City Life July/Aug 2020

30 34 ROBERTA BATTAGLIA: A STAR IS BORN

THE STORIES OF 4 COVID-19 SURVIVORS WHO TOUCHED DEATH

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ADRIANNE HASLET: THE BOSTON MARATHON BOMBING SURVIVOR’S STORY

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VOLUME 18 ISSUE 2 | JULY/AUG 2020

CONTENTS 46 20

COVER STORY

42

LEADERSHIP MATTERS: In leading Ontario’s response to a health pandemic, Premier Doug Ford is leaving no stone unturned in making sure the job is done properly

30 58 62

20 THE NEXT ONE? Only in his mid-20s

and already having toured with Justin Timberlake, Francesco Yates proves the Canadian music industry continues to churn out global pop superstars

30 HITTING THE RIGHT NOTES: The GTA’s

Roberta Battaglia’s astounding performance on America’s Got Talent appears to have launched a singing career with unlimited potential

58 ANOTHER MAN’S TREASURE: Artist

Jeff Crane has turned his North Carolina farm into an eclectic collection of art using old farm scrap metal

62 I WILL SURVIVE: Overcoming systemic racism, sexism and corruption, fashion designer Elle B. Mambetov’s launch of her luxury womenswear line is even more incredible given her story

14

38

14 DESIGN NEWS: Creativity

has exploded during the lockdown, and City Life explores a collection of stimulating artistry and imagination

34 SURVIVING COVID-19: The

38 EDITOR’S PICKS: City Life

editors offer a few accessories for summer sampling, from corkscrews and swimming skirts to perfumes, watches and the latest fashion and beauty trends

52 TRUE GRIT: Adrianne stories of four survivors of Haslet’s story of overcoming the deadly virus are reminders unspeakable horror and adversity of the danger and inspirational is a testament to her passion, accounts of triumph over perseverance and determination tragedy More stories inside …

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9

PUBLISHER’S NOTE PUBLISHER’S NOTE

Michelle Zerillo-Sosa Publisher/Editor-in-Chief

Believe In a world that is fast becoming soulless Be challenged to find your own soul Then make it selfless.

When the television portrays only tragedy Be challenged to turn it off Spend your time working on your own humility.

If you’re surrounded by people who are envious Be challenged to cull the herd around you Fill your life with those who bring joyousness.

During the times you feel utterly hopeless Be challenged to claw your way out Understand that genuine happiness is timeless.

Find your soul. Believe in yourself. Trust in your God. Love your family. Share your plenty. Lean when you need. Live out loud.

Love heartily. Grow your humanity.

Infect the worldZerillo with your faith.

Fernando

Co-Founder/Creative Director — from The Wife by Iris Imeneo

natural disasters and extreme weather conditions, one could ask the same question now. In De Lio’s case, where was God when deadly bacteria infected his body, nearly taking his life and resulting in the amputation of both of his legs?

In that article years ago, one of the questioned religious leaders — Julius Caesar replied that God was in the firemen going up the stairs to rescue the people in the towers. It’s a response that to this date gives me Michelle Zerillo-Sosa, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief comfort. Likewise, now, God is in the rescue workers bringing relief to Puerto Rico, Mexico and Florida. And God was in the ere at the magazine, we hope that you and your family not her dream to dance again. And the stories of Mario Bottoni, Dale doctors who fought to save Paul De Lio. He was with the family are healthy and finding your way through this new Feinstein, and Zale and Rachel Newman, four people who, through and friends who prayed for De Lio’s life and later, for his recovery. reality. After what has seemed like an eternity of faith, willpower and luck, survived COVID-19. The story of fashion Today, just a few months after his ordeal, De Lio is filled with disorientation and fear about the uncertainty of our designer Mambetov, was betrayed by a friend and ended positivityElle andBgratitude.

Hewho is ready to help others find ways to situation, we are finally back, working on new stories and issues for up in prison for fraud, may sound incredible, like the plot of a movie, live with motivation. Dare I say, then, God also resides in De the coming months. In fact, being away from the office has made but sadly, it’sSee all real.

A6347DW: American Captive, depicts Lio’s heart. his Her storybook, on page 32. us focused and energized, and even more dedicated to our roles as theOf systemic racism, sexism and corruption that in the course, it’s possible you do not agree she withencountered my thoughts citizens in the community and as publishers for more than 25 years.

It British prison system, as she worked to prove her innocence. ell, in the case of Yolanda Gampp, this could be on the whereabouts of God. We all know that one should not is with this renewed commitment that If weyou’re bring not youyet ourfamiliar July/August As citizens, shareorthe responsibility of being leaders in a real possibility. with speak casuallywe, of too, politics religion, for these are sensitive edition, filled with stories of resilience, and perseverance — a both private and publicisn’t aspects of our lives.

Only by being her work, she is courage a multi-millionaire YouTube topicsthe (although the the weather exactly a safe topic anymore, celebration of humanity. can we ensure thatstory everyone baker (3.3 million subscribers, that is) … all thoughtful, either). Butrespectful perhaps and you inclusive will be interested in our abouthas Our cover is about theimagination. governance skills demonstrated by our the social justice they deserve, have been thanks tostory her incredible the human Bahá’Í rights Faith,and a relatively new religion with and 5 towe 7 million Thleaders is is a woman whonovel dreams up cakespandemic. for a living — not engaged adherents globally.

If youindividuals believe in to thethat betterment of political during the coronavirus Francoise in practising conversation with many end. Working traditional shapes and co-authors flavours, butofcakes that like through the world, in unity,rather love and your place Morissette andtiered Amal Henein, Made in look Canada challenges thanservice, steppingyou on might others fitond validate current hot dogs, huge from candytheapples, watermelons, in flavours likeand the systems here. Bahá’Í’s believe in equality of all sexes, races society. and creeds, Leadership: Wisdom Nation’s Best and Brightest on the Art of power is a good start to building a healthier We are ultimate red velvet andthat chocolate cakegovern … You get the idea. and dent in thethat harmony of we science and religion.

Story on page 74. together, will all emerge from the chaos stronger.

Practice of Leadership, assert leaders who during times of confi In thisremember day and age, we could use more and faith, Sweet mother ofcGod, thisDuring lady has theand power to tempt even Please, to take care ofallyourself.

Weunity, hope love you enjoy reading crisis require a specifi skill set. wars pandemics, people regardless of exciting what form it takes.

May enjoy this of the strongest-willed personsafety, withtheir her cakes!

Hertheir belief is that this are worried about their personal health and finances, new and edition of City Lifeyou as much as weedition did putting anything is possible, and with the love and support of family City Life Magazine.

It, like life, is yours to experience and do so leadership must answer those concerns. Historical figures such as it together. and friends, the highest levelsand of Winston success are attainable.

Read with what you will.

Julius Caesar, Napoleon Bonaparte Churchill all proved her story on page 38. to be strong, effective leaders through their responses to crises — for Speaking of belief, we all pray that our faith need never be example, in their connection with soldiers and citizens, and in their tested the way Paul De Lio’s is. Many of us go through life effective communication and dissemination of information. One might without ever having to question why tragedies strike our lives or see similarities in our current political leaders such as Canadian Prime Michelle Zerillo-Sosa Zerillo-Sosa Fernando Zerillo the lives of others in the world. A few years back, we published Michelle Minister Justinabout Trudeau OntarioofPremier Ford.asking the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Co-Founder/Creative Director an article the and definition God. I Doug remember We have stories of resilience and courage, like that of Adrianne writer to pose this question to various religious leaders: “Where @citylifemag / @amorebagstoronto / @fernandozerillo @dolcetweets @amorebagstoronto Haslet, dancer lost hersuch leg inasthe Boston Marathon bombing, wasaGod inwho moments 9/11?”

Given the recent statebut of

“The fault is not in our stars but in ourselves”

H W

CAN YOU HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT TOO?

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PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Michelle Zerillo-Sosa • michelle@dolce.ca DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Angela Palmieri-Zerillo • angela@dolce.ca ART D E PARTM E NT CO-FOUNDER / CREATIVE DIRECTOR Fernando Zerillo • fernando@dolce.ca SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Christina Ban SENIOR UI/UX DESIGNER Yena Yoo WEB DEVELOPER Jordan Carter JUNIOR UI/UX DESIGNER Maria Korolenko E D ITO R IAL D E PARTM E NT FASHION & HOME DÉCOR EDITOR Michelle Zerillo-Sosa BEAUTY & WELLNESS EDITOR Angela Palmieri-Zerillo CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Rick Muller, Donna Paris, Cece M. Scott, Myles Shane COPY EDITORS & PROOFREADERS Catharine Chen, Jennifer D. Foster, Nina Hoeschele CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Ben Cope, Carlos A. Pinto, Robert Sturman SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER & CONTENT CREATOR Jessica Spera PR & COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR Cassandra Giammarco VI D E O D E PARTM E NT VIDEOGRAPHERS Daniel Cooper, Carlos A. Pinto PUBLISHER

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City Life Magazine • Volume 18 • Issue 2 • July/Aug 2020 City Life Magazine is published by Dolce Media Group, 111 Zenway Blvd., Suite 30, Vaughan, Ont., L4H 3H9 T: 905-264-6789 • F: 905-264-3787 info@mycitylife.ca • www.dolcemedia.ca Subscribe online at www.mycitylife.ca or by calling 905-264-6789. City Life Magazine’s yearly subscription fee is $24.

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Inquiries about where City Life Magazine is available for sale should be directed to Dolce Media Group: info@dolce.ca or 905-264-6789.

ISSN 1206-1778 Next Issue: Sept/Oct 2020 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 Media Group does not assume liability for content. The material in this magazine is intended for information purposes only and is in no way intended to supersede professional advice. We are proud to be a Canadian company that has successfully published magazines for the past 25 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. ©2020 Dolce Media Group • www.dolcemedia.ca • Printed in Canada @citylifetoronto

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URBAN OASIS − Toronto’s Amantea Architects’s transformation of a Forest Hill, Ont., home’s backyard creates a lush and luxurious private sanctuary.

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PHOTOS BY RONI CNAANI

Creativity and innovative thinking have not been on lockdown these past months, and City Life presents some bold and beautiful concepts

CITY LIFE MAGAZINE

July/Aug 2020

PHOTO BY STEVE MONTPETIT

DESIGN NEWS

SCHOOL OF THOUGHT − Sarit Shani Hay Studio’s First Inclusive School in Tel Aviv, Israel, translates the philosophy of inclusive education into a physical environment.

ARCHITECTURAL EXCELLENCE − The Ordre des architectes du Québec celebrates creativity with its 2020 Prix d’excellence awards (in French). www.oaq.com/prix

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LAKESIDE LIVING − Atelier Schwimmer’s new Black Cabin in Quebec’s Eastern Townships fits in wonderfully among classic 19th-century homes. www.schwimmer.ca

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FRUIT OF THE ROOM − Zilli Home’s beautifully crafted ceramic Apple and Pear Sculptures add a touch of whimsy and guaranteed conversation to any home.

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DESIGN NEWS

MELJAC − The leader in luxury light switches adds a splash of colour this summer to blend in perfectly with your interior.

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COMFORT AND JOY − Pottery Barn delivers down-home comfort with its Airstream Mendocino Striped Organic Cotton Comforter and Shams.

ROYAL HONOURS − PARTISANS, a Torontobased architectural studio, and Charlottetown’s Nine Yards Studio are among the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada’s latest award. www.raic.org

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TIMBERLAKE, MENDES AND MOMMAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S PIZZA 20

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PHOTOGRAPHER: BEN COPE | STYLING: ENRIQUE MELENDEZ | GROOMING: ARCHANGELA CHELSEA

art

Francesco Yates is part of a new generation of Canadian pop stars. In his mid-20s, Yates has already toured with Justin Timberlake and released his new album Superbad, accompanied by a short film WRITTEN BY MYLES SHANE

D

rake, Justin Bieber, Hedley, Shawn Mendes, The Weeknd and Carly Rae Jepsen all have one thing in common — they’re Canadian rock superstars. Each one has become an idol on the world stage. Now, there’s another name to add to the list of Canadian crooners shooting up the Billboard charts: Francesco Yates.

Yates was born in Scarborough, Ont., on Sept. 11, 1995. He cites the movie School of Rock, which stars Jack Black, Prince and ’70s and ’80s R&B as major career inspirations. School of Rock propelled him to believe that a career in music was really possible. Yates’s parents noticed his enthusiasm and enrolled him in a nearby music camp during the summers. It was there he began learning to play piano and guitar.

The first song he penned was called “Jaguars.” By high school, he had joined a band, and a vocal coach helped pave the way to a deal with Chris Smith, who is Nelly Furtado and JoJo’s manager. At 16, Yates had signed a deal with the major recording label Atlantic Records.

His self-titled debut album was released on Sept. 11, 2015, on Yates’s 20th birthday. The album was co-produced by Robin Hannibal and Pharrell Williams. Working with Williams and Hannibal was the ultimate learning experience for Yates: “I’ve learned production tricks from them. I watched how they build a beat.

I have a photographic memory, so I made sure to really pay attention in those sessions.”

Perhaps the song that accelerated Yates’s impending stardom is the remix of “Sugar,” which he and Robin Schulz created. “The song started off as a little loop that was sent in and was floating around the Atlantic building. I looked on the label and it said, ‘Baby Bash,’ and I realized it was a sample from the Baby Bash song.” In 2015, his version of

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“Sugar” spent 15 weeks on the Billboard charts and peaked at No. 3.

Recently, Yates had the stuff of dreams become part of his reality, when he had the opportunity to tour with pop icon Justin Timberlake. For the 24-year-old, the experience was life-changing. Yates loved opening for Timberlake during his The Man of the Woods Tour. “I learned a lot just being with Justin. He’s so attentive to details, from the lighting to his cues. He knows his show inside and out. Watching him manoeuvre and

outlining of the story in a film format.

It’s a got a real cold and psychedelic feel to it. The film walks you through the narrative of the songs. The majority of it was shot in Toronto,” he says.

Yates is quite laid back about the upcoming release of his new work: “This is a time to build and set a precedent.

It’s a good starting point. It’s very tough to manage expectations; you really never know where a song will take you,” he says. “Of course, you want it to sell like gangbusters, but maybe it’s a slow build.

Of course, you want it to sell like gangbusters, but maybe it’s a slow build.

Really, I’m excited to learn from the entire process find the time for himself and others is amazing,” says Yates “To learn from a guy like that, you couldn’t pay for this type of education in the business. I’m grateful for the kind of schooling I got.” When reflecting on touring with Timberlake, the moment that stands out the most for Yates was opening for Timberlake at Madison Square Garden.

“I was so happy that I was there and was, like, ‘Man, this is what all the hard work was for.’”

Yates recently released his latest album, Superbad, which took him years to create. “It’s easily my most well-puttogether album and is a celebration of women.” Yates stumbled upon the name for the album by accident. “While I was singing the chorus, the phrase, ‘My girl is superbad’ just came out. What ties the entire album together for me is the journey between myself and one girl.”

The album was released at the same time as a short film Yates produced as a complementary piece. “It’s a visual

Really, I’m excited to learn from the entire process.”

Many of Yates’s fondest memories are rooted in Scarborough, where he grew up in an Italian family, with his mother being a tremendous cook. Recently, he and his mom found a new Italian restaurant in Toronto they love: “Grazie — it’s the best Italian restaurant in Toronto,” he says. His mother’s Italian cooking reminds Yates of a funny moment that happened during the Timberlake tour, while in Toronto. “I was in the dressing room, and word got around my mom had made pizza for the entire crew. Suddenly, Shawn Mendes was backstage and asked if I wrote something for the tour, and we just got to talking,” says Yates. “When I left to do my thing, Shawn disappeared with a lot of my mom’s pizza. Shawn, I know you took the pizza.” www.francescoyates.com @francescoyates July/Aug 2020

CITY LIFE MAGAZINE

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His experience has Bryan Sloss at the top of the real estate business in returning clients and referrals

A DV E R TO R I A L

FOREST HILL REAL ESTATE THORNHILL: ‘We Are Home’ In truly appreciating the home as the centre of family life, Forest Hill Real Estate is the expert at making a house a ‘home’

T

here is a tangible feeling one gets when walking into a house and knowing it is a “home.”

Homes are comfortable, grounded sanctuaries and the centre of family life, where memories are preserved and created. And in these unprecedented times, homes are more important to us now as our safe harbours than they have ever been before.

Bryan Sloss of Forest Hill Real Estate in Thornhill, Ont., understands this better than most. As a managing partner with extensive expertise and knowledge, he is a skilled veteran, putting clients first in offering personalized services to ensure whatever they are buying feels like home.

And it is the theme of Forest Hill Real Estate’s new campaign, “We are Home,” to emphasize its continuing partnership approach when working with clients.

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CITY LIFE MAGAZINE

July/Aug 2020

“Any space you are in can be made to feel like a home,” says Sloss, who has two decades of real estate experience.

“Now, people are wanting homes more than they are wanting a house.”

Forest Hill Real Estate is one of Canada’s largest and most respected full-service real estate brokerages, with more than 1,000 sales professionals in more than 40 branches across the country and with heavy representation in Ontario and throughout the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Representing properties across the GTA, its pre-eminent position in the market was further underscored by its winning the Top Choice Luxury Real Estate Agency of Greater Toronto Area award in 2020.

During these challenging times, Forest Hill Real Estate is front and centre in providing guidance to its clients in how

to navigate the real estate process in this new environment. In late May, a poll commissioned by the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board showed home-buying intent in the GTA remains unchanged.

But now, more than ever, people need an educated and knowledgeable salesperson.

“We can and have guided people through that process, as people need to know procedures for showing, listing, open houses or any interaction, and that is what we do,” says Sloss. “The real estate market has not stopped. It may take longer to sell, and the market now, more than ever, does not forgive an overpriced listing. We have our clients’ interests and safety in mind, and we are your guides through this new reality in the real estate market.”

Sloss entered the real estate business www.mycitylife.ca

with his own brokerage firm, Great Spaces Realty Corporation, and his success has been measured by the high numbers of returning clients and referrals. It is here where Sloss is at the top of the business. “My life has been about managing, coaching, buying and selling of properties,” says Sloss. “It is a genuine interest. The most successful people in this business are the ones who actually enjoy what they’re doing.”

After about five years running his own company, Sloss partnered with Forest Hill Real Estate as one of its original managers — and has never looked back.

“I love and respect this company, and appreciate the value of service that it stands upon,” says Sloss.

“Each branch has a boutique feel, yet has the resources of a very large company,” says Sloss in describing the benefits of Forest Hill Real Estate.

“Corporate standards are maintained, which results in a much better product, whether you’re selling a half-a-milliondollar home or a $5-million home.

Expectations are therefore very high, and our job is to deliver,” he says.

Its corporate philosophy is quite wellstated by what it calls “Our Purpose,” which guides everything the company does: “We are in business for you. We will do whatever it takes to make your selling and buying experience as stress free and successful as possible. For us, providing personalized service and attention is more than a policy. It is our core belief. Experience and knowledge are what we share. Professionalism and results are what we show.”

With his decades of experience, Sloss has seen many different real estate cycles and is able to quickly identify market changes quite early, to the benefit of his clients. “Buyers and sellers today are able to make more precise, intelligent and informed choices, so we can provide them with the correct information,” he says. “Our knowledge of the market is our professional responsibility, and the updated accurate information to which we have access is extremely important.”

Another market change Sloss has identified concerns a shift in lifestyles, and how some people are choosing to live. “People are choosing spaces which fit them better,” he says. “They are making more precise decisions as www.mycitylife.ca

Whether estate, detached or townhomes, Forest Hill Real Estate offers personalized services to guarantee satisfaction with every transaction

to what fits their lifestyle, and what is more appropriately sized. Precise choice in a home purchase is a big change I am seeing.”

It is this considerable industry insight and business acumen that keep clients returning to Bryan Sloss and his experienced team at Forest Hill Real Estate Thornhill — whatever the market conditions. They remain committed and are here for you every step of the way

in moving forward — especially in this current climate — to ensure your house is indeed your home.

7787 Yonge St., Unit 201, Thornhill, Ont. 905-709-1800 / 905-709-4752 www.myforesthillagent.com

July/Aug 2020

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A DV E R TO R I A L

Paradise —

in Your Own Backyard We didn’t invent the great outdoors, but we sure know how to enjoy it when the nice weather comes along. All year we wait for the day that we can extend our indoor living to a relaxing space outside. Where to start? A great deck to host all the fun in the summertime and even into the cool fall months!

Richard Heitkoetter puts his client’s needs first, so everyone is happy with the finished product

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www.mycitylife.ca

PHOTO BY CARLOS A. PINTO

P

icture this: It’s a summer weekend. You love gathering people at your place, so you invite some friends over. The drinks are chilling, the food is prepped and everyone is in a good mood. And no one can stop talking about the new deck.

“Invite me over to play Scrabble and I might be busy, but invite me over for a barbecue and I’m there with flowers,” says Richard Heitkoetter, the owner of Serenity Decks.

Heitkoetter started out as a structural carpenter, but soon transitioned into decks and moved on to a deck company, “because I like being outside,” he says.

And then he started up his own business, Serenity Decks, about 25 years ago. “At first it was just me, a pickup truck and a few guys working for me, but it kept growing,” he says. He rented an industrial unit, which grew into a 10,000-squarefoot building with a 2,000-squarefoot showroom, a favourite stop for homeowners, designers, vendors, builders and contractors. Filled with a wide range of options, it’s an opportunity to look at samples and get expert advice, product info and building materials.

Now Serenity Decks is one of the most respected names in commercial and residential decks.

For homeowners, Heitkoetter works with them through all stages of the design and build, and he likes to start at the beginning. “I ask questions like, ‘Do you like to barbecue? Do you like to entertain? Do you need a shaded area on the deck?’ because I want to get them something they’ll enjoy that won’t kill their budget,” he says. “They'll have

Serenity Decks offers loads of options for a customized deck that’s ideal for you and your family

enough money left over to buy patio furniture, and they’re going to be happy, and we’re going to be happy.”

Serenity Decks focuses on quality and takes pride in its work. It really shows: the company's referral rate speaks for itself.

“We’ll start doing a deck for a family, then we end up doing decks for their relatives, then their friends and then their relatives, and so on,” he says. “Right now, we’re doing four decks in neighbouring homes on the same street.”

Heitkoetter’s best tip? Save your money and go for PVC decking. “It’s a low-maintenance product that’s guaranteed to look exactly the same as it did the day it was put down in 25 years from now,” he says. Everyone works hard, he adds, and no one has the time or the inclination that’s required to maintain a wood deck, including the annual sanding, power washing and staining.

“A PVC deck is super low-maintenance; all you do is give it a good wash at the beginning of the season,” he says.

Other trends coming down the pipeline include contemporary squareedge designs, customized colour options (more than 100 available), getting away www.mycitylife.ca

I LIKE TO GET PEOPLE THE BEST POSSIBLE PRODUCT FOR THE MOST REASONABLE COST, WITH THE BEST SERVICE AND THE BEST WARRANTY THAT I CAN GIVE THEM

from lattice screens and incorporating horizontal-line screens and interesting features like glass into a privacy wall. Deck lighting is really important, as is shading, from retractable options to pergolas, he adds. “This way, you can have the best of both worlds, including protection from the sun and rain, especially with some of the great waterproof fabrics now available,” he says. And heating options mean you can extend the season, from early spring right up to late fall, as well.

In the end, Serenity Decks is a manifestation of Heitkoetter’s guiding principles. His motto? “I like to get people the best possible product for the most reasonable cost, with the best service and the best warranty that I can give them.” That’s not all, either, as he really cares about his employees, too. “I put a lot of emphasis on safety training,” he says. “It’s super important to me; I’m sending these guys out and I want them all to come home safely at the end of the day.”

Heitkoetter follows his father’s advice.

“He always told me to appreciate everybody, from the person who picks up the garbage to the person who signs the laws in our country,” he says. “Everyone needs to embrace their roles, and I’m grateful for where I am now, because I’ve worked all my life to get here.”

11 Grand Marshall Dr., Scarborough, Ont. 416-282-7374 www.serenitydecks.com

July/Aug 2020

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Polsinelli, co-founder of the Vaughan Together For Long-Term Care initiative

I

VAUGHAN TOGETHER FOR LONG-TERM CARE

In just two months, Jason Polsinelli, Senior Wealth Advisor, Portfolio Manager and Associate Director with Scotia Wealth Management, and his grassroots VTLTC initiative have provided a staggering 7,000 meals to front-line heroes

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n the late winter of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic struck the world with such uncontrollable force that life as everyone knew it changed almost overnight. One of the most affected by this global crisis were the vulnerable and elderly residing in long-term care facilities, who found themselves in a desperate situation requiring an emergency response from Canadians far and wide. Rising to the challenge in the city of Vaughan, Ont., was Jason Polsinelli, Senior Wealth Advisor, Portfolio Manager and Associate Director with Scotia Wealth Management, and his grassroots Vaughan Together For Long-Term Care initiative. The mission of this impromptu project, launched April 24, is to provide relief in the form of food donations, and within a twomonth period a staggering 7,000 meals were served to front-line heroes at five facilities: Villa Colombo Vaughan, The Mariann Home, Villa Leonardo Gambin, St. Bernard’s Residence and Richview Manor.

“I couldn’t stand back. I watched the stories unfold in the beginning and saw our most vulnerable get hit with this crisis. My father is in a long-term care facility with dementia, so the story really hit home for me, and I decided to do something,” says Polsinelli, who took the bull by the horns and immediately reached out to long-time friend and fellow community advocate Romina Monaco. Joining forces, they created this vital and necessary initiative to support the city’s seniors and their longterm health-care providers. “I wanted to assist the heroes who are actually helping our most vulnerable. Providing food and other things to these front-line champions who fight this battle every day within the residences was the best gesture I thought we could do to help,” he explains.

Spiking staff shortages along with the isolation of seniors caused distress not only within the long-term care system, but also for families who are separated from their loved ones. Tragic news headlines and a sense of solidarity had Vaughan Together co-founders answering daily calls from friends and businesses, asking how they could assist in order to ease www.mycitylife.ca

NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE • WEIGHT LOSS • INFRARED SAUNA • PRIVATE IV SUITE LAB MASSAGE THERAPY • CHIROPRACTIC • DISPENSARY

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is an innovative healthcare experience. Individualization of care and an integrative approach is what makes Tri-Health stand out.

Staffed with two Naturopathic Doctors, Chiropractor, Registered Massage Therapist, Nutritionist and Personal Trainer, Tri-Health has your health needs covered. We offer an extensive suite of laboratory testing, comprehensive body composition analysis and Cold-Laser therapy. At Tri-Health, we strive for optimal health.

Brand New 2,200 sq.ft.

Wellness Centre in the Heart of Vaughan

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Dr. Maria Granzotto identifies underlying root causes to address all health concerns, and achieve complete health.

(905) 605-WELL (9355) | www.trihealth.ca 8611 Weston Road, Unit 4, Vaughan, ON www.mycitylife.ca

@trihealthwellness

July/Aug 2020

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1

2

the strain. “It’s a great initiative that just snowballed with a whole bunch of people and businesses from the community coming together and helping,” explains Polsinelli.

Partnering with food companies and local restaurants, Vaughan Together delivered prepared meals to front-line staff working overtime in extremely stressful conditions. “They were absolutely exhausted,” says Monaco.

“Offering ready-made meals lightened the load, and they were able to forge on and care for our seniors. We could just see their stress lifting when we arrived, especially on the days we had music,” she adds, referring to Vaughan Together’s outdoor performances showcasing celebrated Toronto musicians Carlo Coppola, Claudio Santaluce and Marco Stornelli. “Staff would come outside to dance, while residents who had been confined to their rooms for almost two months were out on their balconies or enjoying the music by their windows. We wanted them to know they weren’t alone in this, and it was amazing to see their spirits rise through the power of music.”

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Polsinelli says Vaughan Together owes a tremendous amount to the food donors who, despite the critical challenges facing their industry due to COVID-19, stepped up to the plate to give time and resources with some cooking onlocation at the facilities. Generous partners include: Classic Group, Ice Cream Patio, Pizza Nova, Hero Certified Burgers, Cataldi Fresh Market, Shoeless Joe’s Sports Grill, Cristina’s Tortina Shop, Tutto Gourmet Foods, Pasta It Forward, Di Manno Bakery, Ida Vivacqua Realtor and noted chefs Gianni Ceschia and Luciano Schipano. Special thank you to our other donors, Mosaik Homes, Z103.5, Goffredo and Robert Vitullo and Lesley Scott, your support was immensely appreciated.

In addition to regular meal deliveries, one of the facilities benefiting from the magical live shows is Villa Leonardo Gambin (VLG). “At the height of their loneliness and isolation, many residents of VLG were brought to tears by the uplifting parking-lot concerts that Romina and Jason arranged, featuring music reminiscent of better days,” states the

1. From left: Anna Walpole, Magdalena Di Maria and Tony Monaco at Richview Manor 2. Partners Ice Cream Patio and Z103.5 3. From left: Jason Polsinelli, Romina Monaco, Tony Monaco and Carlo Coppola

facility’s board chair, Andrew Iacobelli.

“We are incredibly grateful to Vaughan Together for recognizing the devastating effects of COVID-19 on long-term care and rallying the community to step up and support those most directly affected by this awful virus.” Echoing this emotion is Magdalena Di Maria, general manager of Richview Manor. “This has all been very special and important to our residents and staff,” says Di Maria. “We have to remember that many of them have been practically taken away from their families.

Working long hours and not being able to see their loved one has been very difficult.”

To give is greater than to receive, and the inspiring, philanthropic and dedicated co-founders of Vaughan Together mirror this age-old proverbial expression. “I have been blessed with all the opportunity that Vaughan, its businesses and residents have given me over the years,” says Polsinelli. “Giving back from a grassroots level is a big part of city and community building, and I am proud, in a small way, to be a part of that.” www.mycitylife.ca

AT GREAT TO HEAR, WE MAY BE 6 FEET APART BUT WE’RE TOGETHER WITH YOU STAYING STRONG! UPDATED CLIENT VISITS

Implementation of upgraded Ministry of Health and Safety Guidelines*:

• Maintaining at least 6 feet physical distancing – when not possible, the use of face shields or masks and gloves (supplied to all clients upon entry) • Increased hand hygiene • Spacing out client appointments • Disinfecting of all surfaces between client visits *see Ministry of Health COVID-19 website

At Great to Hear, a 7-year award-winning hearing clinic, we pride ourselves on our ongoing commitment to optimizing client health. From our sophisticated diagnostic equipment made by world leading industry manufacturer in Padova, Italy, to the state-of-the-art technology in hearing aids, our goal is to provide our clientele the most updated and effective experience possible.

Our mandate is to deliver superior and personalized service with a stringent hygienic protocol, which in today’s challenging times, is more important than ever.

The hearing industry has been deemed by the Ontario government an essential service, and accentuates the importance of good hearing health in sustaining good mental health. To make this more accessible/achievable for everyone, Great to Hear is offering clients for a limited time, special financial relief: Rechargeable hearing aids starting at $500 (after government rebate) We also work with insurance and WSIB coverages.

Pair of

Rechargeable

HEARING AIDS Starting at

$500

after Applicable Government Funding

Please call the clinic and schedule an appointment for a personalized consultation. www.mycitylife.ca

8787 Weston Rd., Unit 7A, Woodbridge, Ont. | 905-850-7997July/Aug 2020 www.GreatToHear.ca

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love of music

THE CANADIAN REMAKE OF

A STAR IS BORN A 10-year-old with the grace and poise of an adult, Toronto’s Roberta Battaglia rings the buzzer on so many levels

L

ady Gaga would be proud.

If you were to shut your eyes and listen to 10-yearold Roberta Battaglia sing the Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper song “Shallow,” you would think you were listening to the actual A Star Is Born singer-actress herself.

Petite, with long black hair, gigantic hazel eyes and a smile that could make the sun come out on a cloudy day, Roberta is an old soul in a young body. She is light years ahead of her age in maturity, confidence and presence. Describing herself as outgoing, encouraging and sensitive, Roberta says that she likes to encourage others, especially when they are going through hard times. “I like to cheer people up,” she says. “What you need in life is an encouraging person. I hope I can be that for people.”

In case you’ve been hiding under a rock, Roberta is the preteen Canadian singer from the Greater Toronto Area who, on June 2, got the Golden Buzzer from new America’s Got Talent (AGT) judge Sofia Vergara (Modern Family). Judges on the show are allowed only one Golden Buzzer per season, and a competitor who is awarded the buzzer goes straight to the live semifinals. What made the Golden Buzzer even sweeter for Roberta is the fact that Vergara is one of the singer’s favourite actresses.

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After being welcomed by the AGT judges Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum, Howie Mandel and Sofia Vergara, Roberta was about to begin her performance, when she was suddenly overcome with tears. Both the audience and the viewing public were on the edge of their seats, breathlessly waiting for the

What you need in life is an encouraging person. I hope I can be that for people — Roberta Battaglia

young singer to compose herself. AGT host, Terry Crews, ran onto the stage with a glass of water. The young singer took a deep breath, then she proceeded to blow the roof off the performance hall. It is only natural for viewers to think that Roberta was overcome with a severe case of nerves, but surprisingly, that wasn’t the case at all.

“They were tears of joy,” Roberta

says, [when] “meeting the judges and performing in front of some of my favourite actors and actresses, especially Sofia. Just being on the AGT stage, with the crowd so energized, was exciting.

And then, to get the Golden Buzzer — I can’t even describe that feeling.”

Even the usually sardonic Cowell was blown away by the young singer’s performance, wondering out loud if there was someone behind the preteen who was doing the singing.

Cowell even went so far as to say that it was an honour having Roberta as a guest on the show.

Stage left, Roberta’s mom, Gabriella, was actually the nervous one, hands clasped and tears shining with worry, anxiousness and pride.

“I think I was more nervous than Roberta,” Gabriella says. “To see her up on the AGT stage and to see that her dreams were coming true, it just melted my heart. And all of the emotions came out. What really hit me, though, was when I was hugging Roberta after her performance — she was covered in golden confetti — [were] her first words to me, ‘Mom, my dreams have come true.’ It was such a beautiful thing.”

(Gabriella reports that 16,000 million viewers so far have seen the video of her daughter’s AGT performance).

Describing her only child as outgoing, with a giving heart and a wonderful personality, Gabriella says Roberta is a www.mycitylife.ca

PHOTOS BY CARLOS A. PINTO

WRITTEN BY CECE M. SCOTT

Roberta in front of her home

www.mycitylife.ca

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beautiful little girl, “although, she does have a mind of her own sometimes.”

A piano player as well as a singer, Roberta gets her musical acumen from her father, Alessandro, a professional singer who also plays the saxophone and piano. “Alessandro would play at events all over the city and he would always bring Roberta with him,” Gabriella says.

So while it may appear that Roberta is just a young singer making her way, she has had a lot of onstage experience.

Roberta first started singing at the tender age of three-and-a-half, when she performed with her dad onstage at a gig. “Roberta and Alessandro were onstage with the event organizer, and Roberta kept telling her dad that she wanted to sing. When Alessandro told his daughter that she could sing later, she told him in no uncertain terms, ‘I want to sing now. Later, people are going to leave. I want them to hear me sing,’” Gabriella recalls with a laugh. “Everyone was just in awe when they heard her.”

That performance was followed by a New Year’s event, where Roberta again sang, and from there, things just took off. Father and daughter were known to sing a lot of duets together, both in English and in Italian, and amazingly, Roberta, even at a very young age, could remember the lyrics in both languages.

She started getting more exposure on television and through contests — she was first runner-up in the CNE Rising Star Talent Competition in 2019.

Roberta also appeared on Moses Znaimer’s Ideacity, which has 28 stations in the United States, as well as on Breakfast Television, where, at the age of nine, she sang “Shallow.” AGT had seen Roberta on YouTube and reached out to Gabriella, to see if she was interested in sending them an audition tape of her daughter.

“Roberta was selected from the audition tapes to come out and audition for the judges,” Gabriella says.

The family is close knit and have always been supportive of their daughter’s talent; although, neither Gabriella nor Alessandro are the type of parents who live vicariously through their daughter’s success. “If the outcome 32

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is for Roberta to be famous, that is good, but really, our job is to just support our child,” Gabriella says.

In turn, the young singer looks up to her parents, describing them as kind, big-hearted people who love to help.

“My parents have been a big influence on me,” Roberta says with a little giggle.

“I hope to become like them, when I grow up. They are both such huge role models for me.”

Musical success couldn’t have come at a better time for Roberta, who has been going through some challenging and difficult times personally, both on an emotional as well as on a physical level.

Music makes me feel relaxed and makes me forget about all the bad stuff in my life — Roberta Battaglia

“Music makes me feel relaxed and makes me forget about all the bad stuff in my life,” Roberta says. “I am really grateful for it [music], because it has helped me with so many things.”

Some of the bad stuff that Roberta references has to do with the highly concerning bullying that she has been a target of at her school. Roberta has been the subject of some cruel and meanspirited elementary-level kids in Grade 5. “My mom was in the office almost every single day,” Roberta says. “These kids would kick me or punch me, and I would defend myself, whether it was with words or in a physical way. Now I am at home [because of COVID-19], so I am safe.”

Gabriella, the “mom-ager,” as she is called, finds it very hard to talk about what her daughter has been through as a direct result of bullying, something that started when her daughter was in Grade 3. “Roberta is the type of little

girl who, when someone says something to her, takes it to heart,” Gabriella says.

“The kids were saying things to her like, ‘Don’t think you are going to go anywhere with your singing. You are not that good.’ Well, she showed them, didn’t she,” Gabriella says, with fire in her voice. “But not only that, she doesn’t know how to fight back. People were kicking her and punching her. There were five of them, and just one of her.

Roberta was coming home black and blue. In one incident, one of the bullies fractured two of Roberta’s toes. We were back and forth to the hospital. It was very sad, very difficult.”

While Gabriella and Alessandro wanted to move Roberta out of the school, Roberta courageously chose to stay, because she did not want the bullies to win. So Gabriella made all of the teachers aware of what was going on. She even spoke to her daughter’s kindergarten teacher, with whom Roberta is comfortable. “It is difficult to see your child go through this; there is no manual to tell you how to deal with this kind of situation,” Gabriella says. “I can’t even talk about it — I get emotional. It is a very difficult situation for any parent to go through. But music helped Roberta a lot with this.”

Cowell even weighed in on the bullying situation by telling Roberta that “you win over bullies by being happy and successful.”

The little kid comes out in Roberta when she talks about what she would do with the money if she won the AGT million-dollar prize purse. “If I win, I might want to get my dog, Happy [half Maltese and half Yorkie], a little girlfriend,” she says with a giggle. “I would donate some to charity and save some of the money for future costs.”

A favourite charity for Roberta is Toronto’s SickKids hospital, to which she has already presented a cheque for $3,000. Roberta started her own charitable initiative two years ago and raises money by designing and selling bracelets. All of the money raised is donated to charities. “I thought it would be a fun and creative way to make money,” Roberta says. “I love SickKids, because I love to help kids.” www.mycitylife.ca

While her goal is to become a successful solo singer, Roberta’s intentions of including her father, who has been a strong supporter and mentor to his daughter both musically and emotionally, is both endearing and refreshing. “I would like to perform with my dad,” Roberta says in such a way that one can envision father and daughter performing on the big stage together. “I will take him lots of places with me.”

A must-succeed-at-all-costs mindset in no way defines Gabriella’s role as mom-ager. “I am always going to be there with her. I will not leave her unattended,” she says. “And if it is done correctly, there is nothing to be afraid of. You just have to be careful who is involved, who the manager is and the people who are taking care of things.

You have to be trusting — you have to be there 100 per cent.”

While Roberta has not heard from Lady Gaga around her perfect-pitch rendition of “Shallow,” the young singer is fine with that. “I haven’t heard from Lady Gaga as of yet, but if I don’t, that’s OK.” That kind of graciousness at such a young age is wide-open refreshing. It is this attitude of unselfishness and innocence that is reminiscent of a song sung by country artist Tim McGraw called “Humble and Kind.” And Roberta certainly epitomizes those qualities. To do so at such a young age is an inspiration for those coming up behind the singer, as well as those who are cheering her forward.

Only one Canadian has ever won the AGT talent competition: Vancouver magician Shin Lim. As Roberta Battaglia sings her way through AGT’s Season 15 competition, there is every hope that she will bring another win back home to Canada’s mighty stage of artistic talent.

“I am glad to be on this journey with Roberta, and I am glad that her dreams are coming true. This is something that she has wanted from the time she was a little girl,” Gabriella says.

Roberta’s advice to young people is simple and direct: “Always follow your dreams and never stop believing in yourself. I believe every child — every person — has the potential to do whatever they put their mind to.” www.mycitylife.ca

Roberta hopes to get her dog, Happy, a girlfriend if Roberta wins the AGT competition

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life

how

4 Covid-19 Survivors

touched death

M

ore than eight million people worldwide have become infected with COVID-19 and more than 435,000 have died.

Whether you’re a front-line worker or you’re living in a seniors’ residence, this virus doesn’t play favourites. Over the last three months, it has infected more than 32,000 people in Ontario and killed more than 2,500.* The following are stories from people who stared down COVID-19, took its punishment and lived to tell their tale.

THE POWER OF PRAYER

Mario Bottoni is a 55-year-old businessman from Kleinburg, Ont. Originally from Italy, he immigrated to Ontario as a teenager. He was raised as a Roman Catholic, always cherishing his special relationship with Jesus. A week before he was jettisoned to North York General Hospital’s (NYGH) emergency ward for a suspected heart attack, he had a vision. “I experienced a premonition that I would be hospitalized and shared this with my family. I advised friends, family members and neighbours to place a crucifix at their main door entrance to signify their faith.”

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On March 24, Bottoni had been in a business meeting with his lawyers and accidentally shook one of the associate’s hands. The following day, he discovered the associate had tested positive for COVID-19. Shortly after, Bottoni became feverish, had a mild cough, a sore throat and felt like he was having a heart attack. “On April 1, I was driven by my wife to NYGH. Once in the hospital, I was immediately induced into a coma and put on a ventilator.”

Bottoni still has flashbacks. “While in the coma, I felt a heavy weight removed from my soul and was comforted by a power I’d never felt before, as my right hand was held by Jesus or sacred Mother Mary. What is certain is that I was never alone and no longer scared.”

When he finally awakened after almost four weeks in a coma, he was diagnosed with intensive care unit (ICU) delirium.

He had no idea where he was or what year it was. Dr. Pascal, the head physician who took care of Bottoni, later informed him that “the odds of survival after four weeks on a ventilator are very slim.” Studies suggest more than two-thirds of people die while on ventilators. While Bottoni was now breathing on his own, the fight for his

COVID-19 is a virus infecting and killing people all over the world. Based on scientific research, the novel coronavirus appears to produce different symptoms, depending on an individual’s pre-existing conditions and genetics.

Pages from the ‘COVID-19 Diaries’ talk one-on-one with survivors of the deadly virus, revealing their incredible triumphant stories WRITTEN BY MYLES SHANE

life was just beginning. His kidneys had also been badly damaged during the virus, and he was hooked up to a dialysis machine. “On May 1, I prayed with the rosary on my knees for two hours, as I was not urinating and went from 20 millilitres to 1.5 litres throughout the night. I was overwhelmed with joy and believed my prayers were answered.” By May 5, Bottoni was finally discharged.

As he left the hospital, hundreds of staff stopped, turned and gave him a standing ovation. During his stay at the NYGH, he indicated that friends and family from all over the world were praying for him. One friend in particular who prayed for his soul was a man who’d been like a spiritual guide to him for years, Father Buona Michel Rouhana, from Beirut, Lebanon. As soon as Father Rouhana found out Bottoni was ill, he called and emailed the family constantly. He gave them hope and a reason to believe Bottoni would beat COVID-19. “I believe all the prayers from family, friends and prayer groups from all over the world brought me home to my family, and [it is] only because of the support by so many people and my deep relationship with God our saviour, Jesus and Mother www.mycitylife.ca

Mary that I survived the horrible disease.”

ADVOCATE

Dale Feinstein, a single mother in her mid-40s, has no idea how she contracted the killer virus. “On April 4, I suddenly lost all sense of taste and smell.” At this point, Feinstein contacted an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist, who told her that she should get tested and self-isolate immediately. Subsequently, Feinstein called Telehealth, which acknowledged most likely that doctors wouldn’t test her, since her symptoms at the time weren’t listed. Feinstein called the ENT doctor back, and he immediately referred her to the testing clinic in his hospital. She felt like she was in the Twilight Zone. The doctor at the clinic also didn’t think she needed a test, but Feinstein, who’s no shrinking violet, demanded one. Two days, later she received a call from the clinic. She had tested positive for COVID-19.

Today, Feinstein has recovered, but if it weren’t for her non-stop persistence, she wouldn’t have been tested. She’s afraid others won’t advocate for themselves. “I know how to push, and I am very assertive. Many people are quick to take “No” for an answer and are uncomfortable about advocating for themselves.”

Dr. Andrew Morris, an infectious disease specialist at the University Health Network and Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, explains why everyone in Ontario can’t be tested: “Ideally, we would be testing many more people than we are. In Ontario, we have a limit on the number of tests we are able to perform each day. At the time of writing, that appears to be 18,000 tests,” he says. “We have about 15 million people in Ontario. Just because someone wants to be tested, doesn’t make it the best use of testing resources at present. I remain concerned about our capacity for testing. It is inadequate, but in the meantime, we need to be strategic about who we test.”

COVID-19 FEAR

Zale Newman and his wife Rachel’s journey into hell started on March 21, when they both tested positive for COVID-19. Zale remembers: “A week www.mycitylife.ca

While in the coma, I felt a heavy weight removed from my soul and was comforted by a power I’d never felt before, as my right hand was held by Jesus or sacred Mother Mary. What is certain is that I was never alone and no longer scared — Mario Bottoni

Mario Bottoni (far right) poses with his family for a photograph. Included in the picture is his long-time spiritual adviser (dressed in black) Father Buona Michel Rouhana

later, Rachel was unable to retain liquid and was very nauseous, so I took her to NYGH for intravenous and nausea treatment.” At NYGH, she was immediately taken to the ICU ward. By 1 a.m., Zale received a call he’ll never forget. “My wife had consented to being put into an induced coma, so staff could insert a breathing tube down her throat and attach her to a ventilator.” For 11 days, Rachel was in a coma and hooked up to a breathing machine, while Zale was unable to visit and had no idea whether his wife would survive. “When she awoke from the coma, she had postICU delirium. She didn’t know where

she was, what year it was, the month or the day,” says Zale. Once Rachel awoke from the coma, she was quickly relocated to another unit in the hospital.

Says Zale: “She was in isolation and not allowed to leave from Wednesday to Saturday.” Reflecting on her situation, Rachel says that “sometimes I would just walk out of my room and say, ‘Is there a nurse here?’ Then I’d hear someone yell, ‘Get back into your room now. You’re not to leave your room.’

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We used connections to arrange for her to see a top post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD] doctor at Mount Sinai and a doctor from Sunnybrook — all things that NYGH should have provided — Zale Newman

Rachel and Zale Newman during happier times on vacation

No one had explained to me I might be contagious.” Two and a half weeks later, Rachel was discharged. When Zale arrived at the hospital to pick her up, “her clothes were in a bag, and they were in a hurry to get her out of the hospital. COVID[-19] fear reigned. My wife was delivered to the exit in just a hospital gown.” As Rachel left, hospital staff provided Zale with a list of the medications she was taking. “No one from the ward, no doctor or nurse, no exit interview, no one ever spoke to me,” he says. Back at home, Zale attempted connecting with several doctors who refused to see his wife, because “the government didn’t provide them with enough PPE equipment.” Finally, with his wife writhing in pain on the floor due to digestion and dehydration issues, he connected with his sister, a former nursing professor in Israel. She sent them a series of instructions to improve Rachel’s physical health. As Rachel started to see a glimmer of hope, Zale realized she was also experiencing severe mental illness. “We used connections to arrange for her to see a top posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD] 36

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doctor at Mount Sinai and a doctor from Sunnybrook — all things that NYGH could have provided.” Nadia DaniellColarossi, a North York General Hospital spokesperson, says she cannot comment on individual patients, but “it is distressing to hear when patients and families experience any kind of gap in care. And it is important for us to know when we have not met their needs. We, of course, want to have open and direct conversation with our patients and their families, so we can understand and address their concerns.”

Even though the Newmans were disappointed with the help they received after leaving the hospital, both Zale and Rachel were quite impressed with the care Rachel received while in the ICU. “We gave them snack cards from Tim Hortons at the hospital twice for all of the ICU staff, and about two weeks ago, we arranged for meals to be sent in for all of the ICU staff members,” says Zale.

Toronto psychotherapist Karen Dougherty says the psychological ramifications for patients who have survived COVID-19 are severe. “Being

in ICU on a ventilator is extremely traumatizing at the best of times. But being on a ventilator with COVID-19 is far worse. In part, that’s because of the isolation, the terror, fear of death, sedation and so on. There is very little to orient the patient in reality, time and space, because they can’t have visitors, and doctors and nurses are in full personal protective equipment.”

Says Dougherty: “There can be ICU delirium, which can involve paranoia and vivid hallucinations. Our ability to tell real from imagined is compromised.

This can leave us traumatized. Therapy can really help people who have suffered through this, to stave off PTSD, which may include the following symptoms: nightmares, panic attacks, flashbacks, terrible anxiety and depression.”

WINNING THE WAR

Whether this pandemic continues for another six months or two years, Canadians have shown they have tremendous resilience. Whether we’re on a ventilator, whether no one will test us or our symptoms keep worsening after we’ve been declared stable, Canadians are proud warriors who won’t give up. We’ll drop our sticks and gloves and keep on fighting until the final buzzer. *These numbers are accurate at the time of print. www.mycitylife.ca

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Kleinburg Clinic Plastic Surgery CALL (437) 776-8887 TO BOOK YOUR FREE CONSULTATION 8 KELLAM ST., KLEINBURG, ONT.

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Active member of The Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons since 2001 The Canadian Society for Aesthetic (Cosmetic) Plastic Surgery since 2008 American Society of Plastic Surgeons since 2018 Honorary Member, Atlantic Society of Plastic Surgery since 2009

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Summer is the time to explore. Here’s what may catch your eye in getting back out there WRITTEN BY RICK MULLER

EDITOR’S PICKS

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www.anthropologie.com

safety for the kids, but it also provides an unforgettable memory of these times. www.canadiantire.ca 7. Summer is a time for stars and dreamy reading, and this astrology collection will chart a path of engagement.

www.anthropologie.com 6. Inflatable Bubble Soccer is not only the ultimate in summer

ladies’ canvas shoes, ideal for comfort, durability and style.

www.mykingandbay.com 5. Colour and fashion start from the ground up with Keds classic

master-planned community at Rutherford Road and Jane Street in Vaughan, Ont., should be on the list. www.myabejacondos.com 3. Unleash your creativity with this D.I.Y Alligator Embroidered Doll Kit, containing cotton, ink, screen printing and embroidery floss. www.etsy.com 4. Make a difference with a reusable face mask from King & Bay, where one mask is donated for every mask purchased.

1. Wet and wild can also be cute and playful with this adorable swim skirt combination by Niigata. www.shan.ca 2. If house hunting, Abeja District Condos by Cortel Group, a

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8. The automatic Captain Cook watch from Rado contains the vintage details and stylings from the 1962 original. www.finchcentrejewellers.com 9. This sensuous gourmand fragrance, Blackberry Lily, The 7 Virtues, is a warm perfume blending jammy blackberry, lily of the valley and geranium. www.sephora.com 10. For weekend off-road adventures or weekday errands, the Ford 2020 F-150 XLT SuperCrew is the multi-purpose vehicle for whatever life throws at you. www.ford.ca 11. Amazing Grace shampoo, bath & shower gel deeply nourishes and hydrates dry skin to feel fresh all summer. www.anthropologie.com 12. Look stylishly cool and comfortable even on the hottest days with a Hedstan short-sleeved revere-collared shirt. www.perlui.ca 13. Decorate your home with distinctive imagery by Fiona Cartolina. This imaginative tea towel would be a multicoloured addition to any kitchen. www.cartolina.com 14. Start the dinner party with a laugh by adding some whimsy to your kitchen collection with an Alessi Sandro Gronigen corkscrew. www.desiree.ca

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Beyond Boundaries

REAL BEAUTY It’s inclusive. It’s diverse. It’s all-embracing. And L’Oréal’s freshest face is chic, confident and comfortable in her own skin WRITTEN BY DONNA PARIS

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indy Bruna still finds it hard to believe that she’s a spokesperson for L’Oréal Paris. “As a French model, I’m thrilled to be the new face of such an iconic brand from my home country,” she says. “I feel so honoured; it’s been a dream forever.”

Today, Bruna is confident and proud of the hard work it took to get her to this point, but it wasn’t always easy. From a multicultural family, she had to figure out where she belonged.

When she was younger, she felt pressured to conform to a mainstream definition of pretty.

“In high school, I was too tall and too skinny, compared to the others,” Bruna says. And really, she just wanted to fit in.

With an Italian dad and a Congolese mom, she grew up with both cultures. “As a biracial woman, I had that time in my life when I did not know where I belonged,” Bruna says. “I thought I had to pick a side, when the reality is that I am both, and I have come to embrace it fully now.” Actually, she realizes that is her strength, her beauty and her power.

“I know now that this diversity is what makes us rich,” she adds.

Bruna credits her success today to her mom, who taught her to be independent and disciplined, too. “She told me that I could have anything with hard work, and she raised me to always be kind,” she says. “I think doing your best in

“my celebrity crush.” She also encourages herself. “I surround myself with uplifting and motivating words on Post-its,” she says. And she reads a lot of books about self-confidence. Take Don Miguel Ruiz’s The Four Agreements and Deepak Chopra’s The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, for instance.

Bruna is making a real difference in our world.

Remember how her mom taught her to be kind? She likes to help others, and now she works with Solidarité Femmes, a non-governmental organization working to eliminate violence against women, especially domestic violence. “If there’s one thing I’d like to say to the world, it is that, just because abuse happens in a private sphere, it does not mean it is private — we should all help each other.”

Today, she’s inspired by everything going on in the world. “I really hope that we will be the generation that actually finds solutions and continues to fight for what is right,” Bruna says. “I see more people standing up for what really matters — and that is beautiful.” @cindybruna

I think doing your best in whatever you do and treating yourself and others with respect are what make you worth it

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whatever you do and treating yourself and others with respect are what make you worth it.”

It’s not just Bruna’s mom who inspires her, though. She’s inspired by women like Michelle Obama and Viola Davis —

www.mycitylife.ca

PHOTO COURTESY OF L’ORÉAL PARIS

Bruna is redefining beauty, owning her differences and turning them into strengths.

And she’s absolutely thrilled to be the face of such an iconic brand as L’Oréal Paris

www.mycitylife.ca

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THE HEART OF

Leadership during a pandemic requires a set of skills that fosters collaboration, connectedness and out-of-the-box thinking

RESILIENT

LEADERSHIP PHOTO COURTESY OF ONTARIO PREMIER DOUG FORD OFFICE

WRITTEN BY CECE M. SCOTT

Ontario Premier Doug Ford taking a call at Queen’s Park

W

hat is the real definition of effective leadership? Is it merely about leading a group of people? Is it connected to seniority or one’s position within the hierarchy of a company? Or is it much more definitive and intricate than simply being the figurehead of a corporation?

Francoise Morissette, facilitator at Queen’s University IRC and coauthor with Amal Henein of Made in Canada Leadership: Wisdom from the Nation’s Best and Brightest on the Art and Practice of Leadership (2012, John Wiley & Sons Canada, Ltd.), believes that leadership is best captured under the LEADS framework, a leadership 42

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model created by the health-care sector.

The competencies under LEADS are: lead self; engage others; achieve results; develop coalition; and systems transformation. “There is a different skill set needed, however, for a leader who governs during a crisis,” Morissette says. “In normal times, leaders just go up Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs: they seek self-actualization and how to be the best that they can be. But during a crisis or a war or a pandemic, people go right to the bottom, to the physiological level.

They are worried about their safety, their finances and about dying. So the type of leadership that works best during a crisis is a leadership that will answer those needs,” she says. “People need a

leader who will calm them, assure them that they will be taken care of, that they will feel safe again. A leader at this bottom level has to be compassionate and oriented toward helping people. The army general types don’t work at this level. The second part of this equation encompasses the ability of this leader to work with people, citizens and advocacy groups to create solutions that will work.

It is not about doing things to people, but rather, working with them.”

Morissette’s philosophy on crisis leadership is congruent with what history has shown us; namely, strong and effective leaders are most often defined by their response to crises. If we were to look at the collective and shared attributes of some of history’s greatest leaders, such as Julius Caesar, Napoleon Bonaparte and Winston Churchill, and compare them to the people who are leading us forward and through this COVID-19 pandemic, in particular Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, we would see some comparative similarities and traits to these aforementioned historical figures. (Gaius) Julius Caesar, a Roman general, statesman and dictator (46–44 BCE), is historically one of the world’s greatest leaders. A change agent for governmental and social reforms, including the creation of the Julian calendar, Caesar’s leadership skills were definitively effective and www.mycitylife.ca

www.mycitylife.ca

— Doug Ford

PHOTO FROM INSTAGRAM @FORDNATIONDOUGFORD

One of my favourite quotes from Winston Churchill is, ‘When you are going through hell, keep going’

PHOTO COURTESY OF ONTARIO PREMIER DOUG FORD OFFICE

certainly displayed proficiencies worth emulating. Interestingly, Premier Ford’s leadership and savviness reflect some of Caesar’s leadership adroitness: a personal and overriding connection with his soldiers, and in Ford’s case, it’s with Ontarians; effective communication skills; a commitment to sharing information on the battlefield, specifically for Ford, the novel coronavirus battlefield; a willingness to take personal responsibility and perform in-the-trenches tasks, and in Ford’s case, it’s the pickup and delivery of masks and the much-needed personal protective equipment (PPE) to medical personnel. The family name Caesar was a title known to signify a ruler who was in some sense uniquely supreme or paramount.1 The Ford name is also known for its uniqueness on the political landscape, albeit tempestuous and hardhitting. Rob Ford, mayor of Toronto from 2010–14, was the crown prince of Ford Nation, a populist movement that began in his home riding of Etobicoke, Ont. His problems of substance abuse made headlines around the world and sidelined his political career. Doug Ford, Rob’s older brother, was viewed as bombastic and overbearing in his first year in office, but his leadership during COVID-19 has inspired a great majority of Ontarians, who have thrown their support behind him.

Rod Walker, a resident of Etobicoke, says, “Doug seemed like the gunslinger type in his first year in office, but my perception of him changed when the virus hit. Now, Doug seems to be transparent with the information that he is providing and he seems authentic; I am impressed with that part of his leadership.” Says Walker: “What also impressed me was when medical personnel and institutions were short on PPE, Doug took his own truck and went out and picked up those supplies and delivered them to the places that needed them. He doesn’t just talk about things; he actions them. He has taken direct aim at the long-term care nursing home problem and is taking significant steps to clean the issue up. People applaud him for that; they want action and they want things fixed.”

Like Caesar, Ford has been front and centre during this pandemic, with

Above right: The young Ford family, from left: Premier Doug Ford’s brother Randy (sitting); Premier Doug Ford (sitting on the couch); Premier Ford’s mother, Diane; Premier Ford’s father, Doug Sr.; Premier Ford’s brother Rob (standing); and Premier Ford’s sister, Kathy Above: Premier Doug Ford packing boxes at Global Medic's packing location at Humber College

his passionate and straight-to-theheart oratory. His daily communication epistles and his sharing of the latest stats, information and testing quotas leave no one guessing as to which side of the fence the premier is on. Ford’s empathy and, in the case of situations such as the nursing home scandal, his “this-willnot-go-on-any-longer” oratory has been laced with personal tears.

Napoleon Bonaparte, who crowned himself Emperor of the French (from 1804–15), was known as one of the world’s most brilliant military leaders.

Some of his celebrated leadership attributes can be equated with Ford’s methodology. Bonaparte liked to aim high, which is certainly something

Ford also likes to do. In January 2018, Ford gave up his bid to run for mayor of Toronto in favour of pursuing the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario. Ford, like Bonaparte, knows how to avail himself of outside sources and experts.

Nowhere is this more evident than at his daily press conferences, when he defers to the minister of health, the minister of education or whoever is best qualified to answer the posited question. Bonaparte was a master at defying expectations, and Ford has certainly used this skill to his advantage. With an overall approval rating of only 29 per cent in 2019, Ford’s approval rating soared to 76 per cent in a May 2020 poll.

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PHOTO FROM INSTAGRAM @SLECCE

PHOTO FROM INSTAGRAM @FORDNATIONDOUGFORD

A brilliant and masterful leader in more contemporary times was Winston Churchill, the prime minister of the United Kingdom from 1940–45 and again from 1951–55. His masterful oratory and his powerful aura held the British people together during some of the darkest hours of the Second World War. Highly eccentric — Churchill took meetings from his bed and received heads of states from his bathtub — Churchill demanded respect by his passion, confidence and overriding belief that Britain and its allies would conquer. Interestingly, Ford, who is a self-proclaimed history buff, holds great admiration for Churchill as a leader. “One of my favourite quotes from Winston Churchill is, ‘When you are going through hell, keep going,’” Ford says.

And while the war on the novel coronavirus is based not on ideology, but rather on an overriding, deadly and stunningly infectious virus, the death toll has been devastating. In the United States alone, the novel coronavirus has killed more people — 130,000, as of July 2, 2020 — than the Vietnam War (58,220).

“I am not comparing what we are going through now with WWII, but we are at war with this pandemic; it is an enemy that we can’t see,” Ford says.

“Just as there was a ramp up in the Second World War, and production

Left: Premier Doug Ford shaking hands with the future Right: Minister of Education Stephen Lecce (left) and Premier Doug Ford in front of the new Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital

lines were switched over to start making equipment for the cause, the exact same thing has been happening here in Ontario and across the country with this pandemic. A great many people have been jumping in and helping out in this fight against COVID-19, making and delivering meals for the vulnerable and at-risk people.”

The new political landscape that has emerged as a result of COVID-19 is a seismic shift from that of preCOVID-19 governance, when politicians were singularly partisan, question periods in both the House of Commons and Queen’s Park were raucous and divisive, and there was a lot of soapbox stumping. Politicians fought for causes important to their communities — and to their own political careers.

In Ontario, Toronto in particular, growth before COVID-19 was exponential, with office buildings going up in every available square metre of downtown space. Homes and condos were selling well over asking prices, and people were free to frolic around town mask-less and crunched together in retail shops and grocery stores. Travel to southern destinations was brisk, as was the Canada-United States border crossings: pre-pandemic, more than 400,000 people crossed the border on a daily basis.

But that all changed in what seems

like a nanosecond, as news of the highly infectious novel coronavirus blanketed every imaginable media outlet, virtually locking down all of our lives as we knew it. Messages abounded from both provincial and federal officers of health, ministries of health, city mayors, our premier and our prime minister.

What started out as assurances that everything was fine — that everything was contained — quickly evolved into a pandemic lockdown.

Words and phrases, such as “unprecedented, extraordinary, social distancing, financial assistance through programs such as the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) and the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) and vigourous hand washing,” have become everyday vocabulary.

Long-standing events, such as Toronto’s Canadian National Exhibition (CNE), were cancelled. The recent cancelling of the CNE has happened only twice in its 142-year history, with the last time being during the Second World War. These have been not only concerning times, but also scary times, ones that on an individual basis, as well as on a national basis, demand credible, transparent, inspiring leaders who the public can look to as a source of leadership, reassurance and personal connection.

For Ontarians, Ford and Trudeau have been our main go-to leaders. www.mycitylife.ca

Both of them have had to make some extremely difficult and unpopular decisions, especially as they relate to the self-isolating at-home restrictions over significant time periods. It takes stellar leadership to convince people and get their buy-in around adopting measures and changes that are uncomfortable, restrictive and not particularly enjoyable.

“The hardest decision that I have had to make since taking office was telling Ontarians that the province had to shut down for an indeterminate period of time,” says Ford. “But it was the best decision for the people of Ontario.”

Pre-COVID-19, the blustery and highly unpopular Ford was experiencing a heavy dose of socialdistancing from Andrew Scheer, the leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, during his run to become Canada’s prime minister in the 2019 elections. At that time, Ford’s approval rating stood at 20 per cent, with a 69 per cent disapproval rating and 11 per cent having no opinion, resulting in an overall rating of -49.

But according to a May 2020 survey conducted by Campaign Research, which polled 2,007 people across Canada using Maru/Blue’s online panel, Ford’s approval rating soared to 76 per cent, with a 17 per cent disapproval rating and with seven per cent unsure.

In less than a year, Ford’s overall rating has gone from -49 per cent to +59 per cent — a stunning accomplishment that reflects Ford’s connection with the “little people.”

“A leader has to listen to the people and surround themselves with smarter people than themselves, people who have expertise in specific fields. My expertise is the economy,” Ford says.

“Before this pandemic, our province was on fire. We were leading North America in economic development and job creation,” he says. “Our biggest issue pre-pandemic was that we were short 250,000 people to fill the jobs that companies required, and we are going to get back to that point. We have always been the engine of Canada, and we will continue being the engine of Canada to drive that forward. We are going to get the economy booming again.”

Trudeau is also enjoying a surge in the popularity polls (as at May 2020), www.mycitylife.ca

with a 65 per cent approval rating (more than double what his approval rating of 31 per cent was in October 2019), 30 per cent disapproving and five per cent unsure. His May 2020 net overall approval rating was +35, an increase of 58 over last October, when it was -23.

“Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has performed outstandingly; his skills are an ideal fit for such a crisis,” says Morissette. “He has a high EQ — emotional intelligence — which is his best strength; he can relate to people. His approach is inclusive, and his government has shown strong stewardship. In a pandemic, what

party. There’s just Team Ontario and Team Canada.”

If one were to parse the premier’s behaviour into what he was like prepandemic and what his behaviour is like now, as we wind our way through the many challenges related to COVID-19, we would see a prodigious shift in both his overall approach and demeanour.

Before the pandemic, Ford was seen as a take-no-prisoners, overbearing politician, one with questionable credibility and transparency — think “plate gate” and the Dean French patronage scandal. A guy who loved confrontations, especially with media

Doug Ford will be persistently combative. Doug is a brawler who won the fight. The other side can try to swing back — and he’ll be delighted if they do, so he has a reason to flatten them again — John Filion

people want is a leader with a high EQ,” she says. “I think that Ford can get emotional when he is personally touched, but I don’t think he has the ability to relate emotionally to groups of people that he cannot relate to. Trudeau can relate to any group, even if he has nothing in common with them.”

Interestingly, in a May 2020 poll conducted by Ipsos for Global News, it was found that “more Canadians still approve of the way their provincial premiers are responding to COVID-19 than the way Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been handling the crisis.”

So, what are the accountabilities that have effected such a huge growth in popularity for both the premier and the prime minister? Ford’s complete lack of partisanship has been a definite factor. He has been widely quoted for his rallying cry on the floor of the legislature: “There’s no blue party or red party or orange party or green

types, Ford was basically a steamroller in a sandbox.

John Filion, Toronto city councillor for Ward 18 Willowdale and the author of The Only Average Guy: Inside the Uncommon World of Rob Ford (2015, Random House Canada), who knows both the Ford brothers, Rob and Doug, concurs. In fact, right after the 2018 provincial election, Filion sent out a series of 10 tweets, predicting what he thought Doug would do in his first year of office. Among those predictions, Filion tweeted: “Doug Ford will be persistently combative. Doug is a brawler who won the fight. The other side can try to swing back — and he’ll be delighted if they do, so he has a reason to flatten them again.” In another of the tweets, Filion stated: “Doug Ford will be deliberately divisive; he’ll want to keep his supporters cheering and the other side booing. That’s all part of the show.”

And interestingly, in another of the July/Aug 2020

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PHOTO FROM INSTAGRAM @SLECCE

I am proud of both the way the premier has conducted himself during this pandemic, as well as how Canadians have responded towards each other during the crisis

Minister of Education Stephen Lecce (centre) meeting with students at Holy Jubilee Elementary School

post-election tweets, Filion talks about Doug’s relationship with the media and, in particular, The Toronto Star, with which the Ford brothers have had a long and cantankerous relationship. “Expect Doug Ford’s Trump-like attacks on mainstream media. He’ll use friendly media, his own media, and rallies ‘for the people.’ The Star, Globe and CBC will be characterized as elite establishment who will do anything to stop him from helping people.”

And while Filion says that Ford did every one of the things that he predicted in his first year as premier, Ford’s behaviour, actions and reactions have changed noticeably. “Doug is being very unpartisan, which is very unlike him not to be baited by the opposition and not slamming them back. He has been very measured in that way, which is not what I would have expected from him at all.”

Interestingly, Ford’s roller-coaster relationship with The Toronto Star has also changed dramatically. On March 19 of this year, Ford said: “I want to thank the media. You’re playing a massive role in helping us out.” And in a complete 360, Ford also said, “There are a lot of great articles in The Toronto Star.”

Factors that have made the public cotton to Ford include his folksy communication style, which both Doug and Rob have always had. “It is very effective, especially when everyone else is reading from script and being cautious 46

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in what they say,” Filion states. “People like that; Doug sounds like someone who is very approachable and speaks your language. People have always liked that in politicians.

Filion says that while the prime minister is an effective communicator, he reads from a script, which is not quite as effective as speaking sans script. “I would give Doug higher marks than the prime minister for communication, but I would give the prime minister higher marks for actual performance. He has assembled a real crackerjack team and he has led effectively. I can’t think of too many screw-ups at his level.”

Over the last many weeks and months, Ford has won over both nonFord Nation supporters as well as political foes with his down-to-earth approach, his transparency around the seriousness of the novel coronavirus, his evident empathy — especially as it relates to the horrific conditions in Ontario’s nursing homes — and his ability to connect with the populace.

Who else could charm millions of people in involuntary lockdown with his self-deprecating video of himself making his “famous” cherry cheesecake?

Wearing a black T-shirt emblazoned with, all in lowercased text, we are all in this together is irresistible. As was his taking a bite of said cheesecake and poking fun at himself with the comments: “If I wasn’t premier, I’d open

— Stephen Lecce

a cheesecake factory,” and, “You can tell I’ve eaten one too many cheesecakes.”

It takes a certain kind of personality to pull off that kind of kibitzing, especially during an overriding pandemic. But Ford’s ability to both calm and nurture the greater majority of Ontarians has been a real game-changer for him — and also for Ontarians.

Trudeau’s demeanour, on the other hand, feels somewhat scripted and formal. And while Canadians respect his forthrightness and no-holds-barred approach, Trudeau doesn’t seem to exude the same personal connectedness as Ford.

“It couldn’t have been easy for a business-minded guy like Ford to shut down the economy,” says Anthony Greco, owner of Concord Food Centre in Thornhill, Ont. “But Doug was very strict about getting ahead of this thing.

He is a person of the people. He put protocols and programs in place and kept people informed.”

Trudeau does not fare as well, according to Greco, who thinks that the programs that the federal government is putting in place are not going to accomplish what they were meant to do. “I am indifferent to him [Trudeau],” Greco says. “While putting a lot of money behind average people is good, there are certain programs that I don’t agree with. For instance, the 10 days of paid sick leave, which is virtually www.mycitylife.ca

paying people to stay home. What are businesses who have been closed during this pandemic and are now trying to ramp up going to do, as people are going to take those sick days. The intention is there, but I don’t think the program is going to do what it is supposed to do.”

The construction industry in Ontario was also in line to take a major financial hit, one that would most likely have tallied in the hundreds of millions of dollars initially. However, on May 20, 2020, several competencies within the construction sector were deemed essential, including construction activities or projects and related services that support construction activities or projects, such as demolition services.

“Just like everyone else who has gone through COVID-19, this pandemic has put a hold on production. We were fortunate that we had some projects that were deemed essential (about 60 per cent of our business), so that carried us through,” says Domenic Arcuri, co-owner with David Petrozza and John Caira of PAC Building Group, whose client base includes industrial, commercial, residential, multiresidential and condominium boards, as well as municipal townships and school boards.

“The six project managers who were working on projects that had to be put on hold were laid off temporarily, but the situation was short lived, with the group being called back to work on ongoing projects,” says Petrozza. “Our administration staff remained onboard throughout, dealing with the projects that were still running.”

“We are fortunate that we have a good group of clients that have actually increased their tendering and have brought more projects to the forefront in order to help out all of their vendors.

It is definitely going to affect our business, but we do not feel that we will experience the same impact as others,” says Arcuri. “Overall, we feel that the Ford government has done a great job in terms of relaying information and keeping everyone updated on shutdowns and restrictions. It was obviously disappointing that many of our projects had to be cancelled during to the lockdown, but we definitely agree that public safety and everyone’s well-being www.mycitylife.ca

are key,” he says. “Of course, looking back, everyone can make comments on missteps, things that could have been done better — the initial testing numbers, for instance, but overall, I think that Ford did a great job.”

“I think that the prime minister has done a pretty good job navigating through the situation. I think he was more proactive than other country’s leaders,” Petrozza concurs. “Although I may not be a Liberal supporter myself, I think Trudeau has done a good job.”

And while Ford and Trudeau’s leadership styles are noticeably different, both in demeanour as well as approach, there are some things that they share in common. In March, Trudeau’s wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, tested positive for COVID-19. In April, Ford’s mother-in-law also tested positive for COVID-19, an announcement that Ford made while struggling to hold back his tears. And while Trudeau was obviously deeply saddened by the horrendous condition in Ontario’s nursing homes, Ford again faced the spotlight with tears shining in his eyes.

Both leaders have also had their fill of people breaking the social-distancing restrictions, with Trudeau declaring that “Enough is enough,” and Ford lambasting the offenders with a stern, “Get your act together; if you won’t do it, we will do it.”

But there is another theme that has been running through all of our leaders’ messages, and that is a one-for-all accord on the far-reaching financial assistance programs, the pandemic restrictions and the overall collaborative messaging. At a time when it could have been political mayhem (think of the situation south of the border), the message is clear: “We are all in this together — partisanship be damned.” The usual sniping that defines political differences is nonexistent. In fact, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland — who targeted Ford on a daily basis during the 2019 federal election campaign — now calls Ford her “therapist.” As Freeland stated in an April Toronto Star interview: “He and I have actually come to describe one another as each other’s therapists.” And, she says, “some of the daily struggles that we go through are quite similar, and so sometimes when we talk, we’ll just say,

‘This is our therapy session.’” Amazingly, the once pretentious Ford agrees.

Like him or not, Ford’s leadership, his empathy and his ability to connect and inspire trust have, by all accounts, earned not just Ontarians’ respect, but also that of party members and political adversaries.

“I am proud of both the way the premier has conducted himself during this pandemic, as well as how Canadians have responded towards each other during the crisis,” says Stephen Lecce, minister of education and MPP for King-Vaughan, Ont. “The everyday acts of citizens, their willingness to do extraordinary and courageous acts, is a currency that you can’t quantify, but it exists in every Canadian. Around Canada Day, I think we need to reflect on our citizenship and what it means to be Canadian,” he says. “To look around the world and see the challenges and darkness — we are the light in so many respects. It is the people, it is their courage, it is their strength, it is their service and their hearts that make this country so incredibly unique, special and worth sacrificing for.”

While the Conservatives and Liberals do not share the same political and philosophical ideologies, Lecce concedes that during times like the COVID-19 crisis, it is important to work together. “In these very difficult moments, people shouldn’t have to deal with politics, health and economic challenges, along with their personal circumstances. We need politicians and civil servants to work together for the common good,” he says. “Collaboration is critical.”

Maurizio Bevilacqua, mayor of Vaughan, is also proud of how Ontarians and the citizens of Vaughan have dealt with the many challenges and restrictions around COVID-19.

“I find that the citizens of Vaughan are very compassionate people who understand that we are in this together,” Bevilacqua says. “That if we pull our resources together and focus on the end goal that is to come out of COVID-19, we will be even stronger.

There is a spirit of generosity, not just in financial terms, but in volunteering, giving of oneself to the greater cause, participating in various activities and July/Aug 2020

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also showing an incredible gratitude to front-line workers, medical staff, truck drivers, employees at grocery stores — all of those people who are giving of themselves when everyone else is being told to stay home. There is a highfrequency energy, which is defined by love, compassion, understanding and a willingness to be there for each other.”

Political leaders who stand out for Bevilacqua during this pandemic include both the premier and the prime minster. “I think Premier Ford has done well. He has grown as an individual during this pandemic. I think both the prime minister, as well as Chrystia Freeland, have done a good job. Generally speaking, governments and their leaders have responded quite well to the crisis; although, I am sure afterward there will be reports on how everyone could have done things better.

But when you compare Canada to the rest of the world in its response, I think that we stand out as a country,” he says. “The central role of government has actually highlighted the important role it plays in society. No one else but government could have responded in this manner. It would have been hard for the private sector by itself to have responded; it would have been difficult for NGOs [non-governmental organizations] to respond.”

A critical sector that needs strong definitive leadership is centred on the education, well-being and future of our children. The impact around their ability to learn and the effect of not being able to socialize with friends and with teachers — critical at so many stages of a child’s development — has fostered a great deal of concern around mental health issues, loneliness, isolation and what the future of graduates will be.

The whole processes around students going back to school in September, the concerns around the spread of the novel coronavirus and what the classroom experience will look like come the fall are all significant issues that need to be addressed and effected by a strong leadership team.

“We were one of the first provinces in the country, one of the first jurisdictions in the industrialized world, to close schools,” Lecce says. “Doug’s whole mantra through this challenge has been 48

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I find that the citizens of Vaughan are very compassionate people who understand that we are in this together — Maurizio Bevilacqua

to keep people safe, to do whatever it takes using extraordinary power to keep our seniors and our families and our kids safe.”

A front-and-centre issue that is requiring strong leadership and firm oratory from both the premier and the prime minister relative to keeping people safe is the plight and vulnerability of the migrant workers who come to Ontario on a yearly basis to help harvest farmers’ fields.

Approximately 20,000 workers come to Ontario on a seasonal basis from as far away as the Caribbean, Guatemala and Mexico. The requisite 14 days of self-isolation was mandated for these migrant workers when they came to the province this year.

Bunkhouse accommodations are the norm for migrant workers, and it is believed that this living in close quarters has been a key reason why the virus has been spreading so quickly among these workers. On June 1, it was reported that 164 migrant workers at a farm in Norfolk County, Ont., had tested positive for the novel coronavirus. In mid-June, the premier pleaded with farmers to get their migrant workers tested, but by June 23, his plea had taken on a new harder tone — one that demanded, rather than asked for, farmers to comply with the strict protocols that had been put in place by both the provincial and federal governments.

Ford has stated that some farmers are not co-operating with the implementation of the safety measures put in place to protect the migrant workers, which include testing for the virus, and as a result, he will go to the extreme to protect these workers. He

also indicated that those farmers who do not comply with the recommended government protocols will be hit with huge fines. “We’ll give it another shot,’ Ford has said. “I’ll go to the extreme, whatever tool I have, to protect the people of Windsor and the food supply chain and the farmers and the workers.”

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit said on June 22 that 31 of the region’s 32 new cases came from the agricultural sector. 2 Trudeau has also lent his voice to the vulnerability of migrant workers, acknowledging the three workers who have died from COVID-19. “Anyone doing work, let alone essential work as part of our food chain, needs to feel protected,” Trudeau has said.

“Obviously, in the case of these three tragic deaths, that wasn’t the case. We are ensuring that changes are made and that there will be consequences.”2 A sector that has been particularly hard hit during this pandemic is the hospitality industry. Peter Eliopoulos, CEO of By Peter and Paul’s Event Catering, says that it has been quite difficult, especially on the financial front, these past few months. “The worst part of it is, we had just come out of our slowest season, which is January to March,” Eliopoulos says. “But we were preparing for a big season — a humongous year. But once the pandemic hit, we had to deal with so many challenges. We had to deal with brides and grooms, and I feel for them.

It is their special day, and they can’t have their wedding. It is devastating,” he says.

“We had to deal with our staff. I will never forget the day this thing hit, and we were shutting down. I had a Zoom call with all of the staff. First of all, they www.mycitylife.ca

www.mycitylife.ca

realized the severe impact of the virus this pandemic — “I don’t want to get on the elderly, he should have addressed political with this” — Eliopoulos says he the issue more quickly, to make sure that is surprised that no one has asked him all of those people didn’t die. It should his opinion relative to the hospitality have been dealt with immediately.” industry. “But on the other hand, the As far as the prime minister’s role government is trying,” he says. “They during this pandemic, Molina feels that he could have done more. “Prime Minister Trudeau could have done more to address the issues. He seemed to be saying the same thing over and over, but not really putting actions around it.

I am more impressed with Premier Ford and [Toronto] mayor John Tory.”

For young people who aspire to the pinnacle of political leadership, there will be a need going forward for courage, boldness and the ability to include people in the process and the solutions.

“Young people have learned from this pandemic that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (left) with there are many skills that Vaughan Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua need to be reacquired, which have to do with compassion, stewardship and taking risks,” have done a good job of keeping this Morissette says. “People have to go out controlled. But we are not getting any of their comfort zones with minimum indication of what is going on, a target fear and maximum courage. They need date of when we might be able to open. to learn to connect the dots and learn Nobody expected this situation would the kind of agility that we have now, the last this long. They don’t have a crystal speed and the thinking outside of the ball. We don’t know what the future box,” she says. “There is a saying floating will be.” around right now that the pandemic Julius Caesar is often portrayed is a dress rehearsal for fixing the wearing a crown of laurel leaves, a environment. Young people will need symbol of his popularity. For Ontarians, to work together to fix the systematic if laurel crowns still existed, the popular issue, for instance, the environment.” vote might well have Premier Ford And while Morissette gives Ford a depicted as the crowned leader of the 5.6 to a six as his overall rating (she “little people” during this COVID-19 gives Trudeau a nine), Walker gives pandemic.

Ford an eight-plus, and Greco gives “I don’t look at political stripes; I am Ford a nine. here to help the people,” Ford says.

“Trudeau has shown calm and compassion and caring under pressure; he is willing to work on programs 1 Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Julius Caesar.” Nov. 1, such as CERB until it works. Ford has 2019. Accessed via www.britannica.com/biography/ Julius-Caesar-Roman-ruler/Personality-andworked hard on changing, but ‘Is it reputation. sustainable,’ is the question,” Morissette 2 CTV News. “Protect migrant workers or face wonders. consequences, Ford and Trudeau warn farmers.”

And while Eliopoulos did not want June 22, 2020. Accessed via https://toronto. ctvnews.ca/protect-migrant-workers-or-faceto get into the wins and missteps of consequences-ford-and-trudeau-warn-farmersFord and Trudeau’s leadership during 1.4995281?cache=emuosurrypzum.

PHOTO FROM INSTAGRAM @MAURIZIOBEVILACQUAVAUGHAN

were scared about what was going to happen and if they were going to have a job. We are a big company of over 1,100 people, and I had to lay most of them off,” says Eliopoulos. “I worry about them — people have mortgages and bills to pay. We now have approximately 50 people on payroll, who are on the management team. They have to talk to people, both corporately as well as on a personal basis, for weddings and parties.

It is devastating.”

One of the COVID-19 government assistance programs that Eliopoulos’s company is able to take advantage of for approximately one-third of his businesses (only) is the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) program. Under the CECRA program, the government will pay 50 per cent of the $50,000 monthly rent, the landlord forgives 25 per cent of the rent and the company pays the other 25 per cent. “But if we are not open for business, how are we supposed to get the money to pay for that 25 per cent?” Eliopoulos asks.

Another service sector that people have missed tremendously, especially on a personal basis, is the hairdressing salons and spas. In fact, the premier even lamented the lack of the haircutting segment by publicly comparing his look to that of a sheepdog.

“The shutdown has affected our business drastically. We weren’t functioning for about three months,” says Manny Molina, manager of Fiorio Hair Salon’s Vaughan location. “We are a service business, so not being able to service customers was a huge hit in our industry.”

And while Molina identifies some critical missteps on the part of the Ford government, including how it handled travellers arriving at the Toronto Pearson International Airport, as well as its handling of the novel coronavirus in long-term care homes, overall, he thinks that the premier has done a good job. “As a city and as a country, we are doing a lot better than the rest of the world,” Molina says. “The measures that the premier implemented to control the virus and to make sure that everyone was safe were good. I was disappointed, however, in how he handled the longterm care issue. Once his government

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courage

TRUE GRIT Adrianne Haslet’s dream was to be the next Ginger Rogers — until she lost part of her leg as a result of the Boston Marathon bombing WRITTEN BY CECE M. SCOTT

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www.mycitylife.ca

Living life on life’s terms

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PHOTO BY ROBERT STURMAN

L

ife can change on a dime.

Imagine you are out for a leisurely lunch on a gorgeous spring day, feeling cheerful as you stroll by gardens full of blooming red tulips, yellow narcissus and pale pink magnolia trees.

And then, without any warning at all, a bomb explodes in your midst, and suddenly your whole world changes — forever.

Adrianne Haslet, a premier ballroom dancer who was ranked third in the world in her dance discipline, had finished her lunch. Curious to see what all the noise was about on that warm spring day, she headed toward what sounded like celebratory cheering.

It was April 15, 2013, and the runners of the prestigious Boston Marathon — the oldest annual marathon in the world — were nearing the finish line of their 26.2-mile contest.

“I didn’t even know that the marathon was on,” Haslet says. “I heard a lot of cheering on Boylston Street, so I went over to see what was going on.”

Shortly after Haslet arrived there was a huge blast, which was quickly followed by another. “When the first blast went off, I put my head in my arms and covered my ears. I knew it wasn’t a transformer that had gone off,” she says. “I knew that there was going to be another blast. With the way that it shook the ground, I knew that it was definitely an attack.”

The second blast, which covered the area in smoke, was a mere two feet away.

When Haslet looked down and saw that her left foot was gone, she went into full panic mode. Rolling over on her belly, she dragged herself on her elbows and forearms through a nearby doorway, where a man grabbed her by her shoulders and dragged her inside.

Serendipitously, an off-duty doctor was nearby and acted quickly, applying a tourniquet on Haslet’s wound, saving the top half of her leg — and quite possibly saving her life — as she was losing a lot of blood.

“I was conscious the whole time,” Haslet says. “I remember the firemen putting me on a gurney and taking me to the hospital. People were screaming in the triage area — it was [organized] chaos. I was screaming and screaming, July/Aug 2020

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and the doctors and nurses told me that I was going to make it. I was so cold and I was in so much pain — I was shaking.”

Her surgery was extensive, lasting close to 14 hours. Haslet remembers thinking before she was operated on that she would never see her parents again; a person doesn’t just get blown up by a terrorist and survive. But when she woke up, her parents, who lived on the other side of the country, in Seattle, were there.

“When I woke up from the surgery, I could see underneath the bedsheet that my left leg was shorter than the other. It was awful,” says Haslet. “But my parents were there and that helped.”

The reality of what life was like pre-April 15, 2013, and what life was going to be like moving forward was an unimaginable thing to process. Haslet’s dream from the time she was little was not only to dance like Ginger Rogers, but also to be Ginger Rogers. A fulltime ballroom dancer (she had started dancing when she was in elementary school), Haslet was enjoying life, dancing 10 to 12 hours a day. “Dance allowed me to express myself in an artistic way; I was living the dream. It was a great career — and a pretty good life,” she says.

Determination and perseverance are ingrained traits in Haslet — attributes that are powerful, validating and sustaining. “I had led such an active life before, so my thought processes kicked in pretty quickly. I could either eat Cheetos and sit in an easy chair for the rest of my life, or I could dance again.

It was an either-or choice. There was no grey area. I didn’t want to sit on my butt for the rest of my life,” she says.

Somewhere between Day 4 and Day 6 after the bombing, broadcast journalist Anderson Cooper arrived at Haslet’s room, invited there by her mom. With her winning smile, which is instantly infectious, and a zest for life that transcends the normal layers of discipline, Haslet told Cooper that she was going to learn to dance again.

“If you do that,” Cooper said, “will you teach me?”

“That was pretty motivating — it gave me something to look forward to,” Haslet says with a laugh. (Haslet detailed her first year of recovery in a 54

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Once an avid ballroom dancer, Haslet describes herself now as a runner

documentary that she did with Cooper titled The Survivor Diaries, which can be viewed at www.dailymotion.com/ video/x1n4pzl.)

With a lion-heartedness that refuses to look at defeat as an option, Haslet went on to tell Cooper that not only was she going to dance again, but she was also going to take up running — in fact, she was going to run a marathon, she told him — even though she had no perspective whatsoever on what it was like to run even a mile.

It was a comical scene as Haslet’s dad stood in the background waving his arms, trying to get his daughter’s attention. “I used to forge notes to get out of gym class in high school,” Haslet says, laughing. “But I was so completely taken by Anderson that I forgot that we were recording.”

Haslet, who calls herself a goal digger — not a gold digger, she stresses — knew that sharing her goals was an important step in her recovery.

It would give her the sustaining support from others to keep going on the days when she was having trouble believing in herself.

Those early days, the weeks and months of working her way back to a place that was tenable, were unimaginably hard for

Haslet. After spending a mere nine days in the hospital, followed by a week at Spaulding Rehabilitation, Haslet was sent home. “I didn’t get a chance to talk to a lot of the other survivors,” she says.

“I was released before a lot of people got to rehab, so I didn’t get that sense of community. The day I was released, I cried and cried; I was so upset. I didn’t know how to deal with stranger danger, or my PTSD [post-traumatic stress disorder], and I hadn’t found a therapist at that point, either.”

The second day after Haslet returned home, she and her mom went out to the grocery store and for a walk, with Haslet’s mom pushing her in a wheelchair. Not knowing the streets of Boston very well, they unintentionally ended up right at the bombing site — where the memorial for those affected by the bombings was. Surrounded by people, Haslet was overcome with severe stranger danger; she was literally paralyzed. “I thought everyone was a terrorist because I didn’t know what one looked like. As much as the love was there, I was completely taken aback — frozen and terrified,” she says.

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defines Haslet, and step by literal step, she began to adapt to her new way of life. After being fitted with a prosthetic leg, Haslet doggedly began to walk.

Not quite a year after the bombing, in March 2014, Hugh Herr, the director of Biomechatronics at MIT’s Media Lab (Haslet had met him at Spaulding Rehabilitation), built Haslet a bionic nuanced limb that allowed her to take the stage and dance at a TED Talk. “It was an incredible thing to be a part of,” Haslet says. “The ability to move my body in that way … I never thought that I would be able to do that again.”

Of course, it is virtually impossible for Haslet to equate how dancing felt before she lost her lower left leg and how dancing feels with a prosthetic. The natural flow, the way her muscles moved — there is just no way to compare, because the feeling, the overall experience, is like night and day.

But something remarkable happened to Haslet on her road to recovery — something both ironic and lifechanging. But this time, it was a change for the good. Haslet was approached by a woman in the grocery store, who asked her when she was going to run the Boston Marathon. “I had hoped that people had forgotten about that,” Haslet says with a laugh.

But Haslet’s family and friends encouraged her and told her that they believed she could do it. So Haslet thought she would give it a try, so she could tell everyone she’d done her best.

“I got out a running blade that I had stowed in the back of my closet; I put it on and went for a run around the block, falling twice along the way. It was insanely hard — probably the hardest thing I had ever done — and I’d done some really hard things,” she says. “But I kept trying — I ran the next day and the next day after that. I started to track my distance and found out that I was running 10 miles at a time.”

With no reference as to how hard running a marathon would be, Haslet announced in 2016 that she was going to run a marathon — the Boston Marathon. It is quite the feat to commit to running a marathon — especially

when running has never been your discipline. But to commit to running a marathon 36 months after losing part of your leg to a terrorist bombing, in the very location where the bombing had happened, is an emotionally complex commitment. Certainly, there would be a deep well of both unconscious as well as conscious fear around running with and being among huge crowds of people at an event that had literally changed hundreds of people’s lives. In total, the bombing took three people’s lives, injured 264 people and resulted in 17 people losing limbs.

“The starter gun went off, and I started running — some people would

family and friends, and in particular, the Boston Strong community — who encouraged me right from the beginning to try running the marathon.”

That being said, Haslet is vocal about how hard her fight to attain her new normal has been. Her PTSD, while being managed, is certainly a lying-in-wait factor in her life. “It never goes away — at least for me,” Haslet says. “I do believe that going to therapy — learning coping mechanisms, such as breathing exercises, mediation and learning what you can and cannot handle — makes it a lot easier. But it never goes away. You just find ways to deal with it.”

Like everyone else, Haslet is not happy about the COVID-19 pandemic and all of its restrictions, but nevertheless, she is elated that there will be no fireworks this year for the Fourth of July celebrations. “I am ridiculously happy there are no fireworks because of my PTSD — and I am sure that I am not alone,” she says.

When the conversation turns to the bombers — who were brothers — Haslet makes no secret of the fact that she is a strong proponent of the death penalty.

“I stand my ground for what I believe in,” she says. “During the trial, the prison warden where the younger of the bomber brothers was imprisoned testified that he’d heard through the prison grapevine that the bombers planned to blow up New York, following the Boston bombing. So there is zero chance that if the younger brother lives, he won’t do the same thing again; he wants to kill more people.

We are talking about the safety of the United States. This bomber wants to do more damage, create more carnage.”

With an attitude that is defined by positivity, Haslet has embraced a new approach to life — one that involves prioritizing her bucket list. No. 1 on her list? To win the Boston Marathon — a goal that unfortunately has been stymied this year with the cancellation of the marathon due to COVID-19.

Her second priority is to get more coverage around procuring running legs for amputees. (Running legs are currently not covered by insurance in the United States.) To that end, in 2019

Thank you Adrianne for being Boston Strong. Bombs and terrorists can’t beat us.

We carry on, we finish the race

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— Barack Obama

call it jogging; some people would call it walking,” Haslet says with a laugh. “I had a big setback at Mile 6 (a marathon is 26.2 miles); my prosthetic was giving me issues. Some of my friends told me that I had tried, that it was good enough, that I could quit. But I kept going. I came in dead last [it took Haslet 10 hours and 44 minutes to complete the marathon], but for a recovering perfectionist that is pretty amazing. It was so hard — but it was so fun.”

Shortly after she finished the race, Haslet got a tweet from the thenPresident of the United States, Barack Obama: “Thank you Adrianne for being Boston Strong. Bombs and terrorists can’t beat us. We carry on, we finish the race.”

“Running the Boston Marathon was one of the best days of my life,” Haslet says. “There was huge support from both

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I I Q F

Haslet founded the Adrianne Strong Foundation, with the purpose of raising funds to purchase running legs for those who can’t afford them. “So many amputees can hardly afford regular legs, so if they have money, that is where it goes. People change sizes, so sometimes they need to get a new prosthetic,” Haslet says. “On average, a running leg can cost between US$15,000 and US$17,000.”

Among her many awards, Haslet has received the 2013 MedStar NRH Gala Victory Award (Washington, D.C.) and was honoured alongside her first responders at the 2013 Schwartz Center Gala in Boston. In 2013, she was named one of Cosmo’s Most Powerful Women, and in 2014 she received the On Cue Tribute Award.

Now, Haslet’s public speaking career is front and centre, as she travels all over the globe — to places like Kenya, Ecuador, Canada and across the United States, speaking to corporations, hospitals and schools about new normals and overcoming adversity. “I tell people how hard it has been and how hard it is, and the fact that it sucks,” Haslet says. “It is important to me to give opportunities to other people. That is what I want my legacy to be — that I have given opportunities for other people to speak about their therapy; I want to help them find their new normal. I want to give people the opportunity to run or to have the opportunities that they dream of.”

When a traumatic event happens in a person’s life, one that completely uproots them and is seismically life-changing, things are often referred to as “the before” and “the after” of the situation. For Haslet, her “the life before” was centred on the material things that made her happy. And now? Well, now Haslet’s happiness is defined by how happy she is in the quiet moments. “We don’t know how happy we are until we see how happy we can be; how happy we are at the end of the day, when we put our head on the pillow. I would say that the silver lining in all of this is, I have been able to extrapolate and get to know who I am on a deeper level. I’ve gotten to know my heart and how to utilize my coping mechanisms. Going through therapy has helped me get to know myself, to know who I am and what I stand for.”

A true champion is defined not by the challenges that the person has experienced along the way, but rather, how they use those challenges as powerful tools to make it to the finish line.

And in that sense, no matter what else happens, Haslet is a champion. With all of the trauma that she has personally experienced — physically, emotionally and spiritually — there are many who would make excuses for either why they couldn’t move forward or why they couldn’t even think of trying.

Haslet, on the other hand, focuses not on what defined her before, or what the experience and impact of surviving a bomb has done to her. Instead, she looks at what options she has now and what passions drive her; and from there, she has created a champion attitude for herself — one that refuses to allow the acts of terrorists to delineate how she is going to live her life moving forward.

“The only goal is to have more good days than bad days,” Haslet says. “And I am achieving that.” www.adriannehaslet.com @adriannehaslet

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art

JEFF CRANE: HE BUILDS HORSES, DOESN’T HE? On his rural American farm, artist Jeff Crane creates distinctive pieces of art out of scraps of metal WRITTEN BY RICK MULLER

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t has been said that beauty can be found in anything, and that may never have been truer than on the farm near Charlotte, N.C., of Jeff Crane, who forges and who is also a farrier and an artist. Crane is one of those characters who is a rare blend of both rural storyteller and sophisticated artist — country mouse meets city mouse, if you will.

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Crane’s original career was that of a certified farrier, a craftsperson who trims and shoes horses’ hooves, then places shoes on those hooves. Crane also made the shoes as a forger, a person who makes or shapes a metal object by heating it in a fire or furnace and then beating or hammering it.

Crane has had a successful 30-year career as a farrier and forger, visiting

farms and ranches nearby with a steady group of clients, but he is also one of those people with vast and varied interests. But perhaps more than that, as a true artist, he is an observer and a builder. What most of us dismiss as junk immediately catches Crane’s creative eye.

“I’ve always had a welder in my shop, and I’d made little doodads for www.mycitylife.ca

PHOTOS COURTESY OF JEFF CRANE

Making horseshoes and shoeing horses had been Crane’s career, until his creative eye caught hold of the items around his farm, and his artistic side took off

www.mycitylife.ca

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The sculpture garden outside at Crane’s farm is an eclectic mix of every piece of scrap metal you might find, artistically woven together into pieces of beauty

people here and there,” he recalls in a recent interview. “And my wife and I have a huge interest in vintage farm items, and we started to find good farm scrap metal. I love repurposing things. I started welding and making candlestick holders and boot racks and funnylooking sculptures.”

His farm began to take on the appearance of an eclectic collection of just about everything you could find about a farm, from metal wagon-wheel rims and plow discs to horseshoes collected and welded together into spheres, and gears and chains. To most of us, these rusted, ratty pieces were junk. But when left with Crane’s skill and imagination, they all became pieces of art. Rusted and ratty became a desired collectible.

Given his intimate knowledge of horses, one day Crane decided to build a horse, and during that process, he also started building whatever people wanted. He started on his horse in March 2019.

“That horse sat looking like a motorcycle frame, wearing horseshoes,” says Crane. “I welded on it for quite a while, but then I got stuck. Like when 60

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The horse was looking at me, and I was looking at it, and I said, ‘Dang, it’s done’

you’re painting or writing a book, you get blocked. After Christmas I committed to working on it, but then I wondered, ‘How would I know when it’s done?’ I didn’t have any clue,” he says.

“Then, late one night, I was sitting in my chair, and the horse was looking at me, and I was looking at it, and I said, ‘Dang, it’s done.’”

Crane’s greatest satisfaction comes when his clients find something in his raw materials that means something personally to them. “I’ve been to their homes for 30 years shoeing horses, and now I’m putting something in their yards. It can be humbling and overwhelming at the same time.”

Be it priceless antiques in Italy, or rusted metal in North Carolina, art and artists can take many different forms, and beauty is always in the eye of the beholder. www.whitestoneforge.com @wsforge www.mycitylife.ca

www.mycitylife.ca

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fashion

BUM RAP

Fashion designer Elle B. Mambetov’s incredible story sounds like a movie. Sadly, it is all true. Betrayed by a friend, she ended up in prison, where she wrote a book, A6347DW: American Captive, depicting the systemic racism, sexism and corruption that she discovered as she worked to prove her innocence. It almost broke her — except, it didn’t. Now she’s back, sharing her incredible story on PBS’s American Portrait, with a new womenswear fashion line of modest clothing, Elle B Zhou, and a bricks-and-mortar store opening this summer WRITTEN BY DONNA PARIS

Mambetov will be opening a new retail store featuring her new designs in Beverly Hills, Calif.

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rowing up in Texas, Elle B. Mambetov loved playing with her doll and making her clothes to match her own. She never attended fashion school, but she studied business in college, then 62

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decided she wanted to understand the business of fashion, so she moved to China to learn about manufacturing and then to London. When she was only 26 years old, she was featured as a London Fashion Week designer. “I’ll never forget the first time I saw my

designs come down the runway,” she says. “I had accomplished my goal in that moment.”

But then something happened.

Mambetov was arrested after a “friend” racked up more than a million-dollar debt in her name. He confessed to the crime, but a few months later, the police knocked on her door. They took her directly to court from the police station, labelled her a “violent and dangerous criminal with previous convictions in the United States” (all untrue) and remanded her to HMP Bronzefield, a women’s prison, where she had to fight to even call her mother. www.mycitylife.ca

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Now, it’s survival … if you can survive all these experiences and find a way to overcome them, that is my new definition of success “In court, I was thinking,’ Whoa, that’s not me.’ I felt the weight and the heaviness of racial perception in an instant,” she says. “I had a bachelor of business [degree], I had a viable business and a fashion career, but all of a sudden, I was this violent criminal from another country.”

In 2018, two years later, Mambetov was released and moved to Los Angeles, where, in a happy moment, she got married, then converted to Islam. In fact, it was her husband who suggested she might like to start designing again.

Now, she’s proud of her luxury womenswear line, Elle B Zhou. The collection itself, with cropped tops, short-sleeved shirts and joggers, are filling a gap for people, and it is actually representative of her own journey into dressing modestly, Mambetov says.

Recently, she hosted a runway show, featuring supermodel Shahad Salman, to create a virtual 3D runway show, with benefits going to support COVID-19 relief. And this July, she’s opening a retail store to showcase her designs in the Beverly Center in Beverly Hills, Calif. She’ll be in good company with neighbours that include Gucci and Prada.

And Mambetov considers herself successful. “Before it was more literal: ‘What press did I have? What stores are interested in carrying my brand?’” she says. “Now, it’s survival … if you can survive all these experiences and find a way to overcome them, that is my new definition of success.” www.ellebmambet.com @ellebzhou 64

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WIth the help of supermodel Shahad Salman, Mambetov set up a virtual 3D runway show, showcasing her new womenswear line of modest clothing

www.mycitylife.ca

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The personal memoir of Elle B. Mambetov - from designer, to wrongfully imprisoned, and back again.

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ife is but a blur at times — incomprehensible. As a little girl, I dreamt of being a fashion designer, and I’ll never forget the first time I saw my designs come down the runway at London Fashion Week. In so many ways, for me, I had accomplished my goal in that very moment. Fashion is a hard enough industry to survive as it is, without harm being done to you by those closest to you.

Looking back, I suppose I lived in a bubble. I knew that bad things happened in the world, and that there were people who did some of those bad things. I guess I just never thought any of those people could do something bad to me. I was betrayed, preyed upon and manipulated by a man I called “my friend” — my very good friend at the time. Fashion is such a sociable industry. We are always meeting people at events, swapping contacts and making introductions that often turn into lifelong friendships. I used to be a social butterfly and felt it was easy to connect with people. I think it’s that part of my personality that has given way to the highs and lows in my life and career. My sense of adventure is sprinkled throughout the years of my life. I’ve been fortunate enough to have travelled to many countries, exploring Asia in Vietnam, South Korea and Cambodia. I’ve been to Russia and have had the pleasure of tasting true authentic pasta and pizza in Italy. My world travels have given me a more grounded overview of life. To see and experience how other people live, how other cultures develop and how the people of those cities and villages interact influence my current daily life in many ways. Something as simple as seeing how the villagers in Cambodia were packed into cages and driven to factories to make clothing impacted my decision to return to 66

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fashion in the luxury sector as a by-product of my choice to manufacture in Italy. One of the most expensive countries in the world to develop products because of the craftsmanship and skill, it is also a country where factories are practising safe production standards.

I cannot create fashion that violates the basic human rights of people, even if in some countries those rights aren’t as clearly outlined or enforced as they are in the West.

I suppose I’d say the difficult times in my life taught me tenacity. It’s not a personality trait I would have had otherwise. Circumstances often force growth, force change, whether we like it or not. I’ve had investors zip in and out of my life like a yo-yo, lost major deals with retailers because I couldn’t afford the manufacturing to fulfill the order.

There are so many hurdles that I don’t count, but only tally up the knowledge I learned from each experience. From each investor meeting that didn’t work, I learned about all the different types of investment a business can use to make their business successful.

And now, having converted to Islam, if I were ever to take on an investor, I would know how to make sure the investment was Sharia-compliant. As a brand that was previously subject to the traditional 30-/60-/90-day payment terms from retailers, I was able to make the decision to do away with such payment terms in my business, giving brands an opportunity to grow and remain healthy during our collaboration, rather than keeping that money in my own company for personal growth. I believe, or, at least, I hope, that nothing is wasted. No

circumstance or experience is wasted.

When I found out that my former friend was stealing from me, using my name and my fashion business to do fraud, my mind was shattered into a million pieces. It was unthinkable. I was hurt beyond reasoning, and it was only the beginning of this life-altering situation. They found him, arrested him and charged him with — and he confessed to — six counts of fraud. He confessed to defrauding me, lying to me and scamming me. I’ll never forget when the police called me to tell me that they’d found him. I just wanted to know why: “Why would he do what he did to me?” He was my friend.

Even still, the pain of the situation lingers. I get discouraged at times and feel tired of trying — tired of trying to rebuild and growing weary of pushing myself toward greatness, having started from zero all over again.

Being a fashion designer has been one of the most rewarding yet challenging dreams of my life. The world of fashion is an invitation to step into the dreamy world of a designer as a creative. I only hope to continue to recover and be brave enough to dream, create and share my dreams with the world in designs for my brand, Elle B Zhou. If I truly believe that nothing is wasted, I’ll find a way to carry on. www.mycitylife.ca

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