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STILL IN MOTION Raine Maida on Legacy, Evolution & The Road Ahead

DWELL 36

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CONTENTS SAVOUR COVER FEATURE 98

STILL HUNGRY Curtis Duffy Reflects on Claudio Aprile’s Return to Bar Origin

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UNAPOLOGETICALLY EXTRA A Chic Take on Thanksgiving with Gregory Fast

LIFESTYLE 112

BECKETT FINE ART Indigenous Artists Tom Wilson & Kyle Joedicke

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Creative Director / Editor

The Pull of What’s Next here is something about September that always feels like a fresh start. Summer may be winding down, but fall brings its own energy—and that sense of looking ahead runs throughout this issue. Our cover story, Still Hungry, is especially personal. Michelin-starred chef Curtis Duffy writes about his longtime friend Claudio Aprile as Claudio begins a new chapter with Bar Origin in Burlington. After 23 years of friendship, Curtis gives us a rare look beyond the accolades to the creativity, perspective and drive that continue to shape them both. That same momentum carries into Alan Cross’s conversation with Canadian music icon Raine Maida. Thirty years into Our Lady Peace, Raine is focused firmly on what 26 | September • October 2026

comes next: new music, a documentary, technology and family. Elsewhere, fall arrives in style with our Men’s Fashion feature, while Gregory Fast makes Thanksgiving Unapologetically Extra. We also explore inspired homes, independent schools and memorable escapes, from The Castle Keep in the Blue Mountains to a deeper side of Barbados. A new season, a fresh perspective, and plenty worth discovering. We hope you enjoy this issue!

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motion Thirty years into Our Lady Peace, Raine Maida is looking ahead—to new music, a deeply personal documentary, the future of fandom and a family following its own creative paths. By Alan Cross Image: © Igor Vidyashev/ZUMA Press, Inc

30 | September • October 2026

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Thirty Years—and a New Beginning Our Lady Peace’s 30th-anniversary celebration has felt less like a retrospective than a renewal.

ALAN CROSS Canadian Radio Broadcaster & Writer

aine Maida is running on little sleep. Settling in front of his studio computer for a Zoom call, the Our Lady Peace frontman is still feeling the effects of the band’s anniversary-tour stop at The Belasco in Los Angeles the night before. Fortunately, the venue was not far from the Pacific Palisades home he shares with his wife, singer-songwriter Chantal Kreviazuk. No airports. No tour buses. At least not this time. The couple has lived in California for years, close to the centre of the music industry, but also to the region’s wildfires. “A year ago, the Palisades Fire was literally in the backyard,” Maida says. “We had 150 fire trucks on our street in the canyon. This is the new normal here.” His home studio and office are now in what he calls a “constant state of chaos.” There is music being written, technology being developed, a documentary taking shape and a family of artists pursuing projects of their own.

“The change in management, the re-energizing of the brand and connecting with fans again—these are friends at this point,” Maida says. “OLP 30 has been a huge success. The gratitude we have is pretty profound. It’s been so gratifying.” The band has once again been selling out arenas and reconnecting with longtime listeners. For Maida, though, one of the most meaningful stories is happening away from the stage. When the band’s manager suggested documenting the anniversary, Maida was hesitant. “The idea of doing a rock doc sounded very clichéd to me,” he says. “So I said we had to think of something else.”

Then, at around four o’clock one morning, the answer arrived. “I woke up, and I was like, ‘I have it.’” The idea was Gail, a documentary told through the eyes of Our Lady Peace superfan Gail Lichtman. A New Yorker who has attended more than 150 OLP performances, Lichtman works for the city’s subway system by day. Whenever she can, she follows the band from city to city by bus, train or plane, serving as something of a matriarch within the OLP fan community. “Why don’t we follow Gail?” Maida remembers proposing. “Get a film crew, find a director she can trust and let’s tell our story through Gail’s eyes.” Directed by Michael Maxxis, Gail follows Lichtman throughout the band’s 30th anniversary tour, with the tagline “more than a fan, less than a friend.” “The footage was crazy,” Maida says. “Gail was great. She narrates the whole thing. It’s just incredible.”

“If you asked me 20 years ago what I’d be doing, I’d never think I’d be so hyperinvolved in so many different projects.”

“If you asked me 20 years ago what I’d be doing, I’d never think I’d be so hyperinvolved in so many different projects,” he says. “But I think that’s why I get up in the morning.”

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September • October 2026 | 31

help artists connect more meaningfully with their audiences. The platform builds fan databases during live performances, allowing artists to reward loyal supporters, offer special access and strengthen their communities. According to Maida, approximately 70 per cent of the tickets for the band’s recent U.S. tour were sold through presales supported by FanDrop data. Scaling the platform is now a priority. Following further beta testing, Maida hopes to make it available to other artists and expand it into organizations such as the Ontario Hockey League and Woodbine Racetrack. “If you build it,” he says, “they will come.” To Maida, music and technology are increasingly intertwined—both offer new ways to build trust and bring people closer to the experiences that matter to them.

A Family of Artists Creative momentum extends throughout the Maida-Kreviazuk household. Kreviazuk has been working on new music and a memoir, I’m Going to Break Your Heart: A Rock ’n’ Roll Love Story, an unguarded account of their marriage. “It’s sort of a dual memoir,” Maida says, “because I also talk about my experiences.”

Our Lady Peace band members Jason Pierce, Raine Maida, Steve Mazur & Duncan Coutts

What might once have been released on YouTube soon attracted attention beyond the OLP camp. Filmmaker Jason Reitman joined as executive producer, while editor Shane Reid, whose credits include the Deadpool films, was brought onto the project. The film also features an original score by Canadian composer Lesley Barber and orchestral arrangements by Eric Rosse.

“This is what I love about music and tech,” Maida says. “You can turn this little idea into a bigger, organic idea.”

The documentary has since been submitted for consideration by Telluride, TIFF and BAFTA, while distribution conversations continue.

Building a Better Connection

What began as a modest idea has become a portrait of music, devotion and the lasting relationships between artists and the people listening.

Our Lady Peace is also working on new music, including a track that may appear over the closing credits of Gail. At the same time, Maida is deeply involved in FanDrop, an OLP start-up designed to

32 | September • October 2026

At its heart, he believes the film is about something more elemental. “Music saves lives,” he says. “And to see that so intimately through a character like Gail was really fascinating.”

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The material moves into difficult territory, but not without levity. One story recalls the night Kreviazuk went into labour following a party, when no one was sober enough to drive her to the hospital. There is also the tale of former Major League Baseball player Danny Tartabull, who agreed to buy one of their homes, moved in and then failed to pay for approximately a year. “He was basically a squatter,” Maida recalls. Their son Rowan is also establishing a creative life of his own. He has signed a music publishing deal and is working with the management company associated with producer Rick Rubin. “He’s on his own path,” Maida says. “He does not conform to TikTok and Instagram stuff. He’s an outlier and is doing things on his own terms.” At his core, Rowan is a pianist and singer-songwriter. “He’s a phenomenal musician,” Maida says. “He’s like Mac Miller meets Frank Sinatra. He likes to rock, but that’s not his soul.” After 30 years of recording and touring, it would be understandable if Maida were ready to slow down. Instead, he appears more engaged than ever. There are arenas to play, songs to write, a documentary to introduce and a technology company to grow. There is also a fan community to nurture and a household filled with artists creating work of their own.

Raine Maida has never been one to sit still. Judging by everything currently on his plate, he will not have the chance for quite some time. Chantal Kreviazuk & Raine Maida

September • October 2026 | 33

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ZWILLING MILANO DEBUTS NEW COLOURS ZWILLING has introduced two new colours to its Milano cookware collection, designed in Milan by Matteo Thun and Antonio Rodriguez. Crafted in Italy, the collection combines modern blue, brown, and black hues with sleek lines and PFAS-free ceramic coating, bringing a touch of Italian elegance to everyday cooking. Zwilling.com

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September • October 2026 | 35

Built to Belong At Project Somerset, Pine Glen Homes demonstrates that exceptional homes are defined by thoughtful design, enduring craftsmanship, and spaces created to evolve with the families who live in them. Written by Ken Dixon | Photography by Brandin Barham

36 | September • October 2026

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here is an unmistakable confidence in Somerset. At first glance, its striking white vertical siding, natural wood columns, and crisp black detailing capture the enduring appeal of modern farmhouse architecture. Yet beyond its elegant exterior lies something far more meaningful. Every space has been carefully considered, every detail intentionally executed, and every decision guided by the people who will one day call it home. For Pine Glen Homes, Somerset represents more than exceptional design. It reflects the philosophy that has guided the custom home builder since its inception: treating every homeowner with integrity, transparency, and the same care they would expect as a client. “We believe that if we do what we say we will do, communicate openly, and always act in our clients’ best interests, the result will be a successful project and a satisfied homeowner,” say Pine Glen Homes’ Eddie Jurinic and Justin Pellicciotta.

That client-first approach has earned Pine Glen Homes a reputation for creating bespoke, super custom residences that are as practical as they are beautiful. Every project begins with listening. “We have two ears and one mouth for a reason,” they explain. “Understanding how a family truly lives allows us to guide them toward solutions that are unique to their lifestyle. There is never a one-sizefits-all approach.” That philosophy is evident throughout Somerset. bestsidemagazine.com

September • October 2026 | 37

the earliest planning stages through final possession. Clients are guided through each phase of construction, architecture, interior planning, mechanical systems, value engineering, and making countless decisions along the way. By preparing homeowners for each milestone and maintaining open dialogue throughout the process, the experience becomes more collaborative and less overwhelming.

Natural light pours through expansive windows, while the elevated front porch creates an immediate sense of welcome. Designed in collaboration with architect Tony Diodati of Orangeink Design and interior designer Kate Davidson of Kate + Co., the home strikes a thoughtful balance between contemporary sophistication and timeless farmhouse character. The result is a residence that feels equally warm, refined, and enduring. Beneath the beautiful finishes lies the thoughtful planning that defines a Pine Glen Home. The transitions between hardwood, stone, tile, and millwork have been meticulously coordinated to create visual continuity throughout the residence. Mechanical systems are tailored to the homeowners’ lifestyle, while structural considerations often extend beyond standard building requirements. Whether accommodating substantial natural stone furnishings, integrating marble staircases, or installing flawless polished concrete in an indoor garage, countless hours of planning go into it long before construction begins.

accommodations, and dedicated wellness spaces, including home gyms, saunas, and cold plunge rooms. Outdoor living has similarly evolved, with many homeowners investing in resortinspired backyards that reduce the need for a seasonal cottage. Comfort and convenience also play an increasingly important role, with radiant floor heating, snow melt systems, and tailored home automation, creating spaces designed to be enjoyed year-round. As priorities continue to evolve, one constant remains: the relationship between builder and homeowner. Pine Glen Homes believes trust is built through proactive communication from

That commitment to continuous improvement extends beyond individual homes. Looking ahead, Pine Glen Homes is introducing new client-focused technologies and streamlined processes designed to further enhance the homeowner experience. The company is also preparing to build its own purposedesigned headquarters, creating an inspiring environment for both staff and clients while supporting the business’s next chapter. As Somerset beautifully demonstrates, Pine Glen Homes is creating more than luxury residences. They are building super custom homes centred around the people who live in them, balancing timeless design with modern functionality, and delivering an experience grounded in trust, craftsmanship, and genuine partnership. In a world where luxury is increasingly defined by how a home supports everyday life, Somerset stands as a compelling example of thoughtful design done exceptionally well. For more info, visit PineGlen.ca

It is this invisible craftsmanship that ultimately elevates the finished home. Today’s luxury homeowner is also redefining what matters most. While timeless aesthetics remain important, functionality has become the driving force behind modern custom home design. Many of Pine Glen Homes’ clients are building their forever homes, prompting conversations about aging in place, main-floor primary suites, wider openings, flexible guest 38 | September • October 2026

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The Benchmark for Super Custom Homes. At Pine Glen Homes, we pair elevated architectural design with disciplined planning, defining Super Custom as the art of executing extremely complex, intricate, and unapologetically luxurious builds with absolute precision. This is custom homebuilding grounded in beauty, transparency, precision, and unwavering integrity.

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September • October 2026 | 41

2054 LAKESHORE RD E OAKVILLE - $33,000,000

15 CHARTWELL RD OAKVILLE - $9,995,000

15 LAMBERT CMN OAKVILLE - $7,900,000

46 SECOND ST OAKVILLE - $7,599,000

1081 ARGYLE DR OAKVILLE - $7,475,000

129 WOLFDALE AVE OAKVILLE - $7,470,000

100 APPLEBY PL BURLINGTON - $5,749,000

2372 CARRINGTON PL OAKVILLE - $5,590,000

130 EDGECLIFFE PL BURLINGTON - $4,995,000

287 MACDONALD RD OAKVILLE - $3.949,000

411 WEDGEWOOD DR OAKVILLE - $3,788,000

24 BIRKBANK DR OAKVILLE - $3,399,999

1168 CAREY RD OAKVILLE - $3,299,000

2073 DERAMORE DR OAKVILLE - $3,125,000

332 PALMER AVE OAKVILLE - $2,999,000

*Not intended to solicit persons or properties currently under contract.

105 WHITTINGTON PL OAKVILLE - $2,999,000

104 WHITTINGTON PL OAKVILLE - $2,599,999

392 ASPEN FOREST DR OAKVILLE - $2,475,000

1526 BRIDGE RD OAKVILLE - $2,399,000

996 CRESTHAMPTON LN MISSISSAUGA - $2,299,999

85 PARK ST W MISSISSAUGA - $2,249,000

401 CAIRNCROFT RD OAKVILLE - $2,195,000

2195 COURTLAND DR BURLINGTON - $2,175,000

3136 PRINCESS BLVD BURLINGTON - $1,999,000

255 SPRING GARDEN RD OAKVILLE - $1,799,000

1491 TRENTON RD OAKVILLE - $1,789,900

1839 FELLEN PL MISSISSAUGA - $1,649,999

7049 GASLAMP WALK MISSISSAUGA - $1,496,000

1273 CLARKSON RD N MISSISSAUGA - $1,250,000

RE/MAX ESCARPMENT REALTY INC. BROKERAGE Independently Owned & Operated

#103-1320 COR N WA LL ROA D OA KV IL L E | 905.842.7677 R EGA NIR ISH.COM

Room for

MEET THE DESIGNER JACKIE GLASS President, Principal Designer jackieglass.ca

Living I Thoughtful storage transforms a busy family basement into a beautifully organized space designed for gathering, entertaining and everyday life. By Jackie Glass

t’s hard to believe another summer is coming to an end. Canadians wait most of the year for those precious few months of warm sunshine, long evenings and outdoor living. As soon as the weather allows, patios come to life, cottages fill with family and friends, and weekends become packed with barbecues, festivals, lakeside afternoons and backyard gatherings. We take every opportunity to soak it all in because we know it won’t last forever. Then, almost overnight, the season begins to shift. Mornings carry a cooler undertone, evenings arrive a little earlier, and the first hints of colour appear in the trees. It’s nature’s gentle reminder that another summer has quietly slipped by and it’s time to prepare for the months ahead. If you’re anything like me, that change of season also signals the annual ritual of packing everything away. Outdoor

44 | September • October 2026

cushions come inside before the rain arrives. Patio furniture gets covered or moved into sheltered spaces. Planters are emptied, lanterns stored, and all those decorative accessories that made our outdoor spaces feel so welcoming are carefully tucked away until next spring. And every year, I seem to face the same challenge: where does everything go? The extra pillows, cozy throws, baskets, serving pieces and decorative accents that somehow found their way home with me throughout the summer all need a place to live. It’s amazing how quickly seasonal décor accumulates and, before long, every available shelf and closet feels full. Storage is one of those elements of design that often goes unnoticed—until you don’t have enough of it. It may not be the most glamorous feature in a home, but it can be one of the most valuable.

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Interior Design: Jackie Glass Inc. | Millwork: Parand Design Fabrication: Quartz Co. | Porcelain: Anatolia Contractor: JH Contracting | Photography: Bruno Belli

Thoughtfully designed storage can make a home feel calmer, more organized, and infinitely more functional. Whether it’s seasonal décor, sports equipment, children’s toys or everyday essentials, smart storage solutions simplify daily living while allowing beautiful spaces to remain free of clutter. That was certainly the case for our clients. An active family of four, they loved spending time together but were constantly struggling with a lack of storage throughout their home. Closets were overflowing, and there never seemed to be enough space for the countless things that naturally accumulate in a busy household. When they approached us to redesign their basement, one request stood above all others: maximize every square inch with practical, efficient storage—without sacrificing style. Our first challenge was to rethink the existing layout. Rather than simply updating the finishes, we looked carefully at how the basement functioned and where we could make the space work harder for the family. The original kitchenette occupied valuable real estate beneath the staircase, limiting both storage and traffic flow. By relocating it and integrating it more seamlessly into the main living area, we

were able to create a spacious walk-in storage room immediately at the bottom of the stairs. It quickly became one of the most practical additions in the entire renovation, providing an easily accessible home for seasonal décor, luggage, sports equipment, household supplies and all those things families want close at hand— but not necessarily on display. Sometimes the most successful design decisions aren’t the ones that immediately catch your eye. They’re the ones that quietly make everyday life easier.

Thoughtfully designed storage can make a home feel calmer, more organized, & infinitely more functional. Relocating the kitchenette also allowed us to make it far more functional for entertaining. A panelled refrigerator, sink, wine fridge and open shelving create an inviting beverage station that feels like a natural extension of the living space. A long run of custom base cabinetry provides generous closed storage, while chunky open shelves offer room to display dishes, glassware and favourite collectibles. Rather than feeling tucked away, the kitchenette now belongs to the room, making it equally suited to casual family movie nights or evenings spent entertaining friends.

46 | September • October 2026

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From the moment you enter the basement, we wanted the space to feel warm, welcoming and comfortable. Rather than immediately encountering cabinetry or storage rooms, you’re drawn into a living area designed for relaxation and conversation. Every decision was made with the family’s lifestyle in mind. One of the most significant changes was relocating the fireplace. Its original position at the opposite end of the room created awkward furniture arrangements and made conversation difficult. Moving it to a more central location allowed us to establish a natural focal point with a sleek linear electric fireplace set against a dramatic porcelain feature wall. The new seating arrangement centres around an exceptionally long sectional that comfortably accommodates the entire family. Whether it’s movie night, the big game or simply relaxing together at the end of the day, everyone has a place to gather. When the children have friends over, the room can easily accommodate a larger group without feeling crowded. Behind the sectional, two long console tables paired with comfortable stools add another layer of flexibility. Guests can enjoy snacks or a casual meal while watching television, the children have a convenient place for homework or games, and the stools can double as ottomans or extra seating when needed. It’s a simple example of how multifunctional furniture allows a room to adapt to the rhythms of everyday life. Storage continues throughout the main living space. Floor-to-ceiling cabinetry flanking the fireplace provides extensive

concealed storage while maintaining a clean, streamlined appearance. Behind those doors are board games, blankets, serving pieces, seasonal accessories and all the everyday extras that can quickly make a room feel cluttered. “While we typically incorporate some open shelving into our wall unit designs, we chose pantry-style cabinetry throughout this project to maximize storage capacity,” says Kimberly Garcia, lead designer on the project. “The goal was to give the family as much usable storage as possible while maintaining a refined, modern aesthetic.” To achieve that balance, Kimberly selected flat-panel cabinetry paired with Ariel Bianco porcelain countertops from Anatolia. The subtle veining and timeless palette introduce warmth and texture while keeping the design fresh, sophisticated and comfortable. The basement washroom underwent a complete transformation as well. Custom built-in cabinetry stretches from wall to wall, providing abundant storage while creating visual continuity with the adjoining spaces. Ariel Bianco polished porcelain continues onto the shower walls, creating a bright backdrop, while Kit Kat mosaic tile adds texture and interest behind the vanity. Warm wood-grain cabinetry softens the contemporary finishes, resulting in a space that feels both elegant and welcoming. A generously sized glass shower enhances the openness of the room, while a backlit mirror with anti-steam technology brings convenience to the

daily routine. As throughout the rest of the basement, every detail balances how the space looks with how it needs to work. To complete the design, large-scale abstract artwork was selected to reinforce the home’s colour palette and help define the kitchenette and dining nook. These final layers add personality and warmth without overwhelming the clean architectural lines of the space. As another summer comes to a close and we begin packing away the season’s treasures, it’s a timely reminder that thoughtful storage isn’t simply about finding somewhere to put our belongings.

It’s about creating a home that functions beautifully every day of the year. Because when everything has a purpose—and everything has a place— there’s more room for what really matters: living in it.

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September • October 2026 | 47

WHERE GARDEN & LAKE MEET

Lakeview By Design: Finding her Garden Within

By Mackenzie Best

or Elizabeth Law, thoughtful design has never stopped at the garden door. At Innisfree, her lakefront home in Niagara-on-the-Lake, the landscape unfolds as a natural extension of the interiors—personal, layered and touched with the unexpected. Working with the property’s established framework of mature trees and shrubs, Elizabeth and her partner introduced hardscaping and perennial plantings that complement the home’s history and remarkable setting. Catalpa and sycamore trees create a stately welcome, while hydrangeas, Japanese maples, roses, hostas and soft shades of pink bring colour and texture throughout the grounds.

48 | September • October 2026

The experience becomes increasingly dramatic toward the lake. A pool, pergola, contemporary fire feature and several inviting lounging areas create places to gather, while a glass-enclosed lakeside room offers a quiet retreat with uninterrupted views of sky and water. Each space has its own character, yet the garden feels connected, comfortable and entirely at home in its surroundings.

celebrating gardens, horticulture and community throughout the region. Proceeds from the tour support horticultural scholarships, community beautification projects, and educational initiatives throughout the region. For more information, visit NOTLHortSociety.com

Featured on the Niagara-on-the-Lake Garden Tour, Innisfree reflects Elizabeth’s instinct for creating spaces that reveal something meaningful about the people who live in them. Elizabeth Interiors is also proud to support the Niagara-on-theLake Horticultural Society and its work bestsidemagazine.com

Bespoke Beds Interior Design Services & Furnishings Canada-Wide elizabethinteriors.com | 905.333.6670 | @elizabethinteriors Elizabeth Interiors | Liz @ Home | Liz @ the Lake

best finds

Scallop To It

CU RV ED, WAV Y O R S H ELL-S H A PED, TH ES E PL AY FU L PI EC ES B R I N G A SO F TER EDG E TO A N Y ROO M . 1) Reflected Elegance With its irregular scalloped edge and dark antique brushed brass finish, this wavy mirror blends vintage character with modern design. A sculptural focal point for bedrooms, entryways, or living spaces, it adds depth, warmth, and timeless appeal. JoshuaCreekFurniture.com 2) Layered Light The Pacifica Four Light Pendant brings a refined touch to interiors with its tiered silhouette and scalloped drum shades. Finished in flax, this transitional fixture adds warmth and dimension to living rooms, bedrooms, or anywhere a softly tailored glow is desired. GerrieLightingStudio.ca

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3) Aqua Artistry This ceramic garden stool brings playful personality with its scalloped edge and hand-carved geometric detailing. Finished in a vibrant aqua blue glaze, its compact silhouette works beautifully as a seat, side table, or decorative accent, indoors or out. AndersonsInteriors.ca

4) Round About With a gently shaped back and arms, this swivel chair brings a subtle scalloped effect to its sculptural form. Tailored French seams add a refined finish to this compact, characterful accent. CocoonFurnishings.ca 5) Marble Moment This elegant drink table pairs a scalloped marble top with a fluted base and sleek dark bronze iron stem. Natural veining gives each piece its own character, while the sculptural silhouette adds refined texture and visual interest to any space. AndersonsInteriors.ca 6) Bedside Beauty This two-drawer nightstand pairs graceful curves with timeless craftsmanship. Featuring a serpentine silhouette, walnut swirl veneers, scalloped drawer fronts, and satin brass hardware, it offers elegant storage while making a sophisticated statement beside the bed. ElizabethInteriors.com 50 | September • October 2026

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7) Coastal Curves Wrapped in blue-green painted raffia, this scalloped console table brings texture and personality to any space. Its slim profile and coastal-inspired design make it a striking accent for entryways, hallways, or living rooms. ElizabethInteriors.com 8) Curved Character The Cassidy Mini Lamp makes a statement with its sculptural antique brass orb base and oversized scalloped shade. Blending playful curves with refined finishes, it brings warmth, charm, and personality to bedside tables, consoles, or reading nooks. ElizabethInteriors.com

9) Petal Perfect The Suzie Scalloped Ottoman combines a softly undulating silhouette with tailored upholstery for a playful yet polished look. Petite and versatile, its petal-like shape brings movement and personality to any room. CocoonFurnishings.ca

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10) Wave Length The Sophia Apartment Sofa adds a playful touch to a timeless silhouette with its beautifully undulating wave skirt. Its rhythmic scalloped hem introduces movement and femininity while maintaining an elegant, tailored feel. CocoonFurnishings.ca 11) Grand Shade Tuuci’s Ocean Master MEGA MAX Voilare parasol makes a dramatic statement with its sculptural frame and expansive 20-foot canopy. Featuring 24 ribs, its impressive scale combines strength and sophistication to create a striking focal point for outdoor entertaining. SouthernLivingDesign.ca

10.

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12) Tabletop Grace Costa Nova’s Marrakech collection brings scalloped detailing to the table with beautifully shaped edges and organic, handcrafted character. Each piece adds subtle texture and movement, creating a timeless yet fresh approach to everyday dining. CocoonFurnishings.ca 13) Softly Scalloped This plush cotton velvet pillow brings warmth and texture to any space with its rich terracotta hue and embroidered scalloped edge. Equal parts playful and refined, it’s an effortless accent for layering on sofas, chairs, or beds. ElizabethInteriors.com bestsidemagazine.com

12.

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September • October 2026 | 51

LUXURY PROPERTIES HIGHEST RESIDENTIAL SALE ON TRREB IN 2026

SOUTH-EAST OAKVILLE

SOUTH-EAST OAKVILLE ESTATE

LIFE AT THE WATER’S EDGE

A PRIVATE OASIS OF DISTINCTION

LISTED & SOLD REPRESENTED BUYER & SELLER

$13,500,000

$12,000,000

Brentwood Road

6 Ennisclare Drive West

113 Maple Grove Drive

LISTED PRICE $19,998,000

4+1 BEDS | 6 BATHS | LOT SIZE 100 X 421 FT

5+1 BEDS | 10 BATHS | LOT SIZE 0.78 ACRE

ROSEDALE, TORONTO

SOUTH-EAST OAKVILLE

LORNE PARK, MISSISSAUGA

RAVINE LIVING AT ITS FINEST

OAKVILLE LUXURY | POOL | CUSTOM BUILT

RESORT-LIKE | POOL | BUNGALOW STUDIO

$11,995,000

$6,250,000

$5,499,000

20 Cluny Drive

1102 Crestview Street

1188 Birchview Drive

5 BEDS | 7 BATHS | LOT SIZE 42 X 238 FT

4+1 BEDS | 7 BATHS | LOT SIZE 56 X 145 FT

5+1 BEDS | 5 BATHS | LOT SIZE 100 X 276 FT

MINEOLA, MISSISSAUGA

STREETSVILLE, MISSISSAUGA

OLD OAKVILLE, OAKVILLE

CUSTOM-BUILT ESTATE

EXECUTIVE ESTATE | BACKYARD OASIS | CREEK

BUILD YOUR BESPOKE LUXURY HOME

$4,599,900

$4,299,000

$4,265,000

1511 Broadmoor Avenue

57 Joymar Drive

343 Douglas Avenue

4+2 BEDS | 8 BATHS | LOT SIZE 106 X 164 FT

5+2 BEDS | 8 BATHS | LOT SIZE 95 X 246 FT

4+1 BEDS | 6 BATHS | LOT SIZE 50 X 150 FT

LORNE PARK MISSISSAUGA

LAKEVIEW MISSISSAUGA

LORNE PARK, MISSSSAUGA

POOL | ADDITION PERMITS APPROVED

6,100+ SQFT OF REFINED LIVING SPACE

TEXTRAORDINARY CUSTOM-BUILT HOME

$3,550,000 $2,999,999

$3,398,000

$3,395,000

1352 Nocturne Court

647 Montbeck Crescent

1143 Kane Road

3+1 BEDS | 3 BATHS | LOT SIZE 91 X 158 FT

4+2 BEDS | 6 BATHS | LOT SIZE 53 X 112 FT

5+3 BEDS | 7 BATHS | LOT SIZE 131 X 98 FT

Royal LePage Real Estate Services Phinney Real Estate, Brokerage

E X P E C T E X T R A O R D I N A R Y TM

LUXURY PROPERTIES BRADFORD WEST GWILLIMBURY

ERIN MILLS, MISSISSAUGA

EDENBRIDGE-HUMBER VALLEY, TORONTO

SHIRE ESTATES | RAVINE LOT

RENOVATED GOURMET KITCHEN

PRESTIGE MEETS POSSIBILITY

$3,199,000

$3,098,999

INQUIRE FOR PRICE

197 Nottingham Forest Road

3861 Promontory Crescent

52 Valecrest Drive

5+1 BEDS | 5 BATHS | LOT SIZE 1.14 ACRES

4+1 BEDS | 4 BATHS | LOT SIZE 80 X 110 FT

3+1 BEDS | 3 BATHS | LOT SIZE 77 X 126 FT

LORNE PARK, MISSISSAUGA

RURAL CALEDON

MINEOLA, MISSISSAUGA

STEPS TO THE LAKE

DISTINCTIVE ESTATE APPROX. 7 ACRES

NEWLY BUILT LUXURY RESIDENCE

$3,000,000

$1,999,999

$2,790,000

1066 Stockwell Avenue

19555 Shaws Creek Road

1438 Garnet Avenue

2+1 BEDS | 3 BATHS | DOUBLE LOT 200 X 100 FT

4 BEDS | 3 BATHS | LOT SIZE 7.042 ACRES

4+1 BEDS | 5 BATHS | LOT SIZE 50 X 141 FT

LORNE PARK, MISSISSAUGA

CLARKSON, MISSISSAUGA

EAST CREDIT, MISSISSAUGA

RARE 106-FT FRONTAGE

RENOVATED FROM TOP TO BOTTOM

IMMACULATE, RENOVATED & MOVE-IN READY

$2,750,000

$2,695,000

$1,700,000

1244 Woodland Avenue

1340 Contour Drive

5563 Whitehorn Avenue

4+1 BEDS | 5 BATHS | LOT SIZE 106 X 95 FT

4 BEDS | 3 BATHS | LOT SIZE 182 X 225 FT

4+1 BEDS | 5 BATHS | LOT SIZE 53 X 111 FT

STREETSVILLE, MISSISSAUGA

LANDSING-WESTGATE, TORONTO

PORT CREDIT, MISSISSAUGA

POOLSIDE FAMILY RETREAT

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$2,199,000

$2,199,900

$1,849,999

52 Joymar Drive

245 Florence Avenue

6 Iroquois Avenue

4+2 BEDS | 5 BATHS | LOT SIZE 99 X 126 FT

4 BEDS | 4 BATHS | LOT SIZE 25 X 129 FT

4 BEDS | 5 BATHS | LOT SIZE 25 X 110 FT

SCAN HERE FOR MORE LISTINGS & SALES

TORONTO 416.236.1871 | GTA 905.466.8888 PHINNEYREALESTATE.COM

SAFE AT HOME:

Expert Advice from Corrie George

EVERY LAYER COUNTS Building a Home That Defends Itself

WHAT IS A SAFEHOME360™ HOME DEFENCE AUDIT? Most homeowners do not know where their property is vulnerable until something happens. Developed alongside a retired RCMP officer, the SafeHome360™ Home Defence Audit assesses your home from an intruder’s perspective. We examine access points, lighting, landscaping, sightlines, doors, windows and existing security measures. Homeowners then receive a clear plan identifying potential weaknesses and practical ways to address them. It is not a generic checklist—it is a defence strategy designed specifically for your property. WHAT IS THE MOST OVERLOOKED AREA OF THE HOME? The sides and back. Homeowners often focus on the front door, but intruders prefer areas where they are less likely to be seen. Basement windows, patio doors, garage entry doors and access points hidden by fences or landscaping can be especially vulnerable. Improve lighting, trim shrubs, maintain clear sightlines and protect doors and windows with reinforcements and sensors. The goal is to make your home the most difficult target on the street. WHICH OUTDOOR SECURITY MEASURES MATTER MOST AS THE DAYS GET SHORTER? Visibility is essential. Entrances, driveways, pathways and rear access points should be well-lit and easy to see. Trees and shrubs should also be trimmed so they do not create hiding places or block security cameras. Motion-activated lighting and properly positioned cameras are valuable, but they work best when the property appears maintained, occupied and watched. 54 | September • October 2026

HOW IS ZERO-VISIBILITY FOGSHIELD™ DIFFERENT FROM AN ALARM OR CAMERA? Alarms and cameras detect, notify and record. Zero-Visibility FogShield™ adds an active layer of protection. When an intrusion is detected, the system rapidly fills the protected area with dense white fog, reducing visibility to nearly zero. The intruder cannot easily navigate the space or locate valuables. The food-grade, non-toxic fog is safe for children, pets, electronics and furniture. It dissipates without leaving odour or residue. It does not replace alarms or cameras—it adds another response when other security layers have been breached. HOW DOES FOGSHIELD™ FIT INTO A COMPLETE HOME DEFENCE SYSTEM? Effective protection relies on layers. Lighting and visible security discourage entry. Reinforced doors and protected glass make access more difficult. Sensors, alarms and cameras detect suspicious activity. If an intruder still gets inside, FogShield™ limits their ability to move through the home. That is why every system begins with the SafeHome360™ Home Defence Audit. We assess each layer and build a solution around the property—not a single product. Protect your home. Protect your family. That is what we do at Canada First. bestsidemagazine.com

Total Home Protection For Total Peace Of Mind A higher standard of home protection.

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Built on Certainty

How Georgian Custom Homes is bringing clarity to the biggest questions in custom building—before construction begins. By John Andover

n almost every custom home project, excitement gives way to questions.

You may have found the lot. You can picture the kitchen, the light through the great room and the way the house will open to the backyard. Perhaps you are looking at an existing home and imagining what it could become. The vision is there. What is harder to see is everything between that vision and the finished front door. Can the house you want actually be built on this property? Will the floor plan work? What will the municipality allow? What will it cost? For Georgian Custom Homes, those questions should be answered before construction begins.

BEFORE THE BLUEPRINT The traditional route to a custom home can be surprisingly fragmented. An architect develops a design, and plans are refined before a builder is brought in to price what has been created.

WHAT CAN WE BUILD HERE? Every property comes with possibilities and limitations. Zoning bylaws, setbacks, lot coverage, grading, trees, environmental restrictions and site conditions can all influence what can be built.

That is often when vision meets reality.

By examining these factors early, Georgian establishes a realistic building envelope and determines how a client’s wish list fits within it. For someone considering a lot purchase, that insight can be invaluable. For a major renovation, it can help determine whether to expand, reconfigure or rethink the existing home.

Setbacks, grading or tree restrictions may alter the footprint, while a beautiful design can carry a construction cost far beyond the intended budget. Georgian approaches the process differently. Its Feasibility Study brings the essential pieces together at the beginning, examining the property, architecture, floor plan, aesthetic direction, budget and schedule before a homeowner commits to full design and construction. The first deliverable isn’t simply a drawing. It’s clarity. bestsidemagazine.com

The conversation moves from Could we do this? to This is what is possible. FROM FIRST SKETCH TO FINISHED HOME Once we understand the property’s parameters, ideas begin to take shape.

Questions to Answer Before You Build

CAN I BUILD IT? Zoning, setbacks, grading, trees and site restrictions. WHAT WILL IT LOOK LIKE? Sketch renderings, elevations, visual concepts and material direction. WILL IT WORK FOR US? Preliminary floor plans, room relationships, flow and functionality. WHAT WILL IT COST—AND HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE? Preliminary costing paired with a realistic project timeline. September • October 2026 | 57

Preliminary floor plans explore how the home should function: how rooms connect, where sightlines land and whether the spaces support the way a family lives. Does the kitchen work for everyday life and entertaining? Is there enough separation between public and private spaces? Is storage where it is needed? Early sketch renderings establish the architectural direction. As the project moves into full design, those ideas gain dimension, materials and detail through photorealistic interior and exterior renderings.

Why Georgian?

One integrated team. One plan. One point of accountability. Georgian brings site analysis, design, construction knowledge, budgeting and scheduling together from the beginning—creating a clearer path from the first idea to the finished home. 58 | September • October 2026

bestsidemagazine.com

Meet Michelle Mawby Principal Designer, Georgian Design Build

A floor plan shows where the walls will be; a rendering helps you understand what living within them may feel like. You can consider materials, proportions, window placement, cabinetry, and architectural details before they become permanent decisions. That matters because changing a concept on a screen is very different from changing it on a construction site. Put an early sketch beside the completed house, and the value of that preparation becomes clear. Many decisions that shape the finished home were established much earlier—what could be built, how it should function and what it should feel like. THE NUMBERS MATTER, TOO Design is only feasible when it aligns with the budget required to build it. Georgian develops a comprehensive material cost estimate alongside the proposed concept, allowing clients to understand the financial implications of their choices while there is still time to make thoughtful adjustments. A realistic project timeline also sets expectations for design, approvals, and construction. Variables will always come up in a custom build, but transparency at the outset replaces much of the guesswork with a clearer framework for decision-making. bestsidemagazine.com

ONE TEAM, ONE CONVERSATION Site feasibility, architecture, space planning, visualization, costing and scheduling are considered together. Rather than one team designing the dream and another later explaining what it will take to build it, Georgian connects design and construction from the outset. For the homeowner, that means fewer gaps between intention and execution— and one team carrying the vision forward. The Feasibility Study also offers a considered first step for clients not yet ready to commit to the entire project. When they proceed with Georgian, the study fee is credited toward their contract. Know more before you commit more. BUILD WITH YOUR EYES OPEN The best custom homes begin with imagination. But imagination becomes more powerful when supported by information. By resolving questions of feasibility, design, function, cost and timing early, Georgian gives homeowners a clearer path from first idea to finished home—and greater confidence in the decisions along the way. For more information, visit Studio.GeorgianCustomHomes.ca

For Michelle Mawby, good design begins long before selecting finishes. As Georgian’s Principal Designer, she joins the conversation from the earliest stages, helping translate how clients want to live into spaces that are beautiful, functional, and grounded in what can actually be built. A Registered Interior Designer with more than 20 years of experience, Mawby holds NCIDQ and BCIN qualifications and has worked internationally in Amsterdam, London, California and Vancouver before making Toronto home. Her philosophy that form follows function fits naturally within Georgian’s integrated approach: architecture, interiors and construction are considered together rather than as separate decisions. That combination of creativity and practicality helps take a Georgian project from an early feasibility sketch to a home that feels distinctly personal to the people who live there. September • October 2026 | 59

A SANCTUARY BEYOND IMAGINATION 1272 FIDDLERS GREEN, ANCASTER

LISTED AT $14,800,000 | 6 BEDS | 13 BATHS | 22,387 SQFT | 5.2 ACRES 1099 MINERAL SPRINGS RD, ANCASTER

814 BINKLEY RD, ANCASTER

EXTR AORDINARY MODERN ESTATE

MUSKOK A-LIKE LUXURY ESTATE

LISTED AT $5,995,000 | 3 BEDS | 6 BATHS | 6,674 SQFT | 39 ACRES

LISTED AT $5,695,000 | 8 BEDS | 6 BATHS | 8,075 SQFT | 6.37 ACRES

DEVELOPMENT LAND IN DUNDAS

21 HARRINGTON PL, ANCASTER

126 MCGREGOR CRES, ANCASTER

LISTED AT $4,995,000 120 UNIT CONDO OR RETIREMENT

LISTED AT $3,900,000 5 BEDS | 4 BATHS | 6,145 SQFT | 0.45 ACRES

LISTED AT $3,799,900 7 BEDS | 8 BATHS | 8,850 SQFT

100 SENECA DR, ANCASTER

18 ELDER CRES, ANCASTER

2134 MAPLEWOOD RD, ST. CLEMENTS

LISTED AT $3,695,000 6 BEDS | 6 BATHS | 7,000 SQFT

LISTED AT $3,495,000 5 BEDS | 6 BATHS | 6,875 SQFT | 2.48 ACRES

LISTED AT $2,880,000 6 BEDS | 5 BATHS | 5,242 SQFT | 10.54 ACRES

5 UNDERCLIFFE AVE, HAMILTON

994 COURTLAND DR, ANCASTER

4558 LAKESIDE DR, BEAMSVILLE

LISTED AT $2,595,000 6 BEDS | 6 BATHS | 5,058 SQFT

LISTED AT $2,499,900 4 BEDS | 5 BATHS | 4,735 SQFT | 0.71 ACRES

LISTED AT $2,375,000 350 FT FRONTAGE | 10.48 ACRES

102 CUMMING CT, ANCASTER

1097 MINERAL SPRINGS RD, ANCASTER

91 MOUNTAIN PARK AVE, HAMILTON

LISTED AT $2,349,900 6 BEDS | 6 BATHS | 5,780 SQFT

LISTED AT $1,999,900 4 BEDS | 3 BATHS | 5,029 SQFT | 0.88 ACRES

LISTED AT $1,399,900 5 BEDS | 4 BATHS | 3,277 SQFT

BOOK A PRIVATE SHOWING TODAY: 905.802.4769

GIRARDTEAM.CA | INFO@GIRARDTEAM.CA | 1122 WILSON STREET WEST, ANCASTER

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INTO

LUXURY

ALL-ELECTRIC 2026 OPTIQ OPTIQ is giving main character energy. From daily commutes to weekend festivals, pursue adventures near and far with Cadillac-estimated up to 486 km of range.† with a full charge. Press the pedal and OPTIQ, enabled by our battery platform, responds with near-instantaneous torque. Quick, smooth acceleration pins you to your seat for an athletic driving experience. Enjoy your private space. OPTIQ offers rear cargo volume and second-row legroom. Exciting colourways and details express your distinct personality. Indulgent features, like available massaging front seats and a premier audio system, create a relaxing vibe.

STARTING FROM

63,899

PLUS TAX

410 SOUTH SERVICE RD W OAKVILLE, ONTARIO 905 845 1681 WWW.BUDDSCADILLAC.COM

Sales price includes PDI, Air tax, Registration OMVIC Fee, Tire Levy. All current Manufacturer to customer discounts and rebates applied. Prices valid on date of publication. Prices are subect to change without notice. Vehicle may not be exactly as shown.

GLAMOUR 50 YEARS OF STYLE This year, Burrows Clothiers celebrates an incredible 50 years in Downtown Oakville. Since 1976, Burrows has built a reputation for exceptional menswear, expert tailoring and the kind of personal service that keeps generations of clients coming back. Here’s to five decades of great style, strong relationships and being part of the fabric of the Oakville community. BurrowsClothiers.com

WEARABLE ART COLLECTIONS Catherine Bobesich has unveiled limitededition handbag and cuff collections that transform her original artwork into luxury wearable pieces. Inspired by the energy and movement of the beautiful game, each design is handcrafted by skilled artisans, blending fine art, exceptional craftsmanship, and timeless style into collectible statement accessories. CatherineBobesich.com

PAJAMAS WITH PURPOSE Petit Lem has partnered with Leucan to launch Pajamas with Purpose, a special sleepwear collection supporting children with cancer. Made from 100% organic cotton and featuring Leucan’s signature ladybug, Camie, the collection donates 100% of profits to help fund family support services and pediatric cancer research. PetitLem.com bestsidemagazine.com

SONA COSMETICS LAUNCHES LIP GLAZE Sona Cosmetics has introduced Lip Glaze, a hydrating gloss designed to deliver a high-shine, glazed finish without the stickiness of traditional formulas. Available in six wearable shades, the gloss combines hyaluronic acid and jojoba oil for everyday nourishment, reflecting the brand’s philosophy of effortless, elevated beauty. SonaCosmetics.com

LIMITED-EDITION GORD DOWNIE T-SHIRT REVENUE BRAND’s limited-edition GORD RELENTLESS T-Shirt honours Gord Downie’s legacy and his unwavering commitment to truth and reconciliation. Created in partnership with the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund, 50% of proceeds support DWF—making this more than a great tee, but a meaningful way to carry the conversation forward. RevenueBrand.com September • October 2026 | 63

Born from

Reinvention How FRIDA Fine Jewellery transforms personal stories into timeless heirlooms. By Ann Dorothy

ome jewellery dazzles with brilliance. Other pieces leave a lasting impression because of the story they carry. At FRIDA Fine Jewellery, every creation begins with meaning, where artistry, emotion and exceptional craftsmanship come together to celebrate life’s most significant moments.

“When choice was limited in every aspect of my life 25 years ago, I went back to where I began my journey as a designer and entrepreneur,” she says. “I was six years old when I began reinventing my grandmother’s jewellery. Broken strands of pearls and beads became a vehicle of self-expression.”

Founded by designer Carrie Lamb, FRIDA was born during a profoundly transformative chapter in her life. At a time when many choices felt beyond her control, she returned to the creative instinct that first inspired her as a child.

What began on the playground eventually evolved into an independent Canadian luxury jewellery brand known for its thoughtful design, bespoke creations and unwavering commitment to craftsmanship. Today, Carrie leads

64 | September • October 2026

FRIDA alongside her daughter, Emma, who serves as the brand’s Creative Director, helping shape its next chapter while preserving the values that have always defined it. The name FRIDA, meaning “beautiful and beloved” in ancient Norse, was chosen in honour of Emma and reflects the spirit at the heart of the brand. Authenticity, resilience and empowerment are woven into every collection. “I chose jewellery as the vehicle through which I could communicate

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my resilience and reinvention,” Carrie explains. “Our jewellery tells a story. It’s not overt, but every piece carries meaning and intention.” That philosophy is evident throughout FRIDA’s signature collections, many of which are inspired by nature, mythology and the passage of time. Among them, the OCEAN Collection remains especially personal. Developed during a period of deep introspection, the collection reflects the calming rhythms of the natural world. “Mindfulness and meditation, whilst listening to the rhythm of the sea, the patterns left upon the sand, the ebb and flow of human emotion and our desire for freedom,” Carrie says, “the OCEAN Collection is ever-evolving.” While FRIDA’s collections offer a distinctive aesthetic, the brand is also known for its bespoke jewellery. Each custom commission begins not with a sketch, but with a conversation. Carrie believes understanding a client’s story, lifestyle and personal style is essential to creating a piece that feels entirely their own. “My gift, as a designer, is a mix of intuition and instinct,” she says. “Understanding a client’s personal aesthetic and story is key to creating the perfect piece.” That collaborative approach often transforms clients into lifelong friends. Whether designing an engagement ring, reimagining a treasured family heirloom or creating a one-of-a-kind statement piece, every design is thoughtfully tailored to the individual. As Carrie describes it, each creation is “one-of-one for one-of-one.” The partnership between Carrie and Emma has also strengthened FRIDA’s identity as an independent luxury brand. Together, they champion a vision centred on exceptional quality, thoughtful design and what they describe as “quiet luxury.” While Carrie continues to lead the artistic direction of the jewellery itself, Emma has elevated the brand’s digital presence and global reach, connecting with clients across Canada and beyond.

E AC H C R E AT I O N I S

“one-of-one for one-of-one.”

“As the face of the brand, Emma personifies the ‘FRIDA Woman’... fearless, beautiful and always unique,” Carrie says. “Be your own brand, define yourself.” Ultimately, FRIDA creates jewellery intended to last far beyond a single occasion. Working with investment-grade gemstones, including rare unheated sapphires and other extraordinary one-of-a-kind stones sourced from trusted partners around the world, every piece is crafted to become part of a family’s story. “I know our clients will forever treasure their jewels,” Carrie says. “They will be loved and passed to the next generation who in turn will find meaning, joy and an interpretation unique to them.” In a world increasingly defined by fast trends, FRIDA Fine Jewellery offers something far more enduring: beautifully crafted pieces that honour individuality, celebrate life’s milestones and become lasting heirlooms for generations to come. Learn more at Frida.ca

66 | September • October 2026

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STRATA COLLECTION tm

layers of 18kt gold and diamonds

frida fine jewellery by carrie lamb 1477 LOWER WATER ST, BISHOP’S LANDING | HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA PRIVATE & VIRTUAL CONSULTATIONS AVAILABLE | FRIDAJEWELLERY@FRIDA.CA | FRIDA.CA

Substance in Style

Eric Sana FW26: Deep Bordeaux wool bouclé coat | Deep red cool-wool suit—in stock or made to measure | Essential Shirt | Made-to-measure shoes

OAKVILLE, THANK YOU As a designer, I am grateful to create clothing for people. As an Oakville resident, I am even more grateful to serve the community I call home. I spend a great deal of time in Italy creating and producing the clothing that carries my name. Italy is where much of the craft happens but Oakville is where I love living, working and dressing my fellow residents. Bringing those two worlds together means a great deal to me. Since opening the new Eric Sana boutique this past March, Oakville has welcomed us with extraordinary warmth. People have come through our doors not only to discover the clothing, but also to introduce themselves, share their stories and offer genuine encouragement. I believe a store should be more than a place where something is sold. It should be a place where people feel at home, conversation matters and human connection comes before the transaction. To everyone who has visited, supported us or recommended us to someone else: thank you. You have made our first months here truly meaningful. Our doors are open. Stop by, say hello, enjoy a true caffè Napolitano or a ristretto, if you prefer, and make yourself at home. I am proud to call Oakville home and deeply grateful to also serve clients from Burlington, Mississauga and across the Greater Toronto Area. — Eric Sana Substance in Style

125 Lakeshore Road E, Oakville

ericsana.com | 905.338.0999

Style that knows the guy wearing it. THE BEST MENSWEAR STORIES START WITH PEOPLE.

The Jeff’s Guy He’s not defined

He might be heading

He knows what he likes.

by an age.

to the office, the

He just appreciates

Or a job.

golf course, a dinner

having someone who

Or a dress code.

downtown or the

knows what looks good

airport.

on him.

That’s where we come in.

GOOD STYLE. GOOD PEOPLE. RIGHT HERE. | THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING LOCAL.

Curated Brands. Sensible Style. Carefully chosen. Expertly styled. Always authentic.

Effortless, coastal style with a laid back attitude. Built for comfort, made to stand out.

Smart, contemporary pieces with a European edge. Clean, refined, stylish and easy to wear.

Quality. Fit. Comfort. European craftsmanship with styles that move with you. You will want to own every colour!

Modern sophistication with eyecatching prints, great basics, rich fabrics and a sharp attention to detail.

Go to premium denim that feels as amazing as it looks. When you know, you know!

Whether you need that perfect pair of jeans, a go-to shirt, or a wardrobe refresh, we’re here for it! We know you will enjoy our laid back approach and the store’s casual environment.

We know our guys by name and what they like to wear.

Expert service. No Pressure. Honest advice and personalized service that makes shopping easy.

Scandinavian minimalism meets streetsmart style. Versatile and always on point.

More than a store. Its a Place Our family business is proud to be a part of the Downtown Burlington community.

Local People. Real Style.

Community Driven. Proud supporters of many local initiatives for over 20 years. We give back!

457 BRANT STREET DOWNTOWN BURLINGTON 905.631.6833 JEFFSGUYSHOP.COM @JEFFSGUYSHOP

THE

NEW

CLASSICS This season’s menswear finds strike a confident balance between heritage and modern ease. Think richly textured outerwear, sharp tailoring, refined layers and elevated everyday pieces designed to work well beyond a single season. From statement coats and soft cashmere to relaxed shirting, sneakers and accessories, these are the pieces making fall dressing feel polished without trying too hard.

ALPINE LAYERS Phil Petter’s Mountain Knit Crewneck captures the spirit of après-ski with a cozy alpine-inspired design. Knitted in Austria from a lightweight blend of merino wool, alpaca, and cotton, its soft blue palette and textured finish make it a stylish cold-weather staple. BlazerForMen.com

Featuring: Barrington’s · Blazer for Men · Burrows Eric Sana · Jeff’s Guy Shop

LEATHER PRESENCE Eric Sana’s Pegasus Coat makes a confident statement in first-cut lamb leather, tailored in Napoli with structured shoulders, a clean waist and a sophisticated three-quarter length. Finished in deep Bordeaux with a stretch cotton lining, it’s bold outerwear designed to become even better with time. EricSana.com

COUNTRY CHECK Barbour Chevoit Wax Flat Cap gives the classic flat cap a practical cold-weather update, crafted in signature waxed cotton with fold-down ear warmers and heritage tartan detailing for a distinctly British finish. Barringtons.ca

72 | September • October 2026

CASHMERE CUT Colombo’s 100% Worsted Cashmere Jacket puts exceptional Italian fabric at the forefront, pairing pure cashmere with a clean, tailored silhouette. Soft, lightweight and quietly sophisticated, it’s an investment piece designed to move effortlessly between polished and relaxed dressing. BurrowsClothiers.com bestsidemagazine.com

SOFT STEP Berwick’s Chocolate Deerskin Leather Loafer offers exceptional softness from the very first wear. Crafted with Goodyear welted construction and leather soles, its rich chocolate finish and almond toe make it equally suited to tailored trousers or relaxed weekend looks. BlazerForMen.com

EASY ESSENTIAL Eric Sana’s Essential Dress Shirt is designed for polished dressing without the stiffness, crafted from a breathable cottonspandex blend with four-way stretch and a wrinkle-resistant finish. Comfortable, versatile and easy to care for, it moves effortlessly from the office to after-hours. EricSana.com

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CHECKED IN Eleventy’s Long Sleeve Shirt is crafted in Italy from substantial cotton flannel, with a classic check pattern and snap-button closure. Easy to layer yet polished enough to wear solo, it brings relaxed versatility to cooler-weather dressing. BurrowsClothiers.com

CLASSIC LAYERS Barrington’s wool jacket combines timeless tailoring with practical warmth. Made in Canada, its clean black silhouette is complemented by a convenient zip bib, creating a polished yet functional layer for cooler days. Barringtons.ca

BUILT TO LAST The Classic Bridle Belt by BRAVE combines heavyweight Italian vegetable-tanned leather with a solid hand-cast stainless steel buckle. Designed for durability and backed by a lifetime guarantee, it’s a timeless essential made to wear beautifully over time. JeffsGuyShop.com

September • October 2026 | 73

COLD SNAP Barbour’s Hackney Tartan Mixed Media Touchscreen Gloves bring a polished heritage feel to coldweather dressing, pairing the brand’s signature tartan with contrasting textures and touchscreencompatible fingertips for an easy balance of style and function. Barringtons.ca

EXECUTIVE EASE Eric Sana’s Celeste Executive Hoodie blends tailored polish with relaxed versatility, crafted in Italy from a breathable linen-and-cotton blend with a richly textured weave. A removable hood with zip detailing lets it shift easily from casual layering to a sharper, more refined look. EricSana.com

HERITAGE IN CHECK A distinctive take on Barbour’s classic Heritage Liddesdale, this lightweight quilted jacket features an oversized interpretation of the brand’s signature tartan in a soft brushed finish. Heritage-inspired yet easy to wear, it’s an effortless layer for the season. Barringtons.ca

DOUBLE TAKE Eric Sana’s Cappotto Double Breasted Capri brings classic European tailoring to a commanding double-breasted silhouette, crafted from an Italian wool blend with substantial notch lapels, slanted flap pockets and a clean lightgrey finish. A polished overcoat that works just as easily with suiting as it does dressed down. EricSana.com 74 | September • October 2026

TONAL MOTION Officine Creative’s Slouch Aero Tonal Sneaker pairs Italian craftsmanship with a modern carbon-toned silhouette, combining relaxed proportions, subtle aerodynamic detailing and premium construction for an understated sneaker that moves easily from casual to smart-casual dressing. BurrowsClothiers.com

TRAVEL IN STYLE The Blazer Travel by A Fish Named Fred pairs lightweight comfort with polished style. Its subtle texture and bold Tokyoinspired lining add personality, while signature details bring a distinctive finish. Ideal for travel, long days, or evenings out. JeffsGuyShop.com bestsidemagazine.com

SOFT STRUCTURE Eleventy’s Wool Alpaca Bomber brings understated texture to a classic zip-front silhouette, blending wool, alpaca and Tencel for a soft, substantial feel. Finished with a mock neck and leather zip pull, it’s an easy layer with a distinctly Italian point of view. BurrowsClothiers.com

MODERN BOMBER The MMGThom Leather Bomber Jacket by MOS MOSH brings a clean, contemporary take to a timeless silhouette. Crafted with a relaxed fit, ribbed edges, and classic zip fastening, it transitions effortlessly from casual weekends to more polished looks. JeffsGuyShop.com

FINE-TUNED COMFORT Ferrante’s Frosted Extrafine Merino Quarter-Zip is crafted in a lightweight 12-gauge knit that naturally regulates temperature while offering softness and stretch. Finished with a half-zip neckline and ribbed collar, it’s an ideal layer for fall and winter. BlazerForMen.com

REFINED COMFORT Reigning Champ’s Midweight Terry Standard Button Mockneck balances structure and softness in premium terry fabric. Featuring a four-button closure, full-cut proportions, and signature flatlock construction, it’s a versatile layer designed for year-round comfort. JeffsGuyShop.com

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LAYERED LUXURY Made in Italy, Manto’s Wool Silk Cashmere Overshirt blends 55% wool, 30% silk, and 15% cashmere for warmth without weight. Its textured open-weave construction and refined mushroom hue make it a versatile layer for cooler days. BlazerForMen.com

September • October 2026 | 75

A 42 regular is a manufacturing convenience. The average of a few thousand men, none of whom is you. The back of our store is a tailoring shop, always busy shortening sleeves, lowering collars, sometimes even squaring shoulders. The brands we carry are chosen partly because they can take the work. Most of them don’t advertise much. If ready-to-wear has never quite worked, even with alterations, made to measure starts with a conversation, a tape measure, and about six weeks. If you have something coming up, come in early. There’s no rushing this part.

blazerformen.com/bestside Or call us at 905.338.0322

There’s something special about walking into your local menswear shop and being greeted by people who know your name, your size, and your style. At Burrows Clothiers, those relationships have been built over 50 years.

For Blake, though, the goal has always been simple: help men look and feel their best. That can mean finding the right suit for a wedding, helping someone update their wardrobe, or simply knowing what size to pull before they even have to ask. It’s personal. That’s the point. So while 50 years is worth celebrating, this milestone really belongs to the people who made it possible: the clients, employees, friends, and families who have kept coming through the doors. And after 50 years, there’s still something special about walking into a place where everybody knows your name – and your size. Blake Lennox

Burrows has called Downtown Oakville home since 1976. Since then, the brands have changed, the way men dress has changed, and Oakville itself has changed. But what made Burrows special in the first place hasn’t. When Blake Lennox took over Burrows in 2008, he set out to move the business forward without losing what made it special: personal service and relationships. When Blake talks about Burrows, he talks about the people first. “There are clients I’ve known since I started working here who have become friends. I’ve watched their families grow, and they’ve watched mine grow. That’s what makes this business so meaningful to me.” Some clients have been shopping at Burrows for decades. Some first came in with their fathers and now come in

with their own sons. Others are walking through the doors for the first time. That mix of long-standing relationships and new generations is a big part of what has kept Burrows thriving for half a century. Burrows also feels distinctly Oakville. “Oakville has changed tremendously, but it still has a strong sense of community. People know each other. They support local businesses. We’ve been incredibly fortunate to be here for 50 years.” Over the years, Burrows has evolved alongside its customers, bringing in new brands, renovating and reinvesting in its Downtown Oakville home, and opening Burrows Too, a second location with its own distinct mix of brands and style.

20 0 L A K ESH O R E R D E , OAKV ILLE | B UR R OW S C LOT H IE R S . CO M

Celebrating 75 Y E ARS I N OAKVI L LE

www. ba r ring tons.ca

The Strength Advantage Building and preserving muscle can help protect mobility, independence and the freedom to keep doing what you love. By Dr. James Ting

adequate protein and healthy lifestyle habits can make a meaningful difference. Demanding careers, travel schedules, old injuries and joint issues can make regular training difficult. As a result, many people are looking for ways to supplement traditional exercise rather than replace it.

Dr. James Ting Orion Medical Rejuvenation Clinic OrionMRC.com | 905.824.7999

or many people in midlife, success brings something invaluable: the freedom to enjoy life on your own terms. Whether that means exploring a new hobby or filling passport pages with stamps from faraway places, it is a time to focus on personal well-being. Yet one of the most important factors in maintaining that lifestyle often goes overlooked — muscle. Most of us associate muscle with athletic performance or aesthetics, but it also plays an important role in healthy aging. Beginning in our thirties, we naturally start to lose muscle mass, and the process accelerates as we get older. The consequences extend far beyond feeling a little weaker. Muscle loss can affect balance, energy, metabolism and even our ability to remain independent later in life. Think about the activities that define an active, fulfilling retirement: carrying luggage through an airport, spending an afternoon on the golf course, lifting a grandchild or simply climbing stairs without hesitation. These everyday pleasures depend heavily on maintaining strength. Muscle responds remarkably well to attention at any age. Research has shown that even adults in their eighties and nineties can significantly improve strength and mobility through resistance training. You do not need to become a dedicated gym enthusiast to benefit. Consistent, moderate strength work combined with

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Electrical muscle stimulation (EMS), once used primarily in rehabilitation clinics, has moved into the broader wellness space as technology has evolved.

truFlex by Cutera Studies show significant benefits: • Average 30% muscle mass increase • Reduce low back pain • Improve range of motion and flexibility • Increase endurance • Comfortable treatment with no downtime

EMS treatment uses gentle electrical impulses to activate muscle fibres and trigger muscle contractions. For busy professionals, sessions as short as 15 minutes can be incorporated into an existing fitness routine with minimal disruption. Research suggests EMS may help improve muscle strength and tone, with some users also reporting improvements in body contour and overall firmness. EMS works best as part of a broader wellness strategy. It is not a substitute for movement, proper nutrition or an active lifestyle. Rather, it can serve as another tool, particularly for those dealing with joint discomfort, limited mobility or simply the realities of a busy schedule. As our understanding of aging evolves, so too does our definition of health. Longevity is increasingly about more than adding years to life; it is about preserving the vitality that allows us to enjoy those years fully. Fitness has become one of the new markers of successful aging — the difference between watching life from the sidelines and continuing to participate wholeheartedly.

September • October 2026 | 83

Discover the Unrivaled Artistry of Canada's Best Hotel Spa Signature Facials

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guerlainspatoronto.com | guerlainspa@hotelxtoronto.com | 647-475-9288 111 Princes’ Boulevard, Located on the 4th floor of Hotel X Toronto

WANDER

FALL AT VALLEY RIDGE Just over Blue Mountain’s ridge, Valley Ridge Family Farm offers a charming autumn escape in Southern Georgian Bay. The family-run farm invites visitors to enjoy horse-drawn wagon rides, forest walks, farm-animal visits, and plenty of fresh country air. Meet the resident Clydesdales and take in the changing colours. ValleyRidgeFamilyFarm.ca

THE CLAYFIELD IS NOW OPEN The Clayfield has recently opened in Niagara-on-the-Lake, bringing a new luxury boutique hotel experience to the region. Part of Hyatt’s Unbound Collection, the 102-room retreat features a full-service spa, destination restaurant Terrain, elegant accommodations, and a rooftop terrace with sweeping views of Niagara’s renowned vineyards. Hyatt.com

DINNER WITH A VIEW See Toronto from a different perspective aboard Odyssey’s 2.5-hour Premier Dinner Cruise. A chef-prepared three-course dinner is paired with sweeping harbour views, cocktails, music, and dancing, creating an unexpectedly memorable evening on the water. It’s a sophisticated way to rediscover the city from its best side. CityExperiences.com

MOUNTAIN TREK IN B.C.

BIRCHWOOD LUXURY CAMPING

Tucked into the forests of British Columbia’s Kootenays, Mountain Trek is a week-long escape designed to reset body and mind. Guided mountain hikes, yoga, functional fitness, chef-prepared meals, massage, and spa time create a restorative retreat surrounded by Kootenay Lake and the Purcell Mountains. MountainTrek.com

Fall is the perfect time to escape to Birchwood Luxury Camping on Scugog Island. Designed for two pairs, the secluded retreat features a beautifully appointed geodesic dome, king-sized bed, and private hot tub. Explore nearby Port Perry by day, then return to cozy evenings by the fire beneath the autumn stars. BirchwoodLuxuryCamping.com

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September • October 2026 | 85

Built

Remembered To Be

Jake and Em Lawson poured their story into The Castle Keep, creating a retreat meant to stay with you long after checkout. By Sue Bartholomew • Photos: Gallery by Shay

Some places you visit for adventure; others make you slow down. When Lauren and I arrived at The Castle Keep in the Blue Mountains, we immediately felt that this was something different. As the co-founders of Best Side Magazine, we’re fortunate to experience many beautiful hotels, resorts and private retreats throughout Ontario. Every so often, though, we find a place that stays with us long after we leave. The Castle Keep is one of those places. 86 | September • October 2026

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Then there are the textures, the lighting, the linens, the warmth of the wood and the scent that greets you when you arrive. One of our favourite details is the custom fragrance created specifically for The Castle Keep. Jake and Em worked with Andreea, owner of local Terradomi Candle Co., to develop a scent around how they wanted guests to feel from the moment they walked through the door: welcomed, relaxed, and rejuvenated, with an immediate sense that they had arrived somewhere special. It is subtle, but memorable—and exactly the kind of detail that defines the experience here. The same thoughtfulness extends to the private spa elements found within each keep. A sauna, steam shower, and hot-and-cold soaking experience let you create your own ritual without ever stepping outside your suite. After a day spent exploring the Blue Mountains, there is something especially satisfying about returning to your own private sanctuary and having absolutely nowhere else you need to be. Tucked away on the 12th Sideroad, just minutes from Blue Mountain, this intimate retreat was created by owners Jake and Em Lawson and includes just three private keeps: The Pines, The Stillwater, and The Glenstone. From the beginning, Jake and Em wanted The Castle Keep to be more than simply somewhere to sleep. They imagined a place where guests could arrive, settle in and let the outside world disappear for a little while—a place to reconnect with themselves, with nature and with the person they came to share it with. That intention is felt everywhere. What struck us first was the way the architecture and interiors work together. Natural materials, wood, stone, comfortable furnishings and carefully considered details give the spaces warmth and character. Everything feels polished, but never precious or overly formal. With only three keeps, the intimacy is hard to recreate in a traditional hotel. Privacy and space allow you to settle in and create a little world of your own. Here, the stay itself becomes the experience. bestsidemagazine.com

There is also an unmistakable sense of home— not necessarily your own, but the feeling of being somewhere comfortable, welcoming and cared for. There is also an unmistakable sense of home—not necessarily your own, but the feeling of being somewhere comfortable, welcoming and cared for. Somewhere you can take off your shoes, put your feet up and completely relax. Perhaps that is because Jake and Em have considered the experience through all five senses: what guests see, hear, smell, touch and taste. Small details—what they affectionately call “Easter eggs”—are scattered throughout the property, waiting to be discovered. Because they built The Castle Keep themselves, the property carries pieces of their own story too. Rocks incorporated into the masonry came from the places where they were raised, quietly weaving their histories into the building itself. September • October 2026 | 87

And that may be The Castle Keep’s greatest appeal: what it encourages you not to do. The Blue Mountains offer endless reasons to get outside in every season—hiking, skiing, snowshoeing, fishing and exploring are all close at hand. But Jake and Em were equally interested in creating a destination where guests wouldn’t feel the need to fill every hour.

The Castle Keep reflects something we have long believed at Best Side: some of the best escapes are much closer to home than we realize. You can sit outside and watch the landscape change. Have coffee without checking the time. Take a long bath. Light the fire. Open a bottle of wine. Spend an afternoon talking with nowhere else to be. There is no itinerary required. For us, the magic was in that balance. The Castle Keep feels deeply connected to the Blue Mountains and its natural surroundings while offering the thoughtful comforts that make a weekend away feel special. It is intimate rather than busy, considered rather than excessive and romantic without trying too hard. More than anything, Jake and Em hope guests remember how they felt here. Maybe it is sitting beside the fire late at night, having a conversation you haven’t had in a while. Waking slowly in the morning. Sharing a meal. Sitting outside together in comfortable silence. Not necessarily remembering everything you did, but remembering how you felt while doing it. There is something meaningful, too, about knowing Jake and Em personally imagined, designed and built The Castle Keep and now have the

88 | September • October 2026

opportunity to welcome people into it. So much of themselves is woven through the architecture, landscape and tiny details that reveal themselves throughout a stay. Their vision for the future is refreshingly simple: continue building on the experience without losing the intimacy that makes it special. They don’t simply want to create a place people stay. They want to create a place people remember. As Lauren and I sat together during our visit, we talked about how much The Castle Keep reflects something we have long believed at Best Side: some of the best escapes are much closer to home than we realize. You don’t always need to board a plane to feel as though you’ve gone somewhere else. Sometimes, you just need to find the right place to stop, breathe and reconnect. The Castle Keep may just be that place. For more info, visit TheCastleKeep.ca bestsidemagazine.com

Your hub for the ultimate Georgian Bay experience.

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WHEN EVERYTHING IS AT STAKE, EXPERIENCE MATTERS. When your reputation, livelihood and future are on the line, Richard Darrah Law can help. For more than 25 years, Richard Darrah has dedicated his practice exclusively to criminal defence. With a limited caseload, he provides the personal attention, meticulous preparation and strategic counsel that criminal litigation demands. From impaired driving and drug offences to fraud, robbery, sexual assault and serious violent offences, Richard brings decades of courtroom experience to every case. PRIVATE COUNSEL. PERSONAL ATTENTION. DECADES OF EXPERIENCE.

RICHARD DARRAH LAW Criminal Defence Lawyer

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Experience the easternmost island in the Caribbean on a deeper level...

A DEEPER

ESCAPE TO BARBADOS DIVE INTO BAJAN CULTURE THROUGH EXPERIENCES, CULTURE & FOOD By Linda Barnard | Award-Winning Travel Journalist

alm, turquoise waters and quiet stretches of pale sand have enticed Canadian travellers to Barbados for decades.

But there’s only so much time you can spend on the beach. Experience the easternmost island in the Caribbean on a deeper level, connecting with Bajan culture through the people, experiences, history, language and food. Share a homecooked meal with a local family with the year-old Dine with a Bajan program. Our lunch with Juliet and Franklyn Jeffers at their rural home was a highlight. They greeted us from the porch of their historic house, the farm manager’s cottage from a time when the land was part of a 17th-century sugar cane plantation worked by enslaved people. After getting to know each other over rum punch and appetizers, Juliet took us into the kitchen and taught us to make

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pumpkin fritters. While she fried spicemarinated kingfish for lunch, Franklyn took us on a tour of the lush property. The multi-dish meal was based on Juliet’s memories of a Sunday supper, including shepherd’s pie made with minced Barbados Black Belly sheep. We also got a lesson in Bajan Creole. Along with British-accented English, the unique dialect is spoken across the island nation. It blends West and Central African words with English and liberal splashes of British slang. Juliet placed Bajan Creole proverbs around the table. We couldn’t stop laughing as we read them aloud and guessed the meanings. Get a taste of Bajan life by joining Saturday morning shoppers at the Cheapside Market in Bridgetown. One vendor shared his recipe for roasted breadfruit. Another explained the health benefits of shark oil. I bought some handmade earrings from an upper-level stall.

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The bus headed up the west side of the island, called the Platinum Coast for the number of high-end hotels and postcardperfect beaches.

Mother Sally and tuk bands are big parts of the Crop Over festival, held each July. It began in the 17th century to mark the finish of the sugar cane season. Now it’s a month-long celebration of Bajan culture, with parties, parades, rum, music and dancing featuring stilt walkers and glittering, barely there costumes.

When we pulled into Speightstown, the second-largest town in Barbados after capital Bridgetown, we were met by an exuberant tuk band and a colourfully dressed dancer with comically enhanced bosom and backside.

We dropped in at family-run PRC Bakery for a snack. Locals coming in for their morning treats shared recommendations. A portrait of popular Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley looked down from the pink wall.

Callender introduced the dancer as Mother Sally, a West African character who represents femininity and fertility. Tuk bands began in response to the outlawing of African drums by plantation owners. Enslaved people slid their drumming into the rat-a-tat of the Scottish fife and drum. “They took our culture and hid it in another,” Callender said.

We picked up sweet, yeasty bread, turnovers stuffed with coconut jam and a horseshoe-shaped flaky pastry filled with pineapple preserves.

historic characters, and taught us a few Bajan terms like “no broughtupsy,” which means someone raised without manners.

Dine with a Bajan hosts Franklyn and Juliet Jeffers (Photo: Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc)

t the Bridgetown Fish Market, we watched vendors expertly filet delicate flying fish. It’s the key ingredient in the national dish of fried fish and cou-cou, a kind of polenta made with cornmeal and okra.

The bus swung up the photogenic east side of Barbados and the windswept, wild-child Atlantic coast. Two musicians boarded the bus and joined us for a few

A COLOURFUL REPLICA OF THE ISLAND’S 1960 BEDFORD BUSES.

Try a rum tasting in the country where it was born. I sipped some smooth 12-yearold Doorly’s at The House Barbados resort on Paynes Bay Beach. Take a custom diffuser-making class at Native Caribbean in Pelican Village in Bridgetown. Tamara W. Gibson, founder and artisan perfumer, creates natural fragrances based on the scents of islands, using Barbados sugar cane alcohol for the perfume base. She helped me blend a unique scent souvenir that brought memories of Caribbean heritage to my living room. Culture, food and language are on the menu on the open-air #1 Bajan Bus, a colourful replica of the island’s 1960 Bedford buses. We travelled through several of the country’s 11 parishes, passing traditional chattel houses, small wooden bungalows built by formerly enslaved people in the 1800s. Tour guides Georgina Callender and Michael Trotman arrived dressed as 94 | September • October 2026

Tour guide Georgina Callender wears a costume as colourful as the #1 Bajan Bus. (Photo: Linda Barnard)

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Walkers Reserve, St. Andrew

kilometres, performing lively soca and familiar ballads. We stretched our legs at Walkers Reserve, a former sand quarry reborn as a 277-acre nature park in the picturesque Scotland District. A truck took us up to a hilltop apiary for a lesson in organic beekeeping. I took some of the delicious honey home.

A dancer performs as Crop Over character Mother Sally for #1 Bajan Bus tour guide Michael Trotman. (Photo: Linda Barnard)

We watched the surf over lunch at Zemi East Coast Café, where car-sized coral rock formations seemed to challenge the waves to topple them. Callender taught us the Bajan word for octopus: sea cat. Maybe I should have saved my horseshoe pastry to share with another local I met, an elegant racehorse named Gabi’s Girl. Most days from 5:30 a.m. to 7 a.m., grooms from the stables at historic Garrison Savannah racetrack bring equine athletes to Pebbles Beach and into the warm ocean for physiotherapy and exercise.

The colourful marina in the capital of Bridgetown

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Groom Rashid invited us to pat Gabi’s Girl’s chestnut coat before he led the Bajan seahorse across the sand and into the tranquil ocean for her morning workout.

WHEN YOU GO Air Canada has daily non-stop flights from Toronto to Barbados. WestJet also flies direct. Check for dates.

WHERE TO STAY Two neighbouring Platinum Coast beachfront hotels are small and charming all-inclusive stays: Treasure Beach Art Hotel and Crystal Cove, a Tribute Portfolio.

WHERE TO EAT UVA Restaurant: Barbados Chef of the Year Damian Leach blends and interprets Bajan ingredients and recipes with Mediterranean flair at this low-key, stylish restaurant.

Linda Barnard was a guest of Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc., which did not preview this story. Learn more at VisitBarbados.org and DineWithABajan.com

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FALL PATIO SEASON

Patio Season, Heated. Buvette’s heated patio keeps patio season going well beyond summer. Settle in for cocktails, fine wine, oysters and favourites from the kitchen, all while enjoying the energy of downtown Burlington from a warm, inviting spot outdoors. Sip N Shuck Tuesday evenings continue all season long.

417 Elizabeth St, Burlington • 289-337-8559 info@buvetteresto.com • @buvetteburlington

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SAVO U R

TIFF COCKTAIL AT ISABELLE Celebrate TIFF with Lobby Privileges, a limited-time cocktail at Isabelle Restaurant + Lounge from September 10–20. Inspired by the early cinema tradition of popcorn vendors, the Negroni-inspired creation combines Campari, sweet vermouth, akvavit, and lavender lemon bitters for a bittersweet, citrusforward sip designed to pair perfectly with buttery popcorn. Isabelle.ca

CENTRO ON THE SQUARE OPENS IN OAKVILLE Centro on the Square opened in June, bringing a fresh Mediterranean-inspired dining experience to the heart of Oakville. Blending flavours from Italy and Spain with thoughtful hospitality, Centro offers an inviting setting for everything from cocktails and curated wines to memorable meals shared with family and friends. CentroOnTheSquare.ca

MAI CÀPHÊ CAFÉ BURLINGTON Mai CàPhê has opened a unique rooftop café in Downtown Burlington, transforming the family home above Lugano Pizza into a welcoming coffee destination. Founded by Deanna Mai, the café celebrates Vietnamese coffee culture through traditional phin brewing, bold flavours, bánh mì, desserts, and meaningful family history. MaiCaphe.ca

EE FLORALS & JUICE BAR EE Florals & Juice Bar has recently opened in Downtown Oakville, bringing together fresh florals and cold-pressed wellness under one roof. Founded by siblings Ema and Emanuel, the shop offers handcrafted bouquets, custom floral arrangements, plants, and fresh juices made with 100% natural ingredients and no added sugar. @EEFloralsAndJuice bestsidemagazine.com

BAR CATALINA’S NEW LOCATION Bar Catalina has reopened in a beautiful new location in Towne Square, bringing its beloved Spanish flavours and warm hospitality to Downtown Oakville. After years of creating memories with loyal guests, the restaurant begins an exciting new chapter with the same passion for traditional cuisine, now in a fresh and inviting new space. CatalinaBar.ca September • October 2026 | 97

Still Hungry After 23 years of friendship, Curtis Duffy reflects on Claudio Aprile’s return to Bar Origin, the lives they have built in kitchens and why neither chef is ready to start looking backward. By Curtis Duffy

98 | September • October 2026

Photo: Kyle Kirkwood

I’ve known Claudio Aprile for 23 years. We realized that during a recent conversation. We both had the same reaction: How is that possible? Twenty-three years is a long time in any friendship. In our business, it can feel like several lifetimes. Restaurants open and close. Trends disappear. Careers change direction. You collect some scars, hopefully learn a few things and, somewhere along the way, start looking at success differently than you did when you were 25. Claudio and I have followed different paths, in different cities, but there has always been a familiarity between us. We came up in an era of cooking when you worked hard because that was simply what you did. The hours were long, the expectations were enormous, and the kitchen demanded almost everything. Claudio Aprile & Curtis Duffy

Photo: Kyle Kirkwood

And somehow, after all these years, we both still love it. That was what struck me most when we started talking about Claudio’s new Bar Origin in Burlington. This isn’t a chef returning to prove something. It’s a chef returning because he still has something he wants to say. “I don’t want to be at a place where my best work is behind me,” he told me. I understand that completely.

BAR ORIGIN REIMAGINED

Creating a restaurant brings an energy that is hard to explain to someone who hasn’t done it. You begin with an empty room and an idea. Then come the drawings, the lighting, the music, the plates, the menu, the people. Slowly, something that existed only in your head becomes real.

He told me he loves dreaming about a dish, sketching it and then watching it eventually land in front of someone. He loves walking into a space and imagining what it could become. That creative restlessness is still in him. Maybe that’s why Origin makes sense now. He had wanted to own another restaurant, but he wasn’t interested in doing it simply for the sake of being back in Toronto. Life has changed. Claudio now lives in Oakville, close to the lake, and has found a quieter rhythm outside the city. When the Burlington space presented itself with business partners Chris and Maria, the opportunity felt natural. Their families are involved, their values align and, perhaps most importantly at this stage, Claudio trusts them. The result is a 75-seat restaurant that can serve 200 guests on a busy night. It’s casual. It’s approachable. And it feels like Claudio.

Claudio still loves that process. bestsidemagazine.com

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GOING BACK TO ANALOGUE

What I find most interesting about this version of Origin is that Claudio isn’t trying to recreate the past. The original Origin followed Colborne Lane, where he became known for highly technical, progressive cooking. We were all exploring those ideas at the time: How far could you manipulate an ingredient? How could you change its texture, its form, even the guest’s perception of what they were eating? Claudio sees food differently today. “I can’t compete with the best beefsteak tomato as a chef,” he told me. I love that. Experience sometimes teaches you to add more. Eventually, it can also teach you when to leave something alone. He calls the philosophy behind the new Origin “analogue”. In a world where food imagery can begin to look increasingly similar, and hospitality can feel scripted, Claudio wants something more human. Servers write down orders. They are encouraged to speak in their own voices. If they don’t know an answer, they can simply say so and find it. Photo: Kyle Kirkwood Photo: Brilynn Ferguson

WHAT SUCCESS COSTS

Eventually, though, you start asking different questions.

Claudio and I have both been fortunate in our careers. We have cooked at a very high level, worked with extraordinary people and received recognition for doing something we genuinely love.

Claudio put it simply: “What is it that’s going to make you happy?”

But there is another side to that kind of ambition.

When you’re younger, success can mean the review, the award, the full dining room. Later, you begin to understand that being able to spend time with your wife and kids matters too—and so does your health. Having enough freedom to walk away from the restaurant for a few days and know the team can carry it matters.

At one point in our conversation, Claudio told me there was a period when he went six years without taking a day off. Six years. At the time, he was focused on ratings, recognition and being the best he could be. I understand that mentality because I’ve lived versions of it myself. When you are building something at that level, it can become your entire world. 100 | September • October 2026

That question hits differently now than it would have 20 years ago.

We joked that maybe that is the real flex. I think there is some truth in it.

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Curtis Duffy

In a world where food imagery can begin to look increasingly similar, and hospitality can feel scripted, Claudio wants something more human.

CHEF. RESTAURATEUR. STORYTELLER.

urtis Duffy is one of America’s most acclaimed chefs, known for an uncompromising approach to creativity, precision and hospitality. His career began in some of Chicago’s most influential kitchens, including Charlie Trotter’s, followed by Trio, where he worked alongside Grant Achatz. Duffy later became the original Chef de Cuisine at Alinea before taking the helm at Avenues at The Peninsula Chicago, where the restaurant earned two Michelin stars. In 2012, Duffy opened Grace in Chicago’s West Loop. The restaurant earned three Michelin stars for four consecutive years and was named Best Restaurant in the World by Robb Report in 2013. In 2016, Duffy received the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Great Lakes, while Grace also earned Forbes’ Travel Guide Five-Star and AAA Five-Diamond recognition. Today, Duffy is the chef and owner of Chicago’s Ever, which holds two Michelin stars in the 2025 Michelin Guide, along with neighbouring cocktail destination After and event space The Canvas by Ever.

Photo: Brilynn Ferguson

There is room for imperfection. Claudio compared it to a favourite pair of Levis, an old book with worn pages or a leather jacket that has been through something. The history is what makes it good. “I don’t want things that are so synthetic,” he said. “For me, Origin is really about analogue.”

And before any of that matters, he wants one thing to happen when someone walks through the door. They should feel welcome. “You are a guest in our restaurant,” Claudio says. “We are genuinely happy to see you.” That sounds simple. Real hospitality often is.

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His story was chronicled in the acclaimed documentary For Grace, while Ever has appeared prominently in FX’s The Bear. In 2025, Duffy released his memoir, Fireproof: Memoir of a Chef, which became a USA Today bestseller. CAREER HIGHLIGHTS 3 Michelin Stars — Grace 2 Michelin Stars — Ever 2 Michelin Stars — Avenues James Beard Award — Best Chef: Great Lakes, 2016 Forbes Travel Guide — Five-Star AAA — Five-Diamond

Photo: Brilynn Ferguson

“Legacy for me is not what you earn, your accomplishments and accolades, but how you inspire the next generation.” – Claudio Aprile

THE NEXT GENERATION

The biggest change I see in Claudio isn’t necessarily on the plate. It’s in how he leads. His kitchen at Origin is remarkably young. Some of the cooks are 18, 20, 22 years old. Instead of complaining that this generation doesn’t have the experience ours did, Claudio sees an opportunity. He believes our responsibility now is to become better teachers. I couldn’t agree more.

102 | September • October 2026

Photo: Kyle Kirkwood

Young cooks usually don’t come into a chef’s restaurant simply because they need somewhere to work. Often, they choose that kitchen because they believe there is something worth learning there. That gives us a responsibility. The kitchens Claudio and I grew up in could be brutal places. You learned quickly because the alternative wasn’t particularly pleasant. That system had discipline, but some things deserved to change. Experience shouldn’t make you louder. Ideally, it makes you better at knowing when to speak and when to listen. Claudio understands that now. And maybe that is what legacy begins to look like. When I asked him about his own, he gave me an answer that had nothing to do with awards or restaurants. “Legacy for me is not what you earn, your accomplishments and accolades, but how you inspire the next generation.” That stayed with me. Because after all the restaurants, the long nights, the accolades and the things we’ve both been fortunate enough to accomplish, maybe the most meaningful part comes next: passing something along.

Claudio Aprile, Maria & Chris Pagonis Photo: Brilynn Ferguson

Of course, Claudio and I couldn’t finish a conversation without eventually turning it back to food. We’re already talking about getting together at Origin. Maybe we’ll cook. Maybe we’ll take some of his dishes and interpret them through different points in our careers — Claudio today, Claudio in the Colborne Lane years and my own approach. Who knows where it will go. That’s the fun of it. Twenty-three years later, we’re still talking about restaurants and dishes and still dreaming about what we might create next. And I think that’s a pretty good sign. We’re still hungry.

Photo: Brilynn Ferguson

The Partners Behind Bar Origin

ar Origin may carry a familiar name, but three partners are shaping its newest chapter with a shared vision for what the restaurant can become.

Owners Maria and Chris Pagonis, together with acclaimed chef Claudio Aprile, have built a partnership grounded in hospitality, trust and a belief that Burlington was ready for something distinctive. For Maria and Chris, the restaurant is deeply connected to community and to creating a place people genuinely want to return to. Claudio brings the culinary perspective that has defined his career — curious, creative and always evolving. Together, they have created a restaurant that respects the Origin legacy without simply recreating what came before. It reflects where Claudio is now while also carrying Maria and Chris’s commitment to place, people and long-term connection. The result is a restaurant that feels both familiar and new — rooted in Origin’s history, but with a character and identity entirely its own. For more info, visit BarOrigin.ca

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FROM THE ADRIATIC TO OAKVILLE Croatian-born and trained near the Italian border, Chef Tomo Kovacek brings more than two decades of culinary experience to the kitchen at Verace. Alongside co-owner Aleksandra Popovic and the team behind Verace, Tomo has created a downtown Oakville destination rooted in a shared love of food, hospitality and community. His cooking draws on authentic Italian technique and the flavours of the Adriatic, from handmade pasta and wood-fired Neapolitan pizza to thoughtfully sourced ingredients. At Verace, authenticity isn’t simply part of the menu—it’s personal.

JOIN US FOR LUNCH, DINNER, OR A WONDERFUL COCKTAIL!

312 Lakeshore Rd E, Oakville 905-337-0080 VERACEPIZZA.CA

TENTS • TABLES • CHAIRS • FURNISHINGS TABLEWARES • LINENS • EQUIPMENT Find out more at www.specialevents.ca @special_event_rentals Visit our Designer Showroom 1800 Ironstone Dr, Burlington

Wedding Planner: @perfectlydesignedevents Photographer: @515photoco

Photos by Lisa Marie Photography

Extra Unapologetically

A Chic Take on Thanksgiving

By Gregory Fast At-Home Entertaining Expert

here is something wonderfully theatrical about entertaining, and I have never been afraid to lean into it. In fact, when the guest list gets smaller, I think there is even more reason to go a little extra. A more intimate gathering gives you permission to obsess over the details. Pull out the dishes you rarely use. Transform a room for one evening. Build a menu around what looks beautiful at the market. Set a table that might feel entirely unreasonable for a Tuesday night. Thanksgiving, with its inherent sense of abundance, warmth and gathering, is the perfect occasion for it.

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This year, I wanted Thanksgiving to feel familiar but unexpected: a chic interpretation of the traditional holiday, with a little camp, a little theatre and plenty of seasonal references.

START WITH A LOOK

My events often begin long before I set the table. Inspiration can come from anywhere: the changing landscape outside, something I spot at the market, an interesting textile, an old dish or even a colour combination that catches my eye during the day. Once an idea begins to form, I turn to Instagram and Pinterest to help define it. I’m never looking to replicate a table. Instead, I collect individual references — a colour, a flower, an architectural detail, a fashion moment — and then consider how those elements can become my own.

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For Thanksgiving, I kept coming back to rich chocolate brown. It felt unmistakably autumnal without relying on the expected orange-and-rust palette. I wanted the room to feel enveloping, warm and sophisticated, so I decided to completely change the space with drapery. It was a relatively small investment for a very big impact. Chocolate-brown fabric wrapped the room and immediately created a sense of occasion. A familiar space suddenly felt like somewhere else entirely. That is the kind of entertaining theatre I love. You don’t necessarily need more things. Sometimes, you simply need one bold idea.

MIX OLD WITH NEW

Creating a chic Thanksgiving doesn’t mean abandoning tradition. In fact, I think the most interesting tables happen when we reinterpret it. For the place settings, I used modern, rimless black dinnerware from Special Event Rentals and layered it with my traditional Thanksgiving dishes depicting pheasants, deer and ducks. On their own, those patterned pieces can feel quite classic. Against the simple black dinnerware, they suddenly felt current again. It’s a good reminder to look at what you already own differently. Your grandmother’s china, an antique serving piece or the Thanksgiving plates that have lived in the cupboard for years don’t have to dictate the entire aesthetic. Change what surrounds them, and they become something new. The table itself continued that conversation. A round glass top kept things visually clean and contemporary, while an

Thanksgiving

gives us something many dinner parties don’t: a built-in reason to gather.

CREATE A SENSE OF OCCASION

Thanksgiving gives us something many dinner parties don’t: a built-in reason to gather. The guest list may already be decided: family, close friends or whatever combination has become your tradition. Embrace it. A smaller table can feel incredibly special because everyone becomes part of the same conversation and experiences the evening together. Then think about how the night will unfold.

antique French stone pillar used as the base brought in a sense of history and permanence. Modern and traditional don’t need to compete. They can make one another more interesting.

RETHINK THE EXPECTED

Flowers are another place where I like to play with expectation. Sunflowers are undeniably seasonal, but rather than arranging them in the traditional way, I removed the petals. What remained were these extraordinary brown and nearly black centres edged in graphic green. Suddenly, one of autumn’s most recognizable flowers looked completely different.

I love creating a dedicated bar station because it is both beautiful and practical. Guests know where to help themselves, drinks aren’t cluttering the dining table, and the host isn’t disappearing into the kitchen every time someone needs a refill. Style it with beautiful glassware, garnishes and ice, perhaps adding one signature cocktail alongside wine and thoughtful non-alcoholic options. The same philosophy applies to the menu. Start with what is seasonal and build from there. Thanksgiving doesn’t require reinventing every classic dish, but presentation and a few unexpected ingredients can completely change how the meal feels. Keep the dishes you genuinely love. Update the ones that could use a little attention. Consider how colour, texture and serving pieces contribute to the overall table.

The menu, flowers, room and tabletop should all feel like parts of the same story.

GIVE YOURSELF PERMISSION TO BE EXTRA We often save our best dishes, ambitious ideas and beautiful details for some undefined future occasion. Thanksgiving is the occasion. Drape the room. Bring out the old china. Remove the petals from the sunflowers. Trail grapes down the centre of the table simply because they look beautiful there. Light more candles than seem entirely necessary. There is joy in a little spectacle. The secret to tasteful theatrics is intention. Choose a strong point of view and allow every decision to relate back to it. You don’t need ten big ideas competing for attention. One transformative gesture, carried thoughtfully through colour, food, flowers and tabletop, can completely change how an evening feels. For me, entertaining has always been about creating a moment that feels different from everyday life. Thanksgiving already gives us the warmth, the gathering and the tradition. Our job as hosts is simply to decide what we want to do with it. This year, I’m choosing to make it a little chic, a little unexpected and unapologetically extra.

That simple transformation became the essence of the table: take something familiar and ask how you might see it differently. Seasonal produce became part of the decorating as well. Clusters of grapes woven into the tablescape brought a sense of harvest and bounty without feeling overly themed. Food is beautiful, so use it. Pears, figs, artichokes, herbs, squash and grapes can all blur the line between ingredient and decoration. The goal isn’t to fill every available surface. “Extra” doesn’t have to mean more. Sometimes it simply means taking an idea one step further. bestsidemagazine.com

September • October 2026 | 109

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LIFESTYLE JIM CUDDY AT BPAC TASTE & PAINT AT OAKVILLE GALLERIES Taste & Paint: An Evening of Wine and Art takes place September 11 at The Studio at Oakville Galleries in Gairloch Gardens, pairing acrylic painting with a guided tasting of premium Niagara wines led by Master of Wine Louise Wilson Cormier. Guests will also enjoy locally crafted charcuterie while creating their own artwork in an inspiring gallery setting. OakvilleGalleries.com

NEW MEMOIR FROM RAINE MAIDA & CHANTAL KREVIAZUK

I’m Going to Break Your Heart: A Rock N Roll Love Story offers an intimate look at the lives and marriage of Canadian music icons Chantal Kreviazuk and Raine Maida. Honest, raw, and deeply personal, the memoir explores love, therapy, creativity, and the commitment to choosing each other through life’s challenges. Indigo.ca

Jim Cuddy brings his acclaimed solo music to The Burlington Performing Arts Centre on September 18, joined by opening act Brooks & Bowskill. The celebrated Blue Rodeo founding member and 15-time JUNO Award winner will perform songs from All the World Fades Away, blending heartfelt storytelling and timeless Canadian songwriting into an unforgettable evening. BurlingtonPAC.ca

START2FINISH CHUCKLES FOR CHARITY 2026

WALK FOR SUICIDE AWARENESS

Chuckles for Charity returns October 16 for an evening of comedy, culinary delights, and community giving in support of children’s literacy and well-being. The night begins at Ce Soir Brasserie + Bar before moving to the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts, where comedians Adam Growe and Graham Chittenden will headline an evening of laughs, live entertainment, and an exclusive auction. Start2FinishOnline.org

Walk for Suicide Awareness returns to Sunnyside Park on September 13, bringing the community together to raise awareness, honour loved ones, and support life-saving mental health services. Hosted by Distress Centres of Greater Toronto, the annual event helps fund 24/7 crisis support while encouraging hope, healing, and connection. DCOGT.com

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September • October 2026 | 111

THE CREATIVE CIRCLE By John Andover

Tom Wilson at Beckett Fine Art For Tom Wilson, creativity has never belonged to a single medium. Music, writing, performance and painting are part of the same conversation — a circle he continues to move through. This autumn, that journey returns to Beckett Fine Art in Hamilton, where Wilson hopes to share new work rooted in the Grandfather Teachings. 112 | September • October 2026

When we featured you on our May 2025 cover, we explored both your music and your visual art. Since then, what has been inspiring you creatively?

Painting is still my soulmate — the place I go to meditate and, in some ways, escape. It’s like stepping out for a smoke for eight hours a day. I’m also rewriting parts of the first act of my play, Beautiful Scars, which opens September 10, 2026, at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. Shaman, Oil on Canvas, 46" x 96"

Your newest work marks another chapter in your visual art career. What are you exploring with this collection?

I’m exploring the Grandfather Teachings and how I can present them in a way that inspires and resonates with viewers. Spreading goodness and finding the seeds for creating a better world through art is still my focus. bestsidemagazine.com

IN CONVERSATION | BECKETT FINE ART I’m hoping to have some of these new paintings ready for my show at Beckett Fine Art on Locke Street South in Hamilton this autumn. I hope people will come to the gallery and experience them in person.

Music, writing, performance and painting are all forms of storytelling for you. Do they influence one another?

When I was a child, all I wanted to do was be a communicator. I didn’t put it in those terms back then, but what I’m doing now is exactly what I’ve wanted to do my entire life. I think of it as a circle of creativity — moving from music to the written word, performance and visual art. I’m very fortunate to move around that circle every week, and I hope to do so for the rest of my life.

Q: A:

What are you working on musically right now?

Crazy sounds! I’m signing a record deal with my son, Thompson Wilson, and we’re stepping out from doing just movie soundtracks into singing and writing songs together. We’re working on new material now. It’s a wild ride.

Red Man, Oil on Panel, 36" x 24"

Q: Photo: Marta Hewson

What do you hope people carry with them after experiencing this new work?

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I believe we, as individuals, have to make the changes needed to make this world better. We can’t rely on politicians, churches or corporations to do that work for us.

Kindness, love and compassion have to be exercised every day, with everyone we meet, if we want to create a better planet for our children, our grandchildren and seven generations down the road. I hope my work can inspire that in some small way. September • October 2026 | 113

CARRYING IT FORWARD By John Andover

It’s been over two years since we first featured your work. What have been the most meaningful milestones since then?

Building relationships with institutions like McMaster University and the University of Waterloo has been incredibly meaningful. What began as mural commissions grew into deeper collaborations, including creating logos for their athletic departments. Those projects have allowed me to contribute to campus culture, reconciliation and the celebration of diverse student communities. This year also marks the fifth annual Spirit Jams Fundraiser. Since 2021, my wife and I have helped raise more than $8,000 for the Indian Residential School Survivors Society while bringing members of Hamilton’s arts community together.

How is your newest collection different from your earlier work?

Life Sustains Life, Acrylic & Spray Paint on Canvas, 24" x 20"

Kyle Joedicke at Beckett Fine Art For Kyle Joedicke, art has become both a personal language and a way of contributing to community. His newest work considers land, identity, ancestry and contemporary Indigenous experience. Later this fall, that evolution reaches a milestone with Joedicke’s first solo gallery exhibition at Beckett Fine Art in Hamilton. 114 | September • October 2026

My recent work places a stronger focus on my relationship with the communities I’ve been fortunate to work with. Because much of my art takes the form of large-scale public murals, I’ve become increasingly conscious of how those works affect the spaces and people around them. I consider the history of the land, how a space is used and what it may become. Through consultation with communities and clients, bestsidemagazine.com

IN CONVERSATION | BECKETT FINE ART My newer work considers what it means to move through life carrying the legacy of your ancestors and knowledge protected through generations.

Beckett Fine Art has played an important role in your career. What has that relationship meant to you?

Thomas Beckett was one of the first people in the art community to reach out and take me under his wing. He helped me navigate life as a professional artist and establish my work within the fine art world. The Beckett family has a long legacy of celebrating Indigenous artists and bringing their work to new audiences. I’m proud to be presenting my first-ever solo gallery exhibition at Beckett Fine Art later this fall. It feels like an important full-circle moment, and I’m excited to share it.

Creation Story, Acrylic & Spray Paint on Canvas, 60" x 48"

I try to create something cohesive and meaningful to that place. That thinking carries into my paintings. Earlier pieces often reflected my effort to understand teachings such as the Great Law of Peace and the Seven Grandfather Teachings. My current work looks more closely at what an Indigenous perspective on contemporary society looks and feels like. bestsidemagazine.com

Q: A:

How has your perspective as an Indigenous artist evolved?

Art began as a way for me to reconnect with my identity and my background as a member of the Six Nations of the Grand River community. Over time, that focus has widened. I think less about myself as a singular artist and more as part of a continuum of Indigenous art through time. September • October 2026 | 115

MARY PRITTIE (1908-1999)

TOM WILSON

WELLAND CANAL LAKERS, Watercolour, 18.5 x 24.5 in., 1991, Framed

THE LEAD - BEAR #2, Oil on Panel, 36 x 48 in., 2026

ROBERT BATEMAN

WINTER MIST - GREAT HORNED OWL,

Acrylic on Masonite, 47 x 28 in., 1970, Framed

KYLE JOEDICKE

CREATION STORY, Acrylic & Spray Paint on Canvas, 60 x 48 in., 2026

FRANK PANABAKER (1904-1992)

GEORGIAN BAY, Oil on Canvas, 28 x 36 in., Circa 1958, Framed

DANIEL LANOIS

THE BLUE TREE, Archival Photographic Print, 25.75 x 38 in., 2026, Framed

UPCOMING AUTUMN 2026 SHOWS INCLUDE: • KYLE JOEDICKE - RECENT PAINTINGS • TOM WILSON - RECENT PAINTINGS • GROUP SHOW - ROBERT BATEMAN, CHRIS BACON, FRANK PANABAKER • INTRODUCING MARY PRITTIE (1908-1999) ESTATE PAINTINGS Beckett Fine Art Services include Art Sales, Consignment, Custom Framing, Art Appraisal for Insurance & Estate, Art Installation & Art Restoration.

ESTABLISHED IN 1966 | CELEBRATING 60 YEARS IN ART

196 Locke St. South, Hamilton, ON Canada • 416-922-5582 • www.beckettfineart.com

Photo Courtesy of Linbrook School

WHERE LEARNING FINDS ITS FIT

Six independent schools. Six distinct approaches. One deeply personal decision.

By Barbara Hunter hoosing a school is rarely about finding the one with the longest list of programs or the most impressive campus. It is about finding the place where a child feels understood, challenged and genuinely excited to learn. Each family brings its own priorities, hopes, questions and expectations.

That is what makes independent education so compelling: there is no single model. Each school is shaped by its own philosophy, culture and sense of purpose. For some families, the right fit may be a co-educational day and boarding environment such as Appleby College, where learning extends well beyond the classroom. For others, it may be the focused experience of a boys’ school at Linbrook or a girls’ school at St. Mildred’sLightbourn, where programming is thoughtfully developed around the ways students learn, lead and grow. MacLachlan College offers a co-educational path from the early years through graduation, grounded in innovation, curiosity and preparation for a changing world. Toronto French School's Mississauga Campus brings together French and English learning bestsidemagazine.com

within an international outlook, giving students the confidence to move between languages, cultures and perspectives. At Clanmore Montessori School, independence begins with the learner, encouraging children to explore, question and progress with purpose. These schools are different by intention. Their classrooms, traditions and approaches may vary, but each shares a commitment to knowing its students well and helping them discover what they are capable of. In the pages ahead, we invited six remarkable independent schools to speak for themselves. Through candid questions and thoughtful answers, they share what defines their communities, how they prepare students for life beyond school and what families should consider when searching for the right educational fit. Because the best school is not simply the one that looks right on paper, it is the one where a child can belong, become and thrive. September • October 2026 | 117

Appleby College A Place to Belong, A World to Explore

t Appleby College, students discover their strengths, embrace new challenges and contribute to a community shaped by care, connection and shared experience.

What does success look like beyond marks and university placement? At Appleby, success begins with belonging. Students are encouraged to find what they love, build lasting relationships and contribute meaningfully to their community. Achievement matters, but so do integrity, resilience and the willingness to meet challenges with confidence.

Students are encouraged to find what they love, build lasting relationships and contribute meaningfully to their community. goals and work through challenges within an environment of high expectations and personal support. How does the day and boarding environment build independence? Day and boarding students learn alongside peers representing more than 40 nationalities and cultures. Boarding life, advisor groups, co-curriculars and shared leadership development experiences help students become independent while learning to communicate, collaborate and contribute within a diverse community.

How does Appleby balance challenge with care? Student well-being is central to the educational experience. Through the advisor program, faculty members build authentic relationships with students, helping them navigate school life, set 118 | September • October 2026

What tradition reflects Appleby’s spirit? Three annual Community Weekends bring students, faculty and families together through activities celebrating school traditions and House spirit. These shared experiences strengthen relationships and reinforce the feeling that every student has a place within the wider community.

How does Appleby prepare students for life beyond school? Students are challenged across academics, athletics, the arts, service, global education, outdoor education and immersive programming. This breadth develops creativity, critical thinking, collaboration and leadership while allowing students to explore different interests and possible paths. What should families consider when choosing a school? The full student experience matters. Families should consider how a school’s programs, clubs, and community will help their child discover new interests, deepen existing passions, form strong friendships, and grow into a capable, thoughtful, and engaged young person. 540 Lakeshore Road West, Oakville appleby.on.ca

bestsidemagazine.com

OCTOBER

2026-27 OPEN HOUSE DATES

OCTOBER

7 17 24

4:30-6:00 P.M.

10:00 A.M.-2:00 P.M.

At Appleby College, every day is a new chapter of discovery. A student learns trust and teamwork on the rugby pitch, steps outside their comfort zone during a global experiential trip, fine-tunes the code and design of a VEX robotics project, snowshoes across a frozen lake, and practises their lines for the school play. Across classrooms, stages, fields, trails, and design labs, Appleby inspires students to explore boldly, lead with purpose, and become engaged global citizens.

TAKE THE FIRST STEP – SCAN THE QR CODE OR VISIT WWW.APPLEBY.ON.CA

FASCINATING MINDS

SINCE 1911

Clanmore Montessori School Room to Discover

t Clanmore Montessori School, independence, curiosity and a personal approach to learning help children build confidence in who they are becoming.

What does it mean for a student to feel truly known? At Clanmore, we actively honour individuality. Teachers understand each child’s strengths, challenges and interests, then use those insights to support growth. A fascination with Greek mythology or the solar system can become a pathway to deeper exploration rather than a passing curiosity. How does Montessori shape everyday learning? Students make meaningful choices, manage their time and take increasing ownership of their work. Multi-year classrooms allow lessons to be introduced when children are developmentally ready, with concepts building from concrete experiences toward more abstract thinking and problem-solving.

Celebrating 30 years of nurturing lasting relationships, meaningful connections and a true sense of community. How does Clanmore support the whole child? Clanmore considers academic, social, emotional, and intellectual development together. Teachers meet students where they are while creating opportunities to experience success and recognize their progress. Learning is also connected to real life—from exploring fermentation after a science lesson to Middle School students operating their own market. Why is hands-on learning important? Prepared environments provide structure while giving students freedom to explore, collaborate and make mistakes safely. Children learn to adjust their thinking, solve problems independently and see mistakes as part of learning. Responsibility grows as students care for their materials, workspace and community.

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How does belonging support students as they grow? Long-standing relationships among educators, students and families create continuity throughout the school years. Clanmore sees families as partners, with home and school working together to support each child. That sense of community can continue long after graduation. What should families understand about Montessori education? Montessori is more than materials or independent work. It is a holistic approach that develops curiosity, critical thinking, confidence and a love of learning. Families should consider whether a school’s culture, values and approach feel aligned with their own.

2463 Lakeshore Rd E, Oakville clanmore.ca

September • October 2026 | 121

Why is a well-rounded experience important? Athletics and outdoor education are balanced with music, visual art, drama, STEM, public speaking and extracurricular clubs. This breadth allows boys to discover new interests and understand that confidence and achievement can take many forms. How does Linbrook develop leadership? The Linbrook Leadership Program promotes service, fitness, curiosity and adventure for students in Grades 4 to 8. Student Council, House Captain roles and Linbrook Buddies provide additional opportunities to build confidence, responsibility and empathy while learning that leadership includes supporting others.

Linbrook School Designed for the Way Boys Learn

t Linbrook School, movement, meaningful relationships and character education create an environment where boys can learn confidently and be fully themselves.

What does helping boys become compassionate, happy and confident look like each day? It begins with knowing every boy personally. With enrolment capped at 180 and classes limited to 18 students in JK to Grade 3 and 20 in Grades 4 to 8, teachers understand each child’s strengths and needs. Movement, curiosity and self-expression are embraced within an environment designed around how boys learn.

122 | September • October 2026

How does Linbrook balance academic rigour with support? A challenging curriculum is paired with individualized guidance and enrichment. Small classes allow teachers to adapt lessons, provide focused support and extend learning for students ready to move further. Strong relationships give boys the confidence to take risks and work through challenges. How are character and well-being woven into school life? Character education begins in Junior Kindergarten and continues through Grade 8. Mindfulness and age-appropriate conversations help boys identify emotions, communicate thoughtfully and develop kindness, courage, empathy and self-awareness.

A challenging curriculum is paired with individualized guidance and enrichment. What should families consider when choosing a school for their son? Look for an environment that understands your son rather than asking him to fit one model of learning. Families can experience Linbrook firsthand at Tuesday morning Open Houses from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., beginning September 15. The right school will challenge him while giving him room to move, create, form meaningful friendships and confidently become his true self. 1079 Linbrook Road, Oakville linbrook.ca

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Experience MacLachlan for Yourself MacLachlan College is Oakville's only co-educational independent school serving students from Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12. With two dedicated campuses thoughtfully designed for each stage of learning, students benefit from an exceptional educational experience that combines academic excellence, personalized learning, global opportunities, and High-Performance Athletics in a close-knit community.

Join us for our Open House Saturday, October 24 | 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Tour our campuses, meet our teachers and students, and discover if MacLachlan is the right fit for your family.

admissions@maclachlan.ca maclachlan.ca

MacLachlan College Built for What Comes Next

t MacLachlan College, strong academics, active learning and meaningful relationships help students develop the confidence to question, create and lead.

How does MacLachlan’s future-oriented vision shape learning? MacLachlan was founded on the belief that education should evolve with the needs of each child. Strong academics are combined with inquiry, interdisciplinary thinking, technology and real-world experiences that encourage students to remain curious, adaptable and open to new ideas. How do small classes help students feel known? Teachers understand each student’s strengths, interests and learning needs. Close partnerships among teachers, students, and families create an environment where children feel comfortable asking questions, taking thoughtful risks, and challenging themselves, knowing individualized support is always available. What does active learning look like? Students may engineer prototypes in the Maker Space, investigate scientific ideas through hands-on projects or create performances combining language, music and the arts. Flexible spaces and interdisciplinary projects encourage collaboration, creativity, independence and practical problem-solving.

Close partnerships among teachers, students, and families create an environment where children feel comfortable asking questions, taking thoughtful risks, and challenging themselves, knowing individualized support is always available. How does MacLachlan develop international-mindedness? The International Baccalaureate philosophy begins in the Primary Years Programme and continues through the Middle Years Programme. Service learning, Round Square experiences and international collaboration help students develop empathy, cultural understanding and responsibility as global citizens. How does the Upper School prepare students for the future? Rigorous academics, Advanced Placement pathways, and personalized advising are complemented by leadership, global travel, the arts, and co-curricular involvement. High-Performance Athletics, including hockey and competitive climbing, allow student-athletes to pursue excellence while maintaining strong academic expectations. What should families consider when choosing a school? The best environment challenges students while recognizing them as individuals. At MacLachlan, students are encouraged to discover their strengths, take ownership of their learning and develop the knowledge, character and confidence to succeed at university and beyond.

Lower School | 337 Trafalgar Road, Oakville Upper School | 2794 South Sheridan Way, Oakville maclachlan.ca

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September • October 2026 | 125

St. Mildred’sLightbourn School A Voice of Her Own

t St. Mildred’s-Lightbourn School, girls are encouraged to know themselves, speak with confidence and lead with character.

pairing rigorous academics with the encouragement she needs to take intellectual risks and reach her potential.

What does student success look like beyond marks and university placement? At SMLS, academic achievement is only part of the picture. Success is measured by the courageous, empathetic and resilient young women students become— girls who step beyond their comfort zones, act with purpose and contribute meaningfully to the world around them.

How does an all-girls environment build confidence? Every leadership role, robotics lead, musical solo and athletic captaincy is held by a girl. From Junior Kindergarten through Grade 12, students see their voices and ideas reflected across school life. A girls-focused approach also creates space to experiment, make mistakes and try again without being limited by gender stereotypes.

How does SMLS balance challenge with personal support? As a close-knit school, SMLS ensures that each student is known as an individual. Teachers understand her interests, strengths and areas for growth,

What experience reflects the heart of SMLS? Signature Programs connect learning with the wider world. STEM and Robotics, Global Citizenship and the Grade 11 Professional Internship help students

Success is measured by the courageous, empathetic and resilient young women students become explore interests, apply classroom knowledge and pursue new possibilities. How are students prepared for life beyond the classroom? Interdisciplinary projects, outdoor education, global travel and leadership experiences develop critical thinking, adaptability, ethical decision-making and self-advocacy. Students learn to navigate uncertainty, collaborate and approach new challenges with independence. What should families consider when choosing a school for their daughter? The right school should reflect a family’s values while giving a girl room to flourish as herself. Families should look beyond test scores to the culture of a school: how students carry themselves, interact with teachers and express their ideas. When a girl feels that she belongs, she is better able to recognize—and act on— her potential. 1080 Linbrook Rd, Oakville smls.on.ca

126 | September • October 2026

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ST. MILDRED’S-LIGHTBOURN SCHOOL

Inspired Girls. Empowered Women. Since 1891.

Why we choose to have a campus in Mississauga: Because a great education should open the world to your child, starting in their own community.

VISIT OUR BRAND NEW ATHLETIC WING!

Read more about our choices and schedule a visit at tfs.ca CO-EDUCATIONAL · AGE 3 - GRADE 12 · TORONTO & MISSISSAUGA

Toronto French School MISSISSAUGA CAMPUS

Finding Their Voice in Two Languages

t TFS West Campus, bilingual learning, an international perspective, and a close-knit community help students grow as thinkers, citizens, and individuals.

What does student success look like beyond marks and achievement? At TFS, success means educating the whole child. Guided by the motto, “individuals who reflect, citizens who act,” the school develops curious, empathetic and resilient students who respect different cultures, contribute to their communities and feel confident advocating for others. How does TFS ensure students feel challenged and known? The International Baccalaureate continuum combines academic rigour with a strong support network. Teachers, learning specialists, and families work together to recognize different learning styles, encourage individual passions, and ensure students have trusted adults beside them through academic and personal challenges.

Open Houses Friday, October 16th Wednesday, November 18th

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Teachers, learning specialists, and families work together to recognize different learning styles, encourage individual passions, and ensure students have trusted adults beside them. How does bilingual education shape confidence and cultural fluency? French-English immersion teaches students to communicate and solve problems through more than one lens. With families representing over 40 countries, cultural fluency is part of daily life, reinforced through international exchanges and a community that celebrates varied perspectives and traditions. What experience reflects the heart of TFS? On the first day of school, flags representing the cultures within the community are displayed across the campus. The tradition captures the school’s commitment to diversity, shared belonging and globally minded citizenship. How does TFS prepare students for life beyond school? Inquiry-based learning develops

independent thinking, organization, accountability and resilience. Athletics, leadership and co-curricular opportunities—from robotics and mathematics to art and video production—help students explore their interests and discover where they feel most engaged. What should families understand about choosing a school? Academic rigour and a nurturing environment can coexist. TFS values the whole child, embraces varied learning styles and provides the breadth of opportunity students need to find their voice, build confidence and participate meaningfully in a wider world.

West Campus 1293 Meredith Avenue, Mississauga tfs.ca

September • October 2026 | 129

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LINCOLN NAUTILUS Sophisticated design meets intuitive technology with hands-free driving, premium comfort, and connected features that keep every journey effortless.

What Comes

AFTER

After devastating personal loss, Mike Whitla is speaking openly about suicide grief, the people left behind and why support after a death is also part of prevention. By Mackenzie Best

132 | September • October 2026

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very year, approximately 4,500 people in Canada die by suicide. Behind every number are families, friends and communities left to navigate a form of grief that can carry unanswered questions, stigma and profound isolation.

Mike & Lisa Witla

Mike Whitla knows that reality in a way few people could imagine. He lost his wife, Lisa, her two sisters, Jennifer and Becca Jane, and their father, Arthur, to suicide. “One thing people don’t realize is that the pain never goes away,” he says. “It is not something that you can conquer or overcome. It is something that stays with you forever.” For Mike, understanding that permanence is an important part of supporting someone after a suicide. The goal is not to fix their grief or find the perfect words. Often, what matters most is simply showing up. In the immediate aftermath of a death, support can arrive in a rush. Mike remembers the abundance of food sent to his family—so much at first that some had to be given away. What stayed with him, however, were the friends who continued sending meals months later; some did so for more than a year. “When you are overwhelmed by this kind of loss, even feeding yourself can feel almost impossible,” he says.

“The first step to making things better is to end the stigma and the silence.” — Mike Whitla

It is a deceptively simple lesson: support should not disappear when the initial shock has passed. Mike believes our discomfort with both suicide and grief often leaves people unsure of what to say. Too often, that uncertainty becomes silence. Friends may withdraw rather than risk saying the wrong thing, creating what Mike describes as secondary losses at a time when connection matters most. Platitudes can hurt, too. Telling someone that time heals, that they need to be strong or that their loved one is “in a better place” may be well-intentioned, but it can minimize a grief that cannot be neatly resolved. “What you can do is just be present with the survivor,” Mike says. “Be with them in their suffering.” That philosophy is also at the heart of postvention—the support provided to people affected by a suicide. Peer programs can give survivors space to speak with people who understand the bestsidemagazine.com

complexity of suicide loss without judgment or explanation. Distress Centres of Greater Toronto’s Survivor Support Program, for example, provides both individual and group peer support to people grieving a suicide loss. Mike also believes open conversations need to begin before tragedy occurs.

Despite having already lost both of her sisters, Lisa struggled to communicate the extent of her own suffering. Looking back, Mike wishes he had known to be more direct and to ask plainly whether she was thinking about suicide. Today, communication between Mike and his two sons is far more open. When Mike himself struggled last fall, his youngest son asked him directly how he was doing. For Mike, it was a powerful reversal of a lesson learned at an unimaginable cost—and a reminder of what honest conversation can make possible.

RESOURCES 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline Call or text 9-8-8, 24 hours a day, anywhere in Canada. Distress Centres of Greater Toronto The Survivor Support Program offers individual and group peer support for people grieving a suicide loss. September • October 2026 | 133

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Celebrating

as Burlington’s performing arts and culture hub

Nova Dance - Svāhā! THURS OCT 15 2026 | 7:30PM

Over the Ridge : The Story of Vimy Ridge

Michael Kaeshammer

WED NOV 4 2026 | 7:30PM

SUN NOV 8 2026 | 4PM

An Evening with Michelle Wright & Doc Walker

Sarah Harmer

FRI NOV 13 2026 | 7:30PM

SAT NOV 28 2026 | 7:30PM

Via Allegro 30th Anniversary. Left to Right: Katarina Jarossy | Stephanie Tersigni & Chef Marco Zandona | Fouad Daher & Mo Sabeh | Fouad Daher, Ali Khalil & Mo Sabeh | Chef Marco Zandona, Mohammed Fakih, Claudio Aprile & Wendy Votto | Tatiana Tkachuck, Mohammed Fakih, Hanna Ivonuts & Ana Kristina Santos | Zlata Klimko, Michael Ryan & Wendy Votto | Gaurav Kalia & Junior Ahearn | Christopher Correnti (Frank Correnti Cigars Limited) | Claudio Aprile & Cassie Prosper (North PR) | Wendy Votto with her editorial feature in Best Side Magazine

CLO Golf Tournament at Piper’s Heath Golf Club. Left to Right: Joanne Peters, Marilyn Weber, Donna Dos Reis, Viv Smith, Julie Rennie & Jodi French | Ian Mise, Greg Buzbuzian, David Kennedy & Bill Davis | Diane Davie, Jeanette Briggs, Anette Winslow & Trace Brundle | Joanne Peters, Jodi French, Viv Smith & Deb Marks | Donna Dos Reis, Brenda Kerr, Sue Bartholomew, Joel Layne & Marilyn Weber 136 | September • October 2026

Celebrity chef, restaurateur, television host, author and award-winning recording artist Roger Mooking presents Precious Metals, a collaborative exhibition with Laine Groeneweg, on view at Smokestack Gallery in Hamilton. Left to Right: Dr. Santina Andrighetti, Roger Mooking & Nigela Purboo | Roger Mooking & Laine Groeneweg | Lauren Lowe & Roger Mooking

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socializing: showing our

Chef Claudio Aprile celebrates the opening of his new restaurant Bar Origin in the heart of downtown Burlington. Left to Right: Chris & Maria Pagonis (Co-founders, Bar Origin), Claudio Aprile (Culinary Director/Partner, Bar Origin) & Ian Rydberg (Solid Design Creative) | Paul Lee-Chin, Lauren Lowe, Heather Buckle & Shari Lietaer | Claudio Aprile & Jason Pepetone (Centro Garden) | Joelle Cooling (Jeff’s Guy Shop) & Matt Nowitsky | Jade & Phil Golfi | Claudio Aprile & Aiden Aprile | Celebrity Chef Michael Bonacini with Claudio and the team at Bar Origin | Irene Matys (Food Stylist & Author) & Claudio Aprile | Bonita & Bill Leslie | Anne Joyce (Liberty Clothing) & Claudio Aprile | Danielle, Eric & Luke | Brooke, Matina, Xee & Onya | Meredith, Xee & Julia DeBartolo

Before the Runway — An Evening with Joseph Tassoni at Verace in Downtown Oakville. Left to Right: Joseph Tassoni & Yash Singh | Jeanine Trabucco, Rose Stea & Coco (Ruff the Dog Barbershop) | Michele Maffei (Verace), Rita Nalbandian & Joseph Tassoni | Joseph Tassoni & Rina DiRisio bestsidemagazine.com

September • October 2026 | 137

P R E S E N T S

2026

FRI, OCT 16, 2026 5:30 - 11:00 PM

COCKTAILS AND MINGLING AT

CE SOIR BRASSERIE + BAR

COMEDY SHOW AT OAKVILLE CENTRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

Join us for a night of laughter and real impact! Great food, warm connection, and a generous dose of fun – all in support of children in your community. It’s everything you love about a night out, with purpose and heart. TITLE SPONSOR:

ENTERTAINMENT SPONSOR:

FEATURING: ADAM GROWE As the host of Cash Cab, Adam Growe is a familiar face. Adam’s unique Quiz Show is an interactive and hilarious experience sure to engage the entire room! GRAHAM CHITTENDEN A huge hit at last year's Chuckles for Charity, Graham Chittenden is one of Canada's top comedic performers and a regular at Just For Laughs.

Tickets are on sale now! www.start2finishonline.org/boxoffice -chuckles-for-charity-2026

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