabinets, high end appliances and a large granite topped island, a den with fireplace and a bright sunken living and dining room offering sun filled views and access to the large glass lined deck.

©2017 Engel & Völkers. All rights reserved.

Each brokerage is independently owned and operated.

Custom Built Modern Luxury 556 Delora Drive, Victoria, BC $1,248,000 | MLS 386702 This custom built residence is the embodiment of modern luxury. Walls of glass provide a scenic backdrop in principle rooms. The upper level is accented with a dramatic kitchen featuring striking cranberry coloured Italian faced cabinets, high-end SS appliances, a wine fridge, granite island & unique SS counters. The kitchen opens to the spacious living rm,enhanced with 15 ft ceilings & warmed by a gas fireplace.

Lavish master retreat with a lavish 5pc ensuite & extended his & hers walk-in. Outside, rugged surroundings with extensive deck & patio space for appreciating ever-changing vistas.

2249 Oak Bay Avenue, Victoria BC, Canada V8R 1G4

The local real estate agent with the international network: vi.evcanada.com James LeBlanc, Private Office Advisor Personal Real Estate Corporation 250-812-7212 james.leblanc@evcanada.com www.luxurybchomes.com victoria.evcanada.com

®

binab group B e Au t i f u l S o u t h oA k B Ay home 525 Transit Road

ld

chArming engliSh Style c o t tAg e 306 King George Terrace

So

387144

388805

$1,600,000

$1,440,000

Perfect uPl AndS B u i l d i n g lo t 2538 Nottingham Road

rAre uPl AndS B u i l d i n g lo t 3165 Midland Road

385657

388459

$2,500,000

$2,500,000

gorgeouS c h A r Ac t e r home with revenue 2710 Mt. Stephens

AdorABle uPl AndS home 3355 Weald Road

387678

388523

$2,400,000

$1,200,000

chArming fA i r f i e l d c h A r Ac t e r home 151 Howe Street

Stunning r e n ovAt e d fAirfield home 425 Kipling Street

387109

386898

$1,250,000

$1,450,000

fA B u lo u S home on Quiet c u l- d e - S Ac 3640 Revelstoke Place

BrAnd new c o r d ovA B Ay executive 780 Menawood Pl

388532

387996

$1,150,000

ITALY

$1,800,000

FRANCE

LONDON

CALIFORNIA

GERMANY

NEW YORK

gorgeouS Ardmore oceAnfront home

AwArd winning South oAk BAy home

384233

Call for Details

Stunning BrAnd new ten mile Point home

modern wAterfront mASterPiece

9700 Glenelg Avenue

430 St. Patrick St

$6,400,000

2987 Baynes Road

2713 Sea View Road

389102

388158

$4,850,000

$3,000,000

binabgroup.com #1 Team North America & #2 Global Agent* Based on Engel & Vรถlkers 2016 statistics from VREB MLS

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OCEANFRONT SOPHISTICATION 2530 Queenswood Drive, $7,980,000

World class oceanfront custom home built to exquisite standards in Victoria’s premier suburb.

Superb views from this 1.74 acre sanctuary with approx. 300 ft of shoreline.

URBAN MASTERPIECE

$6,380,000

1851 Crescent Road: Exquisite contemporary beach home in the heart of coveted Gonzales Bay. Private indoor/outdoor living par excellence with infinity pool & outdoor fireplace.

GLYNIS MACLEOD Personal Real Estate Corporation

GLYN I SM AC LEO D.COM

MAGICAL OCEANFRONT ESTATE $6,900,000 1126 Gillespie Road: Waterfall Cove offers 150 pristine acres, mostly natural state, with a custom built double A-frame home & almost 2000 ft of ocean frontage on Sooke Basin.

Please call if you are considering selling your home.

250.661.7232 gmacleod@sothebysrealty.ca SOTHEBYSRE ALT Y.CA

Sotheby’s International Realty Canada, Independently Owned and Operated. E.&O.E.: This information is from sources which we deem reliable, but must be verified by prospective Purchasers and may be subject to change or withdrawal. Not intended to solicit properties already under agreement

$850,000,000

+

i n t rust e d r e a l e s tat e t r a ns ac t ions.

3145 Weald Road

3931 Tudor Avenue

Gorgeous Uplands property with spacious residence

Stunning 2017 built custom home in Upscale 10 Mile Point

425 La Fortune Road

2034 Chaucer Street

Dramatic Oceanfront Estate 35 minutes from downtown

Exquisite new Oak Bay home steps to the Village

Buying or Selling: Your Negotiating Advantage Lisa Williams Personal Real Estate Corporation ( 2 5 0 ) 51 4 -1 9 6 6

LI SAWI LLIA M S .C A

F

R TU A E

ED

$4,600,000

$6,900,000 9310 Ardmore Drive, North Saanich

mls

# 384039

1725 Texada Terrace, North Saanich

mls

# 386987

$1,298,000

# 388241

11178 A Chalet Road, North Saanich

mls

# 388821

mls

# 387495

$1,200,000

10426 Eden Place, Sidney

personal real estate corporation

mls

$1,775,000

$1,869,000

Chace Whitson

2457 Tryon Road, North Saanich

mls

# 386969

· 250 818 9338 tel · 778 426 2262 cel

2433 Whidby Lane, Sidney

Chace@ChaceWhitson.com CHACEWHITSON.COM

Extraordinary Properties!

Unrivalled Experience and Expertise Luxury Waterfront Specialist

SHOAL POINT – OLYMPIC MOUNTAIN VIEWS! This luxurious one level residence holds a prime position in Shoal Point, offering both Inner Harbour vistas and South facing Olympic Mountain views!

The décor is of the highest sophistication. Enter into the 30’ gallery hallway leading to the elegant living room with exquisite feature gas fireplace and brilliant lighting. The gourmet kitchen by Urbana offers abundant storage with pantry, wine fridge, and delightful sunny eating area. The master is of grand proportions with ensuite Spa Bath including spacious walk-in shower and generous walk-in closet. Full fitness facility, guest suites & Concierge complete the perfect lifestyle choice. Offered at $2,850,000 MLS#388389

LUXURY EXECUTIVE TOWNHOME This sophisticated Luxury Waterfront Townhome is situated in a boutique group of 7, located within Laurel Point; steps to the Inner Harbour. Offering 2,700 sq. ft. on 3 levels; all floors enjoy the finest of Harbour Views from the Empress to the Songhees. Just a short stroll to fine dining, shopping & theatre. The private west patio is ideal for sunny afternoons with easy access to the swimming pool. A unique lifestyle opportunity!

Offered at $1,885,000 MLS# 387932

MACDONALD REALTY LTD. 755 Humboldt Street, Victoria, BC | T 250.388.5882 | TF 1.877.388.5882 leslee@lesleefarrell.com | www.lesleefarrell.com

Call Leslee Farrell at 250.388.5882 for assistance with your local and global real estate needs.

Imagine owning a luxurious oceanfront condominium sitting on the ocean’s edge within a protected harbour in a bustling and fast-growing Vancouver Island community.

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ou’ll enjoy stunning harbour views through soaring windows as high as 11.5 feet and from large glasswrapped decks and patios.

The Residences on Sooke Harbour are the ultimate waterfront condominium opportunity. Constructed with only the finest materials, this is the premiere real estate investment in the area.

The Residences on Sooke Harbour offer waterfront lifestyle that is completely maintenance free. Your enviable task is to enjoy your days in one of Vancouver Island’s best locations.

This is west coast living at its finest.

A limited collection of spacious One Bedroom, Two Bedroom, Two Bedroom & Den, and Three Bedroom Homes

Each suite has been designed to optimize the panoramic harbour views and abundance of natural light.

Prices Start In The Mid

$400,000

Register Today WWW.SOOKEHARBOURLIVING.COM

MACDONALD REALTY LTD. 250.388.5882 www.macrealty.com Victoria | Sidney | Salt Spring Island | Parksville

250-244-1799 755 Humboldt Street www.paulvandermade.com

Sylvia Therrien

1144 Fort Street, Victoria, BC

Personal Real Estate Corporation

The Value of Experience

568 Senanus Drive | $5,900,000

3240 Uplands Place | $4,950,000

E

Custom Home in the Uplands

PE

CO M

ND

IN

IN

G

G

SO

SA L

ON

6 Acres of Peninsula Waterfront

707 Courtney Street

2350 Nottingham Road | $1,725,000 Beautifully Updated Estevan Home

PE

ND

SO

IN

G

LD

SA L

E

Spectacular suite at The Falls

607 Island Road | $1,850,000 South Oak Bay Family Home

2468 McNeill Avenue | $1,221,000 Charming South Oak Bay Cottage

Sylvia@SylviaTherrien.ca • LuxuryWaterfront.ca • SylviaTherrien.ca 250.385.2033 • Cell: 250.888.6621 • Toll-free: 1.888.886.1286

LET ME HELP YOU EVERY STEP OF THE WAY…

LIS NE TIN W G

who cares…

Testimonials

What my clients are saying:

I am commending the above Realtor for being a star in her profession. Her clarity, negotiating ability, expertise and closing skills were professional, concise and over the top effective in my file. She communicates at a superior level and is mindful of her professional duties to her profession and to her client.

Chris B. From first contact through to inspections and finally possession, Krista continued to be in touch to ensure we were informed and at ease with the entire process. If you’re looking for a realtor in the Victoria area, Krista will make sure you feel like her most important client, answering all your questions in a timely manner, being a tough negotiator when it’s called for, and just generally being the type of person you’d never hesitate to recommend to anyone.

Allison & Brad N. We had a great experience with Krista. She had a very easy, relatable manner, which put us nervous first-time homebuyers at ease. We didn’t feel rushed or pressured to make an offer on anything that didn’t live up to our standards. In fact, she would even point out things to make sure we noticed them. It was like going on a showing with a relative that had your best interests at heart.

She was reliable, punctual, and available for any questions we had. We ended up with our dream home and couldn’t be happier.

Karen & Tyler M.

"Krista was simply amazing and made our first home buying experience smooth and stress free for my wife and I. Krista's experience & professionalism is second to none as she I helped us through every step of the buying process."

Dominika & Julien D.

Charming South Oak Bay Character Home - $1,175,000

2179 Beaverbrooke Street Lovingly updated and maintained over the years this lovely home is waiting for the next family.

Original Oak and Fir floors, cove ceilings , and built in cabinetry have been retained, keeping the charm of the 1942 era. Major updates include a new roof, vinyl thermo pane windows, newer kitchen & bathroom, walls reinsulated and stuccoed, gas forced air furnace and a beautiful large deck overlooking the sunny Southern exposure fenced back yard. This one won’t last!

Krista Voitchovsky • RE/MAX Camosun • 4440 Chatterton Way • Victoria, BC V8X5J2 Tel: 250-744-3301 • Cell 250-888-3256 • www.kristav.ca

785 HAMPSHIRE ROAD

SOUTH OAK BAY | MLS 388573 | $2,388,000 Welcome to 785 Hampshire Road - Lovely South Oak Bay location close to exceptional schools, beaches, parks and of course Oak Bay Village. If you’re dreaming of a lovely custom family home, then your wait is over.

This home is situated on a lovely tree lined street and on a large 7069 sq ft lot. Custom built exacting standards for the current homeowner, the discerning buyer will be impressed with the grand foyer, towering ceilings, open concept design with lovely fixtures and finishes such as hard wood floors, quartz countertops, fireplace, heated tile bathroom floors, spectacular white maple kitchen with high end appliances, gas hot water on demand, radiant floor heating & much more. With an overall floor plan of 3604 sq ft, the functional family layout comprises 4 bedrooms, 5th bedroom or den, office, media room with wet bar, and 4 bathrooms. Fully fenced yard, huge double car garage and an abundance of parking make this a great choice! Call Cheryl to view this property at 250-413-7943.

1215 WATER’S EDGE

CORDOVA BAY | MLS 387314 | $2,195,000 WELCOME TO 1215 WATER’S EDGE, A STUNNING New West Coast Contemporary Home. This Custom Designed home offers dramatic 16’ high ceilings in its great room, with a two-sided fireplace opening into the open dining and gourmet kitchen, with features such as a large cooking island, quartz countertops, Wolf appliances, Sub-Zero fridge and a wine rack. The main floor master is super sized with a deluxe ensuite and over-sized walk-in closet. The upper level offers two large bedrooms, an over-sized bathroom plus an open concept loft type flex room with access to an upper deck with stunning OCEAN VIEWS. Beautiful high end finishes throughout this home include brushed oak flooring, custom over-sized windows with motorized blinds, glass handrails, heat pump, touch screen alarm system and so much more! Architectural landscape design with huge patio areas, night lighting, and sprinkler system complete the exterior package. This home is a delight to view. Call Cheryl today for your personal tour at 250-413-7943.

“

Cheryl was always well informed, well prepared and consistently maintained open lines of communication; always very respectful of this client’s needs/concerns. I found her to be highly personable and trustworthy, possessing negotiation skills which are second to none!

Shelly Baker

Cheryl Barnes

250 413 7943

MLS GOLD AWARD WINNING REALTOR www.cherylbarnes.ca | info@cherylbarnes.ca Remax Camosun 4440 Chatterton Way, Victoria, BC V8X 5J2

+1 250.896.3859 eli@mavrikoscollective.com www.mavrikoscollective.com

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1144 Fort Street, Victoria

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Catch the

VIBE

Island buIlders gear up for bIggest nIght of the year

f

E

xcitement and anticipation are building as The Canadian Home Builders’ Association of Vancouver Island prepares to announce the finalists and winners of the 2018 Vancouver Island Building Excellence (VIBE) Awards.

The VIBE awards have come to be synonymous with distinction in the industry, as finalists and winners are honoured as the “extraordinary” in building, design and innovation on Vancouver Island. This is an island-wide celebration of building excellence, awarding industry professionals for their success. The VIBE awards represent Vancouver Island’s most prestigious housing awards program.

Achievements in up to 30 categories will be announced on April 20, 2018 at a red carpet gala event held at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre in Nanaimo. The judging panel is comprised of industry professionals, who excel in their field but are not located on Vancouver Island.

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Upon entry to the VIBE Awards Gala, attendees will embark on a champagne-infused walk through the gallery of finalists. Each finalist’s project will be showcased, demonstrating the awe-inspiring calibre of structure and originality these entries embody.

TV personality, actor and award-winning host Todd Talbot will be the Master of Ceremonies.

He will be joined by the smooth sounds of Easy Street, featuring multi-instrumentalists Annie Handley and Dave Devindisch, who have teamed up to play music that embraces the 1940s era right up to the songs of today in their fun and jazzy style.

The audience is sure to be captivated.

This will be Vancouver Island’s biggest night as the awards presentation honours the outstanding members of the building industry for their strength, excellence and professionalism.

For tickets to attend this trendy ceremony and to learn who will receive the highest honours in Vancouver Island building excellence, visit vibeawards.ca.

2017 VibE Award Winners Best Single Family Home between 3,000 – 4,500 sq.ft.

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Best Single Family Kitchen Renovation over $75,000

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Best Interior Design Custom Residence New or Renovation The Interior Design Group, Nanaimo for Mariner Point

Best Environmental Initiative Pheasant Hill Homes, Nanaimo for Gulf Island Sanctuary with project partner BC Passive House

FOOD+FEAST

Savoury, delicious, indulgent Kick off the day with brunch bowls

Ceramics, glassware, placemats, linens and apron from Open House Shop + Studio.

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Brunch at home means being able to try something new and healthy, while still feeling completely indulgent.

“ When you are at “home” some of the best living & most valuable living happen’s ” - Enjoy

BY HEIDI FINK | P H OTO S BY D O N D E N TO N

I

LOVE the appeal of a big, freshly made breakfast, especially late on a lazy weekend morning. And I prefer to enjoy it at home.

Brunch at home means no lineups and no cramped tables. It means enjoying long, relaxing conversations with our guests without competing noises. It means using my favourite ingredients, and having my eggs just exactly the way I like them. Best of all, brunch at home means being able to try something new and healthy, while still feeling completely indulgent.

I love brunch and breakfast foods of every description, but the one that is exciting me the most right now is something I like to call a “brunch bowl.” It feels fresh, inventive and very satisfying, without being too complicated to make. Savoury and delicious, brunch bowls are built with a base of warm grains, served with a flavourful vegetable (or mix of vegetables) and topped with perfectly cooked eggs plus any condiment that tickles your fancy — think cheese, herbs, hot sauce, pickles, salsa, kimchi, breakfast meats galore….

Brunch bowls are mouth-watering and healthy, and can easily be catered to individual tastes. They are filling without giving you the post-brunch desire to nap. And they have room for invention: try savoury oatmeal with cheese, sausage and chives; or basmati rice with Indian-spiced cauliflower and sunny-side up eggs; or creamy polenta with sautéed garlic greens and poached eggs, finished with fruity, extra virgin olive oil and chopped basil.

Brunch bowls are an excellent vehicle for using leftovers of all kinds. If leftovers are not appealing, these bowls can be made fresh in the morning, while you enjoy a coffee or tea in your jammies. They can be very simple amid a quiet family morning, or made more complex for company.

I’ve included three brunch bowl ideas in this article, with detailed recipes. I’ve chosen one rice, one polenta and one oatmeal; I’ve been inspired by the flavours of Vietnam, Mexico and Italy, respectively.

Think of these recipes as guidelines only, springboards for individual creativity! There are many more grains to choose from, and many more flavour profiles to explore. Add breakfast meats, switch up the condiments, change the vegetables.

Have fun with these, and most of all, fully enjoy your weekend brunch at home.

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“I decided to give my polenta a Mexican twist. This tastes like huevos rancheros, except on a pile of warm creamy polenta, rather than crispy tortillas.”

Polenta Brunch Bowl with Quick Salsa Fresca.

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POLENTA BRUNCH BOWL Serves 2 I decided to give my polenta a Mexican twist. This tastes like huevos rancheros, except on a pile of warm creamy polenta, rather than crispy tortillas. Enjoy spice, salty cheese, fresh salsa and creamy avocado on top of sweet corn polenta. The salsa (recipe below), beans and chorizo can be made a day ahead of time.

Polenta Base: 1 cup corn grits or cornmeal 6 cups water ½ tsp salt Toppings: 2 to 4 eggs, sunny-side up or poached 2 chorizo sausages, cooked and sliced or crumbled (optional) 2 Tbsp olive oil 3 cloves garlic, minced ½ tsp cumin seed ½ tsp ground cumin 1 tsp chili powder ¼ tsp dried oregano ¼ cup water 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed Quick salsa fresca Crumbled feta cheese or queso fresco Sliced avocado To make the polenta base, bring water and salt to a boil in a small pot. Whisk in corn grits or cornmeal, reduce heat to a simmer and cook, stirring frequently, until polenta is thick and creamy, about 15 minutes. Transfer polenta to two bowls and let cool slightly (so that its soft texture can hold up the beans and eggs).

Meanwhile, make the beans and eggs. For the beans, heat a small skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil, then the garlic and spices. Sauté until fragrant, 10-20 seconds.

Immediately add water and beans, and cook together until the flavours have melded, about 2-3 minutes. Set aside. (This makes more than you need for the two brunch bowls; save the excess for another day.)

Cook eggs as you desire (I like sunny side up eggs for this dish).

Top polenta with cooked chorizo (if desired), spiced black beans and the eggs. Garnish with crumbled feta or queso fresco, the fresh salsa and sliced avocado.

Serve immediately.

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QUICK SALSA FRESCA Makes about 2 cups This quick fresh salsa can be made in the food processor for fastest results. The proportions of this salsa are not set in stone.

You’re looking for a happy blending of flavours, which depends on the sweetness of the tomatoes, the sharpness of the onion, the acidity of the lime and the heat of the chili. Taste as you go and feel free to make adjustments. ¼ small sweet onion, cut in quarters 1 to 2 jalapeños or serranos (seed them if you want the salsa to be less spicy) 1 clove garlic, pressed ¼ cup fresh cilantro ½ tsp salt, more to taste 2 to 3 tsp fresh lime juice 2 large ripe tomatoes* (or 3 to 4 medium, or 5 to 8 small), cut in large pieces (*You can make this with canned tomatoes as well. Try substituting one 14-oz can of diced tomatoes for the fresh tomatoes in this recipe. You may need to add more garlic, lime and cilantro to this salsa.)

Quick Salsa Fresca.

Combine the onion pieces, jalapeños, garlic, cilantro and lime juice in the work bowl of a food processor. Pulse until finely chopped. Add the tomatoes and the salt and pulse until tomatoes are chopped and everything is mixed well. Pour into a bowl and taste to adjust for seasonings.

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Savoury Oatmeal Brunch Bowl.

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115 Kenneth St. Duncan BC 250 746 9809 www.embellishhome.ca

SAVOURY OATMEAL BRUNCH BOWL Serves 2 Most of us think of oatmeal as a sweet breakfast; however, it is a revelation served as a savoury, polenta-like dish, topped with herbs, cheese, bacon or sausage bits, or, as I do here, with Italian flavours: sautéed greens, Parmesan, chili flakes and fresh herbs. As one of my friends said: “This oatmeal is the best breakfast I have ever eaten.”

Oatmeal Base: ⅔ cup rolled oats 2 cups water ¼ tsp salt

1 Tbsp butter ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Topping: ½ container cherry tomatoes 2 to 3 Tbsp olive oil 3 cloves garlic, chopped ¼ to ½ tsp red chili flakes ½ tsp minced fresh rosemary 4 Tbsp chopped fresh basil (divided) 4 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley (divided) ¼ cup water 3 to 4 stalks broccolini ¼ tsp salt, or more, to taste Handful soft leafy greens (spinach, dandelion, arugula, mizuna, etc.)

2 to 4 eggs Garnish: shaved Parmesan, extra virgin olive oil, herbs, more chili flakes

To cook the oatmeal, combine the rolled oats, water and salt in a small pot and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the oatmeal is cooked, thickened and creamy, 10-12 minutes. Stir in the butter and cheese until melted and well-combined. Transfer the oatmeal to two bowls and let cool slightly (so that its soft texture can hold up the tomatoes, greens and eggs).

To make the topping, start with the cherry tomatoes. Cut them in half, toss them with a little bit of olive oil, salt and pepper, and place them on a baking sheet. Put them in the oven as close as possible to the broiler and broil under high heat until the tomatoes have slightly softened (some of the skins may blacken in spots), about 2-5 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside until ready to use. (You can also leave these raw, to make life easier for yourself.)

Have all your ingredients chopped and ready by the stove. Have a pot of simmering water ready if you want to poach your eggs, or have a frying pan greased and ready if you want fried eggs.

Heat a sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add olive oil and heat until shimmering. Add garlic, chili flakes, rosemary, half of the basil and half of the parsley, and saute until fragrant, 10-15 seconds. Add the water to the pan, followed by the broccolini and salt. Stir and sauté about 2 minutes, until broccolini is just starting to get soft.

Add the other greens and stir for about 30 seconds, just until limp.

Remove pan from heat and taste for salt.

Cook eggs as desired.

Divide the sautéed greens up between the bowls of savoury oatmeal. Top with eggs, roasted cherry tomatoes, remaining basil and parsley and finish with shavings of Parmesan cheese, a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, and more chili flakes or cracked black pepper, if desired.

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125 Kenneth street, Downtown Duncan 250 746 4751 Monday to saturday 10 to 5 sunday 11 to 4 foreverfab.com boulevardmagazines.com |

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Unique Pots, Plants and Garden Accessories.

Rice Brunch Bowl.

RICE BRUNCH BOWL Serves 2 This Vietnamese-inspired brunch bowl is based on fried rice, drizzled with a delicious chili-lime sauce and brightened by quickles (quick pickles). The most important tip here is to make sure that your rice is fully cooled before you stir fry it, otherwise it will get mushy. This a fantastic way to use leftover rice. This recipe is inspired by a similar brunch bowl I enjoyed from local author Rebecca Wellman’s cookbook First We Brunch.

Fried Rice Base: 3 Tbsp vegetable oil 3 cloves garlic, minced 2 tsp minced fresh ginger ½ stalk lemongrass, minced (optional) ¼ tsp salt, or more to taste 1 cup finely shredded green cabbage 1 head shanghai bok choi, sliced, or other green vegetable 1½ cups cooked and cooled long-grain brown or white rice Topping: 2 to 4 eggs, poached Nuoc Cham (chili-lime sauce — recipe follows) Quickles (recipe follows — if you don’t want to make your own, use kimchi, or any other pickled vegetable) Chopped cilantro and/or fresh mint for garnish

South of Duncan on the Trans Canada Hwy.

250-746-8734 oldfarmgarden.ca 92

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Have all your ingredients chopped and ready by the stove before you start cooking. Have a pot of simmering water ready for your poached eggs.

In a large saucepan, heat the oil over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the garlic, ginger and optional

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lemongrass; stir fry for about 10 seconds, until fragrant.

Add the cabbage, greens and salt; stir fry for 2 minutes, until vegetables are softened. Add the rice and stir fry until everything is heated through and rice is getting slightly crispy in some spots. Divide the rice mixture between two bowls.

Meanwhile, drop cracked eggs into simmering water; poach 3 to 5 minutes, until eggs are cooked to desired doneness.

Remove with slotted spoon and transfer to a plate.

Drizzle rice mixture with a few spoonfuls of Nuoc Cham; arrange eggs and quick pickles decoratively over the top.

Sprinkle with chopped fresh herbs.

Serve immediately.

NUOC CHAM — CHILE-LIME DIPPING SAUCE Makes approximately 1 cup This sauce can be used either as a dip or as a dressing.

Traditionally in Vietnam, white vinegar is used instead of, or in combination with, lime juice. Below is my favourite version of this sauce. Feel free to play around with the proportions as you see fit. 5 Tbsp white sugar 1 tsp brown sugar 1 tsp salt ½ cup boiling water 2 Tbsp fish sauce 1 large or 2 small cloves garlic, minced very fine or pressed through a garlic press ½ cup fresh lime juice 1 to 2 tsp Sambal oelek (or more, to taste)

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In a small bowl, combine the salt, white sugar, brown sugar and fish sauce. Pour the boiling water into the bowl and stir to dissolve the sugar and salt. Set aside to let cool. Meanwhile, finely mince the garlic, or press through a garlic press. Once the sugar mixture has cooled, stir in garlic, lime juice and Sambal oelek. Mix well. Taste to adjust for salt. This sauce will last for about 2 weeks in the refrigerator.

QUICKLES (QUICK PICKLES) Makes 2 cups quick pickles These sour-sweet-salty vegetables can be made very quickly, and they brighten up so many meals. Use whatever firm vegetables you desire, cut into small, attractive pieces.

1 large or 2 small carrots, peeled and cut into fine matchsticks 4 large or 6 small red radishes, sliced into very thin rounds ¾ cup water ¾ cup rice wine vinegar, or white vinegar ⅓ to ½ cup sugar (to taste) 1½ tsp fine sea salt Place the prepared carrots and radishes into separate bowls.

In a small pot, combine the remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently, until sugar and salt are dissolved.

Immediately pour half of this mixture into the bowl with the carrots, and pour the other half into the bowl with the radishes. Stir each bowl to combine and let sit until cool. Serve immediately, or transfer to glass jars with closed lids and store in the refrigerator.

Sit back, relax.

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TRAVELFAR

This is the gift of the Galรกpagos: the ability to experience nature close-up without ever being perceived as a threatening presence.

Close Encounters Meeting the wildlife on a Galรกpagos adventure

BY LAUREN KRAMER

Bartolomé Island in Galápagos archipelago.

T

HEY STAND like solemn sentries with wizened faces, menacing claws and statuesque bodies of green, black and red leading to long spiny tails. Hundreds of marine iguanas stare us down as we arrive at Española Island in the Galápagos archipelago, and layered one on top of another, they block our pathway on a well-worn island trail. My group hangs back nervously, wondering how these prehistoric reptiles will react to us.

“Beware of your jugular veins!” jokes our guide, Jose Benavides, as he strides past them, stepping gingerly between heads and tails and encouraging us to do the same. “They’re completely harmless.”

It’s our third day in the Galápagos, where I’m spending a week visiting five islands in the archipelago on a small passenger ship, The Eric. With just me and 19 co-travellers onboard, the ship is small enough to venture close to the bays and coves of islands with names as colourful as the species they shelter: Floreana, San Cristóbal, Española and Santa Cruz.

By day we kayak and snorkel in turquoise water, taking short hikes into the islands’ interiors to explore the birdlife, mammals, reptiles and amphibians that inhabit them. With no other ships nearby we have the beaches and coves to ourselves, giving our journey an Eden-like quality. We are Darwinesque travellers stepping back in time to an untouched paradise, a place where we’re never once perceived as a threat or danger by the iguanas, sea lions, turtles, sting rays and many species of birds we encounter.

We’d like to believe the islands are truly untouched but several have been scathed by human encounters over the years, tainted by human predation and the introduction of black rats, goats and feral cats that have endangered the endemic species.

As we approach Floreana Island, we notice a small cat swiftly navigating the rocky cliffs. Benavides swears quietly under his 98

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breath and turns to our group with a solemn face.

“The goats we managed to get rid of here,” he says. “There are programs to eradicate the cats too, but clearly we’ve not gotten all of them yet.”

The cats, released over the years by the 100-odd full-time residents of Floreana, are a problem because they threaten the wildlife, feeding on lava lizards, mockingbirds, finches and turtle eggs. Still, the island is flourishing.

Disembarking at an olive-coloured beach, we’re welcomed by sea lions with gleaming bodies and faces poised towards the sun.

A few steps down a sandy path we arrive at a shallow lagoon where the smell of sulphur hangs heavy in the air. The lagoon is filled with crustaceans, the favourite food of flamingos, and a flock stand like pink avian ballerinas in the distance, daintily feeding in the shallows.

It takes minutes to cross the island, and on the other side we’re in the nesting grounds of the green sea turtle. In daylight the only sign of their presence is the many indentations in the sand where they’ve laid their eggs on previous nights. Once those eggs hatch, only two per cent will make it to the water, the remainder succumbing to hungry predators like the giant frigate birds that circle above us.

Later in the day we kayak and snorkel around the turtles that survived — great, lumbering creatures with shells four feet long and powerful flippers that move effortlessly through the water.

With wetsuit-clad bodies we follow curiously, stunned by their nonchalance to our proximity. The turtles are utterly oblivious to our presence; focussed on feeding, they disregard us entirely.

This is the gift of the Galápagos: the ability to experience nature close-up without ever being perceived as a threatening presence.

Española Island, the oldest in the archipelago at six million years, is home to 17 species found nowhere else in the world.

September is breeding season and Española’s white sand is

littered with sea lion placenta, testifying to the newness of the pups cuddled close to their mothers as we walk by. Further down the path, at a rocky overlook where waves smash and foam over the black volcanic rocks, the sky is filled with swallowtailed gulls, giant frigate birds with blood-red pouches, the rare waved albatross with its massive wingspan and red-billed tropicbirds trailing spectacular long tails.

Santa Cruz Island marks our first contact with civilization after five days at sea, and we board a bus to the lush highlands to see giant tortoises — long-necked behemoths with gentle, intelligent faces. They wallow in mud pools and munch on grass, their immense shells suggesting that many are over a century old.

These tortoises are the handful that survived after their populations were decimated from the 1500s onwards, their ancestors harvested for their meat and oil by pirates, whalers and buccaneers. At the Charles Darwin Research Station in Santa Cruz successful breeding programs are returning increasing numbers of tortoises to the wild, where these 700-pound creatures have a crucial role to play. By dispersing seeds in their dung, they revitalize important ecological sites, helping to restore and preserve the flora of the Galápagos.

As we cruise from one island to another, we’re stunned by the variety of wildlife and the closeness of our encounters. Sea lions swim playfully alongside us as we snorkel near the basalt cliffs, pelicans and giant frigate birds hover near our ship and, on land, our walks take us inches from nesting blue-footed boobies and the unblinking faces of prehistoric looking iguanas.

Like the naturalists that lead and educate us on this journey of natural discovery, we leave with unforgettable memories and

a sense of responsibility to protect the integrity of the Galápagos.

A week in the embrace of this exquisite archipelago we learn that this smattering of islands and the uniquely adapted birds and animals that inhabit it are Ecuador’s most priceless jewel.

If You Go: Adventure Life, a company specializing in travel in Ecuador, coordinates itineraries throughout the country including Quito city tours, highland hacienda adventures, Galápagos island cruises and visits to the jungle. Info: (800) 344-6118; www. adventure-life.com

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PHOTOS COURTESY DESTINATION OSOYOOS

B o u t i q u e

Pearl festival OF A

Annual Osoyoos event is a must-do for anyone who loves oysters

BY SUSAN LUNDY

A

S WE set out on an oyster festival road-trip to the southern Okanagan last April, a question burned on my mind. Why Osoyoos? Aside from the lovely alliteration of “Osoyoos Oyster Festival,” there’s nary a saltwater, oyster-lined seashore to be found in this small desert city.

But I quickly learned the “why” of it doesn’t matter.

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FACT: If you love oysters, this is the most dizzying, delectable, decadent festival you can find.

Fact: If you love oysters, this is the most dizzying, delectable, decadent festival you can find. At height of it — the culminating Art of the Pearl Gala — patrons enter a large room filled with stations hosted by top restaurateurs, vintners and brewers from the Okanagan Valley. They’re all vying to serve up the best oyster dish and best glasses of red, white or bubbly, beer, cider and even whiskey. People literally wander from table to table, sampling the most divine flavours imaginable.

The question isn’t “why?” it’s “why not?”

Festival events also include the Beach BBQ & Brews Festival and Deep Sea Garden Party. Last year, the event ran five days, with oyster-focussed dinners at Terrafina and Miradoro, and a Whiskey & Oysters event at the Holiday Inn & Suites. (Check the website at destinationosoyoos.com/ooysterfest for tickets and updates for the 2018 festival, which runs April 18-22.)

In addition to the festival and its array of oyster events, April is an excellent time to visit Osoyoos since the weather is mild and the city’s annual influx of visiting hordes has yet to arrive.

My husband, Bruce, and I settled in at the beautiful Watermark Beach Resort, happily spreading out in a large suite that featured two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a gourmet kitchen, living room and large outdoor barbecue and living area. Conveniently located near the city core, our room overlooked a lakeside boardwalk, an inviting strip of sandy beach, the picturesque Osoyoos Lake and distant views of desert hills. It’s also just a few steps away from the highly recommended Jojo’s Café on Main Street, where we enjoyed a fabulous breakfast. Best yet — the festival shuttle makes regular stops here so you can go ahead and have those extra glasses of wine without worrying about driving afterwards.

Resort amenities include the award-winning Restaurant at Watermark, where we feasted our first night, hot tubs, steam rooms, an outdoor heated pool, waterslide, spa, on-site wellness coordinator and facilities, yoga, Pilates and more.

The weather was a happy 16° C and sunny. (And as promotional material points out, visitors here can take advantage of the country’s driest climate with the lowest annual rainfall.)

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Unfortunately, we arrived too late to attend the Friday evening kick-off event — Beach BBQ & Brews — but the organizers kindly let us know what we’d missed: “This lively barbecue-style buffet features seafood and traditional barbecue fare, paired with generous pours of the South Okanagan’s best brews, craft ciders and a signature Canadian Whiskey cocktail.”

Yum. Before hitting Saturday afternoon’s Deep Sea Garden Party, we decided to check out the Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre, which we could see across the lake from our room, almost camouflaged against the terrain. The state-of-the-art interpretive centre is architecturally fascinating as it’s constructed into a hillside with multi-coloured rammed earth walls.

We were met by a knowledgeable man who described the history and culture of the Okanagan’s Indigenous people.

Extensive indoor and outdoor exhibit galleries create a fun, interactive learning environment with hands-on displays, education stations and two multi-media theatre experiences.

Much of the learning occurs outside as you wind along trails at the foot of a rocky cliff — the landscape spotted with sage brush and pine trees, and beautiful distant views to the downtown of Osoyoos and the lake. It was definitely worth the visit.

Then it was off to the Deep Sea Garden Party, held last year at Walnut Beach Resort, where, under a big tent, we sampled oysters and other culinary delights, paired with exceptional wine and beer from local wineries and craft breweries.

One of the most outstanding things about the festival is having the best of the Southern Okanagan — both food and drink — all together in one spot. We were able to meet and chat with some of the area’s top chefs, as well as Jon Crofts, of the

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We mingled with winery staff — from small, justgetting-started vineyards to the well established — and met people from all walks of life. famous Codfathers Seafood Market in Kelowna, who was largely responsible for gathering oysters from all parts of the country for this event. We mingled with winery staff — from small, just-getting-started vineyards to the well established — and met people from all walks of life.

After the party, it was back to the Watermark for a muchneeded rest before catching the shuttle to the signature event, Art of the Pearl Gala, held at Hyatt’s Spirit Ridge Lake Resort Winery. Located on sacred ground of the Okanagan Indian Band, it is beautifully appointed. And as the first part of the gala took place at an outdoor reception — with sparkling wine tastings and light canapé service — it gave us time to admire the resort’s unique architecture.

Then the gala got underway with its incredible oyster

creations and food and beverage stations — it was an indescribable feast of flavours that ran from 7-9:30 pm, followed

by DJ music and dancing until 11 pm.

One of our biggest discoveries was the heavenly flavour that emerges by combining whiskey and oysters. Pour a few drops into your freshly shucked, raw oyster and slurp it back for a divine explosion of taste. Who knew?

Satiated at the end of the night, we headed back to the hotel and made plans for some sightseeing the following day before hitting the road back home. In addition to boasting world-class wineries, Osoyoos has great golf courses and is fast becoming a cycling destination. However, we stuck with the wineries and drove up to Burrowing Owl, where we received an exceptional tour and tasting of some of our favourite wines (several of which found their way into parcels in the backseat of our car).

We also stopped at Spotted Lake, one of the Okanagan’s natural wonders. The lake contains dense deposits of magnesium sulphate, calcium and sodium sulphates among other minerals.

When most of the water in the lake evaporates during the summer, it exposes large, brightly coloured “spots.” The lake is a sacred site of the Okanagan First Nations and the waters are said to have healing powers. As a visitor, you can’t hike to Spotted Lake itself because of environmental concerns and the sacred nature of the site, but there’s an alcove off of Highway 3, west of Osoyoos, where you can stop for photographs.

Heading home, I discovered the question that initially burned on my mind had changed significantly. Instead of wondering “why?” I wanted to know “when?” — specifically, “When are we going back?”

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FRONT ROW

BY ROBERT MOYES

A COLLECTION OF ALL THINGS ARTSY, FUN AND SPECTACULAR HAPPENING IN VICTORIA THIS APRIL AND MAY. ENJOY A FABULOUS ART SHOW, GET BUBBLY WITH THE BARD AND TAKE IN OPERA, DANCE AND MUSICAL THEATRE.

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April 25 – May 6 Recent Works: Vessels, Sculpture & Paintings

Piece by William Perehudoff – Artist reception –

A MARRIAGE OF GREAT ART

WINCHESTER ART GALLERIES DOROTHY KNOWLES & WILLIAM PEREHUDOFF (HUSBAND & WIFE ARTISTS; VERY DIFFERENT) MAY 1-26 Winchester Galleries is mounting a unique “co-show” featuring acclaimed Canadian painters William Perehudoff and Dorothy Knowles.

Married for many decades, until Perehudoff’s death in 2013, both artists were awarded the Order of Canada, among many other honours. Perehudoff came from a Doukhobor farming background but eventually broke away from traditional prairie landscape art to become an internationally celebrated Colour Field abstractionist known for his bold playfulness. Knowles also grew up on a Saskatchewan farm, but never lost her fascination with that physical environment.

“Dorothy is the quintessential prairie landscape painter,” says Winchester gallerist Elizabeth Levinson.

Both artists will be represented by up to 18 paintings, all of which were personally selected from Knowles’ personal holdings. The 90-year-old Knowles is still painting, and her show, Florabunda, features floral portraits from her own garden.

“I got to meet her and watch her painting in her garden last summer,” says Levinson. “It was a great privilege.”

One of Perehudoff’s first commissions, back in the late 1940s, was painting large, realist murals in the Intercontinental Packers cafeteria where he worked. Attendance at leading-edge artist workshops followed in the ‘50s and, under the mentorship of some of North America’s most significant painters, he abandoned realism for abstraction. By the mid-1960s Perehudoff was considered to be one of Canada’s major abstract artists and these days his larger canvases fetch up to $60,000.

“He painted with a particular exuberance,” adds Levinson.

“As one of his daughters said to me, ‘He was all about projecting joy and optimism onto the canvas.’”

Running from May 1-26 at both Winchester Galleries.

Perehudoff is at 665 Fort Street, while Knowles is at 2260 Oak Bay Avenue.

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1 07

GETTING BUBBLY WITH THE BARD

“Before the show everyone mingles on the main floor, and the actors are there to chat and play music,” says Patterson. “There’s champagne and it’s really like a cocktail party.”

Come show time, everyone troops upstairs to the ballroom for some rollicking entertainment.

“We’re not making a living at this,” admits Patterson. “We’re doing it for the love of theatre.”

Fans of indie theatre in Victoria are likely familiar with Launch Pad Productions, which has done several Bike Ride shows for Theatre SKAM and appeared in a few Fringe Festivals.

Mostly, though, they’re known for their witty, highly entertaining presentations at Craigdarroch Castle.

“My wife and I got our start in Barkerville, where we were playing historical characters, and that got us going on sitespecific theatre like we now do at the castle,” explains David Radford, who co-founded Launch Pad with his wife, Christina Patterson, a decade ago.

Their upcoming production, Twelfth(ish) Night, is a carefully abridged, 60-minute version of Shakespeare’s rollicking farce about separated twins, cross-dressing misadventures and falling in love with the wrong person. The eight-person cast works in concert with a sound effects artist, who supplies appropriate noises when, say, two actors mime having a sword fight — akin to being in a studio and watching a radio play.

“It makes the show come alive even more,” Radford says.

The action is set in the 1920s, and the whole thing has a bit of a Downton Abbey atmosphere: not only the actors but also many of the audience members show up in era-appropriate fancy dress.

Running until April 14 at Craigdarroch Castle. For tickets, call 250-592-5323.

TWELFTH(ISH) NIGHT THE NEW “BARD IN THE BALLROOM” PRODUCTION AT CRAIGDARROCH CASTLE BY LAUNCH PAD MARCH 28-APRIL 14

LORDS OF THE DANCE

ALVIN AILEY DANCE PERFORMANCE BY AMERICA’S MOST LEGENDARY COMPANY MAY 1 It’s impossible to think of another modern dance ensemble that so consistently has critics sweating to come up with fresh superlatives than the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre.

Formed 60 years ago and initially focussed on the AfricanAmerican experience, AAADT is now considered a more diverse “rainbow company.” What hasn’t changed is its commitment to a dance aesthetic that combines stunning physicality with expressive grace.

“I think I’ve expanded the performance style of the company a little bit,” says Robert Battle, artistic director since 2011.

“The dancers I choose have great athleticism and a variety of technique, ranging from ballet to hip-hop. But mostly, they have to have the ability to communicate, to make people feel something deeply spiritual.”

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PHOTO BY ANDREW ECCLES

In their fourth appearance for Dance Victoria, the AAADT will showcase 32 dancers in a varied program that begins with Untitled America by Kyle Abraham. This celebrated choreographer is known for his avant-garde aesthetic and commitment to social justice, and this 2016 work is a potent look at the impact of the prison system on AfricanAmerican families.

The colourful and glamorous The Winter in Lisbon dates from 1992 and celebrates legendary trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie.

“Dizzy had this incredible bounding spirit, and this large-ensemble piece is a wonderful tribute to jazz music and jazz dance,” Battle says.

The program concludes with two works choreographed by Battle himself.

Mass features ritualistic, flowing movement that was inspired when Battle watched the choir shuffling into stalls for a performance of Verdi’s Requiem. And the evening ends with the spectacularly entertaining Ella, a bravura five-minute comic duet that is danced to Ella Fitzgerald’s iconic “Air Mail Special.”

According to Battle, “It’s an

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Tallis Scholars are known for “polished clarity and ethereal beauty” of their sound.

exploration of the physicalized expression of her scat singing, her genius as a musician and her humour. It’s a huge amount of fun.”

Performing at the Royal Theatre on May 1. For tickets, call 250-386-6121.

REQUIEM FOR A WAR

TALLIS SCHOLARS: EARLY-MUSIC CHORAL EVENT HONOURS THE CENTENARY OF THE END OF WWI APRIL 22 When Michelangelo’s frescoes in the Sistine Chapel were painstakingly restored late in the last century, the reopening ceremony appropriately featured celestial musical talent: Britain’s the Tallis Scholars.

Widely considered the world’s preeminent performers of Renaissance sacred choral music, the Tallis Scholars are renowned for the polished clarity and ethereal beauty of their polyphonic sound.

“I’ve tried a half-dozen times to bring them here,” says James Young, artistic director of the Early Music Society of the Islands. “They’re the most expensive ensemble we’ve ever presented.”

The program, War and Peace, commemorates the centenary

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of the end of the First World War. It takes the form of a Requiem Mass, albeit with the constituent movements drawn from works by numerous different composers such as Josquin de Pres, Giovanni Palestrina and Sir John Tavener. Despite the solemn topic, the music will be quite varied and, sometimes, anything but sombre.

“Some of the songs are called batallas and are an imitation of the sounds of battle …these pieces can be quite invigorating,” explains Young.

The much-awarded Tallis Scholars have made nearly 100 recordings and will doubtless be one of the musical highlights of 2018. “This is one I’ve been waiting for for a very long time,” declares Young, who’s been programming for EMSI for nearly 30 years and has always had a bucket list of groups he’s been particularly eager to book. “It’s pretty satisfying to finally be able to do it.”

Performing at Alix Goolden on April 22. Tickets available from Munro’s, Ivy’s, Long & McQuade and the RMTS box office.

OPERATIC EXTRAVAGANZA RINALDO HANDEL OPERA PRESENTED BY POV APRIL 19-29

Stephanie Lessard performs as Almirena in Rinaldo.

The first Italian-language opera written for the London stage in 1711, Handel’s Rinaldo was a dazzling success that turned the German-born composer into something akin to a rock star.

The exotic storyline is set during the time of the First Crusade, as a Christian army prepares to lay siege to Jerusalem in order to liberate it from Saracen rule. With its combination of war, religion,

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love and sorcery, Rinaldo has an epic, sometimes fantastical quality. Factor in some particularly exquisite singing and it’s easy to see why it became the most frequently performed of Handel’s many operas during his lifetime.

“Handel really knows how to write for the voice and his operas are primarily vehicles for the display of great singing,” says Robert Holliston, an educator and lecturer long associated with Pacific Opera Victoria. “And it’s worth noting that he was one of Beethoven’s very favourite composers.”

This will be the fourth baroque opera that POV has staged, in keeping with the recent revival of an opera style that was ignored for two centuries. Unlike later operas, where the narrative is usually carried by half-spoken recitatives, Handel’s storytelling is mostly expressed by vocalists in full — and ravishing — flight.

According to Holliston, this deliciously flamboyant style of singing combines long, expressive lines with rapid-fire passages that can light up the stage like fireworks.

“The singers are even expected to improvise parts of their arias,” he adds. “They have a large arsenal of vocal ornaments with which to enhance the virtuosity of their performance.”

Performing April 19-29 at the Royal Theatre. For tickets, call 250-386-6121.

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Photo: Derek Ford

9 TO 5: THE MUSICAL MUSICAL PRESENTED BY VICTORIA OPERATIC SOCIETY MAY 4-13

The Lost Boys, Captain Hook, Wendy and of course TinkerBell. A delightful family fantasy comes alive.

Royal Theatre Fri., May 18 at 7:30 pm | Sat., May 19 at 2:00 pm Tickets: balletvictoria.ca • 250-386-6121

P aul D estrooPer - a rtistic D irector - Ballet Victoria 114

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With a tsunami of #MeToo feminist anger swamping the western world, the Victoria Operatic Society has lucked into a perfectly timed debut of 9 to 5: The Musical.

Based on the 1980 hit movie about three oppressed female coworkers who conspire to get revenge on their sexist and bigoted scumbag of a boss, the musical takes a similarly comedic look at the serious topic of workplace inequality.

“Jane Fonda [one of the original stars of the movie] wanted it to be more political, but it was softened into a comedy,” explains director-choreographer Pat Rundell. “It gets the message out through laughter.”

Fellow co-star Dolly Parton wrote all the songs for the musical, which premiered in Los Angeles in 2008.

“I was living in LA at the time and saw it there — it was a phenomenal production and Parton is a genius songwriter,” says Rundell. “And it’s not just country twang … there’s every style of music, from gospel to pop-rock.”

According to Rundell, VOS’s production of 9 to 5, a Victoria first, features a 28-person cast and a band of over a dozen.

“There’s a lot of people on stage, and with so many different locations and with very little time to get there, those logistics are going to be our biggest challenge,” he says. “And even though this is a very entertaining and light-hearted musical, it also confronts workplace issues that still need addressing 40 years after the movie script was originally written. Happily, people are getting their voices heard now.”

Running from May 4-13 at the McPherson. For tickets, call 250-386-6121.

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Fight Club The Evolution of Ruth Saunders

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THLETE AND financial advisor Ruth Saunders is an enigma. She is warm, ferocious, vulnerable, fearless, funny and direct. A fighter in every sense of the word, Ruth is no stranger to life’s occasional inadequacies, but she transforms them into fuel and pushes herself to explore the limits of her strength.

“There have been some rocky moments in my life,” Ruth says humbly. “Lifting weights became a natural therapy for me and I think my sports are another huge outlet. You could have the worst day in the world and walk into the gym and you just give it everything you have; leave it in a pile of sweat on the mats and when you walk out, you don’t have the energy to be anything. It’s the very best therapy.”

Ruth’s dedication translates into her day job. She is one of the

most proficient financial advisors with Island Savings (a division of First West Credit Union) and attributes her success to her drive and relentless commitment to everything she does.

And as a busy single mother of two boys, she has learned to tackle the throws of life head-on.

“I started wrestling in high school. I really liked the physical aspect of the sport,” she says.

From wrestling with the boys in high school, Ruth began training in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). For the last 12 years, she’s worked with a tight-knit group of men in Victoria.

“I’ve always wanted to be treated like one of the boys. I have always said, ‘Don’t hold back, don’t treat me different. Give me 110 per cent like you would any other guy,’” Ruth says with an impressive tenacity in her voice.

Ruth explains that her patience and defensive skills give her an advantage as a fighter.

“I train so much with bigger, stronger, faster guys, I don’t have a ton of opportunity for offence.

I’m patient. I look for an opportunity to go for a submission. And I don’t give up. There is absolutely no quit in me.

The athlete divulges proof that hard work pays off with a number of wins in various bodybuilding and MMA competitions. Ruth first discovered her knack for competition in 2010 when she won a round-robin style MMA event.

“That event gave me a thrill for competing, and qualified me for the Western Canadians in 2011, in Vancouver,” she says.

“And yet learning and realizing you are in control and letting go of your fear and anxiety and be under your own power — it’s unbelievably liberating.”

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Ruth Saunders with her truck, kite board and dog Mila, at Clover Point.

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The Western Canadians went extremely well for Ruth; she won all of her divisions in the 2011 competition. With two substantial competition wins under her belt, she set a goal to go to the World Martial Arts Games in Austria.

“I am very goal-oriented. I have always believed in setting a personal goal and going for it.”

Unfortunately, while the tenacious athlete made Team Canada for the World Martial Arts Games, she would never have the opportunity to compete.

“I broke my leg three weeks outside of the competition. I didn’t want to pull out. My trainer modified my training so I could keep going. So I kept training and broke it again,” says Ruth.

While Ruth didn’t make it to the World Martial Arts Games, she was offered a professional contract for an MMA super fight league out of Mumbai, India.

Ruth focussed on her training while waiting for her visa to be processed — but the Indian Consulate misplaced Ruth’s, her coach’s and corner man’s passports for two months.

“Training for fight camps is no joke. I was so burnt out after waiting those two months that I needed to take a break and be nice to my body,” explains Ruth.

Without skipping a beat, she turned her focus back to bodybuilding and discovered the therapeutic benefits of kitesurfing.

“I’ve always been drawn to very aggressive, adrenalin-based

sports. I would sit and watch the kite surfers on Dallas Road after I had started surfing and I was like ‘I have to do this,’” she says with a laugh.

Ruth learned the sport at Nitinat Lake on Vancouver Island, where kitesurfing schools are located.

“It’s terrifying learning when you are so vulnerable and trusting something that can hurt you. And yet learning and realizing you are in control and letting go of your fear and anxiety and be under your own power — it’s unbelievably liberating. When taught right, it is great, safe, fun and healing,” she says.

Ruth will be running women’s weekend kitesurf camps with her girlfriend— who is a professional kitesurf athlete — this spring and summer with the intention of helping other women.

“So many women are survivors of emotional, mental and physical abuse in some sense. The one thing that I have found that is so healing, is being out on the water and being under the power of something that is so incredibly strong and freeing, and being able to control that. It is incredible to shift that control.”

She adds: “My passion is to work with women who are survivors.”

With an ever-growing list of goals to pursue and lives to change, the evolution of Ruth Saunders continues. Ruth has yet to find the limit of her strength, and her journey to discover the depth of her power as a human being promises to be an even better story in the years to come.

Helping you make better investment decisions.

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Dwayne Dyson, B.Sc. Econ, FCSI Vice President, Wealth Advisor Branch Manager, Victoria and Vancouver Island Tel: 250-361-2413 dwayne.dyson@nbpcd.com

BMO Wealth Management is the brand name for a business group consisting of Bank of Montreal and certain of its affiliates, including BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc., in providing wealth management products and services. ® “BMO (M-bar roundel symbol)” is a registered trade-mark of Bank of Montreal, used under licence. ® “Nesbitt Burns” is a registered trade-mark of BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bank of Montreal. If you are already a client of BMO Nesbitt Burns, please contact your Investment Advisor for more information.

BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. is a Member - Canadian Investor Protection Fund. Member of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada.

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GETTHELOOK

RETRONOUVEAU Spring/Summer 2018 is drenched in the sophistication of an early 1960s preppy style. Make it modern by incorporating small details rather than choosing a head-to-toe retro look. See page 47 for item details.

Nothing says 1960s, La Dolce Vita style like cat-eye sunglasses.

A singlebreasted, unstructured blazer with a jersey-knit polo shirt says “easy going” and “upscale cool” at the same time.

An upgrade to the tiny, boxy bags of the 1960s, get playful with this cylindrical cross-body bag.

Chinos are the elegant alternative to denim, and as classic as they come.

Linen and silk are always perfect for spring and summer. This oversized, linen trench is carefree and nostalgic with a raglan sleeve detail; a buttoned-up, black silk blouse takes the look towards art-house chic.

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By Lia Crowe Photo by Cathie Ferguson

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