Faces Magazine - September 2014 Russell Peters

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAGAZINE DIRECTORY

Cover Story

8-13 | Russell Peters

24 | Connie Bernardi

Editor In Chief Justin MacKinnon Publisher Hank’s Paw Publishing (A division of 2384399 Ontario Ltd.) Creative/Art Director Vicky Sun

Fashion & Beauty

26-35 | Faces Fashion 37 | The Fall Coat for Every Occasion

Entertainment features

14-17 | Tom Green

42 |

The Why Page

43 |

2014 - A Great Vintage Coming to Ontario

44-45 | Best Ottawa Apps 46-47 | Folk Fest 2014 18-21 | Serena Ryder

22-23 | Lewis Black

Health & Fitness

54 |

September Featured Food: Apples

55 |

September Top Ten: Eating Out Around Ottawa

57 |

Sens Foundations Reaches $100 Million Mark

58-59 | 60 | 6 | September 2014

National Capital Charity Classic

Napoli’s 20th Anniversary Celebration Golf Tournament

Photographers Greg Kolz Gord Weber Cover Photo: Courtesy of CPI Management Contributors Duong Hoang Andrew Steele Alex Feeney Kaylie Dupont Kara Foster Natalie Crouch Alisa Dafoe Montana Werba Natalina Gatto Jordan Murphy Mike Norton Erin Maxwell Caroline Lawrance Communications Director Kelly Tranmer Operations Director Joshua Chartrand Associate Editor Maja Greenspon Accounting/ Finance Linda Zhang Advertising / Sales info@facesmag.ca Contact 613-591-6093 info@facesmag.ca @facesottawa www.facesmag.ca

COVER STORY

3 DVDs, endless touring, a book, and international acclaim - there’s no one that does it quite like Russell Peters.

Through the content of his stand-up, it is widely known that Peters experienced bullying and racism growing up. What is so mind-blowing is the extremely positive response from cultural groups across the world.

It’s like Peters knows exactly where to draw the line, to the exact decimal point.

Russell Peters will be coming to the Canadian Tire Centre on October 4th. We are ready to cry from laughter.

We talked with Russell about fatherhood, hip hop music, his Almost Famous tour, and why he’s still not “Hollywood”.

You talk about your childhood frequently in your comedy.

What was it really like growing up in the GTA in the seventies?

We spent a lot of time with our cousins, aunts and uncles.

That part was great. With my cousin Mikey, we’d sit under the dining table and tape their conversations. Then we’d go off and mimic the way they spoke and the phrases that they used. That and experiencing racism for the first time in Bramalea when we moved there in 1975, became the basis for my comedy.

No matter where you’re travelling or how busy you are, family seems to be very important to you. Is this value something you learned growing up? How is it having your brother Clayton as your manager?

They’re my family. I don’t know how else to put it. Without family you’ve got nothing. Sometimes people come up to me and they’re like, ‘it’s pretty cool that you get along with your brother and that you guys can work together. I don’t

get along with my brother.’ It’s amazing to me that brothers couldn’t get along. My parents always told us that when they were gone, that my brother and I would be all that we’d have. I guess that stuck with us.

The relationship that I have with my brother as a Manager is pretty good. Sometimes we can both get frustrated with each other – I’m a people pleaser and tend to say ‘yes’ to a lot of stuff, where he’s very protective and tends to be very analytical. But it seems to work.

You have spoken quite a bit about being bullied in your youth and how you overcame this. What are other obstacles that you’ve had to overcome to get to where you are today?

I was bullied, but I used that to move me forward. I don’t dwell on it. I was also a really, really skinny, small kid with a smart mouth, so it’s not like it was all one-sided.

I learned how to box to defend myself. I used humour to diffuse conflict. I hear a lot about bullying these days, and I hope that the kids being bullied learn to use the experience to their advantage in the long run.

I still have ADD and that’s something I deal with on a daily basis...But I make it work for me Your daughter Crystianna is almost four years old. How is fatherhood? Does she think you’re funny?

Fatherhood is fantastic. I love being a daddy – I say ‘daddy’ because I do a bit in my act where I talk about how having a little girl makes you a ‘daddy’ and having a little boy makes you a ‘father’. My daughter is very, very funny and she knows it. She really makes me laugh.

You are so generous with charitable efforts. Everything from the Brampton Civic Hospital, to Heart House Hospice, Gilda’s Club, the MS Society, Right to Play Ball…

RUSSELL PETERS 8 | September 2014

even a scholarship at your old high school!

How important is giving back for you?

Well you can’t just keep taking. I’ve been very lucky with my career and I never ever expected to be where I am now. I think it’s important to give back.

It seems like you are always somewhere whether it’s on tour, Netflix, Last Comic, etc.

How do you maintain a balance in your life?

What do you do to relax?

I actually lead a pretty normal life when I’m not on the road. When I’m home in Malibu, I make sure to see my daughter every day – she lives with her mother. I love getting on the turntables and playing music...It’s like an escape and I can control the mood...I love being on the road and miss it when I’m not on tour, but at the same time I do like just hanging out and doing nothing in particular.

NBC’s hit show Last Comic Standing Season 8 is coming to an end. What was it like judging comics trying to get their start? How was working with Roseanne Barr and Keenen Ivory? Why do you think it’s important for the world of comedy to have a show like Last Comic Standing?

It’s not easy judging other comics. I know exactly what it’s like to be up there doing what they’re doing. I know how hard it is. I also know how hard comics can be on themselves, internally, so to go up there and be judged like that is difficult for the comics and for the judges.

Roseanne and Keenen have been great to work with. They weren’t really familiar with me or my work, but they took the time to check out my stuff and were very respectful of what I’ve done with my career.

“It’s not easy judging other comics. I know exactly what it’s like to be up there doing what they’re doing. I know how hard it is.”

9

| September 2014

COVER STORY

I think Last Comic is great for exposing new comics and some of the hard working road comics out there to the world.

You tell a lot of stories about your father in your comedy. Your ability to poke fun at your relationship would suggest you were very close.

Tell us a bit about the dynamic you two shared.

Did he think you did him justice in your comedy? Was he really that strict?

We were as close as an Indian son can be with his father. I’ve talked about how my father never ever asked me ‘How was your day, son?’ or ‘How are you feeling today?’.

Indian fathers and I find, immigrant fathers in general tend to avoid that kind of thing. But, my dad was one of the funniest people I ever met.

He most definitely was strict though!! He knew how to put the fear of god into me!!

You seem to be so passionate about music.

What led you to become such a hip-hop fanatic? How did you come across the two DJs that you tour with - DJ Starting from Scratch and DJ Spinbad?

I love music but in all fairness I really only love older music. I became a HipHop junkie in the early 80’s, back then it was this completely new music and along with it came an attitude, way of dressing. It became a lifestyle. I’ve been friends with Starting From Scratch for almost 25 years and I was a huge DJ Spinbad fan well before we became friends.

What is in heavy rotation on your music playlist right now?

I go through these little phases where I get heavily into a genre, right now I’m in a transitional phase where I go from the Eagles to Disco...

(Don’t judge me!)

10 | September 2014

If you weren’t a comedian or a DJ, what would you be?

I’d be the funniest guy driving a forklift or the funniest guy selling shoes at Aldo.

I’m not sure what resonates with all the different people around the world but I sure as hell am extremely grateful for everyone’s continued support!

Oscar Wilde wrote, “Life is too short to be taken seriously”. You’ve said before that there is no reason to ever be serious. Do you try to always see the humour in a situation?

Absolutely. Most comics have a tough time not seeing the humour in any situation, no matter how dark it is. When comics get together, they say the darkest, most messed-up things about current events – things they could never say on-stage, but it’s funny as hell to us.

You’ve cited your biggest comedic influence as George Carlin. What is your fondest memory of him?

My fondest memory would be the opportunity to go on before him and get to introduce him at The Comedy Magic Club in Hermosa Beach (CA). He was incredibly kind to me that night.

Could you share an example of an exchange that you’ve been a part of where this “dark” and “foul” sense of humour of comedians is evident?

I wish I could share one of those situations but they really are far too disturbing for most people You’ve discussed how you got involved in boxing in your youth and boxed for nine years. You’ve even compared boxing to doing stand-up. Do you thrive in win or lose scenarios?

I tend to put a lot of pressure on myself in those scenarios because you are never above failure... Especially in comedy!

You were the first comedian to sell out the Air Canada Centre in 2007, broke a UK comedy sales record in London in 2009, drew out the largest audience for a stand-up comedy show in Australia in 2010, and set an audience record in Singapore, Indonesia, South Africa, and Malaysia in 2012, to name a few accomplishments. You are the true meaning of an international sensation. What do you think it is about you and your comedy that is so attractive to people across the globe?

You’ve mentioned Don Rickles, Steve Martin, Cheech and Chong, Eddie Murphy, and Bob Newhart as other major influences. Do you think that your style has taken on aspects of each of these comedic legends?

I think all comics absorb aspects of their favourite comics when they get on-stage. Ultimately though you have to be yourself and that’s what people will respond to.

Your performance on Comedy Now! went viral on YouTube in 2004, when different bits regarding various racial groups were well received across the board. What did it feel like to receive such positive feedback at that time?

At first I was freaking out that the act was out there and going around the world. I didn’t realize what was happening to tell you the truth. People seemed to like what I’d done and that was great, but I’d never been exposed to that many people ever. It was the early days of YouTube and nobody could have imagined where that singular event would have taken me.

Do you have a favorite show you’ve done? Or is it like picking children?

I’m a fan of Red, White & Brown from 2008... I liked that one a lot... It’s a career and a body of work, so there are always going to be some things you like more than others, or times

“I’m not sure what resonates with all the different people around the world but I sure as hell am extremely grateful for everyone’s continued support!”

11 | September 2014

COVER STORY

when I feel I could have been stronger or better. Otherwise I’m pretty proud of what I’ve done overall.

RUSSELL PETERS

Notorious on Netflix, Russell Peters Vs. The World, Almost Famous, what’s next? What’s coming up for you in the new year?

The new tour will take me to South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, The UK, Singapore, Hong Kong, India, The Middle East and Europe well into 2015, so that’ll keep me busy. I’ve also got a couple of TV series that I’m developing as well as some movie projects as well.

12 | September 2014

With Netflix having exclusive rights to Notorious, all of your shows and everything in between was filmed. How did it feel becoming sort of a reality TV star? Are you comfortable being filmed 24/7?

Actually I’m not comfortable being filmed 24/7. It’s pretty annoying. I just don’t think I’m that interesting or that what I’m doing is that interesting when I’m not on-stage. I also wasn’t going to ‘stage’ any kind of drama or conflict for that series. I wanted it to be an honest look at my life as a working comic.

You are a huge Notorious B.I.G. fan. – Your tour Notorious featured a sold out show in Brooklyn at the recently built Barclays Center, honoring Biggie’s 15-year death anniversary. Why is he such a huge inspiration for you?

For me Biggie was an amazing story teller and he had this ability to flow over any type of beat... I found him extremely versatile and always wonder what he would be up to today...

Would Jay Z be who he is if BIG was still around?

What is the process like when you’re developing an act? Do you write material? Practice at home? Improv with the crowds?

Once I release a special, I wipe that material from my memory. I start fresh.

Do you have any pre- show routines? Is there anything that you do to prepare backstage? Do you ever get nervous before a show?

I’m not really nervous. I’m pretty relaxed. I’d say my brother is more nervous than I am. I don’t do any kind of ‘I need quiet time now’ or ‘I need to be alone’ type of thing. I have a mental conversation with my dad just before I go on-stage, but that’s about it.

Forbes Magazine featured an article titled “Why Russell Peters Is Notoriously Unknown”. Chris Rock has called you the “most famous person nobody’s ever heard of.”

Lisa Lampanelli has said, “It’s like he has no real recognition here, yet the guy has 10 Bentleys.” How do you feel about being not quite “Hollywood”?

Hollywood is like high school. I don’t hang out with the ‘cool kids’. I do my own thing. My success is as a result of the fans. It’s organic, instead of manufactured by a studio or network. I’m very aware of where I fit in or don’t fit in in Hollywood, which is why my tour is called ‘Almost Famous’.

You came to Ottawa in 2012. Did you get a chance to see much of the city? Do you have a favorite spot in Ottawa?

I’ve spent a lot of time in Ottawa when I used to play Yuk Yuks. I always have a great time when I’m there.

Compared to Outsourced, Red White and Brown, The Green Card Tour, and Notorious, what can the city expect from Almost Famous? How different is it from your previous tours? How has your comedy evolved?

My fans don’t like it when I move too far away from the racial and cultural material, but the critics jump on me for staying too close to what I’m known for. In the end, I do what I do for my fans and not the critics... That being said I’m really pleased with my new act and feel as if it’s a more rounded set this time around.

On the Almost Famous tour, you’re doing 16 shows in Canada. How important is it for you to return to your roots?

My Canadian tours are the most important dates that I do. I have to ‘bring it’ when I’m playing at home.

Russell Peters will be performing at the Canadian Tire Centre on October 4th.

Follow @therealrussellp www.russellpeters.com

“My Canadian tours are the most important dates that I do.

I have to ‘bring it’ when I’m playing at home. ”

FEATURES

The days of unfathomable pranks may be done for Green, but what remains is his passion for interacting with people, evident in his new show on AXS. One thing that cannot be contested is Green’s ambition. He became a household name in comedy long before the days of YouTube yet is still relevant with today’s generation. His influence on the new era of prank shows is undeniable.

Tom is coming to Ottawa to host the 2014 Canadian Comedy Festival and will perform at Yuk Yuk’s on September 10th.

We talked to Tom about his experiences with Workaholics and the Trailer Park Boys, his rap skills, and the new season of Tom Green Live on AXS. You were born in Pembroke, Ontario.

What were you like growing up? Were you always trying to make people laugh?

I was sort of a goofy kid, definitely always trying to make some sort of silly prank happen. I was always a bit of a class clown, and into attention-seeking behavior. I liked getting laughs and I realized young age that I liked to act out a little bit.

Tom Green C o m i n g H o m e f o r C o m e d y Awa r d s

14 | September 2014

You started doing comedy at age 15 and went onto create a rap group. What was it that made you want to spend your time taking a crack at show business rather than just being a kid?

I looked at it as something I was just really interested in. I liked to be creative. I don’t know where it came from but I just found myself extremely interested in stand-up comedy. Going down to the comedy club was something that I loved. I was just amazed by it. I found it an amazing thing to think that these people that were touring around doing shows could make a living getting up on stage and doing silly things which is essentially what I was doing all the time for free.

So you saw it as a way to get paid for what you were already doing?

Yeah, I thought it would be a great job!

I thought I’d like to music in the future.

I was already very afraid of getting into some corporate environment where I had a boss telling me what to do. I definitely was inspired by it initially because I was a huge fan of rap music and I also would listen to music and the beats and try to imagine

how they were made. It was very intriguing to me, so I ended up getting into music and tried to put stuff together.

Where did the the nickname MC Bones come from?

Well it comes from a couple of things. First, I was a really really skinny kid, but I was also a skateboarder and Bones was a big skateboarding company and I wore a hat with a Bones patch on it all the time, so people just started calling me Bones.

You sound like you were a pretty cool kid.

(Laughs) I wouldn’t go that far. I was one of those super nerd kids. I was into music in a nerdy kind of way. I was a skateboarder and was into music and those things were fun for me. I was doing those kinds of things before they were cool. It wasn’t necessarily cool to be a skateboarder or to be doing rap music. Things like that weren’t popular yet.

A lot of the things I was doing as a kid were counter-culture behaviour and I was really inspired by approaching things from outside of the regular box. In later years, all those things became really popular, I think for the reasons I liked it.

So you studied at Algonquin College here in Ottawa. Can you tell me a bit about your college experience?

I was just really excited about learning how to edit and shoot video because that’s what I wanted to do - go make funny videos like my heroes David Letterman, and comedians that had done outrageous comedy. I was really into the early days of Letterman, when he would go out on the street and do pranks on people. I found that really hilarious. I wanted to do a talk show like that. I figured, if no one will give me a talk show, I’ll make my own. I went to school and learned to do all of the things I needed to do and volunteered at Rogers Cable, the community station in my home town. They gave me access to all the equipment and we eventually just started making a show.

You were on David Letterman. You’ve talked about how inspirational he was for you. How crazy was it for you to be on the show?

Yes, it was a huge thing for me, probably one of the biggest moments of my life. I was so overwhelmed and excited to be going on Letterman, I couldn’t believe it. That was probably the moment when I realized that

my show was a hit. That was when the show first got on MTV. It took off right away, but when I was going on Letterman, to me that was confirmation that we were doing something special.

You are doing a talk show yourself, what has that experience been like?

Well, my new show I’m doing on AXS TV, which is a really cool network here in the U.S. It’s a different show from what I’ve done in the past. It’s a single guest talk show where I really try to bring my guests to a place where they get really comfortable and come out of their shell and be funny and be themselves. In order to do that, I try to take a straight-man role and set up my guests to be as funny as possible without trying to compete with them for laughs.

It’s been going really well. We just did our 30th episode yesterday, it’s a weekly show.

We’re getting great guests. We go live every Thursday night. We’ve had guests like Steve Carrell, Dan Rather, Howie Mandel, Norm Macdonald, Andrew Dice Clay, Alan Thicke, Steve-o, and Weird Al Yankovic. It’s been a very interesting range of guests. The people that come and do my show are already out of the box thinkers. It’s definitely a throwback to the old style of talk shows like Dick Cavett and Tom Snyder, where we really get into a deep conversation. There aren’t many outlets on television for that anymore. It’s a fun opportunity to have this right now.

You play a wide variety of roles: actor, comedian, rapper, writer, producer, director, talk-show host, and the list goes on.

You’ve even been referred to as a “renaissance man”. Do you enjoy this kind of variety in your life? Without it, do you think you’d go crazy?

Yes, I think I would go crazy if I didn’t keep busy. There’s always kind of an evolution with the stuff that I do. I don’t like to do the same thing year after year. I try to build on what I’ve done and learn as I go. I wouldn’t want to be doing the same show now that I was doing 15 years ago. On MTV, I loved what I was doing then, but I wouldn’t do it now. Now, what I’m doing is a little less crazy, a little less over the top. I have an opportunity to do my more outrageous comedy in my stand up. When I’m on stage by myself, I can be a more outrageous character and really let loose. Then, when I’m doing my show with other people, I can let my guests let loose.

You’ve appeared on the Howard Stern show a few times. After your second appearance, did you ever hang out with Howard and get that cup of coffee?

(Laughs) No, but he’s been really nice to me over the years. He’s called me a couple of times. Years ago, when I would do funny things on the Tonight show, I would get a call from Howard Stern telling me that he thought it was funny. He’s awesome.

On the Tom Green show, your parents are the victims of various jokes and pranks.

What is your relationship like with them off the camera?

They would get upset, but it was never to the point where they were going to disown me or call the police or hire an attorney or anything like that. I think the trick with the show was to push it just to the edge of the envelope. It was never really mean-spirited.

We never did anything that really destroyed anything of theirs. Anytime we did something like paint the house, I would paint it back. My parents and I have always had this really good relationship, a kind of funny back and forth rapport that we have with each other, a comedic kind of rhythm where we razz each other a bit. It’s not like it was coming out of nowhere and they had no idea where this new crazy kid was coming from.

I’d been doing pranks for a long time.

Who is your favorite stand up comedian?

Of all time, I would have to say it’s a toss up between Richard Prior and George Carlin.

Those are the two that I find I was very inspired by. I’m a fan of all sorts of comedians out there today. I like Louis C.K. and Chris Rock. Norm Macdonald and Harland Williams are two of my favorites, and have always been since I was a kid.

Who is your favorite talk show host? Letterman?

Yes. I grew up really loving Letterman back when he was doing his late night show that was a little more outrageous and silly.

Who is your favorite rapper or rap group?

A Tribe Called Quest or Public Enemy.

If you were not in show business, what would you be doing?

I would probably be trying to do something creative. I don’t know if being a writer is considered show business, but I could see myself wanting to be a writer.

15 | September 2014

FEATURES

“When I’m on stage by myself, I can be a more outrageous character and really let loose.”

You’ve talked about how Freddy Got Fingered really pissed people off and had people even walk out of theatres. How did it feel to have created something that evoked that kind of reaction in people?

It felt like we pulled off exactly what we were trying to do.

It was a hilarious time for us, making fun of the conservative society that were living in. Making that movie was kind of our middle finger to the mainstream movie business. We had a lot of fun with it. It’s the kind of thing that over time has become more fun. People that are big fans of Freddy Got Fingered come up to me every day. People who like it really like it.

How’s it going with your Beau’s beer? It’s in the LCBOs. Is it in the States yet?

I believe it is in New York State now and it’s going to be in California soon. I’m really excited about the beer. I love Beau’s and the Tom Green beer turned out so well. I’m really excited about it. It’s been doing so well, people are loving the beer. It’s available at all the LCBOs in Ontario. We’ll be getting it in California soon. It’s something that started out as just for fun between me and Beau’s and it really just took off.

The beer turned out just so great. It won the Ontario Craft Brewer’s Association Award a year ago as the Best New Beer and it just really has taken off from there.

Would you describe yourself as an animal lover?

Absolutely, I have three dogs and a parrot. Annie, Steve, and Ripken, and I have the green-winged Macaw also, named Rex Murphy. How did you feel about your time on Celebrity Ap-

16 | September 2014

prentice? It was a fun thing to do because it was funny to see how those shows get made. I thought it was pretty hilarious the way people behave when they’re in a fish bowl with a camera put on them. It was interesting to be up close with Donald Trump and to observe him and his show. It was something that I don’t regret doing. I got a lot of funny material for my stand up show. I got a lot of insight into how reality TV works. It was fun!

You’re constantly interacting with people whether it be through a prank, talk-show, or anything else. Are people your passion?

Yeah, I love getting up on stage and the adrenaline rush from that. I love people that come out after the shows and talk about the crazy pranks and things that I’ve done over the years. I’ve lived the last 25 years of my life on stage and on TV. There’s a lot of things that people remember from back in the day, especially when I come to Canada. It’s really fun touring up in Canada because it goes 10 years further back, to the Organized Rhyme rap group days. It’s a pretty neat thing to have people be very positive and supportive about what I’ve done over the years. I definitely get a lot of positive energy from people.

You were on Workaholics last year, and then you had the cast come onto your show. What was hanging out with the guys like?

I love that show and it was really cool to be asked to be on their season finale last year. It was ridiculous and then when

the guys came and did my show, we had a lot of fun.

Can you tell me a little bit about the new Trailer Park Boys movie that you’re a part of?

We filmed it up in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. It’s called Swearnet. I really loved it. Those guys are amazing and hilarious and Canadian legends. I love the Trailer Park Boys, they’re friends of mine. We were just up at the Pemberton Festival in British Colombia performing together. It was a lot of fun and the movie turned out really well and I’m excited for people to get to see it.

What can we look forward to on Tom Green Live this season?

We have some really great guests coming up. Larry King is going to be on in a couple of weeks. We have Jerry Springer coming up, a lot of fun people.

You’re touring all over and doing AXS. Do you have any other projects that are on the horizon?

I’m always writing and developing new ideas. The main thing I’m doing outside of the show right now is writing my next comedy special. That will be my second stand up special. Other than that, I’m focusing on the TV show, and doing stand up comedy, and that’s sort of keeping me busy at this point.

You’re coming to the Comedy Festival in September here in Ottawa. Have you been to past versions of the festival?

Are you excited?

Yes, I have. I was there last year. It’s always great to be up in

Ottawa. I’m looking forward to it. I have my family there and my girlfriend’s coming with me to Ottawa. She’s never been to Ottawa before so I’m going to get to show her the whole city.

I’m looking forward to it, should be a great trip.

Do you have a favorite spot to visit in the city?

Yeah, I always like going to Elgin street and the market. I like a lot of the restaurants around the city. Usually, that’s where I end up hanging out when I’m in Ottawa, hit up some of the bars down there. It’s a good time!

So, we will see you in Ottawa in September!

Yes, I’m doing a one night special at Yuk Yuk’s on September 10th and the stand-up comedy awards on the 14th. The Tom Green beer will be flowing! (Laughs) Tom Green will be performing at Yuk Yuk’s in Ottawa on September 10th He will be hosting the Canadian Comedy Awards Gala on Sunday September 14th at the Ottawa Little Theatre. For information on Tom and all the shows, please visit: www.canadiancomedy.ca Follow @tomgreenlive www.tomgreen.com

17 | September 2014

FEATURES

Serena Ryder She may have been born in the quaint town of Milbrook, Ontario, but if anyone was born to be a rockstar, it’s Serena Ryder. With her powerful voice and captivating stage presence, there’s no end in sight for the young singer who already has eight Junos under her belt.

album is a testament to her raw talent.

Calling her song “Stompa” a hit is an understatement, with over 2 million views on YouTube. One hit wonder? Not so fast. Every track on her Harmony

We chatted with Serena about Harmony, her favorite spots in Ottawa, and what it really means to her when her fans sing the words to her songs.

Serena headlined the Canada Day series at Parliament Hill, but we are more than happy to welcome her back with open arms at the upcoming Folk Festival.

You grew up in Milbrook, Ontario. What was your childhood like? How would you describe yourself as a kid?

I was a little monster, for sure, a lot of rambunctious energy as a little kid. I was always very passionate about music. I was always singing, and I was always running around. I was very, very hyper. I think it was really good for me to grow up in a small little village because I was able to run around free a lot of the time. You know, by the time I was 8 or 9 years old, I could walk around by myself and that would be okay because everybody knew everybody, which was great. I was surrounded by beautiful nature and woods so it was a pretty magical little village to grow up in. Also, at the same time it gave me that inspiration to break out and break free. If I grew up in a big city, I think it would have been a lot different for me. I would have nowhere to go to from there. It was inspiring in that it was a container for my really big personality and energy.

You sung as a child and were given a guitar at a very young age. Do you remember your first live performance?

That’s right, yeah. I started playing gigs when I was 8 or 9 years old, around Milbrook and outside areas. I was bugging my dad for a good year to get me a guitar and so he bought one at a sale and gave it to me. My first live performance was when I was 2 at a wedding reception. But my first “paying gig” was when I was 8 years old and it was at the legion in Milbrook downtown, with a lot of war vets watching me sing oldies on stage with a piano player.

You started your career with Hawksley Workman and have said he was extremely influential for you. Can you describe him in one sentence?

One of the best performers in Canada.

It seems as though the connection between the two of you occurred very naturally.

It was a connection that was made from the outside forces. My manager heard me on the radio and my booking agent saw me play, and they got in touch with Hawksley and said “you have

to hook up with this girl and work together!” He really helped me develop as a young artist. I was really excited. I was really nervous. I was really overwhelmed. I felt like I had never felt before where I was pointed out by someone who was truly great as being someone who was great as well so that was a really exciting time for me.

You won your first Juno for New Artist of the Year in 2008.

How did recognition for that accomplishment feel?

It was monumental for me as a musician because it was the first time where I had been recognized by not only my peers but the people in the music business as being someone that they wanted to keep going and they wanted to hear more from and that was really inspiring and validating for me as an artist.

How would you say that you have grown as an artist? Do the topics you write and sing about change based on where you are at in life?

I think I evolve as an artist as I evolve as a human being in the world. It’s like my experiences are the only things that I can really write about. Regardless of who I write about, it is who I am and what I relate to. How I’ve evolved as an artist is definitely along the lines of being alive and being human in this very strange world that we live in.

You co-hosted the Juno Awards in March. Tell us a bit about this experience? Was it nerve-racking?

It was so fun! I loved it! I was so nervous beforehand; I had never done anything like that before. So obviously I was nervous, I was scared, I thought I was going to totally **** up all the time, and then it was amazing, and I just had the best time ever. I felt really supported and really taken care of by everyone at the Junos and they created a really great environment for me to feel safe and have fun. I would definitely do something like that again with them, because it was just a great team.

FEATURES What was it like performing with Classified? You also won 2 out of 5 of your Juno nominations. That must have been really exciting.

It was great! Performing with Classified was super awesome, he’s super rad. I was very proud, it was an amazing night.

Your 2012 album Harmony was such a huge success. Was falling in love the main source of inspiration from the album?

I think that it was in a lot of respects. But for me, where I come from and the work that I’d done in the 3 years previous helped me. You know, you can only really appreciate greatness in life and love in life if you’ve experienced the polar opposite of it. It’s like Jonie Mitchell - you don’t know what you got till it’s gone. You don’t know what you have unless you have lost it previously. I’d gone through a whole bunch of my life and had come through a really severe depression and a period of real stagnation and non-inspiration and then fell in love with an amazing man and had an amazing journey and time with him and learned how to love myself again, it was a really inspiring and exciting time for me and I also started writing in a way that I’d never written before. It was a lot of newness and a lot of gratitude at that point in my life.

The music video for your song “Stompa” has over 2 million views. It is a major hit across the globe. Is the song an energetic anthem about using music as an escape and just appreciating the little things in life?

Yeah, for sure. It was a very big message that comes in a very simple but profound little package. It’s a song about the power of music and how it can really do anything and it’s kind of the best medicine in the entire world. It doesn’t have a race or a language or a religion or a right or a wrong – it just has a way of joining us together as fellow human beings that go through a lot. Music is kind of one of those places where you can come together on common ground and heal all of those wounds, whatever they might be in your life or whatever you’ve experienced. There’s so much you can’t pretend to know in the world about somebody else but you can join together in loving music.

You hear that song on the radio that just says what you’re feeling, and it changes and shifts where you’re coming from – it’s so ****ing cool. I love it.

You’ve been embraced by fans all over the world. You’ve been compared to Aretha Franklin, called fearless, and commended for how powerful you are as a performer. What appreciation means the most to you? What form does it come in?

What means the most to me is when I’m on stage and the

audience is smiling and dancing and singing the words to my song. If someone is involved enough to move their body and give me a smile, it feeds the fire in the most gigantic way. It’s a never ending kind of cycle where they can give that to me on stage and then I can give it right back to them and there’s no stopping it.

It’s funny because it sounds so simple but it is probably just so rewarding.

Yeah! Yeah! It’s so cool because we can just keep giving back and forth to each other.

What do you think is the most unexpected song on your playlist?

(Laughs) Here, let me just look at my playlist….(pause)… what would they not expect? I’ll look at “Playlists” and “Recently Played”. I have this Sanskrit chant that I’m listening to. It’s called “Bhand Jameeai” by this Guru named Guru Nam Singh. It’s really cool.

You’ve very involved with various charities – artists in Haiti, MusiCounts, and others. How important is it for you to give back?

I’ve done a lot of different charity work – and a lot of it has to do with using music to reach out and do whatever part I can to bring some sort of love into the world that’s not there. Whatever I can do at the time, whenever I can make time for it. A lot of it has to do with kids. I’m really passionate about kids and music and getting music into schools. I’m passionate about Clara’s Ride – this woman Clara who rode her bike across the entire country bringing awareness about mental health and the stigma behind it. Whatever issues that I can personally relate to and give my music to, I try and do as often as I can.

What is the writing process like for you? You mentioned that you take inspiration from your own life but how do you choose when to write?

It’s really based on gut instinct. A lot of it is really primal and a lot of it I don’t quite understand. I don’t know where songs come from but I just know that it’s really important to respect that space where inspiration comes from. It’s almost like if you feel like a space is sacred or important and are just kind of there or available for the song to come, the song comes. A lot of the time, I just make really weird funny noises. A lot of musicians do it. You just start playing a melody on your guitar and I know a lot of songwriters will say that words come from sound. It’s not like you have to think about what you want to write about it’s like the sounds come with the notes and you just try to listen to what the words are inside of the sounds.

You have an accolade of musicial influences from all sorts of genres – The Beatles, Ben Harper, Neil Young, Nina Simone. Do you think it’s a way to ensure that you are creating a unique sound through having your influences come from so many places?

I didn’t know that I have a unique sound, but if you’re saying I have a unique sound thank you very much, that’s nice! (Laughs) I feel like it’s kind of what makes my music relatable to a lot of different people. What I notice is, in my audience, I have like 5 year olds that know all of the words to my song, I have 25 year olds, and then I have like 60, 70, and 80 year olds who are coming to my shows. I think it’s because I have great passion and respect for all different genres of music and different genres and different ages of music relate to different people. I think there’s definitely a little bit of lots of things in what I do.

are definitely going to savour the experience of being on stage and really try to be present in the moment so we can remember how awesome it’s been. It’s been a really great couple of years for this record and I’m very grateful for it.

On more of a local note, you’re performing at the Ottawa Folk Festival on September 11th. Are you looking forward to this trip?

Yeah! It’s going to be so fun. It’s the wrap up of my tour of this album so it’s going to be really really exciting and also bitter sweet. You know, when you know something is coming to a close and there’s a new beginning starting…there’s kind of a sentimentality that comes into play. I feel like me and the band

Serena Ryder will be performing at the Ottawa Folk Festival on September 11th.

Do you have a favorite place in Ottawa?

One of my favorite places is just outside of Ottawa. It’s in Wakefield at the Black Sheep Inn. I did some recording there.

I did some writing there. I really just love the space and Paul Symes’ passion for music. On the way, I love Jean Burger’s poutine. There’s a lot of things I love there. Oh, Chez Eric!

Thank you so much for talking with us. We look forward to seeing you at Folk Fest soon!

Absolutely! It was my pleasure!

Follow @serenaryder www.serenaryder.com

21 | September 2014

FEATURES

Lewis When you think of Lewis Black, you may think of political banter, satire, and long-winded rants. In a lot of ways, you’d be spot on, but there is more than meets the eye (or ear).

Black has witnessed decades of American culture and politics, earning the ability to have the critical outlook he does. While not being afraid to express his opinions on pretty well everything, he also has a softer side to him.

Getting to where he is did not come easy. It took a lot of hours and a lot of hard work, and okay, maybe a couple drinks. The result is a man so appreciative of what’s he’s been able to experience, nothing taken for granted.

Coming to the NAC on September 11th, Black opened up about his early days in theatre, declared his love of Canada, and even dropped a few F-bombs along the way.

So, you grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland. What was your childhood like? How would you describe yourself as a kid?

I was lucky enough to have one of the last great American childhoods, when we still knew what we were doing and we actually kind of accomplished things. I mean it was a scary time because people were building bomb shelters in the backyard but the whole thing, I mean it was the great suburban childhood which is like being born and raised to prepare you to go to the moon. You know, you never heard nor will you ever hear “the great suburban writer”. It’s not the place that that’s created. I was basically a good kid because your parents told you what to do and you were afraid not to do it.

I’ve read that you were raised with the idea that questioning authority is essential. Would you describe yourself as rebellious in your youth or is there another word you would use?

I wouldn’t say I was rebellious, I would say I was sarcastic. I would say that I picked up pretty early that the adults didn’t really have all the information. They just acted like it.

Your segment “Back in Black” on the Daily show is the longest-running recurring segment that still airs on the show. What do you think it is about that segment that has made it such a success? Is it the fact that it’s based on questioning authority?

I don’t really know. If I knew I would have done all of this earlier. I think the whole show is based on that (questioning authority). My segment certainly has that to it. Much

22 | September 2014

Black

“I always get told that, ‘you say what I want to say but I can’t say it.’”

like my act, people love watching people say what they want to say. I always get told that, “you say what I want to say but I can’t say it.”

to happen? I don’t know, but the strides that they’re making are extraordinary. They’ve become a model for other organizations.

You’re a long time supporter of the American Civil Liberties Union, and you were asked to become the Ambassador on voting rights last October. What has this experience been like? Has voting rights always been something that you’re passionate about?

I wasn’t really interested in voting rights until these idiots decided to go back 30-40 years and try to start over again and stop people from voting. What I think is that it might be possible now that we live in the 21st century and since we have these ***ing computers, I thought they might allow people to have better access to voting – the schmucks! You know, I think that they can’t get the numbers where they want the numbers to be. The color is changing in this country and they literally can’t handle it.

So let’s do some word associations where you respond to what I say with one or two words.

Given that your political satire style of comedy is based heavily on the U.S., do you find that when you perform elsewhere, like in Canada, that there is a drastic difference in terms of audience response?

No. What’s interesting is that the difference between the Canadian audience and the American audience is pretty simple. The Canadian audience watches us all the time. The Canadian audience already starts with my basis of my act which is ---- we’re nuts! They already get the joke. They get where I’m coming from. I don’t have to convince them. I don’t have to go through a logical explanation of why you might want to have health care for everyone and make a joke of it. You already know the joke is we don’t have it and we’re inept at trying to create one, and yet consider ourselves to be the most powerful country on the earth, but yet we can’t seem to be able to do math. The Canadians don’t bring a Democrat or Republican point of view to the table. When I’m talking to an American audience, they’re looking through that prism – Canadians don’t look through that prism. It’s a lot more direct and a lot faster to get to the joke and I think they get it. I’ve been able to attract a terrific audience up there (in Canada) and I’m thrilled that I have one.

I’m sure you’re frequently asked about your support of Cystic Fibrosis. With some major breakthroughs in treatment in the last couple of years, the foundation has proven that it is really making a difference. Tell me about your involvement in the foundation and what it means to you.

I stumbled upon them when they needed a comic to work a golf tournament and I’ve been with them ever since. That was 18 years ago. They’re an amazing and efficient organization, 90% of the money goes into research. That, I’ve felt was extraordinary. It’s easier to get money from people for diseases that affect a ton of people. When I started with them, I wasn’t really known and they adopted me. Nobody else would touch me as a person that comes in and does benefits because I was considered too edgy. Well, it didn’t seem to bother them. They kind of helped me realize that I wasn’t crazy and that I could reach people that the basic media didn’t think I could get to. These people showed me that that I wasn’t too much for people and it’s really been an extraordinary collaboration. This year, I did a benefit with a number of friends and we did a variety show in New York and we were able to raise a ton of dough. We’re beginning to whisper the possibility of a cure. Is that going

Kimye Uccckkkkkkkkk

Your mother Too effectual

Siri Syrupy

Rob Ford Congress

Barack Obama Ineffectual

Canada Great!

Speaking of Canada, what do you think of the country? Do you enjoy coming here?

I really like coming up to Canada. I think that you guys are really way too nice – you’re really sweet people. I enjoy my time there a lot. I kind of would like it if you would teach us some stuff. Maybe stuff like that banks are supposed to act in certain ways. I mean, you guys survived that housing mortgage crisis – because banks didn’t speculate. You’re a country that cares about its people, and actually acts on that. This is a country that speaks about caring but doesn’t know how to act on it. The only time we really act on that caring is if there’s an emergency, then everybody gets up and runs to wherever there’s a problem, but that’s the people itself. I wish our leadership could take a lesson from your leadership, which is to actually go to committee meetings and figure stuff out.

Do you have a favorite Canadian politician?

Rob Ford. He’s the king right now.

Your “The Rant Is Due” tour across Canada and the U.S. ends in the middle of December in Florida. Tell us a bit about this tour – What makes it different from previous ones you’ve done?

On this tour, the audience is told at the beginning of the show that they can ask me questions so they send in questions and when the show ends, I do anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes of answering whatever the audience has asked me.

Well, we look forward to seeing you in Ottawa at the beginning of September.

I look forward to coming up to Ottawa again. It’ll be nice to be there when it’s not freezing!

Lewis Black will be performing at the National Arts Centre on September 11th.

Follow @TheLewisBlack www.lewisblack.com

23 | September 2014

FEATURES the radio station Kiss 108. I was instantly hooked. I debated between wanting to be an A&R rep for a record company and going into radio but clearly radio won out…it’s been such an amazing career and ride so far.

While in school you met your future husband ‘Stuntman’ Stu. Was it love at first sight?

That question made me snort laugh. No it was not. My friend Jadranka and Lisa can attest to that. I need to write a book though – he dumped me at least nine times over the course of our dating years. Yes ladies – NINE times.

What advice would you give parents trying to balance work, life and a family?

It’s a struggle – it changes every day. There is no secret formula. Do what’s best for you and your family.

You have your own blog (www.bernardibeautyblog.com). Why is fashion and beauty such an important part of who you are?

It’s a great creative outlet. Fashion is fun and a great way to express your personality. Beauty – and feeling and looking your best is empowering. My mom is a hair dresser and an incredibly beautiful woman and she taught my sister and I to take pride in our appearance – so it was all my mommy’s doing.

You and Stu are community builders with strong ties to local charities. What charitable causes are nearest and dearest to you?

Max Keeping taught my husband and I how important it is to give back to the community. We are living here and raising our kids here, so we want to be invested and actively help out in causes and charities that help improve the quality of life in this city.

We support many charities like the Senators Foundation, DIFD and CHEO but more importantly we involve our kids and we are teaching them to give back to the community – it’s a life lesson that will carry them far in life.

Connie Bernardi MAJIC 100.3 FM HOST You were born and raised in Ottawa. Tell us a little bit about growing up in the nation’s capital.

Yes it’s true, I’ve been here all my life…despite the fact I had dreams of moving to Seattle (I blame the 90s and the movie ‘Singles’) I do love this city to its core.

It’s incredibly beautiful and so vibrant. Between the museums, Byward Market, National Arts Centre and music festivals – there is so much to do and experience and the extra bonus we have the coolest Mayor ever – obviously.

Did you always know you wanted to be involved with music and radio?

I joke that inside me lives a rock star girl at heart – but can’t sing or carry a tune.

Back in the olden days when I was teenager I listened to the radio religiously, taping all those weekend countdown shows on my dual cassette player, making mixed tapes. But the ‘I want to do this for a living moment’ came when I was still in high school and my cousin CeCe (it’s my nickname for her) brought me to Boston and we had a chance to visit

24 | September 2014

Tell us something most people don’t know about you.

I pinched Donnie Wahlberg’s ass twice…he totally loves me. And an amazing Canadian indie artist by the name of James Struthers wrote a song about me called ‘Consuelo’ (it’s available on iTunes).

Tell us something most people don’t know about Stu. He’s hates spiders (he gets me or the kids to dispose of them when he sees one) and he didn’t know that raisins were dried up grapes until I pointed it out to him. I know he makes my brain hurt a lot too.

What do you like best about Ottawa? Do you have a favourite spot in the city?

I love that it’s so dynamic and multicultural. Favourite spot? Well I have many - Hog’s Back, the Rideau Canal, the Byward Market to name a few…it’s a long list.

We heard you’re a big fan of New Kids on the Block, especially Donnie Walberg. Is this true, and do you have any other celebrity crushes?

HUGE crush to this day when it comes to Donnie Wahlberg. Like huge.

I also had a pretty serious crush on George Stromboulopoulos back in the day.

And do I have any other celebrity crushes? Oh my friends would laugh at that only because I make a top 5 ‘get out of jail free card’ celebrity laminated list every single year.

So ‘yes’ is the answer to that question.

And the celebs that I am currently crushing on...Adam Levine, Tom Hardy, Ryan Gosling, Jason Statham, Travis Fimmel, Sean Carrigan and Chris Pratt.

Follow @cbernardi

CTV

FASHION & BEAUTY

FACES FASHION Sweater

Glamorous - $69.99 skirt

Glamorous - $54.99 Boots

Seychelles - $150 Ring

Cheap Monday - $24.99 All clothing provided by:

NRML & NRML FEMME 184 Rideau Street

Bracelets

Obey - $40

Top

Gentle Fawn - $69.99 Skirt

Alternative - $94.99 Bracelet

sObey - $40

FASHION & BEAUTY

Sweater

Fred Perry - $179.99 Shirt

Naked & Famous - $160 Pants

Sitka - $95

FACES FASHION

Boots

Clarks - $139.99 Sunglasses

Oakley - $184.99 Shirt

Cheap Monday - $79.99 Shirt

Vans - $34.99 Sunglasses

Sunday Somewhere - $199.99

Bracelet

Miansai - $75

FASHION & BEAUTY

FACES FASHION Dress

Glamorous - $44.99 Sweater

Sitka - $99.99 Sunglasses

RetroSuperFuture - $279.99 Necklace

Ball & Chain - $42

Dress

Obey - $79.99 Shoes

BC Footwear - $99.99 Hat

Brixton - $59.99 Bracelet

Alden Rae - $45

FACES FASHION Jacket

lifetime - $90 Shirt

10 Deep - $54.99 Pants

Crooks & Castles - $99.99 Sunglasses

Oakley - $184.99 shoes

New Balance - $180

Scott Disick Host of the 2014 Halloween event “Haunted Carnival� Scott Disick will be featured in the October issue of Faces Magazine

FASHION & BEAUTY

FACES FASHION Top

Obey - $79.99 Vest

Gentle Fawn - $89.99 Pants

J Brand - $290 Shoes

BC Footwear - $89.99 Hat

Brixton - $79.99 Sunglasses

Sunday Somewhere - $249.99

FASHION & BEAUTY

The Fall Coat For Every Occasion

You may have been that one jacket kind of guy in years past...but with all the different choices for Fall 2014, you’d be missing out. Take a peak at these styles and maybe splurge on a few. You won’t regret it.

The Office

Weekend Brunch

A Night Out

Wool Jacket

Bomber Jacket

Leather Jacket

Fred Perry $125 Absolutely timeless – this versatile piece is great for a laid-back outing

Topman $160 Channel your inner John Travolta with this look. Then hit the town!

Zara $279 First day on the job?

A lunch meeting?

Either way, this one is sure to impress.

Rainy Day

Trench coat Zara $99.90 With the autumn months comes less agreeable weather.

Lose the hoodie and be prepared with this chic choice.

First Date

Live Music

An Art Show

An Afternoon Pint

Duffel jacket

Military Jacket

Quilted Jacket

Varsity Jacket

H&M $79.95 This jacket – originally popular with the British Navy is yes – more traditional – but also a classic.

Ralph Lauren $295 Not just for summer anymore! Carry this style into fall by pairing it with a wool sweater, plaid shirt, and scarf.

Urban Outfitters $89 Seen on the runways of London, Milan and Paris for Fall/Winter 2014, this jacket has some serious edge and a futuristic feel.

Obey $135 A huge trend last season, this jacket is back and bigger than ever. Add it to a more casual look for some extra flair.

ENTERTAINMENT

1

BULL SHARK The only shark capable of living in fresh water, the Bull Shark can span up to 11 feet long when fully grown.

Bull sharks are responsible for 82 known fatal attacks.

Be careful if you ever venture to explore the Amazon River- they are found over 2000 miles up from it!

FACES MAGAZINE’S TOP TIGER SHARK A ferocious shark typically found in shallow waters near islands, the Tiger Shark gets its name from its tiger-like stripes.

3

They can grow up to 20 feet long.

These aggressive sharks have had 116 recorded attacks, 29 of which were fatal.

2 THE GREAT WHITE SHARK

One of the most feared sharks in the entire ocean, Great Whites have a recorded 348 attacks, 67 of which have been fatal.

They prefer cool water and can reach a size of 15-25 feet when fully grown.

South Africa is the most popular place for sightings of these dangerous creatures.

4

DEADLIEST SHARKS Inspired by Shark Week

MAKO SHARK This deadly shark doesn’t just look mean. It is also the fastest shark in the entire ocean, travelling speeds up to 30-60mph.

4

Travelling at such high speed, a Mako shark’s body temperature is usually between 7-10 degrees warmer than the ocean around it.

These sharks are found all over the world and live in both shallow and deep parts of the ocean.

ENTERTAINMENT

WH

?

Y

WHY IS THE OCEAN BLUE? Although it can sometimes appear other colours, depending on the weather, the ocean is generally blue. The theory that the ocean is blue because it is reflecting the sky is false.

The real source of the ocean’s colour is sunlight. The water absorbs long and short-wave length light from the sun. The result is that the water, having absorbed nearly all other colours from sunlight, yields a predominant blue colour.

WHY DO MEN GO BALD? The two main causes are genetics and hormones. One of the primary culprits is the male hormone dihydrotestosterone, which causes old hairs to replaced by predictably shorter and thinner hairs. Over time, this causes male pattern baldness. The typical pattern begins at the temples and the crown. However, a 2011 study found that stem cells in the scalp may also play a role in male hair loss.

WHY DO CANADIANS AND AMERICANS SPELL WORDS DIFFERENTLY? Some examples of words spelled differently are centre vs. center, colour vs. color or fibre vs. fiber, honour vs. honor, etc. So why are there so many minor differences?

In the 1800s, an American named Noah Webster (yes, that Webster) created a dictionary that became responsible for standardising American English. Prior to the printing of Webster’s Dictionary, both sets of spelling were accepted. However, the Americans wanted to distance themselves from their enemy the British in all ways possible. Canada, by contrast, maintained standardised British English.

WHY DO WE ‘ZONE OUT’?

We’ve all been there before – a lecture from our parents, a boring class or a friend who just keeps droning on and on. So why do we ‘zone out’? The good news is that zoning out is healthy; it stimulates creativity and imaginative thought. Instead of focusing on boring and familiar tasks, our mind wanders and ‘zones out’, which may lead to an interesting idea.

WHY DO MEN HAVE FACIAL HAIR BUT WOMEN DON’T? Much like male pattern baldness, the source can be traced to genetics and hormones. Men and women both have the hormone androgens, but men posses much more androgens than women. This causes men to have body hair that darkens and facial hair that appears on the face. Hormones cause the growth of facial hair in men, but genetics determine how dark it will be.

2014 a great vintage coming to Ontario

by Rob Statham Sommelier and Wine Broker Groovy Grapes

Pondview Cabernet Franc Rose 2013

For all of us residing in Ontario, 2014 can be remembered so far as one of the coldest and least accommodating years. We were constantly bombarded by deep freezes, starting as early as the second week of November, with constant reminders of the freezing damage done by polar vortexes.

As such, many Ontario vineyards have seen their yields decline considerably this year due, in large part to much harsher than normal winter conditions.

For the wine connoisseur and wine lover, fortunately relief has come along with milder than expected summer weather.

Moderate temperatures along with sufficient precipitation and a lack of extreme heat have helped our vineyards revitalize.

In part this has allowed the remaining fruit to regenerate from the damage done months before. Many growers have also left more buds than normal on the vine than would be normal from pruning (trimming the vine) to recover some of their losses.

Henry of Pelham Pinot Noir 2012

With less vines ready for harvest this year we can expect higher than normal prices, particularly those wines found in the North shore of Lake Erie, the area hardest hit by extreme cold. On the positive side we can also expect 2014 to deliver an exceptional harvest. Much more moderate temperatures have allowed the berries to ripen better as extreme heat and drought can also have adverse effects on the quality of wine produced, particularly where Ontario varietals are not drought resistant.

I personally expect the quality of 2014 to be exceptional, so make sure to stock up on some of Ontario’s best wines from this vintage – Ice Wine, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Chardonnay and Rose, primarily made from Cabernet Franc.

On that note I would like to personally introduce you to a couple of exceptional wines that I have tried from last year’s stock:

The Grange Estate Pinot Gris 2011

Niagara - $15/bottle Side Road Twenty Cellars,

Niagara - $16.95/bottle Side Road Twenty Cellars,

Prince Edward County - $14.75/bottle Side Road Twenty Cellars, 12.8% abv

Excellent off-dry wine for the price, smooth, refreshing fruit forward wine with notes of rhubarb, strawberry, raspberry and watermelon. Nice balance between acidity, flavor and body, good finish. Pairs well with barbeque chicken, chicken wings, roasted turkey and gourmet pizza.

Another great selection from Niagara – refreshing acidity, dry, medium bodied, light tannins with medium light ruby colour. Flavour notes of red cherry, tobacco, strawberry and raspberry. Pairs well with salmon, grilled pork, roasted duck and chicken.

Flavourful and aromatic off dry white wine with notes of citrus, peach, and a touch of honey melon. Good acidity balanced by its smoothness and finish. This wine is great on its own or with vegetarian or meat quiches, goat cheese, slightly spicy dishes, lobster or mussels.

For any questions or inquiries regarding these wines or wines of other interest please feel free to contact me at rob@groovygrapes.com or rstatham@sr20.ca.

ENTERTAINMENT

BEST OTTAWA APPS

Apps help make our lives easier.

Staying organized, mapping out routes and finding the latest hotspots can all be done with the right app. Here are 5 free, musthave apps if you live in or plan on visiting Ottawa.

PayByPhone Parking

BusBuddy Ottawa

This app is great because it works not just in Ottawa, but other cities in Canada and the U.S. PayByPhone Parking allows you to pay for parking by phone and sends you texts to remind you when parking expires.

Simply park, enter the zone number on the pay station and go!

This app offers an easy way to explore and share experiences in Ottawa. The app encourages users to ‘send a postcard’ to create a custom Ottawa-based postcard showing places they have visited and inviting friends to go. This app is great for tourists and locals alike.

Discover Ottawa

View bus routes, stops and schedules to help plan your trip. The app also has real time updates for bus arrivals provided by OC Transpo.

Groupon

Although not Ottawa-specific, Groupon is a great way to discover the city and to save money. Whether you want to dine out, find a local adventure or even travel abroad, Groupon offers discounted rates on many exciting things.

DineSafe Ottawa

Looking for a place to eat? DineSafe Ottawa not only points out where the closest places are, it also provides the latest safety inspection results. Find the place that’s closest and safest for you to dine with this handy app.

ENTERTAINMENT

Folk Fest 2014

Blue Rodeo September 13th, 2014 – 9:30PM Eh! Stage Blue Rodeo is a Canadian classic. This roots rock band comes to Canada time and time again, and we are not complaining!

Foster the People September 10th, 2014 – 9:30PM Eh! Stage This indie rock trio is more than just “Pumped up Kicks”. They’ll have you swaying your hips and smiling from start to finish.

J. Cole September 12th, 2014 – 8:00PM RavenLaw Stage Switch it up and listen to some hip-hop by this talented rap artist. A highly-anticipated performance, be sure not to miss this one!

With Ottawa’s annual Folk Festival right around the corner, we thought we would give you the goods. If you’re lucky enough to make it to the entire festival running from September 10th – 14th, go for it! For the rest of us, here’s a rundown of who to have at the top of your must-see list.

Lorde September 11th, 2014 – 8:00PM Eh! Stage This performance is sure to be captivating and majestic. Her soft voice and electrifying stage presence suggest a stand out show.

Serena Ryder September 11th, 2014 – 9:45PM Eh! Stage Serena Ryder is on the rise. Her album Harmony was a huge hit, and with her insanely powerful vocals, her live show will not disappoint. (Check out her interview with us on page 18-21!)

Messenjah September 14th, 2014 – 4:00PM Raven Law Stage These guys define Canadian reggae. You can’t help but have fun and be happy when you hear their sound and watch how much they truly enjoy performing.

ENTERTAINMENT

THE TOURIST: HOTELS/RESTAURANTS /NIGHTLIFE

WRITTEN BY JOHN DOE

FEATURING:NEW

YORK CITY PT.1

STAY: DREAM NEW YORK

surreal design, dramatic luxury accommodations, and a choice of eccentric, eclectic bars and eateries in a supreme Manhattan loYork is housed in a landmark 1895 Beaux-Arts property with a surreal rooftop pool. This is where the best of the best come to stay when in the Big Apple.

355 WEST 16TH ST

EAT:

BEAUTY & ESSEX Part of the infamous TAO GROUP is one of the coolest restaurant. Beauty & Essex is an old furniture warehouse in the lower east side that is fronted by a fully functioning pawnshop that you must walk through to enter into the dining two-storied dining area. A favourites of the Carters (Jay-z & Beyonce) this restaurant is chefed by celebrity chef Chris Santos. The menu is tapas-style with a little something for everyone.

146 ESSEX ST 48 | September 2014

BAR PLEASE DON’T TELL old-fashioned phone booth. Step inside, pick up the phone and press the buzzer…once. Not twice. A voice answers and, after approval, the wall of the phone booth opens to let you into a small room with a bar at its center. This bar is a cool speakeasy with high end cocktails where you will feel like a real VIP.

113 ST MARK’S PLACE

NIGHTCLUB CATCH ROOF

Nestled atop the building at 21 Ninth Avenue, CATCH Roof is a downtown destination for in-the-know New Yorkers, where panoramic views of the city skyline set an enviable stage to sip cocktails and swap stories well into the night. Perched above successful eatery CATCH NYC, the ultra-sleek space glows with the light cast by row after row of oversized cylindrical bulbs and

21 NINTH AVE

MUST SEE TIME SQUARE

A commercial intersection and neighbourhood in Midtown Manhattan at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Ave. You see it in movies, pictures and is the quintessential image when one thinks of New York City. Time Square is a place full of lights, cameras and people. You must see the street performers, the large screens and catch a Broadway show. It will never get old no matter how many times you visit the Big Apple.

BROADWAY AND SEVENTH AVE 49 | September 2014

ENTERTAINMENT

THIS IS THE FUTURE OF TECH

d

n i t s e t n a g l i e s h e d t l a c i g o l o n h c te

EVERY HOME BUYER AND SELLER’S NIGHTMARE

Hidden Home Defects The hidden home defect is every home buyer and seller’s nightmare: months after closing, water is pouring into the basement, the electrical system must be replaced, or the backyard attracts a foot of standing water after every rainfall. The buyer faces a large repair bill; the seller faces a lawsuit.

Is the seller responsible? That depends on the nature of the defect and on what the seller disclosed before turning over possession to the buyer.

Two Types of Defects The law divides home defects into two categories. Patent defects are those that should turn up on a routine inspection, like a wall covered in black mold or a furnace that won’t even switch on. Latent defects are those that are not discoverable by the average buyer or inspector, such as water damage hidden behind drywall or foundation cracks covered by new parging.

The seller is generally not responsible for patent defects (unless the seller took steps to cover them up and render them latent).

Latent Defects and the SPIS Form A seller may be responsible for a latent defect in two circumstances.

The first is where the seller is aware of a defect that is both latent and that renders the property unsafe or uninhabitable. The second is where the seller has made an inaccurate statement to the buyer about the defective element of the property.

This is where the Seller Property Information Statement, or SPIS, comes in. The SPIS is a standard form used in the sale of a home. The form includes a series of questions about the physical and legal condition of the property, covering everything from rights of way and drainage restrictions to flooding, water problems, and insect infestations.

The seller completes the form and gives it to potential buyers through the seller’s real estate agent.

If the seller gives inaccurate information about part of the property on the SPIS form (or makes a similar statement elsewhere in the sale documents) and that part of the property turns out to be defective, the Court may force the seller to pay the buyer’s repair costs (plus interest and legal costs).

By: Nigel McCready

erty. Depending on the market, however, this lack of information may make the property less attractive to potential buyers.

If required to complete an SPIS, the seller should take care to give accurate answers. When in doubt, err on the side of disclosure and include an explanation at the end of the form. Also consider using the “UNKNOWN” option in answering questions about technical matters like zoning and work orders (though this will not help if a Court finds that the problem in question was actually known to the seller).

What Can Buyer Do? Even with the SPIS form, “buyer beware” still applies: even if the seller will be held liable in Court later, a Judgment is of limited comfort to a buyer who has had to live with unexpected problems for a year or more after closing.

If the buyer or inspector sees something suspicious, it should be investigated. The buyer should ask questions of the seller, call in an engineer or other specialist if need be, and consider negotiating a reduction in the purchase price. It is better to discover the problem before waiving the inspection clause than to complete the deal, find out later, and have to fix the problem and sue the vendor for payment.

Conclusion Home defects are a fact of life: basements leak, roofs decay, systems age and fail. Sellers should be prepared to stand behind the accuracy of any statements they make about the property. Buyers should be aware of the risk and either take steps to mitigate it or be prepared to live with the consequences whether Court orders the seller to pay compensation or not.

Nigel McCready is a litigation and insolvency lawyer at Mann Lawyers LLP. This article is not intended to provide legal advice. Should you require legal advice, please contact Mann Lawyers LLP at 613.722.1500.

The SPIS contains disclaimers intended to reduce the form’s legal effect and to encourage the buyer to make his or her own enquiries. In practice, the disclaimer is rarely enough to protect the seller in Court.

The buyer is entitled to take the seller’s statements at face value even in the face of warning signs (like a strip of new drywall around the first two feet of the basement walls) that a contractor, inspector, or engineer might deem suspicious.

In addition, the Court has ruled that the SPIS covers issues that arose in the past, even if problem has been entirely fixed. For example, a seller may be liable for failing to disclose a previous flood even if the damage was repaired and has not reoccurred.

What Can Seller Do for Protection?

The safest thing is to disclose any defects that may not be obvious to a layperson (especially if the defect raises a safety issue) and to refuse to fill out an SPIS form or give any more information about the propMann Lawyers LLP

613.722.1500.

www.mannlawyers.com

53 | September 2014

HEALTH & FITNESS

SEPTEMBER FEATURED FOOD:

APPLE

Fact: Although apples should never replace your toothbrush and toothpaste, biting and chewing into an apple has been shown to help reduce the levels of bacteria in your mouth – thereby reducing tooth decay!

SERVES: 1-2 INGREDIENTS • • •

2 apples (Fuji or Golde n Delicious), sliced thin ly 1/8 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp sugar

DIRECTIONS 1.

2.

3.

4.

Pre heat the oven to 225 F Slice the apples on a ma ndolin, or thinly with a knife Sprinkle the apple slices with the sugar and cinnam on Bake for 60 minutes, flip and bake for another 60 minutes

NUTRITION INFO 90 Calories; 0g Fat; 10m g Sodium; 26g Carbohydrate; 21g sugar; 4g fibre

CAROLINE LAWRANCE, REGISTERED DIETITIAN carolinelawrance86@gmail.com

54 | September 2014

nspatulas.com

Apples are not only packed with nutrients, they are also body conscious with only 72 calories and 0g of fat, and 1 serving of carbohydrate per medium sized fruit. Furthermore, apples deliver approximately 4g of fibre, which helps to regulate blood sugar levels and reduces cholesterol. Fibre also helps to keep you feeling fuller, longer. Apples are also a good source the disease fighting antioxidants vitamin C and quercetin, both of which may contribute to a reduced risk of certain types of cancers.

RECIPE: BAKED APPLE CHIPS

Recipe Source: fiftee

During the months of August through October, local apples are abundant and picked perfectly fresh from the trees. Apple picking is a family favourite activity – a great excuse to get outside and moving! It is also the perfect way to access the freshest local apples available. Locally grown apples are budget conscious, and very nutritious. Whether you are eating them raw, adding them to salads, stewing them with pork or making apple sauce, the options are endless.

SEPTEMBER TOP TEN EATING OUT September can be a very busy time of year.

Whether it is the kids going back to school, or the dreaded end of summer holidays there always seems to be less time this month. For me, I am going away on a handful of business trips this month. Whatever the case may be, September often involves more eating out to compensate for the changes in routines and schedules. Eating out can be tricky to navigate when we are trying to maintain a balanced and nutritious diet. Many restaurants serve huge portions of high calorie meals – where even salads can tip the scales at over 800 calories a plate.

Eating out does not have to be all bad, however. The trick is to be smart about your decisions. Here are my top ten tips to managing healthy eating while eating out.

1

Do your homework. Nowadays most restaurants provide the nutritional information for their menu online. You can use this information to identify the healthier options when deciding what to order.

6

Request that half your meal be boxed up before it is brought to you. Restaurants often serve plates that are 2-4 times larger than a standard healthy serving should be.

2

Ask for grilled/poached meats, poultry, and fish over fried options.

7

Choose sandwiches that are prepared on whole grain bread, rather than white bread, croissants, or bagels.

3

Chose tomato based sauces and soups over cream based ones.

8

Ask for unsalted meats, poultry, and fish to reduce sodium.

4

Ask for salad dressing on the side. Controlling how much dressing goes onto your salad can dramatically reduce its caloric content.

9

When ordering pizza, request whole grain thin crust with half the cheese.

5

Ask for steamed veggies as a side, instead of French fries, bread, white rice or potatoes.

10

Eat slowly. Remember it takes 20 minutes for your brain to signal that you are full. Additionally, eating more slowly enables you to really savor and appreciate your meal.

CAROLINE LAWRANCE, REGISTERED DIETITIAN carolinelawrance86@gmail.com

AROUND OTTAWA

SENS FOUNDATIONS REACHES $100 MILLION MILESTONE

57 | September 2014

AROUND OTTAWA

NATIONAL CAPTIAL CHARITY CLASSIC

58 | September 2014

59 | September 2014

AROUND OTTAWA

NAPOLI’S 20TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION GOLF TOURNAMENT

60 | September 2014

SEPTEMBER

Sept 6

th

Capital Vélo Fest

Locks’ Flat Restaurant

Sept 5th

1

MON

2

TUE

3

WED

4

THU

5

FRI

6

SAT

7

SUN

8

MON

9

TUE

Ottawa REDBLACKS vs. BC Lions TD Place

Sept 11th Lewis Black

National Arts Centre

10 WED 11 THU 12 FRI 13 SAT Sept 14th

14 SUN 15 MON

Ottawa Folk Festival Hog’s Back Park

16 TUE

Sept 10th - 14th Canadian Comedy Awards Festival Ottawa Little Theatre

17 WED 18 THU 19 FRI Sept 17th - 21st Ottawa International Animation Festival

20 SAT 21 SUN 22 MON 23 TUE

Sept 25th Lumière Charity Gala Brookstreet Hotel

24 WED 25 THU 26 FRI 27 SAT Sept 26th Ottawa REDBLACKS vs. Montreal Alouettes TD Place

62 | September 2014

28 SUN Sept 28th

29 MON 30 TUE

Ottawa Fury FC vs. Minnesota United FC TD Place