City Life Magazine Vaughan Toronto February / March 2012

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CONTENTS 30

24 Feb/Mar ar 2012 Volume 10 Issue 1

58

A Day in the Life of Emmanuelle Gattuso

Live By Design

26

The Pros & Cons of Business

34

ON THE COVER 30 A Day in the Life of Emmanuelle Gattuso: How a cancer survivor gives back

Simple is Best

FEATURES 18 Design Supernova: The Novogratz family shares the blueprint to a happy home 46 Between a Rock and a High Place: Beyond the limit with rock climber Sonnie Trotter 58 The Pros and Cons of Business: Kevin O’Leary guides ex-offenders to redemption PHILANTHROPY 28 Yael Cohen: One woman’s aptly irreverent gesture to defeat apathy

18

Design Supernova

38

A Thousand Little Things 4 City Life Magazine Feb/Mar 2012

CITY GUY 36 Jian Ghomesi: One-on-one with an iconic broadcaster FOOD AND DRINK 22 Espress Yourself Contest: Where’s the best espresso in Vaughan? You decide.

34 Simple is Best: Stefano Carniato of Piola restaurant takes us back to basics BUSINESS & FINANCE 56 Business Means Business: Linda Allan shares the do’s and don’ts of business relationships 60 Raise the Steaks of Personal Finance: Sizzling suggestions from finance guru Alison Griffiths 62 Master the Cards: Five credit cards that offer the most bang for your buck

63 The Bottomless Cookie Jar: Gail Vaz-Oxlade on living within your means FASHION & BEAUTY 52 Stressed to Impress: Enhance your shopping experience with stylist Rachel Matthews Burton 54 Sleeping Beauty: Fall under a spell with these overnight beauty secrets HOME DECOR 24 Live by Design: Spark some flair with these unique fashions, fixtures and furnishings REAL ESTATE 42 Life on the Rise: The sky’s the limit at these five developments 44 The Key to Finding the Right Agent: Justine Deluce unlocks her tips to finding the ideal real estate agent HOSPITALITY 38 A Thousand Little Things: Hotelier Tony Cohen reveals the ideal stay AUTOMOTIVE 50 Crossing Over: Space and seating for practical people in the Dodge Durango Citadel and Chevrolet Orlando LTZ IN EVERY ISSUE 8 Publisher’s Note 10 Editor’s Note 14 People & Places 44 Readers’ Survey: Lucky readers can take home these great prizes 66 Horoscope: What’s waiting for you this spring www.citylifemagazine.ca

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ċ B&W ċ DENON ċ PARADIGM ċ ROTEL ċ PANASONIC ċ BRYSTON ċ SAMSUNG ċ MITSUBISHI ċ RUNCO ċ KRELL ċ ANTHEM CRESTRON www.citylifemagazine.ca Cityċ LINN Life Magazine Feb/Mar 2012

PUBLISHER / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Michelle Zerillo-Sosa • michelle@dolce.ca MANAGING EDITOR Simona Panetta • simona@dolce.ca DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS & MARKETING Angela Palmieri-Zerillo • angela@dolce.ca ART D E PARTM E NT CREATIVE DIRECTOR Fernando Zerillo • fernando@dolce.ca SENIOR DESIGNERS Christina Ban, Omar Cushnie GRAPHIC DESIGNER Amy Yang WEB PROJECT MANAGER Steve Bruno EDITORIAL BEAUTY/HEALTH & TRAVEL EDITOR Angela Palmieri-Zerillo FASHION & HOME DECOR EDITOR Michelle Zerillo-Sosa COPY EDITOR Simona Panetta PROOFREADERS Amy Bielby, Simona Panetta WRITERS Michael Hill, Madeline Stephenson CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Linda Allan, Rachel Matthews Burton, Stefano Carniato, Tony Cohen, Justine Deluce, Alison Griffiths CONTRIBUTING WRITER Gail Vaz-Oxlade INTERNS Gianluca Malatesta, Cassandra Tatone CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Andrew Burr, Michelle Zerillo-Sosa, Michael Weber, Dean West, Matthew Williams PUBLISHER

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T: 905.264.6789 • Toll Free: 1.888.68.DOLCE info@citylifemagazine.ca DIRECTOR NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Susan Bhatia OFFICE MANAGER Lina Posteraro OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Aleksandra Gorovic FRONT COVER Emmanuelle Gattuso Photo by Dean West City Life Magazine • Volume 10 • Issue 1 • Feb/Mar 2012 City Life Magazine is published bi-monthly by Dolce Publishing Inc. 111 Zenway Blvd., Unit 30, Vaughan, ON L4H 3H9 T: 905.264.6789 • 1.888.68.DOLCE F: 905.264.3787 info citylifemagazine.ca • www.citylifemagazine.ca Subscribe online at www.citylifemagazine.ca or by calling 905.264.6789, TOLL FREE 1.888.68.DOLCE. City Life’s yearly subscription fee is $13.80. We accept Visa, MC & AMEX. Send cheque or money order to Dolce Publishing Inc. 111 Zenway Blvd. #30, Vaughan, ON, L4H 3H9 Publication Mail Agreement No. 40026675 Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses to: Dolce Publishing Inc., 111 Zenway Blvd., Suite 30, Vaughan, ON L4H 3H9 All rights reserved. Any reproduction is strictly prohibited without written consent from the publishers.

DISTRIBUTION AND CIRCULATION Inquiries about where City Life Magazine is available for sale should be directed to: Transmedia Group Customer Service: 905.428.7541 ISSN 1206-1778 Next Issue: Apr/May 2012 The opinions expressed in City Life Magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher or advertisers. Dolce Publishing Inc. does not assume liability for content. The material in this magazine is intended for information purposes only and is no way intended to supersede professional advice. We are proud to be a Canadian company that has successfully published magazines for the past 15 years without any government funding or financial assistance of programs to cover editorial costs. It has all been possible thanks to the wonderful support of our readers and advertisers.

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PUBLISHER’S NOTE

‘‘I HOPE YOU LIVE A LIFE YOU’RE PROUD OF. IF YOU FIND THAT YOU’RE NOT, I HOPE YOU HAVE THE STRENGTH TO START ALL OVER AGAIN.”

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– F. Scott Fitzgerald

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am very excited and proud about this issue of City Life Magazine. Our writers, editors and designers have all been busy working on a new look for you, our readers. Their dedication and passion for this magazine is evident throughout, from empowering stories to bold, clean design. We hope you too join in and celebrate our 10th year publishing City Life Magazine by reading this issue and finding new inspiration in both your life and your city. I hope I don’t sound like a parent who brags about their child’s report card, but I just couldn’t help myself.

Speaking of parents, those of you who are blessed to be mothers and fathers will enjoy the Novogratzes’ story on how to live a happy life with a happy home for the kids (story on p. 18). I personally found some of their approaches both refreshing and simple to follow.

Perhaps my favourite story is that of Emmanuelle Gattuso. Now here is a woman who can be proud of the life she is living. Not only did this firecracker withstand her encounter with cancer, she took the challenge head-on for all women (story on p. 30). On the day of our photo shoot, I loved her spark for life and enthusiasm – her bubbly laugh still resonates in my ears.

This issue’s captivating contributing editors are just the beginning of the incredible talent we have lined up for you in 2012. So whether you are looking for ways to fix your credit, wardrobe, home or diet, this issue of City Life Magazine is filled with ways to live a life you can be proud of … or at least, inspire you to start fresh all over again!

Keep reading City Life, and may you live a life of pride.

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8 City Life Magazine Feb/Mar 2012

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elcome to City Life Magazine’s February/March installment, an issue that reminds us to steadily put one foot in front of the other towards a new beginning. The first step in achieving this is to boldly demand more of yourself, and intimately embrace your means to an end. When I spoke to Kevin O’Leary, he of the steely manner and multi-millions, I was pleasantly surprised by his approach to life. He said, “I’m not in the pursuit of money, I’m in the pursuit of freedom and time. The first thing on my mind is not how to make money, it’s: ‘how can I be even freer than I am?’” On Redemption Inc., O’Leary observes the show’s ex-convicts as they pave their way towards a hefty investment cheque; a venture of liberation, really.

Regardless of whether we have or don’t have the assets of a successful venture capitalist, we all have the resources to make good on every moment. An example of this comes in the name of Emmanuelle Gattuso, who helped fund The Gattuso Rapid Diagnostic Centre at Princess Margaret Hospital. The project has unshackled potential breast cancer patients from the worry accumulated while waiting for a diagnosis. A cancer survivor herself, this is Emmanuelle’s gift of freedom. Wealth and apathy won’t create more minutes, but we can use every second chasing our dreams, finding balance in body and mind, and most importantly, staying true to ourselves.

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INTRODUCING t THE 2012 Gues EDITORS Through this issue’s diverse list of guest editors, City Life Magazine hopes to bring you palpable perspective, innovative ideas, and absorbing advice from the experts.

STEFANO CARNIATO FOOD From traditional gnocchi to mozzarella burrata pizza, restaurateur Stefano Carniato of Piola dishes out his mother’s advice in “Simple is Best” on page 34.

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JUSTINE DELUCE REAL ESTATE The real estate world can be a confusing place when you’re navigating the streets solo.

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With decades of dressing experience under her belt, Judy Inc. stylist and Rack to Rack founder Rachel Matthews Burton offers staple advice in “Stressed to Impress” (p. 52).

LINDA ALLAN ETIQUETTE Is your client becoming more of a comrade? The complex conundrum of client-producer relationships is simplified by etiquette expert Linda Allan in “Business Means Business” (p. 57).

ALISON GRIFFITHS FINANCE Best-selling finance author Alison Griffiths might have a lot on her plate, but she takes a break to share her insight in “Raise the Steaks for Personal Finance” (p. 60).

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PEOPLE & PLACES 1

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1a: Rosey Edeh, senior entertainment reporter, ET Canada; Lynn Beauregard, vice chair, Code; Shaenie Colterjohn, co-chair, Read Africa Ball; and Scott Walter, executive director, Code 1b: Guests Bill Vlad, Cathleen Grady, Krysta Foss and Anthony Foss 1c: Rob Leak, Jeanette Ciccone and Graham Nord 1d: Mark Groulx and Deb Lewis 1e: Liz Coates and Chris Dunkley 1f: Susanne Ritzau, Henry Calderon and Angela Colterjohn 1g: El-Farouk Khaki, Tselane Mokuena, Rosey Edeh and Troy Jackson 1h: Edgar Burton, VP of business development, SB Solutions, and Danielle Iversen, publicist and president of That PR Thing. 2a: Million Dollar Smiles (MDS) volunteers.

-d

1. READ AFRICA BALL On Nov. 25, 2011, Code held its Read Africa Ball at the Rosehill Venue Lounge in Toronto. The event, hosted by Entertainment Tonight Canada’s Rosey Edeh, featured African sounds, a silent auction and a rafe. Close to $30,000 was raised to support Code’s literacy and education work in developing countries. www.codecan.org 2. HOLIDAY BEAR DRIVE Million Dollar Smiles (MDS) held its fourth annual Holiday Bear Hug Campaign at the Monte Carlo Inn – Vaughan Suites on Dec. 17, 2011. MDS volunteers met early in the morning to receive their Bear Hug packages, which included four-foot teddy bears and $100 Toys “Râ€? Us gift cards. The volunteers then delivered the parcels to over 150 children who have been affected by life-threatening illnesses. www.milliondollarsmiles.ca

3. LA BEFANA BRUNCH Families and friends gathered for Villa Charities’ La Befana Brunch to support children’s programs at the Columbus Centre on Jan. 8, 2012. Held in Sala Caboto at Villa Colombo, the brunch featured activities for children and a visit from La Befana herself. Proceeds from the event will go towards purchasing new toys and materials for Columbus Centre daycare programs. www.villacharities.com

3

14 City Life Magazine Feb/Mar 2012

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www.citylifemagazine.ca

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PEOPLE & PLACES

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5

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4a: Toronto firefighters and three liver transplant survivors Sandra Holdsworth, Richard Doucette and Michele French; event organizer and coordinator for the Canadian Liver Foundation, GTA, Marsha Doucette 4b: Guests buy raffle tickets for the Thailand spa tour 4c: Members of Hanna’s Belly Dance School entertain. 5a: LEFT TO RIGHT: Mike Picco, president, Idee17; Michael Salerno, national sales manager, Idee17; Jacques Dinel, president, Dinel Design Inc. 5b: Mike Allen and Neal Pupulin of Pupulin Orchestra.

-a

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6a: A young girl gets colourful at Panera Bread’s cookie-decorating event 6b: Brothers Max, left, and Samson, centre, support eight-year-old Nico at Panera Bread’s Cookies for Kids event benefitting the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Diagnosed with congenital heart disease, Nico’s wish to meet Buzz Lightyear and the Toy Story gang at Walt Disney World will come true in March 2012. 7a: Makeup artist Christine Cho at work 7b: Jarvis Church of The Philosopher Kings and Gary Wilson, president and founder of Eligible Inc. 7c: Patricia Wong, Shannon Tebb and Valerie Fazekas.

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7. MARTINIS WITH MEN Girls’ night out just got more exciting. Martinis with Men is a monthly affair featuring complimentary martinis, beauty stations and best of all, a celebrity guest. The November event featured an interview with Jarvis Church of The Philosopher Kings, with host Gary Wilson asking him to share his relationship advice after experiencing a divorce. The martini shakers will come out again on Feb. 29, with Iron Chef America’s Kevin Brauch dishing out his perspectives on dating and love. www.eligiblesocialclub.com

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8a: Chefs Luis Valenzuela of Torito, Jose Hadad of Frida and Chris McDonald of Cava and Xococava 8b: Kevin Brauch lets loose as host of the Kahlúa event in Toronto 8c: Kramer the donkey surprises guests during a Mexican street party reception.

16 City Life Magazine Feb/Mar 2012

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5. IDEE17 INTRODUCES GAZZOTTI Idee17, Toronto’s go-to showroom for design and architecture, recently celebrated its latest addition and Canadian debut of Gazzotti, a company renowned for its fresh designs and innovations in hardwood flooring. Close to 200 guests mingled with wine and authentic food as they gathered for a sneak peek of the Gazzotti collection, exclusively available at Idee17. www.idee17.com

6. COOKIES FOR KIDS Thornhill’s Panera Bread opened its doors and heart in December for a free cookie-decorating event to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Canada. The two-week event was held at all Panera bakery-cafés in the GTA, attracting cookie enthusiasts and decorators for a good cause. www.panerabread.com

-b

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4. WHAT A GIRL WANTS – AN EVENING AT THE OASIS The Canadian Liver Foundation held its sixth annual What a Girl Wants – An Evening at the Oasis event on Nov. 17, 2011.

Guests enjoyed belly dancing and limbo performances; a stunning fashion show and fabulous shopping. One lucky prize draw winner went home with a one-week spa tour in Thailand. The event raised over $23,000 for liver research and education. www.whatagirlwantstoronto.com

8. CHEERS TO KAHLÚA The difference between delicious and delicioso was revealed during a fun-filled Kahlúa event held at Toronto’s lifestyle establishment 99 Sudbury. A Mexican street party reception with a live donkey greeted guests as they savoured tacos from La Carnita and sipped on refreshing cocktails of orange zest and Kahlúa. The popular coffee liquor was then infused in a signature drink by Kevin Brauch, followed by the brand’s latest worldwide commercial. A mariachi band came to life as a three-course Mexican dinner was served, with dishes prepared by chefs and restaurateurs Luis Valenzuela of Torito, Chris McDonald of Cava and Xococava, and Jose Hadad of Frida. www.kahlua.com www.citylifemagazine.ca

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The Novogratzes share the blueprints to a balanced family and work life.

18 City Life Magazine Feb/Mar 2012

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“CORTNEY AND I LOVE EACH OTHER, AND WE LOVE OUR KIDS, AND I THINK THAT IS THE MOST YOU CAN GIVE TO A CHILD: A HAPPY HOUSEHOLD.”

ϒ The Novogratz family, minus their newest addition, Major. FROM LEFT: Breaker, Wolfgang, Robert, Tallulah, Five, Cortney, Bellamy and Holleder.

- Robert Novogratz

efore a basketball court on a roof of a five-storey home in Lower Manhattan could echo its first slam-dunk, a building in a parking lot was knocked down so that a crane could hoist the quadrangular concept onto the structure’s crown. The ambitious project was coined by an eclectic pair of New York-based designers and lovebirds, who gutted the former gun-shop to make room for a renovation of rustic finds, Grecian floors, French doors and their fledging CL: HOW HAS BEING A family of nine. Successfully flipping DESIGNER BENEFITED YOUR properties for exorbitant profits is ROLE AS A FATHER? nothing new for reality TV stars RN: I’m around very creative people Robert and Cortney Novogratz, who all the time. We have a house kind have re-nested five times in seven of like a circus, and we literally have years. They have since transformed a people coming in and out. They’re very motorcycle garage into their new home, interesting – playing music and an über-hip yet kid-friendly townhouse drawing pictures, so the kids are that doubles as their office. While exposed to that and I think not many the lens of a camera has catapulted a kids can do something like that. We family of unique proportion into the have great artists coming in, like public eye, it has also captured the Mitch Epstein, who’s a phenomenal true essence of what it takes to turn a photographer. [He] was over here house into a home. It’s an essence that yesterday telling Tallulah about taking transcends great design and focuses on a picture. So I think that’s a neat thing the art of parenting. “Cortney and I for the kids. I didn’t have that as a kid. love each other, and we love our kids, and I think that is the most you can CL: HOW DO YOU REWARD give to a child: a happy household,” YOUR KIDS? says Robert, 48, on the phone from Manhattan.

RN: We try to keep them humble

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The avant-garde guardians, who have been married for nearly 16 sweet years, are parents to seven humble yet hungry children (Wolfgang, 15, twins Bellamy and Tallulah, 13, Breaker, 11, twins Five and Holleder, 6, and Major, 3), authors of Downtown Chic, and hosts of their second reality makeover show Home By Novogratz (HGTV Canada).

“Make time for everything, even when it seems impossible,” says Cortney,

Q&A WITH ROBERT NOVOGRATZ

and hungry is our saying. We don’t like that kind of big success on their own to get to their heads. My one son probably has 200 trophies, and we don’t let him keep them – we put them in the basement because it’s kind of obnoxious to have them hanging out … Their reward is they’re in a happy household. Cortney and I love each other, and we love our kids, and I think that is the most you can give to a child: a happy household.

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40, who was recently filled with worry after daughter Tallulah broke her leg in a skiing accident. While the cliché easier said than done seems to resonate here, somehow the Novogratzes are doing just what they say. “We usually always have dinner together … Cortney is not a great cook, so we have a lot of hamburgers and chicken and pizza and pasta and Mexican dinner. It’s not that extravagant,” says Robert, who tries to keep things as authentic as possible with his kids, despite a lucrative run in real estate. “You see a lot of bratty Manhattan kids and I would never want my kids to be like that … We don’t drive fancy cars or wear fancy watches,” he adds. Instead, the Novogratzes aim to live within their means, investing in education and travel. “You can be friends with your kids, but you also have to be the parent. They have to respect you.”

D ur ing a summer getaway to their vacation home in Brazil, the well-grounded family put their heads together for a fun project: they built a tree house that the kids helped design.

Robert and Cortney, whose careers in design were spurred by both their parents’ love of antiques, are careful, however, not to dictate the destiny of their kids. “What we say is it’s about exposing them to as much as possible … if they don’t love it, don’t shove it down their throat, but expose them and then you kind of figure out what the like, and you know what their competent at, and then maybe you can navigate them towards that sea.” This passive-aggressive approach helps the parents manage a hectic lifestyle, which in turn allows them to grow from the inspiration their children exude. “The youth keeps you young and relative … they are really just always fresh with new ideas.”

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20 City Life Magazine Feb/Mar 2012

With a full house, a busy working schedule and no live-in nannies, the couple places a definitive emphasis on taking the time to enjoy each others’ company and qualities. While a bohemian-chic Cortney credits her husband for teaching her how to laugh and live a big life, Robert admires his wife’s optimism and sunny disposition:

“I think that’s a nice person to wake up to in the morning.”

Following the success of their first breakout reality show, 9 By Design, the Novogratzes draw their impressive portfolio ahead with Home by Novogratz, which showcases renovations to the Fred Segal store in Los Angeles, a high school gym owned by Paul Pierce and a hipster pad in Brooklyn. Their first home décor product line with CB2 is expected to debut this fall in Canada.

Redefining the meaning of design with their distinct ideas and execution style, Robert and Cortney’s design coup d’etat is taking cues from the outdoors and reflecting them in the home’s interior.

They then scour their art collection to find a unique piece to enhance their design sensibilities. But while they explain that a fresh coat of paint, unique light fixture, memorable piece of furniture and a brilliant piece of art are essential to pulling a room together, when it comes to holding a family together, a clear blueprint and stable foundation are key. “I try to be kind and caring and empathetic to other people, and also independent and accomplished, so that my kids will see that you can be anything you want to be,” says Cortney. www.thenovogratz.com

“YOU CAN BE FRIENDS WITH YOUR KIDS, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO BE THE PARENT. THEY HAVE TO RESPECT YOU.” - Robert Novogratz www.citylifemagazine.ca

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VOTE ON YOUR FAVOURITE ESPRESSO BY SCANNING THE QR CODE BELOW. LA PALOMA GELATERIA AND CAFÉ 1 Bass Pro Mills Dr., Concord, ON 905.760.2841 www.lapaloma.ca Inspired by the timeless traditions of southern Italy, and now back under its original management, patrons stop by this spot for both its hot and cold creations.

NINO D’AVERSA BAKERY LTD. 3120 Rutherford Rd., Maple, ON 905.832.8395 Transcending the recipes of the old country, this famous GTA bakery continues to deliver great coffee and conversation.

ESPRESS YOURSELF:

OTE FOR VAUGHAN’S BEST ESPRESSO

www.citylifemagazine.ca/espressovote Vaughan is overflowing with charming cafés that all serve extraordinary espresso, but whose is the best? Well, we’re going to let YOU, the reader, decide. Simply scan the adjacent QR code to vote for your favourite establishment.

May the best blend win!

HAVE WE MISSED A HIDDEN GEM? Tell us about your favourite espresso if it’s not mentioned in the adjacent list.

ST. PHILLIPS BAKERY 5100 Rutherford Rd., Woodbridge, ON 905.893.2863 www.stphillipsbakery.com Well-known for its custom cakes and pastries, St. Phillips Bakery also serves delicious espressos to their daily regulars.

DOLCE BOMBE CAFE 7611 Pine Valley Dr., Vaughan, ON 905.265.7841 www.bombewoodbridge.com Life is short. Sit down and enjoy a bombe while you sip on a long espresso.

AROMA ESPRESSO BAR 9320 Bathurst St., Vaughan, ON 905.303.3817 www.aroma.ca True to its name, the second you walk in you are struck by the smell of freshly brewed coffee.

EMILY’S BAKERY 9591 Weston Rd., Woodbridge, ON 905.417.8989 Often praised for its warm, crisp bread, this charming little bakery also serves a rich, foamy espresso that’s not to be missed.

FAEMA CAFFÈ BOUTIQUE 3175 Rutherford Road, Tuscany Place Vaughan, ON 905.738.6060 www.faema.ca For over 50 years, Faema has warmed the hearts of Italians looking for that little taste of home.

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22 City Life Magazine Feb/Mar 2012

for optimum espresso flavour, and can even be adjusted for different bean roasts. The separate steam boiler will let you make multiple espressos while texturizing milk. Be your own barista and enjoy a moment of brilliance with the Dual Boiler’s programmable features. www.breville.ca www.citylifemagazine.ca

Consider Vinsanto for your next event Under the soft glow of flickering candlelight, an intricately fashioned dish made by culinary experts is placed before you. Serving the most delectable fare with the most wonderful wines, Vinsanto Ristorante surrounds every guest in a warm Florentine atmosphere. Be sure to experience its glamorous dinners from Monday to Saturday, and relax and unwind to the soulful vibe of jazz music every Friday and Saturday night.

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City Life Magazine Feb/Mar 2012 28 Roytec Road at Weston Road 905.264.3991 www.vinsanto.ca

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Live by

design

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From what you own to who you are, let design follow in pursuit. rom the enchanting chandelier hanging from the ceiling to the unusual design on your bedroom walls, beauty can be found all around you. And with access to some of the most abstract and extraordinary items in the world, you too have the power to enjoy life, no matter how boring the workday. The best way to start is with something that you use every day: a lamp or a water jug, for example. By introducing design into common items, you can experience the world through different points of view. Learn to live in the now, think outside the box, and establish a personal style of authenticity by training your eye to find beauty in the items that surround you. Everyone has been stuck in a daily routine at some point or another, but those who find bliss take time to appreciate the smaller things in life.

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1. Lightlace These delightful light fixtures feature wooden pearls available in two sizes and a variety of colours. Personalize your room with the Lightlace it deserves. www.dottirandsonur.com 2. Hidden Goods Handbag Inspired by the circus life circa the 19th century, this bag is definitely a sight for sore eyes. A collision of emotion and romance, it captures the attention of everyone who passes by it. www.birkiland.com 3. Modern Rubber Ducky Don’t be mistaken – these newfangled rubber duckies make a great addition to any bathroom. The delightful little animals add a little youth in your life with a splash. www.design-milk.com 4. The Bobble Jug Neat little bobbles make water purification fun. With a wide range of sensational colours, these personalized jugs make the world a healthier place. www.design-milk.com 5. Map of Paris Rollout Wallpaper Whether you prefer a collection of your favourite books or a detailed map of Paris, these extraordinary wallpapers take your dreams and put them right in front of you. www.rollout.ca 6. Bab Hotel Escape to a place of sheer imagination. The refined interior of the Bab Hotel in Marrakech offers an artistic yet modest atmosphere full of chic designs, from light fixtures to sleek flooring. www.babhotelmarrakech.com

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lighting furniture accessories

255 Bass Pro Mills Drive l Vaughan, Ontario l Tel. 905 851 1188 l www.primalighting.ca www.citylifemagazine.ca

City Life Magazine Feb/Mar 2012

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Cont’d from page 24

Live by

design

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Accessorize beauty back into your life.

7. OfficePod Getting some work done around the office has never been cooler. These eco-friendly, custom-made shelters provide space for just about everything. Whether it’s storing your prized possessions or recording a new album, everyone can use some extra wiggle room. www.design-milk.com 8. Not Knot This modern chair carries a retrospective presence captured in the shape and colour of the seat. One can admire how easy it is to add texture with a pillow. www.design-milk.com 9. Pin Press Shelf Getting your children to put things back has never been easier. This interactive shelf can handle any type of organization situation.

Think outside the box! www.design-milk.com 10. Spaghetti Scrub Now you can cook and clean with spaghetti. Naturally made from corncob and peach pits, you can use these disguised kitchen scrubbers for those tough-to-get-out messes. www.design-milk.com 11. Artist Jade Jude Let Jade be your guide to think differently with art that is not subjected to any of society’s limitations. www.jaderude.com 12. Interchangeable Swarovski Crystal Watches With a variety of colours, these watches allow you to interchange the bands to match your mood and style. www.tkowatches.com 13. Corita Rose Chair This distinctively designed textile and psychedelic chair gives your room that British touch! www.coritarose.com 14. Flat Rock Light Illuminate the darkness with these futuristic light orbs, designed for both indoor and outdoor spaces. www.palazzetti.ca 15. Marilyn Monroe Mosaic A mosaic depiction of Marilyn Monroe is not only timeless, it’s priceless. www.sicis.com 16. Half Circle Wall Bracket Extraordinary for its nature, this chrome light fixture allows you to add to your surroundings by shedding some light in new ways. www.primalighting.ca 17. Lurisia Water You can thank the Italians for these reusable and recyclable glass water bottles that have nothing to hide but bella aqua. www.luganofinefoods.ca 18. Baker Bedroom Set Luxury designer furnishings embrace the look of modern elegance. www.studiobhome.com 19. Spoon and Fork A pinch of elegance, a hint of culture and a taste of chic design make one great restaurant. www.spoonandfork.ca

26 City Life Magazine Feb/Mar 2012

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YAEL Cohen

She’s just saying what we’re all thinking: F%#? Cancer.

“I’m very proud of what we do,” says Cohen. “We’ve been successful because of our authenticity, our rawness and because of our name. It’s memorable.

You see it once and you won’t forget it.”

ϒ As the founder of F*** Cancer, Yael Cohen has brought her concern for early cancer detection to the White House and the United Nations.

“IF YOU WANT TO CREATE A PARADIGM SHIFT AND REALLY CHANGE HOW WE THINK ABOUT CANCER … YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE YOUTH.” – Yael Cohen

While some may feel that employing such a racy, candid title is brash and immature, for Cohen, there was no better way to sum up the confusion, anxiety and anger she felt when her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009. “I realized this is a statement and this is a disease that really affects everybody, and it’s a widely shared sentiment,” she says.

At a tremulous time when the world looked its bleakest, these two loaded words she happened to hear brought clarity in the most lucid of ways. Cohen made a T-shirt for her courageous mom with the slogan boldly emblazed on its chest, and the next thing she

28 City Life Magazine Feb/Mar 2012

knew, she was swamped with requests for her fearless attire. “I’ll never forget one of the first times I wore the shirt in public and we were at a coffee store, and a mother holding a three- and a seven-year-old’s hand said, ‘Yeah, f*** cancer.’” The F*** Cancer movement was born. But the cause hasn’t been without controversy. In 2012, for example, Vancouver’s Moulé boutique received complaints and some threats after posting F*** Cancer signs in their windows.

In less than three years, F*** Cancer has sold over 10,000 T-shirts and raised more than $1 million. Proceeds

don’t go to research, however. As Cohen notes, 90 per cent of cancers are curable if caught in stage one, with apathy playing a role. As a result, funds go towards prevention, education and early detection awareness aimed at Generation Y. “If you want to create a paradigm shift and really change how we think about cancer … you have to go to the youth,” says the 25-yearold. Cohen’s message has spread like wildfire to the White House, the United Nations and the non-profit Technology Entertainment Design (TED).

Cohen hopes to create a discourse for ending late-stage cancer diagnosesw by using Facebook, Twitter and video campaigns such as the Cancer Talk initiative. Like parents giving their children the ‘sex talk,’ this campaign urges youth to encourage their parents to get checked for the warning signs of cancer.

In 2012, Cohen will be pushing this message through new mediums, like an innovative social media game and common resources such as video and print. “We’re focusing heavily on the communication of cancer,” she says, explaining how many individuals – family, friends or cancer patients themselves – are searching for a community of support. “And that’s what we’re going to build for them,” says Cohen. Oh, and f*** cancer. www.letsfcancer.com www.citylifemagazine.ca

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Don’t let Yael Cohen’s clean image and faultless features fool you. The founder of F*** Cancer is as poised and self-assured as a heavyweight champion.

And when your non-profit’s name is that direct and controversial, you would certainly have to be.

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private express elevator glides to the 20th storey of a Cumberland Street condo, opening up to Emmanuelle Gattuso’s immaculate oasis in the sky. The stark white walls of wonder act as blank canvases for contemporary artists like Tim Whiten and Barbara Steinman, leading the way to a self-fulfilling great room. It’s 10 a.m. on a mid-January morning and a thick billow of morning fog is dampening the impact of 11 foot-high floor-to-ceiling windows, which on any given Sunday would offer an unrivalled Yorkvillian view.

What starts to feel like trespassing after-hours at an art gallery is quickly curtailed by the raucous voices of Gattuso’s poodles,

30 City Life Magazine Feb/Mar 2012

Quality time with a brazen breast cancer survivor.

Pretty in pink, Emmanuelle Gattuso stands in the centre of her home office, where she spends most of her time.

www.citylifemagazine.ca

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A Day in the Life of

which protectively ensure that not a single soul slips by. “This is James and this is Stewart,” she says, stepping out of her office. It’s not what you think.

While she may have a wonderful life, the pups are actually named after magician Stewart James, whom her husband, broadcast baron Allan Slaight, deeply admires. The youthful 64-year-old is dressed in her signature print of leopard and knee-high camel boots designed by Rocco P., her favourite Italian boot maker. Her fiery hair and thick-framed Vue dc glasses reveal shades of her eccentric personality.

Her sweet smile and contagious laugh hit you like a train on a track. This rose-coloured composition, however, paints a much different picture than a decade ago, when Gattuso received a freight of bad news. “My father died in 2001, and a year later in October 2002, my best friend died of ovarian cancer.

Three weeks later my mother died, and then I get word that there’s something wrong with my mammogram,” she says, adding that her sister was being treated for breast cancer at the time. The six-week long wait to find out her test results fell over the family like a dark cloud. By the time Princess Margaret Hospital oncologist Dr. David McCready called her into his office to discuss the news, she managed to convince herself that everything was fine. It wasn’t. Gattuso was told, like more than 23,000 Canadians every year, that she had breast cancer. “I was so stunned. Then [Dr. McCready] explained to me what was going to happen and the surgery and so on, and I think I was in kind of a daze, and then we got into the car and my sister called me and I said, ‘I … I …’ then I started to cry.”

That was late 2002. Luckily her cancer was detected in stage one, and her treatment plan was highly effective.

Today, the grandmother of five has a slate of reasons to be happy. Reasons that go far beyond her personal health.

“I feel good, I feel privileged that I can help people go through this situation in a much better way,” she says, referring to her recent philanthropic milestone.

Driven to diminish the stress of www.citylifemagazine.ca

patients who worriedly have to wait for breast cancer results (average of 33 days in Canada), Gattuso jumped on-board with Dr. McCready’s precedent-setting vision to create a centre that would give individuals their assessment, diagnosis and treatment recommendations in just one day. “He explained to me what he was thinking and that, you know, we have to run a pilot program first to see if it really would work and so I was excited. I thought, ‘this is incredible.’”

Over dinner one night, she informed her husband about the multi-phase project and how it would significantly change the lives of women by lessening the anxiety that coincides with not knowing. “My husband said, ‘Well what can I do to help?’ So I said, ‘Maybe you can get the ball rolling and make a donation?’ And he said, ‘Well OK, how about if I gave half?’ I said, ‘that would work!’” In addition to donating $12.5 million in 2009, the Gattuso-Slaight family began matching public donations, rallying support from friends and family and organizing events.

“She’s been intimately involved with all aspects ... She doesn’t do it for any personal accolades, she does it for the fact that she’s been through it and she knows people that have been through it and she thinks, ‘why can’t we do it quicker and better?’” says Dr. McCready.

Her dogged efforts to meet an ambitious fundraising goal of $25 million came to a happy ending on Dec. 24, 2011, when her husband topped off the campaign with a final donation for the remaining amount. “That Christmas gift, of course, was the greatest Christmas gift ever,” she says, beaming with Stewart in her lap. The Gattuso Rapid Diagnostic Centre at Princess Margaret Hospital is working to increase its volume to see 3,000 women and men annually in its final phase this year or next. “I feel very privileged that I can do this, and also that my husband is such a generous benefactor to many, many causes.”

Benevolence is one of the qualities that attracted Gattuso to Slaight more than two decades ago. In a circumstance of serendipity, she was introduced to him by a mutual friend, the late senator Finlay MacDonald, while working

“MY FATHER DIED IN 2001, AND A YEAR LATER IN OCTOBER 2002, MY BEST FRIEND DIED OF OVARIAN CANCER. THREE WEEKS LATER MY MOTHER DIED, AND THEN I GET WORD THAT THERE’S SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY MAMMOGRAM.” – Emmanuelle Gattuso

as a communications director for the Commissioner of Official Languages in Ottawa. At the time, Slaight had just acquired Standard Broadcasting Corporation Ltd., and was in Canada’s capital overseeing a television station.

He possessed the entrepreneurial spirit of her father and the humanitarian heart of her mother, but it was his reaction to her independence that solidified her interest. Gattuso recalls a particular instance in the early dating stages where she had agreed to attend an event with Slaight in Toronto and had to cancel last minute due to a national project that fell on her lap. “He said ‘that’s fine, not a problem. Why don’t I come to Ottawa and you can work, and you know, we will go out to dinner or we will order in, whatever you feel like.’ He was always so easy and he always said to me, ‘I totally respect you, you have lots City Life Magazine Feb/Mar 2012

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of responsibilities in your career and I know what it’s like.’ So that was a big thing for me.” The pair married in Martha’s Vineyard 18 years ago.

Only when asked what an average day is like is Gattuso lost for words. The packed suitcase sitting in her bedroom from a cancelled trip to Florida is tangible evidence of life’s unpredictability. Aside from waking up early, enjoying a café latte and poring through the pages of seven newspapers that

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get delivered to her every morning, the closest thing to pattern in her life is a Douglas Coupland piece in her hallway that features rows of coloured pencil crayons. “I don’t think there is an average day,” she says. For now, reading Walter Isaacson’s Steve Jobs and exploring personalized cancer treatments are two items on her to-do-list. “It’s one day at a time.

One hour at a time.” www.onedaypmh.ca www.citylifemagazine.ca

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Emmanuelle Gattuso at home in Toronto.

‘‘I feel privileged that I can help people go through this situation in a much better way.’’

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- Emmanuelle Gattuso

1. This centrepiece with vases was discovered by Emmanuelle Gattuso’s designer, Jay Gibson, at an antique shop in Atlanta, Georgia. 2. “Boy with Matches” by Matt Donovan and Hallie Siegel was purchased at Olga Korper Gallery Inc. in Toronto. 3. A piece by Canadian novelist and artist Douglas Coupland. 4. This piggy bank is a vintage Gattuso olive jar. The red poodle below was found at Hollace Cluny in Toronto. 5. Absolut Gattuso was a custom parting gift from her colleagues at The Canadian Association of Broadcasters in Ottawa.

6. An 18th century hemlock table by Skylar Morgan in Atlanta. Wegner Wishbone chairs by Hans Wegner.

7. “Written in Exile (for Huang T’Ingjian and Su Shi)” by Andy Patton. Bought at Birch Libralato in Toronto.

8. Paper ballet tutu by British artist Peter Clark. Gattuso bought it in 2008 at The International Art Fair from the Rebecca Hossack Art Gallery in London, England.

9. Gattuso purchased her Gold and Wood glasses at Optical Outlook. Her necklaces are Lanvin, and her cardigan is Sonia Rykiel from Paris.

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Brothers Stefano and Dante Carniato of Piola restaurant are excited to bring their foundation of simple Italian food to the streets of Toronto.

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Simple is Best

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uring our childhood in northern Italy, my brother Dante and I were brought up on our mother’s homemade cooking. Her version of Italian food was simple and healthy, always using fresh and local ingredients. When we first opened Piola restaurant in 1986, our goal was to share our mother’s style of cooking in an environment that showcased Italy’s cultural esthetic.

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From the very beginning, we wanted Piola’s kitchens to duplicate the way we cook at home with our family and friends.

Our mother always told us, “Simple is best,” and I think too many chefs these days are complicating Italian cuisine. When we eat at home we don’t have excessive garnishes on the plate, so why would we do that in a restaurant? Cooking should be simple. We use the best produce straight from local farms, with the least amount of intervention before presenting it to customers.

Traditional Italian food is a lot less rich than other cuisines.

You don’t use a lot of oil – you just use the best quality of olive oil. At home in Italy, our meals included a little bit of pasta or thin-crust pizza, some fresh protein and a small salad to finish. That’s it; that’s a meal. It’s a smart and beautiful way to eat.

Our grandparents owned an outdoor brick oven in the Italian countryside, where they baked bread weekly for family and neighbours. During the war, my grandfather had befriended a soldier from a small village near Naples, and when the soldier visited his country house they tried making pizza in the bread oven. Being a typically southern Italian dish, pizza was quite the novelty for us at the time. Slowly pizzerias began opening all over Italy, eventually becoming a global food. Gradually northern Italian pizzas, like the ones offered at Piola, became known for being thinner and lighter than the Neapolitan style.

Our mother’s absolute favourite dish is gnocchi. Her northern Italian-style gnocchi is made with potato, flour and eggs, but you’ll see variations from region to region such as the Tuscan version featuring ricotta. Our mom usually served her gnocchi with a light tomato sauce or some sage and fresh melted butter. We managed to convince our mother to share her recipe with us, which is used at every Piola restaurant worldwide. We borrowed her traditional sauce as well, but on our Lucky Gnocchi Day on the 29th of each month, we offer the dish in eight different sauces.

Piola is about celebrating the elements of life that inspire and move us – namely, food and culture – in a welcoming, community focused space. My brother and I feel that a focus on art and community is as essential as the food. www.citylifemagazine.ca

“MY MY GRANDFATHER HAD BEFRIENDED A SOLDIER FROM A VILLAGE NEAR NAPLES, AND WHEN THE SOLDIER VISITED HIS COUNTRY HOUSE THEY TRIED MAKING PIZZA IN THE BREAD OVEN.’’ OVEN. – Stefano Carniato MOZZARELLA BURRATA PIZZA WITH A GLASS OF SPERI AMARONE Neapolitan-style crust, burrata cheese, oregano and fresh basil served with a glass of Amarone – a classic, rich Italian red wine.

MODERNA PIZZA WITH A GREEN FRUIT CAIPIROSKA Mozzarella Fior di Latte, fresh tomatoes, arugula and shaved Grana Padano cheese on a thin crispy crust, paired with a fresh Green Fruit Caipiroska (vodka and muddled kiwi, green grapes, mint and sugar) served over ice.

LUBIANA PIZZA WITH A RED BLUSH MARTINI This white pizza has our classic thin crust, mozzarella, Parma ham, fresh tomatoes and basil.

It’s best paired with the Red Blush Martini (Bombay Sapphire, Grey Goose and Martini Dry shaken with grapefruit juice, simple syrup and a dash of orange bitters).

STEFANO CARNIATO GUEST FOOD EDITOR Piola restaurant was born 25 years ago in Treviso, Italy by two gastronomy inspired brothers. Former schoolteacher Dante Carniato and previous waiter Stefano Carniato teamed up to create a culinary culture that served the same simple, Italian food they were raised eating and enjoying in a warm atmosphere. These entrepreneurial ingredients quickly transformed into a success story that expanded to South America and beyond with over 30 locations around the world, including New York City, Sao Paulo, Miami, Buenos Aires, Istanbul, Sante Fe, New Mexico and Toronto. The Carniato brothers currently oversee their epicurean empire from Miami Beach. www.piola.it

NOW OPEN 1165 QUEEN ST. WEST, TORONTO, 416 477 4652

City Life Magazine Feb/Mar 2012

35

Q&

CITY

GUY

JIAN GHOMESI

A

City Life Magazine turns the tables on award-winning broadcaster and host of CBC Radio One’s talk program Q. Interview By Simona Panetta

CL: Do you find that your work and personal life go hand-in-hand, or do you separate the two?

CL: Do you believe that someone in your position has a responsibility to give back?

JG: I’ve always been eager to do what I could to create social change; it didn’t come from any sort of ego-driven way.

When I was a kid it was more so from the big questions that I had about the world that I couldn’t reconcile and that would really bother me: Why do we live in such an inegalitarian world, why does a woman make 70 per cent of what I make, why does this person get born into poverty and I’m in a middle class suburb? Those are just philosophical questions, something about the way I was brought up and the way I understood the world; it bothered me in the pit of my stomach … that’s why I became politically active. Then I realized that everyone has their place and for some people the place to be is building a well in Nicaragua and getting their hands dirty in a real hands-on way, and for others, it’s being a broadcaster that can bring attention or interest to things I think are really important in the world and that should be addressed. But yes, the short answer would be, yeah, those of us who have the means in this world

36 City Life Magazine Feb/Mar 2012

JG: I very much do feel like in my case, everything I do is integrated, partly because I’m a workaholic and I don’t know how to relax and take enough time off, but also because – I can say this honestly – I’ve very rarely done anything simply to make money. I’ve always pursued what I’m passionate about, what I’m interested in, and then worked at it hard enough to thankfully make enough to survive and thrive ...

There’s very little distinction in any given 24 hours between my work and my personal life.

CL: Would you say that you’re the type of person who schedules his life on paper, or do you keep everything up in your head?

JG: I’m a very detail-oriented person and it’s very, very important to have my world and my life organized. Some people would call that OCD, others would call that neat freak, but part of that is that I really feel like I’ve got to have my world organized for me to be able to multi-task and do all the things that I do. I’m a ... very highly organized person, maybe to a fault; I have everything scheduled throughout my day.

CL: Do you miss the days when you used to tour with your band, Moxy Früvous?

JG: I love what I’m doing now but there is something about being able to travel and perform in front of audiences around the world that is very difficult, and also to emote and express oneself through art and music that you can’t necessarily replace with being a broadcaster or a writer. But I do feel to a certain extent that’s an experience that I had, that’s an adventure that I had. I may return to it, but I’m also interested in continuing to explore new territories.

CL: If you were a tourist, how would you spend your day in Toronto?

I’m a big fan of some of the communities in Toronto that exist outside of any particular tourist destination. I’d take somebody to the Distillery [District], to the art galleries and the theatre there, then I would take somebody up to the Danforth for the mix of communities and the organic nature of the Carrot Common versus all the Greek restaurants. I would take somebody to Little India on Gerrard Street East, and I would take somebody to a concert at Massey Hall, because I think it still continues to be one of the best sounding venues in North America, and it’s a precious one that we have got to keep in our hot little hands.

Q airs weekdays at 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. on CBC Radio One, and on CBC Television on Sundays at 1 p.m.

www.cbc.ca/q www.citylifemagazine.ca

Photo By CBC Television

and who have resources – given that we’re a selected, chosen few – should do what we can to share that with others, and if that means social action, that’s a good way to start.

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City Life Magazine Feb/Mar 2012

37

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The Thompson Toronto’s rooftop lounge is ideal for drinks at sunset and taking in the breathtaking city skyline.

A THOUSAND Little THINGS

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THE EVOLUTION AND INTRICACIES OF AN EXTRAORDINARY HOTEL EXPERIENCE. Since opening his company Global Edge Investments in 1998, Tony Cohen has consistently expanded his repertoire, solidifying various partnerships and opening a variety of establishments, including Hôtel Le Germain Toronto and Thompson Toronto.

38 City Life Magazine Feb/Mar 2012

I

travel to London, England several times a year for business and typically stay in the same hotel. The reason is less about the rooms (a good room is a non-starter) and more about the service and the amenities, specifically the bar; I love a great hotel bar, one that is well-designed with a good vibe and fantastic music, and is just as busy with locals as it is with hotel guests. I have been staying at The Connaught and usually take the day flight over. By the time I am checked into my room, it is typically around 10 p.m., and while it is getting late in London, it is 5 p.m. in Toronto, which means it’s time for a cocktail. I know several of the bartenders and some of the local patrons, and when I enter, I feel totally comfortable. They know me and they know my cocktail, and it is as if it is a local joint in my hometown. But therein lies the beauty; it is not.

Over the past two decades, hotels have changed significantly.

In the 1990s, that change was more related to design, primarily spearheaded by the likes of Ian Schrager and Steve Rubell with the Morgans Hotel in New York City, and model-turned-hotelier Anouska Hempel with the Hempel in London. Hotels became more design-conscious, and focused on increasing the experience beyond the guestroom. www.citylifemagazine.ca

Toronto’s various suites.

Then a reverse in hotel culture happened. Years ago, guests walking into a luxury hotel dressed formally and were totally fawned over, but those who were not dressed appropriately by traditional standards (i.e., wearing jeans) were frowned upon. With the advent of the design/boutique hotel, people in jeans feel at home as guests, just like those in suits.

Hotels have also become more homogenized; it is now about a lifestyle of aspiration. In fact, many now use the term “lifestyle” or “luxury” rather than just “boutique,” as hotels are now more of an all-encompassing experience. Hotels often market themselves as ‘homey.’ In www.citylifemagazine.ca

actuality, guests are looking for comfort, but want to experience a lifestyle they would not dare at home. Interestingly enough, some of the latest features, such as complimentary branded bottled water, high thread-count sheets and custom mini-bar products have even become somewhat standard.

These days, going to a hotel is more about an experience. Guests want great service with personality. Long gone are the days of the stale hotel bar or restaurant with the same continental menu in every city. Hotels and their amenities, as a result, have evolved to enhance the overall experience. This includes master chefs and mixologists,

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Located in the Thompson Toronto, the luxurious Scarpetta Italian Restaurant is led by chef Scott Conant, whose signature dish of spaghetti with tomato and basil has become a favourite amongst the culinary crowd.

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The bar, restaurant and other unique amenities became important. In the 1970s and ’80s, Isadore (Issy) Sharp and the Four Seasons set the standard, with service being the most important aspect of the hotel business. He then revolutionized the industry by standardizing certain amenities (robes and soap in bathrooms, fitness rooms, 24-hour room service, to name a few) that are expected in virtually any hotel.

Boutique hotels that evolved from the ’90s are different from conventional “cookiecutter” hotels. They are deliberately designed to be unique. Uniqueness may come in the form of service, amenities, Modern and vibrant furnishings décor and style, or a complement the deep, rich combination of all hardwood that lines the floors and walls of the Thompson three elements.

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The Thompson Toronto’s 102 guestrooms glow with modern esthetics, and thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows, plenty of natural light as well.

great workout and yoga spaces, sexy rooftop bars and spacious event rooms.

Hotels have become destinations onto themselves, an urban playground, if you will. I always say that a hotel stay is not about doing one thing right, but a thousand little things that add up to an experience. The rooms are integral, but they are but one part of what guests are looking for in the multifaceted lifestyle of a hotel.

TONY COHEN GUEST HOSPITALITY EDITOR Tony Cohen is the founder and CEO of Global Edge Investments, a hospitality and lifestyle-based investment firm. From restaurants and hotels, this entrepreneur’s company manages a variety of hospitality-related investments. Cohen is also co-partner of the Thompson Toronto, the first international addition by the Thompson Hotel brand. www.thompsonhotels.com

City Life Magazine Feb/Mar 2012

39

ADVERTORIAL A pool can transform your backyard into a mini resort, providing plenty of incentive to enjoy the outdoors.

POOL

THE FAMILY TOGETHER

W

hen the weather is warm, the last thing you want to see is your children staring at a screen. But with one parent working late and the other taking the oldest to soccer practice, bringing the family together can be trying.

Canadian summers are short, so get the family together to enjoy your home’s outdoor space with a swimming pool from GR Pools.

“For children, it’s a source of fun, no doubt about it,” says Carlo Riccardi, co-owner of GR Pools. With years of experience, he recognizes the liberating transformation felt by customers once they start splashing around in their new backyard oasis. “Once you fix your backyard properly with a nice pool, you’ll find that you’ll be spending a lot of time in the backyard. It definitely brings the family closer together.”

40 City Life Magazine Feb/Mar 2012

Encourage your children to get active with a refreshing swim.

the few genuine marbelite companies in Ontario, and with that distinction comes a passion for their product. “Marbelite is in our blood,” he says. “I breathe and live this business until three or four in the morning. If there is a single problem I won’t let it go.”

Pools are not just for family time, either.

They’re a great source of exercise and provide the foundation for summer socials, like barbecues or neighbourhood gatherings. It can also be a great escape after a long week. “In the past, people used to go to cottages, but now they’re putting their cottage in their backyard,” says Riccardi. It’s like a mini resort that’s 30 seconds away.

“IN THE PAST, PEOPLE USED TO GO TO COTTAGES, BUT NOW THEY’RE PUTTING THEIR COTTAGE IN THEIR BACKYARD.” – CARLO RICCARDI Originally founded by Riccardi’s father, Giuseppe, in 1984, GR Pools specializes in renovating, rejuvenating and building concrete pools using marbelite, a specialized plaster used to coat pools. This family owned and operated business, which is now led by Riccardi and his brother Tony, is one of

While the weather may be a bit nippy now, it’s the perfect time to start planning for the summer. “I like to meet the person first and find out their needs,” says Riccardi. “Then I can gear them towards a simple or intricate pool.” www.grpoolmarbelite.com 905.417.6359 www.citylifemagazine.ca

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City Life Magazine Feb/Mar 2012

41

LIFE ON THE

RISE

From the heart of the city to the soul of Vaughan, these luxurious developments are sure to make your pulse beat faster. Written By Gianluca Malatesta

1

1. PARKSIDE AT ATRIA

2

Tridel and Dorsay Development Corporation introduces its newest masterpiece to the condominium market: Parkside at Atria. Adjacent from the prestigious Alto at Atria, Parkside at Atria is a combination of modern architecture and unique beauty, sharing a private courtyard while remaining steps away from the community. www.tridel.com

2. EXPO CITY All roads lead to Vaughan’s Metropolitan Centre, where an iconic 37-story development deemed Expo City lies in the heart of a community. In an area surrounded by luxury stores, world-class restaurants, diverse recreation and nearby transit, the good life has never been so accessible. www.expocity.ca

PARKSIDE AT ATRIA

EXPO CITY

4

3. THE UPPER VILLAGE Commanding refined simplicity and class, The Upper Village adopts layers of beauty with its symmetry, balance and design. Becoming one of Markham’s architectural landmarks, members who occupy this prestigious condominium will enjoy picturesque walking paths, challenging golf courses, storybook shops and restaurants. www.theuppervillage.ca

4. NERO CONDO Nero adds a modernist touch to the corner of Dundas West and Manning Avenue. The eight-story mixed-use condo will soon become the ideal location for urbanites looking for new life in the city. www.nerocondo.ca

3

NERO CONDO

THE UPPER VILLAGE

5 ALLEGRA CONDOMINIUMS

5. ALLEGRA CONDOMINIUMS Good family, friends and fortune all come together in Allegra Condominium’s newest development in Woodbridge. These imminent residences will breathe fresh design through its 95,000 square-foot recreational area, exclusive suites and an exciting rooftop lounge. www.allegracondos.com

42 City Life Magazine Feb/Mar 2012

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City Life Magazine Feb/Mar 2012

43

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THE KEY TO FINDING THE RIGHT AGENT

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Produced By Angela Palmieri-Zerillo

hen it comes to buying or selling your home, choosing the right real estate agent becomes an integral part of the process. While the sale or purchase of your biggest financial asset can be an exciting time, it can also be stressful – especially if someone who is not the right agent for the job is representing you. Here are a few tips to help you find the right agent.

Take the time to interview your candidates. It is important to meet with different agents to determine which one is the right one for the job. This provides the opportunity to ask whom you are considering to hire a number of questions about the services he or she offers. If you are selling, find out how the property is priced, how it will be marketed and what the fees are. If you are buying, ask the agents you are interviewing how well they know the areas you are interested in and what the process will entail.

Get a second opinion. Once you have narrowed down your search, request a few references. Like any job interview, references are an important part in determining which agent is right for you. Most will be more than happy to provide the names of a few buyers and sellers they have worked with. It will be worth your time to follow-up with them.

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This past January, The Body Shop launched its Words of Hope campaign, encouraging Canadians to write supportive postcards to survivors of sex trafficking. This reusable cotton bag, boldly branded with the handprints of celebrities such as Nicole Kidman and chef Jamie Oliver, helps to support Beyond Borders and the Somaly Mam Foundation with a donation of $2 from every purchase. www.thebodyshop.ca

Team up with someone you like! Buying or selling a house can be a worrisome process. Working with an individual that you get along with and trust can make the process far more enjoyable. Your agent is someone you may be spending a lot of time with and revealing potentially sensitive information to, so getting along with him or her is key. Á

Location, location. One of the most important considerations when choosing an agent is to ensure that they have a good knowledge of the area you are selling or buying in. Determining price and understanding the nuances of different areas are part of the value your agent is adding to the buying or selling process. A well-connected local agent will have access to information that may not be be readily available online. This can create a competitive advantage for clients.

JUSTINE DELUCE - GUEST REAL ESTATE EDITOR Justine Deluce is a broker and vice-president of operations for Chestnut Park Real Estate Limited, Brokerage in Toronto. In addition to her operational duties, Deluce is involved in the business development and strategic planning process for the realty firm, and is also a member of the Toronto Real Estate Board. Prior to joining Chestnut Park, Deluce was a policy advisor to various ministers for the province of Ontario. www.chestnutpark.com

44 City Life Magazine Feb/Mar 2012

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City Life Magazine Feb/Mar 2012

45

BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HIGH PLACE :ULWWHQ %\ 0LFKDHO +LOO

Wednesday afternoon and Sonnie Trotter has made his way to an Internet café in El Paso, Texas. Not that he was dodging the interview, but it took some effort to get the Canadian alpinist on the phone.

Trotter is a professional adventure rock climber, and when your job is hunting down the world’s most challenging lines, it means immersing yourself in some fairly remote locations.

It’s

“It’s like a killer instinct. It’s a really raw, beautiful thing that comes out of you,” says Trotter, one of the most prolific climbers of the past decade, as he describes his body’s response to an especially challenging route. “I feel like I’m lighter, I’m strong, I’m sharper – all those kinds of things occur. It’s a very fleeting moment, but it’s a very addicting feeling. It’s almost drug-like.”

46 City Life Magazine Feb/Mar 2012

www.citylifemagazine.ca

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Canadian adventure rock climber Sonnie Trotter searches for the next hold. This particular crack is dubbed Air Sweden, and can be found in the Indian Creek area of Utah.

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This craving for climbing is the foundation for Trotter’s ascension.

Average, everyday climbers would tend to stick to sport climbing, where bolts are already in place to clip on gear.

Trotter, however, prefers traditional (“trad”) climbing, where he must set his gear. It’s more dangerous, but essential for making difficult routes accessible to others; he’s no stranger to free climbing, where the safety of equipment is absent.

Continuously pushing his potential, Trotter has set numerous first ascents (being the first person to climb a specific route) on many daunting lines, such as the legendary Cobra Crack in Squamish, B.C., or a more recent 18-hour trek up Mount Louis’s The Shining in Banff National Park.

But his adventures aren’t limited to the Great White North. Captain Canada, as he’s known to the climbing community, spends upwards of eight months of the year journeying to more exotic locales, such as Australia, Malta and India, to test his mettle against some of the most demanding rock on the planet. “My most memorable climbs are by far and away the enduring experiences,” says the Newmarket, Ont. native, describing one particular journey from last summer where he and fellow Patagonia ambassador, Tommy Caldwell, spent a gruelling 20 hours fighting the intense cold of the Canadian Rockies just to finish bolting a new ascent. “It was snowing, it was raining, and it sounds miserable, but at the same time there is something about it that is just wild, and it’s a very deeply rooted experience.”

His pursuit for these unforgettable encounters with nature and his melding of various techniques from across genres continues to take Trotter to new summits. Like the intricate progression

48 City Life Magazine Feb/Mar 2012

up a lengthy line, he has gradually built up his body to meet new demands of the previously uncharted. “It’s a very equal balance between technical, physical and mental,” he says, ironically admitting that in his youth he had a fear of heights. “It’s the most complete activity that I’ve found in my experience, and I’m sure other sports are arguably close, but I find climbing to be almost a perfect balance.”

“The one thing that just strikes me about him is that he’s willing to go and explore all the different little avenues of climbing,” says Bob Bergman, owner of Joe Rockhead’s Indoor Rock Climbing, Canada’s first gym of its kind, where Trotter’s love for the sport nurtured. “I think the best part about him is that he has such a positive attitude … it’s super inspiring to people.”

But while Trotter’s journeys have taken him across the globe, Ontario’s rocky

Left: Trotter’s silhouette dangles from Five Year Plan – a steep overhang in Boulder, Colorado.

Top Middle: Eyeing the next few moves, Trotter plans out his ascent of Eurasian Eyes on the Bullet Arete in Squamish, B.C. Right: Trotter’s rippling forearms and vice-grip hands allow him to climb even the narrowest cracks, like this testing ascent up Air Sweden.

Bottom Middle: Trotter chalks his hands before starting his vertical journey.

regions still hold a special place in his heart. “Lion’s Head is one of the best places I’ve ever been to in the world of climbing,” he says of the renowned region on the Bruce Peninsula. There’s also bouldering in the Niagara Falls area, and other sport climbing around Milton, Collingwood and the Beaver Valley. Thanks to the welcoming communities of friendly climbers, local gyms are also great places to start.

For 2012, Trotter is still set on blazing new trails. He’ll attempt a free climb of the nose on El Capitan in Yosemite Valley (which only two others have scaled before) and a first ascent up Mount Slesse’s east face – an over 900-metre free climb that’s sent many retreating. “I think I’d like to leave new climbs for other people to aspire to and to enjoy,” he concludes. “I honestly believe climbing has given me so much and, you know, it’s such an amazing thing to be able to do it. So if I could inspire someone else … that would be really great.”

www.sonnietrotter.com www.joerockheads.com www.citylifemagazine.ca

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City Life Magazine Feb/Mar 2012

49

Dodge Durango Citadel and Chevrolet Orlando LTZ

CROSSING OVER

P

Practical transportation is essential for modern urbanites.

Sure, that desire for a sexy sports car may hang like a painting in your mental rear-view mirror, but for those morning car pools, after-school soccer practices and weekly grocery runs, you’ll need something more pragmatic. Depending on your taste and lifestyle, these two crossovers provide plenty of utility.

DODGE DURANGO CITADEL When it was first launched in the ’90s, the Dodge Durango was a burly, quintessentially manly SUV that didn’t even know the meaning of fuel economy.

Today, that machismo has been refined and wrapped in a tuxedo.

Like a linebacker at a formal gala, the allnew design of the 2012 Citadel retains the imposing qualities of early Durangos while exuding fresh sophistication.

Its muscular curves ripple under its handsome suit as it poses with both athletic aggression and gentlemanly cordiality. It’s an absolute head-turner of power and luxury that is right at home on the job site or at an evening affair.

Swapping the truck-based body on-frame of its forefathers for a unibody chassis,

:ULWWHQ %\ 0LFKDHO +LOO

If a lack of multi-purpose transportation is leaving a hole in your life, these two crossovers could bridge the gap. the Citadel shares the same architecture with the Mercedes-Benz ML and GL SUV – the benefit of a past partnership with Daimler-Benz. The ride is quiet and sturdy, and with rear- and all-wheel drive available, it won’t shudder when encountering rugged conditions. Unlike car-based crossovers, and even with its adopted unibody chassis, the Citadel is very capable in off-road situations.

Under the hood, it comes standard with a 3.6-Litre V-6, which sips 13 L/100 kilometres in the city and 8.8 L/100 km on the highway. Pushing out a respectable 290-horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, drivers will enjoy best-in-class power, towing and fuel economy. A 360-hp V-8 Hemi is also an option for those craving more brawn. With variable valve timing and cylinder de-activation/multi-displacement that switches between four and eight cylinder operation, this 5.7-L isn’t a pig, either.

Once you open its doors, the Citadel exhibits its softer side. Nappa leather seats with detailed stitching add further refinement, while sound-deadening insulation keeps outings quiet. Seven-passenger seating provides plenty of room for family and friends, and when the back row is folded down, there’s more than ample cargo space. You’ll also find first-class features such as heated seats and steering wheel, 8-way power seating, power sunroof, forward collision warning, media centre with a 6.5-inch touch screen, hands-free voice command; and GPS navigation.

All this extravagance comes at a price: over $50,000 for the base model. Its bulky size isn’t ideal for navigating crowded streets or tight parking lots either, and may feel oversized to those unaccustomed with SUVs. If size, style and strength are what you’re after, the Citadel delivers it in spades. www.dodge.ca

The Citadel’s interior is lined with all the bells and whistles of a first-class vehicle.

50 City Life Magazine Feb/Mar 2012

CHEVROLET ORLANDO LTZ While the Citadel is certainly a striking fellow that provides both power and indulgence, it may seem a bit superfluous to more reserved drivers. If pure practicality is what you crave, Chevrolet offers a compact, economically priced, pract seven-seat solution with the 2012 Orlando LTZ. seven www.citylifemagazine.ca

Inside the Orlando LTZ, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll ďŹ nd plenty of contemporary comforts, like 6-way power adjustable driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s seat, heated seating and rear-parking assist.

Meant to replace the HHR and its sluggish sales, this multi-purpose vehicle is Chevyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new venture into compact crossover territory. It ďŹ lls the gap left by the Uplander, Chevyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s discontinued minivan, and is a direct challenge to Kiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Rondo and the Mazda5.

B r i m m i n g w i t h re s e r v e d a n d respectable charm, this well-groomed, functional ride is ideal for city living.

Its compact design grants greater manoeuvrability and allows for easy entry and exit. Its three rows of seats happily ďŹ t seven, and when the third row is folded down youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll ďŹ nd generous storage space.

Up front, the dashâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s modern trimming complements the comfy seating, while excellent visibility provides an unhindered view of the road. Due to the third row of seats, however, the view through the rear isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t the best, but its rear-parking assist is there to compensate. The ride is also quite gentle, cabin noise is minimal and handling is adequate for city streets.

The downside is that it isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t overly large, there are no sliding doors or power tailgate, and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re limited to the same 4-cynlinder, 2.4-L engine from the base model of the Chevy Equinox. While fuel consumption is light â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 10.6 L/100 km in the city and 6.9 L/100 kilometres on the highway â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and the 174-horsepower engine is quite peppy, it can labour when you really give it gas, and it may feel underpowered with the extra weight of several passengers.

Despite its shortcomings, the Orlando LTZ hits all the right marks in terms of compact size, fuel economy and utility. Starting at $28,000, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an affordable alternative to pricier SUVs: a practical crossover for practical people. www.gm.ca

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City Life Magazine Feb/Mar 2012

51

STRESSED TO

IMPRESS

’S FAVOURITE THINGS FOR SPRING

Written By Rachel Matthews Burton

An

experience that evokes agony or ecstasy, regret or satisfaction, shopping for clothes is something we all have to do. After decades of dressing people for a living, I’ve learned a few things that can help to heighten your experience while keeping you sane.

Define your needs. What essential piece(s) are you missing from your wardrobe, and how much are you willing to pay for it? Ask yourself what shop or boutique would most likely carry what you’re looking for.

Know your body type. Sometimes this is tricky because some of us tend to focus entirely on our flaws, which leads to a distorted sense of our shape. But knowing how to wear what’s right for your body type is essential to making it look its best. Attend a workshop or catch a fashion makeover show to learn the basics.

Check your attitude. Do you find yourself going out the door with negative thoughts? Commonly known as a ‘self-fulfilling prophecy,’ be conscious and careful of what you put out there.

Dispel your mistrust in sales people.

They can be tremendously helpful and they know their product better than you do. Spend a bit of time seeking one out that you think you’ll click with and approach them with a smile and your request. An added bonus is that you get to relax and let them do the legwork.

Don’t take anyone shopping with you if they don’t want to be there. Women are usually guiltiest of this. Boyfriends and husbands trail along behind them,

52 City Life Magazine Feb/Mar 2012

feigning delighted interest in store after store. If you must have a second opinion on every purchase, take a photo and email it to your beloved instead.

ϒ A trend I’m delighted to see continue this season is colour. I wear the pants in my house (well, that’s what my husband lets me believe), especially when they’re brightly coloured and wide-legged. www.joefresh.com

If you can shop during off-hours, you’re not going to run into queues or harried sales personnel as you would on a Saturday afternoon. Early weekend mornings or weekday evenings tend to be quieter.

Consider calling ahead. Many stores offer personal shoppers with an appointment. If you feel obliged to make a purchase because someone has dedicated their time to you, remember that it’s perfectly fine to say, “Thank you for taking the time … can you bear with me while I go for a coffee and mull over everything?”

Always trust your gut. If you’re about to hand over the equivalent of your child’s education fund for that fabulous coat and overwhelming guilt consumes you, walk away!

If your mission is a failure, don’t let it dictate every shopping experience thereafter. It can be easy, it can be fun, and there’s something out there for everyone.

ϐ If you’re invited to an event and have nothing to wear, you can borrow an incredible dress for a fraction of the price. www.rentfrockrepeat.com

ύ I love these. The Helloberry Mini Smoothies bracelets add a vibrant touch to your day while being affordable, adorable and locally made. www.helloberryinc.com

RACHEL MATTHEWS BURTON GUEST FASHION EDITOR Rachel Matthews Burton is an international fashion stylist and host of Rack to Rack Funshops, a forum where women are empowered with the tools to shop smart. Burton is currently represented by artist agency Judy Inc. www.racktorack.com Follow Rachel on Twitter @racktorack

www.citylifemagazine.ca

Developed in Italy by two brothers, Modì Collezione is devoted to creating fashionable, formal attire for communions, christenings and special occasions. For more than three decades, this unique label has designed with your unforgettable moments in mind.

MONNALISA

It’s true: babies, tweens and teens can wear Dolce and Gabbana, too.

Since 2001, the Italian fashion house has been designing casual and red-carpet couture for younger stars with a stylish collection called D&G Junior.

BOSS

From elegant and adorable communion dresses to charming and smart suits, Designer Kids Wear has the latest formal attire for children of all ages and all occasions. Keep your little man or darling daughter looking sharp with a range of formal clothing from the world’s top designers.

Mademoiselle Charlotte 7500 Martin Grove Road, Unit 8, Woodbridge, Ont. Monday – Saturday: 9:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.

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Check out our video on CityLifeTV.ca C

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City Life Magazine Feb/Mar 2012

53

SLEEPING BEAUTY

Say good morning to a youthful, rested you with these overnight beauty secrets.

:ULWWHQ %\ 6LPRQD 3DQHWWD DQG &DVVDQGUD 7DWRQH

ϐ GET WICK IT Don’t take worrisome thoughts to bed with you. Calm the chatter in your mind with a vanilla and tabak-scented candle that whisks you away to sultry Marrakech. www.tocca.com

ϒ PILLOW TALK Smother unsightly facial lines and bad hair days with a Branché silk pillowcase. Infused with amino acids and copper, this gentle-to-the-touch beauty aid minimizes skin damage and frizzy morning hair. www.aulitfinelinens.com

ό THE BARE TRUTH Good morning, gorgeous. This invisible formula designed for nighttime use helps to tighten pores, unify your skin tone and increase cell turnover. www.bareescentuals.com

ϒ SINK OR SWIM Settle into this soothing Indian milk bath of milk proteins and ginger extracts to calm and soothe your skin after a long day. A combination of steam and aroma will detoxify your pores and relax your muscles for a restful slumber. www.tautropfen.de

54 City Life Magazine Feb/Mar 2012

ϒ PLUMP UP THE VOLUME Treatments applied at night absorb more effectively. Apply a lip enhancer before shut-eye to restore volume and the natural colour of your lips. www.neostrata.ca

ό BRIGHT-EYED GIRL Gently pat this luxurious balm around your eye area before going to bed and when you rise. Dark spots, puffiness and the inevitable crow’s feet don’t stand a chance. ca.loccitane.com

ϐ MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE Our skin has the extraordinary ability to rejuvenate itself as we sleep. Just two drops of this powerful elixir will restore your skin’s radiance and hydration after a rough night on the town. www.kiehls.ca www.citylifemagazine.ca

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For those of you considering the idea of achieving this, Dina Martins, owner of BodyBare Laser Skin & Wellness, helps to ease any of your apprehensions. “It used to be that unless you had fair skin and dark hair, you risked scarring and pigmentation problems or, at the very least, poor results from laser hair removal. But technology has vastly improved.

We can now offer laser hair removal to a broader range of complexions and hair hues,” explains Dina Martins, certified medical esthetician.

Laser hair removal is cheaper in the long-run with minimal discomfort. Understanding the process makes all the difference, and after an initial consultation with Dina or one of her staff members, clients leave more educated and reassured. “Laser hair removal is safe. The laser light targets the pigment found at the base of the hair root, heating it and disabling it. Prior to the procedure, a cool gel is applied to the skin.” An advantage to having laser treatments over waxing is that you can shave in-between your sessions instead of waiting for your hair to grow. And no, shaving will not make your hair grow back thicker or with more stubble.

The most popular requests at BodyBare are the Brazilian and the Bro-zilian. Female clients bring in their men because they prefer them well-groomed. “For our discerning clients, it is about hygiene: being bare leaves a sense of cleanliness. After just six sessions, the area will essentially be hair-free with minimal maintenance.”

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55

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56 City Life Magazine Feb/Mar 2012

BUSINESS MEANS BUSINESS When your relationship with a client flourishes, be careful not to sabotage it. LINDA ALLAN teaches us how. hat do you do when a client wants to move their relationship with you beyond the required norms of business?

Recently, I’ve had various clients invite me and my husband to a black tie event, a meal at their parents’ home, and even their wedding. I accepted all these invitations graciously, honoured that they thought of me so fondly. But there was no obligation on my part to accept any of them. So how do you decide what to do? How can you ensure your existing relationship with your client won’t be compromised? Here are a few things to consider.

Accepting any invitation beyond your norms of business with a client opens the door to a changed relationship – one that’s closer and more personal. Ask yourself if that’s what you want. If it isn’t, it’s best to politely decline with a gracious, heartfelt explanation. After all, we all have a life beyond our work and commitments to family and friends.

Having proven ourselves to them professionally, a worthy client cannot fault us for our personal priorities beyond the bounds of our business with them.

Should you decide to become involved with your client on a more personal level, remember that it’s really still business, or as I’ve coined, “socio-business.” Don’t compromise your high standards of behaviour and dress by crossing the line of formality as you would with friends. Be yourself and relaxed, but don’t lose sight that this is a client-provider relationship

and will be for as long as they’re buying products or services from you.

Be discreet in what you say. Don’t divulge information that is sensitive, confidential or too personal. Resist any temptation to take part in gossip and conversation that’s inappropriate or offensive in any way. Your integrity is on the line.

Have the good judgment to maintain high standards of conduct, even if others are letting their hair down in the name of friendly fun. Don’t eat too much, drink too much, talk too much or otherwise behave in a manner that’s disrespectful in any way. Discretion is key. You’ll be respected all the more for keeping to the standards you’ve shown them in all your business dealings.

Always dress appropriately and a notch above the requirements of the invitation.

Many people equate a lax appearance with slack business practices. Your dress and grooming outside the office will alert others to your impeccable standards.

Remember that these invitations could lead to new clients, so don’t sabotage your chances of winning new business!

LINDA ALLAN, GUEST ETIQUETTE EDITOR BSC., MED., CMC Raising the bar in the corporate world, Linda Allan is a certified management consultant with vast experience and significant credentials.

Specializing in business behaviour, brand image and etiquette, Allan’s seasoned advice is often sought by industry leaders, Fortune 500 companies, television and radio shows. www.lindaallan.ca

www.citylifemagazine.ca

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City Life Magazine Feb/Mar 2012

57

Venture capitalist and reality TV personality Kevin O’Leary is also the chairman of O’Leary Funds, a global investment firm with $1.5 billion in holdings.

THE

PROS CONS OF BUSINESS AND

Kevin O’Leary takes no prisoners in Redemption Inc.

He’s

a venture capitalist known to crack the core of a begging entrepreneur with

58 City Life Magazine Feb/Mar 2012

a swift and slicing speech; an established brand-builder in the industries of education, computer software and

finance, and an overconfident capitalist that once went head-to-head with the berating and uncompromising www.citylifemagazine.ca

Photo By Geoff George

Written By Simona Panetta

nature of the late Steve Jobs. He respects his money just as much as he loves the freedom that comes with it, and will never yield to what won’t generate profit.

Solely for the drama or tragedy of it, the premiere episode of Redemption Inc. has policemen handcuffing a bewildered O’Leary, who is then forced to swap his business suit for a ratty orange jumpsuit and thrown behind bars. The pseudo arrest gave O’Leary a bitter taste of his worst nightmare. “The idea of being incarcerated is just sheer terror to me. [Your freedom being taken away], and all your decision-making removed from you is a horrible thing, and so, you know, I didn’t like it, and it was very sobering and very disturbing for me and disorienting. Freedom is everything.”

Not your typical storyline for a television show, O’Leary was doubtful when Jasper James first brought the concept to his attention. As the co-founder of a global investment firm with $1.5 billion in holdings, he turned to him and said, “Are you out of your mind? I can’t get involved with ex-cons; I’m chairman of O’Leary

Photo By Tanja-Tiziana Burdi

As co-host of CBC’s The Lang and O’Leary Exchange and unassailable personality on business reality shows Dragons’ Den and its American adaptation Shark Tank, Kevin O’Leary is now offering a start-up investment of $100,000 to the frontrunner of his latest venture, Redemption Inc. The prime-time series judges 10 Canadian ex-convicts on their potential to become legitimate entrepreneurs in challenging business settings. The former offenders are given an unexpected second chance, either by earning O’Leary’s generous cheque to start a lawful business, or accepting an ‘exit package,’ which includes anything from life coaching and scholarships to vacations and computer equipment.

“Trust is something you build over time,” says O’Leary. “These aren’t some strange foreign aliens, these are your sisters, brothers, uncles, cousins – they are people who made a mistake.

Every family has somebody like this in them.”

In an attempt to highlight the restrained life of a convict, the premiere episode of Redemption Inc. stages the arrest of its host. Of the experience, O’Leary remarks: “Freedom is everything.”

Funds.” After a clarifying conversation with the British producer, O’Leary tuned into the reality of a world where many ex-offenders may not become taxpayers due to society’s inability to trust them with a job. “It’s incredibly unfair to incarcerate them, make them pay their price and then not give them a second chance. I got involved because I would like to fix this problem; I would like to get some percentage of the people that come out [of prison] jobs so they don’t go back in. It saves us hundreds of millions of dollars in taxpayers’ money.” More than that, O’Leary speculates that with offenders having no means to support themselves, they return to a wayward life. According to Statistics Canada, 62 per cent of men and 48 per cent of females have prior convictions when committing a crime. While O’Leary isn’t blind to the concept of repeat offenders, he remains steadfast on one’s ability to rehabilitate. “Not everyone is like that.”

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT •

The federal average daily cost of keeping an inmate incarcerated has increased, from $241 in 2004-05 to $300 in 2008-09 According to the 2010 “Corrections and • Conditional Release Statistical Overview” report produced by Public Safety Canada, the annual average cost of keeping a male inmate incarcerated in 2008-09 was $106,583 per year, whereas the annual average cost for incarcerating a woman was $203,061 • The number of offenders on provincial parole has decreased over the past decade, from 2,236 in 1990-00 to 886 in 2008-09 • 77% of men and 73% of women successfully complete federal full paroles • Maintaining an offender in the community costs less than keeping an individual incarcerated (29,476 per year versus $109,699 per year respectively) Information provided by Statistics Canada

Cont’d on page 64

www.citylifemagazine.ca

City Life Magazine Feb/Mar 2012

59

Raise the $teaks of

Personal

Finance :ULWWHQ %\ $OLVRQ *ULIILWKV

Y

ears ago, the late Paul Newman, he of the stunning blue eyes and insouciant stare, was asked if he’d ever been tempted to stray from his wife, actress Joanne Woodward.

Newman simply smiled and said, “Why would I go out for hamburger when I have steak at home?”

With apologies to Newman, I’m borrowing his comment and applying it to the investment universe: If you can have investment steak at home, why would you bother going out for ground beef?

Exchange traded funds (ETFs) are prime meat for your portfolio, while actively managed mutual funds are, for the most part, ground beef. ETFs give you a lot less fat for the money. Not only are they cheaper – the management fees (MERs) start as low as 0.07 per cent and most are under 0.5 per cent compared to the MERs of Canadian mutual funds, which average 2.5 per cent annually – but they also produce a better result.

Roughly 75 per cent of mutual funds fail to outperform their comparable benchmark index over time. In comparison, most ETFs match their benchmark index 100 per cent of the time.

If you have only a 25 per cent chance of doing better than a given index – and you are going to pay through the nose for that underperformance – why wouldn’t you just buy a piece of the index itself with an exchange traded fund?

“ROUGHLY 75 PER CENT OF MUTUAL FUNDS FAIL TO OUTPERFORM THEIR COMPARABLE BENCHMARK INDEX OVER TIME. IN COMPARISON, MOST ETFS MATCH THEIR BENCHMARK INDEX 100 PER CENT OF THE TIME.” Passive ETFs are “copies” of a given index. There are also actively managed ETFs, but I believe passive is the way to go for most investors.

An index is simply a basket of stocks or bonds that serves as a barometer for all or part of a stock market in a specific

category. For example, the S&P/TSX Index consists of 60 of Canada’s largest companies, while the S&P 500 holds 500 of America’s largest companies.

Every ETF has a ticker symbol, which you can use to look up information online or in print. You can purchase them through a broker or a discount broker, just as you would shares in a company on a stock exchange. In Canada, the providers of passive ETFs are: • iShares and Claymore – ca.ishares.com • BMO – www.etfs.bmo.com • Invesco PowerShares – www.powershares.ca • Horizons Betapro – www.hbpetfs.com • Vanguard – www.vanguardcanada.ca • RBC – www.rbcgam.com/etfs It’s easy to bite into the filet mignon of personal finance – all you need is just three or four ETFs to create a simple, low-cost and transparent portfolio.

ALISON GRIFFITHS GUEST FINANCE EDITOR Alison Griffiths is a financial journalist, television host of W Network’s Maxed Out and author of national bestseller Count on Yourself: Take Charge of your Money (Simon and Schuster, 2012). www.alisongriffiths.ca

* Text by Alison Griffiths adapted from her book, Count on Yourself: Take Charge of your Money.

60 City Life Magazine Feb/Mar 2012

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THANK YOU! We would like to thank the following sponsors and donors for helping to make the 25th Anniversary of the Crystal Ball a tremendous success! Their continued support allows Reach for the Rainbow to provide integrated recreational opportunities to over 740 children and youth with disabilities across Ontario each year.

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Mast er THE Cards

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ccording to recent data released

by Moneris Solutions, Canada’s largest debit and credit card processor, spending through its debit and credit card machines in last year’s fourth quarter rose 5.8 per cent compared to 2010’s. It seems Canadians

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loosened up a bit for the holidays. It’s ok to splurge from time to time, but with the uncertain economic times, living within your means is not only wise, but essential. That means finding the right credit card for your lifestyle.

Depending on your qualifications, you

may have a beefy buffet of plastic to pick through, or, your selection may be as lean as a vegan menu. So how do you decide? We’ve asked three credit card connoisseurs to track down the perfect pieces of plastic to help you live within your means.

MBNA Gold MasterCard®

When it comes to an all-around solid, plain-vanilla credit card, Ben Woolsey, director of marketing and consumer research at Canada.CreditCards.com, feels this card shines.

With a fixed 9.99% annual interest rate on both purchases and cash advances, you can responsibly spend without sweating high interest charges. Other perks, such as a no annual fee and 24-hour fraud protection, make this card a safe bet for frugal spenders. www.mbna.ca

TD Emerald Visa Card

Best Credit Cards Editorial If you’re eyeing low interest rates, the team at BankNerd.ca, a news provider on the Canadian banking industry, suggests this little gem. It gives a low interest rate of TD Prime +1.75% up to TD Prime +9.75%. At the time of writing this article, Prime is at 3%, meaning the rate on this card would be 4.75%- – a great option for new families trying to manage their debt. www.td.com

Capital pital One Aspire Tr Travel World MasterCard®

MBNA Platinum Plus MasterCard®

MBNA SmartCash ® Platinum Pl Plus M MasterCard t

Regular travellers with good credit will appreciate the recommendation from Ahmed Dawn, a former financial advisor turned data integrity analyst and author of Invest Now (iUniverse, 2008). This card gives two reward miles for every dollar worth of purchases, 35,000 bonus miles with your first purchase, and 10,000 bonus miles on your card’s annual anniversary. It has a $120 annual fee, but other benefits, like emergency medial insurance and trip cancellation insurance, add to its value. www.capitalone.ca

For anyone with good credit who’s trying to pay down his or her debt, this card is one to look at. Woolsey suggests it for the lengthy low introductory rate: 0% interest on balance transfers for the first 10 months. It has no annual fee, and for those who qualify, a substantial line of credit as well. www.mbna.ca

Here’s one reward card all these experts agree on. With 5% cash back on grocery and gas purchases for the first six months (3% thereafter), 1% on other qualifying purchases, and a 1.99% introductory annual interest rate on balance transfers for 10 months, this card is a winner. Add 24-hour fraud protection and no annual fee and this piece of plastic is primo for the economical. www.mbna.ca

www.canada.creditcards.com www.ca 62 City Life Magazine Feb/Mar 2012

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THE BOTTOMLESS COOKIE JAR

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credit card is like a bottomless cookie jar. With easy access to credit, there’s no reason to wonder when the treats will run out, and you are never disappointed. Want a new outfit? Just stick it on a credit card. Want to have dinner with a bunch of friends? Desperately in need of a sunny vacation to beat the winter blues? There’s room on the card and that’s just what it’s for, right?

Totera Fine Foods’ mouth-watering meats, rich cheeses and high-quality deli products are the perfect complement to festive family gatherings.

When credit became a commodity, lenders started hiking limits and offering incentives to take on more cards. People started behaving like greedy children, gobbling cookies without a thought to the tummy ache that would eventually follow. Now Canadians are spending almost 1.5 times what they make every year. Talk about lack of self-control.

How did we get so much credit? All you needed was a shiny credit score and you could have all the credit you wanted. Do you know that people who make only the minimum payment on their credit cards have a better credit score than those who pay off their balances in full every month? Why? They score higher because they’re more profitable customers. Do you want to be some company’s dream customer, paying gobs of interest and twisting in the wind when the company decides to change the rules of the game? Or do you want to be in charge of your money and your life?

Focusing on your credit score is a distraction from the real issue: you have to learn to live within your means. Credit cards only serve YOU when YOU have the power. Give the power to the creditor and you’re a puppet, jumping and twitching. So, do you want to be some credit card company’s puppet? No? Then it’s time to retake control and be in charge.

we provide the

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GAIL VAZ-OXLADE Gail Vaz-Oxlade, host of Til Debt do us Part and Princess, is a Canadian financial writer and best-selling author. Her latest book, It’s Your Money (Harper Collins Canada, 2011), guides women to financial independence.

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Living within your means isn’t as hard as some may think. Yes, it does mean you have to make choices. And yes, you may have to wait a while before you can take that vacation. But when you stop treating your cookie jar like it has no bottom and start living within your means, you’ll be in charge. Sometimes there are cookies, and sometimes not. And if there are no cookies, it doesn’t mean it’s the end of the world.

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City Life Magazine Feb/Mar 2012

63

Cont’d from page 59

Take Brian O’Dea as an example. A former drug smuggler and user who came close to death’s door, he became a venture capitalist, author and television producer after serving time in jail. He’s never looked back. Now a fixture on Redemption Inc., O’Dea analyzes the participants’ leadership and teamwork skills and reports his findings to O’Leary. The selected candidates’ offences range from drug trafficking and theft, to armed robbery and securities trading – enterprises that hit at the heart of entrepreneurship. Offences don’t include violent crimes such as murder or child-related felonies. “I don’t approve of their business. I don’t believe in breaking the law, but they are running a business that involves logistics, transportation, produce costs and marketing. It’s a real business and if it was a different product, they wouldn’t be in jail.” According to O’Leary, the keys to entrepreneurial success include one’s ability to take risks and deal with the outcome, the aptitude to articulate an intended vision, and the gift to execute a business plan. “Entrepreneurs

have huge amounts of sacrifice in their lives, huge decisions about the balance of their lifestyle and time – and they are willing to take them. That’s the only way you are going to be successful.”

In his cathartic book, Cold Hard Truth: On Business, Money and Life, O’Leary describes the difference between making money and creating wealth. While enrolled as a student at the University of Waterloo, he capitalized on one of his hobbies by running a shuffleboard business with his roommate at a local pub. When the owner of the watering hole noticed their profits rising, she demanded a cut of the winnings. “We were making good money playing shuffleboard, but we weren’t becoming wealthy. The bar owner, however, had just discovered another way for her existing business to generate more revenue,” he wrote.

A moneyed O’Leary candidly admits that, as anyone, there was a time when breaking the law was a welcome temptation. In fact, before the multi-

Boys & Girls, Ages Newborn to Pre-teen

millionaire could pave his road with gold, he walked along a path of selfdestruction. “I was failing in school and I was sort of with the wrong crowd …

I started to explore some illicit things.”

More party animal than pupil, it wasn’t until his last year of high school and crashing his family’s car when his stepfather George Kanawaty approached him with questions about his future that a spark ignited in O’Leary. He adapted to the lesson wholeheartedly, one that required him to keep asking himself for more out of life. “Everybody has the potential to be a criminal; everybody has that weakness in them. I just feel that I’m very passionate about redemption because I found something in society that I think is broken and I want to be part of the solution; I want to fix it.” While he can’t reveal the winner of Redemption Inc. just yet, the intuitive O’Leary admits that he was stumped by the outcome. “As you watch the show, different talents start to appear … my assessment, initially, was wrong about them. The outcome is quite unusual.” www.cbc.ca/redemptioninc

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City Life Magazine Feb/Mar 2012

65

horoscope

By Richard Ravenhawke

st ars

The

this month!

Pisces FEB 19 - MAR 20

You may be feeling that work is starting to consume you – perhaps it’s time for a much-needed vacation. Be it packing your bags for a warm destination or just a few days to rest and relax, it is time you took a break from the world. Once you do, you will be glad you did.

ÅRocket Man Elton John turns 65 on March 25.

Aries

Leo

Relationship issues could become complicated if you let the past come back to haunt you. Old friends or romantic connections could be surfacing that have not changed at the core. Watch others’ motives and focus on the present. You have a very reliable future if you can just keep from slipping backwards.

Take heed, Leo: you could be close to the finish line if you play your cards right. The light at the end of the tunnel has long been coming and sometimes even the best of us get a little tired. There is hope on the horizon, though, as opportunities seem to be falling into place faster. It’s time to find your second wind.

Taurus

Virgo

New business opportunities may be surfacing over the next while. Choose the right path and all will be well; choose a different path and things may require more work. There is no right or wrong: some people feel they have to work hard for everything, whereas others welcome easiness.

You are making wonderful progress that has resulted in many being impressed by you. Keep on your present path and before you know it, all will work itself out. There is a tall, attractive person that thinks the world of you! In time, you will become what you said you would love to be.

MAR 21 - APR 19

APR 20 - MAY 20

Gemini

MAY 21 - JUN 20

If all goes the way it should, there could be an overdue movement on the home front.

Expect the unexpected and plan for the unseen. Take your time and think things through carefully. Watch for an Aquarius who may come along at just the right time with helpful advice.

Cancer

JUN 21 - JUL 21

Romance is the spice of life, and things could definitely get exciting in the near future. Maybe it is time to add zest to an existing situation or look for something new around the corner. Either way, the next few months could bring opportunities that are out of the ordinary.

66 City Life Magazine Feb/Mar 2012

JUL 22 - AUG 22

AUG 23 - SEPT 22

Libra

SEPT 23 - OCT 22

Sometimes when we think we are on a steady path, life has a way of presenting us with interesting alternatives. Watch out for unexpected surprises. There are some around you who may not be letting on what they know, but also may have good advice for you at just the right moment. Watch for a Leo who may have something to say.

Scorpio

Slowly, and surely, you are doing it. Before you know it, things will be clear and you can start on big projects. Money will become your focus.

Sagitt arius NOV 22 - DEC 21

Turn on the lights and set the stage! You could soon be in the spotlight. Be it at work, home or play, all eyes are on what you are going to do next. Be strong and be confident. Focus on yourself, and all will fall into place like a fine melody.

There is an Aquarius figure that admires you much.

Capricorn

DEC 22 - JAN 19

It looks like smooth sailing for you as the drama has passed. You will move steadily forward, with romance playing a role. You could find yourself ready for a sizzling vacation.

Aquarius JAN 20 - FEB 18

Things may be looking up for you in the financial department. Be it through hard work or sheer luck, your pockets could be jingling a happy tune. Keep your head forward and continue on your present course. Watch for a Sagittarius figure that may have some interesting news.

OCT 23 - NOV 21

It seems as though some things have been piling up, and it is going to take a bit of catching up over the next few months.

Richard Ravenhawke 416.898.HAWK (4295) O richardravenhawke@yahoo.com

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