Boulevard Magazine, Central Island Edition, SPRING 2019

SPRING 2019

CENTR AL ISL AND LIFE AT ITS FINEST

THE

INFLUENCERS

FOREST BATHING

PUT PREP IN YOUR STEP

ALL NATURAL

For body, mind and soul

Rally the cry for fashion this spring

A Fairwinds beauty

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CONTENTS 78

54 FEATURES 28 ALL NATURAL

On the Cover Photo by Lia Crowe Jean Cardno is one of the many Central Island business people photographed at Blue Grouse Estate Winery and featured in this issue’s special section.

THE INFLUENCERS

54

Light and stone bring the outside in at stunning Fairwinds home

By Darcy Nybo

48 PUT SOME PREP IN

YOUR STEP

Spring fashion at Shawnigan Lake School

By Katherine Suna

38 ALL TILES

54 THE INFLUENCERS

Dominic Staniscia finds his passion

By Tess van Straaten

People making a difference in the mid-island business community

By Lia Crowe, Don Denton and Sean McIntyre

42 FOREST BATHING

A reboot for the body, mind and soul

By Lauren Kramer

78 PIEROGI PLEASE!

This classic Polish dish is

cosy, hearty and richly flavoured

8

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SPRING 2019

By Chef Heidi Fink

28

48

24

DEPARTMENTS 10 OUR CONTRIBUTORS 14 EDITOR’S LETTER

Get Away on Mother’s Day

By Susan Lundy

20 inspiredHEALTH

94 FRONT ROW

How to Live a Long Charmed Life

What’s on this Spring

By Sherry Conly

By Pamela Durkin 102 SECRETS AND LIVES

24 inspiredPEOPLE

Going with the Grain:

Stephanie Farrow

By Sean McIntyre

16

inspiredSTYLE

Kyla Decker

By Katherine Suna

88 TRAVEL FAR

18

inspiredCHEF

Ah, Jamaica: Living Well in Paradise

Darren Watson, Cview Restaurant

By Susan Lundy

By Angela Cowan

Living the Dream — and Sleeping Soundly: Chris Manley of Resthouse

By Lauren Edwards

106 BEHIND THE STORY

By Lia Crowe

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SPRING 2019

9

OURCONTRIBUTORS

C E N T R A L I S L A N D L I F E AT I T S F I N E S T

ANGELA COWAN WRITER: INSPIRED CHEF

“I’m in love with anything butter, and Chef Darren Watson’s beurre blanc with cardamom and star anise combines two my absolute favourite spices. I can’t wait to try making it!” Angela Cowan is an awardwinning freelance writer and editor who contributes regularly to Boulevard magazine. Find her on Twitter @angela_m_cowan.

PAGE 18

SHERRY CONLY WRITER: FRONT ROW

PAGE 94

LIA CROWE PHOTOGRAPHER: PUT SOME PREP IN YOUR STEP

PAGE 48

“Colour and vibrancy abound in the Central Island region this spring with an epic Cuban dance company, a classic musical for the entire family, a concert presented by one very talented Canadian duo, and lively paintings that all help to banish the last dregs of a long, rainy winter. Take your pick of one or two events, or explore a bit of everything as you enjoy the incredible culture that this region has to offer.” A graduate of Vancouver Island University, Sherry works as a writer for businesses and Canadian publications.

“Photographing our fashion story at Shawnigan Lake School left me with the overwhelming desire to be a teenager again, rushing from class to class on that beautiful campus and eating meals in the Hogwarts-esque dining hall.” Lia is a stylist, creative director, photographer and writer with a long history of working in the fashion industry.

SPRING 2019

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 Cara Robbins

ADVERTISING

Mario Gedicke Andrea Rosato-Taylor Pat Brindle Vicki Clark

CONTRIBUTING Angela Cowan, Sherry Conley,

WRITERS Lia Crowe, Pamela Durkin, Lauren Edwards, Heidi Fink, Lauren Kramer, Sean McIntyre, Katherine Suna, Tess van Straaten,

CONTRIBUTING Lia Crowe, Don Denton,

PHOTOGRAPHERS Wolfgang Hentschel, Izabel Kazenbroot-Guppy

CIRCULATION & Marilou Pasion DISTRIBUTION 604.542.7411

SPRING 2019

CENTR AL ISL AND LIFE AT ITS FINEST

THE

DON DENTON PHOTOGRAPHER: PIEROGI PLEASE!

PAGE 78

LAUREN EDWARDS WRITER: LIVING THE DREAM

“Pierogi, perogy, pyrogy, pirohi, pyrohy can be spelled many ways, but the simple, dough-filled dumpling has come a long way since my mother made them one way — stuffed with cheese and potato — and my mother-in-law another, stuffed with dry curd cottage cheese and no additions except for toppings. The tasty variations Chef Heidi Fink came up with showcase some of the flavour possibilities.” Don has photographed numerous high-profile events, including the Olympics, World Hockey Championships and a Royal wedding.

“It was an absolute pleasure meeting Chris, who gave me a warm welcome into his beautifully decorated store.” Lauren recently moved to Vancouver Island from the Okanagan Valley. She is excited to explore the island before attending journalism school in the near future.

PAGE 102

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INFLUENCERS

FOREST BATHING

PUT PREP IN YOUR STEP

ALL NATURAL

For body, mind and soul

Rally the cry for fashion this spring

A Fairwinds beauty

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

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

HEIDI FINK

WOLFGANG HENTSCHEL

WRITER: PIEROGI PLEASE!

PHOTOGRAPHER: ALL NATURAL

PAGE 78

IZABEL KAZENBROOT -GUPPY PHOTOGRAPHER: INSPIRED STYLE

PAGE 28 PAGE 16 “Photographing Sartori’s creation of the home in Fairwinds was like stepping into an artist’s canvas. It features an abundance of natural light from every angle, exceptional quality, functional flow and a seamless transition from the inside living space to the environment and prestigious golf course beyond.” Wolfgang is a creative nature and real estate photographer who enjoys finding the unique angles and qualities of every home.

“I do not use written recipes for my pierogi fillings; I mix ingredients until they taste good. For this issue’s article on pierogi-making, I had to nail down my fillings to a structured recipe, meaning I had the pleasure of making pierogi several times over the last few weeks. I don’t normally make them from scratch so frequently; for the first time ever, I felt like I got my fill of peirogi (and my appetite for the homemade ones is large). Delicious!” Heidi Fink is a chef, food writer and culinary instructor, specializing in local foods and ethnic cuisines.

“Kyla and I were incredibly fortunate to be given access to a shoot location at Blue Grouse Winery. Amid the modern rustic architecture and natural light, Kyla glowed like her warm personality.” Izabel is a photographer and graphic designer from Nanaimo.

LAUREN KRAMER

SEAN MCINTYRE

DARCY NYBO

WRITER: FOREST BATHING

WRITER: GOING WITH THE GRAIN

WRITER: ALL NATURAL

PAGE 42

“I’ve been an avid forest-walker since childhood, so learning about the regenerative benefits of Shinrin-yoku came as no surprise — I always feel refreshed, clear-headed and replenished after a peaceful forest walk.” Focussing on food and travel, Lauren is an award-winning Richmond-based writer and a mother to four children who inspire her daily.

PAGE 28

PAGE 24 “I’m always on the lookout for creative artisans on Vancouver Island. At Live Edge, designer Stephanie Farrow and her colleagues represent a new and exciting direction.” Sean is a freelance writer based on Salt Spring Island, where he now keeps a keen eye for the hidden gems and treasures in the natural world that surrounds him.

KATHERINE SUNA STYLIST: PUT SOME PREP IN YOUR STEP

“This beautiful home in Fairwinds encompasses all that is great about living on Vancouver Island. The use of natural stone quarried from the property, combined with light and airy rooms that look onto natural landscapes makes this a quintessential island home.” Darcy is a freelance writer, writing instructor and author.

She loves meeting and chatting with the people who have created their dream homes, and telling their stories.

TESS VAN STRAATEN WRITER: ALL TILES

PAGE 38

PAGE 48 “Shawnigan Lake School was the perfect location for our feminine-preppy themed shoot. You can’t help feeling like you’re in a Harry Potter movie when walking into Marion Hall where the students dine. The grounds were absolutely breathtaking, and we had a lot of fun shooting on the rugby pitch. Go-Shaw-Go!” Katherine is a freelance fashion stylist living on Vancouver Island, and also enjoys watching rugby.

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SPRING 2019

“Dominic Staniscia travels the world to source the best tiles for his Nanaimo showroom. So what’s his favourite spot? Italy, of course.

Dominic says this is because of his Italian heritage, but also because they have the best tiles.” Tess is an award-winning journalist and television personality who has had the privilege of interviewing people for more than two decades.

EDITOR’SLETTER

Get away on Mother’s Day

BY SUSAN LUNDY

M

PHOTO BY LIA CROWE

revealed destination: Tigh Na Mara Resort Y ADULT & Spa. daughters and I I chose Tigh Na Mara for several reasons: have embarked first, the Grotto Spa mineral pool provided on a tradition of the requisite soothing water in which to stealing away on float about and share too much information; one-night, surprise second, the lounge at Cedars Restaurant getaways once or offered up the important glasses of Prosecco twice a year when we are all in the same (more information); and third, the gorgeous, city. I carefully guard the secret destination sea-view room gave us a perfect spot to while they attempt to trip me up on providing gather at a kitchen counter and enjoy dinner details, and then I whisk them away to places in a relaxed atmosphere, plus space for all unknown. of us to sleep. (I got the Murphy bed, which The excursions usually involve lounging was super comfortable.) But most important, in a hot tub or warm-water pool; consuming Tigh Na Mara sits at the edge of Rathtrevor a bottle of Prosecco; and sharing lots of Beach. And on a sandy walk the next information (often “too much information.” morning, we watched the tide and dined on Does a mother really need to know all this?) memories of this beach, which was such a With Mother’s Day in mind recently, I huge part of all of our childhoods. created a journey with a bit of a spin, aiming After an early lunch at Unsworth Vineyard to evoke some cherished memories, while in Mill Bay (another bottle in the backseat), we motored back over creating a new ones. I dropped random hints, to which they somehow the Malahat, met up with “mom/grandma” in Victoria and embarked concluded we were renting electric bikes and brought along their on an afternoon of three-generational mother-daughter pampering helmets. (If this were a text, I’d insert the shrugging emoji here.) at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel. Here there was more floating about in Our trip began at Victoria’s vegan, buffet-style Green Cuisine mineral pools, followed by pedicures for two and manicures for two. restaurant, which is paramount to our family mythology. My ex and My elder daughter and I felt slightly smug as we chose the pedicures I were regulars in the early ‘90s when it first opened. My daughters and got to lounge in huge, comfy, reclining seats with ocean views for subsequently embraced it and over the years, meals here became a our pampering. But then the manicure “test” for all prospective suitors — twosome got to flash their nails about both the girls’ and mine, after my With Mother’s Day in mind while ours disappeared into socks, so it all divorce. If a boy liked Green Cuisine, evened out in the end. recently, I created a journey he passed. If not … well… he could Taking time out to relax and savour is a expect a “Dear John” email. (Later, with a bit of a spin, aiming to focus of this issue of Boulevard Central other boy-tests emerged. For example, evoke some cherished memories, Island, where our feature story considers texts that confused there/their/they’re benefits of Shinrin-yoku or “forest or your/you’re usually rendered the while creating some new ones. the bathing.” And beyond relaxation, there is texter as “nixed.”) And as an aside, my much to read about in this edition, not the current husband, who was an Alberta least of which is our annual feature The Influencers, which beautifully meat-lover when we met, barely passed the restaurant test; however, and artfully provides insight to a host of people who are making a now a West Coaster, he happily obliges our green cuisine. difference in the mid-island’s business community.

For our second stop, I wanted to introduce my daughters to artist Readers can also tour a nature-inspired house in Fairwinds, travel to and master-storyteller Arthur Vickers, who — among the hundreds Jamaica; consider Pamela Durkin’s tips on achieving longevity; feast of people I’ve interviewed over the years — remains one of my very on Chef Heidi Fink’s pierogi; check out fine food cooked up by Chef favourites. At his gallery in Cowichan Bay, Arthur often waits to see Darren Watson at Cview Restaurant & Lounge; and revel in the beauty if one of his pieces resonates with a viewer. If it does, he tells the of gorgeous, locally made Live Edge furniture. Meet Kyla Decker, Chris story behind it. We were blessed with three stories, including one Manley and Dominic Stansicia, and check out a wealth of arts and that brought tears to three sets of eyes. The best stories are the ones entertainment happening this spring in central Vancouver Island. that move you.

We hope you take time out to relax and enjoy this edition of From soul-touching to body-warming, we stopped at Averill Creek Boulevard. And don’t forget to pamper your mom this Mother’s Day. Vineyard for a wine tasting. Enjoying the beautiful views of the Perhaps, I’ll organize an electric bike trip for our celebration.

Cowichan Valley from the patio, we discovered a new favourite: Averill Creek’s Charme De L’Ile, a bottle of which landed in the backseat of Susan Lundy has been writing stories since she was six years old. the car to be savoured at a later date.

She has a degree in creative writing from the University of Victoria, Then it was straight to Parksville, where we hit another favourite and after working for many years as an award-winning journalist, is restaurant — Realm Food Co. (fantastic food; awesome live music now a magazine editor, author and freelance writer. nights) — packed up a feast-to-go and headed to our soon-to-be14

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inspired STYLE

with KYLA

DECKER,

CLINICAL DIRECTOR AT RENU L ASER AND SKIN CARE CENTRE

BY KATHERINE SUNA P H OTO BY I Z A B E L K A Z E N B R O OT- G U P P Y

FASHION

GO-TO OUTFIT: Jeans, T-shirt and booties. ALL-TIME FAVOURITE PIECE: Soia and Kyo brown leather jacket. CURRENTLY COVETING: “Blazers — loving them!” FAVOURITE DAY BAG:

“My mom bought me a classic Coach bag that I love.”

FAVOURITE JEWELLERY PIECE OR DESIGNER: “I have a slight obsession with Leah Alexandra Jewellery.” FASHION OBSESSION: “Jewellery!”ACCESSORY YOU SPEND THE MOST MONEY ON: “Just bought myself diamond studs for my 40th.” THREE ITEMS ALWAYS FOUND IN YOUR PURSE: Sunblock, lip gloss and phone. FAVOURITE WATCH: “Love my Cluse watch for when I’m feeling

fancy (although the price tag isn’t fancy) and I just got an Apple watch for exercising and everyday, and I’m loving it!” STEAL OF A DEAL: “Pink RAINS jacket on sale for $50 at Plenty.”

BEAUTY

NECESSARY INDULGENCE: “Some might

say not necessary, but I love my Botox!”

FAVOURITE SKIN CARE PRODUCT: “I love my ZO Skin Care products.” SCENT: “I slather myself in coconut and vanilla — I’m sure I smell like candy!” MUST-HAVE HAIR PRODUCT: Dry Shampoo — Milkshake Lifestyling. BEAUTY SECRET: Photorejuvenation treatments. FAVOURITE LIP PRODUCT: “I love our Glo Skin Beauty lip glosses — not too sticky but stays on for a decent amount of time.” HAIR SALON: Renee at Copper and Ash. FAVOURITE MAKEUP-BRAND: Glo Skin Beauty.

THREE PRODUCTS YOU TRAVEL WITH DAILY:

Colorscience Sunforgettable Loose Mineral Sunscreen, light pink lip gloss and water!

K

YLA ARRIVES at the clinic looking stylish in her new, blush-pink raincoat, and we agree that having a coloured rain jacket is essential for our dark and rainy winters.

After drying off from the rain, we settle in, and begin discussing how Kyla went from graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Victoria to becoming clinical director at Renu Laser and Skin Care Centre.

“My dad wanted to branch out from his medical practice as a family practitioner into aesthetics. He asked If I wanted to get into the business with him, and now we have been practising for a combined 15 years,” explains Kyla.

It’s hard not to notice how radiant Kyla’s skin is.

“I have always been into skincare and skin health. I’ve practised the full skin regime of washing your face, and using toner and moisturizer since grade 9. I love that I now get to educate my clients on skincare too.”

Showing me one of her one of her go-to products, she says, “I don’t wear foundation, instead I wear a powdered sunscreen and put it on every morning. Sunscreen is so important! It’s easier to prevent sun damage than to fix it later down the road.”

In addition to using sunscreen everyday, she says, photorejuvenation is also important: “I think everyone who is a candidate for the treatment should have it once a year.

It gets rid of all the reds and browns that most of us have, and it makes your skin just glow.”

LIFE

Kyla’s love of fashion became evident as she displayed outfit options for the photo shoot. In discussing style, Kyla confesses she tends to be an “emotional dresser.”

“If I’m tired or not feeling the best, I like to dress cosy.

If I’m feeling vibrant and everything is great, I will dress up. I don’t particularly follow every trend. I tend to choose what works best for me. I’m more classic with a twist.”

Outside of work, Kyla runs, hikes and takes spin classes.

“I also love to go camping, and do other outdoor adventures with my husband and two young daughters.”

Kyla is very close to her family, and asked about her future, she points out how lucky she is to have a good work/life balance at the moment.

“I want to have time with my family. We are a very close family, with my dad being the physician here at the clinic. My mom is a nurse at Brentwood. And I try to savour the moments I have with the kids — the cuddles, books and the ‘I love you’s.’”

Being a good role model to her children is very important to Kyla, who sometimes gets asked how she explains to her girls what she does at work.

“We talk about it as skin health, and why it’s important for people to care for it. You can be a strong woman, a strong mom — beautiful from the inside and out! You can also take care of yourself. It’s not a bad thing. It’s also important to have kindness and empathy towards other girls/women, and try to accept that everyone is different in how they feel beauty looks to them.”

FAVOURITE LOCAL RESTAURANT OR CAFE: “BruGo’s in Mill Bay. The best soup!” FAVOURITE COCKTAIL/WINE: “I love wine but I’m a sucker for a good Old Fashioned.” FAVOURITE MUSIC: “Total country girl at heart.” FAVOURITE FLOWER: “Peony...wish they were in season longer!” FAVOURITE CITY TO VISIT: “I loved Cusco in Peru and Buenos Aires in Argentina.” FAVOURITE HOTEL: “I love the Oak Bay Beach Hotel in Victoria (love the pools!).” FAVOURITE APP: “Spotify playlists for running!” FAVOURITE PLACE IN THE WHOLE WORLD: “Snuggled up with my girls and chatting about their days.” FAVOURITE THING TO DO IN YOUR FREE TIME: “I like to start

the day with a run then have a yummy lunch and pick up my girls from school.” WHAT’S YOUR DREAM VACATION: “I like doing activities on vacations (along with relaxing) and really want to go on a bike/ hike trip in Paris or Italy.” FAVOURITE THING TO DO ON A SELFCARE DAY: “I feel it’s so important to take time to recharge and exercise. A day at the spa with friends never hurts!”

A UNIQUE QUIRK THAT MAKES YOU YOU:

“I talk to myself a lot!”

READING MATERIAL

WHAT DO YOU READ ONLINE FOR STYLE OR INSPO:

“I’m a bit old school and love a good magazine or book I can cosy up with and flip through the pages.” COFFEE TABLE BOOK: Strong Is the New Pretty, A Celebration of Girls Being Themselves by Kate T. Parker.

LAST GREAT READ: Becoming

by Michelle Obama. BOOK CURRENTLY READING: “Land of Stories with my girls.” boulevardmagazines.com |

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inspired CHEFS

Darren Watson Qualicum Beach Inn – Cview Restaurant & Lounge

BY ANGELA COWAN P H OTO S BY D O N D E N TO N

QUICK FACTS: • Born in Mackenzie, BC, and grew up on the Sunshine Coast.

• “I trained at the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts and received a diploma in cooking, finishing at the top of my class. I apprenticed under Chef William Grimshaw at the Shaughnessy Restaurant at VanDusen Gardens, and I also have a Red Seal.”

• One year at the Qualicum Beach Inn. What are you best known for as a chef?

“I would say I am best known for my teambuilding and people skills. People are our biggest asset and I have always put a lot of time into my brigade, building a positive culture and a collaborative one. As well, I’m known for opening restaurants from scratch.”

What are the 10 or so most important ingredients in your pantry?

“Butter, salt, pepper, really good olive oil, onions, garlic and Twinkies (guilty pleasure).”

What’s your favourite dish to cook and eat on a cold winter or spring day?

“Anything on the barbecue.”

What’s your go-to item when sampling other chefs’ fares?

“Usually my go-to item would be soup, to really judge someone’s flavour balancing and effort.”

Hobbies?

“Meat-curing, sausage-making, hockey, football, animals and sports gambling.”

Anything else we should know?

“I spent time working in Mexico as a guest master chef for the Festival Gourmet, and I was one of only two Canadians invited to take part.”

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Chef Darren Watson at the Qualicum Beach Inn’s Cview Restaurant & Lounge prepared an Ahi Tuna Bowl with orzo succotash sauté, steamed broccolini and a smooth orange beurre blanc (recipe below).

RECIPE Can you share an easy, seasonal recipe for a quick bite this spring?

CARDAMOM & STAR ANISE SCENTED ORANGE BEURRE BLANC Ingredients 1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice 1 cup white wine 2 green cardamom pods 2 whole star anise 1 lb unsalted butter cut into small cubes Method In sauce pan combine the wine, orange juice, star anise and cardamom. Reduce over medium heat until you are left with 2 fluid ounces — it should have a syrup-like consistency. Take off the heat and slowly whisk in the cold butter cubes. If you add too much butter at once or whisk over the heat, your sauce will split on you. I have served this sauce with duck, chicken, scallops and currently with tuna. It is a very versatile sauce. Enjoy!

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inspired HEALTH

How to live a

long,

charmed

life

BY PAMELA DURKIN

Optimism, lifelong learning and social connections aid longevity

A

CCORDING to Business Insider 80 per cent of New Year’s resolutions fail by February, so this year I decided to focus on things I could do to put as many more meaningful years ahead of me as possible — rather than making resolutions for the upcoming year.

While many of us may want to live to 100, few achieve this monumental feat. However, there are places around the world — dubbed “The Blue Zones” — where people live extraordinarily long lives, and social scientists have discovered they share a host of practices that promote longevity.

Surprisingly, these are not all related to diet and exercise. Here are some of the surprising habits that have helped these people live long lives.

Being Optimistic “Blue Zoners” and other centenarians around the world are an optimistic bunch. The recently released New England Centenarian study, conducted by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, examined the psychological profiles of 200 healthy centenarians and found a common trait — all were positive thinkers with positive views on aging.

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Another practice the “super-agers” all engage in is lifelong learning.

Another study, conducted by Harvard’s School of Public Health and published in the Archives of General Psychiatry, showed that, after 10 years of follow up, people who were optimistic had a 55 per cent lower risk of death from all causes and a 23 per cent lower risk of death from heart disease, compared to people who reported a higher level of pessimism.

According to the science, optimism even beats genetics in determining the quality and quantity of life. That doesn’t surprise life and career coach Julia James.

“Optimism allows us to relax more deeply, sleep better, be happier and more present — it positively impacts our physical, mental and emotional health,” she notes.

So what does optimism actually do within our bodies that renders it such a powerful influence on longevity? Several studies show that optimism is associated with a healthier lipid profile, lower levels of inflammatory markers, higher levels of serum antioxidants and better immune responsiveness.

Does all this mean that people who are innately pessimistic are doomed to short lives? Not necessarily — it has been demonstrated in randomized trials that optimism can be “learned.”

“One of the ways to grow more optimistic is to flex your gratitude muscle,” James explains. “Make it a daily practice

to write down three things you are grateful for and feel the gratitude in your heart. And also tell the people in your life what you appreciate about them on a daily basis.”

Other ways to enhance optimism include laughing daily, surrounding yourself with positive people, avoiding negative selftalk and practicing self compassion.

Learning Another practice the “super-agers” all engage in is lifelong learning. And while the exact causation remains inconclusive, a plethora of studies suggests that remaining engaged in the learning process throughout life can improve longevity and provide other health and social benefits.

Joanie Anderson, an executive assistant at mining giant Teck concurs, saying, “I have always believed in lifelong learning and at 62 I plan to continue it indefinitely — I call it Botox for the mind. It keeps you vibrant, fresh, interested and interesting.”

It’s been proven that the more new things your brain tries to understand, the better it functions. As a report on the benefits of lifelong learning noted in Scientific American, “If the brain is not challenged with new learning, its capabilities can gradually boulevardmagazines.com |

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erode over time, leading to decreased memory and cognitive dysfunction.”

So does it matter what you learn? No. Choose something that matches your passion and do not worry about your age — your brain loves learning no matter how old you are. If you’re really stumped about what to learn or what new skill to acquire, you can simply commit to reading more. Reading is a great way to stimulate the mind, and a new study published in Social Science and Medicine found that individuals who read books for up to three and a half hours per week were 17 per cent less likely to die over a 12-year period than non-readers. People who read even more than that were 23 per cent less likely to die.

Clearly, continuing education may just be the fountain of youth. So go ahead and learn a new language or culinary skill, or join a book club — you’ll be enhancing your longevity and the quality of your years.

Building Social Ties Taking a course or joining a choir or book club can also help you form new social connections. Why is that important?

Researchers have discovered that strong social ties are more critical to physical health than exercising or maintaining a healthy weight.

A recent meta study, covering more than 300,000 participants across all ages, revealed that adults get a 50 per cent boost in longevity if they have a solid social network. The researchers, from Brigham Young University, analyzed results

from 148 studies going back as far as the early 20th century.

More than 100 years worth of research came to the same conclusion — having a healthy social life is paramount for staying physically healthy.

Like optimism, social support has some clear benefits for the human body. It’s been linked to lower blood pressure, reduced inflammation, better wound healing and good immune function.

In contrast, science has revealed that social isolation increases the risk for inflammation by the same magnitude as physical inactivity, and its effect on hypertension exceeds that of other clinical risk factors such as diabetes. In animal studies, social isolation has been linked to an increased risk for mammary tumours and metabolic syndrome.

Sadly, despite living in the “hyper-connected era” of Facebook and Instagram, social isolation is on the rise. In fact, according to statistics, three times as many people report feeling lonely than they did 20 years ago.

“Friends give us a sense of belonging,” says Susanne Dannenberg RSW, an outreach worker with Capital City Volunteers. “While online connections might be better than nothing, they can’t replace a warm phone call or face-to-face conversation with a friend.”

So to increase longevity, peel yourself away from the screen, volunteer, invite a guest to dinner or make a play date with a close friend. The experts advise it isn’t the number of social connections that matters, but what those connections provide us in terms of real support and human warmth.

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Going with the grain

Stephanie Farrow with Live Edge furniture created from a tree salvaged by her client.

Live Edge’s Stephanie Farrow designs wooden works of art

BY SEAN MCINTYRE | P H OTO S BY D O N D E N TO N

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LABS of immaculately hewn maple, walnut and arbutus await delivery in the loading bay at Duncan’s Live Edge Design. Nearby, contemporary, resin-infused countertops are contrasted with the clean simplicity of a rustic dinning room table. All are works of art that infuse an otherwise nondescript industrial park with a sense of magic that lures visitors to ponder the inspiration and skilled craftsmanship at the heart of each piece.

“No tree is firewood in our eyes,” says designer Stephanie Farrow. “No two pieces are the same, and I love working with the challenges of each piece.”

Stephanie says it isn’t uncommon for projects like these to start as a vague idea concealed in someone’s mind or as a rudimentary napkin sketch. The exciting part of her work, Stephanie says, is helping clients transform their visions into the finished products that will occupy honoured places in homes and workplaces.

Part of her job at Live Edge involves touring visitors and potential clients through the company’s site. Each tour starts outside near the mill. Participants stand surrounded by 12foot long slabs of maple, solid cubes of wood milled from massive roots and gnarly wooden hulks whose origins stir the imagination. Along a wall are uniformly cut lengths of alder, a common species found across Vancouver Island, are laid out to dry along a low shelf. They’re destined to fuel a surging demand for woodsy bed frames, chairs and coffee tables.

There’s no missing the remnants of a 200-year-old maple tree, though one could be forgiven for questioning if the truck-sized mass could possibly have come from a single tree. The tree’s massive bulk was hauled out of a peat bog in a farmer’s field near Chemainus last year.

“The biggest crane they could find on the island wasn’t big enough,” Stephanie says.

The farmer, who’d grown attached to his tree over the decades, visited Live Edge Design to determine what could be done with the big old maple now that it had become a hazard and required removal. That’s when the farmer learned about oneTree, a bi-annual exhibit conceived in part by Live Edge president John Lore and the Bateman Foundation. Every two years, craftspeople submit concepts utilizing material from a single tree. The resulting exhibit is intended to highlight a variety of works that share a common origin.

“These works are from the same tree so you can see the grain running through all of the pieces. It will become a really great memorial for this special tree,” Stephanie says of the upcoming oneTree show set for November 2019.

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Live Edge piece called Horizon Headboards reflects the view of the lake and mountains from the homeowners’ bedroom. Designed

by Stephanie Farrow, and created with wood from a tree salvaged by her client.

“Wood has a grounding effect; it keeps spaces natural. Materials like stone and wood have a natural element that balance out the synthetic elements.”

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An impressive portion of the wood held in the Live Edge yard originates from a single client who Farrow has worked with since she joined the company in early 2018.

When the Cowichan Valley family realized they had to remove two large maple trees on their property for safety reasons, they visited Live Edge to get some ideas about ways to use the wood to complement their family home. The pair of towering trees produced 30 slabs, six cookies and a unique stump, offering Farrow plenty of material with which to exercise her creative might.

“To date we have used the majority of that but still have approximately 10 pieces left that we refer to as Round 2,” she says. “The design process was very involved. We had the spaces measured, and we tried to design the pieces that reflected the beautiful landscape around the space.”

A piece dubbed the “Horizon Headboards,” for example, reflects a view of the lake and mountains from the homeowners’ bedroom.

In the games room, furnishings including the coffee table and end table are built from the same portion of the same tree, giving all the pieces in that space a similar grain, tone and pattern.

“You can actually see the flow in these pieces,” Stephanie says.

While the milled lumber dries in the yard and kiln for up to eight months, Stephanie is hard at work indoors bringing ideas to life. Images of the raw materials are uploaded to Photoshop, where different permutations are laid out for clients to consider.

The work may be undertaken with a mouse and keyboard, but the wood’s inherent character is what drives the creative process.

“You have to allow the wood to do more of the designing because you can’t force it to do something it’s not going to do,”

she says. “Sometimes you’ll be working with something and discover it’s just not possible.”

Whereas ill-fated projects would have once been tossed to the scrap heap, the Photoshop age gives designers such as Stephanie an unprecedented degree of creative freedom and room to experiment. Being able to show a client how an idea will look and work has the added effect of bringing some of the more outlandish ideas closer to reality.

“With wood going in all sorts of different directions and the use of metals and glass, sometimes we need to test the physics of an idea beforehand,” she says. “We often have to send a video to show that it just isn’t possible.”

The end result, however, is always a work of art that stands as a source of pride for the client, designer and each of the craftspeople who contributed to the project. The essence of each project is ingrained in their collective memories long after a piece heads out the door for delivery. Stephanie says she always feels a strong sense of pride when she comes across a Live Edge piece in situ months or years after it was built.

“Wood has a grounding effect; it keeps spaces natural.

Materials like stone and wood have a natural element that balance out the synthetic elements,” she says. “I fall in love with everything that comes out of here, and want to make sure they’re amazing for years to come if they have our name on it.”

Tours of the Live Edge facility are available year round Mondays through Saturdays at the company’s production and design facility south of Duncan at 5195 Mearns Road. For more details visit liveedgedesign.com. The oneTree runs from midNovember to mid-February at the Robert Bateman Gallery in Victoria.

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HOTPROPERTIES

All Natural Light and stone bring the outside in at this stunning Fairwinds home

BY DARCY NYBO | P H OTO S BY WO L F G A N G H E N T S C H E L + D O N D E N TO N

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Quick Facts

#bedrooms: 3 (2 with en suite) #bathrooms: 3 full, 1 powder Square feet: 3,503 Garage: oversize double Heated floors on both levels

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PPROACHING this beautiful house in Fairwinds at Nanoose Bay, one can’t help but notice two very striking features. First is the boulder that encompasses most of the front and side of the yard. Builder Dan Sartori, of Sartori Custom Homes, wanted to ensure this space was left in its original state, complete with a tenacious arbutus tree that — defying all odds — stands tall as it grows out of the stone. Second is the light that streams from the front entrance; it’s noticeable even before beginning the descent down the concrete steps that approach the door. Both the entryway and the wall opposite are made of glass, allowing natural light to pass through unobstructed.

The front of the house features beautifully contrasting wood and stone. (Stone used in construction was quarried from the property.) Two sloped portions of the roof are made with standing seam metal, providing a contrast in texture and colour that helps this house blend into its surroundings, while at the same time, making its unique design stand out.

The sloped driveway has a sensor-operated heater, as does the front walkway and patio. When snow falls here, it quickly melts away.

Dan Sartori, a master stonemason, takes great pride in the

natural elements that he incorporated into this build. Stepping through the wide, custom-glass front door, one is immediately greeted by a serene view of the backyard and golf course beyond.

There is so much to take in, it’s hard to catch it all at first glance. The back “wall” of the great room features 13 soaring windows or sliding panels created by Westeck Windows and Doors. The multi-slide off the kitchen area moves to a single panel, allowing for easy access to the 600-square-foot upper deck. Porcelain tiles create a comforting space on the deck, which includes natural gas connections that allow for a linear radiant heater. There’s a Garry oak meadow in the backyard, preserved to ensure the ecosystem survives on the island. And to avoid obstructing the view of the natural surroundings, Dan incorporated a topless, laminated tempered glass guard rail. Add to that some outdoor pot lights sunk into a clear cedar overhang with built-in sound and security cameras, and you’ve got the perfect place to relax or entertain.

“Keeping the natural topography surrounding the home was very important to me,” said Dan. “We wanted to ensure the house blended in with the natural surroundings. The preservation of the rocky outcropping in the front yard and the arbutus tree growing in the front was critical. In fact, we designed the house around it. We disturbed as little as possible on the lot during construction in order to preserve the Garry oak meadow and the natural rock features. Garry oak meadows are a sensitive ecosystem that is crucial to this area. No landscaper could create something as beautiful as what naturally exists here.”

Back inside, it takes some time to take in all the great features of this home. There’s the vaulted ceilings, the transom windows,

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the engineered rustic oak floors, the stunning assortment of Bocci lights and then … there’s the fireplace.

The see-through, linear natural gas fireplace almost begs to be touched. It’s an impressive 11 feet high and weighs 18,000 pounds. The stone it’s made from (solid granite), was quarried from the site; the stonework alone at this house is estimated to be worth some $80,000.

“Each stone is hand cut and faced, then structurally stacked using the traditional methods of stonemasonry dating back centuries,” Dan explained. “And we even incorporated a removable stone, which hides the television and internet connections.”

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“Each stone is hand cut and faced, then structurally stacked using the traditional methods of stonemasonry dating back centuries.” fixture made by Viso Lighting. Large, circular cutouts house the lights, while the highly reflective finish gives a warm glow to the room. It is a stylish, glamorous and inviting place to linger after dinner.

Next to the living area is the kitchen, which is truly a cook or entertainer’s dream. There’s a Wolf six-burner cooktop and two wall ovens, a Sub-Zero fridge and two ASKO dishwashers. All the cabinetry is grain-matched to create a natural flow. The large island easily seats six people and has hidden storage cabinets built into the living room side of the island, making it easy to clean up. There’s even a large, hidden walk-in pantry to the left of the ovens, which looks like a regular cupboard.

Next to the kitchen is the mudroom, located off the oversize, two-vehicle garage. The area has shelving and cubbies as well as roughed-in laundry. Step into the garage and you notice even the floors here are heated.

On the other side of the great room sits the den, powder room and master suite.

“The den was specifically designed for privacy with bunker-style windows, which give lots of room for placing furniture,” Dan said. “Both the den and the living room have electrical outlets built right into the floor for maximum flexibility.”

The master bedroom offers great views of the yard and golf course. There’s a soaker tub and a large, walk-in shower with two shower heads, in-floor heating, a separate water closet and a walk-in closet with built-in dresser drawers.

“I had all the closet millwork custom-built onsite for the entire home,” Dan said.

As we exit the master bedroom, it’s time to explore the lower level of the house. The engineered staircase has a centre stringer steel frame with solid plank, oak treads. The lower floor is just as bright as the upper with plenty of glass and 10-foot ceilings. A spacious and inviting family room includes a wet bar. There’s a laundry room and two bedrooms on the lower level, one with a small en suite and the other with a full en suite and walk-in closet. The entire lower level looks out onto the Garry oak meadow. If the urge arises to step outside, there’s a slider that opens onto a lower, covered patio. Beyond that is a rustic seating area with a natural gas fire pit.

What you can’t see in this house is just as impressive as what you can see. Dan added several upgrades during the build.

“This house has substantial structural integrity,” he said. “The structural upgrades we incorporated are significant and create a quiet and stable home. We put a lot of care and attention into the floor plan.”

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Some of these features include a high-efficiency HVAC system, comprehensive insulation upgrades and a high-efficiency hydronic system.

“All beams and headers in this home are engineered materials. Under the basement slab is spray foam insulation for efficiency. Every single interior wall and all interior floors are insulated to dampen sound transfer. On top of that, we incorporated passive-house-style overhangs and LED lighting. As a result, the energy cost of this home is about 30 per cent less than that of a similar design.”

With style, functionality, room to adapt and efficiency like this, it’s no wonder that Dan is proud to showcase this home.

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TALKINGWITHTESS

“I was 45 years old when I started the company, so it’s never too late to start a business or do things you’ve always wanted to do.”

Dominic Staniscia stands outside his City Tile shop in Nanaimo.

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All Dominic Staniscia finds his passion

BY TESS VAN STRAATEN | P H OTO S BY D O N D E N TO N

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FTER more than 15 years running a busy and successful company, Nanaimo entrepreneur Dominic Staniscia says the biggest mistake he made was not launching his business sooner.

“A friend of mine and I had been talking about it for years,” says Dominic, owner of City Tile Nanaimo. “I should have done it sooner.”

Dominic was selling turkeys and chickens for Lilydale — a job he’d been doing for 10 years — when he finally decided he’d had enough.

“We were out fishing one day and we were 25 miles offshore and I said, ‘Vince, let’s do this, I’m ready to do this,’” Dominic recalls.

That was August of 2003. By the end of November, Dominic and his partner, Vince D’Andrea, opened City Tile Nanaimo. For Dominic, the drive to be his own boss and make the company a success fuelled his passion.

“For nine years, I worked seven days a week, and then my kids got involved and I was able to take a day off,” jokes Dominic, who is 60 this year and still works six days a week. “I just love it — I love the business.”

All of that hard work and passion has certainly paid off. City Tile Nanaimo celebrated its 15th anniversary last November and business is booming. The first location was 2,200 square feet. After seven years of growth — including during the recession — they expanded 400 per cent to a 9,100-square-foot facility before buying land to build their current 13,000-square-foot location on Boban Drive.

“We’ve grown it to the point where now the kids can run it,” says Dominic. “In order to do that, you have to train the kids properly, so I’m working lots to show them what true work ethic is. If I didn’t work as I hard as I do, I don’t think they’d get it.”

Dominic and his wife, Rose, have three daughters and

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they all work in the business, along with two son-in-laws. It’s a family affair and Dominic says it’s also important to treat staff like family.

“The best advice I’ve ever received is that you can’t do it on your own,” he says. “You need good staff and you have to treat your people properly and respect them. You need to treat them like family, and if you do, everything should work out.”

Dominic admits that when he started the company there was a lot to learn. And over the years, he says, the biggest lesson has been about buying product.

“You don’t make money selling — you make money buying,” Dominic explains. “You have to buy right or you’re not going to make a profit. You have to focus on getting it at the right price and then selling it at the right price. If you don’t, you’ll be stuck with product and you’ll lose money.”

Dominic travels all over the world to source the best tiles.

He regularly travels to Italy, Turkey, Spain, Brazil and China.

It’s something he loves to do, but also says it’s key to the businesses’ success.

“You really need to do this because the manufactures are there with all the newest trends in design and if you’re not there, you lose out,” he says. “We receive these containers on a weekly basis and it’s nice to see the world in a different way.”

One of the ongoing challenges is to keep inventory fresh in a face-paced industry with constantly changing design trends. A few years ago, they ran out of space to hold new products and had to decide what to do with older stock.

“Rotating stale product with new product involves risk, decisiveness and, at times, sacrifices,” says Dominic. “We came up with a solution that gave us both room and cash flow. We purchased two tents to hold the outdated product and priced it at such a significant discount, the products sold very well and that gave us much-needed cash flow to purchase new inventory.”

Looking to the future, Dominic still wants to grow the business but says his goal is also to “semi-retire” and let his children run it.

“I plan on slowing down a little bit because you have to have balance,” he says. “My wife and I have been married 38 years come September and we want to travel more.”

As for quitting his day job and deciding to launch the business? Better late than never.

“I was 45 years old when I started the company, so it’s never too late to start a business or do things you’ve always wanted to do,” Dominic says. “You’ve got to love what you do. If you don’t go to work happy and raring to go, you’re not going to succeed. You have to be passionate about what you’re doing.”

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LIFESTYLEFEATURE

FOREST BATHING A reboot for the body, mind and soul

BY LAUREN KRAMER P H OTO S BY L I A C R OW E

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Switch to LED & SAVE BIG Shinrin-yoku Japanese (n) A visit to the forest for relaxation and to improve one’s health.

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‘M following a hiking trail and my only companions are a bald eagle that swoops silently through the treetops and the stillness of a forest with ancient Douglas firs and red cedars that date back 600 years.

Hair-like cascades of moss drape from the tree branches, and beneath my feet the forest floor forms a soft bed that cushions my steps. I inhale deeply, absorbing the fresh scent of the forest and the pristine beauty of ferns that flourish around me. With no rush, no destination and no conversation to shatter the stillness, I can be fully present to touch, smell and explore the beauty of a Vancouver Island forest.

The Japanese formally recognized the recuperative benefits of Shinrin-yoku, roughly translated as forest bathing or forest therapy, in the early 1980s. Shinrin-yoku is not about hiking in a forest, or even meditating, although both can help accomplish the goal of this unique form of therapy, which is to be fully present in a forest, bathing in its pristine atmosphere through sight, sound, taste, smell and touch.

Why do it, you ask? Well you must try it to fully understand. That means leaving your mobile phone and camera behind, and heading out by yourself or with a guide, friend or family member, who won’t chatter endlessly or rush you to a finish line. It means giving yourself the gift of time and quietness to simply be present, and abandoning the usual goal of reaching a certain place by a particular time. For this form of therapy, you don’t need to get anywhere. Instead, you let your body be your guide, and use the healing energy of the forest to reduce anxiety and stress, clear your thoughts and rejuvenate a tired, oft-malnourished soul.

Pacific Rainforest Adventure Tours offers forest bathing excursions in Heritage Forest in Qualicum Beach and the experience consists of a slow, meditative walk. The 50-acre, old-growth, coastal Douglas fir forest is a quiet, special place says Ronda Murdock, who leads the tours.

“I offer invitations for people to get into the present moment, quiet the mind and use their senses to benefit

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“Forest bathing can help create a very deep connection to the forest, such that people become more in touch with themselves. It’s physical, but it’s also very good for the brain and spirit. The one thing guests come away with for sure is a sense of peace, calm and uplift.” from the forest’s natural preservatives and fungicides, called phytoncides,” she explains. “While we’re experiencing this, the forest is providing amazing health benefits for our body, minds and spirit.”

The walks are quiet and solitary, with little conversation until the end, when Murdock conducts a tea ceremony and her guests can choose to share how they felt and what they noticed.

“Many guests have told me they’re committed to incorporating forest bathing into their lives. And there have

been people so touched by the experience, it brought them to tears. I’ve had psychologists on my tours who now incorporate forest bathing into their practice, and teachers who plan to pass it on to their students.”

She adds: “Forest bathing can help create a very deep connection to the forest, such that people become more in touch with themselves. It’s physical, but it’s also very good for the brain and spirit. The one thing guests come away with for sure is a sense of peace, calm and uplift.”

Tigh Na Mara resort has partnered with Pacific Rainforest Tours to offer a Reconnect Package that includes two nights’ accommodation in a Spa Bungalow, a two-hour forest bathing tour and a pass to the Grotto Spa mineral pool, with the option to add a one-hour informative beach walk.

Ryan LeBlanc is another island entrepreneur offering forest bathing excursions. He leads half- and full-day forest bathing walks all over the south island, from Port Renfrew to Sooke and Metchosin.

“On these excursions we walk at a slower pace and stop to take in the scenery as we go,” he says. “Midway through the tour, I bring out foam pads to sit on and make a wild tea blend with huckleberry and salmonberry leaves, mint and honey. We do a 10-to-15-minute meditation practice and afterwards we talk about personal struggles with stress, anxiety or depression.

I try to convey how time spent in nature can help resolve those problems and even create some prevention.”

Sometimes, LeBlanc will instruct guests to put a small rock in each of their hands. One rock represents a negative, stressful instance in their lives while the other symbolizes a positive, happy experience.

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www.mcphersoncabinetry.ca

Off with the old and on with the new Nothing refreshes your home better than a new coat of paint Let us give your home the facelift it deserves

LANTZVILLE PAINTING & MAINTENANCE

6100 Pine Ridge Crescent, Nanaimo 250-390-3035

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“I invite guests to focus briefly on the stressful moment, and then to throw that rock into the river and focus only on the positive rock. I have them keep it in their pocket all day as a physical reminder of being connected to the natural world.”

The technique helps guests eliminate negative energy and hone their attention on positive thoughts and experiences, instead.

For some people the term forest bathing has connotations that inaccurately reflect the activity. That’s why John Fraser, owner of Elemental Magick Holistic Adventures, calls his excursions mystical rainforest tours. His 2.5-hour tours take place in Francis King Regional Park, a hidden gem 25 minutes from downtown Victoria that offers privacy, solitude and a sense of peace.

“It’s a mature forest and a profoundly healing place,” Fraser reflects. “The philosophy behind forest bathing is essentially a mindfulness-based walk through the park. I have structured exercises that walk my guests through the five physical senses, asking them to focus on the forest and let their imaginations flow. Most people have fun with it — it encourages them to relax, be playful and connect with nature the way we all did when we were children.”

His goal is to raise guests’ awareness of and appreciation for nature, reminding them of the importance of getting out into nature more frequently. “Being surrounded by nature gives people a chance to slow down and connect with themselves, but also to know they’re part of something so much greater than themselves,” he says. “To feel the presence of nature is an amazing experience, beyond healing. And it’s often easier to connect with nature this way than to connect with other people in our lives.”

Victoria • Nanaimo • Campbell River doddsfurniture.com

FASHION

Stonewashed blue Obelia jacket ($299) by Part Two, plaid “Adalia� pencil skirt ($129) by Inwear, blush long-sleeved blouse ($149)

by Velvet by Graham and Spencer, printed necktie ($26) by Echo, blue floral studs ($25) by FAB, labradorite ring ($94), and plaid pom-pom blanket wrap ($145), all from Fabrications.

Put some

PREPyino u r STEP

BY KATHERINE SUNA | P H OTO S BY L I A C R OW E

RAH RAH RAH! The cry for fashion this spring rallies your inner prep-kid with collegiate detailing and pops of pastels. Boulevard visits the stunning grounds of Shawnigan Lake School and is inspired by the luscious greens, gorgeous architectural details and deep sense of community. So grab your team colours and root for the home side as Spring 2019 fashion is sure to put a little prep into your step.

Light grey “Pepper� sweater ($239) and striped button-up shirt ($119) by Part Two, Zhen culotte pant ($159) by Inwear, creamy grey cross-body purse ($60) by David Jones, delicate silver cuff bracelet ($19), silver bar necklace ($21) and jewelled studs ($28) by Krysia, all from Sartorial Boutique; blush-pink paten loafers ($185)

by Apple of Eden from Quintessential.

Grey ruffled Keysville top ($65)

by Michelle by Comune, jewelled studs ($28) by Krysia, all from Sartorial Boutique; plaid high-waisted pant ($69) by Toska, orchid faux leather Stella purse ($155)

by Matt & Nat, paisley printed Ridda scarf ($49)

by Soya Concept, and stacked gold rings ($15), all from Quintessential; blue marbled bangles ($60) by Elk from Fabrications; nude open heel shoes with tacks ($220)

by Wonders from Cardino Shoes.

Floral printed dress ($89) by Sadie & Sage, lilac knit cardigan sweater ($95) by Soya Concept, purple plaid scarf ($55) by Cloie, and jewelled hair pin ($22) by Wild Flower, all from Quintessential; pendent necklace ($110) and stacked rainbow moonstone rings ($45) from Fabrications; opaque mid-calf paisley tights ($15) by Hue, and black and white Curtis suede loafers with pearl detail ($495) by BeautiFeel, both from Cardino Shoes.

Sky-blue cashmere “Calanthe” sweater ($339) and blue lightweight “Adora” trousers ($175), both by Charlie, white Arden campshirt ($110) by Tommy Bahama, and silver heart studs ($20), all from Fabrications; black and white Turner slides ($88) by Michael Kors from Quintessential.

Model Tiffany Szigety AKA @orderlylifestyle Makeup by Jen Clark Photographed on location at Shawnigan Lake School.

A huge thank you to the school for hosting our fashion team for the day, and to Maureen Connolly for your gracious assistance.

THE

INFLUENCERS Meet Central Vancouver Island’s finest — some of the business people who drive their communities — as they discuss success, vision and personal satisfaction. Boulevard presents: The Influencers Join Boulevard as we travel through Vancouver Island to three gorgeous destinations, each with surroundings as elevated and positively influenced as the people photographed there.

Our first stop is at the stunning grounds and dramatic architecture of Blue Grouse Estate Winery, where the philosophy revolves around stewardship and the concept of “making everything we touch better when we leave it, than it was when we found it.”

Next is Port of Nanaimo’s state-of-the-art welcome centre, which features striking Indigenous artwork and contemporary west coast design.

Finally, Boulevard winds down a picturesque country road in the Jingle Pot area of Nanaimo to Chateau Wolff Estate Winery, where the five-acre vineyard boasts some of the oldest vines planted on Vancouver Island. The adage here is: “Our approach to wine is focused on growing high quality grapes that speak for themselves.”

Photos by Lia Crowe & Don Denton Words by Sean McIntyre

Blue Grouse Winery.

BAMBOOZLE FP

Oakley Thompson & Danielle Lagah Owners, Bamboozle and The House of Leaves

“Our mission statement is to inspire and delight, and we definitely like to challenge conventional retail. We create a one-of-a-kind experience for our customers by sourcing and curating beautiful goods from all over the world and presenting them artfully in a location that’s very much off the beaten path.

Visitors are usually really surprised on their first visit.

They can wander through the two custom-built homes on our property and find amazing collections of clothes, accessories and decor displayed in every room. We even offer over 40 blends of Bespoke loose-leaf tea that they can sample while they shop. We’ve got ‘the goods in the woods.’” thehouseofleaves / 250-248-8659

Jean Cardno Owner, Cardino’s Shoes Inc.

“I’m proud to own a thriving local business in a sector dominated by online competition.

My values are seen in the quality shoes I offer.

Leathers and fabrics are not chemically compromised, comfort and style are integral, and artistry reigns.

There is great beauty in what we do, and we like to show that in a creative and artistic way.” cardinoshoes.com 250-746-4333

Michael Walsh Interventions, Sober Coaching

“I never envisioned I’d be doing work today that I absolutely love! I help individuals and families create recovery stories that are often life-altering and extraordinary. I assist those who want to change their relationship to alcohol or drugs, while also working to help heal the family system. I provide practical, individualized and evidence-based solutions to change. Discretion is assured.

If you continue saying yes to alcohol or drug use, what are you saying no to?� michaelwalsh.com / 250-896-8494

Judi Carter General Manager, Origin at Longwood

“I’ve always believed it’s important to make a positive difference in the lives of others.

We need to share the comfort and good fortune we’ve received, and sharing must always be motivated by love.

This is the mindset that drew me to my career. It is a job that offers ample opportunity to provide excellent service to a very deserving sector of our society. I am honoured to support them in a program of active aging for an enjoyable retirement. It’s rewarding to work alongside dedicated employees who share and are committed to that goal.” originway.ca / 250-751-7755

Photographed at Averill Creek Vineyard.

Brent Rowland Winemaker, Averill Creek Vineyard

“I view wine as existing on a sliding scale between commodity and art. I’m thankful for having chosen liquid mentors who have shown me how to make instinctual wines that are artistic, expressive and full of integrity.

I’m never satisfied by following the status quo, seeking instead to respond intelligently to the environment I am in.

This is where I believe the greatest wines come from.” averillcreek.ca / 250.709.9986

David Coulson Principal, David Coulson Design Ltd.

“My greatest achievement is, honestly, the building of our team.

Residential, commercial and industrial designand-build clients have been coming to us for 30 years, and the Vancouver Island-based craftsmen and designers that make up the David Coulson Design team have, in some cases, been with us since the very beginning.” davidcoulsondesign.com / 250-746-5372

Jane Spencer Owner, Fabrications

“A successful female business owner once told me,

‘Be willing to do every task your business demands.’

As the boss, you create the culture. I washed my windows for quite some time when I started out. It amused some and, for others, it was an opportunity for a chat on the street. I felt like a shopkeeper from another era, really creating that small town feeling. I still do the garbage too. It keeps life real as some may view being a boutique owner as a rather glamorous life when, in fact, a solid business is built on hard work. Of course, beautiful clothes come with it.” foreverfab.com / 250-746-4751

Dr. Robert Decker Medical Director

“I enjoy educating my clients about skin health and how to highlight their natural beauty.

Kyla Decker Clinical Director

“When my dad asked if I’d like to open a skin care clinic with him when I finished university, I thought, ‘What a great opportunity.’

I’ve always had a passion for skincare and was keen to learn more.

It’s been 15 years, and I have no regrets. My father is an honest, kind and smart man. I’ve been lucky to have learned so much from him.

Not many people get the chance to work with their dad and I’m so happy I do.”

Prevention is equally important, and teaching the younger generation about good skin health — not simply what looks good in a picture — is very important to me.

We really care about our clients.

Listening to what they want and trying to achieve their goals is what sets us apart.”

Renu Laser & Skin Care Centre renulaserandskin.com 250-743-7546

Karrie Brennan

Mike Holmes

Managing Broker, REALTOR, Pemberton Holmes, est. 1887

Owner/Real Estate Lawyer, Pemberton Holmes, est. 1887

“The best advice I take to heart are words from author Don Miguel Ruiz:

‘Be impeccable with your word, don’t take anything personally, don’t make assumptions, always do your best.’

With these goals always in mind, I lead by example, focussing on integrity and accountability. karriebrennan.com 250-746-8123, 250-753-9688

“Outside of my work, I’m proud of my role in co-foundingand chairing the Canadian Rugby Foundation.

It’s been tremendously fulfilling to help young men and women across the country realize their potential through sport for more than 15 years. pembertonholmes.com

Paula Baker REALTOR, Pemberton Holmes, est. 1887

“I believe in the preciousness of family and how incredibly important it is to always have a high level of integrity and loyalty, especially with my clients who are trying their best for their own families.

Whether I’m guiding my children to make a good life choice or helping my clients find a new house, I truly love… Guiding You Home! paulaguidingyouhome.com / 250 753 9688

Eric Johnson Partner, Complete Windows

“We take a no-pressure approach when it comes to doing business.

Ninety per cent of communication is about listening.

It’s about paying special attention to the details. It’s about our team bringing the best information forward so our clients can make the best design decisions with the best available products. After that, it is all about bringing the homeowner’s vision to reality.” completewindows.ca / 250-248-5959

Ken Lavigne Singer/Entertainer, Goodnight Gracie Entertainment Inc.

“An opera legend who I once trained with in New York City stopped mid-chord at the piano to ask me a question that’s stayed with me for life. ‘Do you know what your job is?’ she asked. She didn’t wait for me to come up with an answer.

‘Sing the right notes at the right time with the right words; that’s all you have to do,’ she said.

That’s when I realized the importance of reducing a job to its core dimensions. If you don’t know your job, you’ll be forever chasing after the unimportant and miss the essential.” kenlavigne.com

Andrea Flemming Owner, Hudson’s On First

“This job combines my love of offering memorable experiences for others, use of locally sourced ingredients and a belief in sustainable choices. I enjoy cocktails and good wine, art and music — ideal traits for being a host.

My fearlessness helps me face the challenges of entrepreneurship and the rigours of the restaurant business.

I believe in the tradition of working hard and “hands on” in your own business, treating team members like partners and supporting the small boutique, artistic and environmentally sound businesses that build a community. We keep it real at Hudson’s and believe in real food, real talent and real service. It’s not a pay cheque but a passion and people feel that experience.” hudsonsonfirst.ca / 250-597-0066

Dan Sartori President and Owner, Sartori Custom Homes

“‘Quality is not an act, it’s a habit’ are words that I live by and apply to all aspects of life. It’s not so much advice as a common thread throughout my career that has taken precedence over all else.

I’ve been immersed in construction since I was a boy. During my training as a stonemason, my father taught me a lot about hard work, craftsmanship and quality. Having watched many companies grow, exchanging volume for service levels and span of control, I have instead chosen to limit the number of projects in order to maintain oneon-one engagement through all aspects of the design-build process. This allows our company to offer best in class service, quality and value that stands the test of time.” sartoricustomhomes.ca / 250-984-7983

Niki Parker & Tash Vitaly Co-owners, Haute Wheels Mobile Boutique

“We think more and more people these days want to work from home and set their own hours. But with retail that’s never really an option.

Going mobile has given us flexibility and a lower overhead.

We meet so many small-business owners who see the truck and say, ‘This would work for my business.’

Despite the tremendous advantages, business is always about accepting uncertainty. In retail there are so many external factors — good or bad —that can have an affect on your sales, from weather to a postal strike.” hautewheels.ca 604-338-1406

Scott Speakman Manager, Sales and Community Relations

“I learned early on in my career how important it is to regularly reassess by looking back and glancing ahead to determine where I can improve and what I can change to better serve my customers, my accounts and the company. As my sales career developed, I soon discovered something else that’s often overlooked by so many people in sales: it’s much easier to keep an existing client than it is to replace them.

Don’t ever take your loyal clients for granted.”

Troy MacDonald Director of Sales

“Working in the airline industry is in my genes.

My grandfather worked in sales with Air Canada and my father continued the tradition with CP Air and Canadian Airlines.

A good piece of advice that I’ve learned to always follow is to listen to your customers.

Whether they are happy or not with the service, it’s important to take in and use the feedback to continue improving your company’s goals.”

Nanaimo/ Mid-Island, Helijet helijet.com 1-800-665-4354

Richard “Larry” Lamont Headmaster, Shawnigan Lake School

“My approach to education is based on loyalty to these ideals: lead by example and by service, encourage young people to connect with the world, and help to shape the community-builders of tomorrow.

What I offer at Shawnigan is imagination, strategic and ethical leadership experience in a co-educational boarding environment and international vision.

I bring consistency of temperament and judgement alongside an unstinting commitment to conversation, compassion and community.” shawnigan.ca / 250-743-5516

Dr. Lyn Pascoe Owner, Viva Medical Aesthetics

“As a family physician for over 30 years, I have had the privilege of helping patients walk along the great pathway of life. My focus has now shifted to skincare and medical aesthetics. Helping people feel confident is very fulfilling.

I take a holistic approach to create a natural, healthy look for clients.

We don’t turn back time, but we use effective, medical-grade skincare products and new technologies to give clients the tools to achieve their best appearance.” vivamedicalaesthetics.com / 250-746-6512

Wes Schafer General Manager, Wingren Nufloors

“I always try to do my best.

Should I fail, I learn from my mistakes and try again.

Having started in the flooring business by cleaning up after school in Grade 5, flooring is in my blood.

My career has taught me the importance of marrying form and function.

The products we provide and install need to not only look good but also to meet our clients’ performance expectations. I believe we need to focus on doing flooring better over the long term, not necessarily cheaper up front.”

Carolyn Seriani-Pascoe Sales

“Given my background in customer service and a general love of decor, colour and design, I don’t think I could escape this business if I tried.

Whether I’m at work or at home, I always try to practice mindfulness by listening to people wholly and being completely present.

It’s all about investing yourself entirely into a given situation and not worrying about the past or what might come in the future. If you can do this, you can develop sustainable relationships wherever you may find yourself.” wingrennufloors.ca 250-758-3914

Stuart Green Partners/Managers, Telford Funeral & Cremation Centre

“I got into this business as a way to help as many people between Nanaimo and Campbell River as I can with burial, funeral and cremation needs on what can often be the worst day of their lives.”

Brent Beadle “I wish to change the profession one family at a time by going above and beyond.

I approach each family’s needs with care and courtesy to offer beautiful, lasting tributes to their loved ones. One day it’ll be my family I’m helping, and I’ll expect nothing less.” telfordtoneffboyd.ca / 250-591-6644 or 250-245-5553

Julia House Owner, Maison Cookware & Bakeware

“My desire to have the right tool for the task is just as strong as my passion for cooking and baking.

This search for quality cookware launched my career, and I think our approach is changing how our customers shop. It always frustrated me that so many stores aren’t really selective about the products they bring in. I research and source the best tools so our customers can buy with confidence.” maisoncookware.com / 250-933-1800

Brad Leith Chief Designer, Impeccable Jewellery

“Resilience has taught me some important lessons about life and career. It’s taken many years and numerous obstacles to discover what success means for me.

Happiness comprises the experience we have along the way. In the end, the monetary and inanimate objects we collect and possess are only things. I believe success is linked to finding passion in one’s profession.

I don’t engage in an occupation for money, fame or fortune

as in the end what we achieve is personal satisfaction — not being judged for what we have, but for who we have become!” impeccablejewellery.com / 250-748-7709

Carla Samson Owner, Quintessential

“Having completed four years of schooling in marketing and design, I suddenly found myself searching for work in my hometown. I’d always loved the thought of being a buyer for a clothing retailer, but Nanaimo is a small city without many opportunities for that sort of career.

Opening Quintessential has let me follow my passions for fashion, design and marketing, and put all my best skills to work.

We’ve brought in unique products and created a loyal customer base by offering a fun, relaxing shopping environment that includes one-on-one shopping experiences and a great selection of fashion and accessories for a wide range of ages.” quintessential.me / 250-753-1041

Eric McLean Owner, McLean’s Specialty Foods

“Customers often ask me, ‘What’s a Scotsman doing with all this international food?’

My reply is, ‘Somebody had to do it!’

Until I opened in Nanaimo 27 years ago, there was no real cheese shop and you couldn’t buy San Pellegrino, prosciutto, Italian pasta, chorizo, balsamic vinegar or good olive oil. Hard to believe, but true! I paved the way.” mcleansfoods.com / 250-754-0100

Dr. Phil Barnsley Plastic Surgeon Synergy Medical Aesthetics “It wasn’t too long into medical school that I knew surgery was a fit for me. I loved the ability to problem solve and see the results.

The melding of the specialty’s creative and visual aspects drew me to pursue my career as a plastic surgeon.

Opening an aesthetic clinic built on the complementary strengths of plastic surgery and dermatology was a natural evolution for my practice that I very much enjoy bringing to our community.”

Dr. Gabriele Weichert Dermatologist

“As a dermatologist, I literally get to see the results of my treatments. I’ve always found this to be a very gratifying experience.

It’s something that has driven me to seek the highest level of evidence-based science, while keeping close contact with my patients and their needs.

I’m grateful to have found and pursued this interesting area in which to focus my medical training.

It lets me develop unique knowledge and training that’s proved invaluable to others.” synergyaesthetics.ca 250-591-1566

Dave Witty, Margot Holmes & Pierre Simard Dave Witty, President / Margot Holmes, CEO / Pierre Simard, Artistic Director, Vancouver Island Symphony

“People’s entertainment opportunities are constantly changing. Amidst an unprecedented level of choice and variety available at our fingertips, our approach is to offer new experiences through shorter performances combined with opportunities to socialize over good food. We do this with our Happy Hour SoundBites shows in Nanaimo. Each are one hour of music with either appetizers or dessert. Our Origin Friday Matinees and our Symphony at the Sid concerts (held in Courtenay) are each one hour of great music and a reception for all.

In this era of choice, we want to offer choices that are simply too good to pass up.” vancouverislandsymphony.com / 250-754-0177

Victor Malli Senior Financial Planner

“Measure twice. Ask questions.

Measure again and cut once.

This is the adage that has been at the heart of my career in finance, ever since my family’s financial advisor inspired me to follow this path. She taught me that to help secure my clients’ financial futures, you ask questions and challenge assumptions. I strive to develop individual solutions and to offer a similar sense of security and reassurance to every one of my clients.”

Krista Hansen Financial Advisor

“I treat all of my clients the way I like to be treated: with integrity, honesty and respect.

Experience has proven to me that when you put clients’ interests first, everything else falls into place.

This philosophy has enabled me to develop trusting relationships with my clients for over 30 years — long enough that I am now working with their children.”

Ladysmith & District Credit Union Financial Management ldcu.ca / 250-591-4077

Kassidy Delcaro Nurse

“I believe that health can be dramatically improved with education and by focussing on preventative medicine.

I believe if we encourage these conversations about birth control and healthy sexuality early, we can continue to create a new generation of women who feel confident, empowered and supported throughout their lives by their healthcare providers. I look forward to consultations with our patients and I continue to learn from them everyday as each woman has an important story to be shared about her health and her journey.”

Dr. Ana Armas Enriquez “I wear many amazing hats everyday: doctor, wife, mother, daughter and friend.

But my happy place is caring for people, most especially women.

To this date, women continue to be undertreated and mistreated. I have made it my mission to do the little bit I can to help change that. That’s why Women’s Vita Medical Clinic was born: to create a safe place where the most current medical knowledge, understanding and treatments meet with compassionate care. Our focus is wide, from periods, pregnancy, motherhood, obesity and menopause, to embracing and providing radiofrequency and laser treatments for healthy and long-lasting intimacy.”

Women’s Vita Medical Clinic womensvita.ca / 250-591-9812

Brian Danyliw Partners, The Agency BC

“Don’t let fear of the unknown hold you back.

There is always an element of risk in doing something new, it’s how you manage the risk that counts.” “I moved through a few real estate companies before landing here, but every move was done with the intention of taking the next step to advance my real estate career. Becoming a managing partner with Jason is the culmination of years of hard work.

I am very proud that we’ve both realized our goals.”

Jason Binab “My father once told me: ‘Son, you have to be willing to work harder than anyone else, but you need to learn to work smart too, not just hard.’”

“Launching The Agency has been a life-long dream. Sometimes the path that you take to the dream isn’t what you imagine, but all becomes clear when you reach your goal. For me specifically, I switched through several real estate companies in the last seven years. That needed to happen or I wouldn’t have met Brian and discovered the unique opportunity to create The Agency.” theagencyre.com/bc

Photographed at 1515 Douglas Street, Victoria.

FOOD+FEAST

PIEROGI PLEASE! Classic Polish dish is cosy, hearty and richly flavoured

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

There’s nothing like a blustery evening paired with a warm pan of crispfried pierogi, especially if you have pulled those morsels of deliciousness from your homemade stash in the freezer.

A

LTHOUGH it may seem like a daunting task, homemade pierogi are one of the most satisfying and delicious things a cook can make. The tender, pillowy, homemade dough, the perfect amount of flavourful filling, the crisp buttery crackle as you bite into it — homemade pierogi are transformational, and ever so much better than store-bought.

I make pierogi from scratch in the winter months, when I want to eat foods that are cosy, hearty and richly flavoured. It’s a special project for our family around Christmastime, but the joy can last all winter long. There’s nothing like a blustery evening paired with a warm pan of crisp-fried pierogi, especially if you have pulled those morsels of deliciousness from your homemade stash in the freezer!

Homemade pierogi are a project, but one that is uncomplicated and absolutely worthwhile. The process of filling and sealing them gets quicker and easier, until it becomes a kind of kitchen meditation. I love to try out different fillings, branching out from the traditional cheese-and-potato (still my kids’ favourite, let’s be honest) to a variety of winter vegetables, aromatics, cheeses, meats and even sweet fruit fillings. Think sautéed mushroom, kielbasa sausage, roasted squash with buttery leeks, or spiced apple. No matter which filling you pick, wrapping it in dough is going to elevate it from tasty to extraordinary.

The importance of a tender yet resilient dough cannot be overstated, and I have, after years of trial and error, finally found the perfect pierogi dough and have shared it below, along with a few of my favourite fillings. In addition, I’ve shared as many of my tips and tricks I can think of to make your pierogi-making venture a success.

I urge you to try your hand at homemade pierogi. I dare you not to love them as much as I do.

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101-5281 Rutherford Road Nanaimo

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778.432.3333

250.729.2665

BEST PIEROGI DOUGH After years of trying one recipe and another (most from Polish or Ukrainian grandmothers famous for their cooking) and never feeling quite satisfied, I finally stumbled on the original of this one on the King Arthur Flour website. Oh, the joys of the internet!

I have adapted it a bit, but all credit for this perfect, tender, pillowy-yet-strong pierogi dough must go to them.

4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour 1 tsp salt 2 large eggs 1 cup sour cream ½ cup room-temperature butter In a medium bowl, mix together the flour and salt. In a separate bowl, beat together the egg and sour cream until smooth.

Add the egg mixture to the flour mixture, along with the room-temperature butter. Mix well with a spoon until a rough dough comes together. It will be very sticky. You can do this beginning step in a food processor, but the dough will still need to be kneaded by hand.

Turn the dough (with any unmixed dry flour) onto a countertop and knead without adding additional flour until the dough is smooth, silky and not sticky. This will take at least five full minutes. You can knead longer, if you wish — it can’t be over-kneaded.

Divide the dough into 4 portions. Wrap each portion well

in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, and up to 48 hours.

FILLINGS: The following four recipes are only a small sample of the types of fillings you can make for pierogi. The homemade filling is almost the best part of making these yourself.

You can use any combination of vegetable, meat, dairy and aromatics that you like, as long as the resulting filling isn’t too wet and sloppy. Let your imagination run wild. You can even make sweet pierogi with fruit filings! All fillings can be made up to four days in advance of making the pierogi. Keep in the refrigerator until ready to use.

WINTER SQUASH, LEEK & GOUDA This is my all-time favourite pierogi filling. The combination of sweet, earthy squash with tender buttery sautéed leeks and grated cheese is a dream inside a dumpling.

NOTE: It’s very important to use either kabocha squash or buttercup squash. These dark-green-skinned squash have a very dry and dense flesh, which provides a great consistency in the filling. Other squashes and sweet potatoes taste good, but make wet fillings that are difficult to work with.

2 lbs kabocha or buttercup squash (3 cups diced) 1 large or 2 medium leeks, white and light green parts (3 cups sliced)

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¼ cup butter ¾ tsp salt 1 Tbsp butter (additional) 2 cups grated gouda cheese Using a big sharp knife, cut the squash in half through the stem. Use a spoon to scoop out the seeds and membranes. Cut the squash into wedges. Lay each wedge on its side and cut the peel off. Discard the peels, seeds and membranes. Cut the squash into 1-inch cubes. Place in a steam basket and steam over boiling water for about 15 minutes, until fork-tender.

Meanwhile, slice and clean the leeks. Sauté the leeks gently in ¼ cup butter until softened. Remove from heat.

When the squash is ready, remove it to a bowl. Add the salt and the additional 1 Tbsp of butter. Mash with a fork or potato masher until relatively smooth. Stir in the leeks and grated gouda. Taste for seasoning — it may need more salt.

Let filling cool completely before filling pierogi.

INDIAN-SPICED POTATO & PEA A riff on samosa filling, this is a winner with everyone who has tried it. This filling is especially tasty when the pierogi are pan-fried — the combination of crisp dough, curry spices and the sweet pop of the peas is wonderful.

BONUS: You can use this recipe as a side dish with any meal.

2 large russet potatoes (about 1-1/2 lbs) ¼ tsp salt 4 Tbsp oil ½ tsp cumin seed

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2 shallots, diced fine 1 Tbsp minced ginger ½ jalapeño, seeded and minced 1¼ tsp garam masala ¼ tsp turmeric ½ tsp coriander ½ tsp salt (additional) 2 ripe Roma tomatoes, chopped 3 Tbsp water 1 cup frozen baby peas, rinsed in warm water to thaw ¼ cup chopped cilantro Peel, rinse and dice potatoes into ¾-inch cubes. Place in a small pot, cover with water and add the ¼ tsp salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer gently for about 10 minutes, until tender. Drain potatoes and transfer to a tray where they can evaporate excess steam.

In the meantime, heat oil in a medium-large sauté pan over medium heat. Add cumin seeds and let them sizzle for a few seconds, then add the shallots. Sauté for 2 or 3 minutes, stirring frequently, until shallots have softened. Reduce heat to mediumlow. Add the ginger and jalapeño and sauté until fragrant, about 20 seconds. Add the all the spices and the salt, stir a few times, then add the tomatoes along with the water. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes have broken down into a sauce and everything smells delicious.

Add the cooked potatoes and stir until everything is well mixed. Keep cooking and stirring for a minute or two until all the flavours are blended together.

Remove to a bowl, stir in the peas and cilantro. Taste to adjust the salt levels.

TRADITIONAL MUSHROOM & SAUERKRAUT

COTTAGE CHEESE, SPINACH & HERBS

This is the most traditional filling in this lineup, but one of the standouts. I like to sauté the mushrooms until they are caramelized and “meaty” tasting, and then mix just enough chopped sauerkraut to give the filling a tangy, salty zing.

Cottage cheese is a very traditional pierogi filling. But jazz it up with steamed spinach, sautéed green onions and piles of herbs, and you get a fresh twist on a classic!

1 lb brown mushrooms ¼ cup butter ½ tsp salt ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper 1 cup packed sauerkraut, drained and chopped To clean mushrooms, I put them in a large bowl and run cold water over them, swish them around, and pull the mushrooms out into a colander, letting the dirt settle into the bottom of the washing bowl. After cleaning, mince the mushrooms until they are quite small — I find it best to use a food processor for this step.

Next, place a large sauté pan over medium heat and add the butter to the pan. Once the butter is melted, add all of the minced mushrooms, along with the salt and pepper. Sauté for several minutes, until the mushrooms are giving off liquid. Turn the heat down to medium-low and continue sautéing, stirring occasionally, until all the liquid has evaporated, the mushrooms are getting some dark colour on them and the aroma of browned mushrooms is filling the room. Remove from heat and scrape mushrooms into a bowl. Let cool completely.

Meanwhile, drain and chop the sauerkraut. When the mushrooms are cool, mix the sauerkraut into the bowl. Taste to adjust the seasoning.

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2 cups cottage cheese, drained if very wet 10 oz spinach (boxed or bagged spinach is great) ½ tsp salt ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper tsp freshly grated nutmeg ¼ cup butter 1 bunch green onions (6 to 8), sliced — use both the white and green parts ½ cup minced EACH of fresh parsley and fresh dill Place the cottage cheese in a bowl. Mash with a back of a fork until some of the cheese has broken down and the curds have binded together a bit.

Place the spinach in a large pot with a lid and about ½ cup water. Cover and bring to a boil. Immediately remove from heat and let stand for 1 minute. Using tongs, remove spinach to a plate to cool. Once it is properly cool, pick up handfuls of cooked spinach and squeeze to rid them of excess water. When all the spinach has been squeezed, chop it finely with a knife and add it to the bowl with the cottage cheese. Add the salt, pepper and nutmeg.

Heat a sauté pan over medium heat. Add the butter and let it melt. Add the prepared green onions and sauté for 1

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minute, until softened. Scrape into the bowl with the spinach and cheese. Add the parsley and dill. Mix everything very well. Taste to adjust seasoning.

TO ROLL AND FILL PIEROGI Roll each portion of dough on a lightly floured counter, turning and flipping the dough as necessary, adding a little more flour as necessary, until the dough is very thin, about 1 millimetre thick. Don’t worry if the dough appears too thin; it’s very stretchy and shrinks back on itself somewhat. It’s better if the dough starts off looking too thin.

Use a 3-inch-round biscuit cutter to cut rounds of dough, cutting as close together as possible to avoid wasting any of it.

Remove the excess dough from around the cut circles.

Have a small bowl of water on the counter beside the dough circles. Have a parchment-lined tray ready as well.

Place approximately 2 tsps of filling in the middle of each circle of dough. Dip your finger in the bowl of water and run your wet finger along half the edge of 3 or 4 circles of the dough (just work with a few at a time, otherwise they get too sticky).

The most common instruction is to fold the dough in half over the filling, but this often leads to the filling squishing out and wrecking the seal. I think it’s better to place a filled round of dough in your non-dominant hand and use your fingers to pull the dough around the filling in a semi-circle (and sometimes you need to push the filling in a bit) and pinch the two sides of the dough together. Pinch firmly the whole way

around, making sure no filling is in the way. For beginners, I would also recommend sealing the edge of the pierogi with the tines of a fork, but you can do this once all the pierogi are filled and sealed.

Transfer the filled pierogi to the parchment-lined tray.

Continue folding and sealing until all the pierogi are done.

I always freeze mine right away, on the tray, until firm, before transferring them to a zipper-lock bag. They can be cooked directly from frozen.

TO COOK AND SERVE PIEROGI Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Drop in no more than 18 pierogi at a time; boil until all pierogi float to the surface and the dough becomes somewhat translucent — 3 to 5 minutes. In the meantime, have a large tray ready in a low oven (200 F) with about ¼ cup butter melted on its surface.

Once the pierogi are cooked, turn off the heat under the pot. Remove the pierogi in batches with a slotted spoon, making sure to let as much of the excess water drip off as possible, and place pierogi on the melted butter tray in the warm oven. Repeat until all pierogi are removed to the oven.

(I’ve started using this method in an effort to prevent the cooked pierogi from sticking together until they have all been fried.)

You can eat the pierogi like that, or you can pan-fry them in butter until both sides are crisp. It’s most common to serve pierogi with sautéed onion and sour cream.

GOOD COMPANY. GREAT FOOD.

AMAZING BEER.

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TRAVELFAR

View from a cottage at Jakes Hotel on the south coast of Jamaica.

Living well in paradise 88

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BY SUSAN LUNDY

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HERE is nothing dark and stormy about the cocktails being served up by Captain Joseph Brown in his hidden beachside oasis. In fact, the rum and ginger beer drinks are as smooth, silky and effervescent as the calm Jamaican sea that stretches before us.

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Checking in at Jakes Hotel — named one of the 14 best family hotels in the world

by Condé Nast Traveller in 2018 — I actually gasped as I stepped into my room, which, with its back doors flung open to the warm breeze, sat perched on the rocks just steps from the ocean.

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Just moments earlier, we’d been motoring along the southern coastline of Jamaica in Captain Joseph’s tour boat, keeping an eye open for dolphins and enjoying the bliss of warm wind on our faces. Landing at a remote beach, we waded through the warm water, darted over a strip of hot, golden sand and onto a path that led to a flight of stairs and fully hidden platform, containing a beautifully set table, bar and foliage-framed views of the sea.

This is Sea Grape, a deserted, private beach where Captain Joseph Treasure Beach Adventures hosts tour groups in his secret hideout. The vibrant red tablecloth glows in the sunlight as we sit down with our “dark and stormys” and feast on crab, lobster and traditional Jamaican rice and peas, all prepared by Captain Joseph’s charming wife on a huge outdoor grill. Later we climb up to an observation platform, again searching the horizon for dolphins, and then climb down, strip down and float in the so-warm water.

We came to Jamaica on a “health and wellness” excursion and in this moment — with my mind clear and calm, and my stomach full with real, wholesome food — I definitely feel the vibe.

Ah, Jamaica. Arriving the day before, we’d driven via tour bus from the airport at Montego Bay through the mountains to Black River, and then along the coast to Treasure Beach, mesmerized by the colours, vibrancy and breathtaking views of this Caribbean island.

Checking in at Jakes Hotel — named one of the 14 best family hotels in the world by Condé Nast Traveller in 2018 — I actually gasp as I step into my room, which, with its back doors flung open to the warm breeze, sits perched on the rocks just steps from the ocean.

The funky, 49-room, family-run Jakes is nothing short of miraculous. Offering hotel rooms, bungalows, cottages and villas — some at sea level, some on the cliffs above, some rising like flowers in the gardens — it has a Bohemian, artsy atmosphere.

There are colour-drenched walls, oddly shaped doorways, glowing glass bottles used like stained glass, mosaics on the pathways, outdoor showers hidden behind seashell-and-rock walls, and bathtubs perched on private balconies. No two rooms are alike. And details small and large in Jakes’ outdoor patio restaurant, pool and bar area rival the gardens for splashes of colour: the tables, for example, pop with hot pink coverings one day and glow in rich red the next.

Bar and pool area at Jakes Hotel.

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We enjoy several meals at Jakes Restaurant and Jack Sprat Seafood and Pizza Restaurant, located next door to Jakes. Since this area grows a significant portion of Jamaica’s domestic produce and is set at the ocean’s edge, the food is fresh and locally sourced. I choose authentic Jamaican cuisine, grooving on delicacies like ackee, codfish and callaloo for breakfast, fried plantains for a snack, and all manner of seafood. I don’t eat red meat, but my fellow travellers revel in the flavours of Jamaican patties and jerk chicken.

The healthy food and laid-back vibe of Jakes definitely speaks to the health and wellness theme, but the pièce de résistance is a morning yoga session followed by massage at Jakes’ Driftwood Spa. While both experiences are exquisite, the setting makes them stand out: the open yoga space sits rooftop under a palapa, with views across the ocean. The gentle slap of sea on the rocks below and the chatter of birds sets a gentle backdrop as we move through postures and yogic breathing. Similarly, the massage unfolds in a bright, open space, filled with soothing scents and a peaceful murmur of sound.

Jakes offers other health-boosting activities such as a sunrise bike ride (although considering the hilliness of the region, I’m not sure how “healthy this would be for me) hikes, farm and boat excursions and more.

Our second spa visit occurs a few days later, after we bus back up the coast to the city of Negril. Rockhouse Spa — twotime winner of the World Travel Award for Best Spa in Jamaica — presents as another miracle. My treatment takes place in a darkened, sweetly scented room in the Rockhouse Spa Pavilion — a temple-like structure set amid a flourishing garden — but 92

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also incorporates cliff-edge Spa Cabanas and a Bathing Pavilion.

The spa promises an authentic Jamaican experience, including treatment rituals like a “welcome” foot ceremony soak and scrub, and uses all-natural, Caribbean-made products. A peek into the Bathing Pavilion reveals two side-by-side tubs, facing an open view of the sea. They are filled with warm, milky water, strewn with pink flowers and scented with aromatherapy blends. (Sign me up!)

Rockhouse Hotel is exquisite in itself, with 34 stand-alone rooms made of timber, stone and thatch, perched around the edge of the water amid eight acres of tropical gardens and volcanic rock. Private patios, many with steps down to the sea, are set into the rocks below the rooms, and the entire acreage is connected by walkways and bridges. Touring the Rockhouse Organic Garden, we discover that many of the plants that grow here are used for medicinal and culinary purposes and frequently incorporated into cuisine at the hotel’s three restaurants.

For our stay in Negril, we check into the upscale Royalton Negril, an all-inclusive resort that pretty much offers everything you could possibly need, including personal butlers and — wait for it — a pillow menu service. It takes us two-and-a-half hours to tour the Royalton Negril, which has three distinct districts (Resort, Diamond Club and the adults-only Hideaway), more than six restaurants, spa, indoor and outdoor pools, children’s daycare, teen hang-out space, conference rooms and a sports bar that, apparently run by a Canadian, has a hockey theme.

Our first night here, we drink champagne on a moonlit patio bar before heading indoors for a chef-hosted dinner in a private

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room at Hunter Steakhouse. As a vegetarian, I have no idea how the steak tastes — although everyone seems to be melting with joy into their plates — but I have to say, my piece of fish bursts with some of the best flavours I’ve ever tasted.

Morning at Royalton Negril begins with outdoor yoga on a huge beachside platform. Some of the younger, fitter and more energetic members of our group follow up with a bootcamp in the fitness centre. I chose a more leisurely form of exercise, walking from one end of the ocean-hugging resort to the other, clutching a morning coffee, and basking in the warm, humid air.

A visit to the west-facing Ocean Point Bistro at the very far end of the resort quickly establishes my favourite spot at Royalton Negril. From here, later in the day, you can watch boats returning to port as the sun dips behind the horizon sending fingers of colour across the sky. And it is here that I sit on my final evening, sipping another bright and calm dark and stormy, feeling relaxed, healthy and fit, and watching the sun set on what has been a remarkable visit. Ah, Jamaica. I’ll be back.

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FRONT ROW

BY SHERRY CONLY

INSPIRING ART AND ENTERTAINMENT SET TO BEDAZZLE AUDIENCES THIS SPRING IN THE CENTRAL ISLAND. ENJOY SPECTACULAR SOUND, MYSTERY THEATRE, FINE ART, VIBRANT DANCE AND A SINGER-SONGWRITING DUO.

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Diana Dean’s The Garden.

DIANA DEAN AT THE OLD SCHOOL HOUSE ARTS CENTRE APRIL 1-27, MEET AND GREET TEA, APRIL 3 AT 2 PM OLD SCHOOL HOUSE ARTS CENTRE IN QUALICUM

L

ONGTIME

Salt Spring Island artist Diana Dean will be displaying a special selection of paintings and sculptures in the Brown and Volunteer galleries at the Old School House Arts Centre in Qualicum.

Nominated to the Royal Academy of

Arts in 2016, Dean has exhibited throughout Canada and England.

Her vibrant works — ranging from classical scenes, portraits and landscapes — have changed throughout the years, but have always retained a sense of geometry and brightness, and her works inspired by the surroundings on the Gulf Islands defy the often gray, cloudy west coast.

Dean, who was born in Rhodesia, says, “I think maybe coming from Africa, where light and colour was all around, [has influenced] my art. Colour is a science, and I’m always studying,” she says.

Diana knew by the age of 14 that she wanted to be an artist when she did a portrait of a friend.

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“I was in France studying physics, chemistry and zoology, and I loved it, but I would go home and paint. I knew I had to be an artist, no matter how poor I would be,” she says.

The parents of the child bought that portrait for 10 pounds, which she immediately used to buy more paints, and after grammar school, Dean attended the Bath Academy of Art to develop her skills further.

Many of her more recent pieces feature her expansive garden, an homage to her father who was a talented gardener. However, she plans on exhibiting a variety of paintings, including allegorical works made prior to 2000.

Chat with Dean at the show opening April 3, at 2 pm.

2018-2019 SEASON

A NIGHT OF MYSTERY IF THE BUTLER DIDN’T DO IT, WHO DID?

EXULTATION

CLASSICAL MUSIC & SPOKEN WORD Wednesday, April 10, 2019 at 7:30pm Classical pianist Sarah Hagen, the 2015 BC Touring Council Artist of the Year, performs all 13 preludes of Rachmaninoff’s Opus 32 and spoken-word artist Brendan McLeod intersperses stories and poems. An incredibly intimate and intense collaboration of rich music and storytelling.

DANNY MICHEL

A CANADIAN TREASURE

Wednesday, April 24, 2019 at 7:30pm

Thoughtful lyrics and charming performances have earned him a devoted fan base across Canada.

“Danny Michel has reached a point where his musical vocabulary is so broad, his songwriting/arranging chops so sharp, his guitar playing so distinctive and his taste for the right sonic touch so impeccable that he can do whatever he wants and make it compelling.”

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Visit dianadean.com/diana-b-dean

APRIL 26 MAC PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE — PARKSVILLE

Presented by the Mid-Island Storytellers Guild (MIST), The Mavens of Mystery bring stories of mystery and intrigue to test your ability to figure out “whodunnint,” or maybe just leave you pleasantly puzzled.

Marva Blackmore and Lee Porteous have presented many shows together and their love of sharing the story with the audience makes this storytelling concert a unique evening out. On April 26, they present Tales for the Telling: If the Butler Didn’t Do It, Who Did? MIST has been active in the Central Vancouver Island region since 2014, and is open to anyone who wishes to give the art of storytelling a try.

“Storytellers tell the stories without benefit of any paper or other aids. That means they can establish a true connection with the listeners, making them as much a part of the performance as the storytellers,” says Blackmore.

“The audience is so much a part of the performance as you watch them. It is not like a theatre performance where there is a ‘fourth wall’ between you and the audience. You are not performing as if they are not there. You can always include them in the story if you wish,” she adds.

Blackmore’s experience with storytelling spans decades, beginning in Ottawa during the 1990s.

“I’ve told stories locally, nationally and internationally, including at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa,” she says.

Lee Porteous is president of the Victoria Storytelling Guild and has been involved with the guild since the early 2000s. She’s also a member of virtually every storytelling guild in Canada and travels extensively nationwide to tell and hear stories.

Blackmore started Tales for the Telling, Storytelling for Adults in 2012, primarily at the request of the McMillan Arts Centre.

“When I started this series, it was my goal to bring the best professional storytelling I could to the Oceanside area within the budget I had to work. The MAC has been

extremely supportive. They are helpful with the marketing (which is a skill most storytellers don’t possess) and with providing staff on concert nights,” says Blackmore.

For tickets, visit oceansideartscouncil.com

CHEMAINUS THEATRE FESTIVAL PRESENTS: THE SOUND OF MUSIC UNTIL APRIL 6 CHEMAINUS THEATRE

The Chemainus Theatre Festival launches its 2019 Season with the timeless classic The Sound of Music. This beloved musical masterpiece plays seven shows a week from February 15 – April 6.

The Broadway version of The Sound of Music was first performed in 1959; however, for many households, the introduction to the iconic von Trapp family was through the film adaptation released March 2, 1965, featuring the beloved classic songs such as “Do-Re-Mi,” “Climb Ev’ry Mountain” and of course, “The Sound of Music.”

A show perfect for ages six and up, this heartwarming musical tells the romantic story of Captain von Trapp and governess Maria as they fall in love during the turbulent time leading up to the Second World War. Their love and courage led them to escape Austria with their seven children, under the guise of taking a family hike into the mountains.

This new production is directed by Mark DuMez, music director Melissa Morris, choreographer Melissa Young, set designer Ross Nichol, costume designer Laurin Kelsey, lighting designer Craig Alfredson, stage manager Liz King, and assistant stage manager Claire Friedrich.

For tickets, call 1-800-565-7738 or visit chemainustheatrefestival.ca

CUBA VIBRA LIZT ALFONSO DANCE COMPANY PRESENTS CUBA VIBRA

RICHARD RODGERS lyrics by OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II book by HOWARD LINDSAY and RUSSEL CROUSE music by

suggested by “The Trapp Family Singers”

by Maria Augusta Trapp

FEB 15 - APR 6

by

LARRY SHUE

APR 18 - MAY 9 music & lyrics by

BENNY ANDERSSON & BJÖRN ULVAEUS

MARCH 10 PORT THEATRE- NANAIMO

Cuba sings, dances and lives! Experience Cuban culture and the best of performances presented by Lizt Alfonso Dance Company. Back in Canada, this new show features: cha-cha-cha, mambo, rumba, conga, bolero, upbeat, intense rhythms, stunning costumes and a beat that will vibrate the heart and fill the soul.

Named one of the BBC’s top 100 influential women in 2018, Havana’s Alfonso began dancing at age four and training at prestigious dance academies and schools, before founding the Company at just 23. It’s now one of the most sought-after dance academies in Cuba, with thousands of

MAY 24 - AUG 31

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Under her guidance, it was the first Cuban dance company to stage a show — Fuerza y Compás — on Broadway, winning hundreds of awards, including the International Spotlight Award presented by former First Lady Michelle Obama. The company has also performed in over 20 countries including, Spain, the United States, Venezuela, Colombia, France, Canada, New Zealand, Holland, Egypt, Mexico and Qatar.

For tickets, visit porttheatre.com/events/mar-2019/ lizt-alfonsa-dance-cuba

NO SHRINKING VIOLETS MADISON VIOLET IN CONCERT APRIL 14 UNITARIAN HALL- NANAIMO

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After 20 years together, Canadian singer-songwriter duo Madison Violet released its 10th studio album, Everything’s Shifting, on March 8 and have embarked on a global tour.

Brenley MacEachern and musical partner Lisa MacIsaac met by chance outside of a Toronto bar called the Green Room. They quickly learned that both had family ties in a small town on Cape Breton Island and were soon making music together.

The unique duo can’t be pigeonholed into any one musical genre, which is what makes them so unique to their audience and a truly enduring band.

Today, MacIsaac lives in Toronto while MacEachern moved to California 17 months ago, but the distance hasn’t dampened their ability to write and record the latest album.

“Unlike many artists, I didn’t move to LA to find success and connections. My wife got a job offer, so we went there for her, not for me, so that took the pressure off, and it’s just

absolutely inspired my own creativity. There’s something about LA that brings it out. I’m learning to play lead guitar now and I just want to play all the time,” MacEachern says.

“With this album, we had the opportunity to get really candid about our lives and the past. We were really able to get down to the things that shaped us, and having geographical distance for the first time gave us the space to really dig in,” she adds. “I’m proud of everything we’ve ever released but I feel like Everything’s Shifting is the ONE. I’m so incredibly proud of it.”

Be sure to catch Madison Violet live in Nanaimo this April. madisonviolet.com Madison Violet’s Brenley MacEachern and Lisa MacIsaac.

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Chris Manley.

LIVING THE DREAM — and sleeping soundly Chris Manley of Resthouse

BY LAUREN EDWARDS | P H OTO S BY D O N D E N TO N

A

S Chris Manley whistles a jazzy tune through

his teeth, I realize he’s a man of many talents.

And indeed, in addition to his impressive whistling abilities, he sings and excels in business as co-owner of Resthouse Sleep Solutions — an organic mattress and bedding store in Duncan.

Vancouver-born Chris has been whistling since he was five years old, taught by his father while living in Richmond. He tricked his teachers by disguising his whistling abilities through his teeth, and “mastered the art of the different sounds and the noodling to it.”

After graduating high school, he worked for a corporate mattress company in Vancouver for 15 years. As a top salesperson and sales trainer, his career in the sleep industry was set, but the one-size-fits-all method of sales didn’t feel right.

“It’s an old way [of looking at it],” Chris explains. “Which is just alarming because [noramlly] two people sleep in a bed, and each person has different needs.”

When he left the corporate world and moved on to Duncan, Chris decided to change his lifestyle, starting with improving his health through eating organically. With the introduction to organic foods, he “started to clue in that conventional mattresses are not as healthy as we’ve been told they are.” And, he adds, this is not evening considering their environmental impact — with around “30 million mattresses a year going to landfills in North America.” With the world focussing on product sustainability, down to its roots, he thought, it makes sense that a community with a high-level interest in organics would want to embrace holistic sleeping habits too.

“As a kid, I remember complaining about taking naps,

which seemed like a requirement. As an adult, having a good night’s sleep is vital.

“Once I don’t get enough sleep, my sugar addiction kicks in because I’m trying to get that jolt, and that actually hurts my brain. Then I start to get anxiety, then I get mild depression, and it’s just this cycle.”

He adds: “Because when you are laying there, if you’re getting hot, you’re tossing and turning, and you’re hurting, well that kicks in the brain...it’s ultimately what discomforts people. When you get into your 50s, 60s and 70s, if you’re not sleeping well, you can get sick.”

Chris and his business and life partner, Dawn Howlett, first launched a mattress business from their garage. Next, they opened an organic mattress gallery, complete with spotlights and showrooms. From there they set up shop at the Community Farm Store, and then, when space for a store opened up with a music studio above, Chris was able to combine his two passions — music and the mattress business— under one roof.

Chis says the idea for the business had always been in concept form, but when “out popped of Dawn’s mouth ‘Resthouse,’” the name helped solidify their idea.

Towels, linens, pillows and comforters at Resthouse are all made from organic cotton. The store also features handmade wooden furniture by David Martinello, as well as wool blankets made from angora goats and sheep on Ann Lindwall’s farm in Glenora, just outside of Duncan.

“We try to do as much locally as we can,” says Chris, adding that the business recently expanded its ownership team by adding Olga Roberts. boulevardmagazines.com |

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damsels spring 2019

Designed with Love • Produced with Passion • Consume with Desire

fashion collections

413 Fitzwilliam St, Nanaimo Located in the Old Quarter 250-754-7913 • damselsfashions.com

D iscove r Down town Ladysmith THIS YEAR Voted the Greatest Street in Canada

Visit and Shop Downtown Ladysmith

A beautiful experience.

Dine at one of our restaurants offering food for all tastes.

Parking is FREE

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Resthouse gets involved in different community events, working with schools and donating products to different foundations, and making sure mattresses are properly disposed of. Each time they deliver a new mattress, the old one (if it’s still in good shape) is donated to charity.

Dawn’s decoration of the store was influenced by hygge (pronounced “hoog-ga”) — a Danish word meaning “a mood of cosiness and comfortable conviviality with feelings of wellness and contentment.”

The duo originally met at The Haven, which offered an improvisational a cappella singing course called “The Singing Soul.” Chris, who had always enjoyed music, says the course was “serendipitous because that’s where I met Dawn, where I really got into music, and where I learned that the universe will actually give you what you want if you ask for it.”

During the course, he was urged by instructor David Hatfield to “no matter what, just keep singing.”

So Chris continued his musical training on his own, playing a game of “whistle it or sing it.” He put his entire music library on shuffle — deciding to either whistle or sing each tune as it played.

Eventually he met The Paradigm Shifters, an improvisation band, which was looking for a singer. Improvising, band members begin playing their instruments and “find ways through intuition in the moment to create songs,” says Chris.

Years later, he’s now part of Dream Catcher, another improvisational band. Chris continues to pursue his passion for music, almost pushing himself, he says, to show his daughter, 14 and son, 12 — “who are both amazing singers” — what it means to not give up on dreams.

In addition to singing, whistling and selling sleep solutions, Chris likes “hanging out with the kids,” swimming in various lakes on the island and spending time at his parents’ home that has a “cabin-like” feel to it.

Other favourite pastimes include tennis and bowling (he was a competitive bowler in his youth), and practising music with Dawn through looping — a device that records and plays back music. Dawn is a huge positive influence in his life, he says, as well as his parents, who taught him to treat others with “kindness and heart.” He still carries this important lesson to “understand that we all struggle, and if you just default to kindness, the universe takes care of you.”

Now that’s something to whistle about.

He still carries this important lesson to “understand that we all struggle, and if you just default to kindness, the universe takes care of you.”

JAGUARS BELONG OUTSIDE

It’s better to predict than to react. Jaguar’s AWD with Intelligent Driveline Dynamics collects data 100 times a second, predicts any traction loss and transfers torque between the front and rear axles in less than 165 milliseconds to optimize grip. Always on. Always thinking.

So you can always be out there, where you belong.

Jaguar Victoria 3351 Douglas Street, Victoria, V8Z 3L4 250 475 3313 - Contact Ruben Little or Sean Sterling to book your experience of Instinctive AWD! jaguarvictoria.com

2019 Jaguar Land Rover Canada ULC - Dealer number 30479

BEHINDTHESTORY

T

he setting at Shawnigan Lake School — used for this edition’s fashion story — absolutely floored the Boulevard team with its state-of-the-art facilities and stunning architectural features. Here, model Tiffany Szigety runs in front of headmaster Richard Lamont’s home (and with his beautiful dog!). Richard says this about the school: “Five hundred students, representing over 30 nations, come together each year to live and study in this unparalleled setting on the edge of Shawnigan Lake. We encourage all students to develop an understanding of and commitment to the people, the place and the heritage of Canada, British Columbia and Shawnigan. At the same time, we challenge ourselves each year to be relevant, purposeful and of service in a changing and increasingly global world.”

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Photo by Lia Crowe

2019 LINCOLN NAUTILUS

The available panoramic Vista Roof spans both rows of seating, allowing for abundant sunshine and refreshing breezes.

SYNC3 with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Waze compatible.

Available 360° camera with, new this year, a rear camera wash.

Find parking, see local fuel prices, remotely start your Lincoln and contact a Personal Concierge with the Lincoln Way App.

We offer 2019 Lincoln owners Pickup & Delivery service because there’s no greater luxury than your time.

3851 Shenton Road, Nanaimo I 250-758-7311 I www.NanaimoLincoln.com HOURS OF OPERATION: MON-THURS: 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM FRI-SAT: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM DEALER # 10401

A Mattress Made for Two Shouldn’t be Designed for One

Resthouse welcomes Obasan, the makers of Canada’s premier natural latex mattresses

Vancouver Island’s Exclusive Obasan Dealer

resthouse.ca

1-844-855-REST (7378) 126 STATION STREET, DUNCAN