Mint Experience Winnipeg March 2021

New Outlook Wealth DISCOVER THE WOW IN NOW Wintering in Winnipeg The Local Dish The Mint Experience Winnipeg VOL 1 ISS 1 2021

Introducing

What is

The Mint Experience is a local magazine that strives to entertain, inform and connect with the Winnipeg community. We truly aim at being an outlet who really cares and nurtures the people who we are fortunate enough to work with and share their stories with our readers.

The Mint Experience

We want to create an experience that can be shared and felt through the pages of our magazine no matter where you are. Our goal at The Mint Experience is to inspire our readers with fresh, smart content. For the foodie, we vow to share great local spots and refreshing beverages.

We strive to look and feel our best with fabulous accessories, all things home and well, life. Diverse in culture and local talent, we highlight extraordinary people, innovative entrepreneurs and the latest musthave finds. Our readers savour and then save each issue to have on hand at the lake or when making reservations at the best restaurants. Our articles are crafted with authenticity for people living right here in Winnipeg.

Join us as we shine a positive light and learn about everything that Winnipeg has to offer.

Visit our website to keep updated on insights, expertise and events from our local influencers and business community.

www.mintmarketingexperience.ca

Subscribe to the Mint Experience Receive this local premiere print right to your mailbox! Visit our website for more details.

The Mint Experience Winnipeg MB Brandon MB

s n p I i r e atio h T Be you would like to see n in the world.

Robin Chant

NEW BOOK PROMO!

“Robin you book blew me away. It’s powerful, it shifted my thinking and opened me up to other possibilities. There were a lot of “light bulbs going on” moments. I’m going to start using more of these tools you’ve shared. Thank you! What a gift this book is?!”

“OMG it is so what I needed to read at this point in my life! I totally love the Center of the Circle!!!

Thank you for this book, and sharing your wisdom and journey with us. Everyone needs to ready this book!”

204.573.5275 ArtOfChoosingYou.com

FIRST WORD From Editor in Chief

JAMIE WILLEY

Volume 1 Issue 1, February 2021 Publisher Mint Marketing Experience Inc.

Editor Jamie Willey

Graphic Designer Ghislaine Moffitt

Writer Hunter Ploszay

Contributing Writers

Challenge your boundaries ast year has taught us about what is important, and what is possible. Our walls came down, we were pushed out of our comfort zones and we discovered what we were missing.

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The pandemic has redefined us, new ideas and new courage flowed as a result. Our cover story shows us how it is possible to say “I can build it another way, I can do it another way”.

Let us shape this year to be the year of experiences and connections. Read all about New Outlook Wealth, our cover feature, how they are set to disrupt the financial industry and create a business that thrives on their client’s needs. The Winnipeg community has come together to create a wonderful gathering place where we can all build new memories and turn winter into a fabulous season. Our restaurants have been the backbone of our city, offering a place where we would go to share important milestones or casual get togethers. They have faced challenges and we are proud to feature and support the food artists in the pages of Mint.

This year, let’s make the most of our relationships and our strengths. I challenge everyone – never forget this lesson, push your boundaries, create new opportunities, nurture your relationships, take care of your soul.

Shelby Wood Kim Raaikamakers Michael van Lierop Cassandra Jamieson Patent 5 Distillery

Photographer Studio 78

Cover Photo Studio 78

PRINT ADVERTISING & DIGITAL MARKETING INQUIRIES Liam Tkach liam@mintmarketingexperience.ca 204-791-4614 FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITIES Jamie Willey jamie@mintmarketingexperience.ca 204-721-1296 mintmarketingexperience.ca The Mint Experience is published by Mint Marketing Experience Inc. The Mint Experience Winnipeg is published 5 times per calendar year. Articles and art may not be reprinted without written permission from the Publisher. Mint Marketing Experience Inc assumes no responsibility to return any unsolicited editorial or graphic material. Mint Marketing Experience Inc. considers its sources reliable and verifies as much data as possible, although reporting inaccuracies can occur; consequently readers using this information should do so at their own risk.

Mint Marketing Experience Inc. 29 10th Street Unit R Brandon, MB R7A 4S7

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CONTENTS 8 20 39 52

IN THIS ISSUE 8

Fashion

12

Wellness

20

Eats & Drinks

34

House & Home

36

Local Culture

FEATURES 20

The Local Dish

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Cover Story: New Outlook Wealth

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Wintering In Winnipeg

The Mint Experience Winnipeg

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CONTRIBUTORS IN THIS ISSUE

JAMIE WILLEY Born and raised in Manitoba, Jamie comes from a long line of entrepreneurs.

Owner of Studio 78 Lofts, and Editor in Chief of The Mint Experience, Jamie has a soft spot for the fearless business community. Combining her creative photography talents with her business roots, she is proudly bringing stories and inspiration with Westman’s best magazine. Jamie has a love for cooking, and of course delicious wines. She is very proud of her two boys, Braden and Nate, who never cease to amaze her with their wit, humour and compassion.

CASSANDRA JAMIESON Cassandra is the owner of McPhail Travel Brandon, a full service, licensed and insured travel agency that has been operating since 1980. Her passion is assisting clients in creating their dream vacations by providing advice, inspiration and expertise with over 11 years of experience in the industry. Her newest business endeavor is the first ever Staycation Box! An artesian gift box, bringing a vacation to you. Born and raised on a small acreage near Glenboro, Cassandra has a passion for spending time outdoors and playing sports in the local community. She has two young children and a husband who she enjoys sharing adventures with.

HUNTER PLOZSAY Hunter Paxton Ploszay is a resident of Garden City in Winnipeg. Raised predominantly in Stonewall, Manitoba, Hunter was an ALL-Star goalie with the Stonewall Jets of the MMJHL who won their first league championship in 2016. Hunter was playoff MVP that year and garnered League MVP Goalie in 2017. Hunter is a goaltending teacher with Tailor Goaltending and an Assistant Coach/Goalie Coach with the Charleswood Hawks of the MMJHL. As an employee of Magikist High Pressure Pumps, Hunter is also a contributing sportswriter for Scott Taylor’s Game On Magazine covering MJHL, MMJHL, and the MWJHL.

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MICHAEL VAN LIEROP Michael van Lierop is President & Founder of New Outlook Wealth, a Manitobabased wealth & advisory firm that brings financial planning and low investment management fees to all Canadians, regardless of their wallet size. Visit their website at www.newoutlook.ca to learn more and to find an advisor!

KIM RAAIJMAKERS Kim is a transformation life coach who helps mothers re-discover their self-identity so they can fall in love with their life again and can become unapologetic about their passions, purpose and life. Kim became a coach after being corporate professional for 20+ years, through a journey of self-discovery and reconnecting with her dreams, passions and purpose. She is also busy raising 2 highly energetic and curious kids.

Reach out through her website at www.kimraaijmakers.com or send an email to info@kimraaijmakers.com to have a chat.

PATENT 5 DISTILLERY Patent 5 Distillery consists of many talented individuals. Dinah Santos, pharmacist, parent, and keen salesperson -- Dinah wears many hats! She can often be found at the helm representing us at markets and events. Brock Coutts, a craft beer enthusiast and home brewer with a chemistry degree. Mike Borgford, a true engineer and problem solver by nature, he can often be found puzzling over devices and their functions.

Mike McCallum, an entrepreneur and former business development expert, Mike McCallum is a Montreáler turned Winnipegger. All together bring the life in to the sprit of gin at Patent 5 Distillery. www.patent5.ca

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FASHION & BEAUTY

Who are you getting dressed for?

BY MINT FASHION

As we near our 1 year WFH anniversary, are we still coordinating our tees with sweats just to feel like ourselves? For many of us, we need a daily dose of inspiration to stay creative and that comes from how we start our days. Getting dressed and keeping your same pre-quarantine routine, following the same schedule as was the norm, can prompt our brain to stay on track.

Whether we are working at the office or multitasking emails from our living room office, give the impression that regardless of where we are stationed, there’s no difference in our workethic. The best way to relay this message is to keep a polished look – even if it’s slightly more relaxed than it would be in person.

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The New Business Casual The unofficial dress code says not to look quite as formal, that being said, too comfortable can play with your professional image. This WFH structured blazer looks great on camera without being overstated.

Paired with high waisted pants and tuck in your favorite tank, there is no sacrificing your professional look with the comforts of home.

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Cozy & Cultured High neck blouses or sweaters are perfect on-camera options for maintaining your professional image while still feeling comfortable at home.

A winning combo like this simple chic and cozy blouse paired with a subtle pin striped blazer can take you from a day to night look - meaning from your kitchen office space right to your cozy family night on the couch.

However you want to wear this set, there is a powerful feel to it.

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Professionally Pink Add to the fun and brightness with this clean and classic look. This perfect shade of pink, flattering and lightweight dress will boost your confidence no matter the task at hand. We love the loose sleeve length and how the faux pockets and buttons add the right amount of detail.

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WELLNESS

CHOOSE YOUR PATH AND DON’T LOOK BACK

BY HUNTER PLOSZAY

problem people of all ages face is staying true to themselves and their real passions out of fear of ridicule and not being accepted by their group of friends and family. Life catches up with us and our life decisions start to sway between practicality and inner happiness. Robin Chant’s new book The Art of Choosing You: Tools to Radically Shift Your Thinking is a personal journey to finding yourself and making deep connections with those around you.

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Robin Chant is a Brandon, MB, fire-fighter - paramedic and humanitarian. After many years of fighting fires

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and helping people who are injured and sick, The Art of Choosing You will put out internal fires, strife and help one’s self heal.

Robin knew she was different from her group of friends.

While her friends would gossip about superficial nonsense and talk about their marriages and children, Robin was constantly subdued with incoming interrogations about why she wasn’t on the same family path as her group. The truth is Robin didn’t want a husband and kids like her so called friends. She actually believed that meant something was wrong with her—until she found energy healing!

“Once you Choose You, Anything is Possible” - Robin Chant As Robin was volunteering the Red Cross in Puerto Rico, she met someone that told her she wasn’t wrong for making a choice of not desiring children – she was finally honoured for her choices and it was a turning point for her. From this experience she came home from volunteering and set up to re-discover her before she allowed judgment from others to stop her and what she desired to create in her life.

This led her to discover Energy / Holistic Healing which looks at every aspect of you and your life for overall health. In one of the many courses she took, she was introduced to the concept of the circle theory which shows what judgment is and isn’t and how much it limits our lives. She finally was able to choose herself beyond judgment and start creating a life she desired.

She started her practice and helped many clients in such intimate ways that allowed herself to grow and step more into her potency. She then dove into teaching many different energy / holistic healing modalities that are all about letting go of your limitations and moving towards choosing you without judgment.

Her new passion created her to have more confidence in who she was. She even flew half-way around the world

and climbed Kilimanjaro. In 2001, she volunteered for 3 weeks with the Red Cross at Ground Zero. This allowed her to step more into the strength of her – which the circle theory is all about.

After many years of seeing clients and teaching students all around North America, she wrote a book filled with tools, tips and questions that she wished each and everyone of the clients & students had. What if you never judged you again? The book; The Art of Choosing You: Tools to Radically Shift Your Life, invites you to get to know you without judgment and of not being right or wrong and how connecting to your 4 main aspects of you allows you to create a deeper connection to yourself and others.

“There is no positive and negative judgments, only interesting points of view.” - Robin Chant

Robin Chant robin@artofchoosingyou.com www.artofchoosingyou.com /artofchoosingyou /artofchoosingyou

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Because your quality of life matters

“Our Family taking care of Your Family!”

Our caregivers are qualified and trained to provide support for individuals living with Alzheimers, Parkinsons, MS and ALS. We want to assure you that you will feel confident, safe and loved with our compassionate caregivers.

Our Services • • • • • • •

Self & Family Managed Care Caring Campanionship Transportation Personal Care Meals & Food Health Management Home Making

VIP Home Care Inc. provides loving and supportive non-medical care to seniors and others with special needs. We are committed to helping you remain in the comfort and safety of your own home with the goal of assisting you to stay active and engaged in life. We provide respite and support for the family giving them the peace of mind they need to enjoy their lives! We stand by our motto of “Our Family taking care of Your Family!”

We are in regular communication and offer flexible scheduling and there are no standard shifts; we are here for you whenever you need us! We strive to provide a consistent and personalized schedule to allow both our clients and caregivers an enjoyable and successful relationship! We work for YOU. VIP Home Care Inc. continues to provide care and support during these difficult times. We are taking all precautions in order to keep our Clients and Caregivers safe.

VIP Homecare

144-99 Scurfield Blvd Winnipeg, MB 204-504-4077 info@viphomecare.ca www.viphomecare.ca

Pandemic fatigue Are you surviving or thriving?

BY KIM RAAIJMAKERS

How can you go from fatigued and stressed to continuing to live your life even while in the midst of a pandemic?

9 months of anxiety, stress, constant vigilance, changing health protocols and guidelines. Add in cold and flu season, and you may be feeling more anxiety with every cough, sneeze and running nose. It is exhausting.

Without a doubt 2020 has definitely handed us a variety of challenges.

You are exhausted because of the stress overload that your body and brain have been experiencing this past year.

The best description I’ve seen was by Tara Haelle in an article on Medium in August 2020. In it she describes our current circumstance as: “your ‘surge capacity’ is depleted — it’s why you feel awful”. Think of the surge protectors you have your computer connected to for power. When there is an electrical surge the surge protector will block the electric overload and protect your computer from damage. Our brains are also built to protect us from high periods of stress – but only for short periods of times!

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With this pandemic, we not only have a large disaster, it is a long endurance of a disaster. Our brains were not built to sustain this over the long term. Also as a virus, we can’t see it and that makes taking action difficult.

We are unable to go into problem solving mode, taking action. So we are left in the limbo of stress.

So how do you protect yourself and go on living your life even in the midst of the pandemic?

1. Choose the words you use to describe how your feel and your situation carefully. In the beginning, I would say – I am quarantining at home, I’m in self-isolation.

This creates and embeds the idea of separation and loss. Now I say – ‘I’m staying safe at home’. So often we create extensive stories (both good and bad) about what is happening to make ourselves feel better. Challenge these stories, make sure they are serving you and lifting you up.

We are able to handle short bursts of high stress, such as in a natural disaster; think back the reaction and response to the floods in June 2020. Yes we are stressed but we rally and take action.

2. Talk about how you are feeling with someone you trust. If you don’t express your feelings, you don’t feel better, and your feelings stay festering in your mind and body. Over time these repressed feelings will be expressed in any number of ways through your body.

Either with you becoming ill, burnt out or worse. It is ok to take the time to grieve the loss of special moments, experiences you had looked forward to, traditions that have had to change.

With this pandemic, it is both a natural disaster AND a prolonged invisible threat. Our brains are not created to handle this level of stress for the long term – i.e. our surge protector no longer has capacity to protect us.

3. Focus on activities that will replenish your emotional and mental resilience, i.e. your ‘surge protector’. This can be getting extra sleep, start a larger project at home you have put off, getting exercise, eat healthy.

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4. Focus on what is going well, or the experiences you have gained in this time.

Remember: What you focus on expands!

Yes this pandemic can be crappy, and if that is your focus, that is all you will see and experience. If you look for the great experiences and advantages, you will see more of them!

5. Lower the expectations of yourself – especially if you are a high achiever.

Be gentle with yourself and know that there will be good days and bad days. Recognize that this is a different time, so the old rules and expectations no longer apply.

You can allow the pandemic and all the changes and risks overwhelm you. Becoming exhausted by the limitations and fears that wash over you.

OR you can choose to adapt, change and become stronger in spite of the adversity.

Either option is a choice that you make.

Feel the power of knowing you have the CHOICE!

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Business Profile | Brickhouse Gym

Winnipeg’s Neighborhood Gym You’ve been stuck inside for months, doing what you can to stay active, but let’s be honest: that’s no easy feat when you’re left to your own devices. If you’ve been telling yourself for months, “I need to get moving, I want to get healthier,” then you’re not alone.

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At Brickhouse Gym we hear you loud and clear! We know that movement is key to feeling better – both physically and mentally – and we also know that it’s hard to stay on track alone. That’s why we’re here to help you get moving, get active, or even just get started.

Small, incremental changes add up to massive improvements over time. So, by deciding to take the first step toward a more active lifestyle, you’re taking back control of your health and well-being!

You deserve to feel good again.

And look, we know Rome wasn’t built in a day, so that’s why Brickhouse is here to help you carry the load, stacking brick after brick and building the foundation for a better life.

At Brickhouse you’ll get 24/7 access to an incredible range of equipment and machines at multiple locations.

From cardio machines to lifting platforms, strongman equipment, free weights, weight machines, and ample room to do your own body weight or mobility work, we have everything you need to start feeling strong.

We offer student and senior rates, as well as special rates for first responders and military personnel. Our trainers specialize in a variety of health and fitness goals, and our gyms offer the welcoming, resultsdriven environment you need to achieve those goals.

Now is the time to prioritize yourself and build the strength your body needs to handle anything life throws at you!

All that’s left is to register!

Visit www.brickhousegym.ca and sign up today.

See you at the gym.

Brickhouse Gym 2 locations in Winnipeg 104 King Edward St E 418 Gertrude Ave 204-729-6712 brickhousegym.ca

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Local Food FEATURE

THE LOCAL DISH Local is so much more than a place.

It’s the people, businesses, cultures, flavours, diversity, values, ingredients, history and foods. It’s a community and collective of voices and ideas.

That’s what makes supporting local so special.

Supporting local is more than a slogan. It’s a way of life.

Let’s get back to living.

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deer + almond

The deer + almond experience Great food, fun times and building a strong community in the Exchange District.

Whether popping up at Rainbow Trout festival in July, or on the frozen river in February, we are committed to keeping food fun, fantastic and gourmet.

Mandel Hitzer, chef and owner Daniel King, general manager Emily Butcher, chef de cuisine

deer + almond 85 Princess St. 204-504-8562 www.deerandlalmond.com

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Bistro Dansk

Our cozy and charming restaurant will allow you to experience Denmark, from the atmosphere to the delightful meals, where every dish is prepared from fresh ingredients daily. Once you have tasted our superb, baked fresh daily baguette, you will know you are in the right place!

Family owned and run for 32 years!

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Bistro Dansk 63 Sherbrook St. 204-775-5662 www.bistrodansk.com Bistro Dansk Restaurant @bistrodansk

East India Company

Our Garam Masala — a fine blend of spices roasted and ground to make the base to our most classic and flavourful curries — is a Mehra family recipe that dates back five generations and distinguishes our dishes from all others. It is our commitment to providing outstanding North Indian dishes, and our family’s dedication to creating an open and friendly atmosphere that sets our restaurants apart.

East India Company 349 York Ave. 204-955-9797 sachitmehra@eastindiaco.com www.eastindiaco.com

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Upscale

CANADIAN DISHES

showcased in a rustic-chic, candlelit setting with a hidden entrance. by

SouSSol

APPETIZER Beef Tartare

Sous Sol opened in the summer of 2015 by two chefs and a bartender.

Manitoba beef tenderloin, egg yolk, horseradish, Worcestershire, Dijon, cornichons, capers, shallots, house made French bread

The concept was inspired by bistros of Paris and speakeasies of Chicago, an experience that would make you feel like you weren't in Winnipeg, Manitoba for a few hours. We serve French inspired cuisine with a focus on local ingredients.

The menu is paired along a French wine list, showcasing the variety of grapes, styles and flavours all found within the country of France. Our bar specializes in craft cocktails, and we have a passion for tropical flavours, which emphasizes the escapism of the restaurant. The dinner and drink menu is considered monthly, so it is constantly evolving with new flavours and creations.

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SIDE Potatoes Dauphinoise Sauce soubise, truffle oil, paprika, dill

MAIN Winkler Boar Tenderloin White wine braised cabbage, house made Italian sausage, sauce Robert, basil pistou

DESSERT Crème Caramel Baked custard, caramel, berries

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What to sip UNDER THE BLACK AWNING by

SouSSol

Domaine Le Roc "Ninette" Rosé Grapes: Négrette, Syrah Region: Fronton AOC, France Powerful rosé made from the dark skinned Négrette grape, which has the body to withstand heavier courses.

Dry, well balanced acidity and loaded with notes of strawberry on the nose, and herbaceous notes on the palette. A versatile wine that pairs well with lighter beef dishes, game, pork or seafood.

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Domaine L'Or de Line Grapes: Grenache Mourvèdre Syrah Region: Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC, Southern Rhône, France Concentrated red wine on the medium side of full bodied Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Very soft tannins, aromas of flowers and blueberries. Palette has flavours of cherries, spice and savoury mushrooms. No too heavy, as to compliment the beef tartare without overpowering the subtle flavour of the beef. The soft tannins balance the richness of the boar tenderloin, and are rounded out by the hint of acidity in the sauce Robert.

SousSol Unit 22 - 222 Osborne Street Winnipeg, Manitoba monsieur@soussolosborne.com www.soussolosborne.com

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An Entrepreneur with strong network makes money even when he is asleep.

JOIN OUR Tribes of Investors, Entrepreneurs, Executives & Leaders, Industry Influencers, Community Leaders & C-Suite Professionals About the CYNDICATE Family Joint Ventures, Referrals, Learning, Support System, Training, Perks Card Etc. are the ways our members benefit Broad and supportive, CYNDICATE leverages the collective effort of its members to educate, motivate and empower each other, utilizing its collective member power to help build strong relationships and community.

Each CYNDICATE tribe is comprised of up to 3 business professionals per industry/category and each chapter meets on a regular basis.

Tribe meetings (face-to-face or online) allow for open networking or “meet and greet” time, speakers, one-minute business commercials/ elevator commercials, education, community building, and most importantly, referrals! We are looking for business professionals who are excited about growing their business and helping those in their chapter grow as well!

Cyndicate 204-721-1296 jamie@mintmarketingexperience.ca cyndicate.org

For more information about the Winnipeg Tribe launching in April, contact Jamie Willey | jamie@mintmarketingexperience.ca | 204-721-1296

Mint to be …

BY PATENT 5 DISTILLERY

Gin cocktails often become classics for a very good reason. Patent 5 has a real love affair with gin. Gin’s blend of juniper, coriander, citrus peel and botanical notes is a playground of flavor to work with.

Mint Gun

“An elegant and refreshing

tropical cocktail with a bright,

minty finish. Created specially for the Mint Experience"

1.5 oz Patent 5 Elettaria spiced gin 0.75 oz peppermint schnapps 0.5 oz simple syrup 2 oz pineapple juice 0.25 oz fresh lime juice 1 dash Peychaud’s bitters Method: Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker and shake hard with ice for 15 seconds. Strain into a stemmed cocktail glass and garnish with a fresh mint leaf.

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Patent 5 Distillery

Gin Fizz

“A light and floral gin fizz using Purple Blossom Gin with hints of rose and lavender and soft purple hue"

2 oz Patent 5 Purple Blossom gin 0.75 oz fresh lemon juice 0.5 oz lavender simple syrup 1 dash rose water 1 dash Ms Better’s vegan foamer Soda water Method: Combine the first five ingredients in a cocktail tin and add ice. Shake hard for 15 seconds then strain into a tall glass. Add soda water and watch the foam rise to the top of the glass. Garnish with a sprinkle of dried rose petals and serve with a straw.

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Patent 5 Distillery

Elettaria Mule

“Fiery and refreshing —

an elevated take on the

Mule cocktail with flavours of ginger and green cardamom”

2 oz Patent 5 Elettaria spiced gin 0.5 oz fresh lime juice 4 oz Jamaican ginger beer Method: Add the Elettaria and lime juice to a tall glass. Fill the glass with ice and top up with fiery Jamaican ginger beer. Garnish with a lime wheel.

Patent 5 Distillery 108 Alexander Avenue | Winnipeg, MB | 204-808-8614 | info@patent5.ca | www.patent5.ca |

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Premium spirits and craft cocktails created in the heart of Canada

ABOUT THE BAR

“Hidden in plain sight in Winnipeg’s historic Exchange District, you’ll find a cozy cocktail bar in the former Dominion Express Co building.

Outfitted with reclaimed stained glass and wood panelling from the historic Oak Room at the St Regis Hotel, Patent 5 makes use of old and new in an intimate setting

Combining culinary techniques, unusual ingredients and awardwinning spirits, the bar team has created truly unique cocktails along side a solid foundation of classics to suit all tastes.

NEW MENU

“Inspired by the great outdoors of Manitoba, 'Flora & Fauna' features ingredients both farmed and wild from our Prairie province.

Originally intended for Spring 2020, it feels an even more fitting way of honouring venturing outside after a pandemic winter spent hunkered down for the safety of ourselves and our fellow Manitobans.

A true celebration of renewed life!”

Patent 5 Distillery 108 Alexander Avenue Winnipeg, MB

204-808-8614

info@patent5.ca www.patent5.ca

HOUSE & HOME

Simple changes for a Stunning

2021 HOME

BY MINT MARKETING

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The upcoming year is all about the new, the old, and anything in between.

In short, it’s about taking in everything good from the past and welcoming new trends. We’ve come up with a few but impactful interior designs to capture a home’s personality and create a visually delicious interior for the upcoming 2021.

Marine or Urban Hues.

The Year 2021 brings an interesting selection of color palettes from our paint specialists and we’ve selected two fresh colors of the year, the Aegean Teal 2136-40 by Benjamin Moore and Urbane Bronze SW 7048

by Sherwin-Williams.

Serene, chic, and relevant, these colors are the perfect formula to add a zing to your home. For your white walls spice it up throw pillows in pastel blue-green or a similarly coolly tinted curtain and rugs. Don’t forget to include botanical prints on these fabrics which are still in trend today.

Charcoal and other gray colors emerged this year and we are seeing them to be stronger and bolder than ever. This makes the Urbane Bronze the perfect color for your kitchen cabinet or add hints of the color on your window treatments or have a charcoal colored coffee table for a start and inspiration.

Haute Bohemian Touches.

For the wanderlust, this rising trend is the perfect style to kick start the new year. But first off what is Haute bohemian? If you’ve been into décor you might have come across with boho chic with its rule-breaking and exotic theme.

The common thing about Haute Bohemian and Boho Chic is that they exude personality. The difference is that Haute Bohemian is a more refined version of its distant cousin making it a perfect alternative to the stark contemporary theme. So, how do you go about it? Start with your centerpieces. Fill various sizes of apothecary jars with shells from your weekend coastal getaway and add a photo or two (evidence of your getaway) to add a personal touch.

Haven’t the time for travelling? You can still inject a touch of the world by getting Moroccan-inspired lamps or rugs through vintage shops and flea markets. Drape a world map printed on faux animal skin on your wall to fill in the void space or have it as a focal point in your living room.

A Maximalist’s Galore.

It seems maximalist interiors are driving away our beloved minimalistic tendencies with its rich colors and prints. If you love mixing layers upon layers of prints, colors, and textures, the aesthetics of excess is a great theme for your home.

Take your passion for decorative items into your home by adding delft printed sofa covers and add a floor to ceiling oriental art painting for your inspiration. Or, why not add an ottoman chair with industrial faux feather to your living room and pair it with checkered club chairs for query juxtaposition. Ultimately mix and match unusual patterns and colors together with your décor.

Norwegian Ambiance.

These days, you’ll find a lot of Scandinavian-inspired interior on Instagram and Pinterest, and the reason? The Scandi style is a cozier minimalistic alternative. It’s about letting the light in and having soft wooden textures.

Add a large mirror to lighten up your interior. Choose pine, maple, sap wooden statement pieces or, if you can swap some furniture around, select seats and lounges with tapered legs and soft wooden textures. Then finish off the look with a white-colored jute rug to anchor your interior look.

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LOCAL CULTURE

MANAGING YOUR LIFE AND BUSINESS through Covid-19

BY OREST D SERWYLO

COVID-19 has been a tumultuous change to what we once considered societal normalities— and no change is more profound than our relationships.

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To be specific—our relationships with SELF, our relationships with OTHERS and our relationships with BUSINESS.

Let’s start with our relationships with SELF. The most important relationship that you have is with yourself, your mind and your body!

We exist to experience life to the fullest. You can optimize your health and well-being by nurturing relationships with yourself and your life. Improve your health and reach your maximized potential.

Transform your relationship with life through the four pillars of health.

Pillar One - Immunity & Prevention It’s important the body has the right building blocks available in abundance to nurture and protect itself daily.

Pillar Two - Sleep & Recovery Nothing is more destructive to our mind and body as lack of sleep and the inability to relax. We can all agree that the need to relax has never been more important. Everything works better with some exercise, and checking with your doctor is essential.

Pillar Three - Pain & Anxiety When you feel better, life is more enjoyable. Reduce your pain and anxiety so you can get out and enjoy life without feeling burdened.

Pillar Four - Health & Fitness Weight management and muscle development are crucial to our health and well-being.

Choose products designed to help you create a wellrounded life filled with passion, balance, and health so you can spend quality time with those you love.

I believe that you have genius within you. Exceed your expectations through education—make sure your education platform is designed to help you be who you are meant to be.

Nourish your mind and develop your skills. Your journey of learning, growing and sharing starts now.

Ones inner prompting represents who you are—the inner voice that guides you. If you desire to learn a new skill, start a new business, create inspiration for oneself and others—those are your very own promptings—follow them.

Your relationships with OTHERS! Our mission in life should be to help people act on their promptings and reach out in kindness to others. Capture each moment with those who have made an impact on your life during these COVID-19 times—share it by a heartfelt message. Whether to say congratulations, send a message of encouragement, or just to say thank you—just act on your promptings.

I believe the gifts you give deserve to be remembered forever. Celebrate the people in your life by sending an experience that inspires the moments that matter most.

Gift an experience they will never forget.

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Your Relationships in BUSINESS. In short—get your business online and get discovered.

Your business is your story, your identity and your brand.

Spend more time building relationships with your customers and less time working on your online presence with new technology such as fully automated and AI (Artificial Intelligence).

I recommend a 3 step Marketing process.

1. Content & Social Media Marketing—Every day, find the most popular articles and videos from around the internet about your business category. Share this content on social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter to build your online brand as an expert.

2. Website, Blog & SEO—Every day add content to your website’s blog. A live blog will help build your brand, and will help you rank higher in Google search—making it easier for prospects to find you.

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3. Email Newsletter & Online Retargeting—Every day send content out in an email newsletter to your prospects to keep your business in customers minds and will automatically tag your website visitors for retargeting with online advertising.

The good news—the 3 step marketing system above can be powered by AI with a simple “drag and drop” webpage editor, email campaign automation and social media marketing automation. Marketing analytics will generate and track your leads.

Your business and time are equally important. Use technology for a streamlined and consolidated way to market your business online. This is online marketing made easy!

COVID-19 may have a silver lining—it turned our focus to our relationships and how incredibly important they are to us.

Cover FEATURE

DISCOVER THE WOW IN NOW Meet President and CEO of New Outlook Wealth, Michael van Lierop. He’s brash, opinionated and smart – and looking to disrupt the wealth management space in Canada.`

BY THE MINT EXPERIENCE PHOTOS BY STUDIO 78

The business of providing financial advice is ripe for disruption, according to New Outlook Wealth’s founder, Michael van Lierop. The Winnipeg-based entrepreneur and financial innovator is looking to dramatically improve Canadians’ access to affordable financial advice and investment management, at a time when most of the financial industry seems content to pursue and service millionaires almost exclusively.

M

There is a growing gap to be filled today, between small retail clients and the wealthiest Canadians in terms of product choice, investment management fees, and access to experienced financial planners. Using a combination

of robust financial planning in tandem with white-glove portfolio management that is typically reserved only for the wealthiest investors in Canada, New Outlook Wealth (NOW) is able to bridge this gap by bringing industryleading wealth management to all Canadians, regardless of wallet size.

The term wealth management itself is broad and it can be misleading to clients because it tries to encompass everything good financial advisors can do. As a result, it means different things to different people. “For our clients, it means providing them access to a wide range of products and services with the goal of maximizing the outcomes of our client’s financial plans,” said van Lierop.

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“The vision of NOW is to bring the very best in wealth management products and services combined with superior financial planning to all Canadians.”

- Michael van Lierop

“We are the conduit or gateway for clients to access the expertise and products they need with the guidance and support of highly experienced financial planners.”

their money. They ensure the client’s money is invested properly and safely, and we ensure the client’s financial plan is on track and that they are happy.”

One noticeable difference for clients of New Outlook Wealth is the separation of financial planning from money management. In the mutual fund business, advisors recommend funds – which are baskets of stocks and bonds – based on client risk profiles. At NOW, the money management is deliberately separated from the advisor, removing potential conflicts of interest and enhancing the overall investment experience for clients.

New Outlook Wealth refers its investing clients to three Winnipeg-based Portfolio Management (PM) firms.

Clients’ investments are managed directly by a Portfolio Manager inside Separately Managed Accounts (SMAs), where client’s money is invested according to their wishes and guided by the specific knowledge and portfolio preferences of each PM firm.

“Having your very own Portfolio Manager is a very special experience,” explained van Lierop. “Our advisors team up with a Portfolio Manager – so our clients get to speak directly with the person in charge of managing 40

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“We like to say that Separately Managed Accounts (SMAs) are the cooked-to-order filet mignon steak dinner when compared to mutual funds, which can resemble off-the-shelf fast food,” stated Crysler Jamieson, Vice President - Investments. “Ironically, our clients can have

means there is a very real way to democratize access to a broad range of low-cost investment products and ensure clients have choice – including ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds), pools, and SMAs (Separately Managed Accounts) in addition to a wide range of insurance and lending products.

While clients with investable assets exceeding $250,000 will be introduced to their own Portfolio Manager, those clients with less money can access the same investment expertise and products on a digital wealth platform operated by Toronto-based Purpose Advisor Solutions, on the Harness Investments platform. “One big adjustment for our clients who are used to the mutual fund world is that our asset management ecosystem is all about choice, low fees and performance,” said van Lierop.

MICHAEL VAN LIEROP

their investments managed in SMAs at a cost far below than that of your typical mutual fund. So it’s win-win all around.”

The differences between SMAs and mutual funds is something NOW believes in profoundly. In addition to offering clients a better investment experience, the costs of investing are often 50-100 bps (0.5-1.0%) lower than typical mutual funds. SMAs are also more transparent and significantly more tax efficient for investors. Van Lierop goes on to explain: “A Portfolio Manager is like the chef in a gourmet kitchen. They have a recipe to follow and ingredients to use but can adjust to suit the flavour profile and taste preferences of the customer. The SMA is a perfectly cooked steak delivered by an experienced waiter to the customer’s table. Meanwhile, a mutual fund advisor works at a fast-food restaurant – the customer chooses a cheeseburger (assuming there are burgers), it gets pulled off the shelf, the pickles get removed maybe, then gets dropped into a paper bag. And in this scenario, the cheeseburger is more expensive than the steak!”

Technology is a big part of the vision van Lierop has for disrupting the financial advice business in Canada. It

Meanwhile, NOW advisors are busy adopting stateof-the-art technology and new tools to deepen their service to clients and their value proposition in a highly competitive marketplace. “Today, having a financial plan is a default expectation of clients,” commented van Lierop. “You have to be prepared to adapt to a fastchanging industry. Canada is taking major steps in the Fintech [financial technology] space and we want our clients to ride that wave and not get left behind.”

The motivation to start NOW was born from frustrations on several fronts with the current state of affairs in the financial industry in Canada. “Virtually all the major banks, their investment arms, and wealth management firms want the same clients – households with $1M or more in investable assets”, added Andrew Smart, Vice President – Wealth & Advisory. “Those clients receive preferential rates on lending and receive lower investment fees. We recognize there’s a case to be made to provide a custom response to the more advanced needs of our larger clients, but we don’t do this at NOW at the expense of everyone else. Even our smallest clients get access to top-notch investment management and planning services.”

Michael van Lierop moved to Winnipeg in 2012 with his wife and children, where they live in a centuryhome in the historical River Heights neighbourhood.

Born in Quebec, van Lierop was raised on a beef and sheep farm in the Eastern Townships, a popular tourism region about an hour east of Montreal. He graduated in 2001 from Bishop’s University with Honours. “I have a degree in Political Science,” admitted van Lierop,

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“which has nearly nothing to do with what I do for a living. That said, I’ve always valued the importance of higher education to become a well-rounded citizen and critical thinker.”

Starting his career path as an entrepreneur suggests the completion of a career circle a long time in the making with the founding of New Outlook Wealth, “I had my own web/IT business right out of university,” added van Lierop. “By my mid-20s, I wanted a new challenge and to force myself out of my comfort zone. Prospecting clients and selling life insurance was pretty much the furthest I could go in terms of leaving what I was comfortable doing.”

In addition to a wanting to fulfill his entrepreneurial inclinations, van Lierop continues to want to do things differently. “The last thing we need is another wealth management firm,” he jokes, “so I determined early on, if I’m going to risk my career and the financial stability of my family, it has to be for the right reasons.”

Those “right reasons” included the desire to build out a platform for financial advisors to join who share in his vision to genuinely provide financial planning 42

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to all Canadians, lower investment fees dramatically for average investors, and increase compensation for advisors. “Normally, these things are mutually exclusive. You just can’t do them all together or at once,” explained van Lierop. “If you charge clients less, normally the advisors make less. We want to do both – and we can. If advisors are paid properly, they can focus their business and service their clients better.

“It’s about fairness. Fairness for clients in terms of fees, and fairness for advisors in terms of compensation,” van Lierop summarized, “The financial industry is not fair for most Canadians anymore. We want to change that.

And we’re not waiting for tomorrow!”

New Outlook Wealth Winnipeg, MB Brandon, MB Gilbert Plains, MB Calgary, AB Edmonton, AB info@newoutlook.ca www.newoutlook.ca

S AY H E L L O T O N O W ’ S O U T S TA N D I N G A D V I S O R S !

New Outlook Wealth is made up of teams of highly skilled financial planners located in Winnipeg, Brandon, Calgary and Edmonton. While the company is new, the people behind it bring an enormous amount of financial industry experience. With that experience comes a deep knowledge and appreciation of all of the investment, insurance, lending and estate planning solutions most clients will ever need.

Meet the Team

Chris Witoski - chris.witoski@newoutlook.ca

Eric Grabner - eric.grabner@newoutlook.ca

Chris started his career in the electronics manufacturing and engineering field, he transitioned to the finance industry and hasn’t once looked back.

Eric is located in Winnipeg and believes that “Overnight successes are years in the making.”

Chris’ goal as a financial advisor with NOW is to compliment his client’s lives and needs, not to complicate them. He accomplishes this by listening and building his client relationships.

Never assuming he knows it all, Chris reaches out to learn all he can about clients and takes each individual into consideration.

Working hard and caring for the people that have entrusted Chris with their financial planning is a quality that stands out with Chris.

Eric didn’t always have plans of being an advisor.

He originally wanted to work internationally in IT. “I was given an opportunity to work in finance when I moved back to Canada, and have loved being an advisor ever since.”

The most rewarding part of Eric’s job is helping clients to realize their goals and relieve financial stress in their lives.

A common value with NOW advisors, Eric lives by “Try not to become a man of success. Rather become a man of value.” -Albert Einstein. Eric’s success with his clients is because he believes to always be learning and improving and to listen more than you speak. He also thinks there should be a National Take Your Dog To Work Day!

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“Practice a balanced lifestyle and save money, but also have fun” - Tamara Fehr

Sheryl Saari - sheryl.saari@newoutlook.ca

Tamara Fehr - tamara.fehr@newoutlook.ca

Sheryl is excited about sharing the NOW platform with her clients while continuing to build new relationships in Manitoba and Calgary Alberta.

Tamara is located in Winnipeg, and tells people to “Practice a balanced lifestyle and save money, but also have fun.”

If Sheryl could tell her teenage self some advice it would be to slow down and enjoy all the great things in your life. Spend more time building memories with your family and not to take the special people in your life or your health for granted.

Tamara originally had plans of being a hair stylist before entering the financial field!

Sheryl always wanted to help people and run her own business so this career path has given her the best of both worlds.

The friendships she has built with her clients and being able to help them navigate through all stages of life by providing advice and a solid foundation for their life-long needs has been the best part of her career and looks forward to building more solid connections.

Paying it forward is a mantra of Sheryl’s and she is a great part of the team as she believes in hard work and to celebrate success while remaining humble and kind.

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One thing Tamara loves about her job is helping her clients navigate the financial world and finding solutions to their unique goals and dreams If she could invent one holiday it would be Girlfriend and Wine Day! Tamara’s life mantra is, “Don’t sweat the small stuff-focus on what you can control.”

She is successful and a great part of the NOW team because she works hard and focuses on the WHY of what she does. Tamara says this is crucial to success in any career and lives by that mantra.

“Stay focused on the path of your goal and you will achieve success” - Emily Mayoralgo

Emily Mayoralgo - emily.mayoralgo@newoutlook.ca

James Rodgers - james.rodgers@newoutlook.ca

Located in Winnipeg, Emily has always been in the financial field and couldn’t imagine doing anything else.

Born in the United Kingdom, James grew up in Brandon, Manitoba. He now lives in Winnipeg spending time in Morden during the summer.

The best piece of advice from Emily is to take the time to rest, but never quit. Stay focused on the path of your goal and you will achieve success.

The best advice James has ever received and loves to pass on is, “Don't be afraid to try. Don't be afraid of rejection.

Don't be afraid to fail.”

Always learning as an advisor and alongside her colleagues, Emily’s clients appreciate her skills, experience and the effort she gives towards each client.

James did not know or plan to be working in the financial field, but once he started, he found it was a perfect fit.

His goal is to always try to change someone’s life for the better, and continually works towards that goal.

Emily is a firm believer that in order to achieve our dreams we must take action. She tells everyone that we could dream all that we want, but it is our determination and action that will lead us to our goals.

If James could invent a new holiday in Canada it would be called Immigration Day. A special day to honour immigrants who chose Canada as their new homeland.

“Not everyone will like you,”, he says, “but those that do should be treated like gold.” He believes that you get into his field of work for the betterment of the people, you will achieve success, much like any career that you may choose.

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A Taxing Time

BY MICHAEL VAN LIEROP, NEW OUTLOOK WEALTH

As unprecedented as the federal and provincial response has been from a fiscal and financial perspective, the taxation side of the Covid-19 equation is going to be creating headaches and concerns for tax preparers and accountants everywhere in the months (and years) to come. Without delving into the more controversial topics of monetary and fiscal stimulus, risks of inflation, and the arguments for and against a wealth tax, you can rest easy knowing that there are some tried and true strategies you can start to implement this year if you haven’t before, or to fine-tune if you’ve been doing these things all along.

Tax Planning Tips for 2021 1 | Covid-19 relief programs.

If you took advantage of any of these programs, it’s important to understand their tax consequences. For example, the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) and its second iteration, the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB), the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB) or the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB), are to be treated as taxable income. For many, this will be modest (indeed, CRB is like EI in that 10% is withheld at source for tax purposes) but it remains something to consider and as income, must be declared.

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2 | New tax credits, deductions and benefits.

Familiarize yourself with the various new Covid19-inspired federal tax deductions and credits. For example, a new simplified home-office expense deduction option has been created to address the relatively simple but very wide-spread issue of employees working from home for a large portion of 2020. Canadians who worked from home can now claim up to $400 ($2 a day for up to 200 days) through this simplified process. Even the more robust home-office expense claiming process, which should continue to be used for those with more complicated situations, has been streamlined and simplified.

3 | RRSPs. Registered Retirement Savings Plans remain a hallmark of two critical components of financial planning – tax planning and retirement preparedness. In a practical sense, RRSP contributions should be an ongoing concern throughout the year rather than a last-minute decision days before the March 1 deadline. While RRSP contributions can generate significant income tax deductions – giving people that muchdesired “refund” from the government (which is essentially the government returning some of the excess income taxes you paid throughout the calendar year) they do not always make sense.

Remember this: the principle idea of RRSPs is to

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contribute when you’re at a high tax bracket to maximize the benefit of the deduction, and plan to withdraw your RRSP income in retirement when your income bracket is supposed to be lower. If you have a lot of unused RRSP room an RRSP loan can help you catch-up. This is a strategy that can help if used properly and as part of a broader financial plan. RRSP contribution limits are 18% of income or $27,230 for the 2020 tax year.

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4 | The TFSA. Take time to reflect on your Tax-Free

Savings Account (TFSA). This is arguably the most powerful “tax shelter” available in Canada, with the fewest strings attached. The perennial issue is most Canadians don’t use it properly, no thanks to banks who willingly cram low-interest guaranteed investments (GICs, for example) into TFSAs when they don’t belong there at all. Because the TFSA is a tax-free zone, it makes sense to

The fact is, tax planning should not be a last-minute panic-driven priority. As part of a holistic financial plan, tax issues can often be planned around and foreseen with reasonable foresight.

use the TFSA for investments that generate a high rate of return and as such, a potentially high tax cost or burden.

Inside the TFSA they do not. In short, you’re wasting our TFSA room by using it to stash low-interest bearing savings like GICs or high interest savings accounts.

Initially started in the 2009 tax year, there is an annual amount added to your cumulative TFSA room every year.

For this tax year it’s $6,000. For anyone (and there are many out there) who have never made use of their TFSA, your total contribution room could be as high as $75,500 by now.

5 | DIY Online Tax Filing. If you’re a regularly employed, salaried individual – with or without a gig or small business on the side – and you have income from one, maybe two sources combined with some common deductions (like dependent children, RRSP contributions, home office expenses) don’t hesitate to use online tax filing software. TurboTax and Ufile are great, user friendly, and aside from data entry, manage the entire tax filing process from start to finish. They even help send your tax return via NetFile directly to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). The Canadian online tax filing platforms are safe, secure, and robust.

6 | Talk to an Accountant. If things feel like they are too complicated, they probably are. Most professionals and small business owners, especially incorporated ones,

should be seeking advice on at least an annual basis from an Accountant who has the necessary expertise to guide you. They can provide valuable recommendations and help file your taxes properly. Filing personal tax returns is not a huge money maker for most accounting firms so don’t be surprised if you don’t get a pile of advice because advice takes time, and time is money. Shop around if need be.

7 | The best advice is to seek it. A Certified Financial Planner (CFP) or any highly experienced Financial Advisor in Canada will be able to provide useful tax planning guidance. The fact is, tax planning should not be a last-minute panic-driven priority. As part of a holistic financial plan, tax issues can often be planned around and foreseen with reasonable foresight. While it’s true the government, both federal and provincial, can play games come budget time and introduce new taxes, roll back old deductions, or introduce new ones, it is also true that the tax regime in Canada is a pretty stable framework upon which people can plan.

Michael van Lierop is President & Founder of New Outlook Wealth, a Manitoba-based wealth & advisory firm that brings financial planning and low investment management fees to all Canadians, regardless of their wallet size. Visit their website at www.newoutlook.ca to learn more and to find an advisor!

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Elevate Your Digital Strategy During the Covid-19 Crisis.

MINT MARKETING EXPERIENCE When COVID-19 showed up and our world was turned around by a global pandemic, no one had a playbook on how to respond and adapt your business continuity to these unprecedented challenges.

We had little choice but to pivot to all available digital resources for conducting business. This is where your real-time, data-driven customer insights become actionable as you adjust your messaging and communications.

We realized how much it needs both the human and the digital aspects working in collaboration to enable life and business to pivot, adapt, and reinvent normal. This is something that digitally mature businesses already knew.

However, such a task requires continued innovation and adaptation to each unique circumstance, whether business, social, or personal.

The old normal isn’t coming back. And that’s a good thing. Make the best of the challenges and opportunities to grow and evolve, for you and your customers.

Contact us to get more in-depth insights on adapting and advancing your business during a pandemic and beyond.

SURPASS YOUR MOST AGGRESSIVE BUSINESS GOALS WITH OUR REVOLUTIONARY APPROACH USING BIG DATA, AI & MACHINE LEARNING TO TECHNOLOGY AND DIGITAL MARKETING. Social Media Marketing Services – an effective strategy can help you grow your business, maintain your social presence & engage with the audience. From influence campaigns, to photo & video we do it all when it comes to managing your social media presence.

Facebook & Instagram Ads, Pay Per Click (PPC) Management Pay Per Click has an instant impact and gives your brand a much larger reach and exposure as a result of first page exposure on major search engines. We run campaigns on all social media + search engines + other ad networks.

SEO Optimization & Marketing SEO offers a visible and effective search presence leading to a considerable increase of sales, profitability and cost efficiency.

Mint Marketing Experience Inc. 29 – 10th Street, Unit R Brandon, MB 204-721-1296 jamie@mintmarketingexperience.ca www.mintmarketingexperience.ca

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WINTERING ... the Winnipeg Way A ton of family fun PHOTOS BY COLIN CORNEAU

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Nature has a tendancy to bring out the best in us, and at a time where our mental health is paramount, the Red River Mutual Trail gives us more than enough to rediscover the great ourdoors. Treat yourself and your family with skating, walking, curling and bonfires.

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What good is the warmth of summer without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.

- John Steinbeck

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SOME OF THE 795 (MAYBE MORE, BY NOW) FLAGS SET UP ON THE ASSINIBOINE RIVER TO COMMEMORATE THE MANITOBANS WHO’VE DIED FROM COVID-19.

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Phillip Emmerson Life of Healing

How Phillip Emmerson transcended his disability and pain

BY HUNTER PLOSZAY PHOTOS BY STUDIO 78

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Every once in a while, as a writer, there is an opportunity to cover someone who motivates you in your own life. It doesn’t happen often—but when it does—it leaves a lasting impression. The story of Phillip Emmerson is about being at the lowest point of the totem while every single negative tangible occurs.

Phillip played the hand he was dealt at birth and was able to lift himself and rise above everything that was holding him down—and he’s still fighting the good fight.

P

hillip Emmerson is 39 years old. A week after he was born, he stopped breathing and had to be revived. He was diagnosed with spastic cerebral palsy because of the damages from lack of oxygen.

Phillip’s cerebral palsy affects the electrical impulses from his cerebral cortex to the left side of his body—making movements in his hand, arm, and leg very difficult.

Phillip was thrown into the foster system at four years old due to an abusive father who struggled with alcohol and anger issues. His father would come home from a night out drinking and Phillip would instantly try to hide—only to be beaten by his father when found. Not being able-bodied made it impossible to get away from the abuse like his older siblings. Phillips’s mother tried her best to take care of him but was abused also. His family lived on a farm and as someone with a disability, was looked at as a liability, more than as a newborn baby. Phillip was placed in the foster care system at four years old and permanently removed from his family home at eight. Phillip would

eventually go on to move in and out of 12 different families just before the age of 18 when he was old enough to go out on his own. Phillip provided that some of the foster homes were just like being at home in terms of conditions and abuse.

“It’s hard as a child not having a relationship with your family and being tossed around like hand-me-down clothes,” admitted Phillip. “I struggled with alcohol and other addictions. I shouldn’t be sitting here but it’s by God’s grace that I am.”

Due to Phillip’s constant drinking to mask his inner pain, he graduated from Vincent Massey High School in 2000 by the skin of his teeth. Once the diploma was in his hand, he fled to Calgary to try and become an actor.

“One of my lifelong dreams is to become an actor and I went to Calgary to run away. I was there for a couple months until my wallet got stolen so I had to come back,” told Phillip.

Back in Manitoba, Phillip went to live in Winnipeg for 6 months but eventually ended up back in Brandon. He was living off Government Assistance and was riding his wheelchair downtown every day to find someone who would let him crash for a night or two. This was a very dark time for Phillip where drugs and alcohol still had a tight grip on his life. Phillip’s life changed when he was “connected” with Career Connections.

Career Connections started Phillip on the journey of finding meaningful employment and helping him realize his true worth and potential in society. Before the actual work of finding him a career, they first had to show him his worth.

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“I was always taught that I was a piece of trash. I’m super blessed because the only thing I knew how to do was drink. They had to build my confidence and made me realize that I could be a part of society and that I could someday be a light for people with disabilities and people in general. I give them credit because there were many of times I wanted to give up,” shared Phillip.

While Phillip was still living in his friend’s spare bedroom and going to Career Connections, his employment counsellor showed him an article in the Brandon Sun asking people to apply as educational assistants. Phillip instantly thought there was no way he would ever be hired given his struggles in school when he was younger.

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“The rest is history. 18 years later I am still working for the Brandon School Division,” said Phillip proudly. “I work with students who struggle with learning and students with disabilities. Sometimes my day is working with students who struggle with life issues and we focus on those before we focus on schoolwork.

Phillip relates to his students and helps them to get on the right path—just like Career Connections had previously done for him. Phillip’s 18 years of hard work and his story of redemption has gained him national notoriety from the Canadian Association for Supported Employment.

They honoured him in October with the inaugural Phillip Emmerson Award, given at the Canadian Association

for Supported Employment’s Annual Conference. Not only is it an amazing feat to have an award named after you, but it’s a cherry on top to be the first recipient of such a valiant award. CASE is a national association that champions the inclusion of people with disabilities within the workplace. Phillip got to speak at the conference and was the closing keynote speaker where he got to tell his story in what he calls his “first public speaking contract”.

“I didn’t believe CASE at first because usually, you have to be famous or dead to have an award named after you,” joked Phillip. “To have someone name an award after you is an honour. I’m thankful and I thank God. Next year when CASE presents The Emmerson Award to the next recipient, it may change their life.”

Besides Phillip’s educational work, he is an amateur bodybuilder. He has been a fan of Arnold Schwarzenegger since Grade Seven when he did a research project on the famous bodybuilder. Phillip had been officially lifting weights since he was 15 but started taking it seriously around the age of 25. Phillip went into amateur bodybuilding competitions and met one of his other heroes (ironically another Arnold). This chance encounter took place at a Second Cup Coffee Co. in Toronto when Professional Punjabi Body Builder, Anand Arnold, spotted Phillip through the coffee shop glass.

“To have someone name an award after you is an honour. I’m thankful and I thank God. Next year when CASE presents The Emmerson Award to the next recipient, it may change their life.”

- Phillip Emmerson

“Anand said to me, ‘I follow you on social media.’ And I was blown away. We got to talk for about an hour,” said Phillip excitedly.

The sky is the limit for Phillip and his eyes are set past the clouds when he thinks about what endeavour he is going to take on next. Not only does he want to continue his public speaking and be a motivational speaker, but he wants to write a book about his life story. And he still has those Calgary dreams of being a famous actor.

His dream role would be him alongside his idol, Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Phillip was gladly able to repair his relationship with his father for 6 years before his passing and still has the “best relationship right now” with his mother.

“I’ve gone through tremendous healing from my past. I know my time is coming when I’m going to speak in front of thousands of people because my story and personal healing have been so amazing. I am a stubborn human being so I will continue to conquer until my very last breath,” announced Phillip.

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Manitoba Winters

BY CASSANDRA JAMIESON, MCPHAIL TRAVEL

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This winter, plan something unique for you and your partner. Manitoba is a beautiful province with everything that you need to make romance the number one item on your intimate getaway. OR ….. be creative and stay home, but plan something special to enjoy.

Cook Together – It doesn’t

matter if you are a gourmet chef or a kitchen newbie. Cooking together can be fun and romantic. Try something delicious but simple such as pizza or perhaps try a new recipe that you’ve never made. Don’t try and impress, just have a good time.

Open a bottle of wine, laugh and enjoy.

Play Together – You can either

have a game night alone, where you play Scrabble, video games, or another 2-person game, or make it a double date with another couple.

We'd recommend asking your partner if they want to do it first, because some people hate trivia (especially if they're terrible at it).

Watch Together – Movie Night! Stock up on

popcorn and candy to make it feel like a ~real~ movie date. Don't watch a movie that's actually good. There will be more fun and laughter if you watch a movie that is so bad it’s good or one that has become a “cult classic” that you’ve already seen a million times.

Relax Together – Make a mini spa retreat in your home. Try some meditation or yoga, mindfulness exercises, healthy food and a supply of different rejuvenating infusions. A warm bath or steamy outdoor hot tub are both a romantic place to spend time with a special someone.

Be Awed Together – Did you know that winter

is the best time to view the Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights? Pack a blanket and thermoses full

of your favorite warm beverage, bundle up, and head outside for a nighttime adventure. The time of night when the light appears varies depending on your region, but usually between 10 pm and 2 am is a good bet.

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If you feel the need to get away there is plenty of romance waiting for you in every part of Manitoba.

From luxury hotels with spas overlooking beautiful lakes, to a secluded cabin, or cozy inn with crackling fires; experience it with someone you love!

Manitoba is a prairie province that can shock first timers with its size and sophistication. Book a romantic getaway that is not only relaxing but rejuvenating as well. At Thermea Spa you have the chance to experience Scandinavian techniques through thermotherapy and relaxation techniques. Sit back and let reality slip away in one of the four saunas or outdoor pools. Thermea Spa is your retreat while still within city limits.

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The Mint Experience Winnipeg

A short thirty-minute drive from Winnipeg is Getaways Romantic Resort. Located outside of Beausejour along the Brokenhead River, the resort is a small absolutely gorgeous couples only property offering two luxurious cabins designed to pamper! The spacious cabins are equipped with spa tubs, steam showers, king beds, home theatre systems with surround sound, full kitchens, a four-season sunroom and an open deck with a BBQ. Truly a unique experience surrounded by 150 wooded acres.

Located to the north of Winnipeg, in Hecla Provincial Park, Lakeview Hecla Resort offers a variety of amenities to check off your romantic getaway list. Partake in winter activities like snowshoeing and tobogganing to make your stay one to remember. Relax at the Salka Spa which follows Nordic traditions through fire, ice and water. Rejuvenate the body through spa treatments and massages before visiting the adult only mineral pool to refresh. With three different pools to dip in, you’ll leave the spa feeling like a whole new you.

Whether you decide to stay home or get away, Manitoba has something for everyone.

While staying in a Castle may not be for everyone, but a dream for most, you and your partner can be taken back in time with a stay at Bella’s Castle in Morden.

This stone mansion was built in 1902 and still holds all its antique feelings today. With only three bedrooms to book, Bella’s Castle is intimate and friendly with lots to offer. Book massages and let the professionals take any stress away. Head down to the tea house area for a quiet, home cooked lunch.

Further to the west, much of the leafy 1,150-square-mile Riding Mountain National Park—so named because it once required a horse to traverse—remains alluringly wild. Curving gravel roads pass elk, black bears, and moose (or bison near Lake Audy), while hiking trails reach remote clear lakes and unexpected sites like Whitewater, a World War II prisoner-of-war camp.

Glide down the Parks Canada skating trails and outdoor skating rink adorned with twinkly lights and adjacent to a great log cabin style warming shack – the perfect

place to enjoy a cup of hot chocolate. The Lakehouse, an adorable boutique hotel located in the hub of downtown, is a charming rustic retreat complete with an outdoor hot tub and crackling bonfire. It’s the perfect complement to a silent winter evening as the snow gently falls; a perfect place to get cozy and snuggle a little.

Whether you decide to stay home or get away, Manitoba has something for everyone.

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TRAVEL WITH YOUR Family Bubble When the time is right

5 Day Exploring Winter Wonderland Self-Drive

Day 1: Explore Calgary Day 2: Travel to Banff with Dogsledding in Canmore Day 3: Banff sightseeing Day 4: Johnston Canyon Ice Walk and Lake Louise Day 5: Depart Banff From $965 p.p. based on 6 guests

Carefully crafted to minimize covid risks while maximizing experiences

Cassandra Jamieson info@mcphailtravel.net 204.727.2305

McPhail Travel Suite K 435 Rosser Avenue Brandon, MB

Specializing in professional headshots, business advertising, and personal branding portraits.

Colin Corneau 204-761-5491 | talk@colincorneau.com | www.colincorneau.com |

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CREATING YOUR SPACE. One detail at a time.

Amber Bauman Professional Interior Designer/Owner Dip.I.D., IDC, NCIDQ

www.greypearldesign.ca amber@greypearldesign.ca 204-509-4020