Lifestyle Magazine Online: July-August 2021

JULY/AUGUST 2021

HOME RENOS

INTERIORS

NEW HOMES

BEAUTY

FASHION

FOOD

TRAVEL

HEALTH

AUTO

SHOPPING

COTTAGE BRINGS LOTTERY LOVE

Grand Bend’s Dream Home

BE COOL

Every body loves the beach

STAR POWER

Local renovator on HGTV

RELAX THIS SUMMER

Your to-do list is not a predator

hit the road

Celebrating

21

years

time to explore Ontario

BY GCW

www.lifestylemagazineonline.com

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2 and 3 bedroom condos still available STARTING AT

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Technology, Design & Culture Draw Young Professionals & Families Alike Net-zero features, smart technology and high-end, luxury finishes make EVE Park a great place to live; being in a prime location that simply fits your lifestyle is what will make it really feel like home.

Read more about what some of EVE Park’s latest buyers are saying about the new development.

VICTOR & EIREN Local young professionals, Victor and Eiren, were one of the first couples to jump on the opportunity to secure a unit at EVE Park.

“”

“EVE Park is setting a new standard for what a condominium development can be,” says Victor.

“We’ll have the simplicity of condo living, the conveniences of urban living, and the added benefit of waking up to nature in your backyard, as opposed to concrete buildings. Those are the things that will be keeping us here long-term.” – Victor

The pair has always enjoyed the benefits of condominium living, but when they learned about EVE Park – a new net-zero community being developed in a city they already call home – it became clear that this innovative development would provide all that they loved about the condo lifestyle, and more.

Victor is an avid cyclist, who together with his girlfriend, Eiren, enjoys outdoor activities and discovering new shops and restaurants. Five minutes away from fly fishing in the Thames River, and five minutes away from the urban centre, buying their new home at EVE Park was an easy decision as it uniquely addressed every facet of their lifestyle.

Also important to the couple, EVE Park is part of a larger project in West Five that fully embraces the future of electrification and green energy. As a local realtor who keeps his finger on the pulse of the realty market, Victor says from technology to aesthetics to culture, West Five is quickly becoming the most desirable place to be in London.

SARAH & FAMILY Currently living in Riverbend with their 14- and 10-year-old daughters, Sarah and her husband bought at EVE Park knowing how wonderfully the area could support family life.

“Having lived in the area, we have seen the growth that’s been happening here,” says Sarah. “From farmer’s markets to bike paths and the dog-walking paths, to a bandshell amphitheater that plans to host live music in the summer, there are a lot of family-friendly things happening around EVE Park.”

Beyond the unparalleled neighbouring amenities that Sarah and her husband valued first and foremost, they were blown away by the homes themselves.

“The units are very family friendly,” says Sarah. “There are two and three bedroom units available that are very spacious, very well laid out and beautifully designed. I also like that there is a single entry. It’s always nice to know that your front door leads into your unit and that you don’t have to share common spaces.”

In addition to the elements inside and outside that could support family life, Sarah is particularly excited about the seamless integration of technology that reduces a family’s carbon footprint.

“I’m not technologically inclined by any means, but the whole project from start to finish has been incredibly well thought out,” says Sarah. “You don’t even realize that your shower is consuming 60 per cent less water than a regular shower, because you’re just showering. You can just live here and use the things that you would regularly use – in a regular way – and consume substantially less. That’s all been integrated for you ahead of time.”

“”

“EVE Park has really thought about a million details. They have thought about things that I never would have thought about, but since they did, it makes me very excited.” – Sarah

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editorial BUILDING ORIGINAL HOMES FOR ORIGINAL PEOPLE We’ll make your next home as original as you are Why settle for a run-of-the-mill custom home when you can have an entirely original one? With a planning process that starts with nothing more than your dreams and a blank sheet of paper, you can be sure your Riverstone Original Home will be every bit as unique and remarkable as you are.

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8 Lifestyle July/August 2021

HELLO READERS!

M

y name is Jared Zaifman, and I have the privilege to introduce myself as the new CEO of the London Home Builders’ Association (LHBA).

I come to this role with a combined background in building and in government. I grew up in and worked for my family’s business Z Group, as well as spending time both as a municipal bureaucrat and elected official.

The LHBA is comprised of builders, renovators, developers, suppliers, subcontractors and supporting financial institutions and professionals. Since 1952, we have been the voice of the residential construction industry in London and have continually worked towards the betterment of our community.

Now more than ever, we are seeing just how vital our organization is to our members and readers like yourselves.

With significant population growth in London over the last five years and increasing prices across Ontario, demand for homes in London has grown significantly, while supply has not kept up. As a result, we are seeing prices rising and the worry that those who have called London home for years may no longer be able to afford a home here.

Our members are ready, willing and able to help by constructing more homes and meeting the growing demand, so

that homeownership can continue to be a reality. To help achieve this, we are actively working with the City of London, advocating for a greater consistent supply which in turn will also lead to greater investments in our local economy and spur on new jobs.

COVID-19 has presented unique challenges to our industry as well, including earlier work stoppages, delayed supply chains, and increased supply cost. Working with our provincial partner organization – the Ontario Home Builders’ Association – we were successful in ensuring the essential nature of our industry, so that we could continue to work and meet the ever-growing demand for new homes and renovations.

If you are thinking of purchasing a new home or getting started on a renovation, I would encourage you to check out our website lhba.on.ca and visit our “Find a Builder” or “Find a Renovator” sections to find great builders and renovators.

With such strong demand there is no time like the present to book!

JARED ZAIFMAN CEO London Home Builders’ Association

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July/August 2021 Lifestyle 9

LIFESTYLE

magazine PUBLISHER Lana L. Breier EDITOR Jill Ellis-Worthington WRITERS Ellen Ashton-Haiste Clare Dear Jill Ellis-Worthington Janis Wallace

contents J U LY | AU G U S T 202 1

12

HOMESTYLE 12 Winning big Dream Lottery cottage

19 Top trends Three unique looks

42 As seen on television Real life HGTV reno

ACCOUNT MANAGERS Annette Gent 519-200-0283 annettegent537@gmail.com

CULTURESTYLE

34

Lorraine Lukings 519-520-7676 lorrainelukings@hotmail.com Jan McGrath 519-243-2932 jm@lambtonshores.com

BESTLIFE 30 No more weekend warrior Take time for you

30

50 A safe place Anova provides shelter

52 Call of the wild Salthaven rehabs rescues

TRAVELSTYLE

Lifestyle is published six times a year by 2251632 Ontario Inc. c.o.b. Lifestyle Magazine 108 Tuyll Street, Bayfield N0M 1G0 519-873-0989 lifestylemagazinepublishing@gmail.com

Canada Post Agreement #41277015 No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. The publisher accepts no responsibility for unsolicited material.

All rights reserved. Printed in Canada.

24 Beach or pool Advice and advocacy from MBS

PRODUCTION Nancy Greenfield

Copies are distributed to selected homes, magazine stands and local businesses in London and area.

YOURSTYLE 29 Hair care

AD DESIGN Nancy Greenfield Bill McGrath

WEB ARCHITECTURE Redding Design Inc. www.reddingdesigns.com

Bayfield Centre for the Arts

Looks to keep you cool

EDITORIAL & AD DESIGN Wendy Reid

PHOTOGRAPHY Richard Bain

34 Culture comes to the lake

37 Hit the road Day trips and weekend getaways

49 Old fashioned fun At Starlite Drive-in

37

BIZLIFE 33 Custom Shades 54 Render 3D Quick

EDITOR’S NOTE: While Lifestyle Magazine wholeheartedly supports local shopping and travel, we urge you to adhere to provincial mandates and check area health unit guidelines before doing so.

10 Lifestyle July/August 2021

SPRING INTO ACTION! GET YOUR CUSHIONS RECOVERED NOW!

BEFORE

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Certified Sewing Specialist

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In Home Design Consultations JULY/AUGUST 2021 LIFESTYLE 11

homestyle

A bright, friendly great room will ensconce the homeowners in this dream lottery cottage.

WOODSY and wonderful Scott Holman built the front porch swing as one of the many custom touches for the home near Grand Bend.

RELAX IN A CUSTOM COTTAGE AND SUPPORT LOCAL HEALTHCARE AT THE SAME TIME

By Ellen Ashton-Haiste

12 Lifestyle July/August 2021

F

or a young construction company, being invited to participate in London’s Dream Home Lottery is a dream in itself. Holman Construction, launched just five years ago by Scott and Kate Holman, was approached to build a Grand Bend area cottage for the Lottery that supports the city’s health sciences.

“We were thrilled to have the opportunity,” says Kate Holman, noting the importance of fundraising for local hospitals.“We were happy to be able to play even a small part in supporting such an incredible cause.”

The cottage they built for the Spring 2021 fundraiser is a two-bedroom bungalow in Pinery Bluffs, a subdivision nestled in an oak savanna bordering the Pinery Provincial Park.

To create their vision of a home that would

blend seamlessly into that environment, the Holmans enlisted the help of London interior designer Jillian Summers. Her soft neutral colour palette resulted in a warm and cozy ambiance that Kate describes as “a perfect fit, allowing the natural beauty of the surroundings to shine through.”

That effort to meld indoors and out involved capturing as much natural light as possible, she says, citing large windows and doors throughout the house, which also afford “incredible views.”

This effort is further enhanced in the great room, where the white-washed tongueand-groove cathedral ceiling extends over a covered deck, providing year-round outdoor space, ideal for al fresco entertaining. Summers calls that feature a “must see,” stating “the view when you walk in the front door,

Extending the white-washed tongue-and-groove cathedral ceiling from the living area indoors to the adjacent deck integrates the two spaces for easy indoor-outdoor entertaining.

that draws your eye to the backyard, is incredible.” The expansive covered deck also accesses a lower stone patio.

Kate believes the home’s new owners will adore the great room for other features as well, including two built-in arched shelving units bracketing a gas fireplace. “The room is stunning, and we are so proud of how it turned out,” she says.

They will also appreciate the spacious open kitchen that Summers calls “a dream come true.”

It’s anchored by a 13-foot island, capable of seating an entire family comfortably, with butcher-block additions at either end. The space also features abundant cabinetry, granite counters, a large farm-style sink and extra-large range hood above a six-burner-plus-griddle gas stove.

The primary bedroom includes an oversize walk-in closet and spa-like ensuite bathroom with a soaker tub and tile shower, making it a luxurious retreat. 

To maximize both the kitchen’s workspace and create an ample area for family dining, the Holmans installed a 13-foot island.

July/August 2021 Lifestyle 13

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Two arched built-in shelving units frame the living area’s gas fireplace.

• A large farmhouse sink is one of the many attractive features of the kitchen. • The six-burnerplus-griddle gas stove is topped by an oversized range hood.

• Herringbone-patterned flooring adds a special touch to the foyer.

• The dining area’s large windows overlook the treed lot.

14 Lifestyle July/August 2021

The main level includes a front office/ den, which could accommodate a third bedroom, and spacious laundry/mudroom with a large brick basin for washing the dog or sandy feet after a day at the beach.

Another highlight, on the lower level, is a state-of-the-art theatre room with tiered cushioned seating and a 120-inch screen. On this level, there is also a large recreation room, a bedroom and threepiece bathroom with shower.

Kate says the entire home showcases myriad custom details that are a credit to Scott’s usual hands-on approach, which is business as usual for the couple. A talented carpenter, focused on quality craftsmanship, she says his expertise is evident throughout the Dream Home. Kate cites

examples such as the herringbone pattern in the foyer flooring, the arched shelving in the great room and the staircase to the lower level, where Scott took meticulous care and self-milled the white oak treads.

He also built a cedar swing for the covered front porch as an additional nod to the cottage character. The exterior, with soft grey siding and front stone trim, delivers a “light, bright palette that makes the home pop in contrast to the surrounding forest,” Kate says.

As is the goal with all Holman Construction builds, she believes the dream cottage offers “a timeless look that will transcend trends, as well as a comfortable and functional space.” 

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July/August 2021 Lifestyle 15

WOODSY AND WONDERFUL ~ Continued from page 14

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT The primary bedroom is a luxurious retreat. • One of its features is the spa-like ensuite, with separate soaker tub and walk-in shower. • With an ample main floor living area and a large rec room, it is easy to relax on both floors. • Ensuite's walk-in shower. • With three bedrooms, the home has space for the whole family. • The lower level features a home theatre. • The laundry room/mudroom features a basin to make cleaning up from the beach or washing the family pet a breeze.

● FOR MORE INFORMATION HOLMAN CONSTRUCTION 519-660-9072 www.holmanconstruct.com UPSTAGING LIMITED Jillian Summers 519-317-5533 www.jilliansummers.ca

16 Lifestyle July/August 2021

DREAM HOME SUBTRADES AND SUPPLIERS Robinson Drafting and Design Baltessen Excavating McCann Redi-Mix (foundation) Smith Peat Roofing DC Lee Construction (masonry) Jayden’s Mechanical (plumbing and HVAC)

Mocoley Electric Picasso’s Drywall Branick Painting and Spraying Gallerno Marble and Tile Casey’s Creative Kitchens Accents Home Furniture

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TASTE THE MARKET Local favourites under one roof.

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marketplace interior style WICKER TABLE LAMP

AUSTIN WINGBACK-STYLE CHAIR

AURUS TABLE CLOCK

casual

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MADDIE SEABASKETS

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GISELLE CABINET

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July/August 2021 Lifestyle 19

Experience you can trust!

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July/August 2021 Lifestyle 21

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22 Lifestyle July/August 2021

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July/August 2021 Lifestyle 23

yourstyle

WELL SUITED Find your fit this summer

By Jill Ellis-Worthington

The enjoyment of early spring weather here in southwestern Ontario has us longing to hit the beach and lose those winter blahs. Feeling the heat of the sun on our skin, lake breezes blowing through our hair and rough sand brushing our feet are experiences that we can celebrate only a few months of the year, so being well suited is an important part of the experience.

It is time to shed the winter threads and pull on a sassy swimsuit to celebrate summer. Head to Grand Bend’s big beach, either of the beaches in Port Stanley or some isolated piece of sand that you’ve recently discovered to show

1

off your tan and your smile in one of these bathing costumes. There’s one that suits your style, fits your figure and accentuates your curves, with the cutest sandals to match.

1. From My Top Drawer comes this flattering black Taylor swimsuit.

swimwear 2. The versatile Penbrooke Shell Floral Tankini goes to the beach or the pool.

Available at Simply Lovely.

summer 2021 24 Lifestyle July/August 2021

2

3. Take a plunge in this swimsuit, called Twisted Sister, from My Top Drawer.

4. Sweet but sassy, the Penbrooke Cape Cod Triple Tier comes from Simply Lovely.

5. Elegantly draping the figure is the Solids Bianca bathing suit from My Top Drawer.

6. The Penbrooke Hillside Swim Dress is a poolside pleasure from Simply Lovely.

3 6

7. From My Top Drawer comes the colourful Sparkler Seam Swim Dress.

Open: Wednesday-Sunday 11am-5pm

215 Main Street, Port Stanley 519-782-7467 www.studiostyle.ca

SINCE 1988

7

4

We have hundreds of beautiful designs to choose from for engagements, anniversaries, and general expressions of love.

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www.muscatjewellers.com muscatjewellers@gmail.com July/August 2021 Lifestyle 25

WELL SUITED

~ Continued from page 25

sandals summer 2021

8

9

10 11

ALL FOOTWEAR AVAILABLE AT HANGAR9.

8. Dress up any outfit with a jeweled ankle-wrap Babilonia sandal.

9. Fun sand-coloured mules

by Dorothee Schumacher set a casual tone.

10. For summer white is always right. This casual slide, from Goldie, easily goes from poolside to patio.

11. Multicoloured to go with all your beachwear, this Midollimo sandal is as versatile is it is cute.

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Stylists

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BOOK YOUR

Me Time

BOOK YOUR 519-850-8383 26 Lifestyle July/August 2021

Me Time

TODAY

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12

13

summer is here 12. The waves are waiting for you: Penbrooke Prairie Dance Tankini.

13. One for the road: Penbrooke Jungle Motion One Piece. Garments this page are from Simply Lovely.

● FOR MORE INFORMATION HANGAR9 620 Richmond Street 519-672-0073 • www.hangar9.ca MY TOP DRAWER 979 Wellington Road, South 519-685-7217 www.mytopdrawer.com SIMPLY LOVELY LINGERIE AND SWIM BOUTIQUE 71 Wellington Street, Stratford 519-814-7171

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July/August 2021 Lifestyle 27

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28 Lifestyle July/August 2021

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ADVERTORIAL

HAIR CARE THAT CARES

ABOUT YOU AND ABOUT THE COMMUNITY Maria Bikas Salon (MBS) has been serving London and the surrounding areas for 14 years.

They offer a variety of services including hair services – ombre, balayage, cuts and styles (both formal and everyday blowouts) – as well as personal services, including lash extensions, waxing, tinting and microblading.

Their philosophy: “We are your one stop shop to come in for your ‘me time.’”

With the recent movement toward a more natural feel with hair colour, they have been performing a service called ‘crystalizing hair.’ This means removing the pigment completely and giving back the sparkle and original colour and structure to the hair.

Another new trend emerging in the market is Halo Couture extensions.

Maria Bikas, owner, feels that these have revolutionized the hair extension industry with The Original Halo®. It is a simple design that is self-applied and damage-free, offering hundreds of styles, lengths, colours and blends to create gorgeous transformations that clients love. Many women today are not willing to compromise the integrity of their own hair by adding any form of extension that needs to be attached directly to their hair.

Halocouture offers a new solution

that provides volume and fullness with hand-tied wefts of 100 per cent Remy human hair. She says it is “like putting on your favourite little black dress. It’s as easy as 1,2,3! If you’re looking for fullness, volume or length, we have you covered.

Set up a complimentary consultation with us!”

MBS is excited to launch a new line of hair care products, with over 40 years in the industry: Balmain. As part of the Balmain Paris fashion label, Balmain Paris Hair Couture has been combining hair essentials with the latest catwalk trends for four decades. The collections are inspired by backstage secrets, and they mirror elements that a woman needs to create a high-end catwalk-inspired look. Over these 40 years, Balmain Paris Hair Couture established its legitimacy in the field of luxury.

MBS offers these products exclusively, so shop online at www.mariabikassalon.com.

Community is a very important part of the MBS culture, so it is with great pleasure that they have partnered with Merrymount Family Support and Crisis Centre to create an initiative called Beauty With a Purpose.

With every Balmain sale made through MBS, one dollar will go directly to Merrymount Family Support and Crisis Centre.

Available at Maria Bikas Salon, Halo Couture extensions are self-applied and damage free, offering hundred of styles, lengths, colours and blends.

This organization has delivered responsive and innovative services and programs to strengthen children and their families in times of transition.

Merrymount provides a wide range of crisis, respite and early intervention mental health services and programs for children aged 0 - 12 in London/Middlesex, Elgin and Oxford counties.

There is also a ‘Donate Now’ button on the MBS website that links you directly to the Merrymount Organization Donate page, should you wish to donate separately.

MBS also offers free local delivery for online products. n July/August 2021

Lifestyle 29

yourstyle

BEACH OR OFFICE

HOW WILL YOU SPEND YOUR SUMMER WEEKENDS?

By Jill Ellis-Worthington

S Take Back Your Weekends is available through Amazon and Allison Graham's website.

30 Lifestyle July/August 2021

ummer weekends are a rare and beautiful commodity, with time to relax and rejuvenate at the beach, backyard, cottage, trailer, campground or boat. So, having to work to catch up on your to-do list is a double whammy. Year round it is tough to have to choose between leisure activities and work but having to prioritize spending time at the office during the best weather months is especially painful. It is no easier if ‘going to the office’ means sequestering yourself in a home office, either.

“Your to-do list is not a predator,” is a line from Allison Graham’s book Take Back Your Weekends. She’s a speaker and consultant on resilience and personal growth and was prompted to write it during a workshop with a small executive team when one of the attendees broke down in tears.

He said, “I’m afraid I’m missing my kids’ childhoods. I spend every Saturday and Sunday working. It’s still not enough.”

When you’d rather be spending time listening to the waves or playing catch with the kids than sitting at the computer, it can be debilitating so

“

I’m afraid I’m missing my kids’ childhoods. I spend every Saturday and Sunday working.

It’s still not enough.”

Graham has some advice to get the to-do list off your back. After 14 years in business and authoring four print books, she’s found that mindset is as important as method when It comes to managing our time and tasks.

That mindset comes in when we give too much weight to what should be simple and too little to life’s big hits. Graham breaks it down this way: tasks are all the things that are usually on the to-do list; obstacles are challenges that we must overcome but aren’t catastrophic; adversities are life-changing events, like the death of a loved one or a cancer diagnosis.

“In society, we exaggerate tasks and wear ‘I’m so busy’ as a badge of honour, but when something big happens – adversities – we underplay and say, ‘I’m fine,” explains Graham. “By flipping it, we save emotional bandwidth when we need it for adversities.”

To take back your weekends Graham advises looking at things differently. First, stop thinking of it as a to-do list. Reframe as a to-do circle.

That way you won’t be always expecting to feel rewarded when you get to the end of the list because you’ll never get to the end. “As soon as something comes off the list, more things go on, so you’ll never reach the end and that feels bad,” explains Graham.

Do a complete mind dump of all the tasks you need to accomplish and put them into “buckets” by areas of responsibility. If you’re in business, your buckets might include marketing, accounting/invoicing, human resources, sales and client fulfillment. Prioritize tasks in each bucket and work on one bucket during a power period.

Many claim that when they work on weekends, though, it is the most productive time because there are no interruptions or meetings. Graham suggests simulating this experience by using hyper-focused sessions during the week for power periods of 45 to 75 minutes. “One or two hours of 

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July/August 2021 Lifestyle 31

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increased outputs per weekday equals a full day of working on the weekend,” she says. “We want to get out of the office as quickly as possible on the weekend, so we are hyper focused.”

One or two hours of highly focused work will produce more consistent production than eight hours with constant interruptions, but how do we eliminate interruptions at the office? Graham suggests posting a sign or wearing earbuds to let others know you are in a flow state but will be available later.

Next, look for time thieves. These can include frequent interruptions, jumping from task to task, long meetings, not delegating, micromanaging after delegating. Graham lists 30 in her book.

Eliminating as many time thieves as possible will allow you to be more productive during the week and minimize the need for weekend work.

Then, look for ways to shave time off jobs, she adds, by rethinking how they are done. This can apply to the office (‘Do we need a full hour for a meeting or would 45 minutes do the same job?’) to household tasks.

“Instead of putting each dish away as you unload the dishwasher, try stacking all the plates on the counter and then putting them in the cupboard.

It shaves a couple of minutes off the task and those little time savers can add up. It’s important to get out of the ‘because it’s the way we’ve always done it’ mindset,” says Graham.

She encourages us to look at things “through the lens of curiosity” to change how we manage time and tasks as the first step to taking back our weekends.

Tame that to-do list and end its days as your predator. n ● FOR MORE INFORMATION www.allisongraham.co/book

32 Lifestyle July/August 2021

bizlife

ABOVE Janice Brock & Wes Petch

Smart window coverings for smart homes Technology enhances savings and security

By Ellen Ashton-Haiste As 21st-century smart-home technology ramps up, window treatments are benefiting from the trend.

Today’s homeowners can control their shades and blinds from virtually anywhere. “You could be in Germany and moving your blinds in Grand Bend with Internet access,” says Wes Petch, coowner with Janice Brock of London’s Custom Shades and Custom Covers For Home and Office in Exeter.

It’s a scenario that’s growing in popularity, Petch says. “We’ve been doing automation and motorization for a dozen years and it has progressed exponentially every year.”

While the technology is a convenience that does entail a price upcharge, he points out that it has a significant potential for cost savings on heating and air conditioning by providing enhanced temperature control. “For example, on a

hot, sunny day, you can have the blinds closed to cool the house down before you get home.”

For providers of window treatments, Petch says the challenge is keeping up with ever-escalating technological advances. His stores have an advantage in being supported by Hunter Douglas, a prominent global manufacturer of custom window blinds, shades, shutters and draperies. The company is a pioneer in automation. Petch and professional installer Patrick Alber have taken numerous Hunter Douglas courses and have expertise in the company’s signature PowerView Automation.

The newest incarnation of this application, PowerView Plus, sees the technology hard-wired into a home during construction, with the wiring concealed behind the drywall and tied into the wi-fi system. Petch says Custom

Shades frequently works with custom builders, installing this option.

There’s also considerable demand from homeowners to upgrade their blinds and shades to automation. “We do a lot of take downs and replace the whole works of window coverings in older homes,” Petch says.

Although these systems are not hardwired and run on battery power, he notes that there are technological advances there as well. As an example, Hunter Douglas recently introduced rechargeable lithium batteries, good for 500 recharges, reducing ongoing operating costs.

The technology, combined with myriad choices for styles, fabric and colour, and highly trained staff from sales to installation, allows Custom Shades to offer superior value for its services, Petch says. n

● FOR MORE INFORMATION CUSTOM SHADES • 1422 Fanshawe Park Road West, Unit #3A • 519-601-4443 • www.customshadesoflondon.ca CUSTOM COVERS FOR HOME AND OFFICE • 415 Main St., Exeter • 519-235-2444 • www.customcoversontario.ca July/August 2021 Lifestyle 33

bestlife

AT THE

heart of art

LAKE HURON COMMUNITY HOSTS CULTURAL CENTRE

By Janis Wallace

34 Lifestyle July/August 2021

D

ual lifelong passions (art and people) are being united to bring to life a community-based centre called the Bayfield Centre for the Arts. When it is full functioning, the centre will enrich the lives of area residents and visitors to this lakeside community. It will host exhibits, workshops and studios amidst the natural beauty of Huron County.

The idea started on a front step, sprouted in a Bayfield living room, then set roots in all levels of government and business. It came to artist, educator and president of Bayfield Centre for the Arts Leslee Squirrell after touring a similar centre in St. Andrews by-the-Sea, New Brunswick. “I came out the front door and said, ‘We can do this in Bayfield.

St. Andrews is an artsy, seaside community, of similar size, similar demographics.”

Squirrell invited 12 colleagues to

Conceptual rendering only.

Rendering by Render 3D Quick.

share the idea in her living room. Part of the conversation focused on the gap between performing and visual arts through supportive organizations.

“It’s really important to have a single roof for visual arts.”

She began pitching the concept to other organizations, business owners, all levels of government. A board formed, incorporated and earned official charitable designation. During a visit to the area by Lisa Thompson, Huron-Bruce MPP, Squirrell was introduced to Lisa McLeod, minister of heritage, sport, tourism and culture industries. “She (McLeod) was so excited by the concept and is supportive.”

Plans were developed for programs for 2020. Then the pandemic hit, and the organization had to take a step back Squirrell says.

They began looking for a site to build the centre. “In a perfect world what we really want is a piece of land four

“

Leslee Squirrell (INSET) plans offerings that include outdoor painting workshops.

We’ll offer classes and workshops for every age, four to 104, of every ability, interest and skill set you can imagine.”

LESLEE SQUIRRELL, PRESIDENT BAYFIELD CENTRE FOR THE ARTS

or five acres with a purpose-built facility with an art park for fairs and installations, en plein air events, and a gallery to attract travelling exhibitions from places such as the AGO (Art Gallery of Ontario), ROM (Royal Ontario Museum) and the National Gallery to bring art to this area that people would not otherwise have the opportunity to see.”

The building will be environmentally healthy and sustainable, incorporating several design principles, such as green building ratings systems (GBRS), biophilic design strategies and certified eco-materials.

Inside it will be a hive of creative activity. “Our mission is education and exposure of art to the general public,” says Squirrell. “We’ll offer classes and workshops for every age, four to 104, of every ability, interest and skill set you can imagine. There will be lectures and fairs. It will be a destination arts centre.

We will advocate for visual arts and create support for everyone. That story resonates when I tell it to levels of government. They understand the economic impact.

Whether it is a local resident who enrolls in a class and exhibits their work,

or a visitor who rents a cottage and takes a course or visits the gallery, it enriches at many levels. Squirrell plans to create relationships with area schools for classes, lectures and gallery visits. Day and summer camps, workshops and masterclasses by distinguished artists will be offered for experienced artists and “people who have never done anything. It will enhance the life for residents as much as for visitors.”

Bayfield Centre for the Arts will also provide outreach programs for area mental health facilities.

The arts offered will also span a spectrum: painting, textiles, photography, sculpture, ceramics and glass, woodworking, digital and new media, as well as culinary and literary arts and fine crafts. “Under one roof, we’ll offer cross-pollination and cross-practices.”

Squirrell says she has wandered from a painting workshop into a glass studio to see what was going on there and has been inspired and motivated. Multiple studies have been dedicated to a variety of mediums that allow cross-pollination and cross-practice, she says.

In keeping with the rural setting and heritage, Squirrell envisions the facility as a modern barn, a contemporary

version of the classic Huron barn.

“There will be big doors to the outside.”

The outdoor space will host public art installations, art fairs and festivals.

Until it is built Bayfield Centre for the Arts is in a barn at 24 Main Street. The space in front, the barnyard, will be used for classes and exhibits.

Part of the organization’s mandate is to take art to the people. A truck, donated

by Lake Huron Chrysler, takes a mobile studio to businesses, groups and families who book a particular activity. “It’s very COVID-friendly,” says Squirrell. “When you call to book, you choose from a list of offerings, so we can supply the materials for painting, fibre art such as macramé or needlepoint, photography or a craft.” The truck carries an instructor, assistant and all supplies. “Everyone gets their own table, chair, materials to take home and do another. We encourage creative activity and generate people who want to take up a new medium.”

This summer, the barn on Main Street also offers three masterclasses: two in painting in June and July; one in soapstone carving in August. “You’ll come away from the four-hour class with a carving,” says Squirrell. Accredited, 

July/August 2021 Lifestyle 35

ABOVE Providing workshops and classes for every age is an important part of BCA's mandate.

It will be a destination arts centre and advocate for visual arts. It all begins with a mobile teaching centre, called the art truck, that transports creativity to various locations.

Building from the grassroots to encompass individuals, businesses and organizations, the Bayfield Centre for the Arts can be a model for transformative co-operation.

experienced artists teach these masterclasses.

To be in the know and be able to enroll in your chosen class, she suggests you sign up for the newsletter to get inside and advance information.

Create Together is an open studio in the barnyard each week through the summer. “People bring their own project to work on. It’s the stimulus of being among other creative people.”

In September, Squirrell says the group will hold an online auction. “It’s a great opportunity to acquire experiences, lessons beyond art.”

An online Year of the Barn exhibition attracted submissions from across the province. “It’s an amazing collection of style, vision and skill,” says Squirrell.

Volunteers are needed for all these activities. “I want to hear from artists who give classes, people to work on the art truck, to help with administration and financially. We’ve already attracted many interesting people. It’s taken off quickly. The concept and offerings really resonate with everyone we talk to.”

Squirrell says third-party fundraisers, who hold events and donate proceeds to the Bayfield Centre for the Arts, are also appreciated. The Birdhouse Foundation contributed for example.

Connor Withers and his father Tim build birdhouses from scrap wood in

Burlington and donate them to charities.

The benefits of being creative can start in early childhood or in retirement. “I’m excited about children getting involved early,” says Squirrell. She is also anticipating sharing the joy with retirees, people who now have time to explore new pursuits. “Creating that opportunity really excites me. I know the benefit of practicing art and being in the flow, totally immersed, when I am painting. You forget worries, you’re in a healthy creative space.

The process is important not the product.

That’s what excites me. I know what that feeling is like. I want to build this so other people can experience those moments.”

Building from the grassroots to encompass individuals, businesses and organizations, the Bayfield Centre for the Arts can be a model for transformative co-operation. Community benefits include social, health, business, job creation, population retention and tourism.

“Our Board of Directors is comprised of myself, Jack Pal, Debra MacArthur, John Marshall and Bill Whetstone, all of whom have volunteered many hours and great advice and governance to this project and our vision. I could not have accomplished anything without their dedicated support and participation,” says Squirrell. n

● FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO VOLUNTEER • www.bayfieldarts.ca 36 Lifestyle July/August 2021

Road trips

travelstyle

LEFT AND MIDDLE Union 10 Distillery Co. is on Dundas Street. • It lays claim to the city’s only sand beach. RIGHT The large patio shared by Paradigm Spirits Co. and Powerhouse Brewing is located at 100 Kellogg Lane.

NEAR OR FAR it’s time to get in the car

W

By Jill Ellis-Worthington

ith several months of pent-up energy resulting from lockdowns and an itch to hit the road to gain some new experiences, there may have never been a better time to take a road trip. Whether you’re seeking a daytrip close to home or a weekend getaway a bit further afield, we have ideas to share. Some are familiar favourites offering new twists and others are fresh ideas too good to pass up.

SPIRITED EAST ENDERS A large patio paradise has been established by two neighbouring beverage makers. Powerhouse Brewery and Paradigm Spirits Co., located in the courtyard at 100 Kellogg Lane, offer a patio that seats 180 people socially distanced and 2,000 at capacity, according to Paradigm co-owner Irma Joeveer.

They are making good use of it by offering myriad live events featuring food, music and, of course, the libations they produce. From a Canada Day event for the whole family to Pride celebrations, such as a drag queen brunch at the end of Pride Week, and an all-you-can eat lobster and crawfish boil the patio will be popping this summer.

Joeveer is excited about weekly jazz and cocktail nights. Featuring local artists, these all-inclusive evenings will embrace delicious dinner items, as well as creative libations.

She expects to be able to offer both indoor and outdoor dining, as well as distillery tours, cocktail classes and spirits tastings this summer. www.paradigmspirits.com London’s only sand beach lives at Union 10 Distillery on Dundas Street.

Populated with Muskoka chairs and picnic tables, a fire pit takes centre stage, but the real stars are the cocktails, made with Union 10’s own spirits, served beach side. Up to 75 people can enjoy this beachy vibe safely and socially distanced. 

July/August 2021 Lifestyle 37

Road trips Stratford is offering large open-air spaces for visitors to enjoy cuisine from the city’s many eateries. INSET TOP RIGHT Delicious local options available on the Tasting Huron County tour.

An outdoor stone oven was recently added, so stone-fired pizza will be available to satisfy your hunger.

Inside the large distillery, tastings, tours and cocktail classes are being offered to small groups to allow for social distancing. For the latter, you receive a cocktail when you arrive, learn how to mix up two tasty libations and get a tour of the facility. https://unionten.ca/

FESTIVAL CITY

Over the past several years, Stratford has worked to extend its reputation from Ontario’s live theatre home to Ontario’s foodie capital. This summer, al fresco dining will be on the menu with large outdoor venues set up throughout downtown Stratford and along the river, with umbrellaed tables. Enjoy a takeout meal and appropriately matched libations from local restaurants. https://visitstratford.ca/al-fresco-dining/

TASTY TOUR

Combining her love of travel, food and historical architecture, Mandy Sinclair is offering Huron Tasting Tours. Recently returned from Marrakesh due to the pandemic, Sinclair is eager to show off her hometown of Goderich with walking tours that will include “unknown but classic eateries (and hopefully breweries)” of this west coast town.

Get informed about Goderich’s rich 38 Lifestyle July/August 2021

The Port Albert General Store is a charming throwback to the past.

INSET Lake Huron is world famous for its sunsets.

Point Clark’s lighthouse will have a web cam to enjoy the view from the safety of your home.

history and architecture along the way, because there are “wonderful historic homes that hold so many secrets,” she adds. www.tastinghuroncounty.ca

POP INTO PORT ALBERT

You may have worn out the Bluewater Highway visiting various Lake Huron beach towns, but have you been to Port Albert yet? The tiny village has a couple points of interest: the fish ladder and the general store, in addition to a long stretch of beach.

Fisherpersons and parents with curious kids will want to make a visit to the Port Albert Fishway and see the fish ladder. It allows spawning fish to avoid obstructions when they run seasonally. www.huronbeaches.ca/fishing For a feel-good stop, pop into the charming Port Albert General Store and Pub. As indicated by its name, this retailer offers a little bit of everything, including generously portioned ice cream cones. The adjacent tented pub area features pizzas and pints to enjoy after a walk around the quaint village. www.portalbertgeneralstoreandpub.com To stretch your stay, consider spending a night or two at the Port Albert Inn. This quaint bed-n-breakfast is across the street from the general store. www.innattheport.com Nearby Point Farms Provincial Park offers nice stretches of beach but bring your swim shoes as they can be rocky.

Area resident Jenna Ujiye holds a salmon caught in Port Albert.

This is a good camping and picnicking destination; bring your bikes because the trails are varied (from woodsy to open meadows) and fairly flat. www.ontarioparks.com/park/pointfarms

GET TO THE POINT

Drive a bit further up the coast to Point Clark lighthouse. The lighthouse is closed to visitors again this summer, but you can enjoy a walk around the green space around it and read the informational plaques. A web cam is being installed at the top of the lighthouse, so that visitors will be able to get a view from the top from the safety of their own homes. https://visitpointclark. ca/profile/point-clark-lighthouse/2500 With six delicious stops, the Huron-Kinloss Ice Cream Trail beckons families this summer. Besides a sugar rush, your crew can participate in the

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Belying its reputation, a visit to the Imperial City can be a breath of fresh air when you load the bikes up and hit the Sarnia Waterfront Trail. Starting from Centennial Park on Sarnia Bay, check out the watercraft at the marina there and take in the lake freighters as they navigate the St. Clair River.

Stop for famous French fries under the bridge and head into the village of Point Edward. Bring your appetite because Salvatore’s is an authentic Italian restaurant with homemade pasta dishes, served family style, that feel like a hug from mamma.

The trail continues through Canatara Park with a stop at the free animal farm or a visit to the area’s Blue Flag beach to cool off.

Cyclists can also try the St. Clair River trail that starts in Corunna and ends in Sombra. You’ll bike 32 kilometres on the full ride. http://bikefriendlylambton.com/cycling-in-lambton Check out some of the 14 producers of adult libations on the Cheers to the Coast drink trail. Be adventurous and try craft meads, ciders, beers and wine.

Wave Limo is offering tours so that you can relax and not worry about driving.

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NEAR OR FAR ~ Continued from page 39

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luxury accommodations in Point Edward. www.ontbluecoast.com/cheers-tothe-coast/

NATURAL NIAGARA

Beyond the tourist attractions of Clifton Hill, Niagara Falls offers many outdoor activities to ensure that a summer visit will be as fun as it will be busy.

Take a walk in the park or get a little more wild with a hike along the gorge. www.niagarafallstourism.com Queen Victoria Park is a lovely stroll near the Falls, with flower beds a plenty and grassy areas to spread out a picnic blanket. The Oakes Garden Theatre, with its Zen vibe and Japanese garden, offers a respite for your busy day of touring.

The Niagara River Recreational Trail is 53 kilometres long in its entirety. It follows the Niagara Parkway and offers hiking trails with a natural flair.

Visiting the Niagara area and not trying some wine would be a mistake and a safe way to do that with a twist is offered by Vineland Estates Winery.

Their Trek and Taste of Terroir is a guided hike along the Bruce Trail and through the winery with wine tastings along the way to refresh you, and the journey is customized to the interests and fitness levels of participants. https://vineland.com/taste-tour/ * At time of writing, these activities were expected to be allowed this summer, but always check with local health units, as well as adhering to provincial mandates. n

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July/August 2021 Lifestyle 41

homestyle

FROM TEARS TO

ABOVE The brothersister team of Billy Pearson and Carolyn Wilbrink bring HGTV’s show Farmhouse Facelift to life on Wednesday evenings on the network famous for fantastic makeovers.

By Clare Dear

42 Lifestyle July/August 2021

triumph

K

risten Henderson says she was in tears the first time she walked into the farmhouse she, husband Michael and their growing family were going to call home. However, they were not tears of joy. “I had never seen it,” Kristen says of the house she and Michael had just purchased.

Located south of Thamesford, it had been in the Henderson family for three generations before being sold. Now,

TELEVISED RENOVATION PAYS OFF

this current generation of the family had the opportunity to put the Henderson name on it again.

Michael’s father had grown up in the house and Michael himself had lived his whole childhood within its walls. “They were drawing me drawings and trying to tell me what it looked like,” Kristen recalls. “When we were able to get in, I was nine months pregnant, and I cried and cried,” she says of that first look.

after

ABOVE The new kitchen serves the Henderson family well, with a large, colourful island, ample seating for dinner and learning time and lots of storage space – all in a beautiful setting. BELOW Covenant Construction’s founders Bonnie Hardy (second from left at table) and Craig Hardy (middle of row behind table) with show hosts Carolyn Wilbrink (next to Bonnie) and Billy Pearson (to the left of Craig) with the Covenant Construction crew who worked on the televised renovation.

BEFORE

Michael’s father had grown up in the house and Michael himself had lived his whole childhood within its walls.

Kristen had no idea how she was going to make this place work for their family. Then a unique opportunity presented itself.

Farmhouse Facelift, a renovation show hosted by the brother-sister team of Billy Pearson and Carolyn Wilbrink on the HGTV Canada network, was interested in doing an episode featuring the renova-

tion of the Henderson homestead.

“The timing was amazing that it all came together when it did,” Kristen says. “It was fate.” So, the couple handed over their keys and moved into a trailer for the duration of the project.

The show normally does reno projects within the Greater Toronto area, but was considering

a couple of projects beyond that region. The move necessitated the production crew finding new contractors closer to the proposed projects. Once the decision was made to do the Henderson farmhouse, the search began to find a capable (and willing) contractor in the area. 

July/August 2021 Lifestyle 43

To enlarge the kitchen area, it was relocated to the former dining room, which necessitated moving a load-bearing wall. The family room is now adjacent to the kitchen and the original wood trim was preserved.

after

BEFORE

“Like everyone else, they just went on the internet and found our website,” says Craig Hardy, who co-owns Covenant Construction with Bonnie Hardy and Randy McCulloch. He adds that the call from HGTV just came out of the blue because “they saw some things they liked and then they contacted us and asked if we’d be interested.”

Kristen says she and Michael also had some input in the final choice of contractor. The Hendersons met with Hardy’s team “to see if we jived with them” – and they did.

“We asked them why they were called Covenant Construction, and Craig said it was because a covenant is stronger than a contract.

I found it amazing, my husband found it amazing, and we can honestly say it’s so true about their company.”

The Hendersons, who wanted to retain as much of the home’s original wood trim as possible, were particularly impressed with how important woodworking was to the Covenant team. “We were definitely on the same page there, just how meticulous they were. Their attention to detail was amazing.”

Before the plans were finalized, Hardy brought in his engineers, so they could do all the calculations to ensure there would be no surprises.

“Fortunately, we were able to do a bit of opening and looking at

things ahead of time because no one was living in the house.”

The house, built in 1926, was basically original. Hardy says it had had a little facelift in the late ‘70s-early ‘80s. “But other than that, no walls had ever been moved, it was all the original framing, the original plaster, so we didn’t have that traditional old house that’s had umpteen different renovations where everybody has cut a little bit of something.”

The current renovations included removing a load-bearing wall so the kitchen could be relocated where the dining room had been, while the family room, sunroom and a bathroom were also redone.

~ Continued on page 47 44 Lifestyle July/August 2021

YOUR PROJECT STARTS HERE

ATWOOD | EXETER | HANOVER | LONDON | MITCHELL | SEAFORTH STRATHROY | TILLSONBURG | ZURICH

moffattandpowell.ca moffattandpowell.ca

FROM TEARS TO TRIUMPH ~ Continued from page 44

after

RIGHT AND BELOW As with many renovations of older homes, the bathroom needed updating. It now suits the growing family and serves their needs as a space that is as attractive as it is functional.

BEFORE

BEFORE TOP The former sunroom is now a light, bright kid-friendly play space. The family lived in a trailer on the property during the renovation, so this is a welcome change.

“

after

We asked them why they were called Covenant Construction, and Craig said it was because a covenant is stronger than a contract.”

The family has now been in their renovated home for a year and Kristen says everything has worked out well.

“Everything is flowing the way I wanted – and then some.”

Kristen says the new design elements have addressed little things she did not think of at the time, such as features that are important for young families.

For example, she does not need baby locks on her cupboards. “They’re all so smooth the kids that are young enough can’t get into them. The same with the drawer design they picked out for the convenience of my children and me, having the plastic stuff down below and the glass stuff up top. The bench seat is amazing.”

Hardy says the experience, overall, was good for the Covenant team, too.

“Not only for the staff who physically worked on that job, but everyone picked up pieces everywhere else so we could fit this in. There were a lot of hoops for everybody, but our entire team really pulled together.” n

● FOR MORE INFORMATION • COVENANT CONSTRUCTION • 105 Bessemer Road, Unit 15 • 519-473-1500 • www.covenantconstruction.ca July/August 2021 Lifestyle 47

All that’s old is new again

travelstyle

CINEMATIC ENJOYMENT EMPHASIZES SAFETY

By Janis Wallace

I

t’s one of the touchstones of summer fun – the drive-in theatre. These days a drive-in movie provides a way to enjoy some entertainment safely under the stars.

“It’s families, kids and a relaxed atmosphere,” says Allan P. Barnes, owner of the Starlite Drive-in of Grand Bend. “It’s different than indoors. There’s no COVID here.

You can be as active as you want or stay in your car. You can walk the dog, take the kids to the playground and see one or two movies, bring your own food. It’s laid-back.”

Barnes, who owns another drive-in in Hamilton as well as an indoor theatre, says each drive-in has its own personality and audience. “In Grand Bend it’s generally families.

It’s community. You’re not huddled in the dark watching. It’s more welcoming, more family-friendly.”

That audience dictates his choice of movies to run. Animated films are

top attractions. Barnes has learned from experience. After graduating from film school, he said there wasn’t much production happening, but plenty on the exhibition side of the business.

Of five Hamilton drive-ins, four closed the same year. He saw the business opportunity and bought the remaining one. The Starlite in Grand Bend was purchased in the late ‘80s.

Over the years, technology has advance significantly, enhancing the experience. Barnes said the drive-in has gone from cast-off to prime choice,

especially after the pandemic. The type of movie that draws the family audience in Grand Bend hasn’t changed though.

When he bought the theatre, Barnes thought it would attract teens. “Was I wrong. The customer showed me the error of my ways by not coming. On a long weekend, I showed Incredible Journey by chance. It sold out. So, I give them what they want.”

Two movies are shown each night: family fare first, followed by one aimed more at adults. About 50 percent of the audience stays for both. It’s a great way to entertain the kids for a couple of hours, says Barnes.

In the summer of 2020, about 100 of the 300-car capacity turned out regularly. A typical visit involves taking the young ones to the playground, having something to eat at the picnic tables and settling in to watch the first feature.

“Always make the customer happy and they will come back,” says Barnes. n

● FOR MORE INFORMATION • STARLITE DRIVE-IN • 36, 752 Crediton Road, Grand Bend • 519-238-8344 www.starlitedriveintheatre.com/GrandBend.html

ROAD TRIP

VISIT COWBELL BREWING’S FAMILY-FRIENDLY DESTINATION CRAFT BREWERY, LOCATED IN BLYTH. OUR FULLY-ACCESSIBLE RESTAURANT HAS INDOOR AND OUTDOOR SEATING, COME FOR A VIST! SHOP COWBELL ONLINE AT STORE.COWBELLBREWING.COM July/August 2021 Lifestyle 49

bestlife Jessie Rodger, Anova’s executive director, speaks to audiences about ending genderbased violence. inset: Anova’s shelter on Wellington Road.

HOPE FOR A WORLD FREE OF FEAR

By Ellen Ashton-Haiste

ANOVA SERVES WOMEN IN NEED A nova, in astronomical terms, can signal the death of a star.

Anova, formed through the merger of London’s Women’s Community House with the Sexual Assault Centre London, has adopted the name as a metaphor to signal hope for the death of gender-based violence in society. “The idea is that we would like to not exist one day, that there will be no need for a woman to have to go into a shelter,” says executive director Jessie Rodger. “That’s our big pie-in-the-sky dream. It’s not likely going to happen in my lifetime, but I hope our actions and the work we do get us closer.”

50 Lifestyle July/August 2021

That work encompasses the services previously established by the merging organizations, plus some added enhancements. These include two shelters and Second Stage Housing (medium security) accommodation for women and children, as well as a 24-hour crisis and support line, counselling and community outreach.

Anova also manages Mine 101, a thrift store in the Bellwood Plaza on Oxford Street East. It specializes in second-hand women’s clothing, accessories and jewellery, including premium brands, to help women look their best at a reasonable price.

Rodger is seeing signs that lead her to believe that their work is

advancing their end goal.

When she started with the organization in 2019, she found herself often explaining how the formerly separate entities were now under one umbrella while still providing the same services. “I find I have to do that less now, which I see as an indicator that people are starting to embrace who we are and the new identity that we have,” she says.

It’s a message that she continues to communicate to community partners as well as in lobbying all levels of government. She is pleased with the results of those efforts, particularly at the municipal level.

“The City of London is the first municipality in the country to have

Anova also manages Mine 101, a thrift store in the Bellwood Plaza on Oxford Street East.

It specializes in second-hand women’s clothing, accessories and jewellery, including premium brands, to help women look their best, at a reasonable price. a pillar in its strategic plan for keeping women and girls safe. We live in a city that takes this seriously and that’s super exciting for us.”

But the biggest part of the messaging is reaching the people who need assistance and to the general public to create awareness of the breadth of services Anova offers. “This is something that touches everybody,” Rodger says. “Everyone knows somebody who has experienced some sort of gender-based violence so it shouldn’t be a taboo subject but something people can talk about.

And know we have lots of services to help them.”

It is also important to break the stereotypes that exist regarding those who experience violence, she says.

“It’s everywhere in the community, in every socio-economic bracket and in every educational level. So, if someone needs help, we’re here.”

A major part of the Anova message, she says, is to make sure people are not hesitant to reach out for fear they will not be believed. “There’s no questioning, no investigating. If someone is experiencing this, we’re going to

Mine 101 is one of Anova's fundraising efforts to support women through two shelters and Second Stage Housing, as well as a 24-hour crisis and support line, counselling and community outreach.

believe them and work to make sure they get whatever is needed.”

In addition to creating awareness, a big need for Anova is physical donations, like clothing and items for children who are also key recipients of the services.

It has been difficult during the COVID lockdowns as physical donations were restricted. With those restrictions lifted, a new donation centre on Wellington Road, at the former Golden Grill site, will be welcoming donors with their offerings. n

● FOR MORE INFORMATION • ANOVA • 225 Horton Street East • 519-642-3003 • 24-Hour Crisis and Support Line: 519-642-3000/800-265-1576 www.anovafuture.org July/August 2021 Lifestyle 51

bestlife

WHERE THE

wild things are SALTHAVEN OFFERS HOPE AND HEALING

By Janis Wallace ABOVE Brian Salt started Salthaven on a smaller property near London and has expanded to two locations to give rescued wildlife a fresh start.

52 Lifestyle July/August 2021

When you get right down to it, wildlife and people are not so different. We all heal better, faster when our mental health is healthy. We thrive when given good care.

Those elements make Salthaven Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Centre a resounding success – for animals and people.

With one location outside Strathroy, Ontario and another near Regina, Saskatoon, Brian Salt’s mission to heal, release and free is making the world a better place one injured or ill animal at a time. The centre’s name indicates its two-fold purpose: to

save animals and teach people. The education starts with what he calls the apple core effect: You toss an apple core to the side of the road, thinking it’s organic, can be eaten by wildlife. But it draws them close to the road at great risk. Better to compost the core at home.

The second lesson is feeding wildlife. No bread for waterfowl for example. Autopsies show geese and ducks have died of emaciation with a full stomach – full of indigestible bread. Another lesson: put yogurt and peanut butter jars in the blue box, well rinsed

and/or cut. Narrow-headed animals, such as racoons can get their heads stuck and starve or be hit by a vehicle.

“It’s the little things,” says Salt. “I get a great deal of satisfaction helping people understand how they can make the world a better place.” He recommends if you’re out walking and see trash, pick it up, take it home and throw it in the garbage.

Along the river, fishing line and hooks are a big threat. “You’re saving a life. It doesn’t get any simpler than that.”

At the Strathroy Salthaven, two fulltime volunteers take rescue calls from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. – from 50 to 150 each day - about many more animals than can be admitted. Salthaven takes in 25 patients each year and rehabilitates them with the help of clinical volunteers.

Normally, 120 volunteers assist; last year the pandemic reduced the number to 30.

“We still had as many calls.”

Last year, Salthaven moved to Glen Oak Road. “The new facility is a real godsend,” says Salt. From their early days in a former chicken coop and some tents, the non-profit organization now sits on 25 acres, five of which are wooded, with a pond, clinic, house, greenhouse, pre-release cages, two shipping containers (one to store food, the other for the creative maintenance team to develop solutions), a mews and a flight pen (former greenhouse) for exercise.

When an animal arrives, it is diagnosed and weighed; its wounds are cleansed, and it's given necessary medications. This all happens in the triage room, which is adjacent to the lab. These are housed in what used to be two tobacco kilns. This

clinical area is divided into mammal, avian and bat housing. It includes a food storage and prep area and laundry facilities. The rooms have windows so that those touring are able to see in (when that is again allowed). There are strict protocols for sanitizing after every shift, as well as for recording feeding and medication dosages. There are special lights that change frequency and strength, as well as mechanical systems that regulate humidity. Wooden hoods, or boxes, create a safe, dark place for raptors.

A raised tub lets waterfowl dive for tadpoles. A sprinkler system cools the mews with mist when they become too hot for the birds who are nearing release.

The bat squad comes each evening to clean cages, replenish food and water and let the bats into the flight pen.

Special needs are met, such as antlers for rodents to gnaw and develop their teeth. An enrichment table corrals an odd assortment of brain teasers. A muffin tin with tennis balls encourages hunting under the balls for food. An empty paper towel roll is used to hide a mouse for raptors to tease out for a meal. “We encourage natural behaviour,” says Salt. “And we don’t give them something more than twice. Enrichment is really important.”

Outside, there is plenty to inspire animals and people. Part of the property was a nursery in a previous permutation, so it is populated with rare paperbark maple, Kentucky coffee, wild cherry and Carolinian forest natives, such as pawpaw and larches. These are identified by plaques installed by Fanshawe College students.

A herd of wild deer roam the woods. Salt says when a recovered fawn was released there, a doe came over and nursed it. “It doesn’t get any better than that.”

Much of the education is done by the patients and a few recovered birds and snakes. Shikoba, a red-tailed hawk; Chaukar, a lagger falcon; and Spirit, a bald eagle have become adept at giving lessons.

Salt says the stories of each animal – why and how they came to Salthaven, the process of their struggle and recovery – are important to share. Though the pandemic eliminated the 75 yearly visits to schools, long-term care and organizations, they revamped programs and moved to virtual delivery. “It took off.

We’ve been able to reach places we had not been able to before.”

A community garden tended by volunteers provides food for the animals and people. It’s one of the steps to selfsufficiency. Bee hives add pollination.

Solar panels provide all the electricity for the house and clinic.

Anyone interested in volunteering needs to commit to two shifts per week so he/ she can become familiar with the animals.

Interviews are conducted in January.

“Education is very important,” says Salt. “What I want to do more than educate is to inspire. I want to educate people about the plight of wildlife and what they can do in their own backyard.” n

● FOR MORE INFORMATION, TO DONATE OR VOLUNTEER www.salthaven.org

WAREHOUSE 74 1737 RICHMOND ST - UNIT 101

MADE IN CANADA

warehouse74.com July/August 2021 Lifestyle 53

bizlife

Life in three dimensions

Render 3D Quick gives the full picture

Exterior and interior renderings by Render 3D Quick.

By Ellen Ashton-Haiste

S

eeing is believing, and that is what Render 3D Quick offers. Their renderings of everything from office complexes and condo towers to home renovation projects show clients exactly what their project will look like down to the smallest detail.

“We make pictures of a property before it’s built that are photorealistic, so while the property doesn’t yet exist, it looks like it does,” says co-owner and customer support specialist Alex Smith. This, he says, can speed up the sales process, creating interest before the build is completed.

While builders, developers and real estate professionals make up a large component of Render 3D Quick’s clientele, Smith says homeowners seek-

ing to renovate often make use of the service. “We do a lot of renderings for people who want to redo their kitchen or their living room, or they’re putting an extension on their home, and they want to see what their ideas will look like before they go ahead,” Smith says.

Clients send photos of the existing space and other illustrations indicating how they envision the final result.

The design staff produces renderings of different set-ups and arrangements of furnishings, materials and colours.

“Then they go shopping with it,” Smith says. “They take it to contractors and ask what it would cost to make their room look like that.”

This is particularly useful when a room, such as a kitchen, is going to be completely gutted and rebuilt, he says.

“They see what it’s going to look like

with new cabinetry, new countertops, flooring and appliances.”

Smith says the cost for the rendering, usually less than $500, can be well worth it, saving on the overall project.

“How often does it happen that you start a job thinking you want a certain paint and when it’s half done you realize you don’t really like the colour,” he says. “When you’re putting $20,000 into your kitchen, for an average $300 you have a basis to show the people doing the work.”

Launched on a small scale in 2012, Toronto-based Render 3D Quick has grown to encompass a staff of more than 50. It serves 19,000-plus clients across North America and around the world. n

● FOR MORE INFORMATION • RENDER 3D QUICK • 877-350-3490 • www.render3dquick.com 54 Lifestyle July/August 2021

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