Robert Simmonds Fall 2015

A C H R O N I C L E H E R A L D C U STO M P U B L I C AT I O N

New Brunswick’s Power Trio Derek Riedle, Greg Hemmings, Dave Veale creating nurturing, fulfilling workplaces

Home Away From Home New Hospice House will fill important need in Fredericton

Meet the Staff Our in-house fashion experts answer your most-asked questions

Who’s Behind the Brew?

Craft-beer breweries pouring all over New Brunswick

ISSUE 15

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CONTENTS 006 PAUL’S NOTEBOOK

STYLE

FOOD & DRINK

008 UPCOMING EVENTS Check out our exciting lineup of in-store events!

028 MEET THE STAFF Robert Simmonds’ fashion experts reveal themselves, answer common client queries

042 WHO’S BEHIND THE BREW? Craft-beer breweries pouring all over New Brunswick

010 FALL 2015 & WINTER 2016 FEATURE BRANDS Apparel, shoe and accessory collections for men and women available at Robert Simmonds 012 SERVICES One-stop shopping for the well-dressed man and woman 014 LOOKBOOK

PROFILES 018 NEW BRUNSWICK’S POWER TRIO Riedle, Hemmings, Veale emphasize a nurturing, fulfilling workplace culture (with no A-holes!)

032 DAY TO NIGHT Pro tips to make transition from work to the club without re-entering your closet 036 SOLE INVESTMENTS A shoe can last a lifetime but who only wants one pair?

040 A WRIST OF TIME Fashionable, stylish watches a hot trend with younger demographic

TRAVEL 045 PACK AN EXPERT Small-scale touring experiences the latest trend in travel

AUTO 048 BREAKIN’ THE MOULD Five rides that might prove The Golden Age of Cars is now

026 HOME AWAY FROM HOME New Hospice House will fill important need in Fredericton

4 / ROBERT SIMMONDS

PHOTO: KONRAD BAK / 123RF

CONTENTS 006 PAUL’S NOTEBOOK

STYLE

FOOD & DRINK

008 UPCOMING EVENTS Check out our exciting lineup of in-store events!

028 MEET THE STAFF Robert Simmonds’ fashion experts reveal themselves, answer common client queries

042 WHO’S BEHIND THE BREW? Craft-beer breweries pouring all over New Brunswick

010 FALL 2015 & WINTER 2016 FEATURE BRANDS Apparel, shoe and accessory collections for men and women available at Robert Simmonds 012 SERVICES One-stop shopping for the well-dressed man and woman 014 LOOKBOOK

PROFILES 018 NEW BRUNSWICK’S POWER TRIO Riedle, Hemmings, Veale emphasize a nurturing, fulfilling workplace culture (with no A-holes!)

032 DAY TO NIGHT Pro tips to make transition from work to the club without re-entering your closet 036 SOLE INVESTMENTS A shoe can last a lifetime but who only wants one pair?

040 A WRIST OF TIME Fashionable, stylish watches a hot trend with younger demographic

TRAVEL 045 PACK AN EXPERT Small-scale touring experiences the latest trend in travel

AUTO 048 BREAKIN’ THE MOULD Five rides that might prove The Golden Age of Cars is now

026 HOME AWAY FROM HOME New Hospice House will fill important need in Fredericton

4 / ROBERT SIMMONDS

PHOTO: KONRAD BAK / 123RF

PAUL’S NOTEBOOK As we make our way through what has been both an exciting and rewarding 17th year in business, we are tremendously proud to offer you this, the 15th edition of Robert Simmonds Magazine.

Wow! Fifteen issues! This is indeed an important milestone for us and we could never have come this far without our committed team, amazing vendor partners and most importantly, you, our loyal customers.

What also makes this year very special is that we’re the honoured recipients of the 2015 Mazzuca Award which was presented to us by Downtown Fredericton Inc., a non-profit Business Improvement Area dedicated to sustaining and encouraging growth and development in the central business district of Fredericton. The Mazzuca Award is given to a downtown business, business owner or individual for contributions and commitment to the character and spirit of Downtown Fredericton.

We were also selected this year as ‘Best of the East’ for ‘Best Men’s Clothing Store’ by the readers of Progress Magazine.

While we are very proud of these wonderful accolades, you can be certain we are keeping our feet planted firmly on the ground! And we will continue to operate our business with absolute integrity, knowing that these awards would not have happened without your continued support.

You, our customers, rely on us for guidance on how to shape your wardrobes and we continue offering you the best merchandise the world has to offer.

In return, you have gifted us with your allegiance and, for that, we here at Robert Simmonds are truly grateful.

COSY PANTS

Inside Our story lineup this year includes an important feature on Fredericton’s new Hospice House. Daryl Branscombe led the charge last year to get this project going and its scheduled opening near the end of 2015 will add a vital service to our area.

We’d also like to introduce you to three men who are operating unique businesses in our province and employing talented individuals from all over the Maritimes — Derek Riedle of Revolution Strategy, Greg Hemmings of Hemmings House, and Dave Veale of Vision Coaching. All three men are on our cover and you can learn about their secrets to success and how they attract and keep young talent happy and here at home.

One of the leaders in our rapidly-growing craft-beer industry is Picaroons’ Sean Dunbar; we chat with Sean and also introduce you to several other key players involved in a business that has flooded our province with delicious brew.

Of course, we’ll give you a peek at some of the latest offerings from the world of men’s and women’s fashion, while our in-store experts reveal a bit about themselves and answer your most-asked questions.

We also look at how small-scale touring experiences are one of the hottest new travel trends and one of Canada’s top automotive journalists shows us five rides that he says proves ‘the Golden Age of the automobile is now.’

Paul

So, we hope you enjoy our 15th edition. We are very proud of it!

PHOTO: KONRAD BAK / 123RF

See you soon!

www.alberto-pants.com

PAUL’S NOTEBOOK As we make our way through what has been both an exciting and rewarding 17th year in business, we are tremendously proud to offer you this, the 15th edition of Robert Simmonds Magazine.

Wow! Fifteen issues! This is indeed an important milestone for us and we could never have come this far without our committed team, amazing vendor partners and most importantly, you, our loyal customers.

What also makes this year very special is that we’re the honoured recipients of the 2015 Mazzuca Award which was presented to us by Downtown Fredericton Inc., a non-profit Business Improvement Area dedicated to sustaining and encouraging growth and development in the central business district of Fredericton. The Mazzuca Award is given to a downtown business, business owner or individual for contributions and commitment to the character and spirit of Downtown Fredericton.

We were also selected this year as ‘Best of the East’ for ‘Best Men’s Clothing Store’ by the readers of Progress Magazine.

While we are very proud of these wonderful accolades, you can be certain we are keeping our feet planted firmly on the ground! And we will continue to operate our business with absolute integrity, knowing that these awards would not have happened without your continued support.

You, our customers, rely on us for guidance on how to shape your wardrobes and we continue offering you the best merchandise the world has to offer.

In return, you have gifted us with your allegiance and, for that, we here at Robert Simmonds are truly grateful.

COSY PANTS

Inside Our story lineup this year includes an important feature on Fredericton’s new Hospice House. Daryl Branscombe led the charge last year to get this project going and its scheduled opening near the end of 2015 will add a vital service to our area.

We’d also like to introduce you to three men who are operating unique businesses in our province and employing talented individuals from all over the Maritimes — Derek Riedle of Revolution Strategy, Greg Hemmings of Hemmings House, and Dave Veale of Vision Coaching. All three men are on our cover and you can learn about their secrets to success and how they attract and keep young talent happy and here at home.

One of the leaders in our rapidly-growing craft-beer industry is Picaroons’ Sean Dunbar; we chat with Sean and also introduce you to several other key players involved in a business that has flooded our province with delicious brew.

Of course, we’ll give you a peek at some of the latest offerings from the world of men’s and women’s fashion, while our in-store experts reveal a bit about themselves and answer your most-asked questions.

We also look at how small-scale touring experiences are one of the hottest new travel trends and one of Canada’s top automotive journalists shows us five rides that he says proves ‘the Golden Age of the automobile is now.’

Paul

So, we hope you enjoy our 15th edition. We are very proud of it!

PHOTO: KONRAD BAK / 123RF

See you soon!

www.alberto-pants.com

EVENTS

UPCOMING EVENTS Check out our exciting lineup of in-store events GOGO SWE EATER R EVE ENT September 24, 2015 GOGO Sweaters’ mother/daughter design duo will be visiting Robert Simmonds with their collection of 100% pure Canadian wool motif sweaters. gogosweaters.com

COPPL LEY & SAM MUELS SOHN N MTM EVENT T

ANNUA AL CU USTO OMER APPRE ECIAT TION NIGH HT Save the date for a Fashion’s Night Out Thursday November 19th, 2015, 5-8 p.m.

This will be a “shoppable” evening celebration of fashion and style with a wealth of treats, swills and playful entertainment. Join us during the day as well for a chat with visiting fashion representatives and tips for holiday dressing!

September 26th to October 3rd, 2015 Experience how a custom fit can enhance your look at the Coppley and Samuelsohn Made-toMeasure event. Our specialists will assist you in fabric selection and fit specifications, so you will fall in love with a garment that is perfectly suited for you.

Robert Simmonds Magazine Published by: Herald Custom Media Chairman and Publisher: Sarah Dennis President and CEO: Mark Lever Vice President, Custom Content: Jeff Nearing Editor & Project Manager: Todd Gillis Design Department Manager: Julia Webb Director of Content Strategy: Colleen Cosgrove Director, Client Marketing: Jennifer Punch Account Executive: Wanda H. Priddle wpriddle@herald.ca Lookbook: Art Direction: The Vital Group Stylist: Gregory Lalonde Photography: David Wile

PHOTO: VIOREL SIMA / 123RF

8 / ROBERT SIMMONDS

Photographers: Mark Hemmings, Joy Cummings, 123rf.com, Adrien Veczan, Soulmates Photograhy, Ford Motor Corporation, Astin Martin, Porsche Cars North America, Volkswagen Canada, Daimler Ag - Global Communications Mercedes-Benz Cars Contributors: Kelly Taylor, Gary Wollenhaupt, Todd Gillis, Robert Simmonds’ Staff, Mark DeWolf, Joel Jacobson, Allister Stevenson

© The Chronicle Herald 2015 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in retrieval systems or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission from the publisher.

The Chronicle Herald 2717 Joseph Howe Drive PO Box 610, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3J 2T2 902-426-2811 TheChronicleHerald.ca Printed by: Lowe Martin Group www.lmgroup.com Cover Image: Mark Hemmings www.markhemmings.com On the Cover: David Veale (left) is wearing a Hugo Boss suit, Eton shirt, Eton tie, Eton pocket square and Donald Pliner shoes Greg Hemmings (center) is wearing a Coppley blazer, Eton shirt, Eton scarf, Robert Talbot pocket square, Armani Jeans and John Varvatos shoes.

Derek Riedle (right) is wearing a Canali suit, Canali tie, Canali pocket square, Eton Shirt and Allan Edmonds shoes.

EVENTS

UPCOMING EVENTS Check out our exciting lineup of in-store events GOGO SWE EATER R EVE ENT September 24, 2015 GOGO Sweaters’ mother/daughter design duo will be visiting Robert Simmonds with their collection of 100% pure Canadian wool motif sweaters. gogosweaters.com

COPPL LEY & SAM MUELS SOHN N MTM EVENT T

ANNUA AL CU USTO OMER APPRE ECIAT TION NIGH HT Save the date for a Fashion’s Night Out Thursday November 19th, 2015, 5-8 p.m.

This will be a “shoppable” evening celebration of fashion and style with a wealth of treats, swills and playful entertainment. Join us during the day as well for a chat with visiting fashion representatives and tips for holiday dressing!

September 26th to October 3rd, 2015 Experience how a custom fit can enhance your look at the Coppley and Samuelsohn Made-toMeasure event. Our specialists will assist you in fabric selection and fit specifications, so you will fall in love with a garment that is perfectly suited for you.

Robert Simmonds Magazine Published by: Herald Custom Media Chairman and Publisher: Sarah Dennis President and CEO: Mark Lever Vice President, Custom Content: Jeff Nearing Editor & Project Manager: Todd Gillis Design Department Manager: Julia Webb Director of Content Strategy: Colleen Cosgrove Director, Client Marketing: Jennifer Punch Account Executive: Wanda H. Priddle wpriddle@herald.ca Lookbook: Art Direction: The Vital Group Stylist: Gregory Lalonde Photography: David Wile

PHOTO: VIOREL SIMA / 123RF

8 / ROBERT SIMMONDS

Photographers: Mark Hemmings, Joy Cummings, 123rf.com, Adrien Veczan, Soulmates Photograhy, Ford Motor Corporation, Astin Martin, Porsche Cars North America, Volkswagen Canada, Daimler Ag - Global Communications Mercedes-Benz Cars Contributors: Kelly Taylor, Gary Wollenhaupt, Todd Gillis, Robert Simmonds’ Staff, Mark DeWolf, Joel Jacobson, Allister Stevenson

© The Chronicle Herald 2015 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in retrieval systems or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission from the publisher.

The Chronicle Herald 2717 Joseph Howe Drive PO Box 610, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3J 2T2 902-426-2811 TheChronicleHerald.ca Printed by: Lowe Martin Group www.lmgroup.com Cover Image: Mark Hemmings www.markhemmings.com On the Cover: David Veale (left) is wearing a Hugo Boss suit, Eton shirt, Eton tie, Eton pocket square and Donald Pliner shoes Greg Hemmings (center) is wearing a Coppley blazer, Eton shirt, Eton scarf, Robert Talbot pocket square, Armani Jeans and John Varvatos shoes.

Derek Riedle (right) is wearing a Canali suit, Canali tie, Canali pocket square, Eton Shirt and Allan Edmonds shoes.

BRANDS

FALL 2015 & WINTER 2016

FEATURE BRANDS

PHOTO: ANDREY KISELEV / 123RF

Apparel, Shoe and Accessory Collections for Men and Women Available at Robert Simmonds Clothing

10 / ROBERT SIMMONDS

10 Days Amsterdam Adriano Goldschmied Alberto Alice+Olivia Allen Edmonds Armani Jeans Bella Luxx Benchcraft Billy Jealousy Boot Rescue Branta Brave Leather Brax Bugatti Calvin Klein Canada Goose Canali Cinzia Rocca Circle of Gentlemen Citizens of Humanity Codello Scarves Cole Haan Coppley CZ Kenneth Jay Lane Daniel Wellington Davek Dion Donald J. Pliner Ecru Eileen Fisher Eton Free People Intimates Gillian Julius Hue Hugo Boss Hunter James Perse Jenny Bird Joeffer Caoc John Varvatos

Karen McClintock Kate Spade New York RTW Klauss Boehler Krista Norris Collection KuwallaTee Lacoste Love Quotes Mackage Marcoliani Maui Jim’s Mavi Michael Kors Paige Peter Millar Rails Rainy Sunday Rachelle Celine Rebecca Minkoff Rebecca Taylor Robert Graham Robert Talbott Saint James Sam Edleman Samuelsohn Sanyo Sarah Pacini Saxx Smythe Spanx Stuart Weitzman Suzi Roher Tateossian Ted Baker Theory Tokens & Icons Tumi UGG Australia Vince White & Warren

BRANDS

FALL 2015 & WINTER 2016

FEATURE BRANDS

PHOTO: ANDREY KISELEV / 123RF

Apparel, Shoe and Accessory Collections for Men and Women Available at Robert Simmonds Clothing

10 / ROBERT SIMMONDS

10 Days Amsterdam Adriano Goldschmied Alberto Alice+Olivia Allen Edmonds Armani Jeans Bella Luxx Benchcraft Billy Jealousy Boot Rescue Branta Brave Leather Brax Bugatti Calvin Klein Canada Goose Canali Cinzia Rocca Circle of Gentlemen Citizens of Humanity Codello Scarves Cole Haan Coppley CZ Kenneth Jay Lane Daniel Wellington Davek Dion Donald J. Pliner Ecru Eileen Fisher Eton Free People Intimates Gillian Julius Hue Hugo Boss Hunter James Perse Jenny Bird Joeffer Caoc John Varvatos

Karen McClintock Kate Spade New York RTW Klauss Boehler Krista Norris Collection KuwallaTee Lacoste Love Quotes Mackage Marcoliani Maui Jim’s Mavi Michael Kors Paige Peter Millar Rails Rainy Sunday Rachelle Celine Rebecca Minkoff Rebecca Taylor Robert Graham Robert Talbott Saint James Sam Edleman Samuelsohn Sanyo Sarah Pacini Saxx Smythe Spanx Stuart Weitzman Suzi Roher Tateossian Ted Baker Theory Tokens & Icons Tumi UGG Australia Vince White & Warren

SERVICES

SERVICES

SERVICES We offer one-stop shopping for the well-dressed man and woman

R

obert Simmonds Clothing is noted as the place to shop in downtown Fredericton for the latest styles in high-end fashion.

As a local independent retailer, our mission is to provide an “Excellent Experience, Every Time with Engaged Employees.� We pride ourselves on being clothing solution experts while providing our clients with access to some of the world’s favourite brands, complimentary services and style suggestions..

STORE INFORMATION

FASHION EMERGENCY

LEGAL ATTIRE

Robert Simmonds Clothing 400 King Street Fredericton, New Brunswick E3B 1E3 Corner of King and York under the Black Canopy

Have a last minute interview, airport lost your luggage, spilled coffee on your tie before your big meeting, or found a run in your hosiery?

We have all been there. Call us and we will help.

We can deliver to your office or book an appointment. No need to stress.

Prefer by appointment. We are an agent for a legal wear company. You will be measured by qualified Robert Simmonds staff. Your legal garments will be custom made for you. There is a six- week turnaround time. Please call our store at 506-455-2500 or email info@robertsimmonds.com to schedule an appointment.

Store Hours Monday – Wednesday 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Thursday – Friday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Phone: 506-455-2500 Fax: 506-455-4550 Email: info@robertsimmonds.com www.robertsimmonds.com

facebook.com/Robertsimmondsclothing

WARDROBE CONSULTATION This service, for both men and women, is tailored to your particular needs and budget and is offered at no additional cost. Our clothing solutions experts will assist you with your wardrobe planning, closet purging and offer suggestions for any occasion. We help you make style decisions that you won’t regret and that you’ll enjoy for years to come.

For an appointment for a private session, please call 506-455-2500 or email us at info@robertsimmonds.com

TUX RENTALS We are an agent for tuxedo rentals from Freeman Formalwear who provide a large selection of tuxedos. Our tuxedo prices are the same as every agent across Canada, but we provide the services you’ve come to expect.

Our in-house tailor can make any last minute alterations to your rental. Please call our

menswear department to book appointments or email us at info@robertsimmonds.com

ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES

MEN’S MADE-TO-MEASURE For men who find off-the-rack garments a difficult fit or who enjoy expressing their individual style by selecting exclusive patterns and fabrics, made-to-measure suits, blazers, trousers, and dress shirts may well be the answer. Appointments preferred.

FUR STORAGE Keep your fur looking new by storing it in Robert Simmonds Clothing fur vault. The vault is a specially-designed environment with carefully controlled temperature and humidity.

This is Robert Simmonds Clothing’s 15th issue.

We would like to thank all of our advertisers for contributing to the growth of Robert Simmonds Magazine. If you would like to advertise in our magazine, please contact Cassandra Blackmore at orders@robertsimmonds.com or 506-455-2500 Named “Best boutique for head-to-toe style for any season, budget, or person� by magazine.

OUR RETURN POLICY @robert_simmonds

Robert Simmonds

PHOTO: SANDRA CUNNINGHAM / 123RF

Robertsimmonds400

STAY IN TOUCH We want to let you know about special events, sales and promotions. Whether it is by mail, email, Facebook, or telephone, make sure your contact information is updated in our computer system. See a sales associate next time you are in or email info@robertsimmonds.com and we will get you connected.

We offer a complete refund or exchange within 10 days of purchase on all regular priced merchandise in original condition, with proof of purchase.

Please review your sales slip for details. All exchanges are final sale. Merchandise on sale is final sale. No exchanges or refunds are accepted on sale merchandise. The following lists of items are also final sale for hygienic reasons: beauty products, jewelry, hats, hosiery, sunglasses, watches, or undergarments. All Canada Goose products are also final sale.

GIFT CARDS The perfect gift is the one that always fits.

Robert Simmonds Clothing gift cards can be purchased in any denomination and they never expire.

GIFT WRAPPING If you are buying for any special occasion, Robert Simmonds Clothing offers gift wrapping.

Just mention it is a gift and we will be happy to wrap it for you.

Office Suite Rentals In Prime Downtown Location www.taymax.ca

TAILORING Your purchase will be custom tailored to suit you in a timely manner by our Master Tailor, Tony Dableh. Tony can adjust your older items so that they can be worn and enjoyed anew.

His work is done to perfection every time.

2PUN :[YLL[ -YLKLYPJ[VU 5 ) , ) , P c F PHOTO: PULEN/ 123RF

12 / ROBERT SIMMONDS

ROBERT SIMMONDS / 13

SERVICES

SERVICES

SERVICES We offer one-stop shopping for the well-dressed man and woman

R

obert Simmonds Clothing is noted as the place to shop in downtown Fredericton for the latest styles in high-end fashion.

As a local independent retailer, our mission is to provide an “Excellent Experience, Every Time with Engaged Employees.� We pride ourselves on being clothing solution experts while providing our clients with access to some of the world’s favourite brands, complimentary services and style suggestions..

STORE INFORMATION

FASHION EMERGENCY

LEGAL ATTIRE

Robert Simmonds Clothing 400 King Street Fredericton, New Brunswick E3B 1E3 Corner of King and York under the Black Canopy

Have a last minute interview, airport lost your luggage, spilled coffee on your tie before your big meeting, or found a run in your hosiery?

We have all been there. Call us and we will help.

We can deliver to your office or book an appointment. No need to stress.

Prefer by appointment. We are an agent for a legal wear company. You will be measured by qualified Robert Simmonds staff. Your legal garments will be custom made for you. There is a six- week turnaround time. Please call our store at 506-455-2500 or email info@robertsimmonds.com to schedule an appointment.

Store Hours Monday – Wednesday 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Thursday – Friday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Phone: 506-455-2500 Fax: 506-455-4550 Email: info@robertsimmonds.com www.robertsimmonds.com

facebook.com/Robertsimmondsclothing

WARDROBE CONSULTATION This service, for both men and women, is tailored to your particular needs and budget and is offered at no additional cost. Our clothing solutions experts will assist you with your wardrobe planning, closet purging and offer suggestions for any occasion. We help you make style decisions that you won’t regret and that you’ll enjoy for years to come.

For an appointment for a private session, please call 506-455-2500 or email us at info@robertsimmonds.com

TUX RENTALS We are an agent for tuxedo rentals from Freeman Formalwear who provide a large selection of tuxedos. Our tuxedo prices are the same as every agent across Canada, but we provide the services you’ve come to expect.

Our in-house tailor can make any last minute alterations to your rental. Please call our

menswear department to book appointments or email us at info@robertsimmonds.com

ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES

MEN’S MADE-TO-MEASURE For men who find off-the-rack garments a difficult fit or who enjoy expressing their individual style by selecting exclusive patterns and fabrics, made-to-measure suits, blazers, trousers, and dress shirts may well be the answer. Appointments preferred.

FUR STORAGE Keep your fur looking new by storing it in Robert Simmonds Clothing fur vault. The vault is a specially-designed environment with carefully controlled temperature and humidity.

This is Robert Simmonds Clothing’s 15th issue.

We would like to thank all of our advertisers for contributing to the growth of Robert Simmonds Magazine. If you would like to advertise in our magazine, please contact Cassandra Blackmore at orders@robertsimmonds.com or 506-455-2500 Named “Best boutique for head-to-toe style for any season, budget, or person� by magazine.

OUR RETURN POLICY @robert_simmonds

Robert Simmonds

PHOTO: SANDRA CUNNINGHAM / 123RF

Robertsimmonds400

STAY IN TOUCH We want to let you know about special events, sales and promotions. Whether it is by mail, email, Facebook, or telephone, make sure your contact information is updated in our computer system. See a sales associate next time you are in or email info@robertsimmonds.com and we will get you connected.

We offer a complete refund or exchange within 10 days of purchase on all regular priced merchandise in original condition, with proof of purchase.

Please review your sales slip for details. All exchanges are final sale. Merchandise on sale is final sale. No exchanges or refunds are accepted on sale merchandise. The following lists of items are also final sale for hygienic reasons: beauty products, jewelry, hats, hosiery, sunglasses, watches, or undergarments. All Canada Goose products are also final sale.

GIFT CARDS The perfect gift is the one that always fits.

Robert Simmonds Clothing gift cards can be purchased in any denomination and they never expire.

GIFT WRAPPING If you are buying for any special occasion, Robert Simmonds Clothing offers gift wrapping.

Just mention it is a gift and we will be happy to wrap it for you.

Office Suite Rentals In Prime Downtown Location www.taymax.ca

TAILORING Your purchase will be custom tailored to suit you in a timely manner by our Master Tailor, Tony Dableh. Tony can adjust your older items so that they can be worn and enjoyed anew.

His work is done to perfection every time.

2PUN :[YLL[ -YLKLYPJ[VU 5 ) , ) , P c F PHOTO: PULEN/ 123RF

12 / ROBERT SIMMONDS

ROBERT SIMMONDS / 13

LOOKBOOK

LOOKBOOK

LOOKS BY

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Available at Robert Simmonds

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LOOKBOOK

LOOKBOOK

LOOKS BY

Available at Robert Simmonds

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LOOKS BY

Available at Robert Simmonds

ROBERT SIMMONDS / 15

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LOOKS BY LOOKS BY

Available at Robert Simmonds

Available at Robert Simmonds

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LOOKBOOK

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Available at Robert Simmonds

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PROFILE

PROFILE

NEW BRUNSWICK’S POWER TRIO Riedle, Hemmings, Veale emphasize a nurturing, fulfilling workplace culture (with no A-holes!)

By Kelly Taylor PHOTOS: MARK HEMMINGS

L-R: Dave Veale of Vision Coaching Greg Hemmings of Hemmings House and Derek Riedle of Revolution Strategy 18 / ROBERT SIMMONDS

erek Riedle knows Saint John isn’t where you make it big in advertising, public relations or marketing. He also knows he has a great staff and doesn’t want to lose a single one.

So, in addition to his official mantra for business — Never Stand Still — the founder of Revolution Strategy also employs one that’s less official, but one he’s not afraid to share.

No Assholes Allowed.

In other words, if someone isn’t a fit for the culture he’s trying to create, that person is gone, whether it’s a prospective hire, outside consultant… or client.

Doing what you love and taking as little flak as possible seems to be the key to success for the three people featured here: Riedle, Greg Hemmings of Hemmings House and Dave Veale of Vision Coaching.

Riedle said the epicentre of his field is Toronto and the lure can be so powerful it makes it especially important to build a workplace that

CLOTHING PROVIDED BY: ROBERT SIMMONDS

is nurturing and fulfilling. Breaking ties with overbearing clients is a part of it.

“You gotta,” he said. “It beats the snot out of your people.

“We’re trying to invent a culture and maintain a workplace where they want to stay here and not go to a big agency in Toronto. So, we’re trying to fulfill that and make sure they’re working for good clients.”

If you’re getting the idea Revolution Strategy is a staff-first kind of employer, you’re starting to get an idea of Riedle’s personality.

It’s a personality that has grown over time, perhaps more so since founding Revolution in 1998. Like many entrepreneurs, his business began out of dissatisfaction with his old job.

“My wife and I had been pretty newly married, six months,” he recalls. “I didn’t like what I was doing and she didn’t like that I didn’t like what I was doing.”

So with a bad job casting a pall over the home life, the decision was made.

ROBERT SIMMONDS / 19

PROFILE

PROFILE

NEW BRUNSWICK’S POWER TRIO Riedle, Hemmings, Veale emphasize a nurturing, fulfilling workplace culture (with no A-holes!)

By Kelly Taylor PHOTOS: MARK HEMMINGS

L-R: Dave Veale of Vision Coaching Greg Hemmings of Hemmings House and Derek Riedle of Revolution Strategy 18 / ROBERT SIMMONDS

erek Riedle knows Saint John isn’t where you make it big in advertising, public relations or marketing. He also knows he has a great staff and doesn’t want to lose a single one.

So, in addition to his official mantra for business — Never Stand Still — the founder of Revolution Strategy also employs one that’s less official, but one he’s not afraid to share.

No Assholes Allowed.

In other words, if someone isn’t a fit for the culture he’s trying to create, that person is gone, whether it’s a prospective hire, outside consultant… or client.

Doing what you love and taking as little flak as possible seems to be the key to success for the three people featured here: Riedle, Greg Hemmings of Hemmings House and Dave Veale of Vision Coaching.

Riedle said the epicentre of his field is Toronto and the lure can be so powerful it makes it especially important to build a workplace that

CLOTHING PROVIDED BY: ROBERT SIMMONDS

is nurturing and fulfilling. Breaking ties with overbearing clients is a part of it.

“You gotta,” he said. “It beats the snot out of your people.

“We’re trying to invent a culture and maintain a workplace where they want to stay here and not go to a big agency in Toronto. So, we’re trying to fulfill that and make sure they’re working for good clients.”

If you’re getting the idea Revolution Strategy is a staff-first kind of employer, you’re starting to get an idea of Riedle’s personality.

It’s a personality that has grown over time, perhaps more so since founding Revolution in 1998. Like many entrepreneurs, his business began out of dissatisfaction with his old job.

“My wife and I had been pretty newly married, six months,” he recalls. “I didn’t like what I was doing and she didn’t like that I didn’t like what I was doing.”

So with a bad job casting a pall over the home life, the decision was made.

ROBERT SIMMONDS / 19

PROFILE

DEREK RIEDLE Revolution Strategy, Riedle Urban Spaces, Talons of Venice

Available at Rober t Simmonds

400 King Street, Fredericton Te l . 5 0 6 4 5 5 2 5 0 0

Age: 44 Hometown: Saint John Current residence: Los Angeles Business type: Communications agency, television production, real estate development, digital publishing In business since: 1998 My mantra is: Never Stand Still

“We’re trying to invent a culture and maintain a workplace where they want to stay here and not go to a big agency in Toronto. So, we’re trying to fulfill that and make sure they’re working for good clients.”

20 / ROBERT SIMMONDS

“I’m very fortunate to have a partner who grew up in an entrepreneurial family, so it didn’t intimidate her at all. And because it didn’t intimidate her, it was less intimidating for me.”

Seventeen years later, he has three successful businesses, has his feet in television production and jets back and forth between Saint John and Los Angeles. Most importantly, he’s crafted a brand he’s proud to own and takes care to project it in everything he does.

“We’re big believers in the power of brand consistency,” he said. “We try to express our personality in everything we do, whether it’s a document we give to a client or a social-media campaign we’ve built.”

That personality comes through in spades on his company’s websites. It doesn’t leave you to find “contact” at the bottom in tiny type; instead, in the middle of many of the pages you can visit, it says “We’d love for you to say ‘hello.’” Click on ‘hello’ and you’re at the contact page.

The staff are described as “marketers, content creators and space cowboys” who are “currently seeking dream clients looking for brand management, advertising, PR, social media, awesome design and fistfuls of candy.”

The photos paint a picture of tirelessly creative associates who work just as hard at enjoying their jobs as doing their jobs. And it’s for that reason Riedle grants his staff the freedom to achieve results, on deadline, in almost any manner they see fit.

“We are all about results and our clients are about results. How our people get there is up to them and, if they get there, we don’t mess with it.”

Part of that is nurturing the creative part of his business. “You can’t force some of this stuff and, sometimes, letting off the gas provides the room for ideas to come.”

The heritage building he owns also expresses his creativity, if by nothing else, its name: the Creative Soup Building on Prince William Street.

It was one of the first to be built on the ashes of the great fire of 1888, which levelled most of the

PROFILE

DEREK RIEDLE Revolution Strategy, Riedle Urban Spaces, Talons of Venice

Available at Rober t Simmonds

400 King Street, Fredericton Te l . 5 0 6 4 5 5 2 5 0 0

Age: 44 Hometown: Saint John Current residence: Los Angeles Business type: Communications agency, television production, real estate development, digital publishing In business since: 1998 My mantra is: Never Stand Still

“We’re trying to invent a culture and maintain a workplace where they want to stay here and not go to a big agency in Toronto. So, we’re trying to fulfill that and make sure they’re working for good clients.”

20 / ROBERT SIMMONDS

“I’m very fortunate to have a partner who grew up in an entrepreneurial family, so it didn’t intimidate her at all. And because it didn’t intimidate her, it was less intimidating for me.”

Seventeen years later, he has three successful businesses, has his feet in television production and jets back and forth between Saint John and Los Angeles. Most importantly, he’s crafted a brand he’s proud to own and takes care to project it in everything he does.

“We’re big believers in the power of brand consistency,” he said. “We try to express our personality in everything we do, whether it’s a document we give to a client or a social-media campaign we’ve built.”

That personality comes through in spades on his company’s websites. It doesn’t leave you to find “contact” at the bottom in tiny type; instead, in the middle of many of the pages you can visit, it says “We’d love for you to say ‘hello.’” Click on ‘hello’ and you’re at the contact page.

The staff are described as “marketers, content creators and space cowboys” who are “currently seeking dream clients looking for brand management, advertising, PR, social media, awesome design and fistfuls of candy.”

The photos paint a picture of tirelessly creative associates who work just as hard at enjoying their jobs as doing their jobs. And it’s for that reason Riedle grants his staff the freedom to achieve results, on deadline, in almost any manner they see fit.

“We are all about results and our clients are about results. How our people get there is up to them and, if they get there, we don’t mess with it.”

Part of that is nurturing the creative part of his business. “You can’t force some of this stuff and, sometimes, letting off the gas provides the room for ideas to come.”

The heritage building he owns also expresses his creativity, if by nothing else, its name: the Creative Soup Building on Prince William Street.

It was one of the first to be built on the ashes of the great fire of 1888, which levelled most of the

PROFILE

PROFILE GREG HEMMINGS Hemmings House, Talons of Venice

DAVE VEALE

Age: 38

Vision Coaching Inc.

Hometown: Saint John Current residence: Saint John Business type: Film and media production In business since: 2001 My mantra is: Make all decisions to create a happy and kind world

“It drained me to the point I said enough was enough, if I am going to be in the film industry, I need to be in control of my destiny and flex my creative muscles. Being an entrepreneur is my way to live as an artist.”

area. It houses a variety of creative enterprises, not the least of which is Hemmings House.

When Greg Hemmings found himself, he was at sea. He had worked as a film camera assistant and, frankly, didn’t find it fulfilling.

“You would think film sets would be a creative place that would feed the soul of any artistbrain, but it was the complete opposite,” he said.

“It drained me to the point I said enough was enough, if I am going to be in the film industry, I need to be in control of my destiny and flex my creative muscles. Being an entrepreneur is my way to live as an artist.”

22 / ROBERT SIMMONDS

The path to Hemmings House wasn’t direct.

Indeed, it took him around the world until he landed back in New Brunswick. It started in Ontario.

“I mowed my way through three years of film school. I literally mowed enough lawns to put myself through post-secondary without any financial assistance from my parents,” he recalled. “The only time I received money outside of my lawn mowing was when my grandmother paid me $1,000 to cut my hair.

I was a long-haired dreadlock hippy.”

That money went into an engine rebuild in a VW camper van that was one of his homes on wheels during school. “You know, to keep costs down.”

Hemmings quit his assistant job and joined the cruise industry, producing videos shipboard by day and editing his own videos during off hours. The ships had the Avid video editing suites he coveted but could never afford at the time.

He would spend summers travelling around North America filming music festivals and then head to the Caribbean in winter to work on cruise ships as the video guy.

Eventually, the time came to put down roots and no place would do but home. “More and more, I am realizing there is a massive power in home. Friends, family, community; all this stuff matters and you realize it when you leave it.”

Age: Chronological, 43; developmental, depends on the day Hometown: Whitehorse, Yukon Current residence: Quispamsis, N.B. Business type: Leadership coaching In business since: Vision was founded in 2005 My mantra is: To live, work and play where the magic happens (outside my comfort zone)

“Your job as a business coach, either one-onone or as a team, rather than barking out orders, it’s about helping assess where an individual or team is and how to get where they want to be.”

All those connections have made things happen. Hemmings leases space in the Creative Soup Building and he and landlord Riedle have since become business partners in a television production created by Riedle’s company, Talons of Venice.

As Riedle tells it, the name came about when a friend, having spent some time with Riedle in the Los Angeles enclave and reluctant to leave, remarked “Boy, Venice really has its talons dug into our shoulders.”

Talons of Venice became first a hashtag and then the name of the business. It has developed two television-program concepts so far, one of which has been sold to a Canadian broadcaster and is expected to air later this year. The other is still in marketing, hoping to find a buyer.

Hemmings said the first, a 12-episode series on architecture, airs on the W Network this fall.

Dave Veale wasn’t born in Saint John, but his arrival to the area was no less circuitous. He’s had the complete Canadian experience: born in Toronto, he grew up in the Yukon, played hockey professionally in Saskatchewan and ran a fitness training business in Vancouver.

His time in the Maritimes was supposed to be fleeting. A friend lured him to Saint John with the prospect of selling behavioural analyses to the area’s burgeoning call-centre industry. His plan was to help build the business, plant the seeds of an ongoing income source and then hightail it back to the left coast.

Cupid, however, had other ideas. He met his wife and, with each passing day, the area dug its talons into his shoulders more and more. “I just loved New Brunswick and Saint John is such a welcoming place. I met Derek and Greg and we just decided ‘Man, we love this place. Why would we ever want to leave?’”

ROBERT SIMMONDS / 23

PROFILE

PROFILE GREG HEMMINGS Hemmings House, Talons of Venice

DAVE VEALE

Age: 38

Vision Coaching Inc.

Hometown: Saint John Current residence: Saint John Business type: Film and media production In business since: 2001 My mantra is: Make all decisions to create a happy and kind world

“It drained me to the point I said enough was enough, if I am going to be in the film industry, I need to be in control of my destiny and flex my creative muscles. Being an entrepreneur is my way to live as an artist.”

area. It houses a variety of creative enterprises, not the least of which is Hemmings House.

When Greg Hemmings found himself, he was at sea. He had worked as a film camera assistant and, frankly, didn’t find it fulfilling.

“You would think film sets would be a creative place that would feed the soul of any artistbrain, but it was the complete opposite,” he said.

“It drained me to the point I said enough was enough, if I am going to be in the film industry, I need to be in control of my destiny and flex my creative muscles. Being an entrepreneur is my way to live as an artist.”

22 / ROBERT SIMMONDS

The path to Hemmings House wasn’t direct.

Indeed, it took him around the world until he landed back in New Brunswick. It started in Ontario.

“I mowed my way through three years of film school. I literally mowed enough lawns to put myself through post-secondary without any financial assistance from my parents,” he recalled. “The only time I received money outside of my lawn mowing was when my grandmother paid me $1,000 to cut my hair.

I was a long-haired dreadlock hippy.”

That money went into an engine rebuild in a VW camper van that was one of his homes on wheels during school. “You know, to keep costs down.”

Hemmings quit his assistant job and joined the cruise industry, producing videos shipboard by day and editing his own videos during off hours. The ships had the Avid video editing suites he coveted but could never afford at the time.

He would spend summers travelling around North America filming music festivals and then head to the Caribbean in winter to work on cruise ships as the video guy.

Eventually, the time came to put down roots and no place would do but home. “More and more, I am realizing there is a massive power in home. Friends, family, community; all this stuff matters and you realize it when you leave it.”

Age: Chronological, 43; developmental, depends on the day Hometown: Whitehorse, Yukon Current residence: Quispamsis, N.B. Business type: Leadership coaching In business since: Vision was founded in 2005 My mantra is: To live, work and play where the magic happens (outside my comfort zone)

“Your job as a business coach, either one-onone or as a team, rather than barking out orders, it’s about helping assess where an individual or team is and how to get where they want to be.”

All those connections have made things happen. Hemmings leases space in the Creative Soup Building and he and landlord Riedle have since become business partners in a television production created by Riedle’s company, Talons of Venice.

As Riedle tells it, the name came about when a friend, having spent some time with Riedle in the Los Angeles enclave and reluctant to leave, remarked “Boy, Venice really has its talons dug into our shoulders.”

Talons of Venice became first a hashtag and then the name of the business. It has developed two television-program concepts so far, one of which has been sold to a Canadian broadcaster and is expected to air later this year. The other is still in marketing, hoping to find a buyer.

Hemmings said the first, a 12-episode series on architecture, airs on the W Network this fall.

Dave Veale wasn’t born in Saint John, but his arrival to the area was no less circuitous. He’s had the complete Canadian experience: born in Toronto, he grew up in the Yukon, played hockey professionally in Saskatchewan and ran a fitness training business in Vancouver.

His time in the Maritimes was supposed to be fleeting. A friend lured him to Saint John with the prospect of selling behavioural analyses to the area’s burgeoning call-centre industry. His plan was to help build the business, plant the seeds of an ongoing income source and then hightail it back to the left coast.

Cupid, however, had other ideas. He met his wife and, with each passing day, the area dug its talons into his shoulders more and more. “I just loved New Brunswick and Saint John is such a welcoming place. I met Derek and Greg and we just decided ‘Man, we love this place. Why would we ever want to leave?’”

ROBERT SIMMONDS / 23

PROFILE

Veale is a coach, but it isn’t a pair of skates and a whistle he takes to work. He coaches individuals and organizations to help them reach their goals in business.

Though he’d rather you experience coaching than simply read about it, he does have a pretty good description: “Your job as a business coach, either one-on-one or as a team, rather than barking out orders, it’s about helping assess where an individual or team is and how to get where they want to be,” he said.

It starts with a conversation. By discussing various issues around the business and by asking probing and sometimes leading questions, he’s able to get the person or group to find their own answers within.

Michelangelo is reported to have said his job wasn’t to create something; it was simply to remove the extra material until the statue within appears.

David, as in Veale, liked the analogy and said in many ways, his clients already have the answers within; it’s just a matter of helping coax them out and building the courage to 24 / ROBERT SIMMONDS

heed them. Examples include everything from polishing a prospective vice-president’s public speaking skills or improving a potential manager’s interpersonal skills to helping a CEO see the way to evolving the business or busting through a plateau in revenues holding the company back.

Veale, like Riedle and Hemmings, has a passion for his work. Love what you do and it doesn’t feel like work. And if you stop loving it, stop doing it.

It’s advice he followed himself when he stepped away from professional hockey. A graduate of the Notre Dame Men’s Hockey Program in Wilcox, Sask., Veale found himself playing in North Dakota with the Minot Americans of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League and a short stint with the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League.

“Yeah, it was one of those things. You could see the window was closing. The worst part was I just wasn’t having any fun,” he said. “I chose to make the decision before it was made for me.

“In business, that happens a lot. I think

having tenacity and perseverance and work ethic is a huge asset in any environment. But at some point, you have to ask yourself, ‘Do I have to let go of this? What’s the cost of continuing?

Am I willing to do that?’

“There’s a really fine line between something being strength, but at what point does it become a liability?”

For those struggling through hard times, Veale has some advice: “Work smarter, not harder, and how do you get back to what you love doing?”

It’s all advice he follows himself, since the coach has a coach. But in the end, it all comes back to the answers within. “The biggest battle we have is the one between our two ears,” he said.

And like Riedle, if the client isn’t a good fit, he’s not going to force it. “We want to see a commitment to the idea of coaching,” he said.

“If we’re not going to get that, we’re going to gently ease them out to another professional we think can help them.”

It’s a polite way of saying, No Assholes Allowed.

ROBERT SIMMONDS / 25

PROFILE

Veale is a coach, but it isn’t a pair of skates and a whistle he takes to work. He coaches individuals and organizations to help them reach their goals in business.

Though he’d rather you experience coaching than simply read about it, he does have a pretty good description: “Your job as a business coach, either one-on-one or as a team, rather than barking out orders, it’s about helping assess where an individual or team is and how to get where they want to be,” he said.

It starts with a conversation. By discussing various issues around the business and by asking probing and sometimes leading questions, he’s able to get the person or group to find their own answers within.

Michelangelo is reported to have said his job wasn’t to create something; it was simply to remove the extra material until the statue within appears.

David, as in Veale, liked the analogy and said in many ways, his clients already have the answers within; it’s just a matter of helping coax them out and building the courage to 24 / ROBERT SIMMONDS

heed them. Examples include everything from polishing a prospective vice-president’s public speaking skills or improving a potential manager’s interpersonal skills to helping a CEO see the way to evolving the business or busting through a plateau in revenues holding the company back.

Veale, like Riedle and Hemmings, has a passion for his work. Love what you do and it doesn’t feel like work. And if you stop loving it, stop doing it.

It’s advice he followed himself when he stepped away from professional hockey. A graduate of the Notre Dame Men’s Hockey Program in Wilcox, Sask., Veale found himself playing in North Dakota with the Minot Americans of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League and a short stint with the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League.

“Yeah, it was one of those things. You could see the window was closing. The worst part was I just wasn’t having any fun,” he said. “I chose to make the decision before it was made for me.

“In business, that happens a lot. I think

having tenacity and perseverance and work ethic is a huge asset in any environment. But at some point, you have to ask yourself, ‘Do I have to let go of this? What’s the cost of continuing?

Am I willing to do that?’

“There’s a really fine line between something being strength, but at what point does it become a liability?”

For those struggling through hard times, Veale has some advice: “Work smarter, not harder, and how do you get back to what you love doing?”

It’s all advice he follows himself, since the coach has a coach. But in the end, it all comes back to the answers within. “The biggest battle we have is the one between our two ears,” he said.

And like Riedle, if the client isn’t a good fit, he’s not going to force it. “We want to see a commitment to the idea of coaching,” he said.

“If we’re not going to get that, we’re going to gently ease them out to another professional we think can help them.”

It’s a polite way of saying, No Assholes Allowed.

ROBERT SIMMONDS / 25

PROFILE

PROFILE

HOME AWAY FROM HOME New Hospice House will fill important need in Fredericton

By Joel Jacobson PHOTOS: JOY CUMMINGS

ou can hear the emotion in Daryl Branscombe’s voice as he talks about the need for Hospice House, a 10-bed residential hospice facility soon to open in downtown Fredericton.

Daryl, in his 60s and still very active in a development business, is president of Hospice House, chair of the Hospice’s executive committee and head of the capital campaign.

A year ago, he led the charge for the project for which he saw a personal necessity.

“I lost my two boys, at ages 21 and 20, to an autoimmune disease they both experienced from the time they were six years old,” he says.

“Having hospice care for them was not possible at the time. They needed someone with them in their final stages and spent too much time alone. I couldn’t get this care for my boys but want to ensure others have it.”

Daryl said he had little difficulty getting people to help put this project together. “It required 26 / ROBERT SIMMONDS

way ome a h a e nts b e patie g “It will h t r o f ome facin from h hope, while nges, e who, w fe care challe s, -li ilie end-of ith their fam ays may, w e their last d nd enc experi ty, comfort a i in dign eace.” p

leadership and as long as I would make the decisions, people were happy to come on board.”

As the final touches are being made to the former convent which has gone through several other uses, Daryl anticipated a late 2015 opening for the three-story hospice that will house 10 beds for terminally ill patients in private, home-like rooms on the main level.

Proposed for the second floor of the brick building that was bought for $1 million is an adult day care facility for people in the early stages of dementia or other health problems needing short-term care.

The third floor will house administration space, offices and an apartment for the building manager.

“The entire project is intended to keep people out of hospital and cut health-care costs,” he says, estimating residential hospice beds operate at 30 per cent less cost than beds in an acute-care hospital.

There is proven theory behind the need for hospice care. Few terminally ill patients actually require acute care in a hospital during their last days. Most want to spend their last days at home but 90 per cent of deaths still occur in hospital because the infrastructure and support is lacking to enable patients to spend their last days at home or in a home-like setting such as a residential hospice.

In the New Brunswick capital region, the Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital and the Oromocto Hospital have a total of 10 palliative care beds with perpetual waiting lists. Demand exceeds supply. As a result, many terminally ill patients end up spending their last days in wards not equipped to offer the specialized medical care and the emotional, spiritual and family support that the palliative care unit offers. Hospice House will alleviate that pressure. Those acute-care beds can be used for those patients who need hospital-level care.

Most patients facing end-of-life care challenges do not need the level of medical care available in a hospital during their last days. With the proper support, many can live their final days more comfortably and peacefully at home. But for those without sufficient support at home, a residential space like Hospice House will offer the same assistance, comfort and peace.

The 21,000-square-foot building, located on the corner of Churchill Row and Regent Street in downtown Fredericton, is expected to cost north of $3 million to build, following the gutting of the former structure. Daryl’s fundraising committee amassed the needed money, mostly through corporate and private donations with the province kicking in 10 per cent.

“We’ll raise more funds through our Hospice Boutique on Prospect Street, an outlet for used, middle-to-high-end goods, that are donated by the community and which we re-sell. We have people running it with good retail experience and have had overwhelming support from the community.”

Daryl says the New Brunswick government was expected to approve its share of the operating expenses (75 per cent) by the end of August with the Hospice responsible for the remaining 25 per cent.

“Our biggest challenge has been battling the regulations — fire codes and requirements and city building permits and other demands,” added Daryl. “That has all been very costly.”

Yet he admits he’s been humbled by the response of the community and so many giving

people, such willing volunteers.

“It’s a ‘motherhood and apple pie’ cause of which I’m so pleased to be a part.”

With an upbeat voice, Daryl says the team is working hard toward completion.

“There have been stressful times in the last year, getting the money arranged, dealing with the construction side but we have a great team.

We like each other and that really helps. We work well as a team. It’s certainly been rewarding and, for me, therapeutic.”

Saint John has hospice space but Moncton does not, nor does the Newcastle area. Daryl foresees a half dozen hospice residences in New Brunswick in the future although, he says, the province has to be onside.

“It’s a tough decision for doctors and families as to the patient’s care,” Daryl states. “Some (patients) have to be hospitalized and their care managed. But aggressive treatment in the final stages is not always the answer.

“Others may require necessities like meds but TLC (tender loving care) can often be as beneficial as the person is near the end.”

With a medical director, a team of doctors with palliative care training, nurses and LPNs, Hospice House will provide a home-like setting with medical, emotional and spiritual support for patients and their families.

“It will be a home away from home for the patients who, we hope, while facing end-of-life care challenges may, with their families, experience their last days in dignity, comfort and peace.”

ROBERT SIMMONDS / 27

PROFILE

PROFILE

HOME AWAY FROM HOME New Hospice House will fill important need in Fredericton

By Joel Jacobson PHOTOS: JOY CUMMINGS

ou can hear the emotion in Daryl Branscombe’s voice as he talks about the need for Hospice House, a 10-bed residential hospice facility soon to open in downtown Fredericton.

Daryl, in his 60s and still very active in a development business, is president of Hospice House, chair of the Hospice’s executive committee and head of the capital campaign.

A year ago, he led the charge for the project for which he saw a personal necessity.

“I lost my two boys, at ages 21 and 20, to an autoimmune disease they both experienced from the time they were six years old,” he says.

“Having hospice care for them was not possible at the time. They needed someone with them in their final stages and spent too much time alone. I couldn’t get this care for my boys but want to ensure others have it.”

Daryl said he had little difficulty getting people to help put this project together. “It required 26 / ROBERT SIMMONDS

way ome a h a e nts b e patie g “It will h t r o f ome facin from h hope, while nges, e who, w fe care challe s, -li ilie end-of ith their fam ays may, w e their last d nd enc experi ty, comfort a i in dign eace.” p

leadership and as long as I would make the decisions, people were happy to come on board.”

As the final touches are being made to the former convent which has gone through several other uses, Daryl anticipated a late 2015 opening for the three-story hospice that will house 10 beds for terminally ill patients in private, home-like rooms on the main level.

Proposed for the second floor of the brick building that was bought for $1 million is an adult day care facility for people in the early stages of dementia or other health problems needing short-term care.

The third floor will house administration space, offices and an apartment for the building manager.

“The entire project is intended to keep people out of hospital and cut health-care costs,” he says, estimating residential hospice beds operate at 30 per cent less cost than beds in an acute-care hospital.

There is proven theory behind the need for hospice care. Few terminally ill patients actually require acute care in a hospital during their last days. Most want to spend their last days at home but 90 per cent of deaths still occur in hospital because the infrastructure and support is lacking to enable patients to spend their last days at home or in a home-like setting such as a residential hospice.

In the New Brunswick capital region, the Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital and the Oromocto Hospital have a total of 10 palliative care beds with perpetual waiting lists. Demand exceeds supply. As a result, many terminally ill patients end up spending their last days in wards not equipped to offer the specialized medical care and the emotional, spiritual and family support that the palliative care unit offers. Hospice House will alleviate that pressure. Those acute-care beds can be used for those patients who need hospital-level care.

Most patients facing end-of-life care challenges do not need the level of medical care available in a hospital during their last days. With the proper support, many can live their final days more comfortably and peacefully at home. But for those without sufficient support at home, a residential space like Hospice House will offer the same assistance, comfort and peace.

The 21,000-square-foot building, located on the corner of Churchill Row and Regent Street in downtown Fredericton, is expected to cost north of $3 million to build, following the gutting of the former structure. Daryl’s fundraising committee amassed the needed money, mostly through corporate and private donations with the province kicking in 10 per cent.

“We’ll raise more funds through our Hospice Boutique on Prospect Street, an outlet for used, middle-to-high-end goods, that are donated by the community and which we re-sell. We have people running it with good retail experience and have had overwhelming support from the community.”

Daryl says the New Brunswick government was expected to approve its share of the operating expenses (75 per cent) by the end of August with the Hospice responsible for the remaining 25 per cent.

“Our biggest challenge has been battling the regulations — fire codes and requirements and city building permits and other demands,” added Daryl. “That has all been very costly.”

Yet he admits he’s been humbled by the response of the community and so many giving

people, such willing volunteers.

“It’s a ‘motherhood and apple pie’ cause of which I’m so pleased to be a part.”

With an upbeat voice, Daryl says the team is working hard toward completion.

“There have been stressful times in the last year, getting the money arranged, dealing with the construction side but we have a great team.

We like each other and that really helps. We work well as a team. It’s certainly been rewarding and, for me, therapeutic.”

Saint John has hospice space but Moncton does not, nor does the Newcastle area. Daryl foresees a half dozen hospice residences in New Brunswick in the future although, he says, the province has to be onside.

“It’s a tough decision for doctors and families as to the patient’s care,” Daryl states. “Some (patients) have to be hospitalized and their care managed. But aggressive treatment in the final stages is not always the answer.

“Others may require necessities like meds but TLC (tender loving care) can often be as beneficial as the person is near the end.”

With a medical director, a team of doctors with palliative care training, nurses and LPNs, Hospice House will provide a home-like setting with medical, emotional and spiritual support for patients and their families.

“It will be a home away from home for the patients who, we hope, while facing end-of-life care challenges may, with their families, experience their last days in dignity, comfort and peace.”

ROBERT SIMMONDS / 27

What are the warrdrob b e sta a ples I nee e d in my c lose et?

STYLE

STYLE

How many types of jeans s hould I own?

What’s appropria a te fo o r the e office w hen no one is wearing suits a nymore?

Our in-house fashion experts are going through the top questions they hear from their customers and revealing their own style secrets...

Carolyn Snell

Tony Dableh

Mary Dene Bligh

Jodi Gilmore

Peter Takacs

Men’s div vission tea am le ead derr, sales, custo om suitt sp pecia alisst for 15 ye earss

Has been n a ta ailo or for 51 yea arss and has be een n th he ta ailo or here for 14 ye earss

Ladies’ div vision n sa ale es sin nce e the store e ope ene ed 17 7 ye earrs ag go

Men’s div vission sales an nd custom suiit spe eciialiist fo or seven ye earrs

Men’s div vission n sales with h Robert Sim mmon ndss fo or three yea arss

Three words that describe her style: Current, classic with an edge

Three words that describe his style: Classic, tailored, conservative

Three words that best describe her style:

Three words that describe her style: Cute, modern and playful

Three words that describe his style: Professional, slim silhouette, classic

Current favourite pieces: Boss orange label cobalt blue silk dress, Armani black skinny jeans, White + Warren two-tone blue sweater

Current favourite pieces: Eton classic fit dress shirts, Coppley dress pants and Cole Haan dress shoes

Current favourite pieces: Boss Orange label sleeveless denim tunic, Sarah Pacini sleeveless charcoal asymmetrical layering piece and black hue leggings

Current favourite pieces: Samuelsohn custom-made suit, Eton slim fit dress shirt and Adriano Goldschmied slim dark blue denim

Guiltiest fashion faux-pas: My purple crocs!

PHOTO: ADRIEN VECZAN

MEET THE STAFF Robert Simmonds’ fashion experts reveal themselves, answer common client queries

By Robert Simmonds’ Staff STAFF PHOTOS: JOY CUMMINGS

28 / ROBERT SIMMONDS

Commonly asked fashion question: What can I wear brown or black shoes with?

Carolyn’s answer: Brown shoes can be worn with any color suit or pant except for black. Brown shoes make an outfit a little less dressy so for a formal occasion black shoes are best.

Black shoes go well with blue tones, grey and black.

Guiltiest fashion faux-pas: I’m a tailor. It is my job to be well-dressed.

Commonly asked fashion question: What should I have on my dress pants and suits? Cuff or plain bottom?

Tony’s answer: It is nice to have both in your wardrobe. I like a cuff because it is a strong finish and holds better.

However, a plain bottom looks much better on a narrow bottom pant leg.

Classic, casual-chic and feminine Current favourite pieces: Smythe boyfriend blazer, Paige boyfriend jeans, Suzi Roher scarves Guiltiest fashion faux-pas: Denim overalls purchased in the 1980s!

Commonly asked fashion question: Does this make me look big?

Mary’s answer: In this case it is best to be honest in a subtle way and then guide them to something that would better suit their body type, accentuating their positive features and minimizing their flaws.

Guiltiest fashion faux-pas: Cut off jean shorts over black leggings Commonly asked fashion question: How do I match a patterned tie with a patterned shirt?

Jodi’s answer: If your tie has a small pattern, it should be paired with a shirt that has a larger print (i.e. narrow striped shirt with a wide striped tie), or pair ties and shirts with contrasting prints together (i.e. floral shirt with polka dot tie).

Guiltiest fashion faux-pas: Dress pants with work boots Commonly asked fashion question: What is the best way to care for a cotton dress shirt?

Peter’s answer: Laundering a cotton dress shirt in cold or warm water and hanging to dry is the best option. If the shirt has wrinkles a hot iron may be used on all areas but the cuff and collar.

Too much heat applied to these areas may cause bubbling. Another option is after laundering to send to the dry cleaners for a “press only.”

Dry-cleaning solvents may cause premature wear of some cotton so it is advised to only dry clean a cotton shirt when laundering is not an option. Always check care labels on your shirt before laundering in case an alternate care method is recommended.

ROBERT SIMMONDS / 29

What are the warrdrob b e sta a ples I nee e d in my c lose et?

STYLE

STYLE

How many types of jeans s hould I own?

What’s appropria a te fo o r the e office w hen no one is wearing suits a nymore?

Our in-house fashion experts are going through the top questions they hear from their customers and revealing their own style secrets...

Carolyn Snell

Tony Dableh

Mary Dene Bligh

Jodi Gilmore

Peter Takacs

Men’s div vission tea am le ead derr, sales, custo om suitt sp pecia alisst for 15 ye earss

Has been n a ta ailo or for 51 yea arss and has be een n th he ta ailo or here for 14 ye earss

Ladies’ div vision n sa ale es sin nce e the store e ope ene ed 17 7 ye earrs ag go

Men’s div vission sales an nd custom suiit spe eciialiist fo or seven ye earrs

Men’s div vission n sales with h Robert Sim mmon ndss fo or three yea arss

Three words that describe her style: Current, classic with an edge

Three words that describe his style: Classic, tailored, conservative

Three words that best describe her style:

Three words that describe her style: Cute, modern and playful

Three words that describe his style: Professional, slim silhouette, classic

Current favourite pieces: Boss orange label cobalt blue silk dress, Armani black skinny jeans, White + Warren two-tone blue sweater

Current favourite pieces: Eton classic fit dress shirts, Coppley dress pants and Cole Haan dress shoes

Current favourite pieces: Boss Orange label sleeveless denim tunic, Sarah Pacini sleeveless charcoal asymmetrical layering piece and black hue leggings

Current favourite pieces: Samuelsohn custom-made suit, Eton slim fit dress shirt and Adriano Goldschmied slim dark blue denim

Guiltiest fashion faux-pas: My purple crocs!

PHOTO: ADRIEN VECZAN

MEET THE STAFF Robert Simmonds’ fashion experts reveal themselves, answer common client queries

By Robert Simmonds’ Staff STAFF PHOTOS: JOY CUMMINGS

28 / ROBERT SIMMONDS

Commonly asked fashion question: What can I wear brown or black shoes with?

Carolyn’s answer: Brown shoes can be worn with any color suit or pant except for black. Brown shoes make an outfit a little less dressy so for a formal occasion black shoes are best.

Black shoes go well with blue tones, grey and black.

Guiltiest fashion faux-pas: I’m a tailor. It is my job to be well-dressed.

Commonly asked fashion question: What should I have on my dress pants and suits? Cuff or plain bottom?

Tony’s answer: It is nice to have both in your wardrobe. I like a cuff because it is a strong finish and holds better.

However, a plain bottom looks much better on a narrow bottom pant leg.

Classic, casual-chic and feminine Current favourite pieces: Smythe boyfriend blazer, Paige boyfriend jeans, Suzi Roher scarves Guiltiest fashion faux-pas: Denim overalls purchased in the 1980s!

Commonly asked fashion question: Does this make me look big?

Mary’s answer: In this case it is best to be honest in a subtle way and then guide them to something that would better suit their body type, accentuating their positive features and minimizing their flaws.

Guiltiest fashion faux-pas: Cut off jean shorts over black leggings Commonly asked fashion question: How do I match a patterned tie with a patterned shirt?

Jodi’s answer: If your tie has a small pattern, it should be paired with a shirt that has a larger print (i.e. narrow striped shirt with a wide striped tie), or pair ties and shirts with contrasting prints together (i.e. floral shirt with polka dot tie).

Guiltiest fashion faux-pas: Dress pants with work boots Commonly asked fashion question: What is the best way to care for a cotton dress shirt?

Peter’s answer: Laundering a cotton dress shirt in cold or warm water and hanging to dry is the best option. If the shirt has wrinkles a hot iron may be used on all areas but the cuff and collar.

Too much heat applied to these areas may cause bubbling. Another option is after laundering to send to the dry cleaners for a “press only.”

Dry-cleaning solvents may cause premature wear of some cotton so it is advised to only dry clean a cotton shirt when laundering is not an option. Always check care labels on your shirt before laundering in case an alternate care method is recommended.

ROBERT SIMMONDS / 29

AUSTRALIA AUSTRIA BELGIUM CANADA DENMARK FRANCE GERMANY IRELAND ITALY JAPAN KUWEIT THE NETHERLANDS NORWAY RUSSIA SAUDI ARABIA SOUTH-AFRICA SPAIN SWITZERLAND UNITED KINGDOM USA

STYLE

Cassandra Blackmore

Edina Kalanyos

Ali Ponte

Lad diess’ and men’s div visio on sale es e for th hree e ye earss asssociate

Lad diess’ divission n sales asssociate e for 10 month hs

Three words that best describe her style: Classic, flirty and cute

Three words that best describe her style: Classic, tailored, elegant

A new w memberr of the e men’’s division sale es team m, Ali is an n in nterrnattion nal student from Ven nezu uela a

Current favourite pieces: Rebecca Taylor colour blocking dress, Ecru casual pants, Ugg striped sneaker and Jenny Bird coin bracelet

Current favourite pieces: Hugo Boss red dress, Hugo Boss cream suit, and Sam Edelman black/silver heels

Guiltiest fashion faux-pas: I love to run and bike. A lot. So, I spend most of my time when I am not at work (and sometimes at work) wearing various workout gear. It’s definitely my biggest faux-pas.

Commonly asked fashion question: How can I take my jeans from casual to dressy?

Cassandra’s answer: It is all about what you pair your jeans with that makes them casual or dressy. Throw on a fancy top with some killer heels and you are ready for a night out. Or, if you want make your jeans more office appropriate match them with a blouse and blazer combo and your favourite pair of medium pumps. Also, adding bling like a long necklace or a bit of sparkle with some dramatic earrings will effortlessly take your jeans from a day on the couch to a night on the town. Now, for the gentlemen readers out there, the same principles apply. If you want to make your jeans dressier, pair them with some walnut-coloured oxfords and a dress shirt that adds pop. For the office, leave the top button undone and add a blazer. This makes your look say, “You need to take me seriously” without being too stuffy.

30 / ROBERT SIMMONDS

Guiltiest fashion faux-pas: When I was 17, I used to only wear my hair in ponytails and, because I was big fan of David Beckham, I would try to wear shirts with the number seven as often as I could.

Commonly asked fashion question: I’m going to a wedding and I want to look good.

I have big hips and small chest. What kind of dress would suit my figure best?

Edy’s answer: When it comes to looking good it’s not your size or shape that matters, it’s the fit of your clothing. It’s important to know what shape you are so you can pick something that makes you feel comfortable and confident, while still being fashionable. Because you are larger in the hips and smaller in the chest, you would be closest to the pear shape. For this body type, it is important to create balance, and this can often be easily achieved by drawing the attention upwards. Colour blocking does wonders for the pear shape! A dress with a light top and a darker bottom will de-emphasize your lower body while complementing your upper body. When it comes to the fit of the dress, go for something fitted on top with a bottom that skims your hips.

This color combo and fit of dress will be most flattering for your shape.

Three words that describe his style: Professional, elegant and trend setting Current favourite pieces: Polo Slim-Fit Pinpoint Cotton Shirts and Polo Classic Fit Pants

#LIVEINIT

Guiltiest fashion faux pas: My guiltiest fashion faux pas, I would say, was to wear summer-season clothing during spring time at Oxford University, England during one of my studies abroad. As a result, I felt that I was not dressed up appropriately for the environment by looking at the way in which other students were dressed up. I was wearing a pair of shorts and a North Face sweater, while the rest of the students were wearing formal suits and pants. This was something that I will never forget, since it was really embarrassing and inappropriate for the occasion.

MODERN/ EDGE

Commonly asked fashion question: What are the differences in men’s fashion from Venezuela and Canada?

Ali’s answer: There are two factors that should be taken into consideration when dressing up in Venezuela.

First, because it is a tropical country, weather conditions differ from region to region and people tend to dress up more casual in comparison to Canadians. Secondly, Venezuelan culture tends to be more critical in terms that people will be constantly looking at what you might be wearing, and for that reason Venezuelans tend to dress appropriately depending on the occasion.

HOXTON ANKLE // TOREN DESTRUCTED DELPHINE SWEATER // MEDIUM HEATHER GREY W/ BLACK COATING SHELLEY BOMBER // BLACK & WHITEMODERNEDGE

www.paige.com

ROBERT SIMMONDS / 31

AUSTRALIA AUSTRIA BELGIUM CANADA DENMARK FRANCE GERMANY IRELAND ITALY JAPAN KUWEIT THE NETHERLANDS NORWAY RUSSIA SAUDI ARABIA SOUTH-AFRICA SPAIN SWITZERLAND UNITED KINGDOM USA

STYLE

Cassandra Blackmore

Edina Kalanyos

Ali Ponte

Lad diess’ and men’s div visio on sale es e for th hree e ye earss asssociate

Lad diess’ divission n sales asssociate e for 10 month hs

Three words that best describe her style: Classic, flirty and cute

Three words that best describe her style: Classic, tailored, elegant

A new w memberr of the e men’’s division sale es team m, Ali is an n in nterrnattion nal student from Ven nezu uela a

Current favourite pieces: Rebecca Taylor colour blocking dress, Ecru casual pants, Ugg striped sneaker and Jenny Bird coin bracelet

Current favourite pieces: Hugo Boss red dress, Hugo Boss cream suit, and Sam Edelman black/silver heels

Guiltiest fashion faux-pas: I love to run and bike. A lot. So, I spend most of my time when I am not at work (and sometimes at work) wearing various workout gear. It’s definitely my biggest faux-pas.

Commonly asked fashion question: How can I take my jeans from casual to dressy?

Cassandra’s answer: It is all about what you pair your jeans with that makes them casual or dressy. Throw on a fancy top with some killer heels and you are ready for a night out. Or, if you want make your jeans more office appropriate match them with a blouse and blazer combo and your favourite pair of medium pumps. Also, adding bling like a long necklace or a bit of sparkle with some dramatic earrings will effortlessly take your jeans from a day on the couch to a night on the town. Now, for the gentlemen readers out there, the same principles apply. If you want to make your jeans dressier, pair them with some walnut-coloured oxfords and a dress shirt that adds pop. For the office, leave the top button undone and add a blazer. This makes your look say, “You need to take me seriously” without being too stuffy.

30 / ROBERT SIMMONDS

Guiltiest fashion faux-pas: When I was 17, I used to only wear my hair in ponytails and, because I was big fan of David Beckham, I would try to wear shirts with the number seven as often as I could.

Commonly asked fashion question: I’m going to a wedding and I want to look good.

I have big hips and small chest. What kind of dress would suit my figure best?

Edy’s answer: When it comes to looking good it’s not your size or shape that matters, it’s the fit of your clothing. It’s important to know what shape you are so you can pick something that makes you feel comfortable and confident, while still being fashionable. Because you are larger in the hips and smaller in the chest, you would be closest to the pear shape. For this body type, it is important to create balance, and this can often be easily achieved by drawing the attention upwards. Colour blocking does wonders for the pear shape! A dress with a light top and a darker bottom will de-emphasize your lower body while complementing your upper body. When it comes to the fit of the dress, go for something fitted on top with a bottom that skims your hips.

This color combo and fit of dress will be most flattering for your shape.

Three words that describe his style: Professional, elegant and trend setting Current favourite pieces: Polo Slim-Fit Pinpoint Cotton Shirts and Polo Classic Fit Pants

#LIVEINIT

Guiltiest fashion faux pas: My guiltiest fashion faux pas, I would say, was to wear summer-season clothing during spring time at Oxford University, England during one of my studies abroad. As a result, I felt that I was not dressed up appropriately for the environment by looking at the way in which other students were dressed up. I was wearing a pair of shorts and a North Face sweater, while the rest of the students were wearing formal suits and pants. This was something that I will never forget, since it was really embarrassing and inappropriate for the occasion.

MODERN/ EDGE

Commonly asked fashion question: What are the differences in men’s fashion from Venezuela and Canada?

Ali’s answer: There are two factors that should be taken into consideration when dressing up in Venezuela.

First, because it is a tropical country, weather conditions differ from region to region and people tend to dress up more casual in comparison to Canadians. Secondly, Venezuelan culture tends to be more critical in terms that people will be constantly looking at what you might be wearing, and for that reason Venezuelans tend to dress appropriately depending on the occasion.

HOXTON ANKLE // TOREN DESTRUCTED DELPHINE SWEATER // MEDIUM HEATHER GREY W/ BLACK COATING SHELLEY BOMBER // BLACK & WHITEMODERNEDGE

www.paige.com

ROBERT SIMMONDS / 31

STYLE

STYLE

DAY TO NIGHT Pro tips to make transition from work to the club without re-entering your closet

PHOTOS: JOY CUMMINGS

By Gary Wollenhaupt

32 / ROBERT SIMMONDS

you make the transition,” said Jodi Gilmore, e’ve all been there. You have to men’s sales associate. work all day, but there’s an upscale Pocket squares add a bit of flair, even without event right after work and you won’t a matching tie. Socks are another way to add a have time to go home to change clothes. glimpse of elegance.

So the challenge is to pick out an outfit in the Women can take the same approach. morning that will carry you through the day and “Don’t underestimate the glamour potential into the night. No pressure at all. of a great belt,” said Linda Mayhew, Robert You may be able to stop and accessorize a Simmonds co-owner. “There’s a belt for every little, to leave behind the confines of the occasion: printed leathers, metallic leathers workplace and fit into the flow of the evening.

Perhaps you’re invited to a wedding rehearsal with gold/silver/vintage hardware. There’s also calf hair and animal print. Many of our Suzi dinner or cocktails with people you want to Roher belts have extra trimmings like delicate impress. Perhaps there’s a really big event, like chains, crystals, coins and actual working meeting your significant other’s parents for the watches.” first time.

Handbags and The experts at jewelry can shift the Robert Simmonds perception of an have outlined some outfit dramatically. ways to make that “If you have no transition so you can time to change your dress for work and still wardrobe, switch be fashionable for a your handbag for a night on the town or glitzy clutch, your after-work cocktails. shoes for something For a wardrobe sexy and adding a that can shift from little bling with day to night, business jewelry will definitely e casual to formal, b o wardr r u make an outfit stand start with some solid o y g n i Build z a out from its day-time basics. Well-tailored m a around l items that counterpart,” jackets, pants and k tiona r a o Mayhew said. suits can be mixed d w n u fo ou from nd, y Shawls or toppers and matched to meet e k a t ke e e will w are a great way to add the situation. Jackets e , th dinner next year. old-Hollywood flare or suits can be to a simple office influenced by the and to dress or business suit shirt underneath, or for night wear. the shoes may signal Keep a blazer on your intent. the back of the office door or in the car to throw “Brown shoes make an outfit less dressy and on for a last-minute make over. Robert black shoes are more formal, so that’s a good place to set the tone,” said Carolyn Snell, senior Simmonds carries Smythe, a collection of women’s blazers and blouses that are masters sales associate. at maintaining femininity.

For men and women, the advice is the same: They have fits to suit all body types (oversize, Build your wardrobe around amazing foundatuxedo, fitted riding, cropped, sharp shoulder, tional items that will take you from work to boyfriend, one button, three button, classic) dinner, the weekend, and to next year. “...and we have the most wonderful tailored When you have some foundational pieces, clothes and decorative and unique button accessories will add some flair and flexibility. detailing,” Mayhew said.

“Things like ties, belts and cufflinks can help

ROBERT SIMMONDS / 33

STYLE

STYLE

DAY TO NIGHT Pro tips to make transition from work to the club without re-entering your closet

PHOTOS: JOY CUMMINGS

By Gary Wollenhaupt

32 / ROBERT SIMMONDS

you make the transition,” said Jodi Gilmore, e’ve all been there. You have to men’s sales associate. work all day, but there’s an upscale Pocket squares add a bit of flair, even without event right after work and you won’t a matching tie. Socks are another way to add a have time to go home to change clothes. glimpse of elegance.

So the challenge is to pick out an outfit in the Women can take the same approach. morning that will carry you through the day and “Don’t underestimate the glamour potential into the night. No pressure at all. of a great belt,” said Linda Mayhew, Robert You may be able to stop and accessorize a Simmonds co-owner. “There’s a belt for every little, to leave behind the confines of the occasion: printed leathers, metallic leathers workplace and fit into the flow of the evening.

Perhaps you’re invited to a wedding rehearsal with gold/silver/vintage hardware. There’s also calf hair and animal print. Many of our Suzi dinner or cocktails with people you want to Roher belts have extra trimmings like delicate impress. Perhaps there’s a really big event, like chains, crystals, coins and actual working meeting your significant other’s parents for the watches.” first time.

Handbags and The experts at jewelry can shift the Robert Simmonds perception of an have outlined some outfit dramatically. ways to make that “If you have no transition so you can time to change your dress for work and still wardrobe, switch be fashionable for a your handbag for a night on the town or glitzy clutch, your after-work cocktails. shoes for something For a wardrobe sexy and adding a that can shift from little bling with day to night, business jewelry will definitely e casual to formal, b o wardr r u make an outfit stand start with some solid o y g n i Build z a out from its day-time basics. Well-tailored m a around l items that counterpart,” jackets, pants and k tiona r a o Mayhew said. suits can be mixed d w n u fo ou from nd, y Shawls or toppers and matched to meet e k a t ke e e will w are a great way to add the situation. Jackets e , th dinner next year. old-Hollywood flare or suits can be to a simple office influenced by the and to dress or business suit shirt underneath, or for night wear. the shoes may signal Keep a blazer on your intent. the back of the office door or in the car to throw “Brown shoes make an outfit less dressy and on for a last-minute make over. Robert black shoes are more formal, so that’s a good place to set the tone,” said Carolyn Snell, senior Simmonds carries Smythe, a collection of women’s blazers and blouses that are masters sales associate. at maintaining femininity.

For men and women, the advice is the same: They have fits to suit all body types (oversize, Build your wardrobe around amazing foundatuxedo, fitted riding, cropped, sharp shoulder, tional items that will take you from work to boyfriend, one button, three button, classic) dinner, the weekend, and to next year. “...and we have the most wonderful tailored When you have some foundational pieces, clothes and decorative and unique button accessories will add some flair and flexibility. detailing,” Mayhew said.

“Things like ties, belts and cufflinks can help

ROBERT SIMMONDS / 33

CONTACT US TODAY TO BOOK YOUR PERSONAL TREATMENT PACKAGE

STYLE

Night tiime

Retail sales associate

Going to a wedding

Striped dress shirt Flat front dress pant Black slip on dress shoe Black leather belt Paisley print socks

Add floral tie Add unlined soft shoulder sport coat with patch pockets Add coordinating polka dot pocket square

Seasoned accountant

Black-tie event

Black suit White twill dress shirt with convertible cuffs Black leather belt Check print tie Polka dot socks

Add black satin vest Add cuff links Add silver silk pocket square Add coordinating striped tie Shine shoes

Call-centre associate

Meeting girlfriend’s parents

Chinos Plaid button down shirt Brown loafer Brown braided leather belt Striped loafer socks

Add blazer Change shoes to brown leather lace ups

AFTER

Daytime

BEFORE

Men’s Wear

t t t t t t t t t t t

&8 Permanent Fat Reduction / /&8 Cellulite & Skin Tightening /&8 Medical Grade Chemical Peels Permanent Hair Reduction Photofacial Sun Spots Acne Rosacea Spider Veins Stretch Marks Scar Reduction

doritalaserclinic.com info@doritalaserclinic.com 5 Trinity Ave., Unit 5B 22 Commerce Dr. Fredericton, NB Oromocto, NB (506) 999-3368 (506) 357-2440

We are the only clinic in Atlantic Canada to offer Vanquish & Exilis Elite treatments!

Women’s wear Daytime

Nighttim me

Account associate

After work date

Feminine blouse (ruffles, print or embellished) Dress pants Shoes: brogue/oxford or 65-mm heel pump

Long/short skirt Shoes: a chic 85-mm heel pump, or chunky heel, tall boot or pointy-toe ankle boot

Sales representative

Evening gala

Dress with décolletage with a fully-buttoned cardigan

After five, pull off the sweater, primp the hair Add a necklace Add a blingy clutch Add higher heels

Pants, skirt or a dress

Add a Smythe blazer

Hosiery: dark opaque tights

Hosiery: sheer, patterned, or opaque patterned

34 / ROBERT SIMMONDS

ROBERT SIMMONDS / 35

CONTACT US TODAY TO BOOK YOUR PERSONAL TREATMENT PACKAGE

STYLE

Night tiime

Retail sales associate

Going to a wedding

Striped dress shirt Flat front dress pant Black slip on dress shoe Black leather belt Paisley print socks

Add floral tie Add unlined soft shoulder sport coat with patch pockets Add coordinating polka dot pocket square

Seasoned accountant

Black-tie event

Black suit White twill dress shirt with convertible cuffs Black leather belt Check print tie Polka dot socks

Add black satin vest Add cuff links Add silver silk pocket square Add coordinating striped tie Shine shoes

Call-centre associate

Meeting girlfriend’s parents

Chinos Plaid button down shirt Brown loafer Brown braided leather belt Striped loafer socks

Add blazer Change shoes to brown leather lace ups

AFTER

Daytime

BEFORE

Men’s Wear

t t t t t t t t t t t

&8 Permanent Fat Reduction / /&8 Cellulite & Skin Tightening /&8 Medical Grade Chemical Peels Permanent Hair Reduction Photofacial Sun Spots Acne Rosacea Spider Veins Stretch Marks Scar Reduction

doritalaserclinic.com info@doritalaserclinic.com 5 Trinity Ave., Unit 5B 22 Commerce Dr. Fredericton, NB Oromocto, NB (506) 999-3368 (506) 357-2440

We are the only clinic in Atlantic Canada to offer Vanquish & Exilis Elite treatments!

Women’s wear Daytime

Nighttim me

Account associate

After work date

Feminine blouse (ruffles, print or embellished) Dress pants Shoes: brogue/oxford or 65-mm heel pump

Long/short skirt Shoes: a chic 85-mm heel pump, or chunky heel, tall boot or pointy-toe ankle boot

Sales representative

Evening gala

Dress with décolletage with a fully-buttoned cardigan

After five, pull off the sweater, primp the hair Add a necklace Add a blingy clutch Add higher heels

Pants, skirt or a dress

Add a Smythe blazer

Hosiery: dark opaque tights

Hosiery: sheer, patterned, or opaque patterned

34 / ROBERT SIMMONDS

ROBERT SIMMONDS / 35

STYLE

STYLE

the factory can replace the soles and heels. You might buy three or four pairs of cheaper shoes in the lifetime of a single pair of quality shoes.

Allen Edmonds offers a re-crafting service at the factory in Port Washington, Wis., where the shoes can be essentially rebuilt while maintaining the individual fit that’s been worn into the shoe.

“After the shoe has been molded to your foot you can have it refurbished and it will still feel comfortable,” Gilmore said.

Women’s shoes come in much more variety than men’s but the basic idea is the same — quality pays off in the long run.

Shoe collections include Stuart Weitzman, Michael Kors, Sam Edelman, UGG Australia, Cole Haan and Hunter.

Linda Mayh hew w, co-ow wnerr of Robertt Sim mmond ds, offerrs these tipss forr women n’ss sho oes: Black pumps: In leather or suede, add instant sophistication (but you can wear with a denim)

“Women over 40 tend to buy a lower heel but still want great style and need a sexy evening shoe and weekend kicks thrown in the mix,” Mayhew said. “Women under 40 want everything like height, slinkiness, edginess, daring or embellished.”

Ankle boot: Great with dresses or jeans to add an edge.

Ballet flat: In black or a colour, a fabulous go-anywhere shoe.

Animal-print heel: A staple, great as an accent to an outfit; now considered a neutral, believe it or not.

Metallic heels: Add pop to an evening outfit, but fun during the day too!

Short-stacked heels: Comfortable, on trend.

“Women of all ages want shoes that make them feel beautiful, that add sophistication to an outfit and say something about who they are or want to be.”

Platform wedge: Adds height and great style and more comfortable than you think.

Casual sneaker: A weekend shoe, great with simple dresses and with jeans/casual pants.

SOLE INVESTMENTS

Tall flat equestrian type boot: Timeless and can be worn in varied ways from dress/skirt to jeans.

A shoe can last a lifetime but who only wants one pair?

All-weather boots: For snow and ice, can be fashionable and a must-have for safety.

By Gary Wollenhaupt PHOTOS: JOY CUMMINGS

ook at good dress and casual shoes as an investment that could last a lifetime.

Start your footwear wardrobe with a classic choice that will be suitable for many occasions.

Of course, consider where you’ll be wearing the shoe most often and with what wardrobe.

For men, an Oxford or Derby lace up with leather soles from a top brand can be dressed up and down.

Women can start with semi-conservative pumps in solid colours. In either case, black shoes signal a more formal or business-oriented outfit, whereas brown shoes or colourful 36 / ROBERT SIMMONDS

shoes are more casual, said Carolyn Snell, senior sales associate at Robert Simmonds.

For a classic men’s style, look for the Allen Edmonds and Cole Haan lines, among others.

Allen Edmonds specializes in traditional lace-up shoes in a variety of styles that go from the boardroom to the bistro.

“You can go trendier with a monk strap shoe, or Cole Haan shoes offer different shades of patina for a little extra style,” Snell said.

The Cole Haan line offers casual, comfortable choices. The shoes are built for comfort with a lot of cushion in the heel and arch support and have modern takes on classic

designs. Cole Haan features two-tone wing tips that you can pull off with a pair of jeans or dress pants.

“For fashion-forward or trendy styles, check out John Varvatos and Donald Pliner brands; both lines offer slip-on dress shoes, one of the bigger men’s trends of recent years,” said Jodi Gilmore, sales associate.

Dressy leather boots are showing up in more formal occasions as well. Start with high-quality, well-built leather shoes that can last decades and are repairable.

A high-quality shoe will be sewn together rather than glued. If it’s sewn, then a cobbler or ROBERT SIMMONDS / 37

STYLE

STYLE

the factory can replace the soles and heels. You might buy three or four pairs of cheaper shoes in the lifetime of a single pair of quality shoes.

Allen Edmonds offers a re-crafting service at the factory in Port Washington, Wis., where the shoes can be essentially rebuilt while maintaining the individual fit that’s been worn into the shoe.

“After the shoe has been molded to your foot you can have it refurbished and it will still feel comfortable,” Gilmore said.

Women’s shoes come in much more variety than men’s but the basic idea is the same — quality pays off in the long run.

Shoe collections include Stuart Weitzman, Michael Kors, Sam Edelman, UGG Australia, Cole Haan and Hunter.

Linda Mayh hew w, co-ow wnerr of Robertt Sim mmond ds, offerrs these tipss forr women n’ss sho oes: Black pumps: In leather or suede, add instant sophistication (but you can wear with a denim)

“Women over 40 tend to buy a lower heel but still want great style and need a sexy evening shoe and weekend kicks thrown in the mix,” Mayhew said. “Women under 40 want everything like height, slinkiness, edginess, daring or embellished.”

Ankle boot: Great with dresses or jeans to add an edge.

Ballet flat: In black or a colour, a fabulous go-anywhere shoe.

Animal-print heel: A staple, great as an accent to an outfit; now considered a neutral, believe it or not.

Metallic heels: Add pop to an evening outfit, but fun during the day too!

Short-stacked heels: Comfortable, on trend.

“Women of all ages want shoes that make them feel beautiful, that add sophistication to an outfit and say something about who they are or want to be.”

Platform wedge: Adds height and great style and more comfortable than you think.

Casual sneaker: A weekend shoe, great with simple dresses and with jeans/casual pants.

SOLE INVESTMENTS

Tall flat equestrian type boot: Timeless and can be worn in varied ways from dress/skirt to jeans.

A shoe can last a lifetime but who only wants one pair?

All-weather boots: For snow and ice, can be fashionable and a must-have for safety.

By Gary Wollenhaupt PHOTOS: JOY CUMMINGS

ook at good dress and casual shoes as an investment that could last a lifetime.

Start your footwear wardrobe with a classic choice that will be suitable for many occasions.

Of course, consider where you’ll be wearing the shoe most often and with what wardrobe.

For men, an Oxford or Derby lace up with leather soles from a top brand can be dressed up and down.

Women can start with semi-conservative pumps in solid colours. In either case, black shoes signal a more formal or business-oriented outfit, whereas brown shoes or colourful 36 / ROBERT SIMMONDS

shoes are more casual, said Carolyn Snell, senior sales associate at Robert Simmonds.

For a classic men’s style, look for the Allen Edmonds and Cole Haan lines, among others.

Allen Edmonds specializes in traditional lace-up shoes in a variety of styles that go from the boardroom to the bistro.

“You can go trendier with a monk strap shoe, or Cole Haan shoes offer different shades of patina for a little extra style,” Snell said.

The Cole Haan line offers casual, comfortable choices. The shoes are built for comfort with a lot of cushion in the heel and arch support and have modern takes on classic

designs. Cole Haan features two-tone wing tips that you can pull off with a pair of jeans or dress pants.

“For fashion-forward or trendy styles, check out John Varvatos and Donald Pliner brands; both lines offer slip-on dress shoes, one of the bigger men’s trends of recent years,” said Jodi Gilmore, sales associate.

Dressy leather boots are showing up in more formal occasions as well. Start with high-quality, well-built leather shoes that can last decades and are repairable.

A high-quality shoe will be sewn together rather than glued. If it’s sewn, then a cobbler or ROBERT SIMMONDS / 37

STYLE

A WRIST OF TIME Fashionable, stylish watches a hot trend with younger demographic

By Joel Jacobson

FINE JEWELLERY

he popularity of cell phones and their time-clock capability has diminished the need for watches but that hasn’t lessened the desire to have a fashion timepiece on one’s wrist.

Stephen Cole, president of Spicer Cole Fine Jewellers in Fredericton’s Regent Mall, says fashionable and stylish watches have taken over the men’s and women’s market.

“The younger demographic, 18 years of age to the 40s, want affordable luxury in a watch,” he says. “They want a high-end brand name that’s in the magazine they’ve just read — and they’re willing to pay a reasonable price for it.”

Michael Kors is the brand of choice today, Stephen notes. “It’s in every magazine. It’s attractive and its affordable price range, from $300 to $395, is for anyone’s budget.”

Spicer Cole, family owned and operated in Fredericton for more than 20 years, also carries the 38 / ROBERT SIMMONDS

PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED / ©SOULMATES PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED / ©SOULMATES PHOTOGRAPHY

Fossil, Coach, Kate Spade and Hugo Boss lines, and many others, in affordable fashion watches.

“The manufacturers have figured out how to market a watch as a fashion accessory,” says Stephen.

He noted that colour, stone accessories, lots of cubic zirconia and very dressed-up looks makes owning one of the high-end lines of watches desirable. Faces are bigger, too, following a European trend.

He cautions that the fashion in watches means looks change quickly. Today’s watch might not be available in six months or a year.

Spicer Cole is proud that it has exclusivity with many high-end names. “You won’t see Michael Kors, Coach or Hugo Boss in a chain store.”

Stephen travels to many jewelry shows to find the best items for the store’s discriminating clients. He visits the annual Diamond Show in Las Vegas each year to select distinctive pieces.

Regent Mall, Fredericton

ROBERT SIMMONDS / 39

STYLE

A WRIST OF TIME Fashionable, stylish watches a hot trend with younger demographic

By Joel Jacobson

FINE JEWELLERY

he popularity of cell phones and their time-clock capability has diminished the need for watches but that hasn’t lessened the desire to have a fashion timepiece on one’s wrist.

Stephen Cole, president of Spicer Cole Fine Jewellers in Fredericton’s Regent Mall, says fashionable and stylish watches have taken over the men’s and women’s market.

“The younger demographic, 18 years of age to the 40s, want affordable luxury in a watch,” he says. “They want a high-end brand name that’s in the magazine they’ve just read — and they’re willing to pay a reasonable price for it.”

Michael Kors is the brand of choice today, Stephen notes. “It’s in every magazine. It’s attractive and its affordable price range, from $300 to $395, is for anyone’s budget.”

Spicer Cole, family owned and operated in Fredericton for more than 20 years, also carries the 38 / ROBERT SIMMONDS

PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED / ©SOULMATES PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED / ©SOULMATES PHOTOGRAPHY

Fossil, Coach, Kate Spade and Hugo Boss lines, and many others, in affordable fashion watches.

“The manufacturers have figured out how to market a watch as a fashion accessory,” says Stephen.

He noted that colour, stone accessories, lots of cubic zirconia and very dressed-up looks makes owning one of the high-end lines of watches desirable. Faces are bigger, too, following a European trend.

He cautions that the fashion in watches means looks change quickly. Today’s watch might not be available in six months or a year.

Spicer Cole is proud that it has exclusivity with many high-end names. “You won’t see Michael Kors, Coach or Hugo Boss in a chain store.”

Stephen travels to many jewelry shows to find the best items for the store’s discriminating clients. He visits the annual Diamond Show in Las Vegas each year to select distinctive pieces.

Regent Mall, Fredericton

ROBERT SIMMONDS / 39

STYLE PHOTOS: CONTRIBUTED / ©SOULMATES PHOTOGRAPHY

of a al face en n o i t i d a e “The tr watch has b ie ’s on of a to s, woman e z i s the line about onable re at i h s a f but the h or Fossil, a r.” ac like Co e of a quarte z the si

Find your comfort zone.

THE INNOVATORS OF COMFORT™

RECEIVE UP TO

$1,500 OFF* Stressless furniture when you buy Stressless or Ekornes home seating. *See your sales associate for complete details.

3672 Route 102 11km West of Fredericton (506) 452-0100

LE

EN CO STEPH

PHOTO: VLADIMIRS POPLAVSKIS/123RF

40 / ROBERT SIMMONDS

ValleyRidge.ca ©2 0 1 5 E I L E E N F I S H E R I N C .

“The biggest watch show in the world is in Basel, Switzerland at the beginning of the year but our visit to the May Diamond Show in Vegas covers the watch market for us. All the big names are there and we see everything we need.”

He says fall and winter 2015-16 will see more mid-size watches, a change from the very large styles seen in the last few years.

“The traditional face of a woman’s watch has been about the size of a toonie but the fashionable lines, like Coach or Fossil, are at the size of a quarter.”

Style for men varies, as the young man starting his career might seek something different from the man who’s gained great success in his profession through many years.

The 18-year-old-plus consumer, working, single, focused on fashion, wants the brand name that his contemporaries will recognize, fashion brands at lower price points.

A professional man, or woman, is ready to move to a status watch, such as Tissot, Gucci, even Rolex, with a Swiss movement, something that his colleagues will see and admire as very high-end fashion.

Stephen says women of a certain age and working position become status conscious.

“There’s a time when they want something nicer. They already have a Coach, Fossil or Kors but want to move up to Gucci or another high-end brand, something in the $600 to $2,000 range.”

The many watch lines — from Tissot, Gucci, Guess, Fossil, Diesel, Swarovski, Kors, Hugo Boss or Coach — at Spicer Cole Fine Jewellers offer fashion and practicality.

They even tell time, although a cell phone will give you that convenience, too.

COACHING IS LEADERSHIP IN ACTION We work with leaders who are committed to taking risks, have the courage to lead by example, who think big and who make things happen.

*6(*/05. 3,(+,9:/07 +,=,3674,5; :7,(205.

Talk to Us: (888) 747.4199

A PARTNER IN UNLEASHING YOUR FULL BUSINESS POTENTIAL

www.visioncoachinginc.com www.leadershipunleashed.ca ROBERT SIMMONDS / 41

STYLE PHOTOS: CONTRIBUTED / ©SOULMATES PHOTOGRAPHY

of a al face en n o i t i d a e “The tr watch has b ie ’s on of a to s, woman e z i s the line about onable re at i h s a f but the h or Fossil, a r.” ac like Co e of a quarte z the si

Find your comfort zone.

THE INNOVATORS OF COMFORT™

RECEIVE UP TO

$1,500 OFF* Stressless furniture when you buy Stressless or Ekornes home seating. *See your sales associate for complete details.

3672 Route 102 11km West of Fredericton (506) 452-0100

LE

EN CO STEPH

PHOTO: VLADIMIRS POPLAVSKIS/123RF

40 / ROBERT SIMMONDS

ValleyRidge.ca ©2 0 1 5 E I L E E N F I S H E R I N C .

“The biggest watch show in the world is in Basel, Switzerland at the beginning of the year but our visit to the May Diamond Show in Vegas covers the watch market for us. All the big names are there and we see everything we need.”

He says fall and winter 2015-16 will see more mid-size watches, a change from the very large styles seen in the last few years.

“The traditional face of a woman’s watch has been about the size of a toonie but the fashionable lines, like Coach or Fossil, are at the size of a quarter.”

Style for men varies, as the young man starting his career might seek something different from the man who’s gained great success in his profession through many years.

The 18-year-old-plus consumer, working, single, focused on fashion, wants the brand name that his contemporaries will recognize, fashion brands at lower price points.

A professional man, or woman, is ready to move to a status watch, such as Tissot, Gucci, even Rolex, with a Swiss movement, something that his colleagues will see and admire as very high-end fashion.

Stephen says women of a certain age and working position become status conscious.

“There’s a time when they want something nicer. They already have a Coach, Fossil or Kors but want to move up to Gucci or another high-end brand, something in the $600 to $2,000 range.”

The many watch lines — from Tissot, Gucci, Guess, Fossil, Diesel, Swarovski, Kors, Hugo Boss or Coach — at Spicer Cole Fine Jewellers offer fashion and practicality.

They even tell time, although a cell phone will give you that convenience, too.

COACHING IS LEADERSHIP IN ACTION We work with leaders who are committed to taking risks, have the courage to lead by example, who think big and who make things happen.

*6(*/05. 3,(+,9:/07 +,=,3674,5; :7,(205.

Talk to Us: (888) 747.4199

A PARTNER IN UNLEASHING YOUR FULL BUSINESS POTENTIAL

www.visioncoachinginc.com www.leadershipunleashed.ca ROBERT SIMMONDS / 41

FOOD & DRINK

FOOD & DRINK

Gettin ng to o kn now New w Bru unsswick’s beer indu ustry crafft-b Bruce e Ba arto on, Celtic Know Brewing, Riverview Bruce Barton spent 20 years in the printing industry both on the presses then later in digital prepress before transitioning a passion for home brewing into a business. He says “the skills I gained from this have served me well as I do all my own graphic design. I also spent a number of years in the IT sector before finally deciding to open a nano brewery. Running my own brewery has been an amazing experience.

I take orders from nobody and I am solely in charge of the entire operation.”

WHO’S BEHIND THE BREW?

Mitch h Rig gge er, Railway Brewing, Florenceville-Bistrol

Craft-beer breweries pouring all over New Brunswick

By Mark DeWolf

PHOTOS: JOY CUMMINGS

ew industries are changing as rapidly as the beer industry. Consumer allegiance to the big beer companies has swayed as a dynamic group of craft-beer producers engage a consumer more aware and concerned about the origins of their beer. The locavore movement is alive and well in New Brunswick and no more evident than in its beer industry.

Nearly 20 breweries count themselves residents of New Brunswick with new breweries emerging on an almost monthly basis. These new entrants to the industry all share a passion for beer but the faces behind the business are much more than just ‘beer geeks.’ Many of the new crew driving the New Brunswick craft beer industry forward are business-savvy individuals who come from diverse and eclectic backgrounds.

It could be argued that the face of the New Brunswick craft beer industry is Picaroons’ Sean Dunbar. Dunbar is in many ways the father of the craft brewing industry. Before becoming a brewer — he has been at the Fredericton-based brewery since it first opened in October of 1995 42 / ROBERT SIMMONDS

nt is stateme n io s is ter “Our m ld a bet r o w e h t e.” to make r at a tim e e b e n place, o ROONS

R, PICA

UNBA SEAN D

— Dunbar worked in the hotel and restaurant business before a stint as a lawyer. Dunbar was admitted to the bar in June of 1995 and the brewery opened later that year. As he says: “I moved from one bar to the other.”

Dunbar was encouraged by some of his law school friends, aware of his food and beverage experience, to open up a brewery. “I signed up first as an advisor, then investor, then quit law completely and became an employee and then owner. It was just one of those great ideas that sounded like a cool thing to do. Who doesn’t want to own a brewery?”

Opening a craft brewery, long before craft beer became popular with a wide audience, has it challenges, but Dunbar focuses on the positives noting “well, there’s the beer. That’s still a big plus. It’s a very positive product to make and sell. I can still cure a down day by going to a liquor store and watching someone in line buying my beer. It never gets old. Our mission statement is to make the world a better place, one beer at a time. That’s what we get to do every day. I can’t think of a more positive way to go through life. Negatives are no different

(in the beer business) than any other small business, I suppose. The positive part seems to make the negatives fade into the ‘shit happens’ territory. It’s just what we do and the negatives aren’t significant.”

As far as the new faces in the beer industry, Dunbar says that “so far, we’re keeping it pretty much a group effort. That’s the way the industry has developed all over the world, really.

Competition is good for all sectors but ours seems to combine the individual competitiveness of the entrepreneurs with a plan to move the whole sector forward. I think that’s the best of all possible scenarios.” As for the future of his business “for Picaroons, it’s more of the same. We are 20 years old and feeling like we just started yesterday. We’re still bringing out new beers. We have two new breweries under way. We’re taking risks like never before. We’re more and more involved in community activities.”

As for advice for the new entrants, he says “be prepared for success. Quit your day job, invest in capacity and get ready to make lots of beer. I think that’s the future.”

Mitch Rigger isn’t a complete newbie to the beer business. Rigger had done some sales and marketing work for Picaroons “way back in the day,” consulting with bars and restaurants in the 90s. As he says “I was hosting beer and food pairings events long before it was cool.”

Rigger still maintains his day job. He works as a supervisor of logistics at McCains. About opening a brewery, Rigger says “I developed a love for craft beer when travelling and doing consulting work in the late ’90s. I always knew I wanted to move back home someday, slow down and open a nano brewery. It’s been rewarding and utterly defeating all in one breath. I love making beer and talking beer and love my customers, but the red tape of a brewery is super discouraging and at times daunting.” Between his day job and running the brewery, he often works 18 hour days. “It’s hands-on and super labour intense work at our scale. With a small brew house we do it all by hand.”

Shane e Stteev ves,, Hammond River Brewing, Quispamsis Shane Steeves works full-time in the IT industry and owns and runs an automotive detailing business but, after home brewing for close to a quarter century, he made the decision to open a nano brewery. “Once I got into all-grain brewing, life changed. I always had four beers on tap at home and was constantly receiving awesome feedback on

them from friends and relatives. I then had a mental switch to do this commercially. Brewing had become a passion for me. I had a lot of fun building recipes from ground up. Once I had made that mental switch, I wasn’t too concerned, financially. The brewery is in my home. It took lot of money to bring it up to code but once I put my mind to something, I make sure it gets finished.” As for challenges, Steeves notes “unfortunately, I have to turn down accounts now. I am in eight different bars and restaurants. I don’t see any slow down any time soon.” Expect to see an expansion of the brewery as Steeves is in the planning stages of building a much larger brewery in a commercial area. The goal is then is to leave his full-time work. He is confident of the future as he says “unlike the corporate world we all know each other really well. We all help each other. It’s very refreshing. I am just happy to be part of it.”

André é Lé éger, André Morneault and Mychèle Poitras, Les Brasseurs du Petit-Sault, Edmunston One of the breweries that best exemplifies this new eclectic breed of brewery owners is Edmunston’s Les Brasseurs du Petit-Sault. The less-than-one-year-old brewery, which recently won a bronze medal at this year’s Canadian Brewing Awards for its European-style lager, La Kedgwick is run by three partners, each with a different background. André Léger is the brewery’s general manager. Prior being involved full time managing the brewery, Léger worked for more than 10 years in investment banking in Montreal and later developed a consulting business, providing businesses information technology and knowledge management solutions in Edmundston. André Morneault is brewery’s treasurer and an IT consultant and software architect. A start-up lover, he notes that “he is very passionate about local and craft products,” which led him to want to contribute in starting the region’s first brewery. Rounding out the partnership is Mychèle Poitras who works in communications and marketing for the city of Edmunston, but also for the brewery. About the brewery, she says “this project is all about fun and creativity.

Since I do communications for both the city and the brewery, some of the work is similar, be it taking care of social media or putting out press releases. But the brewery, while a serious business, is all about telling local stories, showcasing fun and unique local characters.

That’s where I get to have fun!”

ROBERT SIMMONDS / 43

FOOD & DRINK

FOOD & DRINK

Gettin ng to o kn now New w Bru unsswick’s beer indu ustry crafft-b Bruce e Ba arto on, Celtic Know Brewing, Riverview Bruce Barton spent 20 years in the printing industry both on the presses then later in digital prepress before transitioning a passion for home brewing into a business. He says “the skills I gained from this have served me well as I do all my own graphic design. I also spent a number of years in the IT sector before finally deciding to open a nano brewery. Running my own brewery has been an amazing experience.

I take orders from nobody and I am solely in charge of the entire operation.”

WHO’S BEHIND THE BREW?

Mitch h Rig gge er, Railway Brewing, Florenceville-Bistrol

Craft-beer breweries pouring all over New Brunswick

By Mark DeWolf

PHOTOS: JOY CUMMINGS

ew industries are changing as rapidly as the beer industry. Consumer allegiance to the big beer companies has swayed as a dynamic group of craft-beer producers engage a consumer more aware and concerned about the origins of their beer. The locavore movement is alive and well in New Brunswick and no more evident than in its beer industry.

Nearly 20 breweries count themselves residents of New Brunswick with new breweries emerging on an almost monthly basis. These new entrants to the industry all share a passion for beer but the faces behind the business are much more than just ‘beer geeks.’ Many of the new crew driving the New Brunswick craft beer industry forward are business-savvy individuals who come from diverse and eclectic backgrounds.

It could be argued that the face of the New Brunswick craft beer industry is Picaroons’ Sean Dunbar. Dunbar is in many ways the father of the craft brewing industry. Before becoming a brewer — he has been at the Fredericton-based brewery since it first opened in October of 1995 42 / ROBERT SIMMONDS

nt is stateme n io s is ter “Our m ld a bet r o w e h t e.” to make r at a tim e e b e n place, o ROONS

R, PICA

UNBA SEAN D

— Dunbar worked in the hotel and restaurant business before a stint as a lawyer. Dunbar was admitted to the bar in June of 1995 and the brewery opened later that year. As he says: “I moved from one bar to the other.”

Dunbar was encouraged by some of his law school friends, aware of his food and beverage experience, to open up a brewery. “I signed up first as an advisor, then investor, then quit law completely and became an employee and then owner. It was just one of those great ideas that sounded like a cool thing to do. Who doesn’t want to own a brewery?”

Opening a craft brewery, long before craft beer became popular with a wide audience, has it challenges, but Dunbar focuses on the positives noting “well, there’s the beer. That’s still a big plus. It’s a very positive product to make and sell. I can still cure a down day by going to a liquor store and watching someone in line buying my beer. It never gets old. Our mission statement is to make the world a better place, one beer at a time. That’s what we get to do every day. I can’t think of a more positive way to go through life. Negatives are no different

(in the beer business) than any other small business, I suppose. The positive part seems to make the negatives fade into the ‘shit happens’ territory. It’s just what we do and the negatives aren’t significant.”

As far as the new faces in the beer industry, Dunbar says that “so far, we’re keeping it pretty much a group effort. That’s the way the industry has developed all over the world, really.

Competition is good for all sectors but ours seems to combine the individual competitiveness of the entrepreneurs with a plan to move the whole sector forward. I think that’s the best of all possible scenarios.” As for the future of his business “for Picaroons, it’s more of the same. We are 20 years old and feeling like we just started yesterday. We’re still bringing out new beers. We have two new breweries under way. We’re taking risks like never before. We’re more and more involved in community activities.”

As for advice for the new entrants, he says “be prepared for success. Quit your day job, invest in capacity and get ready to make lots of beer. I think that’s the future.”

Mitch Rigger isn’t a complete newbie to the beer business. Rigger had done some sales and marketing work for Picaroons “way back in the day,” consulting with bars and restaurants in the 90s. As he says “I was hosting beer and food pairings events long before it was cool.”

Rigger still maintains his day job. He works as a supervisor of logistics at McCains. About opening a brewery, Rigger says “I developed a love for craft beer when travelling and doing consulting work in the late ’90s. I always knew I wanted to move back home someday, slow down and open a nano brewery. It’s been rewarding and utterly defeating all in one breath. I love making beer and talking beer and love my customers, but the red tape of a brewery is super discouraging and at times daunting.” Between his day job and running the brewery, he often works 18 hour days. “It’s hands-on and super labour intense work at our scale. With a small brew house we do it all by hand.”

Shane e Stteev ves,, Hammond River Brewing, Quispamsis Shane Steeves works full-time in the IT industry and owns and runs an automotive detailing business but, after home brewing for close to a quarter century, he made the decision to open a nano brewery. “Once I got into all-grain brewing, life changed. I always had four beers on tap at home and was constantly receiving awesome feedback on

them from friends and relatives. I then had a mental switch to do this commercially. Brewing had become a passion for me. I had a lot of fun building recipes from ground up. Once I had made that mental switch, I wasn’t too concerned, financially. The brewery is in my home. It took lot of money to bring it up to code but once I put my mind to something, I make sure it gets finished.” As for challenges, Steeves notes “unfortunately, I have to turn down accounts now. I am in eight different bars and restaurants. I don’t see any slow down any time soon.” Expect to see an expansion of the brewery as Steeves is in the planning stages of building a much larger brewery in a commercial area. The goal is then is to leave his full-time work. He is confident of the future as he says “unlike the corporate world we all know each other really well. We all help each other. It’s very refreshing. I am just happy to be part of it.”

André é Lé éger, André Morneault and Mychèle Poitras, Les Brasseurs du Petit-Sault, Edmunston One of the breweries that best exemplifies this new eclectic breed of brewery owners is Edmunston’s Les Brasseurs du Petit-Sault. The less-than-one-year-old brewery, which recently won a bronze medal at this year’s Canadian Brewing Awards for its European-style lager, La Kedgwick is run by three partners, each with a different background. André Léger is the brewery’s general manager. Prior being involved full time managing the brewery, Léger worked for more than 10 years in investment banking in Montreal and later developed a consulting business, providing businesses information technology and knowledge management solutions in Edmundston. André Morneault is brewery’s treasurer and an IT consultant and software architect. A start-up lover, he notes that “he is very passionate about local and craft products,” which led him to want to contribute in starting the region’s first brewery. Rounding out the partnership is Mychèle Poitras who works in communications and marketing for the city of Edmunston, but also for the brewery. About the brewery, she says “this project is all about fun and creativity.

Since I do communications for both the city and the brewery, some of the work is similar, be it taking care of social media or putting out press releases. But the brewery, while a serious business, is all about telling local stories, showcasing fun and unique local characters.

That’s where I get to have fun!”

ROBERT SIMMONDS / 43

FOOD & DRINK

TRAVEL

PACK AN EXPERT Trailway Brewing Company, Fredericton Fredericton’s Trailway Brewing Company is a good example of a symbiotic partnership. Dan Mason is an engineer — which is always a valuable skill set for the brewing industry — while partner Jake Saunders is an accountant. Both were home brewers first before committing to the industry professionally. According to Mason “the passion we had for brewing led us to a desire to do it for a living. The excitement of the craft beer industry helped. We knew there was a market for craft beer and we knew we made solid beer and we wanted to share on a larger scale.” While both maintain their day jobs but really appreciate time spent at the brewery as, says Mason “we both are pretty accustomed to the office lifestyle, so brewing is a welcome change in our daily schedules. Brewing is physically demanding and a lot of work. At times we feel more like janitors, but we completely love all aspects of it.”

44 / ROBERT SIMMONDS

Dere ek Le esliie,

Small-scale touring experiences the latest trend in travel

Shiretown Beer, Baie des Chaleur Derek Leslie wasn’t in the beer business before opening a brewery but he was an entrepreneur at heart. “Entrepreneurship has always been on my radar… I wanted to open a business that wouldn’t have to depend entirely on the local market to get it off the ground. As I contemplated my options in northern New Brunswick as the Abitibi Bowater mill closes, the Pioneer chemical plant closes and the NB Power thermal generating station was on its way out, needless to say people weren’t coming to town. This experience is one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done in my life and the thrill stems from the success of this from-scratch operation in economically-hardened times and in a time, in the brewing industry, when they told me I couldn’t do it.

I believe it’s the wave of the future for rural New Brunswick. The craft industry, that is, can help bring prosperity to some of these places.”

By Allister Stevenson PHOTO: 123RF

he latest craze in touring is smallscale, intimate experiences designed for groups as small as four or six. Forget bus tours to the usual tourist destinations or days spent following a pack. Now you can hire an expert to take you around the great wine regions of Europe or an art specialist to lend their specific insight into the great galleries of the world. Let their connections open doors to places the big bus tours can’t go.

The reality of the Internet age is that we are all our own travel agents. Discount flight and accommodation sites have reduced our need for travel agents and the worldwide web has made it easier for everyone to book an entire trip online.

The ease of availability has made large standard tours less attractive to consumers.

However, it has opened a door for experiential, small-tour operators keen on delivering unique experiences that can’t be delivered by their large-scale competitors.

Mark DeWolf, who manages With Zest tours, an epicurean adventure company that offers travel opportunities around the wine world says “there is a level of intimacy and familiarity that

PHOTO: 123RF

Dan Ma aso on ake e Sa aun nde ers, and Ja

of level a s i rity e “Ther nd familia s cy a tour intima akes small that m tand out. s

EST

ITH Z

MAR

W OLF, K DEW

makes small tours stand out. I simply can’t imagine being able to relate to my guests in the same way if I was in charge of 30 or 40 people as compared to 10 or 12.”

Caroline Sodenkamp of Artigo Tours, a New York based art tour company, has recently partnered with Maritime Travel on some small tour offerings. The relationship began when Maritime Travel contacted them to fill a halfday program for a tour they organized for the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia.

“We organized a ‘behind-the-scenes’ gallery tour for them in Chelsea and we incorporated lots of fun surprises,” says Sodenkamp. “We had a ‘click.’ The day after that tour I also accompanied the group for a unique ‘backstage’ look at art works at the World Trade Center. I invited the artist of the works to come along.

After that experience, Maritime Travel asked Artigo Tours to organize a special program for them in Chicago which, for us, was so much fun, especially because the group was so enthusiastic.

The partnership has expanded since.

Sodenkamp feels like they provide a unique opportunity for tour organizers as “we can truly listen to the customer and design a tour or ROBERT SIMMONDS / 45

FOOD & DRINK

TRAVEL

PACK AN EXPERT Trailway Brewing Company, Fredericton Fredericton’s Trailway Brewing Company is a good example of a symbiotic partnership. Dan Mason is an engineer — which is always a valuable skill set for the brewing industry — while partner Jake Saunders is an accountant. Both were home brewers first before committing to the industry professionally. According to Mason “the passion we had for brewing led us to a desire to do it for a living. The excitement of the craft beer industry helped. We knew there was a market for craft beer and we knew we made solid beer and we wanted to share on a larger scale.” While both maintain their day jobs but really appreciate time spent at the brewery as, says Mason “we both are pretty accustomed to the office lifestyle, so brewing is a welcome change in our daily schedules. Brewing is physically demanding and a lot of work. At times we feel more like janitors, but we completely love all aspects of it.”

44 / ROBERT SIMMONDS

Dere ek Le esliie,

Small-scale touring experiences the latest trend in travel

Shiretown Beer, Baie des Chaleur Derek Leslie wasn’t in the beer business before opening a brewery but he was an entrepreneur at heart. “Entrepreneurship has always been on my radar… I wanted to open a business that wouldn’t have to depend entirely on the local market to get it off the ground. As I contemplated my options in northern New Brunswick as the Abitibi Bowater mill closes, the Pioneer chemical plant closes and the NB Power thermal generating station was on its way out, needless to say people weren’t coming to town. This experience is one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done in my life and the thrill stems from the success of this from-scratch operation in economically-hardened times and in a time, in the brewing industry, when they told me I couldn’t do it.

I believe it’s the wave of the future for rural New Brunswick. The craft industry, that is, can help bring prosperity to some of these places.”

By Allister Stevenson PHOTO: 123RF

he latest craze in touring is smallscale, intimate experiences designed for groups as small as four or six. Forget bus tours to the usual tourist destinations or days spent following a pack. Now you can hire an expert to take you around the great wine regions of Europe or an art specialist to lend their specific insight into the great galleries of the world. Let their connections open doors to places the big bus tours can’t go.

The reality of the Internet age is that we are all our own travel agents. Discount flight and accommodation sites have reduced our need for travel agents and the worldwide web has made it easier for everyone to book an entire trip online.

The ease of availability has made large standard tours less attractive to consumers.

However, it has opened a door for experiential, small-tour operators keen on delivering unique experiences that can’t be delivered by their large-scale competitors.

Mark DeWolf, who manages With Zest tours, an epicurean adventure company that offers travel opportunities around the wine world says “there is a level of intimacy and familiarity that

PHOTO: 123RF

Dan Ma aso on ake e Sa aun nde ers, and Ja

of level a s i rity e “Ther nd familia s cy a tour intima akes small that m tand out. s

EST

ITH Z

MAR

W OLF, K DEW

makes small tours stand out. I simply can’t imagine being able to relate to my guests in the same way if I was in charge of 30 or 40 people as compared to 10 or 12.”

Caroline Sodenkamp of Artigo Tours, a New York based art tour company, has recently partnered with Maritime Travel on some small tour offerings. The relationship began when Maritime Travel contacted them to fill a halfday program for a tour they organized for the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia.

“We organized a ‘behind-the-scenes’ gallery tour for them in Chelsea and we incorporated lots of fun surprises,” says Sodenkamp. “We had a ‘click.’ The day after that tour I also accompanied the group for a unique ‘backstage’ look at art works at the World Trade Center. I invited the artist of the works to come along.

After that experience, Maritime Travel asked Artigo Tours to organize a special program for them in Chicago which, for us, was so much fun, especially because the group was so enthusiastic.

The partnership has expanded since.

Sodenkamp feels like they provide a unique opportunity for tour organizers as “we can truly listen to the customer and design a tour or ROBERT SIMMONDS / 45

TRAVEL

PHOTOS: 123RF

TRAVEL

Tips for Packing Light For small group tours, which often travel to destinations off the beaten path, it is recommend to pack light.

Why drag around a heavy bag when with a little planning you can get everything into your carry on?

2. Before you start, lay out all your clothes and gear on your bed. Say to yourself “do I really need this” before putting it in your bag.

3. They have toothpaste in Europe. You don’t need to pack shampoo, soap and toothpaste. You might simply opt to pick it up at your arrival destination.

4. Be casual. Dress code standards have relaxed at the finest dining establishments in the world. DeWolf says, “for the fancy night out on tour I recommend dressing “winemaker chic.” For some reason winemakers pull off jeans, a dress shirt and jacket at all occasions. I find, even at many of the nicest restaurants, you can get away with this level of dress.”

5. Pack tightly and efficiently. Pack socks and undergarments in Ziploc bags. Have an extra or two to keep your dirty clothes separate for clean clothes. For your other clothes, go with the fold-and-roll strategy. It takes up less space than clothes roughly thrown into the bag and wear your bulkiest items on the plane. The best space saver is you.

46 / ROBERT SIMMONDS

PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED

program that is really tailor-made. We know what our clients expect. Or rather, often our clients do not really know what to expect, but by listening and asking the right questions we design programs they end up being really enthusiastic about. We love to exceed expectations. That makes running this company so much fun.”

DeWolf couldn’t agree more. “One of the most exciting trends in this business is truly customized tour options. As long as you have a few friends to go along with you we can create a tour package to suit your desires. Some clients prefer digging into the culture of a region by staying at small farms or villas while others prefer high-end hotels. Some like cooking classes with local chefs and others dining at Michelin-rated restaurants. It’s all achievable with some time and planning. And we can even provide a local chef or sommelier to lead you around on your adventure.”

With Zest’s most popular tour destination is Tuscany. “Tuscany is hard to beat as a food and wine tour experience,” says DeWolf. “There are few places on this planet that mix culture, great wine and great food like Tuscany does. While I am pretty proud of some of the great dining establishments and wineries I bring my guests to, I have to admit, outside of some of the most ‘touristy’ of restaurants, it’s hard to get a bad meal in Tuscany. But what you can’t get by

going on your own or with a large group is the special attention. I walk into my favourite restaurants in Tuscany, and the owners and staff often give me a big hug on entrance. That gets translated to a superlative experience for my guests.

“I do have a couple experiences that you simply can’t get by yourself. You won’t find my Italian mama, Teresa — she’s not really my mother but I feel like she is family — on the worldwide web. Her cooking classes are so full of passionate cooking it’s impossible not to have a smile on your face at the end of them. We often have class in her apartment, which sits on the top floor of a building in Montalcino.

“It’s amazing to learn about authentic Italian cuisine in her kitchen which has panoramic views of the Tuscan countryside. On some of our tours we also get to visit wineries that aren’t open to the public or are too small to regularly offer tours. Thanks to my many friends and connections in this business, I can often visit wineries that might refuse others.”

One of the elements that makes these tours unique are the backgrounds of the people that run them. Sodenkamp and partner Jo-Anneke van der Molen are passionate about art.

According to Sodenhamp “we like to travel and go off the beaten path. We wanted to share these passions with others. We found our niche in truly customized ‘behind-the-scenes’ art

tours and art travels.”

DeWolf is an expert in his own right; he is a long-time graduate of the International Sommelier Guild’s Sommelier Certification Program and has been teaching people to become sommeliers for more than a decade.

He is also vice-president of the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers and writes articles for various publications including Occasions Magazine, The Chronicle Herald and Home & Garden Magazine.

“I find the most inspiring wineries to visit on our tours aren’t the big-name brands,” DeWolf says. “The best visits are to the authentic, artisanal producers. Often when we visit these wineries it is an owner or winemaker that provides the tour. They are so passionately committed to their wine that it translates to a great experience.”

So who is the small-tour goer? For Sodenkamp’s art tours it ranges “from individual, committed art lovers to groups from museums to companies that look for unique outings for their clients or workers. But we also get art students and schools from all over the world” while, for DeWolf, he says “I get a range of people. Most have a general interest in food and wine, but aren’t what I’d call wine geeks or food snobs. Wine regions are by their nature beautiful places rich in experiences. I actually prefer hosting tours with guests that aren’t

PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED

1. Remember, if you don’t check your bag in, the airlines can’t lose it.

Nothing is worse than starting a trip without your clothes.

at to be d r a h r any is d wine tou “Tusc n a e are ood as a f ence. Ther lanet i exper s on this p at lace , gre few p ix culture d like that m great foo ” and does. wine y n a Tusc MARK

OLF DEW

already experts as the new food and wine experiences I provide are that much more appreciated.

“I originally thought I would get exclusively couples but I am amazed at the number of single travellers. We definitely have more women clientele than men. I have had quite a few tours of just women, many of whom have simply left the husband at home to golf while they enjoy an adventure with their friends.”

DeWolf recommends talking or have an email correspondence with the tour provider.

“Even if the tour is being sold by a large tour operator, I recommend talking to the people organizing the tours. In my case that’s me but the pros of small tours for many people can be the cons for others. For example, on my tours we often utilize high-end villas as opposed to hotels as I feel like it provides a better overall experience. I can cook dinners for my guests which are often a better experience than going to a restaurant after a day of touring. Guests can also walk around the properties without restrictions.

“The down side for some is there isn’t always a daily maid service. It’s these types of details that are important to know before you go, so you are aware of the experience you are going to receive.”

ROBERT SIMMONDS / 47

TRAVEL

PHOTOS: 123RF

TRAVEL

Tips for Packing Light For small group tours, which often travel to destinations off the beaten path, it is recommend to pack light.

Why drag around a heavy bag when with a little planning you can get everything into your carry on?

2. Before you start, lay out all your clothes and gear on your bed. Say to yourself “do I really need this” before putting it in your bag.

3. They have toothpaste in Europe. You don’t need to pack shampoo, soap and toothpaste. You might simply opt to pick it up at your arrival destination.

4. Be casual. Dress code standards have relaxed at the finest dining establishments in the world. DeWolf says, “for the fancy night out on tour I recommend dressing “winemaker chic.” For some reason winemakers pull off jeans, a dress shirt and jacket at all occasions. I find, even at many of the nicest restaurants, you can get away with this level of dress.”

5. Pack tightly and efficiently. Pack socks and undergarments in Ziploc bags. Have an extra or two to keep your dirty clothes separate for clean clothes. For your other clothes, go with the fold-and-roll strategy. It takes up less space than clothes roughly thrown into the bag and wear your bulkiest items on the plane. The best space saver is you.

46 / ROBERT SIMMONDS

PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED

program that is really tailor-made. We know what our clients expect. Or rather, often our clients do not really know what to expect, but by listening and asking the right questions we design programs they end up being really enthusiastic about. We love to exceed expectations. That makes running this company so much fun.”

DeWolf couldn’t agree more. “One of the most exciting trends in this business is truly customized tour options. As long as you have a few friends to go along with you we can create a tour package to suit your desires. Some clients prefer digging into the culture of a region by staying at small farms or villas while others prefer high-end hotels. Some like cooking classes with local chefs and others dining at Michelin-rated restaurants. It’s all achievable with some time and planning. And we can even provide a local chef or sommelier to lead you around on your adventure.”

With Zest’s most popular tour destination is Tuscany. “Tuscany is hard to beat as a food and wine tour experience,” says DeWolf. “There are few places on this planet that mix culture, great wine and great food like Tuscany does. While I am pretty proud of some of the great dining establishments and wineries I bring my guests to, I have to admit, outside of some of the most ‘touristy’ of restaurants, it’s hard to get a bad meal in Tuscany. But what you can’t get by

going on your own or with a large group is the special attention. I walk into my favourite restaurants in Tuscany, and the owners and staff often give me a big hug on entrance. That gets translated to a superlative experience for my guests.

“I do have a couple experiences that you simply can’t get by yourself. You won’t find my Italian mama, Teresa — she’s not really my mother but I feel like she is family — on the worldwide web. Her cooking classes are so full of passionate cooking it’s impossible not to have a smile on your face at the end of them. We often have class in her apartment, which sits on the top floor of a building in Montalcino.

“It’s amazing to learn about authentic Italian cuisine in her kitchen which has panoramic views of the Tuscan countryside. On some of our tours we also get to visit wineries that aren’t open to the public or are too small to regularly offer tours. Thanks to my many friends and connections in this business, I can often visit wineries that might refuse others.”

One of the elements that makes these tours unique are the backgrounds of the people that run them. Sodenkamp and partner Jo-Anneke van der Molen are passionate about art.

According to Sodenhamp “we like to travel and go off the beaten path. We wanted to share these passions with others. We found our niche in truly customized ‘behind-the-scenes’ art

tours and art travels.”

DeWolf is an expert in his own right; he is a long-time graduate of the International Sommelier Guild’s Sommelier Certification Program and has been teaching people to become sommeliers for more than a decade.

He is also vice-president of the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers and writes articles for various publications including Occasions Magazine, The Chronicle Herald and Home & Garden Magazine.

“I find the most inspiring wineries to visit on our tours aren’t the big-name brands,” DeWolf says. “The best visits are to the authentic, artisanal producers. Often when we visit these wineries it is an owner or winemaker that provides the tour. They are so passionately committed to their wine that it translates to a great experience.”

So who is the small-tour goer? For Sodenkamp’s art tours it ranges “from individual, committed art lovers to groups from museums to companies that look for unique outings for their clients or workers. But we also get art students and schools from all over the world” while, for DeWolf, he says “I get a range of people. Most have a general interest in food and wine, but aren’t what I’d call wine geeks or food snobs. Wine regions are by their nature beautiful places rich in experiences. I actually prefer hosting tours with guests that aren’t

PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED

1. Remember, if you don’t check your bag in, the airlines can’t lose it.

Nothing is worse than starting a trip without your clothes.

at to be d r a h r any is d wine tou “Tusc n a e are ood as a f ence. Ther lanet i exper s on this p at lace , gre few p ix culture d like that m great foo ” and does. wine y n a Tusc MARK

OLF DEW

already experts as the new food and wine experiences I provide are that much more appreciated.

“I originally thought I would get exclusively couples but I am amazed at the number of single travellers. We definitely have more women clientele than men. I have had quite a few tours of just women, many of whom have simply left the husband at home to golf while they enjoy an adventure with their friends.”

DeWolf recommends talking or have an email correspondence with the tour provider.

“Even if the tour is being sold by a large tour operator, I recommend talking to the people organizing the tours. In my case that’s me but the pros of small tours for many people can be the cons for others. For example, on my tours we often utilize high-end villas as opposed to hotels as I feel like it provides a better overall experience. I can cook dinners for my guests which are often a better experience than going to a restaurant after a day of touring. Guests can also walk around the properties without restrictions.

“The down side for some is there isn’t always a daily maid service. It’s these types of details that are important to know before you go, so you are aware of the experience you are going to receive.”

ROBERT SIMMONDS / 47

Asto on Marttin n Vulc can

AUTO

AUTO

The name of this British supercar is a bit of a dichotomy. It is not logical, but it does appear to be out of this world. It is, however, the ultimate indulgence. There are going to be only 24 of them, so if you have to ask the price…

It is powered by an 800-horsepower, 7.0litre V-12 monster, mated to a race-bred, rear mid-mounted Xtrac six-speed sequential gearbox. If that isn’t thrilling enough, consider that most of the car is carbon-fibre, from the monocoque to the cabin to a part-carbon fibre, part-magnesium driveshaft. It’s exceptionally light, with a power-to-weight ratio better than the GTE cars that compete in the World Endurance Championship.

Of course, with that speed (Aston Martin has not released 0-100 times, but rest assured, they will be blazingly quick), comes responsibility.

In this case, that is in the form of carbonceramic brake discs and massive Brembo racing calipers.

If you’re not one of the lucky 24, there’s some good news yet: this car, which goes on sale soon, hints at the shape of Aston Martins to come.

PHOTOS COURTESY: ASTON MARTIN

BREAKIN’ THE MOULD Five rides that might prove The Golden Age of Cars is now

By Kelly Taylor

PHOTOS COURTESY: FORD MOTOR COMPANY

f there’s a golden age to the automobile, it might be now. Consider: cars are safer than they’ve ever been, more powerful and more fuel efficient than ever and production engineers are letting designers bring to market cars that could only have existed in clay not that many years ago.

The cars featured here touch on all counts, from the 600-horsepower Ford GT, the ultragorgeous Aston Martin Vulcan, the forward-looking Volkswagen Cross Coupe GTE concept, the stunning Mercedes-AMG GT S and the Porsche Boxster Spyder, which itself hits on all counts.

48 / ROBERT SIMMONDS

Ford d GT The last Ford GT may have been short-lived, but there was always a sense Ford wouldn’t let the concept languish forever. This time, it isn’t a 550-horsepower supercharged V-8 sitting behind the seats. Instead, the engine is rated for 600 horsepower and it doesn’t have eight cylinders. It has six.

The GT is arguably the pinnacle, so far, of Ford’s EcoBoost program, in which the replacement for displacement is turbocharging.

In most applications, including the tiny 1.0-litre, three-cylinder in the new Focus, the turbos are there for fuel economy, powerful when you put your foot into it and spool up the turbos, but thrifty at cruising speeds. In the new GT, the focus is clearly on performance, yet the car still promises to be more efficient at cruising than the older GT, which was made in 2005 and 2006.

Like the Vulcan, the GT uses a fair bit of carbon fibre, which Ford says will give it the best power-to-weight ratio of any mass production car. The 3.5-litre V-6 EcoBoost

is mated to a seven-speed semi-automatic and is expected to have 0-100 times in the threesecond range.

While the last GT was designed to pay homage to the original racing GT40 of the 1960s, the new GT is a completely modern interpretation with lines and curves that wouldn’t be out of place were they behind a Ferrari or Lamborghini badge. It is expected to go on sale in 2016.

The regular Boxster is a beautiful car; it handles great and has a logical amount of power and a convenient power-folding roof.

It is not, however, pure. At least not as far as hard-core performance enthusiasts are concerned. There’s too much about it that is about coddling a driver: that power roof, sound system and air conditioning add weight and detract from performance.

So for the enthusiast, there’s the Spyder, due out in October. Devoid of creature comforts, it comes standard without a radio and without air.

The only available transmission is a six-speed stick. The roof goes up by hand. It’s all about shedding weight, which improves handling, improves acceleration and improves braking.

But losing poundage isn’t the only thing: it comes with a 3.8-litre boxer six-cylinder engine rated for 375 horsepower and promising a 0-60 mph time of 4.3 seconds, both of which are an upgrade from the Boxster S. Of course, some styling cues are built in to distinguish it from regular Boxsters, including a pair of “streamliners” that extend back from the headrests. They pay tribute to the 718 Spyder of the 1960s. Inside, a steering wheel that is 10 mm smaller improves steering response and standard Sport Seats Plus seats hug occupants for spirited driving.

The Boxster Spyder is priced at $93,700 and goes on sale toward the end of October 2015.

PHOTOS COURTESY: PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA

Pors sch he Boxstter Sp pyder

ROBERT SIMMONDS / 49

Asto on Marttin n Vulc can

AUTO

AUTO

The name of this British supercar is a bit of a dichotomy. It is not logical, but it does appear to be out of this world. It is, however, the ultimate indulgence. There are going to be only 24 of them, so if you have to ask the price…

It is powered by an 800-horsepower, 7.0litre V-12 monster, mated to a race-bred, rear mid-mounted Xtrac six-speed sequential gearbox. If that isn’t thrilling enough, consider that most of the car is carbon-fibre, from the monocoque to the cabin to a part-carbon fibre, part-magnesium driveshaft. It’s exceptionally light, with a power-to-weight ratio better than the GTE cars that compete in the World Endurance Championship.

Of course, with that speed (Aston Martin has not released 0-100 times, but rest assured, they will be blazingly quick), comes responsibility.

In this case, that is in the form of carbonceramic brake discs and massive Brembo racing calipers.

If you’re not one of the lucky 24, there’s some good news yet: this car, which goes on sale soon, hints at the shape of Aston Martins to come.

PHOTOS COURTESY: ASTON MARTIN

BREAKIN’ THE MOULD Five rides that might prove The Golden Age of Cars is now

By Kelly Taylor

PHOTOS COURTESY: FORD MOTOR COMPANY

f there’s a golden age to the automobile, it might be now. Consider: cars are safer than they’ve ever been, more powerful and more fuel efficient than ever and production engineers are letting designers bring to market cars that could only have existed in clay not that many years ago.

The cars featured here touch on all counts, from the 600-horsepower Ford GT, the ultragorgeous Aston Martin Vulcan, the forward-looking Volkswagen Cross Coupe GTE concept, the stunning Mercedes-AMG GT S and the Porsche Boxster Spyder, which itself hits on all counts.

48 / ROBERT SIMMONDS

Ford d GT The last Ford GT may have been short-lived, but there was always a sense Ford wouldn’t let the concept languish forever. This time, it isn’t a 550-horsepower supercharged V-8 sitting behind the seats. Instead, the engine is rated for 600 horsepower and it doesn’t have eight cylinders. It has six.

The GT is arguably the pinnacle, so far, of Ford’s EcoBoost program, in which the replacement for displacement is turbocharging.

In most applications, including the tiny 1.0-litre, three-cylinder in the new Focus, the turbos are there for fuel economy, powerful when you put your foot into it and spool up the turbos, but thrifty at cruising speeds. In the new GT, the focus is clearly on performance, yet the car still promises to be more efficient at cruising than the older GT, which was made in 2005 and 2006.

Like the Vulcan, the GT uses a fair bit of carbon fibre, which Ford says will give it the best power-to-weight ratio of any mass production car. The 3.5-litre V-6 EcoBoost

is mated to a seven-speed semi-automatic and is expected to have 0-100 times in the threesecond range.

While the last GT was designed to pay homage to the original racing GT40 of the 1960s, the new GT is a completely modern interpretation with lines and curves that wouldn’t be out of place were they behind a Ferrari or Lamborghini badge. It is expected to go on sale in 2016.

The regular Boxster is a beautiful car; it handles great and has a logical amount of power and a convenient power-folding roof.

It is not, however, pure. At least not as far as hard-core performance enthusiasts are concerned. There’s too much about it that is about coddling a driver: that power roof, sound system and air conditioning add weight and detract from performance.

So for the enthusiast, there’s the Spyder, due out in October. Devoid of creature comforts, it comes standard without a radio and without air.

The only available transmission is a six-speed stick. The roof goes up by hand. It’s all about shedding weight, which improves handling, improves acceleration and improves braking.

But losing poundage isn’t the only thing: it comes with a 3.8-litre boxer six-cylinder engine rated for 375 horsepower and promising a 0-60 mph time of 4.3 seconds, both of which are an upgrade from the Boxster S. Of course, some styling cues are built in to distinguish it from regular Boxsters, including a pair of “streamliners” that extend back from the headrests. They pay tribute to the 718 Spyder of the 1960s. Inside, a steering wheel that is 10 mm smaller improves steering response and standard Sport Seats Plus seats hug occupants for spirited driving.

The Boxster Spyder is priced at $93,700 and goes on sale toward the end of October 2015.

PHOTOS COURTESY: PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA

Pors sch he Boxstter Sp pyder

ROBERT SIMMONDS / 49

Performance by Design.

AUTO

Where aesthetics meet athletics. Its captivating, clearly defined silhouette, dynamic shape and exquisite proportions establish the S-Class Coupe as a modern masterpiece in the art of automotive engineering. A cutting-edge design that promises nothing less than pure performance. To learn more, visit mercedes-benz.ca/scoupe

Volk ksw wagen ss Coup pe GTE Cros The Cross Coupe GTE is a production preview concept right now, but VW says it foretells a coming seven-passenger SUV for the North American market.

The GTE is an interesting acronym: GT for Grand Touring, E for Electric. VW is proposing, in the concept at least, a V-6 plug-in hybrid powertrain rated for 275 horsepower with two (54 hp and 114 hp) electric motors and allwheel drive.

Of course, such a powertrain is an academic exercise at this point, but the manufacturer says it provides up to 42 km of electric-mode driving and a fuel consumption equivalent of 3.4 litres per 100 km. It would not be unexpected to see such a powertrain offered as a high-end option on the new SUV. The biggest news appears to be a revision in VW’s design language. Where such vehicles as the Passat, Jetta and Touareg have more rounded corners, the Cross Coupe GTE proposes harder angles and more straight lines.

It suggests a sea-change is in order for VW models to come.

Production of the new VW SUV is expected to begin in late 2016.

PHOTO COURTESY: VOLKSWAGEN CANADA

Merc cedes s-A AMG GT S By the time you finish reading this sentence, the Mercedes-AMG GT S could be flying past 100 km/h.

It’s the latest sports car developed in-house by what was once just a performance-tuning division — Mercedes-AMG — and follows on the heels of the stunning SLS. Its big V-8 engine pushes the speedometer into triple digits in just 3.8 seconds.

But for everything the AMG GT is, it’s what it isn’t that is perhaps the most interesting.

Despite a screaming, powerful, twin-turbocharged V-8 and driving dynamics that can carve a racetrack like Sunday’s prime rib, it’s not a punishing sports car.

A practical deck lid, an easily-accessed luggage compartment and a high level of comfort for long journeys make it far more than a track queen. It’s a stunning addition to the driveway that’s just as comfortable commuting as it is shredding racetracks.

The 4.0-litre, bi-turbo V-8 pumps out 503 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque.

Power flows to the rear wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission that is mounted as a transaxle at the rear to improve weight balance. A slightly de-tuned version, the GT (no S) comes out as a 2017 model.

The car features an aluminum space-frame, locking differential, sports suspension with aluminum, double-wishbone suspension and 50 / ROBERT SIMMONDS

PHOTOS COURTESY: DAIMLER AG - GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS MERCEDES-BENZ CARS

a low curb weight to maximize dynamics.

If the $149,900 price of the GT S isn’t good enough for you, it’s pretty easy to add the GDP of a small, third-world nation in options, including a $10,900 Edition 1 package — limited to 30 in Canada — that adds a carbon-fibre roof, among other enhancements, a $3,300 track package with active engine mounts and AMG dynamic plus package, $13,750 for carbon ceramic disc brakes, $9,000 for AMG Solarbeam paint and $6,000 for AMG exterior carbon trim.

Relative to the $250,000 price of the outgoing SLS, the GT S seems a bargain.

© 2015 Mercedes-Benz Canada Inc.

TriStar Mercedes-Benz, 368 Rothesay Ave., Saint John, NB, Toll-free 888-992-7827, www.tristar.mercedes-benz.ca

Performance by Design.

AUTO

Where aesthetics meet athletics. Its captivating, clearly defined silhouette, dynamic shape and exquisite proportions establish the S-Class Coupe as a modern masterpiece in the art of automotive engineering. A cutting-edge design that promises nothing less than pure performance. To learn more, visit mercedes-benz.ca/scoupe

Volk ksw wagen ss Coup pe GTE Cros The Cross Coupe GTE is a production preview concept right now, but VW says it foretells a coming seven-passenger SUV for the North American market.

The GTE is an interesting acronym: GT for Grand Touring, E for Electric. VW is proposing, in the concept at least, a V-6 plug-in hybrid powertrain rated for 275 horsepower with two (54 hp and 114 hp) electric motors and allwheel drive.

Of course, such a powertrain is an academic exercise at this point, but the manufacturer says it provides up to 42 km of electric-mode driving and a fuel consumption equivalent of 3.4 litres per 100 km. It would not be unexpected to see such a powertrain offered as a high-end option on the new SUV. The biggest news appears to be a revision in VW’s design language. Where such vehicles as the Passat, Jetta and Touareg have more rounded corners, the Cross Coupe GTE proposes harder angles and more straight lines.

It suggests a sea-change is in order for VW models to come.

Production of the new VW SUV is expected to begin in late 2016.

PHOTO COURTESY: VOLKSWAGEN CANADA

Merc cedes s-A AMG GT S By the time you finish reading this sentence, the Mercedes-AMG GT S could be flying past 100 km/h.

It’s the latest sports car developed in-house by what was once just a performance-tuning division — Mercedes-AMG — and follows on the heels of the stunning SLS. Its big V-8 engine pushes the speedometer into triple digits in just 3.8 seconds.

But for everything the AMG GT is, it’s what it isn’t that is perhaps the most interesting.

Despite a screaming, powerful, twin-turbocharged V-8 and driving dynamics that can carve a racetrack like Sunday’s prime rib, it’s not a punishing sports car.

A practical deck lid, an easily-accessed luggage compartment and a high level of comfort for long journeys make it far more than a track queen. It’s a stunning addition to the driveway that’s just as comfortable commuting as it is shredding racetracks.

The 4.0-litre, bi-turbo V-8 pumps out 503 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque.

Power flows to the rear wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission that is mounted as a transaxle at the rear to improve weight balance. A slightly de-tuned version, the GT (no S) comes out as a 2017 model.

The car features an aluminum space-frame, locking differential, sports suspension with aluminum, double-wishbone suspension and 50 / ROBERT SIMMONDS

PHOTOS COURTESY: DAIMLER AG - GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS MERCEDES-BENZ CARS

a low curb weight to maximize dynamics.

If the $149,900 price of the GT S isn’t good enough for you, it’s pretty easy to add the GDP of a small, third-world nation in options, including a $10,900 Edition 1 package — limited to 30 in Canada — that adds a carbon-fibre roof, among other enhancements, a $3,300 track package with active engine mounts and AMG dynamic plus package, $13,750 for carbon ceramic disc brakes, $9,000 for AMG Solarbeam paint and $6,000 for AMG exterior carbon trim.

Relative to the $250,000 price of the outgoing SLS, the GT S seems a bargain.

© 2015 Mercedes-Benz Canada Inc.

TriStar Mercedes-Benz, 368 Rothesay Ave., Saint John, NB, Toll-free 888-992-7827, www.tristar.mercedes-benz.ca

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