Brian Jessel SpringSummer2017pdf

LIVE THE WELL-CRAFTED LIFE / SPRING/SUMMER 2017

MAGAZINE

BRIANJESSEL Five Stars

All-new BMW 5 Series the best ever

Re-Charging

An electrifying getaway to Salt Spring Island

Hot Wheels

John Witt plays with fire trucks for a living

Pedal Power

Raising funds and awareness, two wheels at a time

D E S I G N P O R T R A I T.

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/ spring/summer 2017 /

BRIANJESSEL

MAGAZINE

INSIDE THIS ISSUE 14 A NOTE FROM JIM 16 DEAR BRIAN Letters and kudos from our clients.

19 GREENLIGHT

34 ESCAPE

Re-Charging

Leave the big city behind in an electric BMW i3 on Salt Spring Island.

41 FOOD

Roots Rock

19 5 Star Performer

The all-new seventh-generation BMW 5 Series sets a new standard for luxury sport sedans.

22 Sound + Vision

The Fairmont Pacific Rim’s new restaurant Botanist sprouts goodness.

44 WINE

Summer Sips

Not all the amazing notes from a BMW come from the chrometipped exhaust pipes.

24 Family Matters

Leslie Grover has the car business in her DNA.

Great wines—and patios for enjoying them on—while the sun shines.

54 EVENTS

Cabriolet Charity Gala

The must-attend fundraiser of the year that’s near and dear to Brian’s heart.

26 GEARING UP

The latest BMW gear for the summer season.

28 PROFILE

58 LAST LAP

Five things about your BMW that might surprise you.

Hot Wheels

Long-time customer John Will plays with fire trucks for a living.

34 On the cover

The 2018 BMW 5 Series redefines the luxury sport sedan segment.

FEATURES

46 i TO THE FUTURE

BMW is at the forefront of bringing autonomous driving to roadways in less than five years.

50 PEDAL POWER

28 10

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BrianJesselBMW.com • SPRING/SUMMER 2017

Brian Jessel BMW joins forces with Escape Velocity to celebrate the two-wheeled lifestyle.

PHOTOS, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT: JOHANN WALL, BMW, DOUG BRONS, CARLO RICCI

DEPARTMENTS

Designed and Handcrafted in Vancouver

1457 Bellevue Avenue, West Vancouver | 604.925.8333 Four Seasons Hotel, 791 Georgia Street, Vancouver | 604.682.1158

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BRIANJESSEL

/ contributors /

MAGAZINE

VOLUME 12 / ISSUE 1 BRIAN JESSEL BMW PRESIDENT & CEO Brian Jessel

MANAGING PARTNER Jim

Murray Zoppa

MARKETING MANAGER & EDITOR Diana

PUBLISHED BY WESTERN MEDIA GROUP

Andrew McCredie Keller CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER Jeremy Ng CONTRIBUTING WRITER Kurtis Kolt EDITOR

ART DIRECTOR Jim

Jenni Baynham moved to Vancouver just over three years ago from Scotland, where she worked as a journalist for BBC Scotland. She currently works for Big Coat Media. For this issue, she profiles Brian Jessel BMW manager Leslie Grover (“Family Matters,” page 24) and writes about Brian Jessel BMW’s new partnership with Escape Velocity (“Pedal Power,” page 50).

Rafe Arnott has been a news-based photojournalist, videographer, crime and generalassignment reporter for 20 years.

The Vancouver-based journalist is currently editor at large for PartTime Audiophile—”Where Epicurus stops to listen, but only after 8”—a position that sees him travel the world reporting on high-end audio and music. In this issue, he turns up the volume on the extraordinary sound systems available in BMWs (“Sound + Vision,” page 22). parttimeaudiophile.com

Dee Dhaliwal Anicka Quin

GENERAL MANAGER & PUBLISHER EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

ART DIRECTOR, VANCOUVER MAGAZINE/WL

Paul Roelofs

Dale McCarthy Kaitlyn Lush ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Leah Webb PRODUCTION MANAGER Lee Tidsbury GRAPHIC DESIGNER Swin Chai

MARKETING & EVENTS MANAGER EVENT CO-ORDINATOR

ADVERTISING SALES ACCOUNT MANAGERS

Corinne Gillespie, Judy Johnson, Gabriella Sepulveda Knuth, Manon Paradis SALES CO-ORDINATORS

Karina Platon, Theresa Tran ADVERTISING EMAIL

t.tran@vanmag.com WESTERN MEDIA GROUP

Suite 560, 2608 Granville St. Vancouver, B.C. V6H 3V3 604-877-7732 NATIONAL MEDIA SALES REPRESENTATION, MEDIATIVE SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER, NATIONAL SALES

Michael White freelances for publications across Canada and around the world. His acclaimed debut book, the music biography Popkiss: The Life and Afterlife of Sarah Records, was published in 2015 by Bloomsbury. In this issue he checks out the new restaurant at the Fairmont Pacific Rim, Botanist (“Roots Rock!”, page 41), and profiles longtime Brian Jessel BMW customer John Witt (“Hot Wheels,” page 28).

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BrianJesselBMW.com • SPRING/SUMMER 2017

Ian Lederer

U.S. SALES REPRESENTATION, MEDIA CORPS

1-866-744-9890, info@media-corps.com YELLOW PAGES DIGITAL & MEDIA SOLUTIONS LTD.

Johann Wall is a well-known portrait photographer whose recent clients include Destination Canada, GQ and the Nature Conservancy. For this issue his subject is the beautiful BMW i3 on Salt Spring Island (“Re-Charging,” page 34). johannwall.com

VICE-PRESIDENT & CHIEF PUBLISHING OFFICER

Caroline Andrews

/ jim’s note /

Cruising into Summer

U

N D O U B T E D LY E V E R YO N E I N

Vancouver will be welcoming the arrival of summer this year. We delivered a little early sunshine to our charity gala, Cabriolet; its Saint-Tropez theme brought out glamorous summer looks during our rainy season this March.

Included in this issue, we explore the history of Cabriolet, providing some insight into the community-driven nature of Brian Jessel BMW. As we have continued to grow as a company, we recognize the value and power associated with charitable giving and partnerships.

BMW is coming on strong with product initiatives throughout 2017-2018, adding or changing approximately 40 models. The newgeneration 5 Series featured in this issue is just one example of what you will see this year.

We are proud to be a part of the way you drive, and I personally wish to thank you for your support.

Looking forward to a great Vancouver summer and taking care of all your automotive needs.

Sincerely,

Jim Murray

PHOTO: JEREMY NG

Managing Partner

Jim Murray in the Brian Jessel BMW showroom.

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BrianJesselBMW.com • SPRING/SUMMER 2017

We give where we live ®

At TELUS, we love helping local communities flourish.

We’re delighted to have given over $482 million and volunteered more than 7.7 million hours to local causes across Canada since 2000.

To all our customers, employees, supporters and volunteers – thank you for helping us make a difference in communities across Canada.

We couldn’t have done it without you.

Together, we give where we live.

Learn more at telus.com/community

© 2017 TELUS. 17_00570

/ dear brian /

Above and Beyond I C A N N O T S AY E N O U G H A B O U T O U R

Angela Hartling

experience at Brian Jessel BMW. We are absolutely thrilled with our BMW X3!

Reza Aslani was exceptional at finding us the perfect vehicle to suit our needs, and Rosalind, our Financial Services Manager, was a pleasure to deal with. They both went above and beyond, even waiting after 6 p.m.

Reza Aslani

There When Needed I A M W R I T I N G T H I S T O L ET YO U K N O W

for us to arrive on that Friday night we were picking up our new vehicle. We were travelling from Abbotsford and running behind due to traffic. That definitely meant a lot to us.

I have been dealing with Richard in service this past week as well and he has been so thorough and has kept me informed every step of the way. Again, greatly appreciated.

Brian Jessel BMW will be highly recommended to all our friends, and both my husband and I look forward to many more years of BMW ownership!

Best regards,

Dawn W. 16

BrianJesselBMW.com • SPRING/SUMMER 2017

about the excellent service I received from your staff last week. I had a scary situation resulting in my car being towed to Brian Jessel BMW. Throughout the process, everybody involved was particularly pleasant and efficient and went out of their way to deal with the situation and return my car to me without undue delay.

I needed to have things resolved by the weekend.

I wish to commend the following staff: Angela Hartling, Hossein Sanjari, Dawn MacLean and Bocar (with BMW Roadside Assistance).

I have always had good service from Brian Jessel BMW but, on this occasion, I felt that you should know how well your staff represented you.

Sincerely,

Carole P.

Exceeding Expectations M Y W I F E A N D I WOU L D L I K E T O T H A N K YOU

for your prompt responses and actions to our recent situation with our BMW 740 purchase. We have owned BMW cars for years and we keep coming back because of the quality of the cars and the high standards of BMW Canada. We would like to compliment one of your employees, Steve Giesbrecht, for the excellent service he provided us leading up to the sale and closing of our BMW. Mr. Giesbrecht helped us sort out the issues surrounding the 740Ld. Without his help, we feel that wouldn’t have been resolved to anybody’s benefit.

Mr. Giesbrecht’s professionalism and ability to get to the bottom of the situation quickly exceeded our expectations. It goes without saying that Mr. Giesbrecht will be a definite asset to Brian Jessel BMW for many years to come. Another notable mention we would like to make is Catherine Zang. She was instrumental in facilitating the deal and providing reassurance on the financial aspects.

We will not hesitate to recommend Brian Jessel BMW to family and friends. Thank you very much for the outstanding service.

Thank you,

Tony & Suzanne B.

TALK TO US Info@BrianJesselBMW.com @BrianJesselBMW Brian Jessel BMW @BrianJesselBMW Or write us a note: Brian Jessel BMW is located at 2311 Boundary Rd. Vancouver, B.C. V5M 4W5 Please include your full name and phone number. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

PHOTOS: JEREMY NG

Correspondence and praise from the esteemed clientele of Brian Jessel BMW

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/ greenlight / News and Highlights for the Discerning BMW Owner

SPRING/SUMMER 2017

BY ANDREW McCREDIE

PHOTOS: BMW

5 Star Performer

The all-new BMW 5 Series stays true to its historic heritage—and is loaded with 21st-century tech wizardry.

SPRING/SUMMER 2017• BrianJesselBMW.com

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The seventh-generation 5 Series is the most advanced and innovative 5 Series ever produced.

A

Y E A R B E F O R E A YO U N G A N D

ambitious Brian Jessel moved to Vancouver from his hometown of Toronto, BMW launched a vehicle that would come to set the standard for luxury performance mid-sized sedans.

The 1972 BMW 5 Series four-door also marked the beginnings of a model that would become the second-best-selling model for the German automaker, behind only the equally iconic 3 Series in global sales.

By the time Brian Jessel opened his first BMW dealership—in 1986 in Abbotsford— the 5 Series was taking its performance pedigree to new levels with the release of the first-ever M5 in North America.

Fast forward to today and it’s another momentous milestone in the 5 Series timeline, with the release of the all-new seventhgeneration model.

And while the 2017 5 Series boasts on-board technologies, structural materials and design attributes that would be considered space-age back in 1972, it shares the same “luxury meets performance” DNA as the original.

Simply put, the new 5 Series is the most advanced and innovative 5 Series ever produced, from its all-new iDrive 6.0 user interface to the latest generation of HeadUp Display through to its remote control parking feature and advanced driver assistance systems. More on those later.

Looks have always been a hallmark of all BMWs, and the 5 Series in particular has consistently set itself apart from the competition with athletic exterior lines and stylish cabin cues.

Slightly longer, wider and taller than the outgoing model, the new 5 Series boasts a 20

BrianJesselBMW.com • SPRING/SUMMER 2017

redesigned front end featuring LED adaptive headlights that are integrated into the reshaped kidney grille. Function follows form in the new grille, too, with moveable slats behind it that open when engine cooling is required and close to optimize aerodynamic efficiency.

Despite having a larger footprint, the all-new sedan is up to 100 kilograms lighter than the sixth-gen version, thanks in large part to an increased use of magnesium, aluminum and high-strength steel.

The rear design conveys a low centre of gravity, reflecting the dynamic and direct handling of the performance sedan, as does the LED light bar and the new symmetrically arranged exhaust tailpipes.

That increased size translates to more space in the cabin, which in turn means more comfort in all five passengers’ seating areas, in particular for rear-seat passengers, due to an extra 1.2 inches of legroom.

Likewise, trunk space has increased to 530 The centre console is a study in style and sophistication.

TECH DATA

POWER 530i xDrive: 2.0L twin-turbo inline four-cylinder gasoline engine 540i xDrive: 3.0L twin-turbo inline six-cylinder gasoline engine

HORSEPOWER 530i xDrive: 252 (252) 540i xDrive: 340 (340)

TRANSMISSION Eight-speed Steptronic

FUEL ECONOMY (L/100 KM COMBINED) 530i xDrive: 6.2 540i xDrive: 7.2

litres, more than enough to accommodate four sets of golf clubs.

The first thing you notice when you climb into the new 5 Series is its lowered instrument panel and free-standing display. One thing you won’t notice is much cabin noise once on the road, thanks to a headliner with built-in sound-absorbing material and other acoustic-friendly cabin innovations.

One of the unique new features is Gesture Control, which debuted on the 7 Series last year. Using simple hand gestures, the driver or front-seat passenger can engage infotainment and telephone

At the heart of the new 5 Series is a selection of equally all-new engines. functions by way of a 3D sensor located on the centre console. For example, pointing at the touch screen with your index finger is all it takes to answer an incoming call; a swiping motion with your hand declines the call. To adjust the audio system volume, simply trace a circle with your index finger. To zoom in on maps, just make the same finger-thumb motion you do when adjusting zoom on a smart phone or touch screen.

Speaking of touchscreens, the new 5 Series gets an all-new dash-mounted, highresolution 10.25-inch screen to control navigation, telephone and entertainment

An industry first, Gesture Control allows front-seat occupants the ability to control infotainment and telephone function with a simple wave of the hand.

features, along with vehicle functions.

Speaking of vehicle functions, at the heart of the new 5 Series—for that matter, the heart of all BMWs—is a selection of equally all-new engines that are as exhilarating as they are economical.

Ranging in size from 2.0L in the fourcylinder 530i to 3.0L in the six-cylinder 540i, the twin-turbo power plants represent state-of-the-art engine technology and feature lightweight, thermodynamically

optimized all-aluminum construction.

Mated to the sport variant of BMW’s triedand-true eight-speed Steptronic automatic transmission, these power plants underscore the automaker’s ongoing commitment to the thrill of driving.

Further to that end, the combination of Integral Active Steering with xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive makes the 2017 model the best-handling 5 Series ever.

SPRING/SUMMER 2017• BrianJesselBMW.com

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/ greenlight /

Sound +Vision

Automaker partners with world-leading high-fidelity firms to create rolling sound studios.

BY RAFE ARNOTT

Harman Kardon’s premium Logic 7 surround-sound system pumps 600 watts of power into the BMW cabin.

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BrianJesselBMW.com • SPRING/SUMMER 2017

PHOTOS: BMW

W

H I L E S O M E B M W OW N E R S

might be content listening to nothing but the throaty howl of the exhaust note emanating from their beautiful machines, most take every opportunity to ensconce themselves within the luxurious interior’s immersive sound systems.

Bayerische Motoren Werke has a long history of partnering with many of the top names in the world of high fidelity to provide what could be coined the ultimate listening experience to go along with its trademark ultimate driving experience: iconic brands like Bowers & Wilkins, Harman Kardon and Bang & Olufsen.

By using such esoteric materials as diamond coating on the tweeters, Kevlar for the drivers and 20-centimetre Rohacell in the subwoofers, the German car manufacturer is betting that its customers are discerning not only in their visual and mechanical acuity but in their aural sophistication as well. With the home-audio market awash in ultra-high-end products benefiting from the latest in digital software, and hardware advancements offering consumers unparalleled music-listening conveniences, why shouldn’t the same level of sophistication be available in vehicles?

The coveted home technology that allows for immersive sonic experiences with just a

The B&W Diamond Surround Sound architecture draws from its flagship studio and home loudspeakers.

few taps of your smart phone’s touch screen has made its way onto and into four wheels, particularly into BMW’s 2017 models.

British audio icon Bowers & Wilkins went all in by making its Diamond Surround Sound system available for 7 Series models.

This audiophile sound architecture draws directly from B&W’s Diamond 800 series flagship line of studio and home loudspeakers. The same team responsible for this award-winning line took on the technical challenge of implementing studio-grade sound performance in the confines of an automobile, utilizing no less than 16 separate tweeter, mid-range and subwoofer acousticdriver assemblies to deliver 1,400 watts of digital QuantumLogic surround-sound

TECH SPECS B&W Diamond Surround Sound System for BMW 7 Series

Harmon Kardon System for BMW 5 Series

Bang & Olufsen Surround Sound System for BMW X5

3x25mm Diamond Nautilus tweeter

16 speakers, 600 watts, Logic 7 surround sound

5.1 surround sound with DSP

4x25mm aluminum dome tweeter 7x100mm aluminized Kevlar midrange drivers 2x217mm centre bass subwoofers with Rohacell cone 1x1, 400-watt class-D amplifier with QuantumLogic surround-sound processing and emerald interleaved digital output stage technology

Bang & Olufsen’s system boasts 1,200 watts of power and 16 fully active and tuned speakers.

7x26mm metal-matrix dome tweeters in the dashboard, front, side and rear 2x217mm woofers (central bass) below the front seats

1,200-watt amplification (500 watts dedicated to subwoofers) 16 fully active loudspeakers with aluminum laser-engraved grilles, 7 tweeters, 7 mid-range drivers and 2 subwoofers

7x100 mm ALumaprene midrange speakers in the dashboard, front, side and rear

processing. Integration of the transducers within the interior is detailed down to the speaker grilles, which feature Fibonaccipatterned holes to help ensure a more linear diffusion of sound waves throughout the car’s cabin.

Music lovers will be pleased to know that included with the B&W option is a one-year complimentary subscription to exclusive and curated high-resolution downloads from B&W’s online music portal, the Society of Sound.

Not to be outdone, Danish lifestyle and technology legend Bang & Olufsen adapted its patented Acoustic Lens Technology into 16 fully active and tuned loudspeakers designed for 180-degree horizontal sonic

dispersion. Fed by a 16-channel amplifier with 1,200 watts of power—500 of which are exclusively dedicated to the chassismounted subwoofers—drivers and passengers alike can choose to switch between the timbral accuracy of sitting-at-the-soundboard quality of audio playback in Studio Mode and the unique stereo reproduction of Expanded Mode, which creates the aural illusion of punching completely out of the car to place performers and instruments well beyond the boundaries dictated by physical cabin space.

Harman Kardon brings 600 watts of power in its premium Logic 7 surroundsound system to BMW. It too features up to 16 bespoke loudspeakers, this time being driven by a digital signal processing (DSP) multi-channel amplifier to deliver the most cohesive sound possible. This system draws upon Harman’s extensive research and development in sonic imaging designed to compensate for the intrusion of environmental and road noise penetrating the cabin space.

Also of note is that Harman and BMW have implemented Apple’s CarPlay technology, allowing for iPhone connectivity via Bluetooth and wi-fi.

Advancements in sound-quality technology keep moving ahead at a rapid pace, and as it does with all facets of technological change, BMW isn’t missing a beat when it comes to turning up the volume on cuttingedge, high-end audio.

SPRING/SUMMER 2017 • BrianJesselBMW.com

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/ greenlight /

Family Matters

L

E S L I E G R O V E R WA S C R AW L I N G A R O U N D H E R

family’s car business before she could walk. From the time she could talk, her summers were spent working in every role the dealership had to offer, from reception to cleaning up the parts department.

Grover’s knowledge of the auto business gradually became ingrained in her DNA. It wasn’t until the mid-80s, when a teenage Grover sat in the back room of the dealership, sifting through lists of customers and calling each of them individually to ask if they were happy with their experience, that she realized she had a penchant for customer service.

“I’ve always loved working with people,” explains Grover. “I’m so grateful that I’ve been able to build a career around making sure the company is represented honestly and authentically.”

Grover first crossed paths with Brian Jessel BMW when her family’s business moved from auto sales to leasing in 1989. The family bought their lease cars from Jim Murray—now managing partner at Brian Jessel BMW—for many years, until eventually Murray approached Grover about coming to work with him. “It just wasn’t an option for me at the time,” says Grover of that initial offer from Murray. “We had a family business to run.”

The professional relationship between Murray and Grover continued for almost a decade longer, before, eventually, Grover’s family made the difficult decision to wrap up their business.

“I was considering making a full career change, trying something completely new that wasn’t in the auto business,” says Grover, “but my dad looked me square in the eye and said: ‘You’ll never leave.’” For the first time, Grover was able to seriously consider Murray’s employment offer.

“It’s the longest I’ve ever had to spend courting an employee,” laughs Murray. “But she’s got a golden heart and I knew she would do well on the team here.” And so Grover moved her desk (literally —she transport24

BrianJesselBMW.com • SPRING/SUMMER 2017

ed her father’s antique desk) to the Jessel showroom in December 2011.

“My biggest fear was that, for the first time, I wouldn’t be working for my family’s business,” Grover admits of her early days in her new job.“Without the familial security, I was worried about being identified as an imposter in my new role.”

For two years, Grover ran BMW’s Diplomatic Program, which Murray empowered her to grow from the ground up, before being offered the position of Customer Relations Manager. Even then, despite her decades of experience in the auto industry, Grover was still nervous about the responsibility of managing the ethos behind such a large-scale luxury dealership. Now, five years later, Grover has become the dealership’s go-to businesswoman.

“I guess if this dealership is a family, then people treat me kind of like the mom,” she says with a laugh. “I just want to make sure everybody is happy and confident in doing their jobs. I have the opportunity to work with everybody here who needs some support.”

Don’t let this auto-savvy industry stalwart downplay the critical role she plays within Brian Jessel BMW, though, because you can guarantee that Grover’s hands have touched nearly every element the dealership has to offer. From the sales floor to the service shop to upper management, Grover’s influence can be seen in how every department makes customer satisfaction their top priority.

“We treat every problem as an opportunity,” explains Grover. “It gives us the chance to answer questions and provide education, which increases the likelihood of a positive outcome.”

It’s not a surprise that many clients enter each auto dealership cautiously, particularly, as Grover believes, because certain behaviours have tarnished the reputation of the auto industry across the board.

Her mantra? “Vehicles aren’t perfect; they are made by humans.

There are going to be problems, but it’s in how we react to them that we find the opportunity to solidify the client-dealer relationship.”

PHOTO: JEREMY NG

With the car business in her DNA, Leslie Grover brings a lifetime of experience to her job. And her dad’s antique desk.

BY JENNI BAYNHAM

“We find the opportunity to solidify the client-dealer relationship.”

/ greenlight /

Gearing Up The Brian Jessel BMW in-dealership boutique caters to the active and stylish lifestyle.

BMW NEXT 100 Scale Model

Why wait a century for BMW’s VISION car of the future when you can have a 1:18 scale replica on your shelf today? $110

BMW Fountain Pen

Sign your name in style with this BMW Meisterstück platinum-coated LeGrand fountain pen. Inlaid with the Montblanc emblem and featuring a laser-engraved clip with the BMW 7 Series pattern, this piston fountain pen has a handcrafted 14K gold nib with rhodium-plated inlay; barrel and cap made of black precious resin. $729.41

BMW M Tent

You’ll be the star of the campsite with this robust two-person igloo tent that can be pitched within two minutes. Featuring a patented opening system, it is watertight and sturdy, and comes with steel pegs and a handy nylon carry bag. $130

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BrianJesselBMW.com • SPRING/SUMMER 2017

BMW M Chronograph Watch

Perfect for a day at the races or a night at the opera, this BMW M watch features Swiss quartz movement, three subdials, date indicator and a stopwatch function. It’s built to last too, with a 43 mm stainless steel PVD-coated case. $360

BMW Kid’s Bike

It’s never too early to start rolling with BMW, and this balance bike is ideal for learning to ride. It’s durable and practical, and the clever conversion from balance bike to pedal bike gives your child a big sense of security. $365

BMW M Sneakers

PHOTOS: BMW

These stylish silver kicks from Puma feature distinctive carbon-style details, embossed M logo on the heel and BMW M stripes on the heel tab. $135

SPRING/SUMMER 2017 • BrianJesselBMW.com

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/ profile /

John Witt’s company Safetek is the largest dealer of fire28 and emergency vehicles in BrianJesselBMW.com • Canada.

SPRING/SUMMER 2017

PHOTOS BY CARLO RICCI

Hot Wheels

Entrepreneurial spirit burns inside this long-time Brian Jessel BMW customer.

BY MICHAEL HARRIS

SPRING/SUMMER 2017 • BrianJesselBMW.com

29

/ profile /

“I didn’t know there were fire truck salespeople— like most people, I just thought they showed up.”

C

OUNTLESS PEOPLE

claim to love their work, but few put such words into action as indisputably as long-time BMW Brian Jessel customer John Witt.

When he was a mere 28 year old, Witt had already become such a success that he was able to retire from the proceeds of selling his first companies which were involved in towing locally and specialized in delivery of large vehicles nationally, such as truck chassis, cranes, cement mixers and other speciality vehicles for dealers and manufacturers.

“One day we got a call to deliver some fire trucks,” he recalls, adding that while that might seem unremarkable, it was one of those “light bulb” moments. “I didn’t know there were fire truck salespeople—like most people, I just thought they showed up,” he says, laughing, “or I thought that Ford or General Motors built them.”

After about 30 days of being retired and getting bored, Witt was recruited for Canada’s largest fire apparatus builder in Quebec and then was headhunted to bring a new innovative type of aerial device to the North American market from Finland. His ambition in his role as sales manager doubled the former company’s business and brought

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the latter to the forefront of technology in high-reaching aerials to the fire service in North America.

But he always preferred being the steward of his own destiny (“I got tired of the corporate merry-go-round”), and so, for the first time in more than a decade, he leaped back into entrepreneurship.

Founded in 1993, Witt’s company, Safetek Emergency Vehicles Ltd., is now the largest dealer of fire and emergency vehicles in Canada. Although fire trucks are its major focus (why else would the website’s name be Firetrucks.ca?), Safetek also deals in rescue, command and haz-mat vehicles, and provides after-sale parts and service coast to coast. Its major customers are cities—it recently sold $40 million worth of apparatus to the City of Vancouver and recently signed multi-year contracts with Calgary, Edmonton and Toronto.

Asked what Safetek brought to this market that wasn’t being satisfied by the competition, Witt says, “A passion, an integrity, and caring about what the customer needs.

Hence why I like Brian Jessel.”

Witt first walked into the Brian Jessel BMW showroom in 2006. “I was looking for something for my wife,” he explains. She was especially fond of convertibles—all the easier to transport her beloved golf clubs.

The couple had finished visiting the dealer-

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/ profile /

John Witt and his 2016 7 Series

CONSTANT INNOVATIONS KEEP JOHN WITT COMING BACK FOR MORE

A

lthough perfectly happy driving his current 2016 750i xDrive, John Witt admits he is “waiting for the X7 to come out. My wife and I have three dogs—two Bernese mountain dogs and a Leonberger—hence the requirement for a large SUV.”

When he does acquire it, it will be the 14th BMW he has leased from Brian Jessel BMW. “If I’d kept every vehicle I’d had from the get-go as a teenager, I’d have a car collection that

would be worth millions,” he says. “I’ve had 650s, 750s, the X5, the X6…”

BMW’s constant innovations keep his interest piqued. “I like new technology, I like ideas around safety, craftsmanship, performance,” Witt says, pointing out a particular fondness for ConnectedDrive safety features such as the lane-keeping assistant and 360-degree camera—not to mention the Bowers & Wilkins sound system.

“They just offer so many things, and they’re always coming up with a new idea.”

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“It’s easy to sell the first vehicle, but service sells the second, third, fourth…”

ship of another brand and left an expression of interest with a salesperson, who promised to follow up by phone. “On the way home, I said, ‘Why don’t we go into Brian Jessel?’ I’d never been in the dealership, but I’d heard about his reputation. We walked in, and there was a black 650i Cabriolet in the showroom. [Gold Sales Master] Cary Lau came up and introduced himself. There was no pressure.”

The salesperson from the other dealership never called. Witt’s wife got the Cabriolet.

Since then, Witt has leased a further dozen models from Brian Jessel BMW. “They’re like family,” he says of the staff. “I can go in and say, ‘I’ve got this problem’—it’s taken care of. And that means a lot to me, because it’s like in my business. It’s easy to sell the first vehicle, but service sells the second, third, fourth…”

And Witt’s enthusiasm for BMWs extends beyond his own home. “I have 30 employees across the country. I have a great VP, and he drives a brand-new X5, because I want to show him I appreciate his efforts.”

While he acknowledges that his role within Safetek has changed as its success has grown (“My employees run the day-to-day business, but they still come to me for major decisions”), he remains as engaged with his work—and as happy to not be retired—as he was more than three decades ago.

“You get out of it when you no longer like it. I get along with my competitors and my peers, and I truly love what I do. I couldn’t retire. I’d go crazy!”

/ escape /

ReCharging A tranquil getaway to Salt Spring Island in an electric BMW i3 proves the ideal way to unplug from the madness of mainland living.

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H E R E ' S S O M ET H I N G A B O U T A F E R R Y R I D E T O B.C. ' S

Gulf Islands that immediately melts away the day-to-day stresses of urban life. Maybe it's simply the act of floating across water, or perhaps just watching as the big city gets smaller off the stern and the forested islands get bigger at the bow. Whatever it is, the journey to one of the many islands that dot the channel between Vancouver Island and the Canadian mainland is always a body-and-soul-cleansing one.

And if you’re doing the crossing with a 2017 BMW i3 tucked below deck, it’s also a very sustainable one.

Which is all too fitting for some R and R on Salt Spring Island. The largest of all the southern Gulf Islands has embraced treading lightly on the planet since pioneers began farming there a century and a half ago. That living-off-the-land ethos is just as strong today in the 21st century—possibly more so—with organic farms, wineries and breweries producing world-class products, and globally recognized artisans creating original works infused with the nature and beauty the island is famous for. Likewise, the wide gamut of accommodations for island visitors—from numerous B & Bs to luxury boutique hotels to family resorts—provides the kind of one-on-one service and guest-first mentality that will make your stay memorable and relaxing.

The one place you won’t feel compelled to visit as you travel the bucolic island’s winding roads in the i3 is a gas station; with an all-electric

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BY ANDREW McCREDIE

PHOTOS BY JOHANN WALL

The 2017 BMW i3 stops for a lunch break in Ganges.

SPRING/SUMMER 2017 • BrianJesselBMW.com

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/ escape / Historic Ruckle Farm on the south end of the island.

PLUGGED IN IT DOESN’T TAKE LONG after you’ve slipped into the Salt Spring

Island ferry dock to realize sustainability is a big part of island life.

From farm-to-table food trucks to organic wineries and ambitious solar power plans, the 10,500 permanent residents of Salt Spring celebrate and practise sustainable living on a daily basis.

So it’s not surprising that the 180-square-kilometre island boasts the highest density of electric vehicle ownership in Canada, with 100 EVs zipping around island roads as of May of this year.

Translated into dollars, that’s over $3 million in EV purchases.

Other impressive numbers surrounding the commitment to clean and sustainable transportation include seven Level-2 charging stations located across the island to support the needs of tourists and locals; with the average islander driving 10,000 km per year in their EV, that translates to one million km/year of zeroemission travel, which in turn means a reduction of 360 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per year and a subsequent reduction of some 110,000 litres of gasoline required to be ferried to the island each year.

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range of 160 kilometres—and an island 27 kilometres long and 14 km wide—the futuristic five-door will have the run of the place without needing to pull power from its range-extender gas engine. Public charging stations will replenish the batteries as you enjoy a stroll around quaint Ganges, the island’s main town, while a number of B & Bs also provide level chargers for their guests.

And don’t expect your boldly styled i3 to cause locals to do a double take; I passed one just five minutes after driving off the ferry at Long Harbour, and by the time I was loading back up after a few days on the island, I’d lost track of how many electric vehicles I’d encountered.

There is a sense of irony in a place determined, and proud, to live a simple life rooted in the past yet eagerly embracing a driving future founded on cutting-edge technology. I suppose that just like the i3—itself a minimalist concept envisioned through elegant engineering—Salt Spring is best described as a place out of time, with one foot planted in the past and the other reaching out to the future. Translation: the perfect destination to unplug for a while and recharge your batteries.

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/ escape / FIVE THINGS TO DO ON SALT SPRING ISLAND

Top: Don't miss the sampling room at Salt Spring Island Cheese Company. Bottom: Brooke Winters, at right, is the owner of BNurtured's Farm to Fork food trailer.

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1

HOT MARKET Arguably one of the most famous farmers’ markets in B.C., the Saturday Market at Centennial Park in the island’s main town of Ganges is a weekly coming-together of the farmers, artisans and food producers who call the island home. More than 140 vendors must "make it, bake it or grow it" themselves, and they set up shop from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine, each Saturday from April through to October. Wandering the stalls, you’ll quickly realize why Salt Spring is called Canada’s "Island of the Arts."

2

CHEESE, PLEASE So much more than just a cheese shop, the Salt Spring Island Cheese Company is a must-see for foodies. They’ve been handmaking their cheese here using traditional methods and only natural ingredients for over 20 years. Windows in the facility allow you to watch as the cheese is made, and the tasting room lets you sample the end product.

3

TAKE A HIKE Not one but five B.C. provincial parks provide spectacular forest and beachfront exploring. Ruckle Provincial Park is not only one of the most beautiful parks in the southern Gulf Islands, it’s one of the most historic, with the still-active Ruckle Farm dating back to 1872. Burgoyne Bay Provincial Park is part of one of the largest protected areas in the Gulf Islands. Mount Maxwell Provincial Park provides access to the highest spots on the island, and great views can also be enjoyed at Mount Erskine Provincial Park.

4

SAY "SPA-AAAAAH" Relaxation and Salt Spring have long been intertwined, with wellness retreats, spas, yoga studios and meditation centres a part of the health landscape since the 1960s. For spa services, there’s Hastings House Country House Hotel and Samya Ayurveda Clinic and Spa. Unwind at the Ganges Yoga Studio and meditate at retreats hosted by the Salt Spring Vipassana Community.

5

MOVEABLE FEASTS Food trucks are no longer a novelty in big cities or small towns, but like all aspects of Salt Spring, the island’s food truck scene is tastefully unique and operated by interesting characters. There’s all the usual fare—from tacos to falafels to gelato—but just as many "only-on-Salt-Spring" operations, such as BNurtured’s Farm to Fork trailer. The entire menu features local organic and ethically grown fare, and chef/owner Brooke Winters was recently profiled on the Food Network's Chuck & Danny’s Road Trip show.

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/ food /

Roots Rock

New Fairmont Pacific Rim restaurant Botanist is a “plant conservatory” for all the senses.

PHOTOS: IAN LANTERMAN

BY MICHAEL WHITE

WINTER 2017 • BrianJesselBMW.com

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/ food /

Designer Craig Stanghetta integrated elements of the Pacific Northwest in the “greenhouse” motif of Botanist.

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Pacific Rim opened on the eve of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics, the 48-storey luxury hotel and residences immediately became an integral part of tony Coal Harbour.

In particular, its Lobby Lounge and RawBar—light-filled yet intimate, luxe yet casual—has achieved a rare feat: a hotel space that perhaps is more popular with locals than with tourists.

And yet, following the hotel’s opening, the mezzanine-level restaurant, Oru, seemed to stand awkwardly at the fringes of a nearby party. Despite pedigreed chefs and a commitment to excellence at every level, it failed to satisfactorily seduce the masses. So, in 2015, plans were made to shutter Oru and succeed it with something very different—not a renovation so much as a reinvention.

The Pacific Rim’s principals clearly paid attention to which new Vancouver restaurants were winning the accolades (and repeat patronage) of critics and everyday diners. And they noticed that many of them had something in common: their interiors were the work

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of Ste. Marie, a design firm founded by Vancouver transplant Craig Stanghetta. Together with branding specialists Glasfurd & Walker, Stanghetta and his colleagues set about removing all vestiges of Oru’s turbulent past.

Stanghetta recalls when he first toured the still-functioning Oru’s premises. “It was hard to understand when you were in the restaurant,” he says. “You had to walk quite deeply into it and past the service bar before you came to the host stand, then you would have to run the gauntlet to get to the actual dining room.”

And that room, although immaculate and pretty, could have been countless other upscale hotel restaurants in any city around the world. Stanghetta proposed that the new restaurant should be a consummate reflection of Vancouver and its surrounding region— which, although we who live here tend to forget it, strikes many tourists as beguilingly exotic.

“We wanted to lean into the Pacific Northwest aspect, looking at indigenous plant life, looking at it as a kind of plant conservatory,” he says.

Whereas Oru was secluded from the bustling Lobby Bar directly below it, Stanghetta says its successor—named Botanist—would be “integrated into what’s now known as an iconic space, creating a bet-

FRESH-FORWARD THINKING The reinvention of Fairmont Pacific Rim’s primary restaurant space extends beyond its interior—the Botanist concept conceived by the hotel’s design partners prompted a new culinary vision that makes it unique among hotel dining rooms in Vancouver. Fortunately, the gentleman chosen to helm the kitchen was happy to be tasked with executing the idea.

“It was exactly what I wanted to do,” says executive chef Hector Laguna, a native of Mexico who comes to Vancouver following tenures in San Francisco,

Miami and Toronto.

Although Botanist’s menu offers a variety of popular proteins and seafood, vegetables play an uncommonly prominent role. The region’s bounty of local produce makes this a joy for Laguna.

“It’s more fresh, it’s more reactive,” he says. “For example, I don’t like to say exactly which vegetables are going to be in a dish. I’ll say, ‘Halibut with spring vegetables,’ and I’ll use whatever the farmer brings me that day. I haven’t had the pleasure of working to that extreme before, and that motivates me a lot—that it’s always something new.”

SPRING/SUMMER 2017 • BrianJesselBMW.com

HECTOR LAGUNA PHOTO; GRADY MITCHELL

ter connection. It would be a beautiful greenhouse overhanging the lobby, and people could see that there is something organic and lush and active happening up there.”

The botany motif extends to the food (see sidebar) as well as to the cocktails created by the hotel’s head bartender, Grant Sceney. Future cocktails will be developed in an on-site “lab,” which complements an indoor garden, a Champagne lounge and the restaurant’s own bar, which Stanghetta says is “probably the biggest change from before. Oru had maybe a 400-square-foot service bar; we’ve made it something like 1,000 square feet, and it’s a monolithic Italian terrazzo stone.

“We get approached all the time by hotel restaurants because they’re just struggling,” he acknowledges. “They’ve been following a format for 20 years and the public has moved on from that.”

But the Fairmont Pacific Rim was wholly confident in the designers’ bold vision for Botanist, and Stanghetta has nothing but praise for the hotel and its willingness to offer guests—whether they come from another continent or from around the corner—a one-of-a-kind experience.

“They were ready to take a lot of risks, and they put in a lot of hours refining everything. We’re excited.”

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/ wines /

Summer Sips!

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s the summer months approach, so does our taste for wines that are bright, lively and fresh.

In other words, wines that totally hit the spot when the sun is beaming and the mercury rising. And if rain clouds roll in and al fresco hopes are dashed, these bottles will brighten the darkest of days.

Warre’s 1980 Vintage Port, Porto, Portugal; $139.99 (SKU 4152157) While we may not be thinking port in summer as we do in winter, liquor stores recently brought in a very limited amount of this 1980 stunner. It’s possible most bottles will be gone by autumn, so now’s your chance.

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And the perfect patios for soaking them up.

FIVE PATIO PICKS

BY KURTIS KOLT

Domaine Faiveley 2014 Nuits-SaintGeorges 1er Cru “Les Damodes”, Burgundy, France; $119.99 (SKU 809343) A beautiful red Burgundy that will absolutely sing when served with a hint of a chill. A smattering of red berry fruit includes cherries, raspberries and huckleberries.

Rombauer Vineyards 2015 Carneros Chardonnay, California, U.S.A.; $49.99 (SKU 277236) A wonderfully balanced chardonnay livened by a little tropical flair, including mango, guava and a touch of young pineapple; a ribbon of vanilla twirls throughout, and it’s cradled by just enough toasty oak to frame everything nicely.

Jean-Marc Brocard 2015 Chablis Premier Cru Montmains, Burgundy, France; $47.99 (SKU 277236) A cracking, crisp chardonnay with searing acidity, keeping all of those Granny Smith apple, Bosc pear and Meyer lemon notes buoyant and fresh. Extra points for being a premier cru Chablis for under 50 bucks.

BrianJesselBMW.com • SPRING/SUMMER 2017

Pol Roger 2008 Brut Rosé, Champagne, France; $110.99 (SKU 515536) Pink bubbles can be fun and a hit for the season, but that doesn’t mean it can’t also be elegant and refined. The renowned Champagne house makes this edition of its wines featuring fruit only from premier and grand cru vineyards in Montagne de Reims and Côte des Blancs.

Le Mesnil Non-Vintage Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut, Champagne, France; $50.99 (SKU 546390) Grand cru chardonnay drives this elegant sparkler offering aromatics of freshbaked sourdough bread, and then a palate of lemon curd, orange marmalade and a rich pear compote.

Also an absolute steal.

Cantina del Pino 2012 Barbaresco, Piedmont, Italy; $46.99 (SKU 97733) They say to cellar your Barolo and drink your Barbaresco, so let’s drink some Barbaresco! Earthy mushroom and truffle notes provide a solid undercurrent for plum and floral notes, all of them ready to tackle anything off the barbecue.

1 Tap & Barrel Whether you’re hitting the Olympic Village, Coal Harbour or North Vancouver location, you’ll be treated to stunning views and some of British Columbia’s best wines, always fresh on tap. tapandbarrel.com 2 CinCin Oh, how I adore the mini-vacation CinCin’s leafy terrace offers while tucking into a delicious pasta along with any wine recommendation

by Vancouver’s 2017 Sommelier of the Year Shane Taylor. cincin.net 3 Ancora Kick back along False Creek and enjoy chef Ricardo Valverde’s Peru- and Japaninfluenced, seafood-centric cuisine while washing it all down with selections from wine director Andrea Vescovi’s gem-loaded list. ancoradining.com 4 Jules Bistro This might be Gastown, but the authentic French sidewalk café experience is right on point while you enjoy the likes of Alsatian onion tarts and countrystyle pâté with a light and lively Burgundy in tow. julesbistro.ca 5 Juke Don’t be afraid to get your fingers dirty with this Chinatown hot spot’s addictive fried chicken and barbecued ribs, coupled with a pretty pink or stellar sparkling wine—as long as you save enough room for their chocolate pecan pie to finish things off! jukefriedchicken.com

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i / escape /

BY ANDREW McCREDIE

BMW is at the forefront of steering us into a brave new world—and it’s coming sooner than you think.

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BrianJesselBMW.com • SPRING/SUMMER 2017

PHOTOS: BMW

TO THE FUTURE

The 2021 BMW iNext

SPRING/SUMMER 2017• BrianJesselBMW.com

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O U D O N ’ T N E E D T O B E A car aficionado to know that vehicles that drive themselves are on the horizon. What might surprise you, however, is just how soon you’ll be sharing the roadways with autonomous vehicles. Or, for that matter, travelling in one yourself.

For Vancouver BMW drivers, that future is less than four years away, with the iNext model expected to be on sale in the Brian Jessel BMW showroom in 2021. Considering that the 2010 Winter Olympics are now seven years in the rear-view mirror but to many Vancouverites feel like only yesterday, four years is no time at all.

Particularly for such a revolutionary—actually, evolutionary—vehicle as the 2021 iNext.

As it has been since its inception a century ago, BMW is on the leading edge of the many emerging technologies required to engineer and produce an all-electric, self-driving, connected car like the iNext. Many of the elements that will go into the iNext are in-house designs: things like the powertrain, the chassis and the luxuryappointed cabin.

As to the autonomous “brains” on the iNext, BMW has teamed up with two industry heavyweights, Intel and Mobileye. The former

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BrianJesselBMW.com • SPRING/SUMMER 2017

The all-electric 2021 iNext will use cutting-edge autonomous driving technology from Mobileye.

needs no introduction, as Intel chips have been synonymous with computers since the early years of computer technology. The latter, Mobileye, is an Israel-based company founded in 1999, which today is at the cutting edge of advanced driver assistance systems.

In January of this year, BMW, Intel and Mobileye announced they had joined forces to develop a test fleet of 40 autonomous BMW 7 Series vehicles that will be on the roads by later this year.

Obviously, Intel was impressed from its initial dealings with Mobileye—in March, the California-based chipmaker bought the tech company for $15.3 billion (US). Apart from Mobileye stockholders, the big winner here is BMW, as its partnership with the two companies is at the forefront of driverless technology developments.

One of the guiding philosophies of Mobileye since its beginning has been that if a human can drive a car based on vision alone, so can a computer. At the heart of Mobileye’s technology is a single-lens camera, or mono-camera. That’s a departure from earlier advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) that relied on dual-lens cameras (or stereo-vision) and radar systems. “The Mobileye mono-camera was inspired by human vision, which uses only both eyes to obtain depth perception for very short distances,” explains company

AUTONOMOUS DRIVING 101 To better help you understand the five “levels” of automated driving systems, ranging from complete driver control to full autonomy, here are the descriptions from the Society of Automotive Engineers.

LEVEL 0 The driver (human) controls everything: steering, brakes, throttle, power.

LEVEL 1 Most functions are still controlled by the driver, but a specific function (like steering or accelerating) can be done automatically by the car.

LEVEL 2 At least one driver assistance system of “both steering and acceleration/deceleration using information about the driving environment” is automated, like cruise control and lane centring. It means that the “driver is disengaged from physically operating the vehicle by having his or her hands off the steering wheel AND foot off the pedal at the same time,” according to the SAE. The driver must still always be ready to take control of the vehicle, however.

chairman Amnon Shashua. “All depth-perception cues for farther distances—such as perspective, shading, texture and motions, cues that the human visual system uses in order to understand the visual world—are interpreted by a single eye.” That logic has convinced more than two dozen major automakers to form partnerships with Mobileye, which, in addition to developing the hardware necessary for autonomous driving, has patented chip technology integrated into its software systems.

BMW is the only one of those automakers, however, to be developing a specific model with Mobileye, and have an ambitious release date in just four years’ time.

The 2021 iNext will join the i8 and i3 in BMW’s electrified “i” vehicle stable, and the automaker says that a whole range of highly automated models from all BMW Group brands is set to follow.

Described as BMW’s “next revolutionary car,” the iNext will offer Level 4 automation that requires little to no human intervention, but it will still allow the driver to take the steering in their hands.

After all, it will be a BMW.

LEVEL 3 Drivers are still necessary in Level 3 cars but are able to completely shift “safety-critical functions” to the vehicle under certain traffic or environmental conditions. It means that the driver is still present and will intervene if necessary but is not required to monitor the situation in the same way as with the previous levels.

LEVEL 4 This is what is meant by “fully autonomous.” Level 4 vehicles are “designed to perform all safety-critical driving functions and monitor roadway conditions for an entire trip.” However, this is limited to the “operational design domain” (ODD) of the vehicle—meaning it does not cover every driving scenario. This is the level the 2021 BMW iNext is expected to offer.

LEVEL 5 This refers to a fully autonomous system that expects the vehicle’s performance to equal that of a human driver in every driving scenario—including in extreme environments like logging roads.

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BY JENNI BAYNHAM

Pedal Power Why a car dealership and a cycling non-profit are speeding toward a shared goal.

a luxury auto dealership has set its sights on introducing cycling to youths around Metro Vancouver, but this new endeavour from the Brian Jessel BMW team is just as strategic as it is charitable.

Enter Escape Velocity, the largest organizer of grassroots road-cycling races in the Lower Mainland. The organization has been an incorporated non-profit since 1989, and for the last 15 years has operated with a particular focus on its youth program, DEVO, which aims to introduce cycling to young children.

“With our technologically driven lives today, youth and teens don’t spend as much time being active, they don’t walk as much, and tend to be driven around more,” explains Diana Zoppa, Marketing Manager at Brian Jessel BMW. “We were looking for an organization that mentored kids and also included fitness.” Brian Jessel BMW has always been up front about their charitable goals—take their massive annual Cabriolet fundraiser as evidence—but this year the dealership wanted to expand with a community organization and focus on fitness through various partnerships, and one including teaming up with a local grassroots cycling organization.

The end goal? Enabling youth from varying backgrounds to be able to pick up a bike and cycle—safely—to any destination across the city. “There’s a thousand bike lanes out there,” says Zoppa. “Let’s use them!” It helps that the team at Brian Jessel BMW is passionate about cycling; throw some nostalgia into the mix and you have a charitable cause that everyone is able to participate in. “We have a big group within the dealership that wants to empower youth to find the benefits of getting on your bike and enjoying the freedom that comes with it,” explains Zoppa.

“We are trying to instill the fundamentals of physical literacy in youth,” explains Brian Storey, Escape Velocity’s president, and they’ve certainly got the best team in place to achieve that goal, with multiple former professional cyclists as coaches and Storey himself a former Olympian. “The DEVO program is an introductory program that brings the joy, adventure and freedom that comes

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PHOTOS: DEVO CYCLING

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O U W O U L D N ’ T B E A L O N E I N WO N D E R I N G W H Y

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with cycling to children.” The program is able to take about 160 youths and teens per year and runs April until September, with the Cannondale competitive team running year-round. The children make active friends, but so do their family members— parents can also be part of the club, regardless of cycling ability.

Like with most activities, expense is always a consideration. But did you know that the cost of one entry-level road bike is the same as two pairs of hockey skates and pads? “The difference is that the road bike can last you up to four years,” says Storey.

“It’s an extremely sustainable option.” The organization’s partnership with brands like Cannondale and Vancouver-based Sugoi 52

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apparel company has lowered the costs to program participants, though there are still some families that require an extra helping hand.

“We have a needs-based grants program that can assist families struggling to keep up with the costs that come along with cycling as a sport,” explains Storey. “As the youth graduate to the Cannondale/Fortius travelling team (ages 15 to 18), then race entry fees and travelling around the country to different races can really mount up. We are able to allocate funds donated by community members to help those on the competitive circuit.”

There’s more to it than competitive cycling; the program aims to empower

PHOTO: TLBVELO PHOTOGRAPHY

“We consider cycling to be the new golf.”

teenagers to cycle to and from practices without requiring their parents to ferry them around. “Kids cycle from all areas of the city to UBC for practices,” explains Storey. “We teach them about road safety so that they are fully prepared to make the commute—they even carry extra equipment in case they run into an emergency.”

For the staff at Brian Jessel BMW, the chance to spread their roots in the community as well as benefit a non-profit was just what they were looking to do. “We were able to donate an electric bike produced

by BMW to Escape Velocity to help their coaches move between the cyclists with greater ease, as well as a van for moving athletes and equipment,” says Zoppa. “Many of us at Brian Jessel BMW are so passionate about cycling, it makes it easy for us to get motivated about promoting the programs.”

Strategically, it’s all about long-term partnerships, networking and making connections. “We consider cycling to be the new golf,” says Zoppa. “As with golf on the green, business with cycling is done out on the roads, and the cycling community is very much our market.” The strategy is simple: similarities can be drawn between cycling and luxury automobiles—namely performance-driven adrenalin and adventure— meaning, from the dealership’s perspective, that the cycling culture is one worth paying attention to.

“Many of our staff participate with the club’s Tuesday night races around the city,” explains Zoppa. “Our staff likes to be active, and getting out with the club has been great team building.” The dealership’s mentality is that a physically healthy team will be reflected in an energized work approach. “The program allows us a mentorship factor,” says Zoppa, “and we see this as a bonus.”

Finally, the dealership and club had set goals with fundraising and are creating a corporate event scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 12—“The Last Tuesday Nighter.” This will see corporate teams race around Brian Jessel BMW’s marquee lot to raise funds for the DEVO club. “This will be the first year for the event, but the excitement is mounting already,” Zoppa concludes. “We know this is an exciting partnership, and there are lots of plans as we grow together.”

The

Last Tuesday Nighter

TUESDAY, SEPT 12, 2017.

/ events /

Giving Back in Style The annual Cabriolet Charity Gala fundraiser is so much more than just a party at a car dealership.

This year’s Cabriolet featured swimsuit and lingerie fashion from Paris.

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CAR DEALERSHIP MIGHT NOT

seem like a glamorous location for a fundraiser, but that could just mean you’ve never attended the annual Cabriolet Charity Gala at Brian Jessel BMW. The 12th annual fundraiser was held in March and, in typical Brian Jessel BMW fashion, was a luxurious feast for the senses.

“An Evening in Saint Tropez” was the theme, and the Boundary Road dealership transformed into the Côte d’Azur for a night. Food from some of the city’s finest restaurants; wine, Champagne and cocktails of the highest order; lingerie and swimsuits straight from Paris on the runway; and the violin mastery of L.A.’s Rachel Grace made for a fantastic night for the partygoers.

Cabriolet started with exclusive car launches, then included top fashion shows, like BOSS, Harry Rosen, Holt Renfrew, and some years big name entertainment like Jay Leno, Shawn Hook and Barenaked Ladies No two years follow the same format.

Brian Jessel BMW Marketing Manager Diana Zoppa has been chairing the annual fundraiser for the past four years, and her first one, in 2014, celebrated the launch of the BMW i8 with a stunning Gianni Maanaki fashion show featuring haute couture designs and a bespoke i8 dress, complete with over 40,000 Swarovski crystals. She

PHOTO: COSIMO PERONCE (LEFT)

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BY ANDREW McCREDIE

Above: The Barenaked Ladies entertain the crowd. Left: Brian Jessel and Jim Murray toast to another successful fundraiser.

followed that up with a celebration that saw the separation of the new-car and preowned departments and the opening of the Brian Jessel BMW Pre-Owned dealership in a second stand-alone building.

Last year Zoppa orchestrated an ambitious night that celebrated the 30-year anniversary of the dealership and the century mark of BMW itself. A Holt Renfrew fashion show wowed the crowd, as did the Juno-nominated performer Shawn Hook.

In addition to being great parties, all Cabriolets have shared a cause near to the heart of Brian Jessel—and the dealership itself.

“Years ago we used to have parties for new model introductions and invite our customers,” says Brian Jessel. “This eventually morphed into a dual purpose event that included community involvement and philanthropic causes, which ultimately became part of Brian Jessel BMW’s core values.”

Zoppa estimates the dozen Cabriolets held to date have benefited as many as 20 different charities: Arts Umbrella, breast cancer research, the Canadian Cancer Society, Canucks Autism Network and Canuck Place, to name just a few, and raising over $1 million to date.

The past four years, Pancreatic Cancer Canada (PCC) and Pancreas Centre BC have been the only charities.

“Brian became very committed to PCC after Bernie Jessel, his father, passed from this unforgiving form of cancer,” says Zoppa, sadly adding, “and more recently, our close friend and emcee for Cabriolet, Tammy Moyer.”

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PHOTOS: JEREMY NG

“Years ago we used to have parties for new model introductions and invite our customers.”

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The i8 had a lavish coming out party at the 2014 Cabriolet.

“Each year I think, how are we going to outdo ourselves next time?”

PHOTO: NORM LEE

Adds Brian: “We would like people to see how lucky we all are to live in this great place and are so fortunate to give to charities that are aimed at stamping out diseases, and in particular, cancer, which is the worst disease in the history of mankind. Too many of us have seen the horror of living with and someone dying from this terrible disease.”

When it comes to fundraising, Zoppa has been the organizer herself or on the committee for numerous events, including the Crystal Ball, Odd Squad Productions Society, Odd Party, Jewish Community Centre events and the former Diamond Ball, now known as the Daffodil Ball.

“When I became the chair for Cabriolet, I was so excited to plan this event because the format is not a sit-down dinner, it’s a stand-up cocktail event,” Zoppa says.

“It’s a different kind of fundraiser. You still have top sponsors, top restaurants, top guests, but we are not limited to sitting 56

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all night. The guests mingle and move around.” Having said that, “It’s a lot of fun, but the format makes it harder to raise the big money like downtown sit-down galas.

I am determined to get Cabriolet to that status eventually.”

As for the transformation of the dealership: “This is worth coming to see. The excitement of Cabriolet is that every year, we do something very different.” Planning for Cabriolet takes the same time as other fundraisers and probably has a few more components to take into consideration.

Not only does the building become a large ballroom, but the parking lot around the dealership needs to be transformed to manage the guests’ arrival.

“Brian Jessel and Jim Murray are both not only focused on providing the guest experience in their day-to-day business but in this meaningful event we call Cabriolet,” says Zoppa. “They are two of the most generous

people I know and give wholeheartedly to scores of charity requests all year long.”

As for his favourite Cabriolet to date, Brian says he’s loved them all, but “our 30th anniversary was very special, as I was given a surprise reception and was so proud to see friends from near and far come and make a special effort to celebrate our longevity, and be there to support my vision to give back to worthy causes.”

Zoppa is hard at work on the 2018 event.

“Next year is Cabriolet’s 13th year and we are already planning something very, very special. It’s going to be completely different again. Each year I think, how are we going to outdo ourselves next time?”

The next Cabriolet Charity Gala at Brian Jessel BMW takes place in April of next year, but that doesn’t mean you can’t support the cause before then. To donate to the fight against pancreatic cancer, visit www.pancreaticcancercanada.ca.

/ last lap /

Did You Know…

You’ve read the owner’s manual and checked all the online information on bmw.ca, but Brian Jessel BMW Customer Relations Supervisor Eric Ho bets you still might not know everything about your BMW.

PHOTO: BMW

FIVE THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT YOUR BMW VEHICLE

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The BMW app lets you control many functions of your vehicle.

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Key Fob All Comfort Access equipped models have the capability to open all the windows and the sunroof by simply holding down the unlock button on your key fob. And when you want to close them all with a push of a single button, just depress and hold the door handle button. In addition, all key fobs have memory settings from the previous driver. Two different fobs will save each driver’s last vehicle settings.

2

Hood Latch Click the unlatch button once to open the hood; click twice to unlock the hood.

3

Voice Recognition You can activate voice recognition by pressing a button on the steering wheel, then use voice commands to enter addresses into the navigation system and place phone calls to numbers in your address book.

4

Connect to Google Maps Register your vehicle with Google Maps and you’ll be able to wirelessly send your car’s navigation system destinations you’ve searched on your desktop/laptop.

5

My Remote App Register your vehicle and you will have a host of capabilities from your mobile device. Unlock and lock your vehicle, honk the horn and flash the lights when in a parking lot, within one kilometre away.

Photo Michel Gibert. Special thanks: www.marierancillac.fr, clairedelavallee.blogspot.com. *Conditions apply, ask your store for more details.

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