Fine Lifestyles Kingston Spring 2014 by Fine Lifestyles

FineLifestyles SPRING 2014 | VOLUME 2 ISSUE 1

INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS: A FOCUS ON THE WHOLE CHILD IDEAS FOR ORGANIZED LIVING QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY HOSTS ANNUAL FASHION SHOW

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FineLifestyles KINGstON

WITH FINE LIFEstyLEs EDItOR KaTrIna Geenevasen

elcome to the spring issue of Fine Lifestyles Kingston. Throughout the following pages, we once again profile some of the amazing businesses that are proud to serve within Kingston. Our cover story features Seniors on the Move, an incredible Kingston-based company that understands just how emotional it can be to sell a home for seniors and their adult children. They not only take the time to make clients feel comfortable with the process from start to finish, but are always looking out for their clients’ best interests.

Now that the frigid winter months are finally behind us (for a few months, anyways!) it’s time to tackle the dreaded task of spring cleaning. Need some extra help to get the job done? Local companies are always willing to lend a helping hand. Like many Canadians, you’re likely eager to dig the barbecue out of storage and fire up the grill. We have thought of everything you might need to make sure your summer sizzles, from inspired décor to hosting friends and family in style, to how to select the perfect, mouthwatering cut of steak. If cooking isn’t your thing, we’ve got that covered, too. The Fine Lifestyles family noticed gourmet takeout food is becomingly increasingly popular, so we decided to do some fun investigative work to sample some of the finest eats around. Whatever your style, taste or interest, you can be guaranteed there’s something within these pages to grab your attention. The best part? It’s all here in the Limestone City.

spring 2014 vOLUMe 2 IssUe 1 www.finelifestyles.ca Editor Katrina Geenevasen

katrinag@finelifestyles.ca

Art Direction Amber Moon, Senior Lisa Redden, Associate

Design Brittany Pickrem Natasha Burkholder

Staff Writers Tori Stafford Brandi Parnell Apolline Lucyk

Trina Annand Tonya Lambert Alyssa Rudyck

Cover Photography Stephen Wild

Photography Stephen Wild Amanda Garreau Suzy Lamont

Billy Kimmerly Peter Law

Contributing Writers Christina Bergeron Ashliegh Gehl Justin Smith

Associate Publisher Cathie Watson

cathie@finelifestyles.ca 613.453.5697

Distribution & Subscriptions

Happy Spring, Kingston!

wayne@finelifestyles.ca

Finelifestylesandfinehomesmagazineskingston @finemagkingston

Advertising Consultants

Cathie Watson Sales Manager cathie@finelifestyles.ca 613.453.5697

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Jacqui Lysko jacquil@finelifestyles.ca 613.213.3145

Deborah Tindal deboraht@finelifestyles.ca 613.453.9424

FineLifestyles Kingston is published four times a year by FineLifestyles Ltd. We reserve the right to edit any materials chosen for publication including photographs. We reserve the right to reject or accept any article, photograph, image or advertisement. All contents of FineLifestyles Ltd. publications are copyrighted 2014 with all rights reserved, except for original articles submitted to FineLifestyles Kingston, where copyright resides with the author. No other part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of FineLifestyles Ltd. or its writers. The name FineLifestyles Kingston, its logo and material cannot be reproduced without the written consent of the publishers. The views and opinions expressed in the expert advice columns herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of FineLifestyles Ltd. or the companies it represents. The information contained herein is of a general nature and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although we endeavour to provide accurate and timely information, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No one should act upon such information without appropriate professional advice after a thorough examination of the particular situation. Canada Post Publication Agreement #41818060 Return undeliverables to: 3440 Balsam Grove; Regina, Saskatchewan; S4V 1H1

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What’sInside

FEATURE STORIES 8

Annual Queen’s University Charity Fashion Show

90 Hosting the Perfect Backyard Barbecue

Fresh Spring Style

104 Ideas for Organized Living

24 COVER: Seniors on the Move

120 Innovative Bathroom Technology

62 Benefits of Independent Schools

150 Scooting About Town

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150

120

104

DEPARTMEnTS 8

Style

104 House and Home

24 Health and Wellness

129 Business

150 Wheels

Arts, Dining and Entertainment

93 Sports, Recreation and Travel

160 Retail Directory

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FASHION

FOR A CAUSE 8

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Annual Vogue Charity Fashion Show Raises Funds for Community Living Kingston

By Katrina Geenevasen

he stage of the historic Grand Theatre was transformed earlier this spring into a high-fashion runway for the annual Vogue Charity Fashion show.

Each year, the show is produced entirely by Queens’s University students, beautifully fusing fashion, dance and art on one stage. Proceeds are then donated to a local charity. Since its humble beginnings in 1997, it has raised more than $200,000. This year, the funds were donated to Community Living Kingston, which believes “those with intellectual disabilities should have every opportunity to participate fully in the community with dignity and independence.” In turn, the organization offers a variety of services to encourage living, learning and working in the community. “We realize how much Community Living Kingston does for the community, and how important it is,” says Tova Latowsky, Vogue’s head of marketing. More than 150 students took part this year, contributing their time for everything from the fashion design to the stage design. “The talent that I have had the chance to witness in my peers has been unbelievable,” says Grace Mustard, president of the Vogue Charity Fashion Show. “I am honoured and overjoyed to have been a part of the Vogue Charity Fashion Show. I was so excited — and nervous — for it all to come together.” “We were a huge group and it was hard to get everyone to attend all the rehearsals and all the cast meetings . . . we all have busy lives, so it was very nice to see the dedication and passion in the cast and crew to make sure that the show was the best it could be,” agreed Latowsky. This year’s brilliantly unique theme was “The Six,” which highlighted the main aspects of the Art Deco period. “The theme this year strived to be different from past years,” explains Howard Shaw and Anna Speyer, heads of creative for the Vogue Charity Fashion Show. “With the theme, we were inspired by ideas that were over the top and glamourous. From there, the ’20s were an obvious choice because of the vibrant music, art and fashion that came from that time period.” To keep the show exciting from start to finish, the creative team decided to not tell a story, but instead create six

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‘‘

So much effort from so many different departments goes into creating such a show. It’s not just a fashion and dance show — it’s a full creative event for those who experience it. segments that highlighted the main aspects of the art deco period – highlife society, fine art, the American dream, the Great Depression, architecture and fashion. “The excitement around this year’s theme mainly had to do with the new structure we put in place,” explains Shaw and Speyer. “By looking at six different elements within the Art Deco time period, we hoped to present the audience with a very dynamic experience, allowing them to be constantly engaged with what was being presented to them.” “VCFS has never taken such a detailed, systematic look within any one theme, and we hope this new approach captivated and delighted the audience,” they added. To say VCFS is a creative spectacle is an understatement, says Mustard proudly. “It’s a visionary experience that encompasses so much,” she said, gesturing towards her colleagues. “So much effort from so many different departments goes into creating such a show. It’s not just a fashion and dance show — it’s a full creative event for those who experience it.” It felt nothing short of amazing to hand the donation to Community Living Kingston, says Latowsky. “All the hard work that we did for the show was all for the charity,” she said, beaming. “We had fun doing it, but in the back of our mind during every rehearsal we were

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thinking about how we were doing it for Community Living. It has been so amazing to see all of our hard work come together for an amazing cause. It’s such a great feeling.” “Their efforts are genuine and selfless,” says Peter Sproul, executive director of Community Living Kingston of the Queen’s students behind the fundraising initiative. “These are people who have contributed directly to building a welcoming, inclusive community for people with disabilities and they deserve tremendous credit for volunteering their time and energy in such a positive way. I’m very proud and appreciative of all of their efforts.”

EXPERTAdvice 10 Steps to Achieve and Maintain Healthy Hair

Marie-Claude Tetrault and Lou Petrie ECHO Hair Salon 344 Bagot St., Kingston 613.542.5069 www.echohairstudio.com echo@echohairstudio.com

with little demarcation. Highlights give dimension (light and/or dark) with low maintenance.

use leave-in treatments containing sunscreen to protect your hair — try Osis Sun Protect.

Prevent fading

Don’t over shampoo

New colour-retaining shampoos by ColourProof help maintain your colour intensity. You’ll see 96 per cent colour retention after 10 washes.

Try rinsing your hair instead. You’ll be amazed how much less frizzy your hair can be. Oily scalps just produce more oil if hair is stripped clean too often.

Clarify your hair as needed

Deep condition and reconstruct

Clarifying your hair is important to maintain its health. This process eliminates any product build up from sea, lake, well and chlorinated water. You should clarify after swimming anywhere. Try Unite Weekender shampoo or Deep Cleansing Hair and Scalp by BC. A professional clarifier removes chemical and mineral build up without stripping hair or removing colour. Don’t be fooled – simply shampooing isn’t enough.

Deep conditioners reconstruct the hair shaft. They are not the same as detanglers. Consult with your stylist about how to use them. They are an important part of your hair health regime.

Don’t fall victim to drug store lightening products

Trim your ends every four to six weeks. It’s good practice even if you are growing your hair. Split ends travel up the shaft to make your hair appear brittle and dull.

Go to a professional who has the expertise to control the tone and placement of sun kissed highlights. Our No. 1 corrective job is fixing botched results from those ‘box’ colours.

For extreme shine

Cover up

Have your stylist give you a colour glaze or highlights. Adding colour to your locks infuses them with a brilliant glow. Semipermanent colour creates tone-on-tone

The best way to protect your hair, scalp, face and neck is to wear a hat all summer. You may not like the way you look in hats or what hats do to your hairstyle, so if you must go “topless”

Drink up Drink Water! Lots of water! Dehydration may cause dullness and shedding.

Combat split ends

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FRESH SPRING STYLE BY TORI STAFFORD

Spring is truly a season all its own, and for those with an eye for style, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a season where not only trees and flowers bloom, but new trends and fashion statements blossom, as well.

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Corporate-Chic Much to the delight of many a fashionista, a number of the looks on the spring runways are adaptable to the workplace. The ‘boyfriend’s dress shirt’ hit the catwalk at a number of shows, proving that a woman in ‘men’s clothing’ can be both elegant and sexy. Playing up to this is the popularity of contrasting collars on women’s button-downs. A style usually reserved for menswear, contrasting collars and cuffs bring a classy, Gatsby-esque signature to any look, and look sleek paired with a pair of tailored jeans. Another item making a comeback is the tea-length skirt. This easy-to-wear length is great for the office, and transitions easily into the evening. This piece is a staple you’re sure to love; purchased in a flirty pastel or vibrant floral, the tealength skirt is also an obvious choice for tea parties and Sunday brunches.

Ladies’ Lunches Speaking of tea parties and brunch, the popular pastel palette this spring is perfectly pretty for lunching with girlfriends or sipping cocktails on a downtown patio. The aforementioned floral prints all the rage this year are wonderful when used in sheer fabrics for blouses, and pair beautifully with what is perhaps this season’s most approachable and adaptable must-have: the wideleg trouser. Particularly in white, widelegged pants were everywhere on the spring runways this year. Also a tailored look, the power suit is back – and the trend spans the gamut of styles: Bright bold patterns and colours are an instant way to make an impact, but a classic cream or navy always looks good. No matter what, paired with a beautiful stiletto, a suit is a put-together look that is versatile and timeless.

Warmer Nights, Hotter Styles From elegant to electric, this spring’s evening wear styles are all about making a sexy statement. Although the crop top is making a return as a hot trend this season, there are a variety of more approachable options for those who shy away from baring their midriffs. Metallic and iridescent fabrics and accents are everywhere this season, from shimmery mini skirts to highly embellished necklines and studded epaulettes.

Top Four Spring Must-Haves

1 2 .

3 4 . .

Rain Boots These aren’t your Grandpa’s galoshes anymore. In the last few years, a number of glamorous designers have jumped into puddle-stomping wear, creating trendy and elegant varieties of the boots that keep your feet dry all season.

Heel Guards It’s a wonder these treasures aren’t available in every corner store. Heel guards slip over your stiletto or pump heel and are sturdy and wide at the base to prevent your heels from sinking into the damp ground. Leave the irrigation to the experts.

Sun Hats You need at least one good sun hat in the spring – you want to be protected, whether it’s during a day at the beach, or a lunch with friends.

Sunglasses Give into your excitement for the return of sunny days, and splurge on a really great pair of quality sunglasses. If there is any piece that deserves to be invested in, it’s one that is fashionable and protective to your vision.

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International World of Fashion Awaits Behind the Doors of

Leigha’s Designer CLoset By Katrina Geenevasen Photos stephen Wild

ith thousands of designer goods from all over the globe, Leigha’s Designer Closet – located just minutes away from downtown Kingston – is re-defining local fashion with every handbag, item of clothing and pair of shoes on its shelves. Owned and operated by Janet Comis, Leigha’s was launched six years ago with the goal to bring high-end fashion to women in Kingston and the surrounding area. Since then, it has made its mark on the fashion stage, beautifully fusing style with accessibility. There’s no need to travel to Toronto, New York City or Montreal to purchase the latest “must-haves” of the season. At affordable prices — items are at least 50 per cent less than the manufacturer’s suggested retail price — all clients can have a true designer experience, says Comis, who handpicks each and every brand-new item.

Model is wearing vintage Chanel

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Leigha’s Designer Closet offers clothing and accessories from top designers around the world. Here are just a few: • • • • • • •

Valentino Coach Badgley Mischka Michael Kors Tory Burch Dolce and Gabbana and many more

It’s important to Comis that women of varying shapes are able to shop at Leigha’s Designer Closet, so she has sizes that range from four to 24. Shoes come in sizes from five to 11. An added bonus is that customers can shop whenever they want to. It’s as simple as contacting Leigha’s in advance to book your personal or group appointment for any day and time of the week. Clients love the service offered at Leigha’s, returning time and time again, eager to see what’s new. “I receive many emails and telephone calls after people have been to the store, thanking me for all the help and telling me how delighted they are to find such beautiful clothing, shoes and accessories locally,” says Comis, adding that customers also appreciate the refreshments served. These days, Leigha’s is getting ready to offer its clients an even more memorable shopping experience. As the store prepares to undergo renovations, Leigha’s is offering even deeper discounts than usual in an effort to clear the entire store. The revamped store will boast chic, modern décor — perfectly suited to the merchandise that decorates its walls and shelves. “It’s going to be a whole new look,” says Comis excitedly. Leigha’s Designer Closet 613.530.7392 leighasdesignercloset@hotmail.com www.leighasdesignercloset.com

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MAKING

Jewellery That Stands the Test of Time BY TRINA ANNAND PHOTOS STEPHEN WILD

ewellery has been a part of human development since the Paleolithic Era. For tens of thousands of years, people have been using jewellery as a way to express who they are. From imbuing power to the wearer, to being the ultimate expression of love and commemoration, jewellery has served (and continues to serve) a number of purposes. Nestled in Kingston’s historic downtown in a space that has been a jewellery store for over a century, TresOrs Jewellers offers clients beautiful jewellery and expert advice for that special gift or one-of-a-kind piece. As a second-generation jeweller, Alain Filion understands jewellery is much more than an accessory or trinket. “I love making people happy, you can’t help but get excited when you are picking out a special gift.

Jewellery is an emotional purchase; most people buy jewellery to commemorate a special occasion. Jewellery is meant to make people happy, that’s why it is so often given as a gift,” he says. TresOrs features high-end jewellery from brands like Precisionist, Movado, Eternity Diamonds, Venetti and CanadianRocks. The jeweller even offers unique family jewellery for expanding families, like Dimples Fingerprint Jewellery, which turns children’s fingerprints into necklaces, bracelets and cufflinks. For those with broken and unused gold and silver at home, TresOrs offers the highest price for the precious metals in the city and these pieces can be simply turned into cash or even repurposed into an entirely redesigned heirloom. Everyone

ABOVE Moira Dares-Dobbie, Jewellery Consultant, Alain Filion, Owner, Nancy Armstrong, Manager and Jewellery Consultant RIGHT Leslie Bokfi, Goldsmith

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has inherited a piece of jewellery that is not quite his or her style. The design experts at TresOrs can turn those pieces into jewellery that can be cherished for generations to come, even combining multiple pieces of jewellery to create that perfect necklace, bangle, brooch or ring. With thousands of pieces of jewellery, TresOrs has the perfect gift for every person and occasion, but their specialty is engagement and wedding bands. With an in-house goldsmith, clients can pick a ring, have it resized and even repaired later in life if need be. Using Counter Sketch, a state-of-the-art custom jewellery design program, clients can see their custom jewellery designs come to life in 3D renderings. “We can create the perfect wedding band to match any engagement ring, making a truly oneof-a-kind statement of your love,” notes Filion. From baby and family jewellery, to wedding jewellery and gifts for the wedding party, TresOrs has it all with an added personal touch that makes a client feel special. The closely knit staff takes each job personally, truly getting to know each client and their needs, selecting that perfect piece every time. “My father Raymond was a jeweller and watchmaker and he taught me that you can buy anything you want in the world, but you can’t buy trust — it’s something you need to earn by providing the best service to your clients. We are one of the few jewellers left where you can actually talk to the owner, [and] where you can have in-store repairs done. A lot of jewellery stores have become large corporate entities that are depersonalized,” remarks Filion. "Are you purchasing a diamond ring? Contact us by phone or email, or come visit us. We look forward to seeing you!" TresOrs Jewellers 613.542.4492 168 Princess St., Kingston tresorsjewellers.com

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EXPERTAdvice Clearing the Clutter

Christine Ray-Bratt Chris James 253 Ontario Street Kingston 613.541.0707 info@ChrisJamesKingston.com www.ChrisJamesKingston.com |

DEFINING CONTEMPORARY STYLE

ith a new season around the corner, we could all use a closet cleanup — yours truly included. We all know the basic rules for purging a closet: if you haven’t worn it in a year, you probably never will; if it doesn’t fit, it probably never will again; if you love it but it is no longer fashionably relevant to your life, you might as well frame it, because you’re never going to wear it again.

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You’ll need to be ruthless, and scrutinize as if they are someone else’s clothes. Friends and cameras are good at telling the truth. Don’t believe me? Put on an outfit you are curious about and have someone take a picture. If you don’t think it’s flattering, chances are other people don’t either.

A few tips on purging Start by simply sorting similar items together. If you have too much of one thing, rank in order of love and lose those at the bottom of the pile. Step two: sort again. This time, sort by how you live: work wear, weekend wear, gym clothes, etc. You will likely find anything that doesn’t fit into these sections are items you no longer need. Last step, make one last sweep through your wardrobe for pieces you really don’t need. Be ruthless! If you find you love a jacket but the matching skirt doesn’t fit, lose the skirt and bring us the jacket. We’ll help you find something else to make that jacket great again. If it doesn’t fit well, consider if a simple alteration makes it current or wearable. And don’t keep something out of guilt. Things do go out of style, but even if it does come around again, you won’t want to wear that mini skirt now. Today, silhouettes are cleaner and trimmer, and

hem lengths are sexy and sophisticated, hitting just below the knee. Perhaps most importantly, each piece should not only fit, but also work for your body shape and stage of life. Once you’re done, bag it up. I keep the things I am unsure about for a year. But, here is the rule: no peeking in the bag. You can only go in the bag if you find you are missing a specific item. Chances are, in a year, you won’t remember what was in that bag. So just take it away. We are surrounded these days by disposable fashion, but when making a purchase, it’s really important to ensure each piece is a decision, not a reaction. A bargain that sits at the bottom of your closet is not a bargain. It’s wasted money. Buying less allows you to buy better quality and buy smarter. There are lots of local organizations making a difference for people who are in need of good quality, gently used clothing. Dress for Success in Kingston helps local women trying to re-enter the workforce by helping them put together interview and work appropriate outfits. Other options include Interval House, The St. Vincent de Paul Society of Kingston, or The Salvation Army. The list is long, both locally and globally. So do some good and share the love.

EXPERTAdvice How to Care for Aging Skin

Kelly Cordeiro, Esthetician Perfetta Skin Therapy & Medi-Spa 2â&#x20AC;&#x201C;725 Arlington Park Place Kingston 613.389.2226 www.perfettaskin.com

ine lines, wrinkles, sagging, discoloration and increased dryness are just some of the symptoms of aging skin. With a plethora of skincare products on the market, how do we decide which ones are best?

We must focus on the cause, rather than the symptom, in order to prevent the skin from aging prematurely. The primary cause of premature aging is the sun. It breaks down collagen and elastin, and inhibits the skins ability to repair itself. Some may argue their time in the sun is very limited, but this does not matter. Sun damage is cumulative. The UV rays that damage our skin are strong enough to penetrate through glass. We must wear SPF every day, applied on top of moisturizer. It should have an SPF factor of 30, and should contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.

As we approach our mid 20s, our bodies stop producing Hyaluronic Acid, which is a gel-like, water-holding molecule that lubricates our joints, nerves, eyes, skin and hair. This is when we begin to notice increased dryness, a dull complexion and fine lines. Adding products with Hyaluronic Acid into your skincare regime that is sourced from botanicals rather than synthetic materials will deeply hydrate, smooth and plump your skin. In todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s world, most of us are engaged in a hectic lifestyle. Stress can cause many skin conditions to worsen. Also, as we become stressed, we furrow our brow more and increase repetitive facial expressions. Over time, these repeated facial movements cause permanent damage. De-stress with a facial. Not only can professional skin exfoliation bring radiance to your skin, having the muscles in your face massaged regularly will soften those stress lines. Trust us, your skin will thank you.

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A Perfect Blend of trend & trAdition By Tonya LamberT Photos STephen WiLd

alking through the doors of Diva Salon & Day Spa, you are enveloped in the warm, comfortable elegance of this beautiful heritage building. Friendly greetings and bright smiles welcome you in. From this moment on, the experienced and gracious staff go out of their way to make sure the salon and spa live up to its name and reputation and you leave feeling like the diva that you are. “From the moment you walk in the door at Diva and are greeted by a warm and friendly hello, you know you are in the hands of true professionals,” notes Paul, a client.

When Paula Foster first opened the day spa in downtown Kingston in 1995, she knew that she wanted to give people a place to escape from the hectic pace of their everyday lives, a place where they would be cared for and pampered. It was with this same goal in mind that Paula expanded the business six years ago to include a beauty salon, and a year later when she introduced the benefits of ayurvedic spa treatments. Paula and her staff of 14 professional stylists, make-up artists, eyelash extension experts, masseuses, waxing technicians and skin care experts work

hard to provide clients with the highest level of care. Their attention to the smallest details is really appreciated by their many repeat customers as are the treatments customized to meet the needs of the client. As part of their ongoing commitment to provide quality service, staff members keep on top of the newest trends by taking regular training courses. Several of Diva’s experienced aestheticians have received their expert designation in the use of the Dermalogica skin care line. Diva Salon & Day Spa offers a variety of spa packages to help you relax. They

ABOVE Jack Kilcollins, Cynthia Donahue, Melissa Brandao

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ABOVE Lindsay Goodbody, Emilie Bond RIGHT Chaylynn Boyle

are the exclusive vendor for the body spa line of products by Morroconoil MORROCONOILÂŽ, which are used by the spa. Diva is equipped with eight individual treatment rooms as well as one double room perfect for couples. Larger groups, such as bridal parties or companies, can book customized spa packages, too. Diva is the only spa in Kingston to have a fully trained ayurvedic practitioner on staff. Ayurvedic medicine is a form of natural healing and wellness therapy that developed in the Vedic culture in India 5,000 years ago. It is a holistic approach to wellness that considers body, mind, spirit and environment. Everyone is comprised of three basic energies or doshas: movement or vata (wind), transformation or pitta (fire) and structure or kapha (earth). All spa treatments are geared towards restoring the balance of an individualâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s particular blend of energies. The stylists at Diva Salon are fully trained in the most up-to-date cuts, styles

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and colours for both men and women. The salon uses and sells Paul Mitchell and Morroconoil MORROCONOIL ® products. Paula says, “We fell in love with Paul Mitchell’s eco-friendly approach coupled with their edgy fashion forward, yet classic collections.” In addition, the salon stocks The Lucia Collection of bath products by Pure Living. These products, as seen in Oprah’s Gift Guide, come in a variety of tantalizing blends, such as Pomegranate and Red Currant or Tea Leaf and Wild Honey. At Diva Salon, customers can now get eyelash extensions from trained experts.

This service, like their Brazilian waxing, is especially popular right now. As with everything they do, the staff at Diva are careful to keep both their clients’ shortterm and long-term needs in mind. For example, eyelash extensions are applied one to a lash rather than in clusters, the weight of which can cause the actual eyelash to be pulled out. The ambiance at Diva is one of elegant relaxation. When a client comes to Diva Salon & Day Spa, they know they can leave their cares and worries at the door. The attention clients receive throughout the course of their visit causes the stress

and tension that fills their bodies to just melt away, leaving them feeling refreshed, invigorated and once again able to take on the world. The quiet, peaceful atmosphere of Diva Salon & Day Spa always remains the same, though the décor itself undergoes regular updates. Client Susan Koval states, “Paula is always updating the spa look and services, keeping it fresh and authentic.” Clients and staff alike appreciate this restorative blend of innovation and consistency. Alison D., a client, confirms, “From the easy online booking and confirmation system to the friendly, professional and very skilled staff members, Diva Salon hits all the right notes.” Diva Salon & Day Spa 336 Princess Street Kingston 613.544.4067 divasalon@gmail.com www.divasalonanddayspa.com TOP Paula Foster

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EXPERTAdvice Suiting Up on Your Wedding Day

Jim Adams Chris James 253 Ontario Street Kingston 613.541.0707 info@ChrisJamesKingston.com www.ChrisJamesKingston.com |

DEFINING CONTEMPORARY STYLE

hen the big day arrives, a groom has to understand that he’s not the star of the show – that role is reserved for the bride. However, with permission from his wife-to-be, the groom can select a suit befitting of his taste – perhaps one with a unique vest and accessorized with a pocket square or a funky belt. He can even pair it with unique socks, or possibly a one-of-a-kind tie. Maybe the groom even has a pocket watch or cufflinks passed down from a family member – items like these not only look sharp, but they have personal meaning, as well.

Classic or Contemporary? While black suits remain classic and timeless, grey suits are making a comeback. With its varying shades, grey is an easy colour to accessorize. Just keep in mind that if the wedding is earlier in the day, the groom may wish to opt for a lighter grey. If it’s an evening wedding, a darker shade will be more suitable. I’m finding that more and more, traditional rules are falling to the wayside

in favour of more relaxed garments. These days, almost anything goes — as long as it works for the couple. This said, I tend to be more of a traditionalist. You can’t go wrong with a sleek tuxedo, a black or grey suit, or a navy blazer. I’ll add my style and flair with accessories. Trends will come and go, but classic style endures for years and years. I think that sometimes, less is more, and that a groom’s suit should be coordinated, not too contrived. Making sure of a proper fit is also important. A well-fitted garment will make a difference on anyone. After all, what man doesn’t look good in a wellfitted suit?

Finding Your Style So what style will work for you? Consider your height when you’re deciding. Tall men have it pretty easy when it comes to their wedding attire; they will look good in anything. If a groom falls a little short in terms of height, he may wish to opt for a lighter fabric, which tends to add less bulk.

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Is It tIme to RIght-sIze YouR LIvIng? By Tori STafford Photos STephen Wild

move is usually a challenging event. It is also usually a move to something better. Seniors may have even more concerns but the main concern is how to simplify the transition. Many seniors may be torn. They do not want to face the challenges of downsizing but want more freedom. Freedom from lawn work, repairs and upkeep. Freedom to travel without worrying about the house. Freedom to share treasures with friends and family. Freedom to spend more time with grandchildren, volunteering, or doing the things they

have always wanted to do when they had more time. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s where Chris Lawson and Seniors on the Move come in. A company dedicated to the housing and transitional service needs of those over 55, Seniors on the Move is a Kingston-based business Lawson started after seeing a need for such services while working as a real estate agent. While figuring out a move, renovation or retirement plan is a stressful process for anyone of any age, it can be even more

unsettling for the senior demographic, Lawson explains. Those at Seniors on the Move offer a wide range of real estate services for seniors and their families, with the ultimate goal of making the experience as comfortable and stressfree as possible. With a growing number of families finding themselves spread throughout the country and globe, sometimes it is impossible for adult children to help facilitate the move of their parents. Even if they are able to help, it can be hard to know where to start. This is why Seniors

ABOVE & OPPISITE PAGE Chris Lawson Owner/Realtor

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TOP LEFT Mary Thompson Consultant aBoVe Joanne Fischer Case Manager, Stacy Lawson RN. BOTTOM LEFT Chris Lawson Owner/Realtor.

on the Move has a free consultation with each client as the first step, in any situation, to help determine what is needed. “Our first goal is to develop a relationship with the client and their family, so we can find out what they need and how they’d like to reach those goals,” Lawson says. “To do that, we want to ensure the client is comfortable with us, and can trust us.” The majority of Canadian adults over 50 live in the home that accounts for most of their net worth; it is therefore their largest asset, Lawson points out. Because of this, trust is paramount when dealing with real estate transactions or services surrounding the home. Seniors on the Move takes great pride in not only providing reliable services themselves, but also having a network of partner businesses, such as moving and cleaning companies, that are all bonded and have proven track records. The first step Seniors on the Move takes with each client is determining if the

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client wants or needs to move, or if they want to adapt their current home to make it more livable, to ‘age in place.’ During the initial consultation, Lawson and his team determine this information, as well as whether the client wants to sell their house, and where they want to live next. With all of this information, Seniors on the Move then provides a series of services to ensure their client ends up in the optimal living arrangement, happily and comfortably. But, as Lawson stresses, none of this is done until the client approves the plan. “When a senior is looking at selling their home, or moving into a retirement residence, the last thing they want is to lose their independence,” Lawson says. “We don’t want that, either. We want to make sure we are providing the services they want, the way they want them provided.” A Certified Relocation Transition Specialist and Accredited Senior Agent, Lawson is skilled and knowledgeable in general real estate needs. Lawson knows

Testimonial “Mom had lived in her house for 46 years, more than half her lifetime, but she knew it was time to move. The care of the house was a burden. But downsizing is so much easier said than done. For mom, it seemed overwhelming in many ways: mentally, physically and spiritually. A friend recommended Seniors on the Move. I have never written a testimonial for any company before, but Seniors on the Move were so good to us that I want others to know about them. Chris and his team reminded us of those days when service was great and people were civil — they actually cared. These people get it. They know how traumatic it is to pull up roots and plant them somewhere new. They made mom’s move stress-free. Their service is comprehensive — it seems they can do anything, from packing to unpacking, setting up appliances, selling things no longer needed, and so much more. They wanted to help as much as possible to make this transition gentle and easy. A big tip of the hat in gratitude to Seniors on the Move. —Terry and Noretta Martin

how to get seniors the most financial return out of their home, as well as the specific needs of those leaving their long-time family homes — whether it’s to transition into a retirement home for downsizing reasons, or “rightsizing,” which ensures your home fits your lifestyle and is not overburdened with possessions. The regular stress of moving is magnified for those leaving their homes, and can present an intense and overwhelming burden for seniors. To do away with that burden, Lawson and his team at Seniors on the Move developed a colourcoded tagging system, and help clients categorize their personal belongings into four groups: keep, sell, donate, or dispose. Working with the client, those at Seniors on the Move go room by room, helping trouble-shoot and lending advice based on the client’s specific situation. As Lawson says, “it is always better to make these decisions with someone rather than having someone else make them for you later.”

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With that in mind, Seniors on the Move aims to donate or sell as much as possible, or to give it to family and friends. For Lawson, the goal is to make as much money as possible for his clients. Seniors on the Move then takes care of as much or as little of the packing, moving, donating and removal of unwanted items as the client wants, utilizing their network of trusted professionals. Whether the client simply wants help sorting through things, or wants their entire move taken care of without lifting a finger, Seniors on the Move aims to make that happen. While the planning and moving is going on, the company will also tend to securing your new home, condo or retirement facility, and the sales of your estate. In some cases, your home can be put on the market right away. In others, the company will wait until your home is cleaned out before preparing it and then putting it on the market. Either way, Seniors on the Move aims to ensure two things when selling your property: Getting you the most money they can for the estate, and not asking for a penny until that sale is secure. “There is no upfront charge with Seniors on the Move,” Lawson explains, expressing his company recognizes how large the transaction can be. Waiting until the sale is finalized means Seniors on the Move will simply send the finalization documents to your lawyers office, along with their bills, so you never have to write a cheque — the company is paid when you are. This is all in keeping with the company’s main directive, Lawson says. “At the end of the day, we want to provide services that our clients are comfortable with, and that leave them in a comfortable place,” says Lawson. “It can be a very difficult time for a lot of people. We want to do a service for our clients and the community in making sure our seniors have the services they need to be happy with their living situation.” Seniors on the Move 640 Cataraqui Woods Dr., Kingston 613.583.5001 chris@seniorsonthemove.com www.seniorsonthemove.ca

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he call for charitable contribution is constant — from natural disasters to poverty, there is a world at our doorstep reaching out for help each and every day. And while all philanthropic initiatives are admirable and important, sometimes it is what’s at our own doorstep that we fail to see. The Kingston Community Health Centres (KCHC) is trying to make sure those close to home are well looked after. The KCHC Capital Campaign calls on all Kingstonians to examine how they can help improve the quality of life in the local community. Through this campaign, the not-for-profit organization is asking for financial contributions to help build a better Kingston, by constructing a facility to amalgamate five of their eight locations currently existing within the city.

Kingston Community Health Centres: What They Do In essence, KCHC is a multi-site, multiservice Community Health Centre. Not only does the organization address the health and social concerns of more than 10,000 registered clients and thousands of unregistered clients, but it is also behind some of the initiatives that make Kingston better for all residents. Those at KCHC subscribe to the World Health Organization philosophy that ‘health’ is more than the absence of illness; the term also refers to having control of the factors that affect health — and income is a key determinant of health. When Hersh Sehdev, executive director of KCHC, arrived in Kingston from Toronto in 2000, the organization only consisted of the North Kingston Community Health Centre, and Better Beginnings for Kingston Children. In addition to the medical and nursing services, many of their programs helped those in need cope with poverty. Having worked with multiple agencies within Canada and overseas, Sehdev knew the best way to help those in need was to work at all levels, to implement real poverty reduction strategies. Working with the incredibly compassionate and engaged staff of 25 at the time, Sehdev tweaked existing programs, such as Better Beginnings, which provides support and education for both expectant parents and those of children up to five years old. KCHC slowly expanded to create more and more

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programs for all residents at risk. From the Street Health Program for Kingston’s most marginalized population, to the Pathways to Education program that helps local high school students achieve academic success (boasting a 93 per cent graduation rate) KCHC is there. The organization also provides backpack and snowsuit programs to area students, and access to Telemedicine Ontario for the entire greater Kingston area. Now with a staff of approximately 160 people, KCHC has purchased 263 and 267 Weller Avenue. With the sizable donation of the adjacent land parcel from the City of Kingston, construction has already begun on KCHC’s new facility that will integrate several services and improve access. This move will make operations easier for the staff, Sehdev says, but more importantly, it will be convenient for their clients, many of whom use more than one of KCHC’s services or programs.

The Capital Campaign Taking a page from their own book of wisdom, KCHC decided not to wait for government grants or other financial support before diving into the project. “We tell people every day that they have to help themselves,” Sehdev expresses. “Why should we be any different?” With the Board’s approval and support, Sehdev decided to take the leap of faith, and developed the capital project. KCHC is redirecting the rent money from their current location (nearly $400,000 annually), to pay off a low-interest loan from Infrastructure Ontario. The entire project has a $7 million price tag. KCHC has secured $5.5 million, leaving a shortfall of $1.5, for which they are turning to the citizens of Kingston. “Every dollar we receive is important, and we are watching where every dollar is spent, and those who support the campaign can watch where their money goes — they can actually see their money at work as we build on Weller Avenue, and build towards a better community,” says Sehdev. “The campaign provides an opportunity for people to invest in the future of Kingston — together we’re better.” To find out more about the Kingston Community Health Centres and the Capital Campaign, visit their website at www.kchc.ca.

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Kingston Community Health Centre’s new facility will bring together the following programs: • Medical, dental social and nutrition programs; and Allied Health Services, Regional Ontario Telemedicine and Chronic Disease Self-Management programs • Better Beginnings for Kingston Children • Pathways to Education • Community Health Services • Immigrant Services for Kingston Area Previous L–r Sandy Sheehan, capital build director; Hersh Sehdev, executive director. riGHT Sandy Sheehan. MiDDLe L–r Stafford Murphy, director of operations; Helen Mabberly, program co-ordinator – community health programs; Hersh Sehdev. BOTTOM L–R Sandy Sheehan; Cam Burns of Shoalts Zaback Architects Ltd; Mike Lott of David J. Cupido Construction; Hersh Sehdev.

EXPERTAdvice Benefits of Aquatic Therapy

Why Aquatic Therapy? It just makes sense.

Joe Stilwell Hydrathletics 1353 Midland Ave, Unit 235 613.384.3111 www.hydrathletics.ca

ater therapy has been known for hundreds of years to be beneficial to the human body. The ancient Romans and Greeks ensured baths were a part of their daily routine, not only for hygienic reasons, but for therapeutic purposes as well. Recently, it has come back to the forefront as one of the most effective ways to help people recover from injuries, as well as train for their chosen sport. With advances in technology, aquatic therapy is quickly becoming a leader in the world of athletics and rehabilitation. Many elite and professional athletes, including runners, football players, soccer players, basketball players and hockey players turn to aquatic therapy to help them improve their performance through training and to extend their athletic careers. Compared to land-based training, aquatic therapy reduces impact on joints and decreases the chance of injury, while allowing the athlete to save their bodies for competitions. The ability to

receive a comparable cardiovascular and strength conditioning workout in water as one would in a traditional gym makes aquatic therapy a great supplemental training choice. Elite athletes are not the only ones benefitting from aquatic therapy. Chronic pain patients, post-surgical patients, people with fibromyalgia, and the elderly have all realized the same advantages. Even those looking for an alternative to the gym have found a new way to get a great workout without the added stress on their bodies. Advances in technology have not only made aquatic therapy more accessible to the general population, but has improved what can be done in a pool. Underwater treadmills, resistance jets and deep wells are all examples of features that can now be found in pools manufactured specifically for aquatic therapy. Even underwater cameras are used to aid gait training. As more people experience aquatic therapy and see the results that waterbased training can provide, the more it will become a staple in the exercise and rehabilitation industries. It is not something that can merely be described â&#x20AC;&#x201D; you must try it for yourself.

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AQUATIC THERAPY A Growing Trend with Proven Results BY TORI STAFFORD PHOTOS STEPHEN WILD

oe Stilwell was still in high school when his curiosity became a dream that would later end up helping others and changing lives. Stilwell is now the owner of Hydrathletics Aquatic Therapy and Sports Training, a facility that utilizes both in-water and on-land therapy and training for clients that vary from varsity athletes to physical rehabilitation patients. He was only a teenager when he discovered the basis for his Kingston-

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based business that helps clients achieve their fitness and rehabilitation goals. While in his neighbour’s backyard pool one day, Stilwell found himself intrigued by the differences between jumping on land and jumping in water. As a lifelong athlete, Stilwell was struck by the potential this difference could make in athletic training. “I thought to myself, ‘This would be really good for jump training – plyometrics – because it’s low impact but high

resistance through the water’,” he recalls with a smile. “And that was it. I spent the rest of that summer looking things up online and researching the idea.” That same summer, Stilwell came across a company called HydroWorx Inc., which manufactures pools specifically for athletic training and aquatic therapy purposes. Throughout his studies – first receiving a diploma in fitness and health at Loyalist College and then his bachelor of science degree in kinesiology at

Dalhousie University – Stilwell kept in touch with HydroWorx Inc. and continued to keep tabs on the company’s growth and the rising awareness of the benefits of hydrotherapy. After eight years of education, peppered with some travelling, more research and a marriage, Stilwell moved to Kingston to be with his wife. He spent about three years planning and designing a business plan, while working at Focus Personal Fitness and St. Mary’s of the Lake therapy pool, and in November of 2012 he made it happen: He opened the doors of Hydrathletics – his very own aquatic therapy and training facility. Located in Kingston’s west end on Midland Avenue, Hydrathletics is the first facility in Canada to feature an advanced aquatic therapy pool by HydroWorx Inc. for use by the general

public. Other such state-of-the-art pools in the country are either privately owned (by the likes of the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Calgary Stampeders) or opened publicly after Hydrathletics opened. It’s a testament to the rising popularity of aquatic therapy and fitness training. While water-based training for athletic purposes is a proven practice, the benefits water-based therapy can make for those with injuries or ailments are remarkable, Stilwell explains. “It’s a huge difference, especially for people with chronic pain – issues with walking, sitting, or just any type of issue that they can’t do on land, they can do in the pool,” he says, pointing out that while in the water, clients can unload their body weight while engaging in physiotherapy and rehabilitation exercises. This means that post-operation patients, and those overcoming other injuries, are able to begin therapy much earlier in a pool,

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and can engage in conditioning long before they are ready for land-based rehabilitation. “You can build it up and get back your strength in the pool without the stress on your body,” Stilwell says, “And that strength transitions to the land. We work with clients through that transition, ensuring they are comfortable and not pushing themselves too hard, and helping them to overcome their injuries.” The pool itself, maintained at 92 degrees, is equipped with an in-water treadmill for both cardiovascular exercise and gait training. Underwater cameras connected to multiple monitors allow clients to see themselves in real time from both a front and side angle. With multiple water depths, the pool includes a seven-foot deep well for complete un-weighting of the body, and adjustable jets create increased or decreased resistance for enhanced training. But Hydrathletics is not all about inwater training. The facility boasts a gym facility for land-based rehabilitation and training, a full-time athletic therapist, a physiotherapy room with a full time, on-site physiotherapist, a massage room with a registered massage therapist, and complete changing and locker room amenities. For Stilwell, it is not only the recognition of his long-time dream becoming reality, but the results and feedback from clients as well that have made Hydrathletics exactly the facility he’d anticipated, even in those first moments when he

was a teen. “I’ve had clients from five to 88 years old in our pool. Hearing the excitement of a client saying they were able to stand up from the couch or bend down to feed their cat... it’s really great,” Stilwell says. “People love being in the water. It motivates people hugely, and it really helps them in the long run.” Hydrathletics Aquatic Therapy and Sports Training 1353 Midland Ave. admin@hydrathletics.ca hydrathletics.ca LEFT Randal Dyzak, Leah McGuinty, Joe Stilwell, John Wilkie and Trevor Moore

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EDUCATIONAL FITNESS To Help You Meet Your Goals BY TORI STAFFORD PHOTOS AMANDA GARREAU

eople often say to ‘work smarter, not harder,’ but this adage is often overlooked when it comes to personal fitness. It is this educational element most gyms and fitness studios fail to consider just as often as the clients who frequent their classes. But at Focus Personal Fitness, education and comprehension are first and foremost. This gym’s philosophy stresses the importance of “a smarter workout, not a harder workout,” explains Renee Whitney, owner of Focus Personal Fitness. “A lot of what I’m seeing in the fitness industry today is this whole mentality that exercising is meant to punish your body,” she says. “Differing

fitness levels are ignored and people are jumping right into doing the hardest variation of an exercise for no better reason than it’s simply harder.”

and knowing what truly works for the client. It is also a ‘home away from home’ for the clients she and her team work with every day.

At Focus, the trainers don’t build from that philosophy. Their fitness programming is a progressive process for each individual they train. “We begin by strengthening them structurally, so that they are nourishing and doing healthy things for their bodies,” says Whitney.

In their warm and friendly atmosphere, right on the waterfront at the historic Woolen Mill, the staff members of Focus Personal Fitness offer personal training for a one-on-one experience that encourages both the client and the trainer to communicate openly and tackle any concerns that arise during workouts. Each client’s programming is customdesigned to target individual issues and goals. “We design programs to help strengthen them and improve their body awareness,” Whitney says of the personal

A certified personal trainer and group workout instructor, Whitney has more than 20 years of experience in the personal fitness industry. Focus Personal Fitness is a culmination of her experience,

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instructors to take advantage of good weather and help break the routine of classes by taking clients outside. From boot camps to one-on-one training, all clients at Focus are encouraged to make variety as much a part of their programming as education. That’s because the other key element to training with Focus Personal Fitness is motivation through empowerment, explains Whitney. “We want to empower them to know when they are losing form, motivate them when they are losing drive, and help them reach their own goals in a way that is beneficial to their body, posture and overall well-being.“

Focus Personal Fitness 4 Cataraqui Street (Located in lower level, W22) 613.544.7999 www.focuspersonalfitness.com

fitness training experience at Focus. “We really focus on technique, posture and correct motor patterns. We customize fitness programs to each client’s needs and goals.” From brides looking to shed a few pounds before their big day, to triathletes training for an upcoming event, Focus Personal Fitness can serve any and every client’s needs. Those doing private training at Focus can be sure their training sessions target their issues and help them achieve their goals. Trainers work with their clients to ensure they know what they’re doing and why they’re doing it — it’s all just part of the educational emphasis Whitney and her team put on fitness training. “I had a client once tell me I should call them ‘fitness lessons’ instead of ‘training sessions’ because our private training sessions

are so much more educational than traditional training,” Whitney says with a laugh. The ‘fitness lessons’ are not limited to personal training, however. Focus Personal Fitness also offers group training, and, in keeping with their company namesake, their trainers maintain individualized focus — even in group settings. “The clients have our attention the whole time,” says Whitney, explaining group training. “We teach our clients not to just go through the motions, but to understand how and why the motions are beneficial so they are mentally participating in their exercise.” Group training, as well as private training sessions at Focus benefit not only from the studio’s ambiance and unique sense of camaraderie, but also by its location. The adjacent park allows trainers and ABOVE (TOP) & OPPOSITE Photos by Suzy Lamont FineLifestyles

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Nuturing WITH

NATURE A PURE AND SIMPLE PHILOSOPHY

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BY TORI STAFFORD PHOTOS STEPHEN WILD

n a fast-paced world that demands ‘more, more, more’ of us all the time, sometimes it’s best to strip everything away and get back to basics – get back to nature. That’s the idea behind Purple Essentials, a line of allnatural skin and body care products developed by Christine Weatherby right here in Kingston. Using only the finest therapeutic-grade, plant-based, natural ingredients from around the globe, Weatherby has created skin care products rich with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that are also free of chemicals and additives. When her young sons developed sensitive skin issues similar to her own, Weatherby decided to learn how to make her own all-natural soaps and

creams. Stripping away the additives, dyes, fragrances and harmful chemicals most commercial skin and body products can include, Weatherby discovered that by using fresh ingredients provided by nature, she could create skin nourishing moisturizers and facial care products that really worked. At the same time, these products helped reduce the exposure she and her family had to the many harmful chemicals and man-made additives found in almost everything from food to foot cream. The concept was, in many ways, just like the products Weatherby was creating: Pure and simple. Over time, Weatherby created a whole line of all-natural personal care

products, which she named after that concept. Combining the words ‘pure’ and ‘simple’ the way she combined ingredients to make cleansers, she came up with ‘Purple,’ which happens to be her favourite colour. As a certified aromatherapist and esthetician, Weatherby incorporates essential oils into Purple Essential products, making them not only naturally balancing for the skin, but also for the senses and well-being of her clients. The fresh, natural products range from bath treats to face serums, and aromatherapeutic candles to moisturizing lip butters. But no matter what she is making, the philosophy behind Purple Essentials is always of utmost importance. “Everything is fresh and natural, and handmade in

ABOVE Christine Weatherby, owner of Purple Essentials

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small batches, paying great attention to detail – that’s my focus,” Weatherby expresses, noting that all of her products have been designed for use on sensitive skin, and therefore are safe and beneficial for almost any skin type. Where most products are made to have different scents, Weatherby doesn’t focus on the scent when creating a product, she explains. “It’s more about what the oils can do – are they cell rejuvenating? Are they balancing for oil production? I use the oils because of their specific properties’ benefits,” Weatherby says. “In the end, each product has a subtle and pleasing scent because it’s all natural.” Purple Essentials offers a line of face care products, including their bestselling Rejuvenating Serum, which helps with fine lines and wrinkles, is moisture balancing, and leaves skin soft and supple. The Rejuvenating Serum contains Vitamin C, mango butter, nutrient-rich botanical oils and 12 essential oils. It is one of the many cleansing and nourishing facial products Purple Essentials offers for both women and men. Purple Essentials also offers a full line of body care products, including body butter, intensive hair treatment and natural insect repellent. For the bath or shower, Weatherby has created body scrubs and bath treats, in combinations that are soothing both to skin and the senses. The Purple Essentials line of soaps comes in a variety of luscious scents with different benefits, and the aromatherapy soy candles offer a bounty of all-natural fragrances masterfully combined to deliver specific therapeutic qualities.

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Purple Essentials also offers a line of baby care products, including the popular nontalc and cornstarch-free baby powder, formulated to help keep skin dry without harmful side effects. Weatherby’s innate curiosity and innovative sensibilities mean she’s always developing something new and exciting for Purple Essentials. This spring, the company is launching four new products: two new roll-on essential oil blends (one for headache relief, the other to promote restful sleep); a new sodium-laurylsulfate-free dog wash for their upcoming pet care line; and Facial Elixir, made up of moisturizing and antioxidant-rich oils. While passionate about every recipe she develops, Weatherby is especially excited for the launch of the Facial Elixir. “This amazingly absorbent, nutrient-rich oil is beyond a moisturizer,” she explains. “It actively replenishes and nourishes skin, hair and nails, while providing antiaging benefits and protection against environmental stressors. It’s a product I look forward to using every day!” It’s that sentiment, shared by many of Purple Essentials’ clientele, which continues to fuel Weatherby’s passion, she says. “Time and again, our customers have remarked on how using Purple Essentials’ products let them feel like they have done something good for their skin and well-being,” Weatherby concludes. “Nurture with nature – that’s our pure and simple philosophy.” Purple Essentials Kingston info@purple-essentials.com purple-essentials.com

Spring Cleaning

FOR OUR

BODIES

HEALTHFUL, MOOD-BOOSTING TIPS TO WAKE UP YOUR INSIDES BY MEGAN LUST

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t’s that time of year again: to shake out all the winter blahs and get down to spring cleaning. Spring cleaning for your body, of course.

Quite often we forget what we put our bodies through during the cold winter months in Canada. We’ve indulged in all manner of goodies and treats, kept our bellies full of comfort foods to keep us warm and cosy, and enjoyed our wine and beverages. Spring is a perfect time of year to give our bodies a gentle “reset” and get our busy spring and summer months off to the best possible start. You don’t have to employ a rigorous detox for weeks on end; a few simple changes and additions to your daily routines should be sufficient and can be easy to maintain.

Here are a few suggestions: Eat Real Food. Real whole foods give your body the fuel it needs to regenerate and heal. Enjoy a menu rich in dark leafy greens, flavourful vegetables of all kinds, whole grains, nutritious legumes and beans, nuts and seeds, and low-sugar fruits. Ensure you’re getting all the nutrients you need from a diet varied in these healthful options. You need an adequate amount of calcium, magnesium, iron, and vitamins A–Z. Pause The Treats. Give your body a bit of a break and a chance to be reinvigorated. Avoid processed foods, sugar, dairy, caffeine

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and alcohol. Greatly reduce (or eliminate) your intake of animal proteins. Chances are that after a week your cravings for sugary snacks and caffeine will have all but disappeared.

ABOVE Megan Lust

Drink Up. Most of us probably need reminders to drink our eight to 10 glasses of water a day. Drinking enough water will help flush out those toxins you’re trying to get rid of. Start your day out right by waking up and enjoying a glass of water with fresh lemon squeezed in. The health benefits are endless. Get A Boost. If you’re feeling snacky or a bit lethargic — or perhaps you’ve been rushed and know you’re not making proper food choices on a certain day — a healthy green smoothie can be just what you need to get over that hump, clear the brain fog and help you avoid grabbing an unhealthy snack that you’ll regret later. Check out our recipe for Green Ginger and Lime Smoothie that even a green-smoothie newbie will love! Consider making a commitment to implementing these healthful choices for at least 10 days and you’ll notice a difference. You will be energized, happy, healthy and glow — from the inside out.

GREEN GINGER & LIME SMOOTHIE

A detoxifying green smoothie that is mildly flavoured for those who are new to green juices and smoothies. Makes 1 green smoothie. • 1/2 cucumber, peeled and cut up into large chunks • 1 apple, cored and cut up into large chunks • 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced • 1-2 large handfuls baby spinach • 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup • juice of 1 lime • 1-2 tablespoons water, coconut water, unsweetened non-dairy milk, optional (if needed) Place all ingredients into the blender jar. Blend until smooth. If you don’t have a high-powered blender, you may need to add the water, coconut water or non-dairy milk to help it along. Drink immediately.

FACTS n Ginger is well-known for its antiinflammatory properties and is a digestive aid. n Limes are anti-carcinogenic. n Cucumbers are loaded with vitamin B and are rehydrating.

Megan Lust is a freelance writer and foodie, with a focus on glutenfree and vegan recipes. Visit her blog at theglutenfreevegan.com or her Facebook page for more healthy eating ideas and recipes. megan@theglutenfreevegan.com

n Spinach is high in iron and flavonoids, which are anti-oxidants.

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EXPERTAdvice A Movement is Afoot

W Cheryl Hiebert Certified Wellness Coach 654 Barnsley Cres. Kingston 613.634.8220 www.sacred-journeys.ca www.cherylhiebert.com

hat do Oprah, Dr. Oz and Miley Cyrus all have in common? A belief in energy medicine. While Miley’s viral video on Reiki may have been a tongue-in-cheek look at this form of energy medicine practice, it has nevertheless assisted in creating awareness about its amazing powers. Reiki is no longer a word that raises eyebrows. Dr. Oz has spoken of its healing powers, touting how his wife will employ Reiki healing with their children when he is stumped on how to assist them. In 2007 he shared these wise words on The Oprah Winfrey Show: “We’re beginning now to understand things that we know in our hearts are true, but we could never measure. As we get better at understanding how little we know about the body, we begin to realize that the next big frontier in medicine is energy medicine. It’s not the mechanistic part of the joints moving. It’s not the chemistry of our body. It’s understanding for the first time how energy influences how we feel.” With an aging population, long waiting lists to see specialists, and fear of the side effects from medications, we are a society seeking answers. We want to take better care of ourselves and energy medicine is one simple and easy way. Creating wellness for ourselves now

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greatly reduces the onset of disease and illness as we age. There are many energy medicine techniques available, and can be experienced by a session from a trained practitioner, or by easily learning these amazing healing methods for yourself.

What is Energy Medicine? It is a holistic way of stimulating the innate biological intelligence of the body. The body knows how to heal from the flu, cuts, bruises and broken bones and is by nature designed to be well. Energy medicine helps achieve this by creating balance in the flow of energy within the body, which nourishes the organs, tissues, brain – all bodily functions and systems. Energy medicine is literally the language the body speaks. Robert C. Peale said this: “The best and most efficient pharmacy is within your own system.” Let’s take a look at the popular energy medicine practice of Reiki. Reiki is a hands-on healing energy medicine technique originating in Japan, and serves as a beautiful complement to Western medicine. An easy to learn, simple practice, it has been used on every imaginable illness, and in every case always brings about deep healing. As an example, Dr. Oz is one of the first doctors in the U.S. to allow Reiki

loss, grief, illness, divorce, etc. create blockages that disrupt this natural flow of energy in our bodies. Energy medicine literally retrains the body’s energies. You begin to think more clearly, feel less pain, and respond to your day differently. Many people fall into a blissful sleep during a treatment. It has been said that a one-hour session is the equivalent to a restorative four-hour sleep. Reiki achieves this by triggering the parasympathetic nervous system in the body, which is the body’s rest and repair response. Much of the time we move through life in the opposite of this relaxed healing state – instead we function in a fight or flight state. Over time this wears down the immune system and creates chronic imbalance. In my 13 years of practicing this technique on myself and on others, I have found it to unwind and unravel daily stress as well as help heal chronic imbalances. during surgical procedures such as heart surgeries and transplants. This holistic practice treats and balances the mind, body and spirit. A practitioner places their hands on the recipient’s body and the flow of energy creates a deeply relaxed state, creating the ideal environment for the body to heal itself. It greatly reduces stress and stimulates the body’s rest and repair function. Reiki heals by addressing the root cause of any imbalance, whereas medication, which can be helpful, is not always a longterm solution, and simply masks the symptoms the body is displaying.

How does it work? It rebalances and realigns all the energies in our body; it calms down the nervous system and brings about deep feelings of peace and relaxation. It also helps to heal imbalances we may experience in the form of depression, anxiety, disease, high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer, insomnia, obesity, fibromyalgia and more. Each symptom we notice is the body’s way of waving a red flag – trying to get our attention. A new wellness pattern needs to be adopted for the body to heal. Reiki can assist with the release of repressed emotions, old patterns of thinking, chronic illness and pain. Our life experiences, such as long-term stress,

How does it complement other practices? I have had nurses, massage therapists, estheticians, dental hygienists, hair stylists, doctors, nuns, ministers, teachers, lawyers, jewellery designers, musicians, artists – people from every imaginable career path ¬ experience the healing of energy medicine practices and also learn the techniques for their own self-care. I have personally incorporated a variety of energy medicine practices into my daily life since 2001 and began teaching them in 2003. They dramatically changed my life. I was experiencing depression and anxiety when I discovered their healing powers. I have since guided, taught and nurtured thousands of clients and students in my practice, and have witnessed firsthand how miracles can happen. People are looking for natural ways to heal, without medications and unnecessary surgical procedures. Experiencing a series of sessions, or learning energy medicine for your daily self-care, are wonderful ways to make a commitment to your long-term wellness. Cheryl Hiebert – Inspiring a Wellness Movement!

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HOME

A Away From

HOME

BY KATRINA GEENEVASEN PHOTOS BARRY KAPLAN

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obody should have to face cancer alone. That’s the mission behind Gilda’s Club, which was named in honour of Saturday Night Live comedian Gilda Radner, who lost her battle with ovarian cancer in 1989. It was Radner’s dream that everyone affected by cancer would have access to the emotional and social support she received during her illness. It is the goal of the team at Gilda’s Club Southeastern Ontario to officially open its bright red doors to members in the Limestone City in December of 2014 — and its mission will be no different. “Gilda’s Club is very much needed in Kingston,” says Barb Revelle, executive director of the Kingston-based Gilda’s. “We cover all of Southeastern Ontario. Over 100,000 people come and visit the cancer clinic here in our city, and they can have the opportunity to have a bright spot in their day.” The clubhouse, which will provide a warm, home-like atmosphere to its members (whether they’re women, men, teens or children), will offer everything from lectures and workshops to a wide range of classes. Meanwhile, “Noogieland”, a specially-designed children’s area, will give kids the opportunity to connect with others their own age. The best part? All the services available at Gilda’s Club are 100 per cent free to their members. There’s no question, says Revelle, that the emotional and social services provided at Gilda’s Club are hugely beneficial to both

those impacted by cancer and their family and friends. “It’s a great compliment to the medial care they are getting. It’s the one thing that they have the control over,” she points out, noting that members are free to take part in all the programs and classes they offer, or just sit quietly in the library. The choice, she emphasizes, is all theirs. Sami Bessette knows firsthand just how vital the services at Gilda’s Club are. Her mother Catherine was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2005 at the young age of 44. It had metastasized to her brain, and doctors had given her three to six months to live. After a visit to Toronto’s Princess Margaret Hospital to determine how to proceed with her treatment, mother and daughter decided to visit the Gilda’s Club on Lombard Street. “This is where something happened,” recalls Bessette. “Something magical.” “When we walked in, it felt like home. It didn’t feel like we were going to another hospital, or another program, it felt like we could have lived there. It was so comfortable and so inviting. I could see the warmth in my mom…she hadn’t smiled in months. There, there were people that understood how she felt, and it filled her with a joy … and it spilled onto me,” says Bessette, her eyes filling with tears. “I felt it, too. It was January … but inside, it felt warm.” She said following that initial visit to Gilda’s, her mom not only grew a little

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stronger, but decided to fight a little harder, too. “Something filled her with hope in that clubhouse,” she says. Not long after, it became her mission to bring a Gilda’s Club to the Limestone City. “It became her life. She couldn’t work anymore, and opening a Gilda’s Club in Kingston was all she wanted. But not for herself, because I think she knew she wouldn’t be able to see the doors completely open,” says Sami, her emotions once again getting the best of her. “Even if she wasn’t feeling well, she would put a smile on. She wanted to see this place open. It just meant so much to her.” She kept on fighting for several more years, until on May 6, 2013, when the paperwork for Southeastern Ontario Gilda’s Club was officially signed. Sadly, Bessette’s mom passed away only minutes later.

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The original location was on Clarence Street, but because of accessibility reasons, executives decided a move was in order. The new clubhouse will be located at 55 Rideau St. The fully accessible location, which requires minimal structural upgrades, will not only have free parking, but will also boast more than 4200 sq. ft. of space dedicated to those impacted by cancer. It promises long-term feasibility and delivery of programs, says Revelle. Once the clubhouse is up and running, there will be countless volunteer opportunities available. From medical advisory board members and exercise instructors, to chefs and guest presenters for seminars, there’s a way for everyone to contribute. To allow Gilda’s Club to open in December of 2014, their goal is to raise $750,000. “As part of our affiliate status, we need to have sustainability for two years,” explains Revelle, who also points out that Gilda’s Club in Kingston requires three people on staff in order to develop and facilitate programing for our members. “We’re not government funded, so all monies raised goes towards our members for the facilitation of our free programing.” Like many others, Revelle says her life has been touched by cancer and because of this, her mission is to get this facility open so it can offer social and emotional support to those requiring it. In a speech recently made on behalf of Gilda’s Club of Southeastern Ontario, Bessette had these words for all Kingstonians as Gilda’s works to develop strong roots in the Limestone City: “I believe in something greater than you, or I, or doctors or even God. I believe in the strength that others bestow upon one another in time of need. I believe that Gilda’s Clubhouse is more than just a social gathering place. It is a home – a home for all those who are affected by cancer.”

Visit gildasclubsoutheasternontario.org for more information, or for news on upcoming events. RIGHT Lanette Thompson, Melissa Coy, Diane Martin, Walter Siccon, Carolyn Proderick, Maureen Murphy, Adrianne Lovelock

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LAPBAND SURGERY: NOT AS SAFE AS IT SOUNDS

ieting can help people lose a significant amount of weight but it does not help them keep it off. Almost all people who lose weight through dieting (95 per cent) regain those pounds within the next five years. Indeed, the US Food and Drug Administration stated in 2009 that not a single diet company was able to show evidence of long-term success. For morbidly obese people who want to lose a lot of weight and keep that weight off, bariatric surgery is the only effective method according to the Canadian Medical Association. WLF Medical is a Canadian company that specializes in bariatric surgery. It is one of

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the top 10 bariatric clinics in the world and has been named an International Center of Excellence for Bariatric Surgery by the Surgical Review Corporation. WLF Medical performs all three types of bariatric surgical procedures for weight loss: lapband surgery, gastric sleeve surgery and gastric bypass surgery. All three procedures are more effective than dieting as a means of extreme weight loss, but not all procedures are equally effective. Lapband surgery is a sub-optimal initial choice for bariatric surgery, according to Melanie Wildman, president and owner of WLF Medical. Lapband surgery

involves the laparoscopic placement of an adjustable silicone band around the upper portion of the stomach. The band is slowly tightened through the injection of a saline solution via a needle into an internal port. Lapband surgery results in the least amount of weight loss of all gastric surgeries with 40 to 50 per cent excess weight loss after one year, compared to 60 to 77 per cent with gastric sleeve surgery and 70 per cent with gastric bypass surgery. Lapband surgery is perceived by many as reversible, less invasive and as the safest medical option. However, this is not the case. Lapband surgery actually has the highest risk of complication of any

bariatric surgical procedure, as adjusting of the band makes tissue scarring and adhesions inevitable. With lapband surgery there is also the possibility of complications arising involving the internal access port where saline solution is added with a needle to tighten the band. These include disconnection of the port from the tubing, port displacement and port-site infection. Half of all patients with lapbands end up having it removed. Since lapband surgery does not affect a personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hormones or metabolism and is completely reliant upon restricting the amount of food one can eat, removal of the band invariably results in the patient regaining all the weight that had been lost. As a result, many lapband patients choose to try gastric sleeve or gastric bypass surgery at a later date. Unfortunately, the scarring that results from having had a lapband greatly increases the chances of medical complications occurring during gastric sleeve or gastric bypass surgery; such a patient is five times more likely to experience complications than a patient who has not had a lapband previously. Gastric sleeve surgery is the most effective and safest type of bariatric weight loss surgery. Wildman states, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our patients say they appreciate the simplicity of the sleeve and the fact that it does not involve rerouting intestines or require a medical procedure.â&#x20AC;? WLF Medical provides patients with on-going support through comprehensive pre-operative education and post-operative follow-ups. Book an appointment with WLF Medical today and start exploring the different options for weight loss surgery.

WLF Medical Toll Free: 1.877.306.8891 Phone: 306.665.8891 patientservices@wlfmedical.ca wlfmedical.ca

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Ashley “This is a whole new beginning for me.”

y decision to undergo surgery came during the summer, when I was feeling really down about myself because I couldn’t find anything to wear to a function with my husband. I shopped and shopped, but it was hopeless. I had been looking at family photos earlier that same day and realized that there were no pictures of me with my kids, because I dreaded being photographed. Suddenly, all of these emotions just hit me. I realized I had to make a change. I had already wasted so much time and money exhausting other options, and began considering surgery. As a nurse, I wanted to make sure that I was getting appropriate care from a professional, and Dr. Pompa was the only one I could find to my satisfaction. When I arrived at the hospital I was delighted to find that it was a superior facility with up-to-date equipment. I knew what to look for, and was confident that they had the skills and expertise to perform the operation. Since my surgery, my confidence has soared. I no longer dread going swimming with my kids and am excited to be in family photos. I can be more involved with my kids and love to shop now — maybe a little too much! It’s amazing what you can do when you feel good about yourself. I have experienced so many moments of firsts, of things that I would not or could not do before. This is a whole new beginning for me.

ASHLEY MURDOCH Lost 80 lbs. from highest weight.

Ashley

before

67 lbs. from prep to now.

Cris

Happier and healthier

hen my husband and I were first dating we went to our local fair for a romantic ride on the ferris wheel. I fit in the seat, barely. The operator tried several times, but finally apologized. We were too heavy for the ride. You can’t imagine the embarrassment. I thought I would never consider weight loss surgery. I was skeptical, but when I heard of other people’s success with Weight Loss Forever and the vertical sleeve, I decided it was time to change my life. I had been able to lose 100 pounds but was never able to maintain it on my own. I just turned 40. I didn’t want to be stared at anymore. I wanted to feel better and be a better wife and mom. The support from WLF was fantastic. The facilitator on-site at the hospital in Mexico was amazing and put me at ease and answered all my questions. All arrangements were made so the whole experience before, during and after has been phenomenal!

Criste

n Wa lker – Pre-V S

Now I have more energy and greater self-confidence. I am active and can keep up with my family and friends. I am not self-conscious walking into a crowded room. And I can cross my legs! It sounds silly to be so happy about that, but there was no way I could ever do that before. I feel more feminine. Life is just simply more fun. I laugh more. I feel great about myself and what I have accomplished. My husband lost 70 pounds on his own since my surgery. He’s changed his eating habits too. He’s been by my side throughout this journey. Both of us are so much happier and healthier.

Cris

befo

G Pho

tos –

June

INTELLECTUAL

Wellness KEEPING YOUR BRAIN SHARP BY APOLLINE LUCYK

here are always numerous studies being done on brain health, and practices people can implement to keep their mind healthy and happy. With all of the commitments people juggle and the distractions that compete for our attention on a daily basis, it is important to do our best to keep our minds fresh, so we are able to tackle whatever comes at us to the best of our ability.

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Keep hydrated One of the most important habits you can cultivate to maintain your brain health is keeping your body and brain hydrated. Cheryl Hiebert, a wellness coach in Kingston, explains that drinking water is very important for one’s wellbeing. “If humans lose as little as five per cent, headaches, confusion, fatigue, forgetfulness and elevated heart rate occur,” she explains. “Staying hydrated is a simple strategy to combat fatigue.”

Manage your stress High stress levels can have a very negative affect on your brain’s well-being and ability to function optimally. Hiebert says if you are experiencing high levels of stress at home or at work, it is very important to work at reducing that stress to make room in our minds for positive thought and growth, so we can tackle problems with renewed energy and focus.

Exercise your brain and body regularly Your brain is like any other muscle in that it needs exercise to grow and keep healthy. By doing activities that stimulate your mind, such as reading, math problems, crosswords, writing, and other brain-stimulating activities, you can alleviate mental stress, and keep your brain sharp. Many studies have linked physical exercise to intellectual health and wellbeing. According to a study done by the University of Georgia, Department of Exercise Science, exercising for as little as 20 minutes at a time can have a positive effect on your brain’s functions, including information processing and memory.

Consume Vitamin B12 “Vitamin B12 is amazing for brain function,” says Hiebert. According to Health Canada, Vitamin B12 “helps the body to metabolize carbohydrates,” “helps the body to metabolize fats and proteins,” and “helps to form red blood cells.” The U.S. National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements, states that Vitamin B12 “is required for proper red blood cell foundation, neurological function, and DNA synthesis.” Thus, ensuring that you

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De-clutter your brain The more we have packed into our brain, and the more things we try to mentally juggle at once, the more stress our brain incurs, and the more tired it gets. If we let our various concerns weigh down on our brain, it will become harder for us to focus on our tasks at hand. Hiebert says meditation can be very helpful in alleviating your mind of the unnecessary worries. “People often think that meditation must take a lot of time, but just a simple five-minute daily meditation can have a really positive effect on your mind,” remarks Hiebert. have a high intake of Vitamin B12 is very important in maintaining brain health and intellectual wellness. Vitamin B12 can be found in many animal-derived foods such as meat, poultry, fish, shellfish, eggs, milk, and milk products. Beef, liver, and clams all carry significant amounts of vitamin B12. Vegetarians can find B12 in some fortified breakfast cereals, and in supplement form, according to the U.S. Office of Dietary Supplements.

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Consume Omega-3 fatty acids

Stay Involved

Omega-3 fatty acids, found in various types of fish, such as salmon and halibut, are very beneficial for maintaining a healthy brain and, thus, intellectual wellness. Eating healthy foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids is not only beneficial for your general health, but for your brain’s health as well. Some studies have even claimed that consumption of omega-3 fatty acids can reduce a person’s risk of dementia.

Finally, one of the best things you can do for both mind and body wellness is staying active and involved with those around you. Being involved in your community helps you create valuable connections with other members of your community, and keeps your mind active. Helping others can give one a sense of personal fulfillment, and being part of bigger projects can have deeply positive effects one one’s mental and intellectual health.

Come take a closer look. Discover | Create | Grow | Care

Call or email to see our teachers and students in action!

Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Town School is an independent, notfor-proďŹ t school for boys and girls. We offer Montessori preschool and enriched grades JK to 8.

VisitDAYS

66 Rideau Street Kingston, ON www.kingstownschool.ca

A 25-YEAR LEGACY OF LEARNING BY TORI STAFFORD PHOTOS AMANDA GARREAU

any people make an impression on our lives over the years, but outside of our immediate families, very few make as large an impact as those we call our teachers.

the journey to the moments we can remember starts much earlier than that. And, as many of today’s parents know, it is those first steps in the journey that can truly shape a child and the legacy of their education.

Although many recall their favourite high school teacher, or even those from grade school who touched their lives,

For those at Bayside Montessori School, it is these early moments in education that matter. An alternative to public

school kindergarten, Bayside Montessori employs the renowned teachings of Dr. Maria Montessori; they are based on educating the “whole child” through an environment that encourages intellectual, social and emotional development. This involves an array of different learning centres that aim to engage the students — aged two-and-a-half through six — and allow them to experience the fulfillment of learning through choice.

ABOVE L-R Alexina Spiridakis, Keegan Fourie and Luqmaan Brewster OPPOSITE TOP LEFT L-R Emma Delorme, Melissa Coy TOP RIGHT Nazaum Johri BOTTOM LEFT L-R Ria Tayade, Avalyn Derbyshire

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From history to mathematics, and French language to art, students at Bayside Montessori School are engaged in many different areas from a young age. This allows the child to explore their own interests and develop into well-rounded students as they enter the first grade. It is a proven practice, the results of which can be seen in effect, not only internationally, but right here in Kingston. Bayside Montessori School is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Having served the area for a quarter-century, the children of the first graduating classes are now full-grown adults. With the school for nearly all of those years, Melissa Coy, teacher and CEO, is now seeing some of her very first students graduate from university, and start to have children of their own. She can speak to the 25-year

legacy of learning Bayside Montessori has here in the city, and in the lives of those she’s seen grow from toddlers into brilliant members of the community. “It really is pretty amazing,” Coy says, noting the growth she sees in the students — even in the first year they are with Bayside Montessori — never ceases to inspire her. “It is the best part of my job, and I can honestly say that I have seen our students grow into smart, successful, well-rounded adults! It’s neat.” In their 25 years, Bayside has grown to include two classrooms of 16 students each, and a staff of six. However, the basis of their teachings and commitment to helping families raise happy, healthy and intellectually-stimulated children has only strengthened over time, Coy expresses.

“Montessori has an international reputation and influence, and it’s a holistic approach that educates and develops the whole child — physically, intellectually, socially, emotionally,” she says. “The goal is to have a happy, well-rounded child who loves to learn.” To find out more about their programming, Coy encourages parents to book an appointment to experience their learning environment. Bayside Montessori School is currently accepting applications for September 2014. Bayside Montessori School 1212 Woodbine Rd., Kingston 613.561.6580 www.baysidemontessorischool.org

BOTTOM RIGHT L-R Susan Bruce (meal preparation), Sarah Wilson (assistant teacher), Janice Ducharme (lead teacher and French specialist) Melissa Coy (CEO, administrator and teacher) and Lisa Wolsey (lead teacher and movement specialist) MISSING Gilda Mills (music specialist) FineLifestyles

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Independent

Schools

A Focus on the Whole child By Ashliegh gehl

t’s often said the first five years of a child’s life are their formative years. A time when parents have a heightened sense of awareness about the implications their actions have on their child. When those first five years have come and gone, and children blossom the way children do — with a greater sense of self — the learning continues. Before you know it, teething rings and jolly jumpers slip into nostalgia and the first day of school has arrived.

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Most of us don’t remember the fine details of our formative years. What we do remember is the first day of school. The mismatched socks we picked blindly. The heart-shaped peanut butter and jam sandwich our mothers slipped into the tatty brown paper lunch bag. As we clumsily climbed the ranks of pre-school, we learned what we were capable of. With soil, an egg carton, and seeds, we could create a garden of snap peas. Who knew? Since these are the memories children retain, it’s imperative for parents to explore the wealth of educational options in the region. Selecting the right independent school can make a significant difference in a child’s life. Every independent school is different. Each has a unique set of learning objectives, desired outcomes and educational pedagogies. It’s these characteristics that set independent schools apart. There are many benefits to choosing an independent school. For starters, the class sizes are smaller. Any child who has experienced overcrowding in a classroom knows how dynamics and interactions change in confined spaces. Shy, reluctant students can easily slip to the corners of the class and doodle on their notepads when a teacher has more than a handful of students to engage with. In smaller classrooms, students feel a greater sense of responsibility to their education. They have the opportunity to take on leadership roles and teachers can tailor lessons to reflect the needs of the students. At independent schools, teachers have a refined passion for the subjects they teach. They are dedicated to the students they educate. Independent schools heavily screen the people they employ and choose the best of the best to represent the mission, vision and values of the institution. Students benefit because the academic opportunities are enriched. It’s not uncommon for 100 per cent of students at an independent school to attend university. Since the learning caters to the student’s needs, teachers know when students are ready for a more advanced placement. It can put them on a fast track to university. One of the benefits of a specialized school is that advanced grades are offered university level

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courses. This type of preparation is often what sets independent schools apart. Sports and arts play a definitive role in giving youth a well-rounded education. It plays a large part in a student’s life. It furthers their development and enhances their character. The Conference of Independent Schools Athletic Association is made up of 36 institutions in Ontario and it offers a challenging athletic environment for students to benefit from the competitive, respectful camaraderie often found in playing sports such as rugby, volleyball, and curling. Learning to play the violin, embrace the theatrics of Shakespeare or work words like Nobel Prize winner Alice Munro, plays a vital part in a student’s education. Independent schools encourage students to dive into their artistic passions and chip away at mastering the craft. It fosters creativity and curiosity, two characteristics that will inevitably carry over into a student’s adult life. Many independent schools offer an outdoor education and travel component to their curriculum. Exposing students to different cultures, opening their minds to different ways of thinking, and cultivating an appreciation for the environment gives them exposure to experiential learning.

Only 8 per cent of students in Canada are enrolled in an independent school. That said, in Ontario, enrollment has increased. In 1960, 1.9 per cent of Ontario students attended an independent school. By 2006, it had climbed to 5.6 per cent. There is a myth that an independent education is for the rich. Not everyone who sends their children to specialized schools makes $120,000 a year. Costs vary from one location to the next. Some are as low as $4,000 a year, where others are $15,000. Education comes at a price. Ultimately, it’s an investment. Be it academics, sports, or arts, independent schools focus on the whole child. It’s a strong community with a wealth of support in every area of interest students choose to pursue.

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PERSONALIZED EDUCATION Small class sizes, endless support, a REAL answer BY JUSTIN SMITH PHOTOS STEPHEN WILD

he staff and parents of Quintilian students know teaching children with learning challenges does not require magic, but it does involve time, patience and expertise. Most importantly, it requires individual attention. With classes capped at 10 students and a minimum of two staff per classroom, this is exactly what Quintilian offers. Quintilian School opened in 2001 in response to the reduction of supportive funding in the public school system for students with learning challenges. After

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witnessing the profoundly positive impact Quintilian had on her own daughter, Juliann McDonell knew she needed to get more actively involved, and became coowner in 2008.

understands the challenges she faces and yet is happy with who she is. It is amazing for any teenage girl and something I am profoundly grateful the Quintilian staff were able to help her achieve.”

“My daughter is on a different path because of her time at Quintilian,” explains McDonell. “When she began in Grade 5, her struggles with the pace of a typical classroom, focus and anxiety created barriers to her learning. Now, she’s an enthusiastic high school student. She was in her school play and she dreams of going to college. She

It is the ability to concentrate individually on their students that makes Quintilian unique and successful. “The goal of the program is to provide support for kids with social and learning challenges, and small class sizes have been the key factor,” McDonell says. Offering classes for kids in Grade 2 to Grade 8, students of Quintilian benefit

from small classrooms with a 10-to-two student-to-teacher ratio. This allows Quintilian’s staff of trained educators to provide the one-on-one instruction their students greatly need. Instructors also get to know the students and their unique challenges and needs, and develop individual lesson plans tailored to the developmental level and learning style of each student. Quintilian emphasizes a mastery of the Ontario core curriculum at whatever grade level the student has achieved rather than their chronological grade level. Students can be working to catch up in some subjects and reaching ahead in others. Each subject is taught using a variety of methods to suit student’s strengths and provide opportunities for daily success. Those who do not have a diagnosis are welcome, as are those diagnosed with learning disabilities, non-verbal learning disabilities, anxiety disorders, autism spectrum disorders and ADHD. Quintilian also offers a weekly evening social skills program and summer camp.

“Sometimes parents are concerned, they say, ‘Won’t my child miss the traditional school system or think they are different?’” says Laura DeSousa, co-owner and director of programming who has been with Quintilian since the beginning in 2001. “We find the opposite is true. Here, they feel they can be themselves, be the individual that they are. That individual is embraced and celebrated at Quintilian.” When all of the pieces of the puzzle are in place, confidence and self-esteem are enhanced, a light shines on each child’s potential and a door is opened to a world of possibility.

Quintilian School of Kingston and Club Quintilian 41 Baiden St., Kingston 613.542.0400 www.quintilianschool.org

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What’s in Your BoWl? by Cressida Vandalay Photos suzy lamont

ith an eclectic mix of products and a strong focus on animal health, a visit to Urban Paws is unique. “Your pet is an important member of your family. You want him or her to be healthy, and nutrition plays a big role,” says Jennifer Allan, owner. “There’s a lot more to making a healthy choice than choosing the pet food with the cute television ad. There are so many considerations, you may feel like you need a degree in nutrition to interpret it all. However, the helpful and highly-trained staff at Urban Paws is here to assist you.” No food can be better than the ingredients used to make it, she continues. Therefore, pet owners should consider the following: How do you know what is actually in your pet’s food? Do the ingredients get sourced from that week’s cheapest broker or does the company have established relationships with a consistent and ethical supplier? Who makes the food? A company dedicated solely to pet nutrition that makes their own food in their own facility, or one that also makes your laundry detergent, batteries and toilet paper and just wanted in on the lucrative pet food market? Quality control works best when ingredient sourcing, preparation and production are all part of the package provided by a business committed exclusively to the health of your pet, says Allan. “We are dedicated to helping you choose the foods that will keep your pet healthy and happy,” she says. “We have very strict criteria that the foods we carry must meet. Our veterinary consultant plays an integral role in researching and choosing those that provide optimal nutrition for your dog or cat. All our selected foods are manufactured by companies with a long-standing commitment to quality.”

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If your pet has particular health concerns, allergies or is a breed known to develop specific problems, the benefits of quality foods are even more significant. Urban Paws has specialty diets to address every need and price point. Are you now questioning what’s in your pet’s bowl? Come in to Urban Paws for honest and accurate advice. They know nutrition. BELOW Jennifer Allan, owner

Urban Paws Cataraqui Pet Centre 1183 Midland Avenue, Kingston 613.384.0987 Urban Paws Downtown: Smith Robinson Building, 101–27 Princess Street, Kingston 613.547.2323 info@urbanpaws.ca www.urbanpaws.ca

From fifth-generation family-owned Fromm Family Foods to Canadian darling Acana, there are delicious entrees like “Four Star Beef Frittata” and “Pacifica.” They may sound gourmet, but there is real science behind the diversity of choices. “Implementing a rotational diet is a more complete approach to nutrient intake,” explains Allan. “Not only does the variety create excitement at meal time, it can reduce the risk of sensitivities from chronic exposure to the same ingredients and exposes the pet to a more complete range of nutrients essential to good health.”

Statistics show that in households with cats and dogs, often the dog is fed a quality food, but the cat’s food gets picked up at the grocery store, says Allan. “As obligate carnivores, meaning they must meet their nutritional needs through the consumption of animalbased proteins, it is of particular importance that cats be fed a quality diet with high meat content — not commercial foods where the protein level is bumped up with the inclusion of plant-based proteins which are not bioavailable to cats.”

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The BesT of Bloomfield by Ashliegh gehl Photos Peter lAw

A spAnish influence

asa Lucia is founded on a love for travel. It’s a hidden gem filled with the verve of traditional Mexican culture. From colourful talavera pottery to magnificent sterling silver jewellery, Casa Lucia livens Bloomfield’s rustic charm by adding a pinch of spice to Main Street. June Johnston and Lockie Owens started Casa Lucia 15 years ago. These seasoned travellers have wandered through most of Central America, but the vibrant, eclectic nature of Mexico left the deepest impression.

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“I love Mexican culture,” says Johnston. “The people, the history. It has a huge tradition. A lot of things that we sell — the talavera, the tinwork, the weaving — is very old. The old traditional methods are still used.” Sterling silver is a relatively new product at Casa Lucia. It comes from Taxco, an old silver mining town with a fine reputation for craftsmanship. The selection of pottery is boundless. There are gardening pots, kitchen and bath accessories, planters, and ceramic bowls. They also offer lighting fixtures and handcrafted pewter. This year Casa Lucia will be expanding its food options. From mole to

organic coffee to pure vanilla, Casa Lucia will be importing wonderful Mexican culinary delights to inflame the palette. Every item in the store is handpicked by Johnston and Owens. They deal with their suppliers personally to ensure that all of their products are fair trade. Step inside to get closer to Mexico and don’t forget to check out the Frida Kahlo and Diego Riviera inspired artwork. It’s stunning. Casa Lucia 273 Main Street 613.393.5936 casalucia@yahoo.com casalucia.ca

enhAncing Your home WiTh hAndmAde gArden furniTure The picturesque homes in the County would be slightly blasé if it weren’t for the beautiful, handmade garden furniture enhancing the properties. Sonny Stevens, founder of Bloomfield Stevens Cedar Garden Furniture, specializes in those high-back Adirondack chairs; a classic cottage touch welcomed in every corner of the County.

There are many types of wood Stevens could use, but cedar is his wood of choice. “It’s very easy to work with,” he says. “For outdoor furniture, it’s the wood you always go to for longevity.” Stevens retired nine years ago and four years in, he decided to return to his carpentry roots. “It seems like a very pleasant way to wile away your winter days. It’s a hobby that has a return.”

comforT food WiTh A locAl TWisT Stepping into The Saylor House Café is a step back in time. “It’s a throw back to the 1950s,” says owner Susan Little. This quaint little café features homemade soups, salads, sandwiches and desserts. The open kitchen focuses on creative comfort food made from locally sourced produce. The collection of bone china teapots, cups and saucers are not just for show. They are used to serve the variety of teas available. Built in 1875 as a drive shed, the building has been a garage, an antique store, a pottery studio, and now a busy café. In the warmer months, customers enjoy breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea in the lovely garden. Throughout the café and upstairs in the loft, the work of local artists is available for purchase. Bloomfield Stevens Cedar Garden Furniture 295 Main Street 613.393.3371 sonny.stevens@gmail.com bloomfieldstevens.ca The Saylor House Café 274 Main Street 613.848.6585 saylorhouseandcafe@gmail.com

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selling The counTY lifesTYle From a quaint boutique office on Main Street, Iris and Brian Andrews, brokers with Royal LePage ProAlliance Realty Brokerage, reveal the gems of the County. Be it century homes, significant waterfronts, farms and estates, or exciting commercial opportunities, the Andrews know the ins and outs of the area. With over 45 years of shared experience, these seasoned professionals have garnered a reputation for remarkable, award-winning service. Honesty, integrity, and old-fashioned hard work are at the heart of what they do. They act as liaisons for their clients in the Toronto, Ottawa and Quinte regions, bridging the best of both worlds. Part of their enthusiasm for the area stems from the beautiful old homes along the County’s winding roads. They’ve lived in and totally restored and renovated three century County homes from the mid-1800s, including an historic c1841 Loyalist stone home. The Andrews are familiar with the details of the homes they sell because they have put the time and effort into understanding the nuances of century homes, and offer their clients sound sales, value added and design advice. The Andrews have lived in the county for more than a decade and in that time they’ve made a valiant effort to strengthen the community. in which they live. “We’ve made great friendships and have brought joy into the lives of our clients by helping them find their dream properties,” Iris says. When not boasting about the bounty in the County, Iris and Brian have enjoyed years tending to their prized donkeys, cows and pot bellied pig on their 100-acre farm.

Royal LePage ProAlliance Realty Brokerage 613.969.2044 800.303.1044 info@andrewsproperties.ca www.andrewsproperties.ca

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enhAnce Your home décor WiTh green gABles gifTs And greeTings Green Gables Gifts and Greetings is a Bloomfield landmark. In its 20-year history, this eclectic store has expanded to sell a lively array of items from table linens to bedding to greeting cards. “Everything is handpicked,” says Diana Cooper, owner. “Almost everything has a story behind it.” In a historic Victorian home from the 1850s, this 12-room store is filled with wine glasses for entertaining, stunning wristwatches and other fashionable accessories. There is even a section devoted to the jolliest season of all: Christmas. Shoppers can step into spring by perusing creative garden accents. It truly is a store befit for every season and every celebration in a person’s life. The stories behind these items are Canadian stories and many of the items are Canadian made and designed. The stories are reflective of the people who make them and of Green Gables’ efforts to support the local economy. “We try to find things that are original and eclectic,” Cooper says. “Often times, there are things that customers have asked for. Items that reflect what our customers are looking for.” Even the name Green Gables has a story behind it. The original owner, Joanne Morden, operated the business for 19 years and Anne of Green Gables was her favourite childhood book. When Diana and her husband Gilbert purchased the store last year, Morden knew she had found the right buyers — they have the names of two characters in the book. Green Gables is full of serendipitous stories. The tales behind their produces enhance home décor. Green Gables Gifts and Greetings 286 Main Street 613.393.1494 greengablesbloomfield@gmail.com greengablesbloomfield.com

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TWenTY YeArs of helping mAke Your house A home Situated in the heart of Bloomfield’s historic 1870s Saylor Block is a shop bursting with texture and colour, full of tempting items for entertaining, or for making everyday life a little bit more beautiful. Terraflorens is a place where you can leisurely browse through things for your kitchen, bathroom or living spaces. Enjoy an eclectic array of glassware, garden and home decor, as well as bath towels, hand milled soap and body products from The Thymes. April Cornell table linens and heaps of kitchen paraphernalia are stocked alongside throw rugs and doormats for indoor or outdoor use. “The support of local residents has made it a very rewarding experience over the past 20 years,” says Shyrl Nussey, owner of Terraflorens. “We await the return of our long-time seasonal customers, and welcome everyone who is just discovering Bloomfield.”

Your inviTATion To WoW For over a decade, Garb has been offering innovative and youthful clothing for women of all ages, with an emphasis on trend, quality and fit.

Designers and brands available at Garb include: Michael Kors, Robert Kitchen, Anna Scott, Sandwich, Spanner, Kapaluah, NYDJeans, Yoga Jeans, Cut Loose Linen, Tricotto, Salaam, Junge, and Body Hush, with new collections every season.

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Pieces move easily between work and play, providing style and comfort. Sensitive to women’s shapes, sizes and colouring, the knowledgeable staff gives outstanding and honest advice. “I believe that what you wear says something about you,” says Shyrl Nussey, owner of Garb. “Once you become comfortable with the way you look, you feel better. It should be simple and it should be fun!” Terraflorens 277 Main St. 613.393.1993 Garb 282 Main St. 613.393.9958

GOURMET TO GO BY TORI STAFFORD

After a long day, the last thing most people want to do is come home and prepare a meal. Be it for a family of five, or you and you alone, cooking a wholesome meal from scratch can seem like just another task in your already too-full day. And if you have children, chances are your day doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stop when you get home. With dance classes, hockey practices and everything in between, trying to create family time around the dinner table can be nearly impossible â&#x20AC;&#x201C; until you discover some of the greatest gems in take-home dining this city has to offer.

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meal in one stop. “That’s exactly why we built this concept in this area,” says Joel Braunstein, owner of Go Italian, noting that when his children were younger, he and his wife would often struggle to have dinner on the table for their family before 8 p.m. while maintaining all after school schedules. “We thought it would be great to offer people options for cooking themselves, so they could still have a family dining experience.” Similarly, Greektown Takeout is a full takeout restaurant offering delicious meals, hot and ready to enjoy. But they also offer options to take home and cook. With summer fast approaching, Greektown’s marinated, ready-to-grill Mediterranean meats can be made into a complete meal by picking up some of their fabulous side dishes. Places like Pasta Genova, one of downtown Kingston’s best-kept secrets, offer an overwhelmingly huge array of fresh, homemade pastas, sauces and cheese. Perfectly paired with a vintage vino, these pastas can be quickly prepared to make an ideal romantic mid-week dinner won’t take all night to create. And don’t forget to

hroughout Kingston, there are a variety of options for those on the go to create fantastic, homestyle meals in a matter of minutes. From hot and ready-to-eat meals to satisfy one or two, to fully-prepared cook-at-home meals you can serve to your family with pride, takeout night is no longer reserved for fast food. For those with children who want to sit down at the table as a family, and still make it to the soccer game, readyto-cook dinners are ideal. This was precisely the idea behind the “takeand-bake” section at Go Italian. This full-service restaurant not only offers their entire menu as hot and ready-toeat takeout, but also provides prepared pasta dishes to take home and cook. These options come in three sizes to suit single diners, couples or families, and come in combinations with salads and garlic bread to create an entire

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try their foccacia– it is baked in-house daily, and is a favourite for manyKingstonians. Also downtown, Pan Chanco – a landmark Kingston bakery – offers a number of prepared options for taking home to cook or heat up. Their frozen quiches can be made to order by calling ahead, and their deli counters offer something different daily to be paired with some of their well-known favourite sides and salads for a quick and simple gourmet meal. You can even pick up some sausage, bread, and one of their many fine imported cheeses to create you own charcuterie board for pre-dinner nibbles, and finish the evening off right with one of their many dessert selections. In Kingston’s west end, The Pasta Shelf remains a staple for many a Kingstonian looking to create a family meal in minutes that’s both delicious and simple. “I find a lot of people who don’t have a ton of time, but still want to eat healthy, choose our ‘take home and cook’ options,” says Marco Venditti, owner of The Pasta Shelf. “We use recipes that were in my family for years – everything is homemade, so you get that homemade taste. You take it home and it’s still like you’re cooking for your family, it’s just that we’re doing the work for you – and you can still have dinner with your family, at your table.”

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Cucumber Ginger

FIZZES

INGREDIENTS •

12 oz. vodka

•

2 cucumbers, one peeled and coarsely chopped and the other thinly sliced

•

1 lime, cut into wedges

•

2 (750 ml) bottles of sparkling water

•

4 to 8 oz. ginger simple syrup

•

ice

Put vodka and chopped cucumber in a glass jug. Refrigerate one hour. Strain and discard cucumber.

2 Fill eight tumblers with ice. Add four to five cucumber slices and one-and-a-half-ounces infused vodka to each glass. Squeeze a lime wedge into each. Top with sparkling water; stir in one to three ounces ginger simple syrup.

TIP To make ginger simple syrup, bring one cup of sugar and one cup of water to a boil in a medium saucepan, stirring to ensure sugar dissolves. Add one 10-inch piece of ginger (peeled and cut into thin rounds) and simmer. Let steep for at least 30 minutes before straining the syrup into an airtight container.

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Culinary Enchantments Await at

Pan ChanCho Bakery and Café By Ashliegh gehl Photos stephen Wild

ver the course of its 20-year history, Pan Chancho Bakery and Café has provided Kingstonians with a vast selection of gourmet grab-andgo goods. From mouthwatering pain au chocolate to hearty vegetarian sandwiches, the menu is filled with European panache. Out of a heritage building on Princess Street, Pan Chancho offers a little something for everyone. “We have all different kinds of customers,” says Zoe Yanovsky, owner. “We have downtown

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working folk who stop in quickly to grab a soup and sandwich at lunch. We have regulars who have their cocktail parties and dinners catered by us.” Be it freshly squeezed orange juice and marinated goat feta with a baguette for breakfast, or a cumin spiced lamb pita for lunch, these culinary enchantments are served by friendly staff in an atmosphere filled with an unforgettable old world charm.

Don’t forget to take a culinary tour through the deli case with Moroccan chickpea salad, Dragon noodles, Gambas al Ajillo, Quinoa and Farrow salad, or sample some of their delicious gluten free breads and pastries. In the heat of the summer, this fully licensed establishment is the perfect place to find a slice of shade and enjoy a cool beverage while listening to live music. Inside on the second floor there is a beautiful private dining room — an ideal

location for a more intimate gathering. On the main floor at the back of the store, there’s a quaint indoor café. And at the front, there is the colourful patisserie and delectable boulangerie. Pan Chancho was well ahead of the trend when it started buying its supplies locally two decades ago. It has always been a supporter of local farmers and growers. The store works with Enright Cattle Company, Patchwork Gardens Organic Vegetables and Herbs, and Wendy’s Mobile Market. Even Pan Chancho’s eggs and creams are sourced locally. Recently, the LCBO listed Pan Chancho as one of the top five Ontario cheese shops worth visiting. In the summer, vegetables from Patchwork Gardens can be found in fridges at the front of the store. There are even options for those who want to keep gourmet goods on hand at home, which require only little preparation for unexpected company. “If you’re coming to grab something from our line of frozen goods that we make – the beautiful traditional tourtières, handmade beef and lamb burgers, pot pies and quiche, we do all of it,” she says.” Rose Richardson and Zal Yanovsky opened Pan Chancho in 1994 with the purpose of producing fine European artisanal breads for their restaurant, Chez Piggy. Today, their daughter Zoe manages both locations. She remembers a time when finding gourmet breads for the restaurant required a road trip. “In the early days we used to go to Toronto to buy bread and fill up our old Datsun truck and drive it back and freeze it,” she says. Pan Chancho started in a small coach house on Johnston and King Street. It didn’t take long for it to outgrow its location. During that time, the store started to develop the distinct, stylish character and charm it’s known for today. TOP LEFT Zoe Yanovsky, owner and Stephanie Mitchell,retail store manager BOTTOM LEFT Stephanie Mitchell, retail store manager; Bernice Huisman, café manager; Rachel Mathies, retail supervisor; Jessica Shane, retail sales

Pan Chancho 44 Princess Street, Kingston 613.544.7790 pigpan@kingston.net panchancho.com

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ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR Spring 2014

APRIL - JUNE 2014

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April 2-April 5 The Stone Angel The Harold Harvey Centre (Domino Theatre)

April 5 Disney Live Mickey’s Rockin’ Road Show Rogers K-Rock Centre

April 17 The Backyardigans Live! The Grand Theatre

April 3 Harlem Globetrotters Rogers K-Rock Centre

April 6 Pinocchio The Grand Theatre

April 24-May 10 Welfarewell Domino Theatre

April 3-April 5 Kingston Symphony Nearly New Sale Kingston Symphony Warehouse

April 9 Just for Laughs Live The Grand Theatre

April 25 Jill Barber The Grand Theatre

April 4 Stuart McLean and The Vinyl Café The Grand Theatre

April 13 Brahms, Schumann & Tchaikovsky: Presented by the Kingston Symphony The Grand Theatre

April 26 Broadway, My Way: David Rogers with the Kingston Symphony The Grand Theatre

April 5 Jon Batiste The Grand Theatre

April 16 Compagnie Virginie Brunelle - Complexe des genres The Grand Theatre

April 26 Melodia Monday Concert St. John’s Anglican Church

KINGSTON

April 27-28 Limestone Race Weekend Various locations

May 9

May 23

RUBBERBANDance Group: Empirical Quotient

Art After Dark Various Locations

The Grand Theatre April 30 7 Fingers: Traces The Grand Theatre

May 10

June 1

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

The Grand Theatre

Beet Beethoven Run Downtown Kingston

May 2

May 11

June 5-June 21

Goodnight and May God Bless: A Tribute to Red Skeleton

We Walk the Line - A Tribute to Johnny Cash

The Grand Theatre

Who Saw Him Die? The Davies Foundation Auditorium

May 5

May 11

June 8

Jim Belushi & The Chicago Board of Comedy

Homegrown Live

Various Locations

Judy Collins The Grand Theatre

May 6

May 22-May 31

Backstreet Boys Rogers K-Rock Centre

“Quartet”

June 15

The Grand Theatre

First Capital Day Confederation Park

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FineLifestyles

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Safari Cake Boutique Your Destination For Artful Desserts By Brandi Parnell Photos StePhen Wild

ollow me into a commercial kitchen where there are fresh eggs and real butter. A place where there are pots of chocolate beside sheets of fondant. This is a place where the journey is fun and where Jane Dauncey creates artful and delicious designs. She is on a journey, a long road that has led right into the doors of her new bakeshop. “I have often thought it would be incredible to do what I love for a living. Now I am,” says Jane. What Jane loves is designing beautiful, delectable works of art. From the time she was a little girl, she has been enamored with the art of baking and decorating cakes. For the past eight years she has taught cake decorating and sugar art. In fact, she believes, the “icing on the cake” is sharing her knowledge with fellow cake enthusiasts. And so it is no surprise that her new bakery, Safari Cake Boutique, brings together her passion to create and educate. Jane discovered her talent for design when her children were small. Decorating cakes one birthday at a time became a creative outlet that began to include baking for family and friends. Today, she still marvels at the look on a child’s face when they see their very own cake. Working within any budget, Jane creates mouthwatering designs. Whether you want a cake with an edible mermaid or a pirate, or a cake depicting your favourite hockey team’s jersey, Jane’s expert hand can do it all. “Order a thematic cake for your child or give me a call and I’ll ice a standard cake which we always have on hand. Organized or last minute, either way, don’t panic. We’re here to help,” she says. At Safari Cake Boutique, Jane will design anything — whether it’s a custom wedding cake, traditional birthday cake, cupcakes, cookies or cake slices. Each product is made from scratch using quality ingredients in a nut-free environment. While she bakes standard flavours like chocolate and vanilla, she also offers swirled, carrot, spiced, red velvet, banana and coconut cakes. “Our customdesigned cakes reflect your personal taste and style… embellished with accents of individuality, making it uniquely yours,” she says. Jane also offers a gamut of icing options and believes “the filling makes the cake.”

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She is innovative and accommodating. A two-tiered, coconut cake with lemon Italian meringue buttercream and white chocolate ganache icing is available at your fingertips. While you can call to place an order, Safari Cake’s website is an easy and convenient way to order online. The website is reflective of Jane’s commitment to specialize in stylish cakes that strike a balance between tradition and innovation, simplicity and decadence. Some people say she is an artist who makes cakes. Jane says, “I love designing the perfect cake but it is equally important to me that it tastes delicious.” Her goal is to exceed clients’ expectations by challenging the ordinary. “We want all occasions big or small to be memorable,” says Jane. “We believe that every occasion is a special time.” Because of her commitment to exceed expectations, Jane is pleased to offer a free one-hour consultation on any custom wedding cake. She relishes in sitting down with a bride and groom to uncover everything that is important when it comes to their special day. The road may be a long journey, but it’s one that she looks forward to. “It is very rewarding to see a cake that excites people aesthetically but tastes great, too.” Safari Cake Boutique 842 Gardiners Road Kingston 613.384.5100 info@safaricakes.com www.safaricakes.com

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FOOD WINE Pairing BY CHRISTINA BERGERON PHOTO BRENT GERVAIS

ABOVE Christina Bergeron

s winter drips away one lonely icicle at a time, we’re reminded that sunny days filled with sweet rosés and chilled patio whites await us. It’s a bittersweet toast to the changing of the seasons, but a delightful excuse to pour a glass of wine once again with family and friends. Bergeron Estate Winery offers its 2009 Cabernet Franc, a dry medium-body red that balances the depth of our winter past with the sweetness of our summer’s approach. Aged in three-year-old French oak barrels, and handpicked from a nice, dry autumn harvest, the Bergeron Cabernet carries a lingering hint of winter smoke and pepper warmth. Reaching your palate, however, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to find that spring and summer flavours saturate your tongue with a delicate mixture of berry fruit. With its smooth, long silky finish, the nose of winter and the taste of spring and summer makes this wine the perfect kiss goodbye from one season to another. Enjoy with a food pairing that’ll really make its bouquet and taste shine with a suggested stack of sticky braised ribs. Succulent braised ribs that carry a sweet maple syrup flavour allows the Cabernet’s dry, ripe berry essence to be pulled forward to balance out the ribs sweetness. This creates an ideal level of sugar within the dish and with the Cabernet’s additional hint of oak and pepper touch, a ‘sweet and spicy’ combination evolves atop your palate. Boasting full flavour balancing, this pairing is an experience that allows both food and wine to sing deliciously inside your mouth.

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Stack of Sticky Braised riBs Paired with Bergeron estate winery’s 2009 CaBernet FranC ingredients

Preparation

• • • • • • •

1. Preheat oven to 325 F 2. Place ribs on cutting board and peel off back membrane with a sharp knife. Be careful not to cut yourself. 3. Use a large baking sheet that is rimmed and place meaty side up. Place lime slices on ribs and sprinkle peppercorns onto baking sheet. Pour 1⁄2 cup (375 ml) hot water onto pan. Cover with tin foil and make sure to seal the edges. Bake about one hour, or until meat is tender and can be easily pulled from bones. Discard lime slices and peppercorns after baking. 4. While ribs are baking, combine your ketchup, maple syrup, balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, mustard and cayenne in a pan. Bring to a boil and reduce heat and simmer, stirring frequently for 20 minutes or until the sauce thickens nicely. 5. Line a baking with parchment paper. 6. Cut between bones into individual ribs. Then place ribs in a large bowl and pour sauce on top. Mix the sauce and ribs well then place onto the baking sheet. 7. Bake for 20 minutes, recoating the ribs with sauce after 10 minutes. 8. Serve with a side of local, seasonal veggies with a dash of garlic and enjoy! Serves six.

3 racks pork back ribs 1 lime, thinly sliced 1 tsp (5ml) whole black peppercorns 1 1⁄4 cups (300ml) ketchup 3⁄4 cup (175 ml) pure maple syrup 1⁄2 cup (75ml) balsamic vinegar 1⁄4 cup (50ml) cider or balsamic vinegar • 2 tbsp (25ml) soy sauce • 2 tsp (10 ml) dry or Dijon mustard • 1⁄4 tsp (1ml) cayenne pepper

Tip have some fun with your presentation and pile the ribs against each other to make them look like a stack of ribs.

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30 Day Dry Aged Beef - Like nothing you’ve tasted before!

BarBecue

• • • •

Signature Dry-Aged Beef Five Fresh Kabob Varieties Local Lamb Fresh Game

Deli

• Fresh European Deli • Preservative-free Deli Roast Beef and Turkey • Fine Cheeses • Catering Available

Barriefield MARKET

lunch

• Fresh Deli Sandwiches Made-To-Order • Daily Soup or Hot choice • In-House Deli Salads

Barriefield Centre • 760 Highway #15 (across from LaSalle High School)

613.547.2223

Summer

Sizzle

Hosting The Ultimate Backyard Barbecue 90

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By Katrina Geenevasen

othing says summer more than a good, old-fashioned barbecue, with grilled meats and fresh vegetables as the stars of an effortless summer menu. There’s just something undeniably special about gathering with family and friends around a simple meal that boasts the delicious tastes of

the season. Keep the menu classic and unfussy, and you can’t go wrong. Since the winter months may have gotten you out of practice, we here at Fine Homes decided to help out. Whether you’re hosting a gathering for five or 50, here are some ideas to consider before firing up the grill.

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turn off the grill on that side, and allow the steaks to cook for about 45 minutes while you work the room and have some wine,” says Greenlees with a smile. All that’s left is to pull the steaks off the grill, and to let them stand for seven minutes. Guests are sure to be impressed, says Greenlees.

Inspired Décor There are endless options when it comes to decorating for a fun and lively outdoor barbecue. You can’t go wrong with gingham tablecloths, which offer a timeless look for any outdoor gathering. Colourful and fun, this fabric has broad appeal, and will have guests exclaiming over its fresh look. Mason jars are another barbecue favourite, serving as both countryinspired cups or as centrepieces for the table. Consider placing a simple white candle within several jars clustered together for a soft, warm glow. Get back to nature by plucking some fresh blooms from your outdoor garden. Whether you have bright and colourful tulips, softly scented peonies, or a handful of cheerful daisies, hand-tie them with twine for a casual, pretty look.

Fun and Games

Serve Local Fare

Be a Meat Master

There’s no denying that local food tastes better. “Serving local food at summer barbecues makes sense since it is definitely healthy and nutritious — there’s nothing better than fresh grilled veggies,” says Wendy Banks, owner of Wendy’s Country Market. “Plus, what better way to start a hot topic with family and friends at a get-together than a discussion about the benefits of local food while serving up some fresh picked and then grilled, steamy corn on the cob? Your summer barbecue will be the talk of the neighbourhood, since everyone will be talking about how good the food was.”

Whether you chose to serve classically casual burgers and hotdogs, or go more upscale with tender and juicy steaks, it’s easy to be a master of the grill. So what’s popular among the experts? “I love preparing a three-inch top sirloin steak,” says Tim Greenlees, owner of Barriefield Market. “It always has a ‘wow factor’ when I bring it out to the barbecue, and it is a delicious and easy way to feed a group.”

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Greenlees suggests simply rubbing the steak down with kosher salt or a favourite seasoning, then allowing the steak to sit at room temperate for about 20 minutes before cooking. “Just a quick sear on high heat for five minutes on each side, and then slide over to one side of the barbecue and

To get your guests mixing and mingling [and to burn off all those extra calories!] consider setting up some outdoor games that are both fun and easy. Classic games of horseshoes, croquet and bocce ball are always popular, while a fast-paced game of Frisbee will encourage breathless laughter from everyone who chooses to take part. A water balloon toss is equally enjoyable on a hot and steamy summer day.

Drink Up Some Fun Set up a beverage station stacked with a variety of cup sizes and colours for a fun and eclectic look. It always helps to preplan, so ensure you print out a few drink recipes to eliminate the guesswork when it comes to mixing up a cocktail. Refreshing Mojitos and spicy Bloody Caesars are always popular, but you can never go wrong with a large, thirst-quenching jug of Sangria. Guests hate to show up emptyhanded, so ask everyone to bring an ingredient for the recipes you have chosen. Remember, never drink and drive and offer to call taxis for friends who overindulge.

Join before May 1st, 2014 & SAVE $2000 The perfect place to enjoy the time of your life 961 King Street West, Kingston | 613.546.1753 | www.cataraqui.com

Swing into

Spring By Tori STafford

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Cataraqui Golf and Country Club. Photo Flagstick Photography

olf is a game with perhaps as many facets as there are dimples on the ball – hitting the tee blocks can mean many different things to different players. It is a way to relieve the stress of a day’s work, or a place to carry out business dealings with clients; a pastime handed down through the generations of a family, or something you do to escape your family; a sport to study and play by the laws of rule, or a hobby to share with your cocktailsipping friends. With the golfing season upon us, Fine Lifestyles has created a list of just some of the many outstanding courses in the area.

Cataraqui Golf and Country Club Cataraqui Golf and Country Club has been a mainstay of both the local golfing community and the top rated courses in

Canada. The creation of legendary golf architect Stanley Thompson, Cataraqui is a unique 18-hole course that feels removed from the city, but, conveniently, is not. “Thompson’s fingerprint is all over the course — the fairways are framed by towering pines and it really is a distinctly different atmosphere than most new courses,” says Jay Gazeley, chief operating officer at Cataraqui Golf and Country Club. “The course was built to fit in with nature, he worked with the land itself. The course has tremendous character.” While it is a private course, those applying only face about a year waitlist time to become a member. And because it is situated alongside Lake Ontario, members can always expect the winds to bring them an entirely new golf experience every time they tee off. “It’s unique. The course is always

unfolding and showing a different side of itself each day that you play it,” Gazeley says of the nearly 100-year-old course. “That’s probably the most distinguishing factor. The more you play it, the more you appreciate it, and the more you enjoy returning to play it again.”

Garrison Golf and Country Club Located on Canadian Forces Base Kingston, Garrison is often overlooked as a possibility for civilian golfers who are unaware that the course is open to the public. However, this full-featured, par 72, 18-hole course is, indeed, a public course. Garrison’s unique three-tiered pricing for both green fees and memberships mean that those who have served in the Forces or worked the Department of National Defence simply have lower fees than civilian golfers.

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“We’ve been known to have the best greens in the area,” says Jeff Clements, general manager at Garrison. “We have full practice facilities, with a driving range, putting green, chipping area, and couple of practice bunkers. So our practice facilities are, I think, quite extensive compared to most courses in the area.”

Colonnade Golf and Country Club Family-owned and operated, Colonnade is unique in many ways, one being its picturesque location that is easily accessible — the course is centrally located in the middle of four of the city’s main highways. The par-72 course is also a refreshing hideaway that offers golfers an everchanging experience and a great getaway from the daily grind, says co-owner Tana Gordanier. “There’s always something new at the Colonnade. We’re always building new tees, changing greens — we’re always improving.” “If people work in a stressful job, they say when they walk onto the Colonnade property, they just relax. All the staff is friendly, all the family members are here... it’s a nice, relaxing, friendly atmosphere. I always say to people, if you haven’t tried to golf the Colonnade, golf it once, and you’ll know why we’re so popular.”

Smuggler’s Glen Golf Course Located on the Thousand Islands Parkway, Smuggler’s Glen is the ideal golf destination for a day trip or weekend getaway. The stunning course utilizes its Canadian Shield makeup to create a challenging and exciting game. Designed with only the best grasses, this semi-private course is known for “fast and true” greens, says Doug Wark, director of golf at Smuggler’s Glen. “I think it is the quality of the ingredients that the course is made up of that set it apart,” Wark says, noting that bentgrass and pure white sand was brought in specifically. Wark encourages Kingstonians to make the short drive to see what they might be missing. “Get out, get your friends out and come play a game, because I think it will be something different and worthwhile. You’ve got to experience it to realize what makes it so outstanding,” Wark says.

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Black Bear Ridge Golf Course Black Bear Ridge is perfect for those who want to take in a course built to suit the gorgeous land it’s built on. Located in Belleville, Black Bear was designed to satisfy a full rage of golf experience level and skill, says owner Bill Magee. A course that has been touted by the pros and critics, the 18-hole track is complimented by a full golf school with practice facilities, as well as another nine-hole course designed with beginners and amateurs in mind, Magee explains. “Parents can come down with their kids, even when they are quite young, and they haven’t got the capability of hitting the ball anywhere,” Magee says with a laugh. “It helps them to get into how the game is played… which was something that I personally had felt was missing.” Both courses are great options for tournaments, families, or day trips, Magee expresses. “All of the publicity and all of the things you’ve heard about it are true,” he says. “It’s a beautiful course, in terms of typography and the mature trees… and it’s an exciting course to play.” OPPOSITE PAGE TOP Colonnade Golf and Country Club, BOTTOM Smuggler’s Glen Golf Course. Photo Douglas Wark ThIS PAGE Black Bear Ridge Golf Course

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Creating a Stronger Future

ONE CHEER AT A TIME BY TRINA ANNAND PHOTOS COURTESY OF KINGSTON ELITE ALL STAR CHEERLEADING

very parent knows after school activities are one of the best ways to engage children and help them develop strong friendships. These extracurricular activities can help kids find their passion in life. Kingston Elite All Star Cheerleading is an all-inclusive cheer group that encompasses both the competitive and team building aspects of cheerleading.

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“Our whole mission is improving the quality of life for kids. It’s not just about athletics, we try to teach them some valuable life lessons and teamwork along the way,” says Sandy Han, owner. Expecting excellence from oneself is the guiding principle Kingston Elite passes on to their 11 different cheer teams, which range in both age and skill.

Han herself discovered cheerleading in high school and instantly fell in love with the sport and the confidence it gave her. After decades of coaching at the high school, university and national level, Han is now a coach for Team Canada and has eight competitors on the team. It was a natural choice to open Kingston Elite, which is now celebrating its 10th anniversary.

The facility is state-of-the-art, with a 75x42-foot sprung floor that minimizes joint damage and allows a large space to practice. Athletes can also benefit from an in-ground pit for tumbling and conditioning, as well as an instant video feedback system to optimize the learning process. It’s all designed to help young athletes excel. “The most rewarding thing is seeing the positive change in kids,” says Han. “It makes us feel we’re creating kids who will be winners in life, not just sport.” The gym is known for fostering great competitors and winning championships — and it’s always looking for new teammates. With an expert staff of 16 coaches, children as young as four can begin to learn the basics of cheerleading. Teams also include a parents’ team, tiny team (ages four to five) and a special needs team. Is Kingston Elite a good fit for your child? Visit the Spring Showcase April 4, which is supplemented by free workshops April 5. “It is a great sport for girls and boys, it requires less time and money than other sports to enroll,” says Han, adding that practice is only five hours a week. Contrary to popular thought, the sport isn’t just for girls. “Cheerleading combines gymnastics, dance and team sports,” explains Han. “Boys enjoy the sport because it is so challenging. They often remark that it’s harder than hockey, football… anything they’d done before,” remarks Han. Whether you are looking for an activity to spark your child’s interest or they are looking for a new challenge, Kingston Elite is the perfect place to discover a new passion. “We are building a better and stronger community one child at a time,” says Han. “We are teaching skills they will carry with them for the rest of their lives and the best part is the kids don’t know they’re learning — they are just having fun.”

Kingston Elite All Star Cheerleading 785 Sir John A. MacDonald Blvd. Kingston 613.547.3689 www.kingstonelitecheer.com

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Lacing up A LEGACY BY TORI STAFFORD PHOTOS BILLY KIMMERLY

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oming off of gold medal performances from both the men’s and women’s national teams, the sense of pride Canadians have in hockey and those who play it has been refueled by yet another Olympic victory. Here in Kingston, that sense of pride is heightened. As one of the many disputed birthplaces of the sport, Kingstonians hold the national winter sport close to their hearts. But one does not need to look as far as Olympic venues or even the National Hockey League to see the monumental stories of success in hockey. In fact, it is when you look at hockey at its grassroots level that you truly see the passion for the sport we have as Canadians, right here in the Limestone City. Some of the most beautiful moments in hockey are those that happen between games — seeing an older child help a younger one learn to tie his skates, or those high-fives in the tunnels following a close-and-hard-fought win. But perhaps the most beautiful of all hockey moments is seeing the admiration in a young player’s eyes as he watches an idol glide onto the rink. It is in that moment hockey dreams are made, and many a young Canadian decides he or she will make it pro in the sport our nation embraces. And it is here in Kingston these moments occur on a near-weekly basis, thanks to the Kingston Frontenacs, and their programs designed to help foster growth in minor hockey players. One such program is the Rink of Dreams, where minor teams face off against a rival team on the Frontenac’s home ice at the Roger’s K-Rock Centre. It’s not just playing on the same ice as the big boys — it’s experiencing what it’s like to take to your hometown ice with all of the pomp and glory of an Ontario Hockey League game. Complete with full player introductions, the national anthem, goal horns and music, young players get to taste the excitement their favourite Frontenacs players experience at home games. The minor players are even interviewed live on the big screen. And the whole thing takes place right before the Kingston Frontenacs play a home game, which means the whole building is abuzz with excitement and commotion.

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For those who’ve had the experience, it’s almost like a dream come true. The anxious squeals of excitement can be heard drifting down the hall as the players ready themselves for their big game. And afterwards, the energy and thrill of what has just occurred is so prevalent, the exhilaration is contagious. “This is the first time I’ve ever got to play on the Fronts’ rink, and it was pretty cool,” says a cherry-cheeked Jimmy Hulton, who plays for the Kingston Canadians Atom AA team. “This is my third time!” teammate Ben Spicer, chimed in, still a little breathless. The two boys look at one another with concern when asked how the game went. As elated as they are, their team lost by a single goal, and that loss is taken seriously. “It wasn’t our best game,” Ben says, as Jimmy nods in agreement. “We weren’t expecting it, they were a pretty good team.” Their loss aside, both boys disclose they’d really like to play in the OHL one day – the true purpose programs like Rink of Dreams serves. Experiencing what can become of their hockey dreams, minor hockey players are inspired and driven to succeed and progress in the sport. It’s a feeling players now in the OHL know all too well. Having OHL teams encourage minor teams when he was a young player was “a huge part” of pushing Mike Moffat, the Frontenacs’ captain, to succeed. “I remember I played at the Kitchener Rangers game in between periods, which was cool, and I’ll never forget that experience. It just makes you want to pursue hockey even more than you already do,” Moffat says, looking out over the minor players on the ice. “You can see how all the older guys play, and it makes your dream more evident to you.”

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And the energy the young players bring to the rink feeds the Frontenacs, too, says Darcy Greenaway, assistant captain. “I am sure the kids are having a blast out there right now,” he says. “I think it’s awesome right before our game to see these kids out here having fun, it’s definitely pretty cool.” It isn’t just the Rink of Dreams that helps ignite the fire in the bellies of many young local players. The Kingston Frontenacs also host a series of regular programs to foster a love for the sport. From letting minor hockey players act as flag-bearers during the national anthem, to allowing young teams the chance to take in warm ups from the Front’s team bench, the Frontenacs put forth a consistent effort to encourage the growth of local players. “We all came from that system and hope the kids like us want to make it to the next level,” says Frontenacs coach and former NHLer, Todd Gill of fostering support and growth in minor hockey. “Any support from [the] OHL [or] Hockey Canada is great for newer advances in coaching and teaching the game of hockey.” For both Gill and the players on his team, engaging young players and watching as they dream big and work hard is mutually beneficial. The programs the Frontenacs have for minor players are important to inspiring children’s hockey dreams, and to inspiring that same youthful energy in the Frontenacs themselves, Gill expresses. “I think what it does is bring our [players] back to when the game was played to have fun.”

Conquering

Clutter

How to Bring organization to Your Home By Katrina Geenevasen

hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always a sense of rejuvenation as the cold winter months make way for the balmy days of summer, inspiring many of us to begin the dreaded task of organizing our homes. While it may be tempting to put off this rather dreadful task, Fine Lifestyles is here to help you get the main rooms of your home in order in no time at all â&#x20AC;&#x201D; so you can get back to enjoying that refreshing margarita on the porch sooner, rather than later.

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Kitchen Before you get started, consider installing sliding shelves, which effortlessly glide out for easy access to all the items that tend to get lost into the abyss near the back. Adding risers will give you even more space to store smaller items. Meanwhile, vertical cabinets with dividers are great for storing tall items like cutting boards and cookie sheets. To keep all those pot lids organized and out of the way, hang a rack on the inside of the cupboard. Next, consider how you use your kitchen and what items you require the most. Create “zones,” so daily activities can be done quickly and easily. For example, if you like to bake, store all of your baking ingredients, electronics and supplies in one cupboard. If you’re an avid tea or coffee drinker, consider designating a cabinet to store your mugs, teabags, coffee pods, sweeteners and honey. Meanwhile, to encourage effortless recycling, stow bins for paper, plastic and glass near your kitchen cleanup zone — which might contain paper towels, disinfectant and rags. Hang spray bottles from a tension rod for added space. To keep your pantry clutter-free, first purge it by getting rid of anything that’s expired, then purchase clear containers or wire baskets and begin grouping like items together. Ensure kid-friendly snacks are on lower shelves for easy access. For

items that tend to come in bulky bags and boxes, purchase coordinating glass jars with lids and affix labels to the front for easy identification. Consider doing the same thing with your spices, and tuck them all neatly and alphabetically into one drawer or cabinet.

Bathroom For a luxurious bathroom that boasts organized function, begin by purging your cupboards of anything you don’t use or love. Be ruthless! If you don’t have any built-ins, consider adding shelves or

cabinets to store fluffy towels and other necessities within handy reach. To bring order to your shower, pour all of your shampoos, conditioners, body washes, etc. into uniform plastic bottles. Clear apothecary jars for cotton balls, bath salts and the like will give your bathroom a pretty, spa-like feel, while decorative antique glass dishes or bowls can be used to hold and display jewellery. Much like in the kitchen, drawer organizers are also functional in the bathroom, helping to corral small items that tend to create clutter.

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zones — much like in the kitchen. If you want to create a reading nook, for example, you may wish to include not only a comfortable chair, but to install shelves to store your treasured books — alphabetically or, for aesthetic appeal, by colour. If you want to save on shelf space, consider decorative boxes that can house all the works by your favourite authors and can be tucked away into a closet at a moments notice if you wish. If you use the space mainly for entertaining, on the other hand, you might want to consider installing a bar area so glasses are always within easy reach. For those last minute gettogethers, an ottoman with storage space can make tidying up in a hurry a cinch, and provide extra seating, as well. If you have children, you know all too well how quickly toys tend to take over the space in the living room. First, weed out the toys the children don’t use often, and put them in another room or donate them. Next, ensure there are plenty of shelves and large boxes that can store toys of various shapes and sizes, and are within easy reach for small children. Make your kids a part of cleaning, and before too long, it will become second nature for them to put their toys away when they are done playing with them.

Living Rooms The place where all the family activities seem to take place, the “living” room is aptly named — so it comes as no surprise that it can become a disaster zone in no time at all. But with cleverly planned storage, corralling “stuff” becomes a much easier task. Consider first how you use the room — in many homes, it has many different functions. Do you use it to watch television? Is it play space for your children? Do you use it for reading, or for entertaining guests? Once you’ve figured out how the space is mostly used, it’s time to create

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Bedroom It’s hard to feel relaxed (let alone romantic!) in a cluttered bedroom. But sweet dreams are possible with a few quick fixes. Begin by purging your closet and dressers. If you haven’t worn an item of clothing in a year, it’s time to get rid of it. Next, purchase some vacuum–sealable bags or containers on wheels to store heavy sweaters and pants under your bed. When you’re putting items of clothing back into your closet, consider whether you’d like to organize by colour — which is more aesthetically pleasing for some — or by item (blouses with blouses, skirts with skirts, etc.) Getting dressed in the morning will be a breeze when you know exactly where an item of clothing will be in your closet. Meanwhile, shoes (which are an integral part of any wardrobe!) should have their own dedicated space in your closet. Consider angled shelves, which present shoes in an easy-to-see way and make matching footwear to your outfits easy. Pullout shelves are another option, and maximize valuable closet space. If you have a lot of accessories and scarves, consider jewellery rolls and clear storage boxes to hold your baubles.

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Closets With

pa-Nash IT Truly IS All AbOuT yOu by Trina annand PHOTOS STephen Wild

ou are face-to-face with a cluttered mass of shirts and pants. Your closet is an abyss of excess and disorder. Take a breath. Tomorrow is the day you will wake up, open those closet doors, and not only find an outfit you feel fabulous in, but will do so quickly and efficiently — thanks to the supreme organizational, style-savvy, space-enhancing prowess of Sharon Nash, wardrobe architect. “I think that the main focus of what I do is to offer a quick, painless transition for people,” says Nash, owner of Closets With pa-Nash. Nash has used her keen eye for form and function to offer services designed to help others maximize space, stay organized and build fully-formed wardrobes and professionally-tailored attires. She has drawn on her experience in the construction industry, where she saw a gap in closet design, as well as her time in the fashion industry, where she encountered many individuals discontent with their closet space. “A person can look at their [closet] space and not really know how to work with it,” says Nash. “I have a list of questions that I ask to find out what kind of a wardrobe they keep… and get a reasonable expectation on what the size should be for their standard, seasonal wardrobe.” When constructing client’s closets, Nash calls on R B Kingston Carpentry, a professional, detail-oriented construction company owned by experienced carpenter, Richard Boileau, and his wife, Amy Henderson-Boileau. “It’s important to have someone who has the expertise, as well as the credentials to back themselves up,” says Nash, explaining that having a consistent and reliable construction company is a guarantee for Richard Boileau, Erin Legare and Sharon Nash

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customers. Nash knows what they can expect from the finished product. For those who already have the closet space they need, but lack the know-how to utilize it, Nash also offers professional organizational services. This includes getting rid of inessential items, and can sometimes lead to complete wardrobe enhancements. “Usually people have a really large range of clothing, and don’t really seem to know specifically what is really suiting them best. You can love clothes, but they’ve got to love you back,” says Nash, noting that her objective is to help others create a fully-formed image, and not just a fashion statement. Nash also offers guidance on personal protocol, organizational practices and time management for those going through a transitional period, such as recent graduates or individuals entering a more corporate position. “I can come in and restructure their wardrobe to help them put their best foot forward and assimilate into the process without any stress.”

To bookend the transformation, Nash can set clients up with a glamour-day-portrait outfit and align them with Erin Legare Photography. Professional photographer, Erin Legare, will help them feel empowered, capturing the statement they wish to convey through professional photos for portfolios, online employee profiles, business cards and mementos. Visit Closets With pa-Nash online for a more detailed description of their services, and take the first step to the organized and time-savvy new you!

Closets With pa-Nash 613.328.0199 www.closetswithpanash.com RB Kingston Carpentry Ltd. 613.650.7175 www.RBKingstonCarpentry.com Erin Legare Photography 343.363.5783 www.erinlegarephotography.com

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BRINGING ORGANIZATION TO CHAOS BY TRINA ANNAND PHOTOS AMANDA GARREAU

uggling all the demands of a modern life can be challenging for even the most organized person or family, but throw in lost keys, paperwork or busy schedules and it becomes complete chaos. It seems as a culture, we never think about organization until the moment a problem arises. There is a never-ending myriad of books and television shows telling people how to stay organized, so when we enact these methods, why don’t they work? Karyn Beacock recognized these challenges and decided to leave the corporate world to become a professional organizer, by using her background in

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systems and process improvement. Now, her Kingston-based business Spiral Into Control helps clients organize their work and home life for a more harmonious existence. Unlike the TV versions of organization, which feature one-size-fits-all organization strategies, Spiral Into Control reminds people that organizing is actually a highly personal experience. “All the tools and books in the world are not going to help if those systems don’t work with your lifestyle,” says Beacock. “It is also important to remember that whatever system you create needs to work for everyone in the home.”

Beacock begins by analyzing the way her clients live, and develops personal, effective and practical solutions that fit your lifestyle, are easy to implement and simple to maintain. She feels if a home is disorganized, it often leads to chaos in other parts of a person’s life. Spiral Into Control helps clients sift through the chaos and clutter of the everyday to help them find more peace in their lives. “Abundance is a huge opponent for organization,” she says. “People like the feeling of having extras and multiples. It makes them feel wealthy, but it creates clutter in a space. After all, do we actually need eight spatulas? Organization is

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about having the right amount of items for the space you have,” notes Beacock. People often assign monetary values to items. As a result, they are reluctant to let things go, whether they add to their lives or not, Beacock says. She encourages her clients to donate extraneous items, allowing them to help themselves and local charities at the same time. Having an objective party to help is one of the most important things Beacock is able to provide her clients with. It’s a continuing relationship that goes beyond the initial contact and de-cluttering. The organization expert offers her unique brand of support outside of the home, as well. Beacock’s workplace services can be as simple as streamlining the function of one desk, or as complex as using her corporate background to improve the overall function of a business. “Often when a business grows, or is experiencing various transitions, it tends to feel chaotic. It is very important to minimize anxiety at work, especially for entrepreneurs,” says Beacock, who worked her magic for Kingston’s Full Circle Health Network. As part of her workplace services, Beacock offers monthly check-ins

to ensure the system is working for clients, and make adjustments as needed to suit their changing needs — whether it is filing, digital workflow or time management. During her time in Australia, Beacock discovered a unique service: personal concierges. The organizational guru, who had a to-do list even at seven years old, was feeling the strain of juggling family and work. “Even as an organized person I was feeling overwhelmed, it was quite the epiphany when I realized I could outsource tasks. Even by just handing off a couple errands, it was amazing how much order it brought to my life,” says Beacock. With Spiral Into Control’s concierge services, time wasting errands can be a thing of the past and reduce the pressure of squeezing extra things into an already-full day.

Organizing doesn’t have to be an expensive prospect, it works with what you have already. Unlike a designer’s services, Spiral Into Control’s mandate is reducing chaos and enriching life — not simply making things pretty. There is literally a place for everything in Beacock’s world. “People often say they don’t have time to be organized. It does take time to put the systems in place, but that is an investment in the life you want to lead,” says Beacock. “Do you want to waste time looking for things among the clutter, or be able to spend extra time on things you like doing and people you love?” Spiral Into Control 613.985.4674 www.spiralintocontrol.org

ABOVE L-R Genevieve Zizzo, osteopath & owner; Full Circle Health Network and Karyn Beacock, owner of Spiral Into Control

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DONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T LET YOUR HOME

GO TO THE DOGS Living with pets...

IN STYLE

Urban Paws Cataraqui Pet Centre 1183 Midland Avenue Kingston, ON, K7P 2X8 (613) 384-0987 info@urbanpaws.ca

www.urbanpaws.ca

Urban Paws Downtown Smith Robinson Building 27 Princess Street, Suite 101 Kingston, ON, K7L 1A3 (613) 547-2323 info@urbanpaws.ca

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SIMPLE STORAGE SOLUTIONS BY TORI STAFFORD PHOTOS COURTESY OF SPACES STORAGE

t’s a phrase the majority of people wince when they hear: “Would you be able to help me move this weekend?”

facility and stored with the least amount of handling possible to ensure the safety of the client’s items.

Faced with the prospect of moving, be it your own move or helping out a friend or family member, most people envision the same strenuous and bothersome chain of events: packing up boxes, renting a truck, picking up said truck, loading it with boxes, going to the pre-secured storage facility, unloading, driving back to the original site, and repeating until the sun sets.

When ready to unpack their belongings in a new location, all the clients have to do is call, and Spaces Storage delivers their items, still packed in the same storage pods, at their destination. No truck rentals, no separate storage costs, no travelling back and forth with loading and unloading at each end. It’s a simple solution to an issue people are faced with every day, expresses Sean Brophy, president of Spaces Storage Group. “Storage is a necessary evil for many, many people,” Brophy says. “Our process simplifies moving and storing your items. The best part about it is it costs the same — we’ve priced ourselves in accordance with a regular self-storage business, and you get all of these other added benefits on top!”

What’s worse is that it all occurs again in reverse once the new home is secured and ready to be moved into. But for the team at Spaces Storage, “Would you be able to help me move?” is a phrase they not only like hearing, but welcome happily. That’s because the team at Spaces knows all too well the stresses and hardships of moving and storage, and has developed a different way of completing this process that’s both efficient and convenient. A Kingston-based business established in 2004, Spaces Storage provides a service that simplifies this most dreaded task. Spaces Storage is unlike other storage facilities. Instead of all the steps and costs associated with the process normally related with moving, Spaces offers clients the convenience of their unique storage pods, which are delivered to the client’s property. The client can pack the storage containers on their own schedule, and once packed up, the client simply calls Spaces Storage, and arranges for their containers to be picked up. The containers are taken to Spaces secure

From those de-cluttering their home, to those moving furniture and items out for painting or flooring jobs, the team at Spaces can help with a variety of storage needs. “The whole process of getting items from your home to an offsite storage facility doesn’t need to be as cumbersome and challenging as it is today,” Brophy says. “We think of our business as ‘a new solution to an old problem’... it just makes sense!”

Spaces Storage 613.544.7319 www.KingstonStorage.com sbrophy@spacesstorage.ca

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for the home BY COURTNEY TAIT

he most interesting objects in a home are the ones that tell a story. The 60-year-old stool your grandfather carved from a fallen pine tree. The antique candle holders your sister gave you for your wedding. The framed drawing of a rainbow, coloured by your son when he was three. Featuring items that represent another time or place instantly infuses your home with soul. What if you took that notion a step further? Reclaimed materials — from stained-glass church windows to tables made of barn wood — are becoming increasingly popular in building, renovating and redecorating, enabling homeowners to add interest to their décor while giving new life to pieces from the past. If you’re installing or replacing hardwood floors, consider using salvaged wood for a unique look that’s also eco-friendly. Boards from old barns, factories and warehouses can be found through local and online sources, saving the wood from ending up in a landfill and making your flooring an instant conversation piece. Reclaimed wood can also be used for interior walls and siding. Like mixing antiques into your space? A castiron tub, pedestal bathroom sink or farmhousestyle kitchen sink can complement a modern décor, making a statement that also proves functional. Decorative windows that have been rescued from old buildings become a piece of art once hung on the wall. Even vintage fireplace mantles can be repurposed and used as a headboard or shelf. The ways in which to use reclaimed materials are limitless. All it takes is a little imagination and a passion for finding treasures with a story you want to tell.

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EXPERTAdvice Home Renovation 101

T Tracie Tattrie Sales Representative Royal LePage ProAlliance Realty 640 Cataraqui Woods Drive Kingston 613.484.0225 tracie@tracietattrie.ca kingstonrealestateagentwhocares.com

here is a sense of satisfaction that goes along with completing a home renovation job by yourself, but it goes without saying that skills and abilities vary from person to person. When you’re planning your next home project, you need to consider your own skill set carefully. You never want to get in “over your head” and have a simple project end up costing more money than it would have to hire a professional in the first place.

a professional should always do jobs involving electrical or structural work. If you are thinking of hiring a contractor, electrician, painter or anyone in the trades, I have at list of trusted professionals that work with me time and again. Feel free to contact me for a referral.

You need to think about all the details – from the tools you will need, to building codes and good building practices (which are essential for most projects). I have seen many homes that have received upgrades from the seller, and while you can tell their heart was in the right place, the finishings might not be as attractive as perhaps initially intended. A job you started yourself in order to save money could actually end up costing more in the end if you are not careful. Cost plays a part when it comes to DIY projects versus hiring a professional. If you are leaning towards tackling it yourself, make sure to do your research before starting. From laying a new floor to painting the living room, the quality is in the details; that’s what buyers will pay for. Another option is to act as your own contractor. If you do this, you can hire the tradespeople you need, but still be in control of the situation. No matter what you decide, it’s always good to start with a professional opinion. Also, remember

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HugH MosaHeb Expert on All Things Real Estate by Tori STafford Photos STephen Wild and courtesy of hugh MoSaheb

uying or selling a home is a decision that cannot be taken lightly, but neither is the decision of choosing who will assist you through the process. Hugh Mosaheb knows the magnitude of this decision, and the intricacies of real estate transactions. For over 25 years, Mosaheb has worked tirelessly to secure his place as one of the leading realtors in the area, and this extensive experience

is one of the attributes that keeps him in that prestigious position today. Having lived in Kingston all his life, Mosaheb has a firm knowledge of the area both as a realtor and as a resident. Mosaheb has a distinct ability to match clients’ needs and interests with the right location. This ability translates into an easy and efficient home buying experience for his clientele.

Similarly, Mosaheb’s keen comprehension of the local real estate market and current trends gives him the edge when negotiating. For those buying and selling property in Kingston, Mosaheb is a trusted adviser who is devoted to his clients. He strives to achieve only the best outcome in every transaction. Mosaheb’s direct, skillful and assertive style of negotiating ensures this positive end result, meaning his clients can feel safe

ABOVE Hugh Mosaheb. Feature Home 1103 King St. West–Offered at $895,000, this exquisite, top-quality family home is located in one of Kingston’s premiere neighbourhoods.

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in his care and their resulting investment. “Any success I’ve had comes from working hard, staying on my game, and making sure my clients are fully-satisfied,” he says. Mosaheb mainly works in residential, resale, condominium sales, and new home sales, where he represents one of the city’s most revered builders, Marques Homes. A force of his own in real estate, Mosaheb shines as a one-man show. His intense commitment keeps him in touch with clients’ needs and wants. “My clients have one face, one name and one phone number to deal with,” Mosaheb explains. “That way, I avoid the chance of miscommunication or lost sentiment.” And while working alone may mean taking on a lot of work, it is nothing Mosaheb shies away from. Still as passionate about real estate as he was the day he started, Mosaheb loves to be hands-on and thrives in the fast-paced work environment his field creates. But what truly fulfills him is the knowledge that the result of a day’s work is his clients’ true satisfaction and comfort. “When my buyers and sellers tell me I’ve done a rewarding job for them and that they’re happy with the way I handled their deal,” Mosaheb says, with his warm and endearing smile, “that is when I feel I have successfully satisfied my client’s needs.” Hugh Mosaheb, Sales Representative Royal LePage ProAlliance Realty, Brokerage 80 Queen Street, Kingston Office 613.544.4141 Cell 613.531.2500 hmosaheb@sympatico.ca www.mosaheb.com

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Luxury OF THE SPA EXPERIENCE, INNOVATIONS OF THE MODERN BATHROOM BY ERIN LEGG

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t’s amazing how today’s technology makes life easier. We have smart phones that not only serve as communication devices but track every detail of our lives. We have refrigerators that manage our grocery inventory. We have automated systems that can turn lights on or off and shut our drapes at any point in time. Today’s bathroom is equally as luxurious and technologically advanced. Here are a few of the futuristic innovations available for your powder room: Bathtub: Perfect the art of the bubble bath with a tub that fills to your desired temperature. If you prefer showers over baths, opt for a shower head that rains at just the right pressure, or that plays your favourite music through its built-in audio system.

Steam Shower: Bring the spa right to your home with this luxurious enclosure. With seating, foot massagers, built in audio player and adjustable body sprayers, unwinding in your steam shower will be the most treasured part of your day. Toilet: If a self-cleaning toilet sounds too good to be true, it isn’t. In fact, your toilet upgrade can also come with automatic flush, automatic seat lift/lowering features and a heated seat. Faucet: Hands-free, intelligent faucets adjust water flow and temperature according to your personal preference. An added bonus? An intelligent faucet is a sanitary feature to any bathroom. Lighting: Whether it’s for your morning routine or your evening soak in the tub, having the correct lighting makes all the difference. Consider an automated system whereby you can select the

proper brightness or colour of lighting for your specific routine. Entertainment: A waterproof television set installed in the bathtub allows you to unwind with your favourite program or movie while soaking away the day’s stress. A specialized LCD television monitor can be installed behind a twoway mirror, allowing you to catch the morning news as you prepare for the day, but remains discretely unnoticed when powered off.

The bathroom is no longer about getting ready for the day or bathing: it’s about pampering yourself in a unique, customizable space. Inviting these technological innovations into your powder room makes for a luxurious, futuristic spa-like experience.

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GROW YOUR BUSINESS with RE/MAX® Finest Realty Inc. and RE/MAX® Realty Concepts Corp. BY TONYA LAMBERT PHOTOS STEPHEN WILD

indy Haggerty had a dream: she wanted to own a real estate brokerage and shape it into a dynamic, successful team of agents. “It’s always been a dream of mine to own my own brokerage, where I can inspire, mentor and grow a team that has the same goals and values as my own,” says Haggerty. A top-selling agent herself, as well as the former president

of the Kingston and Area Real Estate Association, Haggerty took the first step to realizing her dream and opened RE/ MAX® Finest Realty Inc. in Napanee in October, 2010. Just a few years later, after much success in her Napanee office, Haggerty sought out and partnered with Shannon McCaffrey, another local top-producing agent.

The two dynamic women knew their experience and expertise would complement each other and be of great assistance to their agents. They immediately opened a second location in Amherstview that summer, doubling their agent count from seven to 18. Then, in October, 2013, the two women took over three additional existing RE/ MAX® offices in the Kingston area under

ABOVE L-R Business partners, Cindy Haggerty and Shannon McCaffrey

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the name RE/MAX® Realty Concepts Corp. With over 70 agents combined in their offices, Haggerty and McCaffrey have made it their mission to provide their sales representatives with the best possible environment, tools and training. As part of RE/MAX ® (the largest international real estate company in the world), Haggerty and McCaffrey are able to offer their agents an unparalleled support system. RE/MAX® agents have access to and benefit from the massive online, television, outdoor and print ad campaigns run by the firm. The online marketing tools include not only the company’s website but also its YouTube brand channel, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn accounts. These mediums allow agents to target a global market while the company provides training to become a Certified International Property Specialist so agents have the knowledge needed to work with international clients. Being active in 134 countries worldwide, RE/MAX® has designed its website so that buyers can easily access information in 36 different languages and get prices converted into their local currency automatically — a service not provided by any other real estate firm. With over 90,000 sales associates worldwide, RE/

MAX® offers an amazing cross-country referral network to their agents that is second to none. Haggerty and McCaffrey also offer their agents regular seminars, classes and oneon-one coaching free of charge to help their sales associates keep abreast of the latest technology and market trends. As well, RE/MAX® offers more than 1,000 business-building videos online to assist their agents. Ryan Hanes, a sales representative at RE/MAX® Finest Realty Inc. has found this to be an invaluable aide: “The tools and education available through bestagent.ca are unparalleled and I am still being blown away by it daily.” And, of course, Haggerty and McCaffrey are always available to assist their agents in any way, whenever they need it. As McCaffrey notes, “We will build our people, and our people will build the business.” As members of the RE/MAX ® organization, agents also have access to the latest technology. “For Sale” signs are linked to the firm’s online presence through QR codes and curbside marketing. Instructional videos are available for sellers to help them prepare their homes to be “Fit to Sell.” As well, there are numerous brochures and marketing materials available to the agents themselves. These BELOW Cindy Haggerty providing training to new agents.

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are already in templates, making it easy for the agents to get out and do what they do best: sell properties. It is access to such a wide array of tools, leading-edge technology and unparalleled training, combined with a supportive working environment that led RE/MAX® Ontario–Atlantic to give Haggerty and McCaffrey the Broker of the Year Award for 2012 for a Small Population. One of the sales representatives, Sharon Moorcroft of RE/MAX® Finest Realty Inc. testifies, “Working in a teamoriented environment with like-minded professionals, having available the most up-to-date technology and the training which RE/MAX® and this brokerage provide, are just some of the key tools that set this organization apart and help me to be the best agent that I can be.” Haggerty and McCaffrey want to open the doors of their company to ambitious individuals who are looking for the best opportunity for professional advancement within a world-class

organization. Haggerty and McCaffrey invite dedicated and innovative people to join their team of the finest real estate agents in the region. Join the team at RE/MAX® Finest Realty Inc. and RE/MAX ® Realty Concepts Corp. and look forward to going to work every day. RE/MAX® Finest Realty Inc., Brokerage & RE/MAX® Realty Concepts Corp., Brokerage 9 Commercial Court Napanee 851 Norwest Road Kingston Cindy Haggerty - Broker of Record 613.540.2116 cindy.haggerty@remax.net Shannon McCaffrey - Broker of Record 613.453.8022 shannonmccaffrey@remax.net www.finest-realty.com www.realtykingston.com Each office is Independently Owned & Operated

RIGHT Shannon McCaffrey offering one-on-one coaching.

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EXPERTAdvice Your Kitchen Renovation: How Estimates Work for You

were free, but your choices were very limited. For example, you could choose only one of two stains on a square or arched oak door. These days, the options of wood species, stains, paints and accessories in traditional and contemporary designs are endless.

Steve Blakely, designer Countrywide Kitchens 1407 John Counter Blvd., Kingston 613.549.8650 www.countrywidekitchens.com

uestion - After meeting in the showroom a couple of times, I really like the layout that was presented to me by the kitchen designer, but would like to see some more options. Is there a cost for all this work, or are estimates free? This is a great question and one that should be discussed during the initial consultation. Many years ago, estimates

During the initial consultation, the designer will discuss what you can expect as we move through the design process to order your new kitchen. They will also review the time required before the next meeting to see the proposed layout, as well as the fact that additional work may require a retainer (a financial commitment), that will allow them to proceed with the extra work required. Typically, a retainer is approximately 10 per cent of the initial estimate for the new kitchen. The retainer amount will be deducted from the cost of your kitchen purchase when everything has been finalized. By the time a kitchen designer presents the first kitchen layout to you, they will have invested at least five to six hours on your project. A basic layout with a few simple design features, black and white perspectives and pricing takes the designer approximately three hours after the initial showroom visit to put together. A larger, more intricate design can easily take two to three days of full time work.

Including the meeting to look at the layout, details, drawings and quote, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no surprise that the time adds up quickly. As we discussed in the last Fine Lifestyles column, there never is just one perfect layout for your kitchen. During the design process, you may get ideas from friends and family and decide you absolutely have to have a wall oven instead of a regular stove. Or you may decide to eliminate the crown moulding and make the island larger. Then itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s back to the drawing board (so to speak), and more hours of work for the designer. There is a value to those hours. We are often asked for a copy of the layout before it is finalized. Your renovation may be moving along faster than planned, and your plumber or electrician might need to know the location of the sink or appliances in your new kitchen. A retainer is required to allow a copy of the layout to be taken from the store. With the retainer, the designer will work with your plumber or electrician to ensure everything is laid out properly. The initial basic estimate is still free, yet for the designer to commit to more work, a retainer is required. Retainers are mutually beneficial, because both you and the designer have a commitment to create your beautiful kitchen together.

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MATIAS HOMES A Name that Defines ‘Quality’ BY TOBIE HAINSTOCK PHOTOS STEPHEN WILD

hat’s in a name? In business, a name brings recognition otherwise called branding. Certain brand names make us think of certain products and services and the quality they offer. At Matias Homes, it’s very important their name and reputation be respected. “My dad has always been a hardworking man,” says Tony Matias Jr., “his primary goal in his life has been to build a solid reputable business that he can establish as a family legacy.” With his father, uncle and grandfather having all been in the business, Matias has come from an extensive background of contractors and custom homebuilders. Although Matias had planned on attending university to study urban planning, he changed his mind and joined his father as a custom homebuilder. “Once I started working with my hands, I loved it,” he recalls. In 1989, Matias and his father (Tony Senior) formed Tony Matias Holdings, which later became known as Matias Homes. As the company grows, Matias continues to keep abreast of changing industry standards and practices with new certifications. Today, the company consists of a highly professional team of five full time staff members – including carpenters and an administrator. “It’s a team effort,” he comments, “we are all very involved in every project that we work on.”

The level of involvement is very hands-on. From the moment a customer walks in with their dream home in mind to the day they move in, the Matias team is at their side ensuring their satisfaction. “We’re always there for our customers,” Matias remarks, “we’re involved right from the design through to completion. We offer advice and consultations throughout the project.” Good communication is essential when building a custom home. There must be strong dialogue amongst the team, and with the client as well. This ensures the client is comfortable with each stage of the build. Matias Homes is focussed on building exceptional dwellings that are structurally superior, energy efficient, comfortable, functional and architecturally pleasing. “We also offer suggestions about the design layout of the home and how that contributes to its efficiency,” says Matias, who notes they often advise on utilizing natural lighting and the effectiveness of well-placed windows. They will even help their customers maximize the usable living space in their homes by offering suggestions. Homeowners are consulted about energy-saving options and advised of available features and products. This includes superior features such as engineered sub-floor systems, stateof-the-art NorthStar windows, 30-year Elk architectural shingles, and tile and hardwood flooring throughout. Matias

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explains top-of-the-line products such as Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF) are used to ensure the quality and efficiency of each home they build. “We also insulate and seal well above the minimum requirements,” he adds. There is no compromising when it comes to building each stunning executive home. “For us, the minimum standard is not acceptable, we go above and beyond that,” states Matias, “we offer better quality finishing options.” The Matias name is synonymous with quality and craftsmanship. Their passion for what they do is obvious in the quality of workmanship found in every home; every dwelling built is a testament of the Matias name and their reputation. Because of that, every home must meet the impeccable standards set in place by the Matias Homes team, who each pour heart and soul into creating a home uniquely crafted according to the needs and lifestyle of its residents. “A piece of me goes into every home we build,” expresses Matias. The homebuilders are pleased to acknowledge that in many cases,

the customers maintain ongoing relationships with Matias Homes with cards and emails; they also offer referrals to friends, family and associates because they are so pleased with the high quality of service Matias Homes offers. “It’s the best compliment that our customers could ever give us,” Matias says. “It’s not always easy keeping people happy, but we go out of our way to make sure they are happy before, during and after the build.” There must be a lot of truth to their work ethic and customer service philosophy. In 2003, Matias Homes received the Outstanding Service Recognition Award from the Ontario New Home Warranty Program. With all of their achievements over the years, it is evident the Matias name has earned a reputation for topquality craftsmanship and impeccable customer service. This is more than just a dream come true for the family and the business — it is a label that has been well deservedly attached.

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Melissa Ward Sales Representative Sutton Group Masters Realty Inc., Brokerage Independently Owned and Operated 613.384.5500 Model Home: 2930 Randy Clark Rd. South Frontenac Saturday and Sunday 2-4 p.m. www.matiashomes.com

Women in

Business Female entrepreneurs to InspIre You

by Tori STafford

hey say a woman’s work is never done. If this is the case, you better enjoy the work you do. For many women here in Kingston, the work is just getting started. These female entrepreneurs are exactly what the great Maya Angelou was referring to when she said “I love to see a young girl go out and grab life by the lapels.” To celebrate female entrepreneurs in Kingston, Fine Lifestyles decided to take a closer look at some of the women who have recently started their own businesses here in the city, following on the heels of the trailblazing ladies who’ve come before them. While their fields of specialization may be different, there’s one thing all five have in common, apart from their gender: they all love the work they do.

Kristine Barker and amber Ferguson Co-owners, Perfetta Skin Therapy and Medi-spa Not only are the owners of Perfetta Skin Therapy and Medi-spa both Kingstonians, they are also sisters. They don’t just share a bloodline, either. Together, Kristine Barker and Amber Ferguson share a vision, a passion and a state-of-the-art spa that specializes in skin care management and hair removal, while also offering massage therapies and a full selection of esthetic treatments. Unsatisfied with their former career paths, the sisters knew that going into business together wouldn’t be easy, but one thing would always be certain: they could count on each other. “We really wanted to do something together, on our own, and make it successful. We both work really, really hard, and so, we figured, if we work as hard for each other as we do for other people, there is no way we won’t be successful,” says Barker. Now with a thriving spa in Kingston’s west end, the sisters say they truly love going to work every day, and, while the road to where they are now had plenty of bumps along the way, they’re both thrilled to own a spa that truly helps clients understand the skin they are in.

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“

Ask yourself, ‘What’s the worst thing that can happen?’

”

possess, use them and even take the road less travelled. Marching to your drum is much more empowering than living a life for the approval of others.”

pam Fountas Fitness trainer, life motivational speaker

coach,

If there is one thing immediately apparent about Pam Fountas, it is her incredibly contagious positive energy. This quality lends itself easily to the business Fountas has created that is all about helping other people learn to take care of themselves and create the lives they deserve to live. As a trainer, Fountas trains clients individually, and runs a variety of boot camps that combine her passion for empowering others with her realistic knowledge of human health and fitness. As a coach, she is dedicated to taking the lessons she’s learned, combined with her training, and helping others find self-love and create the lives they are deserving of. And as a speaker, she is driven to make sure people are aware of just how awesome they are, and how to harness that awesomeness in their daily lives through “limitless living.” The way that all three of her professional focuses work together, Fountas’ life philosophies are very similar to her advice to other women looking to start their own businesses. “Ask yourself, ‘What’s the worst thing that can happen?’ and if you can live with that, how is it not worth taking the risk?” Fountas asks. “I think not sharing our own gifts with the world is what leads a lot of people to be unsatisfied. I like to make sure people see the gifts they

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school that she recognized her passion for accounting. Just a few years ago, after moving to Kingston from Calgary, Neulander decided to once again lend her knowledge and passion to those who don’t share her enthusiasm, she laughs. Now, Neulander and her staff provide hands-on finance management, bookkeeping and tax filing services for small to medium-sized businesses. In the past four years, the number of tax returns she’s filed annually has grown ten-fold, and Neulander says it’s a busy business she is happy to be back in. This is something she values, and tries to pay forward — both with clients, and with her friends and family. “I am always trying to encourage people to figure out what they love to do, and then figure out how to make money doing it,” she says. “I’m really happy about the fact that, 25 years later, I am able to be doing exactly what I wanted to be doing way back in high school. I’d encourage any young woman to find her passion, and hold on to it.”

rhonda neulander Owner, R. E. Neulander and Co. Professional Services After spending some time growing her family and trying her hand in other business ventures, Rhonda Neulander knew she had to go back to the business she knew and loved. A certified general accountant since 1992, Neulander says she knew well before then that she would end up in the world of corporate number crunching. It was in high

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michelle pilon Owner, Lovebird Bridal Perhaps one of the most ultimately feminine examples of female entrepreneurship in Kingston is that of Michelle Pilon, who took her passion for weddings and made it into a business. It was when Pilon was planning a wedding of her own that she noticed the city didn’t have many options for bridal gowns. Wanting to create a boutique experience that was truly unique, Pilon set out to open her store on Ontario Street in a historic building that lends itself to the one-of-a-kind experience she provides for brides. Pilon says she had no reservations about starting her business because of her gender — but that doesn’t mean she had no reservations whatsoever. “It was more just in general,” Pilon explains with a laugh. “For my business, it’s a large investment, so it definitely made me nervous financially and, not knowing what the future holds, the first year was the most nerve-racking.” Now, in her second year of business, Pilon says she is very glad she endured those nerves. Every day, she has the opportunity to help another woman make her dreams a reality, and it’s something Pilon says is invaluable. “I don’t call it ‘work’ when I talk about being at the store, and that is a really nice feeling,” she says.

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If only you knew then what you know now. Gerald R. Connor Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Cumberland Private Wealth Management Inc.

Did the 2008 financial crisis scare you? It scared us too. So did the 2011 European crisis, the 2000 tech collapse, the 1987 market crash and the 1974 recessionâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;all of which presented great investing opportunities. But while most investors sat on the sidelines, our sound investment principles allowed us to capitalize. And looking back, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no surprise that our clients have steadily outperformed the market. Cumberland welcomes the communities of Kingston and Eastern Ontario. Discover our investment principles at CumberlandPrinciples.com Contact us to learn more: Cumberland Private Wealth Management Inc. 218 King Street East Kingston, Ontario K7L 3A6 Jason Trueman, CFA jasont@cpwm.ca (613) 929-4511

Art Salvalaggio, CFP arts@cpwm.ca (613) 530-0390

613-929-1090

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PROPERTY

Investment A HOT OPPORTUNITY

BY REBECCA SCHNEIDEREIT

here couldn’t be a better time to investigate the possibilities of property investment. With the programs on TV now, such as Income Property and Property Ladder – property investment has become a North American thing, says mortgage broker Kerrie Moore of The Mortgage Group. Before purchasing property, it’s helpful to understand the difference between property investment types. “There are variations of investment property: rental, renovate and flip, and purchase and hold,” notes Moore. “Rental” properties are “income-producing property... you’d purchase it intending to rent it out for residual income, in addition to the eventual profit of selling the property.” As for the other two categories – “renovate and flip” and “purchase and hold” – the former refers to marketing properties after raising their value through improvements, while the latter means property “purchased to allow it to appreciate. These tend to include second homes or vacation homes where the intention is to sell the property for a profit.” It’s also possible to invest in both commercial and residential property, says Moore.

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The first step towards purchasing property, says Moore, is obtaining an expert’s opinion. “I’d recommend consulting a mortgage professional to determine a maximum purchase,” she says, pointing out that mortgage brokers can help account for hidden costs such as renovations (in the case of many brokers, including Moore, that help is complimentary to clients). “It’s not that it’s complicated, but you definitely need to seek the advice of someone who understands the concept, before you jump in with two feet and say ‘I’m going to be a landlord!’” Speaking with an advisor is an even clearer necessity when you realize the regulations regarding property investment purchases aren’t always intuitive, as Moore notes. That said, various avenues help make property investment feasible. “All lenders allow some level of rental income, or potential rental income, to help qualify a borrower,” says Moore, also observing that refinancing a mortgage on a different property can provide immediate monetary access. “Often, we’re seeing

people buying one rental property, refinancing it, and buying another one.” Given the dearth of local housing, it’s unsurprising that aid exists to help fix the problem: “There are government grants available to people creating new residential rental properties.” Moore points out, too, that “owner-occupied” properties – inhabited by the landlord, alongside tenants — can facilitate a smooth transition into investment property ownership. Those considering investing in property, Moore says, should recognize money won’t be their sole expenditure. Income/ investment properties are also substantial time commitments – real, physical geographic locations, often inhabited by real, physical tenants. “Property investment can be time-consuming, especially if you have renters turning over,” she says. “The biggest mistake is underestimating the moving parts.” Purchasing the right type of property can help a buyer manage those demands

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on their time. In some cases, buying, then renovating older property can offer financial benefits. “There are properties on the market because they need work, and those can make great rental properties,” Moore notes. However, the required fixes can also be labour-intensive, and buying new property in tiptop shape can eliminate the stress of getting it tenant-ready. “New homes are being built with regulation basement suites, and people are purchasing those.” Alternately, Moore suggests, you may wish to hire an intermediary. “Many people engage a property manager – it takes that headache away.” Moore isn’t merely a theoretical believer in property investment. She possesses income property of her own – an investment she says she’s “absolutely” happy with. “It’s going to be my pension when I’m old and grey,” she laughs. “It’s an investment in my future.”

Your investment property is a key part of your future plans. Purchasing is certainly the big first step, managing that investment is the next.

Heron Management offers a management solution that caters to your specific needs and is founded on a promise of exceeding your expectations.

Rental Management Services • Marketing & Advertising • Property Staging • In-depth Tenant Screening Property Administration • Bill Payment Services • Detailed Account Management Reporting

613.532.6981 info@heronmanagement.com www.heronmanagement.com

Building and Properties Maintenance & Contract Management • Refuse & Recycling • Lawn & Landscaping/ Snow Removal • Minor Repairs & Improvements • Licensed Trade Coordination • Regulatory Compliance • Building & Construction Services • Project Management

Strategic Benefits and Insurance Ltd.:

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS FOR TODAY’S BUSINESSES BY KATRINA GEENEVASEN PHOTOS STEPHEN WILD

he minute Debra and Richard Dobing enter a room, it’s easy to see how they’ve become such successful Limestone City entrepreneurs. With Debra’s easygoing attitude and friendly smile, paired with Richard’s steadfast and affable presence, the husband and wife team exude warmth and sincerity. With more than 30 years of combined experience and core family values behind everything they do, Strategic Benefits & Insurance Services Ltd. is a locally-owned and operated independent benefits

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consulting firm specializing in employee benefit programs and tax-effective compensation strategies. The couple’s hands-on and personal approach to business — tailored to meet the specific needs of their clients — reassures business owners that their employees and families are protected. “Businesses want to know they are going to be cared for,” says Marijke Wilkins, marketing co-ordinator for Strategic Benefits and Insurance. “They want to know the people that they deal with have an interest in their business, and that’s

definitely what Richard and Debra both do. That’s why they’re successful.” Debra, however, remains charmingly humble, saying only that she loves what she does because of her clients. “I guess at the end of the day, it’s the people,” says Debra with a smile. “I just love people. I think on a true front, I just like to help others. We’ve always done that,” she says, pointing out their wideranging community involvement that involves everything from the Rotary Club to Sustainable Kingston. “The biggest thing for me is giving back,” she

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points out. “Group benefits give back on a larger front, so I can help many people with one solution.” This personal approach is clearly evident when it comes to Strategic Benefits and Insurance’s unique and unparalleled client care model. “We work personally with each and every one of our clients,” says Richard. “We are always accessible.” “They stay in touch with their clients,” agrees Wilkins with a fervent nod. “It’s not that the client buys and that’s the end. They continue the service and they continue to keep in touch. With Debra and Richard, they’re there for you. If you have a question, they’re available to help you.” Relationships aside, Strategic Benefits and Insurance is a shareholder in the Benefits Alliance Group Inc., Canada’s Leading National Alliance of Independent Employee Benefits Advisors. As such, the company is able to harness the power of collective bargaining.

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Through exclusive partnerships with the Greater Kingston Chamber of Commerce and the Kingston Home Builders Association, Strategic Benefits is able to provide unparalleled insurance and benefits to even the smallest of companies without the coverage being prohibitively expensive. “Working with a local pharmacy group, we have helped lower our clients co-pays and dispensing fees when shopping there. We are always looking for innovative ways to save our clients money. With our programs, we are actually able to put money back into their pockets,” says Richard. This alone puts this husband and wife team a notch above the rest, attests Wilkins. Too often, insurance and benefits programs are viewed as an added cost to small businesses, but Richard and Debra aim to educate clients on the importance of them. “We bring value and understanding of a benefits program through education, and clarify the benefit of a company attracting and retaining a high calibre of employee,” says Debra.

That’s where the expertise comes through. “We can customize,” says Debra. “We have a different approach depending on what’s going on in the marketplace, which allows clients to appreciate the value that an employee benefits program brings to their business.” With two children, a 16-month-old granddaughter and a business that continues to thrive more and more each day, it seems nothing will hold this power couple back. The future, it seems, is bright, and it’s right here in the Limestone City. “I don’t know where it’s all going to go,” says Debra, “but I do know I’m loving the journey.”

Strategic Benefits and Insurance Services Ltd. 945 Princess St., Kingston 613.507.4400 www.strategicins.ca

You’re doing all the right things... Saving for retirement Saving for the children’s education Saving for your business Saving for a rainy day

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A LEGACY OF SERVICE EXCELLENCE BY TORI STAFFORD PHOTOS STEPHEN WILD

hen Wilfrid Wilkinson founded Wilkinson & Company LLP in 1964, he had a vision for an accounting firm based on three simple principles: service excellence, long-term client relationships and community service.

Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, the firm has grown from its humble beginnings in Trenton to include three locations in Eastern Ontario – Trenton, Belleville and Kingston – with those principles remaining the pillars of all three offices.

Here in Kingston, the dawning of Wilkinson & Company’s 50th year in business brought another partner to the local office, where Jennifer Fisher, a Fellow Chartered Professional Accountant (FCPA) and Fellow Chartered Accountant (FCA), had served as the sole partner since the company came to Kingston in 2001. Colleen Lawrie is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), Char tered Accountant (CA) and Certified Financial Planner (CFP) who has been with the company for 11 years, and became a partner in the company in January of

this year. A dedicated member of the Kingston team for Wilkinson & Company, Lawrie embodies the very principles the company was built on. With a background as a certified financial planner, Lawrie became a chartered accountant through the firm in 2007. She has since completed the In-Depth Tax course through the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants, is an expert in tax strategies and helps clients maximize the potential of their businesses. Like all of those with Wilkinson & Company, Lawrie values the opportunity

OPPOSITE TOP L-R Wilkinson & Company staff OPPOSITE CENTRE L-R Laurel Harrison, Alice Goodwin

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to build relationships with her clients, and feels this is a crucial aspect of what she does. It is knowing where a client is in life and in business, as well as where they’d like to be, that allows Lawrie to help that client achieve his or her goals. “Building strong relationships with clients is very important to us,” she says. “You’re better able to serve your clients and make sure they’re having all of their needs met. Even if a client is not necessarily certain what steps to take next, by having that background and knowing them and their families, as well as what their future hopes are, gives us insight to help guide them.” Being able to work personally with clients is one of the benefits of working in a firm the size of Wilkinson & Company, Lawrie expresses. Wilkinson has the knowledgeable experts clients require in areas such as tax, business valuations and forensic accounting, and provides the face-to-face experience every client wants and deserves, she says. “We have a lot of resources, and are large enough that we can help our clients with everything they need,” she says, “but we’re small enough that it’s still very personal.” It is through being able to provide the best of both worlds that Wilkinson & Company has been able to help the communities it serves grow and flourish. This is something both partners in Kingston are passionate about. “Seeing the success of the community and its businesses is very important to us,” Lawrie says, noting that the local community has seen an influx of start-up companies in recent years, which she hopes continues to be a trend. With the various post-secondary institutions in Kingston, there are future entrepreneurs, and professionals for whom they are able to provide resources so clients don’t have to go to a big city for their accounting business and tax advice. “If we provide opportunities in Kingston, they will stay. Right from the beginning, the firm has been community-based, but we want to give back to the community,” says Fisher. Indeed, in keeping with Wilkinson’s initial vision, those with the company give back to not-for-profit, charity and athletic organizations throughout the Kingston community by lending both their time and knowledge to worthy causes. OPPOSITE L-R Julie Gelok, Colleen Lawrie

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Lawrie donates her time and expertise by serving as the treasurer on the board of directors for both the University Hospitals Kingston Foundation and the Kingston General Hospital Foundation, and also chairing the finance committee for both. It is her passion for volunteerism and her many outstanding qualities that make Lawrie ideally suited for her position as partner, Fisher expresses. “There is a legacy of community commitment here, and we’ve worked hard to create and maintain that,” says Fisher. Wonderful clients, a knowledgeable, diligent staff and a commitment to the community are the things that have allowed Wilkinson & Company to serve and grow in eastern Ontario communities for the last 50 years. “We take pride in that...Colleen has been a great support, and it’s great to share the responsibilities, as well as the vision for this office, with her.” ABOVE L-R Colleen Lawrie, Jennifer Fisher OPPOSITE L-R Trevor Topping, Sara Arsenault

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Wilkinson & Company LLP Belleville 139 Front St. 613.966.5105 888.728.3890 www.wilkinson.net Kingston 785 Midpark Dr., Suite 201 613.634.5581 866.692.0055 www.wilkinson.net Jennifer Fisher, FCPA, FCA, partner jennifer.fisher@wilkinson.net Colleen Lawrie, CPA, CA, CFP, partner colleen.lawrie@wilkinson.net Trenton 71 Dundas St. West 613.392.2592 888.713.7283 www.wilkinson.net

EXPERTAdvice Who Are You?

ABOVE Assante Financial Management Offices â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 264 King Street East

ow do you know you are making the best financial decisions? What makes you panic? What makes you euphoric? Do you trust yourself with your money?

Dianne Lackonick and Peter Hartel Assante Financial 264 King Street East, Kingston 613.549.8602 www.assante.com

Our goal as advisors is to prepare our clients for long-lasting success by making smarter choices. One of the primary elements in this process is the revealing of your financial personality.

Behaviour, Behaviour, Behaviour The key determinate of financial success is not investment performance, but investor behaviour. The ability to trust your own decisions, have a clear vision, adopt a big-picture strategy and adjust as real life unfolds are the keys in the realization of your financial goals.

Why is This Important? The importance of a clear understanding of financial personality is multi-fold. As advisors, we need to know what your emotional triggers are and how this may predict your behaviour. We can then speak your language and assist you to manage and guide your decisions. As investors, you need to know your personality so that you can be prepared for your inevitable bumpy financial road. In moments of stress, fear and greed appear â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and the constant battle to make rational decisions rages on.

The Healthy Client It is our belief that every client has a range of positive and negative personality traits that will ultimately impact their financial health. Our job is to encourage and reinforce the positive traits like discipline, collaboration and perspective and to push the negative traits like avoidance, inappropriate risk aversion and speculation to the back seat. There are no unwarranted personality traits for investors, only those that must be managed properly.

Making Better Decisions Together Successful investing is all about making smart choices as we face a barrage of emotions and information. Knowing your personality will provide clues about how you make decisions. Whatever personality you bring to the table, there is a conversation to help steer you to the best possible choices.

Dianne Lackonick and Peter Hartel are Senior Financial Advisors with Assante Financial Management Ltd. Together, they have over 40 years of experience developing strategies and helping their clients succeed. Please contact a professional advisor to discuss your particular circumstances prior to acting on the information above.

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EXPERTAdvice The Time to Invest in Your People is Now

• They all have policies that promote a balance between work and personal life

•They offer or work schedules

Pascale Mapleston Mapleston Benefit Consulting 807 Blackburn Mews, Kingston 613.483.6191 pmapleston@maplestonbenefits.com

provide

flexible

• They offer excellent employee benefits and competitive salaries • They have excellent leadership with an emphasis on teamwork • They have environmentally responsible corporate polices • They have procedures in place for seeking employee input • They have a focus on putting employee personal well-being ahead of the personal gain of the companies’ leaders.

t’s a fine balance; or is it really just a case of the chicken or the egg? The most successful companies in Canada all seem to have a few things in common:

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Did these commonalities come into practice before the company became successful and help to create that success, or did they evolve with the company through their journey to success? I think the answer lies somewhere in between. We start a business with a dream, and build our workforce to take our dream out

into the world. But then what? We often feel that when we become a successful business, grow to a certain size, or have a certain level of cash flow or surplus we will invest more into our people to reward them for their work. To give back and share with our people that are building our business, and help protect, inspire and motivate our people to keep plugging away. We will invest in our packages to attract and retain the best, to be competitive in our marketplace. We will handle it tomorrow. If we wait to invest in our talent, it will be too late. We will lose the best and brightest, or even worse, they will lose their passion and stay. To begin: begin! The reality is companies who don’t act out their vision of creating a culture when they are building will rarely find the dollars to invest in their people at a later point. We are all busy. Take the time to think about your vision for your people. What kind of company are you

today, and what kind of company do you want to be? Is there a gap, and if so, how do we fill it? Ask yourself, “What do my benefits say about my company?” And, “Do they reflect our culture and our current workforce? Are they current? What do my people say about them? Are they addressing their needs? When was the last time I asked?”

us build the rest. If companies hire the right people, empower them, and build a corporate culture to feed the machine through positive change, then businesses will attain their goals.

The best kept secret in the benefit and wellness industry is that creating a package that includes benefits and wellness is a costly venture. Well…it can be, but it can also be a reasonable and accessible venture. Create a budget, regardless of what it looks like, one that is fiscally responsible for where your company is right now, and build what you can. It doesn’t matter what it looks like! You have begun. With the right guidance those dollars can stretch and you have laid the groundwork for tomorrow — the groundwork to realize your vision.

Ross Clark, CFO of L.V Lomas Ltd., was featured in the Sanofi Canada Health Care Survey of 2012. He says that at Lomas, there is no “budget” for benefits or wellness per se. “We have a clear philosophy when it comes to benefits,” he says. “Our culture is employeefocused. We don’t mind paying for benefit programs, and we want people to use them. We know we can get cheaper benefits, but we don’t want to. We’re investing in employees and demonstrating that we really care. We have a tremendous ‘Lomas love’ culture going, as hokey as that may sound. It’s a very precious thing.”

Let me suggest that if a company places their employees and their culture ahead of everything else, employees will help

Not convinced? Here is some information for those who need some statistics:

The Return on Investment (ROI), meanwhile, is measured by employee loyalty, as well as the bottom line. “We’ve had only two voluntary turnovers in the last two years. We’ve been ranked as one of the best places to work in Canada by the Great Place to Work institute for three consecutive years. We’ve been profitable every year since our inception in 1961,” says Clark. The fact is that investing in your people has an incredible ROI. Employers are beginning to understand the direct connection that wellness initiatives can have on both employee health and healthcare plan cost savings. While the primary goal is reducing health costs, the other advantages from wellness initiatives are higher employee morale, increased productivity, reduced absenteeism and reduced disability claims. Research shows that the ROI for disease management and wellness is between $2 and $3 for every healthcare dollar spent. In terms of productivity, depending on what you are measuring and how you are measuring it, the ROI is between $3 and $6. The best part is that this concept applies to companies of all sizes.

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RBC Dominion Securities

TAKING TIME FOR CLIENTS BY KATRINA GEENEVASEN PHOTOS AMANDA GARREAU

hen it comes to investment management, the Thériault Wealth Management Team of RBC Dominion Securities offers personalized service that is second to none.

planning and risk management by looking at their wealth and their financial goals. With that in mind, we offer personalized solutions that meet their specific family needs to protect their wealth that they work so hard for. “

Josée Thériault, associate portfolio manager, shares her vast knowledge and insight with each and every one of her clients. It’s about taking time, says Thériault, and developing close relationships. “We offer a holistic approach that encompasses the needs of our clients and their families,” she explains, pointing out that clients include a wide spectrum of individuals that range from young professionals to mature individuals. “We do a lot of estate

A consummate professional with nearly 30 years of experience, Thériault has built a successful practice through her down-to-earth approachability and management style. “We look at the big picture, and clients appreciate that,” says Thériault, noting that transparency, trust, integrity and honesty are important values. Time and time again, this downto-earth approach sets the Thériault Wealth Management Team apart from the competition.

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It’s about ensuring each of their clients have peace of mind knowing that everything has been addressed and properly considered when it comes to the pieces that make up their financial picture, says Thériault. “We want them to sleep well at night knowing their wealth is protected.” RBC Dominion Securities is a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund. Thériault Wealth Management Team RBC Dominion Securities 366 King St. Kingston 613.549.6177 josee.theriault@rbc.com www.joseetheriault.ca

EXPERTAdvice Important Tips for Maintaining Your Vehicle

The following tips will help vehicle owners learn how to get the most out of their automobile through proper maintenance and scheduling.

Not all oil changes are created equal

Jeremy Tinline Owner, Vic’s Automotive Vic’s Automotive 654 McKay St., Kingston 613.389.6585 vicsonmckay@aol.com

aintaining a vehicle of any make, model or age is important to ensuring not only your safety, but also your investment. Proper maintenance and upkeep of a vehicle can mean you spend a lot less money in the long run, and prevents major issues from wreaking havoc on the mode of transportation you use everyday. But not all maintenance common sense is as common as you might think, and your owner’s manual or car manufacturer can supply information that isn’t always correct for the real world.

It is important to make at least two visits to an auto shop per year — possibly more depending on the amount you drive. It is critical that enough time is committed to these visits to ensure everything you need is looked at thoroughly, and time is spent explaining the findings. Unfortunately, quick, drivethrough oil-changing services cannot always provide this time or service. A “Class A” technician doing the service in a fully equipped facility, however, has the experience and training to see the things you need to address, and the work that can be prioritized in order of importance and cost.

Always read the fine print You do not have to take your new car back to the dealer to have maintenance done to it. Any auto service shop can do maintenance as long it it follows the manufacturer’s guidelines. You will not affect factory warranty coverage by having an independent auto shop do work on your new car. Only defective items that are covered by a factory warranty need to go back to the dealer. At Vic’s, we arrange this appointment and even take your vehicle there for you.

Guidelines are only guidelines, not rules Some service intervals given by manufacturers in owner’s manuals don’t seem to take into account our climate. When it comes to sparkplugs, what we see in the real world calls for more attention than the intervals laid out by the factory. The interval on changing some sparkplugs is 160,000 kms, and some are as low as 50,000 km. On some models, if the sparkplugs are not taken out before the intervals stated in the manual, they can seize into the cylinder head and break upon removal. This can be costly. Paying labour to remove them at an earlier interval saves the large expense of removing seized and broken ones down the road.

New cars can present a new array of automotive issues A huge maintenance issue with today’s cars that has not yet received much media attention is the issue of “carboning” in today’s direct fuel injection. Most new cars have this type of fuel injection, and it is great for performance and fuel economy, but it is causing excessive carbon deposits to build up in the engines. Some new engines are so carboned up they need to be taken apart and cleaned before 50,000 kms, effectively working against the efficiency they were designed to create. A simple maintenance BG Induction Service performed at every 30,000 kms helps prevent this from happening.

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Scooting About

TOWN BY ALYSSA RUDYCK

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Imagine cruising down the street...

ith the sun on your skin and the wind in your hair. You might be on your way to work, enjoying that early-morning air that will leave you feeling invigorated for the rest of your day. You might be having a relaxing weekend cruise, taking a little time for yourself before heading home from the Farmers’ Market to make a delicious Sunday brunch for the family. Or, you might just be scooting about town, taking in the sights and sounds of the Limestone City. Wherever you are going, and whatever you are doing, when you are on your scooter you know you are going to get there in style. “Scooters [provide] a nice, comfortable ride,” says Jay Tomic, who specializes in gas, electric and vespa scooters at his shop Alfatech in Kingston. “[They also require] less maintenance, less fuel, [and are] better for the environment.” As Tomic suggests, scooters can be a great alternative to the standard motor vehicle for a number of reasons. Significantly more affordable, handy for navigating congested traffic, and great on gas, scooters have been a popular mode of transportation in densely-populated areas in Europe and Asia for years, and have recently seen a rise in popularity in American metropolitan cities, as well as parts of Canada. Foremost for many on the list of scooter commuter advantages is the money that can be saved by opting for a scooter instead of a car, truck or SUV. A brand new, used, or vintage scooter ranges from $1,000 to $3,000, and costs significantly less to insure. They also get great gas mileage. Although the amount of money you will save on fuel and insurance will vary depending on what kind of scooter you drive, how much you use it, and what kind of vehicle you are trading it in for, estimates show that scooter commuters spend approximately four to six times less on gas and insurance fees per month.

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Because scooters get such great gas mileage, (some estimates claiming 70 to 100 or more miles per gallon), they not only save you money at the pump, but are environmentally friendly as well. Although weather conditions or the need to transport multiple passengers may prohibit you from using your scooter on a daily basis year-round, even intermittent use throughout the year can help to lower your carbon output. “Driving a scooter is much better for the environment,” Tomic contends, adding that there are even more benefits to choosing an electric scooter. Along with cutting down on fuel consumption, Tomic explains that they cost very little to operate, and take only three to five hours to charge, which you can do from home or on the go. In many large centres, scooters are now being viewed as an efficient alternative to

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public transportation, as they are a more affordable and eco-friendly option for individuals who are not financially capable of owning a vehicle, or who choose not to for the sake of the environment. As well, because scooters are more compact than four-wheeled vehicles, they are also much easier to park. “You can park anywhere, and if there is traffic you can get to your destination faster than you could in a car,” says Tomic. “Everything about a scooter is more beneficial than a car, [with the exception of] going out on a rainy day.” Scooters can also serve as a practical solution for single-vehicle households where two or more people need to travel to different destinations in the morning. Scooters help families economize by keeping maintenance costs down, while simultaneously cutting down on fights over whose turn it is to take the car.

Lastly, but certainly not least, scooters are fun! They are incredibly trendy little accessories, and come in a variety of colours and designs to suit every personality. It can be difficult to not feel like a superstar as you cruise down the street on your scooter, which may be why some statistics have shown scooter commuters to be a generally happier group of people. Whether you are using your scooter on a daily basis to optimize on costeffectiveness and convenience, as a vehicle for a fun weekend excursion, or even sporadically throughout the year to help decrease your carbon footprint, remember: scooters can be dangerous if you do not know how to operate them properly, and you should always wear a helmet. Observe the rules of the road, have fun, and get ready to enjoy the many benefits that this trendy mode of transportation has to offer.

Gas Pains? t!

tha x i f n a c We

Vespa Scooters • Amego Electric Bikes • Mobility Scooters • Electric Wheelchairs

AlfAtech “the One-Stop Shop for all Your Scooter Needs”

Visit us at our new location 613.545.1111

1187 Princess Street, Kingston www.jalf atech.com

hen it comes to the latest in luxury, the bar is often set by the most extravagant and self-indulgent: celebrities. Grossing millions of dollars and competing in a never-ending exhibition for status, celebrities are notorious for leading ostentatious lifestyles, complete with the most lavish accessories that money can buy. While many of the more outrageous purchases made by celebrities (such as private jets and uncharted islands) are far beyond the reach of the average consumer, there is one big ticket item attainable to celebrities and the rest of the world alike: cars. Although you will probably only be able to afford one choice car at a time in your lifetime, at least you won’t be veering in and out of traffic to avoid the paparazzi. One of the top contenders dictating the latest in luxury and style is tabloid star Kim Kardashian. Although Kim’s rise to fame may have been rooted in scandal, it is her glamorous good looks and prominent Hollywood connections that have secured her as a permanent fixture in the fashion and entertainment industries. Recently, she has been spotted in a Bentley Continental GT. The Bentley Continental GT may be the ideal car for Ms. Kardashian, as it encapsulates every aspect of luxury, status and contemporary style. The Bentley Continental GT’s wide, low-sprung appearance and sharp, contemporary lines give it an attitude and poise that, like Kim, give it a classic yet commanding presence. Sitting so low to the road, the Bentley Continental GT also has the capability of keeping stable at all speeds and circumstances.

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STAR

RS in Cars BY ALYSSA RUDYCK

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One celebrity couple that has gone even further to exude their star status while keeping their children in mind is Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Since turning over a humanitarian leaf and still pursuing their acting careers, “Brangelina” are the busy parents of six. They have been reported riding around in a Lexus LS 460 F Sport, a high-performance vehicle estimated at $90,000. The Lexus LS 460 F Sport may be the perfect vehicle for this celebrity family, as it comes equipped with many desirable family-friendly features. It has an excellent safety record, a 12-inch display screen, temperature control, improved handling, rear-seat entertainment screens with Blu-Ray players, and a pre-collision system — all the while incorporating a level of refined luxury.

Although she exudes an entirely different kind of style, Britney Spears is another long-standing scandal-worthy icon of current trends. Infamous from the day she donned a plaid skirt and pigtails and debuted as the princess of pop, to the time she rose like a phoenix from the ashes of her charred empire to reclaim her throne as queen, Britney is woman of complex taste. Lately, the mother of two has been spotted cruising around town in her new Maserati Granturismo. The Maserati Granturismo is said to combine class and elegance with a sports performance that is unrivalled by any other four-seater car. Its lines convey dynamic tension, and its bodywork hugs the car’s muscular frame like one of Spears’ party dresses. It is spacious enough for the starlet mom-on-the-run to transport her kids, but with its 4.2 liter V8 engine, it is equipped with plenty of power and speed for a lady who likes to live life in the fast lane.

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ABOVE Lexus LS 460 F Sport

BOTTOm 2014 Toyota Prius

As for A-list celebs who will not be riding in the carpool lane, there is the dynamic Leonardo DiCaprio. With fresh images of Leo standing at the helm of the Jay Gatsby Empire and cavalierly tossing money into the air in the Wolf of Wall Street, it is easy to picture Leo cruising around Hollywood in the most decadent of “rides.” And what does this millionaire heartthrob drive? A 2014 Toyota Prius. This environmentally-friendly vehicle rings in at around $26,000, and is a considerably modest ride for one of the wealthiest celebrities in the world. Along with providing exceptional new performance

features, the 2014 Toyota Prius claims to set the standard when it comes to environmentally-friendly vehicles. Its improved fuel efficiency, specialized low beams, headlights and taillights are said to cut down power consumption significantly, while providing improved long-distance visibility. Although the affluent celebrity lifestyle is unattainable to most of us, we are rarely deterred from aspiring to be like our favourite celebs. Keep an eye on the latest celebrity car endorsements, do some serious saving and you, too, might one day cruise like the “stars.”

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TAYLOR AUTOMALL Where Customer Satisfaction is Top Priority BY BRANDI PARNELL PHOTOS COURTESY OF TAYLOR AUTO MALL

n 1963, Jerome Taylor arrived in Kingston with a passion to excel and an opportunity to take over an existing Chrysler dealership that happened to be floundering. In doing so, he became the youngest entrepreneur in Canada to own a dealership without the benefit of family connections. He was a visionary who read the industry well and worked hard. Back then, he was in the business of selling Chryslers, one guest at a time. In 1979, Jerome Taylor decided it was time to make a change. With all of the turmoil Chrysler was experiencing, Jerome completely changed directions and purchased a GM dealership deep in the city core. It was reintroduced as

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Taylor Chev Olds Cadillac and was an instant winner. Over the years, the business has grown significantly in size and changed locations — yet customer satisfaction has remained a top priority. Jerome’s son, Jason, came on board in 1995. And 51 years after Jerome opened his first dealership, Jason maintains the tradition and philosophy his father so successfully engineered in the business. “We believe with every guest, we have a chance to earn a referral,” says Wayne Fogel, Taylor AutoMall sales manager. Whether it is in sales, service or parts,

a recommendation from a customer is one of the fundamental principals we strive for. We have a full line up of Chevy, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac vehicles, many of them JD Power award-winning vehicles. In fact, Chevrolet has more JD Power award-winning vehicles than any other brand.” Currently, the dealership features two first class vehicles, the all-new 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray and Chevrolet Silverado, which have been named the 2014 North American Car and Truck of the Year, respectively. This marks only the third time in the awards’ 21-year history that one automaker has won both awards.

“It is a distinct honour for the entire Chevrolet team to have both Corvette and Silverado recognized with these prestigious awards,” said Alan Batey, General Motors senior vice president, Global Chevrolet. “Chevrolet is in the midst of the most aggressive product transformation in the brand’s more than 100-year history. Corvette and Silverado truly embody the passion, commitment and focus that is driving us to deliver the most expressive designs, innovative technologies and engaging performance in every vehicle that wears the bowtie.” With a team of 10 sales consultants and a full line up of cars and trucks, Taylor AutoMall is a perfect destination for anyone looking to purchase, finance or lease a new or used car or truck.

“Ultimately, a referral can earn a customer up to $250 cash,” says Fogel. Taylor AutoMall has a full sales, service and parts department. They sell new and used vehicles in a quest to assist customers in finding the right vehicle for their lifestyle. For dealership information, hours, or to preview some of the current inventory, visit their full service website at taylorautomall.com. Also on Facebook and Twitter, Taylor AutoMall is the perfect place to purchase your next vehicle — an experience that will leave you completely satisfied and wanting to refer your friends and family.

“We have vehicles for everyone, including Cadillac’s 2014 CTS, Motor Trend luxury car of the year,” says Fogel. The dealership also has a CARSTAR Appraisal Centre on site and a Friends and Family Rewards Program, where membership earns customers cash rewards for successfully referring friends, family or co-workers.

Taylor AutoMall 2440 Princess St, Kingston 1.866.549.1311

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kingston

business