The Winter 2022 Issue Of Modern Mississauga Media's Interactive Digital Magazine

Winter 2022 | modernmississauga.com

into the unknown...

TRAVEL PREDICTIONS ARTS

FOOD & DRINK

A NEW NORMAL LIFESTYLE

MONEY

DESIGN A MINDFUL HOME TECHNOLOGY

MOTORING

TRAVEL

Now Accepting New Members No previous fitness experience required

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the north beckons.

@cabinnord cabinnord.com

OWNER/PUBLISHER/EDITOR Jay Kana

ART DIRECTOR Elizabeth Wise (Wise Idea)

CONTRIBUTORS Praveen Amirtharaj Noelle Aune Adrian Brijbassi Alex Cibiri Liz Fleming Jerry Grymek Natalie Hart Angela Higgins Jay Kana Claudia Laroye John Murray Lewis Suzie Loiselle Eric Magnan Jennifer Merrick Christoper Mitchell Arienne Parzei Shane Saunderson Craig Silva Steph Wallcraft Paula Worthington Lauren Yakiwchuk

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All images are licenced under Creative Commons Zero unless otherwise indicated.

Cover Photo: Clément Falize on Unsplash Table of Contents Photo: Randalyn Hill on Unsplash © 2022 Modern Mississauga Media Ltd. All rights reserved.

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in this

ISSUE WINTER 2022

ARTS The MARTY Awards TRAVEL Expert travel predictions for 2022 Fearing the unknown road MOTORING 2022 Toyota 4Runner 2022 Acura MDX vs 2022 Infiniti QX60 2022 Honda Civic vs 2021 Mazda 3 2022 BMW X3 FEATURE The reintegration situation LIFESTYLE John Lewis’ Steamed Ham Malton Minutes What a new normal looks like About balance Why to design a mindful home In conversation with Brian Crombie MONEY Entrepreneur Profile: Corrie Harding-Keizs Business Profile: VaniTEA Blends FOOD & DRINK Decanting Digest: Keep those resolutions with lighter wines

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Editor's Letter Welcome to the 34th issue of Modern Mississauga and the first one of 2022!

While January started with restrictions, we’ve seen them slightly lift in recent weeks with the reopening plan projected to keep moving forward in the coming weeks.

It’s been an ongoing challenge for our business community and I’m hopeful that through the proper steps, listening and following the science over social media, we’re able to keep advancing toward whatever our new normal is.

There’s plenty of exciting content in this issue, including travel tips from Canada’s experts, business and entrepreneur profiles, looking past the pandemic, forward change, new technology, a steamed ham, and taking the unknown road.

Liz and I are continuously grateful for your support over the past six years and we are fortunate, humbled and thankful.

We’re optimistic about a better 2022 and truly hope that this year will be positive, encouraging and aspirational, as well as one spent creating wonderful experiences and memories.

We’re always up for a conversation so please do connect with us via email or our social outlets; we’d be happy to connect.

Have a wonderful balance of winter and we’ll talk through here again in early spring.

JAY & LIZ

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If you or a loved one are thinking about exploring a retirement community that promotes wellness, happiness and service excellence, consider Parkland—it’s a place residents are proud to call home.

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s on i at Nomin The 27th Annual Mississauga Arts Awards (MARTYS) is happening on Thursday, May 19th, 2022, and nominations are now open and awaiting your input.

Professional artists who are residents of Mississauga who have a significant connection to Mississauga, or have made a major contribution to the arts within Mississauga are encouraged to submit a nomination.

“The MARTYS are a remarkably accurate mirror of excellence in the arts in Mississauga with notable previous winners such as; Billy Talent, Robert J. Sawyer, and Gil Moore. As we mark a second pandemic year, we are inspired by the achievements shown by professional arts communities across the City in 2021,” says Mike Douglas, The Mississauga Arts Council’s Executive Director.

Douglas continues, “Being able to come together and celebrate our belonging, our resilience and

! en p O w o N e r a s our promise to excel in the future makes this MARTYS more emotionally packed and important in terms of our existence than ever before. It’s with excitement, and some anxiety, that we plan the in-person return of the 27th Mississauga Arts Awards on May 19th, 2022 at the Mississauga Convention Centre.”

“Mississauga artists, art lovers, and supporters, this is your chance to make a difference in the lives of our City’s creative community,” says Sherri Murray, MAC’s Communications Producer. “Your recognition as a nominator encourages and rewards the outstanding talents of Mississauga arts sector.”

2022 MARTY Award categories are as follows: • Artistic Excellence Awards Established and Emerging Categories:

• • • • • • • • • •

Dance Fashion/Beauty Film/Video Arts Literary Arts Multimedia Arts Music - Group Music - Instrumental Music - Solo Vocalist Theatre Arts Visual Arts

Nominations are due Monday, March 21, 2022 by 5:00 P.M. To keep things fair for everyone, no late or incomplete submissions will be considered.

To read/download the guidelines and submit a nomination, please visit: www.mississaugaartscouncil.com/martys-nominations/

About Mississauga Arts Awards (MARTYS):

The Mississauga Arts Awards (The MARTYS) are the Mississauga Arts Council’s annual award celebration honouring outstanding individual and organizational contributions to the arts and cultural activity in our city. Each year we seek to recognize honourees whose work helps transform and advance our communities through art. For the last 26 years, the Martys have been the City’s most distinguished red carpet event for recognizing established and emerging artists. Learn more: www.mississaugaartscouncil.com/about-the-martys/ If you have any questions regarding 2022 MARTY Nominations, Sherri, will be happy to help you. Connect with her via email at media@mississaugaartscouncil.com

• The Community Arts Awards:

• • • •

Virtual Festival of the Year Award Lifetime Achievement Award Hazel McCallion Volunteer of the Year Award Laurie Pallett Patron of the Arts Award

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MODERN TRAVEL:

With Canadian Travel Experts Lauren Yakiwchuk

Blogger and Content Creator at Justin Plus Lauren and Ontario Hiking Perhaps I'm feeling hopeful, but I believe that 2022 will mark the return of international travel. Local trips, outdoor adventures, and road trips will still play a key role this year.

However, people will start to become more confident in planning trips that require flights, whether it's across Canada or overseas. Travellers will embark on road trips and visit the great outdoors, choosing less crowded places and nature over the bigger cities. justinpluslauren.com ontariohiking.com

Paula Worthington

Freelance Travel Writer and Principal of Worthington PR & Story Canadians will be looking forward to exploring new parts of our country, with a strong desire towards trips that focus on wellness, nature, the outdoors and small group opportunities. A sense of safety will continue to be paramount. Last-minute bookings will likely be popular, along with destinations that allow for natural social distancing. I hope Canadians who have the opportunity to travel can be mindful of supporting local economies and treading responsibly, wherever they choose to roam. worthingtonpr.com

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Window or aisle seat? Road trip or riding the rails?

International or local? Our Canadian travel experts share their thoughts on what travel could look like in our new normal.

Craig Silva

Travel Writer & Digital Strategist Families will book all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean and Mexico, Caribbean Cruises, Florida Keys, and Southern California. Singles and couples will book Vegas, Europe, or Asia Pacific. Once border restrictions are lifted, Canadians will take road trips to Florida and Myrtle Beach. Folks in Ontario will take advantage of the "Ontario Staycation Tax Credit" program. bigdaddykreativ.ca

Arienne Parzei

Travel videographer & content creator at SeeYouSoon Travel 2022 will continue to see the desire for travellers to stay close to home and explore their ‘own backyards’. Local travel saw quite the increase in 2021 and will continue to do so in 2022 as travellers discover what their nearby cities and provinces/states have to offer. Staying in small BnBs or renting private accommodations will be the preferred way to stay, and travellers will opt more for outdoor activities and experiences. youtube.com/seeyousoonca

continued...

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continued...

Christoper Mitchell

Founder of Travelingmitch, Cofounder of Ultimate Ontario I believe local travel will remain the primary focus, but many people will also be afforded the opportunity to look beyond their borders for the first time in a long while. It may be for skiing or hiking, as opposed to museum hopping, but it’ll be a step in the right direction nonetheless. travellingmitch.com

Jennifer Merrick Freelance Travel Writer

Restrictions will ease, which has already begun (the UK, for instance, lifted testing requirements for vaccinated travellers as of February). Other countries, including Canada, will follow suit. The travel window will open earlier and wider. And for this traveller, whose wings have been clipped for too long, I can’t wait to fly out. jennifermerrick.contently.com

Eric Magnan

Travel Media Relations Officer, Parks Canada From what I hear/see and from what I am planning for the coming summer, it’s going to be a summer of road trips. On a personal level, there are so many places within a 5-6 hour drive from Ottawa that I want to visit, and I know a lot of people who are still reluctant to take the plane or go on cruises due to the current COVID/Omicron situation. pc.gc.ca

Suzie Loiselle

Media Relations Manager, Le Québec maritime I predict that slow and experiential travel are travellers’ choices to immerse themselves in the daily life of their destinations. They are ready to safely plan road trips or work-cations to explore their dream destinations. People will look for outdoor activities to get closer to nature. Bon voyage! quebecmaritime.ca

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Claudia Laroye

Travel Writer & Editor at Claudia Travels My crystal ball has been shrouded in pandemic fog for two years, but I see glimmers of light on the travel horizon. Road trips and outdoor activities will remain popular.

Canadians will start to cautiously plan and book (fully refundable) trips to favourite destinations like Mexico, Hawaii and continental United States. claudiatravels.com

Jerry Grymek

Vice-President, Client Services, LMA Communications

As travel continues to return, 2022 is ripe for wellness and rejuvenation travel. So many have had their lives uprooted that they need to re-adjust themselves during this difficult time.

I can see a rise in areas with more nature, open spaces, and ones that are not over-populated. lma.ca

Liz Fleming

Travel journalist and host of the Liz Fleming Travels Show on iHeart Radio

The pandemic taught us one good thing: most of us don’t need to be in an office to work.

My prediction is that more people than ever before will blend work with longer trips, enjoying the freedom of zoom connections while strolling the beach, or hitting the ski hills. iheartradio.ca/610cktb/shows/liz-fleming-travels-1.10587817

Adrian Brijbassi

Co-founder & Editor, vacay.ca Vacay.ca just published our annual ranking of 20 Best Places to Travel in Canada and the focus for 2022 is on Indigenous tourism experiences. It's a fast-growing sector but more importantly tourism brings uplift to Indigenous communities, not only economically but emotionally. Interest from non-Indigenous Canadians helps Indigenous communities heal and continue the practice of keeping their cultures alive. That positivity benefits the nation in many ways. vacay.ca

Noelle Aune

Principal at Noelle Aune Communications For 2022, expect to see many great Canadian road trips as I feel people will continue to explore Canada this year. As a native Calgarian, the Stampede is close to my heart and if you can make it, I encourage you to do so. Venturing into Waterton Lakes National Park and the Kootenays, or any other Canadian National Park, is a great way to experience our country. linkedin.com/in/noelleaune MODERN MISSISSAUGA | WINTER 2022

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fearin

ng the unknown road by shane saunderson |

photos by yousef alfuhigi on unsplash

I’m writing this article from 30,000 feet in the air, which is likely as strange for me to type as it is for you to read.

It’s been a while; over two years to be exact. However, after being locked up alone in a condo in the GTA for over two years while writing a dissertation, I knew that I had to get out and get on the road again. However, I also knew that things were going to be different… and sadly, for the worse.

A lot has changed in two years. I’m not simply referring to the countless new travel protocols introduced during the pandemic, but also the backdrop of an increasingly aggressive and polarized global sociopolitical landscape that looks a lot more like the pre-war 30s than the golden 20s we all had hoped for after the pandemic. Things feel different out here.

Truth be told, the COVID protocols seem like the least of the changes. You get used to wearing a mask for a few hours. Security might have taken a bit longer, though I may also have just forgotten that it’s always been a bit of a slog. More planning, documentation, and testing is required for each trip. However, none of those things are really such a problem.

The differences I’m feeling on the road are social.

After we all spent so much time locked up alone, the world feels a lot bigger. The people feel a lot stranger. Many of us gravitate more towards digital worlds than physically present ones. Our humanity feels further out of reach.

A woman was rushing through Pearson Airport and dropped her boarding pass. When I picked it up and called after her, she hesitated before reaching out and taking it back, looking upon her thin slip of paper as though it was scalding to the touch. As my neighbour sat beside me in seat 24C, I gave a courteous hello and asked how they were doing. I was met with a curt nod and eyes immediately forward as though the man beside me was suddenly aware of the microscopic particulate floating in the air between us.

Throughout the plane, I watch people quickly and awkwardly eat their snacks with heavily sanitized hands, looking like wounded animals trapped in a corner.

We’re all afraid.

Ironically, many of us aren’t afraid of COVID anymore… at least not much. If we’ve made the decision to trap ourselves into an aluminum tube with a hundred or so people, we rationally know that the risk of transmission is low with multiple vaccinations and an N95 mask. And with each slightly weaker variant inching us one step closer to a true endemic stage of this global nightmare, we know that the consequence of infection is approaching the common cold for most.

Logically, we know that we’re probably as safe now as we’ve ever been.

And yet the fear lingers. It lingers because we’ve spent more than two years building biases and behaviours to keep us safe. However, much like the fight-or-flight anxiety experienced by many in simple day-to-day work and social interactions, this fear no longer serves us.

It now holds us back from loving, sharing, caring, and being the beautiful, social creatures that we all are. The fear is our animal instinct, and to overcome this fear is to restore our humanity.

I was probably one of the more COVID-conservative of my friends during the past two years and approached the idea of travel again quite trepidatiously. However, now that I’m out on the road, I see the dangers of this fear.

But it doesn’t go away easily and requires the mindfulness to observe and comfort yourself in the face of it.

These words are far from a plea to throw caution to the wind and make foolish decisions. The pandemic is still very real and we need to do what we can to ensure that all of us – from the youngest to oldest – are safe.

However, what we must ensure is that in our efforts to stay safe, we don’t lose apart of ourselves. Now, more than ever, is the time to be kind to those around you, to give to others expecting nothing in return, and to smile to your neighbour… even if your mask gets in the way.

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THE REINTEGRATION by jay kana |

photos by shoeib abolhassani on unsplash

We’re about to enter year three of the pandemic and I optimistically yet carefully feel that we’ve rounded a bend that sees the balance of 2022 bathed in positivity.

Many of us who chose to get vaccinated have done so at least twice, with third doses actively being administered.

February has seen the return of indoor dining with capacity limits, along with other indoor activities being allowed. The coming weeks, if case counts diminish, will see the further reduction of restrictions and some sort of “new normal” will be upon us.

I imagine many of us will welcome this change and embrace a world where we’re able to do many, if not all, of the activities we used to do.

The sharp shift to a prolonged virtual world, the isolation, the diminished human interactions and immense screen time has been taxing on many of us, myself included.

Some have made the adjustment with ease

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and others have struggled. We’re on the cusp of being able to socialize freely again without capacity limits and on the whole, it’s terrific news.

However, it won’t be as easy as returning to the “before time.” There’ll be various stages of relearning curves in socializing after two years of limitations.

Whether it’s eye contact, personal space, awkward silences, hesitant handshakes or the nervousness of being in public again, not everyone will be able to make a seamless and prompt adjustment.

In fact, some of us may simply not want to delve straight into a world without restrictions, at least not right away. If you take anything away from this article, let it be that everyone is wired differently and their reintegration choices should be respected.

I can only speak for myself when I say that up until two years ago, I happily balanced between enjoying being with family, friends,

bandmates, colleagues, clients, etc., and staying home, going for solo drives and needing alone time.

If there’s a label to be had, it’d be an extroverted introvert. With changes only a few weeks away, I often think about where I fit in and how my behaviour will adjust.

Yes, I’m relieved that we will (hopefully) soon be able to socialize sans restrictions but I’m not sure everyone wants to, or even remembers how to.

Living alone through nearly the entire pandemic has taught me to be succinctly self-sufficient and overtly independent.

I used to need to be around people and after two years, that need has been changed to a want. Whether that's healthy and “normal” has yet to be seen in my case.

I dismissed the term “reintegration anxiety” the first handful of times I read it but now that it’s upon us, it deserves some attention.

N S I T U AT I O N I’ve changed my language around it and now address it as “the reintegration situation.”

Sure, some of us will want to make up for lost time and do “all the things" as the kids say and socialize as much as possible, travel often, eat in restaurants frequently and stand closer than six feet away from people.

A lot of people have missed out on experiences and opportunities over the last two years and want to (perhaps need to) immerse themselves in the outside world.

Others will be apprehensive to hit the “reset” switch, myself included.

Yes, I miss seeing people but I’ve become so accustomed to being on my own that the transition will, quite intentionally, be unhurried.

I can’t turn my brain 180 degrees on anything, let alone relearning how to socialize as I did pre-pandemic. I’m a happy tortoise in the race. I value doing things right

over rushed and knowing myself for 44 years, the only thing I rush into is a plate of extra hot chicken wings and chocolate milk.

I’ll still actively travel albeit solo with a few group trips sprinkled in. I’ll listen to live music in a smaller venue at first and spend time with friends in small numbers at first before advancing to larger groups.

I’m not doing this out of fear of COVID; I’m doing it to strategically ease myself back into an engaged society versus submerging myself in it without mentally processing it and checking in with myself at every step. The last thing I want is to overwhelm myself only because I can with little to no restrictions.

My plan is to start with two activities I enjoy doing per week and checking in with myself. As my comfort level increases, so will the amount of socializing I do.

If there’s a moment of uncertainty or pause, I’m going to act accordingly because

simply put, everyone is on their own timetable and should listen to themselves first. The same goes for masks; please don’t judge anyone who wears a mask if mandates are lifted.

It’s been a mentally draining two years for many of us. With change on the horizon, reintegrating into a socially active world looks different to everyone.

Go at your own pace, do what’s right for you and be open to having conversations with others without diminishing their comfort levels. If someone cancels plans with short notice based on comfort, be upset at the situation but not at the person.

I don’t have all the answers, strategies or predictions on the reintegration situation nor do I want or need to.

I only have my answers.

The same way only you have your answers.

MODERN MISSISSAUGA | WINTER 2022 29

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A steamed ham got us in It's going to take a stea by john murray lewis photo by karo kujanpaa on unsplash Four years ago, millionaires and hard-working people from across Ontario came together to elect a steamed ham. Experts told us it would be a disaster to put a juicy hunk of pork in charge of Canada's most populous province. But you know what? From the balcony of my palatial 5-bedroom Neo-rococo detached home here in Capitoline Heights, Vaughan's newest and hottest semi-gated community, things have never looked better.

On June 2nd, Ontario will make another historic choice. We can continue down the path we've been on for four long years, ambling leisurely through the greatest public health crisis of our time, our well-being hammered daily by unfettered cronyism, meaningless promises, mindless propaganda, and record-setting underfunding of our public institutions. Or we can change direction, elect a government committed to, at the bare minimum, coherent communication in at least one official language. But why take that risk?

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As a real estate developer with a diversified portfolio of NFTs, I know what it will take to stare down Ontario's crippling structural deficits and not flinch, or even react in any way at all: rich parents, a pile of BlackBerrys, and the courage to pack up and go to the cottage whenever things get a little too spicy. In other words, more ham.

There's no doubt the pandemic has revealed dangerous fault lines in our healthcare, housing and education systems. Surely a steamed ham deserves more than four measly years to fix the root cause of these issues, i.e., the unfairly high property taxes on my many downtown Airbnbs.

Now, some of you might be thinking, if a tender, fragrant steamed ham could have gotten us out of this mess, wouldn’t we be out of it already? Nice try, but you're forgetting one thing: this is a steamed ham we're talking about. It isn't, strictly speaking, capable of anything. Besides, the people of 2018 have spoken, and we should respect our ancestors.

Personally, I don't like to think of the last election as "a small-minded conservative temper tantrum" or "an ill-advised electoral experiment gone horribly wrong." I prefer to call it a learning experience.

nto this mess. amed ham to get us out.

Back in 2018, wealthy PC donors like me learned we could convince our credulous, petulant compatriots that what they really wanted was a province run like the worst kind of family business: criminally inept, hopelessly stupid, and sustainable only through the exploitation of the working poor.

You wanted a hands-off government, and who could be more hands-off than a succulent ham! (I mean, I think they take the hands off before they steam it?

To be honest, I've never steamed a ham, or anything else, in my entire life. That's what our housekeeper is for! We keep her passport in a lockbox.)

And sure, since then, many people's "worst" "fears" have come true, like the dozens of Ontarians still dying every day from COVID-19. But consider this: our government won't need to spend your hard-earned tax dollars on healthcare if all the most vulnerable people are dead. That's the kind of big brain politics you can continue to expect from a steamed ham and the sides of veggies that enable it.

Listen, I'm not saying it hasn't been a rough few years. Our children have been yo-yoed in and out of school more times than they can count (which, to be fair, is not such a bad thing, since counting

leads to numeracy, which leads to critical thinking, which leads to... shudder). Nurses are quitting, businesses are closing, and our capital has been invaded by history's lamest gang of Visigoth cosplayers. But it's important that in all this darkness, we look for the light, like Shoppers Drug Mart's stellar revenue numbers or the soon-to-be shimmering asphalt of Highway 413.

No one can promise an instantaneous return to happier days. But I, a white man who has never been told "no" or endured any hardship worth mentioning, will sleep soundly knowing that a steamed ham -- soft, moist, silent, spineless -will have my back if I ever decide to drive my smokin' blue Ford F-150 King Ranch up to Ottawa to harass its residents and urinate on its monuments.

In conclusion, I implore you to join me at the ballot box this June 2nd and cast one more vote for ol' steamie. After all, when winter comes, who do you want digging you out of a snowbank with a tiny red shovel: a steamed ham or literally anyone else?

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MALTON MINUTES by natalie hart |

photo courtesy of mississauga.ca

Exciting progress is being made on the New Malton Youth Hub. Construction is well underway to bring this space to new life here in Malton. It will create a fantastic space for our youth to explore new opportunities and access services designed to help them thrive.

With phased reopening planned it will soon be easier to enjoy all that Mississauga has to offer right here in Malton. Our community centres will reopen at reduced capacity to start, and our library will be open for in person services. From March break and more, check out the programming that is available to enjoy Youth and young adults – City of Mississauga for your family. Looking for a way to enjoy the great outdoors? Why not enjoy a walk-through

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Paul Coffey Park and take a peak at the new Basketball Courts if you haven’t seen them they are well worth a look.

Malton is an amazing community made up of many volunteer groups, small businesses, youth, seniors and people from every walk of life. One way that we can all continue to be helping each other is with small acts of everyday kindness. Saying thank you and have a nice day to each other. Waving hello to our neighbour when we are out for a walk. Dropping that extra food item into the donation bin with our weekly shop. Simple small acts can make life better for the person we are interacting with. The pandemic has been long for all of us, and while we may feel

frustrated at times the way forward is with each other. What can you do to reach out to others? Call a friend, reach out to a neighbour, volunteer with a community group are all great options. More of a hands on person? Running errands, litter pick ups and other ways to give back are always an option.

An easy way to help our community thrive remains supporting our local business community. From service firms, personal care and our incredible food scene there is a way to shop local for everything you need! Stay safe Malton we can’t wait to welcome you all back into our village. maltonbia.com

modern L IFEST Y L E

What does a new normal look like? by natalie hart |

photo by dayne topkin on unsplash

The last few years have changed how we look at everyday activities.

Handshakes have become elbow bumps, waving at each other online is the new way to end a meeting and zoom no longer means moving quickly. As we all start to look forward to spring and the planned options for gatherings it can be difficult to adjust our behaviours.

The important thing to know is it is ok to set your own boundaries!

Feel more comfortable with outdoor gatherings with friends?

Look at how our local parks can become your new picnic hang out or explore new trails together. Patios for dining are becoming year-round, nothing wrong with sharing that you like the people watching that offers! Eager to explore public art? Miss your favorite musical artists? Whatever it is that you are looking forward to sharing it with others is likely to be the largest part of that experience.

The important thing is to communicate your comfort levels with your friends and family in a respectful way. Making plans ahead

of time is the best way to work through those concerns. If you feel strongly about outdoor events being the best way to meet up with friends take the initiative and help plan it. If you feel pressured to do things you aren’t ready for it is important to say early that might not be a fit for you. Don’t wait until you arrive at a gathering to try and change how its structured, dress codes may be a thing of the past but there is nothing wrong with asking that masks be a part of your attire!

Looking for a really unusual way to get back into the swing of social activities? Think about community involvement! So many ways to connect with each other are based around volunteering, from a park clean up to vaccine clinic there is something for everyone.

Need some ideas for how you could get involved?

Try a resource like Volunteer MBC for options near you.

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ABOUT

BALANCE

Let’s blow the lid off something people don’t talk a lot about when it comes to leading a “balanced life” and reaching for your goals.

It’s almost impossible to have both at the same time.

When you’re in the process of making changes in your life, no matter what they are, it’s absolutely NORMAL for your life to get a little out of balance. At least for a short while.

I’m talking about times when you are …

• starting a new job or a new business.

• working on a health, wellness, or fitness goal.

• waving to make a big life purchase or pay off student debt.

• focused on a family goal (like a new baby in the house, or you’re suddenly in charge of your children’s schoolwork).

For instance, let’s say you’re working on a nutrition goal for the next few weeks or month.

If you normally order takeout or go out to eat with the family on the weekends - and end up indulging in meals that don’t align with your goals - what if instead you created a new “family dinner” at-home routine?

Everyone could chip in and help prepare dinner together - and if you have kids in the house who are old enough, maybe THEY can be (mostly) in charge.

Your family will remember these times for years to come…

AND you’ll all be eating healthier foods.

Finding ways to upgrade your time can lead to a win-win! Thinking outside the box and realizing that it’s ok to focus on different goals during different seasons is a tip that I hope you tackle your 2022 goals!

You only have so many hours in a day, with a limited amount of energy! When you’re faced with a real-life “out of balance” goal or situation, there are a couple of things you can do about it.

First, accept it.

“To everything, there is a season…”

That’s been solid wisdom for thousands of years – because it’s TRUE! If you try to do it “all” … it’ll almost always just lead to disappointment, burnout, and unneeded stress.

Second, try to give the other areas of your life SOME attention.

I’m talking about things related to: • Finances/money • Your family and your friends • Your health and wellness • Your self-development and learning • Your spirit If you ignore those areas of your life, before long you might find yourself feeling unhappy, unfulfilled, and feel like something is missing from your life (because it is!).

You might not be able to devote time to every area of your life every day, but carving out time once a week can make a real difference. You can also upgrade how you spend your time!

By Alex Cibiri, Element CrossFit Passionately improving the lives of those around him through an uncannily relatable approach to health and wellness, Element has been a hub in the growth of both CrossFit and the micro-gym industry in Canada. With a focus on creating lasting change through the pursuit of fitness and other meaningful life experiences, Element is changing lives through revolutionized personal and small-group training across both virtual and physical environments.

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TURNING HOUSES INTO HOMES

MIND. BODY. SPIRIT. SPACE. MINDFUL HOME DESIGN

Angela Higgins

Mindful Home & Lifestyle Designer angela@nourished-home.ca | 519-241-2004 www.nourished-home.ca 40 MODERN MISSISSAUGA | WINTER 2022

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why design a

Mindful Home by angela higgins

Designing homes “mindfully” has become increasingly popular, especially over the last few years as we are all spending more time inside our homes and experiencing first-hand just how drastically our spaces us can affect our mind, body and spirit.

As someone who’s made a career as a mindful home and lifestyle designer, I often have people ask me what “mindful design” means and why it’s so important.

What is Mindfulness?

Mindfulness is form of meditation, with both formal and informal practices.

It is also a way of living — a life skill. It utilizes your senses to engage in the present moment. It’s done with openness, acceptance and non-judgement.

Essentially, it’s about giving our full attention to what we are doing at any one moment in time. Being mindful in everyday life is about being present and connecting to the senses as we go about our day.

a place to just stop, slow down and breathe in a way that soothes and calms our nervous systems — a place to disconnect and reconnect.

I challenge you to select a space inside your home and just stand there. Maybe it’s your master bedroom or your home office. Now close your eyes and just breathe. Engage all of your senses and just feel the room’s energy. When you open your eyes, notice how you feel. If the space isn’t conjuring the energy you want, then maybe it’s time for a little mindful redesign! nourished-home.ca

Mindfulness & Your Home

Bringing mindfulness into your home design means utilizing these principles to help create a living space and lifestyle that reflects the wants and needs of those living inside. It allows us to create a home environment that nourishes us and allows us to live with ease and less stress.

As a professional home designer, tapping to mindfulness principles allows me to help create spaces that are better aligned with my clients’ core values, as well as prioritize functionality over a trendy aesthetic.

Houses into Homes

A mindfully created home becomes a place of peace, where we can be ourselves, feel safe and reconnect with those around us. It’s a place of grounding and nourishment — a sanctuary from the demands of daily life outside the walls.

In today’s overly stressful world, it’s becoming more important for us to have

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BRIAN CROMBIE: MIS by praveen amirtharaj Sauga960AM’s host of the nightly 6 pm Brian Crombie Radio Hour recently sat down with me to talk about his amazing business career, his passion for creating infrastructure and communities that work and the community he calls home – Mississauga.

PRAVEEN AMIRTHARAJ: Brian, you have had an amazing career in business in a variety of industries and roles – senior roles at a professional sports team to high profile entertainment companies to a pharmaceutical company. Where are you most comfortable?

BRIAN CROMBIE: I enjoy being a radio host. I enjoy doing finance. I enjoy general management. I like negotiation. So I think the simple answer to your question is that I’m a generalist. I’m probably most comfortable in numerous different roles and places.

PA: You worked for The Walt Disney company?

BC: I was the senior analyst in strategic planning for Disney for three years based in Los Angeles. I did a fair amount of work on Park development but also on the peripheral real estate development around the theme parks. I did a major strategic study for the Walt Disney Company about what to do with 44,000 acres of land Disney owned in Orlando looking at Park, entertainment, retail and Hotel usage. I was part of the group that came up with a concept for Pleasure Island and Downtown Disney.

PA: Then you moved on to the pharmaceutical industry?

BC: That was about 12 years later. Before that I worked for Molson's, where I was part of the group that did the financing for the new Bell Centre / Molson Centre for the Montreal Canadiens among many other deals. Then I went moved to Vancouver to work for Jim Pattison of the Jim Pattison Group doing fishing, coal, entertainment and grocery deals. After three years there I got called up by recruiter to see if I wanted to meet Eugene Melnyk who was the chairman and CEO of Biovail, a biopharmaceutical company. And so my career sort of went through a couple different paths to get to from Disney to Molson to Pattison to Biovail, where I became the CFO.

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PA: More recently, you became Chair of Transit Alliance.

Was that driven by personal interest?

BC: I really came to terms with how important infrastructure is when I was with Disney. I did a fascinating analysis that I presented to their Board of Directors about the importance of infrastructure. Infrastructure created a huge amount of value and so I got really excited about what economic generators can do and what infrastructure can do. Former Mississauga Mayor, Hazel McCallion asked me to chair something called the Mississauga City Summit.

I got really excited about infrastructure. And I remember I told my kids one time that my passion was infrastructure.

They said Dad no one has infrastructure as a passion.

But I think it's the key and it's not just the infrastructure but it's the combination of infrastructure with different generators of economic activity in an agglomeration.

PA: Recently you surpassed 500 episodes on Sauga960AM on your Brian Crombie Radio Hour. Congratulations.

What's your approach with your guests? Why do you think your interviews resonate with listeners?

BC: I'd like to believe I'm a good interviewer because I do my research ahead of time and I know what people are all about and I believe that I can get them to open up.

I also try to be somewhat provocative and provide a Counterpoint to what they're saying so that I can get them to talk and argue their point. But at the same time, I try to make them feel comfortable. I try to do Politics, Business, Economics and Lifestyle all week. I really try to get interesting business stories on my show. I try to close most of my shows with my own point of view on the topic. Bottom line, I am very curious which I think is my secret.

PA: Who has left the biggest impression on you and why?

That's a really difficult question. I’ve talked to a lot of fascinating people. Hazel McCallion is a fascinating person. Last week I interviewed the former mayor of Toronto, David Crombie who is a legend in local politics.

I interviewed Conrad Black on his point of view on Donald Trump. Those have been interesting, really interesting.

But I also interviewed people coming up with a new solution for rare diseases, or new technologies to change our lives or new political ideas. People are fascinating and I get to meet them and share my interviews with my audience.

What a privilege.

PA: Why is Mississauga special to you ?

SSISSAUGA’S VOICE OF EXPERIENCE BC: I think I've lived the life that a lot of people have as the dream, that of owning a single-family home with a great back yard and a pool.

I used to live in Toronto for 10 years, and I had a nice house and I loved being able to walk to Bloor Street and go to shops. But I never could afford a proper house there. Mississauga offers people the opportunity to own a middle class home with access to parks, bike trails and even having a basketball hoop in your driveway. I think the other thing about Mississauga is, and it’s lost a little bit of this, but we were a collection of communities … people felt an identity to their areas. I think that we've got these communities that you can feel part of and go and have some fun, whether it be restaurants or retail. There are things that we

could and should do with the parks in Mississauga. Could make those areas, if we wanted to, be as important to community as Central Park is to Manhattan or Stanley Park is to Vancouver or Hyde Park is to London.

PA: Who are looking forward to having on your show in 2022?

BC: I'm looking forward to interviewing some of the leaders of the Provincial parties. I've had a bunch of people on talking about this truck convoy in the last two weeks. I had a panel on about the Tory leadership. I want to have some more people on that. We got a lot happening from a political standpoint. So I think that'll be interesting. I'm hoping I get Hazel again for her 101st birthday.

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we bring good ideas to light.

We’ve built our design studio around the ability to explore, develop and follow ideas, wherever they lead.

wise idea.

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MODERN ENTREPRENEUR:

CORRIE HARDING In conversation with Corrie Harding-Keizs on why she made the challenging business decision during the pandemic and started CHK Real Estate.

1. After spending 20 years in the real estate industry, what led you to start CHK Real Estate?

I had always led my own team; however, in 2018, I partnered with North Group Real Estate, and over the next four years, we achieved so much together! Top Real Estate teams in all of Keller Williams Realty Canada and Awarded Most Innovative Team in North America by Inman, the authority on news, marketing and technology. Our clients and community are vital to us, and I wanted to create a boutique Real Estate experience that was more serving, and CHK Real Estate was born! We’re a local company with a global reach. Our team offers a tailor-made, modernized real estate experience with a foundation focused on people and building strong communities.

2. As Broker & Founder, what excites you the most about this new chapter in your career?

I’m most excited to focus on what matters most. The client experience! I love helping people achieve their Real Estate goals, and with a focused boutique approach, we can offer our clients hands-on service, and I’m very excited about this!

3. What drives you as an entrepreneur?

Real Estate is typically people's most significant investment, and I take their trust in me very seriously. In addition, I want to help people achieve their goals, whether that’s to buy, sell or invest in Real Estate. It is so rewarding to make people's dreams come true, and I take great pride in being part of that journey.

4. It's rare in the modern world for someone to have the same career for nearly 20 years; what is it about what you do that's kept you here?

I like being my own boss with no cap on where I can go or what I can achieve. It’s all up to me what I do… I love that! It’s an exciting industry where no two clients are alike, so every client has a different experience. Never a dull moment, that’s for sure!

5. How do you create and sustain a work/life/family balance?

Is there such thing as balance? There isn’t, in my opinion, but I have a motto. When I work, I WORK, and when I play, I PLAY. I fit it all in, but I love what I do, so it doesn’t feel like work. I believe in boundaries because this is an industry with no off button, so it’s important to schedule time for yourself and with your family and friends.

6. What advice do you have for up-and-coming entrepreneurs?

Give it time! You can’t expect instant results. But, if you do the work and stay focused; the results will come! Hard work always pays off! I’d also suggest having a mentor you can call on when you need help or advice. It’s an industry with many moving parts, and our job is to make it a seamless, stress-free experience, so having the support of a brokerage or team makes a difference. corrieharding.com

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MODERN BUSINESS PROFILE: by jay kana

VaniTEA Blends

Mississauga’s premium tea company is steeped in success, high-quality, and sustainability.

In conversation with Kavita Panchoo, co-owner of VaniTEA Blends.

1. What led you to launch VaniTEA Blends?

VaniTEA Blends was born from an idea of having our own cafe one day, the pandemic drove us to pivot to the world of e-commerce instead. We wanted to simultaneously target the sophisticated and novice palate with atypical tea blends.

One of our main goals is to emphasize the luxury and comfort of tea.

2. What separates VaniTEA Blends from other teas?

Bold flavours with a powerful aroma in comparison to off the shelf teas. Our tea leaves are nitrogen flushed preserving the taste and smell while prolonging the shelf life.

3. What sustainability measures are in place?

Our tea bags are compostable, while our

teaware like teapots and travel infusers are reusable. We also ship in recyclable packaging containing compostable packing peanuts. VaniTEA Blends aligns with a company involved in the Ethical Tea Partnership ensuring fair work practices.

Additionally, we partner with another company that installs biosand filters in 6 countries to provide safe drinking water.

4. There are several flavours of teas you have available - how were these decided upon?

It was a combination of personal taste and what we thought would be best sellers.

We made several lists and wanted to launch with a certain number in each collection while maintaining a wide variety. There are unusual combinations like popped rice and black tea or familiar flavours like cream of Earl Grey. The curated collection will continue to expand and change with customer feedback.

5. What's a misconception people have about tea?

Not all teas are true. True teas come from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant like black, green and oolong teas and are caffeinated to some degree (even if the package says decaf). Infusions with items like jasmine flowers, ginger or dried fruits are called tisanes and tend to be caffeine free.

6. What do the next 1-3 years look like for VaniTEA Blends?

We hope to create unique signature blends.

As well as collaborate with other small businesses within Canada, supporting local artisans and pairing their products with our own. We aim to showcase the versatility of tea. Our other aspirations include converting to 100% compostable private labelling and co-packaging on a larger scale.

Vaniteablends.ca

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DECANTING Light DIGEST

by steph wallcraft

Somewhere in the expanse of days between popping champagne corks and outdoor walks in light jackets, we might feel our commitment to new year’s resolutions begin to fade.

It’s not that we didn’t make them with sincerity, of course. It’s just that few people truly want to drink lemon water, eat salad, or leave the house for a run while temperatures are hovering well below freezing.

Some light compromise could be the answer.

Food can be healthful but still warming, exercise routines can be completed at home, and it may not be necessary to give up wine entirely to meet your wellness goals. Moderation is one option, but another has become available recently: light wines are becoming more common, and some of them aren’t too shabby.

We sampled three of the lower-calorie, low-alcohol wines that are currently available at the LCBO. Given that the labels on several mass-produced light wines feature flexing athletes or diet-culture pandering, we chose these three because they’re the ones we’d be least embarrassed to show up with at a dinner party.

Our takeaways? This experiment works far better with white varieties than reds, which really need the fuller alcohol content for structure and aging.

And it’s important to keep one’s expectations in check: while two of these wines are from producers with facilities in Ontario, they don’t carry a vintage or the VQA appellation marker, and they’re made with a blend of both Canadian and international wines.

That doesn’t automatically make a wine terrible, but it does mean that what went into it probably wasn’t good enough to make it into a top-quality (read: more expensive) wine.

That said, if lower-calorie is your goal, you might consider these worth a try. Here’s what we found.

PELLER FAMILY VINEYARDS PINOT GRIGIO LIGHT

Pinot Grigio Light // Ontario (International Blend) // LCBO#: 16785 // $10.45 This wine has an alcohol content of 8% and 120 calories per 6 oz. serving, but plenty of sugar at 19 grams per litre. (For reference, the average 6 oz. glass contains 150 calories.) Of the three wines we tried, this was easily the most fragrant, with apple and floral notes wafting well beyond the pale pinkish-yellow hues in the glass.

Those florals join in with flavours of lychee and grapefruit, which offer a very slight acidity but don’t linger for long. This wine’s relative lightness would make a nice accompaniment to a delicate poached or pan-fried white fish in a browned butter sauce. Score: 7.5/10.

CUPCAKE LIGHT HEARTED

Chardonnay // California, USA // LCBO#: 19725 // $15.95 This lighter version of a California Chard rings in at 8% alcohol, 100 calories for 6 oz, and 5 grams of sugar per litre. It presents with a light golden yellow colour and a pleasant melange of papaya, pineapple, and caramel on the nose. Sipping adds a layer of citrus and a lightly buttery but not overpowering infusion of oak. It’s not as full-flavoured as a traditional Chardonnay, but that could make it more versatile in some ways. Enjoy it with a roast chicken dinner so that you can save a few calories for dessert. Score: 7.5/10.

JACKSON-TRIGGS

Cabernet Sauvignon Light // Ontario (International Blend) // LCBO#: 12287 // $10.95 At 8%, the light version of J-T’s Cab Sauv is lower in alcohol than its traditional counterpart, but it’s much higher in sugar at 19 grams per litre. (Calories per glass are not provided.) It pours well with a deep burgundy colour and a nose that’s flush with currant and fresh berries. The flavour is where things get a bit dicey: with the same flavours in the tasting as are found on the nose, it’s far fruitier than a typical Cab Sauv and not at all complex. Chill it slightly like a Pinot noir and it becomes a little more gregarious. Served this way, it would work well with grilled turkey burgers for a summer barbecue. Score: 6/10.

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MODERN TECHNOLOGY: A D V A N C I N G T by jay kana In conversation with Mississauga entrepreneur, Marc Belaiche, on the creation of his new and innovative recruitment company, Guhuza.

Mississauga’s Guhuza takes the best features from Netflix, Uber and dating sites and connects the perfect candidate to companies in minutes instead of weeks.

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1. You've described Guhuza as "An all-in-one technology solution for the hiring needs of businesses with 1-100 employees in the Greater Toronto Area." What prompted you to create this service?

The idea came about as the result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The pandemic has changed the recruiting process and labour market in major ways. As everyone has gone virtual overnight the recruiting process also has become virtual. As a result of the pandemic, we needed to pivot our business with new products and services and Guhuza was something that seemed to be a great opportunity. We have also found that businesses with less than 100 employees struggle with all the different methods that they can find staff and all the added steps including testing, reference checks, criminal checks and so on – Guhuza makes this entire process especially easy for these types of organizations to hire.

HE RECRUITMENT PROCESS 2. What separates Guhuza from other recruiting resources?

It’s unlike any recruiting service out there. Our recruitment platform provides everything needed to connect an employer with the perfect job seeker and vice versa in minutes instead of weeks with our matching AI technology. It eliminates the potential of “ghosting” from both parties, it provides skill testing and background checks all in one place, and it offers the ability to interview live in the moment.

3. How exactly does Guhuza work?

It is a new way in how job seekers and employers find each other.

This recruiting platform that makes recruitment completely digital while saving steps and time for both the candidate and employer.

Guhuza takes the best features from Netflix, Uber and dating sites and connects the perfect candidate to companies in minutes instead of weeks. Employers need only upload their job descriptions and our matching AI technology reaches out to potential job seekers who are available to interview live in the moment. The entire process is automated from job opening to person starting, this includes reviewing resumes, contacting candidates, scheduling interviews, testing, and background checks. Job seekers need only upload their resume to the platform and our AI technology will notify them when a company is interviewing live. Guhuza cuts out the timeconsuming and stressful application process.

4. The live interview aspect is intriguing how has the response been so far from both candidates and companies?

The company feedback has been very positive so far and has helped us with making more updates. While the platform is working right now, the algorithms that we are using are being improved each day and we expect further rollouts and updates to improve the process in the next few weeks.

For candidates, this platform is a significant time saver from having to search and apply to positions and not hearing back.

5. You launched in autumn of 2021 and as the owner of TorontoJobs.ca for several years, how has this creative experience differed from previous ones?

The many years of experience for both myself and our team at TorontoJobs.ca – designing, developing and updating the TorontoJobs.ca job board over the years – has really helped provide a base of understanding for developing Guhuza and working with the development team While there are similarities with TorontoJobs. ca, Guhuza has more features that align with where the recruitment industry is going and how job seekers and employers find each other.

6. What was the largest obstacle in launching Guhuza?

Time is our biggest obstacle as we want to have a number of initiatives but each one takes time to conceptualize, research, implement and test and each one of those areas takes time to complete. While there have been a number of overall hurdles to overcome (such as setting up accounting, marketing, social media, etc.) these have not been significant obstacles to getting Guhuza launched.

7. Guhuza is an interesting word - what does it mean and why did you select it?

Guhuza (pronounced “Gah-Hoo-Za”) means "to connect" in Rwandan. The word was chosen because that is the crux of what this platform is about - connecting businesses and job seekers by finding them the perfect fit in minutes not weeks.

We wanted something a little more mysterious than something that just had “jobs”, “recruiting” or “hiring” in the name.

8. Do you predict that other recruitment companies will follow Guhuza's lead in the coming months/years?

I suspect that organizations that are hiring for staff will use our technology as it can save them significant time. Overall, I think there will always be a need for the traditional service that recruitment firms provide in the very same way there is still a need for taxis even though we have Uber and Lyft. While the pandemic may not be forever, the effects of it will last a very long time - more people, especially young people, already operate mostly in the digital space and with more people working remotely Guhuza will be a convenient option for jobseekers.

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