Faces Magazine November/December 2020

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OTTAWA

ANNIE MURPHY

SCHITT’S CREEK STAR

OTTAWA’S EMMY WINNING ACTRESS

EUGENE LEVY

THE

HOLIDAY ISSUE GIFT GUIDES, HOLIDAY HACKS, + MORE

MEGAN SHAW

GWEN MADIBA

OTTAWA ENTREPRENEUR + ADVOCATE SHARES HER STORY LIFESTYLE | Sports | Entertainment F A C E S

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TO ALL FRONTLINE AND HEALTHCARE WORKERS,

THANK YOU

FOR YOUR CONTINUED COMMITMENT, EFFORTS AND DEDICATION. N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

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Caroline Dagenais, RPN, at the Brewer COVID-19 Assessment Centre

$150,000 RAISED IN SUPPORT OF THE OTTAWA HOSPITAL In support of

À l’appui de

F A C E S

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November December 2020

In This Issue 72

GWEN MADIBA One of Ottawa’s largest BIPOC advocates and entreprenuers, Gwen Madiba shares her incredible story of resilience.

Entertainment

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EUGENE LEVY We caught up with Schitt’s Creek star Eugene Levy after his Emmy win for Outstanding Lead Actor in a comedy series.

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ANNIE MURPHY Ottawa-born actress Annie Murphy reflects on the journey from “utter despair” to becoming Alexis, in what would be named her Emmy-winning role.

In The News

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MEGAN SHAW This year, Megan Shaw celebrates 6 years of being one of the recognizable faces of CTV Ottawa.

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MIKAYEL

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We caught up with Mikayel to discuss his new music, his take on the journey of becoming a prevalent artist in Ottawa, and what’s next.

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The Holiday Issue 5 Holiday Hacks To Get You Through The Season

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The Official Gift Guide Our top picks for the Entertainer, the Fashion-Forward, and the Entrepreneur on your list.

The Best Gifts For Your Dog 5 of the coolest toys and gadgets for the dog (and dog-lover).

+ pure taste

+ planet-friendly FACES MAGAZINE | 92 pack

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November December 2020

WHAT TO DO COVID-19 has caused many of winter’s annual events to be cancelled or modified.

Please take necessary COVID-19 precautions when attending any events or gatherings.

PATINAGE EN FORÊT This serene skateway is a great winter adventure. The 3km trail takes you through stunning forest scapes.

Skaters can even enjoy the sunset during their visit. It’s the perfect day-trip, under an hour’s drive from Ottawa into the Gatineau hills.

NOMINATE YOUR FAVOURITE BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONALS FOR THE 2020 OTTAWA AWARDS As Ottawa’s annual people’s choice awards, this digital voting event recognizes over 300 categories of businesses and professionals in Ottawa. Nominations are taken in the month of November, and voting begins in January. Don’t miss out on the chance to recognize some of the people, places and businesses that make our city world-class. Go to facesmag.ca/awards for more info.

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PARTICIPATE IN A VIRTUAL REMEMBRANCE DAY CEREMONDY November 11th As COVID restricts most for gathering on Remembrance day, Ottawa will be broadcasting a virtual ceremony. From where ever you are, take time to remember those who served our country.

As the annual poppy fundraising may not be as expansive, consider donating to The Royal Canadian Legion’s Poppy Fund that supports all of Canada’s Veterans and their families.

N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

WALK THROUGH A HOLIDAY VILLAGE AT ALIGHT AT NIGHT

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EXPLORE OTTAWA’S JACK PINE TRAIL Jack Pine Trail’s beautiful winter scenery can be taken in from the chickadee-covered boardwalk along its 1.7km path. The birds will eat out of your hands if you bring seeds, and the snowy pines offer a perfect backdrop for enjoying the quiet and peace of nature.

Alight at Night is Eastern Ontario’s biggest winter light festival. Every year, the historic 1860’s village is adorned with over 1 million lights across. The village is so beautiful at night, that many couples choose to make it the place to become engaged. Tickets need to be bought in advance and should be bought early to ensure a spot.

STAY OVERNIGHT IN PARC OMEGA’S ‘WOLF LODGE’ Parc Omega offers several unique overnight experiences that are perfect for wintery weather, including their ‘Wolf Lodge’, a cozy cabin for up to 6 people, where you can spend the evening watching as a host of wildlife (wolves included) walk right up to your windows.

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Annie Murphy Ottawa’s Emmy Award Winning Actress

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N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

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Annie Murphy feels like she’s sitting on top of the world today.

Winning the Emmy Award in September for her work in Schitt’s Creek is a fitting reward for the talented Ottawa native. Seven years ago, she was in a state of utter despair. She hadn’t worked in two years, she had only a few hundred dollars left in her bank account, and to heap even more misery onto her shoulders, her apartment had just burned down. But then, as if a higher power saw the need to restore some hope to Annie’s world, she landed a life-altering audition with Creek’s series co-creator Dan Levy who was so struck by her that he immediately sent her tape to his dad, Canadian acting legend Eugene Levy, with the message: “We found Alexis!”

T

hat is how Murphy found her breakout role as Alexis Rose, a member of the wealthy Rose family clan whose financial collapse forces them to relocate to the miserable town they bought as a joke investment. At first Schitt’s Creek appeared to be yet another CBC series that would run a few years before inevitably coming to a premature end due to lack of financing and distribution. But the series found a home both in Canada and in the U.S. via Pop TV and eventually landed on Netflix where it gained a massive global following.

And today Schitt’s Creek is basking in Emmy glory, having just set the record for most single season awards for a comedy series. In addition to Murphy’s win as Outstanding Supporting Actress, the series swept the September 20th virtual ceremonies and collected nine trophies overall, including those for Outstanding Comedy Series, Actor (Eugene Levy), Actress (Catherine O’Hara) and Supporting Actor (Dan Levy).

Ironically, this belated albeit massive recognition for the

Toronto-based production comes after Schitt’s Creek has just completed its sixth and final season. Although the 33-year-old Murphy already has her next TV show lined up on AMC (with yet another expletive-filled title, Kevin Can F**K Himself) she believes that her experience she had on “Schitt’s Creek” will be unlike anything else in her career.

“I’m a shell of a woman, it left a very sizable hole in my life when we wrapped,” said Murphy. “We wrapped over a year ago in the end of June of last year. It was nice because we did a bunch of touring and we still saw each other all the time, so it didn’t feel quite as impactful as it would have otherwise. Since the final episode aired and being in lockdown and everything, it’s been really hard not seeing everybody.”

Annie Murphy grew up in Ottawa as an only child, the daughter of a speechwriter father and a mother who taught English as a second language. She would remain in the nation’s capital where she studied at Elmwood School until her late teens when she moved to Toronto to study at Queen’s Uni-

versity for one year before re-locating to Montreal and enrolled in the theatre studies programme at Concordia University. That is where she began dating musician Menno Versteeg who she would marry in 2011. After completing her degree, Annie and Menno moved back to Toronto where she attended the Actors Conservatory at the Canadian Film Centre. She would spend five years doing bit parts in series and small films while also touring the world with Versteeg’s band Hollerado that include trips to China and Brazil and “driving all across North America in a van with four smelly dudes.”

She describes her life as a roadie as “formative - I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Interestingly, Murphy would wind up collaborating with her hubby on the song “A Little Bit Alexis” which was recorded as a title theme for her Schitt’s Creek character. Murphy wrote the lyrics and then recorded the track together with her husband and Hollerado bandmate Nixon Boyd.

The melody has since gone to become a cult favourite, “It gets played at clubs now. It’s crazy,” said Murphy.

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“They’re full of awesome little restaurants, shops and bars.

And babies and dogs. And my parents, who are often wandering around running errands and being adorable...”

With respect to her native Ottawa, Murphy is still enamoured of the city’s Old Ottawa South and the Glebe neighbourhoods where she spent her childhood and teenage years growing up.

Annie, can you reflect on your six-year journey with Schitt’s Creek?

It was a life-changing experience for me and now I’m the advocate for never give up because you never know what’s around the corner. An email can change your life and an audition can change your life. It was truly awesome and truly the role of a lifetime for me. I feel so grateful to the writers that they let that character be so much more than a ditsy blonde.

What did you enjoy most about playing Alexis?

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She was so much fun to play and everyone is so much more than one thing.

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There are so many different layers to everybody. To meet her at the beginning when she is so dependent on men and money and things and then leave her as this really independent person, who is going off on her own with a brain full of knowledge that she didn’t have before.

She experienced love and friendship for the first time ever. I’m really proud where she left off.

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by Eugene [Levy] and Catherine [O’Hara]. I would give my first-born child to have that experience and I didn’t have to. It was just so incredible to watch them work. They’ve been doing this for 45 years. The joy that they get from doing their job is so infectious. They’re such hard workers and such professionals. I watched them play and have fun and give themselves ideas. It gave me big time goals.

something that people had seen before, but that people would recognise as the way a spoiled rich girl might speak. So I watched as many YouTube clips of reality shows like the Kardashians and similar things that Paris Hilton and the Olsen twins had done where I could listen to both the accent and the tone that these rich and famous women would speak with. And because this is a comedy series, I could take the voice What was the atmosphere like on the to another level and have a lot of fun set?

One of the most distinctive things about with it. your portrayal of Alexis is her accent.

I loved the physicality of it all - it was How did you come up with that?

When did it hit you that Schitt’s Creek such a blast to play. I had two of the had become a major success? greatest teachers of all-time while going I wanted her to have a distinctive tone into work every day and being schooled that wasn’t an obvious imitation of

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It was right after Netflix began streaming the series in the States. That was the thing that started the snowball rolling and the series was getting a lot of recognition and people in the industry were starting to talk about it. I was so happy that a much bigger audience had a chance to see it and I would start to hear that it was becoming the kind of series that people were binge watching.

Personally, I also started noticing that people would be looking at me in restaurants and then speaking with the other people at their table and then texting on their cellphones. Then as time passed more people would come to me and tell me, “Has anyone ever told you that you look like the actress from Schitt’s Creek?” But when I would admit that I really was that girl from the show they would look almost disappointed and go “Really?” I guess I didn’t live up to their expectations because I wasn’t dressed as glamorously as Alexis!

We know you’ve told the story a million times already, but can you tell us about how getting cast on Schitt’s Creek almost saved your acting career?

I was at a really low ebb...I was nearly broke, I hadn’t had a job almost two years, and I was in Los Angeles doing auditions for pilot season when I heard that our house in Toronto had burned down!

I remember sitting down and crying right next to the Pacific Ocean and feeling very sorry for myself. I was ready to give up acting... It was like the universe was telling me, “Don’t do this anymore. This [work] is not for you.” But two days later I got the audition for Schitt’s Creek.

You must have lost a lot of prized possessions in the fire?

Yeah...the worst thing was losing my beautiful teddy bear Worthington that had been my best friend since I was a little girl. That’s probably the thing I miss the most - Worthington and I went through a lot together.

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How do you feel about Schitt’s Creek ending after six seasons?

[Laughs]...I am sending vibes to Dan every other day to write another season or do a movie. I miss everyone so much, and it kind of comes in waves — I’m fine for a few weeks and then I realise I don’t have the show to go back to, where I’d be seeing all those faces all together again. But I had six of the best years of my life shooting that show and have created so many friendships with so many really incredible people. So I said goodbye to the characters, but not the people behind them. I feel really lucky about that.

Can you remember the moment when you first felt at home on the show?

Honestly, I was so, so nervous to start because I realized, like, the night before [that] I would have to be acting with my comedy idols. But after the first few takes of the first scene the four of us shot together, it was when Catherine O’Hara was like, “Okay, how about we try it like this?” and it was so obvious that it was a collaborative, fun, exciting togetherness that was happening.

And that kind of set the tone for the next six years.

You’re an Ottawa girl. What are some of things you love most about your hometown and what places would you tell people who visit the city to check out?

I used to love biking along the Rideau Canal and I still have a lot of great memories of the city. I’m also a great pizza lover and I tell anyone who visits Ottawa that they have to try the pizza at Colonnade Pizza. It’s the best pizza in the world. Trust me. You also have to go to Le Moulin de Provence which is famous for the Obama Cookie. The place became world famous when Obama visited the bakery and ate the cookie (which says Canada on it) and declared, “I love this country!”

“It was so obvious that it was a collaborative, fun, exciting togetherness that was happening.

And that kind of set the tone for the next six years.”

N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

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LOCAL BREAKING NEWS

GRAHAM RICHARDSON & PATRICIA BOAL

WEEKNIGHTS 6

WEEKNIGHTS 6 CTVNewsOttawa.ca

4 Holiday Hacks For surviving holiday decorating.

1 Reach Even The Tallest of Candles With A Match Holiday decor is never complete without candles, but there’s always a few candles that matches just can’t reach.

Here’s how to fix that.

The Process: If you’re ever stuck without a long lighter, grab a dry piece of spaghetti.

Use a match to light the end of the noodle, and use it to light your candle from afar.

2 Know The Numbers

3

The Fastest Way To Clean Up A Broken Ornament Ornament breakage is a common occurrence during the holidays, but not always worth the broom. Save time with this simple hack.

4 Untangle Holiday Lights For Good Tired of untangling your Christmas lights year after year?

The Process: Ready to decorate your tree? Here’s what you’ll need.

The Process: For every foot of Christmas tree, you’ll need 100 lights, 8 and 1/2 geet of garland, and 15-20 ornaments.

The Process: Grab a piece of bread from the kitchen, and press it over the tiny shards. It’ll scoop up all of the fragments that a broom or vacuum would miss.

When you’re ready to pack up your Christmas lights for the year, coil the string of lights around a piece of cardboard. When you take them out next year, they’ll be tangle-free.

AN INTERVIEW WITH

Eugene

levy

Holding his Emmy for outstanding lead actor in a comedy series above his head, Eugene Levy was in a buoyant mood after Schitt’s Creek swept all the major categories at the Sunday, Sept. 20th virtual ceremonies.

The only thing that kept celebrations to a minimum were the restrictions on how many guests he could invite to Casa Loma restaurant in Toronto where he and fellow cast members basked in their triumph. >>>

“We would have loved to have more people come over, but because of the [COVID-19] restrictions that had just been put into place a lot of people weren’t able to come,” Levy said. “But being able to celebrate with everyone who works so hard on the show was just a great way to cap off [the end of the series].”

Ironically, Levy and his son Dan, alongside Schitt’s Creek co-stars Catherine O’Hara and Annie Murphy (all Emmy winners in their categories) had to wait until they had wrapped the sixth and final season of the show before receiving such massive recognition for their work. The critically acclaimed CBC series only began to reach mass audiences after Netflix began streaming episodes in the U.S. and abroad. But after five decades as a highly successful actor/comedian, the 73-year-old Levy is deeply grateful for the opportunity to have scored arguably the greatest triumph of a career that he never had any intention of pursuing as a young amateur player growing up in Hamilton.

“I had no idea this was

something I could do for a living,” Levy recalled. “It’s not like I was thinking this is what I want to do. It never occurred to me that even though I was spending so much time doing it that you could actually go out and make a living at it. It wasn’t until I left McMaster and called my friend Ivan Reitman, who I had gone to school with at McMaster, and he gave me a job on his first picture in Toronto.

That’s how I got started, but there was never any kind of conscious decision that acting is what I wanted to do. I just kind of got into it through the back door.”

Having honed his craft as one of the leading players on Canada’s SCTV comedy sketch series in the 70s and 80s, Levy would go on to

become a regular comedic presence in numerous Hollywood movies including American Pie, Serendipity, Father of the Bride II, Bringing Down the House, and Cheaper by the Dozen 2.

But it has taken Schitt’s Creek a series Eugene Levy executive produced, starred in, and co-created with his son Dan (who also served as showrunner) to finally shine the spotlight on him. He and Dan also became the first father and son Emmy nominees to win in the same year, yet another source of pride for the elder comic patriarch whose daughter Sarah also features in the series.

“As a dad, getting to work on camera for six years with both my kids, Daniel, and Sarah, I had such a joy. I love you both and could not be prouder,” Levy gushed during his acceptance speech at the virtual Emmys.

Many Canadians and audiences in the U.S. and Europe who have come to love Schitt’s Creek will share the bittersweet feeling that Eugene Levy and fellow castmates have over the decision to end the series, especially in light of the unexpected Emmys sweep. “There were a lot of tears when actors would finish their last scenes together,” he said on The National. “There would be 10 minutes of hugging and lots of tears.”

How remarkable has it been for you to achieve this kind of a success after nearly 50 years in the business?

It’s something I never expected would happen. Most actors don’t get to enjoy this kind of opportunity and so it’s been a great gift and a great chance to work with Daniel and see this series take off and find an audience.

How do you feel about the way the final season of Schitt’s Creek brings the Rose family saga to a close?

It’s natural culmination in how things naturally work themselves out in terms of relationships and character growth and it all kind of points to a very satisfying ending...We felt that we had reached the point where nothing really more could be achieved in terms of pushing the story forward.

Sometimes the best thing you can do is to end a series while it’s still creatively interesting and the audience loves it rather than to keep it going forever because it would be easy to do that. I like the idea of leaving it with a really good feeling about what we’ve accomplished.

What has it been like playing a father on a series in which your TV son is also your real son, Daniel?

Sometimes you find your own feelings for your son coming through as the character you’re playing. But I never found that to be a problem - it actually helps you at times when you find yourself treating your TV offspring the way you would in real life. There were many occasions working with Daniel and Sarah (who plays waitress Twyla Sands - ED) when I found myself thinking of them as my character exactly as I would react as their father - it was really hard at times to stop thinking of Twyla as Sarah!

And when it comes to Annie Murphy, she’s so wonderful and endearing that I treat her with the same kind of love that I have for my own daughter.

This has been a very rewarding time for me and something I never imagined I would ever have the chance to do and I owe a lot to Daniel for helping make it happen.

How did you feel about collaborating with your son Dan when he first approached you with the idea for Schitt’s Creek?

I had thought when he was younger that we might do something together but then I

put it out of my mind because when he was starting out he never wanted me to be involved in his work or for me to mentor him in any way...

He never came to me for anything in his life — when he was in school doing plays, [I’d say], “Do you want me to help you read lines?” And he would say, “No, I got it.”

So when he finally came and said, “I have an idea for a show, do you want to work on it?” As a dad, it’s like, “This moment finally came, thank you; it doesn’t matter what the idea is, I’ll work on it, we’ll try to get it going.”

But at the same time I started to worry: “What if he doesn’t have the talent to do this as a writer? Do I tell him that he doesn’t have the talent, or do we go [ahead] knowing nothing’s going to happen with it?” And you think Sophie had a choice! [Smiles] That was my dilemma and it turned out right away there was nothing to worry about. Very shortly after we started working on it, I saw that Daniel was a very talented writer.

How close is your character Johnny Rose, the patriarch of the Rose family, to the real Eugene Levy?

It’s probably the first time in my career that I’ve played a character that resembles my own personality and nature. When I approach a role, I usually invent things to add to the personality of a character because I don’t think my own personality is that interesting.

I was always doing everything to not play myself...but on this series it was a strange feeling to play a character that often blurred the line between me and Johnny. I would worry that I needed to do something to make the character less like me!

It’s been an odd experience, but very satisfying in the end.

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EUGENE LEVY

Seeing your children succeed as actors must be very gratifying to you. Did you however try to steer them away from your profession while you were raising them?

We didn’t want them to be locked into show business...

There’s something about raising kids in a showbiz-y kind of environment that’s a little scary. Toronto is just a very normal town.

They could grow up with all options open to them of what they wanted to do.

Of course the irony is they both went into acting — and [then we all wind up] on a show together.

You came up through Second City Theatre and evolved as a comedian during your time on SCTV [where he worked with Harold Ramis, John Candy, Joe Flaherty, Dave Thomas, and Catherine O’Hara.

How do you reflect back on that time and developing your skills doing comedy and improvising in front of the camera?

Improvising is coming up with material off the top of your head but realising everything you’re doing [has to] work for the scene. It’s not just a question of how funny you can be, it’s [also a] question of how you can move the story...

The sensibility that you have when you’re improvising is that it’s totally the stories [and] character-driven I was fortunate

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that when I started [on “SCTV”], our head writer, the late Harold Ramis, who was an amazing writer, mentored the rest of us. All we wanted to do when we were coming up with material was to please Harold.

His nod of approval was what was paramount.

One of the movies so many of your fans identify you with is American Pie. Did you expect it to have such an impact on your career?

It was major turning point, and it almost didn’t happen. When I read the original script, I thought it was a little raunchy. I kept saying, “I wouldn’t go to see this movie, why would I want to be in it?”

Finally I went in and had a meeting with [directors] Paul and Chris Weitz and told them my problems with the character, and they said, “What do you want to change?” I said, “I don’t want the guy to be a nudge-nudge, wink-wink friend with his son. I want him to be a square dad, the kind your kids don’t want to be around because they’re too boring.”

So we came in and improvised, and then everything just started opening up. It was a huge hit and definitely turned my life around—no question about that.

“It was major turning point, and it almost didn’t happen.

When I read the original script, I thought it was a little raunchy.

I kept saying, “I wouldn’t go to see this movie, why would I want to be in it?”

N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

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Gwen Madiba Gwen Madiba is an award-winning speaker, designer, former model, and renowned activist. Born in Gabon, she was raised and went to school in Ottawa. Her philanthropy has seen her be nominated for the Order of Ottawa, twice as 100 Most Powerful Women, and several awards with the University of Ottawa, among many others. Madiba founded the Black History Month Gala, Equal Chance, Education Funds for Orphaned Kids in Africa, Meals for Hope, and many other philanthropic endeavours to better the lives of people all around the world. Her stories of struggle, homelessness, the murder of her father, and the racism she has experienced in the work place and fashion industry have touched the lives of many, and she continues to push to make change and help others.

Photography by Sean Sisk

You received the Order of Ottawa last November, can you tell me about the work you did to be nominated for that?

The Order of Ottawa, which I received last year on November 21, was for some accomplishments I’ve had over the years here in Ottawa. It was really around community building and uplifting everyone. The Order was for the work I did trying to build a legacy, and it was done with a team of people, not just me. We had built the Canadian Black History Month Gala with the Mandela family, through the Mandela Legacy. We’ve also built various youth empowerment programs to help our youth.

For the first time in Ottawa we welcomed Reverend Al Sharpton and Naomi Campbell for this gala. We worked on other projects that shed light on the city

of Ottawa, which include the Safara Fashion Show, in Ottawa, and from this project came a program where we had empowering practice sessions with the models. We make sure that they know their worth and that they’re comfortable, but also that they get an experience that they’ll never forget. That will allow them to see that they can truly accomplish all things.

The project then becomes not our project, but a project that is about everybody involved. It becomes their project. It’s about uplifting each other, and including each other, but also about including the diversity that reflects Canada. We praise Canada a lot for its diversity, but oftentimes that diversity is excluded. I say a lot that diversity, without inclusion, is a lot like policy without implementation.

It’s nice, but it doesn’t do anything for anyone.

Did the idea for the inclusive and uplifting model workshops come from personal experience?

Absolutely. When I was 12 years old, I went to audition for an acting role at a local agency. I went there with my mother, my sister-in-law and my little sister. Before we could even get through the door, a representative said, to me at 12 years old, that: “We have enough Black kids, we’re not going to take you.” I hadn’t said a word, I hadn’t read the script, they just looked at me and said that I wasn’t “it” and that they weren’t going to take me. My mom was really upset. I was upset, and hearing that “we have enough Black kids” really broke me completely.

As I grew, and I looked at the modelling world and the fashion industry, you see a lot of exclusion. It’s only now that you see body

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positivity. People who looked different were not welcomed in the fashion industry before. Trans people were not welcomed. I wanted to create a space where everyone felt good, and everyone felt welcomed. The youngest person was 3 years old, and the oldest was 71. For us, it’s beautiful. It really brings the community together, and you see that people love seeing real people. People love seeing people who look like them. For me, it came from exclusion. I believe that when people aren’t inviting you to their table, you have to show up with a folding chair. Other times, you have to set your own table and invite your own people.

What was the moment like when you received the Order of Ottawa?

“I say a lot that diversity, without inclusion, is a lot like policy without implementation.”

It was humbling. For me it was very emotional. I came to Canada when I was 7 years old. My father was a diplomat from Gabon. He arrived here in the 1990s and when he left on January 1, 2006, he turned to me and said “you are choosing to stay in this country, and choosing to make this city your adoptive city and Canada your adoptive country. I want you to be the type of woman that builds a legacy of your own.

Never depend on other people, become a resource for others.” He left on January 1, and was murdered on July 26. He was beat to death by four people, and it was very hard for me. I went through things I never thought I would experience, including homelessness. I lived in a shelter for two months and

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GWEN MADIBA a half while attending University of Ottawa to obtain my bachelor’s degree. That was very hard, but I never gave up, and I kept pushing through. I surrounded myself with people who were encouraging and people who had big visions and big dreams, even teachers.

I started the Black History Month Gala at the University of Ottawa, and I’m proud to see it’s a legacy they’re pursuing each year. It transformed into the Canadian Black History Month Gala with the Mandela family and that has opened doors and empowered so many other people. It has connected so many people.

We would also offer four awards to allies, non-black people, who work with communities in Canada and abroad. I always say, on our journey to freedom, we had allies who were not Black. To combat racism in our society, it takes everyone. We have to recognize our allies, and also create safe spaces for Black People to discuss race and their issues within themselves.

To see how one project led to another, and to another bigger project, which led to creating impactful spaces that are appreciated, and which led to the Order of Ottawa is truly humbling.

Being in front of the Mayor and other incredible humans who were doing great things in the city of Ottawa, I thought about my father, and what he would say if he was there. I hope that he was able to see it from wherever he is.

What’s one piece of advice that your father gave you that you still use today?

Work so that wherever you stand, now becomes your kingdom. That means that wherever you are in life, wherever you stand as a human, you have to learn to lead from there.

Just because you’re not at the forefront, doesn’t mean that you can’t lead.

That was something that stuck with me because I’ve been in jobs where I started declaring things, where I would say I’m starting as a secretary but I’m going to end as a diplomat, and it happened because I knew to lead from wherever I stood. I think more and more people should learn that whatever is for you, at the end of the day, will always be for you. You just have to learn to see and achieve your destiny, and to do that you have to fix certain things that you’re doing including reviewing your entourage, and what you feed your soul and your mind. Ultimately, you become these things, so you need to seek life, positivity, and success in your life, and you’ll become it.

What advice would you give to young women and girls who hope to inspire change?

Just know that you can do it. There’s no vision that comes without provisions.

God gives us a vision, and with it, provisions. They’re usually there, you just

have to find them or make them. You have to make room for your dreams and make room for your goals the same way you make room for scrolling through Instagram or watching someone else’s success story. You have to make time for your own success story.

Your time is coming, you just have to align yourself with the proper resources, the proper time, and the proper people to get to where you need to get.

You returned to Gabon, as well as the Democratic Republic of Congo and Senegal, to start up Education Funds for Orphans in Africa.

Why did you want to do this?

When my father was murdered, I became an orphan of a father as they say in Gabon. My father was the main provider at home.

Though my mom was a pediatrician in Gabon, she couldn’t work when she arrived in Canada. She sacrificed a lot to be here. When I came back, my scholarship from Gabon wasn’t going through, and so I found myself without a home.

That was extremely difficult for me, it was embarrassing, and I didn’t know how to tell my friends that I was going through hardship. I just kept it to myself. When I was homeless, I gave myself three months to get out of that situation, and within two months and a half I had three jobs. It was very difficult to keep up with my studies and

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my jobs. I also was a part of a dance crew, and I remember finishing dance classes at 10 or 11 at night. People would say “hey Gwen I’ll give you a ride home,” and I had no home. I would say “no, no it’s okay, I’m going to walk,” and if they insisted I would just say I was going to the washroom and then disappear. That moment really touched me, and made me think of other folks who were going through worse.

In 2017, I was working at the University of Ottawa, and I needed out because it was very toxic. I had no options but I had to take a leap of faith. I came across a Mrs. Universe pageant, hosted for the first time in South Africa. I had never done a pageant in my life.

So, I did. I asked the Embassy of Gabon if they could sponsor me, and they said no unless I made the top 5. I found a sponsor in Gabon who agreed to pay for my trip there, and two days before, they called me and said that I had no experience, that I had never done a pageant in my life, and that I was competing against others who had done this their whole lives, and that they didn’t have faith in me. So they pulled the sponsorship two days before the event. They said it would be a waste of money, and a waste of time.

I had met Don C, who was Kanye West’s best man at his wedding, at a Kanye concert. I spoke with him and he decided he would take a chance and fund me, which is another story.

I told him I would make history as the first Black woman to make it past the top 10. I arrived there,

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and I did. I past the top 20, the top 10, and was in the top 2. When I got back to the hotel, I had hundreds of calls. That was probably the craziest week of my life, I had daily interviews.

I had the chance to go to an orphanage and the kids were really happy. One of the girls had attended law school and was studying to be a lawyer, but she was taken out of her program because she didn’t have money, and the orphanage didn’t have enough money to send her. She said “you know it’s great that you’re here, but for me, it’s like you’re bringing shallow hope. You’re going to go back to Canada where you have a lot of opportunities and I’ll be here, suffering in this orphanage with my brothers and sisters. I will never get the chance to become a lawyer.” I had to tell her my story, and my struggle, and how although I looked good, it was just appearance. I had been through a lot. I told her I couldn’t promise her much, but that I swore, in front of the ambassador, that him and I will go back to Canada and work to generate funding for people like you to pursue their studies. I proposed a project, called Women Who Work, and we had a gala in 2018, and through the gala we raised enough money to send children to school through this program. The young woman who I had made the promise to, graduated from law school last year, and other kids got to attend specialized schools and achieve their studies.

It takes one person, and one decision, to positively

change the lives of others. It doesn’t matter what other people say, it only matters what’s in your heart.

Tell us about Afroworld.

Afroworld was a project I wanted to work on for years. I developed it first in 2007 on paper. We were just not ready yet. I always wanted to work on a big festival that could bring society together in unity and love. I wanted various elements in, from music, hair, fashion, culinary arts, I really wanted all things Black, by us, for the world.

That’s where Afroworld came in and I wanted to showcase us, as Black people, to the society, to welcome and rate and discover our cultures while challenging nonsense like racism and discrimination.

I think cultural exchange is really a bridge to challenge racism and bring an end to discrimination.

That’s what Afroworld is, it’s a cultural bridge. It’s going to be in-person, we’re being really careful with COVID. We’re partnered with Divvy, who were supposed to host Bluesfest. We are going to have a day before the events where we have an open dialogue with Indigenous and Algonquin leaders and Black leaders and an Ally, around unity and fighting racism in Canada. This is going to be the first day out of respect for our First Nations and Algonquin People whose territory we stand on.

Speaking of racism, there was an incident in April with one of

“It meant that all the work I was doing over the past years was teaching new, future leaders. It was humbling and an honour to be included on this list of amazing women.�

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your volunteers. Can you tell me what your experience has been with anti-Black racism in Ottawa?

M: It has been traumatizing. At Free Meals for Hope, which is a program that we put together to help all people who needed help during the pandemic. One of my volunteers, who I accompanied that day, was referred to as the N-word, in an email that was sent by an older lady who wanted more food. She said “I never thought I would see the day when an N-word would help me,” and the way in which she casually wrote that in an email shows how ingrained in her it was. We sent an email back, and never heard from her. I also worked in a place where my colleague told myself and another mixed person that 67 | FACES MAGAZINE

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they don’t eat with Black People, and his specific race, so we had to eat outside. I never thought, in Canada, that I would ever encounter such a person. They were so blunt about their racism, and when I filed a complaint against that person, I was told I was no longer allowed to move in the office until the investigation was complete. Meanwhile, the person was allowed to move freely, I wasn’t even allowed to attend office gatherings because the lady said she didn’t want to see me there.

What’s the best way to respond to aggression like this?

Protect yourself. Protect your mental health, and protect yourself legally.

With social media now, if you can record it, record it.

Whether camera or voice,

use whatever resources you have. Protect your mind, and your mental health, and try and remove yourself from this situation. If you can get witnesses, get as many as you can.

Can you tell me about the work you did that led to being listed, for the second time, on the Women’s Executive Network of Canada’s list of top 100 most powerful emerging women?

M: It’s always an honour. I welcomed this with an attitude of gratitude. I was first nominated by Allan Rock, the president, back in 2010.

That was for future leaders, and was for the things I worked on over the years for the university and also being a part of the Task Force on Respect and Equality to

end racism on campus. I had built the Black History Month Gala with the participation and the support of the former Governor General of Canada and I remember her saying to me, and the rest of the club, “don’t ever think you’re too small to bless someone, because we can all open a door for each other.” That was a big lesson for me. Last year, when I was included as an Emerging Leader, was really special to me because to be included as a Future Leader, and now to be seen as an emerging one, was just unreal for me.

It meant that all the work I was doing over the past years was teaching new, future leaders. It was humbling and an honour to be included on this list of amazing women.

Tell us about your label, Dare.

So with Dare, what I’ve done is I changed it completely to an accessory and a kimono line right now. There are three projects that are coming in through the Dare label, and that’s the kimono line - because kimonos are one-size-fits-all and very inclusive, there’s also the bags, which I love, and a lipstick line coming very soon.

You started a series of panels called Inhale-Excel, how did you come up with the concept?

Inhale-Excel started because networking is everything. For me, network really determines your net worth, and that’s not just financially but also spiritually, mentally, intellectually, and I was blessed to have a father who was well connected. I was lucky to meet some of the world’s most inspiring people, and I always wanted my friends and folks around me to have access to the same type of encounters. So Inhale-Excel invited some of the inspirational folks around me to come and share their stories.

For example, we had a friend, Ty Hunter, who had been Beyonce’s stylist, and who started out with humble beginnings, who worked on some of her most iconic looks, came to Ottawa to speak to young people and elders, about his journey. That’s the idea behind Inhale-Excel is to have people you see on TV who you thought you’d never meet, to be right in front of you. To let you know that they’re human just like you.

They take a deep breath and inhale and exceled.

F: What are some of your favourite moments from the panels?

M: It’s the vulnerability that people bring to the table. The honesty about their pasts. We had people, like Ty, come and speak about how at one point in his life he was depressed and how he got through it. Sometimes you look at these people, and all the glory and everything, but they’re not necessarily the most happy people. Or we think only they can achieve it, when anybody truly can achieve it, if your mind gets to work. So when their minds become vulnerable and open, they share their truth and it’s not always pretty but it’s beautiful in the way that empowers people in the way that they understand and that they’re human at the end of the day.

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Who are some of your favourite advocates for BIPOC members in Canada, and internationally?

Many of them. Robyn Maynard is a scholar, and she’s amazing. I used one of her quotes in one of my Black Lives Matter activities, and she was saying how in Canada we’re so custom to the idea that there’s no racism. We forget that there is racism, that folks go through so much here. She is definitely my top one, in terms of the work that she’s been doing, and her accomplishments. Desmond Cole, and Karine JeanPierre are also my two other favourites.

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HOLIDAYS time, what new passions they’ve discovered. It could be as simple as a new Netflix show, or an entirely new hobby.

Say This, Not That Be careful about the terms you use.

In quarantine, many felt pressure to keep themselves busy, or guilt for not being able to. Keep that in mind when asking about those months.

Instead of asking “have you been keeping busy?” say instead “have you been staying well?” The slight change in words puts the focus on their overall wellness, instead of on their output. For some, this can make a huge difference.

Don’t Get Into The Politics Many families talk politics, and will do so over the holidays. But, if you’re catching up with a distant relative you don’t speak with often, try to connect with them on something more personal to them, rather than on something that can end up being divisive. Instead of political opinions, ask about their own experiences of the pandemic: what they’ve learned, what parts of their lives have changed the most, and what they are looking forward to the most for the holidays.

Conversation Cheat Codes Whether it’s virtual or in-person, the holidays are a chance to connect with the family and friends who you don’t usually see.

After a year categorized by change and challenge, how do you make sure that you’re truly connecting with your loved ones?

Here’s some tips on catching up.

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Don’t Pry About Work.

Instead, Pry About Passions With so many industries facing uncertainty, you never know how someone’s been affected. If they don’t ask, or freely discuss their employment with you, it’s best not to pry. So how do you take such a common question and turn it into something positive? Focus on hobbies. Ask questions about what they’ve been doing in their free

Talk Positively About The Future Especially for those who live alone, or haven’t been able to interact much with others due to pre-existing conditions or risk factors, one of the best things you can do is to help to remind them that this difficult and isolating time will pass. Do that by discussing some of your favourite memories with them, and about what you’re excited to do once gatherings are allowed again and life is a bit more normal. Making plans can be incredibly uplifting.

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2020 Our Official

Gift Guide For The Fashion-Forward, The Entertainer, And The Entrepreneur On Your List

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Joey Roth Ceramic Speakers $584

Lorenzi Milano Bamboo, Leather and Stainless Steel Cocktail Set Jo Malone London Wild Berry & Bramble Scented Candle $160 Native Union DOCK+ Lightning Marble Dock $151

L’Atelier de Vin Le Globe Glass and Walnut Wine Set $329

Tom Dixon Tank Set of Two Painted Whisky Glasses $125

Tom Dixon Brew CopperPlated Cafetiere et $528

For the hosts and entertainers, choose a gift that will add to the atmosphere of their gatherings, like the Native Union Marble Dock or the Joey Roth Ceramic Speakers. For the cocktail connoisseur, a stainless steel set, made for both using and for display, is the perfect way to say happy holidays.

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Roxanne Assoulin Enamel and Gold-Tone Bracelet $99

Rapport London Evo Cube Lacquered Wood Watch Winder $599

Moncler Slim-Fit Intarsia-Knit Sweater $993

Gucci Fringed Logo Intarsia Wool Scarf $171

Gucci Timeless Leather Strap Watch 38 mm $1400

Steamery Cirrus No. 2 Travel Steamer $171

Choose from this season’s latest scarves, sweaters, and accessories. Or, for the man who has everything, give him a gift he’ll use on-the-go, like the Steamery Travel Steamer.

When in doubt, go for this year’s top picks in styling gels and balms.

Le Labo Styling Concrete $40

Terre d’Hermès After Shave Balm $58

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FOR THE

ENTREPRENEUR

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Instantly upgrade their routine with a new pen set or briefcase in timeless, stylish black. Take on their tech with a Google Nest, or UV Phone Sanitizer. Or, up their break-time with a Nespresso or self-care kit.

Montblanc Augmented Paper Portfolio and Pen Set $881

Hugo Boss Crosstown Full-Grain Leather Briefcase $753

Kingsman + Montblanc Writing Set $1,271 Mr. Porter

Google Nest Hub Max with Google Assistant $299 Best Buy

Aesop Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Kit $395 Nordstrom

Bondir Beyond UV PhoneSanitizing Box $70 Nordstrom

Nespresso Vertuo Next Premium Coffee and Espresso Machine

by Breville, Classic Black $219

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Megan Shaw One-On-One With CTV’s

This year, Megan Shaw celebrates 6 years of being one of the recognizable faces of CTV Ottawa. Her passion and professionalism are hallmarks of her career, and a commitment to delivering news to the Ottawa community when and where it is needed most.

We caught up with Megan to discuss her new role as an anchor and producer of CTV News at 11:30 pm, how her work and home life have adjusted amid COVID19, and about her favourites: food, sports, and Netflix included.

How were your summer and fall? What was one of the highlights?

It’s of course been a very different summer this year with social distancing guidelines in place.

Instead of summer concerts or large gatherings, I’ve spent a lot of time at cottages, going for long walks and hikes, and doing some DIY projects at home. I’ve also had the chance to slow down and spend more quality time connecting with my small bubble of loved ones.

You’ve been in front of the camera for over 6 years now... looking back, what is the biggest change you’ve seen in your professional development?

Change is almost a constant in this career and it’s something I’ve embraced. From new cities to new roles at work, I have taken many new and exciting steps along the way. This summer I moved into a new position:

Anchoring and producing CTV News Ottawa at 11:30 pm. I’m so honoured to be trusted by our community to bring them live, local and breaking news stories from across the region each night.

of a new normal and in-person meetings were replaced with phone meetings, while community events were put on hold. It has been a new experience for all of us. I’m proud of our team for adapting so quickly to a series of new guidelines and providing our viewers with important daily news coverage during this unprecedented time.

Over the last few months, amid COVID, your job has probably undergone some changes in the way you’re reporting and the stories and people you’re connecting with. What have been some of the challenges of tackling the COVID developments?

What are some of your secrets (or your best advice) on looking good and being confident in front of the camera?

There is no denying the challenges presented these last few months. In a matter of days, the way we delivered the news and the environment in which we did so changed dramatically. Our full bustling newsroom and the daily faceto-face community interaction was replaced with working from home and distancing.

Online interviews became part

The more you do something - the more natural it starts to feel. When I first started doing live television, my mentors would tell me to avoid memorizing or trying to provide perfect delivery. Instead, they would always say to ‘know the story’ and provide the information the same way you might speak with a friend or family member.

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Looking back on your career, are there any stories from the Ottawa community that have stuck with you? Maybe your top 3 most memorable?

This is always one of the most difficult questions because there are so many moments, stories and people that have left their mark. Right now, living through this pandemic is of course something I will never forget - with so many changes and so many people affected in different ways. It’s a situation that will continue to evolve over months and years to come and I know our team will be there with important information for everyone here at home. Two other events in the capital that always stand out for me are the floods and the tornadoes that struck Ottawa. These situations were so shocking and devastating to so many. Our team worked day and night to provide as much information as we could, as quickly as we could.

We were exhausted but being able to see how the community came together to help each other was so powerful, it kept us going.

You live in Ottawa. What are some of your favourite spots to eat on a night out?

Our station is downtown in the ByWard Market, so we often stay local. I could go on forever but if I’m grabbing a quick bite, I love the salad from Corazon De Maiz in the Market building. If I’m meeting with friends then we will usually end up at Tavern on the Hill, Joey or a spot on Clarence Street. My favourite takeout spot has to be Coconut Lagoon! I’m also super excited for the return of Vittoria Trattoria for pasta night.

We want to know more about your life off-camera.

What does a typical day off look like for you?

After starting a new shift this summer, I’m still getting used to my new schedule. On workdays, I get up and enjoy a coffee before working out. From there, I will meal-prep, get ready for work and aim to be in the office by 4 p.m. I will also squeeze in a walk or run and errands if there’s time. In September, I’ll be adding some online classes to my daily routine as well. On weekends, you will find me with family or friends and usually outdoors.

What is your favourite meal of all time?

It’s between sushi and tacos!

Top 3 Netflix recommendations?

I’ll go with what I’m watching right now: Umbrella Academy, Scandal and Selling Sunset.

What is one thing that most people don’t know about you?

I’m a pretty open book but viewers might not know that I’m the youngest of four girls… and we grew up with one washroom in the house so finding time to get ready for work or school was ALWAYS a challenge.

You recently celebrated 5 years with CTV Ottawa, Congrats! What has been your favourite thing about your time with them?

I started working at CTV at a younger age so being able to grow with a company, surrounded by talented journalists, has been a blessing. I think every time I get to cover something new or try something new, I feel reinvigorated. I’m fortunate to love what I do and I’m excited for what the future brings!

What is your best advice for any professional (new, old, or aspiring) on achieving their goals?

Work hard, be kind and don’t give up!

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Petcube Smart Cube For the dog who has long shifts standing guard at home, alone, the Petcube gives them the gift of in-house entertainment. It’s a way for you to interact with, and entertain your doggo right from work: by chatting them up, dispensing treats, and playing a chase-the-light game, all from your phone.

Dog Door Bell For the potty-trained dog who scratches the door when he wants out, a doggy doorbell is a fun and furniture-friendly alternative. It’s an easy-to-use doorbell for your doggo to ring when she wants outside. It’s completely wireless and sound-penetrating.

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A Guide To Gifting For Your Dog Here’s some buys that both you and your furball will enjoy.

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Pet Portrait A personalized portrait is a great choice for a dignified dog or any pet with personality. Immortalize your pup by putting their face on a renaissance figure, or a real painting of their face. All of these options can be ordered online, and are based on real pictures of your pets.

Want to know more about where your dog comes from? The DNA My Dog Testing get is an amazing way to learn. The pain-free cheek swab test can be completed at home and sent away. Then, you’ll get a report on the breeds found by percentage, a certificate of authenticity, and the general health concerns and personality traits found in those breeds.

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15 Questions With Ottawa Artist

Mikayel Artist and songwriter Mikayel is one of Ottawa’s multi-talented and hardworking upcoming artists.

His music, a mix of Afrobeats, Hip Hop and Afro Pop, Mikayel seamlessly fuses the upbeat culture of his birth country, Zambia, with a ‘new edge’ vibe that transforms the listener.

Mikayel moved from Zambia to Ottawa to study Construction Engineering. His passion for music and songwriting has led him to explore English Literature, Piano, and even poetry.

Music, for him, is a process, a healer, and a journey.

We caught up with Mikayel to discuss his new music, his take on the journey of becoming a prevalent artist in Ottawa, and what’s next.

You’re from Zambia, can you tell us some of your favourite memories growing up there?

I have so many fond memories of growing up in Zambia. I Grew up with nine siblings of which I was the second youngest. I think growing up in big tight-knit middle class family made me appreciate the simple things in life. We had no video games or gadgets, we had to be a little creative.

What is it like being an upcoming artist in Ottawa during the pandemic?

“I think growing up in big tight-knit middle class family made me appreciate the simple things in life. We had no video games or gadgets, we had to be a little creative.”

Ottawa has its own challenges when it comes to upcoming artists because every upcoming artist wants to move Toronto. I see a positive shift when it comes to the music industry in Ottawa... with all the new music festivals coming out like Cranium festival. I can’t speak for every upcoming artist, but for me, the pandemic time has allowed me to work on my music and also my brand which has kind of been a blessing in disguise.

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Do what you love. If you love music, don’t let anyone tell you you can’t do it. Be yourself.

You moved to Canada in 2005 to study Construction Engineering. After completing your studies in 2008, when did you know you wanted to start your career in music?

What is one inspirational music quote you live by?

Tell me about your new song and the inspiration behind it?

One thing about music is when hits you, you feel no pain. From Bob Marley.

I actually have a few songs coming out but the latest one to be released is titled ‘Too Focused’ Its just a song that talks about staying focused. I like to write songs that inspire people.‘Too Focused’ talks about being adaptable and being able to surf through the waves of life.

I’ve been recording music and writing songs for a long time, butI rarely shared it with people until recently.

But, the few people that heard my music before encouraged me to share it.

What can we expect next in your career?

Has poetry always been something that interested you?

More music, more videos and we are working on collaborations with other artists.

Yes I took English literature and have always been interested in creative writing from a very young age.

What advice do you have for other aspiring artists?

Who has helped/inspired you with your music career?

Do what you love. If you love music, don’t let anyone tell you you can’t do it. Be yourself.

My producer/engineer and friend “JR”. We’ve been doing music together for more than 10 years. Seeing him grow as a musician and to know how much passion he has for music has inspired me to strive for more.

Who inspires you?

I’m inspired by anyone striving to be the best version of themselves, every day.

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If you aren’t making music, what can we find you doing?

What is one thing about yourself that people might not know?

Wow, tough question (laughs).

I have a 3 year old daughter.

I run a small home renovations business. I always love to see the process of change and I feel like my work helps me experience that. Its almost similar to the song writing process. @mikayelmusic

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